Archon Basileus
First Post
[Precisely!]
Pathfinder 1E [IC] - TIDERULER OF MARAN
- Thread starter Archon Basileus
- Start date
Archon Basileus
First Post
[Ok, hehehe]
The group turns south and then east once more, avoiding the bulk of the battle that still unfolds. Passing through is no challenge, as once more the crevices behind the south tower conceal any movement. Visions of the battle show a consolidated siege, as an entire flock of wyverns scour the pass, looking for astrays. As the companions go through their secret ways, part of the saurian divisions approach the south ruin, clearly decided to use it as a center for the siege. Had the trip back begun a bit later, they'd be caught by the spreading army, unable to use the ruinous building as their protection.
The journey back takes a few hours, straining the marchers and bringing an ominous silence upon the party. Mhuagra goes behind the troop, observing everyone's behavior with her burning gaze, now weakened by the efforts of the battle. She does not offer extra help, even though she might make the trip shorter. Gods know what are the plans she might have for any blood she comes across. Arvana feels noticeably uncomfortable with the presence of the orcs and the newcomer spellcaster. She decides to work as a scout, despite the 'reassuring interventions' of the orc hunters, which insist upon taking up the task themselves. Arvana ends up pairing with Klutha, in what seems to be an act of mercy and cleverness on the half-orc's part.
The fires of war are left behind, and then the lights of the desert city, far into the north. As stars surrender their places to the merciless sun, the guides find ways between the rocks, cooling down the party up until the way to the cave is clear. The orcs contemplate the bridge that, hours before, was occupied by a dwarven troop. their number dwindled, but a considerable guard is still present.
[The 'escorted entourage' might notice the guards and vice-versa, unless the orcs do something about it. The orcs must roll survival against the survival/perception ratings of the other party members. One roll against the highest skill level on each side is enough. If Hagadark's group succeed, they reach the cave unnoticed. If not, the companions might try to contact the dwarves, or the dwarves might try to intercept the party. Also, remember that these are technically odrosan lands. The dwarves might not be friendly...]
[Also, I almost forgot! Your first xp award! I have calculated the encounters, observed the clever use of skills and spells, group coordination and character interpretation. For all that you'll receive each 6,5 k experience points so far. We are using the medium advancement lane for characters. @Neurotic and @KahlessNestor, you have an extra 200 xp each for your efforts awarded back a few months ago. Remember to sum it up!]
[MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION]
The group turns south and then east once more, avoiding the bulk of the battle that still unfolds. Passing through is no challenge, as once more the crevices behind the south tower conceal any movement. Visions of the battle show a consolidated siege, as an entire flock of wyverns scour the pass, looking for astrays. As the companions go through their secret ways, part of the saurian divisions approach the south ruin, clearly decided to use it as a center for the siege. Had the trip back begun a bit later, they'd be caught by the spreading army, unable to use the ruinous building as their protection.
The journey back takes a few hours, straining the marchers and bringing an ominous silence upon the party. Mhuagra goes behind the troop, observing everyone's behavior with her burning gaze, now weakened by the efforts of the battle. She does not offer extra help, even though she might make the trip shorter. Gods know what are the plans she might have for any blood she comes across. Arvana feels noticeably uncomfortable with the presence of the orcs and the newcomer spellcaster. She decides to work as a scout, despite the 'reassuring interventions' of the orc hunters, which insist upon taking up the task themselves. Arvana ends up pairing with Klutha, in what seems to be an act of mercy and cleverness on the half-orc's part.
The fires of war are left behind, and then the lights of the desert city, far into the north. As stars surrender their places to the merciless sun, the guides find ways between the rocks, cooling down the party up until the way to the cave is clear. The orcs contemplate the bridge that, hours before, was occupied by a dwarven troop. their number dwindled, but a considerable guard is still present.
[The 'escorted entourage' might notice the guards and vice-versa, unless the orcs do something about it. The orcs must roll survival against the survival/perception ratings of the other party members. One roll against the highest skill level on each side is enough. If Hagadark's group succeed, they reach the cave unnoticed. If not, the companions might try to contact the dwarves, or the dwarves might try to intercept the party. Also, remember that these are technically odrosan lands. The dwarves might not be friendly...]
[Also, I almost forgot! Your first xp award! I have calculated the encounters, observed the clever use of skills and spells, group coordination and character interpretation. For all that you'll receive each 6,5 k experience points so far. We are using the medium advancement lane for characters. @Neurotic and @KahlessNestor, you have an extra 200 xp each for your efforts awarded back a few months ago. Remember to sum it up!]
[MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION]
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Neurotic
I plan on living forever. Or die trying.
|
Marius keeps an eye on the way they are going. But after whole day of running, battling, he's tired. And he's not about to let some orcs get them to Dram before they properly talked about. Especially with the corrupted one among them.
|
As the camp is prepared, he studies strange half-orc leader, eloquent, poised, totally un-orcish. And he knows dragon-speech. What an interesting character. And the arcanist that came to their help. She's obviously of corrupted lineage, but that doesn't make her evil. His masters were very clear on that. Actions speak truly, prejudice leads to fear and hate.
After small fire has been lit and still surrounded by the orcs he thinks on getting away. But that would mean leaving Mourgryn and Arvana. Even if he could take the dagger away, how could he leave them. And by leaving he would never find out the secret behind this strange group. And he was always dangerously curious.
Thus, sitting next to Mourgrym and Arvana, he calls out
"Hagadark. Shayuri. Would you please join us?"
After they do (assuming they do)
"You both know about us, we got stuck with The Enslaver. But we don't know anything about you. Would you care to enlighten us?"
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"I am Hagadark of The Peak of Sorrows. I travelled far and I'm new to Maran. I don't really care about the cities of men and we hire out to those willing and able to pay. But right now, snakes are a threat to everyone, not just humans and dwarves. Thus, we killed where we could. We're fighting our own war. And when Dram offered a bounty for you, with promise that something great will come of it and snakes will no longer be a threat, we took the chance. The Hunters will leave us, we have another task now. If, and only if, you agree to come to Dram. Your burden is the only way to defeat the army of snakes."
Hagadark looks at the big orc sitting quietly some distance away, his eyes shining red in the dark.
"The Hunters have an important task, but once bought, we stay bought until the task is done. You mentioned you were not on the way to the mage. Why would you betray your home country like that?"
Hagadark looks at the big orc sitting quietly some distance away, his eyes shining red in the dark.
"The Hunters have an important task, but once bought, we stay bought until the task is done. You mentioned you were not on the way to the mage. Why would you betray your home country like that?"
KahlessNestor
Adventurer
Near Maran
Night
Round 0
Perception: 1D20+10 = [12]+10 = 22
Survival: 1D20+11 = [14]+11 = 25
As they traveled, Morgrym grumbled something about trusting orcs. “Does it seem t’ anyone else we’re a bit more prisoners than we shuild be?” he grumbled to Marius and Arvana. He eyed Shayuri, Hagadark, and the orcs warily.
When they got to the caves, Morgrym was glad to be out of the heat and sun, back underground where a good dwarf should be, though the placed held the foul stench of ogres and orcs.
“What does this Dram want o’ us?” Morgrym asked Hagadark, sipping from a flask of ale and munching on a bit of lizard one of the hunters had caught and roasted on the fire. “An’ wot’s ‘e now ‘bout e’er’thin’ tha’s ‘appenin’?
[sblock=Actions and Rolls]
Move:
Action:
[/sblock]
[sblock=Ministats]
HP: 22/39 NL: 0
AC: 17 FF: 11 T: 16 (+4 vs Giants)
CMD: 15 (+2 vs bull rush, trip)
Fort: 7 Ref: 2 Will: 7 (+2 vs poisons, spells, SLA)
Armed: MW Cold Iron Battleaxe
Ammunition: 9/10 bullets
Storm Burst 6/7/day
Conditions: Barkskin: +2 AC (287/300r)
Spells Prepared
0: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
1. Obscuring Mist (Domain), Cure Light Wounds, Produce Flame, Entangle*, [Summon Nature’s Ally 1 (Spontaneous)]
2: Fog Cloud (Domain), Barkskin*, Flaming Sphere*, [Summon Nature’s Ally II (Spontaneous)]
[/sblock]
Night
Round 0
Perception: 1D20+10 = [12]+10 = 22
Survival: 1D20+11 = [14]+11 = 25
As they traveled, Morgrym grumbled something about trusting orcs. “Does it seem t’ anyone else we’re a bit more prisoners than we shuild be?” he grumbled to Marius and Arvana. He eyed Shayuri, Hagadark, and the orcs warily.
When they got to the caves, Morgrym was glad to be out of the heat and sun, back underground where a good dwarf should be, though the placed held the foul stench of ogres and orcs.
“What does this Dram want o’ us?” Morgrym asked Hagadark, sipping from a flask of ale and munching on a bit of lizard one of the hunters had caught and roasted on the fire. “An’ wot’s ‘e now ‘bout e’er’thin’ tha’s ‘appenin’?
[sblock=Actions and Rolls]
Move:
Action:
[/sblock]
[sblock=Ministats]
HP: 22/39 NL: 0
AC: 17 FF: 11 T: 16 (+4 vs Giants)
CMD: 15 (+2 vs bull rush, trip)
Fort: 7 Ref: 2 Will: 7 (+2 vs poisons, spells, SLA)
Armed: MW Cold Iron Battleaxe
Ammunition: 9/10 bullets
Storm Burst 6/7/day
Conditions: Barkskin: +2 AC (287/300r)
Spells Prepared
0: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
1. Obscuring Mist (Domain), Cure Light Wounds, Produce Flame, Entangle*, [Summon Nature’s Ally 1 (Spontaneous)]
2: Fog Cloud (Domain), Barkskin*, Flaming Sphere*, [Summon Nature’s Ally II (Spontaneous)]
[/sblock]
Archon Basileus
First Post
[Right! Time wouldn't be enough, considering the general state of the party. You'll be at some point mid-road, first, possibly a cave anyway, lol. We'll go on from this premise, then, with everyone's blessings! 
]
Arvana's distrust around the orcs is blatantly obvious. Still, she remains courteous, probably understanding that Morgrym and Marius had no reason to trust her either, and still accepted her and helped her through many a fight. Her interest falls on the spellcaster, though. She seems curious about her nature, and doesn't feel scrupulous about asking questions.
"I appreciate the help..." - she turns to Shayuri - "...but what's your story? Odd to see you o the field... You know... Elemental powers... Magic... And... horns..." - she gestures towards her own head. "... Nothing against horns... I mean.... It's just... unusual..." - seeing no means to end the phrase, she falls silent, waiting for a response.
[MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION]
[Again, sorry for vanishing! Back once and for all, though!]
]Arvana's distrust around the orcs is blatantly obvious. Still, she remains courteous, probably understanding that Morgrym and Marius had no reason to trust her either, and still accepted her and helped her through many a fight. Her interest falls on the spellcaster, though. She seems curious about her nature, and doesn't feel scrupulous about asking questions.
"I appreciate the help..." - she turns to Shayuri - "...but what's your story? Odd to see you o the field... You know... Elemental powers... Magic... And... horns..." - she gestures towards her own head. "... Nothing against horns... I mean.... It's just... unusual..." - seeing no means to end the phrase, she falls silent, waiting for a response.
[MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION]
[Again, sorry for vanishing! Back once and for all, though!
]Shayuri reaches up to touch one of the projections along the side of her head and chuckles.
"No, I understand. The magic is one thing...I've had that since I was little. The rest came later."
She takes a deep breath.
"All right. I'm from Ashir. Sort of. My family, my father, are merchants and even though my father owns several caravans he never quite lost the taste for taking a personal hand in things. As such, I've seen almost as much of other lands as I have Ashir." She smiles.
"I cast my first spell when I was...five, I think?" The sorceress frowns a little, then shrugs. "Little. It wasn't REALLY a spell, you understand. More just a...venting of energy. Fortunately my mother's tribe had some folklore about such things so she had some idea of what was going on. Or, you know, thought she did. Wrong or right, she was able to help me master magic enough not to...set fire to tents by accident or scare horses or people. That kind of thing."
"Buuuut I was curious and kept trying to do more with this power, and even though mother said the magic came from the old djinn tribes that used to haunt the desert, I didn't think...she was right. Djinn don't have these."
Shayuri holds up a hand and squinches her eyes in concentration. A ripple passes through the skin on the back of her hand, causing new red scales to bubble up out of it. Her fingers thicken and elongate...and wicked sharp claws abruptly jut forth from their tips. She flexes those talons for a moment, then the changes reverse themselves and it's just a normal hand again.
"I dreamed of words then, every night. Voices like thunder. Words I only understood in the dreams...at least at first." She looks away, lost in a memory, but only for a breath before shaking herself loose and smiling again.
"Anyway. Long story short, for a NUMBER of reasons I came to realize that my magic seems tied not to the djinn, but to dragons. The more power I learned to draw on, the more..." she reaches up to touch a horn again, "...I was changed by it. I have made it a point to learn as much as I can of magic, of dragons, so I can understand what's happening and where this may all end."
The arcanist leans forward then, her eyes shining with excitement. "When I first heard the rumors that there was a hunt for the Tideruler, I knew I had to go take part. Maran only sees it for what its power can do for them...break the blockade, protect themselves from the navy...of course, of course! But it's much more than that. It's...a window, into an age we know almost nothing about! It was made by the very greatest of dragons, whom we call gods now, for the use of dragons in shaping and harnessing the very elements that compose the world!"
"I need to see it, and where it is. There'll be writings I'm sure, and other artifacts. And I'll make the same pitch to you that I did the one who told me where to look for you."
Shayuri grins. "The Tideruler isn't just a necklace you can put on, or a ring to slip on your finger that will do your bidding once found. It has the power to free Maran...or bury it forever below the sea. To harness its power the way you want, and use it safely, you're going to need an expert on dragons and their history."
"Hi."
"No, I understand. The magic is one thing...I've had that since I was little. The rest came later."
She takes a deep breath.
"All right. I'm from Ashir. Sort of. My family, my father, are merchants and even though my father owns several caravans he never quite lost the taste for taking a personal hand in things. As such, I've seen almost as much of other lands as I have Ashir." She smiles.
"I cast my first spell when I was...five, I think?" The sorceress frowns a little, then shrugs. "Little. It wasn't REALLY a spell, you understand. More just a...venting of energy. Fortunately my mother's tribe had some folklore about such things so she had some idea of what was going on. Or, you know, thought she did. Wrong or right, she was able to help me master magic enough not to...set fire to tents by accident or scare horses or people. That kind of thing."
"Buuuut I was curious and kept trying to do more with this power, and even though mother said the magic came from the old djinn tribes that used to haunt the desert, I didn't think...she was right. Djinn don't have these."
Shayuri holds up a hand and squinches her eyes in concentration. A ripple passes through the skin on the back of her hand, causing new red scales to bubble up out of it. Her fingers thicken and elongate...and wicked sharp claws abruptly jut forth from their tips. She flexes those talons for a moment, then the changes reverse themselves and it's just a normal hand again.
"I dreamed of words then, every night. Voices like thunder. Words I only understood in the dreams...at least at first." She looks away, lost in a memory, but only for a breath before shaking herself loose and smiling again.
"Anyway. Long story short, for a NUMBER of reasons I came to realize that my magic seems tied not to the djinn, but to dragons. The more power I learned to draw on, the more..." she reaches up to touch a horn again, "...I was changed by it. I have made it a point to learn as much as I can of magic, of dragons, so I can understand what's happening and where this may all end."
The arcanist leans forward then, her eyes shining with excitement. "When I first heard the rumors that there was a hunt for the Tideruler, I knew I had to go take part. Maran only sees it for what its power can do for them...break the blockade, protect themselves from the navy...of course, of course! But it's much more than that. It's...a window, into an age we know almost nothing about! It was made by the very greatest of dragons, whom we call gods now, for the use of dragons in shaping and harnessing the very elements that compose the world!"
"I need to see it, and where it is. There'll be writings I'm sure, and other artifacts. And I'll make the same pitch to you that I did the one who told me where to look for you."
Shayuri grins. "The Tideruler isn't just a necklace you can put on, or a ring to slip on your finger that will do your bidding once found. It has the power to free Maran...or bury it forever below the sea. To harness its power the way you want, and use it safely, you're going to need an expert on dragons and their history."
"Hi."
Neurotic
I plan on living forever. Or die trying.
Marius finishes brewing his coffee as he listens to the sorceress
"Indeed, we already have one of those." Marius says. His clothes change into official temple robe with both dragons clearly visible
"I am of the Dragon Temple. My magic comes from within, but from training and discipline, not the blood. We were discussing if temporary reprieve of Maran is worth giving the artifact to a powerful mage. Especically since we learned there are things bound under Maran that could be cure worse than the disease."
He turns to the half-orc.
"We didn't betray our country. We're trying to find out if bringing the artifact to Dram is the right way to save it. If we don't have a choice in the matter, I'd rather choose my own path in some small way. Send the orcs away and you have my word I will not try to escape or kill you."
"Indeed, we already have one of those." Marius says. His clothes change into official temple robe with both dragons clearly visible
"I am of the Dragon Temple. My magic comes from within, but from training and discipline, not the blood. We were discussing if temporary reprieve of Maran is worth giving the artifact to a powerful mage. Especically since we learned there are things bound under Maran that could be cure worse than the disease."
He turns to the half-orc.
"We didn't betray our country. We're trying to find out if bringing the artifact to Dram is the right way to save it. If we don't have a choice in the matter, I'd rather choose my own path in some small way. Send the orcs away and you have my word I will not try to escape or kill you."
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"Riiiight," Shayuri said with drawn-out vowels. "I think I really, really need a status update or something because cures and diseases and orcs were not included in my briefing documents. In fact, I didn't get any briefing documents at all. Last I heard you were looking for the Tideruler, and when I finally caught up with you...big fight with orcs and lizardmen and...I just sort of picked the side you guys seemed to be on. No real idea of what's going on. A little help?"
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