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The Risen Goddess (Updated 3.10.08)
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<blockquote data-quote="(contact)" data-source="post: 1106" data-attributes="member: 41"><p><strong>12-- Another victory for Diplomacy</strong></p><p></p><p>Ragna's Wizard friend can't promise a pin-point delivery, but he says he will get the group close to their destination of Ratik. Mishkal and Hamm neither come to say good-byes, nor attack the group (which was the more likely option). Ragna, for her part, gets all teared up, and gives each of the characters a crushing orcish hug, promising to keep their deeds alive as pirate tales.</p><p></p><p>The group arrives close enough to the mountains to recognize how far they are from the place where they ventured into Elemental Air. They take a moment to breathe in the familiar smells, and are startled at how <em>loud</em> everything is out here in the middle of nowhere. Rex wonders aloud what happened to 'Lac, his first real warhorse. </p><p></p><p>The group has grown in experience, and power. Both Indy and Taran have bonded with animals from the island, Vognu the frog and Galathonriel the silver snake. Several magic items have passed from the hands of enemies to the characters, most notably Captain Philius' shocking shortspear and <em>ring of flying</em>, in the possession of Kyreel and Taran, respectively.</p><p></p><p>After a couple of days travel, the group is able to orient themselves using a map purchased in Greyhawk City, and are nearing the city of Ratikill, in Ratik.</p><p></p><p>The party notices a cloud of dust on the horizon and moves to investigate. What they see is a troop of thirty-five armed knights and footmen forming an honor guard for an unarmed black-robed individual whose face and visible skin are covered in intricate tattoos.</p><p></p><p>Worse yet, the soldiers are flying a flag that sparks painful memories in the minds of the party. A black crescent moon set against a maroon circle, the whole of which is outlined by seven golden stars. It is the banner of the Ishlokian Empire – the same nation that executed Taran a lifetime previous, and likely killed the others as well.</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>Metagame note: The Ishlokians were terrible foes: an imperialistic bunch of xenophobic elitists. Ishlokians hold to the</em></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Demon Decree<em>--a doctrine espoused by their Emperor-Priests. The </em>Demon Decree<em> states that magic is in every instance a manifestation of Demonic power, and all non-humans are inherently, irredeemably Evil. The Ishlokians were best known for their genocidal wars against demihumans, elves in particular. The Holy Empire of Ishlok perpetrated these atrocities in the name of the Goddess that Kyreel serves, but certainly did not receive any spells from her. The the </em>Demon Decree<em> was likely a reaction to the fact that they could no longer channel Divine magic. The Emperor-Priests consorted with Devils, and introduced Baatorian politics into the world of Isk. <br /> <br /> So if you spot a troop of 35 armed Ishlokian knights and light footmen escorting a black-robed individual, what would you do? If you answered, "lead with a fireball, centered on the black-robed bastard", you would have agreed with Thelbar. </em></li> </ul><p></p><p>The heroes gain the element of surprise, and decimate the Ishlokian ranks with spells and missile fire. To their credit, the Ishlokians rally quickly, and came forward in an ordered charge maneuver, bringing them into melee with Taran, Kyreel and Indy.</p><p></p><p>The black-robed individual simply disappears shortly after being burned by the <em>fireball</em>, and does not return. Taran fights his way through footmen, Cleaving at every step, and Kyreel wields her shocking spear to great effect. </p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>Metagame note: The comedic moment of the fight was Indy commanding his toad familiar Vognu into battle. "Vognu! Get their leader!" "Burrrap". Flop. Five-foot move. Next round: "Burrrap". Flop. Five-foot move. Toads don't even have an attack! Vognu had to flop himself onto the foot of an Ishlokian soldier to discharge his</em></li> </ul> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">shocking grasp<em> spell! </em></li> </ul><p></p><p> After several rounds of furious melee, the field belongs to the heroes. The knights are slain to a man, and the few surviving footmen have surrendered their swords. Thelbar questions one of the footmen, who calls him an "elf-loving Demon scum", and haughtily informs Thelbar that he is now marked for death. The black-robed man, he informs the group, is none other than the ambassador to Ratik from Knurl. </p><p></p><p>"You are now criminals of the worst sort," he states, "murderers and assassins".</p><p></p><p>The group debates the fate of the surviving Ishlokians, and determines to set them free, albeit far from safety, and without horses. After they leave, the party discusses the implications of their actions.</p><p> </p><p>Indy asks, "How were we supposed to know that black-robed bastard was the ambassador from a nearby allied nation? Is it our fault that he can <em>teleport</em> himself, and that one fireball isn't enough to kill him? Can you blame us for assuming that all Ishlokians are racist, theologically retarded scum, even the ones who would like to appear otherwise? No, my friends, we have done no wrong. In fact, we should be lauded at the highest level of Government for exposing their treachery! For freedom! And, um . . . Justice! Who is with me!"</p><p></p><p>The group stares at Indy, then Vognu flops out of his bag, spraining a leg. </p><p> </p><p>The group obtains passage on a sea voyage up the coast of Ratik, to her capital city of Marner, very near the Great Delve. Most of the party becomes seasick, including Indy, who decides that maybe being a Jaunty Pirate isn't all it's cracked up to be. Vognu, on the other hand, is fine, although he complains about the salty air chafing his skin. Vognu is a delicate toad.</p><p></p><p>Upon their arrival in Marner, Indy begins gathering information about the Great Delve, and the mysterious disappearance of the dwarves there that happened a year earlier. </p><p></p><p>The group is placed under arrest four days later.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(contact), post: 1106, member: 41"] [b]12-- Another victory for Diplomacy[/b] Ragna's Wizard friend can't promise a pin-point delivery, but he says he will get the group close to their destination of Ratik. Mishkal and Hamm neither come to say good-byes, nor attack the group (which was the more likely option). Ragna, for her part, gets all teared up, and gives each of the characters a crushing orcish hug, promising to keep their deeds alive as pirate tales. The group arrives close enough to the mountains to recognize how far they are from the place where they ventured into Elemental Air. They take a moment to breathe in the familiar smells, and are startled at how [i]loud[/i] everything is out here in the middle of nowhere. Rex wonders aloud what happened to 'Lac, his first real warhorse. The group has grown in experience, and power. Both Indy and Taran have bonded with animals from the island, Vognu the frog and Galathonriel the silver snake. Several magic items have passed from the hands of enemies to the characters, most notably Captain Philius' shocking shortspear and [i]ring of flying[/i], in the possession of Kyreel and Taran, respectively. After a couple of days travel, the group is able to orient themselves using a map purchased in Greyhawk City, and are nearing the city of Ratikill, in Ratik. The party notices a cloud of dust on the horizon and moves to investigate. What they see is a troop of thirty-five armed knights and footmen forming an honor guard for an unarmed black-robed individual whose face and visible skin are covered in intricate tattoos. Worse yet, the soldiers are flying a flag that sparks painful memories in the minds of the party. A black crescent moon set against a maroon circle, the whole of which is outlined by seven golden stars. It is the banner of the Ishlokian Empire – the same nation that executed Taran a lifetime previous, and likely killed the others as well. [i][list]Metagame note: The Ishlokians were terrible foes: an imperialistic bunch of xenophobic elitists. Ishlokians hold to the [/list][/i][list]Demon Decree[i]--a doctrine espoused by their Emperor-Priests. The [/i]Demon Decree[i] states that magic is in every instance a manifestation of Demonic power, and all non-humans are inherently, irredeemably Evil. The Ishlokians were best known for their genocidal wars against demihumans, elves in particular. The Holy Empire of Ishlok perpetrated these atrocities in the name of the Goddess that Kyreel serves, but certainly did not receive any spells from her. The the [/i]Demon Decree[i] was likely a reaction to the fact that they could no longer channel Divine magic. The Emperor-Priests consorted with Devils, and introduced Baatorian politics into the world of Isk. So if you spot a troop of 35 armed Ishlokian knights and light footmen escorting a black-robed individual, what would you do? If you answered, "lead with a fireball, centered on the black-robed bastard", you would have agreed with Thelbar. [/i][/list] The heroes gain the element of surprise, and decimate the Ishlokian ranks with spells and missile fire. To their credit, the Ishlokians rally quickly, and came forward in an ordered charge maneuver, bringing them into melee with Taran, Kyreel and Indy. The black-robed individual simply disappears shortly after being burned by the [i]fireball[/i], and does not return. Taran fights his way through footmen, Cleaving at every step, and Kyreel wields her shocking spear to great effect. [i][list]Metagame note: The comedic moment of the fight was Indy commanding his toad familiar Vognu into battle. "Vognu! Get their leader!" "Burrrap". Flop. Five-foot move. Next round: "Burrrap". Flop. Five-foot move. Toads don't even have an attack! Vognu had to flop himself onto the foot of an Ishlokian soldier to discharge his [/list][/i][list]shocking grasp[i] spell! [/i][/list] After several rounds of furious melee, the field belongs to the heroes. The knights are slain to a man, and the few surviving footmen have surrendered their swords. Thelbar questions one of the footmen, who calls him an "elf-loving Demon scum", and haughtily informs Thelbar that he is now marked for death. The black-robed man, he informs the group, is none other than the ambassador to Ratik from Knurl. "You are now criminals of the worst sort," he states, "murderers and assassins". The group debates the fate of the surviving Ishlokians, and determines to set them free, albeit far from safety, and without horses. After they leave, the party discusses the implications of their actions. Indy asks, "How were we supposed to know that black-robed bastard was the ambassador from a nearby allied nation? Is it our fault that he can [i]teleport[/i] himself, and that one fireball isn't enough to kill him? Can you blame us for assuming that all Ishlokians are racist, theologically retarded scum, even the ones who would like to appear otherwise? No, my friends, we have done no wrong. In fact, we should be lauded at the highest level of Government for exposing their treachery! For freedom! And, um . . . Justice! Who is with me!" The group stares at Indy, then Vognu flops out of his bag, spraining a leg. The group obtains passage on a sea voyage up the coast of Ratik, to her capital city of Marner, very near the Great Delve. Most of the party becomes seasick, including Indy, who decides that maybe being a Jaunty Pirate isn't all it's cracked up to be. Vognu, on the other hand, is fine, although he complains about the salty air chafing his skin. Vognu is a delicate toad. Upon their arrival in Marner, Indy begins gathering information about the Great Delve, and the mysterious disappearance of the dwarves there that happened a year earlier. The group is placed under arrest four days later. [/QUOTE]
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