[e20 PF] And with strange aeons...

[Thaven]

As Thorn looks through her Gem of Seeing and determines it truly is a Solar, Rook reacts impassively to her flippant response.

If you believe such magic, in a place such as this, is completely immune to perversion, milady, so be it," Rook said curtly.
I only trust one person; myself.

[sblock=GM]
Carataras: <What about me, milord? Don't you trust me? I am always at your service, milord, to expedite you from dange->

Endoril: <How trustworthy is a savage? You'd cut the nose of your mother if she looked at you the wrong way. Nobility is to be trusted; not some wild man; some beast of the earth.>

Cartaras: <You may be able to spin words into silk, Elf. But we 'savages' are straightforward and we refuse to play the deceptive games of court. If one does wrong, he is challenged, and the challenge determines right and wrong. Silver tongues are cut out in my lands...>[/sblock]
Rook sighed slightly as they bickered back and forth again. Valued allies yes; but the incessant bickering wears heavily on his mind.

"Well, does our path lie on this plane? Do we return to our own? Given our present trajectory, a brief return home would be welcome," Rook nodded, then added, almost musing to himself, "Though as I do not know where our path lies, I am unaware if such a detour would be possible."

Xanfire:"I often do not look for the reasons; only the outcome. But if you believe there be more to the necromancer's story than meets the eye, I pledge my swords to your aid." Rook owes that much.
Rook flipped up the visor on his helmet so that the gathered company could see his true face for the first time.

"Ah, yes, I suppose now is the time for introductions. I am an Emissary of Padishah Emperor Kalesh XXII, Shining Light of the Inner Sea, Overseer of all that is Just, Master of the Plains, Noble Servant of the Lady. May he live long, in health, and be prosperous."

The armoured man continued, "I am called Rook. At significant cost to his most noble majesty, I was sent to you to seek your aid. Though, in perhaps another coincidence, it was to your aid I first came," Rook still doesn't believe in coincidence.

"It is not generally known to the kingdom, or the world at large, but an attempt was made on the life of his most reverent majesty some days ago. I am unable to go into detail regarding the defenses of the Master of the Plains, but let me assure you they were thought to be impenetrable; and though we know it is no longer true, we still believe it to be the case. We've no idea as to how the strange assassins broke into his valourous majesty's inner sanctum," Rook paused for a moment to take in the reaction of the gathered company.

"I dispatched the assassins," then added with a slight grin, "they certainly put up more of a fight than that Balor," he shook his head and his expression turned grim, "The true reason his most wise majesty asked me to seek you out is because we caught rumour that it was not just he whose life was a target. So too were the lives of rulers across the land; and while in some cases the assassins were defeated...the winds say that in some cases they succeeded. No power in our realm has the capacity to systematically exterminate the rulership of every kingdom on Golarion," Rook nodded and allowed the party to take in these facts.

"Therefore the Shining Light of the Inner Sea asked me to see you out to determine the true cause of these attacks. You may be curious as to why this is relevant to his most understanding majesty. The Overseer of all that is Just believes that if enough of the rulers of our world were killed, the vacuum of power would instantly consume all in irrepressable war. The destabilization would force new rulers to expand their borders to solidify their own base of power...brothers would turn on brothers, friends would betray friends; the rules of diplomacy and mutual survival would no longer apply. It could not apply in such a world. And so, recognizing that such a collapse of all civilization could be on the horizon, his devout majesty bid me come to you to seek a cause. And, in the words of this angel, it seems we have a name: devourers."

He finished speaking.

[sblock=GM]
Endoril: <Well said, Milord! You truly are a master of words as well as battle.>

Cartaras: <If he had any sense at all he'd leave you here.>

Endoril: <Pfft!!>

Cartaras: <Well said as always, elf.>[/sblock]
Rook, again, sighed quietly.

And upon consideration of Michael's final words; that of finding allies, Rook added, "You know...I do have one ally whom I trust," as much as anyone he thought to himself cooly, "but it may take some convincing to join our cause. He tends toward being prickly."

OOC: Seems an opportunity for one or both of Rhun and Hero's character's to join. Rook would have a friend/ally that he could bring along. Seems a plausible hook to me to get one or both into the game.

 

[Scott DeWar]

Hedron Sheath's his blade with his ree hand and exte4nds it in greeting. "Well met. This,"he hefts the weightless-motionless body of Thad,"is Thadius the great- though It seems he has been affected by this swarm of-whatever IT was/is." At this he indicates the fleeing and destroyed undead things.

"Out of curiosity, to whom did you speak to when you said to be quiet?"

 

[Thaven]

Rook too sheathes his blades and takes Hedron's hand, shaking it. "Yes. I hope your friend recovers," he said, gesturing to Thaddeus as he withdrew his hand from Hedron's grip.

"Oh. Yes," he said pausing briefly. "I talk to myself, from time to time. That's all."

 

[Scott DeWar]

"Well, the way you swing that weapon, you can talk to your self all you wish. " Then to the Solar he says, " is there a way to do this with out the creatures of the lower shadows? I have hunted them many times and am not comfortable with working with them."

 

[Shayuri]

"I think if a Solar can work with them, we can," Thorn points out. "And it's not like all of them are irredeemable. Besides, evil is sometimes easier to deal with than good guys. Evil is very predictable. You just have to be prepared to see things from their point of view...so you can tell what they're going to do...and you have to remember to get ready for a doublecross because it IS going to happen."

She scowls at Malacarus' mortal remains.

"Sometimes faster than others."

 

[Thaven]

Smiling at Hedron, "I thank you for the complement; so long as the Emperor continues to hold me in his heart, I shall continue to use my skills to serve him well."

Glancing at Thorn, "The outcome is indisputable but the motives are unclear. Your ally turned on you, yes. But to assign any purpose to that betrayal, without fact, is folly," Rook nodded.

He paused, but then added: "Even if he had no motive at all; we would do well to confirm such a thing, given the grave news brought to us by this Solar."

 

[Scott DeWar]

"and now for the reason for us being here: there was some book or another? .. .. .. .."

 

[jackslate45]

"Correct Hedron. And we need to make haste. We do not know what we will find ahead."

 

[Scott DeWar]

[oocz] so we are all at complete good health? [/ooc]

 

[fireinthedust]

The Solar quickly casts several restorative spells upon Xanfire, and a Mass Heal on everyone still alive.

Well then, would you wish my aide with this task, Xanfire? I can only stay a short time longer, then I must away to meet with certain... entities... Hedron, it is a necessary duty what we must accomplish, no more pleasant or personal than doing battle. While I don't share Thorn's belief that the Outsiders are redeemable save through utterly altering their essence (by their nature they are mere formations of the fiendish planes from which they hail), it is important to rally whatever forces we may for this battle. But it is not an easy burden, Hedron. Not at all.