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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1476525" data-attributes="member: 15043">This session was intended to be a short session.  Drag n fly’s boyfriend wanted to play a single session in our campaign, and so I designed for him a one shot character... an angel of vengeance named Anias.  (Party was about 14th level at this point... this creature is also 14th level straight up... so it worked out nicely)Anias – AsuraAnias is ancient by many standards for archons and the like.  He has fufilled many missions for the gods in Celestia... frequently missions other archons have problems with doing.  Anias is wholly, totally dedicated to the side of good... but paradoxially, is willing to use any means neccessary to make sure evil... especially the demons and devils of below, are kept in check.  Should a kidnapping be in order, Anias will do it.  Should laws of men need be broken, and baronies tumbled, Anias does not flinch.  Should an evildoer need to be assassinated, Anias does not blink.Other archons and celestials tend to think of Anias and the other asuras as needlessly violent, and sometimes cruel.  Anias merely thinks of the others as softhearted and weak.  He sees only two lines in the world... good and evil.  And when he is charged by one of the gods with a mission, he will do anything... anything.... to make sure that it is seen through.Anias, normally takes the form of some form of soldier, molding his disguise depending on where he is at.  However, when combat calls for it, he can transform into his true form... a vision terrible to behold.   Fully six and a half feet tall, around 180 pounds of holy muscle, his head is crowned by strands of fire red hair.  His pale blue skin is stretched taught over pure muscle, his fingers and feet ending in enormous reddish black talons.  From the middle of his back rises his most ferocious looking appendage... his enormous wings, made up of a raging feathers of fire.  His eyes are black, and bottomless.His service as attracted the attention of the warrior diety Hieroneous enough that he has the unique honor of being solely in Hieroneous’ service.  The diety, for Anias’ faithful, if zealous service, has bestowed upon him a unique weapon...  a longsword, black as night and beautifully made.  On its blade were small stars, which on Anias’ command, could launch themselves at opponents with great force (1d8 damage per star... three shots per round).  When in disguise, he uses a normal sword, instead of his special one, which he has taken to calling his “Nightblade.”On that note... so starts the next adventure... per usual, with hijinks.  Standard warning applies... you know how hijinks with these folks are. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Nobility Comes with the BloodTess slipped out of Luke and Siabrey’s tent with a contented sigh, her arm firmly gripped around Quin’s, dragging him out as well.  In the bright light of the setting sun, the two could see Elenya and Shaun drawing nearer to them, their faces a mixture of happiness and something else...“What’s wrong?” Tess said, reading Elenya’s face immediately.  “The other news?”Shaun nodded, and explained briefly there was something wrong with one of the babies, but it wasn’t too bad, and the two would get through the situation fine.  Tess was about to ask them if there was anything she could do, when Elenya interrupted.“Did Quin ever tell you what he did in battle?” Elenya changed the conversation to something she felt was happier.  Tess sensed they didn’t want to discuss the unhappiness any more, and took the bait.“No... did my Quinny do something noteworthy?” she grabbed his cheek and pinched.  He growled, at that, but then puffed out his chest proudly.“I killed a dragon!” he beamed.  “All by myself!”“You... you what?!” Tess gasped.  She let out of cough, trying to catch her breath.   Quin?  Killed a dragon?!  “You’re lying Quin!”“He is... it was him and about 40 other people,” Elenya grinned, avoiding the elbow Quin threw at her to silence her.  “But he does deserve credit... he did make the killing blow, from what they tell me.”“Ruinin’ my fun,” Quin grumbled beneath his breath.  “Elenya... I’m gonna get you back!  The one time I had something to one up my sister and...” he giggled as Tess started tickling him.“Had to take extra credit, didn’t ya!?” she laughed.  “Go on!  I need to find a tent to sleep in!”“Where you sleeping sis?”  Quin asked, his eyebrow raised.If I tell him, he’s going to prank me... I know Quin...  “I’m not telling you!  If I did, I’d find myself surrounded by paper snakes or something!”  Quin gave a knowing laugh, remembering his most infamous prank in childhood, and waved to his sister as he walked off.When Tess disappeared from sight, Elenya leaned over to Quin, and whispered an idea in his ear...Tess wandered, and quickly found a tent close by that had been left open at the orders of Lucius’ “Chief of Staff,” Xanadu.  She settled in, and within a few hours, her tired body found itself nestled in sleep.For a while... until the noise of soft giggling woke her up.Annoyed, the bard put on some nightclothes and walked to her tend flap, Fa’rallan on the belt of her gown; not displayed, but within reach.  As she opened the tent, she saw Quin standing there, with a large grin on his face.  Beside him was a devilishly handsome man, clad in clothes that barely covered the essentials, with several potions and elixirs on a belt strap around his waist.“Quin... what the heck is going on?!” Tess snapped, annoyed.  I was in the middle of a very pleasant dream, you know...“Seeings, from what Shaun and Elenya told me, you haven’t been exerting yourself in certain activity... I got you a brothelboy,” he grinned, gesturing to the man beside her who flashed a smile... a smile she admitted was intoxicating.  Nonetheless, her face remained in a deep frown, which delved into a scowl.  I NEED HELP to get men!?  Oh no... you did not just insinuate that, Quin!“Quin,” she said, her voice quieter, “c’mere.”  As he leaned closer to her, she slapped him in the back of the head.  “I don’t need brothelboys!  I’m not a damn bunny like the others, I can manage myself perfectly well!  I don’t need help getting men, and by golly I don’t need a brothel boy!  Get his naked behind out!” “Okay, okay okay,” Quin held up his hands, “Sheesh... didn’t realize you were touchy about that... I’m sorry...” he began backing away.  As Tess went back into her tent, she heard Quin’s voice rise high in complaint, “Can I get a refund?  Or like, a trade in for something I could use?  No, I didn’t know she was going to be that grouchy...”“Shauny?” Elenya asked him as he stirred from the bedcovers that covered him like a lovely shroud, “you want blackberry juice or raspberry juice?”  He couldn’t help but grin at seeing the way the morning sunlight made her face seem to glow.“Hon?  You make that?” he asked slowly, and she nodded with a smile.“Well, I woke up at healer’s hours, about three hours ago.  I realized you weren’t going to wake up soon, so I went out, gathered some berries, and squeezed them in this little pot here,” she pointed.  “Now... which will it be?”“Mmm... I don’t know,” he sat up, beckoning her to come by him.  When she walked over, he pulled her down for a kiss.  “How about both?”“Sounds like an excellent choice,” she grinned, kissing him again.. and again.Things likely could have developed, saved a voice from outside the tent called out for Shaun.“Dammit,” he growled.  “Elenya... after this nincompoop is gone, your strength of Kord will be right back,” he said, and she flashed a blazing smile.“Hurry up,” she kissed him, and with a huff, he put on some trousers and went to the tent entrance.“Who the hell are you and what the...” he started to roar as he stuck his head through the flap, only to stop when he saw who he was facing.  The man himself was nondescript, but the tunic he wore was undeniably that of a messenger.  The white background and golden dragon on its front meant he was a messenger from Alexander......Emperor Alexander.“Um... yes?” Shaun hurriedly corrected himself, and the messenger gave a nervous bow. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you, sir,” the messenger said quickly, “but His Majesty bid me come inform you that you are to go to his Audience Tent within the hour.  He has important business to discuss with you.” He then pointed towards the south.  “His Majesty has made his tent about ten minutes to the south... it is white, with the Imperial Banner flying from its top.”“Um... ok.  An hour?” Shaun raised and eyebrow, and the man nodded.  Once the confirmation was received, Shaun flashed an enormous grin, and waved the messenger off.“Ok Elenya. Assuming a ten minute time to get dressed for the Emperor, Kord’s got forty minutes!”About the same time, Tess was still sound asleep, her rest interrupted rudely by Quin the night before.  After the Imperial messenger waited for some ten minutes, he finally opened the tent flap, and gave a cough, careful to avoid looking at the sleeping woman.“What? Hm? Huh?” Tess sat up hurriedly.“M’lady?” The messenger said quietly, and was rewarded with the sounds of Tess cursing.  A few minutes later, her head peered throguh the tent, her golden hair strewn about.“What the hell is it?” her tired face snarled.  Damn people waking me up all the damn ti... wait... she saw the livery on his tunic.“M’lord Alexander bids you come to the Imperial Tent in an hour, as he has important information to discuss with you,” the messenger said briefly.“What information?” Tess squinted.  The sun was altogether too bright and hurt her eyes.“He has not told me... save that it is of the utmost importance to you, Mr. Dice, and Mrs. Sipner-Caladron,” he said crisply.  Tess gave a grunt, and waved him off.  As she ducked back into the shade of her tent, her mind leapt into full gear, even as her body grouchily woke itself.Why does Alexander want to meet with us?  she thought.  Part of her trusted him deeply for his opposition to Zoe... though part of her was unsure of what to make of him now that Zoe was gone.  He did say we were pawns in an Imperial chess game... what happens to the pawns now that the other player has forfeited?Her mind was unsure about the answers as she began to hurriedly dress herself.Nearly an hour later, Siabrey gave a cat-like yawn, and stretched as the light from the morning sun peetered through the tent.  She and Lucius had held each other through the night, him telling her how afraid he was, and she doing like-wise.  She smiled lazily as she felt the heat of his sleeping body next to her, as her fingers traced the far faded line down his chest where the previous day he’d been badly mauled.So close to losing you... and now you’re here, by my side... and safe... her mind crooned...So lovely.  Her hand finished tracing the line, and she realized with a grin where it was close to.  I should wake him up, she decided with a devilish grin.  A few seconds later Luke awoke very surprised, and a few minutes after that he looked very happy with her choice of action.  After a while, she leaned down and kissed him as his ragged breathing slowly went back to normal.“Good morning,” she giggled, kissing him.  He merely nodded... it was another minute before he had his voice.“Can you wake me up like this every day?” he said with a soft laugh. “Though I suppose if it happened enough, I could get sent back to sleep....”“Hmm... sleep sounds like fun... wanna try?” she laughed, and was about to kiss him again......until a shadow blocked some of the light coming into the tent.“Luke,” I think someone is here, “ Siabrey said quietly.  She carefully clambered to her side of the bed, and reached for Kelir with one hand.  She started to walk up to the tent flap, as she heard a voice ask for Lord Lucius.“Stay there,” she said quietly to Luke, grabbing the covers and wrapping them around herself.  I don’t know if thats an assassin, or a messenger.  Either way, I’d rather have me greet them than Luke...She stuck her head through the tent flap, and the messenger jumped back slightly in shock.“M’lady Sipner-Caladron!  I... um... is Lord Lucius there?  The Emperor has a message for him,” the messenger spoke hurriedly.“Any business the Emperor has with him can go through me as well,” Siabrey said matter of factly.  “State your business.”“Lord Alexander wishes to meet with Lord Lucius in an hour, to talk important business.  Unfortunately, you are not part of the group invited, though he told me to expect you to be here.”Siabrey’s face darkened.  Something is going on here.  I can’t go with Luke? “He will not go, unless I go with,” she said dryly.  I’ll be damned if Luke wanders off without me ever again!  When I wasn’t there, he almost DIED! her mind thought fearfully.“M’lord Alexander expected you to say something like that, and he offers you can come with, and wait outside the Imperial Tent, should you choose.”Siabrey gave a sigh, I doubt anyone would hurt him in cold blood inside the Emperor’s tent... and if they did, I could easily leap inside...“Very well.”</blockquote>

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