FoolishFrost
Hero
Midnight Setting: Kryas Crynkal of the Erunsil Elves
It was a cold and bitter night, with the weather not even bringing proper snow, but a wet sleet that cut through a man's cloths and numbed the flesh. Daker walked with his father, trying not to slip on the ice that was forming on the stones and roots of the forest that they hunted in when food was starvingly short. His father refused to hunt here before then, as orcs were known to patrol the woods and would think nothing of killing a hunter that had ventured too far from the protection of his village.
He didn't ask where they were going. Mother had warned him not to ask questions or even to speak without need. His father, normally a talkative man while travelling or working, was grimly silent as they made their way under the boughs of the trees.
"Ain'cha a bit late for a walk, Meat?" The voice nearly made Daker wet himself. Spinning about, he looked upon perhaps a half-dozen orcs that has obviously been tracking them for quite some time. He recognised the one who spoke, and looked to his father for what to do.
"Run fast, Daker. And don't stop for anything."
Daker just stared at his father, not comprehending why he walked toward the orcs as he strung his bow in a single practiced move. It was not until the man had put an arrow into a suprised orc's chest that he turned again toward the boy. "I said RUN!"
Daker ran. He ran while the orcs howled in rage. He ran as his father's bow made it's powerful struming noise. And he never stopped, not even when he heard his father's scream cut off into a gurgling noise that was lost to the trees and ice. The truth is, he never stopped running, not even when he was grabbed by strong hands that lifted him up with a harsh laugh that promised fates too terrible to think on.
As he was roughtly turned about to face his doom, his eyes caught something to the side. It was a tree, like any other, except for the fact that it was bathed in lights that seemed to flicker and chase each other around it's branches. The orc's eyes followed the boy's gaze, and gaped as he saw not only the tree, but an old man dressed in white furs that stepped forward to meet them.
The man was tall, a good six feet if an inch, wearing a hood that covered his head and made him look as if he wore a comical beard. The wrinkles about his eyes spoke of wisdom and humor, while the plump roundness of his face spoke of good meals.
As his eyes scanned the orcs and saw the boy, his face grew sad. "I'll tell you what, monsters. You let that child go. That one single child, and I'll let you walk away. I'll not raise a hand to harm you, and you'll live to have the chance to regret your actions..." The laughing of the orcs cut him short.
"How about we kill the little coward now, and then you next?" The orc holding me hefted the boy above his head and roused cheers from the others.
"Oh... Well. Then you get a lump of coal as a reward..." The man raised his hand, a single piece of coal sitting in his palm. The orcs, confused, looked at it, and then him, and then screamed in agony as the air around them exploded into flame.
The boy fell to the ground, the remaining orc looking down at him in surprise. The orc, for his part, turned and ran, howling as he did so. The boy then watched as the old man took a single knife, and threw it the impossible distance needed to bury it to the hilt in the orcs back. The monster was dead before he hit the ground.
It was only then, in the realization that he was safe, that he looked down at his shirt and saw the orc's hand still gripping his coat. Daker fainted dead away.
---
"I'm sorry about your father, lad. I never meant for him to get hurt." Daker had awoken to the old man tending to both him and a raging bonfire nearby. "I can tell you he fell two of the beasts before he was overtaken, and that his hand bought you time to be saved."
Daker nodded numbly. Despite his mother's warning, he spoke. "Why?"
The old man looked the boy over, and seemed to consider it. Finally, ne nodded to some unheard voice or thought. "Your father was one of my people. He was coming to get the supplies that I was leaving for your village. My scouts had been as sure as they could that the woods would be clear of orcs tonight, but..." The old man shrugged. "Seems these followed you out of the village proper and ambushed you. Their was no way for me to know."
The old man sighed, and pulled back his hood. It was then that the boy saw his ears. They were pointed and long, just like the stories of elves. Upon hearing his gasp, the old elf smiled. "Ah, they give me away every time, don't they."
"You're an elf?" The boy hesitated between the good and bad stories he had heard of the elves.
"Aye. It's not a bad thing to be, any more than man or dwarf, halfling or gnome."
"But, the orcs will kill you if they..." The boy's voice trailed off while remembering the way the orcs had fallen before the old elf. The way his hand rested easily on a sword slung by his side, and the throwing knives across his shoulder.
The old elf's eyes glinted in grim humor. "Aye lad, you've got it, I think. It can really be said that no one ever wants a lump of coal from old Kryas Crynkal..."
Standing, the elf calling himself Kryas helped the boy up. "Now let's get these supplies back to your village. I have to think up a good tale for a pack of missing orcs, and you have to make sure that everyone gets what they need."
"Me?" Daker jerked his hand back from the elf's grip. "But..."
"That's why your father was bringing you, lad. To help with the packing. Sadly, it's up to you now." His voice became firm. "And if your father thought you were ready, then I'm not an elf to think otherwise."
"But why me?" Panic tinged his voice, and Daker just knew he would somehow fail his father in this.
"Because, lad, your village needs these supplies." Kryas quickly bent down. "And because there is no one else left to do it..."
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Kryas Crynkal of the Erunsil Elves (CR20)
"In this dark age, there is no greater gift than the vision of true hope."
Male Elf Rogue 5/Fighter 5/Visionary 10
LG Medium Humanoid
Init 6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Senses low-light vision; Listen +17, Spot +14
Languages: Common, High Elven, Orcish (1), Sylvan, Patrol Sign
AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 17
HP 191 (10HD)
Fort +15 (+19 environmental cold) Ref +10 Will +12
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +1 longsword +16/+11/+6 (1d8+2/19-20) and +1 dagger +16 (1d4+2/19-20)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +15; Grp +16
Special Atk: Sneak Attack +3d6
Abilities Str 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 18
SQ Innate Magic, low-light vision, elf traits, low-light vision, trapfinding +0, evasion +0, trap sense +1 and uncanny dodge +0
Feats Alertness, Leadership, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (dagger, Longbow and longsword), Inconspicuous, Whispering Awareness.
Skills Balance +6 (+5 ranks, +2 dex, -1 acp), Craft +16 (+ 14 ranks, +2 int), Gather Information +14 (+10 ranks, +4 cha), Handle Animal +15 (+11 ranks, +4 cha), Jump +12 (+12 ranks, +1 str, -1 acp), Knowledge (History) +18 (+16 ranks, +2 int), Listen +14 (+5 ranks, +3 wis, +4 racial, +2 alertness), Move Silently +8 (+7 ranks, +2 dex, -1 acp), Ride +9 (+7 ranks, +2 dex), Search +12 (+6 ranks, +2 int, +4 racial), Sense Motive +17 (+14 ranks, +3 wis), Spot +14 (+5 ranks, +3 wis, +4 racial, +2 alertness), Swim +4 (+1 str, +5 competence, -2 acp), Diplomacy +20 (+16 ranks, +4 cha), Use Rope +9 (+7 ranks, +2 dex), Perform +14 (+10 ranks, +4 cha).
Erunsil Elf Traits: Kryas Crynkal has a +2 racial bonus on saves against enchantment spells or effects. He has low-light vision (can see twice as far as a human in low-light conditions) and is a natural channeler of magic. As an elf, he has Martial Weapon Proficiency (longbow, shortbow, ) as bonus feats and gainst a +1 bonus to fort saves. They gain an addition +4 bonus to saves against cold effects and take half damage from non-lethal environmental cold effects.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Any time Kryas Crynkal's opponent is denied his Dexterity bonus to AC, or if a he flanks his opponent, he deals an extra 3d6 points of damage.
Trapfinding: Kryas Crynkal can use the Search skill to find traps with Search DCs higher than 20.
Evasion (Ex): If exposed to any effect that normally allows a character to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage, Kryas Crynkal takes no damage with a successful saving throw.
Trap Sense (Ex): Kryas Crynkal has a +1 bonus on Reflex saves to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks by traps.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Kryas Crynkal retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
Leader of Men (Ex): Leadership feat
Vision (Su): Kryas Crynkal can create a unique view of the future. His vision feels just as real to him as the real world does to ordinary people. A successful perform check allows Kryas to communicate his vision to one nearby (60 feet) person per class level. Each shared alignment component allows the listener a +1 bonus to attacks, level checks, skill checks, and saving throws for as long as he performs. For every opposed alignment component, the listener takes a -1 penalty to the formentioned abilities. This ability is a mind altering and sonic effect. To maintain this ability takes the character spending his move action each round, for a maximum of one minute per level. The effects on listeners continue for up to 1 round per level after Kryas stops maintaining the effect. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to his class level.
Guiding Light (Ex): Kryas Crynkal's Leadership score is increased by +8 for a total Leadership score of 38. This effectivly gives him hundreds of followers of various levels. The exact number does not matter in most cases since he has them acting as spys and envoys on his behalf, paving the way for his yearly visits.
Vision's Gifts (Su): Fires of Conviction (Vision bonuses are increased by +1 for people of the exact same alignment), Fires of Destruction (Vision penalties are increased by -1 for people of the exact opposite alignment), Fires of Acceptance (Allies can ignore penalties due to alignment), Forged in Dreams (Vision use allows Kryas to make one target friendly for up to 1 hour per class level. Will save vs 10 + class level + cha mod.), Oathbinder (Vision use allows Kryas Crynkal to bind or find a bound follower), Oathholder (Vision use allows Kryas to replace a bound follower's base saving throw with one of his own).
Innate Magic (Su): Kryas Crynkal can use the following 0 levels spells at will. Summon Instrument, Lullaby, Dancing Lights, Mending. For unknown reasons, he does not have the delay involved with repeat use of this ability.
Possessions:
Coal of the Heart (Covenant Item): This items reason to exist is actually still tied to Kryas Crynkal. It's history started when he used a single lump of Coal to keep a warm fire for dozens of children that he had chosen to protect when the shadow fell upon thier village and slaughtered all who lived there. When he was later found, still guiding his wards to safer lands, it was said that the bonfire itself seemed to rise up and engulf the orcs that were attacking before even a single innocent life could be lost.
1nd level: The Coal can be used to light a fire, no matter how wet or poor the fuel used. This fire will burn warmly for a number of hours equal to the character level. If the fule would last longer, then the fire burns normally after that. This ability can be used at will.
4th level: Once per day, the Coal can be used to cast Burning Hands as a 13th level caster.
7th level: Once per day, the Coal can be used to cast Fireball as a 13th level caster.
10th level: Once per day, the Coal can be used to cast Firestorm as a 13th level caster.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Kryas Crynkal's history is so enshrouded with myth and legend that it's impossible to tell the fact from the fiction any more. His abilities vary from tale to tale, as does his looks and even race. What is known is that this unusually plump old elf is a cunning foe of the shadow, passing through his lands undetected except for the quiet hope his efforts bring... And the dead servants of shadow that cross his path...
Kryas is known to have a network of scouts and spys that gather information on the locals that he will soon be visiting, and helping to prepair things for his arrival. While he never arrives at a village more than once in a year, there is no set date for his arrival. Usually, only one person in a village is told of the day that Kryas will visit. Even then, that person must meet him outside of town in some secluded spot in order to get the supplies. The individual is often watched to make sure that he is not followed, and Kryas's scouts scan the area for any ambushes before he even arrives. Kryas then moves in with the supplies that the village is known to have needed, hands them over to the local, and leaves as quickly as possible. The villager then leaves the gifts to those who need them most nearby, knowing if he is caught, that it will possibly mean his life.
In some cases, Kryas cannot even afford to meet with the villager, and must just leave the supplies for him to find. It is then that he uses his Dancing Lights ability to mark a tree as the one that has the cache beneth it. This trick has been used so many time by old Kryas Crynkal that it's even become a tradition of sorts in some of the villages he has visited. More that once, he has come upon a tree decorated in shiny trinkets and offerings from a village. When he finds a tree like this, he normally takes the offerings, and leaves a more than fair value behind in useful things that are needed more, in addition to the normal cache he brings.
No one knows where he gets the supplies that leaves for these helpless villages, or how he seems to always have some something that needs to be dropped off. Some think that his followers often masqerade as him and travel routes of their own.
Finally, Kryas, regardless of his benevolance and charity toward the downtrodden, is a hardened warrior. His hands have been washed in the blood of the shadow's minions for ages, and does not often back down from a fight. Many of his people are also warriors, and more than one battle has had Kryas Crynkal leading it into the fray.
Merry X-mas all!
The Fool
Ancient Awakenings...
It was a cold and bitter night, with the weather not even bringing proper snow, but a wet sleet that cut through a man's cloths and numbed the flesh. Daker walked with his father, trying not to slip on the ice that was forming on the stones and roots of the forest that they hunted in when food was starvingly short. His father refused to hunt here before then, as orcs were known to patrol the woods and would think nothing of killing a hunter that had ventured too far from the protection of his village.
He didn't ask where they were going. Mother had warned him not to ask questions or even to speak without need. His father, normally a talkative man while travelling or working, was grimly silent as they made their way under the boughs of the trees.
"Ain'cha a bit late for a walk, Meat?" The voice nearly made Daker wet himself. Spinning about, he looked upon perhaps a half-dozen orcs that has obviously been tracking them for quite some time. He recognised the one who spoke, and looked to his father for what to do.
"Run fast, Daker. And don't stop for anything."
Daker just stared at his father, not comprehending why he walked toward the orcs as he strung his bow in a single practiced move. It was not until the man had put an arrow into a suprised orc's chest that he turned again toward the boy. "I said RUN!"
Daker ran. He ran while the orcs howled in rage. He ran as his father's bow made it's powerful struming noise. And he never stopped, not even when he heard his father's scream cut off into a gurgling noise that was lost to the trees and ice. The truth is, he never stopped running, not even when he was grabbed by strong hands that lifted him up with a harsh laugh that promised fates too terrible to think on.
As he was roughtly turned about to face his doom, his eyes caught something to the side. It was a tree, like any other, except for the fact that it was bathed in lights that seemed to flicker and chase each other around it's branches. The orc's eyes followed the boy's gaze, and gaped as he saw not only the tree, but an old man dressed in white furs that stepped forward to meet them.
The man was tall, a good six feet if an inch, wearing a hood that covered his head and made him look as if he wore a comical beard. The wrinkles about his eyes spoke of wisdom and humor, while the plump roundness of his face spoke of good meals.
As his eyes scanned the orcs and saw the boy, his face grew sad. "I'll tell you what, monsters. You let that child go. That one single child, and I'll let you walk away. I'll not raise a hand to harm you, and you'll live to have the chance to regret your actions..." The laughing of the orcs cut him short.
"How about we kill the little coward now, and then you next?" The orc holding me hefted the boy above his head and roused cheers from the others.
"Oh... Well. Then you get a lump of coal as a reward..." The man raised his hand, a single piece of coal sitting in his palm. The orcs, confused, looked at it, and then him, and then screamed in agony as the air around them exploded into flame.
The boy fell to the ground, the remaining orc looking down at him in surprise. The orc, for his part, turned and ran, howling as he did so. The boy then watched as the old man took a single knife, and threw it the impossible distance needed to bury it to the hilt in the orcs back. The monster was dead before he hit the ground.
It was only then, in the realization that he was safe, that he looked down at his shirt and saw the orc's hand still gripping his coat. Daker fainted dead away.
---
"I'm sorry about your father, lad. I never meant for him to get hurt." Daker had awoken to the old man tending to both him and a raging bonfire nearby. "I can tell you he fell two of the beasts before he was overtaken, and that his hand bought you time to be saved."
Daker nodded numbly. Despite his mother's warning, he spoke. "Why?"
The old man looked the boy over, and seemed to consider it. Finally, ne nodded to some unheard voice or thought. "Your father was one of my people. He was coming to get the supplies that I was leaving for your village. My scouts had been as sure as they could that the woods would be clear of orcs tonight, but..." The old man shrugged. "Seems these followed you out of the village proper and ambushed you. Their was no way for me to know."
The old man sighed, and pulled back his hood. It was then that the boy saw his ears. They were pointed and long, just like the stories of elves. Upon hearing his gasp, the old elf smiled. "Ah, they give me away every time, don't they."
"You're an elf?" The boy hesitated between the good and bad stories he had heard of the elves.
"Aye. It's not a bad thing to be, any more than man or dwarf, halfling or gnome."
"But, the orcs will kill you if they..." The boy's voice trailed off while remembering the way the orcs had fallen before the old elf. The way his hand rested easily on a sword slung by his side, and the throwing knives across his shoulder.
The old elf's eyes glinted in grim humor. "Aye lad, you've got it, I think. It can really be said that no one ever wants a lump of coal from old Kryas Crynkal..."
Standing, the elf calling himself Kryas helped the boy up. "Now let's get these supplies back to your village. I have to think up a good tale for a pack of missing orcs, and you have to make sure that everyone gets what they need."
"Me?" Daker jerked his hand back from the elf's grip. "But..."
"That's why your father was bringing you, lad. To help with the packing. Sadly, it's up to you now." His voice became firm. "And if your father thought you were ready, then I'm not an elf to think otherwise."
"But why me?" Panic tinged his voice, and Daker just knew he would somehow fail his father in this.
"Because, lad, your village needs these supplies." Kryas quickly bent down. "And because there is no one else left to do it..."
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Kryas Crynkal of the Erunsil Elves (CR20)
"In this dark age, there is no greater gift than the vision of true hope."
Male Elf Rogue 5/Fighter 5/Visionary 10
LG Medium Humanoid
Init 6 (+2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative); Senses low-light vision; Listen +17, Spot +14
Languages: Common, High Elven, Orcish (1), Sylvan, Patrol Sign
AC 19, touch 12, flat-footed 17
HP 191 (10HD)
Fort +15 (+19 environmental cold) Ref +10 Will +12
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee +1 longsword +16/+11/+6 (1d8+2/19-20) and +1 dagger +16 (1d4+2/19-20)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Base Atk +15; Grp +16
Special Atk: Sneak Attack +3d6
Abilities Str 12, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 18
SQ Innate Magic, low-light vision, elf traits, low-light vision, trapfinding +0, evasion +0, trap sense +1 and uncanny dodge +0
Feats Alertness, Leadership, Blind-Fight, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (dagger, Longbow and longsword), Inconspicuous, Whispering Awareness.
Skills Balance +6 (+5 ranks, +2 dex, -1 acp), Craft +16 (+ 14 ranks, +2 int), Gather Information +14 (+10 ranks, +4 cha), Handle Animal +15 (+11 ranks, +4 cha), Jump +12 (+12 ranks, +1 str, -1 acp), Knowledge (History) +18 (+16 ranks, +2 int), Listen +14 (+5 ranks, +3 wis, +4 racial, +2 alertness), Move Silently +8 (+7 ranks, +2 dex, -1 acp), Ride +9 (+7 ranks, +2 dex), Search +12 (+6 ranks, +2 int, +4 racial), Sense Motive +17 (+14 ranks, +3 wis), Spot +14 (+5 ranks, +3 wis, +4 racial, +2 alertness), Swim +4 (+1 str, +5 competence, -2 acp), Diplomacy +20 (+16 ranks, +4 cha), Use Rope +9 (+7 ranks, +2 dex), Perform +14 (+10 ranks, +4 cha).
Erunsil Elf Traits: Kryas Crynkal has a +2 racial bonus on saves against enchantment spells or effects. He has low-light vision (can see twice as far as a human in low-light conditions) and is a natural channeler of magic. As an elf, he has Martial Weapon Proficiency (longbow, shortbow, ) as bonus feats and gainst a +1 bonus to fort saves. They gain an addition +4 bonus to saves against cold effects and take half damage from non-lethal environmental cold effects.
Sneak Attack (Ex): Any time Kryas Crynkal's opponent is denied his Dexterity bonus to AC, or if a he flanks his opponent, he deals an extra 3d6 points of damage.
Trapfinding: Kryas Crynkal can use the Search skill to find traps with Search DCs higher than 20.
Evasion (Ex): If exposed to any effect that normally allows a character to attempt a Reflex saving throw for half damage, Kryas Crynkal takes no damage with a successful saving throw.
Trap Sense (Ex): Kryas Crynkal has a +1 bonus on Reflex saves to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks by traps.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Kryas Crynkal retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
Leader of Men (Ex): Leadership feat
Vision (Su): Kryas Crynkal can create a unique view of the future. His vision feels just as real to him as the real world does to ordinary people. A successful perform check allows Kryas to communicate his vision to one nearby (60 feet) person per class level. Each shared alignment component allows the listener a +1 bonus to attacks, level checks, skill checks, and saving throws for as long as he performs. For every opposed alignment component, the listener takes a -1 penalty to the formentioned abilities. This ability is a mind altering and sonic effect. To maintain this ability takes the character spending his move action each round, for a maximum of one minute per level. The effects on listeners continue for up to 1 round per level after Kryas stops maintaining the effect. This ability may be used a number of times per day equal to his class level.
Guiding Light (Ex): Kryas Crynkal's Leadership score is increased by +8 for a total Leadership score of 38. This effectivly gives him hundreds of followers of various levels. The exact number does not matter in most cases since he has them acting as spys and envoys on his behalf, paving the way for his yearly visits.
Vision's Gifts (Su): Fires of Conviction (Vision bonuses are increased by +1 for people of the exact same alignment), Fires of Destruction (Vision penalties are increased by -1 for people of the exact opposite alignment), Fires of Acceptance (Allies can ignore penalties due to alignment), Forged in Dreams (Vision use allows Kryas to make one target friendly for up to 1 hour per class level. Will save vs 10 + class level + cha mod.), Oathbinder (Vision use allows Kryas Crynkal to bind or find a bound follower), Oathholder (Vision use allows Kryas to replace a bound follower's base saving throw with one of his own).
Innate Magic (Su): Kryas Crynkal can use the following 0 levels spells at will. Summon Instrument, Lullaby, Dancing Lights, Mending. For unknown reasons, he does not have the delay involved with repeat use of this ability.
Possessions:
Coal of the Heart (Covenant Item): This items reason to exist is actually still tied to Kryas Crynkal. It's history started when he used a single lump of Coal to keep a warm fire for dozens of children that he had chosen to protect when the shadow fell upon thier village and slaughtered all who lived there. When he was later found, still guiding his wards to safer lands, it was said that the bonfire itself seemed to rise up and engulf the orcs that were attacking before even a single innocent life could be lost.
1nd level: The Coal can be used to light a fire, no matter how wet or poor the fuel used. This fire will burn warmly for a number of hours equal to the character level. If the fule would last longer, then the fire burns normally after that. This ability can be used at will.
4th level: Once per day, the Coal can be used to cast Burning Hands as a 13th level caster.
7th level: Once per day, the Coal can be used to cast Fireball as a 13th level caster.
10th level: Once per day, the Coal can be used to cast Firestorm as a 13th level caster.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Kryas Crynkal's history is so enshrouded with myth and legend that it's impossible to tell the fact from the fiction any more. His abilities vary from tale to tale, as does his looks and even race. What is known is that this unusually plump old elf is a cunning foe of the shadow, passing through his lands undetected except for the quiet hope his efforts bring... And the dead servants of shadow that cross his path...
Kryas is known to have a network of scouts and spys that gather information on the locals that he will soon be visiting, and helping to prepair things for his arrival. While he never arrives at a village more than once in a year, there is no set date for his arrival. Usually, only one person in a village is told of the day that Kryas will visit. Even then, that person must meet him outside of town in some secluded spot in order to get the supplies. The individual is often watched to make sure that he is not followed, and Kryas's scouts scan the area for any ambushes before he even arrives. Kryas then moves in with the supplies that the village is known to have needed, hands them over to the local, and leaves as quickly as possible. The villager then leaves the gifts to those who need them most nearby, knowing if he is caught, that it will possibly mean his life.
In some cases, Kryas cannot even afford to meet with the villager, and must just leave the supplies for him to find. It is then that he uses his Dancing Lights ability to mark a tree as the one that has the cache beneth it. This trick has been used so many time by old Kryas Crynkal that it's even become a tradition of sorts in some of the villages he has visited. More that once, he has come upon a tree decorated in shiny trinkets and offerings from a village. When he finds a tree like this, he normally takes the offerings, and leaves a more than fair value behind in useful things that are needed more, in addition to the normal cache he brings.
No one knows where he gets the supplies that leaves for these helpless villages, or how he seems to always have some something that needs to be dropped off. Some think that his followers often masqerade as him and travel routes of their own.
Finally, Kryas, regardless of his benevolance and charity toward the downtrodden, is a hardened warrior. His hands have been washed in the blood of the shadow's minions for ages, and does not often back down from a fight. Many of his people are also warriors, and more than one battle has had Kryas Crynkal leading it into the fray.
Merry X-mas all!
The Fool
Ancient Awakenings...
