The Slave and Her Sovereign

[Nephis]

And here are Pa'avu and Hazard!

PA'AVU

Spoiler

Pa'avu, level 18
Goliath, Barbarian, Stoneblessed
Feral Might: Thunderborn Wrath
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Heavy Blade)
Versatile Expertise: Versatile Expertise (Ki Focuses)
Background: Wandering Duelist, Feral Raider, Noble's Guard (Wandering Duelist Benefit)
Theme: Ironwolf Warrior

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 23, Con 17, Dex 19, Int 9, Wis 14, Cha 11.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 14, Dex 14, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10.

AC: 34 Fort: 34 Reflex: 31 Will: 28
HP: 134 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 34

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +23, Intimidate +22, Endurance +16, Perception +22, Heal +16

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +12, Arcana +8, Bluff +9, Diplomacy +9, Dungeoneering +11, History +8, Insight +13, Nature +17, Religion +8, Stealth +12, Streetwise +9, Thievery +12

FEATS
Level 1: Monastic Disciple
Level 2: Monastic Adept
Level 4: Versatile Expertise
Level 6: Wasteland Wanderer
Level 8: Markings of the Blessed
Level 10: Improved Defenses
Level 11: Cunning Stalker
Level 12: Acolyte Power
Level 14: Goliath Greatweapon Prowess
Level 16: Natural Intimidator
Level 18: Fluid Motion

POWERS
Barbarian at-will 1: Howling Strike
Barbarian at-will 1: Pressing Strike
Monastic Adept: Crane's Wings
Monastic Disciple: Iron Soul Flurry of Blows
Theme Power: Iron Wolf Charge Attack
Barbarian utility 2: Iron Resurgence
Barbarian daily 5: Rage of the Crimson Hurricane
Barbarian utility 6: Climber's Claws (retrained to Quicksilver Motion at Acolyte Power)
Barbarian encounter 7: Wolf's Bound
Barbarian daily 9: Rage of the Death Spirit
Barbarian utility 10: Howl of the Alpha Wolf
Barbarian encounter 13: Storm of Blades (replaces Resurgent Strike)
Barbarian daily 15: Thunderfury Rage (replaces Thunder Hooves Rage)
Barbarian utility 16: Reactive Surge
Barbarian encounter 17: Thundering Howl (replaces Thundering Howl)

MBA +24 vs AC, 1d10+15 (+4 vs. Bloodied)

ITEMS
Adventurer's Kit, Javelin (3), Belt of Vigor (heroic tier), Helm of Vision Unclouded (paragon), Iron Armbands of Power (heroic), Boots of Free Movement (heroic), Sovereign Glue (heroic tier), Elven Chain Shirt (heroic), Ring of Fury (paragon), Marauder's Darkhide Armor +4, Thundergod Greatsword +4, Badge of the Berserker +4, Gauntlets of Blood (paragon)

LOOT
355 gp

HAZARD

Spoiler

A Dog Named Hazard Level 18 Companion Character
Medium natural beast (animal) XP 2000
HP 168; Bloodied 84; Surge Value 42; Healing Surges 2; Initiative +14
AC 34, Fortitude 31, Reflex 29, Will 29 Perception +17
Speed 6

Standard Actions
(⚔) Bite ✦ At-Will
Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +23 vs. AC
Hit: 3d10 + 10 damage.
Effect: The target is marked until the end of Hazard’s next turn.

⚔ Snap and Shake (weapon) ✦ At-Will
Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +23 vs. AC
Hit: 2d10 + 7 damage, and the target is grabbed (escape DC 24). Until the grab ends, the target takes ongoing 20 damage. The grab ends automatically if Hazard uses this power again.

Minor Actions
➶ Unnerving Howl ✦ Encounter
Attack: Ranged 10 (one creature); +21 vs. Will
Hit: The target grants combat advantage and suffers a -2 penalty to attack rolls until the end of Hazard’s next turn.
Triggered Actions

⚔ Retributive Assault ✦ At-Will
Trigger: An enemy within 2 squares of Hazard and marked by him deals damage to one of Hazard’s allies.
Effect (Immediate Reaction): Hazard uses bite against the triggering enemy.

Skills Athletics +18, Perception +20

Str 18 (+13) Dex 17 (+12) Wis 22 (+15)
Con 19 (+13) Int 9 (+8) Cha 12 (+10)

Equipment: Sigil of Companionship (Heroic Tier)

 

[darkbard]

As the threat of the volcano beneath the city threatens, then passes, CHANVATI leads the others through the anxious crowd, takes in their cloaked conversations. Nervous glances are made first at the gigantic form of Pa'avu, but then all inevitably settle upon Rietka, the bladeling "escort" of the Wardenguard.

<<They will not speak to us openly. They fear spies among their numbers. They are correct,>> the Merchant-Prince speaks into the minds of his companions.

Rietka's face darkens. She appears about to offer a sharp rebuke when Chanvati raises a hand in peace.

"There," he says aloud and shifts his gaze to a small gathering of young men and women beneath a low palm. He strides purposefully towards the group, Pa'avu, the Wardenguard, and faithful Hazard trailing behind.

In lowered voice, "Kosol, old friend! I see we have mutual interests here once again." Even lower, "We have been occupied in matters that have taken us from awareness of public sentiment and daily goings-on. Once you promised me aid when I called. Well, I cash in that chip now. We seek to oust the Legion from Bantouk once and for all. What assessment of the current state-of-affairs can you offer to fulfill your promise?"

---

Chanvati is using the Consumable 2nd Nation Promise to turn his Primary Skill Streetwise check into an automatic 20+16=36 vs 34 Hard DC. Success.

@Nephis 's player has indicated to me that she is interested in confronting these heralds of Mordai Throkk directly here and now, hopefully via intimidation, but she is willing to bring force to the situation (in the vein of cowing (no pun intended) Bita-Bousseh's Stalwarts under her lead) as she is sure Throkk is a title associated with an ancient bladeling worship of Stoneroot, not a name per se. Perhaps here can be found a strong leader to peaceably lead the Legion out of Bantouk?

Rather than just make an Intimidate or some kind of knowledge check, we reckon it best to give you the opportunity to further define the possibilities of the obstacle and its outcomes.

 

[Manbearcat]

Complexity 3 SC, Level 19 (DCs 17/24/33)
Goal (staged): Confront the fracturing and warring Legion of Ruth within Bantouk (3), sunder Vezzuvu's control over them forevermore (6), and send them back to their strongholds beyond the Hinterlands (8).
1/8 Successes/0 Failures/1 Hard DC Available/3 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available

Kosol beckons Chanvati with his eyes toward a board laden with pieces and attached sun dial. Bantouk's board game market is rich and dizzying in its versatile array, but the point of this effort isn't the play itself, but how to silently and quickly convey information. In the course of the brief, two-minute game, without a word said overtly, Kosol deposits the following information into Chanvati's waiting grasp:

* The Throkks vs the Shi'yeurs are a tale as old as time itself. A pair of warring factions ever at each other's throats due to details of an ancient love affair that time has all but forgotten and concordant blood feud. Inflaming matters worse is the Shi'yeurs have always allied themselves with primordial forces, even predating Vezzuvu's reign. while the Throkks are tarred with the "spirit-blooded" epithet.

The sudden vacuum of power has left this ripe-to-bursting feud violently renewed.

* Kosol visibly cringes, sincerely but with amplifying affect, as the goblin's words pass over the group. Chanvati's friend makes a play on the board signifying deception and thralldom; the natural-horn-as-megaphone is a magical implement (elemental power source w/ charm, enchantment, and psychic keywords) and the creature atop the shoulders of the large bladeling is not the feeble servitor that it appears to be...

 

[darkbard]

CHANVATI gathers and focuses his ki, projecting his mind psionically into that of the goblin "rider." This is no simple task, for the goblin is warded by elaborate mental fortresses. To penetrate these and also avoid detection requires the utmost skill. Wandering the metaphoric maze of wards, the Merchant-Prince sees his path forward; the goblin's motives and allegiances are laid bare to his psychic forensics:

A powerful psionic empath, this, allied with the Shi'yeur faction seeking to sow discord among the unaffiliated forces among the Legion: to set up Mordai Throkk for a power grab and quick reprisal, both from a rebellious Bantouk citizenry and competing Legion forces, shattering the enemy spirit-blooded forces within the Legion forever.

"Herald," the Psion calls out loudly in his clear tenor, "as you well know, Legion domains are now subject to the nascent Senate decreed by Her Imperial Majesty. As a leading citizen of Bantouk--I am Chanvati of House Audaseie--and prospective leader of this Senate, I demand, on behalf of all Bantouk's citizenry, audience with this Mordai Throkk to discuss this matter further in private."

---

Hoping, with a success here, to establish a conspiracy and political struggle (already extant) that can be exploited in the follow-on obstacle to establish Mordai Throkk and their true, loyal forces as an ally in excising the Shi'yeur faction from a place of power within the Legion's decision making (ie, confronting the fracturing & warring factions of the Legion (3 Successes) being sealed with the next success, securing allies to help effect the second stage (6 Successes) of SC) being put into motion.

To this effect, Chanvati makes a Primary Skill Insight check, r8+22=30 vs 24 Moderate DC. Success.

With the elision of levels, I think it's fair to assume Chanvati has already positioned himself into the Senate but that his espoused Quest to become leader of the Senate is unresolved, a suitable part of the capstone for this end-of-Paragon play. I think it's entirely possible for this outstanding Quest to be rolled into the current SC (marshalling all political forces of the city for the ouster of the Legion via Senatorial action, in part).

 

[Manbearcat]

Complexity 3 SC, Level 19 (DCs 17/24/33)
Goal (staged): Confront the fracturing and warring Legion of Ruth within Bantouk (3), sunder Vezzuvu's control over them forevermore (6), and send them back to their strongholds beyond the Hinterlands (8).
2/8 Successes/0 Failures/1 Hard DC Available/3 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available

"The hour is late," the goblin recoils from Chanvati's aggressive forthrightness. "But you shall have audience with our eighth Mordai of the Throkk, blessings upon him."

<CUT TO THE LOWLAND SECTION OF THE PLATEAU WHERE A NAKED BLADELING MALE IS BEING ANNOINTED WITH WATER AND EARTH AND BLED ACROSS HIS BREAST UNDER THE OPEN SKY>

"May the earth fortify thee." The clergy slathers mud upon the Mordai as the priest reads from stone tablet.

"May the water cleanse thee." The clergy pours basins of water over the Mordai as the priest reads from stone tablet.

"May your life flow freely within this life and into the next." The clergy opens the flesh of the Mordai by honed blade as the priest reads from stone tablet.

Those present that look upon the Mordai do so with trepidation as, across the field, already in a sand arena simply cordoned by stick-drawn lines, is the stalking specter of the Shi'yeur champion; a hulking female bladeling, more construct than flesh, borne on legs of molten rock which sizzle the grains underfoot where she steps.

The goblin intones sharply "your requested private audience is the few steps between here and mortal clash. Make the most of those moments..."

---

MEDIUM DC

 

[Nephis]

PA'AVU gives a long, hard stare down at the goblin still sitting atop the bladeling's shoulder, and it visibly shrinks back. After a moment, the goliath says, "leave us," and both the bladeling and its passenger withdraw.

She then steps up to the kneeling Mordai who has observed the unusual instance of the goblin's obvious fear. When Stoneroot's Chosen holds out her hand, offering to help the Throkk Champion to stand, he looks first at her outstretched hand, then slowly up her arm, his glance stopping briefly at the lithoderms and tattoos along the way. Finally, he looks up at Pa'avu's face, curious inquiry in his expression.

"Obviously you recognize the signs I bear of Stoneroot's approval. In His name, I have come to offer myself, His Stoneblessed Warrior of Spirit-Blood, to fight in your stead. Afterall, we both follow the same path."

---

We are leveraging an Advantage here (the history of Pa'avu and the Throkks both following the Primal path) to lower the DC from Moderate to Easy (17).

• Pa'avu is making a Secondary Skill Intimidate check (+22 = Autosuccess vs DC 17) to aid her Primary Skill Diplomacy check to convince the Mordai to allow to fight in his stead: r2+9+2 SS = 13 vs 17 DC = Failure.

 

[Nephis]

So here is what I'm thinking for the fiction + mechanics & related decision-point(s) for you guys:

FICTION

• I'm imagining the Shi'yeur champion as kind of like a massive, female version of X-Men's Cable but with volcanism themed legs. Like she has been in so many battles and has had arms and ribs and part of her head sundered and put back together so many times via construct tech that she is like a primordial cyborg. Frankenstein-like.

She becomes enraged at the delay in the proceedings and the potential for a violation of her "moment" that she lashes out. She rushes a few paces beyond the circle and one of her construct-arm extends wildly across the distance to try to grab and crush the head of the Mordai Throkk.

MECHANICS/DECISION-POINT(S)

One of two things are going to happen as a result of this action resolution failure. Either: 1) I'm taking a new Hard DC for the above fiction and I'm deploying it now. You guys will have to successfully intercede to prevent the Throkk's death. or.... 2) I'm escalating immediately to a difficult combat (Level +3) w/ the Shi'yeur champion as an Elite and the rest of the budget Standards and Minions. There will be sand & thorn based hindering terrain as well as Throkks as fantastic terrain strewn throughout to help with the charge of the opposing faction.
The goal will be to keep the Mordai alive throughout the conflict. He will be a summons that one of you guys will control (therefore half your hit points, your defenses, no actions of his own but you can dedicate a standard to him to attack, and when you spend a move action you can move him as well, and if he goes down you lose 1 HS worth of HPs).
If he falls, you gain 1 Failure in the greater conflict and the sitch changes significantly. If he survives, you fain that final 1 Success needed to get to (at least) 3.

• You guys can increase my encounter budget for further Successes in the SC at a 1: 1 rate (so give me Level +4 and take +1 Success).

---

The Mordai Throkk seems to come to a decision to trust the goliath and reaches to take PA'AVU's outstretched hand. But even as he begins to do so, the Stoneblessed's fingers close into a fist as she quickly rises from her crouch and turns sharply to face the circle, the anointed warrior echoing her actions, alert but confused.

Her mind resounds with Chanvati's sharp direction to "see what I see" and the vision thrust into her perception, the vision of a future moments from the present. Even as Pa'avu narrows her eyes at the strange primordial Shi'yeur champion, she can see - superimposed upon the present moment of the champion's growing impatience - the instance when that impatience turns to rage and waiting becomes action, becomes attacking.

A objective portion of her consciousness recognizes dispassionately how the strangeness of this experience would once have unnerved her, but now? Now it is simply the normal course of life with her gosb'tar. Time is mutable. Time is a construct, as Chanvati is wont to say, to be utilized to one's advantage. Forewarned is forearmed, after all.

Then, Stoneroot's Champion rushes forward to meet the Shi'yeur champion almost before the warrior has lost her battle with patience. Thus the goliath is able to grab the mechanical arm reaching for the head of the Throkk's anointed warrior with both of her own, stopping the crushing blow. Stoneskin muscles bulge as Pa'avu prepares to throw the offending opponent to the ground in an over-the-shoulder slam.

---

We decided to have a go with Option 1: the Skill Check at a Hard DC (34):

* Chanvati utilizes Adept's Insight with Vanquishing Noble Augmented (Benefit: When you modify an ally’s triggering attack roll, saving throw, or skill check with your adept’s insight, you add 2 to the triggering roll (instead of 1) if adept’s insight is unaugmented, or add 1d6+1 to the triggering roll (instead of 1d4+1) if adept’s insight is augmented) to give Pa'avu a prescient vision of the attack against the Mordai Throkk to aid

* Pa'avu's Primary Skill Athletics check to stop the attack from taking place: r14+23+r4+1 AI = 42 vs Hard DC 34 = Success

 

[Manbearcat]

Complexity 3 SC, Level 19 (DCs 17/24/33)
Goal (staged): Confront the fracturing and warring Legion of Ruth within Bantouk (3), sunder Vezzuvu's control over them forevermore (6), and send them back to their strongholds beyond the Hinterlands (8).
3/8 Successes/1 Failures/1 Hard DC Available/2 Secondary Skills Available/1 Advantages Available

The Shi'yeur champion picks herself up slowly from the thick sand with her construct-arms. Her face is a contortion of menace and uncertainty.

"We are instruments of war. Each pawns in our master's eternal struggle. I am at peace with this...no...I am proud. Let us go to the circle and test your peace...your pride. The winner's side will be gifted Oon-yay Ruk; the Legion's scepter of leadership. The loser will achieve oneness with their patron in the hereafter or be cast into the Abyss if judgement of lacking is passed."

She moves to spill her own blood upon the sand, to swear an oath that cements her words, when a modest tremor rattles the plateau. Vezzuvu's ire or not, it is commonplace in Bantouk, afterall.

But the immediacy of it after the Shi'yeur champion's words and before her final gesture? That is enough to shake the foundation of faith by her faction. Immediately, shrieks, howls, and quoted scripture come up in protest. Some protest that Vezzuvu does not sanction this trial by combat. Some protest that the champion, having just been bested in opening clash-of-arms, is no longer in Vezzuvu's favor. Some, in the name of Vezzuvu's tendency, read this is demand by their underworld patron to rush their enemies, vanquish them outright, and let their blood run so thick that it sates The Burning Mountain's fury.

---

What do you do? If you subvert their scripture and oral histories, it is vs the HARD DC. They will not be pleased and will be very difficult to sway. Failure and its a rush to vanquish every last person on the plateau not of the Shi'yeur faction.

Anything else is MEDIUM DC.

 

[darkbard]

As the earth trembles beneath their feet, Pa'avu reaches down, spreads one gigantic palm against the bare earth and waits. She stands, ignoring the hubbub of the rabble surrounding them.

"Gosb'tar," her voice breaks through the din like crumbling rock. "The earth is displeased. But this is not Vezzuvu that threatens again. The displeasure is Stoneroot's."

Stoneroot expressing his displeasure through rumblings deep in the earth? Why is that so familiar?

"Ah, yes," the Psion exhales. He raises his sweet tenor to project over the shouts and grumbles.

"You question this conflict for control, Legionnaires. You question the fitness of a champion already bested. You see signs in the quaking of the earth. You prepare for battle.

"All this is right and good.

"But I beseech you to heed the 'Trial of Lo-Kag,' conveyed in that ancient tome, The Fables of Genga. Recall how the Half-giant companion of the eponymous hero, before his time as adventuring sidekick, was captured during a pitched battle between his people and an army of the Legion. Before his capture, Lo-Kag slayed a dozen stout Legion warriors and so was to be executed by the Dark Justiciar as wergild.

But before the hoodsman's axe could fall, a great rumbling and shaking of the earth took place. A stone edifice collapsed upon the Dark Justiciar, and Lo-Kag's restraints, too, were sundered. Yet, amidst the confusion, Lo-Kag did not flee nor fight. Instead, the Half-giant warrior spoke words of wisdom in the name of Stoneroot, foundation of both peoples, the goliaths and the bladelings, long ago in their history.

Lo-Kag's life was spared, and leaders from the warring people came together in unity in that ancient time. Recall now the wisdom of Lo-Kag's insight. And consider now his similar speech to his chosen, Pa'avu, made manifest to us all!"

---

We're wagering that remaining Advantage here against the Hard DC.

Pa'avu first makes a Secondary Skill Nature check to read the meaning latent within the earthquake, +17 = autosuccess vs Easy DC 17 for +2 bonus to Chanvati's Primary Skill History check to recall a useful parallel from his favorite source of historical information, r14+24+2=40 vs 34 Hard DC. That's 2 Successes! (And another BIG number.)

 

[Manbearcat]

Complexity 3 SC, Level 19 (DCs 17/24/33)
Goal (staged): Confront the fracturing and warring Legion of Ruth within Bantouk (3), sunder Vezzuvu's control over them forevermore (6), and send them back to their strongholds beyond the Hinterlands (8).
5/8 Successes/1 Failures/0 Hard DC Available/1 Secondary Skills Available/0 Advantages Available

It is nearly impossible to fully tune out the "mind-whispers" of the mundane folk of the material world for one who trivially wields the font of psionic energy that permeates this cosmos and other dimensions alike.

As Chanvati is relaying the powerful lessons embedded within The Fables of Genga, he "hears" the thoughts embedded in the blood of likely the most influential member of the Shi'yeur faction; "a very good boy." Despite being a full head shorter than the mighty Hazard, the brindled alaunt is a big fellah nonetheless. The two canines play with each other, oblivious to the tension of their humanoids' silly, political proceedings. Invariably, this play draws the eyes of those present in fleeting moments. Though those moments are fleeting, they're sufficient to pull a brief smile from even these hardened bladelings who are completely unconscious as to how the countenance of their mirth might advantage their opposition.

The psychic residue of the dog, the offspring of one of the most beloved kin this clan has ever seen, lingers powerfully both physically within the dog itself and in the minds of those Shi-yeur present. As story passes down through the ages, some believe it shapes in some unknown way the very form of those beings beholden to the tales.

A century's old forebear was the keenest hunting dog ever to have lived...at least according to the minds and emotions of those here. On a great hunt, the lead shikari was taken by a field of "lightning mud," sure to drown. Neither rope nor branch could give the shikari succor. All was believed lost when last breath was taken and head vanished below mud.

Not to be.

The great hound leapt into the deadly terrain, "dove" into the terrible depths...somehow coming up with the shikaru's jerkin in its mouth, and managed the strength to get their beloved bladeling master to the edge...before "the good boy" succumbed, far beyond exhaustion and what could ever have been even imagined.

A heroic tale beyond the clan's taletellers' greatest fiction.

The loss to the Shi'yeur folk was ruinous. They were always loyal followers of The Burning Mountain, but there was never any ill will toward Stoneroot or the Primal Elder Spirits of the world. This event changed that forevermore, with the hostility toward all spirits mud and stone peaking and never flagging since. Ignorance? Perhaps? But it matters not. The damage was done. The loss so profound and the betrayal so cutting. An explanation...a purpose...a meaning was demanded.

Whether the impact of this tale can be undone in the here and now...in this time...or whether this wound can only be healed by interference in the timeline is a question that hangs in the air as Chanvati's attention is split between his tale and the registering of this tragedy.

---

MEDIUM DC