|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Captain Stephan Rogharz, Patriot Son of Andoran
"To Nicholus Anger, Liaison to the Steel Falcons,
My time in Absalom working with the Pathfinder Society has been every bit the experience you had informed me it would be. I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the troubled cultures beyond our borders, will acting as a symbol of the Andoran ideal. The new equipment I have secured using the funds earned both here and abroad will help ensure my success in future missions as well! Nothing helps show the superiority of the Andoran fighting spirit quite like using a shield, commonly used for defense, as an offensive weapon. The new, lighter weight construction of the mithril shield I carry now is perfectly balanced for throwing, and the enchantments I have had cast on it now assure it will return to me, regardless of how I throw it! Please, if I am to fall in battle, be sure to have Captain Madris pass these items along to the next recruit to wear my uniform, so that the living symbol of freedom never dies... remember, it is important that the common folk never know of my demise, should it happen. Instead let them be inspired. knowing that freedom lives eternal, as symbolized by the name and mask of Captain Andoran!
To date, I have had the luck of being able to help free some of the down-trodden and oppressed people from the various areas around the Inner Sea, all the while espousing the virtues of making all people free from slavery and tyranny, while attending to the missions the Pathfinders send me on. The side missions I have performed for Captain Madris, have left me with a degree of Fame, leading to my recent promotion to the rank of Captain also. He is still my ranking officer in Absalom, and my direct liaison to you, so I humbly bow to his experience in matters concerning the direction my mission should take while stationed here.
I hope to return to Andoran soon, to see how the next group of recruits are turning out. Maybe I can inspire them to work harder, so that they can one day take my place. With luck, I will have a mission that brings me closer to home again, though I fear this might not be for awhile. If you do not hear from me by my next designated report time, fear not. I will be on assignment in the Tapestry for the time being.
Again, thanks for this opportunity to serve Andoran! May it never fail and never fall!
Sincerely, Captain Stephan Rogharz"
|
|
Is this where I can complain about the blatant disregard of our history in the removal of the sword-bomber from our great nation's flag?
As a member of the esteemed sword-bomber legion of the Eagle Knights, I do not recall any bill in the parliament regarding the change. There should have been soliciting of opinions and it should have been soundly defeated in a referendum.
I suspect this has something to do with the legacy left over from the incidents that occurred in the Shadow War, and should be corrected post-haste!
-- Lance-Corporal Sword-Bomber Grolschmir
No, that's what the Tavern is for.
|
|
*quork* Everybody's a critic." he looks to the dragon "He has been out of the egg long enough to choose his own drink, has he not? Choice is why we are here afterall. What would YOU like to drink?" he clasps his wings in a prayer before picking up a barrel of Caileanbrew and decanting a tall frothy mug for the elven lady "water, or the blessings of the accidental god hmmm?"
|
|
There's a polite knock on the doorframe. A man in gold and red plate armor -- hellknight armor -- stands there.
Some of you might recognize him. His name is Gennadi. His accent bears traces of Molthune, and he's known to be a paladin in the service of Torag.
"Might I have a word?"
"Ahhh.. the entertainment has arrived. Feel free to speak, WE at least let people do that.
And if we're going to be tar and feathering this one, I demand we get the feathers from upstairs this time.
|
"May the Forge-father Torag keep you safe from harm.
"You may have seen couriers come for me, with messages from a particular Chelaxian Paracountess.
"My children, Adrian and Tikkie, were taken from our apartments in Kaer Maga, three years ago this past Gozran. Becta and I went after the kidnappers, of course, but they were too well-organized. Becta ... didn't make it.
"Eventually, Adrian and Tikkie were traded, and re-sold, and came into the possession of some lesser nobles of Cheliax's House Thrune. And this ... woman ... promises me to keep them clothed, fed, and safe, in return for favors.
"Some of them I flatly refuse, but she's usually clever enough to send me on errands that prove innocuous enough. And I always keep my eyes and ears open whenever I'm around Cheliax. Until I have some decent intelligence about where they are and who's holding them ... I bide my time, and do her bidding, and endure her mocking promises of the carnal opportunities I'm missing. As if I would betray the memory of my beloved!
"But one day, I'll have my children safely home. And then," he adds, looking at the greatsword resting close at hand, "we'll see what kind of bite I have. And we'll see who's the 'flesh morsel'.
He's quiet for a span of perhaps five breaths,
"Would there be any among you, willing to help me in this? Any who have honed the detective skills I lack? Any with magic strong enough to reach my children and bring them out of durance? Any with a strong weapon-arm and a thirst for justice?"
|
|
"Oh. Well. If they've been bought and sold and there's a receipt I guess they're now LEGALLY the property of the noble and there's nothing we can do."
"Hell, even I can't keep a strait face for that. " one clawed foot reaches under the bar and comes up with long piece of yew, followed quickly by a large quiver full of arrows with ridiculously long fletchings.
"Step one, ditch the armor. Anyone that's remotely interested in helping runaway slaves is going to think this is a trap... that includes me by the way. Step two..." he picks a silver mug up and ties it about his neck with a cord "We drink! I know this little bar 5 blocks from the chelish embassy in the basement of a bakery. Most of the servants slip out for a little nip, and they're usually short on coin. Someone there should have seen your kids
"Oi, scaley, you're in charge of the brew till I get back. Assuming you're not comming?
|
|
I know all about being a slave in Cheliax - it's how I was born. But I was freed by a Pathfinder from Andoran and brought here to Absalom, and I swore to dedicate my life to help others the same way. I know I'm still a novice among the great adventurers, but I'm working at improving my skill with a wide variety of abilities, from magic to archery to knowledge in a great many areas. If you need aid in freeing slaves, especially from Cheliax, you can count me in.
I'm just glad that my first official mission for the Pathfinder Society sent me to visit the wonderful free land of Andoran for the first time. Given that I'd already pledged my loyalty to this country's ideals, it was nice to see the land for myself.
|
|
(Spoken with what would, in real-life, be an antebellum gentleman's accent)
"Well met, friends and fellows. Ol'Deadeye teaches the ways of nature...and while we may, in our way, hunt and claim our prize from nature to sustain ourselves, to hold others in pens is not the way.
Now, I may be perhaps a bit over-zealous in getting that "point" across at times, but I stand with Ra Loi there - let's take a gander into Chelaxian lands, and free some innocent souls - and some bored arrows."
|
|
Alas, my years on the road have come to an end.
The Decemvirate no longer sees my bow as useful--but in my day I killed many slavers, vile scoundrels and enemies of liberty. I freed many slaves and vanquished many enemies.
Now I languish in the boring life of reading the Chronicles and longing for the days of adventure.
|
|
A figure dressed in a rough homespun brown robe looks up from his seat beside the fireplace as Gennadiy completes his tale.
"I dunno about a thirst for justice", he remarks, "but I've certainly got a thirst for another flagon of this brew! I've rarely tasted anything as good outside Cayden's Hall".
With that he empties the last mouthful of ale from his tankard onto the ground, and nods towards the Tengu who is now picking up his bow.
"Mind you, a bit of exercise beforehand is a good way to work up a thirst; I wouldn't mind taking a little stroll around the block with you".
|
|
Incidentally, if you happen to run into an elf calling himself Sagotel, watch him. Elves who know him generally avoid him. He is loyal to Asmodeus first, last and always - he would even betray the Paracountess if he thought it would help Asmodeus in some way. Don't hesitate to take him out. He's 6'5", average build for an elf, black hair, black eyes.
|
|
Cheer up Jakt! You and me, we may be retired from active service in the Society, but that don't mean we're done retired!
Myeself, I plan on spendin some quality time on mah island, relaxin in the sun, sailin mah ship on the beautiful Inner Sea, and plunderin every Chelish slave galley that comes within a harpy's flight!
'Sides, someone's got to train the next generation. May as well be the best, eh?
You notice an ugly dwarf in the corner. I mean REALLY ugly. FANTASTICALLY ugly. F-ugly. Fugly. And, from the look in his eyes, not too bright either. And by that I mean STOO-PID with a capital STOO.
A crude wooden fragment of a rotting plank from some old misbegotten sailing ship has been tied around the dwarf's neck. On it, scrawled in some drunken dwarven handwriting, barely legible, in crayon, is the name "".
"Errr... we're to free slaves, yah? Just so we don't be gettin' near th' rivers. Er th' oceans. Er th' lakes. There's CARP in them lakes! CARP is DEADLY! I won't be facin' no CARP!"
The dwarf spits. "Anyhoo, who we freein' th' slaves from? We freein' 'em from their poor lives, yah? I kin do tha'. Let 'em go to dwarf heaven as free men, yah. Yah, I can do tha'." He picks up his dwarven waraxe and tests its edge on his thumb, then tests its structural integrity by swinging full force and hitting himself in the face (with the blunt side) with it. The resulting bruise does not enhance the dwarf's looks in any way.
|
|
"Andoran is the only place the Duskplume clan has ever truly been greeted with open arms. Were it not for Andoran, my clan may have been forced into servitude after the eye of Abendego in order to survive. If I were to do any less than my utmost effort to defend this country and spread the freedom it offers, I would face Pharasma a shameful failure when it is my time to go the boneyard."
Says a young Tengu who seemed to be staring off into space up till now. Holding his ale mug into the air he says.
"For the freedom of all people of all races of all clans in the world!"
*He downs the large drink in a single gulp*
|
|
*Smiling as she she accepts a drink from Ridgar, a disturbingly perfect skinned woman flashes a smile of teeth that are just a bit too sharp. With her golden eyes on him, the Tiefling says*
"By Cayden Cailean, it's good to know that those who fight for freedom get to live to retire. Thanks for the drink, some entertainment is on me."
*With a mischievous grins and reaches into her bodice and pulls out a cloth bag of a mysterious powder. Throwing it on the ground a burning image of a dragon drinking ale appears in the air and dissipates after a ten seconds or so, leaving nothing but a small pile of barely warm ash on the floor.*
|
|
"Haha, not just live long enough to retire, but live one continueous life! More than I can say for most ah my adventurin party! Jene could take down an elephant in one swing, but she found herself in Pharasma's waitin room more than once. Keep this in mind; if the Venture Captn' says you're gonna be retrievin some cursed items, best not to put on any necklaces!"
*downing his drink, he eyes up the tiefling Salrana, obviously interested*
"So yer a temptin little fox. How'd a lass like you get tah be workin for the Blue?"
|
|
"So yer a temptin' little fox. How'd a lass like you get tah be workin for the Blue?"
*In response to this comment, a "randomly white-to-gray-to-black gradient"-skinned individual pushes his way up behind the dwarf. He is dresses in monk's robes, but the sleeves are tucked in to display the points of dragon tattoo's wingtips. He has an eyepatch that appears to be the equivilent of a drain plug slowing the current of wisps of darkness. His fingernails are stained a reddish brown, and has an unapproving demeanor about him at this moment.*
"Hey, hey, hey. Stinky. Step away from the beaut," he says as he taps the dwarf's shoulder. "A girl like that doesn't want some smelly little fuzzball like you oggling her up. She'd clearly enjoy someone more her stock. Stick to your ugly bearded women from your hole in the ground."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
*eyes the fight about to start over a girl, and breaks out into I love this bar while making sure his drinks are secured. Squawk! *
|
|
*With a quick annoyed look at Jhan, Salrana says*
"I wouldn't have accepted a drink from a man I had no wish to talk to, looks aren't everything. Besides a woman can be friendly with a man without be romantically interested"
*Then with the mischievous grin back in place she looks back to Ridgar*
"My tiefling mother seduced my human father on a whim, she lost interest in him after giving birth to me. My father raised me on his own in Daggermark in the River Kingdoms. As you probably know, we tieflings grow up much slower than humans. My father died when I was young and Gelran Hammermug, a dwarven alchemist in city, raised me. He taught me his trade. I have always hated cruelty and in the River Kingdoms we see slavery as the biggest act of cruelty. Gelran taught me that one must act on one's beliefs if one truly held them dear. Of all the nations that forbid slavery, only Andoran is the only one that actually works to stop slavery all over Golarion. Pathfinders travel to places and see things that other freedom fighters don't. So here I am."
*After a brief pause she asks*
"Well I hope I didn't bore you. What brought you to serve the blue?"
|
|
"If you want to talk to that %@$#ing mess, just know he gets around with a ^#%$ton of stuff I'm sure they don't put in the chronicles. They wouldn't want kids to even THINK that that kind of ^%#$ was possible with 'em. Don't be surprised if you wake up with at least three diseases that even that bastard Zey can't identify just from standing next to him."
*J'han turns with a smirk and starts walking slowly to his stool, obviously still waiting for a fight to start.*
|
|
*to Salrana* "Bore me? I wouldn'ta asked if I didn't wanna know. That's halfa being a Pathfinder. Ain't everything can be solved by punchin it. Speakin' of which..."
*with a smirk* "Hah! J'han, yeh know ya couldn't take me in a brawl. Come back when yer not such a greenhorn and we'd have a grand tussle. Colson'd have mah hide if I killed new recruits in sparring accidents."
*turns back to the lady*
"But the whelp's not entirely outta place. I do love me them exotic types. *obvious eye-over* Just get shot down more oft then not. Damn sphinxes are a b$&$+ to seduce. But yeh ain't got ta worry about disease; any ailment that could possibly catch me prolly killed the rest of Golarion by the time it does. Side's, it pays to have a priest for a brother."
*orders another round*
"That's actually how I got wrangled into this whole mess. The Redhammers have been devout to Cayden since the day o his ascention. Some o the elders think he had a spark of his divinity lent from our greatest family hero, but that's a story for another time.
Anyways, mah brother signed on ta be a clergyman, I picked up mercenary work. Mostly stuff as a bouncer or a wrestler in bars, stuff that kept me and Baldrick close. Mah brother wouldn't last a day without me. He signs up for the Pathfinders under the aspect of Cayden that premotes exploration and junk, then signs on to Andoran under the whole freedom concept. Little puke would die without me, so I go in tail.
Wasn't exactlly a great fit at the start, but I took to it, and in time it grew on me. Saw the atrocities that others commited, then commited myself ta fixin em. Had a bit of a spot on a ship while on Society business one time, took up the trade of a sailor afterwards. Then found out that the Knights are always lookin for seafarers. Bunch of crazy missions and suicidal runs later, here I am; Captain Ridgar Redhammer, Eagle Knight, Gray Corsair, retired Pathhfinder, and owner of a small island off the coast of the Andoran/Cheliax border."
|
|
*Jhan stops for a moment and turns his head back.*
"I'm not talking about your intentions anymore. I don't need to be a %#@&ing psychic mindreader to know what his intentions are, though. And if someone that looks like HIM really want to sleep with you, I doubt your intentions won't matter much, honey." He turns back and starts slowly walking to his seat again. "Plus, you know every ignorant ^#&$ just links our kind right to the %@#&ing Chels, and I KNOW he's done a Hell of a lot worse to them. I certainly wouldn't put it past him."
While getting under Salrana's skin is entertaining enough to him, Jhan seems only slightly more interested in provoking Ridgar.
|
|
"Ah fine J'han. Yeh want this brawl so much? Then come at meh. Colson will be pissed, but that ain't nothin new. First shot's yers.
I may not be a lady's man, but I ain't one ta force mahself on another. Heavens know I could, but it ain't how we Redhammers do it.
Usually it was Hernando makin the challenges, but I'll call yah out on this one. I'M RIDGAR REDHAMMER"