Know. History
Sense motive
Know. Religion
GM
”So you have adopted Ragnar, eh? You’d better train him up. He was fine but I’d expect your adopted son to be stronger. I’m glad to see you feel the same way about Baphomet as the rest of us do, however. Any long term damage I could do to his plans would be a bonus in all this craziness,” Ellena thought so that the vessel of Nocticula could hear.
The Paladin didn’t comment on the appearance of the goddess of Lust, fearing impure thoughts might get her in trouble with Iomedae, after all.
Adoption? No, I am a godparent to some mortals, including some who may surprise you, but I do not adopt them. She chuckles
Ragnar may yet prove himself to be worthy of being one of my mortal consorts, I take these on occassion, but you are correct that only greater deeds would qualify him for such a lofty honor. He could have done more in this battle, had he availed himself of my powers, yet he opted to fight, and thus somewhat underperform, using his own abilities only. An approach that is not without merit. He only availed himself of my powers to telepathically communicate in a way that can not be intercepted, to propose a plan which is also... meritous. Baphomets offering of a mighty bounty of your Lady Anaryas head is calibrated to cause greed fueled betrayal among the crusader cause, by her disappearance, and by spreading some rumors, it will instead cause such things amongst those following the worldwound.
She adds, he manicured fingers stroking her chin.
I can sense you are... cautious, about peering into my past, but let me entice you with this. I have in my past fought wars against a coalition of undead including one Tar-Baphon, an archfoe of your inheritor. And I know some things about him which your inheritor does not. Does that pique your interest?
Once more she holds out her hand.
She refers to Iomedae without saying her name as inheritor, but refers to Anarya as Lady Anarya. An interesting detail.
Sense motive
GM
Perhaps it was the adrenaline rushing through her system post battle, but Ellena figured this opportunity would never present itself to a mere mortal like herself again. And surely, her iron will would allow her to fall to any corruption she might view. ”Very well then. Show me some of your past wars against Iomedae's enemies, then…”
Angothane You address the towering Balor Lord, his armor enscrolled with Thassilonian symbols.
Shamira You address your second in command, a burning sensation of a flame winged Succubus.
You have your orders, strike, our trap will go off in 3,2,1, now.
The towering Lich is not where he thought he was going to teleport to.
Shamira strikes first, not physically, but with flames that rip and burn away the protective magiks the Lich wove on himself before his dramatic entrance. He did however, prepare for Paladins, and well, is fighting the polar opposite. Then Angothane, your favorite Balor and a former runelord of wrath with his own memory intact strikes as well, his onslaught physically clobbering the mighty Lich!
Meanwhile you peer into the Lichs suprised mind, undead would be immune to you, but well, your charm breaches such barriers, imagine not being able to seduce someone just because they are dead. Where is his simulacrum... where.... wait he wiped his own memory of its location?
You sneer as your perforate the still surprised Lich with dozens of midnight Bolts, killing its body, but with each of the bolts also piercing his soul as well, each infused with tracking and tracing magic, which should give you the location of the phylactery even if he himself does not know.
Now you do, and... thats a pretty impressive amount of chuzpah. A demiplane inside of Rovagugs prison? Which the wild beast does not see. For now. Everytime the Lich dies, his soul goes there, and there is a slight but existing chance that the process could be observed by Rovagug, who could force his way into the demiplane, and then use the permanent gate he has placed there because of course he is megalomaniac enough to do this!
In essence, every time I, or anyone else, kills him, I risk setting the wild beast free. I have to admire the balls for that. But wait. That gate can be closed from the other side, even if the gate is a one way thing...
You teleport, anticipating correctly that the other end of his gate is right in the center of his power.
Tar Baphons voice calls out
A bluff perhaps, but not one you wish to call
These are my terms, you will pass through the gate. I will close it, you will place your phylactery somewhere else and cancel your alliance with Orcus, Koluarud and Kabriri. In return, I will not murder or abduct your most important followers, or profane ascend that Iomedae you seem to be obsessed with and let her have some fun with screams of the banshee.
You make your demand, you have him by his non existing balls after all, and he will choose to perpetuate his existence.
The Lich agrees.
He moves past you, clutching his midsection and the place between his legs, your midnight bolts still sticking out of this inspite of the reincarnation. You smile regalls, ending that gate, blow him a kiss and depart.
At least he cant pull that stunt again, although it is impressive that he survived your attempt to kill him, which several Demonlord failed by comparison.
You could go back on your word, but your word is to useful, and Tar Baphon is not enough of a threat to you, excluding his messing around with the wild beasts prison, to make this a attractive prospect.
His phylactery is no longer in a demiplane only reachable from the wild beasts prison. She says as the vision ends.
GM
Tar-Baphon is no deity, he is, in his own way, still a mortal who seeks the starstone. I have an interest in seeing him fail, a deity which I killed when still mortal would be ascending is against my interest clearly, and preventing his ascension is easier then assassinating him later, my interest just is not a very strong one and it is not a pressing concern currently. She pauses
The starstone only works on mortals, which both myself and Tar Baphon would know. I posit that he is maintaining a degree of attachment to his mortality. This attachment... Could be a weakness if discovered and used against him. Nocticula remarks
Do you wish to delve deeper?
In the meantime Ellithiel approaches Yathlara.
There seems to be something wrong with this Askold, he has fluctuating evil aura!
Do you approach him together with her?
A pretty big Barbarian beatstick, stated, quite freely, that he is a Sentinel (prestige class) of the Demon Lord Nurgal (Mercenaries, warfare, the sun, thirst, senseless wars, the desert), although not entirely freely. Did not participate in the battle and traveled the worldwound slaying wraiths in return for money or supplies. Was genuinely helpful to the party when dealing with a massive haunt. Wants to join the Forsaken because he is a divine caster of a demonlord, and prefer dealing with them and not the inquisition.
Yath was idling, as it looked like the rest of the people in this abysmal bowl were talking to each other telepathically. She was considering cheese at the moment, not cause she was hungry, but just because her mind liked to wander especially when she really really did not want to think about the chances everything around her could explode in violence at any second. Again.
Munster, she mentally decides, but what exactly that decision is, must wait since interactions have arrived.
"Oh, why yes, I would enjoy the diversion." She smiles at her angel, then furrows her brow "Fluchtuating? Maybe a nondetection spell on the spritz?" The elf smoothed out the silk of her dark robes, adjusts her matching cloak. First impressions and all, then nods her readiness to Ellithiel.
As they approach, she gives her best 'I am not a threat, please do not pound me into the ground' smile, and asks "Hello, I am Yathlara, an elf, and this heavenly being is Ellithiel. If you don't mind the interruption, we were a touch curious about your Alignment. What is it?" Big Barbarians typically are the blunt type when it comes to conversation. Though Yath is aware that is a stereotype, and that leaning into can be morally reprehensible, but she does so anyway.
Askold, human. Should be chaotic evil, I have some standards but... nah, you dont walk my path and not be evil. Almost 100% certain any Paladin can smite me, and even more certain that a hellknight can. The man replies grunting
My power is freaking out though. Normally I ask for power, and then I get some, and then I hit something with that power which uses it up, but now, it is like... Its like... putting more and more wat
he pauses, water apparently being nearly a forbidden word for him
fluid into a jug and then the jug is bursting? Never happened before, I have the intuition that the power flow would increase further if I try to make use of it which is why I am happy I didnt need to interfere in the battle
He gathers his thoughts making no hostile movements
It may be present company? This Korada is kind of here, and I guess that Nocticula watches directly via her pact-partner-o-vision. He looks at Ragnar and the empyreal banner attached to his armor. Succubi-nobles can see what their partners see, although not all of them, but the first Succubus definitly can do that to. Nurgal is the demonlord of senseless warfare, Korada is his polar opposite, Nurgal is the demonlord of the highest noon, Nocticula the incarnation of midnight. Presence of 2 of his foes?
He muses, betraying a fair bit of planar knowledge and intelligence.
Yath nods along, adjusting his type in her head to more 'sharp' than 'blunt' "I did. Know that, I mean. The Pact-partner thing." she clarifies her clarification, then expounds "I always believed the power bore out of pure narcissism. The desire to see oneself in the act of desire appeasement through the eyes of the one who desires you the most, and is most likely doing the appeasement. A 'you' doing 'you' who thinks you are the hottest thing around." she pauses, unhappy with her sentence, but deciding it is too late since it has been said "But after research, I decided it was most likely born from pride. The pride of someone wanting to always grow in their craft. They are known for being The Best, so if there was any doubt, they'd have to go on a sex murder spree, and that would definitely be messy."
She sighs, imagining it. But just imagining, cause it would be Wrong.
"Oh, I am considered by most to be Good." sharing since he did and to make sure there are no misunderstandings "It is a pleasure to meet you, Askold, who is like an unstable overfilled jug of Demon Lord Nurgal power." worry fluttering at the edges of her tone at that revelation. "No worrisome at all." she lies sarcastically "Um... if the senseless warfare is over, and please do not take offense at this question, why are you sticking around?"
Actually Belana interjects, and the pauses, as if she would have nearly said something revealing out loud
You know what the really fun thing about my gift is? I can make the link go both ways, and have select pact partner feel what I feel when I drain. Maybe Lady Nocticula can do this too, but I have made intensive research, you see, a number of her consorts have extensively written about the experience, and to the best of my incredibly well informed knowledge she never did that! You hear her mentally.
Yes, we can be rather prideful, not as much as Balors, and we will not be shackled by pride, but yes. She says at the same time
Elluviel raises an eyebrow, apparently catching something.
About to change my demonic allegiance Askold nods to the Forsaken and to Belana specifically.
She telepathically sent me a list of how much f%$@ing money the Forsaken are making with their import/export sidejob. Like, seriously...
He pauses
How is the saying? Employer change is when you get you really get a pay rise?
He seems happy but begins focussing again.
Ahh Lady Belana, if you would permit me 2 questions in return for 2 minor favors? The voice of Korada speaks in your heads, as well as presumably in the forsakens
You know the limitations of what I can answer? If you adhere to these, then yes. Her voice, interested, chirps back
Ah of course, none of Nocticulas secrets shall be asked for.
First, Which 2 Demonlords, excluding Nocticula, are most likely to frustrate the worldwounds plans?
Second, which 2 demonlords, excluding Nocticula again, are most likely to support it?
The voice sounds a bit like a schoolteacher, but 2 albeit minor favors from an empyreal lord are no small boon.
To the first question, my answer would be Koschtschie and Mazzmezz. Allow me to elaborate. Koschtschie is currently involved in affecting certain... changes... in Irrisen. He has plans for this nation which are unlikely to include it getting devoured by bugs. He sees himself in a duel with Baba Yaga, and woe to anyone who interferes. I do not recommend being female when making deals with him, but it is generally speaking better to trick or troll him into action then to bribe him. He also inherently dislikes Baphomet over the latters reliance on his mother Lamashtu, and Deskari, albeit to a lesser extent over his familial ties to Pazuzu. He in some, albeit very paradoxial ways, a "self made-ex-man-no-ice-giant-demon-lord" and dislikes Nepotism.
Belana pauses
Mazzmezz, demon, or also Qlippoth-lord of spiders, vermin and bindings has long been an antagonist of Deskari, spiders and bugs arent exactly a match made in heaven, and the rasping rifts are located in a position that blocks her access to other abyssal realms. She has, uniquely for a Qlippoth, sough to... refine and civilize herself, something that our Lady in Shadow has encouraged, and could be convinced to attack Deskaris rear. For perhaps a limited prize, such as having her worship legalized. I actually know her high priestess on Golarion, who currently serves the Jade regent of Minkai as minister of foreign affairs.
In theory, Minkai, which is a rather harsh state with massive prisons filled with good aligned mortals, could be convinced to vacate this prisons into Mendev or Sarkoris, solving a political problem for them and increasing your available manpower, but the question of transport would be complicated.
There is a 15 secondish pause
To the second question, the most plausible tertiary threat is Nurgal.
As a Demonlord of Sun, war, mercenaries and tactics, he shares multiple areas of concern with Iomedae, as their alignments are polar opposites, this is of course a violent and hostile competition. Secondly, Iomedae is the inheritor of Aroden, who in turn is inheritor of Acavna, who in turn was the one who cleaved Nurgal in twain, demoting him from deity to demonlord and infernal duke.
As demonlord of the sun, he is clashing with Lady Nocticula who is midnight incarnate, and our Lady in Shadows She looks at the Forsaken
Forays into providing and basing interplanar mercenaries, dont exactly endear her to him, that and her killing him, twice, a couple of decades ago. Unfortunately, his Abyssal reeincarnation is seemingly more potent than that of his peers so he didnt stay dead. He likely perceives relations between Golarion and Lady Nocticula to be improving and well, Baphomet has been sending heavy bribes his way anyway.
The other of course is the s@$!ty sin, he already tried to piggyback off the worldwound, by establishing a terminus of it in Galt, in a realm that could be rather rife for demonic conquest and corruption, but that fortunately got nixed in the bud. He has historically been a frequent ally of Baphomet, and cares little about Deskari with whom his realm has no contact, a lack of interface that makes them... unusually non hostile to each other. Does this answer your question to your satisfacion Lord Korada?
Her intonation is precise, and you hear the empyreal lord chuckling
Done and Done and Done
GM
”Maybe just one more vision. I appreciate the knowledge of the inner workings of the demons and devils, but I’m afraid I’ve just about reached my limit on the awfulness I can stomach today…”
She take your other hand into hers, and is now about one arms length away from you.
Her face is level with your as her eyes draw you in once more.
You are her once again.
The f$$@ing nerd is dead. FINALLY Your left hand Angothane lets his frustration show.
What the flaming f@+*, teleport prevention, a f&@#ing death trap corridor and then the off switch for the f*&~ing traps just teleports you back to the start?
Your favorite Balor looks worse for wear, as if he had taken if bath in acid, got his right wing destroyed by an annihilation sphere, and some type of monofilament cutting webs was currently trying to filet him, but he seemingly was immune to it. He was the distraction in your assault on Vaatuu, Demonlord of deathtraps, dungeons and mechanical slaughter.
And then its not even the same f$@@ing deathtrap corridor but a slightly different one? But you think its the same until you find out the hard way that it added a trap that wasnt here before? Its like... playing Farmers and Fields with an Erinye as "Storyteller".
You inwardly chuckle at the thought of the ex-runelord of wrath Balor sitting down on a table and pretending to be a level 1 farmer tilling his field, but its popular with some demons. But you chuckle some more at your own ploy. Vaatuu placed destrucive devices under major cities, such as Dis, Alyushinrnyrra, Axis or Absalaom, he demanded tribute, 6 drops of your blood specifically.
The joke alas was on him, that he had his blood in his posession allowed you to not quite teleport, that didnt work in his plane, but shift to where he was. As he was currently rather amused by the distraction your mighty Balor provided, you literally caught him with his pants down. His end was swift, as your claws seep into his rather small for demonlords body, you go through his memories and things to figure out where these bombs are and how to disarm them. You see a calendar of sorts with many interesting entries, yet this one, barely a week old, is unusual.
Deliver Demiplane filled with deathtraps to Tar Baphon. Probably for his phylactery. Master override Code to turn off all the traps is "Litches get Stitches l33t!". Set up meeting with Pharasma to sell this in the future when he grows more annoying.
The vision ends with increasingly creative swearing by your Balor.
If you get to the Demiplane, housing Tar-Baphons phylactery, saying "Litches get Stitches l33t!", you have to say the last word as LthreethreeT and the spelling mistakes have to be copied as well, thrice is likely to turn of the traps that Vaatuu preinstalled, although I doubt it affects any additional trap installed by Tar Baphon, or his undead guardians, but given that Vaatuus traps were enough to seriously injure a mythic Balor who maintained his runelord of wrath abilities, it is a sizeable leg up. She is still an arms length away, and now her wings spread enticingly.
Would you like to know more? She does not yet pull you closer, but if you say yes she will. For now you are.... holding hands.
Yath's golden eyes move back and forth between the two entities, listening and absorbing. Her life as a spy is over, shattered by capture, muddled by a mind no longer able to completely focus. Still, details are like flower petals, pretty, tasty, but otherwise ignorable for the whole... meaning she likes them she thinks. Like Butter. Why Butter? Oh, toast of course.
With a small shake of her head and a distracted gaze along the hills and valleys of the scenery, she realizes that she is no longer really in this conversation. A sliver of attention does question whether Belana including Nurgal as a bastion for the side of worldwound domination was meant to remind the rather mortal elven wizard having a pleasant chat about succibi that her conversational partner was the enemy.
But it does seem the vast majority around here are. Maybe she should create a chart with weights for how much each one is or is not. Hmm... no string though... bother.
GM
Ellena looks into the eyes of the apparition of the demon lord dreamily. She hesitates for just a second, but then she wrenches free from the demon’s grasp. ”Whoa. That was …intense,” she says with a red, slightly blushing face. ”I appreciate your interest and the visions and all, but I think I’ve had about enough for one day.”. She knew Iomedae wouldn’t be pleased with even this much dealing with a demon, let alone anything more…
She makes no move to keep your hands trapped, and simply turns, her silky smooth hair caressing your face for a moment and leaving a feint yet pleseant smell of lavender, the entity takes some steps away before looking back at you
Greet the inheritor from me, tell her we will always have Arcadia. And also tell her I am not mad that she...
did not include "politely rebuffed Lady Nocticulas seduction" among her 11 official acts, even if its far more impressive then the bridge stunt, like, any lunar oracle can do that and I have a couple of hundreds, but I appreciate the desire for privacy. She pauses
Also, she is wrong about Norgober, he did earn his ascension, but the why and how would perhaps have been the third vision. This is not to improve her opinion of him, but to stop her from underestimating him.
The entity winks out, there is some steam rising from Koradas banner and you are back in meatspace, nearly no time has passed.
To the best of your knowledge, Iomedae has never been to Arcadia.
Ellena looks around at the rest of the group. ”So, did I miss anything exciting,” she asks, rubbing her face.
Startled lightly out of her internal musing, the elven woman turns her head to the Paladin. "Yes. Probably, but the specifics are... demonically detailed, so how much can be trusted is based on random number generators... I think." She turns the rest of her to Ellena "Hello, I am Yathlara, indentured servant to the angel, Ellithiel." She pauses then sighs, "That is only partially true, I am not their servant, I just owe them everything so am inclined to do whatever they need me to do." as far as introductions go it isn't So bad. "And you are?"
I claim no hold over you and you are an ally Yathlara, not a servant!
Ellithiel almost shouts, with far more vehemence then anything she has ever said.
we should exchange notes when I am less stunned, Mrs. pretty big fireball Cydric announces to Yathlara
Our circumstances concerning our beautifull winged outsider consorts appear to be quite similar! And mortals should stick together qui? Havent I seen you at a diplomatique reception in Andoran? I had the misfortune of bodyguarding a piece of s+*# called Gil de Marcon. He continues
He is pulling your leg about thinking that you and Ellithiel are an item.
Some memories come back, you were in Andoran, and perhaps asked to give your opinion on one "Gil de Marcon" who was proposing joint military action against Taldor, your recollection of that person was... an utterly forgettable creep.
You thought he was likely a cover for something else, and said so to your black Talon associates.
You remember pegging Cydric as a highly dangerous individual with a long rap sheet of clandestine operations against Cheliax, Taldor, Quadira and supposedly Irrisen. His file according to Andoran intelligence read "extremely dangerous, does not break his word, devout Callistrian, highly vengefull if slighted. Strongly dislikes the Grey Gardeners for their violation and corruption of republican ideals, too patriotic to Galt to be directly converted."
You get the idea that reactivating your contacts, and getting information on the other present Forsaken could be of use, Andoran almost certain has information on Ragnar.
”Pleasure to meet you, Yathlara. What I was able to see during the battle looked like you control powerful magic. Very impressive. I’m Ellena. You can probably tell that my path involves serving the Inheritor.”
Yath was distracted for a moment by language. Was Cydric calling her pretty and big or was the pretty meant to describe her relative bigness? "Gil de Macon was a forgettable creep that apparently I have not forgotten. He pinches and deserves for his fingers to rot off." she answers, before returning to the woman talking to her "Ellena is a very nice name, and Imoedia is path that more should be on, I believe, especially in times like this." she gives a warm smile, since a paladin with the might to smite a demon seems almost normal in present company, so her presence is soothing.
"I take it you are in Ms. Rastaban, um, group?"
”After all the chaos of today, I’m honestly not sure who is in anyone’s group right now! But the short answer, is yes, Nona joined this rag tag outfit not too much longer than when your group teleported in. It did feel nice to smite some demons, I have to admit, though. Have you had much experience dealing with these nasty boogerS before?”
When some of the getting acquainted chatter runs its course, Nona addresses the group. "Where do we go from here? It sounds like we could attempt to reach that succubus heretic before that assassin does, given that she could provide valuable information about the enemy's strategies. Then there is that Ivory Labyrinths place. It would not do to leave it unmolested if we can find it."
To Belana and her group, she says, "What's your angle for meddling in crusader and Sarkorian affairs?"
"As for me, I want to liberate Sarkoris and repopulate it, so shutting the Worldwound is my ultimate goal. I have some clues as to how that might be accomplished, but saving Arueshalee and shutting down this demon base might yield those clues."
Belana answers
Opportunism? Security? Planar interests? Golarion hosts 4 locations of interplanar relevance, the prison of the wild beast, the prison of something else I am not going to name, the starstone and the worldwound.
She pauses
Our Lady in Shadows counts herself as among the mightiest Lords of the Abyss, and her influence grows ever further by following her current strategies, drastic, revolutionary changes of the interplanar power structure are not within her interest. She has taken steps to make the midnight isles quite liveable for mortals, yet these steps also mean that her part of the Abyss is closest to the material planes, and that rapid unforseen changes will effect her Abyssal realm before they will affect others. There is also a link to Yad-Nagoth in Tien-Xia
She continues
A mortal realm aligned with our interests, and geographically well positioned to prevent outside interference to the prison of the unnamed one, and in control of the terminus of the worldwound would be... highly desireable. And I doubt that the worldwound could be truely closed, even if sealed, the scar upon reality there is likely permanent, making it easier to reopen it in the future. Tianjin being a case in point.
Now that you think of it, the worldwound does make the area around it look increasingly like Deskaris realm. It would be possible to have this be the other way round... Made the midnight isles liveable? Is Nocticula somehow interfering with the worldwound to make her realm be more akin to the material plane? And for what purpose?
A distant realm in Tien Xia, founded to protect against Qlippoth incursions.
The main gate is believed to have been sealed, yet raids continue, as the boundary between the planes there is thin. However, it is very clear that Tianjin is in a far better position then Mendev, let alone Sarkoris.
”After all the chaos of today, I’m honestly not sure who is in anyone’s group right now! But the short answer, is yes, Nona joined this rag tag outfit not too much longer than when your group teleported in. It did feel nice to smite some demons, I have to admit, though. Have you had much experience dealing with these nasty boogerS before?”
The comment about the chaos has Yath nodding in mutual agreement, then she answers about demon experience "Oh yes, I've studied so much about them I can't seem to remember the details of why I did so." The 'can't remember' is true at least since her memory all washed down into a drain inside her head and pools in mush occasionally giving her flashes of whatever drifts to the top of the muck.
"Most recently, Abysmal residents enslaved me until my benefactor... " she points at Ellithiel "... saved me, hence the self-imposed indentured... companionship" she amends servant to keep the angel from shouting. "So I have up close and personal insight into how horrible they are." her tone remains pleasantly conversational.
Out of the corner of her perception, she is listening to the declaration of intent and filing away the interesting musing about planes affecting planes.
'You are not a spy anymore Yath. Sharing helps, hoarding hurts.' the angel on her shoulder prods.
"One second, Ellena" she pauses and looks to that other conversation "If our realm is being scarred by the Abyss's tender caress, does that mean it is doing the same to the Midnight Isles, and if so, wouldn't the Lady The Shadows Love wish to keep the connection to allow the city to be more... accommodating to mortals to feast, fornicate, and finance?" she realizes the word finance does not fit as well in that list, but 'Trade' starts with a T and her mind said three F's would be best here.
I understand that Sir Ciar has similar experiences to you, although I found it neccesary to remove parts of them in his case. Vang is... She pauses
If I am on the extreme polite, survivable and relatively benign end of the demonic spectrum, he is on the opposite end of it. In part because he overcompensates, cruelty wise, for not being a "proper demon".
Belana remarks
Belana works by grappling, dirty tricks and mind control. Xanthir Vang is a swarm that walks, he cannot be grappled, you doubt he can be mind controlled, he is thus a horrible matchup for her to fight.
She is however likely spot on concerning one source of Vangs extreme cruelty.
She adresses your other question,
Indeed, although this your could perhaps label it, "golarionforming" effect is only being observed in some of the midnight isles, not in the ivory labyrinth, let alone the rasping rifts. It is beneficial from a standpoint of trade, as this altered enviroment has rendered our realm more survivable to planar travelers, and thus serves to increase the number of potential customers. And well, trade is a powerful domain in theory, but one utterly unclaimed by any Abyssal lord... There are tantalizing possibilities here, but they do not require the worldwound to be a gaping rift to invade golarion from.
She gives a pause, clearly being happier to discuss this then Xanthir Vang.
There are also drawbacks, Besmaran raids have seen an uptick in recent times, as the increased wealth of the midnight isles has drawn increasing number of pirates. Alas the queen of strife is rather hard to counterraid on account of her own realm being constantly mobile.
The Succubus is all charm, very reasonable, and is probably not even lying.
You hear her voice
Everything I said is the truth as I know it, it is still amazing to me how not lying can improve ones ability to manipulate. This may not be news to you, but it was to me. Ragnar pioneered it, and proven that it worked in Alyushyinrra.
"I'm willing to trust that your motives toward our world are at least not predatory and preferable to the Deskarites and Baphomists. Shall we discuss how to best address our mutual interest in frustrating those factions here in Sarkoris? We may need to recruit a few more allies, but assuming we do, what is the best next move?"
Very well then Koradas voice announces as Anarya is shrouded in light and disappears.
Lets us conclude our trade then Lady Lovain? I can certainly make use of the "Jerribeth" amulet to detect any attempts of reincarnation. Suddenly becoming the definition of courtly grace, the Succubus approaches you, offering the aformentioned ring of unsanctioned knowledge.
This ring gives you the feat "unsanctioned knowledge, even if you do not meet the intelligence requirement. By replacing the diamond in the ring, something that costs 5000 gold, you can select 4 knew spells.
It currently has the spells Duelists Parry, Mirror image, Good Hope and Dance of a hundred cuts active. You add these spells to your Paladin spell list, but still have to prepare them normally.
It was... fun to dive bomb you into a Vrolikai. As a repayment...
A crow appears next to her
I shall release the familiar of Mendevs archmage, utterly unharmed, even with a little missive concerning various steps to improve his nutrition. Avians do have dietary requirements that are frequently unappreciated, and a mostly cracker based diet will cut short his live expectancy, if not supplemented appropriately.
You find the following things on the bodies of fallen enemies:
Maugla the Vrolikai has a +2 belt of physical perfection (+2 to str, dex, con), a wand of shield, a wand of mage armor and a +2 amulet of mighty fists.
Jerribeth the green lady had a robe of eldritch heritage (Abyssal), a headband of mental perfection +2 (+2 to int, wis, cha) a cloak of resisance +3, a rod of quicken spell (medium, up to 6th level, 2 charges used today), and a rod of reach metamagic (2 charges used today) a ring of protection +2 and a spellbook containing 3 spells which Yathlara wants to know but which arent in her spell book yet.
She also has a vicious furious +1 greatsword she intended to give to Mahrevok.
Ellenas least favorite cosplayers loot was claimed by the Forsaken, as they killed her.
In terms of weaponry, armor, money and other things you are not going to use yourself, you find 10.000 gold pieces worth of equipment.
”Very well then. Concluding the deal indeed. I hope the next time we meet it is under pleasant circumstances. You can always turn over to the ‘good’ side of things, you know. The army of light could always use another powerful ally, you know,” Ellena shrugs. She takes the ring from the succubus.
Their business concluded, the paladin turns to her compatriots. ”I suspect we can put the remainder of this gear to better usage than they did,” she smiles with a. Wave at the magic items.
Nona holds a hand out for the raven to alight and checks that it is indeed unharmed. "I shall see that Percival is safely restored to his companion." She decides she'll try out the profane gift of teleportation that she absorbed to accomplish this, once other more urgent details of her mission are accomplished. She resolves to use the time to discuss the situation with the queen and communicate her decision to remain in the Worldwound area near Drezen to help with the discovery of the whereabouts of Arueshalae and the Ivory Labyrinth. She will also share the details of the conflict and the aid given by various actors.
To Cydric, she bows and says, "Any time you want my help ganging up on another powerful demon, let me know. Fare well and keep your magical powder dry."
After final words with the unexpected allies, Nona begins to look over the booty for items she might make use of.
Belana chuckles at Nonas comment
Indeed Cydric, dont blow your shot prematurely, patience is important.
Aye Ragnar chimes in
One must for the right moment... before... overcoming obstacles by a series of rapid, quick thrusts in succession.
The innuendo from the Succubus is obvious, yet Ragnar completely deadpans his statement.
Cydric looks at Ragnar with an "Et tu Brutus" expression, but takes things in good stride.
Sevanna seems midly sad to see Dyre and her part ways. With an escort of Forsaken, the elder Kellids head for the Nocticulan base, the exchanged Paladins, including Ciar, as well as Kellid noncombatants, which include Dyre head towards Drezen.
As you make camp, Dyre tries his singing skills and
Kino zvesda po imeni Solnste/A star called the sun
Белый снег, серый лёд White snow, gray ice
На растрескавшейся земле. On the cracked up earth
Одеялом лоскутным на ней On it, like a patchwork blanket,
Город в дорожной петле. Lies a city in a loop of winding paths
А над городом плывут облака, And clouds float above the city
Закрывая небесный свет. Covering the light from the heavens
А над городом жёлтый дым, with a yellow haze
Городу две тысячи лет, The city is two thousand years
Прожитых под светом звезды, which it lived beneath a star
По имени Солнце... which is called the sun
И две тысячи лет война. and for 2 thousand years there is war
Война без особых причин. war for no particular reason
Война – дело молодых, war, a thing of the youth
Лекарство против морщин. and ointment against wrinkles
Красная, красная кровь – red, oh such spilled red blood
Через час уже просто земля, in an hour it is part of the earth
через два на ней цветы и трава, in 2 hours there bloom flowers
через три она снова жива, after 3 she is alive again
И согрета лучами звезды, and then burns once more by star
По имени Солнце... which is called the sun
И мы знаем, что так было всегда, And it has always been like this
Что судьбою больше любим, That fates loves him most
Кто живёт по законам другим, Who lives by his own laws
и кому умирать молодым. And who dies young
Он не помнит слово "да" и слово "нет", He who doesnt know yes or no
Он не помнит ни чинов, ни имён He cares not for name nor for ranks
И способен дотянуться до звёзд, And he can thus reach the stars
Не считая, что это сон, Not knowing it is the sun
И упасть, опалённым звездой, And he falls being burnt by a star
По имени Солнце... which is called the sun
Nona recognices the song, in terms of melody, as a reasonable if a bit more fatalistic then usual Abyssal translation of an older Kellid folk song.
He does make an ok performance, but nothing particularly great.
Ciar meanwhile looks as if he has questions, many questions, but does not wish to ask them unprompted.
Some of the Paladins stare daggers at the young Kellid singing in Abyssal, who is rather oblivious to it, it seemingly being a normal language for him.
Camping...
Yathiara sighs. Her angel didn't exactly give her time to prepare an overnight bag of any sort. No changes of clothing, no rations, no sleeping kit, not even a blanket.
In truth she has never like camping even with the proper bits and bobs. Or at least she thinks she never has. A soft broken in couch, a steaming mug of tea with a dash of something that burns, and a big thick book in your lap with your nose buried in literary pleasure.
Those are the nice things in life.
Bugs, dirt, rocks in your back, cold and rain, and... well she could go on in her mind, since she was certain complaining out loud would get her nowhere.
"Lovely song" she says with a soft smile, as she sits near a fire, arms around her knees and waiting until it is time to sleep.
One of the rescued Paladins hands Yathlara a sleeping bag, which the Forsaken gave him during the exchange.
I would rather sleep in the open then in that Ms.
He pauses
But many thanks for thy aid He makes the sign of Kelinahat although he seems to be Iomedean.
You now have a masterwork sleeping sack made of excellent black silk.
It is very cozy on the inside, water, and even acid repellent on the outside and smells in a pleseant way that keeps Vevascors and other bug demons away.
It has a short notice in Abyssal reading "Totally not a Mimic productions".
”Okay, so back to Drezen then? We’ve got a lot to report to the higher ups. They aren’t going to believe the crazy stuff we’ve just been through. And the new recruits to the cause need to rest up and be sure they’ve shaken off all the evil taint from running around in this place…”
"I promise to shake off more in the morning." the elven wizard is little more than a lump in her sleep sack at this point, and not far from slumberland.
As you doze of, you mythical archmage mind notices something.
The sleepsack as a massage function, one currently set to gentle caress. Which the Paladin who has it had clearly no idea how to turn off, let alone use.
You are 95% certain its a prank, but not one aimed at you.
It has other settings such as Off , Sensual slumber, Vigorous stimulation and Emergency release.
You obviously put up guards, and well, random encounters vs mythic heroes are pretty boring.
Ellena, you see several of the Paladins bartering very nice looking sleeping bags away for completely conventional sleeping rolls or blankets from random Kellid civilians.
Greetings pact partners, I have been invited to a performance of the Imperial Alyushinyrran Aerial Ballet. If you wish to tune in, think "Ballet" strongly into my general direction. You hear Belanas telepathic voice, this is seemingly a communication she sends to everyone in a pact with her.
If you think "Ballet"
You see through Belanas eyes, and are seated in the lodges of what seems to be an opera house, a highly luxorious one even.
Cydric is seated on your right, you dont see any other forsaken from her perspecive.
The performance is conducted by 6 Succubi, all wearing elegant outfits, and who move in an initially fully choreographed way, surprisingly in tune with each other. The performance is full 3 dimensional, with the ladies flying, levitating, and caressing each other sensually.
Reviewers would later claim that it was a sub par performance for their standards.
After a bit, the dancers begin to interact with the front row of the audience, which seems to be... less materially well off. A mixed group of lower demons and mortal. Some of them are... dancing along, in the air an pretty well even although it seems to be due to telekinesis or some motion control from the Succubi, while clearly being drained by them.
You note that some of the Succubi performers look at Cydric, short glances, even with a bit of fear perhaps? It does not seem that any mortal spectators are drained to death, at least not this night.
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After Dyre completes his song, Nona makes eye contact and nods with approval. She sings a song next. To put the paladins at ease, she translates the words from Hallet to common. The melody is in a minor key and her voice is tinged with sadness as she sings.
Pulara-zee*, will you speak to me,
From under the stars where you dance free?
The sun and the moon and the stars are for thee,
Like fireflies dancing 'neath the willow tree.
Was it in Absalom? Was it in Galt?
Was it in Mendev in winds fierce and cold?
Was it in Cheliax on the shores of the sea?
When did I know you, Pulara-zee?
"Far to the south and the east I began.
I gathered my people from many a clan.
From the sons of the kings, to the sons of Pulara,
All were my people, protected by me.
Up in the north it was colder than snow.
Hearts there were frozen as with fear of some foe
They killed us, enslaved us, and forced us to flee.
They hunted dark Pulara, Pulara-zee.
But though you torment her, a Goddess can't die
She always escapes and she always gets by.
A river must flow till it gets to the sea
And still flow the rivers of Pulara-zee!"
I'll go to Absalom; I'll go to Galt;
I'll go to Mendev in the wind and the cold
I'll go to Cheliax on the shores of the sea
I shall return to you Pulara-zee!
Nona then confers with her companions, Luanna and Father Emil, agreeing on a sleep/shift schedule. Nona notices Yath's discomfort at sleeping on the ground. Well she knows the challenges of sleeping in the 'wound, something she got used to long ago.
She pauses, something seeming to get her attention. She sits silently for a short time before shaking her head and arranging her sleeping bag.
Yath has pleasant dreams of roasted meats, honeyed breads, and sugary tarts all while experiencing an mild earthquake, oddly not panic inducing. In the morning, when it comes, she realizes the massage setting had been triggered to higher in the night.
The travel towards Drezen proceeds with little incidents, although tensions exist. The rescued Paladins and the wintersun civilians + Dyre are not intermingling much, and Dyre in particular is regarded with a fair bit of suspicion.
But before long, you can see the walls of Drezen in the distance.
Yath cleans off the taint, as requested in the morning, just with her magic since trusting water from this hellscape isn't wise (... not hell, abyss-scape? hmm, should she attempt to coin that phrase?)
her mind wanders a bit, then she does one of the least enjoyable things imaginable, Marching.
She wanders and chats with all the groups, even the anti-mingling Dye, since she is not part of any group, other than her angel (that she is Not a servant to, even though she is).
"Drezen?" she asks the nearest open ear. She is relatively certain she has seen it before, a nagging niggle in her mind is telling her so, but she can never be really certain about anything with her demon-tinkered brain.
:
Oi, Miss Magic Missle Massacre The Kellid Bloodrager asks you
Why are the Crusaders staring that many daggers at me? Like, I didnt have f&~$ all to do with them being captured, or with how they were captured, and I am not like... famous or anything? Like, what gives?
:
You arrive in Drezen and are faced with a vetting protocol by polite yet quite firm crusaders. You do not ping as evil, your papers by Kyounins government are in order, and they have apparently been informed of you coming.
As you walk in you see your own head, on a spike. Twice. As in 2 of your own heads on 2 different spikes.
This one is a Treerazorian Succubus who pretended to be you. One of the crusaders said
We caught her because a) she failed to surpress her spell resistance and b) the church of the Savored Sting gave an exact time of when you would arrive also, c) Succubi who impersonate Callistrians screw up. A lot more then if they try to impersonate for example a Paladin. The leader of the vetting team, a tomboyish named Anevia explains very matter of factly. As she points to the slightly longer decapaciated head.
That one is Baphometan, we caught her because she was conciously trying to surpress her spell resistance at all times, and that gave her away when we trolled her into concentrating on something else.
You wake in Cynosure, as you leisurely get out of a nice bed of blue dream silk, an Azata in Desnas service hands you your weapons and armor
Hi Sleepyhead! The boss says get ready for insertion! Known enemies where a bunch of Babaus, a Hag, nasty one at that, a number of Incubi, and something else we didnt quite manage to identify, but we know that the enemies have forces in reserve! Your mission is to save a Succubus who worships Desna! Or at least pretends to worship her well enough that the boss herself believes her! The boss is off messing and diplomatizing with Callistria, about how to jointly f~&$ the Worldwound, her words not mine! the Azata speaks in rapid fire motion.
Eyes going wide with sudden panic, Sorak covers his ass and turns quickly, sitting on the bed. "You arre inserrting nosing noverre!" His indignation is plainly visible, but then softens and turns into embarrassment as it becomes clear he had misunderstood.
The flood of information was a bit overwhelming. Krovavvy. Nasty hag, but all of them were. Prick pokhotis and... "Lady Desna is doing vat vith Callistrria? I vonderr..." His arms were midway through the motion of reaching for his weapons when he blushes a bit. His eyes meet the azata's and follow the same direction. Down. "Hum. I'm prreaty surre you alrready imagine vat I vonderr." He gets to his trousers, as he should have done from the very beginning.
"How about ve do not mention zis to Lady? I'm not grreedy man. I'm morre zen happy rright now... it vas just innocent sinking." He fastens his belt, feeling the surge of strength and speed washing over him. "I'm just morrtal and I can't be blamed about zis."
"To business zen! Pokhoti who vorrships ze Lady?" His voice betrays how skeptic he was. "But, if ze Lady believes, ze Lady believes." The twin sounds of his kukri leaving the sheathes cuts the air and then they are back on their homes. "Who am I to doubt herr, uhn? Does zis pokhoti have name?"
Baldrek stretches as he walks outside the small shed with just a single room. Impractical, for sure, but considering what they've been doing in it, there was not really a need for anything else. "So ze Lady and Callistrria... uhn, uhn... zat is somesing else..." The chilly waters of the starry pools were very welcome to wash away some very impure thoughts.
Arueshalee, pff, demonnames! My own name is much prettier! Ilsa-Margaria! None of that lets randomly stitch vowels together nonsense! But get yourself presentable young man! Both for fighting and for... making the acquaintance of ladies! Yes, plural. The crusaders also want to rescue her, and according to Desna there will be a female Andoran, a female Paladin and a female Callistrian! Be on your best behaviour! Oh, and a Kellid tribal elder, although you may be chronologically older then her. The kindly Azata keep speaking in a rapid fire fashion.
:
Oi, Miss Magic Missle Massacre The Kellid Bloodrager asks youWhy are the Crusaders staring that many daggers at me? Like, I didn't have f~$& all to do with them being captured, or with how they were captured, and I am not like... famous or anything? Like, what gives?
Yath Hmmmms in thought, tapping her chin as well. "Hard to say. I'd imagine it is your association with a demon. However beneficial it might have been to you, to them they see only the horror and pain their kind have been scouring all they know and love with. Not to mention whatever happened in captivity." Yath thankfully has memory issues. While a lot of her own captivity happened to be memories that have NOT disappeared, the holes in her mind are convenient places to stuff things she didn't want to think about.
"Or it could be your anger issues? Your explosions of rage coupled with the sheer violence that comes with it might worry them. Since rage is often uncontrolled." she shrugs as she thinks.
"Or it could just be something you said. It is easy for the devout to take offense where the not devout, or at least those without the same devotion, have no idea why."
I can actually do mathematics while Bloodraging, which is unusual.
He begins as a Paladin walks up
Your Bloodrage form is literally a spitting image of one of Nocticulas Incubi champions, all you are missing are 2 extra arms and wings! And that f@!+er is exactly what you expect a sadistic murder rape demon to be. And yes, that does concern me. The Paladin turns on her heels and leaves.