”But that’s the trick”, he adds with a grin around his tusks. ”No enemy is unbeatable just like no obstacle’s insurmountable. Remember, even gods can die.”
"You've gotta remember that - no matter what."
"So, no matter what, I should face obstacles head-on? Even if I haven't had time to locate a weakness and formulate a strategy? Isn't that suicidal for all but the most powerful?"
"There's nothing wrong with a little planning and preparation, as long as planning doesn't turn into an excuse to avoid facin' your challenges."
Syl's eyes return to their regular blank state, and she silently begins to climb back down the mast. She no longer seems to be aware of your presence.
Skaar ponders the girl's change of behaivor and returns to the others.
Syl's sudden change was odd, and it causes you to think about what you know about the girl. It's not much, but you have been able to determine a few things.
~ She's not all the way here from a mental standpoint.
~ She's said she doesn't want to be hurt again, so there's trauma in her past.
~ She's mentioned "Mother" twice. While you avoid interacting with this particular deity, Lamashtu is commonly known as "Mother of Monsters." Coincidence?
~ Her recent conversation was significantly saner than usual, and her questions focused on dealing with powerful enemies.
Skaar stares at his hands in disappointment. For all of his physical might, he lacked the breadth of divine powers to aid his would-be worshipers in his weakened state. Faced with such a challenge, others might have given up and sought out lesser troubled souls but surrender in the face of adversity wasn't the Unfailing Pillar's way.
Though he had never been a god of magic, in the past he possessed the basic power over reality that all deities wielded. Magic was a tangible mutable thing back then and though he was still aware of the magic present in everything, it fell through his fingers like water in his current weakened form. Summoning up his divine power, Skaar reaches out to touch Syl's mind in an effort to learn more about the trauma that haunted her.
You may pull a specific piece of information out of a creature’s mind (Will negates). This is usually enough information to answer a single, specific question to the best of that creature’s knowledge, in no more than 25 words. A creature who successfully saves against this powerful charm may choose to provide no answer to your question or attempt to lie with their Bluff skill. If you use
this powerful charm twice on the same creature to ask the same question, the same answer (correct, no answer or lie) is given again.
You were robbed of your words but the heart remembers...
A torrent of images floods into your mind. Three-eyed jackal masks. Cruel men. Bulging belly. Many months. Blood. Pain. Massive scars. Blacking out. Waking up alone. Monster mother.
With those dark images to ponder, Skaar retires for the night.
The next day's match promises to be challenging. For the first time, you'll be participating in a traditional 1v1 combat. All you know is that your opponent is a Gnome, and the announcers seem to be putting a "battle of the sizes" spin on things.
Skaar plays his part as the brutish giant in the lead up to the bout but prepares for the battle in all seriousness. He knew better than to underestimate the smaller races.
As you finish buffing, the door slides open to reveal the usual flat sandy arena. Across from you are sixteen identical Gnomes. In unison, they bow and give you apologetic smiles. They then cast a spell (that you're able to identify) before calmly walking toward you.
Skaar considers his diminutive opponent(s). The gnome was a skilled spellcaster, there was little doubt of that, but the Unfailing Pillar had walked the planes and sampled magic from the greatest illusionists to ever exist. He had played the Game of Faces with the children of the First World and sat in the earliest elven theaters for their shows of light and shadow. He knew well that magical trickery had its limitations.
The big orc closes his eyes and calls uses his divine power to magnify his other senses tenfold.
You may spend a spell point to grant yourself Blindsense 30 ft.
You must close your eyes to use this ability. For the purpose of
this ability, opening and closing your eyes is a free action you
may take once per round. You may spend an additional spell
point to upgrade this ability to Blindsight.
As you close your eyes, you feel several things strike you forcefully .
Skaar grunts in surprise as he’s pelted by some unseen force but continues to power forward. Sensing the gnome’s true location, the big orc bellows a war cry and thunders into him.
The Gnome dives out of the way as you charge toward him. Quickly, he shoots a cloud of sparkly dust around you.
When you attempt to overrun a target, it can choose to avoid you, allowing you to pass through its square without requiring an attack.
Dimly aware of being hit with a spell, Skaar continues trusting his supernatural senses and steps forward to bring his huge forearms down in a smashing arc on the gnome.
Your powerful blows knock the mage back several steps. Still trying to recover his equilibrium, he launches a gout of fire at you, but you're able to tumble away.
Gnome: 30pts damage
Smelling the sulfur from the gnome’s arc of flame Skaar dodges aside with incredible agility considering his brawny size. The big orc chases after his prey and delivers another two-fisted hammerblow.
The mage rocks back on his heels, backs away, and fires another gout of flame. Once again, the smell of sulfur telegraphs its path, and you dodge out of the way.
Gnome: 30pts damage, 12pts NL damage
Skaar is impressed by his tiny opponent's endurance but not too impressed to yield his attacks.
***
Your next few swings meet only empty air as you see your opponent cast some sort of spell. Continuing your assault, you strike him hard once more, and the mage relents. "I'm out of ideas and can't withstand too much more of this. I'd love to know how you're doing this, but I doubt you'll tell me. Well fought, and thanks for going easy on me." With a respectful nod, he drops to his knees and raises his hands in surrender.
Gnome: 30pts damage, 25pts NL damage
Skaar nods to the gnome and smirks before raising his massive arms in victory. With the battle won, he finally opens his eyes to take in the roaring crowd.
”You’re not the only one with a gift for magic”, the big orc rumbles over the deafening cheers. ”It just so happens I practice magic rarely seen in the world anymore. I wouldn’t mind sharin’ for the right price. Come find me later tonight and maybe we can help each other out”, he adds before breaking away to do a circuit around the arena drinking in the admiration of each member of the audience.
The gnome was a skilled mage – the sort that often had access to grand stores of esoteric lore.
The Gnome nods with interest at your proposal. "I'll do that."
There's a scrumptious meal awaiting you at the Wormwood that evening. Fishguts even has some fresh vegetables. Overall, morale seems good. Everyone's extremely curious to know how you managed to defeat the mage so easily. Sixteen illusory doubles is a lot after all, and near the end of the fight, he created a cage of necrotic energy around you that you didn't even seem to notice .
”Well that was easy”, Skaar explains to the crew while he enjoys Fishgut’s good work. ”I just closed my eyes and listened. I could hear the crunch of the dirt in the arena under his little boots and his panicked breathing. I could smell the sweat from his fear. Illusion’s are powerful but a good ear and sniffer are magic too”, he says with a laugh. ”But fights always give me an appetite and if you don’t finish that I’m gunna help myself”, he says with a smirk at Grok.
In a moment of solitude during your meal, Syl approaches you cautiously. "It used tricksy magics but He saw through them. How does He know this? His eyes were closed, but His blows flew true. Ears and nose not enough."
”There’s a lot of things that don’t escape his notice”, Skaar answers the inquisitive girl. ”He doesn’t need his eyes to see through tricksy magic. It’s part of bein’ strong.”
”And he doesn’t need ears to hear ‘bout the terrible things the Mother and her minion’s did to you”, the big orc says with a knowing glance at Syl and eyes full of understanding, not pity. ”You’re stronger than you know Syl, not anyone could’ve survived that s!~@. It’s about time to take your life back the rest of the way. Those bastards in Katapesh can’t hurt you here and if you believe in me, and more importantly yourself, they’ll never hurt you again.”
Syl's eyes widen, and she looks almost sane for a brief moment. Then you hear footsteps coming up the gangplank, and the moment passes. "Permission to come aboard?" It's your opponent from earlier.
Skaar looks to Harrigan on the gnome’s behalf.
Harrigan gives a grin. "That beatin' you took this morning wasn't enough, eh? Hahahahaha! Welcome aboard! Best behave yourself, though, or my fighter won't go so easy on you."
After giving the captain a grunt of gratitude Skaar gestures for the gnome to join him at his table.
The mage walks over but doesn't sit down. "Please excuse me. A friendly priest patched me up, but my ass is still a bit sore." He gives you a grin. "You mentioned swapping secrets?"
The big orc chuckles at his former opponent's rough humor. "Suit yourself".
"But first you've gotta promise this stays between us and that you can get me what I need."
The gnome chuckles and helps himself to a chair. "Miet Silverstain's the name, and discretion's the game. I'm always happy to increase my knowledge and will gladly trade what I know for something of equal value. I'm not a god, though; you definitely proved that in the arena this morning. So don't expect me to transport you to Elysium or anything like that." He corrects himself. "Well, on second thought, I can make you [b]think I took you there if it comes down to it."[/b] He grins. "Whatta you say? Show me yours, and I'll show you mine, or are you lookin' for something else?"
Skaar cocks an eyebrow at the gnome's bravado. "I'll say one thing, you've got a pair alright."
"I need information: The kind the troll augurs can't get at. I don't expect you to have it but you've gotta tell me where I can find it."
His offer on the table, he extends one massive meaty paw for the gnome to shake.
"The magic I practice is old, older that Kaer Maga even. It used to go by a lot of different names but the most common was sphere-casting. For you magic's got rules - limits on how much you can control in a given day. Sphere-casting's different. My magic can be shaped in all kinds of different forms - like wet clay. I used it in our bout to shape a charm that sharpened my senses to the point that I didn't need my eyes to find you", Skaar explains.
As a demonstration he forms a bubble of force around his outstretched hand. He knocks it against the table to show its rigidity.
The mage considers your words carefully. "Well, it depends on what kind of information you're looking for. I can't guarantee I can help, but I do have quite a large number of contacts scattered around Avistan."
---------------------------------------------------------
Miet listens with interest to your explanation. "Sphere-casting, eh? And you say it's extremely old. An offshoot of Aboleth glyph magic, perhaps? Who was your teacher, if I may ask? Magical versatility is a particular interest of mine; that's why I specialize in illusions."
Skaar hesitates, unsure of the best way to answer the question.
"Yeah, something like that. It's a tradition in my family", he explains. "But I wouldn't suggest tracking 'em down. They never got along well with others."
The gnome shrugs. "Fair enough. Now, what about your question? What sorta information are you looking for?"
"The religious kind. I'm lookin' for information on gods - dead ones. What happens to 'em and what happens to their power when they fall. I learned some about Aroden in the library here in Kaer Maga but I wanna know more. Don't ask why but that kinda stuff's interested me lately and the trolls weren't much help."
Miet gives you a wry grin. "Got some big plans, eh? Personally, I think the Starstone Test would be easier, but that's just me. Um ... I know a guy who can get you into Scrivenbough. Wouldn't be surprised if there's something in there. That work for you?"
Impressed, Skaar gives Miet a nod of agreement. "Scrivenbough? Well I'd be a fool to turn down some time in there. How long do you think that'll take to arrange? I gave the good captain my word that I'd stick around long enough to finish the tournament. And did you have a way to get us there? Scrivenbough's not around the corner or nothin'."