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The next day, Robin and Ilyana leave the kids in the care of Ayame, as he takes her out to an area of Echo Woods a good ways away. "We are now in my family's lands, and they are rich in resources... though not ones oyur average Hellknight or other city-goer would recognize.
"Yon and I are all that is left of our family... which is why we protect each other. Hanspur has chosen to protect us as well, which is why we were given Ayame and Rboud. Perhaps, if you'd like, you can visit here with the kids, and maybe even make a new home here. Away from the oppression of Fort Inevitable."
They come out of the woods to a clearing where a large, rustic house sits... more of a hunting lodge than a manor. It is clear that it has seen better days, that the L'il boys haven't spent much time here lately, but there is a stable, and room for at least twenty in the various buildings. "We used to host hunts here, but with this became less tenable with the Hellknights planting themselves in Fort Inevitable, as well as the new 'lord' up in Thornkeep. Perhaps, though, we could start doing something with the old place?"
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Vala travels back to the fort primarily in silence. She notices Agriver's looks in her direction but thinks nothing of his attack on her and holds nothing against him. Mind magics are cruel.
She makes it back to the fort, goes to give her report to Abernard, turns in for the night, then heads straight away in the morning to the training grounds she has begun establishing on the outskirts of town.
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Agriver spends most of his time praying in his room at the inn. With candles and incense permeating the space he sinks deeper in thought. His purpose seeming to focus like the point of a spear toward the purging of evil. Zeal creeps deeper into his overall being, but then in a flash of light an understanding of something peaceful.
"Evil will be purged, the mercy of the goddess.... is.. amazing"
Knowledge of purgatory and hades flood his consciousness, and the threads of life and death are laid bare in his minds eye.
...
No longer shall I falter in the face of evil, they deserve no quarter or mercy. It will be eradicated - both root... and stem
After hours of sweat and focus, the paladin rises - his breathing even and his focus sharper than the blade of a keen falchion.
"Now to resupply and gather the others"
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Vala reflects as she prepares a horse from the stables for her journey out of town.
Looking to a passing patrol of Hell knights "The order. The restriction. These people collect taxes to 'protect' the townspeople around them."
"Protect?" Vala shakes her head as she saddles the horse, attaching a few days worth of supplies to the side of the saddle. Mounting up, she rides out of town.
"Protection is teaching the people to defend themselves. Not taxing them to a level that restricts their ability to do so..."
Kallon Poldmar greets Vala at the stables. He has his stableboy assist Vala with the large brown steed while he converses casually with her.
The council of prosperity has no statutory authority, and simply serves as an advisory board for the lady commander. Staffed by the wealthiest merchants and business owners of Fort Inevitable, the Council of Prosperity seeks to persuade the lady commander to moderate onerous taxes and rulings while ensuring that the Hellknights’ laws protect wealth and property.
Kallon bids you a safe trip and may send one of his sons to join your training grounds.
Vala's training grounds continue to grow in quality and attendance. He friends from the Stalwart Priory continue to help build this small but budding little community.
Vala is greeted by more than 2 dozen citizens of Fort Inevitable, and even a couple of young men who made the trip from Thornkeep.
Ansel, Robin, Agriver and Yon meet the next day for an evening meal at The Helmed Lady.
Agriver appears refreshed and content, while Robin borders on happy.
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After the quiet ride back from Daggermark, his coins much lighter - and his blade more powerful - the paladin heads to the Red Shield for some mead to calm his spirit.
Where he normally would buy a round for the knights as he passed them, he instead keeps withdrawn.
Law or no, maybe Vala has a point about this place.... while I see the need for order, I cannot help but see the tyranny and complacency of this place... maybe there is a better place to make our basecamp - I hear she founded a place outside of these walls for training.
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The trip to Daggermark with Agriver and Ansel is quiet, much more than the previous trip with Agriver. Robin chooses not to lecture this time... having more concerns on his mind. The dark cloud that follows the paladin worries him, as he has never seen Agriver not in positive spirits.
This concerns the usually surly ranger. He knows his own moods, which tend to be more towards the dour, even though he, and his brother, have reasons for their pessimism towards human nature. He realizes that he needs to bring his brother in arms back to his old self, though he doesn't know how,
Guilt also plagues him, perhaps for the first time since they set out to conquer the Emerald Spire. He understands why the eggs needed to be destroyed, but he didn't like why he did it. It was a cold, calculated move, one that he would have thought more befitting one of the invading Hellknights than a River person. He did it to prevent the evil from continuing, and to protect Agriver from having to do it. He was more than willing to take the stain upon his soul for this, taking the burden from his friend. It was the right thing to do... but he felt nothing while doing it. No relief, no anger, nothing. That was what was worrying him.
Finally, he had enough of himself, and decided to get back to normalcy. "So, Agriver? Did I tell you about my family's hunting lodge?"
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"It is a humble affair... probably far less exciting than where you grew up. A little run down, now, since our family business has been... affected... by the new laws around here, but still a nice place. We should make a trip out there, now that I have decided to open it up again. Might make a nice place to retire in." says Robin. "I've even brought the widow Stande there to show her. She seemed to like it."
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Managing a weak smile Agriver nods at Robin.
"It is good to care about things outside of our calling. It reminds us of what we have to lose should we fail... or fall."
Reflecting on recent blessings he continues "Iomadae has graced me with the understanding of mortality during my meditations recently. I will endeavor to ensure this new lady in your life.. doesn't get robbed of your company should you find yourself chatting with Zon Kuthan.."
With a glance toward the sunset he mutters "Retirement... it's a nice thought. Though Paladin's seldom are given the chance"
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Ansel remains somber and subdued during the travels to and from Daggermark. He reflects on the past several months and how his lot in life has changed. It surprises him that he is not only in possession of such wealth, but that he will soon be in possession of such a powerful item. When he started down this career path of adventuring he had never dreamed that the promises of riches would actually materialize. Alas, he is now spending the value of a modest swath of land on an elegant and powerful item that weighs little more than a sculpting chisel.
The lessor Meadsoddens, drunks, burnouts, underachievers, lazy, uninspired. The notion of his clan's branch may indeed be starting to break for the better. Perhaps he could raise it out of the mud and back to the level of respect before they pulled away from their successful brewing cousins.
Once Ansel has the new headband, his eyes brighten as if by some sudden realization. He remains silent, but now not simply thinking but also nose deep in his several books. As the group finally arrives back at Fort Inevitable, he asks "Robin, can ya tell m'what ya know of the forest creatures, pertaining to their souls or life essense? Agriver, 'suppose ya would have some insight here as well. What do you see separates humanoids from our less gifted companions in this world?" As if just hearing the words himself, Ansel tries not to grimace too much as his eyes are pulled to Ayame. "No disrespect, Ayame, I don't include you in that company."
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"Ansel, I ain't one who is much for philosophizing," replies Robin. "But, from what I've seen, the critters of the lands can be as thoughtful as we 'people'. A damned bit more at times, too." He scratches Ayame being her ear, as if assuring himself, or her.
"Yon was always more of a thinker. Probably why Hanspur blessed him more than me, at least in the area of magics and stuff. Why, as I understand it, he can even take the form of a wolf, and run with Rboud. I would love to have that chance with Ayame, but I have to run as I am."
He takes a long pull on his beer before continuing. "So, I have some bad news for the team." he says, picking at his teeth. "Yon ain't coming with us when we go back into the Spire. I know we're gonna keep goin', and we got plenty of evils to eradicate down there, but he ain't ever really had the stomach for killin'... not like you and me, Agriver.
"Some folks are more attuned, as he says, and when you are, you realize that all living things are alive, or sumthin'. I don't really remember his exact words, but you know what I mean, right?
"Well, he plans to stay back at the Lodge, and get things cleaned up, and such. Get the gardens going again, and prune the apple trees or something. Lookin' after the family business and all... after all, it is just him and me, now, so we have to look after things.
"I'll have to find a way around his enchantin' of Ayame's teeth, but I guess we can call in some favors from our Pathfinder friends.
"He may be back, later. Maybe."
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Ansel nods with understanding as Robin speaks his news. "We'll miss him, but out of the options I prefer to see him walk away and than one of us having to drag out his remains. I hope he can join us on the deeper levels once he has communed with nature."
Finishing his beer Ansel pets Ayame and then pats Robin on his back. "And don't worry, you too can run with the wolves my friend. As Agriver suggests, you just need to lose your faith." As he says the words, Ansel casts Polymorph onto his friend, turning him into a wolf in the bar.
"Enjoy it, you have about ten minutes."
'Cubs! Always the same!' thinks the she-wolf. She shakes her head at Agriver, and then bounds out the door after Robin.
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Agriver looks a Robin as a wolf and gives a slight laugh, that is before the sneaky ranger puts the paladin on his back and darts out the door.
"Nice.. glad I am not wearing my platemail - it wouldn't be funny if he put a dent in it and the smith needed to hammer it out before we left again. I'll have to put a tally in the book and remember to get back at him later"
The paladin hoists himself to his feet and his minor wound fades before it shows any signs of distress.
He then looks at Ansel with a a glint of inspiration, but decides to save it for later.
"We should go and see where Vala is. That floor on the spire won't stay cleared for long. We need to press our advantage."
Letting himself think about the party druid a moment. "It is sad we lose two friends today on our quest of zeal. I am not sure who I will miss more.. Yon or Rboud."
The party makes an uneventful trek to the Spire after successfully concluding their efforts in Daggermark and other locations. Vala finds all of her traps and checks have been tripped by various creatures, and the party even spots a goblin or stray skeleton on the trek down to the Serpentfolk temple. The next set of stairs travels close to 300 feet before emerging in a room.
At the foot of the stairs, the passage leads off into a strangely angled foyer. Most of the walls have been reduced to rubble. One of walls connects to a small corridor, but the passage ends in a collapse after a few feet. In the southern wall of rubble, a small dark hole in the rock is the room’s only exit.
The area is shrouded in complete darkness, except for your two light sources.
Pleased that her manling has given her the tinglies that make her teeth sharper and skin harder, the she-wolf takes her place.
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Agriver surveys the gloom under the light of Iomadae’s grace. Seeing the darkness pushing in around them he drops to one knee and gives a quick prayer to his goddess, his mind drifting to his recent understanding.
Once his spirit is centered the paladin stands and retrieves one of the scrolls from the ivory tube on his belt. He hands it Ansel with a smile – ”Will you please read the arcane words and give me its protections?”.
As the energy washes over his steel clad body his focus becomes razor sharp and he begins moving toward letting his faith (and light!) guide him.
- fail
- fail
- critical fail... damnit
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Robin takes some time to look around, checking out out the collapses corridor to the south first, and then the western passage.
He is trying to see if there is any way through either of them. "Ansel, you've know stuff about engineering, right?" asks Robin. "Do you think it is safe to squeeze through that hole?
Robin examines the southern collapse... as he's staring at it... he thinks to himself what Ansel confirms is the collapsed walls were deliberately sabotaged.
Looking through the hole to the south, he believes it would be a tight squeeze but the party could army crawl through. It goes for about 10 feet to another room.
The collapse to the west has completely blocked the passageway.
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"Agriver, you are going to have some fun getting through there. I think I will go first, then Ayame." says Robin. "I'd suggest Vala, then Ansel, with you, Agriver, taking up the rear.
"Does that make sense to you all?"
He ponders a moment. "Say, Ansel, you didn't happen to memorize reduce person did you?"
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Ansel shakes his head as he pulls out his Mage Armor wand, "No I did not." He casts the protection spell on himself before motioning to Ayame, "Eh? Anyone else?" HE then happily reads Agriver's scroll.
Once that is taken care of he checks the rubble, the architecture of what it had once been, the stone work, and any cultural or religious significance he may draw from any of it.
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After spending some time mentally sizing up the opening to the mass of his armor..
Agriver comments "If I were to lay a trap or ambush - this is how it would be done. Make the enemy come through the gap one at a time and engage them congest the path so they could not reinforce. Perhaps Vala with the aid of a spell to further conceal her would be the best path forward. She is quiet and can slip in to scout, being spry if things became dangerous she could retreat easier than the rest of us."
The paladin furrows his brow as he continues to contemplate what may lurk in the shadows.
He then casts his eyes toward the gap and hunts for the infernal.
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Robin makes sure that Ayame is protected by his mage armor wand, though Ansel will need to trigger it.
"Nothing against Vala, Agriver, but I might be able to defend myself a little better. Granted, when she gets her surprise or flanks, she's pretty vicious. I can beef up my defenses a bit more, by casting barkskin on myself. I've already done that to Ayame."
Robin considers things. "I should have you use the heroism scroll, too, I think. Just in case. Plus, I can cast darkvision on myself."
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Focusing his eyes back to his immediate surroundings the Paladin watched the exchange between his friends.
"You both have skills there is no doubt in that but I stand by my initial assessment. Vala you are up... Tell us what you need and let's bring pain to these heretics.."
Looking at Robin he continues "If you bathe more often.... Maybe your odor won't give you away" he says with a chuckle.
The invisible Vala slips into the hole, and squeezes her way through quietly... though she finds the hole has smears of foul smelling semi-fresh poop.
The passage opens into a severely damaged chamber. Rubble torn from the excavated walls lies everywhere. Across the room stand the remains of a dividing wall now torn down to its foundation. The far wall is piled with slabs of broken stone. In a few places, badly damaged remains of ancient glyphs can still be seen.
Vala sees a couple dead ends to the South, and the outline of a secret door to the West.
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As he hasn't heard anything from Vala, Robin quickly casts both an extended barkskin on himself, and uses his scroll of darkvision and "turns off" his wayfinder. He then crawls through the hole... calling Ayame to follow.
"Gods damn it!" he b$+~*es when he goes through the smears of feces. He tries to glean what he can before he continues on.
"Ansel, I hope you memorized prestidigitation today!" calls back Robin (in Azlanti).
He then makes his way out of the hole, and looks around the room. He does not see Vala, but he expects this. He looks around the room, looking for trouble, and traps.
"Agriver, Ansel! Come on through. Ansel first, please!"
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Vala continues to explore, silently ahead of the group.
Hearing them behind her "I thought they were going to WAIT for me to report back before continuing through! .. so much for silent exploration I guess. We'll see if I can find anything further ahead of their noise, at least...".
Vala continues to see if she can find anything useful ahead.