GM Kiora's Wrath of the Righteous

Game Master Kiora Atua

Valaria Alazario

Valaria Alazario was typically the most reclusive of the six heroes. Originally drawn to Mendev by way of cryptic dreams, Valaria is a tiefling bard in service to Desna, whose holy symbol she bears right on her cheek. Valaria had a dark secret, as well - her grandmother was the Demon Lord, Nocticula, the ancestor of all succubi. All her life, Valaria had been tormented with hedonistic, lust-crazed dreams, holdovers from her demonic ancestry. It wasn't until she came to Desna's service that she was able to break free of these terrible dreams.

So when Desna beckoned her to Mendev, she followed. There she forged a steadfast and lasting friendship with Ehren Ferron and Ary Bishop, meeting both at the Festival of Armasse in Kenabres back when Ehren was just a new druidic initiate, and Ary was just a low-ranking soldier stationed at Kenabres. From there she followed her new friends upwards and onwards, bringing her to Drezen with the others, though she never enlisted with the Crusades nor sought additional lands or titles.

Her protectiveness over Ehren had continued to today, and so she stuck by his side as he pulled the leystream across the plateau to Drezen, watching him as he grew weaker and more frail with each passing day. Finally when they arrived at the city, she left the archdruid to Hinagiku's care, happy that the two had found each other.

Now back in Drezen, Valaria tended to lay low. Despite her distinctive appearance, when she didn't want to be noticed, she wasn't. Her friends knew where to find her when they needed her. First, she tried to check out her favorite watering holes in Drezen, trying to overhear any information that might point her towards the Templars. She came up empty though, the only interesting bit of news she came to in weeks was bumping into a group of boisterous Brevish mercenaries, who were apparently under the impression that the rulers here were extremely wealthy and gullible. Rolling her eyes, Valaria pointed the buffoons back towards Kenabres, not wanting her friend Ary to have to waste her time with them.

In the winter, she and Ayavah set forth to hunt down the gun-toting succubus, Lilevyrrin. Isilme had already arranged to meet with her, but it had been awhile since Val had heard from her or anything on the succubus bandit. Valaria's friend, Ayavah, was a cultist of Nocticula, but she was a member of a heretical cult that believed that Nocticula was a demon lord who sought redemption. Regardless of her strange beliefs, demon worship is highly illegal in Mendev, so Ayavah had to worship her demi-goddess in private, even in open-minded Drezen. In recent times Ayavah had come to doubt her faith in Nocticula, the Redeemer-Queen, though since her closest friend (and sometimes lover) Valaria had never spoken up to ever contradict her beliefs in Nocticula, Ayavah continued forwards with her religious devotion for the past three years. However, one thing bothered her - the fact that she had never actually spoken to a succubus about her beliefs before. So when Valaria said she was hunting a succubus, Ayavah was eager to tag along.

The duo traveled down along the Canyon Road, where the majority of the gun-toting bandits had been sighted. They found that while there was still definitely a presence of the donated weaponry (Ayavah and Valaria had a memorable battle against a roving gang of ogres with shotguns), the actual donor of the weapons had not been seen for many months. Valaria even made an effort to set up a meeting with the succubus, but found that no unsavory contact she made had any idea of how to contact her or find her.

Their adventure wasn't a total waste, however. Valaria used the excursion to finish recruiting and overseeing the construction of a series of Desnan wayshrines along the main canyon road to Kenabres. She also worked to help identify ideal locations where additional watch towers or inns could be built, further ensuring the safety of travelers along the roads to Drezen. She even helped iron out a rather strange disagreement - a Chelish couple had come to the area to reclaim an old inn known as Devil's Rest that existed to the far south of Drezen. This in itself was not controversial, however, the inn itself was built out of Ironwood - sacred material stolen from the kellid clan of Farheaven by the Chelish couple's ancestors long ago. Valaria was able to quickly smooth the situation between the two, directing the Farheaven clan to Drezen to see the Archdruid about possible renumerations.

Ayavah and Valaria returned to Drezen that summer. Ayavah returned to her post as co-Magister of Beautification and Restoration, and Valaria started working on a research project alongside Xanderghul. Xanderghul brought her to Nerosyan, where she was introduced to Chevalier Giarra Fullen, Crusader-Queen Galfrey's head alchemist of the Crusades. To be completely honest, Valaria and Giarra did not start off on the right foot. The halfling alchemist was one who viewed abyssal taint as something that needed to be eradicated and "cured", something that Valaria took immediate and obvious offense to. But after some terse conversations, Valaria came to see that Giarra just had a very different way of seeing the world, and had not really considered Valaria's viewpoint of the situation at all. This made it easier for the two to come together and have some earnest discussions about the nature of Giarra's research.

"There's a lot of variability, like back in the old days there was a corrupting influence that would linger in women for weeks after leaving an Abyssal zone," Giarra explained. "Then some of the work of my mentor came to realize that using a small layer of cold iron in the body armor for women made a big difference in the likelihood of abn-... non-standard births," Giarra continued, cupping her small, round face in her hands. "My mentor saw some terrible, heart-wrenching things - babies born aware and crying with their skin inside out, or with too many limbs, or with their eyes detached from their bodies. The Abyssal corrupting influence does a lot more than just cause tiefling births. I hope for my elixirs to save children's lives, that is all."

Valaria left back for Drezen with a better understanding of how the Abyss corrupts living things just by proxy of its proximity. It did so not only physically, but psychologically, increasing chances of sociopathic or other extreme antisocial personality disorders in those nearby. When she returns to the city she helped her friends reclaim, she is struck with how far it had come. She remembered when the city was in ruins, infested with demons, redcaps, monsters, and those piteous mortals that they had enslaved. Now Drezen was a thriving city, and a testament to any human city in Avistan. Sosiel's Multidenominational Cathedral was one such example of a human achievement - a carefully constructed cathedral encouraging the education and co-operation of different denominations of non-evil religions, and one that may have never been realized had Valaria not humored her friends' seed of a dream when sitting by a campfire three years past.

That fall, on one of her scouting runs, she came to find that the crusaders manning an outpost at one of her wayshrines were having trouble with a wayward basilisk, turning their soldiers to stone. A series of strange dreams, though, warned Valaria that there was more than there seemed to be to the situation. So she decided to call for her friend, Ehren, the Archdruid before hunting the basilisk to its death.

Once taken care of, Valaria had her first dream with Arueshalae since the past year. She was understandably thrilled to be reunited with her, since the year previous she had been accustomed to nigh-monthly dreams with the impish ex-cultist-turned-Desnan.

That winter, Valaria left with Xanderghul for Absalom for Pathfinder Society orientation. During a private discussion in Nar'Voth of all things, Xanderghul had convinced Valaria to join Pathfinder Society so that she could too tap into their resources for her own goals. The last year Valaria had to be present here and there for some paperwork, but now was the day she had to prove herself and get sworn in.

The whole orientation process took two months, and to be quite frank, Valaria at Pathfinder Society Orientation was rather akin to a situation in which Ary would be called to duel seriously with her squires. It was something rather below her capabilities, so it functioned as more of a vacation than anything.

She turned her attentions to long conversations with the Bound Horror. The Bound Horror was a small, quasit-shaped demon that was sent by Nocticula to protect Valaria when the demi-goddess had noticed her progeny heading for somewhere as dangerous as the Worldwound. The Bound Horror had a special hatred for Nocticula and a special resentment towards his charge, but something about the pathetic creature seemed to stir pity in Valaria. She had begun to spend a lot of time towards trying to befriend the miserable little creature, going so far as to spend time in a Heavenly library researching his true origins.

After awhile Valaria finally got the Bound Horror to confess what he really was - "You'll think it's stupid, but I thought she really loved me," he grumbles. "Nocticula. She really pulled one over on me."

"A long time ago, I was the Demon Lord of Shadows, Father of Invidiaks. And I thought that Nocticula wanted to be my Queen. But she betrayed me, stabbed me in the back, robbed me of my powers and left me a fragment of my former self. Even now she's made a palace out of what's left of my body..." he trails off, despondent.

"I can never be free while she has that hold over my soul, Valaria," he says, simply.

In the spring Valaria and Xanderghul made the long overland flight back to Absalom. Along the way they spotted a cultist fortification encroaching on Drezen from the air. Despite the cultists having a platoon of rift drake-mounted riders, they were no match for the wizard and the starknife-flinging bard. They cut half of them down, and then tied up the survivors, calling for back-up from Drezen to deal with the prisoners.

While they were waiting, Valaria sat up from the withered tree-husk she was dozing against with a start. She immediately gathered her things and bolted off without much of a word but to Xanderghul, the last person who saw her.

Now Xanderghul is returning back to Drezen from yet another of his long trips. He can see Valais jogging up to meet him from the distance, waving her arms....whatever could she want?

Even before Ehren had finished channeling the ley and hooking it into the forge, Ary had already begun a segue into a hopeful possibility: Stealing the clay golem dedicated to Baphomet. And reforging it into a more fitting guardian.

In order to do so, Ary had attempted to get Isilme to use her Shrink Item magic on the now-inert and unpowered golem, curious if while it was stuck in that form it was as resistant to magic as Xanderghul had suggested. Still covered in deep, chocolate-brown bruises across one side of her body, she had also tried to bring Ayavah along to investigate it… ultimately she would give Ayavah mostly-free reign in determining what should protect the purity forge, should this particular plan come to fruition. She would have a small degree of supervision by way of Annabelle, Joran, and Ehren, however… and should Hinagiku be meditating at the same time, that would prove even more true.

If the creature couldn’t be shrunken down, the attempt to move it would be all the harder. But purifying the creature that had nearly killed Ary was a fitting second test of the forge… if it would be possible at all. If not, it would likely be destroyed in the attempt, and that suited Ary just fine.

I’m willing to try to buy some Masterwork Adamantine Sculpting tools for Ayavah if we’re able to work at this, and I’m sure she’d be grateful for the longterm benefits!

More to the point, however, Ary is… almost surprised when Joran suggests that he can break the curse (that she wasn’t aware even existed!) on the staff. While she had kept close to him, this was one of the biggest steps forward in Joran suggesting that not only had he gained faith in a god once more… but that a god had gained faith in him. That night after he finishes his (not-particularly-fruitful) efforts, she immediately invites him to dine in with her, with tasteful dwarven dishes that would likely suit both of their palates, as well as other foodstuffs in case he wished to bring his other friends along.

* * *

Afterwards, she becomes so wrapped up in her work with the school that she almost forgets when Isilme shows up with the ring that was meant to keep her… tastefully awake. She places it on the hand opposite the one that Markus had bought for her all those years ago, though on her middle finger rather than her ring finger… and begrudgingly (at least at first) accepts losing two hours of every day to fantasy.

* * *

The newest ‘snag’ with the Tiefling youth was perhaps the most difficult challenge that had been presented to Ary. While she had spent enough of her youth as a ne’er-do-well to understand that being uplifted was difficult, she also had the benefit of having found religion early, quickly, and had it become a beacon that kept her facing a ‘true north’ that wasn’t simply the direction her heart told her was correct (though her heart often lead her a bit astray). She also didn’t have the inherent biases of having been born different or having actual abyssal impulses pulling at her mind at inopportune times. As a result, she was mostly dumbfounded with how to deal with this problem. Anything that she did, amongst those tieflings that hadn’t succeeded within the framework she had built, would likely be viewed as inherently condescending.

It would also be significantly easier to pour her efforts into hunting down this Snikulu… though that was something that Isilme and perhaps Xanderghul would have better luck with. Which returned her directly back to the previous step. There were only two ways that Ary could imagine not coming across as condescending: Blanket outreaches to everyone - food, shelter, clothing - to prevent them from failing outright without a safety net… but she also knew that this would go badly with a considerable portion of the populace. The Crusaders that had come to Drezen were mostly good… but they were also mostly hard-working and might not take well to the idea of their taxes going to help the least fortunate and capable among them. Likewise, she felt it likely that the Sarkorians wouldn’t want to support those that weren’t directly involved within their own clan with blanket promises... That was something that she would have to sock away and present to the others at another time.

That left the only clear choice being to approach the tieflings directly. She knew, tangentially, that Xanderghul had met with a Tiefling-Rights-Group in Nerosyan? Kenabres? Things were growing muddy. Probably Nerosyan. Getting into touch with that group, and involving Kari directly in how the tiefling felt they should go about things. Having been a ‘problem child’ for Ary, while reminding Ary of the dangers of her own faith taken to extremes, had resulted in the Crusader growing to understand that Kari likely had ideas that she would never even think of.

She makes a note to check in with Xanderghul as well as Kari, and try to arrange some meetings, to later follow through and build direct support based upon the suggestions given by both groups.

* * *

While visiting Sesker’s Gulley, Ary takes the opportunity to chat with Ehren about the goings-on in the area… both the interesting mix of cultures that was growing rapidly within the settlement and the growth of the chapel into a place that perhaps was being protected by the fallen within Ary’s family line. Later, after Ehren brings up the possibility of helping Ary to become what she once was, she declines… instead suggesting that the Archdruid focus his efforts on aiding the people who were less fortunate than her to succeed. Primarily, she requests that the archdruid take some time out of his busy schedule to walk the lands near Drezen, blessing the farms and orchards that had begun to take root - along with Kule’s forest, while he was at it. Surely the unicorn wouldn’t mind his grove growing a bit more quickly.

* * *

Svore… was an interesting problem. The value of having potions made at cost was something that the Crusades could certainly use to great effect. Enabling the soldiers (and perhaps even common townsfolk) to survive what would otherwise be deadly encounters… but the risk was far too high. Allowing a non-crusader to directly tinker with the golems could likewise result in a great many deaths. As a result, Ary is forced to decline… but offer a counter. She would allow Svore supervised access (requiring a powerful arcanist to be with her) to the golems, allowing her to perform her tests and learn about their creations… and in exchange, she would share what she found with the Crusades as a whole, fostering growth for both parties without the need for the changing-of-hands when it came to gold.

* * *

When it came to Icerift there were inherent problems all-but-burned into the keep. The Crusades taking it would be a costly endeavor, but the knowledge that they could maintain their supply lines without having to risk being struck by the Drifter’s bandits would make it possible, and indeed make the area more stable for all involved. The difficulty, then, was more in determining who would be a fitting leader. Rather than selecting for herself immediately, she chooses to speak with two particular people before moving forward at all: First, she approaches Ser Jorsal to ask about the measure of the man who had saved his life years ago - Ser Meridrand Palisard, and whether he believed that the young man would be up to the task of leading the settlement. Next, she approaches Hinagiku and asks a similar question: Would she recommend that Ary give Chaleb Sazomel the responsibility? Did she feel that he had grown enough to not only be trustworthy, but to enable the guardians of the fort to do their jobs well?

If both believed that the two were up to the task, she would interview each individually to see if they were interested, insuring that both knew that this wasn’t a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ opportunity. That there would be opportunities for advancement elsewhere if they did not want that icy corner of the world to become their home for the foreseeable future. If both were interested, she would further broach the topic to each of sharing the duties there. Regardless, she ensures that Chaleb’s Condemned status is removed and gives him a personal contingent of Condemned, knowing that no one would treat them better than the man who had seen the other side of the boot.

* * *

And now, the time had come for the newest headache. Growing pains. The fact that several Kellid tribes had essentially backed Ehren’s rise to power seemed to have spread amongst all of the surrounding environs… until now. She had honestly grown to take it for granted that the Crusades were - while not always welcomed - able to travel the Hinterlands with ease and scout out the world to enable the city’s continued expansion and growth.

But there would always be those who were territorial… and likely also had a valid claim to their home. In a different world, where someone else had become the leader of Drezen, the likely answer would have been war… but Ary had determined that the best solution was to go and visit them herself. If they decided that killing the Crusader-Commander was in their best interests, she would stand a much better chance of surviving than a diplomat or more scouts. That just meant having the right people with her to ensure that she might actually survive if the stegotyranodons wanted to eat her as much as the Demetae wanted to eat her soldiers. There was also the need to recover their crosses.

I still need to respond about FENTON and the Martial Disciplines! But those will likely fit better in OOC than in gameplay and this is super long already.

In the aftermath of their discovery of the Temple of Baphomet, Isilme moved quickly to try to evaluate Drezen's vulnerability to infiltration. For all the work they had done to try to prevent cults from taking root, they had done precious little to keep an eye on the kellids and other commoners outside Drezen proper. With the lands being safer now, leading to burgeoning communities springing up in the purified region around the city, it was no longer sufficient to keep an eye out solely for threats within Drezen itself.

Will do the other parts as I get them done

The revelation that a family of Thuvian nobles had been infiltrated by Ivory Templars was certainly a thorn for Isilme. Drezen, understandably, had little diplomatic reach due to being simply considered a crusader city and hence part of Mendev. The crusader leadership in Nerosyan also spent little effort on diplomacy with other nations except as needed to continue recruiting crusaders to the cause. This meant that she needed to lean on the network she was building to reach out further than it had to date. It was one thing to keep an informant or two in each major city to feed information about major events back to her, but cultivating contacts within the ruling class of a country was not something she had devoted resources to. It was exceptionally helpful that Kathon herself came from the اصیل caste in Thuvia. Together with Kathon she set out to finish tracking down Templars there, providing Isilme with a chance to enjoy court intrigue in a way she hadn't since her days at Kitharodian academy, where she had been recruited and served as one of the Lion Blades briefly before disappearing completely--much to the organization's consternation.

Part two done, one more to go!

Hinagiku

Hinagiku's earliest memories were of being carried away from the Worldwound by her original parents, who fled across the Crown of the World to Tian Xia. Hunted by demons the entire way, both parents died shortly after reaching the Eastern continent, but Hinagiku safely came into the care of a kadōka woman who raised her to adulthood. Hinagiku came to worship Irori (same as almost everyone else in her village) and so started to train as a priestess and monk at the local Iroran temple.

Then, sent on a trip to Avistan to seek broader knowledge with her fellow students, Hinagiku ended up returning to the place of her birth. Upon seeing for herself the horror that was the Wound in the World, Hinagiku devoted herself to fighting it with every inch of her being. She had spent the last few years here in Drezen, living with another of the students she had traveled here with, Huá Xíng, at a small Iroran temple that they had built together in Drezen. Though it was originally just she and Huá Xíng, the temple now housed Joran, an ex-cleric of Droskar, and Hinagiku's partner, Ehren.

During her day-to-day, Hinagiku spends most of her time firstly volunteering to assist with any offensive military strikes (though her help was always gladly accepted, she was not a Crusader), otherwise, she spends most of her time helping with patrolling and defending the surrounding area.

Ehren came first, though, so when it came for him to bring the ley across to Drezen, Hinagiku remained by his side until the end. She then helped nurse Ehren back to health over the next few days while he recovered.

When Ehren was well enough to care for himself again, Hinagiku returned to her former duties. Hinagiku was always motived to harness good relationships, and was able to find a sort of fundamental dignity in nearly everyone she came across. As such, over the three years, she had made a lot of friends.

One evening in cold Lamashan, Hinagiku was sitting with a group of former Condemned soldiers, chatting with them as they drank. The Condemned were a name given to conscripted criminals - imported in from all sorts of places with governments happy to lighten their jails - they were commonly placed in northern "wilderness" fortifications like Fort Portolmaeus. Hinagiku had befriended a small group of them, and just this week they had all been formally pardoned by the Crusader-Queen, by way of an officially sealed decree.

It was here the Hinagiku was approached by Valaria. She pulled her out of the pub to speak with her in private in the rear alley.

In the winter, Hinagiku traveled with Ehren, Ledsa, and Yulin, to meet his family, who were incredibly loving and welcoming. At dinner of Ehren's youngest cousins, who had been but a toddler when he had last saw her, holds up a silver piece for Hinagiku to see. It is a very freshly minted silver coin bearing Ary Bishop's likeness in profile. On the other side is the Mendevian coat of arms.

"So, you're friends with Ary Bishop? What's she like?" asks Arianwen Ferron, eyes open wide.

When Hinagiku returned back to Drezen, she found Joran finished with the first successful project at the new Purification Forge. She took to meditating at the forge, finding it to be a very focusing place that was completely different from the other places she had mediated so far. There was a clear structure and intent to its existence. Her other meditative places, when contrasted, lived in celebration of all of existence.

During the nights, she invites Annabelle over to help decorate the building of Irori. And so the rest of the winter passes by rather peacefully.

In the spring, Chaleb Sazomal (a Condemned-turned-Caydenite) pulls Hinagiku aside to help him speak to a pair of misbehaving tiefling teens. They had been caught pranking children by giving out free puppies, which upon closer inspection turned out to be howler puppies! "At that age apparently the howling just gives an ear-splitting headache, and the quills are still really soft to the touch. I know I'm supposed to go to the nun running their dorms, but I doubt they'll see it as a harmless prank. Can you go talk to them?"

Does Hinagiku agree? Roll diplomacy.

Then, in late Desnus, Hinagiku arranges a nice get-together with Isilme, Xanderghul, Ary, and Ehren all at once (Valaria was away hunting Lilevyrrin with Ayavah.) There, she introduces them to the concept of a formal Tien tea ceremony, over which they have a nice heart-to-heart chat.

That summer, Hinagiku goes to Nerosyan with Ehren to try and read about extra-planar ley. Unfortunately, though while she had a powerful instinctual understanding of the ley, an academic understanding eluded her grasp, so she struggled to find anything of relevance. Even Ehren simply studied geographic texts, identifying locations based on descriptions or illustrations, that resembled the sorts of localized leyline effects that Ehren was familiar with.

When they walk the lines back to Drezen after Ehren had completed his research, they came across Grumtarr fighting with another earth elemental. Hinagiku and Ehren were quickly able to dispatch the aggressive interloper, much to the durdalis' relief.

That fall, Hinagiku left Drezen with Isilme, assisting with the heroes' overall mission to re-establish Icerift as a Crusader fortification. She helped provide backup to the Desnan, as she explored the icy caverns and abandoned ruins for any remaining signs of life.

The ruins themselves were abandoned, but they did come across an exceptionally aggressive band of kellids. Angry and mistrustful, Hinagiku struggles to understand their words in Hallit, only to have Isilme explain later that they were Numerian, which had some differences from Sarkorian Hallit.

"Gwelais hi. Dynes ifanc mewn ffrog werdd," confesses one captured Numerian male.

She had returned to Drezen by winter, as the operation shifted to focus on logistics - construction crews, supply lines, and patrol rotations were not the sorts of things Hinagiku could contribute to very well. It was otherwise a quiet season, her nights spent with Annabelle attending a night class at the Crusader Academy. It was the first of its kind - Annabelle had a sort of change in philosophy after having had the opportunity to see Heaven. She was no longer embarrassed or ashamed of what she was - and argued for the inclusion of night classes for the Crusades as a matter of accessibility for all.

The class offered? Worldwound botany. Looking around, Hinagiku saw that the class was completely full, and over half of the class were young people she did not recognize. It seemed the quality of the educational offerings here were starting to attract all sorts of youths from beyond just Crusader recruits, especially as the roads to Drezen had become safer than ever.

But now it was spring again. Hinagiku is at her temple home, getting ready to leave. Ehren was already gone, wanting to quickly address a brewing situation - a group of kellids were apparently attacking, and killing, Crusaders.

Hinagiku had hung behind since she wanted to carefully make sure to pack things Ehren had left behind in his haste (between the two of them, he was the more forgetful). She had the foresight to see the two of them would likely have to travel to a new place for several weeks again, as they had when they were smoothing relations at Sesker's Gully.

Huá Xíng watches Hinagiku gather some forgotten spell components and scrolls into a pouch and remarks, idly, "Another problem with kellids? You know, it seems the Sarkorians here are always facing problems. Why do you think that is so?"

Xanderghul

Xanderghul isn't a real person. His hair is wiry, his blood emerald green, his nails made of gemstones. He is a shabti, an outsider crafted by a powerful wizard, cunning enough to fool even the gods. Upon that wizard's judgment on their death, their soul split into two - a small fragment, vested to animate the shabti, who would serve the wizard's grisly fate in the Abyss. The actual soul would then be free to go as it pleases, having defied Pharasma herself.

And so Xanderghul was born, fully formed in the Abyss, with nothing but some gaudy, overtly exorbitant clothes and a wizard's spellbook in his sleeves. He managed to survive by his wits and wiles for thousands of years, before escaping into Sarkoris by signing up for Deskari's conquering army (the first time he tried to take over the universe). Since then he has become a master illusionist, a formally knighted Crusader, a Venture Captain of the Pathfinder Society, the founding father of his very own university, and also, most recently, a burgeoning demi-god.

You can imagine that Xanderghul is very busy, so once he had escorted Ehren a little closer to Drezen's surrounds, he shot off by flight for the city, ready to dive into one of his many concurrently running projects. First - he sent his Pathfinders out on a research project - to investigate the Stonewilds, to see what they could recover of the ancient Sarkorian knowledge that was contained deep within the woods. Next, he had to address his schools, assess his newly hired teachers for their competence and skill, and so on. Drezen was home to not one but three separate schools, and a sort of rivalry was starting to blossom between students of the three.

Does Xanderghul encourage his students to compete with others and more efficiently better themselves or does he try to counter these new trends with projects designed to encourage cooperation between the schools?

In any case, Ary was pushing for increased funding towards research that would focus on harnessing ley-energy. The most logical first step would be to conduct research on how other arcanists or spellcasters had learned to harness the ley to their own ends, and to really accomplish this Xanderghul would need to send out researchers to far places to tap into new sources of knowledge.

Name 3 places in Golarion you will send your students looking for knowledge.

At the same time, a minor, but disturbing detail - Xanderghul started receiving disturbing threatening hate-mail. Always calling him a fraud, a trickster, or a knave. Some of the letters border on death threats. Attempts to track the mail back always lead to dummy addresses, so whoever was doing this was clever.

In the Winter, his Pathfinders returned with news. The Stonewilds were infested with swarms of nabasu, making it impossible for them to press forwards into the woods without risking their own lives. They request specialized aid, otherwise they feel they cannot complete the task Xanderghul has set out for them.

At the same time, Xanderghul receives a letter from the Pathfinder Society stationed in Absalom. They inquire about his Lodge, and whether or not his first project was completed yet. They are excited about the initial proposal regarding the Stonewilds, and specifically request that he send back samples of the engraved druidic Sarkorian stones that were supposed to exist somewhere deep within the forest. They would pay top dollar for actual, genuine artifacts.

In the spring Xanderghul is able to launch his next expedition - Variska led a team sent in to recover information and artifacts from Laktharis' temple. This time the team is able to quickly report with good news - while the underground temple had once again become infested with fiendish beasts (this time fiendish carnivorous oozes). She returned with a host of recovered relics and samples, and, a comment that his name was spreading far and wide, but not all of it was positive. "Yeah, boss, heard some people in a inn in Gundrun talking about you. Seems like someone's spreading a rumor you're some kind of swindler..."

Xanderghul didn't really have time to drop everything and go to Gundrun over some petty slight. That Winter he needed to sponsor Valaria as she left for Absalom in order to undergo Pathfinder Society Orientation. It wasn't a particularly trying time for either of them, but it gave Xanderghul some space away from the city to more clearly think on some new developments of the past year.

For one, something about Xanderghul had really started to click in the past year. It turns out, when one offers a free, accessible education in this part of Avistan, a lot of disadvantaged youth would come from far and wide to try and take advantage of it.

For two, it gave him time to meet with other Pathfinder Society members, listen to their updates and become more informed about other recent events around the planet, as it interests him, at least. For instance, he hears of an amusing rumor from the River Kingdoms - a story of some sort of rogueish bard, that has assembled a veritable harem of trollish suitors that follow him around assaulting the townspeople. Another rumor is more serious, harkening to Ustalav - a student had been kicked out of the Sincomakti School of Sciences for practicing necromancy of a queer kind - one that incorporates demon parts...

By spring Valaria and Xanderghul were headed back to Drezen, Valaria now a wayfinder-carrying member of Pathfinder Society. The two teamed up to take down a veritable platoon of rift drakes and their riders, when they came upon them from above, just thirty miles south and east of Drezen. But just as they had wrapped up the battle, Valaria ran off on her own towards Drezen, quickly melting into the crowds as she was able to do.

Valais, his aasimar assistant and second-in-command as far as managing his many organizations was concerned, was there waiting for him near the expected entrance to the city, having known the date Xanderghul would be arriving via sending. "Glad to see you in one piece," Valais comments dryly. "Is there anything you'd like me to take back to the Lodge? Ary wants to talk to you, there's an emergency regarding some marauding Kellids, oh, and something else-"

Ayavah cuts Valais off, running up to Xanderghul, huffing and puffing to catch her breath as she catches up to him. "H-here. Wait. Where's Val?" she asks.

Part One of ???

Xanderghul Writes to the Pathfinder Society.

Writing a letter to the Pathfinder Society finds itself a better method of communication than sending would, although Xander does use a few sendings to announce and then confirm receipt of the letter. It would not do for his letter to go unanswered or unacknowledged. Not when so many important things were on the line when it came to scouting and conquering the different areas of the Worldwound.

’Dearest Pathfinder Associates,’ Xanderghul writes. ’I write to you from my independent university in a demon-infested wasteland.’

’I have sent scouts to assess the situation in the Stonewilds. Unfortunately, the entire forest (or at least the borderlands) are infested with vile nabasu demons. Nabasu demons are man-sized batlike creatures which are resistant to all the elements, as well as all magic. They are able to fly and call upon necromantic powers of death. If their powers slay a foe, that foe will rise as a ghoul that serves them. In hand to hand combat, they are able to slay the captain of any Inner Sea city’s guard with their claws and teeth.’

’As you might imagine, swarms of these creatures would pose a significant obstacle to recovering information from the Stonewilds’ libraries. In order to recover the information from the Library of the Heirophants, we would need enough scrolls of death ward to outfit a small army, perhaps multiple times. If you would supply that, my next Chronicle will include the secrets of the Circle of Heirophants.’

’In the meantime, I have just recovered some artifacts and information from an ancient Sarkorian shrine. This shrine was once the site of worship of a life-giving intelligent tree named Mother Heartwood. Over time in the Worldwound, worship of the tree was replaced by worship of a tricky demon named Lakteris. The shrine has since been reclaimed, although Mother Heartwood and the clan that worships her have moved to Drezen. The records of such a clan are a treasure trove of information regarding Sarkorian culture and the way it’s evolved in the past century. Perhaps some work can be done to preserve it.’

’In addition, I would like to request that a druid loyal to the Society be sent. Druids are able to commune with local menhir, or standing stones. The menhir have proven to be a literal library of information compiled by all of the druids of past centuries. A druid at any standing stone, teamed up with my scribe Valais Durant, could discover mountains of information. Imagine the discoveries that could be made! Imagine the volumes that could be written, the stories that could be recovered and shared with anyone! Imagine the discoveries! Imagine them, and send the druid.’

’Finally, I would like to pose an offer. My university is open to all. That means all. Any Pathfinders wishing to spend time studying, or networking with others of their cohort, are welcome to come and study. The facility lies in Drezen’s southern district. It occupies a number of old manor houses, but the facility is independently fenced and organized, so it is not easy to miss. It resembles an embassy as much as a university. I look forward to seeing your faces here!’

Then he instructed Valais to print the letter ten times. The messenger he sends is instructed to paste the letter all over the Grand Lodge in addition to delivering a neatly folded and sealed version to the Decimvirate. He would not have his message controlled by the secretive leaders of his guild, either.

Part Two of ???

Xanderghul Reacts to the Academic Rivalry

When he receives news that the three schools were developing a rivalry, Xanderghul hits upon an idea. The only way to stop the competing would be to merge all the schools together into one. That wasn’t going to happen, so instead he creates a… leaderboard, of sorts. He asks Annabelle and Ayavah to help him with creating a public board and making it beautiful. He hires an administrator to keep track of student accomplishments. He creates several categories, such as “impressive spellcasting” and “athletic records”. He lets all students of all schools know that if they wish, they can request the presence of an auditor to display their skills and abilities. The auditor will collaborate with the recordkeeper and update the leaderboards so that it reflects the absolute best accomplishments that the universities can offer.

He privately confers with his students about this leaderboard. He confesses to them that, while nobody will be playing any favorites, he fully expects the leaderboards to be stacked with his followers.

- - - - -

Xanderghul Sends Researchers Around the World

Xanderghul knows that it will take a wellspring of knowledge from many different sources in order to succeed at any large-scale ley research, so he sends his people far and wide. Places so far, it would take multiple teleports to reach, or multiple months traveling. Of course, he keeps up on a biweekly basis with them via sending.

One team he sends to Nantambu, in the Mwangi Expanse. He knows that city to be the home of the world’s foremost arcane school, one established thousands of years ago. If anywhere would have the knowledge, it would be there. The second team he sends to Iadara, in Kyonin. The elves were legendary druids and also masters of spellcraft. In addition, they had memories that go back much farther. Despite the fact they weren’t native to this planet, if their own planet had ley lines then it was likely the elves had studied Golarion’s. The third team he sends to Quantium, the city far to the south founded by Nex, one of the most famous of all arcanists.

He hopes that at least one of these realms might have information useful for the war effort, or perhaps other project.

- - - - -

The Doctrines of Xanderghul

Firstly, Every rule is made to be broken, including this one. If you listen to your gut, and your gut tells you something that contradicts with one of these rules, do what your gut says.
Nextish, Your fellow guildmates are your second family, or your first family if you have none to begin with.
Second, Family is not everything, but a good person defends their family from harm.
Thirdly, Legitimacy is not synonymous with rightness. You are allowed to make your own judgments about what is right, but ensure you have thought your positions through.
And finally, No matter how much you know, you do not know everything, and there will be things that surprise you.
Fifth, If you have no goals, the only thing you are accomplishing is eating, sleeping, and shitting.
And Remember, You cannot accomplish anything if you are dead. Always look out for that which might end you.

Xanderghul’s followers refer to the organization that is the church as “The Guild”, or “The Guild of Xanderghul”.

Xanderghul’s first temple will always be his own body, though that isn’t something that he says out loud. So, Xanderghul’s first temple is called Xanderghul.

His second temple, however, needed a formal name. Something’s name is very important. A name defines what something is. A name lets you know what to expect.

Xanderghul’s school is called The Mad Master's University for the Gifted.

I have also written a page on The Religion of Xanderghul. I have yet to add a paladin code to this page, but it should be up-to-date and accurate. Does anyone think I still need to add more to this?

The Archdruid and The Beast Lord

Still in recovery at the time, Ehren was not present when Ailig and Isbeyl pronounced judgment on Gerwyn and the bladebound magus, the latter of whom did not so much as give up a name before being beheaded by Houna. The executions were carried out with far more haste than the archdruid would have liked, not that he had intended to appeal for mercy. Unlike many of the nominal Deskarans he slew in the past, the two Templars had wielded powers that only one who had sworn themself to Baphomet in heart and soul could possess. But every day as he woke to see Joran working in the temple, he found himself wondering whether they, too, could have been saved. He resolved to do everything he could to stop this from happening again.

As soon as he was strong enough to walk without falling flat on his face, Ehren immediately set out to speak to those who knew Gerwyn best. Fortunately, between his title and purification of their god-tree, his relationship with the Heartwood cult was already amiable. Houna had little trouble getting some of her younger followers to speak up, revealing a familiar-sounding tale about a mysterious elven prophet. Knowing of the Templars’ propensity for working within families, the archdruid then left to go on a long journey to seek out Gerwyn’s clan.

Like many Kellid clans, Clan Cors was insular and xenophobic. They stubbornly clung to the fringes of the Worldwound, in spite of the ever-present danger. While the archdruid’s reputation preceded him, he also carried with him the onus of working hand-in-hand with the crusaders, a fact that some of the more hotheaded clansmen took exception to. Ironically, while the elders were more willing to listen, the younger members of the clan were more willing to speak up. After a few days of tense discussion he is able to coax out the truth, yielding yet another story about an elven maiden who spread the word of Baphomet.

The accounts reminded Ehren of the days of old, when Deskari first wormed his way into the hearts of his people. Back then, the Demon Lord had done so by preying on their ignorance, by casting himself as an aspect of nature itself. Baphomet’s methodology, while every bit as duplicitous, seemed far more direct by comparison. He needed only to stoke the hatred that already dwelled within the hearts of the young and vulnerable. The result was not a swarm of hapless cultists, but a cadre of zealots fully committed to the “Beast Lord.” Unacceptable.

Despite having never fancied himself an orator, the archdruid had grown used to the trappings of his station. Before the entire clan, Ehren made an impassioned speech denouncing the Demon Lord of Minotaurs and his followers, describing in visceral detail the numerous crimes they have wrought on their people. The Fall of Kenabres, where thousands fell victim to the Worldwound Incursion; the machinations of Arastrax, kidnapper, murderer, and mutilator of children; and most recently, the Templars’ blasphemous act defiling a site sacred to the Green Faith. Furthermore, Ehren decried Gerwyn for joining the very creatures that stole their homeland, for directing his anger at the “southerners” who fought the demons in their stead. As he goes on, however, it became obvious that it was not just Gerwyn he speaks of.

”A wnewch chi eistedd yn segur wrth ymladd eich brwydrau ar eich rhan? A wnewch chi fwrw'ch coelbren gyda'r truenus a gymerodd bopeth oddi wrthych chi?” the archdruid asks, eyeing those in the crowd that had been most resistant to his efforts. ”Neu a fyddwch chi'n ymladd, nid drostyn nhw, nid i mi, ond dros yr union dir rydych chi'n sefyll arno?”

Call to Action: "We don't join Demon Lords, we kick them to the curb."
Diplomacy (Surge): 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 10 + (4) = 32

A Ferron Family Reunion

While initially happy to have the chance to see his family again, in the moments immediately preceding the reunion, some of Ehren’s old anxieties started to resurface. So much had happened over the years since he last saw them; he died, was brought back to life in a new body, became the Archdruid of Sarkoris, and perhaps most shockingly, found a girlfriend. What if they did not recognize him? But as it turned out, his fears were entirely unfounded - in fact, the situation was just the contrary.

He had barely just arrived when he found himself in the crushing embrace of two young women - his identical twin sisters, Ellyn and Audrey. They were nearly the age that he was when he first started his journey, and would soon be formally initiated into the order. (”If you thought blowing up the menhir would stop us, then you were wrong,” Audrey had pointed out, matter of factly.) Eager to prove just how immature they still were, they proceeded to badger Ehren with questions about Hinagiku, evidently picking up on why she was there before he could so much as open his mouth.

Ehren barely recognized Young Rohan, who could barely walk the last time he saw him. He was not much older than Little Yulin appeared to be, and was about just as vocal. The toddler did not remember his older brother right away, but seemed to accept the fact that “the man with the pointy hat” was family quickly enough.

There was his father Gilas, of course, whom Hinagiku was already familiar with. The clan-liege looked to Hinagiku with recognition, but said nothing of the circumstances of their first meeting. Nothing more needed to be said about that terrible day. And then there was his mother, who proceeded to crush every bone in his body that his sisters failed to. Sheena Ferron was a tall, sharp-eyed woman, who kept her long, graying brown hair tied into a single large braid that rested over her shoulder. If Ehren took after his father, then Ellyn and Audrey took after their mother; right away, she started to interrogate him about every aspect of his life, insistent on being brought to speed.

From there, Ehren was more or less able to handle the rest of the introductions. While most of his aunts, uncles, and cousins did not actually travel with the clan (some like Mera had laid down roots elsewhere), quite a few of them had made the trip to see him, the new archdruid. Everyone greets Hinagiku and Ledsa warmly, though they initially regard Yulin with some apprehension. Their misgivings were soon abated, however, when Ehren spoke of the hardships Ledsa and her daughter had to endure. He took care to omit some of the finer details of Yulin’s half-demon nature, that he later shared with his father in private. After a long discussion and a relatively short ceremony, Ledsa and Yulin were clanless no longer.

Inevitably, questions of when Hinagiku would also “join the clan” were asked, much to Ehren’s chagrin. It was a topic that he had yet to broach with her for a variety of reasons, the least of which was how busy they both were. Ultimately, he was able to weasel his way out of that line of questioning, if only because there was a more important discussion to be had. Ledsa would be but the first of many new druids in Sarkoris - his clan would help see to that.

Clan Ferron was prosperous, fecund, and had little regard for pretenses of cultural “purity” - the preservation of the Old Ways was all that mattered to them. It was their strong ties to Ancient Sarkoris that commanded the respect of so many of their people. It followed that it should fall to them to restore the druidic orders of old.

”When the Storm King first cracked the Kenabres menhir, there was a great moot among those of us who tended to the stones,” Gilas explained, as the whole of Clan Ferron listened. ”Ferron, Crehyrod, and Eiragwyn. The three of us argued for a whole season, but could not agree on a course of action to take. Whether we should reach out to the other old clans, or to hold the line. We failed to do anything back then and the decision was made for us. Now, we can wait no longer.”

”What do you think we should do, father?” Ehren had asked, much like he often did back when he was a mere acolyte.

The older man’s eyes wrinkled as he smiled. ”I should be asking you that question, Archdruid.”

Ehren will choose the Animal, Fire, Water, and Weather domains to represent the new circles.

Xanderghul Returns to Drezen,

The walls and gates of Drezen are a sight for sore feet. Though he is able to fly for many hours a day, when traveling alone Xanderghul elects to travel for 12 hours a day rather than travel for longer, which means several hours of walking each day in addition to the flight. He even has a new walking stick - the Staff of Freedom’s Command. The staff was not capable of speech, but it still served as a better companion than his cactus ring, or sometimes Variska.

He is used to long walks, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t look forward to the sight of home. And there is Valais, waiting for him, every bit the loyal assistant she always was. It felt right that she was working for him now rather than Jorsal. Despite his many virtues, Jorsal was a warrior more than he was a scholar, and the archivist was better-placed under Xanderghul. He had also been talking with her about life, and how when you grow up, there are changes you don’t expect, and you have to face things you’re not ready for.

Valais was proving to be a loyal follower, and Xanderghul’s ethos of “do what you want and don’t die doing it” was a good balance between uplifting and non-demanding, which was exactly what the embattled aasimar needed. He waves her closer when he gets within shouting distance. ”Marauding Kellids, you say? No, I don’t have anything for you to take back to the Lodge. Come with me to the meeting with Ary.”

”Hello, Ayavah,” he adds. ”Valaria isn’t with me. She decided to run halfway across the world at the drop of a hat to help a woman that she’s in love with but also has literally never met.”

”Speaking of that, any luck failing to meet with a succubus?” He motions for the tiefling to follow him and Valais and heads for the Citadel. When the Commander called, he knew it was serious.

The New Circle

With his father’s blessing, Ehren began Ledsa’s druidic training in earnest, building off the years of preparatory teachings he had passed on to her. When Isilme originally suggested that he take her on as a student, he had been hesitant. In hindsight, his concerns all struck him as rather naive.

Under the utmost secrecy, he taught her the secret language of the druids, drawing out its individual runes on dirt before erasing them, and speaking to her the meaning of any particular word once, and only once. From her mouth, the ancient words held no power of their own, but her knowledge of them alone brought her one step closer to understanding the cycle. Through her meditations, he taught her to not just feel nature’s power, but to draw on its primal essence and bend it to her will. Finally, he passed to her one of the sacred techniques of their clan, to allow her to better recognize the omnipresence of the ley and its influence on the world.

The archdruid did his best to guide Ledsa to guide her talents towards the way of healing, while ensuring that she also knew of the destructive forces that were at a druid’s beck and call. It had never been his intention to train a warrior, but he also knew that she desired the power to protect her daughter. Besides which, when it came down to it, no proud Kellid would ever be laid low without a fight. As long as she obeyed the prohibitions of the Faith, she could use her power however she chose to. By the following winter, the time had come for Ledsa of Clan Ferron to be formally initiated. Ordinarily this would have been a large, celebratory affair, but he had something more subdued in mind.

Ehren had committed himself to helping Ary with her latest major project, the reclamation of Icerift Castle. The archdruid was fairly confident that his actions there had banished the Corrupter of Hearts for good, but with years having passed, he wanted to be absolutely certain. By walking the lines he was able to bring an initial scouting force of crusaders directly into the castle, saving them a long, hazardous trek. He brought with him Ledsa, but not Yulin, who had by then fallen into the care of her guidemother, Isilme. While Ehren initially desired to train his new little cousin himself eventually, her unique circumstances left him woefully unequipped to do so.

The two of them spent the next few days scouring the nearby mountainside for any signs of Kalek - not that Ehren knew what they would do if they did encounter the wendigo. Thankfully, not a trace of the wicked creature remained. If the beast still lurked in the Rimethirst Mountains, then he lurked deep. They returned to the castle, where Ehren brought her back to the small, secluded hut that held the wardstone-that-never-was. He bade Ledsa to perform one final act - to commune with the Icerift menhir, and to receive a glimpse of the ancient insight it contained, some of which he left there himself.

Ehren watched thoughtfully when she touched the stone, his heart swelling with pride. If this was how it felt to pass on the old ways, then he would do so again, however many times he needed to.

”Mae llawer mwy o waith i'w wneud, cefnder,” he would later say to her, back in Drezen. ”Bydd angen eich help arnaf pan fydd eraill.”

Okay, ONE more. @_@

Upon her return to Drezen, Isilme is frustrated to find that Staunton's armor had gone missing. Knowing that attempting to cover it up could cause embarassment for the Crusaders if whomever stole it decided to reveal that fact, and that simply releasing the information without any effort to control it could similarly backfire, she opts for a third path: Subterfuge.

Almost immediately after setting that into motion, Isilme is called upon to investigate the theft of components that could be used for Necromancy. Knowing that any of the students at either school could have been responsible, and having already been considering spending more time to understand the nature of magic at its most fundamental levels, she opts to teach a course in her own runic magic, covering the concepts of celestial runes and the ability to shape raw magic into power through force of will. Doing so was a way for her to organize her own thoughts on the matter, and as teachers often do, she quickly found her own theories challenged by the more clever and industrious students.

Befriending many of them along the way, it isn't long before the perpetrators came with questions that while seemingly irrelevant, were intended to cautiously ferret information about the runes and intents that might be necessary for such magic to be harnessed for animation of or raising the dead. Inviting the siblings to discuss magic over dinner, she was easily able to get them to confess what they had done. Having both been orphaned in one of the assaults on Nerosyan, they had come to Drezen to study and to live with their uncle, who served in the crusades as a guard at the hospital in Drezen. It was there they had heard of spirits rising to aid the living, and had set out to do so themselves, hoping along the way they might be able to see their parents again. Given that they had meant well, and hadn't actually cast any necromancy she explained the situation to them, and promised after they had turned themselves in and faced punishment, that she would introduce them to Markus herself and encourage him to take them on as interns so that they might investigate white necromancy safely.

One more post to write, want to do it once I know what Isilme is doing about researching the failure of her mythic power

"Mortals wear clothing as well, Duke," she says, laughing in reaction to his observation about people. "Of course they are going to want to keep secret who is bedding who, and so of course everyone is going to want to talk about it. It is delightfully ironic, isn't it? As for the other thing, I will meet with the others as soon as possible. There is something I must attend to first." She finishes gathering her things and gives Duke a scratch behind his ear--something he both vehemently objected to and yet clearly enjoyed despite his griping--before heading out the door and heading down into the Opera House proper.

Isilme still maintained quarters in the Opera House as it allowed her easy oversight of the operations of her spy network. The benefit of having the Bralanis and Duke around, though, was that she herself was only on duty three days a week. During those days she oversaw intelligence in the morning and evenings, and taught music and oratory classes in the Opera House during the day. On the days she was free, she lived in Aravashnial's quarters, the pair having long since abandoned any pretense of not being in a committed relationship.

And it was precisely because of that relationship that she was heading to the entry of the city to find Xanderghul. He was entering town, and she wanted to have a discussion with him about her condition prior to having the discussion with Aravashnial, as she knew Xanderghul could be dispassionate about it. When she spots him, she waits long enough for Ayavah to finish, then approaches.

"Xanderghul, do you have a moment? I need your opinion on something that has been happening to me that I am concerned about," she says, taking him aside. She certainly wasn't going to allow someone to gossip about the issue; Ai'sintar had a right to hear it from her directly, after all.

We can continue the RP after Xanderghul's initial response in Discord

Xanderghul motions for Ayavah and Valais to either wait for him or to continue on to the Citadel without him, whichever they'd prefer more. If they continued on, he would meet them in the gatehouse. He steps aside with Isilme to listen to what she has to say. Perhaps she had spymaster business for him. He always looked forward to spymaster business.

"Oh, I know what's happening," he opens with a grin. "It's called puberty. All mortals go through it at one point or another - I learned about it during a biology class at the Pathfinder Society. I suppose your elfin body is finally becoming an adult. There may be strange urges or feelings that you don't understand, but don't worry. It's all natural."

First Winter
The evening at the tavern with Chaleb, Altlel, and the other condemned had been a nice one, one of celebration but also of remembrance. After all, there were those, like Jezzyck, who had not survived the war. Still, she was happy that the slow change of heart they had had over the past few years had now been rewarded with pardon. During that evening, she asks each of them what their dreams for the future are now that they were to leave the crusades.

A sombre tone comes to the evening when Valaria approached Hinagiku. She had had a presentiment about Jonelle and Meridrand’s relationship, but it had stayed that, a sentiment. Learning the truth had saddened here, the couple’s wedding vows had not been so open ended as to welcome what had happened. After thanking, Valaria, Hinagiku decided to reflect on the matter for a few days before going to the Palissards homestead. (I am assuming Jonelle is pregnant, otherwise it would be obvious to everyone that the baby is tien.) After some congratulations and catching up, Hinagiku invited Jonelle to join her at the temple for a meditation session, the woman had after all state her interested in such matters at Meridrand’s knighting. The meditation was a unique one, for woman, pregnant ones specifically, and originated from the Master of master’s native land of Vudra (something like yoga). Though rarely practiced in Minkai, only few tomes originating from the Vudrani branch of the faith had made it to her land, Hinagiku had had the chance to witness her masters using it to help women alleviate the back pain of pregnant women. This was a perfect way to get closer to Jonelle, build trust, and hopefully have her share about her affair, especially since the meditation was only beneficial if practiced daily.
Slow and steady, Hinagiku tries to get closer to Jonelle over a few weeks. Without judgement, she discusses things related to couples, gently probing the ground, and trying to see how Jonelle feels about her current relationship with Meridrand.
diplomacy(surge for fun): 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 15 + (2) = 23
sense motive(surge for fun): 1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (12) + 5 + (4) = 21
**********************************************

Later that winter, Hinagiku joins Ehren in a trip to visit his family we never had time to have a fight scene about that :(. As much as Hinagiku had looked forward to it, she had also known that it would be a challenge. Ehren’s clan consisted not only of the Kellids who respected strong personalities, but also of those who respected wisdom and the understanding of nature. For the first ones, she knew that her mind’s strength would not be fully appreciated. This thought directed her choice of gift for the family she would bring knowledge of Minkaian fighting style, such as tripping and special holds. For the second, she opts to translate some of the Master of master’s text to Kellid. Enlisting the help of Ayavah, she has a stone tablet engraved with passages from her faith’s scriptures that most closely resemble the tenets of the druidic order. They speak of the cyclical nature of soul and the rebirth of souls.

And so, on the day they arrive, and while Ehren is being crushed by loving embraces (which she looks at with a tender smile), Hinagiku struggles to place a stone tablet decorated with a beautiful flower arrangement close to the central fire. In response to the dubious look given to her for her lack of strength, she gently yet firmly calls to the warriors to exchange lessons. She would teach them how to hold demons in place and trip them if they taught her their brawling style.

Beyond the challenge of her personality was the challenge of her body. She was concerned that the clan might read too much into their archdruid been intimate with an animal looking person. For that reason, Hinagiku had decided to spend half of her days in vulpine form (morning and afternoon), and the other half (the evening and the night) in human form. A habit she keeps even now.

I want to write more about the family, but it is getting too late :(

”Commander Bishop… she wants everyone to call her Ary, because she does not like to feel above others. She’s young, younger than Ehren, but leads elves more than a 100 times her age and is at the head a whole city. She is really impressive, but not scary, friendly rather. And she does all that out of concern for people, not because she wants power or renown, but because she cares. ” Hinagiku pauses, wondering what would impress kellids the most. ”She lifter a whole chimera once and dragged it across the city.” Hinagiku says with a kind of strangely composed and soft childlike voice.

Spring
In the spring, Hinagiku is surprised to be approached by Chaleb about the tiefling teens, and even more surprised at how law-abiding the cavalier’s solution was. ”Mr. Chaleb. I do not think either of us should tell the nuns. I think the teenagers should. But there are ways to tell that are better than others, ones that will not get them punished.” With that said, Hinagiku arranges to meet the teens with Chaleb. The man had changed so much, and she had full faith in his ability to do the right thing, he just needed to gain a bit of confidence. She then goes to explain that however funny the prank had been, some people had been disappointed not to have puppies they could truly enjoy (and having headaches). Calmly, she explains that the nuns need to be made aware of this, but goes on to say that she would rather they not get punish, but rather that they make a show of good faith. To do so, they could apologize and try to make amends before telling the nuns themselves. Concerned about the success of the plan, Hinagiku purposefully visits the families ahead of time to discuss the problem.
If the youth follow her advice, Hiangiku accompanies them to the dormitory to act as a mediator, making sure their good deeds do not go punished.
diplomacy(surge): 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 15 + (1) = 34 asks help from Chaleb

Fall
The scouting of Icerift proved more difficult than Hinagiku had expected. Not because of its dagners, but because of the reminder that some powerful enemies were still at large. Arastrax the invidiak for one. Hinagiku wished she could help Peredur find his quarry and finally puts to rest the spirit of his chieftain’s daughter, but the truth was that she had no skill whatsoever that could help. Isilme did, and she suggests to the spymaster that if the demon had gone west, it might be getting closer to Drezen, and that perhaps she and Peredur could join force in hunting it.
The second was the elven woman, perhaps the same who had manipulated Staunton Vhane, a fact that she shares with Isilme. After telling the Numerians about the elven woman’s misdeeds (i.e. saving a man in order to have him betray his people) Hinagiku does her best to ask them about their experience with the woman.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
If negative, she will try to broker a deal with them so that they can work with the crusader. Otherwise, she will let the crusaders deal with them (probably Ehren actually).

Winter
I cannot answer to Ary about Icerift until I know what Chaleb wants to do with his free life or how things go with Jonelle.
Having by now realized how winter was in fact the perfect time to focus on perfecting non-combat skills, Hinagiku fully delves into the botanic class she shares with Annabelle. Understanding the physical nature of plants, rather than their basic needs, or their soul, truly helped the monk fully understand plants. She would make sure to write her notes cleanly on a parchment and have it sent to her mother.

Now
”Do you remember your first months here Hua Xin senpai? The strangeness of the people, their impolite ways? Even after years, I find it still difficult sometimes to understand them. I believe it is the same between the Kellids and the others. They have different ways of life. We are visitors, a small number. But the visitors here are established. They do not think themselves as visitors anymore, and so they do not seek to adapt. So there are two people now, each a owner, each different and struggling to understand the other.” Hinagiku answers, lifting the now neatly packed bag over her shoulder. ”Why the concern?”

Ehren had long debated on whether Drezen’s flora had a place in the Green, given the twisted influence the Worldwound still had on them. While the plants were certainly bizarre in appearance, they seemed to thrive like any other plant would, and it was not as though they were outright evil; they had not turned sentient or tried to kill anyone, at least. The druid thinks back to his brief talk with Grila, who had thought it strange that he regarded Old Ironfin as an unnatural being. Could it be that it was just a matter of perspective? With that in mind, Ehren concluded that unnatural origins did not necessarily preclude something from belonging in nature.

Unfortunately, solving that conundrum did not stop Horgus from breathing down his neck. As annoying as the man could be at times, Ehren respected his pragmatism, knowing better than to chalk his motivation down to petty greed. The Andoren researchers’ request seemed reasonable enough. And yet, something about packaging a part of the Green and selling it rubbed him the wrong way - the scale of their exports would go beyond a mere teabag or potted plant. More importantly, he could not anticipate what would happen to the plants once they were outside of Mother Heartwood’s influence. They might die, or worse, revert to a demonic state.

However, a deal with the researchers could prove beneficial for reasons beyond mere payment. If Sarkoris was to be restored one day, then it was entirely possible that the strange plants would be a new reality for the entire land. It followed that he should learn as much about them as possible, before that day came. Ehren acquiesced to the researchers’ offer under two conditions: that they share the results of their research, and that in the interest of sustainability, they replant a seed of anything that they take.

I will wait until we are all caught up before posting about the Demetae. :)

Intuiting that Xanderghul and Isilme would be conversing for awhile, Valais waves for Ayavah to accompany her to the Citadel. "Do you need something from Valaria, Ayavah?" she asks, her tone clipped and official. "We can potentially arrange for you to contact her, if you need to."

12 Gozran 4717

Time: Morning, 25 °F, (-3 °C), mostly cloudy, light wind.

--

The heroes had gathered together at Citadel Drezen for Ary to inform them of the situation of the Demetae clan. Ehren then contributed his own knowledge of their ways, tapping into a deep well of ancestral knowledge passed down to him through the menhir stones.

It was at that moment Irabeth had arrived to interrupt. A more pressing matter had arisen.

"I need you all to come with me, now," she says urgently, but calmly. "To Sosiel's Cathedral. I'll explain along the way."

"It was just discovered at dawn - the Erastilian shrine at the Cathedral has been desecrated. Everything ruined and ransacked, blood everywhere. And now Jesker and Aerona have gone missing."

The Multidenominational Cathedral of Drezen (or as it was more commonly referred to - Sosiel's Cathedral) was built out of what was originally the largest cathedral to Iomedae in the ruined city. As the building was rebuilt, the wings were expanded outwards, and the enormous seating area sequestered into many separate shrines. This was a place that the different religions of Drezen could co-mingle and work together to find common ground. It also provided an ideal place for clerics to reach out to the citizens and possibly find new adherents.

The Erastilian shrine is small, humble, and out of the way. As one of the newer shrines, it is housed in the additional wing Sosiel had added onto the cathedral, which was furnished out of wood on a stone foundation. Blood has been splashed about the shrine and altar and messages in Abyssal have been scratched into the shrine's wooden walls - all blasphemies and insults against Erastil. The entire sight is horribly grisly, and only the heroes are staunch enough to get much closer. The other clerics cannot bear the sight of getting too much more close.

Smeared in blood across the altar's front is the following phrase: "Just as Delamere now weeps tears of fire so shall those who follow go to the pyre!!"

The stone statue of Erastil, a commission by Ayavah, has been smashed into rubble.

K. Local: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
K. History: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Xanderghul gets no time even for a ridiculous quip after meeting Ary before Irabeth arrives with dramatic news. He sighs and stands, having rested his feet only for a few moments. "Well, I suppose let's get on with it," he says.

When they arrive at the desecrated shrine, he looks around curiously. It wasn't like Drezen to have direct demonic infiltrators. The Sword of Valor demoralized them by sapping their strength. This was either a very daring, powerful demon or cultist, or some sort of... drama-queen. Intriguing. "Ehren," he says. "Do you think you could check the area for tracks? Your ability to see an image of someone you track could come in useful here."

K. Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Meanwhile, Valais has already withdrawn a blank journal from her pathfinder pouch (a pants pocket that holds several large tomes), along with her kitharodian pen. "The Heroes of Drezen begin a new adventure," she dictates, "When the castle seneschal summons them to the scene of a grisly crime. In Drezen's multidenominational cathedral, there is a shrine to Erastil tended by two young clerics. The shrine's statue has been demolished, with Abyssal runes splashed in blood all over the area. In this next Chronicle, the Heroes will discover the culprit responsible and stop their marauding. But will the missing clerics be discovered in time? Or will the Heroes be too late to save them, timely enough only to avenge?"

As she speaks, her magical pen moves across the page of its own accord, the soft scratching noise accompanying the other sounds of adventuring.

Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Isilme reaches over to Valais and puts a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's your duty to record these events, dear, but please wait to dictate until after we have left, or write it down by hand. This is a solemn place and a terrible crime has been committed. It is impolite, to say the least, to stand here and reduce it to something you might find on pamphlet advertising a theatrical troupe's new play."

Stepping up to the altar carefully, her senses instinctively reach out, finding the presence of a terrible book almost immediately. "There is a book here, something wrong, teachings of madness." Cautious about reading the contents of the book directly, she instead begins searching the surrounding area for it.

Perception: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (4) + 26 = 30

Before:

Ary sat at her desk, hands folded, chin resting atop them, staring at the paper that rested upon it. Her brow was furrowed as if in thought, but someone like Fenton - if he were around - would know that her demeanor was less a thoughtful one, and more an angstful one.

Angst was something she'd nearly forgotten over the previous year. She had, in some ways, assumed that she had aged enough to no longer be going through that particular difficulty once more. Another feeling was also pervading her mind: Powerlessness.

After having moved the onus of finding Snikulu to Isilme's spies and scouts, the matter had slipped out of her view. At the behest of others, she had begun to delegate more and more of her work. She thought she had achieved balance... but the report - clearly the first that she had gotten, else she would have continued to make changes to the systems that were in place to attempt to change the course of things - that lay upon her desk showed her this was untrue. The report listed that a Crusader had slaughtered half of his contingent because 'Mother' had not gone to ground as she had thought... but had actually pressed deeper into the Crusades than Ary had realized possible.

It altered her perspective rather fully, and she didn't know how to quite deal with the realization that what she thought was for the best had had so little impact.

At first, she was surprised, and that surprise turned to grief... then annoyance. Then came the blaming. Perhaps if she hadn't wasted some three hundred hours on sleeping, she could have caught this. Little did she know that that feeling was precisely the one that drew the people under her command back into the depths of their own particular addictions. Ary was simply addicted to time. And being rationed on it had had positive effects, but now there were clear signs that she could use more of it in her day.

And so she didn't sleep the following morning. It showed, in how tired she was - though she was a strong person and powered through the day with ease, utilizing keep watch the following day, and the next.

The goal, ultimately, was to gain a greater understanding of the situation. And so she had gathered what books she had access to on the subject... and quickly realized that she would need books to understand the books. As a result she spent hours with very little headway, the information she could glean being nearly useless to a layman, and possibly even difficult for someone as knowledgable on the subject as Ehren. He was, after all, trained by necessity - not by books. A chat with Markus was far more useful to her than the books had been.

Ultimately, she returns to sleeping on the fourth night, having devised a possible solution. The information she had managed to gather was that addiction was a disease in the classical sense. Even down to how it was treated with magic in nearly all cases. But the term disease left a bad taste in Ary's mouth.

She had assumed that taking the drugs was a choice that people made. That they did so because they were missing something that they needed to make up for. And as a result, she suspected that creating a better city and inducing programs that improved the lives of everyone would have a net positive effect. And while that was going on, the Azata's spies would find and possibly eliminate the problem at its roots.

But the roots were elsewhere. If they removed the source of the shadowblood, the people would still be looking for something to fill the void. That meant that Ary needed more help than she actually had, just now.

With Isilme already involved, that left her needing... Ehren and Xanderghul. Ehren would need to be informed in case Isilme hadn't already passed on the knowledge. The Kellid population was every bit as vulnerable to shadowblood as the Crusaders and Tieflings, gaining advice from him would hopefully result in a better direction than she already had.

Xanderghul, on the other hand, had proven to be very capable of dealing with those who felt entirely lost and directionless. Ary hadn't quite put together that most of them literally had suffered tremendous losses, given that she was already stretched so thin simply knowing the Crusaders and the new teachers... and many of the students, and...

Regardless. Xanderghul and Ehren would be of great help in the endeavor... and in particular Xanderghul would be of help in seeing her changes enacted quickly.

She quickly scrawls out a missive... and a shorter version, both C/O Chevalier Giarra Fullen. She immediately has the longer one mailed and then heads to Xanderghul's Campus.

Once she finds him... and after waiting for him to finish one of his speeches (likely something he drags out since she had hardly had time to attend any of his lectures), she approaches. "I need some help... and I need for you to perform a sending, if you are able." she says, passing him the small folded note, slightly smudged from her not allowing the ink to fully dry.

K(Religion): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Survival (Aiding Ehren): 1d20 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 3 = 36 Augh, noooo!

"Jesker and Aerona were the two clerics responsible for the shrine." Ary explains as they travel. "Jesker's been with us for a few years, Aerona is a recent arrival. I liked the service I attended a few weeks ago... but something of value to him had gone missing. I think I read in a report that it was a wedding ring?"

If Ary was bothered by the dictation, she didn't mention it, instead raising an eyebrow at the Azata's sudden piety. Instead, she's actually more interested in the pen writing on its own. She rolls her wrist in her gauntlet remembering the cramps she repeatedly got from constantly writing things down. She needed one of those.

She holds a hand up to stop Isilme from tracking around in the blood, kneeling down to try to find any particular tracks to bring Ehren's attention to - unless she were going in a completely different direction. "Just a moment, Isilme. You can start walking around in the blood after we've looked it over. Hopefully the book doesn't go anywhere."

Ary's mention of the Demetae comes as a great surprise to Ehren, not because of how fantastical they sounded, but because he had been all but certain that the clan was long lost. He speaks of the old stories excitedly, telling the others of the clan's ancient legacy. The loss of crusader scouts was unfortunate, but the situation posed a unique diplomatic opportunity that they simply could not ignore. The Demetae could prove a powerful ally, but at the very least, they needed a peace between them.

Unfortunately, that matter had to be put on hold.

Lore (Sarkoris): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32 To search for tracks.
Residual Tracking - Survival DC 30 (Aided): 1d20 + 17 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 17 + 8 = 38

Ehren inspects the desecrated shrine with a frown, deeply disturbed by the grisly sight. Though the druid was committed to the Green Faith, he was no stranger to paying his respects to the more goodly gods and goddesses, Erastil among them. He reads the message written in blood, again and again, trying to discern its meaning.

"Delamere was a Sarkorian priestess of Erastil," he tells the others, the name having rung familiar. "She took to calling herself 'The Stag King's Bride.' Her time was well before the Worldwound opened, about three hundred years ago. Back then she converted many of my people to Erastillian worship - their descendants still worship the Stag God to this day."

At Xanderghul's prompting, with Ary's assistance Ehren searches the site for any signs of footprints, knowing that they would be more difficult to spot in an indoor setting. That is, unless, there is blood involved.

Realizing the importance of respect for other religions, Valais takes hold of her pen and scribes furiously by hand instead.

Ary: Xanderghul sends the sending, as requested, and redirects some housing and food resources for drugged-out youths as needed. However, the addiction ward must be isolated from the students. Ideally it would be a building that Xander just has someone deliver food to on a weekly basis. He would also arrange for visits from doctors and clerics.

Xanderghul's lips pressed together. Ehren's Sarkorian lore brought all this into focus. "Ehren, you said Delamere was a Sarkorian. And that," he points at the Abyssal language on the wall, "says 'so shall those who follow go to the pyre'."

"Ehren, do you know what clan Delamere was from? Or were her followers spread throughout all the clans? I suspect we may be after some sort of serial killer."

Isilme tiptoes between the blood pools to to grab a small book she found hidden beneath the statue's rubble. It is bound in green leather.

Isilme pores over the contents of the book and sighs. "Well," she says, holding up the book, "this explains a lot. Delamere's teachings were paranoid and unhinged, and the owner of this book bought into them completely. Given the person who wrote notes in this book says 'Aerona will have to listen to me then,' I assume the owner of this is Jesker."

She passes the book to Ary to have a look first. The pages were dog-eared enough that finding the individual pages with notes from the owner would be easy even without her ability to consume the contents of a work in moments. "They menion going to the barrow at Bryn y Mamau to search for more of Delamere's teachings. They seem to think Drezen needs a serious population reduction, which does not bode well."

Looking at the surroundings and desecration, however, something was off. "Even if whomever did this, Jesker or otherwise, had decided to go off the deep end and try to harm the people of Drezen, why would they come back here and desecrate this altar? That doesn't make any sense. Committing an act like this only alerts people as to what is happening. Furthermore, it is quite convenient that that book was left here for us to find. Wouldn't the zealot who marked it so thoroughly have kept it with them? I find it hard to believe they would just 'accidentally' forget it here after desecrating the shrine."

"It... doesn't pan." Ary says, shaking her head. "If it were one of the clerics... and this seems to say that Delamere was a worshiper of Erastil..." she says, flipping to another page, "Then I can't believe that they would intentionally destroy the statue. There's more to this. Perhaps Delamere's barrow and our 'Mother' have more in common than we would like. While Jesker may be the one who did this, I still wouldn't rule out an outsider, or an Outsider."

She pauses for a moment, "54? Weird." she looks to Isilme, "Maybe they're framing someone intentionally?"

"She drew followers from many clans, but ended up starting one named after herself," Ehren answers, pondering Xanderghul's theory. He frowns when he hears Isilme's summation of Delamere's teachings. Evidently, some key points of her beliefs have not withstood the test of time.

"If they left it here on purpose, then it sounds to me like an invitation," he suggests, after failing to find any traces of the one responsible. How strange.

Lore (Sarkoris): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Wop wop wop.

Strangely, it all sounded straightforward to Hinagiku, the clue, the culprit... it had to be Jesker. But somehow Isilme was able to find flaws even and that straightforward explanation. Still, she truested the azata, she was often right after all.

One thing she was curious about though, the blood. What it someones? An animal's. Approaching the altar, she smells it, hoping that her vulpine nose would pick up information that her companion's would not.

perceptoin: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31

"Ehren, do you have a scrying spell prepared today? Perhaps we can directly locate Jesker or Aerona. I also have some divination spells prepared today, so we may be able to use those to aid us before we commit to heading to the barrow."

K. Geo (Loremaster) Aid Xander: 10 + 1 = 11
K. Geon (Aided): 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 2 = 35

Valais stops recording for a few moments to get Xanderghul's attention. She simply has him review her dictation so far, but looking at the name written down reminds Xanderghul that he remembers that place. It was a place he had sheltered in for an extended time when he had first entered Sarkoris, all those years ago. "The barrow," he says. "I know where it is. It's called the Weeping Hills, and not because it's especially wet. The hills weep lava. It's two days' journey from here, to the southwest."

He sighs, shifting. "Well, I just got back, but I suppose we'd better prepare to leave again. Should we rest and leave in the morning, or head out right away? If we wait until tomorrow, I can carry several of you on floating discs while I fly. Perhaps the others can ride on Ehren?"

"That is a question worth answering," Isilme replies, "Give me a few minutes."

Drifting back into the main portion of the temple, she heads to the Desnan shrine. It was unnecessary, of course, but lighting incense and focusing on the spell would be significantly more pleasant here before the Song of Spheres.

Reaching into her pack, she grabs a small stick of incense and holder, placing them atop the shrine before sitting down. She then begins to focus, reaching out through the spell beyond the material plane to the realm of Cynosure. It is to there she directs her question, leaving it reverberating through the veil separating the mortal realm from that of her goddess. "Song of Spheres guide my steps that I might choose the wisest path forward. If we delay our departure to the Barrow of Bryn y Mamau, will we be placing the lives of Jesker, Aerona or any innocents in danger?"

Having finished the question, she relaxes and focuses on listening, knowing her answer would find its way to her shortly, whatever it might be.

Casting divination, 77% chance of success

High Success: 1d100 ⇒ 77

Upon receiving the revelation from her goddess, Isilme quietly says a prayer and heads quickly to the other room to rejoin the conversation.

"The slowest shall weep, for she will lose three innocent souls tonight. But the fastest will learn regret, still losing one. The middle pathway leads no souls to the pathway to Pharasma's final judgment, but the road is not well tread," she recites, thinking it best to present the whole message first, before trying to discuss the details.

"Two things are clear to me from this: First, there is something we are missing, and we have some time to try to determine what that might be. Second, a third person is involved, and their identity may prove key to our saving all three 'innocent souls'. Does anyone know offhand who else might have spent time around Jesker and Aerona regularly? If someone who fits that description is missing, we might have the clue we need."

"I do not have scrying prepared, but I can still cast it if we need it," Ehren says, once Isilme has delivered her goddess's message. "That said, I have never met Jesker before. If we are right about the book belonging to him, then I could use it to establish a decent connection. Still, he might prove resilient to the spell."

"Perhaps Sosiel could tell us more about the two of them."

"How about we meet at Drezen's southern gates in two hours? We all have business to attend to, even if that business is letting someone know where we went or grabbing ourselves survival gear. Remember, we'll be camping in the Worldwound, and outside of the Sword of Valor's protection."

Xanderghul moves to head out of the Cathedral's front doors. "We should bring only those who can keep up with moving quickly," he adds. "I am going to investigate the home of this Jesker. Maybe we can find some evidence to support that he is the one we seek."

With that, Xanderghul and his assistant head out. Valais interviews some clerics for the location of Jesker's house, and then the pair investigate the house together. They search for things like journals, letters, secret rooms, strange idols, and signs of demonic infiltration. Valais uses her ability to Divine for the presence of portals, and her angelic super-vision.

Valais Gather Information (with good creatures): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Xanderghul Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Valais Perception (Ultravision): 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 4 = 31

Xanderghul investigate Jesker's house for clues for 2 hours and then travel to Drezen's south gate to meet with the others. Both of them have access to Disable Device if the door is locked. Valais already carries an efficient tent for both herself and Xanderghul.

"Ehren, perhaps you and I can look into Aerona? Or... you could help me to find out where she lives so that I may investigate her home while Xanderghul is doing that? Someone else, if Ehren will be busy?" she turns back to the clerics, "Do you happen to know where either of them lived?"

Find Them!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12As Aid another if with someone else; +8

Assuming Ary can find her home:

Perception (Surge): 1d20 + 16 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 16 + (2) = 37 As Aid another if with someone else; +10

Ary mirrors almost precisely what Xanderghul was doing, attempting first to find out from the clergy where Aerona lives, and then asking around within her neighborhood to find her home.

In the event that they manage to find the home quickly enough, Ary takes her time pouring over the home, looking for details, and seeking out any clues of what may have been going on... in particular, looking for signs of whether or not Aerona lived with anyone.

"I will go speak with Sosiel and ask around the temple as to whom else might have interacted with Jesker and Aerona regularly then, and see what I can find out," she says as the others pair up to go investigate each of the two Erastillian priests.

Heading back to the cathedral proper a second time, she begins by questioning the other priests and regulars for information about any other worshipers of Erastil, or other people who frequented the shrine, especially those who interacted directly with the priests.

Diplomacy/Gather Information (Gallant Inspiration): 1d20 + 28 + 2d4 ⇒ (19) + 28 + (1, 4) = 52

"Animal blood." Hinagiku says softly, glad to know

Just thought about this, but couldn't Ehren tranform into an animal with sent and track either the source of the animal blood or whatever left the place?

Xanderghul and Valais, Ary and Ehren, Isilme... and Hinagiku it would seem. Not knowing what else to do, Hinagiku simply follows Isilme while she asks around about the Erstillian's.

"Do you know where father Sosiel would be?" she adds at some point, wondering whether they would need to travel far to speak with him.

"You can go ahead without me, Ary," Ehren replies, shaking his head. "It will take me about an hour to make a scrying attempt. I'd best get started now if we intend to leave soon. Can you leave me with the mirror and that book? If we are fortunate, I will be able to see all three of our innocent souls. Either way, I can gather some provisions for our journey once I am done."

Once he has the materials he needs, Ehren excuses himself and finds a quiet space in the cathedral to perform his divination. By now exceedingly familiar with the particulars of the spell, the druid focuses on what little he knows about Jesker, relying on the book to mitigate the weak connection.

Ehren will expend 3 MP so that he can cast scrying on Jesker, Will DC 20. Jesker should get a +5 to his save since Ehren only knows about him secondhand, but a -4 because Ehren has his book (assuming it indeed belongs to him).

Xanderghul and Valais check out Jesker’s home. He lives in a small cottage he built himself outside of Drezen’s city walls. They find it to be fairly humble and well kept, however they find all of the drawers in his sleeping quarters to have been emptied, and the blankets are missing from his bed.

Valais doesn’t find any evidence of portals. She finds that the home was recently cleaned, and that the locals nearby do not have a good opinion of him. They say he has been abrasive to be around as of late, and is mostly only seen in the company of an aged kellid woman named Máire, a fellow Erastilian - though even those sightings were rare, he had become a total recluse.

Ary leaves for Aerona’s home. She also lives in a small cottage, alone. In her home there are signs of a struggle - toppled over furniture and so on. Ary goes from door to door, talking to the locals. She meets an elderly woman named Mildred who lives with her adult son and his wife - all Mendevian farmers. Mildred apparently knew Aerona very well - the young cleric had befriended her over the last year by coming to visit her regularly, always bringing fresh bread. Aerona had confessed to her that she had a few encounters with Jesker that had bordered on flirtatious in an inappropriate way, and that Jesker’s continued persistence was making her feel uncomfortable. However Aerona was baffled by Jesker’s change in demeanor, when they had originally met, he was charming, and kind.

Isilme and Hinagiku spend time asking around for information about Jesker and Aerona. First, Hinagiku inquires where Sosiel is, to which she is told he is likely giving a sermon in the worship wing, given that it is a Sunday. They find the Erastilians in Drezen to be a mixed group, though they all feel very positively about Jesker and Aerona - thinking them both charming and likable. Reading between the lines, however, Isilme finds that Jesker was increasingly relying upon wands and scrolls to aid and heal the needy. he explained that he needed his magic to assist with volunteering with the healing staff, but upon reviewing records with Markus’ attendant, she find that Jesker stopped volunteering there a year ago.

Meanwhile, Ehren attempts to scry on Jesker, but his magic fails to take hold.

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 = 21

Xanderghul heads to the Southern gate just a few minutes late, and he stand and wait for the others to show up as well. Valais has given him her pack to go through and ensure all was there. She, in the meantime, goes off to find the house of this 'Máire'. If she was Jesker's only friend, she might know what happened to him.

While she does this, Xanderghul reviews his supplies. He isn't worried about the weather, and he has the correct spells prepared for a foray into dangerous enemy territory. He also doesn't have to eat or drink. However, the other party members do have to eat, so Xanderghul heads off in search of a place to pick up some dried food to store in his haversack for the others. Ideally, he would find about 20 pounds of food. After finding that, he heads to the Gate.

When the others show up at the southern gates, he tells them what information he knows:

"Well, I've found a few things."

"Jesker's house was empty, of course. It seems it was cleaned, and the blankets and drawers in his bedroom taken out. His neighbors didn't like him, with the exception of an old Kellid Erastilian named Máire. I've sent Valais to interview her for anything she knows before meeting us back here."

"Shall we wait for Valais and then head out, or does anyone have any further business in the city?"

Isilme relays the information she and Hinagiku managed to get, noting that it is especially troubling that Jesker seems to have lost his connection to Erastil.