GM Tyranius Giantslayer (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

Kraygan's diplomatic smile slowly evaporates as he looks upon the dwarf's outstretched hand. The idea of paying a bribe to his people to cover up a lie plucked at something deeply rooted in his heart. He told the story that he had left Janderhoff to seek glory in battle and prove himself a warrior, but there was another reason he never spoke of. A lie to himself. A truth that would have led to dishonor. He had drowned his conflicted thoughts on it so often that he had nearly forgotten what they felt like.

There was a time when Kraygan would have held the same opinions that this guard held against Rogzul, based upon something the orc had no control over. But that was before he had lived among orcs and orc-blooded in Trunau, had shared ale, and shed blood with them for a common cause. Watching Rogzul now, refused from the wonders of Janderhoff, and refusing to hide his nature to gain entry, Kraygan felt a whole new respect for the orc. And shame for his own cowardice.

He tasted bile rising in his throat, and felt a powerful need to test the limits of his magical beer-summoning horn.

Slapping the guard's hand away, Kraygan growls through his bristling beard. "He ain't gonna hide! And I ain't givin up. So, tell me who has the authority to grant entry and I'll go talk to them."

Wren smiles at the suddenly reasonable Kraygan, happy that one of the dwarvenhorde is finally sticking up for them.

"I'll wait here for a bit, but this is pretty insulting, even for dwarves."

The dwarven guard scowls a bit as Kraygan smacks his hand away. "HRRMPH! Here I am trying ta help ya...."

"I'll wait here for a bit, but this is pretty insulting, even for dwarves."

The dwarf looks confused at Wren. "Insulting? You are free to head in elf. Ain't nothing holding them spider-like legs back. I jest can't go letting an orc run free in Janderhoff. Not after what their kind tried during our Quest fer the Sky."

"He ain't gonna hide! And I ain't givin up. So, tell me who has the authority to grant entry and I'll go talk to them."

"Their ain't one singular authority inside Steelkeg. Ye should know this. Since what the green skins did to collapse the Five Kings and cause Civil unrest it is trying times with their kind...." He points to Rogzul. "That orc goes in there and they see 'em. He stands little chance of walking back out without an axe in it's back. Friend of ye or not."

Torgan looks at Rogzul and shrugs. "Let the orc wait out here with the elf. We can grab the wands and such while informing the Patriarch of the impending giant invasion." he reasons.

"There are probably some bushes around here for you, Squats." he adds, hoping to make the orc feel more comfortable. He looks around at the barren mountainside with a shrug. "I mean... maybe you can grow one or something."

"That orc goes in there and they see 'em. He stands little chance of walking back out without an axe in it's back. Friend of ye or not."

Wren scoffs, growing more annoyed.

"Firstly, I'd like to see them try. Secondly, if the rest of the guards *in* the city are like you, then it speaks poorly about you all if axes find backs in the innocent. I didn't realize that your Citadel was wet their collective armors because there was a single half-human in the city. It appears that the true might and good sense of the dwarves left when the good Steelkeg left," Wren purposely nods Kraygan and ignores the back-stabbing Torgan.

Torgan rolls his eyes. "I'm sure your kin over in Kyonin would let a drow enter Iadara. Ancient blood feuds can hardly be forgotten with ease and elves are not paragons of tolerance." the fiery dwarf says.

"Either way, you lot figure this out. I'm going to go procure the healing items we need and then I will meet whomever enters at the Patriarch's abode." he says as he strides past the guard and looks around, looking for a shop.

After he finds a shop, he moves up to the shopkeep. "Greetings, cousin. I need ten wands of Cure Light Wounds, a wand of Lesser Restoration, a scroll of Raise Dead, two scrolls of Restoration and..." he states plainly as his eyes scan the walls of gear.

"Toss in that elderwood wand of Cure Serious Wounds." he says as he pulls open the Giant Bag of Holding and fishes out platinum bar after platinum bar until 31,000 GP worth of platinum rests on the shopkeep's counter. "This should do right?"

Keep expecting Kraygan to post again. Or Jorgan. But if you guys are going in without Wren & Squats...

Kraygan watches Torgan stomp away into the city and wonders at how easily his red haired cousin reverts to the racial judgements of their people.

"Bah." His head hurt from all the thinking it was doing. He wanted a drink, but he didn't want it here now. Turning to Wren and Rogzul, he grumbles, "F@&$ the Citadel. I'm stayin with ye two. Barak Trunau."

As Kraygan bellows his call for Trunau to stand with Rogzul and the Obnoxious One, Torgan turns back around before continuing inside. "Oi! Cool yourselves off with some of Kraygan's swill." he bellows back.

"I'm going to get the healing gear you all wanted." he says firmly with a roll of his eyes.

"I wanted to go straight to butcher giants and you make a fuss and we end up here, but now you want to find some other place... he mutters as he hefts the Giant Bag of Holding. "It'll be an hour as I inform the Patriarch and get the wands and such. You all can stay, go, or jerk off the goat. I don't care. Just meet back here in an hour." he says clearly and concisely. "Then, we go kill giants." he reaffirms.

The vast majority of Janderhoff lies below the surface in hundreds of interconnected rooms and tunnels, where dozens of smiths and vendors work from. The trade and crafting chambers have low ceilings more built for a dwarves height. Hundreds of dwarves and dwarven patrols walk throughout the tunnels back and forth carrying supplies. There is the occasional human or two from outlying settlements that look to do trade.

The familiar sound of a forge, hammers striking metal and picks digging deep into the softer stone are heard all around as Dwarves push several carts full of minerals all around the massive complex.

"It'll be an hour as I inform the Patriarch and get the wands and such. You all can stay, go, or jerk off the goat. I don't care. Just meet back here in an hour." he says clearly and concisely. "Then, we go kill giants." he reaffirms.

"Piddlespot you and piddlespot your Patriarch. I'm not here just for the piddlespotting healing. I'm taking some piddlespotting time to do some piddlespotting research, Dwarfgan," Wren replies, too angry to care about names. "Don't you go spend my gold to buy stuff from merchants who are too good to let us in the city. You walk in there and I'll be gone. Like I said, I might meet you back at the Forge in a week or so, but I need some time in a nice city to do some piddlespotting research."

"If you were half the honorable dwarf I thought you would be as disgusted as I am. Rogzul has helped us and is every bit a defender of your piddlespotting Citadel as you or I am."

Wren turns away from Torgan (and Jorgan?) to address Kraygan and Rogzul.

"If you guys want, you can come with me. Kaer Maga: there will be rest there and some time for research. We'll blip back to the Forge in time.. Maybe the long walk back will give these two(?) time to think about an apology."

Sorry, missed/ing out on some RP here but as I mentioned I was on the road yesterday and traveling through the 7th. Last trip though!

Jorgan stands looking back and forth between Torgan and the rest, once again finding himself not wanting to get between his brother and the others but again finding himself in a neutral position. Perhaps his daily contemplations on the teachings of Gozreh are starting to change his behavior after all.

"Look, I've about had enough of the fighting. Wren, Rog: sorry I asked you two to take on disguises. I was just trying to make things easy and safe but if the positions were reversed I'd be just as offended as you are. I understand that you don't want to go in and Kray, you're a noble dwarf for protesting out here with 'em."

"But," he holds his hand out to point at his brother, "Torgan wanting to go in and buy some supplies and warn the other dwarves about the threat in the area doesn't mean he supports their blind hatred for folk like Rog, ok? He's just being practical, you know he's like that. Just let him go in and get the supplies, we can all wait here for an hour or two, and then we'll be on our way. Together. As a group. And we're gonna stay that way."

Torgan rolls his eyes as Jorgan leaps to his defense. "Well, elf, I'm going inside regardless of your decision. We are here and the Patriarch and the rest of the city needs to be informed about the giant's movements, hence I will do so, as you would in Iadara if they barred us from entering their 'vaulted halls'. In fact, they'd probably bar Rogzul entrance as well." he says, clearly not holding elves in high regard.

"If you wish to leave to Kaer Maga and 'maybe' come back, then you are the one who has chosen to put your pride over the safety of the realm and the cause you devoted yourself to and seem to be so proud of." he says, venom dripping from his voice.

Taking a seat on a nearby half-wall, Torgan stares at the elf. "The half-orc said he'd wait outside while we did our business and you were given free entrance to the city, yet you are the one shrieking like small child who stubbed her toe." he says plainly. "Make your decision quickly. Once you poof away with whomever is willing to follow you, I will recruit others to bolster the cause. If you aren't willing to do that, then be quiet and wait here." he says, clearly waiting for an answer.

Rog looks at Jorgan and Kraygan almost sympathetically.

"Your kind would find a much harsher welcoming in city of Orcs. I'd be disappointed if they had just let me in." Rog smiles as he considers his next words. "And an hour without Torgan might be a blessing from the spirits themselves."

"If this Kaer Maga will have me, then I will follow you there, Elf. It is likely less dangerous than waiting outside the gates of a dwarven fortress known for killing Orcs."

Wren stews, still.

"You have an hour to warn your kin, Dwarf. Do that though I'm not sure they deserve it...but don't you be spending our gold here. If you don't like it, you can walk back to the Forge."

"We'll get our supplies someplace that...is a bit more tolerant."

Kraygan feels his anger building as Wren and Torgan fire warning shots at each other's races. Taking a breath, and a note from Rogzul, who seems the least offended by the situation, he holds out his hands to try and settle tempers. "Enough. Enough. ENOUGH!!"

Almost losing his own fragile control with the attempt.

"Look here now, Jorgan's dead right. I think we've had enough anger n' hate fer t'day." Beard bristling, he points to Torgan. "Go deliver the warnin. Buy what supplies ye can. And ask fer a discount on account that three dwarves, an elf, and an orc are doin all the heavy lifting with this giant uprising."

To Wren, he states, "We'll wait, all of us, until he returns. Our peoples may be divided, but we shouldn't be."

Looking to Rogzul, he opens his mouth, but has a hard time finding words. "Sorry."

Wren waits, but only after iterating his two points: 1) he needed time to study and do some research in a City that would allow it and 2) that he didn't want his money being spent here.

Are we in stasis until you and Torgan RP the city stuff?

Are you guys waiting outside or going to Kaer Maga for time to study while Torgan is inside? Waiting for definitive answer from Torgan before proceeding further as he was awaiting a response.

@Torgan- Are you still planning on going inside while everyone waits outside?

Kraygan points toward some boulders in a prominent position within sight of the gates. "Let's set up a camp over there, right in plain view of th' gates. I'll plant my banner bearin th' symbol of Trunau. Anyone gives us grief I'll tell 'em we're emisissies, or umbassidors. If we're lucky they'll sound out a representative and we kin tell 'em how stupid they are."

Rog looks between Wren and Kraygan, unsure what everyone is actually doing now that the argument at the gates has been settled.

"I do not need to be in a city, so I do not have to go with the elf, but we came here because he needed resources, we can camp here, or follow him, but if the elf doesn't get what he was looking for, it makes the time we spent traveling here a waste."

He frowns and bares his teeth to show what he thinks of that at Kashag screeches from somewhere up above the party.

Wren nods, agreeing that if he doesn't get what he needs, then this trip is going to be a waste. After all, Wren deserves a bit of time to reflect on what he has learned over the last months and a chance to see just how much/far his understanding has grown.

He needs some time to study in a place that has more information than he currently has. He needs books and smart people to speak with.

Sorry for the silence! Finally had a free night last night and the site was down. I'll be free next week so should be posting a lot more then.

"It won't have been a waste," Jorgan notes to Rog and the others camping outside the dwarven city. "We're warning the dwarves so hopefully they'll heighten their alert and keep a watch for anything suspicious in the region. And Torgan's getting a few supplies."

He draws in a slow breath and says, "If Wren still needed other magicky supplies or research materials or whatnot we can still go to Kaer Maga. But I think it's better to wait for Torgan than to go to some strange city without him. He shouldn't be long now...."

"So we wait here for Torgan, and delay even longer to go to Kaer Maga when he comes back? Why would we not go and conduct our business at the same time?"

Rogzul scratches his head in confusion, not understanding why the urgency has suddenly left the party, but he will object no further if the rest wish to wait for whatever it is Torgan is doing.

"It should take Torgan no more than a few hours. Surely we can wait that long and then travel to Kaer Maga as one unit."

Haven't heard from Torgan in awhile so going to push forward.He can catch up as he comes back.

Down below Torgan scans through several of the shops and Smithies as the familiar sound of dwarven hammers and anvils clang rhythmically throughout the tunnels, creating a soothing song of stone and precious rare metals. The dwarves of Janderhoff mine the Mindspin Mountains for valuable metals, iron, and black marble.

CLANG....CLANG!....clang!.....clang!

It takes Torgan far longer than originally planned as he is quickly swept up in the nostalgia or his childhood with the sights, smells and sounds floating all around him.

Once Torgan is done with the shops he begins to seek out what sort of leadership resides below, though from past memory there is not one singular representative from the dwarves of Janderhoff as the dwarven community has been in a fluctuating state of civil war between clans from quite some time now.

Torgan is able to find a familiar clan. The Vekker Clan, who bears the emblem of three black obsidian rings clasped into their beard. Torgan clasps hands with an old childhood acquaintance. Witha small bit of reluctance the younger dwarf drags Torgan along as he is passed from dwarf to dwarf until Torgan stands before a mighty dwarf with a dull graying beard standing in full armor within the darkest reaches of Janderhoff. The dwarves have been fending off their section of home against the denizens of the Underdark that try to gain a small foothold from below.

Resting his large warhammer against the wall the elder dwarf listens to Torgan's tale with keen interest. Initially he scoffs at such absurdity of the different giant clans all working in unison. If dwarves can't do it for centuries then there is little chance for orcs or giants alike. It just has never been done or heard of. Clan Vekker's 'King' goes on to explain that it would take decades of negotiating with the other Clans to work together. Though he grimaces at the thought. Clan Vekker with work With Clan Frenzybeard but wants nothing to do With Clan Ironeye as he just doesn't like the way they look at his people. Clan Ironeye will work with Clan Steelfire but has a kindling hatred with Clan Vekker over a love spat two centuries ago as a member of Clan Vekker ran away into the mountains with several of Clan Steelfire, getting them killed in a botched expedition looking for the fabled city of Xin-Shalast. Several dozen other clans in the region don't trust Clan Vekker to begin with as they believe that the Clan actually found the city and is keeping it all to themselves.

Torgan spends the next several hours pouring over all of the information and the unending dwarven clan trees. If it was anyone else they simply would have found it exhausting and not going anywhere anytime soon.

Wren grouses for a bit, letting his temper die down before doing some studying. He's annoyed to lose a few days of studying traveling here and then again today while waiting for Torgan. In short, he's in a mood.

When Torgan finally does return, Wren is ready to move on.

"I'm going to Kaer Maga so I can study, research, and plan how I might be able to help in our fight against the giants. If you wish to come with me, take my hand. If you don't, I'll see you in a week's time or so back at the Forge. From my understanding, we have many days of work to do there as well."

Wren looks at each dwarf and half-human, waiting for them to make up their minds. When they have chosen, we'll cast teleport so he can go to Kaer Maga.

Jorgan takes Wren's hand after only a slight hesitation and asks, "So what's this city like, anyways? And what exactly are you studying? Magic things? Giant history?" He shrugs. "As long as there's something exciting going on there, I'm sure it'll be a nice break."

Torgan doesn't come up from Janderhoff anytime soon and Wren grows quite impatient as he is tired of waiting. Deciding to come back for Torgan or meeting him back at the Forge Wren decides to port to Kaer Maga.

Jorgan barely has time for an answer as each of the group grabs ahold of Wren and bends around time and space itself. The group folds in on itself as Wren pictures the Cliff-top city clearly in his mind.

Standing atop one of the highest spots of the Storval Rise, the cliff-top city of Kaer Maga is built inside the ruins of an ancient fortress: a six-sided ring of 80-foot-high seamless stone, stretching more than a half mile in diameter and topped with towers of every shape and design. Also known as the Asylum Stone, Kaer Maga has served as a refuge for exiles, misfits, and ne'er-do-wells fleeing persecution and prosecution for thousands of years, and is known throughout Golarion as a place where anyone can fit in, and where anything can be bought and sold.

The stone ring of Kaer Maga is incredibly ancient. It even predates the Empire of Thassilon; the ring was discovered by the original Runelord of Greed during his first survey of his new kingdom of Shalast.

At that time the ring was inhabited by the mysterious creatures not found anywhere else. The Runelord named them the caulborn, and entered into an alliance with them. The Runelord supplied them with intelligent creatures on which they could "feed", and the caulborn supplied the Runelord with prophetic visions of the future. The caulborn told the Runelord that the city was called Kaer Maga—a name which predated even them.

The Runelord populated the city with criminals, dissidents and any others he could readily spare. The population grew as new citizens were born in the city, and the Runelord decided to use vampires to police the ever-increasing population. Guided by the caulborn's prophecies, Shalast prospered.

The caulborn correctly predicted the arrival of the Starstone, and retreated beneath the city with some of the guards and prisoners. They did not bother to warn the current Runelord of Greed, the archmage Karzoug, of the impending disaster.

The fall of the Starstone broke the city's wards, allowing the inhabitants to come and go as they pleased. They somehow weathered the Age of Darkness, and the city gained a reputation for self-sufficiency and a willingness to accept all who came to the city seeking sanctuary.

Today, the city survives mainly on trade, as the surrounding lands are largely unsuited to agriculture. Its reputation for accepting all comers has resulted in an extremely cosmopolitan population, and the tradition of self-sufficiency has translated into an unwillingness to accept any central authority over the city as a whole.

Though an anarchic "civilization", a loose consortium of groups, gangs, and families rule the people of Kaer Maga. The entire city is a melting pot of citizens from all cultures, such as the Ardoc family of Bis; the Brothers of the Seal, who are ready to kill each other over whether they should open the great portal they guard somewhere deep in the caverns beneath; the gently whistling Sweettalkers of Tian, with their lips sewn shut to keep them from uttering the true name of their god; the Augurs, troll seers who predict the future by casting divinations with their own intestines; and the bloatmages, with the leeches that keep them alive attached to their bulging bodies.

Kaer Maga is one of the main halfling settlements in the Inner Sea region; halflings are the second most populous race in the city. Kaer Maga is one of the places escaped halfling slaves find welcoming. Halflings often join the Freemen of the Bottoms or live in the Halfway Houses in the Warren.

The city also has a sizeable population of mindless undead, sometimes referred to as the Twice-Born.

The city is divided into 11 districts. Eight of them are contained within the hollow stone ring, and are known collectively as the Ring districts. The other 3 are in the city's open central area, and are known as the Core districts.

There is also a great network of underground tunnels and chambers known as the Undercity.

Ring districts
Ankar-Te, the most diverse of the city's districts
Bis, fabled for its ledge-manors
The Bottoms, home of the anti-slavery organisation known as the Freemen
Cavalcade, the city's industrial centre
Highside Stacks, the towers of the wealthy
Oriat, the entertainment centre
Tarheel Promenade district, magical centre, home of the Arcanists' Circle
The Warren, the shanty town in the broken section of the ring

Core districts
Downmarket, the city's main commercial district
Hospice, the hospitality district
Widdershins, a quiet neighbourhood where everyone acts correctly—or else!

Most of Kaer Maga's trade is in the exotic, or items which are illegal elsewhere, since basic items are produced more efficiently and cheaply in one of Varisia's other cities. The city does not attract passing trade, as it is not on a trade route to anywhere else, but is a destination in its own right.

One of the city's main imports is grain from the lowlands around Korvosa. Goods travel by ship to Palin's Cove, then head north by caravan to the Yondabakari River. It then travels by barge to Kaer Maga. The alternative route, is to travel by ship to Magnimar and then by barge along the river for the rest of the journey. This route is much longer, but removes the need for an overland stage.

When the river reaches the Storval Rise, merchants can either blaze their own trail up the dangerous river gorge, or pay the Duskwardens in order to use the more efficient Halflight Path.

Caravans arriving from the north, for instance from Riddleport have the option of reaching the Storval Plateau via the Storval Stairs, but that route then requires many days of travel through the hostile Cinderlands.

Torgan? Kray? Squats? What's going on?

Waiting to see if others are going along or not.

Wren takes a moment to orient himself in the new city.

"So, where to?" Jorgan asks, quickly letting go of the elf's hand. "How long will you be, Wren? I'm thinking of heading to the Oriat and catching a show of some type. Anyone else wanna join?"

"A show?" Kraygan raises an eyebrow at Jorgan. "If they have ale, I'm in."

As the sights, sounds, and smells of the city spring to life around him, Rogzul instantly regrets following Wren. It's positively overwhelming. Kashag cries and launches himself into the air, taking to the safety of the skies, and Rog watches longingly, left on the ground to handle the strange people. He instinctually tries to figure out how far he is from home, and what the fastest way back is.

Survival: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

...even stranger than dwarves!... One spirit remarks as the half-orc tries to take in everything at once.

Setting his back straight, he growls at a staring passer-by, rattling the jewelry drilled into his tusks as he does. Feeling better he looks at the dwarves and nods.

"I think I might need a drink too."

Wren looks around, looking around again, then flies a bit up in the air before re-settling to earth golarion. He smiles, he smiles and smiles.

CIVILIZATION. AND I HAVE MONEY.

"How long will you be, Wren? Do you really think you'll enjoy the company of intelligent arcanists more than the stank of dank yak and dwarf? Wouldn't you rather wake up covered in dwarfbarf like usual?"

Wren's ears keen to Jorgan's words, hearing what he thinks he hears. He smiles, pondering.

"I think I'm going that way, towards the Arcanium," Wren points a direction. "I'll probably be staying in a nice place...where they don't allow..." Wren looks the group up and down, his earlier anger about Sky Citadel somewhat forgotten. "...well, probably yaks. Anyhoot, I'll be near and around the Arcanist's Cirlce."

Wren looks towards his destination, anxious to begin learning and study for reals. He had learnt so much over the past few months that he needed to confirm and fill in holes in his education. And that was going to take time. He was looking forward to it. Magic was his hobby, his outlet...he never expected it to amount to much, but here he was.

"I'll meet you back here every other day at noon. I expect I'll be blipping back to the Forge at the 7th day. You can come if you want. I'll have the name of my inn next time we meet."

"I think I might need a drink too."

Kraygan automatically passes the horn of glorious beer to Rogzul.

To Wren, he nods. "Oy. Tomorrow then. Here. Then we'll join ye wherever ye've set yerself up." He offers - a bull inviting itself into the Quan shop. "Ye need a dwarf to fetch things fer ye, lift heavy objects, or open stuck flasks, I kin do that."

Sorry for the inexcusably long delay.

Torgan spends hours locked in discussion, explanation and research in the depths of Janderhoff as Wren and the rest flee to Kaer Maga.

The Patriarch of the Vekker Clan's words do not soothe his mind as Torgan tries to figure out how to unite the dwarves against the giants as they cannot even fathom a united front against themselves. Perhaps they will only believe when it is on their doorstep... he thinks.

"Patriarch Vekker. Is there any way to establish a leader in Janderhoff?" he asks, fairly confident that he is one of the strongest dwarves in the city. "We can repulse the Underdark and deal with the giants with ease if all the clans fall under one rule." he states plainly.

"I thought we were going to get drinks?" Rog grunts as he hands Kraygans drinking horn back with a nod of approval. "We should do something soon before I kill this woman."

He turns his head and snarls angrily at the mime following him.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Jorgan snorts at Rog's lack of amusement in the mime, coming back from a street vendor with a handful of blue drinks for everyone. "It's not ale, but the lads over there told me it's a local specialty and it'll get you drunk in half the time. Here, try it." He passes one of the drinks to Rog and Torgan and then three to Kraygan.

Having started his drinking back at the gates of Janderhoff, Kraygan is almost at cruising speed. Or maybe a little past.

"Mime? Har! Thought I was jus' seein double!!"

To the mime, he lends his support for Rogzul. "Oy! Bugger off!!" He roars, waving his horn.

Intimidate Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The effect is lost when the horn sends a deluge of beer into Rogzul face.

Completely unaware of his party foul, Kraygan shoulders the horn so he can double fist Jorgan's blue liquor. "Glarggargulgulp!"