So we are going to be risking our lives fighting demons. Does the black sun have any special equipment that will make our jobs easier? Also what kind of support network do you have?
they don't have any specific equipment besides the medallions. you are each given a set of simple black clothes.
the medallion allows you to cast Black Sun teleportation 1/day.
casting time standard action
effect ~ teleports anyone with a black sun medallion within a 20ft circle to the BSHQ(black sun headquarters). anyone within the effects of the spell without a medallion takes 8d6 fire damage and gains 1 negative level. if a creature is reduced below 0 hit points in this way their soul and body are both burned away making it impossible to revive them short of a wish or miracle.
Ethan leads the group into the headquarters, he gives them each a quarters with a bed a small chest and a bathroom. the next day each of the orphans is directed to a specific trainers. the orphans train for three years and at he end of that time they are assigned to a special ops group known as the New moon. they are assigned a title and given their first mission, to hunt down a powerful demon known as Thantros.
Othan heads to the library and asks the black sun loremasters if there is any information on a demon known as Thantros.
Dressed in the same attire Lelouch frequently wore at the Orphanage (only several sizes bigger now), Lelouch joined Othan in the Library.
Good day, Othan, Lelouch says cheerfully.
Are you also looking for detailed records of this Thantros Demon?
Good day to you as well. I was hoping the good loremasters could provide some enlightement on the subject of the foul beast, Thantros.
I am sure they have books, journals and articles with detailed knowledge of most otherworldly beings, says Lelouch, as he walks backwards and forwards, picking up books and flicking through them as he passes each shelf.
An organisation built for the eradication of Demons that doesn't have a detailed, recorded history of creatures fought, sighted and heard of, would have died out long ago.
Lelouch looks straight into Othan's eyes for a second, educating the man with a serious tone.
To remove your opponents from the game, you must first know how they think, what their motivations are, and what they're capable of accomplishing.
Placing a book from his hand and back onto a shelf, Lelouch continues.
Think of real life strategy as a game of Chess. The King stands at the back. He may not be good at fighting, but he's a good Leader. The Queen is the controller of the board. She can move anywhere and would give her life for the King if necessary. Your Knights are your most trusted men, while your Pawns are there simply to serve and offer their life for the sake of their country. Your Pawns will draw out your enemies, and once they've been dealt with, you can either march fourth and attempt to claim victory, or you can leave your King open, luring your enemy into a false sense of security.
Lelouch presses his claw shaped hand across one side of his face (a common thing he does whilst thinking).
My point is, the most victorious Leader will be the one who's as familiar with his opponent, as he is himself. In understanding your opponents next move, or forcing them into a situation where they have no choice but to act exactly as you have planned, they will believe themselves to have victory in grasp, when in fact, it will be their own arrogance and naivety that will prove to be their downfall.
I realize that but there are no guaranties that the black sun has encountered this beast before. Chess may be a good initial model, but real life is rarely fair and balanced.
Othan walks over to a chess set and begins to remove pieces.
It is more like a chess game where each piece but the King only has a 75% percent chance of being there and the two sides will not be equal. One side may have 2 knights and a rook, while the other has a queen and 2 bishops.
Othan gestures to the chess set with different pieces on each side of the board.
your titles
tama - barbarian - The Destroyer
Lelouch - cleric - The King
remus - paladin - The Shield
Othan - sorcerer - The Tooth
phaedra - cleric - The Heart
sammark - ranger - The Hunter
Damien - fighter - The Martyr
Judeau - wizard - The Soul
Seth - summoner - The Creator
They are acquainted well enough with it to know its name, so I am sure they have a good deal of information they're yet to reveal to us.
Lelouch watches as Othan plays with the Chess pieces.
Strategy is the key to balancing the field. We may only have one King and a handful of pawns, where as they may have a full army, but if they don't know how to use it to their best advantage, it matters not.
Walking into the same room as Lelouch and friend, Damien is sporting a breastplate with a small circle in the middle of it with exposed flesh. He has short red hair, and a wicked glint in his eye as a result of his training.
Over the course of the last few years, Damien is no longer shy, and actually flaunts his above-average looks and heritage, as well as his surprising ability to take blows.
He's become a sadomasochist with an affinity for women only, as his instructor happened to be a woman. Damien didn't reconcile with his parents, as he despised them too much for putting him through the horrible ordeal that was the orphanage.
He has a coat over his shoulders that hide his arms, but his waist is an ocean of various scars. Some self-inflicted, but mostly from his training.
Walking into the room, he has his scythe on his shoulders. A truly monstrous weapon, it was magically enhanced, and gained a crimson hue. He notices Lelouch talking about kings and queens and blah blah blah once more.
"When we were young, you know, toddlers and whatnot, you never stopped talking about that sort of thing. Why can't you just be like me, Louchy? Hit things till they die and outlast them till that happens? Hm?"
Why bother, when your opponents will mindlessly do as you command?, says Lelouch, with a sinister grin on his face.
at least my +1 NA would likely be apparent.
Sammark has mostly kept his father at arm's length these past few years but with time and persistence, Gustus has managed to make some headway with him. Unlike numerous other family members of this newer generation of the Black Sun, Sam's mother stayed dead and he has never really trusted his father enough to really talk about it.
He still generally remains on the outside of the group and seems to only be waiting for a better offer to come along. Three years have done little to smooth out his rough edges. If anything, the life he has been drafted into seems to weigh on him.
Somewhere along the line he obtained a twin for his sabre and the two weapons make a strangely stately pair for the horrible wounds they are capable of leaving and he has rapidly become frighteningly proficient with them.
After hushed farewells, Gustus and the other figure departed leaving Sam to stumble into his room. A few seconds later you could hear the distinct sound of retching coming from Sam's room. In the dim light of the hallway, you can barely make out a trail of red boot prints leading from the direction Sam and the others had come from and going into his room.
You were barely quick enough to close your door when Sam rushed out of his room with a wet towel and began frantically cleaning up the bloody trail. The next couple of days, Sam was absent from any training you shared with him.
Sam hummed to himself quietly as he carefully worked a whetstone into the serrations of one of his blades. He sat in the mess hall, both sabres laid out in front of him and partially deconstructed. In his mind, their current task rattled back and forth. He was trying to come to terms with the surreality of his new situation.
Sammark wasn't alone in keeping his father as a distance. Seth still was unable, or unwilling to forgive his father's deception. Only the possible chance of avenging his mother's death has kept him from leaving.
over the last three years the young man spoken little, even less so once he had learned to call his eidolon back. The two can been seen together nearly all the time with the matching runes glowing on their foreheads.
As withdrawn as Seth has become he still shows a remarkable kindness towards animals. And Sing himself tho displays a tendency to be more friendly. Given the bond the two share, could this point to a inner struggle between an anger with no outlet and a desire to move on and put the past behind him. Who can say for sure.
*********
Seth walked down the hall in relative silence. Beside him, the eidolon Sing walked along in equal silence. A large tome under one arm he moves with purpose. The records keeper had told Seth he had to return at least one of the tomes he was borrowing before he would allow the young man to take another.
As they walked Sing 'chir-rip'ed at a familiar girl as they passed her and paused long enough to accept a scritch behind the ears. Seth stopped a second later to give his companion a stern, wordless look. Sing's ears drooped slightly and the girl looked at Seth, who quickly looked away when she gave him a friendly smile and started waking again. Sing gave the girl another 'chir-rip' and hurried after his master.
Judeau had come to terms with his family, completely understanding what they did was to protect him. Training was rough, he had lost quite a bit of his reflexes in the years he spent in the orphanage and his father made no effort to curb his training. Many times throughout the years he would come down for breakfast hobbling from the previous nights training. He was a bit jealous of Damien and Sammark for being able to handle all of their training quite easily. His only respite was when his mother would take him for a week and continue his magical training. This was his favorite part and soon became the only part as his father ended up giving up on the martial aspect of his training.
Judeau's favorite part about magic was creating useful things to use and figuring out when to use them to the best effect. At least that was something his father was proud of, his practicality.
---------------------------------------------------------
Judeau is already in the library in his favorite corner by the History section. He was researching about Thantros but got side tracked in the book detailing a great deal about the Abyss and other planes that are somewhat related to it.
Anyone who finds his and makes noise (speaks) causes Judeau to jump and fumble the book around a bit before he drops it.
Thanatos is a particularly nasty Incubus demon. (don't look it up).
Here is what you find of his weaknesses (in mechanic terms).
dr 10/cold iron or good, immune to electricity and poison.
resist acid 10, fire 10, cold 10, SR 17. He can summon goat headed minions that spread a nasty disease known as gray pox.
Othan heads to the armoury, I am looking for a cold iron spear, preferably a long spear, I am willing to pay if necessary.
Moving into his favourite section of the Library, Lelouch sees Judeau reading a book within the History section.
Good day Judeau, says Lelouch as Judeau drops his book, surprised by the presence of another.
Have you found anything interesting?
Judeau quickly grabs the book from the floor and stands up straight. He speaks a little flustered from being startled, Thatros, yeah, um he is a demon, obviously. So he is weak to Cold Iron, obviously as well. What I did find new was that he is resistant to pretty much all types of elemental magic, and he can summon lesser demons. Other than being an Incubus Demon, I can't find anything else on him, He isn't too well known down in the Abyss.
Have you got anything about him? Judeau tries putting back the book without letting Lelouch see it.
Does Judeau's book even have any information regarding Demons? I can't quite tell, but no matter.
Well, you seem to have found the same information as I. However, I think I may well know a little about the Demons spawns.
Lelouch takes note of how suspicious Judeau's acting.
What are you up to....? Lelouch asks, as his piercing gaze glares at Judeau.
im sorry thanatos was a mistake the name is Thantros(that's his name not the type of demon)
the goat demons are called Schir demons they wield nasty halberds that spread a disease known as gray pox. they have all demon traits and can summon more of there kind.
Having never really left Lelouch's side, taunting his strategic ways, Damien days have a rather interesting question. He walks up, throwing a book away that he can't fully comprehend.
Just a mere question, boys, but why exactly are we so interested in demons all of a sudden? Incubus are quite like myself, personally, dashingly handsome with a wicked streak... He says with a bit of a grin.
Being marked by their patron deity, I can't help but wonder what this one is particularly after... or have I just missed something among all these books?
Damien is obviously interested in the goings on as, over the course of the time skip, he got closer to his deity, Zura. The group knows this well, and may or may not have alienated him as a result, but he doesn't show any signs of caring and embraces the fact warmly.
Well, we have been training to fight them for the past three years. It is the reason we were originally brought into The Black Sun, afterall.
Lelouch laughs.
I did find additional information however, and that is the Spawn of which Thantros conjures up, go by the name of "Schir". Supposedly they wield nasty Halberd's that spread a disease known as the Gray Pox. They share all Demon traits and can also summon more of their kind.
Lelouch looks to both Damien and Judeau, smirks and raises an eyebrow.
A little strong for our first encounter, don't you think? Still, I'm sure The Black Sun only intend to use us. Regardless, it won't be this way for too long. When I ascend to power, I'll manage things differently and branch the Organisation out to far greater causes!
I will let you guys decide inter character relations/dynamics.
He shrugs
That's assuming you don't die on our first mission. It's okay though... I'll take care of you guys, should I have to.
It wouldn't be the first time...
Me, die? Hahaha! If anyone survives, it'll most likely be me. I will lead you all, but as weak bodied as I may seem, I have more power than you could possibly imagine.
I see Othan as getting along reasonably well with most of the team members, except maybe Damien, who does not appear to realize that none of us were comfortable in our childhood. Except maybe Lelouch, who probably already considered himself to be a demi-god, and the greatest gift ever to the universe.
In response to Lelouch's question before Damien talked What do you mean, 'What am I up to'? Just doing research on Thantros, I assume just like you. Was looking up information on where he came from to get a better idea of what he is after. Judeau is being truthful as that was his intent but he is slightly embarrassed at being caught getting distracted from his goal.
------------------------------------
Judeau just watches Damien and Lelouch arguing about dying and surving before getting tired of it. He throws up his hands, Shut up! No one is going to die, I'll see to that. The only thing dying is Thantros and whatever else stands in our way of him.
He turns around and starts walking down one of the long "hallways" and peers down each row, I wonder where everyone else is. A team full of lazy people is what I got. Judeau just shakes his head in disappointment.
Othan was just around the corner. I only spoke with him a few moments ago. I've prepared myself for this encounter to the best of my ability, but I need to check on the others.
Well at least you and I are prepared. What about you Othan? You ready?
I am always prepared, says Lelouch with an unamused and slightly bored tone, as he walks off to check on the rest of the group.
As he arrives at the boat, Othan stops and confirms that he has all his gear in his backpack, double checking all the potions. Once he is satified that he has all that he needs he strides up the ramp onto the boat. At this point he realises that he is the first of the group to board the vessel and sets his pack down near the centre of the boat.
After boarding the boat Othan heads to the bow, standing there watching the waves approach the ship, his cold iron tipped longspear held vertically in his left hand, a red cloak flowing beind him in the light wind.
As Lelouch finishes talking to the others about what he has found out, he boards the vessel and ventures into the Captain's Quarters, finding a place to sit down for the journey.
Judeau follows Lelouch onto the ship without saying much. He is lost in his own little world as he looks all over the vessel. He doesn't even try finding a spot to put his things because he is so distracted at combing every inch of the ship to study it.
Leaning on the railing of the boat a stout looking dwarf with many armaments strapped to his body eyes the lot of you, whilst pealing an apple to eat.. "Names Gromph Deepwalker and i hear this boats going demon killin. If that's true I'd be much obliged if yalld let me tag along." He starts in on the apple without a response..
Hmmmm, Dwarves, wonder what he'll be like. So far exactly like the books said.
"My name is Judeau, and the other tall guy over there is Lelouch, he is a strange one though. Demon hunting is always easier with more people, you are of course welcome to come along." Judeau holds out his hand offering a shake.
the boat leaves the dock across the sea heading for a port near where thantros is believed to be hiding.
A pointy ears eh.. Gromph looks warily, but extends his hand to the elf. "Gromph Deepwalker, nice to meet you" His handshake is decently stout, as he try's to size u up..
Lelouch continues to sit in the Captain's cabin for the entirety of the journey, reading a book.
A rough looking fellow has been manning this and that about the boat but he seems very out of place. Finally after several hours he goes over to the dwarf. "Demons you say, would you be possibly looking for another blade?" This is a fairly well built human wrapped in tight traveling clothes, very mismatched as if taken from several locations, several from this very boat you might think.
Likely in the time of the journey, if hours he will ask each of you such a question, if days then still on the first day he will talk to pretty much everyone on board, he seems a bit nervous.
Lelouch you would hear some knocking at the door.
Judeau the same man approaches you, "Greetings my name is Saren, and I am glad to make your acquaintance, what takes you on this journey?"
Gromph nods at the necomer "Demons is what i heard.. I surely hope so, as i live for slaying demons.. I already have a slew of finely crafted cold iron dwarf weapons, but i appriciate the offer.. If i loose this baby, patting the huge dark iron greataxe, then i might be looking.." Gromph will stay on deck for the majority of the travel, he seems slighty uneasy on boats and is visably trying not to be sick..
"Ah I can see we both don't care for boats much, perhaps you would like to have a drink and tell some stories to pass the time? Hmmm?" Saren offers to the dwarf. "My name is Saren Degrad, and who do I have the pleasure to share some ale with?"
A voice can be heard from inside the cabin.
You may enter.
Gromph accepts the man-beer and takes a big drink.. "Torag's Beard this stuff is horrible, you manlings really need to learn proper dwarf brewing techniques.. On second thought you'd have to go to war to get those recipes.. Perhaps just buy some dwarf stout next time eh? Names Gromph Deepwalker, demon slayer and beer connoisseur, nice to meet you Saren! If you dont mind me asking, whats with all the pointy ear writing on u?" He pulls a pipe from his pack and starts to pack it with some sort of weed.. "Smoke?"
The large muscular human slowly opens the door and after he steps in he introduces himself, "Greetings I am Saren Degrad, would you like anything from the galley sir?"
_________________________
Saren goes over to the side and pulls out a small casket, then pours Gromph and himself a cup each. "Yes, this stuff does taste of piss, I miss good dwarf drink, even elven wine is better than this stuff, though the headaches. One good considering we had a good romp with the dwarves or just because of the wine." Saren laughs at his own joke about the races and their differences.
"I would have bought some dwarven stout though the swines hadn't even heard of the stuff, inbred backwater swines." Yes he is talking about humans, and yes he is human. :P
"Oh the tattoos, well I spent many a year with them and they blessed me with these 'magical' tattoos, of course nothing has happened with them yet. Yes, I would love a smoke, but lost my last pipe after a tavern brawl with a classless group of humans, half-orcs, and even a goblin."