Megan's Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master Megan Robertson

Garridan also, probably foolishly, steps forward:

To Akina
"it may be foolish, but amongst the Shoanti courage and honour are important. Better to face a challenge now than an attack later"

To Krojun:
"I am also willing to accept any challenge that you will also face. Tell us the details of this challenge"

Despite having traveled through these lands once many years ago, Ineluki is unsure of their customs and remains silent, not wanting to upset the Shoanti, nor violate anyone's honor. She watches the proceedings with great curiosity though.

Akina frowns deeply, "As you say honored elder, I will submit to your knowledge on the matter." Akina will fall back into line, but she continues to remain quiet on the matter, hoping it will be settled internally.

Rattleshirt sidles over.

"Game we play," he tries to explain. "In name sredna. Two men, place loop around heads then try to pull apart... when on hands and knees... hurts head."

He waves his arms around a bit as he tries to get the idea across.

Basically, two opponents face one another on their hands and knees with their foreheads spaced just over a foot apart. The contest requires a thin cord of leather tied in a loop. One end of the loop is placed behind the ears of each competitor so that the players are bound to one another. When the game begins, each player stares his opponent in the eye while slowly attempting to crawl backwards. The resulting tug-of-war results in extreme pain as the leather digs into the soft part of the back of the neck and skull. At some point, one of the competitors relents, acknowledging defeat by bowing his head, causing the strap to roll over the top.

Game Mechanics
When a sredna match begins, each player must spend three "breaths" (3 rounds) staring into each other's eyes before attempting to pull. Pulling before the 4th round is an immediate disqualification. Intimidation and patience are almost as important tools to win sredna matches as is strength. During these initial 3 rounds, the players make opposed Intimidate checks by growling, gnashing teeth, and spitting insults. Each time a player wins one of these checks, he gains two sredna points, and in the case of a tied Intimidate check, both players gain one sredna point.

On the 4th round, each character makes an Initiative check to determine when he moves. On his turn, a character may opt to tug or dig in.

Tug: The characters make opposed Strength checks. A defending character who dug in on his previous turn receives a +4 bonus on this check. If the tugging character wins the check, he gains two sredna points. If he fails (or if the results are evenly matched), his opponent gains two sredna points instead.

Dig In: The character readies himself to withstand his opponent’s tug, he gains a +4 bonus on his next Strength check to resist a tug.

At the end of each round, total up each player’s sredna points. This is the DC each player must make on a Fortitude save to continue the match. A player who fails this save collapses and loses the match. If both players fail their saving throw, the match is declared a draw. Characters who possess the Endurance feat gain a +4 bonus on this saving throw.

Up to you if you want to give this a go or not... however it will be next week as I am busy this weekend!

Ashe nods gravely and kneels accepting the leather loop over his head and behind his ears... facing off with Krojun.

His expression is calm, in-fact placid... but his frosty blue eyes hold a steely resolved.. that does not falter...

{Rd 1}
Intimidate: {Take 10!} 10 + 8 = 18
{Rd 2}
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
{Rd 3}
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

{Rd 4}
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Dig In
Strength Check: {Take 10!} 10 + 4 = 14
Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

...never does Ashe utter a word or insult.. he remains calm serenely determined.

Garridan definitely insults Eats as he plays the game. He tries to use friendly insults and avoiding insults the Shoanti would actually NOT use.

"my, you look tough. Almost as tough as a kitten. A fluffy kitten."

Intimidate is not my best skill :-(

intimidate: 3d20 ⇒ (14, 4, 12) = 30 all at -2

init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Always tugs.

I'll roll for 10 rounds

str: 10d20 ⇒ (5, 5, 11, 1, 7, 13, 19, 20, 18, 9) = 108 all at +6

fort: 10d20 ⇒ (20, 4, 17, 6, 19, 7, 20, 12, 3, 2) = 110 all at +15

If nothing else, this has to at least count as a good showing. I suspect I lose after 9 rounds.

Applying Endurance Feat - Ashe's Fort Save is 23!

It's Krojun who wants to play sredna... who is Garridan playing with?

Uh, Krojun.

Krojun Eats-What-He-Kills grunts and gets into position opposite Ashe.

The Die-rolling Bit

Round 1: Intimidate 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

"No Shoanti has beaten me, never mind a mewling babe of a tshamek!"

Round 2: Intimidate 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

"Eyes that stare like yours will shrivel up if I don't poke them out first!"

Round 3: Intimidate 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30

"What, has Wicked Claws got your tongue?"

Round 4: Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

He goes for a Tug... Strength 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 6 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 14 = 29

He's winning so far... He laughs.

"Continue, shall we, little one?"

Yeah... Krojun has a +16 to intimidate, a +6 Strength modifier... Ashe is NEVER going to beat that..lol! As I expected ... Krojun is by the adventure meant to win this {snicker}! Krojun won 8 Sredna pts to Ashe's 0pts. So the Fort Save DC was only an 8 {snicker}.. good thing Ashe won no points!

Ashe smirks, "You're not tired YET are you? OF COURSE we continue!"

Round 1: Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"... perhaps you should be called Krojun talks-too-much!?!"

Round 2: Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"I've not heard so much yammering on about NOTHING since I snuck in a little in on my mother's sewing circle.. you prattle on like a gossiping woman!"

Round 3: Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

"Maybe being out in the sun so long with a bare scalp has curdled your brains and all that hot air has to go some where?"

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Ashe tugs HARD... Strength 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 4 = 12
- {+4} for digging in last round

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 13 + 4 = 31
- {+4} Endurance Feat

I suspect this is very much a case of "It doesn't matter who wins and loses, all that matters is how you play the game". At least I'm hoping that is the case :-). Because I'm going to do even worse than you.

One reminder. If you're immune to fear you're also immune to intimidate :-)

Krojun grins broadly and resumes the contest.

Round 1: Intimidate 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

"When I talk the stars themselves listen!"

Round 2: Intimidate 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

"If you put a stone in front of you, even that would not hear you!"

Round 3: Intimidate 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

"Was your hair white before you met me?"

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Krojun tugs as well... 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 6 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 14 = 33

He laughs as Ashe is actually dragged forwards a couple of inches.

"I am impressed, little one. Few do so well against me, but your defeat is still certain."

Again Ashe won no Sredna points... thankfully... and Krojun won another 8 points, so the Fort Save DC was +8 for a total 16. Easily made by Ashe's Fort Save of 31! Good thing Ashe is a glutton for punishment!

Ashe's stare becomes harder and his smirk... grim~ the only outward signs of the pain he is enduring...

Round 1: Intimidate 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"Yes, they do cause everyone else flees to escape your loud-mouth bragging!"

Round 2: Intimidate 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"I wish you would.. then I'd have something to stop up my ears so I didn't have to listen to you!"

... Krojun's questions causes Ashe to pause... and ponder a response.

He changes tactics.

His tone turning to one of appeal, not just to Krojun but to the Shoanti ~ Skoan-Quah, the Clan of the Skull watching & listening...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

- {Snicker}..of course the dice betray me when I'm trying to be dramatic! lols!

"Yes. My mother was abducted while I was still unborn by an Undead Lord Wight who tried to drain her life away in some foul ritual, but my father with three priests of PHARASMA~ only one of whom survived the fight, came and rescued her and the unborn me. That surviving priest channeled divine energy into my mother as the Lord Wight tried to drain away her soul.. we survived and I was born with white hair and the ability of a Sacred Touch, to preserve the lives of others at the brink of death. It is a mark of that blessing... from the gods."

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Ashe digs in... 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 4 = 25

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 4 = 32

Ashe states plainly, "It is not my own strength and endurance you seek to overcome.. but IOMEDAE, my goddess~ I can do this all day.. with her blessing! Do your worse."

Krojun abruptly stands up.

"It is you I wish to best, not your godling!"

Ashe is surprised at Krojun's reaction... and slowly stands to face him wondering why he would quit when he was winning?

Gesturing to the Skoan-Quah watching, he says, "I have not cheated... you can ask any of your spellcasting Shamans to look for the presence of any magics currently cast upon me. I am just a mortal man.. with faith in his goddess to urge me to prevail over even impossible odds in HER name.. nothing more. You Were fighting against merely a man of faith... you were opposing ME. But perhaps we'll call it a draw for now and try the challenge against at some latter time?"

Krojun spits on the ground, ostentatiously just missing Ashe's feet.

"Tis plain your godling dwells within. You are too puny to withstand me on your own, tshamek!"

He turns and stalks off without a backward glance.

Ashe hears the Shoanti warrior's words.. but lets them pass, returning no insult with insult upon Krogun's rudeness. He has nothing to prove, he succeeded in what he wished to make known about the 'tshamek'~ we are not weak and we are not afraid of the Shaonti. Bullies want victims that back down.. not those who bravely stand in the face of their aggression.

Addressing his companions Ashe apologizes, "I'm sorry that did not go... better. But perhaps it went as well as it could have been expected to go? My Chelaxian ancestors have inflicted Great injustice upon the Shaonti peoples, one man will not blot out centuries of abuse!"

Turning back to Thousand-bones and One-Life, and Ashe bows, "I am sorry our presence here causes ...distress with your young warriors.. but our need, in fact, perhaps~ All of Varisia's needs beyond the Cinderlands is at risk should this Kazavon return to power. Can you offer us any wisdom, we are like babes in the wilderness in this matter?"

One-Life nods gravely.

"In youth wisdom... shown not by Krojun Eats-What-He-Kills to shame ours. Aid we will as we can. What would you know?"

Ashe bows respectfully again, "You flatter me~ I have been unwise enough to make me wonder how I managed to survive to here! I suppose my Goddess forgives my failings and has seen fit to keep using me as an imperfect but still useful tool. If there is wisdom in me.. it's source is the Divine IOMEDAE... not I."

He chuckles in a self-deprecating way, "But to your question, please tell us the ancient tales of the Great Adversary~ KAZAVON... and how he was defeated! Perhaps we can divine a way to defeat his power again...with your wisdom?"

Nodding sagely, the priestess agrees with Ashe's approach and listens avidly to anything that might be said in response, trying to glean enough information to help formulate a plan to defeat their dire foe.

One-Life leads the way back into his tent and sits cross-legged, motioning to the party to join him.

"Kazavon, a massive blue dragon he, sent in aid of Ustalav against orc marauders by godling Zon-Kuthon was. In guise of human sent orcs scurrying to home the Hold of Belkzen by leading Ustalav army, great tactician he. Then built the castle Scarwall and in terror reigned himself. So came the hero Mandraivus to defeat, destroy him. Body scattered, burned and covered in liquid-that-burns... I know not name... aceed? No matter, but bits remained only. But seven pieces survived, unholy energy through them ran. Tried they to recombine so Mandraovus thought to keep them far apart that it not happen. Allies each took the one to different places. Skull, claws, fangs, horns, ribs, tailbones and wings they were."

"Ancestor mine, Coja Eyes-Aflame, took fangs. Them he hid in ancient Thassilonian pyramid, Grand Mastaba by name, entering mastaba and never heard of again he. But items too powerful even to hide for ever and made they all into items of potent power. Yet trouble they cause for all who attempt to wield them, cause madness, cause death. Some they say died that they not be sent mad, others that the items not get loose into the world."

"It is said that to truly destroy all of the Relics of Kazavon, the dragon must be brought back to life and then slain."

"Well, that sounds dangerous... Is that our plan then, Ashe? to find the items, resurrect the dragon and kill him permanently?" Ineluki asks with a mix of trepidation and curiosity. Her eyes momentarily flash with a burning fire behind them.

Ashe ponders this tale for a few moments... then answers Ineluki, "...I most Certainly hope THAT is not necessary!"

Returning his attention to One-Life, "Do the tales say what became of this hero Mandraivus? He must have had powerful magic or divine weapons to defeat such a powerful dragon of greed!"

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Edmund closes his eyes and thinks back to books he's read on the subject for any insights he can add.

"Why is it thought that slaying the dragon a second time would be any more effective than slaying him the first time was? And surely to bring the dragon back we'd first have to find all the parts?

We do not need to destroy all the relics, just neutralize the effects of one of them. Do the stories and tales give any guidance on how to just neutralize the Fangs?"

One-Life frowns as he seeks to remember more.

"Mandraivus from Lastwall he, had holy sword Serithtial and small band of companions. Slain he by orcish horde in castle at Scarwall - haunts it they say. More than this I know not."

Edmund, with that roll you can recall the list of Mandraivus' companions and what they did with their bits of Kazavon. The barbarian prince Kuiragh buried the Skull of Kazavon in the ancient shrine at the Mountain of Frozen Echoes in the Tusk Mountains. The Claws of Kazavon were secured by Roianda, a paladin of Abadar, who took them far into southern Garund. The Fangs of Kazavon were hidden in the ancient Thassilonian pyramid known at that time as the Grand Mastaba by the Shoanti shaman Coja Eyes-Aflame, just as One-Life said. Kazavon's Horns were taken by the elven sorcerer Laizuriel. A Qadiran scholar-priest of Irori named Vahahn took the Ribs of Kazavon and tried to secure them unsuccessfully in realms beyond Golarion. The wizard Kolwyddon took the Tailbones of Kazavon back to his tower in Taldor, where he conducted endless experiments on it. The Wings of Kazavon were taken by the honorable dervish Kallad, but both were lost at sea as he was returning to his homeland of Rahadoum.

Thousand-Bones, who had been sitting quietly listening, then spoke up.

"Tonight come you to the centre of the camp, attend Bone Council Fire. Then perhaps we can set your feet on the path they must tread if you are to achieve your quest. Come you?"

(It is mid-afternoon now and the cooking fires are being lit.)

Once alone, Edmund relates what he remembers about the other pieces. "If he have to reassemble it all, finding the wings would be especially difficult."

"We will definitely be there at the Council Fire"

Ineluki nods and agrees... "Aye, most difficult if not impossible to reassemble to slay again, so hopefully that is not our task. I assume we will learn what we need to know tonight as far as what our actual path must be."

Ashe ponders all that is spoken...

"This Mandraivus of Lastwall ~ he bore a holy sword named Serethtiel... I assume he used it to defeat Kazavon... it may be what we are looking for. I wonder why after splitting the remains of Kazavon with his companions to secure in distant lands, Mandravius choose to stay in the fortress Kazavon built... this Scarwall.. only to be overrun by Orcish hordes? If this Scarwall is still haunted by Mandravius' spirit.. perhaps we might get the spirit to tell us how he defeated Kazavon, and hopefully put it to rest?"

Ashe looks up.. not realizing his ponderings were not directed at anyone in particular, "..Uhm.. yes of course Thousand-Bones, we would be deeply honored to attend your Bone Council Fire, if we are allowed, Thank you."

"Indeed we shall be honoured by your presence. Come when it is full dark. In the meantime, rest and refresh yourselves. Would you care for food, drink, entertainment?"

Both One-Life and Thousand-Bones seem anxious to prove themselves good hosts.

Asherick smiles, "Why thank you, yes some rest, food and drink would be nice after our long hard travel here."

Knowledge checks to see if I know anything about Scarwall's current condition.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Akina searches her memory to see if she recalls any expeditions by the church to excise a spirit from Scarwall, but Lastwall is far away and she recalls nothing. Still she itched at the chance to both purge the wayward spirit back to the lady's spiral, and grow closer to their current mission.

She bows low as they are dismissed and makes her way to Ash Dancer to spend the time sharing tales in the purging of undead and laying the dead to rest. She wishes to learn all she can concerning their personal techniques and rituals.

"Would it be permitted for me to just wander around and talk to your people? I'd like to practice my Shoanti and just get to know some of my distant kin"

No ulterior motive and no need to do anything online unless you want to

Inelukii takes the opportunity to relax, bathe, refresh and rest and meditate. When it's full dark, she returns to the place of the meeting.

You pass your time in harmless pursuits. A large platter of roast meat (you're not quite sure what it was when alive), accompanied by flatbread, olives and a tart red wine, arrives for those who are hungry.

Eventually it gets dark. Most everyone of the Shoanti have retired to their tents, and the camp seems almost deserted as you pick your way towards the fire burning at its centre. When you get there, you find One-Life, Thousand Bones and Ash Dancer waiting for you. Stools have been placed upwind of the fire, and One-Life invites you to be seated. As Thousand Bones rises to speak, Ash Dancer sprinkles the fire with a greenish-brown herbal dust from a weathered pouch. The fire leaps high as a response.

"You have already done my people a great favour by returning the body of one of our warriors," begins Thousand Bones. "I sense now you come to me to ask a favour in return in your seach for information, yet know that by doing this favour, you are helping us all. The Skoan-Quah are a peaceful people, yet we are also all but shunned by our kin. Our willingness to mix with tshamek shames many of my brothers and sisters in the other quahs. Only their respect for our tradition of guarding and protecting the dead of all Shoanti keep them from open hostility against us. My words do not reach their ears when I advise against war on Korvosa. They hear tales of the city in flames, of its king dead, of disease ravaging its people, and they see this as the time foretold. A time when the Shoanti can ride down from these burning lands and reclaim greener lands to the south, lands that were once ours. Yet war is not good for us. My brothers do not see that, even crippled, Korvosa remains a powerful enemy. It is best to make your enemies your friends, do you not think? Yet my brothers do not listen to these words. They see weakness, they demand action.

"Yet you could not know of the coming war. You come to me with a different favour. You have already spoken of your quest, now ask of what you wish of me, and perhaps we may find our needs are the same."

He sits back down and awaits your questions.

Asherick stands and bows to Thousand-Bones, "We simply wish to know how was the power of Kazavon defeated by this Mandravis so long ago.. perhaps if we know its source we may find it again and use it to remove the influence the Fangs of Kazavon exerted upon our, likely unwitting, young Queen's will! For she Now wears the Fangs of Kazavon as her new crown!"

"I slightly disagree with my friend. What we need is to know how to defeat or redeem somebody under the influence of the Fangs of Kazavon, because those Fangs have granted its possesser nigh invulnerability. Perhaps the key is in what happened before, perhaps not. You would know that better than I. But that defeat or redemption is the goal, the knowledge is perhaps the means to the end."

Ashe shrugs,"Garridan may be correct on that... but as far Neolandis, the Seneschal of Castle Korvosa, informed us very few in Korvosan recorded history has ever heard of the Fangs of Midnight.. let alone an artifact made of Kazavon's Teeth into a Crown! Do the Shoanti have any recorded history or legends of anyone ever wearing the Fangs of Midnight - the Fangs of Kazavon as a crown, what powers such a vile artifact might grant, and how any past wearer might have been defeated or perhaps redeemed?"

Thousand Bones shakes his head sadly.

"I regret I cannot answer you. There is a Sun Shaman amongst the Sklar-Quah... but they'd never permit you to speak with him, you are not Shoanti..."

"I am part Shoanti. Would that be sufficient? Or is there some way that we could become Shoanti. I know that sometimes Shoanti adopt people into their tribes although I do not know the details"

Akina will add her own voice to the mix. "Would the Sklar-Quah allow us to trade something for the information. A service or mission they can not accomplish on their own. If it is in our power, we would gladly aid them. Whatever the cost, we need this information."

"Sadly, you will not be able to just stroll over and ask questions of them. You are tshamek. Outlanders. Rightful or not, the Sklar-Quah will see you as the children of those who murdered their ancestors and drove them from the green lands. The Sun Clan does not like outsiders at the best of times. And less so now that war against Korvosa is on every brave's lips. If they do not kill you outright they will banish you from the land," said Thousand Bones.

"Not even Garridan's heritage nor the service you have already done us will suffice. You must understand. The Sklar-Quah are very certain of these things. They may come to respect lone tshamek after many days of seeing them act honorably, but what you ask is for the Sun Shaman to lay bare his quah's heart. The deepest memories of his clan. These memories are not for tshamek. Not since Skurak the Reborn have the members of the Sklar-Quah unbanished a man and welcomed him into their quah."

"Could someone who is not tshamek ask these things on our behalf and report back to us the answers?"

"You know your people far better than do we. Can you think of any way of us getting the information from them? Or is it helpless?"

"Alas, this will not work. They would ask us why we want to know of such things. We would have to tell them. They will not give us secrets to tell tshamek," said Thousand Bones.

[b]"There was one who managed to fight back from being regarded as tshamek, though. Skurak the Reborn. The legend of Skurak is of a great warrior and greater traitor to the Sklar-Quah. He slew his brother, a brave of even greater courage. To the Sklar-Quah, family is purity - crimes against the family are the greatest a man can commit. Although Skurak claimed the death was an accident as he and his brother were hunting, others spoke of murder spawned of jealous rage. Skurak was declared a tshamek by the Sun Shaman and cast out. But before Skurak left he said he would be born again and return to his tribe. This he did. He went to the killing grounds of the great Cindermaw the Clan-Eater. Skurak walked up to the beast carrying only his dagger. Without fear he dove inside the beast and cut his way out. He returned to the clan and declared he had been reborn, and had left his misdeeds behind in the cleansing fire of Cindermaw's belly. The legend says the Sun Shaman accepted this and Skurak's time as a tshamek was spoken of no more."

Asherick speaks, "Despair not friend Garridan, no righteous cause is hopeless."

Asherick listens on to Thousand Bones and nods gravely, "So... do you believe if... one or more of us were to be swallowed by this 'Cindermaw' and be reborn the same way.. we would not be considered Tshamek anymore?"

"I would not ask anyone to do this on my behalf, but I would volunteer to attempt this for the sake of the others..."

Ashe's words receive a sternly disapproving glare from Trinia at his side... clearly she is NOT in agreement with his 'volunteering'... and is going to have words with him on the matter...!

Speaking up, "Uhm, Thousand Bones just what exactly is this 'Cindermaw-Clan Eater'?"

Rolling her eyes at his predictable response, "Before you dive into the maw of a creature peacock, it would be wise to consider that Shurak was Sklar-Quah born. In a rebirth, he would return to the state he was in at his birth, one who was not exiled. It could well be, that were we to be reborn, we would return to how the Sklar-Quah saw us at birth, which would still be 'tshamek'."

Turning to address Thousand Bones, "Unless you believe it is a worthwhile pursuit, I believe that Scarwall sounds to be the most useful source of information. If Mandraivus of Lastwall and Serethtiel were able to slay the creature when it was whole and at the height of it's power. He would likely be able to slay a single piece."