Wacko, Yacko and ... DOT.
|
With you is a gnome with green hair wearing a breastplate and carrying a silver holy symbol of Cayden Cailean; a silver tankard. Currently, he is drinking out of his holy symbol. He has various scrolls and wands in his possession and, most of the time, a smile on his face.
He says with a soft but weathered voice, "He-llo everyone! My name's Theodore, and it's nice to meet all of you!"
"I'm a member of the Silver Crusade, and am a follower of Cayden Cailean. I'm out to do some good and have a good time doing it! That's what life is all about, right? Doing some good and enjoying yourself in the process? That's how I view it at least!" Theodore smiles broadly as if he had accomplished something.
"Oh sorry, I'm sure you want to know what my abilities are should a situation arise. I focus myself on healing others as well as calling upon the blessings of Cayden Cailean to enhance our fighting capabilities. Healing... yup! S'what I do! I'm elusive, but I'm no fighter! I'm not afraid to stick my neck out for you if it comes to that." He lets out a chuckle, seemingly amusing himself with his own banter.
After a brief pause in the conversation, "Ooohhh, enough talking about my old geezer self, though. I am interested in who you guys and gals are!" He patiently takes another swig from his holy symbol while waiting for conversation to pick up.
|
A very familiar looking halfling strolls into the room, playing a jaunty tune on his flute. He stops and offers a bright smile.
"Ever get the feeling everybody seems to just know who you are no matter where you go?" With a shrug, he goes back to playing his flute. It's rhythm is infectious, almost inspirational...
|
|
The tall Mwangi woman turns to Theodore, [b]"Yes, we've worked together before, I believe. That business with the market in Korvosa?[/"b]
Amina is tall and powerfully built, dressed in light, cream colored clothing with intricate gold embroidery. Her hair is closely cropped, and brown eyes have flecks of gold within. A large sword is strapped across her back, but she is otherwise unarmored and unarmed.
|
Amiri eyes Theodore~ with a slight frown all during his effusive speech. When he's done, she nods to Lem from her corner and leans forward.
I'm Amiri, she says matter-of-factly. Her thumb points behind her, where a massive blade can be seen strapped across her back. I make things dead with my sword.
|
|
Theodore laughs at Lem, "Well, I haven't adventured with you but I've heard of you. From what I've heard, you've done hundreds of missions! It's quite impressive." He looks towards Amiri, but decides he's better off mincing his words around her. "You too, Amiri."
"Amina! It's so wonderful to see you again! We had such a splendid time in the market before!"
Rain patters outside the windows of Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch’s study in Magnimar. Zarta Dralneen, leader of the Dark Archive, also waits nearby with a glass of red wine in her hand and a thoughtful look on her face.
“Greetings, Pathfinders,” the venture-captain begins. “We have an important mission for you inside Cheliax. Several days ago, we received word that the Hellknights of the Order of the Gate issued a call for aid at the Menador Gap. Apparently Chelish forces are spread thin these days. Imagine their surprise when we volunteered to help.”
“As I’m sure you know,” Zarta cuts in, “the Society has enjoyed few opportunities to explore Cheliax since the shuttering of the Delvehaven lodge in Westcrown decades ago. Luckily, we still had a Pathfinder agent in the country, an eccentric man by the name of Olandil. He has been gathering and protecting Pathfinder Society records and creating a journal of historically valuable sites within Cheliax that remain unexplored. For years, an embargo trapped Olandil in the port town of Pezzack, but a group of your fellow agents recently arranged for his escape. As it happens, one of the sites in Olandil’s journal lies close to the Menador Gap. Called The Temple of the Sky, this site supposedly contains a host of magical pillars that hold ancient knowledge. I’m sure you’ll agree that such knowledge is best kept safe within the Dark Archives, which is why we would like you to obtain a transcription of each pillar."
“Equally important to recovering these tablets,” Zarta continues, “is your mission to aid the Hellknights in securing the Menador Mountains. The details are vague, but we are told that the diviners of their order determined that a chaotic catastrophe is brewing somewhere in the peaks, and we suspect orcs are involved. Pathfinders, myself included, have come into conflict with Hellknights in the past, but they are still useful allies who share a number of our goals. Helping eliminate the threat will strengthen our alliance and ensure Hellknight aid in the future.”
The venture-captain adds, “I have arranged for a teleport spell to take you directly to the Hellknight expedition. Hellknights are not known for their patience. Please make your necessary preparations and return here as soon as possible.”
Feel free to ask questions, and buy provisions, but the Hellknights await.
Zarta eyes Theodore, "Perhaps, but there is much at stake here. developing them as allies could have far reaching benefits. Also, these ruins are a major find. Don't upset them and jeopardize our access. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
"Hmmm, never pretended to be a Hellknight before..." Lem throws back his shoulders and stands straight, raising himself well above 3 feet in height. "Do they make Hellknight armor that's halfling sized..and extremely lightweight?"
"Nevermind..." Lem shrugs, then continues. "Do we know whom we're dealing with among the Order of the Gate? And is there any kind supplies they desperately need? Any rumors about what types of weapons the orcs are bringing to bear?"
"No need to pretend like you're hellknights. The only supplies they need are likely swords with strong arms wielding them. Your best bet is to ask the commander your questions."
While Lem doesn't know anything about this particular unit, he does know a fair amount about the Order itself:
Hellknights are members of knightly orders that value law above all else. Many of their citadels are in Cheliax.
While Hellknights look to Hell as an example of perfect order, Hellknight orders are not inherently evil organizations. Within an order, there is a strict hierarchy, with the lictor at the top and the trainees, known as armigers, at the bottom. Most Hellknights simply use the title Hellknight, though spellcasters instead use the title signifer.
Each order of Hellknights has its own focus, but they all follow a strict set of laws called the Measure and a philosophy of merciless self-discipline called the Chain, which teaches the three virtues of order, discipline, and mercilessness. Hellknights must undergo many painful trials and defeat a devil in combat to earn a place within their order.
The Order of the Gate is the smallest of the major Hellknight orders, with only a few hundred members. They are the most magically inclined of all orders, and are best known for their incisive divinations and hidden libraries of esoteric knowledge. They believe that true order can only be achieved when criminal impulses are detected and punished before they become criminal action, because few mortals have the strength to resist their own impulses.
"No chance. You're good to go."
You may also know a bit about your destination, The Menador Gap:
The teleport, as promised, goes as planned. This area is a small clearing in the midst of a field of boulders and hoary trees. To the north, the ground slants sharply upward and leads into mountainous peaks of jagged rocks. Roiling black clouds are gathered behind the peaks and the region is filled with a hushed quiet. Ahead a dozen knights sit in the clearing, oiling swords and reading books.
A knight, slightly shorter than the rest of the Hellknights, with a hint of dark hair visible behind a steel mask approaches. A stern and commanding woman greets you when she removes her mask. A Hellknight’s commanding voice pierces the quiet. “Pathfinders. My name is Signifer Karva and I am in charge of this expedition. The Order of the Gate doesn’t often work with your organization. Under different circumstances, we could have even been enemies. But today that is not so—we share the common purpose of restoring order to this region. Know that at my command, my Hellknights will sacrifice their lives to accomplish this mission, and I expect no less from you. If you truly wish to return home safely, obey my commands and heed your duties."
She is a hard one to read, but seems satisfied to answer questions, though she works as she does, "“I was told the Society is interested in those ruins. The order sent signifers to catalogue them many years ago, but strange guardians that hurled bolts of lightning drove them away. None have ventured there since. The temple is near Gozreh’s Fork. After we deal with the orcs, you are free to seek out the temple, if you wish.”
|
|
Theodore looks around and surveys the scene briefly. After contemplating the Signifier's introduction - and the black clouds in the sky - he looks in his holy symbol and decides it's a good time to finish off his drink. He downs it in a swig.
Military fashion troop, no pleasantries, terrible scenery - I'll try to enjoy myself.
"Sure, we'll follow along."
She looks you all up and down, “The Severed Hand tribe lives deep in the mountains, roughly a two-day march from here. Our patrols seldom come out this far, so we will be in untamed wilderness for most of the expedition. There is a small peak called Gozreh’s Fork near the edge of the tribe’s territory that offers a good view of the region. We will head there first to get a grasp of where things stand in the mountains. You're going to be rucking with us, so I want you to get to know each other. A unit can only function as a whole. They'll learn your names, I expecting you to know theirs.“
She points to each in turn, "Aspexia, Rulla, Petronicus, Manius, Solangus, Boudra, Pavrodus, Stranglus, Rutilia, and you already know me."
|
|
Amiri only nods in assent as the party does its diplomatic thing; she knows she does not entreat with others well. At introductions, Amiri identifies herself and brings forth her sword. You have my blade at your disposal.
Inwardly, she thinks, It seems all Hellknights look alike. I am certain to call one by the wrong name more than once...
|
|
"The name's Lem. Quick with a joke, a song or an inspiring word, I look forward to shedding a little light in each of your lives." Lem tries to get a bead on any of the redshirts and whether there might be any who're less then thrilled with the restrictive life of a Hellknight.
As the group makes its way through the mountains, Lem makes a point of sharing humorous tales of his exploits with all the Hellknights, focusing on any that may be disgruntled. It seems almost impossible that someone of such a low level of experience could have soooo many tales (and that's just the countless separate versions of exploring some caves with a gillman shrine, and many of them focusing on his obsession with a female halfling named Janira, who may or may not have died numerous times in many different ways in very similar settings...)
Karva quickly introduces the platoon, this time with talents. The first three are warriors, the second three are clerics of Asodeus, and the final third are all evokers.
The comedy goes over like a lead balloon... You don't think you're making any friends with that approach...
Check in and make a Survival check, DC 15.
Lem gets a bit more of a positive rise after an hour of marching with these songs.
The soliders keep their pace, but being engaging in discussions about the Hellknight order, and philosophy in general. You can attempt a DC 20 Knowledge (local) or Knowledge (nobility) check or a DC 15 Profession (barrister) to join in if you want.
Meanwhile I still need some Survival checks.
|
|
Amina will linger near the three evokers, Pavrodus, Stranglus, and Rutilia, while trying to keep distance from the Asmodeans. She'll ask about their motivations for joining the Hellknights, and perhaps discuss comparative magical talents.
"I too have a talent for evocation, though mine is due to my heritage. I find myself intrigued by your hybridization of the martial and the arcane. I've sought to achieve a similar balance myself. I'd be interested to learn more of your training."
Rutilia in particular engages Lem in conversation about the ins and outs of leadership and nobility in the Order and the world at large. After a couple hours of hiking, when Signifer Karva calls a stop, she takes the opportunity, "It is good to engage in strong debate. It helps the mind stay strong. Here, take this as a token of my appreciation." She hands Lem a Potion of Cure Serious Wounds.
During the break the weather rolls into your conscious attention. Dark clouds on the horizon give an intangible pall to the journey ahead. A few of you note that the storm is headed this way, and will break soon.
Karva calls to push onward at double time, an order the Hellknights obey without question, but her disdain for how slowly the ...shorter Pathfinders move is obvious. She orders Solangus to conjure some spectral steeds to help keep pace.
A couple hours later she frustratingly calls for another halt after a bend in the path. A steep scree of gravel and shifting rocks covers the only path up the mountain here. The stones are slick with rain and a howling wind rips through the mountain pass, drowning out all other noise. At the bottom of the scree is a morass of mud and wet earth, while at the top is a flat rock shelf.
You take in the sight right as the storm hits. The wind is awful, and the rain isn't much better.
You quickly determine that attempting to climb the scree would likely trigger a rockslide if you're not extremely careful.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"It's quite dreadful, isn't it?" Theodore pours out some of the rain water from his holy symbol.
He casts Longstrider.
"Oh, I know this isn't the right time, but Amiri, here have this ring. It'll help me protect you...... No, this isn't a proposal." He gives her a platinum ring.
Signifer Karva speaks up, "Let's go, we need to get up there ASAP. No rest until after!"
She begins making preparations (tightening buckles etc.)
|
|
Amiri gives the gnome an odd look, but accepts the ring. In my tribe you'd've need considerably more than a bauble to propose marriage, she says. More like a prized kill.
To Signifier Karva, she asks: If we're climbing, it might be best to have one person go up and secure a rope. She glances at the armor-clad Hellknights before continuing. I volunteer.
The Hellknights aren't built for this, so they prepare as best they can. If you guys go up first, make a climb check.
|
|
"Alternatively, I could take up two people and myself instantly with Dimension Door."
Amiri gives the gnome an odd look, but accepts the ring. In my tribe you'd've need considerably more than a bauble to propose marriage, she says. More like a prized kill.
Theodore looks a little taken aback and frightened by Amiri's jab.