The Reclamation of Zahvroma (Inactive)

Game Master Signore di Fortuna

The fallen were a dangerous foe they were strong and ruthless but what made them terrifying was their ability to understand how the other side felt and acted, and could use that knowledge as easily as one could wield a blade. Finding Drago would be a challenge to say the least.

Cyna decided to find a place to meditate, if she kept her head in the future she would lose all sense of the present. Her enemy's didn't matter there would always be something standing in her way she learned that years ago. Now she just needed a way to deal with what she learned after her death.

With a single word her entire world would change but at what cost? Turning her back on everything she believed in for a chance at power. She had spent decades suppressing her infernal blood and normally her mind would crush such temptation in an instant but after tasting hell something had changed. She couldn't seem to erase the idea from her mind. That was a problem.

I go to one FNM and I come back to 20+ posts in both boards, well I suppose this is better than the alternative.

Seeing Clara in good hands and noticing Cyna stepping away, Alethiro decided to do the same, and take time for personal reflection. Things had taken a very interesting turn and it was getting more interesting by the minute.

There's no use in arguing with him. "Are you ... happy now?"

"Happiness is a relative term. Where I am there is only peace and joy, but I turn my gaze to the world and see something else. I cannot affect the world like you can and you must affect it for those you love and those you have never met. The stars gather around you, Harakhty, for you desire change. But you must decide which changes are the ones you truly want."

The voice seems to fade at these words, leaving Harakhty in silence.

That's enough of the vanara jedi ghost for now. Dagobah! You must go to Dagobah!

Peace and joy are a ways off for this place, I think. He let his necklace fall back to his chest, his heart hardened for the task ahead.

Turing about, Harakhty made his path back to the others. Hopefully, nobody else decided now was an opportune time to desert the group.

Aurelea nods quietly and finds a secluded place to sit.

Arriving on the scene to find the Vanara making an exit, Gregario calls out.

"Harakhty. Harakhty Suntooth", he says in a strong baritone.

Gregario is a human of average height just past his middling years. His dark hair is full of scattered grey and kept short and neat to match his beard. Although past his prime, he's obviously still quite strong and fit and seems to carry the weight of his worn plate armor with relative ease.

"I would have a word with you."

I imagine him looking a lot like Jorah Mormont.

That's enough of the vanara jedi ghost for now. Dagobah! You must go to Dagobah!

Check my spoilered post from earlier.

"It seems I'm not the only one who knows my name. Speak your words." He was irritated for some reason - the spirit had put him on edge.

The Vanara's foul mood didn't go unnoticed. Gregario tries to be diplomatic.

"I spoke with your Orc - Skaar. He seemed troubled", the aged paladin explains. "He mentioned a task that was taking him away from his duty here and was quite unhappy about the necessity of it."

"He isn't my Orc. Do I look like a handler? He could use one, but it's not me." Harakhty sighed. "Without him, our detachment's muscle is gone, so he's not the only unhappy one."

Gregario clears his throat and stands up his straightest, for a moment looking as he must of in his youth.

"He asked that I accompany you in his absence. I may lack his bestial strength but my sword arm is still strong and true. If would have me, my blade is yours."

The hiss of steel leaving its scabbard is heard as the aging human pulls his blade and plants its tip in the ground as he kneels.

"I swear on my honor, until your friend returns, I'll defend you and your companions with my dying breath."

"That's a serious pledge to someone you've just met. Does your loyalty often find its way around so easily?"

Gregario picks himself up and sheathes his blade. He studies the suspicious Vanara for ill-will or simple curiosity.

"I and the other paladins have been on Zahvroma for a long time. We all came here for something. I believe, in you, I might have found it", he says.

"Even among my order and the orders of the other paladins assembled here, none can agree what exactly Zahvroma is. But I know, even if the details are still unclear. Do you know what Zahvroma truly is Vanara?"

"The site of our death?" ventured Harakhty. "What is it you think I can provide?"

Aurelea closes her eyes, resting her head back against the wall behind her.

Cyna digs through the dirt searching for the source of the light.

"It's a crucible for change", the paladin explains with conviction. "Whatever awaits Icathia in the coming age will come from Zahvroma. I would like to be at the heart of that change. I believe you and your group will help me get there."

Hearing, what sounded like voices coming from Cyna's direction, Alethiro went to see what was going on. He found her digging in the dirt. "What's going on?"

Cyna digs up a familiar green shard in the dirt, the soul of a member of The Green Circle.

"A friend."

Cyna carefully picks up the shard.

"At least on that we can agree." Harakhty resigned himself to accepting the man's offer. He's old, but if he's that convinced this is his goal, he'll fight to the end. Much better spoken than Skaar too. "Very well. Let me show you to the others." And with that, they were off to find the group.

"Do you need to be alone?" The Elf gently asked.

Cyna holds the green shard and it flashes, showing her a glimpse of Drago and a bugbear. Alethiro can also make out the dhampir in the shard. She hears the familiar feminine voice again. "Seems like it was a temporary effect."

"Hello? Drago you there?" Cyna asks hoping that the shard worked in two directions.

"Who is this?" the feminine voice asks. "Are you with Sienna and the others?"

"Damn it." Aurelea mutters as she opens her eyes and stands. "Let's go see what the hell's going on now."

"Cyna? Is that you?" Drago responded.

The female voice overrides Drago's. "Cyna? Cyna Singer? Thank...Desna...damn...piece...crap...giving out...oh, fu..."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Drago? Your missing companion?" Alethiro asked. So he's still alive. Good. Then I can make him pay. He thought to himself.

The shard turns back to a dull green in Cyna's hand.

In the interest of bringing things together...

Aurelea, Harakhty and Gregario join Cyna and Alethiro, as the tiefling looks down at the green shard in her hand. Wherever Drago was, something was interfering with the shard.

"Here you are. Aurelea and Cyna, deadly with both weapons and looks. You may be more familiar with the priest of Pharasma, Alethiro, than I am." I don't know two of them now. Granted, Harakhty started off not knowing a lick about any of them, but he liked to keep his neighbors in the know. It unsettled him a bit not to. "This is Gragario. He would like to explain to you why he wants to travel with us." Maybe if they vet him from a different angle, more of his motive will out itself. Harakhty physically distanced himself from the newcomer a bit while the others said hello.

"Where's Skaar?" Aurelea asked bluntly

Alethiro just stood, with arms crossed, in silent.

"Where's Skaar?" Aurelea asked bluntly

"He decided to chase after that mistress of his on Rando's boat. I tried to talk him out of it, but it was no use."

Good, the Orc is gone. I was beginning to grow weary of him. He thought.

"Wait, he died trying to protect us, that doesn't make any sense. Sure he enjoyed banging the hell out of her, but there's got to be something more to it."her eyes narrowed slightly.

"What exactly did you say to him?"

"It's not what I said as much as what our star-reading friends said. One of them thinks she's with child - his - now. He seemed to want to go to ensure their safety. I told him he was choosing a vision of the future over what was in front of him now. You can tell what path he chose by who's standing in front of you."

Gregario clears his throat.

"I cannot claim to know your friend's thoughts but it was clear to me that something had changed and he felt that he had to leave. It obviously troubled him to leave you without his protection, so he asked that I aid you in the meantime", the older human explains.

"Even in my youth I could never compare with his prowess but I'm not without my strengths and I will aid you in whatever way I can in the trials to come."

The Elf stepped forward and said, "Welcome aboard friend, you are welcome among us."

Gregario nods and gives a slight bow to Alethiro. He knew the elf better than the rest. He'd spent some time with the paladins before the party's most recent arrival.

"If the Or- Skaar is your friend, you should trust his motives to be true. He believes this task he's left for to be a worthy cause and has done what he can for you in his absence. We should focus on the great things we can accomplish here and now."

Harakhty studies the paladin with guarded eyes. "It'e not often a human an an orc get on so well. You must be old friends."

"In truth, until earlier today, I didn't know him much better than I knew each of you. But when you get to be my age, you learn to trust the contents of a man's heart over his appearance. His heart had its share of scars but there was no malice there."

Gregario studies Harakhty back with his own appraising gaze.

He's still an Orc. The Elf thought.

"I get it. You live a certain kind of life and there;'s a lot of things you come to regret. If they don't drown you, you take the chance to do something meaningful when it's offered. Finding the least the little bit of balance makes it less painful to look in the mirror." Aurelea shakes her head, clearly revisiting a few of her own demons as she speaks.

"If he picked you then I trust that choice," she says offering the grizzled warrior her forearm in a firm grasp. "We'll need those strengths with what's to come."

Gregario takes the offered handshake and returns the gesture.

"Where does your quest take you next?"

"To destroy another piece of the Shard of the Sky." she replies, leveling a resolute gaze on each of her companions.

Harakhty nodded his head in agreement. "Nethys commands the removal of this artifact. While I am no wizard, I would like to learn more about these shards. I'd think where there is one piece destroyed, others' destruction may be asked of us, and it could be useful to know what we're dealing with." He paused. "But the unlife in this area is strong, and we - or at least I - am not against them. Maybe you could help us there." Harakhty finally breaks his gaze from the newcomer. Just as expected.