Talara takes her leave of the table to seek refills of your refreshments. You have time to talk among yourselves before she returns.
When she returns and a couple of you nominally accept her terms, she explains her plans for the short term.
“My sources in the Vordon manor report that Nadar is leaving for Altaruk. Officially he is to renegotiate the terms of a kank nectar contract with the merchant houses of Balic, but I suspect there is more to this trip than that – especially since the contract was renegotiated just a couple of months back. Normally the contract is renegotiated on a yearly basis.
Nadar is leaving later in the afternoon, but you shouldn’t leave Tyr until at least a couple of hours have passed. I’ll have kanks reserved for you at the stables. Also, you should seek to avoid confrontation if it possible. It is very important that he not know he is being followed, so keep a reasonable distance.”
Rennoc calmly works his hands under the table to create a link between all of them...
Just whisper words under your breath and all of us shall hear them, now it is time to ask a question... Do any of you know of the Green Age?
Chumani keeps his distance and shares his thoughts, using the spell. No, what is that?
Dai is uncomfortable with Rennoc's question, and his timing.
According to myth, it was a before time, when there were trees everywhere, and water. Before the Dragons. When much of the world was healthy, like Gulg. Likely a fantastic fever dream. All who know Gulg know it stands as testament to the awesome power of Lalai-Puy. What of it? Why do you press us now?
Rennoc looks at her his eyes widen briefly...
Many are taken in by the lies of the Kings, I had not expected you to be so easily fooled... The Green Age was not myth, it was reality. Only fragments of this glorious era survive but I am privy to them, I cannot give exact details as to everything concerning it but I can give you a general description.
Envision an age where instead of the vast, empty deserts that surround us vast plains of rolling grass and wheat existed. Envision an age where mighty rivers ran through the landscape, oceans dotted the surface of the world and there was actually enough water to drown in... It was a paradise, crops came easily from the ground and no man so long as he was competent died of starvation or thirst...
Daishata has been apparently duped, like the other kings Lalai-Puy is nothing more then a defiler of tremendous power. She along with the rest of her ilk are the beings responsible for what is around us, a land that is sterile and incapable of supplying her children with what they need to survive...
Comrades I ask a question of you, will you hear my vision? Will you hear what one who knows the truth has to say?
I wish I could say I don't believe you, but I have heard this tale before and your explanation seems as accurate as any. These... defilers, they destroy the land around them to empower their magic, correct? Lucian mouths, attempting to further educate himself on the topic.
"That is what they do, it is also quite ironically the reason they are doomed. Defiling is perhaps the most self destructive form of magic ever conceived of, by destroying the land itself a defiler reaches a unique paradox... What occurs when the land simply has nothing left to give?"
Dai's eyes widen even more than Rennoc's. Half standing her lips form a rictus as her face sneers, hands unconsciously reaching for her Gouge.
Defiler? King? Lalai-Puy is a goddess! How else does Gulg remain pristine? It is evidence that your words are dust. Prepare to die blasphemer!
Seeing Dai getting angry, Chumani steps in, placing the head of his earth breaker on the table between the rest of the group, and bellows.
"STOP!"
Then returns to using the spell provided by Rennoc, Dai, calm down. I'm sure he can explain in a manner that will make sense.
Then he glances at Rennoc before continuing, What does this talk of history have to do with us accepting to continue to work for this merchant house? I think this conversation should be saved for a later time.
Pulling his earth breaker from the table adds his thoughts on the job, We have come this far, lets finish this and see where it leaves us.
This conversation has a point, Chumani. This point concerns many things, yet one will interest you above all others... The End of Slavery. Do I have your attention?
Yes that would be a good thing, but will the history lesson or how it will stop slavery help us determine if we are going to help this lady? Between my yelling and your random growth we are attracting to much attention. We need to finish the discussion at hand and then find somewhere else to talk the rest of this out.
My point is the age of Kings is ending, one is dead and another's subjects are preparing to enter into full scale rebellion if they have not done so already... The variables have shifted in such a manner that the core assumption that "the Kings are invincible" is no longer true... While the Kings war and stew themselves in paranoia enterprising men such as ourselves can take advantage of the situation...
The Forest Ridge once so coveted has now been thrown out of the view of the Kings for the moment as they focus upon internal matters... If we can procure the assistance of House Vorthon a settlement could be born within a year... A city in five years and a city state on par with Urik in a decade, within another decade it will have the power to challenge anyone city state in this region and win... To accomplish this means we need to procure support, House Vorthon can supply the money and the settlers...
However if we are going to do this we have to act fast, no time for finesse all that matters is speed... Help this lady and your desire to rid Athas of Slavery will be one step closer to fruition...
Then we help her, and hope she will help us in turn.
Rennoc makes the link disappear for all except Chumani...
I left the link open with Daishata deliberately after her tirade... I want her to think that what I just said was the plan, in truth it is... I just happened to leave out a few, crucial details. Her loyalty to the defiling b~$~$ she calls a goddess is troubling, keep an eye on her. We will discuss more of our plan later on, House Vorthon isn't the only ally we are going to need to make this work... In the meantime judge the actions of our companions and their reactions, we need to ensure that no one sabotages our efforts.
Dai settles, shooting daggers at Rennoc with her eyes.
"Populist panderings and nods to the anti-slavery faction do not well mask your own ambitions arcanist."
After answering any final questions, Talara stands and bows. ”Upon your successful return, head to the Sandstone Inn in the noble district. Tell the innkeeper that ‘The Lady’ sent you. I will be attending to some other leads here in the meantime.” Talara nods, stands up, and heads for the door.
Rennoc calmly smirks at Daishata, his eyes briefly become infused with purple lightning...
Quietly, trying to prevent others from hearing.
Opposed views or not, we should work together. Rennoc, you are powerful, and I assume you are intelligent enough not to become overly ambitious as long as we work as a group. Daishata, Rennoc may look for power, but remember, if we stay with him you can watch, and ensure he doesn't go beyond his boundaries.
Dai gives Gideon the faintest of nods, then without another word moves out of the inn to the stables to check on the offered kanks. As suggested by the Lady Vorthon, Dai will advise leaving a few hours after Nadar, hoping Rahger and others can track him well enough.
Gideon will stick with Dai, for safety.
|
I guess power can take many forms and different people prefer different forms of power. I´m sure we can get along well together, everyone finding her own power. You should focus more on the now though. Not the past, which nobody really knows of, neither the future we might never see. Focus on the now and enjoy. Anyway, i would not mind finding some more riches and secrets.
Rennoc will follow Chumani... Somewhere...
"Where's everybody going?" Lucian says with a chuckle.
Chumani glances around as the others start to leave. "We will see you at the stables in a couple hours to prepare to follow this scum."
Chumani glances back at Rennoc when he notices him following, shurgs and slows down for him to catch up.
Once Rennoc catches up, Chumani continues to walk aimlessly for a few more blocks before finding a quite spot in the shade to talk to him.
"May I suggest that you not try to irritate those that we know are helpful, so we don't find our selves alone in the desert or worse slaves again? Now can you explain your jab at Dai's homeland and what the point of it was?"
I made a mistake, I assumed intelligence and flexibility from Daishata... I did not realize she was of the more "zealous" variety of Templar, for there are two types of Templar. The zealot who genuinely believes in the lies of the Sorcerer Kings and the Templar who simply wants power... The latter can be persuaded to work against the goals of their masters especially if they are made privy to some of the details concerning where their power actually comes from...
Daishata is unfortunately not of the latter variety, as an agent of a Sorcerer King she is a dagger hidden in our midst waiting for the opportune moment to strike... Her so called deity is but a defiler of great power and Daishata is completely oblivious to what her master is despite the signs that should tell one of a a defiler's presence...
One of the best ways to find a defiler is to simply search for vast areas of cultivated plant life besides crops... I think you can figure out the rest Chumani...
As you leave the tavern and are about to split up, deja vu strikes in the form of another tiny, poison tipped dagger. It’s aim is precise, sinking deep into Rennoc’s belly.
Insufficient
Stepping out of the shadows in an alley abutting the Golden Inix, your assailant is a halfling. Unlike most of his kind his clothes are of fine make and he is wearing sandals. He draws several more knives from a bandolier and prepares to throw them as well. Behind him, a stretch of the narrow passage is covered in sharp, bone caltrops.
"I would agree with that based on her reaction. Now she will question your motives and mine as well I suspect, if she wasn't already."
Chumani stops to think for a moment, "So should we continue this errand or is it all for not? Or would it be possible with time to show Dai the truth? And then what of the others or you or I, can anyone really be trusted?"
He stops again and then looks Rennoc in the eyes. "So what is it that you truly seek? Freedom, power, revenge?"
Initiative
Fort save
Rennoc grimaces as the dagger slices through into his belly but in his eyes as he sees the halfling a deep rage is awakened and a punishing spell is unleashed, Rennoc grins viciously and speaks to Chumani...
My good associate, I advise creating a polearm... You do not want to join the assassin in his icy tomb.
cold damage
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/metamagic-feats/rime-spell-metamagic
barely too slow, Gideon fails to react quick enough
Chumani has to much on his mind to react quickly to the sudden attack.
Lucian flinches as he remembers the pain he felt from the last ambush.
Derlan shrugs off the worst of the chilly assault, but frost clings to his extremities, slowing him down.
Standard Action: Activate Biofeedback tattoo.
Move Action: Gain Belier's Bite feat via Martial Maneuver for 1 minute.
Swift Action: Talk.
Rahger touches the tattoo on his left arm. The tattoo there gives the impression of tough and callus skin, which has now spread to give Rahger greater resilience. As he cracks his knuckles, Rahger calls out to the other halfling in their native tongue.
Dai has had enough. Perhaps her recent conversation with Rennoc has fired her up, or maybe the attacks her friends' have already suffered at the hands of this wretch make her determined to end him. Regardless, she calls on her divine champion-queen and charges at the Halfling, her gouge ripping his flesh in a satisfying spray of blood.
Swift Action: Judgment - Destruction - +2 to damage rolls.
Full Round Action: Charge to E6
[4 BAB , +1 Str, +1 Weapon Focus, +1 Masterwork, +2 Charge, - 2 Power Attack]
[+1 Strength, +5 two handed Power Attack, +2 destruction]
The Vordon agent shows an utter disdain for the templar bearing down on him and launches several more knives. Only half of the missiles hit, but they are covered in more of the Golden Scorpion venom. He then weaves out of the frost laden ground.
“Your loyalites are misplaced, Rahger Goh'Nagrahar. If you stick with these particular tall-meat, you will find your doom.” says Derlan in a dispassionate, matter of fact tone.
Lucian will conjure two dagger-like cards and move to get a clear shot.
Rennocs storm wracked body ruthlessly crushes the poison in his veins, his baleful glower at the halfling assailant is ominous...
fortitude
Rennoc stretches out his hand and allows the Storm to be channeled through him and into the lens... From the ground underneath the halfling's feet a massive, earth shattering blast of lightning erupts...
piercing damage (shards of earth splintering into halfling flesh)
fry that halfling good!
knock em down!
Despite the chill clinging to his body, Derlan pirouettes to the side, avoiding the worst of the flaming stalagmite.
AoO
[4 BAB , +1 Str, +1 Weapon Focus, +1 Masterwork, - 2 Power Attack]
[+1 Strength, +6 two handed Power Attack, +2 destruction]
Round 2 Attack:
Standard Action: Dai presses the halfling assassin...
[4 BAB , +1 Str, +1 Weapon Focus, +1 Masterwork, - 2 Power Attack]
[+1 Strength, +6 two handed Power Attack, +2 destruction]