|
At the summons of the Decemvirate, you find yourself in the midst of a huge Pathfinder gathering. Races from all planes and walks of life come together in the large mess hall at the Starrise Spire. Among the group, many important guest also stand, the most easily recognized of course are the trio Master's of the Pathfinder's Society.
You take some time to introduce yourself to the other fellow Pathfinders gathered for what seems to be a momentous occasion.
__________________________________________________
Maps & Handouts
|
The moderate sized paled skin man looks across all his allies. He looks as though he has been burnt over and over again, then left bleached until a grim pale color was all that was left of him. His hair is gone, and his eyes are sunken in. He wears thick black robes and carries a staff that roils in shape as a flame would lick timber.
In spite of his grim appearance, he gives a very friendly smile.
"Greetings to you all. I am the Flame in the Darkness, Emberwik. I follow the shadow of the great lord Zon-Kuthon. Do not fear, however, conversion is not my agenda, at least not today." He gives a deep bow at the waist.
"Should our foes fear the flames then I shall weave it into true nightmares. If not, I will make sure none of you fall today. It may hurt a slight bit, but your wounds will fade and disappear under the shadow." He holds a holy symbol of Zon-Kuthon in his hands, the chains from the eyes dangling back and forth in a gentle sway.
|
“Wow! Hey, Mr Emberwik! Your first name’s quite a mouthful, huh?”
A bareheaded knight wrapped in black steel, and sporting a heart-shaped key embossed over her left breast reacts enthusiastically to the oracle’s greeting.
“You look really cool … or maybe hot? Or maybe you don’t like others mentioning your appearance, and I should change the subject? I’m Eadie BTW.”
As the warrior searches the lonely horizons of her mind for a new topic, she gives an excited wave to the passing Master of Swords, who face-palms before walking hurriedly in the opposite direction.
“Should our foes fear the flames then I shall weave it into true nightmares. If not, I will make sure none of you fall today.”
“I’m good at lifting heavy things. What can I say? It’s a gift.”
She places her nose very close to the swaying chains of Emberwik’s holy symbol, clearly intrigued. “Poor skull. The chains running out of his eye-sockets make it look like he’s crying.”
“And he’s lost a front tooth. That’s gonna make it harder for him to get a girlfriend or boyfriend until he gets that fixed. And dental work is sooooo expensive!”
“It may hurt a slight bit.”
Eadie jerks upright at this. “When you say ‘a slight bit’, on a scale of smiley face means ‘spider runs over your arm’ (gross), grumpy face means ‘super-duper ouchies’, and flat-line mouth face is somewhere in between, just how much pain are we talking here, Mr Emberwik?”
|
Eadie jerks upright at this. “When you say ‘a slight bit’, on a scale of smiley face means ‘spider runs over your arm’ (gross), grumpy face means ‘super-duper ouchies’, and flat-line mouth face is somewhere in between, just how much pain are we talking here, Mr Emberwik?”
"Now, now, I'm sure it isn't so bad." says a tall woman covered head to toe in clothing, waving a gloved hand dismissively. "I've seen many methods of healing in my years as a pathfinder, none of them are worse than having a bloody-handed surgeon carving into you while you've got nothing but a strip of leather between your teeth for comfort."
Her form is covered in heavy clothing and a wide brimmed hat, with a black scarf and crystal lenses to cover her face. Still, up close it's not too hard to see a few features: the woman's skin tone looks like darkened olive that was artificially drained of its color, marred with a lattice of thin surgical scars.
"I'm Doctor Meiosa. Aside from my usual work as a pathfinder, I've studied the fields of medicine and alchemy to find ways to enhance the human body." Her voice picks up a hint of excitement as she speaks, with a tremble causing her scarf to jostle just a little. It's as if something was shaking it from the inside.
She then looks towards Emberwick, sizing him up. "Oh! I have experience with skin grafts, if you're interested. I even have some efreet samples back at my lab. Leftovers from a trip to the plane of fire."
|
|
“Is it that your own body is not the way you want it, Doctor?”
I can relate to that!
“Or is it EVERY human(oid) body could be enhanced, and your body is like your lab? And like – you’re not that into pain, but it’s necessary to achieve your goals?”
Eadie nods a few times. “I admire your dedication. It’s kinda weird – I can pass out at the sight of a needle, but during a battle I rarely feel much pain – until it’s over that is!”
|
A rough and tumble half-orc walks very quietly toward the gathering of busy Pathfinders. His black hood is pulled up over his head, obscuring most of his face. A curiosity hangs at his waist, a red mask, in fact a Mask from a Red Mantis Assassin. The greatsword on his back catches a bit of light, reflecting strangely on the walls around him. Even more impressive Unnvar carries is a heavy pick, the haft of which is forged from adamantine, and it bears an impressively sharp diamond head.
He takes a position where he can see most of what is going on.
I'm Unnvar, so what is all this fuss is about?
The expression on his face is unimpressed and pained, as if he really doesn't want to be there, as if the weight of the world pushes down upon him. He continues to look on as the rest of the team gathers.
A wolf the size of a horse bounds into the hall, tail wagging enthusiastically. He sniffs each Pathfinder energetically, but takes a good amount of time to investigate Meiosa before letting out a happy "Woof!"
|
"Sit, you great looney!" a rough-looking man yells after the wolf as he repeatedly points at the floor. "I know you can hear me - you're clearly not looking at my hands. Sit!"
As the wolf slowly settles down, the archer looks at the rest of the party. "Sorry 'bout that. Name's Rudzik. This lovable ball of energy is Wilk. We don't get summoned much unless the Society needs to send folks through the wilderness, or if there's a structure full of unhappy inhabitants to be explored. Usually both. Any word on what we're doing this time?"
Wilk, meanwhile, is trying very hard to creep forward veeerrry slowly without anyone noticing so he can continue sniffing the doctor's robes.
|
|
Eadie jerks upright at this. “When you say ‘a slight bit’, on a scale of smiley face means ‘spider runs over your arm’ (gross), grumpy face means ‘super-duper ouchies’, and flat-line mouth face is somewhere in between, just how much pain are we talking here, Mr Emberwik?”
He chuckles at the upbeat nature of Eadie, clearly he is fascinated that someone would still be so delightfully pleasant in his presence. Why not let her know? "Imagine, if you will, the pain that delivered the blow to you." Holding up his hand in a tight fist. "Now imagine that pain being played back in reverse until it felt as though you have experienced nothing at all but a memory." Slowly he unfolds his hand from that tight fist, then flicks in a quick motion, as if showing that it disappears. "And that would be the way the Lord of Pain heals it."
"Now, now, I'm sure it isn't so bad." says a tall woman covered head to toe in clothing, waving a gloved hand dismissively. "I've seen many methods of healing in my years as a pathfinder, none of them are worse than having a bloody-handed surgeon carving into you while you've got nothing but a strip of leather between your teeth for comfort."
Emberwik's hand reaches up to his chin and he considers that. "Most intriguing. Are you familiar with my Lord's work?"
She then looks towards Emberwick, sizing him up. "Oh! I have experience with skin grafts, if you're interested. I even have some efreet samples back at my lab. Leftovers from a trip to the plane of fire."
"Efreet you say? Now you have my undivided attention. Perhaps getting a skin graft would make worship a little less precarious, and I could commit to more open displays of devotion." Emberwik says, considering the options that Meiosa has presented to him. Very intriguing indeed!
|
|
The doctor nods in greeting to the other arrivals. As the canine creeps closer to her, a hand emerges from her cloak to gently pat him on the head. It's smaller than her other two, only slightly, the lean limb ending with two fingers and a thumb.
“Is it that your own body is not the way you want it, Doctor?”
I can relate to that!
“Or is it EVERY human(oid) body could be enhanced, and your body is like your lab? And like – you’re not that into pain, but it’s necessary to achieve your goals?”
"I was never born normal in the first place. I've embraced what I am and I want to see just gow far I can go."
The doctor pulls her scarf aside, revealing a slick, black tentacle wrapped around the bottom half of her head.it unfurls, idly squirming from its base jus behind her right shoulder. "My own body is my primary test subject, and I hold a strict ethocs policy. I only experiment on willing and informed subjects. I suppose, since we're in the Starspire, there's no issue showing off. But I'm sure you can understand why I cover up in this city."
Emberwik's hand reaches up to his chin and he considers that. "Most intriguing. Are you familiar with my Lord's work?"...
"Efreet you say? Now you have my undivided attention. Perhaps getting a skin graft would make worship a little less precarious, and I could commit to more open displays of devotion." Emberwik says, considering the options that Meiosa has presented to him. Very intriguing indeed!
"I only know the basics of your faith. They are few in the Society, but they are refreshingly open and honest about qhat they do."
"And as for grafts... we'll have to talk later in detail. I've had a few techniques that I've wanted to try."
“Fellow Pathfinders, I am Jorsal of Lauterbury, Venture-Captain of Nerosyan. I welcome you to the Starrise Spire and bid you to find a seat and speak with the other guests. Once everyone is comfortably seated, I will get to the point of this great gathering.”
|
|
“So what is all this fuss about” “Any word on what we're doing this time?”
“I heard Zarta Dralneen and Ambrus Valsin and are getting married here this afternoon.”
Is that one of the rumors I made up?
Eadie *shrugs* her ebon pauldrons. “So I guess this is gonna be one of those social missions where you have to suck up to stuck-up idiots, while we wait for Zambrus’ enemies to crash the wedding.”
The fighter makes a fuss of Sir Wilk, rubbing behind his ears and under his chin before rummaging through her rucksack to produce a gauntlet-ful of beef jerky. She raises her eyebrows at Rudzik for permission.
Eadie closes an eye, looking a mite suspicious at Emberwik’s explanation. “That doesn’t sound so bad … Are you sure that’s all there is to it?”
“I'm sure you can understand why I cover up in this city.”
“Oh sure.”
Don’t freak out … don’t freak out … don’t freak out …
Eadie turns a shade paler as the Doctor uncovers. “You’d freak out Queen Galfrey’s lily-livered crusaders faster than I could scream, ‘demon!’”
“Have you visited Kaer Maga, Doctor? There are lots of folks with implants there.”
|
|
Rudzik sighs as Meiosa and Eadie play with Wilk. "It's your fault now when he won't leave you alone," he says exasperatedly, but the crinkle in his eyes betrays his enjoyment of the situation.
Wilk happily licks Meiosa's hand and gobbles the jerky Eadie offers, then tries to whimper pathetically and beg for more. When additional treats are not immediately forthcoming, he changes tactics. A goofy smile on his face, he tries to show what a good boy he is by shaking hands with Eadie. It would be more cute if he wasn't taller than the fighter by a good span and pawing at her shoulder with a foot larger than her face.
|
|
“Sheesh, you’re gonna scratch up my already scratched and dented pauldrons, boy.”
Eadie ‘Wolf Whisperer’ Navhelan shows off her prowess to the others. “Sit! I said SIT!”
*Exasperated* “Have you taught him the exclusive trick, Rudzik?”
“SIT! Uhhh ... take a walk. Sniff that other wolf’s butt.”
“See?” She says proudly. “He did whatever I said.”
♞ ♞
Hmm, they don’t look convinced ... I know!!
Eadie scans Starrise Spire for a Lion Shaman or Hunter with a stripey AC.
“Siiir Wiiillk ... Where’s the cat? Where’s the cat, boy?”
|
|
A bald dwarf with a well groomed white beard silently takes a seat shaking his head slightly at the interaction of the others. Though unarmored, he's got a warhammer on one hip and a battle-axe on the other. He pulls a flask out of one of his belt pouches, takes a quick drink, and puts it back in its place.
|
|
Nerosyan is divided into several districts, though the local crusaders often group smaller districts together. The four amalgamated districts include the Egelsee District to the southeast, Confluence District to the southwest, Woundward District to the northwest, and Battle District to the northeast.
Considered the heart of Nerosyan, the Cruciform Cathedral is the center of Iomedaean worship in the city. Acting as a tactical command center, the cathedral allows crusaders to quickly move about the city via the interior walls that section off the city.
There are several towers of note in Nerosyan:
Battle Tower The northernmost point of the city is the most likely to weather an assault by land. Earthen revetments surround three layers of nested towers, making the tower the most heavily fortified site in Mendev.
Confluence Tower Confluence Tower is geared towards defending Nerosyan from attacks across the two rivers that meet at its base. The tower has held its own through several riparian attacks from Dread Barges and other Abyssal craft that periodically swarm up from the Sarkora River. At its base is the Crusader’s Quay, a set of military wharves that offer shelter for the small crusader navy in ingenious covered slips.
Egelsee Tower Located at the eastern point of the Nerosyan diamond, Egelsee tower serves a second purpose as a rapid-response staging area for Nerosyan’s cavalry, which can ride out at a moment’s notice through special large-scale sally ports built into its outer walls.
Woundward Tower Almost completely surrounded by the West Sellen river, the Woundward Tower defends the city against aerial assaults. The tower bristles with spyglasses that scan the skies, as well as the most advanced siege engines and the best archers in Nerosyan. The city’s wardstone is housed in this tower, as close to the border as possible.
The Worldwound is an unnatural blight on the world. Believed to be a rift into the Abyss, this gateway from Golarion opened shortly after the death of Aroden.
The nation of Mendev came to prominence during the First Mendevian Crusade in 4622 AR. This crusade was built up from the weakened church of Aroden and followers of the goddess Iomedae. Since that time, Mendev has engaged in four crusades against the demonic threat.
A series of specialized artifacts keeps the demons of the Worldwound at bay. Known as wardstones, these artifacts are layered in runes that ward away demons. Powered by regular acts of faith, wardstones dot the border between Mendev and the Worldwound, keeping the demons from crossing in great numbers.
Wardstones prevent any form of teleportation magic, demonic or otherwise, from working across their borders. Despite this incredible ability, the wardstones don’t hinder such magic from working within the confined areas.
The Pathfinder Society maintains a strong working relationship with the crusaders of Mendev. An extensive treaty exists between the nation and the Society, giving the Society the right to operate in the region, but requiring Pathfinders to defend Mendevian cities and participate in crusades.
Pathfinder activities in Nerosyan operate out of the Starrise Spire, which is led by Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury. Jorsal is a pious man and a skilled combatant; he’s believed to have made no fewer than 50 missions into the Worldwound in search of artifacts for the Society.
While Jorsal officially oversees Pathfinder Society operations in the area, there is a second venture-captain in Nerosyan who’s in charge or a second lodge—a nononsense dwarf by the name of Thurl. Covered in tattoos and piercings, Thurl operates undercover as the leader of a mercenary company, and he handles far fewer noble missions for the Society than does his colleague.
There have been rumors among Pathfinders that Venture-Captain Thurl has not been entirely honest in his dealings with the Decemvirate. A group of Pathfinders who recently finished a mission in Numeria were then sent to review the work of the dwarf and his agents, but those Pathfinders have not been heard from in months
The Worldwound is infested with demons. Evil and destructive creatures, demons are native to the Abyss, though they can be summoned by means of magic. Many of the demons within the Worldwound emerged from the rift at the center of the region.
The demonic hosts are kept somewhat in line by powerful overlords known as demon lords. The exact number of demon lords is unknown, but many such creatures are revered on Golarion. Each demon lord has a portfolio, similar to that of a deity; however, most demon lords lack many of the powers a true god possesses.
|
|
"Ah yes.... The Worldwound. Infested with demons, lousy pests. Evil and destructive as they are, and native to the abyss. Able to be summoned and bound by magic usually. In the Worldwound, they came from the center of the region in the rift..." Emberwik muses.
Emberwik flicks a piece of flame from his fingers, while mulling over this information. "The demonic hosts are kept somewhat in line by powerful overlords known as demon lords. The exact number of demon lords is unknown, but many such creatures are revered on Golarion. Each demon lord has a portfolio, similar to that of a deity; however, most demon lords lack many of the powers a true god possesses."
|
|
Zarta and Ambrus, really! His eyes fixed on Eadie. You almost think you see a slight smile turn up the scowl on Unnvar's face at the idea. He then sits very quietly as Emberwik and Torrag begin there discourse on all things Nerosyan, Mendev, and Worldwound related. Nodding occasionally if he also recalls a point being discussed. As Torrag finishes, Unnvar tests the point on his heavy pick, a tiny drop of blood trickles down onto his tattooed arm.
We should get ready for a wedding then. He says dryly.
|
|
Emberwik balances himself on his staff while pondering Torrag's informative tour.
Considered the heart of Nerosyan, the Cruciform Cathedral is the center of Iomedaean worship in the city. Acting as a tactical command center, the cathedral allows crusaders to quickly move about the city via the interior walls that section off the city.
"Ahhhh, this city is of Iomedaean worship is it? Most amusing. Crusaders certainly love their holy orders, do they not? More power to them for it, perhaps they can find their meaning that way."
There are several towers of note in Nerosyan
"Earthen based assaults are guarded against in the Battle Tower, the Confluence Tower hosts the naval forces, Egelsee Tower is for the Calvary with a fast response, and lastly the Woundward tower takes to the skies? Such interesting tactical choices."
Emberwik ponders this for a moment. "So aerial threats are a concern to some. Who else has the gift of flight?"
|
|
“Have you taught him the exclusive trick, Rudzik?”
Rudzik shakes his head. "No, but he doesn't actually understand the words you're saying. I use hand signs in case we need to move without alerting someone - try pointing at the floor if you want him to sit."
"So aerial threats are a concern to some. Who else has the gift of flight?"
The ranger pulls a handful of arrows out of his quiver. "These do," he says dryly to Emberwik before stowing them again and turning to Torrag. "You reckon we're here for a crusade then?"
|
|
"Ahhhh, this city is of Iomedaean worship is it? Most amusing. Crusaders certainly love their holy orders, do they not? More power to them for it, perhaps they can find their meaning that way."
I find meaning in this. Unnvar holds the heavy pick aloft.
Emberwik ponders this for a moment. "So aerial threats are a concern to some. Who else has the gift of flight?"
Unnvar juggles a little vial, This can help with that problem too. He nods a Rudzik and his arrows. He replaces the vial and gives a smirk.
|
|
Rudzik sighs as Meiosa and Eadie play with Wilk. "It's your fault now when he won't leave you alone," he says exasperatedly, but the crinkle in his eyes betrays his enjoyment of the situation
"Honestly, it's a pleasant change of pace. My relationship with animals can be dicey on a good day." She smiles warmly. "Well, except with the dog that I made for my Little Grape."
Torrag ponders over the information he has learned in his studies and slowly begins to share his knowledge with the rest of the party.
Meiosa listens intently, nodding along. Especially at the description of demons. "I'll confess, my knowledge on planar affairs is alarmingly pedestrian. I'll have to stick close to you in case of a demon attack. After all, I've been looking to expand my collection and I'd prefer to have someone help me sort the useless meat from the usable organs."
Emberwik ponders this for a moment. "So aerial threats are a concern to some. Who else has the gift of flight?"
"I do. Flight, like many other things, is a gift that I seized for myself." To emphasize, she flexes her shoulders a bit and the back of her cloak flutters. A keen eye might spot the tips of beetle-like chitin just underneath her clothing as it shifts.
|
|
Zarta and Ambrus, really!
“Zambrus? O yes, Mighty Khan. It is known.” *bows*
"So aerial threats are a concern to some. Who else has the gift of flight?"
“Well, I possess the gift of Fight in no small amount … Did you smoke it, Mr Emberwik? Fight rhymes with flight, get it? <giggle> I crack me up!”
Once Eadie has quite finished ... “I have a simple potion of fly. I was going to requisition another with Faction favors.”
She nods her understanding after Torrag and Emberwik detail the city’s static fighting positions. "Got it. Thanks!"
“Try pointing at the floor if you want him to sit.”
“Ohhhhhhh … so that’s the secret! Let me try another trick!”
Eadie removes her spiked gauntlet and points Alkenstar ‘pistol-fingers’ at the wolf.
“Sir Wilk, Play dead!”
|
|
"A marriage?! That's nonsense!" Spouts of voice from among the crowd. Emerging shortly after, a well built man in his late fifties, donning a shiny suit of armour appears. "I am Sir Osbert Deloray, holy warrior of her lady Iomedae, I'll tell you what this is, I'm sure of it, we're going to have a full on assault against the worldwound, that's what it is.. It's about time the Pathfinders took a stance against those despicable creatures! In fact, I've an idea or two of what approach we should take." He continues talking of tactics (to those willing to listen of course.), to a point he beings to retrieve maps of the worldwound to illustrate the complexity of his assaults.
|
|
Emberwik just listens to the man drone on about his insane scheme, and readily points out flaws he sees. "You do understand that from this approach, demonic flying forces will have a clear advantage against our flank?"
...
"I have heard of traps that they bury in the swamps, which makes that strategy a fine way to be absolutely slaughtered. Ofcourse, if that is your intent and purpose, I will not stop you from finding Iomedae's grace sooner than you should."
...
"If you really believe the demons would leave this cliff-face open to a small assault team, then by all means press down that path. Just be prepared when they push boulders off to die instantly so that way you won't have to live for what happens afterwards."
|
|
"I never asked for his tactical acumen, nor his company. He decided to give both uninvited." Emberwik snickers. "But if you wish to take my place in this conversation with him..." Emberwik steps aside so Rudzik is now speaking to Sir Obsert. "Then you may!" His chuckle sounds a lot like a crackling flame.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Meiosa pivots towards Sir Deloray, her eyes widening a bit. The doctor head someone coming, but she couldn't have guessed it would be a paladin until he emerged from the crowd.
"O-oh, Sir Deloroy. I can..." she trails off, glancing at her writhing tentacle. However, her worried expression fades as the man begins to discuss tactics.
Meiosa grins and nudges Torrag. "Either the venture captain had the wisdom to warn them about me beforehand, ir the man is so excited about killing demons that he hasn't noticed yet. Care to place a bet?"
“Pathfinders, please get settled. I’d like to start in a few minutes.”
|
|
“He's a bit dramatic when he knows he can get away with it"
“That’s OK, Rudzik. I am too.”
“I am Sir Osbert Deloray, holy warrior of her lady Iomedae, I'll tell you what this is ...”
Eadie pushes closer and clears her throat.
“Can atheists get insurance for an Act of Iomedae?”
“If I had amnesia, and you healed me, would I remember that I forgot?”
“If a cow laughs, does milk come out her nose?”
|
|
The man doesn't waver at the conversation and continues in full confidence at his plan, "Yes.. Yes.. All good points, but you see, this is only a distraction. The real aim is to unleash the Pathfinder Society's secret army of paladin riding pegasi! With the wrath of Iomadae behind us, there is nothing we can't do!" He exclaims loudly before the Venture captain hustles the group to settle down.
At Eadie's questions, his facial expression turns one to confusion..
"Insurance? Amnesia? What?! You clearly misunderstand what it means to be a knight of the Inheritor. We put our lives on the line against the evil horde that comes from the worldwound, speaking of which, have any of you seen the darkness, the blight, the destruction that lies there?"
|
|
Meiosa grins and nudges Torrag. "Either the venture captain had the wisdom to warn them about me beforehand, ir the man is so excited about killing demons that he hasn't noticed yet. Care to place a bet?"
Torrag shakes his head, "I've seen this before. These crusaders have one thing on their mind, and that's the Worldwound. Besides,"Torrag looks around at the other Pathfinders milling about the area, "I doubt you're the most noticeable Pathfinder the Society sent . . . Wait, did he just say 'Paladin riding pegasi?'"
|
|
"I doubt you're the most noticeable Pathfinder the Society sent . . . Wait, did he just say 'Paladin riding pegasi?'"
"He did indeed," Rudzik observes dryly. "Whether that is the paladins or the pegasi doing the riding has yet to be determined." A shadow of a smile cracks the corner of his mouth. "We were waiting to tell you until we had figured that out," he tells Emberwik with a straight face.
|
|
“Paladin riding pegasi!”
“Wait, you’re talking about …
Eadie starts bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, unleashing another barrage of questions.
“What are their names?”
“Can I adopt one?”
“Do they poop or are they magic? Do you have to clean it up?”
“Can I join your Saddle Club? I almost didn’t fail my paladin exam.”
“Welcome one and all, to the city of Nerosyan. I am Jorsal, Venture-Captain of Starrise Spire. I know you all have questions about why you’ve been sent here, and I intend to spend the evening answering those questions".
“I shall start by telling you why the Society has sent so many skilled agents to Mendev. Intrepid agents recently uncovered information that points to a startling find in the old nation of Sarkoris, now known as the Worldwound. These agents have discovered that a dwarven Sky Citadel, one of the rarest sites on the planet, rests within the Worldwound. It is known to us as Jormurdun.
“It is the will of the Decemvirate that we should come together and find the exact site of thi—”
The speech is interrupted by a distant explosion and the sounding of war horns!
|
|
At first, the room quiets uneasily, unsure what to make of the blasting of the war horns, but Jorsal immediately gathers everyone into groups of six, and eventually addresses the everybody present.
"My friends, it appears the city is under attack by a force of demons from the Worldwound! How such a thing is possible, I do not yet know, but I do know that this attack cannot stand. Our treaty with the crusaders of Mendev binds us to join the battle.""Give me some time to rally our agents as best I can, and in the meantime I trust you to pick where your skills can best be put to use. Go forth into Nerosyan or hasten to the skirmishes outside its walls, and aid where you can. I shall summon you again when I know how to best combat this enemy.”
He turns back before walking off, adding, “Keep an eye out for Venture-Captain Thurl. If he is not already helping, ensure that he’s not pinned down.”
At this point, Jorsal leaves each group a map outlining the general districts of the city. Judging from the conjured map, you must now make a decision in which part of the city you wish to defend: Battle District, Confluence District, Egelsee District, Woundward District, or the Outer District without much information to go on.
_______________________________
|
|
The vial is more of a flask. Unnvar pops it open. This small opaque flask releases a thick stream of coarse white fur. This fur creeps up the Unnvar's arm and across her entire body until he is completely covered in a tangled pelt!
While coated with this fur she gains cold resistance 5, a +2 natural armor bonus to AC, and a +4 competence bonus on Stealth checks in areas of ice and snow. This fur sheds from her body after 24 hours, or can be removed early by soaking it in alcohol. The flask is expended after one use.
You also think you see his face contort and sprout whiskers like a mouse. Just before he dons the Mask of the Red Mantis Assassins.
His voice seems to deepen and is muffled. Ktchhhh...Fwhooo he breathes,Confluence District seems easiest to breach to me or perhaps take the fight to them outside the walls. Ktchhhh...Fwhooo. He nods to Rudzik.
|
|
“I quite like the idea of taking the fight to the demons in the Outer District. But I am more than happy to go elsewhere.”
The warrior lowers her great helm over her mousey hair, tips a pot of alchemical grease over her armor, drinks antitoxin and draws her cold iron blade. “I suspect our skills will eventually be required all over the city anyway.”
|
|
The ruckus gets the doctor's attention easily enough, with one hand disappearing into her clothing to fish around for something as Jorsal gives instructions. She produces a vial of what looks like eyeballs with wriggling nerve endings before she downs its contents.
"Demons? Here? I thought they had protective wards. Ah well, good news for me..."
The doctor grasps her cloak and tosses it to the side, uncovering her form completely. Her muscular form is covered in a lattice of surgical scars and has four arms, the second set smaller and with only three fingers. Behind her, a chitinous shell covers what appear to be insectoid wings that eagerly flutter in the open air. A long, black scorpion tail unwraps itself from her waist, ending in a sharp looking stinger. As her imbibed concoction takes effect, slits open up all over body, parting to reveal eyeballs of various colors looking about in all directions.
"Looks like the spare parts are coming to us! If the demons are coming, let's meet them head on. Limit the damage they can do in the first push."
|
|
"They weren't kidding when they called it the Diamond City," Rudzik mutters as he studies the map. "Emberwik, Eadie, want to find those pegasi in the Woundward District? Or shall we patrol the walls and the Outer District?"
"It appears the outer district is the most ideal strategy point. Hopefully we can deal some damage against these fiends before our allies have their turn." Emberwik grins, his charcoal colored teeth now flaring with cracks of flame that lick against the surface. His large shadow-like cloak now flickers and reveals a bare-chested man underneath, but continuously swirls around his form.