M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
"Be my guest," says Agnar, spreading his arms wide.
He smirks. "Ah, yes. The gaze of the paladin. I've done this a few times. A week. For five years. Iomedans, Torag followers, Sarenites, the occasional Iroran or Shelynite. Once even a paladin of Magdh."
Audria finds no evil aura on Agnar.
He puts his arms down. "Satisfied?"
He turns to Shane. "Demons or cultists would try to infiltrate with shape-changing magic or disguises. Or Crusaders could be corrupted, possessed, or simply turned evil. So it was often a necessary precaution - almost every time we met another group of Crusaders, or even just returning from scouting - and I take no offense. Clever of you to ask."
In response to Shane's comment, he taps the sword. "That's Hellbreaker. Technically it should be Abyssbreaker, but that doesn't quite roll off the tongue. And, to be honest, I'd be just as happy to slay devils. So now you have my name and that of my sword. May I ask yours, sir?"
M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
Yep, he's only 25, but he looks older. He's had a rough five years.
Agnar grasps Audria's hand. "Agnar Bromathan, of Korvosa. I am a warrior. In the service of Gorum. I most recently led the Iron Hope band against the demons of the Worldwound.
Audria, when you said 'bug infestation' my mind went to the vermin of Deskari. Swarms are... not my strength. Red Mantis Assassins, on the other hand, well, at least those are foes I can fight with a sword. I am glad to hear that Master Orsini took down one of them. Good for him."
He turns to the bird-faced figure. "And your team took down two more, it seems? Outstanding." There's a certain glee there; he seems not just impressed at your accomplishment, but happy that a few more Red Mantis are dead. "How should I address you? Certainly we should get Amin to safety, and then find this Salvatore Scream. But as your friend Audria said, introductions are in order."
M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
GM Harrow wrote:
"Sir Agnar? You... you are back in Korvosa then? And my father, are- is he- is he well? They must be worried sick, when the quarantine hit I couldn't leave and could not contact them." He nods towards the burned-out ruins of the Orsini Academy. "My teacher was gracious enough to host me, but now he's in danger and I can't just... leave."
"Your father is well enough."Unlike mine, Agnar thinks bitterly. "And yes, he is worried. I can get you out of here and back home."
GM Harrow wrote:
He makes a furtive gesture towards the house. "There's some people snooping around Master Orsini's house- oh, here comes one of them now!" He reaches for a practice rapier held up by some string he tied up around his waist.
"Leave that toy in its place, boy," snaps Agnar.
He softens his tone.
"You are snooping around Master Orsini's house. As am I. They could be suspicious of us. Let's see what they have to say."
---
Agnar takes a look at the young woman as she approaches. It's probably not a hard conclusion to make that she is a Shelynite. Or is trying to appear as one, a voice of caution reminds him. There were demonic cultist infiltrators in the Worldwound, for certain. Some that he sniffed out and interrogated, some that he let escape after feeding them misinformation, and no doubt a few that fooled him.
As she continues to approach with a weapon in hand, he draws his sword. However, he rests it point-down on the ground, one hand on its hilt and one hand holding his helmet. Like so. So not threatening, but with it in hand if hostilities break out. "That's far enough. Unless we both drop our weapons."
Agnar looks to be perhaps in his late 30's. Large but rather plain-looking, and "weathered" is probably the right word to describe him. His armor is simple but well-made fullplate; his sword is something extraordinary. It looks perfect, unmarred, unscratched, and exceptionally sharp. He speaks calmly and quietly to the apparent Shelynite, laying out the facts very directly. He seems wary but not hostile.
"I am Agnar Bromathan. Amin here was a student of Vencarlo Orsini. Now he finds the academy burned down. And you and your four friends poking around the house. I approach you openly that we might talk, but I can't fault the boy for being suspicious. Nor, I think, can you. So might you tell me why you are in Vencarlo Orsini's house? If you are merely looters, I am not the law, and it is no concern of mine. But if you know anything of Orisini's fate or whereabouts, I would appreciate it if you would share that news with Amin."
M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
Agnar continues talking to the young man hiding in the shadows across the street. He takes a few steps in that direction, slowly, and lowers his voice a bit. He doesn't want Amin to get scared and bolt. So he makes no sudden moves.
"Amin, your father sent me. He is rightfully worried. This place is dangerous.
I do not question your bravery, but you need not do this alone.
Come on out and and let's talk.
And we can approach those strangers in the house together."
He keeps an eye on the house with the strangers. He doesn't think they are the arsonists, but best to not entirely turn his back on them.
M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
GM:
Agnar considers the situation.
I probably should sneak up on him, clamp my hand over this mouth, and drag him back to his father.
But the boy has showed courage and cunning in getting this far. He's come to take fencing lessons, and found his master's academy burned down. And instead of fleeing, he's sticking around, probably looking for answers.
So if I take him back, he'll just sneak back here again and get himself killed.
We'll get him those answers.
And these strangers in the house? Probably not the arsonists. But their reaction will tell me, and I can deal with them accordingly.
He leaves his hiding spot and walks out into the middle of the street, removing his helmet.
A voice comes from the street outside.
"Amin Jalento. I am Agnar Bromathan. I can see you. I have been sent to find you, but I will help you find answers."
The voice comes from a large armored man, with a greatsword on his back and his helm in his hand. He's not directing these words at the house that the party is in, but rather at a building across the street.
M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
GM:
Agnar has been milling about the party aimlessly. This whole "soirée" idea... he tolerated such events with good humor when he was a youth of 18 or 19, but now it all seems so frivolous. The meaningless small talk and gossip. (In truth, he knows that such small talk does have meaning in building trust and social bonds, but his siblings are so much better at that than he is.) The clothes; he feels naked without his armor, as it has almost become a part of him over the past five years. And he feels the absence of the great sword Hellbreaker. There's a comforting weight to it, whether strapped to his back or in his hands. He misses it.
At least the cheese is still good. That's something from home that he missed in Mendev. He is laying a small piece on a bit of bread when Lord Jalento approaches to talk.
Agnar has been trying to act as "aristocratic scion supporting his elder brother" but as the conversation proceeds there is a change in his manner, and he is once again "veteran of the Worldwound." His posture, his demeanor, and the air around him all seem to feel more dangerous.
"I will find your son, Lord Jalento. I need no payment. I ask only that you look out for my family here. And if you tell me the names of these worthless scum who took your gold and failed to deliver results, I will hunt them down too. Get back whatever money they haven't already drunk up."
There's a bit of professional pride at work here - Gorum is certainly a god of mercenaries, but to take the money and not do the job? Shameful.
After the soirée, he tells his siblings, "I have work to do. May be a few days, or a week, or more. Stay safe. If you have to leave town, you don't need to tell me or wait for me; I can prepare a Sending if I can't find you."
They help him into his armor, and he takes up his sword. Agnar heads down to the Narrows. The Gray Maidens seem intent on keeping people in Old Korvosa from leaving, but not people from elsewhere entering?
Very well.
With an insolent smirk (sadly, they cannot see this through his helmet), he casts Air Walk and walks over to the island, just above the surface of the water. He actually feels more alive than he has since leaving Mendev.
Once on the island, he takes to the shadows, moving stealthily towards the location of the Orisini Academy. He keeps alert for danger, and stops to checks tracks on the ground when he gets close, to see who has been approaching the Academy. And then he sees that the building has been burned to the ground. There are some other buildings nearby. He finds a hiding spot and observes for a bit, to see who is coming and going.
Basically, relying on his very good Stealth, Perception, and Survival in this little excursion. As an experienced commando, he'd try to get the lay of the land before barging in.
M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
GM Harrow wrote:
If I may make a hook suggestion - Agnar's parents were among the victims of Jolistina's killing spree at Carowyn Manor, rather than dying of blood veil.
First, most noble were not affected by blood veil as they could quarantine themselves safely and comfortably (barring stupid stunts like the Carowyns' party). Secondly, it would create a more personal stake for Agnar in opposing the person who ultimately ordered that massacre.
Sounds good. I'm assuming that word got out through Ausio Carowyn of what happened, although perhaps a couple of days after the party had left the scene. And "what happened" in this case is just what Ausio Carowyn would know, filtered through the rumor mill, and certainly not the "why".
Such a killing makes it a different situation than his parents dying of the Blood Veil. He'd have to wonder - were they targeted? If so, why? Were the remaining family members still in danger?
So a slight revision, with some potential hooks. His older brother Sebastian (27), the heir apparent, is still alive, as is younger sister Jessifar (22). Neither are great heroes, but they are mid-level Aristocrats, with the full range of social skills on their list including Disguise and Bluff. They are both clever and conniving, generally the opposite of Agnar. In response to the murder, they made some inquiries and were quickly warned to not press the matter. In public they speak of their trust in the Queen and of the regular course of justice. Privately, they want answers, but are wary of becoming loose ends in need of cleaning up. Perhaps they are investigating covertly, or perhaps preparing to leave the city.
Agnar returned a few days ago, and learned of the murders. He realized that, should he himself investigate the murders, he would place his family at risk from whoever was behind the crime. So, at the funeral, he acted distant. He didn't swear any Gorumite oath of blood vengeance. His siblings, between very convincing sobs, told their cousins that Agnar's time in the Worldwound had changed him so much. While one could believe that comfortable nobles could be cowed into dropping the matter of their parents' deaths, one would need a different explanation for the Gorumite soldier. That explanation being that he just didn't care.
Simmering with barely-suppressed rage, Agnar then went to Field Marshal Kroft to see if there was work he might do. Preferably work that involved hitting something.
He's got family in town; he's got a tie to the massacre, but also a reason to not pursue it for now (so he can instead do the party's next mission); and he's got a conversation topic with the party when they hear his last name.
M Human Cleric 9 | HP 66/66 | AC 22 (T 12, FF 20, CMD 23) | F +9 R +6 W +11 | Mv 30' | Init +2 | Per +13 Spells 4/6/6/5/4/2 | Channel 5d6 3/3 | Challenge 7/7 | Weapon Master 9/9 | Rage 9/9 | Active: None
Profile made and dotted into Gameplay.
I did swap out a bit of offense for more skills - dropped Vital Strike to pick up Cunning, which allowed me to max out Sense Motive. I figure that Agnar probably did a fair number of interrogations in the Worldwound, and while Intimidate can get you part of the way there, you'll need Sense Motive to back it up. Sense Motive is also a good skill to have in general and should be useful to the party.
