Akiros Ismort's page

TOTAL/MAX Ranks 33/7 (5x 4 Samurai+ 4 x 3 Oracle, +1 human bonus)

Appraise: +0= 0 ranks +0(int)+0(class)
Bluff +2= 0 ranks +2 (chr) CS
Craft: +0= 0 ranks + CS O
Climb: 1= 0 ranks +5(str) +0 (class) -4(acp) CS
Diplomacy: +8= 3 ranks +2(chr)+3 (class) CS S/O
Handle Animal: +5= 1 ranks +2(chr)+3 (class) CS
Heal: +1= 0 ranks +1(wis) CS O
Intimidate: +9= 3 ranks +2(chr)+3(class)+1(feat) CS S/O
K Engineering: +4= 1 ranks +0(int) +3 (class) CS O
K Local: +4= 1 ranks +0(int) +3 (class) CS
K History: +4= 1 ranks +0(int) +3 (class) CS O
K Planes: +4= 1 ranks +0(int) +3 (class) CS O
K Religion: +4= 1 ranks +0(int) +3 (class) CS O
Perception: +6= 3 ranks +0(int) +3 (class) CS O
Profession (General/Officer): +4= 1 ranks +0(int)+3 (class) CS O
Ride: 6= 6 ranks +1(dex) +3 (class)-4 (acp) (+10 on Kydal) CS S/O
Sense Motive: +10= 6 rank +1(wis) +3(class) CS S/O
Spellcraft: +4= 1 rank +0(int) +3(class) CS S/O
Survival: +7= 3 ranks +1(wis)+3(class) CS
Swim: +5= 1 ranks +5(str)+3 (class)-4(acp) CS

N Large Advanced Animal
Heavy Horse (combat trained)
Init +4; Senses: Low-light vision, Scent; Perception +9, Track[trick]

DEFENCE
AC 23, touch 14, flat-footed 19 (+4 Dex, –1 size, +6 natural, +4 Mstwk Chainmail Barding)
hp 46 (4d8+20)
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +4
CMD 23 (27 vs. trip)
*Mobility (+4AC vs AoO's)*

OFFENCE
Speed 50 ft.
Base Atk +3; CMB +9;
Melee bite +6 (1d4+5), 2 hooves +4 (1d6+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

STATISTICS
Str 21, Dex 19, Con 21, Int 3, Wis 17, Cha 11

Feats: Endurance, Run, Multi-attack, Mobilty
Skills: Acrobatics +3, Climb +4, Escape Artist +3, Fly +1, Perception +9, Stealth -1, Swim +8

SPECIAL:
Combat Riding[Trick], Endurance, Run, Scent, Evasion, Link

Combat Training (DC 20): An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks
• Attack (DC 20): The animal attacks apparent enemies. You may point to a particular creature that you wish the animal to attack, and it will comply if able.
• Come (DC 15): The animal comes to you, even if it normally would not do so.
• Defend (DC 20): The animal defends you (or is ready to defend you if no threat is present), even without any command being given. Alternatively, you can command
the animal to defend another specific character.
• Down (DC 15): The animal breaks off from combat or otherwise backs down.
• Guard (DC 20): The animal stays in place and prevents others from approaching.
• Heel (DC 15): The animal follows you closely, even to
places where it normally wouldn't go.

Bonus tricks: 2
Attack 2(DC 20) Normally, an animal will attack only humanoids, monstrous humanoids, giants, or other animals. Teaching an animal to attack all creatures (including such unnatural creatures as undead and aberrations) counts as two tricks.
Track (DC 20) The animal tracks the scent presented to it. (This requires the animal to have the scent ability)
Combat Gear Masterwork Chain Shirt

+4 Ride while riding your bonded mount. (Ex) Cancel your armor check penalty of -4 while riding your mount.
Animal Companion Link (Ex) You have a link with your Animal Companion.
Mounted Archer (Ex) At 4th level, the samurai becomes skilled at firing ranged weapons while mounted. A samurai only takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls with ranged weapons while his mount takes a double move. This penalty increases to –4 while his mount is running.
Power Attack -2/+4 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Resolve (3/day) (Ex) Starting at 1st level, the samurai gains resolve that he can call upon to endure even the most devastating wounds and afflictions. He can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every two samurai levels beyond 1st. Whenever the samurai defeats the target of his challenge, he regains one daily use of his resolve, up to his maximum number of uses per day. Defeating the target of his challenge usually involves reducing the target to 0 hit points or fewer, but the GM might rule that an enemy who surrenders or flees the battle is also defeated. He can use this resolve in a number of ways.

Determined: As a standard action, the samurai can spend one use of his resolve to remove the fatigued, shaken, or sickened condition. If the samurai is at least 8th level, he can alternatively remove the exhausted, frightened, nauseated, or staggered condition. If the condition has a duration longer than 1 hour or is permanent, this ability removes the condition for 1 hour, at which time the condition returns.
Resolute: Whenever the samurai is required to make a Fortitude or Will save, he can spend one use of his resolve as an immediate action to roll twice and take the better result. He must decide to use this ability before he rolls the saving throw.
Unstoppable: When the samurai is reduced to fewer than 0 hit points but not slain, he can spend one use of his resolve as an immediate action to instantly stabilize and remain conscious. He is staggered, but he does not fall unconscious and begin dying if he takes a standard action. He does fall unconscious if he takes additional damage from any source.

Ronin's Challenge +5/+2 (2/day) (Ex) +5 to damage target, -2 AC vs. others when used, +2 attack/dodge AC vs challenger when returning a challenge
Self Reliant (Ex) At 2nd level, the ronin learns to rely solely on himself, even in the most difficult of times. Whenever the ronin fails a Will saving throw against an effect with a duration greater than 1 round, he can attempt another saving throw at the end of the second round of the effect. If he makes this saving throw, it has the same effect as if he had made the original save (negating part or all of the effect). In addition, whenever a ronin is brought below 0 hit points, on his next turn he can roll twice to stabilize, taking the better result.
Weapon Expertise: Sword, Bastard (Ex) You can quick draw the chosen weapon, and gain +2 to confirm critical hits

Mystery-Battle(Iomedae): An oracle with the battle mystery adds Intimidate, Knowledge (engineering), Perception, and Ride to her list of class skills.
Battlecry (Ex): As a standard action, you can unleash an inspiring battlecry. All allies within 100 feet who hear your cry gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls, skill checks, and saving throws for a number of rounds equal to your Charisma modifier. At 10th level, this bonus increases to +2. You can use this ability once per day, plus one additional time per day at 5th level and for every five levels thereafter.
Revelation-War Sight (Su): Whenever you roll for initiative, you can roll twice and take either result. At 7th level, you can always act in the surprise round, but if you fail to notice the ambush, you act last, regardless of your initiative result (you act in the normal order in following rounds). At 11th level, you can roll for initiative three times and take any one of the results.
Surprising Charge(Ex): Once per day, you can move up to your speed as an immediate action. You can use this ability one additional time per day at 7th level and 15th level.
Oracle's Curse-Clouded Vision: Your eyes are obscured, making it difficult for you to see. Effect- You cannot see anything beyond 30 feet, but you can see as if you had darkvision.
At 5th level, this distance increases to 60 feet.
At 10th level, you gain blindsense out to a range of 30 feet.
At 15th level, you gain blindsight out to a range of 15 feet.

(From Helm): This conical iron jingasa, or war hat, grants the wearer a +1 luck bonus to AC. Once per day when struck by a critical hit or sneak attack, the wearer can spend an immediate action to negate the critical hit or sneak attack (similar to the fortification armor special ability, but without requiring a roll). The damage is instead rolled normally.

(From Scabbard): This scabbard can shrink or enlarge to accommodate any knife, dagger, sword, or similar weapon up to and including a greatsword. Up to three times per day on command, the scabbard casts keen edge on any blade placed within it

(Omen, Faith Feat): You are the harbinger of some future event. Whether this event bodes good or ill, you exude an ominous presence. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Intimidate checks, and Intimidate is always a class skill for you. Once per day, you may attempt to demoralize an opponent as a swift action.

Akiros

Akiros is a large fellow, standing some 6 feet tall and weighing in about 200lbs or so. He has long, thick, dark black hair and piercing black eyes. He is a man of some presence, his every word burning with intensity and purpose. He is honor-bound almost to a fault. Nothing is more important to him than his word, and there is no price he will not pay to keep it.

He is an incredibly intense and driven man, yet his intensity is as a deep river, for almost never does his passion ripple his calm surface. A single, soft word from him can terrify his soldiers far more than the most volatile raging of even the biggest and meanest of the sergeants. Akiros is an enigma to most, for he allows very little of himself to escape through his rigidly controlled demeanour. Yet somehow he instills trust in those around him. Perhaps it is because he is fair, always seeing to the true balance and equity of any situation. Perhaps it is because few, if any, can best him with a blade. Or perhaps it is because his men know he will give everything of himself to lead them to victory. Whatever the cause, his men would follow him anywhere.

While no one would ever accuse Akiros of being overly friendly, he gets along with well enough with most. However, he cannot stand the steward of the realm, Berrin. He keeps it to himself, mostly, but they had started off on an ill foot and the terrible first impression, and second and third, Berrin had made to him had simply failed to ever fade.

There seems to be some sort of odd connection between Akiros and Taisper. While neither of the two would call themselves friends, there does seem to be an...understanding of some sort between them. Of all the heroes, Taisper seems to be the most accepting and trusting of Akiros being among them.

Lately Akiros has been approaching Verik more and more. The samurai never seems to run out of questions for the priest about Abadar. He seems particularly interested in the idea of the Vault, and there somewhere being a perfect version of everything. Verik has not yet come anywhere near divining the purpose of these questions and Akiros seems to have no intention of divulging his motivations. Yet for all that, the priest is always happy to speak about his chosen faith and sometimes the conversations between the two can last for hours.

As for the leader of Sanctuary, never does Akiros treat Jemini with anything less than the utmost respect. Although Akiros had given his oath to the heroes and Sanctuary in general, it seems clear to most that , since her return, the samurai seems to have shifted his oath to her personally. As is almost everyone, Akiros seems drawn to the brave and beautiful paladin. Yet his manners are never less than impeccable with her and for the most discerning it seems his attraction to her goes beyond the physical. It is almost as if the shining Paladin seems to remind him of someone...or perhaps something. As the noble lady is friendly and kind with everyone, it is not eminently clear exactly how she feels about him. As well, it is more than possible that whatever thoughts or feelings she has about Akiros are coloured by the presence of another

As for that other, Nikolai, the returned Stag Lord in the flesh, no one but Akiros himself knows how he feels about the man and his return from the dead. As of yet, the two have not been in extended close proximity to each other. Although he has not obviously done so, many whisper that the general is avoiding his ex-liege lord. Whatever the case may be, the truth of it remains yet to be seen.

As for the rest of the heroes and leaders, Akiros does not seem to have any feelings towards them one way or another. He leaves them to do their jobs and expects them to leave him to do his.

Akiros was once a somewhat renowned paladin in New Stetven, spoken of with great expectations for his potential. The town was shocked when he murdered a merchant and his wife, then fled to the south. It has been five years since that scandal; the city believed him dead or to have fled the area entirely. At one point, soon after meeting the heroes, he tells his story in his own words.

"I am from Mivon to the south. Like all Mivonese citizens, I dueled for status. I was rising swiftly in standing, but I lost everything one day when I fell in love. Despite my better judgment, I engaged in a dishonorable affair with a noblewoman. Her husband found out about us and, when she told him that it had been against her will, he challenged me to a duel for her honor. It was a savage duel, and one without witnesses to legitimize it. We fought for what felt like hours until I was about to land the finishing blow. She leapt in the way in a last second attempt to stay my hand. I was too exhausted to stop the momentum. In a single blow, I killed both of them. I knew what it appeared to be, so I fled."

"Pursued by his brothers and friends, I made it to these lands but was too weak to continue. In a stroke of luck, I found myself at the Stag Lord's fort. He accepted me, gave me respite and food. Mere hours later, my pursuers arrived. They demanded that he hand me over, but the Stag Lord does not respond well to demands. He did battle with them outside the walls. In less than two minutes, four trained swordsmen lay dead, four ranked members of the Aldori Swordpact. Covered in blood, both his own and theirs, he seemed a giant and my savior. I swore my loyalty to him as long as we live, then and there." Akiros looks at them, his gaze steady and true. "I may disagree with much of what he does, but I swore an oath and intend to keep it. I hold out hope that he will one day be the great man he has the potential to be, but I fear his mysterious patron has too much hold over him for that to happen."

However, that is not quite the entirety of the story, for the ex-paladin had left some significant parts of the story out. For one, while the noblewoman, Sarah, her name, engraved forever on his heart, was Sarah, had indeed told her husband that Akiros had taken her against her will, it had been Akiros himself who had quickly and quietly insisted to her that she do so. The reason he had done this was because, moments before they had been found, she had lovingly told him that she was with child, his child. His mind whirling in the adrenaline of the moment, the distraught young man had instantly understood that a bastard child born of infidelity would have began it's life at great disadvantage. But if she had been able to convince her husband she had been taken against her will, then surely she would also have been able to convince him that the child was his own.

Akiros had intended to lose that duel, to allow the man his pride and honour, and then leave New Stetven, never to be seen there again. But Sarah's husband had been so angry. A rage that would accept nothing less than the death of it's target, and Akiros did not intend to die that day. Still, he would not have killed the man had Sarah not intervened. He would have merely battered the man into unconscious submission. Yet the Gods had been particularly cruel that day and as Sarah dove in to save the life that had not been in danger, Akiros, tool of a heartless Fate, had accidentally ended not one, not two, but three lives that day. In truth, four, should one count his own ruined life. When he had fled, it had not just been from his homeland. He had fled from everything. For he knew in the deepest part of his heart that never again would be able to believe in a God, in any God, who could allow such a cruel tragedy to play out among innocents. So now, the samurai believes in nothing but himself, in his own Word and Code. And this is the true secret behind his obsessive need to keep his bond, above all costs. For it is the last thing he has left. To break his word is to break himself; a sundering from which he knows there would be no recovery. So this is his secret.

There is an even deeper one though. A secret so deep Akiros keeps it even from himself. For as much as he blames the Gods for the tragedy which is his life, there is one other he blames even more. Akiros Himself. For in truth was it not he who had allowed the affair which doomed them all? Yet a drowning man clings to whatever will keep him afloat. For Akiros, this meant burying this truth so deep within himself that the thought of it never occurs to him. There are some things which can shatter a man's soul for all eternity. This is one of them.

Now, Akiros is the former lieutenant of the Stag Lord, as the heroes of Sanctuary had killed the man in an honourable battle. The samurai had then pledged his fealty to the heroes of Newhaven for sparing his life. As a reward, the blindness that Tandlara has cursed him with lifted by she who bestowed it. Truly one of the most beautiful and amazing experiences in his life had been opening his eyes and seeing again for the first time. The Beauty, the Colour, the Detail. It had left him speechless and sent a tear sliding down each of his cheeks.

Currently Akiros serves as the general of Sanctuary's army, training their soldiers for the battle which is surely coming. Knowing this, Akiros drills his men mercilessly. Yet no one works harder, trains harder than does he. For hard work wearies the mind, and a tired mind does not think too much, and this was of utmost necessity. For thinking leads to contemplation, and contemplation leads to the uncovering of truth. And some truths must stay buried forever.

He sleeps in short spurts, ensuring that he is not defenseless for long. In one of these short rests, he dreams of her. Not Malgorzata or Tandlara, but rather the first and only woman he ever loved. Sarah. He dreams of her beauty, of her long dark hair and lively eyes. Her wit and humor were contagious, even for his overly serious personality. They had grown close on the trip from Mivon to New Stetven. The purpose of the trip was to foster more trade between Brevoy and Mivon, regardless of the enmity between the two nations after the Mivonese families fled Choral's conquest. The six of them had gone, all members of the Aldori Swordpact and graduates of the same dueling school. Akiros was the best duelist amongst them, and was constantly teased by the others for his piety. Sarah was the wife of his best friend, Matthias, and Akiros had loved her from the first day they met. He hated himself for feeling the way he did, but always kept her at arm's length. Sarah went with them on their trip, and when she confessed to Akiros that she had come because she couldn't be apart from him, not Matthias, his resolve deserted him. Their affair lasted months, while they benefited from Mathias being busy negotiating and making contacts. When they were discovered, though, it all crumbled around him. He dreams of that fateful duel, his best friend spitting curses at him between sword swings while the woman they both loved wept helplessly.
Slice

Chop

Intercept

His sword silently cleaving the air, his teeth clenched to force himself to stay silent, less of an easy task with the pain of his still unhealed wounds, Akiros quietly moves through his routines. His swordpact brethren had always been playfully envious of his skill with the blade, and many theories had been bandied about as to the reason behind his astounding skill. Everything from his mother mating with a Dijini to his selling his soul to some devil to his skill with one sword making up for his lack of skill with his other sword. Akiros had always let all such remarks roll easily off his back, never taking offence (and unintentionally annoying his brethren even more by doing so). He had always kept a a secret laugh to himself though over how simple was the reason behind his skill-he practised. Always. Since the day his hand had first held a sword, he had not missed one single day of practising with some form of blade or weapon. He was as skilled as he was because he had made himself so. How he had looked forward to one day seeing the looks on their faces as he finally shared his secret.

Hack!

Of course that would never happen now. They were all dead. All of them. Every last one. The Aldor Swordpact was no more. And it was all his fault. How big their dreams had all been! How great their confidence! Knowing, knowing, that they would change the world. And how quickly those dreams had turned to ashes. Almost as quickly as the lifeblood had drained out of all of their bodies. First Mathias, on Akiros' own blade. Never would Akiros be free of that image, the look of shock, pain and, most of all betrayal on his friends face, his best friends' face, as he lay dying, spit on the end of Akiros' sword. Oh, and even worse, so much worse, that also she...but no! NO! He was not quite ready for that particular memory just yet. The brethren, yes, his Aldori brothers. Next were their dreams sucked dry by the earth, along with their blood, hacked to bloody pieces by Stag Lord. To defend him, Akiros.

Stab!

The Stag Lord. No, Nikolai now, and 'Master' no more. His oath to the former ruler of these lands was finished. A thing of the past. Now, now Nikolai was simply the man who had murdered five of Akiros' closest friends. They had all been so confident of their skill, and so enraged at Akiros, the 'murderer'. And rightly so, rightly so. But they had stood no chance against the Stag Lord. Five of the best swordsmen Mivon had ever produced and the Stag Lo...no, Nikolai, had cut them down like children, like babes. Like murdering babes.

"Just like the babe you murdered."

"NO!" Akiros screams in his mind, dropping to his knees in agony
"NO! I didn't know...it was an accident! She...oh why did she...oh, Sarah! How is it I yet live while you are gone! How can my heart even continue beating when it's better half by far lies rotting in the earth! And our child...our child. Surely this is my punishment! My torment is that I live! That I live knowing that their blood, all their blood, so much blood! It is All on My hands. Am I truly cursed? Have a been bewitched? Bewitched?? Yes! That is it! It is She! The Witch!"

And just as suddenly as he had fallen to his knees Akiros in on his feet again. One small step taking him over to Tandlara's side. His crazed eyes focused on the object of his tormented fury, Akiros' great blade slowly rises over his head, his two handed grip so tight his knuckles instantly turn white. "Yesssss!" his voice rages in his mind "Yes! It is Her! It is all her fault! This infernal witch had cast her deviltry upon me and made me destroy everything I loved! I must kill her! The curse shall be broken with her spilled blood!"

The blade risen to it's apex, his muscles taught cords of steel, the blade as executioner's axe begins to fall until

"NOOOO!" the last remaining shred of sanity screams just before the point of no return is reached. Although it almost pulls his arms out of their sockets, the sick, heartbroken and temporarily insane general manages to stop his blade before the unthinkable and unforgivable happens. His blade quivering less than an inch from her unprotected neck, as Tandlara's sleeps on, completely unaware of her near brush with death, Akiros takes a long, deep, shuddering sigh. "What is wrong with me! Am I truly mad after all? Is it Malgazorta's influence? Is it this herbs Jhod has given me? Is it this waiting? Or is it my guilt? Likely all the above." he finally concludes. Carefully sheathing and storing his blade, the near broken general staggers the few steps over to his bed and collapses into it.

"No! I cannot sleep!" he wails to his own mind "The dreams...the dreams...I cannot stand the dreams. So beautiful, so horrible. I must. not. sleep." Yet, mere moments after declaring this to himself, sleep he does. The first true sleep in some time. And, despite his protestations to the contrary, or, perhaps because of them, the dreams do come. And oh what horrible dreams. First Sarah, beautiful Sarah, and then the blood. So Much Blood....

Akiros awakens slowly to the sound of his door opening quietly and shutting behind whoever made entry. If he were not exhausted and sickened, his eyes would normally shoot open at the sound. Instead, it takes him a few moments to see the figure slowly making her way across the room. When his eyes focus, his heart stops for a moment in shock.

Sarah.

It was her, in all her beauty and grace. Is she a hallucination? A gift from the gods? Jemini came back, after all. Why not Sarah?

He reaches out for her, too overcome by emotion to think rationally. The memories of their time together play out before his eyes once more, as they do so frequently. He ignores the last memory. It isn't necessary, as she is standing before him.

Her mouth opens to speak as she walks towards him slowly. "Akiros, my love. I have returned to you."
In his exhausted, fevered state, Akiros gladly accepts the vision before him. Perhaps he had been forgiven. Or, even better, perhaps he was dead and was finally able to join his love as he had been so cruelly prevented from doing in life.

Standing, barely, Akiros takes one step towards the vision before him, his arms reaching up and his dry throat barely able to whisper yearningly "Sarah..."
Sarah glides towards Akiros with her typical grace. A memory flashes before his eyes of her walking to join Matthias in a small shrine to Erastil. He was happy for her that day, as much as it hurt to see her marry another. For a moment, their eyes met before she joined his friend's side. His heart ached and leapt at the same time, but he said nothing. Here, today, Sarah looks at him with the same look, evoking the same feeling. "Shhhhhh. I should have followed my heart, my love. I should have married you that day."

She reaches out to touch his outstretched hand. The feel of her skin is at once familiar and foreign. It was a touch he remembers longingly, one that haunts him at night. She wraps her fingers in his, gazing at him lovingly. She holds her other hand behind her back. "I've brought you something. A token of love from our son to his father."
Akiros smiles tenderly and wonderingly at the woman before him, the dream of his heart once again made flesh. As she declares her wish that she had wed him instead, his smile brightens as the sun first peeking over the horizon in the morn.

When she speaks of their son and a gift, his eyes immediately moisten and, swallowing twice to wet his parched throat he manages to say "Our..our son? You have seen him? How does he...is he...does he forgive me?" and now the tears begin to flow in earnest and the big warrior, the tough veteran of countless battles and general of the entire army is moments from weeping openly.
Will Save vs 'glamour': 1d20+4

Still caught in the dream of believing his one true love has come back to him, and not wanting to appear the weakling he at present feels himself to be, the Ronin calls upon his training and great reserves of will to command his body to regain some of it's lost strength. Energy flowing back into him as a result of his indomitable will and taking a deep breath, standing straighter yet with love still in his eyes, Akiros, still holding Sarah's hand, gives it a gentle squeeze as he asks "My love, how is it you are now here with me? And are you here to stay? Or must I now come with you? Wherever it is, if you are to come with me, I shall follow"

Action:
Use Resolve-Determined, removes fatigued condition
27 Gozran 4709

Akiros stares at his beautiful Sarah, the only woman he ever loved. Memories, one after another, flash through his mind as the hope that they could be together again swells in his heart. He holds her hand with tender care, still not wholly believing this to be anything but a dream. She whispers softly and gently to him, "It is all as it must be, my love. Once you do what must be done, we can be together..."

Berrin rushes into the castle, bypassing the guards completely with Taisper following behind him invisibly. His haste leaves the others behind as Jemini starts asking for details about what happened the previous few days. He takes the stairs two at a time after passing through the empty Founder's Hall. He heads to find Akiros, as Corwin's death and Tandlara's illness mean that he and Kesten are the only Founders left in the city. Akiros's quarters are on the second floor - in fact, the same room that had been his when this was still the Stag Lord's wooden fort. Berrin passes his own room, stopping briefly to look for Esmerelda but finding the room cold and empty.

As Berrin (and Taisper, silently and invisibly following) rounds the corner through the torch-lit hallway, he sees a member of the City Guard slumped against the wall. His spear lays on the floor a few feet away, out of the man's reach. Berrin can tell instantly that the soldier is dead; he's seen it enough times to be able to tell with a glance if a wounded man clings to life. The slain guard's hands clutch lifelessly at his throat, barely covering a hole torn through the skin as blood still spills slowly out. His fingers sizzle as something - acid, he'd wager - eats away at them.

Berrin hits the door with all the strength that he can muster, announcing himself with all his usual subtlety. He draws his sword as the splintered door settles and takes a few steps in. Tandlara lays motionless - and breathing - in a small bed in the corner of the room. Akiros sits on the side of his own bed, wearing no armor and apparently injured and feverish. Standing before him and holding his hand is a woman that Berrin's never seen before with flowing black hair. She murmurs something to Akiros, but all Berrin focuses on is the dagger in her hand.

With Sarah before him, Akiros is rushed back in his memory to that ill-fated night years ago when Matthias had burst into his room in a rage. Sarah was there that night as well, caught in his embrace when her husband found them. Akiros rises to his feet, cursing the gods for forcing this memory on him again. Is this a dream or a nightmare, or something far worse? Had the ghosts of his past finally caught up to him? Matthias wears Berrin's face - or is it the shapeshifter? Berrin and the others were off in the wilderness, and his messenger wouldn't have been able to find them yet. Wild, almost frenzied with fear and hope and rage and sorrow, Akiros has his sword in hand in a flash and faces Berrin with it. Sarah gasps and whirls around, stifling a scream. "Please, Akiros, they've come for me! I can't go back without you, your son needs you!"
Taisper has no idea what is going on here. "Akiros?" Having received word of the threat of the shape changer he is not sure he can trust what his eyes see. Stepping forward, he begins to speak to the woman and to Akiros, assuming that one or both of them is not what they seem to be, and uses newly granted magic, magic based on his power with words of castigation and judgment. The holy power of the Master suddenly manifests as a blinding golden beam that renders Taisper visible to all, and causes his aura to swell with power, that he may rend his foes for the glory of the Vault, of the Lawgiver.

"Malgozorta! Demon, I name you! Foul beast and usurper, slinker-in-shadow and enemy of civilization! Wherever you are in this room, undo your foul magics and feel the wrath of Law, of the might of civilization and order! Burn, burn I say to you! I judge you and cast you low before my power!"

Taisper drops the vest from his breastplate, revealing the holy symbol of Abadar emblazoned there, imprinted with symbols of divine power, his shield, likewise. A beacon of order and divine wrath, Taisper focuses his judgment and hate on any foes present. Severely intimidated, the woman Sarah cowers and wretches in pain as her flesh burns under the focus of the blazing light shining off the young inquisitor.

Turning his golden eyes to the feverish Akiros, Taisper confronts the man; "Akiros! Come to your senses, man, this is not a woman, this is a beast! An evil thing come to seduce and destroy you! Get your wits about you! Look how she burns under the might of Abadar while you are unharmed! What other proof could you possibly need?"

Taisper speaks with absolute certainty and clarity. His foe is marked, betrayed by her own burnt flesh. let's see you shape change your way out of this you pig you filth i take a tribute i know your eyes you
Sarah screams in agony as Taisper's words literally scorch her with their fire. She stands behind Akiros and trembles with fear. Her voice wavers as she appeals to Akiros for help. "Please, my love! They're not your friends! They're trying to keep us apart!" Despite her words and even his desire to hear them, Taisper has pulled the scales from his eyes. Akiros looks her over, seeing the face of the woman he loves just as she looks in his memories, but it is not her behind the beautiful eyes that used to gaze into his own.
"Shut your trap you evil hag." Berrin growls as he moves forward into the room, brandishing his sword. "You've caused enough grief with your twisted words and deceiving appearance. Today is you last day on this earth, use you final breaths for something smarter than lies you sow. Your head on a spike will serve as a message to your ill conceived kin who think to dupe us as you have!" He promises to the doppelganger as he closes the distance to her and swings his greatsword in an over-head chop at her.

Swift; Issue Challange; All allies receive a +1 circumstance bonus to hit 'Sarah' while Berrin threatens her.
MA; Move up to Sarah.
SA; Power Attack 1d20+11-2 MISS!!

Berrin's sword crashes into the stone with a loud *CRACK*, sending rivulets of shock up Berrin's arms, as Sarah, watching Berrin approach as seeing his swing coming, easily steps out of the big blades way.
'This is not Her! This is not Sarah!!!'

As the illusionary walls of his delicate fantasy begin to collapse like shattering stained glass windows made of smoke, the gyser of his hopeful love immediately begins to drop into a bottomless abyss of pain and rage.

Before him stands a perfect vision of his beloved, stolen directly from his mind and dreams of her. Yet despite what his eyes tell him and his heart still longs to believe, he knows now the creature for what it is, the doppleganger. Malgorzata. Wretched harbinger of a dark and twisted God. Betrayer. Murderer. Thief of hope and dreams. The being who had single-handedly held an entire city in hostage for nightmarish days on end. No more. NO. MORE!

His eyes red coals of burning hatred and focused on the source of his fury, the general's hand moves almost faster than the eye can see as he draws his great broadsword. His voice raspy and torn with lack of use and raw emotion, the nearly out of his mind warrior grabs the sapeshifter by her throat and screams in her face "How Dare You! You murder my friend! You terrorize my people! You've taken almost everything that I care about and now This! You take Her! You defile the last thing I have! My memory of her! You flap your vile serpent's tongue to try and use the thought of my unborn son against me?? HOW DARE YOU!!"

With a final scream of rage and pain, he thrusts the magically crafted blade forward as if propelled by the arm of a giant, straight into Malgorzata's heart, piercing through her with such force that the blade sinks into the wall halfway up to it's hilt, leaving the dying form of the doppleganger hanging like some grotesque marionette with it's strings cut.

As if his own strings were cut Akiros collapses to his knees. For a moment his eyes stare in horror at this memory now made flesh again. The nightmare that has plagued his dreams almost every night these past many years- Sarah, his beloved, struck through the heart with this very same blade. Whether by some twisted desire to torment her foe even unto her dying breath, or merely a tick of her failing nervous system, Sarah's hand reaches out imploringly to him, his name once more croaked from her throat "Akiros...."

And it is too much, it is far, far too much "NOOOOOOOOO! Sarah! I've killed you again! I've killed you again! I can't...I CAN'T!" and snatching from his bed the dagger that he had been hiding underneath himself, Akiros raises it high, takes one last look at his beloved, and squeezing his eyes shut whispers "I'm coming my beloved. We shall be together at last Sarah, all three of us! Oh Sarah. And my Son! I am coming to you both!"

And the blade flashes down, aimed with all his remaining strength straight for his shattered heart.
Malgorzata spits up black ichor as she twitches in her final moments. Akiros's blade pierced her through the heart and pinned her to the wall. She slumps forward onto the hilt, her breathing ragged as Sarah's features retreat from her face. When Akiros raises his dagger high to take his own life, her gray featureless face shows a small malicious smirk. Try as she might to see him plunge it down, she does not have the strength. As his blade comes down, her head falls forward and she lays still.
what the hell does he think he's doing that ain't how Taisper realizes what Akiros is after before his thought even finishes. Not wanting to get between the lethal samurai and his dagger, the inquisitor uses what have lately been his most effective weapons -- his words.

"Akiros Ismort HOW DARE YOU! The Master of the First Vault has seen fit to intervene on your behalf, sending myself and Berrin here to aid you and now you let reason give way to base sentimality! YOU DROP THAT WEAPON! You drop it and get on your knees and beg God for his forgiveness! NOW!" Taisper's voice thunders forward with righteous fury at what is clearly about to be a suicide attempt. you son of a b~&#+ you don't get to go that easy you are MARKED you are JUDGED you is mine and ain't another way that's gonna not after all you done just sit you sit you wait you eyes
Berrin stares daggers at the witch pinned to the wall by Akiros's sword, dimly satisfied at seeing her gurgle blood with her dying breath he straightens his back and prepares to face Akiros. The man had allot of explaining to do.

'What!?' Akiros's last words register is Berrin's mind as he realizes Taisper's words were aimed at the swordsman. "Hells Akiros!" he shouts as Akiros cowers under the abadarian's chastation, swinging his greatsword at the dagger.

Disarm vs CMD 19; 1d20+9 SUCCESS!

The force of the swinging greatsword rips the dagger from Akiros's shaking fingers, sending it flying away.

"GET A GRIP MAN! CONTROLL YOURSELF!" Berrin barks in Akiros's face.
Before his dagger can find his heart, allowing him sweet release from his torment, allowing him to rejoin his loved ones, a voice commands him to stop. In his maddened state however it is not Taisper's voice he hears. The words are garbled but the meaning is clear, another enemy is trying to keep him from his family! And it is no ordinary voice either, for it carries the weight of Divine Will behind it. Yet Akiros had long ago given up any faith in the Divine, forging a path on his own, and his force of will was legend. Growling in rage for a frozen moment of time Akiros is locked in place, locked in a battle of will's between the inquisitor and his God. Yet in this time, in this place, it is Akiros will which proves the far stronger. With a yell of victory the dagger once again speeds towards his heart.

Yet at the last second, a mere hairsbreadth before it pierces his flesh, his blade is knocked out of his hand! His red rimmed eyes snapping open, his crazed gaze falling on the demon who had taken away his reunion with Sarah, taken away his son. With a roar of incoherent fury Akiros launches himself at his foe.
Taken aback by Akiros's animalistic fury Berrin instinctively lashes out at the samurai as he jumps on him. Turning the blow Berrin smashes Akiros squarely in the head with the flat of the blade before the swordsman crashes into him.

Berrin wrestles the inconsolable Akiros into submission, with Taisper assisting in the form of a rather abrupt clubbing with the handle of his morningstar. They remove the doppelganger's body from the room after returning him to his bed, though removing the embedded sword from the wall takes all of Berrin's strength. He sleeps in exhaustion, tearfully calling out for Sarah in a nightmare. The others wait by his bedside as a group, waiting for his fever to break. In mid-day, despite their exhaustion after riding through the night, the whole of the Founders are crowded in his room. Akiros awakens to see Jemini, Verik, and Zander, having joined them after finding out what happened when they saw Berrin dragging a gray corpse into the Founder's Hall. Even Nikolai came and waited. Taisper and Berrin, the men who prevented him from stabbing himself in his agony, sit the closest to the bed and focus intently on him when his eyes flutter open. Both seem poised to grab him, and he notices that there are no weapons anywhere near him - even on the Founders themselves. Tandlara continues to breathe quietly in her own makeshift bed, still locked in whatever comatose state her dark magic brought upon herself.

"He's coming around."

Berrin didn't catch who said it. He was exhausted, tired, he stank from travel and his growth of beard was beginning to itch as he sat at the edge of the samurais bed, half falling asleep himself. Berrin's eyes flew open at the words and he jumped to his feet, heart pounding in his chest. Sure enough Akiros was stirring, his breathing changed and finally his eyes opened.

Berrin stood over Akiros as the samurai took in his surroundings, watching him carefully, wondering if he'd try anything.

"Hey buddy. You still with us here friend? You alright in there? Gave us a little scare there last night buddy, but it's over now ok? Nobody gon'ta hurt ya now, no need for anything rash, you skewered that doppelganger good. It's dead now, you killed it ok?"

b]"What...how..."[/b] Akiros closes his eyes again for a few moments, taking stock of himself, not sure if he was still dreaming or was awake. What was the last thing...? He recalled discussing plans with Jhod, then feverish dreams while he waited for...the Shapeshifer!

His eyes snapping open, worried his allies do not know of the danger his eyes snap open with the name on his tongue "Malgorzata! The doppelgänger! She..." but then suddenly he spies the dark blood stain on the wall and it all comes flooding back. Closing his eyes once again he cannot help the groan of pain which escapes him. Yet this time the moment is brief, for there is work to be done. As his eyes open again and for the first time he spies all those crowded into his room, eyeing him with great concern, a wave of healing floods through his heart. He was not alone in the world. For he now had this new family he had become a part of. At the moment, he is even glad to see Nokolai there. Struggling himself into a sitting position he says with deep sincerity "My friends, I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you all. I do not yet know how much of the past few weeks events you are aware of, but we have much to discuss. I am also grateful for your concern for my well being, but I...I am well, now. So please focus your concern on Tandlara, for she is in desperate need of our aid."

The tired but mostly recovered warrior then quickly fills the group in on the highlights of recent past events. As the others then turn their attentions to Tandlara, Akiros grabs the arms of the two closest to him. Noticing the bruise on Berrin's cheek he grimaces and says quietly "Did I...? I am sorry my friend, please forgive me. And...thank you. Thank you both. I was...if you hand't been here I...well, thank you. I owe you my life."

"Hey, hey. Don't worry big guy." Berrin says with an honest grin, patting Akiros's hand, relieved at Akiros apparently having regained his senses. "Don't worry about it, an' I'm sorry about smacking you on the head too buddy, heat of the moment an' all that. As you said; you weren't in your right mind, no wonder with what the doppelganger put you through but you did good ok? You done right by everyone, stepping up to the challenge even with Corwin gone and Tandlara out, you did right. Ok buddy."

(Easiest to just go HERE

[ooc ][b ]Round 1, Initiative 19[/b]
hp 65/65; AC 24/12T/23FF
20CMD; +7F/+3R/+7W (+2 vs Fear)
Special: *Cannot see beyond 30'*, Darkvision
Buffs: none
Effects: none
[/ooc]

[ b]Kydal[/b]
[ ooc]AC 23,14,19 +*Mobility (+4AC vs AoO's)*
hp 46/46
Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +4
CMD 23 (27 vs. trip)
Buffs: none
Effects:
[/ooc]

Captain Steffan
2nd Lieutenants, Grayson & Bennick

Acting Captian of the guard, Giergios