Archpaladin Zousha's page

I honestly think not enough attention is paid to the fact that ALL temples to Cayden Cailean are bars. Combined with his popularity among people of almost all classes, and I almost wonder if a fully secular bar might only exist in Rahadoum!

Same thing with Calistria and brothels, actually. And Abadar's banks. And forges for Torag, even beyond dwarven ones.

Religion plays a MUCH bigger role in the everyday goings-on of Golarion when so many places for work and leisure can be owned and operated by various churches, but I feel sometimes that gets barely touched on, even WHEN you're playing a cleric!

If you read between the lines in the initial history, the implication seems to be that...

Three dwarves in a trenchcoat.

Three KOBOLDS in a trenchcoat!

Blended party where there can be dwarves if someone wants to be one!

Ntuni will be missed.

BUUUTTT at least I will still see your halfling in the Chronicles of Kassen game! :)

Me too! ;)

"At the very least, we might be able to use this space as a safe haven on this deck," Arcalinte comments. "Considering the presence of chairs here, it looks like the sivv may have felt that this room, and those working in it, were beneath notice."

"That where any one of us may succeed or fail on their own, united together in purpose, we overcome. And with the rest of the Magaambya's wit and wisdom united to our own...why we would have the strength of thousands!" Za Minyahil states proudly, unable to hide their delight at Ikto's inspired performance and leadership.

Ladies, Gentlemen and Honorables WE HAVE A TITLE NOW!!! :P

Yay! I'm so happy for your cousin! :D

Ardoinel bows.

"Thank you, Goodman Vusker. Enjoy your day off, and may the Forge-Father bless you!" he says, making the sign of the hammer.

Then he begins stoking the forge-fire, a manic expression coming to his eyes as he watches the sparks dance.

"From destruction to creation..."

He assembles the tools and reverently takes Cerrus' sword. He begins the process of heating, carving and inlaying the rune, singing a forge-hymn to keep the rhythm of the hammer-strikes and focus his mind away from the destructive temptations of the fire surging with each pump of the bellows.

When he finishes, he holds the sword aloft and then says, "The moment of truth..."[/b]. Before Cerrus can object, he brings it down upon the anvil, making the blade ring a single, clear note. "The temper is good." He holds the sword up again, and Cerrus can see that in addition to the rune itself, Ardoinel has added one or two small holes in the shaft, that have somehow not affected the sword's structural integrity. He swings the sword through the air a few times, and there's an audible hum as it slices. Only then does he offer it back to Cerrus.

"The sword is now properly tuned, and I think you'll find its battle-music most potent. When I have the opportunity to do the same with mine, they will make great harmony."

For transparency, this is just cool flavor text, I'm NOT trying to add a property rune to Cerrus' weapon on the sly! :P

Then he turns to Netkin.

"Now! Let us make your idea a reality!"

Thankfully, I made the recovery roll last night it seems! And just in time for a little staycation (my parents are going out of town for a week and since I don't drive this minimizes how much driving my brother would have to do for me).

As Ellaeaanda walks through town in search of a runecrafter, she fortuitously runs into Netkin and Ardoinel. “Our threads cross again. Fate’s favor upon you.” She relates bringing Calmont back to town to face justice, and the reward they received from Greta. While she gives each of them their share of the gold, she relays what she learned at the archives. “Quarters and Bits is our destiny; runes of power our goal. A runecrafter we seek to enhance blade or bow. Share you in our endeavor?”

Ardoinel's eyes light up at Ellaeaanda's words.

"You get me the materials and the forge and I will hammer the weapon into a wonder! My parents taught me about magic to control Dahak's power, and the rune is not only universal to all, but one of the most stable and perhaps safer than any spell can be."

"Well done delivering Calmont to the Council!" Netkin beams at Ellaeaanda. "I hope he gets what he deserves..."

"Ardoinel and I are heading to the forge. I've got this idea for a weapon of sorts - well... It's a little complicated to explain. Like a bodyguard, but... Made of cogs and moving around?"

"It's quite solid fundamentals," Ardoinel comments. Certainly better theoretical engineering than I'm capable of, my studies focused mostly on traditional forms and techniques."

Ellaeaanda nods sagely as Netkin describes his bodyguard-to-be. “A child of metal and wood, a boon to you I foresee. Congratulations, kindred spirit. Fate has chosen well.” As they part ways to their separate ventures, she adds “Our threads cross at dawn, at the isle of monuments. There decide our path: cleanse the citadel of slime and bones, or to the treetops of Guardian’s Way?”

At Quarters and Bits the elf inquires about etching a weapon potency rune onto Cerrus’s longsword.

Sorry, I was waiting to give Resa and Ardoinel a chance to respond (I thought a runesmith might be interested in etching runes). Since Cerrus is the only one who’s expressed interest, he gets the rune. So that should be 20 gp from Cerrus, and 13.25 gp from Ellaeaanda? Why couldn’t the discount have been a nice round 10%? :)

Sorry I couldn't comment faster, I was still recovering from that bout of food poisoning. While I'd certainly benefit from a rune myself, I think Cerrus is kind of our primary martial, so I feel he should take priority. But! I will happily roleplay Ardoinel helping to install the rune!

"It seems even in this Age of Lost Omens, the gods still wind our fates. I only hope that as the smoke clears from those fates, we have made them better."

I really need to get better at having Ardoinel make creepy prophetic statements. Ellaeaanda's more an oracle than I am! :P

First mention of Iomedae in 2E, woo!

Thinking of how to integrate these ancestries in Pathfinder, some work as being just visitors but some being enclaves drawn from other lore could be interesting.

Woo indeed!

And I freaking DIG the expansion of the Knights of Golarion's ideals and mentality beyond just being "paladins IN SPAAAAAAACE!"

I like the name. It's a real...hoot! :P

Could Netkin BE any cuter?! He's such a sweetie!

Arcalinte draws Skyndi out of his glove of holding and then takes it off, storing it in his null-space chamber along with his Celestial Stole, another trophy from the Dead Suns crisis that now mostly held sentimental value to him. Then he focuses his attention on the moonstone and concentrates for a moment, and then it zips into place on his chestplate, where the symbol of the Order of the Empty Orbit is proudly emblazoned. In its center, the gem looks like a pale blue sun.

Just a bit of flavor text as I realize now I've had too many active magic items this whole time. *sweatdrop*

He frowns at the genetic keypad.

"These locks will be more difficult to navigate now that Shocca's Sivv gene-masking breakthrough has worn off..."

Ardoinel raises an eyebrow.

"Yes we do, Netkin. According to her map she'll be headed to Guardian's Way, where there's easy surface access to Alseta's Ring."

Arcalinte looks wistfully at the displayed objects, trying to focus and separate the true memories from the false ones. Not "primitive." "Oppressed." Not "savage." "Survivors." Not "unenlightened." "Heroic." The juxtaposition of self-serving Sivv narratives alongside the perspective of the outsider in the distant future was just the inherent problems of bias, narratives and conflicting paradigms all students of history must struggle with writ large, made harshly, painfully real to him.

When Ajithu-Ko notes the statues and their descriptions showing the clear marks of Gap data contamination, he sighs. It was nothing he hadn't seen before in many an archaeological survey or xenoanthropology datatext, but there was something more to this: at least with the previous displays there was the Sivv narrative that could be countered with other information and dispelled. With these statues, they didn't even have what the Sivv thought of them and the culture that produced them to go off of. Like so much history touched by the Gap, it could only remain in the realm of speculation and imagination. He thinks on his old friend, Isu Greelax Zyte of Clam Tarma, House Hadula, Scion of Isuma the Missing, and the wild imaginings he eagerly pursued...perhaps they had not made him the best Starfinder, but his earnestness had made him a loyal brother-in-arms throughout the Dead Suns crisis. Maybe there was a quasar to the black hole of the Gap, if it gave space to produce minds like his.

Shocca and Ajithu-Ko snap him out of his reverie, and he nods.

"On it."

He goes to the table and gets a grip on it to lift and move it.

Strength: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Love how competent my rolls are showing me to be! <_<

Ardoinel can't help but look at the Bigpot home with a critical eye, the same eye that looked over the crystals in the shop, on every piece of metal he's hammered or piece of wood he's shaped. But he doesn't say anything, seeing that despite it clearly being built with function rather than form in mind, it was not some ramshackle hovel that might blow over with the wind, but a home that had been built well and had endured much, imbuing it with the same nobility any elven bower or dwarven redoubt might have. He smiles a bit and bows his head to enter the door. He notes the device on the stairs.

"Shave my beard and call me a human!" he mutters. "That's ingenious!"

He walks towards the living room, bowing somehow even lower as he approaches its occupant.

"Gods be with you, Madame Bigpot!" he says warmly. "It's an honor and a pleasure to meet you. I am Ardoinel, of the Clan Oreflame. I answered the Call for Heroes with Netkin the other day."

Ardoinel Oreflame wrote:

Ardoinel glowers upon learning the nature and extent of the plans.

"So this Triad would spread Droskar's blight to this place...a mockery of industriousness and an insult to the wild things...It won't happen, not on my watch!" he says sternly. His expression softens as Resa shows him what she's found.

"It's a map...to Guardian's Way, where Voz has likely holed up. Where we'll confront her and put a stop to this scheme."

When he notices Netkin's dejected response to Resa's suggestion, he tilts his head.

"If you'd like, Netkin, I can stick around. I did say I'd like to meet your grandmother if you and her would allow it. Considering how much of the Citadel we've either cleared or made friendly, it shouldn't be too hard to retrieve Calmont."

Crafting buddies? ;)

"No!" Netkin exclaims, in a voice that is just a little too shrill.

"I mean... If you want. I don't mind. Just... don't feel forced to stay behind," he says lamely. "I'm fine."

Ardoinel looks at Netkin with a raised eyebrow.

"Netkin, you've been tense as a bowstring since our unexpected return from Citadel Altaerein," he says, as gentle as he can manage. "And if a bowstring isn't released to loose the arrow, it snaps. If something is upsetting you, please, don't hesitate to share it...at least...that's the way my mother taught me. The way my father put it was if you leave your metal in the forge for too long, it makes the metal brittle, and again, more likely to break."

You mean the Pathbuilder link is borked? I do plan on assembling the data on my profile for ease of use.

Yeah, I figured helping Ghul manage his condition and keep it a secret from the rest of the townsfolk would kind of be a generalized family responsibility everyone takes part in, including Yuranosuke. Maybe Ghul even TAUGHT him how to hunt!

Ayane, I have an idea for how we might know each other: what if Yuranosuke deliberately acted as a straight man for her jokes and pranks? Sort of like "you can prank me because you know I'll always be a good sport about it" or something? Sort of an "Odd Couple" kind of friendship?

Every party's better with a tanuki! XD

Just picked up the supplement and I ADORE IT! Especially the little nods to Kingmaker for the Tanglehorns!

ANNOUNCEMENT! I've been in conversation with our illustrious GM and they have given me permission to use the Runesmith playtest class on Ardoinel, and I have updated him accordingly!

They are true sons of Breachill! :P

Ardoinel turns his nose up at the majority of the crystals.

"By Kaglemros...Stripping away the natural beauty of the earth to impose a sterile, unnatural beauty on it. I can tolerate carving along the natural lines to direct the flow of magic, but just for aesthetic purposes...Yuelral weeps."

He follows the group into Voz's private chambers and takes a turn to read when Cerrus and Netkin are finished, as he's not quite tall enough to read over Cerrus' shoulder.

"By every god in the Heavens and upon the Earth!" he exclaims. "That such an undertaking took place in my own homeland, right under the noses of my father's people...Breachton must have been no mere wizard to have the kind of power to hide his work in this way..."

QuidEst wrote:

R3st8 wrote:

PossibleCabbage wrote:

Pharasma respects atheists. Per the PF1 Planar Adventures book, she will allow anybody who rejects the legitimacy of her judgement the opportunity to just wait out eternity in a quiet spot in the boneyard.

You could also just choose to be judged and become part of the foundation of some plane or another. She will respect your choice either way.

That is a strange definition of respect. If she genuinely respects these souls, then she should allow them to return home.

Huh? "Brought back to life by Pharasma" is so top-of-the-list of things Rahadoum isn't on board with that it has two books about it.

Re: Duskwalkers

Pharasma does resurrect people. Just very occasionally.

Yeah, and the resurrected Rahadoumi's reaction is, at least in the one textual example we have, genuine horror and disgust.

Betzolte Ironhame wrote:

"Aye, but what about proving something to you, Erigga?" Betzolte says with a sigh of her own. "If I don't steel myself now, what'll stop my mettle from breaking when we need it most?"

But as Moon returns with a bunny in tow, she raises her head, a curious look forming.

"To me? Why?" She asks, a bit confused. "Look, now being practical is important, but later, having a softer heart could be needed. My neighbour, who trained me when I was younger, always mentioned how war changes people. Are you ready for this change? Do you want to?" So many questions. "All I'm saying is it is one thing to swing your sword during a fight, other is at someone who surrendered. You need to..." The rest is cut when Moon arrives with the talking rabbit.

Erigga remains silent during the exchange, just raising an eyebrow when she disappears with the goblin in toe, a shill running through her spine. "Yikes. That was a creepy one."

"Because I want to be more like you," Betzolte says. "You're smart, you're tough, you don't take slag from people, you did more with a well-placed punch than I could with an hour of blustering."

She sighs.

"You're more like a dwarf than *I* am, to be frank. When it gets down to it I don't know if I'm a very good dwarf. Torag tells us to not hesitate in the defense of our people: the moment you don't bring your axe down on an enemy is a moment they can use to kill you or someone you care about...but here I am, hesitating at every goblin's sob story."

As Grokki is escorted away by the bunny, she sighs again.

"And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't relieved we didn't have to make that choice now."

More Divine Archetypes, like one for each class to be fair there. Especially Magus and Barbarian.

Bloodrager DOES let you pick divine as your spell list (arcane is the other option).

Betzolte turns to Erigga and takes a deep breath, gripping her axe tighter.

"I'LL do it."

Betzolte fumes at Erigga's rebuttal and even more at the grim talk the others make about Grokki.

"Are we just gonna keep gettin' crueler and crueler until we're as rotten as they are?!" she says. "Offering mercy only to go back on it, what would Meep say if she saw us do something like that?! What if we'd done that to HER in that first battle?!"

Her face is red and her eyes are tearing up.

No apology necessary!

Aww, Anchor Root! Number 1, where she belongs! <3

I think given what's been described in War of Immortals, I strongly suspect Szuriel will be involved, even if her presence on that book's cover kind of overstated her personal role in both conflicts.

It was pretty tricky navigating the implications of Second Darkness in Spore War, but I feel happy with how we did it... even if it doesn't push the lore revision forward at all on "what about the drow" side of things. But yes, some of Second Darkness' plot points will not only be acknowledged in Spore War, but will be significant callbacks.

Now I'm even MORE excited!

I find it interesting that Pathfinder's essentially following its predecessor's path of not making giants themselves a playable ancestry (Starfinder 1e being a unique exception), but a giant-lite one with weird skin: goliaths have their lithoderms (bony lumps on the skin that when combined with their gray and black skin tones gave them a literally craggy appearance, something that was disappointingly neglected as the editions rolled on to make them more conventionally attractive <_<) and now jotunborn will have their "weavings" with silk literally embroidered into their skin.

I'm now finding that I'm most curious about Kyonin in the upcoming book, largely because I want to see how Paizo will discuss the recent history of the nation and whether the Winter Council and Lantern Bearers will be discussed and what exactly their roles in Kyonin history will be redefined into, considering the raison d'être of both organizations has been retconned out of the setting.

I'm just really curious if Paizo will acknowledge Second Darkness' events in any capacity, or if it'll all be ignored and thus Paizo's general policy of having the events of each adventure path have taken place to impact the setting's history will be over.

Ardoinel orders the stew and pickles as well.

"I'll eat your beets if you don't want them, Resa. Though I'd highly recommend giving them a try. 'Nature's candy' some people call them. Don't know what you're missing!"

Ardoinel nods.

"I see no reason why not. I find the spending of money soothes the frustrations of service workers quite well."

Betzolte strokes her chin.

"Moon, can you describe the laughing ogre a bit more? Did it have horns? Was it red? I don't THINK we're dealing with an onidoshi here. That's what they call "ogre mages" in Tian Xia, where they actually come from," she says in aside to the others, she assumes Moon's familiar with the creatures. "Which is why I don't think it's likely one of those, he'd be a LONG way from home. But we can't be too sure, considering they're among the most likely of their kind to go off and do mercenary work."

Belmarniss receives new orders shortly after these events, giving Flint a parting kiss before she boards the cathedralship, promising to return whenever she has leave. She knew her heroism in the Burning Archipelago was just the beginning of her career, and she didn't plan on slowing down.

She serves several different tours of duty that see her battling the Swarm, defending colonies out in the Vast, playing wargames in the Veskarium (where she is impressed by the draconic majesty of the Firescale, the unique vesk interpretation of Sarenrae, and shares with Flint and the heroic dragonslayer Ordyt), visiting the Sun on the Knights' behalf as an ambassador and coordinator for joint efforts between them and the various militias and defense forces of the Sun, including Kahlannal's Protectors, spending as much time with Flint and Ordyt as her superiors will allow, and finding herself in command of a wing of cathedral ships stranded in the Vast scrambling to save civilians and re-establish contact with the rest of the Knights when the Drift Crisis rocks the galaxy.

Once the Crisis is over and secure travel to the Pact Worlds is re-established, Belmarniss asks for much-needed leave that is readily granted, and charts a course for the Burning Archipelago. She'd been gone for too long, and in the last communication Flint had sent her before her disappearance he'd said he was preparing a surprise for her that was long overdue...

I'll have a post up tomorrow. Been kind of in "burnout recovery mode" this week.

Nope, that sidebar is the only mention of that strange blade. Didn't stop me from commissioning fanart of it, though! ;)

I love how Ntuni's always comes in with the plain common sense. Leave it to a bunch of wizards to overthink magical solutions to basic instructions. :P

"Yes. Let's end this!"

Seeing the enemy retreating, Darya surges forward pressing the advantage as she moves within range, her halo flashing to life, bathing her in fiery golden light as she makes an imposing flourish, staring down the guards with Radiance in hand, an open challenge and promise of a swift death.

Advance to G,8. Menacing presence to Intimidate.
[dice=Intimidate]1d20+17

Path ability: Menacing Presence (Su)
Something about you puts others on edge. You can attempt an Intimidate check to influence a creature’s attitude as full-round action instead of it taking 1 minute. In combat, you can attempt an Intimidate check to demoralize an opponent as a move action. If you expend one use of mythic power, you can attempt to use Intimidate to demoralize all enemies within 30 feet as a standard action, or as a move action if using the Dazzling Display feat

HEAVEN YEAH! :P

Belmarniss stands proud as she's honored by her fellow knights, her friends, and the people of the Burning Archipelago, beaming as brightly as Flint is as he fastens the clasp of the Mantle. Looking out beyond his shoulder, among the applauding crowd, she notices a line of drow seated near the back, two older ones seeming to be sulking while the other two, younger ones, are at least paying polite attention, even applauding a little. She recognizes them immediately: her parents and younger siblings. They'd gotten her invitation to the ceremony, and her siblings had managed to drag her parents out to watch her rub a true, honest success that outshone their self-absorbed social climbing by lightyears. She decides that now is the time to REALLY irritate them, and takes a moment to embrace Flint and kiss him in front of the crowd! Her parents are disgusted, while her siblings chuckle.

Then she conjures her junksword and raises it in salute to the crowd.

"Thank you...thank you all for this honor. But I would not be standing here today if it wasn't for you all. This victory belongs to ALL of us. We stood against a tyrannical, domineering darkness and we prevailed! Together, let us continue to illuminate that darkness and keep the Sun and the Pact Worlds beyond free and just. For Victory! For the Heart!"

Ready to move on.

The convergence of a tribal diaspora, relearning their ancient faith in conjured beasts.

Wanderers of other realms astride a colossal beast of impenetrable wisdom and resource.
Theater Kids.
"I dunno man, I think we're in a little in over our heads here."
"Nonsense, we are the lorebearers of the greatest empire to ever--"
"That is a mile-long elephant! From another dimension! That kid just summoned a rabbit-snake, and everybody worshiped it! We write poetry!"

"And we're among the best damn spies in the Inner Sea region. Which is one of the reasons we're here in the first place."

Ardoinel grimaces, though it's unclear whether it's at the deception in and of itself or merely Alak's bad attempt at it.

Lurian on the other hand swiftly drinks WAY too much and begins berating you for destroying HER pride and joy back in Khalannal, while simultaneously demanding that you hand over the Torrent so that she can study exactly what makes it's patchwork of technologies hold together. From her laser focus on the ships, it's clear she couldn't care less about the many other discoveries you've made - but perhaps that's for the best.

Belmarniss manages to hold her own against Lurian (which isn't too great a challenge as she's spent the party drinking coffee rather than booze), pointing out that Popoko survived and so some part of her pride and joy still lives on. As for studying the Torrent, she makes it clear to Lu that she's open to allowing it, but that the ship WILL remain in its crew's possession.

By the time the party is wrapping up, it's deep into the night and many of the rather straightlaced scientists have long since retreated back to their rooms and private studies. Before Dr. Nokorokt heads out himself, he offers you all permanent positions at the DCI if you wish to take them, either as researchers or field agents. He's clearly eager to exploit your talents for a while longer, and it takes quite a lot of effort on his part to emphasize that this is all optional.

Director Nokorokt's offer to stay on with the DCI is a tempting one; Ordyt doesn't commit to a yes right away though. "I think the DCI has proven its worth to the whole Pact Worlds alliance, doc, and before long you'll have more offers than you'll know what to do with. I put very good odds that we'll be seeing more of each other no matter what--Mataras is a new frontier, now."

When Dr. Nokorokt makes his offer, Belmarniss informs him that while she's flattered, she unfortunately has her prior commitments to the Knights of Golarion, now more than ever with her errantry tour ending and a return to the chain of command. She does, however, offer to stay in touch, especially as the Sun has now become a new, unique theater of operations and as one of the few with direct experience within it, anything the Knights do will likely have her involved.

Of course, Taeress and Nib don't end up making it to the party. As you heard from them earlier, their plan is to stay in Khalannal and work with the anassanoi there as liaisons. They announce that there's too many things still to learn, and too much still to repair for the anassanoi, to even think about heading back yet. However Taeress' portion of the messages you exchange do invite you to return soon, with the anassanoi and their leaders eager to hear the story of what happened at the Crucible from your own mouths. On their end, you hear that the reconstruction of Khalannal is proceeding slowly. While everyone is eager to rebuild, between the losses inflicted by the efreeti, and the tension and jockeying in the political parties and citizenry, it is slow going. The conflict between traditionalists and reformers seems like it is not about to end any time soon, and at least for now the new contacts made with the Burning Archipelago will remain limited in scope.

[Ordyt] brightens at hearing from Taeress and Nib and that the anassanoi haven't closed themselves off entirely. He asks them about Noma and if they think it might be a danger to itself, or other inhabitants of the star--he hopes not. He joins them in speculating about the strange black spheres that held Ezorod and the Crucible--if there were two, it seemed likely there were more out there somewhere, perhaps many more.

In the communication with Taeress and Nib, Belmarniss acknowledges that she'd very strongly like to return to Khalannal, both to aid them in their new ambassadorial work and because of her admiration for the Protectors.

"I feel they'd find the Knights of Golarion kindred spirits in a way: the sword to their shield. And I'd be lying if I said I still didn't want to fly in one of those chariots...a vehicle so in tune with it's pilot they're almost one...it's every flying ace's dream..."

Taeress, Nib, and all the other DCI scientists are actively broken into factions about how likely Noma is to be a threat, to itself or otherwise. There's little consensus, though the most rational voices (like Taeress) note that the bubble's isolation persisted for many hundreds of years, meaning the inhabitants seemed very preoccupied with their own concerns. The black spheres - the prison of Ezorod and the replica that held the Crucible - attract even more intense speculation. With Ezorod hazardous and the Crucible apparently lost, it seems likely that things will remain speculative for a while longer.

Belmarniss feels a bit of wistful melancholy at remembering Noma. A magnificent triumph of engineering now slowly drifting into entropy, directionless and passive.

But the discussion of Ezorod sharpens her focus. She'd reached out and touched the darkness there, and wounded her mind in ways that made the Eclipse look tame. There was evil there, no doubt, and it would be a place the Knights of Golarion would want to watch very carefully. She'd make sure of it.

And somewhere in the back of his mind, he tries not to think about the demigoddess who's ascension he and his companions thwarted, whose servants they had killed and whose plans they had shredded. He tried not to think about what she might do for revenge.

As for Belmarniss, she is less concerned with thoughts of retaliation from the Eternal Furnace: the loss of the Crucible had been a crushing blow, and it would likely take the Malikah, no matter her own personal power, a long time to recover from such a loss; materially, politically, and in terms of manpower. Still, a void elf's life was a long one, and it was not unreasonable to assume she'd still be around when the Malikah came for retribution. And she knew she'd be ready for it. A hero is only as good as the enemies they earn through doing the right thing, and a megalomaniac efreeti demigoddess was among the worthiest of enemies to thwart.

The days pass swiftly for Flint, who celebrates this return to life with trips to check on those who helped them along the way as well as a less than subtle rekindled romance with Belmarniss.

At the party, he circulates with the celebrants and eventually works his way over to Bel. Nodding to her, he hands her a fancy envelope embellished with expert calligraphy. Her name and full title are on the envelope and he says playfully, "It seems your exploits have garnered some attention. I didn't even know there was a rank as high as Knight-General until the 'Valor came into port this afternoon."

Nodding to the group of knights who recently arrived and set up camp at an out-of-the-way table, Flint smiles specifically at one with the fanciest armor and a cool-looking cloak, forming a slight bow and adding to Belmarniss as he passes her the card, "I think they want to invite you to a ceremony on their Cathedral Ship. You think I could score a ring-side seat?"

Belmarniss chuckles a bit.

"I can do better than a ringside seat for you: you deserve to be right there on the podium with me. You too, Ordyt. A star-knight is nothing without her brothers-in-arms!"

She gives Flint a peck on the cheek before approaching the table Flint's pointed out to her and saluting.

Seriously, in a Rise of the Runelords play-by-post I was in back in the day, we encountered an undead trapped in a room who was gonna take off running after the guy who wronged her, and we weren't sure if we wanted to let her do that, so we started talking strategy (in-character), and eventually she chimed in with "I can hear what you're saying through the door, you know."

We were SO embarrassed that we let her out to seek her revenge. :P