Red Mantis Assassin

Ary Bishop's page

6,164 posts. Alias of Hotaru of the Society.


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Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

I think previously you actually suggested giving it to Li'an? :p


4 people marked this as a favorite.
Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary had simply quietly accepted the way things would go; the fact that she had not intended to perform an act of terrorism did not mean that it had not occurred, so she bore the burden with dignity. While she was mostly left alone, she often made requests for books, in the hopes that they would be granted to her. The first sets of books she requested were primers on the local languages, and the next sets were in regards to local history, opting to learn bit by bit about the place that she now lived, and hoping that if she could bridge the language gap through effort, it might make some headway in being understood in others.

She goes out of her way to speak with Jamal about what she knows regarding the particular kind of tiefling he was, not insultingly, but intending fully to enable him to understand that hating the gods and religion was less a conscious choice and more in his nature, to hopefully help him to understand that he in fact did have a choice to make there - if he didn't already know.

Mostly, she didn't mind being left alone, either way, the drifting thoughts of others that would occasionally reach her reminded her that she wasn't alone... particularly Fenton and Sana who spent a great deal of time with her on their minds. As her cult grew, some became capable of minor miracles. Still others, those who had been particularly close with Ary or that followed along in her faith found themselves particularly blessed.

Fenton remained unlikable only by the most banal of people. The Loumises, who had been loyal to the point of setting up shop inside the Worldwound with their favorite customers, had continued to uphold Ary's beliefs, taking on several apprentices from each new class that joined the academy (or chose to simply look for a profession). As a result, they had managed to grow their business into one that could even manage to export outside of Drezen, gaining several skilled workers that could work alongside the 'masters' of the craft. Kari, whether she continued to reach for the divine power that she had asked for once before or not, would likewise find herself blessed. Likewise, those teachers who had taken up positions in her school... and finally Nurah. As thoughts flowed from the people to Ary, so too did her thoughts drift to these people in particular.

Ary selects the martial teachers in her school, the Loumises, Nurah (if she is a follower; she may well be too high level or not interested), Kari, Fenton, Sana as her 'mythic' followers. Each is tier 1. The only 'decided' path is Fenton with the Persuasive Countenance ability.

The cult of the Angel in Chains also had an undercurrent of followers - in particular, the tieflings who had decided to follow her path and stuck with it when they learned the truth of her nature - who balked at the term. The appearance of the Crusader being imprisoned didn't matter, what she had taught was still actively being promoted, this subsect of the cult prefered to refer to her as the Winds of Change, inspired not only by the breeze that followed her wherever she went, but the complete transformation of their lives in only a few short years.

It was only a few weeks after Ary had 'disappeared' that Fenton decided to ask Irabeth - in private - if he could start visiting with Nurah, because he knew it's what Ary would have wanted. He figured she didn't have anyone else that cared about her, now, and she shouldn't be alone. If he was allowed to, he would go out of his way to find whatever books he could - he didn't have quite the knack for it that Ary had, but it was the thought that counted.

Ary for her part continued to do her best to get along with the guards in her prison, making light conversation when they were willing, and always being amicable. Those who were willing to speak to her, while likely moved from their positions shortly after it was discovered, would be left with certain questions that the government of Rahadoum would find difficult to answer... if they were willing to listen to their hearts. Don't mind me, just corrupting guards with fundamentally good philosophy, no religion here. Definitely not starting a cult in the heart of Rahadoum.

If she is allowed time with other prisoners, she likewise makes conversation and treats them all with respect and dignity, regardless of their crimes... doing her best to be like Hinagiku, and guide them towards some level of positive morality. She isn't surprised when it turns out the majority actually are good people already.

The things that did weigh heavily upon her was the bits and pieces that she received of news from Drezen; the Riftwardens leaving - as evidenced by one of the children asking her why they had to leave their new home in their prayers - was a particularly nasty blow. Perhaps if she had made more effort to understand this place before coming here, things would have gone completely differently... Ary loses trust in the role of government in leading the people, her moral compass swaying even more towards good.

Otherwise, the Crusader simply used those things within her room to exercise, did whatever physical labor was asked of her - with cheer - and in particularly long stints of melancholy simply counted the tiles in the ceiling, never quite settling on a single number.


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Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"Slave stock... destroyed? You mean killed, right?" Ary says, leaning back in her seat. As the days had gone by, she'd become more comfortable in Azir, despite everything, and had returned to trusting in her allies... well, most of them.

"Just to be clear..." Ary says hesitantly to Jamal, "Sophini's has been attacked twice by 'terrorists' in a month, and both times they were completely innocent of any wrongdoing?" she says, lofting a brow, slightly. "I do not for a moment believe that they're innocent of any wrong-doing if my allies were involved in attacking there, and for that matter... the only dragons we know are dead. I... highly suggest that if my friends were involved there that you place the location under heavy surveillance. Better if you don't tell them, and as a bonus, it's for their own good. They've been attacked pretty frequently, lately."

* * *

"Just to be clear, and thank you for being here, Livinia... if it comes down to me staying here, or Isilme winding up in prison... I choose me. Isilme wasn't built for being locked down, and she's already gone through a similarly traumatic experience once. If you want to advocate for me, make sure that the Crusades know that I don't intend to trade lives and that I will not surrender those under my command."

"At the end of the day, I can be me no matter where I am. A Desnan needs to be free."


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Lann:
"Mmm, no. The intent wouldn't have been to trap us in the justice system here... that would have simply been an added benefit, if it were to happen. A cultist of Baphomet would surely revel in delight at the thought of having a Crusader locked up in a prison, certainly... but even still, seeing me vulnerable in a way that I'm not even vulnerable in my own home would surely have been a lure that she couldn't resist." She says, before drumming her fingers on the table for a moment and heaving a sigh. "And if it is her that took our belongings, then she's disarmed some of the Crusade's best soldiers due to my choices." she continues, eyes on the wall rather than Lann.

"I... would agree that they would bend over backwards for me, especially if I were accused of and imprisoned for crimes they believed me to be innocent of... but perhaps they shouldn't. I'm just one person, and all of the resources in the hands of the Crusades could help so many others. If it came down to funding one of Kari's or Annabelle's projects, or me being freed... I know what I would choose. Without hesitation. Drezen has to keep prospering, we have to keep making a place for the downtrodden to make their home, keep uplifting those that the demons have crushed for so long. We can't win the war if we don't give the enemy soldiers a choice. We'll just be marred in a completely new one."

"This whole situation has made me realize things, or perhaps more accurately, make connections that I should have made long ago."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Lann and Ary:
"That's... a fair point that I hadn't considered. That you wouldn't really have a way home. I'd been more worried about you being trapped here, and... the others." she says with a small roll of her shoulder. She rolls her shoulder again, uncomfortably, "I..." she says, hesitantly, "had considered that over the course of the night. That would be a large blind spot, yes. I've never considered the fact that Isilme could lie to us before. I mean, I certainly couldn't see through it if she did without clear logical inconsistencies. But... it seems kind of pointless to go about it the way that she did." she says, giving a small shrug. "I mean, it honestly made things worse if it was her, and it made things worse if it wasn't her, so it just made things worse and that's not really an Isilme thing, either."

"Maybe... and I can be hopeful for that. That Jerribeth isn't rolling around in a hoard of dragon-gold and priceless artifacts, laughing herself silly." she says, then tilts her head slightly, "Though... it does complicate things. We still owe them a fine to retrieve our things, which they no longer have, and all of the money that we had is now gone, regardless... along with things I had been entrusted to keep safe." she pauses for a moment, swapping tacks back to the earlier conversation, "I think you'd likely be deported to Cheliax or somewhere similar. Though I think that would still be significantly better than being locked in here for who-knows-how-long. Cheliax is at least tentatively allied with Mendev in that Mendev is fighting demons."


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Lann and Ary:
Ary nods to Lann as he arrives, but doesn't stand. "I'm glad to see you. There's... a lot to go over." she says, keeping her hands on top of the table in full view of the guard. She motions to the seat across from her for him to sit, before continuing.

"First, I've cooperated fully, to the best of my ability, so it will be nearly impossible to say anything truthful that could hurt our allies; in fact, it would only corroborate what I've said, probably, or add another perspective." she says, chewing her lip.

"At the moment, you're not being charged with anything, you're simply being held here because of the suspicion that you're working with terrorists. There's a lot going on on that front, though. They said you'd have been released today, given your cooperation... but Hinagiku vanished in the night from the local hospital." she says, not splitting hairs. "Apparently, she was declared dead, then escaped the hospital and disappeared into the night. I know it doesn't sound like her at all, but... I believe Jamal about it." she says, tilting her head.

"But that's not the reason we were moved. Yesterday, while identifying our gear, someone posing as Isilme and with an earth elemental, appeared in the interrogation room, stole the bags of holding, Faith, Radiance, and Cygnus. I... don't believe that it was Isilme, because the person intentionally implicated me... and the voice was off. I'm uncertain whether Jamal believes that, believes that I believe that, or doesn't believe it at all. I think it may have been one of the demonic cultists that have been watching us. Getting our things while we were disarmed of them was a simple and effective way to cause some permanent harm." she says, lips tightening into a purse.

"So, I don't know whether we were moved to prevent further scrying attempts, to prevent further communications, or to prevent a possible escape attempt. Given the light of those two events, your stay here may be a bit longer than Jamal - the investigator assigned to our case -" she elucidates once she realizes she's been repeatedly using a name that might mean nothing to Lann. "Originally believed." she says, though makes it clear there's more to talk about... only that the biggest things needed airing before they got into more details.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"So... not much further, then." Ary says at the explanation of Thuvia. Well, maybe. Maybe they were further east than west in this case. She nods slowly to Jamal's explanation. "Alright, good. So as long as my companions just manage to save Avi and the Riftwardens and don't do anything... terrorist-like... Lann should be fine. I... think that's all that I have for now. Thank you, Jamal, and good luck on the investigation."


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

”That’s… a good call. It seems odd that he suggested for us to go to gain information from a group that reacted in the way that they did. Thank you, by the way.” Ary says, as he tells her about how his investigation was going. ”It was more than I had any right to expect that you would believe me about Avi, much less that you would work towards solving it, despite the way we had gone about things. I appreciate the effort of your people.”

”Mm.” Ary says in response to what they considered terrorist attacks. Her head tilts slightly to the side… that was a complicated state of affairs. While she was no fan of slavery and certainly wouldn’t support it (and indeed, was very likely to make illegal in its entirety within Drezen), killing dozens of people was… well, honestly, it was something that her group would do in regards to cultists. Without a second thought. There was a large probability that the people killed weren’t all people who had any real control over their situation, though.

Which went back to annihilating the problem at its source.

As long as slavery was legal here, there would be slavers, and people who thought it simply was a way of life without questioning it. At the mention of a starknife, her mind goes to Valaria. How would things have gone differently if the woman had been here to work alongside Isilme? Likely, Hinagiku and Xander wouldn’t have felt a need to accompany Isilme… though maybe they would have.

”I only know a few people who wield star knives, Isilme… and a tiefling named Valaria. She was a friend who grew distant after Li'an died.” she tilts her head for a moment, and a penchant for not being remembered when she didn’t want to be, at least just before she disappeared from the group entirely. ”I don’t think the two are related and I think she would be somewhere in Varisia around now, based on what she last told me of where she intended to go.” she says, though she’s unable to not entertain the possibility that Valaria and her dream girl were posing as a pair of gnomes, working as freedom fighters. ”I don’t know anything about Sophini’s Servants, though.” she says, shaking her head.

”So, the gnomes have ties to a Thuvian spy? That’s even further away from Mendev, right?” she says, not really aware of how the geography of this side of the world worked at all - she only had a passing knowledge of the inner seas, after all. ”Did you find her via an anonymous tip? If not, investigating the person who knew what she was doing might be another lead.” she suggests. ”And now Isilme is working with, or did work with Maroq.” she says, but stops, unable to quite puzzle out anything further connecting the gnomes, Maroq, the Slavers and Isilme besides the tangent, and in a metropolis, it would be silly for her to assume they were all connected.

Ary shakes her head at the suggestion it was the wound, but waits until he reaches a stopping point before responding. ”Hinata is her mother’s surname. She didn’t have one before we went to visit her. There’s something about the place she’s from where those who aren’t rich don’t have them, and that it’s rude to refer to them by their given names if you aren’t familiar with them.” she responds slowly, tilting her head at the strange antics he’d described.

”But as for the wound, I don’t know how long it’s been there, but I know of it. I think it was there when she was reincarnated, I don’t recall knowing of it before then. Maybe it was there when we first found her in the Gray Garrison. That was years ago, and healing magic hasn’t done anything for it. She… may have been meditating?” Ary suggests. ”I’ve never really had reason to check her vital signs during that sort of thing. She can be a bit non-responsive during that as well. It’s still… odd.”

Her finger plays idly with the empty space still as her eyes look to his notebook, though she can’t read it, more staring into the middle distance and concentrating. She nods absently, ”I… understand. And thank you again for your honesty and openness. I would be happy to meet with him, though simply letting him know what is going on is enough. I think Hinagiku will be difficult to scry on… that should impact the dangers from Jerribeth going for her while she’s alone.” she says, tilting her head back and forth. ”Between Unafe and Xander, I think they could escape a lot of dangers, the same goes for Isilme and Ehren… but I have no idea how things would go for Hinagiku on her own.” she says, chewing her lip, then huffs.

”I wouldn’t mind meeting with Lann, if only to talk to him about what we’ve learned and see if he has any ideas… and to let him know why we’re here and what’s going on.”
She pauses for a moment at that, ”Do your laws account for the lifespan of people when it comes to sentencing? The underfolk don’t really live for an abundant amount of time, so… years for him would be more like a decade for me. Do you think he’s at any risk of conviction from what you know of the situations?”


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary hadn’t slept well throughout the night, despite the comfort of the bed, so she was already half-awake when the food was delivered, immediately loosing track of the spiraling path her eyes were taking on the magic circle in the ceiling. She had thanked the person who delivered it, and stayed clear of the door while she did so, only going to gather it once she was gone. Her questions about her allies having no answer only served to worry her still more.

She had eaten bits of the Shakshouka, but had mostly used it as a sauce for the bread, which she had also only picked at, the drink provided was entirely gone. She stands at attention when Jamal enters, but then as he approaches nonchalantly, she returns to her seat. ”Under better circumstances, I believe I would have.” she offers as a response. ”It’s a little hard to enjoy food when you’re worried about your friends. Thank you, though.”

She listens, looking to the table rather than him as her thumb plays idly with the empty space on her ring finger, making a motion as if turning a ring while she listens, clear to Jamal by this point that it was a nervous gesture. She looks concerned when he mentions that Avi had lied about his reason for entering the country; surely stating that he needed to perform arcane research wouldn’t have been a reason to deny him? Though, perhaps he had foreseen that they would deny him based on the reason for his study…

She looks up, more hopeful when he mentions having investigated the brothel, but her lips tighten into a grimace when he says that they had disappeared into the night, providing a small nod.

”I don’t think it would have been Isilme. Though she can fly, she definitely wouldn’t have approached a venue for information without some sort of magic to cover her, I don’t think. Invisibility, maybe. So maybe it was one of Akoujan’s people who simply hadn’t been warned. Xander would be in the same boat, being quite adept at moving about unseen… so that could be a good lead to follow to find Avi.” she says, nodding to Jamal.

“Terrorist attacks?” she asks at the mention of Maroq’s alleged crimes. ”I still don’t believe that was Isilme. I’ve gone over it in my head though, and realized that I would likely be a detriment to doing this quietly.” she says, motioning to the motes around the room. ”But the way she acted when she was there just didn’t seem right.”

She sighs quietly, ”I’m glad that they found each other though. Ehren makes it less likely they’ll do anything rash and more likely they’ll succeed in further investigation. I wouldn’t know where to look for them at all, though.”

At the mention of Hinagiku ‘feigning death to escape’, she just looks confused and looks to Jamal with a lofted brow. That just didn’t sound like Hinagiku at all. Between accusing her companions of stealing her things and implicating her, and now stating that Hinagiku had done such a thing, she was beginning to doubt his sincerity… and wonder if the Rahadoumi government was attempting to cover these things up.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Does he really believe that Hinagiku had feigned her death and escaped?

As soon as there’s a break in his speech, she asks rather pointedly, ”Did she hurt anyone during her escape? Lethally?” If he responds in the negative, she tilts her head to the side slightly, injuring the people there would have been several steps too far to believe.

”Hinagiku isn’t really capable of deceit…” Ary says, shaking her head. ”Or at least she’s never shown herself to be. She’s probably only slightly more subtle than I am, as well… so if she did escape, following the leads she did have seems the most likely. And… she wouldn’t be particularly good at it. She’s better at defending people and understanding them.”

”Xander going to Cheliax is… strange.” she says, lofting a brow. ”He may have gone there sometime throughout his life, but I can’t imagine a reason he would actively choose to travel there. Maybe that it’s the closest allied nation to Mendev… if tangentially. Maybe he sought out a Pathfinder Lodge there.” Ary says, completely unaware that there was significant danger of Xanderghul’s spell having killed the two, which would have made her question why he hadn’t simply teleported back to Obo if he needed aid.

”I… understand.” Ary says, nodding her head. ”While I do understand the assumptions, I don’t believe that Isilme would attempt to trick us into serving some other goal. The Worldwound is far more important than any single person, and I can’t imagine a world in which she would behave otherwise. She can be selfish at times… but it’s usually selfish in the way of believing she knows what’s right and isn’t worried about the consequences of acting on her impulse. I’m entirely convinced that this is about saving Avi.”

”But regardless of that, the use of deadly force on your men was both uncalled for and several steps too far… so I understand the need for recompense. I don’t suspect Xanderghul would exchange his freedom for mine in the first place, he simply isn’t that sort of person. He’s seen hell, and I can’t imagine he’d be interested in going back to being powerless again.”

She nods slowly, having already assumed that the result of the operation would fall squarely on her, clearly not glad of such a thing, but with a measure of acceptance. She doesn’t have anything to say in response, though.

”I… think that a lot of it is out of character to the people that I know. I can believe Isilme rousing us to save the person she loves… I can’t imagine taking us halfway across the world to engage in ‘terror attacks’. Xander has a propensity for doing the unexpected. Many times it has been useful in succeeding in our missions… others it has placed my and my allies’ lives at risk for very little gain. Going to Cheliax is… par for the course, I think. I don’t understand him attacking your people, but I witnessed it first-hand. Hinagiku doing anything tricky is so directly opposed to the sincerity I’ve grown to expect from her that I just… I find it difficult to believe,” she says, honestly. ”I believe that Ehren is simply doing what he perceives to be right. I’ve never seen him deal with a nation that said that his very culture is illegal, so I couldn’t speak to how he would respond to that. I… assume he would do his best to limit harm, though. In the light of how I view my companions… I think Isilme is simply doing her best and using a fellow Desnan to succeed in her investigation and goals. I don’t know how she would have found them, though. I think Xanderghul’s action was, frankly, thoughtless.” she says with an annoyed huff. ”I think that Ehren isn’t doing anything wrong thus far, though I understand that your perspective on his beliefs is quite different than my own. I don’t understand Hinagiku’s motivation at all. How… certain are you that she legitimately escaped? Do you have any reason to believe someone may be covering up her actual death? Do you have any news of Unafe, Valais, or Lann?”

Diplomacy (Surge): 1d20 + 12 + 1d8 ⇒ (13) + 12 + (7) = 32


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Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

A dream is a wish your heart makes (to Xander):
Ary gives Xander a slight wave, she doesn't look particularly pleased though it isn't clear whether she's displeased with him or not... at least at first. She paces back and forth in the air.

"So, first... the Rahadoumi officials want you to turn yourself in. They say they'll let the rest of us go if you do... I told them I couldn't ask you to do that, but I would suggest it to you as an option. They kind of said you might get a very small sentence... but it's likely to be more than a decade. So, I feel like that's sort of off the table." she pauses for a moment, before continuing. After a few moments of waiting for a response and not getting one, she shrugs and continues. "I told them about all of us, and what was going on with Avi, so maybe you guys will get help and not just arrested on sight."

"Beyond that, there's an ambassador on their way from Cheliax, if you and the others manage to save Avi and get clear, you should send Ser Abranci for further details. He said he'd be about a week out... I'm not sure what he can realistically do here, or what they can realistically charge most of us with... maybe aiding your escape, but that's a tough sell for everyone not-me that's involved."

"Last contact with Isilme is that they were looking for Maroq. She said she was leaving a trail in the city that we would be able to follow to her to get back together, I don't know how useful that is, though. Hopefully that doesn't matter and you've already met back up with her."

"Speaking of Isilme... I think one of the cultists, probably Jerribeth came for a visit. They were pretending to be Isilme, rather badly. They also had a conjured earth elemental... they took most everything. And made it look like it was us." she says, with a pained look. "Faith, Radiance, the bags of holding... let Isilme know they got Cygnus and her spellbook, too as soon as you see her. So... keep an eye out for scrying censers."

"After that, they moved me from the Western Barracks to some giant red stone castle. The room they're keeping me in is like Nurah's cell. It's furnished alright and has a circle against magic built into it... so I'm also trapped as me, I guess. I don't know how useful that is. I haven't seen Lann or Hinagiku since we were processed, either."

She makes a thoughtful sound for a moment, concentrating. "Other useful things, I think Jamal is a Faultspawn. That's the investigator in charge of us. He's looking into the cult information, but I think he's also looking for all of you. He's really old, and he has connections with some group called the Aspis Consortium through his daughter. He's taken down multiple cults... but I don't know of any evil ones he's done so with."

She pauses for just a moment longer, "I think I messed up badly in even agreeing to how we were doing this in the first place. I can't see any way else it could have gone besides turning myself in, and I think that was an equally awful idea. Everything has gone wrong, since. Hopefully things are going okay out there, though. I don't think you'll be able to Sending me because of the room I'm in, and I don't think you can respond here... so I guess that's it, unless they want me to do this again, later. Good luck."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

New Room, who Dis?:
Ary just nods impassionately to Jamal when he says that she was going to be moved to a more secure location. Just before he makes it out the door, she pipes up, though.

"Please make sure Daisy and Lann are safe."

On the ride to the new facility, she stares at where windows would be or the floor, or just screws her eyes shut as her mind dances through various possibilities of what could have happened, precisely. She looks about at the castle, and wonders whether she had been escorted to a prison, an embassy, or a home. As she reaches the cell, she still isn't sure of which. She looks up to the mosaic on the ceiling, idly wondering if it was a circle against alignments, perhaps multiple inlaid upon themselves.

Upon entering, however, her form ripples and returns to her half-elven shape and she huffs, thumb tracing her finger once more and closing her eyes, before simply moving over to the bench. Once the food and drink is delivered, she is promptly told by her body that she isn't terribly hungry, and so she simply sits for now.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Jamal:
Ary can't possibly beat that with sense motive.

While it was absolutely brazen enough for something Isilme would go for... hearing herself be called Commander Bishop - not her rank - by a friend - someone whom she had explicitly requested to just call her Ary, tripped several alarms in Ary's head. Why would Isilme refer to her as her commanding officer in this... except to implicate her? She turns her head and tests the silence once more, now that she could hear, maybe she could speak. "Are they still..?" she begins, but then watches as Jamal disappears into the hallway.

That left her with still enough time to remember what was said. While the intonation had sounded like her friend, the spoken words... hadn't. Calling upon Desna was something Isilme would absolutely do, but not actually calling her Desna. She only did that when she was explaining her faith to a newcomer... otherwise she always used titles.

Once again too late to realize her mistake, as the guard relinquishes his grip on her, she simply keeps her head pressed to the table. "Isilme is going to kill me. How did they find us?" Having turned herself in had essentially lead to the vast majority of their belongings disappearing, perhaps forever.

Who knew they were here? Her friends, of course. The head spy of the Crusades. Sosiel, but not that she was specifically here. She couldn't imagine that any of those were leaks... which meant that someone here was a leak? But that they were directly tied to people who would directly target her and her people was...

Ary stays put until Jamal re-enters the room, whereupon her dark study was broken. She doesn't doesn't quite lift her head to meet the interrogator's gaze.

"No. It was not a coordinated attack and I did not give orders. That was not Isilme. It sounded like her at first, but then it was... off. My friends don't call me by my rank or my last name, unless I'm being teased. Isilme wouldn't make such a silly mistake as to make it clear who she was, either. She wouldn't give you certainty when there could still be doubt." She says with a huff. "And I don't think I've ever heard her refer to Desna as Desna except when she'd just met someone."

"She's going to kill me, I've lost her sword and her spellbook..." she pauses, looking even more defeated, "Faith and Radiance..." she says, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deeper breath. "Only a tool." she says, though it doesn't sound as though she's quite certain of that.

Eyes still closed, she asks, "Have you seen any scrying censers? Would you be able to detect them in here? You... don't have to answer that last part." she says, fingers moving to the bridge of her nose as she pinches and tries to think. She opens her eyes after a moment, "There's a powerful demonic cultist who has been watching us... if you don't have some sort of leak here, and I can't imagine many Worldwound cults would keep contacts here..." she pauses for a moment, before shaking her head, "That's the only thing that makes sense. Jerribeth. We know she can travel quickly, she can cast scrying magic... She's a cultist of Baphomet, too..." her head droops. "This is exactly their MO. Gods, she must be delighted in the discord she's sewn here." she finishes, despondently.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

As soon as Ary hears Isilme's voice, she stops struggling against the guard.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Grapple for freedom?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Ary starts to resist, seeing everything cast into darkness and worried for the guards' safety. She presses her hand against the guard's, gently pressing it away, but then bites her lip and presses her hands on the table firmly. But then, when she sees Cygnus rise into the air, she pushes up from the table and tries to get out of the grip of the guard. One of two things was true: Either her friends' gear was being stolen by cultists, or her friends were stealing their gear back. She had a trick to possibly know the difference. She would normally automatically assume the former... but Cygnus had been selected first... and she hadn't been personally attacked yet.

Assuming move action to stand, and standard to try to get free from the grapple she accepted.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27 Nope!

Ary's eyes widen as everything goes dark... and she soon discovers, quiet, as she says not-quite-aloud "Babau?"


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary and Ehren:
Perception (No.): 1d20 + 17 - 10 ⇒ (1) + 17 - 10 = 8

Ary is leaning heavily on the table, head tilted to the side, though without her hands supporting it. "I can't be positive... but I believe it would belong to Daisy. It's the right aesthetic, but... I've honestly never noticed the ring before." Ary replies, looking completely bored at this point with cataloguing everything. "Is it magical in some way, or just jewelry? I... don't really notice nonmagical things most of the time."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary:
K(local?) v. Aspis Consortium: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Too little, too late Ary realized that no matter how forthcoming and helpful Ary was... she had likely wound up with the worst possible investigator in terms of their 'crimes'. Jamal had fallen, apparently happily, into his heritage. The strange realization of it all, was that there were only good 'cults' - or at worst, neutral - amongst those they had ferreted out, suggesting that they were either corrupt, targeting good deities, or that the good cults tended to do as Ary did, and assume a misunderstanding could be explained away. Or, perhaps, the evil cultists fought to the death rather than be brought in.

On the bright side, if anyone was willing to go after a doomsday cult, she had likely chosen well in that regard. Everything else was particularly unfortunate, though. She quietly draws her legs up against her, and gets what rest she can.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Jamal or guards:
"Of course." Ary says, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgement, and seems ready for the inquisitor to leave, though just before they do, she remembers something. "Actually, come to think of it, Xander doesn't need to sleep much, so it may be a better idea to use the spell on one of my other allies that fled with him... assuming they're still together, and I don't know why they wouldn't be. But... I'll leave that up to you." Ary says, suggesting a minor alteration to the plan.

Once back to her cell, Ary moves back to her cot and leans against the wall, concentrating for a moment. She needed to know whether or not she could trust Jamal... and tieflings of their particular origin tended to delight in the suffering of people like... well, her entire group. It wasn't their fault, really, just the same as she wouldn't blame the tieflings back home.

She had taken time to study the various types of native outsiders, those planetouched within Golarion... mostly as a matter of the sheer amount of their enemies being the downtrodden amongst them... but even still, she had garnered a bit of information on specific individuals...

Ary will spend 2 MP to use Knowledge (Planes) Exploit, Legend Lore, with Jamal Toulali as the target.

Finally, she huffs and draws her legs up against her body, ready to settle in for a bit once more. Is the whistler still whistling?


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary:
"I'll... do so, but I really do not believe he will listen. We still have the things in the bags to go over, though I suspect that could be handled with another guard? I... would also like to do something while I'm here. I've never been good at sitting still. If you have some sort of manual labor, I'd be happy to help with it."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Jamal:
K(Planes): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38

"I understand that perspective, yes. It was not the perspective that I had, however. He wasn't acting on behalf of divinity, and was following the laws as to what sort of magic was allowed. His intention was the same as yours: To protect people with the knowledge that he has. I don't at all believe that Avi has done anything illegal or even immoral in all of this." Ary says, shaking her head.

"Ah." she says, after Jamal reveals the forked tongue, though doesn't remark on the newfound understanding. Jamal was a person who had chosen their path... but perhaps particularly enjoyed it due to the circumstances of their birth. That means that they likely well understood Xander's predicament if nothing else... though likely did not agree with it any more than she did.

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Back in Drezen, I've done my best to make allowances for such things... but this is not Drezen, nor do I expect my customs to be honored here. I'm not asking forgiveness for my ignorance, only supplying that these things were done from a point of ignorance rather than malice." she says, inclining her head to the inquisitor.

She tilts her head slightly as Jamal speaks, "If he contacts me, which I suspect he won't... given that he will likely view my choice to defend your guards as a betrayal, for which I do not blame him... I will suggest that he does. I don't hold any special power over him, though. I can't surrender him, but I can suggest he surrender himself. Regardless, that is more than fair in my eyes, and better than I should hope for, given the circumstances."

"Honestly... in your opinion," Ary asks, thumb on the spot of her missing ring once more, "is there a way out of this for Xander? What sort of sentencing is he looking at? I... suspect far longer in prison than a hobgoblin has, at best."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Jamal:
"Of course." Ary says with a nod as she tugs the paper that had been proferred towards her. "And... right. I got a bit distracted there. Ehren is capable of traveling through ley lines to locations with particularly powerful flows... or where they intersect... or something to that effect. Basically, places that see a lot of growth or where the ley lines have been manipulated in some way. Back home, that translates to the Wardstones and menhir, mostly. But every time we've used it for something else, we've wound up somewhere more... fantastic. A crystal cavern, a huge field of thousands of flowers... but this time, we just wound up in a rather ordinary looking garden outside of... Mana... Manaket? There was a closer option, some kind of Oasis, but it's apparently a place no one returns from. We arrived about an hour or two after Isilme received word that Avi was in danger... Ehren became a huge heron and flew us across the desert... he winds up having to do that a lot when we're out on missions, since most of us can't move quickly overland. We arrived outside of Azir yesterday evening, whereupon Hinagiku, Isilme, and Xander attempted to enter the city. Xander suggested things had gone poorly, Hinagiku didn't talk about it, and Isilme never returned."

"As for papers... we don't have anything like that in Sarkoris or Mendev. I'm afraid that we didn't know that. There's a lot of stuff like that that we didn't know. The fact that items with divine sources are illegal, the fact that the things being stowed in bags wasn't allowed... we'd went to Minkai recently, and we weren't allowed to wear armor or weapons publicly, but we were allowed to carry it, so I just..." she frowns and sighs. "I'm really bad at other cultures. I seem to be messing up that sort of thing everywhere we go. I've been trying to study a bit more, but never dreamed of even wanting to come to Rahadoum. No offense... but.." she motions to her wings, "I feel like I wouldn't be wanted here."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Jamal:
Diplomacy (Make a request) (Surge): 1d20 + 12 + 1d8 ⇒ (9) + 12 + (7) = 28

Ary pauses for a moment, looking concerned with an eyebrow raised. "You... know that I'm not naive, right? I'm not really being guided into traps or anything like that. I'm going out of my way to help you to the best of my ability... so when you say things like 'We'll keep an eye out for her', it feels sort of... tongue-in-cheek. Forgive me if I'm misreading the situation... but I really do believe it's in all our best interests that Isilme be allowed to continue her investigation. It will save lives if she succeeds." she huffs, and leans back from the table, slightly. She still shares a small description of each person as she talks, including their appearance.

"But... regardless. Nine of us, if you include the chicken thing that is Unafe's pet. Unafe is a Kellid warrior from the Demetae clan in Sarkoris. We found her frozen solid near a volcano several months back. We then lead her to her homeland, which is corrupted by the 'Wound. After protecting her people from the Woundwyrm, we then went to destroy an ooze that was causing a plague in Iobaria. The plague was amongst the Demetae... though probably in Iobaria as well. Unafe is the big bird-lizard thing, though she's also a normal person sometimes. She's the one surrounded by spirits. She has a few magical tricks, though it's sort of focused. Changing her shape and getting guidance. She isn't a member of the Crusades."

"Then there's Hinagiku, translates to Daisy... so if I call her Daisy, it's just shorthand. She's the Kitsune monk who turned herself in along with me. She has a fox-person form and a Tian-ancestry form. She came from Minkai to fight demons as a sort of pilgrimage-rivalry thing. The one who slays the strongest demon 'wins'. I... think she might be the only one still competing. She fights alongside the front lines even when most of us are busy with the minutiae of running things in Drezen... though she is not a member of the Crusades. She has some minor magic, though she's honestly been changing so much lately, I couldn't tell you what she can and can't do any longer."

"Lann, who is also here with us, is an Underfolk that we met beneathe Kenabres when it was attacked by the Storm King. Well, by us, I mean..." she frowns, suddenly, looking down, as it's the first time she realizes that they've all gone their separate ways. "Ehren and I. Anyway... Lann is my subordinate, Ehren invited him along, and I didn't argue. Honestly, amongst the group... I think you'd have been the most welcoming of him. He isn't particularly religious, he just seems to enjoy... being?" she shakes her head as she doesn't seem to find the right words. "He doesn't seem to have any magical talents."

"Anyway, Ehren is a druid from Sarkoris, also a Kellid, though he's of the Ferron clan. We met when we fell into a giant hole created by an earthquake. He's incredibly capable in just about every facet I could imagine on any given day, though precisely how capable varies. Amongst my allies... he's amongst the least likely to do harm, but the most capable of it - if pressured - I think. I don't know where he is, and I don't think he has any way to reach me unless he knows where I am. He isn't a member of the Crusades."

"Xander is the hobgoblin wizard... a capable illusionist who was once a Shabti. He was kind of born in the Abyss fully formed... I don't really know how that works. He survived there, somehow, and eventually made his way out. I... don't know what he was thinking, attacking you guys." she says, shaking her head, brow furrowed. "I mean, maybe it's something to do with the Abyss. I figure if you get captured there, you don't really come back from that. Or maybe he cares way more about Avi... or distinctly less about innocent people. He can be a bit... temperamental. He's always seemed to mean well, though. He's an illusionist, and perhaps the only skilled one I've ever seen. He was a geographer and demonologist for the Crusades, as well as a Pathfinder."

"He has a subordinate, Valais, who was captured and tortured by a terrorist demon who stole the body of her original boss. We... helped to set that right in heaven, but she wound up permanently infused with the magic from there as a result. So... not quite human anymore?" Ary says with a small shrug. "I've honestly never seen her cast anything offensive, though I do know she's skilled as a caster. I think she's mostly just here to - of all things - write. She was still writing when we were surrendering. I don't think she's technically part of the Crusades."

"That leaves Isilme, Avi's girlfriend. Things with her are complicated. When our friend died and we tried to bring her back, an azata wound up bound in her body, so a situation somewhat like Valais. The irony being that she was the friend's father's lover... but not the mother of Li'an." Ary says with still another small shrug. "It took us years, but we figured out a way to undo that and give her her own body back. The end result is the raven-haired half-orc. She's a bard and a capable caster, perhaps on par with Xander and Ehren on a good day... though most of her magic tends to be helping others to succeed. She's the most capable investigator I know, honestly. She's capable of changing her form and a broad swath of magic. She's been a part of the Crusades nearly since we met."

"I think... Isilme and Ehren could possibly save Avi if they can find each other. Assuming you didn't capture either of them already." she says, chewing on her lip, and tilting her head thoughtfully... she didn't suspect Ehren was someone who could reliably be caught without surprise. Though he had walked into a much worse fate more than once. "Anyway. That leaves me as the ninth. Human farmgirl turned half-elf by reincarnation. I'm capable of shapechanging magic, though mostly only to be the blonde farmgirl - a form I'm more comfortable in - or the gray elf with red hair. The wings happened around the time I figured out how to do that. My magic seems to be centered around protecting others and organizing them, beyond that. I've been noticing stranger capabilities in my magic of late, though. I'm specialized in demon-hunting and guarding others. I'm the governess of Drezen and the ranking member of the Crusades here... and there. Or... was. I can't imagine being involved in a skirmish with another country's guards - intentional or not - will reflect well." she says, as her thumb traces the empty space on her finger once more, thinking about how badly everything had gone. And that she was probably only making it worse by being honest; could these people even deal with the Blackfire Adepts? Could they even help Isilme if they wanted to? "Everyone's okay, right? Is the camel all right?"


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Jamal:
Ary inhales through her teeth, "That's where things get complicated. She's normally a half-orc... she was previously an aasimar before she was reincarnated, but she's able to shapeshift between various races. But..." Ary provides an accurate description of Isilme's 'normal' form.

"If you give me an address, and she performs a Sending again, I'll give it to her. I'll only have twenty-something words, though. So a quick way to identify them would be ideal as well. I... don't know that she'll be able to Send again, though. She started using a spellbook recently, and folks with spellbooks kind of need those to cast. And... she left her spellbook with me."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Jamal:
"I don't know." Ary responds regarding Maroq. "Isilme is currently looking for them in the city, she entered yesterday evening to the best of my knowledge. I don't know whether she searched for him through the night or not. If I knew, I would tell you... because at this point, I'm fairly certain she'll be desperate to save him... and have no one else to rely on, maybe Ehren will be able to help her to get in and out of the Cultist's... wherever. The other three of us surrendered, while three of us ran." Ary says, with a huff. "I'm sorry about Xander's response. I told my people to stand down... but Unafe isn't really one of my people, I guess. I'm sorry about the camel I couldn't reach, too. This is all... something most of us are not good at."

She pauses for a moment, "If she contacts me again, I'll suggest that she brings the information she has to you. She... likely won't listen, given the situation. Is there a specific location where she could do so discreetly?"


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Peeker no peeking:
"Aravashnial." Ary supplies with a nod. "I requested that they look into stabilizing a rift that we'd discovered, presumably created by a woundwyrm's presence. They were already on this side of the world due to other research projects I'd asked of them, so they suggested continuing their research in Azir. They were staying with 'a friend of a personal nature', I didn't ask beyond that."

Ary watches the pen, despite being unable to read, a focal point to keep her eyes on, the movements helping to jog her memories in the same way that they would do in her own hands. "His girlfriend, a bard and one of my personal friends, was in Mendev with us at the time. I believe that she performed a sending each morning to talk with him; yesterday morning, the sending informed her that he'd been kidnapped by the Blackfire Adepts. We gathered our friends and left immediately to try to arrive as quickly as we could. Given the nature of the Blackfires, I assumed that he didn't have long to live." she responds, chewing her lip for a moment.

"I don't know whether it has been reported or not, but I suspect it would have been hard to kidnap him without there being some sort of scene. If there were any other reports besides the one that I made out in the desert, I'm unaware of them... though hopeful that they exist. Isilme would know any contacts if any of us do, and the location he was staying."

"Oh, wait. At last contact, she mentioned that she is currently looking for 'Maroq'." Ary offers, then stops for a moment, "All of this is my fault, Jamal. I'm the one who sent Avi here, my allies were just coming to help our friend, and my commanding officers didn't even know we were coming - we left in such a hurry. After we reached the desert outside of Azir, I began to have doubts about the direction that we were going... but I believed that if word got out about Aravashnial's state being known by the Crusades..." she pauses and shakes her head, before motioning back to the wings, "I couldn't very well enter the city, or even approach it, without causing a stir, a stir that could have killed my friend. I still should have tried... something. Was there a way we could have contacted you quickly and discretely?"


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary had been grateful that the food had been bland... once someone instructs her to return to her normal form, bland would be a boon. She doesn't eat in a rush, seeing as there didn't seem to be one.

Diplomacy (No hate kthx) (surge): 1d20 + 12 + 1d8 ⇒ (10) + 12 + (7) = 29

"Thank you for your time..." Ary says, but pauses before saying the person's name. "What should I call you?" she asks and awaits a response, whereupon she finishes her statement with the preferred name.

"Yes, I am Ary Bishop." Ary nods. She keeps her hands above the table at all times, though her thumb occasionally fidgets with the empty space on her left ring finger. "Of course, I'd be happy to." she says, despite wincing at the word 'fine'.

"Have you been informed that we're here regarding a cult who kidnapped an ally?" she asks, ensuring that they were on the more important topic... at least in the eyes of the Legionairre. It wouldn't be a lack of her mentioning it that would be the reason they took their time reaching that conversation.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Diplomacy (no hate, kthx): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

As Ary is delivered her meal, she thanks the guard, careful to stay against the wall and make no sudden movements to put him off. Her motes are mostly along the back edge of the cell. "Thank you very much."

"Has anyone mentioned how long it will be before I'm given the opportunity to pass on the information to someone with the authority to act upon it?"

After she gets a response of any kind, she adds, "There was someone whistling earlier, is that a guard or a prisoner?" and then proceeds to go gather the food and begin to eat after he moves away.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Sending to Isilme:
"Xander attacked guards, fled with Valais and Unafe. Ehren MIA, rest surrendered. Currently waiting to speak to authorities. Located in Western Barracks. Crusaders Aware."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Team Accords:
After getting the last answer, Ary simply nods and is content to travel through the city. Like Hinagiku, she doesn't allow her chains to weigh her down any more than physically... she knew that she was at least mostly in the right. The only wrong that they were in was in attempting to do the right thing in the most ideal way for themselves. Which complicated matters, but...

* * *


Ary:

After interacting with prayers for a bit, Ary does her best to get comfortable to continue to rest while she waits for the investigator.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Sending:
"En route to Western Barracks to 'await trial'. Isilme and Ehren presumed active. No known casualties, no word on Riftwarden or Abyssfire location."

Ary nods her head in thanks once more. "Will we meet with anyone to talk about things before the trial? I would very much like to explain the circumstances, given the opportunity to do so."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

If Ary knows that she won't have time to get an answer and respond to Abranci - I'm not sure how long you have to respond - she'll just tell him they're en route from the outer gates to somewhere deeper in the city.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"Thank you." Ary says, sincerely, as they're rerouted. Taking longer had the added benefit of preventing the exponential growth of gossip... for a time.

"Where are we being taken to? Does it have a name?" Ary asks the guards as they move through the city, twinkling motes being left here and there in her wake.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Sending:
"Subordinate attacked guards. Have turned self in to avoid escalation. 3 fled, 3 captured, 2 assumed active. Equipment confiscated. Presently in holding cell. Please advise."

Diplomacy (surge): 1d20 + 12 + 1d8 ⇒ (19) + 12 + (4) = 35

"I... was hopeful there would be an alternate path we could take to avoid the Blackfires knowing our position." Ary reminds the guards while they were on their way down the main road towards Azir. She wasn't hopeful that they would go out of their way for requests above their chain of command, but the route taken to get into or through town seemed likely to be up to them. If not, then she understood; she wouldn't expect her guards to do many favors either.

* * *

Are we still shackled and the like?

Ary simply sits quietly in the cell, eyes closed, and begins to respond to prayer requests back in Drezen. This was no different from barracks, save that the doors were a little harder to open, she told herself.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary instinctively draws back when she sees the collars come out, "Is that really necessary..?" she asks, though does not resist further.

As she notes the man trying to save the camel, she adds "I'm sorry about your mounts. Xander has a tendency to be... volatile. But he was born in a place where acquiescing to authorities just meant a slower death. She inclines her head towards the lead camel. "In my belt pouch is some honey that we received as a gift in heaven. It was created by people called Thriae. I'm not certain whether it is divine magic or just that they are naturally capable of creating a restorative syrup. You're welcome to give the camel some if you determine that it's not against your philosophies."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary won't resist.

Ary shakes her head to Hinagiku's concerned look, looking just as concerned when she notices the large wound she'd been delivered. She looks to the guard that had done it and just shakes her head. Now wasn't the time to reprimand someone else's soldiers for getting stuck in the heat of the moment and injuring a good samaritan... that would only escalate his emotions on the issue. But there would certainly be a time.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary will recover intruder's end, and otherwise stay down.

Ary watches as Unafe grabs Xander, his staff, and absconds with both... secretly relieved that they had made it away. She was fairly certain that if Xander didn't get out, he likely wouldn't get out without considerable political pressure. Pressure she didn't think they had or could afford. She was also secretly glad that she hadn't been forced to tell Xander to 'go home' or similar. She knew he would feel betrayed by her choice to defend the guards from him... and telling him to run would have likely only added insult to injured ego. She makes no further movements, simply staying in her kneeling position, arms raised once more.


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Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Rolls being made clockwise from Ary. Ary activates Intruder's End. Ary will use bodyguard on everyone until such time as hostilities cease. She takes 10 points of fire damage. Everyone except Legionaire 7 within range of intruder's end (20 feet, indicated on the map) gains a +9 bonus to their reflex save.

Spellcraft v. Xander: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Vanguard (Prone) Unafe: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 4 = 27
Vanguard (Prone) #5: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 15 - 4 = 31
Vanguard (Prone) #5 Camel: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 4 = 28
Vanguard (Prone) #7: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 4 = 12
Vanguard (Prone) #7 Camel: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 4 = 25
Vanguard (Prone) Lann: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 4 = 13
Vanguard (Prone) Valais: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 4 = 18
Vanguard (Prone) Xander: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 15 - 4 = 24
Vanguard (Prone) #6: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 4 = 15
Vanguard (Prone) #1: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 4 = 14
Vanguard (Prone) Camel 1: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 4 = 26
Vanguard (Prone) Unnumbered Legion: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 4 = 19
Vanguard (Prone) Unnumbered Camel: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 15 - 4 = 29

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Ary's eyes widen as she realizes what Xander is doing, though her reflexes are no less poor than if a Brimorak had chosen to do the same. Her motes fly outwards all at once, and - still in a kneeling position - she disappears and reappears throughout the camp, pulling enemies and allies alike out of the blast of the fireball. "Stand down." she calls from seemingly everywhere at once.

She reappears in her original position, somewhat singed by the process. "I will not trade lives." she says, tersely.


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Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Diplomacy Aid (Surge): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 1 + (2) = 31 +11 to Unafe's Roll. Rude Surge die is rude.
Profession(Soldier): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29 Just making sure I follow the Soldier Code of Conduct and don't do anything silly that would get you shot back home :p

Ary simply shifts in the sand to face the man, moving closer to Unafe by virtue of the motion. Her arms still looped through two of her bags and otherwise upraised. She still hasn't stopped kneeling. Her lucerne hammer (without the pennon) and her longbow are both hanging from the masterwork backpack. She gives a small nod to Lann.

"My name is Ary Bishop, and I'm one of three Crusaders in present company, the others are allies. There was a group of wizards that came here from Mendev... on my request. I was unaware that there was any danger here to them, but I am still responsible for sending them into this situation. To my knowledge, none of them are religiously inclined. They - The Riftwardens - came here to use your resources to research a way to stabilize a rift that we located along the edge of the Worldwound - I was hoping that we might utilize it to defend Unafe's homeland - but I digress. Yesterday morning, one of our allies performed a sending and received word from the Riftwardens that they had been captured by a group known as the Blackfire Adepts - a doomsday cult. Our Riftwarden allies were staying in Azir, though I do not know precisely where." Ary is quick to volunteer. Ary will share the date that they were expected to arrive, if she knows it, as well as a physical description of each of the Riftwardens she knew.

"The Blackfire Adepts are lead by a monstrosity known as Xanthir Vang - a man made of worms. I believe this same group allied with demonic cultists in an attack on Kenabres years ago, where they stole knowledge from the Riftwardens - and killed many more. Their end goal is to plunge the world into chaos 'because entropy will always win' or something to that effect. The assault on the Riftwarden's library included undead. As such, I would suspect that wherever they have set up shop would result in harm in some way to the locals."

"Because the researchers are my responsibility, and one of them is a lover of a companion, we rushed here without performing due diligence in learning your laws. Honestly, we didn't have time to make any real preparations at all, determining that time was a commodity we did not have. As such, we did our best to avoid causing you and your people any trouble... though it is clear that our best was far from good enough."

"I was under the impression that worship and symbols would be illegal, and as a result had placed all of the items of such description that I normally wear inside of this bag before coming here. I do not intend to remove them from the bag on your soil... unless it would save a life. A few of the objects inside are weapons. Several of them are heirlooms, and still more are irreplacable." she says, tilting her head to indicate the bag on her left. "It also has a significant portion of the treasure that we recovered from a dragon's den inside. None of us were aware that wearing items that might be made by divine magic was illegal. The necklace that I'm wearing helps against swarms and was crafted by a druid. I believe that the golden ropes at my shoulders were crafted by a wizard." she pauses, and huffs, looking deflated. "I understand that you are merely doing your job, just as I would ask of my subordinates back home. Even still, we request - not demand - that any steps that can be performed in order to keep the knowledge of us being here limited are performed, due to the negative impact it will have on our ability to save our allies." she pauses for a moment, fingers tracing the empty space where her ring would normally be, which causes visible discomfort before she continues.

"When I was reincarnated after being eaten by a demon, I took on a new form. I am currently using magic to maintain my original form for comfort's sake. I do not know whether it is divine or arcane magic. When you request, I will lower the spell so as to avoid any surprises."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Ary sits up and hears Unafe mention guards once more. She hangs her head with a sigh. She was getting tired of running and hiding. She doesn't rise, instead simply sitting up enough to grab her masterwork backpack and the heavier of the two bags of holding. "Yes, we should probably split up. They'll be able to track us wherever we go so long as we stay together. So one group goes, one stays... I don't care which. If I'm staying, I'm certainly not fighting... I'm talking. As such, I would prefer if people took my bags with them."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Perception (Mythic Perception Exploit, Whomp): 1d20 + 17 - 10 + 6 - 10 ⇒ (1) + 17 - 10 + 6 - 10 = 4


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

I think Hinagiku has already 'slept' as much as she needs to, as such I'm okay with just her being on watch, if folks want to rotate, that's fine, too. Ary, Ehren, Unafe, and Xanderghul should all be capable of maintaining Endure Elements while not moving due to mythic survival exploits, it's dc30 (50 at full speed) to maintain while on the move. As such, I vote Lann and Valais can have the tent

Survival (Predict Weather): 1d20 + 14 - 10 ⇒ (1) + 14 - 10 = 5 Whomp, Whomp.

As they travel, Ary keeps glancing to the sky, but honestly has no idea what to look for in this sort of environment... and everything seeming constant in the skies above does little to give her a nudge in the right direction. Maybe one of the others would have a better idea.

When they find absolutely no kind of accommodations to their needs for shelter, Ary isn't surprised. Nothing about this had been easy, and it was only going to be harder in the future. Ary rolls her shoulder and reaches into her bag, running her hand along Faith to borrow its magic to help them stay awake. When the shield doesn't oblige her immediately, her lips pull into a crease and her brow furrows. Then she shrugs, without mentioning anything more about it.

"If Daisy's okay, I'm comfortable with just her being on watch, otherwise, we can take shifts with her. The less time we sleep, the better. If you get too cold or hot, wake me up, and I can bolster your resistances, Daisy."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"I don't like the idea of us splitting up any more than we have to. We should cross the river again, and seek out shelter together... otherwise there's no way of knowing how we'll possibly get into contact with Isilme and Ehren again." Ary replies. "But I don't mind you being ahead of us at all, you can cover a lot more ground than I can, so you'll be better suited to finding a safe place."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"That's a fair point." Ary says, nodding to Hinagiku. It wasn't something she'd really considered, given how limited her interactions had been with those who lived here, though Hinagiku had spent more time interacting directly, so she didn't have any arguments with that.

"We'll have to find a way to regroup quickly in the future, I think. Infiltration usually doesn't include the bad guys finding the other group before our people return. I'm not used to competent adversaries."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"One or the other, not both." Ary says in response to Valais. "And definitely not directly to the trap door, just along the path to there, and don't go near it if there are guards. I prefer to avoid using consumables when they aren't vital, we can hold it back for if things go more wrong."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"Sorry, Lann. I cast a spell while you were asleep and left you out of the effect, we've been communicating in our heads. I'm letting Unafe know where we are, she's suggesting one of us go to meet up with Isilme... which I suppose means following the road."

"I don't even know if Isilme has left the city, yet. And I can't just fly back and forth along the road looking for her; that kind of defeats the purpose of having ran away already. I think Xander with magic and possibly Lann are the only ones we have access to that could look for Isilme at this point. Valais, you, and I are all clearly magical. Maybe Hinagiku is an option? She would be able to tell them where to rendezvous. We need to pass on to Isilme that they can see through illusion magic, regardless of how we do so."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

"They can see through his invisibility." Ary thinks into the group link as she flies towards the river. Once there, she slows, landing, and letting the others go. She looks over her shoulder at the trail that she'd left. "I should probably go one way and you guys go the other. They'll follow the trail I've left a lot more easily than yours. I'll go away from where Unafe and the others should be, you move towards them?" she suggests.

"I'm going to try to lead them away from Xander and the others while not letting myself be seen too easily, creating an alternate trail that goes over the river for a bit. I'll loop back around towards the rest of you after fifteen or so minutes. I'll fly back along the path I came on and then make a fork as well, so it looks like this direction is false, maybe. I can't really cover the path, but I can double up on it. sh e shares into the link. "Just try to cover up your tracks as well. With any luck, they'll have to move slower than you guys will, though we have experts in the Crusades that can track at full speed, so I wouldn't rely on it."

Ary intends to fly back along her motes at full speed for one minute, then fork away from where she thinks their campsite was, traveling across the river, traveling for a bit longer, then starting to loop back around.

Survival: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Follow own trail
Survival: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 Discern direction
Survival: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 Discern direction after creating her 'loop'


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Survival: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 No Whammies!


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Stealth (Invisibility, Fast Stealth): 1d20 + 8 - 12 + 20 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 12 + 20 - 5 = 20

Ary's head droops as the people continue to act with scrutiny towards wind, not certain of how paranoid they must be to do so so reliably. She reaches out for Valais and Lann, "The guards are incredibly paranoid, I don't know what's alerted them exactly, but they seem to be calling for reinforcements I think. I'm going to fly us away as quickly as I can manage. Xander and Valais, hold on, I'll grab Lann then let him get his own grip before shifting my focus to you two, since he can't hear us. We'll head towards the river, if need be we can cross it to make it harder to follow us."

Ary's intent is to grab her allies (or be grabbed by them) and then fly towards the river. She has a flight speed of 70 feet while she has martial focus. She'll move at 65 feet rather than 70 in order to fast 'stealth'. Once the others have good purchase on her, she can speed up to a run of 350 feet per round, but can no longer hide.


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 - 12 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 12 + 20 = 28 +20 more if Xanderghul continues not moving.
Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Ary looks from Lann to Xanderghul, the inclines her head towards the fields behind them, before tilting her head.

"Xander, I think we should go into the fields for now, but I'll stick by you. Unafe, good, that was dangerous for a bit. I'd suggest heading to the river and waiting for Ehren, then move west if he agrees. If there are outdoor entrances to the sewer, they're likely to be near the coast... but also likely to be guarded, I'd think. If there isn't disagreement, we can probably move to the river through these fields. I'd hazard that the river is less guarded than the sea as well."


Living Steel DR 4/Evil Female InE 1 / SYF 1 / SP 1 / SCB 1 Valiant Keeper Half-Elven Ran 8/War 2/Fig 10 (VMC) HP (153/153)
Stats:
AC/Touch/Flat/CMD 32/15/25/30 | Fort/Ref/Will +13/12/12 | Init +05
MP 06/11 LP 3/3 AM 3/3 SP 12/12 CS 12/12 M 0/6
Skills:
+21: Acrobatics +22: K(Pl) +18: Athletics +17: Perception +15: P(Soldier); +14: K(Du, Na, Re), A(Poetry), Survival; +12: Diplo +8: Stealth; +7: Spellcraft, Ride; +6: Heal; +5: L(Drezen); +3 Ling; +2: K(No, Lo, Ar)

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 - 12 + 40 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 12 + 40 = 42 Don't move!
Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

"Outside the city. What now?" Ary thinks into the link to her allies as she focuses on simply staying still and quiet.

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