Hi guys,
I got word from the Cap that unfortunately he's been having issues accessing Paizo after some software updates but it working on a solution. Hopefully back soon but things might be on hold for a bit.
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ZZzzz...snort.....Huh...I'm up, just resting my eyes.
As the group sat back in the Ramblehouse one night Corentin, mead in hand and chair leaning back on two legs, asked, "So Gizsmith, you certainly chose a interesting time to visit Trunau. What brought you to our little section of the world?"
I think we're good to move into the council chat if I'm not mistaken.
Cor spends the days leading up to the council meeting checking in with friends about town and drilling with the guard. Of special note he seeks out Brinya to make sure she's getting along well.
He also makes arrangements for Martok's hammer and Johan's arrow to be delivered back to their clan. Knowing the importance dwarves put on their histories he takes time to write the tale of the events surrounding their heroic deaths and seeks Agrit's aid in translating it to dwarven. At the council meeting Corentin aids in describing their journey, primarily pointing out his companions many key contributions to their success. He also makes special mention of the aid given to them by those they met along the way, commending Raag and his crew, Calrianne and telling Silvermane of the fate of his fellow druids and Mossmoon's assistance. As with the others he is unsurprised by the council's request, having turned his own mind to the task after their escape from Redlake. "What do we know of the area this giant calls his own?"
For first level Endure Elements, Bless and Comp Language are always nice. Ironbeard and Mighty Fist of Earth aren't as useful but I thought the image of Jaghal throwing them around was amusing. As far as Cor shopping goes I'm thinking the ever popular Ring of Prot +1, Cloak of Resist +1 and a replacement potion of Bull's Strength. It sounds like we're heading into an undead area followed by giants. Thoughts for things we might need for the undead? Might be dealing with ability drain, energy drain and incorporeal.
7th (Sentinel 1) : +8 hp, +1 Fort, +1 BaB, +4 Skill pts (Diplomacy, Handle Animal, K:Religion, Ride), Feat : Spirited Charge, Symbolic Weapon, Obedience Ok Sentinel post done...I'll add some shopping and NPC chatter in a bit.
Corentin took a slow, deep breath, heavy with the scent of roses, and held it a moment before slowly releasing it. He'd awoken later than usual thanks to the nights festivities and earned himself a sour glare from Resolute for his tardiness. He was happy to see he wasn't the worst of the lot however when he found Szacha still in Cayden's embrace two stalls over. He briefly considered a watery wake up call for the skald but out of respect for the man's company let the idea pass. A well deserved brush down and a few extra carrots seemed to put him back in his horse's good graces and the two had proceeded to spend an hour racing the wind just outside of town. After returning the cavalier had made his way to the small rose garden he maintained alongside the Ramblehouse. He was pleased to find that the plants had recovered well from the damage they took during the attack. New growth was evident in all the bushes and their blooms were plentiful. He spent time pruning and watering, enjoying the simple work beneath the warm afternoon sun until all was cared for. With his tasks behind him, he now sat contemplating the events of the last weeks. So much tragedy and triumph has been squeezed into such a short time it was impossible to separate the two. Good men and women had died in defense of Trunau and the brave souls that lived within it. Corentin himself had stood but a hairs breadth from death on more than one occasion. The thought brought to mind the vision he had seen upon falling to the orcs' blades and later the words that spurred him back to consciousness on the ship. "You are needed" A simple phrase but one that held such weight of duty. Ever since surviving his companies destruction Corentin had suspected that Milani had been watching over him. Now he considered that perhaps she had always been with him, a seed waiting to flourish, and that it was he who had found her. Looking back on his life he could see how it had brought him to a place where he now understood the meaning of sacrifice and the power of hope. It was a simple realization but once made it brought to the forefront the connection to the divine that he, and any who sought it, carried within. Having uncovered this link a new strength poured into Corentin and he sat for a time contemplating it. No longer did he merely suspect that the Everbloom's eyes were upon him but instead knew that he and the Goddess were bound together by their belief that peace, love, health and life were things worth fighting and dying for. As the sun sank lower in the sky Corentin finally broke from his meditations and recalled the other reason he'd come to the garden. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew the rose seeds he'd taken from the Vault of Thorns. Carefully choosing a site he planted them with a prayer to Milani for each before heading back into the Ramblehouse to enjoy an evening with friends.
Got back later than I'd hoped yesterday so I'm a bit behind. Thanks for putting the loot sheet together Giz. I'd say just the CLW wand and cure potions are of interested. I've got Cor pretty well updated but need to figure out his feat and put up a nice post to tie it together. Should have that all done sometime today/tonight.
It wasn't until the towns towers were in view that Corentin finally felt himself relax a bit. The journey back had been blessedly uneventful but it was still Belkzen and so vigilance was always needed. While aboard the ship the cavalier aided the crew as he could, now at least moderately proficient at some tasks, and spent time with the group. Noting Szacha's focus he let the man be for the most part, only checking in from time to time to see how he was doing. As they neared Trunau he was happy to see it was not long before the towns outriders found and challenged them. After the first of many happy reunions Cor called back to the gnome behind him, "Hold on Jaghal!" and gave a challenging tilt of his head towards town to Sasha before he loosened the reigns and let Resolute surge forward. It seemed the horse was as excited as it's riders to be home again and in no time at all they were passing through the outer gates to the rousing cheers of the guards stationed there. The first day back was a bit of a blur. After seeing to the animals and his gear he entered the Ramblehouse to find the place swarmed with people. Corentin barely managed to greet Cham before he was surrounded by well wishers, tale seekers and others who came out to see the returning group. At one point he quietly asked Szacha, "So will you be unveiling your masterwork tonight? The celebration lasted long into the night and Cor swore the hangover the next morning was more painful than any giants blow.
I'm going to be traveling starting this afternoon until Monday. I should be able to get some posts in but might be delayed a bit.
You know you're not actually supposed to eat the leg bone right? Glad to hear you're on the mend.
Having exhausted the other ways available on this floor Corentin gives the party a few minutes to rest and prepare themselves for the journey out. When everyone is set and Szacha's "helpful" succession plan is placed he cracks one of the doors to the balcony before tossing a torch onto the blanket covered beds. As the flames begin to catch and give off a black smoke he quickly leads the group back down through the keep and eventually into the pit they entered through. There they wait in the filth filled tunnel for the impending chaos to cover their escape.
Not sure how much is meta gaming and how much is what Cor would want to do but we might want to check a bit more in the keep to see if we find any signs of Calrianne's ancestor. Beyond that Cor is all for getting while the getting is good.
"We have done what we can for Trunau. With what we've found the attack seems to have been solely a vain plot by Grenseldek to gain favor with this Storm Tyrant. With her dead and the heavy losses the tribe took in the attack I don't think whoever eventually takes charge will have much interest in us. Even before their leader's death it sounds like the different factions were at each others throats. I think the best we can do now is to make our way out as quietly as possible to give those that remain no reason to consider how all of this happened." "As for the Storm Tyrant. We don't know enough to say much with great surety but if he wasn't interested in the tribes strength before I don't think the splintered remains will mean much to him. The victory we've achieved borders on the impossible. Let's make good on it and bring what we've learned back to Trunau."
"It may not be. Perhaps the same rouse we used to get in may work to get out. If we leave one of these doors open and then set this room on fire the smoke should draw the keeps attention. Some will come to fight the fire and others will come to see if it's time to push their own claim. Meanwhile we can exit the way we came in...as unappealing as that might be. Those beds should burn readily and long."
Waving the party back in Corentin closes the door before moving to the next.
Corentin grins at the gnomes enthusiasm "A fine idea but in the end the orcs and ogres would only accept our leadership as long as we could physically enforce it. The other orc tribes would also see it as a weakness and no doubt soon be knocking at our door. I suspect our rule would be short and bloody. The keep itself would be valuable if it were closer to Trunau but we are too far afield for one to provide support to the other. I think it best we continue as we planned, strike the head from the tribe, leave them in chaos and disappear before they know what happened."
"I'm all for that my friend, let's just make sure we're not in the middle of it. I'd say let's have a look about to see what our options are and then we can make our exit. If possible we can create another diversion to distract the rest of the keep."
Seeing Jaghal heading for the door Corentin intercedes. "Perhaps it would be better if I did that. Best we keep your awesomeness as a surprise for our foes."
The familiar feel of the Jaghal's divine energies infused Corentin's body. Flesh began to knit and regrow while bleeding slowed to a stop. After a moment the weariness of the battle remained but the pain of it had nearly disappeared. The cavalier didn't know of the gnome truly carried a divine spark or not but he couldn't argue with his abilities. "Thank you Jaghal"
Put aside hundreds of years ago when despair claimed those who had once held it, the morning star had sat silent and forgotten. Only a glimmer of possibility remained carried within the sole survivor of that dark time. That fragile hope traveled alone in the wilderness until it came to rest at a rare spring in a dry land. In time others came, driven from their homes by foes too innumerable to fight they sought solace near the quietly running waters. Renewed by the spring they found their courage and declared they would give no more. They would hold to this place until the last of them fell. Their foes assailed their walls again and again but still they remained with their Hopespring tended by it's silent guardian. During one such attack, when things stood on the teetering edge of a knife, the hopebearer's life was saved by a group of those who had come to dwell there. Later when that group stepped forward to give their lives to end the threat to the town he instilled a hint of the hope he bore into them. Following his words the group traveled though death and darkness to take up the long forgotten spark of hope and carry it to the very heart of their enemies forces. There they now stood, bloodied, exhausted, surrounded by foes and once again on the brink of life and death. It was then that Hope Rekindled flared with divine light as it streaked like a falling star towards the tyrants skull. The impact sounded as sickening as it was final and left the giantess crumpled in ruin on the ground. Corentin's vision had narrowed to a mere tunnel, all his focus bound up in staying on his feet and the deadly opponent that faced him. As quick and brutal as the combat had been it seemed as if hours had passed and he was shocked at first when he realized she had fallen. His battle instincts carried him past the confusion and had him looking to his companions before he had fully processed what had just happened. The relief he felt at finding them all alive put a broad grin on his face just before the realization of what they had accomplish hit him. "For Trunau!" he called out in celebration of their victory and defiance of every challenge and foe that had sought to keep them from this final result. With the immediate threats dealt with the cavalier released the magics of the armor and let the stirring effects of Szacha's song fade from his blood. Their support gone he immediately felt the full weight of his injuries and nearly joined his opponent on the ground. Breathing deeply to settle himself he said to his companions, "My friends...you hero's of Trunau....we have done the impossible and made our friends and family that much safer. Jaghal is right however, we have done what we can for the place we love and now must turn our thoughts to our own survival. I'll hold the door. Jaghal please see to our wounded while the rest marshal what resources we can from these rooms in preparation for our departure. When we're ready I suggest we try and exit as we entered." With that he crosses the room to take up a guard position by the shattered doorway. A tickle at the back of his mind had him add, "Keep an eye out for anything that might be of interested to Calrianne. Without her aid things may have turned out far different.
Is it wrong that I'm almost as excited to see Jaghal's reaction to being tripped as I am to seeing if we've dropped the giantess?
They are fickle but thankfully they didn't turn their backs on our plucky cavalier entirely :)
Reeling from the giants counter attacks, Corentin sways visibly on his feet only still standing through pure determination and perhaps a bit of magical enhancement. Seeing his opponent suffering from his prior attacks he sends himself into what he hopes will be a final series of well placed blows.
I don't see why the spirits couldn't crit. Generally stuff with an attack roll can and there's nothing in the description that says they can't. Nice series of rolls btw :)
Geez Cap'! Don't they know we're in the middle of a boss fight? ;)
spell flinging shenanigans I think this is now Gizsmith's tagline. Between the illusions, the pit and the griffon he's a one gnome fun house :)
Grenseldek's attack came faster than Corentin had expected but fortunately Gizsmiths enchantment allowed him to recover quickly enough to avoid the worst of it. "You're failings are your own giantess just as your own actions have brought this fate upon you!" Focused on the source of the attack on Trunau Corentin whirls through a series of attacks, his form blurred with magically enhanced speed.
Continuing his momentum into the room the cavalier moves to support Szacha and keep the orcs from cutting him off. "Grenseldek! You have brought death and suffering to our people to feed your vanities! You're reign ends here!" he challenges as he approaches, spirits of rage swirling around him. As he does so Hope Rekindled flairs with holy light as if echoing the warriors challenge.
Very cool. Fluff wise do you see their manifestation being representative of Szacha (and his totems/source of rage) or of the person raging (and therefore appear differently around each person)?
Funny you say that Giz, I once read a book where the main character went into a temple (or something of the sort) and chose the left door as left was considered the divine direction (again or something to that effect). For some reason that rather insignificant tidbit always stuck with me and has me favoring left in explorations. Left and right preferences aside I agree it makes sense to have Cor be our door kicker. So perhaps SOP is to have Sasha listen and give the door a once over, Giz can use his arcane sight and then (assuming no feedback on either) Cor will open and enter? Jumping back to the current situation, Sazcha does the miss chance for spirit totem apply to everyone taking rage or just to Szacha himself?
While the party begins to prepare Corentin offers guidance on the battle to come. "We'll need to get in close to these giants quickly to remove their height advantage. Strike when they're distracted by our charge."
Feeling the now familiar energy of Gizsmith's magics and Szacha's song flowing through him Corentin drinks the content of a vial from his belt pouch. "For Trunau." he says simply as he focuses his thoughts inward and releases the divine energies within his armor.
I'm definitely still having fun and interested in the run. I think we just ran into a lot of end of summer events with one or multiple people away or delayed. I'm hopeful that things will start to smooth out and pickup again as we move past it.
Corentin looks over both notes, his steadily improving understanding of the giant language easily handling Grenseldek's straightforward writing but taking a bit longer to work through Volstus's note. "So then all this was just too....so many lives lost." the cavalier shakes his head slowly. Taking and releasing a deep breath he looks to the party and continues. "At least this tells us that the attacks on Trunau were of Grenseldek's choosing and not driven by futher machinations. I agree the thought of a giant army amassing is troubling but it's just smoke on the breeze at the moment. We still have our task ahead of us, once we see it done we can worry about whatever this Storm-tyrant is up to." Helping the others pack whatever is salvageable he then crosses to the double doors and prepares to open them.
"Time is not with us in this. Let's move to the beasts room and deal with them." Corentin moves back to the doors to the manticore's room and prepares to open one once Gizsmith is ready.
Sorry for the delay in posting. This week and next are going to be a bit hectic on my side but I'll try and stay on top of things.
"Those beasts are guarding something, either the leader of this place or some treasure of theirs. In either case it would be a blow to our enemies for us to get by them. Your plan seems reasonable enough Master Glitterbyte. The chain in the room seemed like it might raise the cages so I guess the remaining question is do we try and kill the beasts or raise the cages out of our way?"
Corentin steps up next to Szacha and waits to see what the skald hears.
Seeing no sign of cooperation in the riled beasts demeanor Corentin seals the doorway. "We can try for another path but I suspect we'll need to deal with them at some point. Their placement seems to guard something." Moving to the southern doorway he prepares to open it once the party is set.
Keeping his shield up Corentin calls, "The giants will never free you but I give you my word that if you aid us with information and swear to cause no more harm to this party then we will set you free once our mission is done. Aid us and aid your own chance at freedom."
The ways of Mighty Jaghal are mysterious indeed!
"As it happen we're looking for an evil giantess and I don't care to see any creature caged and mistreated. What can you tell us about her and where we'd find her?"
"Hopefully it's our target. Ready yourselves." Taking a deep breath and slowly releasing it Corentin settles himself before moving to one of the doors and taking a small vial from his belt pouch. Looking back he waits until everyone seems set and then drinks it with a slight grimace. His form instantly shifts and grows to twice his normal size. Reaching down he opens the doors wide.
"We should get moving. Sasha could you have a listen at that door? It seems a logical choice to lead to a main audience chamber." the cavalier says indicating the double doors to the southwest.
"That's quite a find indeed. With some more luck it's current and will help us move through the enemy more freely."
Taking advantage of the giants distraction Corentin sends a series of blows at it. The gnomish magic imbuing him make the strikes a blur of motion.
Fueled by Gizsmiths magic and Szacha's song Corentin moves opposite his friend and levels another strike at the giant.
Moving up Corentin swings at the giants knee.
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