As the days passed, Dantrian lent his keen mind and methodical attention to detail to the restoration of Ascanor Lodge. With new leadership in place and the threat of the warring wolves diminished, it only took a few weeks time before the alchemist determined the small community stable and self sufficient once more.
At the last, and though his companions tried their best to delay its coming, the day for his departure arrived. Gathered in the recently refurbished Warden's Hall, the stoic alchemist made his rounds and offered each of his companions an earnest farewell.
Meaning well, each offered in his or her own way an encouragement or warning regarding the fate which we was walking toward, but he dismissed each with a patient nod and counter point.
"No, I am not worried that the wolves might harm me, Drosil, though thank you for your concern. Feral has proven himself strong enough to keep any challengers in line and, I humbly suspect, my time with you all has left me in a similar position of capability and readiness."
"You are right that I will be a prisoner of sorts, Janos, but that is a fate I fear I can only escape now in death. At least this way affords me the opportunity to continue my studies into lycanthropy and, if I am successful, perhaps discover a means to spare anyone else from sharing this bleak curse in the future."
Dantrian nods at Anton as the Desnan touches the arrow reserved in his quiver. "Thank you, Anton, but I do not expect you will need to put that to use. Let me use Feral and his influence over the wolves to bring order to the wild parts of the Shudderwood and we can see the Stairs of the Moon restored to their original purpose."
"And B'yelka. I will often wonder at the odds of our paths crossing as they did back in Ravengro and the vagaries of probability that saw us share a road again for so long. You have been a bright spot upon another otherwise dark and dismal road and, I hope for your sake, our paths diverge again."
Through it all, Mosswick flits and scampers about, showing more emotion than the alchemist ever has as the tiny creature whimpers softly as it nuzzles each of Dantrian's companions in turn with a sad, drooping tail.
With his goodbyes said, Dantrian turns and offers a final nod to his companions before setting out through Ascanor's gate, Mosswick perched atop his shoulder.
---
In time, and at the fierce and powerful urging of Feral, the scattered packs of the Shudderwood settled into a time of peace after perching atop the brink of civil war for so long. The first task the wolves accomplished after Feral seized control and established himself as the new Alpha, was the clearing and cleansing of the Stairs of the Moon. The grounds were washed, encroaching vines torn down, and the crumbled walls and passages cleared, leaving the place fit for Anton and his fellow devotees to more fully restore.
---
With their primary place of governing forfeited to the Desnans, Dantrian and Feral turned the unified pack's attention north, to Feldgrau. The wolves set about the lengthy process of clearing the ruined town and rebuilding from scratch. With the help of Anton and the growing Desnan clergy in the area, they were able to cleanse the grounds of Feldgrau from the foul necromancies practiced by the Whispering Way, save for the site of the crumbled tower where Vrood had fallen. The ground there remained stained and black, and the tower was left a toppled ruin, as a testament to what had nearly befallen the whole of the Shudderwood.
---
As the months turned to years, New Feldgrau eventually began to grow and serve as a home for the wolves of the varying packs. And with the wolves centralized there, the southern paths and hunting trails surrounding Ascanor flourished, helping the lodge regain some of its lost glory.
---
Dantrian rarely left New Feldgrau after its completion, devoting much of his time to research. What contact he did maintain with the outside world was via letter, the bulk of which he exchanged with Count Caromarc as the pair compared notes and theories from afar. The alchemist never did find happiness though, as if such a thing could be found for the cursed in Ustalav. He did pursue a life of duty though, in his view fulfilling the grim task of ensuring that the evils perpetuated by the wolves and the Way would never happen within the confines of the Shudderwood again. And, for as long as he lived, during a lifetime extended both by the curse which wrought Feral and his own alchemical discoveries, he was successful in that much at least.
I've been having a bear of a time posting anywhere of late given the new rules that have come down from on high regarding us no longer being able to have our cell phones at our desks. Been very frustrating.
My biggest lament with our current pacing has been the leap from fight environment to fight environment, which leaves little opportunity for me to get Dantrian into the mix. And also, I really think things haven't been quite the same since Tibi had to bow out. Be sure to tell your wife she's been missed, Jelani!!
Regardless of when we decide to wind this down, Dantrian and Feral ruling over the Shudderwood packs is my uber dream. =P
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But yeah, you guys are some of my favorite folks in all the boards. I'm happy to see this through to whatever end we may find whenever we might find it. =D
If anyone can make better use of that ring of protection +2 they are welcome to it. Anton could have it or B'yelka could use it and pass her hand-me-down +1 ring to either Anton or Dantrian perhaps?
---
The amulet of natural armor won't stack with Dantrian's own elixir of barkskin, so that would do him little good. The chain shirt, belt of physical might, or boots of striding and springing would suit him well, though.
And dang, that celestial armor is nuts! That armor is sweet!
I completely understand. And I think we've done so well this far thanks to a lot of smart buffs and such, but, I mean, I'm level stinking 8 and I'm still wearing the same janky, old non-masterwork armor I had at level 2. =P
And, oh powerful and gracious DM, if you might find a point at which to bestow items of power upon us, it would be much appreciated.
Dantrian's most expensive item that he owns remains the stone of alarm we acquired back in Harrowstone and, while an enjoyable novelty that afforded a rather dramatic scene at the town statue, the thing is otherwise utterly useless. He's at less than 1/3 the typical wealth for an 8th level character (10k vs 33k), and Anton and B'yelka are even lower (each just north of 8k).
Dantrian starts to rush toward Janos and Drosil, but Feral proves too willful at seeing his friends in trouble and the alchemist doubles over. The transformation ripples through him and he stands a moment later with an angry snarl.
Dantrian shakes his head stiffly. "We saw a similar display as we entered the Shudderwood, though that particular victim had been lashed to a tree and was left with wolfsbane stuffed in its mouth. I cannot say if this spectacle is meant to serve a similar purpose or otherwise."
Dantrian states flatly, "Indeed." His hand comes up to his forehead once more and he clenches his jaw. Looking toward his companions and nodding in the direction of the abandoned town, he asks, "Shall we resume the chase then?"
Dantrian remains stoic and silent through the exchange, those his friends can tell quiet plainly by his posture that much of his concentration and energy are focused inward. The muscles in his neck and shoulders are particularly taut as Mosswick shoots B'yelka a worried and mournful shake of his head.
Dantrian then at last ventures a halting question as he massages his brow with one hand, "And- if one of these 'demon wolves' consumes the heart before we are able to recover it? What- ah, what becomes of your conflict then? You serve the Jezeldans without question?"
Dantrian watches the exchange with a quiet focus as he feels Feral pressing in at the corners of his mind, trying to exert himself to boast of his dominance over the Silverhides and to establish the same over the Prince's Wolves. Mosswick shoots his master a concerned look, but Dantrian dismisses the worry in his homunculus' glance with a wave of his hand.
The alchemist, his keen eyes glittering eerily silver in the shadows of the wood, adds, "Mathus was in league with our quarry. We became involved when he positioned himself between us and the Way." His stoic gaze then shifts from the swarthy band in front of them to the trail beyond then back to Rhakis, with an expectant look.
Dantrian nods as everyone confirms the tower is unfamiliar. "Perhaps it is best we pursue the fleeing agents of the Way directly rather than return to Ascanor for directions then. Hopefully the tower is prominent enough or the trail quite plain; I fear they will slip our grasp if any more time is lost."
"Let us hope the wolfsbane did its work successfully in both you and Drosil and that the point will prove moot." Dantrian dismisses the grim conversation with a wave of his hand and he steers the talk to their shared dream. "To our larger goal, and presuming Desna granted us those visions in nearest chronological order in which they might occur, then it seems some agent of the way clad in bone lies in our future. Perhaps the same agent who now bears what remains of Sain's heart." The alchemist taps his index finger against his lips as he considers the dream and its imagery. "There was a tower in the dream. I don't suppose any of you recognized it or heard mention of such a landmark during our time at the lodge?"
Dantrian shakes his head futilely at Janos' question. "I cannot be sure, Janos. Given that my curse has manifested, I should also no longer still be me, and yet here I remain with my mind intact."
"It certainly may, Janos. I could see all that was used and how each ingredient was prepared. But it is not a guarantee. It is fortunate you both proved strong enough to survive the poison, but time will tell if the wolfsbane was sufficient to scour the curse from each of you." He pauses for a moment before shaking his head simply. "As the next full moon approaches, we should consider taking... precautions."
Dantrian shakes his head. "Do not fool yourself, Anton. I was a helpless passenger while the curse held sway. Whatever that creature did, it did of its own will and accord, not mine." The alchemist then pulls his hands behind his back and clasps them together as he begins to slowly pace. "As for its motives? I did not have the same insight into its thoughts as it claimed to have into mine. But can I live with it?" Dantrian goes quiet as he considers the question, his now silver eyes chasing the various lines in the stonework as he thinks. "Perhaps? Honestly, none of my research suggested that I would remain myself once the curse fully exerted itself. While the curse would change me bodily with the lunar cycle, who I was would be no more regardless of my appearance. My psyche, motivations, hungers and desires should have all been twisted and perverted." He paces some more in silence, his posture stiff and rigid.
"But that did not happen and I seem to still be in my right mind. Perhaps with some adjustments to the formula Petros provided I can continue to limit the frequency at which the curse can exert itself. And for those times, hopefully scant few, when it does emerge, I will at least be in a position to take precautions before hand and to actively counter its schemes." He turns then to Anton and shrugs. "Forgive me, I am not sure if that answered your question."
Dantrian turns to regard Anton with his typical stone-faced stoicism and nods once in acknowledgment of the Desnan's confession. "I remained," he hesitates for a long moment, searching for the best word, "aware, yes. Though it is perhaps just as well that your hesitation won the day. The premise that the curse would consume me wholly was, it seems, a faulty one." He spreads his hands out, as if presenting himself as a piece of evidence on display. "If you bear guilt for not loosing your arrow, you need not, Anton."
lol, if Jelani's time-line is accurate, Dantrian's been back among you for more than a day, B'yelka. So sweet of you to notice! =P
Dantrian rises once his senses return to him, the motion tight and controlled. "Presuming the visions afforded to us were given in chronological order, then it seems possible that the figure with the skeletal breastplate is the Way's agent who took Sain's heart." He stiffly brushes some unseen dust from one shoulder as he turns to the stairs. "I should prepare for our imminent pursuit."
Did that druid lady give us a destination to go running toward? If not, identifying the tower might help orient us in the right direction.
Dantrian's eyes open with a start and come sharply into focus, though he remains seated and cross-legged. His posture stiff and back rigid, he bounces his eyes from left to right as he processes the experience he just had without emoting any kind of emotional reaction.
As the others gasp and speak of the vision, Dantrian ventures cautiously, "You all saw the same vision then? Curious."
Dantrian shakes his head at the unpleasant thought of having to verbalize his experience. "It was- it was worse than I had anticipated, Janos." His words falter as he shakes his head. "The only positive thing worth mentioning is that I remain myself. In all my other studies of lycanthropy, once the curse fully manifests the person afflicted is fundamentally changed. I cannot yet explain it, but that appears to not have happened in my case." He shakes his head unhelpfully and offers a slight shrug before gesturing for the ranger to walk onward. As the ranger goes, the alchemist falls into step behind.
When Janos comes in from his ritual communion though, Feral is gone and Dantrian once more stands in his company. The stoic alchemist nods wearily to the ranger and extends him a steaming cup with little fanfare.
"Janos. Fer- when my curse loosened its hold at last, I found this had been prepared. It is not unlike the tea I so often drink, though there is nothing I could add to it to diminish the bitterness. Additionally, this contains a potentially lethal dose of wolfsbane. You should know that before going any further." His eyes are steely and set as his gaze holds Janos', tongues of steam curling up into the air between them from the cup in the alchemist's hand.
Glad you're still enjoying it enough to keep following along, Eschie! =)
Also, regarding the acquisition of wolfsbane, I recalled reading something about a lab with beakers or somesuch but didn't remember the details so I read back through the last 10 pages or so.
I was thinking of the room we found Estovion hiding in, with the bars and the pit, here. Maybe there might be some wolfsbane there? <shrug>
Personally, how I've thought of Dantrian's lycanthropy from the beginning, was that it is indeed curable if caught in time, but that he got to Petros too late for a typical cure (ala vanilla pathfinder) to work. Basically, if you treat the curse with wolfsbane or whatever before the subject first turns, it can be cured. If the victim turns before that though, the curse becomes permanent and unbreakable.
The formula Petros gave Dantrian was experimental and aimed at curing a lycanthrope who had already turned. To this end, it worked to a degree and while Dantrian was prevented from becoming a true lycanthrope (no shapechanger sub-type, no ability to spread it, no longer mechanically tied to the lunar cycle), what he and Feral have become are wholly unique.
---
I've also toyed with the idea in my head that Petros' forumula wasn't meant to cure lycanthropy out-right, but to split the curse off from the host to a larger extent, so that the host wouldn't be utterly lost when he or she turned. He just never told Dantrian that.
I also really like Janos' 2.1/3.1 suggestion. I like that a lot.
Aaaand, if Janos and Drosil's lycanthropy is curable, in-game wise that would be huge for Feral. A big part of Feral's motivation right now in securing the wolves and the throne is to establish a place where he belongs and to make a family for himself and for Dantrian. Willfully helping Janos and Drosil, in Feral's weird view two of his closest friends, *leave* that family would be a profoundly sad thing for him to do.
Hey guys, just wanted to let you excellent know that I'll be away on my annual gaming weekend/cabin trip this weekend. I'll be heading out on Thursday afternoon and won't be back until sometime Monday.
If anything happens while I'm gone, Feral will happily growl menacingly at it, then verbally threaten it, then try and rip its face off with the dagger borrowed from Drosil. =)
Can B'yelka get a read on Feral's earnestness about aims aligning? Snese Motive, take 10 for a 29
Sorry I missed this earlier, B'yelka. You would totally feel that Feral is being truthful and genuine in his hatred for the Whispering Way and his desire to avenge Petros and protect Dantrian. You'd also probably have the inkling that those aren't his only goals though. That being said, he does seem to be absolutely forthright in his desire to tear down the Way.
After Duristan slinks off and the tower proper comes into view, Dantrian falls to one knee suddenly as a wave of pain and fear wash over his face.
"Nggggh." He gasps for breath as the change begins to distort his body. His eyes shoot a pleading a look to each of his allies before he doubles over again, silver fur exploding from his body.
As the party nears the tower and the stairs within, Dantrian quaffs a series of additional elixirs and potions. As he finishes, he accepts Drosil's offer of use of his dagger. "I had hoped the magics woven into the mace might have been strong enough to overcome the resilience of the lycanthrope's curse, but it seems the enchantments are not so strong as I had hoped. Thank you, Drosil."
Turning to Duristan as he stows the mace, the alchemist arches an eyebrow. "You do not suffer the curse of lycanthropy yourself, do you, Duristan? Or perhaps you know something about the Stairs or this tower which you have not revealed? I struggle to see any other possible reasons for you to strike out upon your own, so surrounded as we presently are."
Dantrian's posture returns to its typical stiffness slowly, once he and the others seem reasonably sure the other wolf isn't returning. He glances to Duristan as he approaches B'yelka and Anton, "Can we take that as evidence we are nearing the stairs?" Turning to the pair then, he asks with uncharacteristic earnestness, "Are you both ok? You were not bitten, were you?"
Prior to leaving
Dantrian leaves his remaining 3 holy waters with Delgros. "Should the spirit return. I suspect it will dislike these as strongly as silver."
As they set out on the road, he drinks a pair of his typical elixirs.
ablative barrier, and false life:1d10 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
---
As the beasts suddenly appear, blades flashing with blood soon after, Dantrian swallows his own curse, but only barely. With what force he can muster, he steps in near to the closest wolf and brings his mace around in two heavy arcs.
Returning to the group from the lower floor, Dantrian shakes his head catching the tail end of Anton's exchange with Duristan. "I found no sign of the spirit within the building." Regaring the noble, Dantrian offers the man a respectful nod as Anton slams the door to their room shut behind him, "You should know that Anton's frustrations now only stem from his sense of responsibility for what has transpired here since our arrival. It is a foolish notion, but I fear he feels it heavily nonetheless." The alchemist turns then to also prepare, but stops after a few steps and turns back to Duristan, building off of Drosil's wise insight. "Whatever happens after we have gone, this place will need a strong leader to maintain order amongst those who remain. Might that be you, Duristan?"
Duristan is the noble, Delgros is the hunter who is leading us to the stairs, yes? Or is Duristan coming along with us to the stairs as well?
Dantrian returns on Anton's heels, a vial of holy water in one hand and the bandolier in the other. Not seeing the creature for several breaths, Dantrian then bolts for the stairs. He calls out to Ashan as he runs, "Ashan! Can the spirit claim another? Can it jump from host to host?!"
"Our apologies Corvin, it was the only way to drive the wolf spirit from your body. You are not safe here though, the spirit is loose and may come for you again."
Turning to Ashan, Dantrian quickly asks, "Ashan! Is the spirit vulnerable to holy water as well?"
If it is, Dantrian releases Corvin and dashes back to his room, snatching a bandolier with 3 vials of holy water from the chair by his portable alchemist's table. If holy water is not effective, he instead grabs a silver dagger.
Funny you should mention that, dude. I was perusing d20pfsrd yesterday and saw a homunculuist archetype for alchemists listed there. Thinking that might have been the archetype you'd mentioned, I started reading it and grew more and more confused as the archetype gives up mutagen for an homunculus. Then I realized it was from the Animal Archive book and suddenly felt much better about the archetype you had actually been gushing about. =)
Still haven't had a chance to take a gander at your handiwork though, alas. I'll definitely give it a look sometime, but that's not a hardcover book I'm likely to purchase. Waaaaay too much of the book is stuff and classes I'm not interested in and after my experiences with Ultimate Magic and the Advanced Class Guide, I've decided even if I do pick up any additional hardcovers, I'll wait for a second or third printing before doing so.
Compared to OA, Ultimate Intrigue interests me quite a bit, but I know that book's a ways out yet.
He could beat a sudden and hasty exit to accomplish another mysterious aim of his own while we're busy saving innocents from monsters, perhaps? =P
I also kind of got the impression his schedule sometimes explodes with his freelance design work. Knowing that he contributed to Occult Adventures, I'm wondering if he might be tapped for stuff in Ultimate Intrigue with the 2nd round of playtesting wrapping up.
Biweekly group looking for players to fill out our numbers. Planescape expertise and supplemental books not necessary. Because of variable schedules, we rarely play at full capacity so we want a couple new players to ensure that we have at least three participating players at each session. We’re just switching our campaign to a Sigil based game, which makes it easy to explain the absence of various PCs from session to session. Sessions are held at my apartment in Elmhurst (a five minute walk from the Roosevelt Ave/Jackson Heigts stop [7, E, F, G, R, V trains]), generally from 1 pm to 5 or 6.
We use 3.5 edition with loose mechanics and role play. It’s Planescape, so the sky is the limit for PCs, though I discourage evil PCs unless I feel that a player is mature enough to handle it. Starting level is 3rd with most supplemental material allowed, though I often modify such rules to my comfort. There will be combat but there will also be plenty of faction politics and planar exploration. We don’t run the game by canon and we don’t run it by the Rules As Written; campaign specifics can be found here. If you’re interested, drop me an email (Not_My_Father@yahoo.com) telling me a little about yourself and what kind of character you’d like to play.
Looking for a fresh game? My current group has tragically disbanded, and those of us who remain are looking for fresh blood, um…I mean, players.
We use 3.5 rules. You must either be comfortable with a small set of house rules or be willing to DM the game yourself. New players and old alike are welcome; all that we require is a commitment to participation in the game. As the group’s remnants all live in Queens, we will most likely play there. If interested, write to Not_My_Father@yahoo.com.
Looking for a casual, exciting game? I will be DMing a new campaign on weekends, beginning on a once monthly schedule. I have a couple campaign ideas, but will not choose any for sure until I get a group together. We will be using 3.5 rules; new players and old-timers alike are welcome.
