F. Castor's page

Raevanis is civilized, charming and witty, or at the very least he used to be before the bite of a vampire changed his life. That unfortunate event and the tragic circumstances of his life after it appear to have dimmed his spirit and made him more withdrawn than the gregarious and quick-to-smile elf that he was. Still, as his condition progresses and his connection to his mortal origins diminishes, the tragedies and crimes of his past life start to feel as not that much of a burden and have less and less of a hold on him. An odd consequence of that is that his charm and wit and even his crooked smile are returning as he embraces his new reality and life, or unlife as it were, even if such character traits now appear to on occasion have a bit more of a... bite to them and his wit is somewhat drier than before sometimes.

The first of Celeador and Ellanira's two children, Raevanis was born more than a century ago, and almost two full decades before his younger sister Arianne, into the noble elven House of Dwin'Alir in the port city of Greengold in Kyonin. Quite unlike his father, who more or less epitomized the image of the aloof elven noble, Raevanis -or Raven as some of his non-elven friends would call him, the nickname having started being used because of his actual name as well as his midnight black hair- was free-spirited and gregarious, making friends among the commoner folk, elven and non-elven alike, easily despite his own social status. In fact, he preferred their company, finding them a welcome change from his family's friends and acquaintances, and would more than once sneak out of one of House Dwin'Alir's social gatherings to meet up with youths of other races on some rooftop or other. His father disapproved of course and his mother as well, albeit the latter less severely than the former, while his younger sister looked up to him, her older brother, and always looked forward to those times, few though they were, that he asked her to join him in his escapades.

Still though, even elves grow up eventually and must therefore leave behind childish things. And even though Raevanis did retain much of the nature of his youth, his charm and wit did become more refined as the years and decades passed, making men and women out of those boys and girls he had spent much of his own youth with, and he finally stood still long enough for his father to start teaching him and training him in the ways of fighting with a sword. Celeador, being an accomplished swordsman himself and quite proud of his mastery of the blade, wanted to pass his knowledge and skill to his son, hardly a strange desire for a father. And Raven proved an apt pupil, finding grace and elegance in his father's style of swordplay. Indeed, he was quick to pick up the moves and forms Celeador taught him, the longsword feeling almost like an extension of his arm during their sparring and training sessions before long. It was a good time. A pity it did not last long, at least considering how elves measure time.

As good as training and sparring is, even with real blades, and as much as it build discipline, it cannot replace actual battle experience and fighting or at least functioning alongside others, or so Celeador thought. It had certainly held true for him, as the older elf had spent quite some time when he had been younger patrolling the edges of Tanglebriar alongside other elves of Kyonin. So the time came he decided his most prized student, his own son, was ready to put what he had been taught to some use and perhaps learn from the experience. Indeed, even Raevanis, having grown much closer to his father over the years of training under him, was curious and perhaps even looking forward to putting his skills to the test. Unfortunately, such a thing was not to be.

It happened during Raven's first patrol. His was a newly formed unit, so its members were given a simple enough first task: scout a part of the Tanglebriar's northern edge, keeping a safe distance and with strict orders not to engage anything unless such a thing could not be avoided. A sort of a way to get their feet wet, as the human saying goes. But something went wrong, terribly so. Because with the exception of Raevanis, none returned from that simple scouting mission. And even he did so barely, sick and weak and pale from loss of blood, even though no visible wounds could be found. Not by the time he stumbled back into the closest elven camp, collapsing right in the middle of it.

It was immediately decided he would return to his family in Greengold, but he would do so under heavy guard as there were certain theories about what had transpired, or at least some of it. By the time he and his escort finally reached his family's estate, he was still weak and pale, but there were other disconcerting changes as well, such as his black hair slowly but surely turning white and the blue eyes he had been born with having given their place to orbs of a deep red color. These shifts in his appearance, along with the theories about what had happened, theories the elves escorting him shared with Raven's father, convinced Celeador that his son should be kept in his room and under guard at all times -imprisoned, in other words- until he and Ellanira could reach a decision about what was to be done. It took time, time during which Raevanis began growing resentful, while his father started to feel that his son was lost or would soon be and his mother believed that something could still be done, that perhaps some cleric or some divine magic could return him to how he was, to what he was.

And then there was Arianne. The sister who dearly loved her brother. The sister who would do anything for him and finally did. The sister who brought him food and drink each day and then, one day, a key as well. The sister who distracted the household guards. Who helped him escape.

Leaving his family and the city he had been born in behind, Raevanis wandered for a time, one year giving its place to the next and then the next and so on, until he found himself in Talingarde, an island in the northern hemisphere of Golarion, though not without assistance. It seems he had caught the interest of one Cardinal Adrastus Thorn, an apparently powerful man who through agents of his he had managed to facilitate the elf's voyage there. It had not come out of altruism of course, but even so Raevanis made it clear that although he was grateful, he did not see eye to eye with the man to say the least and any gratitude he felt would be expressed with words only raather than deeds. Surprisingly enough, the Cardinal actually allowed him to go, albeit with a strange smile on his lips. The elf was indeed a little suspicious, but he did not dwell too much on it, but in retrospect perhaps he should have had. Truth be told though, he did not plan on staying there for long anyway, but alas, fate had other plans and one more tragedy in store for him. Shortly after he had reached this land, Celeador and Arianne arrived as well and it was not long until their paths crossed. It was not a happy reunion.

Words were spoken, harsh words by both father and son, and despite Arianne's tearful attempts at stopping the argument, soon enough swords were drawn. Celeador had given up on his son ever becoming what he was long ago; indeed, it would not have been an exaggeration to say that the older elf had come to see Raevanis as no longer an elf, but a monster, an abomination, even though he still drew breath and was not yet what both his family and himself knew he would eventually become. And Raven was still bitter and resentful at the way his own father and mother had treated him after his return from the Tanglebriar.

The first sword blow was struck by the patriarch of House Dwin'Alir, but the younger elf managed to parry it just in time before responding kind. And so it went for a while, and even though it seemed as if Raevanis was holding his own, his weakness from whatever had happened to him at that scouting mission along with his father's clearly superior skill soon proved his undoing. But although Celeador stood poised to strike the final blow and end his son's life, his sword never came down. Something stopped him as he looked at Raven and for a moment saw his son as he had once been. Perhaps there was still a chance at reconciliation. Perhaps... if Raevanis had also stopped. But carried away by the fight and focused on parrying and counterattacking, the younger elf seized this opportunity. And he struck.

Afterwards Raevanis only remembered bits and pieces of what followed, distraught and even horrified as he was at what had done. There was his sister's cries and screams of anguish and the image of her beautiful face twisted with pain and grief and anger and hate. There was his coughing and the flecks of blood that came with it as he half ran and half stumbled away from the place the duel with his father, so unlike the sparring sessions of his youth, had taken place. And then... darkness and nightmares. And, oddly, a sense of... accomplishment of sorts, a feeling of pride at besting such a strong opponent, such a skilled swordmaster. And he felt a part of him, once small but having grown in the last few years and growing still, liked it.

After a while, he felt himself regaining consciousness. And the very next thing he felt? Strong arms lifting him up, gruff voices, threats spoken with a tone of authority. And in an instant he knew what had happened. And he knew who had turned him in, who had brought these men of law. And then he wept one more time, perhaps the last. In fact, when he turned on them, he still had tears in his eyes as he managed to wrest a sword from one of them and then proceeded to kill a couple and injure a few more, the element of suprpise and his own skill with a blade apparently all he needed to make his escape. Or at least his escape from the fate they had in store for him.

Cardinal Adrastus Thorn welcomed him back with a thin smile, a smile so like the one he had when he had allowed him to leave with only words of gratitude as payment for his debt. A smile that made Raevanis feel as if the man had known how events would play out for the elven vampire to be from the first time he had laid eyes on him.

His 2nd character level (Brawler (Snakebite Striker)) and quite a few of the class skills that come with it are a result of his life after "escaping" from his family estate and wandering about, having to rely on his wits and stealth, as well as having to learn how to fight without necessarily a weapon nearby and not always fairly or honorably. Also, I am thinking the unarmed strike's higher damage as indicative of his growing physical strength as undeath approaches.

His 3rd character level (Fighter (Weapon Master)) marks his return to formal training once he has finally more or less accepted his fate and finds himself under Thorn's "employ" so to speak.

I have not purchased equipment, but I aim to do so more or less immediately if chosen. They will mostly include standard stuff, like a good weapon and armor, a secondary weapon or two and the usual adventuring gear.

Looking ahead, if chosen, I may look into retraining him out of the Weapon Master archetype if permissible when he is a full vampire, i.e. around level 10. I am thinking that once he has embraced his new and formidable abilities, he will be moving away from focusing entirely on the longsword and will seek to probably blend swordplay with natural attacks, thus taking advantage of his vampiric strength.

Finally, I have played Way of the Wicked before and I think we had managed to finish Book 1. It was some time ago though and frankly I do not remember much, not many specifics anyway.

"I... see," is all Callum says at first as his eyes fall on the crashed distress beacon, which he proceeds to pick up and examine a little closer. "Thank you," is what accompanies his putting the bits and pieces in one of the small pouches on his utility belt. And then the Zabrak mentions reward and his gaze moves to the credit chip still in his hand.

"Oh, dear," he utters, a look of mild surprise on his face. The reaction could be called almost theatrical, just without the almost. "I had forgotten I still had that," he quips as he proceeds to put it back in the pouch he had taken it out of. "A reward is indeed in order, certainly," the atypical Jedi agrees with a smile as he once again reaches into the Force.

"You do not want anything to do with death sticks or illicit substances of any kind," he finally says. "You want to go home and rethink the choices you have made in your life, including the company you keep." And then, as his smile comes dangerously close to turning into a grin, he adds, "And that haircut. Rethink that. Hard."

He then turns to Hugo, his smile undiminished. "Come, my friend. The game is afoot, as I am sure someone somewhere must have said or will say at some point."

Sorry, I just could not help myself... :-)

Entry Requirements
. . Alignment: Any good (White Robes), neutral (Red Robes), or evil (Black Robes)
. . Base Save Bonus: Will +4
. . Spellcasting: Ability to prepare and cast 2nd-level arcane spells
. . Skills: Spellcraft 5 ranks
. . Feats: Spell Focus (any), Scribe Scroll, and one other Item Creation or Metamagic feat
. . Special: Test of High Sorcery: One of the traditions established by the First Conclave is the institution of the Test of High Sorcery, designed to challenge the dedication of any student desiring to master the art of magic.
Each Test of High Sorcery is uniquely designed for the individual taking it, and should include at least three challenges to be overcome by the wizard’s knowledge of magic and its use. Characters must solve problems and defeat foes by casting every spell they know at least once, and should also face confrontation with someone thought to be a friend or ally. The Test must also include at least one lethal danger of a Challenge Rating equal to the wizard’s own level.
Those taking the Test can bring companions with them if they desire, but will find the challenges scaled upward in compensation. No one who accompanies a wizard on his challenge has any guarantee of returning, for by the harsh terms of the Test, failure means death.
Favored Specialization: Each of the three Orders of High Sorcery has a degree of expertise in two schools of magic. This knowledge and mastery of these schools is reflected in the narrowed focus of dedicated wizards (see the Arcane Focus class feature in the Addendum spoiler). The favored schools are Abjuration and Divination (White Robes), Illusion and Transmutation (Red Robes), and Enchantment and Necromancy (Black Robes).

Hit Dice: d6
Class Skills: The Wizard of High Sorcery's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Craft (Int), Fly (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Profession (Wis), Linguistics (Int), and Spellcraft.
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier

Base Attack Progression: As Loremaster PrC
Saving Throws Progression: As Loremaster PrC
Spells Per Day Progression: As Loremaster PrC
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: As Loremaster PrC

Class Features:
. . Moon Magic (Su): All Wizards of High Sorcery draw strength directly from the moon aligned with their particular Order—White Robe wizards from Solinari, the White Moon; Red Robe wizards from Lunitari, the Red Moon; Black Robe wizards from Nuitari, the Black Moon (whose aspect only Black Robe wizards can see).
The waxing and waning of their respective moons has an effect upon the magic of Wizards of High Sorcery. When a moon is at High Sanction (from waxing gibbous, through full, to waning gibbous), wizards of that moon’s order cast spells at +1 caster level and with a +1 to any spell save DCs. When a moon is at Low Sanction (from waning crescent, through new, to waxing crescent), wizards of that moon’s Order cast spells at –1 caster level and with a –1 to any spell save DCs. During the waxing and waning periods around the quarter moons, wizards of that moon’s Order cast their spells normally.
The alignment of any two moons is a positive event for wizards of both orders, even if the moons are at Low Sanction. When two moons are in conjunction, wizards of both moons’ Orders cast spells at +1 caster level and with a +1 to any spell save DCs. These bonuses stack with any bonus or penalty already in place for the phase of the moons. Thus, if Lunitari and Nuitari come into conjunction at High Sanction, Wizards of the Red and Black Robes cast at caster level +2 and a +2 on spell save DCs. If the same two moons come into conjunction at Low Sanction, the benefit from the conjunction cancel out the penalty for the two moons being at Low Sanction, and these wizards cast spells as normal.
When all three moons come into alignment, all magic becomes more powerful. Wizards of all three Orders cast spells at caster level +2 and with a +2 on spell save DCs. Again, these bonuses stack with any bonus or penalty in place for the phase of the moons. If the three moons are in conjunction at Low Sanction, every wizard still casts with +1 bonuses. If they align at High Sanction, the bonuses are +3. This alignment, known as the Night of the Eye, occurs in a cycle of 504 days (exactly 1–1/2 years).
. . Tower Resources (Ex): A wizard who has passed their Test of High Sorcery and declared their allegiance to the Gods of Magic gains access to the libraries within the towers controlled by the Orders of High Sorcery. When a Wizard of High Sorcery is scribing or copying a spell using one of these libraries, the time requirement for this process is halved. The cost for researching new spells is onequarter standard.
When a Wizard of High Sorcery uses one of the Orders' laboratories to create magic items they automatically gain access to the most commonly used components and magical reagents. All magic item creation costs are automatically reduced by 100 stl.
. . Arcane Research (Ex): At 2nd level, a Wizard of High Sorcery gains a +1 competence bonus to all Knowledge (Arcana) and Spellcraft skill checks. For every two levels after 2nd this bonus increases by +1.
Additionally, each level that grants an Arcane Research bonus also grants the Wizard of High Sorcery a bonus spell to their spellbook in addition to spells gained from normal level advancement. This spell must be of a level the Wizard of High Sorcery can cast and must be from one of their Order's specialist schools (see Favored Specialization under Special in Entry Requirements).
. . Order Secret (Su): At 3rd, and again at 5th, 7th, 9th and 10th level, a Wizard of High Sorcery may select an Order Secret appropriate for the Order they belong to. A Wizard of High Sorcery may not choose the same secret twice.

Secrets of the Black Robes
. . Magic of Darkness: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a Black Robe who knows this secret can imbue a damaging spell with negative energy. Half of the damage dealt by such a spell is negative energy damage, and is therefore not subject to being reduced by protection from energy or similar magic (although death ward negates it). The remainder of the damage is dealt as normal for the spell. Undead are healed by negative energy, so damage dealt to undead creatures simply averages out to nothing for a spell modified in this way. (Assume that the healing takes place first, granting the undead creature temporary hit points above its maximum if necessary, with equivalent damage then dealt to leave the creature back where it started.)
. . Magic of Death: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a Black Robe who knows this secret may apply the Empower Spell or Extend Spell feat to any Enchantment or Necromancy spell they cast as a swift action. This ability does not use up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.
. . Magic of Fear: A Black Robe who knows this secret can make her spells more intimidating. As a full-round action, the wizard can cast any spell that deals damage and has a normal casting time of 1 standard action. Then, as a free action, she can immediately attempt to demoralize one opponent within 30 feet. The wizard receives a circumstance bonus on the Intimidate check equal to the level of the spell she casts.
. . Magic of Hunger: A Black Robe who knows this secret may draw even further upon her own resources to increase the scope of her magic. Each day, she may prepare one extra spell of any level she can cast at the cost of 1 point of Constitution damage per spell level. This ability damage heals normally but cannot be magically restored.
. . Magic of Pain: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a Black Robe who knows this secret may cast any spell that deals hit point damage to inflict pain beyond the spell’s normal effects. Any creature damaged by such a spell must make a successful Fortitude save (DC 10 + spell level + Constitution modifier) or suffer a –2 penalty on attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks for one round due to the lingering pain the spell inflicts. As a price for this wracking pain, the Black Robe herself takes 1d6 points of damage when the spell is cast.

Secrets of the Red Robes
. . Magic of Change: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a Red Robe who knows this secret may apply the Enlarge Spell or Extend Spell feat to any Transmutation spell they cast as a swift action. This ability does not use up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.
. . Magic of Deception: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a Red Robe who knows this secret may apply the Enlarge Spell or Extend Spell feat to any Illusion spell they cast as a swift action. This ability does not use up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.
. . Magic of Independence: A Red Robe who knows this secret casts spells that are harder to dispel. When another spellcaster makes a dispel check against one of the wizard’s spells (including using dispel magic to counterspell a spell the wizard is casting), the DC is 15 + the wizard’s caster level.
. . Magic of Mystery: A Red Robe wizard knows this secret casts spells that are harder to detect and identify. When another spellcaster attempts to use a divination spell (such as detect magic), or a spell-like ability or magic item that might detect the magical aura of one of the wizard’s spells, the other caster must make a level check (DC 11 + the wizard’s caster level) to successfully detect the spell. Similarly, a spellcaster attempting to use a divination (such as see invisibility) to reveal the effects of one of the wizard’s spells must make a level check to reveal the spell’s effects. Any given caster can check only once for each divination spell or effect used, no matter how many of the wizard’s spell effects may be operating in an area.
In addition, when another spellcaster attempts to identify the spell a Red Robe wizard is casting (for instance, to counterspell it), the DC of the required Spellcraft check is increased by +1 for every 2 class levels the Red Robe wizard has attained.
. . Magic of Purity: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a Red Robe wizard who knows this secret can imbue any spell that deals hit point damage with pure arcane energy. Half of the damage dealt by such a spell comes from this arcane energy, and is therefore not subject to being reduced by protection from energy or similar magic. The remainder of the damage is dealt as normal for the spell.

Secrets of the White Robes
. . Magic of Defense: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a White Robe who knows this secret may apply the Empower Spell or Extend Spell feat to any Abjuration spell they cast as a swift action. This ability does not use up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.
. . Magic of Radiance: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a White Robe who knows this secret can imbue any spell that deals hit point damage with radiant energy. Half of the damage dealt by such a spell comes from this radiant energy, and is therefore not subject to being reduced by protection from energy or similar magic. The remainder of the damage dealt is as normal for the spell. Against undead, a spell modified in this way deals half again as much damage as normal (double the radiant energy damage). As a side effect, radiant spells give off as much illumination as a light spell of equivalent caster level, and this light lingers in the area for one round after the end of the spell’s duration (or one round for an instantaneous spell).
. . Magic of Resistance: This secret allows a White Robe to more easily counter or dispel the magic cast by others. The wizard gains the benefit of the Improved Counterspell feat (if she does not already possess it) and gains a competence bonus on dispel checks equal to +1 per two class levels.
. . Magic of Sustenance: This secret allows a White Robe to cast spells even under difficult circumstances. The wizard gains a competence bonus equal to +1 per two class levels on all concentration checks made to cast or direct spells (but does not gain a concentration check bonus while casting defensively).
. . Magic of Truth: Once per day for every two Wizard of High Sorcery class levels attained, a White Robe who knows this secret may apply the Enlarge Spell or Extend Spell feat to any Divination spell they cast as a swift action. This ability does not use up a spell slot one level higher than the spell's actual level.

Arcane Focus: Upon passing the Test of High Sorcery, a wizard has the option of narrowing the focus of his arcane power in accordance with the traditions of his order. The effects of this optional focus depend on whether the wizard was already a specialist or not.
Non-Specialists: At 1st level, a Wizard of High Sorcery who was not already a specialist wizard may choose a specialty school from one of those favored by his Order (see Favored Specialization under Special in Entry Requirements). From this point on, he follows all of the rules regarding specialist wizards in the Player’s Handbook, including the selection of prohibited schools.
Specialists: If the wizard was already a specialist in one of the two favored schools of his Order, his specialization is enhanced. In addition to his existing benefits, he gains a +1 bonus to caster level on spells from the specialist school, as well as gaining a +1 bonus on saving throws against spells from his specialist school and against spell-like abilities (but not supernatural abilities) that duplicate such spells.
In exchange for this enhanced focus on one school, the wizard must give up one additional school of magic, chosen from among the specialist schools of the other two Orders of High Sorcery (see Favored Specialization under Special in Entry Requirements). He cannot choose a prohibited school that he already chose as a 1st-level specialist.

Item of Power: Once a prospective Wizard of High Sorcery successfully completes the Test, his order gives him a permanent magic item, usually valued between 2,000–4,000 steel pieces (though the reward may vary depending on the number of Risk Points at the end of the Test). The order does not tell the new Wizard of High Sorcery what powers the item possesses, as discovering the item’s secrets is seen as a challenge on his new path.

My personal suggestion is to keep both features anyway.

The Arcane Focus is not really affected by the way Pathfinder handles specializations any more than it was affected in 3.5 for which the PrC was first created. And wizards with archetypes that replace the Arcane School can either be excluded from the PrC's Arcane Focus feture or actually remove the archetype and take a specialization instead like a vanilla wizard. After all the Test is supposed to on occasion profoundly affect the wizard taking it.

The Item of Power is in my opinion not the same as Arcane Bond in the least, being one of the rewards and reminders of what can very well be the most important time of a wizard's life in Dragonlance. This feature of the PrC refers to the Test's reward which at times is something simple and at other times... well, anything but, if a certain staff is any indication. That the Item of Power may end up becoming the wizard's Arcane Bond item as well, that is indeed a possibility and an option, but they are not the same thing. Not to mention that the Item of Power makes a very suitable candidate for the Scaling Magic Items ruleset from Pathfinder Unchained, as the GM can actually gift a magic item that at that moment does not exceed the price limits set in the Test of High Sorcery chapter of the Towers of High Sorcery book, but can with time and patience and experience reveal powers that actually make it something worthy of the name Item of Power.

Lady D'Argent's Heart: What appears to be a vaguely heart-shaped brooch made of sterling silver with the words "non sic dormit sed vigilat" -roughly translated as "sleeps not but is awake"- engraved on it once served a purpose other than keeping a cloak in place. A purpose it can still serve in fact, even without the now long lost smooth round crystal that was once set in the item's round hole and the magics of seeing and revelation bound within it. For this particular item was made for Lady Viviana D'Argent, a Taldan noblewoman and diviner of no small skill, to be used as a planchette alongside a wooden spirit board in order for her to communicate with the Other Side. Or at the very least that was the idea. But the very first time she looked through the silver planchette's crystal, using it as a focus for her divination magic, was also the very last as whatever she saw shattered her mind, her body soon to follow. Or, at the very least, so the story goes. Whatever the truth, the planchette's crystal is long gone and the remaining item was at some point fashioned into a cloak clasp, albeit one with the part of it that is the original planchette made to be detachable.

Signifer Petronicus Crispin's Ebon Cloak: Petronicus Crispin was a Signifer, a Hellknight of the Order of the Gate. He was neither the greatest swordsman nor the most accomplished mage, but what he was was a particularly skilled craftsman and enchanter. And one of his creations was an entirely black hooded cloak he made for himself, imbuing it with magic of various kinds, prevalent among them that of a protective nature. Hearing others speak of it, it could stop anything from sling bullets and arrows to fire and lightning. If only it were so. The cloak certainly possessed such enchantments of protection and shielding among others, that much was true, but quite possibly not to the extent some of his brethren in the Order were talking about. And even if it did, it became apparent one fateful day that such protections did not work against boulders hurled by giants. Following that particular incident, Petronicus Crispin's black hooded cloak, its magic and powers all but gone, was buried with what remained of Petronicus Crispin himself.

Nathaniel shows a preference for comfortable fitted clothing, ideally well made and with several hidden pockets sewn into the fabric, and light armors, unwilling to sacrifice freedom of movement for better, but more encumbering, protection. An entirely black hooded cloak secured with what appears to be a vaguely heart-shaped brooch or clasp made of silver complements the rest of his attire and is in fact one of two items he is almost never seen without. The other is what appears at first glance to be a finely made cane of steel and black wood, although closer inspection reveals that it is actually a sword cane with a blade of cold iron. Other than that, he has a couple of other weapons hidden on his person, such as a dagger of alchemical silver that is concealed in a spring-loaded wrist sheath of dwarven make secured on his left forearm and wrist, as well as a sling and its accompanying bullets that are kept in a nondescript leather pouch.

'Such a strange sky,' he ponders with a sigh as he takes in the alien colors of it, of the moon and the stars. 'Such a... familiar sky?' The thought is as much a statement as it is a question.

He then turns entirely, no longer facing the two paths but the roiling mist. "This is futile, yes? The upward path will slow you, perhaps, but it will do the same to me. And the descending one will certainly feel quicker to me, but to you as well," he says softly, almost as if he is addressing both the fog and himself, as a faint click and then another are heard. The first is followed by the bottom part of the cane held in his right hand falling to the ground and revealing a cold iron blade underneath it, while the second is accompanied by the sudden appearance of a gleaming silver dagger in his left hand. And then comes the magic as both his black cloak and the clasp that secures it in place come alive for but a moment, as enchantments of protection shield him. "Enough running, I believe."

He looks down at the weapons in his hands. "I... I know how to use them," he mutters to himself, feeling as if the fog is not only out here, but in his mind as well. "I have been... taught?" He looks back up again. The mist is close enough now to make out shapes within it. Not all look human. "Well, at least he is not here to see me make an utter fool of myself," he quips, a crooked smile appearing on his lips. Then a thought, a rational one. 'Cold iron in one hand, silver in the other. One of them is bound to work.' And then another thought, a fleeting one. 'He? Who is he?'

"We have such sights to show you." The whispering voices, inviting and threatening at the same time, come from all around him. They are everywhere.

"Yes, I trust that you do." He brandishes his weapons and looks at the yellow cloud about to envelop him calmly, stoically. "But I very much doubt I will survive the experience."