"I will go into the ruins," Gaanon states simply, nodding.
Knowledge, Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Gaanon studies the tenebrous creature before him, wondering what it could have been before... But the Lawkeeper is so foreign to him that he can only stare at it curiously.
"So you awakened Kalid-Ma and now you can't go back into the temple. You wanted to steal her power. And now? If we put her back to sleep, what then?"
"You spoke about boons," Gaanon reminds the Lawkeeper. Straight to the point.
"I do not fear the coming of another tyrant," Gaanon affirms. "I am free. I am the Breaker of Chains. But why do you care? And why don't you seal this... This Orrery. Why don't you close it yourself?"
"You haven't said what you want for us, or why," Gaanon states with typical brevity. "And why should any of this matter to me?" he asks, looking up. He sees in the rain a blessing from the heavens, and as for the rings of black rock...
"Gaanon," the Half-giant says simply.
He is reluctant to part with his massive hammer but, seeing his companions laying down their weapons, he decides to follow suit... He drops it on the ground and eyes Nalcaros sternly.
"This is Chain-Breaker," he warns.
"Then why does he need our help," Gaanon speaks under his breath, chuckling. He shrugs and follows the druids.
Seeing that none dares the first step, Gaanon walks forth, intent on following Nalcaros.
"If we agree to meet with your master, how will you guarantee our safety?" the half-giant asks before committing himself.
Noted. Gaanon did not receive the message, but nevertheless, in true desert raider fashion, attempted to find some cover... and failed!
Heeding Malkaer's advice, Gaanon also seeks some cover and prepares himself for a battle, which seems to him inevitable...
Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
..but there is nowhere for the half-giant to hide and even the bright sunlight allows for no concealment for the skilled desert raider. Standing out in the open, he studies the area and the distance between himself and this Nalcaros.
On the subject of Amlitkayek... No slaves in these settlements, I gather? So Gaanon would not have been a slave there, but rather an outsider who had to prove himself. Gruelling tests? Forced into fighting?
Basically, was there a dark side to life in Amlitkayek?
Ill at ease and ill-equipped to understand this strange occurrence, Gaanon grips his massive hammer, standing behind his companions at the ready, expecting the worst.
"Fight or talk?" Gaanon speaks out. His massive hammer in hand, the half-giant assesses the army across the sand and looks at Lady Almah expectantly.
Knowledge, Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
"Perhaps you should go have a look," Gaanon challenges the bard, chuckling. It's easy to make jokes when it isn't you out there, fighting in the desert.
"Over there!" Gaanon exclaims, pointing to a bolt of light like a comet racing across the sky. "It started within the bones of the monumental structures over there... And look there: it has landed on the far side of the ruined district! Either it's warning of our coming, or...? Either way, I'm going to go see."
With that, he seems suddenly and unstoppably ready to go...
Sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 15
"I am sorry," Gaanon apologizes to Memnon in a rare moment of empathy and insight. "Nothing against you."
With that, he spies upon the conversation between the humans and Tkk-Tkk, taking comfort in the fact that he, at least, cannot be mistaken for another!
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
"Kinsman?" Gaanon shrugs. "I was born a slave. The raid would have changed little for me." Then, his tone softens. "But it is sad. The slavers will all pay, in the end. I will break the chains myself."
He speaks with righteous fervour and seems willing, perhaps even eager, to speak thus despite being among the very slavers he despises. Is he taunting them?
Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 (In case any one takes offense!)
Witnessing Memnon and the mysterious Archer's discussion, Gaanon shrugs. He sees the fellow's resemblance to Kuro but doesn't second-guess that this is merely a case of mistaken identity. Truth be told, he doesn't much care. In the desert, it doesn't matter who you are.
"Amlitkayek was destroyed?" he asks Memnon in lieu of a greeting as if it had not been years since they last saw each other. Gaanon was then a slave who was traded to fight in the pits when he prodigal strength and endurance became apparent...
"Did you know?" the half-giant asks Cloudbreather.
Sebecloki wrote: "We're nowhere near Kelmarane yet, we're approaching the ruins of ancient Kalidnay friend. Are you sure you've recovered fully from that head blow the renegade templar Hiero's mul bodyguard gave you in the final battle? Almah's minister told us that literally thirty seconds ago." Gaanon looks perplexed for a moment, then chuckles and shrugs. "I was hoping this journey was over and we had arrived... Kalidnay? What is this Kalidnay?"
knowledge (geography): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
"It is good that you are here,"[b] Gaanon says simply. [b]"Come. Let us see Kelmarane."
The usually stern and stoic warrior seems uncharacteristically enthusiastic!
"I remember you. You are Cloudbreather," Gaanon nods. Then, the half-giant continues his way to the observation deck, talking and walking. "I am here for Kelmarane – to find a home."
knowledge (geography): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
"What is this Pterran settlement?" he inquires with typical brevity.
Finding little comfort in the crowded courtyard and judging the bard's tale to be a bit confusing in light of the stories that he heard from childhood, Gaanon stood up, intent on making his way to the observation deck.
"You coming?" he asked Araska while taking note of the others who seemed keen to see Kalidnay in the distance.
"I want to hear the story," Gaanon shushes whoever it was who interrupted the bard, his voice a menacing mix of whisper and growl. Curious to hear this new version of ancient history, he does not care to look for the culprit and focuses his attention entirely on the stage.
Or group initiatives, and first come first serve? Basically, roll initiative, find your group, and go with it? That way, at the very worst, we'll only ever be waiting for the last action in a given group...?
Araska the Desert Walker wrote: Araska waves to Gaanon as he enters the audience hall, giving a short grin as she sees the look on the large half-giant's face, "More talk from the others huh? Join me, the shows about to start!" Gaanon is more than happy to sit with Araska – one of the few who treats him like more than what he appears to be. The people behind the Half-Giant are tempted to protest, but think better of it.
"Perhaps I should stand at the back," Gaanon suggests, noticing those behind him either leaving their seats or peering around him to see the stage.
Eager to go inside, thirsty and hungry as always, and, truth be told, ill-equipped to understand his companions' deliberations, Gaanon makes his way to hear Lady Almah's bard...
"That one wouldn't last long in the sand," Gannon chuckles under his breath with a good-natured smile as he watches Garavel go by. Then, he turns to the masked fellow. "Never been to Gulg. I am Gaanon, the Breaker of Chains," he answers with a deep voice and a Half-Giant's typical charm.
Kelmarane... A home for my people? Gaanon stares at the horizon, enjoying his reverie for a moment more before heading back inside to the cooler shadows of the palace's audience hall. Admittedly, it is an odd ambition that few among his people understand, let alone share. The vision came to him in Tyr, and it quickly became his sole obsession. Once, he dreamt of freedom for himself. Now, he dreams of freedom for all Half-Giants, and more… Undoubtedly, this is why the Chain-Breaker called to him.
”Archer,” he calls out to Kuro, seeing him also escaping the midday heat. Gannon slows his pace to walk alongside his companion – one of the few here that he would call a friend. ”How much further, do you think?”
Standing head and shoulders above even his own kind, scarred by battle, and burnt by countless days under the scorching sun, Gaanon draws attention and most give him a wide berth…
I added a simple backstory at the bottom of the profile, for your consideration!
Working on it! And on gear as well... Are you using Athasian currencies and costs, or standard gold pieces, etc.?
Brave 'cause people are going to want to steal it, or brave on account of the weather? If the latter, I think Endure elements does the job...?
Shizuka and Kuro: noted. I'm swamped until Sunday, but I'll endeavour to propose a few ideas early next week!
Question: where do the mythic bonus hit points apply? Wounds or Vigor? I can't seem to find the answer anywhere...
Gaanon (Alias ad Tempus) is ready to go! Finesse Training remains an entirely useless class feature, but nothing can be done about that as far as I can tell... What are you building?
I have no idea who is playing what... Any Half-giants? Barbarians? Desert raider types? Long story short, anyone ready and willing to collaborate with me on building a backstory?
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