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Pity. But thank you DM Barcas - it's been a tremendously enjoyable campaign. I can honestly say that you've opened my eyes to possibilities when it comes to campaigns. For your own future online or offline games, I'd like to recommend Hell's Rebels - one of my friends runs it IRL and its been consistently amazing up to now. I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it is, but it is.
Maybe not everybody knows to "check in" here?
Goooood morning (or day-time-indication as applicable). I have returned from Namibia - my first holiday in 2 years. I feel ready to kick ass and take names
Just my thoughts on the situation: although I love the story being told/developed by us - I think the story has also become very fragmented. In a way that is not conducive to story-telling. 50+ (N)PCs to track and multiple concurrent plot-lines are great for reading enjoyment, but are prohibitive when participating. Jemini is limited to relatively short posts a lot of the time. In part this is due to my own time constraints - even a little post takes half-an-hour when I need to put the story into context in my head. Spending a couple of hours building a larger body of text is - for me - limited to when I have ample time and feel a significant contribution by me would be valuable. But also reactivity is hard to do when matching posts are expansive but rare. Jemini scanned detect evil 10 days ago, in an effort to cue her subsequent actions. I don't want to post her actions based on assumptions of what the result would be; nor do I want her to just ignore the results and proceed with a new plan without good cause.
Jemini is visibly taken aback by the second answer. Her eyes immediately shift, the pupils appearing to grow and glow with a blue haze. She takes the time to thoroughly look over the remains of Jhod as well the immediate vicinity.
"With Berrin taking on the role of immediate mediator for the peace talks; along with Elsir. Both of you can keep a quiet lookout for hints of wrongdoing by either of the two parties. I think that leaves Nikolai and myself to act on the possibility of Vordekai's involvement." Jemini draws her cloak closer to herself, steeling against the cold that would follow momentarily. "Come then, Nikolai. We'll take another look at the site of the murder. Perhaps some lingering aura of evil or other clues can help our efforts."
"If Vordekai is involved, we can expect powerful magics to also be at play. For all we know, Verik may be controlled by compulsion and may even admit to the murder." Jemini's cheeks are aflush with a warm glow as the situation has her at a loss. "I agree with attempting to raise Jhod - though there's a chance, especially if Vordekai is involved, that Jhod's soul is captured and cannot return to us if we call."
Jhod? Murdered? Verik? Blessed Sarenrae, no. "As you hear, Nikolai, Jhod's dead, murdered. It is likely just a formality, but his remains are already being investigated to verify his identity and to glean what we can at how he was killed." "What bothers me is the why. The circumstances as they are given are likely a ploy. I don't believe Verik would be foolish enough to murder anybody - least by means which obviously implicate him. But whoever masterminded the assault went through significant effort to paint a target on Verik." Jemini's eyes close as she pictures a scene in her mind. "Is Verik the target? Or is he just convenient? Or... is Verik him-- no, that is absurd." "Any number of causes may be at the heart of this; but if we for the moment just reduce it to the major known issues and test them - then this is what I see: the dispute between Mivon and Pitax. Of the two I'd trust Pitax to turn to such brute force, and I'd trust Mivon to have gathered the necessary intelligence to design a scenario such as this. I do not see any obvious motivation - neither Jhod nor Verik have given any indication that would favor either Mivon or Pitax. Furthermore I do not know if either can produce an agent inside Sanctuary that is able to kill a powerful cleric such as Jhod." "Conversely... Vordekai; we cannot discount the possibility that he's picked up on all manner of knowledge and he may very well be able to project his force all the way to us and slay Jhod. But I have a hard time imagining that creature acting with such a degree of subtlety - without sending an obvious message or sowing panic and chaos." "Nikolai... what is going on?"
"Elsir, is there a way your magic - or any accessible to us - that can be used to indicate whether we are currently spied upon? A dagger that glows red in the one case and blue in the other, that kind of thing?"
Evelyn is a formidable - if capricious - ally. She along with the touch of Cayden Cailean have given Sanctuary a giddy liveliness that the original founding could not convey. Both of them along with all the other public religious convocations are doing their part to keep this bubbling cauldron from overflowing. Even with Verik's tiresome rivalry with Jhod, I know I can count on Old Deadeye and his flok to keep a close eye on the land. But Jhod and Verik... Blessed Sarenrae! - just give these two boys peace! What is it about men that can make them so sensible in all regards but one! Abruptly Jemini rises, the motion brings a startling pause to the sussuration that had accompanied the banter in the room. For a pregnant moment all eyes turn to her expectantly, then are rewarded as she speaks. "Allow me to welcome everybody. I am both pleasantly surprised and, I admit, a little ashamed. Although I am acquainted with the majority attending, I am excited to see new arrivals take a hand on the reigns of New Haven, as well as rue that opportunity has until now forbidden opportunity to become personally familiar. I trust that time will not leave us strangers for much longer." The warmth of her words radiate through the room lifting a bit of the pall that had crept in. "Mivon and Pitax are two powers that we hope will find peace with each other and us. In dealing with them I wish to urge you to recognize that these are different cultures, different ideologies, that are spearheaded by the respective leaders. You may not consider the one or the other palatable to your personal alignments, but in truth they are no different to the many new communities that Sanctuary has made welcome since its founding. Where the leadership of Pitax and Mivon is in conflict right now, tomorrow the one may come to the aid of the other. We thrive on the cosmopolitan, on the inclusive; by coming together from different perspectives we give birth to something greater than the sum of its parts. Where many others would see antagonists; our differences have empowered us, become our vows. This is true for great nations. And it is also true for just two people. For you, and me."
The words are addressed to all, spelling out the imperative of tolerance toward Mivon and Pitax. But they harbour a hidden message that strike a chord with Verik. Verik, or Sense Motive DC 36: Verik realizes that Jemini is also alluding to Verik's blossoming romance, how it defies constraints by scriptures, and how it may very well be Jhod who will bind their marriage vows.
At one draft, I had Kesten raise the same worried point that it might be an elaborate plot between them to entrap our army between theirs. I omitted it, but I'm glad that it found its way in. Drats, that actually reduces the chance of it actually happening. Well, that's good for Berrin's odds of survival at least
Kingdom size of 96? We've grown quite a bit. I don't know what specific rule set we're following - but by the original Kingmaker mechanics above 80 hexes we're an official kingdom and Jemini's modifier applies to all three (Stability, Economy, Loyalty) - is that the case?
Jemini inclines her head sideways, her hair falls along - a frame to her face - her eyes distant as she ponders. At length she disagrees, "I think you're embracing the plots and intrigues of Brevoy as a companion. We've both grown up in it, even participated to greater and lesser extents. It is a well established game; and we have been apt players - or perhaps more accurately: suitable pawns in it. But that does not rid us of the real fear of a hot war. A war that can erupt at any moment to put an end to the cold war that has been running for decades. It could be a war that permanently scars the River Kingdoms and leave little more than a husk. I don't want you to think you can be complacent, the same old games, the same old smiles veiling the machinations underneath. It may seem to be a game, but it is a game of nations that may bring about the fall of many thousands - and still: most of the top players are playing to win." A moment of frustration brushes her cheek with flame. "So greedy. And so blinded by their greed." She sighs. "But in turn, that also suggests that had you grown up in Mivon you'd be comfortable with the way of life, established in the police state, perhaps even trusting in the wisdom of your Lord Selline. Perhaps the rhetoric of Irovetti would have pulled you into his cause. The truth is that our lives have been to a large extent been shaped by who we were born to and how we've been raised." The paladin retraces the pathway Kesten had outlined. Deep in thought she places tokens of progress and position that map the days of march. "No. That won't do." She points out a couple of strategic valleys. "The temptation to setup an engagement between the armies is too great. Let Berrin know, the armies of Pitax and Mivon need to travel at least 4 hours apart, including camps. They should not come close to visual range of each other. Furthermore, we need to worry that everything leading up to this point is an elaborate ruse. Even if only as a temporary truce, they may have plans to combine their forces against us. If too close together they have Berrin and our army surrounded; they could annihilate our most experienced soldiers and eliminate our General and then be right on our door step." She looks up at Kesten, "It is best to assume that Irovetti and Sellini are both playing The Game too; but their pawns are steel and armies."
Jemini leans back, an unpleasant tendril of chill creeps in from the side - a sign that the winter had bite. Fortunately her cloak inured her to it as much as the fires, both in material and magic. The meeting with Kesten Garess was purposefully private. Not just out of necessity - most other notables and Founders weren't at hand after all - but also due to the nature of the discussion which covered some of Jemini's concerns with the growing tension in Brevoy. "You know that my father, Lord Lebeda, has warned me to stay wary of the Orlovsky machinations at court. For the forth time their petitions to annex Newhaven have stalled; I would not be surprised to find Elana in part responsible for this. But it stays a relevant question." Kesten, his salt-and-pepper beard offering more than just a hint of his progress in age, nods but adds, "At least with Nikolai Rogarvia and our growing military presence the words 'protectorate' have fallen off the table." "You have to wonder, Orlovsky and his allies are obviously not poor; but perhaps their old money is being spread a bit thin with a long-lasting stalemate. Preparing for war without engaging in it is just as costly as the war itself. They must realize that getting taxes from Newhaven bolsters not just their coffers, but House Lebeda and its allies too. Should they not worry that if we were to be annexed that Newhaven would in some sense extend Lebeda's holdings?" "Perhaps they plan to, ahem... adjust the leadership of Newhaven; even if only to replace a couple of key positions," Kesten's face suddenly darkens with realization, "I must insist you accept a personal bodyguard -" Jemini waves aside the notion almost as quick as it is raised: "Newhaven is not ruled by a single person - especially not me - we do not have the resources to allocate such a bodyguard to each of our inner circle, which you'd have to receive too then, by the way. Besides," she chides, "up to now only one man has been able to kill me. And that turned out for the better too." Back to the matter hand, her voice switches back from the jovial to the business: "I'm more concerned that the petitions are the wool that is pulled over our eyes. At this point they're mostly going through the motions and perhaps laying the foundations for the future with their obvious efforts. But what are they doing behind our backs? It's far too quiet in a real sense." She looks over the documents in front of her, "Unlike this. Pitax and Mivon. I wonder if it should be troubling or reassuring that they both denied parleying for peace initially. With Pitax knocking at their gates, Mivon has every reason to want them to desist. Unless they feel they had the upper hand somehow." Kesten nods, "Consul Selline could be aptly described as a man that sits in the middle of an elaborate web. He's a very well-informed man; where Irovetti is quite in love with himself and his schemes, Selline is subtle but no less effective." "Agreed. We will have to worry what their true motivation is for coming. Though it pains me to think of it that way, I doubt either is truly coming here with the intention of making peace. Before we can broker a peace then, we may have to nullify their true objectives. I can imagine that Pitax may make a move against Mivon in Selline's absence - especially since they have those... 'gearsmen'. I don't believe Selline's desperate enough to come here only with peace in mind; but I cannot fathom his motives. Any idea?"
Olla. Jemini posted a little bit about her follower spending in the gamethread
Verik: "An order of knights? What? No? ...like a street militia? - a nation militia? ...I... but why doesn't it fit? They're not a guild, obviously, not a knightly order, a standing group is not a gathering. Not a society. Definitely not a religious thing." Pages rustle as he flips through documents ever more urgently. "They're not disciples, apostles, soldiers, merchants, servants. What is this thing you're starting Jemini? What?! Give me a name at least!"
Jemini nods, agreement evident in her face. The benevolent faiths will stand up to this challenge, of that she was certain. Her voice rings out, clearly audible across the assembly: "Aylene Myrdal - Varnhold's own - and her husband Berrin Myrdal, General of Newhaven. Both will come. Varnhold will know that we stand together. We are now one heart. That beats to a steady rhythm. One people. That cannot be brought down. Those who have threatened Varnhold's very existence are also threaten that of Newhaven. Together we will stand and face the abomination called Vordekai, and together we will see his callous designs for domination falter and fall." "But first! First we must recover. Mourn, but rebuild. Grow, faster than before. Even now refugees from foreign parts are making their way to Newhaven and Varnhold. We will welcome them, here, in Sanctuary, everywhere - for where no one can replace the loss of loved ones, we can find new hands, new hearts, new minds to join with ours. With them comes new strength for our future. No field will lay untilled, no brick will be unlayed, no mouths will go hungry, no body able and willing to help will find themselves impotent against the odds." "Come, Varnhold! Stand together with us!"
Jemini shakes her head sadly, "Foolish angel, how could you not see beyond such promises?" It is a pity that Elsir isn't here, together with Verik we might find a convincing reason. Jemini turns to Verik, "Can you fathom a reason for this devotion these followers have for him? It just seems so hollow that they'd dedicate themselves purely on the basis of promises. Even we have only been tempted to join him by promises and displays of power." She includes Nikolai and Borodin now, "It is likely that the valkyrie has been a long-standing disciple of Vordekai, at least that is what I gather from her final words. That raises the question, what has she been doing in the last few millennia while the lich was laying low? And if that is true for the valkyrie - how many more functionaries like her does he command?"
The scythe still mere inches from Jemini's neck, she sees how her comrades rapidly descend on the valkyrie. Before it can turn to flee again she attacks quickly, her longsword enveloped in righteous anger that pierces through all protections.
Worried for Nikolai, who's only barely standing on his feet, Jemini launches into a tirade as she makes her way after Verik and Borodin. "" As an aside to her allies she adds, "Prepare yourselves, this one is swifter than any I've seen - we must be ready."
With labored breath Jemini holds her sword hand to herself, a quick incantation and the worst of the pain that the creature had caused receded. Still, she was decidedly worse for wear. "That... is it...? I cannot believe... that you traded the eternal feast... and warring grounds... for this desolation... have you... considered... that your mind is not your own?"
"Does it pain you still? Sarenrae teaches that nearly all creatures can find redemption; and so it could be with you too - Valhalla may rejoice in you once more. Why would you tear yourself away from it so?"
Jemini rushes forward, galvinating Verik and Nikolai as she passes by them. Her sword points at the valkyre aloft on the nightmare, "You're pitifully misguided if you believe the one-eyed abomination has any favors to grant - his offers only come at a terrible price. We shall end your reign of terror here! Forces of Good! Guide my blade!"
Jemini nods confirmation, "Yes, I'm indeed running low - I don't think I can leverage anymore of the holy energies that are taught to paladins; but I have a few more traditional healing methods left. I must offer gratitude to my mother for that; she insisted that knowledge was the cornerstone of progress and had my sister and I laboring with tutors since we could walk."
Jemini approaches the undead horror her eyes unyielding, yet filled with pity for the circumstances of its existence. "Let go of your grief. Let go and find peace." Holy energy radiates from her with what is the remainder of her spiritual reserves.
With a final crescending roar Jemini culminates a final channeling that sweeps over the undead - an entire wing of the zombie hordes turns to dust.
Holding fast in the swell of rotting aggression, Jemini's sword is lifted high and is the center of an emanation of holy energy. "Hold strong! there will be more to discover beyond here, we cannot allow ourselves to fall yet!"
Jemini's eyes flare up with furious anger at what must have happened to the inhabitants - a whole city turned into undeath by just one necromancer? "Sarenrae! Bring an end to this misery, so that their souls can find peace in the afterlife!" Instantly a the area is bathed in the thought of holy radiance - albeit the glow itself is far more subdued than it would normally be.
"There may have been a number of people associated with Varnhold that weren't present when this" - Jemini indicates the desolation - "happened. Hunters, trappers, farmers; people beyond a certain range of here. Some of those may have returned, or seen something. But..." A worried expression spreads over the paladin's face, "But we don't know if this was a once-off event! That, that haunted spirit just now, maybe its warning is true He'll come for you, too!."
Direct holy power? Jemini does not speak for confirmation from Verik, but brandishes her hand out at the form. "May Sarenrae guide you back into peace."
"Is it even real? Another one of Vordekai's taunts?" Jemini examines the flitting woman for any signs of who she might be, perhaps an occupation, something that will help her localize the problem.
"I... I was rather hoping you'd have an explanation." Jemini furtively tries to spot - at least - some corpses. "Why does it smell so distinctly, but there's no source for it?"
@DM Barcas: does Ride skill apply too? "No, I don't think we should turn back - we need to know what is going on in there. Or what went on in there. There should be some clues." Jemini climbs down and nuzzles her mount with a worried look, "Do you want to stay out here?" she whispers into its ears. "With the horses spooked, perhaps we should leave them here and walk the rest of the way?"
Jemini takes a bit of time to appreciate the differences between Varnhold and Newhaven. How the two closely related but distinct nations have developed in parallel allows some conclusions to be drawn between how emphasis has been placed. On the one hand, the more traditional nature of Varnhold's governance has given it a credible sense of direction and theme. But on the other hand Newhaven's somewhat eclectic leadership has given it a more organic, if erratic, composure. Secretly she carries some mirth towards how it must vex Verik. Finally, she sighs as she gets back to her more brooding thoughts that had accompanied her here. "Nikolai," she starts, "have you considered how there are some similarities that can be drawn between your own life and that of Willard Pharn? In your own ways both of you are fiercely loyal to those who you feel allegiance to. Blindly loyal even. Looking back, this was also true for the Stag Lord - Akiros can attest to that, even if many others of the bandits have since been put to the sword. Do you not think there is a rashness to that loyalty, a flip-side, that averts your mind to even greater things? Acting in league with only such loyalties can in extremes and desperation lead to such tragedies."
A bit unsteady, but swiftly, Jemini uses her ability to fly to rise forward to reach the translucent form of Elsir's ghost. Her blade is a shining arc that flashes with utter certainty through the incorporeal form. The lack of impact does not faze the paladin, instead she smiles grimly at the ghost: "There is no easy escape for you now - nor did you ever have a hope; did you consider what will happen when dreamers cease to dream?"
"Iomedae will carry this day!" Jemini's words are accompanied by an audible crack that somehow permeates the dream. A second version of Jemini appears layed over herself - just for a moment the effect is disconcerting, but then it looks as if a slightly larger-than-life and slightly more angelic halo of the paladin emanates from her body. She steps behind the undead priest, determined to finish its foul existence before it makes a nuisance of itself. Her first attack is swift and accurate - but her follow-up goes wide. "Don't mock true gods with the name of a pretentious upstart!"
"I know you can hear me Vordekai! Your wishful thinking won't shake me! Behold the gifts of a true goddess!" Jemini raises her sword and for a few moment the afterimage of an angel embracing the blade shimmers in the air - immediately afterward the weapon erupts in an intense magical power. As she moves into position to aid Verik in his battle against his undead self she adds to the sky, "This is the work of a goddess who does not need to embellish or make promises with empty words - her divine presence is obvious and real without wasting breath."
Ignore me; I'm just rolling stats for elsewhere :) (We're trying out 13th Age in my live gaming group and I'm prototyping a monk character) Roll 4d6
A breeze picks up going from Vordekai to Jemini, raising her hair in dynamic motion. Her eyes steel over and a shine illuminates her from behind on toward the undead potentate, her cheeks brighten with the light. "Blasphemy? Your spoken convictions are drivel that stain you as a creature that has lost touch with this world millenia ago." The wind picks up, a frigid note, and undead appear as if marshaled by Vordekai extending backwards from him in a broad-sloped triangle lead by the lich himself - but in response the light backing Jemini grows more intense with silver streaks. Slowly and then more and more of the people of NewHaven appear forming a corresponding pyramid, drawn from the paladin's memories of her visits in city and land. As the wind grows ever more icy and begins to visibly grip and force the living to succumb, the light radiates more brightly - warming up the greying limbs on Jemini's side, while straining at the reality of the undead and streaming dust of their ancient remains. "My defiance is not mine alone, lich. You may rely on your aging pacts with darkest necromancy - but we... we are alive and more than just desperately clinging to continued existence. We are an idea that far exceeds your petty designs. Right now I may be the face of this idea, but - " she draws her arms backwards to indicate her companions" - with me you see the heart, and the mind, the firm arm, the steady eye, unending conviction." She extends her hands further to indicate the masses behind her, "The blood of the idea is far stronger than you can hope to understand. Perhaps I should thank you, for it is you that will solidify this idea, this bond. We need a threat such as you to grow stronger, to one day be able to face the true danger to these lands. Come. Come crawl from your hole. We won't leave you waiting."
"What are promises to an abomination that does not know the cessation of consciousness? We witnessed the sincerity of your promises but a few moments ago. Worthless."
"Undeath? That is your answer? You have held yourself back in this world for thousand years - truly a shadow of your former self. How do you reckon yourself a god when you haven't even shed this world? What god lays claim to all the land he sees? You have had a moment to glance at Nikolai's thoughts, but how far could you go? Did you see that he and I have stood on no less than four planes other than this one? Did you see the small speck of existence that is this world amidst the infinite reaches of the other? I have stood before a real goddess - and as terrifying as your grisly remains are, they pale before the abject absolute awe that even her passing glance carried. Do you claim this piece of land out of fear for the other side? You must know how she feels about your kind."
I, for one, am suitably impressed by that Intimidate of Nikolai
Should I/we be worried?
Jemini interjects, in part to Tandlara, but mostly directly at the scene before her, "Wait! This cannot be his memory anymore - this is torture suffered onto him by Vordekai - that dark orb! - we can do something." She points her sword, glowing in the presence of the evil, right at the swirling eddies of torment. Her words gain in resonance as she speaks, a reverb that give it an otherworldly quality, and her weapon's blade becomes more intense as the glow escalates into a radiance that is as blinding as to create an after image in the eye even when it is averted. "Thy foul eye begone! Thy dark arts succumb! Thou will find no place to hide in the shadows, Her presence will leave no fleck unlit. " A piercing needle of holy light instantly extends from the sword to the orb and beyond - followed by a near immediate expansion of the beam to encompass the entirety of what can be perceived. The light lasts for a long second before flashing out of existence again.
Jemini looks over her bruised and disheveled body. "Well... that could've gone better, but it was also strangely exhilarating. I think I like this dream place."
I thought with the initiative order Jemini was effectively out of options. I've posted now, hopefully it passes :)
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