VoV:
Yeah, as I will her built, she will have Ride and have a sure footed mountain pony as her steed.
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Description:
Noor has sun-bronzed skin and dark hair shot-through with copper. She is tall and and possesses very fine features. Her has the manners and bearing of someone used to getting her way. She is dressed in the practical travel robe of a desert nomad covering the finest of silks in bright hues of red and orange. Long silk gloves cover her arms past her elbow. The looseness of the robes hide the fine armor she wears underneath. A silk sash holds a large sword on her back.
Solku:
Noor, a Princess from a reclusive mountain enclave dedicated to a sacred shrine, has been formally banished from her home in the Brazen Peaks until she understood humility and service, Noor has spent much time since traveling across Northern Garund, seeking service. During this time she has become aware of changes within herself, changes that scare and yet empower her. Although she has learned much, and feels like she should return, she is now uncertain of the welcome she would receive as she feels something awakened inside her that makes her something other than human, like she believes are the rest of her enclave. The fact she thinks herself a monster is not made easier as her name and clothes so closely match the whispered stories of the Gnoll queen, Noor the Red Sultana.
Noor now feels she must do much more before she is worthy to return home, to compensate for her unnatural condition. She has come across many raided caravans in her travels, evidence of gnolls, bandits..and worse. The growing numbers of gnolls in the Brazen Peaks, led her to seek out those dedicated to hunting down this humanoid plague. She has taken up with the Outriders from Fort Longjaw. Her knowledge of the mountains, skill with a blade, and unbridled determination were all welcome into the ranks of those arrayed against the gnoll aggression. Next 7 days:
Just returned from a successful but long patrol, Noor is given leave. She plans on hot coffee, warm baths and cool wine. The drinking, of course in moderation, while listening to tales in the Breakstride, hoping for a snippet of news of her old traveling companions. A day or two in the New Market will also be welcome. But mostly she looks forward to some quiet time. It is these times that she can get closer to understanding the secret voice within her. Mechanics: Reviewing the application rules, I see that cores races were requested. So Noor will be human unless Suli are somehow allowed (I see her not knowing her Suli heritage connected to her upbringing at a secret shrine presided over by her mother but secretly overseen by an ancient brass dragon for unknown but good purposes.).But Suli are also fairly potent so I can see the reason to disallow them. She will be a Bloodrager (Brass Dragon-blooded). She will be built around strength and charisma, a two handed weapon fighter, who can switch to claws as she becomes more comfortable with her draconic nature. She was built previously as a ranger sorcerer with limited spell casting. The current built will mimic this with survival, geography, and perception and a few spells likely limited to shield and enlarge person initially.
She is lawful good, but can likely butt heads with the local paladins.....or not. She is Good in the sense that she has a strong desire to serve the community. her lawful aspects are not community based though, and are much more tied to custom. The Law for her is her law, in that others must respect her personal law and position. She has accepted a position with the Outriders, but she sees herself as an auxiliary and not a common trooper...kind of like an Indian guide with the cavalry.
With a Magus already in the running, I poked around for other arcane options and came across the Advanced Class Guide and within found the Bloodrager. I hate the name (really, really hate the name. very 4th edition-ish) but I like the concept. It has a version of a dragon disciple rolled into 20 level class, minus the stat bonuses. Since the concept was always more important than the crunch, this will work. Channeling her draconic heritage will be the flavor for the rage, as an uptight princess, she is not a mouth frothing rager....but she does have pride issues, so maybe... Full write-up tonight....
That was why I was looking at races with Spell-Like Abilities to cover that requirement without a dip. But after getting more into the Magus, I think I will just go straight Magus with the flavor of a Dragon Disciple. Still considering the races though, as they fit her personality very well, particularly the Peri-aasimar and the ifrit, and then the Suli has Magus as a favored class and an archetype. I got some thinking to do.
Dotting for interest and dropping this place holder. I am thinking of reflavoring Noor as a Suli Magus that will lead into Dragon Disciple (Bronze). Possible Ifrit or Peri-Aasimir , I need to play around with some builds. Will likely post tomorrow.
"Well you see, we are not quite sure what we have here. It seems very valuable and we certainly had to earn it. An entire pyramid with no entrance...it dumbfounded the archaeologists, but we figured it out. We are quite proud of that. Well, we opened what couldn't be opened and recovered this. So in a way, it is a badge of honor of our skill. We have this amulet too, but the spyglass is clearly a unique item and likely has a story behind it, or else why seal it away so deviously. Well, not to devious for us." Noor finishes with a smile and raises her wine glass to her friends.
Yeah, I am not interested in selling the eyepiece. But the amulet is up for sale (or trade) if he is interested. But discussion of the box is where we want this to go.
Noor does not bow, but she smiles warmly, "Welcome Master Neheb. Thank you for agreeing to our request for a meeting. Your reputation as a expert and collector of ancient antiquities has reached our ears and hoped for your insight on some items we have recovered. Please come sit with with us, refreshments will arrive shortly. I am Noor, and my companions Setesh and Tarik, and residents of your fair city, Kytana and Grynbarl. We would be interested in your insight."
Noor's eyes go wide, "Me? Haggle? That might not go as we would like. Too much back and forth about starving children and I am likely to twist off his head and look for our answers in his entrails....but I can certainly start things off pleasantly enough."
"Yes. We give the man nothing. He is to purchase any item, and if the price is not adequate, we reject...or offer a trade...perhaps for a box that won't open. That is how one haggles over coins is it not?"
Instead of blushing, feels the anger coming on. If this commoner thinks money wins my favors... Her eyes go wide when she sees scales taking form on her arm and the shock helps her regain her composure. "Bah. There are things men vaunted money can't buy." But then she turns to Kytana, and in a low voice she asks obliviously, "That is correct, no? I do not mean to speak for you or insult you if you are open to such proposals."
What is it with men and the haggle of coin? She feels herself slip into the mode of getting what she wants with honeyed words and promises, as sh had in her palace. She smiles broadly, "Value? We had merely hoped to trade tales with fellow delvers of pyramid secrets. But my friend gets ahead of himself. We have acquired an item that we hoped to peak Neheb with in exchange for a key, or a container that might contain a key. But let us talk of shared struggles over some of the better wine of this establishment...and maybe some stuffed olives." She claps her hands to summon a servant and see these things brought.
Good luck with everything Mark!
Noor makes her way into the room only to have her eyes assaulted by three men lounging in their baths. This was...was..was..unthinkable "I am beginning to wonder what exactly we are doing here too." Noor averts her eyes and begins forcing her way backward through her friends. Flushed and Blushed, "We merely sought to meet with the fellow explorers who just came in from the sand...We did not intend to intrude on such a moment as you in your bath." Thank the Heavens we do not stay here, where for a puff of drugs and a kind word, the staff will lead expeditions to intrude on my baths.
Noor looks all around in amazement and disgust. As Grynbarl succumbs to his drugs, she gets one last look at him before being led away. He willing gives up control? She shudders at the thought. I have fought so long to stay in control. Why give that all up for addled dreams?
Noor loosens the hilt in the scabbard of the sword on her back, making sure it is visible over her shoulder. A look on her face daring anyone to mistake her for a courtesan of the Sins. She makes no eye contact with the doormen as she enters. Her duties with her her tribe often had her in view of her friends and family and even suitors, but the glances she had recieved were of love, devotion, and respect....here, she braced herself for the leers. She experienced it to a degree in Sothis, but never had she entered such an establishment.
Noor flushes red, "Thank you Daud, but you will most definitely NOT find us at the Sins. We only are going there to meet some fellow explorers. We are staying at Akeema's and word can be left for us there." Noor leaves the establishment with her nose held high.
"The chest was not so special, and I think it went off with the archaeologists. The eyeglass is the only item we have that would likely gain his interest, even though we have no desire to sell it. We can perhaps approach him seeking his knowledge about it."
Noor was not sure stating what they sought the best means, but perhaps direct is best as wandering the town has gained them little. "We seek a key. We think Master Neheb may have made a recent acquisition that contained this key, like say a box or chest, I am not sure exactly what the container might be. But do you know of any of his most recent purchases or even the seller perhaps?"
"Both keys were recovered in ancient structures with elaborate....what would be the right word?....mental tests of thought and will. The first was found by itself. The second one in a box with our helpful spyglass and a few other trinkets. It could be he collects the box and not the key."
Noor will still work the night out, despite hearing that the key has not arrived. A debt to be paid, despite the deception in getting here.
"Well this got us a look at the place through some hard work, but I don't think we are closer to out goal if we can't move freely into the seats from here. And the size of the backstage means we will be conspicuous loitering here."
Noor blushes but tries to play it off as shyness (and not indignant rage), "That is not the entertainment I was hoping for this evening." She says with a smile, trying to perhaps indicate the night is young. "But I could still do with a spot of work. Have you finished setting up?"
"Perhaps it can be as easy as seeing if they need help?" Noor will excuse herself to find the attendant and slip him some coin to see that more refreshments head to the back table. She will follow and introduce herself. "Sorry but from over there if sounded like you might have something to do with preparing the show tonight. Pardon my presumption, it is just,...well I would love to see the show, even if as a stage hand. Do you need any more hands? For such a grand show, you must be kept way too busy. I would love to help lighten the work of preparation. You don't even have to pay me. You will see I am strong enough to be useful. And that would give each of you more time to relax.....etc."
Noor blushes a bit at the thought of having to perform any public dance. "The performance would be to watch, correct Akeema? Performers. Surely, no one wants to see me dance?" That is what servants are for, goes unmentioned in her mind.
"I agree. If he does carry the key, let's try to see it. I would prefer that over attempts at theft.
"I think I agree with Kytana. We may set our goal harder, if we kick up too much dust in the asking. Let us learn what we can first. Discover the bearer of the key and then prepare the proper approach...I am still slightly shamed by the actions at the pyramid and the last key. While we did nothing illegal, it was perhaps wrong. I do not wish to repeat that here." Her heads tilts a little to the side, "Although....just like the pyramid, we did save others the danger and anguish of enemies targeting them for the key." She turns to the Elf, "Well. Setesh. Action or discretion. It seems you are the tie breaker."
"It is just the key we want. The possessor may not be aware of its significance, especially if it is carried about. Perhaps it would be best to see if it again leaves this abode tomorrow. That way we can identify our target. If he knows not what it is, perhaps it can be purchased?"
"Well you two seem eager enough. I am ready to go whenever. When we start, I figure checking every once in while to close in on the key's direction and location should be fine. If it proves to be mobile, perhaps we switch to nighttime tactics when the key bearer might have settled down."
Finalized purchases. 2100 gp for +1 Mithral Chain Shirt (arcane failure 10%), 10 gp in new silks Cashed in a breastplate and mw breastplate at half price. 689 gp unspent.
"The deal was simple at the time. He finances the expedition and provides us the information and tools to complete it, in exchange he claims first choice of recovered items. This seemed more than fair. Of course, we were not thinking that the one item might be something so dangerous the Four Pharaohs feared it. Bas'rac was there to lend credibility to the situation, but I imagine he will be less than pleased by recent developments."
Noor ignores the food, not yet hungry so soon after the humbling encounter. "Our benefactor will not like the sound of that, although....somehow I suspect Bas'rac will be fine with it."
Noor beams, "It would be most welcome to have another woman in our company." But then she turns serious, "But I must warn you...or maybe I don't. You saw what faced us. There is a chance for great reward, but also great danger."
"We have a unique compass that guided us here. We are looking for something here in the city. Something the compass points to. We know it is close, but paused in the search to get some shopping done. And then...well...all this happened."
Noor sheathes her sword with a snap. "Wouldn't be the first, but that is not a tale for the streets...lead on." As they walk she adds, "I am Noor, and this is Setesh and Tarik. We have another companion, but he is not in the city presently."
When did Tarik get a snake?......And when did he teach it to talk.? But she watches amazed as the beetles hold off at the words from the snake.
Yeah, I will have to pass too. I play in a number of games, but I can only maintain that due to them all being Pathfinder and HeroLab building and advancing all my characters. Too much work otherwise to get into another system. But thanks.
Noor feels the compulsion. First one knee, than the other. The whole time a snarl on her face and a curse on her tongue. She still holds her sword in front of her, but knows it would be of little effect against one such as this...these? Her neck strains against the effect, but her head bows all the same. It is at that moment, she feels control return. There is no respect given. This is about power...and our powerlessness.
Sword out, Noor manifests her claws in rage.
But even her voice betrays her, as she has no idea what this is, but it is clear what it wants.
Noor starts slowly backing down the way she came. She can't take her eyes off the mass of beetles, but cocks her head, yelling out over her shoulder
"Setesh! Something is wrong in that alley. I will investigate." Noor calls upon the Dragon to provide her protection.
There is a brief brass shimmer, like a coin in the sun, in front of her, then fades. Feeling blessed she heads into the tide of fleeing peasants.
Calling on the voice used so well when she grew up as the princess of her people. "You will move! Now!"
Those not bright or quick enough to move she scatters a handful of coins.
She draws her sword as she moves, but will leave it to the Thugee to make a fight out of this.
"Tck-Tck! Easy there big fella." Noor tries to calm the bulllock.
Noor hears the commotion. Her initial reaction is to run to the street, but she stops that instinct when she realizes she is still draped in silks not her own. She heads to the back to change back to her own clothes.
Yeah, I have since seen that. :-) But the inspiration was more the Queen of Jordan.
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