I'm withdrawing. Just not really integrated in the group.
Good luck and have fun.
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"If that man was the demon I saw in that vision, he's more than powerful enough to take out the rest of them. At least once he's unleashed the full powers of hell."
"I haven't mastered that magic myself, either." Seinal glances up at the new runes on Sixth and Seventh's foreheads and starts to say something, but then stops himself. He'll talk about it if and when he's ready.
Seinal is in a sour mood this morning. The disappearance of Grimwald bothered him. Damned fool. Thought we were fighting Fate not just haring after her. He pulls his cloak tight against the wind as he walks and his eyes are downcast.
Seinal examines the potions that Balik carries.
As they walk Seinal asks the halfling, "Balik, would you like me to try and determine the qualities of those potions?"
I'd prefer risk of failure, myself. Challenging but not overwhelming is a good target, but a difficult one to gauge because it's dependent both on build effectiveness and player skill. Personally, I don't mind a death or two in the campaign as long as it's not a regular occurrence. I've had campaigns with more than two party wipes and that becomes no fun. At that point I'd rather just say we "lost the game" on that campaign and start anew.
Seinal flicks his wrist to remove the large quantity of blood from Fortune Slayer then casts prestidigitation to finish cleaning it. After a minute the extra images surrounding Seinal converge until just him remains. His voice behind the mask sounds irritated, "This was a waste. Let's get back to the others."
Seinal reaches his hand down across Fortune Slayer and mutters an arcane phrase. His hands glow with blue lightning which travel the length of the blade. He then moves forward to flank with Cilian and slashes at the beast with both hands.
Seinal mutters a few words behind his battle mask and his image blurs and then splits. Suddenly there are five of him standing in front of the owlbears.
Seinal had drawn Fortune Slayer and began an incantation but the fight was over before it truly began. Looking at the limbs sliced clean off by Sixth's scythe he shakes his head, "Times like these remind me why I insist we spar with blunt blades, Sixth."
He looks at Sixth with a bemused smile. Which looks a little odd... Seinal doesn't smile much. "Sixth, my friend, I couldn't say. I haven't seen much besides the inside of this cup for the past few hours. Well that and a handful of poor card players that Finni and I fleeced. Have a drink?" He turns at Cilian's question and looks thoughtful as he remembers, "Oh him? It wasn't so much us getting together as him finding me. I was in a spot of trouble about fifteen years ago. I was in a town near Korvossa when I spotted a beautiful Shoanti half-elf drinking water from a fountain in the main square. She was truly striking to look at with arcane runes tattooed on her face and arms. When she looked up and our eyes met, I was struck with a vision. I saw her face staring up in empty horror, her face burned and blackened where her tattoos once were. Driven into her forehead was a black iron nail. So intense was the vision that when my senses returned the girl had vanished. I was troubled by the vision, but had no idea who this girl was or how the event I envisioned would occur. Asking around, I found she was part of a Shoanti emissary party seeking to prevent the Korvosan government from allowing a Chellaxian hellknight outpost to be built near their lands.
As the pieces began to fall in place in my head, I left town in a hurry towards the emissary's camp. It was a few miles out of town in a wooded area. I arrived on the scene to see my fate working towards the outcome of my vision. Three Shoanti warriors lay slain along with two heavily armored figures. A figure stood in black spiked armor in front of the woman from town. She was bruised and battered and he held her by the neck in a gauntleted fist. I recognized his armor (who wouldn't.) The man was a Hell knight of the Order of the Nail. He heard me enter the clearing and turned towards me. He told me to leave and that this was a cleansing for savage heresy. My answer was to draw my sword and charge him. He didn't have time to move, but he didn't need to. I'd never felt armor so hard. My sword struck true against his chest, but could not pierce his armor. The spikes prevented the blade from sliding off and it snapped right there in my hand. The figure laughed and backhanded me to the ground. He was terribly strong. As my vision swam I saw my death approaching. I heard a voice in my head whisper, This is your fate. You will die here. This filled me with rage and I shouted silently back, F!&! fate. I write my own destiny. I was shocked when the voice spoke back a single word, 'Good. I felt a pulling sensation and suddenly felt a weapon in my hand. Knowing I had moments before death I lunged blindly forward, fully expecting this blade to stop as well. My eyes were closed and I felt the impact of my strike and waited for the return swing to end it all. When it didn't come, I opened my eyes to see Fortune Slayer here, buried to the hilt in the knight's chest. He saved my life that day, and has on countless occasions sense. We are allies, of sorts, who share a common foe. He pauses and looks wistful for a moment, ”As for the half-elf lass, she rewarded me a kiss and said some words I could not understand before vanishing.” After telling his story Seinal goes quiet and stares at his drink for a while. His companions have never heard him talk for so long. Perhaps the drink had loosened him up some.
Seinal is holding his liquor pretty well, despite not having had this much to drink in decades.
Seinal grins at Finnigin and takes another drink, "You are quite the fellow, O'Mally. You live your life with gusto. Perhaps something is to be said for not worrying overmuch." The elf is feeling pleasantly warm inside from the brandy and a knot in his shoulders he hadn't realized was there begins to loosen.
Seinal notices Finnigin heading off to the bar alone. He starts to head off to try performing a reading, or perhaps spar with Sixth, but pauses and says over his shoulder to Fortune Slayer, "So you said I should try to live for other things besides revenge... I suppose I could use a break." He changes directions and heads after O'Mally. Entering the bar a minute or so later, he sees the halfling alone nursing a pint. He walks up and takes a seat next to him and hails at the bartender, "Brandywine, if you please. Something of decent quality would be appreciated." He looks down at the man next to him, "I hope you don't mind company. I'm surprised not to see Balik here."
Seinal hops up into the wagon and finds a comfortable position. He puts his battle mask on and rests Fortune Slayer across his lap. "I'm glad we're moving. I didn't care much for this place."
Cilian: Seinal shakes his head in answer to Cilian's question, "He has tried to explain it but I admit it's somewhat beyond my arcane knowledge. Somehow the marble is connected to the astral plane allowing power to be drawn from the soul inside without depleting it. It's basically an energy source. As to how it would affect me, I don't believe it would. It would be enclosed within a slot within the blade and Fortune Slayer would act as a barrier between myself and whatever malevolent energies the marble could create."
I have no desire to persuade you either way because it is so far beyond my understanding that I cannot tell you what would happen either way. Keeping the marble loose is a danger, that I know, but while it would be physically safer in the sword I cannot say whether that is the wisest choice. Take your time to consider it. Perhaps we will gain more wisdom in this matter in time."
Cilian: Seinal's mask is off as he sits with his red hair draped over his aquiline features. His black eyes meet Cilian's as he enters the room.
"That marble... I don't think you should let anyone else see it." He pulls Fortune Slayer from its sheath slowly and lays it across his knees. The inky black blade sits motionless, but the watching sensation from it is stronger than ever and somehow it appears... hungry. "That prison of your fathers was created by an extraordinary power and it is an extremely powerful thing in it's own right. That gem allows your father's soul to be used as a power source by those with the right ability. Using his soul in such a manner does not kill him, but it is exquisitely painful, even more so than the torture he is currently experiencing. If the wrong person saw that who knew what it was, they would do anything to claim it for themselves." He nods down at the weapon on his knees. "Fortune Slayer here wants to keep the marble inside itself. Says it will make him stronger and keep the marble safe. He's not lying about that. The blade is truly indestructible and the marble would be safe from prying eyes. That said, I do not fully understand this weapon yet and would not ask you to part with the object of your revenge unless you wished to do so. My main reason for calling you here was to make you aware of the danger showing that thing to others represents.
Sorry for being absent today, Sundays are busy for me as well as being my RL game night. Some interesting roleplay in this group. Hopefully, I'll get in on it more during the week. :)
After studying Cilian's marble Seinal is quiet for sometime. While everyone else is discussing prophecy, which normally would draw his attention like moth to a flame, Seinal is withdrawn. He seems to make up his mind when Cilian gets up with Canim and he rises as well leaning towards the smaller of the two. "Your father's gem... I need to discuss it with you. Preferably in private as well. Will you meet me in my room when you're done with the fat one?"
"Well let me examine it briefly..." Seinal casts detect magic and studies the marble for a few minutes.
"I second the Corpulent's question. Do you merely wish eternal torment for your father or is there some actual purpose to keeping that thing around?"
Seinal nods thoughtfully, "Perhaps he's involved with the fiends behind our visions. He pulls out his deck of cards and begins shuffling before laying them out on the table before him in an odd pattern.
Staring at the cards, he shakes his head, frustrated. Nothing is clear.
Seinal notes the bolts of silk and raises an eyebrow. "I suppose those came from our hastily departed friend? Did you learn anything about him, Cilian?"
Seinal glances over his shoulder mutters under his breath, Perception DC 15 to hear whispered conversation: "Vengeance, Destiny and you keep me company. You think I wouldn't like to settle down? Anyone I began to care for would be dragged into the hardships this life has become. Why do you care? I don't even know what you are or what you're after."
Seinal smiles watching Balick lead Finnigin to the dance floor. After they're out of earshot he chuckles and says, "It's good to see some of us are still enjoying the pleasant things in life."
"Kyomi, you certainly have a way with words." He chuckles ruefully and shakes his head. "Now would one of our more stealthy companions be interesting in following the sot? I wasn't sure if he was lying, but something was strange about his sudden offer."
Seinal looks at Sixth speculatively, "I, too, would be cautious of such a literal interpretation, but I suppose it would be reckless to ignore the avorals. Unfortunately, I have no means of rapid magical transport, myself. Perhaps a few days spend gathering information would be better than haring off after creatures we have no hope of catching." He stares up with distaste at the newcomer "What sort of wager are you planning on offering my companion and while fleecing those too drunk to stand is usually an enjoyable passtime, you're insulting as well as drunk which is a boorish combination."
"Let's find a place to rest and take our repast."
Seinal walks along the path with his sword resting on his shoulder. Seems he only sheaths it in town or when his hands need other uses. "Well, as uncertain as our destination may be, I'm certainly glad to be entering less gloomy territory."
"That was skillfully done. Good work, Cilian, though I'm not sure how necessary the slaughter was. And I had a similar vision. I don't know much about politics, but that theory seems plausible." Seinal moves to help sixth move the bodies then uses prestidigitation to clean up the mess. "Now that that's done, let's get moving once more. I have no idea when these guards relief will show up and would like to be long gone by then."
"Agreed, sixth. She's taunting us with these visions, but she'll not have her way." Seinal looks around, "We probably shouldn't camp so close to Cassomir anyway." Turning to Finnigan, "Omally, you seem to know the lay of the land. Whether to?"
Seinal swears in elven as he grabs a corner of his cloak and wipes away the dark trail of blood that had begun to stream from his nose. After he's cleaned himself, he shoots a hard grin at Kyomi, "We are up against Destiny, vixen. What are we if not doomed?"
"Andoran, is it? And Cheliax? I admit I have little interest or knowledge in human politics. If Fate has decided the golden eagle must fall, however, I'm more than willing to challenge her once again." He draws Fortune Slayer and looks down at the inky blade. In Sylvan:
And what do you say, old friend? Ready for another doomed adventure? DM:
"I know little of beings beyond our plane. The eagle was locked in battle with a small impish creature, and seemed evenly matched. As it was battling, however, a massive creature rose from the depths and struck the bird with a flaming rope or lash of some kind, then dragged the poor bird under with him." Seinal stands, stretching his legs. "You understand, Omally, that these visions are rarely literal."
Seinal sits motionless, cards in hand, as his companions argue around him. Suddenly he breaths in sharply and reaches up to cover his eyes. He growls under his breath, Curse you, woman. What are you planning now?" He shakes his head as if trying to clear it of something then raises his voice, "Does a golden eagle mean anything to any of you? These visions are so damned obscure... I saw one being brought down by demons near the coast." He turns his gaze on Byron, "He who denies the existence of fate is the greatest fool of all. Bury your head in the sand if you wish, but I refuse to dance to Destiny's tune."
Seinal stares at the halfling for a moment, and his expression softens slightly, "I am calm, Omally, because I understand something you don't. You didn't kill all those people." He pulls out his deck of worn cards and begins shuffling. "You heard Grimward's visions same as I." He cuts the deck in two and each hand cuts the new halves again before merging them in a high bridge. "My... intuition is not as clear as his, but the message was obvious. That plague was foretold, the fire was just... improvisation. Fate's way of cheating to get what she wants." His hands come together like he's about to begin dealing a reading, but he pauses as if unsure whether to continue.
The elf glares at the young man and snorts, "Our reasons are irrelevant. Fate marked Cassomir for death. We only partially averted her plans." He looks down at his hands as water drips from the still wet cowl of his cloak. "Maybe we didn't even accomplish that. Maybe her goal was the death a few or one, and she was willing to sacrifice a city to bring it about. The weave has become more and more twisted over the past few weeks. Besides,"he shrugs his shoulders causing the silver and black hilt of his weapon to shift, "Why beg for forgiveness from fools who live in ignorance. They'll never understand how little control they have over their own lives.
Balik and Seinal your visions are often based around misfortune and darkness, one of the reasons you help Grimward is because he is the only one out of the three of you to receive visions that hint at positive outcomes. Also his visions seem to be the easiest to affect. Of course, setting fate on its head is enough motivation for me. Following around an orcale for the sole purpose of disrupting the destiny his eyes see is right up my alley.
This is Seinal for your consideration. 25 point buy. Rolling for HP: Reroll 1:
A rather average looking man strolls into the bar with a slight smirk on his face. His leathers look worn and well used and a dice cup is snapped in his belt pouch. The pommel of a curved blade extends over one shoulder. He stands quietly near the entrance and looks around at the rowdy group present. This looks like a sporting crowd of anglers. Hopefully a gull or two among them so I can earn a spot of glint.
Hope this isn't closed yet. Here's Seinal for your consideration. |