Sevak Paradesee's page

Probably he'd stay in Changdo--he has no reason to leave Po Li, really.

I ask about Paq because it was getting pretty hard for Sevak to justify working with Paq, even to himself. He wants to repay him for all Paq has done for Sevak, but... has no clue how to help him with what he views as his biggest problem, the whole stealing-from-everyone thing. Add to that the feeling that he's kind of an accomplice to the thefts, and... yeah, it was starting to look like Sevak would straight-out ask to go their separate ways.

Sevak is probably going to be pretty boring for a while. :D

That could work. Would Paq stay with him for that long, or are they finally going to part ways?

That could work. What do you have in mind?

Hmmmm... I'd say I'm invested in Sevak as a character, but not necessarily the game, if that makes sense? I like Sevak's character arc, but I'm not invested in any particular way of continuing it.

It doesn't necessarily have to be fair as long as it's interesting. :D Though obviously a situation where Sevak has no chance to make a difference would be hard to make interesting.

Sevak tries to pick a piece of ground that would be unwise to charge into with a horse--somewhere with a log or roots or anything that might trip a horse up. He feels sorry for the beasts, but would rather bring the insane men to the ground than try to fight against them while mounted. He tries to focus through whatever the odd sensation or sound is, hoping it is not related to his dream the other night.

If one of them still draws close, he will slash at him with his blade.

Zhèngyì slash: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11

That could be interesting. :)

Oh, if I had the skill points for another skill, Stealth would probably be it.

Sevak shakes his head slightly, wondering what had come over him as he tries to decide on a course of action. These seem like... madmen of some kind, berserkers bereaved of their senses. He doubts diplomacy will work, but neither will he jump straight to violence.

He quickly calls on his magic to protect himself and steps off the road while drawing Zhèngyì. "I do not wish to fight, but will defend myself," he calls out as he takes a defensive position.

Sevak hesitates a moment. "You hide. I will stay more visible," he replies. Paq is skilled at hiding, but Sevak... better to not be seen trying.

Instead, he steps off the path and a little away from the camp, then turns to see who approaches.

Oh no! I hope it goes well!

I'd been thinking that Sevak is kind of in an odd spot as a druid, where he wants to protect nature but also wants to help and protect people. So I wanted to get the idea of that personal conflict out there.

Same plan for now, yes. I just wanted to get some thoughts out there so you would know where Sevak is at mentally at present. So go ahead and move things forward.

Sevak was, in a way, surprised it had taken her this long to reach this conclusion. It was not as if he had hidden his distaste for her power. He had thought her angry because of the power he had destroyed, not the power he had not used.

He would not use that power. Some things came at too great a price.

He tried to push away the thought of her last words. Surely she would not attack him or his friends to try to force his hand... surely she could not do worse than that...

He had to meditate, to seek peace. Sevak closes his eyes and focuses on the sounds and smells around him. They were out in nature. He should be at home here.

...Had he ever, truly, been a druid? He had gone through the training at Iskassala's command, with the intent to serve her, not nature. He had never really used his skills in defense of the natural world. He wondered just who the oread druid in the ruins was. Perhaps Sevak should have sought him out, instead of fleeing... but he could not have stayed there knowing what Paq had done.

Paq... how long could he keep traveling with the ratfolk? He understood his pain, and it felt wrong to turn him away after all he had done for Sevak... but at the same time, he grew more and more uncomfortable with being an accomplice of sorts to his thefts. Perhaps... perhaps when they reached a city, they would part ways. Perhaps it would be best for both of them.

...He was trying to meditate, not dwell on his problems. With a sigh, Sevak pushed the thoughts away again and tried to clear his mind, to focus on the wind and the earth, plant and insect...

For a brief moment Sevak considers pretending to misunderstand, to act as if she actually cared for his friends. But he is tired of these talks. They go nowhere. Best to end it quickly.

"I would be more miserable if I had not saved her after being responsible for her state," he retorts.

Head north, try to find a town, follow the roads to bigger cities, basically.

"Such prejudices about ratfolk are far less justified than any stories about the cruelty of many nagaji," Sevak responds. "It is a tragedy so many believe in them. Many ratfolk have suffered unjustly because of such beliefs."

He pauses just a moment, then adds, "Thank you, Commandant. If there is nothing further, we will depart."

Sevak nods. "North," he says, "Away from Nagajor, and into the cities of Po Li. Which of them have the best libraries or teachers? There is... much I would learn, away from the naga. And... which would accept a nagaji?"

"I shall try to avoid that," Sevak replies. He hesitates, then adds, "And thank you. Now, I suppose it is time to return to the Commandant."

"We should," Sevak replies. "With luck they will have found our gear."

He pauses, then asks, quietly, "If I had said I was going to the forest, would you truly have come with me?"

Sevak nods. "Po Li sounds better than Dtang Ma. Sorcerers sound too close to naga at present, at least without knowing more."

"Somehow I doubt they'd be willing to tell us..." Sevak replies, doubtfully. And truth be told, he wants little to do with Lao Shu Po if he can help it. "For destinations, the next fair-sized city will do for now. I just... I want somewhere to stop and think. To study something beyond what I have known. It is hard to be different when I have seen so little beyond Nagajor."

Yep! Definitely makes me wonder just what's going on...

"He seemed convinced Iskassala thought it was true. And anything she thinks is true is something to be wary of," Sevak replies. "Of course, we scarcely have any way of knowing if she truly does... and unless you happen to be a priest of Lao Shu Po, your tale hardly gives us any information as to its actual location. I suppose we shall simply have to be watchful of any signs that Iskassala truly is seeking it."

"Many myths have a grain of truth to them," Sevak replies, "And sometimes later people name things after earlier myths. Might I hear the story? If she truly seeks it... it would not be good for her to find it."

Sevak narrows his eyes slightly. Had Paq overheard something?

"He said something about Iskassala seeking a place called Lao Shu Po's Trove," he admits, a bit reluctant. What will Paq do with such information? "He was quite adamant that she must not find it."

"I had hoped to stay here long enough to retrieve our equipment, but that might not be possible if your actions are discovered," Sevak replies. "Not to mention that it will make traveling through Po Li difficult if we are wanted criminals."

Sevak sighs again. "Paq... the truth is, I worry for you. This path will lead to your own destruction, I fear. As for plans... I had hoped to travel to a city and seek out knowledge, and then perhaps to the jungle. But I have little trust in my plans, after..."

He waves vaguely at their surroundings.

Sevak sighs. "I don't know, Paq. But if we don't do something differently, who will? I do appreciate all you have done for me. I just..."

He shakes his head. "Harming others scarcely seems like a way to improve the situation."

Sevak shakes his head. "You saw a little of Nagajor, and I saw enough of Quain. But corruption and evil only grow worse if none oppose it. If you always play the part of the thief, the prejudice will always continue. If we do not start being different, then who will?"

"I would rather know more before deciding what to do with them," Sevak states. "It would hardly do to sell them only to discover they exercise a corrupting influence on their wearer."

Sevak hesitates a long moment, still not wanting to get to the point, but he must. He looks around to make certain none are listening, then looks at Paq and asks, "Paq... why would you steal from them? They may be dying, but they likely have families to whom their belongings would go, who will need such in days to come."

I see. :D We'll be traveling later this month, actually.

Maybe. We'll see if I can keep it up.

Let's see if I'm up to this again.

Sevak sighs. "No, I do not think so."

He hesitates a moment, reluctant to bring up the real reason for this conversation. How could he accuse one to whom he owed his life?

"Ah, please give me those armbands back," he says, as much to delay as anything else. "I should study them, to see if they are safe."

Sevak sighs and waves him towards the exit. "We should speak outside," he says.

"May we all find healers for our unseen wounds," Sevak says, sighing.

He turns to Paq. "You have been ill rewarded for your loyalty, my friend. Let me see if I can do something for your wounds."

Should I not aid him in fighting it? I would scarce think myself honorable if I abandoned one who has suffered so for my sake, not to mention saved my life.

Sevak shakes his head. "I wish there were comfort to give you in this, for then perhaps I might find some for myself."

He gazes of into the distance at Hyo Soon's last question. "...I do not know. Away from Nagajor, that much I am certain of. Beyond that..."

He shrugs slightly. "Somewhere that lessons in wisdom might come cheaper."

Silently he thinks to the blade, I would help him if I only knew how.

Sevak barks a short laugh. "I am beginning to think that realizing you cannot be trusted with power is the first step to wisdom," he says. "It seems only those most wary of power can wield it without harming themselves or others. Do not be ashamed that you have learned this lesson through bitter experience when so many never realize it."

Yes, I thought I'd said that? Maybe I forgot to.

Sevak frowns slightly. "When I destroyed the staff, there was a ghostly figure... are you so certain the voice is your own?"

Sevak sighs. "Why are we here? Because I will not abandon a companion in need. Why did I destroy the staff? Because I feared it would destroy you and others. Why did the staff so consume you?"

He pauses, then quietly answers, "Because the past is never truly past."

He is silent again for a moment before asking, "Were there any whys I missed?"

Sevak sighs slightly when the medic ignores Paq, though he does thank her for her ministrations.

He kneels down next to Hyo Soon. "Hyo Soon, we are here," he says, quietly.

Sevak nods. "Thank you," he says to the Commandant.

He then comes over and retrieves Zhèngyì. "I should have warned you the two of you would not get along," he comments to Paq. Is Paq still carrying the armbands?

"He is right, we should go to Hyo Soon. Hopefully they will return our equipment to us, and I can use my wand to do something about your wounds, as well."

Sevak sighs and looks north. "Get farther away from Nagajor. Beyond that? I would seek the wisdom to do right, wherever that might be found... if only I knew where to seek it."

He pauses, then adds, "And perhaps, seek to fight whatever evil I find along the way... if I have the wisdom to recognize it."

Sevak shoots Paq an amused look before looking back to the Commandant. He gives a brief summary of their trip--entering the vault, finding the staff and Zhèngyì (though he does not mention that Zhèngyì speaks), their disasterous attempt at infiltration, the Red Mouth's offer (in general terms), their planned execution and how it had been interrupted.

"The Red Mouth said something about a 'Lao Shu Po' as he died," Sevak finishes. "Does the name have any meaning to you?"

Not at all. I knew he was around, after all.

And besides, in a world like Golarion, prayer can almost literally be answered with Deus Ex Machina. ;)

Huzzah!

Sevak inhales a sharp breath as he hears Immonhiel's voice. Thank you... he thinks, but before he can focus any more, the druid arrives.

Sevak stands and watches, then gives the druid a small, grateful bow.

"Thank you," he says, aloud this time. He wonders if the druid knows of Immonhiel, or if he knew not what had moved him.

He looks back and forth between the Commandant and the druid. "If I might suggest... there may be others left captive within the palace, as well as Paq and I's equipment. Perhaps a search for such could be made before departing to care for the wounded?"

Sevak shakes his head. "No, she never said... surely there must be something we can do..."

He thinks of Immonhiel. Such a being would have the power to heal in this situation, but... perhaps he could pray to her? If she was such a one to hear prayers... but he could think of nothing else.

Immonhiel, I do not know... can I do something here for Hyo Soon? Can you do something? he silently prays.

Hyo Soon never mentioned worshipping a particular deity, did she?

The game's fine, it's just your jokes about blinding Sevak and taking his abilities that are getting old. :D

Sevak shakes his head slightly. "Little, I fear. I can only guess as to what, if my guess is correct, being possessed by that spirit has done to her. Have you any priests with healing magic among your number? They would likely know better than I."