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Alias here. Ignore the character sheet and whatnot, it's for a different game that was going to involve a lot of plane hopping, so I imported him to that Recruitment since I thought it'd be fun to play the same character after several years passed (though was not chosen). Race stats at the bottom spoiler. Fairly simple.
"Your guess is as good as ours. Current prevailing theory is the Stair is gathering Gossamer Lords and Ladies for some reason."
"Hm. There are many good contenders, but there is one I have no seen before nor since." "I was clearing out an infestation of Aberrations on one of the worlds I stumbled across not long after first beginning to walk the stair. It was mutable. Every time I blinked, it was something different. Everything it transformed into seemed specifically designed to unnerve me, body shifting in unnatural ways that sicken you if you look at it, tentacles in all the wrong places. That sort of thing." "I fought it, and where my Starknife sliced it bled a strange ichor, changing colors every moment or so. When it had bled dry. I thought it was over. And it was, sort of." "The ichor pooled together, and then simply JUMPED. It was gone before I even knew what had happened. Passed straight through the roof of the cave and kept on going into the sky. Still don't know what happened to it."
"So perhaps the Stair itself is gathering us here, for some purpose."
Suchak, being quite nosy for someone with no nose, looks over curiously at Genjo's statement. "He cut your world off from the Stair? I wasn't aware that was even possible. At least, not permanently."
Suchak puts his hand to his head."So long as it doesn't change or take my memories in any way, then yes. But in the future, would you mind refraining from unexpected mental communication." "Any time." Wodin looks to each of the newcomers, each unique and interesting in their own ways. "This may be the most eclectic group I've ever seen. The Great Stair certainly is a varied place," he comments, before taking another drink from his mug. "It' why it's so wonderful. Always something new to see. Sometimes you see more than you wish, but never less."
Suchak puts his hand to his head. "So long as it doesn't change or take my memories in any way, then yes. But in the future, would you mind refraining from unexpected mental communication? The way it echoes makes my head hurt when I'm not expecting it. A side effect of my encounter with a Moon Beast a while back." Wodin's smile slips as Suchak explains the existence of beings beyond the Soyuzite's comprehension. "That sounds terrible. I can only hope these Great Old Ones are not behind the disturbances affecting my world. No one could ever want such wanton destruction inflicted upon their home!" "I pray that they are not as well. I have researched all I can of them and their goals are still incomprehensible to me."
"I suppose that's somewhat inaccurate. Many of the Great Old Ones, or their priests, dwell within the normal planes of existence, I believe. But they are, as the name suggests, very old. Harbingers of madness and death, twisting everything they touch. I've only had direct dealings with the one known as Hastur, the King in Yellow, but even without his direct intervention my planet was nearly destroyed. Entire towns were mutated into hideous twisted monstrosities, and an insane woman with access to his book nearly threw Triaxus directly into his realm. Who knows what would have happened then." "On my travels I was horrified to learn that he is not even the STRONGEST of the Great Old Ones, and his indirect machinations nearly destroyed a whole planet. Supposedly, he and the other Old Ones are in turn merely servants of even more powerful Outer Gods that lurk either beyond space or in the center of the universe, just waiting to be summoned to destroy all creation." Suchak shudders. "Desna willing I will never have to learn if those legends are true."
"Their presence is just as disagreeable as the Old Ones that dwell beyond space." Suchak agrees.
Suchak looks on, fascinated. "A man made planet? That's amazing! There really is always something new to see."
First (and maybe last) draft of Suchak's fluff: Appearance, Background, and Motivation:
Suchak is a sky-priest, one of the serpentine mountain dwellers of Golarion's sister planet, Triaxus. While most of his people worship Gozreh, and credit her with the creation of the wind and sky, Suchak follows what he believes is a higher goddess: Desna, who created the heavens themselves that Triaxus spins through in its erratic orbit. Suchak left his people as soon as he was old enough to do so, and never looked back. He wandered for years, simply exploring and honing his skills with his chosen weapon (the Starknife, the favored of his goddess). He became powerful, and skilled, but was not prepared for what happened a few years into his travels. He met up with three companions, a plainsdweller named Horn, the poet-whale illusionist Podrick, and a Winter Guard (a construct creature) who was simply known as Aught. They stumbled across a plot by an insane playwright to send Triaxus hurtling across the planes into Carcosa, the domain of the Great Old One Hastur. The group managed to thwart the plot, Aught giving his life in the process, and parted ways as heroes, never to meet again. Suchak was forever changed by his encounter with madness. Where before he had explored for exploration's sake, and still did in part, he carried with him a seed of paranoia, always worried that something similar would come to pass and he wouldn't be able to stop it. He routed out Aberrations wherever he came across them, and destroyed them mercilessly. After a while, it became apparent that his encounter with the portal to Carcosa had changed him in a different way: He was now more attuned with the underpinnings of the universe. Planar travel became opened to him, a gift from his goddess, or so he believed. He began the third stage of his life traversing the Grand Stair, embarking on the greatest journey of several lifetimes. Suchak had never felt such a sense of fulfillment. There was always something new around every corner, through every door. Entire planets and planes he's seen, and he plans to see more. Motive: Suchak desires nothing more than to see all there is to see in the multiverse, though he is also committed to stopping the encroachment of the Old Ones into this universe. While they may bring new things into being, he has no desire to see their twisted creations take over and defile the beauty of any more planets and planes than they already have. Appearance: Suchak is tall, though much of his height comes from his elongated neck. With his neck extended he tops 7 feet, but his body is maybe 5' 10" alone. His scales are green as spring grass, and his eyes glow blue with magical power, a gift of his bloodline that lets him see magic. He wears comfortable, well fitted clothing festooned with vials and pouches within easy reach. Suchak disdains true armor, trusting in a weak force barrier and his own natural dexterity (augmented by alchemical mutagens) to keep him from harm. Triaxus description: Triaxus is the 7th planet in Golarion's solar system. Due to its erratic orbit, it has a drastically different climate planet-wide depending on how close it travels to the sun. Seasons can last for years, even whole generations. During the Summer, the planet is a veritable garden world, covered in lush vegetation and huge jungles dwarfing the rainforests of Golarion's Mwangi Expanse. During Winter, it is a cold, frozen wasteland. The most common people of Triaxus, the aptly named Triaxians have vastly differing physiologies depending on which season tehy're born in, adapting to either extreme.
"Erm, anyway." Suchak says once everything's calmed down. "Wodin, what's your story? You said you were a priest?" he asks, sitting down and pouring himself a cup of blue wine. He does not drink it, but he does breathe deeply and smiles at its fragrance.
"We may be related on some biological level. Triaxus and Golarion do inhabit the same solar system, after all. Having met some Serpentfolk on my Golarion based travels, however, I'd have to say they are as different in worldview and morality from us as night is to day."
"Not precisely. I trend towards more martial pursuits, with a bit of alchemical dabbling. My people are called the Sky-Priests because most of my brethren never leave the mountaintops, and Divine magic is in our blood." "As a traveler, I'm a bit of an oddity, though not unheard of. My connection to Desna may be subtler than a true cleric, but it is no less true all the same, and it is what moves my feet from place to place. And she has been kind enough to bless me with many abilities that aid in my travels. I right wrongs where I find them, though I don't seek out trouble." "Though trouble has a nasty habit of finding me. I'm pleasantly surprised there's nothing trying to kill me through this door." he says, lifting the corners of his mouth slightly, showing his fangs in a sort of smile.
"Triaxus, originally, though I go wherever Desna takes me. I'm a traveler by trade, you could say." he chuckles softly, letting out an odd "Hashishishisis" sound. "My name is Suchak. Suchak Iskal of the Sky-Priests."
Suchak walks down the Stair, tongue flicking the air out of habit, always searching for something out of place. He stops, for a moment, tasting the air coming from a door slightly ajar. Determining it is safe, he pushes it open, and sticks his long neck around the frame of the door to be greeted by the sight of several people seated around a table. Deciding it's safe for now, and wanting to avoid the tedium of calling out in all the languages he knows, he downs a small vial and begins to speak in Golarion Common.
"What is this place? It's a world I've never seen before. Though I guess that's no oddity in and of itself."
Here's the alias. It has the Race Point breakdown of the race in it. The fluff is that basically his race are serpentine peoples that live on the mountain, and have "Divine magic in their blood". Not much more is known about them, as far as I know. This particular character favors the worship of Desna over the usual Gozreh, and so is more of a world walker. It would not be out of character for him to, once powerful enough, travel to another plane or planet. I'll get started on Crunch and an updated Fluff (he's got to have been doing SOMETHING in the meantime to make it from 9th level to 12th level Gestalt and Mythic).
Suchak graciously accepts the new Starknife, and keeps it with him always. He comes away from the ordeal somewhat paranoid about creatures in disguise as normal Triaxians, but for the most part none the worse for wear as he continues his travels in Desna's name.
"I'm not entirely sure. All I know of him is he's a powerful being associated with madness. I think Podrick knows more. Aught seemed to know something as well. We've been in such a rush that I forgot to ask them. It didn't seem important as much who he was, more so that we stopped him."
"I am Suchak Iskal. I am a Sky-Priest, and feel it would be rude to possibly disturb the rest of my kin's solitude by telling you exactly where I'm from. Apologies." "I am a follower of Desna, and a guide. I was hired to guide Horn, the Triaxian, on his trip through the mountains. We met up with Podrick, the cetakin, and Aught, the Winter Guard, at the Kiltar Inn, and upon discovering we were heading in the same general direction, I offered to guide them as well." "We traveled first to Forestdal, then headed across the Dale Bridge. All was uneventful up to this point. However upon arriving in the village of Hallowfeld we found it destroyed. The inhabitants that were left had been...changed. Transformed into tentacle-headed monstrosities." "I knew one of them. Wallace Kohl. He was a good, fair man. I had to...defend myself from what he had become." his voice catches slightly. "Apologies. Beside the point. We fended them off easily enough when even larger, worm-like creatures attacked. We destroyed them as well, and then moved on to the nearby manor for a rest. It too was abandoned, but we found evidence that Sophia Lasilaran, the new occupant, had found...something. It had driven her insane, and she became an agent of Hastur, and tried to spread his madness to here." "We quickly traveled to Lamid, which was where her next performance was to take place. We arrived too late. Many of the townsfolk there had been transformed as well, but we were able to put them down and restore a semblance of order to the place before hurrying on here, to Indar, once we saw that Lasilaran's next stop was this playhouse." "We rushed in to interrupt the play before the people inside were transformed through means that are still unclear. Though dazed, they roused themselves once the fighting began, and fled. We fought, slaying Lasilaran and the other players, but not before a portal to Carcosa had been opened. That's where the water came from." "At some point, I'm not entirely sure when, that large creature came through. We managed to slay it, with some effort. And then another thing, that frog creature, appeared, wanting the book we had found. We attacked it as well, and just barely managed to end its life.. Aught gave his life to do so. The portal to Carcosa closed some time during the fighting. Apologies if some details are unclear in that part. Everything is a bit of a blur to me in combat." "That is all, I believe. The whole story as I remember it. My companions will tell you much the same thing, officer."
"Of course." Suchak says, inclining his head. "Though it is three, I'm afraid. Aught, the Winter Guard perished in the battle." he says sadly.
"The play was in fact a ritual designed to transfer everyone to a city of madness outside of normal space. Or so I was able to glean from the sight of the city and the mad ramblings of that creature there." he says, gesturing to the fallen creature with his good hand. "We managed to get here in time to stop it, before it destroyed Indar like it destroyed Hallowfeld and much of Lamid."
Suchak cradles his broken wrist and looks around for everyone else. "Is it over? Are you and Podrick okay?" he says to Horn, half expecting some new threat to pop out at them.
"Finally got the courage to come down after me, have you?" Suchak taunts the creature again.
Thankful that he doesn't have to enact Plan B (teleporting to the book to grab it), Suchak continues to go on the attack against the creature.
"Pod, you threw the book he wants INTO THE PLACE HE WANTS TO TAKE IT!"
Suchak resume his Flurry of attacks against the creature, hoping to goad him into coming closer, and focusing his Ki to attack it. "Come on! Fight me!"
Spoiler: Position is relative to the Veiled Moon disciple's thinking, and his position in the universe is mutable. Using these principles, the disciple may circumvent reality to remove himself from harms way when necessary. The initiator makes a Stealth check opposing the attacker's Perception check. If successful then the initiator may teleport to any spot within 10- ft. away from his current position and leave a minor image duplicate of himself behind to take the attack of his foe in his place. Minor images created by this counter last for 1d4 rounds or until dispersed. This ability may be used to defend against spells and effects that directly target the initiator with an attack roll (such as ranged touch effects) or for those that allow for a Reflex save. If the attack would still encompass an area to where the initiator is teleporting (such as with the fireball spell he has not vacated), the initiator would still be struck by the attack.
Suchak spends some time focusing himself to regain his Maneuvers.
Suchak's gaze hardens as he notices the Winter Guard is not merely injured and unconscious, but dead. He hisses at the flying creature in anger.
"That...is not good. Much less bad than it could be, now I think of it." "Wait, do you mean "here" as in the playhouse is going here, or "here" as the whole planet is going there?" Suchak spares a glance at Aught. Hope he's okay. Never seen him do that before.
"None of us is 'next'! You're going to die here and that...thing" he waves his hand towards Carcosa "Will be sent back where it came from."
Suchak tries to finish this quickly, banking all on his last hail Mary damage booster.
Suchak re-enters his rapid throwing Stance and tries again to assault the creature.
Suchak steps in a little bit and focuses on the last remaining threat, activating his Deadly Strike on it as well.
If It Passes: Suchak looks at Horn, puzzled.
"What are you talkin-WHAT IS THAT!?!" he says as he turns back to the creature.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"
Suchak studies the creature, searching for weak spots, and lets fly with his Starknife once more.
"No. Please go back where you came from." Suchak says as he stares at the tentacle beast in horror. He steps back a little bit and unloads on the creature. 5 Attacks:
Suchak looks back at the group. "You could join me at any time, friends!" he says, becoming quite worried about everyone suddenly deciding to hang back instead of coming to fight.
"As it turns out, she does have a bow! Readjust assessment to 'Very dangerous'" Suchak fades partially into the Ethereal and moves through the air to a closer rafter.
Suchak picks out the one he assumes is Sophia, and builds up his Whirlwind as he did against Kthunk.
So, we have a bard, an archer, and a sorceress to deal with. By process of elimination, that leaves the last as Sophia, unless she isn't here. Damn. The one person I really wish I knew what she could do. Suchak thinks to himself. "Careful, the one in yellow specializes in mind magic, and the dark skinned elf has bardic magic. The one with the whip is likely less of a threat unless she produces a bow from somewhere." he calls back to the others.
Suchak teleports up to the rafters using his Fading Leap.
"I think the Dimension Door is a wise plan. We go in hard and fast, striking like an adder before they know what has hit them. Perhaps with any luck they will be so surprised they'll end whatever thrall they have over the audience befor eany permanent harm is done."
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