Thorin Spellsplitter's page

The dwarf listened and watched, fully aware that the vampire was looking at them with the gaze of a predator. This was as good a test as any to see if Kislum could control the dark urges which would forevermore curse her existence. For all of her obvious power, he pitied her. Her existence was not one which he would wish for himself. What was worrisome was the obvious power behind those eyes. The world, he mused, would certainly suffer with her.

He was, however, glad to have Hrothgarn by his side. The task ahead required an imposing presence to bring stability to the district. Something that he did not have in anyway approaching that of his comrade. Fortunately, in this task, the destabilizing forces had already gotten what they wanted. Which meant that 'all' they had to do was convince a terrified populace that no looting or the like was in their interests.

Thorin sighed. Players. He thought, bitterly. They tended to be grandiose, and for good reason. Few were not when given the chance to be larger than life. But he told himself not to judge, for there was little choice for some. It was clear to him that the “world that was” had become a shadow and a dream, and that the bodies they now were in changed everyone. The woman that Kislum was had died. Now she truly was a vampire, and the nature of that was changing her just as surely as being a dwarf was changing himself. Thorin was who he was, and he accepted the changes gladly. Even if he did not have a choice in the matter.

”It seems.” He said, choosing his words carefully. ”That your cruelty serves a purpose beyond merely entertaining yourself. It is…hmm. Ideal. That our goals are aligned. Does paying his debt end with his head parting his shoulders?” The dwarf asked. He was still judging these new ‘comrades.’

Given that he was dealing with a vampire, he was truly glad that he had invested so heavily in keeping his mind free from both scrying and charms alike. One could never trust even your own thoughts when dealing with a creature of the night.

"Then I will speak freely." Thorin said, striding forward towards the man. He put his hand out, inviting him to grasp hands together.

"You've got the measure of us, on why we are here." He said, looking the man in the eyes. "Hrothgarn and I are smiths by trade. We prefer to build rather than tear down, and respect those with the strength of mind and arm to do the same. If I have the right measure of you, well, you've obviously got half of that in abundance. So, tell me." He continued. "This guild of yours. What does it want. And what it is that you seek?"

He did not bother to hide that he was judging John based upon how he answered. While Thorin respected strength, that was only half of the equation. The 'why' was just as, if not more, important when it came to taking the measure of a man.

The dwarf spoke up. "Look at how he glows." He said, his eyes narrowed. "I've seen that before. Usually..." He almost said 'raid bosses' but he truly detested such terminology. It broke all immersion, and it was a reminder of the world-that-was. The place they came from which he wished to forget. "...it is hard to attain. I've only seen it on so-called unkillable monster and demons. It is but a myth for normal humans." Aside from the glow, he took in the human and could not help but approve of the aesthetic. Certainly, he wasn't able to hide the power that emanated from him, but aside form that he appeared to belong within this world. And Thorin appreciated that decision. He waited to see what the man might say.

Sense Motive if needed: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23

Almost as if on cue the dwarf walked down the stairs, his face grim. ”I don’t understand this place at all.” He said with a shake of his head. ”Ive no reason to harm those here. But I’d leave all the same. I’m of a mind to find the others and see what they are up to, unless you’ve got another plan in mind.”

”Oi! Listen up.” Thorin said to those chained. ”Any who want to leave can do so. You’ll be under my protection. Any who wish to stay may do so.” He glanced at the guards, confident that they would fail to place any burden upon him by force. He did not understand the faith, but that didn’t mean he would break it needlessly. If any wished to suffer that was their choice. But he wouldn’t stand idly by and allow any to be forced to do so against their will.

Thorin frowned. People were chained to the walls..or other mechanisms. That the emotions were varied gave him pause. He didn't know what he was seeing, but he knew that he didn't like it.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

"I demand an explanation." He said, his voice forceful. He looked around the room, to those chained, to the guards, to any who could hear. He cared not whom gave it. "Do not lie to me."[/b He warned. [b]"For I am not in the mood for it."

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34

Thorin stopped, a frown crossing his face. "Cathedral of chains? I see" Looking to his companion, he said "'I'm going to the second floor. Come with me, or talk to this man about our business, I trust your judgement."

With that, he turned to leave, ready to investigate the sounds. He gave the guards a hard look. "We have been working to contain the destruction occurring outside of these halls. Walk with me if you wish, but if you impede us it will not end well."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Sense Motive on the reactions to this: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

Thorin was content to watch and listen while Hrothgarn handled the diplomacy. He used the time to look around, seeking out any clues as towards whether or not the clergy were actively assisting those in need.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

"There is nothing intrinsically wrong with faith." Thorin responded, his eyes drifting over the architecture. "Though power will inevitably corrupt. And those who desire it will always seek out an avenue to achieve it." He frowned as he considered the best course of action. "I hesitate to use violence, for there is too much unknown here. Let us seek out the priests first, and find what situation this temple is in."

With that said, he jumped off of his comrade's mount, landing on the pavements below with a crunch. The cobblestones took far more damage than the dwarf.

Fall damage, not sure how tall it is. Assuming over 10ft? If so 2d6. If not, then 1d6: 2d6 - 6 ⇒ (2, 2) - 6 = -2

Dusting himself off, he walked towards the temple doors and banged upon them with far more strength than what one would expect. The impacts echoed, certain to get the attention of any within.

"I'm glad you are here." Thorin said as he waited for the response. "Aside from the obvious reasons, I am certain that the priests within will take us more seriously given your presence."

Thorin breathed a sigh of relief as Desseer flew away. He never liked “PvP” or the like. Most people were obsessed with it and made entire builds designed to dominate. Thorin had made his differently. It was focused mostly on who he wanted to be, rather than what was most effective. But beyond that, it was what he called the “porcupine build.” Make something so hard to crack that other players would decide that it wasn’t worth the trouble. Either from wasted spells or broken equipment. But the elven fiend had shown him quite easily his own limitations. He was dangerous, and not in a berserk demon sort of way.

”Right you are, to the temple.” Thorin said to his comrade. ”But…you know. Forge Fathers. That had a nice ring to it.”

Listening to Desseer was like running through the darkness. Each word was like a step, threatening to pitch one to the ground. The dwarf had no idea of whether or not the fiend had been to the Temple District or if he knew what was going on there. Everything he said sounded completely honest and reliable, which made Thorin instantly distrust it.

He looked up at his companion. "We were sent to forge an alliance." He reasoned. "I do not know if he means too send us away from evidence of atrocities, or if this truthfully is the best way to help the people. But...it does seem to be a solid plan. I have no objections." He would have to suggest to Hrothgarn that he should forge an item or two to protect his mind from scrying, for without that, it was impossible to even think freely.

Thorin did not look amused. He was, however, not angry either. Rather he stood where he was, thinking the issue. ”So long as the innocent are not harmed…” He said, as much to himself as anyone else. He let the comments on his build slide off, though he was thankful for them. Having one’s mind read was a weakness he could ill afford. It didn’t help him, however, when dealing with a build like Desseer’s. Every word felt like the truth, even though he knew that it was not the case. It was an unpleasant feeling. As if though the sky appeared green when you knew it was blue. Much of his work had been done to see through illusions, but this was a different issue entirely It bothered him greatly, as the fiend’s explanation sounded not only true, but reasonable. That he couldn’t trust his own senses was disturbing.

”How might we assist, then, in establishing order?” He asked. He wanted to judge what was happening based upon concrete actions, though the mission they were on also was at the forefront of his mind.

Detect magic will show that Thorin's equipment radiates, showing that his otherwise mundane armor is much more than it seems

Turning to Hrothgarn (or more accurately staring straight up), Thorin said "Typical. Desser made NPCs that look like him. With our ally at the gates, I think that the best way for us to keep the townsfolk safe is to meet with the real one." Glancing back at the 'fake' Desseer, he added "That, and if the guild is launching a full scale attack on this town? We will be overwhelmed if we hold our ground anyways. The best we could hope for would be a fighting retreat."

"Dresser." The dwarf called up. A name he was familiar with, given their mission. The fiendish elf seemed to have some sort of magical watch. Used for telling time, perhaps? It certainly seemed that way. As much as the elf looked like a sell sword, the dwarf looked just like that...a dwarf. As if though his giant companion had found an NPC along the way. He motioned towards all of the fleeing people beneath the three of them. "We have taken these people under our protection." He explained, his voice calm but his eyes hard. "As, to be honest, we had come not expecting a battle to be taken place. I am unaware of anything here that might be of a challenge to you and yours. But perhaps you could fill us in as towards what threat might require reinforcement for one so powerful?" He held his hands out to his side, standing confidently upon his comrade's mount. By all appearances, he was unarmed.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

The two headed south, looking for civilians who were fleeing from the carnage engulfing the settlement. From high up on his comrade's mount, Thorin yelled out to them as towards where they could find safety. All the while he kept his eyes peeled, looking for any evidence as towards who had caused his calamity.

"If we cannot find any who have caused this, then we might well have to head towards the center of governance. I have a feeling that the demigods here will not be far from the seat of power."

Just keeping things moving.

"Right." Thoin said, from up high on his comrade's mount. "We need to let the townspeople know that this is a place to be safe. I think that my voice and stature be a mite too small for this task. Think you can get everyone's attention on this?"

* Defensive Abilities: An indomitable creature gains the following defensive abilities:
Guardian’s Prowess (Ex): An indomitable creature uses its Hit Dice in place of its base attack bonus when determining the effects of its Guardian sphere delayed damage pool. In addition, an indomitable creature’s delayed damage pool does not bypass the indomitable creature’s damage reduction or resistance when it empties at the end of its turn. When damage is emptied from the indomitable creature’s delayed damage pool, apply the indomitable creature’s damage reduction and resistance to the total damage dealt, not to individual instances of damage (such that 35 physical damage being emptied from the delayed damage pool would be treated as a single instance of 35 physical damage, not the 3 separate attacks that contributed to it).

* Hardened (Ex): An indomitable creature gains an amount of DR/– equal to 3 + 1/2 the indomitable creature’s Hit Dice. If the indomitable creature possesses damage reduction from another source, the indomitable creature may add half the damage reduction gained from this ability to that other source of damage reduction, if to do so would be beneficial. For example, if the indomitable creature possesses DR/silver from another source that would reduce incoming damage, and be more beneficial than the DR/– from this ability, the indomitable creature uses its DR/silver plus half its DR/– against that incoming damage.

Indifferent Defender Guardian
- Delayed Damage: You gain a delayed damage pool equal to your 3 x your base attack bonus. When you receive damage, as part of taking the damage you may redirect all or part of it to your delayed damage pool. Apply damage reduction and resistance before redirecting the damage. You may not redirect damage that would exceed the maximum capacity of the damage pool. Your delayed damage pool empties at the end of your turn each round, inflicting any damage stored in the pool on you, bypassing any damage reduction or resistance you possess and resetting to 0. Any additional effects of the attack, such as poison, are still incurred immediately even if the entire damage of the attack is redirected to the delayed damage pool. Any healing you receive in excess of your maximum hp automatically reduces the amount of damage in your delayed damage pool.
* Greater Delayed Damage
* Endure Pain: When you receive damage from your delayed damage pool, you take it as nonlethal damage. This nonlethal damage ignores any resistance or immunity to nonlethal damage you may possess.

- Endure Pain Converts delayed damage to nonlethal. Ignores immunity/resistance to nonlethal. Doesn’t affect DR.
- Guardian’s Prowess Overrides Guardian norm: DR/resistance does apply when pool empties, to total damage. No exception for nonlethal.
- Therefore the DR/- applies, but only once for the totality of damage

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

”Aye.” Thorin called from way up on high. ”It seems to us that your town is under attack. We would assist in securing the safety of the the townsfolk. But if you could tell us exactly what is happening, then we would be in a much better position to lend our aid.”

"While we figure this out, I believe that we need to get as many civilians out of here as we can. It appears as if though the main gate is under attack, from the crashing sounds. But there will be other entrances. Ones that we can quite easily hold." He looked up at his comrade, straining his neck to do so. He could think of many reasons for the destruction occurring. Conquest. Settling a grudge. Even sending a message. But regardless, the wanton loss of innocent life sat ill with him.

Arriving in Cinder, the dwarf looked around with distaste written on his face. ”This place is in chaos.” He said, with almost an exasperated voice. Looking up at Hrothgarn, he came to the conclusion that they were not going to blend in. ”I truly hope that the people we were sent to ally with are not behind this. Or if they are, that they have a good reason for this bedlam.”

"Wait a mite." Thorin said, before he turned to leave. "If I'm going to do this, then there's someone I'd like to bring along. Hrothgarn." He said, a sense of finality in his voice. "I know that I'm not the most..." He idly waved his hands over his body. "Imposing of figures." It was ironic given his sheer amount of musculature, it was a phrase that would have been seen as false modesty in any other context. But he was referencing what were in effect demigods that he was traveling to meet. "He has the size that will demand respect when we meet them. But more importantly? The lad is dependable. Trustworthy." He knew Hrothgarn from before the...event...which had made them all one with Yggdrasil. And he respected him, for he saw a kindred soul in the giant. Someone who got it when it came to crafting. Sure, Thorin was a rune crafter, while Hrothgarn used the much more common arcane magic that even the dwarves as a people were embracing, but Thorin was mature enough to acknowledge quality. The items made by Hrothgarn were durable enough that even Thorin doubted as towards whether he could break them, and that was saying something.

"That...and if this goes south, it will be good to have him at my back. There is much that I can endure, but where I'm going? I will fall without the aid of someone reliable like him." There were others in the guild that he had considered asking for. Those with arcane powers that complimented Thorin's abilities. Those who could enhance, confuse, alter and explode the world around them. But at the end of the day, he didn't trust any of them as much as he did Hrothgarn. And if his life was going to be on the line, then it was that trust which he wanted to rely on.

”Honesty, then.” Thorin said. ”Nothing real is built on lies.” Then, with the slightest smile, he added ”And it will get hard to explain being…ah…ahead of the adventurer curve.” With a slight shrug he said ”I doubt they’re stupid. They would eventually figure it out, and the sense of betrayal would undo anything diplomatic.”

It was the strangest thing. Ever since he had become trapped…no, part of…this world, he had felt himself slowly changing. Mentally, that was. Becoming more stoic. More straight forward. As a human he had not been so averse to falsehoods, but that had been slowly but surely changing. And it wasn’t a change that he was particularly interested in fighting.

While uncomfortable; he reciprocated. ”Yeah. An adventurer. I can do that.” And I assume that we keep who we are and any allegiances hidden? I’d prefer to at least use my name… but I’ll follow your lead.”[/b]