WOTR NPC Sosiel Vaenic's page

Sosiel advanced in support of Raine, offering a bit of luck, if she wishes it before she tries to unlock the crypt.

Sosiel offered to help. "I volunteer to accompany you. I can cast the light of day to fight the magical darkness. I can channel to heal or to harm undead."

If the PCs don't want Sosiel to join the cleansing of the haunted vault, he can cast daylight on an object to pierce the darkness, but it will only last 60 minutes. If the PCs accept his offer, he will act in a supporting role, getting involved in melee only if necessary to survive or to save someone.

Note ordinary darkvision will work to see in the darkness, as the 2nd level spell does not affect those with darkvision. If there are ways to give others the ability, then there is no need for daylight spells.

Sosiel took in the information and frowned, but quickly replaced the look with a smile. "It's over. Just promise me you'll tell me if any more doses find their way into your pack. Draw strength from our victories. We'll pray and meditate when we rest for the night. Remember your assertions. Repeat them whenever temptation arises."

Sosiel gathers the others in the command group to explain. "There is a traitor in our midst, someone who is working against us. He or she put doses of a highly addicting drug in Aron's pack after the first battle. Be alert. Traitors usually give themselves away if we are vigilant for the signs."

Edit: After sharing this, he adds, "I have long kept Aron's past addictions secret, fearing he would be punished or at least that he would not be trusted by those in the crusade. Please, unless circumstances require it in the service of the greater good, do not tell anyone of this."

In the dim light, one might be inclined to observe a bit of the light radiating from Anarya transfer to Aron. He looked up at her in surprise, his eyes wet with tears of shame, and then he seemed to shrug of the weight he had been carrying and he stood up straighter.

He tried to speak but could find no words. Instead he looked at Sosiel, who held out a hand. Aron understood what the gesture meant and he took off his pack, opened it, and dug deep for a number of small glass vials wrapped in a rag. There were two empty bottles and two filled with a flat black liquid that seemed to absorb light. Sosiel took the vials and handed them to Anarya.

Aron knelt before Sosiel who centered himself before casting a spell. "In the name of Shelyn, Iomedae, and all good gods and goddesses, I cast out this cursed disease of addiction. Blessed be."

He made a gesture that looked a bit like a bird flying by and then touched Aron gently on the head. A faint light that flickered different colors collected around Sosiel's head and flowed down into Aron and surrounded him for a moment. Something dark seemed to rise out of Aron and he grunted and shook a moment and then looked up. After a moment he smiled and nodded, then rose and embraced Sosiel.

After the emotional surge of the moment passed, Sosiel looked at one of the empty bottles. "This bottle comes from Kenabres. Did you bring the drug from the city?"

[What boon did Anarya earn? I'm eager to know. :D

As far as I can tell, the player gets to pick one. Anarya also gets to Will roll (DC 15) to see if the army learns a new tactic. I think you get to pick a tactic if it is successful.

Sosiel asked Anarya to accompany him as he looked for Aron during the aftermath of the battle. I'll go back and pick up the interaction with Nurah after this interaction.

Sosiel spotted Aron and asked him to come with Anarya and himself. Aron agreed but Anarya could see that he did in fact seem weighed down by something. As he walked, Aron stared at the ground. He also was sweating profusely, although the day was not particularly warm.

Sosiel led Aron and Anarya to a ruined building which gave some cover from prying eyes. Sosiel looked into Aron's eyes and frowned. He said nothing at first, giving the rogue a hug, but then held him by the shoulders and said firmly. "Your eyes are dilated. You're using it again, aren't you?!"

Aron shook free of Sosiel and turned his back on the cleric and the oracle. Anarya could not hear what he said, and could not read his lips, but Sosiel made eye contact with her and shook his head.

Sosiel turned Aron back to face Anarya and, standing so Anarya could read his lips said, "I know you are. Look at you! You're sweating. Is this what you want, to be in the shadow as we approach a city held by demons? You know it makes you more vulnerable to possession and when they see you they will know it and take advantage of you. Plus you're never as sharp as you think you are."

Sosiel nodded gravely, but insisted they find a spot where no one out side the command group can hear. "Aron, alas, has had a hard time of it over the years. He was a street urchin in Cassomir. He grew up to be skilled at various crimes and made enough that he began to indulge in drugs. He was caught and sentenced to serve a 3-year term in a special unit that was made up of low-risk criminals such as himself."

Sosiel paused and sighed. "Such troops often don't survive, but Aron not only survived, but the discipline and demands of the front straightened him out. He became religious and volunteered to remain after his term was up. But then he fell in with a bad element that were part of his assigned brigade. They introduced him to some of the unique drugs available in this forsaken place, including something called Shadowblood, a vile substance derived from shadow demons."

"It is a tempting drug for those in battle, for it grants potent advantages but it fogs the mind and as a result, Aron felt he had indirectly caused the death of some of his comrades in battle. He came to me for counseling. I've helped him recover and he had made some important contributions to our design of traps against the enemy, but he has backslid as well. I had hoped this assignment would keep him clean. I can't imagine where he would get shadowblood out here and I'm pretty sure he had none when we started. Keep your eyes open. I'll see what I can do for him."

Sosiel will answer questions and then will seek out Aron to try to cure his addiction.

"Shelyn's Glaive!" Sosiel lets slip when Raine shares her insights about Aron. "I should have seen this coming."

He studies Aron from a distance, but says no more unless someone tries to draw him out. It is known that Aron and Sosiel are lovers and that they have been through good and bad times recently.

Kara's was the ward of Terendelev not Anarya,Avelina ;). I'll support whoever in the leadership role.

Karas assisted as the army picked through the wreckage of the city. Starving to death on a March and turning on your friends is far more degrading. Paladins sometimes are too high and mighty for their own good.

He tried to stick near and pick up on the personalities of their new war council. He found Sosiel and Aron as they picked through the ruins.

Waving a greeting, he asked "So what do you think of this? Seemed a bit too easy to me. Do you think they left traps?"

Sosiel and Aron walked side-by-side up to Karas. Both of them stood out from most by the meticulous care they both obviously put into their armor, weapons, and kit. Even though soggy from the rain, they still looked clean and in fine repair. Sosiel cut a handsome figure, tall, with a calm and cheerful demeanor that contrasted with most of the army who found the Worldwound very depressing. Aron obviously looked up to his friend and lover, although his attitude was more subdued and reserved.

"Hail and well met, Karas, is it? Yes that was easy, but I suspect it had more to do with the skill of our archers and the weakness of their spirits. They let their guard down and that was their undoing. Aron is the expert on traps, however. What say you friend?"

The army has assigned to it a male human cleric (level 6). His name is Sosiel Vaenic. He is a cleric of Shelyn, which is a rarity but not unknown. There are many followers of Shelyn who had been inspired to aid in the defeat of the demons. He will probably confer with Anarya to learn more about her healing ability, grateful for the powerful range of ways she can heal and inspire.