"The Enlightened One passing would not be the tragedy one would suspect. All things live, all things die. The bigger danger would be if someone destroyed all of the knowledge that the faith has amassed. I have heard stories of other nations and worlds where they prohibit any dissemination of knowledge that is 'not the correct information'. That would be the ultimate disservice, a death of a million small cuts building up over time to lead to ignorance and forgetting everything."
I had Cayden as living but I also had him being held back for the final reveal because he's one of the most popular gods in the setting. I'm pleasantly surprised, now I'm reshuffling my "who gets revealed, who gets held back, who actually dies" deck again.
You've got your logic backwards. The ones are going to get written about are going to be the most popular or interesting ones that aren't going to die. Like if its not Sarenrae dying, I guarantee we're getting a Sarenrae narrative.
The 9 kept back for the reveal are the ones nobody cares about or who are uninteresting. coughiroricough
The Master of the Ways is an incredibly interesting deity that has a significant following and one would do well to consider that just because one has not seen a Way, that it is no less valid.
If they pass on in the Way of all things, then philosophically that is appropriate. To call Irori 'uninteresting' is akin to saying 'may no one remember anything about you'.
Which, to the Iroran Way, is one of the most horrific curses one can imagine.
A tengu clad in what appears to be an Eagle Knight's uniform covered by an ancient elven cloak bows slightly, their right palm held upright facing to the left.
"May the new generations of Tien-Ku guide the future Society for centuries if not aeons to come. May they find the wisdom they seek at not too great a personal cost, and gain enlightenment while doing so."
...in true keeping with proper Balance, all things have their place and their time, and in the fullness of it, Death may live and Life may die...
...I've never had a problem maintaining a Neutral stance, allowing others to do as they wilt yet also adhering when appropriate to local mores. It is sometimes a thing of sadness, but folks must be allowed to make their own choices in life, and the consequences for them must likewise follow.
"It will be interesting to see what our new leader will do with the resources of the Edge at his disposal, and what our goals as a faction will be in the coming months.
Will he cleave close to his original path, or will he grow outwards even as others grow with him?"
"It is a difficult choice, then, that requires careful contemplation and considered thought, not just for our possible pasts, but of our futures to take care.
One is not only choosing the path forward, one is also acknowledging the failures we must learn from.
One of the most important things in learning is perspective. We look upon two candidates with very different perspectives, and we are struck by the youth of one candidate and the strength of another. In any given contest, either might prevail.
Alas that there is no choice of both candidates, one in an administrative role, one in a field operations role.
Tamrin, though, is willing to do what is necessary to protect the innocent and bring freedom to more hearts and minds. In this uncertain age, we need that sort of forward thought.
May all see their own Path to Enlightenment on this matter."
There's a bit of a pause.
"Oh, right, should probably mention... Brother Wei Ji, Aspirant of the Master of Masters, Eagle Knight, from the Home Office."
Clearly the aspirant has discovered the paradox of life. That for each good thing that enters a life, a bad thing also enters. However, realizing on average that this is life, is a step towards enlightenment, and failing to realize the careful balance they live within is a recipe for failure.
Can't remember the last time Maldris did anything for the cause unless it was covering his keister.
Overlord/lady?
Hardly.
Liberty's Edge is about choices, about freedom, about the ability to choose one's own path while gaining Enlightenment and educating others in what it means to be free to do so themselves.
One will grant one the comment about Maldris, however.
He handed me his weapon in on particular instance rather than face a particular situation himself. Disappointing from someone who is supposed to be leading a great organization.
"You do your Master credit, but it is time for you to retire. Please do not make us end you." the tengu offers as he flies down to provide some assistance to Roary and the rest of the team.
Double Move, with descent speed increase factored in, currently +5'
EDIT: Forgot Haste, would drop Bow and pull out shield and sabre en route!
The tengu flies further into the room and climbs in altitude to get a better angle of attack on the fiery planar entity, covering himself with his shield for the moment in case the thing launches attacks in his direction.
"Good job, everyone. That includes you, Judge Heng. Was beginning to wonder if we'd have to knock you out and drag you away from the gong to get it rung properly..."
"So how will we know the true path, then?" Wei asks of Heng before getting out of earshot.
The tengu is contemplative after finishing freeing Hiram, and will be keeping an eye out for potential issues as the party advances.
Well, I often work from multiple computers, so I've been known to draft a post on one, then go to another and forget to include the information that I had begun to draft. Definitely a PEBKAC error in my case.
A swift trio of cuts and the wall begins to buckle. Creases begin to appear in the center section from both sides and an inward bulge is showing.
Are those 2 handed strikes with the saber or 1? There's no reason you can't also shield bash it other than the hardness difficulty.
Wall at -48
Unfortunately, they are 1-handed. While Wei does have Improved Shield Bash, as a professional engineer he's thinking the door isn't *quite* to the weakened state where bashes would be helpful.
Somewhat disturbing yet comforting to know I'm not the only one what has run into that phenomenon...
Wei continues to work at the wall to turn it into a door... of sorts. "Stay back a bit unless you can help, Hiram, don't want you getting any metal slivers as I work on this!"
Wei shifts tack, since Hiram vanished with the mallet and his attempt at grappling the Oni was singularly unsuccessful. Assuming, at least, since it wasn't even mentioned in GM updates that I could see
Will Save(DC 12):1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
"Be right there, Hiram, just give me a second to..." The sound of the erupting thunder makes him cringe a bit. "Stop doing that, and back away, I'm going to cut you out!"
Moving to wall 'corner' between Roary and Shins. Provoking two AoO (Current AC 32 with Haste) Drawing Adamantine Sawtooth Sabre.
"What kind of tournament would have a lethal selection process? What is gained by the loss of life?" Wei offers casually as he steps up closer to Heng... and then reaches out towards him in attempt to start pulling him away from his position...
"It is better for all if the bloodthirsty urges are dialed back."
Crunch:
Move: Move up
Grapple (provokes AoO because untrained, Current AC 31):1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
After getting fully re-equipped the follower of the Master of the Ways will consider and tilt his head.
"Each of these encounters thus far has tested our depth of experience, character, and ability to work as a team. It wouldn't be out of line to put forward a challenge that tests the very boundaries of what it means to be a team, would it?"
Wei will finish getting the robes on and help carry a given casket as indicated.
"Every step of our journey is a chance to learn new things."
Wei looks at the crowd, notices the applause and tries desperately to remember anything about theatre productions and how they're supposed to end.
"I think we're supposed to take a bow, now? Maybe? Let's give it a try?"
He'll get up to a point so the rest of the team can line up next to him, and if folks take his lead will count down from three and bow to the audience.
The tengu slumps, defeated in a play-acting sort of way because the 'warrior won't be able to help farm'.
Then there's a brief moment of realization as Wei realizes the caster is still in this, and he spins deftly on a heel and whips back towards the hapless 'Monkey King'.
Tien:
"With your army defeated, how can you resist the lure of good hard work? Here, have my rake!"
The tengu laughs uproariously as the floor becomes slick beneath his feet as he deftly maintains his balance and even uses the slippery surface and the momentum from the blows from the fighter to carry himself out of the greasy area!
Tien:
"My. Raking the fields is tiring work. Perhaps I should take a break."
Crunch:
5' step out of the box and out of the reach of the warrior (theoretically)
Dumping the energy from 'Communal Protection from Evil' into 'Cure Moderate Wounds'
Cure Moderate Wounds(Risking possible AoO from Shaken,but not Stirred Rogue):2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 = 10
Dependent, of course, on if the rogue actually makes it to him and isn't splattered along the way. If the rogue drops unconscious before the body arrives in striking range, Wei will not take the AoO as that could be considered 'violence'.
Regardless of the actions of the rogue, the tengu will continue to harry the 'warrior'.
Tien:
"But, but Noble Warrior, aren't you going to come and help us till the fields, beat your polearm into a plow? Can you not see the worth of hard work?"
Init +4; Senses low-light vision; Perception +17
--------------------
Defense
--------------------
AC 13(16*), touch 13(16*), flat-footed 10(12*) (+2 Dex, +1 dodge, Blessing of Fervor, Haste, +1 insight when flat-footed and surprise rounds)
hp 83 (10 HD; 3d8+7d10+22)
Fort +9 (+1 insight when flat-footed and surprise rounds), Ref +8+2 (+1 insight when flat-footed and surprise rounds), Will +8 (+1 insight when flat-footed and surprise rounds)
The +1 insight bonus is for Sight of the Unseen Legacy of the Stonelords which normally is not operative due to being over-ridden by a dusty rose prism Ioun stone slotted in Wei's wayfinder.
--------------------- Offense --------------------- 'Stick'(Blessing of Fervor,Haste)+8+2/+3+2,+8+2 1d6+3
Casually, with the air of not-quite a stumbling country bumpkin -- the flowing motions hopefully a bit too smooth to be such a coarse being and detracting from the ambience of the play, the tengu slowly 'wanders' the path.
Tien:
"Oh, woe is the one caught on the field before the skies rain blood, when the air is still and full of tension. Whatever is such a lost soul to do?"
Crunch:
Move forward, Readied Fight defensively if someone comes within reach
The tengu sighs quietly as he realizes that the armor is way too heavy for him to be effective in, and that pretty much the only remaining roles that don't require the armor are... the clowns.
A bit defeated, he takes the face paints and a broom to go get ready.
