Yzera Hykeph's page

Yzera shrugs:
If it is a way to survive, I will take any test.

Yeh, been pretty quiet here.

Where are you from? Why did your family think that becoming a knight will any more make you a man than becoming a cleric in the temple? Or a magistrate? Or a merchant? Or any of a number of other jobs?

She pauses before asking a few more questions.
Who was the woman? Who was the man? Why did they chase you?

Yzera quietly listens to the discussion with the boy, after thinking, she moves forward.
How did you become a squire to this great knight? That sounds like an important position.

Still here. New work is draining my time and with Yzera being less social at this point, I figure I will let the nicer members of the party do the talking.

Yzera looks at the boy from the back, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 <-- trying to get a read on the boy

As she continues to investigate the room, Yzera calls back over her shoulder to Carnadine:
Pretty sure you the attacking part is why she tied you up.

Yzera calls over to Rosemary:
Whatever you want to do, but be quick, we are on a clock to finish this.

Ignoring the dhampir as he plays with the iron maiden, Yzera begins to slowly make her way about the room looking for anything not yet seen.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Yzera looks over at Kelvar:
Failure has many meanings. Betrayal is failure and would clearly require execution by all but the weakest. You reward those who serve well, failure is not being served well.

Yzera looks into the room as she mulls over the lesson:
Cruelty is a tool, not a pastime? . . . Be ruthless to thy enemy, but reward those who serve thee well?

She then looks to her companions:
He Who Walks In Blood prefers a swift kill, so clearly that rule is not my Lord's.

Ruthless and reward. Perhaps it is directed to make sure that one's enemy should be left dead, but is the enemy is willing to turn, then reward them to secure their loyalty?

Not that it really matters with the fast/infernal healing, but doesn't the damage from bleed not take effect until the beginning of my next turn/the beginning of the injured players next turn? I know it is strange, but this creature just has bleed damage I believe, and not normal damage. If it takes effect the next round, and each round thereafter, then the fast healing in-between should negate the bleed damage.

Looking a little drained for the unexpected hit, Yzera looks over at Rosemary:
I can try freezing it. Will not do much damage, but I can do it all day. Of course if it goes back in the grate, I doubt I will be able to hit it.

Yzera will cast Ray of Frost, to see if it effects the creature.

How much damage did Yzera take in total?

Feeling drained, Yzera goes into a defensive posture and then proceeds to move past Carnadine and into the passage.

Total Defense: AC21

Move past party and into the passage.

Round 3
Unsure what else to do, and with the strange mist creature still between her and the newly opened portal, Yzera continues to use her new magic hoping to put an end to this strange creature.

Cast Burning Hands directed straight north which should hit the creature, but miss all party members.

Standard: Cast Burning Hands, use 1 Arcane Point to increase CL by 1
Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) = 9 <-- +50% if vulnerable, DR14 Reflex for 1/2

Burn, burn creature.

Round 2
Hearing the creature scream, Yzera moves into the room and once more raises her hands, calling upon the arcane magic within her to destroy the strange vampiric mist.

Move to AA15 (20' to the right, I cannot move on the map)

Cast Burning Hands aiming directly north (should hit the mist, but none of the party.)

Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7 <-- use 1 Arcane Reservoir point to increase caster level by 1
--> +50% if vulnerable, DC14 reflex for 1/2 damage

Burn creature, burn. The anger and annoyance in Yzera's voice is readily apparent.

Knowledge(dungeoneering): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Yzera, from the back of the group, calls out.

What the heck? Vampire mist? Use fire, or magic weapons if you have any.

With that, she steps into the room, raises her hands to form an arc before her and speaks arcane words in you have never heard from her before. Suddenly, a wall of flame springs forth from her hands, burning through the mist and filling the room with the acrid smell of burned blood.

Cast Burning Hands
Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 <-- +50% if vulnerable

Yzera raises her hand before Rosemary walks in.
Why risk whatever might be in there. If you can see and know how to use a bow, use mine to shoot the egg.

Hopefully this will stop Rosemary, will have to wait on her response.

Yzera nods in agreement:
Likewise, I cannot see the egg, just that it is the source of the magic and how it radiates out from there.

Yzera looks to the others.

It appears that the magic is definitely radiating from the egg. If we break it, it will get rid of the darkness. Or, I suppose we could attempt to remove the egg, although I do not think that is our objective her according to the rules.

Could we simply shatter the shell from here? With a crossbow or something similar?

Yzera scratches her head:
Let me see if I can understand what that aura is. Not something I was good at before, but who knows now.

Cast Detect Magic

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Can you tell whether the blackness is radiating out from the egg? Or from something else?

Yzera shakes her head:
I don't think the shattering was directed at the door. I could be wrong though.

Yzera shakes her head:
Not that it cannot change, but so far, there has been a lesson, and then a test. I would be surprised if the test was before the lesson.

Yzera looks at the lesson, and repeats it to herself.
Know your enemy? Shatter all that blinds you? Then burn thy adversary to ashes?

Seems there are three separate parts of this test. I think I can burn someone, no thanks to that b!tch Tiadora. So I can probably help with the third part. Know your enemy? While I am no expert, between us, we can probably figure out how to defeat what is placed against us. The third part I am unsure of, Shatter all that blinds you? Anyone have an idea before we charge in blindly. Yzera smirks, if briefly. No pun intended.

Not having anyone offer any other way to create cold, Yzera growl and sits down on the far side of the room. She then pulls out a large tome and begins to read a certain page over and over, mumbling to herself as she does.

Use 1 Arcane Resevoir point to use Quick Study to swap Ray of Frost for Acid Splash.

After several minutes (technically it is only a FRA to use Quick Study), she closes her book, slips it back into her pack, and then steps to the middle of the room where she hesitantly speaks arcane words. A moment later, a blue ray of freezing cold shoots forth and strikes the mold. Assuming this has the effect she expects, she will continue to do this until the mold is gone.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Know(dungeoneering): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Ignoring most of the room, Yzera squints at the mold on the door. Uncertain at first, she takes a few steps toward the door until she begins to feel the cold, actually the heat being sucked from her body, before she moves back.

Careful all. That is strange stuff. The fact that it feels cold is a trick. It feeds on heat and makes you think that fire will hurt it, while fire actually makes it much larger and stronger. If someone has the ability to create cold, it should be easy to destroy.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 <-- checking for traps

If none, Yzera will open the door and stealthily enter the next area.

Yzera looks over her shoulder as the pit collapses in.
Well, that is easier than remembering that it is there I suppose. I think this door would be of more interest though.

She points at the lines indicating what appears to be a portal.

When the others are ready, she will open it and carefully more forward to see what else the test holds.

I am usually here, but we need to get the posting up if we plan on getting past the first part of this campaign. Even at a good pace, I have campaigns that are 3 and 4 years old and are only levels 6-10.

Yzera turns around and squints through the dim light of the chamber attempting to see the discoloration. Shaking her head.
I had not noticed it.

She carefully proceeds over to where Carnadine is looking at the wall and looks at the same area to see if she can discern anything of note.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Yzera stares at Tiadora's back as she departs, clear hatred showing in the sawtooth saber wielding woman's eyes.

Someday my blades shall drink her blood.

She then turns to her companions, who do not appear to have noticed the changes that the Cardinal's ice queen wrought.

So, nine tests. Each harder than the previous.

With that, she steps to the bottom of the stairs and carefully surveys the room. If she notices nothing, she will carefully proceed into the room, and move around to the north, checking the floor and walls for anything that might be concealed.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Ok, equipment:

Mithral Shirt - 1100
Cloak of Resistance +1 - 1000
masterwork sawtooth sabre

Lots of normal stuff: (probably 150 gold total if we have to pay for them)
- Masterwork Backpack
- a belt pouch,
- caltrops
- chalk (10),
- flint and steel
- grappling hook,
- mess kit,
- mirror
- pitons (10)
- rope, silk
- soap
- masterwork thieves' tools
- lantern, bullseye
- trail rations (5 days)
- waterskin
- spell component pouch
- spellbook (gift? from Tiadora)

Will probably save the other money to get some scrolls for her spell book after we finish the next section, assuming we have time.

Let me know if all this is ok.

Do we get the full 3k of equipment now, at level 2? Or after the test when we are presumably level 3?

60, you are lucky. I went away for a week three years ago with little to no internet, and had over 500 posts to read in about 4 days that I had no internet, and then had to try to catch up on my phone.

Ok all, probably not perfect, but I have a post up and have converted Yzera to a rogue/arcanist. I kept one slayer level since that was her real background. The post sort of explains the conversion. You can use your imagination as to what happened.

On the first night after arriving at the manor, Yzera is returning to her room from dinner with her companions, when she is stopped by a servant with a note. Reading the note, she sees that it is from Tiadora, and requests that Yzera immediately come to Tiadora's chambers for some special instruction. Unsure what to expect, but knowing what appeared to have happened to her former companions who decided to not agree with the Cardinal's plan of action, Yzera proceeded to the strange woman?s rooms.

When she knocks, the door is opened by a terrified looking servant, terrified even though a deep enchantment of some sort is apparent in his eyes. The servant leads Yzera into a room empty except for a single chair, which Yzera was instructed to sit in. The servant then left and Yzera waited . . . and waited . . . and waited for what seemed an eternity. Finally, becoming more and more worried, she somehow nodded off and fell asleep.

When she awoke, the first thing that she felt was pain. Immense pain, as though a part of her soul had been physically ripped from her body. When her voice became hoarse from the screaming, the single door opened and Tiadora walked in.

Good morning my dear. I see that you survived. Many don't. I am glad you did because the Cardinal would have most displeased if you had not survived.

Still reeling from the pain, Yzera's mind began to analyze the situation wondering what Tiadora was speaking about.
Survived? What happened? What did you do? This last statement said more as an accusation than a question.

Tiadora, still smiling, then laughed. A frightening laugh which would cause fear in even the most hardened of veterans.
What did I do? Why, I freed you. You no longer must follow the tenants of that foolish Mantis God you seemed so devoted to. I gave you the ability to follow the First.

Yzera, now almost in a panic, tried to reach out to Achaekek, but could not sense him at all. She could not sense any of the divine link which had given her comfort and guided her ways for so long.

Glaring at Tiadora, Yzera screamed:
You b###h. You can't . . . why . . . how am I to survive in Talingarde with no powers? What am I to do? The Contract requires service. With no powers, how am I to fulfill the Contract?

Tiadora once more laughed for a moment, a cold heartless laugh.
You have new powers.
With that, Tiadora walked over and handed Yzera a thick leather bound book.
Take care of that and learn fast, I do plan on replacing it, and if you are not prepared, you will find the training quite . . . deadly.

Tiadora then turned around and walked, flowed would be a better term, to the door before turning around again.
Be a good girl and leave my chambers now.

With that, Tiadora snapped her fingers and Yzera suddenly found herself seated, with no chair, in the hall outside of Tiadora's rooms. After an unladylike fall to the ground, due to the lack of a chair, Yzera made to rise. In doing so, she found that she was much weaker than before. Where before her form was as well muscled as most men, now, she was thinner and more agile. Where before her face was hardened, it was now cleaner and one might say almost attractive. However, it was an attractive that was clearly designed by Tiadora, for it was to attractive of a cold hardened woman. One who men were attracted to, but who would toss the men aside without a care.

Carrying her new book and wearing her now ill-fitting garments, Yzera made her way unsteadily back to her room where she stood in front of a mirror and looked with horror at the changes that had been wrought by Tiadora. She knew that her companions would see the difference, but also knew that if she were not ready for the training, she would not have many more days. Thus, she sat down on her bed and opened the book.

The book was clearly magical. Yzera could not understand why she had been given the book, but then recalled a spell granted by the Mantis God which allowed her to read magic. Despite no longer feeling the connection with her God, Yzera attempted the spell. While the source of the magic felt quite different, as though being drawn from her, rather than a divine source, the spell worked, and she was able to read the text.

For the past two days, Yzera has avoided all contact with her companions and with others in the house. Instead, she has concentrated on the book. Learning how to read, and even memorize some of the spells contained therein.

Now, it is the morning of the third day. What lies ahead she does not know. Thus, she carefully dons her armor and sheathes her sawtooth saber, before heading out to see if her companions are ready for the test.

Sometimes you need to make everyone "Inactive", and the campaign. And then reactivate everyone to sort of reset things. I have not had this happen to a campaign in probably a year, but have had campaigns not show posts several times in the past.

Sorry, for some reason the thread was not updating.

Trying to finalize what I am doing with Yzera. DMHW, gonna send you a PM with some questions.

Ok, we have the following:

Rosemary - anti-paladin/magus
Carnadine - anti-paladin/oracle
Kelvar - slayer/cleric
Yzera - slayer/warpriest

So, we have:
4x melee
3.5x divine (1/2 for war priest and anti-paladins)
1/2x arcane (although magus is really more melee in my opinion)
1/2x skill (slayer)

So, unless someone has a great opposition to it, I was thinking about rebuilding Yzera as a:
Rogue(unchained)/Sorcerer(Rakshasa Bloodline). I need to chat with DMHW about it, but I think that due to Yzera being beholden to another deity, the Cardinal and Tiadora could do some "educating" to her over the three days which would result in a change in her view of things, as well as a slight change in her body and personality.

Let me know what people think. She will end up being the arcane/skill character that we are missing and should still be fun to play for me.

I am out all day tomorrow. I am still trying to figure what I can do to get some arcane power without changing Yzera too much. I am considering either rogue/arcanist or slayer/arcanist. This would still allow her to go Crimson/Red Mantis Assassin as a PrC if I want.

Might also drop the vampire route, although something else could be interesting. I have another character going the vampire route and want to try something else.

I am still around. I am in another WotW campaign, so I may have some knowledge of the campaign, but would not mind playing again.

I definitely prefer smaller parties. Large parties invariably always end up waiting for 1 or 2 slow posters (I am up to about 40 campaigns now, and not a single large party has need up surviving without losing 1/2 the party to attrition.

If we need an arcane focussed character, I can switch up Yzera. Not sure to what, will have to look at the rest of the party. She will end up with some arcane spells from the Crimson Assassin PrC, but nowhere near full caster.

Could probably switch to Rogue/Arcanist or Slayer/Arcanist without changing her too much.

Only problem with that is that it keeps it live for everyone else, it would go inactive in another 2 months if nobody had posted.

If people want to remove this from their Campaign tab, go to the main Messageboard at the top of the page, select the Focus option, to the top right. Then find this, or any, campaign, and click on the "∅" on the far right to hide it. The result will be that it will be hidden from your main campaigns, and from your message boards.

To reactivate the campaign, should you want to, do the same in reverse - click the "Show ∅" and then un-hide the campaign. You can also just click on the "Show ∅" in the Messageboard list to see all hidden campaigns, should you want to.

Never a good sign.

I shot the sheriff;
But I didn't shoot the Deee-M.

Yzera looks over at Azrin:
Might that be because the drow tend to worship demons. And, demons are not exactly know for their organization or willingness to abide by contracts or agreements?

At least you have family, I apparently killed all mine.

Oh, wait, you mean in RL. Ok, enjoy, post if you need a break from siblings and in-laws.

Yzera steps forward, but does not immediately sign the Contract. Rather, she carefully reads it and then looks up, addressing the Cardinal.

I have no qualms with the majority of the Contract, and do not believe that He Who Walks in Blood would object to my signing such a contract as the Dark Prince and my Lord follow similar ideologies and I do not believe that complying with the Contract would be likely to conflict with the will of my Lord.

However, the Contract begins with "The First Loyalty is to their patron and god – mighty Asmodeus," As you know, Asmodeus is not my patron, and I do not believe that I could sign this as it would mean one of two things, either I would be forsaking He Who Walks in Blood, or I would be violating the preface to the First Loyalty.

If we could change the First Loyalty to read "The First Loyalty is to the mighty Asmodeus", I do not believe that it would affect the Contract or its intent, but would also avoid the above referenced potential for conflict.