Tybalt Volocritus wrote: "Haha, yes, I understand why it might seem that way. What is freedom to you then? A lack of restriction, the absence of compulsion? Unlimited scope with which to act? I can tell you that it is not really that way for me. I would not feel more free if I were not a Hellknight. I would only feel more constricted. All these roads I could walk, but not one of them is the path I want to tread. Where is the freedom in apathy. The road I want to walk is with the Hellknights. Sure I'm trading something to get there, but for me it is trading freedom in on dimension for freedom in another. The freedom to truly act in a fashion meaningful to me." "Hm. Well. Flying mostly," he twists around in midair to recline with his hands behind his head, gazing up at the stormy sky.
"Just... going up as high as I can and then falling, feeling your stomach lurch and your face tingle and... yeah. That's freedom." he sighs wistfully before his voice hardens again.
"But unfortunately everybody's too weak and inept to do their own jobs and so they're all like 'Oh Zakat, please protect us, oh Zakat, please smite the infidels, oh Zakat, I'm so oppressed, please save me!'. If you're so weak that you can't do what you want, why in all the hells should I do it for you? But eveybody's got an excuse. Lazy f$%%s." he growls and spits, the winds noticeably picking up and rain falling harder as he rants. He crosses his arms moodily as Morvan speaks.
Morvan Fellis wrote: "Well, I apologize for mispronouncing her name. As for what makes me think you were part of the Tower, I made the assumption based on your location here and your general hostility towards us. If you are not associated with them, then I apologize, but it does make me curious as to why you would take the time to interfere with us, when we had no intentions of going out of our way to locate or find you. Indeed, we would never even have realized you were here. I hardly think this the best use of your time, do you?" "Imazi's busy, and I got bored," he replies, shrugging. Then his face brightens.
"Oh right! We were going to fight!" he exclaims before flying high up into the air, a thunderclap sounding in his wake.
You can take an AoO if you want Morvan
Tybalt Volocritus wrote: "I think you are right Zakat in that what many people feel they need is a product of circumstance. We are Hellknights and our needs are defined by our superiors. But I choose to be a Hellknight, for reasons of my own, and in that sense my needs are driven by my own choices. In the end my only real need is to act out my own nature, which I do by devoting myself to a cause I value. In this circumstance that leads me to 'need' to survive and complete my mission. We'll do whatever is required to make that happen. Sorry, I'm rambling..." "Bah!" he says, waving a hand dismissively.
"Choosing to give up your freedom is only marginally better than having none to begin with. I hardly feel that that should be a point of such pride."
Morvan Fellis wrote: "An impressive gift, Storm. "All my gifts are impressive. I refuse all other sorts."
Morvan Fellis wrote: Our 'need be' would be to ensure our safety and the completion of our mission, which is to deliver a missive to Imani. "IMAZI! IMAZI! With a 'Z'! She is not someone whom I would lightly slight, intentionally or not."
Morvan Fellis wrote: Doing battle against the Tower is in no way part of our assignment, and we would prefer not to have to engage. However, should our safety or ability to succeed in our mission come into question, then we will need to take further steps, which may include combat. However, if we are able to wait peacefully here, I see no reason we need bother you. Perhaps we can all just remain here, without a need for further combat, and await her arrival, as well as the return of our guide." "And just what makes you think I'm part of the 'Tower'?" he asks sarcastically, making some sort of strange symbol with his fingers.
Kallant: You're actually last in initiative order, so the lightning hits you before you can cast your spell.
Morvan Fellis wrote: We did not come here to fight, but will take action if need be. "If need be..." the man repeats slowly, drawing the words out. As he does he rotates upwards, so that while his eyes are still level with you, he is completely upside down, hovering in the air. His belt is just wide enough to prevent his robes from falling in front of his face, though you can now see that he is barefoot.
"Need is such an interesting concept, don't you think? Because really, you only need something because of something else. So what dictates your 'need be'?"
We'll pretend Thurio is holding his ground admirably in lieu of him posting.
Morvan Fellis wrote: "Must we 'dance the dance', as you say? Can we not just stand here, conversing as we have been, until she gets here? Is that not possible?" "Maybe" he replies, shrugging, before uttering a few arcane words and gesturing. Urashu ducks behind a tree just as lightning explodes through your line.
Kallant reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Fail
Morvan reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Fail
Tybalt reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 Fail
Thurio reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Fail
Electric damage: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 5, 3, 5, 5, 2, 3, 1) = 29
You all can also roll perception and sense motive if you so desire.
Thurio wrote: "Let us start by why you have your men hidden among the undergrowth surrounding us." "My men? No, not mine. But they don't matter. At least not until she arrives."
Hellknights wrote: "Why don't you start by telling us something about you? You are our host after all."
There's plenty more to say about me but I'd love to learn something about you."
"We are Hellknights, sent to speak with Imani. Who might you be?"
The man looks curiously at all of you before answering.
"You are the law made flesh, or at least so you like to think, yes? Well I too am law. A law. Singular. I am the law of the storm. Impartial. Unbiased. And unstoppable."
His voice and face drop flat on that last line, becoming hard and implacable.
"I am the law of chaos. When things become too great. When they become too painful. When hope is gone. I come, and I destroy. I level the playing field for all. No more structures, no more privileged and unprivileged. Just men and women and their lives. Nothing more. Nothing less."
The confident smile slowly returns to his face.
"Well. I guess it's time to dance the dance now, yes? It was a pleasure to meet you," he says, still smiling, as a crackling halo of lightning surrounds him, arcs of electricity snapping off of his hands and head.
End round 1
"I'm most curious as to how he does that," the man standing in front of you says, speaking in taldane now.
Init: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
"So! Tell me about yourselves?"
Init order = Thurio, Urashu, Tybalt, Morvan, Kallant
A voice speaks, it's accompanying body stepping out of the shadows and onto the path, seemingly undeterred by the monstrous half-orc in front of him.
The man grins wickedly, spreading his arms out wide in what might otherwise have been a beneficent gesture.
The streaks of fire slam into the tattooed sorcerer, causing him to scream in pain and lose concentration of his spell. The lightnings quickly dart outward, thwarting his pattern and dissipating into the air.
He looks at you with new-found appreciation.
"Well then. I was going to be nice and at least give you all a chance to run away. But if you all want to play for real, by all means then!"
He walks towards you, chanting and pulling one hand into a tight, complex maneuver, ending with his forefinger outstretched. Just above it a tiny bead of light hovers.
"I should have warned you. I'm a bad bad man."
The bead explodes in a burst of electrical energy.
Zakat willingly fails save
Vorgal reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Fail
Cassius still dazed
Kayle still dazed
Ivari reflex save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 Pass. Half damage
Bjorn still dazed
Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 2, 5, 6, 2, 2, 1, 4, 3) = 33
The explosion tears through the group, bolts of lightning sprawling in every direction. Ivari dodges away from the worst of it, taking only 16 damage. The protection granted to Bjorn helps protect him, he takes only 23 damage. Everyone else suffers the full extent of the spell.
Vorgal perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Ivari perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Vorgal's up.
"Hah. The Tower. But yes, they have enlisted me to their cause, for it is one that is in my nature to comply with," the man smiles, sidestepping away from Vorgal just slightly. He then raises his arms and roars a chant. And it is a roar indeed, thundering from his mouth to crack against the sky with a teeth chattering peal.
Vorgal fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Cassius fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Kayle fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Ivari fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Bjorn fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Lightning crackles around and between his fingers as he continues the chant, almost seeming to weave the lightning into a complex, ever shifting pattern between his hands.
The deafening explosion dazes Cassius, Kayle, and Bjorn for 1 round.
Vorgal's up
Cassius Thwaite wrote: "Of course. We are, as you say, Hellknights. Perhaps if you've heard stories of us, you might tell me them, and we can confirm for you whether they're true or not." The man looks around at your defensive postures and laughs, sounding genuinely pleased.
"Somewhat rude to ask a question then vanish, but I shall acquiesce," he says, then clears his throat. Suddenly his expression changes, becoming focused inward. As he speaks you are shocked by the change in his voice. While it was not unpleasant to listen to before, not it is almost stirring, deep and resonant, but still clear and ringing.
"I have heard stories of fanatics and zealots, of evil and good. Stories of martyrs and saints, punished and misunderstood. Burnt witches and enslaved men, dead children and what then?"
He sighs and returns his focus to you.
"You are the law made flesh, or at least so you like to think, yes? Well I too am law. A law. Singular. I am the law of the storm. Impartial. Unbiased. And unstoppable."
His voice drops flat on that last line.
"I am the law of chaos. When things become too great. When they become too painful. When hope is gone. I come, and I destroy. I level the playing field for all. No more structures, no more privileged and unprivileged. Just men and women and their lives. Nothing more. Nothing less."
The confident smile slowly returns to his face.
"Well. I guess it's time to dance the dance now, yes? It was a pleasure to meet you," he says, still smiling, as a crackling halo of lightning surrounds him, arcs of electricity snapping off of his hands and head.
"I've always been curious how he manages that," the man standing in front of you says, speaking in taldane now.
Init: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
"So. Tell me all about yourselves!"
Init order = Zakat, Vorgal, Cassius, Kayle, Ivari, Bjorn
A voice speaks, it's accompanying body stepping out of the shadows and onto the path, seemingly undeterred by the monstrous half-orc in front of him.
The man grins wickedly, spreading his arms out wide in what might otherwise have been a beneficent gesture.
|
