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Hi everyone!
"I have plenty of responsibilities," Val replied, reminding herself that getting mad won't do any good with Xanderghul. "But I'm still getting used to managing a shrine and it took months to get used to working with a strike team of people who I'm actually friends with. Putting me in a position of authority over a big organization, especially one where I'm also answering to other people, is asking for me to f*ck something up."
Val presses her lips together tightly in thought. It feels slightly dishonest to distract the gathered tribe with food and drink before making such a life altering offer. Granted, she's not a particularly honest person some days, but it still feels like bribery. Especially when they're asking the underfolk to leave their home for who knows how many generations and travel into an entirely new sort of danger. Though in their past few months traveling together, she had actually seen Xanderghul trying to his best to actually mean well rather than just be vaguely helpful for his own benefit. She couldn't exactly leave him hanging, though perhaps a more gentle approach would be better than an outright recruitment pitch. "I know that what we're asking is not a simple request," Val begins carefully, not entirely sure how well her words carry over into undercommon with Xanderghul's spell. "This is your home and your people have lived here for many generations. You've survived and thrived through many great adversities. I could not, would not, blame any of you for thinking that such a request from new visitors to be a foolish thing." She pauses a moment to consider her words carefully. "In truth, it is because of the great strength and community we see here that we ask for your aid. We have fought alongside other tribes of your kind before, and made many trusted friends among their number." She gestures to Lann and Javyn with a smile. "I understand that many of you have your own responsibilities to family and friends here. Though I am a wanderer, I am not blind to why so many live a life different than my own. But there is a wider world that is in dire need of strong hearts to defend it. I only ask that you consider our request. We can promise a place in our city where other underfolk already live among us and help adapting to a new place, but I will not say that it will be easy."
"I'm not sure I speak enough of their language to make a sentence they could understand, much less convince them to change their moral outlook on life. I'm also not sure if I consider eating sentient creatures to be worse than slavery or not and I'm slightly disappointed in myself that I've never thought about it."
"Lle eru lle sule no' hrava, seler'. Car amin ndengina sen ikotane yele arato ar' ae carin yassen sina? Ri' lye maghaya i' perya agar?" Elven: "You waste your breath with savages, sister. Shall I kill their champion and be done with it? Or should we use the half blood?"
Val whistles under her breath as the massive creature tears through the stone beneath their feet and snaps at Xander. "That's even bigger than I was expecting," she mutters under her breath as she shifts past Isilme to line up a better shot. "A beast from the depths with hide of stone, yet belly soft and offering a welcome home for our blades. Fight on!"
"It wouldn't be the first time we've played that kind of trick," Val muses. "And we've managed to make it work for use before. Trying to maintain the facade the entire time might be difficult though. It might make getting close easier, or perhaps even give us the chance to have real slavers reveal their stock to us."
Ustalav, Near the Shudderwood After their daring escape from under the noses of the Grey Gardeners (and Val is fairly certain that she's now in a very exclusive club, having succeeded twice), Valaria and Xanderghul quickly make themselves scarce from Galt, slipping into the southern reaches of the River Kingdoms and leaving the chaos of the revolutionary nation behind them. Reginald seemed happy to head far away from Galt and toward Drezen and perhaps his brother would join him soon enough, but their rapid exit left little time for proselytizing. The River Kingdoms proved somewhat more fruitful as they made their way along the border of Razmiran toward the gloomy princedoms of Ustalav. Desperation and discontent at the 'Living God' made for excellent opportunities. Half a dozen discontent woodsmen looking to escape the reach of the masked priests and a family seeking healing for a sickly son the Living God had failed to provide both quickly found themselves on boats upriver toward the crusader state. Still, Val found Ustalav even more depressing than rumor would had led her to believe. The sky was grey far too often and the night was particularly dark and carried a distinctly unpleasant chill. The people were closed and watchful, not the type to listen much to strangers looking to take them away from their homes, but it wasn't entirely hopeless. A small Varisian caravan took their words to heart and turned their wagons north, at least for a time. Val hoped that they'd be a great boon in building a safe path of Desnan shrines. Then they came upon the village of Bitterleaf. Builds carried scars from fire and great gashes like the claws of a great beast. It didn't take long for the weary locals to reveal the source of their troubles: werewolves. Cruel, wild, and firmly under the sway of some horrid Abyssal power, the beasts had been raiding the village for sport and sacrifices for weeks. It took little discussion for the pair to decide that something needed to be done. Which was how Valaria found herself hidden in the shadows of the town square with half a dozen of the village's remaining militia and a few plucky youths with a motley mix of weapons at their disposal. Xanderghul remained proud and firm in the square, ready to confront the wolves with the village headman when they finally arrived to collect their next 'tribute'. As night came, howls filled the air and five wolves, black as night and twice the size of natural beasts loped into the village, their eyes nearly glowing in the dark with fiery intensity. The largest slowly shifted growing taller as his form shifted to a half-breed of wolf and man. "I don't know your scent outsider," he growls. "But if you don't want to join them on the altar, you'll get out of our way." Xanderghul grins, eyeing the creature. He had been threatened by far worse in his time, and he shows no fear. "Hah!" he crows. "Come back twice as big, drooling acid and covered in spines and try again, mangy cur." The werewolf's muzzle curls back into a snarl as Val and her ragtag band erupt from both sides of the werewolves, silvered blades flashing in the torchlight and Xanderghul's hands came up, bathed in arcane power. The fight was as brutal as it was fast. Three more villagers joined the wolves on their way to Pharasma's judgment, but there was little doubt that they would be received more kindly than the demon worshiping lycanthropes. If nothing else, the story of their heroism and defiance against the beast seemed to ignite a fire under the local villagers and more than a few of the young men who had fought in the village square began asking after training in Drezen's military school.
The Journey Begins Val hurries into the square, eager to get going again. It feels like it’s been ages since she’s properly been on the road and the familiar wanderlust is already back in her step. She slings her bag of holding over her shoulder (and it was quite a bit easier to carry than trying to manage to regular rucksack) as she waves goodbye to a new acquaintance of hers among the Elect. Hopefully she’d have a chance to see them again some day, but now it was time to bid farewell to the stuffy realm of archons and return to Golarion again. She had more than a few extra traveling supplies tucked away in her various pockets and bags, ranging from an extra tent and some trail rations to a spool of thread to patch anything that got torn. It paid to be prepared when they were going to be on the road for a while. She smiles as she waves to Xanderghul and tucks her journal away as they head for the portal to begin their journey.
Val's Celestial Vacation Despite the stifling discomfort that the realm of celestial law and justice brings, Val puts the trouble from her mind for the duration of her stay. Though Zepha may be their host, she spends little time with him, though his conversations with Xanderghul make for fascinating dinner talk. Instead, she embraces her first trip to the outer sphere and pokes her nose into everything that the angels and archons allow without a fuss. An entirely new world is laid out before her and the familiar desire to see all that it can offer rears its head like a loyal hunting hound. The unfamiliar streets of Heaven always seem to have a new corner to turn and discover more. And of course, there are new stories to hear. By the time they are ready to depart, she's brimming with both energy and a hint of melancholy. Months to explore and only a tiny corner of the world to see. A grim thought comes on her, that even with her perhaps vastly inflated lifespan, exploring one world may be beyond her lifetime, much less seeing what others have to offer.
Val nods slightly to Yanqua as she steps to the front of the court. She bows her head respectfully to both Altha and Grandmother Crow before turning to address the jury. "Honored jurors, I will not waste your time by attempting to insist that there has been some mistake in defining Kitarlo's actions. I instead ask you to consider the circumstances that surrounded them. The law cannot possibly account for every single possible act in the multiverse, especially when new acts of fiendish horror are quite literally being dreamed up as we speak. The harm done to Valais was unprecedented in the truest sense of the word. The mutilation of the soul itself, the barest essence of mortal life, cannot be taken lightly. I would like to call to the stand one of the Hivetenders of Andoletta who was the healer who treated Valais in the aftermath of her ritual healing." She smiles to the bee woman as she takes the stand. As much as she would love to make a joke or lighten the mood, this was a truly terrible time for it. "Thank you for appearing for us today." The tiefling clears her throat. "Could you please describe your occupation and credentials to the court?" "Can you please describe how you first encountered Valais?" "What was the condition of Valais's soul when you first encountered her?" "Had you ever seen a soul in her condition or a similar condition before?" "What methods were required to stabilize her soul's condition?" "In your professional opinion, would Valais's soul have remained whole without intervention?"
Apologies for the delay. I've had a busier week than anticipated and my family is taking a trip this coming weekend. I'll be posting the party of 5 tomorrow and that should give a couple of days for me to finish checking over sheets and for people to discuss characters and get to know each other in discussion before hopefully starting next week.
Val manages to avoid much of a reaction as Valais's soul finally knits back together and she starts to cry in relief. A small spark of resentment bubbles in her chest before she pushes it down. At least Valais is still herself, despite the pain her soul went through. Distracting herself from the two lovers' reunion, she nods to the thriae and takes one of the jars, opening it to inhale the sweet, flowery scent of the golden treat. "I won't say know to a lovely treat like this. Almost as lovely as the giver." She winks playfully at the celestial bee-woman.
Wasn't feeling very well today, so I didn't get a chance to get much of a start. It will be a few days, but I'm very excited to pick out a crew.
"I have no idea what that means, but I'll take your word for it. And I suppose I'm not one to turn down being the center of attention," Val says with a rueful chuckle as she climbs into the wagon, hoping up the step just behind Lann. The strange tug and momentary disorientation of her mind and body separating make her head spin before she has a chance to revel in the freedom of being able to shape herself however she wishes. While her usual outfit is plenty colorful, perhaps something a bit more child-friendly would be more appropriate for a puppet show. Val's puppet pops up from below the stage, launching herself up as if dragged from a hidden compartment by her newly acquired strings. The wood of her marionette is dark, giving the impression of a darker, dusky skin-tone, while her eyes are painted brilliant purple, her hair is raven black, and her clothing is a riot of color. A multilayered silk dress in all manner of golds, purples, pinks, and reds swirls around her in complex frills and long scarfs dangle from her wrists, giving the impression of a whirling Varisian dancer. The colorful new puppet drops down, landing right behind Isilme and casually folding her arms so they rest on top of the elf's new jester's hat, making the bells jingle as she pushes the tassels down. "Indeed," Val says, her voice full of playful, mocking chastisement as she looks down at Isilme, ignoring the demon entirely. "The oh so mighty King of Things can make a fool of himself without our help." She looks up at the audience and abruptly feels the strangeness of performing a life or death battle for an audience of children. "But it's much more fun if we play along," she stage whispers, knowing full well that Laktheris can hear her utterly ignoring his existence. "Do you want to help us defeat this foul monster?" she asks the audience with a cheeky smile. "Just raise a hand and say, 'Bad Laktheris! Go away!'."
Val folds the offered gifts carefully and packs them away in her bag of holding for the moment. "The gifts are well appreciated, though we were only doing what was necessary to remove the danger that escaped us here." Word of the second demon causes her to perk up just a bit. It seems that their hunt isn't going to be slowing down in the slightest. "Indeed. If he thinks to make a show of attempting to kill us, it would hardly befit us to get stage fright now."
"Uh, I think we found the demon. Or what's left of the demon," Val deadpans as she points toward one of the oozing wounds left on the celestial foliage. "I don't think being in Heaven agrees with it."
Val takes a deep breath as the situation momentarily turns extremely volatile, only for it to settle down almost as quickly. It's almost refreshing to have a conflict resolved with words so easily. Perhaps she's too used to arguments being with people too stubborn to calm down. She shakes her head as they all step forward to the circle. "I don't have a lot to sacrifice, but this is hardly the first time I've given something up for someone else. Let's do this thing." Despite her bravado, Val can feel her heart racing. Her words are true, but they only get one chance at this. She takes a deep breath as she sits in her place in the circle and settles into a butterfly pose, her hands settled on her knees as she breathes softly. Reflect on a time that she made a sacrifice for her faith. She lets her mind drift into a free floating daydream as she tries to consider her own past. There are plenty of acts in Desna's name, but a true sacrifice was trickier. Then something comes to the front of her mind. The half-trance gives way to memory and she can almost feel the manacles locked around her wrists and the hard, uncomfortable floor of the locked prison wagon. Her fine, close cut clothes vanish in her mind, replaced by the too familiar shapelessness of an off-white prisoner's tunic. "You don't have to do this, a voice whispers to her, a tanned, elderly face of a Varisian man looking through the bars of the locked door. "You didn't do anything." Val's lips twitch up in a half smile as she remembers the caravan. Of course I do," she replies to the phantom memory. "They're not going to let anyone go if they don't take someone in." The man curses in his native tongue and spits on the ground. "Cowards, the lot of them. Picking on honest merchants rather than distrusting their own." Memory Val chuckles. "Get back on the road Tomas. You have your travels ahead of you. I can't watch you throw that away because this lot are convinced all Varisians are thieves and smugglers. You don't deserve this. I'll be out eventually, and I have a lot more life to waste than you do." The man sighs sadly and his head drops. "T'aves baxtali, Valaria," he whispers. "Find us again on the road and there will always be a spot by the fire for you." The tiefling refuses to let her cocky grin fade, even as he lips twitch. "I'm holding you to that."
Val adjusts her cloak around her as the group gathers on the roof of the tower. "While I'm usually the first one to spring for dramatic appropriateness, maybe we could have met somewhere a little less breezy?" she jokes as they huddle together to prepare the spell.
Though the power of Drift travel was unveiled to the galaxy several centuries ago, the many races of the galaxy have only begun to scratch the surface of its potential. And it's mysteries still stump some of the galaxy's brightest minds. The Drift Beacons that guide starships through the void seem to appear through natural phenomena as often as they must be made by the hands of mystical or technological masters. And the planets revealed by these strange beacons often have even greater mysteries to explore... Hey Paizo people As you can probably tell, now that the Character Operations Manual is out, I'm looking to run a Starfinder game. The story would mostly take place on a mysterious planet in the Vast, only recently discovered due to the appearance of a new Drift Beacon nearby. Covered in the ruins of a lost civilization and long since reclaimed by nature, the game would focus on exploration, colonization, and the competing interests of different groups who want the wealth of technology and resources within the ruined planet-wide metropolis.
Val lets Ary speak, contemplating just what the whole situation means for Hrut. Though they haven't actually traveled together in far too long, he's still one of the first friends that she made that lasted more than a few weeks. She didn't know what she would do if he was consigned to the executioner's block for trying to do the right thing. She snaps out of her reverie when she realizes that Ary is looking to them for input. "We often think of demons as predictable," Val starts slowly, trying to choose her words carefully. "They're creatures of vice, driven by malicious intent. But it's too easy to forget that we're just as easy to read sometimes. And it's surprisingly simple to manipulate someone when you know what they want to hear. How many people in this room can honestly say that if an angel told them it needed their help to save people, that they wouldn't try their hardest?" She pauses for just a moment to let the rhetorical question sink in. "We all want to do the right thing, to protect the innocent, to defeat evil, to save lives. The demons know that. The Son of Perdition put together a story to play to those exact buttons. Hrut was convinced that the demonscope was growing unstable and that the city and everyone in it was in horrible danger. How could he know better? By keeping everything about it a closely guarded secret, he had no way to confirm the creature's story until it would have been too late. The ruse worked because the Son knew that using his better nature against him would make him reckless. Any crusader, any good person could easily fall for the same trick. Hrut was just the unfortunate victim this time." She sighs and takes a moment to compose herself. "If you feel you absolutely cannot trust him to guard the demonscope further, then by all means transfer him to another post. But allowing him to be executed for wanting to help just plays into the demons' hands. They lie and manipulate and turn us against each other. Then they can sit back and let us point fingers and punish our friends and comrades for the demons' machinations. We can't let them take more of us when we've already lost so many today. Especially not by our own hand."
Val staggers, her head ringing as the massive slab of rock knocks her senseless for a moment. Her whole body throbs with pain as she manages to stay upright, barely, and she shakes herself. "All yours," she says, tossing the two stone shards back to Mikhail and letting Xanderghul take the one they need to work the artifact.
"You know, I remember fighting a whole horde of these things being a lot harder." Val spins and keeps delivering short thrusts to the fallen babaus as they pile up around the team.
Val shrugs as she takes her usual place near the front of the group, keeping an eye out for danger ahead as those more properly trained in tracking help guide them after the babaus somewhere deeper into the tunnel. As they round the corner to see a veritable swarm of the bloody demons ahead, Val clicks her tongue and draws her knife. "I think we slightly underestimated how many there were," she deadpans. "Still, nothing we can't handle." She steps forward to get a better view of the room and a better line of fire before letting her dagger fly twice.
Val winces as the treachery demon howls and the sound shakes her to her bones. "Thus did the herald's blade, most holy, hew through demon sinew and bone with ease and cast the King of Barrowood from the skies. The great demon's fall echoed for ten and two leagues and all who followed him heard their master tumble from on high." She dashes forward, weaving around the rolling mass of dretches, dodging their putrid bodies to get herself some space before hurling her dagger back into the pack of demons.
Seven Months Ago:
The sun was falling and the stars were beginning to show themselves over Drezen when Val returned to the shrine. Her muscles burned slightly from the exertion of the day on the road, keeping watch on the road leading into the city. It seemed that even a demon infested wasteland still had its share of bandits and wandering beasts other than just the demonic hordes. She liked to stop in the shrine before moving up to her apartment when she wasn't completely dead on her feet and thank Lady Starsong for the day's good fortune. Or ask for better fortune, more often than not. The tiefling has the shrine to herself as she bowed her head and silently prayed for several minutes. Her nose wrinkles as she saw dust on the edges of the altar. It was tradition for travelers to clean the shrine when they passed through, but it seemed that there hadn't been anyone through today. She fetched a cloth and carefully started wiping the altar clean, leaving the stone smooth and polished under her hands.
Val sighed as she folded the rag and set is aside. She didn't even remember the last time she'd done this. There was too much to do and too much danger for her to have time for simple indulgences like this. She dropped heavily on one of the benches around the shrine and looked up at the sky, watching the stars slowly become clear as the last of the daylight faded away. She hadn't had the time to do much of anything other than patrolling and fighting. When was the last time she'd given proper obedience to Desna? The fact that she couldn't answer her own question didn't sit right. The bard got to her feet and took a few steps, trying to find a rhythm. It was far from the first time she'd done one of the Desnan dances without actual music, but her body didn't quite want to fall into the steps. Val groaned as she rubbed her legs. She might have pushed herself a little too hard today. There always seemed to be more fighting to do. As she leaned down, she could see the worn hilt of her starknife hanging at her hip and she flinched as she pushed herself upright again. Was that all that she did now? She spent more of her time fighting outside the city than she did on... anything at this point. When was the last time she'd shared a drink with a friend and told a bawdy tavern story? Or shared a personal story and given someone advice? Fighting helped protect people, but when was the last time she'd helped anyone other than keeping the demons away? Maybe it was time to change that. Val, Ary, and Arvin: Val let her eyes drift over the Calistrian as he entered the room. It was rare that she saw someone else who dressed anywhere near as brazenly as she did in Mendev, so it wasn't hard to imagine he caught eyes wherever he went. "I've heard many good things about you as well," she says, allowing him the somewhat dramatic greeting. "It's good to finally meet you in person. I very much hope we get along in the future." She glances sideways, letting Ary make the first move. She was teh one who wanted the meeting after all.
Val lets Isilme give her speech first. It seems that the spymaster has little interest in further detailing the recent incidents on the roads around the city. Though, considering she was rapidly becoming the de-facto warden of the roads near Drezen, Val couldn't deny that it was her job to deliver the news. "That doesn't mean that we can stop being careful, however," Val adds as the aasimar returns to her seat. "The supply caravans running to and from Keeper's Canyon have recently been suffering numerous attacks, as you all likely know. It seems that most of these attacks have been carried out by independent bandit groups using advanced new weapons they're calling 'guns'. Each of these groups was entirely unconnected to the others and their weapons and equipment were supplied by a female figure that we have been unable to get a solid description of who have been given the title of the 'Drifter'. Given the location and timing of the attacks and the nature of this unknown benefactor, they're likely a cultist or a demon using a middle man to assault Drezen's supply lines. I suggest we add this figure to our watch, but considering their apparent ability in either disguise or shapeshifting, actually finding them may be difficult."
Hello Paizo, I've been trying to get back into GMing for a while and it's been really hit and miss. Part of that is that I have far too many ideas and focusing on one to try to get a campaign or module going has been rough. So I thought I'd spell out a number of ideas that I have for Pathfinder and other systems and check to see what people thought of different ones and which might get a strong response from potential players if I did a recruitment.
The Shards of the Empire: Imperial Lung Wa collapsed many years ago, but it's Successor States still squabble and occasionally war with each other, each vying to make a place for themselves in the world now that they've thrown off imperial control. But dangerous forces seek to claim the shards of the empire for themselves and forge a new empire, under their crushing dominion. A story based on samurai and kung fu movies set in the heart of Tian Xia and focusing on individual heroism and honor in defense of your homes again evil forces. Across the Outer Planes: The Material Plane is just one world among many, but some travel between the realms, seeking their fame and fortune. But a secret threat lurks somewhere beyond the realm of mortals and if not stopped, it may succeed in erasing Golarion entirely. An extraplanar focused game of intrigue and adventure as the players try to unravel the machinations of a sinister cult that could spell the end of the world as they know it.
Chronicle of Nightwood (Chronicles of Darkness 2e): Nightwood is an ordinary little college town in the middle of nowhere really important. Sure some hikers go missing every once in a while and there are always some ghost stories and urban legends around, but that's just how small towns are. The perfect place to grow up. And it's not like those stories are real. Right? A modern fantasy WoD game focusing on the slightly more than mortal characters like psychics, ghouls, and the like. Possibly taking inspirations from the Innocents splat to play teenagers discovering their powers. Think something like X-Men or Stranger Things. Deathworld (Savage Worlds): They won. World War 2 was a s!#$ show and those Nazi bastards won. They had to use actual demons to do it, but they did. But it's not the end of the world quite yet. Everyone's getting this magic thing worked out, or at least managed some kinda new-fangled super tech to match up. The world isn't theirs just yet. A supernatural alternate history setting I've been working on for a long time of a world left very, very different by the discovery of magic during the early days of WW2. A sort of war story/action movie tone focusing on heroes fighting to stop the over the top machinations of those damned Nazi bastards. If you've seen the new Wolfenstein games, you have the right sort of idea.
Val is remarkably quiet as Ary speaks over the new graves, watching the long dead crusaders finally put to proper rest. It seems like she's lost in thought for much of the commander's speech, until Ary finally steps down from the mound. "Do you mind?" she asks quietly. "I want to give them something." The tiefling steps forward and takes a breath before she begins to recite. In times long gone and ages past
Though demon tide came without end
So long as wards of valor stand
I need to finish listing my trappings, but you can probably tell that I picked a deck of tarot cards as my professional trapping. It seemed appropriate.
I apologize in advance if this goes horribly wrong.
I think a grease, fat chef fighting monsters with his cleaver sounds perfect for a low fantasy game with a good helping of black comedy. Helix is pretty open to designing your own aspects of your character's culture and whatnot, so it should work well. There are two daemon lords, the Endless Maw and the Prince of Pleasure, who could certainly have certain aspects worshiped as glutinous and indulging in feasts and celebrations. Amusingly, cleavers are actually given stats as a unique weapon because one of the advanced professions in Main Gauche is known for using them.
I shall take over forthwith Apothecary: While Barber Surgeons perform surgeries and bind wounds, Apothecaries are the ones who make the medicine. They can ward off infection and disease with archaic remedies and treat wounds with ointments and pastes. Their special talent allows them to flip the results to succeed on Alchemy tests and lets them avoid harm on a critical failure. Grave Robber: Everyone dies someday, and that means that a graverobber's business is always booming. They exhume the bodies of the recently deceased to sell to academics and scholars in need of test subjects, as well as occasionally the depraved and monstrous. Though on occasion, they accidentally dig up something not quite dead anymore. Their talent makes them immune to fear and stress from Supernatural creatures and immune to diseases commonly found on corpses. Entertainer: People can always use a little entertainment, both the masses and private shows for the rich and powerful. Every race has their own arts and preferences and depending on their talents and specialties, entertainers can be hated or renowned. Their talent allows them to bolster their allies with Inspiring Words for a full day when using a specialty related to their entertaining specialty. Ferocity: ORDER: The will you possess is capable of moving mountains and comes with such a rush of passion and vigor that others are often forced into stunned awe. You are unlikely to break under torture or mental duress, possessing a well of emotional strength that at times seems unending. Hypocrisy: CHAOS: Others see you for what you are; a charlatan and a liar, unwilling or unable to be held to your words. Your judgments and insights are seen as false, unlikely to be followed or trusted.
@Gaming Ranger: I have a weird knack for remembering little details like that. I was going to ask if I should help out since I've got the books too, but you beat me to it, so I should thank you too :P Also, so many winter births. I guess all our parents have busy springs, if you know what I mean ;) I think I'm going for Astrologer for my profession. I'm still working out my elf's details, but I think I'm going to use my Mercy to swap my Brawn and Willpower. I think I'm going to need it.
Remember that Helix swapped Lowborn and Burgher since the middle class is larger in his setting. So you all rolled Burgher actually.
"I like the plan. It sounds like another one of our little con jobs. Haven't had a chance to pull one of those in a while. But I also like being able to hit things. It's possible only one of them is a night hag, but even that is enough to be a major pain."
"Not a lot other than the fact that night hags suck," Val says dryly.
Just noting here that Val's retraining and mechanics adjustments are done so we have a static note of it. I'll leave Ayavah's sheet as is, but I'll remember to apply to bonus since Dodge and Mobility are effectively the same feat now. Val's goals currently stand at:
As for her residence, probably a house near or attached to the Desnan shrine she wants to build. Considering wayshrines are supposed to be visited by travelers, it would probably be on a main through-way of the city near a square or other town center. Unless Ayavah has other plans, I feel like they'd set up as roommates.
"Wow," Val breathes as she looks over the hill, watching the grass blossom from the formerly dead soil. "So this is Mother Heartwood's true strength. It's beautiful."
Val nods toward the unicorn, though she doesn't understand his words, the meaning is clear enough to her. She closes her eyes for a moment, composing her thoughts and sorting through what little she knows about the workings of the ley. "Wise owl sat upon the tallest tree in the forest," she intones softly. "Sharp hunter's eyes watching over the land beneath him as seasons changed and the forest grew and spread around him. And as the trees grew ever wilder, he was filled with fear that one day the forest would grow so large that the inhabitants would become lost amongst its branches. The gods of the forest saw the fear for his fellows in owl's heart and left to him a gift, a silver needle that could bind all life together. Owl flew through the forest, needle in his beak, and bound the spirits of all the greatest totems together. And everywhere he flew, the green string left paths through the earth, where the strength of spirit could flow so all beasts of the woods would always know one another and could always find their way. Those who walk the forest trails need only look to owl's wisdom and follow the hidden strings so they might know his blessing and never be lost." She places her hand on Ehren's shoulder. "You've got this."
Dreams:
Val's dreams during the evening are more a memory than a fantasy. She finds herself sitting in the back of a wagon draped with silks and parked in a circle around a roaring campfire. A group of her fellow travelers are standing around the flames, talking, eating and a few are dancing beneath the stars. Bathhouse: Val arrives to the bath in an outfit that is very... her. She's wearing a black two-piece that's remarkably simple aside from the fact that it seems slightly smaller than something fitted to someone of her generous figure should be. Her feet kick at the water for a few moments, testing the heated water. With her resilient skin, the higher heat still feels pleasantly warm and she slides into the pool up to her stomach, sitting on one of the ledges around the edge and reclining back. She only manages to catch the back end of the conversation that was occurring while she was changing, but she ends up just shrugging. Considering their policy on redeemed cultists, someone who joined for all of five minutes to escape the Abyss was hardly unacceptable. "Isilme, have you ever had the chance to visit Cynosure? I've always wondered what it's like there."
30 Lamashan:
I was not expecting it to be this long since I last had a chance to sit down and rest. It seems like everything has happened so quickly, I could have sworn it was only a day or two since I last had a chance to put my pen to work. The siege of Drezen is finally over and the citadel is ours. It’s a shame that we’re out here in the middle of the Worldwound rather than somewhere a bit cheerier, or we could have another party like we did when we took the Grey Garrison. Then again, I’m not the best drunk so maybe it’s better if I don’t have the chance to make a fool of myself again. Crossing the Worldwound without anyone knowing gave us quite the advantage when we moved in to attack the city. Our usually tactics still seem to throw the demonic forces off. I guess they’re not used to having crusaders who lie, sneak, and backstab them while they’re not paying attention. I dread the day they finally figure us out, but for now we’ve out played them once again and frankly they deserved it. Taking the front gates and sweeping through to their slave pens at Paradise Hill was more than enough to make me want to drive every demon from the city at the point of a very sharp cold iron blade. At least the prisoners are free and getting treatment now.
And the Hill gave us an excellent staging ground for another one of our little run arounds. A bunch of big ass catapults made a wonderful target to get the demons to focus on and taking out the bridge to Paradise Hill forced them to slow down and linger while facing down the forces we left behind at the camp. Which meant they were nowhere near the citadel when the rest of our forces snuck around the back and broke inside to take out their leaders. They were more than a few messed up things inside, from a succubus pretending to be Iomedae to Staunton Vhane and his giant f*cking bugs. But we managed to make it through just about everything in one piece. More or less. And Isilme managed to turn Joran Vhane to helping us instead. It seems like he never quite got along with the demonic forces and he and his brother have recently been having some issues. I’m sure helping us stop Staunton wasn’t easy but I think there’s hope for him yet. And he did help us kill the Beast of Drezen so I think he means to turn away from the Worldwound forces in good faith. He might not be ready to turn away from his faith in Droskar yet, but at least it’s an evil dwarven god and not Deskari. The under levels of the keep were a trial, mainly because we were running on fumes and hope by the end of it. Some brilliant mind among the remaining cultists decided to stage Worldwound Version 2 in the basement when they started losing, hoping to take us out with it. We stopped them but it was a close thing. Not to mention having to go through a horde of vampires and a swarm of corrupt salamanders who were working some project of Joran’s called the Corruption Forge. That’s going to be something that we have to do something crazy to fix, I’m sure. More interestingly, there was a cell that was holding someone magically powerful. Or it used to be. By the time we found it, the battle had damaged the magic wards keeping her trapped and she’d booked it off into the Worldwound. The writing on the wall seems to say she was some kind of traitor to the demonic forces who found faith in Desna. I can’t help feeling like me and Isilme were meant to find her writing. When we’re clearing the nearby land, we’re going to have to find her and help her. Before the demons find her to take revenge. Starsong light her way until we can give her some back-up. And then fighting Eustoyriax at the end of all that. I’m just glad he didn’t get away again. And we rescued Sana too! Considering our luck with demons coming back to get revenge, that fight went about as well as it possibly could have. Even if he did try to possess most of us. It seems like Eustoyriax was a more powerful shadow demon than we were giving him credit for. And the fight is only going to get worse from here, I’m sure. But on the bright side, we’re going to be repairing and restoring Drezen so the demons don’t get another chance to take it. Sosiel came to me with an excellent idea to help support crusader unity and strengthen the ties between the different groups here: a multi-denominational church dedicated to all the gods present in the Crusades. Maybe we can make Drezen into a bastion of unity and acceptance as well as a bastion against demonic incursions. Things may just be looking up. Val decides to stay quiet for the most part lets the rest of the group deal with talking to the queen for the moment. She can still remember her childhood etiquette lessons, but she doesn't have much to say to royalty on business. And it seems like the team has more or less everything she could bring up covered anyway, so she doesn't need to make a fuss.
Val says nothing a chews her lip for a moment, looking up at the bloody Abyssal sky. Then she instinctively puts her arms around Ayavah's shoulders and gives her friend a hug. "I'm hardly a theologian, but I think... I think that maybe your faith got a few wires crossed somewhere. Coming here expecting it to be a paradise of friendly demons who changed their ways... may have been a bit overly optimistic. I don't think you're wrong, not inherently. And I believe that someone who's evil can redeem themself and go on to be a great person." She sighs and tries to think of the best way to put her thoughts into words. She steps back, but keeps a gentle hand on Ayavah's shoulder. "The Abyss is a place that's literally made of evil. And the souls that end up there deserve to end up there most of the time. This place... it's the kind of place where demons are born, a place that's dripping with the nastiness that they created when they were alive and when their souls moved on. I don't think that it's impossible for one of them to redeem themself, not even one of the biggest ones like Nocticula herself. But they wouldn't need redemption if they hadn't done something to redeem themselves for in the first place. And from what I've seen since arriving in Mendev..." She trails off for a moment, remembering more than a few of their own mistakes. "Redemption isn't as easy as just taking someone out of a bad situation and expecting them to suddenly show their better nature. Whether they're a criminal in the slums or a demon called out of the Abyss, most of the time they keep doing what they know because they either don't know any better or do and just don't care about being a better person." The tiefling chuckles cynically to herself. "That sounds pessimistic out loud. Which is weird considering I usually try to think better of people. But I think that's what you and your fellows forgot at some point. Redemption isn't something that just happens. It's something you work for and struggle towards and have to want more than anything else. I don't feel like a lot of demons, or the Abyss itself, really care enough to actually work towards being better. So they all end up like... this." She gestures back toward the flesh tree behind them as it disappears into the distance. "So yeah, those crusaders were probably pretty happy to get their free will back. Just coming to the material plane without a summoner's leash isn't going to be enough to get your average succubus to turn over a new leaf. And that means that a lot of people can still get hurt and the demons are probably the ones doing the hurting. I think that believing even the worst people can have a better nature deep down is very noble. But expecting them to just spontaneously manifest it because you believe in them is asking to be disappointed. I feel like that's where your faith might have hit a mental block. You want to see the good in your goddess and her other followers, so you built an image of what they could be if they work to change themselves, not what they are right now. And now you're struggling with seeing what they're really like right now rather than the idealized image of what they could be if they do seek redemption." Val shakes her head and sighs. "I think that accepting that most demons have done wrong and want to keep doing wrong is something that might help you though! Because making excuses for someone isn't going to help them be better. You have to find the few, whether their cultists or demons or whatever, who actually want to change and then help them actually be better, not just forgive them over and over while they keep doing more harm. It's only then that Nocticula or a succubus or even just a person will actually find redemption."
"If you two are going, I should probably stay here. I can help with scouting out the city more than I can help giving stuffy mission reports to royalty. Make sure you bring back some decent grub." She steps back from the group heading through the ley just a bit, giving them room just in case.
With Ayavah:
Val can't keep herself from grinning. "Careful you don't say that around the inquisitors. They might decide to try to interrogate the statues to find out which ones are secretly demons." She shakes her head ruefully.
The tiefling cocks her head as Ayavah gets serious. "Oh course. What do you..." She frowns as Ary's arrival suddenly cuts Ayavah off. "Whenever you want to talk." As the morning dawns, Val stretches, feeling much recovered after the previous day's battle. She grabs some breakfast while she waits for the others to gather for the morning.
"No, you will not," Valaria growls. Her own power surges as she focuses her own will and steadily drives the shadow demon's consciousness back. "I have had far worse things that you in my mind. You do not impress me."
Val looks up at the crystal as Isilme calls out the target to slow the ritual. "If they want the Abyss so bad, then we'll send them there the express way." Unfortunately, she very much doubts that her knives can strike the crystal from the ceiling in a single instant. She elects to change her focus to hammer the cultists standing around the gate with knives. She draws a brace of cold iron daggers and sends them hurtling at the least injured cultists she can get a knife in, trying to slay them with well placed blades.
Val grunts as the blazing hot outsider grabs her, dragging her closer to its blistering skin. "You know, you're not usually the kind of hot guy I like. I might make an exception if you weren't trying to kill me though." She braces one hand on the noble's tail and pushes herself straight up out of his grasp while the second lashes out to drive her knife straight into his throat.
Val holds off her next barrage of attacks for just a few seconds, waiting for Isilme's rallying call over the din of battle before she pushes in again to try to put the noble salamander down. "Things are getting a little too hot. So let's finish up."
Ayavah gawks for a second as Xanderghul collapses to the ground. "Uh... Val, I think Xanderghul might have gone and done something. Be careful." She visibly grapples with herself for a moment, then grumbles. She reaches down to touch his unmoving body and a haze seems to form around him. "You owe me for this..."
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