This adventure sounds perfect for my character, Admiral Beef Testosterone, time-traveling space gnome rockstar.
I've created (mostly) the same character in Starfinder Society and in Pathfinder Society, with the idea that he time-travels between the different campaigns.
Spells: mind thrust I (3rd), id insinuation I (5th), ego whip I (7th), intellect fortress I (9th), psychic crush I (11th), mental barrier V (13th), tower of iron will III (15th), bilocation (17th), microcosm (19th)
kuey, the solution to your Roc's size problem is on CRB page 53. "Instead of taking the listed benefit at 4th or 7th level, you can instead choose to increase the companion's Dexterity and Constitution by 2."
My Inquisitor/Sacred Huntsmaster will be doing this with her Roc.
I talked to John Compton at GenCon, and he confirmed that his intent was that Core druids should have access to only those animal companions listed in the CRB, not the expanded set listed in Bestiary 1. He said that the new Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide (Version 7.0—July 30, 2015) would clarify this.
Unfortunately, the new Guide doesn't address the issue at all, nor does Additional Resources, so we're left with the ambiguity. People who read the rules will see that Roc and Dire Bat are allowed in Core. People who read the boards and talk to Compton see that they are not allowed.
An easy fix for this is to update Additional Resources, in the Bestiary 1 section, to say that only CRB animal companions are allowed in Core campaign.
Core Campaign is going along okay in Houston. Not strong, but okay. I'm running a table once per week, and I just ran two tables at Comicpalooza, where there were several other Core tables that ran.
But Core Campaign is going along quite well online. You can play and GM a Core table on Roll20 at least once per week. I often play online Cores with seasoned players who have played and GM'ed almost everything in the regular campaign and who are enjoying a second run at those adventures with Core characters.
This belt gives the wearer a +4 competence bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks as they relate to dealing with dwarves, a +2 competence bonus on similar checks when dealing with gnomes and halflings, and a –2 competence penalty on similar checks when dealing with anyone else. The wearer can understand, speak, and read Dwarven. If the wearer is not a dwarf, he gains 60-foot darkvision, dwarven stonecunning, a +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution, and a +2 resistance bonus on saves against poison, spells, and spell-like effects.
I'm right, and I've shown the rules that back up my point of view.
I'm on board with the restrictions on the Core Campaign, and I'll follow the rules that I see posted. Right now, the rules allow a druid to have a roc animal companion.
I've run into one GM who feels otherwise; at his Core tables, no roc.
According to the CRB, page 63, a paladin can select an animal as a mount.
These animals are not described in the CRB; they are described in the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary.
Looking in the Bestiary, we see the description of the animals.
According to the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide, page 20, this feature is NOT ALLOWED in the Core Campaign because it the class feature description in the CRB DOES NOT REFERENCE the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary.
But that's just plain dumb. Of course it's allowed.
In fact, when the paladin reaches 11th level, the mount gains the Celestial template, and this paragraph DOES reference the Bestiary.
So any reasonable reading of these rules should show that a paladin may have her mount (as described in the Bestiary), and a druid may have her roc animal companion (as described in the Bestiary).
According to the CRB, page 52, an animal companion can select the Improved Natural Armor feat.
This feat is not described in the CRB; the CRB says to see the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary.
Looking in the Bestiary, we see the description of the Improved Natural Armor feat.
According to the Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide, page 20, this feature is allowed in the Core Campaign because it references the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, so that sourcebook may be utilized with the restrictions noted in Additional Resources.
The restrictions noted in Additional Resources say, "none of the feats are legal for play for PCs, animal companions, or familiars unless specifically granted by another legal source."
The CRB is a legal source that specifically grants the Improved Natural Armor feat to animal companions.
Are you with me so far?
This all means that animal companions may select the Improved Natural Armor feat in the Core Campaign.
Please quote the language you believe has changed and made the Roc a permitted option.
FLite, I don't believe that allowing a Roc animal companion is a change; I believe it was permitted by the Core Campaign blog post all along, and the rules were made even clearer in the new Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide.
But since you asked, here's the language again from the latest revision of the Core Campaign rules.
First:
Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide, page 20 wrote:
For spells and class features that reference the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, that sourcebook may be utilized with the restrictions noted in Additional Resources.
Second:
Core Rulebook, page 53 wrote:
The animal companions listed here are by no means the only ones available -- additional animal companion types can be found in the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary.
Third:
Additional Resources page wrote:
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary
Animal Companions: ankylosaurus, aurochs, brachiosaurus, dire bat, dire rat, dolphin, elasmosaurus, electric eel, elephant/mastodon, frog, goblin dog, hyena, monitor lizard, moray eel, octopus, orca, pteranodon, rhinoceros, roc, squid, stegosaurus, triceratops, and tyrannosaurus; Familiars: all familiars listed on pages 131-133; Feats: none of the feats are legal for play for PCs, animal companions, or familiars unless specifically granted by another legal source; Other: all creatures in this book are legal for polymorph effects (including a druid's wild shape ability) within the boundaries of each spell or ability's parameters. All languages found in this book are available for a character to learn with the linguistics skill, except aboleth and drow sign language.
The first quote says that for class features (like the list of druid animal companions) that reference the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, we should use Bestiary 1, with the restrictions noted in Additional Resources.
The second quote says that additional animal companion types can be found in the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary.
And the third quote specifically says a Roc is allowed as an animal companion.
So, yes, Roc is a legal druid animal companion in the Core Campaign.
This isn't a matter of interpreting some obscure rule. This is a straightforward reading of the rules as written. I can't see how these three rules would be interpreted as meaning that the list of animal companions in the CRB is complete, since the CRB itself says the list is incomplete and we should see the Bestiary.
After consulting with a certain high-ranking member of the PFS Campaign (who shall remain nameless unless they wish to be revealed), Roc is not a legal choice as a Core Animal Companion.
I call shenanigans.
The revised rules now even more clearly support the position that a roc is a legal animal companion for a Core campaign druid.
If that certain high-ranking member of the PFS Campaign wanted to make this illegal, he or she should have made it illegal in the newly revised Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide instead of revising the rules so that it's even more clearly legal.
The newly revised Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide says:
Quote:
For spells and class features that reference the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, that sourcebook may be utilized with the restrictions noted in Additional Resources.
The druid animal companion class feature on Core Rulebook, page 53, says:
Quote:
The animal companions listed here are by no means the only ones available -- additional animal companion types can be found in the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary.
And the Additional Resources page says:
Quote:
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary
Animal Companions: ankylosaurus, aurochs, brachiosaurus, dire bat, dire rat, dolphin, elasmosaurus, electric eel, elephant/mastodon, frog, goblin dog, hyena, monitor lizard, moray eel, octopus, orca, pteranodon, rhinoceros, roc, squid, stegosaurus, triceratops, and tyrannosaurus; Familiars: all familiars listed on pages 131-133; Feats: none of the feats are legal for play for PCs, animal companions, or familiars unless specifically granted by another legal source; Other: all creatures in this book are legal for polymorph effects (including a druid's wild shape ability) within the boundaries of each spell or ability's parameters. All languages found in this book are available for a character to learn with the linguistics skill, except aboleth and drow sign language.
I fear that putting a Wayfinder/Pearly White Spindle in an extradimensional space would prevent it from being properly equipped on the character, preventing the regeneration from functioning.
I always leave humanoids alive, when possible. I use nonlethal damage, I stabilize or cure dying enemies, I actively practice mercy and forgiveness. I think these are hallmarks of good characters.
I don't expect the same treatment from enemies, especially evil ones, but I want to increase my character's chance of survival, if mercy or providence allow.
In a TPK, there are at least three other bodies for the remaining enemies to feast upon, so my character might be able to regenerate before being that-thing-I-ate.
I don't know about your parties, but the PFS parties I run with often stabilize defeated opponents and leave them alive, although stripped of valuables. Some of us, at least, don't murder everybody we meet.
It looks like a Wand of Magic Aura (2 Prestige Points, 50 charges, 1 day per charge) and a friendly bard, sorcerer or wizard would solve my Detect Magic problem with less table variation than the questionably-purchased lead sheet. I could double up on these for tables where we don't have arcane support.
The main purpose of this wild scheme is to give myself a slight chance to prevent character death in the unlikely event of a TPK.
My original plan was for using the Sleight of Hand skill to hide the object. The object is a Wayfinder covered in lead sheeting. The Wayfinder contains a Cracked Pearly White Spindle Ioun Stone (regeneration 1 HP/hour).
If my character is KO'd, he will eventually regenerate -- if the bad guys don't find and loot the Wayfinder/Ioun Stone.
I think that Sleight of Hand will prevent the casual discovery of the Wayfinder on my character's unconscious body, and the lead sheeting will further hide the Wayfinder from Detect Magic.
My character has everything but the lead sheeting. It looks like I can get some lead sheeting in a PFS-legal way by purchasing a spell component pouch which has "a sheet of lead" in it for the Mage's Private Sanctum spell (sorc/wiz 5).
What do you think? Is it legit to buy "a sheet of lead" like that?
(BTW, I recently played in a scenario where we rescued a wizard who didn't have his spell component pouch. A spare pouch would have come in handy.)
The character bought a Wayfinder (from a certain replayable PFS scenario), the Ioun Stone and a Dilettante's Outfit. The only thing I'm missing to complete my scheme is that lead sheeting.
I know, there is likely to be table variation. This is a wild scheme that would only really be useful for surviving a TPK, and those are pretty rare in PFS.
My character has a Cracked Pearly White Spindle Ioun Stone (regeneration 1 HP/hour) in a Wayfinder. He wants to hide it on his person in a Dilettante's Outfit using Sleight of Hand so that if he is knocked unconscious, any NPC searching him will have a hard time finding the Ioun Stone, giving him a few hours to regenerate.
It would be extra nice if the hidden Wayfinder containing the Ioun Stone could be kept inside a lead pouch, so that the theoretical NPC will have an even harder time finding it.
The spell description for Detect Magic says, "The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it."
If the character puts the Wayfinder in the Pathfinder Pouch, I don't think the Ioun Stone in the Wayfinder will continue to function because the Wayfinder would be in an extradimensional space, not exactly equipped on the character. (But I may be wrong.) But if the character puts the Wayfinder in a lead-lined pocket, I see no reason that it won't continue to function.
I look through the equipment list in the CRB and the other PFS-legal books, and I can't find "a thin sheet of lead" for sale.
I can buy lead bullets, but there are no PFS rules that let me craft a thin sheet of lead from a bullet.
I'm looking to you folks to see if I've overlooked a PFS-legal source for buying a thin sheet of lead.
Is there a legal source for lead sheeting? How much does it cost?
I want to thwart Detect Magic.
A lead sheet is a material component for the Mage's Private Sanctum spell. Can my non-spell-casting character buy a spell component pouch to get the lead sheet?
I disagree. The set of animal companions is first listed in the CRB, with a note to see the Bestiary for more. The Core Campaign rules allow you to do what the CRB says. And when you see the Bestiary, the roc animal companion is one of those things.
Damanta, Mark and Louis, that looks like an "...is clarified..." situation to me. It looks like the animal companions listed in the Bestiary 1 are specifically included in the PFS Core Campaign.
Here's the chain of reasoning:
(1) "Introducing the Core Campaign" says "If a Core Rulebook option advises that something found in the Core Rulebook is clarified in the Bestiary 1, then the player uses that specific option out of the Bestiary 1 to meet the requirement set forth in the Core Rulebook. That would include, but is not limited to, animal companions, special abilities, summon spells, etc... Only the Bestiary 1 is available for these extra options outside of the Core Rulebook."
(2) The Core Rulebook, page 53: "The animal companions listed here are by no means the only ones available -- additional animal companion types can be found in the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary."
(3) Bestiary 1, page 316, clarifies the list of animal companions.
In addition, Michael Brock said, "Druid animal companions are listed on pages 53-54 of the CRB. / If an entry, such as paladin or ranger, that lists a bonded mount or animal companions., and it doesn't list stats in the CRB, it automatically defaults to the Bestiary."
The roc is exactly this kind of situation. It's listed as an animal companion for the druid in the Bestiary 1.
I certainly don't see a roc animal companion as "allowing new options" or "as a means to sneak in a bunch of non-core stuff into a Core game." This is just following the rules.
The blog post "Introducing the Core Campaign" says,
> "If a Core Rulebook option advises that something found in the Core Rulebook is clarified in the Bestiary 1, then the player uses that specific option out of the Bestiary 1 to meet the requirement set forth in the Core Rulebook. That would include, but is not limited to, animal companions, special abilities, summon spells, etc... Only the Bestiary 1 is available for these extra options outside of the Core Rulebook."
And Bestiary 1 lists a few more animal companion options. So it looks like the list of Core Campaign animal companions also includes the list on page 316.
Half-elf fighter 1, Int 13, Arcane Training and Favored Class Wizard.
She tries to activate a scroll of Fireball.
1) Does the Arcane Training racial trait let her skip the "Decipher the Writing" step and go directly to the "Activate the Spell" step? Or does she need to decipher the Fireball scroll (with Spellcraft or Read Magic) before activating it?
2) Can she Take 20 on a Spellcraft check to Decipher the Writing?
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Arcane Training
Half-elves occasionally seek tutoring to help them master the magic in their blood. Half-elves with this racial trait have only one favored class, and it must be an arcane spellcasting class. They can use spell trigger and spell completion items for their favored class as if one level higher (or as a 1st-level character if they have no levels in that class). This racial trait replaces the multitalented racial trait.
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Activation: To activate a scroll, a spellcaster must read the spell written on it. This involves several steps and conditions.
Decipher the Writing: The writing on a scroll must be deciphered before a character can use it or know exactly what spell it contains. This requires a read magic spell or a successful Spellcraft check (DC 20 + spell level). Deciphering a scroll is a full-round action.
Deciphering a scroll to determine its contents does not activate its magic unless it is a specially prepared cursed scroll. A character can decipher the writing on a scroll in advance so that she can proceed directly to the next step when the time comes to use the scroll.
Activate the Spell: Activating a scroll requires reading the spell from the scroll. The character must be able to see and read the writing on the scroll. Activating a scroll spell requires no material components or focus. (The creator of the scroll provided these when scribing the scroll.) Note that some spells are effective only when cast on an item or items. In such a case, the scroll user must provide the item when activating the spell. Activating a scroll spell is subject to disruption just as casting a normally prepared spell would be. Using a scroll is like casting a spell for purposes of arcane spell failure chance.
To have any chance of activating a scroll spell, the scroll user must meet the following requirements.
The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) can only use scrolls containing arcane spells, and divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) can only use scrolls containing divine spells. (The type of scroll a character creates is also determined by his class.)
The user must have the spell on her class list.
The user must have the requisite ability score.
If the user meets all the requirements noted above, and her caster level is at least equal to the spell's caster level, she can automatically activate the spell without a check. If she meets all three requirements but her own caster level is lower than the scroll spell's caster level, then she has to make a caster level check (DC = scroll's caster level + 1) to cast the spell successfully.
This new rule clarification (both mount and rider charge at the same time) doesn't answer a key question: When do they stop if the mount and the rider have different reach?
For example, a human lancer on a horse. Lancer has 10 ft reach, horse has 5 ft reach. When do they stop charging -- in the first square from which the lancer can attack, or the first square from which the horse can attack?
Another example: A human with a longsword, riding a mammoth. The swordsman has 5 ft reach, mammoth has 10 ft reach. When do they stop charging?
(Yes, I'm practicing Threadomancy, resurrecting this thread from two years ago with new information.)
This is in the Pathfinder CRB FAQ:
---
Mounted Combat: When making a charge while mounted, which creature charges? The rider or the mount?
Both charge in unison, suffer the same penalty to AC, the gaining the same bonus to the attack rolls and following all other rules for the charge. The mounted combat rules are a little unclear on this. Replace the third paragraph under the "Combat while Mounted" section on page 202 with the following text. Note that a "mounted charge" is synonymous with a "charge while mounted," and that when a lance is "when used from the back of a charging mount" it is during a mounted charge not when only the mount charges.
A mounted charge is a charge made by you and your mount. During a mounted charge, you deal double damage with your first melee attack made with a lance or with any weapon if you have Spirited Charge (or a similar effect), or you deal triple damage with a lance and Spirited Charge.
This change will be reflected in future printings of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook
posted Mar 26, 2014
---
So now, the mount and the rider can both attack during the charge. No Spring Attack required.
With RBA, you and your mount just keep moving after your attacks.
Here's my new list of Pathfinder potions with links to spell descriptions. It includes all of the potions and oils listed by Lakesidefantasy back in 2012 plus a whole lot more new spells.
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MagicSOP Wiki
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Caster Level 5
Casting Stat Intelligence DC 15
Spell Pool 18
MSB +5 (+9 concentration - Competent caster)
MSD 15
Destruction Sphere
. . Base - Destructive Blast - 4d6 bludgeoning
. . Base - Augmented Blast - 6d6 bludgeoning, 1 sp
. . Chain Blast - If hit attack next target up to 3
. . Focused Blast +1 point per die if no blast shape
. . Greater Blast - +1d6 damage
. . Extended Range - Medium range
Divination Sphere
. . Base - Divine Magic
. . Base - Divine Alignment - see alignment aura
. . Base - Divine Charm - identify charms
. . Base - Divine Fate - examine mass of creatures for similar alignemnt/loyalites
. . Base - Divine Hostility - Identify type and source of damage
. . Base - Divine Life - find living createures and state of health
. . Base - Divine Loyalties - reveal top three loyalties
. . Base - Divine Protection - highest/lowest AC or highest/lowest save.
. . Base - Divine Warp - find portals and rifts
. . Base - Read Magic
. . Foreshadow - Sense - Not flatfooted, +1 dodge AC, +2 reflex and initiative 1 sp 1hr/level
. . Logos - Sense - Comprehend Languages 1 sp; 2sp tongues 1 hr/level
. . See Hazard - Sense - Detect hazards within 10 ft. 1 hr/level
. . Witness the City - 1 sp to gather information in 1 round instead of hours 2 checks per use
Fate Sphere
. . Base - Hallow - 1 min/lvl +1 sacred to attack, AC, saves. Immunity to mind control
. . Base - Serendipity - 20' radius +1 luck attack, skill saves. Conc/1sp for 1r/lvl
Life Sphere
. . Base - Cure 1d8+4
. . Base - Invigorate, 4 Temp HP, not to exceed max HP
. . Base - Restore 1d4 ability damage and many minor conditions
. . Revitalize - Fast healing 1 for 5 minutes 1 sp
Mind Sphere Save DC 17
. . Base - Lesser Suggestion - Very simple request 1/day/creature
. . Base - Greater Suggestion - 1 SP Basic request
. . Read Mind, Lesser - Read emotional state
. . Read Mind, Greater - 1 SP Read surface thoughts (concentration)
Protection Sphere DB: Limited: no ward; Protected Soul (self only)
. . Base - Aegis - +2 deflection AC 1 sp 1 hr/level
. . Energy Resistance - 14 resistance to specified energy
. . Spell Ward - SR 15, 2 sp
Warp Sphere
. . Base - Teleport Close, Long for 1 sp, self or willing target
. . Unseeing Teleport - +1 sp, teleport without LOS
. . Distant Teleport - Long range
. . Extradimensional storage - full round or swift with sp
Incanter Specializations Channel Positive Energy
. . 3d6, DC 15, 7/day
Domain: Knowledge (Memory)
. . Recall (Su) 7/day With a touch, allow creature to reroll Knowledge check with +4 insight.
Domain: Sun (Revelation)
. . Guided Eyes (Su) +4 sacred bonus to see through disguise or spot hidden/concealed things
Domain: Travel (Exploration)
. . +10 ft land speed
. . Door Sight (Su) 7/day spend 1 minute to see what is on the other side of a surface 11 in thick.
Mageknight Mystic Combat
. . Resilience of Soul (Su) spend 1 1sp to reroll failed save
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Special Abilities
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Archaeologist's Luck +2 (14 rounds/day) (Ex) Gain Luck bonus to attack, damage, saves, and all skills.
Armor Attunement +1 enhancement bonus to mithral chain shirt
Bardic Knowledge +2 (Ex) Add +2 to all knowledge skill checks.
Channel Positive Energy 3d6, DC 16, 7/day
Clever Explorer (Ex) Half time to use disable device. Plus half level on disable device and perception
Clockwork Key Constructs do not attack you if you do not threaten them or if directly ordered to
Competent Caster (Ex) Concentration checks auto succeed (-2 CL)
Disguise Kit +2 competence bonus. 10 uses
Door Sight (Su) 6/day spend 1 minute to see what is on the other side of a surface 11 in thick.
Elf Blood Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race.
Fascinate Become fascinated for 2 rounds DC 17
Feast Your Eyes Upon This You have studied in the libraries of the Order of the Spiraling Eyeball's members, and now seek to prove your mastery of that knowledge by demonstrating its practical application. Choose three Knowledge Skills that are already class skills. Each of those skills gain a +1 trait bonus. (Arcana, planes, religion)
Fleet Charge (Ex) As a swift action, use 1 power to move speed & attack (+1 bonus, bypass all DR).
Gain Knowledge Move action - Knoledge check DC 10+CR. Gain useful information about creatures. 1 retry.
Guided Eyes (Su) +4 sacred bonus to see through disguise or spot hidden/concealed things
Hard to Kill (Ex) Automatically stabilize when dying, and only die at neg Con x 2.
Inspiration Add +1d6 to skill or ability checks 5/day. 2x cost for attacks/saves. Free use of inspiration on Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Sense Motive.
Lingering Performance Bardic Performances last 2 rds after you stop concentrating.
Low-Light Vision See twice as far as a human in dim light, distinguishing color and detail.
Nimble Fingers, Keen Mind Disable device is a class skill, +1 to checks
Pouch of Pixie Dust Faerie fire 1/day; unlimited colored powers
Precognicient Protection Insight bonus to AC equal to senses (max 2), expend bonus to turn crit into normal hit.
Quick Disguise Reduce time to create disguise
Recall (Su) 7/day With a touch, allow creature to reroll Knowledge check with +4 (int) insight.
Resilience of Soul (Su) spend 1sp to reroll failed save
Skill Focus: Perception +3 to skill, +6 with 10+ ranks
Sophisticate +2 racial bonus on Knowledge (history, local) and can use untrained
Stalwart No effect on a successful Fortitude or Will save.
Surge (1d6) (Su) Use 1 MP to increase any d20 roll by the listed amount.
Trap Sense +2 to AC/Reflex vs traps
Traveler's Any-tool Masterwork tool for almost any job
Uncanny Dodge (Ex) Retain Dex bonus to AC when flat-footed.
Weapon Attunement +1 enhancement bonus to machete
Wild Arcana 1 MP Cast spell without knowing sphere. Std Action. +2 CL
History:
Verthandi grew up on three continents. Her parents, Dina and Gavren, were archaeologists. They delved into ancient ruins to learn the secrets of ancient cultures and share that knowledge with the world. When her mother had to stay at home for the first few years of Verthandi's life, it almost split up the couple. For them it was easier to bring the young girl and teach her along the way.
Growing up in the field was an education. Her parents taught her how to deal with obstacles and then expected her to succeed. They prepared ways to stop her from failing, but more often than not, they didn't need to use them. It was challenging, but they celebrated her successes and made her want to try new skills and explore her curiosity. Between them, they made sure she knew what they did and how they did it. Which also included the soft skills. Expeditions couldn't work without the support of wealthy patrons, and learning how to shine in high society is as much a requirement as identifying the inscriptions on an ancient tomb.
But an expedition is like a family. Besides learning from her parents, she also learned from her Uncle Nuran, an academic and priest who made sure that her education was not neglected. He covered the practical sciences and the theoretical. Nature and relgion and of course magic. His favorite phrase was "The first step in creating knowledge is observation", and used it as the source of his teachings.
Faith was an important part of this teaching. Understanding Anax and the ideals he reflects are and important part of understanding the world. These lessons were both spiritual and practical. Ancient ruins were often protected by the dead. By understanding faith, one can let the radiance of our lord strenghten the living and harm the impure dead.
Daniel Evenfall was one of the mercenaries they hired to help their expedition through wild and violent lands. He was assigned to be Verthandi's bodyguard, but she adpoted him as her big brother. She idolized him and had him teach her his skills in fighting and all the other parts of his life. While her parents were concerned, they also saw the usefulness of her learning martial skills. But this was not a one-way street. Daniel was a curious sort, and being around academics inspired him to learn more. Since he was to protect th girl, he was always around her lessons from her parents and Nuran. It was only a couple months before Nuran broke down and cried out, "Damn it boy! Don't hover. Either go somewhere else or sit down and take proper notes!"
As Verthandi was learning magic and martial skills at the same time it only made sense for her to combine them. She took these skills and began to teach Daniel magic. It wasn't the same way Nuran taught her - Daniel was less talented and focused on more limited forms. But it was a turning point as she started to become her own person. To not just listen, but to synthesize those lessons and come up with something new.
Recently, her parents retired from the field to settle in and begin the process of analyzing and interpreting all their findings over the years. They missed the work, but they wanted to pull back while they still had their health. On the last expedition, Nuran's old bones were truly feeling the pain and they knew he wasn't going out any more. But he found a church with a school where he could preach and teach and tell stories of the wider world. Daniel found a different destiny. An alchemist named Frissa. It was a whirlwind romance, a beautiful wedding, and a young girl in short order.
With this, Verthandi was set free from her life, a bit adrift but looking for something larger that she could put her skills to. Something meaningful to those living and those to come. Still, she had a good feeling, a premonition that she would be challenged and have the potential to test herself and rise above.
