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Greetings all
I honour the Paracountess Zarta Dralneen. I am her willing servant any gladly obey her dictates. She guides my path and through her I have learned much and experienced more.
Once I was a Qadiran nomad with no idea of the greatness and power that exists in this world. Now I serve a master who is great and my power grows. My service is to the Order of the Gate and to Cheliax.
I am a servant of his Magnificence, the Prince of Darkness and Master of Us All, Asmodeus. My place in his service is earned by servitude and respect. I will do what must be done.
Killing is not always legal and not always smart. I prefer subtler means. I wield the Sharp Tongue of Law with mercy where it is due. Asmodeus' way is open to all who are willing to submit.
Know your place and bow before greatness
Balah al'Akim
Signifier of the Order of the Gate & Inquisitor of Asmodeus
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My noble Lords, Ladies, ...and you other people.
Our shared loyalty, and adherence, to the laws of Cheliax is not exclusive to the followers of Asmodeus. Follow the letter of the laws, the will of House Thrune, and the mighty arm of the Hellknights, and you shall prosper.
As for more "exuberant" activities, rest assured Taraclus that if any slaves belonging to the Paracountess slipped away during the festivities, the peers of my profession shall return them to their rightful, lawful, place.
Hector Aramille
Slave Merchant
Warden of Lore and Law
"I make opportunities, and teach others to recognize them. When I aid others, I open the way for them, but will not carry them - they must take responsibility."
- Excerpt from the Code of Abadar
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I'd, uh, love to join in the Asmodeus-praising, but Paracountess Dralneen's party got a little messy last night, and she said if I don't make the chains gleam, she'd pin my tail to the wall. Again.
Ah yes. I must admit the enticingly charming Paracountess has an uncanny knack for reapplying the chains and the whip to even those who once held the station of... indentured servitude.
Not that I was complaining at the time of course.
Oh, and there's plenty of time to praise the good lady even during the cleanup.
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We should gather adherents to our cause where ever we may be, perhaps enjoying company, entertainments, and the best food and drink from the lands we bring civilization to.
Don't forget, your parties will be a smashing success, if you hold them in a garden of my design. Imagine a pleasure dome of your specifications realized with my taste and knowledge enhanced by my druidic gifts! Your conquests will squeal with delight.
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Appearing in the room with a flash of flames and heat, and a strong smell of brimstone, stands a man in full Hellknight plate armor. Some of the more observant believe they saw glimpses of a portal into Hell itself behind the flames. On his shoulder stands an Imp from the pits.
In your minds you hear. Greetings fellow servants of Asmodeus. My master bids me introduce him. Before you is Armiger Hellknight Signifier Ezren, Diabolist and Conjurer in service to our lord and to house Thrune. The wizard gives a low bow to the assembly.
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Well, I guess I'll have to see you guys eventually, I have to go for a dawnwalk which may or may not involve rinsing my eyes with holy water. No need to follow.
...
Also, if you see any of Ms. Dralneen's imps follow me,could someone inform it that while I don't like touching silver, I can still hold a silver dagger.
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The halfing chuckles softly to himself, as he produces an unholy symbol of Asmodeus. A red imp suddenly appears on his shoulder, hissing in annoyance at the half-orc. The halfling stares at the icon, smiling softly to himself.
"Perhaps you'd feel more at home in an Andoran? They don't believe in laws there either." He mocks.
He puts away the symbol and turns to the sudden entrance of Ezren with far more interest. "Ah, I always did appreciate a flare for the dramatic. I salute you good sir, and to your noble Order"
"Honestly'" sighs the rakishly attired half elf by the window " if I was such a stickler about THE LAW as you lot nothing I ever get set out to do would actually get done. Let me make sure all my priorities are in line here...sex, gold, sex, power, sex, drugs, sex, booze, sex, parties, sex..." Lifting a glass of wine he cracks a mocking smile, "Oh yes, I can work for the Paracountess. Though I find myself in agreement with the orc as to my plans when toiling away here loses its...allure."
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A human sized suit of armor walks in, covering enough of its occupant that you can't tell anything about its race or gender. The voice that comes from under the helmet has a Tian accent, and also seems to draw out the "S" sound in some words just a tiny bit longer than normal.
"Greetings, Pathfinders of Cheliax. I hope my appearance will not startle you."
With that, the warrior removes his helmet, revealing a reptilian face that some of you recognize as a member of the nagaji race.
"I travel long way from Tian Xia. Cursed and banished, I wish to prove my worth as warrior and return a hero. I thought to join Lantern Lodge of Pathfinder Society, but then I learn of Cheliax, and your nation's... relationship with devils."
"I was cursed as child to speak the infernal language of devils against my will. I have since learned that my curse comes with magic power I can use, though it is the reason I was banished from my home village in Nagajor. Now I think perhaps it is my destiny to help this nation of many devils maintain order, and prevent the evil devils from taking over."
"Would Cheliax welcome a cursed warrior into your service? I believe you would call me an oracle in your language. Or should I stay with my original plan to prove my worth to my homeland by working for the Lantern Lodge?"
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For a moment Marduk considers tearing the tiny devil's wings off, but opts to instead return a fearsome snarl of his own.
"Andoran?!", the beastly orc roars in indignation. "I'd sooner be caught with my nose in one of those spellbooks weakling wizards are so fond of."
Hey now, let's not say things we can't take back or will regret later. Sorry you can't alter reality, but insulting those that can won't help you either. Go saying that to the wrong guy or gal, and they'll have you slain, and then raised as an undead in 12 seconds.
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"From the way you all talk about your missionss, it would sseem the infernal beastss are already in charge of your nation. I think I shall continue to sserve my native Tian continent through the Lantern Lodge, to earn the honor needed to return home, and leave you all to your devilss."
Hey, pal, don't lump me in with them. Demons and Devils are meh. I actually am liking those teachings of Sivanah. The Lantern King wasn't so bad either.
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"From the way you all talk about your missionss, it would sseem the infernal beastss are already in charge of your nation. I think I shall continue to sserve my native Tian continent through the Lantern Lodge, to earn the honor needed to return home, and leave you all to your devilss."
We're not all bad. My faction mates don't look at me funny for waving around a wand of Infernal Healing...
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*A small girl, seemingly young beyond the Pathfinders' recruitment age, in a simple commoner's outfit with a surprisingly high-quality bow strapped to her back walks in as she hears the nagaji's pronouncement.*
The girl is short but not as young as she seems, though she is using both illusions and a mundane disguise to appear that way.
If you're wondering, this character is based on the NPC of the same name from City of Strangers, wherein, on my first time GMing it, the Cheliax character paid 500 gold out of pocket to have her sent to the same monastery that trained him, so I turned around and made her my next PC.
"Mr. Snake guy, that's not how it works," she explains in a childlike manner. "Ms. Zarta just wants us all to be able to grow and become more powerful. The devils serve those who are powerful enough to prove themselves. If you want to get really strong and improve yourself, this is a great place to work. That's how I got to be better and better with the bow. And now I can beat lots of bad guys, like Aspis Silver Agents," she flashes a Silver Aspis Pin at that and grins, "Or pretty bird-sphinxes or that snake sorcerer girl. You would have been cute together...oh except she was a mummy, so probably not.
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*An armor clad Hellknight walks in, armed with sword, flail, and pistol. Removing his helment, his steel blue hair falls about his shoulders; his aasimar heritage is apparent.*
*Snapping to a formal salute*
"Marek Delfansia, Armiger to the Scourge, reporting in! Where the Scourge commands, my blow shall fall! What is your bidding, fellow servants of Cheliax?"
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A topless, burly dwarf in plain black pants circulates the room quietly. His head is shaven, his beard in braids held with ringlets bearing small pentacles. Someone has amusingly wrapped his upper body in thorny rose vines. He seems to bear the pain stoically.
He holds a tray filled with various delights: flayleaf snuff, yellowcap mushrooms, thileu bark powder, allnight and heathensnuff. He silently offers these to others while keeping his eyes towards the floor.
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"You must be the one known as Nbarg the Wise. From what I see, you have earned that moniker. You carry yourself appropriately for your station. Your diligence and devotion shall see you rewarded justly."
*Marek takes a yellowcap, holding it delicately between two armored fingers*
"A place for everything, and everything in its place. We act as a hellspawn forged in the great Burning Legions of Phlegethon; your type as bone and mine as muscle. The muscles cannot act without bone to support them, each lives only by the grace of the heart, and acts only when compelled by the brain. Through our structure and mutual support we form a perfect being, capable of great feats. Thus is the nation of Cheliax."
*He turns the yellowcap, examining it closely*
"There are those who would rebel against this union, those who would act against the natural way. These are the cancers of society; the diseases that would only infect us and propigate their malady. Should we find them, it is our duty to the greater whole to remove them, lest they spread their infection."
*Marek claws a small portion of the yellowcap out, discarding it before consuming the mushroom.*
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I hear rumors that a Hellknight has met recently with a group of Andorens. We should be vigilant.
Andorans... they sell themselves to others as freedom fighters. I ventured out in the desert with an Andoran Pathfinder out on his crusade. He liberated a slave all right... by going up to his owner without preamble and striking him down in cold blooded murder. Without making even an attempt to negotiate a purchase. Or even doing the courtesy of facing him, instead just striking him from behind. If I weren't sworn to act against a fellow Pathfinder I might have turned him in to lawful justice.
And they call us evil.
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I hear rumors that a Hellknight has met recently with a group of Andorens. We should be vigilant.Andorans... they sell themselves to others as freedom fighters. I ventured out in the desert with an Andoran Pathfinder out on his crusade. He liberated a slave all right... by going up to his owner without preamble and striking him down in cold blooded murder. Without making even an attempt to negotiate a purchase. Or even doing the courtesy of facing him, instead just striking him from behind. If I weren't sworn to act against a fellow Pathfinder I might have turned him in to lawful justice.
And they call us evil.
The Andorens think themselves noble. They know nothing of true nobility and power.
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Father well met, I am honored to see a man of faith in these walls. It seems that we have had a absence of leadership for some time. I know not the state of things in our homeland in regards of finding a replacement or if our Paracountess will return.
What I can say is that we were given the task of influencing Varisia. If this is the wish of the House of Thrune and the Lord of Law then I will crusade to bring our light to the frontier of darkness.
However it is always good to see fresh blood here in these walls. Hopefully we will be able to continue to carry the faction onwards and counter our rivals.
Sven Von Jeggare
Of the noble house of Jeggare, Noble of Korvosa
May the Noble house of Thrune continue to rule wisely.
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Well met, brothers. I have been long away from my homeland, so I can't claim familiarity with the political situation there, but I will stand firm in my belief that the Paracountess will return to continue guiding our efforts. I, for my part, will continue to bring low those who seek to undermine the work of the Dark Prince.
Hail Asmodeus!
Vance Blackwinter, Armiger-Magus of the Order of the Godclaw
(edit: For some reason the site is refusing to let me post as Vance, sorry 'bout that)
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"I'm not so sure that the Paracountess will be back soon. She implied, when we rescued her, that she had a few 'loose ends' to deal with. Hopefully the Hellknights will learn from the episode, too. So, best of luck with whomever guides your activities now, and hopefully you can get them to see the light."
The tattooed sorceress smiles, brilliantly, as she struts off away from the former cathedral to Aroden.
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Yawn, so much to do and so little time.
Our dear Zarta will return, yes she will. Return to me to me. Burn her foes she will, burn them in good red flame. Roast them nice, till they're good and tender, she will, she will!
It will be sad too, because they'd make good defendants. Not that they'd survive the trial, but its just money walking around waiting to be picked up. Wasteful, but necessary I guess.
Come hell hound lets go find some more of Zarta's foes. Maybe they will plead for their lives....its always a pleasant but ironic sound.
Meridoc - Public Defender
Hellknight - Signifier, Order of the Scourge.
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a woman with a generous chest, a scarf covering her mouth and jaw and a pair of mistmatched eyes walks in. she sits at a table and pulls out a piece of fabric, that used to be a part of her scarf, with the shadow lodge insignia on it and openly sets it on fire with the candle in front of her.
"that Undur Kurv will never control me again." she mutters with a strong orcish accent even tough she is human.
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Greetings, honorable servants of Asmodeus. I am Paxal. I will soon be graduating from the Pathfinder college and will be proving my worth to the Society and the Paracountess with The Confirmation. May my arrows strike true (and maybe strike the scum dog non-worshipers of Asmodeus that be my fellow graduates). *snicker*
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Marcellus raises a brow to the newcomer. "Perhaps you might want to see exactly what the situations might be. Your own pre-Hell existence might just depend on your 'fellow graduates'."
He rests the shorter of his two polearms on the wall, and brushes his hands on the front of his pants. "I don't know about you, but there was something about 'Explore, report, cooperate' involved in my own confirmation. Extolling the ... virtues of the Prince of Darkness is one thing, but undermining your own fellows stinks of the Abyss to me."