Age of Ruin OOC: Facing down destiny

[Lycar]

As soon as Azakan steps through the portal, Orin follows.

Hrm, hell if i know what Azakan wants to tell us here.

But i'm getting a feeling that Kaleff should keep another Shatter spell ready.


Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Obviously, since you've gone through the portal, you don't know any of the stuff after post 176, until they come through the portal. Also, as the Detect Thoughts spell is gone, you no longer hear Sumner's, or anyone else's, thoughts or telepathic speech.

MattKatt, are you here?

[Ozzy_G]

Before the others come through the portal, Azakan looks at you frantically. You've got to help me! Sumner Kesh is possessed by Gothul, he's going to force me to bring back his empire! The sacrifices will start again, just like before... you will help me, won't you? Stop the ritual!
Then Sumner steps through.

[Lycar]

Orin stares at Azakan blankly for a moment, then, just as he is about to nod and start saying something, Sumner emerges from the portal. Orin reacts just in time...

"... the temple of Isana. I hope, money will be enough. But do not worry, Azakan. I gave my word and my word i will hold, so my strength permits."

(There.. sufficiently ambiguous for Sumner and Azakan should get the message. Ah well... i really have to conduct that resurrection experiment on Sumner's corpse... maybe his soul is forced into his old body, leaving the posessing entity behind... that would be... convenient... )


So it MattKatt going to play Tharok again? Or do you have to keep NPCing him.

Lycar

[Lycar]

Let me guess.. the rain is black... with... soot... dear gods, let it be soot!

If it is indeed black:

[spoiler]Bren mumbles under his breath"Dear gods, let it be soot!"

And yes, in that case he screwed up changing his voice.

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

The rain is not black, just normal. There's just a bit more smoke than normal over the town itself.

[Lycar]

Uhm.. okay.. well, i wouldn't have been surprised. You are an evil GM after all...

Right. So then..

(Hrm. Clouds and rain. Just the right thing to cheer one up. Ugh, i sure hope this isn't foreboding. Well, not much to do then to soldier on.)

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

If you want to work out what spell Azakan is casting, it's a DC 16 spellcraft check. If you succeed, then you know he's just cast

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Endure Elements.

[Lycar]

Okay, so let's see:

Spellcraft: (1d20+5)[18]

Okay, so Orin happens to be able to recognize the spell (didn't Gareth also use to cast Endure Elements during our trip through the ash desert? Would even make sense for Orin to recall the gestures and verbal components then).

As for actions...

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Bren nods approvingly "You tell strange story. But you go and see what lies ahead without being seen, that is good. We will stay with Azakan.

Lycar

[Lycar]

(Ah, story time again.)

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The Dar Ven named Bren just looks over at Draven, gives his companion a short shrug and tells his tale.

"I was mercenary once. Fought for gold. One day, some demon-fiend stings me in battle and i fall down. When i come to again, my strength and health is gone. I had heavy armour and big sword, like Tharok. But i can not wear anymore. So i wandered, aimless. One day, i had dream i talked you about. Did not think much of it. But then meet Tharok. He on vision quest from shaman, very important. So i ask him, if i can join him and he agrees. Then we come upon squid-man and dead people. And Tharok has vision to go through portal to meet destiny. We meet Azakan. Rest you know."

"How come you went to hell?"

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Bluff check for Orin please.

[Lycar]

Bluff bluff bluff, bluss the wary Draven...

Bluff: (1d20+16)[26]

Oh and just in anticipation of Draven's response, here a preemtive Sense Motive check:

Sense Motive: (1d20+10)[27]


Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

He seems to be telling the truth.

[Lycar]

Aw man, now Ismal is back before Orin could as Draven something else 'in private'.

Oh well, can't be helped.

(Hrm. So maybe there is some truth about them not knowing about anything bad to befall one Orin Stillwater, if he should be brought back to Ralm. I still don't like you lot. Heh, 'Archmage' Stillwater... yeah, that's gonna happen. Bah, either way... i wonder if they will start poking around about what happened after the explosion in the inn. He, if someone told them about the little expedition... or the corpses stored away at the mortician's... )

Orin ponders some more thoughts of his own but before he can make up his mind to ask Draven more questions, the Lady Ismal returns.


Lycar

[Lycar]

(Hmm.. about the festivities... i wonder if they were celebrating my alter ego's succesfull assassination of Ravan Zere... oh sorry, his successful 'eternal pacification' mission.)

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"Bet they clelebrated Ravan's death." comments Bren out of the blue. "Prophecy said, false emperor be killed by... uh.. 'double of Lorekeeper'. Who is this? Qusan might know."

Lycar

[Lycar]

'Bren' will just stick with Azakan for the time being.

However, there is still the matter of having a few dead people to raise, so..

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Bren turn to the guard an asks. "Are there any temples in town? With priests and such? Powerful priests?"

Lycar

[Lycar]

(Just great. They sent me on a suicide mission. Well, my other me actually but still. Ah but then again... maybe.. just maybe i can make something out of this. Hm. Need more information first. But if i could pull off convincing people that i am their hero... have to be aware of the mages though, they know better after all. Still, normal people just love a good story. If i can provide one. And make those mages pay for killing me! Well, the other me but still!)

(*sigh* No temples. Why am i not surprised. And look at those burned down buildings. Looks like progrom if you ask me. Just now to find out who got to be scapegoat this time...)

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Bren takes a look at the cityscape, with the scars of burned-out buildings pockmarking it and asks: "So what houses did you burn down then? Davethrans?"

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Orin does actually know where the Wizard's Guild is. You may remember that you all had to take alternate-Orin there after he tortured Livina and murdered that wizard.

[Lycar]

(... I don't like that one bit. A hero's welcome and then... devils... teleport in and start killing. Poor Sumner Senior.. and to think that i hoped to get back the ring i gave him! Oh cruel fate! Hrm. Anyway, soon as i get a chance to act alone i'll go and gather some informations on my own. Krashnix said there is a temple of Isana near the city, so it should be possible to learn about it. And i better find out where the corpses of Hern, Sumner and Khorik ended up. That mortician that picked them up with his cart... have to ask around... after a change of identity of course... but first the visit to the mage's guild. I better stay in the background and keep eyes and ears open. Get my bearings...)

Orin will keep himself in the background for the time being. His time to act may come later but not now.

Lycar

[Lycar]

(Hmm? Looting? Ah i suppose they had some 'private' conversation on that subject. Too bad i won't get to cast anoher Detect Thoughts spell easily. But how comes Azakan thinks i'm invited to that party...)

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Bren looks at Azakan dumbfounded. "What you say? They have secret-talk .. uhm.. what is it... mind-speaking, yes?"

Bren turns to look at the assembled party with a frown. "No, they not mind-talk to me. I would not like that. Is... invasion. He, what you hide from us, strangers?"

(Hmm well, i better stick to the magic-ignorant Dar Ven role.)

So in case it is required to lend credibility to his air of indignant innocence...

Bluff: (1d20+16)[17]

Also what is Azakan up to.

Sense Azakan's Motive: (1d20+10)[29]


Lycar

EDIT: Looks at Bluff roll, notices nat. 1, facepalms...

[Ozzy_G]

You reckon Azakan is genuinely annoyed that people are talking telepathically behind his back. That's it.

[Ozzy_G]

DC 18 will save for Orin please.

[Lycar]

Oh oops. Seems like this disguise isn't going to hold much longer...

Will save: (1d20+9)[16]

(Oh.. they did not? Heh well, i was there so... damn it, this is... inconvenient. I sure hoped i could keep this up until after meeting the archmages. What to do? Hm... first let's see how much they really suspect. And then, think of something, fast. And what was that ringing sound?)

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"I'm not doing anything. And i'm not a shaman. And you Zhan talked about a world destroyed, so i thought you did it. Was i wrong?"

And to think that with as much as a roll of 2 instead of 1 he would still have been quite convincing with a 18 bluff...

So do you use the 'a nat. 1 = -10' rule? Or just 'a nat. 1 is fun - for the DM'?


Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Oh no, 1 is definitely fun for the DM. When you get a chance, ask Noble Savage about Kaleff's natural 1 on trying to use a scroll of Teleport.

Can I have another bluff check for Orin please.

[Lycar]

Nat. 1 on a Use Device check for a scroll of teleport? Sounds... interesting...

Anyway, here comes another bluff check:

Bluff: (1d20+16)[32]

(Ugh... direct questions.. evil.. how to weasel out of that? Maybe... a truth offense. Overwhelm him with honesty, just 'forget' to mention the incriminating bits... yeah, that ough to work. Damn i really need to talk to him alone...)

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Bren looks taken aback, opens his mouth as if to protest his innocence but then falters. "I'm no archmages spy. Not anymore anyway. I used to work for Govan of Ralm, years ago. But then i botched a job and fell out of favour. I have been avoiding any archmages like the plague since then. And yes, i have been listening in to your little private conversation. At least as much as i could get from the green one. You others were too tough a nut to crack. I actually have a bit of a talent for magic myself. Never was much of a warrior though." While his voice still carries a certain accent, his Davethran is obviously much better then he tried to make you believe.

No spy = true, botched job = true, avoidance of archmagi = true, listening in to Sumner's thoughts only = true, bit of magic talent = true if you consider bards to have 'a bit of talent', ma be a bit ambivalent, never much of a warrior = true.

Lycar

EDIT: Oh that reminds me... if Orin is thinking 'aloud' maybe Azakan recognizes Orin's voice? He is already suspicious and the 'I was there' comment should allow him to connect the dots...

[Lycar]

Oh hey, it seems like we can postpone confession time a bit... seems like the others want to get out of the rain and the middle of the street first.

Suits Orin just fine.

But maybe Azakan already picked up what Orin thought about what he was going to say.


Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Okay, some IC stuff:

Azakan turns to Bren and Tharok. Right, what's going on here? Who are you really?

[Lycar]

Orin looks at Azakan straight. For just a few seconds really but it could as well have been half on an eternity.

He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and opens them again.

Then his right hand moves into his pant pocket, retrieves his sigent ring
and puts it on his left hand.

"You know who i am. Read my ring and do the math."

Orin waits for just a few moments, just long enough for Azakan to recognize the Stillwater family crest.

"You know, i should be mad at you. I really should. Your prophecy said that i was going to betray them all. And i did. I betrayed them all, those who would bring that accursed amulet to their vile masters, to better subjugate and enslave their poeple. I betrayed them all for you. For you, the one that i hoped would banish the hell that life had become under Gothul, the one that i hoped would make live worth living again."

Locking eyes with Azakan, Orin goes on "But you left me behind in that .. tunnel. Left me to die or suffer an even worse fate. Me and the others. Even in what i thought would be my last moments i cursed you, cursed you because you betrayed the trust, the hope that i had put into you. And then the chaos claimed us. Except we didn't die. We just reappeared 10 years later, cast adrift in both time and space. "

"You said you want to restore the empire, this time without Gothul. You say you don't want to be emperor. You say you don't want to bring back the rule of man. You say you want to use the imperial crown to bring back the rule of one man. What is it going to be, Azakan? Are you going to exchange one kind of tyranny for another? I am the wolf, Azakan, i am a noble! By circumstance of my birth alone i am priviledeg, bare any need to prove my worth by word, action or virtue. Bring back the empire and i shall prosper."

"But this is not what i want. Not anymore. I don't give a damn about the empire. Or nobility. Or my heritage. You said that my family is dead. Some bounty hunters tried to apprehend me to drag me back to Govan. To Goramesh with thrm all! I grew up in Goramesh! In a cage with golden bars, a cesspit of betrayal and depravity! I even betrayed the one man i could have called friend because my fa.. sire told me to! I didn't know any better back then but i do now."

"Azakan, nobody in his right mind wants Gothul back. Remember that gnome in the roadside inn? He wanted Gothul back, wanted to restore his power, his privileges, even if it would mean death and suffering to untold thousands. And you? You say you don't want Gothul back. Why? Because you want to rule yourself? Answer me this and only this, Azakan: What is life worth, anyone's life if it is not yours? I don't like the archmages, not one bit. But even *i* balk at having them subjugated by some piece of magical jewelry. Kill them if you must, i'll even help you, what little good my help it is. But i will not help you become another tyrant. If you seize this crown, do it to destroy it, to end it's malevolent presence, to end the threat it poses."

"Maybe you could use it to bring peace. But what peace would that be? The peace of hell, where obedince is enforced by violence, pure force."

"I had time to think a lot lately. I remember having read some books about philosophy. Something like: Justice not tempred by mercy is tyranny. Freedom not guided by law is anarchy."

"You never met Sumner's alter ego from the other world, the one who got killed by the devils here. But he had a few choice things to say about power in general and magic especially. It corrupts. You start out doing small bad things, reasoning that they are for a greater good. Then you do medium bad things for even greater good. And then you claim the crown that will force your will upon all, for peace."

"Ultimately it is your decision and your's alone. If you decide you want the power, go for it. You will have to fight the devil army for it though. Better get the sacrifices going to summon enough demons to counter them then."

"Or you just try to do it without all that magic stuff. Try to rally the people behind you. Unite all mankind in the struggle to oust the extraplanar ursurpers form our world, once and for all. Your choice and yours alone."

Orin pauses. It was a long speech and he didn't have the power, the conviction to make it sound compelling. It had been a long day. A very long day. Orin was tired, so very tired of hiding, of pretending to be not him, of dancing around and spinning tales, of using his gift for words to twist reality to his whim.

He just had been totally honest to Azakan. When was the last time he had told someone about his true feelings about anything? When he told Livina about his dream to make the world a better place for everyone? No wait, that doesn't count, he really meant that he wanted the world to be a better place for himself...

"Come now, let's go see my alter ego's corpse. Not many people get to see their own corpse after all, don't want to miss that. Lucky bastard even got to die a hero. Maybe i should use some coins to have a statue built for him..."

Orin turns to walk on to rejoin the rest of the group, hoping that Azakan would just remain quiet and let sink in what he just told him.

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Azakan follows him towards Sumner. As they walk, he whispers You don't see what's going on at all. I've given you all the clues, yet you still ask me to make choices I don't have.
Seeing them walking towards them, Sumner rises, and Azakan goes silent.

[Lycar]

Hrm. So Azakan keeps dropping hints about him having no free will to choose his fate. Too bad i can't really figure out what way that would work. Unless he is actually controlled by outside forces.

*sigh*

So Orin needs to get to lv 14 before things heat up too much. Bard lv. 12, Song of Freedom... maybe be it helps... probably not. But it is nice to think of this game going on long enough to get that far.

Either way, just to ask: Is there a chance that Orin would happen to know an old story that deals with a similar theme and might offer some insight into the situation?

Lycar