Kavonde

- LG Tiny Poppet (Toy) Cleric of Mazludeh 1 HP 16/16 | FP 1/1 | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +9 | Perception +7 (Darkvision) | Speed 25' Status Effects: None | Spell Effects: None | Spells Prepared: 1st Rank: Heal, Bless, Sanctuary Nyoka, holding her bell overhead and ringing it for all she's worth, charges into the fray beside Ras. With surprising acumen, she scrambles up the shelves to close the distance with the pugwampis above. "Shoo!" she cries with all the viciousness and ferocity a foot-and-a-half tall wooden doll can muster. "Skedaddle!" OOC Dashing twice to move 35' northwest. (Done on Roll20.) Ringing her bell in the pugwampi's face.

DYNAHEIR | HP 32/32 | AC 15 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12 | Rages Remaining 3 "As quickly and as painlessly as possible," Dyna agrees. Her heart is heavy at what they must do, but it's clear that brave Doru, or whatever is left of him, is well and truly the servant of dark forces now. She offers Father Donavich a sympathetic frown, then draws her greatsword from over her shoulder and gives it a few one-handed test swings as they walk towards Doru's prison. "It is not fair, what we must do. But the blame lies not with us, but with the villain who would inflict such a fate on others. And perhaps this act will give both Doru and, someday, his father peace."

| HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | 2nd: 2/2 Active Effects: N/A Gaerzil nods in agreement with Keryn. "Yes. He was stabbed from behind; at best, he saw his attacker's boots, and I doubt he was a skilled enough cobbler for that to be a vital clue." He taps his chin thoughtfully with his index finger. "The other questions aren't bad. Where was he off to, who would want to kill him, and whether or not he's associated with the Cult of Zariel. If he says no to that one, perhaps we could ask him if he's associated with the Cult of Dis instead. Otherwise... hmm." After a second, his face lights up and he raises his finger excitedly. "Aha! His brother! We should ask what reasons he had beyond those stated in his letter to reach out to his sadly comatose brother."

| Human Bard/Cathartic Mage 2 HP 26/26 | AC 17 | Fort +5 | Ref +6 | Will +8 | Perception +8 | Hero Points 1 Focus Points 3/3 | Spell Slots (1st - 2/3) | Class DC 18 Visualizing the space they're in and acting on a hunch, Armen moves to the little chamber between the dormitory and the storage room and begins investigating the walls there for any secret buttons or switches or pressure plates or what have you. After all, if one were building a presumably underground bunker, why would you dig out more stone than you absolutely needed to? Why have all this empty space in the middle of the complex? As he searches, he hums to himself, that could potentially aid the efforts of his companions in their own searches. OOC I moved Armen on Roll20, and he'll be doing a Search action (Perception +7) in this li'l corridor down south. He'll also be using Uplifting Overture to potentially Aid anyone else rolling Perception within 60' of him.

- LG Tiny Poppet (Toy) Cleric of Mazludeh 1 HP 16/16 | FP 1/1 | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +9 | Perception +7 (Darkvision) | Speed 25' Status Effects: None | Spell Effects: None | Spells Prepared: 1st Rank: Heal, Bless, Sanctuary Nyoka clings to Szasz's shawl for dear life as she dips into a deep bow towards Xhokan. She tries very hard not to give the snake-girl an offended look, reminding herself that Szasz is being very nice by letting Nyoka ride around on her shoulder and it's understandable if she forgets about the poppet's presence every now and then. As they position themselves at the door, ready to breach and clear, Nyoka prepares to scramble down off of Szasz so that she can position herself more effectively to herd the pugwampis. She hangs off Szasz's sleeve like a Red Mantis assassin about to strike from above, a bell the size of her head hanging from her hand. "Ready," she announces in a tiny, determined voice.

DYNAHEIR | HP 32/32 | AC 15 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12 | Rages Remaining 3 "He was a good man in a place where it seems very difficult to be one," Dyna says solemnly. She looks to where the silent riders sat, frowning. Then she turns back to Ireena and Ismark and nods respectfully to them. "And he raised two children who also strive to be good in this dark place. A noble legacy to leave behind."

| HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | 2nd: 2/2 Active Effects: N/A Gaerzil, walking out of the guard tower providing access to the wall, crosses his arm across his chest and taps his chin thoughtfully. "The victim was caught unawares, some time before Deepnight. The culprit then drew these symbols, which are Infernal runes reading 'for the fallen' and what appears to be an attempt at the unholy symbol of the archdevil Zariel, in the victim's fresh blood. He or she then ascended the wall, likely with the aid of magic, judging by the lack of footprints. Once there, they cleaned their boots in a nearby puddle, concealing any further trail they may have left." He turns to examine the body again. "I think it's safe to assume this has something to do with the devil cults we've been dealing with." He looks at the Artful Dodger and raises an eyebrow in a silent "I told you so." The black-and-white cat rolls its eyes and goes back to licking its paws. "So, we can likely rule out most practitioners of divine magic, since jump, levitate, dimension door and so on are generally the domain of arcane spellcasters like myself, or perhaps the occasional druid or ranger, though... not many of them are likely to worship devils. Of course, anyone familiar with casting spells from scrolls or armed with the right potions could also manage such an escape, so..." He shrugs, spreading his hands. "The only conclusion we can draw from the evidence at hand is that the killer has access to magic through some means or another, which narrows it down to just, say, two-thirds of the city's population or so."

- LG Tiny Poppet (Toy) Cleric of Mazludeh 1 HP 16/16 | FP 1/1 | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +9 | Perception +7 (Darkvision) | Speed 25' Status Effects: None | Spell Effects: None | Spells Prepared: 1st Rank: Heal, Bless, Sanctuary Nyoka enjoys being carried around on Szasz's shoulder quite a bit. Though she doesn't really get tired of walking, she always does feel a bit ridiculous having to take six steps for each of her classmates' one. Not to mention having to look up everyone's noses all the time. Following up on Szasz' words and Adalet's suggestion about nets, Nyoka adds: "Most importantly, silver bells. Pugwampis hate the sound. We may be able to drive them away from the school without hurting them. One for each of us should do nicely, o?"

| HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | 2nd: 2/2 Active Effects: N/A Gaerzil sighs. Another murder investigation? It was either a simple mugging and they were wasting their time, or it has something to do with the damned devil cults. What was the likelihood of there being a third, entirely unrelated conspiracy for them to become embroiled in? Significantly higher than this being related to your ongoing problems, the Artful Dodger tells him, perched on a shelf nearby and idly cleaning his paws. Well, objectively, yes, Gaerzil admits, but come on. There's some mysterious fiendish spirit flitting about that can possess people and bears our caravan a particular grudge. That's to say nothing of all the other cults that apparently exist. How many dark cults can one city possibly play host to? Yes, I doubt the Sharrans appreciate the competition. What? What? Gaerzil glares at the fey feline, then takes his turn examining the letter for any clues. Once he's had a look, he joins the others in visiting the crime scene and combing it for clues.

| Human Bard/Cathartic Mage 2 HP 26/26 | AC 17 | Fort +5 | Ref +6 | Will +8 | Perception +8 | Hero Points 1 Focus Points 3/3 | Spell Slots (1st - 2/3) | Class DC 18 Myrthe's departure leaves Armen alone to stew in his thoughts. He stands there, idly pretending to examine the wall for awhile as he regains control of his emotional state. Now isn't the time for mooning over lost love. They're trapped in a dungeon. The Princess may still be in danger. They need to get out of here. When Ka begins testing the switches to see which rooms they illuminate, Armen quietly heads off into the barracks room to the southwest. "On!" he calls when the light turns on. "Off!" when it goes dark. He wanders over to the unopened door in the southeast corner of the room and presses his ear against it. Assuming he doesn't hear anythingPerception roll at +7 on the other side, he opens it to see what lies beyond.

DYNAHEIR | HP 32/32 | AC 15 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12 | Rages Remaining 3 Dynaheir volunteers to be a pallbearer immediately, taking the front corner of the casket and holding more than her fair share. The emergence of the wolves makes her wish she had a weapon she could bear with a single hand; she might be able to manage her greatsword, but it would be awkward and cumbersome with the burgomeister's coffin on her shoulder. She eyes the wolves warily, focusing her attention on them despite the intimidating pair of figures on the hill above. Proximity generally dictates threat, after all. The ominousness of their situation makes her uncharacteristically cautious, and when Joliet launches her taunts at the distant figures, Dyna has to fight a reflex to cover her mouth with her hand. "Perhaps we should wait to taunt the villains and their massive pack of wolves until we have both hands free?" She glances back up at the distant pair of riders. "Though it is a very impressive horse."

| HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | 2nd: 2/2 Active Effects: N/A Gaerzil raises an eyebrow at Rivalen's advice. "Get the crowd on my side? I'm a wizard, not a street performer. If I need the crowd on my side, I'll get them there by displaying power and competence." He's happy to let Hravin handle the Flaming Fists' questions, and he mostly remains silent as the others return and events resolve themselves. Their victory is complete and there doesn't seem to be any further need for his talents, so he simply observes the proceedings... and helps search the bodies of the slain cultists, just in case they have any coin secreted away. The next day, they're summoned to the Flaming Fist's barracks at the Basilisk Gate. Gaerzil doesn't do much to hide his annoyance. He doesn't particularly appreciate being lumped in as with the Lords' Alliance, nor does he appreciate being summoned when he could certainly find something more productive to do with his morning. The Artful Dodger pads along behind him, seeming quite amused at his grumpiness. At the question of who Segren Hall is, Gaerzil shrugs. "The unconscious man? I pulled him out of a burning barn myself. He'd been kicked in the head by a horse and still hasn't roused. I'm no doctor, but I suspect it's unlikely he ever will."

- LG Tiny Poppet (Toy) Cleric of Mazludeh 1 HP 16/16 | FP 1/1 | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +9 | Perception +7 (Darkvision) | Speed 25' Status Effects: None | Spell Effects: None | Spells Prepared: 1st Rank: Heal, Bless, Sanctuary "I could go," Nyoka volunteers. "I'm sure if we explain the situation to Xhokan, he'll agree to lend us the bells. No reasonable person would demand money for such a thing, especially if it's for the good of the school." If the tiny poppet is being even the tiniest bit sarcastic, there's not a trace of it on her sincere little face.

DYNAHEIR | HP 32/32 | AC 15 | Initiative +2 | Passive Perception 12 | Rages Remaining 3 Dyna, who has stayed unusually quiet during this debate about what to do with Doru, gives a decisive nod when both Sulimann and Bram throw their support behind the idea of dealing with Doru before he can break loose and harm others. "If Doru was a hero, he would rather have died one than become a monster. I know I would." She moves to stand beside the others who have voted to end the man's suffering. "It is cruel and heartless, what we must do. But the truly cruel and heartless one is the man who forced this choice upon us. When we tear his castle down and firmly apply boots to his wretched backside, Doru's name will be on my lips. And perhaps written on my footwear."

| HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 Spell Slots: 1st: 3/4 | 2nd: 1/2 Active Effects: N/A Seeing Keryn sprinting off after the fleeing cultists and nearly skewering their leader with a savage thrust of his rapier, and seeing Gwen capably drop one of the other cultists with a nonlethal blow for later questioning, Gaerzil smirks and extends his hand towards the cultist fanatic and casts magic missile, three bolts of crackling blue force arcing out to unerringly track the would-be escapee and end his wretched life. "Well, that was bracing," he says to Rivalen, turning to face his former master without bothering to watch to make sure his missiles fell their target. "Say, I don't suppose I could get a discount on copying a few spells from your spellbook, could I? I'd quite like to expand my arsenal of elemental damage types." OOC Throwing a level 1 magic missile at the Cultist Fanatic to hopefully finish him off.

| Human Bard/Cathartic Mage 2 HP 26/26 | AC 17 | Fort +5 | Ref +6 | Will +8 | Perception +8 | Hero Points 1 Focus Points 3/3 | Spell Slots (1st - 2/3) | Class DC 18 Armen nearly jumps out of his skin when the masked woman appears behind him. He whips around, staring at her in surprise and confusion. “You think yourself so charismatic," she tells him, "yet you cannot even wrap your tongue around my name. Ka…Mhet. Ka’Mhet. It is not this ‘comet’.” Armen's mouth opens and closes a few times. He actually doesn't think he's very charismatic, but that's not something he wants to announce in front of Myrthe. Or Lori, for that matter. Or Hrotha... or Iris. In fact, Greyrose is probably the only person here he'd be comfortable admitting that to, primarily because the man already knows him well enough to have picked up on that insecurity. He watches silently as Ka'Mhet and Hrotha begin to walk away and falls into step beside Myrthe as they advance. The elven woman's next words surprise him, and he looks at her. As hard as she is to read, he thinks he sees sincerity in her eyes. She didn't abandon me by choice, then. And that simple realization is enough to shift his entire perspective on the situation between them. He always knew how committed she was to the Morilla family. Of course her duty to them would have come before any feelings she may or may not have had for him. He sighs and looks away. "You could have said something. Anything. I thought... I thought you had just gotten tired of me." After a moment, he looks back at Myrthe, searching her face for any of the subtle signs of emotion she could never quite suppress. Then he raises his glowing violin bow and turns to follow Hrotha and Ka further into the well-appointed labyrinth they've been trapped in.

- LG Tiny Poppet (Toy) Cleric of Mazludeh 1 HP 16/16 | FP 1/1 | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +9 | Perception +7 (Darkvision) | Speed 25' Status Effects: None | Spell Effects: None | Spells Prepared: 1st Rank: Heal, Bless, Sanctuary "Well, wait, if the chickens lay so few eggs, wouldn't it be better to give them all to Miss Bisola?" Nyoka asks. She's been silent for awhile, content to ride along on Szasz's shoulder and take in the sights. The world is so much easier to navigate from up high! So enjoyable was the experience of actually being able to see peoples' faces instead of up their noses, the little poppet didn't want to remind anyone of her presence in case they asked her to go back to walking on her own two legs. Now that they're back in their dormitory, though, Nyoka feels safe asserting herself again. "After all, if she has more chickens, they can lay more eggs. If they lay more eggs, she can have more chickens. And that way, future students won't end up having to break school rules to go illegally buy more chickens." She puts her tiny fists on her hips and glares disapprovingly up at Haibram.

The young man who'd been watching the gathering of so many prestigious personages nods enthusiastically at Isabella's words. "I would be very appreciative, sir," Gustavus Sotherngard says, looking at Mbe-Jethehyp. "We don't often host professional storytellers in Whitepeak. I'd be very grateful to hear your tales." He looks around at the older faces that have gathered him, most of them wielding far more power and prestige than he ever will even when he one day becomes Duke, and tries to hide his embarrassment at his statement. I must sound like such a provincial rube, he laments. "Well, we have the Clearies-- ah, I mean, the Clearsky Collective. The philosophers and artists? They come to Greatpine to give lectures sometimes. They're very informative, but..." He smiles sheepishly. "Well, they're not particularly entertaining."

The journey from Greatpine to Ianct Ul had been a long one, but Torren Sotherngard had felt it was his duty to bear witness to the coronation of his new emperor. Torren had attended the coronation of Gharrilus IV's father alongside his own, and the event and the journey that preceded it had opened the young man's eyes to how vast the empire truly was, how many fascinating and strange people it contained, and how much wealth it possessed. The experience had inspired him to bring his two eldest children, Teysha and Gustavus, with him. (His youngest, Diana, had thrown a days-long tantrum trying to convince him to take her as well, but he'd remained steadfast.) His moody, taciturn teenagers were doing their best to appear unimpressed and unenthused, but he'd caught them staring at the grandeur of this piece of architecture or that natural wonder as they'd traveled, and now, as they gaze around this grand hall with all its splendid trophies, their eyes are as wide as bear roots. The Duke of Whitepeaks and his children are dressed in their finest warm-weather clothes, though they still appear quite drab and humble compared to much of the finery on display here. Torren and Teysha have their long hair tied back, Torren's loosely gathered and tied behind his head and Teysha's done into an intricate braid. They speak quietly amongst themselves, feeling like outsiders in this great gathering of the powerful and mighty. It's Gustavus who hears mention of a "storyteller" at a nearby table. Far more naturally curious than his father and a bit less withdrawn than his older sister, he excuses himself and makes his way over to the growing gathering. The lanky young man looks over them: the older boy with the foreboding crown, the fascinating man with the paint and tattoos, and the striking woman in the simple toga. They all look so regal and commanding; they must be among the empire's greatest lords and ladies. Thoroughly intimidated, young Gustavus remains silent, simply hoping to listen as the storyteller--Mbe-Jethehyp, apparently, a name that Gus couldn't even begin to guess how to spell in the Imperial alphabet--recites his tale. Meanwhile, Torren and Teysha eat their meal in companionable silence, each occasionally glancing up to study the other attendees. The sad fact is that both of them are unwed and will need to correct that fact sooner rather than later, regardless of their personal feelings on the subject. Each idly searches the room for potential matches of appropriate age, neither with all that much enthusiasm. Torren spots the handsome young man with the ornate crown, subtly nudges his daughter's elbow, and nods towards him. Teysha looks at Prince Ieraliun, looks at her father, and shrugs. Then she notes the attractive blonde woman in the toga and repeats her father's gesture, nudging him and nodding towards her. Torren studies Princess Isabella, looks at his daughter, and mimics her shrug. They smile amusedly at each other and turn back to their meals.

Ready for review, aside from any small tweaks I make to wording because I'm a wee bit obsessive.

| HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 Spell Slots: 1st: 4/4 | 2nd: 1/2 Active Effects: N/A "Of course," Gaerzil says with an insufferable little smirk. He draws a small chip of mica from a pouch on his belt, then makes a few arcane gestures and incantations. Rivalen can clearly recognize that he's casting the spell shatter. However, at the very end of his casting, Gaerzil adds a few unexpected words to the spell before pointing to the spot in the center of the vines Mishka summoned. Instead of the deafeningly loud, ringing chime that the spell usually produces, there's silence... and yet the cultists trapped within the vines scream and writhe as if the spell hit them exactly as intended. He turns back to Rivalen, clearly feeling quite smug. "A bit of a twist on the classic," he says, rubbing his knuckles on his chest. "I call it mindshatter." OOC Gaerzil is going to cast shatter in the middle of the cluster of cultists north of him; that'll be 3d8 damage, half with a DC 13 Reflex save. (Which they have disadvantage on; thanks, Mishka!) However, since he's showing off for his former boss, he's also going to use his Order of the Scribes feature to swap the damage from thunder to psychic, thanks to his also knowing mind thrust as a 2nd-level spell. Yes, I know. I hate him, too.

No worries! I appreciate the response.

Hi! Quick question on the "units, characters, or works" that realm points can be spent on. Would that mean that to establish, say, a particularly well-fortified fortress or something, we'd need to have leftover points from the stat distribution to spend on that?

The Duchy of Whitepeak Region, Culture, & Standing Region: The Duchy of Whitepeak stands south of the empire's heart in the Whitepeak mountain range that once marked the empire's southern border. Dense pine forests crowd the mountains' southern slopes while great plains of grassland (now largely farmland) descend into the heartland to the north. The mountains themselves house dozens of small valleys in which the bulk of the duchy's population reside. The snowcap for which the mountains are named feeds two great rivers that flow from its peaks, one to the north and west and the other to the southwest. The western half of the range is significantly more populous than the east, as the peaks there become more jagged and habitable valleys less common. Whitepeak is also the home of bear root, a hardy and cold-resistant root vegetable notable for the distinctive, fibrous "fur" that covers it. Bear root is the staple of most Whitepeakans' diets and one of the primary reasons the inhospitable mountain range is habitable. Culture: The people of Whitepeak are largely insular, communal, and rugged. The elevation and cold climate make for brutal winters, and the overwhelming majority of deaths in the duchy occur during these frigid months. Despite vast veins of iron, nickel, and other trade metals running through it, Whitepeak has never been able to fully exploit these resources due to the logistical challenges presented by the difficult terrain. As a result, even the wealthiest Whitepeakan seems humble compared to rich men from other parts of the empire, and open displays of wealth are considered gaudy and arrogant. The duchy is also home to a famous order of aesthetes and philosophers called the Clearsky Collective. These scholars and artists spend years or decades creating works of unrivaled beauty inspired by the natural majesty of their surroundings. Most native Whitepeakans regard the "Clearies" as eccentric and privileged outsiders; beautiful as their homeland may be, life for regular people is often hard here and rarely leaves them time to appreciate it. Standing: Whitepeak's influence and importance have diminished greatly since its heyday when it was responsible for securing the empire's southern border and protecting the merchants and travelers crossing its passes. The tolls that were collected funded one of the empire's most well-equipped and well-paid militaries, not to mention dozens of ambitious infrastructure projects intended to connect the disparate valleys through networks of tunnels and bridges. The terrace farms that dot the mountainsides here and there are also remnants of that prosperous past. Unfortunately, in the decades and centuries since the empire expanded southward, Whitepeak has fallen on hard times and is generally considered an unremarkable backwater despite its relative proximity to the capital. Stats Realm Martial: 2 Commercial: 1 Agricultural: 3 Industrial: 2 Artistic: 5 Leftover Points: 2 Settlements Total Realm Stats: Martial 2 (2 points), Commercial 1, Agricultural 3 (5 points), Industrial 2 (2 points), Artistic 5 (14 points) Greatpine, capital (Martial 1, Agricultural 2, Industrial 1) Greatpine was founded centuries ago, long before the empire claimed the Whitepeak Mountains, as a central hub for the various scattered tribes in the western half of the range to come together for trade, celebration, and a sense of community. The ancient tree for which it was named succumbed to age centuries ago, but the Sotherngard family's castle now stands proudly in its place. The simply named Green Valley in which the city rests boasts some of the most fertile farmland in a hundred leagues, though the growing season is often short and frequently disrupted by inclement weather. Greatpine was not initially the capital of Whitepeaks, but when the domain transitioned from a march to a simple, rural duchy, the ruling Sotherngard family relocated here so as to be more centralized to the bulk of their population. Tarni Pass, minor city (Martial 1, Commercial 1, Industrial 1) Located near the southern edge of the mountains in one of the range's larger valleys, Tarni Pass was the empire's primary foothold in the Whitepeak Mountains, a bustling city filled with soldiers, merchants, and craftsmen of all stripes. Sadly, that time of prosperity gradually ended as the empire's borders extended further south and the pass became less important both strategically and economically. The city is now a shadow of its former glory, and though the old walls and fortifications still stand, they are poorly maintained and chronically undermanned. Clearsky, town (Agricultural 1, Artistic 5) Clearsky is a large village built high onto the side of a relatively small mountain near the center of the Whitepeaks. It was the site of one of the first great terrace farms, the tiered farmland carved like giant steps into the side of a ridge overlooking a small but mineral-rich valley. Sadly, the vein of gold that was discovered in the valley proved less robust than hoped and soon ran dry, leading the merchants and surveyors to lose interest in the small, remote village. This changed when the philosopher and artist Boris Hughnan happened to find it. Something about the serene yet hard-edged beauty of the place spoke to him, and after painting a dozen panoramas, he began to return every few years to be inspired anew. Eventually, other aspiring artists began to make the journey to Clearsky, and gradually, the village became something of a site of pilgrimage. A few wealthy philanthropists decided to fund the construction of various small estates and public forums there, and soon Clearsky was home to a rotating collective of artists and philosophers drawing inspiration from the town's incredible vistas. Connections Allies Clearsky Collective: The Clearsky Collective is the famous group of philosophers and artists who make their home in Clearsky, producing works of art and scholarship that are famous across the empire and beyond. Few of the "Clearies," as the locals call them, are native to Whitepeak; most are wealthy aristocrats from around the empire who have come either out of a genuine artistic drive or simply for the prestige of being associated with the group. Oreseeker's Guild: The Oreseekers Guild is a semi-formal collection of mountaineers, surveyors, and miners who seek out new claims amidst the rugged Whitepeak range. It is through their diligent and often dangerous work that most of the duchy's mines have been dug, and they were also instrumental in the long-abandoned infrastructure projects to connect the various small settlements scattered throughout the mountains. Sadly, the great challenge facing any new mining or quarrying operation in Whitepeak is that of getting any unearthed ore to civilization, and the Oreseekers have neither the technical expertise nor the funding to develop real, practical solutions to this problem. Enemies Blacktoes: The Blacktoe bandits have existed for decades, their fortunes closely tied with Whitepeak's. Where once they thrived preying upon merchants traveling the mountain passes, now they eke out meager livings in the realm's most inhospitable reaches. All sorts of dark rumors circulate about the Blacktoes: that they now worship a dark god, that they practice cannibalism, that they kidnap infants to indoctrinate into their cult. They have become the bogeymen that parents frighten their disobedient children with, but it's unclear how many of these stories hold any actual truth. Ruler Details Duke Torren Sotherngard (36 years old) inherited stewardship of Whitepeak from his late father Harrun four years ago. He has a son and two daughters by his late wife, Gaela: Teysha (15), Gustavus (13), and Diana (9); he has not yet remarried since her passing two years ago, but is beginning to consider it. The frequent needling from his mother, Jenaveve (54), may have something to do with this. Torren is a very large man, standing nearly six and a half feet tall, with broad shoulders and a barrel chest. He is a student of military history and strategy and a capable warrior in personal combat, but only dutiful at best in other, more relevant matters of rulership. Despite the best efforts of his sister, Lyara (32), he has never shown much interest in the political situation outside his domain. Nevertheless, he secretly longs for a chance to march to war in defense of the empire. Stats Martial: 4 Administrative: 2 Diplomatic: 2 Leftover Points: 2 Personality Imposing: Duke Torren is a very large and strong man capable of raising his voice to incredible volumes. Many of his subjects find his physical presence inspiring while others find it intimidating. Stoic: Like many of his people, Duke Torren has suffered great personal loss due to the harsh winters his realm suffers. His unflappable demeanor and steady resolve make him appear strong and dignified even as his grief eats away at him. Pragmatic: Duke Torren is not a harsh or cruel man, but he is a practical one. Mercy and benevolence are not luxuries he or his people can always afford, and criminals typically suffer swift and final judgements. Connections Allies Baron Victor Raymun: Victor Raymun is the baron of Tarni Pass, the second-largest community in Whitepeak and by far the most accessible to merchants and travelers. The Tarni Pass has, for centuries, been the shortest and safest way to cross the Whitepeak mountains, and the small city that bears its name sits in a long valley near its southern end. Baron Raymun was great friends with Duke Torren's father Harrun and continues to support his son to the best of his ability. Victor is well into his sixties yet remains hale and hearty thanks to a lifetime love of mountaineering and hunting. Lady Lyara Ornelos: Lyara Ornelos, nee Sotherngard, is Duke Torren's younger sister. She is wed to a high-ranking noble in the imperial heartland, and despite now living in much more comfortable environs than the ones she grew up in, she retains a deep love for her homeland and uses all the influence and charm she can muster to send merchants, craftsman, and other potentially useful individuals her brother's way. She's recently begun meddling in his meager attempts to find a new wife, seeing an opportunity to forge a strong alliance that will help her home duchy prosper. Enemies Orlessa Tyros: Though she holds no official title, Orlessa Tyros is the de facto leader of the Clearsky Collective and, for all intents and purposes, Clearsky's mayor. A mature, sharp-featured woman of austere beauty, Orlessa claims mastery over art forms ranging from sculpture to painting to dance, and her philosophical treatise on the intersection of aesthetics and power, The Arts of Rulership, has received acclaim across the empire. That said, she has a fierce dislike of Duke Torren stemming from an incident in their youth, and their relationship at the best of times is cold and distant. Torren is content to let her rule Clearsky as she will for now, and she is content to give him no reason to interfere in her business. Vassily Harvalen: One of the most powerful and wealthy merchants in the empire, Vassily Harvalen has made it his personal mission to direct the flow of trade away from the Duchy of Whitepeaks and its mountain passes. Vassily's feud against the duchy began decades ago, when Duke Torren's father, Harrun, married the woman Vassily believed to be his one true love. His desire for vengeance fueled Vassily's rise from the son of a simple textile merchant to one of the most influential men in the empire. Despite Harrun passing away several years ago, Vassily has remained committed to his grudge and shows no sign of relenting. Heirs Gustavus Sotherngard is similar to his father in many ways, particularly in general demeanor; both are naturally taciturn and prefer solitude to a crowd. However, while Torren is a man of great physical prowess who holds to the ancient duty of his family--the defense of the empire and the Whitepeak's passages--Gustavos has never shown any skill at athletics or swordplay. Instead, his strength lies in his sharp mind and his dreams of one day restoring his homeland to wealth and prominence. Gustavus hopes to open several new mines around Whitepeak, to find a way to deliver the unearthed ore to Tarni's Pass quickly and efficiently, and to turn the duchy's single noteworthy trading post into a haven for talented blacksmiths and metalworkers to ply their trade. It's an ambitious idea that will require years of planning, decades of work, and more coin than is likely to ever grace the duchy's coffers, but Gustavus is convinced with the certainty of youth that it's the correct path forward for Whitepeak. Duke Torren, for his part, indulges his son's lofty dreams but gently tries to temper them. Teysha Sotherngard is said by many of her male peers to be as cold and hard as the mountains she calls home. Though she is developing into a beautiful young woman, Teysha has shown little interest in love or romance. This is partially because she knows it will be her duty to help forge a beneficial alliance for her family through marriage, something that falling in love would only make more difficult and painful, and partially due to her simple indifference towards that entire spectrum of the human condition. Despite the distance she keeps from potential suitors, though, her family and small number of friends know her to be kind, intelligent, and insightful. Diana Sotherngard is her elder sister's opposite in many ways. Warm, cheerful, and lively, the nine-year-old noblewoman is the apple of her father's eye and beloved by almost everyone who has met her. She also seems to have taken her sister's lack of interest in romance as a challenge and frequently flits between childish crushes on this boy or that with little rhyme, reason, or attention to station. ✅ I have read and agree to the preliminary info doc.

| HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Initiative +3 | Passive Perception 11 Spell Slots: 4/4 Active Effects: N/A The ambush catches Gaerzil by surprise, but he can't help but laugh. Really? he thinks. He glances over at Rivalen Blackhand, owner of Sorcerous Sundries, heir to the arcane legacy of Halruaa, standing just a few yards beyond the threshold of his domain. Are these fools completely mad or just completely stupid? Well, either way, this should be an entertaining little diversion. OOC Rolled an initiative of 6 for this fight and a 9 for the next.