Spheres of the Multiverse Gameplay

[Saberfan]

This is the official gameplay thread and only topics such as roleplaying and combat should be put here. Discussions about combat and other miscellaneous topics should go into the discussion thread.

I will create the game's introductory prologue post after everyone has officially accepted their invitations and ironed out any minor changes to their characters as a result of the final party's composition.

I look forward to gaming with you all, Gatewalkers!

[Saberfan]

ACT ONE: A Journey Amidst Starlight and Shadow

The Nexus is a place that is constantly in flux and yet never seems to truly change. The City at the Center of the Multiverse's innumerable roads and alleys teem with beings both comfortingly familiar and disconcertingly alien that have come from elsewhere in the boundless infinity of the cosmos. Buildings constructed in disparate styles from a thousand worlds blend together into a dizzying patchwork collage. The scent of exotic spices mingle with otherworldly perfumes and a perpetual clamor of vendors hawking their wares in a thousand languages to all who pass by resounds within the Sidereal Bazaar at the edge of infinite city where the plane itself dissolves into the starry void of the Deep Astral. The Road of the Faithful rises from the city proper and its psalm-inscribed stone streets winds through the air like a ribbon that flows past the many floating cathedrals and shrines. The Toll Knights, mage-warriors clad in fortress plate armor of bejeweled precious metals and wielding weapons dangling with handcrafted charms of currency from many worlds, maintain and protect the network of portals that allows quick and easy travel through the plane-sized city. And from the impossible center of the infinite city rises the miles-high Glittering Spire, made of living crystal, where the mysterious ruler of the city known as The Throneless Sovereign and their Council of Seven Archons reside.

Although there are many wonders and oddities from the Nexus that have become famous throughout the planes, there is one that has surged in renown and popularity over the years thanks to its services: the Guildhall of the Realmwardens. The Realmwardens as an organization were founded nearly five hundred years ago by a misfit band of planar heroes as a way to both extend a helping hand to the residents of countless worlds and help fellow adventurers find above-board work that pays well. What began as a humble grassroots organization operating out of a nondescript tavern quickly grew into a prestigious multiplanar guild patronized by some of the most wealthy and influential beings in the multiverse. Although many of the founding members of the organization have long since passed from the Nexus, two remain and serve as defacto guildmasters for the organization. One is a seemingly immortal man formerly from a reflection of Earth and he discarded his name long ago, becoming known by the moniker of the Fate-Severing Blade- or simply 'Blade' for short- given to him after he destroyed the avatar of a dark god and saved the world of Khae'inras; he rarely involves himself with the day-to-day matters of the guild and usually only hands down contracts that he has personally drafted, although he does take occasonal walks through the Guildhall from time to time. The other is Yuki Kuro, a kitsune princess and songstress who wields mystical powers tied to the frozen moon of her homeworld and once abdicated her place in the line of succession in order to see the sights of the multiverse after she awakened to her power as a Gatewalker; she is much more personable than the Fate-Severing Blade and has taken it upon herself to serve as the guild's face.

Although the palatial Guildhall itself and its well-maintained gardens and grounds bustles with agents, handlers, and dignitaries, most of the guild's actual adventurers meet up at the Worldsong's Hearth Tavern that the founders once operated out of. The tavern first appears to outside observers be a small, cozy little tavern on the outside with a sign depicting a crossed harp and sword. But once a being opens the door and crosses the threshold to enter the tavern proper, it becomes apparent that the building's interior is a form of pocket dimension with an exceedingly large floorspace. A bar staffed by the well-dressed and bespectacled minotaur Ruvas and his stylish thriae companion Melisae has its seats filled with many adventurers deep into their cups with exotic alcohols of all kinds. A staff of attractive waiters and waitresses offer food and drinks with a smile to patrons at the many tables, but few bring home as many tips as the cute humanoid ooze woman Bwimblina- nicknamed Bwimby by regulars- whose bubbly personality and endearing antics have led to her massive popularity among patrons. The Wall of Contracts, a sizable board nearly fifty feet in length whose face is covered in guild contracts, occupies the wall nearest the tavern's entrance and often has at least one or two adventurers skimming it over looking for work. A set of stairs leads upwards to rooms decorated to suit a variety of tastes- including a few aquarium rooms for amphibious or outright aquatic patrons- that affiliated adventurers can rent for a pittance.

It is with this backdrop in mind that you, one of the Realmwarden's contracted adventurers, have come looking for more work. What new quests await you on the Wall of Contracts, promising gold, glory, and the boundless thrill of adventure?

Edited February 18 by Saberfan
BIG spelling error! (see edit history)

[Phechan]

The barest hint of winter's chill creeps into the Worldsong's Hearth Tavern, likely causing a ripple of shivers from people tugging cloaks tighter about themselves or leaning closer to their cups. Frequent patrons don't need to even glance at the threshold, for they know the source: a short, blanched-blue elf three feet tall carrying a jagged, spindly spear twice his height. Shafted weapons being the awkward encumbrances that they are, sheathing one such as this spear - one made of true ice, with tiny wisps of vapour wafting off to permeate the immediate vicinity - is never really a simple matter, and its bearer is resolved to never let it leave his grasp. Fortunately for those he would otherwise risk bumping into, Eosi, harbinger of the frostbitten plane of Harnfeyld, makes a habit of flying even indoors. For now, he floats between ceiling lights and candelabras as he moseys above several tables to hover above a less crowded portion of the bar. The drop in temperature that heralded his arrival clings to Eosi as he moves, and he's not quite the chattiest of minglers anyway, so the particulars of today's visit could have been foretold by even the most inept of soothsayers. A trail of illusory snowfall follows in his wake, having the visual effect of dissolving before they can hit the ground or anyone below.

 

Firstly, Eosi will order a flagon of freshly warmed mead. Secondly, he will glance around to make polite nods at anyone he has worked with before, without approaching to disturb their conversation. Next, the Aurori will strafe along the wall of contracts, hoping for something to catch his eye as he does so. Finally, he will linger like mistletoe tied to the ceiling directly above his chosen contract, vigilant for potential companions likewise interested in the job. Surely nothing could occur so unpredictably as to derail Eosi's tried and true method for approaching work here on the Nexus, and he whispers his confidence as such in Auran to the invisible spirits circling him, even though they cannot be perceived by the senses of others at present.

 

(With me potentially posting via phone and work laptop across this first week of the game while on school camp, I'll not fuss about with a posting template until I have returned. Art commission should be done by then, too, so thanks for your patience there, team :3)

Edited February 18 by Phechan (see edit history)

[Mister Doctor]

GETE - Core | Crafting | Flexible | Heavy | Infiltration | Medic | Shield | Sniper

---

STAT BLOCKS

CORE Fort: +6 Ref: +11 Will: +9 Perception: +22 Init: +11 SP: 10/16
FLEXIBLE AC: 30 TAC: 19 FF: 23 CMD: 28 Fort: +14 Ref: +15 Will: +12 HP: 112/112 Perception: +13
HEAVY AC: 33 TAC: 11 FF: 32 CMD: 27 Fort: +13 Ref: +10 Will: +11 HP: 112/112 Perception: +13
MEDIC AC: 25 TAC: 13 FF: 23 CMD: 22 Fort: +12 Ref: +10 Will: +8 HP: 84/84 Perception: +11
SNIPER AC: 24 TAC: 16 FF: 19 CMD: 26 Fort: +14 Ref: +15 Will: +10 HP: 88/88 Perception: +14

---

Bitter Titan has been in the tavern for about an hour now, the prolonged presence of the strange mercenaries not really making them any more comfortable to be around. Three of them, including the massive one remain seated at the table they have staked out with untouched mugs of ale sitting in front of them, long since gone flat. The idea of them taking off their masks to drink the ale seemed somehow wholly alien. It was a ritual of sorts. This is what people did at a tavern, they sat and ordered drinks. After a period of time, they would order more drinks. When business was concluded, they would get up, tip the wait staff, and leave... ales still untouched.

The table they laid claim to was not one of the highly coveted corner or back tables favored by slightly paranoid or unsubtly edgy planar adventurers, but rather one more-or-less in the middle of a section of tavern floor. People seemed less on edge when they were obvious about their presence. Besides, sneaking up on them was something very difficult to manage.

One of their number was standing in front of the Wall of Contracts and painstakingly studying each in turn. They were, as usual, equipped as though the Worldsong's Hearth Tavern were a forward command position that might be raided at any time. Bitter Titan did not have an 'off' state.

At about seven feet tall, the figure wore a mask that was largely featureless save for the series of what appeared to be nails driven into the surface. Exactly how they saw out of that mask was best not dwelt upon. Their gear was of a distinctly different make than the people around them. Drab, functional, they wore a thick padded jacket of some sort of dense synthetic weave, a tactical webbing of pouches and clips, reinforced pants and a pair of heavy boots. Everything was made for durability and any time they shifted, stiff plates of some sort of protective material shifted as well under the outer layers. Slung over one shoulder was a large rifle of some construction, all clean lines and crisp metal, a far sight from the embellished pieces that often circulated through Nexus.

Patches on their chest and shoulder read 'Foxtrot Lima 001'.

[Davkas]

Olympia Lovelace

---

HP: 108/108 || AC: 29 || SP: 13/13 || Fort: +7 Ref: +12 Will: +9 || Perception: +13
Delayed Damage Pool: 0/27 || Dodge Pool: 170/170%

---

The figure who enters next almost exactly splits the difference between the gangling masked figure and the diminutive elf - she looks like she would measure about five-foot-nothing if she stood flat on her feet. But she steps and bobs along lightly, as if she's only slightly more tethered to the earth than Eosi, even though the floorboards creak under her weight when she settles in one place. Each movement is accompanied faintly by the quiet click and ratchet of clockwork from somewhere in her torso. (One could tell exactly where, if one saw her from the front - there's a window in her stomach that looks right in on her main gearbox for easy inspection.)

Her porcelain-white face is eerily flawless, and almost as mask-like as the visages of the Bitter Titan company, except that it's clearly moving. She smiles broadly as she enters and offers Eosi a wave from the doorway when she spots him hovering above the crowd - it's not hard to notice, since she gestures like she's just come on stage and wants to make sure the balcony can see it, making the frills of her dress billow. It looks a bit like she's wearing a crinoline over her dress, for some reason, unless you notice that the wires making up the metal frame seem to disappear somewhere around the seams of her sleeves... Tucked through those wires, near her waist, is a folded fan as long as a short sword. Her favorite weapon is cumbersome enough that she doesn't bring it to the tavern, since it's almost as long as Eosi's spear and looks like a poleaxe designed by a frustrated cathedral architect.

She weaves her way between tables as adeptly as the waiters, somehow managing never to actually be in anyone's way, though she does order a glass of wine from one of them in passing. Olympia doesn't need to drink, but unlike the Bitter Titans, she still does, raising the glass to her lips once she has it. It's a white; Olympia still hasn't gotten over the novelty of wines existing that aren't heavy and red enough to mistake for blood. Yellow eyes almost the same color as the wine scan the Wall of Contracts as she waltzes along it, darting nimbly around "Foxtrot Lima 001" to avoid blocking what she presumes is their line of sight. "Hello there! Anything good posted today?"

She's not sure whether to expect a response, but she does at least try to be polite. Treating someone like furniture offends her, even if they're doing a very solid impression.

[AdellRazh]

Lusinga la Veritas — Spark

---

HP: 72/72 AC: 19 SP: 31/32 Fort: +7 Ref: +10 Will: +7 Perception: -1
Illusions CL:Character Level + Enchantment Bonus + ???
+1 with at least 3 /or/ +2 with at least 6
creatures under Spark's sphere effects within 30 feet. 12/14 AC:10 + 1/2 Caster Level + Cha 23+size Attack:Caster Level + Cha +19 Damage:Caster level + 2x Charisma 26 anyNonlethal by default. When made with Shadow Infusion, damage can be changed to one of acid, bludgeoning, cold, fire, electricity, piercing, sonic, or slashing, and can be either lethal or nonlethal. Additionally, 1 spell point can be spent per round to allow your illusions to do force, positive energy, or negative energy damage. Save DC:10 + 1/2 CL + Cha + 1 (Sphere Focus) 24

---

The manifestation of each Gatewalker’s portal was unique, a combination of their origin, subconscious, and personality. Spark’s was very nearly nothing at all. Even she would have trouble describing it. Her gate carved open a hole between planes, but it looked from either side to be an almost unremarkable patch of open air, detectable through a faint warping of sightlines where it projected the terrain behind it onto its surface — an instinctive, unconscious illusion on Spark’s part. When she paid attention, the portal’s illusion became nearly perfect, even its magical aura fading from detectability. Stepping through it was a vertigo-inducing shift in terrain, blindly transferred from one place into another — frequently at sharply differing inclines or heights from the ground, as the portal’s fluttery creator paid little heed to terrestrial alignment.

From a barren, wartorn moonscape to the windswept tiles of a rooftop amidst the infinite sprawl of Nexus travelled Spark, seeming to simply appear hovering a few feet above the clay shingles. With a woosh of her wings that seemed to produce the faintest musical tinkle, she swooped down, alighting upon the tiles proper to survey where she’d ended up. The squat wooden exterior of the Worldsong’s Hearth sat across the street, seeming from her bitty perspective to loom, vast and ominous, in the middle-distance.

Despite her tiny size, Spark was an eye-catching creature. A captivating beauty with a petite frame, large (comparatively) blue eyes, and pale blonde hair that hung thick and long from her head, framing her white-and-gold-clad form. She wore a white dress, its long sleeves engulfing her hands, and similarly lily slippers covered her feet. Every inch of her (few though they may have been) was bedecked in finery. The cloth itself was of magnificent weave, a thread somehow finer than silk woven in delicate folds and ruffles and impossibly-tiny lace. Golden bangles dangled from her ankles, rings adorned her hidden hands, pearls accenting otherwise-unornamented stretches of her dress. The result was tasteful, but in the fashion of the tiny doll of some impossibly wealthy baron’s spoiled daughter, resplendent enough to raise a peasant to the rank of minor noble with just these few inches of finery.

Lifting a hand up to shield her eyes, Spark observed the tavern’s entrance, watching the passing of familiar heads filtering in for lunch. Timing it carefully, she leapt from the roof, insectile wings spreading to catch the wind as she took off, her tiny body leaving a glowing golden trail as she dashed through the air above the street and then swooped low, skimming the cobbles, only to pitch up, sailing through the door above the head of another guildmember (who chuckled to himself as the fairy darted over his head), wings buzzing as they carried her up into the rafters.

A dozen other winged familiars were roosting amid the beams. Spark twirled, barrel-rolling around a rafter and producing an annoyed squawk from a long-suffering old crow before descending down, darting past Eosi and skimming the job offers before pulling away, sweeping the room and offering a tiny, glowing wave to a few familiar faces, before finally flying up once again, alighting atop Eosi's head. Her tiny feet were a barely detectable weight on his temple as she leaned forward, oriented at a seemingly-impossible angle to project her glittering form into his field of view. Straightening and gazing straight up (forward, for Eosi), she inspected the contents of the job he was eyeing, then bent forward once again to peer as him, eyes outshining the glitter of her regalia. “Hey~ya,” she called down to him, waving one of her absurd, billowy little sleeves. “What’s this? Something fun? Something spooky? Something,” her voice was dripping with enthusiasm, “sneaky?”

---

Beneath the excitable, fluttering little pest, someone else joined the group examining the Wall of Contracts.

La Veritas did not approach. No, such behaviour was far too mundane for him. He was simply there, suddenly standing next to Foxtrot opposite Olympia, seemingly sliding into existence as empty air was obscured by hulking mercenary, hands crossed idly behind his back, observing the wall through his inscrutable owl mask. He made no sound, but neither did he seem to blip into existence, appearing in the space between blinks. It was a trick the masked Foxtrot got to observe, alone among the tavern’s patrons in seeing la Veritas step out of thin air — presumably emerging from his remarkably subtle Gate — to arrive opposite Olympia, using Foxtrot to obscure himself from her view while Spark was distracting the rest of the tavern with her luminous airshow. For Olympia, though, despite her exceptional senses, la Veritas simply appeared, silent and without motion, as though in the space between blinks.

"Is the lovely Olympia perhaps," Lasinga la Veritas's deep voice drawled from beneath his mask, "considering a more difficult order than the normal? Something that would invite some added companionship?"

OOC

This la Veritas is a simple illusion (by Spark's standards): 1 spell point to create an illusion with full sensory feedback and complete aura suppression, maintained via concentration.

 

Edited February 18 by AdellRazh (see edit history)

[Phechan]

Eosi waves back to Olympia with the spear in his hand, although it's less animated out of fear of pricking someone nearby accidentally. He doesn't make an effort to approach the clockwork woman yet, though; if he waits long enough, she will probably gather herself up a decent little adventuring party and perhaps he can tag along. He'd always thought she was a decent enough sort, if a little too eager to attract an audience.

He's on the verge of retreating from loitering around his preferred contract to go collect his mead flagon, which must surely be suitably warmed by now, when Spark uses him as a landing pad and greets him ever so casually. It's a bit of an effort to hold his body still for the tiny fairy's comfort. He might be hovering in place, but Eosi's left foot is restlessly tapping at imaginary ground and his short cape continues to billow and sway in the stillness, and there is certainly enough rustling of his hair by his playful spirits that Spark is constantly being tickled as she sits amongst it.

"It may just be some amalgam of all three, my effervescent friend," Eosi replies, his voice a remarkably low baritone for his stature. "It seems someone has stolen the immortality of the fey people of one world...could be fun to steal it back, no?"

The Aurori is gentle and patient in tilting his head to and fro, searching with a little curiosity for Lasinga la Veritas who must surely be nearby. Spotting him below, Eosi smirks and makes an effort to look decidedly elsewhere, full-confident with this magician's modus operandi that he must surely be anywhere but in plain sight. Is that him, hiding under that waitress' towel? he wonders, amused at the thought.

Turning back to the matter and conversation companion at hand, Eosi shrugs, even as his foot continues to bounce erratically in the air. "Is your master on the prowl for work, or is he already spoken for today? We might have our work cut out for us if the Bitter Titan Company want to claim the job instead..."

Eosi pivots to glance briefly over at the table occupied by the mysterious, masked military operatives before focusing again on the contracts on display. The whole process probably has a bit of a near whiplash effect on the poor Spark using his head as a perch. He's encountered the soldiers of Bitter Titan before, and he has remained impressed with how tight-knit they are - it reminds him a little of home - but he inevitably feels unnerved if in their proximity for too long. They never seem to disagree with each other, not that I can tell, at least...it's unnatural.

[Rudra]

Already at the tavern, before Eosi arrival, in one of those few rare occasions where she isnt at his side, Biara is leaning against the bar counter in company with other patrons, partying, drinking...drinking too much...being a raucous bunch that would fit just fine among a pirate crew.

Biara is a monstrous creature, a demon, she's tall for a woman, around 6 feet, but the long horned helm and the large, unnatural, unholy, wings make her look much more imposing, counting the horns shes close to 7 feet.

A long tail, hooves, bright yellow eyes that emit light, like tiny spheres of hellfire, her skin is a mixture of bright yellow, orange and red.

She wear a black armor, to be honest she doesnt wear much armor, it's quite revealing with gaps that would make said armor quite ineffective, wasnt for strong magic enchantment projecting a deflection field over her skin.

On her hears , on the nose and on her right eyebrow there are piercings, of shadow-matter, these jewelry look quite expensive, while her hands are covered by metal gauntlets with wicked spikes.

In contrast with the hellish image she wear a tabard, more like a front only apron with no pockets, it look new and the color remind the desert sand, in the middle of it there is the symbol of the realmwardens.

There are things about her that can be perceived with other senses, she radiate an aura, not a real aura, more like a sensation, Good or Lawful creatures have a bad feeling around her, shes a creature of the abyss, where evil and chaos marry.

Last but not least, she too has a little illusion, thought no where near as good as those made by the great Lusinga, her left arm is not natural, it's a replacement, it radiate negative energy, those able to detect magic, particularly skilled in illusion or in planar lore would realize that the entire arm is negative energy, somewhat contained and shaped in a kinetic field, covered with a permanent, but cheap, illusion that make it look like the original. It is dangerous for the living, Eosi know it well, thankfully Biara is aware of the problem and is civilized enough to avoid hurting folks she doesnt want to hurt. Most of the times, incidents do happen.

Her high pitched voice and laughter arent particularly pleasant to the hears, at least for the average person, not many average people here and when she see the children of tundra Biara shout " Eosi, Eosi! come heeeree!" inviting him to join their alcohol overindulgence, the lifeminder know that the hellblade is a curious creature and wouldnt be surprised to discover that Biara is trying out every drink, her nature make her so resistant to poisons it's virtually impossible for her to get drunk, but she's trying hard, might be her dwarven ancestry.

Biara has been on the nexus for a few weeks now and Eosi has already defused more than one situation, he has been invaluable, the demon listen to him, try to help/please him, but sometimes her idea of help doesnt match his.

 

Edited February 18 by Rudra (see edit history)

[Ratpigeon]

Statblock

I will love the light, for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.

HP: 117+18 (9d10+27)
Fortitude: +20 Reflex: +14 Will: +19
AC: 29 (20 Flat Footed, 27 Touch)
BAB: +9 Initiative: +0
CL: 9 (+1 Dark/Light) Sphere DC: 22 (+1 Dark/Light) MSB: 9
Save DC: 23 (25 Light/Dark)
Speed: 30'

Melee Attack
Large Zweihander (2-handed) *
Mote Enhancement: +3 Keen Weapon
To Hit: +15 (+22) DMG: 2d8+6 (13) Crit: 15-20/x2

Skills: Diplomacy +21, Heal +6, Intimidate (Sphere) +21, Knowledge Planes +21, Perception +14, Survival +8 Use Magic Device +21
Background: Craft (Silversmith) +12, Perform (Sing) +23

Ongoing Buffs:

People look up when Danika enters the tavern. If you take her as a sum of parts, she isn't particularly striking - medium height, medium build, and a collection of features that on someone else would be fair to descrie as medium pretty. But that's not what makes people look at her. Inn Nexus they call it Witchmarked, when a person's magic bleeds out of them the way that Danika's does. Her skin is dusted with glilttering stardust, faintly glowing constellations that slowly rotate across her body, and even though she is not obviously glowing at this moment, the entire Tavern seems to brighten slightly with her presence, and that of the small motes of light that bob and weave around her. She's wearing a light-weight, knee-length, sleeveless tunic over practical pants, showing off the enchanted jewellry that circles her limbs. She seems relaxed and unarmed, scanning the tavern for familiar faces with a warm smile for anyone she catches looking her way. Her shadow tells a different story, the enormous sword strapped across its back suggesting she's far from unarmed. But a shadow is easy to miss in the hustle and bustle of the tavern.

She doesn't order a drink - she never really got into the habit of alcohol. In her younger adventuring days, there were a few times around the fire with a band of temporary companions, but she'd never liked the way it threw her off balance, and it didn't really project the impression she wanted to give. Ordering something non-alcoholic in a tavern seems juvenile, which would have been worse. So she just dodges the issue when she comes to the Tavern, she doesn't order a drink, and politely declines any offers. The only exception is when she ends up singing with whoever is performing on the stage that evening - then, Melisae brings her warm, honeyed water with a smile, and without a question. For her voice. Most nights, when Danika spends longer than a half hour in the tavern, she ends up singing.

Tonight, she's more interested in the wall than keeping up appearances. She's heard rumours about some of the new contracts going up that have piqued her interest. It seems she's not the only one. She notices Biara almost immediately, the demon-creature's presence sets her teeth on edge. But in Biara's case, the prickling sense of wrongness isn't real, and Eosi has vouched for her. Danika's been acquainted with the Aurori long enough to give him some trust. But she still puts some space between herself and Biara as she studies the wall, joining the group forming around Bitter Titan. The faceless team of mercenaries is almost as disconcerting as Biara, but Olympia gets a smile, and Lusinga a nod.

"Which ones are you looking at?" she asks the three others, scanning the wall.

[Mister Doctor]

GETE - Core | Crafting | Flexible | Heavy | Infiltration | Medic | Shield | Sniper

---

STAT BLOCKS

CORE Fort: +6 Ref: +11 Will: +9 Perception: +22 Init: +11 SP: 10/16
FLEXIBLE AC: 30 TAC: 19 FF: 23 CMD: 28 Fort: +14 Ref: +15 Will: +12 HP: 112/112 Perception: +13
HEAVY AC: 33 TAC: 11 FF: 32 CMD: 27 Fort: +13 Ref: +10 Will: +11 HP: 112/112 Perception: +13
MEDIC AC: 25 TAC: 13 FF: 23 CMD: 22 Fort: +12 Ref: +10 Will: +8 HP: 84/84 Perception: +11
SNIPER AC: 24 TAC: 16 FF: 19 CMD: 26 Fort: +14 Ref: +15 Will: +10 HP: 88/88 Perception: +14

---

Perhaps to Olympia's surprise, the blank-faced mask turns to regard her when she speaks to the member of Bitter Titan. Annoyance, anger, frustration, all are either too hard to read or utterly absent from the looming figure. It is almost a shock when they start to speak in a cool, slightly raspy voice. Given how little they talked to others and the rumor that their mercenary band relied on some kind of magical method of communication between members, their voice must not get much use.

"Survey of open contracts is incom-" was about as far as they got before Olympia's comparatively sparkling presence drew in others eager to speak with her. In the face of this many outsiders, the Bitter Titan seemingly designated Foxtrot-Lima 001 simply ceases speaking as they are interrupted and draws back a step, making space for Lusinga and Danika. The inestimable Lusinga and the irrepressible Danika might miss it, but for Olympia that step and sudden silence is very familiar. Those are the moves of someone used to being ordered and not consulted, a servant blending back into the background so those of more import can converse without interruption. Despite being the grain of sand this little social pearl started forming around, they clearly did not regard themselves as necessary for its continuance.

Granted, in this case the 'servant' was seven feet tall and armed for a prolonged deployment in hostile territory.

Another of the Bitter Titans at the nearby table turned in their seat to regard the group gathering at the Wall. This one had an angular mask of twisted tendrils that looked a bit like the long, segmented bodies of centipedes. There was no overt hostility, but clearly someone had decided to put an additional set of eyes on the situation over by the Wall of Contracts.

Edited February 18 by Mister Doctor (see edit history)

[AdellRazh]

Lusinga la Veritas — Spark

---

HP: 72/72 AC: 19 SP: 31/32 Fort: +7 Ref: +10 Will: +7 Perception: -1
Illusions CL:Character Level + Enchantment Bonus + ???
+1 with at least 3 /or/ +2 with at least 6
creatures under Spark's sphere effects within 30 feet. 12/14 AC:10 + 1/2 Caster Level + Cha 23+size Attack:Caster Level + Cha +19 Damage:Caster level + 2x Charisma 26 anyNonlethal by default. When made with Shadow Infusion, damage can be changed to one of acid, bludgeoning, cold, fire, electricity, piercing, sonic, or slashing, and can be either lethal or nonlethal. Additionally, 1 spell point can be spent per round to allow your illusions to do force, positive energy, or negative energy damage. Save DC:10 + 1/2 CL + Cha + 1 (Sphere Focus) 24

---

Spark propped her sleeve-cowled hands on her hip, tilting her head to one side and her hips to the other, forming a quizzical obtuse angle out of her body. She lifted off of Eosi’s head, his hair rising in time with her departure and returning its gentle waving like — from her perspective — a short-cropped field of white-blue grass. Hovering in the air, Spark alighted upon an invisible stair, framed as she landed upon it in a frame of shimmering golden light. It was not truly there, a combination of Spark’s own illusory trickery and a clever fluttering of her wings to keep her precisely airborne, but produced a charming effect as she pranced down the tiny wireframe staircase, each step appearing the moment before her foot fell upon it and vanishing a moment after the same foot left, in the end depositing her on a shimmering platform in front of Eosi’s face, framed by his dancing snowflakes.

“Is immortality something you can steal?” Spark’s wings buzzed as much from curiousity as from keeping her afloat. She lifted a hand to her chin, enraptured by the thought of something so valuable being pilferable. Then, like a snapping chord, her eyes brightened and her hand shot up. “Oh, ooooh! Try it!” She offered her palm up to the frostfingered lifeminder, waving it excitedly back and forth, apparently entirely willing to believe he was somehow capable of sucking her fey lifeforce out of her hand like a thief palming a coin.

Before he had the chance to try, the tiny fairy’s attention was drawn away by something different; an excitable, fire-skinned lass jutting quite noticeably out of the already noticeability-dense crowd of Realmwardens, waving towards Eosi and calling his name. Spark leaned severely on her platform, them stepped off its edge and danced a few featherlight steps further down her fairylight staircase to round Eosi’s willowy bulk and get a proper look at the waving demonkin.

Once Spark’s gaze alighted on Biara, Spark turned from the waving girl to Eosi, then back, following her sightline and matching it to the hovering Aurori. Her expression somehow brightened even further, accompanied by brightening of her glow that made her a little difficult to look at, eyes sparkling like two tiny, gleeful stars. “E-ooooh-seee,” she jittered out his name like a kettle jettisoning steam in the moment before its structure failed and it exploded, laying waste to the unfortunate kitchen that contained it, “do you have a ward?” Letting out a gleeful eeee, Spark abandoned her fictitious perch, lifting up and flitting through the air around Eosi’s head, her luminous form curving around his snowing aura and creating a wobbly halo of golden light around his head with her trail.

Cackling gleefully, Spark managed to suppress her enthusiastic circling enough that her voice registered as actual words rather than an omnidirectional tinkling. Rolling as she flew, she took a better look at Biara, then turned back to Eosi, shifting back into an upright posture and giving him a wide,, smug grin. “Are you going to make her your familiar, Eosi? I know glowing girls make the best familiars,” she thumped her own chest with a billowing sleeve, puffing it out and posing impressively, as though implying she was a stellar example of the form that aught be aspired towards by familiars everywhere, “but I think she’s too tall for you.” Spark snickered at her own joke, hiding her broad grin behind an oversized sleeve.

Eventually recovering from her mirthful distraction, she continued. “So who is she? Is she new? You should introduce me!” Circling Eosi’s head a final time, she once more landed on Eosi’s ticklish briartop hair, spreading herself out and propping her head up with a frame built of arms as though she expected him to fly her over like some wintery flying carpet. In the midst of her excitable buzzing, she managed to completely dodge answering his question about la Veritas.

Edited February 18 by AdellRazh (see edit history)

[Davkas]

Olympia Lovelace

---

HP: 108/108 || AC: 29 || SP: 13/13 || Fort: +7 Ref: +12 Will: +9 || Perception: +13
Delayed Damage Pool: 0/27 || Dodge Pool: 170/170%

---

One of the consequences of being intentionally attention-grabbing is that, well, you tend to get attention. Normally Olympia wouldn't mind, except that suddenly several people have converged on her and it seems like it's overwhelmed the Bitter Titan just when they were about to answer her. Apparently if I want a conversation out of them, I should ask something practical. Makes sense, if they don't like small talk. Some people are like that - on the rare occasions Olympia has gotten to actually talk to other clockwork servants, it certainly took some of them that way. Her lips quirk ruefully as she recognizes the way Foxtrot-Lima steps back to fade into the background, and she... well, it's hard to tell if she's caught their eye through the mask, but she still gives them a sympathetic look.

Not that it's hard to fade into the background when the foreground contains both Danika and Lusinga la Veritas, in addition to Olympia herself. La Veritas's method of making an entrance strikes her as that strange flavor of ostentatious you get when something is conspicuously austere - "Look, I can do this so casually I don't need to be flashy about it." Just appeared completely out of thin air, is all. And of course Danika lights up a room by herself, literally.

"Good day, Magos la Veritas." She bobs in as close an approximation of a curtsy as she can make, considering the outer layer of her skirt is metal - it ends up looking a bit more like a plié than anything else. Meeting la Veritas's grandiosity with courtly manners and verbal fencing is amusing, but sometimes Olympia is keenly aware of how little she actually knows about what goes on in the head behind that mask. "Hello, Danika! I've only just been looking, myself." Which is what she's pretty sure Foxtrot-Lima was starting to say anyway, if she adjusts for military jargon.

"Well, if I have a partner, I can certainly try and handle some much more interesting numbers, can't I?" Olympia almost always fights better with a partner anyway, if it's a situation where combat is required. And considering the number of these contracts that look like they're going to involve a risk of violence, that might just be necessary. "Would you be implying you're on the lookout for a bit of companionship yourself, Magos?"

Although how anyone could be lonely with Spark always around, Olympia doesn't know. She looks up to see a trail of pixie dust circling Eosi like an overexcited comet and squealing about something... oh. "Oh, I see, Spark's discovered Eosi's new friend. Biara, was that her name? Have any of you met her properly, yet? I keep meaning to ask Eosi to introduce us, but I only ever seem to run into them when she's in trouble." "Any" including Foxtrot-Lima, though she's not expecting them to break their silence again on that account. She flashes the rest of the group a grin. "Or I suppose I go say hello of my own accord, like a sensible person."

And she darts away through the crowd to waltz right up to Biara - that precise grace gets a little more necessary to maneuver without poking someone as she gets closer to the bar. "Hello, there! I don't think we got introduced yet, have we? My name's Olympia." She's very confident, considering she only comes up about to Biara's chin.

[Phechan]

Eosi blinks in surprise at Biara's loud summons, then looks back at Spark, unsure whose antics to be amused by most. That conundrum makes him double-take, squinting back at Biara briefly to figure out if she is actually an illusion crafted by la Veritas. Deciding after a moment that Biara is indeed her real self, Eosi's smile widens.

"I haven't ever tried stealing immortality before, but I'm sure it can't be too difficult."

At Spark's jibe about acquiring a familiar, Eosi brandishes his spear in a little swirly flourish, causing twelve visible miniature clouds to puff into existence, each one in a chaotic orbit around the centre of their universe.

"I'm good for familiars, I should think. For now at least. These might look like flurrying cotton candy, but please don't try to eat them."

With a shrug of his shoulders, the clouds disappear, as though they were never really there.

"But yes, I suppose Biara over there is a little like a ward. It's been a little exhausting learning just how much she is inclined to instigating misunderstandings with others, though. Looks like she has a way of making friends on her own, no?"

Eosi nods over at Olympia, before gesturing for Spark to follow if she so desires an introduction. He floats across the tavern towards the drinking gathering near the centre, stopping by the bar to acquire his warmed mead, which immediately begins to cool in his presence.

"Biara! Olympia is lovely and worth heeding. Follow her example. And Spark here...she is likewise lovely, but her master is fond of playing tricks, so if you can grow a pair of eyes in the back of your head, do so."

[AdellRazh]

 Lusinga la Veritas — Spark

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HP: 72/72 AC: 19 SP: 31/32 Fort: +7 Ref: +10 Will: +7 Perception: -1
Illusions CL:Character Level + Enchantment Bonus + ???
+1 with at least 3 /or/ +2 with at least 6
creatures under Spark's sphere effects within 30 feet. 12/14 AC:10 + 1/2 Caster Level + Cha 23+size Attack:Caster Level + Cha +19 Damage:Caster level + 2x Charisma 26 anyNonlethal by default. When made with Shadow Infusion, damage can be changed to one of acid, bludgeoning, cold, fire, electricity, piercing, sonic, or slashing, and can be either lethal or nonlethal. Additionally, 1 spell point can be spent per round to allow your illusions to do force, positive energy, or negative energy damage. Save DC:10 + 1/2 CL + Cha + 1 (Sphere Focus) 24

---

Lusinga la Veritas greets Olympia’s question with a flourishing bow, a twist of his hands conjuring a billow of illusory stars that flare his cape — in time with the disappearance of Spark’s staircase as she starts zooming around Eosi’s head. “But of course, my lady,” he replies,  straightening. “A gentleman of my skills is best suited to working among others. And what man could call himself a gentleman if he did not avail his abilities for a maiden as beautiful and fearsome as you? Fi on such a fellow!” He chortles. He offers no reply to Danika — Olympia having covered it quite adequately — though he greets her with a polite half-bow with a hand across his chest.

Casting his own owl-eye gaze up towards the rafters, la Veritas watches his diminutive cohort buzzing about Eosi’s long-suffering head. “Yes, indeed. It seems the kindhearted guardian has found yet another excitable waif to annoy him. One begins to ponder if he has a predilection for precious pixies. Perhaps manic energy warms the cockles of his chilly heart.” He continues, “I’ve not met the lass myself. It seems she’s a new arrival, and I’ve only just concluded a rather lengthy soirée.”

When Olympia departs the Wall to greet the foundling demonette, la Veritas remains, keeping Foxtrot and Danika company and continuing to peruse the job offers presented. He offers Foxtrot-Lima a nod. “Apologies for intruding on your conversation.”

---

Placed as she is atop Eosi’s head, Spark is carried by his descent down to ground level. She straightens up as they land, balancing delicately atop his head with the aid of her fluttering wings. Her excess luminance dims to a more manageable level as Eosi greets Biara. As he introduces her, Spark performs a twirl, like a little figurine in a music box, clearly delighted at being compared to Olympia, ending it with a curtsy. She does not lift her skirt — her oversized sleeves make for poor gripping implements — and instead makes do by accenting the curtsy with an especially low bow.

Straightening, she lifts her hands up to her face, swaying back and forth. “I dunnooo. Master has all his fancy tricks, but I’m a lot harder to notice,” says the luminescent fairy barely two minutes after soaring cartwheels across the entire tavern. “You can never know when I’m up to something.”

[Saberfan]

Scanning over the Wall of Contracts is no small feat, as nearly a hundred contracts are posted and not all of them are particularly exceptional; after all, the Realmwardens will take on most any contract that seems aboveboard. A few contracts, however, stand out.

To Hunt a Godbeast

Client: Ven'ga of Tribe Ourmos

World of Operation: Iss'tal the Worldmountain

Contract Details: The tribes of Iss'tal have long survived the harshness of their snowy home by hunting the colossal fauna known as godbeasts, whose flesh and bones provide the tribes with both food and raw materials for clothing, weapons, and armor. Several bands of hunters have been massacred and evidence suggests that a frenzied godbeast is to blame for this. The client requests the aid of the Realmwardens in hunting the godbeast before her tribe succumbs to either the beast itself or starvation.

Death of the Eternal Empress

 

Client: Imperial Onmyouji Yasuo Wagami of the Jade Phoenix Clan

World of Operation: Tenrasu, Seat of the Eternal Empress

Contract Details: The Eternal Empress who has ruled over Tenrasu and its yokai denizens for thousands of years has been murdered in her own palace. The imperial court's magical divinations are being foiled and tensions are high among the various clans and factions as each seeks someone to blame for the murder. The client has managed to help negotiate a temporary truce, but requests the aid of Realmwardens as a neutral party to help investigate who was responsible for the Eternal Empress' murder and bring them to justice before the world of Tenrasu sinks into a bloody civil war.

The Grand Tournament of Palas-Eja

Client: Guildmaster Blade

World of Operation: Malkari

Contract Details: The dragon-blooded inhabitants of the Drakvanastra Archipelago recently made their first foray into the planes and wish to hold a friendly competition of martial and magical prowess to all who wish to participate within the temple-city of Palas-Eja. The Guildmaster has had pleasant dealings with the people of this world and wishes to foster good relations between them and the guild. As such, the Guildmaster is looking for those willing to participate in the tournament and its surrounding festivities.

Hell Comes to the Penal Colony Ship: Orpheus

Client: Guildmistress Yuki Kuro

World of Operation: Penal Colony Ship Orpheus, now drifting in a hell dimension

Contract Details: The Guildmistress is prone to having premonitions and she has recently had one of a young girl aboard the Orpheus penal colony ship who has the potential to become a Gatewalker. The girl was exiled into darkspace along with hundreds of thousands of other souls labeled as undesirables by the United Earth Government of Earth 157 just six months ago. Recently, the Orpheus has slid into the darkness between worlds and is now drifting through a hellish dimension. The situation aboard the ship is rapidly deteriorating and the guildmistress is looking for those willing to rescue the nascent Gatewalker and as many innocents as possible.

Fallen Leaves, Faded Dreams

Client: Aisling

World of Operation: The Gloaming Lands

Contract Details: The Gloaming Lands were once a place of twilight beauty as timeless and vibrant as the fey that called it home. A terrible curse struck the Tree of Beginnings from which all life on the world sprang and both the land and fey alike wither and fade in its dark grasp. Many among the fey aristocracy have begun turning to necromancy, diabolism, or worse in order to stave off the curse, while many of the common fey have begun to perish or turn into undead abominations. The client has come seeking the help of the Realmwardens in discovering the roots of the curse that has infected the Tree of Beginnings and lifting it in order to save both her people and homeland alike.

It Always Starts with Rats...

Client: Ruvas

World of Operation: The Nexus

Contract Details: The Worldsong's Hearth has long served the adventurers of the guild with exceptional goods and services. Certain information has come to the attention of the client and he is looking for adventurers willing to delve into the labyrinthine basement in order to solve a certain problem. The client requests that any and all who accept this contract swear an oath of secrecy before disclosing further information.

The Road of Penance

Client: Malvikel the Fallen

World of Operation: ???

Contract Details: Malvikel the Fallen was once a mighty archangel before he fell to evil and became a lord of the dark realms. In the eons since his fall, the client has come to regret his deeds and seeks to walk a path of penance. He has made many enemies over the millennia and has requested the Realmwardens protect him on his journey of penance due to sealing his own powers away as part of his contrition.

Mystery of the Cosmic Egg

Client: Captain Bazran of the Astral Maiden

World of Operation: The Deep Astral

Contract Details: The Deep Astral which surrounds the Nexus sees many spelljammers and voidships sail through it's planar skies. One such ship, captained by the client, happened across an unusual phenomenon while out in the Deep Astral: a giant egg of amber-like crystal as big as his own ship. The client and his crew reported experiencing strange dreams both a day before and a day after coming across the strange egg and it seemed to emanate a magical pull that began drawing in the ship as the two drew closer. The client wishes for the Realmwardens to investigate the strange object and, if possible, determine whether or not it is dangerous or merely a strange, yet harmless planar phenomenon.

Stained Hearts and Black Magic

Client: Annika Straussland and the Yshnari Mindmenders

World of Operation: Riesenwelt

Contract Details: The client is a young woman from the rustic world of Riesenwelt who was found years ago in the Nexus, branded with a dark sigil and near-catatonic with terror. She has spent the last three years convalescing with the Yshnari Mindmenders in the city and her condition has improved enough where she can string together a few sentences a day. The Yshnari Mindmenders have managed to piece together a harrowing story from her words: a sinister tale of witchcraft, dark sacrifices, and a dark figure known as Mann des Schattenwald. The Mindmenders have pooled together a sum of money for anyone who will journey to the client's homeland, investigate what could have broken her mind in such a way, and bring back some proof that the problem has been dealt with so that Annika's mind can begin to heal.

A Ballad of Flame and Frost

Client: Lord Krassik of the Court of Flame

World of Operation: The Solstice Court

Contract Details: The client is a recently-minted elemental noble in the Solstice Court and is looking to hire interesting beings to serve as his retinue while attending the pageantries of the court. Non-elemental beings are a looked at as rare and wondrous diversions in the Solstice Court and the client hopes to use those so contracted to boost his own prestige by being seen as a powerful, avant-garde figure by associating with such outsiders. While the client insists that the job will not be dangerous in the slightest, the Realmwardens believe that caution is warranted by any who choose to accept the contract since the politics of the elemental courts can be extremely dangerous.