Castlevania / Bloodstained Inspired Pathfinder [Closed Applications]

[Ryu Wojin]

Avredo. The kingdom to the north (Think Europe). They speicalize in engineering and arcane studies. Following an industrial revolution, they've all but ceased mass worship of the deities. Smaller shrines still exist, but the major populous has a new way of living. Within the comforts that their combination of machine and magic provides. Firearms was a major discovery that is still being explored. Rulership is by Democracy. The leader is changed out every 6 years by vote. Positions under that are different. A General earns his position and stays unless voted out. Drafts are mandatory for citizens, but the last draft was in 14 years ago due to a clash with Yudal.

Yudal. A dynasty controlled land to the east (Think Asia). Whilst they have not forsaken worship, they have discovered a new means of Magic. Relying strongly on spirits or ancestral ghosts. It is not uncommon to find a family hertiage of a suit of armor controlled by a long dead grandfather who seeks to protect his family. The rulership is always of the ruling Dynast family. And they elect lords and barons for each providence. To serve a lord or to come to Yudal's aid rewards it's citizens more than fairly.

Finally, The Ritus Alliance. A collection of free states allied together to not be pushed around by Yudal or Avredo. Each city state is unique, but each is individually functional and each supports the overall alliance. Each have differing beliefs, but they are more inclined to oppose Yudal or Avredo's beliefs. Being more traditional or loosely composed rather than organized.

Inbetween these three, is the Savage Seas. Their waters remain routinely contested, and with the high amount of fighting and frequent storms, many aship has been sunk here. Brave and experienced sailors can traverse these seas, and make way more than a pretty penny over it.

These three powers would conflict with one another time after time. But this is the longest time in which peace has been maintained. 14 years ago, Avredo and Yudal had sat down and negotiated an end to their war. Peace... Is starting to look... Normal.

So when a town off the coast in Avredo was ransaked by undead hordes all wearing a unique talberd and waving an unknown banner. It was clear that Yudal must be responsible. Who else utilizes undead in such a way? But then, a few coastal cities of Yudal began being sacked by the same forces. Yudal instead pointed their aggression toward The Ritus Alliance. If not they, then Ritus must have some rogue state using this more vile form of necromancy. However, Ritus lost of their city states to these same forces.

Whilst the three kingdoms bickered, the general populace grew concerned. There's an issue And it's not being resolved. The kingdoms are shelling up and defending their territories, completely believing the other Powers to be responsible. Eventually, The man famous for inviting the firearm himself decided that enough was enough.

Fargold Heathfire decided to pool his resources and negotiate with the kingdoms to ceasefire and figure out the true problem. He failed. None were willing to listen. However, his efforts garnered support where ever he traveled. Soon, he was met by some talented individuals. Individuals who were wiser than the nations they hailed from. The problem stemmed from somewhere in the Savage Seas. Something vile is stemming from there. And it needs to be stopped.


Hey all. I am considering an idea for a unique kind of campaign to run. It is inspired by castlevania / bloodstained, so the idea would the exploration of a mysterious castle and it's surrounding areas. I do intend to have a story and some investigative minds will surely help out with acheiving a better resolution overall.

Exploration would be key, and so I intend to make maps and design overall layouts. Diplomacy and relations with npcs will not be forsaken. And there may be some unique rewards in the form of extra given abilities? (I was thinking something with spheres of power perhaps)

One thing I'd need from players is the understanding that I am attempting bosses in a much more different way that might be more cinamatic. For example, a boss might slam the ground and cause the floor to collapse and send the PCs to a lower floor without perception or reflex saves. However,  I will never punish a PC for those kind of cinematic moments. I will also be tinkering around with bosses in a way that won't be normal for pazio rules. HD might be high. Bosses might have physical attacks that can't be blocked and must be avoided (reflex save to negate instead of attack vs AC.). I'd like bosses to be more epic and I'd like a fight to stay longer than 3 or 4 rounds. So I am asking for understanding from the players that I will be trying to do that, and that I am going to try and aim for that line inbetween a boss being too weak, or being too frustrating.

I would give this a moderate sexual rating? It isn't going to be a hentai and my focus is going to be on gameplay and story first. But romances could happen, and the succubus may succeed on charming someone.


Character Generation will be...
25 pt buy
2 traits + a third if a drawback is taken
Background skills
Level 3 (max hp)
3000 starting gold

Homerules : I will be allowing Improved Weapon Finesse. This adds dex to dmg for any finessable weapon.

Character personalities can be varied. I don't mind hometowns being named. I don't mind a baronness even if you are ok with the starting wealth (perhaps you cant embezzle money out?). The only thing really is just the desire to stop this foreign force and a willingness to work with others to do it. Obviously, at some point, you encounter Fargold and throw your support with him.

I am ok with custom deities as well. If you wish to be be apart of a small church. Just be ready to fork over a deity sheet too .

For your application, I want backstory, personality, picture, and general idea of a class/role. No need to build a sheet yet.

[Muse]

*pounces!* 

I'd love to play, kohai, this is a great idea. 

So...  In honor of Castelvania...  Dibs on a war priest with a whip?  *Grins* 

Oh, by the way...  What's up with the first level money in a third level campaign? *peeks*

[Revelation]

Since i'm playing Bloodstained at the moment, in the vein of Alucard i'll say

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV0edD_Gsw8

First thought is an inquisitor or Hunter, maybe a Summoner?

[Ryu Wojin]

Oh, by the way...  What's up with the first level money in a third level campaign? *peeks*

I was pondering an idea of giving the PCs some gear ahead of time. Like i said. Still not set in stone. Acquiring wealth and gear onsite.

[Ryu Wojin]

opened to applications now. I put in the story hook, and have everything in the first post. When I return home, I will be inserting pictures.

[Muse]

Amalea Legend, War Priest of Avelora the Tale-spinner. 

   Born to the owners of a large farm and orchard in the nation of Thaladrael, in the Ritus Alliance, Amalae of the Orchard was called The Story Girl by her friends.  A renowned raconteur by age 12, Amalea took her goddess's dogma seriously . “You are the protagonist of your own life.  Make it legendary.”  Though she told all kinds of stories, the ones that most inspired her were stories of heroes.  Courageous.  Compassionate.  Creative.  Intelligent.  Benevolent protectors and playful warriors, her favorite heroes always found innovative new ways to solve problems and defeat foes. 
   This is one reason she focuses on whip over sword or dagger.  It requires great skill to use properly, but one who achieves that skill can do almost anything with it.  Strike, trip, disarm, grab, swing from a line, put out a candle... 

Avelora

Titles:         The Tale Spinner
         The Myth Weaver
         The Unending Road
         The Lady By the Fire

Adjective:       Avelorean

Alignment      Neutral Good

Areas of Concern:   Adventuring
         Authorship
         Cultural Myths
         Inspiration
         Parables
         The Sapient Condition
         Storytelling

Worshipers      Adventurers
         Authors
         Dreamers
         Raconteurs
         Ritus Alliance, especially the nation of Thalandrael
         Wanderers

Domains      Community
         Community (Education)
         Fire
         Glory
         Glory (Heroism)
         Good
         Protection
         Protection (Defense)
         Travel
         
Favored Weapon   Dart

Symbol      An open tome. 

Dogma         Storytelling is an innate part of the sapient condition--the difference between a "person" and an "animal" 
   Creating stories is an act of spiritual, personal, and political significance, Stories entertain.  They inspire.  They introduce new ideas into societies organically--by giving people reason to think about them--not by beating you over the head with them in a sermon. 
   Read fiction and history.  Attend to raconteurs.  Go to plays. 
   You are the protagonist of your own life's story, make it legendary.
   The best seat by the fire is always reserved for the storyteller. 

[Brittlby]

I'm on a Pathfinder kick of late! I'll put together an Asian flavored half-elf paladin from Yudal for this!

[Muse]

  Awesome image, Britby, and I like the concept too.  :) 

[Brittlby]

Apparently I was determined that I’m playing a paladin in SOMEBODY’S game! Lol

[ReijiTabibito]

GM - I noted that custom deities were on the map.  Are custom races allowed, to be built as per a 'standard' race (using the rules from the ARG)?

[Ryu Wojin]

GM - I noted that custom deities were on the map.  Are custom races allowed, to be built as per a 'standard' race (using the rules from the ARG)?

I'm willing to listen to ideas. Send a pic of what you're looking for along with the racial traits. No promises though.

[ReijiTabibito]

Okay, so, I'm entertaining an idea of class at current. (The race thing is approved, but this is the next thing I'm working around.)

I've got a number of concepts running at current, so, what do we have thus far in the party?  Warpriest, Paladin...anything else on top of that?

[Revelation]

I was looking at Hunter or Inquisitor, myself.

[Pockets]

I was actually thinking of doing an Unchained Monk from Yudal if there is still room.

[Brittlby]

Xiaoli Kou

The Blue Orchid. Low caste warriors whose blades are guided by a power and law higher than that of men, some might (in hushed tones) call the members of the Blue Orchid “assassins”. But amongst their own and those who have need of their skills, there is another term for what they do.

Gardeners.

With the motto of the Blue Orchid etched across her arms in scar tissue and lovingly inked floral highlights, Xiaoli embodies the values of the brotherhood. Upon her right arm, “Nurture the Virtuous” and upon her left, “Cull the Wicked”. Skilled in moving swiftly and slaying enemies with a single stroke, it is sometimes hard to marry the diametrically opposed aspects of her duty and her personality.

Cheerful and eager to bend an elbow with the best of them at the tavern, she could easily be mistaken for an exotic bard. She makes friends readily, though many consider her prudish and easily embarrassed. It is hard to imagine her as a woman who has studied at great length the art of murder.

Originally the third child of a merchant family, her father would travel to distant lands and return with rare herbs. Her mother would compound them into potions for all manner of ailments. Their work was noble and made them wealthy, but greed was a stone in their hearts. The Lefou Tragedy saw many of the village die from illness. A horrific plague snuffed out the lives of 3 out of 4 children...

Even the potions of the Kou family were slow to push back the sickness. Even with the expensive herbs, many still died. Xiaoli watched silently as her mother mixed the herbs. She knew the weight and amounts, even as a child, and Xiaoli argued with her mother, “You are using too much water...” Her mother insisted that the measurements were sufficient and scolded her. When sickness came to the Kou household, Xiaoli’s older sister was the first to grow ill. She watched silently as her mother went to a special case for an older batch of the remedy.

Once the sickness came to a home, it often made the rounds. And so as her parents fell ill, they too went to the special case and drank from the potions within.

They were dead within a week.

Though the authorities did not pursue the matter, the Blue Orchid was quick to extend an invitation to her. They knew her parents had been diluting the herbs to increase their profits during the plague... and one of their members had watched from the rafters as Xiaoli switched the old potions for the new batch. To this day, she insists, “I did not kill them. If the remedy had worked as she promised me it would, they would still draw breath. Nurture the Virtuous. Cull the Wicked.”

Some question the holy order and their methods. There is another proverb amongst those who the Blue Orchid deem “wicked”.  “Good iron is not used to make nails. Good men do not become soldiers.” Xiaoli is equally known for her diplomatic skills as well as her deadly blade. She prefers to rely on her tongue, but she sharpens her Falchion nightly in case her words fail her.

Character Sheet Pending

[Ryu Wojin]

I will be giving this until the 6th of July. For the applications, I want a character concept, basic backstory and where they hail from, the idea of a class and/or role you're looking to forfill, as well as a name and picture. So right now, I'm good with Muse and Brittlby's applications. Then I'll be choosing from the applications I have.

[Muse]

I was actually thinking of doing an Unchained Monk from Yudal if there is still room.

Translation:  Pockets, there's only two completed applications so far ,and maybe six tops who've expressed interest.  It sounds to me like that's a good idea to continue to develop.  :) 

[Chajesdad]

Do we have a consistent character sheet platform? Often there is a GoogleDoc.

[Ryu Wojin]

We can get a google doc set up after we have the players chosen.

[Pockets]

Name: Takeo
Age: 24
Class: Unchained Monk
Combat Role: Melee/Trip Specialist
Skills: Human Lie Detector/Scout
History: Takeo began with a monastery in Yudal. He had been left there as an infant from all accounts within a day or two of his birth, in a land markedly different than his birth heritage. He was cared for as best a bunch of monks could given that none had any real experience with raising a child. When it became clear that the child’s mother was not going to return for the child, they saw fit to raise him as the greatest achievement that the monastery could.

He was tutored in all things related to being a monk and of all things pertaining to enlightenment. He took to his studies as a good student. However, it became quite clear that his style was not that which his Master’s had envisioned. Try as they might, they just could not pack any real muscle on his frame but his dexterity rivalled even that of the master’s themselves naturally.

It would be on the eve of his 24th birthday that he would be summoned by the Grandmaster and informed that a celebratory feast would  be held the next day in honor of his naming day and that once the feast was concluded, he would be expected to leave the Monastery. He was not being punished for any transgression or failing. His path was not that of a monk who lived and died in the monastery. His path to enlightenment was out in the world. There was word of events far to the west where one such as he could seek enlightenment as serve his Goddess.

So despite the joyous occasion of the feast, it was with a solemn heart that he toasted all of his family, for the  monks of the monastery were as much his brothers and sisters as they were his friends. Then as dawn crested the next day, he would be gone from the monastery, his feet taking him west.

Personality: Takeo is always honest. Do not ask him a question if you do not want an honest answer. This is as much due to a Vow of Truth as it is a personal belief that no matter what you do, lying is a sin against yourself. Despite this, Takeo is a jovial, if solemn individual. The world is new and strange to him. Everything is a new experience. He is, however, neither stupid nor naïve. He is however, still rather unlearned about the world at large.

Note: He doesn't have all the jewelry and his pants are a dark blue instead of white and the sash is a simple black cloth. There is also an elaborate tattoo a Blue Oriental Dragon in combat with a White Tiger flowing from his right shoulder down his right arm, stopping at the elbow.

[Chajesdad]

See, this is why I am having trouble finding a proper nickname for me dwarf. I almost settled on Pockets, then I notice that is the name of another applicant, lol. I don’t want another player to confuse us, and I am the reason for another person changing their avatar in a different game because my character started using the same picture. The player said no problem, but I still feel I imposed. Hmmm, Bootstrap Bill, nah too sunken pirate. Eh, still looking.

On a lovelier note, Pockets, I love the character. Can we play dunk the monk sometime?

[Pockets]

You could also name him Sacks. As in Sacks 'o' loot. Only if you want your dwarf to feel like he's drunk from all the falling down he'll do.

[GreenFlame]

Hi, looks like I found this threat just in last moment to apply. I will try to come up with a few characters, let me know if any of them works.

a) Warrior of the forge.
Ashie started as a daughter of a simple blacksmith. She is set up to take over the family business but has a bigger dream. Tinkering with everything she can get her hand on she made herself some weird weapons. With them, in hand, she looked for mercenary/hunter work.

She is confident in her power and subscribes to the idea of freedom thought power and power thought invasion. While we will be patient and methodical, she will be also very free-spirited and thus attached to her tools because that's how she is able to be powerful.

In terms of class, Blacksmith, so she will be a fighter, with a side of the crafter.

b) Hero to be.
Lexara is a daughter of a Hag and a gnome. Because of her size, she couldn't be left with fathers family, instead of growing up in mother hideout with lashes (her mother takes care of them to have her hut protected). During the changing puberty, she ran away and wasn't able to find her way back.

All she wants is to be helpful and find her mother. She is trying her best to make lives of peoples around her better. Putting others before herself, but at the same time, she was raised by an evil person so her methods may be questionable.

Should be some kind of caster.

c) Lost noble.

Lilliana was born as a result of trickery. Kitsune penetrated pure noble bloodline, she is an amassment mostly hidden from the public, until she ran away to start her life a new.

She would be very stoic, mostly hoping to slip by without being noticed. Being a bigger person and only fighting when necessary. Fighting only when necessary and picking up a mercenary work because that's one of few things she is actually able to make money.

I'm here mostly open to whatever class. A mysterious stranger gunslinger would work great, but depending on the rarity of firearms

[pdragon]

phantom

Ophelia Avredanni
Class: Human Spiritualist/Fighter
Role: tank and flank

Bio: While today the nation of Avredo is a democracy, electing it's leaders promoting it's military officials by merit, this was not always the case. After all it's reference as the kingdom to north is no mere mistake of semantics. Long before the industrial revolution it enjoys today, Avredo was a much more traditional monarchy, ruled by the Avredanni bloodline. Of course as the current state of affairs would suggest, this dynasty would not last forever, and it was during the reign of the infamously brutal Oberon Avredanni, "The King in Red", that the populace rose up and the monarchy was officially overthrown. In an attempt to display their moral enlightenment and distance themselves from the cruelty of the king (as well as smooth the transition for those still holding loyalty to the royal family), the royal family were not executed, save for the king himself who had been cut down in a failed attempt at a prison revolt. And while stripped of their political power, they were allowed to keep a portion of their wealth and estates and continue living freely under the new government.

Over the next few generations the royal family would slowly reintegrate into society in a much more positive light. No longer figures of authority, they were instead a face of tradition and ceremony, more celebrities than anything. They would be invited out to various ceremonial events and celebrations, and many would use their wealth and prestige to pursue charitable causes and fund various forms of industry and research. Some descendants would even go on to rise to high military positions, though they were forbidden from being elected to high office. All in all the Avredanni were more beloved after they were unseated from power than they ever were on the throne, a situation that seemed to benefit everyone in the long run.

However their story is not all comedy, and while the family had been spared vengeance at the hands of their mortal subjects, a different kind of curse would befall them. Over the years, once in a generation, members of the Avredanni family would claim to be haunted by a malevolent spirit. A tall, hulking figure, garbed in red and perpetually seething in anger. The specter was none other than the soul of Oberon Avredanni, trapped to the mortal world by his rage and indignation at his upheaval, focusing it all upon his family who had simply submitted to the new regime's law rather than fighting to avenge his death, a clear betrayal in his eyes. The family made many attempts to expunge the spirit, none worked. And even when they appeared to banish him, the phantom would simply reemerge years later to haunt the next descendant down the line.  As the years went by and belief in the divine and occult started to wane, the family's curse would eventually be dismissed as simple madness, a curse not of magic but of a diseased bloodline.

It was into this bloodline that Ophelia was born, the youngest daughter of the newest generation of the Avredanni. She too has been haunted by the crimson king, however unlike the others, she had also been blessed with a gift, latent psychic abilities that allowed her reign in enraged spirit. Over time she even managed to communicate with him, and, amazingly still, forged a sort of familial bond with him. When news of the undead attacks spread, Ophelia was one of the many nobles and industrialists who put their backing behind Heathfire. However when the government refused to broker peace for the greater good, and the rest of her family was unwilling to act against their decision, Ophelia decided to take the matter in her own hands, and if Oberon still considered himself the true king of these lands, then she would draft his service in defending it as well. Sneaking through the estate, Ophelia would steal enough money to buy herself safe travel, though not enough to be missed, and donned a suit of armor and weapons from the trophy hall to disguise herself as a knight and took off on her own, seeking to track down Fargold and lend whatever aid she could.


Personality: Ophelia is strong willed and earnest girl, having faced her share of terrors ever since she was little, and coming out stronger for it. Of course such experiences didn't leave her completely unscathed of course, years of being haunted has left her easily paranoid and suspicious, and the feeling of isolation she experienced, both because of her "madness" and the strange powers she feared sharing, can make it difficult for her to properly socialize. She can put up an elegant and cool act well enough, but if one looks closely they can see an underlying awkwardness and timidity in her body language, and the closer she gets to someone, the greater this timidness grows. In combat she can also be cold and pragmatic, almost to the point of cruelty, a sign of her ancestor's influence rubbing off on her. Despite that though, she is kindhearted and empathetic, and will always try to do what is right, even if it proves difficult.

[Chajesdad]

"Rat" Ratcliff Vander     Ratcliff Vander was the third son of Talus Vander, Honored Dwarf of the First Council. Ratcliff was fourteenth in line for the throne, his family being that close to royalty themselves. Not that he had aspirations, just familial loyalty, and often Familial Missions. The Vanders had gained a reputation as the wandering dwarves, caught with the wanderlust of an ancient grandfather, they were known every generation or so to feel the draw of the outside world. This was a cover, for when the king needed someone to walk the world above, someone to do what needed to be done by the king, without the king's official sanction, it was a Vander that walked beneath the open sky to get it done. As such, they often trained in skills that were not the axe and shield of dwarven life. Scout, minstrel, sapper, saboteur, thief. Ratcliff 'Rat' Vander was a tunnel rat, stealth and mobility were his game. His job was to squeeze down the tightest holes to sneak attack the enemy, come at them from behind, or sabotage their gear and supply trains. These talents led him to be good at acquisitions, he got it for you, whether you were supposed to have it or not.

     The halls had been quiet ever since the fall of Tindersmith. Seven years now, they lay quiet. The warriors lay dormant, working the stone and steel, but losing their fighting edge. A  tunnel rat scurries the edges of the mines, the deepest tunnels, the darkest holes and the steepest chimneys. Nothing, not a goblin, kobold, or denizen of the deep threatened their home. The halls were quiet, and the passing of the "Rat" went unnoticed, for he did not disturb it. He felt the training stiffen in his joints, he needed to put this to use, or it would stale, and he would die when the Halls needed him. After the first two years of quiet he had noticed this and offered another option, a chance for the dwarven sappers, and saboteurs to keep their hand in, at least every so often. Each of the rats would head out to the surface kingdom of Avredo, find gainful employ with the adventuring companies and test their skills against the world.

     The command wondered how much of this was the job, and how much of this was the Vander curse as it was called. For the family had a habit every few generations of wandering, leaving the hold and halls and returning with great tales and even greater riches. Five years he plied their encouragement of his idea, and five years they awaited the return of their pilot group. Three had been sent out, three had been tasked with spending the time training, testing the skills against the world, and preparing to return and advise. Six months ago two returned, with the shield of the third. They spoke of the 'magic' of black powder, the firearms and Avredo's changing standpoint. The leaders had kept up, yet the dwarves as a whole had little to concern themselves. The news was not shocking, and the loss, though sad for the family, was to be expected, for they were sending their men to danger.

     Ratcliff had waited, his breath baited as the command deliberated a second mission, who would be on it, and how it would commence. His idea, yet they had chosen others for the pilot group, would he be next? There was talk of shutting it down, in the mean time they were discussing the things the venture crew had discovered. A new lock, with pic breaking gears. You had to be careful of letting the lock know your implement was too thin, a second pick had to hold the gear back. Ratcliff waited, learned and readied himself, he could be out the gates in an hour, the delay was the distance from his home. He lived deep. He needed this, he needed new, he needed challenge, he had trained, and then they had wiped out the last challenge, the goblin king to the east. The tunnels have been cleared that way, all explored over the last seven years and all quiet. He needed to do it again. Let me out.

     Then they described how the gods had taken a back seat to the people of the surface. This was odd. Why would the people stop believing? He needed to see this as well. This was wrong, he followed the Dark Wanderer, the keeper of secrets in dark places. Yes, his followers were few, and often kept in the dark. The Dark Wanderer has also charged his Shadows to watch those other hidden cults, for when one works in the dark, one's own character is confirmed. And when the religions go quiet, where do they hide to worship, and what character do they prove? He had to go to the surface.

     The call to the throne came, he knew this call, his grandfather had advised him, when the king sends a single garnet with his summons, you are to deny the kings wishes for the open sky. Your true mission will be in his farewell packs. Ratcliff Vander was announced and he entered the high throne room, pacing past all of the Heros of the Hall, none were Vanders, but his family knew their worth, this bowed his own shoulders none at all. Centering before the throne, he fell to a knee, "Reporting as summoned your majesty." The response was ingrained, though he did notthink about denying it.

     "Vander," the king began, "you offered your superiors a plan, one which would send our people out into the world beyond to- what was it- ah, yes keep our hand in." Rat kept his head down, he listened, though he had not been asked to rise, so the king wanted it as a reprimand? Still talking to the bowed soldier, "As you know an expedition was sent, and of those that left a third are only represented by their shield anymore within the halls." Again a moment of silence, Rat kept his head bowed. "Your superiors tell me that you would still sanction this venture, that we can afford such losses for what we would gain, or shall I say lose when the dangers of the dark rise again. I just don't see it, at least I don't see the scale you say." The king, paused again. "Lift your head Vander, and know your king's wishes."

     As Vander looked his king in the eyes, "Ratcliff Vander, it is your king's wishes that this program be limited. That all those who find they need to keep their hand in, now join a fighting force we are offering the people of Avredo now field to defend their borders. I wish you to join one of these units. Your eyes have too much been seeking the gates and the sky above."

     Vander heard the words, as a merc force for the Avredan people was not how he needed to go forth, this was a no, not with dwarves, not in the merc force. He would be on his own, no sanction from the crown, as his family had always conducted the king's business. Very well. "My liege, my tour of duty closes within the month. I seek only to stretch my legs and dip my beard in new streams. I mean no disrespect and the people of Avredo will do no worse without me among this unit. If the Halls were threatened, know I am at your service, but this is hireling work and I have other profits to be gained."

     The gasp was almost audible, for a dwarf did not just deny his king. Yet, this was a Vander, they were trouble, this one had a reputation even in the name Vander. No, it came as little shock, the more people thought about it, this branch of the family felt they had special lenience offered due to blood. Little do others know of the special duties this branch of the family held. "No dwarf will be sent to this unit against their will, though stay close, the drums of war are upon us. I wish you well, as you stretch and dip, may your skies be steady." Ah, this was important enough to ignore the return to the Halls if Avredo goes to war. The king's last wish offered him his last verbal clue, the coast, for only the skies above a ship swayed.

     The official duty requested of his king was buried in his travel packs along with his final pay stipend from the quartermaster. The king needed him to investigate this new undead army, Fargold Heathfire, any connections to the new religious practices of the Avredan peoples, and is it truly a concerted attack from Yudal and Ritus Alliance, the supposed attacks to their territories actually rumors to explain sudden conscription of entire towns. The easiest to find and connect with, Heathfire, for he was recruiting.