#and some recent changes in erastil himself

[allurasgrace]

Here are the flat colors for Ana~ I' sp happy with how she's turning out 😍🥰

Once again, do not tag as D///N///D or T///T///R///P///G. I do not want her in those tags bc of the rampant character and art theft in those spaces.

This session, Ana was cleaning out her parents' room (they went misisng and died five years ago, and they've recently learned the latter) in preparation for having three little cousins visit... but got quite emotional. Fortunately, Theodore, her goth nerd not-yet-boyfriend was coming to swap out with her, since he cannot spend extended time in Void-suffused environments. Now he is packing away things while she heals the party... very thoughtful, since he is a cleric of Pharasma and was drawn to her clergy when he was in grief and mourning, so he's very careful and gentle with these memories.

[kingmaker-thac0hno]

Fiendish Musings: Goodbye Restov

The Journal of Adnachiel  (xv793)

Our motley band has finally set out from the trappings of “civilized” Restov for the Stolen Lands after some interesting twists- the death of one of our original band, a friend of the halflings. They were a forest giant-kin that mysteriously was found dead in their camp under quite odd circumstances.  Recovering from that quickly, we set out. To back track a bit, more about who we are seems worthy enough to make note of…

[Sketch by Karis Shadowcil]

Evrin Brazenbrook, warrior. Apparently the halfling was trained with the sword at the Aldori school. While I am ignorant as to why that is so impressive, it is clearly significant to those who understand it. He seems quite skilled with a blade and nimble on his feet, though I’ve my concerns about anyone going to such great lengths and danger for another. If I understand right, going to this land is a test of manhood so to say or coming of age story. Giving that much weight to another’s approval is not something I am willing to die for, though he certainly seems a decent fellow. I had never met a halfling before.

Armauk Blackstag, priest of Erastil. I like him, though I am biased towards half breeds, admittedly. Few can truly understand the mongrel’s plight without living it and oddly his seems to have made him quite cordial to others. He seems terribly focused on the letter of the law, quick to come to others aid, and content to be surrounded by bandits. I very much appreciate these traits in him despite how contradictory they are to myself. Perhaps even more so, is how curious I am of his name. In the little research I was able to do in Restov, it appears that a white stag is a holy icon of his faith. His patron appears, at least to public perception, as a god of hunts, farming, and harvests. As the acolyte I spoke with put it, “He is a god of the hunt and of farming, leading his followers by example and good deeds rather than flowery rhetoric.” Say what you will about simple or even goodly folk, I am entirely behind the willingness to act.

Karis Shadowcil, elf. As per the stereotype, he seems rather fond of blade, instrument, and spell. He is a curious fellow who when left alone speaks to himself. At first, I expected his raven familiar though I now expect something more. He seems quite competent despite his alarmed reaction to being struck, though of the many things elven blood is said to provide hardiness has never been among them. It is nice to have another with some level of respect for the arts, though I am curious as to how he has come about his. I do not get the impression it is through rigorous study. I am also rather amused and curious to the reporter dubbing us Company of the Iron Raven as someone with a raven appeared willing to join.

Eshela and Veshka Vamashu.  They are a mother and daughter that had been getting by working in a seedier tavern in Restov and the occasional odd job as they could it seemed. I met them over a meal and was given the impression they were quite interested in not only the excitement of all the carts and rumors of expedition, but truly changing their stars. Upon considering what could be required or helpful it seemed wise to have those willing and able to fill more menial roles that will undoubtedly be regularly required. Were I being entirely honest with myself, I realize the idea to employ them was partially fueled by my insufferable need to aid downtrodden half-bloods.

Leaving Restov was refreshing. In traveling to the outpost, we wound there to be a small farmstead as well as a currently abandoned military outpost that seemed to really have a lot of potential. Note: I am very interested in the potential and the willingness for the government to continue to concern themselves with it. Aside from the murdered corpse we found along the way, we reached the trading post. Before we even got there my familiar warned me of a conflict within puts us on alert. It seems the reports of bandits lacked their unification and that they not only preyed upon those here, but also required payments or a “tax” as they saw it. Bullies are enraging and intolerable. Thankfully, it appears that my companions supported my murderous intent as the law requires it as banditry is outlawed. While that is all well and good, it certainly was simply a happy accident- the law was irrelevant and unknown and there is a beauty in destroying those who extort the weak. If our time in this land is any indicator, I believe this journey to be very therapeutic.

After enacting the laws good work, we settled in and found the outpost to be quite a welcome sight in this place. The couple that owned it were quite decent and seemed to want nothing more than to run their business in peace. Perhaps two weeks’ time passed when more of the bandits apparently realized something had occurred with their friends who obviously never returned with their extortion. After they flanked the trading post I assume they planned to intimidate their way in, which seems to speak to their intelligence. I suppose the fair thing to do was at least engage in the attempt at dialog with the bandit leader, though I really can see no possible words that might have mattered in a situation such as this. It was our first real engagement and test of the Iron Raven. We were outnumbered three to one, and I am pleased to say that my companions are not inept in combat.

After the smoke cleared, the nature of these bandits, at least in their leadership, is now more known to us. They are not simply greed-driven, but malicious and cruel hearted. The leader, a brutish woman named “Kessel” was found wearing a necklace that appeared to display her calling card- taking trophies in the form of wedding bands. While the idea of marriage has little worth or value to me, the idea of beings driven to destroy others happiness does. If there are those bent on malice this land will not know peace. And if it does not know some semblance of peace, I cannot be free.

Lastly, and more of a side note, is the fellow priest of Erastil Jhod who showed up. He claimed he was following a vision from his patron and was very tight lipped about his past, other than he was from Galt. I am curious as to having never met a person from Galt, to recently meeting two who both are eager to leave their past and less willing to discuss what occurred in it, and the Gray Gardeners showing up on someone’s tail. It would be rather excellent if all our pasts didn’t come calling at the same time…  

[xv793]

Goodbye Restov.

Our motley band has finally set out from the trappings of “civilized” Restov for the Stolen Lands after some interesting twists- the death of one of our original band, a friend of the halflings. They were a forest giant-kin that mysteriously was found dead in their camp under quite odd circumstances.  Recovering from that quickly, we set out. To back track a bit, more about who we are seems worthy enough to make note of…

Evrin Brazenbrook, warrior. Apparently the halfling was trained with the sword at the Aldori school. While I am ignorant as to why that is so impressive, it is clearly significant to those who understand it. He seems quite skilled with a blade and nimble on his feet, though I’ve my concerns about anyone going to such great lengths and danger for another. If I understand right, going to this land is a test of manhood so to say or coming of age story. Giving that much weight to another’s approval is not something I am willing to die for, though he certainly seems a decent fellow. I had never met a halfling before. 

Armauk Blackstag, priest of Erastil. I like him, though I am biased towards half breeds, admittedly. Few can truly understand the mongrel’s plight without living it and oddly his seems to have made him quite cordial to others. He seems terribly focused on the letter of the law, quick to come to others aid, and content to be surrounded by bandits. I very much appreciate these traits in him despite how contradictory they are to myself. Perhaps even more so, is how curious I am of his name. In the little research I was able to do in Restov, it appears that a white stag is a holy icon of his faith. His patron appears, at least to public perception, as a god of hunts, farming, and harvests. As the acolyte I spoke with put it, “He is a god of the hunt and of farming, leading his followers by example and good deeds rather than flowery rhetoric.” Say what you will about simple or even goodly folk, I am entirely behind the willingness to act.

Karis Shadowcil, elf. As per the stereotype, he seems rather fond of blade, instrument, and spell. He is a curious fellow who when left alone speaks to himself. At first, I expected his raven familiar though I now expect something more. He seems quite competent despite his alarmed reaction to being struck, though of the many things elven blood is said to provide hardiness has never been among them. It is nice to have another with some level of respect for the arts, though I am curious as to how he has come about his. I do not get the impression it is through rigorous study. I am also rather amused and curious to the reporter dubbing us Company of the Iron Raven as someone with a raven appeared willing to join.

Eshela and Veshka Vamashu.  They are a mother and daughter that had been getting by working in a seedier tavern in Restov and the occasional odd job as they could it seemed. I met them over a meal and was given the impression they were quite interested in not only the excitement of all the carts and rumors of expedition, but truly changing their stars. Upon considering what could be required or helpful it seemed wise to have those willing and able to fill more menial roles that will undoubtedly be regularly required. Were I being entirely honest with myself, I realize the idea to employ them was partially fueled by my insufferable need to aid downtrodden half-bloods.

________________________________________________________________

Leaving Restov was refreshing. In traveling to the outpost, we wound there to be a small farmstead as well as a currently abandoned military outpost that seemed to really have a lot of potential. Note: I am very interested in the potential and the willingness for the government to continue to concern themselves with it. Aside from the murdered corpse we found along the way, we reached the trading post. Before we even got there my familiar warned me of a conflict within puts us on alert. It seems the reports of bandits lacked their unification and that they not only preyed upon those here, but also required payments or a “tax” as they saw it. Bullies are enraging and intolerable. Thankfully, it appears that my companions supported my murderous intent as the law requires it as banditry is outlawed. While that is all well and good, it certainly was simply a happy accident- the law was irrelevant and unknown and there is a beauty in destroying those who extort the weak. If our time in this land is any indicator, I believe this journey to be very therapeutic. 

After enacting the laws good work, we settled in and found the outpost to be quite a welcome sight in this place. The couple that owned it were quite decent and seemed to want nothing more than to run their business in peace. Perhaps two weeks’ time passed when more of the bandits apparently realized something had occurred with their friends who obviously never returned with their extortion. After they flanked the trading post I assume they planned to intimidate their way in, which seems to speak to their intelligence. I suppose the fair thing to do was at least engage in the attempt at dialog with the bandit leader, though I really can see no possible words that might have mattered in a situation such as this. It was our first real engagement and test of the Iron Raven. We were outnumbered three to one, and I am pleased to say that my companions are not inept in combat. 

After the smoke cleared, the nature of these bandits, at least in their leadership, is now more known to us. They are not simply greed-driven, but malicious and cruel hearted. The leader, a brutish woman named “Kessel” was found wearing a necklace that appeared to display her calling card- taking trophies in the form of wedding bands. While the idea of marriage has little worth or value to me, the idea of beings driven to destroy others happiness does. If there are those bent on malice this land will not know peace. And if it does not know some semblance of peace, I cannot be free.

Lastly, and more of a side note, is the fellow priest of Erastil Jhod who showed up. He claimed he was following a vision from his patron and was very tight lipped about his past, other than he was from Galt. I am curious as to having never met a person from Galt, to recently meeting two who both are eager to leave their past and less willing to discuss what occurred in it, and the Gray Gardeners showing up on someone’s tail. It would be rather excellent if all our pasts didn’t come calling at the same time…