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"I'm sure it will have information to give to us, but have we stopped the immediate threat to WorldShip?"
"Beast, what was that creature doing here, and is it now ended?", Thaggok addresses the Marut.
Dew thinks back to her training at temple, trying to recall as many details on what a marut is as possible. "What was the purpose behind this incursion?" she asks.
"You've ended little," the marut says, looking at the hole nearby. "His work is long done, and his circle leads his labor's fruit elsewhere."
Dew
The marut are a race from the Astral Sea, given eternal life without need or want by the gods. Born to witness, settle, and enforce agreements, the existence of the marut is a stabilizing force for the bickering deities. Marut worship for no god, and hold no loyalties to them, or anyone else. They instead find work as mercenaries, demanding magic items or a nebulous favor as payment. Every agreement marut make or witness is recorded in their great bastions in the Astral Sea. Whole cadres of marut can be called on to enforce them, if need be.
Erathis in particular is fond of the marut. She is sometimes credited in their creation, but there is no proof of her involvement.
Thaggok
The marut are a race from the Astral Sea, given eternal life without need or want by the gods. Though born before Asmodeus rose to power, they share a devil's fondness for agreements and contracts, though they deal in political favors and magic items rather than souls. Mercenaries and enforcers of laws and contracts, devils will sometimes seek their services to drag a fleeing soul back to the Nine Hells or otherwise enforce the terms of a contract.
Most believe that agreements presided over by marut are necessarily fair and just, but devils and their followers know better. Many of the agreements that secured the Lord of Nine's power were made while marut watched on, and today the gods seethe at the eternal advantages the Hells enjoy.
Tordek
The marut are a race from the Astral Sea, given eternal life without need or want by the gods. Shortly after the gods were themselves born, they realized a need for impartial judgment, and created the marut, an immortal race without need or want, to fill that need. Legalistic and bureaucratic, marut preside over agreements, then enforce them, often quite brutally. On at least one occasion, marut wiped out an entire divided, feuding society, after coming to the conclusion that all sides had broken agreements and deserved the harshest penalties outlined by any side.
Marut often work as mercenaries, usually in a way that appeals to their inherent legalistic natures. They have little use for coin, accepting instead magic items and political favors. Such favors have given the marut a powerful voice in divine politics, which they use to try and make the Astral Sea a more orderly and organized plane.
Marut almost certainly were present while the Patrons made the agreements that made Worldship possible. They have also on occasion gotten involved in deals gone wrong on Worldship since the voyage began. Most significantly, a mutiny was ended when the mastermind behind it was dragged to Erathis' domain of Hestavar by a cadre of marut.
Baern
You've never met a marut, but you've heard about them on occasion. From what you've put together, they're overproud mercenaries from the Astral Sea.
Tordek blinks, "This is a Marut. The arbitrator of planes, if you will. It remains to be seen how that Wilden was able to obtain his services, but he was brought here to judge... something."
"I cannot speak plainer without insulting you," the marut says, surprised. "The threat is elsewhere. As for my role--" he pauses, considering. "I was asked to resolve a dispute between Luevar and his circle. I did so, and he immediately hired me as a bodyguard, fearing betrayal. Payment, in both instances, was to be in lessons in Abyssal. I can tell you little of the circle's plans; they spoke primarily in Abyssal. They were very concerned with the site, and the permanence of their work. I do not believe that it will destroy your spelljammer directly, however."
A "circle," to be entirely clear, generally refers to a group of people who deal directly with the primal powers. There's at least one on Worldship, but as factions go, they're not usually an important one.
Gruumsh, Bane's eternal foe, is a simple, savage god. Even the rare clever or novel tactic he and his followers comes up with is never complicated. Demons are largely the same, in that regard. Any plan this complicated and hard to understand is likely not demonic in origin. Or it's a demon unlike any you've ever heard of.
Recall that there's a Big Conspicuous Hole nearby. Also the grounds got that nasty red color. Those things might be worth checking out.
"Luevar was the name of the wilden, I take it?" Dew says, hazarding a guess. "What can you tell us about this hole? What do you plan to do now?" Questions seem to be boiling over in Dew's mind, but she manages to hold herself in check for now. Her relative newness on the Worldship was starting to feel like a major disadvantage.
mattakaslash on
0
3cl1ps3I will build a labyrinth to house the cheeseRegistered Userregular
edited August 2010
Are there any applicable checks I can make for the Wilden and the circle the marut spoke of?
"Hold on just a moment, laddie. That beastie mentioned something about needing you to conquer the Astral Sea before he released you from his service."
"On top of that, these don't seem like normal incursions on Worldship - we might be looking at the first skirmishes of a full out war here."
Baern pauses, looking hard at the marut. "What in the Nine Hells is goin on here?"
"A tree once stood there," the marut tells Dew. "It moves on its own now, guided by Luevar's colleagues."
The marut shrugs at Baern. "Luevar had some foolish ideas about the nature of the Abyss, and suffered for them. He took my interest in the language as something other than it is. I will soon return to the Astral Sea and record what little I've learned that the language's destructive properties might be studied safely. As for what goes on here, I have told you what little I know, and I have less desire to find out. Ultimately, it matters not at all."
Dew considers the marut's words, and reflects on her own primal knowledge to see if any revelations are forthcoming. "What if I was wrong? What if that tree isn't acting in the Worldship's best interests and has instead been twisted to some other purpose somehow?" She speaks mainly to herself as she thinks, but her words are easily heard by those around her.
Thaggok listens intently to the conversation that is passing between his group and the Marut, listening for any hints of lies or inconsistencies from both sides.
"Worldship was lost before it set out," the marut says. "Gods have died fighting the Abyss. Your oversized spelljammer will be torn apart the moment it enters the Abyss."
Dew
With the rush of battle calmed, you are more able to hear the lesser, local primal spirits around you. These spirits have never known fear before, but they are terrified, now.
Dew, Baern
Wilden are a fairly new race, and most believe their purpose is to protect the natural world. What that means, precisely, has always been a little unclear.
People with a strong connection to the primal spirits tend to form circles, with each member considered responsible for a large area. Most of them do not meet often, and work together only in the direst circumstances.
This Luevar, you note, did not call upon the primal spirits at all while fighting you. Which raises some questions about the circle he was in.
Thaggok
The marut's story is strange, but you detect no hint of him lying. He's leaving details out, surely, but you get the impression the marut thinks they're either unimportant or blindingly obvious.
Aegof on
I'm providing ambience.
0
3cl1ps3I will build a labyrinth to house the cheeseRegistered Userregular
edited August 2010
Baern feels the first pangs of real fear start to rise inside him. "So what then, you're saying we're just doomed, and there's nothing we can do?"
"Guys," Dew says shakily, "the spirits around here are frightened, and they've never been frightened before, ever. Something really big is going on, and it's not looking good. That wilden didn't call on any spirits during the battle, either, which is odd. Maybe Luevar's circle is less primal and more demonic? Wilden usually protect nature; I'm concerned that this wilden's behavior means that the marut is right about what we're about to encounter."
She turns to the marut, waiting for the creature's answer to Baern's question. She's also starting to feel anxious to go find the tree that uprooted itself from this spot.
"Calm yourselves, companions. Dew, the tree may indeed be an agent of the circle that the Marut speaks of, but it is merely that. An agent, set to perform a task. The tree is merely a pawn on the chessboard. We are hunting the royalty and the game is still afoot."
"Magics powerful enough to affect something the Gods put forth, something as spectacular as WorldShip, are not easily subverted. The process is complicated and long, and while we may have been blind to the initial machinations, if the task were complete, WorldShip would be no more."
"The Marut speaks the truth, but he does not speak the whole truth. There are holes in his story. And most importantly, when dealing with the devil, there is always more bargaining that can be done. The Marut can be loyal to no side beyond the contract, Isn't that correct? And the Marut was released of his last contract. Therefore if we have something of suitable bargaining power, a pact can be struck. We could have the Marut destroy the tree, even as we continue into the hole and draw closer to the source."
Tordek looks to Dew, "Either way, you aren't going to be very popular if word gets out. While Wanda may have allowed Primal spirits to roam along her, I don't think she wanted to be torn apart by them."
He then looks to the marut, after it talks of the ship being destroyed by the Abyss. "Naw, this ship is pretty sturdy. It'll be fine." He nods to himself at this brash statement.
"You can flee, dwarf. But no, nothing can save Worldship from what awaits." He shakes his head. "Your people are brave fools to have come as far as they have, and worse for pressing on."
The mercenary listens calmly as Thaggok speaks, and briefly weighs the situation in his mind.
"If it were alone, I might be able to destroy the tree, yes," Ialaven says. "But it is not alone, now. I may be able to delay it, containing its threat to the park, but not for long. What can you offer for my services?"
The hole is dark and deep--much deeper than it would be if it was simply the site of an uprooted tree. Light does not reach down as far as it should, and you can't see as far down as you ought. Red slime dribbles from the walls, flowing like water into the darkness.
From what you can see, you think you could climb down at least as far as the light reaches.
Dew ponders the marut's question, trying to discern what the creature may find valuable that the party could actually offer. If the tree could be delayed, even a bit, it would give them time to investigate the hole it left behind and hopefully get a better idea of what sinister plans are already in motion.
Tordel strokes his beard, "Hmm... I suppose we could implore him to lay down some judgement on that tree. However, Marut generally don't act on such things with the promises of riches, and I don't think we can threaten it with death." He jangles his Gravespawn potions, "How 'bout these?"
"Potions are not my area of expertise. What are those?"
Dew
With his opinions on Worldship's remaining life time, favors of any sort are likely fairly worthless. On the other hand, the marut is interested in learning Abyssal. Could that interest extend to other aspects of demonic lore?
"Maybe you'd be interested in some knowledge as payment. I know a thing or two about demons that might interest you." Dew searches her brain for something that might be enticing to the marut and offers a tidbit of it as a sample.
"I have little use for the remains of devils," Ialaven says. "And less for protection from disease. Those are worth nothing to me alone."
Dew
Though the corpses of many Fey gods litter the Astral Sea, three survived the long war with the primordials: Corellon, Sehanine, and Lolth. Lolth betrayed her kindred, and fled to the Underdark when she was defeated. In the days since, she has battled with Torog, the King Who Crawls, for dominance over that cavernous realm. But as Worldship has descended into the Abyss, evidence has mounted tying the errant Fey goddess of trickery and darkness to the bloody home of demons.
This investigation has been small and has never been popular, and getting the marut in touch with the people running it might be tricky, but the information might have far-reaching implications in the right hands. You suspect Ialaven will be able to see that.
Thaggok
Most know of the Blood War between the demons of the Abyss and the devils of the Nine Hells. Though currently in a restless stalemate, the feud raged across the planes since Asmodeus slew He Who Was and took his rightful place as ruler of Baator. Demons have forgotten the purpose of the war, and devils are silent and secretive about it, but tearing secrets from writhing devils is practically a pass-time in Worldship's churches to the Lord of Nine--his followers aren't fool enough to trust him, after all.
The truth of the matter, according to an unfortunate once-angel you were able to spend a day with, is that Asmodeus tore power and secrets from the heart of the Abyss as it was forming. Demons instinctively want to take back what he stole so long ago, it seems.
So for future reference, information on the Abyss (as opposed to gods related to it and such, not that that isn't a whole lot of fun) is an Arcana check.
Aegof on
I'm providing ambience.
0
3cl1ps3I will build a labyrinth to house the cheeseRegistered Userregular
"Lolth is believed by some to be connected to the demons of the abyss. It's not a popular theory, but there is enough evidence to show it is not just supposition as well. If you help us by delaying and containing the tree, I should be able to get you in contact with those who are studying this connection so that you can assist and make a mark on history. What say you?"
mattakaslash on
0
3cl1ps3I will build a labyrinth to house the cheeseRegistered Userregular
edited August 2010
Baern looks up. "Aye lass, I've got full repellin' gear with me."
Ialaven's eyes narrow. "That is adequate." He gestures, and lines of golden supernal begin swirling around the marut and shifter. "State your name and restate your offer, please."
Thaggok
Ialaven is certain he is getting the better deal here. Far, far better. If Dew isn't lying through her teeth, (and you don't think she is,) she is getting seriously ripped off.
Thaggok interjects, "Stay your contract, Marut. The deal is far too heavily weighted in your favor. If you're going to glean and record such valuable intelligence from my counterpart here, you're going to have to drastically increase your part of the bargain."
"Now it's your turn. What more can you do for us?"
The marut frowns, but doesn't take his eyes off of Dew. "I will leave Worldship in two days. I will not remain and die in the Abyss. Until then, I can offer my service to you in whatever I capable. Additionally, I can grant you access to the records library in the Tower of Judgement. Luevar's circle has dealt with marut for centuries; the records could be enlightening."
Posts
"Beast, what was that creature doing here, and is it now ended?", Thaggok addresses the Marut.
Spending 3 healing surges for a total of 30hp.
HP: 35/39 Surges: 7/11 Surge Value: 10
AP 1/2
Powers
Ardent Strike
Holy Strike
Divine Challenge
Heedless Fury
Divine Strength
Furious Assault
Hold Fast
Ardent Vow 2/3
Blood of the Mighty
Bless Weapon
[STRIKE]Dwarven Armor[/strike]
You can learn more about the marut at your local library, or by making a religion or history check.
Religion for marut knowledge: 1d20+8 19
If I had known he was a marut, I wouldn't have called him Beast
"Then answer me, and earn the right to be called something else."
History: 1d20+10 18
History: 1d20+1=7
Tordek spends two surges to make some more treatment syringes.
HP 32/37; AC 18; Fort 14; Ref 15; Will 14; AP 1
Surge: 9 Surges: 4/8
Powers
Thundering Armor
Aggravating Force
Flameburst Armor Attack
[strike](Item) Parchment Leather Armor[/strike]
Healing Infusion Curative Admixture or Resistive Formula
Healing Infusion Curative Admixture or Resistive Formula
Scouring Weapon
Shocking Feedback
(Item) Point Blank Hand Crossbow
Flameburst Armor
[strike]Restorative Infusion[/strike]
(Item) Thundering Spiked Gauntlet
Dew
Erathis in particular is fond of the marut. She is sometimes credited in their creation, but there is no proof of her involvement.
Thaggok
Most believe that agreements presided over by marut are necessarily fair and just, but devils and their followers know better. Many of the agreements that secured the Lord of Nine's power were made while marut watched on, and today the gods seethe at the eternal advantages the Hells enjoy.
Tordek
Marut often work as mercenaries, usually in a way that appeals to their inherent legalistic natures. They have little use for coin, accepting instead magic items and political favors. Such favors have given the marut a powerful voice in divine politics, which they use to try and make the Astral Sea a more orderly and organized plane.
Marut almost certainly were present while the Patrons made the agreements that made Worldship possible. They have also on occasion gotten involved in deals gone wrong on Worldship since the voyage began. Most significantly, a mutiny was ended when the mastermind behind it was dragged to Erathis' domain of Hestavar by a cadre of marut.
Baern
A "circle," to be entirely clear, generally refers to a group of people who deal directly with the primal powers. There's at least one on Worldship, but as factions go, they're not usually an important one.
Recall that there's a Big Conspicuous Hole nearby. Also the grounds got that nasty red color. Those things might be worth checking out.
"Hold on just a moment, laddie. That beastie mentioned something about needing you to conquer the Astral Sea before he released you from his service."
"On top of that, these don't seem like normal incursions on Worldship - we might be looking at the first skirmishes of a full out war here."
Baern pauses, looking hard at the marut. "What in the Nine Hells is goin on here?"
The marut shrugs at Baern. "Luevar had some foolish ideas about the nature of the Abyss, and suffered for them. He took my interest in the language as something other than it is. I will soon return to the Astral Sea and record what little I've learned that the language's destructive properties might be studied safely. As for what goes on here, I have told you what little I know, and I have less desire to find out. Ultimately, it matters not at all."
Nature is your safest bet, 3clipse.
Nature: 1d20+10 29
Insight:1d20+9 = 24
Nature: 1d20+7=23
Dew
Dew, Baern
People with a strong connection to the primal spirits tend to form circles, with each member considered responsible for a large area. Most of them do not meet often, and work together only in the direst circumstances.
This Luevar, you note, did not call upon the primal spirits at all while fighting you. Which raises some questions about the circle he was in.
Thaggok
She turns to the marut, waiting for the creature's answer to Baern's question. She's also starting to feel anxious to go find the tree that uprooted itself from this spot.
"Magics powerful enough to affect something the Gods put forth, something as spectacular as WorldShip, are not easily subverted. The process is complicated and long, and while we may have been blind to the initial machinations, if the task were complete, WorldShip would be no more."
"The Marut speaks the truth, but he does not speak the whole truth. There are holes in his story. And most importantly, when dealing with the devil, there is always more bargaining that can be done. The Marut can be loyal to no side beyond the contract, Isn't that correct? And the Marut was released of his last contract. Therefore if we have something of suitable bargaining power, a pact can be struck. We could have the Marut destroy the tree, even as we continue into the hole and draw closer to the source."
"Are you capable of such thing, Ialaven?"
He then looks to the marut, after it talks of the ship being destroyed by the Abyss. "Naw, this ship is pretty sturdy. It'll be fine." He nods to himself at this brash statement.
The mercenary listens calmly as Thaggok speaks, and briefly weighs the situation in his mind.
"If it were alone, I might be able to destroy the tree, yes," Ialaven says. "But it is not alone, now. I may be able to delay it, containing its threat to the park, but not for long. What can you offer for my services?"
From what you can see, you think you could climb down at least as far as the light reaches.
Insight on the marut: 1d20+5 15
Dew
Religion for something the marut would accept as payment: 1d20+8 16
Knowledge Religion: 1d20+9 = 24!
Dew
This investigation has been small and has never been popular, and getting the marut in touch with the people running it might be tricky, but the information might have far-reaching implications in the right hands. You suspect Ialaven will be able to see that.
Thaggok
The truth of the matter, according to an unfortunate once-angel you were able to spend a day with, is that Asmodeus tore power and secrets from the heart of the Abyss as it was forming. Demons instinctively want to take back what he stole so long ago, it seems.
So for future reference, information on the Abyss (as opposed to gods related to it and such, not that that isn't a whole lot of fun) is an Arcana check.
Thaggok
"Now it's your turn. What more can you do for us?"