Lex Talionis
Dolk's past is shrouded in mystery, as they woke up suddenly in the desert with no memories to speak of. Lately however, their old life is returning to them gradually, and their old self is slowly returning to life, seeking to expel Dolk from their shared body.
Plot points/Scenes
Waking Dreams:
Dagger will be plagued by waking dreams as certain memories from their past as Raiqwen return. When these dreams happen the party will have to shake Dagger out of a trance, in which they are repeating certain sentences. Dagger won't remember being in these trances, but will unlock new memories.
Travelling Westwards
Lines for Osk:
When they are woken up:
Du står ved kaien i Ælmesleóht. Det er få folk ute i dag, da det ikkje er lenge sidan imperiet erobra byen. Gule og raude bannere som signaliserer imperiets okkupasjon kan bli sett hengt opp over alt, saman med Tanin-familiens nyleg erhverva coat of arms: den trehoda dragen. Ælmesleóht er ein handelsby, så deke hadde forventa at det skulle være lett å reise vestover, men det har vist seg overaskande vanskeleg. Mange av Tanin-familiens skip er framleis i Ye'or deltaet, og dei som var ute på havet er i full gang med å fasilitere kommandør Allexanders invasjon av Sør-Akshus. Deg og søsknene dine vandrer rundt omkring på kaien, tunge poser med gull rattling i beltene dikkar for å tiltrekke dei desperate og dumdristige.
Til slutt kjem deke endeleg fram til eit alvisk skip. Det har kvite segl og blått skrog, og på fronten er det ein karakteristisk sjøslange-figur. Det ser ut til å være eit pleasure skip framfor eit handels- eller krigsskip, men det er godt nok til dikkar formål. Du går bort til skipet, og spørr etter kapteinen. Ein eldre sjøalvisk herre leier deke til kapteinslugaren, kor ein liten dritt av ein alvisk adelskvinne ser opp på deke. Du føler umidelbart forakt for denne personen. Ho har aldri løfta ein finger for ein anna person i livet sitt, og ho har aldri offra noko for at verda kan gå vidare. Det har deke. Deke har gitt alt, så mange gonger. Og deke kjem til å gjere det igjen.
"We seek to travel westwards, can you give us safe passage?", seier du og du trur for det meste at du greier å halde din spite under kontroll. Du kaster din lille sekk med imperiet gull på bordet, og lar det falle utover bordet.
"That depends," seier ho, medan ho prøver å gjemme sin frykt for deg og søsknene dine. Ho får det nesten til, men ikkje heilt. Få ting kjem unna dine sanser. "on if you have anything worth my while that you can pay me with."
Du føler vreden reise seg opp i deg, da denne lille, svake personen våger å sei noko mot deke. Søskenet ditt -- namnet husker du ikkje, men hen har sølv-aktig hår og eit karismatisk smil -- stopper deg frå å gjere noko dumt og hjelper deg med å fokusere. Du samler deg sjølv, og den lille alven ser opp på deg, forventingsfult. "This is imperial gold, and Toirecíud is now a subject of the Gold Empire. You will accept it."
Ho prøver seg på eit smil, men du ser gjennom det til den egoistiske ormen under det. "Well, I have plenty of gold back home. I want something unique. You seem like a bunch who might have something like that."
Du tenker deg om i eit sekund, og så tek du opp medaljongen din. "Very well, if you must be stubborn. Here, this medallion is made from natural gold from the mines in For Sur. Now, we leave as quickly as possible."
Du tek gullet tilbake og går ut av lugaren når ein kurs har blitt einig om. Søsknene dine ser overaska på deg. Medaljongen kan du få tilbake seinare, for no tek missionen prioritet.
Falling
Når Dolk først flyg veldig høgt over bakken, får hen plutseleg intens dødsangst, i det hen husker eit veldig traumatisk minne. Dette gir Dolk ein fear of heights.
Du ligg stille i himmelen. På eit visst rasjonelt og logisk plan veit du at dette er feil. Du faller ned gjennom skyene, på veg mot bakken. Men det føles ikkje slik. Det føles som om du ligg stille, som om skyene er tepper og dei aktiniske lyna som slår ned rundt deg nattelys. Du kan såvitt skimte stjernene over deg gjennom skyene, tusenvis av små sølvmyner på himmelhvelvingen. Du heldt fram handa di for å ta dei myntene. Du har alltid likt sølv.
Skyene flyr forbi deg, og dei går berre raskare og raskare. Regnet beveg seg den andre vegen, og du er fanga i ein rar verden med motstridande krefter. Men snart er regnet heilt i ro, og det er rundt deg som eit perfekt stillbilde. Det er ufatteleg fascinerande, regnet beveg seg like raskt som deg.
Men... regn faller mot bakken. Kva gjer du då?
Realiseringa tvinger deg tilbake til notida med ein fysisk smerte. Du skriker ut i smerte og vrir deg ned mot bakken. Mørke fjell og skarpe klipper kjem opp mot deg i eit raskt tempo. NEI, du holder fast på rett perspektiv. Du faller. Instinktuelt prøver du å fly, å gjenvinne kontroll over fallet ditt. Du prøver å slå ut hendene dine og bruke evnene dine, men så merker du skadene dine. Dusinvis av små kutt på heile kroppen din, mest sannsynleg frå klørne til griffer. Men det er ikkje den værste skaden. Tvert imot. Du prøver å løfte handen din men det einaste du får ut av dine efforts er ekstremt smerte i det nevroner i ryggen din sender feil signal. Lemmene dine henger slapt ved din side.
Du prøver å tenke deg om, å gjenvinne kontroll. Du kan såvitt bevege din venstre fot. Du snur hodet ditt mot bakken igjen å tenker så raskt som du aldri har før. Det er din første ekte smak på frykt. Under deg er jorden no altoppslukande, som eit mørkt slør forann auga dine. Den beveg seg raskt mot deg. Du prøver å finne på noko, allting går jo alltid bra for deg. Om du bare kan finne på-
Allting blir svart.
Waking Up
Når Dolk våkner opp ein gong i fjell afår hen minne av å ha blitt henta av alkymister og ein adelsperson, og at hen sånn smått byrjer å få restitusjon frå skadene sine. Griff-såra healte raskt, men det stormkjempen gjorde med hen går mykje saktare. Stormkjempen knekte ryggen hens to plasser og knakk nesten nakken hens, etter hen hadde blitt slått ut av lyn. Hen husker å ha komt seg meir enn nokon kunne forvente, og huska når ein tattovert skikkelse med sølvaktig hår kom til hen og ga hen eit offer som kunne helbrede kroppen hens. Dette gir hen noko av sin determination til å altid overleve tilbake, formidla som 2d10 Hit Points.
A Shocking Twist
Når Dolk ein gong får Lightning damage husker hen skaden hen tok frå stormkjempen, og kor debilitating den var. Kanskje det påverker kampen på ein eller anna måte, Dolk får instinktuelt fleire krefter. Powers to give Dolk through memories:
Dagger will be plagued by waking dreams as certain memories from their past as Raiqwen return. When these dreams happen the party will have to shake Dagger out of a trance, in which they are repeating certain sentences. Dagger won't remember being in these trances, but will unlock new memories.
Travelling Westwards
Lines for Osk:
- "We seek to travel westwards, can you give us safe passage?"
- "This is imperial gold, and Toirecíud is now a subject of the Gold Empire. You will accept it."[ganske sint/irritert]
- "Very well, if you must be stubborn. Here, this medallion is made from natural gold from the mines in For Sur. Now, we leave as quickly as possible." [oppgitt]
When they are woken up:
Du står ved kaien i Ælmesleóht. Det er få folk ute i dag, da det ikkje er lenge sidan imperiet erobra byen. Gule og raude bannere som signaliserer imperiets okkupasjon kan bli sett hengt opp over alt, saman med Tanin-familiens nyleg erhverva coat of arms: den trehoda dragen. Ælmesleóht er ein handelsby, så deke hadde forventa at det skulle være lett å reise vestover, men det har vist seg overaskande vanskeleg. Mange av Tanin-familiens skip er framleis i Ye'or deltaet, og dei som var ute på havet er i full gang med å fasilitere kommandør Allexanders invasjon av Sør-Akshus. Deg og søsknene dine vandrer rundt omkring på kaien, tunge poser med gull rattling i beltene dikkar for å tiltrekke dei desperate og dumdristige.
Til slutt kjem deke endeleg fram til eit alvisk skip. Det har kvite segl og blått skrog, og på fronten er det ein karakteristisk sjøslange-figur. Det ser ut til å være eit pleasure skip framfor eit handels- eller krigsskip, men det er godt nok til dikkar formål. Du går bort til skipet, og spørr etter kapteinen. Ein eldre sjøalvisk herre leier deke til kapteinslugaren, kor ein liten dritt av ein alvisk adelskvinne ser opp på deke. Du føler umidelbart forakt for denne personen. Ho har aldri løfta ein finger for ein anna person i livet sitt, og ho har aldri offra noko for at verda kan gå vidare. Det har deke. Deke har gitt alt, så mange gonger. Og deke kjem til å gjere det igjen.
"We seek to travel westwards, can you give us safe passage?", seier du og du trur for det meste at du greier å halde din spite under kontroll. Du kaster din lille sekk med imperiet gull på bordet, og lar det falle utover bordet.
"That depends," seier ho, medan ho prøver å gjemme sin frykt for deg og søsknene dine. Ho får det nesten til, men ikkje heilt. Få ting kjem unna dine sanser. "on if you have anything worth my while that you can pay me with."
Du føler vreden reise seg opp i deg, da denne lille, svake personen våger å sei noko mot deke. Søskenet ditt -- namnet husker du ikkje, men hen har sølv-aktig hår og eit karismatisk smil -- stopper deg frå å gjere noko dumt og hjelper deg med å fokusere. Du samler deg sjølv, og den lille alven ser opp på deg, forventingsfult. "This is imperial gold, and Toirecíud is now a subject of the Gold Empire. You will accept it."
Ho prøver seg på eit smil, men du ser gjennom det til den egoistiske ormen under det. "Well, I have plenty of gold back home. I want something unique. You seem like a bunch who might have something like that."
Du tenker deg om i eit sekund, og så tek du opp medaljongen din. "Very well, if you must be stubborn. Here, this medallion is made from natural gold from the mines in For Sur. Now, we leave as quickly as possible."
Du tek gullet tilbake og går ut av lugaren når ein kurs har blitt einig om. Søsknene dine ser overaska på deg. Medaljongen kan du få tilbake seinare, for no tek missionen prioritet.
Falling
Når Dolk først flyg veldig høgt over bakken, får hen plutseleg intens dødsangst, i det hen husker eit veldig traumatisk minne. Dette gir Dolk ein fear of heights.
Du ligg stille i himmelen. På eit visst rasjonelt og logisk plan veit du at dette er feil. Du faller ned gjennom skyene, på veg mot bakken. Men det føles ikkje slik. Det føles som om du ligg stille, som om skyene er tepper og dei aktiniske lyna som slår ned rundt deg nattelys. Du kan såvitt skimte stjernene over deg gjennom skyene, tusenvis av små sølvmyner på himmelhvelvingen. Du heldt fram handa di for å ta dei myntene. Du har alltid likt sølv.
Skyene flyr forbi deg, og dei går berre raskare og raskare. Regnet beveg seg den andre vegen, og du er fanga i ein rar verden med motstridande krefter. Men snart er regnet heilt i ro, og det er rundt deg som eit perfekt stillbilde. Det er ufatteleg fascinerande, regnet beveg seg like raskt som deg.
Men... regn faller mot bakken. Kva gjer du då?
Realiseringa tvinger deg tilbake til notida med ein fysisk smerte. Du skriker ut i smerte og vrir deg ned mot bakken. Mørke fjell og skarpe klipper kjem opp mot deg i eit raskt tempo. NEI, du holder fast på rett perspektiv. Du faller. Instinktuelt prøver du å fly, å gjenvinne kontroll over fallet ditt. Du prøver å slå ut hendene dine og bruke evnene dine, men så merker du skadene dine. Dusinvis av små kutt på heile kroppen din, mest sannsynleg frå klørne til griffer. Men det er ikkje den værste skaden. Tvert imot. Du prøver å løfte handen din men det einaste du får ut av dine efforts er ekstremt smerte i det nevroner i ryggen din sender feil signal. Lemmene dine henger slapt ved din side.
Du prøver å tenke deg om, å gjenvinne kontroll. Du kan såvitt bevege din venstre fot. Du snur hodet ditt mot bakken igjen å tenker så raskt som du aldri har før. Det er din første ekte smak på frykt. Under deg er jorden no altoppslukande, som eit mørkt slør forann auga dine. Den beveg seg raskt mot deg. Du prøver å finne på noko, allting går jo alltid bra for deg. Om du bare kan finne på-
Allting blir svart.
Waking Up
Når Dolk våkner opp ein gong i fjell afår hen minne av å ha blitt henta av alkymister og ein adelsperson, og at hen sånn smått byrjer å få restitusjon frå skadene sine. Griff-såra healte raskt, men det stormkjempen gjorde med hen går mykje saktare. Stormkjempen knekte ryggen hens to plasser og knakk nesten nakken hens, etter hen hadde blitt slått ut av lyn. Hen husker å ha komt seg meir enn nokon kunne forvente, og huska når ein tattovert skikkelse med sølvaktig hår kom til hen og ga hen eit offer som kunne helbrede kroppen hens. Dette gir hen noko av sin determination til å altid overleve tilbake, formidla som 2d10 Hit Points.
A Shocking Twist
Når Dolk ein gong får Lightning damage husker hen skaden hen tok frå stormkjempen, og kor debilitating den var. Kanskje det påverker kampen på ein eller anna måte, Dolk får instinktuelt fleire krefter. Powers to give Dolk through memories:
- Fighting spirit (10 temporary hit points X, 15 when they gain the Hero's sword)
- Elegant courtier (når dei fuser til ein)
- Tireless Spirit (when they gain the hero's sword)
- Rapid Strike (When they gain the Hero's Sword)
- Strength before death X
- Extra attack (2) (1 when Raiqwen and Dolk fuse fighting the moon, and one more when Dolqwen is made)
- Fire breath (når dei fuser til ein)
- 23 Str x
- 21 Con x
- 20 Cha (når dei fuser til ein=
- Amphibious x
- Great Weapon Fighting X i den evige by
- Defense i den evige by
- Second Wind X i de dødes by
- Action Surge (2) X (when they fuse to fight the moon)
- Indomitable (3) (når die fuser til ein)
- Great Weapon Master (When they gain the Hero's Sword)
- Polearm Master X i de dødes by
- Sentinel X i den evige by
- Saving throws in strength, dex, con and (når dei fuser til ein)
Relations
Protagonists
Raiqwen/Dolk
Raiqwen, an entity now burried deep in Dolk's memory, is a draconic Lvl 18 Samurai fighter. Dolk is a Chaotic Good character, with tendencies to rage against the enemies of goodness and justice. Raiqwen is slowly growin more and more conscious and sentient as Dolk is discovering hidden secrets from their past. But until the wards put up by the angel Gabriel are shattered, either by very powerful magic (a Wish spell), divine intervention or the correct codewords, this process will be lethal to both Raiqwen and Dolk. The magic is designed so that if the personality of the original Talon begins to resurface, without recieving proper activation codes, the process will kill the Talon to ensure their secrets remain burried.
Raiqwen, an entity now burried deep in Dolk's memory, is a draconic Lvl 18 Samurai fighter. Dolk is a Chaotic Good character, with tendencies to rage against the enemies of goodness and justice. Raiqwen is slowly growin more and more conscious and sentient as Dolk is discovering hidden secrets from their past. But until the wards put up by the angel Gabriel are shattered, either by very powerful magic (a Wish spell), divine intervention or the correct codewords, this process will be lethal to both Raiqwen and Dolk. The magic is designed so that if the personality of the original Talon begins to resurface, without recieving proper activation codes, the process will kill the Talon to ensure their secrets remain burried.
Allies
Aarjhan
Aarjhan was the Talon who originally recruited Raiqwen, after the confrontation with the Storm Giant left them crippled. Aarjhan was a powerful wizard and was Raiqwen's best friend for many centuries, during which they fought together. Both of them were captured by the hobgoblins during the Rebellion and they worked together to defeat the legion when they had their chance. Aarjhan has always been the calm to Raiqwen's fury, and many times when Raiqwen was about to righteously rage have Aarjhan calmed them down. In the end, when the Talons fought against Sa'nakt, Aarjhan was the one who sacrificed themselves after four of their Talon siblings had died to Sa'nakts's fire and they and Raiqwen realized that they couldn't defeat Sa'nakt without an elemental weapon. They threw themselves forwards as Sa'nakt exploded out in holy incandescent fire, giving Raiqwen time to escape. Aarjhan used powerful temporal magic to lock them and Sa'nakt in a perpetual embrace of fire and death, stopping time until Raiqwen could return with the weapon. Even now, Aarjhan stands in that explosion beneath the City of the Dead, enduring unimaginable agony to keep the monster at bay. Aarjhan can hold Sa'nakt for many, many years.
Aarjhan is a lvl 17 Gold Dragon war mage.
Other siblings
The Talon warband "Yokai" was forged early in the imperial history, fighting many threats to the empire. They came truly together during the Civil War, where they led the offensive in the Wasteland.
Hajax
Heskan's twin, with fiery red hair and a talent for fighting, stories and drinking. A man with a natural curiosity, and as a talon an affinity for swordsmanship. Hajax is quick-witted, silver-tongued and fast. He always quiped and joked with Raiqwen, though he most often knew when to stop the two had some disagreements, but Raiqwen always knew they could depend on Hajax when it came down to it, and there were few others Raiqwen would trust their lives with in a duel.
Heskan
Hajax's twin, with fiery red hair and a talent for fighting, brawling and killing. Heskan is a tall and strong woman who wields her great maul like a perfect instrument of death. She is the strongest of the talons, though she is also the most quiet member and given over to stoic reflection and following orders. When she speaks however, everyone, even Raiqwen, pays close attention.
Thostic
Jaxi Heskan, Thostic and Jaxi.
Aarjhan was the Talon who originally recruited Raiqwen, after the confrontation with the Storm Giant left them crippled. Aarjhan was a powerful wizard and was Raiqwen's best friend for many centuries, during which they fought together. Both of them were captured by the hobgoblins during the Rebellion and they worked together to defeat the legion when they had their chance. Aarjhan has always been the calm to Raiqwen's fury, and many times when Raiqwen was about to righteously rage have Aarjhan calmed them down. In the end, when the Talons fought against Sa'nakt, Aarjhan was the one who sacrificed themselves after four of their Talon siblings had died to Sa'nakts's fire and they and Raiqwen realized that they couldn't defeat Sa'nakt without an elemental weapon. They threw themselves forwards as Sa'nakt exploded out in holy incandescent fire, giving Raiqwen time to escape. Aarjhan used powerful temporal magic to lock them and Sa'nakt in a perpetual embrace of fire and death, stopping time until Raiqwen could return with the weapon. Even now, Aarjhan stands in that explosion beneath the City of the Dead, enduring unimaginable agony to keep the monster at bay. Aarjhan can hold Sa'nakt for many, many years.
Aarjhan is a lvl 17 Gold Dragon war mage.
Other siblings
The Talon warband "Yokai" was forged early in the imperial history, fighting many threats to the empire. They came truly together during the Civil War, where they led the offensive in the Wasteland.
Hajax
Heskan's twin, with fiery red hair and a talent for fighting, stories and drinking. A man with a natural curiosity, and as a talon an affinity for swordsmanship. Hajax is quick-witted, silver-tongued and fast. He always quiped and joked with Raiqwen, though he most often knew when to stop the two had some disagreements, but Raiqwen always knew they could depend on Hajax when it came down to it, and there were few others Raiqwen would trust their lives with in a duel.
Heskan
Hajax's twin, with fiery red hair and a talent for fighting, brawling and killing. Heskan is a tall and strong woman who wields her great maul like a perfect instrument of death. She is the strongest of the talons, though she is also the most quiet member and given over to stoic reflection and following orders. When she speaks however, everyone, even Raiqwen, pays close attention.
Thostic
Jaxi Heskan, Thostic and Jaxi.
Neutrals/Bystanders
The Talons
The Talons are the The Gold Emperor's most secret weapon, an order of assassins, heroes and warriors dedicated to protecting The Gold Empire from the greatest threats to its existence, like protecting angels of the Dragon God. They fight demi-gods, undead lords, daemon hosts and draconic tyrants that threaten the Empire with their plots and conspiracies, and they do all this in secret so the Empire's enemies won't know of its most potent weapons. And the Talons are potent weapons indeed, as they are all borderline-immortal warriors enhanced with magic blessings personally delivered from the Gold Emperor. They are fiercely loyal and willing to go as far as they must to complete their gruelling missions, missions to dangerous even for the Knight Legions.
The Talons are superhumanly strong, swift and relentless, and they are not human at all. Through incredibly powerful and unique magic, the Talons are originally dragons changed into a human-like shape. They retain all their power, strength and magic, but these supernatural abilities are disguised in human flesh, so their enemies will underestimate their true power. Many different breeds of dragon volunteer to become Talons, but the most common are young non-gold metallic dragons who wish to give their service to the Empire that protects their families from violent death at the hands of the blasphemous draconic empire.
The Talons regard themselves as angels, working the shadows of the world to protect the innocent souls of the Empire. Dolk was once, and still in some regards is, a Talon.
The Talons regard Raiqwen and all their siblings as missing in action, but believe that their mission must have been succesfull since Akshus has not been overrun by the undead threat. If Eisenfried starts asking around, the Talons will take an interest in Akshus. If the party accomplish something that brings them to the spotlight in the entire Gold Empire, such as ending the war, the Talons will see that Raiqwen lives yet. They will send one of their number, or the Gold Emperor himself, to talk to them and bring them back in the fold, as they were incredibly good at their job as a Talon.
The Talons are the The Gold Emperor's most secret weapon, an order of assassins, heroes and warriors dedicated to protecting The Gold Empire from the greatest threats to its existence, like protecting angels of the Dragon God. They fight demi-gods, undead lords, daemon hosts and draconic tyrants that threaten the Empire with their plots and conspiracies, and they do all this in secret so the Empire's enemies won't know of its most potent weapons. And the Talons are potent weapons indeed, as they are all borderline-immortal warriors enhanced with magic blessings personally delivered from the Gold Emperor. They are fiercely loyal and willing to go as far as they must to complete their gruelling missions, missions to dangerous even for the Knight Legions.
The Talons are superhumanly strong, swift and relentless, and they are not human at all. Through incredibly powerful and unique magic, the Talons are originally dragons changed into a human-like shape. They retain all their power, strength and magic, but these supernatural abilities are disguised in human flesh, so their enemies will underestimate their true power. Many different breeds of dragon volunteer to become Talons, but the most common are young non-gold metallic dragons who wish to give their service to the Empire that protects their families from violent death at the hands of the blasphemous draconic empire.
The Talons regard themselves as angels, working the shadows of the world to protect the innocent souls of the Empire. Dolk was once, and still in some regards is, a Talon.
The Talons regard Raiqwen and all their siblings as missing in action, but believe that their mission must have been succesfull since Akshus has not been overrun by the undead threat. If Eisenfried starts asking around, the Talons will take an interest in Akshus. If the party accomplish something that brings them to the spotlight in the entire Gold Empire, such as ending the war, the Talons will see that Raiqwen lives yet. They will send one of their number, or the Gold Emperor himself, to talk to them and bring them back in the fold, as they were incredibly good at their job as a Talon.
Adversaries
Father Gabriel
Backdrops
Encounters
Fighting Sa'nakt
When the Owls disturb Aarjahn's time dome, Sa'nakt explodes in rage. He is a very high CR creature that has already been spent in fight against the Talons, giving the Owls an easier chance of defeating him. This weakened state is to show the Owls that the Talons were powerful.
The Medallion
Irhaal Shalasi wears the medallion Raiqwen was given by Aarjhan to the peacetalks, and Dolk will experience a memory when they see it, becoming catatonic and withdrawn into themselves. This memory will focus on their relationship with Aarjahn. The memory will feature:
When the Moon speaks words of power, Raiqwen and Dolk will be locked inside their mind. There Dolk will find Raiqwen shackled to a throne, a sleeping Raiqwen in golden armour, wearing a cloak of drakeskin and wearing a golden helmet in the shape of a dragon. They are bound there by powerful shackles in their throne. This Raiqwen is older, wiser and stronger than the Raiqwen Dolk has met.
Raiqwen looks at them with intense eyes of molten gold. Raiqwen struggles against the chains, trying to get out, trying to set themselves free. Dolk must approach them and convince them to let themselves be helped, to not struggle by themselves. When they are together, they can fuse and gain the inner calm. Then they will see the chains for what they are: false. They can then break through, standing stronger now.
But as they do this, Dolk can feel that the wall between them and Raiqwen is gone now, and this will have consequences. They cannot survive like this.
Meeting the siblings
When the Owls disturb Aarjahn's time dome, Sa'nakt explodes in rage. He is a very high CR creature that has already been spent in fight against the Talons, giving the Owls an easier chance of defeating him. This weakened state is to show the Owls that the Talons were powerful.
The Medallion
Irhaal Shalasi wears the medallion Raiqwen was given by Aarjhan to the peacetalks, and Dolk will experience a memory when they see it, becoming catatonic and withdrawn into themselves. This memory will focus on their relationship with Aarjahn. The memory will feature:
- Their recruitment by Aarjahn
- Aarjahn saving them from the hobgoblins, their support of Raiqwen's plans for vengeance and a somber talking when rejoining the imperial army
When the Moon speaks words of power, Raiqwen and Dolk will be locked inside their mind. There Dolk will find Raiqwen shackled to a throne, a sleeping Raiqwen in golden armour, wearing a cloak of drakeskin and wearing a golden helmet in the shape of a dragon. They are bound there by powerful shackles in their throne. This Raiqwen is older, wiser and stronger than the Raiqwen Dolk has met.
Raiqwen looks at them with intense eyes of molten gold. Raiqwen struggles against the chains, trying to get out, trying to set themselves free. Dolk must approach them and convince them to let themselves be helped, to not struggle by themselves. When they are together, they can fuse and gain the inner calm. Then they will see the chains for what they are: false. They can then break through, standing stronger now.
But as they do this, Dolk can feel that the wall between them and Raiqwen is gone now, and this will have consequences. They cannot survive like this.
Meeting the siblings
Past Events
Raiqwen was once a dragon of Myrsky, the noble family of Tveiharr. Born just after the conquest of Tveiharr, in the 257th year of the Imperial Age, Raiqwen was bonded to the Storm King's fifth son, Ivar Myrsky. Ivar and Raiqwen bonded well, both of them being adventurous, brave and naïve souls.
But the good times did not last. Tveiharr was still contested by storm giants for years after its formal conquest, and a particularly powerful and dangerous storm giant quintessant came to the province to challenge the authority of the Storm King. The Storm King answered the challenge in true Myrsky fashion and the two factions met at the Scar, an ancient battleground for claimants to the crown of Tveiharr. Raiqwen and Ivar rode into their first truly great battle, flanked by dozens of dragons against hundreds of griffons, giant birds of prey and other creatures. The Storm King's forces were destroying the flying pests and sending them burning to the ground. In an act of youthful bravery and folly did Raiqwen and Ivar make straight for the quintessant, hoping to win glory and freedom by claiming first blood. The Storm King shouted out in anger at his son to stay back, but Ivar had made up his mind. The flew to the quintessant's flying fortress, engaging her in single combat. Raiqwen made a good blow with a great bellow of fire, but it did not last long. A great thunderclap ripped through the heavens as the quintessant threw a spear of lightning through Raiqwen, narrowly missing their heart. Instead the lightning travelled through Raiqwen's spine, burning away at nerves and paralyzing Raiqwen in the air.
Raiqwen fell to the ground and was horribly wounded, while Ivar was instantly killed and disintegrated by the lightning.
Raiqwen was found the day after the battle, amidst the corpses of griffons. A group of alchemists, led by one of Ivar's brothers, recovered Raiqwen's body and nursed them back to health. The brother blamed Raiqwen and their bond with Ivar, which had made him adventurous and reckless, for his death. Raiqwen felt the burden deep in their heart and could not help but feel regret for their actions. This feeling of guilt churned in Raiqwen's heart. This, combined with the fact that Raiqwen's body would never fully heal, and that they would forever be reduced to crawling on the ground, soon drove them to bitterness. They lay there in that hospital ward of Stormhaven, the Myrsky family's holdfast, for years, letting their anger grow.
And then they met a curious fellow, who came to visit them one day. This person, who wore the cape of a wizard and had swirling, beautiful tattooes that glowed in the dark, introduced themselves as Aarjhan, and told Raiqwen that there existed a way for them to be healed and whole again, although they would have to give their life to the protection of the Empire and destruction of its enemies. Raiqwen, whose anger was now a potent force, agreed instantly.
This was how Raiqwen was recruited to the owls, with the promise of healing and vengeance. Raiqwen was listed as killed due to their injuries in the records of the Myrsky dynasty, and was moved in secret to the Aviary, the headquarters of the Talons. There Raiqwen underwent the changing of the Talons, and was transformed into a human-like creature. They found that their body, while weaker, was fully functional and they began training with all manner of humanoid weapons. Raiqwen, driven by anger and hatred, quickly learned all the tricks of the fighter and wished to be pointed at the enemies of the empire. They trained together with four other new recruits to the Talons, including Aarjhan, and these bonded together to become a tightly knit warband. They soon elected to make Raiqwen their leader, as they was the most dedicated and relentless of them.
Raiqwen led their group with relentless tenacity, taking part in many engagements against the Empire's enemies. They also fought in the Hobgoblin rebellion.
The Hobgoblin Rebellion
Before the Hobgoblin Rebellion began, Raiqwen and their group were sent to Arechi as part of a mission on warlord Koshina's request. This mission involved fighting against a cthonic cult, but Raiqwen and their sibling were betrayed. Their hobgoblin allies turned on them in the underdark, seeking to capture them to demoralize the draconic defenders of the Gold Empire. But Raiqwen would not stand for the capture of their siblings, and fought with flame and fury alongside Irthiski, buying time for the others to flee.
Raiqwen was taken by the hobgoblins to their greatest warcamp beneath their holy mountains, and Raiqwen spent weeks in their fighting pits, suffering wounds that would kill ordinary men many times over. The warlord Koshina himself saw Raiqwen in those pits. Raiqwen grew slowly but steadily more angry and bitter in this time, and desired nothing more than grinding the hobgoblins into dust. After weeks of this tortuorous existence, Raiqwen's siblings came to their rescue, leading a group of Senokari nobles. They burned out much of the camp and Raiqwen managed to flee with them.
The siblings had originally planned to return to Aurumis, but Raiqwen had other plans. The mission was pointless, no back-up objectives existed and this rebellion was unprecedented. Aurumis would stand with or without their help, the Gold Emperor would see to that. Arechi, however, was burning and it was the epicenter of the rebellion. This was where the hobgoblins could bleed, this was where they could make it hurt. Raiqwen stood bloodied and broken, but their hate and resolution burned brighter than ever. The sibling looked between Raiqwen and Aarjahn, who just smiled and said: "Well what the hell are we waiting for? The bastards bloodied one of us, so lets make them bleed."
And so began the Slashing. Raiqwen and their siblings led a very succesful insurrection against the hobgoblins in Arechi, protecting many civilians and buying time for innocents to flee. Raiqwen became a warlord in their won right in this time, amassing a small army under their banner. They fought in the dark of night, bringing terror and hell to the red-skinned devils. Raiqwen was hailed as "the hero of Arechi" by the Senokari nobles who fought alongside them.
After many brutal years of conflict, during which the Talons had dismantled much of the Hobgoblin empire from the inside, the Gold Emperor finally came to Arechi with a truly massive imperial army. This army would end the Rebellion by bludgeoning the hobgoblins themselves. Raiqwen and their army joined up with the Emperor, who decorated Raiqwen with many medals and came to have profound respect for the warrior. Raiqwen had but one demand of the Emperor, that they would be allowed to join the final assault on the hobgoblins, and this the Emperor could accept.
Together they brought what remained of the Hobgoblin empire to its knees, and the final battle was to stand at the conquered capital of Arechi. Raiqwen and their siblings went in alongside the Emperor and his Dragon Legion, but they were all tricked. When they came to Koshina's quarters, the warlord activated the Kelterstürm, a dangerous godweapon. Momentarily, the city was thrown into a permanent ice-age, killing hundreds of thousands of soldiers, prisoners and innocents on both sides. Raiqwen and the Emperor would have died to, was it not for Aarjahn's quick thinking that teleported them away. Raiqwen was thus robbed of their vengeance, and they would always carry some anger against the Hobgoblins.
When the Rebellion was over, Raiqwen and their siblings were hailed as heroes by the Gold Emperor and the rest of the talons, and they were given many of the most dangerous and important missions thereafter.
Akshus
After a long and illustrious career, during which Raiqwen grew more and more in the esteem of their fellow Tallons and the Gold Emperor himself, Raiqwen and their siblings were sent to Akshus, as prophecies delivered to the mightiest Gold Priests showed that a great undead threat could spawn from the province and cast the Imperial Far South into darkness. Raiqwen was sent to stop it. This was expected to be their last quest before they took up the mantle of Master of the Talons, commanding a Watch Fortress for themselves.
Raiqwen and their siblings travelled south and began a systematic purge of the largest amrikh tombs and shadowfell dens, beginning to put together where an attack might come from. They slowly made their way to the City of the Dead, where the immortal ruler of the Amrikh, Sa'nakt, had been burried.
They came to the city, fighting through undead legions to get to Sa'nakt's personal tomb, from where they would vanquish the evil and stop it from ever attacking the Gold Empire. They closed the gate with powerful magic behind them, so that nothing would be able to leave the tomb whether they were successful or not. Then they faced the Sword of Destiny himself.
The battle against Sa'nakt proved a fateful one, as this ancient hero and champion used every trick in his disposal against the talons. He managed to mortally wound one of Raiqwen's siblings before the Talons put him down. But he was reborn in fire, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The Talons realized they were fighting the incarnation of an ancient god, a power greater than any they could hope to match given physical form. Down there, below the monument to death, their powers were not great enough to kill Sa'nakt. They fought valiantly against him, but his return from death proved to be their undoing. Raiqwen was horribly wounded, and three of their siblings were killed. As Raiqwen coughed up blood and clutched at their sword again, fire burning in their eyes, Aarjhan ran out in front of them. Sa'nakt exploded in fury, intending to claim both their lives, before they could kill him again, but Aarjhan was faster. He shouted to Raiqwen to find an elemental weapon they knew could cut through the divine magic, before teleporting them out and into the desert.
Raiqwen doesn't know what happened to Aarjhan, but before they knew it they manifested in the desert. Coughing up blood, they collapsed to the ground. Willing to be stronger, to stand, Raiqwen rose on shaky legs. And then an angel materialized before them, a being with liquid metal skin, rotating spheres of fire around its chest and eyes like caged lightning. Raiqwen grabbed their blade in trembling hands and asked the spirit what it wished.
It answered that it wished to save the gods by destroying the Empire. Raiqwen flew forwards with their swords, intending to cut the spirit before it could say anything more, but their wounds slowed them down. The angel said ten words: "25, Ixen, Ioth, Rapier, Malka, Melech, Malika, 83, 42, Longsword"
These words, secret code words implanted in Raiqwen's mind when they became a Talon, were originally designed with good intention. When a Talon became compromised in a position, they could use these words to forget everything they knew, making sure they did not share any of the Empire's secrets. But uttered by this angel, their intent was different. Raiqwen went deep, deep into their own mind, under layers of arcane barriers and protection, and their mind became a clean slate except for the very deepest of Raiqwen's desires. While Raiqwen was catatonic, the angel healed them and stole away their magic items and armour.
A nameless being, a person without personhood, woke up in the desert the next day and stumbled into a nearby forrest. A dwarf met them there and asked their name. The nameless being looked down at the dagger at their belt and named themselves "Dolk".
But the good times did not last. Tveiharr was still contested by storm giants for years after its formal conquest, and a particularly powerful and dangerous storm giant quintessant came to the province to challenge the authority of the Storm King. The Storm King answered the challenge in true Myrsky fashion and the two factions met at the Scar, an ancient battleground for claimants to the crown of Tveiharr. Raiqwen and Ivar rode into their first truly great battle, flanked by dozens of dragons against hundreds of griffons, giant birds of prey and other creatures. The Storm King's forces were destroying the flying pests and sending them burning to the ground. In an act of youthful bravery and folly did Raiqwen and Ivar make straight for the quintessant, hoping to win glory and freedom by claiming first blood. The Storm King shouted out in anger at his son to stay back, but Ivar had made up his mind. The flew to the quintessant's flying fortress, engaging her in single combat. Raiqwen made a good blow with a great bellow of fire, but it did not last long. A great thunderclap ripped through the heavens as the quintessant threw a spear of lightning through Raiqwen, narrowly missing their heart. Instead the lightning travelled through Raiqwen's spine, burning away at nerves and paralyzing Raiqwen in the air.
Raiqwen fell to the ground and was horribly wounded, while Ivar was instantly killed and disintegrated by the lightning.
Raiqwen was found the day after the battle, amidst the corpses of griffons. A group of alchemists, led by one of Ivar's brothers, recovered Raiqwen's body and nursed them back to health. The brother blamed Raiqwen and their bond with Ivar, which had made him adventurous and reckless, for his death. Raiqwen felt the burden deep in their heart and could not help but feel regret for their actions. This feeling of guilt churned in Raiqwen's heart. This, combined with the fact that Raiqwen's body would never fully heal, and that they would forever be reduced to crawling on the ground, soon drove them to bitterness. They lay there in that hospital ward of Stormhaven, the Myrsky family's holdfast, for years, letting their anger grow.
And then they met a curious fellow, who came to visit them one day. This person, who wore the cape of a wizard and had swirling, beautiful tattooes that glowed in the dark, introduced themselves as Aarjhan, and told Raiqwen that there existed a way for them to be healed and whole again, although they would have to give their life to the protection of the Empire and destruction of its enemies. Raiqwen, whose anger was now a potent force, agreed instantly.
This was how Raiqwen was recruited to the owls, with the promise of healing and vengeance. Raiqwen was listed as killed due to their injuries in the records of the Myrsky dynasty, and was moved in secret to the Aviary, the headquarters of the Talons. There Raiqwen underwent the changing of the Talons, and was transformed into a human-like creature. They found that their body, while weaker, was fully functional and they began training with all manner of humanoid weapons. Raiqwen, driven by anger and hatred, quickly learned all the tricks of the fighter and wished to be pointed at the enemies of the empire. They trained together with four other new recruits to the Talons, including Aarjhan, and these bonded together to become a tightly knit warband. They soon elected to make Raiqwen their leader, as they was the most dedicated and relentless of them.
Raiqwen led their group with relentless tenacity, taking part in many engagements against the Empire's enemies. They also fought in the Hobgoblin rebellion.
The Hobgoblin Rebellion
Before the Hobgoblin Rebellion began, Raiqwen and their group were sent to Arechi as part of a mission on warlord Koshina's request. This mission involved fighting against a cthonic cult, but Raiqwen and their sibling were betrayed. Their hobgoblin allies turned on them in the underdark, seeking to capture them to demoralize the draconic defenders of the Gold Empire. But Raiqwen would not stand for the capture of their siblings, and fought with flame and fury alongside Irthiski, buying time for the others to flee.
Raiqwen was taken by the hobgoblins to their greatest warcamp beneath their holy mountains, and Raiqwen spent weeks in their fighting pits, suffering wounds that would kill ordinary men many times over. The warlord Koshina himself saw Raiqwen in those pits. Raiqwen grew slowly but steadily more angry and bitter in this time, and desired nothing more than grinding the hobgoblins into dust. After weeks of this tortuorous existence, Raiqwen's siblings came to their rescue, leading a group of Senokari nobles. They burned out much of the camp and Raiqwen managed to flee with them.
The siblings had originally planned to return to Aurumis, but Raiqwen had other plans. The mission was pointless, no back-up objectives existed and this rebellion was unprecedented. Aurumis would stand with or without their help, the Gold Emperor would see to that. Arechi, however, was burning and it was the epicenter of the rebellion. This was where the hobgoblins could bleed, this was where they could make it hurt. Raiqwen stood bloodied and broken, but their hate and resolution burned brighter than ever. The sibling looked between Raiqwen and Aarjahn, who just smiled and said: "Well what the hell are we waiting for? The bastards bloodied one of us, so lets make them bleed."
And so began the Slashing. Raiqwen and their siblings led a very succesful insurrection against the hobgoblins in Arechi, protecting many civilians and buying time for innocents to flee. Raiqwen became a warlord in their won right in this time, amassing a small army under their banner. They fought in the dark of night, bringing terror and hell to the red-skinned devils. Raiqwen was hailed as "the hero of Arechi" by the Senokari nobles who fought alongside them.
After many brutal years of conflict, during which the Talons had dismantled much of the Hobgoblin empire from the inside, the Gold Emperor finally came to Arechi with a truly massive imperial army. This army would end the Rebellion by bludgeoning the hobgoblins themselves. Raiqwen and their army joined up with the Emperor, who decorated Raiqwen with many medals and came to have profound respect for the warrior. Raiqwen had but one demand of the Emperor, that they would be allowed to join the final assault on the hobgoblins, and this the Emperor could accept.
Together they brought what remained of the Hobgoblin empire to its knees, and the final battle was to stand at the conquered capital of Arechi. Raiqwen and their siblings went in alongside the Emperor and his Dragon Legion, but they were all tricked. When they came to Koshina's quarters, the warlord activated the Kelterstürm, a dangerous godweapon. Momentarily, the city was thrown into a permanent ice-age, killing hundreds of thousands of soldiers, prisoners and innocents on both sides. Raiqwen and the Emperor would have died to, was it not for Aarjahn's quick thinking that teleported them away. Raiqwen was thus robbed of their vengeance, and they would always carry some anger against the Hobgoblins.
When the Rebellion was over, Raiqwen and their siblings were hailed as heroes by the Gold Emperor and the rest of the talons, and they were given many of the most dangerous and important missions thereafter.
Akshus
After a long and illustrious career, during which Raiqwen grew more and more in the esteem of their fellow Tallons and the Gold Emperor himself, Raiqwen and their siblings were sent to Akshus, as prophecies delivered to the mightiest Gold Priests showed that a great undead threat could spawn from the province and cast the Imperial Far South into darkness. Raiqwen was sent to stop it. This was expected to be their last quest before they took up the mantle of Master of the Talons, commanding a Watch Fortress for themselves.
Raiqwen and their siblings travelled south and began a systematic purge of the largest amrikh tombs and shadowfell dens, beginning to put together where an attack might come from. They slowly made their way to the City of the Dead, where the immortal ruler of the Amrikh, Sa'nakt, had been burried.
They came to the city, fighting through undead legions to get to Sa'nakt's personal tomb, from where they would vanquish the evil and stop it from ever attacking the Gold Empire. They closed the gate with powerful magic behind them, so that nothing would be able to leave the tomb whether they were successful or not. Then they faced the Sword of Destiny himself.
The battle against Sa'nakt proved a fateful one, as this ancient hero and champion used every trick in his disposal against the talons. He managed to mortally wound one of Raiqwen's siblings before the Talons put him down. But he was reborn in fire, like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The Talons realized they were fighting the incarnation of an ancient god, a power greater than any they could hope to match given physical form. Down there, below the monument to death, their powers were not great enough to kill Sa'nakt. They fought valiantly against him, but his return from death proved to be their undoing. Raiqwen was horribly wounded, and three of their siblings were killed. As Raiqwen coughed up blood and clutched at their sword again, fire burning in their eyes, Aarjhan ran out in front of them. Sa'nakt exploded in fury, intending to claim both their lives, before they could kill him again, but Aarjhan was faster. He shouted to Raiqwen to find an elemental weapon they knew could cut through the divine magic, before teleporting them out and into the desert.
Raiqwen doesn't know what happened to Aarjhan, but before they knew it they manifested in the desert. Coughing up blood, they collapsed to the ground. Willing to be stronger, to stand, Raiqwen rose on shaky legs. And then an angel materialized before them, a being with liquid metal skin, rotating spheres of fire around its chest and eyes like caged lightning. Raiqwen grabbed their blade in trembling hands and asked the spirit what it wished.
It answered that it wished to save the gods by destroying the Empire. Raiqwen flew forwards with their swords, intending to cut the spirit before it could say anything more, but their wounds slowed them down. The angel said ten words: "25, Ixen, Ioth, Rapier, Malka, Melech, Malika, 83, 42, Longsword"
These words, secret code words implanted in Raiqwen's mind when they became a Talon, were originally designed with good intention. When a Talon became compromised in a position, they could use these words to forget everything they knew, making sure they did not share any of the Empire's secrets. But uttered by this angel, their intent was different. Raiqwen went deep, deep into their own mind, under layers of arcane barriers and protection, and their mind became a clean slate except for the very deepest of Raiqwen's desires. While Raiqwen was catatonic, the angel healed them and stole away their magic items and armour.
A nameless being, a person without personhood, woke up in the desert the next day and stumbled into a nearby forrest. A dwarf met them there and asked their name. The nameless being looked down at the dagger at their belt and named themselves "Dolk".
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