#shensen

[tentakrool]

Drew a picture of Bereia with her bestie, totally-not-girlfriend Shensen hanging out together. They’re just friends! Friendly friends.

Bereia was my Pathfinder character in the AP Hells Rebels. I just wanted to draw her in some gay clothes, tbh. Shensen helped her pick them out.

[aspenvintre]

Pafnee talking about Elphaba: She can’t be good at everything, I bet she’s a bad kisser

Glinda: [Distracted filing her nails] No, she’s good at that too.

Shensen and Pafnee at the same time: What?!

Glinda: [Confused why they’re so shocked, looks up from her nails] What?

[ihatedean]

same goes for jensen clearly. shensen :3

[marlsbuck]

∗ ∘ imessage ⇢ saf 💒

marley: did i see that you got a FUR BABY SAF?!?!?

marley: i need name, age, breed - all he details.

marley: but also when can i come give this baby loves? and see your stunnin' face, of course.

marley: i'll bring drinks and snacks.

[mornemire]

New Tomorrow (Adam Jensen х David Sarif) DEHR

(my first clip)

Адам, который верен и предан Дэвиду, и выбирает его *_*

[hellspathfinder]

Night Visions

Written with this track in mind: 

A Dream of Femick Embersword:

Voices all around me making small talk mixed with the clanking of glasses and plates. A hundred people in expensive outfits admiring one another. One voice rises above the others, simply exclaims the word “Look!”

Rising to gaze over the crowd and out the veranda doors away Southwest, we see huge columns of black smoke, even in the failing light they are plain to see. Many small ones, and three larger than the rest. The docks are the nearest. An entire pier is ablaze. 

The second great fire is across the calmly flowing Yolubilis, downtown in the shop district. There last is a huge plume of smoke to the Southeast. Alarm bells began to ring across the city.  Staring hard again at the shop district, my heart begins to pound in my chest.

I sprint for the balcony. Knock over a waiter. Shove an old fat lady aside.

As the balcony rail comes at me fast, I can see that it’s definitely the Badger. I dive off four-floors-up, glide to the outer wall designed to keep the riff raff out. I barely grab the edge of it with my fingertips. “GO” I yell at myself out loud. I pull myself up and race across the wall, again diving over the side to glide down into the streets below.

Running hard now, scimitar banging against my hip.  The fire is ahead and to the left, over the rooftops. I know which alley to take. I sprint through a small market knocking over chairs and tables. Through someone’s front yard. I’m on the right street now, there’s light ahead.

The Badger is consumed. It flows up the outer walls, bursts out of the windows. A forty foot wide pillar of black smoke churns out of the roof and up into the night sky.  People are running away from it. I can’t see inside, the fire is too thick.

Across the river to the South, I see a huge burst of fire rise up into the night and become smoke over the shops by the opera house. My stomach clenches, I can’t breathe, tears are coming. I race to the end of the burning dock. Voices yelling around me, at me, as I dive full speed into the river.

I shape my dive perfectly to slice through the calm flow. I see the reflection of a beautiful silver-haired elven woman with make up streaming down her cheeks and a crazed look in her eyes coming straight at me and then cold water surrounds.

The water smells foul, death and ash choke me as I try to breathe it, but it’s too foul. I surge ahead. I hit the surface on the other side so hard I launch all the way onto the sidewalk and start running as water gushes out of my chain shirt.  

In a few steps it’s fallen off me and I’m at a full sprint again. I can’t breathe but I’m not tired, I run on pure terror.

I cut through the dense neighborhood on the South shore of the river, cutting left and right until I get to the square. I burst out of a side street, straining to see to the West.

“No, no NO” I hear myself say as I confirm what’s burning. The surrounding buildings are caught too, it’s all on fire. I run straight at it. The heat knocks me off my feet and I sit on the stones in the middle of the street as the upper floor collapses down into the first. I struggle to my feet, hands shaking. Tears stream down my face. I can’t breathe. I’m trying to inhale and I can’t.

I feel hot, inside. My hands and feet are tingling. I feel like I’m on fire. I don’t notice the heat of the blaze anymore. I scream.

I feel a hand on my shoulder, turning me around. I look into the faces of four armored men. They wear red sashes with the symbol of a tyrant clasping them.

“WHY?!” I spit on them as I say it. They reach for their weapons. Maces or clubs or some other slow heavy thing. I have Stirling in my hand and sweeping across my body before they even raise their weapons. I take off the hand of the nearest soldier, his scream drowned out by my own. I dance through their clumsy attempts to strike me. Two more hit the street dead as I cut the shoulder tendons on the last.

Laying on his back in the street clutching his limp arm, I hold Stirlings blade an inch from his face as fire courses down the hilt to its tip. “Where is your Lord?!” I struggle to say to him.  “Opera house” he spits through clenched teeth.

I am running harder than I ever have in my life. I pass people in the street, most are fleeing.  Some yell at me and try to follow but they can’t keep up.

I see more soldiers ahead in Aria Park, in front of the Opera House. Four on the street and two more at the doors. 

Through clenched teeth, I whisper “Celeb Yavie Cuar” and Stirling changes in my hands into a longbow. The artifact faithfully conjures arrows with shining silver tips into my hands as I draw, lighting each one aflame as I fire. Six shots, six hits. Two guards fall dead, the others retreat around the side of the building with their wounds.

“Celeb Yavie Salka” and Stirling changes back into one scimitar and then splits into two. I kick the front doors open and charge into the foyer. Two more of Thrune’s flunky guards are dead before they hit the floor. I enter the main hall, race down through the cheap seats yelling “THRUNE, FACE ME!”

Guards appear at the balcony on either side of me with crossbows pointing down. 

“Celeb Yavie Lindur” as my swords become a violin and bow, I struggle to focus enough to play but finally find the music and freeze them just as they take aim. They stare at me in horror as Stirling changes back into a bow and I put a burning silver arrow through each throat. They fall into the orchestra pit with a terrifying crash one by one. 

Running boots and armor turn me around in time to see Thrune’s bodyguard coming at me from the side hall. She leads with a huge polearm and has a running start. Stirling returns to sword form at a whisper and sparks fly as her blade scrapes mine in passing. 

The strength of her blows is jarring, I cannot block them so I deflect and dance around them. There is a foul black fire smoldering in her eyes and a savagery to her movements that suggests she is more than she appears. Again and again she brings her weapon around in long sweeping strokes and thrusts that destroy the seating around us as if they were paper.

I am on my heels and need to fight smarter. My rage has not cooled but I am thinking again. I fake a stumble after her last swing and she lunges hard at the false opening.  She quickly regains her footing and turns with another killing stroke but my hand holds the back of her neck and my sword has passed through her heart before she can bring her huge weapon around.

I tear Stirling free of her as she growls and stares at me from the ground, somehow still alive. I feel the spell hit me before I see The Count standing on the balcony with his outstretched hand. A thousand invisible bricks build a wall around me. I cannot move, I still can’t fucking breathe.

I hear wings. The flapping of small leathery wings behind me. Something sharp stabs me in the leg, then the hip, then the neck. The heat drains out of me and numbing cold seeps in. I feel frozen and heavy. The only part of me that still moves is my heartbeat. It slows, and stops.

Femick wakes up in a panicked sweat with a burning need to feel his own heart, which is indeed still beating.

[444names]

nord names from tes + brythonic deities + tolkienesque and french forenames

Aberar Abid Adingryk Adren Aelik Aertinn Aggoon Aghte Aladjalwë Alatgrun Aldance Aldsen Alesste Algaldsen Allod Aminer Amoroth Anar Andla Anew Angarwyne Anger Angfryn Ansel Anskalar Anss Arat Argekkar Arkmar Asgeforb Assigeiran Aste Axdra Aximdi Azen Baki Banorfairl Baralevar Barilf Barineknif Bathod Baug Belet Belierk Belkyrwine Beomulfróf Beran Beredar Beridilki Betip Betir Bjadood Bjak Bjasto Bjeg Bjemgord Blafte Bline Bolm Bond Booma Bord Boreng Borger Borste Brar Brariksky Bras Bravwe Brejarield Brenrant Brid Briksen Bris Bros Brund Bruvid Bryn Burr Buxe Cend Chadrion Chant Cock Colwyn Corbie Daldirik Dancas Dang Demel Dolaist Dordla Dorkor Drank Dravar Drokurga Drorbekir Drór Eand Ebrags Einen Eirène Elfte Ellild Elmoreda Elou Elurgeir Embeid Emin Eousarid Erarkeris Eresagdur Erkerd Evil Eärwin Falbjak Fald Falmayerd Fjodhad Fjorvaric Fluguthar Forn Forne Fort Frek Fren Fria Fringolf Froissen Frokmitter Frolfhil Froll Fron Fruck Fryn Fyggeng Gals Gandroda Garkvin Garud Gein Geir Genowenry Genrik Georthamar Gissen Gjald Gjumermirë Glod Godheddade Gorus Gres Gridie Grines Grolë Grumbarda Gryk Guesa Gundard Gunfen Gunmir Gwel Haere Haerg Haker Halfesen Halwyngen Hamengur Hammelang Hanamitee Hande Harhirles Hariird Harvone Havanaus Havidood Hearushair Heatjar Hecalda Hegur Heirksen Helda Helfine Hild Hjody Hjol Hjolrelda Hjornssa Hjotheid Hlof Hloros Hlotrilher Hoagelf Horbra Hordog Horfnhil Horns Horsen Horthein Hosgarren Hrantur Hreeborcin Hrejar Hrisaer Hrorn Hugus Humfild Hursenres Hyllea Héottir Ifen Ighna Inmalbald Inne Inni Iondi Iorsen Ithiljar Ivarvik Jakoren Jaralmojis Jarfen Jarke Jarsen Jear Jegrys Jeme Jern Jerr Joftherek Jolarl Jold Jolla Jord Jormwyrn Jornus Jorvi Jorviduin Jytt Jérès Kalduild Karel Karlaitte Kathjartz Kjak Kjasguk Kjeathgan Kjenrelgyr Kjold Kjorbis Knirel Koralf Korfi Kotra Kroga Kulraesser Kunest Kyria Kília Lalistr Landin Lauggeirt Legnyr Lemis Lensen Lenti Lergil Linellar Ling Lingense Little Loaran Lormar Losen Lotte Loudgjafur Lowreff Lumbrigg Lunde Luner Lyesensen Lynluf Maele Magnir Mantion Marag Marap Marariding Mard Maring Marsenvard Masgen Massen Meng Merowmar Merver Miisgar Ming Mingeourn Mojalfre Mojarc Mojeaberik Monariguil Monellim Mororri Myrstonend Nenwulvarn Neteir Nilith Ninear Ning Nirel Njadvale Norunvalt Nuda Oethimid Ogasgra Oklema Olfbruda Orblon Ormulfa Otheandir Othelar Ounteren Paldarakir Poveekar Raland Ralfhit Randinèse Rarn Reiribett Renowhi Rhar Rogmi Rolgar Ronge Ronus Rémil Sabbar Sabita Sabja Saernedyen Salda Scall Senssend Shaling Sheik Shensen Shin Sile Silm Sisaeld Siven Skadlemar Skaig Skir Skulredda Skunjormar Skurik Skuronild Slaar Sloarkezl Smilde Smélic Snongrear Snosten Somund Sorabbar Sorart Sordann Sorlormitë Sorn Stanse Sturé Suwen Sval Svalda Svarcold Svegist Sveri Svern Swind Talstbord Tarne Tertalumar Thadeler Thafis Tharious Tharn Thda Theldsen Then Thie Thir Thjodesen Thogling Thorjar Thrane Thundin Théoth Tigun Tonne Torsth Trer Tulenne Twen Tyrwer Ulfarn Ulfix Ulfulfind Ulfwilfa Ulli Ulra Ulrarren Ultar Ulwë Undin Undre Valdnysry Valis Valvo Varaline Vart Vattleth Vilionnia Virnse Virt Vkorial Volr Vulf Vánar Waliette Wava Whettil Whild Wick Widagnès Wrasger Wuuf Yelchaldin Yleirfi Éodmuglaf Éodwyn Íria

[auskultu]

McCartney—Once Through the Charm

Tammy Hitchcock, KRLA Beat, 17 June 1967

Labels seem to be essential in the music business. The powers-that-be dictate that an entertainer is not truly successful until he has been labeled. Thus we find one Paul McCartney, “the charming Beatle."

It was often said of McCartney that if he hadn't been an entertainer he probably would have been a politician since he could be relied upon to say the right things at the right time, soothe the ruffled feelings caused by his not-quite-so-tactful cohort, John Lennon, and to smile, smile, smile.

Cunning There is no question about it—Paul has a cunning way with words. Asked if the Stones are more popular than the Beatles, McCartney lifted a questioning eyebrow: “Are they? I don’t think so. I wouldn't like to say who is more popular. The Stones have got their publicity agent and we’ve got ours. It’s up to you who you believe. The Stones are good lads and I don’t want people to think that it’ll come to us sticking our tongues out at each other like school kids.”

Responsibility At the very beginning when adults were blaming the Beatles for their son’s stubborn resistance to the barber’s shears. Paul announced that the Beatles didn't have any responsibility whatsoever to their fans. “It would probably be a nicer answer if I said yes we have a responsibility to fans, but I can’t be noble for the sake of it.”

The Beatles had no sooner landed in America for their first visit than a nationally-syndicated columnist broke the Jane Asher/Paul McCartney romance and the rumors have haunted Paul to this day. Every reporter asked the same question of McCartney: “Are you married or planning to marry Jane Asher?” He smiled and bore the monotonous questioning until finally he was fed up. “I’ve no plans but everybody keeps saying I have. Maybe they know better. They say I’m married and divorced and have 50 kids—so you might as well say it too.” 

Charming McCartney’s “charming��� label became a drag as time went on and he concentrated more on saying what he felt rather than what others wanted him to say. He disliked the protest song movement intensely and said so. "They make me concentrate too much on the lyric—which I don’t like.

"I think Barry McGuire’s ‘Eve Of Destruction’ is rubbish. And when I first heard it I thought it was bad. When I saw McGuire in person leaping around in those boots and growling, I just fell about!

“The Manfreds did a protest number on television which was the end. It was so bad they must have written it themselves."

But to say that Paul completely gave up being “the charming Beatle” would be a lie. He was as charming as he’d ever been—only quite a bit more frank and a little more outspoken.

In 1965 the Beatles turned-down an invitation to appear before the Queen at the Royal Variety Show in London and it was Paul who explained the group’s decision to the press. "It’s not our audience. If we went on and those people didn’t like us everyone would say, ‘ha, ha, the Beatles failed, they’re on the slide’.”

His sense of humor he kept intact: his ability to laugh at himself, at the Beatles and at the world, no doubt, saw him through some pretty rough times. Walter Shensen tells one of the funniest stories about McCartney.

"Boorish" It seems that once Paul approached Shensen with a newspaper review from one of the London papers. "I don’t think it’s fair," moaned McCartney. "This chap says we’re boorish. That’s the one thing we’re not—we never bore.’’ Shensen explained that "boorish" does not mean "boring" it means "uncouth.” "Oh, uncouth," said the relieved Paul. “Well, I think that’s fair enough!’’

The deafening waves of screams which traditionally accompany a Beatle concert received much notice in the press. Reporters demanded to know how the Beatles I felt about performing amid the noise.

And it was Paul who answered:

"The fans pay their money to come in and if they want to scream then that’s their perogative. We don’t mind if they scream. Why should we?

"The only thing that counts is that they are having a good time for their money. Anyway, five years ago we were playing without the screams and, friend, it wasn’t half as nice. I mean, the bread is important too, you know.’’

Although it was Lennon who received the attention for making How I Won the War, it was McCartney who first left the group to try his hand alone. He wrote "Woman’’ for Peter and Gordon, but asked that a pen name be used rather than his real name. His idea worked—for awhile.

"I knew someone would find out the truth sooner or later," said Paul, "but I’m glad the story didn’t leak out until after ‘Woman* had become a hit in Britain and America. I hate to read record reviews which say that so-and-so will have a hit just because a Beatle number is involved. It's not fair on the artists concerned.

"Anyway, my idea worked. Incidentally. this is the only song I’ve published under a pen name. I don't plan to repeat the idea . . . well, not at the moment, anyway!" 

Keeps Cool Paul is well-noted for his cool. It’s amazing how he keeps it when people ask sonic of the most ridiculous questions imaginable. An "image" is manufactured by a press agent and the press itself. It often times has nothing to do with what entertainers arc really like. Yet during the summer of ’66 a reporter stood himself up and asked Paul to explain the Beatles' image.

"I don’t know," snapped the hard-to-irritate McCartney. "Our image is what we read in the papers. You people make up our image. We know what our real image, is and it’s nothing like ‘image’."

McCartney once said: *I’m always pleased when somebody has a hit with one of our songs—it’s almost as good as us doing it." Yet, a rather well-informed reporter wanted to know what Paul thought of other artists "stealing" the Beatles’ material.

Don't Steal "They don’t steal them," fired back Paul. "No, I know they don’t," replied the reporter. "But you just said they did,” countered Paul, "and besides, we pinch just as much as the rest of’em."

The Beatles will never tour America again. The press will never have the opportunity to try their hand at making Beatles squirm. But, undoubtedly. McCartney will continue to look through his charm and allow the world an occasional glimpse of what goes on inside his mind.

[maniout-blog]

Cuando te salvas por un pelo :v #WarRobots #WalkingWarRobots #Griffin #Shensen #Android

[lucule]

I'm the most mature person ever

[hellspathfinder]

Chief Scout’s Log

Chief Scout's Log, Kintargo, 4716. Excerpts from 11.24 to 11.25. Korva Fushi.

4716.11.24 Ruby Massacre. Lord Mayor Barzillai Thrune directs the dottari to seal Kintargo Opera House during a performance. 101 Civilians killed by Thrune Devils & Agents.  Shensen discovered turned to stone in the basement and is released. Lord Mayor Jilia Bainilus discovered magically enslaved in a cavern under the basement and released, thus negating Thrune’s Mayoral authority.

4716.11.25

DAWN: Kintargo Bay:

5 Chelish Warships convene naval squadron and enter Kintargo Harbor and the Yolubilis as far as bleakbridge. These ships are HMS Everwar, HMS Prince Haliad, HMS Abrogail II, HMS Diabolic, and HMS Darellus. Each ship carries 190 sailors, soldiers, 12 officers and a captain while the HMS Abrogail II also carries a vice admiral’s flag.

Flag signals the Scourge of Belial. Scourge fails to reply. HMS Darellus fires a signal cannon. Scourge again fails to reply.

Kintargo Castle

Hellknights of the Order of the Rack abandon defensive duties in Kintargo and redeploy to Kintargo Keep. The Dottari abandon Kintargo Keep and redeploy to Aroden Plaza.

EARLY MORNING:

Kintargo general:

Dottari Patrols are tripled on the city streets, all citizens are commanded to stay in their homes and the city is placed on total lockdown. Bleakbridge is closed and defended by a platoon of Dottari including Commander Trex.

Old Kintargo (SW):

Dottari Scouts are seen on two rooftops adjacent to the Lucky Bones. Two SRS are reassigned and the Dottari Scouts are quietly removed without incident.

Squad of Chelish Citizens Group seen in an alley outside the Tooth and Nail. Raven sent. Investigator Tiora relocates from Opera House to Tooth & Nail.

Holding House does not open at regularly scheduled visitation hours. All doors shut.

Reports of a Dottari Squad approaching Laria Longroads private residence. Dottari squad later confirmed 100% dead in the street. Laria escaped to Lucky Bones.

MID MORNING:

Kintargo Harbor:

Dottari deploy two squads to Scourge of Belial to arrest Captain Sargaeta and seize the ship. Scourge crew fights Dottari. Dragon attack. Scourge of Belial burns to the waterline. Crew escapes to the Lucky Bones.

Chelish Citizens Group enters Tooth and Nail but no arrests are made. Tooth and Nail staff flees with Tayacet to Opera House and are allowed entry.

Lucky Bones attacked by two squads of Dottari and Chelish Citizens Group. Silver Guard defense with Laria Longroads. Two Silver Guard casualties Corporal Antyr Hostedder, Corporal Monzel Eastman. All Dottari & Citizens Group killed. Lucky Bones is secured.

Squad of Dottari with Chelish Citizens Group attempts to arrest Captain Marlow aboard Fortune Star. Ship’s crew severely wounded. Enemies eliminated with assistance from Acizasi.

Holding House assaulted by Hellknights of the Order of the Torrent, with “gnome” alchemist Doc Slumweg. Dottari eliminated, Warden Sabo kia. Prisoners freed and escorted to Opera House.

MIDDAY:

Bleakbridge: Three Dottari Squads eliminated or scattered. Commander Trex killed. Gabriel killed, his body taken “into the sky” by unknown entity - winged humanoid, 8’ tall, shirtless. Academy & Records Hall teams cross Bleakbridge.

Unknown Class 4 spellcaster appears where Gabriel fell demanding to see him. HMS Everwar fires upon Bleakbridge, weakening structure. Unknown Class 4 engages Chelish Navy with two unknown associates.  Azwraith describe associates as “Old Friends.”

HMS Everwar burned to the waterline. HMS Abrogail II largely abandoned, ran aground on North docks. HMS Prince Haliad capsized by a whale and ran aground by the Northern Sea Wall.

Kintargo Harbor: HMS Darellus ran aground and through the Western Bastion of Kintargo Castle.

HMS Diabolic stands off to sea.

North Kintargo: Alabaster Academy fire in lower levels. Two Dottari squads including casters eliminated. Multiple wounded, no casualties.

Records Hall: Redactor squad encountered. High ranking enemy caster killed while attempting to escape. “Tiarise Izoni,” Asmodean, Witch or Wizard. Possessed notes pertaining to magical rituals delivered to Celeb.

AFTERNOON:

Aroden Plaza: Protests escalate into riots. Dottari regroup around Aroden Plaza Bridge. Lord Mayor Jilia Bainilus arrives with Morfak and Jiao. Crowd begins to disperse when magical incident occurs. Scout on site reports “waves of music and anger” affect civilians and Dottari. Many are killed. Mayor Bainilus orders all civilians to return home. Dragon attacks.

Dottari form ranks along Aroden Plaza Canal facing North. Silver Ravens form up across North side of plaza facing South.

[hellspathfinder]

The Battle for Kintargo

The city rose in anger the morning after the Ruby Massacre. A hundred and one citizens dead at the hands of Barzillai Thrune. Two hundred saved by the timely intervention of the Silver Ravens whom Thrune called terrorists.

Leaflets of the Poison Pen’s latest works flutter through empty streets. Every block silent, save when the tripled Dottari patrols rumble past. The Kintargans watch through their window shutters, passing word as they dare.

They know the Dottari have mobilized against the Silver Ravens and any who would aid them. They know all bridges and public offices are closed. They know the Chelish Navy is sailing up the Yolubilis River all the way to Bleakbridge to put down any serious threats.

And yet, they hope. They speak of marching to the grand Plaza of the dead god Aroden, the oldest and greatest landmark of their city. They will gather just after the midday Sun has passed and be heard as one.

The morning’s silence is broken by the Chelish Navy warships signaling to the Scourge of Belial, but she does not answer.

Undermanned for their apparent plan to arrest half the city, the Dottari send Chelish Citizens Group soldiers to arrest Captain Hank Marlow of the Silver Star for suspicion of treason. Old Captain Hank fights them off with the help of strange elves that burst forth from the Sea and come to his aid.

The Tooth and Nail Tavern also sees a visit from the Chelish Thugs but they are turned away by stink bombs and sick spells. Witnesses describe seeing Setrona & a dozen patrons dash out a back window while the thugs and their Dottari Sergeant stumbled out the front steps to cough up their breakfast in the gutters.

Things begin to get serious when the Dottari send an entire squad to arrest poor old Laria Longroads. As the soldiers approached her front door, they were attacked by a seven foot tall wolf-man wielding a shining gold and silver blade. He left them all dead in the street before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

The greatest part of the Chelish Citizens Group was seen with their commander heading South into Old Kintargo. They were not seen again that day or any day since.

The Dottari march down the pier to arrest Captain Sargaeta of the Scourge of Belial. Those that live near the docks report the sounds of gunfire and swordplay, until the unmistakable roar of a dragon is heard and the most famous pirate hunter to ever sail the Arcadian Sea is burnt to the waterline.

With that, the Silver Ravens attack in force. Clearly they have not been idle, as they storm Bleakbridge with spell, sword, and arrow. Commander Vanassus Trex, the greatest archer ever produced by the Dottari, shoots the wanted “criminal” Gabriel dead, but is herself killed by Lothario. The Dottari ranks are broken and they scatter, yielding the bridge for now.

The Hellknights of the Torrent, long thought to be killed or captured by Thrune, reveal themselves and stride boldly down the street to the Holding House. With the aid of a strange old gnome who throws firebombs, they blast down every door and open every cell to free their allies before marching East.

With Bleakbridge undefended, the Ravens strike to the North side of the city to protect the history of Kintargo at the Alabaster Academy and Records Hall. A huge column of black smoke is seen rising from the Academy, but Silver Ravens are seen running through the streets at impossible speed to bring water, and so the fire is quenched.

“The Navy will have it’s say” as the expression goes, and it is not wrong as the HMS Everwar and HMS Abrogail II turn and broadside Bleakbridge. Their first volley knocks loose brick and beam, threatening to destroy the bridge with the Silver Ravens on it. Their second volley, however, bounces off some unseen wall like tumbleweeds, and the sea creatures of Nisroch Bay come alive in anger at the Thrune ships.

Witnesses report that a great grey whale slammed into the side of the HMS Prince Haliad, striking it upon the North docks. Old Kintargan legend came to life when an Orca was also seen swimming through the river at great speed towards the HMS Abrogail II.

Even curiouser, the HMS Everwar was repeatedly struck by lightning and a great voice was heard on the wind calling “BOOOO HAAAAAAAAN” as the ship burned. The HMS Darellus ran aground so violently it skidded up the shore and through the wall of Castle Kintargo. Some say the Darellus was fleeing rough seas, blackened with great clouds of ink.  The HMS Diabloic retreated and is said to be anchored a half mile out to sea. Close enough to watch, but afraid to enter the city.

Lord Mayor Jilia Bainilus reveals herself at the protests, but they have already turned violent. A famous Skald known only has “Burns” has magically urged the protesters to violence against the Dottari and the gutters flow with blood. Jilia, Morfak, and Jiao arrive just in time to cool things down and send many civilians home to safety.

The Dottari are forced to retreat from the North side of the city to the South where they regroup at Aroden Plaza, holding the bridge. Silver Ravens trickle in from all points across Kintargo and face them head on.

The Duxotar herself organizes the city’s guard, bolstered by Asmodean Enchanters, Questioners, and Redactors. The great blue dragon Rivozair circles the city in slow gliding circles, searching for targets to burn with her hellfire breath.

The Silver Ravens stand shoulder to shoulder with the rightful Lord Mayor. With the Hellknights of the Torrent. With Shensen. Even Vyre has come to their aid in the form of the Queen of Delights, flanked by Bujon: Storm of Cheliax.

The Queen takes Gabriel’s greatsword from Azwraith. She looks skyward and whispers into the blade. None could hear what she said, but the clouds immediately parted and with a crack of Thunder, a huge silver-skinned and winged man fell out of the sky to land before her. He took up his sword and in a flash he changed into Gabriel, mortal man again. She pulled Commander Trex’s well-placed arrows from his body and restored him.

Azwraith and Gabriel grew to twice the size of normal men and charged straight into the vanguard of the Dottari. A hail of arrows struck the Ravens as they flanked far West and East. The Asmodeans rained fire, fear, and death on them from behind the Dottari lines but the Ravens charged through it. Rivozair strafed them with hellfire but they endured and even wounded the drake thanks to the incredible aim of Elia Nonez, first mate of the Scourge of Belial.

The bricks of the plaza were soaked with blood as the Ravens steadily pressed the Dottari, forcing their lines to fall back and eventually buckle. Again the angry Seas rose to the Ravens aid, as the strange water elves again emerged and harassed the Asmodean wizards and priests. A great shark was seen to burst forth out of the river and change into an even larger elephant with great hooked tusks. It angrily strode through the Asmodean ranks, scattering their spellcasters.

The dragon separated them with walls of hellfire and tore their elephant down. Morfak dispelled a domination effect on the Duxotar, causing the remaining Dottari to split into two factions. One loyal to Thrune, the other to the Duxotar and Kintargo itself. The asmodeans fled but were cut down by the Storm of Cheliax.

But still the dragon came on. Rivozair forced many Silver Ravens into retreat, but not all that should have fled would go. Frisky Jim of the Scourge ran only forward, and died to dragonfire by the edge of the canal. Even more heartbreaking was the loss of Zea. The Headmistress of the Devil’s Nursery Orphanage ran through hellfire to bring healing to the Ravens and perished in the flame even as she saved others.

Spurred on by her noble sacrifice, the Ravens fired shot after shot into Rivozair, forcing the great drake to flee back to the safety of the Temple of Asmodeus along with all other Thrune forces.

The city of Kintargo belongs now to its citizens again, and to the Silver Ravens. They know they must finish the fight and remove the Asmodean threat from the Temple right away, but they have won the day and triumphed in the Battle for Kintargo.

[hellspathfinder]

A Taste of Vengeance

The Ruby Masquerade is in full swing. Nigel, dressed as a Dottari guard, is bluffing and sneaking his way through the opera house to gain intelligence about the coming ambush by Barzillai’s forces. Jiao, Clenchjaw, and Boudicca are mingling with the crowd, gathering information and building trust. Lothario is making-out with a noblewoman he just met in the art gallery.

While the Silver Ravens maneuver, the orchestra performs and the guests eat and drink. Nigel finds a side-room with three Cockatrices in cages, with a hidden quick-release switch. He disables this device and jams the cage doors so the beasts cannot be freed.

At 10pm, the Dance of the Damned begins in grand Chelaxian tradition. Guests take the stage and dance together, being tapped on the shoulder by their gracious host, Barzillai Thrune, and “damned” off the stage if their dancing does not please the crowd.

Jiao, with the grace and stamina, outlasts and outperforms the hall to wins the Dance of the Damned, which appears to irritate Barzillai. But the night continues unimpeded, and the stage is cleared for the next performance. 

A powerful singer takes the stage and fills the hall with her voice. Her song carries through the orchestra pit into the basement, where more Silver Ravens lie in wait. Boudicca begins her prep spells while resting a hand on the Edge of the Sea.

As midnight approaches the singer concludes and Barzillai takes the stage. He gives a short speech describing the Silver Ravens as murderous criminals whose reign of terror ends tonight. While confusion spreads amongst the crowd, he seals the exits to the Opera House, and dozens of thugs dressed as Silver Ravens flood into the crowd. 

What appear to be angels accompany these false Ravens, and they immediately attack. Dozens are killed within the first few moments as sword blades, axes, and flaming arrows fall amongst the civilians. Jiao, Clenchjaw, Femmik, Lothario, and Boudicca fly into action to combat them. Streya assassinates the loading bay guard and works her way into the backstage area.

The orchestra, apparently a detailed illusion, vanishes just as a huge creature appears in the middle of the first floor crowd. She has the upper body of a beautiful woman, and the lower body of a huge snake. She terrifies all around her and summons a cloud of toxic gas.  

Nigel joins the fight on the second floor, as Caleb, Gabriel, Morfak, and Azwraith fly up through the empty orchestra pit. A chaotic battle ensues on every floor and staircase, in every room, and in the center of the great hall. Civilians are dying by the dozen even as the Silver Ravens fight to save them.

Eventually the Thrune forces are all engaged and must pause their wholesale slaughter to contend with the Ravens. Barzillai and a heavily augmented Nox join the fight and square off against Azwraith and Gabriel. By now the Ravens have assessed the fake-angels are in fact Erinyes Devils and a Bone Devil.

Octavio and the Hellknights of the Torrent storm the front doors of the Opera House with Hetamon and Rexus following them. They find the outer door guards dead with Lore standing over them, but she cannot breach the doors.

Rexus releases the heavy lock with a ‘Knock’ spell but the Dottari have barricaded the entrance from the inside. Kasston and Octavio chop and bash through with remarkable speed and ferociously fight their way into the lobby.

Gabriel hammers Barzillai but is brought down by the Erinyes arrows. The huge man falls onto the edge of the stage and slips over the side, plummeting into the basement. Boudicca dives from the balcony to the stage to fell Nox, and then dives again down into the basement to save Gabriel. 

She finds him laying very still in the orchestra pit, about to be devoured by half a dozen hellhounds Barzillai has as guards there. She casts ‘Slow’ on the hounds and stands over Gabriels unconscious form with her gleaming blue sword held out in front of her as long-dormant runes light up along its blade.

With Nigel blasting from above, Caleb dispelling their magical attacks, and Morfak channeling positive energy, Barzillai’s forces are brought to heel and he is knocked to the ground. But the soldiers of Thrune fight on, and the snake-devil is still killing civilians with abandon. 

Clenchjaw and Jiao have been stuck in the thick of the fight throughout all of this. While she has held her own against several Thrune agents, Clenchjaw has not faired so well. The bartender and bouncer has been knocked unconscious five separate times and raised back into the fight by Morfak and Hetamon’s positive energy channels. 

Ilsani the Hellknight Monk would later recount how Clenchjaw was grabbed by the bone devil, held four feet off the ground by his neck and with a positive channel, awoke and punched the devil square in the face before being flung to the ground again.

The second Erinyes is defeated, and Streya murders her way to the front of the stage along with Benjen and Hortense. Civilians are rushing out of the opened back doors and breached front as the Hellknights usher them with shouts and shoves. 

The bone devil teleports out, and the remaining Thrune forces are defeated or captured. Nearly 100 civilians are down but the Silver Ravens employ their clerics and medics in every possible capacity to save those that can be saved. People are traumatized, but thankful. Many of those invited to the Masquerade were Thrune loyalists, a stance they now question given what they have seen tonight. 

The Silver Ravens and Hellknights of the Torrent secure every room in the Opera House, but Shensen finds a trap door that was not there before Barzillai made this his home. Gabriel and Azwraith descend through the door down a narrow vertical passage with only stone handholds.

There they find underneath the Opera House basement is a natural cavern, magically shaped to connect to this trap door. They are given no time to contemplate this before they are engulfed in a swarm of bats and attacked by a powerful vampire who is none other than Lord Mayor Jilia Bainilus!

Jilia attacks immediately, attempting to mind control Azwraith who hurries down the ladder but he resists. Caleb and Lothario join the fight but are mind controlled by the vampire. The wizard begins to cast protective spells on the vampire as Lothario sinks arrows into Azwraith and Gabriel. Morfak saves the day with a ‘Protection from Evil: Communal’ he’s been saving up and they defeat the vampire.

They take her body upstairs and Shensen instantly identifies, as she puts it, “the rightful ruler of Kintargo.” The Silver Ravens utilize their only scroll of ‘Resurrection’ on Jilia who apologizes for being forced to attack them, and thanks the Ravens for their heroism and generosity.

The Ravens prepare to return to the Lucky Bones but Shensen stops them, saying that they must hold the Opera House. When they ask why, she informs them that it is the only place that the Song of Silver can be activated, and they will need it to win the battle for Kintargo that will surely follow the Ruby Massacre.

In only a few hours, the Sun will rise over a city at war.

[hellspathfinder]

Safe to Dance

The Silver Ravens return home after closing the Menador Gap. This decisive blow to Thrune interests in Kintargo will prevent any reinforcements by land, and so the Silver Ravens set about planning how to defeat Barzillai’s current compliment of Dottari and Devils.

Before they get very far in that planning process, they realize that someone is missing from their Silver Council meetings: Hetamon. He has not been seen for several days. The Ravens rest briefly, and suit up to find him. Searching all of the city with Location spells, tracking skills, and questioning any/all who know him, they learn some details of his tiefling heritage.

Hetamon was raised by his human father. He has never known his mother, but has learned enough about her through is father to know she is to be feared. A powerful demon called a Succubus, she possesses dangerous mind-control powers among a host of other spells and abilities. 

When the Silver Ravens catch up with her, she is in hiding in the ruins of the old Silver Star, Shensen’s instrument shop that burned to the ground on the Night of Ashes. The demon has defiled the former temple of Saranrae to her own purposes, and holds captive several clerics including her son.

They free Streya Vestori, a skilled rogue who fell victim to the Succubus’s powerful domination. She tells them that Natsiel is in the next room, performing a complicated ritual to turn the life force of the captured clerics into energies forming a powerful undead version of her hag servants. 

Gabriel, Caleb, Nigel, and Streya storm the former temple and slay the hags and Natsiel, freeing the clerics. Hetamon is overjoyed to see his rescuers, and introduces them to his fellow prisoners, Morfak, dwarven cleric of Torag, and Chucko, Tengu cleric of Erastil.

Morfak is a talented craftsman and Chuko runs a magic item shop and sparring arena in Northern Kintargo. Streya is a deadly rogue. All three gladly join the Silver Ravens. Rumor has spread through Kintargo of an upcoming event with a very exclusive guest list. The “Ruby Masquerade” will be the first ball held at the Kintargo Opera House since Barzillai Thrune took it as his home when he arrived in the city. It will feature many musical & dramatic performances, as well as a dance contest and of course a lavish spread of food and drink.

Invites are difficult to secure, and quickly a pattern emerges. Only Thrune supporters are invited, from Noble to Commoner alike. No Silver Ravens or those sympathetic to their cause have received invites to the event.

Through further investigation, the Silver Ravens learn that dozens of suits of armor have been commissioned, constructed, and purchased with a very similar look and style to theirs. 

They employ the greatest stealth and powerful magic to steal several invites and Caleb scouts the Opera House himself. There he sees fortifications on every exit, cages for Barzillai’s three pet Cockatrices with a release switch to turn them loose on the crowd in an instant, and most of the office and storage space has been converted to temporary barracks. 

The Silver Ravens theorize that Barzillai will impersonate them and murder civilians, even those loyal to him, to frame the Ravens for a heinous attack on the city. They gather all of their allies and hatch a plan to thwart the Lord Mayor.

They split into teams. Teams will communicate via the message spell, castable by Rexus, Caleb, and Nigel. One team will infiltrate the Opera house as guests, stashing or concealing whatever gear they need. Another will pose as Dottari. The Hellknights and other armor wearers will use waterbreathing spells to hide in the bottom of the pond in Aria Park, directly across the street from the Opera House.

Their ultimate plan is to breach the Opera House while Thrune forces are attempting their purge and rescue as many civilians as possible, but the Pond Team discovers something that alters their trajectory. 

Azwraith, trudging through pond-muck, trips over a wide, circular, metal panel. They examine it further and discern that it is a door to a secret, submerged tunnel into the Opera House basement. They message this to the rest of the team and open the door.

Through Morfak the dwarf’s stonecutting expertise and Caleb’s “locate secret opening” spell, they find more secret doors within, guarded by a large hellhound they quickly dispatch. 

They soon realize they are in an area of Kintargo that Barzillai himself has not found, the Silver Vault. A tomb and treasure trove of the original Ravens. They find tens of thousands of coin, several magic items, and a piece of their own history. They dub this area: the tunnel of wizard porn.

Once this area has been thoroughly searched and salvaged, they move on to the secret doors that exit into the Opera House basement. It is here that they stumble on Barzillai’s torture room. What once was a room full of finely made musical instruments is now filled with cages, shackles, and racks. Among the horrors they find a statue that seems a bit too lifelike. 

Remembering Femmik’s dream where he saw through Shensen’s eyes as she fought was captured by Barzillai Thrune, the Silver Ravens use a scroll of “Stone to Flesh” they found in the Silver Vault and Shensen is restored. She is weakened so that she can barely stand, but she urgently whispers a word over and over: “Suriel!”

Slowly she realizes she is free again, and she thanks them for saving her. She hungrily takes in recent events and their present situation, resolving to help in whatever ways she can.

As the music starts, the Ruby Masquerade begins. The inside team mingles and sneaks away from the party to investigate what lies in store for the guests. The pond-tunnel team prepares to fly into action literally from down in the orchestra pit!

[lucule]

I'm the most mature person ever