#yozz

[nevarroes]

have you seen this man?

[triflingshadows]

Ella @celestialkindliness’s demon commander Tena having a chat with Yozz everyone’s friend Yozz

[drowningparty]

Wild how invested I got in Yozz my good friend Yozz but I was genuinely so distressed during that scene where he was brought in to the evil rulers of the abyss dinner party w/ Baphomet's Gift addling his brain and I thought for five terrible minutes my fave treacherous advisor had been turned into a puppet for good and I was so devestated I pulled him aside and said "blink twice if you want me to massacre everyone grab you and run" and he was. confused as fuck why I would do that for him but he blinked twice so I ripped that worm out of his chest with my bare hands and went: "fuck everybody but you," and nothings more beautiful than telling the assassin who was assigned to babysit you against his will that you would fuck up a room full of incredibly powerful bastards to save his sorry life like friendship IS magic anyway I love finding paths

[vanmarkham]

okay so yesterday i had a mythic path crusade related decision that had yozz like 'the people already think youre a heretic, someday they will revolt against you for your demonic nature. it's important a demon has cultists to feed their power.' and then the options were like... fuel peasant beliefs or tempt noblemen with power BUT both options were worse crusader units than i already had lmaooo. so i did the meta thing and chose neither

BUT from an rp perspective, cyril definitely would stoke the power-hungry ambitions of amoral nobles. he's already made decisions of that nature, getting them to rely on his generosity with lavish feasts and parties so they will feel bereft should they ever leave him

[zahra-hydris]

adriana being summoned to meet nocticula

[dragonologist-phd]

i’m only half joking when i say that a lot of this next chapter is just

Cleo: Who are you?

Yozz: I’m you but worse

[lukedanger]

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Ask Game - Mechanics and Story

Knight-Commanders, what is the story told by those numbers on your character sheet? Here is an ask game list with some questions themed around that:

What led the future Knight-Commander to take their base class?

What led to the Knight-Commander picking their archetype, or staying the standard class?

If they chose to multiclass, what does it reflect about them? If they did not, why? Story or player reasons.

What prestige classes did they go for, and why? If not, would one fit them or did they qualify for one?

Which class features would particularly stand out with them - Rage, Channel Positive/Negative Energy, Animal Companions, etc.?

What about their skills and feats - what story is told by their skill selection, or was it pure gameplay?

Is there an alternative class or archetype that is in-game that may fit them better, and if so why did they not take that path?

Is a respec part of their story, and if so why? If not, if they had to respec into something else what would it be?

How does their Background choice reflect their character, and how does it play into their build?

How does their ancestry (race) play into their class and mythic path - do they overlap, or what dynamic is created from that combination?

How does their mythic path synergize with their build?

How does their mythic path synergize with their personality - does it augment it, or is it in contrast? Something in-between?

Which mythic abilities/spells would be iconic to them, and was it their preference or did they prefer something less iconic?

What about another mythic path that they did not take? Is there one that would fit them, build or personality wise, and what might that have looked like?

In your story, does the Knight-Commander consciously choose their mythic path at Drezen, or was it thrust upon them by their actions or some other outside force?

How well do they play mechanically with their romance, if any? If not, which party member do they synchronize best with?

Do they overlap with a party member in role or narrative presence, and if so how do they contrast from said party member?

Did any of their companions multiclass or take a PRC they do not start with, and if so what is the story behind this?

What is their favored weapon(s) or spell(s), and why?

Is there an item in-game that you felt became iconic to the Knight-Commander?

If the Knight-Commander could get a unique item, what would it be and what would it do?

What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.?

What units did they pick in the Military Council (Infantry, Archers, Cavalry, Spellcasters, Grand Tier), and why?

When the option to pick was available, which mythic units did they unlock and why?

[dragonologist-writings]

Title: Love & War Fandom: Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous Rating: M Status: Complete (19/19) Main Characters: Knight-Commander Cleo Ironbark, Queen Galfrey Supporting Characters: Yozz, Arueshalae, Woljif, Wenduag, Ember, Irahai, Nocticula, Hand of the Inheritor Ships: Knight-Commander/Queen Galfrey Additional Notes: Complicated Relationships, Angst, Rivals to Enemies to Lovers, Demon to Legend Mythic Path, Canon-Typical Themes, Minor Character Death Word Count: 72.8k Summary:

Galfrey was a queen, a paladin, an icon for all that was righteous and just in the Crusades. Cleo was a barbarian, a tiefling, a personification of demonic chaos. By all rights and logic, the two should have been at each other's throats- and often, they were. But somehow, through war and struggle and sacrifice, they ended up finding more in each other than either ever expected.

read here on ao3

Chaper 1 Below:

The first impression Queen Galfrey of Mendev formed of Cleo, warrior of the Ironbark tribe, was not a kind one.

To be completely fair, the Queen’s opinion was not wholly condemning, either. It was quite impossible for Galfrey to condemn the woman who had pulled Kenabres from the burning jaws of the demons. Every report given to the Queen repeated the same story: Cleo of Ironbark had bravely led the charge against the evil cultists and demons who threatened the city. Cleo of Ironbark had stormed the Grey Garrison and saved them all from the poison of the corrupted Wardstone. Cleo of Ironbark was a hero.

But Cleo of Ironbark was also…raucous.

“Another round!” the warrior cried, holding her tankard aloft, and the celebrating soldiers cheered along with her. The tankard was refilled without a moment’s hesitation, and after taking a long drink, Kenabres’s champion resumed her dramatic recounting of the day’s battle. Her voice carried across the tavern, rising above the din of the crowd and filling the large room with echoes of her bravado. Irabeth and Anevia sat at her side, listening to the tale with fond weariness and open amusement, respectively.

Galfrey kept to the corner of the tavern, holding her tongue and a humble mug of ale as she watched the theatrics unfold. Her retinue was waiting outside; she’d ordered them to give her fifteen minutes of peace before following her in. The guards were always so touchy about letting her out of their sight, as if she couldn’t handle herself perfectly well.

The Queen sighed at herself. That was unfair; they were merely doing their job. Under normal circumstances, she would have been content to let them do so. But a procession of guards was something that tended to be noticed, and in this instance, she’d wished to make her observations from a place of relative anonymity. She’d feared she might be noticed anyhow, but no; the people’s attention was centered solely on the sword-bearing storyteller who had already nearly drained her third serving of ale. This could only be the famous Cleo- who else would be drawing such adulation from the victorious crusaders?

Yet, she was not quite what Galfrey had expected.

For starters, Cleo was clearly not of Kenabres. Not a fact all that odd on its own, perhaps, but she was no ordinary traveler, either. She wore the furs and leather armor of the northern barbarians, and when she called out to the crowds, a Kellid accent made itself clear in her words. As if a lone tribeswoman in the middle of a Mendevian city wasn’t odd enough, the people’s new hero was also a tiefling. With skin of deep green and small horns that poked through her dark, close-shorn hair, her abyssal heritage was impossible to miss.

Even so, the notoriously suspicious Mendevians around her watched with high-spirited adulation as she spoke, her tail lashing enthusiastically behind her all the while.

“-and then,” she was saying, “just when we all thought we were well and truly fucked, I charged for the Wardstone. Minagho tried to stop me, but it was too late for her- I had my blade in my hands, and I took the biggest swing of my life, and with just one strike I shattered that corrupted chunk of stone!”

She mimed the motion of her attack, and the crowds shouted their appreciation. Their cheers brought a cocky grin to Cleo’s lips, revealing sharp-tipped teeth.

“And of course once that was taken care of, Minagho didn’t stand a chance. Shame she’s so good at running away, but there’s plenty other demons out there to slay!”

This declaration brought another round of victorious shouts, but Galfrey remained reticent. The scene so far had only served to cement her final impression of Cleo of Ironbark: that she was in possession of a concerning degree of reckless arrogance. Cleo spoke loudly and cursed often; she lauded her own daring exploits; she relished in stretching out her arms to display the scars lining her well-toned muscles to her crowd of admirers.

Galfrey was hardly unaccustomed to such personality. The thrill of victory could go to any soldier’s head, especially when aided by ale and applause. But she had been hoping for something more substantial from the savior of the city, and to find behavior which bordered upon unseemly was…disappointing.

Across the room, Cleo let out a loud laugh and leapt to her feet, very nearly tripping over her chair in the process. She teetered over Anevia, leaned down, and- inexplicably- blew a kiss onto the small charm in Anevia’s hands. They both laughed again at the action, even as Irabeth swatted at her wife’s shoulder in half-hearted chastisement.

In spite of herself, Galfrey felt her lips pull reluctantly into a smile. Her judgments were harsh; revelry could certainly be permitted in times like this. This was a celebration, after all, and here she was sulking in the corner and thinking dour thoughts. It must be the endless war meetings taking their toll, fixing her into this permanently somber state. After so many decades, it was growing increasingly difficult to escape such a mindset, especially when she’d spent the majority of the march to Kenabres half-expecting to find nothing but a funeral pyre.

Instead, she’d found a city in the throes of exhilarating victory. Such a state was infinitely preferable, and the leader who’d made it possible had more than earned herself a carefree night.

With that thought in mind, Galfrey threw back a swig of ale and strode forward to join her subjects at their table. Her fifteen minutes of peace were almost up, and it was time to make her presence known. Better to make a jovial introduction, she decided, rather than be a weight upon the soldiers’ high spirits.

The reactions her reveal garnered were much what Galfrey expected: Irabeth snapped to immediate attention, the nearby soldiers backed away to a respectful distance, and even Anevia straightened her posture and pushed her drink away.

But not Cleo. Cleo just watched, dark eyes giving away nothing as she granted the Queen a lazy smile. “Have I had too much to drink, or are you really who I think you are?”

“That depends a good deal on who you think I am, doesn’t it?” Galfrey countered evenly. She kept her voice lighthearted, welcoming, and held out her hand in a simple greeting. “Galfrey, of Mendev.”

Cleo regarded the offered gesture for a moment, her gaze sliding from Galfrey’s hand to meet her eyes. The edges of her smile grew more pronounced. “I see the rumors were not exaggerated. Pleasure to make your royal acquaintance.” Without breaking her stare, Cleo wrapped her calloused fingers around Galfrey’s, and she brought Galfrey’s hand to her lips.

The kiss she laid on Galfrey’s skin was short, but her eyes stayed fixed on the Queen- testing her, Galfrey realized. Pressing to see how quickly Galfrey would pull away.

Indignation surged through Galfrey’s veins, but she had decades of practice in disguising her annoyances.  She did not pull away, nor did she flinch under that taunting gaze; she waited until Cleo’s touch retreated, and only then did she withdraw her hand.

“Thank you for the compliment,” she said stiffly, and Cleo chuckled.

“Didn’t say what the rumors were, did I? But you are quite welcome, your royal highness. To what do I owe the honor of your visit?”

The words were simply dripping with mockery, and Galfrey almost changed her mind right then and there. The mission she’d meant to bequeath upon the hero of Kenabres required some modicum of respect and discipline, and she could just as easily enlist any of her current generals who actually displayed those qualities.

Except…none of those generals, in all their years of service, had accomplished anything like the feat this woman already performed. If even half of what Cleo claimed was true, she should be dead ten times over. That meant that this woman was either a braggart lying through her teeth…or she truly possessed the type of power the Crusades so desperately needed.

It was a risk, to gamble on the latter option in such a way. But the war had been locked in a stalemate for far too long. Perhaps a certain amount of risk was warranted.

And besides, Galfrey reminded herself, Cleo was currently deep in her cups. In all likelihood, she would wake in the morning somewhat sheepish and ready to approach their arrangement with a bit more propriety.

“The Queen graces me with her presence, I see.”

Galfrey stifled a sigh as she entered the Cleo’s tent. Outside, troops bustled in preparation for the march to Drezen, their shouts and orders mingling with the familiar clang of plated armor. The soldiers had been all too eager to accept the hero of Kenabres as their new Knight-Commander- much more eager than Cleo was to actually act the part. The obstinate woman lounged at her table of maps, not even rising to her feet as she greeted Galfrey with her usual taunt.

This was a worthy gamble, the Queen reminded herself. This inexplicable hostility was a small price to pay, if her newly-appointed Knight-Commander truly had a chance at cracking Drezen.

“Indeed. This mission is a matter of great importance, Commander,” Galfrey said, happy to hear that her voice came out smooth, betraying none of her frustrations. She allowed the weight of her authority to creep in on that last word, hoping to emphasize the importance of the title. “Reclaiming Drezen would be an unimaginable boon to the Crusades…as I have told you. The people believe in you. You have ignited their courage, and their hope. It is these virtues which will bring us to victory.”

“You can ease off the speeches in here, you know. Save us both the time,” Cleo drawled, not bothering to lift her attention away from the maps spread out before her.

Galfrey scowled and moved closer, setting her hands firmly over the maps and papers covering the table. “We are all putting our trust in you. This is not something I say lightly, and I cannot leave without knowing that we have an understanding.”

For the first time, Galfrey’s words actually seemed to have an effect on Cleo; her lazy smile disappeared, and her dark eyes narrowed as she studied the Queen standing before her. She even rose from her seat so as to meet Galfrey eye-to-eye across the narrow table. She shucked off her fur cloak as she stood, revealing broad shoulders laced with scars and decorated with geometric tattoos which wound around the back of her neck.

“And where will you be,” Cleo asked, steady and sharp, “while we charge off fearlessly to victory?”

Galfrey arched an eyebrow, surprised, but it seemed an honest question. “I shall be preparing the defenses at Nerosyan and its sister cities, and planning the future of the Fifth Crusade. Does this satisfy your curiosity, Commander?”

Cleo gave an undignified snort, a look of self-satisfaction flashing across her face. “Should’ve known.”

“Do you have something to say?” Galfrey demanded harshly. Such a rebuke would have shaken any of her courtiers or generals. Even now, knowing Cleo as she did, she half-expected the other woman to step back at the sound of her cutting displeasure.

But of course the Commander did not such thing. She actually leaned closer, eyes flashing, as she hissed, “Just that what you mean to say is that you’ll be watching the battle from the rear, safe and hidden away in some cushy palace while your soldiers bloody the battlefield. Can’t say I’m surprised. I’m sure a throne room is much more amenable to your sensibilities than a war camp.”

Her sensibilities? Galfrey’s jaw clenched. This feckless stranger hadn’t the faintest idea what she was speaking of- what did she know of the battles Galfrey had seen, the blood she herself had spilled in the name of Iomedae? She knew nothing, and Galfrey owed her no explanation for any of it.

“I have already overlooked many instances of insubordination, Commander,” Galfrey said, her voice low. “Do not test me further.”

The warning was a serious one, and perhaps Cleo sensed it. She paused, her face still close, searching the Queen’s expression for- well, Galfrey still wasn’t quite sure. But at last, she let out a quiet breath and turned away.

“It’s only insubordination if you’re the one in charge,” she said, almost conversationally. “From where I sit, you’re not the one doing the leading on this particular mission. If you’ve really got the mettle, march on Drezen with us. You’ve been making all your speeches about how pivotal this mission is for your Crusade. So prove it.”

A few seconds passed in which Galfrey could not form a response. Cleo made no secret of her disdain for the Queen’s presence- why would she make this offer now? Cleo tilted her chin, boldly staring down Galfrey as she waited for an answer.

“It has been a very long time,” Galfrey said slowly, archly, with as much authority as she could muster, “since anyone has dared to speak to me in such a manner. I must ask, what is it you are hoping to accomplish?”

Cleo shrugged. “Believe it or not, I’m not actually trying to offend. I don’t know you well enough to know whether I want to offend you or not. And that’s the point. Where I’m from, we don’t give respect based on fancy titles. We respect the people who’ve earned it.” She paused, her eyes roving over Galfrey’s polished armor. “Whatever you believe about me, I do want to win this war. But I also like to know the people I’m fighting with.”

“On that, at least, we can agree.” Galfrey frowned as she found herself seriously considering the offer- no, the challenge. That was what this brash, impetuous tiefling had thrown at her feet. A challenge.

“Very well,” Galfrey said. “We march together.”

A grin crossed Cleo’s face, catching Galfrey by surprise yet again. “Looking forward to it.” She laughed, and the grin widened to show off her pointed teeth. “We’re gonna make those demons wish they never crawled out of their mothers’ hellholes.”

When Galfrey left the tent, she told herself this was a sound decision, made for sound reasons. The advance would benefit from her presence, and this way she could keep an eye on her new unpredictable Commander. All her reasons were all true, which made them all that much easier to believe.

But a small part of her whispered that the truth of it was…it had been so long since someone had truly challenged her. Maybe she just wanted to see what would come of it, and of this unprecedented Knight-Commander.

Gods above, Galfrey thought, shaking her head at herself as the thoughts rattled through her mind. What have I just unleashed upon the world?

[dujour13]

7, 18, 22 for the wotr asks??

Hello and thanks Lina! 💕

7. Is there an alternative class or archetype that is in-game that may fit them better, and if so why did they not take that path?

Vanilla Bard works well for Siavash. He’s musically talented but scattered in his interests. Not likely to concentrate long enough to specialize, and none of the bard subclasses fit his personality. He’s never received much more than the most basic Andoren high school PE class weapon training and would rather hug people than hit them anyway.

18. Did any of their companions multiclass or take a PRC they do not start with, and if so what is the story behind this?

Well, no... For RP reasons I felt each companion had a class that worked well for them and I’m lazy about game mechanics. I did look up Woljif builds at one point but that man is just not a vivisectionist.

22. What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.?

Don’t get me started on (spoilery stuff under the cut)

Early Sunset. As a diplomat and a generally friendly but also manipulative guy, Sia’s usually perceptive with people. Not easily duped. The only two who pull it off are Camellia and Early Sunset, and that’s because Sia has preconceived ideas about both of them that blind him to what’s really going on. He just accepts that maybe this azata is a little bit more stiff and boring than most, and hey, he’s cool with that. And Early Sunset is a great listener. Sia can go on and on for hours confiding about his breakup and his crush and, well, sometimes Early Sunset gets this twitch in his eye but otherwise he seems so sympathetic... And this is what leads to (redacted) developing a very personal and blazing hatred that he’ll carry with him for all eternity.

[arendaes]

For the WOTR story/mechanics ask game - 13, 15, 22 on Ariadne?

Thank you!! These are for this ask game.

13. Which mythic abilities/spells would be iconic to them, and was it their preference or did they prefer something less iconic?

Bombs, specifically holy bombs are definitely what Ariadne's known for, and not just on tumblr dot com! I actually headcanon that the Sword of Valor changes into the symbol of a glitterbomb instead of a pair of rolling dice for them. Ariadne loves being associated with colors and fun, so I don't think this is strictly a problem for her. There might be issues if this becomes all she's known for, though.

15. In your story, does the Knight-Commander consciously choose their mythic path at Drezen, or was it thrust upon them by their actions or some other outside force?

It's always been a conscious choice for Ariadne, though there are factors that sway her decision one way or the other. When she chooses Trickster, it's because she wholly believes the Crusade needs to be taken in a new direction, one that's unconventional and therefor unpredictable. As for when she goes Angel, it's because she's giving both herself and the Light of Heaven one last chance at making things right.

22. What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.?

For Trickster, Ariadne actively dislikes the Council. She feels most of them are fools, with the exception of Socothbenoth (who clearly has ulterior motivations) and perhaps Shyka (who she can't pin down). Ariadne especially hates Socothbenoth; the unwanted advances are very much not appreciated. On the flip side, Ariadne doesn't mind Thaberdine. I do think there's a non-zero amount of pity that goes into her decision to keep him around, though.

As for the Hand of the Inheritor, time will tell if the Angel!Ariadne has different opinion of him than canon Ari does.

[undyingembers]

1, 2, 18, and 22 for the WOTR mechanics asks?

What led the future Knight-Commander to take their base class?

Lenarius's devil ancestry also gifted him/her with an infernal sorcerous bloodline, which did not help his/her standing with the family at all. Rather than let his/her magic go out of control, Leonosa's family hired a magic tutor to keep his/her power under control. S/he probably would have chosen that path anyway. S/he prefers taking a methodological and measured approach to his/her magic than relying on instinct and force of personality like sorcerers do. Hence why s/he became an arcanist.

2. What led to the Knight-Commander picking their archetype, or staying the standard class?

None of the archetypes really fit? Len also really likes the arcane exploits too much to limit them or give them up for some other gimmick. S/he would very much like to stick with the wizard spellbook, and s/he'd prefer to keep his/her magic controlled, which leaves out Eldrich Font.

I did consider Arcane Deceiver when it got released, but the lack of arcane exploits was a deal-breaker. I depend on Dimensional Slide too much to let it go.

18. Did any of their companions multiclass or take a PRC they do not start with, and if so what is the story behind this?

Len did not multiclass any companions, other than Regill with Hellknight. I'm pretty basic, and I don't trust myself to make a good multiclass build.

22. What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.?

Len found it impossible to feel any strong emotions towards the mirror Aeon. It felt too much like evaluating and being evaluated by him/herself. The back and forth, answers and questions flowed in perfect motion. S/he reflects on all the judgements s/he made and sees the imperfections slowly being chiseled at. S/he walks away from these meetings with a sense of peace as s/he works towards fixing the world.

As for Melies, s/he would rather not deal with him. As an officer of the Crusade, he has every right to sit in on the judgements, and s/he will not infringe on that right. S/he is very uncomfortable with this devil. S/he's afraid that Melies might try to manipulate the shared connection the two have with the Hells, and of the reputational damage of him/her seeming to consort with a devil. S/he can ignore his advice safely enough.

[bite-the-bloody-hand]

For the WotR ask game - 9, 15, 22?

Thanks so much for your patience @lukedanger , I 've been having a great time thinking on these!

For the Pathfinder Knight Commander Game Mechanics and Story Ask Game

9. How does their Background choice reflect their character, and how does it play into their build? I went with Nomad for his background both for the scimitar specialization and because it truly fit his character story. (It was also the closest I could get to having a Tian Xia background, which doesn't exist in the Crpg for some weird reason. >:( ) It's certainly justified in that he is from a nomadic people and has the wanderlust deep in his heart. Being on the road constantly while managing the Crusades is his enrichment, though Drezen is growing on him…

15. In your story, does the Knight-Commander consciously choose their mythic path at Drezen, or was it thrust upon them by their actions or some other outside force?

He absolutely chooses Azata over Angel, Demon, Trickster, and Lich. Swarm and Aeon were definitely not options for him… though he was in a bad enough place mentally that, had he known what the True Aeon path would entail, he might just have done that. The depression was bad folks. (Zell is also deeply salty about the path of the Swarm being nothing but endless, mindless consumption. As a consummate lover of all cool bugs he found that pretty gauche. They weren't even cool phasmids & Deskari is a little bitch anyway.)

He felt terribly compelled to follow both the Demon and Angel paths; and I like to think that Socothbenoth was much more aggressive in stoking his more ruthless tendencies. In the end though, it was a new friend seeing something in him he wouldn't otherwise have admitted to that helped him choose the path he truly wanted.

22. What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.?

He was so shocked to meet Aivu that he didn't even question her presence! Her completely guileless, earnest exuberance really got to him right away. Having already been caring for his little Sovereign Dragon (Tarkhan) so having another dragon about just felt right.

As for Aranka, Ilkes, and Thall, Zell had a surprisingly easy time falling into friendship with them. Being around them woke up his inner theater kid in a big way; their synergy inspired him.

(He could smell the bullshitter on Early Sunset right away, but couldn't guess what exactly that meant until it was almost too late.)

[mathlann]

For the WotR ask game - 1, 9, 22, 24? (assuming I haven't accidently double dipped...)

Nah, you're good! From this ask meme.

1. What led the future Knight-Commander to take their base class?

Answered here!

9. How does their Background choice reflect their character, and how does it play into their build?

Ligeia's original background was Noble-Leader and then later Ustalavic Peasant. The former approximates her social background, in that her father's government tax files job is noble. Any actual noble lineage in heavy dispute but when you're a 700 year old vampire who can just eat people who try to access the wrong archives, that's about as good as being a real duke. The latter just reflects her country of origin. Neither really play into her build at all since she rarely uses weapons but I switched to the second for (potentially) a little more reactivity especially for Ulbrig's quest line.

22. What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.?

Answered here!

24. When the option to pick was available, which mythic units did they unlock and why?

Haven't gotten far enough for Demon path yet. But Trickster definitely recruited the Warbarian Ragepriests. Because more angry people on the battlefield is always good. That, and Trickster!Ligeia kept investing in domains with her tricks so...they were kinda her priests. If she had chosen to ascend anyways.

[ervona]

1, 4, 15, 22 👀 for the pathfinder ask game :)

yayyyy - questions are here - I have two KCs right now, my original one who I've reworked from dhampir to bleached gnome, currently I'm adjusting her bit by bit. I'll have to rename and respec her, but I would answer as she is in game, a winter witch on the lich path. I'm playing with the idea of a diva on the azata -> devil path so quite the difference. my other one is Radif the aasimar skald. quite simple tbh 1. What led the future Knight-Commander to take their base class? K: witch, a pact for power as a helpless youth... on the other hand bard, desire for fame and something more. wanting to go beyond what was expected of her and what her little town has to offer her R: skald, akin to bard but I chose it specifically for the court poet subclass. wish to be recognised in the upper classes as someone raised by parents who served the local nobles. and a love for arts 4. What prestige classes did they go for, and why? If not, would one fit them or did they qualify for one? K: winter witch, embodying the ice queen. could be hellknight signifier after going devil... that idea would disgust her initially R: could be loremaster if he wizened up. maybe when he's older 15. In your story, does the Knight-Commander consciously choose their mythic path at Drezen, or was it thrust upon them by their actions or some other outside force? I definitely play it as them choosing... not as clear-cut as picking a menu option in game but shaping it over the course of the act into what motivates them, if that makes sense. for Koska initially it was the promises of the lich mentor that made her consider this option 22. What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.? Koska in the lich path regarded her advisor skeptically... but was deferential to him since she wanted to learn all she could. now if choosing azata we'll see, I think she wouldn't be amused. she's a rather jaded older lady with regrets. but keeps it all under wraps

[vanmarkham]

another sexcapade cyril is gonna have to have before things get serious is something with yozz

[thedragonagelesbian]

16, 21, 22 for any KC you want :)

yeee thank you!!!!

Mechanics & Story Asks

gonna answer for both kyr (aeon -> gold dragon leyline guardian witch + winter witch) & cyrus (angel -> legend, martyr paladin -> spelleater bloodrager + skald + thug) because. i can. and i love them.

16. How well do they play mechanically with their romance, if any? If not, which party member do they synchronize best with?

Kyr: The entire inception of Kyr's character came from the unique possibilities of a healerXdhampir ship afiopwjef I love that Sosiel has to stock an entire extra line of spells to keep Kyr alive, I love that Sosiel comes with selective channel feat so he doesn't hurt Kyr when he channels energy, I love touch of good/bit of luck for boosting spell attack rolls, I love fortune + cackle for Kyr supporting his off-tank bf... love it all!!

Cyrus: End-game Cyrus is almost scarily self-sufficient, but the early/mid game 'step into my healing aura you stupid fuck' energy with Daeran is IMPECCABLE. Love a reckless self-sacrificing tank and an annoyed selfish healer learning to care about others by taking care of him. One of my favorite mechanic-driven story moments I've had yet was the final Act 3 boss battle, when basically all Cyrus did was stand there and get utterly pummeled by Darrazand while Daeran frantically tried to keep him up, this immense and bloody sacrifice made on behalf of the crusade... and Galfrey turns around and strips Cyrus of his command. Delicious.

21. If the Knight-Commander could get a unique item, what would it be and what would it do?

I don't know if these are items that they would have, so much as they are items inspired by the characters.

Kyr: Frozen Will. This gelid amulet grants its wearer immunity to mind-affecting spells and conditions. Additionally, whenever the wearer casts a spell with the cold descriptor, there is a 10% chance that the spell (or spell slot used to cast it) will not be spent.

Cyrus: The Skald's Saber of Self-Reliance. This +5 good longsword grants its wielder the ability to cast dispel magic, greater on themself as a move action, targeting harmful effects. The ability can be used three times per day.

22. What is the Commander’s opinion of their mythic patrons/advisors - the Hand of the Inheritor, Aivu or the Desnan Adepts, Zacharias, the Aeon in the mirror, Hal, Yozz and Noticula, etc.?

Kyr: The aeon in the mirror is... unnerving. Absolute, unassailable, all-consuming. Every time Kyr stands before the mirror, he feels certain. Like this is everything that he is, has always been, but when he steps away again, he feels less sure. Especially discovering that he isn't allowed to use the aeon's temporal powers to undo his own immense suffering at the hands of his sire, he grows more disillusioned with it, its promises, and the sacrifices it demands in return.

His current feelings on Hal are also ambivalent. He wants to believe in the possibility of redemption, but hearing how Hal allowed Terendelev to hurt him, he can't help but think him a fool. Kyr is still trying to wrap his mind around the 'unconditional' part of the whole 'unconditional love, acceptance, and forgiveness' thing.

And he's utterly uninterested in and unaffected by "Melies". Which is a shame because now I have to make a whole new aeon to be tempted by corruption & fuck that archdevil. Smh.

Cyrus: Cyrus' initial admiration of the Hand of the Inheritor quickly escalated into something more in the Abyss. Defending his worth to Galfrey, providing refuge of the Nexus, always watching over him and checking in to make sure the demonic corruption wasn't getting to him... the Hand helped Cyrus feel safe, or at least as safe as he could be, in the Midnight Isles.

...So when Nocticula revealed that Areelu had planted the wound that gave Cyrus his mythic powers, and the Hand took it poorly, Cyrus was devastated. The reveal hit him hard too, given his myriad body & autonomy issues and his deep-seated fear of being a weapon wielded by someone else, and this person he cared about seeing him like that hurt even more.

So they fought about it. And then they had a very heavy makeout/holy handjob sess about it.

Cyrus was heartbroken when Baphomet took the Hand, all the more so when Iomedae told him that the Hand was praying to him constantly for salvation from his torture in the Ineluctable Prison. And he was horrified by what that torture had wrought, turning the Hand into an empty vessel for Baphomet's cruel will. Of course Cyrus saved his heart and returned it to him, and in my heart, the Hand returned to Drezen afterward to begin his recovery. With lots of gay fallen angel sex. That's a very important part of the recovery.