- Speed
- 30 ft
Base attributes
- Charisma
- 11
- Constitution
- 13
- Dexterity
- 12
- Intelligence
- 18
- Strength
- 7
- Wisdom
- 13
- A Bitter Friend
- "Such villainy!"
- "I understand why this woman lied to us, and I've no wish to punish her, or any who've renounced Charon. As fo
- "Thank you, master, that's just so. You must've imagined that there were any ritual atrocities going on in the
- "Oh my... Cephal, that was some speech! But do you really think the Dark Prince would hand you, of all people,
- "If you know this, then why would you kowtow to her? You may be an old fox, but she's no little sheep. You thi
- "Fruits?! I've been busy guarding these fruits from Brevoy's incessant fruit moths! But I'm a baron now. We fi
- "Abhorrent!" Maegar barely keeps from spitting on the floor. "A trial will determine your guilt, and what puni
- "No, though I thank you very kindly. But I will try my luck somewhere far away from the Stolen Lands. This pla
- "Servant of the Dark Prince... Your lord will not rule forever! The Horsemen are strong, and the Horseman of D
- "With all due respect, Cephal, I'm still the military leader here. You've called me hot-tempered and reckless
- "What else should I consider them? Cephal, have you grown foggy in your old age? I can hardly recognize you. Y
- "I sent some much-needed aid to our neighbors in the Shrike Hills. They're our only possible allies in the com
- "I'm afraid we don't have any meat, only cabbage soup. And bread – but the bread is fresh!"
- "Listening to you is disgusting! Did we claw away our own piece of land only to keep toiling away for all thos
- "Well for one thing, that's low. By accepting Restov's handouts, we're taking on certain obligations. I know y
- "Get out of my sight, Cephal. Get out! Never would the name of Maegar Varn be tarred with such abominable vill
- "Maybe we should have made some use of the carnage, and turned our swords against those who deserved it?" Ceph
- "It sounds interesting... It's probably too good to be true. But still, it's worth checking."
- "A living, thinking creature the size of a small mountain, possessing impressive strength and magical power. S
- Cephal snatches the document from Varn's hands. As he reads it, the old wizard's eyes nearly pop out of his he
- "Assume I believe that you aren't another illusion, but a living person, imprisoned here and in need of our he
- "Great Asmodeus, what did I do to deserve this punishment? Why do I deal with you at all? I should have taken
- "Well that's just wonderful. By a rough estimate, he just demanded that we relinquish two thirds of the barony
- "Ah, and you insist..." Cephal's voice drips poison "... that you do know what you are dealing with, while we
- "I feel like the hero of a prophecy. Or a buffoonery. Well, best not waste time!"
- "O Asmodeus! Please give me the patience to withstand this nonsense – or take my soul already! Varn, what are
- "No – by no means! We cannot help Maegar in any way, whatever happens in Varnhold. He is on his own. The dunge
- "I have the staff key. That fool, Zordesh, obviously has no further use for it."
- "Listen to your General, Baron, if you don't want to listen to me." The wizard speaks softly.
- "Do you see? Even is tired of your empty rhetoric."
- "And how are you going to manage that? Perhaps Varnhold will grow a pair of legs and we shall ride it to the o
- "Varn, do not be rash. I need time to examine the portal and the magic in the area. I..."
- "I think you're onto something. They don't appear to be insane. Not very smart either, of course, but I see no
- "Do not interrupt your regent, Varn, or relieve me of the position this instant! Now. What is the most importa
- "On the other hand, they could prove most useful in this situation. Think, Maegar! Think! If anyone could help
- "As usual, no one listens to old Cephal, and then everyone wonders why everything turns to chaos!"
- "Someone is conducting a bit of theatre..." Cephal mumbles, drawing a sneer from Maegar.
- "Of course, daemons are not like devils who always stick to the letter of a contract... But neither are they l
- "While you, your grace, were drinking wine at the feast, I was busy acquiring a map of Nivakta's Crossing. Loo
- "Zombie cyclopes... I'd say it's unheard of, but as this young man pointed out, we've already met them once, a
- "I am not so opinionated about this creature's ability to honor his word. But truth be told, I simply cannot s
- "Hm. I'll tell you what, Marcida. We may or may not be able to help you. What exactly do you want from us?"
- "You will not preach realism to me, you naive boy! Yes, we are bargaining chips to them. That is exactly what
- "All right, enough arguing. What is done cannot be undone. You spoiled my game quite a bit, Maegar, and I will
- "In the name of Asmodeus, will we ever be done sorting out the tavern riffraff, who are ready to cross swords
- "A ritual, if you can call it that. I've worked it out – it's amazingly simple. The staff of our 'village chie
- "I'm glad at least some of us are in a good mood."
- "I agree. Perhaps we shall find a cyclops treasure around the corner. This does not alter the fact our leader
- "We are people, ghost. And who are you? And what right do you have to give us orders?"
- "This is true, you have saved us more than once... Apparently in order to valiantly ruin not just a party of m
- Cephal starts to rub his hands together, apparently preparing for a fight.
- "Why do you keep saying 'us' and 'our'? Do I need to remind you that you're a baron now? That is the differenc
- "You can't leave, can you? There's still something you need from us. Something besides the open portal!"
- "And how would you like your rule to begin? With a village slaughtered by centaurs? Like it or not, but we can
- "Listen to me carefully, you three. Yes, Kjerdi, this involves you too. Things are looking bad. First, the lan
- "I wholeheartedly agree."
- Cephal shakes his head. "I will tell you one thing. If you engaged battle as clumsily as you're playing politi
- "I cannot say. Nothing is what it seems in this cursed dungeon. Everything is false. We must get to the bottom
- "I suspect the cyclopes have nothing to do with this, and our guest just wants to trick us into solving some l
- "Not the result I was counting on, but not bad overall. At least no one will be there to stab us in the back w
- "You're absolutely right. Did everyone hear? Keep your eyes open!"
- "Perhaps not divine... But it's true about the sense of humor. Even if Marcida herself is being honest with us
- "Asmodeus has heard my prayers and put some reason in your head. Just when I was thought you would take those
- Cephal watches the leader's face closely, and draws himself together – undoubtedly preparing for a bitter disp
- "You sit here. If you want to be helpful, keep watch. Or go to Kjerdi. – Maybe she needs help moving some bags
- "There was no cyclops here. We were fighting an illusion."
- Cephal looks greedily over the ancient volumes and reaches out, but then stops. He quickly pulls away his hand
- "Most reasonable. Well then, we will leave Marcida Vittari alone with her library and collection of precious m
- "Possible! But if so, he saved on more than just guards."
- "Make sure not to order any meat. I heard it's... strange here."
- Cephal frowns. "Yes, but very little. Get on with it."
- "I support the General's suggestion. A baron who allows insults and attacks cannot be baron for long."
- For once, Cephal expresses solidarity with his commander. ", you should learn to be more subtle. As for you, S
- "Ah, and more the pity we are not Taldans. At least they knew how a ruler should behave on territory he plans
- "At issue is the fact that Jamandi Aldori has generously offered to Maegar the use of her envoy. And who is Ja
- "Exactly. Asmodeus is my witness, I know more about deals with devils than you. In fact, I am accustomed to pl
- "Quite possible. Either way, the test goes on."
- "Right you are! They are rioting right now, though... But let us give the villagers a chance to say something
- "For once I will agree with you, Maegar. And you, , do not be so naive. – Jamandi is no friend, not to us. Bre
- "You might be a brilliant sorceress, but your negotiation skills could use some improvement. Back then, you le
- "I am here, and I will not allow it! The Varnling Host does not sell its fighters. Don't ever suggest anything
- "Sweetie?" Cephal raises an eyebrow.
- Cephal seems surprisingly nervous. "Just to be clear, I must emphasize – I will hold the ritual, but the prote
- "But Varn, my dear friend, would you please be so kind as to explain, what, devil take you, you've been doing?
- "Yes, exactly! I sensed the same thing."
- "I mean I have no idea what it is."
- "Maegar, Maegar! Of course they're spies! You refused the spy in plain sight – congratulations, well done. Now
- "Sweetie?" Cephal raises an eyebrow.
- "Well, everyone ready?"
- "But that is where you are so wrong! Do you imagine this is a table we can get up from? No! A mercenary comman
- "Exactly! Praised be Asmodeus, at least someone in this traveling circus can understand me."
- "Agreed. Legends don't spring clear out of the blue. Whatever secret this tomb holds, it may prove useful."
- "I don't like the idea of doing battle with a dragon on a whim. But I don't stand for giving him a precious ar
- "My friend, to be frank, I hold no stock in ancient artifacts of boundless power. All that grand rubbish sound
- The cyclops body disappears like a ghost. Cephal frowns, and whispers a spell as he looks around cautiously. "
- "I warned you. It is impossible to make peace with such creatures. You can lament the bloodshed, but any half
- "Why did you invite this Gunderson to Varnhold anyway? Do we really need even more foolish treasure hunters in
- "Start talking straight, now. What is this gift, how do we get it, and what does it have to do with cyclopes?"
- "I agree with the General. I do not like these inconsistencies either. Especially the story that the dwellers
- "Good thinking! It's best not to mess around with curses."
- "Hmm-m-m... I am intrigued. But first you must answer some questions. Starting with – what is this place? And
- "What do you care what happens beyond your borders? Take care of your subjects, don't take extra risks just to
- "She played us!" Cephal hisses. So far he'd remained quiet, obviously busy with some magic. "All of us! The po
- The gray wizard, listening closely to the conversation, notices your gesture, casts a quick glance at the brac
- "Yes. The gates will open in a moment or two. Be ready!"
- "No. Not in vain." Cephal withdraws a sacred symbol of Asmodeus from under his cloak – an upside-down pentagra
- "Faith is a personal matter, but lying to one's sovereign is a matter of state. Zordesh, would you care to exp
- "What do you say? Should we take the risk and try to help her, or do you think we're being played again?"
- Cephal nods gravely. "I strongly recommend the second option. I am sorely lacking in... assistants... for my s
- The moment the centaurs have left, Cephal sheds his nonchalant mask and turns angrily to Maegar. "What were yo
- "...sweetie."
- "I understand less and less. And not just about cyclopes."
- "Quite right. Perhaps Maegar was lured from here with the aim of weakening the group. Or perhaps they hoped we
- "Oh, come on now, don't be so dramatic. Monsters are a regular problem in such wild lands, but we've everythin
- The wizard touches the wall carving, and his hand passes easily through the stone. "These walls are simple dec
- "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try helping her... But we must keep our eyes open or we'll end up just like her
- "Do not become too attached to Varnhold. This is but a stepping stone. Our real prize lies to the west. – But
- "They are armed and prepared to shed blood. You call this a petty squabble? If so, when do you suggest we inte
- "Well said, Maegar. But if you understand this, then why not take the next logical step?"
- "It is time you get married, my friend. You can battle an angry dragon every evening, if you wish."
