Greetings Pagan Heretics I'm Obolus the Holy, zealous defender of good and the bane of evil.
Beware ye who skulk in the darkness, for I come bearing the light of righteousness and shalt cast ye out. Repent your wicked ways, or suffer the scourge, eternal damnation as a punished soul, your righteous death is my duty. Repent, I beg of you, for your death weighs heavy upon my soul, for though ye are evil, cleansing ye brings me no happiness. Repent turn from ye evil ways step boldly into the light of righteousness.
Born, to his eternal shame, the son of a pornai, Pyrrha amongst camp followers of Queen Isabella's 1st expeditionary Legion. Obolus was named for the amount his father paid for his sin with the "painted Jezebel" Pyrrha.
Obolus was orphaned at the age of seven, when his mother succumbed to one of the many social diseases that are sent to punish the hedonistic and those that profit from their wicked ways.
Much research has been done on Pyrrha, the mother of Obolus, but none has revealed whether she was an innocent pauper seeking the only living she could manage amongst the army, or if she was a wanton harlot plying an evil trade for her own pleasure and gain. Obolus will not speak of his mother to defend or chastised her as is correct, for 'tis a son's place to honor his parents, as well as the dead, when extremely hard pressed, the only thing Obolus has ever said of his mother "She once told me my father was an officer, this I discount it as a polite lie to warm a child's ears, for 'tis not likely Pyrrha could name the man who's seed spawned a child amongst the many."
Placed upon his own devices at such a young age it shows the hand of divinity upon him already that Obolus survived at all, particularly with his soul unspoiled. 'Twas Obolus's good fortune to fall in with a cleric of the Queens army, a renowned healer Pantaleon. Interviews with Pantaleon were not particularly revealing. The young Obolus was provided with food, for an occasional errand or odd job. Pantaleon's only specific observation of the youth involved his intense concentration when others spoke, a trait Obolus has maintained into adulthood.
Near about his eighth year Obolus began to attract the attention of several erastes
Desiring to make him theirpaidika , To save him from this wholly undesirable circumstance Pantaleon introduced Obolus to a young Decurion, a minor officer of the cavalry, who later came to prominence amongst the Queens guard, Hervor.
Hervor, a young lady of inconsequential parentage, understanding the possible plight of a boy amidst the Queen's Army, took him in and made him a trumpeter. There is no indication of the Queens army ever using children in this, or in any capacity, nor is there any actual military record of this event. But there is little doubt that this altruistic, symbolic inclusion into the rank and file of the Queens army would have protected Obolus from undesirable attentions far better then the company of the healer Pantaleon. Additionally patronage to a female officer even one of such an inconsequential rank would have placed the boy entirely out of reach and possible harm of all save true officers.
Obolus remained at Hervor's side acting as first a Page, then later a Squire till near his twelfth year when following a growth streak, making him far too masculine to serve a female, even in Queen Isabella's very liberal and progressive military organization and still maintain even the semblance of propriety. Obolus was enlisted, at the behest of the Lady Hervor into the Auxilia, or the standard light infantry for those not familiar with military terms.
Military records clearly show Obolus's service with the Auxilia of the 1st Expeditionary Legion. For two years he served honorably in several campaigns, mostly battling Goblin raiders south of Milos. Near bouts his fifteenth birthday he was honorably transferred into the Legionarius, or the heavy infantry. This without a doubt a testimonial to his rather exceptional size, even at this young age first hand accounts place his height at or near 183 centimeters, and heavily muscled. Also recorded in military record is Lady Hervor's protest to this transfer, officially recorded as nearest next of kin, though no official title of her claim to relationship is placed, It seems Lady Hervor requested Obolus's inclusion in her cavalry unit, official response was very clear that the 1st Expeditionary Legion cavalry was at full strength, a fact that was verified by military records, whereas the Heavy infantry was short about one third of it's strength from years of campaigning without replacements. This being the standard way of forming units at this time, units where never reinforced, but rather reformed as new units to assure cohesion and standardization of training for all troops. Obolus's transfer into the heavy infantry was unusual, though there is a record of a large number of troops being treated the same way at the same time. This appears to be an attempt by the Dux, (General) of the 1st Expeditionary Legion to stave off disbandment of his force, and most likely his own retirement.
During his first season with the heavy infantry Obolus fought his first battle against men, rather than monstrous rabble, this was also the first time he faced the threat of magic in battle, this event was to be a major turning point in his life.
The upstart megalomaniac Javert having formed an army to support him marched upon Queen Isabella's lands. Intercepted by the 1st Expeditionary Legion, an epic battle ensued. Javert was heavily supported by rouge Mages, Necromancers and a small contingent of Secron's, seeing the misused fireballs and invisibility spells, along with being forced to fight the reanimated corpses of his own former comrades, combined with having to face enemies that seemed immune to the weapons of the common soldier seriously scared the psyche of the young Obolus.
Though decimated, having lost in excess of two thirds of its number the 1st Expeditionary Legion scattered Javert's army. The fate of Javert is unknown, but it is generally assumed he scurried away as is the way of most cowardly upstarts.
Seriously wounded Obolus convalesced in the Clerics guildhall additionally shaping the youth, Obolus himself explained it best: "The Mages hunkered in safety hidden by their invisibility spells, casting their cursed fireballs amidst the defenseless common soldiery. The darkness spawned Secronic warriors, Skulking from shadow to shadow, unharmed by the weaponry of an honest soldier, and the truly evil Necromancers, hiding behind their treacherous illusions, forcing the corpses of honest men to rise and fight against their comrades in life, denying their body the rest they have earned by a noble death. Their evil, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rims at it. Woe to the cursed head whose wicked deeds leads a soul into the midst of the necromantic evil, to cavort, lasciviously with corpses, it makes me ill. I'll see each and everyone brought into the light of goodness or utterly destroyed, for Hades is not sufficient of a punishment for such vile reprobates!"
His pronounced, near fatal wounds had left him scared if not handicapped. His back, and the rear of his left arm, to this day is near half covered with the horrid scars from a fireball. A bit of the scar climbs up the back of his neck leaving a large lock of white hair when it is allowed to grow out. A large jagged scar from a sword runs entirely down Obolus's right thigh. Some go so far as to whisper that Obolus was unbalanced, and not entirely right in his head following his first serious wounding. Though those whispers where stilled if not silenced later, by his heroics.
It is obvious that this time, near six months, and the sever wounds combined with daily education under the Clerics divine tutelage brought about a profound change in Obolus. He studied healing, and took his vows as an acolyte before returning to Castle Barp for reassignment in Queen Isabella's military.
Upon his return Obolus got the news that the 1st Expeditionary Legion was disbanded, and it's few surviving veterans reassigned, or allowed their retirement. Obolus having received a glowing report both from his senior surviving officer, a centurion who's name has been lost, and Lady Hervor, who had received several wounds herself, and a promotion to Centurion, was to receive a very unusual assignment.
Obolus was assigned to the Barpian Marines and sent to sea as a Decurion. Normally Decurion is a very low rank, in the infantry it only places one in charge of a single eight man tent group, whilst in the cavalry it places one in charge of thirty riders, but in the Marines, where the entire compliment of a ship was seldom over one hundred, Decurion's were normally the third tier of leadership, a fact that was not lost on he Generals back at Castle Barp.
Military records show that the Marine Detachment Obolus was assigned to consisted of: one commander holding the rank of Legati or Lieutenant, A very senior Centurion, also from the 1st Expeditionary Legion, Obolus and three other Decurions, and twenty eight troopers, known as Marines. All where combat veterans save the Lieutenant who seems to have received this particular assignment as a way of getting him entirely away from the rest of the Army.
Obolus seemed to very much enjoy shipboard life. In particular this was his first exposure to books, he took to them with gusto, having a great deal of time to fill as the ship sailed the open sea, Obolus studied arduously taking semi-formal classes with the ships junior most naval officers known as midshipmen. It was also shipboard life that exposed Obolus to polite language, whereas Sailor are know for their colorful language, the officers because of the great responsibility and trust placed upon them are normally of the most trusted and respected of nobility, and have the refined courtly speech expected of such.
Military records of Obolus's time in the Marines are dry and very to the point, but the Naval records kept by the ships captain are much more complete. At least twice buccaneers where repelled, and once another ship taken as a prize. The Ship's Captain had high praise for his Marine Detachment if not for their Lieutenant. It is telling in and of it's self that the Marines returned with twenty one of their twenty eight original number, and two where lost to disease rather than combat wounds.
Obolus spent four full years on the high seas before the Captain returned to port with his captured prize in tow, to a hero's welcome. Obolus once again reported to Castle Barp This time Lady Hervor's desire for Obolus to serve in the cavalry was heeded, and he was assigned as a Decurion in a cavalry unit where he served honorably and with distinction for three campaign seasons.
Cavalry units were divided into squad's Turmae, of about thirty horsemen. Each squad contained three decurie's decuriae's of ten men under a decurion. The highest officer of the Cavalry squad was the Cavalry prefect praefecti equitum.
There is little more comforting to a professional soldier then to know there is an accomplished healer amongst their comrades for that healer to be able to wield magic to aid in and speed healing is heart-warming, and will spurn soldiers into acts of heroism that they would normally shirk from for fear of their own demise. Obolus was much sought out as a healer, as he practiced his clerical skills regularly, though he seemed to never take the pulpit and preach... something that undoubtedly made him rather popular with the other soldiers. As few soldiers like to be preached to, having to take worldly orders constantly leads one not to desire divine orders also thrust upon them.
Obolus and his ten-man cavalry decurie where often mentioned in official army reports for heroism till late in the third year of his service in the cavalry when a new cavalry prefect was assigned to his squad, the former having been honorably retired when a festering wound made it rather hard for him to carry out his duties.
The battle took place during an especially active goblin-raiding season. An Ogre having gathered and organized the Goblin men folk into near a proper army began serious raids upon travelers land. While the legion engaged the Ogre reinforced goblin army, cavalry was sent to flank the goblin armies supply line and to route its auxiliaries and support personnel.
Having rapidly flanked the main army the Prefect a young noblemen who most likely bought his commission, Baijing Anouk ordered a slaughter of the surrendering women and children of the Goblin army baggage train. Obolus unequivocally refused the prefects orders and rounded up the prisoners in a makeshift palisade and ordered his decurie to dismount and guard the prisoners.
Prefect Anouk incised, ordered the other two decuries of his squad to destroy the prisoners, and to throw Obolus in irons. Anouks only Lieutenant, a veteran centurion, quietly called for a halt to all and took the Prefect aside and quietly spoke to him, where upon Prefect Anouk mounted his horse and rode away report his success to the general.
Later Obolus was arrested tried and convicted of disobeying orders, and insolence, Obolus was sentenced to and received fifty lashes, the centurion that administered the lashes cringed when he beheld the burn scars upon Obolus's back, but none the less carried out his orders and administered the punishment.
Army records are very clear that Obolus refused to heal his own wounds and another cleric had to be summoned to heal the wounds upon his back. This is particularly unusual, for it is forbidden to use magic to heal wounds received as a punishment, unless they become life threatening. Many in the know claims this is proof that the Army court considered their own punishment a travesty of justice, but a necessity to good order and discipline. As to why Obolus would not heal his own wounds some claim he was not capable, as he had only studied the magic to heal others. Obolus himself will not discuss this incident at all.
As to the Prefect Anouk, he was given a transfer to the tower Guards at castle Barp, but never reported for duty Army records officially list him as "missing, suspected dead, killed by Goblin raiders". This story seems suspect as his horse was located by a search party and returned to the Cavalry stable's... there is little doubt at least in this authors mind, that the officer corps quietly rid their ranks of an undesirable officer in the subtlest manner possible.
Obolus though officially stripped of his rank and pay as a Decurion, no replacement was assigned to his Decurie and he continued to lead his troops for another six months. Before he receives orders to report to Castle Barp, where he is assigned to an irregular unit of specialists; trackers, mounted archers, and healers mixed with heavy Cavalry armed with lances.
For near two year Obolus served with the irregulars, rising in the ranks all the way to centurion, leading the entire thirty men of the irregulars, performing special missions at the behest of the generals and Queen Isabella. More often then not missions where simply the eradication of small strongholds of monsters and the tracking down of criminals, necessary but mundane tasks. Till reports of a marauding rouge dragon where received from the far west of travelers land.
Obolus using the friendships he had created with the Marines, arranged passage on a naval warship, for the thirty man Squad he lead. Leaving quietly without fanfare, the irregulars arrived in three days on the western side of travelers land where h they began hunting for the dragon. This wild part of travelers land is very dangerous and it seems Obolus and his squad managed, unfortunately to find every dangerous creature in this area whilst hunting for the rouge dragon.
First the squad was harried by winged lions known for their fondness of horseflesh, for eating of course having no need for mounts. Obolus quickly found himself short six troopers and nine mounts. The greatest losses he had ever previously suffered. Still reeling from loss of life Obolus and his troop wandered into the hatchery of a large group of Fire lizards. Though the irregulars made a good showing for themselves slaying a score of the fire lizards, four more troopers where lost to the Hades be-damned reptiles, though having been forced to enter their caves unmounted no additional mounts where lost so once again the entire squad was mounted.
Following a few days rest the squad moved on, the trackers reported the signs of dragon activity ahead, and true to their word, the following day Obolus and his twenty remaining trooper came face to face with the rouge dragon, a large male aqua dragon at his peak. The archers opened up with their arrows whilst the single remaining mage amongst the troop let go with a fireball. The arrows seemed entirely ineffective as the bounced from the dragon's scales. The fireball seemed to do little save drive the monster into frenzy.
The Dragon answered the mages fireball with his own fearsome breath weapon, obliterating the mage and six other troopers instantly.
The dragon took flight and continued to rain down fiery death upon the remainders of the troop till only Obolus and five others remained well enough to fight. The Dragon mayhap tired landed and brought the battle to close quarters; Obolus ordered his remaining troops to charge. The dragon swung with his powerful talon, shattering the charge. Two more of the troopers where down unable to continue. Obolus's lance had found a chink in the dragon's armor, and dealt the monster a grievous wound to the chest.
The Dragon spewing blood from the lance wound lashed out with his powerful talons, taking down Obolus's mount, and leaving his a foot Obolus drew his long sword and charged the beast, making the mistake of trying to block the beasts powerful talons with his shield Obolus quickly found himself lain low by an unstoppable blow, his shield a crumbled mass of wooden staves, and leather.
Obolus with his sword in one hand and his mace in the other again went at the beast, seeking only to keep it from the few remaining men under his command, all grievously wounded, and unable to defend themselves. Obolus dodged and ducked weaving himself around the teeth and talons of the dragon, till blood loss slowed the beast enough for Obolus to slip with it's reach, and rising up and with a single slash of his sword, opening the dragons carotid artery, covering Obolus in a "bloody baptismal mist, worthy of any hero of old!" as one of the four survivors told the tale.
Exhausted, and wounded, Obolus first tended the other wounded before himself, then collapsed and slept for three days, twas only by divine will he survived at all, The trooper that tended his wounds, reported at least six broken ribs and a nasty burn, to the right side of his face caused by a bit of molten brass the trooper had to dig out with a dagger, leaving an unattractive and jagged burn scar running from Obolus's right temple to just below the lips at the corner of his mouth.
The remainder of the squad rested for a week, before starting the trek back to Castle Barp, through the tunnels, one of their number expired of his wounds, and a final trooper was killed in a pitched battle with a group of headless monsters in the caves. Months after his departure from Castle Barp, Obolus returned, no longer at the head of thirty elite mounted troopers, but instead three heavily wounded, tired footsore soldiers stoically marched behind him.
After a weeks time convalescing in Castle Barp, Obolus is formally presented to Queen Isabella, to report the outcome of his mission. Dressed in the fine red armor of a centurion, Obolus kneeled before the queen as Herald announced him, his helmet under his left arm a linen sack in his right hand. Queen Isabella formally announced, "arise and report centurion" Obolus stood his spine as rigid as a steel bar and with a strong voice, though tears coursed down his cheeks he, from memory named each of the twenty seven troopers in his command and the wounds that brought about their death, listed the tree surviving troopers, as retired by means of wounds received in service to the crown, before opening the linen sack and depositing the head of the slain dragon at the Queens feet.
Queen Isabella clearly moved by the strong warrior words "Centurion, what gift may I bestow upon you for your loyal service to the crown?" Obolus without a thought answers "My queen I desire to be released from military service so I may devote my life to clerical studies." Queen Isabella is clearly shocked, though whether by divine precedence or the simple fact that the audience was held, at such a time as to make such a spectacle possible a beam of pure white light shone down from a window behind the throne, illuminating Obolus in a halo of light.
Queen Isabella calls out "Kneel!" And draws Obolus's sword from his scabbard and taps him alternating upon each shoulder "Go forth from this place and in the name of goodness battle evil and the enemies of Barp. Arise Sir Obol Paladin of the realm!"
Obolus gathered his sword hilt first from the queen's hand sheathed it as Herald and a page placed the white mantle of a hero around his shoulders. Sir Obol turned and marched from the Queen Isabella's throne room, mounted a waiting charger and rode out of Castle Barp .
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Obolus has recieved From Lostris a Silk Token,
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Zone of Truth: Those within the Zone can’t speak any deliberate and intentional lie. Affected creatures are aware of this enchantment. Therefore, they may avoid answering questions to which they would normally respond with a lie, or they may be evasive as long as they remain within the boundaries of the truth. Creatures who leave the zone are free to speak as they choose. Obol has combined this spell permanently with Discern Lies... IF you are unaffected... (Say so... In tell if you like)
True Seeing: confers on Obol the ability to see all things as they actually are. Sees through normal and magical darkness, sees into shadow, notices secret doors hidden by magic, sees the exact locations of creatures or objects under blur or displacement effects, sees invisible creatures or objects normally, sees through illusions, and sees the true form of polymorphed, changed, or transmuted things. Obol can focus his vision to see into the Ethereal Plane (but not into extra dimensional spaces). The range of true seeing conferred is 120 feet. True seeing, does not penetrate solid objects, does not negate concealment, including that caused by fog and the like, does not help the viewer see through mundane disguises, spot creatures who are simply hiding, or notice secret doors hidden by mundane means.
Righteous indignation: Is a faith based magical effect based upon the users belief that an act is inherently wrong, evil, or beyond the possibility of the perpetrator. This spell has many effects' it can counter or nullify any spell the caster believes is entirely outside of his faith, it can free the caster from bond, or imprisonment, if that action is "unfair" . It will dispel evil, dispel undead, return summoned creature to their original plane, and force extra planier creatures to depart, shield the mind of the caster from psionics, and cancel the physical effects, telekinesis or psychokinesis , of psionics Righteous indignation is a spontaneous spell, requiring no verbal actions on the part of the caster, though it is often accompanied by a litany of prayer, or refutations, examples of Righteous indignation. A cleric being burned at the stake stepped from his bonds that parted of their own accord, and slew his captor with a burning brand. A paladin marches unopposed thru the fiery river Styx, unopposed as the monsters, demons, and devils scattered before him, so absolute was his belief that Hades held no punishment for his pristine soul
Shield of Faith: This spell creates a shimmering, magical field around Obol that averts attacks, Particularly Magic and elemental attacks
Magic Circle against Evil: A magic silver circle inscribed around Obol no larger then three meters in diameter, excludes all evil creatures, evil creatures can also be trapped in one of these circles as a summoning circle
Holy light of goodness: A twenty meter Diameter Light of holy goodness radiates outward from the object cast upon, evil creatures, will not enter the light, minor undead will flee, and most evil summoned creatures will be dispelled, or at least forced to flee before the light
Shield Other: Wards the subject and creates a mystic connection between Obol and the subject so that some of its wounds are transferred to Obol.
Create food and water: creates simple food and water for three people
Break enchantment: Frees victims from enchantments, transmutations, and curses.
Immune to ALL disease, both mundane and magical
Remove blindness/deafness
Turn Undead
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Players currently playing
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Players in the game right now:
maximo
My Name: obol
My Special ID: 1668
Extended Character: Yes Registered
Race: human
Gender: male
Age: 27
Battle EXP: 266096
Quest EXP: 150
My Strength: 19
My Dexterity: 1
My Intelligence: 1
My Constitution: 1
My Discipline: 1
My Wisdom: 1
Total Money: 140631
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