Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The guardsman nods his head. "Aye, think I saw him just head back down the road for some reason. Had a crossbow out, thought he might be hunting, but awfully early to be doing that. Didn't stop him though, just told him not to cause any trouble." The guard helpfully pointed the direct he last saw Shortfang leave. It was heading back towards where the group had fought the bandits.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

You walk through the door of the Satyr, where a large looming goat man statue leers down at you. His face looked jolly but his rippled physique showed that he was a warrior as well. Stepping through the doors you arrive to a massive chamber, where standing there is a satyr himself. Unlike the statue he did not look particularly amused, but he certainly looked like an imposing foe. No words were said as he got into a strange stance, which you emulated. The the ground beneath you shifted into one that was more rocky and mountainous, difficult for you to maneuver but you saw your opponent easily running and leaping towards you. The satyr was just about to kick you in the face when you woke up.

It was early morning. You couldn't even see the sun on the horizon, but the moon was low. A good sign that perhaps in a few hours day would come. The campfire had long since died down. Pylia was quietly sleeping in her bedroll next to you, and Buddy looks like he never moved from his spot from last night. It was hard to tell if what you dreamed of last night with him was even real. However you notice someone was missing. Looking near the entrance of your tent, Shortfang's barrow was empty, his camouflage tarp tossed aside. Perhaps he had already awakened, though most of the camp was still asleep. You could only see one other figure awake, one of the guardsmen warming himself by a bronze brazier. It was a crisp morning.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

As you touched Buddy, you felt a strange sensation. Unlike before where you either went right through him or almost broke your hands against his steel skin, it felt like you were touching water. Not solid, but it engulfed your hand. You move further into his body and you would feel submerged but not drowning as suddenly you find yourself in a strange temple. Your feet was touching the ground and you felt a slight chill but not wet. Around you were twelve statues, each with a giant brazier in front of them to illuminate the statues. As you managed to orient yourself a booming voice called out to you.

”YOU HAVR BEEN FOUND WORTHY. YOU WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED. NOW CHOOSE THE GUARDIAN WHO SHALL GUIDE YOU.”

Each of the statues showed a terrifying monster, and as soon as the voice finished speaking there was a glaring door at the base of each statue. Looking at yourself you seemed to be wearing strange monk-like garments, with trousers, a loose fitting tunic, and cloth wraps around your hands and feet. You also did not feel like yourself; you had no hair and weren’t a female. There was no mirror for you to see your reflection either. You still felt like yourself but... It was like you were in someone else’s body.

It was time to choose, you knew that much. There was a feeling of excitement in you that you needed to move forward. To become stronger, so you could protect those precious to you...

Guardian Boons

As you enter Buddy’s mind, you now get the chance to learn a unique combat style! These are various stances which you can use to provide a unique advantage over enemies that otherwise can’t be gained. You may only choose one style at the moment, however in the future there may be a chance to learn more.

All Combat Styles require a binus action to activate and last for one minute or until the user is unconscious or dead. If a stance has a DC, DC equals 8+Proficiency+Strength or Dex Bonus (your choice).

Dire Rat Style - You never provoke attacks of opportunity due to movement. You may interact with objects as many times as you desire. Applying poisons only take a bonus action and you may apply poison to your unarmed strikes. Lastly you always had advantage to escape a grapple and you always count as one size smaller for the purpose of going into or through tight spaces.

Minotaur Style - Whenever your enemy moves away from you, as a reaction you may take both an attack of opportunity and follow the enemy to wherever they end their movement, up to your movement speed. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity from your enemies. If the enemy’s movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity or if they use some other form of movement such as teleportation, you may still use your reaction to move in their direction if you can see where they went. You do not get to perform an attack of opportunity and this movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Chimera Style - When you strike an enemy with at least two unarmed strikes, your enemy takes additional damage equal to twice your unarmed strike damage die. At the start of each turn afterwards the enemy will take damage equal to twice your unarmed strike damage die until they pass a medicine check vs your DC or receive at least 10 points of magic healing.

Vorpal Hare Style - You crit on a 19-20 and when you score a critical hit with a attack, you can roll one of the damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit. If your critical hit defeats an enemy, you gain temporary HP Equal to half the damage dealt for one minute.

Nightmare Dragon Style - When you make an attack action with an unarmed strike, you may change the damage type from Fire, Lightning, Cold, or Acid. You also gain resistance to the same element until the beginning of your next turn. As an action you can make any enemy who can see or hear you within 60 feet make a wisdom saving throw vs your DC. Those who fail take psychic damage equal to your unarmed strike and are frightened of you until the end of your next turn.

Hydra Style - When you make an unarmed strike with an empty hand, your may choose to grapple the enemy using your attack for the grapple check. If you succeed the enemy is both grappled and takes your unarmed strike damage. Additionally you always have advantage on opposed checks to maintain the grapple, and you may use a regular attack roll using your unarmed strike for these checks.

Centaur Style - Your jump distance is tripled. Your movement speed is doubled. Whenever you make an unarmed strike, you may push yourself ten feet in any direction. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunities from your enemies. These abilities also extend to any mount you are riding.

Saytr Style - You have advantage on any checks made to stay on your feet and maintain your balance. Additionally you ignore difficult terrain both mundane and magical. Finally you gain a climb speed whenever you are moving, however you must end your movement somewhere where you can stand normally or you will begin falling.

Primal Man Style - You become proficient with improvised weapons and treat any improvised weapons as monk weapons. One-handed improvised weapons gain the light and finesse properties while two-handed improvised weapons gain the reach property. Both gain the Thrown (30/90) property.

Cockatrice Style - Whenever you take the dodge action, add your proficiency bonus to your AC. If you are targeted by a melee Attack that misses you while you take a dodge, you may use your reaction to take an attack of opportunity against the attacker. If the attack would hit you, you may spend a reaction to reduce the damage by 1d10+Dexterity or Strength+Proficiency. If this would reduce the damage to 0, you may make an attack of opportunity against the attacker.

Werewolf Style - As long as you are within melee distance of an enemy, your allies will never had disadvantage against the enemies. Additionally you always reroll 1 or 2 on your attacks and damage die against your target.

Orc Style - If you land an attack after moving at least 20 feet, your target must make a strength save vs your DC or be shoved. Additionally you gain resistance to all damage you take from attacks of opportunity while this style is active, but only if the attacks of opportunity occur due to your movement. You otherwise do not have this resistance.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

It was true, they normally wouldn’t be able to interact with one another in their current state. However as Buddy explains, being an steal projection does not make you immortal. Simply different. Channeling his own magic reserves his body began to glow with a faint energy, which allowed him to make contact with you, and vice versa. This is a technique he called “Smiting”, which is what he was using to not only touch you, but also how he had done so much damage to the Zombie Ogre.

Finally, while his reaction speed was lower than he’d like, he also taught you the art of the arrow catch. An old trick he used to do, or so he figured, but he was far too slow to do that anymore in this body. He mainly trained you but throwing energy infused rocks at you, which were painful to the touch. But it was thanks to that pain you learned quickly how to deflect and release instead of trying to instinctively catch them.

You took to the Smiting Lessons with surprising speed as well. After just one session you were already able to fire radiant bolts, or Ki Blasts as Buddy described them, something that even he’s never been able to do. The blasts were somewhat weak, about as comparable as a punch, but the fact you were able to fire off magic energy bolts wasn’t something you could dismiss. This was straight up magic. Time would tell what other abilities you’d eventually learn.

Because there was one more lesson. As you and Buddy trained, he did have a memory. A memory of various beasts and monsters who guided him. It was hard to describe as he only had a vague memory, but he felt that perhaps you could help. As the ring you have is connected to his mind, it may be possible to ‘see’ into his thoughts. To that end he wants you to try something; he wants you to try and possess him. Normally not something you can do with just an astral form, but thanks to your unique connection you should be able. And as Buddy is willing, you should be able to ignore the usual struggles of a resisting host.

”Can’t believe it took me this long to realize you could do this. With any luck we can find out more about me this ways.”

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Ah, good old DBZ archetype. Cool with me! Go ahead and post, you can feel free to detail what exactly the training is like. In case it wasn’t obvious Buddy is a Paladin, so he can totally show you how to channel radiant energy through yourself, and then cool abilities.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Ringading ding, you're now level three! Buddy will be helping you hone your skills as you reach level 3, and through him he'll teach you whatever your monk archtype would be, or other martial classes if you so choose. Additionally there's one more thing he can teach you or rather, after the little training session you'll receive a few unique options. Stay tuned and find out!

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Buddy shook his head as he lifted the loincloth to look at the emblem. "I do not remember. The phrase is unfamiliar to me as well. This is an interesting symbol, but it does not spark any memories. Hmm." Buddy took a moment to think more deeply, looking at the cloth. Trying to remember. "This symbol means nothing to me... But. If I had to guess, I was created by those who carried this symbol. I was made for battle. They made me to do war." Buddy looked over at you. "I imagine that is why you had found me. You were in need of another warrior. Or, if you did not seek me out intentionally, whoever has been sending you these visions thought that you could use me in some fashion. That is what I would guess." Buddy stood up and walked over a bit away from the tents, somewhere a bit beyond the campfire.

"I have known you only for a short while, but I can see that you are strong. Though you dress finely, you are not a coward or weakling. We are warriors, you and I. I cannot say I remember what my purpose is beyond fighting, but what I do remember I know I can do well. Join me, and let us spar. Perhaps if I fight some more, I will awaken a few memories of battles I may have fought, or those who I have fought alongside. Surely my past has some connection with yours, to explain how and why you were able to find me."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"No. Or at least, I'm not sure if that was me. I haven't actually been awaken since you found me. Sufficient to say, I was only somewhat surprised that as soon as I was awakened, you were being attacked by that monster. Fortunately it seems like I at least remember how to fight. The axe felt familiar in these hands." Buddy lifted his hands up once more to move them. Slow and crinkling, even after being thoroughly brushed down by Pylia. "I was trying to speak to you, but it seems as though my body cannot speak. I was simply pointing out that you had my ring, so you must be my new master." Saying that made Buddy look up as if he just realized something. "Hmm. I vaguely remember... I came down there on my own. I think. I was alone at least. I'm not sure how I ended up there, but I at least meant to go down there. Perhaps I had also had a vision that brought me to that strange and mysterious place."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"Yes. You are dreaming. Or rather... In simplest terms you're having an out-of-body experience. Only those connected to the ring or capable of traversing the Astral Plane is here. Thus, I can speak to you, even though my body is not here. My being is stored within this body, which is connected to the ring, and try as I might I would not be able to physically interact with you as I personally cannot interact with the astral plane. Merely communicate with you due to the ring and only when you are asleep, when your consciousness is most open to this sort of thing." To demonstrate Buddy stood up and walked towards you. But instead of bumping into you, he phased right through your body before he sat down and continued to watch the fire. "In short, you are dreaming, and we can only have these sort of conversations while you're asleep. Probably."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

As you fell asleep, you would drift to an odd world. It looked like the camp, but devoid of anyone else. Pylia wasn't by the fire or in the tent, Shortfang's barrow was empty, the guards were gone, no Ferric or Mica, not even that merchant family. The only person here was Buddy, sitting by the fire. His eyes were a slight green, though everything was in grey scale in your eyes right now. "You're awake." A strange ethereal voice called out from Buddy. He remained motionless as he continued speaking. "I'm sure you have questions. I'll answer to the best of my abilities. I should let you know though... I truly don't have many memories, at least none of my own. Not even my name. So Buddy will suffice. It's a cute name."