Ambduscias

քʟɛǟֆɛ ɢօɖ ʟɛȶ օʊʀ ƈʀɛǟȶɨօռ ɖɨɛ Despite the fact that the very name Azdrazi brings me physical pain to read, I'm rather partial to this. Still preferential to the idea of polymorphing being entirely removed excepting the transition between ones' descendant guise and their true body, but I think the way you handle it is as close to (my) original vision of Azdrazi as it has came in a long time. Also please God remove this cringe "Hoard Mentality" thing. The blame for that one falls on the DARK TIMES. Good job other than that, don't see any stand out problems after a twice over.

real gamers remember the dark ages, when ghoul CAs were handed out like candy and there were swarms of 10+ PC undead on the roads actively terrorizing people. it's not a matter of the posts to drain, or how strong it is -- it's a matter of the peoples' willingness to actively use it and make it an entity in the world rather than another magic slot.

Somewhere in the depths of the jungle, a disgruntled Cao Cao can be heard wringing his hands in a distinctly simian manner. ”Stinky monkey think they best Cao Cao, enrightened representative of forever-Emperor. Arr according to plan.”

Bertholdt’s weary eyes take note of the message. He orders his servants to pack his belongings; it’s time for another road trip.

“Free my digga Burbur’Lur,” remarks a similarly imprisoned Cao Cao. He rattles at the bars of his cage in the Sky God’s basement.

It was a dusky summer evening that Sir Gregor Thorne stumbled upon the notable Heavenly Regent of Shen, Cao Cao, surrounded by an army of Simian retainers. He was lost for words, jaw agape; taken by the raw masculine power of the fat and muddy monkey they all looked to with reverence as their King. Within moments, the reputable Knight of Renatus scampered back in terror; he needed time to process his thoughts! Later that night, Gregor Thorne donned a bunch of furry pelts and silks, putting a mask on over his face; crassly, he muttered… “Ni hao?” to the mirror. It didn’t sound right, no; he didn’t know this foreign language, and it felt vile on the tongue. But when he uttered the words he’d heard, “Yerrow Turbans Go Home,” he felt oddly at home and comfortable. He knew that his true, enlightened identity, was culturally one of the Hou Zi. Even later that night, he found himself adventuring: and who but the honorable Heavenly General, Sun Wukong was present? He donned his mask, swiftly, hoping to ingratiate himself with these exotic foreigners. “Herro, Sun Wukong,” he said - before looking to the side, seeing the absolute unit of a gargantuan Monkey King bring his club down on a miscellaneous peasant. “We go now to strike foul farse-monkeys!” shouts Cao Cao, calling all the banners of the Hou Zi realms. And so they wandered out in search of gold and conquest, and Ser Gregor Thorne knew he was at home. Colorized photo of Cao Cao knighting Sir Gregor Thorne as a warrior of all Hou kind https://www.twitch.tv/zacclay/clip/HorribleTawdryNoodleVoteNay?filter=clips&range=24hr&sort=time

A Call to the Host It was the dawn of the evening, when the last rays of the golden sun fell smothered beneath the waves of the ocean when the horns blew; the birds and the trees themselves fell silent with trepidation. The noise was a terrible one that shook bones, windows, and insides alike with a fervor that would impart upon the heavens their meaning. From the shores of Qinghai to the Heavens from which Hou Shen ruled, they called the banners for one and all warriors – brigands, fiends, the noble; all would be welcomed to redeem themselves through service. The Emperor rests upon his laurels, hands left prostrate on his fat belly; eyes like flame fixed upon the horizon of distant Krugmar, and further yet upon the golden fields and valleys of Arcas. Once more Chosen blew the horn and made the trees shake and the fish flee with its power, and again it’s destined recipients were beckoned. Beneath, in the thick of the throng, the few loyalists that lived toted the tools of their trade; the perfidious butcher of Donghai, Pang Jiāngjūn, and the Emperor’s Champion, Shen Bu astride his horse; with Hou-Shen’s spear upon his shoulder. “My most loyal retainers!” came the terrible boom of the corpulent despot’s voice to his legion; half-brigand, half-warlord, but ultimately zealous army of simian warriors. “The hour, once scribed in the Heavens, has dawned for the most glorious Empire of God’s chosen tribe! The lands ought to tremble beneath the hooves of our horses!” “All generals loyal to the Hou are called to our banner; for within and without, we will leave only glory in our wake!” And with that, the banner of the Shen Dynasty unfurled; forevermore, the Emperor would have his Imperial Guard.

“Just as planned,” says secretary-general John Ted Staunton-Vimmark Horen.

Jonathan Theodore Staunton-Horen smiles like the sun from his hover-chair.

A Primer on Azdromoth “To say that our world is without end is blind; time and time again those who sought to imitate He have driven Man to the brink of extermination...” Quintessentially, the Titan is the manifold presence of our Lord; through his will, history was made, and man was given a Shepard to its flock. Pervasive throughout history are the tales of His glory, and the steadfast efforts of the Dragon to safeguard man from the taint of the foul Pretenders who sought to claim his title. The followers of Azdromoth do not see him as a God, persay - he is the servant of the almighty GOD, hallowed be his name and patron of children who serve the same purpose and ideals. Dragonkind was devised with the purpose of safeguarding HUMANITY, persecuted by leeches wearing coats of golden paint to mask their ill intents. It is imperative that Man not forget the betrayals of the supposed “immortals” - all servants of the Pretenders, aside for the short-statured kin of the earth and the Greenskins; the HIGH ELVES, misled to believe that it is their demeanor which constitutes Godliness, and who reject the LORD, hallowed be his name; the Wood Elves, who praise parasites that claw at HIS domain and claim it as their own; the SNOW ELVES, who worship the false Dragon, Wyvrun, a long-nosed merchant peddling lies and deceit masquerading as knowledge. HIS followers have not forgotten these betrayals, inscribed in stone during the crescendo of the LONG WAR. In which HIS children, HUMANITY, and their lesser kith fought in arms against the spawn of the Great Betrayer, where the Titan martyred himself for the sake of affording Man the time to best the eternal enemy. Pursuant to these recollections, it is only natural that His children be revered; as they rightfully have for years immemorial, remembering that the Horens rule not simply through right but their legitimate claim to divinity through the blood of the Father, which still courses through their veins to the modern day. This appreciation of the Titan is not forgotten, and his remaining Children exist to extend their hand in aid to their eternal ally - and to those misguided others, ignorant of the nature of salvation. Obedience to the pretenders, in Azdromoth’s eyes, is not a sin or grievous crime; it is simply a mistake to be corrected, of which any reasonable man should see the nature of. It is only those steadfast and vile servants who dub themselves with terms of the Cloth, such as “clerics,” “paladins,” and “Ascended” who find themselves truly and utterly contemptible. Mistake these individuals not for the ignorant, but for the collaborators of thieves and Killers. On Doctrine and the Three Virtues “Be it theological convenience, or a universal truth that were conveyed to us in our infancy; there are definitive evils in this world. Each has power of its own, and the proliferation of their worships causes the wells of power behind each concept to grow more imposing.” an excerpt on the necessity of a faithful life circa 1121 In their infinite wisdom, the Titan and the Lord God saw fit to give his children three principles through which to conduct their lives before all else. Three words, each with a complexity and theology of their own; PRAGMATISM, LOYALTY, DILIGENCE. Each represents a facsimile of the versatility of the Human spirit. Pragmatism the eternal will to adapt and carry on, Loyalty devotion to your State, your People, and your Goal. Diligence, which is the steadfast nature of devotion. As he is all-knowing, the Titan does not see the need for arbitrary restrictions upon the individual; instead, he calls for temperance and passion. His followers are expected to overcome any challenge, and to pursue an aspect of life they consider most desirable; many acolytes among the Faithful go on to found institutions known as “devotaries,” which are in effect Churches with a focus upon an aspect of life. For some, this will be literature; for others, this will be dueling and the making of war; they are as varied as his followers, and by no means restricted. Pragmatism is the chief virtue required of His people. Do not overstep the bounds of man, but act as needed to overcome the challenges both life and your foes would seek to bring down upon you; there is ignominy only in failing to achieve the true potential outlined for man by the LORD GOD and his Titan. Loyalty, arguably, is almost as of much importance as pragmatism; a desire to accomplish is nothing without a nation, ideal, or people that your deeds serve to aid. So to speak, a cause without a banner is meaningless; a banner without a cause is lost. Diligence, akin to loyalty, is the dedication to one’s Divine task; the fate the LORD ascribed to each and every man who lived, and which the Titan exists to safeguard. It is considered an unspoken duty that men are left to discover, varied from individual to individual. It is not unusual that followers might realize their prior belief was incorrect, and that there task is another; this is considered a failure, but not scathing enough to disgrace the man. Holy Days Fourthday; the fourth day, as the name would imply, of every spring is to be a time of remembrance; this is the day that the LORD GOD’s servant martyred himself for the purpose of protecting man. Oftentimes, this is coupled with festivals where effigies of the Dragon are stuffed with silks and candles and burned in pyres so that his Followers might not forget what he endured at the hands of the Pretenders. Unification(Godfrey’s) Day; The morn in which the conquest of Kingdoms came to its end and the Emperor that was promised brought man under the heel of the Dragonblooded. This is a day to be celebrated, as it was when Man learned of the glory of their patrons and how those with his blood are blessed with the right to rule. Oftentimes, this day is when normal societal norms are overturned; peasants and nobles revel alike in the street in a reconciliation of their shared mortality - a gift of the Titan and the Lord. Symbology The Eternal Fire The faithful, when in times of strife, are offered penance and succor from the Kindred; they need only emblazon the Eternal Fire upon their regalia, be it by tabard, by rune, or by amulet. This is to denote the Titan’s flame, and the warmth that it provides to man. The Black Cube The flock of Dragonkind recognizes Azdromoth’s dominance through a particular sigil. A small, black cube, without ornamentation. On holy days (the sabbath most especially), those of his blood take to wearing the device upon their forehead, bound about the ears by a strap. Often, this is only carried out by the most devout of his brood. On Priests, their Vestments, and Ecclesiarchy The concept of a “central” organization through which the LORD’s faith is spread is seen to be tantamount to a state of anathema. Men function best when presented with challenge and adversity, so there is no surprise that competition between Devotaries is common. Often, it is expected that one’s dominance will sway, bolster, and falter depending on the region and time. Sometimes, these devotaries are bonded to the ruling government; other times, they are disconnected ventures or estranged temples standing lonesome in hostile lands. There is no “rite” to ascend from ley to priest but self determination and your recognition by your fellow Mortals. The only “ordained” that exist are those of Dragon’s Blood; be it Azdrazi, Horen, or otherwise - possessing the privilege to claim dominance as the chosen among Man. This does not make other men lesser, for all men’s Devotions are of equal value; it just determines their worldly authority among their kindred. Oftentimes, as if the vogue, priests will drape themselves in the colours of the Titan. Blacks, earthy browns, and reds, are often the choices for vestments. Sometimes these will be more ergonomic, designed simply, or as ostentatious dress-robes reminiscent of Cannonist mainstay. It varies upon the Devotary and personal taste, though one is often the same as the other. Past this, there are certain “holy sites” that have special importance. The Titan’s Seat is chief among them, for it is where Azdromoth guided Man and Dragon from when he walked the world as the spawn of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. Consider this the most Holy city, to be defended regardless of affiliation; it transcends Mortal affairs, safeguarded by the Dragonblooded for eternity, until the Titan returns to man. More ephemeral is the Stars, the home of the Seven Heavens, and of the Dragons. Within the expanse of the cosmos, all is sacred - for it is the design of the Creator, shielded from the horrors of the Void and the machinations of the horrors without. Special reverence is paid to specific constellations, believed to be the home of specific Dragons and Men - often named after such parties.

9th of The Deep Cold, 1714 The Zongtong convenes around the temple to Hou-Shen behind Krugmar with the blessing of the Rex. The goal of the meeting? To depose the false despot of the Hou-Zi, Yu-Zhuding and his family from the Hou throne. The reason born of his families illegitimacy and indolent rule in the interim absence of a viable Shen. This displeased all of his Zongtong, Liao Chen and Hsieh Xin, who acted swiftly to bring about a solution to this small scale predicament the fledgling Hou state had found itself in. It was a success for the Zongtong and with the Rex’s approval Shen Cao Cao was proclaimed as the rightful ruler of the Hou state as representative of the Imperial Family and the immortal Huangdi Hou Shen as eldest and proper inheritor to the Jade Throne with Shen Li’s abdication. This was not the only change made that moment, by the Zongtong recognized emperor, the Zongtong itself is no longer viewed as legitimate by it’s former members and from both the Liao Family and Hsieh family and Lang family. Along with this was a calling for all loyal Hou and Uruk alike to no longer view the despot Zhuding and his claim to the throne as legitimate. With the abolishment of the Zongtong, new position shall be formed one being the Zhongdu incharge of the city and creating laws, this role is recognized by the new government is held by Liao-Chen, the Zhongdu will also take part in diplomacy but the Zhongdu’s word is always over ruled by the Emperor, then the Zhuchi, the leader of religious part of the Hou State, but also the head priest of the temple of Hou-Shen. The Yu family, for it’s wise contrition and ceding of the throne and their illegitimate claims to it, is pardoned for any misdeeds pending further developments.

“Mastering others is intelligence; Mastering yourself is true wisdom. Knowing others is strength; knowing that the ‘Aheral are not fit to live free of the Shen yolk is true power.” Cao Cao Shen remarks, running his fingers through his goatee.

“The more laws and order are made prominent, the more thieves and robbers there will be.” Cao Cao remarks thoughtfully, considering the implications of the claimants to the throne of Alderyn; he is amused that so many squabble over what is rightfully a province of the enlightened Shen dynasty. It is only a matter of time.

John Ted Horen, also known as megamind(now a giant, arthritic baby with wrinkles), smiles at this news. It was only a matter of time.

“This reeks of an artificial and fabricated killing used to justify martial law and a crackdown of opposition to the Maheral. In as much, I approve. They could at least be a little more tactful about the matter, however,” the aptly named Diraar’thil ponders, rubbing his chin. There would be much conspiring to do in response to this series of events.