Totally get that, but keep an eye out. it’s a fairly common drop so it might be there at some point. At the very least, I actually didn’t use it until my second character anyway, after my first one died around lvl 55 or something. Can’t remember.
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When Thormane set his mind to a task, his many years experience fighting in the pits often possessed him, transforming him into a machine of one will, made for one purpose alone. That purpose, completing the task laid before him. That task, eliminating the Chthonic threat. And so it was that Thormane set the Astarkan valley raining in corpses of aetherials and chthonics alike…
Would Cairn ever recover from this maddening conflict? So many lives lost… So many horrors witnessed…
ONWARD! To purge the realms of all Chaos!!!
“LOGGO! I COME FOR YOU!!! Ulgrim! Wait for me!”
Ulgrim “Alright time’s up, let’s do this LEEEEEROOOOOYYYYYYYY… nnnnnJJJJJJEAAAAAANKEEEEIIIINNNNNNSSSSSSSS!!!”
“NO!!! ULGRIM!!!”
Surrounded, the Chthonic forces beat down against Thormane, darkening the world. With each breath he took, his life began to fade away, and all turned to crimson. The blade of Salazar suddenly spaking to life in its scabbard and projecting energies from the void all along Thormanes limbs, in through his muscle tissue, his shield began to spark and his mace turned red hot, as sudden strength of will flooded into his being.
With a defiant shout he bellowed “BACK! BACK YOU FOUL BEASTS!!!”, throwing off his oppressors, and slamming his way forcefully back into the fight with an explosion of crimson power.
All around him the bodies of Loggo’s vanguard were shredded and came apart, clumps of meaty flesh smacking to the ground, and he moved in close to pay Loggo for his crimes.
In a torrent of blood, the Log slumped limp and lifeless back down onto the floor, sending out a slick puddle of its vile fluids. The fluids encroached around Thormanes boots. Thormane, staring blankly down watching the fluid surround him, had the feeling this wasnt over. He still needed to find his hammer, and clues of Frederick Longshores disappearnce… Perhaps the Black Legion personnel at Fort Ikon would have answers. They would owe him, having just dispatched their largest threat.
It would seem this threat is not over… Thormane was given directions to Gloomwald, and made the long journey back by boat. As he ventured north of Burrwitch, the Salazar’s blade hummed with energy and grew warmer to the touch the closer he got to Gloomwald… Could it be? Was the weapon acting as some kind of beacon? Or perhaps Lokarr was using some kind of strange magic to give him signs- Signals forwards in his great and seemingly unending quest… He tested the theory at forking paths, choosing one route the blade grew cold, while the other route heated it.
Following these signs, he let the blade lead him, cutting down all the vile creatures to bar his passage. These creatures and their zealots bore a twisted resemblance to the Chthonic cults, dabbling in blood magics and worshipping profane altars decorated with the gruesome remains of their victims… And he kept seeing a symbol… The symbol was everywhere these sacrificial rituals apeared to have taken place, and the blade vibrated in its sheath…
Outside, Thormane happened to stumble across something shining suspiciously in the grass. The blade became so hot in its sheath that the leather began to smolder. He stopped, staring down, a blast of memory suddenly driving deep into his mind from what seemed like ages past… That gun… It was… That gun! It was Lokarr’s! Lokarr’s prized rifle, the Hunstman!
Adjacent to the rifle was a cluster of Aetheric crystals that appeared to have snapped off of a still intact human skull, which whispered to him…
“Take us, Thormane… It is your destiny… We are one… And tell that bastard Lokarr… You’ve found me…”
As soon as his fingers touched the skull, both it and the aether cluster shattered in unison, the particles of bone dust and crystelline flakes began to twirl and wind into and out of eachother, weaving over and over until they created a shining luminous ball of blueish light which gave off an illuminating glow.
“With this touch, we are one… Welcome, Thormane. To the celestial harmony.” He swore he could hear multiple voices in its psychic projections… There was Fredericks, without a doubt, but underneath it there was… There seemed to be… Yes, a woman’s voice… And another man’s voice as well…
“You have questions. Yes, we have answers… Worry not, friend… All in good time… All in good time…”
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A stillness in the air fell over Thormane. He held a hand up, brushing his fingers through the atmosphere, sensory nerves in search of information. The azure spirit hovered above him quizzically. He could feel it, the many pairs of eyes within, observing relentlessly. Glancing up st the sky, he wondered if a storm was on it’s way. The air felt charged in the way a calm before thunder and rains will seem. In a matter of seconds, he had his answer.
Small veins of alazarin leaped and jumped from arbitrary pockets in the air before him, growing both in size and frequency, until a frenetic maelstrom of crimson energies swirled into being, tearing open a rift mid-air and spilling hellish void-light out onto the nearby environment.
“THORMANE!” A booming voice tumbled out through the time space orifice, warbled and distorted by the interdimensional tunnel. “HEEL, BOY! Hah. YOUR MISSION IS COMPLETE. RETURN MY WEAPON TO ME, FOR I HAVE CHOSEN ANOTHER TO BEAR THESE ARMS, AND REPLENISH MY SUFFERING MENAGERIE”.
“At once, my lord”. Thormane voiced, and stepped into the rift. As reality began to shift and melt away around him, he saw the spirit glide off into the forest.
“You go where we cannot follow” its voices projected to him psychically as he was torn from the landscape in crackling electric fire, the rift closing and leaving nothing behind but the smell of ionized air.
As before, he was dropped from the rift and deposited into Lokarr’s Crucible realm from a height of at least 10 feet. Unprepared for the sudden descent, and weighted down by his armor, he landed awkwardly and felt a bone in his left foot pop out of place, collapsing to the floor in a heap of metal. For those who might have missed his comical entry, his helmet came toppling off and announced its departure with awkwardly loud clanging and banging. It rolled over like an egg, eventually spinning to a stop several paces away.
“HAHAHA! OH how I have missed you, dog!” Lokarr’s voice boomed mockingly from across the gladiator’s pit. He had a habit of purposely placing rifts JUST high enough off the ground that those traversing them would experience an exciting re-entry. “Now be a good boy and bring it here. The gun! If you please…” Lokarr stood by the treasury, beckoning Thormane to him with his outstretched hand.
Grunting, Thormane stood, swooped up his helm, and gave his foot a few resting steps wincing at the pain before limping towards his master, the Huntsman slung loosely over his shoulder. As he neared Lokarr, a wretched hand snapped out and grabbed the rifle off his arm. “THERE THERE, why so timid!”
Lokarr inspected the weapon meticulously. “A true shame about Longshore. He was a prize, and I did have SO MUCH planned for him… ahAHAHA! YES I did… At least there is still you. OH but I have been so BORED here, no melees to uphold, no enduring mortals to absorb my ridicule. It is high time we had a melee here, and what better occasion than on your triumphant return? I suppose you shall need a bit of an upgrade… Your old master shall craft you a few new… GIFTS, I suppose you’d call them… Go to him. Now.”
“As you say, my lord” Thormane bowed, and hobbled down the treasury steps, stumbling at the bottom. “oh, careful now! Ahaha” Lokarr mocked. Thormane clenched his jaw with irritation, but resumed his pace to his old master, who had produced a fine set of new armor, tailored specifically to Thormanes proportions. He geared up, flexing and stretching to get a sense of the maneuverability in his new skin.
“Do you like it? Good… Now, SHALL WE BEGIN?!” Lokarr said, suddenly materializing behind Thormane and shoving him out into the gladiator’s pit. As the emerald rifts churned and spawned what denizens remained in Lokarr’s menagerie, Thormane gripped his new mace, and charged into battle, the old bloodsong from his gladiator days shouting from his lips without him ever realizing he had opened his mouth.
An underhanded strike sweeping below the range of a cultists ironsights causes mortal wounds, shattering his existence.
On the final wave, as Thormane faced off against a hulking Ancient Shambler, he dropped low and came in hard and fast, smashing the head of his hammer against the inside of the monsters right knee joint.
The creature bellowed out in pain, reaching for any nearby surface to brace itself from falling over completely in the shock of the impact and attempting to steady itself. Thormane, battle experience and killer instinct fully realized, slammed his shield home square in the abominations unprotected groin, and conquering it in Lokarr’s name.
Part of him came alive in the pits, a part he’d thought he’d lost forever. Though by now he’d faced horrors in Cairn that shouldn’t have been able to exist outside the Crucible realm, there was something altogether different about fighting in the melee of Lokarr’s court. A thrilling adrenaline bucked through his veins with each wave of opponents defeated, which found him screaming for more, like a wild berserker. He realized then what it was- he had grown so much from when hed been chosen for his mission into Cairn, so much that he was able to relish in his victories here, towering over the slaughtered corpses with a knowing confidence that betrayed the fear in his earlier days of the realm. It was glory, that he felt. The glory of victory, repeated over and over again, until he was showered in even finer armaments. Now clad in improved arms, his prize for entertaining Lokarr’s mad wishes, he put them to the test…
His new armor, near impervious to his opponent’s blows, lashed out at his attackers with caustic energies, spraying acid and melting their skin, weakening their flesh for Thormane’s assaulting retorts as he shrugged off their attacks with shockwaves reverberating so violently they sent the corpses of lesser enemies hurtling into the air, splitting bodies and tearing limbs in the process.
Those who without the blastback exploded in fiery infernos shortly thereafter. Thormane, utterly impervious to the fire, waded through its flames unscathed in seach of his next targets as bodies of the dead fell back to earth.
The cultists tried, yet again, and failed to subdue him. Their gunfire streaking across Thormane’s armor, deflected in a shower of sparks.
Too slow! In killing range, Thormane was a craftsman with shield and mace, moving amongst his opponents he bobbed and weaved, swinging shield arm and weapon like an enraged wolverine, battering and bludgeoning the cultists into pulped masses of unidentifiable biological waste.
The last test before Thormane could feel satisfied was the Aetherials. A mass of bulging floating eyeballs floated overhead, seething with tendrils of Aether lightning. Heedless of its dangers, Thormane charged it head on, the formation swallowing him up in an electrified sheen of energy. He disappeared briefly before smashing it from the inside out.
Satisfied, Thormane set his bloody melee aside. Lokarr granted him this, for the entertainment had been of great value to him.
“You are hereby relieved of your duties, old dog. Stay awhile. Hone your battle skills here, and entertain me. I have missed your warrior monk spirit here. Besides, in the time that you’ve been gone I have recruited the services of… OTHER agents. Yes… And soon, I shall reveal them to you! I understand your hammer was lost during your mission- Fear not! I have one such agent painting the lands of Cairn red in search of this weapon. Once found, he will report back to me, at which time I shall return the weapon to you, and, provided you are still ALIVE, you may go.”
“Another agent, my lord? Might I know this man’s name?” Thormane asked.
“Heh! I suppose that wouldnt be TOO much to ask…”
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May I just say how unfathomably thrilled I am that this thread is doing well? It seems like it’s been years since I’ve seen someone post a build on this subforum that didn’t include a Crucible clear time and not have a dozen different sweatlords jeering at them for it. This is creative as all hell and I’m glad to see people actually engaging with the game’s lore.
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This is ALL thanks to @MikeHeydon. Pretty much every one of his threads has to do with some kind of creative alternative approach to this game, and I have to say @MikeHeydon thank you dude. I had no idea this game could be so engaging and enjoyable until I encountered 1) the awesome community on this forum, and 2) your awesome posts on this forum!
"…BORIS TSAREVICH"
The words resounded from Lokarr’s lips, with the force of a sudden storm. Thormane felt the air leave his lungs. He had to take a few breaths to recover.
“Who… Who is that?”
Boris Tsarevich… A legend of the far east. The infamous raging alcoholic hermit, once an accomplish Shaman, who perfected his own style of hand to hand combat, infused with the power of his spirit. This is what earned him the nickname, “Burya Kulak” or “Tempest Fist”. He uses no weapons but his hands, which have proven to be weapon enough. His SAVAGE nature and force of will of such presence it manifests itself in the surrounding air with undeniable friction that causes the air to become electrified. His strikes so blindingly fast, the air around his fists has been known to cut into his opponents, loosing bleeding wounds on their skin.
“He does not disappoint, my faithful hound… He shall find your Hammer.” Lokarr reassured, placing his hand atop Thormane’s skull and granting him a brief vision of Tsarevich’s skill.
Boris can grapple, and throw enemies…
His name does him justice, as he hits with the force of thunder…
He is a true Monk. An unarmed champion.
BORIS TSAREVICH
Class: Shaman
Restrictions: Cannot use weapons, off-hands, or shields
Mission: Find Thormane’s Hammer
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That weaponless mode looks like major fun.
I think I am going to have Jane run a few missions weaponless in the Korvan Temples. “The Three have temporarily banned all types of weapons and shield in them due to Eldritch overcoming heros and stealing their weaponry which is being used to great advantage against the forces of the Three.”
Jane’s job will be to clear these temples of these weapon muggers and she will have to do it weaponless as decreed by the three.
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It’s going to be extremely dangerous as Boris is HC, which is why I am allowing him to utilize a class. Without even a Shield or Off-hand, this should balance out, if not remain with Boris at a serious disadvantage and handicap, making the use of a class not even enough to survive, as he will only be allowed to use thematic skills to his lore. No devouring swarm, no vines, and without weapon use, no primal Strike or Shaman WPS. MAYBE briarthorn, but likely not.
So pretty much just Savagery, Mogdrogen’s Pact, Totems, and not sure about the final tier skills yet. A pet might fit his lore, being that he’s a hermit he probably befriended at least one animal. We’ll see.
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Jane “Unarmed, alone and unafraid” during the Korvan Temple crisis
On another visit to her favourite breakaway place in Korvan, Jane visited the Emissary and what he had to say was quite troubling. The Three have currently banned all hand held offensive and defensive gear for anyone entering the temples scattered around the land. Eldritch muggers inside them are robbing everyone carrying such equipment and it is becoming a real threat to the Three as they are arming themselves at an alarming rate with the stolen equipment. The land’s worshippers are also demanding immediate action.
The Emissary has been tasked to find willing heroes to enter these temples unarmed and be able to eradicate these opportunistic muggers.
Jane as always is always up to the challenge. Hey, so I don’t have my trusty axe and shield, but they can hardly take away my devotion or clothing skills, which these muggers could not steal anyway, even if they manage to kill me.
Let’s do some unarmed combat training on the dummies to hone in what skills and natural abilities I can actually take into the temple.
“Thump Thump”
“In your face”
“Oooooh Yeah”
Ok, this is not as bad as it initially seemed. let’s go find some of these muggers.
Jane made her way to one of troubled temples and proceeded to do what she does best …
“Hellooo Boys. Looking for me?”
“Not the easy mark you where expecting? Lets get down to business”
“You confused bub? - Look Ma, no hand held shield - but dedicated devotions work just as well - This is a Shield Wall gained from many hours of devotion and training - I understand your confusion - Now …”
“Phoenix Fire and my other long learned training will be your demise!”
“Anyone else want a piece of me?
You looking at me? … ARE you looking at me?
Come on you bunch of reprobates?”
“Ok, we got a few dim witted takers … Did your mother never tell you not to play with fire?”
“Obviously not - dumb choice!”
Jane reported back to the Emissary that the temple was now cleared and he was very grateful. Although Jane enjoyed the adrenaline rush of the temple encounter, she was still far happier to be reunited with the comfort of her familiar axe and shield.
Having proved to the Emissary that unarmed heroes can indeed clear the temples of these muggers, she recommended to him a few heroes that she had met during her pursuits throughout Cairn.
One notable one that he should track down is the monk “BORIS TSAREVICH” who is a master in all skills of unarmed combat
Boris was posted by @Knife which was the inspiration for this Jane adventure.
Jane now, sadly had to depart back to Cairn to face the never ending demands of Inquisitor Creed.
(Maybe she could just squeeze in a quick beer with her father at Devil’s Crossing first 
)
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Haha! That was awesome man, this is a cool idea to give the lore playthroughs even more uniqueness- kind of like manually applying your own “multiplier”, complete with backstory. I love it, inspiring and stimulated the creative energies regarding what other scenarios would be fun to try out complete with backstory explanations
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Boris trains, honing his “Burya Kulak” technique strike by strike, forging his mind, body, and spirit into a force of nature. The speed and ferocity of his fists causing the surrounding air currents to shift and surge, gradually forming isolated cyclones, tearing across the field with each of Tsarevich’s practiced attacks…
His new technique evolving, Tsarevich heads out to get some practice against live targets…
Farros gains some new scars as the spiked glove on Boris’ right hand tears down diagonally across his face in a downward strike at terminal velocity.
Followed by a sudden fierce uppercut from the same gloved hand, Farros staggers back…
Tsarevich sends a piston-fist into Farros’ unguarded stomach, causing him to double over in pain…
The back of Farros’ head dangling before him, Boris sends his right fist into a fatal descending strike, smashing Farros’ head to bits, and spilling poisonous vitae onto the floor…
A nearby Emberguard approaches at the sound, hoping to end Boris’ training. Little does he know, Boris is a master grappler. Seizing the initiative, Boris rushed into the Emberguard, sending out a clotheslining grapple and snapping the creatures neck, causing it to explode in a fiery death…
Against a small mob of enemies, Tsarevich’s warrior spirit howls, his Burya Kulak manifesting itself from the small cyclones into a new form. As his fists blaze in the air, they send out shockwaves, molded by his spirit into a murder of spectral crows that cry out, tearing through the mob, shredding skin and bodies alike…
A lone cultist survives, distracted by a formation of Aether crystals. Boris grabs the cultist with his right hand, throwing him out of the way, and steps in, pivoting and driving the deadly knuckles of his left hand down hard against the crystal, smashing it into tiny shards that go spinning through the air…
A nearby monster howls in anger at this vandalism. Boris silences him swiftly, his new technique deadly and accurate…
A newly risen mob stands behind Tsarevich, temporarily dazed by the shockwaves of his Burya Kulak. He wheels on the horde, loosing the deathwinds and lightning tendrils of his hands upon them, shredding them out of existence…
More enemies come, but they cannot hope to withstand the Burya Kulak…
Those that survive take hard blows, dying shortly thereafter…
A pack of Aetherhounds surrounds him, and, reaching up towards the heavens with a bold defiant gesture, he cries out, sending the strike into a deadly drop, shaking the earth and causing all the hounds to die utterly…
He comes across a shrine, defended by a small horde, one monster larger than the others, lumbering and clumsy, it hefts its weight at Boris in an unaccurate and sluggish but powerful attack. Boris deftly sends his right fist forward, pivoting his body aside…
…The blow missing by mere inches, boris wastes no time on the counterattack, bringing his right arm back in a rapid 180 degree turn. He wraps his right arm around the back of the head of the large monster, and shifting his weight, he pivots on the ball of his left foot, compensating for the weight of the beast, and uses all his might to swing the hideous creature around and send it toppling to the ground behind him…
…He then faces a new opponent. With no time to spare, he lashes out violently with a fast right handed attack, but the enemy reacts quicker than his previous opponent, and sends its shield arm down to meet Tsarevich’s fist…
…Tsarevich doesnt let that dissuade him, and thrusts his left fist diggin into the lower abdomen of the enemy, turning it as he moves forward, sending the monsters guts exploding out its back at the sheer force of the attack…
“Tch! This is too easy…” Boris mutters under his breath. “Lokarr! Send me to a place with REAL enemies… I want to fight some wild beasts, not these pathetic Aether whelps!”
A rift suddenly opens, teleporting Boris to the Korvan Basin, depositing him into a cluster of raptors.
“Now this is more like it!!!” Boris shouts, as a nearby raptor lunges for him…
Ducking out of the way, the monster becomes enraged, overcompensating and reaching out to slash Boris apart…
…but Boris slides around, sending the spikes of his right glove deep into the beasts neck, puncturing the vulnerable underside of its scales…
As the beast stumbles, Tsarevich sends the spikes of his LEFT glove plunging into, and across the neck in the same area, tearing out its throat and sending it falling to the ground…
Another beat sneaks up behind him and he intercepts its attack, blocking it with his forearm, sending forceful shockwaves into the meat of the enemy, causing internal trauma and ruining its insides…
Boris moves on, and is nearly killed by a shotgun blast…
…but dashes, blindingly fast, his speed and power enchanced by the Burya Kulak, passing straight through the body of his enemy and tearing it in two in a rupturing storm of electrified wind…
“Heh! A good first training session…” Tsarevich shakes the blood and guts off his gloves… “That will do for today’s session, Lokarr. Send me back.”
With a crackling glare of dark red and murky depths, Boris vanished from the desert sands into thin air.
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Hunting “Jane of the Crossing” - Meet Jacobus Krieg
After the salvation of Malmouth a young survivor made his way back to Devil’s Crossing to reunite with his father. He was referred to Mornay and Bourbon as the best way to get answers.
My name is Jacobus Krieg, and this is my pet Fangs, I am looking for my father, he was the warden of the prison?
Mornay informed him that he had been turned by the Aetherials and that “Jane of the Crossing” had been commissioned to terminate him.
Deeply distressed Jacobus asked if they had any of his father’s belongings?
Feeling sorry for the boy, Mornay gave him all of his father’s gear that they had in their keeping.
Even though his father was turned by the Aetherials, Jacobus could not accept that he was just cut down like a dog by this “Jane of Crossing” and vowed to hunt her down and terminate her in a similar fashion.
Step one was to find out from her father Edwin - that one was easy as he did not relish a bullet to the brain
Where is Jane? … old man … speak
Edwin was not keen on losing his life, but also was not willing to put his daughter’s life in danger.
His quick wit led him to say that she travelled north to Homestead to meet the Black Legion knowing full well that if he did encounter Inquisitor Creed before Jane then that would be the end of this this upstarts revenge trail.
Jacobus travelled to Homestead and asked Captain Somers of the Black Legion if she knew the whereabouts of Jane. He had the sense not to try to threaten a captain of the Black Legion with a pistol.
Captain Somers was disturbed by this man’s attitude and sent him off on a tangent to where she knew Jane had headed. She lied and said that she had travelled to the “Order of Death’s Vigil” in Sorrows Bastion knowing full well that Jane met with "Kymons Chosen?
She also tasked a messenger to get word to Creed to warn him of this impending danger to Jane.
Jacobus eventually reached the bastion where the death order were and wanted answers
Where is this “Jane of the Crossing”?
Cat got your tongue? maybe this will help …
Varuuk had no knowledge of Jane’s whereabouts, but was aware that she had been causing serious casualties and disruptions amongst his own order.
Varuuk was also not concerned by this futile threat from Jacobus and asked him to look behind him before doing anything rash.
Realising this could be an opportunity to recruit a useful conscript and also maybe to be rid of the thorn that Jane was becoming in their order, Varuuk laid out a proposal …
Relax, join us, together we can satisfy your revenge lust as well as enforcing the cause of our order.
Ok, that sort of makes sense - I am in - let’s get this show on the road
The hunt for Jane is afoot …
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Awesome!!!
Jacobus Krieg finds his next clue to the current whereabouts of his father’s executioner - “Jane of the Crossing”
Now quite happily entrenched and trusted by the Order of Death’s Vigil, Master Varuuk said he should consult with the Keeper of Tomes within the bastion as he has many active ears and records across the land of Cairn.
Jane, aah yes, I know of this hero you are searching for. She has caused us much damage and losses in our campaign against the Kymon’s’ Chosen. Soulkeeper Kaandris was the last to report to me after our embarrassing defeat at the Battle of Fort Haron. She single handedly defeated our commander there. Seek him out, he is usually dabbling around in the Chamber of Souls.
You have caught me at a very inconvenient time, I am busy performing the ritual to resurrect our champion Malkadarr. There are many spirits that need to be banished and it is going to get very nasty very quickly, I hope you can protect yourself!
Here they come …
They don’t seem too tuff - Ooooh - bigger and uglier …
Thanks for watching my back Kaandris
It’s just a “jump to the left” …
and then, a “jump to the right” … launch a devastating doom bolt …
Are you kidding me?
More of them … and these seem to be heavyweights …
This one seems to be the big Kahuna - g’bye
Well, I was not quite expecting THAT when I stepped in for a chat. I am looking for Jane of the Crossing, I believe that you have encountered her?
Yes, I was based at Fort Haron when Kymon’s Chosen launched their attack. Jane was the spearhead of that battle and I have never witnessed such raw strength and ferocity in a warrior before. If you are seriously intending to terminate her, I would advise extreme training in the masteries that your father has enabled you to follow. As to where she is now, I cannot answer as while we were licking our wounds she moved on. She is almost like a wraith that can vanish and appear when you least expect. Speak to our newly resurrected champion Malkadarr, he has been in the spirit realm for a long time and they have eyes and ears that defy our senses.
This Jane you seek, I have seen her occasionally in the mists of the spirit realm. She is an anomaly and we cannot explain how she always overpowers our best champions without using any skills of the mastery arts, just sheer strength, willpower and magical equipment?
I have probed into the mind of her father Edwin in Devil’s Crossing and have discovered that she was not actually the natural birth child of Edwin and Samantha. They found her in an abandoned crib whilst picnicking at Burrich Waterfront just before the advent of the Grim Dawn and adopted her as their own. Jane is not aware of this and her mother went to her grave without telling her. Her father is proud of her and is never going to reveal the truth. This maybe a little tool in you arsenal that can be used at a critical moment?
Disturbingly, our spirit senses detected that she is NOT of mortal origin and might be some offspring of some known or unknown god, or even something more threatening?
She also has many very powerful friends as she is usually hidden from my spirit vision. This sort of shrouding is normally the work of our other hated enemy, the witches.
She has already defeated the Loghorrean in the north and has ventured into the aether ravaged city of Malmouth. She also appears in the strange land of Korvan at times. I suggest you try to find the coven of witches in Ugdenbog and see if they are forthcoming. Beware though as they are not going to be friendly towards you, especially if you tip your hand that you are hunting Jane to kill her.
Your prey may be more than you are bargaining for ???
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Oh wow man! We get the update today, AND an update to jacobus’ story.
I havent finished reading it yet, just want to say before I finish- This is my favorite NPC lore story so far man, I love the twist you put on it, jacobus is brimming with dark intent, bent on revenge and he will obtain vengeance by seemingly any means necessary! A great idea to have the actions of Jane directly impact Jacobus’ actions in a meaningful way.
Those shots of the souls in the chamber of souls look gorgeous also.
Now back to read the rest of your post!
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“Jacobus - I am your Father”
Malkadarr called Jacobus to meet him in the Bastion.
That strange Aether shard you were carrying around with you at our last meeting has been concerning me.
Where did you find it?
Jacobus said that it was one of the items that they gave him at Devil’s Crossing and Mornay said it was found with his father’s remains.
It resonates with a purpose and speaks to me. I think your father still lingers around as an Aetherial spirit?
There is a quarry hidden in the Blood Grove that no one who has ever ventured there has returned. It is an Aetherial nightmare stronghold. You need to explore this area as I can hear your father calling from there.
So, we travel through the Blood Grove …
This looks like the entrance. This will take some skill in navigating the overwhelming Aetherial ground eruptions.
Time to fight
Big area, and many angry miners … no problem - bang bang
What is this crazy anomaly?
Dangerous - backtrack
Welcome to my trap — in an alley with nowhere to go but die —
Not so fearsome now, what you say Fangs?
Something is stirring that mess? …
What magic is this, the monster fades and turns into a shard above my head?
The shard actually speaks! - Jacobus, I am your father, although not alive in this mortal realm, I do exist and am reunited with you now in spirit.
Malkadarr was correct, death of Aetherial possessed entities still retain a mortal soul somehow.
Now Jacobus is even more inspired to find Jane, together with his pet Fangs he now has this new strange shard that seem to contain the essence of his father.
The Hunted becomes the HUNTER!
A conversation in Kymon’s Sanctuary with the brother got Jane’s attention.
He said that that there are reports out there that a bounty hunter is looking to take her head.
Some of our soldiers have seen this hunter in the Blood Grove and have kept their distance as he appears to be fighting with some sort of unstoppable determination
Interesting …why would a bounty hunter be after me ???
What his his name?
We only know that he goes by the name of Jacko.
Jane takes to the Blood Grove to see if she can find what is going on there.
Delving through the grove, she came across a gang lead by Nathaniel who were about to burn someone.
What is going on here?
You just cannot just string someone up and torch them.
Nathaniel : You are that hero that Jacko is looking for, let me shortcut his search …
Jane : Not today dogs - Jane Attack …
Ok they are finished, are you hurt?
Thank you, I am not possessed by the Aetherials, but I do have the power and knowledge of the Witches of Ugdenborg.
This bounty hunter that is tracking you is not a normal bounty hunter and he cares little about payment. His motivation seems to be revenge. His full name is actually Jacobus Krieg.
Krieg - related to Warden Krieg?
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The official entry in the Black Legion’s training manual for the standard “Jane Attack” as certified by Inquisitor Creed.
Creed had been encountering serious problems with his troops in that they were getting devastated and demoralised in the battle of Cairn. They have no access to the extreme mastery trainings like the Elite Heros, but they do have certain magical gear and devotions available to them from our smiths and shrines.
Creed has witnessed Jane’s battle skills using just raw magical items and devotions and asked her if she would be willing to demonstrate to his troops how they can achieve a similar killing efficiency.
Jane as always is willing to contribute to the eradication of the vile spawn around Cairn.
The training manual entries go as follows…
Step #1 - Identify and focus on your target
Step #2 - Using the Fireblast, that is part of the Searing Ember component that you can find, or your smith can craft, throw a few blasts to get the target’s attention.
Step #3 - The Scorpion Sting is a devotion you can study and when used with your movement will give an instant shock to your target. Charge and use it.
Step #4 - Use your Lightning Nova that your smith can supply you with and follow up with aggressive fire based hand attacks.
Step #5 - If your target is still alive, then you may need a crafted or found Siegebreaker Shield that can supply the final blow.
End of journal entry.
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Thats a nice array of skills man! Lots of AoE, is Phoenix Fire bound to the Lightning Nova?
I have been so distracted farming totems trying to get Hyrian’s Bulwark and Stormrend that I have fallen off with the NPC lore builds. I fired it up yesterday and gave Boris a little playtime, he is coming along great! Below is a nice sample video of his capabilities at present;
Boris defeats Commander Lucius in 50 seconds, Hardcore Monk style!
Boris Tsarevich current GT link
This guy is really fun to use. I’m really liking the idea of totems and Phantasmal Blades right now for support skills. The blades are used sparringly for flavor, I imagine it to be a throwing axe but, of course it doesnt really look like one when used 
Will likely work towards high dodge/evade and Fumble stats alongside Blade Trap later on. Not sure how that will play out at higher levels, he is quite vulnerable without a weapon or off-hand so it restricts a lot of things. We’ll see how it goes!
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I have Phoenix Fire bound to the Troll Rage skill granted by the Mistborn Talisman relic on my left hand attack.
I have also been aggressively seeking out the new totems. It is a great new addition for the campaign players. Not being a fan of endless dungeons like Crucible or SR, these fit perfectly with my progression throughout the story.
Nice to see Boris get close quarters with Lucious. That boss can catch quite a few of new melee players by surprise until they work out his tactics.
Will do a “Jane encounters a new strange and pulsating structure” when I can get around to it 
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