Introducing Jarvis’ Judgment

Introducing my general for the Halpi’s rift campaign – fluff

Jarvis sat in the tavern, close to the fire. His wet cloak hung over a stool close by and the flames slowly warmed his damp clothing. He was cold and wet, both hands clasped around a cup of warm wine. The weather had been abysmal* the last few days ever since his forces faced the small nightstalker incursion disrupting his latest archeological dig.

His thoughts went to the small force of undead hidden a few hours’ ride to the north. They are beyond any discomfort, but would require rituals of empowerment soon or fade away.

Not that Jarvis begrudged them their rest, but if the undead under his care wouldn’t be empowered they would linger on as spirits into a twilight existence. Better that they complete their vows in his service and continue their journey to whatever afterlife they deserve.

Finally, the person he expected had arrived. As the representative from Walldeep entered the tavern, Jarvis felt the outside wind cold on his damp back. Surprisingly to Jarvis, the representative was an elven girl of small stature, almost looking like a child. When she joined him on the chair next to him, he could not but notice that her legs didn’t even reach the floor, so tiny was she.

Her bright lavender eyes inspected him closely. Though she was as wetted out as he, her demeanor was one of relaxed comfort, as if she chose not to pay attention to the rigours of the trip. One look into her eyes made him rethink his original assessment. This was no mere little girl, there was more to her than that met the eye.

“You have news from the Halpi mountains?” he asked her.

“I might” she reacted. “But first, let me introduce myself. I am Lóriana of Walldeep, 3rd warden of the Mysterium.” She waited a second but gave him no chance to reply. “And mut be the wayward prodigy of Ophedia, are you not? Where did you hide your creations to come here? ”

Jarvis blinked a few times. A 3rd warden of the Mysterium? Good heavens, this girl was an elven mage of power and status. What would bring them to send her? “eh….” he stumbled for words “I….. eh…. am… that is…… my name is Jarvis. You know of me?”

Lórianna looked him into the eyes. “Don’t think we condone your activities. But for now, Walldeep will turn a blind eye as we are still evaluating your actions during the War of the Abyss and there’s a certain…… justification.….”

“Justification, my ass.” Jarvis thought. “And besides that, the War for the Abyss is five years past….. Why are they still debating? Must be politics!”

His words, however, were far more diplomatic than his thoughts. “Your messenger asked me to find you here to discuss the current magic surge. Here I am.” Lóriana replied: “Yes, we feel the power of the planes increase, amplifying power of our magic users. We’d like to know if the same applies to magic users of other sources.

“You mean, do necromancers also feel stronger? ” asked Jarvis “The answer is yes, though I do not know why”. Lorianna inquired “Is it easier to control the spirits of the dead or do they raise sooner? “

“First of all, I do not control the dead. I’m not that kind of necromancer. I guide those who still have a mission. Usually to destroy the Abyss and its denizens.” Jarvis stated. “At this moment, it’s easier to guide them than it was ever before. Furthermore, the spirits do not fade as easily as they have before. That said, I can estimate that my….. fellow practicioners of the arts…. can practice them more easy too”

“So the answer is simply “Yes” ” Loriana summised. “Thanks”

“Now answer my question” Jarvis pushed once again. “What happened in the Halpi Mountains?.”

“The dwarves opened something that better had stayed shut. Some kind of portal to the realms of magic” the small elven mage replied. It’s even affecting the magic here, if you feel closely, your magic will guide you to places where openings to other planes may appear. “

Jarvis’s eyes widened “You mean, that it’s actually possible to travel to other realms?” Loriana nodded.

The mage suddenly raised from his chair, took his cloak and prepared to leave. “I must go. My wards have a place to go to.” Before the elven girl could reply, the Necromancer was already on his way out.

*pun intended

Introducing my general for the Halpi’s rift campaign – Game

Jarvis is a legendary character in the undead army which turns the whole army to “good aligned”. This is (for a story campaign) just too good to let pass. What better story is there than Jarvis taking an army of vengeful spirits into the Abyss itself!

I’m not sure if a quest for destroying evil is enough to qualify as a “good” aligned army, but it’s what I’m gonna roll with.

In game terms, he’s just a buffed necromancer with inspiring talisman for quite a high pricetag of 140 points. He ticks both the boxes for “inspiring” and “surge” which undead needs at least one of, so that’s solved. Other than that, he’s got quite a selection of spells which have extended range due to his special rules. As a general all-rounder, he’s fine.

If I were a powergamer, a liche king would have been a much better choice for a general, a necromancer + inspiring talisman a much cheaper one. (as he has to be part of a 1,000 army list). That said, story trumps rules and his story *just* has to be told.

Hobby

a new campaign is a great place to start a new hobby project. The Jarvis model has been in my bits box ever since the Edge of the Abyss started in 2018. Now I’ve at least assembled him

He will probably get some paint somewhere in the next weeks.

Edit: done, see here.