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Post by Stephen on Dec 27, 2018 15:21:22 GMT -5
Kovatch a humble folk hero, half-orc of the people for the people is laying in a comfortable bed in the hunting lodge at the end of a long day. As he pieced together the days events he drifted off into a deep restful sleep
-An Excerpt From The Ballad Of Kovatch-
The burgundy room, as it shall be henceforth known, was a large chamber with really nice tapestries. Grahz my pal took a liking to a large tapestry and begun to cut it apart into strips. I’m guessing for TP.
As Jindo was invisible she scouted ahead and murdered a guard in his drunken sleep. Hearing voices from behind a closed door down the hall, we stacked up against it and asked the age old question, “House Keeping! You want towel?” Alas the ruse did not work, the door flung open by a half-elf Cleric type, Talis, and to our surprise invited us in for a parlay. Talis didn’t appreciate Grahzs new TP and asked him to wait outside. I waited with him in the hallway.
After a bit we heard the sounds of a scuffle, we busted in the room and joined the fray! I squared off against that racist elf from swamp fort. I have to admit he could hold his own. He even managed to get me with a shocking grasp spell. It hurt. I didn’t like it. After a bit the fighting calmed down until Omen, who I thought was knocked unconscious, muttered something and the fighting began again. A minute or so after that Karsi said something in Elvish to Talis and before I know it they vanished.
The pair of half elf females returned and basically the fight is over. We are going to get safe passage to a floating castle to disrupt Rezmir the blacks operations there. Sounds like fun wonder if the cloud giant that owns the castle will be around. We were given food and rooms for the night.
The next morning Karsi came sauntering down the stairs wearing the burgundy blanket from Talis’ room draped around her like a cloak. With a flourish, she tossed the blanket aside revealing to all her new set of glowing chain mail armor and glowing expression of satisfaction on her face.
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Post by Chris on Jan 8, 2019 12:28:47 GMT -5
End Highharvesttide 2:00pm, 1489 DR; The Year of the Warrior Princess, Selune is full Castle in the Clouds Walking to Parnast Village of Parnast The Golden Tankard Shrine of Axes Village Well and Square Skyreach Castle Main Gate Walls and Aerial Defenses Gateway Gate Towers Lower Courtyard Stables Rezmir's Chamber Cultist Barracks Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162997?userid=1168080
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Post by Aileen on Jan 8, 2019 12:41:53 GMT -5
I am reluctant to leave Talis and her hospitality. As we all eat our unfortunately cold breakfast in the morning, me sitting with the burgundy bedspread draped over my shoulders, I keep catching her staring at me. Perhaps if she weren't a cultist, and I not an adventurer, it could work, but alas our cards have been dealt.
I quickly write a note to Omen. Things have been weighing heavily on my mind, and I need to confide in someone. I also want to know what's been going on with her. As we leave breakfast she hands me a note of her own. Looks like I have a friend.
Before we leave I ask for something to put the banner on, and Talis gives me a spear. With a quick goodbye, we are off. The hike is uneventful, and by afternoon we reach the small town of Parnast. The first stop is of course the tavern. Immediately as we walk in, all attention falls on us. Normally I dont mind being the center of attention, but as I sit and drink my mead I realize that my glowing armour is drawing way too many eyes. I cover up with my cloak.
Grahz, on the other hand, is drawing the crowd right in, telling stories of his feats. A bard on the other side of the tavern is trying to play, but somehow her bagpipes are being drowned out by my half orc. I buy a round for my crew, then tip the poor bagpiper.
Realizing we've been sitting around socializing for too long, we make to leave the tavern but the townspeople really don't want us to go. I dont think I've ever been as appreciated as we are right now, and as nice as it would be to stay and have more drinks we have a cloud giant castle to get to.
Finally escaping our captivated audience, we walk out into the street and make our way through the town. Grahz stops to check out a temple, and the rest of us wait outside. Omen whispers to me that the bagpiper Drow is following us, and we confront her. She just wants a job that pays better than being ignored in a tavern, and we really could use more bodies. Grahz comes back out pretty quickly, and we move on.
Some men are watching us in the street, being incredibly obvious, and we decide the best course of action is to act casual and keep on walking.
"Hold." One of them says. We stop. "What business have you here?"
We try to play it off that were just visiting and hanging out at the tavern, but they point out that it's back the other direction. Grahz plays himself off as drunk... or perhaps he actually is?
"We want to go see the ice castle." Arnie says.
"Why do you want to go to the ice castle?"
"Why wouldn't anyone want to go to an ice castle?"
"We want to go there because Tiamat our Mother and Strength wills it, that's why!" Says Kovatch.
"Very well." The guard let's us pass.
"Talis will hear of this." I snap as I pass him. I probably shouldnt have said anything. We all know what happens when you open your mouth at the wrong time. Luckily they let us go.
We rendezvous in the woods to come up with a plan. We have the banner. We have the passphrase. We have me. But we dont know how we're going to thwart Rezmir's plans. The consensus is we wing it.
Omen sends Dusty ahead to scout, and wargs into him. I make sure the guys don't draw things on her face while shes out of it. It's not long before she snaps back to us, saying Dusty is dead. Something shot him out of the sky. However, she got a good lay of the land, and saw the portcullis starting to close. If we are going to get on the castle, we have to do it now.
I unfurl the banner as we draw near. We wait for carts to go through the gate, and then we walk in.
"Tiamat Our Mother and Strength." Says Morrigan.
We pass through unquestioned. The party decides to follow the wagons, we really dont know where else to go. We come into a stable, the biggest stable I have ever seen in my life. The whole castle is filled with things bigger than I could possibly imagine. The carts go to the back wall and the people start unloading them. We make to approach but two Wyverns come out at us, hissing.
"Tiamat our Mother and Strength!" Omen calls out in draconic. The wyverns dont seem bothered. The guys unloading the wagon don't either.
We get down to business. Omen dazes one of the wyverns, but the other attacks once we start. Suddenly, Ghraz, who had been standing next to me, grows to double his size. I barely stand at his waist. He is overjoyed by his new size, and starts raging at the wyvern. I start blasting.
Eventually it falls over dead, and the other one is still stunned. We make a run for it, going out into the courtyard. Just when we think we have escaped, it comes out at us shrieking in anger and alarm. Dammit.
Theres a massive blast as Omen casts fireball on the wyvern. It feels like it echoes forever. So much for a low profile. Nine cultists pour out into the courtyard, coming for us.
"Help! Its attacking us! Were on the same side!" I yell.
The party tries to get them to help us, but they say we need to drop our weapons. If we do, maybe it will stop. Two giants move in, bidding us do the same. Apparently we are interrupting their ritual.
I walk towards the Dragonclaws, dismissing my sword to wherever it goes when I don't need it, and hold my free hand up. In the other I still hold the banner.
"Take me to Rezmir. I'm one of you."
They have me surrounded. What they want is clear, and yet my party fights on.
"Drop your weapons!" I yell to my crew.
Ghraz, once again huge, is raging as per usual. I know he suspects me of being a traitor, but I hope he trusts me enough to follow through.
"Ghraz, please. Trust me just this once."
He takes a few more hits before he yields. The rest of the party drops their weapons. The wyvern retreats as the handler calls it off. The Black Half Dragon Rezmir and two guard drakes join us, coming to me. She asks what we are doing here.
"I am Karsi, Dragonclaw. I am a friend of Talis."
I cant tell if the look on the black dragons face is disgust or something else. She says that she will be keeping us as prisoners. Clearly our story was too flawed for belief. Cant say we didn't try.
"Take them to the barracks." She orders the dragonclaws. "You, come with me."
I feel all my hope drain out as a clawed hand grabs me, and I'm forced to go with Rezmir. Omen tries to come with me, but is told off.
"We are going to my quarters." Says Rezmir. The guard drakes walking at my sides are enough reason for me to comply.
The room I am brought into is nice, but not as nice as the Burgundy Room. I seem to be finding myself in strangers bedrooms a lot these days. Unfortunately for Rezmir I'm not really into dragon folk.
Rezmir and the guard drakes walk in the room, careful to step around the large rug on the floor. I'm told not to walk over it, and my interest is piqued by the possibility of what's under it.
"Make yourself comfortable. I'm going to get a friend." Rezmir says.
I make my way over to the bed and sit down. As I look around, waiting for her return, I make note of my surroundings. Other than the rug, the only thing of interest is the chest on the large desk.
Rezmir returns with a big, tattooed wizard in red. Rath Modar. The red wizard of Thay casts a spell. I dont know what he did, but I don't feel right. My mind is fuzzy, and I feel slightly sick. When he and Rezmir exit the room, leaving me with the guard drakes and locking the door behind them, I have the sinking feeling that I am in way too far over my head.
Talis made me a Dragonclaw. She gave me the passphrase, and the banner. By all means on the surface, I am a cultist. But what is on the surface cannot hide the truth in my mind. I pray to the Raven Queen, my patron, to help me. I know any minute they could come back and kill me, and if I try to escape the guard drakes would eat me before i could blast my way out.
I try to go to the door, but as I feared the guard drakes stand there and hiss at me. I go back to the bed, my head spinning as I try to think of a way out. I pull out rations, and toss them onto the rug. Nothing. I try to make the rations smell more enticing... who doesnt like barbecue? Nothing. Too bad. I really want to know if the rug is a trap.
As I sit there, i hear something rattle in the chest on the desk. I make my way over to it, the guard drakes keeping an eye on me but not seeming to care that I'm up. Padlocked, and no keys in sight. Remembering what happened to Omen the last time she tried to open a chest belonging to a cultist, I dont try to tamper with it.
I can only hope that my actions have not endangered the rest of my party. They are smart, they are resourceful, and they hit hard. But I fear they will never trust me again if we get out of this. I revealed that I am a Dragonclaw, they now know what happened back at the hunting lodge. I am pledged to Talis, but my real loyalty is with them. I would die for them, but I dont want them to die because of me.
Omen, I wish you could hear me. Please be safe. Please watch over Arnie.
And I wait.
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Post by dragonforgotten on Jan 10, 2019 2:15:09 GMT -5
I had dreams of a life i maybe once had or maybe a life that never was. It was a life of tragedy and anguish, a tale of five friends. I woke up this morning in a cold sweat but eventual i lulled myself back to sleep. I dreams of a castle of ice and once again us. This time was a little different, this time i dreamt of our demise that felt much too real. I dreamt that Rezmire and a red wizard of Fey, how the wizard tore into our minds, how he ripped apart my memories and them executed us all with his line of men. The blade piercing my gut felt too real to be just a dream, i don't have the luxury to dismiss this. I KNOW this will happen if our course in the sea of fate isn't changed.... I have a bad feeling about today.
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I was off put to find out that the red wizards body was discarded, i was hoping to take his outfit for the infiltration mission but whatever. Next time. During our very cold breakfest i received a note from Karsi and i was filled with a mix of emotions. Someone has finally asked that one question I've been avoiding for five years. Even with Ard she never asked that question. WHO ARE YOU? Or better yet WHO WERE YOU? Ive been slowly regaining my memories with each day. It started out small like knowing things about the cult i shouldn't, the imagery of Tiamat tattooed into my neck, knowing languages that are not normally known to humans. I brushed these off, I had a new life now and it didn't matter what i was before, I'm starting to have doubts. When i tricked Slattergoo, it felt.... A wave of nostalgia wash over me watching him and the lizard men cower in fear and respect. It made me feel powerful. It made me feel good. it made me feel like i wasn't a failure. It also made me sick to my stomach. I don't know if it was my concussion or if whatever magic was done to me has worn off but the memories are coming back whether i want them too or not and i don't think I'm prepared for what I'm going to find. Seeing the blood on my hands brought back a vision and that was the finial straw. I did not like what i am seeing and I'm starting to think that the lost of my pervious identity may have been a blessing in disguise. I needed to confine in someone and from what karsi has told me she needs someone to listen to her as well. I believe i also need someone to help piece together my confusing past without bias. There is too much to shift through alone. 13 years of age, 10 years ago i woke up in a coffin under a tavern where i met my adoptive family with nothing but a spellbook, a LOT of gold and a silver dagger. I want to understand why. As for karsi i hope she understands to be careful, the cult is nothing to be messing around with. I know what it's like and it never leads to good results, look what happened to me. A wizard with a broken mind. It makes me feel better knowing she has such faith in me but she shouldn't feel guilty. From my perspective her sins can be forgiven, an accident. Mine were many and intentional if what little i remember is correct.
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What do you mean we don't need a horse! i learned this damn spell and i never get to use it! Woe is me! I wasted my school credit on an illusionary horse and I cant find a use for it. We walked by Talis, she's placed karsi's old armor on that training dummy. What on earth did you do to her karsi? I don't think i want to know :/
My feet are killing me and we finally arrived in Parsnap with the ice castle looming ahead. We ducked into the tavern/general store and stocked up on supplies were we treated or selves with food and ale. I did a bit of light reading while Graz was loudly retelling or adventures with minor tweaks. I wasn't planning to drink, i don't know how trustworthy these town people are with cultists running amok but karsi had bought one for me and i couldn't refuse. I think my lips where a little loose for i was complaining about my money troubles. Those high levels spells I've been studying arnt cheap and that gem incrusted inks and papers cost a small fortune. I was flabbergasted by how much money she gave me i nearly choked on my ale. It took a bit of time to escape the bar due to Grazs ravenous fans. I noticed the drow bard had followed us out of the tavern so i questioned her. She wants to tag along, said she was interested in a little adventure. Fine by me, hope she knows what she's getting into though, theres little time for me to catch her up so i hope she's a fast learner. Cant trust her though.
We were stoped only momentarily but i had the group slow down so i can send Dusty to scout. I prayed for his safety and off he want only to be tragically to be struck by a wooden object mid flight! I swear if i catch one more person to kill my fluffy friend again i will strangle them myself! I only caught a few glimpse but we should hurry in and follow the wagon. Now that where is now what? I know we have to kill or ruin rezmire plan but how are we going to find them? I hope we can find a safe place to stop so i can use my powers to better survy the castle. We seem to be following the cart till someone turns us away or tells us we've gone too far. Sounds good, surly someone will stop us if we are walking into the restricted section right? Right?
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WElP, this was a mistake. We manage to kill one and panicked we fled to the court yard praying the second one will not wake up by the time we are safe behind the doors. Unfortunately it did and charged right after us. I panicked, i was concern how long it took the other one to die. It needs to go so foolish me casted fireball. I cringed as the explosion shook and echoed the entire f**** castle. of course it wasn't enough to kill this blasted beast and now the entire castle has descended upon us along with Remize. Karsi tried to explain the situation and then revealed herself to be a Dragonclaw. She then took her. I tried to follow but i was stopped and taken to the barracks with everyone else. Knowing karsi is a Cult member explains a lot with why talis became so.... Affectionate. Cults like to target people when there vulnerable. Makes new members easy to control.This changes nothing, just a solidarity that i'm not the only one the cult left their mark on. She been kind and understanding to me about my odd quicks and has kept her word. We must save her if we can saves ourselves first. Why the heck are we always getting into these situations!
My nightmare has come true, this may be the end once again. What have they done to Karsi!? I knew once i recognized the wizards attempts into reading our minds. Thankfully he didn't reach me yet. If he digs into my mind everyone I know back home from family to friends in Neverwinter and Waterdeep will no longer be safe from the cult. It was at this point i realized that the jig was up. Someone will crack and we will die. It fills me with horror knowing that this wizard will dig into my mind and find out the truth that even i've run away from. Its horrifies me how close everyone i care about is nearing their end and i remember the taste of my blood on my lips. It all falls on me now.
This is not our fate! Ive seen many possibilities but i refuse for this to be one of them. Im not reglious anymore but for this moment i pray. I hold out my hands that have curled up into claw motions, I prayed to Bahamut and once again cast hypnotic pattern. I switched my fate with the red wizard and i watch determined as the red wizard who's eyes now glaze over in a stupor with some men stand with eyes locked to the ceiling. Unfortunately Remize is still standing, This is a battle to the death. I felt a chill run through my entire boy when she pulled out a black dragon mask. i cant remember why but it must do something not good. It makes me feel sick. I was shocked to see that Arnie bravely went face to face with remize for a while only to get hit by that evil sword. How dare she hurt this innocent child, if i wasn't so afraid of dropping concentration i would kick her a***. Thankful Graz and everyone did it for me! Im a little pissed at the bard for waking up the wizard! Now everyone is going to know we where here now, great! Fine! Its not like i wanted his staff or cloths in the first place.... Or watch his guts pool on the ground.
That was strange... I think . I think I really, REALLY hate the Red Wizards. Its hard to explain, it's like an angry resentful coil that twists in my chest. Anyway after tying up the survivors we beat karsis location out of them and charged upstairs. Just hang on a little while longer, where coming. Pease dont be dead..... Seriously though, did that thought really come from me?
Omen the Far Sighted
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Post by Stephen on Jan 13, 2019 16:39:16 GMT -5
Kovatch a humble folk hero, half-orc of the people for the people is venturing through the ice castle searching for Karsi
-An Excerpt From The Ballad Of Kovatch-
The ice castle is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Huge. Giant sized. I know this because I saw two of them.
We fought and killed one wyvern in the stables, left the stables only to have the second wyvern follow us back into the courtyard. Although the fight was awesome we attracted Rezmir’s attention along with some guards and two giants.
Karsi demanded to be taken away because she was “one of them”. A cultist. Makes sense after her time spent in the burgundy room. Although I don’t think she is 100% invested. Either way Rezmir took her way.
Imprisoned again. Another red wizard casted some sort of spell and basically figured out the parties intensions. Not wanting to waste anytime I moved forward to protect Arnie and took on several guards. An epic fight broke out. All sorts of magic was fired off. Webs, fire, a tolling and who knows what else. I had my hands full fighting off several guards.
Eventually we killed Rezmir. She poofed into dust. The guards gave up. We tied them up and questioned the guards about where Rezmir took Karsi. Funny though how guards or minions give up once their leader is taken out. Either way we headed out to find Karsi. Hopefully she is ok.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2019 0:05:01 GMT -5
End Highharvesttide 3:30pm, 1489 DR; The Year of the Warrior Princess, Selune is full Castle in the Clouds Rezmir's Chamber Wizards and Ogres and Stone Giants, oh, my Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162997?userid=1168080
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Post by Aileen on Jan 15, 2019 17:28:09 GMT -5
I drift off to sleep as I wait for rescue. The bed is too comfortable, it's the one enemy I can't defeat. My drake guards are watching me, but it's nothing new. A few months ago I was sleeping on a poor excuse for a cot in a cold prison cell with around the clock guard patrols, so my life now has been nothing but an upgrade. The fact that I'm once again a prisoner is irrelevant.
I was dreaming about burgundy and halls of mounted deer heads when I was rudely awakened by a knock on the door.
"Housekeeping!"
Morrigan! They're alive!
"Hey!" I clamber to my feet, nearly tripping on the blankets. "I can't get out, its locked. If you have a key, use it. But dont step on the rug. Also, theres 2 dragon things in here."
I hope they listen. I hear the key turning, and the drakes rise to attention. I catch a glimpse of the bard looking in and then immediately running away. Grahz runs in, attacking one of the drakes, followed by Kovatch, who jumps over the rug doing his usual flips and unnecessary showing off. I've never been so happy to see my half-orc boys.
I jump off the bed, blasting the drake that ran over to hide in the corner. They weren't the worst company for the past hour, but they're still evil lizards who would look better dead. Suddenly the rug jumps up off the floor and wraps itself around Kovatch, turning him into an orc-burrito. I'm distracted by the strangeness of what I just saw and also my own hunger. The damn drake took that moment to bite me, and although it didn't pierce through my pretty chainmail, it really hurt. Guess I'm not the only hungry one.
Theres commotion in the hallway, and I can see and hear the rest of my crew going after someone.
"Karsi!" Grahz calls my attention across the room.
"Yeah?"
"That wizard is back. What say you try talking to him and make him help us. That seems to be your forte."
I slash at the drake again.
"I could try. But I dont think hes really into me, he mind groped me and then left."
I can hear Omen going into a fury in the hallway. She really, really hates the Red Wizards. I decided if I can make it out of this room without the drakes killing me i will at least try to seduce the wizard into joining us. Probably not the best idea, but then again these cultists seem to like me and I look damn good in this armor.
One of the drakes dies, and Grahz joins me in fighting the one that keeps biting at me. Finally Kovatch frees himself from the rug and starts fighting it. The drake keels over with one final blast from me, and I check what's going on outside the room. Theres a dead gargoyle now, and it looks like the wizard is gone. I heard Morrhyn saying something about fisting the wizard and I'm not quite sure I want to know what happened.
Omen is breathing hard, red faced, and I'm worried she is going to stroke out. She asks Kovatch for rope, and tells me shes going to do the rope trick so we can rest.
"I was having a nice nap when you guys interrupted. Could you not have given me another 30 minutes?"
The party is about to go up the rope when I remember the chest on the desk. I tell them that I heard something rattle in it, and we should probably check it out. Morrigan opens it, and finds-
Its empty. I could have sworn I heard something in there. Now I look like even more of a liar and an idiot.
We go up into the rope fort and rest. Its cramped, but at least we are hidden for an hour. Omen hands me some black clothes that they took off the cultists. I can barely move without hitting my companions, we are so packed together, but I somehow change into the black cult clothes and everyone else gets a free show.
As we spend time attuning to our magic items, we see creatures coming in and out of the room and hear an alarm sounding throughout the castle. It is then that we realize nobody shut the door. When the spell ends, and we fall out of this safe space, we are screwed.
"I just want you all to know that I'm not actually a cultist," I tell the crew. "It was all an act. I thought it would work but I was wrong. I'm sorry you were taken away. Thank you for coming to find me."
"That's good that you're not," Grahz looks relieved. I know he had doubts about me. At least he didn't leave me to die.
We try to come up with a plan. Omen thinks we should turn one of us into a giant bird and fly back to Talis. We technically disrupted Rezmir's plans, but we only just got here and it's a motherflapping flying ice castle. Jin Do, Grainne, Morrigan and I talk about taking it for ourselves. What would be cooler than attacking our enemies on a giant flying castle? Going back to Talis is brought up again, and as much as I had a good time with her, I don't think it's such a good idea.
"I know I made a deal with her, and she got us to this point, but we have to remember that she is a cultist. We got her what she wants. But do we really want to help the cult?"
"Who is Talis?" The Bard, Grainne, asks.
"Shes... I kind of... anyway. Enough about her." I only met Grainne a couple hours ago, why would I tell her about my deeds?
We plan on joining the search patrols through the castle. We are dressed as cultists, so we are going to act the part. Grahz makes me the leader because apparently I look leaderly in my shiny armor and with my good looks. Maybe I made that part up. Grahz has a new sword, and Morrhyn takes the black dragon mask thing from Arnie to eventually wear. We look badass and official.
All the planning is for nothing when the spell gives out as a bunch of ogres are patrolling the room. We fall into the middle of the room, and I know that pretending to be housekeeping will do us no good. We are surrounded.
Grahz kills one of them and runs out into the hallway, and I can hear him raging. Theres one ogre on my side of the room, which I hex, and kovatch goes to town on it. The room starts clearing out, so I make for the door, blasting the ogre in the room as I go. This is awesome, I feel great! Theres nothing like blasting things with your friends and making memories- OW!Something hits me from behind and an icy chill runs through my body.
"You feeling okay?" Omen asks. "Do you need a healing potion?"
"I'm great, this is fine!" I shake off the cold, ready to blast some more ogres.
Morrigan comes up behind me and does a reach around to cast another spell. Now I know where the ray of frost came from.
"Hey Karsi," she winks. An apology would be nice.
We finally get out into the hall, the boys having made a bit of a bottleneck. Grahz has already decimated a couple ogres and Kovatch punched one so hard it was stunned. I blasted the ogre in the other room, and heard a cry from Omen. My heart sinks- I did it again.
"Omen, I'm sorry! It's not personal!
She tries to walk it off, but there's no denying I hit hard.
"Its okay. Ow, my spleen!"
"That's your elbow, Omen."
"Dammit, I'm not a doctor, Karsi. I didn't go to wizard school for medicine."
I feel really, really awful. Omen is in rough shape, and I can't even control myself enough not to hit her or anyone else in the party. How do they even trust me anymore? I've done nothing but prove I'm a raging lunatic who is easily swayed by powerful people and beings.
Once I know she is out of harm's way, I blast the ogre again. It soon falls dead, and i move on to the giants that the rest of the party are fighting. Jin Do gives me the go ahead to shoot past her, and I hit one. Then I see something out of the corner of my eye. A spectre rises from the corpse of the ogre I just killed, and I somehow know it's there for me. Its not going to kill me, its mine to control.
I name it Chad, because it just looks like one. I swear every good looking, clean cut, d-bag Paladin is named Chad. I may or may not have had a fling with one. The party looks a little weirded out, but I just shrug. I learn something new about myself every day. I'm a little afraid of myself to be honest.
The final giant falls dead, and we have a second to breathe. Omen is freaking out and wants to leave. I tell her I'm totally on board with being turned into a giant bird if it comes down to needing an escape plan, but right now we are winning every fight. Why quit when you're ahead?
~ Karsi
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Post by Stephen on Jan 20, 2019 13:16:27 GMT -5
Kovatch a humble folk hero, half-orc of the people for people just participated in one of the most epic fights of his life
-An Excerpt From The Ballad Of Kovatch-
We found Karsi in yet another bedroom. Half Elves...... Anyway she warns us about a carpet and two drakes in the room. Grain opened the door with a key she found and I easily sprung over the white rug and engaged one of the guard drakes. But out of no where the rug came alive and wrapped me up! It squeezed me. It hurt. I did not like it. I tried to cut my way threw it but I ended up hurting myself in the process. I dig deep and with a growl broke free of its restraint. As it readied itself for another attack I slashed it apart.
As the confrontation ended I tore some of the rug into strips and replaced my hand and knee wraps with the soft white material. Omen casted this nifty rope trick spell and we climbed a rope into an extra dimensional space. It was cramped but warm in the weird bubble. I meditated and through the power of my mind, healed my wounds and recharged my Ki.
As the spell came to an end, we were dumped out of the bubble and directly back into combat with ogres! Grahz used Rezmirs sword with great effect. He chopped down ogre after ogre. I, naturally, fought brilliantly and used style and finesse over brute strength, hitting my opponents hard enough to stun them. That made it easier for us all to hit them.
I heard another war cry from Grahz and a returning challenge from a giant! I fled the room after dropping an ogre and fought with Grahz against two stone giants and the last ogre. The rest of the party also fought well! Fire, ice and waves of hypnotic patterns slammed into our enemies. A spiritual fist conjured by Mohryn repeatedly hit ogres while he invoked his Gods wrath with gouts of sacred flame. Grain viscously mocked ogres and giants in a demonic language all the while inspiring us with words of healing and encouragement. Morgan slung spells to great effect.
Karsi got hit with Morgan’s frost ray which in turn threw her aim off and she hit Omen (for the third time) with an Eldritch Blast. They didn’t seriously hurt each other and I couldn’t help but to laugh.
After the fighting we handed out healing potions and drank up. I get the feeling that Omen and the other spell slingers may want to leave, we technically achieved the mission. Killing Rezmir will certainly disrupt things. But there is still the treasure to be found, rooms to explore and hopefully more fighting to be had. Hopefully Grahz, Karsi and I can convince the others that we should stay, rest some more and move further into the castle.
~Kovatch
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Post by dragonforgotten on Jan 21, 2019 15:04:40 GMT -5
I did not want this. I did not ask for this. I did not want to fight an entire bloody castle just to save my friends but it looks like we have no choice now and its my duty to make sure everyone gets out alive. I knew i had a bad feeling about today. We stripped the guards and don on their clothing. Im filled with a wave of nostalgia, like wearing an old set of cloths, this is very unwanted currently. Im still busy worrying how we are going to get out of this alive and with Karsi. Technically were suppose to be dead, i altered fate and now the stream of infinite possibilites are too much for me to tell which path leads to us not being smashed, slashed, torn apart, suffocated and or decapitated.
Ive taken a spare pair of cloths for Karsi but now i have a choice to make. I cant carry anymore clothing without putting me endanger. I'll have to leave my old cloths behind... When i picked these robes i didn't think of why i was so drawn to this type of yellow. Now i know why. I have such a fragile sense of identity, these help define me. I picked them out myself with Mr and Mrs Porter. I was left with only old ragged robes when i woke up under their basement. They felt bad for me, a young gangly human girl in a house fill of haflings. They fed, housed and then they went out of there way to cloth me. they took me to the talors and had me pick what i wanted. I was baffled, almost brought me to tears and i didn't know why. i didn't know anything but the hardest for me was making decisions. I was afraid to make choices made even worst with my awakened third eye. With the few memories i retrieved. it was all decided for us. from our clothing to our thoughts. We were nothing without the collective...
I don't have time to ponder anymore . I fear that we have bitten off more then we can chew. Ive taken a spare set of cultist garbs and Yan do has a guild for us. we find not only Karsi but the escape wizards as well. Everything became a haze when he became the soul focus of my rage. I was determined he will not leave here alive. Unfortunately he did. He escaped before i could gut him like a fish for all the pain and suffering he inflicted on me, on my dear friends. The students he mistreated and used..! Wait, am i even talking about the same person anymore? He's gone now and i don't even know his name. Now I must prepare for when we met again for we will. Fate will demand it so. I barely had enough time to comprehend what was going on that i overlooked how glad I am in seeing Karsi alive and unharmed. I would like to speak to everyone again when I no longer have to worry about surviving. Panicked for an escape I shunted my tired party into a magic pocket, It was cramped but it would do. Sadly I forgot to close the door to the bedroom, making it the scene of an investigation. Kovatch seems ready for more action and he will definitly get it. Karsi was forced to change cloths in the cramp while i studied the black dragon mask. It is truly an item of great power along with the sword but I'm concerned, deeply. Great power comes with great risk. I have no idea where its power comes from and power has a high price to pay. The mask sings an inviting tone to me and i truly want it but I cant. Morgan can have it. The lines of my identity from my past self to my present self has already began to blurred.
We lay a war upon five orgers and two stone giants. Karsi grazed me with a rogue spell but I've felt worst, nothing i cant handle this. I should definitly check up on her and let her know that its not her fault. I am not a weak wizarded after all and magic has come back around to bit me all the time. Then i am cornered by an Orge and he strike heavy into my arm and vibrates through my ribs. I feel something break and my vision is hazy. I hobbled away and hide within the room and with shaky hands I volley firebolts and Toll the Dead till the Orge is dead. Graz made quick work on every enemy in the room but i am concern now. theres something not right happening to him. He wont stop, He needs to stop. The group is in high moral but i no longer see the purpose on what we are to do next. Everyone seems to want to bring war onto the rest of the castle and take off in it. I would like a personal study myself but this may be way over our heads at this point.
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Post by Aileen on Jan 23, 2019 0:25:17 GMT -5
Grahz took off as soon as the last giant fell, still raging. Kovatch ran after him, and I sent Chad the spectre to defend Grahz. Dismissing my blade, I poured a healing potion down Omen's throat, her arm too messed up to take it from me herself. Kovatch dropped another one on the ground as he ran, so I went around the corner to grab it. He could have just handed it off to one of us, but things seem to work differently in his mind.
Omen went into the Wizards room to investigate, and I could hear her sounds of disgust at what she found in there. She said there were horse skulls all over the ceiling. I decided not to go in, not exactly a sight I'd like to see. Ghraz came running back moments later, and I came around the corner to find him looking pretty battered and still huffing with anger and adrenaline.
"Open up," I told him, and he let me force feed him a potion. I guess we are slowly becoming friends.
Kovatch barred the door, and he and Grahz gave us the run down of what they saw out there. The courtyard was full of combatants, mostly cultists. Two guys on Wyverns. Ballistae on towers, manned by ogres. And two giants. It was no wonder they ran back to us. Grahz kept hitting himself, trying to keep the rage going, but it was not doing great things for his health.
We couldn't decide whether to try to barricade ourselves in here and try to rest, or get going and fight our way out. I wanted to fight, I felt good and the adrenaline made me feel even better. Not everyone was in the mood or condition to keep going, however, so we decided to rest. We found a food storage room, and Omen made another rope fort. We even remembered to close the door to the room this time.
We healed up while we rested, and tried to decide our next course of action. Omen reassured me that it's not my fault I hit her, and I'm glad she is still my friend. We could hear the doors being banged down, and eventually they came into where we were.
"Search the castle. Find the next in command and tell them to take off."
Thank the gods they couldnt see us. When the spell ended, we emerged into a quiet room and no enemies. Omen cast Arcane Eye and scoped out the castle as we moved back to Rezmir's bedroom to hide. The door was still in tact, so we closed it. Always learn from your past mistakes.
Omen told us of all the enemies she could see in the castle, including a room that had a coffin in it and a cavern with a white dragon. Talis had a thing for white dragons.... did she know it was here? What else did she not tell me that was critical to our surviving this place? I dont know if she even wants me to live, but I hope I still have an ally in her if we make it out alive.
Omen confirmed that the castle is in fact now flying through the clouds. Any chance for retreating back to the town is gone. Kovatch and I confer with Grahz. We all want to make strategic surgical strikes on small groups of enemies, and not draw attention to the rest of the castle. The other magic users, however, need a rest. Many spells were expended during the last fight and everyone is a little worse for wear. I can keep going, I have a perfectly good sword and can blast to my hearts desire, but I'm not a one man army like Grahz.
Grahz tells Kovatch and I that once his sword starts going, its going to want to keep killing. He claims that he has it under control, but attacking him would be a very bad idea. Good to know. I dont trust Hazirawn one bit, but it's given Grahz an extra boost so I guess it can stay for now. I of all people should understand pact weapons, but mine doesnt talk to me. I summon it back and stare at it, trying to see if maybe it will talk, but its silent. Too bad, maybe Hazirawn could have had a sword friend.
Arnie is upset and wants to go home. I saw him leave the room and caught up to him before he could go past the hall. He wants to go talk to the giants and make them bring him home, but I know that will only result in him getting killed. Thankfully he doesn't go any further. The group decides to wait for nightfall, and then sneak through the courtyard and to the barracks where we will take a rest.
It isnt until we are creeping across the courtyard in the dark, me leading the way, that I realize I am a walking target with my glowing armor. I give off way more light than I realized, and I quickly try to cover up with the cultist poncho. I'm still glowing like a lightning bug, but it's too late to turn back now.
Theres commotion in the back, and I turn around to see Omen being grabbed from behind. Some creature sinks its teeth into her neck and she begins to struggle. Another one attacks Morrigan. They look like decrepit elves with sharp teeth and claws. Another one steps out to the side of our line, and begins talking to Grahz. I cant tell if its male or female, but even in its ugliness it has a certain charming aura about it. Grahz begins walking towards it, but he doesnt look like he is attacking. That's not my Grahz. It says it has heard of our actions in the castle and offers us a place to rest. I call BS. If it wanted to help us it wouldnt have had its spawn bite my friends.
My heart tells me to go help Omen, shes not looking good. The vampire spawn keeps biting and clawing her, and shes covered in her own blood. I can't bear the thought of losing my closest friend, but I'm nowhere close to her and my barbarian is trying to schmooze with the boss vampire. I run up to Ghraz, telling him not to listen to it and kill it while transferring my hex into it. Ghraz is transfixed, so I hip check him to try to snap him out of it. No change.
The creature looks at me, its demeanor remaining calm, too calm for comfort. It tries to claw me, but misses. My armor probably distracted it. The smirk is wiped off my face when it grabs me around my throat. An icy chill runs through my veins, and I know I need to kill this abomination. The Raven Queen didn't spare my life to let undead vermin kill my friends. I must do her will.
"You are interrupting a conversation between me and my friend. That's very rude. Why don't you come and join us instead?"
"Why don't you take your nasty hands off me?" I choke out.
It let's go, and I feel the blood rush back to my head.
"Grahz, come with me." It says, and walks away.
Seizing the moment, I slash out at the vampire with my blade. He clearly does not like it, but simply continues to give me that cold and calculating look.
"I have something I have to take care of. I'll be back."
It walks away, and I order Chad to go after it. The vampire goes to Grainne, and bites her, yet the hardcore bard keeps singing. The blood gurgling noises are a bit nauseating, but I give her props for commitment. Chad grabs the vampire and hurts it, but not much. Grahz runs over to help the vampire, and I follow after him trying to get him back. I backhand Grahz with my sword.
"Wake the hell up!"
The vampire instructs Grahz to knock us all out and to kill the undead abomination. Chad, my creepy, loyal Chad. The only abomination I see is the one talking. Grahz attacks Chad while I yell at him to stop. Chad poofs away, his soul at rest. He was dead to begin with, but I was still pretty attached to him.
The vampire grabs me once more, and I fear it's going in for a bite.
"At least buy me dinner," I growl. My mouth is going to get me killed one of these days. I've been hanging around Omen too much.
"Me first." It replies. Touché.
Ghraz asks me why I am attacking his friend as the vampire continues to order him to get us.
"Its attacking our friends! It tried to kill Grainne just now!"
"I'm going to have to knock you out." Grahz threatens me.
"Grahz. You're OUR friend. Not HIS."
"I'm going to knock you out," his warning is final.
"I'd like to see you try." I try to sound defiant. but I'm scared. I dont want to hurt my dear friend, and he can easily hurt me.
Ghraz hits me with Hazirawn and the pain is more than I expected. The blade bites deep, and I can feel its power wounding me. I scream, attacking him with my own weapon, and draw blood. Never did I think I would have to fight a friend like this. To be fair, he did warn me that attacking him would be a bad idea. Suddenly familiar butterflies surround me, and Grahz looks scared. He runs away.
"Ahhhh butterflies!"
The vampire also leaves my side, and I make another attack on it, but it doesnt care- Its going for Arnie now. I cannot let this thing hurt dear sweet Arnie, so I once again eldritch blast it but miss. The vampire spawn are attacking Arnie too.
"GET THE HELL OFF MY TORTLE!"
I rush the vampire, running by a giant golden ape that I realize must be Omen. We had talked about something like this happening, I just didnt think it would be her in that form. I stab at the vampire, but it still attacks our boy. I want it to attack me, I would die for Arnie, and right now things don't look good for him. My attacks not stopping it, I grab on to its disgusting form and use my own vampiric touch. I feel some of my strength return as I suck its power away. Ape Omen continues pounding on it, and within a moment the corporeal form I had been holding onto turns into mist, and floats up into the air.
This isnt over. Omen and Arnie are injured, and one of them is currently a massive ape. Grahz is not in his right mind, and I fear he is a danger to himself and all of us. I do not trust his sword, and although he thinks he has it under control, the wounds it gave me by his hand tell me differently. We need rest, and now we have a vampire that knows we are here, as well as a castle still full of enemies.
So much for prime real estate.
~ Karsi
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Post by Chris on Jan 23, 2019 12:58:52 GMT -5
End Highharvesttide 6:00pm, 1489 DR; The Year of the Warrior Princess, Selune is full Castle in the Clouds Grahz finds new combatants Too many new combatants Rope Trick Rezmir's Chamber Omen Arcane eyes the castle, which is now flying A plan made Vampires! Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162997?userid=1168080
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Post by Stephen on Jan 27, 2019 16:57:00 GMT -5
Kovatch a humble folk hero, half-orc of the people for people is confused, relieved and tired.
-An Excerpt From The Ballad Of Kovatch-
After the epic fight with five ogres and two stone giants Grahz went running out into the court yard. I went with him to back him up. Several armed guards, two men mounted on Wyverns, two stone golems and ballista awaited us. Chad creepily followed Grahz. I talked Grahz down and we backed up into the hallway and barred the door.
After much debate we took a rest in the rope bubble in a meat locker. The men scoured the area for us and eventually gave up. We overheard some of them talking about using magic to escape. If they only knew we were suspended above them in a bubble.
We tumbled out of the bubble and hid in Rezmirs room. After more frustrating planning we decided to wait until nightfall and sneak our way out into the courtyard to the barracks and up a tower to clear it out via sneaky surgical strikes. Although striking at night makes sense, however, our magic users are almost tapped and Grahz looks exhausted and might not be able to summon his rage........mistake number one.
We creep out into the night. The magic users bring up the rear....mistake number two. Suddenly two creepy looking undead things attacked Omen and Morrigan. I moved toward them to attack but I noticed Grahz just standing there staring at another figure. Those creatures were tough. Deceptively fast, they avoided most of my attacks and when I did hit them it felt like I was punching stone.
I saw Karsi go off after Grahz and before I knew it Chad is cut in half and dissipated into nothing. The other figure is attacking Grainne and Karsi while Grahz appears to be defending it. I do not like where this is heading.
Redoubling my efforts I focus my Ki and try to stun one of the creatures. Nothing. I ducked under one it’s swiping claws and exploded upward. My fist caught it’s chin and it stumbled back a step. I sliced diagonally down with my khopesh and continued the motion by spinning around and thrusting my foot out. With grim satisfaction I felt the snap of bone. The force of my Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku (hurricane kick) cracked its skull and snapped its neck. It dropped.
Someone turned Omen into a giant ape. I was not expecting that. She flattened one of the creatures with a massive fist. It struggled to get up but it fell to the combined effort of the party. Karsi and Grahz looked like they were fighting over the well dressed and softly spoken thing. Both of them hitting each other with their s-words. I moved into attack the thing but it turned into mist and started floating upward.
Realization of everything that happened, how quick it happened and that the ballista hasn’t fired up us yet finally caught up with me. Also I burned most of my Ki, was breathing hard but I didn’t get hit. Not once. Everyone else did but me. I guess that’s worth noting.
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Post by dragonforgotten on Jan 28, 2019 3:15:18 GMT -5
The battle was won but the war continues. Ive shattered my left arm and probably broke a rib or two. Thank Savras Karsi gave me a potion. It makes breathing easier and my arm better. Graz ran off again in a rage again before i could stop him. I would but I'm so weak right now that one or two more strikes will end me for good and I'm too slow to catch him. Im sorry Gaz. Chad, the Spector went with him. I don't know how to process Chad, He's Karsi creation and I so badly wish to study him and discover what kind of magic animates him. This may be important to my research and Arcane studies. Karsi said her magic comes from a powerful goddess of death she has bonded with. Very intriguing, just like how clerics are able to bring magic out of the forces of the weave through prayer. I don't even know what Deity Arnie is even receiving power from. It makes me a tad jealous how easily they are able to grain power, people like me must study endlessly to even touch the weave without grave error. I couldn't help but wonder what was in the Red wizard room. I regret it immediately. I don't find his taste in decor very tasteful. Poor Arnie ended up seeing it to in his effort of fixing me. I feel i must sit down with him if we survive, i don't think he is aware what is going on around him and i cant put this child in danger if i lack the power to protect him. I would love to steal and pour over all the Fey wizards stuff but there are gargoyles in this room and too much risk of activating a magic trap, making this an even more of a god awful mess. I was wondering what Grain was doing. Ive barely even begun to speak to her and I've found her unlocking a door to reveal lots of food. Whatever trouble Gaz has run into it must be bad if Graz, Kovatch and Chad come charging out paled and out of breath. With the combined wit of everyone I rope tricked in the storage room we just stumbled upon. Cramped but effective. They believe we are gone now. Excellent. Graz has been talking to that sword since climbing up here. Me and Karsi are concerned. The group asked if i had any divinations left for them. I definitly do but not ones that will help us and too many possibilities to single out. They already look bothered when i brought up one of many. Its good thing we are all freinds, the last person i told these things to became a mess and it took...awhile to get them to come out from under the bed.
As soon we pop out of the displaced pocket in reality I finally was able to do the spell I've been trying to cast all day. Arcane eye. I opened my third eye and was finally able to search for dangers. I flew through corridors, towers and ballistons. I discover the castle is indeed flying and there goes my escape plan. I saw five orgers training around the tallest tower, about a dozen more sleeping in the barracks, a dozen more kolbolds in another, more Orgers on the ballisasta, an Ice Giant getting the works by even more Orgers, Found a coffin in the tallest tower being guarded by two humaniod figures. Other wizards maybe and a possible Lich? I hate lichs, such sniveling cowards afraid of death. They have all that knowledge and power and yet they use it just to become a crime against nature. Currently a huge liability to us. last but not least i searched the basement. My blood ran cold as my invisible eye travled the tunnels past frozen figures, then to this large room filled with gold and then above.... NO! Why is it here! Why is the white dragon here! No! NO! -----
Ive calmed down abit I had hoped for a rest but i got tired hearing the squabbling going on with the plan. In the end we came to the conclusion of trying to stealth our way to the ballistas and taken them out first. Karsis armor became a problem but we just have to hope the cloak will block enough of the light. I completely forgot as we set the plan in motion that i cant see jack at night. The plan went smoothly at firsts, we were almost there till i was given a bear hug from behind and i feel fangs bury themselves into my throat! Honestly my forsight knew of this possibility but I dismissed it. It seemed too outlandish. Im gargling blood, its dark, I'm scared and i cant break free! Im growing weak and its becoming harder to move. Im going to die! I hear Morrigans voice next to me. She wants to cast a spell! Do it! I dont care! Ive had wrost spells hit me before! I feel myself grow bigger, hairier, angry and i see a vampire hurting my turtle friend. "ROAR!" .......
"Happy birthday Omen" I bink and i'm at home.. Back at Neverwinter at my 15th birthday surrounded by the porters and there children. Im holding my arcane focus in my hands. Im surrounded by smiling faces. I want to stay here forever. Then i feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around and I see Ard Alazar with her piercing green eyes. "You cant stay here unless you want to know the truth." I take her hand and now ive gone even further back. Far past my birthdays back to another life
I stand in a circle with many young faces, four faces i recognize as i stand beside them. Its not our birthdays but it is a right of passage as we stand before our mentor in red. He has a finial test. A test to prove we are worthy of Tiamats blessings. We just have to go into the dungeon beneath his tower and retrieve a jeweled eye. Before we decende into the depths a boy stops me, holds out a dagger. It glints in the moonlight with silver. "Insurance" he calls it. I tuck insurance away.
We are grossly under perpared. Undead live under this cursed tower. We've been reduced to only five. We stand face to face with a vampire spawn. Im out of spells so i take out insurance. I will not die here tonight.
Out of fifteen students only five emerge, I am part of the five. Together we make up the five heads.
Omen the Farsighted
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Post by Chris on Jan 29, 2019 14:03:22 GMT -5
End Marpenoth 1 10:00am, 1489 DR; The Year of the Warrior Princess, Selune is full Castle in the Clouds A vampire destroyed Ogres slain from the vampire's tower A meeting with a cloud giant A white dragon slain Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162997?userid=1168080
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Post by Aileen on Jan 29, 2019 16:05:26 GMT -5
The mist is ascending into the air, and I remember Omen telling us of a tower with a coffin in it. Theres no time to think, only do.
"Kovatch, take my hand."
My half-orc friend puts his hand in mine, and I concentrate, visualizing us flying. We begin to hover slightly, and I know it worked. I tell him to grab someone, and I grab Morrigan while he takes the bard. For the first time in my life, other than being thrown from many horses in my army days, I am flying through the air. If I wasn't holding up the full weight of a Tiefling I'm sure it would have been a very freeing feeling.
We fly up to a balcony made entirely of carved ice, and go into the tower. Sure enough, there is a coffin in the room. I turn to Kovatch, finally finding my chance of revenge for his terrible jokes.
"Hey Kovatch?"
"Yeah Karsi?"
"Do you have a lozenge?"
"No... what? Why?"
"It stops the coffin!"
I swear he's going to punch me in the face, but he laughs. Grainne and Morrigan open the coffin, and as we look into it the mist materializes inside of it and we find ourselves looking at the vampire. It is sleeping, clearly beaten up from our fight. I try to break off a piece of the coffin, but Its tough wood and I'm not very strong.
"Kovatch, can you make me a stake out of this?"
"Sure!" He effortlessly breaks off a long sliver of wood, vaguely stake shaped, and hands it to me.
From what little I knew of vampires, I did know to stake it through the heart. So i did. It struggled for a moment, and then went limp. Kovatch finished it off with a swift slice of his khopesh, taking its head clean off. Morrigan and Grainne cased the room while Kovatch and I flew back down to the others.
Arnie and Grahz went off, getting poor Arnie somewhere safer. That left a now human-again Omen and some cat person that came out of nowhere while we were busy flying from the scene. I scooped up Omen, telling her everything was going to be okay. She looks woozy and is quite bloody, and although she can barely stand when I set her down in the tower she offers to make her magic hut so we can rest.
While we wait for a few hours until she can summon the hut, we eat a meal. Fighting has driven me to quite an appetite, and the bard has pickles. We all take one, enjoying the tangy snack. It's much better than the field rations we are used to eating. We consider putting the vampires body out on the balcony when the sun comes up to try to make a cooking fire but soon realize that's a completely ridiculous and foolhardy plan. As much as I want a sausage, I'm not going to risk my life for one.
We finally get the hut up, and huddle inside to rest, healing up for our next inevitable fight. While we wait, we plan. Omen arcane eyes the castle once more, reporting that there are many ogres outside our tower training. We are quite literally sitting ducks. Grainne suggests diplomacy, my favorite tactic. She asks Omen to thraumaturge her voice and ask for parlay with the Cloud Giant. Omen is terrified and I try to give her a pep talk.
"You can do this, Omen. I believe in you."
She stepped out on the balcony, and I stayed close behind her with the bard who played inspiration for her. Grainne wrote Omen a script at my suggestion- I've known Omen long enough to know that she tends to say the wrong thing, so as long as she follows the script she will be okay. I hope.
She reads the speech, praising the giant and asking for him to negotiate, as well as our safe passage down from the tower. When she is done, we can hear ogres below grow quiet and then a gruff voice simply confirms they will let us come down.
I know this is folly, but I cast fly on Kovatch and I once more. I take Omen and he takes Morrigan, leaving Grainne and the cat up in the tower. The ogres take up javelins.
"Stay your weapons, we are coming in peace!" Says Grainne. "We do not wish you harm. We are coming down."
"Hang on tight. If they attack, fireball them." I whisper to Omen.
We fly halfway down, and javelins start flying. One pierces me in the shoulder before clattering away, and I nearly drop Omen. I swear, flying back up.
"Blow them up!"
We land back on the balcony, and Omen blasts them with fireball before coming back inside. Kovatch and Morrigan escape as well. Rallying, I run out and cast slow. Already many of the ogres are singed from the fireball, and my slow causes some of them to become nearly catatonic. We take turns running to the balcony, attacking, and running back to cover. Theres nineteen ogres, but they are no match for us.
Omen keeps getting hit by javelins, and when she comes back bloody and looking half dead again I tell her to sit this out. Shes done enough damage with fireballs, shes earned a break. She listens to me, taking a seat, and I go back out in her stead. Most of the times they miss me, but I get a little too cocky and start taking hits. Good thing I'm killing some of them with my eldritch blasts. The last time I go out theres nothing there except bodies.
"Uh, guys... they left!"
"What?!" Kovatch runs out, looking over the balcony with me. "That's right, run away!"
I try to see them retreating anywhere, but theres nothing. We go back in the tower and decide our next move. First, we rest. Next, negotiations. If the giant isnt going to come to us, we will go to him. Kovatch takes a rope down from the balcony while the rest of us feather fall to the courtyard. We then watch as the cat climbs up the towers side, takes the rope off, and climbs back down. Okay, well then.
We go to the giants tower and are faced with a 70ft tall door. Omen thraumaturges again, asking the giant to come out and negotiate. No answer. So i knock. Still no answer. I almost hate myself when I open the door and theres no resistance. Why didn't we try that to begin with? A chime sounds, and we come into a massive room filled with giant furniture and some very fancy helmeted ogres.
"Come with us." One says.
We put our weapons away and are escorted up the giant spiral staircase and to a massive bedroom where a blue giant sits cross legged on the floor. I have never seen one before. Hes way bigger than the stone giants we killed, and if I dare say it, extremely good looking. He is calm as he speaks to us, hand never straying to the morning star on his lap. If he wanted to kill us he could without really even trying.
Kovatch gives me a look and I know he sees me eyeing the bed. What can I say, i enjoy... sleeping. It's the biggest, most comfortable looking bed I've ever seen.
"Why have you come?" The giant asks.
"We have come to stop the cultists who are in this castle." Grainne explains.
"You are not cultists?"
We say no. I know that we look like cultists with our attire, and he might not believe us. He then tells us that the cult is using his castle to transport a horde of treasure to offer to Tiamat in hopes of raising her from the depths of hell. He has a different plan. He is going to fly this castle to another location where he is assembling an army to fight the cult. He offers us in, and we accept without hesitation. We ask if he knows theres a dragon down in the caverns, and he is aware, but it is the cults and not his. He questions what we were doing here, and we mention killing the vampire.
"He was my second in command." He says.
"He fell on a piece of wood. Went right through his chest. Very sad." I say, hoping he doesnt know I'm the one that staked him.
"To be honest, he was a little b----."
He's right about that. The giant tells us about the ogres with the plumes being his personal guard and asks what happened to the contingency of ogres he sent out recently. Nobody really wants to admit we slaughtered most of them so we say they had an accident like the vampire. He definitely calls our bs but doesnt do anything.
"We're pretty good fighters, we could be your personal guard." I offer.
"I have other plans for you."
"Oh really- Making me queen of the castle?"
Kovatch face palms.
"We'll see. I am going to lock myself in the command tower. You will kill the dragon."
It takes us a while to deliberate. We want to rest, but the giant tells us it's going to be a problem if the dragon gets wind of something going on. We consult the map of the castle, and soon formulate a plan. We have no choice but to split the party and block both exits to the cavern. We are going to pincer attack the dragon, and hope that we are strong enough to survive. Before we set out, I go to Omen.
"We are going on different sides. Stay safe, Omen. Good luck, please survive."
"I'm scared," she says. "I fear the dragon will recognize me."
I know she has some kind of connection to the cult, but I didnt realize that she specifically had something to do with a white dragon.
"You will be fine. You are strong. We will win this."
We clasp arms, and then go our separate ways. I hope that we make it out of this alive and she can get the peace she so deserves. I go with Kovatch and Morrigan, and we go down into a tunnel, deep into the caverns of the castle. It grows colder and colder as we approach, and there are things in the ice. Bodies of ogres and kobolds, and treasure and weapons. We get to the end of the tunnel and there is a massive, dark cavern where we know the dragon is lying in wait. Omen saw it hanging from an upper level, clinging to the ceiling, so I cannot see it yet. I stand behind Kovatch, trying to breath silently even though my heart is racing. I'm cold but begin to sweat anxiously.
I can hear the dragon talking to someone and then the Rogue yelling. She clearly snuck up to it and revealed herself. I hope she realizes you cant mug a dragon. Kovatch goes in.
"Hi. My name is Kovatch." He says brazenly, and then fires at the dragon with his bow.
I go up to the entryway and can see the dragon now, massive and white as snow. Talis loved white dragons. I almost feel guilty for what we are doing, but then again... it has no interest in the preservation of our lives. I hex it, and attempt to eldritch blast but I'm shivering too much to really hit well. It roars, and I am paralyzed by fear. I feel as though my heart will pound right out of my chest, and I want to run, but my feet stay planted in the ground. I shake it off, trying to best my own despair, and I blast it again.
Everyone is attacking from all sides, spells are being slung, fireballs bombing, arrows flying. The cat was turned into an ape, so now theres a massive primate pounding on and angering the dragon further. I can see Omen across the cavern, pale as death and trembling as she fires spells at it, and I give her a nod of encouragement. The dragon moves in on Kovatch, clawing him mercilessly. The dragon rears its head, and I think it's going to roar again. Before I can even move, an icy blast shoots out of the dragons mouth. I am directly in its path, hit with a massive force of cold and pain, slamming into my chest. The world is all white, and then blackness.
A raven flaps its wings and croaks forlornly. I push myself up, looking around. I've been here before. There are bodies everywhere I look, sprawled on the grass still white with the morning frost, blood darkening the ground and steaming in the cold.
I see many of my unit, I remember faces, but not their names. Some were my friends, they all died horribly. I dont even remember what killed us. My commander lays nearest to me, unseeing eyes staring in my direction. He always called me Kassi and made me collect arrows for him after every battle as punishment for sassing my superiors. That I remember. Another raven lands on his armor and croaks at me.
I rise to my feet, and hundreds of ravens now take up the first ones call. I feel a hand on my shoulder, oddly comforting, and turn. She is there, her face hidden behind a porcelain mask, long black hair and robes shrouding her.
"My queen," I fall to my knees in front of her.
"You cannot be here, Karsi. Your work is not done."
"I have failed you," I apologize. "I fell to a dragon's breath."
"You may not join me, child. Not yet. You must return."
She traces my face with a cold finger as the ravens grow louder and louder, and I feel myself begin to fall. The Raven Queen is gone, and I am drowning, choking on my own blood. All at once, the ravens take flight.
I wake, gasping for breath. Morrigan runs past me, leaving the empty potion bottle next to me. I sit up, wiping blood from my mouth. That much was real, at least. Everything hurts and I am freezing, shivering and shaking to the point that I can barely find the other healing potion in my pocket. I stand on weak legs, and drink it. It doesn't do me much good, but I am no longer dying. I go back to the door, and take in the scene. Bodies of ogres everywhere... my friends, still fighting desperately. The dragon looks as though it is going to swoop down on Kovatch, and then I witness something so foolish and brave that I nearly pass out again. Kovatch draws a fist back, and with a smile punches the dragon in the face. It stops moving, stunned.
Morrigan joins me, casting fireball, obviously hurting it. Seizing the moment, using the last of my energy, i cast witch bolt. Lightning shoots from my sword, arching between me and the dragon. It convulses violently, and falls, the cavern thundering with its plummeting corpse. I killed a dragon! We killed a dragon!
I run across the cavern as best I can, hurting all over and still reeling. Omen runs towards me, and we collide in a bear hug.
"WE DID IT!!!"
We are freaking out, shocked to be alive, and beyond happy that the enemy Omen feared so much is lying on the ground dead. The others start picking at the body, taking teeth and scales. I claim the head... I'm going to mount it and bring it back to the hunting lodge one of these days. Karsi's coming home, Talis- I hope you weren't too attached to that dragon.
We find massive amounts of treasure after melting the ice. I take a beautiful longsword, and know instantly it's going to be my new pact weapon. I can feel that my powers are greater than before, and my old sword looks a little fried from the battle. We resurface, victorious, and make preparations for our next adventure.
Omen draws us all in to a private room to tell us something. She was involved with the cult, she remembers, but so many of the details are hazy. She continues to remember more and more every day, and promises to let us know if she remembers anything important. She feels guilty for the things she has done in her past, but I reassure her that she is a good person and our past does not define us.
I go with Omen to explore Rath Modar's room and talk. I dont tell her what happened when I died for that one minute back in the cavern. She knows of my pact, but I dont think she is comfortable with the idea that I speak to the Raven Queen. Omen wants to go after the red wizards, and wants to learn everything she can about them from this room but we do not find much. I will do anything in my power to help her fulfill her vengeance or whatever it is that she seeks to do. After all, that's what best friends are for.
The castle is flying onward, to places unknown, and we are ready for whatever comes next. This cult is going down. Tiamat wont even know what hit her. This crew is strong, and we have faced things that nobody has survived and lived to tell the tale. We dont even have a group name yet, but I know that tales of our actions will spread through all the lands.
Kovatch, you better be writing down that ballad. Its about to get real.
~ Karsi the White, Dragonslayer
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