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Post by dragonforgotten on Jan 30, 2019 3:10:11 GMT -5
I must say, being a gorilla is a... Interesting experience. I must have lost myself between the transformation between both my new animal instinct and my power trip. This is very surreal. One moment I'm trapped in the arms of an undead abomination and the next I come to being the size of a house and my massive fists covered in blood and guts as mist rises up between my knuckles. I know where he's going but i hope everyone else remembers what i told them. I cant believe Gaz tried to kill me thanks to that bloody vampire. He's been acting strange ever since we gave him the sword. This is going to be a problem. Not only that but a cat seems to have snuck in. Tried to spook Grain and she nearly speared her for it. It's been a long day and none of us are up to anymore surprises. Kovatch, Grain, Morrigan and Karsi are flying after the mist cloud. With me trapped in the body of a lumbering slow ape I cant follow. A giant ape will most definitely wake the entire castle. The cat lady is making way too much noise so i grabbed her, growled in her face and took her to the large double doors to wait with me. It was an awkward twenty minutes when out of no where my body starts to ache and I'm back to normalish. My wounds Instantly catches up to me and i fall against the cat. I mutter to her not to scream. There is danger all around us. I cant trust her but its just me and her currently and situations have forced us together. Not a moment sooner. They are back and with there help we are whisked away to the vampires tower. It puts me to ease knowing the vampire has been dealt with and so i set up my hut. We had some hours to kill before bed. So i rambled on but battle plans and my visions of events that we prevented from becoming reality. Im personally glad i did not have to get my head chopped off my Karsi once i became a vampire spawn. I worry deeply. the white dragon still dwells under the castle. The time will come when we'll met again. Will they even remember me? The thought of them remembering me sends chills down my spin. I cant do it... I rolled over in bed, trying to get some sleep.
---------- I stand face to face with the dragon. "Oh great white dragon we donate this offering to your majestic hoard so you may aid in our efforts in bring Tiamat our mother and strength into this world." I said in Draconic. They thundered across their chambers, investigating their new prize. A cart full of gold and one magic sword from a fallen hero from our last raid. the hero didnt stand a chance against me. The village was impoverish, there was barely anything. We brought A single cart. This isn't good enough, i know it's not good enough. I feel the hairs stand on the back of my neck. He's inches from me, there presences is menacing and I'm frozen in place. I dare not look up. I dare not move. For the sake of everyone who's under my command who currently stand behind me in this same bow, for the sake of my own life. The dragon scoffs. Suddenly over my head a stream of ice sails past me and the sounds of my followers cries vibrates around me. It quiet. I haven't moved. "Next time bring more." "Of course my lord." I smile pleasantly. I hear the dragon slink away but i'm still frozen here. The only one left alive from this meeting. I did it. I once again made it out alive. I cant move... Im losing strength in my legs but i don't buckle. Don't show any weakness. You are powerless. This is necessary. I stare into my hands, staring into the blue eyes tattooed into the palms of my hands, thinking of the other four
I wake up with tears and I'm already sitting up in my bedroll by the time I've awakened. I've wiped them away before anyone noticed. Karsi told me she heard me muttering in my sleep once again telling ill omens and speaking broken Draconic. I cant quit remember what it was but i remember the fear, the regret, the feeling of complete helplessness.
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The next morning i gave out my rations to kovatch and the hungry. Kovatch and Karsi seem to have some extra gutso today. Cat lady is searching for a mouse to eat. While we planned over breakfest Grain told us we should try to stop our senseless bloodletting and try to parla with the cloud giant with my help as a messenger. I understand the logic, Giants hate dragons but Im hesitant to agree. We've killed so many, are we already beyond trying to make peace? Haven't we've already cross the line? I will not be a prisoner again but everyone wants to try and make amends and honestly I'm tried of fighting to but I'm paralyzed by fear and indecision. I can see many ways this is going to go wrong but i have faith in the group. Karsi offered to stand behind me while i make this announcement.
Things didn't go as planned. I threw out as many fireballs and fire bolts i could spare till Karsi told me to go sit down. I didn't realize how bad off i was. In the end parla did end up working out in the end. We finally got that meeting with the giant who confused us as cultist. I completely forgot about my cloths and apparently so did everyone else. The cloud giant is not working with the cult as far as i can tell. He offered up a deal. We take care of the dragon in his basement, we work for him to help end the cults plans. I had hoped to take a day to prepare my spells but time is short now. Im so afraid of facing that monster again. I almost threw up as soon as we entered the caverns. For the plan to work we need to separate into two groups so I've placed my self with the two strangers Ive barely begun to know but now place my life with. I confided How afraid i am of facing them again after so many years. if we fail to kill him not only will they kill us but no one i know will be safe anymore. Ive relied a lot of people having terrible memories but i was important in the cult. I feel it in my bones. A dragon doesn't forget. Everyone believes we can do it and I'll try my best to end the white dragon. Me and Karsi clasped hands and promised to get out of this alive. I whisper one thing before we leave. "I wont let you die."
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I see them, i see the dragon. He hasn't notice me but the plan has already gone south. Cat girl has missed her shot and is now getting avicerated by its might. Then she turns into a giant ape like I was but try as she might she just cant land all her hits. Kovatch goes charging and shooting shots at the dragon. I know we are fight a losing battle. I need to weaken them. fireball after fireball i rain down on his head. That has to have done something! The dust clears and they emerge, singed but barely damage. My will is shaken. he them unleashes a familiar scream that vibrates into every bone in my body. His voice shatter my mind. Im back in that moment. I cant tell whats real anymore. Im standing here afraid and trapped in my own body once again surrounded by his frozen victims in their voiceless screams. I-I cant move. I look into my hand and I swear i see the blue eyes on the palm of my hands flickering in and out of existence. No! I cant fight him! I need rope! I need to hide! Hide before he gets me to for failing him! I cant stop looking at him, I'm thankful he hasn't looked back at me. Suddenly a familiar blast of ice washes over kovatch, Morrigan and the Karsi. I watch, frozen as she falls over, seemingly dead. I am not smiling. Not this time. NO! Omen is back, one foot after the other i force myself to move, I'm not free but I'm no longer compelled to follow the dragons order to stay frozen. I open my eyes and reach out for Karsi as her fate lays out before me in the form of strings. I see all of her fate. Her fate to die here to the white dragon. I then do something I've never done for anyone. Ive only use my abilities to bring death, this will be different. I reach into the strings of realties with those blue eyed tattoos glowing in my palms, grasp them tight in my hands and rip out the exact moment of her death; in this moment and time, out from existence. She wont die, for now. I have a massive headache and my hands burn. This is all i can do for her but i trust in my comrades. Im shooting firebolts at him and Im begin to lose faith until Kovatch insults him and just as the dragon comes down to personally kill him he punches him so hard scales and teeth go flying and he stutters back just as bright colors of voilent light pierce his body and he falls over dead. His hold immediately breaks and I spy karsi, alive with smoking hands. Immediately were running into the middle of the room and were hugging, screaming and jumping about. It over! We're alive! He's dead! Im finally free! -----------
With the dragon dead and the castle flying to parts unknown i plan to make this a very studious one. while I finally home school Arnie on his ABCs I plan to study every aspect of arcane goodies the red wizards left for me and take the time to learn all i can from the spellbooks I've been collecting. My poor hands are wrapped up, apparently what i did had some lingering effects this time. Hopefully find some clues about who i was before i was Omen but before that i have something to confess to everyone. They deserve to know now.
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Ive gathered everyone back in Rezmires room and now everyone is watching me, waiting and wondering why Ive brought them here. Wow I'm nervous. I take a deep breath and begin. "Hi everyone, We've been through a lot together and after what happened with the dragon I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. You may not have realized it at the time but you ended up freeing me from years and years of aguish and fear I had trapped inside me that unconiously weighed me down. You deserver to know everything Im remember this far now so let me start introductions over. My name is Omen, 11 years ago I woke up under a house in Neverwinter trapped in a coffin with only a dagger, a spellbook, and enough gold to send me back to school. I was raised by kind people who had many children and was able to have a somewhat normal life broken up between public wizard schooling and my visions when i eventually met Ard Alazar and taught her some magic after saving her from death. I lived behind her eyes, watching everyone as she journey with you all and later on when her death lead me to this quest I made a promise to protect you all in her stead but that isn't all. As I've been learning more about my magic Ive begun to remember more about my life before awakening in the coffin and I've been struggling to come to terms with my past deed. A long time ago I use to live in a small town and I had a group of friends. There was five of us counting me. I cant remember anything about the town and i probably never will. I cant remember our names, their faces or even the faces of my parents and everyone from that town either. I had just dabbled in magic during that time, my powers always gave me the uncanny ability to see what other people couldn't and eventual my parents felt i should go to the city and learn to control them. My friends didn't want me to go alone so they came with me and began to study magic as well in the different schools. I forget how this happened but a tragedy happened to the town while we were away. The event was so great that the town was completely erased from the map. Everyone was gone in the blink of an eye. We were devastated. We had no where to go and no home to return to. There was no one we could turn to but each other. We were so vulnerable that we would have followed anyone and someone took advantage of our weakness. Our Mentor he whispered comforting words to us, told us everything we wanted to hear and filled the void left behind from the tragedy. He took us kids in, fed, clothed us, taught us. When he had our undying loyalty he placed a test on us and twenty other to graduate. Only we five came out of it but after we emerged back from the dungeon the children we were before were gone.. We became twisted just like him. We only wanted the world to suffer like we had and we made a promise to see it through. The next day we officially became members of the dragon cult as dragonclaws. We each were assigned to different dragons to work for. I worked for the white dragon for the time i remember. I even helped in the raidings as well and lead some men. Thats all i remember currently. I know theres more and i fear that evil person i was before i ended up underground but I promise i am not that person. Whatever past me tried it backfired. That person died a long time ago and I'm just a woman with a half identity now trying to find the truth, trying desperately to fix what I've done." I didn't realize the fat tears down my check, i begin to ramble. "I didn't see it happening, I could have but i didn't. I didn't see what he was doing to us. He blinded my sight and I refused to see the truth. I cant remember anything about him besides he liked to dress in red. I don't even know if he's alive or dead or even if the other four are alive and still trying to desperately bring an evil goddess into the world." I cant see now ironically but i feel Karsi, Kovatch and maybe a couple of other people sitting next to me. "I've lived in fear of the great white dragon finding me. Of the cult finding me. Destroying me and everyone I love." "Thank you... Thank you.."
Omen the Farsighted
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Post by Stephen on Feb 1, 2019 10:47:00 GMT -5
Kovatch, the half-orc Kensei Monk, folk hero of the people and for the people has assumed a kneeling position of meditation in the courtyard of Skyreach Castle. Dried blood stains contrast the floors light icy blue color. Breathing deeply to clear his mind he feels his inner light begin to burn brighter as his Ki is replenished. The wounds he suffered during the last battle begin to heal. After about an hour or so he deftly stand ups and begins to rummage through his pack. Finding a large leather bound tome, ink and quill he sits cross legged and begins to pen in beautiful calligraphy another segment of his story.
-An excerpt from the Ballad of Kovatch -
The night was......long. The Vampire Mist begin to ascend upward. I remember Omen telling us about the tower with a coffin in it. Recalling what I read about the undead, it is a safe bet that Vick the Vampire is heading back to his safe place. Karsi looks at me and orders me to take her hand and utters some arcane words. Sometimes her time in the army is evident through her speech, mannerisms and bed time practices. I take her hand, it is smaller than mine, warm and strong. I feel a tingle and suddenly feel lighter. Karsi gave me the ability to fly! With the tone of someone who is used to being in charge she tells me to grab someone. Karsi grabs Morrigan and I grab Grainne. She is light even with all her gear and smells faintly of female soap. It is pleasant. I like it. We chase the mist and surpass it on its way up to the tower. We land on an ice balcony and swarm the room. It is empty except for a coffin in the middle.
The mist snakes its way into the room and into the coffin. As Grainne and Morrigan open the coffin Karsi looks to me and says "Hey Kovatch?"
"Yeah Karsi?"
"Do you have a lozenge?" A sly grin parts her lips as my brow furrows with a questioning stare.
"No...what? why?"
"It stops the coffin!!"
It took me second but I roar with laughter as the joke hits me along with a sudden urge to punch the crazy half elf. Vick the Vamp begins to materialize and looks horrible. He is beaten black and blue from the fight with us. As I look closer I swear I can see some of his wounds closing. Karsi is fumbling with the edge of the coffin, she looks at me and asks if I could make a stake out of the coffin. Clever girl. The razor sharp edge of my khopesh easily cuts into the wood. A few seconds later I have fashioned a long splinter-stake from the edge of the coffin. I hand it to Karsi and she promptly stakes Vick. He twitches slightly as the wood pierces his skin and stops his beating heart. Taking nothing to chance I cut Vicks head off. There is hardly any blood. Creepy.
Karsi and I fly down and grab Omen and a tabaxi that appeared out of nowhere. I guess just before the first flight to kill Vick the tabaxi made the mistake of trying to creep up on Grainne. Cat lady is lucky to have all nine lives intact. She's even more lucky she didn’t attempt to creep up on me. I was still amped up from the fight with Vick and his minions and may have lashed out thinking she was part of the castles defense or a thrall of Vick.
We rest in the tower. This time Omen makes a large nigh indestructible bubble. Night turns into dawn and we begin to wake up. During a quick breaking of the fast Grainne formulates a diplomatic approach for dealing with the castles inhabitants. Makes sense for there were many more ogres to deal with along with those wyvern riders and a pair of stone golems. Omen uses her magic and her voice booms out over the clear morning. She is demanding to meet with the castles keeper for a parley. A few minutes later ogres begin to appear in the courtyard below. Soon there is about twenty of them Omens voice booms out again and Grainne also speaks with the ogres. One of them responds and it appears as though a parley will happen. Karsi casts fly on herself and me again, grabbing Morrigan and Grainne we slowly descend down to the courtyard. I whisper to Morrigan to light them up if they try anything. Sure enough when we were in range a hail of javelins were heaved at us. I barely avoided them. Karsi and I fly back up to the balcony and a ranged battle takes place. Omen and Morrigan cast fireball, Karsi casts slow, I loose arrow after arrow down upon the mob. Grainne sings cursing them and healing us. During the opening seconds of the fight I stayed in plain view daring the ogres to hit me. Well. They did. Several javelins were flung at me. I dodged a couple and knocked one away with my bow but four made it past my defense. The long thin javelins nearly ended me. Was only my half orc blood that kept me alive. Ripping the javelins out of my body I stumbled back into the room. The rest of that fight is a blur. I remember the sweet taste of healing potions being poured down my throat healing the rest of my wounds. After a minute or two of fighting the remaining ogres fled leaving the charred bodies of their friends behind.
We fly/climb down Vicks tower and stand before another one. We know this tower to be the tower of the cloud giant that owns the castle. Omens voice booms.....no response. Karsi knocks. No response. Karsi opens the door and we enter. It is a nice lavish room and as the door opens it hits a chime sprinkling the air with soft sounds. Four ogres enter the room. They look different. They stand straight, don’t smell and are wearing fancy plumed hats. I suddenly have an urge to wear a fancy hat, wield a whip and explore long abandoned dungeons. They take us to their leader. He is by far the largest creature I have ever seen. Sitting cross legged on the floor he still towers over us. The morning star casually laid in his lap is massive and looks like it could crush a man with a single blow. I wonder how many times I could dodge it? Before one of us says something dumb the giant basically makes a deal with us. If we kill the dragon in the basement guarding the Horde of the Dragon Queen, he will take us to a place that is rallying against the queen of dragons. He even agrees to let us keep any items we find.
The big guy has a sense of humor and called Vick a little be-otch when we relay the past couple days to him. Not too happy about us killing most of his ogres he is happy to know that Rezmire is dead and, as far as we can tell, most of the cultists are either dead or have fled. We leave his tower and the doors lock behind us. I can feel the castle sway slightly as it begins to change direction. We do not have time to rest or waste so I loudly suggest we attempt a pincer attack against the dragon. Everyone agrees. We split up. Karsi Morrigan and I begin to make our way through the basement corridors. It is cold and the walls are semitransparent. Trapped within the ice I see kobolds (poor little guys they would make awesome friends, cooks and servants) ogres, random furniture and other debris. We enter a huge cavern. My eyes are drawn to the broken corpses of the remaining ogres. I can see steam slowly raising from a particularly large pool of blood. Under the ogres is the treasure, covered in a thin layer of ice. We have been chasing that treasure for a long time. Clinging upside down to a massive stalactite is the white dragon. It is huge! By far one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. A shame it is evil in nature and will have to die.
The dragon twitches a little and starts speaking to someone. I guess the tabaxi was caught. She had one job. The dragon probably smelled her as she approached it. The rest of us spring into action. I move quickly into the cavern trying to draw the dragons attention to me so that my friends can do their thing.
"Hi. My name is Kovatch." It snaps its head in my direction and I fire two arrows at it. Both hit! Fireballs rock the cavern! Karsi blasts the dragon. Someone turned the tabaxi into a giant ape! The ape pummels the dragon. I fire several arrows into it. My aim is true and it really doesn’t like me. It flies in my direction and lands in front of me. The dragon inhales sharply and exhales an artic vortex! It slams into me knocking me over. My grip on my bow is lost for I am chilled from head to toe. It hurts. A lot. I hear Karsi give a weird groan of pain and hear her slump down. More magic attacks against the dragon. Rolling over I am barely able to dodge out of the way as the dragon lurches toward me, jaws snapping. I can see ogre blood dripping off its face. I draw my khopesh and ready an attack. This is it. The largest and deadliest opponent I have ever faced. The ape slams into the side of the dragon. Knocking it slightly off balance I dodge its first claw attack. Seeing it rear its head I backflip out of the way. Its snapping jaws miss! I didn’t see its second claw attack until it was too late. Three of its claws dig deep into my side. The pain of that wound drives away the cold and I retaliate. I swing my khopesh trying to hit its arm as it retracted from its attack. I slip on the ice and miss. Using my momentum I handspring forward trying to slash downward on the dragons arm, I miss again that thing is fast. Fire bolts hit it from the rear, causing it to briefly turn its attention to Omen, I see Karsi on her feet covered in frost flanking the dragon as the ape punches it again. The dragon turned its attention back to me rearing its head. Acting quickly I summon my Ki ready to strike it. I crouch down for a second, toss a wink at Karsi and launch upward into a Shoryuken (Raising dragon fist uppercut). Empowered by my Ki and glowing slightly my fist slams into the jaw of the dragon! Oddly enough the strike did not hurt my hand. As I follow through I spin nearly 360 degrees and make a perfect 10 super hero landing. The dragon is frozen in place! I punched a dragon hard enough to stun it! Karsi thrusts her hands forward and dark purple lightning streaks toward the dragon. The lightning hits its hind quarter and arcs throughout its entire body! After her spell dissipates it falls over. Dead. We did it! We slayed a dragon! Shock, awe, pain, happiness and a sudden calm wash over me as the realization of what just happened worked its way through my mind.
We take trophies from the dragon and begin to loot its hoard. There are more coins here then we know what to do with. Among the piles of coins we find a bow, a long sword and a pair of bracers. The party agrees for Karsi to get the sword and for me to get the bracers and long bow. More on those later. For now we rejoice and make our way back to the giants tower. I stop in the courtyard to meditate, regain my Ki and heal my wounds.
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Post by Chris on Feb 5, 2019 12:28:12 GMT -5
End Marpenoth 22 10:04:3am, 1489 DR; The Year of the Warrior Princess, Selune is waxing crescent The Rise of Tiamat First Council of Waterdeep Death of a Masked Lord The Draakhorn Sounds Gathering Allies Leading Delegates Varram the White The Sea of Moving Ice Following the Trail Boareskyr Bridge Bolo's Tentside Inn The Serpent Hills Tomb of Diderius Entrance Plaza Cultist Campsite and Ruined Fountain Approaching the Statues Antechamber Watchful Statues Mosaic Chamber Mosaic Chimera Attack! Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162998?userid=1168080
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Post by Aileen on Feb 6, 2019 11:14:10 GMT -5
Once I had my dragon head preserved by dear Arnie, I joined Omen in the Red Wizard's room to talk some more. We looked around while we chatted, and Omen found some letters. They were between Rath Modar and Severin, the Supreme Leader of the Cult of the Dragon, detailing plans to raise Tiamat from the nine hells. She also found a book she couldn't read, but I surprisingly could.
"Beyond the Iron Gates- this must be a romance novel!" I open it and start reading. Its immediately evident that this book is full of some pretty evil stuff. "This talks about summoning devils... sacrificing many souls... enormous preparation and expense..."
"That explains the treasure," Omen says. "This is not good. They would have sacrificed all of my friends."
She had mentioned her friends from the cult a few times. Who knows if any of them were still alive. I take the book and the letters as evidence. Me and Omen have a chat. She tells me more details from what she remembers, and I feel it's only right I tell her more about me.
I was raised in Waterdeep by an old retired officer of the City Guard. My own parents were dead or gone, that's all I knew. Rolnor Stormwyk took me in off the streets and gave me the closest thing to love and care that I ever knew. I took his name, and bore it proudly. When I came of age at 21, I joined the guard. My unit patrolled the countryside, and it was hard work, but I had many friends in my company and times were pretty good. After four years, and many small skirmishes, I was an adept fighter and earned the rank of Shieldlar. Rolnor had passed two years prior, but I know he would have been proud of me.
I couldnt fully remember the battle that nearly took my life, and killed all of my friends. I remembered pain, and horror, but the details were gone. I was dying of a mortal wound, praying to whomever would listen to let me live. Maybe I deserved that fate, but I was too afraid to die. The Raven Queen answered. My life was spared, bound to a contract. I have been bestowed with powers, some beyond my full control, with the caveat that I must kill all evil things I encounter. It seemed a fair deal.
I returned to Waterdeep two years later after many travels. I used my nickname, Karsi, never to be my old self a again. For all anyone knew, Karsilene Stormwyk fell in battle. Not that anyone still lived who remembered me. I had encountered a sorcerer who had been summoning undead, and chased them all the way back to my city. I had a clean shot on him, and took it. There was a cacophany of sounds, spells blasting everywhere, and then the sorcerer was gone. On the ground lay a young boy, smoke dissipating from his charred clothes. The guard took me away, and I was sentenced to five years in the Prison of Waterdeep. I served two before I was released after a gnome had come for me, named Gleamsilver.
I met up with the young wizard called Omen at Gleamsilver's suggestion. She promised us gold if we would go help her adventurers who were at that point making their way through the Mere of Dead Men. That's how I found myself with these weirdos who soon became my family. They didnt trust us at first, especially when Omen cut off the finger of her dead friend, their companion Ard Alazar. We have come a long way since then. In only a couple weeks.
As we talk in the wizards room, Omen shows me something. Her hands had been haphazardly wrapped in bandages, and when she pulls them away it looks as though she was burnt. On each palm she has a tattoo of an eye. She tells me they were injured when she used her powers to ensure my survival. I was going to die down in the cavern, it was fate, but she changed it. Its magic I dont understand, but I am eternally grateful to her.
Omen spends the rest of the day transcribing spells into her book. She writes all over the pages, a confusing jumble of words. It's expensive and a lot of work to be a wizard, she tells me. I am so glad I dont have to work for my spells, I am not a woman of learning. I leave her to this task, and explore the other rooms with the rest of the crew. We go to the room with the big cauldron, and find a massive chest. The thief cant get it open, but Arnie manages to. Inside are many beautiful, shiny gems. I reach in to shift through them, and my hand hits some sort of force field. We cant figure out how to turn it off, so we will have to get Omen to take a look at it. Kovatch and I check out the cauldron thing.
"Kovatch, touch it!"
"What, the water?"
"Yes! I want to see what happens."
"If I touch that, you touch the stone."
I guess it's only fair.
"Fine. On three!"
We both touch the respective parts. I half expect an explosion, or instant death, something dramatic... nothing happens. Boring. We move on to a big tower we hadn't explored. The cat picks the lock, and we go in. It's completely empty. Theres a lot of room inside for activities, but other than that it's nothing exciting.
The next day Omen goes back to transcribing. After a pretty cold breakfast made by the Kobold chefs, I take a look out over the walls. We are moving fast, and towards mountains. The Spine of the World. I tell the crew our trajectory, and I am a little concerned about just where the giant is taking us. The rest of the day is spent resting, and enjoying our Kobold prepared meals. I am feeling much more myself after the brush with death and the dragon.
The next day, a raven flies into the courtyard and hops over to us as we stand around talking. The poor thing is carrying a package and is obviously exhausted. It speaks and tells us a Leosin sends congratulations and instructs us to go to Waterdeep as soon as possible. Grahz, Kovatch and Arnie know who its talking about, but the rest of us dont. Arnie takes the scroll, decides he cant read it, and throws it. I grab it but cant read it either, so I give it to Grainne. She says it's a teleportation scroll which will bring us to a teleportation circle in Waterdeep. Great, just the place I want to go. Not. Arnie gives the raven a good berry and it flies away.
Omen is still transcribing spells for the next six hours, so we wait until she finishes to make our next move. It becomes apparent that I cannot bring the dragon head with me, after all the efforts I went through to keep it. I take a bunch of scales, and Grahz says he can craft a necklace for me. At least I will have some trophy from it. We gather as much treasure as possible to carry on our persons, change back into our normal clothes (probably not a good idea showing up to Waterdeep looking like cultists) and go out to the courtyard to teleport away.
That's when the dragon appeared. Massive, black, and flying fast for us. It roars out "MORRIGAN!". Dammit, her mask!
"Teleport! Go!" I scream to the bard. I'm not being taken out by a dragon, not again. Not today!
A portal appears, and we emerge into a room. A half elf man stands there as though he was expecting us this very moment. He welcomes us and tells us we are being voluntold to attend a council that is starting at this very moment. Dread sets in. I do not want to be in Waterdeep, I didn't expect to be back so soon. I can only hope nobody recognizes me or looks too far into my records. Hopefully those were destroyed.
Pages come out to take our belongings to our lodgings, and we are told they will run errands for us too while we are in the council. I order more healing potions- I know for a fact that we will need them. Then we are off to the council. On the way, the sky suddenly dims slightly, as though a thunderstorm is rolling in. Everything is silent, too silent. Birds stop chirping, dogs stop barking. It's over almost as soon as it happens, and things return relatively back to normal. A cart horse we are walking by spooks, nearly taking down a few bystanders before its handler can calm it. Arnie walks over to a dog that is cowering and whining. He talks to it for a bit before returning to us.
"The dog told me we should run. Something bad is happening." Arnie says.
We reassure him that we are safe, and need to get to the council. The poor boy is terrified, he wants to go home more than ever, I can tell. A noble woman stops us on the way in.
"You're the heroes invited to the Council!" She says. I guess we are.
Her name is Dala Silmerhelve. She tells us about what just happened. An ancient artifact called the Draakhorn sounded, alerting all dragons to great events about to unfold. Clearly this and the treasure hoard going to the well of dragons are connected. We ask why she knows this but she says she can't tell us. Her guards hurry her along, and she wishes us good fortune.
Panic sets in as we set foot in the council chamber. There are delegates from all the factions, many important and highly esteemed people. And here I am, returning home to where I spent the last two years an incarcerated murderer. A deserter. Maybe I should have died back at Skyreach, then I wouldn't have to face their judgment. Omen stays close to me, and keeps asking if I'm okay. I'm not, I'm sweating in my heavy overly glowy armour and trying not to pass out. Why did I have to take this armour from Talis? Why do I always have to draw attention to myself? Why do we have to be here?
They're calling us heroes. They've heard of all we've done, all that the original group did before the rest of us tagged along. They speak of incidents I didnt even know happened, and some praise us while other factions critiqued the decisions we made. The closer they get to the time we were in the Hunting Lodge the more I feel like I'm going to throw up. They know what I did, they know I made a cultist fall in love with me, they know I made an alliance I shouldnt have! Luckily, they're more interested in Skyreach. I breath a sigh of relief.
Kovatch nudges me and reminds me about the book. Right, that thing. I steel my nerves and approach Lord Neverember, the Lord of Waterdeep, handing him the book. I tell the council what I read in it. They are aware of the plans the cult has for raising Tiamat, but nobody has come to a decision on what to do about it. Everyone on the council is too busy arguing about what they think is the right way to go about things and judging us for how we handled every situation we went through. Everyone is upset that we didnt bring them the castle. Yeah, we wanted it too. So did the giant, and he was the owner and posed no threat to us. Then there was the matter of the black dragon.
We are told that the black dragon was a result of Morrigan wearing the black dragon mask. It was what the cult used to speak to dragons, so we now have to worry about dragons finding us. Fantastic. The Lords Alliance is still pissy with us about losing the castle. Omen has had enough, and stabs a dragon claw into a table.
"THIS is what you're dealing with!" She shouts. "They are coming!"
They know. Her words dont seem to move them, but they get me. I am so ready to destroy this cult once and for all. The council claims we have proven our worth as heroes, and deputizes us with emergency investigative powers, to seek out the dragon cult and stop all their plans. We are told to be on our best behavior or there will be consequences- being a representative is kind of a big deal. The council ends, and everyone mills about. Kovatch goes to the Harpers and I keep an eye on him. I saw him staring at "Remi" Haventree, and apparently hes a Harper and has been all along. Remi. Ugh.
I drop off the letters between Rezmir and Severin to Lord Neverember, having almost forgotten about them. Then I go to speak to Onthrar Frume of the Order of the Guantlet. I'd heard of them before and knew they were a pretty impressive military force. I offered my services and experience as a soldier, and they gladly accept.
Omen, Grahz and I take a trip over to Dala Silmerhelve's manor. She is very pleased to see us, and tells us she expected we would come, but expected more of us. We explain that the group was too busy joining factions and shopping, so we are here to collect information. I am attentive and quiet as we enjoy a light meal and tea with miss Silmerhelve, and I dont even flirt with her despite my natural instinct to do so. Shes pretty and rich, and everything tells me to, but this is Waterdeep afterall. I want to get more information on this Draakhorn and then get out.
She explains that the Draakhorn's last known location was the Sea of Moving Ice. A tiefling sorcerer named Maccath the Crimson went there to investigate and hasnt been seen or heard from in three years. We are asked to go there, a journey by ship, to either find her or the Draakhorn, preferably both. As if to sweeten the deal, a servant brings a whole chocolate cake to Grahz. I am drooling over it, and staring at him in hopes that he will share. He finally gives me some, and I eat it happily while he pulls out a couple potion bottles full of dragon blood. Dala doesnt want it but says she will find someone that can use it.
We headed back to the group, the three of us walking through the streets of Waterdeep. This is the first time in years that I have actually walked openly in Waterdeep and revered for heroism, but still I feel uneasy. Omen is a welcome distraction. She tells me that she has been studying my magic gifts, and has learned Witch Bolt, the power that i used to make the killing blow on the dragon. I am excited to have such a powerful spell in her hands, and extremely proud of her for honing her skills. She asks me what I think her name would or should be, as Omen is just a nickname of sorts. I actually really like her name, it suits her, so I have no suggestions, but I'm honored she asked me. A name is something that just has to feel right, and I hope she finds what makes her happy.
We get back with the crew and Kovatch tells us the Harpers want us to go down south to Boareskyr Bridge to track Varram the White. He was last seen there, but the White Dragon Mask is presumed missing. The group decides that a sea of ice does not sound like a good time, we are not feeling being on a ship or being cold, so this mission seems a good decision. The Harpers say they will provide us anything we need for the journey and our lodging here is covered. I take full advantage of the free horse, and head down to the sale barn to pick out the nicest one I can find. The one i choose is tall, brown and shiny, and I know I'm going to look good on him. That's all that matters.
The next day we ready to set out for Boareskyr Bridge. My new horse, which I am calling Buckley, is an a**. I tried showing off on him to get Kovatch's attention, and he bucked me off. Everyone laughed at me, and now I look like an idiot. This is going to be a long trip. Ghraz finished my necklace, so at least I have something pretty to go with my armour. It's got dragon scales and silver spacers, and I wear it proudly. I'm glad me and him are friends again.
Kovatch bought himself a pet raven and named it Zoltan. Did he buy it because he knows my connection to ravens? Does he know I kind of like him? The choice of pet is very interesting, but maybe I am overanalyzing things.
We have a long road ahead of us, and I feel like I can finally breath free air again when we leave Waterdeep. I am quite ready to get some more action, and to continue taking down this cult. I hope I can make the Order of the Guantlet proud.
~ Karsi
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Post by Stephen on Feb 7, 2019 16:37:07 GMT -5
-An excerpt From the Ballad of Kovatch-
Taking some time to relax after we defeated the dragon....yes Karsi you technically killed it only after I stunned it....I took my hand wraps off and slipped into a pair of leather bracers that we found. They don't look like anything fancy, just soft leather. They fit perfectly as if tailored for me. After a second or two I felt different. Not stronger or faster....just different. I couldn't place it at first until I spent some time studying and focusing on the bracers. These awesome things are magical and will protect me in combat. The bow that was recovered and given to me is beautiful. Clearly of elven make. It is lighter than my bow and all along it are etched runes. Some kind of arcane glyphs making the bow easier to use. I practice with it quickly realize this thing is amazing. I am looking forward to send more arrows down range.
We take some time exploring the rest of the castle. Oman is doing the wizard thing. The cauldron the stone giants used was really the only interesting thing. some kind of scrying device. Meh, not my cup of tea. Speaking of tea....the kobold cooks make some really great minty jasmine tea. warms the soul it does. I snag a few tea bags for future use.
Three days pass and we are clearly heading north to the Spine of the World. Wonder if there is winter clothes packed away somewhere in this castle. A raven lands in the court yard squawking about Leosin and a message. The raven...I always wanted one, even more so since Karsi made a pact with a Raven Queen...had a teleportation scroll on it to a circle in a tower in Waterdeep. Weighted down by a ridiculous amount of coins we form a circle and as Grainne begins to cast a massive black dragon roars and is flying toward the castle and us. We later find you that the black mask Morrigan wears attracts the creatures. Yay. A magical portal opens and we all step through. We are now in a room in a tower in Waterdeep. Leosin is there and is actually happy to see us. Pleasantries are exchanged. We each get a page and are told they can run errands for us. I tell mine to buy me healing potions, a large raven and to exchange my coins into more manageable amount to carry.
On the way to the very first Council of Waterdeep, we are here and feel a very weird sound. Almost immediately we are approached by Dala Silmerhelve and she tells us it is the sound of the Draakhorn. More dragon prophecy stuff. Lovely.
Before long we are ushered into a large council chamber and it is clamoring with people trying to be civil to each other but arguing about how to go about confronting the cult of the dragon queen. We are presented and our tale is told. Could you believe some of those on the council actually got butt hurt about some of our actions? The division of privilege, wealth, ignorance and of those that have never had to defend themselves or others before is painfully clear whenever I enter a large city or deal with any form of governing party. I miss the simple life of the monastery. We all worked together sharing chores. not one of us was above the other when it came to that or managing the day to day affairs or dealing with the public when they come looking for wisdom or a fist.
After a bit the council breaks up. The others in our party leave to do their thing. I linger to find Remi the leader of the Harpers. Feeling like I am being stalked I turn and see Karsi giving Remi an evil look from across the council chamber. Wonder why? Remi and I speak for a while. She seems pleased with how we have handled things so far. She tasks me with finding the white dragon mask that was last seen around Boareskyr Bridge. Varram the White was the last owner of it and according to the last report he has "lost" it. Finding that mask would hinder the enemy and out right killing Varram wouldn't be a bad thing either.
I head to the inn where they put us up and awaiting me in my room is the largest black bird I have ever seen perched on a T-shaped stand on the desk. Around his neck is a rolled up note. I gingerly reach for it the bird doesn't flinch. the note reads, "Hello! My name is Zoltan and I am so very happy that you bought me. I can speak my name. With practice I am sure you will teach me to speak other words. I like to perch on your shoulder. I fly on command and will return if you hold your hand up." A bag of feed is on the floor near the desk. Walking to the other end of the room I hold up my hand and Zoltan flies and lands right on it. My hand wraps protect me from his very sharp claws. I ask him what his name is. "Zoltan!" is the odd sound it makes. Yup you and I are gonna be pals.
I meet up with the rest of the party and they tell me about Dala said and possibly heading north. I win everyone over though when I spoke about merc'ing another cult leader and getting our hands on a dragon mask. We make preparations to leave the following morning.
We make excellent time south to Boareskyr Bridge. Karsi tried showing off on her horse. It bucked her off and she landed on her backside. Fantastic way to start the trip! Zoltan split his time between my shoulder and flying around. Karsi seems impressed with him. That make me happy. Something about the half-elf intrigues me. We ask around in this makeshift tent trader town outside of a large fort overlooking the Boareskyr Bridge. We are told that a dwarf matching Varrams description headed out to the serpent hills. We replenish our supplies and head out. The trail is easy to pick up and off we go!
Jin tells us that clans of her people live in and around the hills. Interesting. We follow the trail for a few days and come to a run down abandoned stone town. talking statues point the way to the Tomb of Diderius. Creepy. Outside the tomb we find three bedrolls and 7 shallow graves. Lovely. I tell Zoltan to stay outside the tomb. "Zoltan stay!" was his sharp reply as he fly and landed on one of the statues.
The tomb is old. Old and trapped. The traps are designed to hurt or kill the greedy. More talking statues in the tomb. Not so creepy this time, I must be getting used to it. In a room with a beautiful mosaic of a chimera on the floor. We look around for a minute or two and suddenly the mosaic begins to shift and shimmer. wouldn't you know a chimera starts climbing out of it. This will be fun, always wanted to fight a weird beast that is made of three beasts. Hopefully I will look cool in front of Karsi. Back flip or forward hand springs?
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Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 8, 2019 17:53:14 GMT -5
With the white dragon dead I cant waste anytime. Ive been given a rare opportunity; Time, a place of study and with all the tools i need thanks to a certain red wizard. With the information i stole I'm going to turn their magic against them. I need to be five steps ahead of them should these stolen books escape my belongings. Im already memorized the spell he used on my friends, Detect Thoughts. Its Ironic i never pick this up, it must be because of the sigma of being even more creepy then I'm already am. While i was flipping through my book i discovered a faded out spell called Leomunds secret chest. Unfortunately its has a high cost. I need a chest worth 5,000gd and then a tiny replica worthy fifty. Geeezzz. I feel a tad envious how easy it is for sorcerer to pull spells out of there a***. Karsi mentioned how her connection to the weave came from a deal she struck with the Raven Queen. After watching her magic it seems the conduite comes from her sword, must be how this goddess blesses her with power. I studied clerics the same way. I still cant figure out what deity blesses Arnie, probably all the good ones. Well, enough dawdling time to start studying. No, wait a minute. (she gets up and proceeds to remove the horse skulls from the wall.) Thats better now to get started. (Crack knuckles) --- When was the last time i've blinked. How much do i have left..? AUG! It was a welcome distraction when the gang dropped by asking for help opening a chest that has been magically locked and that cauldron I've been wanting to investigate. The chest was easy to disable the cauldron not so easy to decode. After careful study i discover it a divination device, Augury device. Now thats a bit of irony, a divination device that i cant use or understand. Its powers stemming from the gods. Too bad i cant to this take this with me.. When i returned to the study i found some interesting book but i cant read it. I'll wait for Karsi, she can translate. ----
Karsi visited me during my writing. We talked about... stuff. She also told me her tale before we met. I cant imagine two years trapped in such a place, alone. Prison can break the sanitest minds. She asked what happened about my hands so i showed her. The burns are healing now but since the swelling has gone down the blue tattooed eyes are visible. I don't know what kind of magic did this. I think it was my own magic, a bleed effect that was caused by my state of mind during spell casting. These marking though have come with unexpected gifts. I can now percieve farther then i ever could before like my eyes have been infused with Arcane magic.Theres a sense of nostaglia connected to these tattoo. I had these in the past. So why was I missing them until now? While we were talking I mentioned the book as Karsi translated for me. Her words chilled me to the bone. Not the knowlegde of the cult trying to bring Tiamat to this plane, i always knew this deep down and the gold isn't not a surprise either. What was required though... "You ok Omen, you look pale, more than usual." "Do you think thats what they had planned for us. As sacrifices." "No, they couldn't have." "We would have done anything for the cult. It's possible." My old companions... Karsi also found some letter in the desk I've been sitting at all day. Thats embarrassing, i didn't think to check, i was too busy studying. We found two names, names of the two people who started this mess, who ruined my life and used me and my friends as pawns in their game. ----
back to the grind, it feels like I've been writting for days. Everyone have been delievering meals to me.. I don't think I'm going to make it. I think I've been reading the same sentence over and over again. I've started writing with both hands to get this done faster.. What time is it? Who even knows anymore. ---
All.. Most... There.. cant keep my eyes open.
----
"******* wake up!" "Huh what?" I rise my head up from my desk, a piece of parchment falls back onto the table into the open book. theres a boy roughly my age speaking to me from the doorway of my study. His face is a blur but he has blond hair. "Its time to go. The gangs heading out." "Already?" "Oh course! To bring our mother Tiamat to this world. Is'nt that right" Suddenly the boy I'm staring at has the eyes of a red dragon. I look ahead of myself to meet my reflection, older and hardened with age and war with a pair of cold dragon eyes staring back at me.... "Oh right."
"Omen wake up!" "Huh what?" I rise my head up from my desk, a piece of parchment falls back onto the table into the open book. I look down, i finished my scribing! I look up and I see Kovatch in the doorway. "Its time to go. The gangs heading out." "Already?" "We got a teleportation scroll. We rounded up all the gold and heading to waterdeep." "Oh ok." Huh, for some reason I'm have major dajvu ------
Where all together ready for the trip. I havent been to waterdeep in ages. Wait whats that? Suddenly a gigantic black dragon flies above the castle "MORIGGAN!" Holy s****! I knew that mask will be the death of us! IM not doing this again! Screw that! GRAIN open the portal! open the bloody portal! I closed my eyes as the dragon opens its maw expecting to be melted by acid but when i open them again i'm standing in front of a group of strangers welcoming us to waterdeep and we have a meeting to attend to. Im surprise i havent fainted face first into the ground. ------
Not five minutes on this streets and theres a chill runs through the air as all goes still and the air fills with tension. There are already ill omens in the air.... That was completely accidentally, i think past me was just waiting for this to happen. I wonder who where going to meet at the meeting. Karsi's nervous and for good reason. Im trying to hide how scared i am too so she's not alone in that. It is difficult to hide my ties with them when you have a MASSIVE five head dragon tattooed into your neck, i just hope the turtle neck doesn't slip down again. I'll stick with Karsi and be moral support, keep my mouth shut. I also need a new name for my sweater. Arnie looks very offended. ----
This, is whats keeping the cult at by. THIS is the last bastion against Tiamat and her children. I was impressed at first. Looked like we were ready, then they started talking and now I'm getting more angry by the minute. They are squabbling among themselves in a familiar back and forth me and my friends often get caught up in. The only difference is that we actually get our work done. These guys though in their lavish armor, fancy robs are doing f*** all and they are continuing to do f**** all. They have the gall to criticize us. How much time did they waste? How many lives did they let fall to the cult. How many have been brainwashed and sacrificed already? While they play there little game of politics and should have should nots could they have changed the fate of me and my old friends.. How dare they.
I stand, reached into my robs, grabbed the talon and slammed its point into the table. Everyone goes silent as i point at the talon. "THIS is what you are dealing with! Are you prepared to face hundreds of them! They are coming whether you are ready or not!" I regret everything now, this is the opposite of keeping eyes off me. Im so flabbergast that I'm easily taken off guard and I'm back in my chair, hiding my face in my hood sulking. Im suprised Kovatch is part of the Harpers, my sight after all isn't Onmipotent. Karsi tells me she wants to join the Iron Guantelt, I tell her to go for it but I am not joining any group. I cant trust organizations anymore, Ive been there done that. We had a talk with a noble woman in finding the source of the Drakken horn and came back with some good information. Kovatch and Grain though wants to chase after the white wyrmspeaker mask. I don't think know about collecting these items. Do we really want every chromatic dragon on our backs constantly? Then Kovatched sweetened the deal and i was sold. -----
By the time we left the city i slapped myself inside the carriage. Not only did i forget to buy Dusty components but also healing potions. Kovatch brought a surprise to the group. He bought himself a raven names Zolton. He's so charming, i think Dusty might be jelly. He flew over to Dusty for a hello but Dusty was... Let's just say rude. He only puffed out thankfully. Theres so much rage in that tiny body of his. Im kind of glad no one can hear Dusty besides me. He can be a bit of a dick. The ride is long but at least we didn't have to pay for it. Thats nice. Im just going to take a nap in the carriage.
----
We tracked the wyrmspeak to the slumbering hills standing before the broken statues of an ominous tomb... I did it again did'nt I...?
-Omen the Farsighted
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Post by Aileen on Feb 16, 2019 22:54:22 GMT -5
The journey to Boareskyr Bridge was uneventful if not boring. Miles upon miles of rolling countryside flew by as I trotted along on Buckley. Fifteen days after leaving Waterdeep, we came to the bridge and a small tent city outside of a fortress, and checked in at Bolo's Tentside Tavern. Omen bought me an ale, and we hung around the bar while the party questioned the halfling barmaid. We asked if she had seen a dwarf wearing purple, and she did. He apparently was being revered as a hero for stabbing a creature in the bar. She said it looked like Jin Do. Yuan Ti that are not ours- not good. The dwarf, Varrum, had run off into the hills, which she pointed us toward.
After spending the night at the tent hotel, we journeyed through the serpent hills. While we journeyed and camped, Kovatch tried to teach Zoltan to speak more words. I think he got frustrated when the raven kept saying "Karsi is great" instead of "Kovatch is awesome." Finally we came to the infamous Tomb of Diderius. There were two massive statues, both crumbling, their hands up in a motion of warning. In the plaza around the remains of a fire were three abandoned bed rolls. There were also seven shallow graves, one of which Arnie inspected.
The cat went up to the platform to enter the cave wall entrance, and the statues' heads turned to her.
"Halt. You come before Diderius." They spoke. I instantly froze, fearing they would attack.
"He extends wisdom and offers knowledge. Which do you seek?"
She answered knowledge, and was able to pass.
"Diderius shall grant you what you seek, but only if you heed him and offer respect."
Respect? No problem, we've got this.
The cat walked in, leaving us outside debating whether to enter. Arnie turned himself into a giant spider and climbed up to high five one of the statues before coming back to us. We all filed in, me acting as the half-elf torch.
We walk through a hall of robed statues with obscured faces. The Tabaxi speaks in a strange voice, "some secrets are not meant for mortal minds to know. Look away from the darkness in which such knowledge lies."
The statues begin to move, following us with their turning heads. I have a sudden urge to look... what could be the harm in just peeking in... possibly the bones on the ground are from other adventurers who fell to the same temptation.
"Kovatch, I want to look." I whisper.
"I kind of do too."
"Dont!" Omen hisses.
Arnie goes up to one before we can stop him, and he looks. He is still for a moment, in a trance, but thankfully snaps out of it. We move on, going through the open door. There is a mosaic floor depicting a swordsman fighting a creature with three heads and the body of a lion. It's pretty. I look around, noticing a door marked "SAFE" and a set of double doors bulging out.
Suddenly Omen is casting something, but I hadn't been paying attention. I turn towards the middle of the room again, just as a cone of fire comes straight for me from a dragons mouth. The pain is immense, but theres no time to cry about singed hair and burnt flesh, even though I smell like a deep fried Karsirrito. The mosaic has apparently come alive.
Kovatch and Grahz go to town on the mosaic chimera, and Kovatch stun punches it. I witch bolt it, and am certain I will destroy it with my fancy lightning. But, alas, Kovatch punches and khopeshes it again, and it explodes into thousands of pieces of mosaic tiles. I feel myself grow hot and I dont know if it's from the burns or watching the half orc monk. He annoyed me so much before, but theres something about him...
"Hey Karsi, I stunned the chimera."
"That's great, Kovatch. Did I mention I killed that dragon?"
Grainne heals us up, and we take a look around. I feel better but still smell like burnt hair. The double doors have an image of wizards with their hands raised that looks a bit sketchy, so Omen begins detecting magic lest they bring other things to life. Theres a wall mosaic of a sun that I am particularly nervous about. Grahz, Mohrryn, Kovatch and I go to the SAFE door, which our well armoured cleric opens.
It opens into a circular room with a pool of water in the middle, and stairs going up to a basin. One of the walls says SAFE. There are mushrooms all over the floor and walls covered in red liquid or something. There is camping gear here too. Arnie eats one and appears to enjoy it. I'm a little nervous about his impulsive actions, but he knows more about nature than I ever will, so they must be safe.
Morryhn tries bringing water from the pool to the basin, but nothing happens as the water disappears. Arnie tosses a pebble into the pool, and jumps in to get it. Hes gone for a bit, and I stay in the doorway listening to Omen mumbling in the room behind me.
Arnie returns, but he is not alone. He jumps out of the pool. Morrhyn springs into action, shouting "TROLL!"
We all run in, and I go to the side of the pool with my sword at the ready. A troll comes to the surface, and we all start to hack at it. Arnie runs for the stairs, and I hope they leave him alone. The first troll jumps out, and a second comes up, followed by a third. One of them claws me, and I can feel ribs snapping, taking my breath away. Dammit they hit hard. I stumble back, trying to swing at it, but I'm not doing well. Arnie casts healing on me, and I can feel the damage heal, but I'm still hurting and fighting horribly. Grahz runs to Arnies aid, and Morrhyn is casting like a madman. Omen fires missiles off, and Kovatch does his typical punch and show off moves. Soon the trolls are all down, but we know they will pop back up and we dont have fire.
"We dont have a torch- I am the torch!" I say unhelpfully.
Kovatch recommends we put together "troll kits" the next town we get to, but that doesn't really help us now. An excellent idea though. I watch Arnie jump back in the pool and swim down agajn. Soon i realize I'm am idiot, and remember I have several torches in my pack as well as tinder.
"Wait, I totally do have torches!" I drop my shield, poof away my sword, and dig through my bag. It takes me a bit to find them amidst all the junk I've accumulated, but I get them out and light one. Morrhyn grabs the torch from me as I'm taking too long to get anything done, and burns the bodies.
Omen uses arcane eye to follow Arnie in the well. I argue with Kovatch about the eye, as it looks flat to me and hes calling it an eyeball. Thats about when I finally accepted that despite my amazing elf eyes, I have terrible depth perception.
Omem says Arnie crawled up the well outside, going back to the courtyard we came in through. Soon he joins us in the room, having retraced the same path we did before. We go back go the mosaic room, and check out the double doors. I'm standing in front of them when Morrhyn opens them.
The explosion knocked me on my a**. Debris shot out, hitting almost all of us. When I got to my senses, I chugged a couple healing potions. Today is just not my day. We file into the hallway, the other paths obviously getting us nowhere. Morrhyn walks in, and moments later we hear an "oh s***."
The last thing I remembered was getting slammed in the back and then being thrown around and around, and then blackness. When next I opened my eyes, I was in a pile of bones next to Omen and Morrhyn with the worst headache of my life, hurting all over. Arnie healed us, apparently we were all dying. Turns out the hallway was trapped, and we were rolled into a ball of skeletons.
"I guess we really got boned." I tell Omen. She doesnt laugh.
The room we are in smells of incense, and there's beautiful tapestries on the wall. The scent of Jumping Jasmine is bringing back memories of my army friends when we would smoke things in the barracks. Ah, the good days. A mysterious voice says something about seeking knowledge, and some of the others start putting their hands up and bowing their heads.
"What are you doing?" I ask Kovatch.
"Dont worry about it."
Morrhyn is standing before another set of double doors. Omen comes up next to me and I can see her looking up at the ceiling and all over.
"I really appreciate the architecture in here."
Morrhyn calls back to us, "Do you mind if I open this door?"
"Go for it!" I tell him. We all take several steps back when his back turns. Just in case it explodes.
Nothing happens, and it opens into a small hallway. I follow him in, and slowly others do too. Not before he took a step in to test the floor though. He opens the next door, and we go into a twin room to the one we were in, minus the fancy tapestries. I look to the middle of the room and nearly faint. Theres a ghost of a woman floating there... my worst fear. I may be brave, but ghosts I cant do. Nope. I need to get out of here before this thing attacks.
She asks if we are looting the library, but we tell her we are there to seek knowledge from Diderius. Grainne asks about the dwarf, but the ghost "Ilda" hasnt seen him. She keeps harping on about her library and shushing us. I zone out from her ghostly droning and watch poor Omen sitting at a table pretending to read a non existant book. I overhear something about a pool and sacrifices, and the pools demands being steep.
"Were you a sacrifice?" I ask her.
"Sacrifice?! I'm the librarian!"
I open my mouth and start to tell her shes dead, but my crew shushes me. When did I turn into Omen? This ghost is clearly in denial about being dead. I would free her from this existence, but there must be unfinished business she must see to before moving on. I follow Morrhyn up to the next door with Omen next to me jabbering about divination magic and all her fellow students having talked down about it. I have no idea what shes talking about but just nod and smile. Apparently Diderius was a diviner or something... maybe she can find something of worth here? It's nice to see my friend excited about something for once!
The next room has a massive throne on a dais, where a 12 foot tall white bearded man wearing a purple toga sits. Morrhyn approaches, and the man speaks.
"Ye who seek Diderius's insight must bring tribute."
We all discuss what that means... theres a pile of treasure on the dais in front of him. Are we supposed to leave money, an object we like, what does he want? Morrhyn places a gem on the pile.
"Karsi, you're good at talking. Ask him if that's enough." He says.
"Uhhhm..." my head is still pounding from being knocked out by the damn skeleball. Talking isnt really working for me right now. "Ilikeyourtogaisthisenough?" I spit out.
Nothing happens. Morrhyn starts walking towards the stairs that are unveiled, and the rest of us follow. I walk next to Grahz, behind Morrhyn. Morrhyn is just about to cross over the threshold when the giant man stands up. I turn around slowly, and watch as he bounds across the room, making a beeline for Grahz. That's when it hits me...
I think I forgot to leave an offering. ****.
~ Karsi the Unperceptive
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Post by Stephen on Feb 17, 2019 17:16:14 GMT -5
Kovatch a humble folk hero, half-orc of the people for people is anxious and ready to be done exploring this weird dungeon.
-An Excerpt from the Ballad of Kovatch-
It clawed it’s way out of the floor. The chimera. Except it was flat. The mosaic came to life and attacked us. It was awkward looking but deadly. The dragon head spewed fire and engulfed Karsi, Grahz and Morrhyn. I somehow managed to avoid the fire by backflipping out of the way. The screams of pain from my friends spurned me into action. I draw my khopesh and rush in to attack the chimera. Luckily I rushed the broadside of it. Coming at it from the front or rear would by like trying to shoot an arrow at a piece of parchment when the parchments’ edge is facing you (note to self get someone to hold a piece of parchment up so I can split it with an arrow). I slash across the chimeras side, spinning on my heels I follow through with a downward diagonal swipe setting myself up for a Shoryuken. I catch it’s dragon head attention and just like with a certain white dragon, I launch myself upwards. My fist slams the dragon head. The power of my Shoryuken stuns the creature! Sometimes, not often though, I even impress myself. Everyone attacks the chimera. I land another solid hit on its side and it explodes into small mosaic tiles! We destroyed it! I grab a few hand fulls of tiles and stuff them into a pouch. Gonna make a braclet or two out of them. Maybe I will weave them into my hand and wrist wraps. Wonder if Karsi will like them?
Venturing further in we come across a well surrounded by mushrooms. Arnie eats a shroom and doesn’t pass out. Compelled by his heritage, Arnie dives into the well chasing a pebble he cast light on. A few minutes later a terrified Arnie flings himself out of the well followed by three trolls! These things are tough. One clawed Karsi and she yelped in pain. I hit one with a Shoryuken but it shrugged off the hit. Eventually we drop the trolls and light them on fire to keep them down for good. (Note to self. Hire pretty females to sell troll kits! Everything the average Joe will need to a vanquish troll!) the party likes the idea but alas to little to late.
Heading back to the main room we attempt to open a set of double doors with beautiful inlaid art. The doors were bulging as if keeping something at bay. Water? Mud? Nope. Debris. Lots of rocks and debris. The doors slam open catching everyone but me (second time today a backflip saved me) with rocks and the doors themselves.
Deciding to push on we went back to the chimera room to explore a small downward slopping tunnel. Grainne went first but tripped a trap and before any of us could react the mosaic of the sun slide open along the wall and a huge ball of bones came rushing out of it. It was twirling and spinning all over. After backflipping out of its path (third time today) it engulfed Karsi, Mohrryn and Omen. The ball of bones bounced down the corridor picking up speed and momentum. I felt the floor beneath my feet shudder when it slammed into the wall.
“ I guess we really got boned” Karsi mumbled as she picked herself up from the pile of old bones.
A disembodied voice greeted us in this new room which smelled of incense and covered with beautiful tapestry’s. Something about wisdom the voice mumbled. I did not catch it all. But the others figured out it was some kind of religious thing complete with a gesture. We gesture but nothing happens.
Opening a door leads us to a room with a Dias and a large throne. In it sits a good looking human man with a flowing white beard and wearing a purple toga. He was large. Easily over 8 feet tall.
“Ye who seek Diderius’ insight must pay tribute.” He speaks calm and clearly. Tribute must have been paid by those that came before us for there is a fair bit of treasure at the foot of the large dais. All of us except for Grahz and Karsi place either personal belongings or money down, adding it to the pile. We open a door leading out of the throne room. As we begin to leave the large man stands up and begins moving toward us. Looks like we may have to fight our way out!
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Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 18, 2019 2:06:42 GMT -5
Yvenira scouted ahead into the tomb but just as she opened the door the two guardian statues rotate there heads and began to speak. It lets her in without a problem but now i'm curiose. The statues mentioned this being the tomb of a famous divinator. For a change I'm actually excited now instead of dreading going deeper. Of course the note is still sour considering who we are following into these catacombs. That is what Im dreading. I barely remember everything as is. What is he going to say? Will he even recognize me? Why do i even care? It's time to put that chapter to a close, preeminently.
Not a few steps in and I'm already getting a chill up my spine. This place gives me a bad feeling all over. As we entered its dark chambers suddenly Yvenira begins to speak in a unrecognizeable voice. "some secrets are not meant for mortal minds to know. Look away from the darkness in which such knowledge lies." The hood statues then turn to us, inviting the curiouse to peek This is a warning we should take note on. We should tread carefully to not disrespect these ghosts and spirits that haunt this place. If he was a divinator then the knowledge he left behind may bring only insanity to the foolish and unlucky. Theres an unspoken rule among diviners. A taboo so to speak. Never peer too far into you own future.
We stepped into a room decorated with beautiful mosaics. You have to admit but i am very impressed with this diviners presentation. Nothing like starting off introductions with talking statues praising your grandness and walking into a room filled with art. Or at least i thought it was beautiful till it literally came to life and attacked. This flat chimaera looks dangerous. It must be powered by magic so I'll just dispel it. .... oh. Let my try that again. .... oh... damn... -----
Ugh that was hard. Grain is searching the place for more traps with little success. She believes the sun mosaic is another trap but theres nothing we can do to disable it currently. "Hey Omen can you cast Detect Magic so we can find some clues?" "Sure Kovatch, just give me 10 minutes." I then start ritualling the spell, waving my hands in circles with complex notations and motions while uttering impossibly complex words. I cant move, I cant speak. Im completely vulnerable to everything but thankful i have my friends to protect me while i work. Wait, where are they going? Guys? Anyone? Im all alone out here! Wizard by her self here! I could be eattened, flattened by the living statues, attacked by ghosts and no one would ever notice! Guys! Im standing here alone chanting and waving my hands like an idiot. I can hear them in the other room talking about a well. from what I'm hearing there trying to move a magic water to a device. I could help with that. "gezz guys we just cant figure it out. The water just keeps vanishing. Guess well have to come back later." says Morin while here i am standing here foaming with rage between the chanting. Are YOU KINDDING ME! Just Wait for me to be done! Karsi shows up to stand next to me. How much time do i have left? Why is time suddenly progressing so slow?! Suddenly i get a vision mid chant.
Im standing in front of a well. I peer over to see Gazs face confused and puzzled, Im watching through his eyes. He looks very very confused now, probably trying to figure out the well. Then he walks away towards this contraption designed to funnel water away. He tried again and again to get the well water into the device. Then he. Wait, he wouldn't dare. OH god he did!
"Hows it coming along Omen?" I turn my head to her and i feel a twitch in my eye. I wish i was blind now. I get plague by dream of the future all the time but this! THis! That was a vision of a future that didn't happen. So Why was that necessary! Im NEVER going to unsee that! "Im just going to help the others. Keep doing what your doing." NO Karsi don't leave me here! It sucks out here! Too late, she's gone, and i'm alone and bored once again.
3 minutes. its only been 3 minutes. Ive been forgotten. Whoe is me. Suddenly i hear screaming and yelling coming from the mysterious room. Pissed off but worried I dropped my chanting to investigate only to meet with tall green and ugly trolls crawling up from the well. What the f**** did they do?!
-----
After blasting all the trolls in the face i saw Arnie take a swim into the well and after what we just went through he cant go unsupervised. He cast Arcane eye and tail him. Turns out he went into a giant circle. The the real exploration begins. I send the eye down the corridor and report what i find. Curious i ask Kovatch to open those big doors a smige so i can squeeze the eye inside. I watched stun as the rubble form the other side comes barreling through injuring everyone on door duty. Sorry...
With no choice we take the corridor but just as i warn everyone about the limits of my sight I hear a click echos infront of us. The room goes quiet. C****.. Suddenly i collide with a hard round object. Karsi and Morin join me in the spinning ball to hell. I think I'm going to be sick. My arms are pinned. I hear a pop behind me! I know what that means. The wall is getting dangerously close and suddenly I'm in darkness.
Im standing on the balcony of a great tower. Im looking off into the distance planing. Waiting. Watching. Soon. Everything is falling into place. Im at peace with the evil around me. I don't realize that the evil is me till suddenly i am cast into darkness. My fine robes are stripped from me, my power gone. I stand alone. Utterly terrifyingly alone. Face to face with HER terrifying eyes. Tiamat! Suddenly i cant move! Im surrounded by the ancient wood of a coffin! I cant get out! I feel hands on my shoulder. There shaking me.
"Omen wake up!" It's karsi, i blink owlishly, sore but breathing. "Am i dead?" "No thanks to Arnie and Morin." "Thank Savas for that." I sit up, picking up a loose skull. I then punt it across the room and dust my hands. I can see Grain trying to look through the vent, slowly burning out her eyes. Maybe she saw the same vision to? we creep into a room filled with empty book shelves. I was lingering in the doorway when suddenly a ghost comes right our from the floor. Please no not again! I was immidiantly relieaved by the fact that this ghost will not attack us as long as we respect her library. I was so excited that the meantion of a library containing the work of a famous Divinator that it broke my heart to see this place bare of books. Not even a scrap of paper. Im not going to be the one to tell her the books are gone. I even pretend to read one just to make sure she didnt find out. I hope we can find her books. She doesnt deserve this fate, to be trapped in an empty libarary. The books belong back on these selves and if the speaker of white is responsible. Welll. I'll rip out his intestines.
I started to ramble on back my school years before this adventure. People always gave me s**** about my divination school. Its always like "why do i need to see the future if i can just burn it up." "Why do i need to scry someone if i can just block there missles." "Why do i need to see someone, I can just illusion up a copy of myself." "Why do i need to spy on someone when i can summon a demon into there bedroom." EVERY TIME! sorry Karsi, it appears I've gone on a rant.
We entered the room where a tall imposing man in purple, sitting in a throne surrounded by treasure. He calls for us to leave offering out leave. It seems easy enough. Just pay the toll and we dont have to fight him. I didnt not plan for when he suddenly stood up. It hit me then, Graz and Karsi didnt pay.... s****.
Omen the Farsighted
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Post by Aileen on Feb 21, 2019 20:37:57 GMT -5
The giant toga man began moving quickly. I ran back to the altar, and fished out three platinum coins, which I threw down on the pile. He attacked Kovatch, and it did not look good. Grahz charged the big guy with Hazirawn, the bloodlust clear upon his face. He blew right past Omen holding a gem out for him to give as offering. Well... guess this is how we die.
Kovatch punched the giant, and he froze in place, stunned. Arnie came up behind me and I instantly felt better as his healing powers washed over me. I backed up away from the altar, and started blasting the giant. Suddenly I was lit up by lights, more so than just with my armour, and i caught Grainne cringing and giving me an apologetic look. Fairy Fire, lovely.
Somehow it went down, exploding from blows from the half-orcs. Literally, shattering into thousands of pieces of clay. We searched around the throne, finding some decent treasure. I took a seat on the throne while Omen detected magic.
"Karsi, the throne is magic!" She announced.
"Yeah, it doesn't feel it." I replied. The magic was clearly just an illusion to make it look majestic. It was really just a glorified table chair.
We camped out in Omen's rope fort before moving on. Arnie entertained himself with pieces of clay, and even Kovatch took some. When the hour was up, we moved on to the next room. We walked into a chamber with a long table where there sat five blueish humanoids looking extremely bored. They didnt react to us walking in, and didnt care that we walked by them to the next door. Grahz told us as we walked through that Hazirawn read one of their minds and they had been told to wait there by someone. They probably wouldn't be an issue.
There were doors marked DANGER, and I suggested that the closer we are to danger the further we are from harm- but nobody bought it. We ended up going into a massive room that held a pool at the far end. I scrambled in as the bard cast an inspiration spell, and then I felt odd. I absolutely had to look into the pool....
Next thing I knew I was standing by the edge of the pool with everyone except Omen and Kovatch. I couldnt remember what happened, but Kovatch said we were babbling gibberish and flailing around. Whatever magic this room held, I didnt want to mess with it. The pool was lit with a black light... eerie. It was clear we had to make a sacrifice to do anything with it. Coincidentally there was a relatively fresh body on the ground. Grainne, Omen and I grabbed it, and swung it into the pool. Nothing happened. Perhaps it needed water in it? There was a small puddle in the bottom but something told me it was something more unsavory than water. Around the body were broken arrows, which were identified as made by the Yuan Ti. This place is a walking death trap...
"We could have sacrificed some of those little guys in the other room," Grainne suggested.
"They didn't bother us, we shouldnt bother them," I say. "Although it did cross my mind."
I went into the next door and found a chamber with a sarcophagus and frescoes on the wall. As I approached, a voice said,
"You approach Diderius in repose. I know what you seek."
I knelt before the sarcophagus, on the dais.
"What do you think I seek? Because I don't know."
"Those who do not know what they seek are sure to find it."
I hate cryptic messages. Kovatch joined me beside the sarcophagus, and placed one of his hands upon it. It said the same spiel it had said for me. Nothing happens from him touching it. Omen does detect magic on the room but finds nothing. Arnie walked in, followed by the reanimated corpse of the cultist we threw in the pool. It reeked of urine.
"Arnie, that's not good. Dont mess with the undead." I feel it's my responsibility to destroy it, but he looks proud of his new pet.
"That will turn on you, and it will bite you." Omen tells him. Arnie doesn't care. This boy is going to give me a heart attack.
We go to the entryway and Omen decides to blast at the frescoes to see if they open up a door. Something moves... and we are attacked by mummies coming out of the wall. $#**. One attacks Arnie. He looks pretty bad off, this cannot be good. Another attacks Omen, hurting her, and she runs from the room. I grab Kovatch and thunder step. We reappear in the other room, putting some distance between us and the mummies. That's when I realized the thunder I left in our wake not only hurt the mummies, but Arnie and mostly Grahz. Dammit, my friends are always getting hurt for my carelessness!
I start Eldritch Blasting the mummies, while Kovatch pulls out the potion he found in the other room.
"I'm going to breathe fire on them!" And he does. Then he cackles maniacally.
"What is wrong with you?" I laugh.
"What's not wrong with me?" The half-orc winks.
The other half-orc is raging against the zombies, but they're getting a lot of hits in on him. I feel really awful that I hurt him.
"Feeling a little woozy here!" He yells. Fortunately we cut the zombies down to one. With one final eldritch blast, it dies.
After a bit of arguing about going into the sarcophagus room, we go in to do the rope trick again. Before climbing in, Kovatch breathes a big "K" into the floor.
"This way everyone will know that-"
"Karsi was here!"
"Yes, Kovatch and Karsi." He sighs. I like the sound of that team. "Where's Zoltan? I miss him."
"You left him outside, remember?"
I honestly think he forgot he even has a pet. I hope the raven is okay. We rest up, and when the spell ends we go check out the pool room. The bulging door probably is the same deal as the first one that exploded in our faces, so I suggest we try to open it from a distance. We all agree trying rope to it and pulling is the best plan of action. Omen gets defensive about using her rope on it, so I go tie mine to the handle.
"Everyone back up." I tell them, and move off to the side, standing as far back as I can, and I pull. The same thing happens, it's just rubble. Ten feet of my rope is buried, so I cut it off. I'm sure Omen is glad we didnt use her nicer rope. We discuss leaving and heading back the way we came. It appears going back to the Danger door is our only option. I make for the doorway out, but stop in my tracks when I hear the grinding of stone. Everyone is with me, except for Kovatch and Arnie.
"You now face Diderius risen!" The same voice that spoke to me says.
I run back to the sarcophagus room and see Kovatch and Arnie standing by the now open sarcophagus. Omen looks panicked as she fails to pull the massive Tortle away.
"What the hell did you do?!" I scream at the boys.
"I tried to stop them!" Cries Omen.
"Arghhh!!!" I've never been more frustrated in my life. We were on our way out, and they just HAD to look in the tomb. I summon my sword.
The mummy lord, Diderius, stands on the sarcophagus, muttering some arcane words. Omen is stunned, and I can see the fear and anger in her eyes. Arnie begins casting something, and the mummy is surrounded by swirling sand and dust.
A wall of stone appears across the entrance to the room, sealing Kovatch and Arnie inside. I tell omen to back away when she comes out of the stun, and cast shatter. The wall begins to crack after the loud bang, leaving mine and probably everyone else's ears ringing. I went up, ready to kick it down or claw at it with my bare hands. I couldn't let Kovatch or Arnie get killed. Even if it were due to their own stupidity.
Grainne tries shattering it too, hitting me in the process. It hurt but I don't care, this wall has to come down no matter what it takes. We keep blasting and shattering it while Grahz beats it down. Finally it gives way. I see Arnie and Kovatch lying on the ground, and the mummy standing over them. It disappears, and a swirling cloud of green fills the room. I begin to choke, poison filling my lungs. I run forward, looking into the sarcophagus, and find a clay jar, which I grab. Maybe this is the key to destroying the reanimated Diderius? Theres no time to find out, as the world fades to black as I gasp for air and only get poison.
I wake up to Grahz standing over me and the taste of healing potion on my tongue. This has not been a good day, I've been unconscious more than ever in my life. This is also not the half-orc I was expecting to see.
"Where's Kovatch?" I ask.
"Kovatch is dead. Arnie is dead."
I feel like I died too. Sweet Arnie who we all swore to protect... we failed him. He was just a boy, he should not have come with us. He was too damn brave for his own good. And Kovatch...
I could feel my heart breaking, a painful emptiness in my chest. All this time traveling with him, he had driven me crazy. I had fallen for him, and I never got the chance to tell him. Never got the chance to say goodbye, or even try to save him.
I can not weep for long. The Raven Queen will guide their souls from this world, and I know she will take care of them until they join whatever gods they follow. Arnie and Kovatch, you will never be forgotten. I love you both. The Ballad of Kovatch is ended. The Legend of Karsi is about to begin.
We need help. With our two friends fallen, we cannot carry on fighting. Our hearts are in pain from loss, and we do not have the man power. As the others rest, I sneak away. Back through the way we came, I leave this tomb alone.
"Zoltan, come!"
The raven flies down to my outstretched arm, his talons digging into my chainmail sleeve.
"I need you to fly ahead. We need help... find someone. Find anyone." I raise my arm up, and he launches into the air.
"Kovatch is awesome!" He croaks.
I smile through the tears. Yeah, he was pretty awesome. I hope I can find someone that even comes close to him. It's going to be a long journey out here by myself.
~ Karsi
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Post by dragonforgotten on Feb 23, 2019 1:57:55 GMT -5
Once again I'm impressed by the tenacity and guts this group has. We took down the Giant with out sustaining any damage. Kovatch stunning punch is a life saver. As soon as he fell i recognized what it was instantly as soon as he started falling apart. A Clay Golum. I remember those guys. The transmutation teacher brought one in to show us in Introductory of Golems class. I was amazed Kovatch finally let me ritual cast detect magic this time before everyone starts drinking unknown vails of liquid. It's too bad karsi sat in the throne before I finished. This is a golden opportunity. "BY Sarvas third eye! That chair is cursed!" "WHAT!?" "Naw, it's just fake." "God Damn it Omen you scared me. Explains why it's so uncomfortable." Everyones moral has improved a bit but they want to rest so i casted rope trick. I seem to be relying too heavily on this spell, i need to be careful otherwise i will have no mid ter spells left. Arnie seems to want to play with the pots and clay while we're up here. He made a little clay statue. If i wasn't afraid of hitting him, i would heat up his art project so i can keep it. After a rest we continued onward and we ran into five strange begins with purple skin and long tentacles for beards. They seem bored, annoyed. I considered almost to reading their mind but Hazerion did the job for me. Is it wrong that i feel a little jealous of a sword. They let us pass by without any problem, I wonder if it's my disguise. I made sure to close the door so they cant hear our mumblings. Ive realized through trail and error that we, me included, have a hard time staying quiet. We progress into this wide chambers, a dead cultist on the floor, broken arrows littering every space on the ground, and a large empty pool standing in the middle. this must be Darius divination pool ive heard so much about, i think I'm going to check it out-....
-----
I blink and my face hurts. Kovatch is standing over me with his wrapped hand over head, ready for another slap. "Kovatch-!" "SLAP!" "JUST STOP-!" "SLAP!" "HITTING ME!" "SLAP!"
Well that could have gone better. Thank Sarvas that Kovatch resisted the pools charm. He then informed us that the dead man in the room was stabbed by a dragontooth dagger. That gives me some ideas on what i can do with the dragon bits I'm carrying around. The arrows belong to the Yuan Ti. I suddenly regeret my disguise now. This looks like a failing out between two groups. I think they may have come trying to find the secret to the pool and Lord wyrmspeaker was then ambushed by them. HE must be deeper in this pit. We must find a way deeper. I don't think green beards will be as tolerant of our presences as they were before if we go back. I cant find find a way deeper. We found Darius stone coffin but still there is nothing i'm find indicating any secret passage way. Darius as talkative and boastful as he is, he refuses to give us the wisdom and knowledge we search for ironically. Suddenly I hear the familar moans and grown and i turn around to see Arnie holding the hand of the now animated dead cultist. "Arnie! thats Dark magic! Your too young to be messing with necromancy! "Hes my pal." "Arnie, that thing will sooner eat you alive once that spell wears off!" huh, i don't remember studying necromancy. Sure i dabbled but never in rising. I found four spots of plaster along the mosics. Im starting to get desperate to find something now and this might be it. I cant risk blasting the walls now while everyone in here. Something is going to happen and it's going to be in three options. Sinerio 1 is nothing happens Sinerio 2 the walls will reveal a passage or lever. Sinerio 3 Something horrible will happen. so i tell everyone to step back and I fire. c*** today was Scenerio 3 with four mummys. Not 1, not 2, but four god damn mummies. Im starting to hate Darius now. Im now thankful for the zombie because now it's acting as a meat shield for the tortle child. he's still taking hits. Im really concern but i cant stay in the room. The mummys need to follow if what i plan is going to work. Suddenly karsi grabs Kovatch and they vanish only too LOUDLY reappear in a clatter of thunder. I cant blame her, i'm about to do something just as loud. I cast Fireball 2.0. "Burn in hell a******!" Immediately they light up like a gypsy candle, doesnt take too long after that. After my mini bomb just went off we need to hide. It's a waste of a spell but I'm not taking any risks of those purple guys in the other room coming to investitage. Sadly though Kovatch lost his fire breath. He burned a big K into the floor and i almost want to slap myself in the face on how obvious we are making our presences known here. I cant stay to mad, no matter what we get into we always get out of it. It's agreed that there nothing in this room and we'll have to check the door with those five bearded guys again. Its going to be tough but at least we're rested and ready. Just as we were about to leave through the door i noticed two people missing, Arnie and Kovatch. To my horror i find them back in in front of darius tomb debating on who should open it. "WHAT do you think you both are doing?!" "Opening the coffin." said Arnie. I give Kovatch a disappointed glare. "No. We're leaving Darius alone. He is a distraction to what we came here for and we already killed four mummies. I am not killing a fifth." "Omen, there could be treasure inside." "I don't give a flying-.... Dragon, whats inside. Whats inside is a dead man who will probably try to kill us once you open it. He was a divinator in life, that probably means he's even more terrifying in death. Arnok, you will come with me this instant or no ice cream for you!" I grab the rim of his tortle shell but i cant move him no matter how hard i try. Im pulling and pulling but no matter how much i try this child is not moving an inch. Im not sure which one of them did it but i hear the sounds of stone sliding from stone. "I warned you." spoke the ghostly voice of Darius echos, his skeletal hand flaking with decayed dried skin grasping the edge of his coffin. Stands inside his coffin wrappings and all. Oh... S**** "KARSI! They bloody did it!" I look back to see the depths of darius dead eyes and i freeze. I cant move. I hear the clatter of the rest behind me, my hand is still clasped around Arnies shell. The mummy murmurs a spell and then suddenly i am ripped away from him. I stumble, shocked and I can feel the color leave my face. Dread settles in my gut. I light up both my hands with fire, throwing bolt after bolt at the stone wall.. Karsi and Grain shatter it but it still stands. At last we finally break through but the silences is deafening. The wall suddenly vanishes into dust and Arnie and Kovatch lay at my feet... Dead. Not again. please. Suddenly the room fills with green gas. CLOUDKILL! I start running, i don't know where i'm going, all i know is to run. I collaspse to my knees chocking on the toxic air.
------
I wake up to see Graz hovering over me. Im overjoyed to see he's ok. "Thanks Graz." I croak. I then notice a particular swords absences. "What happened to Harzeron." "Gone." Im hit with a wave of dread as my memories catch up to me. "Wheres Karsi and the others?" "Over there." I stumble to my feet and make my way to the tomb and then i see them. Karsi is holding the lifeless body of Kovatch, crying her heart out and there is Arnie, cold and lifeless. Im standing in the doorway, I'm blinking my eyes hoping this is just another trick of my eyes again of a reality that didn't happen. It isn't. You fools, you poor fools.. Kovatch, Arnie. I loved you both like family. Why did you do this? There are no tears. I stopped crying a long time ago. There is only a black void in my heart thats grown a little bigger. I had him in my hands. He was in my hands but still he was taken from me. I thought i could protect him. I knew i couldn't protect him. I was almost done learning transportation circle. he was going to go home. If i couldn't even protect anyone. Then what good is all my studying if it cant even keep the people i love alive. Somehow I've stumbled my way to Graz who is standing outside of the tomb. He and Kovatch were good friend, practically brothers. He must be taking this hard but is giving Karsi her moment. It was obvious how she felt. Grains missing, it wouldn't surprise me if she ran off. "Graz, Im going to cast one last rope trick. You are too injured to carry on.Without your sword, our goal has gotten that much harder." "Are you going to talk to karsi." "No, not now." I start to walk away and start casting, we'll figure out how to move the bodies. Im not leaving them here. I will resurrect them. Any mercy i had for my enemies is gone. I will not let any more distractions deter me from completing my mission. As for everything in this temple, anyone in my way will never leave these walls. When i am stronger i will return, i will make Darius curse his own undeath. I will reclaim Graz's sword. I will have his head. --
Karsi, wondered off. I know she going to seek help. I just wish she would have told me first. This isnt the time to be dark and mysterious. I got to make sure everyone gets out alive.
-Omen the Farsighted
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Post by Stephen on Feb 23, 2019 13:46:32 GMT -5
Written in beautiful calligraphy Is the final entry in Kovatchs journal. The big guy with the toga and beard hits me. Hard. I feel my life force drain away. If only Karsi and Grahz paid a tribute to it. Toga guy looks like he is casting a spell. Now is my chance. I unleash a full string of attacks against him. Wanting to conserve my stamina, I attack his mid section and legs. I found a sweet spot and stun him! The party does their thing and after 36 seconds or so the last hit on him kills him. But instead of falling down like a man he crumbles into clay. A golem. Lovely.
We rest using Omens rope trick after looting the treasure pile. I do not know what lies ahead of us as I write this. I feel strange. Has the life draining effect the golem did to me a foreshadowing of something else to befall me? Or one of the others? I have been pushing it. Starting from day one I have been making reckless decisions and nearly paying for it with my life. If it wasn’t for my half orc blood or my friends I would have died many times over. Perhaps I shouldn’t always rush in? Or heed the warnings of my friends? It’s conflicting though. The way of the Kensei focuses on combat and skill. I cannot gain knowledge of the blade without conflict. I know this though, the foes I faced in the past would be no match for me now. Through conflict and violence I gain skill. It’s just the way it is. I’m sure Grahz understands.
We shall push onward and hopefully find the white dragon mask in this old tomb. Maybe when we are done here I can sneak away with Karsi. It’s pretty obvious we have a thing for each other.
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Post by Stephen on Feb 23, 2019 21:34:08 GMT -5
Runar reflected upon the last time he saw Kovatch. It was just over twelve years ago. Runar remembered the fire. The fire that killed so many of their kind. That killed their friends and family. Digging deep Runar remembered......
Kovatch and Runar grew up in a secluded village deep in the woods. Away from those that look down upon the blending of human and orc or human and elf. They came from the same orc clan but different human mothers. Shortly after their births the clan elders decided to go back to the old ways after a crushing defeat by a well equipped human mercenary company over the rights of a mine. They sent the handful of half orc children, adult half orcs and all the humans away to live off the land and fend for themselves.
The small group of weary travelers were set upon by the same mercenary group that defeated their clan about a month later. But fate intervened. A powerful group of Harpers lead by the strongest of the land intercepted the mercenary group. The Harpers slaughtered the soldiers without mercy. After a week of travel the group of refugees came to a village. That village become the home of Runar and Kovatch.
It was a peaceful village set deep within an ancient and nameless forest. There was plenty of land to farm, game to hunt and steams or rivers to fish in.
Runar and Kovatch grew up in the same household with a pair of human foster parents. Their foster parents were kind and loving. Their father taught them how to fish and hunt while their mother taught them how to cook and make clothing from animal hide. They lived a peaceful life.
Kovatch took to fighting. He wasn’t a bully or a brute. Fighting came naturally to him. Just as hunting or sewing or blacksmithing come naturally to others. Kovatch wasn’t conceded about his skills. In fact he went easy on the kids he knew he could defeat. A life in the town guard was in the cards for Kovatch. Runar took to reading, learning and alchemy. The village didn’t have a vast library but Runar made the most of it and read every book he could get his hands on. Runar learned about plants and herbs and from them fashioned different elixirs, potions, acids and even managed one extremely volatile vial of alchemists fire. He deciphered and learned the arcane spell of light at the age of 8. He found the spell scribbled on the last page of an old book. Perhaps a life of a mages apprentice, should one pass this way, was in the cards for Runar. The boys were the pride and joy of their parents. But as with all good things there is its reciprocal. With life and peace death and decay are not far behind.
As best as Runars teacher later told him, for the information was old, the village was set upon by the same mercenary company that nearly destroyed his orc clan.
Soldiers wearing chain shirts and wielding swords and bows stormed the village. Preceding the attack force were magical blasts of fire, ice and pure arcane energy. Who the mercs worked for is not known. Some think it’s the Zhentarim since the village is affiliated with the Harpers.
Runar was by the river collecting roots for his latest alchemical experiment when he heard the explosion of a fireball and the screams of his fellow villagers. He ran as fast as he could. He got to the village but thick smoke filled the air and choked his lungs. People were running around in a panic. Soldiers on foot moved through the village killing and burning everything they could. Men on horseback wearing heavy armor barked orders and guided the foot men.
A wild eyed human man wearing long red robes riding a horse stopped about 15 feet from Runar. He cackled wildly and spoke weird words. Pointing his finger toward Runar a small bead of fire raced from his finger tip. The bead sailed over Runars head and hit the small house behind him. The shockwave of the fireball slammed into Runar lifting him from his feet and tossed him like a rag doll to land nearly 20 feet away. The human cackled again and started to cast a second spell. But before he could finish the town guard lead by a visiting Kensei Monk and with Kovatch in tow broke into the scene and overwhelmed the red robed wizard.
The town guard formed a circle and warded off the intruders while trying to collect any of those that still lived. Barely staying ahead of the fire the guards and Kovatch killed many of the soldiers.
Runar was picked up and thrown over the shoulder of the town blacksmith. “Mom....Dad...?” Runar croaked. The black smith said nothing and continued to move though the fire, smoke and death.
After a few minutes Runar felt the blacksmith stiffen up. He fell forward after taking an arrow to the face. Runar tumbled and landed on his feet at the last second. Reaching into his satchel he was relieved to feel his vials of acid hadn’t been damaged. Pulling his dagger and griping a vail Runar turned toward the sound of booted feet pounding the earth. He threw the vail of acid and it hit the charging soldier in the face. The vial broke and the acid, although not as powerful as what Runar can magically produce now is still strong enough to burn eyeballs. The soldier screamed and dropped to the ground holding his face.
Noticing the group of guards thinning, Runar was hit hard in the head from behind. He fell flat on his face and rolled over. A large human male with a war hammer stood over the boy and began a downward swing..... suddenly the curved blade of a khopesh caught and deflected the war hammer that would have ended his life. The Kensei monk with a few town guards and Kovatch appeared through the smoke. They easily killed the lone man. Helping Runar up Kovatch smiled that cocky smile of his. Runar grinned back and the boys stood back to back fighting off the soldiers. No matter how hard they fought or wanted to fight, they were just boys. And the enemy seemed to have an unlimited supply of soldiers and arrows and magic. Soon it was down too the Kensei Monk, Kovatch and Runar. The monk fought off many soldiers. Sometimes he would punch a man and the man just stood there frozen in place.
Having fought off a wave of men and using the smoke to semi hide in the monk lead the boys through the burning village. Sometimes sneaking sometimes fighting and throwing acid the trio finally made their way to the edge of the village.
“Go! Run east! Follow river! To monastery of my order.” The boys nodded and turned to leave. The air tingled and filled with a loud ringing sound. That sound produced a force wave stronger then the fireball Runar felt earlier. In the span of a heart beat the trio was pushed apart by the sonic energy of a spell. The force of it hit Runar hard breaking bones and pushing him outward. He slammed into a tree and fell down. The last thing he rememberd seeing through the smoke was Kovatch trying to move in his direction. The monk pulled Kovatch in the opposite direction. Kovatch swung and hit the monk square in the jaw. Barely flinching the monk smiled, gut punched Kovatch, picked him up as he doubled over and ran off into the woods.
Runar was found barely alive by a small group of missionaries two days later. The smoke lead them to the village. Runar was the only one they found still breathing.
- [ ] Patching him up as best the could they brought him to an orphanage in a small town. Runar stayed there a year or so until Tinkerstone Malone, the great gnome inventor and Artificer came across Runar. Malone immediately recognized the talent and aptitude Runar possessed. It was easy to adopt the young half orc and together they went on many adventures exploring ancient ruins, finding priceless artifacts, fighting off private proprietors of artifacts because “It belongs in a museum!”
12 years later........
Now a full fledged Artificer and newly minted Harper, Runar made all haste to catch up with Kovatch and the people he is traveling with. Wondering how Kovatch will react to seeing him, Runar urged his mechanical companion onward. Reggie, Runars massive 500lb polar bear construct, grunted and attempted to move faster.
Runar got recruited by the Harpers after saving one of them from a group of dragon cultists while he was exploring some old ruins. Fast forward 6 months or so and tale of Kovatch, folk hero, tamer of beasts, slayer of goblins, stunner of dragons, killer of frogmen, humble half-orc Kensei monk of the people for the people finally found Runars ears. He was overjoyed to learn of his childhood friends survival.
Now Runar is heading south. With any luck, in three weeks or so, he will catch up with Kovatch. Runar is really looking forward to seeing his old friend. But that stunner of dragons title. Runar doesn’t think a single punch could stun something as large and resistant to magic as a dragon is. The folks in Waterdeep, especially the common and poor folk swear by the legend and the man. Let us if the half orc is half as awesome as the tales spun about him.
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Post by Chris on Feb 26, 2019 0:14:24 GMT -5
End Marpenoth 22 15:51:0, 1489 DR; The Year of the Warrior Princess, Selune is waxing crescent The Rise of Tiamat The Serpent Hills Tomb of Diderius Retrieving the bodies of the fallen from the Crypt of Diderius Dining Hall - attacked by bearded devils Treasure Vault - attacked by wraiths and specters Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162998?userid=1168080
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Post by garruk94 on Feb 26, 2019 14:53:39 GMT -5
My order has charged me with returning Morgunn back to her group. After I finish that I am to look after them and aid them on their quest. I'm told it is of the utmost importance however it feels like a bit of a babysitting assignment to me. As we walk it is just constant chatter from Morgunn. I dont say a word in hope that perhaps she will lose interest and shut up. ...she does not. On and on she goes telling me tales of her friends and all that they have been through and the trials they have endured. We have been told where to look for Morgunns group and it doesn't take long for us to go through this place and catch up with them. Unfortunately it seems we are too late. Two of Morgunns group have fallen. A young Tortle which I must admit I didn't know existed anymore, and am sad to see gone from this world. Then there is a half orc with a rather nice sword. I admire it in secret and think perhaps it might serve me better than the previous owner. While I can understand the grief and loss these adventures are feeling now is not the time. We are still in danger and we still have a job to do. There is another half orc pulling thr bodies out and I suggest perhaps 1st we should inspect the bodies for anything useful. He immediately grunts DONT TOUCH THEIR WEAPONS!!! Very well I'll leave them alone and play along if you want to think you can tell me what to do. At least for now. As they are carrying out the bodies we are suddenly attacked by some strange creatures. The group for the most part appears to be comprised of spell casters. The half orc and myself are doing our best to keep the threat in front of us... well in front of him anyway, I'm perfectly fine with striking and getting out of the way for these enemies to hit the half orc. He seems to enjoy it in a strange way. I watch the wizard I believe her name is Omen turn into a bear and start mauling and swiping and absolutely wrecking our foes until none remain. They dragged their fallen friends outside and gave them a proper burial. Then we rested a moment before returning to look for this white dragon mask. So far this group isn't that bad, I've had worse acquaintances in the past. We head back inside and look around. I scout ahead as it seems stealth is an unknown concept for them. I scout up some stairs and realize that I'm all alone. I turn back and find them all staring at me from the bottom of the stairs. Brave souls they are.... I search this room, or at least I attempt to when suddenly I'm surrounded by ghosts. Its annoying when I the unseen am discovered by more unseen I realize rather quickly that this is not a fight u can win alone. I rush back down the stairs as the ghosts follow. After a long and somewhat painful battle we prevail. Battered and bruised but still in the fight. Omen suggested we take some time to rest and recover and I think that is a great idea.
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