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Post by Aileen on Mar 26, 2019 22:56:11 GMT -5
Runar wakes up as I'm scrambling to get dressed, hoping to sneak away unnoticed. Guess I'm not as stealthy as I think I am, even without the glowing armour.
"Karsi?"
"No, I'm a ghost. Go back to sleep."
There's a knock on the door, and I freeze.
"Yeah?" Runar calls.
"Time to go, ship is waiting for us!" Comes Morrigan's voice.
"I'll be right there." He responds, amused at my obvious discomfort.
The footsteps disappear down the hall, and I finish putting my boots on. Zoltan flies over to my shoulder, investigating my tangled hair, probably looking for corn in all the wrong places.
"What happens in Waterdeep stays in Waterdeep." I warn the half-orc.
He smiles at me as I leave and I mentally slap myself. I close the door as quietly as possible, and turn to sneak back to the room Omen and I were supposed to share.
"I knew it."
I jump, heart racing, and Zoltan flies over to Morrigan. Guess she was waiting for me to leave.
"Dammit!"
"Not judging," she claps me on the shoulder. "Get your stuff together, I'll meet you at the ship. And I'll feed your bird. Fix your hair, you're a mess."
"Yes, ma'am."
Morrigan goes off in the opposite direction, Zoltan swearing up a storm on the tiefling's shoulder. Omen was kind enough to get all my stuff together and laid my winter clothes out before she left, so I hurriedly wrap myself up in the furs and don my chainmail. I notice my shield, once plain and battle worn, now has a fresh paint job. A red dragon being grappled by a giant raven... I knew I told Omen I had a dream about such a design, but I hadn't expected this! I couldn't tell if she did it or had it done, but I'm extremely thrilled with it.
Runar and I are the last ones to arrive at the boat, separately, and barely look at eachother as we walk up the brow. The Frostskimmer is not a particularly large boat, only about 60 feet long, but the crew claims it can cut through ice and will serve us well in the frozen waters. Captain Half-Face is a creepy looking guy, but knows his stuff. I pretend to be interested as he tells me about his ship when we set out, claiming its strong enough to withstand ice and sea monsters, but light enough that the crew can carry it if need be. He says we can sleep on the deck at night under the cloths they hang for warmth, but none of us really want to. We have a tiny hut we can keep warm in, on land, away from any sea monsters that could attack the ship. And I really want a polar bear pelt.
By day we search the waters for a giant iceberg island called Oyaviggaton, the Island of Eternity. That is where Maccath was last known to be, and where the Old White Death supposedly lives. The days go by uneventfully, and we spend most of it talking with the crew and eachother, freezing our a**es off while searching the horizon.
On the fourth day of sailing, finally something exciting happens. Aria, always quiet and distant, suddenly perks up.
"Tentacles in the water!" She calls, before casting fly on herself and launching into the air.
I turn just in time to see a large tentacle reach up onto the deck and pin Morrigan down. The tiefling looks more amused than frightened. Another grabs Runar, and I dodge out of the way just as one sweeps itself at me. Grainne starts playing her pipes, and I decide Aria had the right idea. I cast fly on myself, and Grainne.
"You can fly now, Grainne!"
I go up 60 ft, well below Aria, and Grainne goes slightly below me. Aria and I start blasting the octopi, of which there are four surrounding the ship, while Grainne plays her pipes in midair. It looks a bit weird, but it's kind of cool seeing the others down below fighting on the deck while we are well out of reach of the creatures. Runar, released from the dead octopus's hold, runs his fingers over the blade of his axe, tiny sparks of energy crackling across the blade.
"That's so cool!" I hear Omen shout. Cool is an understatement.
I blast the one holding Morrigan to death, Grahz kills another, and the fourth and final one swims away. Aria looks like she is going to blast it, but then she just let's her hands fall before returning to the deck. Why did she let it go? If I had the shot I would have shown no mercy. Perhaps we serve very different masters.
I touch down lightly next to Omen, who is staring at the rippling spot in the water where the octopus disappeared underneath.
"Its okay, I know where it's going." She says. "We are in the clear."
The rest of the day and night is uneventful, and other than the fact we missed out on good eating due to the tentacles going below the water after we killed them, we are in good spirits. The next morning, over a late breakfast, we finally spot Oyaviggaton. There is no mistaking it, it's a massive iceberg with a flattened plateau and several tall peaks. The boat draws up close to a large ice shelf that we would be able to disembark onto, and we notice its covered in bones. The one that sticks out the most is a giant ribcage, standing taller than any of us.
"The crew wishes to stay on the ship to protect it," Captain Half-Face announces. "I stay with them."
"Fair enough," Grahz says to him.
"Do any of you speak Uluik?" Captain asks the company.
We all look from one to another, shaking heads. Aria shrugs.
"I can speak to them in their minds."
The captain looks uncomfortable.
"The ice hunters only speak Uluik. And I dont think they would be okay with... that."
He motions forward one of the crew members.
"Piotyr can translate for you if you want."
"We could use you," I say. "Welcome to the team."
"I do wish to be paid, though. 50 gold."
"That's fine."
He is still staring at me while I'm expecting us to start moving off.
"Oh. You mean up front."
I have most of my stuff in Runar's bag, so I dont have gold handy.
"Would you accept this necklace? It's worth fifty."
He shrugs, eyeing the silver necklace I've been wearing the whole trip.
"Yeah, I'll take that."
I hand it over, and he puts it on.
"It looks nice on you!" I say.
"Thanks!" He genuinely smiles. "I've been feeling pretty down about myself lately."
"Alright, oversharing. Let's go."
We disembark, walking toward the giant ribcage. Whatever did this, hopefully it is not waiting to attack us. Judging by the huge toothmarks on all the bones, some human and most of them animal, it may have been the dragon.
Theres a stairway carved into the side of the plateau, so our trajectory is obvious. Omen wants to send Dusty, who is now a snowy white owl, ahead to scout, but we decide to just climb up. We come out onto the plateau, and find the edge of a village.
"Ugh!" Aria points to something we almost completely passed by.
"Oh... s***."
A wall of ice, with 10 corpses lined up . Ice hunters, Luskans, a dwarf... they look almost if they were lined up for execution and frozen in place. It reminds me of the caves below Skyreach. Of cold death washing over me, piercing through my chest...
I realize I forgot to breathe, and Runar is looking at me funny as I gasp for air. I nod at him and walk on. I'm both dreading and looking forward to killing this dragon. The village we walk towards has yurts and igloos, the yurts made of seal skin stretched over bones. These people know how to make the most out of their surroundings and natural resources. Theres a big structure in the middle decorated with whale bones and mammal skins, possibly their town hall or something.
As we approach, we hear barking and growling. Dogs? I love dogs! Unfortunately, its not dogs that jump out at us. Male and female warriors, ice hunters, and a couple of decorated looking people appear. Piotyr approaches the two decorated people and begins talking in their strange language.
"They want to know why you have come."
"We are here to find Maccath." I tell him.
Piotyr repeats my words in Uluik.
"They know nothing of a Maccath."
"Have they seen a woman? What about the dragon."
The ice hunters are surrounding us as we speak, closing in. They glare at Omen, Morrigan, Aria and I. Are they afraid of magic? I don't look like a magic user, so why are they pointing and muttering at me? Oh. Right, my armour. Once again its drawing unwanted attention.
Piotyr turns to us, and its evident by the look on his face that things aren't going as they should be.
"They say the dragon was killed last year by ice trolls. The bones down there are from the dragon."
"Bulls***!" Morrigan growls. "If that's a dragon's ribcage, then I'm the Queen of Dragons."
Omen gives her a look that could melt steel.
"I don't understand, they are usually not this hostile." Piotyr says.
Grainne pulls out her bagpipes and starts playing a jaunty tune. Several villagers gather around her, enthralled.
"These are not music appreciating people, it is odd they are so enraptured by her." Piotyr looks a lot like he wished he had stayed behind. Theres probably a good chance we will get him killed.
"I mean, Grainne is pretty and talented. Why wouldn't they?" I say.
Piotyr speaks to the leaders more, and then turns to us looking borderline like hes going to s*** himself.
"They propose a contest. Your best fighter against their champion."
Without an ounce of hesitation, we all point at Grahz. Who better to kick someone's a** than a barbarian who spent most of his life arena fighting? This won't even be a contest. We have it in the bag.
"They say when you lose to Orcaheart, you will give them some of your fine steel weapons and sail away never to return. If you win, they will welcome you as honorary ice hunters."
"So when I win, we get to stay here? Seems a fair deal." Grahz smiles.
They form a big circle, and Grahz stands in the middle, ready to take on their warrior. He barely even flinches when Orcaheart, a massive beast of a man in studded leather bearing shield and spear, enters the arena. I think we're all flinching for him.
Grahz attacks with his axe, which Orcaheart dodges. Big man shield bashes our boy, but Grahz keeps his feet. Orcahearts spear hits Grahz, but it just fuels his rage. They exchange blows back and forth, and neither shows weakness even as blood splatters into the ice. Finally Grahz knocks Orcaheart back, the giant man falling at the foot of the Shaman. The Shaman helps Orcaheart to his feet, and pushes him back towards the barbarian.
"You've got this Grahz!" Omen shouts, getting into it.
Orcaheart parries one of Grahz's blows, but a moment later the half orc gets the beat down on him. With a flurry of his axe and fists swinging, Grahz takes down the mighty Orcaheart. We cheer as he holds his axe in the air, roaring in victory. Grahz walks over to the prone Orcaheart, and offers his hand in good will.
"The people respect your barbarian's prowess in battle, and they are grateful he did not kill their champion. They will give us a hut to stay in tonight, as well as food." Piotyr tells us after consulting with the Shaman.
We are shown to a hut, which appears to be a storage shed of sorts, and Piotyr tells us the Shaman is Bone Carver and the leader guy is Barking Seal. Bone Carver brings us raw, sour smelling fish, which Piotyr tells us is fermented making it safe to eat. None of us want to eat it, but we are told it would be rude not to and they will know if we do not do so. Also, the Shaman wants to come back and speak to Grainne and only Grainne. I wonder if it has something to do with her dragon mask.
The shaman leaves, and just as I am about to put the foul smelling fish in my mouth, Aria makes a noise of warning.
"Don't eat the fish!"
Everyone immediately puts it down. Grahz puts it in his mouth, swallows, and immediately keels over. Mohrryn casts something, and Grahz wakes up.
"Its poison you idiot!" He says to the barbarian as he tries to reach for more.
"I knew it!" Omen hisses. "I'm doing arcane eye. I knew we couldnt trust them."
For someone with foresight she seems to have better hind sight. She sends the eye out and tells us what she sees as it goes. The shaman is in his hut. Doing some ritual. A pit leading down, carvings of dragons and cult symbols on the walls. It's very clear that the ice hunters are working with or for the Old White Death.
She loses the arcane eye just in time for the shaman to come in. The translator says he has come with a confession, and wishes to speak only to Morrigan. The tribe is in fact in the service of the dragon, at the whims of its wants and needs. He claims it will kill them all if he thinks they have betrayed him, and some of the bodies we passed entering the village were some of his own people. When we accuse him of trying to poison us, he apologizes, claiming he didn't know it was poisoned until now. He says Barking Seal was responsible for that. Also, the "Crimson Lady", Maccath, is here as a prisoner of the dragon.
We are told we have to act now if we want any chance of saving her. The dragon knows we are here now that several villagers went down to warn him, and he is probably going to come for us sooner rather than later. Bone Carver can show us a path down into the caves, and tells us the enemies to look out for and where they are. Mostly a lot of Kobolds, but also some ice trolls.
We go to the hut and find a winding, icy staircase going down. It's pretty steep, and most of us cautious types use our climbing gear to get down. Mohrryn, unfortunately, slipped and fell sixty feet down, armour clanking loudly on the icy floor below.
"Can you make ice skates with your pact magic?" Aria asks me.
"What? No... not that I know of. I can't skate even if I could."
I've honestly never tested the full weapon summoning abilities I have been blessed with. I've always been a swordswoman, trying anything else just sounds terrifying.
"Hm." Omen looks at the climbing gear I'm holding, and the ground. "Karsi, give me your foot."
Moments later, Omen has fashioned makeshift crampons on my boots, and I take a few test steps. They work!
"Omen, you're a genius! I did several years in the military and even I wouldn't have thought of that." I tell her.
We move much easier on the icy floors with her new innovation. I think we should let her experiment with us more often. The cave is open to the sea in several places, so theres a thick fog we have to move through. Even my armour's glow can't break through it in some places. We get to the room leading to where Maccath is supposed to be, and walk in to the foggy room. Mohrryn is the first to see thirteen kobolds in there, and warns us. I move in and see them through the fog once Grainne casts Fairy fire on them.
"They're adorable!" I whisper. Kovatch had always talked about keeping one... I kind of want one to be my friend and servant in his honor.
Runar pours something, acid I assume, on his axe. Aria moves in and starts picking off kobolds one by one. Grahz runs in ready to take them all down. I don't even get a foot in the door before a fireball wipes all of the kobolds out in one fiery blast.
"Karsi, I'm so sorry." Omen says.
"Its fine, I'll find another. That was awesome!"
We move on to the next room, where we are sure to find Maccath. Aria scouts ahead, warning us that theres ice trolls. We meet them in the doorway, Mohrryn standing in front of me shielding, and Aria creating campfires under the trolls. Morrigan casts a web over the trolls, effectively trapping us in the doorway. It's slightly helpful, slightly aggravating. I just can't get a good view to the trolls, and when I blast at one of them, I hit the cleric instead.
I apologize profusely, feeling sick, feeling trapped. I can't fight like this. I'm too much of a danger to my friends, once again. If I cant control my powers, someone I love is going to die. It's not if, it's when.
Soon both trolls are dead, and we are able to move into the room. Theres a tent set up, and we walk into it. Sitting at a desk writing is a beautiful red tiefling. Maccath the Crimson. I look at Morrigan and wink.
~ Karsi
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Post by Stephen on Mar 30, 2019 12:29:09 GMT -5
A cold salty breeze caresses Runar’s cheek. Sitting cross legged on the deck of the Frostskimmer, he closes his eyes and smiles as the breeze continues to caress. Recalling the past few days he continues writing in his journal.....
Waking up next to Karsi was a pleasant surprise. Alcohol infused memories came rushing back to me. The drinking. The dancing. Telling stories. Laughing. More drinking, speaking of which that girl can handle her liquor. She was surprisingly awkward crawling out of bed with Zoltan flapping around her head. I couldn’t help but to laugh.
Morrigan knocked at my door to inform me that the Frostskimmer was ready and waiting on us. I mumble acknowledgement and crawl back to bed. After Karsi’s departure I curl up on the bed and close my eyes......sleep.....sudden panic shoots through me as I remembered I’m supposed to be boarding a ship heading to the Sea of Moving Ice. I scramble to get dressed and clean myself up.
I make it to the ship with a few minutes to spare. Karsi is just ahead of me. She notices me, blushes and hurries to board the ship. With Reggie perched on my shoulder I take my eyes from her swaying hips to the Frostskimmer before me. A long thin ship designed to navigate icy waters. Wonder if I can improve Reggie’s design to match the ships?
The trip to the Sea of Moving Ice only takes a couple of days. The captain and crew know how to handle this ship. My daily routine includes exercise, oiling Reggie and looking out for the Island of Eternity. I make small talk with the others in our party. It’s nice to be among people with special abilities I was alone for a while before my induction into the Harpers.
On the fourth day Aria stiffens, points to the water and screams “Tentacles!” She utters a few words and flies up out of harms way. The others scramble pulling weapons, as I draw my axe a long pinkish tentacle wraps itself around me and begins to squeeze. A flurry of attacks against it from the others and it releases me. I’m covered in salty slime and it’s stanky blood.
I pull a small piece of steel out of my pouch, running it along the blade of my ax it sparks. I speak the elvish word for lightning and the axe head becomes imbued with arcing torrents of arcane lightning.
“That’s so cool!!!” Omen seems to be impressed.
I attack a second octopus and before long three are dead and a fourth retreats. These guys know how to fight and augment each other’s strengths.
The next morning we spot Oyaviggaton, the Island of Eternity. The captain and crew maneuver the ship to a place where we can hop off. The ice is littered with large bones with wide teeth marks. Scattered along the shelf are also smaller bones.
We are meet by a large group of ice hunters at the top of the plateau. Our translator seems nervous and conveys to us that the ice people, normally cold (haha) are especially mean and hostile. Their chieftain asks for our champion to fight theirs. Grahz steps up.
The fight between our champion and theirs is brutal. I was gonna step up, glad I didn’t. Their human put a hurtin on Grahz but in the end our guy won.
We are treated to a storage hut and a plate of borderline rotten fish. Aria yells at us to not eat the fish. Grahz does anyway and immediately passes out. The fish was poisoned. Shortly after we wake Grahz up The shaman shows back up and is surprised we are awake. Didn’t take but a few seconds before he told us the truth. The white dragon is alive and in the ice caves under the village. Maccath is a prisoner. Also the white dragon and some of his minions have the village firmly under their control. After learning all we could from the shaman we head into the ice caves.
After a trap that nearly killed the cleric we make our way deeper into the ice caves. Using the shamans directions we enter one room filled with kobolds...that is until Omen obliterates them with a fireball.
Just past the the kobolds we find eating for us two ice trolls. Speaking the orcish word for acid I reach into my pouch and pull a vial of acid. Pouring it over my axe head the acid fills grooves and continually drips down the blade of my axe. Trolls are known as viscous creatures but we make easy work of them. My acidic blade prevents the one I was attacking from healing. Almost like I studied.
We find Maccath in a tent just past the trolls. Sitting at desk writing in a journal.
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Post by dragonforgotten on Apr 1, 2019 1:23:29 GMT -5
I shot up in bed gasping, my hair, once again a tangled mess in front of my face. Pushing my long black hair out of my face, pulled the tangles free and behind my ears I look around to see Karsi's empty bed and her stuff all over the place as usual but still remained untouched. Must be with Runar. I look outside to see the glorious moon dipping close to the horizon. It's that late. It was only early evening last time i remember. Theres a bitter taste in my mouth and it starts to make sense. Of course its booze, i hope i didn't do anything stupid or creepy while i was wasted. I shuffle though the visions of tomorrow. Of the cold icy sea. I cant go back to sleep. Looks like a good time to go for a walk. I pull on my yellow robes. books snuggly in there chest hostlers, daggers in sheaths strapped to the fore arms. With a room to myself, it was easy to simply walk out into the streets. It's quiet outside but i know where i'm going now and i know how to stick to shadows very well. I pass a building to the official registers office, think back to the blurry passage in my first spell-book on page 66. It said i needed at least a diamond of 2,000gd. Easy enough considering we are likely to kill more dragons in this quest to save the world but the next ingredient is going to be tricky for my preparations. I'll need to make that transaction alone to avoid awkward questioning.
I past by the docks and watch the dancing lights from the streets reflect into the pool till they fade into the inky darkness. We'll be departing by sea tomorrow into the land of ice. It's going to be cold. Neverwinter is never cold, i'm also not looking forward to fighting another white dragon. I thought i was done killing white dragons after the first one but i guess i've been wrong before. I continue my track into the church of Bahamut. It's empty. No one but me is awake at this ungodly hour. I step up onto the alter into the statues shadow of the god of good dragons. "Its been awhile hasn't it." Of course i don't get a response, they never answer do they. Gods only help mortals when they need something or a slave to clean up their messes. I sigh. "I know Grahz went to see you. He's been worried about displeasing you considering how close his allies are to the cult. To be honest i'm not sure if i'm just aiding another mad god to change my fate. Grahz believes your are good, all forgiving god. That you have the power to redeme people.. she reaches out to place her hand in the statue only to sharply pull away as the burning eyes of Tiamat scorch into my minds eye, hand stinging. "right. " I mutter, crestfallen.. ....... I slinked off to the shop to pick up some paints after that failed attempt. I was hit with some inspiration last night. Sleep. whats that, who needs sleep anyway. It's not that i'm scared of those eyes...
------
the frost skimmer is a beautiful boat if i must say. A little small but a nice boat. Ive seen bigger boats than this. God this places a mess. Do Salors not clean up after themselves? Im going to stink like dead fish for weeks. Ive transformed Dusty into a Snowy Owl for the trip and i think his new size has gotten to his head now that he's competing for attention between Zoltan and Reggie. He hasn't stopped preening himself. Kari walked up the gang plank sporting my handiwork from last nights adventure. Everyone gathers together and off we go into the sea. Its just as i feared Its cold as f*** out here. Its so cold my hair is freezing together, my fingers are going numb after five minutes of reading. This is going to be a long and cold trip but with the hut, i can at least keep everyone warm. Suddenly the boat shakes. "ill take a look." says Aria as she flies into the sky. "Giant octopie!" She telepathically scream into our heads as a giant tentacle grabs her and Runar. It's a hectic fight as karsi and Grain fly while me and the rest fight on the unstead boat. I fear for my trapped friends so I concentrate on my third eye to visualize an iron spike driving deep into the underwater beast flabby head. It finches and shrieks. From the corner of my eye i watch Runar break free and smash a liquid onto his axe as it lights up with wild arcane energy. Thats so f***ing cool. Everyone eventually breaks free and we drive them off, i can attest that the last one that got away is indeed not going to come back. Im glade my worst fears weren't realized.
It's late in the day and the ship is once again going to archor near an ice flow as we hut on to the nearby ice flow. I tie a cleat knote for the night and tie a stronger knot to the ice hooks with such dexterity it surprises myself since this is the first time I've done it. "I didn't know you could tie sailor knots? Did your foster parents teach you?" "No. I learned from my dad. He use to take me on his merchant trips when he sailed to first Luskan, then Neverwinter and then Waterdeep on sundays...." Theres a slow sinking feeling in my gut. It hits me hard because as I'm speaking of this fond memory i realize I don't know what I"m talking about. It's like my lips just moved on their own. A shrill gust of wind blows between us. "Lets set up the hut before we freeze.." ------
We reach the Oyaviggaton island and after paying a translator so we may speak to the local ice hunters we disembark and march to the bleached bones of some unnamed creature. I cant tell what creature this use to be, the frost and snow make it difficult to distinguish but the marks are clear that some creature has been chewing on them, possibly the dragon, maybe wyrmlings as well if this dragon has a clutch of eggs. Upon ascending the ice steps we stumble upon a grizzsely sight. Bodies of Luskan humans, ice hunters, and dwaves have been entombed in ice, frozen in a line. Past the display is the ice hunter village. Karsi is not handling this well and Runar is the one who shakes her out of it. I'm standing before the Illuskan who met a familiar grizzly end as the men that use to follow me. I can almost see myself trapped in there instead of this person. I rest my hand on the ice, sending a short prayer in Old Illuskan common. Its broken and strained but its better than nothing. I turn my attention to the village, eyes narrow. "I can send my eye into the village, make sure its safe." "Don't waste your spells, we'll need them for later." Says Graz and reluctantly i give in and we step into the village. Immediately we are surrounded by the villagers with spears pointed to our throats.I watch a few retreat into a building but i cant spy on them now that they are watching me. Our translator defuses the tension but they still regards me and every other obvious magic practitioners with scrutiny. Grain plays them a marry tune and instantly i fear that she's going to get caught. thankfully she isn't. "How is she doing that, they hate music." Our guide mutter bewildered. "Grain has a way of melting all hearts with her pipes. Everyone loves the pipes." We learn that the dragon is dead and is now have been taken over by ice giants and we should leave. They have not seen Maccath. I don't believe a single word. If they didn't see her then why are her men frozen statues outside there villagers. I don't see a single Illuskan or Dwarf among them. Something stinks here and it's not the rotten fish smell. The cheif cuts us a deal. Chose our greatest warrior and have him fight there champion Orcaheart. If we win we get to stay, if we lose we leave our weapons and never come back. Of course we agree and its obvious who we pick. All fingers point to Graz. Before he goes into the ring i grab his shoulder, remembering my potent. "Beware the second strike." Grazs confused but he nods just the same. I don't know how far he understands me but He knows by now that when i get cryptic that it's going to happen. Im feeling good about our odds. Ive titled the scales from 50% to 60% chance of victory but i'm still scared for him once i see the beast of a man that steps onto the ring to pummel Grahz. What if that man kills him out of a warrior sense of pride. This could easily be a trap to kill our strongest fighter and then after they disarm us, hunt us down and kill us. Karsi tries to calm me but its impossible. My nails are digging into the wooden fencing separating the crowd from the fight. "You got this Grahz! Rip his head off!" I shout, manic. When Grahz send the warrior flying i almost hopped the fence to call foul when the shaman tried to help him up. I don't trust this match one bit and none of these people. As expected Grahz defeats the brute of a man. Grahz being the honorable warrior he is spares his life and helps him up and we are given a place to rest as champions. We are given raw fish to eat, a custom in their village. Theres no way around not eating it so eat it we must. DON'T EAT THE FISH! I almost chock on the fish as Aria screams in our head. I start retching in the corner of the room but Grahz stubborn as he is strong swallows it anyway and instantly passes out. 'I Knew it!" I shout out and immediately i cast arcane eye and search for the one who did this. The Shaman is praying, the Cheif is sharping his blades with obvious intentions. Half the village is gone, a tunnel in the main hut leads into a large icen maze with draconic imagery linning the walls. I tell them everything i see "Those cretans! Their working for the Dragon!" i mutter enraged. "We should get the jump on them. Fireball the Shaman the go after the chief before they can organize." Moriann said. "No. We can not waste our energy on these people. The dragon is first priority. I will not kill another village of people again." I get strange looks but i am not backing down. I am not that person anymore. Suddenly the Shaman walks into our hut and she begins to confess through both Moriggan and the translator. The dragon has been controlling the village. He captured Maccath and is now a prisoner. the Shamman wants us to kill him and will lead us to another tunnel through her hut. I was hoping I would never see another white dragon and could retrieve this sorcerer without too much effort but since when has things ever gone smoothly. ----
One hilarious and painful trip for the cleric down the ice steps we realized that traveling through the tunnels is going to be a pain in the **** thanks to Kobolds. Its seems like we are pretty much screwed till it dawns on me. 'Karsi, the Crampits!" i then put together a crude pair of piked snow shoes perfect for ice travel. I couldn't do anything for the Cleric through due to him haven ditched his climbers kit so Im helping him navigate the tunnels straight to Maccaths cell. The moment we open the doors we are sieged by no less then 20 kobolds. Everyone begins to move into position ready for the long fight. Karsis talking about something but i cant hear anything. I step forward with a hand out stretched and my thumb against my middle finger in a snapping motions. "This is thanks for the ice tunnel." I snap my fingers and in a fiery ball of noise and heat all the kolbolds die withering and screaming like ants to the flame. The power trip is so nostaglic, i almost forgot how sweeet it is to watch them squirm. It's too bad none of them lived long enough to grovle for mercy. Im pulled right out of my madness as Karsi cries out in disbeilf. The group is stunned of the raw destruction that befell the poor kobolds. Grahzs eyebrows are singed. I forgot she wanted to befriend one. oops. I give her a pat on the shoulder. "Sorry. I went alittle overboard." -------
One troll fight later and we are face to face with a red Teifling in a cell sitting at a desk behind the bars, writing. Im surprise she's so comfortable here. Im also surprised that she's a teifling. I was expecting rags and squalor, not this.
-Omen the Farsighted
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Post by Chris on Apr 2, 2019 11:50:05 GMT -5
End Uktar 21 3:26:4pm, 1489 DR; The Year of the Warrior Princess, Selune is waxing crescent The Rise of Tiamat McCath the Crimson Scriptorium Arauthator's Lair The Perch Arauthator's Abyss Arveiaturace? MVP = Jim McAbee as Aria Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162998?userid=1168080
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Post by Aileen on Apr 2, 2019 15:54:44 GMT -5
The tiefling woman looks up as we approach. Her expression does not change as she sets her pen down from her writings, folding one crimson hand on top of the other. Her clothing matches her, a lot of red and furs. Two kobolds stand by her, shaking.
"Have you come to rescue me, or kill me? At this point I would welcome death."
"We're here to rescue you." I say."Dala Silmerhelve sent us."
"The Arcane Brotherhood has been looking for you." Omen tells her, and explains that they had searched but could not scry her location.
"I did not know I was being looked for," she says. "I have lost track of time. I've been busy here. You wish to rescue me, but I will not leave without taking the property of the Arcane Brotherhood with me."
"We have a ship." I offer.
"A ship? That is good. The problem lies in that most of the property I need to take with me is in Arauthator's lair."
"That's fine. We are here to kill the dragon." Omen says.
Maccath laughs humorously.
"Every hero who has tried to defeat the Old White Death has been devoured by him."
"You seem to be living quite well here," says Runar. "Why has he not devoured you?"
"I am a prisoner of his. I have been studying him, it is what I do. I study dragons. I think he plans to give me to his mate. I was told I will ride the white wyrm Arveiaturace."
"So do you want to be rescued or not?" I snap.
Runar puts a hand on my waist, but it does nothing to calm me. I expected this sorceress to welcome our help and she seems to have made herself right at home.
"I do. But the dragon will not simply let us leave. He will track us, and if we leave by boat it is only a matter of time before he finds us and destroys us."
There is movement behind me, and I turn to see the rest of the party enter with two newcomers. One an elf, the other a human priest. The tiefling doesn't skip a beat, she doesn't know we don't know these people, and she goes on.
"If you agree to my terms, I will give you information that will help you in fighting the dragon."
"Fine. We agree to your terms."
I seem to do nothing but bargain with other women. Maybe I should start making others do things for me?
"Very well."
She tells us that there is an entrance through the next room over, the Scriptorium. The other entrance is further away, and the dragon uses underwater passages to move from his lair to the outside. Our best bet is to enter through the Scriptorium, lest we face more enemies. She gives us two arrows of dragon slaying, and one of the newcomers as it turns out is a ranger, so we give them to him.
"So where is this horn? The Draakhorn?" I ask Maccath.
"It was taken by cultists in red robes a while ago."
"We heard it sounding in Waterdeep." Omen says.
"That is not good tidings for any of us," Maccath looks grim. "That is a signaling device for chromatic dragons. It was a gift from Tiamat herself to her red dragon consort."
Wonderful. It appears that everything the council has sent us to do thus far has led to the same ending. The cult is always one step ahead of us. Perhaps we should just join them, they're clearly better than us.
Maccath tells us that the dragon will not risk dying over this lair. He has a hoard of treasure, but he is not stupid. Our best bet is to beat the crap out of him and hope he leaves. If he doesn't kill us first. Escape is not an option, so we have no choice but to try defeating Old White Death.
Maccath stays behind in her tent, and our boy Piotyr stays with her. Smart man... not brave, but smart. I go into the Scriptorium with Runar and the priest, and immediately am drawn to the books Maccath told us not to look at. Plant the idea in my head, and I will do it.
As soon as I open one of the tomes, an uneasy feeling comes over me. Maybe theres a reason she said not to read them after all. I close it, putting it back on the shelf. Meanwhile, Grahz is tossing scrolls around willy nilly. I grab one out of the air and read it, not getting any bad feelings this time. A scroll of gaseous form... I dont know what that means but it sounds like something Aria would want to use. I rush out of the room and give it to her.
"Sounds like your kind of thing. You're welcome!"
Omen is being weird again and doesnt want to look at the scrolls. I pick more up when I reenter, and shove them into her hands.
"These are fine, you might find something you like."
"If you say they're safe I'm going to trust you." She says apprehensively.
"When have I ever lied to you?" I smirk. "You should read the books too!"
"No, Maccath said not to."
"I was kidding. Carry on."
As we read through the scrolls and stowed them away on our persons, we could here the rhythmic pounding of metal on ice. Grahz worked on attaching ropes to the outside of the hole we would go down, so we would have something to hold onto. The ranger, a wood elf, tried to help but the Barbarian had it under control. As we waited to move in they finished introducing themselves to us. The priest was Zaccharia, a human cleric of Kelemvor.
Omen tells me this Kelemvor is a supposed God of death. I avoid the gaze of the cleric... what is his opinion on the Raven Queen, I wonder? I do not know the relation between my patron and his. She is the only goddess of death I know of, I don't know if they are different or if Kelembor is another of the Raven Queens minions. Maybe it is her? These higher powers are beyond my understanding.
The ranger is an elf, Urich, and I can see where some of my traits came from. I am so different than a true elf, though. I'm too human, and I'm okay with that. The elf is quiet and observant, and I look forward to seeing his prowess with his bow when it comes to our upcoming battle.
"Karsi, I'm going to send Dusty down and warg into him. Can you guard me?"
"Of course."
I sit back to back with Omen, letting her lean against me as she wargs into the owl. Charlie stands over her for backup. Dusty flies down into the hole, and we wait. Five minutes later, Omen stirs.
"I lost him," She says. "I couldn't see the dragon, it's too misty down there. But there is treasure... lots of it."
We go down into the hole with the aid of the ropes, negating what would have been a fifteen foot drop to the ice shelf below. It is bitterly cold and a thick mist fills the cavern. The ground is slushy and slick, and I am grateful for the crampons as we proceed forward.
"There's two of them!" Charlie shouts from the front. We all jump into action. Two massive roars shake the entire foundation of the cavern, and I just barely keep my feet. I move forward until I can see the dragons through the fog. One is massive, the other slightly smaller with a saddle on it's back. In the saddle, what looks to be a rotting corpse. That must be the female, Old White Death's mate. I have to say he has good taste for an old guy, the dragons are both beautiful but she definitely outshines him. I almost regret that we have to kill them. Almost.
I hex Old White Death, and try to blast him. It must be the cold, but I just can't hit. My blasts completely miss the massive white dragon. I don't have a good feeling about this fight anymore.
The female dragon flies overhead, and breathes down upon us. I can only stand there as its icy cone blasts into me and the rest of the company. The pain is more than I can bear, and memories of the last time this happened hit me. I should have known, I shouldn't have been so eager to run in here like this. But how could we have known there would be two of them? The first blast doesnt take me down. Then Old White Death swoops in, and the last thing I see is another wave of Cold White Death slam into me.
---
"Stormwyk, take the rest of them and run."
The commanders leg was gone, but I tried my best to tighten the belt above the stump. His blood pooled ominously in the frost, flowing way too fast.
"Not leaving you, sir."
"That was an order, Karsi."
Karsi... he actually got my name right for once. I stopped turning the belt as the bloodflow stopped, securing it. His face was already too pale.
"I already ran once. We are getting out of here."
Screams from behind nearly shook my resolve, and the commander's eyes widened. I did not turn, I knew what I would see. He grabbed my arm as I tried to move him.
"You have no chance if you try to take me. I've lived a good long life, if I'm meant to die here than so be it. Now go!"
I ran. Two others joined me, all of us with swords held aloft as if they could help us. Everything we did was useless against this foe. Screams of the dying were only drowned out by my own labored breathing from burning lungs. Smoke clogged the air, the acrid taste filling my nose and mouth. A great roar from above drove our feet forward faster, running from a fate we could not escape. Suddenly I was flying.
A great claw swooped me up as if I were no more than a mouse in a cat's paw. I could see the whole battlefield from this vantage point, bodies of my company scattered. Some still running, some still trying to fight. The foot soldiers had been mostly taken out. Now only the dragon remained. A dragon that had me in its grasp.
I felt the great claws crush my body, bones breaking in its grasp. As it let go, a sharp talon sliced through my armour, into my chest. Then I was falling. The ground welcomed me with a deafening thud. What hadn't been broken before was now. I couldn't move, only stare upward as the creature's shadow wheeled overhead, seeking its next quarry.
The great red-scaled beast made a few more passes, but nobody else was moving save the men we fought. They took to their horses, stealing most of ours, and rode off. The dragon flew in low once more, diving right over where I now lay dying. Just as I thought it would finish the job, it pulled up, and with one last roar it flew away. The men in purple and red robes and glistening armour galloped into the distance, and soon there was silence.
I couldn't even sit up as the blood began to choke me. The wound on my chest bled with each heartbeat, soaking what was left of my chainmail. Unbidden tears stung my eyes as I realized I would die here. There were bodies on either side of me when I turned to look for any salvation and found only more death. My friends were dead, and I would be soon.
"Please..." I didn't even know who I was praying to. I had never followed any of the gods, I never needed to. "I don't want to die."
Dying was a slower process than I expected. I lay for hours in semi-consciousness, my whole body wracked with pain.
"Please..." I cried. I couldn't get any other words out in between mouthfuls of blood.
"Do not speak."
A woman... elf.. stood over me. White hair, skin etched with black tattoos. She wore a black cloak clasped with a silver emblem of a raven's head. She peeled away my broken armor, revealing the savage gash across my chest. I thought I could see my own ribs.
"You will not survive this." She spoke matter of factly. "I can help you. But there is a price."
I tried to reply, but she stopped me.
"My lady has sent me to make you an offer. She has taken an interest to you. She offers you life in exchange for your service."
The woman held out my own sword to me, placing the hilt in my hand then laying it on my chest. Another spasm of pain left me gasping for air. It would not be long until I took my last breath.
"I am a servant of the Raven Queen. Goddess of the dead. She will give you life and power. You have only to pledge yourself to her."
"Yes," I choked.
I didn't know what I was agreeing to, but I did not want to die. The woman took my other hand, laying it over the one grasping the sword, and held hers over mine. Her eyes glowed blue and a radiant light enveloped her and me. A shadowy glow emanated from my sword, and I felt a tingling sensation running through my body. My bones began to heal back together, and despite the horrible pain I felt an eerie sense of calm. She spoke words in a language I did not understand as the light grew brighter. The gash in my chest closed itself, turning into a knotted scar before my eyes. I could breathe again, life returning to me.
"Do you give your soul to the Queen of Ravens?"
"I do."
"Will you carry out her bidding?"
"I will."
I wake gasping, once more, on the icy ground of another cavern. A different face over me, hands still held against my chest. Charlie the Paladin.
"Welcome back." He says. I push his hands off.
"A bit grabby there, Charles." I sit up. "Thank you."
The shuddering of the floor tells me the dragons are still alive. I watch from the ground as Aria flies up to the smaller dragon, still hanging above us on the ceiling of the cavern, and pushes the corpse out of the saddle. It crumbles apart as she pushes it. Aria sits in the saddle, and the dragon rages.
"Meltharond!" The dragon shouts in draconic. "What have you done!? You've killed him!"
"Get off of her!" Yells Arauthator.
The female dragon flies off, twisting in an attempt to dislodge Aria, and then slams her back into the ceiling. Aria gets momentarily crushed.
Just as I make to get to my feet to help, Runar's construct flaps into my face and licks me. I feel more invigorated, shaking the feeling of death off of me.
"Enough, Reggie. I'm up."
Aria flies off of the small dragon as Arauthator swoops in to go after her. The female then dives in to go after Grahz, but somehow slips as she hits the ground, flipping over onto her back at his feet. The barbarian roars with laughter, and goes in swinging. I am behind both of the dragons, but have my best chance in hitting the big guy. The little lady tries attacking Grahz from a prone position, and if she weren't so deadly it would be hilarious. I blast Arauthator, and see Aria fall from the sky out of the corner of my eye. She doesnt move when she hits the ground, and I fear the worst.
The ranger, finally conscious, gets to his feet and shoots the big dragon twice. I had forgotten about the dragon slaying arrows. The damage is evident, and the roar of Old White Death is one of extreme anguish. The female turns to her mate, and they both fly up into the air. I expect them to blast us again with their breath weapons, but instead they dive into breaks in the ice, going into the water. Four ice trolls that decided to walk in see the dragons, and run away.
"Cowards!" Yells Grahz. "That's right, run away!"
I feel completely and utterly defeated. Had it been only one dragon, maybe we would have killed it. This was too much for us, powerful as we were. I felt helpless, my powers had failed me. I almost died again. Omen grabs me in a hug, but my mind is elsewhere. I absently return the embrace, and realize I'm shaking. I'm not sure if its fear or the cold, maybe both.
"Are we alive?" She exclaims.
"I don't know."
"We did it. They're gone!"
Omen kept her cool, I realized. The last fight she froze up. The white dragons were a part of her past. This time she kicked a**. She had nearly died right along with me.
"Omen, theres something I need to tell you. Something I remembered. Later."
She nods, and gets to work examining the ice. I cross the cavern, going to Runar.
"Thank you for sending Reggie to me," I say. And in the bravest moment I've had all day, I grab him in a kiss.
"You're welcome." He says. "Maybe I should do that more often."
"Stop making out you two, we have treasure to get out of the ice!" Grahz snaps, marching by with his axe.
~ Karsi
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Post by bxtreme on Apr 3, 2019 20:37:18 GMT -5
Ulrich breaths a sigh of relief as the dragons make their escape. His stance and grip on his bow loosen as he looks around at the group.
"A bit more than I anticipated..."
Ulrich begins to holsters his bow and walks toward Grahz as he prepares to break the ice covering treasure. With a smirk on his face he quietly says to himself "But where there's danger, there's profit".
Ulrich starts to assess the treasures frozen in the ice, trying to hide his excitement. He pauses for a moment with a somber expression on his face as he looks at Grahz. Ulrich pulls out a small necklace from under his armor. Two small dragon teeth are afixed to this simple hemp necklace.
"This team...it'll be different with them" he thinks to himself.
"I'm glad to see your spirit is not broken" Ulrich says to Grahz. "I've never let a creature best me, and I wasn't going to start today. Next time we encounter those two, there will be no escape for them" he assures Grahz.
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Post by dragonforgotten on Apr 8, 2019 2:16:31 GMT -5
Before us the red Teifling known as Maccath the Crimson sits somberly at her desk in, a haunted expression in her face as she scribbled down the last bit of her writing. Two kobolds shiver besides her and i hear one squeak as my steeled eyes pass in their direction. Wordless she close her book and stands from her desk. "Have you come to rescue me, or kill me? At this point I would welcome death." "We're here to rescue you." says Karsi. "Dala Silmerhelve sent us." "The Arcane Brotherhood has been looking for you. You've been gone for three months. They sent us since they could not scry your location." "I did not know I was being looked for," she says. "I have lost track of time. I've been busy here. Of course but should you wish to rescue me I'll need assistances in reclaiming the brotherhoods property, I will not leave without it." "We have a ship." Karsi offer. "A ship? That is good. The problem lies in that most of the property I need to take with me is in Arauthator's lair." "That's fine. We're here to kill the dragon anyway." I say without sarcasm. We came her to slay the dragon for the village above us, i will kill it with all i have available to me or die trying. Maccath laughs humorously. "Every hero who has tried to defeat the Old White Death has been devoured by him." I chuckle. "We've killed one before. We can do it again." I announce as two strangers start entering the tent. Oh it's them. It seems they've finally caught up. It's a tad earlier than i thought for them to show up. I'll have to introduce myself again, sigh. I catch the glimpse of the clerics holy symbol. hmmm, so the cleric of restful dead is the one that joins us today and a ranger gifted in hunting his prey in the shadows. As soon as they walk into the room my attention is drawn to the Kobolds again by Aria blasting one dead in its tracks as she runs off to give chase to the other one. I flare up my hands but Maccath speaks. "Leave them. He probably already knows by now." I shrug. "If you insist." i say, snuffing out the fire in my hands. "You seem to be living quite well here," says Runar. "Why has he not devoured you?" "I am a prisoner of his. I have been studying him, it is what I do. I study dragons. I think he plans to give me to his mate. I was told I will ride the white wyrm Arveiaturace." "Interesting." I said, contemplating. "I would like to see the fruits of some of your research once we escape. I will of course share my knowledge on elder white dragons in return.... Im sorry did you just say theres two of them and that you were promised to ride on his wife. I think i must have miss heard you." "No you hear right, its him and his mate." For f*****s sake. Plan flaming Rex doesn't calculate in two dragons and with Morrigan missing its not going to work. Shame. As for this dragon rider nonsense, I'll believe that when white dragons slip on ice. Kari expolds with anger startling me out of my thoughts.
"So do you want to be rescued or not?" she snap. Runar puts a hand on her waist, i doesnt go unnoticed by me. "I do. But the dragon will not simply let us leave. He will track us, and if we leave by boat it is only a matter of time before he finds us and destroys us." "She's right. the white dragons are one of the most feral of the chromatic family. He would capsize the boat the moment it leaves the ice flows and watch us flounder and freeze in the icy water. Ive seen one before pluck a captain right off the boat and throw him miles out to see just to watch him swim back." I mention. Maccath continues as Aria returns unsuccessful in catching the last kobold. "I will give you information that will help you in fighting the dragon, should our deal."
"Fine. We agree to your terms." karsi snaps, impatient. "Very well."
She tells us that there is an entrance through the next room over, the Scriptorium. The other entrance is further away, and the dragon uses underwater passages to move from his lair to the outside. Our best bet is to enter through the Scriptorium, lest we face more enemies. She turns her back to us to reveals her work. Two arrows of dragon slaying. Honestly im stun shes even parting with them. Its rare and difficult just to stumble upon let alone make even one. We gift these to the wood elf ranger. Let him prove his worth and merit. "So where is this horn? The Draakhorn?" said Karsi . "It was taken by cultists in red robes a while ago." Of course it was. I can only hope i was apart of that mission. Perhaps i can remember where they were taking these objects. If only i wasn't a broken wizard. then we could face them now before they could grow more powerful. Curse these memories. "We heard it sounding in Waterdeep." I speak, dread in my soul. "That is not good tidings for any of us," Maccath looks grim. "That is a signaling device for chromatic dragons. It was a gift from Tiamat herself to her red dragon consort." Interesting, even Tiamat as all powerful and greedy as her had a lover. Love is a foreign and strange concept for me. I wonder if anyone loved me back then. Maccath tells us that the dragon will not risk dying over this lair now that he has a mate. Why would a dragon abandon its own hoard? Is it possible that my first thought my be true? I need to make a complete inspection of the lair to be sure. Of course, if he doesn't kill us first. I am ready for him. I will no longer be ruled by dragons.
----
A short rest later and i have re read my spells and have formulated the plan. Entering the Scriptorium filled with shelves of books and scrolls. As much as i would love to pool over them I heed Maccaths warning on the books. As a sorcerer of her expertise she must have a good reason to have not touched them but everyone else thinks otherwise. Karsi and everyone try to read the books but slam it shut instantly. "She's right. the books have some bad mojo in them." Grahz is doing some. cough... couch.. remodling as he pulls down the shelf full of scrolls and start throwing them about as i stand in the middle of this chaos waiting for it to stop. It almost makes one want to cry to watch Grahz destroy this old room. Karsi catches two in mid air and fearlesly she read from them. Her expression lights up and she shoves one into Arias hands and another it into mine. "Sounds like your kind of thing. You're welcome!" "but Maccath said.-" "Forget Maccath! These are fine, you might find something you like." she then precedes to clear the shelves and shove them into my arms. I give her the look. I then look back into my hands. The tempting call for power is alluring and maddening. I don't think she realized what she's doing or what this might mean and i don't know if i like it or not. "If you say they're safe. I trust you after all." "When have I ever lied to you?" she smirks. "You should read the books too!" "No, Maccath said not to." "I was kidding. Carry on." Oh that was sarcarism. I take a moment, sit on the floor and then proceed to unroll the scrolls. First scroll. Fire Sheild. Nice, save me the energy for casting it. Second scroll, Water Breathing. "Ranger, you could use this!" I toss it to him as it hits him in the head before turning back to reading. third scroll, Evard Black tentacles. Yess. this is great! What else is there!? fourth scroll, Chain Lightening! Im hit by a wave of nostalgia. Ah, it's you again. I haven't felt your power in so long. I was taught by a close friend of mine, is he still around? Fifth scroll. DISTINTERGRATE! At last!! Soon! Ill be back to the way i was! I will be powerful again! I wont be pathetic, weak! I wont be trapped anymore! Ill! Ill... No. that is not me anymore. That person is dead and gone. I will not be ruled by my power anymore. Omen you alright there? you had this creepy look on your face for a second." "Sorry, did'nt mean to scare you. I got too excited while i was reading." "So good stuff?" I roll up the scrolls and slide them into the case on my lower back. "Very."
With everything done we are ready to descend into the dragons lair. I bring dusty to my face. "I have to save my spells if we are going to survive. I need you to find the dragons" He pecks my nose. This is a bad idea. You need me and you know it. I cant help you if i'm gone again." "I know. But we need this information." he pecks at me again. I don't appreciate dying. You give too much for your heathen friends. Only for you. Twerp. "love you to Dusty." he takes off and i watch through his eyes the cavern, the treasure. He then leaves my connection and now i have to wait for him to comeback within five minutes. he doesn't come back. It takes a lot to hold my tears in front of the newcomers.
-------
Grahz and Charley are the fist to spot them. Arauthator and Arveiaturace. They cling to the ceiling out of reach of our swords. I am a damn fool. We killed one dragon in a cramped cave but now with no restriction of movement they are out of reach and we are out of time. There voices cry into an ear splitting roar and at first i almost drop to my knees on instinct as a sign of respect but no. I remain. I will not be ruled by dragons anymore. They fly towards us and then i spot it to my disbelief. On top of his wife back is the skeletal remains of a human dressed in tattered robes ghoulishly strapped in the stable. How long did that man remain on that dragons back? How did he do it in the first place? Their coming fast now, time is short. Runar is next to me after i told him my plan but i can guess from the look in my face that he knows that my plan has changed. I only have enough time to cast fire shield on one of us. There almost upon us! I touch Runar and he's wreathed in harmless fire. I pull away and pull out the other scroll. I was hoping to save this but these are desperate times. I cast black tentacles. The scroll burns up in my hands and the female wyrm flies into the darkness. Then i hear it. the tell tale sound of the dragon preparing her blast. I turn to Runar. "Take care of Karsi." and then I'm a washed with hellish cold and i know darkness.... -------
Im standing on the bow of a ship. everything is larger then they should be and my hands are small. The crew is milling about back and forth, lounging around and keeping the sails steady. I cant quiet see over the rim of the boat, the lip is too high. the seas choppy but nothing i cant handle. "Need a lift." Suddenly someone grabs me under the arm pits and lifts me on top of their shoulders. I entangle my fingers into his dark hair, the same color as mine. I watch the ice flow past by and i giggle as the bitter wind blow through my hair. he gives off a heavy barking laugh. "This is were we all come from, *****. Theres sailing in your blood child. Your grandfather and his great great grandfather sailed these seas and one day so will you. All Farsights in our family are tied to the ice after all.." I go quiet, captivated from the sea before me. Or at least until my breath is stolen by a series of flashing images in my mind. A great white creature flies. She sweeps low and tears the sail in two as a storm beats at her back like a dark harbinger. A omen of things to come. What was that thing? "Da. Somethings coming." He laughs. "Nonsense. Sea is good, skies clear. We have nothing to fear." 'But da! I saw it! Somethings is coming to destroy the ship!" "it will be alright, ******. Your Pa is here and he and the captain have everything under control. Speaking of which." He said placing me down but i refuse to sit still and do nothing. NO one ever listens to me! They think i'm crazy! He's distracted by the captain of the crew and i take that chance. I grab the lines and start trying to pull the sails in. The sails are the life of a boat, if that creature tears them apart we will be dead in the water. Somehow i convince the rest of the idelling salors and we manage to pull them in as the sky darkens and the seas get rougher, the air colder just like in my vision. Just as the sails are drawn it dawn on me. I need to signal the other fishing ships. I grab the bullseye latern, take it to the nose of the ship and signal exactly as Da taught me. the other ships begin to lower there sails and perpare of an attack. Just as i finish there is a clutter of commotion and suddenly the entire ships jolts. "White claws! White claws attacks! AHK!" That giant white creature has perched on top of the crows nest with a deadman in her jaws. I hear the startle screams around me. Da is fighting past the frightened salors, trying to get to me. Her gaze paralyzes me and i'm helplessly staring her down in both terror and awe. I know in this moment i would never forget this feeling. She looks like she's about to climb down to eat me to until the familiar rumble of thunder echos behind her. She huff, cold wisps of frost fogging from her mouth. he wings beat the air, starting a whirlwind of ice as she takes to the sky but her tail slams into my gut and i'm thrown right off my feet into the fridged sea. Im thrashing about, fighting the currant. Fighting coughing and choking. I start to sink. I begin to see the dark sea underneath and this vision fades with me suddenly being embraced by my dad, then ripped from the icy sea onto the hard wooden deck of the ship. He hugs me tight. "Im sorry ******. forgive your dear foolish pa."
Far past this moment I stand before a frozen battle field grown and aged, my near death far behind but never forgotten. The feeling of reverence has only grown since my first encounter with the great wyrms. A walk through the fields of the dead and dying encourching onto the distant village as the white dragon ravenges it. Soldiers on horse back charge towards me with lances trained. I cackle and raise my hand. "Be gone." Lightening arcs and them branches off into a deadly chain and the men drop, charred and smoking.
---- I gasp, somehow alive and in the persent. I nearly jump out of my skin when i awaken face to face with the robbed skeleton next to my face. Turning skyward Im flabbergast to what I'm actually seeing. Aria is riding a dragon. Well, my like trying to ride it but still she is in the saddle grabbing the preverbal bull by the horns.. I jump up and once again I'm amazed by Runars magic machines as tiny machines sew up my wounds. He's not so bad after all. the archer manages to tag the Arauthator twice with the arrows and he screams in pain. I desperately throwing fireballs but I'm just too slow. the dragons swoop in to land only for the most impossible event to i ever saw to occur. the female white dragon SLIPS on ice and fall belly up infront of Grahz. You've got to be kidding me, this cant be happening. Regardless Ive never seen the man as happy as he is now. For Savras sake! Whats next? It dawns on me. The dragons are perfectly lined up. I remember the scroll. Chain lightening. But i was saving that. Im not ready for it yet. What if? My power destorys me... They need me. They are worth more. I have to do it. I take out the scroll thinking of them. Just think back to that moment. Grasp moment, live in it. capture the feeling back then when you felt the energy of that spell on your hands. You can do it. Everyones depending on you. DON'T CHOKE. The arcane power grows hot in my hands and i see the beginning and familiar arcs of lightening. Im doing it! Im doing it! suddenly my neck is burning! It feels like I'm being straggled! I cant breath. Im losing it! NO! The power then recoils back, then dies, the burning stops. My hands to my throat. I failed... Even with everyones hopes one me.. Im too weak, to save anyone.. the ice trolls are charging behind us and i'm consumed with regret and self loathing, believing this will be it till the shrieks of Arauthator jolts everyone awake. the trolls stop and the two dragons then retreat. leaving us and everyone here alive and the spoils to us. "Were alive?"
Omen the Farsighted
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Post by Chris on Apr 9, 2019 13:18:43 GMT -5
End Nightal 5 6:00:0 am, 1489 DR; Year of the Warrior Princess. Selune is waning gibbous. The Rise of Tiamat Gathering the hoard Meet Marfulb the Ice Toad Leaving Oyaviggiton The Arcane Brotherhood Ambush! The Second Council of Waterdeep A week's downtime Mission to the Misty Forest MVP = Aileen Russell as Karsi Our plays on RPGGeek.com rpggeek.com/plays/thing/162998?userid=1168080
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Post by Aileen on Apr 9, 2019 14:15:52 GMT -5
We stand looking into the ice, wondering how we were going to get to the treasure. Fire bolts are going to shatter anything delicate like glass bottles, so that's out the window. The only way in seems to be digging, and we are all exhausted, in pain and quickly becoming frostbitten. The ranger casts a healing spell, and all of us feel much better after. I was pretty beat up by the dragons, and feel my vigor return in full. I'm ready for another fight, but it's going to take us a long time to dig through this and we decide it's best to rest.
We climb back up to the floor above and go back to Maccath's tent. I suggest we announce ourselves before entering, as we left Piotyr and Morrigan behind with Maccath. We are called in after a moment of scrambling noises from within, and enter to find the three of them sitting around awkwardly, and looking a bit frazzled. Morrigan winks at me and I shoot her a thumbs up.
Maccath allows us to get rest and excuses herself to go pack up her books. Grahz immediately flops down and goes to sleep with Omen standing guard. Just as I'm about to unload my armour and take a seat, there is a scratching on the tent by me. I open the flap, and standing there is a huge white, mottled skinned frogman holding an antler. It looks at me with intelligent eyes, but I am tired and not quite sure what I am looking at.
"Hello, friend." I say in common.
"Greetings," it says in Draconic, nodding its head respectfully. "I am Marfulb. Senechal of Oyaviggaton. I worked for the Old White Death. I understand he has left."
"Hello, Marfulb." I reply in Draconic, stumbling over the name.
"Who is there?" Omen calls to me in Draconic.
"A big frog!" I respond in common. "Says he is Senchal of Oyaviggaton. Get over here!"
The ranger is also drawn to the tent flap, and he gives me a nod as he regards the road. He speaks to him in Draconic as well. I did not know the ranger spoke all of my languages, and I am very pleased to have more friends i can converse with.
It tells us that the dragons have fled, and he proposes a trade. He has four decades worth of information that will aid in researching and stopping the dragons, and will make it known to us if we take him with us.
"My information will require a bag of holding, do you have one?"
"Wait, you mean... physical information?"
"Yes, I do."
"Huh. Well... Maccath is bringing a lot too so as long as we don't overload the ship... I guess we have a deal."
"All my heavy stuff is in Runar's bag, I dont think my back can handle that." Omen complains to me.
"I know. I have a bad back too, this won't be a good time. But we just have to get everything to the ship."
"Why? We can just use my teleportation circle and go to Waterdeep or Neverwinter. I just got the spell!"
"That will not work for me," Maccath says, entering the tent from another flap. She nods at the frogman. "I must return everything to the Arcane Brotherhood. We must go by ship to Luskan."
We take our rest before working on the dragons' lair. I sit with Omen as she talks to the ranger, talking about her past. I don't tell him much... I'm a soldier and now I serve the Raven Queen, that's about what sums me up. I pull Omen aside after a bit, and tell her about my dream.
"I finally remembered... it's all been coming back to me slowly, every time I'm close to death."
My armour off for resting, I'm dressed in just the winter clothes, so I can easily move aside my tunic to show her the scar.
"I don't know if you've seen this before," I say. I know I tend to walk around unclothed when we stay places. "It's from a dragon's claw. A red dragon. That's what took out my company. What nearly killed me."
Omen grimaces as she gets an up close view of the nasty scar. Its huge, running from my right collarbone and disappearing into my shirt. I know at least Runar's seen it, but I barely remember anything from that night.
"That's not all... there was a woman. An elf. She saved me and made me take my vow. I don't know who she is. But now I want to find her."
"There is probably a reason you're forgetting. But if I can help you find her, or to remember more, I will."
Later we dig up the dragons' lair. Money, potions and some gems are all we turn up. Marfulb tells us that the trophy room has much of the same, however in the time it has taken us to do everything the activity there has grown. The other ice toads will not be so welcoming, especially when they realize Marfulb has switched sides
We set out after getting everything into the bag of holding and distributing all the other stuff we need to take among ourselves. Aria goes up the ladder into the Shaman's hut first, and we can hear a lot of chattering in their strange language.
"Come up, its okay!" She calls, coughing a bit.
When I surface I can see many ice hunters gathered around, and they all are cheering for us. They start dancing and passing around a pipe. I take a long drag, and feel... good. Really good. I almost want to just throw all this junk I'm carrying down and move here to live as a nomad and smoke grass all day... maybe take up an instrument or painting.
"Omen, try it!" I tell the wizard, who is looking at the pipe like it's going to kill her.
"Oh no, I need to keep a clear head!"
"Do it!" I force it into her hand, and she shakily inhales some.
"Piotyr, what is this stuff?" Grahz asks.
His reply nearly sends me vomiting. We might have just smoked somebody's ancestors ashes along with the weed. Omen gives me a look that could melt this entire iceberg. After a short bit of celebration, we leave the hut and notice the ice hunters are packing up their village. With the dragons gone, they are no longer forced to stay here working with Old White Death. They seem happy to be moving on.
Back on the ship, I find Zoltan perched on the shoulder of Captain Half-face. He leaves him and flies to me, pecking my face mercilessly. I dont know if he is trying to emulate his construct friend Reggie, but he needs to learn his kisses are painful- not healing. I scratch him under his neck, and he croaks in satisfaction.
"Son of a wh***!" He squawks. I look up to see some of the crew guffawing. I wonder where he learned that from? I need to get him away from these sailors, my bird child is way too young and impressionable to be around them.
We sail back south with Maccath and Marfulb on board, and head straight for Luskan. Omen tells us shes been there before... shes sailed all up and down this coast, from what little she can remember. It seems unfair that so much of our lives are just blank. The faces and places you can't remember are always the ones you miss the most. We briefly visit shore in Luskan while Maccath and the frog unload their belongings, and drop them off with the Arcane Brotherhood. Omen shows us around, we get a bite to eat, and then it's back to the ship. We have a council waiting for our return in Waterdeep, and many of us are anxious to get back and get further missions.
It's all smooth sailing until the storm hits on the second day. We were called to man stations, and I did all I could to help with my limited knowledge of seafaring vessels. I may have panicked a little when the ocean water started coming up over the sides, and just stood being pelted by gale force winds and heavy rain while the crew scrambled around. Omen, on the other hand knew exactly what she was doing, and I watched in awe as she pushed aside one of the big guys on the crew to take over the main sail. That girl knows her way around a boat and can't even fully remember why.
We survive the storm, barely, but the boat is damaged heavily. Fortunately, we pull ashore a mere days journey from Waterdeep. I hug Captain Half-Face and Piotyr goodbye and wish them luck before climbing down off the Frostskimmer. They have been a good crew, and Zoltan already thinks he is one of them. It takes a lot of coaxing to pull him away from the Captain, and he continuously squawks "F*** you!" to me as we head off towards Waterdeep on foot.
The air was chilly coming down here, but today is unseasonably warm and a light rain falls as we trudge through the barren landscape. We don't get far before Aria spots people moving up behind us. Ahead, the shape of a dragon flying in. I pull my shield in front of me, sword at the ready. The figures approach and I can see three of them were winged.
"Yep, that looks like them!" One of the guys shouts.
One of the winged people moves in on Morrigan, gesturing a spell, and the Tiefling counterspells it. As the other one moves towards Omen, I remember that I can do that too... although I never have. I turn and point my sword at the caster, cast counterspell and whatever he was doing fails.
"Thanks, Karsi!"
Omen fireballs the wizards in a burning rage, and I can see her eyes narrowed like daggers at them. They're not going to survive her. I turn my attention to the blue dragon that is swooping in. It's not as big as the adult dragons we have fought, so it shouldn't pose too much of a problem.
I stupidly walk toward it. Behind me I can hear the others fighting the cultists, but I need to keep this flappy guy from moving in. I cast hex, and then swiftly blast it twice. It's obviously pissed, yet I stand my ground. Morrigan fireballs it from behind me, and it turns its head roaring at her in Draconic,
"Next!"
And then it is on me. I can't run now. I let out an anguished scream as its jaws clamp around my middle, and a current of electricity flows through me. It feels as though every single one of my nerves is on fire and my muscles all contract in an agony. It let's go, and immediately claws me twice. I slash at it blindly, and run to its side to try to get a breather before it attacks me again. I think I underestimated its power based on its size.
Lucky for me, it flies away, and I try to slash at it as it goes but I'm too injured and completely miss. I watch helplessly as it breathes its lightning breath weapon on Morrigan and Ulrich, before flying back to me. And then there's a giant t-rex standing before me. I scream until I realize that Omen has been talking about wanting to do this polymorph for so long... I just didn't expect to see it up close and personal!
The ranger calls out to me to hold on a bit longer as he shoots as backup. If it gets distracted by T-Rex Omen then he will try to heal me. I'm bleeding a lot and really hurting, but I'm still completely in the fight. I slash the dragon again, and move behind it. Ulrich shoots it again, and I see the arrows sprouting out of the dragon's scales.
"You're definitely hitting!" I call to Ulrich.
I make a mistake by running backward away from the dragon, and of course it sees me moving. It breaks its stare down with Omen T-Rex and turns to fly at me. Somehow it completely overshoots me as it goes in to bite, exposing its neck. I slash it and my blade cuts deep. I blast it twice, and then the rangers arrow buries itself in the dragons throat. It dies at my feet. I look up to the T-Rex.
"Omen, please don't eat me!" I point my blade towards the cultists. "Get them!"
Omen stomps off towards them, and I look up to see the Half-dragon Grahz has been fighting is right in my line of fire. I blast him, and then watch as the T-Rex and a Great Ape finish him off. Its then that I realize Grahz is most definitely the Ape... and I really hope he doesn't rampage us all down. I stumble back to the group as the last cultist falls, and Runar grabs me.
"Karsi, you look awful."
"No, I look great. I feel awful."
The half-orc kisses me and I feel something crawling under my armour. I begin to struggle, wanting to swat at it, but then I realize my wounds are beginning to heal.
"Don't fight it," Runar says, sitting me down. "Its more of my constructs, they're stitching you up."
"Not creepy at all, Runar."
We move on to Waterdeep with Omen and Grahz still in their giant forms. Runar helps me climb up onto Omen's back and I hold on for dear life as she keeps trying to look behind her. Her tiny arms and lack of neck flexibility makes her go in circles. I lean into her neck, slapping the T-Rex gently in the face.
"Omen, you can come back now!"
I guess she's a little too distracted. We make it a few miles before the T-Rex shape suddenly drops out from under me, and I land sprawled out on top of my best friend, back in human form.
"Karsi, get off me!" She gasps.
"I'm not that heavy!"
"Your armour!" She coughs over dramatically, and tries crawling out from under me.
I stand up and help her up from the ground. She looks a bit of a mess, her long black hair all in her face and her yellow robes covered in dirt and blood.
"Hows your stomach feel?" I ask. "You were eating the dragon's corpse."
She visibly pales, and runs off to vomit. I can only laugh. We arrive back in Waterdeep by evening, and are brought straight to the Council by the city guard. They inform us that the attack was an ambush specifically meant for us. The Cult knows we are the front line in the war against them, and we have proven ourselves a true threat. We are warned that they sent an insufficient strikeforce, and they will be sending stronger forces against us. It's not if, it's when.
Because we returned Maccath and all her research to the Arcane Brotherhood, the Arcane Brotherhood is allying with the council in the war against the Cult. We are given our next assignment, to go to the Misty Forest. Me and the ranger perk up. The Misty Forest is an elf kingdom. They are his people, and partially mine. I've never been around an elf community, only what I've been exposed to in Waterdeep. I look forward to meeting more of my own kind, even if I'm only half elf.
The Misty Forest is being attacked by the Cult, so they want us to lend aid to King Melandrach. The attacks are being led by Neronvain, a Wyrmspeaker, and his green dragon friend Chuth. Delaan Winterhound, a half-elf ranger, approaches us with more info. He wants us to go to Altand to talk to the survivors of the dragon and cult attacks to get more info that could help us in getting to Neronvain. We are also given a week's time to stay in Waterdeep and recuperate.
The first night I clean all the blood off my armour and then take a well deserved rest. The next day I meet up with Runar, and we get some quality time actually getting to know each other. It feels weird talking about Kovatch, but Runar is fine with me having had a thing for him. I didn't know Runar at the time... it's like my dead friend was replaced by someone even better, although I will never forget him.
I bring Runar to the Waterdeep Guard headquarters, and he looks confused as to why we are there. I have been afraid to come here for so long, but I need to make peace with my past. A familiar face opens the door, an old man with very little hair remaining and half blind.
"Stormwyk? Is that you."
"It's me," I say, showing him my rank insignia that I still carry around.
He all but throws the door open and excitedly ushers us inside. Before I can get another word in the old man shouts out to the entire building.
"Shieldlar Stormwyk has returned!" He calls.
I'm a little taken aback as more familiar faces appear. Instructors from when I trained so many years ago... cooks... soldiers I had known as mere boys, just starting out as squires. I expected a deserters welcome, a negative reaction... not this.
I'm told they knew about my imprisonment, but also the adventures as of recent. They invite us to dine with the soldiers, and Runar and I accept. Runar regales them with tales of him and Kovatch, and working for the Harpers, then meeting up with our crew. He shows off Reggie, and even gets offers for contracting more constructs for the guard if he ever chooses to leave the adventuring life behind. They almost love the half-orc more than me... but I've been gone a long time and am hardly interesting.
We are invited to come by the barracks any time. I have found memories of my time there, drinking and gambling my nights away, and I want to share it with my new friends. I haven't seen Omen in days, she's been doing nothing but study, so I go and find her on day four.
Omen is at her desk, writing in her spellbook and muttering to herself. She looks like she hasn't moved at all, and is half asleep when I call her name.
"Just a couple more pages!" She whines.
"No, Omen. We are going out. You need to get away from your books. It's not good for you!"
"No, no I need to finish this! There's so many new spells!"
"You know, there's still time to convert-"
"I'm not selling my soul!" She snaps, throwing a crumpled up parchment at me. "I work hard to learn my spells."
"Too hard," I grab her by the arm and try to drag her out of her chair. With her gear off of her I can almost move her. Almost. "Let's. Go."
Finally I drag her out of the room, and she joins Runar, Ulrich, Morrigan and I at the barracks. There's a lot of alcohol, loud soldiers sharing tales of glory and debauchery, and many games of dice and cards. Omen gets a sinister smile on her face as she looks towards a group of men playing cards. She doesn't drink very much, and what little she has had is clearly affecting her.
"You ready for this Karsi? I'm going to make us rich."
~ Karsi
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Post by Donaldado on Apr 9, 2019 16:21:05 GMT -5
First, out of character I must apologize to all of you. I have sinned against Gary Gigax himself. I apparently added up my hit point in an incorrect manner quite in my favor. I am disappointed in myself. I know now that last night I would have still had enough points to live but can not speak to other occasions. If anyone next Monday would like to tie me naked to the rock of shame and administer the beatings of edification upon me, such is my fate and I accept such.
OK now that that is out of the way here is some backstory: Morrigan's back story is that far far to the east of Waterdeep, in the land of Thay she was abandoned as the unwanted child between a succubus and a red wizard half dragon at the age of six. Well, abandoned is not quite right as Mommy said she needed to take daddy to the farm upstate. She waited around but grew impatient. When a wandering circus arrived she joined as a cook, using her special talents with fire to char mystery meat kebabs at a booth with the carnies. Eventually she fell in love with a merchant who brought her to Waterdeep. Just when she believed happiness had come to her the truth beat itself into her reality. Taylor was a doll. A doll conjured up by mommy dearest to lure her to Waterdeep. What mommy needed was for Morrigan to be a hostess, bring in the young noble clientele back to mommy, so they too could go upstate. Morrigan initially agreed, wanting to get her mother's love but when she first tried, she found that her heart wouldn't let her. she turned her mom in and her mother was subsequently banished for 1001 years from this plain.
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Post by Donaldado on Apr 9, 2019 16:47:58 GMT -5
"Ahhhg!" Why wasn't the day drinking working? The headache should be gone. Where, wha..? Blue sky? What smells like barbecued pork? Elminster's beard, its me! That impudent little blue. What can I do, what can I do?
Surveying the battlefield did not encourage Morrigan in the slightest. Her allies were too close to the blue for her to return the favor. Graz fell. Instantly Morrigan panicked, flashing to the news, that horrible news she had yet to process. The sweet turtle boy had died. Is this it? Is this how it ends? Please not mother, on the other side.
Wait, is Graz moving? Yes. But barely. Look at the grin's on their faces, thinking they will have another go at stabbing him. Well, not today boys!
"Graz Metousiosis Píthikos!".
It was done. Mwahahahaha!
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Post by Chris on Apr 10, 2019 12:20:48 GMT -5
Hi all,
Ye have 1 week downtime to spend in Waterdeep. If you have Xanathar’s Guide there are some examples of things you can try to do during that down-time.
Please let me know what your plans are (preferably by email) so we can have resolved them before next week’s session and get right to the adventure; tracking down a Green Dragon and potential Wyrmspeaker.
Ps. Beating a naked Morrigan on the rock of shame takes no additional time.
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Post by Aileen on Apr 10, 2019 15:02:54 GMT -5
Hi all, Ye have 1 week downtime to spend in Waterdeep. If you have Xanathar’s Guide there are some examples of things you can try to do during that down-time. Please let me know what your plans are (preferably by email) so we can have resolved them before next week’s session and get right to the adventure; tracking down a Green Dragon and potential Wyrmspeaker. Ps. Beating a naked Morrigan on the rock of shame takes no additional time. I picked up Contact Other Plane, would I be able to call up a God while we are in town?
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Post by Chris on Apr 10, 2019 15:15:58 GMT -5
Hi all, Ye have 1 week downtime to spend in Waterdeep. If you have Xanathar’s Guide there are some examples of things you can try to do during that down-time. Please let me know what your plans are (preferably by email) so we can have resolved them before next week’s session and get right to the adventure; tracking down a Green Dragon and potential Wyrmspeaker. Ps. Beating a naked Morrigan on the rock of shame takes no additional time. I picked up Contact Other Plane, would I be able to call up a God while we are in town? You can try, but it wouldn't count as downtime activity as it only takes 1 minute, but as there is a chance you'll be insane we'll need to do that at the table
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Post by whunyer on Apr 14, 2019 0:02:36 GMT -5
Charlie was quite overwhelmed by the battle against two white dragons and even more disappointed that they escaped. Falling in to mild depression he spent time in devotion and prayer. He contemplated staying among the simple villagers on the ice flow to protect them in case the dragons return, it he felt directed by his god to return with the group and proceed with them. He is looking forward to spending a week in at prayers and attending rituals at a temple back in Waredeep. He looks forward to being around the faithful and hearing his proper name and title spoken by the priest and others in the temple complex.
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