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Post by matthewkusza on Apr 20, 2020 21:26:51 GMT -5
Dwarf Musings! Entry #35
This festering, humid jungle is not a fit place for a dwarf! I don’t mind the heat…it’s the bugs, bugs, bugs! But, I fear my new party needs me to survive. I must see this through. Thrice now I have had to act as the bulwark of strength for this party. Why just a couple days ago that bizarre creature with multiple eyes would surely have devoured these elves if I hadn’t slain the thing. They seemed to be under its influence. I thought elves were supposed to be immune to charms and mesmerizing spells. (Perhaps that is only high elves? They don’t look like high elves to me. Come to think of it… I’m not sure I would know what a high elf looks like. But, I suspect they’d be very prim and proper and not much interested in treasure hunting. Looking at stars and the moon is more their delight.) But I digress… again I saved all of us trapped and losing strength after the wizard decided to play dress up with that ridiculous jade mask. It was I who fought to the top of the stairs to lead the way out. (Not even a thank, you mind you.) Then just the other day we took down a moldering, mummified centaur. The battle was over quick due to our multiple well planned strikes. Good thing too, because I suspect the wretched undead thing carried disease and worse. One serious hit would surly have infected someone. But, perhaps I am being unjust to my comrades. I know my father says I can be a bit haughty. I’ll hold my tongue and follow their lead and see how things develop. They certainly look willing to bring the fight to the enemy,….well most of them anyways. I will just have to see this venture through. For a dwarf such as myself there is no other way.
I am impressed with the stonework that these ancient people completed and I wish very much to have seen it when brand new. The mechanics employed for many of the traps are ingenious! I am a properly raised dwarf from a noble family, but it was all I could do to not laugh out loud watching the thief dance around with the steaming dragon trap. I good stride up the stairs, a few well aimed blows would have been more effective than all the time consuming looking for another pressure plate. I gather this is the usual routine being cautious to almost a fault. Alas, again, I am being judgmental. Forgive me Dwarf Father. Haha! I now recall Boomer blustering his way into that troll nest with nary a stitch of care. (Who knew trolls were smart enough to deploy traps though?) The look on his face hanging upside down from the cave ceiling as we rounded the bend was almost better than slaying the wretched creatures. Anyways, perhaps Fergus and his crew would consider taking a trip here to meet me in the near future. We could with a proper team of stone and metal workers quickly figure out how these traps work. Many more dwarven hoards of treasure would be that more secure!
Azgalhad....at your service.
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Post by dragonforgotten on Apr 24, 2020 22:20:48 GMT -5
Once again after Aevlin gets her face scratched by a Margay I become a important cog in a plan as it beings to take shape along with a new wizard joining our merry band. I don’t know how he survived the first floor but the poor sap must be very very lost or unlucky. I introduce myself, warning him of that he’s In for a rough time. The group scolds next but I shrug them off with a chuckle. Can’t hide the truth. Better to tell him now then let him find out If he can’t hack it. Plan in hand we get into motion. Nylen lets me borrow his displacement cloak and I can’t be more grateful. Better to avoid a hit then go down we’re not one can save me. There’s no telling what could be waiting up that chimney. We migrate back to the diarama nightmare room and stand before the massive f*** you hill. It goes smoothly at first, Kork gives me a boost and I climb effortlessly up the glowing chimney. It feels like it does on forever till it I hit a new problem. There’s a heavy block in the way. I try to push it away but I don’t have good leverage or enough strength in one arm to do it. Unless. I look at the walls around me. Is there enough room? No harm in trying right..? I concentrate and fill the strength in my double as well as my size. S**! S***! Bad idea! I practically throw the block sky high and drop my giant strength before I dislocated a shoulder. Scurrying into the room I don’t see anything, just a bunch of fountains, only one filled with water. Well better throw down a rope-. I reach into my bag and find no rope then slap myself in the forehead. Well damn. I gave it to Hans. Note to self. Try to have the group think of everything before committing to plan. I’m about to leave when I see the water bloody cone to life and hiss at me! What the hells!? No! I’m out! Bye! I scurry down as fast as I can and can feel the water snake inches from catching me before I make it halfway down the shoot. I poke my head out breathless from my brush with death. “It leads to a room but There’s a water snake up there! It nearly took my head off!” “You mean a water werid!?” Aevlin tells you to me. “Ya that!” It’s then I notice that Kork is gone. I have a long fall to get back down. Well. I’m not doing any good up here. I climb down and bend my knees as I stick the landing. I make it back to the path watching Hans try and fail to climb up the hill, getting pushed into different zones. Least he managed to get Aevlins magic rope up the shoot before then. The new mr wizard tries to cast a spell on Hans which he does before getting thrown into the plans. He starts really mellowing out the moment he enters. We ask him to come back to the path but he says he’s cool here and we should join him. Nawww. I’m not deal with this place freaky Trips. Aevlin attempts to climb up the hill but is throw immediately into the marsh. My eyes widen Oh no! She starts flailing, suffocating as I stand at the edge of the marsh. “Aev! Come here! You can do this!” I fear I’m going to have to go in there to save here when she digs dee and manages to return to the path. I can only sigh, relieved as I scoop her into a hug. Ridding circles in her back as she shivers. “Your Safe now. Your not drowning.” When she pulls herself together the group retreats so Hans can prepare his spells to destroy the water weird. I go over the plan which seems good but has a massive time gap I’m not happy with. I don’t want to lose Hans to something so stupid. I keep trying but everyone’s determined the plan is fine and I give up. A few hours later we are back semi fresh and ready to tackle this. I’ve switched my cloak back, thanking Nylen profusely as Hans goes up the rope. We wait and wait and wait. I start cleaning my nails out of boredom and start getting antsy. I don’t like the idea of anyone being alone in such a deadly situation considering how many times it’s happened to me. “This is taking too long. I’m going up.” I climb up the hill, feeling the force of the hill but I manage to get up the rope. I’m half up when something brushes against my leg. Something furry. A cat? Here? I think hopeful not wanting the alternative but I look down and there’s a huge f***ing spider hissing near my foot! “Holy f***! There’s a spider!” I scream down, the spider agitated strikes out but thankfully misses. I panic. I stab it in the head, dropping my invisibility begging for it to die but it only blinks its many eyes at me looking enraged. I manage to return to my invisible state but very alone with a angry spider, at least I thought. Coming right behind it, like a avenging angel Aevlin appears! Thank the gods! She begins hacking at it as I try to void the spiders wraith. Finially she cuts it right through its thorax and the monstrosity dies in its hole. “Thank you! Thank you! I love you so much my angle, apple of my eye.” She blushes waving my off. “Oh stop. We have a cleric to save.” He get up there and find Hans is just dandy. He tries being a smart *** and startled me but he fails due to facing the wrong way. It appears the water werid was no issue for him dispute his vision impairment. Once everyone is back up I search the room to see a dead crayfish. Wonder if there’s anything under it I think mockingly. I start chipping away with my normal dagger and I’m shocked to actually find a key! What!? I was kidding! I wasn’t expecting to be right! It’s a attached to a chain but as I touch it’s still anchored with more crud and the normal dagger doesn’t cut it anymore so I switch to my magic one and I’m able to pry the key free. Wonder where it goes to? I comb the stair way and door and when I dean it safe everyone begins filtering through except for our wizards who are getting a lantern light. I’m met with a strange sight. I can see a strange mix of horse and man standing between two large vases with a hoof angrily posed. Just as we move in it comes to life and start trying to stomp Kork. Thanks to our fighters and Aevlins quick shots it goes down fast. It’s only when the lanterns under the room that we find it’s decayed and wrapped in bandages as my skin crawls. Mummy? S*** I hope no one was infected with the rot. Great granny, gods bless her soul, was infected for months I’ve been told. We’ve all been warned of messing with undead. It a hot matter back in the caravan. We explore around and after a quick fight with some agitated bats Aevlin and the dwarf find some goodies in the vases. I can’t help but feel my eyes leer at the dwarfs bracelet. He has been taking a lot of things. Hope he’s willing to spread the wealth when the time comes. I eye the Aevlin giving Hans a hair pin and I can’t help but feel envious. Not so much the pun but the fact that she gave him something of value while I’ve been staying clean. "Aevlin, what about me?" I pout, fluttering my eyes mockingly. "Don't you know what I am?" "Umm... a woman?" "No! Obviously not. Thief, love! I’m as poor as a saint here." "Then get your own hairpins. These are mine!" We collect as much as we can till approach a door. Hans ask for a dagger and I hand him my normal one. I cackle as just as he touches the jade door with It, it falls over like a tree and shatters into a million pieces. We move onto room after rooms of not much interest till we reach the end of a chamber with a wheel in the corner as a set of stairs in the other. I rest my hands on the wheel and double check before I crank. Turns out it opens a hole in the ground. I stop, stepping away and let Kork take over. The moment it opens all the way the portcullis slams down, blocking the stair well and it comes to Kork to lift it. Red in the face and a sickening pop. Sympathy are sent his way as we slide past him. The moment we are all through he lefts it fall and Hans realigns his spine. Heading up the stairs we come to a dead end but my ears perk up as I sense a hidden door. Slide past it we are greater to a large ruined chamber, sunlight filtering through the crack in the ceiling. My god, we made it to the top! The bat altar though does not give me any comfort in our successful climb to the top.
-Jaris FJ
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Post by dragonforgotten on Apr 30, 2020 10:59:25 GMT -5
We all stand in the massive altar hall at the top of the zyggarot and I get the impression that this isn’t the end. This temple has been screwing with our heads the entire time. Seeing the room this big I expect a giant man bat beats to drop from the ceiling and savage us the moment we step into the center of the room. I don’t know if I should be disappointed or relieved when nothing happens. Aevlin certainly gets a friendly laugh in at my expense. “See dear. I told you nothing would happen.” She tells me as we chuckle. “Maybe, can’t be too careful.” Everyone begins combing around the altars as I take in the room. Just as we begin our search the entrance we just came through closed behind us as the altars large metal bat wing covers it. The instinctual terror of being locked in is paramount but I show no distress besides a minor pit of worry. I just drift between Aevlin and Nylen as they investigate the metal bat against the wall, eyeing its large pointed fangs as I spy the hallow in the back of its mouth. I’m not volunteering to stick my hand in. Suddenly the sound of rocks draws our attention to the far opposite side of the room. Kork upset the balance of rocks and too some hits, Azgaleck the dwarf is loudly advicing the half orc to pick from the top, not the bottom. I move back to the front of the large bat altar and find a pair of hand holds infront. “Hans! Do you know about these?” I yell across the room at him as he’s healing Kork. “Yes, I’m aware.” “Want me to search for a trap?” I don’t get a response because he immediately works to push in the hand holds with the help of Kynigos, I take a large step back and I’m glade I did. The bats razor sharp wings suddenly scissor forth! Han and Kynigos just make it before it takes their bloody heads. “Holy f****.” I mutter rubbing my neck as the push the altar farther back revealing a shallow hole in the ground. Skeletons lay inside, sliced in half but clutches around their bony knuckles is the beautiful sight of treasure. I just want to weep with joy. This temple has been a complete c**** shoot in terms for loot and we lost Elmarth. I was starting to worry we were s*** out of luck. As moth and the rest load up the sacks with loot I keep watch eyeing the room. This feels too easy. Far too easy. I keep waiting for the hell beast that’s bound to show up but nothing happens still. I concede that maybe my imagination and paranoia got the better of me as we head back to camp triumpet. Finally! We can leave! This should be enough for all our expenses in the month. I’m going to be a happy man to drown myself in booze again. Now we just need a way to transport all this loot. I collapse on the treasure pile a very happy theif. At last the nightmare is almost over. We’ll be back And I can’t drink till I die or till Aevlin revives me. I looks at the trees and the vines around camp and point up at them. “Why don’t we make a sled. Cut a few trees and ties up some vines. Should be good enough.” Everyone is in agreement. I start pulling down the vines from the trees as the stronger members crop the weaker trees down. Hans sits in a quiet corner and starts praying while Nylen, looking bored with the crafting goes off the try his luck again with hunting. Everyone is pretty happy with ourselves as well laugh and crack jokes. I think everyone is glade that we are leaving as much as I am. We just finished up with the sled as I wipe the sweat off my brow, the sun haven set. Ok. The sleds all done, time to load her up-. I’m stunned into silence. A omen warrior is hovering infront of our loot, back to us. We stand there baffled. Where the heck did he come from? He turns to us and begins to speak in that damn tongue again. “We can’t understand you guy!” I shout at him, done with more mysterious tribal bull*** but my blood freezes as I spy the long fangs. Oh... oh f***. We are f****ed! He points to the loot then raises up his hand and begins to count down. It’s clear what he wants but everyone looks ready to fight as my heart beats frantically in my chest. “Let him take it!” I scream at the gang as everyone watches me confused. “That’s our s***!” Aevlin shouts at me. “We can’t fight him!” I scream panick in my voice. Things like him killed my ancestor, the strongest of all of the jala line. There’s a reason my family is cursed! What chance do we have!? I reclip Lyon, vanishing. I haven’t given up the fight. I prepared. I need my kit! I drop my bag, ferously digging through its contents as my hands grasp the stake and garlic. Feeling the mold in my hand I’m reminded the importance of restocking produce. Damn worthless peice of s***! Kork and Azgaleck rush the man and we watch to our horror as the monstrosity strikes them both and the life energy drain from their bodies. I throw the rotting garlic into the jungle and just manage to pull the stake out. By then the group realized that this is beyond them. Aevlin joins my slide we’re she notices the visible stake in my hand and the other two weakened fighters step back as the vampire easily collects the treasure we took from the altar, sacks and all, vanishing into mist, warning us in broken common of a potential curse should we continue. I dry swallow, a cold sweat breaking out. I did not know they could do that? The stories never told me they could do that. What else can they bloody do? S***. I feel frustrated beyond reason. I panicked. I could have avenged my granny but I did nothing. Of course it would be crazy to attack him. We know nothing about them. We only have my flimsy campfire stories and the knowledge our eyeballs saw. We need to hurry up here. I didn’t sign up to kill vampires for free. It’s not bloody worth it. Nylen returns to see us defeated and morally destroyed. I tell him what happened and I’m shocked at what comes out of his mouth. “We’re going up there and killing him. We can not allow an evil creature to have free rein.” “Are you s*** me Nylen? Do you see the state of Kork and Azgaleck. If they are exposed again they’ll die and the bloody curse as well. You maybe we’ll keen to risk your life for nothing but it’s another to risk ours. It’s not worth it.” I argue heated with him but in the end I lose the vote. Everyone still feels the sting of losing the loot and being assaulted in our own camp. I can only sigh. Once again we risking a bloody lot. The treasure ontop of the altar not longer looks appealing knowing what it could cost us and I’m not loving the price. But Aevlin is determined to follow through and thus I must as well. In the morning we make the climb up but as we are nearly the top till Azgaleck falls. I start thinking that the poor dwarf died till I remembered he’s a dwarf. There strong and determined. He wouldn’t croak from just a fall. We start shuffle to we’re the unlucky dwarf fell. He must also be blessed by Rudd’s luck because not only did you fall through into the next step but right into a chamber, miraculous not too beat up. Impressive mate. We climb into the small room. It looks pretty boring so I follow after Aevlin who’s looking into the ante chamber, the rest follow soon after. Aevlin looks spooked holding a golden scepter in her hand. “Is everything ok?” I ask her and she gives me a shaky smile “I’m fine, just the statue has my face now.”I look up to find Shes right and a chill runs down my spine. An Omen. I don’t know what to think of this. Suddenly everything changes. While the group filters into the room talking about the creepy statue I notice Aevlin eyes widen and her skin pale, a sheen of sweat on her skin. I grasp her shoulder gently. “Aev, are you sure your-.” I don’t get to finish. In an instant her body hardens under my hand, growing cold till suddenly all I feel is stone. What was once my love, my wife, my f***inf anchor is now stone. I feel like the world has dropped under me but no. The nightmare doesn’t stop. The statue sitting upon the throne becomes flesh and there stands Aevlin, in omen feathers. She takes the scepter out of the original Aevlins hands and she walks by me to address the frozen party. “Guys, I’m alright. I simply merged with a past incarnation of myself.” The party relaxes except for me. I’m shaking, digging my nails into the stone till they bleed. I don’t know what to think nor do I care. I’m hurting and all I want to do is make someone else hurt. Nothing makes sense. It makes no god damn sense. It’s the damn temples fault, it’s another illusion. It tried this s*** on me. Now it’s doing it again. “Anyway you guys, i now know we’re we can find more treasure!” “That’s is amazing lassy! Lead the way!” Says Aszgalec. “I must say Aevlin your looking better then ever.” Says Hans as I watch them feeling sick. “That’s bollocks.” I half mutter half wheeze as it takes everything to release my stiff limbs from the stone. Feathered Aevlin shakes her head. “Jaris, it’s me.” “Where we’re we married?” I accuse her dripping with venom. “On a boat, we were attacked by a giant octopus.” Lies, all lies! She got it right but It can’t be her. One doesn’t f***ing turn to stone and then switch bodies! I grit my teeth. “I don’t believe you! If you were her then why are you dressed like them!” “Fine Jaris. If you don’t believe me so bad I’ll strip. Would that make you happy.” “No!” I point back to the statue. “If you were her you’d wouldn’t do this gos se to me! If you are you’d change back to the way you were instead of watching me suffer.” She approaches me hands in hips. “ why? You know I can’t do that Jaris.” At that I take the a normal dagger out of my dagger sheath and I stab her. The party instantly changes its stance. She clutches her side and I can tell despite the solid hit she barely felt it. Of course if I was serious I would be using the sword but I’m not thinking. I’m just angry, theirs a gapping hole in my chest and I am all alone in this pain and I give no f***s anymore. “I’ve had it!” I stab her again, slicing open her palm. She simply scowls at me like it’s me being the crazy one. “Jaris. I will knock you out if you attack me again.” I hesitate, then tighten my grip on the dagger. “No! Your not real! You’ve done f*** up! It’s one thing to screw with me but no one. No one! f***s with my wife!” Suddenly my limbs freeze up as I see the end of a spell leave Hans lips. I’m seething with rage. Why!? Why do you never have my back!? Have I not bleed enough for this group? Why does no one believe me when it counts!?! All of you!? It’s then the imposter takes the chance to caress my cheek, smearing blood onto my face. “It’s really me Jaris.” She then kisses me as Im completely locked into place. It’s not her! It’s not her! I can feel the tears running down my face. When she releases me the spell expires and I just collapse to the ground, humiliated and defeated. I don’t know what to think anymore and I just feel so alone in this. I’m thrown through a spiral of doubt. My head says I was rash, that I jumped to conclusions and made a mistake but my heart is just screaming at me to do something while my instincts tell me something is horribly wrong. That I have to do something. Aevlin stands in front of me, staunching the bleeding to her hand. “Are we done now with this?” I simply stand up and retreat to the new stone copy of her. The one I knew when things made sense. “Now that’s just sad.” I hear Hans comment but I can’t bring myself to look at him. The dwarf walks out of the room frustrated we are not moving anywhere and I can see I’ve frustrated Aevlin as well. “Come on jaris! Your holding everyone up!” I sit on the ground and fold my arms, head bowed. I feel Kork grab me by the armpits so I grasp the chaotic ball of energy inside me, expanding till he can’t move me anymore. Suddenly in an instant I feel pulled into my own world. I sense something, something hostile! In a blink of an eye it strikes and by instinct alone I begin mentally pulling up four different shields around me but the attack is too strong. It shatters through all of them lessening the impact but not stopping it. My hands fly to my head screaming in pain as a burning lance of pain spikes through my skull. Instantly I drop my size as I begin panicking, blood gushing from my nose. “I-I’m being attacked!?” This gets everyone attention. Hans comes to my side confused as he sees the blood gushing from my face. “What’s attacking you?” He asks as I shakily wipe the blood from my face. “I-I don’t know!? It’s like a iron spike was driven through my brain.” I stutter wishing for Aevlin desperately and not whatever is waking around as her. She wouldn’t understand me but having her nearby would be better. “There something here. A-and it’s after me.” I explain trying to regain composure. “Ok. I don’t understand any of this brain nonsense.” “No! You really don’t understand!” I want to clutch at him, terrified for my life. In that moment I just realized that I am a minnow in a big f*** pond and a much larger fish has set its eyes on me.. in the end he leaves me to continue to panicking as Kork now easily throws my over his shoulder. I don’t have the strength to walk anyway. My legs are suddenly jelly. Avelin takes us back to the hallway towards were we killed the giant flying snake, somehow finding a secrete door. They turn to me but I look away from my group. Of course. They only care when I’m useful to them. Nylen sweeps his magic sword over his face and scans ahead. He seems to see something alittle more then he’s suggesting about Aevlin. We move in to find a room filled with mirrors and a large tub filled with gold liquid. I simply lean against the wall as they investigate the room. The dwarf flops out and smashes the red mirror, Hans nearly gets attacked by a weird ooze looking blob and nothing else exciting happens. The dwarf then begin to drop his hands into the gold, trying to toss the gold liquid onto the mirrors while his hands freeze up into gold. Better hope that’s temporary otherwise the poor man will be bludgeoning his foes. Behind the slime mirror they found a secrete door as I watch Aevlin warily. I don’t know a lot about my mental powers. I was never attacked before until now. When I think back to what happened it happened because I was being a nuisance, to her... could she have been the one? No creature should know of my mental powers besides the group. I never used my deeper innate abilities because I feel that power ripple out from me and I feared I’d alert something terrible with them. That doesn’t happen with my discipline. So how was that creature able to find out my nature and hurt me unless... We make it into the next room to find a pillar with a gem imbedded in it. “That gems worth a lot. We need a theif to get it.” Oh what do you know. Suddenly only a theif is able to take it. After all that happened do they expect me to fall for that ploy? All eyes turn to my and I narrow mine cold. “No.” “Excuse me?” “You heard me. I said no.” I fold my arms, leaning against the wall. “You want it so bad get it yourselves.” “Jaris just do you job.” “You shame Kord Jaris. You have not proven yourself worthy.” I don’t respond, simply lower my hood further over my eyes. Like I answer to kord anyway. Would he even be proud of Hans I dare say. Proably, he does his jumping Jax and push ups. Least I know that I have not disappointed my god. He does not ask for much. The whining and moaning is deafening but I do not move. If they will not listen to me why should I risk my skin for them. I may not be right all the time but I know an obvious trap when I see one. I do not deserve to be treated so callously by my so called ‘friends’. Azgaleck and Kork grow tired of my silent protest. They begin climbing up the pillar but they suddenly become stuck. It then spins violently till they fly off. “See what did I tell you!” Moans fake Aevlin. “It’s did that because only a theif can take it!” I huff. “You can’t be serious. You all saw that.” I growl but all I get is more moans and bellyaching which I ignore. Aevlin comes up to me, hand on my shoulder as I simply scowl back. “Jaris, your keeping everyone waiting. You’r disappointing everyone and now me.” That f*** stings. This fake is parading around with her face and now it’s guilt tripping me. Fantastic. Great. She’s giving me the eyes. I growl pushing away from the wall and roughly shaking her hand off. “Fine! You all want me to die, so be it! I’ll laugh my way into the afterlife. I’ll have a few words to say to Kord when I get there.” I climb up the pillar and I don’t stick like the rest of the lot. I manage to get to the stone and pull it out but as I jump back down I’m not shocked when it comes to bit me in the ***. I start spinning rapidly, so fast that I can feel the muscles in my arm tear. Kynigos does the noble effort in trying to pin me with a web but I simply bounce about the room, slamming into walls as I go. I want off the ride now! It then all goes dark.
Jaris FJ
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Post by Aileen on May 2, 2020 16:49:28 GMT -5
We loot the bat shrine, having found a bunch of treasure underneath the movable altar. The rest of the evening at camp is spent gathering vines and branches to form sleds to carry our treasure out in. I'm working on a handle to one, continuously being smacked in the face by a particularly obnoxious vine, when I look up to see a man standing in our camp and staring.
"Good morning!" I say to him.
"It's evening, Aev." Jaris hisses.
"Good evening!"
The man steps forward, and I see now he is dressed like one of the Olmans. He holds up a hand, pointing to the treasure, and then begins counting down on his fingers. He reaches three and hisses, springing forth an attack. He has fangs! Krork and Azghalak move in, and both are slapped by the guy, and look immediately awful.
"Vampire!" Shouts Jaris, invisible.
It is clear that we are no match for this ancient vampire, and it appears he really just wants the treasure. I back off, motioning to the treasure.
"It's all yours, sir. I apologize for taking it, we did not know."
He begins racking up the treasure, and soon walks away into the night. Azghalak and Krork are really bad off. They're no longer the strong fighters they once were. Nylen, however, wants to go after the vampire and take back our treasure in the daytime. Hubby thinks he knows how to kill one, but claims there is no way we can manage it.
After a vote, it is decided we are going back in. The next day we return to the Ziggurat and climb up the side. As we ascend, poor Azghalak falls through, falling into a room below. I hand the rope off to Krork and climb down, joining the poor dwarf. Helping him to his feet I take a look around. There isn't much in here save an alcove covered by a curtain, which I approach. Azghalak is close behind as I open it, revealing a statue of an Olman warrior seated on a pedestal, a scepter across her lap. Looking up, I see my own face carved from stone staring back blankly at me.
"Woah!" I jump. "Hans! Get over here!"
Hans joins us, as Azghalak grabs the scepter.
"What do you see?" I ask.
"The statue looks just like you."
"So I'm not losing my mind!"
Azghalak grunts as he tries to take the scepter, and it doesn't budge. I reach for it, and easily remove it from the statue's lap. Suddenly my mind is filled with visions of great ancient battles, the sounds of war echoing in my ears. I feel myself break out in a sweat, not feeling very well. I hear Jaris asking me if I'm okay, and then everything goes black.
---
I come to, feeling like I've been stuck in one position for a long time. All my joints ache, muscles screaming, and I feel like I haven't taken a breath in forever. I fall forward, vomiting water and bile, and catch my breath.
"Is it really you, Aevlin?" Hans asks.
"Huh? Of course it's me! What happened?"
Nylen helps me to my feet, and Hans helps steady me. There is a body on the ground of a nondescript Olman warrior, and Jaris is standing stock still and tied up in rope.
"I'll give you the short version," says Nylen, handing me a waterskin. "You grabbed the scepter, turned to stone, the statue turned into you with more extravagant clothes, and you said you melded with your previous incarnation. You led us on a treasure hunt, almost got us all killed, and now we're here."
"And why is Jaris tied up?"
"Well, he killed the other you," says Hans. "I couldn't risk him doing anything else crazy."
Jaris eventually is released from his hold and bonds, and pulls me into his arms, squeezing the life out of me.
"Never do that to me again!" He begs, kissing me.
"I won't! Relax, how long was I gone? Ten minutes?"
"Almost a whole day." He says.
"Oh. That explains why I'm so sore. Can I eat something?"
We retreat from the temple after Hans proves to a suspicious Azghalak that I am not evil. He describes the aura I give off as being vaguely beer tinted with hints of whiskey. It's one of the sweetest things that's ever been said about me.
Jaris won't let me out of his sight, clinging onto me like I'll disappear at any moment. I wasn't a witness to evil Aevlin, but from what the group tells me it was really bad. She was convincing and cruel. We end up going further away, setting up a new and safer camp.
We head back to the temple after resting for a week, heading back into the lower level to case out anything we missed. We stop in the corridor and I start flaking away the limestone on the wall, revealing what looks like a slab of stone, vaguely the size of a door. With the guys' help I push it, and eventually it starts sliding forward. We soon reveal a passage, and all go in with our hands burning and blistered from the lime.
Exploring forward we find a room with a bunch of urns which are filled with oil. Whether for cooking or burning, I just don't know. Jaris checks the next door and says it isn't trapped so i open it. A green gas fills the entire chamber, and we start coughing and gagging. All of us mention feeling sleepy and lightheaded, so we leave. It doesn't appear to be disappearing anytime soon.
"Bad news!" Says Hans after much deliberation. "If I don't take another rest and pray for neutralize poison, we all will fall asleep."
"That's not so bad," I say. "I'm pretty tired."
"No, I don't think you understand. We will all fall asleep for five thousand years!"
And thus the next eight hours, Hans sleeps and wakes up just in time to pray. He casts a spell on himself just as I drift off.
I'm woken up a couple days later, starving and cranky. Guess they didn't want me in the first round of wake ups. We wait until everyone is woken, much time passing, and decide to head back to the Ziggarat one last time to try to get the Jade statue in the Catman room.
We find everything much the same, and head into the room. As we investigate, Six Nips comes to life and attacks!
"Yes!" I cry. "He's still alive!"
And thus the Catman returns.
🏹 Aevlin 🐆
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Post by dragonforgotten on May 12, 2020 15:13:45 GMT -5
I blink awake, my heads killing me as Hans face swims into view once again... what..? I was pulling a stupid gem from the.. wait! “No!” Suddenly I flip off the ground and everything goes dark as my face cracks into the stone floor. ....... ........... I shoot up gasping awake, my hands fly to my face as I feel the pain and rage well up in me. As I struggle to my as I spy the cursed gem sitting on the floor and clench my teeth. I’m beyond pissed, I’m furious! My eyes dart about looking for something big and heavy and land on the dwarf “Dwarf! Axe!” I shout. “Now Laddy, I know your angry but there’s no need for violence.” “Not him! The cursed peices of crap right there! Axe! Now!” He hands me the axe but I can barely lift it. “what if it explodes?” S*** he’s right! “Ahhh!” I slam down missing the gem at the last possibly minute. Ranting and wrathing I paint a series of colorful words and curse out the gods and their mothers as my fist slams into the wall as I devolve into screaming in pain. The party gratefully leaves me to my cursing, clutching my hand. Eventually I calm down, my eyes slide to Aevlin ties and gaged in the corner. Nylen fills me in on what happened and how she had attacked the group while they were fighting a tree, that’s she slashed Kynigos in the back white her bare hands. So I was right. This one is a fake, then that means. “The real on was turned to stone.” Me and Kork speak at once and a chill runs down my spin. I feel sick. Oh Aevlin. I’m sorry. I abandoned you when you needed me the most. The party is talking amongst themselves but I just sit in the floor feeling like gos se with his hand bunching up my hair. There’s talk of removing the gag from the fakes mouth so she could describe in her down words why she nearly killed Kynigos. Im slowly dying inside as we return to the steam dragon steps. Hans heals me alittle more. I feel slightly better as he looks at my expectedly. I stare at him long and hard. “You know what. No. I’m so firk! ding! blast!ing tired Hans. Ive had enough. Besides It’s also pointless. I’ve checked every step going up, every step beyond the mid step is rigged.” Nylen steps forward. “Fine I’ll go.” He begins the climb and proceeded to get steamed and burnt. I simply lean against the wall waiting for the group to move on. I just want this to be over. I want everything to make sense again. I feel so torn apart in fifty different directions. I don’t know how to feel right now. Everything feels pointless. Hans puts me in charging of watching the fake, the one wearing her face and I feel the rage in me burn. Her very presence enrage me. How dare she steal her face. How firk! ding! blast!ing dare she turn my wife to stone, insult and mock me. I’m so firk! ding! blast!ing tired and so firk! ding! blast!ing angry. Once the all clear is waved we all climb up the stairs with the fake draped over the new fighters shoulders. Eventually we make it back to the top and back to the room and drop the fake Aevlin on the floor. I’m immediately infront of stone Aevlin, hand cupping her stone face. I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry. Hans leaves the fake alone, approaching the group as I listen in. “Im going to try an exorcism. It’s going to take some time. There’s a risk but we’ll know for sure then.” My head can snap in their direction fast enough. “Then why are you doing this?” Every eyes meets my direction. My hands fall off her stone shoulders. “You know it’s not her. That thing grew firk! ding! blast!ing claws and attacked our wizard and you want to piss about while the real Aevlin suffers. Why are we taking all these firk! ding! blast!ing steps?” “We can’t know for sure. It’s better we’re careful.” I fall silent and my eyes fall onto the fake, looking smug. I can’t take this anymore. I look to the group again and glare as they completely ignore me. They don’t firk! ding! blast!ing care how much pain I am watching this. How firk! ding! blast!ing scared I am of losing the one thing most important to me. I glance at the fake Aevlin and she motions me over moving her wrists in an innocent manner and I can see that glint in her eye. She knows as well as I do she’ll get away with this. I know what will firk! ding! blast!ing happen. There ritual will happen, she’ll pretend to be cured and everyone will pretend it’s all grand, continue to Deny whats in front of their faces till something happens. Well, I’m not watching anymore. I am sick of being nice, of being helpless. Spineless while she needs me. If they don’t care what I think then why should I listen follow like a dog. If I can’t rely on them, then I’ll act for them. End this madness once and for all. I just hope I’m right. While they are talking amongst I vanish. The fake looks about for once worried. She starts shuffling we’re she stands, trying to call out to them but her voice is muffled and the group too engrossed by their conversation to notice. My unseen hand rests on her shoulders, her back facing me and I feel her stiffen. I act before I can hesitate. I plunge the blade through through her chest as she lets out a choking scream. She gags and wheezes as the party turns around to watch me twist the blade. The body to fall to the floor, my arms coated in blood and Lyon visible with gore. The entire party is rendered speechless as I can only focus on the gore and the dead body of fake, still wearing Aevlins face as I feel the flor drop from under me. I’ve... I was-!? No... please no! All the fight leaves my body. Instantly my limbs lock up and I’m rendered helpless “Tie him up!” The dwarf is on me in an instance as three of the group roughly grabs my arms force me to the ground and tie my hands together behind my back. I can only watch as Nylen experiments with the staff. My heart sinks as nothing happens at first. I just close my eyes fighting the anguish in my soul when suddenly I hear a gasp of air. My eyes fly open as the stone statue reverts back to Aevlin as she vomits violently over the floor. Thank the gods. Thank you.. Nylen explains everything to her as Hans helps her up. “And why is Jaris tied up?" She asks as Hans glances at me. "Well, he killed the other you. I couldn't risk him doing anything else crazy." No one seems willing to free me yet and I’m not will yet to get off the ground after the mental trauma I experienced. eventually nylen releases me and the moment I’m in front of Aevlin I her into my arms and squeeze her so tight like she could vanish at any moment. "Never do that to me again!" I weep kissing her. "I won't! Relax, how long was I gone? Ten minutes?" "Almost a whole day." "Oh. That explains why I'm so sore. Can I eat something?" I have to wipe my tears away and laugh into my cloak folds. Typical Aevlin. Azghalak is still wary of Aevlin but Hans double check with his spell and gives the clear. He’s looks pretty pissed with him. I can’t blame him since I was rash but I couldn’t take it any longer. Not when it’s her. This temple has slowly been breaking me apart peice by piece. ———
We spent the next few weeks taking in our stock while I become extra annoying to Aevlin. She takes my clinginess in stride knowing the amount of mental torment I suffered while she was stone. Once we strength our moral we head back into the bloody zyggarot once again to investigate the secrete door on the first floor. The one that burns my throat out, yes. It was going well till I found that door with weird glyphs on it. Thought it was going to paralyze me like wizard stuff usually does but nothing happened. Least on this side of the door. The moment Nylen opens the door all hell breaks loose. Three ceramic jars smash into the floor as gas’s fills the room. Then people begin to drop, one after another barely staying awake. Only me and Aevlin seem infected by the gas! Quickly I rip my sleeves off my shirt, throw one to her and tie the other around our mouths. Together we manage to help the group out of the damn temple and back into the open air. I just manage to catch her as she falls to her knees struggling to keep her eyes open. Thanks to Hans we all avoid sleeping for five thousand years. I try to apologize to Hans to how I was back with Evlin but I just get the cold shoulder. Fare enough. I’ve just about had it with this place. It’s a crap shoot. We’ve found nothing but death and curses and I’m still a very poor man. We give back one more time promising to check the cat room. Surprise surprise, catman is still alive. He doesn’t put up much of a fight before we all stab the gos se out of him and he turns back to stone. I feel kind of sorry for him. Aevlin is back to being her self again. She’s climbed onto the stuff tiger while Nylen starts ripping the stuff cats into pieces in his attempt to find gold. When Aevlin climbs off the tiger and guts it beautiful gold pours out of it. At last! We gather as much as we can and haul our load out of here. We’re attacked by a margay again during process but at last! We have gold in our make shift sled. I start thinking that things will look up till a chill runs down my spine. Nylen and Aevlin clutch their eyes. “I can’t see!” “What!?” I rush to her side alone while Hans checks in Nylen, pulling back his eye lids. I check Aevlin eyes to see they are glazed over with cateracts. He begins casting a spell and Nylen can see again, Aevlin though... “ I’ll need a few hours again.” There’s not much I can say. Aevlin is panicking, holding onto her new margay hat. This bloody jungle has gotten to everyone. I lead her to our bedrolls and sit her down, holding her. “It’s going to be ok. I be right here.” She squeezes my hand. The wait is painfully long but eventually Hans fixes her bright eyes again. I look to everyone. “I’m really f*** tired of this temple. Who’s ready to leave.” Half of the Hands go up. Its official. The party straps the gold in while me and Aevlin drag Cayleen out of the jungle, still mediating and throw her onto the sled. We leave this damn jungle behind. The ride never felt sweeter knowing I’ll never have to see this place again.
Jaris FJ
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Post by Aileen on May 18, 2020 22:07:48 GMT -5
After losing my sight for an entire evening, sweating and exhausted in the nasty jungle I am absolutely done with the Ziggurat. We leave the next day, much to everyone's relief.
I spend 7 weeks drinking and partying with my friends, visiting my parents back at home, and then rejoin the group. Jaris was away at training, making me quite lonely, but it makes reunited even sweeter. He's a bit miffed that I tried to adopt a feral cat while tripping on drugs with our new illusionist Olmirth, but obviously it didn't work out anyway. While we are hanging around we are summoned to meet with some nobles in the city of Greyhawk, and are given a quest to retrieve three stolen magic weapons: Wave, Whelm and Blackrazor. The three weapons were kidnapped... weaponnapped? And are being held hostage at White Plume Mountain, the volcano lair of some long dead wizard. Seems legit, and the payout should be decent, so we accept.
The entry to the place is super windy, and when my husband finds a stairway down we find the next part to be humid and wet. Slogging through the water with my socks soaking wet, we come across the biproduct of a topless human and a lion it looks like.
"Hi." She says.
"Hi. You've only got two of them." I say, pointing to my own chest.
"Ah yes, that's all I need I suppose."
"Me too, I guess. Well, they are... um, nice."
"Thank you, yours too. What brings you here?"
Turns out she is a Sphinx, and hubby asks her a riddle. She likes riddles, and has one for us. I try walking forward, and run into an invisible wall. It takes walking into it twice more for Jaris to stop me from doing myself any harm. Olmirth answers the riddle, and we move on down the left fork. I'm ambling along with my buddy Ogden, when suddenly both of us drop into the floor, plunging into a pool of water. I can swim, but I hate the water for obvious reasons and begin to panic. But in the glowing light of my sword I see Ogden sinking down, his heavy armour taking him to the bottom- I have to help him!
I swim down, and another burst a bubbles alerts me that someone else is here. Jaris points upward, and I flash him a thumbs up. I grab Ogden, and start swimming upward. Jaris grabs his other arm. I take in a deep breath of air as I breach the surface, relishing it for a second just before a stone Gargoyle thing falls on top of us. I'm briefly pushed under, but then swim to the other side of the path and climb out.
"You okay, Aev?" Jaris asks. I nod, and he returns to helping the others. They don't need it- Nylen absolutely slaughters the remaining statue thing.
We move along, and I start feeling hot. It soon grows extremely uncomfortable, and I feel the hilt of my sword starting to burn through my gloves and my chainmail heating up against my skin.
"Sh**! It's burning me alive!" I shriek, and run forward.
"Aevlin, wait!" Jaris calls.
"No! I'm burning alive!" I yell back, dashing down the hall.
It gets hotter and hotter, and I fear I will drop. I feel terrible, my skin is in pain and blistering, but if i drop... alas! I make it to another room, and it is blessedly cooler. My armor begins cooling instantly, and I stand panting and shaking. Sometimes it really doesn't pay off to be so heavily armored, but if it keeps me from getting a sword to the gut then I'll wear it happily.
The others reach us, poor Ogden slumped on the floor barely conscious, and just as they arrive a humanoid shambles down some stairs. A wight! I cant help but be reminded of watching poor Jose dying as one touched her. They are not to be messed with! Hans holds up his holy symbol, and it explodes! Pays to have such a powerful cleric.
The next room we come to seems not so bad, other than having an open pit. I walk in to check it out, and immediately start slipping around. I slam into the opposite wall, and fall right into the pit, gashing my leg on some rusty razor blades. It's painful, but I'm alright. I tell my rope to go to Hans, and he pulls me out. Then he tries going in, holding the rope, and I accidentally pull too hard and send him in it.
We are all stumped as to how to proceed, but then I just go for it. I run in, clearing the pit, but then start slamming into the walls really hard as I go. I fall into the pit on the opposite side after careening through am illusory wall and bouncing off the real one. Cut up again and frustrated, I tell my rope to climb up and attach to the door. I climb out, hold onto the handle, and swing my legs around. I kick it so hard that the door goes flying open, but then the momentum drags me back into the pit. I dangle spinning in circles as the door slowly closes. Then, some white sticky substance falls on me, and I gag.
"Guys, I think there might be a giant in here!" I call.
I get myself out, Hans shortly joins me, and after a run in with a wraith that turns out to be our illusionist, me accidentally shooting Hans, and everyone falling into the pit we finally all get across. Poor Kynigos almost dies from super tetanus, but Hans saves him.
Next we go into an aquarium of sorts, and Olmirth dies. Ogden takes his body out, and Hans brings him back to life. We camp out in a weird room with a suspended river and kayaks, and are rudely interrupted by an ogre which Ogden and I kill. We put it in front of the door, and all seems well until it is suddenly sucked under and gone. A black ooze thing comes in, and attacks. It kills Kynigos and knocks out Ogden before Jaris and I figure out it doesn't like heat or fire. It leaves and then returns a while later, but we manage to get our rest and Hans gets his spells back.
Then we load up for the fun part- a boat ride! Jaris and I take the third kayak, watching the other two groups of two each go. Everything seems fine until we circle into a big room, and a net is thrown over me! I'm roughly dragged out of the kayak, and look up to see some thug looking men leering down at me. Their boss, I think, stands across the room wearing some very fancy boots. I want those boots. But first, I need out of this net!
🏹🍓 Aevlin Jörmungandr 🍺🍷
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Post by dragonforgotten on May 22, 2020 22:18:13 GMT -5
Back in town, gos se out of luck. The damn jungle was a bust and I can feel my sour mood with Aevlin pouting by my side as we book our rooms for tonight. Cayleen contracted jungle fever from her deep meditation session so we had to tie her to the bed till she recovers. I just hope she recovers soon enough. Its tough without her moxy and healing. Hans is amazing but when the job of healing falls soly on him I can only imagine the stress and frustration that comes with it. The moment our bags leave our backs I head back down stairs and do what I promised myself the moment I get back. I slap two gold coins down on the table as I take a seat at the bar. “Get me the good stuff.” I slide me a drink and it’s gone the moment Aevlin slides next to me. “Not going to savior it this time.” Aevlin chide as I grunt. “You kidding. After the shut we’ve been though I just want to be stupid till I can forget that shodding mess.” Aevlin chuckles. “Agreed. One for me to!” The man gives her a cold one as a drink unsatisfied. I bang my fist on the table. “Oi! What is this, pumpkin juice! I’m still sober!Get me the fire giant ale this time and not that piss you call turnip juice!” He slides it towards me and it burns good. “There ya go! Much better!” “I’ll have what he’s having!” The man passes her the drink no questions asked. This begins a series of booze till I feel my self slump on my perch and nearly fall off the stool. I feel Aevlins arm land on me, squeezing my bisecp as her face swims into view. “Why don’t we take this up stairs.” I chuckle to myself, ears hot as I’m dragged upstairs stumbling and giddy..... ..... I’m half comatose on the bed till nature calls. I stagger out of bed, cloths ruffled and displaced as I finish my business outside. Just as I stagger away, near the exit of the alley way Im a bit stupefied when I find I’m not alone. A hooded figure stands blacking my way. Before I can react I’m cracked across the neck and everything grows dark. ..... ..... I groan curling in on myself. My aching head. “Well look you decided to join us. Have a nice nap?” I grumble clutching my head ........ “Rise and shine princess!” Jolted back to life as I flail about wet and cold! “What the firk! ding! blast!!?” I shout wiping the water out of my eyes and then freeze. Im in a dimly lit building, many eyes falling on me as men and woman jeer at me from the shadows. Each figure doned in leather with scared hands. As my eyes dart about I just spy the chuckling of a snotty teenager holding an empty bucket as I shiver from the cold. “You were right folks. Knife ears here do feel the cold after all. trembles like a flea bitten mugral as well.” “W-whats that you say punk.” I try to stand but I’m pulled back to the ground by my wrists. I move my wrists and come to the realization that their bound tight. “Oh can it fairy boy. We ain’t all here to watch you dream about. Unlike you we actually working folks here. We can’t all be as blessed as you sweet stuff.” I’m beyond piss. Of course. I’ve how could I bloody forget how some people think of me. I stand slick the wet hair out of my face. “Oh, why not come alittle closer. I can give you a matching set of your own.” The brat laughs, I have half a mind to burn through my rope and break his face in. Who’d be laughing then. It’s then I notice everyone go quiet as a clap echos through the hall along with the creaking if aged wood. I turn to find a imposing man lean lazily across and arm chair clapping his hand together. For a theif this man is huge. Too huge. His mits alone appears they’ve seen their share of abuse but still poses the possibility to break necks. His soulless eyes land on me, the scar on his brow standing out in a bright angry red. “Amusing. Very amusing.” My ears perk forward as I recognized the drawl in his voice. I scowl, shuffling to my feet with my hands bound behind my back. The man stretches as I can hear his bones pop as he groans with relief. “Alright now. I’ve had my fun now. Free him.” The punk moans with disappointment. “Aww, Already! I was just having fun.” He man lights a cigar. “Now now. What have I told you about politeness Herise. We must remember our manners after all. He’s is our guest after all.” The punk stomps his feet and comes to my side with a dagger cutting my hands free before stomping off with a huff. “Charming brat you have.” I growl under my breath. “I know. Such a charmer isn’t he.” He flicks his cigar and one of the gang yelps as it hits one of them in the face. I rubb my wrists unamused yet wholly familiar with this situation, an idea of who I’m dealing with worms it’s way into my head. “So. Why the heck am I in a theives guild? I do like dealing with my own kind but on my own terms is appreciated” “Ah good. You catch on quick. Saves me the breath explaining. I don’t have the patients to go through this song and dance to everyone I meet so keep those long ears open.” He shifts in his chair his eyes borrowing through my soul. “I am Tibirus, the war hound of dock street and your new teacher.” He grins wide revealing the classic orc tusks, have been replaced with golden ones. My eyes narrowed. gos se. “Who paid you?” “That’s for me to know and you to find out. Official guild business after all.” He snaps his fingers and a woman brings a box to him. He reach in and his hands come out with brass knuckles. “Class in session boy. Show me what you got.”
———
I come back alittle more wiser and a little more wiser. War dog certainly knows how the bloody teach and he’s what I could say very heavy handed. I walk in just as the party is meeting with these blue blood and slum in the chair as they go over the job. They got their gos se stolen, no surprise there. Had a laugh knowing a wizard stole their gos se. Our job. Got to a active volcano, beat up down bulks, get their gos se back. The catch is that the weapons are sentient, so a taking hammer, triton and sword. Ok cool “So what’s in it for us. I dream big after all.” “Anything. How much are you looking for.” Talks go other among us but no one doesn’t have a idea yet. It’s Not exactly easy how much to really ask for. They say any amount but how much is too much. Hmmm... f**** it. “How about you pay us all enough to tie us over next time we come back to town and to pay off our tutors. Our lives are sacred after all.” The nobles look at each other. “Deal.
———
Well. This has turned out to be much much better then the bloody jungle temple. So far we had a run in with a soggy sphinx. She’s pretty cool. I tell her a riddle but it’s not enough to let us pass. Of course we could always... never mind. Aevlin has run into a force field and bounces off it. She then tries again and again till I lead her away form it. The Sphinx shares her riddle and I am stumped. I don’t have a clue with this one. The one in the temple was so straight forward but this. No idea. It’s then our newest addition chime up with the answer. The moon. He’s right and we’re allowed to pass! I slap my forehead. Of course! It makes so much sense now. We continue our track down the hallway with water up to our knees. We had a run in with a pair of gargoyle which Nylen completely faces by himself while me and Aevlin help fish Our new human fighter out from the flooded pit trap. I regret leaving my ten foot pole near the exit to this place. Next came the corridor with metal plates. Looks like a place lightening could blast from so the party begins to march on much to my worry with Aevlin leading the group onward. It gets really bloody hot. Blistering almost to people who are cooking in their armor. It’s a relief when we finally reach the end but the relief is short lived. A bloody wight appears on the bloody steps in the far corner. The color drains out of Aevlin face. Before it so much as twitches it suddenly pop like a soap bubble. I look at Hand with his symbol out stretched. “Wow.” That’s all I can say. Never felt better with Hans being able to pop ghosts. We carry on, having a lady? of a time trying to maneuver around a slicked room with pits filed with rusted blades of super tentius. It certainly bloody hurts and Kynigos nearly died from it. We take a left this time and open the door to find a massive room descending down into a dark pit with large steps with each plane filled with creatures roaming about. The one infront of us is filled with massive crawfish but they can’t climb up to get us. Sucks to be them. I think to myself till gos se starts going south. Long sharp Spines spring from the darkness. They all pierce into Olmarth and he drops with a death rattle. Oh f***... “Run! We’re running now!” I grab Aevlins by the hand and we ran but Hans still takes a few spines in the back. Thankfully he makes it back to the hallway with us till I notice someone is missing. Ogden. Look back out I see him grab the gnome and begins to struggling to get back to us. I beg him to leave him behind, that he is beyond help but the fighter refuses and somehow he makes it back as I slam the door behind him, hearing and feeling the spines slam into the wood of the door. I drop my invisibility as we stand around our dead gnome. I hardly knew him. Aevlin pulls out the spines as we stand around. I thought that would be the end of him till Hans begins reciting a spell. I find my hand clutching at the scar in remembrance. It hurts in a way it hasn’t before as the pain of that day lingers in the back of my mind. Olmarth springs back to life vomiting blood and gasping for air. Oh my god, he really did it. My eyes slide to Han before turning back to Olmarth as Kynigos awkwardly returns his spell book and crystals. I’m not sure what to think of this. Not in a bad way. Just.. I don’t know. just brings back memories of bleeding out on a boat. Everyone is all screwed up. Surprisingly it’s not be this time hobbling and I throw in my vote of resting in the room ahead. We arrive to a weird sight. There’s a river floating in the air with kanoes lining the walls. There’s even fish swimming in the current. There’s nothing dangerous here so we try and let Hans pray and rest. We’re disturbed by an orger but he drops like a ton of bricks and we drag him in and he becomes a very nice door block. I’m feeling pretty good with our chances till I hear the slurping. The ungodly sounds as the orger corpse begins to dissolve and melt under the door as I jump to my feet as a black ooze squirms it’s away under the door. Oh hell what is this!? Aevlin rushes it, slicing it in half but it does nothing, only cut it in two and makes more of them. Kynigos slings spells, making it finch but it seems we need only one thing now. Fire. Ogden and Kynigos fumble through the nearest bag and begin trying to light a torch while I am forced to dig into myself and focus on burning the pudding. They manage to light it but the ooze is too fast. It lashes out and the wizard falls. I turn my attention focusing my gaze even when it hits me. It begins to bubble at least and it cringes in pain. Aevlin pick up the torch and swings it at the second one. Slowly as I focus on my burning gaze my ooze squirms back undead the door and it’s gone. With one last swing from Aevlin the last one retreats and I let out a sigh of relief and look her in the eye. “We make a good team.” We wait again. This time it’s painfully long. The ooze comes back but Aevlin drives it away with the last torch. When Hans is atlast finish he seems the carnage around him and sighs. “What happened here?” “Black ooze. It killed Kynigos.” With that he revived the wizard and I find myself clutching at my scar again. I’m not loving my odds right now. That two in one day. We need to find a safer place to rest. One with no oozes. Well only one thing left to do. We grab a Boat and go for a ride. It’s pretty fun riding down this floating river in the dark with Aevlin. Of course the fun ends when we reach the end of the tunnel. There’s folks waiting for us with nets and swords. They snag Aevlin and as I’m about to jump out from the boat to shank a lady? I see him. A tall imposing man stands at the far end of the room, a grizzled scar on his face, a dark glotee with a wicked snuggle tooth smile. Oh hell! It’s Sir Bluto! How the heck did he get here!? He gives out the order to kill as I ready to pounce.
-Jaris FJ
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Post by Aileen on May 24, 2020 20:54:14 GMT -5
I completely get my ass whooped by the big guys with swords after escaping the net they threw me in, but we are victorious in the end. I go over to the leader, and start pulling his boots off. They're pretty, I love boots, and I want them. I put the boots on, and after lacing them really tight I get them to fit. They smell a little like man feet, but I can get past that. They're gorgeous boots, and I do love me some nice shoes. I stand up and check myself out- damn I look good!
"Honey, you should try climbing up a wall." Jaris says to me.
"Why would I do that?"
"Just try it, see if they do anything."
So, I run towards the wall with every intention of trying to get up it. And then I realize I'm running much faster than I usually do. I jump, but even that I do much more effectively- but I can't stop myself!
"Oh, sh-!"
I slam into the wall so hard that I crash back to the floor, sprawling onto my back. I'm stunned for a few moments, and Jaris runs to my side.
"Aevlin, are you alright?"
"That..." I groan. "Was awesome."
He helps me up, and I shake off the pain of my collision. Jaris holds a handkerchief to my nose as blood gushes out. He checks my nose, making sure it's not broken, and I get the all clear.
"Hm, almost looks straighter than before that ogre gave you a table to the face." He says.
"See how far you can jump," suggests Nylen.
I make plenty of space for myself, and jump. I easily clear nearly the entire room before I have to stop myself. They are going to take some getting used to, but these boots are so much fun! Jaris has to stop me from bouncing around so much and make me lay down and try to sleep. We are going to be resting a long time for Hans, and I was up most of yesterday guarding the other room.
After many, many hours we are ready to move on. Kynigos finds a secret door with the help of the magic key we found on the serial killer Sir Bluto, and we continue exploring with the body of said man in tow. According to Jaris, Sir Bluto is worth quite a chunk of change... however, that was if brought in alive. Fortunately, Hans can bring him back, but we are going to wait until we are out of here.
We loop back around to the hallway we've already been in, and realize the only place in this fork of the mountain we haven't been is in the Aquarium of Death. So, we go there, and Nylen borrows my ring of invisibility to go in and shoot a rod of continuing light into the darkness where we couldn't see.
It goes... poorly. Nylen is taken down quickly, as strong and beefy an elf as he is, and we enter to see three manticore in the bottom. Hans kills two of them, and I end up shooting the other one until it dies. Thankfully Hans brings Nylen back, and my ring is not lost.
We decide to bring bodies of the bad guys in to distract the crayfish so that Hans can get into the tank and break the glass, after Kynigos successfully started spider-webbing the glass with the last of his magic missiles. I suggest we haul the bodies in the kayaks that keep going around the track, and we do so. We dump the bodies in, and I tie the magic rope around Hans' waist and lower him in.
The crayfish start skittering over, and Hans begins hammering the glass with his shockey cylinder thing. Nylen and Jaris grab the rope behind me, and Hans keeps hammering away. He doesn't look too good... suddenly looking a bit faint and pale, but he keeps pounding away. The crayfish get closer, ready to strike, when the glass explodes. Hans is pulled down in the gush of water, and I can't keep my feet. I feel Nylen slam into me as I splash into the water. We are in with the scorpions, sea-lions and crayfish now... we have made a terrible mistake, and are now a part of the Aquarium of Death!
🏹 Aevlin
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Post by dragonforgotten on Jun 2, 2020 1:27:30 GMT -5
(A few years before Darkshelf)
“Oh Rue of averius eyes of forest green~. Why must you mock this padfoots luck~. I wish for quiet and bend the knee, but oh does the floor boards break and the lords does scream~. thus is how I dress in chains~.” The bars clatter as I stop singing and the guards snarls at me. “Quiet!” “You can imprison my body but you can’t inprison my voice Jack ass!” “One more peep and I’ll bet you black and blue!” I groan getting comfortable on the hard bed looking up at the small grate along the wall. Typical. No sense of humor. It’s then a large man with sharp narrow eyes is dragged into the room and thrown into a cell adjacent to me, still coated in blood. The guard with no sense of humor gauffs as he sees the blood trail with a shake of the head. “Bloody hell. Why are you throwing the b*****d here. I’ve got enough to deal with.” The two guess dust their hands with a sigh. “Sorry Bruce. Had to stick Sir Bluto somewhere for the magistrate to pick him up.” “Sir Bluto?” “Aye he was a decorative officer I’ll have you know. Too bad him and his men turned to bloody murder.” “Gods, how many people did this bloke kill?” “Too much. Word in the streets the higher ups are calling it the river of blood case.” The guard looks ten times older then he did before. “Bloody hell’s. Just make sure you tell them to hop to it. I’m not paid enough to watch psychopaths.” With that the two officers leave taking the grumpy one with them. Probably to do paper work or something. A chill goes up my spine as Bluto leers at me through his bars. I suddenly don’t feel very safe her anymore. It is at that moment my god send arrives as the grate wiggles and shifts to the side, Joes head piping out through the hole. “Took you long enough.” “Hey, you try sawing away at these damn bars quietly.” I take that as my que to leave. “Still haven’t beat my record by the way.” “Oh shut up.”
———- (Present)
I stab the f***er who dragged my wife of the boat in the lungs before vanishing in a blink of an eye, swing back and slicing deep into another heart. In a flurry of desperation and violence from me and my party we manage to kill everyone in the room including the inhuman monster of a man thanks to Nylen. I approach the corpse fo sir Bluto as Aevlin immediately takes his boots not a second later. “Well s***. It really is him. This is the last place I thought I’d find him. How the heck did he escape from that place?” “Something you like to share with the class?” Asks Kynigos as I rest a hand on my hip. “Well for one thing This was Sir Bluto. He was apart of the guards till he commited a series brazen of massacres. It was so bad that people referred to it as the rivers of blood case. He’s suppose to locked tight under lock and key watched of magic magistrates. It’s a small world after all.” “How do you know it’s him?” Probs Nylen. “He’s got that face. I remember it back in prison. Hard to forget someone like that.” I see Nylen scowl at me as I brush him off. “Hey, we can’t all be saints. A man such as myself has their habits and itches they have to scratch.” “I see. Was he worth anything?” I wrack my memories, rubbing my neck, thinking. I remember seeing his poster once. I didn’t think much of it at the time since I never thought I’d see his ugly mug again. How much was it... It then hits me as my eyes go wide. “Oh s***! He’s worth a lot! I think like 10,000!” This animates everyone in the room. Nothing like larger summons of money to wake us up. “Wait! Was the reward dead or alive?” All excitement drains out of the room as we remember our golden ticket is dead. “Well, I can bring him back. Would count then right?” Offer Hans and the hope is alive again! Our lucks changing for the better. We rest and with Nylen in the lead we formulate a new plan on killing the beasts in the bottom of that strange room. It’s simple. Nylen shoots the continue light rod he’s been holding onto the darkness and fire away while Hans brings hell to them with a flame strike. I’m extremely worried for him considering how we were pin cushioned last time when he was missing but there is no better ideas. He takes the helm and all goes to plan, revealing the hoard of manticores. He fires away and I can’t help but question if they had wings why did they not fly at us? Nylen then begins taking far too many spines and to my horror drops but thanks to his efforts the manticores exhausted their ammo. Aevlin easily shoots them down as Hans brings retribution on their a***s. With the manticores dead we have a new problem. How to get to the bottom. Every step of this reverse pyramid contains a host of large man eating creatures. Some of them under water. Back to the drawing board and were all stumped. Every plan seems outrageous and risky but what choice do we have. We have no way around this yet. We cobble together a flimsy plan and take a rest, returning with Hans tied to the rope with his baton in hand. Kynigos weakens the wall and while the giant crayfish are eating the corpses far ahead Hans bashes at the glass as me, Aevlin and Nylen hold on. The glass breaks as expected but it all goes tits up. Hans is dragged in by the force of the water, dragging us with him to the second level. When we gather our bar rings Hans I’m stuck on the third level with massive aquatic lions while we’re faced to face with massive scorpions. It’s bloody horrifying! Worst yet, it gets uglier. The crayfish can climb f***ing walls! I’m a bloody sitting duck with my back against the wall! There’s nothing I can do about this besides try and escape and pull the others out of there. Before I can even act a sharp claw slashes my throat and all fades to grey....... ................. I open my eyes feeling disorientated and wet as Hans helps me sit up. “Hey Jaris.” “Hi Hans, what the hell happen. Gods why does my throat feel so sore-.” I’m silences when I reach to rub my neck and I’m encountered by a thick bandage and it all comes rushing back. I feel sick. “Hans! Hans! What the absolute f***! Oh f***ing hell! Why?! How the did the f***ker get me this time!? “You should lay back down before you hurt yourself.” “Ya, ya I think I’ll do that. Holy f***k.” I whisper to myself clutching my throat. It’s not long till Aevlin at my side. Immediately we latch onto each as she sobs into my arm. I’m just numb to this at this point in my career when the shock wares off. I still can’t believe I was inches away from a giant crab slitting my throat. “My bloody luck huh.” I ask her. “Least you’ll have another cool scar out of this.” She tells me trying to cheer me up. “I guess but damn. That’s another nightmare do aid to the pile.” More of these close shaves are cutting decades form my life span. We cuddle in the corner of the room as we wait for Hans to finish his nap, all of us barely clinging on with our wounds just scabbing over finially under heavy bandages. I’m about to doze off when suddenly every nerve ending brings to spike as a creeping dread fills my soul. My eyes sweep the room about and I notice it. A distinguished ripple in the float river. “Something here!” I jump to my feet with everyone else searching for the intruder. It’s not till it slams into Olgend do I realize what we’re dealing with. “Crap! Not these guys again! It’s an invisible stalker!” We send that time desperately floundering about, swinging at thin air till Nylen cuts it down. We try and rest again and again but every 3 hours another stalker would appear. When even bashed Hans over the head. Eventually Hans is able to get some rest in but I’m not loving our odds. We have two options, both leading to Retreat for now and rest at the village while collecting Blutos bounty. either we complete the next four hours for Hans to rest, risk an encounter with something worst then stalkers but leave with more certainty in keeping people awake and alive. Or we leave now and make do with what we got. This is a tough choice.
Jaris FJ
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Post by Aileen on Jun 8, 2020 12:08:55 GMT -5
I walk into a tavern looking for a meal when I spot him. I recognize those muscles and holy symbol anywhere. The founder of Kord Scouts himself, Hans Gunther Heinrich.
“Hans!” I call, walking towards his table.
“No way- Franzia?!”
He jumps to his feet and pulls me into a hug. It’s been years since I last saw him at the Temple of Kord where we trained. He’s only gotten more handsome.
“I did not expect to see you, I thought you were off on some crazy adventure! You look great, Hans!”
“As do you!”
As we talk, I see the people he is sitting with watching quietly. That is until a short girl with long black hair comes stumbling over, double fisting pints of ale.
“Hans, I got you one... but I forgot and drank it. Still want it?” She slurs.
“No, Aevlin, you can have it. Don’t want you dropping from the DTs before you go to training.”
“Thanks, bud. Who is this?” She sets one of her drinks down, and a dark haired and shifty looking half-elf grabs it.
“I’m Franzia von Hammerschmidt, paladin of Kord.”
“Wow, you’re like... really pretty.” She hiccups. “For a paladin.”
The girl looked a bit unsteady to begin with, so I’m not at all surprised when she vomits beer onto the floor in front of her, splashing my boots.
“I’m so sorry!” She cries.
“No matter, it will wash off,” I tap my toe on the floor, looking around for something to wipe it off.
“Sorry, ma’am, we’ve been in the mountain a few days and it hasn’t been very easy,” apologizes the half-elf, taking the beer away from the girl. “She’s off to training tomorrow. Last hurrah sort of thing.”
“Right. I wish you luck, miss... Aevlin, is it?”
“Thanks!” She looks very pale and sways on her feet.
“Jaris, get your wife some water and put her to bed.” The elf orders.
The shifty looking half-elf sweeps the half-conscious drunk off her feet and slings her onto his shoulder. He’s been drinking a lot too based on his swagger. He carries her off across the bar and they disappear up the stairs.
The group transfers to another table as the poor tavern boy comes to clean up the mess. The elf gives a courteous bow and introduces himself.
“Well met, my lady, I am Nylen Starbow.”
“Well met, indeed.”
I am introduced to the rest of the gang, and it turns out they were going to look for another party member while in town. The high priest of Kord caught wind of a rumor regarding missing magic weapons, and it turns out these people are looking for the same ones.
“It seems our goals are aligned. I will join you in this quest, if you will have me.”
“Oh, we will have you!” Hans smiles. “We have a lot of catching up to do!”
It’s been a while since I’ve had a good adventure. I’m suspicious of some of these party members, but Nylen seems a stand up guy and Hans... well, Hans will always hold a special place in my heart. I look forward to exploring what White Plume Mountain has to offer.
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Post by dragonforgotten on Jun 9, 2020 16:02:05 GMT -5
The journey back over the super tetnius pit is just as frustrating as it was going over. I had to slide into both pits and nearly get smothered in web, such is fate. Thankfully we figured a way through involving a complex pull system using ropes and a kyaka. We perpared to go back through the Oven corridor when it Dine’s on me we haven’t searched this room for secret doors thanks to the wight. I didn’t find anything but something found us. A lot of something. Six ghouls come pouring into the room from a unknown secret door. Hans tried to turn them but they don’t even flinch and all hell breaks loose. They tear into everyone as a sneak about invisible. I emerge briefly from invisibility, slicing with enough force to sever its spin, killing the bastard hurting my wife. She moves onto the ones ganging up on Hans but the ghouls start getting the better of us. Soon everyone is paralyzed except for me and Nylen and a handful of living ghouls left. It was a tough fight, fighting with a ferocity I didn’t know I had but together we somehow come out of this alive. Nothing stops us as we manage to exit the cave with our dead pay day in hand. Hans does his miracle work again and Sir Bluto lives again if weakened. Shame he couldn’t suffer more for what he did. He’s just going to escape again the first chance he gets but I prefer money and it’s the watches job now. The bastard wouldn’t even share his trade secrets. Could have learned something interested but I’m clever enough if the time comes for me to bust out of jail. We reach the town mid afternoon and trade in this a***hole for a fat stack of gold. I’m gitty, holding Aevlins hand as we return back to the inn after turning in Bluto for that fat pay check. She stop mefrom going to the bar just yet. “Let’s go for a walk. There’s something I need to tell you.” I can’t help but raise a brow. “Alright?” She leads me by the arm back outside behind the inn. “So what do you want to talk about?” I ask confused and curious. She takes my hand. “Jaris. This is a long time coming but I need to train?” My ears droop. “Your leaving now? But what about the dungeon?” “Jaris I feel like I’m falling behind in the group. You can open almost any lock now and Hans can raise the f****ing dead. I need to catch up. the group has already decided this is a good idea and have given me the money to train.” I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me. “That’s great.” She frowns as she rubs my back. “What’s with the face.” She teases. “Your going to be gone for so long. I understand it’s a good thing but I can’t help but feel sad your not going to be with me this time. It’s going to be lonely.” She pinches my cheek. “Awww, your not going to cry are you.” I swat her away laughing. “Naw, I’ll survive. Just means I get to keep al the jewels we find.” “Hey!” I laugh raising my ears, running my hand along her face “You know your going to have to make it up to me for the few days we have together.” She rests her hand on my chest. “Oh yes We will.” I kiss her, the matter settled. ——-
I say my good byes the next morning and slump at the bar with a bowl of oatmeal and bacon, my head killing me from last nights celebration. I can’t remember all that happened before bed. That’s what I get for mixing my drinks I guess. It’s then a woman, dressed plainly with a shock of king red hair slides in next to me. She looks vaguely familiar. “Can I help you? A drink or something?” “No thank you. ” Well, what’s got her goat this morning. “Are you Jaris?” Oh she knows my name? Werid. “Aye, it is. Sorry who are you again? The hangover is killing me.” She turns her seat towards me. “Right, you must have forgotten last night. I am Franzia, paladin of Kord and the new member of your group.” “Aw gos se. Right. Really did forget.” She looks a lot thicker in her plate armor. The fact she didn’t put it on also didn’t help jog my memory. She looks me up and down with narrow eyes. “I normally don’t work with theives and pyromaniacs know but your missions is very important and It’s nice to be working with Hans again. I hope we can work well together” I pause sipping my drink. “How you know-... bloody Hans.” I mutter. Now it really is coming back to me now. Guess I’m going to have two nanny’s now between her and Nylen. “Just remember I have my eye on you dirty theif.” I gasp, in mock offense. “Me dirty!? Nonsense. I washed just last night. I’m clean as can be.” “I mean your soul!” “Oh, I think I know how clean my soul is considering certain circumstances. Besides I continue to do my gods good work every day.” I take a drag from my drink again. “I met your wife last night. She was very lovely but she certainly has a problem considering she vomited on my boots.” “Sounds right. You’ll understand soon enough. When you live life no guarantees you’ll make it back alive it’s great to not give a single f*** what people think.” We sit in silence as I finish up my breakfast. “I’ve been wondering. If you both are happy wed why don’t you two settle down. Have a family?” I start choking on my drink and it takes her slapping me on the back till I can speak again. “Me!? Her!? No way. She revels in a good fight and I enjoy the money and magic gos se we find. I don’t admit it but I also enjoy the experience it earns me. Well take it easy when there’s no more gos se the dungeons can offer us.” The paladin chuckles as I settle back into my oats. Bloody crazy talk. I see her drinking milk and I order myself one of those new acholoic milk drinks. When she’s not looking I switch her drink mine. She sips her milk as I do the same with mine. “My drink tastes strange.” “Proably just you.” I smirk behind the wooden mug.
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Post by Aileen on Jun 15, 2020 21:13:56 GMT -5
It’s less than a day’s hike to White Plume Mountain, but I still hear complaints that I am slow. Well excuse me if I don’t have the luxury of magical weightless armour!
It’s quite wet and uncomfortable on the way in and I am quite astonished at how casually my group speaks to the gynosphynx. I have never seen such a creature, but I assume not all are like this frazzled and sarcastic one. Moving along we come to a point where I am told at the last second that I should remove my armour, and then I realize the hallway ahead is extremely hot. Something tells me if Hans didn’t warn me that nobody would have. The kayak that we put our armour in is unfortunately destroyed by the heat, leaving the others questioning how they will get through a “pit room”.
We enter a secret door, finding an empty room. As we search, hoping for another door, three ogres enter. It is not long before they are destroyed, after some fantastic swordplay among us warrior types and some magic missiles. Exiting the room we are set upon by wights, which Hans sends away. I suggest the hot hallway be checked. I deeply regret even mentioning the idea when Hans and Nylen are attacked by the wights returning shortly after, and Nylen loses some of his skill.
I notice the gnome illusionist is very clingy to me, and everyone seems to keep close. I guess my aura makes them feel safe- I fear no evil, and I’m glad I can give them some comfort from it. Even if some individuals like to test my patience for being a paladin.
We come to the pit room, and I don’t see why everyone is so up in arms about it until we start crossing the ropes that Olmirth strung up. It is quite slippery, and I can see past the kayak carnage in each pit are very rusty razor blades. Apparently Kynigos died of super tetanus and was brought back!
Next is the “Aquarium of Death”. I am a little disappointed when we open the doors and there is absolutely no water at all. The multiple levels are strewn with the bones of several large aquatic creatures, and there are five massive scorpions. We all have a good laugh at what must have happened when they were gone- the water drained out, and the natural food chain happened.
Hans, Ogden and I take the scorpions out extremely quickly. Hans killed two with a column of flame, and I find myself extremely impressed by his skills. I still remember the brand new cleric struggling with healing spells at the temple, but now look at him!
I proceed down into the bottom level of the aquarium while the others search around. Looking about, I see a door, and opposite it there is a safe!
“Hey, theif- I mean, Jaris! There’s a safe down here!”
The thief begrudgingly joins me down below, and the others too. I detect evil towards it but don’t pick up on anything.
“I suggest everyone go up top in case I set a trap off.”
Everyone but me does. As horrid a profession as I think Jaris has, I’m not going to let anything happen to him without backup. He gets it open just fine, and starts going through it. Up above I hear the sounds of battle, and the fall of three large things. They come back to us and report it was more ogres. Leaving the treasure In the safe for later, we proceed to the door. Jaris checks it, and I go in.
“Oh- hello!” A little Halfling lies on a divan, surrounded by treasures. “You’ve come to rescue me!”
The others start talking to him, and I cast my detect evil. He lights up, blazingly evil. I charge forward, sword held high.
“He’s evil!” I shout.
He rubs a ring on his finger and suddenly there are five of him! I attack, Nylen at my side, and we start dropping the illusions. The Halfling casts a spell and I’m struck by a cold blast. Hans rushes by, and leaps at the Halfling just as it turns into... an ogre?! This has gotten much worse! Hans gets him by the waist, a bit shocked that he is not fighting a Halfling.
Finally we take the ogre mage down, but as he drops our own gnome mage stands up, his eyes nearly glowing and holding aloft a black, shadowed blade the size of him.
“I am Blackrazor!”
🗡🛡 Franzia
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Post by Aileen on Jun 22, 2020 20:16:28 GMT -5
As a paladin of Kord and a recruiter for Kord Scouts I have had my fair share of bad-mouthing, misbehaving teenagers pushing my limits. Complaining about this and that, not wanting to wake up and work out, not liking the food, he said this she did that- I never expected it from a sentient sword.
I nearly kill the poor gnome, his eyes blazing and brandishing Blackrazor at me. It was quite comical, but I knew he had to be stopped. I kick the blade away, and immediately cover the hilt with a sack taken from Jaris’s unconscious body. As I finish strapping the blade to my pack, the ogre comes alive again. We quickly end it once more, and realize we are going to have to burn it. So I pull out a torch.
“Um... this is embarrassing, but I have torches and nothing to light them.”
Everyone glares at me, and Ogden finally lights the torch. I lower it to the carcass and set it aflame. It soon is evident that we probably should not have lit the body in here- treasure, tapestries, and a very small room with no ventilation. So we grab a tapestry, put the body out, and drag it out to the Aquarium of Death where we once again repeat the process. Jaris wants to use Blackrazor to finish the ogre off, leading to an argument.
“No! He stays with me, unused.”
I’m starving! a voice says in my head.
“Then starve!” I snarl.
“What?” Jaris cocks and eyebrow at me.
“Nothing!” I go back in the room, joining the treasure gathering.
We find a suit of platemail, and due to my continued slowness with my non-magical plate, I try it on. It feels nice and light, and I am so happy to not be slowing us down anymore!
Our treasure situation sorted out, we take a rest before hauling it out. That’s when I realize I’ve made a huge mistake.
“Hey, Nylen- can you help me pull this armor off? It appears to be stuck.”
The elf and I attempt to get the straps undone but... nothing!
“Uh oh,” he laughs nervously. “I think it might be cursed!”
And so I lay down by the door to have an uncomfortable sleep in armour. Hans could probably remove the curse, but he is already asleep and waking him up would be a bad idea.
I’m woken up rudely by Jaris the thief, and realize there is something on me. I scramble away from the dark object, and feel it ooze off of me as I grab the torch out of the wall. I start brandishing the flame at it, and it starts backing off. Some kind of black ooze, which probably would have digested me if I did not wake up. I look to Jaris for help, and he’s just... staring at it?! I hit the ooze really hard with the torch, and it disappears back under the door.
“What are you doing?” I hiss. “You couldn’t help me? You were just staring at it?!”
“I... it’s hard to explain. But weapons don’t work on them, only flame. You seemed to have it okay.”
I growl and move my bedroll further away from the door before lying down to go back to sleep. Fortunately when I’m woken up next it is time to start our day. Hans is sweet enough to remove my cursed armour, and I have never been more thankful to be back in my normal plate. I thought my bladder was going to explode overnight.
We spend a good chunk of the morning moving treasure from here, across the rope bridge via a zip line system, and deposit it in the secret room closer to the entrance. After a bit we rest again, Hans’s healing utterly spent. Luckily my aura keeps some invisible stalkers away like the gargoyles yesterday, and we remain quite safe. Laying down I close my eyes and begin to meditate.
Feed me.
I open my eyes, wondering where it came from.
Me. Feed me.
Blackrazor?
Yes. It is I. I starve! You must kill!
“Shut up or I’ll make you shut up!”
The others not sleeping stare at me.
“He’s talking to you?” Olmirth asks.
“No, it’s nothing.” I lay back down, but the damn sword keeps talking.
So I start thinking about Hans. How his muscles ripple when he fights, wrestling things three times his size. Those biceps, those perfectly sculpted buns of steel-
You disgust me.
Kord be with you, Blackrazor. My mind is going to the gutter.
—-
We proceed to hallway number two of three after giving the gynosphynx another riddle answer. Proceeding down it we come to a pool, which Hans and Olmirth swim down into. While they are down we are attacked by a wight, which Nylen destroys after I embarrassingly failed to turn it. Hans and Olmirth come back up and Ogden takes the gnomes place to provide some muscle on a gear of some sort under the water. It’s clear when they return that their turning the gear is slowly draining the water in the room.
We move on, and Jaris pokes another pool with his ten foot pole. Two bare breasted women come to the surface of the water and start flirting with everyone but me. Suddenly Hans dives into the water, and the two floating hussies follow after him. Jaris looks startled, but instead of jumping in to save Hans he strips off his manta ray cloak and throws it at me.
“Really?!” I snap, fastening it. “If he dies, it’s on you thief!”
I dive in, surprised at how well I can swim and breath as the cloak closes in on my face. I immediately find Hans, unconscious with a grin on his face. I grab him and swim to the surface, getting him out of the water. I put my lips to his and breathe in, praying to Kord that it’s not too late. Thankfully he sputters, breathing again. Nylen and I jump back in and swim down, utterly destroying the half-kelp half hoes.
We find some more goods, including some chain mail. Getting out of the water Nylen hands the chain mail to me, but I’m apprehensive.
“I’m afraid that this will be cursed too.” I admit.
“Won’t know unless we try.”
Resigning to my fate, I strip out of my plate and don the chain. Luckily I’m able to remove it, so it is likely not cursed. As I’m getting everything back on, another wight attacks, and Hans destroys it.
“I’m a bit cross with you, my dear Hans, but here is some healing.”
I lay hands on my most beloved friend, and he looks a bit less pale.
“I couldn’t help it, Franz. They compelled me. It’s a little like... being called to Kord.”
“I understand.”
We proceed onward, hearing a rolling sound ahead. Jaris scouts and reports back that there is a rolling hallway type thing like a funhouse. He checks another door, which just keeps leading to other doors, so we follow him in.
“There’s a giant crab ahead!” He warns.
‘Well, Blackrazor,’ I whisper. ‘How do you feel about crab for dinner?’
~ Franzia
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Post by Aileen on Jun 28, 2020 14:07:40 GMT -5
I come to on a warm, slightly damp floor, my head pounding. I can’t see a damn thing, so I draw my sword. Hans and Jaris lie motionless and looking very beat up across the room, and the others sit taking watch or resting. I poke at my clearly bruised cheek, wincing, and remember bits and pieces of what happened. I, controlled by Blackrazor, tried to kill Hans!
“Hans, no! Please be breathing!”
I scramble to my feet, and kneel at his side. He’s all cut up and pale, but I can see his chest rise and fall. I kiss his lips, hoping he will rouse, but he doesn’t.
“Hans, I’m so sorry!” I feel tears spring to my eyes, and quickly wipe them away.
“It’s not your fault,” Nylen says. “The sword is powerful. It took a lot to take you down. Sorry for the headache.”
“Nylen, Blackrazor needs to eat. I can’t keep him under control like this. But he only wants human or humanoid souls.”
“I’m sure there are more ogres. But you won’t be able to carry Blackrazor while injured. There’s several hours before dawn, but we will rest here until you get your powers back and can wake up Hans.”
And so we rest. Of course, it is constantly interrupted by wights and black puddings and ogres, but they are no match for us. Finally dawn comes, and I lay my hands on Hans. He wakes up, and I’ve never been more relieved.
“Hans, I’m sorry! I would never want to hurt you, I l-“
“It’s alright, Franz. I know you weren’t in control. I need to rest longer to get my spells, however.”
And so another 12 hours or so go by, and more attacks. The ogres keep attacking poor Hans in his sleep, so I pull the fights into the hallway. When Hans has me healed up so I can handle Blackrazor, and everyone is on their feet, we make a trip back to the treasure pile and then get out of here. The cave is safer than this place could ever be.
A day later, after an uninterrupted sleep in the cave and a rousing recap of the crab fight from Jaris and Ogden, we head back in. The gynosphynx seems to be running out of riddles, so getting past her is a breeze. We head up the third path, the only one we haven’t been in yet.
We first come to a large green slime which appears to have been previously submerged in water. Jaris throws oil on it, and then I toss a torch. It lights right up, and then is gone. We proceed forward, coming to a room filled with five creatures made of flesh... sewn together? Disgusting! They have the numbers 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 on their chests. One speaks a riddle about one not belonging and if we don’t pick the right one then we die. Lovely, I hate riddles.
“It’s 9!” Says Olmirth with great confidence.
He is right! Number 9 steps forward and is now our servant. I’m not completely okay with it, but he doesn’t seem harmful. We come to a turnstile blocking a doorway that only turns one way, so Nylen has Number 9 rip it out of the doorway. We proceed onward, coming to a door that goes out into a stone platform, jutting our over a cavern covered in phosphorescent algae giving it an eerie glow. Crossing the cavern are wooden disks suspended by chains, leading to another platform. Looking over the edge, 50ft below is boiling mud.
It’s very clear what has to be done- we need to cross on these chained disks. They look slippery and this could go very bad. I’m tired of listening to everyone trying to come up with a plan to get across. I was hoping someone would be brave and make an attempt, but nobody does. This was a chance for Jaris to prove his bravery and might, but he is too injured and Hans won’t heal him. So I guess it has to be me.
I walk out to the first platform, and it swings a bit nearly knocking me off. I hold on, and go to the next one. This isn’t that bad!
“Just don’t look down, this is fine!” I call to the others.
And then a geyser of boiling mud spouts out, nearly sending me to my death 50ft below. I hold on, in a lot of pain. I proceed forward. Another geyser goes, and I save myself from falling again. Grasping the chain in one hand, I lay hands on myself. The first geyser goes off again.
“I’m counting the geysers!” Nylen shouts. “Maybe use Blackrazor to haste yourself!”
Good idea! I don’t know if I can get across before another geyser goes off and kills me, so what do I have to lose.
“Okay, Blackrazor old friend,” I whisper. “Help me out of this and you shall be rewarded!”
I hold the chain, and reach for the hilt.
🛡Franzia/Blackrazor 🗡
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Post by dragonforgotten on Jul 5, 2020 15:17:58 GMT -5
I waken to a orger magi slumped to the ground, my stuff ruffled with, and Nylen sporting the rings from the defeated monster. I’m pissed. Royally. They left me out cold while they helped themselves only to waken me once the looting is done. How noble of them. Oh how kind, how generous my lords to allow me the scraps. Thank you! Thank you so much! Ugh.. I looks like me and the magic men have been shunted to the low priorities. least there’s Kynigos, he offered the jewelry he came across and it really does match my eyes. The paladin is holding blackrazor and I watch her stuff him in my sack and place it in her bag. I’ve been told this sword isn’t to be messed with. It eats souls or something, possessing gnomes to go on blood fueled frenzies. It’s been desperately fighting for control back but the paladin will is too strong for him. The orger rises again and as it’s knocked down again I suggest just chopping the oegers head off with the sword. If it’s hungry, feed it. It’s only a matter of time before the sword is too strong for anyone to hold the longer it starves. Better this thing then us. They immediantly set fire to the thing and my eyes shoot up. “What are you doing!? The gos ses in here!” The immediantly grap a trap and start kicking out the flames much to my horror. I then take another look at the tapestry. “Oh never mind. It’s gos se. Carry on.” Thankfully they pull the body out of the room before they continue burning and choking up the safe room. We settled down to wait for Hans to pray and do his cleric s***. The paladin nearly got her armor eaten by a black ooze while she was resting against the door. I’m suprised she never noticed the ooze bubbling with heat. I guess I got too lost in the moment because it takes her shaking me to snap out of it. She was rather rude about it. Of course I Probably should tell her about me but why spoil the fun. I want to see the look on her face when I suddenly gain muscles and height. I got a chuckle after mrs paladin got her self trapped in cursed armor but manages to get it off thanks to Hans. Very Aevlin of her. The hours pass eventually and we move on. The next corridor is not very eventful. Hans tried once again to talk me into diving into a tunnel that leads to gods know where. This doesn’t seem like a good idea for me so I pass the cloak off and after a quick wight encounter it turns out there was a spigget at the bottom of it. They turned it but nothing seemed to happen. The next room the worst happens. While I’m poking around the next room flooded with water along a narrow passageway a group of sea witches appear again! F***! Not again! There eyes glaze over me and before I know it Hans dives in after them and we’re left her frantic and confused. Everyone scream at me for the cloak and I’m getting disoriented. In the end I give it to Franzia, I’ll damn us both if we go in but I feel a sinking feeling in my stomach with how long it takes. In the end when Franzia brings him back, pale and shaky she manages to revive him as he hacks up water while I’m invisible wracked with guilt. I should have done something. I should have gone in. I let my own self doubt get to me and I cracked under the f****ing pressure. I’m a fool. I’m sorry Hans. Hans comes to me and immediately asks for a trade. Something of his for the cloak. I honestly don’t want to part with it. I’ve been though a lot with the cloak. It makes me feel useful. I really really like it. It’s one thing to borrow it but to part with it forever like this because Hans got a scare puts me in a sour mood. I’ve been on the brink time and time again and Hans gets a taste of it once and now he’s spooked and won’t admit it. Of course, he wouldn’t have had to deal with this if I had acted sooner. It’s understandable but still, it’s just one more thing. I don’t respond to him. I need to think. I’m going to say something stupid if I respond now. I comb each step for traps. Something triggers near the door but the door isn’t trapped, it just turned on this spinning tunnel beyond it. Oh god going to be sick. Can’t stare at it. Moving past that room I come across a series of doors which lead to a massive room. The walls move as above I can see the mass of boiling water being kept as by beyond it. Just some flimsy waterskin walls is what’s separating us from being cooked. I creep a little farther and I see the biggest f***ing crab. It’s bigger then the crab we faced back in the slavers prison. My heart is hammering in my chest, my eyes glued to the stone chest far behind it. Looking into the room I glance back at the party. What if we don’t have to fight it. I could steal the contents of the chest. Crabs can’t smell right? I mean it’s not in water and it doesn’t exactly have a nose. Heck if I know but I want to do something. Hans Keeps giving me such a hard time saying I’m a coward when all I advise is caution and thought. I can prove myself with this, I tighten the bandanna to my head, pinning back my bangs. Here goes nothing. I creep forward. Silent, ghostly. I’m a shadow creeping across the stone. Then the crab gurgles, snaps to my attention and charges! What the f***! I’m soundless! Odorless! Invisible! What the f***!? It strikes out and I feel ribs breaking. I need to escape! Now! I stagger weaving through its claws till the crab back claws me in my broken ribs and the world bleeds red. ————
I waken to pain and rage. While I was helpless the gang though they’d help themselves to Lyon and then taunt me with him. Age old instincts come roaring back. How dare they take what’s mine! How dare they benefit from my suffering. Not only had they left me last to be healed again, but once again they’ve shared all the loot from the chest amongst themselves again leaving me nothing! I snap at Odgen and then to add insult to injury I’m forced to BEG for my gos se back. Ya I’m not feeling very open to please and thank you’s when I’ve been wronged so many times. The moment Lyon is back I return to my invisible state. After I cool down Nylen explains he did not mean it as a personal attack. It was better for Ogden to be invisible. I only have a few words to say. Next time you mess with my stuff you run it by me first. I’m all dandy when it comes to strategy but It’s not that hard to have informed before assuming I’d be ok with it. I don’t do suprises. We try to rest and manage it but everyone has been pummeled throughout it. Kynigos discovered that the wand he found in the chest is a cone of cold after blowing it up in his face. Wave was found and apparently is obsessed with everyone worshiping posidon or else. Less of an asshole then blackrazor but still crazy. Why the heck would anyone want these bloody things? Well it’s not my job to answer questions. We manage to leave the mountain and return to the cave we’re true loot is dumped. I find a spot to lay my bedroll and it becomes more obvious as I curl up in exhaustion and pain how incomplete I feel without Aevlin besides me. We barely spend this long apart. I just hope I make it back to see you again. In the morning I wake up to my ribs screaming at me. Still very broken. Hans never healed me yesterday and it’s transformed into agony today. I cant help but feel the resentment as he purposely ignores me cradling my sides. “Hans. I need help.” “No jaris. You have not proven your courage. I will not heal you.” The entire cave goes silent and I feel like the floor has been kicked out from under me. Did I hear that right. Did he just f***king say that. Does he even now what he’s saying. “Hans you can’t do this. Do you know what this means. If you don’t fix me I will not survive in the mountains. You’d be consigning next to death!” I’m outraged and terrified. I got injuries trying to play to his ego. This is a new low for him. Not even my type of people do this to each other. What kind of bastard god allows there priests to treat their friends like this. No. This isn’t about courage or honor isn’t it. It’s about the damn cloak. He does not relent or change his mind. I turn to Nylen and the others but they all way it’s beyond them. That it’s a matter of the cleric upholding his creed. I clench my fist, glaring long and hard into his face. “Fine then. If you are willing to let me suffer then I won’t help you.”
Jaris FJ
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