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Post by dragonforgotten on Jul 19, 2020 20:52:54 GMT -5
“Why can’t you people do anything right?!” He shouts. The dwarf woman begins groveling and the res rod my comrades begin to follow her lead to appease this taskmaster. I flick my black forked tongue out tasting the air as the fiend berates them. I stride forward, sword lazily resting across my shoulders. I stand before him as cold and despondent as I normally am allowing it to overtake my face in a expression of boredom as I lazily look him up and down. “I don’t appreciate how shamefully you treat my compatriots.” And i bring my sword down, cutting the fiend straight down the middle. He still breaths and lashes out at me with his bearded tentacles but it only slams against my sheild before he is viciously beaten thoroughly. He retreats quickly, back to the plane of existence he crawled out of like the lesser creature he is. The dwarf woman showers us with thanks and has decided she has better uses for her talents by working with us. Lovely idea. Having able bodied slaves-. I mean employees makes a stronger pyramid-. I mean bussiness. Slip of the tongue. With our affairs settled we are showned the door before we are forcefully pulled inside. We step into the quarters of a galleon ship, a lizardfolk sits behind his desk, a pair of large spectacles perked on his broad snout. His name is sir Bracus. Unsurprisingly he knows of our true identities. My, We are making quite the name for ourselves it seems. I politely ask if he is Dran enterprises securtarian but rudely I do not receive my answer much to my cringed. I do not take rudeness lightly. He folds his hands together, looking rather smug behind that desk. “Tell me, friends. What do you aspire to be? What do you want to be when you grow up?” I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t aspire to be anything. I am what I am. I simply follow orders.” Alastrine jumps at the chance as an amusing exchange occurred between them. Dispite his poor additude towards his higher reptitian cousin he does inform us that perhaps we have been chasing the wrong company. That our real foe is with a sinister group know. Only as the six. His company has been desperately fighting against their bunch and that their goals is collecting the orrey pieces which is how this good sir has learned of us. He pulls out two of the orreys components. He swear perhaps we shall put aside our companies petty squabbles and work together to stomp out this menace to both of us. I lean heavy on one leg despondent as I flick my tongue out. “Sounds agreeable.” “Excellent. Because they will be here.. hmmm. About now.” The second he finishes his piece another door opens and out steps a familiar face with two new faces. The celopode twirls his tentacles mustache as he glares at us. “Hello, peasants!” “Don’t let them kill me!” Hisses Brakus. “Ah, hello meat. Small word.. I haven’t tasted whatever you are yet but I may be willing to try.” I chuckle without a hint of amusement while I turn to face the new meat. Alastrine takes to the air on her ethereal wings. Drexler charges but then he and the rest of my compatriots clutch their skulls, Alastrine drops from the air out cold. Well now. How interesting. I lay hands on Alastrine before striding towards my foe, locked in a duel with Drexler while Kerata pelts him with green energy. As Arkenfeld slays one of the men but a surprising turn takes place between the slimy monsterocity and Drexler. It grabs him quite painfully by the skull and begins bitting into his cranium as Drexler goes slack. His eyes glazed over. I take the scene in stride as I recall something about this repulsive slimy meat. “Oh dear. Well that is not good.” I give a rallying whistle as the injuried perk back up. I turn to Alastrine who has just picked herself off the floor. “I suggest we hurry dear. Before your dear lover loses his brains.” “It’s what!?” I concentrate on my blade and with concentrated energy I slice through the repulsive creature but still it lives. Alastrine desperately hacks into him but as Kerata fires into its head the creature dies and releases Drexler who’s face is marked with red spots. “I must say that was cutting a tad close now wasn’t it?” The lizard man thanks us profusely. Since we kept our end of the bargain and protected his sniveling life he rewarded us with the pieces of the Oerry along with an assortment of goodies. I claim the immoveable rod as a take away. It appears our business here has concluded. We leave untouched from the bad news with new allies in this battle against this mysterious sinister group. Now we can leave this god forsaken cold.
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We have returned to Phandalin to sort our affairs. Our business has grown in our absences. The manor has been restored and our quarters are suitable for habitation. Though the sending stone I’ve received word of our next destination in locating the wheel of stars before the six. We must infiltrate Horn Enclave but unfortunately they have had bad bussiness with AI and has promised death on any associates invoked. Oh bother. How are we going to gain access? Curse you dark magic. I’ve taken over Penny’s office and have made it quiet homely. I found this quaint emerald pyramid paperweight back when we were in chult. I found it delightful. It reminded me of home. I spent the day cleaning, honing my skills and sorting through appointments with potential menial slaves-. I mean potential hires. I’m in the middle of removing my armor preparing for bed when I hear a knock and a group of suppressed chuckles from beyond my door. Now what could they want at such a late hour? The moment I open the door I’m grabbed by two dark hooded figures by both my arms as they drag me down the hallway as I don’t even utter a hint of surprise or fear. Not that I could feel it in the first place. “Must we do this now?” I ask my captors as they bring me to the roof of the manor. There Alastrine stands with the moon at her back and a large bowl in her hands standing before a small altar. She is wearing less then savory cloths. If I was a normal man this might be embarrassing, but all I can think is how mortified Her mother would be. I approach her as the two people I know are Drexler and Kerata stand by the door while Drexler tries his best not to look so flustered and Kerata not to mock him. “What is this nonsense Alastrine?” She rests her hands on my shoulders. “Layton, I’m going to remove your curse now. But you have to listen to every word I say.” I raise an eye brow not believing her. “Very well.” Alastrine then glares at the two behind me as they become rather loud She turns back to me and looks into my eyes. “Kneel.” I do as commanded. “Is this the part were i shall be sacrifices to Sseth?” I ask feeling nostalgic. “Shush! Now look to the moon.” I do just that, resting my hands onto my knees. “Now I want you to repeat after me.” She breaths then speaks in celestial with great revelanny. “I am cursed, I am redeemed” “I am cursed, I am redeemed.” I reply bored. “Good, now take off your shirt.” “Should I take off my pants as well?” “Layton!” She hisses under her breath and I do as commanded, my scales shiver against the wind, ripping as the light bounces off its shiny black surface while they reflect the full light of the moon. She hands me the large bowl and I can see how the contained with in is milk. I catch in what she asks of me next. Very well then. I close my eyes and dump the milk in my head. Immediately I feel taken back to my home land, imagining that this is my ascension ritual to becoming a malasion. Even the disgusting thick milk can easily be imagined for blood and venom I’d seen many before me do. But instead of that everyone breaks into laughter as I open my eyes to see my comrades clutching their ribs. “He did it! He actually did it! You owe me gold!” Drexler then hands her the money as I stare at them both and then at Alastrine just a cold inside as I always am. I don’t feel shame or anger. Just detachment. “Alright layton. Here the real spell.” She pat my head and I feel the wash of energy pour through my veins and a choking weight suddenly lift off my shoulders. I’m.... im free. I’m free...I. There’s was a swell inside me. For once, there’s a great need to scream and shout. The need grows till like everything else it is smothered by indifference and dies inside me. I stand up and wordlessly leave the three to their joke. I wash the disgusting dairy product off my scales and hair and go to bed just as I always do. I arise bright as usual the next morning. I’m making omelets when Alastrine comes down excited. “Layton! I’m no longer green!” “I can see that dear. Come eat now.” She slides into the chair as I start serving the omelets. “So Feel any better?!” “I feel the same.” I tell her as I side her omelet onto her plate. “No hash browns!?” “I’m cutting down on unneeded cholesterols. It’s for the good of the company.” She eyes her plate warily as I begin eating mine. “It’s not poisoned isn’t it?” “Shouldn’t be. I did not add snake this time.” She carefully begins to eat and seems to enjoy it. “Layton really. It must be very nice to not be cursed anymore.” “It is preferable yes.” She shakes her head. “A thank you would be nice.” “Thank you.” “Ugh layton! Showing alittle appreciation would be alittle nice.” “I made omelets.” “You always cook!” “I apologize Alastrine but I can’t show more then I am now. It’s biology dear.” She shakes her head again and huff into her omelet in defeat. “There’s waffles as well.” This peeks her interest. As she loaded up her plates and the rest of my compatriots begin sampling my healthy brunch a man suddenly pops into existence, standing on top of our new table. I glare hard as I can see his boots stein the wood. His cat looks rather smug in his arms. The man is sir Flabbergast, from Home Office, the cat is Mr. Snibbly. He informs us about his plan to help us enter Horn Enclave, it involves using a Dhargun Enterprises caravan to get in. I had assumed he had managed to arrange alter egos for us to infiltrate the caravan but apparently not. “Have you ever heard of the ritual of astral transmogrification?” He asks. “No.” I hear Alastrine chime in a use while stuffing her cheeks. “Don’t talk with your mouth full dear. It’s a choking hazard.” He explains his ritual and instantly I’m repulsed. “So. You want to me leave my perfect form to become...well..” a disgusting short, hairy, ape creature. “Well what layton?” Asks Drexler. “I can not say. You would not like what you’ll hear and I am wise enough to keep my thoughts to myself. Must we really? Surely there has to be another way?” “Nope. Unless you have any ideas.” “I do not unfortunately.” I sigh. “I just pray this will be as painless as possible.” “That’s a good paladin.” Alastrine proceeds to pinch my cheek as we arrange for the ritual. The manor is temporary teleported near to our intended location as we retreat to the basement. We lay upon our bedrolls as the wizard lights his incense candles. I can feel myself nod off as he begins his ritual. “Remember! If you all are in a tight spot shout whipperloo and I shall pull you back!” Is the last I hear before fading off with the others.... ——
I open my eyes as I feel the camisole jerk of a carriage. I rub my eyes as I come to. I feel strange. My perspective feels too low to the ground. As I rub my face my hand runs through a course beard. A beard? This wakes me fully as I reach to rub the back of my neck and can’t find my scales! Only disgusting hair. I feel sick. Wait feel? I take in the area around me to find I’m in a carriage with other dwarves as I take in my large square hands and hairy knuckles. Disgusting. “You alright Tannus?” I look to my left to find a old grizzled dwarf staring at me as memories that don’t belong to be flood my mind. Currently I am in the body of Tannus Thunderwind. I am to be wed today to Gwendolyn, the female dwarf besides me. I have forsworn my past life of blood and violence just to wed her. Everything we’ve worked for is now coming together for this moment. The old dwarf is my father Jormun and the younger one on my right is Gorat, my best friend and best man. Oh good lord! My heart starts racing as I am flooded with a series of emotions swelling in my chest. Slowly suffocating me. The wall that once locked them away is gone. I feel them fully and I’m drowning in them. What if we fail this mission? What if!? “I-I’m fine. Just nervous. Do you happen to have any water.” The man laughs “Good one My boy. You know water is for sissy’s.” He bellows throwing me a waterskin. “Right.” I mutter quietly, squirming uncomfortably in my skin as I take a swig and find it is filled with hideous tasting mead as my revulsion continues. I feel sick. Alone, trapped, scared! Where is everyone!? I grasp Gwendolyn hand as we exit the wagon. Best man Gorat exclaims the carriage smells of dragon ass. Could that be one of them!? That sounds like a very dwarf thing to shout though in a hellishly long carriage ride. Even more so amongst these uncultured barbarians.
We are lead through the Hall of War to the vaults, a lavish display of dwavern archtyicture. Not a ornate as Yuan ti high art but it will suffice. The couples wedding gifts are placed in vault held by a two lock machination to be under lock till after the ceremony. We pass a frightfully huge construct covered in all manner of blades and saws that for once send a chill down my spine and it takes coughing into my fat fists to hide my discomfort. Rizwin the dwarven guard of this establish begins to going over the strict itinerary, making it very clear that we must remain with our party at all times. No mucking about, showing up as scheduled on the itinerary. This is a annoyance. I can feel a twitch in my eye as I feel the swell of impatience’s and fury. I want to strangle this woman. It takes me digging my nails into my palm to contain myself. Useless emotions, getting in the way of the mission. It’s then a shabby old wrinkle dwarf wizard approaches the wedding party as Gorat and Thomas, another guard, is given the keys to the wedding vault. “I am Ironbeard. Where is the happy couple?” Gwendolyn approaches and I step in stride, straightening my collar. The wizard smiles clasping by his hands “I wish you all the happiness! Now, I need you to tell me your password for the vault, and only the couple may know it.” Uhhh password? He takes us into a private corner while shriveled old hag dwarf cranes her chicken neck to follow us. “The password is chastity!” I flush as I try not to look or touch the dwarf woman next to me Disgusting. Ironbeard then leaves us, leaving me alone with an unknown woman. It must be the dwarf because I suddenly feel like I’m trapped with a savage beast and can feel myself sweat with anxiety. When she leans near me I instinct take a step back and I have to stop myself from running as she whispers to me. “I was green with envy of all the other girls until now, Password- ‘Consummate.” As if I couldn’t get redder but then her words start to echo into my head as she then turns back to the wizard. Green! It’s Alastrine! Joy sparks through me. Atlast! Someone I know! Wait.. oh lord! I’m getting married to that crazy woman! F***! Least it’s not Drexler or Arkenfeld. I was worried it was going to be. It’s worst enough I have to kiss a dwarf heaven forbid. ——-
By 11:30 we are brought to a tavern. Dwarves being dwarves are being loud and grotesque in how much they eat, drink and Bletch. Revolting. I scan the crowd looking for any signs of my comrades but I don’t see any amongst these sweaty loud hooligans. I feel Gorat shake me about as he tries to get me to drink and eat. I try with as much class as a dwarf can manage with these thick ugly hands but I’m not hungry due to my disgust with myself. I’m sat at the head of the table besides my bride to be who looks very glum next to her bridesmaid Rala. Well. Let’s have some fun with this. There’s no use being petty at a time like this. I take Alastrines dwarf hand and raise it to my lips in a kiss. “I’m just going to... slither on over to the bar. Would you like a drink, my bride?” I can see a flood of emotion behind her eyes. Shock, horror, amusement, relief as those same emotions flow through me.... it feels rather nice. I was right. I can’t help but grin behind her hand as I release it, stand up and get a drink. When I bring it back to the table I find Gorat is missing. I follow everyone lead and start drinking, and drinking, and drinking at the egging of Tannus family. Oh lord what’s this heaviness in my head. I vaguely feel Gorat slide next to me again as I here him mutter a yo ho ho. Kerata? As the day drags long I feel like I’ve let myself go as I reveal in these regained emotions in humorous company. I threw a glass against the wall and suddenly that seemed like the funniest thing I’ve seen all day. I come back to my senses when it’s time to leave the tavern to get ready for the ceremony. The moment the doors to my and Gorat suite are closed I look him in the eye. “So how do you feel about Dwarves anyway?” “Ugh hate the.” I start laughing. Honest to god laughing and I don’t have to fake it. Just her luck to be trapped in a male body. I pull myself together and I’m by his/her side in a flash. “It is you! It’s me Layton! My gods Kerata this has been terrible! I feel like I’m dying every second in this body. Im constantly losing focus on the mission due to all these emotions raging inside me. How do you even manage this every day!?” She doesn’t get to respond for the door swings open as a angry bride storms in with the rest of her clan which must be the rest of the party. I start dying on the floor again as I realize Arkenfeld and Drexler are now woman. It seems I was lucky, or unlucky in this case. I really don’t want to marry this woman. My laughter turns to wheezing when I get a heel to the rib curtsy of Drexler. I just manage to pull myself off the floor as Alastrine goes off on Drexler, running off our real names before I can stop her! Drexler as Rala reveals a terrifying revelation about these bodies. That they can take back control anytime they like. She took back control of her body from Drexler, did the deed with Gorat and managed to steal the key. This shakes me. I don’t want to lose myself to this Tannus. “You and Layton need to practice your kiss!” Gorat/Kerata says. I nearly vomit at the reminder I have to kiss a dwarf. I hear Alastrine sharing similar feelings and can’t help but feel a spike of anger. Am I so horrible that kissing me is disgusting to her?! Or is it because she doesn’t want to kiss a snake?! “Wow.” Comes a voice from the hallway, followed by a slow, sarcastic clap. We all turn and see we left the door open, and the tabaxi from the bar is standing there. She comes in and closes the door behind her. Why did no one close the damn door!? “So there’s five of you and you’ve been using ten different names.” We all stand there stock still unsure what to do now that we’ve been outed in such a fashion. Thankfully this one turns out to be an ally. Two dry cloak is with AI. She wishes to help us with our mission while she remains undercover We only have one idea where the vault is. Everyone it seems was too nervous outing themselves to try and prob for more information. This is already going swimmingly. Dry cloak gives Alastrine a scroll of stone shape before departing, giving us helpful tips to act more dwarf except for Arkenfeld. Together we then come up with a plan to break into the vault but after the ceremony while the dwarves are too busy drink and eating to notice our departure. So I still have to kiss her. Greaaat. “Fantastic. Now could you all kindly get the hell out of my room.” ————
I just finish dressing up in Tannus nice suite, trimming and braiding this apes beard when I notice Kerata struggle with her wardrobe. The door girl Proably hasn’t dressed up for the life of her till now. Least she has a basic understands of male formal wear. I straighten her tie as we leave and I spy Alastrine looking flustered. “I don’t want to marry Layton!” She moans as I feel anger rise up again. “Am I really so bad?! I know I’m hideous!” I practically growl and it takes her laying a hand on my shoulder to realize how angry I’m getting. “No, but you’re not Drexler. Not that I’m ready to get married, but... you know?!” I sigh as we continue towards the location of the ceremony, walking through the dwaven halls. Tannus father is the first to receive us with pride in the old dwarfs eyes. He gave a most heartfelt speech. When the crowd turns to us I don’t realize there expecting us to step forward till I’m given a nudge. I take Alastrines hand and breath As we walk with people chuckling at us. I try to imagine I’m back in Bauldrs gate escorting Lady Aria. It’s her wedding day and I’m taking her to her husband but I feel the sting in my chest. Maybe not to her husband to be. Maybe... When we finally reach the altar I don’t see the dwavern halls as I take in Jorums speech. “And now it is time to say your vows!” Announces Jormun as I dry swollow. “You first, Darling!” I want to roll my eyes but I suprise my urge. Jormun laughs heartily. “Dear, you don’t always want to let the man go first, Unless you want a quiet evening.” I take a deep breath and close my eyes facing her. I picture lady Aria as she was when I broke her heart and it physically pains me that’s how I left her now that night of her sisters wedding. The tears bit in my eyes. “My love. When I first met you I did not see you as you are to me now. I was simply a man blind to his own feelings. But you held me up, saved me from the depths of my despair and depravity when I thought I was no one. When violence and deceit was my only calling. I swore an oath to protect you that day and now I do it again in earnest before your family despite our differences.” I hold her hands tight. “I promise to love and hold you above all and raise your ideals to create the world you envisioned. Despite all obstacles.” I then turn to the dwavern family. “I hope that our union may bring all our families together this day. That our love is stronger then the mountains milthral veins and our love burns as hot as our ancestors forge fires. In view of our dwavern ancestors and gods I swear. So don’t be too wild my family and start flipping carriages.” The family cheers in delight as those words leave me breathless and elated. At last I said those words and they meant something. It’s a pity Aria will never hear them in earnest. “Not what we rehearsed, but still lovely. And Gwendolyn?” Gwendolyn/Alastrine she take a deep breath, Looks deep into My eyes as she begin her speech. “Tannus, my love, I am so happy to finally marry you. You are my love and my light, you are my earth and sky. My love for you grows wide and long. I promise to be faithful and love you from this day until my last day.” People are crying. “I now pronounce you husband and wife!” Jormun announces as I lean in to kiss her and feel strange. The hall erupts in cheers, and we proceed to the hall for dinner. It feels like a walking dream but my heart feels heavy with remorse as I remember that night. I’m sorry lady Aria. We enter hand in hand and greet our guests, and then I feel a nudge in my side. “Time to go, I saw ‘Mom’ leave!” Alastrine whispers to me. I sweep her off her feet as she giggles. “Now if you’ll excuse us- we are going to make this marriage official! We will be back soon!” I jest. “I’m all riled up!” She laughs, grabbing my beard and kissing me roughly again. Ouch! The crowd laughs and cheers, and I receive some pats on the back as I carry her out. We breathe a sigh of relief as we make it to the hallway, heading for the bridal suite. “Alastrine. I want you to know before we are back in our bodies again and I stop feeling. I truely appreciate your breaking my curse. I had wanted to cry with relief and joy on the roof tops but it died in me in an instant. Truly I am in your debt.” She hugs me. “No problem. What was that speech? It was beautiful. You certainly know your way around words.” “It wasn’t for you. It was for Lady Aria.” There’s a pugnaut pause in the air as we walk. “Who’s that?” I look shameful away, trying not to feel emotional but I can still feel the tears. “The source of my oath.” I shake it off. “It’s not important right now. The mission is.” I tell her as we march off to our room.
Layton von Sepra
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Post by donaldado on Jul 24, 2020 17:17:58 GMT -5
Oh no Arky, oh nooo! what have ya done, by your grandmother's beard! You almost gave away the secret! The great dwarven secret kept since our race first hatched from our stone eggs! None of the other races are to know, ever, that it's only the most stubborn and therefore leaders who become the women folk of we proud dwarves. Letting them know that we can uhgh, er switched cannot be known ever! Ah don't want to be turned into something unnatural, like a three legged goat or daft spider with two rears for such a high crime! But oh, the feelings, they took me over and ah couldn't help actin more commanding! Finally I was the top and not the bottom. Luckily Im the brains of this operation! The fools don't even know that that squid faced servant of the Daelker was really here to try and get the secrets I know of back home, sweet sweet Korunda Gate! Ahhh to be back home in the Mror holds, by the nine hells anywhere on Eberron would make this sack o bones happy. Just a little longer Arky, just a bit. You can make a portal home, and become rich off the interplanetary trade! Hah! Ah wonder if any o my new associates know they are on a giant ball?
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Post by Aileen on Jul 24, 2020 21:12:26 GMT -5
“Where do ye think you’re going?”
Tannus/Layton stops in his tracks as Gorat approaches.
“To bed my wife! Now move!”
“No, plenty of time for that later! Come, have one more drink with me!”
I’m unceremoniously set down and quickly grabbed by my mother/Arkenfeld.
“Did he touch you?!”
“We’re married! Leave me alone!”
The attention of the hall turns to Gorat as he clangs a knife against his stein. He launches into a speech about his friendship with Tannus, calling him to battle once more. I feel myself growing angry, and realize it’s Gwendolyn. She doesn’t want her husband to be a warrior anymore, we’re supposed to settle down and have beautiful dwarven babies and.... I see Thoman enter the hall, carrying a parcel, and I remember I sent him to fetch a gift for my husband. I take it from him and bring it to Tannus.
“A gift for you, my love!”
He takes it, and immediately puts it on.
“Thank you, my beautiful Gwendolyn. But I promised you I would no longer go to battle!”
“Tannus, I know that you won’t, because you love me! Consider this a token of my trust.”
I come back to my senses as Arkenmom starts screaming.
“Thieves! Saboteurs! Someone seeks to invalidate my daughter’s marriage- they will pay!”
I’m Alastrine again, and this is my chance! Everyone is shouting and arguing- I can slip out and get to the vault!
“Gwendolyn, I am sorry!” Arkenmom, who is now very clearly just Amara, stops me on my way to the doors. “I will spill their traitorous blood for taking that belt!”
“You’re ruining my wedding!” I shriek, slapping her.
She rages on, and I run past her. I make it out in the hallway unopposed, and make a run for the vaults. I turn a corner, and almost slam into Rala/Drexler and Gorat/Kerata.
“Got the scroll?” Asks Drexler, steadying me.
“Right here! Pray this works!”
I read the scroll in front of the wizard Ironbeard’s vault, and the stone opens into a door! Drexler’s host body the doppelgänger transforms into Ironbeard, and steps in. There are two clockwork dragons with a glowing orb suspended between their mouths. They immediately start questioning him, and he manages to convince them that we seek the Wheel of Stars and will go meet their master Lottie the Creator. We are given a note written by this Lottie and have a location to find her- near a town called Fortune. We also receive a bag full of coins stamped L, but no Wheel of Stars. It is clear that she has it, and according to the note she is interested in having the Orrery destroyed. Seems we’ve got our next quest! But for now...
“We need to set things right,” I say. “They’re all going to war over a belt. I don’t know about you two, but I’m feeling personally invested in and responsible for this couple’s happiness.”
“The belt is in my room!” Says Ironbeard/Drexler.
We head to Rala’s room, and Drexler now looks like her again. The Belt of Dwarvenkind lays on the bed. Now there is the matter of how to return it and who will take the fall.
“Well, I’m not actually Rala,” says Drexler. “We can just tell them that I, a doppelgänger, took it.”
“Perfect! But what about us, we need a cover story for why we left?!”
Moments later, my/Gwendolyn’s arm cut open and bleeding as I cry and scream, the door is hacked open by an axe. Arkenmom breaks down the door, and runs to me as I sob into her bosom. Gorat has Ralaimposter tied up on the ground, a bit beaten up.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Amara shouts, holding me.
More people enter, including Thoman and Rizwin, who just turned on the Eviscerator.
“That’s not really Rala- she’s a doppelgänger!” I really lay the tears on thick. “I felt ill so Rala brought me back here, but she wasn’t really her! She attacked me!”
“If I hadn’t seen this one acting suspicious she could have been killed!” Says Gorat. “And she... it... is responsible for stealing the belt!”
We all convene back in the hall as the Horn Enclave people take Drexler for questioning. I can only hope we end the spell before they hurt him too badly, and mentally swear that I will make it up to him. Poor Gwendolyn’s dress is horribly bloodstained, my fault for squeezing the gash Drexler gave me to make it look worse. On a good note, the two families have calmed down and are now discussing the strange events that led to this. Tannus/Layton tends Gwendolyn’s wound, and I wish I could leave her body for the painful process. Poor guy is once again without paladin powers.
At last the time to leave arrives, and we are ushered to our carriages with apologizes and well wishes from the Horn Enclave dwarves. When we’ve gotten several miles away, Kerata/Gorat throws some things out the carriage window, and we all mentally memorize the location.
“Want to do the honors?” He/she asks me. I nod.
“Whippoorwill!”
—-
I snap my eyes open, chest feeling tight and my nose stuffed up. Two yellow eyes stare back at me, and then they’re gone. The damned cat! I sit up, and see everyone else stirring. Layton meets my gaze, and I can tell there’s lots on his mind. It was disconcerting for all of us being two people at once, and I’m glad it’s over. I truly wish Gwendolyn all the happiness in the world.
Flabbergast is disappointed but not at all surprised at our discovery in not finding the Wheel of Stars. He has the coins we left on the side of the road magically located and returned to us, and then leaves us to our business with promise of us probably going to seek out this Lottie person.
We are exhausted by the time the manor is transported back to Phandalin, but I give Drexler a great night to make up for his being tortured at the hands of the dwarves. I can only hope he appreciates my poorly made and ill fitting Acquisitions Incorporated logo lingerie. As we lay in bed he tells me what happened when we left- he turned himself into a young dwarf girl and tried to make them feel bad for beating and torturing him, but those dwarves mean business. I’m glad that we got the Dhargun Ironworks crew out!
The next morning Layton tells us over breakfast that Omin Dran left a message that we are being sent to Fortune to find out more about this Lottie. We are also being authorized the use of a battle balloon.
“You might want to check your bag, He said a rental contract would be sent over.” Says Layton.
“Oh, great, I’ll be reading all day!”
Sure enough, there’s about a hundred pages of a very wordy, slightly threatening and vaguely terrifying rental agreement for one Acquisitions Incorporated Battle Balloon. I pour over it, reading even the fine print, until I’m seeing cross eyed. I fuel myself with coffee made by Gilda, and finally finish the damned thing by evening. I can’t find anything in our favor, so I guess we just have to sign.
“There are death threats and worse in there,” I tell everyone as we sign. “He is serious about bringing us back from the dead to work off our debt should anything go badly.”
I then pull out nippers, and grab Layton’s hand.
“What are you doing?” He asks.
“Nail clippings. I need them from everyone. And hair, too.”
Finally I seal up five envelopes containing blood, nail and hair clippings from each of us, as well as the signed contract, and send them off to Headquarters via my upgraded Documancy Satchel. Three days later there is quite a stir in town as the battle balloon flys over and lands on our hill.
We load up and head for the Grey Peak Mountains. I’ve never been on a flying contraption such as this, and it’s a little terrifying knowing our lives are literally depending on an air filled bubble of fabric. Not to mention the fact that we are completely f***ed if anything happens to the battle balloon. I fear Omin Dran more than I fear death.
We are hit with a very strange, severe storm. It’s definitely unnatural. I take lookout as the others scramble to direct our crew. We are hammered by hail, and then fly straight for a funnel cloud. The funnel cloud takes on a humanoid looking face before Drexler shoots it apart and Kerata steers the ship to safety. At last we escape the weather fairly in tact, save for the torn rigging! And then, before we can even catch our breath, another battle balloon drops out from behind the storm bearing the logo of The Six.
“Well, we already beat Tentacle Face,” I say. “I’m sure they don’t have anything worse.”
“You shut your mouth, Alastrine!” Snaps Drexler.
The other ship begins firing on us with harpoons, linking us with rope to come closer. We fire on them as their captain, a hobgoblin, orders their crew of goblins and hobgoblins about. Kerata even puts a Hunger of Hadar in front of their ship, and tentacles begin lashing out at their crew as they go into it. I unfurl my wings and fly up ten feet from the deck as they get hull to hull with our ship.
Just when things seem to be looking up, another airship drops out from the storm. This one has a long, sharp needle looking prow, and is heading straight for our ship. They’re going to pop our balloon! The hobgoblins board our ship, swarming Layton until he drops. From under the ship come some smokey looking creatures, one of them with a wand. I fly over to Layton as Drexler slays the hobgoblins, and heal him to consciousness.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“I could use a little more-“
“You’re fine! Up. It. Suck.” I fly off, going to aid Drexler.
Kerata is on the other ship, and I try my best to aid her in fighting the other captain with my spiritual weapon. The mephits are all over Drexler, and it seems he has something they want. The Orrery most likely. I move in and cast spirit guardians, just as Kerata drops and the captain flies over to us on a hippogriff. I’m surrounded by spirit like naked angels, dancing and riding on unicorns. They begin tearing up the mephits. And then smoke gets in my eyes, and I can’t see a damn thing!
By the time I can see again, the enemies are all dead around Drexler and I. So I fly over to the other ship to rescue Kerata. I destroy the goblins in one spell, and my rescuing is interrupted by Layton healing Kerata.
“I was going to do that, Layton!”
The crew works tirelessly to salvage parts from the enemy ship to repair ours, and soon we are on our way again. On the eighth day of travel at last we arrive to Fortune.
The town is desolated, looking like it was hastily built and unfinished before being abandoned. Notable landmarks are a large dark tower and a sickly phosphorescent green river. We start exploring as soon as we touch ground, Drexler and I finding tracks quite easily with our military training. They’re mostly humanoid tracks, some alone and some in groups. The animals and plants around here appear normal, but the river...
“I dare you to drink that,” I say to Kerata with a grin. “Don’t worry, I can heal you.”
She takes a gulp without a second thought. Nothing happens, but she runs her stomach and grimaces. Layton heals her, but then she goes back for more. Kerata suddenly sprouts another head! She can talk through both and it is quite terrifying- hopefully not permanent!
As we stand down by the river a white haired old man stumbles out, and I hear murmuring voices in the surrounding buildings. He points at us.
“Tokens!”
More people come out, stumbling around, and some have dogs. Two headed dogs at that!
“Tokens!”
“TOKENS!”
“Tokennnnns!”
The dogs are unleashed, and attack!
🌗Alastrine
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Post by kynigoskerata on Jul 27, 2020 5:38:28 GMT -5
Is this what it's like to have a sister, always butting in on everything I do. ×No it isn't× Shut up. This has been the strangest of weeks. First we have to head into a Dwarven hold to find the missing pieces of a doohickey ×not its real name× and then we find out we went through all of that trouble, all of the drama only for this ×w×itch of a wizard to have never given it up in the first place. Just got some stupid token out of it. Shoulda robbed the place blind. Not like they could hate us more than they already do. I mean, we did literally body snatch our way into a private celebration, screw up a young couple's wedding and then peaced out, all in the span of a day. ×Really, it felt like a lot longer than a day...× It really did, we usually don't get up to that much shenanigans for at least a week. Maybe two. Still, I'm hoping for a big payoff. I wanna buy my own ship, hunt down that bastard muntineer and our old crew and make a grand name for myself on the free ocean! I will be Two Faced Kerata! ×Thats a dumb name× I'm working on it. ×hehehe× Stop giggling! Its really breaking the menacing vibe we got going on! Maybe this crew would like to join us out on the open ocean. Drex has been getting less uptight since he started playing with the orrerrery ×orrery× Shut up. He would make an excellent first mate or quartermaster. Definitely quartermaster. I may even be able to pull Al and Lay along... maybe not Layton. Piracy might be against his paladinic code ×is that even a real word?× yes, because I said it.
"TOKENS!"
Well shoot, just what we needed! Time to stomp on some stunties! You thinking what I'm thinking? ×sure do!×
"Dual Vicious Mockery" ×Pull out da Hammer!×
@#$%!
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Post by Aileen on Aug 2, 2020 15:14:42 GMT -5
Drexler starts tossing the L coins we found in the vault at Horn Enclave to the zombie looking dwarves, and turns out they are the tokens they were groaning about. One of them whistles, and the dogs start coming back to them. And then Kerata attacks.
“KERATA YOU B****!” I scream as the dogs charge her.
“We had it under control!” Shouts Drexler.
I grab the bag from Drexler and walk into the midst of the Duergar, tossing coins as they scramble about. One of them orders the dogs to attack Kerata only, and Layton goes to her aid. Bunch of idiots, I don’t even feel bad about them getting ripped to shreds by the two headed dogs.
Kerata then blasts one of the Duergar, and they suddenly grow huge. I join them in their charge on Layton and Kerata, and when one hits them I let loose my spirit guardians.
“Sorry, lads,” I say with a cringe. “but I’m not writing home office about the death of those two morons!”
Drexler and I finish them off as Layton and Kerata kill the dogs. I refuse to speak to Kerata or Layton, and I get to throwing the bodies in the green river with Arkenfeld’s assistance as Drexler berates the two of them. The dwarves were drinking this foul water, so I’m sure being in the source of it is what they would have wanted.
We take a quick rest in the defunct little town, and look around finding a whole lot of nothing. So we go to the cave. Drexler creeps ahead, and I watch from behind. He triggers a trap, and I wait for the screams but he seems fine- however, a big sign pops up, rimmed in bright pink light.
WELCOME! YOU ARE ALMOST HERE!
He keeps going, all of us walking with him now. This doesn’t seem to be actual traps, perhaps there is no danger here. We pass over a bridge above the sickly green river. click!
TOKENS AVAILABLE!
Click!
LOOSEST SLUTS IN FAERUN!
“What?!” I laugh, then look again. “Ohhh!”
LOOSEST SLOTS IN FAERUN!
Finally we get to a big set of doors, and a lit sign above them reads:
LOTTIE’S PALACE
We go up the steps, through the double doors, and emerge in the most amazing place I have ever been. Enormous chandeliers light a massive room with a sunken in gambling pit, currently full of people- mostly dwarves. It’s loud, the air full of cheers and groans alike. Oh sweet Selûne, we’re in a casino!
“Welcome to Lottie’s Palace,” says a red uniformed skeleton bearing a tray of drinks. “What would you like? On the house!”
The group puts their orders in, and he has most of what they want save for Layton’s tea. I’m not a drinker, but it’s not often I get to let lose at a casino!
“I’ll take a White Luskan.”
“Ah, yes, a lady who abides!” He hands me my drink, and I feel the smooth bone of his fingers touch mine. Ew.
“Is Lottie available?” Asks Layton.
“Lottie is very busy, I’m afraid.”
“Can you tell her there are some people here that may be involved with the Orrery?”
I’m not sure if he agrees or disagrees with his dismissive answer, but we decide to have some fun while here. I take ten tokens from the ones we took back from the dead dwarves, and head to a table where a heated role playing game called Papers and Paychecks is going on. I join in playing a suburban housewife who sells multi-level marketing schemes, and I end up becoming the leader of a Parent Teacher Association and ruining my nemesis Karen’s entire career.
As I play with the group I learn some more information about Lottie and the town of Fortune. She made this place with the aid of the dwarves, who she promptly fired at the completion. They had made the town of Fortune outside the casino, but were unable to pay the loans and eventually everything went to s***. Oh, and Lottie is a lich. Explains the skeleton crew working the casino.
I see Arkenfeld get dragged out by security, and decide to go check on Kerata. Who knows what kind of trouble she could be getting into. I find her at the bar chatting to the skeleton bartender. It’s a pretty bar, complete with fish tanks on the back wall and colorful lights around the alcohol bottles.
“Hey, Karrot Kake!” I sit next to Kerata, sliding my drink towards her. “I only took a few sips, the milk hurts my stomach. Want it?”
“Yeah I do!” She laughs. “Are you lactose intolerant?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you order a White Luskan? It’s just milk and booze!”
“It’s the only drink I know, okay?!”
For some reason the bartender offers for us to check out the kitchen, which is an extremely odd invitation, and Kerata, Layton and I start going in. It’s then I notice a fancy brass key around the skeleton’s neck.
“Heyyy, that’s a nice... key... I’m into keys and-“ I turn to Kerata, flustered, and whisper in her ear. “I don’t know how to flirt, but he’s got a key around his neck!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this,” she grins, and turns to the bartender. “What’s that key go to? Anything good?”
Oh, crap, we are not getting that key at this rate!
“The machine room,” he says. “I’m supposed to check it to make sure everything is running, but I’m a bit busy.”
“We could check it for you!” Kerata says.
“Could you?” The skeleton would look relieved if he could make more than one facial expression. “That would be extremely helpful, thank you.”
He hands the key to Kerata, and she happily puts it around her neck. I’m a bit astonished at how easy it was to get! We quickly check out the kitchen, and see lots of really fatty and unhealthy food being made. It smells divine, but we’ve got a lich to find. Layton decides to proceed down the hallway, while Kerata and I head to the powder room. It’s thankfully empty, and I reach into my bag to find my pipe and leaves. I pack the bowl and light it, leaning back against the wall as Kerata goes through something in her bag.
“What are you doing?” I ask, coughing.
“I’m going to send my unseen servant out there. Did you see all those gems in the ceiling?”
“Yes, I did. But no, you’re not doing that. Here, smoke this!”
I pass it to her, and she takes a puff.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” she says, chilling out a little. “I’ll check on Arkenfeld, then. He seems a little drunk.”
I put my herbs away, and we leave the bathroom after spraying the perfume bottle on the counter liberally. I see Drexler heading to the bar with his sack of freshly earned tokens, and I slip into step next to him.
“Drexxxyy!” I greet him with a smile.
“Alastrine, are you high again? You smell like it.”
“Well... I’m not low,” I toss my hair coyly, and steer him toward the kitchen. “Layton went back here, lets find him!”
We go out back and find an office, and as we pass the desk I notice one of our business cards on it. I put it in my coin pouch, shaking my head in disappointment at Layton leaving our calling card in a situation that we know very little about, and I sit down at the desk to rifle through the papers.
“You go on ahead, I’m just gonna see if there’s anything good here,” I tell Drexler. “I’ll catch up if you’re not back in a few minutes.”
“Okay, I’ll come back if I find Layton.”
Drexler proceeds onward, leaving me to do
some reading. I find accounting records and information about several liches investing in Lottie’s Palace, but nothing particularly worth stealing the ledgers over. After three minutes and no Drexler, I decide to go find him myself. I check the first door I come to, a big set of clockwork double doors. It opens up, and I walk in to find Layton speaking with a whole table full of liches. One of them, a female, has a cute dog on her lap. She glares at me as I enter.
“A dog!” I exclaim.
“Alastrine!” Layton sighs.
“Is she with you?” The female lich asks Layton.
“Yes, she is.”
“Alright. You fill her in, I’m not repeating myself.”
The Lich, who I discover is Lottie, proceeds to discuss the Orrery, and then is interrupted when the door opens once again.
“Unbe-f***ing-lievable!” She snaps. “I guess this is an OPEN meeting!
Drexler enters sheepishly, coming to my side. I feel his hand grab my bum, and I flinch in surprise.
“What’s going on?” He whispers.
“That’s Lottie, those are liches,” I whisper. “That’s all I got so far.”
Lottie proceeds to explain that she knows the Six are trying to get the Orrery, and it is too dangerous in their hands. She wants us to use it to take down the Six, but then she wants it destroyed. If we help her, she won’t kill us.
“It’s a deal, then. Unfortunately I will need you to sign a contract for services.” I tell her, cringing.
“Very well, I will sign.”
“Y- you will?” I sputter, pulling the pre-made contract from my Documancy Satchel.
“I said I would, didn’t I?” She rolls her eye.
I’m more than a little surprised that the lich of all people is willing to sign one of my contracts. Everyone up until now has been a complete dick about it. As Lottie signs the contract, the other liches get us more drinks and ask us questions about our business and working for Acquisitions Incorporated. Our business taken care of with Lottie, they finally kick us out of their Lich Convention.
As we exit, we come into a pool room. The water is beautiful and inviting, and I can’t help myself. I quickly doff my armor and strip my clothes off, jumping into the perfect temperature water with a splash. I come back up, my long hair fanning out around me, and smile at Drexler and Layton.
“Come on in, boys, the water is lovely!”
“Why would you let her jump in there?!” Layton snaps at Drexler.
“She did tell us she usually doesn’t drink,” Drexler shrugs. “And I’m enjoying the view.”
As I’m treading water, enjoying the weightlessness, a big wave nearly hits me, but it’s a bit too weak. That’s when I see the water moving strangely, the glittering of the gems underneath slightly distorted, and I think there might be something else in this pool with me. I unfurl my spectral wings, rising out of the water majestically, and start heading for the deck. A mass of water surges out of the pool and grabs me, pulling me back. Water enters my lungs, and I begin to choke and sputter, screaming as the water creature crushes me. I can’t move, can’t fly, can’t swim.
“Help! There’s something else in here!”
Drexler wastes no time putting up the hood of his cloak, and dives in with his sword held aloft. He looks like a human manta ray- I forgot he got that cloak! I’m saved! I’m dragged under the surface, taking a breath of pure water as pain surges through my body. So this is how I die, then? Selûne has a plan for all of her faithful, and I guess my death is to be by water. At least drowning is peaceful, I have heard. My lungs burn, and all goes dark.
I wake up coughing, held up on the surface of the pool, water spewing out of my mouth. Finally I take a breath of air instead of water, and regain my bearings. I fly up, seeing that it was Drexler holding me above the water, and I join Layton on the deck. I cough the water out of my lungs as the boys finish off the water elemental, and give myself some healing.
“Thank you, Drexler!” I gasp, trying to get the water out of my ears.
“Get dressed!” He orders. “There’s something still in there.
“I almost died, I can be naked if I want to!”
I watch in horror as something else, a water weird, grabs Layton and pulls him in. I quickly scramble to my feet and guiding bolt it, just before it grabs Drexler. With a second guiding bolt, I kill it. Layton and Drexler exit the pool, and I throw myself in Drexler’s arms. He grabs me back as I go in for a kiss, and we make out long enough to make Layton uncomfortable.
“Thank you, Drexler, you saved me!”
“Don’t mention it.” He grins, kissing me once more before walking to my pile of gear.
“What about me?! I helped!” Layton says.
“You’re not my boyfriend, you don’t get any of this!”
“A thank you would be nice!”
“Oh. Thanks, Layton.”
I grab my stuff with Drexler’s help, but I’m too wet to get anything back on. We leave the pool room, walking out into the casino, dripping water and sloshing as we go. Nobody pays us any mind, even me strolling buck naked toward the bar.
“Have you seen the demon lady and the dwarf?” I ask the bartender.
“She said she would check the machine room for me... I thought you were with her?” Says the skeleton.
“Right... thanks!”
I set my stuff down, save my holy symbol and sword, and head over to the machine room door. I wonder what they’re doing in there? I try to open the door, but it’s locked.
“Drexy, can you do the honors?” I ask sweetly.
He picks the lock, but hisses in pain and looks immediately sickened.
“Poison!” He groans. “I’ll be fine.”
He foots the door open the rest of the way, and I see Kerata laying unconscious on the floor.
“Grab her!” I snap at Drexler as the head of a huge clockwork insect thing reaches out.
“I can’t I’m out of- ah!”
The creature wraps tentacles around Drexler as he steps back, and he hangs helplessly in its grasp. Layton drops his sword on the ground and lunges for Kerata, starting to drag her. I cast my spiritual weapon on it, and try hitting it with my great sword as Drexler breaks free. Layton gets Kerata out, but is promptly grabbed by the tentacles. He goes unconscious, and I reach out to touch him with healing hands before hitting the creature with my spiritual greatsword again. It reaches out with its jaws, and to my utmost horror swallows Layton before my very eyes. I try swinging at it, but I’m struggling and can’t hit. Drowning didn’t do me any good in the fighting department. Drexler fights it fiercely with his sword, but is hit hard and goes unconscious.
“NOT MY DREXLER!” I scream, casting my Spirit Guardians. The naked angels dance around me, but I’m hit by tentacles. With one good squeeze, I slip into unconsciousness.
—-
I open my eyes with a groan, my head pounding and body hurting everywhere. My head is on smooth polished wood, and a small puddle of drool tinged with blood is next to my chin. I lift my head, looking up at a fish tank full of cool fish and realize I’m at the bar.
“Can I get you a drink, miss?” Asks the skeleton bar tender.
I shift in my seat, and my still bare legs stick to the leather. I’m all bloody and bruised.
“All the rum you got!” Slurs Kerata from my right. Looking at her she looks as bad as I do, but fully clothed.
I feel a hand on my back, playing with my still damp and stringy hair, and turn to see Drexler in similar condition. It’s only the three of us, I see, and then I remember.
“Where are our friends?” I ask the bartender as he hands Kerata a bottle.
“Oh, they’re dead. Got eaten.”
My heart drops.
“Dead-dead?”
“Well, they’re not walking around working here, so.... yes. Dead-dead.”
I really don’t need this skeleton’s sass right now, intentional or not. I saw Layton swallowed by that creature, but I thought I could save him. I was going to leave, but Layton went back and got in trouble, and I couldn’t let him get hurt. It was all for nothing. Layton and Arkenfeld are past saving.
“I’ll take that drink,” I say. “Rum, please.”
I take my shot, not even wincing at the horrible taste and burn in my throat. Here’s to you Layton and Arkenfeld. I’m sorry we couldn’t save you, boys.
🌑Alastrine
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Post by donaldado on Aug 2, 2020 20:05:14 GMT -5
Almost, Almost Drailin! You are a genius a beautiful genius!Planar boundaries are so fascinating. Separate yet part of a unified whol....
"Drailin!!! Get over here you lazy mage. Stop with that nonsense and rub this lotion into my goiter. Be gentle with your mage hand. Gentle, clockwise, CLOCKWISE!"
How have I been saddled with such a horror as Margaritte Thucher as a boss? Oh yes, I left the hallowed ground of Candlekeep, because "real Mages" have adventures. What a fool I was to sign onto this god forsaken franchise Acquisitions Incorporated. I have been stuck under this oversized cockroach in the compliance and liability office, roundly being abused by this monstrosity. Soon Margaritte, soon I shall uncover your dark secret. Then oh yes then the world shall be righted. There must be one. How could such incompetence be allowed to rot the structure of a department without some sort of dark secret? Is she a spy for Dran enterprises? Is she a Thayan spy? Nothing could have mistaken her as a a suitable mate. Riddles in the dar...
"OUCH!!!!!! DRAYYY No. No stop it. Useless as ever. Anyways. I have a job for you. A franchise of ours a "Dragon Arse?"just lost two of its members. go out there and make sure they are at fault so we do not have to pay out. Make sure they owe more than they can pay!"
That clinches it. she must be some sort of corporate spy summoned from the bowels of the abyss. How can Acquisitions Incorporated thrive if an entire department is working to cannibalize it. Maybe these Arse dragons know clues to this foul demon's machinations. Enough to send her back to where she spewed forth upon this land. HAhahahahahahahahah. Soon Margaritte, soon. "I will go there at once."
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Post by Stephen on Aug 2, 2020 21:02:10 GMT -5
For some reason Kerata decides to attack the dark dwarves even after I lure them with tokens. It doesn't end well for the dwarves. I don’t get people sometimes. Well most times. Things were under control but I got roped into a fight. When it was all said and done I try to reason with Kerata but Layton immediately takes her side and borderline calls me a murderer. A weak attempt to deflect my logic. At least I have balls and fight with all I have every time I am forced to. I bite my tongue. Alastrine diffuses the tension. Least I got a chance to use my new venom dagger. That thing is nasty.
Moving to a cave in the rock wall I creep ahead. Doesn't take long before I here a click and feel the floor give ever so slightly under my left foot. I am relieved that only a sign lights up and not my doom.
“Welcome! You are almost here!” That’s an enthusiastic greeting. A second and third sign give way to a large door. By now we have grouped back up. The sights, sounds and smells of a casino greet us as a large door swings open.
A finely dressed skeleton greets us. “Welcome to Lotties! What would you like? On the house!”
I slam a top shelf shot of whiskey. This place is big. Full of dwarves and undead servants. Doesn't take us long to split up, trying to find a lead on Lottie. The “Tokens” are the only currency accepted at the gambling tables and mechanical slot machines. I head to a black jack table. Three whiskeys later I walk away with slightly more tokens then when I sat down.
Now things get a little weird. I see Arkenfeld, for the last time, being dragged off by undead security. They put him in a corner while he laughs. I head to the bar and sit next to Alastrine. She smells slightly of the magic weed and I tease her for it. She flips her long silver hair and flirts with me. I got lucky with her. She suggests we go through the kitchen to find Layton.
Down one hall Alastrine stops and wants to go through the desk and files in a small office. I get bored and say I am heading off to find Layton. Although I tried to keep my bearings, I get semi lost. I make it to a pool room. It is nice and inviting. Spotting a large set of mechanical double doors I push them open. The main casino floor is before me. I turn around and backtrack. Alastrine isn't in the office I left her him. Hmmmmm
I wander around and find find another set of double doors. Inside is the weirdest thing I have ever seen. Several liches sitting around an oval table, Layton and my silver haired beauty all turn to face me. The lead lich balks at my entrance. I mumble an apology and slide next to Alastrine.
Lottie continues speaking. Basically the “6” have a piece of the Orrey. Lottie wants us to find it. We can use the Orrey until we secure the last piece. Then she wants us to destroy it. With all the pieces together the Orrey is a powerful device that can and will cause terrible harm. Seeing as how we don’t have much of a choice, Alastrine draws up a contract and we make our way out.
Coming to the pool room Alastrine immediately strips down and dives in. Not in any rush I begin to take my cloak off when suddenly a wave hits Alastrine. A look of surprise cross’ her face, she spouts her silver wings and begins to move out of the water. She shrieks as something pulls her under. At the same time a snake like form of water comes out of the pool and hits Layton. Water Elemental!
Thinking fast I pull the hood of my cloak up, draw Piercer my magic short sword, reverse my grip and jump at the water elemental. My sword splits it down the middle, I hit the water and get my bearings.
I see Alastrine struggling with some invisible thing. Looks like she is trying to break free. I slash at the water elemental again and dive down to my Cleric. My cloak allows me to swim fast and breath underwater. Its weird actually breathing water, but its not my first rodeo and I make to Alastrine.
I grab her forearm and pull with everything I have. I think I pull her free of whatever has her. I maneuver myself to the bottom of the pool, boots on its jeweled surface, position Alastrine above me and push off the bottom. Something rakes my leg. The pain is immense. Looking down I see nothing. Looking up I see that Alastrine is almost at the surface. Giving her a push she floats up the rest of the way her silver hair trailing. She shudders and begins to right herself.
Whatever grabbed her hits me again and this time wraps around me. It pulls me down before I can react. I thrash and panic. You can breath dumb ass. Think! I close my eyes as it batters me again. I get a sense of a mass around me. Thrusting my sword outward and slicing down it doesn't feel like I hit it but the thing loosens its grip on me and writhes in pain. I break free of it and surface.
Alastrine and Layton have dispatched the water elemental. Alastrine is healing herself while Layton is berating her for taking a dip. Before he can finish the water surges out and grabs him. I dive in just as Alastrines guiding bolt slams into it. Underwater and outlined in twilight I see a roughly humanoid shape pounding Layton. I got you now you bastard. I hit it. Hard. Layton breaks free. We surface. It lunges again at me but Alastrine’s second guiding bolt slams into it and the thing silently dies.
Pulling myself out of the pool I realize I am not wet just as a naked and wet Alastrine throws herself at me. The cloak kept me dry. Nice. She thanks me between kisses. Layton is clearly uncomfortable so we drag out the kissing. I am exhausted from the fight and whiskey.
Going through the double doors and through the casino no one pays any attention to us. Back at the bar I slam another whiskey while Alastrine asks for Kerata and Arkenfeld.
Now I am on one knee trying to pick the lock of the machine room door. It is tricky but after a minute I open it. My joy is short lived as a poison needle shoots out of the lock and hits me in the neck. The poison burns like hell. I shake it off and open the door.
Inside we see an unconscious Kerata laying face up on the floor. Alastrine orders me to grab her. As I move in a massive clockwork many legged insect thing grabs me. This huge thing has some sign of damage. It squeezes me and I feel a rib crack. Alastrine is hitting it with her sword and I see her spiritual weapon hovering in the air around this things head. Layton grabs Kerata and drags her out. With a surge of strength I break free, nearly blacking out from the effort.
Backing up I swing weakly at it. It moves fast toward the unarmed Layton. To my horror he is swallowed whole. It swings its head toward me, clockwork gears whirring and strikes me again. I know I hit it. Hard. The last thing I see before it goes black is Alastrine shrieking in rage as naked angels swarm out from her.
I am slapped awake by a skeletal hand. Sitting at the bar I slowly raise my head. I see Alastrine and a very drunk Kerata. It takes me a minute to focus. The news of Layton and Arkenfelds death hurts. As Kerata fills us in I feel anger setting in. Why in the nine hells did the two of them think it was a good idea to attack that thing?
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Post by kynigoskerata on Aug 3, 2020 15:41:51 GMT -5
Dear Alastrine Kearney and Drexler the Sexler,
I am sorry, but I must leave now. What happened in that Clockwork hell is my own fault, and I must make that right. I made the suggestion to open that door, I made the choice to fight that monster, and I could not make Ark run when it became obvious how powerful that lichmade abomination actually was. I'm leaving behind my piece of the orrery, so that you can complete the mission. I need to make things right, and with how things are going, I... I can't wait. I'm going to find a way to bring Layton and Ark back. Even if it kills me. I hope not all memories I leave you are too bad. We had some good times.
With Great Regret, Kerata Shortsails
P.S. You'll find them where my second favorite pasttime is.
"I'm on the road again~" a man sang out of tune, "Well, I'm so tired of crying. But I'm out on the road again~". He sat on a whitish grey horse with black spots. His grey robes hanged open, revealing a plain white shirt and black pants. On his back was a large backpack, stuffed with blank parchments and writing supplies. He wasn't paying much attention to the road, but his horse kept going still. Attached to the saddle was a satchel bag full of scrolls and jewelry and potions. Closed of course, but the jingling and jostling didn't do much to hide its nature. As the man traveled down the road, a young man with a narrow face came out of the bushes to face him. He looked quite worried and hurried.
"Hullo sir, I need your help! My mother... Mum!" The young man said. His clothes were scratched and torn in some small places, like he had run through a series of rose bushes. "She needs help! She was wounded by this, this thing!" The grey robed man looked at the despondent form of the young man and nodded. Tying his horse to a tree, he followed the young man to a cave some ten minutes off the path. As he followed the slight man, he pulled a red potion from his backpack.
"Can you describe this creature? Was it undead, beastly? An abomination of tentacles? Anything you know could help." The young man does not answer, only entering the cave when they reach it. A small blue lizard squiggles out from under the robes of the traveler, up the neck and nestling into his hair, tongue flairing out, tasting the air.
There is no one in the cave, just a tiny hole in the far rock wall.
"Hello! Hello! Where is your mother?" He calls out. No answer. The grey robed man seems unsure of what to do, but eventually leaves, returning to find his horse, Saltcracker still sitting there, a bit of red in his mouth. The horse glares at the wizard, huffing.
Then he notices it. The satchel that held nearly all the leftover stock of his shop is missing. All the scrolls, jewlery, and potions, puff, gone.
"Gods Damned Bastard!" Cried out Nikola Tintreach, Wizard of the Order of Scribes.
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Post by dragonforgotten on Aug 3, 2020 21:24:56 GMT -5
We don’t get far till our path out are suddenly halted as I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around baffled to see Kerata/Gorat but something is wrong. I don’t sense her behind those dwarven eyes now. “What you think your doing. You can’t leave when the party’s just getting good!” Suddenly I’m swept away as mirth fills my soul and Tannus laughs but it doesn’t come from me. I drown in the sea of thoughts, memories and emotions not my own. They flood my being, echo through my soul till I go under and embody this Tannus Thunderwind as the tables are turned. I laugh deep from my stomach as Gorat pulls me by thee bloody ears while I stagger about like a one legged booboie. “OI! Settle down! Don’t want me to drop the my lovely Bride now!” I snarl disgrunted. Of course he’d get in the way between me and Gwenies alone time. I was hoping he’d hold off this nonsense till AFTER we consummated our marriage. Bloody daff moron some times! I just manage to place her back on her danty feet when off I’m shuffled away to the head of the table as family new and old cheer and clap. I hold up my hands in greeting, a gos se eating grin across my face as I drink it in. All the work We both have placed in each other have come together today. Both our kin sharing the same table with our ancestors blessing. Such a beautiful day. I must admit I’m mighty proud of myself. Not a single drop of blood shed on my part. I hope to do you proud Gweny. Ah this is grand indeed. NO!! I pull myself out of the personality of Tannus as I sit as the table confused and disorientated. What happened!? What is this?! Gorat stands with a glass raised. They give a rousing speech, one fitting a dwarf and then challenges me to fight as my heart stop as Tannus takes control. “How about no. You know I am a changed man!” I take a long swig if my ale and slam it into the table. “You know what. Why don’t we wrestle. For old times sake!” He clasps my hand with me as Gorat grins. “That will be most agreeable!” We wrestle across the floor as mi wife rolls her eyes. Suddenly in the lull she pulls me away from the merry making and presents to me a gleaming suite of full plate. “A gift for you, my love!” My hands shake as I take it, choked up. “Thank you, my beautiful Gwendolyn. But I promised you I would no longer go to battle!” She creases my face and I feel at ease and filled with love for her. “Tannus, I know that you won’t, because you love me! Consider this a token of my trust.” I hold it in my hands unsure what to do with it. Everyone begins to chant to put it on as I reclaim control, stepping back from Gwen. I don’t know if I should. I feel on a crossroad. If I put this in its submitting myself full to the dwarf and all his feelings. Is this right? Eventually I surrender control. I place the gleaming armor on and scoop mi wife up. It is a beautiful moment least untill Amara shrieks. “Theives! Someone has stolen from the vault!” I come to as all hell breaks loose. Everyone screaming and accusing pointing and jabbing fingers. I spy Alastrine/Gwen sneak out but I’m compelled to control this mayhem before the union crumbles. I stand atop the table. “Family please! Settle down!!” The noise is deafening and I feel rage. Burning hot rage surging though my chest. I reach for an axe but then I’m compelled to drop it. Must not commit any acts of violence! At all costs! I can not disappoint Gwen! I then make a concession and smash a nearby plate “Quiet!” No response. With no choice I rush into the fray trying to pull a man off another before I’m delevered an elbow to the face. I’m a washed with rage, drowning in these raging emotions and unable to comprehend and deal with them with this dwarfs foolish convictions! It’s then I’m taken by suprise. Jorum rushes the offender, splitting my attackers lips with his fists. “Don’t you dare touch him ya b******d!” I’m flabbergasted, my heart twisting in my chest. Why!? “Why are you protecting me!?” “What yer bloody going on about! Your my son! Why else wouldn’t I!?” I’m silenced a I can feel tears in my eye. I never realized that this is what a father could be. It is during that fight a blood curdling scream echoes through the halls! Gwen! I run, her mother at my heels with her massive battle axe till we reach her suite. Without hesitation mother in law begin to chop down the door as I help rip boards from the door. We both see Gwen, her arm bleeding and sobbing as Gorat has the doppelgänger possessed by Drexler bound. I’m pulled to my sense when I heard word of the evisorator is being turned on. Thankfully with the criminal caught and the belt found it doesn’t come to that and the family finally eases now that the truth is out. Before rejoining the party I spend it wrapping Alastrine/gwens injury with loving care, simply thankful the worst hadn’t happened. I don’t know if these are mine or the dwarfs but they are pleasant all the same. The party goes along well and as the evening wraps up and we are loaded back into the carriage I find my heart racing. I’m going back to my body soon. Back to feeling nothing. I thought I would be happy. Why do I feel so frightened now? I have lived all my life feeling nothing but distant echoes, why do I feel so remorseful? I feel a hand rest over mine and I look at Alastrine and I must be looking as mournful as I appear. “You ready to go back.” “I am. It’s tiring being like this.” “That’s funny. You don’t look that excited.” “I honestly don’t know what to think currently.” When we’ve gotten several miles away, Kerata/Gorat throws out the items they found outside the carriage window, and we all mentally memorize the location. “Want to do the honors?” He/she asks our cleric. Alastrine nods. “Whippoorwill!” ——————————-
My eyes snap open. I expect to feel the cold acceptance but instead I feel my heart racing. I turn over clutching my chest with a familiar serpentine hiss, my scales shifting along my back as chills run through me. Somethings changed. As I sit up, back in my natural beautiful body I meet Alastrines gaze. I stand up, hand still on my chest. “Excuse me. I need some space.” I stagger out of the basement till I’m safely behind the door to my room. There’s a roiling of fear in me. Whatever magic was done to me it has left its mark. I’ve gone too deep. I can feel my emotions. They are growing stronger. There no longer just a echo I can brush up. There real and physical now. If I concentrate I can grasp them. I can feel the horror and the glee inside me from regaining something my people threw away. I turn to bed early that night unease and tense.... A knock is heard on my door in the dead of night. I open it to find Alastrine, her face flushed and dressed in her robes. “Evening.” I tell her. “Hi layton. Mind if I come in.” I nod and open the door fully. She sits at my desk as I rest on my bed. “So what brings you here. I thought you were celebrating our victory with Sir Drexler?” She bushes even deeply and I find it greatly amusing in her bashfulness. “I’m not here to talk about Drexler. I have questions about what you were talking about at the wedding.” I frown. “Oh. That....Yes, I suppose I owe you an explanation for my behavior.” I shift in my seat. “Or maybe just a new perspective in my plight.” I weave my fingers together in my hands, fidgeting as I feel the twings of heartache. “Lady Aria is my ward, the heart of my oath. She is the lady of one of the noble house of bauldrs gates. I am her knight. I was once a solider for the serpent king of the serpent hills but she changed my life and set me on this path.” I then tell her of my story, of all the memories I shared with her. I grow rather sorrowful as I reach the end of my tale. Alastrine is smirking. “You love her don’t you.” I raise an eyebrow. “In a way yes. It’s become apparent to me being that dwarf and being in the state I am now it’s all the more apparent.” I shake my head. “It’s not to be. Soon she will be married to a duke. Her enagagement is upon her and I believed it would be the best if I distance myself from her.” Alastrine looks upon me with outrage. “You can’t let her marry someone else! You love her!” “I am yuan ti. I am poison to her. She deserves a man who can fully love her. The only love I can express is in my service to her. To love someone who can’t properly return it.” Alastrine suddenly is in front of me and I can feel my heart race when she suddenly looks like she wants to harm me. “Cut that c**** out. Your different now. I can see it in your eyes now. Your not emotionless was anymore. You’ve become more human now being with us. You can try to deny it but it’s true now.” I stare at her speechless as my hand rests over my heart. I advert my gaze suddenly cowed. “Perhaps your right. I’ve become tainted. I’m simply confused now.” Alastrine angry dissolves to sorrow. “You love her layton. That wedding speech isn’t something you should be keeping to yourself. You need to tell her.” I can feel my brows furrel. “Maybe. Once I’m the the kind of person she can marry.” Alastrine sighs and I hear her make her leave. “Night layton. Please consider telling her sooner then later.” With that the door is closed and I’m left alone once again. I dig through my pocket till the sending stone rests in my hand. I sit there contemplating if I should call her.
——— When dawn breaks I creep out to the kitchen and begin breakfast. It’s during this I feel them. Cooking before was just an activity to endear myself to strangers and friends. Now I feel the stress ease off me, bringing comfort. When the party comes down starts to eat I feel the soft echoes of joy and accomplishment in how they enjoy it. I can even feel a smile on my face without trying. It makes me glade. I understand now why Lady Aria had wanted this for me. Just the thought of her causes me to frown. I receive a message from Omin Dran during hash browns. After breakfast we were briefed on our new task. We are to go to the town of fortune to find this Lottie, to locate the wheel of stars. We are being provided a war balloon to traverse in. Omin promises is a fate wrost then death of the balloon is destoryed. We shall take care not to answer his dark promise. We sign the forms and I find my hand grabbed by Alastrine. “What are you doing?” I asks. “Nail clippings. I need them from everyone. And hair, too.” She collects the samples and I reach behind my neck and peel a thin patch of shedding to her fascination and the groups disgust. “I’ll be molting soon. Apologies.” She seals the samples into an envolpe and sends them away to headquarters. ——
We set to the sky’s three days later. I am set I charge to captain this flying machine much to my pride and new found joy. It’s a shame I can not say the ride was all smooth sailing. A series of strange weather patterns batters us but through my steady voice and the abilities of my comrades we overcome them with no structural damage. I had though this would be the last of it but fortune continues to forsake me. A enemy balloon emerges from the cloud and begins to fire at us. We turn fire but our balloon racks as the harpoons strike our all and our blimp receives heavy damage. I scream and curse as our ships blasters horribly backfires and scorch my scales. Kerata sends a powerful spell onto their deck and soon it becomes clear we should allow them to board so we may take the battle to them. I calm the men and draw my sword, leaving the crossbow. Strange little smoke imps begin to dart around us while I am fending off hobgoblins who swarm and cut into me. I fall to blackness as my wound get the best of me. I come to as the winged Alastrine revives me. I painfully pull myself back to my feet. “How are you feeling?” “Alright. I could use a little more-“ “You’re fine! Up. It. Suck.” She fly off to aid Drexler. How rude. If your going to ask how I am feeling then I shall tell you. It was not me complaining. One by one our enemies fall and I spy Kerata on the enemy ship as the goblins aboard frantically begin to try and escape from our ship. I jump across to her aid and I lay my hands. “I was going to do that, Layton!” Alastrine huffs. “It is not a contest dear.” She sighs and groans with annoyance as she fries the rest of her goblin foes in radiant light. The battle is won. I claim the captains half plate, finally free from the terrible weigh of the chain mail. The enemy balloon is beyond repair and is used for repairing our rental before it is cast off to the ground below. Three days later we arrive at this town of Fortune. Ironically is appears to be lacking in fortune. The buildings are run down and unlived in. We notice something a missed with the river and go to investigate as I lead horse along by the reins. Certainly something is not right. The water is glowing green. Not even I would chance drink from this refuge though I guess some are braver then others. Kerata takes a drink from its waters and looks sick. I rest my hand on her shoulder as the color returns to her face. “Do not try again. I will not attempted to heal you again.” She does just that and to our horror and bewilderment she grows another head. I blink, then reach for my sword. “Which head would you like to lose?” Before she can respond we are a drone of voices. “Tokens!” Turning back to the village we all see the group of dwarves as their two head mongrels are unleashed upon us.
Layton von Sepra
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Post by kynigoskerata on Aug 9, 2020 13:18:50 GMT -5
Moon Water was retreived at personal risk to me and my new compatriots. Ona side note, it is quite lovely to find such a brash and eccentric group of people. First of all, Draelin Blackthorn. A wizard of action, and one of the mysterious bladesingers to boot. I'm hoping our combined intellect will allow us to discover the wonders of the universe. Alastrine also seems to be a most charming woman. I'm personally not a fan of the gods... I would rather they stay where they are for the most part, but Miss Kearney does not seem so high handed as other members of the faith that I have met. Drexler and Alastrine seem to have something... something. A man of cunning and speed, a good man to have at your back, but not one you want to face in combat. And finally Vella, a druid. I've wanted work on a collaboration with a druid for a long time now. Access to such an esoteric world may yet yield some new discoveries.
Either way, I look forward to developing these new work relationships. Perhaps even friendship...
Experiment #466737, Vial of 'Moon' Water
Properties seem tied to aspects of divination and seeing, possible applications in magical artifacts seem nearly endless. Use in creation of a jewelry based article seems fairly high. Using it in its liquid form would allow a more flexible usage and character, while using arcane energy to crystallize the liquid would work well in filling grooves in gemstones or precious metals. Then again, soaking wood within the liquid would work well for any wand.
I will have to work more with these materials later. We are almost all the way into town. It seems... empty, surprisingly.
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Post by Aileen on Aug 9, 2020 16:30:04 GMT -5
I laugh at the “Condolences” card laid in front of the three of us as I sip my frozen rum drink. I’m sure Lottie and the skeletal staff think nothing of death, this is just a formality. At least the drink is on the house.
“I think I’m going to leave you guys here,” says Kerata, finishing her drink. “It’s been a good run, Dragon Ass.”
“You’re leaving?” I ask, playing with the tiny umbrella in my drink.
“Yeah. I’m going to get my things from the balloon and then...”
“You can’t leave, Alastrine and I are the only ones left!
“I’m sure you’ll be able to hire someone, Sexler.”
I hug Kerata goodbye, and can’t help but to feel overwhelmed. We started as a good sized franchise, and now only two of us remain. My Drexler and I, the power couple.
Drexy and I are both a little sloshed. I never drink, but after today’s events and the loss of my friends... yah, I went a little overboard. I sit at the bar and send a message via my Documancy Satchel to Home Office. I contemplate telling our boss that Layton and Arkenfeld were killed in damaging the battle balloon as Omin Dran did threaten to raise us from the dead to pay off our debts, but then I remember who we are dealing with.
Dearest Omin Dran,
I regret to inform you that Sir Layton Sepra, Secretarian and Sir Arkenfeld the Dwarf died in the service of Acquisitions incorporated in investigating the location of the Wheel of Stars. They were both consumed by a mechabehir, and unfortunately we were all wounded in trying to save them.
Kerata Shortsails has left the company to pursue other ventures as a result of this tragedy, leaving only Drexler Cold-Pepper and I. We have secured the Wheel of Stars and have been asked to use the pieces of the Orrery to find and defeat the Six.
Please advise our next move.
Respectfully,
Alastrine Kearney, Documancer Dragon Associates
The response comes quicker than expected, and I pull the parchment out. It’s from Omin Dran himself, congratulating us on a job well done and also claiming no responsibility for the deaths incurred. Omin will aid us in finding the location of The Six, but first we need to get his balloon back in working order. Oh, and find our new employees. Drexler and I get right to work.
“Attention, everyone!” I call to the gambling pit, standing up on a craps table. “My name is Alastrine, I’m one of the bosses of a business franchise of Acquistions Incorporated. We are looking to hire immediately. We will be conducting interviews at the bar right about... now.”
I hop down and head to the bar, joining a smirking and drunk Drexler. An old woman with once red hair now overcome with greys approaches, setting a bingo card down on the bar.
“My dears, you’re bleeding all over the place,” she says to Drexler and I. “Oh to be young and careless again!”
“Ma’am, we were attacked by a mechanical Behir that ate our friends!” I snap as she begins casting a spell.
“Well that’s pretty careless, isn’t it?” She cackles. “Alright, go through it and heal up!”
Drexler offers to let me take all the healing, but I insist we share. I feel a little bit better albeit still drunk. Two men approach, one human and one moon elf, both looking quite studious and yet still trashy enough to be here.
“Alastrine, my name is Draelin,” the elf says holding out his hand and staring not at my eyes. “You seem nice, I am very interested in your business opportunity.”
“Um...” I take his hand. “Ok, please fill out this application and I will conduct your interview.”
“I’ve got it!” Drexler says, glaring at him as he talks to the human. He tosses me a bundle of fabric. “And put this on!”
I slip on the oversized Lottie’s Palace tee shirt, and pull two applications from my satchel. The old woman comes over to me.
“I may be interested in coming out of retirement, young lady. Give me one of those applications!”
I interview the old woman, Vella, and discover she is a Druid and a grandmother. She also apparently knitted a sweater for Layton after running into him in Luskan. Seems suspicious, but who am I to judge? She gives the sweater to Drexler, and Drexy and I go to the far end of the bar to talk.
“Nobody else is coming forward, let’s just hire these three,” I whisper. “If they don’t work out we can just throw them overboard or something.”
We return to the three applicants.
“Alright, welcome aboard Dragon Associates,” I say to them. “We will be leaving in the battle balloon in a few hours.”
Lottie walks out and sees us still here, and approaches.
“I’m loving the energy of this,” she says, motioning to our group. “Nice shirt, blondie. Hope you had a good time. Now get out!”
We leave right then and there, gathering up my armor and belongings while Drexler carries Layton’s sword. We get on board the battle balloon with our new employees, and head back to Phandalin.
In the week of travel I maintain correspondence with home office and we receive more information and another quest. We have to make some sort of Portalometer to find where the ritual The Six want to do is, and we also need to help Omin find the C-Team which has gone missing in the pursuit of The Six.
When we get back to base, Drexler has a plaque made to commemorate Layton by, and puts his sword in it. Arkenfeld gets a headstone made of the finest dwarven stone. They will be missed, but the world of business never sleeps and our time of grieving is cut short by important things to do.
Traveling in our manor, we first go to Candlekeep to find clues, only to find someone beat us to it. Next we find ourselves in Mantol Derith in the Underdark, seeing some truly strange people and creatures. After that is my home city of Neverwinter. I’ve been to the chasm a million times as I worked as a guard and grew up here. The Six beat us once again.
While in Neverwinter, Drexler and I go to my parents’ house while the others attend to other things in the city. Luckily they are both home, and we are invited to stay for dinner.
“So, you two are running some business now?” My father, a big bald man in his fifties asks.
“Yes, dad, it’s a franchise of Acquisitions Incorporated.”
“Isn’t that the company that Jim Darkmagic works for?!”
“Yes.”
“That fool gets around. Don’t you sleep with him, Alastrine!”
“Actually, dad, I have no interest in sleeping with my bosses. And Drexler and I are together.”
“WHAT? I thought he was your coworker!”
My dad turns a terrifying shade of red, and my mom just laughs.
“Oh, honey, they make a cute couple- Drexler, you seem like a nice boy, and I’m sure you take very good care of our daughter.”
The rest of dinner my father interrogates poor Drexler, and by the time we finish dessert and coffee I am more than ready to head back to the manor. I really hope meeting my parents doesn’t scare Drexler away, they can be a bit much. We make a hasty retreat, saying goodbyes to them at the front door and leaving with leftovers for the others.
“Come visit again soon!” My mom says, hugging us both. “Welcome to the family, Drexler! You’ll have to meet Alastrine’s brother next time he’s home from college!”
“Thank you, Mrs. Kearney, it was a pleasure meeting you.” Drexler turns to my father to shake his hand. “Mr. Kearney, thank-“
“You touch my daughter and I’ll-“
“Too late for that, dad!” I grab Drexler, and start leaving. “Love you, see you soon. Bye!”
We finally breath again when we get back to the manor, and retreat to our room. Drexler doesn’t seem too bothered by my family at all, which is a good sign.
“They were nice!” He says as we crawl into bed.
“They can be. Sorry about my dad.”
“It’s alright, he’s just protective. My dad is with my sisters. You didn’t tell me you had a brother!”
“Yeah, he’s younger than me and not... you know, angelic.”
The next day we go to learn from a dryad in the Kryptgarden Forest, where we learn to detect magical essences. It’s right up old Vella’s alley. Finally we come to the beautiful, mystical Moon Glade where we find a silvery, thick river surrounded by standing stones and bordered by an old forest. We were warned that it is guarded by an ancient guardian, but not what that guardian is.
Vella reads the runes on the stones as they are in Druidic, and says they reference divination magic. While she checks them out and I look at the water, Drexler sneaks off into the woods to check things out. A few minutes later he comes running back, yelling about a giant tree coming our way. I unfurl my wings and fly up sixty feet, and am at a good vantage point for when one giant treant and two smaller ones come marching our way.
“Tree!” Vella calls, running towards them. “Tree, I want to speak with you!”
The tree does not want to speak with her. The trees attack the wizards, and Nikola goes down fairly quickly. I carry on an aerial assault, guiding bolting the big one and sending out my spiritual weapon. Vella summons a troup of giant owls and then proceeds to turn into a giant snake.
The tree is putting up quite a fight, and soon Draelin drops. I fly in and cast a healing spell on everyone, getting the boys up again. Vella returns to human form and calls in an air strike from the owls, and Drexler knocks the big tree over. It gets back up after some hits and charges Draelin, only to be absolutely pummeled by Drexler. Finally Nikola blasts it with a fireball, and it stops fighting.
“Stop attacking, friends!” Says the tree in a deep timbre. “You’ve sloughed off the bark!”
Ah, so the rotten looking bark was what caused its madness! Tired of flying, I softly land on one of the tall branches of the great Treant.
“Hello, little pigeon!” It laughs. “You could have used the lake, friends! No matter. I am Garallel. I apologize for attacking you.”
The tree takes a very long time to say anything he speaks, but he is a warm and friendly presence so I don’t mind. He tells us that a group of people came here and performed a ritual, which had something to cause his corruption. He also suggests we put some of the water into the Portalometer.
“Can I swim in it?!” I ask.
The tree gives me permission, and I fly down and run to the water, jumping in once my armour and clothes are off. The water doesn’t feel bad, but it’s extremely thick and difficult to swim in, so I get out before I drown.
After taking leave of our new friend the Treant, we head to Red Larch, the hometown of Omin Dran and the last place the C-Team was seen. I send a message to home office with an update, and again receive a personal reply from Omin Dran telling me to say hello to his mom and not much else. We know there is an inn owned by his family called the Dran and Courtier, so we head there first.
As we head into town it is clear there is something very wrong here. Strange beams of purple energy are coming out of the inn’s openings, and the outside is surrounded by gnolls. Citizens are packed into corrals guarded by many bugbears. We know we need to get into the inn, but first and foremost we need to save the townsfolk. So we quickly develop a plan.
Sneaking in goes poorly when I trip on a rock and my armor clanks really loudly. The bugbears turn in our direction, and Draelin quickly casts a hypnotic pattern. Six of them are hypnotized and non-combative, leaving four for us to take out. Drexler runs in, and I join him. Vella summons two big brown bears, sending them in to attack, and quickly us two leggeds and the bears dispatch all of the bugbears.
The wizards free the townies, and a half orc named Ironhead and a human woman named Sylvana take charge of protecting them while asking us to take care of the inn. We make for the inn, keeping a distance as Nikola casts an acid ball on the first group of gnolls at the front door. Four of the five drop dead, and I run in and hit the remaining one with my Greatsword. Drexler finishes it off, and investigates the door. It opens, and we are met with a curtain of purple light.
Heading inside, I see... not much of anything unusual. The inn looks totally normal, not shaking like the outside of it was. A cat stalks around chasing a mouse or something, and there’s normal looking citizens sitting at a couple tables. As we all enter, they all turn and look at us. What is going on here at the Dran and Courtier? We will find out next time, on the Adventures of Dragon Associates.
🌖 Alastrine Kearney
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Post by donaldado on Aug 9, 2020 21:47:22 GMT -5
There is no way I a, going to be taken down by a fricken tree! Uhhg, how did this animated kindling figure out it was I who lit its rooty arse alight? "Fireball!" I call. Nikola, a mage of quality answers my call and smites the evil tree. It is so cowed that it claims that it was poisoned into being bad. Ok, maybe I am still a little spicey from having splinters lodged in some very uncomfortable places. Nikola collects some of the water, whci has properties good for divination magics it seems. He is quite a quality new associate, Nikola is. In fairness all my new associates are the quality. I wonder if Drexler uses that whip on Angel girl Alistrine. Hmmmm... I will ponder this alone as I am not sure if they are exhibitionists just yet. Usually I hate druids, as they have unfortunately learned the value of both money and haggling! Ahh the good old days when you get a golds worth for a copper from a druid! Well, she is a bit old, I'm not sure how long she will be on this side of the veil but Vella has proven useful! Ahhhh, hypnotizing those fool bugbears was a nice touch on my part. Muahahahahahahaha!
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Post by donaldado on Aug 16, 2020 11:48:03 GMT -5
What fresh Hades is this? A bar? Pappa Dray needs some action! Oh no Sexler and his winged companion Alistrine are about to get a room! We won't see them again for days if the stories are true. This doesn't make sense. A purple light and now we are in a no tell motel lobby? The others are accepting this way to easily. Why would Omen try to get us to take a break when we were so close to stoping the ritual?
Omen wouldn't. "It's a trap!" Hmmm... that only vaguely got my companion's interests. Wait Nikola looks as suspicious as I do. This must be some infernal illusion or heavens no we are surrounded by bard suicide assassins! No not again. This is the song that never NOOOOOOOOOO! No I will not give in, that happened long ago, they are dead Drailin, dead.
Ok think. There must be a spy in this room watching us. The cat! Look at how shady that cat looks. Let me go shake that polymorphed fiend till he transforms. "Arrrgh!" he scratched me!
Ok let me try that door over there. what the? Why is that man hanging from the ceiling? That's no man "Nikola, look closer at that 'man' on the chandelier!" Uggh, so manny mouths, wait are half of them butt holes? Together with my friends we fight the vile fiends. Drexler almost has his mind sucked out by a brain with legs we got him back. Last is a mimic that our undead druid found.
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Post by kynigoskerata on Aug 16, 2020 16:22:25 GMT -5
I begin to poke and prod at Drexler, tapping the slightly drooling man on his forehead and temple. "Now this is quite the conundrum. How do we... reestablish the connection between Sir Drexler's mind and body. I'm sure he is still in there somewhere." I look over at the brightly colored vials of liquid on the shelf. Draelin, intelligent wizard he is, is already inspecting the gials for clues to their purpose. If we just go by color, there are three varieties. If they are as... tricky as the rest of this place, each will have a different effect, regardless of color. Still, I find the chance that they are fruity alcoholic drinks to be quite low.
Well, that is certainly the way to put your body on the line for your friends Draelin. I would aplaud your tenacity if not your wisdom in taking a sip of a strange liquid... still, I guess this is what the adventuring life is, taking unnecessary risks for your friends and such. If I must do my part, I will not falter.
I watch tepidly as i feel the effects of the potion start to come over me. My body feels squiggly, and not entirely in a good or bad way. Still, as I watch my skin turn slightly translucent, muscle and even bone showing through. This could be quite useful. I stow the Potion of Invisibility in my pack, and take a deep breath. I got a good result and Draelin still must feel the effects of the poison. The third color sits in my hand. I toss back a tiny sip as I hear Vella scream from the kitchen. I feel slightly... restored if thats a good way to describe it, but I feel this may be just what Drexler needs.
Alastrine yells "Mimic!" And I have to say, I could have sworn thr blade was a sentient sword... the fingers weren't eaten after all. The fight starts anew, and I have none of my most powerful magicks. This may be tricky.
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Post by Aileen on Aug 16, 2020 16:45:01 GMT -5
Drexler and I head over to the bar with Nikola as the other two chase the poor cat around the bar. Drexler gets me a beer, and we listen to Nikola talk to the barkeep. Turns out she is Prophetess Dran, Omin’s mother.
“Hi mom!” I say a bit too excited. She looks a bit taken aback. “We work for Omin, he said to say hi.”
“Oh... I thought he may have gotten married again.” She looks relieved.
“Nah, I’m with this guy,” I grin and nudge Drexler. “I mean, not married, but... anyway, what’s the deal with the purple lights?”
“Purple lights? I assure you they are not.”
“The purple tentacles coming out of your bar?” I raise my eyebrow at her, wondering how she doesn’t know what’s going on outside.
“No, can’t say I’ve seen them,” she goes back to cleaning the glasses, and I can’t help but feel she wants to help us with whatever is going awry here, but something is stopping her.
Drexler and I walk over to the table where two kids, a boy and a girl, sit with an old woman. Kids always are willing to talk, and they’re taking copious notes of what the cat and our crazier companions are doing.
“Hi kids!” Says Drexler.
“Hey, you little s***s!” I say at the same time. Granny glares at me.
We find out that they’re here waiting for their wizard boss, and were supposed to reserve a room for him. Right in the middle of our questioning Thelan and Luna, suddenly we are entering the bar again. I don’t even remember leaving, what the hells?
It looks slightly different in here. Drexler and I walk to the bar again, and Mrs. Dran mouths “be careful”. She seems pretty normal as she pours Drexler some wine, but keeps an eye on the person swinging on the chandelier.
“Hey, that looks like fun- can I have a turn?!”
For some reason Nikola zaps the guy on the chandelier with a chromatic orb, and then the kids get up from the table drawing clubs. The boy comes up to me and swings it at my head, but I duck out of the way just in time.
“I didn’t do anything, kid!” I snap, drawing my sword.
The girl is attacking Drexler, and looking again I see that the person on the chandelier is not a human, but a 500 mouthed creature from the Far Realm! The old lady is one, too!
“We need about three fifty!” The mouther babbles, among other horrible things.
I drop the boy, Thelan, and go to fight the mouther when a gob of its spit lands in my eyes. I scream in pain as my eyes burn and I can’t see anything. Something rakes me from behind, and I feel a strange feeling in my brain, followed by a pounding headache. What is happening here?!
“Intellect devourers!” Shouts Draelin. “Alastrine, watch out! Stop fumbling around!”
“I can’t see!”
And then I’m suspended in what feels like a web, courtesy of Nikola I soon find out. Blindly scrambling, I manage to escape its clutches and roll over behind the bar. My vision comes back just in time to see Mrs. Dran glaring at me, and then the two intellect devourers near me are killed. I focus on the mouther again, dropping a guiding bolt on it. The boys start beating on it, my Drexler coming to my aid, and I drop another bolt on the other one. Unfurling my wings, I fly up over the bar just as Drexler destroys one of the mouthers and two more intellect devourers appear. I’m just about to attack the mouther, but it spits in my eyes and once again I’m left in the painful darkness.
“WHYYYY?!”
“Treeeeeee fidddyyyyyyy!!!!”
It takes everything in me to keep myself in the air while I listen to Drexler shout in pain. Grasping my sword and trying to sense where I last saw the mouther, I dive down and swing. Judging by the size and horrible squishy feeling of what I hit, I get the mouther and not one of my friends. The voices go silent- I killed the mouther!
I land on the ground and wait for the chemicals to leave my eyes, and when my vision returns I see all our foes are dead. Drexler seems to be stunned, staring blankly ahead, so I fly over to him and put my hands on his face. There is absolutely no recognition or much of anything going on behind his eyes as he just drools and stares.
“Drexler, come back to me!” I whisper, kissing him. He doesn’t return it, just... drools.
“Can you cast restoration on him?” Vella asks.
“No, I didn’t pray for it... didn’t think I’d need it.”
“Okay... well, we will try to think of something.” She claps me on the shoulder, and sits Drexler down in a chair. “I’ll look after him, you probably shouldn’t see him like this.”
There is a banging sound coming from the kitchen, so I fly to the door and go in. What is most noticeable in here is the huge kitchen knife sticking in the table, and a pot on the stove about to boil over. The banging, however, comes from a cabinet that appears to be locked.
I slam my foot into the lock, and force the door open, a bit nervous about what might be in here. What I’m met with is a strange creature, but nothing really threatening. It looks kind of like a jelly fish, but not wet, and it’s... pretty damn cute.
”Thank you!”Says a goofy voice in my head. Guess it’s telepathic! My name is Phffffffffft!”
“Hi, Pfffffth, I’m Alastrine! What are you doing in the cabinet?”
”I sensed some aberrant horrors in this pocket dimension and came to help, but was captured! I did hear the name “Splugoth” mentioned. Someone also mentioned a terrifying guardian that protects ‘The Dimensional Caverns’.”
“That sounds horrible! Thanks, Pfffpth. I’m gonna go back to my friends if you would like join us.”
”Oh! I would love that!”
“Want to ride on my shoulder?”
No, I can fly!”
“Hey, me too!” I point to my translucent wings.
I’m following the flumph out of the kitchen when I realize if I don’t do something to the pot it’s going to boil over and cause a mess. So, I grab a long spoon and go to grab the lid off. Unfortunately, I am not a cook. Layton was always the cook, and none of us really bother in the kitchen now that he’s gone. I fumble with the lid, and it blows up in my face as boiling hot water and tentacles shoot out. I scream as the boiling water scalds my hands and face, and I’m beaten up by tentacles. Nikola runs in, mage hands it off the stove, and I run past him.
“Alastrine, are you alright?!” Vella asks as I’m clearly sobbing from my burning flesh.
“I’m fine, thanks for the healing!” I growl, casting a healing spell on everyone around me.
There’s a weird hissing noise, and I see my new friend Phffffffffft has just... sprayed my boyfriend.
“No! Don’t do that!” I shout.
The nice elf said I should do it!”
“Don’t listen to any of them!” I beg. “They don’t have your best interests in mind. That’s my boyfriend you just sprayed.”
”What’s a boyfriend?”
“Um... he is someone that means a lot to me, and who I share. Um, myself, with.”
“That’s a horrible explanation, Al.” Laughs Draelin, messing with potions behind the bar.
”I’m sorry, Alastrine. You have to give him a bathhpttth in vinegar or alcohol to get it off of him.”
“Right. That I can do.” I go behind the bar and start grabbing bottles of the highest proof alcohol, and Nikola comes to join Draelin.
“This potion made me feel smarter!” Exclaims Nikola. “Quick, let’s give it to Drexler!”
The boys are gagging as they give Drexler the potion, and I stay by the bar. He really does smell revolting, but it’s going to take a rest to get the stench off of him. Drex comes back to his senses, a little confused, but clearly himself again.
“How you feeling, love?” I ask.
“What’s the smell?” He gags.
“That’s you, Drexy.”
There’s a short shout of surprise from the kitchen, and I run in to find Vella stuck to the knife... which now has a gaping mouth.
“Mimic!” I cry out.
Great, this bar just keeps getting better and better!
🌖Alastrine
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