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Post by kynigoskerata on Oct 26, 2020 16:45:20 GMT -5
All the world's a stage all the people merely players, is a saying among the more bardly types of the world, and rings with a bell of finality looking over the slave stage being set up by the ugly little creatures. After being blown up and nearly entirely murdered by the gremlins in the incident with the magical timepiece, I would have assumed, wrongly it seems, that we would not be so quick to trust them. Then one of them said "Yard Yardleys" and all competent thought went out of our group. Its like magic leaf and snow powder combined into one.
Either way, seeing that goblin reach his fried, encrusted hand stuck in hot oil, made me shiver. The fact that Alastrine ate it afterwards almost made me puke violently. So far, we have more more trouble than magic, and that is still quite a lot of interesting magic.
Perhaps ground manticore tails might be well sold here as medicinal powders, or perhaps a powder for feet and other sweaty dirty places.
Ugh, I disgust even myself sometimes.
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Post by Aileen on Nov 1, 2020 16:28:33 GMT -5
Satisfied with the food I’ve shoved in my face hole, we take a wander around the market. The goblins are hardworking and friendly, and I’m making fast friends. A couple goblins approach and ask us to help their king with his curse, and to not be alarmed at how hideous he is. Of course we accept- I can break curses, for the most part!
It is when we go in to see the king that I am extremely confused. Sitting surrounded by goblins and eating an apple is the most beautiful man I have ever seen. Of course Drexler is perfect for me and I think he’s handsome, but this guy... absolutely beautiful.
We approach and he tells us about the dwarf chained up on the wall, gagged and with his beard shaved off. The dwarf is a member of the Fine Fellows of Daggerford, the group the revenant apparently has some grudge against. He threatened the goblins so they cut off his beard- a fair punishment, I think.
Yek runs the mall, and the goblins all work for him. I pull out my resume and hand it over, just in case this adventuring thing doesn’t work out I could work here.
“This is very impressive. What does this say?”
“... name?”
“Ah. And yours is?”
“Alastrine.”
“Right. Well, you could reach the high shelves, we could use you.”
“What’s the pay like?”
“You get to look at me,” Yek says, shimmying. “You also get a certain amount of Yard Yardleys, and your own moldy pillow.”
I decide not to accept the tempting offer just yet. We ask where the doors lead from the mall, and are told not to go through one under pain of death. So we go South, winding through long corridors decorated with moving frescoes of dwarves, me flying ahead of the party, until we come to another long hallway with two bugbears standing sentinel at the end of it.
“How many eyes does Xanathar have?” One calls down the hall.
“As many as he needs!” I respond.
They pause for a second.
“That is the correct answer!”
Wait, really? I never get riddles right! I wait for the party to catch up, end then I go ahead. I get a few steps and then am stopped dead in my tracks as darts fly out of the wall, slamming into me.
“Why didn’t you warn me?!” I call to the bugbears.
One shrugs.
“I thought you knew what to expect, you knew the password and all!”
“Great. Thanks.”
I step forward again to get into the dim light to fly, and just barely dodge out of the way of more darts.
“You don’t look so good, sweetie!” Calls Vella from behind.
“I’m fine! Just... watch your step!”
I really feel awful, and I don’t know if it’s the darts or the Yard Yardleys. Drexler disables the first trap.
“It’s good to go!” He announces. “Stay still, Alastrine, we’re coming!”
He steps forward, and is hit by darts.
“Okay, maybe not!”
Nikola misty steps, and appears just ahead of me. I shriek as more darts implant themselves into my exposed midriff.
“Sorry, Al!”
“Dammit Nikola!!!”
Drexler starts climbing on the wall to get to me, and Draelin rides on Vella who is now in spider form. I give myself a little healing just to quell my stomach ache, and fly to the bugbears.
“That was totally the wrong answer!” One laughs as they draw their javelins and throw them at me.
Shingle appears behind me as the bugbears charge underneath me, swinging Morningstars. Luckily they miss, but I fall out of the air when Drexler’s lit up belt buckle illuminates me. Drexler kills one, and the other moves behind me to attack. It misses and I spin around and whack him. Drexler finishes him off. I turn, panting, to Drexler.
“I love you!”
“I love you too!” He pulls me in for a kiss. “You should rest. You look green... from the poison.”
We go around the corner and take a breather while Nikola sends Naka ahead to scout. Nikola narrates what he sees, and tells us there’s a bunch of humans and a creepy Drow with spider eyes and tendrils. They kill Naka, so now they know we’re here.
Nikola and I make ourselves invisible and go up ahead. When we get there, the men are all in formation with heavy crossbows pointed our direction, the Drow in the middle. Nikola casts fireball on the Drow and a couple of the guys, and then runs off. I’m still invisible, so I move forward toward the Drow. He casts a spell, but it misses me, however I am still surrounded a few seconds later when my armor clanking gives me away.
One guy hits me with his sword, and then another grazes me with a crossbow bolt. The others come running with Nikola, and Draelin helps me out by hypnotic patterning the guys around me. Drexler comes in throwing his dagger or venom, trying to break through my group. The Drow gets me good with his shortsword, and I feel even more poison mixing with that from the darts and the goblin food.
“I’m going to make it warm in here!” Nikola calls.
“Alastrine, get out of here!” Drexler orders.
“No, I’ve got-“
“Go. Now!”
I’m not going to argue with Drexler when he’s all hot and angry, so I dash away from my attackers. Luckily Nikola has the Drow restrained in his magic stone hand.
“NOW!” Yells the Drow.
10 bugbears come running in, swarming in with the rest of the combatants. Drexler kills the Drow, and Nikola fireballs the room. If I hadn’t moved I’m sure I would be dying on the floor right now. Vella turns back human for a second and then becomes a giant snake, drawing a few attackers to herself. I’m able to move back in, and I activate my dancing ladies. Some of the men and bugbears even smile just seconds before they die- who doesn’t like dancing naked ladies?
The thugs start attacking me as Drexler offers for them to surrender. They don’t accept it, but that’s fine- I cut down a bugbear with my sword and then the rest of them drop dead from my ladies.
We start searching the room and the bodies, but the excessive fireballing burnt most things to a crisp. I’m in a lot of pain and starting to regret my feasting at the goblin market. Vella comes up behind me and pulls a dart out of my side.
“This is dripping with grease! You really need to eat less fried food. Maybe a vegetable once in a while?”
I gag.
“No, I’m good. I’m young.”
I’m glad to have a rest, it’s only 6:30 in the morning and my body and stomach are confused by the mixing up of meals. But resting is not meant to be- 2 gricks and 4 other horrible creatures come around the corner and attack!
🌖 Alastrine
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Post by kynigoskerata on Nov 2, 2020 11:17:21 GMT -5
Watching Alastrine eat Yard Yardleys day after day could make anyone feel a bit bloated. It's worse when its produced by beings who haven't even been born in aculture that recognizes that washing hands MIGHT be a good idea.
I have to wonder if the... spiderling drow is a cleric, druid or wizard. I will have to investigate the body to find whatever focus is the source of control for this being. That the drow fought mostly with a sword is a point for the clerical work, who often take armor and weapons to fight up close. Like our dear Yardley lover. Then there is the obvious physical changes to his face and body. Spider like features might be a sign of a druudic talent, seeing as the nature loving Vella is wont to do herself, to the eternal consternation of the cleric. Then again, I will always hope to find more knowledge, a dream that perhaps this drow studied for his art, rather than prayer or meditation.
The battle was hard fought, and I cannot wait to see if the... shoot, more of those abominable beasts. Don't wait up for me!
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Post by donaldado on Nov 2, 2020 14:01:18 GMT -5
"Not so fast, you little thief!", a sheepish grin appears on the little green deformitie's face before it cackles and alights away. Miserable foul creatures. Apparently this sewer pit is their "village". By the gods Allistreen don't encourage them! What on earth, does she truly believe such foul creatures are anything more than parrots? Why is she trying to converse with them? Bleh we should be out of this hole as soon as we see their king. Probably a naked mole rat they mistook for a god. What's this, a man? Of course that explains the semblance of a town! Ok on our way we go. How many eyes does a beholder have? What? No Alistreeen, noooooo! The answer is eleven eleven! Wait they bought it? Fools.
"Aaaagh they shot me!"-Alistreen Of course it was a trap.
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Post by Aileen on Nov 9, 2020 12:35:05 GMT -5
A cleric of Shar, in this dungeon? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Those b****es love anywhere dark and horrible. I’ve never come face to face with one, and I must admit I have never felt such anger. I flew at her in a rage, and just like Selûne and Shar, we had a face off.
The boys and Vella occupied themselves with the invisible servants the Sharite attacked us with, and I went crazy on this hoe.
“Moon worshipper?” She sneers.
“Yup.”
She pops her spirit guardians, a bunch of dancing fat guys, and laughs at me.
“Two can play that game!” I threaten as I release my dancing ladies.
Soon she lies dead, and I feel... invigorated? Closer to my goddess? A little bad for killing someone- Nah.
Drexler starts helping himself to the buffet of food, making himself a sandwich, as I rip the holy symbol off the Sharhoe. I crush the black stone under my boot, and grind it with the pommel of my greatsword for good measure. When I’m done, I drag her out in the hallway and pray to Selûne, giving her funeral rights.
“What’s wrong with you?” Drexler asks.
“My goddess demands we stomp out Shar’s symbols and worshipers. I’m just doing my job. Can I have a sandwich? Extra bacon?”
“Of course!”
We rest in Draelin’s tiny hut, and then proceed onward, searching the dungeon’s many many passageways and boring rooms. Finally we open a door where we hear shouting, and find ourselves looking at the back of a really big, many tentacled thing. Wait, are those eyeballs? Oh, f***!
🌖 Alastrine
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Post by donaldado on Nov 9, 2020 14:28:08 GMT -5
Whats this? A beholder!!!!! Oh no. Ok steady yourself Draelin. You are too pretty for consequences. How do I convince my murder hobo associates that parlay is the only option? Hmmmm.... how to get them to think it's their own idea. Maybe if I stare really hard hard at them I can allow my consciousness to flow into the ether and their mind shall pick it up. "HMMMMMMHUAGHHHUUUUA" "Drey are you ok? Don't be embarrassed, Yard Yardleys does that to everyone."-Alestrine
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Post by kynigoskerata on Nov 15, 2020 18:45:20 GMT -5
Ahh.... this is the life. A few days in the city, seeing the sights and talking to old friends was just what I needed. I missed the city life, as much as I enjoy the running around and fighting, there comes a time to remember what its all for. Except Phial Bedro, the absolute bastard. A former competitor of mine. A 'rising star' of the city, who got there by stepping on my back and breaking it. Five minutes alone in a room with him, I'd just need my book to change everything.
I'm getting ahead of myself. I just need a bit of time to relax. Find myself a hot meal and a warm bed.
Perhaps I should have told them before I left... then again, I'm sure they are alright. We're quite the powerful group, even without me there personally.
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Post by Aileen on Nov 16, 2020 10:57:58 GMT -5
What I thought was going to be a fight with a beholder turns rapidly into a full scale brawl. Turns out the thing is undead, disgusting with its milky eyes and skin sloughing off. Also turns out he has friends, about a dozen men including a psycho female with an axe.
Bella’s summoned pixies make some of us fly, and Drexler and I get on either side of the beholder as I fill the room with the healing sanctuary of twilight. I was just doing it to fly but everyone seems to appreciate it’s healing effects. We pummel the beholder whilst being shot at by the men on the ground, and I whip out my dancing ladies. It’s a long fought battle, but we emerge victorious. If not a bit banged up.
After a short rest we get to know our new small friend, a thiefy gnome who reluctantly gets recruited as an intern for us. He probably doesn’t know it but my bureaucratic banter gets him to say “yes” and that’s all I need. Nikola went up to the surface to take care of business and we are short handed after all. After a short nap and search we move on to look for a place to make camp.
One room has cots and a creepy circle, but it doesn’t seem to be a summoning alter of any kind. We press on to make sure there are no secret entrances, and low and beholder there is one! We find another one of those weird gates, but this time it has a picture of a rust monster and not a tree.
“Anyone got rust?” I ask.
“No, unlike you I actually care about my things.” Says Drexler.
“Excuse me?! Do you see any rust on me?!”
He looks down at my exposed midriff.
“Nope.”
“Right. That wasn’t my fault!”
Drexler and I meander off down the other end of the hall to look for more secret doors while the others hang out and look around. We find one! Unfortunately so did a few bugbears.
We fight the buggers with minimal ass kicking done to us, and then check out the room they came from. It’s filled with broken armor, rust everywhere. Rust! I grab a handful and run back off down the corridor, a spring in my step. I breeze past granny, staring at the gate, and start smearing the rust al over the door and the keystone. Suddenly there is a weird shifting and shimmering, and a portal appears. I hear a voice in my head,
“What is beyond this gate is beyond your skill. Do not pass!”
The others come up behind as I consider what just happened.
“Nice! Let’s go in!” Says Draelin.
“No! It’s... there’s nothing exciting beyond the gate. It’s just... we shouldn’t waste our time!”
“You’re hiding something, are you possessed again?” He asks.
“No! Just... Yard Yardley’s is having a half off sale. We should really go!”
Vella sends her pixies in, and they report it’s just a room. She tries going in and gets the same voice in her head. So I’m not crazy! And of course, everyone wants to go through.
“Fine! I’ll cast augury. That will decide things.”
I cast the spell, and a word resounds in my head, that sounds suspiciously like Jim Darkmagic.
WEAL!
“Well... it’s not woe!” I announce.
So we go through, the voice warning us once more. You can’t tell adventurers not to do something, for we will always do it.
We find a fresco of a horrible gem eating monster, which apparently is a xorn, and decide to go through the broken door and follow the hallway. Heading into another broken door, I have to say I am not at all surprised to see the same creature licking things. And then I remember my expensive gems. Sh**.
🌖 Alastrine
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Post by Aileen on Nov 18, 2020 12:06:10 GMT -5
I’m dead? Yeah, I’m dead. Oh s*** I was not ready for this! Where in the hells am I... this just looks like....
A bar? What?! I was expecting the moon or clouds and trumpets, not the Dran and Courtier! Which is what it looks like, minus the weird purple lights. So I spend all my life devoted to Selûne only to end up in the Test Market? What a letdown!
I walk to the front door and enter. It looks much as I remember it, but the barkeep is not Mrs. Dran. Instead it’s a portly gnome, standing on a crate. As I approach, noting the tables are lightly occupied by depressing looking people of all types, I note I can smell fried food. Seafood, specifically.
“Hi,” I say to the gnome. “Where am I?”
“In between.” He says.
“In between what?”
“Life and death. You are dead. All of us are.”
Looking around, I see that most people have horrible wounds, some just blue tinged skin and deathly pallor.
“Why am I here? I should be with my goddess! Selûne!”
“If that’s what you want, it can be arranged. Someone doesn’t want to let you go.”
“What?”
“Those that are here aren’t ready to go. I died working at Yard Yardleys and my family never got my last paycheck. Until I’m avenged , I am stuck here.”
“Wait, you work for Yard Yardleys?!”
“Yes. Would you like to know our specials today?”
“I don’t have any money,” I say with a sigh. “Drexler has everything.”
Drexler... oh no, he will be devastated! My love, my sweet Drexy!
A flash of dark fabric catches my eye, and suddenly a suave looking middle aged man sidles in next to me. He smiles at me, and turns to the gnome.
“Wine, red. And whatever the lady wants.” He says, his voice thickly accented.
“I... um...”
“Fisherman’s Basket?” The gnome offers.
“Yes,” says the man before I can answer. “And get her a glass of wine, as well.”
The gnome hops off the crate and disappears out back, leaving me standing awkwardly at the bar.
“Let us converse, Miss Kearney.”
“Have we met?” I ask, following him to a table. “I literally just got here.”
“We have not,” he says. “But I have met a friend of yours. A flumph, I believe he called himself.”
“Pfffffffffffffth?!”
He nods.
“A strange creature. He spoke very highly of you.”
“Where is he?!”
“In my land. He showed up waiting for you a few months ago. He is now my guest.”
The gnome comes back with two glasses, a bottle of wine, and a big basket of fried seafood goodness. I watch my new friend as the gnome pours our wine. This guy is ridiculously handsome with his long dark hair and chiseled jawline, and a bit pale... not unexpected considered we are all dead. He’s dressed in all black and crimson, quite dapper and noble. Maybe he’s Drexler’s grandfather?
“Where is your land? You don’t sound like you’re from around... well, anywhere I’ve been.”
“Barovia. I am it’s ruler.”
“Oh s***, you’re royalty? And your dead. That kind of blows.”
He laughs, taking his glass of wine and smelling it. He looks disappointed.
“Not quite. I am still there, and... well, not entirely dead. You are speaking to a projection, if you will.”
“Huh. Nice job. I’m really here though, and that’s a problem.”
“Indeed. How did you die?”
“I took an aggressive cloak to the face.”
“Ah. That is an unusual way to go. However, I do not believe you will be here long.”
I dig into the fisherman’s platter, and am pleased that it tastes exactly like Yard Yardleys... however it doesn’t satisfy, and the wine also tastes good, but feels just as empty. So that’s why everyone looks depressed. I look up to find the fancy noble guy staring at me, unblinking.
“Want some? You paid for it, after all.” I offer up the precious Yard Yardley’s.
“No, thank you. I do not eat. Seafood.”
“Is this some kind of Acq Inc postmortem exit interview? Did Omin Dran send you?”
“No. I came on my own accord. I am looking for a foreign business contact in your land, and you come highly recommended.”
“I’m already busy running my own franchise, I’m not looking for employment. I’m not interested.”
“Not employment. A liaison, if you will. I propose a deal... you remain in contact with me, do favors here and there as I ask... and I will give you some of my knowledge and power.”
I laugh, downing my glass of wine.
“I told you I’m not interested, I’ve got powers enough already. I’m a cleric of Selûne, after all. And I’m also dead, so there’s that. If they can’t bring me back...”
“They will. But you may be weaker. I can make you strong, I can give you power beyond what your goddess gives you. All I ask in return is loyalty. And you will have power.”
I sit pondering his deal. It doesn’t seem to be that poor a bargain. I network a lot in our line of work, I am sure this guy just wants to share in some business ventures down the line. What do I have to lose? Maybe my lady’s favor, but this guy seems on the up and up.
“Alright, then. But I’m not relocating. If I’m going to live again, I want to spend my life with Drexler. We have a business to run, we’ve got a good thing.”
“Understandable. Perhaps the two of you can spend your honeymoon in Barovia. I would love to have you both for dinner.”
Honeymoon, hah!
“Do you want me to draft a contract, or shake on this the old fashioned way?”
He stands, and holds out his hand. I extend mine, but instead of shaking it he kisses it.
“No need to complicate things. Do you, Alastrine Kearney, accept my offer?”
“I do.”
“Then it is done.”
He smiles, and only then do I notice his fangs. Well that explains why he looks dead, too. Did I just make a deal with a vampire?
“What’s your name, anyway?” I ask.
“Strahd von Zarovich, Lord of Barovia. I look forward to working with you, Alastrine.”
🌒 Alastrine
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Post by donaldado on Nov 23, 2020 11:36:18 GMT -5
I can't believe the others didn't want to go to Yard Yardley's with me. Oh well, I guess I get all these aboleth rings to myself. I wonder how Alistrene is?
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Post by Aileen on Nov 23, 2020 12:01:02 GMT -5
I can't believe the others didn't want to go to Yard Yardley's with me. Oh well, I guess I get all these aboleth rings to myself. I wonder how Alistrene is? If we went to Yard Yardleys, maybe I wouldn’t have died? 🍤🍟🦪
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Post by kynigoskerata on Nov 23, 2020 15:09:37 GMT -5
Hahaha, Alastrine's a poor old humie now! It must be so bad for her to be stuck with human eyes and... wait, she can still see in the dark? That wasnt a gift of her blood. Anyways! Still, this is a big thing. A giant leap. It was worrying, when she fell in battle, I can admit. I've grown fond of these lovable idiots these past few weeks... months that we have been working and living together. You practically have to, once you've seen everybody naked so many times.
Either way, I am just glad nothing permanent has occured. And we have made a new ally, the druid, maybe. It's still a bit iffy on whether we will be feeding her friends before long. Hopefully Vella will be able to bond with her and we can gain some measure of peace and security in her empire.
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Post by Aileen on Nov 29, 2020 20:37:40 GMT -5
I wake up, drawing in a huge, gasping breath, and sit up in a panic. Hands push me down and I look up to find Drexler holding me as the archdruid Willow stands over me.
“Alastrine?” Drexler’s tear strewn face is close to mine, and I can smell his sweat and the leather of his armor. I’m really alive!
“Drexy, did I die?”
“You’ve been dead for a day,” says Willow. “I hope your new body is adequate.”
“New body?!” I look down, and... wow, those got bigger! “Drexy, am I ugly?!”
“No! The opposite,” he runs his hand through my hair. Long, golden blonde-
“Ah! What is that?!”
“Just a hair color change,” he laughs. “Oh, and you’re human!”
“NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!”
Later on, when I’ve finally calmed down from freak out after freak out, I test out my new legs. Everything seems in working order, and I don’t feel that different, but...
“My wings! I’ll never have them again!”
“And your dark vision!” Nikola says, a smug expression on his face. “How far can you see, New Alastrine?”
I look out over to the dark woods, seeing everything for about three hundred feet, and then darkness.
“Oh no!” I start bawling. “Everything’s gone dark!”
“Not even sixty feet?!” Draelin’s mouth drops open.
“Three hundred! That’s it!”
“WHAT?!” Nikola growls. “How?! You’re not an angel anymore!”
“That wasn’t from my heritage, it’s a gift of Selûne! She must be punishing me for making a deal with someone else!”
“Wait, what?” Drexler looks confused.
“Nothing, maybe it was a dream. It was like purgatory, but it was the Test Market... and there was a Yard Yardley’s... then some guy offered me powers in exchange for some business deal. Sean Von Sandwich? S***, I forget his name. But he was so cool and nice and...”
“Sounds like a dream, sweetie,” Vella says, patting my head. “Sometimes your brain keeps working after you’ve already died and you hallucinate things, it’s perfectly natural. Oh, what soft hair you have now! And such healthy skin, amazing what a lack of fried food does for the body!”
I pull away from Vella, and take one final look at my old body as it... I, lie in the compost pile. My silver hair, caked in blood, my bones all broken and twisted. It’s horrible! But I’m alive, albeit different, and I can’t let my second chance go to waste.
“Speaking of fried food, I’m starving!” I announce, turning away.
“I’ve got some leftover Yard Yardley’s, but it’s just dregs,” says Draelin.
My stomach recoils at the thought of it.
“I don’t think I’m ready. It’s too soon. I could go for a steak, but something tells me Druid lady doesn’t have any. This body hasn’t had any meat in it yet!”
“I gave you a whole twelve minutes, Alastrine!” Drexler sputters.
“Not that!”
We rest up, and then head to check out the green dragon. We were told to give him the respect he deserves, but we also don’t know exactly what that entails. So, we hide, and Nikola sends one of his summoned friends, a... book, forward. The dragon, a lot bigger than our little brass friend, is sleeping on top of a platform. A great rumbling voice, speaking a language I cannot comprehend, fills the area. Nikola steps forward, speaking back to it. Ah, at least someone speaks Draconic.
Nikola translates for us, and the dragon just wants us to f*** off. So we stand around discussing whether we want to go through the gate near him, or head back and kill bats or something.
“Are you going to ask him about the elephant in the room?” Asks Drexler.
“There’s an elephant in the room?” Nikola looks around in excitement.
“The sword in his f***ing head!”
Nikola asks one too many questions and we linger too long, and the dragon roars with anger. Roots and vines erupt around us, ensnaring the boys, but Vella and I are free. I try casting bane on him, but then... he turns into a puppy. A tiny little yappy thing, at that. We run away as a big thorny thicket tries to trap us, and although all of us consider picking up the Yorkie dragon and potentially smothering it, we let it live.
We explore tunnels leading in deeper, and find a room full of giant carapaces and a big crystal throne in another. Drexler and I of course sit in it together, but nothing crazy happens. We hang out for a couple hours just searching and finding nothing before we decide to check out a room marked with an x on the ground. Big mistake.
We all start to sink in as soon as we walk in, I immediately drop in to my knees. Within seconds it’s up to my chest, and then I slip under. Panic takes over as I try to swim up, but I’m just slipping further under. Suffocating, just like before. The cloaker is back on my head, blinding me, the air in my lungs burning as I can neither let it out nor let more in. This is it! I can’t do anything!
Someone grabs me, my savior, and pulls me to the surface. I come out on solid ground sputtering and crying.
“Not again! Not again!”
“Alastrine, you’re okay! I’m not letting you die again. Not on my watch.”
Drexler wipes the sand off my face before kissing me. I shake the sand out of my armor as my clear my throat.
“Right. I’m fine. Let’s go.”
We proceed onward until we come to a huge cavern, with a bowl like floor and a domed ceiling. I gasp when I see the tiny castle suspended over the bowl, sparkling in the darkness.
“Woah! That’s pretty!”
“What? I see nothing.” Vella squints into the darkness.
“There’s a little castle! I’m going to look closer!”
I fly over, using the darkness to my advantage, and approach the castle. When I get closer, suddenly it grows to full size! I land in the courtyard, and begin walking around. I come to a pretty crystal garden with several paths leading off of a central statue. It’s a big wizard with a spell book and crazy eyes. The plaque reads “MADDGOTH”. Before I run out of fly time, I fly back to the group and tell them all about the castle actually being normal sized and the weird statue. None of them know who Maddgoth is, so I write a quick note to headquarters.
‘Hi. Who the hells is Maddgoth? - Alastrine’
I wait a couple moments, and check for a return note. There’s a piece of purple parchment with gold writing on it when I look in- an answer!
’You have 21 days to submit your paperwork and dues. ❤️ Acq Inc. HQ’
“Son of a b****!”
So, Vella summons the pixies and we all fly over to the castle. Halfway across poor Draelin plummets out of the sky as his pixie is taken out by a big boulder. I see a giant laughing down in the bowl, and we all fly downward to help. When I’m a bit closer I send two blasts of energy at him, surprising even myself. So it wasn’t a dream, it really did happen! Thanks Sean... Stan... whatever the hell your name is!
Before we can even have a cool battle, the giant is turned into a rat. I’m getting tired of people just turning things into animals when we could have a good fight. Oh well. I heal Draelin up and then we fly up to the castle.
Back in the crystal garden, we try opening a door, but are immediately attacked by a floating ghostly sword. Vella dispels it away, and we head around to the front door. I go to open it and notice a sign on the door that I can’t read.
“Otto’s Castle.” Says Nikola.
I open the door and we go in. Here we find four white marble pedestals each holding a green glass flask and being dusted by incorporeal feather dusters. Nikola goes to grab one, only to find the feather duster floofing him in the face. He sneezes and backs away. I head to the other door, ignoring the shenanigans, but then I hear someone shout in alarm. Turning around I see all four flasks fall to the ground and shatter. Gas puffs up from each of them, and I feel my eyes get very...
~~~
I’m rudely awakened by someone, and slap them across the face. It’s when the slap is returned that I sit up, realizing it was only Drexler. Also, I was sleeping on the floor in a room covered in broken glass now. Draelin is asleep across the room from me.
“Have a good nap?” Drex asks, helping me to my feet. “Here’s your sword.”
He puts my greatsword back in my hand, and I yawn.
“Could have kept sleeping. What happened?”
“Well, you two dropped, and your swords started attacking us.”
“Weird.”
“Indeed. Come on, more to check out!”
We travel further into the castle, and I find it’s a very comfortable temperature. A bit warm, but kind of nice after spending so much time in the cold dungeon. The doors are all gorgeous and made of stained glass. The first one I try to shove open is locked, so Drexy picks it: leads out into the same garden. Another door we come to has a copper coin wedged in it, so I take that out as I open it. This room is packed full of junk, but we start pulling stuff out and actually find a good bit of useful things. After an hour of shopping, we close the door and I put the coin back in.
The next room is a really nice, fancy bathroom. I help myself to some perfume and powder on a table as the boys check out the gold chamber pot and some books. Then I see the bathtub is just too nice to pass up. The tap turns on and hot water comes out. There’s even soap! I fill it up as the others read and search, and strip off my armor and clothes.
“Alastrine, what are you doing?!” Drexler hisses, trying to cover me with my cloak.
“Taking a bath! I’ve got sand in places you don’t want to know. Well, maybe you do, but the others don’t.”
He turns red and holds the cloak up to shield me from the others.
“Why are you like this?”
I shrug, dunking under the bubbles. After drying off and re-donning my armor, we all head back to castle searching. I feel much better and feel sorry for anyone who was too proud to bathe. When opportunities present themselves, you take them! We are business men and women before adventurers after all!
We come to what was probably once a really well decorated study, but find it in shambles. A layer of ankle deep refuse covers the floor. As we walk in, a creepy creature that was standing in the rubbish dives under it.
🌖 Alastrine 🧛🏻♂️
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Post by kynigoskerata on Nov 30, 2020 17:45:08 GMT -5
Well that was really rather terrifying! I do believe we have just made quite a few new and powerful enemies with our escape to level 7. Not only the brain damaged green dragon, but those vines... I would not doubt for a moment that the druid now considers us a true or at least nominal enemy for the duration of our stay and our activities that pissed the green wyrm off. Though perhaps I should apologize for how things turned out. My own... verbosity is somewhat the problem that pissed off the dragon in the first place. Thankfully we did not kill them, even if our own fighter so desired that blade. Still, now that we are down a level, and in this magnificent mansion. A wizard's mansion, if I am not mistaken by the book holding statue in the main area. Finding a new spellbook of the one who created this place would be the best Yuletide present ever.
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Post by Aileen on Dec 7, 2020 12:18:22 GMT -5
The strange, huge creature searches urgently through the rubble, ignoring our queries and even the sword i point at him. Finally we start helping him search when it’s clear it’s not a threat, although none of us know what to look for. He at last finds a piece of parchment, holding it up and mimicking writing. Nikola of course has a pen.
The creature draws a crude picture of a dragon with butterfly wings, and then tears the parchment up, throwing the pieces in the air like confetti. We determine after much miming and questioning that he wants us to kill a butterfly dragon of some sort. Agreeing to, because why not, we follow him into another room where he reaches into a mirror and pulls out a fancy helmet. He holds it out to us, and Nikola identifies it as being able to protect someone from all damage, but only when in this place or the grounds. They let me attune to it while we rest and search this room. After dying a day ago I am extremely excited to fight and not get hurt.
Nikola asks me to break the desk and chair made of stacked books with my sword, after failing to pry any of them out. I shatter the chair, sending books flying, and then make quick work of the desk. Who needs books when you have a big sword? At least he’s smiling and happy, it doesn’t take much to make a wizard’s day.
After exploring room after room on this level, the dragon finds us before we find him. It tries gassing me, but I’m immune. I pull out my see invisibility spell, and am faced with the most beautiful dragon I’ve ever seen. I speak to it and it talks back in my head, notifying me that the creature I took the helmet and the hit job from is an annoying pest, and only wants him dead because he teases him. Now I’m conflicted.
“Let him go! He’s not bad! At least I don’t think... that other guy is just a sh**head!”
The dragon flies away with a wink in my direction, promising to see us again soon. I just hope it’s not laying a trap for us.
We come to a bedroom where someone is under the covers snoring loudly, and I decide it will be funny to get into bed with them. So I do, and immediately several wands are pointing at the bed and me. The others come in, and I blast a wand, crawling out of the now empty bed. Some kind of weird illusion and trap? But why?
We fight the wands, which load magic missiles into us, and I end up having to climb up onto the bed canopy to fight them. Oh how I miss my angel wings! This being human thing is really taking some adjusting to. Of course, I was raised believing myself to be normal, and then I was special. Now I’m just normal again.
More searching ensues after defeating the wands, and eventually we find ourselves in a control room. There’s controls for music, lights, roof access, and button we all of course want to push that clearly states not to press it. Who knows what that could do, but other than the wand security system this place hasn’t been that bad- we even had an amazing meal served by the invisible servants that tried to kick Vella’s ass before. Someone hits Roof, and we appear up on top. I look out over the edge and see that this castle really is only a foot tall at most! I thought that had been an illusion, but it seems as though... we’ve been shrunk down!
A cloud of gas appears behind Nikola, and it seems our friend is back. Let’s hope he isn’t going to try to kill us.
🌖 Alastrine
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