Marion takes the pendant and puts it in a pouch. As the priest approaches them to ask his question, she can't suppress a grin and shakes her head. "My worldly belongigs are all on my person. If someone wants to inherit them, they can come claim them," she pauses shortly before continuing, " Along with the rest of my possessions in Undermountain."
If she has10 minutes before everyone's ready, Marion would like to cast Identify as a ritual on the pendant.
As he adjusts the straps to the harness he's putting on, Elemoth turns to face the disciple of Kelemvor. "Ah yes, I was expecting this." he says, nodding to the fellow priest. "As you may have heard either from myself or others, half to my parents Elessa and Halethar Dyrannel who are probably close to Elventree by now, a fourth to Lord and Lady Adessus and Elundra Devaux and their children here in Waterdeep, and another quarter to the Temple of Lathander, also here in Waterdeep." he states, rather calmly given the subject.
Elemoth takes a moment to double-check the fittings on the harness before concluding, "If... well, anything has happened to any of the parties (Lathander forbid), then whoever remains can distribute those shares equally."
(OOC: No worries, everyone gets busy. It wasn't that big of a delay either)
Shadow waits patiently in line, and he is quite excited. It's time for him to help people so that he can atone for his crimes. "The names Veil of Shadows, and all that I own is on my person. I hope to make a name for myself with this adventure and establish a home afterwards. If I may die, I would want anything I have to go to my brother, Flame." Shadow glances at Flame, somewhat nervously now that the reality of this mission is setting in.
"Inevitable? Huh, well that's not very promising is it..." Torment drifts briefly off in to her own thoughts before coming back to matter at hand. "My family certainly doesn't need any of my belongings, but do tell my mother if I fail to return. Nemeia, of the noble house of Brim. And for the things I do have, just send them to Mag Bittercock, leader of a local Waterdhavian guild, Bittercock and Bros. Tell her I want Keith to have my viol." And with that, she prepares to be strapped up and lowered into the well.
Flame gets rather nervous at the priest's words, but catches sight of Pencheska for a moment and puts on a brave facade. With a shaky voice, he says, "All of my belongings should go to my brother, Shadow, and the other party members should they need them in the dungeon."
As Elemoth finally is fully strapped into the harness Pencheska scolds the Kelemvorite: "Don't ask it like that Sepulcher! They're going to make it... I believe in them." She says the last part a little bit to herself, almost like a reassurance. She then asks for a single gold piece for entry (I assume you provide it), and then heads over to the winch as he takes his first step into the gaping abyss of the Yawning Portal. (See below for what happens). Eventually, the harness comes back up as the process repeats for Marion, who cannot help but feel a sense of unshakable unease about her. (See below for what happens). Then for Shadow, as the process occurs once again as something else happens... (See below for what happens, and below that for more things that happen). Torment goes next, as the harness lowers her down next. (See below for what happens). Last but not least, Flame heads down, but as he's about to jump off into the Abyss, Pencheska leans over and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek and whispers to him: "Please return soon my hero..." as she then quickly retreats, blushing profusely as Flame's gaze of the woman vanishes to be replaced with wall.
The following is what happens: Pencheska lowers you through the great well into the gloom of Downshadow, the shallowest depth of Undermountain. As she does so, the last echoes of the crowd's toasts and betting whisper about you as you descend into the well. As the flickering light from the torches above fades, a chill overtakes you, and you find yourself still sinking with no end in sight. You drop slowly and steadily deeper on the rope, almost as if you were the bait on an unweighted fishing line in placid waters, but the cold and the quiet of the well that surrounds you is anything but peaceful. The silence has more of a threatening quality to it.
As you head down, you notice *lots* of graffiti, some of the graffiti even seems to have been written over other graffiti to provide more room. It seems to be in all different languages, and you think you can make out some of it. Many people have written in Common that "'So-and-so' was here." There are other statements though that you just manage to catch a glimpse of:
In Common: "Hesod -- Went to check out strange music only Jayce can hear. Have a few drinks until we get back."
In Common: "It's been two days. Leave a message if you have returned. Signed, Hesod."
In Common: "It's been two weeks. I can wait no longer. I'll search for you myself. None of our friends would come with me. If you are not with me when you read this, then I am dead. Avenge my death on those who abandoned us in our time of need. Signed, Hesod."
In Goblin: "Many swords come here. Do not stay."
In Common: "Beware the she-wolf and her night hounds. They killed Sarth."
In Common: "You came here unbidden, now you'll die in this midden."
In Common: "Tymora, remember me."
In Common: "Durembar Ironshanks was here and killed more orcs than he could count."
In Elven (below the preceding): "That means eleven."
In Halfling: "When you hear screaming, go the other way."
In Halfling by another hand: "Coward!"
You journey down, trying hard not to think too much about the creaking old leather or the straining ropes. Finally, it is over and your feet touch cool, wet stone. Before nerves can get the better of you, you wrench the harnesses free and tug on the ropes to signal them to be raised.
Your eyes then get used to the strange dim lighting of the area that you have arrived in. It seems to be a tiny town of sorts crammed into an underground cavern. People of all sorts (although mostly the unsavory kind) rush about the streets, bumping into each other and shoving, all to get from one place to another (imagine NYC except in a small cavern and a bunch of hooded fantasy characters). One of them; however, stands (literally) above the rest. You see a humongous, maybe around 12 feet tall woman with black iron plate and a huge greatsword resting on her back. The rushing humanoids seem to give this woman a wide berth. Her visage is stern, and she has a flaming red length of hair that falls back to her shoulders. As you head down into the Downshadow the huge woman strides over and implores questioningly: "YOU THERE! What is your business in the Downshadow?" This startles several passerbys, but they simply glance in your direction and then continue on their way.
Shadow:
As you head down you hear a voice... the same one as before, as it speaks it sounds like knives on a chalkboard (more dangerous than nails): "I A L M O S T F O R G O T... T H A N K Y O U V I E L O F S H A D O W S M I S T - W A L K E R."
As Flame is lowered into the cavern, he lightly touches his cheek where Pencheska kissed him. He felt a fluttering in his stomach, but he wasn't sure if it was from the kiss or the sense of dread overcoming him as he reads the graffiti on the way down. He reaches the bottom and removes the harness just as a massive woman walked toward the group.
"YOU THERE! What is your business in the Downshadow?
At that, any sense of bravery quickly fled his mind. "What did we get ourselves into?" He looks around at the group hoping someone else will speak up.
Shadow is quite is excited to get this adventure going. As he is making the descent, he is intrigued by the graffiti on the walls. "Hmm, interesting, this isn't looking to promising. No matter, I don't expect this to be easy." About halfway down, a familiar, yet dreadful voice fills his mind.
"I A L M O S T F O R G O T... T H A N K Y O U V I E L O F S H A D O W S M I S T - W A L K E R."
Shadow begins to freak out a little. He becomes very aware that he suspended high in the air, and the walls around him seem to close in on him. His feet finally hit the ground and gets out of the harness as quickly as possible. Still shaken by the voice, he walks a little away form the group, sits down and lights up his pipe. "I can't do this. What am I thinking? Why is my brother taking so long to get down here?"
Elemoth looks left and right at everyone else who's made it down, then realizes that only he and Torment would probably be considered the "talkative" type. Seeing that Torment is less heavily armored than him, and that this might be a risky situation, he swallows slightly before moving forward to face the giant woman.
"Ah yes, hello my good lady. We are a humble group of people hired by the City of Waterdeep to investigate something down in the upper reaches of Undermountain." he says by way of introduction, bringing his right hand to his chest before dipping in a shallow bow. "As for Downshadow itself, I would say that most of the business we would have would be just passing through. My name is Elemoth Dyrannel, and besides me are Shadow, Flame, Torment, and Marion. It's a pleasure to meet you, miss..." he pauses making a slow rolling gesture towards the large woman, giving her a chance to introduce herself.
"Well that's no way to greet newcomers," mutters Torment as she doffs the harness. She turns to join Elemoth who is addressing the large woman who questioned them, bowing as Elemoth introduces their group. "Ah, yes, see, we're looking for a place to supply, and then onward to a, what was it, a citadel? Yes, a citadel. Perhaps one that is well shaded?"
The humongous woman stares down towards Elemoth, her eyes piercing his body like a spear. She then looks over towards Torment as she speaks. The ginormous woman then pauses for a moment looking between all of you, only to then nod and say: "Ruby. I am Ruby. You may pass. Supplies have been used for the surface attack. You must have a glyph key to go to the Citadel. Izzy can help you if you do. She's there." The flame-haired woman points towards a dilapidated building (although they are all ruined in some way) that has a sign jutting out of the rotting and moldy wood. Inscribed upon the sign is a crude picture of some kind of bird along with the words: "The Ugly Duckling" as your gaze affixes on it, a great cacophony can be heard from the inside.
"Thank you miss Ruby, it's been quite a pleasure to make your acquaintance."Elemoth responds after the giant woman finishes, giving her another quick bow. Now that it seems like things are safe, his shoulders slump almost imperceptibly and he raises a hand to back of his head and neck to brush away some sweat that had been forming. As he slowly turns to face the rest of his group, he gives himself a moment to let his mind wander a little, and marvels that things have changed so much for him in such a short period of time.
The last time he was in social situations even remotely similar to these, he was chatting with the servants and entourages of nobles. Chatting about simple things like the latest fashions in Calimsham, or the fine Scrimshaw some family had just brought down from Icewind Dale through Neverwinter to put in some garish private display. Ironically enough, Tempest was also at some of these gatherings, the purposes of which were far more trivial than this most recent task of trying to convince a giant woman not to crush them all. Wistfully, Elemoth finds himself thinking back briefly to those older days, in which the conversations he had were about wine selections and how to dress the children rather than how his estate should be divided upon his demise by the Open Lord of Waterdeep, or why he and the people with him are should be allowed to pass through a disreputable looking undercity beneath the bowels of Waterdeep.
After he gathers himself, Elemoth looks to the members of the rest of the group waiting to see if they have anything to say, now that they've been given permission to pass. As he sees Torment, he makes a mental note to ask her later why she'd give up such a safe, prosperous, and even somewhat prestigious life to do something like this. Then again, there may not have really been much of a choice, with that sudden, massive, attack on Waterdeep and the current siege that continued after it.
"Well my friends, it seems that we can continue making our way. Should we head uh... carefully into The Ugly Duckling?" he asks, more to make conversation and to see how everyone is doing than anything else. It's clearly obvious what their next step will probably be.
"Let's walk with purpose and pretend we belong here! We don't want to attract more of these predatory individuals," Marion whispers but fails to adequatly apply her advice in the intimidating environment.
(OOC: Say, anyone here that's still able to post interested in helping me practice DM-ing by joining another PBP game? Including and especially the DM. It's a simple concept, but it involves a party of level 2 characters escorting a caravan in the Moonsea region. One caravan team consists of Elemoth's deadbeat drifter parents who are actually holding down a steady job for once)
Marion takes the pendant and puts it in a pouch. As the priest approaches them to ask his question, she can't suppress a grin and shakes her head. "My worldly belongigs are all on my person. If someone wants to inherit them, they can come claim them," she pauses shortly before continuing, " Along with the rest of my possessions in Undermountain."
If she has10 minutes before everyone's ready, Marion would like to cast Identify as a ritual on the pendant.
As he adjusts the straps to the harness he's putting on, Elemoth turns to face the disciple of Kelemvor. "Ah yes, I was expecting this." he says, nodding to the fellow priest. "As you may have heard either from myself or others, half to my parents Elessa and Halethar Dyrannel who are probably close to Elventree by now, a fourth to Lord and Lady Adessus and Elundra Devaux and their children here in Waterdeep, and another quarter to the Temple of Lathander, also here in Waterdeep." he states, rather calmly given the subject.
Elemoth takes a moment to double-check the fittings on the harness before concluding, "If... well, anything has happened to any of the parties (Lathander forbid), then whoever remains can distribute those shares equally."
(OOC: No worries, everyone gets busy. It wasn't that big of a delay either)
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Shadow waits patiently in line, and he is quite excited. It's time for him to help people so that he can atone for his crimes. "The names Veil of Shadows, and all that I own is on my person. I hope to make a name for myself with this adventure and establish a home afterwards. If I may die, I would want anything I have to go to my brother, Flame." Shadow glances at Flame, somewhat nervously now that the reality of this mission is setting in.
"Inevitable? Huh, well that's not very promising is it..." Torment drifts briefly off in to her own thoughts before coming back to matter at hand. "My family certainly doesn't need any of my belongings, but do tell my mother if I fail to return. Nemeia, of the noble house of Brim. And for the things I do have, just send them to Mag Bittercock, leader of a local Waterdhavian guild, Bittercock and Bros. Tell her I want Keith to have my viol." And with that, she prepares to be strapped up and lowered into the well.
Flame gets rather nervous at the priest's words, but catches sight of Pencheska for a moment and puts on a brave facade. With a shaky voice, he says, "All of my belongings should go to my brother, Shadow, and the other party members should they need them in the dungeon."
As Elemoth finally is fully strapped into the harness Pencheska scolds the Kelemvorite: "Don't ask it like that Sepulcher! They're going to make it... I believe in them." She says the last part a little bit to herself, almost like a reassurance. She then asks for a single gold piece for entry (I assume you provide it), and then heads over to the winch as he takes his first step into the gaping abyss of the Yawning Portal. (See below for what happens). Eventually, the harness comes back up as the process repeats for Marion, who cannot help but feel a sense of unshakable unease about her. (See below for what happens). Then for Shadow, as the process occurs once again as something else happens... (See below for what happens, and below that for more things that happen). Torment goes next, as the harness lowers her down next. (See below for what happens). Last but not least, Flame heads down, but as he's about to jump off into the Abyss, Pencheska leans over and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek and whispers to him: "Please return soon my hero..." as she then quickly retreats, blushing profusely as Flame's gaze of the woman vanishes to be replaced with wall.
The following is what happens: Pencheska lowers you through the great well into the gloom of Downshadow, the shallowest depth of Undermountain. As she does so, the last echoes of the crowd's toasts and betting whisper about you as you descend into the well. As the flickering light from the torches above fades, a chill overtakes you, and you find yourself still sinking with no end in sight. You drop slowly and steadily deeper on the rope, almost as if you were the bait on an unweighted fishing line in placid waters, but the cold and the quiet of the well that surrounds you is anything but peaceful. The silence has more of a threatening quality to it.
As you head down, you notice *lots* of graffiti, some of the graffiti even seems to have been written over other graffiti to provide more room. It seems to be in all different languages, and you think you can make out some of it. Many people have written in Common that "'So-and-so' was here." There are other statements though that you just manage to catch a glimpse of:
In Common: "Hesod -- Went to check out strange music only Jayce can hear. Have a few drinks until we get back."
In Common: "It's been two days. Leave a message if you have returned. Signed, Hesod."
In Common: "It's been two weeks. I can wait no longer. I'll search for you myself. None of our friends would come with me. If you are not with me when you read this, then I am dead. Avenge my death on those who abandoned us in our time of need. Signed, Hesod."
In Goblin: "Many swords come here. Do not stay."
In Common: "Beware the she-wolf and her night hounds. They killed Sarth."
In Common: "You came here unbidden, now you'll die in this midden."
In Common: "Tymora, remember me."
In Common: "Durembar Ironshanks was here and killed more orcs than he could count."
In Elven (below the preceding): "That means eleven."
In Halfling: "When you hear screaming, go the other way."
In Halfling by another hand: "Coward!"
You journey down, trying hard not to think too much about the creaking old leather or the straining ropes. Finally, it is over and your feet touch cool, wet stone. Before nerves can get the better of you, you wrench the harnesses free and tug on the ropes to signal them to be raised.
Your eyes then get used to the strange dim lighting of the area that you have arrived in. It seems to be a tiny town of sorts crammed into an underground cavern. People of all sorts (although mostly the unsavory kind) rush about the streets, bumping into each other and shoving, all to get from one place to another (imagine NYC except in a small cavern and a bunch of hooded fantasy characters). One of them; however, stands (literally) above the rest. You see a humongous, maybe around 12 feet tall woman with black iron plate and a huge greatsword resting on her back. The rushing humanoids seem to give this woman a wide berth. Her visage is stern, and she has a flaming red length of hair that falls back to her shoulders. As you head down into the Downshadow the huge woman strides over and implores questioningly: "YOU THERE! What is your business in the Downshadow?" This startles several passerbys, but they simply glance in your direction and then continue on their way.
Shadow:
As you head down you hear a voice... the same one as before, as it speaks it sounds like knives on a chalkboard (more dangerous than nails): "I A L M O S T F O R G O T... T H A N K Y O U V I E L O F S H A D O W S M I S T - W A L K E R."
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
As Flame is lowered into the cavern, he lightly touches his cheek where Pencheska kissed him. He felt a fluttering in his stomach, but he wasn't sure if it was from the kiss or the sense of dread overcoming him as he reads the graffiti on the way down. He reaches the bottom and removes the harness just as a massive woman walked toward the group.
"YOU THERE! What is your business in the Downshadow?
At that, any sense of bravery quickly fled his mind. "What did we get ourselves into?" He looks around at the group hoping someone else will speak up.
Shadow is quite is excited to get this adventure going. As he is making the descent, he is intrigued by the graffiti on the walls. "Hmm, interesting, this isn't looking to promising. No matter, I don't expect this to be easy." About halfway down, a familiar, yet dreadful voice fills his mind.
"I A L M O S T F O R G O T... T H A N K Y O U V I E L O F S H A D O W S M I S T - W A L K E R."
Shadow begins to freak out a little. He becomes very aware that he suspended high in the air, and the walls around him seem to close in on him. His feet finally hit the ground and gets out of the harness as quickly as possible. Still shaken by the voice, he walks a little away form the group, sits down and lights up his pipe. "I can't do this. What am I thinking? Why is my brother taking so long to get down here?"
Elemoth looks left and right at everyone else who's made it down, then realizes that only he and Torment would probably be considered the "talkative" type. Seeing that Torment is less heavily armored than him, and that this might be a risky situation, he swallows slightly before moving forward to face the giant woman.
"Ah yes, hello my good lady. We are a humble group of people hired by the City of Waterdeep to investigate something down in the upper reaches of Undermountain." he says by way of introduction, bringing his right hand to his chest before dipping in a shallow bow. "As for Downshadow itself, I would say that most of the business we would have would be just passing through. My name is Elemoth Dyrannel, and besides me are Shadow, Flame, Torment, and Marion. It's a pleasure to meet you, miss..." he pauses making a slow rolling gesture towards the large woman, giving her a chance to introduce herself.
"Well that's no way to greet newcomers," mutters Torment as she doffs the harness. She turns to join Elemoth who is addressing the large woman who questioned them, bowing as Elemoth introduces their group. "Ah, yes, see, we're looking for a place to supply, and then onward to a, what was it, a citadel? Yes, a citadel. Perhaps one that is well shaded?"
The humongous woman stares down towards Elemoth, her eyes piercing his body like a spear. She then looks over towards Torment as she speaks. The ginormous woman then pauses for a moment looking between all of you, only to then nod and say: "Ruby. I am Ruby. You may pass. Supplies have been used for the surface attack. You must have a glyph key to go to the Citadel. Izzy can help you if you do. She's there." The flame-haired woman points towards a dilapidated building (although they are all ruined in some way) that has a sign jutting out of the rotting and moldy wood. Inscribed upon the sign is a crude picture of some kind of bird along with the words: "The Ugly Duckling" as your gaze affixes on it, a great cacophony can be heard from the inside.
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
"Thank you miss Ruby, it's been quite a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Elemoth responds after the giant woman finishes, giving her another quick bow. Now that it seems like things are safe, his shoulders slump almost imperceptibly and he raises a hand to back of his head and neck to brush away some sweat that had been forming. As he slowly turns to face the rest of his group, he gives himself a moment to let his mind wander a little, and marvels that things have changed so much for him in such a short period of time.
The last time he was in social situations even remotely similar to these, he was chatting with the servants and entourages of nobles. Chatting about simple things like the latest fashions in Calimsham, or the fine Scrimshaw some family had just brought down from Icewind Dale through Neverwinter to put in some garish private display. Ironically enough, Tempest was also at some of these gatherings, the purposes of which were far more trivial than this most recent task of trying to convince a giant woman not to crush them all. Wistfully, Elemoth finds himself thinking back briefly to those older days, in which the conversations he had were about wine selections and how to dress the children rather than how his estate should be divided upon his demise by the Open Lord of Waterdeep, or why he and the people with him are should be allowed to pass through a disreputable looking undercity beneath the bowels of Waterdeep.
After he gathers himself, Elemoth looks to the members of the rest of the group waiting to see if they have anything to say, now that they've been given permission to pass. As he sees Torment, he makes a mental note to ask her later why she'd give up such a safe, prosperous, and even somewhat prestigious life to do something like this. Then again, there may not have really been much of a choice, with that sudden, massive, attack on Waterdeep and the current siege that continued after it.
"Well my friends, it seems that we can continue making our way. Should we head uh... carefully into The Ugly Duckling?" he asks, more to make conversation and to see how everyone is doing than anything else. It's clearly obvious what their next step will probably be.
"Let's walk with purpose and pretend we belong here! We don't want to attract more of these predatory individuals," Marion whispers but fails to adequatly apply her advice in the intimidating environment.
OOC: I think a couple of our players have been affected by the hurricane so... we can just wait I guess.
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
(OOC: I'm good with that. Least we can do.)
OOC: Of course.
(OOC: Say, anyone here that's still able to post interested in helping me practice DM-ing by joining another PBP game? Including and especially the DM. It's a simple concept, but it involves a party of level 2 characters escorting a caravan in the Moonsea region. One caravan team consists of Elemoth's deadbeat drifter parents who are actually holding down a steady job for once)
OOC: I probably shouldn't overdo myself, but I'd be happy to help with a moonsea mission! Feel free to message me with the details.
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
(OOC I'd love to help as well if you need it. Just let me know what you need)