Grexes storms from beneath the cart, leaping with a short scrape of claw and pad to stand immediately behind the sentry. With a vice grip, he reaches around and under the sentry's pulled back arm, pinning it even as his clawed hand wraps around his throat. His sword arm arcs into the air, coming to rest poised just above the crack in the sentry's shoulder and neck armor, scraping the skin where a blade could bite both deep and mortally. As he speaks, he clenches his hand around the sentry's neck.
"Hush, now. Is death so sweet that you would throw away your life?"
"Squid. And fish," repeats the official rather disinterestedly. "I see. What some folks are willing to eat."
He pockets the five pieces of gold mechanically. "Everything seems to be in order. Wait for the chains to be raised; then follow the other vessels. Good evening to you."
Twenty minutes later you're taking in the grandeur of Meletis as one of the crew secures the boat to another dock, this one in the merchant district. "Hero of the channel?" he quips. "Easy boast to make for someone who didn't have a pair of fangs stuck in 'im."
<> - <> - <> - <> - <> - <> - <>
A few hours later, after downing a few drinks and telling some tall tales, you step into the boat with your contact--an overly talkative satyr named Pherebus--who's ready to offload the four barrels of liquor. He hands you the 60 pieces of gold and says, "One last thing, friend. Help me lift these onto the dock, and I'll take it from here. Just need to roll these gems to that little storehouse over there."
You and Pherebus place the first two barrels on the dock without incident; the third, however, becomes problematic. Not only is it heavier than the first two barrels, the weight of it isn't evenly distributed (which, of course, should not be the case for a barrel filled with liquid). Not only is Pherebus a bit chatty, but he's a bit clumsy. And so it is, that despite your best effort to prevent it, the third barrel slips from Pherebus's grip as you lift it over the gunwale. You hear the oaken staves crack and expect to see liquid spilling over the deck. What you see rather, is a human hand pushing through the broken side of the barrel.
Pherebus emits an eerie shriek before a stream of profanities pour out of his mouth. He then leaps onto the dock to distance himself from whatever horror is making its way out of the barrel...
Barreling down the cobblestone street, you know your hooves are announcing your presence to half of Akros. You keep your eyes on the alcove as you go, watching for anyone who might appear from its shadows. When you arrive there, you are caught off guard by what you see: a rather unkempt man curled up under a blanket. His head rests upon a cloth sack, probably filled with all his worldly possessions. He looks at you bleary-eyed, holds out a hand, and says, "A few coppers?"
The boat, the body of the Returned, and the mask are just as you left them. Another thorough investigation of the scene with Carzi's help reveals nothing new.
Carzi shudders a bit at the sight of the dead body, but after seeing everything she is more convinced of the need to travel to Meletis. "A day and a half by foot across the Four Winds Plateau. Shall we?"
You gingerly pick up the piece of paper, trying to understand how it could have gone through such a transformation. Less than a minute ago, the page was nearly blank, with the exception of four short lines of poetry. You now realize that the page once again has four lines of poetry, but they do not say the same thing. Not wanting to risk having these words morph into some other bizarre creature, you pull your eyes away and begin to ponder your next course of action...
Robin quickly rolls up the paper and slips it into her belt pouch. She considers what she has seen and if she has any knowledge of such things. Arcana: 23 As she considers she sends up a prayer to her god for some divine guidance.. 2guidance
Even as she is considering it though she moves back to the table andverifies the book is otherwise destroyed.
Jumping back as the barrel crashes to the deck expecting to have his hoofs soaked in a waste of good booze he’s immediately surprised at the lack of liquid. “Klothys’ tits!”he blasphemes as he sees the hand reach out through the barrel, and start to grasp for freedom.
“What in the hells is your man sending?!”Moneo cries out to his clumsy partner, still on edge from the previous day’s encounter. Then seeing that the hand appears, less monstrous, and more simply sickly, Moneo exclaims, “Is… is there a man in there?!” Quickly, but cautiously, he approaches the barrel and grasping hand. Assuming it looks less threatening, and more in need of help, he calls out once more, saying, “Help me get this thing open!” He then works, hopefully with help, to get the barrel open, and assist whomever has been surviving in that barrel for the past couple days.
Grexes rolls his eyes. It is too late for diplomacy, now. This emotionless guard - this was not natural. No matter the circumstances, the result will not favor Grexes, nor Tark. Destiny had brought them to this moment. Grexes locks eyes with Tark, and pitilessly bares his fangs.
"Take his eyes."
Shifting his weight, Grexes slips one leg to the side and sweeps it beneath the guard's center of gravity, letting his weight fall and follow the sentry to ground in a wrestler's move. Dropping his blade, both hands find the sentry's neck, tightly choking the guard's supply of air and his chances of crying out for help.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mekleon flips a few to the beggar(assuming he carries part of his wealth in coppers, rather than whole gold coins), and looks the unkempt man in the eyes.
"Did you notice anyone pass by this way in the past few seconds? Answer truthfully, and there may be more for you."
At the same time, he takes a cursory glance over the man's things and any sign of whether he arrived to this spot just now, or has been here for a while. He can't just rule out the possibility that this man might actually be the one he is looking for.
Persuasion(if needed): 21
Perception/Insight(if needed): 6
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"We shall,"Calliope agrees. Tucking the mask away and simultaneously double-checking that everything she might need for the trip is present in her back, she sets off with Carzi towards the city. Along the way, they'll stop briefly at the inn to let the others know where they're going, if they haven't already. And then they'll continue their walk across the Plateau.
You sift your memories for all that you have researched and read, and everything seems to point toward the rare and unusual creatures known as Nyxborn:
Nyxborn creatures are beings of legend, some the subjects of hopeful dreams and others the product of nightmares. They can come into existence as the result of divine action, as the expression of abstract ideals, or as manifestations of the strength of shared belief. As mortals continue to tell their tales of creatures that never were and repeat legends that glorify historic individuals, Nyxborn creatures of those stories might arise.
Whether monsters, manifestations of long-dead mortals, or other beings, Nyxborn creatures typically act as the direct servants of one of the gods, but occasionally they escape from the realm of Nyx and pursue their own goals—which might be as simple as violent rampage, or as complex as a far-reaching plan to break the power of the gods.
Ultimately, you are left with more questions than answers: Why would a book about Nyxborn creatures written by Nyklean philosophers suddenly spawn a dangerous monster? Did a similar book bring about the demise of the mage that died in the library? Are the Nykleans aware of this matter? Is there any significance to the fact that the description (and appearance) of this three-eyed, three-armed, three-legged creature came from the chapter written by the philosopher Sophelia?
As these questions rattle about in your head, you study the table and the surrounding area. It seems that all traces of the book have vanished. The only piece that remains is now rolled up and tucked away in your pouch.
Pherebus, initially, remains still and silent. "Dump the damned thing in the harbor!" he exclaims. "This never happened, right?"
Sensing your commitment to come to the aid of whoever it is that has been stuffed in the barrel, Pherebus, albeit with reticence, changes his tune. "Ach, very well then. Unbelievable."
He then aids you in disassembling the barrel, grabbing and pulling one stave at a time, slowly revealing more about the stowaway inside.
Within thirty seconds, you realize how someone has survived the journey within a barrel. The humanoid bears a golden funerary mask indicative of the Returned: those who have escaped the Underworld and dwell among the living once more. Having no need for air, food, or water, this creature could have survived for months...for years...for decades...in this situation.
Pherebus loses the last bit of his calm at the discovery. "By Phenax's mask!" he cries. "Our doom is upon us!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Grexes
Applying rules for grappling to the above situation.
The target of your grapple must be no more than one size larger than you and must be within your reach. Using at least one free hand, you try to seize the target by making a grapple check instead of an attack roll: a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target's Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check (the target chooses the ability to use). You succeed automatically if the target is incapacitated. If you succeed, you subject the target to the grappled condition. The condition specifies the things that end it, and you can release the target whenever you like (no action required).
Athletics for Grexes16 versus STR of masked sentry 22
With a swiftness and precision that almost surprises you, you drop the sentry to the street, and his spear clatters noisily against the cobblestones. Gripping his neck firmly, you ensure that he will not speak. You are slightly puzzled by the fact, however, that he shows no indication of struggling for air.
Tark, very nervously, begins to look up and down the alley, hoping this little melee hasn't drawn anyone's attention.
"Truthfully, yes...yes, of course," mumbles the man. "Saw no one. Not a soul. And one thing's certain. Nothing sneaks past me. Nothing."
He then opens his eyes wide, rather comically emphasizing his watchfulness.
Looking over the man's possessions, you don't detect anything that suggests that there's more to his appearance than meets the eye. A few feet beyond him, deeper into the alcove, is a sturdy-looking wooden door. You surmise it leads into someone's residence.
Accepting the notion that the shipwreck of a few days ago and the discovery of the Returned body is part of some important plan, you and Carzi set out on foot toward Meletis. The Four Winds Plateau is a vast expanse of grasslands sporadically dotted with shrubs and trees. As its name implies, winds whip constantly across the terrain, especially during the daylight hours.
You estimate an hour of daylight remains on your first day across the plateau when you spy the silhouette of a large winged creature repeatedly swooping low to the ground approximately 300' away. The tall grass prevents you from seeing what has attracted the winged beast's attention. You're quite certain the creature isn't a bird of any sort, for you can see that it has four legs.
“Anyone giving the middle finger to the gods enough to escape death must have some interesting stories.” Moneo says, trying to show some confidence through humor, but betraying the nervousness in his voice. He then takes a step back once the person is free enough to move on their own power and prepares to cast a spell and run if it appears threatening. If, on the other hand, it is not threatening, Moneo will watch it recover some of it’s strength, and attempt to speak to it.
”Hey… buddy… you, alive(?) in there? Kinda?”Moneo cautiously asks.
Mekleon tosses the man another coin, hoping that he was telling the truth, and approaches the door. He gives one last glance towards the beggar, then gives the door a hearty knock.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Grexes flexes his position, struggling to keep his grip against the sentry on the ground. Finding an advantage, he holds the sentry steady for a moment.
"His eyes!" he hisses, "He cannot identify what he can no longer see! His tongue too, if you can manage it."
The questions excite Robin more than anything. She smiles as she considers the complexity of the situation she has found herself in, and wonders where it will all lead her in the end. Sending a prayer of thanks up to her god, she decides her first step is to find out more about this Sophelia. Running a hand through her unruly mass of red curls, she pulls a tie from her pocket, and binds the hair back in a tail. Then, with her cloak swishing as she moves, she heads to see what she can find out about Sophelia.
Investigation: 19
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Grexes storms from beneath the cart, leaping with a short scrape of claw and pad to stand immediately behind the sentry. With a vice grip, he reaches around and under the sentry's pulled back arm, pinning it even as his clawed hand wraps around his throat. His sword arm arcs into the air, coming to rest poised just above the crack in the sentry's shoulder and neck armor, scraping the skin where a blade could bite both deep and mortally. As he speaks, he clenches his hand around the sentry's neck.
"Hush, now. Is death so sweet that you would throw away your life?"
Moneo
"Squid. And fish," repeats the official rather disinterestedly. "I see. What some folks are willing to eat."
He pockets the five pieces of gold mechanically. "Everything seems to be in order. Wait for the chains to be raised; then follow the other vessels. Good evening to you."
Twenty minutes later you're taking in the grandeur of Meletis as one of the crew secures the boat to another dock, this one in the merchant district. "Hero of the channel?" he quips. "Easy boast to make for someone who didn't have a pair of fangs stuck in 'im."
<> - <> - <> - <> - <> - <> - <>
A few hours later, after downing a few drinks and telling some tall tales, you step into the boat with your contact--an overly talkative satyr named Pherebus--who's ready to offload the four barrels of liquor. He hands you the 60 pieces of gold and says, "One last thing, friend. Help me lift these onto the dock, and I'll take it from here. Just need to roll these gems to that little storehouse over there."
You and Pherebus place the first two barrels on the dock without incident; the third, however, becomes problematic. Not only is it heavier than the first two barrels, the weight of it isn't evenly distributed (which, of course, should not be the case for a barrel filled with liquid). Not only is Pherebus a bit chatty, but he's a bit clumsy. And so it is, that despite your best effort to prevent it, the third barrel slips from Pherebus's grip as you lift it over the gunwale. You hear the oaken staves crack and expect to see liquid spilling over the deck. What you see rather, is a human hand pushing through the broken side of the barrel.
Pherebus emits an eerie shriek before a stream of profanities pour out of his mouth. He then leaps onto the dock to distance himself from whatever horror is making its way out of the barrel...
Mekleon
Barreling down the cobblestone street, you know your hooves are announcing your presence to half of Akros. You keep your eyes on the alcove as you go, watching for anyone who might appear from its shadows. When you arrive there, you are caught off guard by what you see: a rather unkempt man curled up under a blanket. His head rests upon a cloth sack, probably filled with all his worldly possessions. He looks at you bleary-eyed, holds out a hand, and says, "A few coppers?"
Calliope
The boat, the body of the Returned, and the mask are just as you left them. Another thorough investigation of the scene with Carzi's help reveals nothing new.
Carzi shudders a bit at the sight of the dead body, but after seeing everything she is more convinced of the need to travel to Meletis. "A day and a half by foot across the Four Winds Plateau. Shall we?"
Robin
You gingerly pick up the piece of paper, trying to understand how it could have gone through such a transformation. Less than a minute ago, the page was nearly blank, with the exception of four short lines of poetry. You now realize that the page once again has four lines of poetry, but they do not say the same thing. Not wanting to risk having these words morph into some other bizarre creature, you pull your eyes away and begin to ponder your next course of action...
Grexes
The sentry remains motionless, apparently giving heed to your threat. Three words, spoken without emotion, come from its mouth. "Leave this place."
Tark, remaining ready to attack, replies. "The streets of Akros are not yours to command."
Tark then looks at you; his expression seems to say Now what?
Robin quickly rolls up the paper and slips it into her belt pouch. She considers what she has seen and if she has any knowledge of such things. Arcana: 23 As she considers she sends up a prayer to her god for some divine guidance.. 2 guidance
Even as she is considering it though she moves back to the table andverifies the book is otherwise destroyed.
Jumping back as the barrel crashes to the deck expecting to have his hoofs soaked in a waste of good booze he’s immediately surprised at the lack of liquid. “Klothys’ tits!” he blasphemes as he sees the hand reach out through the barrel, and start to grasp for freedom.
“What in the hells is your man sending?!” Moneo cries out to his clumsy partner, still on edge from the previous day’s encounter. Then seeing that the hand appears, less monstrous, and more simply sickly, Moneo exclaims, “Is… is there a man in there?!” Quickly, but cautiously, he approaches the barrel and grasping hand. Assuming it looks less threatening, and more in need of help, he calls out once more, saying, “Help me get this thing open!” He then works, hopefully with help, to get the barrel open, and assist whomever has been surviving in that barrel for the past couple days.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
(Aaaand switch!)
Grexes rolls his eyes. It is too late for diplomacy, now. This emotionless guard - this was not natural. No matter the circumstances, the result will not favor Grexes, nor Tark. Destiny had brought them to this moment. Grexes locks eyes with Tark, and pitilessly bares his fangs.
"Take his eyes."
Shifting his weight, Grexes slips one leg to the side and sweeps it beneath the guard's center of gravity, letting his weight fall and follow the sentry to ground in a wrestler's move. Dropping his blade, both hands find the sentry's neck, tightly choking the guard's supply of air and his chances of crying out for help.
Mekleon flips a few to the beggar(assuming he carries part of his wealth in coppers, rather than whole gold coins), and looks the unkempt man in the eyes.
"Did you notice anyone pass by this way in the past few seconds? Answer truthfully, and there may be more for you."
At the same time, he takes a cursory glance over the man's things and any sign of whether he arrived to this spot just now, or has been here for a while. He can't just rule out the possibility that this man might actually be the one he is looking for.
Persuasion(if needed): 21
Perception/Insight(if needed): 6
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"We shall," Calliope agrees. Tucking the mask away and simultaneously double-checking that everything she might need for the trip is present in her back, she sets off with Carzi towards the city. Along the way, they'll stop briefly at the inn to let the others know where they're going, if they haven't already. And then they'll continue their walk across the Plateau.
Iris - Tiefling Cleric | Cassandra - Elf Warlock | Solace - Tiefling Monk | Tempest - Hexblood Monk | Lex - Fire Genasi Barbarian
Lilyn - Triton Ranger | Candor - Changeling Bard | Echo - Changeling Warlock/Bard | Rowan - Fairy Wizard
Robin
You sift your memories for all that you have researched and read, and everything seems to point toward the rare and unusual creatures known as Nyxborn:
Ultimately, you are left with more questions than answers: Why would a book about Nyxborn creatures written by Nyklean philosophers suddenly spawn a dangerous monster? Did a similar book bring about the demise of the mage that died in the library? Are the Nykleans aware of this matter? Is there any significance to the fact that the description (and appearance) of this three-eyed, three-armed, three-legged creature came from the chapter written by the philosopher Sophelia?
As these questions rattle about in your head, you study the table and the surrounding area. It seems that all traces of the book have vanished. The only piece that remains is now rolled up and tucked away in your pouch.
Moneo
Pherebus, initially, remains still and silent. "Dump the damned thing in the harbor!" he exclaims. "This never happened, right?"
Sensing your commitment to come to the aid of whoever it is that has been stuffed in the barrel, Pherebus, albeit with reticence, changes his tune. "Ach, very well then. Unbelievable."
He then aids you in disassembling the barrel, grabbing and pulling one stave at a time, slowly revealing more about the stowaway inside.
Within thirty seconds, you realize how someone has survived the journey within a barrel. The humanoid bears a golden funerary mask indicative of the Returned: those who have escaped the Underworld and dwell among the living once more. Having no need for air, food, or water, this creature could have survived for months...for years...for decades...in this situation.
Pherebus loses the last bit of his calm at the discovery. "By Phenax's mask!" he cries. "Our doom is upon us!"
Grexes
Applying rules for grappling to the above situation.
Athletics for Grexes 16 versus STR of masked sentry 22
With a swiftness and precision that almost surprises you, you drop the sentry to the street, and his spear clatters noisily against the cobblestones. Gripping his neck firmly, you ensure that he will not speak. You are slightly puzzled by the fact, however, that he shows no indication of struggling for air.
Tark, very nervously, begins to look up and down the alley, hoping this little melee hasn't drawn anyone's attention.
Mekleon
"Truthfully, yes...yes, of course," mumbles the man. "Saw no one. Not a soul. And one thing's certain. Nothing sneaks past me. Nothing."
He then opens his eyes wide, rather comically emphasizing his watchfulness.
Looking over the man's possessions, you don't detect anything that suggests that there's more to his appearance than meets the eye. A few feet beyond him, deeper into the alcove, is a sturdy-looking wooden door. You surmise it leads into someone's residence.
Calliope
Accepting the notion that the shipwreck of a few days ago and the discovery of the Returned body is part of some important plan, you and Carzi set out on foot toward Meletis. The Four Winds Plateau is a vast expanse of grasslands sporadically dotted with shrubs and trees. As its name implies, winds whip constantly across the terrain, especially during the daylight hours.
You estimate an hour of daylight remains on your first day across the plateau when you spy the silhouette of a large winged creature repeatedly swooping low to the ground approximately 300' away. The tall grass prevents you from seeing what has attracted the winged beast's attention. You're quite certain the creature isn't a bird of any sort, for you can see that it has four legs.
“Anyone giving the middle finger to the gods enough to escape death must have some interesting stories.” Moneo says, trying to show some confidence through humor, but betraying the nervousness in his voice. He then takes a step back once the person is free enough to move on their own power and prepares to cast a spell and run if it appears threatening. If, on the other hand, it is not threatening, Moneo will watch it recover some of it’s strength, and attempt to speak to it.
”Hey… buddy… you, alive(?) in there? Kinda?” Moneo cautiously asks.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Mekleon tosses the man another coin, hoping that he was telling the truth, and approaches the door. He gives one last glance towards the beggar, then gives the door a hearty knock.
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Grexes flexes his position, struggling to keep his grip against the sentry on the ground. Finding an advantage, he holds the sentry steady for a moment.
"His eyes!" he hisses, "He cannot identify what he can no longer see! His tongue too, if you can manage it."
The questions excite Robin more than anything. She smiles as she considers the complexity of the situation she has found herself in, and wonders where it will all lead her in the end. Sending a prayer of thanks up to her god, she decides her first step is to find out more about this Sophelia. Running a hand through her unruly mass of red curls, she pulls a tie from her pocket, and binds the hair back in a tail. Then, with her cloak swishing as she moves, she heads to see what she can find out about Sophelia.
Investigation: 19