Potions are bonus actions unless giving them to someone else!
Rule of cool - If you wanna do something you think would be cool, but aren't sure of the rules, let me know and we'll figure it out!
Grouped Initiative.
Tell me what you wanna do, and I'll tell you if you need a roll and what kind!
Please include a general description of your character in your first post :)
Now, adventurers, onto the story!
The rank odors of the Brokenveil Marsh mingle with the musty aroma of a fleet of gargantuan reptiles as you traverse the rickety rope bridges above Urzin. This strange goblinoid village moves slowly and endlessly through the swampy Xhorhasian wastes, its structures set atop the massive shells of horizonback tortoises. Urzin’s monstrous residents pay you little heed until you approach the large, ramshackle hall of Ogre Lord Buhfal II—a towering structure of haphazard timber and scrap. The five of you had received the same summons from Lord Buhfall at first light from a young goblin runner who had seemed curious about you, strangers that you were. The summons explained little, simply calling you to appear in the hall of the Ogre Lord to discuss 'matters of great import' to the village of Urzin.
The din of the swamp and the hushed chatter of Urzin’s residents is muted as you step through the folds of a heavy leather curtain into the chamber beyond. There, the reek of the marsh is quickly replaced by the favorable scent of roasted meats and spiced wine. Orc attendants gesture you toward a litter of dingy furs before the seat of Buhfal II, who allows you to settle in before his baritone voice issues a welcome.
“Eat. Drink. But be wary, for the empire has come to Xhorhas, bringing damnation with it!”
Zekdyn is a Drow, with the usual midnight skin, and white hair. He keeps it in a short pony tail. He’s handsome, but wears fairly ordinary clothes - a shapeless coat, over comfortable shirt with an open neck and rugged pants. There’s a gold chain around his neck that leads beneath his shirt. He has a pair of daggers at his belt next to a satchel.
By some quirk of fate, the five travellers all met on the road and arrived at the goblin village at around the same time. Kaz, a fairly quiet man in is mid twenties, walks with an easy grace and carries sword, bow and dagger -- all of which seem well used. His light leather armour is a dull brown which matches his hair and eyes. Aside from a silver ring worn on his left hand, the only colour to be seen is in his sturdy cloak -- dark blue on the outside, and a flicker of green can been seen on the inner side.
Despite an easygoing manner, he does not speak much about himself, preferring to draw others out about their lives and tales. "My life?", he says with a laugh, "Too boring to be of interest. I escaped s the streets of Shadycreek Run and never looked back. Been in Uthodurn for the last few months doing odd jobs to keep an Alchemist supplied."
(( now ))
Kaz looks around the room. Food is appealing -- it's been a long day -- but he preferred to negotiate on an empty stomach. Focus is important.
""It has been a long journey, and your hospitality is welcome," he says, settling in and picking up a chunk of bread. He looks around the room again then turns back to Urzin. "But business is business, as they say. Tell us what is needed...and what the rewards might be? I have heard tell that someone has gone missing. A renowned herbalist, I believe? What interest does the Empire have in such a one?"
Perception: 21 (passive 16) Looking around room for anything that seems out of the ordinary, as well as to assess the threats!
Rhysand is a young human man barely out of his teens blue eyed and blonde hair supporting a well groomed beard, very tall and well built if a bit nervous unsure of the current situation. Wearing typical gambeson and chain mail with a warhammer at his side and a shield on his back bearing the four bolts of Kord, The Stormlord, but out and in full view is a beautiful spear of reflective fish scale woven in place where simple cloth or leather would typically reside the blade looks to be made of some type of coral and a sea shelled tip on the back end. It’s easily obvious to the casual observer that this lad is not built for speed, or confident conversations but his strong gate speaks of a young man tried in combat.
Arriving at the building of half hazardously made of scrap wood and timber at roughly the same time as the others he hears the back end of older mans words and simply nods adding in “I’m Rhys” (Reese). Following the others inn he quickly eyes the interior taking note of the other people in the building and all potential escape routes( Perception: 14 ) as his old teacher taught him to do. Having just made it in to town a few hours earlier he still carrying his pack from the road and sets it to the side grabbing a seat near the only other human in the vicinity. Getting situated still keeping his spear in hand he flinches a bit at the Ogre Lords words but says nothing waiting on baited breath to see what this summons is about and hoping it aligns with his mission while keeping his ear out for the random mutterings of his weapon.
Strolling inside with four others is a tall humanoid construct with elongated proportions. Trellis, as they had introduced earlier, is a being made of entirely metal and living flora. The metal parts are damaged but held together by the branches and vines that have grown within them. Most eye-catching is that almost half of their face is shattered, but in its place is more plants. They seem unbothered by it, judging by their cheerful mannerism and chatty demeanour, having probably revealed the short entirety of their existing memory to the others on the way to the Ogre Lord. They have a dark green shawl adorned with tassels wrapped around themself and holds a staff, if you could call it that. It looks like a broken but sturdy branch, uneven and splintered in places, currently used as a walking stick.
"Ah, Master Buhfall, thank you kindly for this meal!" Trellis plops themself down on the fur and sits properly in a kneeled position, looking around curiously and addressing no one in particular, "may I ask what the empire has done? I've been travelling along the mountain ranges from the Whitedawn Lagoon, you see. The scenery's quite beautiful but there was rarely a chance for me to converse with others."
Juniper walked in nervously taking her customary place at Kaz's side as the other compnions had noted during the journey, perhaps it was just because they were both from Uthodurn from their speech and the scant details they had related....Juniper herself did not know, there was just something familiar about the man as if they had known each other long ago, but she was certain they had never met until that day on the road when she had seen that great bird.
Though she tried very hard not to show it Juniper was extremely nervous around the population of Urzin, growing up among the majority dwarven population of Uthodurn and leading a relatively sheltered existence consisting almost solely of the family home and the library she had never really met anyone of other backgrounds apart from dwarves, her own elven folk, the occasional human and gnome or halfling....she was certainly out of her element.
" L-L-lord Buhfal.......uh....I am most pleased to make your....a-aquaintance."
She tried to sit but noting the lack of chairs awkwardly flopped onto the floor and bruised her tailbone with a slight squeak.
She, of course knew of the Dwendalian Empire but had not really applied herself to her studies of it considering it far off and essentially irrelevant to her former life.....that may have been a mistake...
( Juniper Kil'ithal is a tall, friendly looking elf with bronze-brown skin, a tumble of long sable hair and as her travelling companions have noted she is easily flustered though apparently adept at research and other scholastic pursuits. Those who have not visited Uthodurn before may be surprised to see subtle hints of dwarven heritage in her broad forehead and strong jawline and the light peach-fuzz sideburns that frame her jaw. She is dressed in clothing that looks far more suitable to a night poring over ancient tomes than roaming the wild roadways of eastern Wildemount.....though they are a little worse for wear and patched and worn by this time.)
Juniper hears a familiar voice in her mind, "Be calm. Nothing to worry about; if they wanted us dead, we would be. This is a negotiation..though for what, is unclear."
It's a fairly large meeting hall; there are goblins, ogres, and bugbear guards on the periphery of the room, staring curiously at Trellis. There are a few eyeing Rhys suspiciously, but given where you are, you would expect that. Nothing seems overtly threatening at the moment.
Rhys
You notice a few guards watching you suspiciously, but you were prepared for that. There are several other doors leading out of the room, but you don't know where they go.
Lord Buhfall sprawls inelegantly on his fur-covered seat, looking at each of you in turn. His keen gaze lingers on Trellis, curious about the construct. "The Empire is a scourge," he growls in response to their question. "They take what does not belong to them." He turns his head towards Rhys, eyes narrowed. There is a hint of distrust there, a little curl of a snarl at the edge of lips. He pushes his way up out of his sprawl and leans towards you all, nodding at Kaz's words.
"Relax, eat; we will discuss the situation." He gestures towards the food, then outwards, as if encompassing the whole city. "Though the Dynasty holds us, it is I and my advisors who rule here. Forty years now, after the Sunbreaker killed my father. Without us guiding it, the city would fall; the citizens labor for the Kryn, who do not appreciate their tireless work. They grow tired of being overlooked," he stopped, sighing. “There has been much dissent the last forty years, but we keep the peace, I and my advisors. We look after our people over the whims of the Dynasty. They look to us for that.”
Here, he pauses to take a drink from the ale on the arm of his seat. It dribbles down his chin. “The Empire is ever the destroyer of peace,” he notes, frowning. “Three nights ago, my most trusted advisor, Bol’bara, left to forage for components. She knows the foothills of the Bluffs well, better than anyone other than our scouts. She never returned.” There is something almost sad in his voice, though it is buried under what professionalism he is trying to muster, and a deep, deep sense of rage.
“We have sent scouts, but there has been no sign of her. Only patrols of Empire dogs, straying from their outpost over the Bluffs. I know they are involved. Only they are bold enough to take Bol’bara from us,” he stops again, one hand curling into a fist. His brow furrows as he glances around and then leans forward towards all of you again. “Without her, I fear for my people. Bol’bara is strong in magic and cunning both, and she helps me keep Urzin walking freely.”
He leans back again, heaving a sigh. Looks at all of you again. “This is why you were summoned. I have a task, if you will accept it.”
Juniper smiled at Kaz and nodded in response to the Message, as Buhfall spoke she felt herself relax. Finding a missing person...she could do that...probably...though the weeks on the road had taught her that theory did not always match experience when it came to the outdoors.
She smiled broadly at Lord Buhfall, " I will be glad to go and find the great and learned Bol'bara for you, Lord Buhfall. With....assistance...because I am not at my best in the wild. "
Feeling quite proud that she got that out without stumbling over her words she shoved an entire black-bread roll into her mouth and almost choked to death....she tried and failed to hide the fact that she had to shove her fingers in her mouth and lever the hard roll out and onto the plate.......
Kaz glances around, then says, "What does this job entail?"
He waits a moment before smiling a little sheepishly, "And, while none of us love the empire, we all have to eat, so...what might the rewards be, should we succeed?"
Trellis nods along, having stuffed themself full while Lord Buhfall explained, and is now nursing a cup of wine in their hands. "I don't really know enough to have any allegiance," they shrug, "but I would love to accept the task! It is quite rude to whisk people away without prior notice."
Noticing Juniper's difficulty with the bread, they push a bowl of soup towards her and offers a smile, "try this one, it's very tasty."
Trellis nods along, having stuffed themself full while Lord Buhfall explained, and is now nursing a cup of wine in their hands. "I don't really know enough to have any allegiance," they shrug, "but I would love to accept the task! It is quite rude to whisk people away without prior notice."
Noticing Juniper's difficulty with the bread, they push a bowl of soup towards her and offers a smile, "try this one, it's very tasty."
Juniper accepted the soup with an embarassed but grateful look.
Rhy merely holds back as the typical facial ticks of distrust passes over Buhfall. “I will gladly assist in tracking your subordinate down, but perchance Bol’bara’s disappearance is not of the Empires doing is there any other local faction or monstrosity in the area that would have hindered her?” Rhys tries carefully to sus out possible other leads while trying not to notice the she elf half chocking to death thinking his attention or concern would only embarrass her more.
Zekdyn seems about to speak when Rhys makes his comments. Then follows up quickly: “I am sure that Bol’bara would be well aware of the dangers of the empire, and the average beasty of the swamp. It may lead to more sure action if we could know what she was looking for, and where.”
The Orge Lord nods, seeming pleased that you have accepted. At Rhys's question, he frowns though, leaning closer. "No other would dare touch Bol'bara! And no others have been seen in the area. She went to collect...Ingredients of some kind for one of her rituals; I know not the details of it, but we do know where she went." He gestures, and a guard disappears through one of the side doors. "She would have gone to the foothills of the Brokenveil Bluffs, to the west. I suggest you start looking by scouting the Empire's Fort Venture, which overlooks the Bluffs." He sits back again, looking over at Kaz.
"You are right to ask for reward. I would not expect you to take up the task for free. If you rescue Bol'bara from the imperial dogs, I will pay your group 200 Gold. For the task, I will provide premium weapons, and," he pauses, looking towards the door the guard had disappeared from. A dark-furred hobgoblin appears, pulling on the last of her leathers. "You will have one of our keenest scouts, Morgid, to guide you through the Marsh to the Fort."
Morgid makes a small bow to you all, stepping down towards the party and snagging a piece of bread and meat off the table.
Kaz looks around the table, trying to assess the attitude of the others. He takes some of the meat, nodding slowly.
"Sounds easy enough. We'll need a description Bol'bara..." he says between mouthfuls. He listens to their reply, then adds, "Can you...or Morgid...tell us much about the layout of the fort?"
Trellis hums and responds light-heartedly, "Sounds like a plan! Rest assured, we will bring Bol'bara back to Urzin. She sounds very capable too, we might even meet her halfway as she's coming back!"
They will pick up their staff and prepare to leave with the party.
Rhysand listens to the chief carefully noticing the stumble around his words at what exactly Bol’bara was doing and is not sure he’s being completely truthful or just incredibly ignorant.
Insight: 11
“Well what ever the case may be I here to help find her.” He nods in the direction of their guide “Glad to have you along”
The Pull of Fate
(Unwelcome Spirits & Call of the Netherdeep)
House Rules
Please include a general description of your character in your first post :)
Now, adventurers, onto the story!
No Longer Active
Zekdyn is a Drow, with the usual midnight skin, and white hair. He keeps it in a short pony tail. He’s handsome, but wears fairly ordinary clothes - a shapeless coat, over comfortable shirt with an open neck and rugged pants. There’s a gold chain around his neck that leads beneath his shirt. He has a pair of daggers at his belt next to a satchel.
“Damnation, yes. And how may I serve, ogrelord?”
Paladin - warforged - orange
(( On the way -- since we all arrived together ))
By some quirk of fate, the five travellers all met on the road and arrived at the goblin village at around the same time. Kaz, a fairly quiet man in is mid twenties, walks with an easy grace and carries sword, bow and dagger -- all of which seem well used. His light leather armour is a dull brown which matches his hair and eyes. Aside from a silver ring worn on his left hand, the only colour to be seen is in his sturdy cloak -- dark blue on the outside, and a flicker of green can been seen on the inner side.
Despite an easygoing manner, he does not speak much about himself, preferring to draw others out about their lives and tales. "My life?", he says with a laugh, "Too boring to be of interest. I escaped s the streets of Shadycreek Run and never looked back. Been in Uthodurn for the last few months doing odd jobs to keep an Alchemist supplied."
(( now ))
Kaz looks around the room. Food is appealing -- it's been a long day -- but he preferred to negotiate on an empty stomach. Focus is important.
""It has been a long journey, and your hospitality is welcome," he says, settling in and picking up a chunk of bread. He looks around the room again then turns back to Urzin. "But business is business, as they say. Tell us what is needed...and what the rewards might be? I have heard tell that someone has gone missing. A renowned herbalist, I believe? What interest does the Empire have in such a one?"
Perception: 21 (passive 16) Looking around room for anything that seems out of the ordinary, as well as to assess the threats!
Rhysand is a young human man barely out of his teens blue eyed and blonde hair supporting a well groomed beard, very tall and well built if a bit nervous unsure of the current situation. Wearing typical gambeson and chain mail with a warhammer at his side and a shield on his back bearing the four bolts of Kord, The Stormlord, but out and in full view is a beautiful spear of reflective fish scale woven in place where simple cloth or leather would typically reside the blade looks to be made of some type of coral and a sea shelled tip on the back end. It’s easily obvious to the casual observer that this lad is not built for speed, or confident conversations but his strong gate speaks of a young man tried in combat.
Arriving at the building of half hazardously made of scrap wood and timber at roughly the same time as the others he hears the back end of older mans words and simply nods adding in “I’m Rhys” (Reese). Following the others inn he quickly eyes the interior taking note of the other people in the building and all potential escape routes( Perception: 14 ) as his old teacher taught him to do. Having just made it in to town a few hours earlier he still carrying his pack from the road and sets it to the side grabbing a seat near the only other human in the vicinity. Getting situated still keeping his spear in hand he flinches a bit at the Ogre Lords words but says nothing waiting on baited breath to see what this summons is about and hoping it aligns with his mission while keeping his ear out for the random mutterings of his weapon.
Strolling inside with four others is a tall humanoid construct with elongated proportions. Trellis, as they had introduced earlier, is a being made of entirely metal and living flora. The metal parts are damaged but held together by the branches and vines that have grown within them. Most eye-catching is that almost half of their face is shattered, but in its place is more plants. They seem unbothered by it, judging by their cheerful mannerism and chatty demeanour, having probably revealed the short entirety of their existing memory to the others on the way to the Ogre Lord. They have a dark green shawl adorned with tassels wrapped around themself and holds a staff, if you could call it that. It looks like a broken but sturdy branch, uneven and splintered in places, currently used as a walking stick.
"Ah, Master Buhfall, thank you kindly for this meal!" Trellis plops themself down on the fur and sits properly in a kneeled position, looking around curiously and addressing no one in particular, "may I ask what the empire has done? I've been travelling along the mountain ranges from the Whitedawn Lagoon, you see. The scenery's quite beautiful but there was rarely a chance for me to converse with others."
Juniper walked in nervously taking her customary place at Kaz's side as the other compnions had noted during the journey, perhaps it was just because they were both from Uthodurn from their speech and the scant details they had related....Juniper herself did not know, there was just something familiar about the man as if they had known each other long ago, but she was certain they had never met until that day on the road when she had seen that great bird.
Though she tried very hard not to show it Juniper was extremely nervous around the population of Urzin, growing up among the majority dwarven population of Uthodurn and leading a relatively sheltered existence consisting almost solely of the family home and the library she had never really met anyone of other backgrounds apart from dwarves, her own elven folk, the occasional human and gnome or halfling....she was certainly out of her element.
" L-L-lord Buhfal.......uh....I am most pleased to make your....a-aquaintance."
She tried to sit but noting the lack of chairs awkwardly flopped onto the floor and bruised her tailbone with a slight squeak.
She, of course knew of the Dwendalian Empire but had not really applied herself to her studies of it considering it far off and essentially irrelevant to her former life.....that may have been a mistake...
( Juniper Kil'ithal is a tall, friendly looking elf with bronze-brown skin, a tumble of long sable hair and as her travelling companions have noted she is easily flustered though apparently adept at research and other scholastic pursuits. Those who have not visited Uthodurn before may be surprised to see subtle hints of dwarven heritage in her broad forehead and strong jawline and the light peach-fuzz sideburns that frame her jaw. She is dressed in clothing that looks far more suitable to a night poring over ancient tomes than roaming the wild roadways of eastern Wildemount.....though they are a little worse for wear and patched and worn by this time.)
Kaz smiles at Juniper as she sits, noting her discomfort. His hands fumble under his cloak and he mumbles something inaudible then returns his gaze to the Ogre.
Juniper hears a familiar voice in her mind, "Be calm. Nothing to worry about; if they wanted us dead, we would be. This is a negotiation..though for what, is unclear."
Kaz:
It's a fairly large meeting hall; there are goblins, ogres, and bugbear guards on the periphery of the room, staring curiously at Trellis. There are a few eyeing Rhys suspiciously, but given where you are, you would expect that. Nothing seems overtly threatening at the moment.
Rhys
You notice a few guards watching you suspiciously, but you were prepared for that. There are several other doors leading out of the room, but you don't know where they go.
No Longer Active
Juniper smiled at Kaz and nodded in response to the Message, as Buhfall spoke she felt herself relax. Finding a missing person...she could do that...probably...though the weeks on the road had taught her that theory did not always match experience when it came to the outdoors.
She smiled broadly at Lord Buhfall, " I will be glad to go and find the great and learned Bol'bara for you, Lord Buhfall. With....assistance...because I am not at my best in the wild. "
Feeling quite proud that she got that out without stumbling over her words she shoved an entire black-bread roll into her mouth and almost choked to death....she tried and failed to hide the fact that she had to shove her fingers in her mouth and lever the hard roll out and onto the plate.......
Kaz glances around, then says, "What does this job entail?"
He waits a moment before smiling a little sheepishly, "And, while none of us love the empire, we all have to eat, so...what might the rewards be, should we succeed?"
Trellis nods along, having stuffed themself full while Lord Buhfall explained, and is now nursing a cup of wine in their hands. "I don't really know enough to have any allegiance," they shrug, "but I would love to accept the task! It is quite rude to whisk people away without prior notice."
Noticing Juniper's difficulty with the bread, they push a bowl of soup towards her and offers a smile, "try this one, it's very tasty."
Juniper accepted the soup with an embarassed but grateful look.
Rhy merely holds back as the typical facial ticks of distrust passes over Buhfall. “I will gladly assist in tracking your subordinate down, but perchance Bol’bara’s disappearance is not of the Empires doing is there any other local faction or monstrosity in the area that would have hindered her?” Rhys tries carefully to sus out possible other leads while trying not to notice the she elf half chocking to death thinking his attention or concern would only embarrass her more.
Zekdyn seems about to speak when Rhys makes his comments. Then follows up quickly: “I am sure that Bol’bara would be well aware of the dangers of the empire, and the average beasty of the swamp. It may lead to more sure action if we could know what she was looking for, and where.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
No Longer Active
Kaz looks around the table, trying to assess the attitude of the others. He takes some of the meat, nodding slowly.
"Sounds easy enough. We'll need a description Bol'bara..." he says between mouthfuls. He listens to their reply, then adds, "Can you...or Morgid...tell us much about the layout of the fort?"
Zekdyn nods graciously and will follow Mogrim out
Paladin - warforged - orange
Trellis hums and responds light-heartedly, "Sounds like a plan! Rest assured, we will bring Bol'bara back to Urzin. She sounds very capable too, we might even meet her halfway as she's coming back!"
They will pick up their staff and prepare to leave with the party.
Rhysand listens to the chief carefully noticing the stumble around his words at what exactly Bol’bara was doing and is not sure he’s being completely truthful or just incredibly ignorant.
Insight: 11
“Well what ever the case may be I here to help find her.” He nods in the direction of their guide “Glad to have you along”
Juniper took out a quill and ink to sketch a facsimile of Bol'bara based on the description given.
Performance: 6