Nean looks down, scratching the back of his head as he now looks quite ashamed of himself. "Ahh...i guess its a good thing this happens only half a year or so, i wouldnt want you to waste your powers on me just for my clumsiness. Although i might turn it into a habit if it attracts the attention of astonishing samarians such as yourself." Nean adds with a grinn, before he strolls back to gather his belongings.
Nean cant help but respond with a grin as well at the sight of Brams demonstration. "You got me good there, how i wish i could do that! While i appreciate the offer, i really think we're making a fuss over nothing. It's just one of those everyday routines that i've never had the misfortune to practice a little. Now that i think of it though...can you really pull that trick of with anything? How about colors for example, can you make that sortiment of beards shine in purple? And is it limited to appearance, or could you just sprout some wings and fly off into the" Nean looks up for a second, remembering the plane they reside in at the moment, "Well, not sunset i guess...Oh and what about that thing with the eyes, it that some secret battle stance?"
"Let's talk on the way if we must, although we can't see it the day does wear on, and even though it is early we do want to catch up to our quarry today, if Lah'thys is right we have a chance to do that." Liafial quickly prepares for travel.
As the group starts to follow Ava and Lady Lah'thy's, as the two lead the group on their journey, Bram responds to Nean's inquiries.
"I'm afraid its mostly just cosmetic in nature. While I can make myself appear as almost any humanoid..."
Bram again transforms, bulking up until his cloths are a tight fit, and gaining another half foot of height.
His skin becomes bronzed like someone who has spent all his life under the rays of the sun.
His hair become bright orange, almost like copper, and a matching beard, again grows upon his face.
His ears become round like a humans, and his features, less elven and more stocky.
"...I'm afraid I don't receive any of the strength or other physical traits. As for extra limbs and the like, the best I've been able to do, is horns and a tail."
"Extra arms, or wings, I'm not sure I could pull off. Even if I could stretch that much, they would only be for show, they would be like fleshy growths, no bones or muscles inside."
The large stocky human looks contemplative and somewhat concerned, as he transforms back into Bram's familiar form.
"That is one of the reasons the extra mouths and eye's trouble me a little."
"First, I have no control over their appearance. I have been surprised by their presence as much as anyone."
"It's disconcerting to have your body do things without your conscious intent."
"And secondly, they are not connected to my existing systems. I mean, I have no control over them, I cannot see through the eyes or speak through the mouths, they are not under my control."
"My transformations generally modify my existing parts into different shapes, but not so extreme as to add new airways or bones and muscles, for example."
"So how the mouths speak or the eyes move about, is a mystery. I hope its nothing too bad, hopefully it's just a side effect of my previous condition, and will clear up with time."
"If not...well I may have to seek out help when we finish our current quest, try and determine what's going on..."
Ospos, following the conversation, chimes in, "If we ever get some time to ourselves, and maybe get back home, we will definitely have to figure out what is happening to you. No offence, of course."
Lah'thys is quiet, stalking ahead as you all chatter. She seems to be leading based on intuition, estimating where the fiends could be based on what she had found of them before. It seems she is on the right track though, as after a few hours of travel Ava spots some footprints as you all come around a large arch of wind blasted stone. Upon closer inspection, there are actually several tracks: three pars of bipedal footprints as well as two pairs of tracks that look like canine prints. It seems the beasts were dragging things behind them as well. Lah'thys nods as you all investigate these trail, which leads off in the general direction you all were going, but slightly more east. "Good job. Now to follow, my guess is that we're pretty close to our destination, this is already quite a distance from the portal and I can't imagine them being much farther."
Liafial: "Well considering one is now closed but the devils are still active, there must be at least one more. Rifts to other planes do pop up occasionally but quite often they sit mostly untouched. These passages were clearly opened intentionally." she answers as she begins leading you all after the tracks.
Bram: "The smugglers I faced were just goons really, some tiefling lackeys and imps. I'm sure there are higher ranking devils pulling the strings, but I've no clue exactly what we'll be up against."
(How do you all want to proceed? If you're stealthing I'll need stealth checks, and anyone who would like can give me perception, survival, or investigation as you continue tracking them, I'll treat this like a skill challenge.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Liafial's Stealth roll (if needed): 9
"Let's hope there is only one more, I would hate to think what they could get up to if they were able to open more gates." Liafial looks to see how the others are preparing to travel, "Should we try to proceed with caution and go as unnoticed as we can?"
Clermar checks his silvered longsword at the mention of devils and adjusts his armor to try to keep it from clanking too much. "Yep. No use in picking more fights than we need to."
Liafial calls forth his owl familiar from it's pocket dimension and has it do lazy circles around the group as they travel, "Keep an eye out for danger, Snowball."
The Claws continue ahead of you, an endless sea of rocky fingers jutting into the darkening sky. Lah'thys and Ava lead the way, keeping the group glued to the winding trail of your quarry. Along the way you notices occasional bones picked clean, and other signs of animal life. Small shrubs with dark brown leaves and long thorns peek out from cracks in the rock. Despite being mostly barren, this wilderness does still bare at least a little resemblance to wild areas you all are more familiar with.
It takes another few hours of hiking, but eventually Xandar hears faint sounds of voices echoing through a canyon about a quarter mile ahead. Snowball confirms this with his keen eyes a few minutes later, relaying to Liafial that there is a group up ahead. Lah'thys signals for you all to proceed quietly, hoping to get a jump on the devils. You all creep forward through the stone structures, and to your surprise a howling wind begins to blow from behind you just as you begin to move. This seems like a boon, the noise drowning out the sounds of your approach. When you peak into the canyon, you get a glimpse of the party you've been tracking. There are three humanoids you all recognize as tieflings, accompanied by two wolf-like canines with black fur and glowing embers for eyes. They seem to be harnessed with leather straps, each dragging along crates. As the gust blows past them, one of the beasts lifts up its head, sniffs, then turns with a growl in your direction. Those of you in front jump back around the corner, and you can hear shouts in a language you don't understand. They don't seem to have spotted you, but clearly they know something is there.
(You won't get a surprise round, but you do have a moment to decide how you want to engage. They're about 200 feet down the canyon and possibly moving closer to investigate. As always feel free to plan a bit in the OOC thread for brevity. If y'all are going to attack, gimme some initiative rolls)
Ospos turns to Lah'thys and asks, "Those are tieflings, right? Do you know or can you tell if they belong to the Shadowfell or come from one of your demon gates?"
Ospos: "Yes they're tieflings but even those few that live on the plane are not native. And they don't walk around with hellhounds. These guys are definitely from the Hells."
Ospos nods, "Understood. Fight first, ask questions later. Not much I can do from here. They need to be a third of this distance before I can do something."
Nean looks down, scratching the back of his head as he now looks quite ashamed of himself. "Ahh...i guess its a good thing this happens only half a year or so, i wouldnt want you to waste your powers on me just for my clumsiness. Although i might turn it into a habit if it attracts the attention of astonishing samarians such as yourself." Nean adds with a grinn, before he strolls back to gather his belongings.
Bram gives Nean a grin,
"I don't know why facial hair maintenance, seems so hard for you today."
Bram's face quickly grows a full and lustrous beard.
"It seems so easy..."
Bram runs his fingers through his beard, enjoying its fullness.
"I mean, you just decide you don't want it any more..."
Bram's beard retracts back into his skin, leaving his face smooth and clean shaven.
"...and it's gone."
Bram winks at Nean with another grin.
Becoming more serious again, Bram adds,
"I think I have a small mirror in the trap and lock tools I picked up in Solacus, before we left on our original adventure."
"If you think it would help, you can try using it next time."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Nean cant help but respond with a grin as well at the sight of Brams demonstration. "You got me good there, how i wish i could do that! While i appreciate the offer, i really think we're making a fuss over nothing. It's just one of those everyday routines that i've never had the misfortune to practice a little. Now that i think of it though...can you really pull that trick of with anything? How about colors for example, can you make that sortiment of beards shine in purple? And is it limited to appearance, or could you just sprout some wings and fly off into the" Nean looks up for a second, remembering the plane they reside in at the moment, "Well, not sunset i guess...Oh and what about that thing with the eyes, it that some secret battle stance?"
"Let's talk on the way if we must, although we can't see it the day does wear on, and even though it is early we do want to catch up to our quarry today, if Lah'thys is right we have a chance to do that." Liafial quickly prepares for travel.
As the group starts to follow Ava and Lady Lah'thy's, as the two lead the group on their journey, Bram responds to Nean's inquiries.
"I'm afraid its mostly just cosmetic in nature. While I can make myself appear as almost any humanoid..."
Bram again transforms, bulking up until his cloths are a tight fit, and gaining another half foot of height.
His skin becomes bronzed like someone who has spent all his life under the rays of the sun.
His hair become bright orange, almost like copper, and a matching beard, again grows upon his face.
His ears become round like a humans, and his features, less elven and more stocky.
"...I'm afraid I don't receive any of the strength or other physical traits. As for extra limbs and the like, the best I've been able to do, is horns and a tail."
"Extra arms, or wings, I'm not sure I could pull off. Even if I could stretch that much, they would only be for show, they would be like fleshy growths, no bones or muscles inside."
The large stocky human looks contemplative and somewhat concerned, as he transforms back into Bram's familiar form.
"That is one of the reasons the extra mouths and eye's trouble me a little."
"First, I have no control over their appearance. I have been surprised by their presence as much as anyone."
"It's disconcerting to have your body do things without your conscious intent."
"And secondly, they are not connected to my existing systems. I mean, I have no control over them, I cannot see through the eyes or speak through the mouths, they are not under my control."
"My transformations generally modify my existing parts into different shapes, but not so extreme as to add new airways or bones and muscles, for example."
"So how the mouths speak or the eyes move about, is a mystery. I hope its nothing too bad, hopefully it's just a side effect of my previous condition, and will clear up with time."
"If not...well I may have to seek out help when we finish our current quest, try and determine what's going on..."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Ospos, following the conversation, chimes in, "If we ever get some time to ourselves, and maybe get back home, we will definitely have to figure out what is happening to you. No offence, of course."
Lah'thys is quiet, stalking ahead as you all chatter. She seems to be leading based on intuition, estimating where the fiends could be based on what she had found of them before. It seems she is on the right track though, as after a few hours of travel Ava spots some footprints as you all come around a large arch of wind blasted stone. Upon closer inspection, there are actually several tracks: three pars of bipedal footprints as well as two pairs of tracks that look like canine prints. It seems the beasts were dragging things behind them as well. Lah'thys nods as you all investigate these trail, which leads off in the general direction you all were going, but slightly more east. "Good job. Now to follow, my guess is that we're pretty close to our destination, this is already quite a distance from the portal and I can't imagine them being much farther."
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
"How many portals are there to the Shadowfell?" Liafial asks Lah'thys.
Bram nod at Ospos comment,
"I'm with you on that one my friend, I want to know what is happening to me as well."
-----------------
Bram adds his own question, to follow Liafial's.
"Any idea what we may be facing? Any strengths or weaknesses that may help us, if or when, it comes to a fight?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Liafial: "Well considering one is now closed but the devils are still active, there must be at least one more. Rifts to other planes do pop up occasionally but quite often they sit mostly untouched. These passages were clearly opened intentionally." she answers as she begins leading you all after the tracks.
Bram: "The smugglers I faced were just goons really, some tiefling lackeys and imps. I'm sure there are higher ranking devils pulling the strings, but I've no clue exactly what we'll be up against."
(How do you all want to proceed? If you're stealthing I'll need stealth checks, and anyone who would like can give me perception, survival, or investigation as you continue tracking them, I'll treat this like a skill challenge.)
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Liafial's Stealth roll (if needed): 9
"Let's hope there is only one more, I would hate to think what they could get up to if they were able to open more gates." Liafial looks to see how the others are preparing to travel, "Should we try to proceed with caution and go as unnoticed as we can?"
Bram nods his agreement with Liafial, about the gates,
"I vote for the cautious approach as well."
Stealth check for traveling: 26
Perception check to keep an eye out for trouble: 21
Perception check for Xandar: 2 (Extra roll for advantage for hearing checks: 18)
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Ava nods as well, "Yes, I believe that would be best, and I'll do my best to continue assisting you, Lady Lah'thys."
Stealth Check: 9
Survival Check: 12
Clermar checks his silvered longsword at the mention of devils and adjusts his armor to try to keep it from clanking too much. "Yep. No use in picking more fights than we need to."
Stealth: 7
Perception: 15
Liafial calls forth his owl familiar from it's pocket dimension and has it do lazy circles around the group as they travel, "Keep an eye out for danger, Snowball."
Snowball's perception check: 22
Ospos:
Stealth: 18
Investigation: 16
Perception: 2
The Claws continue ahead of you, an endless sea of rocky fingers jutting into the darkening sky. Lah'thys and Ava lead the way, keeping the group glued to the winding trail of your quarry. Along the way you notices occasional bones picked clean, and other signs of animal life. Small shrubs with dark brown leaves and long thorns peek out from cracks in the rock. Despite being mostly barren, this wilderness does still bare at least a little resemblance to wild areas you all are more familiar with.
It takes another few hours of hiking, but eventually Xandar hears faint sounds of voices echoing through a canyon about a quarter mile ahead. Snowball confirms this with his keen eyes a few minutes later, relaying to Liafial that there is a group up ahead. Lah'thys signals for you all to proceed quietly, hoping to get a jump on the devils. You all creep forward through the stone structures, and to your surprise a howling wind begins to blow from behind you just as you begin to move. This seems like a boon, the noise drowning out the sounds of your approach. When you peak into the canyon, you get a glimpse of the party you've been tracking. There are three humanoids you all recognize as tieflings, accompanied by two wolf-like canines with black fur and glowing embers for eyes. They seem to be harnessed with leather straps, each dragging along crates. As the gust blows past them, one of the beasts lifts up its head, sniffs, then turns with a growl in your direction. Those of you in front jump back around the corner, and you can hear shouts in a language you don't understand. They don't seem to have spotted you, but clearly they know something is there.
(You won't get a surprise round, but you do have a moment to decide how you want to engage. They're about 200 feet down the canyon and possibly moving closer to investigate. As always feel free to plan a bit in the OOC thread for brevity. If y'all are going to attack, gimme some initiative rolls)
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Ospos turns to Lah'thys and asks, "Those are tieflings, right? Do you know or can you tell if they belong to the Shadowfell or come from one of your demon gates?"
Ospos: "Yes they're tieflings but even those few that live on the plane are not native. And they don't walk around with hellhounds. These guys are definitely from the Hells."
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Ospos nods, "Understood. Fight first, ask questions later. Not much I can do from here. They need to be a third of this distance before I can do something."