"Ah! I'm so sorry, I'm not usually so rude, but the head and all...." She clears her throat. "Well met, fellow prisoners. Please call me Juno." She gives Kal and Lyra a pleasantly warm smile.
"Hmm..." She says, looking around at the gear. "I'm afraid I wont be terribly useful with a weapon anyway, but perhaps I can ply my Lady for her favor during our plight. Maybe...if we're a touch lucky anyway...." That's when Leftenant asks for assistance, catching Juno's attention. She shuffles over to him passed the others, excusing herself and apologizing to anyone she might bump into. "Looking for help getting that chain shirt on? I have a little experience with these things. Let me lend a hand. At least, one good one." She waves her one arm as the other sleeve of her prisoners garb remains empty and limp.
Glyptemis' cheeks turn a deeper green as he realizes that he will, in fact, need to introduce himself.
"I'm Glyp.. Glyptemis. Yes, I'm Glyptemis. Sorry. I also don't mean to be rude, I'm just a little freaked out here. If we get out of this alive I'll give you a better introduction, I swear!"
As the group gathers to leave the cart, the riffs played by Lyra soothe him a bit and he continues on wtih the melody, humming to himself and becoming visibly calmer. When it looks like she is about to drop the illusion, Glyptemis' humming will double, then triple in tonality as he opens his throat and begins to emanate a haunting, impossible-sounding melody that echoes through his shell, entering into his Bladesong. As he hums you could swear his arms and legs are extending further out from his shell, giving this squat tortle a newly lithe and lanky appearance. His movements seem smooth and intentional as he moves to the front of the cart and prepares to enter the fray.
DM:
This is probably the first time he's introduced himself as Glyptemis, and certainly the first time to anyone who wasn't a shopkeep or inkeeper.
Kalamin shifts as he feels the strange musical magic wash over his aching muscles. He nods a quick thanks to Lyra before turning back to the door. "Here we go then. Stick together, stay alive." He says, jumping out of the back of the wagon the instant Lyra's illusion drops. Gripping the dagger in his hand he peeks around the left corner of the wagon to see how thick the fighting is in that direction.
OoC: Are you taking the 5 mins to don the chain shirt?
Working together, Juno and LT are able to get the chain shirt off the elf in under a minute. It's a bit bloody, but otherwise undamaged.
You step out of the wagon into the night, onto a road bathed in the light of Imane's two largest moons - Selia and Lucine. Immediately you can see a large chasm has opened up in the ground about fifteen feet away from the prison cart. It's at least 40 feet across, and stretches from southwest to northeast. The road here cuts through a clearing about a hundred feet across. To the west is a tall vertical cliff face towering hundreds of feet upwards. It curves around as it cuts south, and you can see that as it meets the chasm it's been split open.
Fighting rages along the forest road. There are three more elvish corpses around the wagon, filled with bolts. To your right is a mound(~30 feet high) topped small boulders and a few trees. Strewn along the slope down are a couple more corpses. At the top you can see two more white-haired elves firing away with their bows at some enemy you can't see on the other side, their backs turned to you.
To the left, Kalamin peeks around the corner and sees about a dozen fighters battling it out in a group not more than 20 feet away. Figures clad in fabrics colored to match the surrounding environment assault a line of these pale elves you're beginning to become familiar with. The fight gets dense further north. You can see a pale woman in red robes with a white staff hurling spells into the trees east of her, where an endless rain of crossbow bolts seem to originate from.
In these first few seconds of freedom, no one seems to have noticed you yet...
Environment Notes:
The bright moonlight is enough to make the clearing dimly lit.
Once outside, the sound of battle clarifies. The whip and thump of crossbow bolts. The iron smell in the air. The telltale effervescence of spells being slung. Juno's eye widens when she sees the pale woman clad in red. She ducks to the side behind the cart to stay out of her sight.
"That's her!" She stage whispers, her hand patting the shoulder of whoever would be nearby at the time. "The pale lady in red! She was there when these elves took me."
She swallows. "Yeah...stay together. Stay alive. I don't have a great feeling about this. We might be able to help the people attacking her and the elves. The enemy of my enemy and all....but we could also just run. Nothing wrong with a tactical retreat. Survive."
"So the elves are not our friends."Kalamin says, eyeing the battle unfolding before him. He spares an uncertain glance at the chasm. The earth did not just split open like that on a whim, and he was no keen on meeting whatever could do such a thing, "enemy of the enemy" or not. He jerks his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the side of the cart he'd just peeked around. "Fighting is thick that way. Up the hill might be better, we can surprise those two and get some more weapons at least."
"So the elves are not our friends."Kalamin says, eyeing the battle unfolding before him. He spares an uncertain glance at the chasm. The earth did not just split open like that on a whim, and he was no keen on meeting whatever could do such a thing, "enemy of the enemy" or not. He jerks his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the side of the cart he'd just peeked around. "Fighting is thick that way. Up the hill might be better, we can surprise those two and get some more weapons at least."
Juno eyes the two elves on the hill.
"Might be our best bet. Fight to run away maybe? As for how to go about it?" She flexes her hand, balling up into a fist and relaxing a few times. "I can help, but I don't have a lot of subtle options. The blessings I have are a touch flashy. So, if not that, then maybe I can offer at least some assistance if you want to be more covert."
"So. The red and white elves are not our friends. Whoever is assailing them has the power to create giant rifts in the earth that not only block our wagon's progress but split a small mountain range. Unless it is the elves' handiwork, but why block their own jail-wagon's progress? So likely not."
Lyra's voice is conversational as she hops out. "Up the hill, then? Lead on, Kal. And hang onto those keys, Glyptemis. I have magic that may outline groups of enemies in a glow that would guide not only our attacks, but those of the unseen attackers, though elves are agile and may avoid the effect. I think I should save it for the larger group of enemies if it comes to that. Perhaps we surprise and slay the two on the hill in more mundane fashion?"
She looks around for any other transports or exterior storage on their own wagon where their own equipment might plausibly be stored. She also listens through the sounds of battle - are the elves speaking to each other? If so, are they speaking in Elvish (which Lyra knows)?
"I like the idea of surprise, and they seem pretty distracted so hopefully we can get the drop on them.. if we all strike at once maybe it won't matter how flashy it is..? Lets just hope that whoever they're fighting doesn't want to kill us too... Either way, no sense waiting around. Kalamin, I think you and I are the tip of the spear. I'm ready when you are."
Glyp says grimly, nodding to Kalamin. He then whispers a few croaking words under his breath as if adding lyrics to a brief section of his bladesong, he brings his empty hand up to his shell as if to draw a sword that isn't there, and as he pulls it forward dark rivulets of shadow gather themselves in his hand and swirl together to form a semi-translucent but visibly sharp sword from the darkness (Shadow Blade). With a weapon in each hand, Glyp begins to creep toward the hill with the two elves on top of it.
"Here we go then." Always looking for a silver lining, Kalamin is somewhat grateful that he can at least move more easily without his armor. Though for a large battle like this, with fighting in all directions, he might have enjoyed the extra protection more than the mobility. Crouching, he darts up the hill with the Tortle at his side, and the others presumably close behind.
OoC: Would it be okay for me to toss the Rapier to someone who can use it on the way up the hill? I didn't realize a rapier is not a Light weapon, so no two-weapon fighting, and Glyp is fine w/ just the Shadow Blade
Further ahead on the road you see the shattered remains of three other carts. Over the roar of the battle you can occasionally pick out something like an order shouted in Common. There is another language mixed in the shouting - to someone who doesn't actually know Elvish they would likely call it that. But it's not something you recognize, it just shares some phonological and phonetic features.
As you crest the top of the hill, the two elves are still preoccupied with their own fight. Their enemy combatants are dressed in the same camouflaged cloaks you saw before, with studded armor painted in a similar fashion. There's four of them on a hill opposite (60 ft), shooting from behind tree cover with crossbows.
Leftenant and Glyptemis are the first to react. Then an NPC Then Lyra and Juno More NPCs Kalamin More NPCs
OoC: In play-by-post, I've seen that it's easier to just have people in the same chunks act at the same time. If something really needs to be done in a specific order we can resolve it after the fact.
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"Ah! I'm so sorry, I'm not usually so rude, but the head and all...." She clears her throat. "Well met, fellow prisoners. Please call me Juno." She gives Kal and Lyra a pleasantly warm smile.
"Hmm..." She says, looking around at the gear. "I'm afraid I wont be terribly useful with a weapon anyway, but perhaps I can ply my Lady for her favor during our plight. Maybe...if we're a touch lucky anyway...." That's when Leftenant asks for assistance, catching Juno's attention. She shuffles over to him passed the others, excusing herself and apologizing to anyone she might bump into. "Looking for help getting that chain shirt on? I have a little experience with these things. Let me lend a hand. At least, one good one." She waves her one arm as the other sleeve of her prisoners garb remains empty and limp.
Glyptemis' cheeks turn a deeper green as he realizes that he will, in fact, need to introduce himself.
"I'm Glyp.. Glyptemis. Yes, I'm Glyptemis. Sorry. I also don't mean to be rude, I'm just a little freaked out here. If we get out of this alive I'll give you a better introduction, I swear!"
As the group gathers to leave the cart, the riffs played by Lyra soothe him a bit and he continues on wtih the melody, humming to himself and becoming visibly calmer. When it looks like she is about to drop the illusion, Glyptemis' humming will double, then triple in tonality as he opens his throat and begins to emanate a haunting, impossible-sounding melody that echoes through his shell, entering into his Bladesong. As he hums you could swear his arms and legs are extending further out from his shell, giving this squat tortle a newly lithe and lanky appearance. His movements seem smooth and intentional as he moves to the front of the cart and prepares to enter the fray.
DM:
This is probably the first time he's introduced himself as Glyptemis, and certainly the first time to anyone who wasn't a shopkeep or inkeeper.
Kalamin shifts as he feels the strange musical magic wash over his aching muscles. He nods a quick thanks to Lyra before turning back to the door. "Here we go then. Stick together, stay alive." He says, jumping out of the back of the wagon the instant Lyra's illusion drops. Gripping the dagger in his hand he peeks around the left corner of the wagon to see how thick the fighting is in that direction.
OoC: Are you taking the 5 mins to don the chain shirt?
Working together, Juno and LT are able to get the chain shirt off the elf in under a minute. It's a bit bloody, but otherwise undamaged.
You step out of the wagon into the night, onto a road bathed in the light of Imane's two largest moons - Selia and Lucine. Immediately you can see a large chasm has opened up in the ground about fifteen feet away from the prison cart. It's at least 40 feet across, and stretches from southwest to northeast. The road here cuts through a clearing about a hundred feet across. To the west is a tall vertical cliff face towering hundreds of feet upwards. It curves around as it cuts south, and you can see that as it meets the chasm it's been split open.
Fighting rages along the forest road. There are three more elvish corpses around the wagon, filled with bolts. To your right is a mound(~30 feet high) topped small boulders and a few trees. Strewn along the slope down are a couple more corpses. At the top you can see two more white-haired elves firing away with their bows at some enemy you can't see on the other side, their backs turned to you.
To the left, Kalamin peeks around the corner and sees about a dozen fighters battling it out in a group not more than 20 feet away. Figures clad in fabrics colored to match the surrounding environment assault a line of these pale elves you're beginning to become familiar with. The fight gets dense further north. You can see a pale woman in red robes with a white staff hurling spells into the trees east of her, where an endless rain of crossbow bolts seem to originate from.
In these first few seconds of freedom, no one seems to have noticed you yet...
Environment Notes:
Once outside, the sound of battle clarifies. The whip and thump of crossbow bolts. The iron smell in the air. The telltale effervescence of spells being slung. Juno's eye widens when she sees the pale woman clad in red. She ducks to the side behind the cart to stay out of her sight.
"That's her!" She stage whispers, her hand patting the shoulder of whoever would be nearby at the time. "The pale lady in red! She was there when these elves took me."
She swallows. "Yeah...stay together. Stay alive. I don't have a great feeling about this. We might be able to help the people attacking her and the elves. The enemy of my enemy and all....but we could also just run. Nothing wrong with a tactical retreat. Survive."
OoC: no, just grabbing it off the body at this point.
"So the elves are not our friends." Kalamin says, eyeing the battle unfolding before him. He spares an uncertain glance at the chasm. The earth did not just split open like that on a whim, and he was no keen on meeting whatever could do such a thing, "enemy of the enemy" or not. He jerks his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the side of the cart he'd just peeked around. "Fighting is thick that way. Up the hill might be better, we can surprise those two and get some more weapons at least."
Juno eyes the two elves on the hill.
"Might be our best bet. Fight to run away maybe? As for how to go about it?" She flexes her hand, balling up into a fist and relaxing a few times. "I can help, but I don't have a lot of subtle options. The blessings I have are a touch flashy. So, if not that, then maybe I can offer at least some assistance if you want to be more covert."
"So. The red and white elves are not our friends. Whoever is assailing them has the power to create giant rifts in the earth that not only block our wagon's progress but split a small mountain range. Unless it is the elves' handiwork, but why block their own jail-wagon's progress? So likely not."
Lyra's voice is conversational as she hops out. "Up the hill, then? Lead on, Kal. And hang onto those keys, Glyptemis. I have magic that may outline groups of enemies in a glow that would guide not only our attacks, but those of the unseen attackers, though elves are agile and may avoid the effect. I think I should save it for the larger group of enemies if it comes to that. Perhaps we surprise and slay the two on the hill in more mundane fashion?"
She looks around for any other transports or exterior storage on their own wagon where their own equipment might plausibly be stored. She also listens through the sounds of battle - are the elves speaking to each other? If so, are they speaking in Elvish (which Lyra knows)?
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
"I like the idea of surprise, and they seem pretty distracted so hopefully we can get the drop on them.. if we all strike at once maybe it won't matter how flashy it is..? Lets just hope that whoever they're fighting doesn't want to kill us too... Either way, no sense waiting around. Kalamin, I think you and I are the tip of the spear. I'm ready when you are."
Glyp says grimly, nodding to Kalamin. He then whispers a few croaking words under his breath as if adding lyrics to a brief section of his bladesong, he brings his empty hand up to his shell as if to draw a sword that isn't there, and as he pulls it forward dark rivulets of shadow gather themselves in his hand and swirl together to form a semi-translucent but visibly sharp sword from the darkness (Shadow Blade). With a weapon in each hand, Glyp begins to creep toward the hill with the two elves on top of it.
"Here we go then." Always looking for a silver lining, Kalamin is somewhat grateful that he can at least move more easily without his armor. Though for a large battle like this, with fighting in all directions, he might have enjoyed the extra protection more than the mobility. Crouching, he darts up the hill with the Tortle at his side, and the others presumably close behind.
OoC: Roll initiative, preferably on your character sheet so it auto-tracks in the encounter.
Initiative: 8
OoC: Would it be okay for me to toss the Rapier to someone who can use it on the way up the hill? I didn't realize a rapier is not a Light weapon, so no two-weapon fighting, and Glyp is fine w/ just the Shadow Blade
OoC: That's fine.
Lyra Initiative: 11
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Lyra
As you crest the top of the hill, the two elves are still preoccupied with their own fight. Their enemy combatants are dressed in the same camouflaged cloaks you saw before, with studded armor painted in a similar fashion. There's four of them on a hill opposite (60 ft), shooting from behind tree cover with crossbows.
Leftenant and Glyptemis are the first to react.
Then an NPC
Then Lyra and Juno
More NPCs
Kalamin
More NPCs
OoC: How do we handle simultaneous initiative? Should we go by DEX or just... both post stuff and see what happens?
OoC: In play-by-post, I've seen that it's easier to just have people in the same chunks act at the same time. If something really needs to be done in a specific order we can resolve it after the fact.