The chilly morning air was made even more cool with the addition of the low fog that filled the surrounding area near the Iron Fiddle Inn. Inside the inn the fire in the hearth kept the cold at bay and filled the taproom with a pleasing warmth. In the taproom of the inn Professor Victor Shadowgrave was sitting at a table in the corner looking over his research notes as he waited for the others to come down. Every so often a soft sigh or a low hum could be heard as he looked at the most recent looking papers that covered most of the table. On one there was a rough sketch of the artifact that he was looking for, in the drawing of what appeared to be a statue of a cleric in the kneeling position and another had mentions of a house in the forest.
"If this is correct then..." He trailed off slightly and glanced towards the door with a soft smile. He placed the papers he'd been looking at down on the table and waved a gloved hand towards the door as he heard it opening . "Good morning! I hope you found the place alright, I nearly missed it myself when I first arrived." The Professor called in a cheery tone before turning his attention back to his notes.
{Good morning/afternoon everyone. Please introduce your characters and what they are doing.}
Waldrym’s discomfort is plain the moment he steps inside, shaking off the cold and gloom. He’s a pale, sullen man, with skin like fog and hair like mist, with a battered canvas bag over one shoulder. His ancestry must be mostly human judging by his tall stature, but a hint of something else is there - in his unnaturally blue eyes, pale hair, and pointed ears. His armor, if it could be called that, seems to be primarily bison or oxen hides. He carries a shield of linden wood, with a gleaming sickle tucked into his belt. Around his neck is a woven necklace of yew, adorned only with a single, bestial fang.
“Not hard to find. The smell of smoke and food carries farther than you might think, Professor.” He nods towards the others. “It is unusual for you to bring together an entire pack for our meetings.”
He seems to think for a moment, then takes a seat furthest from the hearth. He has all the warmth of a slab of granite on a winter morning.
A short, balding man wearing a simple white robe, leaves his spot at the bar and walks up to the table.
“Hello Professor, it’s good to see you again” he says, his voice deep.
Noticing the lack of recognition on his face, the man says, “Oh right, sorry, was keeping a low profile. Let me drop the disguise.”
Immediately, the man is no longer a man, but a gnome. The bald head replaced by long greyish-white hair, intertwining with a beard and mustache. Strapped around his back is a cittern, which he adjusts as he takes a seat. His skin, darker than that of typical surface gnomes, hints at his origins of below the surface.
He turns his smile from the professor to the others gathered at the table, “Name is Fergs! I’m a student of lore, folktales, and such, mostly. Though I’m not above learning about, real things too” his smile turns into a chuckle, which quickly turns into a low hum of some upbeat song.
“So, I saw some drawings on your sheets, is that what you're looking for?”
Julius was perhaps the youngest in the group, the professor was one of his fathers co-workers and his father had sent him to go aid the proffessor on his needs, Julius would be coming out of his inn room, his sword in his sheath, he looked around spotting the professor and several others, he would give a small wave before walking over to a table to sit.
Julius appearance apears that of an errand boy with commoner clothing, however he does carry a nice polished leather sheath for his sword. He wouldnt know who to talk to.
A hood figure wearing dark red robes quietly and without effort comes down the stairs (having already from atop looked at the scene below) sees a white robed man change into ... a gnome approach the professor. Kaelith smiles to himself and says, "a dark gnome, how interesting".
Kaelith had observed the human druid near the fire, who is the furtherest away fromt he Proffessor and the dark gnome, he is however keeping a solid watch on what is going on at the professors table, "cold he is ... hmmm ... cautious he must be, also interesting".
Kaelith continues to quietly approach the duo Kaelith pulls back his hood and and looks around the tavern. His soft radiant topaz eyes give him away as something quite different and his body language suggests a person who is not interested in idle chat. He does however, wait for the dark gnome to finish... to interject and accord his greetings to the professor, normally he wouldn't have bothered.
"Greetings Professor, my name is Kaelith", he doesn't offer his hand in greetings and continues, "I'm a member of the Wrath of the Old, a specialist investigator with .... interesting skills"
Without waiting for a response Kaelith pulls his hood back over his head and heads towards the fire where the human druid is sitting.
The Professor nodded ever so slightly in response to what Waldrym had said. "Under normal circumstances I wouldn't need to but these are special circumstances indeed dear Waldrym." As he say this he begins to neatly stack most of the papers and placing them on the seat right beside him, leaving the papers he'd been reading on the table for them all to see. "The Misty Forest has quite a few stories surrounding it. Be it tales of werewolves leaving it's depths when the moon is full around the harvest season and decimating nearby villages or tales of people who have entered the forest never to be seen again. Of course these are mostly stories that the locals tell their children to keep them from wandering in since the forest is teaming with dangerous beasts."
He turned his head slightly and smiled towards Fergs. "Greetings Fergs, that was quite a good disguise. For a second I thought that you were my mentor. Gods do I miss him." He chuckled softly. Then he motioned towards the sheet with the sketch of the statue on it. "This one is a drawing of the relic in question. The other is actually a drawing of another supposed anomaly in the forest, a manor house that seems out of place in the forest. If it truly exists then there is a chance that the relic may have been hidden inside of it."
Victor then turns his attention towards the young man and waves back. "Greetings young man, I hope that you got a good night's sleep. You're going to need it."
When Kaelith introduced himself the professor hesitated for a moment before giving him a small nod. "Greetings Kaelith. I have heard a few things about the Wrath of the Old. I appreciate your assistance, interesting skills are the best kind. Definitely when going into a mostly uncharted location."
There comes a chittering from above as a small pale white bat flits about overhead. It swoops and dips, spins and twirls, eventually coming to rest upon a nearby barrel...
...whereupon it reverts, small webbed wings and a furry body becoming pale flesh draped in studded leather. A small ghoulish woman sits where the bat had landed, cold eyes boring into those gathered 'round. Her hair is wild and dirt crusts her skin. From behind pallorous lips glint the slightest shimmer of sharp white fangs. The strange little woman looks over the odd assortment of men, her eyes softening as they fall on the Professor.
She quietly yet efficiently climbs down, closing the distance to the seemingly beleaguered Shadowgrave with surprising speed. In a cool, whispy voice, she says merely "my friend," and bows. To the others, she turns and reverts to her icy stare. Unto them, she places a hand on her chest and ekes out the barest of introduction: "Ssssstymaaa. Naaaacht," she hisses, her voice cold as a grave.
Waldrym nods his acknowledgement as the rest of the Professor's acquaintances file in and introduce themselves. His expression somehow grows even more sour, for some reason. His eyes flick over the sketches of the statue and the house, only barely regarding the details.
"I don't know the Misty Forest so well, but you're right. Many ignorant townspeople not knowing the difference between a curse and a disease. As for - "
He pauses, hearing a bat in the tavern. Such a thing was probably ill. When it transforms and lands, Waldrym arches an eyebrow. He could smell the dirt and leaf litter, and her ability to take an animal form. Was she a feral beast? Or something else? There was one way to find out. He takes a moment and cocks his head, studying the woman, this Styma Nacht, and ekes out a few halting words in Druidic.
As the professor speaks, Fergs slides his Cistern around to the front and plays a few muted chords, without even realizing it.
♫ F C F C ⬝ F C F C G ♫ ...
"Well, there is a lot of truth in the tales and warnings that we tell our children professor, trust me, it's my area of expertise" the gnome says, trying hard not to sing the words, but say them.
All of a sudden, he strikes an off chord, a rarity no one in this group could even imagine. "Whoa" he says, as he watches a small white bat transform into a woman, who then introduces herself. He turns to the one named Waldrym and starts, "that is a way better disguise then I had ..." but he stops, as Waldrym is now talking to the bat turned woman in a language Ferg's never heard. Instead, he looks to the figure in the dark red robes, but he has his hood drawn and seems distant.
"How did a talented, charismatic, handsome, if I have to admit, gnome from the underdark, become the least interesting person in the room?"he says to himself, looking back at the man in the red robes, but continuing to speak to himself "Wrath of the Old one. never heard of that one in my travels, probably made up."
But Fergs is not upset, if anything he is more excited than he has been in a while ... songs, ballads, even a funeral dirge, all begin to form in his head. He takes a drink from a drink on the table, not his, not sure who's it is, but he takes it anyways, looking around at the others, trying not to pull out his flute!
As Kaelith reaches the fire and sits down, noticing the bat turn into a small ghoulish women, "Interesting indeed" he mutters to himself as a small smile plays on his face.
He sees the excitable boy Julius making his way towards the professor very keen to play his part, "Must keep an eye on that one... is he masking something else? while noticing the expensive sword sheath.
He approaches Waldrym:
"Greets Master Druid, my name is Kaelith, Kaelith Thorne, tell me about yourself?"
Julius would be eating a egg he sat on the left side of the table in one of the middle seats, he would be focusing on a book, he wasnt usually the one to read but picked up an entertaining story awhile ago.
"Morning everyone" he simply said in a energized manner
He takes a moment and cocks his head, studying the woman, this Styma Nacht, and ekes out a few halting words in Druidic.
"Do we walk stalk similar trails?"
The fanged woman turns to the man in furs with a modicum of perplexion; at the realization the two share a... somewhat similar world view, however, her lips spread in an attempt at a smile. Unfortunately, with her eyes affixed on him, she now retains the visage more of a beast baring it's teeth.
That is, at least until she replies in the same garish language, her voice like chilled satin: "Ssso it would appear. Though your trail sssseems far brighter..."
Waldrym nods in understanding. She wasn't fully human either. Those subtle fangs, that predatory glare, her sibilant speech. He knew what she was. . . a yuan-ti. He was certain of it.
"The sun cannot shine all day," he replies in druidic before turning back to Kaelith. He's obviously taken aback that the man in crimson thought he was a friendly face. Though, sitting near Styma. . . perhaps he was?
"Ah. I was just talking in the druidic tongue. I trap, I hunt, I guide. I have some magical prowess. I am a woodsman. If we're going into this Misty Forest, I see why I was asked to help."
Victor watches with a hint of amusement as the bat spins and twirls in the air. He quietly hummed to himself as he sees the bat transform into Styma, a small glimmer of happiness takes it's place in his eyes. "It is good to see you again friend." His tone takes a softer note before he slowly starts to rise from his seat.
Waldrym nods in understanding. She wasn't fully human either. Those subtle fangs, that predatory glare, her sibilant speech. He knew what she was. . . a yuan-ti. He was certain of it.
"The sun cannot shine all day," he replies in druidic before turning back to Kaelith. He's obviously taken aback that the man in crimson thought he was a friendly face. Though, sitting near Styma. . . perhaps he was?
"Ah. I was just talking in the druidic tongue. I trap, I hunt, I guide. I have some magical prowess. I am a woodsman. If we're going into this Misty Forest, I see why I was asked to help."
As Kaelith sits down at the fire where Waldrym is sitting, the radiating heat making him somewhat uncomfortable. He leans closer to Waldrym, "You seem very perceptive, your quick response was ... interesting, I wonder what else you see?"
As the professor rises from his seat he takes a breath before looking around at the individuals that were gathered in the room. Those closest to the table can hear the professor counting in a just bearly audible voice, a soft sigh escaping his lips as the number five left them. "It would appear that we are missing someone." His smile faded slightly as he did a quick recount. After a few seconds he cleared his throat slightly and tugged at his collar.
"This may turn out to be one of the most dangerous expeditions I've been a part of... since the forest is more or less uncharted territory. That being said, with everyone's combined skills I have faith that we'll come out of this in one piece." After saying that he mumbles something under his breath.
"No more perceptive than most, I think. Its a learned skill, not a gift."
When the Professor mentions that they're short a person, Waldrym arches an eyebrow in surprise. This was already quite a crew, more people than the sullen druid was used to working with.
"Is it possible this sixth person went ahead to the forest?"
At the mention of a person short, Kaelith got up from his spot and moved towards the Professor and is probably wondering the same thing as everyone else, "who or what is missing?".
Intrigued Kaelith awaits the Professors next more!
The Door to the establishment opens and a Dwarf trutts in. Sorry for my delay, this - he speaks a word in dwarvish which those speaking the language would recognize it as an equivalent to the f-word - fog had me walking in circles Gunther is on the taller side of dwarf and posesses a sturdy frame which shows his experiences in the mines, forges and temples. He wears clean travellers clothes with a scale shirt on top. On his right hip dangles a simple flanged mace, on his left there is a angled construct of wood and thin metal pipes. My name is Gunther Korroden and have been orderd by the church of Moradin to assist this group because of a common interest. It will be my pleasure. Now, did i miss anything important already?
The chilly morning air was made even more cool with the addition of the low fog that filled the surrounding area near the Iron Fiddle Inn. Inside the inn the fire in the hearth kept the cold at bay and filled the taproom with a pleasing warmth. In the taproom of the inn Professor Victor Shadowgrave was sitting at a table in the corner looking over his research notes as he waited for the others to come down. Every so often a soft sigh or a low hum could be heard as he looked at the most recent looking papers that covered most of the table. On one there was a rough sketch of the artifact that he was looking for, in the drawing of what appeared to be a statue of a cleric in the kneeling position and another had mentions of a house in the forest.
"If this is correct then..." He trailed off slightly and glanced towards the door with a soft smile. He placed the papers he'd been looking at down on the table and waved a gloved hand towards the door as he heard it opening . "Good morning! I hope you found the place alright, I nearly missed it myself when I first arrived." The Professor called in a cheery tone before turning his attention back to his notes.
{Good morning/afternoon everyone. Please introduce your characters and what they are doing.}
Waldrym’s discomfort is plain the moment he steps inside, shaking off the cold and gloom. He’s a pale, sullen man, with skin like fog and hair like mist, with a battered canvas bag over one shoulder. His ancestry must be mostly human judging by his tall stature, but a hint of something else is there - in his unnaturally blue eyes, pale hair, and pointed ears. His armor, if it could be called that, seems to be primarily bison or oxen hides. He carries a shield of linden wood, with a gleaming sickle tucked into his belt. Around his neck is a woven necklace of yew, adorned only with a single, bestial fang.
“Not hard to find. The smell of smoke and food carries farther than you might think, Professor.” He nods towards the others. “It is unusual for you to bring together an entire pack for our meetings.”
He seems to think for a moment, then takes a seat furthest from the hearth. He has all the warmth of a slab of granite on a winter morning.
“I am Waldrym.”
A short, balding man wearing a simple white robe, leaves his spot at the bar and walks up to the table.
“Hello Professor, it’s good to see you again” he says, his voice deep.
Noticing the lack of recognition on his face, the man says, “Oh right, sorry, was keeping a low profile. Let me drop the disguise.”
Immediately, the man is no longer a man, but a gnome. The bald head replaced by long greyish-white hair, intertwining with a beard and mustache. Strapped around his back is a cittern, which he adjusts as he takes a seat. His skin, darker than that of typical surface gnomes, hints at his origins of below the surface.
He turns his smile from the professor to the others gathered at the table, “Name is Fergs! I’m a student of lore, folktales, and such, mostly. Though I’m not above learning about, real things too” his smile turns into a chuckle, which quickly turns into a low hum of some upbeat song.
“So, I saw some drawings on your sheets, is that what you're looking for?”
Julius was perhaps the youngest in the group, the professor was one of his fathers co-workers and his father had sent him to go aid the proffessor on his needs, Julius would be coming out of his inn room, his sword in his sheath, he looked around spotting the professor and several others, he would give a small wave before walking over to a table to sit.
Julius appearance apears that of an errand boy with commoner clothing, however he does carry a nice polished leather sheath for his sword. He wouldnt know who to talk to.
A hood figure wearing dark red robes quietly and without effort comes down the stairs (having already from atop looked at the scene below) sees a white robed man change into ... a gnome approach the professor. Kaelith smiles to himself and says, "a dark gnome, how interesting".
Kaelith had observed the human druid near the fire, who is the furtherest away fromt he Proffessor and the dark gnome, he is however keeping a solid watch on what is going on at the professors table, "cold he is ... hmmm ... cautious he must be, also interesting".
Kaelith continues to quietly approach the duo Kaelith pulls back his hood and and looks around the tavern. His soft radiant topaz eyes give him away as something quite different and his body language suggests a person who is not interested in idle chat. He does however, wait for the dark gnome to finish... to interject and accord his greetings to the professor, normally he wouldn't have bothered.
"Greetings Professor, my name is Kaelith", he doesn't offer his hand in greetings and continues, "I'm a member of the Wrath of the Old, a specialist investigator with .... interesting skills"
Without waiting for a response Kaelith pulls his hood back over his head and heads towards the fire where the human druid is sitting.
The Professor nodded ever so slightly in response to what Waldrym had said. "Under normal circumstances I wouldn't need to but these are special circumstances indeed dear Waldrym." As he say this he begins to neatly stack most of the papers and placing them on the seat right beside him, leaving the papers he'd been reading on the table for them all to see. "The Misty Forest has quite a few stories surrounding it. Be it tales of werewolves leaving it's depths when the moon is full around the harvest season and decimating nearby villages or tales of people who have entered the forest never to be seen again. Of course these are mostly stories that the locals tell their children to keep them from wandering in since the forest is teaming with dangerous beasts."
He turned his head slightly and smiled towards Fergs. "Greetings Fergs, that was quite a good disguise. For a second I thought that you were my mentor. Gods do I miss him." He chuckled softly. Then he motioned towards the sheet with the sketch of the statue on it. "This one is a drawing of the relic in question. The other is actually a drawing of another supposed anomaly in the forest, a manor house that seems out of place in the forest. If it truly exists then there is a chance that the relic may have been hidden inside of it."
Victor then turns his attention towards the young man and waves back. "Greetings young man, I hope that you got a good night's sleep. You're going to need it."
When Kaelith introduced himself the professor hesitated for a moment before giving him a small nod. "Greetings Kaelith. I have heard a few things about the Wrath of the Old. I appreciate your assistance, interesting skills are the best kind. Definitely when going into a mostly uncharted location."
There comes a chittering from above as a small pale white bat flits about overhead. It swoops and dips, spins and twirls, eventually coming to rest upon a nearby barrel...
...whereupon it reverts, small webbed wings and a furry body becoming pale flesh draped in studded leather. A small ghoulish woman sits where the bat had landed, cold eyes boring into those gathered 'round. Her hair is wild and dirt crusts her skin. From behind pallorous lips glint the slightest shimmer of sharp white fangs. The strange little woman looks over the odd assortment of men, her eyes softening as they fall on the Professor.
She quietly yet efficiently climbs down, closing the distance to the seemingly beleaguered Shadowgrave with surprising speed. In a cool, whispy voice, she says merely "my friend," and bows. To the others, she turns and reverts to her icy stare. Unto them, she places a hand on her chest and ekes out the barest of introduction: "Ssssstymaaa. Naaaacht," she hisses, her voice cold as a grave.
Waldrym nods his acknowledgement as the rest of the Professor's acquaintances file in and introduce themselves. His expression somehow grows even more sour, for some reason. His eyes flick over the sketches of the statue and the house, only barely regarding the details.
"I don't know the Misty Forest so well, but you're right. Many ignorant townspeople not knowing the difference between a curse and a disease. As for - "
He pauses, hearing a bat in the tavern. Such a thing was probably ill. When it transforms and lands, Waldrym arches an eyebrow. He could smell the dirt and leaf litter, and her ability to take an animal form. Was she a feral beast? Or something else? There was one way to find out. He takes a moment and cocks his head, studying the woman, this Styma Nacht, and ekes out a few halting words in Druidic.
"Do we walk stalk similar trails?"
As the professor speaks, Fergs slides his Cistern around to the front and plays a few muted chords, without even realizing it.
♫ F C F C ⬝ F C F C G ♫ ...
"Well, there is a lot of truth in the tales and warnings that we tell our children professor, trust me, it's my area of expertise" the gnome says, trying hard not to sing the words, but say them.
All of a sudden, he strikes an off chord, a rarity no one in this group could even imagine. "Whoa" he says, as he watches a small white bat transform into a woman, who then introduces herself. He turns to the one named Waldrym and starts, "that is a way better disguise then I had ..." but he stops, as Waldrym is now talking to the bat turned woman in a language Ferg's never heard. Instead, he looks to the figure in the dark red robes, but he has his hood drawn and seems distant.
"How did a talented, charismatic, handsome, if I have to admit, gnome from the underdark, become the least interesting person in the room?" he says to himself, looking back at the man in the red robes, but continuing to speak to himself "Wrath of the Old one. never heard of that one in my travels, probably made up."
But Fergs is not upset, if anything he is more excited than he has been in a while ... songs, ballads, even a funeral dirge, all begin to form in his head. He takes a drink from a drink on the table, not his, not sure who's it is, but he takes it anyways, looking around at the others, trying not to pull out his flute!
As Kaelith reaches the fire and sits down, noticing the bat turn into a small ghoulish women, "Interesting indeed" he mutters to himself as a small smile plays on his face.
He sees the excitable boy Julius making his way towards the professor very keen to play his part, "Must keep an eye on that one... is he masking something else? while noticing the expensive sword sheath.
He approaches Waldrym:
"Greets Master Druid, my name is Kaelith, Kaelith Thorne, tell me about yourself?"
Julius would be eating a egg he sat on the left side of the table in one of the middle seats, he would be focusing on a book, he wasnt usually the one to read but picked up an entertaining story awhile ago.
"Morning everyone" he simply said in a energized manner
The fanged woman turns to the man in furs with a modicum of perplexion; at the realization the two share a... somewhat similar world view, however, her lips spread in an attempt at a smile. Unfortunately, with her eyes affixed on him, she now retains the visage more of a beast baring it's teeth.
That is, at least until she replies in the same garish language, her voice like chilled satin: "Ssso it would appear. Though your trail sssseems far brighter..."
Waldrym nods in understanding. She wasn't fully human either. Those subtle fangs, that predatory glare, her sibilant speech. He knew what she was. . . a yuan-ti. He was certain of it.
"The sun cannot shine all day," he replies in druidic before turning back to Kaelith. He's obviously taken aback that the man in crimson thought he was a friendly face. Though, sitting near Styma. . . perhaps he was?
"Ah. I was just talking in the druidic tongue. I trap, I hunt, I guide. I have some magical prowess. I am a woodsman. If we're going into this Misty Forest, I see why I was asked to help."
Victor watches with a hint of amusement as the bat spins and twirls in the air. He quietly hummed to himself as he sees the bat transform into Styma, a small glimmer of happiness takes it's place in his eyes. "It is good to see you again friend." His tone takes a softer note before he slowly starts to rise from his seat.
As Kaelith sits down at the fire where Waldrym is sitting, the radiating heat making him somewhat uncomfortable. He leans closer to Waldrym, "You seem very perceptive, your quick response was ... interesting, I wonder what else you see?"
As the professor rises from his seat he takes a breath before looking around at the individuals that were gathered in the room. Those closest to the table can hear the professor counting in a just bearly audible voice, a soft sigh escaping his lips as the number five left them. "It would appear that we are missing someone." His smile faded slightly as he did a quick recount. After a few seconds he cleared his throat slightly and tugged at his collar.
"This may turn out to be one of the most dangerous expeditions I've been a part of... since the forest is more or less uncharted territory. That being said, with everyone's combined skills I have faith that we'll come out of this in one piece." After saying that he mumbles something under his breath.
Waldrym shakes his head.
"No more perceptive than most, I think. Its a learned skill, not a gift."
When the Professor mentions that they're short a person, Waldrym arches an eyebrow in surprise. This was already quite a crew, more people than the sullen druid was used to working with.
"Is it possible this sixth person went ahead to the forest?"
Kaelith listened to Waldrym and nodded.
At the mention of a person short, Kaelith got up from his spot and moved towards the Professor and is probably wondering the same thing as everyone else, "who or what is missing?".
Intrigued Kaelith awaits the Professors next more!
"Well, your warning sounds like the opening line of a grand song Professor, one I am honored to be a part of and write!
I'm sure our tale will delight and bedazzle the youth of these lands for generations to come!
I'm sorry if there is another who is not here, perhaps their part of the tale comes later?"
The Door to the establishment opens and a Dwarf trutts in.
Sorry for my delay, this - he speaks a word in dwarvish which those speaking the language would recognize it as an equivalent to the f-word - fog had me walking in circles
Gunther is on the taller side of dwarf and posesses a sturdy frame which shows his experiences in the mines, forges and temples. He wears clean travellers clothes with a scale shirt on top. On his right hip dangles a simple flanged mace, on his left there is a angled construct of wood and thin metal pipes.
My name is Gunther Korroden and have been orderd by the church of Moradin to assist this group because of a common interest. It will be my pleasure. Now, did i miss anything important already?
{{Sorry, had a rather unexpectedly busy weekend}}
Olloray Dim - Limbo's Pit
Gunther Korroden - Nightmares in the Mist