On the skyship known as the Wildmother's Breath, five individuals make their way to the Palebank Village. Fate, the past, the call of opportunities, a debt to repay, or just a simple adventure have them on the trek. The weather so far has been good, crossing Wildmount from the Menagerie coast. The crew of the Wildmother's Breath has efficient in workings, in a day you will all be at your destination.
The airship originally sailed out of Emom, stopped at Whitestone, then Port Dalami before making its longer trek. Captain Eldra Shadesky a tiefling dwarf woman has sent her yeoman Skilddles a bronze kobold to each of the two rooms that house the passages. Simply handing a note to whoever answers the door. The note reads,
My Dear Passengers
Your presence is requested at the Captain's table for dinner.
Please bring your wit and humor as we enjoy one last meal together.
Sincerely
The Captain
GM Voice: Please take this time to describe yourself, maybe how you all know each other. There are two rooms, one with three beds and one with two. As you do this do not use your class as a descriptor but think of it as job description. Also DM me where your characters started this long journey and maybe why.
Shel lightly jumps up from where she has been sitting cross-legged, knotting a length of rope around her trident.
She is a woman somewhere in her thirties, neither tall nor short, and pleasant but unremarkable looking apart from her light teal skin and cascading blue-green hair. Right now, it is bound up tightly under a kerchief - a sensible precaution for somebody who has joined the crew for work several times and skillfully climed the rigging without any signs of fear. She is wearing practical leather clothing, loose enough to move comfortably, but without any bits that can get easily caught on things. Between lighthearted stories of sailing the world, she has told freely that she was laid off from her last ship when the owner wanted it refitted, and is now working her way home to more northern shores.
After accepting the letter from Skiddles, she reads out the contents to the rest of the room in a pleasing, low voice with a slight accent that is northern without hinting at any particular region.
Ehrehk takes the note from Skilddles with a grateful nod before turning to the others.
"We've all been invited to sit at the Captain's table tonight. I think the Captain might actually miss us."
He walks over and hands the invitation to the nearest person, then takes a seat on his bunk to gauge the responses from the others, a whimsical smile on his face.
Ehrehk was one of the passengers picked up in Port Damali and has been a bunkmate for the longer stretch of this trip. He has been found to be a generally relaxed person, though pensive when not actively engaged with someone. He is quick to offer a smile however, and often labors to make sure other people feel seen. To date, he has never appeared in a soured mood, and when the crew lightly ribbed him for trying, very badly, to help with some of their tasks, he took that ribbing in stride. Sometimes even joining in on the jabs with his dramatic tenor voice.
He stands at 5'10" and is athletic, but not powerful looking. He has a lean athleticism to him that puts him just above average and he walks with confidence. He appears to be in his late 20s or early 30s, has tan skin, prominent cheekbones, stark blue eyes, and hair that appears to actually be golden threads, save for the black streaks that randomly break up the golden shine.
He wears good, rugged clothes that have been tailor-made for his frame. His outfit seems reminiscent of military formal wear, but is too lavish, too foppish, and fits too well to be of any actual military. Cobalt blue with silver trim, black polished boots, and he wears a blue long coat with ornamental shoulder pads. Overall, he looks very stylish and might be mistaken for a monied individual, but discerning eyes would note that he came aboard with only the clothes on his back, a single rucksack, and spear.
//when everyone introduces themselves we can move forward. I did not mean to complicate things with the dm. I was trying to figure out why your character is on the ship. If you need to play by ear for the moment as to why you’re there that’s absolutely valid.
"The Captain wants to invite us to dinner? Well we can't turn that down, she sets a righteous table!" Dantos stands up from his wooden block and looks about. "Might be needing my good suit. Need to look presentable like you know?" He flicks some imaginary dust from his shell and smiles, "There we go, all set!"
Being the first passenger picked he was a bit lonely and waffled between overeager for company and trying to look the nonchalant experienced traveler. He failed miserably. Never wanting to be alone, sometimes he got on people's nerves but his warm hearted personality always shone through. His bulky form trying to squeeze about in tight ship quarters was sometimes comical and he often laughed at his own clumsiness.
As stated earlier, his best suit was his shell. His belts and buckles held practical gear typical of common adventurers, most had a stamp of manufacture from Feolinn. Nothing fancy just belts and surcoat but you can tell by the look in his eye that he might be open to pick up something shiny along the way.
Krystal was overwhelmed by the invitation, her clothes and scales were still salt laden from the sea but she was very aware she would likely be dead if these people had not seen her fire and lifted her from the tundra shore.
She did her best to make herself presentable, checked her ring as she always did then headed towards the cabin....long tail swishing nervously.
Ehrehk chuckles at Dantos making himself presentable, then gets up from his bunk and, after gingerly squeezing around Dantos' massive frame, skips into the next room.
"Klorvaz, we were all invited to dinner with the Captain. You coming? We are heading that way now."
"Shall I see whether I can organize some warm water?", Shel offers Krystal. "Althought is hardly noticable that you were in the wilderness only a few hours ago. One advantage of having scales, I suppose - dry dirt seems to flake off pretty neatly."
"Shall I see whether I can organize some warm water?", Shel offers Krystal. "Althought is hardly noticable that you were in the wilderness only a few hours ago. One advantage of having scales, I suppose - dry dirt seems to flake off pretty neatly."
" I am very thankful that you happened along and saw the smoke and were kind enough to stop and retrieve me, truly.....between the shipwreck and almost drowning and being thrown up on that shore....well, airship travel seems far safer."
" Yes, I suppose the dirt does.....I didn't really see any non-scaled folk until after I left home so I haven't given it much thought."
" Uh, as the most recent to come aboard should I say something at the dinner? I don't really have a lot on me to reward you and the Captain and Crew for my deliverance."
She looked across to Dantos wondering momentarily if he ever worried about dirt between his scales......what an eclectic bunch of travellers she had arrived among.....
As Ehrehk looks into the other room, he sees Klorvaz sitting cross legged with his eyes closed. A flicker of annoyance crosses his black eyes but quickly fades to a light smile across his deep redskin. The tall hobgoblin quickly rises and is his smooth calculated way swiftly makes his way towards the door. "It would be rude to keep him waiting overlong," he says in a low growl, stumbling over the pronunciation, clearly not used to conversing in the coon tongue.
The long haired hobgoblin had joined the ship way back in Emon. He had spoken little of his past save to say he was a refugee from the southern war, which explained the scars across his body. He was often about helping the crew with tasks and asking questions about their destination. He would often ask to look at the charts and help with any mechanical issues the ship had. When not helping on the ship, Klorvaz would be found fiddling with small machines or taking notes on everything.
Several hours later, as each of approach theCaptain’s quarters. You each are met by Captain Eldra Shadesky, the tiefling dwarf. She is dressed in jerkin is dark with green patterns of dwarf runes. Its long sleeves covering her bluish skin. She wears a skirt at the bottom that is made from a beautiful cut fabric. Her horns which visible curl around her red hair. There is a small ring/clasp that holds a silver chain denotes her station, within a dwarven society.
“It is good to see each of you.” As you each pass her. She extends her hand towards her table.
The table is made from stone, its color is dark grey with various breaks geodes in it. The color of deep emeralds is the color of the geode. Sitting atop the table is various shapes and colors of foods. Cinnamon bread from Zadesh, succliant meats from around Taldori, and fresh vegetables steamed. As each are seated, and look the plates. You can see the fine craftsmanship of Uthadorn. The elvish and dwarfish designs are beautiful to look at. She is the last one seated at the end table. Behind her is window that large, and framed by wood from the Verdant Forest outside of Syngorn. Unseen servants begin to bring out drinks and from somewhere in the cabin a soft melody of lute begins to play. “Let us each share a story, from our travels. I of course will go last.” She says this looking around the table of ensemble guests. Her dark eyes looking eagerly to see who will start.
//this is social challenge. You may each get one roll to help you with your interaction by either choosing Perception, Investigation, or Insight.
19 (I'll take Investigation, trying to deduce what kind of tale the others want to hear based on what they have spoken so far and how they present themselves)
Shel is not shy. She readily begins to tell about the time she saw the diamond whale - an enormous white whale with skin that seems to be encrusted in diamonds. It has been seen for generations, and nobody knows whether the crystals on its skin are real diamonds or ice.
It's easy to hear the admiration for this wonder of nature in her voice, and the question whether the diamonds are real seems unimportant to her. Instead she tries to convey the sureal beauty of the sight, the eerie sounds of the creature and the awe of seeing this creature after days on the cold sea without another creature in sight.
She is not the most gifted story-teller, but she tries her best to convey at least a bit of the awe she felt to her felllow travellers.
Ehrehk looks around expectantly and seeing that the others are a bit shy yet, decides to take the next spot in storytelling.
"Well, my own story is not so interesting. I'm just heading north to try and find some friends who haven't sent word in some time. I'm a bit worried about them. They are adventurers. Perhaps you have heard of them? The Core Four?" Not really expecting a response, he continues. "But... a story. Let's see. One in the group took me up Tyodan River once, to the Copia Wildwood, where I would learn the art of 'being quiet'. This is important, you see, because this forest has very large predators that alone would be scary. Worse still though, is the legendary behemoth that inhabits it. This is an intelligent monster, who devours or enslaves any who dare wander too deep through its territory. At least, that is the rumor.
"After about three days camping out practicing stealth, my friend, Lefty, left me in the middle of the night. I woke with a note saying, 'If you can dodge a branch, you can dodge a behemoth'. I'm... not really sure what that means, even still, but Lefty always talks in strange ways. I was pretty scared to be abandoned, not knowing how to get back home, so I didn't appreciate that strange way of communicating at the moment anyway." He reaches out for some cinnamon bread and stuffs a bit in his mouth. After chewing enthusiastically with some muffled moans of delight, he continues. "So after about an hour sitting around, I tried to head back. I remembered what he had taught me about finding water, so I got a stick that looked about the right shape..." He says while tracing a Y-shape in the air, "... and got to work looking for the river we used to travel up to the forest. I must have followed that stupid stick around in circles for hours before it got dark and I needed some rest. I realized quickly though, that I wasn't alone."
He pauses, looking around with an ominous expression, building the tension. "Something was moving around through the forest faster than I could track. It was behind me, then to the side, and in front almost faster than I could spin about. It was hidden in the trees, preventing me from locking on. Given the speed, I knew there was no point running. Running would just mean it would peel me open and I wouldn't see it coming. It was the end for me, I knew it, but I could try to make sure it remembered me at least." Ehrehk stands from his chair and, with empty hands, mimics a respectable spear stance. "I readied my spear, the only thing I had with me, and the thing roared at me from the trees before darting around again. But I knew it would try to use its speed as it circled me in the darkness and I thrust my spear out just as I spun around to face it running at me, roaring." He thrusts out with his imaginary spear. "HA!"
He takes a moment to let people draw their own conclusions, as he was still among the living. Then casually plops himself back into his seat, where he grabs another slice of cinnamon bread. "This is wonderful...Hmmmm." He stuffs his face again and a smile creeps across his stuffed cheeks. "The roar turned into a high-pitched, surprised yelp as my spear stuck it solid. Or at least, I thought it did. It turned out to be the leader of the Core Four, Drakk. Instead of sticking him with the spear, as I thought, he had managed to grab the spear the moment I thrust it at his chest. He was trying to scare me. They all were. But I didn't scare as easily as they thought I would and fought back when they thought I would flee for my life. Everyone got a good laugh out of it, but for very different reasons than what they were expecting." He chuckles and shakes his head. "Well... they still got a good laugh out of the stick finding water thing. Apparently that's total nonsense people use to get nobles to buy regular old sticks."
He adjusts himself in his seat. "Here, let me show you what they look like. I can make small illusions. If you see them, let them know I am looking for them." Ehrehk performs a gesture with his focus in his hand and says, "Da'eiun", first casting Guidance for Insight before moving on and conjuring busts of each of the members of the Core Four. Drakk, an orc male, Lefty, a katari/fire elemental mix, River, a tiefling female with pink skin and thick horns that swoop downward, just in front of the shoulders, and Zirse, an aasimar female with white hair.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Dantos glances up and down the table enjoying the stories and the food so far. He thinks maybe it's his time to share.
"Once long ago, my father, he was a man of magic you see and folks would ask him for help. So one day his friend says, "Antonio, I need help with my fields, there is a plague of mice eating all my crops."
"OK, I will work on a solution."
A week goes by and he visits his friend. The fields are devastated and his friend says, "You are too late. The crops are gone."
"I'm sorry to see that. But you know, it could have been worse."
The next season, my father's friend comes by and says, "Antonio, please help my well is drying up!"
"OK, I will work on a solution."
A week goes by and he visits his friend. The land is dry and dusty and his friend says, "You are too late. The well caved in because it was too dry."
"I'm sorry to see that," my father says, "But you know, it could have been worse."
A month goes by and my father goes to see his friend, and there is a lot of smoke and a pile of ashes. "Antonio, look what happened to my house. It burned down!"
"I'm sorry to see that," my father says, "But you know, it could have been worse."
"HOW?! how could all these things have been worse?"
"Well, you know, it could have happened to me."
Without a smirk or smile Dantos continues, "I have another story to tell. It's about my father's shell. But maybe not, it's too hard."
Investigation check 12 I wonder if my friends believe my stories?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Krystal listened to Shels story hoping it would spark a memory of what had happened to the ship she had been aboard bound for Eiselcross...but all she could recall was the dark and then the waves closing over her....before the stones and ice of the shore.
Ehrehk spoke of friends lost and she thought of home.......and then of Druvenlode.....and then her memories curdled and she supposed everyone on the Piebald Auk was dead now.....
Then Dantos spoke and she grew more and more concerned and then puzzled and then relieved it was a humorous tale and not one resulting in his fathers demise...
" Uh, I'm not sure what to say.....I want to talk about the wreck and how I washed up on the southern shores of the Crystalsands where you found me. Thankyou once again for that."
" But I don't really remember the wreck.........I could tell you about home.....but it was never really my home.....my tail always caused too many whispers and it was better for Mother if I was not seen...."
" I did spend quite a bit of time in Trostenwald. Do you know it? A lot of beer is made there....I worked for some time in the Baumbauch Brewery.....just odd jobs...I'm not really good with my hands....though I seem to be a little more......icy.....than I was before after my impromptu drowning......though I've always been a bit icy....what with the white and the cold...."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Watching the others with a keen eye, Klorvaz sits still as a statue. As he waits for the captain to eat so that he may begin he ponders what story of his past to tell. One of battle alongside his brothers in the Iron Authority? No, although his proudest moments, non-goblinkin would find those stories.... less entertaining. His travel north consisted mostly of him hiding from the enemy's patrols till he was somewhere he could falsely claim refuge and begin his infiltration. Maybe if he bent a bit of the truth about his travels to from the Southern village he "escaped" to to Emon would suffice.
As the other's stories finish, Klorvaz waits for a few moments before shrugging. "Unlike some of you I have had no great adventures with legendary adventurers or great whales, just bloody battles along the frontier. My family has no fun stories or lessons, just smithing iron in the city of my birth," he pauses for effect while watching the reactions of the others. He reaches up and strokes his sideburns, carefully considering his next words. "After I claimed refuge near Byroden and set about putting as much distance between myself and the Authority as I could. I was shocked by both the lush verdant lands for farming and natural resources I passed. The golden flowing fields of wheat that go on forever, the deep forests that are so thick you cannot see what fine game and prey lurk within, great mountains who's peak are not smote asunder or belching flames. A world completely different than the one I had known."
Reaching into a fold in his robe, Klorvaz pulls out a small metal orb with intricate fine writing covering it. The script is in a mix of goblin and arcane symbols. As he lifts the orb Klorvaz continues his story, "Along the way I would offer my services in return for food, housing, and space on caravans. I smithed working implements greater than the local smiths could dream of, made wonderful mechanical devices, and offered my skills in anyway I could." His fingers are tapping and twisting different bands of the orb as he talks and it suddenly bursts into color. Appearing on the table before him, is an image of the places he has spoken of that flickers with each twist of the orb to a new place. Those who have traveled southern Tal'Dori recognize the images. "But none of these travels could have prepared me for the great city of Emon. As we approached I was in awe of how such a large and productive city could function without slaves, brutal industry, and conquest." Klorvaz's voice swells as he describes Emon and how safe and friendly a city it was, but those who listen closely can sense a disconnect from what he is saying and what he truly believes.
Feeling that his story was satisfactory for the captain and his traveling companions. Klorvaz slips, the metal orb back into his robes and his eyes flicker over his audience, gauging their reactions to his semi fictitious tale. His attention lingering on the captain to see if it pleased her.
Dantos is fascinated with the new (for him) display of magic. He makes a mental note to take notes. This whole doing magic stuff with magic stuff really piques his interest.
He is already familiar with basic magics you have to study - his father was a wizard after all. Then his other new friends seem to be practitioners as well - warlocks and sorcerers are not new to him. They had the look. He nods yup, we're in for a fun time.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
The Captain looks around her guests. Then taking a small sip of her ale. Her eyes grow a little narrower and she speaks in husky tone. “What do you all know about the Dynasty and the Empire? I am looking into certai. Opportunities and wanted to see if what know first, before I offer” she draws back and waits for someone to speak.
//give me history check to see what you know know
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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On the skyship known as the Wildmother's Breath, five individuals make their way to the Palebank Village. Fate, the past, the call of opportunities, a debt to repay, or just a simple adventure have them on the trek. The weather so far has been good, crossing Wildmount from the Menagerie coast. The crew of the Wildmother's Breath has efficient in workings, in a day you will all be at your destination.
The airship originally sailed out of Emom, stopped at Whitestone, then Port Dalami before making its longer trek. Captain Eldra Shadesky a tiefling dwarf woman has sent her yeoman Skilddles a bronze kobold to each of the two rooms that house the passages. Simply handing a note to whoever answers the door. The note reads,
My Dear Passengers
Your presence is requested at the Captain's table for dinner.
Please bring your wit and humor as we enjoy one last meal together.
Sincerely
The Captain
GM Voice: Please take this time to describe yourself, maybe how you all know each other. There are two rooms, one with three beds and one with two. As you do this do not use your class as a descriptor but think of it as job description. Also DM me where your characters started this long journey and maybe why.
Shel lightly jumps up from where she has been sitting cross-legged, knotting a length of rope around her trident.
She is a woman somewhere in her thirties, neither tall nor short, and pleasant but unremarkable looking apart from her light teal skin and cascading blue-green hair. Right now, it is bound up tightly under a kerchief - a sensible precaution for somebody who has joined the crew for work several times and skillfully climed the rigging without any signs of fear. She is wearing practical leather clothing, loose enough to move comfortably, but without any bits that can get easily caught on things. Between lighthearted stories of sailing the world, she has told freely that she was laid off from her last ship when the owner wanted it refitted, and is now working her way home to more northern shores.
After accepting the letter from Skiddles, she reads out the contents to the rest of the room in a pleasing, low voice with a slight accent that is northern without hinting at any particular region.
Ehrehk takes the note from Skilddles with a grateful nod before turning to the others.
"We've all been invited to sit at the Captain's table tonight. I think the Captain might actually miss us."
He walks over and hands the invitation to the nearest person, then takes a seat on his bunk to gauge the responses from the others, a whimsical smile on his face.
Ehrehk was one of the passengers picked up in Port Damali and has been a bunkmate for the longer stretch of this trip. He has been found to be a generally relaxed person, though pensive when not actively engaged with someone. He is quick to offer a smile however, and often labors to make sure other people feel seen. To date, he has never appeared in a soured mood, and when the crew lightly ribbed him for trying, very badly, to help with some of their tasks, he took that ribbing in stride. Sometimes even joining in on the jabs with his dramatic tenor voice.
He stands at 5'10" and is athletic, but not powerful looking. He has a lean athleticism to him that puts him just above average and he walks with confidence. He appears to be in his late 20s or early 30s, has tan skin, prominent cheekbones, stark blue eyes, and hair that appears to actually be golden threads, save for the black streaks that randomly break up the golden shine.
He wears good, rugged clothes that have been tailor-made for his frame. His outfit seems reminiscent of military formal wear, but is too lavish, too foppish, and fits too well to be of any actual military. Cobalt blue with silver trim, black polished boots, and he wears a blue long coat with ornamental shoulder pads. Overall, he looks very stylish and might be mistaken for a monied individual, but discerning eyes would note that he came aboard with only the clothes on his back, a single rucksack, and spear.
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | He/Him/They/Them
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//when everyone introduces themselves we can move forward. I did not mean to complicate things with the dm. I was trying to figure out why your character is on the ship. If you need to play by ear for the moment as to why you’re there that’s absolutely valid.
"The Captain wants to invite us to dinner? Well we can't turn that down, she sets a righteous table!" Dantos stands up from his wooden block and looks about. "Might be needing my good suit. Need to look presentable like you know?" He flicks some imaginary dust from his shell and smiles, "There we go, all set!"
Being the first passenger picked he was a bit lonely and waffled between overeager for company and trying to look the nonchalant experienced traveler. He failed miserably. Never wanting to be alone, sometimes he got on people's nerves but his warm hearted personality always shone through. His bulky form trying to squeeze about in tight ship quarters was sometimes comical and he often laughed at his own clumsiness.
As stated earlier, his best suit was his shell. His belts and buckles held practical gear typical of common adventurers, most had a stamp of manufacture from Feolinn. Nothing fancy just belts and surcoat but you can tell by the look in his eye that he might be open to pick up something shiny along the way.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Krystal was overwhelmed by the invitation, her clothes and scales were still salt laden from the sea but she was very aware she would likely be dead if these people had not seen her fire and lifted her from the tundra shore.
She did her best to make herself presentable, checked her ring as she always did then headed towards the cabin....long tail swishing nervously.
Ehrehk chuckles at Dantos making himself presentable, then gets up from his bunk and, after gingerly squeezing around Dantos' massive frame, skips into the next room.
"Klorvaz, we were all invited to dinner with the Captain. You coming? We are heading that way now."
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | He/Him/They/Them
EXTENDED SIGNATURE!
Doctor/Published Scholar/Science and Healthcare Advocate/Critter/Trekkie/Gandalf with a Glock
Try DDB free: Free Rules (2024), premade PCs, adventures, one shots, encounters, SC, homebrew, more
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"Shall I see whether I can organize some warm water?", Shel offers Krystal. "Althought is hardly noticable that you were in the wilderness only a few hours ago. One advantage of having scales, I suppose - dry dirt seems to flake off pretty neatly."
" I am very thankful that you happened along and saw the smoke and were kind enough to stop and retrieve me, truly.....between the shipwreck and almost drowning and being thrown up on that shore....well, airship travel seems far safer."
" Yes, I suppose the dirt does.....I didn't really see any non-scaled folk until after I left home so I haven't given it much thought."
" Uh, as the most recent to come aboard should I say something at the dinner? I don't really have a lot on me to reward you and the Captain and Crew for my deliverance."
She looked across to Dantos wondering momentarily if he ever worried about dirt between his scales......what an eclectic bunch of travellers she had arrived among.....
As Ehrehk looks into the other room, he sees Klorvaz sitting cross legged with his eyes closed. A flicker of annoyance crosses his black eyes but quickly fades to a light smile across his deep redskin. The tall hobgoblin quickly rises and is his smooth calculated way swiftly makes his way towards the door. "It would be rude to keep him waiting overlong," he says in a low growl, stumbling over the pronunciation, clearly not used to conversing in the coon tongue.
The long haired hobgoblin had joined the ship way back in Emon. He had spoken little of his past save to say he was a refugee from the southern war, which explained the scars across his body. He was often about helping the crew with tasks and asking questions about their destination. He would often ask to look at the charts and help with any mechanical issues the ship had. When not helping on the ship, Klorvaz would be found fiddling with small machines or taking notes on everything.
Several hours later, as each of approach the Captain’s quarters. You each are met by Captain Eldra Shadesky, the tiefling dwarf. She is dressed in jerkin is dark with green patterns of dwarf runes. Its long sleeves covering her bluish skin. She wears a skirt at the bottom that is made from a beautiful cut fabric. Her horns which visible curl around her red hair. There is a small ring/clasp that holds a silver chain denotes her station, within a dwarven society.
“It is good to see each of you.” As you each pass her. She extends her hand towards her table.
The table is made from stone, its color is dark grey with various breaks geodes in it. The color of deep emeralds is the color of the geode. Sitting atop the table is various shapes and colors of foods. Cinnamon bread from Zadesh, succliant meats from around Taldori, and fresh vegetables steamed. As each are seated, and look the plates. You can see the fine craftsmanship of Uthadorn. The elvish and dwarfish designs are beautiful to look at. She is the last one seated at the end table. Behind her is window that large, and framed by wood from the Verdant Forest outside of Syngorn. Unseen servants begin to bring out drinks and from somewhere in the cabin a soft melody of lute begins to play. “Let us each share a story, from our travels. I of course will go last.” She says this looking around the table of ensemble guests. Her dark eyes looking eagerly to see who will start.
//this is social challenge. You may each get one roll to help you with your interaction by either choosing Perception, Investigation, or Insight.
19 (I'll take Investigation, trying to deduce what kind of tale the others want to hear based on what they have spoken so far and how they present themselves)
Shel is not shy. She readily begins to tell about the time she saw the diamond whale - an enormous white whale with skin that seems to be encrusted in diamonds. It has been seen for generations, and nobody knows whether the crystals on its skin are real diamonds or ice.
It's easy to hear the admiration for this wonder of nature in her voice, and the question whether the diamonds are real seems unimportant to her. Instead she tries to convey the sureal beauty of the sight, the eerie sounds of the creature and the awe of seeing this creature after days on the cold sea without another creature in sight.
She is not the most gifted story-teller, but she tries her best to convey at least a bit of the awe she felt to her felllow travellers.
//Shel can see that there some diamonds on the good Captain’s fingers. You have advantage on your next roll.
Ehrehk looks around expectantly and seeing that the others are a bit shy yet, decides to take the next spot in storytelling.
"Well, my own story is not so interesting. I'm just heading north to try and find some friends who haven't sent word in some time. I'm a bit worried about them. They are adventurers. Perhaps you have heard of them? The Core Four?" Not really expecting a response, he continues. "But... a story. Let's see. One in the group took me up Tyodan River once, to the Copia Wildwood, where I would learn the art of 'being quiet'. This is important, you see, because this forest has very large predators that alone would be scary. Worse still though, is the legendary behemoth that inhabits it. This is an intelligent monster, who devours or enslaves any who dare wander too deep through its territory. At least, that is the rumor.
"After about three days camping out practicing stealth, my friend, Lefty, left me in the middle of the night. I woke with a note saying, 'If you can dodge a branch, you can dodge a behemoth'. I'm... not really sure what that means, even still, but Lefty always talks in strange ways. I was pretty scared to be abandoned, not knowing how to get back home, so I didn't appreciate that strange way of communicating at the moment anyway." He reaches out for some cinnamon bread and stuffs a bit in his mouth. After chewing enthusiastically with some muffled moans of delight, he continues. "So after about an hour sitting around, I tried to head back. I remembered what he had taught me about finding water, so I got a stick that looked about the right shape..." He says while tracing a Y-shape in the air, "... and got to work looking for the river we used to travel up to the forest. I must have followed that stupid stick around in circles for hours before it got dark and I needed some rest. I realized quickly though, that I wasn't alone."
He pauses, looking around with an ominous expression, building the tension. "Something was moving around through the forest faster than I could track. It was behind me, then to the side, and in front almost faster than I could spin about. It was hidden in the trees, preventing me from locking on. Given the speed, I knew there was no point running. Running would just mean it would peel me open and I wouldn't see it coming. It was the end for me, I knew it, but I could try to make sure it remembered me at least." Ehrehk stands from his chair and, with empty hands, mimics a respectable spear stance. "I readied my spear, the only thing I had with me, and the thing roared at me from the trees before darting around again. But I knew it would try to use its speed as it circled me in the darkness and I thrust my spear out just as I spun around to face it running at me, roaring." He thrusts out with his imaginary spear. "HA!"
He takes a moment to let people draw their own conclusions, as he was still among the living. Then casually plops himself back into his seat, where he grabs another slice of cinnamon bread. "This is wonderful...Hmmmm." He stuffs his face again and a smile creeps across his stuffed cheeks. "The roar turned into a high-pitched, surprised yelp as my spear stuck it solid. Or at least, I thought it did. It turned out to be the leader of the Core Four, Drakk. Instead of sticking him with the spear, as I thought, he had managed to grab the spear the moment I thrust it at his chest. He was trying to scare me. They all were. But I didn't scare as easily as they thought I would and fought back when they thought I would flee for my life. Everyone got a good laugh out of it, but for very different reasons than what they were expecting." He chuckles and shakes his head. "Well... they still got a good laugh out of the stick finding water thing. Apparently that's total nonsense people use to get nobles to buy regular old sticks."
He adjusts himself in his seat. "Here, let me show you what they look like. I can make small illusions. If you see them, let them know I am looking for them." Ehrehk performs a gesture with his focus in his hand and says, "Da'eiun", first casting Guidance for Insight before moving on and conjuring busts of each of the members of the Core Four. Drakk, an orc male, Lefty, a katari/fire elemental mix, River, a tiefling female with pink skin and thick horns that swoop downward, just in front of the shoulders, and Zirse, an aasimar female with white hair.
OOC: Insight check: 18 + Guidance 4 = 22.
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | He/Him/They/Them
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Dantos glances up and down the table enjoying the stories and the food so far. He thinks maybe it's his time to share.
"Once long ago, my father, he was a man of magic you see and folks would ask him for help. So one day his friend says, "Antonio, I need help with my fields, there is a plague of mice eating all my crops."
"OK, I will work on a solution."
A week goes by and he visits his friend. The fields are devastated and his friend says, "You are too late. The crops are gone."
"I'm sorry to see that. But you know, it could have been worse."
The next season, my father's friend comes by and says, "Antonio, please help my well is drying up!"
"OK, I will work on a solution."
A week goes by and he visits his friend. The land is dry and dusty and his friend says, "You are too late. The well caved in because it was too dry."
"I'm sorry to see that," my father says, "But you know, it could have been worse."
A month goes by and my father goes to see his friend, and there is a lot of smoke and a pile of ashes. "Antonio, look what happened to my house. It burned down!"
"I'm sorry to see that," my father says, "But you know, it could have been worse."
"HOW?! how could all these things have been worse?"
"Well, you know, it could have happened to me."
Without a smirk or smile Dantos continues, "I have another story to tell. It's about my father's shell. But maybe not, it's too hard."
Investigation check 12 I wonder if my friends believe my stories?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Krystal listened to Shels story hoping it would spark a memory of what had happened to the ship she had been aboard bound for Eiselcross...but all she could recall was the dark and then the waves closing over her....before the stones and ice of the shore.
Ehrehk spoke of friends lost and she thought of home.......and then of Druvenlode.....and then her memories curdled and she supposed everyone on the Piebald Auk was dead now.....
Then Dantos spoke and she grew more and more concerned and then puzzled and then relieved it was a humorous tale and not one resulting in his fathers demise...
" Uh, I'm not sure what to say.....I want to talk about the wreck and how I washed up on the southern shores of the Crystalsands where you found me. Thankyou once again for that."
" But I don't really remember the wreck.........I could tell you about home.....but it was never really my home.....my tail always caused too many whispers and it was better for Mother if I was not seen...."
" I did spend quite a bit of time in Trostenwald. Do you know it? A lot of beer is made there....I worked for some time in the Baumbauch Brewery.....just odd jobs...I'm not really good with my hands....though I seem to be a little more......icy.....than I was before after my impromptu drowning......though I've always been a bit icy....what with the white and the cold...."
" Sorry......I'm not really good with stories."
Persuasion- 6
Watching the others with a keen eye, Klorvaz sits still as a statue. As he waits for the captain to eat so that he may begin he ponders what story of his past to tell. One of battle alongside his brothers in the Iron Authority? No, although his proudest moments, non-goblinkin would find those stories.... less entertaining. His travel north consisted mostly of him hiding from the enemy's patrols till he was somewhere he could falsely claim refuge and begin his infiltration. Maybe if he bent a bit of the truth about his travels to from the Southern village he "escaped" to to Emon would suffice.
As the other's stories finish, Klorvaz waits for a few moments before shrugging. "Unlike some of you I have had no great adventures with legendary adventurers or great whales, just bloody battles along the frontier. My family has no fun stories or lessons, just smithing iron in the city of my birth," he pauses for effect while watching the reactions of the others. He reaches up and strokes his sideburns, carefully considering his next words. "After I claimed refuge near Byroden and set about putting as much distance between myself and the Authority as I could. I was shocked by both the lush verdant lands for farming and natural resources I passed. The golden flowing fields of wheat that go on forever, the deep forests that are so thick you cannot see what fine game and prey lurk within, great mountains who's peak are not smote asunder or belching flames. A world completely different than the one I had known."
Reaching into a fold in his robe, Klorvaz pulls out a small metal orb with intricate fine writing covering it. The script is in a mix of goblin and arcane symbols. As he lifts the orb Klorvaz continues his story, "Along the way I would offer my services in return for food, housing, and space on caravans. I smithed working implements greater than the local smiths could dream of, made wonderful mechanical devices, and offered my skills in anyway I could." His fingers are tapping and twisting different bands of the orb as he talks and it suddenly bursts into color. Appearing on the table before him, is an image of the places he has spoken of that flickers with each twist of the orb to a new place. Those who have traveled southern Tal'Dori recognize the images. "But none of these travels could have prepared me for the great city of Emon. As we approached I was in awe of how such a large and productive city could function without slaves, brutal industry, and conquest." Klorvaz's voice swells as he describes Emon and how safe and friendly a city it was, but those who listen closely can sense a disconnect from what he is saying and what he truly believes.
Feeling that his story was satisfactory for the captain and his traveling companions. Klorvaz slips, the metal orb back into his robes and his eyes flicker over his audience, gauging their reactions to his semi fictitious tale. His attention lingering on the captain to see if it pleased her.
Insight 19
//you have advantage on the next roll.- Ehrehk
//Dantos your investigation shows that your friends are invested in impressing the Captain
//Kyrstal you have advantage on your next roll
//Klorvaz you notice that Captain takes special interest your tale. You have advantage on your next roll.
Dantos is fascinated with the new (for him) display of magic. He makes a mental note to take notes. This whole doing magic stuff with magic stuff really piques his interest.
He is already familiar with basic magics you have to study - his father was a wizard after all. Then his other new friends seem to be practitioners as well - warlocks and sorcerers are not new to him. They had the look. He nods yup, we're in for a fun time.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
The Captain looks around her guests. Then taking a small sip of her ale. Her eyes grow a little narrower and she speaks in husky tone. “What do you all know about the Dynasty and the Empire? I am looking into certai. Opportunities and wanted to see if what know first, before I offer” she draws back and waits for someone to speak.
//give me history check to see what you know know