As you stand outside the circle you feel a warmth come over you. you open your eyes to see if Varian or the others are causing this sensation but they appear to be frozen in time. Even the flickering flames of the circle appear locked into position. You feel a soft warm hand clutch yours and gently pull you in the direction of the circle. "You are in the company of friends." a familiar female voice says as an emblazoned symbol of Davara appears on Lara and Varian's chests. The symbols glow white then fade back beneath their armor. You exhale and time sharply resumes. You lurch forward a half step before catching yourself and looking around the room. Your group looks at you hesitantly but expectantly, Varian just smiles and nods.
As Jinara walks in and comes to a stop a circular rune appears under his feet. A tense moment of silence happens before Varian says, "You all accept the oath of secrecy. To break this oath is to cause the death of another and live with the eternal shame of that knowledge." A new, smaller circular rune appears in the center of the circle and glows brightly. The area around the circular runes beneath each of your feet cracks and flames spread out along them towards each other until all the runes are connected. As the final trail touches the center rune the entire circle flashes bright white causing you to close your eyes. You feel a burning sensation in your arm and open your eyes to see the circle on the floor has disappeared. On your arm a glowing replica of the circle burns your skin before disappearing beneath the flesh leaving no scar or brand.
Varian looks to each of you and says, "Now, we can discuss all our findings.
Gaelin, you may have created the catalyst for peacefully ending this war. For that the Seven are grateful.
Jinara, thank you for following the path Davara has chosen for you. I'm sure she will continue to empower you to do great things.
Torq, we have already been working on a method of mass dispelling the tattoo but we have yet to test it in battle. Perhaps you would be willing to try it out on the other horde heading towards the coast? Until we can create a safe method of removal we will have to ensure the safety of the populace through the traditional means of elimination of the drekthar." As he says this, he snaps his fingers and you see an eagle appear on his shoulder. "I understand you each may have questions. Please ask away. Lara and I will do our best to answer them."
Jinara- while you have never seen this bird in person before you feel a connection to it. Your mind is suddenly filled with flashbacks from your dream about the siege and you think the images you saw were through this eagle's eyes.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"You said the other horde of orcs are headed towards the coast. Do you know exactly where they are and how do you know that and how do you know our names?" Aryn asks interrogatively as she inspects her arm to see if there is any damage from the spell.
Also , Insight check on this dude. Is he legit about bringing a peaceful end to the war: 27
"Would you permit me to restore the orcs missing limb... and in the meantime.. could we not just remove the arms of the orcs... and the regrow the limbs for them as a way of removing the tattoo if dispelling it causes many of them to die?" Mucor would ask. "I know we would not be able to do this on a massive scale.. but perhaps the orcs we save in this way would be willing to help us save others? I could see them being quite angry about being controlled like they have been..."
"I am definitely willing to test out whatever it is you have been working with. Are we sure the orcs and goblins will be peaceable even if this spell can be reversed? Weren't the drekthar already causing turmoil before the great war?" Torq says, his blood pressure rising as he thinks about sparing these savages who have killed so many.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(@Xtra, which bird are you talking about? Torq?)
Jinara's ear's perked up by them knowing each of us individually. We were only introduced as a group, and only Torq was specifically named. he thinks. (Insight 14. I am looking to see if I can discern how he knew us individually and how he knew I was praying and who I was praying to)
(@ Jinara- the eagle that appeared on his shoulder when he finished talking is his familiar.)
@Aryn- Varian is deeply sincere that he believes they will be able to find a peaceful resolution to the war. He also appears to be rather friendly and understanding of your questioning. You get the sense his age, skills, intelligence or all of the above are much higher than your own and that of the group. Though reserved, you watch his movements and his guard is never down.
@Jinara- (since it's the same modifier I'm also going to count your roll for a history check.) You are aware of the organization called Magi of the Seven. It's composed of seven powerful mages that study and oversee the use of magic across Eraas. Each mage is a specialist in at least one school of magic, while the leader of the Seven must have mastery over all schools of magic. The Seven have towers located in many of the major and capital cities of Eraas that they can teleport to in cases of emergency. In your studies you know that Varian has been one of the Seven for over 100 years and while the leader is only known among the seven, it is speculated that Varian has been the leader at least during some part of those 100+ years. You suspect a wizard of his skill level would be capable through any number of means to know who you are before meeting you in person.
"My friend here has been tracking the horde's movements along with a few others." Varian says to Aryn while petting the eagle perched on his shoulder and continues, "Your work on the western horde was impressive. Near perfect execution of pincer and bottleneck strategies but I assume that is not a clear enough answer for you. We are allies of the Elanaetas and are in constant communication with them particularly Inara. She informed us of your group's willingness to aid in the war effort and we gave them areas of importance to test your abilities."
"Yes." Lara interjects as she motions for Mucor to come over closer to the orc who is currently sleeping. "That is quite a compassionate gesture from one of your kind. I mean no offense but many Minotaur are rather... blunt and brutish, if you know what I mean. Lara pats Mucor on the back in a comforting way as she searches for the right words. "Most orcs and goblins lack the constitution to live through an event as traumatic as losing a limb due to blood loss. However, we did attempt this method and found the spell would immediately dispel itself and kill the host. We assume this was to prevent any orcs from attempting the same idea themselves."
Varian turns to Torqpulling out a small round sphere and says, "Good. We believe it can dispel magic within a 20-30 foot radius. Be careful though, it is quite powerful and each only has a single use. We aren't sure if they will remove the magical effects from items or only the tattoo. We've spend months attempting to hone the spell to target only the hybrid spell type but haven't been able to test the latest attempt. "
Varian pauses for a moment to look around the room and then at the orc. "We have no way of knowing how the drekthar will react to this knowledge. He is the first to survive and may be the best ally we have for bridging the gap between cultures. While there have been conflicts between the drekthar and others, can't the same be said of any of the kingdoms? 40 years ago the kingdoms of Haemor and Eshan warred over territory for 5 years before ending the bloodshed."
Gaelin, who's been quietly observing and listening to Varian finally steps forward and says, "Well why didn't you tell us that in the first place? If you had said you were working with Inara we would've been much more open to working with you. How far away is the horde and how far from the horde is the army group sent after them? We're pretty tapped but if we could stall them long enough the army group could take them out. One final question, Why aren't the Seven doing more to help with the war?"
"Unlike the Elanaetas, the Seven do not take chances on strangers. Until you took the oath your allegiance couldn't be guaranteed. Even the most devout spy for Daegon would not have been willing to take the oath. Now to your second question... the horde is about 30 miles away from us, the army group is within 6 miles of them. However, at their current pace the orcs will reach the docks before nightfall whereas the army will arrive at dusk. This is not an unfortunate series of events. By moving to ships on the sea the horde becomes compacted and shall we say vulnerable to attack. Our eagles will follow them through the night and upon daybreak one of our mages can teleport you and your steeds to the nearby area. From there you should be able to sink or disable the ships at your leisure. We can discuss strategy later, we have 4 more hours of daylight." Varian says calmly before his eyes flare with intensity.
"Now... With regard to your last question... I feel you are grossly underestimating the impact and the responsibilities of the Seven. It is the Seven who stopped Vaeril's assualt before a single one of you was born. It was the Seven who slew his apprentices before they could return him to this plane. It is the Seven who, have been keeping the other terrors and demons at bay while the whole of Eraas is full turmoil. Daegon and his accomplice Aemyra are simply pawns compared to the threats we hold at bay. The threat who would ravage the lands and seas if given the opportunity. This war is but a taste of the destruction a titan could reap upon our world. You have much to learn boy." Varian says as if talking to children. As he speaks, large images 10 feet high and wide appear in thin air of various creatures. Some of you recognize a few as types of demons, while others are completely foreign to you. "You have all been blessed with abilities that expedite your ability to learn and grow. For what purpose, only the gods know but you would do well to learn that powerful as you may be there are much more powerful dangers lurking, longing to be set free to devour the kingdoms and their people." His voice calms as Lara approaches and places a hand on his shoulder. "You have done great things Light Bringers, but there is still much to do. There is even greater things that will be asked of you in the future... Come, you must be hungry and tired from your battle. We have excellent food that you will find quite restorative. Please excuse my brashness. It is only meant to portray the severity of that which is unknown to you. Rest assured, the Seven are assisting with the war as much as we are able."
The door opens and Varian leads you down another flight of stairs before reaching another door. The door opens to a huge circular room with multiple tables stocked with various types of food. Sparse mages sit eating and look over to your group questioningly until they see Varian and quickly resume eating. Lara guides you to an unoccupied long table and request you to be seated. "We will return in about an hour. Please eat and rest." Baern just looks around in awe. "You've been holdin out on me Varian" He says with a chuckle. "I'll taste yer fancy food but I must be on me way. Beladin's either got the officers drunk or knocked em out cold in a fight by now." Varian just smiles and nods before he and Lara exit the room. The food before you smells deliscious and while you thought the food at the Elanaetas grove could never be matched, this certainly comes close. After about 10 minutes of quick eating Baern stands from the table and downs a final mug of ale. He wipes the foam from his beard and says, "I know he may seem like an ass, but once you get to know him, he's still an ass but we're damn lucky to have him. I'd best be gettin back to the war room. Come by and see us if ya need anythin."
Throughout the series of events Zinmaer has appeared deeply troubled. He is usually quiet but peaceful. A cloud hangs on his brow and he watches Baern exit before saying, "I don't know if I can continue this life. I've been trained to defend and if necessary kill. I feel as though I've pushed beyond a line where I want to kill rather than defend. I think I should return to castle Daybreak. I can work on the monastery and train the guards. It would allow me a reprieve from this blood thirst I can't seem to escape. I know this will put you at a disadvantage but I don't know if I like what I'm becoming. I don't know if the next time I fight if I'll be able to justify my actions. I need to return, to clear my head and meditate but I hope one day I will be able to rejoin you. If any danger should arise at the castle I would have no problem defending the innocent inside, but I can't continue this journey with you all right now. When Varian returns I'm going to ask that he teleport me back to the castle. I'll leave Night Dream for you, take this. It will aid you in battle." Zinamer takes off his Bracelet and hands it to Torq then nibbles at his food.
Aryn sits quietly at the table as the images Varian created of the creatures flash through her mind. She smiles as Baern makes a joke and leaves the table then listens closely to Zinmaer. She could see there was no point in arguing so she just gave a simple nod and says, "We'll miss you out there. I hope you find peace. We'll probably be around the castle a lot soon anyways so we can spar whenever you want." She'll return to eating her haunch of meat. She was starving and tired from the fighting but ready to eliminate the last horde.
Torq stands at attention while Varian talks to them, used to being curtailed. At the mention of food, his heart is overjoyed but he hides his emotions like a good soldier. On the way down to the mess hall Torq will ask Varian about the sphere. "How does it work? Is there a delay in the effect?" After getting some answers Torq would sit at the table and go after all the meats, nuts and berries he could. He stands at attention and salutes Baern as he leaves waiting for him to leave the room before sitting down and eating. His beak if half full when Zinmaer starts talking. A loud gulp can be heard as Torq swallows a fish whole. He stands and attempts to refuse the gift at first but yields and accepts it saying, "Thank you. I will do my best to protect them. I too would like to spar if I'm ever allowed to visit this castle Daybreak." Torq sits back down and resumes eating for a bit waiting for the somber mood to clear before saying, "So it looks like we'll have a naval battle on our hands soon. I've been in a few before but never without ships of our own. This thing may help clear a path to the helm for those of us who can't use magic." and he holds up the sphere Varian gave him.
Mucor would shiver a moment as Lara pats him on the back, slightly startling him as he cast [Tooltip Not Found] on the orc. Once the spell was completed he would turn to her and nod with a small smile. "Thank you... I... Wouldn't know much about the behaviors of most minotaur.. I have not encountered another of my kind since I was just a small child" Mucor would say with a small snort. "It seems to me that this orc is just another victim in this war and it sounds like we can use all the allies we can muster" The minotaur would mention as he glances back to the nub as it very slowly begins to transition into another limb. He would then place his large hand on her shoulder and lock eyes with her. "I am glad to hear that I am helping to change peoples perceptions about minotaurs" He would say with a smile before following Varian to the dining hall. Once there, he would shovel food into his mouth as quickly as possible as crumbs fall from his face and drink drips from his furry chin like a bull after drinking from a troth. As Zin mentions leaving to return home. Mucor would look and nod to his companion. His large brown eyes full of disappointment. "another one leaves..." He would mutter to himself before standing up and giving him a large hug. "I suppose.. it is always good to have more people defending Daybreak... I imagine it won't be long before our home is under attack because of our actions.. " The minotaur would say before returning to his seat.. eating much slower than before.
Gaelin feels a cold shudder run down his spine as Varian suddenly shifts attitudes and reprimands him. Perhaps his choice of words was a bit too rash. He ducks his head down slightly like a dog that tucks its tail. He'd remain quiet while he ate still contemplating Varian's words and the creatures they saw. As ZInmaer informs the team of his departure Gaelin just gives him a reassuring nod. Hearing the others give words of encouragement to Zinmaer helped Gaelin cheer up a bit. He listened as Torq spoke about the upcoming battle and was relieved Torq was already thinking of their next task. He was unsure of the hulking bird at first but after watching him on the battlefield this morning, Gaelin thought Torq would be a good addition to the group. The realization was bittersweet though as it reminded him they were losing Zinmaer, but thankfully they hadn't truly lost Zinmaer. Gaelin would sit and eat, thinking of the others in the group Mucor had mentioned when they first met. Gabriel he remembered vividly but he had never met the others. He wondered what they were up to and if they were still alive.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
You eat and talk amongst yourselves for a little over an hour. Throughout your eating you find the food delicious though less filling as you would expect. By the end of the hour however, you feel well rested and somewhat rejuvenated.
You each gain: immunity to being poisoned & frightened, advantage on all wisdom saving throws, 4 levels of spell slots and you each gain 12 additional hit points. (you can regain a 4th level spell slot or a 3rd & 1st level, 2 2nd level or any combination totaling to 4.)
As you finish eating the food disappears into thin air. You look around the room and see the same is happening at the other tables but no one seems to be alarmed by this. The other mages stand up casually and head off on their own paths as if this is nothing new. As one exits Varian enters and greets you saying, "I hope you enjoyed the meal. Come there is much to discuss." You follow him up 6 flights of stairs to a different room to find a huge image of Zhora (eastern continent, the one you're on.) hovering over a large circular table. Lara and two other mages sit looking up at the image. Varian motions for you to have a seat and you take places around the table and watch as the image transitions to a zoomed in area the mideast of Zhora. A red triangle appears on the map and begins to move northeast towards the coast while a white square appears behind them and follows the same path. "This is the current location of the horde. They have increased their speed and are spacing themselves out from the army group leaving little to no chance they will catch them. Their efficiency on the docks will determine whether the fight will begin there or on the water. Our ships are sailing in their direction now but it will take 1 to 3 days to reach them depending on which direction they go. Drekthar ships are slower but larger and sturdier than ours. Focusing on ramming rather than relying on ballistas and mangonels to attack from range." As he says this a second image burst into being of a large ship with 3 masts and black sails. The front of the ship is clad in iron or bronze and protrudes out 6-8 feet.
"Each of these ships will be able to withstand repeated assaults including fireballs to their hulls. However, if you target their sails and masts, even the strongest ships can't survive long with the inability to move. If the horde manages to reach the seas we will need you to attack and disable as many ships as you can so our navy can destroy them. Since we are following them we will be able to teleport you and your griffons in two groups to a nearby location. If the army catches up with them we will teleport you to the docks. Regardless, I recommend you make preparations and find rest soon. We will have your griffons and dragon moved to our stables in the tower so they will be ready for you should anything change. Do you have any questions?" Varian says looking over the group.
"What are the masts made of? Wood? Are you aware of any magical wards/shields that would prevent an arial attack? What can we expect as far as ranged attacks from the ship? Where is the horde heading? How long until we leave?"
"How many ships are at the docks? Are the mast and sails vulnerable to any type of damage? Do you have a stock of oil flasks or barrels we could drop on the ships?" Gaelin asks.
"What about those of us without magical abilities...are we just supposed to fly in and slash at the masts? Can't we go on board and steer one ship onto another? I don't like feeling useless." Torq says
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As you stand outside the circle you feel a warmth come over you. you open your eyes to see if Varian or the others are causing this sensation but they appear to be frozen in time. Even the flickering flames of the circle appear locked into position. You feel a soft warm hand clutch yours and gently pull you in the direction of the circle. "You are in the company of friends." a familiar female voice says as an emblazoned symbol of Davara appears on Lara and Varian's chests. The symbols glow white then fade back beneath their armor. You exhale and time sharply resumes. You lurch forward a half step before catching yourself and looking around the room. Your group looks at you hesitantly but expectantly, Varian just smiles and nods.
Jinara fully embraces the circle and says "I accept."
As Jinara walks in and comes to a stop a circular rune appears under his feet. A tense moment of silence happens before Varian says, "You all accept the oath of secrecy. To break this oath is to cause the death of another and live with the eternal shame of that knowledge." A new, smaller circular rune appears in the center of the circle and glows brightly. The area around the circular runes beneath each of your feet cracks and flames spread out along them towards each other until all the runes are connected. As the final trail touches the center rune the entire circle flashes bright white causing you to close your eyes. You feel a burning sensation in your arm and open your eyes to see the circle on the floor has disappeared. On your arm a glowing replica of the circle burns your skin before disappearing beneath the flesh leaving no scar or brand.
Varian looks to each of you and says, "Now, we can discuss all our findings.
Jinara- while you have never seen this bird in person before you feel a connection to it. Your mind is suddenly filled with flashbacks from your dream about the siege and you think the images you saw were through this eagle's eyes.
"You said the other horde of orcs are headed towards the coast. Do you know exactly where they are and how do you know that and how do you know our names?" Aryn asks interrogatively as she inspects her arm to see if there is any damage from the spell.
Also , Insight check on this dude. Is he legit about bringing a peaceful end to the war: 27
"Would you permit me to restore the orcs missing limb... and in the meantime.. could we not just remove the arms of the orcs... and the regrow the limbs for them as a way of removing the tattoo if dispelling it causes many of them to die?" Mucor would ask. "I know we would not be able to do this on a massive scale.. but perhaps the orcs we save in this way would be willing to help us save others? I could see them being quite angry about being controlled like they have been..."
"I am definitely willing to test out whatever it is you have been working with. Are we sure the orcs and goblins will be peaceable even if this spell can be reversed? Weren't the drekthar already causing turmoil before the great war?" Torq says, his blood pressure rising as he thinks about sparing these savages who have killed so many.
(@Xtra, which bird are you talking about? Torq?)
Jinara's ear's perked up by them knowing each of us individually. We were only introduced as a group, and only Torq was specifically named. he thinks. (Insight 14. I am looking to see if I can discern how he knew us individually and how he knew I was praying and who I was praying to)
(@ Jinara- the eagle that appeared on his shoulder when he finished talking is his familiar.)
@Aryn- Varian is deeply sincere that he believes they will be able to find a peaceful resolution to the war. He also appears to be rather friendly and understanding of your questioning. You get the sense his age, skills, intelligence or all of the above are much higher than your own and that of the group. Though reserved, you watch his movements and his guard is never down.
@Jinara- (since it's the same modifier I'm also going to count your roll for a history check.) You are aware of the organization called Magi of the Seven. It's composed of seven powerful mages that study and oversee the use of magic across Eraas. Each mage is a specialist in at least one school of magic, while the leader of the Seven must have mastery over all schools of magic. The Seven have towers located in many of the major and capital cities of Eraas that they can teleport to in cases of emergency. In your studies you know that Varian has been one of the Seven for over 100 years and while the leader is only known among the seven, it is speculated that Varian has been the leader at least during some part of those 100+ years. You suspect a wizard of his skill level would be capable through any number of means to know who you are before meeting you in person.
"My friend here has been tracking the horde's movements along with a few others." Varian says to Aryn while petting the eagle perched on his shoulder and continues, "Your work on the western horde was impressive. Near perfect execution of pincer and bottleneck strategies but I assume that is not a clear enough answer for you. We are allies of the Elanaetas and are in constant communication with them particularly Inara. She informed us of your group's willingness to aid in the war effort and we gave them areas of importance to test your abilities."
"Yes." Lara interjects as she motions for Mucor to come over closer to the orc who is currently sleeping. "That is quite a compassionate gesture from one of your kind. I mean no offense but many Minotaur are rather... blunt and brutish, if you know what I mean. Lara pats Mucor on the back in a comforting way as she searches for the right words. "Most orcs and goblins lack the constitution to live through an event as traumatic as losing a limb due to blood loss. However, we did attempt this method and found the spell would immediately dispel itself and kill the host. We assume this was to prevent any orcs from attempting the same idea themselves."
Varian turns to Torq pulling out a small round sphere and says, "Good. We believe it can dispel magic within a 20-30 foot radius. Be careful though, it is quite powerful and each only has a single use. We aren't sure if they will remove the magical effects from items or only the tattoo. We've spend months attempting to hone the spell to target only the hybrid spell type but haven't been able to test the latest attempt. "
Varian pauses for a moment to look around the room and then at the orc. "We have no way of knowing how the drekthar will react to this knowledge. He is the first to survive and may be the best ally we have for bridging the gap between cultures. While there have been conflicts between the drekthar and others, can't the same be said of any of the kingdoms? 40 years ago the kingdoms of Haemor and Eshan warred over territory for 5 years before ending the bloodshed."
Gaelin, who's been quietly observing and listening to Varian finally steps forward and says, "Well why didn't you tell us that in the first place? If you had said you were working with Inara we would've been much more open to working with you. How far away is the horde and how far from the horde is the army group sent after them? We're pretty tapped but if we could stall them long enough the army group could take them out. One final question, Why aren't the Seven doing more to help with the war?"
"Unlike the Elanaetas, the Seven do not take chances on strangers. Until you took the oath your allegiance couldn't be guaranteed. Even the most devout spy for Daegon would not have been willing to take the oath. Now to your second question... the horde is about 30 miles away from us, the army group is within 6 miles of them. However, at their current pace the orcs will reach the docks before nightfall whereas the army will arrive at dusk. This is not an unfortunate series of events. By moving to ships on the sea the horde becomes compacted and shall we say vulnerable to attack. Our eagles will follow them through the night and upon daybreak one of our mages can teleport you and your steeds to the nearby area. From there you should be able to sink or disable the ships at your leisure. We can discuss strategy later, we have 4 more hours of daylight." Varian says calmly before his eyes flare with intensity.
"Now... With regard to your last question... I feel you are grossly underestimating the impact and the responsibilities of the Seven. It is the Seven who stopped Vaeril's assualt before a single one of you was born. It was the Seven who slew his apprentices before they could return him to this plane. It is the Seven who, have been keeping the other terrors and demons at bay while the whole of Eraas is full turmoil. Daegon and his accomplice Aemyra are simply pawns compared to the threats we hold at bay. The threat who would ravage the lands and seas if given the opportunity. This war is but a taste of the destruction a titan could reap upon our world. You have much to learn boy." Varian says as if talking to children. As he speaks, large images 10 feet high and wide appear in thin air of various creatures. Some of you recognize a few as types of demons, while others are completely foreign to you. "You have all been blessed with abilities that expedite your ability to learn and grow. For what purpose, only the gods know but you would do well to learn that powerful as you may be there are much more powerful dangers lurking, longing to be set free to devour the kingdoms and their people." His voice calms as Lara approaches and places a hand on his shoulder. "You have done great things Light Bringers, but there is still much to do. There is even greater things that will be asked of you in the future... Come, you must be hungry and tired from your battle. We have excellent food that you will find quite restorative. Please excuse my brashness. It is only meant to portray the severity of that which is unknown to you. Rest assured, the Seven are assisting with the war as much as we are able."
The door opens and Varian leads you down another flight of stairs before reaching another door. The door opens to a huge circular room with multiple tables stocked with various types of food. Sparse mages sit eating and look over to your group questioningly until they see Varian and quickly resume eating. Lara guides you to an unoccupied long table and request you to be seated. "We will return in about an hour. Please eat and rest." Baern just looks around in awe. "You've been holdin out on me Varian" He says with a chuckle. "I'll taste yer fancy food but I must be on me way. Beladin's either got the officers drunk or knocked em out cold in a fight by now." Varian just smiles and nods before he and Lara exit the room. The food before you smells deliscious and while you thought the food at the Elanaetas grove could never be matched, this certainly comes close. After about 10 minutes of quick eating Baern stands from the table and downs a final mug of ale. He wipes the foam from his beard and says, "I know he may seem like an ass, but once you get to know him, he's still an ass but we're damn lucky to have him. I'd best be gettin back to the war room. Come by and see us if ya need anythin."
Throughout the series of events Zinmaer has appeared deeply troubled. He is usually quiet but peaceful. A cloud hangs on his brow and he watches Baern exit before saying, "I don't know if I can continue this life. I've been trained to defend and if necessary kill. I feel as though I've pushed beyond a line where I want to kill rather than defend. I think I should return to castle Daybreak. I can work on the monastery and train the guards. It would allow me a reprieve from this blood thirst I can't seem to escape. I know this will put you at a disadvantage but I don't know if I like what I'm becoming. I don't know if the next time I fight if I'll be able to justify my actions. I need to return, to clear my head and meditate but I hope one day I will be able to rejoin you. If any danger should arise at the castle I would have no problem defending the innocent inside, but I can't continue this journey with you all right now. When Varian returns I'm going to ask that he teleport me back to the castle. I'll leave Night Dream for you, take this. It will aid you in battle." Zinamer takes off his Bracelet and hands it to Torq then nibbles at his food.
Aryn sits quietly at the table as the images Varian created of the creatures flash through her mind. She smiles as Baern makes a joke and leaves the table then listens closely to Zinmaer. She could see there was no point in arguing so she just gave a simple nod and says, "We'll miss you out there. I hope you find peace. We'll probably be around the castle a lot soon anyways so we can spar whenever you want." She'll return to eating her haunch of meat. She was starving and tired from the fighting but ready to eliminate the last horde.
Torq stands at attention while Varian talks to them, used to being curtailed. At the mention of food, his heart is overjoyed but he hides his emotions like a good soldier. On the way down to the mess hall Torq will ask Varian about the sphere. "How does it work? Is there a delay in the effect?" After getting some answers Torq would sit at the table and go after all the meats, nuts and berries he could. He stands at attention and salutes Baern as he leaves waiting for him to leave the room before sitting down and eating. His beak if half full when Zinmaer starts talking. A loud gulp can be heard as Torq swallows a fish whole. He stands and attempts to refuse the gift at first but yields and accepts it saying, "Thank you. I will do my best to protect them. I too would like to spar if I'm ever allowed to visit this castle Daybreak." Torq sits back down and resumes eating for a bit waiting for the somber mood to clear before saying, "So it looks like we'll have a naval battle on our hands soon. I've been in a few before but never without ships of our own. This thing may help clear a path to the helm for those of us who can't use magic." and he holds up the sphere Varian gave him.
Mucor would shiver a moment as Lara pats him on the back, slightly startling him as he cast [Tooltip Not Found] on the orc. Once the spell was completed he would turn to her and nod with a small smile. "Thank you... I... Wouldn't know much about the behaviors of most minotaur.. I have not encountered another of my kind since I was just a small child" Mucor would say with a small snort. "It seems to me that this orc is just another victim in this war and it sounds like we can use all the allies we can muster" The minotaur would mention as he glances back to the nub as it very slowly begins to transition into another limb. He would then place his large hand on her shoulder and lock eyes with her. "I am glad to hear that I am helping to change peoples perceptions about minotaurs" He would say with a smile before following Varian to the dining hall. Once there, he would shovel food into his mouth as quickly as possible as crumbs fall from his face and drink drips from his furry chin like a bull after drinking from a troth. As Zin mentions leaving to return home. Mucor would look and nod to his companion. His large brown eyes full of disappointment. "another one leaves..." He would mutter to himself before standing up and giving him a large hug. "I suppose.. it is always good to have more people defending Daybreak... I imagine it won't be long before our home is under attack because of our actions.. " The minotaur would say before returning to his seat.. eating much slower than before.
(Don't worry Mucor, we're still here.)
Gaelin feels a cold shudder run down his spine as Varian suddenly shifts attitudes and reprimands him. Perhaps his choice of words was a bit too rash. He ducks his head down slightly like a dog that tucks its tail. He'd remain quiet while he ate still contemplating Varian's words and the creatures they saw. As ZInmaer informs the team of his departure Gaelin just gives him a reassuring nod. Hearing the others give words of encouragement to Zinmaer helped Gaelin cheer up a bit. He listened as Torq spoke about the upcoming battle and was relieved Torq was already thinking of their next task. He was unsure of the hulking bird at first but after watching him on the battlefield this morning, Gaelin thought Torq would be a good addition to the group. The realization was bittersweet though as it reminded him they were losing Zinmaer, but thankfully they hadn't truly lost Zinmaer. Gaelin would sit and eat, thinking of the others in the group Mucor had mentioned when they first met. Gabriel he remembered vividly but he had never met the others. He wondered what they were up to and if they were still alive.
(Will post in the morning. Didn't know how much y'all would RP at the table.)
You eat and talk amongst yourselves for a little over an hour. Throughout your eating you find the food delicious though less filling as you would expect. By the end of the hour however, you feel well rested and somewhat rejuvenated.
You each gain: immunity to being poisoned & frightened, advantage on all wisdom saving throws, 4 levels of spell slots and you each gain 12 additional hit points. (you can regain a 4th level spell slot or a 3rd & 1st level, 2 2nd level or any combination totaling to 4.)
As you finish eating the food disappears into thin air. You look around the room and see the same is happening at the other tables but no one seems to be alarmed by this. The other mages stand up casually and head off on their own paths as if this is nothing new. As one exits Varian enters and greets you saying, "I hope you enjoyed the meal. Come there is much to discuss." You follow him up 6 flights of stairs to a different room to find a huge image of Zhora (eastern continent, the one you're on.) hovering over a large circular table. Lara and two other mages sit looking up at the image. Varian motions for you to have a seat and you take places around the table and watch as the image transitions to a zoomed in area the mideast of Zhora. A red triangle appears on the map and begins to move northeast towards the coast while a white square appears behind them and follows the same path. "This is the current location of the horde. They have increased their speed and are spacing themselves out from the army group leaving little to no chance they will catch them. Their efficiency on the docks will determine whether the fight will begin there or on the water. Our ships are sailing in their direction now but it will take 1 to 3 days to reach them depending on which direction they go. Drekthar ships are slower but larger and sturdier than ours. Focusing on ramming rather than relying on ballistas and mangonels to attack from range." As he says this a second image burst into being of a large ship with 3 masts and black sails. The front of the ship is clad in iron or bronze and protrudes out 6-8 feet.
"Each of these ships will be able to withstand repeated assaults including fireballs to their hulls. However, if you target their sails and masts, even the strongest ships can't survive long with the inability to move. If the horde manages to reach the seas we will need you to attack and disable as many ships as you can so our navy can destroy them. Since we are following them we will be able to teleport you and your griffons in two groups to a nearby location. If the army catches up with them we will teleport you to the docks. Regardless, I recommend you make preparations and find rest soon. We will have your griffons and dragon moved to our stables in the tower so they will be ready for you should anything change. Do you have any questions?" Varian says looking over the group.
"What are the masts made of? Wood? Are you aware of any magical wards/shields that would prevent an arial attack? What can we expect as far as ranged attacks from the ship? Where is the horde heading? How long until we leave?"
"I possess a few ways of making the sea help us in this matter..." Mucor would say with a snort.
"How many ships are at the docks? Are the mast and sails vulnerable to any type of damage? Do you have a stock of oil flasks or barrels we could drop on the ships?" Gaelin asks.
"What about those of us without magical abilities...are we just supposed to fly in and slash at the masts? Can't we go on board and steer one ship onto another? I don't like feeling useless." Torq says