For the past several days, the talk of the streets and taverns has all been about the so-called death curse: a wasting disease afflicting everyone who’s ever been raised from the dead. Victims grow thinner and weaker each day, slowly but steadily sliding toward the death they once denied. When they finally succumb, they can’t be raised — and neither can anyone else, regardless of whether they’ve ever received that miracle in the past. Temples and scholars of divine magic are at a loss to explain a curse that has affected the entire region, and possibly the entire world.
You have been invited to the home of Syndra Silvane, a retired adventurer and merchant. A uniformed attendant leads you up a grand staircase to the third floor, then ushers you into a wood-paneled room with a fireplace, comfortable chairs, and a heavy table bearing goblets and bottles of wine. The darkly paneled walls are hung with maps and sea charts. Racks, shelves, and cabinets hold hundreds more rolled-up maps and charts.
A person is seated in an overstuffed chair near the fire. You can’t discern a gender, because only the person’s head emerges from under a heavy blanket draped over the chair, and an embroidered hood and silver mask conceal the wearer’s face. Even the person’s dry, raspy voice provides no clue. “Help yourselves to wine, and seat yourselves, friends — I hope I may call you that.”
"I was an adventurer years ago. I died once and was raised from the dead. I have since closed the door on that stage of my life. The death curse you’ve heard about has struck me. I don’t know how much longer I’ll last before I perish. Clerics have no help to offer. They’re stymied by what is happening. My contacts in the Harpers have learned that the cause of the death curse is a necromantic artifact called the Soulmonger. According to their sources, the Soulmonger is somewhere in Chult.
Chult is a peninsula ringed with mountains and choked with rainforests. Enormous reptiles, savage goblins, and an army of undead prowl its jungles and ruins. Mapping the place has always been nigh impossible, and nothing is known about the region’s current geography beyond a few miles from the coas“Working from dozens of sea charts, log books, and explorers’ journals, I assembled everything known about the current state of Chult into one map. I’ll provide it to you if you undertake my mission. When you’re ready to depart, I have arranged a ship to take you to Port Nyanzaru, the only major settlement in Chult. I’ve been there several times before, and I know the captain of the ship, there’s little chance of mishap. Once there.
DM - Now is the time to ask any questions you might have
Usul will cast an invisible Mage Hand to bring a glass of wine to his hand while looking around the room. "Thank you."he says while taking a sip, and then casting Prestidigitation to chill it before taking another sip. If there is any cheese available he would also take a piece of that and put it into his coat pocket (where his mouse Dib is).
"While we're honored that you called us, and welcome any chance to leave the city, this does not seem a task without a certain element of danger involved. What specifically is in it for us? Your motivations for wanting this done are clear. Also, have you anything we could take to help us on this journey?" Usul says while calculating the risks vs rewards available.
Though Usul lived a very poor life for many years he's recently started to improve his standing, and is enjoying (perhaps too much so) the good things in life, and sees the lifestyle that adventuring has afforded this Syndra Silvane in front of him.
edit: Additionally, normally he would not part from him, but being escorted into this relatively nice house, Usul would have left his mastiff (Muad, 'Mu' for short), with his Find Familiar owl (Duncan) outside. Perhaps occasionally, very briefly, popping into Duncan's eyes to see if everything is ok. And as a Forest Gnome, Usul can speak with small animals, though Mu, being a mastiff, is technically medium sized. Usul will therefor be spending a lot of free time before bedding down to camp each evening attempting to teach Mu to understand him ^^
A 4'6" tall dwarf with an fierce, auburn mohawk and a long knotted beard focuses on the table filled with wine. His eyes gleaming at the vast amount of alcohol available. Without hesitation, Thrann approaches the table and grabs the first bottle of wine within his vicinity. He immediately begins chugging the bottle of wine with remorse. Upon emptying the bottle, he sits the bottle firmly back on the table, burping slightly. After Usul consults with the strange adventurer regarding the Soulmonger, Thrann butts in. "'at bucky was delicioos. min' if Ah tak' some fur th' road?" Thrann asks politely, assuming that everything is still up for grabs.
Hamm steps forward, an average human, average build, wild dark hair and tattered clothes. He passes on the wine but looks for water if there is any, but before our host has a moment to respond to his companions he blurts out,
"In addition to what Usul has asked, I have two questions, can this ship accommodate an elephant? And two, once we get to Chult, I'm a bit unfamiliar with the terrain, but do you think an elephant might have trouble getting around? This is may seem like an odd question, but I assure you, this is of the upmost importance.Very important indeed."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Usul looks surprised back at Hamm. "Did he really buy that damn elephant he'd been talking about!?" he thinks to himself, sipping his wine trying not to show his surprise to the stranger behind the mask.
OOC: an elephant?! hahahaha this is gonna be amazing ^^
Thrann grins deviously upon hearing Hamm speak with concern about his elephant. Thrann, just after chugging more wine and having his beard partially covered in the alcoholic beverage, he chimes in. "Baur in min' 'at when he says elephant, he's actually referrin' tae his Mom." Thrann bellows loudly, leaning backward, face looking at the ceiling as he chuckles.
"If you successfully compete the task, I will give you each a token of my thanks upon your return, but I am sure that you will all find enough treasure to live like kings during your expedition. On top of yhis, I am willing to give you 600 gold pieces, just to give you a start in Port Nyanzaru. Take all the wine you wish as well. The elephant, all though surprising, should be fine. The ship taking you is a cargo ship, and should have enough room. Chult is mostly jungle. Your elephant can definitely topple any smaller trees in the way, but it would cause quite the disturbance."
Thrann finishes another bottle of wine, burping as he wipes off the remnants of the wine on his beard with his forearm. "Don'cha worreh, lad. Skully 'n aye bin meanin' tae venture intae th' forest tae learn what's causin' thes disturbance an' pit a gonnae-no tae it. Ye've go' mah support." Thrann states boldly, while peering over his shoulder onto his massive maul, Skullcrusher (often refers to it as Skully), as it rests firmly on his back while the head of the hammer looms over his shoulder. Thrann glances around the room at his fellow adventurers to see if they agree to the task as well.
"I apologize for my companion... This is clearly quite a serious matter." Usul continues "I guess it's time for adventure then. We will prepare our things and be ready to leave on your ship. Please give me the maps and materials you have prepared. I will look them over while we travel. Finally, once we find this Soulmonger... what should be done with it?" Usul asks Syndra. Then to his companions "Friends, is there anything else you are curious to know before set off?"
"Seriously, Thrann, this person is in pain... I swear, its people that haven't met the likes of you that find it so absolutely curious that I choose to live out in the wild I swear."
Hamm takes a deep breath.
"Thank you, Syndra, that is quite good news. Gregory will be pleased. And again thank you for your kind offering to us, you are a gracious host and i dare I say an excellent decorator. Anyway, I appreciate the coin and I do hope that we may return to you with good word soon. Perhaps, I hope, we can even save you if we stop this curse... magic is... unpredictable."
Hamm looks down to the ground.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Thrann chuckles lightly upon hearing Hamm share his thoughts, then proceeds to chug another bottle of wine. He scratches at an itch on his bare chest, and adjusts the leather straps of his harness. "So, when are wae headin' oot lads? Skully's feenin' fer some'in tae crush."
Seeing Thrann plow through three bottles of wine, Usul shrugs and will pour (and magically chill) himself another glass. "Auran, you've been rather quiet. Anything to add?"
The gaunt, bald half-elf speaks in a low whisper, "Only that I've felt drawn to Chult myself, from my own studies, and this would be an ideal time to go."
"Well!" Usul exclaims "I guess it's settled then. Please allow me to take all the maps and notes you said you had. And we'll be off at once. When does your friend's boat leave?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thrann finishes yet another bottle of wine, burping quite loudly and using his forearm to wipe his lips dry. He's eager to enter the jungle but feels compelled to drink all of the alcohol. He grabs another bottle but suffers the ill effects of inebriation already.
Constitution check to determine if he can drink anymore or if he's too drunk. 21
((4 bottles of wine?!?! What'd you set the DC to for that? 20? :P ))
((@akana. Let me know if Thrann is blacked out drunk please. If so, my Trickster rogue is gonna do what all friends do to their blacked out friends... Mua haha ))
Syndra points to a nearby night stand. On it sits a rather large piece of folded parchment and a small pouch. "The map, and six hundred gold, to give you a start. And please, take as much wine as you please, it is of little value to me anymore." Thrann starts to walk towards the table with wine, and starts to get dizzy. "Don't wait much longer, your ship should be ready to depart any minute now."
DM - Thrann is now drunk, which is just poisoned. (for now)
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For the past several days, the talk of the streets and taverns has all been about the so-called death curse: a wasting disease afflicting everyone who’s ever been raised from the dead. Victims grow thinner and weaker each day, slowly but steadily sliding toward the death they once denied. When they finally succumb, they can’t be raised — and neither can anyone else, regardless of whether they’ve ever received that miracle in the past. Temples and scholars of divine magic are at a loss to explain a curse that has affected the entire region, and possibly the entire world.
You have been invited to the home of Syndra Silvane, a retired adventurer and merchant. A uniformed attendant leads you up a grand staircase to the third floor, then ushers you into a wood-paneled room with a fireplace, comfortable chairs, and a heavy table bearing goblets and bottles of wine. The darkly paneled walls are hung with maps and sea charts. Racks, shelves, and cabinets hold hundreds more rolled-up maps and charts.
A person is seated in an overstuffed chair near the fire. You can’t discern a gender, because only the person’s head emerges from under a heavy blanket draped over the chair, and an embroidered hood and silver mask conceal the wearer’s face. Even the person’s dry, raspy voice provides no clue. “Help yourselves to wine, and seat yourselves, friends — I hope I may call you that.”
"I was an adventurer years ago. I died once and was raised from the dead. I have since closed the door on that stage of my life. The death curse you’ve heard about has struck me. I don’t know how much longer I’ll last before I perish. Clerics have no help to offer. They’re stymied by what is happening. My contacts in the Harpers have learned that the cause of the death curse is a necromantic artifact called the Soulmonger. According to their sources, the Soulmonger is somewhere in Chult.
Chult is a peninsula ringed with mountains and choked with rainforests. Enormous reptiles, savage goblins, and an army of undead prowl its jungles and ruins. Mapping the place has always been nigh impossible, and nothing is known about the region’s current geography beyond a few miles from the coas“Working from dozens of sea charts, log books, and explorers’ journals, I assembled everything known about the current state of Chult into one map. I’ll provide it to you if you undertake my mission. When you’re ready to depart, I have arranged a ship to take you to Port Nyanzaru, the only major settlement in Chult. I’ve been there several times before, and I know the captain of the ship, there’s little chance of mishap. Once there.
DM - Now is the time to ask any questions you might have
Usul will cast an invisible Mage Hand to bring a glass of wine to his hand while looking around the room. "Thank you." he says while taking a sip, and then casting Prestidigitation to chill it before taking another sip. If there is any cheese available he would also take a piece of that and put it into his coat pocket (where his mouse Dib is).
"While we're honored that you called us, and welcome any chance to leave the city, this does not seem a task without a certain element of danger involved. What specifically is in it for us? Your motivations for wanting this done are clear. Also, have you anything we could take to help us on this journey?" Usul says while calculating the risks vs rewards available.
Though Usul lived a very poor life for many years he's recently started to improve his standing, and is enjoying (perhaps too much so) the good things in life, and sees the lifestyle that adventuring has afforded this Syndra Silvane in front of him.
edit: Additionally, normally he would not part from him, but being escorted into this relatively nice house, Usul would have left his mastiff (Muad, 'Mu' for short), with his Find Familiar owl (Duncan) outside. Perhaps occasionally, very briefly, popping into Duncan's eyes to see if everything is ok. And as a Forest Gnome, Usul can speak with small animals, though Mu, being a mastiff, is technically medium sized. Usul will therefor be spending a lot of free time before bedding down to camp each evening attempting to teach Mu to understand him ^^
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
A 4'6" tall dwarf with an fierce, auburn mohawk and a long knotted beard focuses on the table filled with wine. His eyes gleaming at the vast amount of alcohol available. Without hesitation, Thrann approaches the table and grabs the first bottle of wine within his vicinity. He immediately begins chugging the bottle of wine with remorse. Upon emptying the bottle, he sits the bottle firmly back on the table, burping slightly. After Usul consults with the strange adventurer regarding the Soulmonger, Thrann butts in.
"'at bucky was delicioos. min' if Ah tak' some fur th' road?" Thrann asks politely, assuming that everything is still up for grabs.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Hamm steps forward, an average human, average build, wild dark hair and tattered clothes. He passes on the wine but looks for water if there is any, but before our host has a moment to respond to his companions he blurts out,
"In addition to what Usul has asked, I have two questions, can this ship accommodate an elephant? And two, once we get to Chult, I'm a bit unfamiliar with the terrain, but do you think an elephant might have trouble getting around? This is may seem like an odd question, but I assure you, this is of the upmost importance.Very important indeed."
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Usul looks surprised back at Hamm. "Did he really buy that damn elephant he'd been talking about!?" he thinks to himself, sipping his wine trying not to show his surprise to the stranger behind the mask.
OOC: an elephant?! hahahaha this is gonna be amazing ^^
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Thrann grins deviously upon hearing Hamm speak with concern about his elephant. Thrann, just after chugging more wine and having his beard partially covered in the alcoholic beverage, he chimes in.
"Baur in min' 'at when he says elephant, he's actually referrin' tae his Mom." Thrann bellows loudly, leaning backward, face looking at the ceiling as he chuckles.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
As Syndra sees the rowdiness, they sigh.
"If you successfully compete the task, I will give you each a token of my thanks upon your return, but I am sure that you will all find enough treasure to live like kings during your expedition. On top of yhis, I am willing to give you 600 gold pieces, just to give you a start in Port Nyanzaru. Take all the wine you wish as well. The elephant, all though surprising, should be fine. The ship taking you is a cargo ship, and should have enough room. Chult is mostly jungle. Your elephant can definitely topple any smaller trees in the way, but it would cause quite the disturbance."
Thrann finishes another bottle of wine, burping as he wipes off the remnants of the wine on his beard with his forearm.
"Don'cha worreh, lad. Skully 'n aye bin meanin' tae venture intae th' forest tae learn what's causin' thes disturbance an' pit a gonnae-no tae it. Ye've go' mah support." Thrann states boldly, while peering over his shoulder onto his massive maul, Skullcrusher (often refers to it as Skully), as it rests firmly on his back while the head of the hammer looms over his shoulder. Thrann glances around the room at his fellow adventurers to see if they agree to the task as well.
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
"I apologize for my companion... This is clearly quite a serious matter." Usul continues "I guess it's time for adventure then. We will prepare our things and be ready to leave on your ship. Please give me the maps and materials you have prepared. I will look them over while we travel. Finally, once we find this Soulmonger... what should be done with it?" Usul asks Syndra. Then to his companions "Friends, is there anything else you are curious to know before set off?"
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
"Seriously, Thrann, this person is in pain... I swear, its people that haven't met the likes of you that find it so absolutely curious that I choose to live out in the wild I swear."
Hamm takes a deep breath.
"Thank you, Syndra, that is quite good news. Gregory will be pleased. And again thank you for your kind offering to us, you are a gracious host and i dare I say an excellent decorator. Anyway, I appreciate the coin and I do hope that we may return to you with good word soon. Perhaps, I hope, we can even save you if we stop this curse... magic is... unpredictable."
Hamm looks down to the ground.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Thrann chuckles lightly upon hearing Hamm share his thoughts, then proceeds to chug another bottle of wine. He scratches at an itch on his bare chest, and adjusts the leather straps of his harness.
"So, when are wae headin' oot lads? Skully's feenin' fer some'in tae crush."
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Seeing Thrann plow through three bottles of wine, Usul shrugs and will pour (and magically chill) himself another glass. "Auran, you've been rather quiet. Anything to add?"
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
The gaunt, bald half-elf speaks in a low whisper, "Only that I've felt drawn to Chult myself, from my own studies, and this would be an ideal time to go."
Liarin: Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Adewild: Shadows and Light 2
Brother Thaddeus: Rime of the Frostmaiden.
"Well!" Usul exclaims "I guess it's settled then. Please allow me to take all the maps and notes you said you had. And we'll be off at once. When does your friend's boat leave?"
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Thrann finishes yet another bottle of wine, burping quite loudly and using his forearm to wipe his lips dry. He's eager to enter the jungle but feels compelled to drink all of the alcohol. He grabs another bottle but suffers the ill effects of inebriation already.
Constitution check to determine if he can drink anymore or if he's too drunk. 21
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
((4 bottles of wine?!?! What'd you set the DC to for that? 20? :P ))
((@akana. Let me know if Thrann is blacked out drunk please. If so, my Trickster rogue is gonna do what all friends do to their blacked out friends... Mua haha ))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
((No Regerts! Good thing I didn't critically fumble, may had died from alcohol poisoning.))
DM: Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
((ping...))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Syndra points to a nearby night stand. On it sits a rather large piece of folded parchment and a small pouch. "The map, and six hundred gold, to give you a start. And please, take as much wine as you please, it is of little value to me anymore." Thrann starts to walk towards the table with wine, and starts to get dizzy. "Don't wait much longer, your ship should be ready to depart any minute now."
DM - Thrann is now drunk, which is just poisoned. (for now)