"Cliste!" Lerikyn calls out to their burglar, "She appears to have been here the whole time..."
Lerikyn looks her up and down, as if assessing her abilities to navigate the depths. "I for one am looking forward to exploring. I don't know about those two." He gestures to Ria and Reis. "Have you tried to exit this place?"
"No," Rea admitted. "I was too scared when we first got here, and Reis was way too drunk for us to attempt any sort of escape last night. I figure it must be Ilmater's will that we're here, though."
"I'm Rea Windhaven, by the way," the human approached the newcomer with her hand outstretched. "I'm a monk of Ilmater, and that's my best friend Reis. We don't really know these other two people, but they haven't tried to kill us yet, so I suppose they're alright. And you are?"
"I didn't dare open the front door, but nothing else opens. Front doors are usually too noisy, and I wasn't looking to wake you." Silthy attempts to open the front door. "Now, I would stay... if you promised to make it worth my time. I assume that we are to be compensated for this venture..."
Cliste reappears near the group and smiles. "Someone who can sneak like me."
She looks around at the group. "I don't know who this Silver Man is and I'm sure we'll manage to make a profit and achieve our goals," her gaze moves to Lerikyn for a moment, "if we manage to work together and stay alive. It appears to me we have a solid group for such an endeavor."
She looks at Reis. "And to answer your 'how can this place look this old and we not be aged?' Magic made it look new for while we were here until we were all here just like the Silver Man told us in the dream. We pretty much arrived within hours of each other."
She looks around again. "Looks like we do have a choice. Give up on why we all suddenly got here and lose out knowing the answer and acquire nothing. Or... We answer the call of the Silver Man to find out what he really wants us to do there. As already noted, Lerikyn and I are going into the dungeon, which we came to find anyway. I'm not the religious type, but I'm not going to face what looks like a gift from Mystra in our expedition and turn it down."
She smiles down at Lerikyn knowing if they quit, neither would be happy. Besides, she would have to steal a pony for him to get back home because he was not faring well in the cold. Another month might have been too long no matter his mental resilience.
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PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
"I guess the curiosity does have the best of me, and it seems like I can trust you all. They call me Sooty. If you get to know me, I'll tell you who 'they' are. I don't care how we got into this mess, but I know how to be really helpful when I want to be. I hope I don't regret this."
Silthy then steps into the open a bit more as a show of trust.
"I am Lerikyn and this is my burglar companion Cliste. We're actually here for these catacombs beneath the Citadel. I'm sure, Mystra willing, there will be plenty of loot beneath!" Lerikyn gestures to the entrance, "Shall we?"
"But who will protect your behind, my dear?" Lerikyn snickers, "How about Cliste, Kjørynreis, Rea, you, and then me? I'm quite versatile from a distance and up close. Now... shall we proceed?"
Kjørynreis beats his fist against his chest. "I'm Kjørynreis! A paladin of Ilmater who's only vice is strong drink?" He laughs loudly, continuing, "That's about as good of an introduction as I deserve! I don't know how I got here, but the gnome says there's evil below that could threaten the world, and I certainly do want that hanging over my head if I said no and such evil got unleashed. So I'll venture down below to protect those who are up above."
To Lerikyn, he adds, "And that's as good of marching or as I could've come up with, master gnome."
"I love using Reis as a human shield as much as the next guy, but he can't be quiet to save his life," Rea said, poking the paladin's chainmail to make her point. "Perhaps we should put our loud friends more toward the back?"
"I can range out, still in sight of Mr Clinky," she winks at the big guy, "and he will have to stand perfectly still if I tell you to be quiet. I mean like a rock. I think the rest of you know how to move quietly and well I rather have him the 2nd in line so he can bash whatever jumps me due to his jingling." She chuckles. "If I say stop, do so immediately. I might actually find the traps by not tripping them. Some can be downright hard to figure out and most of my training was homes and above ground. I'll be happy when I figure out how to detect them magically."
She turns to look at the portal and lets out a slow breath. "I guess I get to step into the maw of the unknown first and I'm glad we are all game for this adventure. More fun than just Lerikyn and I down there by far."
She puts her hands on either side of the portal and looks down the steep, narrow stairs. "Don't you dare trip and fall on me." Having said that she steps in.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
The steep stair descends a rough-hewn chimney carved through solid stone. It's a treacherous descent, lacking any sort of safety or comfort features, but the steps are solid and level, so slow and careful footing is sufficient to descend safely. Gods forbid anyone would have to use such a stair in a hurry...
After a hundred feet or so, Cliste sees that the chimney widens to a chamber another sixty feet below, so she slows and takes each further step with increased caution, watching and listening carefully for any snare, ambush, or other unpleasant surprise. She can sense the air growing colder as she descends, but that's not a terrible surprise. They're not called the Ice Mountains without cause. In addition, she notes a complete lack of light below as well as faint odors of earth and age. While the darkness doesn't impact her vision, she can't help but be concerned for the normally sighted individuals above her.
Kjørynreis was always slightly envious of non-humans and their natural affinity for seeing in the dark. Knowing the light would be troublesome for some members in the party, Kjørynreis figured that him stumbling on everything in the dark would be even more troublesome, especially with how thin and steep the stairs are.
He pulls out a torch and lights it while apologizing, "Cliste, you're going to hate me, but I need light if I am going to see down here. You'd rather have me visible than me tripping and falling over. Trust me." The torch's light is bright, giving him easy visibility of the surrounding area.
"I'll hold it, Reis," Rea motioned for the torch. She was relieved he had mentioned the need for a light, as she needed one as well. Back at the monastery, she had gone three hours in the darkness at one point, because she was too embarrassed to ask for help. "You need both hands on your weapon."
"Oh for crying out loud..." Lerikyn shields his eyes so that they adjust to the new light.
As much as he was looking forward to travelling to the depths of this catacomb, he mentally prayed to Mystra that she had chosen the correct group to accompany him. Cliste had proven herself time and again on the road. He'd often thought of turning back but her persistence and endurance always blew such thoughts from his mind. She was a beast.
Kjørynreis seemed the sort that would be able to hold his own in a fight, but he seemed to lack a bit upstairs. That was ok though, he could use someone that would be easy to manipulate if needed.
As for Rea, he was confused as to what use she would be. She was adorned with the clothing of a monk, but her attachment to her companion was outright odd. Perhaps she saw him as a mission from Ilmatar. He figured time will tell. As long as she can hold herself in a fight, that's all that mattered.
The new companion, Sooty, was the most mysterious of all. Lurking in the darkness and preferring the back row. She had the tidings of a wizard, but the demeanor of a street-mage. It made him wonder who she stole her spellbook from.
As his eyes finally adjust he nods towards Cliste, "Lets go lass, the dungeon won't explore itself..."
Nods to Rae as she takes the torch so it is back further in the group. "I'll be ranging out just outside your light, but I rather you see down this stair than fall on me. If you happen to notice you are putting me back into the light unless I signal for you to move up to me, please slow to match my pace."
She moved slow, but easily down the steep steps listening for anything ahead. She shivered as the air finally got colder, but it always was underground, but if the dwarves hadn't lied about it, once far enough down it pretty much stabilized. Of course, this was the Ice Mountains - ambient underground temperature, icy. At least, it was as bad as being up top with a wind trying to rip your cloak off in the process. Finally, she could sense the stair coming close to the end and the first chamber would be reached soon. It was dark and quiet, but she slowed to be sure she did not miss anything to impede their progress.
"If the torch is a big deal, we can go in the dark," Rea said, attempting diplomacy. "Someone will just need to lead us, which might mess up Lerikyn's great marching order. I'm really sorry we're being a bother, but I trust whatever the rest of you think is best."
"Nope," Lerikyn gestures forward, "We need you two in tip-top shape, and if light is what you need I'll be sure to help you out with it the next time I commune with the Lady of Mysteries. I don't expect we'll encounter much this early in the catacombs, but you never know."
Pushing forward, Cliste breaks into the open as the stair descends into a wide corridor. The floor, cracked tiles strewn with bits of masonry from the crumbling walls and ceiling, lies a mere 20 feet below. Though little more than a passable ruin now, she can imagine what it must have once looked like:
The corridor continues only north, it seems, and she sees recesses to the left and right about 15 feet down plus another set at 35 and yet another at 55, though she can barely make out the last set at the perimeter of her vision. She sees the head and hands of a large statue, plus the outstretched arm of another, lying in the corridor at the 15 foot mark. It appears these recesses are occupied, if only by residents of stone.
"Cliste!" Lerikyn calls out to their burglar, "She appears to have been here the whole time..."
Lerikyn looks her up and down, as if assessing her abilities to navigate the depths. "I for one am looking forward to exploring. I don't know about those two." He gestures to Ria and Reis. "Have you tried to exit this place?"
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"No," Rea admitted. "I was too scared when we first got here, and Reis was way too drunk for us to attempt any sort of escape last night. I figure it must be Ilmater's will that we're here, though."
"I'm Rea Windhaven, by the way," the human approached the newcomer with her hand outstretched. "I'm a monk of Ilmater, and that's my best friend Reis. We don't really know these other two people, but they haven't tried to kill us yet, so I suppose they're alright. And you are?"
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
"I didn't dare open the front door, but nothing else opens. Front doors are usually too noisy, and I wasn't looking to wake you." Silthy attempts to open the front door. "Now, I would stay... if you promised to make it worth my time. I assume that we are to be compensated for this venture..."
Cliste reappears near the group and smiles. "Someone who can sneak like me."
She looks around at the group. "I don't know who this Silver Man is and I'm sure we'll manage to make a profit and achieve our goals," her gaze moves to Lerikyn for a moment, "if we manage to work together and stay alive. It appears to me we have a solid group for such an endeavor."
She looks at Reis. "And to answer your 'how can this place look this old and we not be aged?' Magic made it look new for while we were here until we were all here just like the Silver Man told us in the dream. We pretty much arrived within hours of each other."
She looks around again. "Looks like we do have a choice. Give up on why we all suddenly got here and lose out knowing the answer and acquire nothing. Or... We answer the call of the Silver Man to find out what he really wants us to do there. As already noted, Lerikyn and I are going into the dungeon, which we came to find anyway. I'm not the religious type, but I'm not going to face what looks like a gift from Mystra in our expedition and turn it down."
She smiles down at Lerikyn knowing if they quit, neither would be happy. Besides, she would have to steal a pony for him to get back home because he was not faring well in the cold. Another month might have been too long no matter his mental resilience.
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
Silthy sighs and smiles.
"I guess the curiosity does have the best of me, and it seems like I can trust you all. They call me Sooty. If you get to know me, I'll tell you who 'they' are. I don't care how we got into this mess, but I know how to be really helpful when I want to be. I hope I don't regret this."
Silthy then steps into the open a bit more as a show of trust.
"I am Lerikyn and this is my burglar companion Cliste. We're actually here for these catacombs beneath the Citadel. I'm sure, Mystra willing, there will be plenty of loot beneath!" Lerikyn gestures to the entrance, "Shall we?"
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"Sure. But don't expect me to take the lead. I do better from behind others."
"But who will protect your behind, my dear?" Lerikyn snickers, "How about Cliste, Kjørynreis, Rea, you, and then me? I'm quite versatile from a distance and up close. Now... shall we proceed?"
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Kjørynreis beats his fist against his chest. "I'm Kjørynreis! A paladin of Ilmater who's only vice is strong drink?" He laughs loudly, continuing, "That's about as good of an introduction as I deserve! I don't know how I got here, but the gnome says there's evil below that could threaten the world, and I certainly do want that hanging over my head if I said no and such evil got unleashed. So I'll venture down below to protect those who are up above."
To Lerikyn, he adds, "And that's as good of marching or as I could've come up with, master gnome."
"I love using Reis as a human shield as much as the next guy, but he can't be quiet to save his life," Rea said, poking the paladin's chainmail to make her point. "Perhaps we should put our loud friends more toward the back?"
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
"I can range out, still in sight of Mr Clinky," she winks at the big guy, "and he will have to stand perfectly still if I tell you to be quiet. I mean like a rock. I think the rest of you know how to move quietly and well I rather have him the 2nd in line so he can bash whatever jumps me due to his jingling." She chuckles. "If I say stop, do so immediately. I might actually find the traps by not tripping them. Some can be downright hard to figure out and most of my training was homes and above ground. I'll be happy when I figure out how to detect them magically."
She turns to look at the portal and lets out a slow breath. "I guess I get to step into the maw of the unknown first and I'm glad we are all game for this adventure. More fun than just Lerikyn and I down there by far."
She puts her hands on either side of the portal and looks down the steep, narrow stairs. "Don't you dare trip and fall on me." Having said that she steps in.
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
META: MARCHING ORDER
Cliste
-
-
Kjørynreis
-
Rea
-
Sooty
-
Lerikyn
The steep stair descends a rough-hewn chimney carved through solid stone. It's a treacherous descent, lacking any sort of safety or comfort features, but the steps are solid and level, so slow and careful footing is sufficient to descend safely. Gods forbid anyone would have to use such a stair in a hurry...
After a hundred feet or so, Cliste sees that the chimney widens to a chamber another sixty feet below, so she slows and takes each further step with increased caution, watching and listening carefully for any snare, ambush, or other unpleasant surprise. She can sense the air growing colder as she descends, but that's not a terrible surprise. They're not called the Ice Mountains without cause. In addition, she notes a complete lack of light below as well as faint odors of earth and age. While the darkness doesn't impact her vision, she can't help but be concerned for the normally sighted individuals above her.
Kjørynreis was always slightly envious of non-humans and their natural affinity for seeing in the dark. Knowing the light would be troublesome for some members in the party, Kjørynreis figured that him stumbling on everything in the dark would be even more troublesome, especially with how thin and steep the stairs are.
He pulls out a torch and lights it while apologizing, "Cliste, you're going to hate me, but I need light if I am going to see down here. You'd rather have me visible than me tripping and falling over. Trust me." The torch's light is bright, giving him easy visibility of the surrounding area.
"I'll hold it, Reis," Rea motioned for the torch. She was relieved he had mentioned the need for a light, as she needed one as well. Back at the monastery, she had gone three hours in the darkness at one point, because she was too embarrassed to ask for help. "You need both hands on your weapon."
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
"Oh for crying out loud..." Lerikyn shields his eyes so that they adjust to the new light.
As much as he was looking forward to travelling to the depths of this catacomb, he mentally prayed to Mystra that she had chosen the correct group to accompany him. Cliste had proven herself time and again on the road. He'd often thought of turning back but her persistence and endurance always blew such thoughts from his mind. She was a beast.
Kjørynreis seemed the sort that would be able to hold his own in a fight, but he seemed to lack a bit upstairs. That was ok though, he could use someone that would be easy to manipulate if needed.
As for Rea, he was confused as to what use she would be. She was adorned with the clothing of a monk, but her attachment to her companion was outright odd. Perhaps she saw him as a mission from Ilmatar. He figured time will tell. As long as she can hold herself in a fight, that's all that mattered.
The new companion, Sooty, was the most mysterious of all. Lurking in the darkness and preferring the back row. She had the tidings of a wizard, but the demeanor of a street-mage. It made him wonder who she stole her spellbook from.
As his eyes finally adjust he nods towards Cliste, "Lets go lass, the dungeon won't explore itself..."
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Nods to Rae as she takes the torch so it is back further in the group. "I'll be ranging out just outside your light, but I rather you see down this stair than fall on me. If you happen to notice you are putting me back into the light unless I signal for you to move up to me, please slow to match my pace."
She moved slow, but easily down the steep steps listening for anything ahead. She shivered as the air finally got colder, but it always was underground, but if the dwarves hadn't lied about it, once far enough down it pretty much stabilized. Of course, this was the Ice Mountains - ambient underground temperature, icy. At least, it was as bad as being up top with a wind trying to rip your cloak off in the process. Finally, she could sense the stair coming close to the end and the first chamber would be reached soon. It was dark and quiet, but she slowed to be sure she did not miss anything to impede their progress.
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
"If the torch is a big deal, we can go in the dark," Rea said, attempting diplomacy. "Someone will just need to lead us, which might mess up Lerikyn's great marching order. I'm really sorry we're being a bother, but I trust whatever the rest of you think is best."
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
"Nope," Lerikyn gestures forward, "We need you two in tip-top shape, and if light is what you need I'll be sure to help you out with it the next time I commune with the Lady of Mysteries. I don't expect we'll encounter much this early in the catacombs, but you never know."
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Pushing forward, Cliste breaks into the open as the stair descends into a wide corridor. The floor, cracked tiles strewn with bits of masonry from the crumbling walls and ceiling, lies a mere 20 feet below. Though little more than a passable ruin now, she can imagine what it must have once looked like:
The corridor continues only north, it seems, and she sees recesses to the left and right about 15 feet down plus another set at 35 and yet another at 55, though she can barely make out the last set at the perimeter of her vision. She sees the head and hands of a large statue, plus the outstretched arm of another, lying in the corridor at the 15 foot mark. It appears these recesses are occupied, if only by residents of stone.