“I love how the ground comes up to meet my feet here, hiccup, every step,” says the Triton.
On the way over, Dornos takes a break from studying the ground in front of him to look at Meera. His shift in focus causes his unsteady gait to falter, but he recovers and asks with a voice that might suggest he was looking at an adorable little baby, “Could I see your glasses? Fascina-hiccup-ting tools, hardly ever see them here..”
As the party follows Musharib along the north road to Port Nyanzaru a stiff southward wind blows a horrific odor toward the party. Even Musharib retches and spits. He holds his nose with one hand and points to the northwest with the other. "That be tha refuse pit. Tha Seven think't a suitable solution ta collect the waste from the city entire in one location. N'eyesore n'a hazard y'ask Musharib. Offensive t'tha senses t'be sure."
Looking in the direction that Musharib is pointing the peaks of several mountains of garbage can be seen peeking over the edge of a sinkhole. As the party walks toward it some small buildings can be seen nearby and three large ziggurats (fancy word for stepped pyramids) loom over them dwarfing the enormous arch that signals the city's entrance. Shops and tenements of bamboo are jammed onto the terraces of the ziggurats in wild profusion. A narrow wooden bridge connects the upper levels above the press and noise of the street.
A crowd of children dressed in feathered hats and capes races past you, squealing in delighted terror as a street performer costumed as a big-toothed lizard stomps and roars behind them. The whole city seems to be bustling, sweating, laughing, swearing, and singing. A couple rides by on a pair of two legged lizards, the lizards snap at each other playfully as they race by, trying to pass one another and the couple is laughing and blowing kisses at one another. You have to walk around a wagon with a broken axle, an ornery looking lizard with a large frill and three horns is chewing on some vegetation while its masters argue about the best way to repair their vehicle.
"We be passin' through th'Old City t'arrive in Nyanzaru proper. Th'Old City be run by ones bein' called 'beggar princes' but contrary t'tha belief a most the folk here be good folk oft than not. Ain't pretty but where y'make yer livin' be yer home. Them stepped buildin's be the Beggars' Palaces an'... ooh, looks like someone be makin' a run." He says excitedly as he points out an thick group of people of various races, types, size, and status, all crowded around an enormous pit.
Misha suppresses a gag and looks at the refuse pit. "By Bane's Breath, *COUGH*. Such steenk!"
She quickly recovered and enjoyed the sights of the city, but especially took interest in the huge running lizards in the pit.
"What is THEES?!" she squeaks, excited, like a child in a candy store. She takes Meera by the head and turns it so she can see too. "Look! Like, race? Big leezards! How they run!"
"Vot eto da!" Misha gasped, "We no hef theengs like thees bek home!" She gives Meera a sagely nod, and cracks a joke. "If I wear glesses like you, can be smart too, ya?" she laughs loudly and gives you a playful nudge, nearly pushing you off your feet.
Don’t think about the stench, or the sweat, or the close proximity bodies, don’t think about it Sherri. You’re a boss ass *****, don’t let grossness get to you. This is for your sister. Focus on something else, like Misha bullying but not really bullying weak ass Meera, that’s funny! Sherri chuckles lightly to herself before inquiring, “What does Acheron have? Is it, like, war and training all the time? Have any songs or art from your home plane?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
The party follows Musharib to where the road through the Old City splits around a rectangular, stone-lined pit 15 feet deep, 50 feet wide, and 200 feet long. There's a vicious snarl and a squeal as a fat human man with short cropped hair narrowly avoids being pounced on by a pair of small two legged lizards.
Meera actually remembers reading something in a volume about Chultan society about the Executioner's Run, that matches this description. From her recollection, convicted criminals are dropped in at one end and any criminals who make it alive through the gauntlet of carnivores to the far end of the pit can scramble up knotted ropes and win their freedom
Spectators line the walls for the spectacle crowding around low walls that surround the pit. You think you lose sight of Musharib as he pushes his way into a mass of people, but her shoves enough aside that the party is able to get a good view. Toward the far end of the pit, you can make out the shapes of several carnivores fighting over what look like scraps of meet, and intuit that several runners have already fallen. Among the remaining runners, besides the fat human, there is an strange looking bird man with clipped wings, a blue-skinned tiefling, and a trio of dwarves that are making the run. The dwarves appear to be working together, shoving the raptors around with hard concentrated looks in their eyes.
Beyond the raptors, you think you spot a few large cats roaming the field. Toward the end of the pit nearest you, the escape ropes are visible but standing in front of them is another two legged lizard that Meera identifies as an allosaurus which nearly reaches the top of the pit standing at its full height. The allosaurus stomps and roars shaking the ground beneath it as the speeding tiefling leaps over a crouched panther and into the big lizard's view.
"I've read about this before. This is a custom that they have here, it serves as one part execution and one part public entertainment. These people are all criminals and instead of tossing them in prison, the Chultans toss them in here with all these creatures. Anyone who survives wins their freedom. Clearly, the Chultans are confident that few, if any criminals will be able to run through the gauntlet and survive. I suppose it also helps that Chult has such a wide array of natural predators, like that allosaurus over there. Musharib, can we now proceed to Kaya's? As enjoyable as this spectacle is, we do have business to attend do and it isn't getting any less hot out here."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
"No, no much wildlife on Acheron." She says to Sherri and Meera. "Lots of mountains and fire!" she admits. "Acheron is deefrent plane than like how thees planet ees in Prime Material, ya? Acheron ees the plane of Eternal War, where living souls and dead souls end up to fight endless battle while our Great Lord General watches over all. Eet is one of many places souls go when they die, especially if you die in battle! Acheron eetself is collection of about four planetoid cubes, not round like thees planet. Ees very far away." She explains while taking in all the sights. "Currently, plane is locked in massive battle with Asmodeus, so was created to travel to worlds and fight enemies outside of plane to destroy enemies outside. Most native eenhabitants on Acheron spent life training and learning art of war to protect homeland, ya? We not have many theengs like on worlds i have seen so far. For an Acheronia, life is strength, honor, glory, and courage. There is no much else from where I come from."
"Acheron is an eternal battlefield of endless conflict. It is a plane of law where conformity takes precedence over any thoughts of good. Unending battles take place across the entire plane between huge armies, with no chance of victory or cease-fire. Each layer of the plane consists of a huge number of iron cubes of varying size, from continent-sized to small islands not all of these are actually cube-shaped, but they are generally called cubes nonetheless. The cubes float in an air-filled, infinite space, occasionally colliding with each other. Every cube face is habitable, with gravity always being directed towards the cube's center; furthermore, the cubes are filled with caverns and tunnels. The light on Acheron varies between that similar to bright moonlight to that of a bright sky from a red sun. The sound of battle resonates around the plane and can always be heard in the distance. As with other outer planes, Acheron is spatially infinite, consisting of four infinite layers or sub-planes. Acheron's first layer, Avalas, shares borders with the neighboring planes of the The Nine Hells and Mechanus; travel is possible between Acheron and these planes at certain locations, and for countless Eons, there has been a great war between Acheron and The Hells."
Aphos ignores the extra-planar lecture, staring in disgust at the pit, "Giving someone a chance to fight for their life is admirable, but this is a mockery. Might as well tie them down or break their leg and expect them to fight. Give them a blade of spear at least and this could be sport." His hand wraps around the sword at his side and piecemeal plates of his armor begin to shift and glow, "I'd just as soon fight in that pit for them against these beasts or against a wave of criminals and keep the beasts away."
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Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
"It's an execution. It's not intended to be fair for those in the pit, Aphos. I imagine that the entertainment mainly comes from watching the contestants get devoured. A number of cultures carry out public executions for this very reason. How do they deal with criminals in Acheron, Misha?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
"On Acheron, creemeenals killed without hesitation, and always as violently as poseeble." Misha stated casually. "My society believes in order, glory, and honor. To lack thees is to defy the weel of our Great General."
"The weel of immortal weesdom and tactic, of course, and so much more! He is the only one worthy to rule my people." Misha says proudly to Dornos. "It is by hees hand that all of us shall be victorious in our meesion - to know Bane is to know no fear. Much honor and glory to us!"
"On a quest for much honor and glory, my new wet feesh friend!" Misha says proudly.
“I love how the ground comes up to meet my feet here, hiccup, every step,” says the Triton.
On the way over, Dornos takes a break from studying the ground in front of him to look at Meera. His shift in focus causes his unsteady gait to falter, but he recovers and asks with a voice that might suggest he was looking at an adorable little baby, “Could I see your glasses? Fascina-hiccup-ting tools, hardly ever see them here..”
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"I sort of need them to see. So unfortunately, I can't give them to you."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
As the party follows Musharib along the north road to Port Nyanzaru a stiff southward wind blows a horrific odor toward the party. Even Musharib retches and spits. He holds his nose with one hand and points to the northwest with the other. "That be tha refuse pit. Tha Seven think't a suitable solution ta collect the waste from the city entire in one location. N'eyesore n'a hazard y'ask Musharib. Offensive t'tha senses t'be sure."
Looking in the direction that Musharib is pointing the peaks of several mountains of garbage can be seen peeking over the edge of a sinkhole. As the party walks toward it some small buildings can be seen nearby and three large ziggurats (fancy word for stepped pyramids) loom over them dwarfing the enormous arch that signals the city's entrance. Shops and tenements of bamboo are jammed onto the terraces of the ziggurats in wild profusion. A narrow wooden bridge connects the upper levels above the press and noise of the street.
A crowd of children dressed in feathered hats and capes races past you, squealing in delighted terror as a street performer costumed as a big-toothed lizard stomps and roars behind them. The whole city seems to be bustling, sweating, laughing, swearing, and singing. A couple rides by on a pair of two legged lizards, the lizards snap at each other playfully as they race by, trying to pass one another and the couple is laughing and blowing kisses at one another. You have to walk around a wagon with a broken axle, an ornery looking lizard with a large frill and three horns is chewing on some vegetation while its masters argue about the best way to repair their vehicle.
"We be passin' through th'Old City t'arrive in Nyanzaru proper. Th'Old City be run by ones bein' called 'beggar princes' but contrary t'tha belief a most the folk here be good folk oft than not. Ain't pretty but where y'make yer livin' be yer home. Them stepped buildin's be the Beggars' Palaces an'... ooh, looks like someone be makin' a run." He says excitedly as he points out an thick group of people of various races, types, size, and status, all crowded around an enormous pit.
~♡~
Meera puts one hand over her nose and waves the other in an attempt to ward off the foul smelling air. "What do you mean by 'making a run'?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Misha suppresses a gag and looks at the refuse pit. "By Bane's Breath, *COUGH*. Such steenk!"
She quickly recovered and enjoyed the sights of the city, but especially took interest in the huge running lizards in the pit.
"What is THEES?!" she squeaks, excited, like a child in a candy store. She takes Meera by the head and turns it so she can see too. "Look! Like, race? Big leezards! How they run!"
Nature: 11
Meera attempts to identify the lizard creatures. "It appears that this is how the Chultans entertain themselves, Misha."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"Vot eto da!" Misha gasped, "We no hef theengs like thees bek home!" She gives Meera a sagely nod, and cracks a joke. "If I wear glesses like you, can be smart too, ya?" she laughs loudly and gives you a playful nudge, nearly pushing you off your feet.
The smaller woman takes a moment to balance herself after Misha nudges her. "Is there no wildlife in Acheron, Misha? Hmm. That's curious."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Don’t think about the stench, or the sweat, or the close proximity bodies, don’t think about it Sherri. You’re a boss ass *****, don’t let grossness get to you. This is for your sister. Focus on something else, like Misha bullying but not really bullying weak ass Meera, that’s funny! Sherri chuckles lightly to herself before inquiring, “What does Acheron have? Is it, like, war and training all the time? Have any songs or art from your home plane?”
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
The party follows Musharib to where the road through the Old City splits around a rectangular, stone-lined pit 15 feet deep, 50 feet wide, and 200 feet long. There's a vicious snarl and a squeal as a fat human man with short cropped hair narrowly avoids being pounced on by a pair of small two legged lizards.
Meera actually remembers reading something in a volume about Chultan society about the Executioner's Run, that matches this description. From her recollection, convicted criminals are dropped in at one end and any criminals who make it alive through the gauntlet of carnivores to the far end of the pit can scramble up knotted ropes and win their freedom
Spectators line the walls for the spectacle crowding around low walls that surround the pit. You think you lose sight of Musharib as he pushes his way into a mass of people, but her shoves enough aside that the party is able to get a good view. Toward the far end of the pit, you can make out the shapes of several carnivores fighting over what look like scraps of meet, and intuit that several runners have already fallen. Among the remaining runners, besides the fat human, there is an strange looking bird man with clipped wings, a blue-skinned tiefling, and a trio of dwarves that are making the run. The dwarves appear to be working together, shoving the raptors around with hard concentrated looks in their eyes.
Beyond the raptors, you think you spot a few large cats roaming the field. Toward the end of the pit nearest you, the escape ropes are visible but standing in front of them is another two legged lizard that Meera identifies as an allosaurus which nearly reaches the top of the pit standing at its full height. The allosaurus stomps and roars shaking the ground beneath it as the speeding tiefling leaps over a crouched panther and into the big lizard's view.
~♡~
"I've read about this before. This is a custom that they have here, it serves as one part execution and one part public entertainment. These people are all criminals and instead of tossing them in prison, the Chultans toss them in here with all these creatures. Anyone who survives wins their freedom. Clearly, the Chultans are confident that few, if any criminals will be able to run through the gauntlet and survive. I suppose it also helps that Chult has such a wide array of natural predators, like that allosaurus over there. Musharib, can we now proceed to Kaya's? As enjoyable as this spectacle is, we do have business to attend do and it isn't getting any less hot out here."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"No, no much wildlife on Acheron." She says to Sherri and Meera. "Lots of mountains and fire!" she admits. "Acheron is deefrent plane than like how thees planet ees in Prime Material, ya? Acheron ees the plane of Eternal War, where living souls and dead souls end up to fight endless battle while our Great Lord General watches over all. Eet is one of many places souls go when they die, especially if you die in battle! Acheron eetself is collection of about four planetoid cubes, not round like thees planet. Ees very far away." She explains while taking in all the sights. "Currently, plane is locked in massive battle with Asmodeus, so was created to travel to worlds and fight enemies outside of plane to destroy enemies outside. Most native eenhabitants on Acheron spent life training and learning art of war to protect homeland, ya? We not have many theengs like on worlds i have seen so far. For an Acheronia, life is strength, honor, glory, and courage. There is no much else from where I come from."
"Acheron is an eternal battlefield of endless conflict. It is a plane of law where conformity takes precedence over any thoughts of good. Unending battles take place across the entire plane between huge armies, with no chance of victory or cease-fire. Each layer of the plane consists of a huge number of iron cubes of varying size, from continent-sized to small islands not all of these are actually cube-shaped, but they are generally called cubes nonetheless. The cubes float in an air-filled, infinite space, occasionally colliding with each other. Every cube face is habitable, with gravity always being directed towards the cube's center; furthermore, the cubes are filled with caverns and tunnels. The light on Acheron varies between that similar to bright moonlight to that of a bright sky from a red sun. The sound of battle resonates around the plane and can always be heard in the distance. As with other outer planes, Acheron is spatially infinite, consisting of four infinite layers or sub-planes. Acheron's first layer, Avalas, shares borders with the neighboring planes of the The Nine Hells and Mechanus; travel is possible between Acheron and these planes at certain locations, and for countless Eons, there has been a great war between Acheron and The Hells."
- EXCERPT FROM THE MASTER ACHERONIAN TOME OF AGES
Aphos ignores the extra-planar lecture, staring in disgust at the pit, "Giving someone a chance to fight for their life is admirable, but this is a mockery. Might as well tie them down or break their leg and expect them to fight. Give them a blade of spear at least and this could be sport." His hand wraps around the sword at his side and piecemeal plates of his armor begin to shift and glow, "I'd just as soon fight in that pit for them against these beasts or against a wave of criminals and keep the beasts away."
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
"It's an execution. It's not intended to be fair for those in the pit, Aphos. I imagine that the entertainment mainly comes from watching the contestants get devoured. A number of cultures carry out public executions for this very reason. How do they deal with criminals in Acheron, Misha?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"On Acheron, creemeenals killed without hesitation, and always as violently as poseeble." Misha stated casually. "My society believes in order, glory, and honor. To lack thees is to defy the weel of our Great General."
"Wheel? What sort of wheel does your gennral have? Sounds powerful," Dornos slurs, his head nodding a little as he struggles to stay awake.
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
"The weel of immortal weesdom and tactic, of course, and so much more! He is the only one worthy to rule my people." Misha says proudly to Dornos. "It is by hees hand that all of us shall be victorious in our meesion - to know Bane is to know no fear. Much honor and glory to us!"
"I believe that she's talking about the will of Bane, Dornos. It only sounds like she's talking about a wheel because of her accent."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"Well, I wheel a will, and will and wheel," Dornos replies in a very sober tone, then swallows in a heroic attempt to keep something down.
After a moment, he looks around. "Where're we going?"
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM