Jove speaks to the woman. "Yes. I only have one question for now, as I believe our time to be brief. You obviously know me as Jove. What do I call you, and the other I spoke to earlier?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Abraxas listens to the answer to Jove's question and if it includes a name consults his mental arcane, religious, and historical library: 21 (for whichever skill, if any, you think is best).
He will ask, How do we save this world and return to ours?
Harmony had listened as Oli questioned how they can not reach the moons in their world before explaining about the nine moons, three of them able to reach them by teleportation circles. Vandyr is the large red moon as The Order handles the teleportation circle for that moon and normally there is a fee, but they should be able to be given access with how likely Mitsi will be pleased with their Ice Basilisk investigation. She agreed with the others about getting back to and talking to Mitsi before teleporting to Vandyr. They set up camp and she went to sleep along with most of the others, but this time she had a dream. She was around a fire with Abraxas and Jove in the middle, but no Olive or Oli at all. Instead there was a beautiful human woman radiating warmth and happiness, very much feeling like dancing and singing as she listened to her. So she stood up and started to sing one of her songs, dancing as well. While doing so, she had heard Jove's question, confused. What other one did he speak to earlier? "Why were we of all people chosen to come here?" Harmony sang the question to the woman, still continuing to sing and dance.
"I see. Where is it then that you grew up in your world? Is magic not taught in your cities? It was a part of my life growing up, you see; just about every other lesson. Though I cannot use any myself, arcana is etched into my mind...most everyone in Ruskivek, certainly," Oli comments to Olive at the fire.
_____________________________
In the dream, the woman smiles brightly at Jove. "Many know me as many different things. Some call me the inspiration in a painter's brush, the muse to a lyricist's page. Some might call me art and music itself. But most would refer to me as Gabrielle. The other..." she places a hand on Jove's forehead for a few seconds, then smiles again, but does not elaborate.
She closes her eyes, silent for a moment as Abraxas and Harmony ask their questions, as if reveling in the moment. "So little has been explained, and yet you know so much. Indeed, you have much to save."
"You were not chosen," she says to Harmony. "Not directly. But it seems that Jove formed a closer bond on Toril than we had even hoped he might."
"Jove was chosen. Along with those you know as Olive and Isabella. Our time together is short, so I will tell you all that I am able. The world is at risk of ending."
Gabrielle answers, "This world, at first. But the danger will not stop on Rikirta."
"You see, the presence of evil on Rikirta does not hold a candle to your world on Toril. Long ago, our pantheon took an oath that we would not interfere in the mortal realm. We remain attentive to those that follow us, and provide guidance, but no direct manipulation is allowed. Think for a moment on the goblins and orcs of your world. Because of Gruumsh and Maglubiyet's direct interference in their being, they are inherently vicious, brutal, and evil, with desires no greater than chaos. In contrast, you have met the goblins of Rikirta; cunning tricksters at heart, but no more inherently good or evil than any given human. Orks on Rikirta are much closer to Toril's half-orcs than Gruumsh's twisted creations."
"Unfortunately, certain deities have broken this oath. The portals created beneath the fallen lands of Varokaj were the first action taken in their betrayal. I have shown you a vision of what will come if they are not stopped. And because good has largely won over evil on Rikirta, adventurers on this world do not have the strength needed to save it. For that, we reached out to Toril, a world plagued with strife and evil, whose heroes' abilities put those on Rikirta to shame."
"We were each able to choose only one, lest we tear the link between our worlds apart. Jove, I chose you, for with your innate fascination with astronomy, you had almost uncovered the existence of Rikirta on your own. Surely you questioned where your powers came from, or why my orb was granted to you. Your "Great Orb" is fashioned from the very link in space and time that allowed me to bring you here. Abraxas and Harmony, you were torn from Toril with Jove because of your bond to him and the orb. Your help is unexpected, but most welcome."
"Olive, Isabella, and Aisha were chosen by my allies. Olive, by Yuloss, he of forests and hunting, for her affinity to the wilderness. Isabella, by Kayel, he of strength and battle, for her incredible pound-for-pound strength. And Aisha, by Ginan, he of stealth and twilight, for her ability to harness the power of the night sky. You will meet them in time, as certain as you will meet those who wish to bring this world to ruin."
"By calling to Toril, we avoid breaking our oath, and our actions remain hidden from our enemies. One of them is among you even now. Zuzeca, he of snakes, unaware that the powerful being that answered the call of his Ice Basilisk is none other than my chosen one from Toril."
"I am confident that you will win this war. Defeat them beyond fire, beyond frost, and beyond twilight, and you will return to Toril the saviors of an entire world."
And with that, providing only a brief moment for comment, she spreads her arms with another smile, and you awake suddenly. Olive and Oli sit nearby, chatting briefly around the camp's fire.
Jove is completely awestruck. He had always had suspicious of a cataclysm, and voiced it to those who listened. But obviously there was some doubt. To make an OOC: IRL analogy, it is as if Jesus appeared in front of a Christian and slapped him in the face with his sandle.) He is just frozen. Then he smiles. He waits for a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Oli, we need to find the nearest and greatest library. We need to learn everything we can about teleportation and planar travel. Oh how did I miss it. Olive, iz. I know why we came here."
He speaks to them telepathically. "We were summoned by gods to stop the end of the world. And I know just how all of you can help."
"Yuloss is the god of forestry. The Varin pay particular homage to him, as do many druids and rangers. Aisha is a name unfamiliar to me," Oli answers.
Compared to the excitement of the last few nights, the next tenday and a half is much less eventful. Returning to the rolling plains outside of Ruskivek, you gradually note the return of wildlife and a more pleasant air about the farms outside the walls of Ruskivek proper. Isabella is strangely quiet throughout the trip, barely speaking a word as she forages each day.
It is early evening by the time you reach the city gates, and the guards allow you through after a quick conversation with Oli.
Ruskivek Known Places: Laughing Rhino (inn and tavern) Order of Thalassa (guild)
OOC: Two days of rations have been removed from each character's inventory (used in the desert where there was nothing for Isabella to forage).
Where to? As a reminder, here are the current leads you have:
The Ice Basilisk: You have investigated the Ice Basilisk and deactivated its magic, finding numerous journals and histories of the fallen lands of Varokaj in the process. This still needs to be reported to Mitsi at the Order of Thalassa.
Orb of the Magi: The Order of Thalassa is offering 200 gold per contractor to recover an artifact called the Orb of the Magi from Vandyr.
The Annual Vandyr Hunt: A flyer mentioned the Annual Vandyr Hunt, sponsored by Mayor Cheval. Sign-ups are located at the Fiend's Forge
Apocalyptic Visions: You shared a vision from Gabrielle of a ritual led by scaled creatures on Vandyr that led to the destruction of the world. The vision showed a river being diverted to the location of the ritual that prevented the destruction.
"We should probably go back to Mitsi before we do anything else. We consumed a lot of our rations on the journey to the Ice Basilisk and I can't buy any more right now."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Harmony had heard as the woman introduced herself as Gabrielle before saying that she and Abraxas had not been chosen, not directly at least due to how Jove formed closer bonds on Toril than they thought. Jove had been chosen along with Olive and Isabella, now mentioning that the world is at risk of ending. Harmony immediately stopped, disappointed that she had not been chosen but stunned to hear that the world might end. She listened as the woman explained everything about Rikirta and the pantheon, how certain deities broke the oath and that they reached out to Toril to find adventurers to stop the evil. Jove had been chosen by Gabrielle and her and Abraxas came here only because of their close bond to him and the orb, their help most unexpected but welcome. Harmony nodded as Olive, Isabella, and an Aisha were chosen by Gabrielle's allies but wondering what Aisha is like since they haven't met them yet. She was surprised to hear that one of their enemies is among them, Zuzeca of snakes who is unaware that Jove had answered his call and is a chosen one from Toril. So that's why Jove went unconscious, because of Zuzeca did something to him with the Ice Basilisk? "Yes, of course!" she had said when Gabrielle said that she was confident that they will win the war, to defeat them and return to Toril saviors of an entire world. Then suddenly she woke up as she sat up, seeing Olive and Oli sitting by the fire talking, hearing Olive ask if they had a dream. "We certainly did! We know why we are here now!" Harmony had said back, nodding as Jove also said they need to learn everything about teleportation and planar travel, telepathically telling them why they were summoned here and how they can help. Eventually they made their way back to Ruskivek, thinking of what to do next when she heard Olive. "Yeah, we should definitely talk to Mitsi first and then see about getting to Vandyr." Harmony had said to everyone, eager to get started on helping to stop the enemies and save this world.
Jove agrees. "Our best course of action, I think, is to meet with Misti. Perhaps she can give us directions to the nearest archives. I'd like to do some studying, especially the maps. Maybe she can also help us find this Aisha figure. They may be of help."
"I don't have an aversion to it. I just leave it to those who know it better than I do."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
As Jove wakes up, he gasps. "Oh not again... Did anyone else have a fire dream again?"Ignore this for now!
--- --- We want Grung! --- ---
~https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=DragonbornDoug ~
OOC: Jove hasn't quite woken up yet. Feel free to speak with the woman in the dream along with Abraxas and Harmony.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: Oh snap. Sorry. I misunderstood.
Jove speaks to the woman. "Yes. I only have one question for now, as I believe our time to be brief. You obviously know me as Jove. What do I call you, and the other I spoke to earlier?
--- --- We want Grung! --- ---
~https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=DragonbornDoug ~
Abraxas listens to the answer to Jove's question and if it includes a name consults his mental arcane, religious, and historical library: 21 (for whichever skill, if any, you think is best).
He will ask, How do we save this world and return to ours?
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Harmony had listened as Oli questioned how they can not reach the moons in their world before explaining about the nine moons, three of them able to reach them by teleportation circles. Vandyr is the large red moon as The Order handles the teleportation circle for that moon and normally there is a fee, but they should be able to be given access with how likely Mitsi will be pleased with their Ice Basilisk investigation. She agreed with the others about getting back to and talking to Mitsi before teleporting to Vandyr. They set up camp and she went to sleep along with most of the others, but this time she had a dream. She was around a fire with Abraxas and Jove in the middle, but no Olive or Oli at all. Instead there was a beautiful human woman radiating warmth and happiness, very much feeling like dancing and singing as she listened to her. So she stood up and started to sing one of her songs, dancing as well. While doing so, she had heard Jove's question, confused. What other one did he speak to earlier? "Why were we of all people chosen to come here?" Harmony sang the question to the woman, still continuing to sing and dance.
"I see. Where is it then that you grew up in your world? Is magic not taught in your cities? It was a part of my life growing up, you see; just about every other lesson. Though I cannot use any myself, arcana is etched into my mind...most everyone in Ruskivek, certainly," Oli comments to Olive at the fire.
_____________________________
In the dream, the woman smiles brightly at Jove. "Many know me as many different things. Some call me the inspiration in a painter's brush, the muse to a lyricist's page. Some might call me art and music itself. But most would refer to me as Gabrielle. The other..." she places a hand on Jove's forehead for a few seconds, then smiles again, but does not elaborate.
She closes her eyes, silent for a moment as Abraxas and Harmony ask their questions, as if reveling in the moment. "So little has been explained, and yet you know so much. Indeed, you have much to save."
"You were not chosen," she says to Harmony. "Not directly. But it seems that Jove formed a closer bond on Toril than we had even hoped he might."
"Jove was chosen. Along with those you know as Olive and Isabella. Our time together is short, so I will tell you all that I am able. The world is at risk of ending."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Jove mutters under his breath. "I ******* knew it."
Then he pipes up. "When you say world. Do you mean this world or Toril?"
--- --- We want Grung! --- ---
~https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=DragonbornDoug ~
"I grew up in a cabin in the woods with my parents. I didn't really have that much exposure to magic or magical texts."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Gabrielle answers, "This world, at first. But the danger will not stop on Rikirta."
"You see, the presence of evil on Rikirta does not hold a candle to your world on Toril. Long ago, our pantheon took an oath that we would not interfere in the mortal realm. We remain attentive to those that follow us, and provide guidance, but no direct manipulation is allowed. Think for a moment on the goblins and orcs of your world. Because of Gruumsh and Maglubiyet's direct interference in their being, they are inherently vicious, brutal, and evil, with desires no greater than chaos. In contrast, you have met the goblins of Rikirta; cunning tricksters at heart, but no more inherently good or evil than any given human. Orks on Rikirta are much closer to Toril's half-orcs than Gruumsh's twisted creations."
"Unfortunately, certain deities have broken this oath. The portals created beneath the fallen lands of Varokaj were the first action taken in their betrayal. I have shown you a vision of what will come if they are not stopped. And because good has largely won over evil on Rikirta, adventurers on this world do not have the strength needed to save it. For that, we reached out to Toril, a world plagued with strife and evil, whose heroes' abilities put those on Rikirta to shame."
"We were each able to choose only one, lest we tear the link between our worlds apart. Jove, I chose you, for with your innate fascination with astronomy, you had almost uncovered the existence of Rikirta on your own. Surely you questioned where your powers came from, or why my orb was granted to you. Your "Great Orb" is fashioned from the very link in space and time that allowed me to bring you here. Abraxas and Harmony, you were torn from Toril with Jove because of your bond to him and the orb. Your help is unexpected, but most welcome."
"Olive, Isabella, and Aisha were chosen by my allies. Olive, by Yuloss, he of forests and hunting, for her affinity to the wilderness. Isabella, by Kayel, he of strength and battle, for her incredible pound-for-pound strength. And Aisha, by Ginan, he of stealth and twilight, for her ability to harness the power of the night sky. You will meet them in time, as certain as you will meet those who wish to bring this world to ruin."
"By calling to Toril, we avoid breaking our oath, and our actions remain hidden from our enemies. One of them is among you even now. Zuzeca, he of snakes, unaware that the powerful being that answered the call of his Ice Basilisk is none other than my chosen one from Toril."
"I am confident that you will win this war. Defeat them beyond fire, beyond frost, and beyond twilight, and you will return to Toril the saviors of an entire world."
And with that, providing only a brief moment for comment, she spreads her arms with another smile, and you awake suddenly. Olive and Oli sit nearby, chatting briefly around the camp's fire.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Olive waves to her friends as they wake up. "Oh, hello. Did you all have another dream?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Jove is completely awestruck. He had always had suspicious of a cataclysm, and voiced it to those who listened. But obviously there was some doubt. To make an OOC: IRL analogy, it is as if Jesus appeared in front of a Christian and slapped him in the face with his sandle.) He is just frozen. Then he smiles. He waits for a moment to gather his thoughts.
"Oli, we need to find the nearest and greatest library. We need to learn everything we can about teleportation and planar travel. Oh how did I miss it. Olive, iz. I know why we came here."
He speaks to them telepathically. "We were summoned by gods to stop the end of the world. And I know just how all of you can help."
OOC: I am assuming Aisha is the new player?
--- --- We want Grung! --- ---
~https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=DragonbornDoug ~
Abraxas is excited to explore the library at Ruskivek and hopes they are close to arriving.
"Olive," he says, "does the name 'Yuloss' mean anything to you? Or Oli to you? Oli do you know a Aisha?"
Zuzeca, he thinks. An enemy among us?
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
"No. Should it?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"Yuloss is the god of forestry. The Varin pay particular homage to him, as do many druids and rangers. Aisha is a name unfamiliar to me," Oli answers.
Compared to the excitement of the last few nights, the next tenday and a half is much less eventful. Returning to the rolling plains outside of Ruskivek, you gradually note the return of wildlife and a more pleasant air about the farms outside the walls of Ruskivek proper. Isabella is strangely quiet throughout the trip, barely speaking a word as she forages each day.
It is early evening by the time you reach the city gates, and the guards allow you through after a quick conversation with Oli.
Ruskivek Known Places:
Laughing Rhino (inn and tavern)
Order of Thalassa (guild)
OOC: Two days of rations have been removed from each character's inventory (used in the desert where there was nothing for Isabella to forage).
Where to? As a reminder, here are the current leads you have:
The Ice Basilisk: You have investigated the Ice Basilisk and deactivated its magic, finding numerous journals and histories of the fallen lands of Varokaj in the process. This still needs to be reported to Mitsi at the Order of Thalassa.
Orb of the Magi: The Order of Thalassa is offering 200 gold per contractor to recover an artifact called the Orb of the Magi from Vandyr.
The Annual Vandyr Hunt: A flyer mentioned the Annual Vandyr Hunt, sponsored by Mayor Cheval. Sign-ups are located at the Fiend's Forge
Apocalyptic Visions: You shared a vision from Gabrielle of a ritual led by scaled creatures on Vandyr that led to the destruction of the world. The vision showed a river being diverted to the location of the ritual that prevented the destruction.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"We should probably go back to Mitsi before we do anything else. We consumed a lot of our rations on the journey to the Ice Basilisk and I can't buy any more right now."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Harmony had heard as the woman introduced herself as Gabrielle before saying that she and Abraxas had not been chosen, not directly at least due to how Jove formed closer bonds on Toril than they thought. Jove had been chosen along with Olive and Isabella, now mentioning that the world is at risk of ending. Harmony immediately stopped, disappointed that she had not been chosen but stunned to hear that the world might end. She listened as the woman explained everything about Rikirta and the pantheon, how certain deities broke the oath and that they reached out to Toril to find adventurers to stop the evil. Jove had been chosen by Gabrielle and her and Abraxas came here only because of their close bond to him and the orb, their help most unexpected but welcome. Harmony nodded as Olive, Isabella, and an Aisha were chosen by Gabrielle's allies but wondering what Aisha is like since they haven't met them yet. She was surprised to hear that one of their enemies is among them, Zuzeca of snakes who is unaware that Jove had answered his call and is a chosen one from Toril. So that's why Jove went unconscious, because of Zuzeca did something to him with the Ice Basilisk? "Yes, of course!" she had said when Gabrielle said that she was confident that they will win the war, to defeat them and return to Toril saviors of an entire world. Then suddenly she woke up as she sat up, seeing Olive and Oli sitting by the fire talking, hearing Olive ask if they had a dream. "We certainly did! We know why we are here now!" Harmony had said back, nodding as Jove also said they need to learn everything about teleportation and planar travel, telepathically telling them why they were summoned here and how they can help. Eventually they made their way back to Ruskivek, thinking of what to do next when she heard Olive. "Yeah, we should definitely talk to Mitsi first and then see about getting to Vandyr." Harmony had said to everyone, eager to get started on helping to stop the enemies and save this world.
(OOC - Token Post so that I am updated on new posts. Also, hello. I am Aisha. And no I don't 'exist' yet)
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Jove agrees. "Our best course of action, I think, is to meet with Misti. Perhaps she can give us directions to the nearest archives. I'd like to do some studying, especially the maps. Maybe she can also help us find this Aisha figure. They may be of help."
--- --- We want Grung! --- ---
~https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?author=DragonbornDoug ~
"I agree that we should visit Misti," Abraxas says. "She knows where the library is."
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard