"The terrible person that hurt me. Scientists are like Wizards but without magic, more like Alchemists, I suppose. This Scientist... she tried to be a God in a way, and she hurt lots of children on that path."
"Hurt hatchlings? Scientist bad! Meepo no like scientist! If Meepo see, Meepo shoot for Arxius."
As Meepo finishes saying this, Chatra wanders over to assume his watch. Thumbing at Meepo, Chatra asks, "What the hell has got him all worked up Arxius? It's a wonder anyone is catching any shut eye with all his damn chirping."
Grom awakens from his slumber with a grunt and a few groans and aches... reaches over grabs his axe and checks his spell book is still where he left it.. he rises up, grabs his water skin takes a sip and spits it out then takes a long drink.. puts it away and will pull out his pipe and some of the smoke he got and will light a pipe and make his way towards Arxius and Meepo and Chatra.
Grom awakens from his slumber with a grunt and a few groans and aches... reaches over grabs his axe and checks his spell book is still where he left it.. he rises up, grabs his water skin takes a sip and spits it out then takes a long drink.. puts it away and will pull out his pipe and some of the smoke he got and will light a pipe and make his way towards Arxius and Meepo and Chatra.
Meepo sniffs the air as you approach. He looks at you with his head cocked and chirps, "What that? ...Smell good, cook meat with?"
"The terrible person that hurt me. Scientists are like Wizards but without magic, more like Alchemists, I suppose. This Scientist... she tried to be a God in a way, and she hurt lots of children on that path."
"Hurt hatchlings? Scientist bad! Meepo no like scientist! If Meepo see, Meepo shoot for Arxius."
As Meepo finishes saying this, Chatra wanders over to assume his watch. Thumbing at Meepo, Chatra asks, "What the hell has got him all worked up Arxius? It's a wonder anyone is catching any shut eye with all his damn chirping."
"My apologies we were... discussing scars. I believe our watch is ended anyway," Arxius says, getting to her feet.
Grom awakens from his slumber with a grunt and a few groans and aches... reaches over grabs his axe and checks his spell book is still where he left it.. he rises up, grabs his water skin takes a sip and spits it out then takes a long drink.. puts it away and will pull out his pipe and some of the smoke he got and will light a pipe and make his way towards Arxius and Meepo and Chatra.
Meepo sniffs the air as you approach. He looks at you with his head cocked and chirps, "What that? ...Smell good, cook meat with?"
Grom stares at Meepo puzzled by what she is asking.. having just awoke takes him a second to grasp what she is asking... Takes a puff... (light bulb) "OHH this is not for dear. you smoke it."
"The terrible person that hurt me. Scientists are like Wizards but without magic, more like Alchemists, I suppose. This Scientist... she tried to be a God in a way, and she hurt lots of children on that path."
"Hurt hatchlings? Scientist bad! Meepo no like scientist! If Meepo see, Meepo shoot for Arxius."
As Meepo finishes saying this, Chatra wanders over to assume his watch. Thumbing at Meepo, Chatra asks, "What the hell has got him all worked up Arxius? It's a wonder anyone is catching any shut eye with all his damn chirping."
"My apologies we were... discussing scars. I believe our watch is ended anyway," Arxius says, getting to her feet.
"Mmmhmm.. right then.. goodnight to you..." Chatra murmurs.
Grom awakens from his slumber with a grunt and a few groans and aches... reaches over grabs his axe and checks his spell book is still where he left it.. he rises up, grabs his water skin takes a sip and spits it out then takes a long drink.. puts it away and will pull out his pipe and some of the smoke he got and will light a pipe and make his way towards Arxius and Meepo and Chatra.
Meepo sniffs the air as you approach. He looks at you with his head cocked and chirps, "What that? ...Smell good, cook meat with?"
Grom stares at Meepo puzzled by what she is asking.. having just awoke takes him a second to grasp what she is asking... Takes a puff... (light bulb) "OHH this is not for dear. you smoke it."
Arxius returns to her bedroll, leaving Meepo to bond with the guys, to discover Rees has taken her pillow. She'll consider pushing the changeling onto her side and taking it back, but in the end... she grew up on a cold stone floor. The bedroll is good enough. She sets everything down beside her and lays down to sleep.
Grom awakens from his slumber with a grunt and a few groans and aches... reaches over grabs his axe and checks his spell book is still where he left it.. he rises up, grabs his water skin takes a sip and spits it out then takes a long drink.. puts it away and will pull out his pipe and some of the smoke he got and will light a pipe and make his way towards Arxius and Meepo and Chatra.
Meepo sniffs the air as you approach. He looks at you with his head cocked and chirps, "What that? ...Smell good, cook meat with?"
Grom stares at Meepo puzzled by what she is asking.. having just awoke takes him a second to grasp what she is asking... Takes a puff... (light bulb) "OHH this is not for dear. you smoke it."
Meepo looks at you and asks, "Meepo try?"
"..... (Grom strokes his beard) Sure why not... (hands it to HIM) just put this end to you lips and Breath in..."
Meepo takes the pipe in both of his claws and looks over it curiously, before putting it in his mouth and inhaling deeply. Meepo then tries to blow a smoke ring out of his nostrils...
You watch as two small rings escape Meepo's nostrils and then slowly grow larger as they float away from him. Meepo claps his hands together with glee and exclaims, "Meepo like dragon!"
Chatra just shakes his head and takes a seat near the fire facing the southern door which has yet to be opened. He takes out his lute and begins fiddling with it.
In nature several species of birds, fish, and arthropods regularly practice brood parasitism, or non-reciprocal offspring-swapping. Rather than raising their young on their own, they will lay their egg in another's nest, leaving the burden of raising their young on the unsuspecting parents, which are of another species altogether. More often than not, the invading species hatches sooner than its "step-siblings" and grows faster, eventually hogging most nourishment brought in and may actually "evict" the young of the host species by pushing them out of their own nest.
Perhaps you have heard tell of this ill luck happening upon a nearby village to a family with a small humanoid child. A perfectly healthy young babe might be put to sleep one night, only to wake the next day appearing sickly and pale. The child will remain as such and perhaps even worsen as the days pass. The child won't grow in size like a normal child, but they may begin to grow a beard or long teeth. Though the child may still appear sick, they may also begin to display intelligence far beyond their apparent years, as well as possess uncanny insight. What could explain such a curse? Did the husband cheat on the wife? Did the wife look upon another babe with envy? Could it be the child was replaced with some sort of fey creature from the Shadowfell?
Oh what to do in a case such as this.
Surely, the parents cannot endanger the rest of their family with a child such as this in the mix? Surely, the village cannot be home to a child with features of a monster? Could you raise this child as your own? No? Then surely you can not blame the parents, or the village. Yes, surely the child must be cast out.
If a child such as this is destined for a life of solitude, abuse, and desuetude, then can one blame the child stealing and committing other felonies just to survive? Surely. That child should be put out of its misery. No?
Yes. Surely you should drown the child, or drive it from your sight. Drive it from the village and rid yourself of the fright. Do it! Now, be quick about it!
Oh.
Oh dear.
Where is the child? Have you seen it?
No? Well then.
This must have all been a hypothetical. A wives tale really. There was no child to begin with right? Surely.
We find Rees resting soundly with her head on her stolen pillow. A smile is drawn across her lips for the first time in a long while. The prospect of coin, food in her belly, and perhaps a nice roof over her head for some time keeps her from dreaming of darker days. Though weary of her new compatriots she rests easy with Arxius by her side. That is until she feels the brush of something soft run across the bottom of her naked foot...
The smile fades slightly as she pulls the foot back under the blanket and shifts in her bedroll. The smile returns as she grows comfortable once again. A few moments later Rees' brow furrows as something tickles her ear. She groans, "Stop it Arxius.. it's not morning yet." Alas, no response is given to her complaint. A few more moments pass and Rees is thumped hard in the back. She yells, "Hey!" as her eyes snap open. Though she looks over and finds Arxius asleep. Muttering to herself, "Nice try Arxius" she lays back down and closes her eyes as she looks at the ceiling.
A few more moments pass by and Rees eyes remain closed as everything is silent. Then...
Seemingly out of nowhere something pounces onto Rees' chest and slaps her in the face with a furred paw.
"Waake upp Rees!" a silky smooth male voice says.
"Wakee up sleepy head! Hehe!"
Rees awakes with a start and the creature jumps from her chest.
"Folllow me Rees! Haha." the creature says as it heads towards the southern door which leads back to the fountains.
Rees blinks sleep from her eyes and stares at the creature mouth agape. It pads gracefully to the southern door and suddenly disappears behind it without even opening it.
Rees hears the silky smooth voice call out, "Follow me! Quickly now! And be quiet. Don't wake the others!"
The art of disappearing was one of the first lessons Rees learned both in the orphanage and on the streets. While it didn't always go perfectly, she knew how to be quiet, how to slip away unseen, how to avoid detection. Those skills made it easy for her to slide from her bedroll, dropping Arxius' pillow beside her in easy reach and pad away from her sleeping companions after...whatever it was that had woken her in the night. They all had their own issues and dramas to deal with, they weren't paying attention to her anyway. Arxius was worrying over Meepo and Alten, Alten himself had been yelling earlier so clearly he had something going on. Talien just wanted to understand basic biology. Grom was working on something in his notebook and Chatra's focus was always Chatra. Regardless, part of her wondered if the voice she'd heard and the figure she saw had been a dream. One way to find out.
Chatra's lute drowned out the sound of her footsteps (she hoped) as she crept toward the southern door to follow the voice beckoning her onward.
Meepo takes the pipe in both of his claws and looks over it curiously, before putting it in his mouth and inhaling deeply. Meepo then tries to blow a smoke ring out of his nostrils...
You watch as two small rings escape Meepo's nostrils and then slowly grow larger as they float away from him. Meepo claps his hands together with glee and exclaims, "Meepo like dragon!"
Grom claps lightly and chuckles and then see's the great smoke rings! "Good show Meepo well done! better go get some rest tomorrow will be a big day!"
Chatra just shakes his head and takes a seat near the fire facing the southern door which has yet to be opened. He takes out his lute and begins fiddling with it.
Grom will take a walk around the room and check the doors with the alarms and briefly check on everyone. then returns to where Chatra is. "Chatra you okay? its been an interesting day to say the least.."
Meepo takes the pipe in both of his claws and looks over it curiously, before putting it in his mouth and inhaling deeply. Meepo then tries to blow a smoke ring out of his nostrils...
You watch as two small rings escape Meepo's nostrils and then slowly grow larger as they float away from him. Meepo claps his hands together with glee and exclaims, "Meepo like dragon!"
Grom claps lightly and chuckles and then see's the great smoke rings! "Good show Meepo well done! better go get some rest tomorrow will be a big day!"
Chatra just shakes his head and takes a seat near the fire facing the southern door which has yet to be opened. He takes out his lute and begins fiddling with it.
Grom will take a walk around the room and check the doors with the alarms and briefly check on everyone. then returns to where Chatra is. "Chatra you okay? its been an interesting day to say the least.."
Meepo smiles his toothy grin and chrips happily, “Thanks friend! Sees you in morning. Stay alert, be quite. Don’t chew bones loud! Night, night!”
DM Note: Please make a perception check as you make your round.
The art of disappearing was one of the first lessons Rees learned both in the orphanage and on the streets. While it didn't always go perfectly, she knew how to be quiet, how to slip away unseen, how to avoid detection. Those skills made it easy for her to slide from her bedroll, dropping Arxius' pillow beside her in easy reach and pad away from her sleeping companions after...whatever it was that had woken her in the night. They all had their own issues and dramas to deal with, they weren't paying attention to her anyway. Arxius was worrying over Meepo and Alten, Alten himself had been yelling earlier so clearly he had something going on. Talien just wanted to understand basic biology. Grom was working on something in his notebook and Chatra's focus was always Chatra. Regardless, part of her wondered if the voice she'd heard and the figure she saw had been a dream. One way to find out.
Chatra's lute drowned out the sound of her footsteps (she hoped) as she crept toward the southern door to follow the voice beckoning her onward.
DM Note: Please make a stealth check with advantage [DC 11].
Grom the perimeter appears secure. Nothing catches your attention, or seems out of place. Chatra just looks at you lazily as you walk past him and he continues playing about with his lute.
Rees you remove the physical wards set by the party and slip out of the southern door leading to the dry fountain. As you close the door behind you the voice calls out from the darkness, “Over here Rees. Hurry.” It is sonorous, honeyed, and warm. You can tell it is coming from the direction of the first dry fountain to the south where you obtained the potion of fire breathing.
You tiptoe through the hall and head in the direction of the silky smooth voice. When you arrive at the dry fountain you spot a pair of bright glowing emerald-green eyes shining in your direction, cutting through the darkness. You continue forward hesitantly and the creature laughs seductively, “It took you long enough Rees. Come, come. Take a seat, it is high time we spoke.”
Rees, before you perched atop the fountain swishing its luxurious tail is a burnt orange red fox with ears, paws, and nose as black as night and an underbelly as white as snow. The fox waits for you to sit, before saying “Welcome Rees. It is nice to finally meet you.”
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"Hurt hatchlings? Scientist bad! Meepo no like scientist! If Meepo see, Meepo shoot for Arxius."
As Meepo finishes saying this, Chatra wanders over to assume his watch. Thumbing at Meepo, Chatra asks, "What the hell has got him all worked up Arxius? It's a wonder anyone is catching any shut eye with all his damn chirping."
Grom awakens from his slumber with a grunt and a few groans and aches... reaches over grabs his axe and checks his spell book is still where he left it.. he rises up, grabs his water skin takes a sip and spits it out then takes a long drink.. puts it away and will pull out his pipe and some of the smoke he got and will light a pipe and make his way towards Arxius and Meepo and Chatra.
Grombrindal "The White Dwarf" (Dwarf - Wizard) - Fenris_Worldsbane's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Meepo sniffs the air as you approach. He looks at you with his head cocked and chirps, "What that? ...Smell good, cook meat with?"
"My apologies we were... discussing scars. I believe our watch is ended anyway," Arxius says, getting to her feet.
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
Grom stares at Meepo puzzled by what she is asking.. having just awoke takes him a second to grasp what she is asking...
Takes a puff... (light bulb) "OHH this is not for dear. you smoke it."
Grombrindal "The White Dwarf" (Dwarf - Wizard) - Fenris_Worldsbane's Tales from the Yawning Portal
"Mmmhmm.. right then.. goodnight to you..." Chatra murmurs.
Meepo looks at you and asks, "Meepo try?"
Arxius returns to her bedroll, leaving Meepo to bond with the guys, to discover Rees has taken her pillow. She'll consider pushing the changeling onto her side and taking it back, but in the end... she grew up on a cold stone floor. The bedroll is good enough. She sets everything down beside her and lays down to sleep.
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
"..... (Grom strokes his beard) Sure why not... (hands it to HIM) just put this end to you lips and Breath in..."
Grombrindal "The White Dwarf" (Dwarf - Wizard) - Fenris_Worldsbane's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Meepo takes the pipe in both of his claws and looks over it curiously, before putting it in his mouth and inhaling deeply. Meepo then tries to blow a smoke ring out of his nostrils...
performance check: 18.
Edit:
You watch as two small rings escape Meepo's nostrils and then slowly grow larger as they float away from him. Meepo claps his hands together with glee and exclaims, "Meepo like dragon!"
Chatra just shakes his head and takes a seat near the fire facing the southern door which has yet to be opened. He takes out his lute and begins fiddling with it.
Interlude 1:
Rees
In nature several species of birds, fish, and arthropods regularly practice brood parasitism, or non-reciprocal offspring-swapping. Rather than raising their young on their own, they will lay their egg in another's nest, leaving the burden of raising their young on the unsuspecting parents, which are of another species altogether. More often than not, the invading species hatches sooner than its "step-siblings" and grows faster, eventually hogging most nourishment brought in and may actually "evict" the young of the host species by pushing them out of their own nest.
Perhaps you have heard tell of this ill luck happening upon a nearby village to a family with a small humanoid child. A perfectly healthy young babe might be put to sleep one night, only to wake the next day appearing sickly and pale. The child will remain as such and perhaps even worsen as the days pass. The child won't grow in size like a normal child, but they may begin to grow a beard or long teeth. Though the child may still appear sick, they may also begin to display intelligence far beyond their apparent years, as well as possess uncanny insight. What could explain such a curse? Did the husband cheat on the wife? Did the wife look upon another babe with envy? Could it be the child was replaced with some sort of fey creature from the Shadowfell?
Oh what to do in a case such as this.
Surely, the parents cannot endanger the rest of their family with a child such as this in the mix? Surely, the village cannot be home to a child with features of a monster? Could you raise this child as your own? No? Then surely you can not blame the parents, or the village. Yes, surely the child must be cast out.
If a child such as this is destined for a life of solitude, abuse, and desuetude, then can one blame the child stealing and committing other felonies just to survive? Surely. That child should be put out of its misery. No?
Yes. Surely you should drown the child, or drive it from your sight. Drive it from the village and rid yourself of the fright. Do it! Now, be quick about it!
Oh.
Oh dear.
Where is the child? Have you seen it?
No? Well then.
This must have all been a hypothetical. A wives tale really. There was no child to begin with right? Surely.
We find Rees resting soundly with her head on her stolen pillow. A smile is drawn across her lips for the first time in a long while. The prospect of coin, food in her belly, and perhaps a nice roof over her head for some time keeps her from dreaming of darker days. Though weary of her new compatriots she rests easy with Arxius by her side. That is until she feels the brush of something soft run across the bottom of her naked foot...
The smile fades slightly as she pulls the foot back under the blanket and shifts in her bedroll. The smile returns as she grows comfortable once again. A few moments later Rees' brow furrows as something tickles her ear. She groans, "Stop it Arxius.. it's not morning yet." Alas, no response is given to her complaint. A few more moments pass and Rees is thumped hard in the back. She yells, "Hey!" as her eyes snap open. Though she looks over and finds Arxius asleep. Muttering to herself, "Nice try Arxius" she lays back down and closes her eyes as she looks at the ceiling.
A few more moments pass by and Rees eyes remain closed as everything is silent. Then...
Seemingly out of nowhere something pounces onto Rees' chest and slaps her in the face with a furred paw.
"Waake upp Rees!" a silky smooth male voice says.
"Wakee up sleepy head! Hehe!"
Rees awakes with a start and the creature jumps from her chest.
"Folllow me Rees! Haha." the creature says as it heads towards the southern door which leads back to the fountains.
Rees blinks sleep from her eyes and stares at the creature mouth agape. It pads gracefully to the southern door and suddenly disappears behind it without even opening it.
Rees hears the silky smooth voice call out, "Follow me! Quickly now! And be quiet. Don't wake the others!"
The art of disappearing was one of the first lessons Rees learned both in the orphanage and on the streets. While it didn't always go perfectly, she knew how to be quiet, how to slip away unseen, how to avoid detection. Those skills made it easy for her to slide from her bedroll, dropping Arxius' pillow beside her in easy reach and pad away from her sleeping companions after...whatever it was that had woken her in the night. They all had their own issues and dramas to deal with, they weren't paying attention to her anyway. Arxius was worrying over Meepo and Alten, Alten himself had been yelling earlier so clearly he had something going on. Talien just wanted to understand basic biology. Grom was working on something in his notebook and Chatra's focus was always Chatra. Regardless, part of her wondered if the voice she'd heard and the figure she saw had been a dream. One way to find out.
Chatra's lute drowned out the sound of her footsteps (she hoped) as she crept toward the southern door to follow the voice beckoning her onward.
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Grom claps lightly and chuckles and then see's the great smoke rings! "Good show Meepo well done! better go get some rest tomorrow will be a big day!"
Grom will take a walk around the room and check the doors with the alarms and briefly check on everyone.
then returns to where Chatra is. "Chatra you okay? its been an interesting day to say the least.."
Grombrindal "The White Dwarf" (Dwarf - Wizard) - Fenris_Worldsbane's Tales from the Yawning Portal
Meepo smiles his toothy grin and chrips happily, “Thanks friend! Sees you in morning. Stay alert, be quite. Don’t chew bones loud! Night, night!”
DM Note: Please make a perception check as you make your round.
perception: 11
Grombrindal "The White Dwarf" (Dwarf - Wizard) - Fenris_Worldsbane's Tales from the Yawning Portal
DM Note: Please make a stealth check with advantage [DC 11].
Stealth: 21
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Grom the perimeter appears secure. Nothing catches your attention, or seems out of place. Chatra just looks at you lazily as you walk past him and he continues playing about with his lute.
Rees you remove the physical wards set by the party and slip out of the southern door leading to the dry fountain. As you close the door behind you the voice calls out from the darkness, “Over here Rees. Hurry.” It is sonorous, honeyed, and warm. You can tell it is coming from the direction of the first dry fountain to the south where you obtained the potion of fire breathing.
You tiptoe through the hall and head in the direction of the silky smooth voice. When you arrive at the dry fountain you spot a pair of bright glowing emerald-green eyes shining in your direction, cutting through the darkness. You continue forward hesitantly and the creature laughs seductively, “It took you long enough Rees. Come, come. Take a seat, it is high time we spoke.”
Rees, before you perched atop the fountain swishing its luxurious tail is a burnt orange red fox with ears, paws, and nose as black as night and an underbelly as white as snow. The fox waits for you to sit, before saying “Welcome Rees. It is nice to finally meet you.”