The moment you enter the monolith, the source of the ash is very evident. The pillar of crystal in the center of the shell is gone, completely absent. Shimmering marks of ash streak the insides of the monolith, and a layer of the stuff is underfoot.The whole place is a silent ruin, a testament to the power of the hanbanali...and to what can happen to them. You see no traces of bodies or marks indicating anyone has been in here, other than a single set of footprints, likely from the scout who first discovered the destruction of the monolith.
Meiara: Looking around, it's evident that the core itself exploded somehow. You don't see anything that would indicate the zashbies had been living here-it's more likely that the malevolent necromantic energy from the Jungle responded to your presence and created them on the spot.
Though Vusgaar physically shrinks, willingly ending the transformation with the disappearance of danger, some characteristics linger on and left him appearing more robust than usual. Suppressing a sigh, he follows after the others, noting mentally any lingering traces of necromatic energies that might be in the area along the way(assuming Detect Magic is still up). Then they reached innards, and... the ursine shifter had to lean against a nearby wall, teeth clenched tightly behind closed lips for the first few moments of looking around.
"This... tresspass.... Not... Forgiveable." He said breathily when he found the strength to speak again. After given a moment more to steady his nerves in silence, he moves to where the Crystal should've been, and begins investigating the dust or underlying markings beneath it for signs of the cause. And though know alchemist, he pulls what strands of memory were bound to the art for alternatives besides simply 'a powerful spell' of some sort.
With Meiara's help, Vusgaar examines the ruins of the monolith's crystal.
From what he can tell, no special explosives or spells were used to destroy the core. It truly looks as if for some reason the core itself just...exploded. The abjuration signature Vusgaar sensed earlier is also scattered around the inside of the monolith, and particularly powerful at one particular spot next to where the edge of the core would be, as if the ambient magic the signature indicates was suddenly drawn upon or manipulated.
Meiara relays Vusgaar's findings to the rest of the team. "I don't know what we should do now. All of this is magic that is beyond my knowledge or capability at this moment. Perhaps Olarin will know better. At any rate, we should let the people know that we have killed some fiends tonight."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Viira nods, frowning. "I don't think those creatures are what's been attacking the village. We should get back so that we return before it gets too dark."
"I don't think that we've completely dealt with the problem, but it will provide some reassurance to the people to know that there are two fewer fiends in the world."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Vusgaar pauses in his all but feverish note taking upon some journal book. "A. Start. Mn.. Yes.. Have enough here. For report. Need -- should go. Deal with other fiends."He nods his agreement, even if his voice didn't betray any particular excitement to be on the move again.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Talaak frowns and coughs up some ash before speaking, "I make no pretenses as to understand what the altavar have done, but the fiend problem is surely not over. These were mindless, attacking us without care. The real monster picks its victims, and so the best way to lure it out might be to pretend to be one. I volunteer myself to wander the village at night and draw out the creature so we might pin it down and engage it before any more villagers are killed."
Making your way back to the village, you arrive just as dusk is gathering.
Mechanic: Shadow hunt
Talaak has volunteered to wander the village pretending to be a helpless child. I will need a Deception from him. Everyone else can make a DC 15 Survival check to try and figure out where the creatures are most likely to strike. Then all non-Talaak party members will make a Perception check to see if they hear the undead attack-whether they're attacking Talaak or someone else. Anybody who succeeds on the Survival will have a lower DC on the Perception. Go ahead and toss an initiative roll on the ends of your posts for expediencies sake in case you succeed. I will not be moving to the actual fight (or discovery of aftermath, if all the rolls go badly) until everyone has rolled, as individual rolls will determine when people enter the fight. So pester the slow people (not really, please be nice to your busy fellow players, lol).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Though somewhat preoccupied by their findings back at the monolith, having perhaps understood more than most, Vusgaar eventually shakes out of the funk to focus on the mission. There is less reservation now that night had fallen about methodology out of the Edgewalker. Yet, he would still wait close to a shadow to call into being a a near hawk-sized bat. Who after some coaxing takes wing to help help Vusgaar along the way.
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\
Jenna, Vusgaar, and Meiara all hear a loud scream from the other side of the village. Running towards the noise, they see a young man backing away from a massive, shadowy creature, with another one moving stealthily around to cut off the farmer's retreat.
Big Nasty:9 Smaller Nasty: 12
Initiative Order: Deme 17 (entering next round), Vusgaar 16, Talaak 16 (entering next round), Meiara 15, Jenna 13, Smaller Nasty 12, Big Nasty 9
Meiara extends her staff and casts Create Bonfire in the space of the shadow creature that is attempting to cut off the man's retreat. "We'll take care of these fiends for you, run!"
DC13 Dex Save or take 8 fire damage
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
With a dagger in one hand, and a mass of glimmering crystals of force gathering above the other, Vusgaar rushes forth to interpose himself between at least the big, bad goading shadow and the man, sweeping a hand about. Though the trio streak out at the larger mass, only two slams into it. The other flies around it as if it had its own gravity, only to unerringly make its way back to the sneak.
"You. Heard. Go." He says calmly, but without looking to the fallen man. The bat continues to hover high in the air as if waiting for something.
Action: Vusgaar Casts Magic Missile, inflicting 3 times 2 plus 2 force damage(Total: 8) upon Big Nasy and only the roll plus 1 force damage upon Small Nasty(Total: 4).
Jenna perks up like an alert cat from her scouting around and stripping out of her jacket again, sprints towards the big shadow, arms raised, and lashes out martially, making two quick jabs.
(I forgot to mention it, but Meiara was searching the area with her Passive Perception of 15.)
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
The moment you enter the monolith, the source of the ash is very evident. The pillar of crystal in the center of the shell is gone, completely absent. Shimmering marks of ash streak the insides of the monolith, and a layer of the stuff is underfoot.The whole place is a silent ruin, a testament to the power of the hanbanali...and to what can happen to them. You see no traces of bodies or marks indicating anyone has been in here, other than a single set of footprints, likely from the scout who first discovered the destruction of the monolith.
Meiara: Looking around, it's evident that the core itself exploded somehow. You don't see anything that would indicate the zashbies had been living here-it's more likely that the malevolent necromantic energy from the Jungle responded to your presence and created them on the spot.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Though Vusgaar physically shrinks, willingly ending the transformation with the disappearance of danger, some characteristics linger on and left him appearing more robust than usual. Suppressing a sigh, he follows after the others, noting mentally any lingering traces of necromatic energies that might be in the area along the way(assuming Detect Magic is still up). Then they reached innards, and... the ursine shifter had to lean against a nearby wall, teeth clenched tightly behind closed lips for the first few moments of looking around.
"This... tresspass.... Not... Forgiveable." He said breathily when he found the strength to speak again. After given a moment more to steady his nerves in silence, he moves to where the Crystal should've been, and begins investigating the dust or underlying markings beneath it for signs of the cause. And though know alchemist, he pulls what strands of memory were bound to the art for alternatives besides simply 'a powerful spell' of some sort.
Investigation: 7, if helped in some way: 15.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
With Meiara's help, Vusgaar examines the ruins of the monolith's crystal.
From what he can tell, no special explosives or spells were used to destroy the core. It truly looks as if for some reason the core itself just...exploded. The abjuration signature Vusgaar sensed earlier is also scattered around the inside of the monolith, and particularly powerful at one particular spot next to where the edge of the core would be, as if the ambient magic the signature indicates was suddenly drawn upon or manipulated.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Meiara relays Vusgaar's findings to the rest of the team. "I don't know what we should do now. All of this is magic that is beyond my knowledge or capability at this moment. Perhaps Olarin will know better. At any rate, we should let the people know that we have killed some fiends tonight."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Viira nods, frowning. "I don't think those creatures are what's been attacking the village. We should get back so that we return before it gets too dark."
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
"I don't think that we've completely dealt with the problem, but it will provide some reassurance to the people to know that there are two fewer fiends in the world."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Vusgaar pauses in his all but feverish note taking upon some journal book. "A. Start. Mn.. Yes.. Have enough here. For report. Need -- should go. Deal with other fiends." He nods his agreement, even if his voice didn't betray any particular excitement to be on the move again.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Talaak frowns and coughs up some ash before speaking, "I make no pretenses as to understand what the altavar have done, but the fiend problem is surely not over. These were mindless, attacking us without care. The real monster picks its victims, and so the best way to lure it out might be to pretend to be one. I volunteer myself to wander the village at night and draw out the creature so we might pin it down and engage it before any more villagers are killed."
Making your way back to the village, you arrive just as dusk is gathering.
Mechanic: Shadow hunt
Talaak has volunteered to wander the village pretending to be a helpless child. I will need a Deception from him. Everyone else can make a DC 15 Survival check to try and figure out where the creatures are most likely to strike. Then all non-Talaak party members will make a Perception check to see if they hear the undead attack-whether they're attacking Talaak or someone else. Anybody who succeeds on the Survival will have a lower DC on the Perception. Go ahead and toss an initiative roll on the ends of your posts for expediencies sake in case you succeed. I will not be moving to the actual fight (or discovery of aftermath, if all the rolls go badly) until everyone has rolled, as individual rolls will determine when people enter the fight. So pester the slow people (not really, please be nice to your busy fellow players, lol).
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
After night falls, Talaak exits the temple in priest's garb, carrying a silver brazier in a slow circuit around the village.
Deception: 18
Initiative (F for the other poor soul): 6
Survival: 11
Passive Perception of 15
Initiative: 15
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Though somewhat preoccupied by their findings back at the monolith, having perhaps understood more than most, Vusgaar eventually shakes out of the funk to focus on the mission. There is less reservation now that night had fallen about methodology out of the Edgewalker. Yet, he would still wait close to a shadow to call into being a a near hawk-sized bat. Who after some coaxing takes wing to help help Vusgaar along the way.
Survival(DC 15): 21.
Perception: 10.
Initiative: 17.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Survival: 17
Perception: 16
Initiative: 13
Survival: 14
Perception: 17
Initi: 12
Demetrios will also use his spidey senses!
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\
First up, a luck roll for Deme! 5
Jenna, Vusgaar, and Meiara all hear a loud scream from the other side of the village. Running towards the noise, they see a young man backing away from a massive, shadowy creature, with another one moving stealthily around to cut off the farmer's retreat.
Big Nasty:9
Smaller Nasty: 12
Initiative Order: Deme 17 (entering next round), Vusgaar 16, Talaak 16 (entering next round), Meiara 15, Jenna 13, Smaller Nasty 12, Big Nasty 9
OOC: Demetrios and Talaak will enter next round.
Vusgaar, Meiara and Jenna are up!
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Meiara extends her staff and casts Create Bonfire in the space of the shadow creature that is attempting to cut off the man's retreat. "We'll take care of these fiends for you, run!"
DC13 Dex Save or take 8 fire damage
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Dex: 12
The creature shrieks unhappily and burns.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
With a dagger in one hand, and a mass of glimmering crystals of force gathering above the other, Vusgaar rushes forth to interpose himself between at least the big, bad goading shadow and the man, sweeping a hand about. Though the trio streak out at the larger mass, only two slams into it. The other flies around it as if it had its own gravity, only to unerringly make its way back to the sneak.
"You. Heard. Go." He says calmly, but without looking to the fallen man. The bat continues to hover high in the air as if waiting for something.
Action: Vusgaar Casts Magic Missile, inflicting 3 times 2 plus 2 force damage(Total: 8) upon Big Nasy and only the roll plus 1 force damage upon Small Nasty(Total: 4).
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Jenna perks up like an alert cat from her scouting around and stripping out of her jacket again, sprints towards the big shadow, arms raised, and lashes out martially, making two quick jabs.
Crouching Tiger: 18 Damage: 7
Hidden Dragon: 22 Damage: 5