"Ah! The answer is beacause it was a moth ball!" - then immediately taken aback by his own answer to Glabbagool - "You know what a moth is right?"
"Dancing is what I heard Ree'lyn was doing with Svana, in that small cave everyone was eating at before the crazy Kuo-Toa did all that... violence." - the myconid pauses as if his recollection of the events weighed on him. "They dance well together, don't you think?"
As if it had just remembered something important. - "Ah, your turn!"
- "A small contingent of people could make it to Menzoberranzan without drawing attention. Get help and sort themselves out." - as if which smallergroup that would be were obvious to Amara, he didn't bother detailing what he meant. - "The others, in a smaller group, could make it to Blingdenstone. Equally unnoticed or not drawing attention."
That night Svana had asked Jezzika to give her some time to think, to go over what the drow had warned her about prior to going through with this, and thankfully, those days after, the group had no run ins with any possible enemies. Three days flew by without her really noticing it, and she believed that now she was ready to be exposed to what Jezzika wished to show her.
The wizard setup the alarm around camp, had a ration, and spoke to Ronnal about finally getting her dagger fixed (thanking him profusely if he did so), and waited a bit before finally approaching Jezzika, her hands in fists and determination flaring at the back of her eyes.
"I'm ready to see what Umbra has shown you."
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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\
Ash glances up from her conversation with Enkindle to look at Jezz and Svana. Their mannerisms actions. And while she couldnt hear what they were talking about, she could see the excitement and inspiration in Jezz's eyes and the determined expression of Svana. She watches them for a minute before looking away, back to her cards. There's a silent contemplation before she returns to shuffling them, taking the top card and sitting it to the side while she places the others back in their case.
As she flips over the chariot card, her whole express changes. She frowns at the card before quite aggressively grabbing it, not damaging it, but angrilly putting it back with the others, tucking the cards away before flopping back to lay on her back and look up at the blackness above her, running her hand through her hair silently.
God you're such an ******* sometimes. Way to pour salt in the wound Ophidian.
My pleasure. No distractions from your goals.
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Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
"Ree'lyn," Amara says calmly. "Going to Menzoberranzan seems like an unnecessary risk. Even with a smaller party composed of drow. Jezzika has already made it clear that her people are not fond of her, and I sincerely doubt that you would be able to do anything to keep them from doing whatever they'd like to her." She gives him a serious look. "I know that we know very little about each other beyond what we have learned over the course of fighting side by side, but I do not see a benefit to going to Menzoberranzan. If you do, I am all ears."
"Actually, Amara" - Ree'lyn starts clarifying his previous statement - "I would only take Jezzika with me if it would mean to take her away from the party. Because, personally, we are in a dire situation regarding demons, we have had several cases of how this is affecting us without really knowing what is causing us to be afflicted in the first place." - he pauses to emphasizes his next words. - "What has been so close to us since the beginning to cause our minds to be affected this way? Creatures have showed up related to specific entities. What of Sarith? What of a certain doll that may as well contain an entity playing with our minds?"
His voice is not excited. He seems like someone declaring sensible issues to a discussion. - "If I set a group to go to Menzoberranzan, she might as well not be in it. And I would try my luck into the city."
"Ree'lyn," Amara says patiently. "I understand your worry. However, thus far I have been given no reason to believe that Jezzika's doll has anything to do with the demonic menace. If you wish, I can inquire about it with my sources, of course. Is there something in particular that is causing you worry particularly related to the doll? After all, we've all been in close proximity with one another, is there something tipping you off about Jezzika in particular?"
Glabbagool answers a little too quickly, making it obvious that he’s lying when he says, “Of course I know what a moth is! They’re like... uh...
Anyways, I never realized that’s what those two were doing! I figured it was some sort of strange ritual. I guess they were doing it well, although I hardly know what it is so I can’t really say for sure.
Here’s my next riddle! Rain or shine, sun or snow, I am underneath it all, but never change. What am I?”
A deep breath preceding his cautious and thoughtful next words. "Your sources." - the drow smiles at her. - "Do you mean the same sources that bestow these powers upon you?" - his eyes do carry a bit less of burden when making these considerations. - "I would be immensely comfortable if a source different from demonic or primordial could give us a hint of what we is happening around us, while all we suffer are the side effects of it."
His chest is all lined up with his sudden formal and less laid back posture. - "I thank you for the way you could get this affliction from blurring my mind. I greatly appreciate it." - his eyes have an honest look. It is like he smiles with his eyes.
"Feeling the powers that you have been gifted with made me more confident that I am not totally surrounded by fiendish and primordial predators."
After a pause, pretending he still looks at the map, his tone of voice is again soothing, like long ago in this journey. "I have contacts and sources. My communication is direct, but limited. However, it has been more present and stronger than ever. Or maybe more active than I have ever felt before."
His eyes gleam, his smile is full. - "There are monsters here and in far lands, Amara. Maybe a celestial help would not be looked down upon or dismissed at all. I know of monstrosities plaguing where I am at and where I aim to go to. I just want to be prepared. I want to know what we are facing and what I ei ne facing in the future, somewhere else."
"Deities mostly manipulate those that serve them; having little to no responsibility or obligations to be paid back. Demons destroy everything. The souls they take degenerate and rot after a time. I have been around people dealing with them and I have seen the suffering they have caused."
One deep breath again and he wanted this to be over with. - "There is another kind. The fey. Manipulative and seductive. But they have rules. When you find these rules, you do not become their slave. Maybe they will find ways to torment you, but even then, just under certain rules."
" I want to use these very rules to have people...my people...in a place they have long abandoned because of a certain deity's machinations. I want them to have the chance of choosing to be what they want to be. Even if they must be punished for their bad choices again. But it would be for their choices. This place is not here, though."
Duke hasn't done anything too crazy these last three days, walking with the rest of the group, thinking about the wisdom that Amara and Jezzika gave him the night after the Demogorgon encounter, and having Svana teach him how to make expressions with his new face. It was difficult at first and anyone who spied on the two would be unsettled by the contortions from his new mouth. But the elf was a patient teacher and eventually Dukes facial expressions settled into something that was oddly cute.
At the night of the third day, Duke spotted Ash lying on the ground, looking frustrated after a card reading that looked like it didn't go her way. He walks over to her. "Observation: You are in distress. Inquiry: Why?"
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Ash stops running her hands through her hair and realizes she is straining it past its fluffy stake, causing it to frizz. With a slight sigh, she runs her hand one last time through her hair and it slowly goes back to being slightly fluffy, almost like she magically fixed it.
"Oh... Duke... Um... Yeah... The recent card reading just upset me a little... I'll be fine. Temporary anger?" She offers him a smile but her eyes don't convey the same expression. She glances over at Jezz and Svana again before looking back to Duke and pushing herself up to a sitting position.
"I'm not sure if I thanked you for dealing with me while I was... intoxicated. But thanks for that. Did I... Do anything dumb to upset anyone? MY memory is a little fuzzy from that night..."
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Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
"Declaration: The only ill-advised actions you took during you inebriation were continuing to consume alcohol after you were compromised and insisting upon sleeping on a couch, instead of a bed that is able to provide proper support to your spinal column. But you did not take any action that offended someone. Inquiry: What about your card reading has distressed you?"
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Ash nods as she listens to Dule before thinking of a response. "It just... wasn't what I was hoping for? No that's not right... It wasn't what I was expecting per se. But perhaps I should... *sigh* Perhaps I should trust it now that I think about it. "
She becomes quiet in thought before looking back up at Duke. "Duke... What do you think about the color of my hair?"
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Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
"Aha! You don't know what moth is!" - the myconid begins his answer mocking Glabbagool, but then he suddenly remembers the promise he made to the gelatinous cube that they would learn new things together. "Hey! I will explain to you! Moth is an insect. They are dumb. They fly around the light of luminous fungi and moss, but also the fire. Then they die because of the fire that burns them."
Stool transmit waves hesitation through the telepathic link. "I was taught to dislike the sun." - he finally admits. - "I don't know what snow is. What is it? Is rain like the water that falls from some caverns' ceiling?"
"The answer to your riddle....hmmmmm... is it moss?
On the thirteenth day, she saw Svana approach. Jezzika, patting the ground in front of her, was sitting cross legged waiting for her. She raised her hand, her palm to Svana.
"Do not be afraid."she said, and slowly cupped Svana's forehead with her palm. "Our minds. One, and together."
Svana closed her eyes, and like being hit by a wagon full force, her spirit was ripped from her body and she found herself in the darkest of deep space. There was nothing but an calculable distance of complete and utter darkness in any direction she looked. If she was in space, there were no stars, no galaxies, no cosmological evidence at all that any of the laws of physics had created anything at all. It was silent. It was so silent she could hear her rising heartbeat pound in her ears - it was the absolute absence of sound, life, and light. Finally, someone spoke.
"Witness the birth of evil."Jezzika said in her mind, her voice echoing in Svana's spirit as she drifted aimlessly in the darkness of whatever, or whenever, this place was.
Off in the distance, from the darkness, a point of light erupted in a grand spectacle of starlight and began to shine, brightly, vibrantly. It was not enough to light the darkness by any means, but for a while it shone, and it shone brightly. In a horrible, sudden moment, all of the darkness was swallowed up by the star more rapidly than Svana could blink, and from this point of light erupted a writhing mass of darkness. An entity of pure shadow, pure evil, pure writhing dark infection and horror that personified death, destruction, infection, consumption. Then, it moved, swimming, travelling through the cosmos - It was larger than she could comprehend.
"Untold eons ago, a primal, alien force of darkness from another reality found it's way into ours. When our universe was extremely young, this force infected, tainted, corrupted, and eventually destroyed everything it came in contact with on a cosmic scale. Anyone that would gaze upon it's true form would eventually go mad, and those who were able to look upon it without going insane would only describe it as an astronomically large organic horror, a writhing infection - something truly out of a nightmare. It embodied everything that was corrosive, evil, and all-consuming."
Your next visions on this journey reveal flashbacks of sketches of what eyewitnesses drew upon seeing this creature, and all representations of it, more or less, illustrate the same thing: an impossibly large perfectly black oily mass with countless eyes and sharp tentacles - so large it could easily engulf planetary systems. Just looking at the illustrations make you skin crawl.
Then, from the original star that came into creation, five Gods emerged from the sun and went forth to battle this cosmic entity. Selune, the Goddess of the Moon. Silvanus, God of Nature. Auril, The Frostmaiden. Marthammor, the Dwarven God of Travel and Protection. And Bane, The Iron General.
"ThePrimordial Gods of good and evil battled this force in space as it spread it's taint across our cosmos, and almost defeated it - it fled into the heart of a star named Umbra where it remained hidden for ages untold. It was later discovered a very sliver of this evil was cut off from it during the battle, twirled though the universe, and crashed on Toril thousands of years ago."
The next few flashbacks depict five major gods battling this creature, and shows a piece of Umbra, cut off during the fight, hurtling towards Toril as the Gods take no notice. You see visions of how the five Gods were able to hold back this monstrosity.
"This is one of the very few times in galactic history gods of different alignments were able to work together to stop a fantastic threat to reality."
The end of the vision shows the star Umbra lives in, an unnatural black star with a reddish yellow corona. Even from the vision, you can see it looking at you, learning you, knowing you - tentacles lash out at incredible speed to grab you and pull you in, but Jezzika released the bond.
"Umbra is not a kind God, it is an all consuming hunger, infecting, consuming. It wants to cover completely this entire reality in darkness and shadow. Still want to learn more?"
"Declaration: It is an aesthetically pleasing shade, when contrasted with the color of your garments. Inquiry: If your cards put you in distress, why do you consult them? Secondary Inquiry: Why do you place trust in the cards, which are inanimate and have not displayed concern over your condition? Secondary Declaration: I gained sentience because Svana accepted me as a friend. A friendship that was based off of the trust that I had earned from assisting her during our time down here. I shortly learned to trust others as well. I learned that I could trust her, as well as other individuals, such as Amara, Jezzika, Gwen, and you. Tertiary Inquiry: Do you trust any of us?"
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Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Amara nods at Ree'lyn, eyes serious. "My patron is neither a demon nor a primordial. She is an angel, one with a...certain purpose. I can certainly ask her about Jezzika's doll the next time I see her." She reaches out and gently places a hand on Ree'lyn's arm, and after a long moment, golden light washes over the drow, purging the remnants of the madness from his mind. "She doesn't like drow-at all, but...it appears she at least approves of you enough to let me heal you with her power." She pauses, biting her lip. "There also may be another, more...direct way to reach her." Amara closes her eyes for a moment. As she opens them, a tiny gold dragon crawls out of her bag and flutters over to the floor next to her, regarding Ree curiously. "This is Deya. She is a gift from my patron, an ally in the fight she has given me. It's possible that she has a direct line of communication to the angel."
While talking to Amara, Ree'lyn notices the approach of Gwendolyn, and thinks fast about how to make the human know this conversation is private, yet she showed up in a good time.
"Ah, Gwen." - Ree'lyn says before his last words to Amara reaches the artificer. - "I was thinking that we could use your skills to make a device to measure time without the need of magic or watching the wildlife. Basically, although observing animals is useful, and relying on our natural tiredness to remain active or sleep, it might be useful if we had this time counter that would help us orientating ourselves about the wildlife natural cycle without needing to observe them, since the creatures and certain plants have their own cycles we can just know beforehand. That would help us knowing when it is a good time to lay around or not, based on the possible dangers." - the drow offers a wink, because obviously his idea was awesome and the tinker would know that. - "If you could try and work on a prototype of yours for that. I think would have to be small enough to be placed in a pocket. With a thin chain attached to it, perhaps? Or to bind it to a protected part of the gear."
Ash blinks as she studies Duke for a second before she chuckles nervously. "Oh... Um... Well obviously I trust most of you guys yes. Even those I don't fully trust have a sliver of respect and trust from me to build upon. Uh... As for my cards... Well... I put faith in my destiny... Although I'm starting to think that my patron may have some control over them as well. This is... actually the first time I've been upset with the cards if I'm honest. I've seen a tarot reading do wonderful things. Change peoples lives. Give them guidance on their path and their future. It's what I've grown up with and grown to love. They've... Never steered me wrong before? Been cryptic, yes, but they always have a way of demonstrating themselves."
She let's out a sigh in thought. "They may just be objects... but they MEAN something... and perhaps... as much as I don't want to admit it... Maybe I should follow this one as well." Her voice trembles a little in thought before she takes a deep breath and forces a slight smile. "After all... Yama always told me the cards do not lie, and others always come before yourself." Her smile is a little more genuine at the mention of Yama, but her eyes still show a hint of sadness. She tilts her head and looks at Duke. "The life of a performer I guess. And the show must go on. I apologize for my mood lately Duke. I didnt mean to concern you. I will try to be less broody from now on. But thank you for the concern. And nice mouth. I hope you like what Gwen did."
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Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
Amara narrows her eyes. "What precisely do you mean?
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!
"Ah! The answer is beacause it was a moth ball!" - then immediately taken aback by his own answer to Glabbagool - "You know what a moth is right?"
"Dancing is what I heard Ree'lyn was doing with Svana, in that small cave everyone was eating at before the crazy Kuo-Toa did all that... violence." - the myconid pauses as if his recollection of the events weighed on him. "They dance well together, don't you think?"
As if it had just remembered something important. - "Ah, your turn!"
Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 3 | AC 15 | HP 22/22 | Temporary HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 4 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 2 | Innate spells 2| Eldritch Invocations 2
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- "A small contingent of people could make it to Menzoberranzan without drawing attention. Get help and sort themselves out." - as if which smaller group that would be were obvious to Amara, he didn't bother detailing what he meant. - "The others, in a smaller group, could make it to Blingdenstone. Equally unnoticed or not drawing attention."
That night Svana had asked Jezzika to give her some time to think, to go over what the drow had warned her about prior to going through with this, and thankfully, those days after, the group had no run ins with any possible enemies. Three days flew by without her really noticing it, and she believed that now she was ready to be exposed to what Jezzika wished to show her.
The wizard setup the alarm around camp, had a ration, and spoke to Ronnal about finally getting her dagger fixed (thanking him profusely if he did so), and waited a bit before finally approaching Jezzika, her hands in fists and determination flaring at the back of her eyes.
"I'm ready to see what Umbra has shown you."
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\
Ash glances up from her conversation with Enkindle to look at Jezz and Svana. Their mannerisms actions. And while she couldnt hear what they were talking about, she could see the excitement and inspiration in Jezz's eyes and the determined expression of Svana. She watches them for a minute before looking away, back to her cards. There's a silent contemplation before she returns to shuffling them, taking the top card and sitting it to the side while she places the others back in their case.
As she flips over the chariot card, her whole express changes. She frowns at the card before quite aggressively grabbing it, not damaging it, but angrilly putting it back with the others, tucking the cards away before flopping back to lay on her back and look up at the blackness above her, running her hand through her hair silently.
God you're such an ******* sometimes. Way to pour salt in the wound Ophidian.
My pleasure. No distractions from your goals.
Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
Willow Twilight|Swiftstride Shifter|Blood Hunter|Ebberon|Retired
Meephylia Polliwog|Grung|Dragon Sorcerer|Descent To Avernus|Retired
Ashryn Rairs|Changeling|Hexblade Warlock|Out Of The Abyss|Dead
"Ree'lyn," Amara says calmly. "Going to Menzoberranzan seems like an unnecessary risk. Even with a smaller party composed of drow. Jezzika has already made it clear that her people are not fond of her, and I sincerely doubt that you would be able to do anything to keep them from doing whatever they'd like to her." She gives him a serious look. "I know that we know very little about each other beyond what we have learned over the course of fighting side by side, but I do not see a benefit to going to Menzoberranzan. If you do, I am all ears."
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!
Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 3 | AC 15 | HP 22/22 | Temporary HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 4 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 2 | Innate spells 2| Eldritch Invocations 2
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Actually, Amara" - Ree'lyn starts clarifying his previous statement - "I would only take Jezzika with me if it would mean to take her away from the party. Because, personally, we are in a dire situation regarding demons, we have had several cases of how this is affecting us without really knowing what is causing us to be afflicted in the first place." - he pauses to emphasizes his next words. - "What has been so close to us since the beginning to cause our minds to be affected this way? Creatures have showed up related to specific entities. What of Sarith? What of a certain doll that may as well contain an entity playing with our minds?"
His voice is not excited. He seems like someone declaring sensible issues to a discussion. - "If I set a group to go to Menzoberranzan, she might as well not be in it. And I would try my luck into the city."
"Ree'lyn," Amara says patiently. "I understand your worry. However, thus far I have been given no reason to believe that Jezzika's doll has anything to do with the demonic menace. If you wish, I can inquire about it with my sources, of course. Is there something in particular that is causing you worry particularly related to the doll? After all, we've all been in close proximity with one another, is there something tipping you off about Jezzika in particular?"
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!
Glabbagool answers a little too quickly, making it obvious that he’s lying when he says, “Of course I know what a moth is! They’re like... uh...
Anyways, I never realized that’s what those two were doing! I figured it was some sort of strange ritual. I guess they were doing it well, although I hardly know what it is so I can’t really say for sure.
Here’s my next riddle! Rain or shine, sun or snow, I am underneath it all, but never change. What am I?”
Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 3 | AC 15 | HP 22/22 | Temporary HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 4 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 2 | Innate spells 2| Eldritch Invocations 2
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
A deep breath preceding his cautious and thoughtful next words. "Your sources." - the drow smiles at her. - "Do you mean the same sources that bestow these powers upon you?" - his eyes do carry a bit less of burden when making these considerations. - "I would be immensely comfortable if a source different from demonic or primordial could give us a hint of what we is happening around us, while all we suffer are the side effects of it."
His chest is all lined up with his sudden formal and less laid back posture. - "I thank you for the way you could get this affliction from blurring my mind. I greatly appreciate it." - his eyes have an honest look. It is like he smiles with his eyes.
"Feeling the powers that you have been gifted with made me more confident that I am not totally surrounded by fiendish and primordial predators."
After a pause, pretending he still looks at the map, his tone of voice is again soothing, like long ago in this journey. "I have contacts and sources. My communication is direct, but limited. However, it has been more present and stronger than ever. Or maybe more active than I have ever felt before."
His eyes gleam, his smile is full. - "There are monsters here and in far lands, Amara. Maybe a celestial help would not be looked down upon or dismissed at all. I know of monstrosities plaguing where I am at and where I aim to go to. I just want to be prepared. I want to know what we are facing and what I ei ne facing in the future, somewhere else."
"Deities mostly manipulate those that serve them; having little to no responsibility or obligations to be paid back. Demons destroy everything. The souls they take degenerate and rot after a time. I have been around people dealing with them and I have seen the suffering they have caused."
One deep breath again and he wanted this to be over with. - "There is another kind. The fey. Manipulative and seductive. But they have rules. When you find these rules, you do not become their slave. Maybe they will find ways to torment you, but even then, just under certain rules."
" I want to use these very rules to have people...my people...in a place they have long abandoned because of a certain deity's machinations. I want them to have the chance of choosing to be what they want to be. Even if they must be punished for their bad choices again. But it would be for their choices. This place is not here, though."
Duke hasn't done anything too crazy these last three days, walking with the rest of the group, thinking about the wisdom that Amara and Jezzika gave him the night after the Demogorgon encounter, and having Svana teach him how to make expressions with his new face. It was difficult at first and anyone who spied on the two would be unsettled by the contortions from his new mouth. But the elf was a patient teacher and eventually Dukes facial expressions settled into something that was oddly cute.
At the night of the third day, Duke spotted Ash lying on the ground, looking frustrated after a card reading that looked like it didn't go her way. He walks over to her. "Observation: You are in distress. Inquiry: Why?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Ash stops running her hands through her hair and realizes she is straining it past its fluffy stake, causing it to frizz. With a slight sigh, she runs her hand one last time through her hair and it slowly goes back to being slightly fluffy, almost like she magically fixed it.
"Oh... Duke... Um... Yeah... The recent card reading just upset me a little... I'll be fine. Temporary anger?" She offers him a smile but her eyes don't convey the same expression. She glances over at Jezz and Svana again before looking back to Duke and pushing herself up to a sitting position.
"I'm not sure if I thanked you for dealing with me while I was... intoxicated. But thanks for that. Did I... Do anything dumb to upset anyone? MY memory is a little fuzzy from that night..."
Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
Willow Twilight|Swiftstride Shifter|Blood Hunter|Ebberon|Retired
Meephylia Polliwog|Grung|Dragon Sorcerer|Descent To Avernus|Retired
Ashryn Rairs|Changeling|Hexblade Warlock|Out Of The Abyss|Dead
"Declaration: The only ill-advised actions you took during you inebriation were continuing to consume alcohol after you were compromised and insisting upon sleeping on a couch, instead of a bed that is able to provide proper support to your spinal column. But you did not take any action that offended someone. Inquiry: What about your card reading has distressed you?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Ash nods as she listens to Dule before thinking of a response. "It just... wasn't what I was hoping for? No that's not right... It wasn't what I was expecting per se. But perhaps I should... *sigh* Perhaps I should trust it now that I think about it. "
She becomes quiet in thought before looking back up at Duke. "Duke... What do you think about the color of my hair?"
Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
Willow Twilight|Swiftstride Shifter|Blood Hunter|Ebberon|Retired
Meephylia Polliwog|Grung|Dragon Sorcerer|Descent To Avernus|Retired
Ashryn Rairs|Changeling|Hexblade Warlock|Out Of The Abyss|Dead
"Aha! You don't know what moth is!" - the myconid begins his answer mocking Glabbagool, but then he suddenly remembers the promise he made to the gelatinous cube that they would learn new things together. "Hey! I will explain to you! Moth is an insect. They are dumb. They fly around the light of luminous fungi and moss, but also the fire. Then they die because of the fire that burns them."
Stool transmit waves hesitation through the telepathic link. "I was taught to dislike the sun." - he finally admits. - "I don't know what snow is. What is it? Is rain like the water that falls from some caverns' ceiling?"
"The answer to your riddle....hmmmmm... is it moss?
THE BIRTH OF EVIL
On the thirteenth day, she saw Svana approach. Jezzika, patting the ground in front of her, was sitting cross legged waiting for her. She raised her hand, her palm to Svana.
"Do not be afraid." she said, and slowly cupped Svana's forehead with her palm. "Our minds. One, and together."
Svana closed her eyes, and like being hit by a wagon full force, her spirit was ripped from her body and she found herself in the darkest of deep space. There was nothing but an calculable distance of complete and utter darkness in any direction she looked. If she was in space, there were no stars, no galaxies, no cosmological evidence at all that any of the laws of physics had created anything at all. It was silent. It was so silent she could hear her rising heartbeat pound in her ears - it was the absolute absence of sound, life, and light. Finally, someone spoke.
"Witness the birth of evil." Jezzika said in her mind, her voice echoing in Svana's spirit as she drifted aimlessly in the darkness of whatever, or whenever, this place was.
Off in the distance, from the darkness, a point of light erupted in a grand spectacle of starlight and began to shine, brightly, vibrantly. It was not enough to light the darkness by any means, but for a while it shone, and it shone brightly. In a horrible, sudden moment, all of the darkness was swallowed up by the star more rapidly than Svana could blink, and from this point of light erupted a writhing mass of darkness. An entity of pure shadow, pure evil, pure writhing dark infection and horror that personified death, destruction, infection, consumption. Then, it moved, swimming, travelling through the cosmos - It was larger than she could comprehend.
"Untold eons ago, a primal, alien force of darkness from another reality found it's way into ours. When our universe was extremely young, this force infected, tainted, corrupted, and eventually destroyed everything it came in contact with on a cosmic scale. Anyone that would gaze upon it's true form would eventually go mad, and those who were able to look upon it without going insane would only describe it as an astronomically large organic horror, a writhing infection - something truly out of a nightmare. It embodied everything that was corrosive, evil, and all-consuming."
Your next visions on this journey reveal flashbacks of sketches of what eyewitnesses drew upon seeing this creature, and all representations of it, more or less, illustrate the same thing: an impossibly large perfectly black oily mass with countless eyes and sharp tentacles - so large it could easily engulf planetary systems. Just looking at the illustrations make you skin crawl.
Then, from the original star that came into creation, five Gods emerged from the sun and went forth to battle this cosmic entity. Selune, the Goddess of the Moon. Silvanus, God of Nature. Auril, The Frostmaiden. Marthammor, the Dwarven God of Travel and Protection. And Bane, The Iron General.
"The Primordial Gods of good and evil battled this force in space as it spread it's taint across our cosmos, and almost defeated it - it fled into the heart of a star named Umbra where it remained hidden for ages untold. It was later discovered a very sliver of this evil was cut off from it during the battle, twirled though the universe, and crashed on Toril thousands of years ago."
The next few flashbacks depict five major gods battling this creature, and shows a piece of Umbra, cut off during the fight, hurtling towards Toril as the Gods take no notice. You see visions of how the five Gods were able to hold back this monstrosity.
"This is one of the very few times in galactic history gods of different alignments were able to work together to stop a fantastic threat to reality."
The end of the vision shows the star Umbra lives in, an unnatural black star with a reddish yellow corona. Even from the vision, you can see it looking at you, learning you, knowing you - tentacles lash out at incredible speed to grab you and pull you in, but Jezzika released the bond.
"Umbra is not a kind God, it is an all consuming hunger, infecting, consuming. It wants to cover completely this entire reality in darkness and shadow. Still want to learn more?"
"Declaration: It is an aesthetically pleasing shade, when contrasted with the color of your garments. Inquiry: If your cards put you in distress, why do you consult them? Secondary Inquiry: Why do you place trust in the cards, which are inanimate and have not displayed concern over your condition? Secondary Declaration: I gained sentience because Svana accepted me as a friend. A friendship that was based off of the trust that I had earned from assisting her during our time down here. I shortly learned to trust others as well. I learned that I could trust her, as well as other individuals, such as Amara, Jezzika, Gwen, and you. Tertiary Inquiry: Do you trust any of us?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
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Amara nods at Ree'lyn, eyes serious. "My patron is neither a demon nor a primordial. She is an angel, one with a...certain purpose. I can certainly ask her about Jezzika's doll the next time I see her." She reaches out and gently places a hand on Ree'lyn's arm, and after a long moment, golden light washes over the drow, purging the remnants of the madness from his mind. "She doesn't like drow-at all, but...it appears she at least approves of you enough to let me heal you with her power." She pauses, biting her lip. "There also may be another, more...direct way to reach her." Amara closes her eyes for a moment. As she opens them, a tiny gold dragon crawls out of her bag and flutters over to the floor next to her, regarding Ree curiously. "This is Deya. She is a gift from my patron, an ally in the fight she has given me. It's possible that she has a direct line of communication to the angel."
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!
Ree'lyn | Drow | Warlock | Level 3 | AC 15 | HP 22/22 | Temporary HP 8/8 | Cantrips Known 2 | Spells Known 4 | Spell Slots 2/2 | Slot Level 2 | Innate spells 2| Eldritch Invocations 2
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While talking to Amara, Ree'lyn notices the approach of Gwendolyn, and thinks fast about how to make the human know this conversation is private, yet she showed up in a good time.
"Ah, Gwen." - Ree'lyn says before his last words to Amara reaches the artificer. - "I was thinking that we could use your skills to make a device to measure time without the need of magic or watching the wildlife. Basically, although observing animals is useful, and relying on our natural tiredness to remain active or sleep, it might be useful if we had this time counter that would help us orientating ourselves about the wildlife natural cycle without needing to observe them, since the creatures and certain plants have their own cycles we can just know beforehand. That would help us knowing when it is a good time to lay around or not, based on the possible dangers." - the drow offers a wink, because obviously his idea was awesome and the tinker would know that. - "If you could try and work on a prototype of yours for that. I think would have to be small enough to be placed in a pocket. With a thin chain attached to it, perhaps? Or to bind it to a protected part of the gear."
Ash blinks as she studies Duke for a second before she chuckles nervously. "Oh... Um... Well obviously I trust most of you guys yes. Even those I don't fully trust have a sliver of respect and trust from me to build upon. Uh... As for my cards... Well... I put faith in my destiny... Although I'm starting to think that my patron may have some control over them as well. This is... actually the first time I've been upset with the cards if I'm honest. I've seen a tarot reading do wonderful things. Change peoples lives. Give them guidance on their path and their future. It's what I've grown up with and grown to love. They've... Never steered me wrong before? Been cryptic, yes, but they always have a way of demonstrating themselves."
She let's out a sigh in thought. "They may just be objects... but they MEAN something... and perhaps... as much as I don't want to admit it... Maybe I should follow this one as well." Her voice trembles a little in thought before she takes a deep breath and forces a slight smile. "After all... Yama always told me the cards do not lie, and others always come before yourself." Her smile is a little more genuine at the mention of Yama, but her eyes still show a hint of sadness. She tilts her head and looks at Duke. "The life of a performer I guess. And the show must go on. I apologize for my mood lately Duke. I didnt mean to concern you. I will try to be less broody from now on. But thank you for the concern. And nice mouth. I hope you like what Gwen did."
Nina Wildvale|Changeling|Wild Magic Sorcerer|Rise of The Reunelords|Active
Kai Loire|Water Genasia|Life Cleric|Road To Phandalin|Retired
Willow Twilight|Swiftstride Shifter|Blood Hunter|Ebberon|Retired
Meephylia Polliwog|Grung|Dragon Sorcerer|Descent To Avernus|Retired
Ashryn Rairs|Changeling|Hexblade Warlock|Out Of The Abyss|Dead