"I wouldn't mind defending said crops if they need help. But they are one of the two big factions, so that can't be much of a problem. To put the cards on the table, I'd prefer to be able to decide for myself what is right and wrong, and the 'Hand of the Righteous' might not agree with that."
Solomon grunts in acknowledgement of the other's responses. "'Warden of Peace'... 'Hand of the Righteous'... those who have to shout from the rooftops that they are peaceful or righteous are likely neither. This is best demonstrated by the current situation", he says as he gestures in the direction of the dissipating black smoke to the west.
"We could go to Cembessa, and tend her crops. We could go to Kolyyt, and hunt bandits. Tennezaz's concerns of survival no matter the cost are valid, instinctual, even. I propose a third path: we try to work with both. Factions and cults are only symptoms of the real disease - the celestials and demons that now plague what is left of Faerun."
"I would hear what both have to say; if their ideological differences aren't so great, perhaps we could gain their trust, help to diffuse this situation here, and tackle the long-term problems facing every race, as a unified city of Waterdeep."
He sits back, having said his piece, and scratches Skink behind the ear. "I did not travel here from Neverwinter just to survive, I came to make a difference."
Fouder sighs, leans forward with his elbows on his knees, scratches at the side of his beard before stroking his hand across it. "I'm inclined to agree with Solomon," he returns. "What is the point of just surviving? It is no way to live. This," he points to their surroundings, the old building, the dead bodies on the floor, "is no way to live."
"It's not an easy decision. I know that. But we can't keep going like this. I'd sooner perish in the quest for a brighter future than rot away in a series of abandoned buildings, fighting off bandits and scavenging for scraps."
He straightens himself back up as he finishes talking.
"My friends, I am glad to hear hope in your words." Looking out at the rising smoke, Fingolin looks younger, his eyes more focused. "Of course, our answer could we be there, in the thick of it. Maybe a majority can decide this. I stand by my initial choice. I say we seek Cembessa."
During the debate at this point you hear another explosion rock the city as the ground shakes beneath you feet. You hear a building collapse as raining stone and wood fall back down from the sky. Another large black smoke plume raises right next to and merging with the first one.
Fouder winces at the sound of the building collapsing, and rises to his feet. "I'm not sure we have much time for debate. We don't want to be in the next building that collapses. Why don't we get on the road, and decide once we're out of immediate threat of being flattened?"
Tennezaz nods and gets to his feet, drawing his rapier and moving closer to the entrance of their once safe hideout. "Either way we need a place to stay if we need to sleep."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Arell sits quietly, nursing his wound as he listens to the others talk. Meanwhile, he also shifts over to Solomon, finds a few moments in between the man speaking to ask him quietly, "I know how to use those crossbows. Do you have a few bolts left, too? I can take a look at the dagger too. Take out the ruby, if we need it. I still have my tools."
Feeling himself improve, he sits up a bit straighter, looking for an opportunity to cast his own vote on the matter. "At first I was a bit hesitant to seek to join a faction. I did not want to get recruited into an army, after all. But the entire world is an army now, as we've just noticed once more, so might as well pick a side to ensure we have others at our backs." He pauses to look around the faces of the group before continuing, "Last I heard, Cembessa is the one making moves. It does not align with the thought she just wants to farm and ensure there is food, which sounds more appealing to me, but it might indicate she has a larger force than Kolyyt at the moment. I vote we seek her out as well."
He grimaces inwardly. His entire life had been an underdog story, after all, but he recognizes the foolishness in going for the weaker force now, with his own life on the line.
Mechanics:
Spending Hit Die for the short rest: 4 Might edit in another if I get a low roll.... Whelp: 4 Edit2: The Gods hate me oh right.
"It would seem we're divided," Fouder remarks, as the final opinion is given. "Therefore, I propose we make moves towards Cembessa. We can evaluate the situation once we're there - I am not willing to wholly commit myself to her cause at this point."
Solomon hands the mage's dagger over to his fellow half-elf. "I'll take that dagger back if you manage to separate the ruby from it without damaging it."
"I feel it would be remiss of us not to investigate the explosions first though, regardless of who we go to. If they are unrelated to either faction, then we may find something interesting we can share to get us in their good graces. If it is one of the two factions, then we've saved ourselves some time finding one of them."
"I am happy to do so," Fouder announces, rising to his full height and trying to make himself seem broader, as though that will disguise the fact he is a good head shorter than his companions. "Let's go. No value in hanging around here any longer." He starts towards the exit, warhammer swinging in one hand, battleaxe swaying in the other, his grip firm on both.
Arell dips his head, then rises with a deep groan, a mixture of pain, misery and an old habit he picked up when his father was reaching a certain age. He walks over to the Goblins, picks up one of the crossbows and starts following after Fouder."Anybody have a few bolts spare?" he asks as they make their way out their shelter, "I only need a couple, in case we run in with troublemakers on the rooftops."
Fouder stops momentarily, tucks the hammer under his chin, and withdraws several bolts from his pack, passing them back to Arell. "Here - these should do." He then carries on, heading out of the building and making sure to take a lungful of the fresh air as he does. It's nice not to be in that stale, smoke-filled filled basement.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tennezaz will draw his rapier and hold it after he reloads his crossbow and carefully puts it on his belt. With a nod he will go out and attempt to sneak into the shadows but while keeping the party in sight.
Stealth: 18
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
(Just post your position after Fouder, I mean as the new overlord you want him to make a good impression) - Ten is skulking along the street over keeping his distance and keeping out of sight the best that he can.
Making your way through the streets, the crunch of gravel and sand shift underneath each step. The dry wind occasionally whips pass as it whistles through the decaying buildings. The smell of smoke is filling the air and your surroundings become hazy, limiting your vision too far out. The dust begins to crust on the corner of your eyes and cake onto your tongue and nostrils. The streets seem almost barren, you’ve become accustomed to the silence and vast emptiness in this once bustling city. Today looks empty but definitely not silent, growing louder as you make your way closer you hear yelling up ahead. People fighting, bolts zipping in the air, spells ripping across the street. The fighting seems to be over a border that divides north and south. Two tower like buildings with vines and plants wrapped around and fortifying the structure. Like drum towers on a castle wall: thick walls with openings up high, you see bolts of fire and streaks of acid being shot out of the towers. There looks to have been two other towers that once stood in the wooden bulwark, but now torn asunder in a pile of fire and smoke.
One the South side of the street, steel armored foot soldiers hold their position with shields held in position as the spells bounce of and explode on the front of the formation to little effect. You see one spell fly through and hit a soldier through the shield wall, but is quickly replaced in formation. Seemingly waiting for something.
Ten:
You’re one street over to the South, you see a group of men in the steel armor, swords and hammers in hand matching and coming your way, looking to flank. You duck out of the way to stay out of sight as the rows of men run pass you.
Watching this mayhem go down in seemingly a stalemate. When a figure can be seen flying overhead. Large humanoid figure that looks to be at least 14 feet tall with a wingspan of at least 20 feet flies overhead donned with a steel helm and a silver glove grasping a hammer. Crashing down it tosses the hammer towards a tower and it explodes on impact with a devastating, flames and shrapnel fly in every direction as the hammer returns to the gargantuan of a human as it flies away swooping around to make another pass. The formation that was in the center and taking the barrage of spells no charges forward at the third tower collapsing. With their shields down now, you see dwarves, half orcs and full orcs, humans and goliaths in the ranks. (You see all the races but they’re much fewer numbers)
As they charge, the earth quakes once more, but this is different not like the explosions before. The quake is growing stronger as a massive wave of force ripples forward with a green energy field as the ground is lifted up from the ground colliding to the charging force as a good number of them are flung backwards. Their screams fill the void is sound before the clashing of hand to hand combat erupts with swords clanging.
Your group is about 200 feet away (East) from this. The fighting is taking place just out of view to the North side behind the final tower. Everyone has been to busy to either notice you or do anything about it. The flying figure is out of sight for now.
Tennezaz will stop moving and stay still in the alley way he is hiding in. At the very least if no one notices them the group will have a good amount of corpses to loot...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Solomon will bring up the rear, gesturing to everyone to leave the basement before him. Standing alone, looking round their home for the last few weeks, he sighs heavily before heading to ground level to join the others, Skink perched on his left shoulder.
On stumbling across the battle, Solomon finds cover that still allows him a view of proceedings. "Keep down", he says, "lest we be mistaken for one side or the other."
"Did you see that beast in the sky? What do we want to do here?" He hopes his lack of an idea of what to do is hidden by the phrasing of his questions, but somehow he doubts it. He personally would rather leave the battle as it is, given how many creatures are embroiled in the affray. "I think we will need to decide before they-" he nods towards the scuffle "-notice us."
Can Fouder recognise the winged beast at all?
I guess a roll depends on the actual identity/origin of creature, so here's a couple... Perception: 23, Nature: 7, Investigation: 9. Let me know if those are all wrong...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Fingolin falls in cover next to Solomon and says "Give me a tap if we start moving, I'm going to scout a little bit."
Ekkiwe appears 30 feet towards the fighting and runs in that direction, moving from building to building to keep out of sight, then climb on a rooftop. Fingolin closes his eyes and starts seeing through his familiar's eyes and hearing through his ears, trying to identify what factions are engaged and where are their points of command.
Perception: 6
Second roll for hearing and smell advantage, if it comes up: 17
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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"I wouldn't mind defending said crops if they need help. But they are one of the two big factions, so that can't be much of a problem. To put the cards on the table, I'd prefer to be able to decide for myself what is right and wrong, and the 'Hand of the Righteous' might not agree with that."
Solomon grunts in acknowledgement of the other's responses. "'Warden of Peace'... 'Hand of the Righteous'... those who have to shout from the rooftops that they are peaceful or righteous are likely neither. This is best demonstrated by the current situation", he says as he gestures in the direction of the dissipating black smoke to the west.
"We could go to Cembessa, and tend her crops. We could go to Kolyyt, and hunt bandits. Tennezaz's concerns of survival no matter the cost are valid, instinctual, even. I propose a third path: we try to work with both. Factions and cults are only symptoms of the real disease - the celestials and demons that now plague what is left of Faerun."
"I would hear what both have to say; if their ideological differences aren't so great, perhaps we could gain their trust, help to diffuse this situation here, and tackle the long-term problems facing every race, as a unified city of Waterdeep."
He sits back, having said his piece, and scratches Skink behind the ear. "I did not travel here from Neverwinter just to survive, I came to make a difference."
Fouder sighs, leans forward with his elbows on his knees, scratches at the side of his beard before stroking his hand across it. "I'm inclined to agree with Solomon," he returns. "What is the point of just surviving? It is no way to live. This," he points to their surroundings, the old building, the dead bodies on the floor, "is no way to live."
"It's not an easy decision. I know that. But we can't keep going like this. I'd sooner perish in the quest for a brighter future than rot away in a series of abandoned buildings, fighting off bandits and scavenging for scraps."
He straightens himself back up as he finishes talking.
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
"My friends, I am glad to hear hope in your words." Looking out at the rising smoke, Fingolin looks younger, his eyes more focused. "Of course, our answer could we be there, in the thick of it. Maybe a majority can decide this. I stand by my initial choice. I say we seek Cembessa."
During the debate at this point you hear another explosion rock the city as the ground shakes beneath you feet. You hear a building collapse as raining stone and wood fall back down from the sky. Another large black smoke plume raises right next to and merging with the first one.
Fouder winces at the sound of the building collapsing, and rises to his feet. "I'm not sure we have much time for debate. We don't want to be in the next building that collapses. Why don't we get on the road, and decide once we're out of immediate threat of being flattened?"
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
Tennezaz nods and gets to his feet, drawing his rapier and moving closer to the entrance of their once safe hideout. "Either way we need a place to stay if we need to sleep."
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
Arell sits quietly, nursing his wound as he listens to the others talk. Meanwhile, he also shifts over to Solomon, finds a few moments in between the man speaking to ask him quietly, "I know how to use those crossbows. Do you have a few bolts left, too? I can take a look at the dagger too. Take out the ruby, if we need it. I still have my tools."
Feeling himself improve, he sits up a bit straighter, looking for an opportunity to cast his own vote on the matter. "At first I was a bit hesitant to seek to join a faction. I did not want to get recruited into an army, after all. But the entire world is an army now, as we've just noticed once more, so might as well pick a side to ensure we have others at our backs."
He pauses to look around the faces of the group before continuing, "Last I heard, Cembessa is the one making moves. It does not align with the thought she just wants to farm and ensure there is food, which sounds more appealing to me, but it might indicate she has a larger force than Kolyyt at the moment. I vote we seek her out as well."
He grimaces inwardly. His entire life had been an underdog story, after all, but he recognizes the foolishness in going for the weaker force now, with his own life on the line.
Mechanics:
Spending Hit Die for the short rest: 4
Might edit in another if I get a low roll....
Whelp: 4
Edit2:
The Gods hate meoh right.Lynn-Marie Verine-Wintercleaver, Human Bloodhunter - Adventures in Esyldien
Finan Caible, Human Bard - Joys of Balance
Yroc Grumbak, Orc Fighlock - Pizazz's ToA
Arell Peroan, Half-Elf Warlonk - Scattered Gods
ESC! | 10|33|5~
"It would seem we're divided," Fouder remarks, as the final opinion is given. "Therefore, I propose we make moves towards Cembessa. We can evaluate the situation once we're there - I am not willing to wholly commit myself to her cause at this point."
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
Solomon hands the mage's dagger over to his fellow half-elf. "I'll take that dagger back if you manage to separate the ruby from it without damaging it."
"I feel it would be remiss of us not to investigate the explosions first though, regardless of who we go to. If they are unrelated to either faction, then we may find something interesting we can share to get us in their good graces. If it is one of the two factions, then we've saved ourselves some time finding one of them."
Fingolin nods towards Solomon. "It might be risky, but I agree. Let's go then, debating any further won't get us anywhere. Who wants to take point?"
"I am happy to do so," Fouder announces, rising to his full height and trying to make himself seem broader, as though that will disguise the fact he is a good head shorter than his companions. "Let's go. No value in hanging around here any longer." He starts towards the exit, warhammer swinging in one hand, battleaxe swaying in the other, his grip firm on both.
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
Arell dips his head, then rises with a deep groan, a mixture of pain, misery and an old habit he picked up when his father was reaching a certain age. He walks over to the Goblins, picks up one of the crossbows and starts following after Fouder. "Anybody have a few bolts spare?" he asks as they make their way out their shelter, "I only need a couple, in case we run in with troublemakers on the rooftops."
Lynn-Marie Verine-Wintercleaver, Human Bloodhunter - Adventures in Esyldien
Finan Caible, Human Bard - Joys of Balance
Yroc Grumbak, Orc Fighlock - Pizazz's ToA
Arell Peroan, Half-Elf Warlonk - Scattered Gods
ESC! | 10|33|5~
Fouder stops momentarily, tucks the hammer under his chin, and withdraws several bolts from his pack, passing them back to Arell. "Here - these should do." He then carries on, heading out of the building and making sure to take a lungful of the fresh air as he does. It's nice not to be in that stale, smoke-filled filled basement.
Fouder will give Arell 4 crossbow bolts.
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
Tennezaz will draw his rapier and hold it after he reloads his crossbow and carefully puts it on his belt. With a nod he will go out and attempt to sneak into the shadows but while keeping the party in sight.
Stealth: 18
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
(Just post your position after Fouder, I mean as the new overlord you want him to make a good impression) - Ten is skulking along the street over keeping his distance and keeping out of sight the best that he can.
Making your way through the streets, the crunch of gravel and sand shift underneath each step. The dry wind occasionally whips pass as it whistles through the decaying buildings. The smell of smoke is filling the air and your surroundings become hazy, limiting your vision too far out. The dust begins to crust on the corner of your eyes and cake onto your tongue and nostrils. The streets seem almost barren, you’ve become accustomed to the silence and vast emptiness in this once bustling city. Today looks empty but definitely not silent, growing louder as you make your way closer you hear yelling up ahead. People fighting, bolts zipping in the air, spells ripping across the street. The fighting seems to be over a border that divides north and south. Two tower like buildings with vines and plants wrapped around and fortifying the structure. Like drum towers on a castle wall: thick walls with openings up high, you see bolts of fire and streaks of acid being shot out of the towers.
There looks to have been two other towers that once stood in the wooden bulwark, but now torn asunder in a pile of fire and smoke.
One the South side of the street, steel armored foot soldiers hold their position with shields held in position as the spells bounce of and explode on the front of the formation to little effect. You see one spell fly through and hit a soldier through the shield wall, but is quickly replaced in formation. Seemingly waiting for something.
Ten:
You’re one street over to the South, you see a group of men in the steel armor, swords and hammers in hand matching and coming your way, looking to flank. You duck out of the way to stay out of sight as the rows of men run pass you.
Watching this mayhem go down in seemingly a stalemate. When a figure can be seen flying overhead. Large humanoid figure that looks to be at least 14 feet tall with a wingspan of at least 20 feet flies overhead donned with a steel helm and a silver glove grasping a hammer. Crashing down it tosses the hammer towards a tower and it explodes on impact with a devastating, flames and shrapnel fly in every direction as the hammer returns to the gargantuan of a human as it flies away swooping around to make another pass. The formation that was in the center and taking the barrage of spells no charges forward at the third tower collapsing. With their shields down now, you see dwarves, half orcs and full orcs, humans and goliaths in the ranks. (You see all the races but they’re much fewer numbers)
As they charge, the earth quakes once more, but this is different not like the explosions before. The quake is growing stronger as a massive wave of force ripples forward with a green energy field as the ground is lifted up from the ground colliding to the charging force as a good number of them are flung backwards. Their screams fill the void is sound before the clashing of hand to hand combat erupts with swords clanging.
Your group is about 200 feet away (East) from this. The fighting is taking place just out of view to the North side behind the final tower. Everyone has been to busy to either notice you or do anything about it. The flying figure is out of sight for now.
Tennezaz will stop moving and stay still in the alley way he is hiding in. At the very least if no one notices them the group will have a good amount of corpses to loot...
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
Solomon will bring up the rear, gesturing to everyone to leave the basement before him. Standing alone, looking round their home for the last few weeks, he sighs heavily before heading to ground level to join the others, Skink perched on his left shoulder.
On stumbling across the battle, Solomon finds cover that still allows him a view of proceedings. "Keep down", he says, "lest we be mistaken for one side or the other."
Fouder looks to his companions.
"Did you see that beast in the sky? What do we want to do here?" He hopes his lack of an idea of what to do is hidden by the phrasing of his questions, but somehow he doubts it. He personally would rather leave the battle as it is, given how many creatures are embroiled in the affray. "I think we will need to decide before they-" he nods towards the scuffle "-notice us."
Can Fouder recognise the winged beast at all?
I guess a roll depends on the actual identity/origin of creature, so here's a couple... Perception: 23, Nature: 7, Investigation: 9. Let me know if those are all wrong...
Edit 2: Ha! Let's hope it's perception...
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
Fingolin falls in cover next to Solomon and says "Give me a tap if we start moving, I'm going to scout a little bit."
Ekkiwe appears 30 feet towards the fighting and runs in that direction, moving from building to building to keep out of sight, then climb on a rooftop. Fingolin closes his eyes and starts seeing through his familiar's eyes and hearing through his ears, trying to identify what factions are engaged and where are their points of command.
Perception: 6
Second roll for hearing and smell advantage, if it comes up: 17