As you approach the Bulletin Board for your daily perusal of the calamities befalling Haven/opportunities for you to enhance your adventuring prestige and personal wealth, you feel like something is slightly different on this particular morning. A larger than usual group of adventurers has gathered around the Board and there is a persistent murmuring. You get a sense of puzzlement and mild excitement from the crowd as you gently push your way through to the front. Amidst the usual smattering of requests for handiwork, poultry wrangling, and pest control, one particular notice stands out. It is from Cassandra, the proprietor of the eponymous Cassandra's Magic and notorious recluse. That alone is cause for heightened interest, but it also specifically calls out the involvement of portals, Haven's constant menace.
After reviewing the notice and believing this sort of thing might be right up your alley, you take a brisk walk to the Scholars district and head to Cassandra's Magic. It's easy to recognize the three story building due to its height, but moreso because of the ludicrous contraption that occupies the greater part of the roof. Most folks simply call it “the Device” and it's well over 20 feet in height. There are gleams of polished brass, steel, and crystal, wheels upon wheels, balance beams, gears, springs, pendulums, and the entire mechanism is in constant motion. After spending a few moments pondering what sort of person could create and spend the majority of their time in such a thing, you present yourself for an interview with that very person, the proprietor, Cassandra. A small party of six or so assemble in the store, causing things to become somewhat crowded given the bulk of some of the party members. Seeing that a sufficient number of brave souls have arrived, an apprentice gathers herself and intones with great severity, "Thank you so much for your response to the notice posted this morning. As you can imagine, this situtation has caused all of us here at Cassandra's Magic a great deal of distress. Please follow me upstairs, where Cassandra will explain the problem in greater detail and assess your suitability for the execution of the tasks required."
Following the apprentice through the back of the shop and up to the second floor, you can hear the noises emanating from the Device above. Ceiling beams groan, the walls vibrate, and occasional whistles pierce the air. It's all a bit unsettling, but the individual standing before you doesn't seem to be bothered in the slightest. Cassandra looks you over critically, shaking her head and sighing softly to herself as she paces from one end of your lineup to the other. While she certainly has the appearance of a scholar, with ink-stained finger tips, disheveled hair, and stacks of books and notes scattered about what seems to be her office, Cassandra is also wearing the garb of an engineer of sorts. She has a leather belt with several pouches filled with a wide variety of tools, notebooks, rulers, and things you don't recognize. Her manner is not frantic, but all of her movements seem to come at an abnormally quick pace. As with all things, though, Cassandra does come to an eventual stop. "So, this is what Haven has presented to me? I guess I shouldn't leap to conclusions at first sight, but I certainly didn't expect the likes of you. Some indelicate looking fellows here indeed. At any rate, at least I won't have to deal with this nonsense personally." She seems to be speaking to herself as much as she is to you, but switches tone while addressing you with an intense gaze. "Thank you for coming. Now, if you would be so kind, regale me with some measure of your exploits so I can judge if you're going to be of any use on this little adventure."
(Party, please pick up here with your responses and off we go!)
After returning from Myk's magic shop, reading the bulletin and reporting to Cassandra's, Ollezall shyly volunteers first;
"My name is Ollezall, I'm a healer; cleric of Kelemvor to be precise. Um, I suppose my experience is I just survived a horde of kobolds who surrounded us during a patrol mission" Ollezall nods to Cerlinde as she joins the group " I am not primarily an offensive magic user, but if the situation calls for it I will call down divine energy to smite opposition to the group. My primary focus is on keeping everyone here alive; I will forgo doing damage in favour of healing a party member, even at detriment to myself. "
Thinking for a bit and looking for an 8 foot Teifling before continuing, Ollezall adds one more thing " I sometimes get lost in a train of thought, but I'm learning to live in the present a lot more...." *Now I think of it, she DID say she would kill me if my comrades didn't make it back..... We should leave before she finds out how close it came and discovers I survived....she wasn't serious I hope.... Well I'm not sticking around for another clout to the head....almost killed me before I left the guardhouse....sort of charming once you get to know her though....* Snapping back to himself, Ollezall steps back, smiles and waits for someone else to introduce themselves.
A loud belch erupts from the back of the room, and when everyone turns to look, they see a powerfully built Orc of greenish hue appearing startled, and then looking around for someone else to blame. He points a finger at Cassandra's apprentice, who frowns, and he then shrugs with a sheepish Cheshire Cat grin.
"I'm called Syd... Syd Wartnose to be exact, although I never knew my parents, and have no idea where my clan name comes from." (To you, and to anyone else who looks at Syd's face, it is abundantly clear where, in fact, the appellation originated). "My uncles found me abandoned, and raised me as one of their own. So uh, go gnomes!" He pumps a fist weakly in the air with an awkward laugh. "Well, anyway, I was raised on a goat farm, but I got real good at finding the lost ones and bringing them back. So I'm sure I can help you find your apprentice too, can't be that different, right? Heh-heh..... oh, and Uncle Snapdoodle hired a grumpy old dwarf fighter to teach me a thing or two, and after that I won the county mud-wrasslin' title three years straight! Hm, what else? Oh yeah, one time I kinda lost my temper and... (here his tone abruptly changes from teenaged bumpkin to deadly serious)... sent a dozen kobolds who were bothering my uncles to meet Kurtulmak prematurely, with my bare hands."
"Very well, starting off with a healing cleric of the dead. I'll make sure to look you up if I accidentally portal in a horde of the undead. Still good to have someone to keep the lot of you alive, I suppose. If you want my advice, and trust me, you do, I'd heavily invest in that 'live in the present' thing you've been working on. And you, Syd, I'll be sure to keep on your good side. As you might guess from my glorious machine above us, I of course appreciate gnomes and have occasionally utilized their talents in my scholarly pursuits." Cassandra attempts to mimic his fist pump with a wry, sympathetic smile. "What of the rest of you, then? Too impressed with Ollezall and Syd here to speak up?"
"Very well, starting off with a healing cleric of the dead. I'll make sure to look you up if I accidentally portal in a horde of the undead
Looking disgusted with the mention of undead, Ollezall comments " be sure you do; abominations like the undead are a perversion of Kelemvor's domain, and sadly a remnant of Myrkul and Cyric's tenure of the position... The bodies of the dead deserve rest, and creators of undead deserve 'the sword'....sorry, I spoke out of turn; the death clergy has strong views on the subject..."
Mohdrak bristled and snorted as he walked the streets of Haven. People in his path hurried themselves to get out of the way of what seemed to be a bull looking for something to break. Not that he could not shove them out of the way himself with his imposing, 7ft tall, powerful physique, not to mention the broad horns that adorned his head but the minotaur was not in the mood for personal interaction. His face was a dark cloud and the stomping of his hooves preceded a storm.
'Damn judge.' Mohdrak muttered, the word dripping with contempt. 'Dare give me a 9,5? A 9,5?! That was a perfect 10! Bloody halfling just couldn't stomach seeing perfection in action, what with his noodle arms and potbelly. A 9,5. Bah, pure envy, let me tell you...'
Being so absorbed in his angry thoughts nearly caused Mohdrak to crash into a line of waiting people. Rather than giving into the impulse to just bulldoze his way through, Mohdrak glared over the crowd to see what was the hold-up. He was at the Bulletin Board and it seemed to garner quite the attraction.
'Perhaps I should see what all the commotion is about.' Mohdrak rubbed his chin. 'Take a break, get some easy cash. Why not?'
After reading the notice he made his way to Cassandra's Magic. He always liked going to that district. Though he did not have the talent for magic himself, aside from alchemy and that was really more an extension of his love for cooking, Mohdrak liked the idea, the concept, of magic. Something about imposing your will on reality and making it change intrigued him. Like how he changed himself from scrawny lad to veritable powerhouse through sheer willpower. The smell of magic and herbs told him he had arrived.
It seemed that there were others interested in the job as well. And there was a test beforehand. It did not deter Mohdrak. He delighted in tests, taking every opportunity to push himself to be better. When the one taking the lead, an apprentice of sorts, turned to him and asked what he could bring to the group, Mohdrak grinned. He unhooked his morningstar from his belt, threw it down with perfectly calibrated force so that it stood upright without damaging the floor (too much) and hung his shield on it.
With his hands free, Mohdrak began a routine common in the arena and training halls. His black fur and bulging muscles threatened to break open the rings of his chain mail as he performed some traditional poses, flexing his body to show off the strength he possessed.
After a good thirty seconds and ten poses of various intensity, he picked his shield back up and rested the morningstar on his shoulder. 'I also cook and brew potions.' Mohdrak concluded with a mischievous smile.
An attractive female redhaired elf who has fair skin with a slightly golden cast Is watching and listening carefully to the others. Clad in green and brown elvish-style traveling clothes with a forest green cloak and high soft boots, she carries a staff and green leather backpack- also nicely styled with a ivy pattern. An elf owl familiar is on one shoulder (sparrow sized owl). She has a serious expression, “My name is Cerlindriasi Illinarious, of the Towerwood Elven lands. You may call me Cerlinde. I am a scholar who has been seeking to get some more worldly experience as an adventurer. I also was on the ill-fated wilderness patrol which was assaulted by Kobolds, with Ollezall. I am a wizard, a mere student at present compared with you Madame Cassandra, but learning. I also am a cartographer, calligrapher and dabble in herbalism and alchemy. But I also stopped many Kobolds with creative use of firebolts”
With this, she smiles. Her voice is soft with a subtle elvish accent- it seems she has practiced common carefully -and is trying hard to get it right.
Cassandra just stares at the minotaur, her face completely blank. After Mohdrak completes his remarkable display, she waits a few moments, takes a deep breath and responds, "Well, cook, I suppose I should thank you for not damaging my study, either with your exertions or your equipment. Impressive though that display may be, do you also use all those muscles to wield that morningstar in combat or does it only serve as a shield stand? I'm not hiring a cook, I make my own potions, and while you are very interesting to look at, I really need a warrior. Can you serve in that capacity, and if so, what is your name?"
Subsequently, Cassandra walks directly over to Cerlinde, stands close to her, and speaks quietly. "A scholar, indeed. Cerlinde, you are more in line with the type of adventurer I was hoping to recruit for this assignment. From the looks of this group, I will need to rely on whatever expertise you have managed to attain in your fledgling career. I doubt any kobolds will be involved, but in the course of this task there may be many scholarly works at your disposal, possibly during and definitely after. If you succeed, that is."
Cerlinde says “I have had quite enough Kobolds for a while! . Scholarly works are wonderful, I dream one day to have my own library. Is there any information or equipment you could provide us with to help in our quest?”
Cassandra just stares at the minotaur, her face completely blank. After Mohdrak completes his remarkable display, she waits a few moments, takes a deep breath and responds, "Well, cook, I suppose I should thank you for not damaging my study, either with your exertions or your equipment. Impressive though that display may be, do you also use all those muscles to wield that morningstar in combat or does it only serve as a shield stand? I'm not hiring a cook, I make my own potions, and while you are very interesting to look at, I really need a warrior. Can you serve in that capacity, and if so, what is your name?"
'Do you get to the sports district very often?' Mohdrak's lips turned to a sly grin. 'Probably not. No biggie, I love meeting a new fan.'
He pointed at his face with a massive thumb. 'The name's Mohdrak. Fulltime athlete, parttime cook, all-round champion.'
The minotaur hoisted the shield on his back and hooked the morningstar back on his belt. He puffed out his chest. 'Don't worry 'bout the fighting part. With the amount of people I've sent to the healers, they're probably going to name a wing after me any time now.'
With that said, the bovine brawler stepped a bit to the side to let the smaller folks get a word in. There was a redheaded elf who asked for further information so Mohdrak leaned a bit in to listen. A small, cute owl sat silent on her shoulder. Mohdrak liked small, cute things. Luckily for him, most other people and things were small compared to him. He reached out to pet it.
The owl seems to enjoy being pet. Cerlinde gives a smile "Well Met Mohdrak, Quill likes you. And to Syd, and the rest , I am happy to join you in this mission. I may not be strong or capable of wielding a big weapon, but I will do what I can to keep us all alive ".
Cassandra responds to the talkative members of her band of adventurers while waiting for the other two to hopefully speak up soon, lest she have to ask Ollezall to employ his medicinal skills to assess their condition.
"Oh, my dear Syd, don't you worry, I wasn't referring to your facility with books in general, which I'm sure is quite prodigious. I was merely commenting on Cerlinde's vocation as a wizard. As you probably surmised, this little task has something to do with magic and, more precisely, the magic of a very potent wizard. As such, it would be useful to have a wizard, even if she has not yet attained a similar level of skill, along to assist. However, that does not mean that such mighty warriors as you and Mohdrak, with your massive muscles and cartoonishly large weapons, won't be of great use in keeping Cerlinde, Ollezall, and whatever lovely magical things are on the other side of the portal safe. Oh, and my apprentice, of course."
Her mind seems to drift for a moment as she speaks to herself. "It would be nice if Matreous were returned in reasonably good condition. His notes on the tome were borderline indecipherable. Typical for him, yet another annoyance for me. Hmm." Cassandra tents her fingers momentarily, before she begins tapping them together rhythmically and pacing about a bit. As she is turning at the end of one of these little laps, her eyes lock on Mohdrak.
"Mohdrak, you are correct in that I do not often take in the athletic entertainment on offer here in Haven. All-'round champion, you say? I rather like that appellation, perhaps I should call myself an 'all-around genius'. Well, I'll hold off on that until after I solve the matter of these damn portals all over the place on this demiplane! That still eludes me, but I think with your help, all of your help, I can move much closer. You see, one of my fellow shopkeepers had been holding out on me. Probably not intentionally, as she is rather eccentric and her mental acuity is, let's just say, sparsely applied. As it turns out, this shopkeeper, Drusilla, has had in her possession a book, The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces, that contains a great deal of knowledge on the subject of planar travel and a variety of other exciting portal-related topics. I sent one of my apprentices, Matreous, to see about acquiring the book, but she was only willing to allow Matreous to study it in one of the back rooms of her shop, Drusilla's Forest. He had spent a few days there, researching, taking notes. I had barely seen him, as he kept begging off providing a report, claiming he just needed a few more hours and was 'on the verge of a breakthrough'. Unfortunately, that breakthrough seems to have been opening and subsequently getting himself trapped in a portal, where by the grace of Tymora, he's still safely waiting for someone to reopen it. Or not, would serve him right for not being smart enough to ask for my assistance in the first place!" Cassandra breaks off angrily and resumes pacing for a few more laps of what you are beginning to suspect is an oft-repeated ritual.
"In any case, my brave adventurers, I trust that you will be fine, whatever awaits through the portal. There was only one of him and there are several of you! He was a meek man of limited talents and you are kobold conquerors and all-'round champions! You will get through that portal and find the secrets that the Joy of Extradimensional Spaces is fairly bursting to reveal to me so that I can finally bring some order to Haven!"
Syd is mollified by Cassandra's explanation, and while he isn't exactly sure what "prodigious" means, he decides it probably has something to do with "awesome" or perhaps "well-endowed". He smiles at her noticing his muscles, and flexes unconsciously. He does glance at Mohdrak a little enviously, not being used to sharing the testosterone spotlight.
He attempts to follow Cassandra's soliloquy, but gets muddled; he knows there is something about a magic book, a portal and a missing apprentice, beyond that he is mystified.
Cerlinde, trying to follow as well, says "So this book on extradimensional spaces which is located at Drusilla's Forest apparently opened a portal that your apprentice went through? Sounds fascinating. Can we see his notes? It would be helpful to understand how he opened the gate, so to speak. I am also fascinated with planar travel and extradimensional spaces- one of the reasons I am in Haven. But we will head there straight away, I know the place well"
" I am prepared" Ollezall says. " What is everyone's style of fighting if we get into a conflict? I generally do not like being in the firing line unless I have no other choice, but I also understand this is other people's forte, so I would like to know how I can best assist each of you."
Cerlinde says, with a smile-" You've seen my fighting style Ollezall- well sort-of. Frantically running through the woods with hundreds of kobolds chasing us is not how I ever envisioned fighting. I prefer to stay far away from the enemies 'pointy-ends' and throw firebolts, and help out more where I can with my spells"
(I am so sorry for being late with my introduction, I was on vacation)
A rather short old man, walks into the store. It looks like he may have been a very tall man in his prime, but being bent with age, barely reaches five feet tall. He speaks with a strange high-pitched voice.
"Greetings Miss Cassandra, I am Dyumi Eyrad, druid extraordinaire, and I have come to aid in your mission. I will be a great asset to this group you are putting together, as I have amassed a great wealth of healing, tracking, and utility spells and- *he leans in uncomfortably close and whispers:* "Teleportation! Oooo"
(side note- I DM a campaign where Tesservett plays a character named Cassandra. Hope I don't get confused lol)
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Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely. If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Cassandra looks at the wizened, stooped druid with a quizzical expression. She cocks her head slightly to one side and, with a hint of a frown, replies, "Thank you, Dyumi Eyrad, druid extraordinaire. Your spells should indeed be of great use in this task . . ." She leans in close and enunciates quite clearly and loudly, ". . . even teleportation. I was afraid you'd lost your hearing along with your posture, but I'm glad to see I was wrong. Speaking of which, my hearing is just fine, so I would prefer if you stood back just a tad there."
Cassandra withdraws a few steps and addresses the group as a whole once again. "Yes, your next step, if you feel you are ready, is to head to Drusilla's Forest and begin your investigation of the back room where this disappearance occurred. Drusilla has graciously consented to maintain the integrity of the crime scene, if you will, so Matreous' notes, the portal-ly tome, and whatever else you may require should still be in the room. I only hope that Drusilla remembers our arrangement; as I mentioned, she can be a bit volatile. It should help that you already have a friendly relationship with her, Cerlinde. The rest of you, please be on your best behaviour. If you find yourself in any difficulty, you may request the assistance of one of my apprentices." Cassandra walks over to her desk, quickly scribbles out a note on a piece of parchment, and pulls a small purse from a drawer. She then approaches Cerlinde.
"This note will explain who you are and should gain you access to the back room." Cassandra holds up the purse and shakes it vigourously. She narrows her eyes and continues, "This is to be placed in the donation box, and make sure that Drusilla sees you do it. I will know if a single coin does not make it in there. She will appreciate the donation, as I'm sure you're aware. As I said, volatile. I have to gain access to this portal, so do not screw this up. Now please go, make whatever preparations you require, and head to Drusilla's Forest. Oh, and take this last silent one with you. Hopefully they'll be of use."
With that, Cassandra puts on her goggles, takes a sweeping glance over the party, shakes her head slightly, and marches back up the stairs to once again engage in her endless struggle with the Device. The apprentice that brought you in looks at you expectantly, smiling and seeming to hope that you'll head out of the store of your own volition.
As you approach the Bulletin Board for your daily perusal of the calamities befalling Haven/opportunities for you to enhance your adventuring prestige and personal wealth, you feel like something is slightly different on this particular morning. A larger than usual group of adventurers has gathered around the Board and there is a persistent murmuring. You get a sense of puzzlement and mild excitement from the crowd as you gently push your way through to the front. Amidst the usual smattering of requests for handiwork, poultry wrangling, and pest control, one particular notice stands out. It is from Cassandra, the proprietor of the eponymous Cassandra's Magic and notorious recluse. That alone is cause for heightened interest, but it also specifically calls out the involvement of portals, Haven's constant menace.
Bulletin Board Notice - Urgent!
After reviewing the notice and believing this sort of thing might be right up your alley, you take a brisk walk to the Scholars district and head to Cassandra's Magic. It's easy to recognize the three story building due to its height, but moreso because of the ludicrous contraption that occupies the greater part of the roof. Most folks simply call it “the Device” and it's well over 20 feet in height. There are gleams of polished brass, steel, and crystal, wheels upon wheels, balance beams, gears, springs, pendulums, and the entire mechanism is in constant motion. After spending a few moments pondering what sort of person could create and spend the majority of their time in such a thing, you present yourself for an interview with that very person, the proprietor, Cassandra. A small party of six or so assemble in the store, causing things to become somewhat crowded given the bulk of some of the party members. Seeing that a sufficient number of brave souls have arrived, an apprentice gathers herself and intones with great severity, "Thank you so much for your response to the notice posted this morning. As you can imagine, this situtation has caused all of us here at Cassandra's Magic a great deal of distress. Please follow me upstairs, where Cassandra will explain the problem in greater detail and assess your suitability for the execution of the tasks required."
Following the apprentice through the back of the shop and up to the second floor, you can hear the noises emanating from the Device above. Ceiling beams groan, the walls vibrate, and occasional whistles pierce the air. It's all a bit unsettling, but the individual standing before you doesn't seem to be bothered in the slightest. Cassandra looks you over critically, shaking her head and sighing softly to herself as she paces from one end of your lineup to the other. While she certainly has the appearance of a scholar, with ink-stained finger tips, disheveled hair, and stacks of books and notes scattered about what seems to be her office, Cassandra is also wearing the garb of an engineer of sorts. She has a leather belt with several pouches filled with a wide variety of tools, notebooks, rulers, and things you don't recognize. Her manner is not frantic, but all of her movements seem to come at an abnormally quick pace. As with all things, though, Cassandra does come to an eventual stop. "So, this is what Haven has presented to me? I guess I shouldn't leap to conclusions at first sight, but I certainly didn't expect the likes of you. Some indelicate looking fellows here indeed. At any rate, at least I won't have to deal with this nonsense personally." She seems to be speaking to herself as much as she is to you, but switches tone while addressing you with an intense gaze. "Thank you for coming. Now, if you would be so kind, regale me with some measure of your exploits so I can judge if you're going to be of any use on this little adventure."
(Party, please pick up here with your responses and off we go!)
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
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After returning from Myk's magic shop, reading the bulletin and reporting to Cassandra's, Ollezall shyly volunteers first;
"My name is Ollezall, I'm a healer; cleric of Kelemvor to be precise. Um, I suppose my experience is I just survived a horde of kobolds who surrounded us during a patrol mission" Ollezall nods to Cerlinde as she joins the group " I am not primarily an offensive magic user, but if the situation calls for it I will call down divine energy to smite opposition to the group. My primary focus is on keeping everyone here alive; I will forgo doing damage in favour of healing a party member, even at detriment to myself. "
Thinking for a bit and looking for an 8 foot Teifling before continuing, Ollezall adds one more thing " I sometimes get lost in a train of thought, but I'm learning to live in the present a lot more...." *Now I think of it, she DID say she would kill me if my comrades didn't make it back..... We should leave before she finds out how close it came and discovers I survived....she wasn't serious I hope.... Well I'm not sticking around for another clout to the head....almost killed me before I left the guardhouse....sort of charming once you get to know her though....* Snapping back to himself, Ollezall steps back, smiles and waits for someone else to introduce themselves.
A loud belch erupts from the back of the room, and when everyone turns to look, they see a powerfully built Orc of greenish hue appearing startled, and then looking around for someone else to blame. He points a finger at Cassandra's apprentice, who frowns, and he then shrugs with a sheepish Cheshire Cat grin.
"I'm called Syd... Syd Wartnose to be exact, although I never knew my parents, and have no idea where my clan name comes from." (To you, and to anyone else who looks at Syd's face, it is abundantly clear where, in fact, the appellation originated). "My uncles found me abandoned, and raised me as one of their own. So uh, go gnomes!" He pumps a fist weakly in the air with an awkward laugh. "Well, anyway, I was raised on a goat farm, but I got real good at finding the lost ones and bringing them back. So I'm sure I can help you find your apprentice too, can't be that different, right? Heh-heh..... oh, and Uncle Snapdoodle hired a grumpy old dwarf fighter to teach me a thing or two, and after that I won the county mud-wrasslin' title three years straight! Hm, what else? Oh yeah, one time I kinda lost my temper and... (here his tone abruptly changes from teenaged bumpkin to deadly serious)... sent a dozen kobolds who were bothering my uncles to meet Kurtulmak prematurely, with my bare hands."
"Very well, starting off with a healing cleric of the dead. I'll make sure to look you up if I accidentally portal in a horde of the undead. Still good to have someone to keep the lot of you alive, I suppose. If you want my advice, and trust me, you do, I'd heavily invest in that 'live in the present' thing you've been working on. And you, Syd, I'll be sure to keep on your good side. As you might guess from my glorious machine above us, I of course appreciate gnomes and have occasionally utilized their talents in my scholarly pursuits." Cassandra attempts to mimic his fist pump with a wry, sympathetic smile. "What of the rest of you, then? Too impressed with Ollezall and Syd here to speak up?"
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
Come join the Worlds of Pphost, a new and growing PbP community! Adventures are currently running in the world of Haven or do some role-playing!
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Looking disgusted with the mention of undead, Ollezall comments " be sure you do; abominations like the undead are a perversion of Kelemvor's domain, and sadly a remnant of Myrkul and Cyric's tenure of the position... The bodies of the dead deserve rest, and creators of undead deserve 'the sword'....sorry, I spoke out of turn; the death clergy has strong views on the subject..."
Mohdrak bristled and snorted as he walked the streets of Haven. People in his path hurried themselves to get out of the way of what seemed to be a bull looking for something to break. Not that he could not shove them out of the way himself with his imposing, 7ft tall, powerful physique, not to mention the broad horns that adorned his head but the minotaur was not in the mood for personal interaction. His face was a dark cloud and the stomping of his hooves preceded a storm.
'Damn judge.' Mohdrak muttered, the word dripping with contempt. 'Dare give me a 9,5? A 9,5?! That was a perfect 10! Bloody halfling just couldn't stomach seeing perfection in action, what with his noodle arms and potbelly. A 9,5. Bah, pure envy, let me tell you...'
Being so absorbed in his angry thoughts nearly caused Mohdrak to crash into a line of waiting people. Rather than giving into the impulse to just bulldoze his way through, Mohdrak glared over the crowd to see what was the hold-up. He was at the Bulletin Board and it seemed to garner quite the attraction.
'Perhaps I should see what all the commotion is about.' Mohdrak rubbed his chin. 'Take a break, get some easy cash. Why not?'
After reading the notice he made his way to Cassandra's Magic. He always liked going to that district. Though he did not have the talent for magic himself, aside from alchemy and that was really more an extension of his love for cooking, Mohdrak liked the idea, the concept, of magic. Something about imposing your will on reality and making it change intrigued him. Like how he changed himself from scrawny lad to veritable powerhouse through sheer willpower. The smell of magic and herbs told him he had arrived.
It seemed that there were others interested in the job as well. And there was a test beforehand. It did not deter Mohdrak. He delighted in tests, taking every opportunity to push himself to be better. When the one taking the lead, an apprentice of sorts, turned to him and asked what he could bring to the group, Mohdrak grinned. He unhooked his morningstar from his belt, threw it down with perfectly calibrated force so that it stood upright without damaging the floor (too much) and hung his shield on it.
With his hands free, Mohdrak began a routine common in the arena and training halls. His black fur and bulging muscles threatened to break open the rings of his chain mail as he performed some traditional poses, flexing his body to show off the strength he possessed.
After a good thirty seconds and ten poses of various intensity, he picked his shield back up and rested the morningstar on his shoulder. 'I also cook and brew potions.' Mohdrak concluded with a mischievous smile.
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Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
An attractive female redhaired elf who has fair skin with a slightly golden cast Is watching and listening carefully to the others. Clad in green and brown elvish-style traveling clothes with a forest green cloak and high soft boots, she carries a staff and green leather backpack- also nicely styled with a ivy pattern. An elf owl familiar is on one shoulder (sparrow sized owl).
She has a serious expression, “My name is Cerlindriasi Illinarious, of the Towerwood Elven lands. You may call me Cerlinde. I am a scholar who has been seeking to get some more worldly experience as an adventurer. I also was on the ill-fated wilderness patrol which was assaulted by Kobolds, with Ollezall. I am a wizard, a mere student at present compared with you Madame Cassandra, but learning. I also am a cartographer, calligrapher and dabble in herbalism and alchemy. But I also stopped many Kobolds with creative use of firebolts”
With this, she smiles. Her voice is soft with a subtle elvish accent- it seems she has practiced common carefully -and is trying hard to get it right.
Cassandra just stares at the minotaur, her face completely blank. After Mohdrak completes his remarkable display, she waits a few moments, takes a deep breath and responds, "Well, cook, I suppose I should thank you for not damaging my study, either with your exertions or your equipment. Impressive though that display may be, do you also use all those muscles to wield that morningstar in combat or does it only serve as a shield stand? I'm not hiring a cook, I make my own potions, and while you are very interesting to look at, I really need a warrior. Can you serve in that capacity, and if so, what is your name?"
Subsequently, Cassandra walks directly over to Cerlinde, stands close to her, and speaks quietly. "A scholar, indeed. Cerlinde, you are more in line with the type of adventurer I was hoping to recruit for this assignment. From the looks of this group, I will need to rely on whatever expertise you have managed to attain in your fledgling career. I doubt any kobolds will be involved, but in the course of this task there may be many scholarly works at your disposal, possibly during and definitely after. If you succeed, that is."
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Cerlinde says “I have had quite enough Kobolds for a while! . Scholarly works are wonderful, I dream one day to have my own library. Is there any information or equipment you could provide us with to help in our quest?”
"'More in line...?' Hey! I can read, too! I'm not illegimate, you know!" Syd grumps after eavesdropping, slightly offended.
'Do you get to the sports district very often?' Mohdrak's lips turned to a sly grin. 'Probably not. No biggie, I love meeting a new fan.'
He pointed at his face with a massive thumb. 'The name's Mohdrak. Fulltime athlete, parttime cook, all-round champion.'
The minotaur hoisted the shield on his back and hooked the morningstar back on his belt. He puffed out his chest. 'Don't worry 'bout the fighting part. With the amount of people I've sent to the healers, they're probably going to name a wing after me any time now.'
With that said, the bovine brawler stepped a bit to the side to let the smaller folks get a word in. There was a redheaded elf who asked for further information so Mohdrak leaned a bit in to listen. A small, cute owl sat silent on her shoulder. Mohdrak liked small, cute things. Luckily for him, most other people and things were small compared to him. He reached out to pet it.
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Valerius Sergius Publius: Dhampir Paladin - Vae Victus
The owl seems to enjoy being pet. Cerlinde gives a smile "Well Met Mohdrak, Quill likes you. And to Syd, and the rest , I am happy to join you in this mission. I may not be strong or capable of wielding a big weapon, but I will do what I can to keep us all alive ".
Cassandra responds to the talkative members of her band of adventurers while waiting for the other two to hopefully speak up soon, lest she have to ask Ollezall to employ his medicinal skills to assess their condition.
"Oh, my dear Syd, don't you worry, I wasn't referring to your facility with books in general, which I'm sure is quite prodigious. I was merely commenting on Cerlinde's vocation as a wizard. As you probably surmised, this little task has something to do with magic and, more precisely, the magic of a very potent wizard. As such, it would be useful to have a wizard, even if she has not yet attained a similar level of skill, along to assist. However, that does not mean that such mighty warriors as you and Mohdrak, with your massive muscles and cartoonishly large weapons, won't be of great use in keeping Cerlinde, Ollezall, and whatever lovely magical things are on the other side of the portal safe. Oh, and my apprentice, of course."
Her mind seems to drift for a moment as she speaks to herself. "It would be nice if Matreous were returned in reasonably good condition. His notes on the tome were borderline indecipherable. Typical for him, yet another annoyance for me. Hmm." Cassandra tents her fingers momentarily, before she begins tapping them together rhythmically and pacing about a bit. As she is turning at the end of one of these little laps, her eyes lock on Mohdrak.
"Mohdrak, you are correct in that I do not often take in the athletic entertainment on offer here in Haven. All-'round champion, you say? I rather like that appellation, perhaps I should call myself an 'all-around genius'. Well, I'll hold off on that until after I solve the matter of these damn portals all over the place on this demiplane! That still eludes me, but I think with your help, all of your help, I can move much closer. You see, one of my fellow shopkeepers had been holding out on me. Probably not intentionally, as she is rather eccentric and her mental acuity is, let's just say, sparsely applied. As it turns out, this shopkeeper, Drusilla, has had in her possession a book, The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces, that contains a great deal of knowledge on the subject of planar travel and a variety of other exciting portal-related topics. I sent one of my apprentices, Matreous, to see about acquiring the book, but she was only willing to allow Matreous to study it in one of the back rooms of her shop, Drusilla's Forest. He had spent a few days there, researching, taking notes. I had barely seen him, as he kept begging off providing a report, claiming he just needed a few more hours and was 'on the verge of a breakthrough'. Unfortunately, that breakthrough seems to have been opening and subsequently getting himself trapped in a portal, where by the grace of Tymora, he's still safely waiting for someone to reopen it. Or not, would serve him right for not being smart enough to ask for my assistance in the first place!" Cassandra breaks off angrily and resumes pacing for a few more laps of what you are beginning to suspect is an oft-repeated ritual.
"In any case, my brave adventurers, I trust that you will be fine, whatever awaits through the portal. There was only one of him and there are several of you! He was a meek man of limited talents and you are kobold conquerors and all-'round champions! You will get through that portal and find the secrets that the Joy of Extradimensional Spaces is fairly bursting to reveal to me so that I can finally bring some order to Haven!"
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Syd is mollified by Cassandra's explanation, and while he isn't exactly sure what "prodigious" means, he decides it probably has something to do with "awesome" or perhaps "well-endowed". He smiles at her noticing his muscles, and flexes unconsciously. He does glance at Mohdrak a little enviously, not being used to sharing the testosterone spotlight.
He attempts to follow Cassandra's soliloquy, but gets muddled; he knows there is something about a magic book, a portal and a missing apprentice, beyond that he is mystified.
Cerlinde, trying to follow as well, says "So this book on extradimensional spaces which is located at Drusilla's Forest apparently opened a portal that your apprentice went through? Sounds fascinating. Can we see his notes? It would be helpful to understand how he opened the gate, so to speak. I am also fascinated with planar travel and extradimensional spaces- one of the reasons I am in Haven. But we will head there straight away, I know the place well"
" I am prepared" Ollezall says. " What is everyone's style of fighting if we get into a conflict? I generally do not like being in the firing line unless I have no other choice, but I also understand this is other people's forte, so I would like to know how I can best assist each of you."
Syd seems confused (not an unusual occurrence). "Style of fighting?... uh, the pointy end goes in the other guy?"
Cerlinde says, with a smile-" You've seen my fighting style Ollezall- well sort-of. Frantically running through the woods with hundreds of kobolds chasing us is not how I ever envisioned fighting. I prefer to stay far away from the enemies 'pointy-ends' and throw firebolts, and help out more where I can with my spells"
(I am so sorry for being late with my introduction, I was on vacation)
A rather short old man, walks into the store. It looks like he may have been a very tall man in his prime, but being bent with age, barely reaches five feet tall. He speaks with a strange high-pitched voice.
"Greetings Miss Cassandra, I am Dyumi Eyrad, druid extraordinaire, and I have come to aid in your mission. I will be a great asset to this group you are putting together, as I have amassed a great wealth of healing, tracking, and utility spells and- *he leans in uncomfortably close and whispers:* "Teleportation! Oooo"
(side note- I DM a campaign where Tesservett plays a character named Cassandra. Hope I don't get confused lol)
Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely.
If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
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Cassandra looks at the wizened, stooped druid with a quizzical expression. She cocks her head slightly to one side and, with a hint of a frown, replies, "Thank you, Dyumi Eyrad, druid extraordinaire. Your spells should indeed be of great use in this task . . ." She leans in close and enunciates quite clearly and loudly, ". . . even teleportation. I was afraid you'd lost your hearing along with your posture, but I'm glad to see I was wrong. Speaking of which, my hearing is just fine, so I would prefer if you stood back just a tad there."
Cassandra withdraws a few steps and addresses the group as a whole once again. "Yes, your next step, if you feel you are ready, is to head to Drusilla's Forest and begin your investigation of the back room where this disappearance occurred. Drusilla has graciously consented to maintain the integrity of the crime scene, if you will, so Matreous' notes, the portal-ly tome, and whatever else you may require should still be in the room. I only hope that Drusilla remembers our arrangement; as I mentioned, she can be a bit volatile. It should help that you already have a friendly relationship with her, Cerlinde. The rest of you, please be on your best behaviour. If you find yourself in any difficulty, you may request the assistance of one of my apprentices." Cassandra walks over to her desk, quickly scribbles out a note on a piece of parchment, and pulls a small purse from a drawer. She then approaches Cerlinde.
"This note will explain who you are and should gain you access to the back room." Cassandra holds up the purse and shakes it vigourously. She narrows her eyes and continues, "This is to be placed in the donation box, and make sure that Drusilla sees you do it. I will know if a single coin does not make it in there. She will appreciate the donation, as I'm sure you're aware. As I said, volatile. I have to gain access to this portal, so do not screw this up. Now please go, make whatever preparations you require, and head to Drusilla's Forest. Oh, and take this last silent one with you. Hopefully they'll be of use."
With that, Cassandra puts on her goggles, takes a sweeping glance over the party, shakes her head slightly, and marches back up the stairs to once again engage in her endless struggle with the Device. The apprentice that brought you in looks at you expectantly, smiling and seeming to hope that you'll head out of the store of your own volition.
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
Come join the Worlds of Pphost, a new and growing PbP community! Adventures are currently running in the world of Haven or do some role-playing!
It never hurts to help! ---- PbP: [Rolling Dice] [Tooltips] ---- DDB Content: [Free Adventures] [Encounter of the Week]