((It'll take me a bit to write up a suitable response to Lia's post, I've got lab starting in 5 minutes, and softball tonight, so will try to get it up after that, if not then tomorrow.))
The same KT Gal saw before has stopped and is staring towards the alley, with the unblinking gaze of a kuo-toa. It makes no sign it cares about him peeping out.
There are enough refuse and half constructed bits that you're easily able to hide the bodies.
((Your efforts would stand up to a cursory inspection, but if you want to try to do a real good job, Dexterity(Deception).))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
((@DM: that’s totally cool! I threw a lot at you in one go after a crazy break. No rush. It’s quite separate to the rest of what’s going on so it’s totally cool! :-) Thanks! ))
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stena takes the arrow from Shuushar without a glance to Gloog. She will ask Jimjar,
"How are ye feeling?"
She'll watch Galingal start hiding the bodies impassively, only bothering to give them a quick search before they are hidden suspiciously well. Almost professionally well.
Investigation of the bodies: 15
She'll ask Gloog as she gestures for him to move along
Galingal does such a good job hiding bodies, that when he goes to find a place to stash the fourth one, he's startled to find that there's another body already in the place he was going to hide it! He has a momentary startlement at someone else having been hiding bodies in this alley, then realizes that it was actually the second one he tucked away, and he's just that good.
Stena manages to investigate three of the bodies before Galingal whisks the away to a pocket dimension or whatever he did... she looked away from the ones she'd searched for a moment and they were just gone.
She finds an assortment of shells, a necklace studded with small gems, a handful of silver and copper (2 silver, 23 copper) that has been scratched to put what might be supposed to be some sort of KT deity on them, a pair of crude daggers that are not much more than sharpened shells with a cloth handle, and once nicer dagger. There's also the four sticky shields, spears, and nets.
"Not great, those bastards got the jump on me, I'd bet five gold if they'd hit me again, I'd have gone down!" he frowns as he realizes what he's betting on.
Gloog seems energized by the scuffle, and doesn't seem to hold it against Stena for shooting him in the back, but he does give her an odd look when she asks about the assailants.
"Yes, of course? Can't you tell the difference?"
Other than 'they attacked us', from what you've seen, the followers of the Sea Mother and the followers of the Deep Father look the same to you.
Lia pushes out of Ploopp's hovel, and walks lightly to the ruins ringing the square that holds the shrine to the Sea Mother, her skin shimmering as she plucks a tune on her lyre. She slowly begins harmonizing, as she steps to the shrine, standing below the Sea Mother effigy, the nine-foot tall statue rising behind her, the head and claws of the giant albino crayfish extended as if presenting Lia to the crowd. Lia steps lightly among the pile of refuse at the foot of the statue, the four stern kuo-toa guards milling about, keeping an eye on her, wondering what she will do next.
In Lia's mind's eye, the low stone wall extends up into sweeping stone buttresses holding aloft a vast roof, light pouring through stained glass to illuminate the shrine of the Sea Mother, rather than the wet, dirty, cobbled together ruin that she stands among. She begins painting in word, song and note the vision she sees... Ploopp, not understanding her words, but seeing the effects hearing the song is having on his congregation, takes a bit of a gamble. When Lia pauses, he makes a loud proclamation to those gathered, before approaching and embracing her as he speaks a benediction over her.
Lia, you feel magic take hold as he whispers to you in Undercommon, "You speak with the authority of the Sea Mother now... make it count!"
Lia, you can now understand the hushed whispers of the KT congregation, but they grow quiet as you continue. You are the single focal point of the dozens and dozens of KT faithful that are turning out to listen to your song. While they can all understand your words now, you don't rely on words alone, weaving your lyre, your voice, building off the natural resonance of the structures and the cavern, you feel the crowd, you know before they do when they are about to breathe, and incorporate that into the tapestry of sound you weave. You can feel threads of energy extending to you from the KT's in attendance, you somehow latch onto them and add them to your weaving of sound and emotion.
As you speak of discord, the song twists in your grasp, evading you as you plea to your guide to provide guidance, you collapse to one knee... faintly, as if from a great distance, or a great struggle, you hear a sound... a sound that you know only you are hearing... a pinging thrum, a crack...
You heard its like when Io was encased in ice of her own making, but surely your guide cannot expect you to return to Velkynvelve!
Spent, you kneel in the refuse of offerings to the Sea Mother, the scent of decay pushing past into your nostrils, as a googling Ploopp seizes the opportunity and steps forward. His words are a buzzing hum in your ears, you continue to hear the sounds of cracking ice, the slosh of water beneath, but as your regain your composure, you realize that he has channeled the worship of the now hundreds of kuo-toa drawn to vicinity of the shrine away from you, and towards the Sea Mother. Looking around, you see fishy faces gaping in awe, packing the streets, hanging from second floors and the walkways between, even the precarious third floors are packed, some beginning to sway and dip under the weight.
Those KT closest to the shrine begin showering both you and the shrine with offerings... tossed coins, shells, scraps of cloth, uneaten bits of food... eaten and regurgitated bits of food. It is then, as you wipe something that smells suspcicously like the Beer Room fare from your face, that you lock eyes with a figure at the far side of the square, beside a building. Pale, icy blue skin, with deep blue horns curving up and back over a bald, slender face. His pale, pupil-less eyes meet yours and you hear the sounds of ice singing build to a crescendo as he turns away, back into the alley as you black out.
Thom rushes to Lia's side, calling for Derendil, who wades through the KT mob to scoop her up, and the party retreats to Ploopp's hovel. Outside is chaos, as the KT faithful to the Sea Mother begin calling out, singing in a gurgling imitation of Lia's song. Inside, sheltered from the cacophony, Derendil lays Lia down gently, and Sarith and Thom help to wipe away the worst of the refuse, knowing she'll be able to do a better job when she wakens.
((Stena, Galingal, Shuushar, Jimjar and Gloog all now have a use of Bardic Inspiration.))
In a half hour or so, Lia wakes, much to the relief of your companions.
"What did you DO, girl?" Lex asks roughly.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Shuushar places a hand on Jimjar and some of his wounds stop oozing blood. HP: 6
"I'm good to go."
Gloog nods and leads you on further, whatever else is happening seems to have the KTs occupied, and you're able to make it to the second floor of a structure that looks out on the docks.
((Perception check.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
((Wow @Spider that was incredible!!! Better than I ever would have dreamed! A lucky nat 20 and what an epic scene! Does Lia recognise the mysterious blue figure in the alley? Would she have a sense that a great blessing has passed to her companions?))
Lia wakes to see some of her companions and to hear Lex’s voice. She responds to her with, “Ice!… I saw ICE… or I heard ice…. Something is, happening…. I think we will encounter cracking ice… it’s where She’s sending me!…”.
”And there was a blue man, with horns… a… tiefling? Maybe… they sounded like ice too? Or we’re linked with it… they were blue… it’s… unclear!…”.
”She reached me… here! I felt her, Stronger than in a long time. She sent me hope of the strike team… our advance party… ‘hope’…”.
On a nat 1, all the grandeur would have been in her head, and it would have been like rocking out to a rock band fantasy, then it cuts to some guy in a record store with headphones on while the other customers just look at him. Glad it was the nat 20.
She's never seen the blue guy before.
You can roll an Arcana, if you like, but it'd have to be high for her to get a sense of it. It was kind of like pushing the button on a water fountain that hasn't been working, hoping for a trickle, but instead you get a firehose. And maybe it's not all water. Like if you pour yourself a glass of orange juice, and reach for it expecting water, but it's not.
You can also give me a History roll.
You've been out for a half hour, with your performance, you've maybe 10 minutes remaining, and from the sounds of it, they are still gathered outside, none have attempted to breach Ploopp's hovel.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stena pockets the coins and rest of the KT's pocket garbage, letting Galingal disappear the rest. She shivers as something gives her a wave of warmth and tingles and gives her surroundings a glance before reaching and making sure Eldeth's items are secure.
She gives Gloog a flat look and says,
"No."
She is happy to move on and does offer Jimjar a hand, should he require it.
Stena is to focused on Jimjar and Gloog to pay much attention, but Galingal can see something is up, a more important figure that is pointed out at Gloog's sister is pointing back towards the city and yelling at some of her followers. She's too far to make out words, but they've certainly been stirred up.
Lia isn't sure what has been going on, but she must be lucky, blessed or both to have managed that as well as she did.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Blopp moves back to the boat that seems to be her home, two guards take position at the gangplank leading to it.
The docks are barricaded, except for a few places. The KT she was giving instructions to is headed towards one of the gaps. It seems that his route may take him near your building, and there are plenty of potential ambush sites, if you were to want to intercept him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Lia’s checks:
Performance: 24
Religion #1: 14
Religion #2: 15
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Galingal looks around the alley way for any sort of cover or dark corners where they can hide the bodies of the dead KT.
If there is somewhere he will start hiding bodies right away.
If not, Galingal goes back to the end of the alley and looks out onto the street to make sure no one is approaching.
”Let’s keep going.”
((It'll take me a bit to write up a suitable response to Lia's post, I've got lab starting in 5 minutes, and softball tonight, so will try to get it up after that, if not then tomorrow.))
The same KT Gal saw before has stopped and is staring towards the alley, with the unblinking gaze of a kuo-toa. It makes no sign it cares about him peeping out.
There are enough refuse and half constructed bits that you're easily able to hide the bodies.
((Your efforts would stand up to a cursory inspection, but if you want to try to do a real good job, Dexterity(Deception).))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
((@DM: that’s totally cool! I threw a lot at you in one go after a crazy break. No rush. It’s quite separate to the rest of what’s going on so it’s totally cool! :-) Thanks! ))
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Dex/Deception to do a better job hiding bodies: 23
Once done, Galingal joins the others and nods for them to keep going. They need to see what they’re up against before anyone finds the bodies.
Stena takes the arrow from Shuushar without a glance to Gloog. She will ask Jimjar,
"How are ye feeling?"
She'll watch Galingal start hiding the bodies impassively, only bothering to give them a quick search before they are hidden suspiciously well. Almost professionally well.
Investigation of the bodies: 15
She'll ask Gloog as she gestures for him to move along
"These were yer sister's followers?"
Galingal does such a good job hiding bodies, that when he goes to find a place to stash the fourth one, he's startled to find that there's another body already in the place he was going to hide it! He has a momentary startlement at someone else having been hiding bodies in this alley, then realizes that it was actually the second one he tucked away, and he's just that good.
Stena manages to investigate three of the bodies before Galingal whisks the away to a pocket dimension or whatever he did... she looked away from the ones she'd searched for a moment and they were just gone.
She finds an assortment of shells, a necklace studded with small gems, a handful of silver and copper (2 silver, 23 copper) that has been scratched to put what might be supposed to be some sort of KT deity on them, a pair of crude daggers that are not much more than sharpened shells with a cloth handle, and once nicer dagger. There's also the four sticky shields, spears, and nets.
"Not great, those bastards got the jump on me, I'd bet five gold if they'd hit me again, I'd have gone down!" he frowns as he realizes what he's betting on.
Gloog seems energized by the scuffle, and doesn't seem to hold it against Stena for shooting him in the back, but he does give her an odd look when she asks about the assailants.
"Yes, of course? Can't you tell the difference?"
Other than 'they attacked us', from what you've seen, the followers of the Sea Mother and the followers of the Deep Father look the same to you.
Lia pushes out of Ploopp's hovel, and walks lightly to the ruins ringing the square that holds the shrine to the Sea Mother, her skin shimmering as she plucks a tune on her lyre. She slowly begins harmonizing, as she steps to the shrine, standing below the Sea Mother effigy, the nine-foot tall statue rising behind her, the head and claws of the giant albino crayfish extended as if presenting Lia to the crowd. Lia steps lightly among the pile of refuse at the foot of the statue, the four stern kuo-toa guards milling about, keeping an eye on her, wondering what she will do next.
In Lia's mind's eye, the low stone wall extends up into sweeping stone buttresses holding aloft a vast roof, light pouring through stained glass to illuminate the shrine of the Sea Mother, rather than the wet, dirty, cobbled together ruin that she stands among. She begins painting in word, song and note the vision she sees... Ploopp, not understanding her words, but seeing the effects hearing the song is having on his congregation, takes a bit of a gamble. When Lia pauses, he makes a loud proclamation to those gathered, before approaching and embracing her as he speaks a benediction over her.
Lia, you feel magic take hold as he whispers to you in Undercommon, "You speak with the authority of the Sea Mother now... make it count!"
Lia, you can now understand the hushed whispers of the KT congregation, but they grow quiet as you continue. You are the single focal point of the dozens and dozens of KT faithful that are turning out to listen to your song. While they can all understand your words now, you don't rely on words alone, weaving your lyre, your voice, building off the natural resonance of the structures and the cavern, you feel the crowd, you know before they do when they are about to breathe, and incorporate that into the tapestry of sound you weave. You can feel threads of energy extending to you from the KT's in attendance, you somehow latch onto them and add them to your weaving of sound and emotion.
As you speak of discord, the song twists in your grasp, evading you as you plea to your guide to provide guidance, you collapse to one knee... faintly, as if from a great distance, or a great struggle, you hear a sound... a sound that you know only you are hearing... a pinging thrum, a crack...
You heard its like when Io was encased in ice of her own making, but surely your guide cannot expect you to return to Velkynvelve!
Spent, you kneel in the refuse of offerings to the Sea Mother, the scent of decay pushing past into your nostrils, as a googling Ploopp seizes the opportunity and steps forward. His words are a buzzing hum in your ears, you continue to hear the sounds of cracking ice, the slosh of water beneath, but as your regain your composure, you realize that he has channeled the worship of the now hundreds of kuo-toa drawn to vicinity of the shrine away from you, and towards the Sea Mother. Looking around, you see fishy faces gaping in awe, packing the streets, hanging from second floors and the walkways between, even the precarious third floors are packed, some beginning to sway and dip under the weight.
Those KT closest to the shrine begin showering both you and the shrine with offerings... tossed coins, shells, scraps of cloth, uneaten bits of food... eaten and regurgitated bits of food. It is then, as you wipe something that smells suspcicously like the Beer Room fare from your face, that you lock eyes with a figure at the far side of the square, beside a building. Pale, icy blue skin, with deep blue horns curving up and back over a bald, slender face. His pale, pupil-less eyes meet yours and you hear the sounds of ice singing build to a crescendo as he turns away, back into the alley as you black out.
Thom rushes to Lia's side, calling for Derendil, who wades through the KT mob to scoop her up, and the party retreats to Ploopp's hovel. Outside is chaos, as the KT faithful to the Sea Mother begin calling out, singing in a gurgling imitation of Lia's song. Inside, sheltered from the cacophony, Derendil lays Lia down gently, and Sarith and Thom help to wipe away the worst of the refuse, knowing she'll be able to do a better job when she wakens.
((Stena, Galingal, Shuushar, Jimjar and Gloog all now have a use of Bardic Inspiration.))
In a half hour or so, Lia wakes, much to the relief of your companions.
"What did you DO, girl?" Lex asks roughly.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Galingal looks up into the 'sky' above, feeling something, an energy, that has passed over them, sounds following quickly behind.
He then looks over at Jimjar, assessing the apparent injuries.
"Can move? Need healing?" Galingal asks in common with a little undercommon mixed in. "If not. We go now."
If Jimjar can carry on, Galingal will save the healing for later and he urges Gloog to continue leading them on.
"To sister base now. Must still see." Galingal says.
Shuushar places a hand on Jimjar and some of his wounds stop oozing blood. HP: 6
"I'm good to go."
Gloog nods and leads you on further, whatever else is happening seems to have the KTs occupied, and you're able to make it to the second floor of a structure that looks out on the docks.
((Perception check.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Galingal nods at Jimjar and then turns and follows quickly after Gloog.
Galingal Perception: 18
@DM…
((Wow @Spider that was incredible!!! Better than I ever would have dreamed! A lucky nat 20 and what an epic scene! Does Lia recognise the mysterious blue figure in the alley? Would she have a sense that a great blessing has passed to her companions?))
Lia wakes to see some of her companions and to hear Lex’s voice. She responds to her with, “Ice!… I saw ICE… or I heard ice…. Something is, happening…. I think we will encounter cracking ice… it’s where She’s sending me!…”.
”And there was a blue man, with horns… a… tiefling? Maybe… they sounded like ice too? Or we’re linked with it… they were blue… it’s… unclear!…”.
”She reached me… here! I felt her, Stronger than in a long time. She sent me hope of the strike team… our advance party… ‘hope’…”.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
((Is tongues still on Lia? Are the faithful still gathered? Outside or inside?…))
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
@Lia
On a nat 1, all the grandeur would have been in her head, and it would have been like rocking out to a rock band fantasy, then it cuts to some guy in a record store with headphones on while the other customers just look at him. Glad it was the nat 20.
She's never seen the blue guy before.
You can roll an Arcana, if you like, but it'd have to be high for her to get a sense of it. It was kind of like pushing the button on a water fountain that hasn't been working, hoping for a trickle, but instead you get a firehose. And maybe it's not all water. Like if you pour yourself a glass of orange juice, and reach for it expecting water, but it's not.
You can also give me a History roll.
You've been out for a half hour, with your performance, you've maybe 10 minutes remaining, and from the sounds of it, they are still gathered outside, none have attempted to breach Ploopp's hovel.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Stena pockets the coins and rest of the KT's pocket garbage, letting Galingal disappear the rest. She shivers as something gives her a wave of warmth and tingles and gives her surroundings a glance before reaching and making sure Eldeth's items are secure.
She gives Gloog a flat look and says,
"No."
She is happy to move on and does offer Jimjar a hand, should he require it.
Perception: 7
@DM…
That’s awesome. Thanks! A couple of checks then for Lia incoming…
Arcana: 8
History: 8
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Stena is to focused on Jimjar and Gloog to pay much attention, but Galingal can see something is up, a more important figure that is pointed out at Gloog's sister is pointing back towards the city and yelling at some of her followers. She's too far to make out words, but they've certainly been stirred up.
Lia isn't sure what has been going on, but she must be lucky, blessed or both to have managed that as well as she did.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Galingal watches the high priestess for a moment before letting the others know what he's seeing.
"Something has her excited," Galingal says. "If guards go see and leave less defense. We should take her now. Send Shuushar to get others."
Galingal scans the dock area for points that could give them cover while still letting them get closer to the priestess.
Perception: 14
Blopp moves back to the boat that seems to be her home, two guards take position at the gangplank leading to it.
The docks are barricaded, except for a few places. The KT she was giving instructions to is headed towards one of the gaps. It seems that his route may take him near your building, and there are plenty of potential ambush sites, if you were to want to intercept him.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Stena turns and squints in the direction Galingal is looking.
"If we can do it now all the better. Do ye see a path to her?"
"There's her boat," Galingal says pointing. "Two guards visible. Many barricades. Could come from water. Or dark walk across."
Galingal then points out the KT coming towards the group.
"Capture. Question," Galingal says. "Find out how many in boat temple."
Galingal begins to move towards a potential ambush spot, somewhere with cover on both sides and the path bending out of sight of the boat/temple.
"Quick. Two each side. Subdue as soon as come through. Not kill," Galingal says. "Unless have to. Need talk first."
He looks at Shuushar and adds "Stay back. Over there. Hide."
Stealth if needed for hiding: 18