You feel the cold against your skin, under your armor, and in your throat as you ascend the final stairs in Narkit-Omi Tower. There is more to this cold than just the threat of freezing, an evil lurks within. As you look upon the top of the tower, you can barely see ahead, there is a soft muttering in the darkness, but it has yet to reveal itself. Even those of you normally able to see in dark conditions find your senses oppressed, only able to see clearly 30 or so feet in front of you. The floors have been getting somewhat smaller in diameter, but you'd still estimate the center of the room to be another 15-20ft past the any of your vision.
((Can I get stealth rolls for everyone? The darkness will give you advantage, Xal, your 19 is plenty unless you want to roll to see if you top it. Is Xal proficient in either Religion or Arcana? If so, give me a roll.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
((You didn't need another stealth there, so I'll say that was the unrolled check for advantage from before.))
As Ursula and Xal creep forward, you spot a battered figured lashed to a stone pillar. His robes may have already been red, but they are now red with the blood that has seeped from numerous arcane glyphs across his body. His white hair and beard are matted and bloody, his well muscled form bruised and battered. The blood has run down and followed the tracing and sigils on a wide circle that extends beyond him into the darkness, and seems to be pulsing with a soft purple glow.
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Not seeing anyone else Xal lopes over towards the figure, making sure to keep out of the circle, and sniffs at them trying to determine if they are still alive.
Nimble sends Comet following the blood trail into the darkness, trying to find the source of the chanting or any indication of what lies in the darkness beyond. Meanwhile, Nimble stays hidden and takes a closer look at the bindings securing the figure, trying to determine if they could be untied or cut. Perception: 22.
Besides blood, the figure smells like fresh snow, pine needles, wood shavings and fresh baked cookies. He still seems to be alive, but unaware of your sniffing.
As Nimble gets closer, he can see that the lashings are more to hold the figure upright, and that his arms and legs have been bound with chain inscribed with glowing sigils behind him. It doesn't seem like it would be easy to get him free without making a fair bit of fuss, and perhaps a fair bit of noise.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Ursula join Nimble and gets a little closer, but staying outside of the ring, tries to understand what ritual may be happening here. Whispering she asks, "Hello, are you awake? We're here to help if we can understand what is going on." to Nimble she asks, "I am not proficient in arcana, are you?"
Comet can smell the scent of blood, and something foul and off putting. The chanting is coming from farther away, he relays what would make you think the figure bound to the pillar is in the center of the room, with a circle of blood extending out towards where the chanting is originating.
The bound figure seems unconscious, slack against their bonds and not responding to Ursula.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Seeing the figure is alive, Xal morphs back into his normal form and digs into his pouch, retrieving a goodbery. He quietly pops it into the mouth of the unconscious person, hoping it might provide enough healing energy to at least wake him.
He then activates the glowing nose he wears, holding his over it to try and stop too much light revealing them, but wanting to use the ability to see through the darkness.
Perception: 15 (Using the 120' of darkvision and ability to see through magical darkness)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nimble steps up to get a closer look at the sigils “I have some very small knowledge of magic, let me see here” He looks at the markings, trying to determine if they can be broken to disrupt the spell or otherwise free the prisoner. Arcana: 6.
“I am not sure if we should free him, or find and defeat this Warlock, first. He is somewhere out there in the darkness. Not sure which one would break the ritual the quickest”
"I do not know much when it comes to the world of magic, I will follow whichever choice you think is best. Hopefully we can help him." Ursula looks upon the captured one with pity.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nimble and Ursula are a bit at a loss, but Xal pops a berry into the bound figure's mouth, though it seems to have no immediate effect bringing them back to consciousness, though they twitch a bit, and there is a faint rattle of chain.
Placing the nose on his face, the dim red light cuts through the darkness nearby, even shielded as it is. Xal can see across the arcane circle to a throne, where who must be the warlock is finishing painting in blood. He looks up, his eyes glowing purple as he grins a vile grin and puts the finishing touches on his work, calling out in a loud, ringing tone.
"KRAMPUS! Be released!"
The air in the room freezes and you find it hard to breathe, the cold air heavy in your lungs. You hear a loud thud, the sound of gigantic hooves hitting the stone floor. A sharp growl followed by a heavy breath is the first sign of the Krampus. Gradually the rest of him is revealed as the room fills with an eerie purple light, seeming to emanate largely from the summoning circle the Krampus now occupies. The light silhouettes the Krampus, and the warlock behind the great demonic beast. The warlock speaks. "You came after all. I'm so glad. Now you can witness the death of Midwinter in person."
The whistle of the wind sounds alarming, and it is only as the Krampus steps forward, swinging his bundle of branches that you realize it is him. The large visage of the horrifying creature peers down at you, part goat, part demon, coated in hideous black fur, chains wrapped around him shaking as he steps, whipping the bundle back and forth. He stares you all dead in the eyes, cracking a leering smile, or at least what might pass for a smile from a creature such as this. He turns his attention to the now writhing Winter Father where he is bound to the pillar. The sigils painted on the Winter Father also glow purple, and pulse in time with those of the circle. After a moment, you realize the pulsing matches the breathing of the Krampus. In a growling, gruff and ancient voice, the Krampus booms, "Merry Midwinter."
Round 1: Initiative time!
The party is currently near the middle of the chamber, the Krampus (large creature) is about 30 ft away, and the warlock is closer to 60 ft away.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xal looks on in horror as the Krampus appears.
He speaks some words of power and performs a summoning of his own. Two dire wolves appear on either side of the Krampus, one between it and the Winter Father.
”Kill that demonic beast”, he says simply to the dire wolves.
You feel the cold against your skin, under your armor, and in your throat as you ascend the final stairs in Narkit-Omi Tower. There is more to this cold than just the threat of freezing, an evil lurks within. As you look upon the top of the tower, you can barely see ahead, there is a soft muttering in the darkness, but it has yet to reveal itself. Even those of you normally able to see in dark conditions find your senses oppressed, only able to see clearly 30 or so feet in front of you. The floors have been getting somewhat smaller in diameter, but you'd still estimate the center of the room to be another 15-20ft past the any of your vision.
((Can I get stealth rolls for everyone? The darkness will give you advantage, Xal, your 19 is plenty unless you want to roll to see if you top it. Is Xal proficient in either Religion or Arcana? If so, give me a roll.))
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
Ursula stealth 22
Nimble follows the group up the stairs, sending Comet bounding forward in the darkness to scout ahead and warn of danger.
Stealth: 15.
Comet Stealth: 25.
Comet Perception: 21.
(Xal doesn’t have proficiency in either)
((Xal hears the muttering, but other than the elf telling you a ritual was happening, you're not able to figure out what exactly is going down.))
Xal, Ursula, Nimble and Comet make it into the room without anyone or anything reacting to your presence.
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
Ursula tries to creep towards the soft muttering if possible so she can try and figure out what is going on.
Xal will quietly pad further forward a short distance after Ursula, trying to determine through scent how many people are in the room.
Stealth: 21
Perception: 22
((You didn't need another stealth there, so I'll say that was the unrolled check for advantage from before.))
As Ursula and Xal creep forward, you spot a battered figured lashed to a stone pillar. His robes may have already been red, but they are now red with the blood that has seeped from numerous arcane glyphs across his body. His white hair and beard are matted and bloody, his well muscled form bruised and battered. The blood has run down and followed the tracing and sigils on a wide circle that extends beyond him into the darkness, and seems to be pulsing with a soft purple glow.
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
Not seeing anyone else Xal lopes over towards the figure, making sure to keep out of the circle, and sniffs at them trying to determine if they are still alive.
Nimble sends Comet following the blood trail into the darkness, trying to find the source of the chanting or any indication of what lies in the darkness beyond. Meanwhile, Nimble stays hidden and takes a closer look at the bindings securing the figure, trying to determine if they could be untied or cut. Perception: 22.
Comet Stealth: 18.
Comet Perception: 20.
Besides blood, the figure smells like fresh snow, pine needles, wood shavings and fresh baked cookies. He still seems to be alive, but unaware of your sniffing.
As Nimble gets closer, he can see that the lashings are more to hold the figure upright, and that his arms and legs have been bound with chain inscribed with glowing sigils behind him. It doesn't seem like it would be easy to get him free without making a fair bit of fuss, and perhaps a fair bit of noise.
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
Ursula join Nimble and gets a little closer, but staying outside of the ring, tries to understand what ritual may be happening here. Whispering she asks, "Hello, are you awake? We're here to help if we can understand what is going on." to Nimble she asks, "I am not proficient in arcana, are you?"
Comet can smell the scent of blood, and something foul and off putting. The chanting is coming from farther away, he relays what would make you think the figure bound to the pillar is in the center of the room, with a circle of blood extending out towards where the chanting is originating.
The bound figure seems unconscious, slack against their bonds and not responding to Ursula.
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
Seeing the figure is alive, Xal morphs back into his normal form and digs into his pouch, retrieving a goodbery. He quietly pops it into the mouth of the unconscious person, hoping it might provide enough healing energy to at least wake him.
He then activates the glowing nose he wears, holding his over it to try and stop too much light revealing them, but wanting to use the ability to see through the darkness.
Perception: 15 (Using the 120' of darkvision and ability to see through magical darkness)
Nimble steps up to get a closer look at the sigils “I have some very small knowledge of magic, let me see here” He looks at the markings, trying to determine if they can be broken to disrupt the spell or otherwise free the prisoner. Arcana: 6.
“I am not sure if we should free him, or find and defeat this Warlock, first. He is somewhere out there in the darkness. Not sure which one would break the ritual the quickest”
"I do not know much when it comes to the world of magic, I will follow whichever choice you think is best. Hopefully we can help him." Ursula looks upon the captured one with pity.
Nimble and Ursula are a bit at a loss, but Xal pops a berry into the bound figure's mouth, though it seems to have no immediate effect bringing them back to consciousness, though they twitch a bit, and there is a faint rattle of chain.
Placing the nose on his face, the dim red light cuts through the darkness nearby, even shielded as it is. Xal can see across the arcane circle to a throne, where who must be the warlock is finishing painting in blood. He looks up, his eyes glowing purple as he grins a vile grin and puts the finishing touches on his work, calling out in a loud, ringing tone.
"KRAMPUS! Be released!"
The air in the room freezes and you find it hard to breathe, the cold air heavy in your lungs. You hear a loud thud, the sound of gigantic hooves hitting the stone floor. A sharp growl followed by a heavy breath is the first sign of the Krampus. Gradually the rest of him is revealed as the room fills with an eerie purple light, seeming to emanate largely from the summoning circle the Krampus now occupies. The light silhouettes the Krampus, and the warlock behind the great demonic beast. The warlock speaks. "You came after all. I'm so glad. Now you can witness the death of Midwinter in person."
The whistle of the wind sounds alarming, and it is only as the Krampus steps forward, swinging his bundle of branches that you realize it is him. The large visage of the horrifying creature peers down at you, part goat, part demon, coated in hideous black fur, chains wrapped around him shaking as he steps, whipping the bundle back and forth. He stares you all dead in the eyes, cracking a leering smile, or at least what might pass for a smile from a creature such as this. He turns his attention to the now writhing Winter Father where he is bound to the pillar. The sigils painted on the Winter Father also glow purple, and pulse in time with those of the circle. After a moment, you realize the pulsing matches the breathing of the Krampus. In a growling, gruff and ancient voice, the Krampus booms, "Merry Midwinter."
Round 1: Initiative time!
The party is currently near the middle of the chamber, the Krampus (large creature) is about 30 ft away, and the warlock is closer to 60 ft away.
Krampus: 8 initiative
Warlock: 7 initiative
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
Xal
Initiative: 21
((Anyone who rolls better than both the Krampus and his warlock can go ahead and post actions.))
Xal > Kramups > Warlock > || Elafir > Dimble > Laala > Nimble > Ursula >
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
Xal looks on in horror as the Krampus appears.
He speaks some words of power and performs a summoning of his own. Two dire wolves appear on either side of the Krampus, one between it and the Winter Father.
”Kill that demonic beast”, he says simply to the dire wolves.
Action: Cast Conjure Animals
Dire Wolves Initiative: 13