Snow's telekinetic shove works, pushing the giant snake away. The half-elf pulls himself up to I10, alerts the others, turns and draws his rapier.
Chiss pursues the bard, rearing up 10' high, its beady black-marble eyes triangulating, its tongue whipping, then it snaps forward, biting again, fastening its jaw on Snow's shoulder (and hitting for 7HP piercing damage, and requiring the same save as before), before pulling back again almost instantly.
The bard looks down to see that his held rapier attack impaled the beast when it surged forward (whether or not he makes the save), reopening the wound Varielky caused earlier. The huge snake fountains blood as its tail whips forward, wrapping around Snow's leg (RP).
Varielky stands surprised for a moment. Despite their powerful magic tricks, the snakes died quicker than she expected. Where's the third snake, though?
And that's when Varielky hears the captain's voice. Sneaking failed on his end as well, it seems. Varielky immediately runs towards the voice. First towards the river, then north towards the fighting figures. However, as she gets close, she notices the bard with his sword in his hand. And though the memory of the sensation, or rather lack of it, that she felt when the snake bit her earlier nags at the back of her mind... Varielky stops about ten feet away. Even the snakes knew not to interrupt a duel when she fought it. She will not disturb this one either. She will intervene to save the bard if the snake is the clear victor, but not before that. She stands and watches, her sword still in her hand and her eyes still beaming light, illuminating the wet figures fighting with fang and blade.
Auger is surprised to see the Naga disappear, and with such ease. He had been dreading this battle as a possible end for them ever since Granophyre had warned them of the Naga's abilities while still on the boat. Perhaps if they had pushed the attack a while ago they could have ended the threat sooner. Momentarily lost in thought Auger does not initially hear what Snow says but as Snow pulls himself out of the water and then drives his rapier into the form, Auger again recognizes Chiss and takes action.
Auger takes a few steps further down the plateau in order to ensure he has a great angle on the creature and then summons a dragonfly that drops dark and reddish energies as it inexorably and quickly crosses the distance and merges itself with Chiss, weakening the snake. With his angle correct Auger releases a pair of blasts into Chiss.
Details
Py: Still in place
Move: to R13
Bonus action: Casts Hex on Chiss. Chiss now has disadvantage on strength-based saving throws, and takes 1d6 necrotic damage from Auger's attacks
Action: Casts Eldritch Blast, both beams at Chiss (no push). Post #233 says its AC is 13.
Beam 1: 28 for 8 force damage + 2 Necrotic. 10 total damage
Beam 2: 15 for 14 force damage + 2 Necrotic. 16 total damage
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Auger's twin beams land like hammers on an anvil and the giant snake is smashed to smithereens. Large chunks of reptile meat loosely held together by dark scales fly high, and after its lower body drops lifelessly before Snow, plop into the river or thump onto the ground. Snow immediately notices that only two of the three reeds used by the captives to breathe while underwater are still visible.
Snow feels the pain of the bite in his shoulder and looks down to see his rapier impaled in the creature, it's blood spraying over him. But then his vision swims as the second dose of poison overcomes him and he drops to his knees, unable to act and barely able to think.
He is vaguely aware of two blasts of energy fly across his field of vision and connect with Chiss, who is strangely lit up with two spots of light.
Snow feels the pain of the bite in his shoulder and looks down to see his rapier impaled in the creature, it's blood spraying over him. But then his vision swims as the second dose of poison overcomes him and he drops to his knees, unable to act and barely able to think.
He is vaguely aware of two blasts of energy fly across his field of vision and connect with Chiss, who is strangely lit up with two spots of light.
Con Save: (7+2)= 9 Failure
Snow retreats into his mind and becomes paralyzed. The world around him seems to move in and out of time, and he sees and hears nothing around him.
The threat taken care of, Auger moves off his plateau and towards Snow, fallen on the ground. Concerned, he asks, "Granophyre can you see to Snow? He is not moving."
Auger brings forth his collection of lights and shines them so that several surround the area where Snow is down, and one globe in the vicinity of where the believes the captives are being held.
Py, check on the three underwater and see how they are doing.
Py then flies down to the water and examines the three captives.
Granophyre removes a small eyepiece from his pouch, covers one eye with it like a monocle and utters a triggering phrase. It begins to glow and a tiny light shines from it, which he passes over Snow’s motionless body.
”Here…,” he says, magical light flickering over his face, as he points, “bite marks… and deep ones. Poison. He will be unable to move for now, but… the effect should be temporary. In an hour he’ll be singing and playing his violin once more.”
Py sends, ‘Master! Snow released one of them, aand the freed one is now floating upside down! How can he breathe? Unnnhhh — he is too big for me to roll.’
"One of the captives might be drowning! Come help me Varielky!" Auger heads down to the water, bringing a second globe with him and leaving two over Granophyre and Snow. Auger then lowers himself into the water and attempts to find the captive Py mentions. Guide us to the one who needs us most.
If he can stand in the water Auger will attempt to use Shape Water to move the water away and allow the one captive to breath.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow lies where he fell, his mind a jumble of confusion and his body inert. Thoughts come to him for but a brief moment, important thoughts, urgent, but disappear as smoke in the wind.
Time doesn't seem to matter in this hallucinatory state. One moment he is back at The Tree as a young child, watching his Father excitedly mumbling about the Old Mystics, the next he was being expelled from his own school there.
The image of an Imperial soldier flashed into his minds eye, but was gone.
Time moved again and he was in a tavern in Pomeroy, drinking when he should have been studying, raising ale after ale to a bard singing there, telling stories of the very subjects he was struggling to comprehend.
The Imperial once again appeared, surrounded by bubbles.
Time skipped again, backwards this time as he watched his father leave, he was excited again, optimistic. He had a large backpack that he was loading onto a carriage, and then he was gone, never to be seen again.
Again the Imperial, he could see his face this time, eyes wide with fear.
Now he was at his graduation, his Elven mother sitting proudly in the audience, his Human father absent. A tainted feeling of triumph hitting Snow.
And then he was in the library at The Tree, the images swirling in his mind, the Flute, the Spellbook, a tower on an island in the middle of the sea and finally the beautiful mountain valley beyond the desert.
The last image he saw before everything went black was his father, waving to him, a smile on his face. He ran to him, but the faster he ran the further away his father seemed to be. He tripped and fell, but didn't hit the ground, instead he splashed through as if it was water. And there beneath the surface was his father, floating lifeless, wearing Imperial uniform.
Varielky quickly runs after Auger. With one hand holding her sword, and the other the shield, she had not many ways to help anyone. And, if she sheathes her sword, she would not be able to see well. Especially not after her eyes just got adjusted to the light again. Varielky will run into the water after Auger with her shield and sword still in her hands - a bit of an awkward sight, but what can you do? Only once she reaches the imperial man, Varielky sheathes her sword, and as the light extinguishes from her eyes, she reaches forward for the body, trying to pull it with her as she swims back to shore.
In case a check is required, I assume it would be Strength (14+5=19) or Athletics (that 19+3=22).
Varielky finds the man in faded imperial livery whom Snow had earlier released from captivity floating, face-down, just under the water’s surface, and the shield-maiden wraps an arm around his chest and, guiding herself through the water with the other arm and kicking forcefully through the water, pulls the imperial toward the shore where Granophyre is waiting. The old sage produces a small wired tool from his vest, intones a few words of ancient Dwarvish, and the tool gives off a soft glow, wraps around the man’s torso and shoots soft metallic tendrils into his nostrils. Water flushes out of his nose and mouth, and the tool squeezes and releases the man’s chest, attempting to resuscitate him as Granophyre gives his complete focus to directing the process, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he grunts, “Breathe! Breathe!”
But, eventually the scholar sits back on his haunches, sighs deeply, and shakes his head. “He is beyond my help,” he announces quietly.
Varielky, who has shrunk back down to normal size by now, is able to leverage the remaining two captives from the gooey substance binding them to the riverbed and lift them ashore. Granophyre replaces his monocle-like tool over one eye, examining the two Shians. “I see the same poison in their blood as in Snow’s, clouding their minds, keeping them in an extended state of paralysis. But now that they’ve been removed from the substance, I expect them to come around within the hour.”
Snow reawakens first, and soon, the two Shians are also conscious.
“What… what are we doin’ here!?,” they ask, holding each other's hands fearfully (for their arms are bound at the wrists with rope), a man and wife perhaps, eyes wild, seeing the unmoving body of the imperial an arm’s reach away and regarding you four in horror.
Snow suddenly takes a deep inward breath and sits bolt upright. “The captive, we’ve got to…”, he says turning towards the others and spotting the imperials body lying lifeless on the floor.
“Nooo!”, he shouts putting his palm to his forehead, and slowly dragging it down his face until it covered his mouth, his eyes wide and tears beginning to well up in them.
“It’s my fault, I freed him and then I…..I saw the lights on the river bank, saw the signs of…..a battle”, he says faltering and going quiet for a few moments.
“I saw the reed he used to breath right itself….I saw it”, he says trying to make sense of what had happened. “I only left him for a few seconds, then that…that thing attacked”, he points to Chiss.
“I shouldn’t have left him, shouldn’t have released the magic that concealed me”, he carries on shaking his head.
He looks up at Varielky, Auger and Strewn. “But I had to help you fight those things”, he says finally going quiet.
He sees the other two captives start to wake, and turns away from them.
This wasn’t the first person he had killed, but before it had always been in self defence. It had always been them or him. He could rationalise that, but this was a new feeling, this guilt was suffocating.
As Snow awakens and then after he reacts to the dead imperial, Auger sadly shakes his head at him. "There was always going to be risk in taking this action. The Naga had immense powers and we could not know how hard it would be to defeat them. Without your help it may be one of us lying here."Auger motions to Varielky, clearly pelted and burned and then at Granophyre also clearly hurt by the lightning that struck him. "Or all. Lets just celebrate rescuing the two here that we could."
After the pair awaken and are clearly distraught, Auger reaches out and touches the Sea of Stars, allowing energies to flow into him and enhance his presence (Fey Presence as Charm) and then speaks to the Shians. "The three of you were held by the snake there, underwater and paralyzed. We realized what was going on but were unable to save this one before... well... we acted as quickly as we could."
Fey Presence: DC16 WIS saving throw or charmed by Auger for a short time.
Persuasion (rolled as two separate checks in case Fey Presence does not take). Roll 1: 16. Roll 2: 27.
If the Shians react positively Auger continues trying to calm them, will help them dry their clothes (Shape Water) and asks to hear their story.
It takes a few minutes of Auger’s measured speaking matched with the warmth of his Fey presence, which in this circumstance calms the Shians like the smell of warmed milk and cinnamon on a winter night, until the couple’s expressions transform from fear to exhausted relief, and the two, plainly husband and wife, in their late twenties, tell their tale.
“We’re from Asni — I don’t even know how far — wait we’re still close, thank goodness, I think. That there’s where the Doge’s sandbar is under the river ain’t it?”
“Sure enough.”
“Thanks be to Piya! We wuz eatin at the tavern and the rumor’s been that them Amazighs is ‘pressing folks into slavery in the poppy fields, and…”
“Ya we we’re heading home and then this one,” gesturing with a toe toward the imperial, “drops a sack over his head,” pointing with her chin at the man beside her, “and tells me be quiet or he’ll kill me, and he was strong, and I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed quiet, and…”
“And he ties us up and starts walking us south… and soon enough, I don’t even know what happened next. I had a sack on my head, and heard these words like magic and soon I feel a pain like a dagger in me arm and then… nothin.” He looks at his arm, and there is a green-looking tooth hole under his sleeve healing up following Granophyre’s administering.
“Well I saw it,” answers the woman, “three huge snakes – giant-sized ones like in a nightmare. They said some spell to the Jenghen and his eyes glazed over and soon he was doing whatever they told him. An me, too scared even to scream, I was just hopin’ it wouldn’t hurt to be swallowed whole. Then the big one bited me and I don’t remember anything else.”
“But oh Arapabiya help us, how’s poor Lallallii?? Where is she now??? Our little one! Home by herself and only four summers she’s seen. Can’t you please untie these ropes and let us go home??”
“Now…,” interrupts the man, “don’t jump t’ conclusions, nana was there when we went out to celebrate, an she had no reason t’ leave.”
“Please noble misters and your ladyship, please, can we go?,” repeats the woman, searching for forms of address and bewildered at the variety of her saviors.
Auger nods along and listens to their story, reinforcing bits as they state them "Ahh yes, Asni, so close... Piya does look after us all... oh the Amazighs, yes, we have heard things as well... the Jenghen and their approach to slavery is a common problem throughout the land... I can assure you the snakes have all been taken care of... oh dear your little one must miss you."
As he listens Auger realizes he has changed a bit in these last weeks and his urge to just trust their word is not entirely with him any more (Insight check = 12), but not really detecting any signs of deception, he makes eye contact with Granophyre as he pulls his dagger from his belt and prepares to release their bonds. Does he seem to agree this step is prudent?
Smiling at them Auger holds the dagger in one hand while pointing to the bonds with his free hand, "Your ordeal has been trying I am sure. Have you eaten? You might have been here for a day or more. We have a few rations that may help. And we can walk with you back up to the road nearby."Auger pauses, trying to formulate the next statement carefully, "These are... interesting times. I would suggest that when you are able to return home you should perhaps focus on the problem with the Imperial and just say that... he became involved in another matter of more importance and... that you were able to get away on your own. The matter with the snakes and then... strangers arriving to help, that may bring attention from Imperials or Amazighs... that none of us want. How does that sound to you?"Persuasion = 15
Unless the others have something to add then Auger works to free the Shian's bonds. He then prepares to walk them back to the road along the deer trail, using his glowing globes to light their path.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky has her own opinion on the matter but mostly keeps it for herself. To her, it is quite obvious that it is punishment bestowed by the gods for trying such tactics. She would comment, but seeing the captain's remorse on the outcome is enough for her, whether or not he realises the true reason it happened. However, she cannot help but think about her role in the outcome. Would his life not have been spared had she been there instead? It wasn't guaranteed, but possible. Did her stubbornness also play a part in the man's demise? Perhaps, but... if the gods wished him to die, it must have been justified. After all, Auger did mention his soul was not worthy, right? Also, despite everything, she's thankful for the captain's help. She didn't fear death, and yet, it was not something she wished to experience... again. Not yet, and not when fighting snakes. Outwards, Varielky seems to be simply sitting, resting. She tried meditating for a while, but her mind is troubled, and she cannot get calm enough, so eventually, she stops trying.
When the released captives tell their story, Varielky quickly loses interest, and her boredom is apparent. The two didn't even try to struggle, didn't try to fight. The moment an opponent that seemed a little strong appeared, they froze. That's all she needed to know about them. Her mind brings her back to the women in Xurl's camp. Only one who was brave enough to stand for what, for whom she cared for was Tamazaert. Even if all she did was tag alone, she had ten times the courage these two have, combined.
Granophyre is, if not sanguine exactly, unperturbed by the death of the imperial, beyond a sense of failure for being unable to revive him, which passes soon enough. He holds Snow’s eye steadily for a long moment, his expression somehow conveying sympathy for his sadness while also nodding encouragement.
“It would be folly to blame yourself for having to decide where to focus your attentions in a moment in which death and failure was possible whatever you chose to do. Your earlier decision, made after due consideration, was to try to save three lives, risking your own in the process. In the end, when you must face the tally of your actions in life, this is the only choice you made tonight which will truly matter. Now,” the old dwarf says to all, standing and brushing the soil from his trousers, “I believe that none of us need spend another night away from the comforts of home,” glancing over his glasses at the Shians, “or at least, sleeping anywhere other than in a clean bed,” he finishes, his arms spread to encompass Snow, Varielky, and Auger. “Let us accompany our new friends to Asni Village.”
Auger’s desire to persuade the Shians to limit the scope of their story as he suggests is met with no resistance, and it is obvious to all that their story is told to the best of their memory and ability to articulate, honest and true. They are still quite pale and weak, but with each step, especially after eating solid food, their strength seems to return just a bit.
In the light of Auger’s floating orbs, the two Shians walking quietly side-by-side, you make your way back to the farmer’s road.
Snow listens to the Shian couple tell their story, but neither speaks nor looks at them. When they have finished their tale, he turns to look at the corpse of the imperial, then stands and wanders over to it. He kneels down and looks at the man’s face, etching it into his memory.
The fact that this person was of an unscrupulous, immoral character did not change the fact that it was his decision that got the man killed. He must learn from this, give it some meaning. Perhaps Auger was right, that they should celebrate saving the other two, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel that at this moment.
He gets back to his feet, wanders over to the decimated body of Chiss and picks up his violin, which had slipped from his grasp when he succumbed to the poison. After stowing it away safely he retrieves his rapier, cleans it and sheathes it.
He is vaguely aware of Auger speaking to the couple, persuading them to keep their part of the story secret once they get home. He turns to face them all, seeing Auger and the couple still in conversation, Varielky sitting quietly and Strewn standing nearby. Strewn catches his eye and offers words of encouragement, which register only a little at this moment.
He walks passed them to the deer trail, simply saying, “Let’s get out of here”.
When you reach the farmer’s road, the couple, named Herru and Gwasila, walk with you back to the Animu Borongo, which you find moored to the pier facing the burned out old barn, exactly as you left it. They ask which direction you are heading and, if north, even though it is less than a mile, due to recent events, if they may sail with you to Asni.
“I can show you just where to berth, and let us see to a meal for ya four and those clean beds the sindrin mentioned?,” Herru, the man, offers.
Snow's telekinetic shove works, pushing the giant snake away. The half-elf pulls himself up to I10, alerts the others, turns and draws his rapier.
Chiss pursues the bard, rearing up 10' high, its beady black-marble eyes triangulating, its tongue whipping, then it snaps forward, biting again, fastening its jaw on Snow's shoulder (and hitting for 7HP piercing damage, and requiring the same save as before), before pulling back again almost instantly.
The bard looks down to see that his held rapier attack impaled the beast when it surged forward (whether or not he makes the save), reopening the wound Varielky caused earlier. The huge snake fountains blood as its tail whips forward, wrapping around Snow's leg (RP).
All: Please state Round 5 actions.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Varielky stands surprised for a moment. Despite their powerful magic tricks, the snakes died quicker than she expected. Where's the third snake, though?
And that's when Varielky hears the captain's voice. Sneaking failed on his end as well, it seems. Varielky immediately runs towards the voice. First towards the river, then north towards the fighting figures. However, as she gets close, she notices the bard with his sword in his hand. And though the memory of the sensation, or rather lack of it, that she felt when the snake bit her earlier nags at the back of her mind... Varielky stops about ten feet away. Even the snakes knew not to interrupt a duel when she fought it. She will not disturb this one either. She will intervene to save the bard if the snake is the clear victor, but not before that. She stands and watches, her sword still in her hand and her eyes still beaming light, illuminating the wet figures fighting with fang and blade.
Move+Dash: To G-13.
Varielky
Auger is surprised to see the Naga disappear, and with such ease. He had been dreading this battle as a possible end for them ever since Granophyre had warned them of the Naga's abilities while still on the boat. Perhaps if they had pushed the attack a while ago they could have ended the threat sooner. Momentarily lost in thought Auger does not initially hear what Snow says but as Snow pulls himself out of the water and then drives his rapier into the form, Auger again recognizes Chiss and takes action.
Auger takes a few steps further down the plateau in order to ensure he has a great angle on the creature and then summons a dragonfly that drops dark and reddish energies as it inexorably and quickly crosses the distance and merges itself with Chiss, weakening the snake. With his angle correct Auger releases a pair of blasts into Chiss.
Details
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Auger's twin beams land like hammers on an anvil and the giant snake is smashed to smithereens. Large chunks of reptile meat loosely held together by dark scales fly high, and after its lower body drops lifelessly before Snow, plop into the river or thump onto the ground. Snow immediately notices that only two of the three reeds used by the captives to breathe while underwater are still visible.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow feels the pain of the bite in his shoulder and looks down to see his rapier impaled in the creature, it's blood spraying over him. But then his vision swims as the second dose of poison overcomes him and he drops to his knees, unable to act and barely able to think.
He is vaguely aware of two blasts of energy fly across his field of vision and connect with Chiss, who is strangely lit up with two spots of light.
Con Save: (7+2)= 9 Failure
Snow retreats into his mind and becomes paralyzed. The world around him seems to move in and out of time, and he sees and hears nothing around him.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
The threat taken care of, Auger moves off his plateau and towards Snow, fallen on the ground. Concerned, he asks, "Granophyre can you see to Snow? He is not moving."
Auger brings forth his collection of lights and shines them so that several surround the area where Snow is down, and one globe in the vicinity of where the believes the captives are being held.
Py, check on the three underwater and see how they are doing.
Py then flies down to the water and examines the three captives.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Granophyre removes a small eyepiece from his pouch, covers one eye with it like a monocle and utters a triggering phrase. It begins to glow and a tiny light shines from it, which he passes over Snow’s motionless body.
”Here…,” he says, magical light flickering over his face, as he points, “bite marks… and deep ones. Poison. He will be unable to move for now, but… the effect should be temporary. In an hour he’ll be singing and playing his violin once more.”
Py sends, ‘Master! Snow released one of them, aand the freed one is now floating upside down! How can he breathe? Unnnhhh — he is too big for me to roll.’
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"One of the captives might be drowning! Come help me Varielky!" Auger heads down to the water, bringing a second globe with him and leaving two over Granophyre and Snow. Auger then lowers himself into the water and attempts to find the captive Py mentions. Guide us to the one who needs us most.
If he can stand in the water Auger will attempt to use Shape Water to move the water away and allow the one captive to breath.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Snow lies where he fell, his mind a jumble of confusion and his body inert. Thoughts come to him for but a brief moment, important thoughts, urgent, but disappear as smoke in the wind.
Time doesn't seem to matter in this hallucinatory state. One moment he is back at The Tree as a young child, watching his Father excitedly mumbling about the Old Mystics, the next he was being expelled from his own school there.
The image of an Imperial soldier flashed into his minds eye, but was gone.
Time moved again and he was in a tavern in Pomeroy, drinking when he should have been studying, raising ale after ale to a bard singing there, telling stories of the very subjects he was struggling to comprehend.
The Imperial once again appeared, surrounded by bubbles.
Time skipped again, backwards this time as he watched his father leave, he was excited again, optimistic. He had a large backpack that he was loading onto a carriage, and then he was gone, never to be seen again.
Again the Imperial, he could see his face this time, eyes wide with fear.
Now he was at his graduation, his Elven mother sitting proudly in the audience, his Human father absent. A tainted feeling of triumph hitting Snow.
And then he was in the library at The Tree, the images swirling in his mind, the Flute, the Spellbook, a tower on an island in the middle of the sea and finally the beautiful mountain valley beyond the desert.
The last image he saw before everything went black was his father, waving to him, a smile on his face. He ran to him, but the faster he ran the further away his father seemed to be. He tripped and fell, but didn't hit the ground, instead he splashed through as if it was water. And there beneath the surface was his father, floating lifeless, wearing Imperial uniform.
Varielky quickly runs after Auger. With one hand holding her sword, and the other the shield, she had not many ways to help anyone. And, if she sheathes her sword, she would not be able to see well. Especially not after her eyes just got adjusted to the light again. Varielky will run into the water after Auger with her shield and sword still in her hands - a bit of an awkward sight, but what can you do? Only once she reaches the imperial man, Varielky sheathes her sword, and as the light extinguishes from her eyes, she reaches forward for the body, trying to pull it with her as she swims back to shore.
In case a check is required, I assume it would be Strength (14+5=19) or Athletics (that 19+3=22).
Varielky
Varielky finds the man in faded imperial livery whom Snow had earlier released from captivity floating, face-down, just under the water’s surface, and the shield-maiden wraps an arm around his chest and, guiding herself through the water with the other arm and kicking forcefully through the water, pulls the imperial toward the shore where Granophyre is waiting. The old sage produces a small wired tool from his vest, intones a few words of ancient Dwarvish, and the tool gives off a soft glow, wraps around the man’s torso and shoots soft metallic tendrils into his nostrils. Water flushes out of his nose and mouth, and the tool squeezes and releases the man’s chest, attempting to resuscitate him as Granophyre gives his complete focus to directing the process, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he grunts, “Breathe! Breathe!”
But, eventually the scholar sits back on his haunches, sighs deeply, and shakes his head. “He is beyond my help,” he announces quietly.
Varielky, who has shrunk back down to normal size by now, is able to leverage the remaining two captives from the gooey substance binding them to the riverbed and lift them ashore. Granophyre replaces his monocle-like tool over one eye, examining the two Shians. “I see the same poison in their blood as in Snow’s, clouding their minds, keeping them in an extended state of paralysis. But now that they’ve been removed from the substance, I expect them to come around within the hour.”
Snow reawakens first, and soon, the two Shians are also conscious.
“What… what are we doin’ here!?,” they ask, holding each other's hands fearfully (for their arms are bound at the wrists with rope), a man and wife perhaps, eyes wild, seeing the unmoving body of the imperial an arm’s reach away and regarding you four in horror.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow suddenly takes a deep inward breath and sits bolt upright. “The captive, we’ve got to…”, he says turning towards the others and spotting the imperials body lying lifeless on the floor.
“Nooo!”, he shouts putting his palm to his forehead, and slowly dragging it down his face until it covered his mouth, his eyes wide and tears beginning to well up in them.
“It’s my fault, I freed him and then I…..I saw the lights on the river bank, saw the signs of…..a battle”, he says faltering and going quiet for a few moments.
“I saw the reed he used to breath right itself….I saw it”, he says trying to make sense of what had happened. “I only left him for a few seconds, then that…that thing attacked”, he points to Chiss.
“I shouldn’t have left him, shouldn’t have released the magic that concealed me”, he carries on shaking his head.
He looks up at Varielky, Auger and Strewn. “But I had to help you fight those things”, he says finally going quiet.
He sees the other two captives start to wake, and turns away from them.
This wasn’t the first person he had killed, but before it had always been in self defence. It had always been them or him. He could rationalise that, but this was a new feeling, this guilt was suffocating.
As Snow awakens and then after he reacts to the dead imperial, Auger sadly shakes his head at him. "There was always going to be risk in taking this action. The Naga had immense powers and we could not know how hard it would be to defeat them. Without your help it may be one of us lying here." Auger motions to Varielky, clearly pelted and burned and then at Granophyre also clearly hurt by the lightning that struck him. "Or all. Lets just celebrate rescuing the two here that we could."
After the pair awaken and are clearly distraught, Auger reaches out and touches the Sea of Stars, allowing energies to flow into him and enhance his presence (Fey Presence as Charm) and then speaks to the Shians. "The three of you were held by the snake there, underwater and paralyzed. We realized what was going on but were unable to save this one before... well... we acted as quickly as we could."
If the Shians react positively Auger continues trying to calm them, will help them dry their clothes (Shape Water) and asks to hear their story.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
It takes a few minutes of Auger’s measured speaking matched with the warmth of his Fey presence, which in this circumstance calms the Shians like the smell of warmed milk and cinnamon on a winter night, until the couple’s expressions transform from fear to exhausted relief, and the two, plainly husband and wife, in their late twenties, tell their tale.
“We’re from Asni — I don’t even know how far — wait we’re still close, thank goodness, I think. That there’s where the Doge’s sandbar is under the river ain’t it?”
“Sure enough.”
“Thanks be to Piya! We wuz eatin at the tavern and the rumor’s been that them Amazighs is ‘pressing folks into slavery in the poppy fields, and…”
“Ya we we’re heading home and then this one,” gesturing with a toe toward the imperial, “drops a sack over his head,” pointing with her chin at the man beside her, “and tells me be quiet or he’ll kill me, and he was strong, and I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed quiet, and…”
“And he ties us up and starts walking us south… and soon enough, I don’t even know what happened next. I had a sack on my head, and heard these words like magic and soon I feel a pain like a dagger in me arm and then… nothin.” He looks at his arm, and there is a green-looking tooth hole under his sleeve healing up following Granophyre’s administering.
“Well I saw it,” answers the woman, “three huge snakes – giant-sized ones like in a nightmare. They said some spell to the Jenghen and his eyes glazed over and soon he was doing whatever they told him. An me, too scared even to scream, I was just hopin’ it wouldn’t hurt to be swallowed whole. Then the big one bited me and I don’t remember anything else.”
“But oh Arapabiya help us, how’s poor Lallallii?? Where is she now??? Our little one! Home by herself and only four summers she’s seen. Can’t you please untie these ropes and let us go home??”
“Now…,” interrupts the man, “don’t jump t’ conclusions, nana was there when we went out to celebrate, an she had no reason t’ leave.”
“Please noble misters and your ladyship, please, can we go?,” repeats the woman, searching for forms of address and bewildered at the variety of her saviors.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Auger nods along and listens to their story, reinforcing bits as they state them "Ahh yes, Asni, so close... Piya does look after us all... oh the Amazighs, yes, we have heard things as well... the Jenghen and their approach to slavery is a common problem throughout the land... I can assure you the snakes have all been taken care of... oh dear your little one must miss you."
As he listens Auger realizes he has changed a bit in these last weeks and his urge to just trust their word is not entirely with him any more (Insight check = 12), but not really detecting any signs of deception, he makes eye contact with Granophyre as he pulls his dagger from his belt and prepares to release their bonds. Does he seem to agree this step is prudent?
Smiling at them Auger holds the dagger in one hand while pointing to the bonds with his free hand, "Your ordeal has been trying I am sure. Have you eaten? You might have been here for a day or more. We have a few rations that may help. And we can walk with you back up to the road nearby." Auger pauses, trying to formulate the next statement carefully, "These are... interesting times. I would suggest that when you are able to return home you should perhaps focus on the problem with the Imperial and just say that... he became involved in another matter of more importance and... that you were able to get away on your own. The matter with the snakes and then... strangers arriving to help, that may bring attention from Imperials or Amazighs... that none of us want. How does that sound to you?" Persuasion = 15
Unless the others have something to add then Auger works to free the Shian's bonds. He then prepares to walk them back to the road along the deer trail, using his glowing globes to light their path.
DM of RotFM | AUGER the Warlock (Archfey & the Chain) / Shadow Sorcerer in Age of Resurgence | Rahui & Javier in Sea of Memory
Varielky has her own opinion on the matter but mostly keeps it for herself. To her, it is quite obvious that it is punishment bestowed by the gods for trying such tactics. She would comment, but seeing the captain's remorse on the outcome is enough for her, whether or not he realises the true reason it happened. However, she cannot help but think about her role in the outcome. Would his life not have been spared had she been there instead? It wasn't guaranteed, but possible. Did her stubbornness also play a part in the man's demise? Perhaps, but... if the gods wished him to die, it must have been justified. After all, Auger did mention his soul was not worthy, right? Also, despite everything, she's thankful for the captain's help. She didn't fear death, and yet, it was not something she wished to experience... again. Not yet, and not when fighting snakes. Outwards, Varielky seems to be simply sitting, resting. She tried meditating for a while, but her mind is troubled, and she cannot get calm enough, so eventually, she stops trying.
When the released captives tell their story, Varielky quickly loses interest, and her boredom is apparent. The two didn't even try to struggle, didn't try to fight. The moment an opponent that seemed a little strong appeared, they froze. That's all she needed to know about them. Her mind brings her back to the women in Xurl's camp. Only one who was brave enough to stand for what, for whom she cared for was Tamazaert. Even if all she did was tag alone, she had ten times the courage these two have, combined.
Varielky
Granophyre is, if not sanguine exactly, unperturbed by the death of the imperial, beyond a sense of failure for being unable to revive him, which passes soon enough. He holds Snow’s eye steadily for a long moment, his expression somehow conveying sympathy for his sadness while also nodding encouragement.
“It would be folly to blame yourself for having to decide where to focus your attentions in a moment in which death and failure was possible whatever you chose to do. Your earlier decision, made after due consideration, was to try to save three lives, risking your own in the process. In the end, when you must face the tally of your actions in life, this is the only choice you made tonight which will truly matter. Now,” the old dwarf says to all, standing and brushing the soil from his trousers, “I believe that none of us need spend another night away from the comforts of home,” glancing over his glasses at the Shians, “or at least, sleeping anywhere other than in a clean bed,” he finishes, his arms spread to encompass Snow, Varielky, and Auger. “Let us accompany our new friends to Asni Village.”
Auger’s desire to persuade the Shians to limit the scope of their story as he suggests is met with no resistance, and it is obvious to all that their story is told to the best of their memory and ability to articulate, honest and true. They are still quite pale and weak, but with each step, especially after eating solid food, their strength seems to return just a bit.
In the light of Auger’s floating orbs, the two Shians walking quietly side-by-side, you make your way back to the farmer’s road.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Snow listens to the Shian couple tell their story, but neither speaks nor looks at them. When they have finished their tale, he turns to look at the corpse of the imperial, then stands and wanders over to it. He kneels down and looks at the man’s face, etching it into his memory.
The fact that this person was of an unscrupulous, immoral character did not change the fact that it was his decision that got the man killed. He must learn from this, give it some meaning. Perhaps Auger was right, that they should celebrate saving the other two, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel that at this moment.
He gets back to his feet, wanders over to the decimated body of Chiss and picks up his violin, which had slipped from his grasp when he succumbed to the poison. After stowing it away safely he retrieves his rapier, cleans it and sheathes it.
He is vaguely aware of Auger speaking to the couple, persuading them to keep their part of the story secret once they get home. He turns to face them all, seeing Auger and the couple still in conversation, Varielky sitting quietly and Strewn standing nearby. Strewn catches his eye and offers words of encouragement, which register only a little at this moment.
He walks passed them to the deer trail, simply saying, “Let’s get out of here”.
When you reach the farmer’s road, the couple, named Herru and Gwasila, walk with you back to the Animu Borongo, which you find moored to the pier facing the burned out old barn, exactly as you left it. They ask which direction you are heading and, if north, even though it is less than a mile, due to recent events, if they may sail with you to Asni.
“I can show you just where to berth, and let us see to a meal for ya four and those clean beds the sindrin mentioned?,” Herru, the man, offers.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer