Rum inclines his head to Lady Kaede as she suggests moving elsewhere, even in his anger realising the precarious position they would be in if the masters arrived now. But when Greko declines and carries on the conversation he merely stands and listens.
He had no issue with the old druid's actions directly on his return, being sent where he was needed is just and right for a hero of Auryn, but it was what happened after the Heorot that he had issue with. The excuse of the Dawn Guard made a certain sense, but to leave Skyloft entirely without speaking properly to Rum was something he could not understand. They had been through so much together, including betrayal and loss. That was when he needed to see his old friend, to understand it was really him and talk about his decision to sacrifice himself. That was not something Rum had wanted. The more he thinks about it, the more he sees the impact of the Lord of Darkness becoming Ganon, the more he regrets not at least trying to stop it. Greko had taken away his ability to choose in that moment.
And Ro hadn't died. He had made a choice to open the cube, betraying the other Embers in that moment, and to go with the creatures it summoned. Again, another Ember who took away his choices by unilaterally making their own. But Ro had not died, so how could he have been resurrected. It made no sense. If he had only come to talk, Rum would have explained exactly what had happened.
But did he really believe this was not Greko, or that he was a thrall of Ganon? Gandalf and Atreyu didn't. But Rum was not the same trusting Tabaxi he had been when he first left Dragonclaw. Slade had been the one to put the final nail in the coffin of that Rum.
He is about to voice all these things, when the disguised form of Ro steps forward, threatening Greko and using magic on the old druid. And as he does so, Rum feels the magic Ro had cast on himself fade away.
"You are a hypocrite, Ro the Red!", he says to Ro. "The very thing you accuse Greko of, you have done yourself. You went with those creatures, turned yourself into one, and then returned just as he has done. And now you threaten him! I suggest you stand down and let those of us who are not ourselves tainted deal with this!".
Greko turns to face the Duergar who brazenly steps up glaring into Greko's eyes. In a past lifetime Greko would make a joke about what the Duergar had for lunch but not this Greko. Greko feels a wash of magic he was about to deflect it back at the Duergar who dare challenge him and hit him with a spell or two of his own but Rum spoke calling them RO. Greko looks into the Duergar's eyes a little deeper realizing it is RO. Greko allows RO's spell to take hold (Failing it willingly he rolled 19 twice to save). "It is ok Rum, I understand your hurt. I will apologize every day I am with you, if you will forgive me. And Ro, dear Ro....I thought you were dead...I understand your apprehension. Please ask anything you would like, if honesty is what you are looking for then it is what you shall get." Greko pauses allowing the magic to take hold "As I have said I am Greko the White formerly Greko the Green. I am here to help my friends who I have missed. Lelith was found not guilty by her peers. Jek was one of her peers ( I Think) as were 2 others. What else would you have me answer?"
Wo-Dan half draws his weapon when Greko first makes his appearance, recognizing by description who he is let's it go again and watches the current drama unfold.
To Jek, "Your associates have quite the history amongst them don't they? This is why I usually travel alone. Less chaos, more productive."
Lady Kaede breaks her seriousness with a chuckle at Wo-Dan's comment, before turning back to the growing discord with the new/old member returning. <coughing to interrupt> "Again, gentlemen, please take your quarrels indoors. All hell is about to break loose here, and we can't have you ruining our best laid plans..."
Rum once again nods at Lady Kaede's suggestion, and this time does act on it.
"Lady Kaede is right, this is neither the time nor the place", he says and turns his gaze to the canyon. "I will stay outside hidden and await these visitors".
With that he move back into the shadows without another word.
Jek was very confused by the arrival of Greko. He was about to greet him and join in his magic show with the kids, when Rum and Ro stepped forward. He looks down at the mention of the trial. He doesn't feel shame in what he did. He did what he thought was right, and would do it again. Taking a life is not an easy thing to do. But he was sorry for the sadness and confusion he caused them. He was preparing to disrupt any overly dangerous magic, if needed. But they seemed to have settled down on there own.
To Jek, "Your associates have quite the history amongst them don't they? This is why I usually travel alone. Less chaos, more productive."
Jek will nod to Wo-Dan. "Yes, there is much history. And confusion. And betrayals, whether forced or deliberate. Decisions were made, people were not happy about them." He then looks to the three former embers and says louder so they can hear. "But that was the past, and we do not have time for that now. We need to focus on the present and the future. We should listen to Lade Kaede, and continue with our plan. I will answer any question of why Lilith survived, later. Greko, your help would be greatly appreciated. We are about to confuse and defeat some masters, I think."
He will turn back to Wo-Dan as they get ready. "Honestly, they just need to talk to each other, clear this all up. But trying to get people to have an honest conversation with one another is harder than washing a cat."
He will turn back to Wo-Dan as they get ready. "Honestly, they just need to talk to each other, clear this all up. But trying to get people to have an honest conversation with one another is harder than washing a cat."
"That is as simple as throwing the animal off a bridge." He looks down into the chasm, then back at Jek with a smirk. "What do you think? Care to give it a try?"
Feeling his magic take hold over Greko, Ro listened to the lizardfolk's words intently. They were merely an echo of what Greko had already told Rum, but they were words he could trust. Not because they were spoken by an old friend, but because they were spoken under the influence of Ro's magic. The duergar nodded as Kaede and Rum urged everyone to return to their positions and proceed with the plan. As he parted and went back to his position, the duergar spoke to three people.
First, he faced Greko, his voice still carrying its weight from his previous remarks, "We have much to discuss. But time is not a commodity we have to spare. We are about to meet with a group called the Masters. They are a bad sort who have subjugated the duergars that live here. Our plan is for Kaede to distract them while Rum infiltrates their ranks and gathers information. The rest of us are to wait in the shadows and offer any support the two of them may need. If you cannot disguise yourself in a quick manner, I would have you stay with Wo-Dan hidden somewhere."
Secondly, he turned to Rum, "The False Knight spent too much time caring about what others thought of him. I do not. You are free to think me a hypocrite, but the last thing I'll ever be again is a fool."
Lastly, as Ro walked back into position he makes a passing remark to Jek, "After this ordeal is over, you and I will need to chat."
Rum just looks at the duergar that is Ro the Red, pity in his eyes.
It may be true the world needs Ro the Red more than it needs Ro the False Knight right now, but make no mistake, the only foolish thing he did was to become you, he thinks to himself, but decides not to say it or let Ro hear that thought.
"That is as simple as throwing the animal off a bridge." He looks down into the chasm, then back at Jek with a smirk. "What do you think? Care to give it a try?"
Jek looks at Wo-Dan with a tilted head "What? I mean, huh? No, I don't think those are the same thing. How does throwing someone off a bridge make them have a conversation? I'm very confused!"
Lastly, as Ro walked back into position he makes a passing remark to Jek, "After this ordeal is over, you and I will need to chat."
Jek looks at Ro with a tilt to his head not really sure what to think. He is sad for what he became, but also angry for the choices that he made. Ro has strayed far from the Bright Lady, to a world that her light might not have reached. But maybe there was still hope. With a nod, Jek will say "Yes, we will. I think we have much to discuss."
Before they separate again, Jek will go to Lady Kaede and say "Please be safe. Let the Bright Lady watch over you and keep you vigilant against danger." As Jek pats her shoulder, a warmth passes over her, giving her a heightened awareness to danger. (Vigilant Blessing: She will have advantage on the next initiative roll.) He then says to the group. "Would anyone like to be gifted sight in the darkness from the Bright Lady, again? It will only last one hour."
Before they go, Jek will say a quick prayer. He bows his head and says "Bright Lady, grant your blessing to my friends, let them see through the darkness. " As Jek's words go out... nothing happens. There is no hum of power, no magic light. But, as you look beyond, you realize that you can see perfectly well in this dim light. (Rum, Greko, and Lady Kaede get 300ft dark vision for 1 hour).
Jek watches as Greko takes a seat in the crowd of Duergar. "Umm... that's pretty obvious. He isn't hidden at all. Well, let's fix that." Jek pulls some shadow, and sends it out to Greko. It rises up, wrapping around the old lizard where he sits. It forms and takes shape, and after a moment there is a boulder where Greko was sitting. Jek nods his head at his handy work, then goes to hide with the others. Jek isn't quite sure if Greko even noticed it happening. He might have been asleep.
The first half of the night was largely uneventful as the band waited on the 'Masters' to arrive. The gray dwarves went about their evening as usual, or what was assumed to be usual, as they settled into their homes and prepared themselves for sleep. Rest. Whatever it was they were doing behind closed doors.
The cavern was mostly quiet, punctuated by the occasional talking of the flutes back and forth in the depths of the underdark. The crust of the world rumbled somewhere overhead like the rolling of distant thunder.
As Rum mans (cats?) his post, he notices activity beginning on the far ledge of the chasm for his position. Waiting a few moments begins to bring things into light. Four riders land on the edge of the cliff and look over. It's not hard to see the red imperial sigil emblazoned on the pauldrons of the riders or the barding of the mounts, each of which look like strange sharks with four wings and horned snouts. Within another few moments, Stormtroopers begin to line up, looking over the wall at the village, and then start throwing down very long rope ladders.
Two things become clear.
First, this isn't a ragtag band of Stormtroopers. Their gunmetal armor is dented, scared, and pocked from combat, and the weapon handles that are visible are polished from being gripped and swung.
Second is the leader, clad in black armor. Whoever it is, they begin to point and give instructions, and then the four flying mounts are airborne with their jockeys...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lady Kaede marches out into an open area, making sure it's in full view of the apparent leader, looks up at them, and calls out "Halt! Who approaches unannounced?! I am Lady Kaede Ashikaga, daughter of Shōgun Ashikaga of Kings Landing, supplanter of the Kamakura shogunate in support of Emperor Go-Daigo, Lady of Northern Court in Kyoto and the Southern Court in Yoshino, and Chief General of the Ōnin War!"
OOC: Does she recognize any of the regalia displayed by the black-clad leader or any of their underlings?
As soon as the stormtroopers make their appearance, Ro casts Disguise Self once more to assume the visage of a duergar. The 'duergar' listens to Rum's observations and relays them to the others nearby him (verbally to party members near Ro, and telepathically to Kaede), "Eyes up, team. These stormtroopers aren't to be taken lightly, especially the one in black armor. Rum tells me the Gmork is close by as well."
The mounted Stormtroopers come racing across the expanse of the chasm, their mounts like arrows in the air. A few strokes of their bizarre fin-like wings and they're already a quarter way across. They take immediate notice of Lady Kaede. The leader looks around and points, and a few of the infantrymen around them starts to descend the rope ladders. A few more rally around the leader as they, or rather, she, removes her helmet. A Drow looks down from her vantage, gazing at Lady Kaede, with grips her helmet in her hands. She laughs.
"By the Goddesses!" She shouts down to Lady Kaede. "You're a child! How in all Hyboria did you get dragged into this, girl? Do your mommy and daddy know where you are?"
She turns to the Stormtroopers around her and begins having a conversation, then laughs again. She doesn't try to hide her amusement.
"Watch her!" She finally calls out to the flying Stormtroopers. "I'm laughing but I'm sure she's dangerous!"
As she calls out, six Stormtroopers go down the ladders. They make it perhaps a quarter of the way down, three on each of the two ladders.
Rum stays silent and still, as the stormtroopers on their flying mounts make haste to cross the distance to Lady Kaede. He counts fourteen in total, but he cannot be sure there aren't more out of sight.
He bares his fangs as the leader takes off their helmet and mocks his companion, but there is too much time yet before the main group are even close enough to strike. Evaluating the situation, he starts to doubt there will be opportunity to infiltrate their ranks and gather information, it will all depend on how they handle Lady Kaede.
He flicks his eyes back to the flying shark mounts, and watches closely to try and determine if they are bonded to their riders, or if he could simply acquire one.
Animal Handling: 5+8=13
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Rum inclines his head to Lady Kaede as she suggests moving elsewhere, even in his anger realising the precarious position they would be in if the masters arrived now. But when Greko declines and carries on the conversation he merely stands and listens.
He had no issue with the old druid's actions directly on his return, being sent where he was needed is just and right for a hero of Auryn, but it was what happened after the Heorot that he had issue with. The excuse of the Dawn Guard made a certain sense, but to leave Skyloft entirely without speaking properly to Rum was something he could not understand. They had been through so much together, including betrayal and loss. That was when he needed to see his old friend, to understand it was really him and talk about his decision to sacrifice himself. That was not something Rum had wanted. The more he thinks about it, the more he sees the impact of the Lord of Darkness becoming Ganon, the more he regrets not at least trying to stop it. Greko had taken away his ability to choose in that moment.
And Ro hadn't died. He had made a choice to open the cube, betraying the other Embers in that moment, and to go with the creatures it summoned. Again, another Ember who took away his choices by unilaterally making their own. But Ro had not died, so how could he have been resurrected. It made no sense. If he had only come to talk, Rum would have explained exactly what had happened.
But did he really believe this was not Greko, or that he was a thrall of Ganon? Gandalf and Atreyu didn't. But Rum was not the same trusting Tabaxi he had been when he first left Dragonclaw. Slade had been the one to put the final nail in the coffin of that Rum.
He is about to voice all these things, when the disguised form of Ro steps forward, threatening Greko and using magic on the old druid. And as he does so, Rum feels the magic Ro had cast on himself fade away.
"You are a hypocrite, Ro the Red!", he says to Ro. "The very thing you accuse Greko of, you have done yourself. You went with those creatures, turned yourself into one, and then returned just as he has done. And now you threaten him! I suggest you stand down and let those of us who are not ourselves tainted deal with this!".
Greko turns to face the Duergar who brazenly steps up glaring into Greko's eyes. In a past lifetime Greko would make a joke about what the Duergar had for lunch but not this Greko. Greko feels a wash of magic he was about to deflect it back at the Duergar who dare challenge him and hit him with a spell or two of his own but Rum spoke calling them RO. Greko looks into the Duergar's eyes a little deeper realizing it is RO. Greko allows RO's spell to take hold (Failing it willingly he rolled 19 twice to save). "It is ok Rum, I understand your hurt. I will apologize every day I am with you, if you will forgive me. And Ro, dear Ro....I thought you were dead...I understand your apprehension. Please ask anything you would like, if honesty is what you are looking for then it is what you shall get." Greko pauses allowing the magic to take hold "As I have said I am Greko the White formerly Greko the Green. I am here to help my friends who I have missed. Lelith was found not guilty by her peers. Jek was one of her peers ( I Think) as were 2 others. What else would you have me answer?"
Wo-Dan half draws his weapon when Greko first makes his appearance, recognizing by description who he is let's it go again and watches the current drama unfold.
To Jek, "Your associates have quite the history amongst them don't they? This is why I usually travel alone. Less chaos, more productive."
Lady Kaede breaks her seriousness with a chuckle at Wo-Dan's comment, before turning back to the growing discord with the new/old member returning. <coughing to interrupt> "Again, gentlemen, please take your quarrels indoors. All hell is about to break loose here, and we can't have you ruining our best laid plans..."
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Rum once again nods at Lady Kaede's suggestion, and this time does act on it.
"Lady Kaede is right, this is neither the time nor the place", he says and turns his gaze to the canyon. "I will stay outside hidden and await these visitors".
With that he move back into the shadows without another word.
Stealth: 8+9=17
Jek was very confused by the arrival of Greko. He was about to greet him and join in his magic show with the kids, when Rum and Ro stepped forward. He looks down at the mention of the trial. He doesn't feel shame in what he did. He did what he thought was right, and would do it again. Taking a life is not an easy thing to do. But he was sorry for the sadness and confusion he caused them. He was preparing to disrupt any overly dangerous magic, if needed. But they seemed to have settled down on there own.
Jek will nod to Wo-Dan. "Yes, there is much history. And confusion. And betrayals, whether forced or deliberate. Decisions were made, people were not happy about them." He then looks to the three former embers and says louder so they can hear. "But that was the past, and we do not have time for that now. We need to focus on the present and the future. We should listen to Lade Kaede, and continue with our plan. I will answer any question of why Lilith survived, later. Greko, your help would be greatly appreciated. We are about to confuse and defeat some masters, I think."
He will turn back to Wo-Dan as they get ready. "Honestly, they just need to talk to each other, clear this all up. But trying to get people to have an honest conversation with one another is harder than washing a cat."
"That is as simple as throwing the animal off a bridge." He looks down into the chasm, then back at Jek with a smirk. "What do you think? Care to give it a try?"
Feeling his magic take hold over Greko, Ro listened to the lizardfolk's words intently. They were merely an echo of what Greko had already told Rum, but they were words he could trust. Not because they were spoken by an old friend, but because they were spoken under the influence of Ro's magic. The duergar nodded as Kaede and Rum urged everyone to return to their positions and proceed with the plan. As he parted and went back to his position, the duergar spoke to three people.
First, he faced Greko, his voice still carrying its weight from his previous remarks, "We have much to discuss. But time is not a commodity we have to spare. We are about to meet with a group called the Masters. They are a bad sort who have subjugated the duergars that live here. Our plan is for Kaede to distract them while Rum infiltrates their ranks and gathers information. The rest of us are to wait in the shadows and offer any support the two of them may need. If you cannot disguise yourself in a quick manner, I would have you stay with Wo-Dan hidden somewhere."
Secondly, he turned to Rum, "The False Knight spent too much time caring about what others thought of him. I do not. You are free to think me a hypocrite, but the last thing I'll ever be again is a fool."
Lastly, as Ro walked back into position he makes a passing remark to Jek, "After this ordeal is over, you and I will need to chat."
Ro Aleron (Ro the Red) -> Illithid, Wizard 8 (Chronugist) // AURYN
Rum just looks at the duergar that is Ro the Red, pity in his eyes.
It may be true the world needs Ro the Red more than it needs Ro the False Knight right now, but make no mistake, the only foolish thing he did was to become you, he thinks to himself, but decides not to say it or let Ro hear that thought.
And with that thought, he slips into the shadows.
Jek looks at Wo-Dan with a tilted head "What? I mean, huh? No, I don't think those are the same thing. How does throwing someone off a bridge make them have a conversation? I'm very confused!"
Jek looks at Ro with a tilt to his head not really sure what to think. He is sad for what he became, but also angry for the choices that he made. Ro has strayed far from the Bright Lady, to a world that her light might not have reached. But maybe there was still hope. With a nod, Jek will say "Yes, we will. I think we have much to discuss."
Before they separate again, Jek will go to Lady Kaede and say "Please be safe. Let the Bright Lady watch over you and keep you vigilant against danger." As Jek pats her shoulder, a warmth passes over her, giving her a heightened awareness to danger. (Vigilant Blessing: She will have advantage on the next initiative roll.) He then says to the group. "Would anyone like to be gifted sight in the darkness from the Bright Lady, again? It will only last one hour."
Greko wonders why they are so worried and decides he will wait to see what happens by sitting on a chair amongst the Duergar
Before they go, Jek will say a quick prayer. He bows his head and says "Bright Lady, grant your blessing to my friends, let them see through the darkness. " As Jek's words go out... nothing happens. There is no hum of power, no magic light. But, as you look beyond, you realize that you can see perfectly well in this dim light. (Rum, Greko, and Lady Kaede get 300ft dark vision for 1 hour).
Jek watches as Greko takes a seat in the crowd of Duergar. "Umm... that's pretty obvious. He isn't hidden at all. Well, let's fix that." Jek pulls some shadow, and sends it out to Greko. It rises up, wrapping around the old lizard where he sits. It forms and takes shape, and after a moment there is a boulder where Greko was sitting. Jek nods his head at his handy work, then goes to hide with the others. Jek isn't quite sure if Greko even noticed it happening. He might have been asleep.
The first half of the night was largely uneventful as the band waited on the 'Masters' to arrive. The gray dwarves went about their evening as usual, or what was assumed to be usual, as they settled into their homes and prepared themselves for sleep. Rest. Whatever it was they were doing behind closed doors.
The cavern was mostly quiet, punctuated by the occasional talking of the flutes back and forth in the depths of the underdark. The crust of the world rumbled somewhere overhead like the rolling of distant thunder.
As Rum mans (cats?) his post, he notices activity beginning on the far ledge of the chasm for his position. Waiting a few moments begins to bring things into light. Four riders land on the edge of the cliff and look over. It's not hard to see the red imperial sigil emblazoned on the pauldrons of the riders or the barding of the mounts, each of which look like strange sharks with four wings and horned snouts. Within another few moments, Stormtroopers begin to line up, looking over the wall at the village, and then start throwing down very long rope ladders.
Two things become clear.
First, this isn't a ragtag band of Stormtroopers. Their gunmetal armor is dented, scared, and pocked from combat, and the weapon handles that are visible are polished from being gripped and swung.
Second is the leader, clad in black armor. Whoever it is, they begin to point and give instructions, and then the four flying mounts are airborne with their jockeys...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Rum watches from the shadows, as the vanguard of stormtroopers appears, on the strange flying mounts, followed by the infantry and leader.
He whispers to Prim, "Are you seeing this, Ro the Red? These seem seasoned fighters, and the leader in black, could it be Vader?".
After a moment he whispers again, "One more thing, I hear the Gmork, it is close".
With that he tries to focus in on the leader, to see if he can determine whether it is Vader, based on what he knows of him.
Perception: 15+11=26
"On closer inspection, not Vader. Just an upgraded stormtrooper, in black armour with a pair of scimitars", Rum then adds.
Lady Kaede marches out into an open area, making sure it's in full view of the apparent leader, looks up at them, and calls out "Halt! Who approaches unannounced?! I am Lady Kaede Ashikaga, daughter of Shōgun Ashikaga of Kings Landing, supplanter of the Kamakura shogunate in support of Emperor Go-Daigo, Lady of Northern Court in Kyoto and the Southern Court in Yoshino, and Chief General of the Ōnin War!"
OOC: Does she recognize any of the regalia displayed by the black-clad leader or any of their underlings?
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
As soon as the stormtroopers make their appearance, Ro casts Disguise Self once more to assume the visage of a duergar. The 'duergar' listens to Rum's observations and relays them to the others nearby him (verbally to party members near Ro, and telepathically to Kaede), "Eyes up, team. These stormtroopers aren't to be taken lightly, especially the one in black armor. Rum tells me the Gmork is close by as well."
Ro Aleron (Ro the Red) -> Illithid, Wizard 8 (Chronugist) // AURYN
Greko sitting on a chair looks around wondering what everyone’s waiting for but he just sits and watches
The mounted Stormtroopers come racing across the expanse of the chasm, their mounts like arrows in the air. A few strokes of their bizarre fin-like wings and they're already a quarter way across. They take immediate notice of Lady Kaede. The leader looks around and points, and a few of the infantrymen around them starts to descend the rope ladders. A few more rally around the leader as they, or rather, she, removes her helmet. A Drow looks down from her vantage, gazing at Lady Kaede, with grips her helmet in her hands. She laughs.
"By the Goddesses!" She shouts down to Lady Kaede. "You're a child! How in all Hyboria did you get dragged into this, girl? Do your mommy and daddy know where you are?"
She turns to the Stormtroopers around her and begins having a conversation, then laughs again. She doesn't try to hide her amusement.
"Watch her!" She finally calls out to the flying Stormtroopers. "I'm laughing but I'm sure she's dangerous!"
As she calls out, six Stormtroopers go down the ladders. They make it perhaps a quarter of the way down, three on each of the two ladders.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Rum stays silent and still, as the stormtroopers on their flying mounts make haste to cross the distance to Lady Kaede. He counts fourteen in total, but he cannot be sure there aren't more out of sight.
He bares his fangs as the leader takes off their helmet and mocks his companion, but there is too much time yet before the main group are even close enough to strike. Evaluating the situation, he starts to doubt there will be opportunity to infiltrate their ranks and gather information, it will all depend on how they handle Lady Kaede.
He flicks his eyes back to the flying shark mounts, and watches closely to try and determine if they are bonded to their riders, or if he could simply acquire one.
Animal Handling: 5+8=13