"It is true we have Porkins, Lady Kaede. And your bat, friend Greko. Where is that? We were warned travelling by air might be as dangerous", Rum interjects.
"I would like to get a look at exactly how well manned and fortified these towers are. We will have to come back this way, and we have no idea what this Blast Bellows looks like or how difficult it will be to transport. It moight be best not to have enemies behind us. Just a thought".
As they talk, Rum suddenly becomes wary, moving fluidly into a fighting stance. His attention is on a weird little humanoid thing with a bunch of eyestalks growing out of its body that is watching them.
"Fellow Remnants, we are not alone", he whispers.
He cocks his head to the side as he tries to work out whether it has hostile intentions. It certainly wasn't a storm trooper or red newt, nor was it one of the elite troopers that rode the star lancers.
"Greetings and blessings of the Great Dragon to you. Assuming you mean us no harm, of course", he says tentatively, although his muscles are coiled like a spring ready to react and pounce if hostility is detected.
The 'weird little humanoid thing' looks at the Tabaxi nervously.
"N-no, I'm not here for a fight... please don't hurt me," she says. "I just... well... why are you here? Actually, I'm not quite sure how I got here either..."
As the creature steps into full view... or, rather, floats into full view, you all get a good look at it. The creature appears to be female, with nearly ankle-length black hair from which 10 tentacles protrude. Each one of the tentacles ends with a large eye. And in the center of her face is another eye... making 11 eyes in total. Her gray skin glistens with a thin layer of purple slime that she is presumably secreting. She hovers about a foot off the ground, regarding all of you with the numerous eyes. The creature certainly doesn't look hostile... she looks more scared than anything else.
If any of you have seen a Beholder before, it may occur to you that this creature looks very similar... perhaps a member of some rare sub-race?
The little spider weeks a web that says “yes” and then continues to spin a web that’s says “hi Vio” and then it stops as the spider peters out and lays there
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lady Kaede pulls off her helm, stands in front of everyone and directly in front of the approaching stranger, and summons her greatest intimidation skills to the fore (which isn't very much, as she's a teenage girl, just like the stranger), and in a cool and steady voice asks "And who might you be, youngling? Are you some sort of denizen of this strange land? It's rather strange to just happen to magically run into someone in these parts, no? Speak up, and be quick, for the truth is all that matters."
Though Lady Kaede's intimidation skills may not be 'great,' they are apparently sufficient to terrify the unfortunate aberration. The poor thing looks like she's close to tears.
"I... I already said I'm not here for a fight! After I escaped from my father's lab I got dragged here through some kind of rift... I've been wandering around down here since then... P-please forgive me for sneaking up on you! The last people I saw down here started shooting as soon as they saw me...!"
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Greko jumps up and scurries over to the young ......creature and decides he should change back because weaving a web over and over is exhausting him. An old lizardman dressed in white robe appears with a staff helping him walk. He's hunched over a bit from years and years of "experience". "Greko and friends are friends. Kaede is cautious but well meaning. Our world has been torn apart by evil forces who have struck out across the land. Do not fear. We mean you no harm. Those that shot at you are our enemy. Lucky for you they are wildly inaccurate. It is almost as if they have no practice ranges.....Greko digresses....Greko is Greko, this is Lady Kaede, that is Rum and over there is Jek...pleasure to meet you."
Rum relaxes a bit, seeing that the being before them is being sincere.
"I believe your sincerity, Violet", he says then looks to the others. "Friend Greko speaks truly, you need not fear us, we mean you no harm. I would not have gone so far as to tell you so much about why we are here, but now you know. My name is Rumble of Hunger, and I am from Dragonclaw. But as friend Greko said, call me Rum", he says smiling at the forthright nature of the old lizardfolk, and wishes he was as trusting still.
"It does not sound like you wish to return to this father of yours. Tell us about him? Is he from Subternia?".
"And I..." she nods ever so slightly "...am Lady Kaede Ashikaga. My father is Shōgun Ashikaga, ruler of Kings Landing. You shall address me as Lady Kaede."
Continuing, "My father...."
Silence
"My father..."
"...was Shōgun of Kings Landing. I am Hylian, sworn to protect my people. At least, I was Hylian. Until the Guardians attacked and massacred my people. My people. Including my father and six brothers."
Longer silence
Finally, through broken common, barely above the whisper of the wind, she adds "I am here, in the name of Shōgun Ashikaga-shi, to find any survivors and return them to Kings Landing where I shall protect them ever more."
After that, she straightens up ram-rod tall (barely a hair over 1.5 meters), and her stoic and placid demeanor reappears, but she cannot hide the tears that are streaming down her face.
She's just a little girl, living in a lonely world, their shadows searchin' in the night, livin' just to find emotion, hidin' somewhere in the night...
Jek nods as he is introduced. He has been distracted. "Oh, ah, hello. Hey, I am Jek Utinni. Hi. We are the chosen of the AYURN. And... ahhh... what was I getting at?" He looks back the way that they came. "Hey, we are through now, do you think I can drop my spell? The suggestion I made? Maybe some of the Newts will survive? I mean..... Sorry, I got distracted again. Anyways, yes, we are on a mission. You said something about your father's lab? Where is that?"
After that, she straightens up ram-rod tall (barely a hair over 1.5 meters), and her stoic and placid demeanor reappears, but she cannot hide the tears that are streaming down her face.
She's just a little girl, living in a lonely world, their shadows searchin' in the night, livin' just to find emotion, hidin' somewhere in the night...
Jek looks to Lady Kaede. He did not realize how much she suffered. He was too focused on himself and everything else. He moves up to her and pulls on her sleeve, motioning for her to lean down. One she gets low enough, he will give her a big hug. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how hard its been for you. You have had to bear a burden for so long. I have not spoken to my family for a long time now. I don't know how my Brothers fair. But... We are here. We might not be able to take there place, but we are here for you. We will help you do what needs to be done. And the Bright Lady will shine her light on us all."
Violet's many eyes look at all of the different people who are addressing her at once.
She decides to answer Rum first. A couple of her eyes glance nervously behind her, as if she is expecting her father to appear right behind her.
"I don't think he was from here... I think we came from another world. My father... he is a Beholder named Soumloln, and... you're right, there really isn't anything I want less than to return to him. I don't know how much you know about Beholders... but sometimes when one dreams a new being can be born from its imagination. Well, that's where I came from. He didn't see me as his daughter, though, he treated me as an experiment ever since I was 'born' and kept me in his lab until I got lucky enough to escape..."
She swallows nervously.
"I-I don't know for sure what became of him since then. But... I'm worried. I'm afraid that he might come for me..."
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Rum looks at Jek with compassion, "You did what needed to be done, friend Jek. Those were our enemies, and the only way to beat them is to eliminate them. It is a sad fact, but true. You must try to come to terms with what you did back there, because it was days ago and you cannot change it".
"They might have knowledge of beholders at Dragonclaw, Violet", he says thoughtfully turning to Violet. "And they would certainly take you in and protect you there. It is a monastery far to the West of the surface world, inaccessible to most, where they seek knowledge and advance their minds and bodies", he explains.
"Of course that was before the world fell to chaos and disaster. I am not certain what state Dragonclaw is in, or how many refugees they have already taken in", he says with a look of concern on his feline face.
He throws a glance at Lady Kaede and Jek as well, knowing that her people are amongst the refugees of the surface, the ones that have survived anyway.
"If by some miracle we win this war, there will be so much rebuilding needed", he says with a big sigh.
He shakes himself out of his melancholy. "But for now, we Ardent Remnants must fight the forces of darkness. If you are afraid, Violet, then you can stick with us until we leave this place. But know our path is dangerous, and those that have done so before suffered for it. It would be your own choice, the consequences yours alone to bear", he says forthrightly, the pain of previous loss etched on his features as he speaks, but an underlying resolve along with the pain.
Violet focuses her attention on Rum, considering his offer carefully. She eventually nods.
"I-I think that's the safest thing for me to do," she says. "I know I don't seem like much... but I'm sure I can be useful to you. I'm still a Beholder, after all, even if I'm not as big and scary as my father. Each of these eyes can shoot some pretty strong magic beams... and the one in the middle here can stop most spells in their tracks."
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Lady Kaede approaches Violet, smiles a reassuring smile, and quietly announces "You are welcome amongst our tribe. NEVER underestimate yourself, or others. Even the most insignificant-seeming person can make a difference!"
Rum nods seriously at the wise words of Lady Kaede.
He looks at Violet for what seems a long time, appraising her. "We may as well bring you up to speed, Violet. A powerful item was taken from a civilisation of dwarves that live in this subterranean world. One that will be used to cause great harm to our side in the ongoing war. If we recover this item, we will make allies of these dwarves and they will use it to aid us. We know the item is located far to the south and is heavily guards, and between here and there, there are more guard towers. Assuming you were listening to us and not just watching us before we spotted you, you would have heard us discuss the best way to approach these towers. Either avoid them or confront them", he says watching her for any sort of reaction.
"Exactly how much have you travelled these parts? Do you have any information that will help us make a decision?".
An involuntary shudder runs through Violet's body as Rum's question brings up... unpleasant memories.
"Well... I've wandered around down here for a while... and... there are a lot of scary people... they wear black armor with red emblems... and every time they see me they start shooting... I don't know why, I didn't do anything to them! Well... except maybe disintegrate a few... but only when they shot first! Most of them are in and around a bunch of outposts along the road... I try to stay away, but... there isn't a lot of food down here and sometimes those scary people throw useful things out... Oh! And also... all the way down the road there is a really big base, by the ocean. I haven't gone close to that one because it's always on fire for some reason..."
She pauses, her numerous eyes looking in every direction. But the central one remains trained on Rum.
"So... um... did any of that help?"
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"It is true we have Porkins, Lady Kaede. And your bat, friend Greko. Where is that? We were warned travelling by air might be as dangerous", Rum interjects.
"I would like to get a look at exactly how well manned and fortified these towers are. We will have to come back this way, and we have no idea what this Blast Bellows looks like or how difficult it will be to transport. It moight be best not to have enemies behind us. Just a thought".
Greko weaves another web "Many guards" and then sits on Rum's shoulder tired
As they talk, Rum suddenly becomes wary, moving fluidly into a fighting stance. His attention is on a weird little humanoid thing with a bunch of eyestalks growing out of its body that is watching them.
"Fellow Remnants, we are not alone", he whispers.
He cocks his head to the side as he tries to work out whether it has hostile intentions. It certainly wasn't a storm trooper or red newt, nor was it one of the elite troopers that rode the star lancers.
"Greetings and blessings of the Great Dragon to you. Assuming you mean us no harm, of course", he says tentatively, although his muscles are coiled like a spring ready to react and pounce if hostility is detected.
Insight: 7+11=18 (Passive 21)
The 'weird little humanoid thing' looks at the Tabaxi nervously.
"N-no, I'm not here for a fight... please don't hurt me," she says. "I just... well... why are you here? Actually, I'm not quite sure how I got here either..."
As the creature steps into full view... or, rather, floats into full view, you all get a good look at it. The creature appears to be female, with nearly ankle-length black hair from which 10 tentacles protrude. Each one of the tentacles ends with a large eye. And in the center of her face is another eye... making 11 eyes in total. Her gray skin glistens with a thin layer of purple slime that she is presumably secreting. She hovers about a foot off the ground, regarding all of you with the numerous eyes. The creature certainly doesn't look hostile... she looks more scared than anything else.
If any of you have seen a Beholder before, it may occur to you that this creature looks very similar... perhaps a member of some rare sub-race?
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A little black widow spider climbs down off of Rum and spins a web on the ground in front of the creature. That says “Greko”
The creature looks down at the spider with one of her many eyes curiously.... she didn't know that spiders could write.
"Is... is that your name?" she asks the spider. "Mine is Violet... one of my father's experiments gave it to me..."
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The little spider weeks a web that says “yes” and then continues to spin a web that’s says “hi Vio” and then it stops as the spider peters out and lays there
Lady Kaede pulls off her helm, stands in front of everyone and directly in front of the approaching stranger, and summons her greatest intimidation skills to the fore (which isn't very much, as she's a teenage girl, just like the stranger), and in a cool and steady voice asks "And who might you be, youngling? Are you some sort of denizen of this strange land? It's rather strange to just happen to magically run into someone in these parts, no? Speak up, and be quick, for the truth is all that matters."
Intimidation: 3 and Persuasion: 13
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Though Lady Kaede's intimidation skills may not be 'great,' they are apparently sufficient to terrify the unfortunate aberration. The poor thing looks like she's close to tears.
"I... I already said I'm not here for a fight! After I escaped from my father's lab I got dragged here through some kind of rift... I've been wandering around down here since then... P-please forgive me for sneaking up on you! The last people I saw down here started shooting as soon as they saw me...!"
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Greko jumps up and scurries over to the young ......creature and decides he should change back because weaving a web over and over is exhausting him. An old lizardman dressed in white robe appears with a staff helping him walk. He's hunched over a bit from years and years of "experience". "Greko and friends are friends. Kaede is cautious but well meaning. Our world has been torn apart by evil forces who have struck out across the land. Do not fear. We mean you no harm. Those that shot at you are our enemy. Lucky for you they are wildly inaccurate. It is almost as if they have no practice ranges.....Greko digresses....Greko is Greko, this is Lady Kaede, that is Rum and over there is Jek...pleasure to meet you."
Rum relaxes a bit, seeing that the being before them is being sincere.
"I believe your sincerity, Violet", he says then looks to the others. "Friend Greko speaks truly, you need not fear us, we mean you no harm. I would not have gone so far as to tell you so much about why we are here, but now you know. My name is Rumble of Hunger, and I am from Dragonclaw. But as friend Greko said, call me Rum", he says smiling at the forthright nature of the old lizardfolk, and wishes he was as trusting still.
"It does not sound like you wish to return to this father of yours. Tell us about him? Is he from Subternia?".
Greko hearing the words "Friend Greko" smiles to himself holding back tears of joy.
"And I..." she nods ever so slightly "...am Lady Kaede Ashikaga. My father is Shōgun Ashikaga, ruler of Kings Landing. You shall address me as Lady Kaede."
Continuing, "My father...."
Silence
"My father..."
"...was Shōgun of Kings Landing. I am Hylian, sworn to protect my people. At least, I was Hylian. Until the Guardians attacked and massacred my people. My people. Including my father and six brothers."
Longer silence
Finally, through broken common, barely above the whisper of the wind, she adds "I am here, in the name of Shōgun Ashikaga-shi, to find any survivors and return them to Kings Landing where I shall protect them ever more."
After that, she straightens up ram-rod tall (barely a hair over 1.5 meters), and her stoic and placid demeanor reappears, but she cannot hide the tears that are streaming down her face.
She's just a little girl, living in a lonely world, their shadows searchin' in the night, livin' just to find emotion, hidin' somewhere in the night...
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Jek nods as he is introduced. He has been distracted. "Oh, ah, hello. Hey, I am Jek Utinni. Hi. We are the chosen of the AYURN. And... ahhh... what was I getting at?" He looks back the way that they came. "Hey, we are through now, do you think I can drop my spell? The suggestion I made? Maybe some of the Newts will survive? I mean..... Sorry, I got distracted again. Anyways, yes, we are on a mission. You said something about your father's lab? Where is that?"
Jek looks to Lady Kaede. He did not realize how much she suffered. He was too focused on himself and everything else. He moves up to her and pulls on her sleeve, motioning for her to lean down. One she gets low enough, he will give her a big hug. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how hard its been for you. You have had to bear a burden for so long. I have not spoken to my family for a long time now. I don't know how my Brothers fair. But... We are here. We might not be able to take there place, but we are here for you. We will help you do what needs to be done. And the Bright Lady will shine her light on us all."
Violet's many eyes look at all of the different people who are addressing her at once.
She decides to answer Rum first. A couple of her eyes glance nervously behind her, as if she is expecting her father to appear right behind her.
"I don't think he was from here... I think we came from another world. My father... he is a Beholder named Soumloln, and... you're right, there really isn't anything I want less than to return to him. I don't know how much you know about Beholders... but sometimes when one dreams a new being can be born from its imagination. Well, that's where I came from. He didn't see me as his daughter, though, he treated me as an experiment ever since I was 'born' and kept me in his lab until I got lucky enough to escape..."
She swallows nervously.
"I-I don't know for sure what became of him since then. But... I'm worried. I'm afraid that he might come for me..."
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Rum looks at Jek with compassion, "You did what needed to be done, friend Jek. Those were our enemies, and the only way to beat them is to eliminate them. It is a sad fact, but true. You must try to come to terms with what you did back there, because it was days ago and you cannot change it".
"They might have knowledge of beholders at Dragonclaw, Violet", he says thoughtfully turning to Violet. "And they would certainly take you in and protect you there. It is a monastery far to the West of the surface world, inaccessible to most, where they seek knowledge and advance their minds and bodies", he explains.
"Of course that was before the world fell to chaos and disaster. I am not certain what state Dragonclaw is in, or how many refugees they have already taken in", he says with a look of concern on his feline face.
He throws a glance at Lady Kaede and Jek as well, knowing that her people are amongst the refugees of the surface, the ones that have survived anyway.
"If by some miracle we win this war, there will be so much rebuilding needed", he says with a big sigh.
He shakes himself out of his melancholy. "But for now, we Ardent Remnants must fight the forces of darkness. If you are afraid, Violet, then you can stick with us until we leave this place. But know our path is dangerous, and those that have done so before suffered for it. It would be your own choice, the consequences yours alone to bear", he says forthrightly, the pain of previous loss etched on his features as he speaks, but an underlying resolve along with the pain.
Violet focuses her attention on Rum, considering his offer carefully. She eventually nods.
"I-I think that's the safest thing for me to do," she says. "I know I don't seem like much... but I'm sure I can be useful to you. I'm still a Beholder, after all, even if I'm not as big and scary as my father. Each of these eyes can shoot some pretty strong magic beams... and the one in the middle here can stop most spells in their tracks."
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Lady Kaede approaches Violet, smiles a reassuring smile, and quietly announces "You are welcome amongst our tribe. NEVER underestimate yourself, or others. Even the most insignificant-seeming person can make a difference!"
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Rum nods seriously at the wise words of Lady Kaede.
He looks at Violet for what seems a long time, appraising her. "We may as well bring you up to speed, Violet. A powerful item was taken from a civilisation of dwarves that live in this subterranean world. One that will be used to cause great harm to our side in the ongoing war. If we recover this item, we will make allies of these dwarves and they will use it to aid us. We know the item is located far to the south and is heavily guards, and between here and there, there are more guard towers. Assuming you were listening to us and not just watching us before we spotted you, you would have heard us discuss the best way to approach these towers. Either avoid them or confront them", he says watching her for any sort of reaction.
"Exactly how much have you travelled these parts? Do you have any information that will help us make a decision?".
An involuntary shudder runs through Violet's body as Rum's question brings up... unpleasant memories.
"Well... I've wandered around down here for a while... and... there are a lot of scary people... they wear black armor with red emblems... and every time they see me they start shooting... I don't know why, I didn't do anything to them! Well... except maybe disintegrate a few... but only when they shot first! Most of them are in and around a bunch of outposts along the road... I try to stay away, but... there isn't a lot of food down here and sometimes those scary people throw useful things out... Oh! And also... all the way down the road there is a really big base, by the ocean. I haven't gone close to that one because it's always on fire for some reason..."
She pauses, her numerous eyes looking in every direction. But the central one remains trained on Rum.
"So... um... did any of that help?"
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