Emeria flinched away from Jameson as he drew his rapier, but quickly calmed down.
EMERIA: "A can imagine. I've never been to Waterdeep, but my father has done business there, returning with stories of alleyway muggings and elaborate cons. I suppose it's true that the largest cities have the worst law enforcement."
As Arklos scans the forest ahead, he sees a bright flash of red. From a low-hanging branch of a withered maple, a scarlet silken cloth has been snagged, flapping in the wind like a flag.
Time of Day: 11:16 AM
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"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
OOC: Not sure if it would change anything about Emeria's response, but I didn't mean for Jameson to fully draw his rapier during his fidgeting, more just sliding it out of the scabbard a few inches and then releasing it back in.
Noticing Elzah, Arklos, and Qazka stopped by a tree, Lethia doges Jameson and Emeria, drawing closer. She can see the crimson cloth waving in the wind.
"Well that's ominous," Lethia says into the cold wind. The wind takes her words and freezes them solid. Lethia feels a shiver go down her spine.
Upon closer inspection, you find that the cloth isn't snagged on the branch. Rather, it was tied to it. In addition, you can see now that it is embroidered with gold-colored thread. The thread was been woven into the red silk to create a strange symbol. It looks like an eye with multiple rays being emitted from it. Emeria, seeing the symbol, scowls.
EMERIA: "Don't touch it." She says to Arklos as he approaches the silk. "That symbol is the Evil Eye. Surely, some dark magic has been placed upon it."
When Qazka examines the cloth through his divine senses, he immediately feels a strong aura emanating from it. At first it seems somewhat familiar. Before the priest at the chapel in Belfrem had vanished, he would bless the blankets of the village's infants, so as to protect them from evil. The aura given off by the scarlet silk seems to have a similar "blessing" on it. Then he senses the consciousness. A chill surges down his spine. Waves of consciousness are flowing from the cloth in all directions. Something is clearly using the cloth as an extension of its will. Something very powerful. While unnerving, this was still theoretically possible. The strangest part was that, try as he may, his senses are fail to indicate whether the presence is good or evil... Then, it became aware of him. He can feel the eye embroidered on the silk staring straight at him, reacting to his ability to perceive its unnatural nature. It's extremely unnerving.
Elzah, scanning the surroundings diligently, sees nothing of note...
Qazka blinks in surprise as his Divine Sense actually reveals something. But soon he furrows his brows and his usual smile drops. Cold sweat passes over him and he pulls his coat in tighter, despite being accustomed to the chilly weather. He tries to keep his tone light and says, "Emeria is right, there is a strong divine presence on it. Best not to touch it carelessly. It would appear that... something is using that piece to extend it's will. I do not want to cause everyone excessive worry but I believe it is aware of me. I cannot tell it's intentions, and it is rather unsettling."
He turns to the others and with a shrug asks, "Truth be told, I have never seen this symbol before, do any of you folks have experience with something like this?"
Elzah continues, " I mean to say, the evil eye symbol there is really more of a superstition than anything. I'd hear the drunks in the tavern whisper about it every now and again, about old crones sewing it onto baby blankets and such, trying to curse the children of their enemies. Pretty dark and pretty silly."
Elzah looks at the symbol once more and breathes a heavy sigh. "Yeah, all the same, let's leave it be."
After her initial forward movement, Lethia moves to the back of the group. She felt completely incompetent next to these great adventurers. Here they were having a very intellectual conversation, while she just hung back. Lethia felt slightly isolated, being the youngest and even though she may have traveled around for a year perfecting her fighting skills she still was new to this whole adventure thing. She hoped that she could learn from the best.
Lethia watches as the group continues to talk.
OCC: Obviously I'm guessing at Lethia being the youngest, feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Noticing Lethia retreating towards the back, Qazka mistakes it as fear for the Evil Eye symbol. Out of force of habit, he says reassuringly: “it doesn’t appear to be a menace at this moment, perhaps it would leave us alone if we simply moved on.”
He agrees with the rest of the party, but before leaving, he will chant a blessing of protection, mimicking his mentor and fully aware it would just be a placebo.
EMERIA: "I agree. It's best if we left it untouched. While I am skeptical as to how credible the locals' superstitions are, the fact that it possesses some sort of magical property is enough to warrant avoiding it."
You continue onward, the feeling of uneasiness increasing as you pass beneath the branch the red silk hangs from. The discomfort passes as you draw further from it, only for the cold to reclaim its place as your primary source of discomfort. After a few more minutes of traveling, you spot traces of wagon tracks in the muddy path. Emeria claims they must belong to the nomads. As you press onward, the wind lessens, now a faint breeze. Emeria resumes shifting around the group as she walks. She then falls to the back, next to Lethia.
EMERIA: "You seem rather young for an adventurer. What drew you to such a dangerous profession?"
Time of Day: 11:43 AM
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"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
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The brief encounter with the unsettling symbol cements Qazka's suspicion that the missing of the adventurers (and the Vistani) was not so simple. He keeps an eye out for anything abnormal as they move forward. Perception: 12
Lethia shifts uncomfortably. "I...um...I didn't belong." She leaves it at that. Lethia never liked talking about her past. She didn't like thinking about how the kids would bully her, and how her parents would whisper and how... Stop. It doesn't matter now. You are gone.
EMERIA: "I see." she says, turning away from Lethia. "I hope this lifestyle brings you happiness. Take warning, however." her voice takes on a more ominous tone. "The life of exploration and heroics has a darker side, which you will someday experience firsthand. Do not take it lightly."
Qazka, vigilantly eyeing the group's surroundings, sees nothing of note at the moment, save for dark clouds gathering ahead.
Time of Day: 11:44 AM
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"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
As they trek further, Qazka attempts to start a conversation with the party to avoid letting his thought wander back to the symbol: “On that note, have you folks been travelling a long time? Where do you come from? If you don’t mind sharing.”
Arklos answers over his shoulder, "I am from a city named Rexxentrum in the Dwendalian Empire. I am looking for someone and the trail led me here. My search has thus far taken me nearly a month, but I joined up with these worthy people not too long ago."
Arklos briefly muses to himself. I almost said the "Wonderous Capital of the Great Dwendalian Empire". Years of propaganda and indoctrination are hard to shake.
He shudders as he remembers the journey to this place. "Ja, I met them shortly after I crossed through that misty barrier. That mist is a journey that I do not wish to repeat anytime soon, although I am sure that I will have to cross it again to get home."
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Time of Day: 11:16 AM
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
Arklos focuses on the red cloth and walks up to inspect it when the group draws near.
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Lethia strides with purpose behind Emeria and Jameson. She can hear them talking, but not what about.
Elzah will stop along the path just beyond Arklos, keeping her eyes on the trees and the road ahead.
Mel: Champions of the Dragon Wars
Qazka narrows his eyes at what Arklos is focusing on, and pushes his glasses up.
He uses Divine Sense again.
Noticing Elzah, Arklos, and Qazka stopped by a tree, Lethia doges Jameson and Emeria, drawing closer. She can see the crimson cloth waving in the wind.
"Well that's ominous," Lethia says into the cold wind. The wind takes her words and freezes them solid. Lethia feels a shiver go down her spine.
Time of Day: 11:20 AM
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
Qazka blinks in surprise as his Divine Sense actually reveals something. But soon he furrows his brows and his usual smile drops. Cold sweat passes over him and he pulls his coat in tighter, despite being accustomed to the chilly weather. He tries to keep his tone light and says, "Emeria is right, there is a strong divine presence on it. Best not to touch it carelessly. It would appear that... something is using that piece to extend it's will. I do not want to cause everyone excessive worry but I believe it is aware of me. I cannot tell it's intentions, and it is rather unsettling."
He turns to the others and with a shrug asks, "Truth be told, I have never seen this symbol before, do any of you folks have experience with something like this?"
Elzah grips her staff uneasily and shakes her head. “Can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like that.”
Her expression darkens a little as she begins to feel the mission may be more than she bargained for.
Mel: Champions of the Dragon Wars
Arklos heeds his companions advice, steps back and continues scanning the path and the woods.
"No, I've never seen the like."
Elzah continues, " I mean to say, the evil eye symbol there is really more of a superstition than anything. I'd hear the drunks in the tavern whisper about it every now and again, about old crones sewing it onto baby blankets and such, trying to curse the children of their enemies. Pretty dark and pretty silly."
Elzah looks at the symbol once more and breathes a heavy sigh. "Yeah, all the same, let's leave it be."
Mel: Champions of the Dragon Wars
After her initial forward movement, Lethia moves to the back of the group. She felt completely incompetent next to these great adventurers. Here they were having a very intellectual conversation, while she just hung back. Lethia felt slightly isolated, being the youngest and even though she may have traveled around for a year perfecting her fighting skills she still was new to this whole adventure thing. She hoped that she could learn from the best.
Lethia watches as the group continues to talk.
OCC: Obviously I'm guessing at Lethia being the youngest, feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Noticing Lethia retreating towards the back, Qazka mistakes it as fear for the Evil Eye symbol. Out of force of habit, he says reassuringly: “it doesn’t appear to be a menace at this moment, perhaps it would leave us alone if we simply moved on.”
He agrees with the rest of the party, but before leaving, he will chant a blessing of protection, mimicking his mentor and fully aware it would just be a placebo.
Time of Day: 11:43 AM
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
The brief encounter with the unsettling symbol cements Qazka's suspicion that the missing of the adventurers (and the Vistani) was not so simple. He keeps an eye out for anything abnormal as they move forward. Perception: 12
Lethia shifts uncomfortably. "I...um...I didn't belong." She leaves it at that. Lethia never liked talking about her past. She didn't like thinking about how the kids would bully her, and how her parents would whisper and how... Stop. It doesn't matter now. You are gone.
Time of Day: 11:44 AM
"And that day, a red rain fell from the sky here."
As they trek further, Qazka attempts to start a conversation with the party to avoid letting his thought wander back to the symbol: “On that note, have you folks been travelling a long time? Where do you come from? If you don’t mind sharing.”
Arklos answers over his shoulder, "I am from a city named Rexxentrum in the Dwendalian Empire. I am looking for someone and the trail led me here. My search has thus far taken me nearly a month, but I joined up with these worthy people not too long ago."
Arklos briefly muses to himself. I almost said the "Wonderous Capital of the Great Dwendalian Empire". Years of propaganda and indoctrination are hard to shake.
He shudders as he remembers the journey to this place. "Ja, I met them shortly after I crossed through that misty barrier. That mist is a journey that I do not wish to repeat anytime soon, although I am sure that I will have to cross it again to get home."