"Yes, that crow is leading the way, so I say we follow it."
Chadderlay will follow with the others while staying a ways back to give Akame a chance to scout ahead.
"Let's let Akame scout ahead and report back what he finds."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
At the base of the tower, Akame notes an encampment with space for maybe two dozen people and ten mountain goats tied to stakes, separated enough thst they don't tangle their ropes. Only a few cultists seem to remain in the csmp, the others are probably out searching the city.
Roll for initiative
While you're all standing there a group of nothics attack you.
You are surprised and the initiative target is 21.
Three nothics emerge into view, eagerly rushing up to you, chattering incoherently as they do.
Just behind them trails a disembodied bejeweled skull, floating through the air.
It speaks calmly in Loross, "At last, you've arrived. There were several survivors, but they have fared little better than I. Well then, what is the plan?"
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
< Just Prof. SKANT, as far as I know. I did mention this would be a campaign set, at least partly, in an ancient empire. Seems like kind of an oversight.>
As the diminutive cyclopes draw uncomfortably close, they stumble as if held back by an unseen leash. Iriolarthas holds them effortlessly at bay as he awaits your reply. One wonders if his lack of social awareness could in any way relate to thr social norms of hus time and place or if they are only the product if the madness thst is the undeath if a Lich, living in solitude among the mindless remains of those who entrusted themselves to his care, at their peril.
<as i see it, your options are
1. Ask SKANT TO TRANSLATE,
2. Fake it with a CHA check and some creativity (deception would be the most appropriate, i think, but i could be persuaded to see persuasion instead. Intimidation just gets you to 3.)
3. Fight a demilich and some nothics in the streets of Ythryn.
4. Run away.
Did I miss any?>
You are under initiative, but he's waiting on a reaponse.
(I'm not sure Angus has been formally introduced to SKANT, or is even aware of his existence, so someone else should probably do that.) I don't see how #2 is an option if none of us knows what was said, so let's go with #1.
(I'm not sure Angus has been formally introduced to SKANT, or is even aware of his existence, so someone else should probably do that.) I don't see how #2 is an option if none of us knows what was said, so let's go with #1.
He's a professor orb worn around Chadderlays neck. He's AI, expert in Netheril, wine and vampires
"Professor Skant, can you translate for us please. Ask if we might have a brief moment to confer as we don't speak the same language."
Chadderlay will reply to the demilich:
"We should salvage what we can. Who knows when more help will arrive. I understand there are cultists roaming free, they should be dealt with immediately."
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Maybe I should retire... His country, his family, his mission - all taken away from him. And what was he even doing here? He felt suddenly that he'd bitten off more than he could chew, constantly up against undead or fey or eldritch abominations. Thayan archmages would be a welcome change of pace at this point. At least his magic had some chance against them. What about this floating skull here? What could he do about it, blast it with a fireball? Try to counterspell it while the others handled the actual fighting? How does one counterspell a skull...?
Maybe I could go find that naked elven princess...
<Not a spoiler, just an explanation of what my roleplay dialogue is trying to convey:>
Here's the situation, cards on rhe table, stuff your NPCs should realize through my clever roleplay dialigue. I'm telling you outright because I don't know that I can convey these things effectively enough in character, but I will try. The demilich floating before you built this city and his actions led to its literal downfall. Unable to find his phylactery and thus starved for souls, he deteriorated into a demilich. Deapite this, he has a very high opinion of himself and a very poor concept of how much time has passed. He believes you're here to rescue the survivors, as he has been expecting another Netherese conclave to send a rescue party. By now he's seen you vanquish an arcanoloth and battle devil-worshiping cultists, so he's inclined to think you're OK. The nothics are a functional accessory for him. He uses them to open doors and such. They are subservient to him, but otherwise quite feral. If you incapacitated him, they'd attack you.
Here's the thing: Someone is a Knight of Myth Drannor, and this demilixh, he thinks his kingdom is in conflict with Cormanthyr and woukd be far more inclined to see a Knight of Myth Drannor as a spy, saboteur or theif than an ally.
As for deception or other Cha, I think the key issue is intent. He's deciding if you're hear to help the survivors or help yourselves and the fact is its the latter, not rhat you dint want to help an ancient de.iloch and his monstrously devolved wizard citizens, bjt that was never your purpose. So if you won't admit to being here just for that purpose, its deception. If you tell him this place has been buried for a millenia and you're just exploring, well, I don't think he'll take it too well, but if you're persuasive enough, it could work.
Prof. SKANT starts to translate. The demilich's reaction I'd hard to gage as he listens to the orb speak tbe dead tongue if the lost empire, but when he speaks. It is clear that he is not pleased.
"This is a harsh land, it is understood you are not of High Netheril. Surprising the Demesnes have lost even the understanding if their master's words, though. Barbaric." The floating skull bemoans the decline kf gus once great society, a process h3 believes still slowly unfolding in tur world above ground even now, ignorant of the millenia that separate the empire's violent end from the lost enclave he haunts today. "No matter, you are here and that is proof enough you know your place, now as for those... Say. You, there. The large one. You wear the mark of the elves. Explain yourself. Are you sent by Cormanthyr? What is the meaning of your presence among this party?"
<he's talking to Angus. Check the not-a-spoiler above for clarification>
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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"Yes, that crow is leading the way, so I say we follow it."
Chadderlay will follow with the others while staying a ways back to give Akame a chance to scout ahead.
"Let's let Akame scout ahead and report back what he finds."
Akame nods, focuses on his right hand as he Subtle casts Arcane Eye then makes a tossing gesture towards the tower as he releases it.
Angus is happy to follow the others toward the tower.
Same with sam if he can fit
At the base of the tower, Akame notes an encampment with space for maybe two dozen people and ten mountain goats tied to stakes, separated enough thst they don't tangle their ropes. Only a few cultists seem to remain in the csmp, the others are probably out searching the city.
Roll for initiative
While you're all standing there a group of nothics attack you.
You are surprised and the initiative target is 21.
12
Angus initiative 5
(I have no idea what's going on but OK. I sent an arcane eye to scout ahead. Didn't get any info. Also how are we surprised?)
They tracked you with a stealth above your highest perception. Actually been following you for quite some time.
The eye is at the tower. It sees goats and cultists.
Three nothics emerge into view, eagerly rushing up to you, chattering incoherently as they do.
Just behind them trails a disembodied bejeweled skull, floating through the air.
It speaks calmly in Loross, "At last, you've arrived. There were several survivors, but they have fared little better than I. Well then, what is the plan?"
Chadderlay's Initiative: 9
Initiative 15
(Do any of us understand Loross?)
< Just Prof. SKANT, as far as I know. I did mention this would be a campaign set, at least partly, in an ancient empire. Seems like kind of an oversight.>
As the diminutive cyclopes draw uncomfortably close, they stumble as if held back by an unseen leash. Iriolarthas holds them effortlessly at bay as he awaits your reply. One wonders if his lack of social awareness could in any way relate to thr social norms of hus time and place or if they are only the product if the madness thst is the undeath if a Lich, living in solitude among the mindless remains of those who entrusted themselves to his care, at their peril.
<as i see it, your options are
1. Ask SKANT TO TRANSLATE,
2. Fake it with a CHA check and some creativity (deception would be the most appropriate, i think, but i could be persuaded to see persuasion instead. Intimidation just gets you to 3.)
3. Fight a demilich and some nothics in the streets of Ythryn.
4. Run away.
Did I miss any?>
You are under initiative, but he's waiting on a reaponse.
(I'm not sure Angus has been formally introduced to SKANT, or is even aware of his existence, so someone else should probably do that.) I don't see how #2 is an option if none of us knows what was said, so let's go with #1.
He's a professor orb worn around Chadderlays neck. He's AI, expert in Netheril, wine and vampires
"Professor Skant, can you translate for us please. Ask if we might have a brief moment to confer as we don't speak the same language."
Chadderlay will reply to the demilich:
"We should salvage what we can. Who knows when more help will arrive. I understand there are cultists roaming free, they should be dealt with immediately."
Deception: 17
(ooc: I was trying to change the word 'hep' to 'help' and it changed my roll from a 9 to a 10... it should be a 9.)
(does it matter that my deception is full of facts: we don't know when help will arrive, cultists are roaming free etc.)
Maybe I should retire... His country, his family, his mission - all taken away from him. And what was he even doing here? He felt suddenly that he'd bitten off more than he could chew, constantly up against undead or fey or eldritch abominations. Thayan archmages would be a welcome change of pace at this point. At least his magic had some chance against them. What about this floating skull here? What could he do about it, blast it with a fireball? Try to counterspell it while the others handled the actual fighting? How does one counterspell a skull...?
Maybe I could go find that naked elven princess...
<Not a spoiler, just an explanation of what my roleplay dialogue is trying to convey:>
Here's the situation, cards on rhe table, stuff your NPCs should realize through my clever roleplay dialigue. I'm telling you outright because I don't know that I can convey these things effectively enough in character, but I will try. The demilich floating before you built this city and his actions led to its literal downfall. Unable to find his phylactery and thus starved for souls, he deteriorated into a demilich. Deapite this, he has a very high opinion of himself and a very poor concept of how much time has passed. He believes you're here to rescue the survivors, as he has been expecting another Netherese conclave to send a rescue party. By now he's seen you vanquish an arcanoloth and battle devil-worshiping cultists, so he's inclined to think you're OK. The nothics are a functional accessory for him. He uses them to open doors and such. They are subservient to him, but otherwise quite feral. If you incapacitated him, they'd attack you.
Here's the thing: Someone is a Knight of Myth Drannor, and this demilixh, he thinks his kingdom is in conflict with Cormanthyr and woukd be far more inclined to see a Knight of Myth Drannor as a spy, saboteur or theif than an ally.
As for deception or other Cha, I think the key issue is intent. He's deciding if you're hear to help the survivors or help yourselves and the fact is its the latter, not rhat you dint want to help an ancient de.iloch and his monstrously devolved wizard citizens, bjt that was never your purpose. So if you won't admit to being here just for that purpose, its deception. If you tell him this place has been buried for a millenia and you're just exploring, well, I don't think he'll take it too well, but if you're persuasive enough, it could work.
Prof. SKANT starts to translate. The demilich's reaction I'd hard to gage as he listens to the orb speak tbe dead tongue if the lost empire, but when he speaks. It is clear that he is not pleased.
"This is a harsh land, it is understood you are not of High Netheril. Surprising the Demesnes have lost even the understanding if their master's words, though. Barbaric." The floating skull bemoans the decline kf gus once great society, a process h3 believes still slowly unfolding in tur world above ground even now, ignorant of the millenia that separate the empire's violent end from the lost enclave he haunts today. "No matter, you are here and that is proof enough you know your place, now as for those... Say. You, there. The large one. You wear the mark of the elves. Explain yourself. Are you sent by Cormanthyr? What is the meaning of your presence among this party?"
<he's talking to Angus. Check the not-a-spoiler above for clarification>