"One at a time is prudent," Hadi says with a smile. "Shall we just start with the first?" He then sends his mage hand over the button, waiting for the ok from the others.
Khessa takes cover behind a column and agrees: "Works for me. Try the first one".
Khessa, as you give the go ahead, Hadi sends his mage hand to push the first button. As the button is pushed you all hear the sound of gears rotating, then you hear the sound of stone moving. As you look towards the source, you see a large marble plate sliding out from a wall, covering the staircase, hiding it from view.
"This one just blocks the way..." Khessa comments. "Let's remember this, it could be useful in case we have to stop pursuers. Would you like to press it again, Hadi?" she smiles to the elf "I hope it opens the way again".
"Definitely a good start,"Hadi says. Then replies, "Before the second button though... I'd like to test something."He then again pushes the first button after seeing it pop back up into place. If it again moves the stairs as he expects he grins to himself and then directs his hand to push button 2.
”Tristan, does this mean anything to you at all? The most trusted? Was anyone considered the most trusted here in this city?”
Under his breath, Tristan whispers a reply "Yes. I was among them" After the undead threat is dealt with, Tristan breathes a sigh of relief. "Everything the blood witch has touched is out to kill us, it would be good to remember that." Does that include myself? He thinks quietly.
”Wait. What do you mean that you were among them? Who is them and how many more ‘trusted’ are there? Will that…thing come back?” T’bitha watches Hadi and Khessa mess with the buttons as she engages with Tristan.
”Wait. What do you mean that you were among them? Who is them and how many more ‘trusted’ are there? Will that…thing come back?” T’bitha watches Hadi and Khessa mess with the buttons as she engages with Tristan.
Tristan sighs "I would have said nothing, but now that it is potentially important I cannot in good conscience withhold this secret from you." He admits. "My full name is Tristan Skedr. I was born nearly seven thousand years ago. To my knowledge I am the last surviving member of the A'yeth Taersi, and this forest was once my home."
After he finishes, he stands stoically, his face unreadable. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't believe me. I wouldn't believe me if I was told the same.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Tristan sighs "I would have said nothing, but now that it is potentially important I cannot in good conscience withhold this secret from you." He admits. "My full name is Tristan Skedr. I was born nearly seven thousand years ago. To my knowledge I am the last surviving member of the A'yeth Taersi, and this forest was once my home."
After he finishes, he stands stoically, his face unreadable. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't believe me. I wouldn't believe me if I was told the same.
Khessa lets go of the buttons for a moment and gasps, amazed: "Seven thousand years seems a long time, even for an elf. Is it because of your 'curse' that you managed to live so long? Or maybe... it was because of the urn we are looking for? Have you been in contact with it, long ago?" but the blonde arcane warrior then decides that simple curiosity can wait and she switches to a more important question "Or better, first things first: do you remember anything that can help us find the urn?"
In her blue eyes, skepticism and interest seem to struggle.
Not a story esay to believe. But not very much harder to believe than a plant with fruits full of blood. Or a guy who vaporizes and goes away if you take his head off. Plus, a liar could have found lots of more convincing lies... Let's hear if Tristan really knows something useful.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(ooc- T’bitha is curious if the name Tristan Skedr has any significance that she might know) History: 7
”Seven thousand years ago? T’bitha remarks incredulously. ”I- … That’s impossible! No wood elf lives seven thousand years. Seven hundred, maybe. What do you mean, then, by being the most trusted? Trusted to whom? Ambriel?
Hadi, you push the first button as many times as you wish, it continues to do what is expected, cover then uncover the staircase. You push the second button, and you all hear a clicking that goes on for a minute or so, followed by a heavy thud below.
While the conversation continues, T'bitha, you think on the name Skedr. You think you've seen it once or twice in a journal, but you can't remember what it was regarding.
”Seven thousand years ago? T’bitha remarks incredulously. ”I- … That’s impossible! No wood elf lives seven thousand years. Seven hundred, maybe. What do you mean, then, by being the most trusted? Trusted to whom? Ambriel?
"I am -was- a member of the the Queen's Honor Guard. I have never heard the name Ambriel before today, nor have I ever seen or did I know about the urn prior to this quest."
Khessa lets go of the buttons for a moment and gasps, amazed: "Seven thousand years seems a long time, even for an elf. Is it because of your 'curse' that you managed to live so long? Or maybe... it was because of the urn we are looking for? Have you been in contact with it, long ago?" but the blonde arcane warrior then decides that simple curiosity can wait and she switches to a more important question "Or better, first things first: do you remember anything that can help us find the urn?"
"I was the only graduate of the Academy to be appointed straight to the Honor Guard, but during the ceremony I...I must have fainted. My memory is blank from then until a few months ago, when I woke up in these very woods. My body was changed. Damaged."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
As you go down the stairs Khessa, you find the spears are gone, leaving behind what look like drainage holes, for if they chamber was ever to fill with water. The thud you heard appears to be the decaying body that was once impaled, is now laying on the ground, unmoving.
"I was the only graduate of the Academy to be appointed straight to the Honor Guard, but during the ceremony I...I must have fainted. My memory is blank from then until a few months ago, when I woke up in these very woods. My body was changed. Damaged."
Khessa comes back to her companions: "Hey guys! It seems the second button makes the spears disappear... Maybe it disabled the trap, or maybe it reset it. Anyway, now the body is available for inspection! We could drag it to us (from distance, maybe with a rope or something, in case the trap is reset) and examine it... Or do you prefer to try last button also?"
But then she hears Tristan's reply... and the tall warrior-mage starts speaking to him, her voice expressing heartfelt compassion: "Oh, so you do not know much more than us about this place, since you know how it was, not how it is now. And you don't even know what happened to you! If so, you haven't lived many years at all... you were just born many years ago, after which your life is as if it was interrupted... only to resume now. It is terrible! No more family, no more friends... You know?" her blue eyes are now veiled with sadness "I have lost my family... They have been enslaved during a drow raid. A ruthless raid during which my village was completely razed to the ground. One of my brothers was killed. The rest of the family enslaved. As well as I. They are lost to me, for now... And that already seemed terrible enough to me... But at least I nourish every day the hope of one day being able to find them again and free them. But you... you have been eradicated from your life." then, after some moment of silence "Oh, well, come on," the blonde arcane warrior puts her hand on his shoulder and tries to encourage him "if what happened to you happened here... maybe it can be fixed here, after all! We shall see, where if not here should we find a way to undo your curse? At least, we'll get you healed".
After the button was pushed, Hadi looks to Tristan hearing the story and says, "It is possible that you were in contact with my ancestors then. If this is true of course." Thinking to himself he adds, "There is also the mystery of how you came to rest for so long. Both things I'd love to talk to you about later. For now though let us focus on the task at hand. And if you remember anything that would be helpful in finding the urn, or staying safe down here, please do not keep it to yourself."
T’bitha is overwhelmed with the amount of information from Tristan and Hadi. ”I agree, Hadi. There is a lot to digest here. Let us talk about this later. Maybe when we set camp for the evening, wherever that may be. I’d like to know what is inside that sarcophagus, myself.”
She looks to Khessa, “I’m sorry to hear about your family. That must have been so traumatic for you. I understand, now, why the distrust towards me in the beginning. I assure you, I have severed all relations with Lloth and the Drow that live in the underdark. If there is a time where you need my assistance to help you reclaim your family, I am willing to help. For now, however, we ought to find this urn.”
T’bitha turns to Tristan and Dimitri, “My curiosity nearly got me into trouble. I am sorry about that. I have an insatiable urge to know more and I was naive when that…thing…spoke to me in my head. I apologize for putting myself and the group in any danger and will be more cautious next time.”
"Looks like the years are catching up to you." Dimitri commented wryly, observing behind Tristan. He was leaning on his cane, resting his leg, now he straightened up, walked towards the buttons to get a better look. "I wouldn't be surprised if you age seven thousand years in a year."Age was fair to everyone. And he thought, whatever Tristan knows was probably horribly out of date.
He turned to Khessa as she started to pour out her family history, her usual cheerful self gone, replaced by a sorrowful shadow. Oh, he's seen and heard his share of tragic stories all right. Back in the Quarter, dozen of men got torn to pieces every month. Fed to hogs for gambling debts. Stabbed from behind in a wrong turn into the alley. Hands chopped off for stealing. Trussed up and killed if you pissed off the wrong person. They weren't right, weren't fair, but that was what happened. In the end Kelemvor takes everyone. If he cared about every single suffering soul on earth he'd be mother Teresa reincarnate. Still, he figured Khessa was team. He should care. "You are going to get them back." He said to her, "And you are going to make them pay."
He nodded at T'bitha. Good thing was no one was hurt. "Let's keep going." He said.
...She looks to Khessa, “I’m sorry to hear about your family. That must have been so traumatic for you. I understand, now, why the distrust towards me in the beginning. I assure you, I have severed all relations with Lloth and the Drow that live in the underdark. If there is a time where you need my assistance to help you reclaim your family, I am willing to help...
"Oh, will you really help me?" Khessa's blue eyes sparkle with gratitude "I don't know how to thank you enough! I will need time, because first I will have to find out where they have taken my family. I managed to free myself before we reached our destination. But I will not forget your offer; your help will certainly be invaluable. And, after we are successful, I will be forever grateful to you!"
...He turned to Khessa as she started to pour out her family history, her usual cheerful self gone, replaced by a sorrowful shadow. Oh, he's seen and heard his share of tragic stories all right. Back in the Quarter, dozen of men got torn to pieces every month. Fed to hogs for gambling debts. Stabbed from behind in a wrong turn into the alley. Hands chopped off for stealing. Trussed up and killed if you pissed off the wrong person. They weren't right, weren't fair, but that was what happened. In the end Kelemvor takes everyone. If he cared about every single suffering soul on earth he'd be mother Teresa reincarnate. Still, he figured Khessa was team. He should care. "You are going to get them back." He said to her, "And you are going to make them pay."...
"Sure I'll get them back Dimitri! Thank you very much for your words" smiles brightly Khessa - she did not expect so much empathy from this man so... seemingly hardened by life. "And also sure I'll make them pay! In fact, some of them did already. The original owner of this, for example," she shows her spellbook - a black heavy tome with bizzare web-like decoration and arcane runes on the cover "was the wizard of the gang of slavers. And he did not part with it of his own free will! Nor he will ever be able to try getting it back. You know, it seems I took his breath away..." she winks "We were alone. He thought I was tied to the wrists. But he was wrong. I jumped on him before he even knew what was going on. And he has found that it is not easy to cast spells with a rope tightly tightened around the neck. It felt good! With time, the others will join him".
"Now," Khessa tries to focus again on the quest for the urn "we have either a corpse to examine, downstairs, or a third button to try... What we do first? We check the body? I might be able to drag it to us using my greatsword, without need to step on the trap..."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Khessa takes cover behind a column and agrees: "Works for me. Try the first one".
Khessa, as you give the go ahead, Hadi sends his mage hand to push the first button. As the button is pushed you all hear the sound of gears rotating, then you hear the sound of stone moving. As you look towards the source, you see a large marble plate sliding out from a wall, covering the staircase, hiding it from view.
"This one just blocks the way..." Khessa comments. "Let's remember this, it could be useful in case we have to stop pursuers. Would you like to press it again, Hadi?" she smiles to the elf "I hope it opens the way again".
As Hadi's mage hand pushes the first button again, the staircase once again becomes visible as the marble plate disappears into the wall.
"Great! So far, so good" states Khessa. "Let's try the second one then! Hadi, would you mind?"
"Definitely a good start," Hadi says. Then replies, "Before the second button though... I'd like to test something." He then again pushes the first button after seeing it pop back up into place. If it again moves the stairs as he expects he grins to himself and then directs his hand to push button 2.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
”Wait. What do you mean that you were among them? Who is them and how many more ‘trusted’ are there? Will that…thing come back?” T’bitha watches Hadi and Khessa mess with the buttons as she engages with Tristan.
Tristan sighs "I would have said nothing, but now that it is potentially important I cannot in good conscience withhold this secret from you." He admits. "My full name is Tristan Skedr. I was born nearly seven thousand years ago. To my knowledge I am the last surviving member of the A'yeth Taersi, and this forest was once my home."
After he finishes, he stands stoically, his face unreadable. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't believe me. I wouldn't believe me if I was told the same.
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Khessa lets go of the buttons for a moment and gasps, amazed: "Seven thousand years seems a long time, even for an elf. Is it because of your 'curse' that you managed to live so long? Or maybe... it was because of the urn we are looking for? Have you been in contact with it, long ago?" but the blonde arcane warrior then decides that simple curiosity can wait and she switches to a more important question "Or better, first things first: do you remember anything that can help us find the urn?"
In her blue eyes, skepticism and interest seem to struggle.
Not a story esay to believe. But not very much harder to believe than a plant with fruits full of blood. Or a guy who vaporizes and goes away if you take his head off. Plus, a liar could have found lots of more convincing lies... Let's hear if Tristan really knows something useful.
(ooc- T’bitha is curious if the name Tristan Skedr has any significance that she might know) History: 7
”Seven thousand years ago? T’bitha remarks incredulously. ”I- … That’s impossible! No wood elf lives seven thousand years. Seven hundred, maybe. What do you mean, then, by being the most trusted? Trusted to whom? Ambriel?
Hadi, you push the first button as many times as you wish, it continues to do what is expected, cover then uncover the staircase. You push the second button, and you all hear a clicking that goes on for a minute or so, followed by a heavy thud below.
While the conversation continues, T'bitha, you think on the name Skedr. You think you've seen it once or twice in a journal, but you can't remember what it was regarding.
Hearing the heavy thud below, Khessa, while waiting for Tristan to reply to her or T'bitha, quickly checks downstairs what happened.
"I am -was- a member of the the Queen's Honor Guard. I have never heard the name Ambriel before today, nor have I ever seen or did I know about the urn prior to this quest."
"I was the only graduate of the Academy to be appointed straight to the Honor Guard, but during the ceremony I...I must have fainted. My memory is blank from then until a few months ago, when I woke up in these very woods. My body was changed. Damaged."
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
As you go down the stairs Khessa, you find the spears are gone, leaving behind what look like drainage holes, for if they chamber was ever to fill with water. The thud you heard appears to be the decaying body that was once impaled, is now laying on the ground, unmoving.
Khessa comes back to her companions: "Hey guys! It seems the second button makes the spears disappear... Maybe it disabled the trap, or maybe it reset it. Anyway, now the body is available for inspection! We could drag it to us (from distance, maybe with a rope or something, in case the trap is reset) and examine it... Or do you prefer to try last button also?"
But then she hears Tristan's reply... and the tall warrior-mage starts speaking to him, her voice expressing heartfelt compassion: "Oh, so you do not know much more than us about this place, since you know how it was, not how it is now. And you don't even know what happened to you! If so, you haven't lived many years at all... you were just born many years ago, after which your life is as if it was interrupted... only to resume now. It is terrible! No more family, no more friends... You know?" her blue eyes are now veiled with sadness "I have lost my family... They have been enslaved during a drow raid. A ruthless raid during which my village was completely razed to the ground. One of my brothers was killed. The rest of the family enslaved. As well as I. They are lost to me, for now... And that already seemed terrible enough to me... But at least I nourish every day the hope of one day being able to find them again and free them. But you... you have been eradicated from your life." then, after some moment of silence "Oh, well, come on," the blonde arcane warrior puts her hand on his shoulder and tries to encourage him "if what happened to you happened here... maybe it can be fixed here, after all! We shall see, where if not here should we find a way to undo your curse? At least, we'll get you healed".
After the button was pushed, Hadi looks to Tristan hearing the story and says, "It is possible that you were in contact with my ancestors then. If this is true of course." Thinking to himself he adds, "There is also the mystery of how you came to rest for so long. Both things I'd love to talk to you about later. For now though let us focus on the task at hand. And if you remember anything that would be helpful in finding the urn, or staying safe down here, please do not keep it to yourself."
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
T’bitha is overwhelmed with the amount of information from Tristan and Hadi. ”I agree, Hadi. There is a lot to digest here. Let us talk about this later. Maybe when we set camp for the evening, wherever that may be. I’d like to know what is inside that sarcophagus, myself.”
She looks to Khessa, “I’m sorry to hear about your family. That must have been so traumatic for you. I understand, now, why the distrust towards me in the beginning. I assure you, I have severed all relations with Lloth and the Drow that live in the underdark. If there is a time where you need my assistance to help you reclaim your family, I am willing to help. For now, however, we ought to find this urn.”
T’bitha turns to Tristan and Dimitri, “My curiosity nearly got me into trouble. I am sorry about that. I have an insatiable urge to know more and I was naive when that…thing…spoke to me in my head. I apologize for putting myself and the group in any danger and will be more cautious next time.”
"Looks like the years are catching up to you." Dimitri commented wryly, observing behind Tristan. He was leaning on his cane, resting his leg, now he straightened up, walked towards the buttons to get a better look. "I wouldn't be surprised if you age seven thousand years in a year." Age was fair to everyone. And he thought, whatever Tristan knows was probably horribly out of date.
He turned to Khessa as she started to pour out her family history, her usual cheerful self gone, replaced by a sorrowful shadow. Oh, he's seen and heard his share of tragic stories all right. Back in the Quarter, dozen of men got torn to pieces every month. Fed to hogs for gambling debts. Stabbed from behind in a wrong turn into the alley. Hands chopped off for stealing. Trussed up and killed if you pissed off the wrong person. They weren't right, weren't fair, but that was what happened. In the end Kelemvor takes everyone. If he cared about every single suffering soul on earth he'd be mother Teresa reincarnate. Still, he figured Khessa was team. He should care. "You are going to get them back." He said to her, "And you are going to make them pay."
He nodded at T'bitha. Good thing was no one was hurt. "Let's keep going." He said.
"Oh, will you really help me?" Khessa's blue eyes sparkle with gratitude "I don't know how to thank you enough! I will need time, because first I will have to find out where they have taken my family. I managed to free myself before we reached our destination. But I will not forget your offer; your help will certainly be invaluable. And, after we are successful, I will be forever grateful to you!"
"Sure I'll get them back Dimitri! Thank you very much for your words" smiles brightly Khessa - she did not expect so much empathy from this man so... seemingly hardened by life. "And also sure I'll make them pay! In fact, some of them did already. The original owner of this, for example," she shows her spellbook - a black heavy tome with bizzare web-like decoration and arcane runes on the cover "was the wizard of the gang of slavers. And he did not part with it of his own free will! Nor he will ever be able to try getting it back. You know, it seems I took his breath away..." she winks "We were alone. He thought I was tied to the wrists. But he was wrong. I jumped on him before he even knew what was going on. And he has found that it is not easy to cast spells with a rope tightly tightened around the neck. It felt good! With time, the others will join him".
"Now," Khessa tries to focus again on the quest for the urn "we have either a corpse to examine, downstairs, or a third button to try... What we do first? We check the body? I might be able to drag it to us using my greatsword, without need to step on the trap..."