”I did say that, Khessa. Through a simple prayer to Eilistraee, she can provide me the vision to sense good and evil nearby. While there were no living things about that gave off any sort of evil intentions, I could tell that that ground was holy ground. Whatever or whomever planted that tree there has consecrated the land around it. We should avoid disturbing the tree any further lest something tragic befall us.”
"Problem is that we know not all gods are holy, are they." Dimitri cocked a meaningful eyebrow. Now they are standing among the ruins of the city, it seemed obvious. "Do we know which god the people of A'yeth Taersi prayed to?"
You're not sure how you learned this information, but you know A'yeth Taersi was the original elven city from the first age. Being such, all elven deities were worshiped to some degree, good ones more so than evil, but evil were likely still worshiped in the dark corners of the city, in the same way how evil deities worship dens can be found in Whiteridge.
For Weskeilian deities, this includes Chaebella, Goddess of the Wilds (who is barely in my Weskeilian Pantheon homebrewery), Elwin (who is brand new as of 30 minutes ago and isn't in the homebrewery yet), and Saelihn and Taegen (who were alive during the 1st era, but were killed during the 3rd era. Also not in homebrewery because they're dead powers. Their deaths are noted under Donnessos' homebrewery page)
I'll let you as the player decide if Dimitri enjoyed reading history books when he wasn't being a thief, or maybe he knew someone, or overheard it somewhere, or something else
Dimitri tapped his lip, thinking back. He remembered the time they conned an elven scholar who were passionate about ancient religious murals. They had forged a painting, hid it under a temple, and convinced him to hire them to steal it. That was a good time. Now the names and faces of those forgone deities were coming back to him. "There were Chaebella, Elwin, Saelihn and Taegen." The corner of his mouth quirked. "All gods are the same, if you ask me."
Khessa, like everyone else, notices the outcome of Eilistraee's cleric experiment with the globes of light and reflects aloud: "Regardless of the deity to whom that glade may be consecrated, we would do well to focus on the possible location of the crypt. Should we look to the left? Where the darkness isn't as strong? Or should we do the reverse, and look instead where the darkness is at ist peak?"
"If we have no idea" suggests the blonde arcane warrior after a while "maybe we could start from where the darkness is weaker - because we should be able to inspect the area faster and better".
”I did say that, Khessa. Through a simple prayer to Eilistraee, she can provide me the vision to sense good and evil nearby. While there were no living things about that gave off any sort of evil intentions, I could tell that that ground was holy ground. Whatever or whomever planted that tree there has consecrated the land around it. We should avoid disturbing the tree any further lest something tragic befall us.”
"Problem is that we know not all gods are holy, are they." Dimitri cocked a meaningful eyebrow. Now they are standing among the ruins of the city, it seemed obvious. "Do we know which god the people of A'yeth Taersi prayed to?"
”Oh, Dimitri. If you’d be so kind to allow me to enlighten you. I feel that you’re confusing holy with good. No, something that is holy means that ground was dedicated or consecrated to a God or a religious purpose. That ground is sacred to someone or something. It may not necessarily be consecrated to a God. It could be a burial ground that some cult has consecrated as well.”
T’bitha curiously notices that her one orb is slightly brighter than the rest and moves in that direction. ”What is going on over here, now? How curious.”
Having little luck with his own search, Hadi simply shrugs, now with a bit more pep in his step having calmed down, and follows T’bitha towards her brighter ground. Enjoying listening to the theological discussion, he adds to the comment of all gods being the same, "My family has gods to whom we worship of course, and to say they are all the same is dangerous. Though they can be hard to comprehend, there are those who meddle, and those who don't, in our affairs."With a shrug he adds, "I prefer to study what I can understand though, and, while the arcane may have some connection with the gods, much of it can be harnessed by anyone with the correct training."Finally, looking towards the glowing light says, "So... what have we here?"
Since already two party members seem inclined to examine the left zone first, Khessa joins them and tries to peer around and open her senses, looking for something that could justify the reduction of the 'veil effect' here or that may seem (or conceal) the entrance to a crypt.
As you all look around, Khessa, you notice it or rather hear it first, but shortly after everyone else does as well. Floating slowly in your direction, from the left where your glowing orb is, you spot a small, roughly 1 foot in diameter crystal orb, with yellow metals wrapped around it. On the top of it are metal horns, similar to those of a tiefling's. At the same time, Dimitri and Hadi, you both hear something moving towards you from the right. It's moving at a slow speed, but with the silence, you can hear every step it takes, and they appear to be getting closer.
Tristan
You recognize this thing moving towards the group. You've not actually seen one, because the very first of them were only being designed when you were originally alive, but they're sentinels. They were thought up and designed to guard the city streets of A'yeth Taersi. You're not sure what they're capable of, nor what their defense systems are like. The only reason you know about them, was because your father was hired to help design them on paper.
Stopping in his tracks Hadi looks over to Dimitri, his new companion, and seeing him also react to the sounds coming towards them from the right uncoils his whip and takes a step back ((left - away from the sound)), looking carefully towards the direction of the sounds.
As he heard steps approaching, Dimitri instinctively stepped into the shadows, crouched under the wall hiding himself from view. Then he met Hadi's big eyes, he winced and then pulled the elf not so gently behind the cover as well. He gave the others a gesture for "incoming", hoping they somewhat saw the situation on this side. He lit a lantern, though the light was still dim in the forest, and tried to risk a better look.
Tristan's already pale skin pales, going an almost deathly shade of white.
"Guys, we have company. It is a defender of the elven city, we are closer than we thought. Get ready for a fight."
Tristan looks for a good defensible spot for them to hold, and at the same time racks his brain for any memory of how they were controlled or deactivated Ironic that I have to fight something that once I would have fought beside. Something my father built.
History check: 20
(OOC: Not really sure what to roll, so I am giving you a History check. If that isn't correct, lmk)
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 he hears the warning from behind, and is pulled behind cover, Hadi quickly tries to see if he can tell what is coming towards them ((perception 18))
again, even rolls like this, feel free to roll for me and immediatly resolve just to keep things moving. me or you pushing the button makes no difference.
You all huddle down, in this ruined structure, waiting for these defenders of the city, as Tristan calls them. T'bitha takes a moment marking the defender you can all see now approaching. It now glows with a violet light. As you continue to sit and wait, the automaton continues moving closer and closer, until it's just at the exterior of this structure .. before it turns left and begins heading north paying no mind to any of you. Releasing a sigh of relief, Dimitri and Hadi, you suddenly remember there was another approaching from the opposite side, and its foot steps have gotten louder. You both turn to look and there is another of these automatons standing right on the other side of the wall you're currently taking cover under. With only a ruined stone wall standing between you, you see a dog-like automaton with glowing red eyes, an oblong crystal orb, similar to the floating one, with red metal wrapping around the crystal. It has a long metal tail, a row of spikes running down its back, and small pointed metal horns on its head, similar to a set of bull's horns. As you all take a look at it, the automaton huffs, and you all catch the smell of sulfur.
Tristan
Unfortunately, you're unsure. Your father was only hired to design the physical aspects of it, he wasn't part of the team that dealt with the magic aspect of them. You did once overhear them talking about the fact they were powered by an arcane battery, that is located in the center of them.
Tristan, you're the first to react! Go ahead and take your turn.
(OOC: As a rule of thumb, to help with combat and because this is theater of the mind, unless specifically stated, you will always have enough movement speed to reach an enemy and be capable of attacking it on the same turn. Even I suffer from the manipulated rolls tag. Attempting to re-order your scores on a fresh line caused issues, so the original rolls have been replaced with false versions of them. I'll have to double post going forward, when it comes to initiative, I think.)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stepping out in front of the group, Tristan raises his sword. His eyes shine like witchlights as he starts to speak in words of an ancient tongue, and as he does his sleeves around his forearms burn away revealing purple markings seared into his skin. One marking in particular glows, and as he finishes his chant an identical marking appears on the chest of the sentinel.
"In the center of it's chest is a battery, if we can destroy it, the creature may shut down."
He breathes out sharply, releasing a puff of purple energy, then charges, his saber crackling with energy . Ducking under the creatures head, he aims a jab straight for where its collarbone would be. Attack: 25 Damage: 8 + 2 (Hex) + 4 (Crimson rite). If the creature moves on their turn, they take another 1 Thunder damage (Booming blade)
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, you strike and land solidly where the base of its neck should be, dealing 20 points of damage to this automaton. It does not move, so unfortunately no movement damage, but instead, takes a much deeper inhale than the one it did when it originally huffed. As exhales, you all see a warm orange light begin to glow within its mouth as it spouts a 15-foot cone of fire, hitting Dimitri, Hadi, and Tristan, since you moved to attack it.
Rubystone Apex Sentinel Fire Breath: 26 fire damage vs DC 12 dexterity saving throw
Please add your dex save to your combat post, if you succeed, you will instead take half damage. Hadi, T'bitha, Khessa, and Dimitri you are welcome to take your turn!
Spoiler contains updated combat stats (feel free to peak!)
T’bitha looks to the orb that Tristan struck. Her lilac-colored hand twirls above her head, her index finger pointing into the air, before pointing to the orb. Seemingly a bell rings out, echoing all over with no pinpoint.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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"Problem is that we know not all gods are holy, are they." Dimitri cocked a meaningful eyebrow. Now they are standing among the ruins of the city, it seemed obvious. "Do we know which god the people of A'yeth Taersi prayed to?"
History: 23
Dimitri
You're not sure how you learned this information, but you know A'yeth Taersi was the original elven city from the first age. Being such, all elven deities were worshiped to some degree, good ones more so than evil, but evil were likely still worshiped in the dark corners of the city, in the same way how evil deities worship dens can be found in Whiteridge.
For Weskeilian deities, this includes Chaebella, Goddess of the Wilds (who is barely in my Weskeilian Pantheon homebrewery), Elwin (who is brand new as of 30 minutes ago and isn't in the homebrewery yet), and Saelihn and Taegen (who were alive during the 1st era, but were killed during the 3rd era. Also not in homebrewery because they're dead powers. Their deaths are noted under Donnessos' homebrewery page)
I'll let you as the player decide if Dimitri enjoyed reading history books when he wasn't being a thief, or maybe he knew someone, or overheard it somewhere, or something else
Dimitri tapped his lip, thinking back. He remembered the time they conned an elven scholar who were passionate about ancient religious murals. They had forged a painting, hid it under a temple, and convinced him to hire them to steal it. That was a good time. Now the names and faces of those forgone deities were coming back to him. "There were Chaebella, Elwin, Saelihn and Taegen." The corner of his mouth quirked. "All gods are the same, if you ask me."
Khessa, like everyone else, notices the outcome of Eilistraee's cleric experiment with the globes of light and reflects aloud: "Regardless of the deity to whom that glade may be consecrated, we would do well to focus on the possible location of the crypt. Should we look to the left? Where the darkness isn't as strong? Or should we do the reverse, and look instead where the darkness is at ist peak?"
"If we have no idea" suggests the blonde arcane warrior after a while "maybe we could start from where the darkness is weaker - because we should be able to inspect the area faster and better".
”Oh, Dimitri. If you’d be so kind to allow me to enlighten you. I feel that you’re confusing holy with good. No, something that is holy means that ground was dedicated or consecrated to a God or a religious purpose. That ground is sacred to someone or something. It may not necessarily be consecrated to a God. It could be a burial ground that some cult has consecrated as well.”
T’bitha curiously notices that her one orb is slightly brighter than the rest and moves in that direction. ”What is going on over here, now? How curious.”
Having little luck with his own search, Hadi simply shrugs, now with a bit more pep in his step having calmed down, and follows T’bitha towards her brighter ground. Enjoying listening to the theological discussion, he adds to the comment of all gods being the same, "My family has gods to whom we worship of course, and to say they are all the same is dangerous. Though they can be hard to comprehend, there are those who meddle, and those who don't, in our affairs." With a shrug he adds, "I prefer to study what I can understand though, and, while the arcane may have some connection with the gods, much of it can be harnessed by anyone with the correct training." Finally, looking towards the glowing light says, "So... what have we here?"
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Since already two party members seem inclined to examine the left zone first, Khessa joins them and tries to peer around and open her senses, looking for something that could justify the reduction of the 'veil effect' here or that may seem (or conceal) the entrance to a crypt.
Perception: 19
As you all look around, Khessa, you notice it or rather hear it first, but shortly after everyone else does as well. Floating slowly in your direction, from the left where your glowing orb is, you spot a small, roughly 1 foot in diameter crystal orb, with yellow metals wrapped around it. On the top of it are metal horns, similar to those of a tiefling's. At the same time, Dimitri and Hadi, you both hear something moving towards you from the right. It's moving at a slow speed, but with the silence, you can hear every step it takes, and they appear to be getting closer.
Tristan
You recognize this thing moving towards the group. You've not actually seen one, because the very first of them were only being designed when you were originally alive, but they're sentinels. They were thought up and designed to guard the city streets of A'yeth Taersi. You're not sure what they're capable of, nor what their defense systems are like. The only reason you know about them, was because your father was hired to help design them on paper.
Stopping in his tracks Hadi looks over to Dimitri, his new companion, and seeing him also react to the sounds coming towards them from the right uncoils his whip and takes a step back ((left - away from the sound)), looking carefully towards the direction of the sounds.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Hadi, give me a perception check as you prepare to spot whatever is slowly moving your direction.
As he heard steps approaching, Dimitri instinctively stepped into the shadows, crouched under the wall hiding himself from view. Then he met Hadi's big eyes, he winced and then pulled the elf not so gently behind the cover as well. He gave the others a gesture for "incoming", hoping they somewhat saw the situation on this side. He lit a lantern, though the light was still dim in the forest, and tried to risk a better look.
Stealth: 13
Perception: 6
Tristan's already pale skin pales, going an almost deathly shade of white.
"Guys, we have company. It is a defender of the elven city, we are closer than we thought. Get ready for a fight."
Tristan looks for a good defensible spot for them to hold, and at the same time racks his brain for any memory of how they were controlled or deactivated Ironic that I have to fight something that once I would have fought beside. Something my father built.
History check: 20
(OOC: Not really sure what to roll, so I am giving you a History check. If that isn't correct, lmk)
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
As he hears the warning from behind, and is pulled behind cover, Hadi quickly tries to see if he can tell what is coming towards them ((perception 18))
again, even rolls like this, feel free to roll for me and immediatly resolve just to keep things moving. me or you pushing the button makes no difference.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
”Eilistraee, help us mark our enemy so our strikes aim true.”
The dimunitive Drow unsheathes her sword and readies herself as anything within a 20 foot radius in front of the orb becomes awash in violet light.
You all huddle down, in this ruined structure, waiting for these defenders of the city, as Tristan calls them. T'bitha takes a moment marking the defender you can all see now approaching. It now glows with a violet light. As you continue to sit and wait, the automaton continues moving closer and closer, until it's just at the exterior of this structure .. before it turns left and begins heading north paying no mind to any of you. Releasing a sigh of relief, Dimitri and Hadi, you suddenly remember there was another approaching from the opposite side, and its foot steps have gotten louder. You both turn to look and there is another of these automatons standing right on the other side of the wall you're currently taking cover under. With only a ruined stone wall standing between you, you see a dog-like automaton with glowing red eyes, an oblong crystal orb, similar to the floating one, with red metal wrapping around the crystal. It has a long metal tail, a row of spikes running down its back, and small pointed metal horns on its head, similar to a set of bull's horns. As you all take a look at it, the automaton huffs, and you all catch the smell of sulfur.
Tristan
Unfortunately, you're unsure. Your father was only hired to design the physical aspects of it, he wasn't part of the team that dealt with the magic aspect of them. You did once overhear them talking about the fact they were powered by an arcane battery, that is located in the center of them.
24 Tristan (27/31)
18 Rubystone Apex Sentinel (0/??)
17 Hadi (23/23) (mage armor AC 16)
16 T'bitha (24/24)
15 Khessa (32/32)
15 Dimitri (27/27) (mage armor AC 17)
9 Topazstone Warden Sentinel (0/??) (faerie fire 0/10 rounds)
Tristan, you're the first to react! Go ahead and take your turn.
(OOC: As a rule of thumb, to help with combat and because this is theater of the mind, unless specifically stated, you will always have enough movement speed to reach an enemy and be capable of attacking it on the same turn. Even I suffer from the manipulated rolls tag. Attempting to re-order your scores on a fresh line caused issues, so the original rolls have been replaced with false versions of them. I'll have to double post going forward, when it comes to initiative, I think.)
Stepping out in front of the group, Tristan raises his sword. His eyes shine like witchlights as he starts to speak in words of an ancient tongue, and as he does his sleeves around his forearms burn away revealing purple markings seared into his skin. One marking in particular glows, and as he finishes his chant an identical marking appears on the chest of the sentinel.
"In the center of it's chest is a battery, if we can destroy it, the creature may shut down."
He breathes out sharply, releasing a puff of purple energy, then charges, his saber crackling with energy . Ducking under the creatures head, he aims a jab straight for where its collarbone would be.
Attack: 25 Damage: 8 + 2 (Hex) + 4 (Crimson rite).
If the creature moves on their turn, they take another 1 Thunder damage (Booming blade)
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
Tristan, you strike and land solidly where the base of its neck should be, dealing 20 points of damage to this automaton. It does not move, so unfortunately no movement damage, but instead, takes a much deeper inhale than the one it did when it originally huffed. As exhales, you all see a warm orange light begin to glow within its mouth as it spouts a 15-foot cone of fire, hitting Dimitri, Hadi, and Tristan, since you moved to attack it.
Rubystone Apex Sentinel Fire Breath: 26 fire damage vs DC 12 dexterity saving throw
Please add your dex save to your combat post, if you succeed, you will instead take half damage. Hadi, T'bitha, Khessa, and Dimitri you are welcome to take your turn!
Spoiler contains updated combat stats (feel free to peak!)
24 Tristan (27/31)
18 Rubystone Apex Sentinel (20/??)
17 Hadi (23/23) (mage armor AC 16)
16 T'bitha (24/24)
15 Khessa (32/32)
15 Dimitri (27/27) (mage armor AC 17)
9 Topazstone Warden Sentinel (0/??) (faerie fire 0/10 rounds)
Dex save 21
“I will take responsibility for what I have done. [...] If must fall, I will rise each time a better man.” ― Brandon Sanderson, Oathbringer.
T’bitha looks to the orb that Tristan struck. Her lilac-colored hand twirls above her head, her index finger pointing into the air, before pointing to the orb. Seemingly a bell rings out, echoing all over with no pinpoint.