Mina stands with her friends, trying to understand what she just saw at the Farm, was that real? Was Cephas really gone? How could they even attempt to help them here? As Tamryn starts in with the dwarves, she listens intently and wonders that maybe the dwarves would know the way back to the Farm? "Do any of you know how to get to the Farm from here? They are all in real trouble."
Five of the dwarves remain motionless, but their eyes turn towards the sixth. He is slightly taller than the others, more grizzled, and has the air of leadership about him. His long hair and beard are black, and there are silver bands with crescent moons on them woven into his beard. He is silent, his gaze moving back and forth over your party, but after a moment he makes a gesture with one hand and the other five immediately begin fastening on pieces of armor and preparing to move out.
The taller dwarf continues to contemplate you in silence for what seems to be an eternity but in reality is probably less than thirty seconds. His gravelly voice then simply says, "Bad weather is coming." He looks like he expects a response.
Jhaartael raises an eyebrow, thinking "Is this some sort of sign/countersign we have not yet been taught? No help for it now."
Then, stepping forward to the taller dwarf, he says, "Master Dwarf, we are those who wait in the shadows like an army in the night. Yet like lightning, we bring clarity when we strike. Let us join you. Where can we help?"
(Assuming he gets that response (see first post in the OOC PM thread)) The dwarf relaxes slightly, and says, "I am Nicco Feldspar, or just Spar, Leader of Team Two in this city, which is called Amn*. You bring ill tidings. We do not know the location of the Farm where you were training... our own initiation took place elsewhere. However, if one of you can remember the sigils that were on the teleportation circle there, we might be able to reach them. If none of you remember, one of my men, Duncan, has some skill with psi powers, and may be able to help you retreive the memory, if you are willing.
"Ordinarily I am loathe to disobey direct orders, but if the Circle were to lose Aldara and Breezy, it would be a massive blow to both our operational capacity and to morale. Especially if it is true that Cephas is dead."
Arcana check DC 16 to remember sigils
"Tell me, which one of you is the leader, the talkative one? or the silent one? I have never understood elves... Well whoever, please come and tell me the highest security clearance you have received so I know what more I can share with you."
*(retcon: the city is actually Athkatla, the nation where it is situated is called Amn).
Akyan looks a bit interested when Duncan mentions that one of the dwarves has psi powers. When the dwarf asks about who their leader is, he has to think for a moment. Who is their leader? As far as he knew, they hadn't named any of them leader, so he remains silent.
(OOC: I don't remember if security clearance was ever brought up, was it?)
Kyrsa steps forward, Aldara's voice sounding clearly in her head. She doesn't address the fact that no one has officially taken on a leadership role, but instead relays whatever information is necessary to the dwarf.
Once finished with that she adds, "Ordinarily I would be absolutely against disobeying orders, but this is a dire situation. With both of our forces combined, as well as whomever else may be here with you, we may have a chance at being a help instead of a liability. I am willing to take whatever punishment they would administer for disobeying orders if it means we are able to save lives by doing so."
"Hmm," mutters Spar, "It is still very early in your training if you have not received any clearances. I imagine Aldara sent you here to protect you, given her experience with her former team. Well, if you are willing to let Duncan look into your memories, my team will go to the Farm and assess the situation and help where we can. My advice to you is for you to remain here and recover, because the lives Aldara wanted you to save are your own, but if you are determined to go with us, I will not stop you, though she will likely be quite upset with me."
Spar concentrates for a moment, and one of the other dwarves trots back into the room. He is on the short side for a dwarf, not quite four feet in stature, and his skin is the color of polished mahoganywood, his beard black as night. His eyes are bright and violetin color. He and Spar look at each other for a moment, and then the newcomer introduces himself as "Duncan." The dwarf is clearly a warrior, wearing a fitted breastplate, several small blades, and a battleaxe on his back.
While he looks you over once more he says, "I will only search the memories of someone who is willing; it is very traumatic otherwise. I sense that one of you has some skill in the psychic realm as well. If that person is willing to let down their defenses, he or she might be the easiest subject, again, only voluntarily though."
Akyan stiffens when Spar mentions sensing his skill. How is he able to do that? He looks at the others, then looks back at the dwarf. He doesn't really want anyone searching through his memories, there is a lot there that he doesn't want anyone to know about, and that he doesn't want to remember. But if he can help the Circle of Light... Swallowing, he says, "As long as you don't dig to deep, I'll allow it."
"I do not wish to disobey orders," Kyrsa says. "However, perhaps after you glimpse our memories you can better assess whether or not it would be beneficial for us to aid you."
She puts a hand on Akyan's shoulder, aware that he is touchy about his privacy, "If you do not wish to share your memories, I will allow him to look at mine instead."
Duncan nods."I understand your hesitancy. I won't go any further than necessary. It's actually more traumatic for me than it is for you, as afterwards I have to sort out which memories are yours and which are mine. But if it can save the Circle..."
Duncan has Akyan sit on a cushion on the floor, and the dwarf stands behind him, placing his hands palms-down on Akyan's head. He asks the elf to picture in his mind where they were just before the teleport to the Farm, and to hold on to that image.
"You will feel my mind joining yours in the memory. The natural reaction will be to throw up a mental wall and keep me out. Try to stay calm, and keep the barrier down. It may start to feel like a nightmare, one of those where you have no control over your own body. I promise, I will get out as soon as I have the information."
For Akyan:
Akyan closes his eyes, and brings up what memory he can of the abandoned building, bidding farewell to Tymothy, and the beginning of the teleport. He feels the psychic presence of Duncan nearby, and then feels him start to push his way into Akyan's thoughts. Overcoming his instincts, Akyan remains calm as Duncan looks around in the memory, and then starts to move forward in time. He senses a sort of mental gasp as Duncan witnesses their arrival at the Farm, the violence, the flames, Aldara's desperation, and the fire-breathing shapes in the dark sky. The dwarf's mind tries to turn the view to look at the circle, but Akyan was too preoccupied at the time, and the sigils are not visible. He hears Duncan whisper telepathically, 'I'm sorry, I'll have to go further back'.
Akyan's mind begins to whirl as the memories are rolled back to an earlier time, and he feels nauseated as the images rush through his consciousness one after another in rapid succession. The vision pauses from time to time as Duncan tries to orient himself, not really understanding what was happening at Donegall's mansion as he is seeing it in reverse order. He finally manages to rewind time to the point where the team originally gathered at the teleport circle before leaving the Farm to help Tymothy. He freezes the memory there, and is able to get a clear picture of the sigils emblazoned in the mystic ring. After a few seconds, the memories restart in forward motion, and speed by, until Akyan finally returns to the present. He feels Duncan's mind withdraw from his, and he crumbles to the ground, unable to escape the feeling that something very unnatural has just happened to him.
The process takes about five minutes, and when Duncan finally removes his hands from the elf's head, Akyan slumps to the ground, conscious but weak.
"I have the sigils," the dwarf says to Spar out loud.
The captain of Team 2 then turns to the party and says, "We leave in 3 minutes. Will you be joining us?"
Kyrsa watches quietly as Akyan allows Duncan to access his memories. She can tell that it is difficult for Akyan to allow someone into his mind. It was admirable of him to do so anyways, even after she had offered to do it instead. She had to admit, she was rather glad that he had not accepted her offer.
When the drow slumps to the ground, she kneels down next to him and offers him some support, "Are you alright?"
Akyan looks a bit uncomfortable at the start of this process, but complies nonetheless.
Once the process is complete, he just stays there on his hands and knees shaking. "That wasn't so bad," He tells himself, "He only looked at what he needed to. I still did not like that though." Even after reassuring himself that everything is fine, he still can't find the strength to stand. Instead he just stays on the floor.
Turning to the captain Kyrsa says, "If you think we can help, I am willing to do so. Though we are currently unarmed, so we would need some gear." She looks back at her comrades, "What say the rest of you? Tamryn, I know that you wanted to go back, but this is not a decision to take lightly. Aldara and Breezy both told us not to return to the Farm, and doing so could worsen the situation."
"Lass," Spar replies, "I really don't know what we're going to find there. It could be that the battle is already over. It's been not quite ten minutes since ye arrived, but a lot can happen on a battlefield in ten minutes. If what ye saw were dragons, this is going to be an evacuation mission, or a search and rescue rather than a pitched battle. Aye, ye might help, but ye might also materialize right in the middle of a great wyrm's breath of flame, and to be honest, I'm not sure what that would do to Aldara, to lose another team of her kin. Last time came damned near to breaking her forever. There is no dishonor in living to fight another day, and there is no honor in throwing your lives away pointlessly. I cannot advise ye, except to say, follow your heart. But decide quickly!"
"Rigel!" the captain shouts, "show them to the armory if they wish to gear up!" He then trots off to don the remainder of his armor and prepare to leave.
A male dwarf dressed in furs and skins, with a shaved head and a red beard down to his belly runs in. His bronze skin ripples with muscles. His countenance is friendly, but does not convey great intelligence. His accent is so thick it is barely understandable.
"Weppa ye be wantin', coom, coom' n' see. Foller Rigel, yeppa, foller!"
(If any of you took armor or weapons from Loris' stash, you do have those with you.)
Mina stands with her friends, trying to understand what she just saw at the Farm, was that real? Was Cephas really gone? How could they even attempt to help them here? As Tamryn starts in with the dwarves, she listens intently and wonders that maybe the dwarves would know the way back to the Farm? "Do any of you know how to get to the Farm from here? They are all in real trouble."
Five of the dwarves remain motionless, but their eyes turn towards the sixth. He is slightly taller than the others, more grizzled, and has the air of leadership about him. His long hair and beard are black, and there are silver bands with crescent moons on them woven into his beard. He is silent, his gaze moving back and forth over your party, but after a moment he makes a gesture with one hand and the other five immediately begin fastening on pieces of armor and preparing to move out.
The taller dwarf continues to contemplate you in silence for what seems to be an eternity but in reality is probably less than thirty seconds. His gravelly voice then simply says, "Bad weather is coming." He looks like he expects a response.
Jhaartael raises an eyebrow, thinking "Is this some sort of sign/countersign we have not yet been taught? No help for it now."
Then, stepping forward to the taller dwarf, he says, "Master Dwarf, we are those who wait in the shadows like an army in the night. Yet like lightning, we bring clarity when we strike. Let us join you. Where can we help?"
Eryndor - Red Dead Annihilation | GM - Volo's Trade Franchise - PF2e Adventures set in the Forgotten Realms
(Assuming he gets that response (see first post in the OOC PM thread)) The dwarf relaxes slightly, and says, "I am Nicco Feldspar, or just Spar, Leader of Team Two in this city, which is called Amn*. You bring ill tidings. We do not know the location of the Farm where you were training... our own initiation took place elsewhere. However, if one of you can remember the sigils that were on the teleportation circle there, we might be able to reach them. If none of you remember, one of my men, Duncan, has some skill with psi powers, and may be able to help you retreive the memory, if you are willing.
"Ordinarily I am loathe to disobey direct orders, but if the Circle were to lose Aldara and Breezy, it would be a massive blow to both our operational capacity and to morale. Especially if it is true that Cephas is dead."
Arcana check DC 16 to remember sigils
"Tell me, which one of you is the leader, the talkative one? or the silent one? I have never understood elves... Well whoever, please come and tell me the highest security clearance you have received so I know what more I can share with you."
*(retcon: the city is actually Athkatla, the nation where it is situated is called Amn).
"All is peaceful after a storm."
Akyan looks a bit interested when Duncan mentions that one of the dwarves has psi powers. When the dwarf asks about who their leader is, he has to think for a moment. Who is their leader? As far as he knew, they hadn't named any of them leader, so he remains silent.
Arcana: 6
(Well Akyan remembers nothing lol)
(OOC: I don't remember if security clearance was ever brought up, was it?)
Kyrsa steps forward, Aldara's voice sounding clearly in her head. She doesn't address the fact that no one has officially taken on a leadership role, but instead relays whatever information is necessary to the dwarf.
Once finished with that she adds, "Ordinarily I would be absolutely against disobeying orders, but this is a dire situation. With both of our forces combined, as well as whomever else may be here with you, we may have a chance at being a help instead of a liability. I am willing to take whatever punishment they would administer for disobeying orders if it means we are able to save lives by doing so."
Jhaartael focuses his thoughts to try to remember the sigils:
Arcana: 24
.. but strain as he might, the images of the battle seems to block any such details.
(Ack it was a 9 originally)
Eryndor - Red Dead Annihilation | GM - Volo's Trade Franchise - PF2e Adventures set in the Forgotten Realms
"Hmm," mutters Spar, "It is still very early in your training if you have not received any clearances. I imagine Aldara sent you here to protect you, given her experience with her former team. Well, if you are willing to let Duncan look into your memories, my team will go to the Farm and assess the situation and help where we can. My advice to you is for you to remain here and recover, because the lives Aldara wanted you to save are your own, but if you are determined to go with us, I will not stop you, though she will likely be quite upset with me."
Spar concentrates for a moment, and one of the other dwarves trots back into the room. He is on the short side for a dwarf, not quite four feet in stature, and his skin is the color of polished mahogany wood, his beard black as night. His eyes are bright and violet in color. He and Spar look at each other for a moment, and then the newcomer introduces himself as "Duncan." The dwarf is clearly a warrior, wearing a fitted breastplate, several small blades, and a battleaxe on his back.
While he looks you over once more he says, "I will only search the memories of someone who is willing; it is very traumatic otherwise. I sense that one of you has some skill in the psychic realm as well. If that person is willing to let down their defenses, he or she might be the easiest subject, again, only voluntarily though."
Akyan stiffens when Spar mentions sensing his skill. How is he able to do that? He looks at the others, then looks back at the dwarf. He doesn't really want anyone searching through his memories, there is a lot there that he doesn't want anyone to know about, and that he doesn't want to remember. But if he can help the Circle of Light... Swallowing, he says, "As long as you don't dig to deep, I'll allow it."
"I do not wish to disobey orders," Kyrsa says. "However, perhaps after you glimpse our memories you can better assess whether or not it would be beneficial for us to aid you."
She puts a hand on Akyan's shoulder, aware that he is touchy about his privacy, "If you do not wish to share your memories, I will allow him to look at mine instead."
Duncan nods. "I understand your hesitancy. I won't go any further than necessary. It's actually more traumatic for me than it is for you, as afterwards I have to sort out which memories are yours and which are mine. But if it can save the Circle..."
Akyan pushes Kyrsa’s hand off his shoulder, then says, “It’s alright.” Then turns to Spar, “Is there anything specific that you need me to do?”
Duncan has Akyan sit on a cushion on the floor, and the dwarf stands behind him, placing his hands palms-down on Akyan's head. He asks the elf to picture in his mind where they were just before the teleport to the Farm, and to hold on to that image.
"You will feel my mind joining yours in the memory. The natural reaction will be to throw up a mental wall and keep me out. Try to stay calm, and keep the barrier down. It may start to feel like a nightmare, one of those where you have no control over your own body. I promise, I will get out as soon as I have the information."
For Akyan:
Akyan closes his eyes, and brings up what memory he can of the abandoned building, bidding farewell to Tymothy, and the beginning of the teleport. He feels the psychic presence of Duncan nearby, and then feels him start to push his way into Akyan's thoughts. Overcoming his instincts, Akyan remains calm as Duncan looks around in the memory, and then starts to move forward in time. He senses a sort of mental gasp as Duncan witnesses their arrival at the Farm, the violence, the flames, Aldara's desperation, and the fire-breathing shapes in the dark sky. The dwarf's mind tries to turn the view to look at the circle, but Akyan was too preoccupied at the time, and the sigils are not visible. He hears Duncan whisper telepathically, 'I'm sorry, I'll have to go further back'.
Akyan's mind begins to whirl as the memories are rolled back to an earlier time, and he feels nauseated as the images rush through his consciousness one after another in rapid succession. The vision pauses from time to time as Duncan tries to orient himself, not really understanding what was happening at Donegall's mansion as he is seeing it in reverse order. He finally manages to rewind time to the point where the team originally gathered at the teleport circle before leaving the Farm to help Tymothy. He freezes the memory there, and is able to get a clear picture of the sigils emblazoned in the mystic ring. After a few seconds, the memories restart in forward motion, and speed by, until Akyan finally returns to the present. He feels Duncan's mind withdraw from his, and he crumbles to the ground, unable to escape the feeling that something very unnatural has just happened to him.
The process takes about five minutes, and when Duncan finally removes his hands from the elf's head, Akyan slumps to the ground, conscious but weak.
"I have the sigils," the dwarf says to Spar out loud.
The captain of Team 2 then turns to the party and says, "We leave in 3 minutes. Will you be joining us?"
Kyrsa watches quietly as Akyan allows Duncan to access his memories. She can tell that it is difficult for Akyan to allow someone into his mind. It was admirable of him to do so anyways, even after she had offered to do it instead. She had to admit, she was rather glad that he had not accepted her offer.
When the drow slumps to the ground, she kneels down next to him and offers him some support, "Are you alright?"
Akyan looks a bit uncomfortable at the start of this process, but complies nonetheless.
Once the process is complete, he just stays there on his hands and knees shaking. "That wasn't so bad," He tells himself, "He only looked at what he needed to. I still did not like that though." Even after reassuring himself that everything is fine, he still can't find the strength to stand. Instead he just stays on the floor.
Turning to the captain Kyrsa says, "If you think we can help, I am willing to do so. Though we are currently unarmed, so we would need some gear." She looks back at her comrades, "What say the rest of you? Tamryn, I know that you wanted to go back, but this is not a decision to take lightly. Aldara and Breezy both told us not to return to the Farm, and doing so could worsen the situation."
"Lass," Spar replies, "I really don't know what we're going to find there. It could be that the battle is already over. It's been not quite ten minutes since ye arrived, but a lot can happen on a battlefield in ten minutes. If what ye saw were dragons, this is going to be an evacuation mission, or a search and rescue rather than a pitched battle. Aye, ye might help, but ye might also materialize right in the middle of a great wyrm's breath of flame, and to be honest, I'm not sure what that would do to Aldara, to lose another team of her kin. Last time came damned near to breaking her forever. There is no dishonor in living to fight another day, and there is no honor in throwing your lives away pointlessly. I cannot advise ye, except to say, follow your heart. But decide quickly!"
"Rigel!" the captain shouts, "show them to the armory if they wish to gear up!" He then trots off to don the remainder of his armor and prepare to leave.
A male dwarf dressed in furs and skins, with a shaved head and a red beard down to his belly runs in. His bronze skin ripples with muscles. His countenance is friendly, but does not convey great intelligence. His accent is so thick it is barely understandable.
"Weppa ye be wantin', coom, coom' n' see. Foller Rigel, yeppa, foller!"
(If any of you took armor or weapons from Loris' stash, you do have those with you.)
Jhaartael nods and follow 'Rigel' to see if the armory has a shortsword and a dagger that he can use.
Eryndor - Red Dead Annihilation | GM - Volo's Trade Franchise - PF2e Adventures set in the Forgotten Realms