Gunryn takes the hit across the chest, and it rips into his armor. "A fine hit, but you won't be getting another in," the dwarf spits. He takes advantage of the sudden distraction provided by Comet and goes for a stab with the dagger, and then a slashing attack with the handaxe.
Comet zooms down and flaps her feathery wings in Coltra's face, pecking and scratching in order to awakening him, before flying off again into the air.
Ranlin watches as Gunryn sinks to his knees then falls dead. His body illuminated by the same blue light that ferried the others his body disappearing. The familiar above Coltra blinking out of existence as well. Then suddenly three figures appear in the arena they take Coltra's body before a dimension door appears which all three plus Coltra then disappear into the side of the arena!!
The arena then fills with a horn blast announcing the victor, Ranlin is king of the trials!! Appearing in the arena the red-masked woman approaches untying her mask to reveal elven features her ears tucked discreetly in her hair as the spell melts away a female Drow stands before you Ranlin, all your competitors beaten.
"What would the champion of the trials wish to do before he begins his work with us," she asks with the same jovial tone as in the tavern. "For once a life is given over to Medusa, that life is forever hers," the Drow adds grinning looking down at the halfling as a flicker of arcane magic dances in her large violet eyes.
Someone near the front row of the crowd shouts a reply, upon hearing the Ranlin's request, before the masked elf has a chance to answer, "She's outta your league shortstuff!"
"That most definitely can be arranged," The Drow replies, "you can call me Phadra," she replies leading Ranlin off the field to a hail of thunderous applause!!!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
After the trial, all the players save Ranlin awaken to a kindly looking gnome offering the consolatory prize of joining the Order on the gnome's terms. To some, the gnome appeared as a wise-looking elderly woman or man but their true appearance is unknown to all as a whole but always appeared alongside a towering half-orc named Tyburn. Each of you, in turn, join the Order where a bit of blood is taken from you which you freely give. After cleaning up and regaining all your hit points you are shown upstairs to the tavern you entered initially but the scene, however, is much different. The place is packed to the rafters with figures from the arena some are bare faced while some are still masked. The bartender and six different servers are hard at work. As you come from the panel you find the red-masked woman, the Drow Phaedra, is parading Ranlin whom she calls her champion. Ranlin is obviously a little drunk and from the looks of the tavern, the party has been going for quite awhile! Phaedra greets you all and welcomes you to a table that with a look the beautiful dark elf clears of her fellow members. You're not sure she's the boss but it seems she does have a rather large amount of influence! After a few rounds, she congratulates you on joining the Order. The night follows each of you gaining a room upstairs and the offer of a long rest well earned by the events of the previous day.
After resting for awhile you are then awakened from your bed, barely able to dress as you have a black hood placed over your head. You are then taken below the rooms before lead around for a short time before your descending again into a damp and cold place. When the hoods are removed the light hurts your eyes as you look around and find yourselves kneeling in a dark cramped room which reminds you of a temple surrounded by stone walls carved with the sigils of the Order all around you. The sigils mark the walls, ceiling, and even the floor you are knelt down on! Before you can ask any questions a booming voice, sourceless, fills the room as three cloaked and hood figures approach with Phaedra. The Drow is in ceremonial looking red robes and by her side, Ranlin stands already wearing the silken cloak. Phaedra grins at each of you as Ranlin approaches first holding a cloak as she speaks to each of you.
"As you give your life to the Order the Order gives your life meaning," Phaedra begins with a serious tone her grin vanished. "You accept this gift," she adds turning and gathering a black, silken looking cloak from Ranlin who hands her the cloak. "You will need it with the tasks to come," she adds relinquishing the cloak to you before moving to each of your party members and repeating the words as well as the gesture of the cloak that Ranlin supplies her with from the other hooded figures. "Rise and prove yourselves to be assets," she finishes.
After the cloaking ceremony, you are hooded again and taken back to your rooms and left to continue to sleep or....
Coltra looks around the room as he returns, his fingers lightly brushing against his lyre. Removing the cloak he inspects it carefully, noting again the symbol of the order. Brushing a spot of dust from it he hangs it up and moves to the window looking out onto the street below.
"Well Col, you didn't die, that's something and you were accepted into the Order. This was a good day." He takes off his armour and shirt then runs his fingers across the scars on his chest, one from a shortsword that he smiles ruefully at "I wasn't sure you had it in you Ranlin, well done I guess" he whispers, moving across to a longer, angrier scar caused by a hand axe "and you didn't make it did you Gunryn, so it looks like I won't have to pay you back for this".
Finally, his finger comes to rest above his heart where a small scar barely an inch wide rests. "I should be grateful that he put me to sleep though, I really didn't want to die again."
Blowing out the candle stub lighting the room he sinks down onto the bed, leaving his sword belt over the post nearest his head leaving the rapier easy to reach in a hurry and falls asleep in moments.
When Leo returns to his room he stands quietly for a moment looking hard at the insignia panel of his new cloak, slowly he brings it around his shoulders and pulls the hood up. Moving the the very centre of the room Leo begins to move slowly from stance to stance (think tai chi) to test his range of movement in the cloak, after 20 minutes or so he will sit in the centre of the room facing towards the door and meditate upon his new existence.
Leo waits there meditating until someone comes for him.
During the ceremony, except when Phaedra presents him with the cloak - which he graciously accepts - Lucian's intense gaze never wavers from Coltra. His look however is not one of hatred, rather one of scheming, likely looking for some way for some payback. Having been guided back to his room, he takes some time to sit on the edge of the bed in thought. One would think having gained entry into The Order a weight would have been lifted; his body language would indicate otherwise. Holding his medallion of Mystra in one hand and the other tracing the insignia of Medusa with a finger, he contemplates his abilities to serve two masters - not necessarily his deity, but his temple and this new organization.
He lays his head down on the pillow, but sleep does not come. He lies there for a few moments just staring at the ceiling of his room. He feels well rested, and though not particularly aware of the time, he decides to make his way back to the main hall of the bar for a drink and some food - in that order.
When the black hood is lifted and Dekket sees the sigils of the Order he smiles “Ah, you got me worried here. For a moment I thought I was beign abducted by the Baron’s daugthers... again... “
He, however, remains silent during the rest of the ceremony.
He will be at the common room, wearing his new cloack when the others wake up.
Phaedra sees the group off to sleep leaving Ranlin with a kiss on his forehead but no illusions she's not already with another, or two... Ranlin comes to realize he's being watched by another elf, woodland he thinks, as well as the half-orc Tyburn who lingers by Phaedra's right hand throughout the night.
5he next morning as the party reassembles in the tavern below the inn they find the same sparse appearance as before when they first arrived. Gone are the revellers from the induction ceremony and in their wake a tired looking barkeep and one sleepy eyed barmaid but no other patrons. Both the barkeep and the barmaid barely budge when you arrive one after the next. Lucian is the first to arrive downstairs to find the barkeep snoring in a chair by the dying fire then Dekket a close second as the morning sunrises...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Lucian sits at the bar awaiting the barkeep ti notice him. "Morning 'champ'," he says in congratulations to Ranlin. "Well I think membership should have its privileges." The cleric slides off his stool and quietly makes his way behind grabbing two mugs. He begins to pour a couple of ales for himself and Ranlin. Keeping his voice low as he pulls the handle on the tap, he thumbs in the direction of Dekket. "You know that guy? Looks like he's got a new cloak as well."
Wearing his new cloak with its hood down Leo moves quietly down the stairs, seeing the others he moves to the bar “well aren’t you a sorry lot, drinking this early in the morning” he says in jest “It’s good to see your well Lucian and you champion” be mock bows again in jest “how did you enjoy your prize?”
Leo takes a seat at the bar beside Lucian and slides a silver to the tired barmaid “for some breakfast and a little something for travel if you would be so kind” he smiles in the hopes of her good will.
Coltra saunters into the room, having taken no small amount of time on his appearance he is wearing his rapier but his armour is off, and he isn't wearing his new cloak either, a fresh white shirt open at the cuffs and well fitted black trousers with well cleaned dark brown leather boots with two strips of ribbon, one black and one white tied to his swordbelt completing the look
"Good morning gentlemen, may I congratulate you all, some of you are looking surprisingly well all things considered." He looks across at Lucien "it seems a bit cooler today, don't you think?" Turning to Ranlin he says "I didn't congratulate you last night, but well done. If it wasn't going to be me that won I'm glad it was you." He claps the halfling on the shoulder and pulls out his lyre from the soft case at his hip. As he plucks a few arpeggios in a fast and dramatic way he continues "Soon the bards will undoubtedly be singing of Ranlin the Deadly, a halfling both lethal and resourceful."
Coltra then settles down on a chair and begins to play his lyre, in accompaniment to his voice which sings quietly of heroes and adventure, well-known pieces of music that people in Talamh have passed down for many generations; although he plays quietly the lack of activity in the room means that everyone can still hear him.
“Indeed! Congratulations Brave Rainlin! Let me shake the hand of the victor!” Says Dekket when Coltra sits.
”Brave and Loyal I must say. Even knowing that at the end your alliance shall be broken you payed deaf ears to my suggestions. My respect. To that I drink!” He says raising his glass. The rest doesn’t know what he is drinking but it doesn’t seems milk.
“And to the rest of you who bravely fought. Be the next time we draw swords that we are on the same side!” And he drinks again.
”I doubt that the Order let us total freedom to do as we please with their fancy cloacks... probably the already have something in mind. “
"Ha, you are even braver than I thought my friend, but I shall not be the man to write a song to celebrate your romantic successes, I don't know if you noticed but our new friends and employers are a capable bunch, be careful what adventures you undertake, somebody else is always looking to take a rising star down."
Coltra stops playing and looks squarely at the halfling, tilting his head slightly to the side as if trying to read the diminutive thief.
"I get the idea that you thought I'd be holding a grudge against you, why? If it had been you and me left in the sand at the end, do you think I'd have thrown down my blade and begged them to spare us both? Be serious. But, I've been around long enough to suspect that more than one person survives each trial, we may not be the greatest of their assets, yet, but we have skills and the Order doesn't seem like they throw away things of value without a thought." He pauses, smiles and continues "Then again I suppose we can't ask Gunryn what he thinks about that..."
Ranlin's up
Gunryn's on deck.
OOC: Sorry no map. Please state your position. Still having tech issues.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
// My turn? //
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
Gunryn takes the hit across the chest, and it rips into his armor. "A fine hit, but you won't be getting another in," the dwarf spits. He takes advantage of the sudden distraction provided by Comet and goes for a stab with the dagger, and then a slashing attack with the handaxe.
Attack: 21 Damage: 5 piercing
Plus Sneak Attack: 5 piercing
Attack (bonus action): 16 Damage: 4
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
Comet zooms down and flaps her feathery wings in Coltra's face, pecking and scratching in order to awakening him, before flying off again into the air.
// Wake up dude! //
DM - Storm King's Thunder PbP | Yet Another Storm King's Thunder PbP
Current: Eogard Duramastar, Human Twilight Cleric/Star Druid | Eiren Lathrana, Shadar-Kai Eldritch Knight/Bladesinger | Arugula, Rabbitfolk Armorer
Survivor: CrispyDM's Saltmarsh as Syltra | SarcasticFury's Strahd as Hadrian Frozenspark | Forge of Fury as The DM
Coltra please make a perception roll DC your passive perception to wake up from the owl's attempts!
Ranlin's up!
Gunryn on deck!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Ranlin watches as Gunryn sinks to his knees then falls dead. His body illuminated by the same blue light that ferried the others his body disappearing. The familiar above Coltra blinking out of existence as well. Then suddenly three figures appear in the arena they take Coltra's body before a dimension door appears which all three plus Coltra then disappear into the side of the arena!!
The arena then fills with a horn blast announcing the victor, Ranlin is king of the trials!! Appearing in the arena the red-masked woman approaches untying her mask to reveal elven features her ears tucked discreetly in her hair as the spell melts away a female Drow stands before you Ranlin, all your competitors beaten.
"What would the champion of the trials wish to do before he begins his work with us," she asks with the same jovial tone as in the tavern. "For once a life is given over to Medusa, that life is forever hers," the Drow adds grinning looking down at the halfling as a flicker of arcane magic dances in her large violet eyes.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Someone near the front row of the crowd shouts a reply, upon hearing the Ranlin's request, before the masked elf has a chance to answer, "She's outta your league shortstuff!"
"That most definitely can be arranged," The Drow replies, "you can call me Phadra," she replies leading Ranlin off the field to a hail of thunderous applause!!!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
After the trial, all the players save Ranlin awaken to a kindly looking gnome offering the consolatory prize of joining the Order on the gnome's terms. To some, the gnome appeared as a wise-looking elderly woman or man but their true appearance is unknown to all as a whole but always appeared alongside a towering half-orc named Tyburn. Each of you, in turn, join the Order where a bit of blood is taken from you which you freely give. After cleaning up and regaining all your hit points you are shown upstairs to the tavern you entered initially but the scene, however, is much different. The place is packed to the rafters with figures from the arena some are bare faced while some are still masked. The bartender and six different servers are hard at work. As you come from the panel you find the red-masked woman, the Drow Phaedra, is parading Ranlin whom she calls her champion. Ranlin is obviously a little drunk and from the looks of the tavern, the party has been going for quite awhile! Phaedra greets you all and welcomes you to a table that with a look the beautiful dark elf clears of her fellow members. You're not sure she's the boss but it seems she does have a rather large amount of influence! After a few rounds, she congratulates you on joining the Order. The night follows each of you gaining a room upstairs and the offer of a long rest well earned by the events of the previous day.
After resting for awhile you are then awakened from your bed, barely able to dress as you have a black hood placed over your head. You are then taken below the rooms before lead around for a short time before your descending again into a damp and cold place. When the hoods are removed the light hurts your eyes as you look around and find yourselves kneeling in a dark cramped room which reminds you of a temple surrounded by stone walls carved with the sigils of the Order all around you. The sigils mark the walls, ceiling, and even the floor you are knelt down on! Before you can ask any questions a booming voice, sourceless, fills the room as three cloaked and hood figures approach with Phaedra. The Drow is in ceremonial looking red robes and by her side, Ranlin stands already wearing the silken cloak. Phaedra grins at each of you as Ranlin approaches first holding a cloak as she speaks to each of you.
"As you give your life to the Order the Order gives your life meaning," Phaedra begins with a serious tone her grin vanished. "You accept this gift," she adds turning and gathering a black, silken looking cloak from Ranlin who hands her the cloak. "You will need it with the tasks to come," she adds relinquishing the cloak to you before moving to each of your party members and repeating the words as well as the gesture of the cloak that Ranlin supplies her with from the other hooded figures. "Rise and prove yourselves to be assets," she finishes.
After the cloaking ceremony, you are hooded again and taken back to your rooms and left to continue to sleep or....
Post at will!!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Coltra looks around the room as he returns, his fingers lightly brushing against his lyre. Removing the cloak he inspects it carefully, noting again the symbol of the order. Brushing a spot of dust from it he hangs it up and moves to the window looking out onto the street below.
"Well Col, you didn't die, that's something and you were accepted into the Order. This was a good day." He takes off his armour and shirt then runs his fingers across the scars on his chest, one from a shortsword that he smiles ruefully at "I wasn't sure you had it in you Ranlin, well done I guess" he whispers, moving across to a longer, angrier scar caused by a hand axe "and you didn't make it did you Gunryn, so it looks like I won't have to pay you back for this".
Finally, his finger comes to rest above his heart where a small scar barely an inch wide rests. "I should be grateful that he put me to sleep though, I really didn't want to die again."
Blowing out the candle stub lighting the room he sinks down onto the bed, leaving his sword belt over the post nearest his head leaving the rapier easy to reach in a hurry and falls asleep in moments.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
When Leo returns to his room he stands quietly for a moment looking hard at the insignia panel of his new cloak, slowly he brings it around his shoulders and pulls the hood up. Moving the the very centre of the room Leo begins to move slowly from stance to stance (think tai chi) to test his range of movement in the cloak, after 20 minutes or so he will sit in the centre of the room facing towards the door and meditate upon his new existence.
Leo waits there meditating until someone comes for him.
During the ceremony, except when Phaedra presents him with the cloak - which he graciously accepts - Lucian's intense gaze never wavers from Coltra. His look however is not one of hatred, rather one of scheming, likely looking for some way for some payback. Having been guided back to his room, he takes some time to sit on the edge of the bed in thought. One would think having gained entry into The Order a weight would have been lifted; his body language would indicate otherwise. Holding his medallion of Mystra in one hand and the other tracing the insignia of Medusa with a finger, he contemplates his abilities to serve two masters - not necessarily his deity, but his temple and this new organization.
He lays his head down on the pillow, but sleep does not come. He lies there for a few moments just staring at the ceiling of his room. He feels well rested, and though not particularly aware of the time, he decides to make his way back to the main hall of the bar for a drink and some food - in that order.
When the black hood is lifted and Dekket sees the sigils of the Order he smiles “Ah, you got me worried here. For a moment I thought I was beign abducted by the Baron’s daugthers... again... “
He, however, remains silent during the rest of the ceremony.
He will be at the common room, wearing his new cloack when the others wake up.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Phaedra sees the group off to sleep leaving Ranlin with a kiss on his forehead but no illusions she's not already with another, or two... Ranlin comes to realize he's being watched by another elf, woodland he thinks, as well as the half-orc Tyburn who lingers by Phaedra's right hand throughout the night.
5he next morning as the party reassembles in the tavern below the inn they find the same sparse appearance as before when they first arrived. Gone are the revellers from the induction ceremony and in their wake a tired looking barkeep and one sleepy eyed barmaid but no other patrons. Both the barkeep and the barmaid barely budge when you arrive one after the next. Lucian is the first to arrive downstairs to find the barkeep snoring in a chair by the dying fire then Dekket a close second as the morning sunrises...
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Lucian sits at the bar awaiting the barkeep ti notice him. "Morning 'champ'," he says in congratulations to Ranlin. "Well I think membership should have its privileges." The cleric slides off his stool and quietly makes his way behind grabbing two mugs. He begins to pour a couple of ales for himself and Ranlin. Keeping his voice low as he pulls the handle on the tap, he thumbs in the direction of Dekket. "You know that guy? Looks like he's got a new cloak as well."
Wearing his new cloak with its hood down Leo moves quietly down the stairs, seeing the others he moves to the bar “well aren’t you a sorry lot, drinking this early in the morning” he says in jest “It’s good to see your well Lucian and you champion” be mock bows again in jest “how did you enjoy your prize?”
Leo takes a seat at the bar beside Lucian and slides a silver to the tired barmaid “for some breakfast and a little something for travel if you would be so kind” he smiles in the hopes of her good will.
Coltra saunters into the room, having taken no small amount of time on his appearance he is wearing his rapier but his armour is off, and he isn't wearing his new cloak either, a fresh white shirt open at the cuffs and well fitted black trousers with well cleaned dark brown leather boots with two strips of ribbon, one black and one white tied to his swordbelt completing the look
"Good morning gentlemen, may I congratulate you all, some of you are looking surprisingly well all things considered." He looks across at Lucien "it seems a bit cooler today, don't you think?" Turning to Ranlin he says "I didn't congratulate you last night, but well done. If it wasn't going to be me that won I'm glad it was you." He claps the halfling on the shoulder and pulls out his lyre from the soft case at his hip. As he plucks a few arpeggios in a fast and dramatic way he continues "Soon the bards will undoubtedly be singing of Ranlin the Deadly, a halfling both lethal and resourceful."
Coltra then settles down on a chair and begins to play his lyre, in accompaniment to his voice which sings quietly of heroes and adventure, well-known pieces of music that people in Talamh have passed down for many generations; although he plays quietly the lack of activity in the room means that everyone can still hear him.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
“Indeed! Congratulations Brave Rainlin! Let me shake the hand of the victor!” Says Dekket when Coltra sits.
”Brave and Loyal I must say. Even knowing that at the end your alliance shall be broken you payed deaf ears to my suggestions. My respect. To that I drink!” He says raising his glass. The rest doesn’t know what he is drinking but it doesn’t seems milk.
“And to the rest of you who bravely fought. Be the next time we draw swords that we are on the same side!” And he drinks again.
”I doubt that the Order let us total freedom to do as we please with their fancy cloacks... probably the already have something in mind. “
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Ha, you are even braver than I thought my friend, but I shall not be the man to write a song to celebrate your romantic successes, I don't know if you noticed but our new friends and employers are a capable bunch, be careful what adventures you undertake, somebody else is always looking to take a rising star down."
Coltra stops playing and looks squarely at the halfling, tilting his head slightly to the side as if trying to read the diminutive thief.
"I get the idea that you thought I'd be holding a grudge against you, why? If it had been you and me left in the sand at the end, do you think I'd have thrown down my blade and begged them to spare us both? Be serious. But, I've been around long enough to suspect that more than one person survives each trial, we may not be the greatest of their assets, yet, but we have skills and the Order doesn't seem like they throw away things of value without a thought." He pauses, smiles and continues "Then again I suppose we can't ask Gunryn what he thinks about that..."
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales