Argyle shot Hotspur an annoyed glance. "I smile plenty," he retorted, adding "when it's appropriate," under his breath.
Just then he heard the squirrel, and watched it try to dart away. "Hey, bard," he continued, not even wanting to name his companion, "don't you have some sort of magic to catch that thing?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Watching the unusual squirrel scamper away, Hotspur calls after it with a devastating thespian insult: "Your audience walked out after the first scene!"(vicious mockery, DC 15 WIS Save or 4 psychic damage and DA on next attack roll)
Watching the unusual squirrel scamper away, Hotspur calls after it with a devastating thespian insult: "Your audience walked out after the first scene!"(vicious mockery, DC 15 WIS Save or 4 psychic damage and DA on next attack roll)
The squirrels head whips around and its brow furrows, distracted it mis-times its leap and falls to the ground with a slight wet snapping sound as it hits a tree root and lies still.
After a few moments there was a puff of grey smoke and the dead squirrel was replaced by a wrinkly grey humanoid with a crinkled face and sallow cheeks about 4 feet tall with bright ginger eyebrows and tufts of hair on his pointed ears.
He rubbed his back gingerly and looked around at the companions in fear and panic.
“Please don’t hurt Erkiss! He only does his mistress’s bidding! Do this, Erkiss! Do that, Erkiss! Throw open the doors, Erkiss! See off these humans! A favour I’ll grant you, yes? A goblin boon? When the time is right, Erkiss will help you…”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Although immediately looking horrified as the squirrel hits the ground with a sickening crack, Tana blinks in mild shock as the tiny animal's body shifts into something new.
Tana approaches cautiously, "I spoke with that creature earlier." She says quietly to Hotspur, nodding in Erkiss' direction.
She steps up closer to the former squirrel, being sure to draw herself to her full height so as to tower over the humanoid, and speaks directly into his mind once again. 'Don't try to scamper off this time, I can assure you it won't end well for you. Your mistress,'Tana looks off into the still misty distance. 'Why don't you tell us a little about her? Perhaps my companions will consider sparing you.'
Hotspur looks at Tana quizzically, as she approaches the goblin, straightening up regally, and then simply staring at him before looking off into the mist. He whispers to Valor, "Um... is she going to say something?"
Although immediately looking horrified as the squirrel hits the ground with a sickening crack, Tana blinks in mild shock as the tiny animal's body shifts into something new.
Tana approaches cautiously, "I spoke with that creature earlier." She says quietly to Hotspur, nodding in Erkiss' direction.
She steps up closer to the former squirrel, being sure to draw herself to her full height so as to tower over the humanoid, and speaks directly into his mind once again. 'Don't try to scamper off this time, I can assure you it won't end well for you. Your mistress,'Tana looks off into the still misty distance. 'Why don't you tell us a little about her? Perhaps my companions will consider sparing you.'
(If needed, Intimidation: 7 or Persuasion: 15)
"Hmmm, What do you want to know? She is very, very old....older than me..and that is quite a span."
" She's a wicked old thing....she's a sad old thing....theres a lot of history there she never speaks to me of..."
Hotspur looks at Tana quizzically, as she approaches the goblin, straightening up regally, and then simply staring at him before looking off into the mist. He whispers to Valor, "Um... is she going to say something?"
Erkiss eyes flicked to Hotspur, his big ears swivelling, " You cannae hear her then? Good to know...."
Hotspur fixes his gaze on the small humanoid. "Beware, cretin," he says softly, "or I shall taunt you a second time."
Erkiss face creases into a wide grin, " You did sting me heart. I had a whole bit about the wee lad being clocked in the face by a rock....was quite good..."
" Now, what favour would you have of Erkiss? You've captured me and you've earned a goblin boon."
Valor considers the goblin with curiosity, though there is a tinge of hostility. He doesn't know, but can imagine what might have happened if they had been weaker of mind. He looks at Hotspur and Tana. "You caught him. The boon is yours. But first," he squats down in front of the creature, "How do we protect ourselves from her enchantments? My cousin stared at her enraptured, he would not abandon his wife and child without some black magic forcing him."
"What sorts of boon can you grant?" asks Hotspur. "Can you release those men from the White Witch's influence? Can you bind her in a trap? Or do you only hand out trinkets and baubles?"
Tana glances over at Hotspur as he questions Erkiss, "Perhaps it would be good to gather some general information on the Lady before we go asking for a boon."
She turns back to Erkiss, 'You mentioned that she's often sad? That there's history you are not privy to. When did you join her ranks?'
“A goblin boon? What sort of fae trickery be this? Be wary, Sir Dayne, I trust him not, especially if he works for her. He be a children’s tale come to life” Thatch narrows his eyes in suspicion at the creature, one hand instinctively tightening on the hilt of his shortsword. Still, after seeing the White Lady, Thatch was starting to believe that all of the old wives tales and children’s stories were true. He watched and waited as the others continued to question the creature.
Valor considers the goblin with curiosity, though there is a tinge of hostility. He doesn't know, but can imagine what might have happened if they had been weaker of mind. He looks at Hotspur and Tana. "You caught him. The boon is yours. But first," he squats down in front of the creature, "How do we protect ourselves from her enchantments? My cousin stared at her enraptured, he would not abandon his wife and child without some black magic forcing him."
Erkiss regarded the knight almost fondly for a moment, " Protective charms? Do you have? Old Mab may have...but hard to find she is unless she wants you to find.."
"What sorts of boon can you grant?" asks Hotspur. "Can you release those men from the White Witch's influence? Can you bind her in a trap? Or do you only hand out trinkets and baubles?"
Erkiss looked truly afraid for a moment, " Trap her? You can sooner trap the winter....I am but a humble servant, tricks I can play. Distractions and japes....but to break her ladyships magics is more than I can do."
Tana glances over at Hotspur as he questions Erkiss, "Perhaps it would be good to gather some general information on the Lady before we go asking for a boon."
She turns back to Erkiss, 'You mentioned that she's often sad? That there's history you are not privy to. When did you join her ranks?'
" She collects the souls of children.....I thought at first she collected them for her master....but she keeps them safe with her not to feed The Wolf. In her way I think she cares for them....keeps them safe?"
" Oh? Me? I came across the hill in the long past, I liked it....twas blasted and ruined then but the green was creeping back and I thought it a nice spot. A village below....though burnt out it was being resettled....to prank and bother. I settled in and they were soon leaving out cups of buttermilk and baked treats for me...it was a grand life...and then the earth rumbled and the stone house appeared and she grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and said i was her servant forever more."
“A goblin boon? What sort of fae trickery be this? Be wary, Sir Dayne, I trust him not, especially if he works for her. He be a children’s tale come to life” Thatch narrows his eyes in suspicion at the creature, one hand instinctively tightening on the hilt of his shortsword. Still, after seeing the White Lady, Thatch was starting to believe that all of the old wives tales and children’s stories were true. He watched and waited as the others continued to question the creature.
Erkiss stuck out his tongue at Thatch then winked at him and tossed a golden coin to him, as it hit the ground before him it glimmered for a brief moment before turning into a small black glowering toad and crawling away towards a tree stump.
In response to Tana, Hotspur shrugs. "She's a witch that charms men and kills babies. What more is there to know?"
However, as he listens to Erkiss' responses, he is intrigued. "Her master?" he asks the goblin. "The 'Wolf'? And who... or what... is the Wolf? Another fey sorceror?"
Argyle was growing uneasy at the information they were gathering, although he couldn't pinpoint exactly why. He was inclined to speak up and agree with Thatch when...
" She collects the souls of children.....I thought at first she collected them for her master....but she keeps them safe with her not to feed The Wolf. In her way I think she cares for them....keeps them safe?"
"Her master?" he asks the goblin. "The 'Wolf'? And who... or what... is the Wolf? Another fey sorceror?"
And there it was. The wrinkle in their straightforward plan. The bondsman didn't believe for a second that the witch's motives were truly benevolent, or even innocent, but the prospect of something WORSE than her coming for the villagers almost made his skin crawl.
He continued listening to see what more the others managed to pull from the goblin.
Tana glances over at Hotspur as he questions Erkiss, "Perhaps it would be good to gather some general information on the Lady before we go asking for a boon."
She turns back to Erkiss, 'You mentioned that she's often sad? That there's history you are not privy to. When did you join her ranks?'
" She collects the souls of children.....I thought at first she collected them for her master....but she keeps them safe with her not to feed The Wolf. In her way I think she cares for them....keeps them safe?"
" Oh? Me? I came across the hill in the long past, I liked it....twas blasted and ruined then but the green was creeping back and I thought it a nice spot. A village below....though burnt out it was being resettled....to prank and bother. I settled in and they were soon leaving out cups of buttermilk and baked treats for me...it was a grand life...and then the earth rumbled and the stone house appeared and she grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and said i was her servant forever more."
Tana's eyes glitter with curiosity at Erkiss' words. "The souls of children are known for their innocence, it seems unlikely that their collection could be for anything of good manner." She notes, tipping her head to the side in thought. "And The Wolf? What do you know of this being?"
She furrows her brows once more as he continues on, a tone of sympathy crawling into her voice as she addressed the goblin again. "That seems quite unfair, subjecting you to eternal servitude. Why do you listen? What power does she hold over you in threat?"
As Tana continues her questioning, Hotspur falls uncharacteristically silent, not wanting to interfere with the rapport she is building with the creature.
In response to Tana, Hotspur shrugs. "She's a witch that charms men and kills babies. What more is there to know?"
However, as he listens to Erkiss' responses, he is intrigued. "Her master?" he asks the goblin. "The 'Wolf'? And who... or what... is the Wolf? Another fey sorceror?"
Argyle was growing uneasy at the information they were gathering, although he couldn't pinpoint exactly why. He was inclined to speak up and agree with Thatch when...
" She collects the souls of children.....I thought at first she collected them for her master....but she keeps them safe with her not to feed The Wolf. In her way I think she cares for them....keeps them safe?"
"Her master?" he asks the goblin. "The 'Wolf'? And who... or what... is the Wolf? Another fey sorceror?"
And there it was. The wrinkle in their straightforward plan. The bondsman didn't believe for a second that the witch's motives were truly benevolent, or even innocent, but the prospect of something WORSE than her coming for the villagers almost made his skin crawl.
He continued listening to see what more the others managed to pull from the goblin.
Tana glances over at Hotspur as he questions Erkiss, "Perhaps it would be good to gather some general information on the Lady before we go asking for a boon."
She turns back to Erkiss, 'You mentioned that she's often sad? That there's history you are not privy to. When did you join her ranks?'
" She collects the souls of children.....I thought at first she collected them for her master....but she keeps them safe with her not to feed The Wolf. In her way I think she cares for them....keeps them safe?"
" Oh? Me? I came across the hill in the long past, I liked it....twas blasted and ruined then but the green was creeping back and I thought it a nice spot. A village below....though burnt out it was being resettled....to prank and bother. I settled in and they were soon leaving out cups of buttermilk and baked treats for me...it was a grand life...and then the earth rumbled and the stone house appeared and she grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and said i was her servant forever more."
Tana's eyes glitter with curiosity at Erkiss' words. "The souls of children are known for their innocence, it seems unlikely that their collection could be for anything of good manner." She notes, tipping her head to the side in thought. "And The Wolf? What do you know of this being?"
She furrows her brows once more as he continues on, a tone of sympathy crawling into her voice as she addressed the goblin again. "That seems quite unfair, subjecting you to eternal servitude. Why do you listen? What power does she hold over you in threat?"
As Tana continues her questioning, Hotspur falls uncharacteristically silent, not wanting to interfere with the rapport she is building with the creature.
(Also, Valor received a 1d6 Inspiration die just before the puppet-show, it expires after 10 minutes. How much time has passed?)
( Another minute or so.)
" The Jaws That End The World is her Master, Great Fengris. Most of her kind are as the maggots that fall from his gargantuan hide...but My Mistress is....I have no proof mind you. But I think she was once a mortal like yourselves."
" She captured me...it is her right. Oaths and promises have meaning for our kind, mortal folks words mean nothing but ours are our bond. "
"She's not too bad a mistress really.......I was sworn to an oakwife a millenia back that was a real pain in my britches. Queen Fhionn for the most part leaves me be except when she needs a steward."
"A mortal..." Tana murmurs under her breath, watching Erkiss carefully. "Do you think that her soul may still understand mortal values? Can she be reasoned with?"
The kalashtar takes another step toward the goblin before crouching down as to be more at level with him. "From what you are saying, she does not seem to be inherently evil apart from the obvious soul-snatching. You must know where she has taken all these people, these innocent souls." She runs a hand through her now damp locks of hair, closing her eyes with a slight sigh before meeting Erkiss' gaze once more.
"The Lady has taken someone of great importance. I understand the meanings of oaths and bonds, they are hard to break and even harder to understand. But we must find Sir Olvar and prevent your mistress from stealing the soul of his newborn. Your help would be much appreciated. If you worry of betraying whatever connection it is you have with the Lady, I'm sure there are ways to work around that."
Argyle shot Hotspur an annoyed glance. "I smile plenty," he retorted, adding "when it's appropriate," under his breath.
Just then he heard the squirrel, and watched it try to dart away. "Hey, bard," he continued, not even wanting to name his companion, "don't you have some sort of magic to catch that thing?"
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Watching the unusual squirrel scamper away, Hotspur calls after it with a devastating thespian insult: "Your audience walked out after the first scene!" (vicious mockery, DC 15 WIS Save or 4 psychic damage and DA on next attack roll)
( 3 )
The squirrels head whips around and its brow furrows, distracted it mis-times its leap and falls to the ground with a slight wet snapping sound as it hits a tree root and lies still.
After a few moments there was a puff of grey smoke and the dead squirrel was replaced by a wrinkly grey humanoid with a crinkled face and sallow cheeks about 4 feet tall with bright ginger eyebrows and tufts of hair on his pointed ears.
He rubbed his back gingerly and looked around at the companions in fear and panic.
“Please don’t hurt Erkiss! He only does his mistress’s bidding! Do this, Erkiss! Do that, Erkiss! Throw open the doors, Erkiss! See off these humans! A favour I’ll grant you, yes? A goblin boon? When the time is right, Erkiss will help you…”
Although immediately looking horrified as the squirrel hits the ground with a sickening crack, Tana blinks in mild shock as the tiny animal's body shifts into something new.
Tana approaches cautiously, "I spoke with that creature earlier." She says quietly to Hotspur, nodding in Erkiss' direction.
She steps up closer to the former squirrel, being sure to draw herself to her full height so as to tower over the humanoid, and speaks directly into his mind once again. 'Don't try to scamper off this time, I can assure you it won't end well for you. Your mistress,' Tana looks off into the still misty distance. 'Why don't you tell us a little about her? Perhaps my companions will consider sparing you.'
(If needed, Intimidation: 17 or Persuasion: 15)
Noire Havensong | Harengon Archfey Warlock 6/Lore Bard 4 | Westmarch - Guild of the Phoenix (Discord)
Tanatari Crelieu | Kalashtar Druid 2 | Damian_May's Sleeping Gods
Jynx Starrkeep | Changling GOO Warlock 2 | Astien's Tyranny of Dragons
DM | Eberron Eternal (Discord)
Hotspur looks at Tana quizzically, as she approaches the goblin, straightening up regally, and then simply staring at him before looking off into the mist. He whispers to Valor, "Um... is she going to say something?"
"Hmmm, What do you want to know? She is very, very old....older than me..and that is quite a span."
" She's a wicked old thing....she's a sad old thing....theres a lot of history there she never speaks to me of..."
Erkiss eyes flicked to Hotspur, his big ears swivelling, " You cannae hear her then? Good to know...."
Hotspur fixes his gaze on the small humanoid. "Beware, cretin," he says softly, "or I shall taunt you a second time."
Erkiss face creases into a wide grin, " You did sting me heart. I had a whole bit about the wee lad being clocked in the face by a rock....was quite good..."
" Now, what favour would you have of Erkiss? You've captured me and you've earned a goblin boon."
Valor considers the goblin with curiosity, though there is a tinge of hostility. He doesn't know, but can imagine what might have happened if they had been weaker of mind. He looks at Hotspur and Tana. "You caught him. The boon is yours. But first," he squats down in front of the creature, "How do we protect ourselves from her enchantments? My cousin stared at her enraptured, he would not abandon his wife and child without some black magic forcing him."
**By the Light of the Sun, you will burn!**
Previously BENEFICENCE
DM: Storm Lord's Wrath || Syr Valor Dayne: Sleeping Gods || tooltips | guides | dice |
"What sorts of boon can you grant?" asks Hotspur. "Can you release those men from the White Witch's influence? Can you bind her in a trap? Or do you only hand out trinkets and baubles?"
Tana glances over at Hotspur as he questions Erkiss, "Perhaps it would be good to gather some general information on the Lady before we go asking for a boon."
She turns back to Erkiss, 'You mentioned that she's often sad? That there's history you are not privy to. When did you join her ranks?'
Noire Havensong | Harengon Archfey Warlock 6/Lore Bard 4 | Westmarch - Guild of the Phoenix (Discord)
Tanatari Crelieu | Kalashtar Druid 2 | Damian_May's Sleeping Gods
Jynx Starrkeep | Changling GOO Warlock 2 | Astien's Tyranny of Dragons
DM | Eberron Eternal (Discord)
“A goblin boon? What sort of fae trickery be this? Be wary, Sir Dayne, I trust him not, especially if he works for her. He be a children’s tale come to life” Thatch narrows his eyes in suspicion at the creature, one hand instinctively tightening on the hilt of his shortsword. Still, after seeing the White Lady, Thatch was starting to believe that all of the old wives tales and children’s stories were true. He watched and waited as the others continued to question the creature.
Erkiss regarded the knight almost fondly for a moment, " Protective charms? Do you have? Old Mab may have...but hard to find she is unless she wants you to find.."
Erkiss looked truly afraid for a moment, " Trap her? You can sooner trap the winter....I am but a humble servant, tricks I can play. Distractions and japes....but to break her ladyships magics is more than I can do."
" She collects the souls of children.....I thought at first she collected them for her master....but she keeps them safe with her not to feed The Wolf. In her way I think she cares for them....keeps them safe?"
" Oh? Me? I came across the hill in the long past, I liked it....twas blasted and ruined then but the green was creeping back and I thought it a nice spot. A village below....though burnt out it was being resettled....to prank and bother. I settled in and they were soon leaving out cups of buttermilk and baked treats for me...it was a grand life...and then the earth rumbled and the stone house appeared and she grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and said i was her servant forever more."
Erkiss stuck out his tongue at Thatch then winked at him and tossed a golden coin to him, as it hit the ground before him it glimmered for a brief moment before turning into a small black glowering toad and crawling away towards a tree stump.
In response to Tana, Hotspur shrugs. "She's a witch that charms men and kills babies. What more is there to know?"
However, as he listens to Erkiss' responses, he is intrigued. "Her master?" he asks the goblin. "The 'Wolf'? And who... or what... is the Wolf? Another fey sorceror?"
Argyle was growing uneasy at the information they were gathering, although he couldn't pinpoint exactly why. He was inclined to speak up and agree with Thatch when...
And there it was. The wrinkle in their straightforward plan. The bondsman didn't believe for a second that the witch's motives were truly benevolent, or even innocent, but the prospect of something WORSE than her coming for the villagers almost made his skin crawl.
He continued listening to see what more the others managed to pull from the goblin.
Sterling - V. Human Bard 3 (College of Art) - [Pic] - [Traits] - in Bards: Dragon Heist (w/ Mansion) - Jasper's [Pic] - Sterling's [Sigil]
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Tana's eyes glitter with curiosity at Erkiss' words. "The souls of children are known for their innocence, it seems unlikely that their collection could be for anything of good manner." She notes, tipping her head to the side in thought. "And The Wolf? What do you know of this being?"
She furrows her brows once more as he continues on, a tone of sympathy crawling into her voice as she addressed the goblin again. "That seems quite unfair, subjecting you to eternal servitude. Why do you listen? What power does she hold over you in threat?"
Noire Havensong | Harengon Archfey Warlock 6/Lore Bard 4 | Westmarch - Guild of the Phoenix (Discord)
Tanatari Crelieu | Kalashtar Druid 2 | Damian_May's Sleeping Gods
Jynx Starrkeep | Changling GOO Warlock 2 | Astien's Tyranny of Dragons
DM | Eberron Eternal (Discord)
As Tana continues her questioning, Hotspur falls uncharacteristically silent, not wanting to interfere with the rapport she is building with the creature.
(help action on any skill checks).
(Also, Valor received a 1d6 Inspiration die just before the puppet-show, it expires after 10 minutes. How much time has passed?)
( Another minute or so.)
" The Jaws That End The World is her Master, Great Fengris. Most of her kind are as the maggots that fall from his gargantuan hide...but My Mistress is....I have no proof mind you. But I think she was once a mortal like yourselves."
" She captured me...it is her right. Oaths and promises have meaning for our kind, mortal folks words mean nothing but ours are our bond. "
"She's not too bad a mistress really.......I was sworn to an oakwife a millenia back that was a real pain in my britches. Queen Fhionn for the most part leaves me be except when she needs a steward."
"A mortal..." Tana murmurs under her breath, watching Erkiss carefully. "Do you think that her soul may still understand mortal values? Can she be reasoned with?"
The kalashtar takes another step toward the goblin before crouching down as to be more at level with him. "From what you are saying, she does not seem to be inherently evil apart from the obvious soul-snatching. You must know where she has taken all these people, these innocent souls." She runs a hand through her now damp locks of hair, closing her eyes with a slight sigh before meeting Erkiss' gaze once more.
"The Lady has taken someone of great importance. I understand the meanings of oaths and bonds, they are hard to break and even harder to understand. But we must find Sir Olvar and prevent your mistress from stealing the soul of his newborn. Your help would be much appreciated. If you worry of betraying whatever connection it is you have with the Lady, I'm sure there are ways to work around that."
Noire Havensong | Harengon Archfey Warlock 6/Lore Bard 4 | Westmarch - Guild of the Phoenix (Discord)
Tanatari Crelieu | Kalashtar Druid 2 | Damian_May's Sleeping Gods
Jynx Starrkeep | Changling GOO Warlock 2 | Astien's Tyranny of Dragons
DM | Eberron Eternal (Discord)