Kuori, as the wounded creature attempts to flee past you into the sheltering darkness you leap upon it with an agility belying your size and strength. Heedless of its spikes, you manage to tackle it, wrapping your mighty arms around its torso and briefly lifting it off the ground as it thrashes to escape.
It is too slow. Hurtling out of the sky Aio, you land in the doorway and rebound forward unleashing a flurry of blows with sword and talon. Your sword strike flies wide, the creature twisting its face away as you attempt to plunge the blade directly into its giant eye. This movement blinds it however and it is unable, in Kuori's grasp, to dodge your talons as they rip its throat out and disembowel it in rapid succession, the creature's screams cut off as it dies.
In the silence that follows, your heavy breathing echoes in the tower but does not quite mask a tentative, barely audible voice calling what sounds like a plaintive greeting from beneath the trapdoor.
((Dahme'dre, creature was dead by the time your initiative order rolled around again so belaying that eldritch blast.))
"We survived and killed that monster, didn't we? And the world is a better place for it."
Kuori goes over to the trapdoor and opens it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1) DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Dahme'dre sees the creature fall, and cuts her attack short. She takes a moment to regain her composure. A bit shaky, she casts away the sick on the ground and splashed into her dress before she enters the tower again. The earth rumbles betraying her anxiety in the moment, as she takes a deep breath and shuts the door behind them.
Valen will ease Dahme'dre's trauma with a Cure Wounds.
(Healed for 5)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"We will face many risks on our journey. Don't bury your head in the sand when challenges arise... I should have been more ready for that attack. I've learned a worthwhile lesson. Don't expect me to make the same error again."
(And by me she means BDaddLy. Shoulda used Favored by the Gods to add 2d4 (2) to that save. But I forgot the new ability.)
Kuori, you walk over to the trapdoor and give it a pull, but find it firmly locked from within. Likely this explains the heavy claw marks on the outside.
Erdan, as you call out to the voice beneath the trapdoor, you hear a sudden silence followed by labored activity. You hear something heavy being moved, and the trapdoor loosens, clearly unlatched from beneath. This time, Kuori's attempt to open it goes without resistance.
Directly beneath the trapdoor stands an elderly and very frail man, his white beard falling almost to his knees and his face wizened and emaciated. He stands upon what first appears to be a ladder, but upon closer inspection is actually a tree which has grown upward to form natural steps, shaped by some naturalistic power.
"Is, is it dead?" he asks, his voice weak but full of barely suppressed hope.
Peering around him, you see a tower basement overrun with vegetation, trees, vines and plants growing everywhere. While most appear faded or drained of life, none dead or rotting as are the plants above. Light comes from a thousand fireflies which hover in the air, providing gentle illumination. The insects move lazily and slowly, as if barely able to stay in the air.
The old man sags with relief, almost collapsing only to be caught by a rapidly sprouting branch of the tree-ladder on which he stands. He reaches out to Erdan, taking your hand and gratefully climbs with labored steps into the tower.
There, he looks around in utter horror, not at the remnants of the creature but at the dead plant-matter cloying every inch of the tower. His legs seem to fail him and he collapses onto his knees.
"I.. felt them screaming, but I couldn't imagine..." he whispers, almost too low for you to hear.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Who are you talking about? What happened to them?"
Kuori is suspicious of the man.
Insight: 10
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1) DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
Gathering himself the frail elderly man climbs laboriously to his feet once more, wiping his face on the ragged edge of the woven brown robes which hang off his slender frame.
"This is no place to speak, and you deserve all the hospitality my depleted home can muster," he says, indicating that you should follow him down into the trapdoor. "I will tell my story, and vow you enjoy the safety of guest rights in the abode of Facilius Tan."
Kuori, you sense no immediate deception from Facilius, only exhaustion, gratitude and profound grief. With that said, in a strange tower covered with the remnants of a jungle's worth of dead vegetation and above the still leaking corpse of an abomination, you are in scant position to make detailed character studies.
Facilius turns around and carefully descends his woven-tree stairs. Beyond, lit by fleets of fireflies is a large room over-run with plants and trees of every variety, and yet somehow, carefully ordered. Vines and branches weave themselves together, forming natural furniture. A mushroom, easily the size of a wagon wheel and as tall as Kuori's waist sits in the middle of the room as a table, its flat top appearing rubbery but unyielding.
In the corner, roots have prized apart the stones of the tower and water drips down them, filling a small hollow in a trunk with earthy but likely potable water.
As Facilius moves through his space, he occasionally lifts a hand toward one or another of his plants and soft, flickering sunlight radiates from his path, briefly eclipsing the fireflies glow.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Before we move down." Dahme'dre suggests. "shall we secure the upper level?" if she is able to reach the sevond floor window she will bury the door as suggested earlier.
When the upper level is verified yo be clear of more horrors Dahme'dre heads down to hear the mans tale, and possibly rest. (Recovering 12 hit points)
Dahme'dre, you move up the tower stairs carefully sweeping the darkness for hidden enemies. Though moving beyond the range of Valen's light, you are still able to make out details as the fireflies from Facilius's dwelling slowly filter upward to fill the tower's interior. You see nothing lurking in the darkness to strike, though the smell of decay alone is enough to nearly finish you off.
The upstairs is a tangled mess, a veritable dead jungle of wilted stalks, rotting trees and decaying leaves. You are able to pick your way to the window and lean out, holding onto a still largely intact vine for support. Channeling repeatedly, you shift earth from either side of the path into a barricade across the front door. The earth is loose and would present little obstacle to anyone with a shovel, but moving it swiftly or silently without magical assistance would be impossible.
Your barricade completed, you descend back down to join the party.
((Holding the rest action until others indicate what they're doing. ))
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1) DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
Kuori, as the wounded creature attempts to flee past you into the sheltering darkness you leap upon it with an agility belying your size and strength. Heedless of its spikes, you manage to tackle it, wrapping your mighty arms around its torso and briefly lifting it off the ground as it thrashes to escape.
It is too slow. Hurtling out of the sky Aio, you land in the doorway and rebound forward unleashing a flurry of blows with sword and talon. Your sword strike flies wide, the creature twisting its face away as you attempt to plunge the blade directly into its giant eye. This movement blinds it however and it is unable, in Kuori's grasp, to dodge your talons as they rip its throat out and disembowel it in rapid succession, the creature's screams cut off as it dies.
In the silence that follows, your heavy breathing echoes in the tower but does not quite mask a tentative, barely audible voice calling what sounds like a plaintive greeting from beneath the trapdoor.
((Dahme'dre, creature was dead by the time your initiative order rolled around again so belaying that eldritch blast.))
((Tower Aberration Slain! 90 Experience each.))
Aio looked around at her companions.
"Perhaps next time we can avoid walking into dangerous situations?"
These people are a few feathers short of a wing of they think I'm going along with their next bright idea.
Pit of Vipers: Watl Wiggins - Halfling Rogue(10)
League of Improbable Adventurers: Alan Quatermain - Human Fighter(3)
"We survived and killed that monster, didn't we? And the world is a better place for it."
Kuori goes over to the trapdoor and opens it.
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1)
DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
Erdan will take a deep breath and calm himself. A smile returns to his face.
To Aio, he will say "If we avoid dangerous situations, we would never go outside!"
He goes over to investigate where the voice came from, moving alongside Kuori.
"Hello there, anyone else here? Like I said before, we do not want to fight. That does not mean we can't."
Valen will lunge once more, driving the abomination with divinely-infused strikes.
(Attack: 18 for 10 plus 1 radiant. If it's still standing, Bonus Action for War Priest 2nd attack: 24 for 7 plus 1 radiant)
(Whoops, delayed posting, disregard all that :P)
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Dahme'dre sees the creature fall, and cuts her attack short. She takes a moment to regain her composure. A bit shaky, she casts away the sick on the ground and splashed into her dress before she enters the tower again. The earth rumbles betraying her anxiety in the moment, as she takes a deep breath and shuts the door behind them.
Extended Signature
Valen will ease Dahme'dre's trauma with a Cure Wounds.
(Healed for 5)
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Aio cocks her head to the side after shooting a glance at Dahm'edre.
"Perhaps you will be more inclined to show caution when you are the one at death's door."
Pit of Vipers: Watl Wiggins - Halfling Rogue(10)
League of Improbable Adventurers: Alan Quatermain - Human Fighter(3)
"We will face many risks on our journey. Don't bury your head in the sand when challenges arise... I should have been more ready for that attack. I've learned a worthwhile lesson. Don't expect me to make the same error again."
(And by me she means BDaddLy. Shoulda used Favored by the Gods to add 2d4 (2) to that save. But I forgot the new ability.)
Extended Signature
Kuori, you walk over to the trapdoor and give it a pull, but find it firmly locked from within. Likely this explains the heavy claw marks on the outside.
Erdan, as you call out to the voice beneath the trapdoor, you hear a sudden silence followed by labored activity. You hear something heavy being moved, and the trapdoor loosens, clearly unlatched from beneath. This time, Kuori's attempt to open it goes without resistance.
Directly beneath the trapdoor stands an elderly and very frail man, his white beard falling almost to his knees and his face wizened and emaciated. He stands upon what first appears to be a ladder, but upon closer inspection is actually a tree which has grown upward to form natural steps, shaped by some naturalistic power.
"Is, is it dead?" he asks, his voice weak but full of barely suppressed hope.
Peering around him, you see a tower basement overrun with vegetation, trees, vines and plants growing everywhere. While most appear faded or drained of life, none dead or rotting as are the plants above. Light comes from a thousand fireflies which hover in the air, providing gentle illumination. The insects move lazily and slowly, as if barely able to stay in the air.
"Hello, sir. Yes, the creature is dead. How long have you been here?"
Erdan will reach down to offer him his hand to help him out.
The old man sags with relief, almost collapsing only to be caught by a rapidly sprouting branch of the tree-ladder on which he stands. He reaches out to Erdan, taking your hand and gratefully climbs with labored steps into the tower.
There, he looks around in utter horror, not at the remnants of the creature but at the dead plant-matter cloying every inch of the tower. His legs seem to fail him and he collapses onto his knees.
"I.. felt them screaming, but I couldn't imagine..." he whispers, almost too low for you to hear.
"What brought you to this tower?" Dahme'dre asks. She holds to her spell in case the fight goes on, so she is unable to find the rhythm for Guidance.
Extended Signature
"Who are you talking about? What happened to them?"
Kuori is suspicious of the man.
Insight: 10
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1)
DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
Gathering himself the frail elderly man climbs laboriously to his feet once more, wiping his face on the ragged edge of the woven brown robes which hang off his slender frame.
"This is no place to speak, and you deserve all the hospitality my depleted home can muster," he says, indicating that you should follow him down into the trapdoor. "I will tell my story, and vow you enjoy the safety of guest rights in the abode of Facilius Tan."
Kuori, you sense no immediate deception from Facilius, only exhaustion, gratitude and profound grief. With that said, in a strange tower covered with the remnants of a jungle's worth of dead vegetation and above the still leaking corpse of an abomination, you are in scant position to make detailed character studies.
Facilius turns around and carefully descends his woven-tree stairs. Beyond, lit by fleets of fireflies is a large room over-run with plants and trees of every variety, and yet somehow, carefully ordered. Vines and branches weave themselves together, forming natural furniture. A mushroom, easily the size of a wagon wheel and as tall as Kuori's waist sits in the middle of the room as a table, its flat top appearing rubbery but unyielding.
In the corner, roots have prized apart the stones of the tower and water drips down them, filling a small hollow in a trunk with earthy but likely potable water.
As Facilius moves through his space, he occasionally lifts a hand toward one or another of his plants and soft, flickering sunlight radiates from his path, briefly eclipsing the fireflies glow.
"Before we move down." Dahme'dre suggests. "shall we secure the upper level?" if she is able to reach the sevond floor window she will bury the door as suggested earlier.
When the upper level is verified yo be clear of more horrors Dahme'dre heads down to hear the mans tale, and possibly rest. (Recovering 12 hit points)
Extended Signature
Dahme'dre, you move up the tower stairs carefully sweeping the darkness for hidden enemies. Though moving beyond the range of Valen's light, you are still able to make out details as the fireflies from Facilius's dwelling slowly filter upward to fill the tower's interior. You see nothing lurking in the darkness to strike, though the smell of decay alone is enough to nearly finish you off.
The upstairs is a tangled mess, a veritable dead jungle of wilted stalks, rotting trees and decaying leaves. You are able to pick your way to the window and lean out, holding onto a still largely intact vine for support. Channeling repeatedly, you shift earth from either side of the path into a barricade across the front door. The earth is loose and would present little obstacle to anyone with a shovel, but moving it swiftly or silently without magical assistance would be impossible.
Your barricade completed, you descend back down to join the party.
((Holding the rest action until others indicate what they're doing. ))
Kuori is ready to settle down for the night.
Horatio Hirschfeld - Squire imbued with fae powers, in the Coliseum of Conquest (W2/L1)
DM for Reavers of Harkenwold, and sometimes The Fighting Grounds of the Coliseum
Erdan will respond to Facilius Tan.
"Thank you, Facilius Tan, for accepting us as guests.." He will follow Facilius down the trapdoor.