Virro awkwardly pats Shorah, saying “That’s right dear, we will keep you safe, get you somewhere better than this. There there…”. He looks relieved when the child finally lets go.
As Roo begins his speech, Virro stands there taking it in, smiling. “What a strange path this has been…” he thinks to himself. Like Reed, his eyes scan the crowd, watching for anyone that would mean harm to them, any threats to Roo or members of the group that look unhinged or different from the others.
Perception : 8 (passive : 17) - he is distracted as he scans the faces, unable to tell.
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A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
"Yes, there were a couple others with Fog'Horn, we do not know who they were but fought valiantly with our hero. And yes, that was the last time we saw him." The man then steps back and kneels with his brethren.
Harkina nods to Archie, "Yes, and with this many, the sooner we get to High Hall, the better."
Shorah let's go of Virro's leg when he starts patting her head, but reaches up and snatches his hand instead. And leans against him as she watches what is going on with Roo.
Reed looks around at the crowd. The wretchedness of their condition reignites his anger at those corrupt individuals in power always putting their boots on the necks of the 'little' people. Though he does still have to admit to finding it a touch amusing that the entire crowd is enamored with Roo.
"Let's just keep moving," Reed says to Reya. "If Roo moves, they'll follow."
Corlith steps forward as the man steps back and kneels.
"Might I ask a question or two?", he asks, but does not wait for permission before asking anyway. "Have you not tried to make your way to the High Hall? Has no help or food been forthcoming from those residing there?"
Archie gives Harkina a nod, "with this many people it'll be a struggle to keep a watch on all our flanks, you guys should join the group, I'll bring up the rear and make sure we aren't ambushed ok?"
Harkina nods to Archie at her suggestion and ushers her kids a little closer, but unsure if they can join the group.
An older woman then stands up and looks to Corlith, "There... there was this devil riding upon a nightmare of a horse. It was covered in plated armor that was full of spikes, it's lance spewing out fire and even the horse's mane and tail were made of fire! Well.. the thing is we scattered. We saw the fortress over there, but once this creature appeared we all ran and hid. It's taken us some time to find one another." she shudders as she recalls the memory of it. "We haven't run into any survivors here in Elturel. We've seen a few from a distance but none were where we ran and hid." She runs her hands through her hair, "We never called out for help though either, scared we would attract the attention of that thing again."
Corlith listens intently, looking over to Lulu at one point to nod and smile at her.
"Ok, so it isn't exactly safe on this side of the bridge either", he concludes. "We should be cautious as travel, and obviously keep an eye on the skies as well as around us".
He looks across to Roo, "Are you ready to lead these people to safety? Or at least to somewhere a little less exposed".
Roo listens to this description of the other Gallus with Fog' Horn, but doesn't know who they are. His head bobs. He'll have to come back to that in time. Right now, judging by the things he's hearing and the look of the city around them, it's not the time or place to worry about the identity of these others.
"A nightmare horse, you say?" Roo says, feathers bristling as he thinks about it. "Well, buck, seems as though a new challenger has appeared! I say we get you fine featherless folk to the High Hall!"
Archie having not been close enough to the group to listen properly hears roo's clarification and willingness to fight, "a nightmare horse? Is there such a thing? Perhaps they meant a knight and a mare horse. Are we fighting again so soon?"
As you're about to roll out with the addition of 20 plus people, Lulu gives a little trumpet and whirls around in excitement.
The crowd starts to get up to follow Roo.. then the sounds of chains grinding enter the air. The entire city begins to lurch from side to side as the chains holding it down churn and pull it down a couple of feet. You feel the tremble sent through the ground like an earthquake. Everyone needs to make a DC Dex save of 10 or become prone.
One of the buildings near the Gallus worshipers crumbles and starts to fall. The group scatters as fast as they can, but as some were still on their knees, they didn't have a good headstart. A quarter of the group becomes buried under the wreckage, screams cut short as the bodies are crushed.
As the ground shudders and moves Archie in her heavy suit doesn't simply moves with it, remaining steadfast like she is glued to the spot. As soon as buildings start coming down she yells out "AWAY FROM THE BUILDINGS! RUN TO THE NEAREST SQUARE OR MARKET PLACE, REYA IS THER ONE NEARBY?"
Reed seems to be listening to something Lulu is saying though the magic elephant isn’t saying anything and doesn’t notice the beginning of the chain-quake until the buildings start crumbling. He wobbles a little but nimbly side steps some debris and keeps his balance (DEX Save 21).
He glances around quickly to see if there’s anyone he can help out of the rubble (Perception 18).
The trembling catches Corlith off guard, but although he drops to one knee, he does not fall.
"The city is still being dragged down? How often does this happen?", he says to whichever resident is closer as he regains his feet and looks to those unfortunate to be under rubble. He waits to make sure that there is no further trembling of the city before he moves to help anyone.
Reya also looks at the people buried under the rubble and no one there survived. Looking to Archie, she nods, "Yes, main street to High Hall is much wider, we can stick to the middle."
The man that started talking earlier looks o Corlith and shrugs, "I don't know? It happens. And yes, it's over, for now."
Reya starts leading the group through the main street and High Hall starts coming into view.
The group slowly makes their way to the fortress and Reya is a bit shocked at what she sees. This clifftop castle was once the crowning architectural jewel of Elturel. Only three of its five watchtowers towers still stand, though they appear abandoned. The wooden gates that once led into the castle grounds have been shattered, leaving a gaping hole in the wall.
The west side of the castle has been reduced to a pile of smashed brick and broken wood. The surviving buildings are blackened by soot. At the center of the castle grounds, the High Hall cathedral stands defiant.
As you look around from outside the castle gates, you see no threat, nothing waiting your approach.
"It's dedicated to Torm, the god of courage and self-sacrifice. It houses many of Elturel’s religious and political leaders." Looking at the destruction of it all, she adds, "I hope they're all ok."
"That looks like the place to get all these people," Reed says.
He looks back at Lulu and then to the rest of the group.
"Is Lulu talking to all of you too?" Reed asks. "She told me something about a demon lord named Yeenoghu who wants to destroy Zariel’s sword. I don't know what any of that means. But it reminds me of what I saw when I was under the bridge. There are demons and devils fighting each other down below. Maybe in all the chaos we just pop down and unhook the city from the chains and maybe it goes back to where it was before."
Even as he finishes saying it, Reed realizes it might not be the most reasonable idea. But less and less of what they're encountering seems reasonable anymore.
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Virro awkwardly pats Shorah, saying “That’s right dear, we will keep you safe, get you somewhere better than this. There there…”. He looks relieved when the child finally lets go.
As Roo begins his speech, Virro stands there taking it in, smiling. “What a strange path this has been…” he thinks to himself. Like Reed, his eyes scan the crowd, watching for anyone that would mean harm to them, any threats to Roo or members of the group that look unhinged or different from the others.
Perception : 8 (passive : 17) - he is distracted as he scans the faces, unable to tell.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
"Yes, there were a couple others with Fog'Horn, we do not know who they were but fought valiantly with our hero. And yes, that was the last time we saw him." The man then steps back and kneels with his brethren.
Harkina nods to Archie, "Yes, and with this many, the sooner we get to High Hall, the better."
Shorah let's go of Virro's leg when he starts patting her head, but reaches up and snatches his hand instead. And leans against him as she watches what is going on with Roo.
Reed looks around at the crowd. The wretchedness of their condition reignites his anger at those corrupt individuals in power always putting their boots on the necks of the 'little' people. Though he does still have to admit to finding it a touch amusing that the entire crowd is enamored with Roo.
"Let's just keep moving," Reed says to Reya. "If Roo moves, they'll follow."
Corlith steps forward as the man steps back and kneels.
"Might I ask a question or two?", he asks, but does not wait for permission before asking anyway. "Have you not tried to make your way to the High Hall? Has no help or food been forthcoming from those residing there?"
Archie gives Harkina a nod, "with this many people it'll be a struggle to keep a watch on all our flanks, you guys should join the group, I'll bring up the rear and make sure we aren't ambushed ok?"
Harkina nods to Archie at her suggestion and ushers her kids a little closer, but unsure if they can join the group.
An older woman then stands up and looks to Corlith, "There... there was this devil riding upon a nightmare of a horse. It was covered in plated armor that was full of spikes, it's lance spewing out fire and even the horse's mane and tail were made of fire! Well.. the thing is we scattered. We saw the fortress over there, but once this creature appeared we all ran and hid. It's taken us some time to find one another." she shudders as she recalls the memory of it. "We haven't run into any survivors here in Elturel. We've seen a few from a distance but none were where we ran and hid." She runs her hands through her hair, "We never called out for help though either, scared we would attract the attention of that thing again."
Corlith listens intently, looking over to Lulu at one point to nod and smile at her.
"Ok, so it isn't exactly safe on this side of the bridge either", he concludes. "We should be cautious as travel, and obviously keep an eye on the skies as well as around us".
He looks across to Roo, "Are you ready to lead these people to safety? Or at least to somewhere a little less exposed".
Roo listens to this description of the other Gallus with Fog' Horn, but doesn't know who they are. His head bobs. He'll have to come back to that in time. Right now, judging by the things he's hearing and the look of the city around them, it's not the time or place to worry about the identity of these others.
"A nightmare horse, you say?" Roo says, feathers bristling as he thinks about it. "Well, buck, seems as though a new challenger has appeared! I say we get you fine featherless folk to the High Hall!"
He hops down, and begins to lead the way...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Archie having not been close enough to the group to listen properly hears roo's clarification and willingness to fight, "a nightmare horse? Is there such a thing? Perhaps they meant a knight and a mare horse. Are we fighting again so soon?"
As you're about to roll out with the addition of 20 plus people, Lulu gives a little trumpet and whirls around in excitement.
The crowd starts to get up to follow Roo.. then the sounds of chains grinding enter the air. The entire city begins to lurch from side to side as the chains holding it down churn and pull it down a couple of feet. You feel the tremble sent through the ground like an earthquake. Everyone needs to make a DC Dex save of 10 or become prone.
One of the buildings near the Gallus worshipers crumbles and starts to fall. The group scatters as fast as they can, but as some were still on their knees, they didn't have a good headstart. A quarter of the group becomes buried under the wreckage, screams cut short as the bodies are crushed.
As the ground shudders and moves Archie in her heavy suit doesn't simply moves with it, remaining steadfast like she is glued to the spot. As soon as buildings start coming down she yells out "AWAY FROM THE BUILDINGS! RUN TO THE NEAREST SQUARE OR MARKET PLACE, REYA IS THER ONE NEARBY?"
Reed seems to be listening to something Lulu is saying though the magic elephant isn’t saying anything and doesn’t notice the beginning of the chain-quake until the buildings start crumbling. He wobbles a little but nimbly side steps some debris and keeps his balance (DEX Save 21).
He glances around quickly to see if there’s anyone he can help out of the rubble (Perception 18).
Too falls prone in the earthquake as his overconfidence gets the better of him...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
The trembling catches Corlith off guard, but although he drops to one knee, he does not fall.
"The city is still being dragged down? How often does this happen?", he says to whichever resident is closer as he regains his feet and looks to those unfortunate to be under rubble. He waits to make sure that there is no further trembling of the city before he moves to help anyone.
"Is it over?".
Dex Save: 11+3=14
Reya also looks at the people buried under the rubble and no one there survived. Looking to Archie, she nods, "Yes, main street to High Hall is much wider, we can stick to the middle."
The man that started talking earlier looks o Corlith and shrugs, "I don't know? It happens. And yes, it's over, for now."
Reya starts leading the group through the main street and High Hall starts coming into view.
"I wonder what happens when the city reaches the bottom", Corlith muses, but follows Reya's lead.
He helps maintain the cohesion of the group as they travel, keeping everyone together and away from buildings, as well as watching the skies.
The group slowly makes their way to the fortress and Reya is a bit shocked at what she sees. This clifftop castle was once the crowning architectural jewel of Elturel. Only three of its five watchtowers towers still stand, though they appear abandoned. The wooden gates that once led into the castle grounds have been shattered, leaving a gaping hole in the wall.
The west side of the castle has been reduced to a pile of smashed brick and broken wood. The surviving buildings are blackened by soot. At the center of the castle grounds, the High Hall cathedral stands defiant.
As you look around from outside the castle gates, you see no threat, nothing waiting your approach.
"Reya, this cathedral... Which god is it dedicated to?" Archie asks as she looks over the devastation of half of the castles surroundings
"It's dedicated to Torm, the god of courage and self-sacrifice. It houses many of Elturel’s religious and political leaders." Looking at the destruction of it all, she adds, "I hope they're all ok."
Reed looks over at the still standing cathedral.
"That looks like the place to get all these people," Reed says.
He looks back at Lulu and then to the rest of the group.
"Is Lulu talking to all of you too?" Reed asks. "She told me something about a demon lord named Yeenoghu who wants to destroy Zariel’s sword. I don't know what any of that means. But it reminds me of what I saw when I was under the bridge. There are demons and devils fighting each other down below. Maybe in all the chaos we just pop down and unhook the city from the chains and maybe it goes back to where it was before."
Even as he finishes saying it, Reed realizes it might not be the most reasonable idea. But less and less of what they're encountering seems reasonable anymore.