Tarton cannot see any change in the surrounding grasses; a wind has risen and the tossing movement of their tops conceals any smaller motions below. Neither does he recognize the name Ts’serh’stchah, though he seems to hear the echoes of a sadly familiar, guttural voice repeating it in his mind every time he hears it spoken by the creatures around ... sometimes with snarling hatred, sometimes with as much contempt and indifference as if this Ts’serh’stchah were not even a flea but a bedbug; and once ... he could have sworn ... with a suppressed cackle of amusement.
His words, on the other hand, have an immediate effect. The instant he is done speaking, a commanding voice raps out a single word in Draconian, and the remaining lizards drop to their haunches. They still eye you warily, but they immediately check their charge at the command. Silence falls for nine counted seconds that you can almost hear the grains of as they tinkle through the hourglass one by one, and then the same voice begins to speak in ungrammatical but fairly fluent Common. You think it is the voice of a male.
"You come into our hunting ground. We loose lizards, yes, so they may defend selves. Four lizard, five of you, fair; others were accident. But you strike to kill lizards, with bow, not drive off or defend only. And you do this before other two loose. You come with one of Ancient Ones' descendants, but these are not fit deeds for such a one's companions. One the gods have darkened may keep staff, and I see no weapon I fear in dragonborn's hands, but rest of you drop arms until I can come speak with you." The voice seems to blend and swirl into the wind, seeming at one point to come from the grass right beside you and the next moment to be floating up the little stream from the nearby riverbank.
The Black Rose took a step back from the giant lizard, indicating that he wouldn't harm them anymore if they didn't harm him. Then, he spoke, "I am sorry for the actions of me and my frien...." He paused for a second, remembering that even though the others were already friends in his eyes, they might need more time before they felt the same way, and then corrected himself, ".....companions. Let's talk."
Starting with his bow and arrows, then his short sword and finally his three daggers hidden in various places, Tarton drops his weapons outside the pen he is on. While doing this Tarton replies in Draconian, "I thank you for recognizing the fact that accidents do happen to the best of us. I have dropped all my weapons. I look forward to speaking with you, though I'm sure I'm not the one you really want to speak to." He looks at Gwrgi as he sits down on the fence to wait for their approach, very curious about who or what that name belongs to and a little unsettled with what is happening within his mind, all while trying to keep any of it from showing on his face.
Artifex's crossbow, dagger, and quarterstaff hit the ground with little hesitation. "I've no issue dropping these." They say, palming a pebble as It straightens up. "My apologies for the threat I issued previously, I thought it best to approach the situation with a more aggressive tone. Something I'm sure you understand, as warriors. Can I assume I'm speaking to those responsible for the behir skull we saw mounted? An impressive kill to be sure." A smirk rests on Their face, as It scans the area around the group. "You must be noble hunters to possess such a trophy." They're laying it on a little thick, but Artifex figures a little flattery couldn't hurt.
Artifex's crossbow, dagger, and quarterstaff hit the ground with little hesitation. "I've no issue dropping these." They say, palming a pebble as It straightens up. "My apologies for the threat I issued previously, I thought it best to approach the situation with a more aggressive tone. Something I'm sure you understand, as warriors. Can I assume I'm speaking to those responsible for the behir skull we saw mounted? An impressive kill to be sure." A smirk rests on Their face, as It scans the area around the group. "You must be noble hunters to possess such a trophy." They're laying it on a little thick, but Artifex figures a little flattery couldn't hurt.
Should I roll anything? I'm thinking a flat charisma check.
(Actually I'd say Persuasion is a bit closer. I'll wait to see what the roll is before describing 'Ts’serh’stchah's and the other presumed lizardfolks' reactions)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
I would like to join I have a few characters but I would like to be my character Sandy she is a halfling and she's a rogue do I need to put all the information about her?
(not everything. The information I ask for is listed below. In the case of the ability scores, I've decided I won't insist that players reroll those fresh for the campaign as long as they're not ridiculously unbalanced (like all scores above 16, for example ... something on that level), though some DMs do make that a requirement. If you WANT to, though, I've left in the info about the methods I use)
Ability scores: (4d6, drop lowest; take standard array if you hate what you get)**
Character name:
Character race:
Character class/planned subclass*:
(Background) Backstory:
(* this is usually optional, since the current party is still at level 1 and in most cases hasn't specialized yet, but since Tarton is already a halfling rogue I want to make sure the characters aren't too similar. If you use a different character, it becomes optional again as long as they're not an elven/eladrin artificer, a human monk, an elven ranger or a dragonborn cleric (the other classes in the party, o.c.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Artifex's crossbow, dagger, and quarterstaff hit the ground with little hesitation. "I've no issue dropping these." They say, palming a pebble as It straightens up. "My apologies for the threat I issued previously, I thought it best to approach the situation with a more aggressive tone. Something I'm sure you understand, as warriors. Can I assume I'm speaking to those responsible for the behir skull we saw mounted? An impressive kill to be sure." A smirk rests on Their face, as It scans the area around the group. "You must be noble hunters to possess such a trophy." They're laying it on a little thick, but Artifex figures a little flattery couldn't hurt.
Should I roll anything? I'm thinking a flat charisma check.
(Actually I'd say Persuasion is a bit closer. I'll wait to see what the roll is before describing 'Ts’serh’stchah's and the other presumed lizardfolks' reactions)
A moment of icy silence follows Artifex' words. Then'Ts’serh’stchah speaks again. "Behir or no behir, skull is not your affair. And words are not so easy smoothed away among my people. Takes many more than you have spoken, to try with more words wipe away words. Wait until I come, and I will speak of deed you may do apologize much better." The reeds begin to rustle on both sides of the path you took to come here, and lizardfolk warriors step out, at least a dozen ... except in one place, the spot you paused just before the the lizardfolk's poor wittle doggies decided they wanted to come play. The reeds in that place remain absolutely still ... but there is suddenly a burly lizardfolk there. He does not look like the strongest among his warriors ... one or two are certainly larger ... but you can all feel the power and gravitas you see in his eyes radiating out from him as an almost physical force.
(Background) Backstory: lives alone but one in awhile will spy on people wishing she had someone to talk to etc but knows no one will ever want to get to know me
(I hope this is okay I can change anything if you need me to fyi a little about her personality she's like a Carmelo or a something similar hard on the outside and nice and beautiful on the inside I hope if it's okay if I have her be like a cat like have the cat ears and tail etc if not that's fine)
The Black Rose shifted his attention from the rustling reeds on the right to those on the left. Initially oblivious to the presence that hadn't disturbed the reeds, he suddenly felt the palpable power and gravitas emanating from the burly lizardfolk. It was a force he felt more than saw.
Fifteen lizardfolk warriors now form a double file lining the pathway by which you came. Four of these came after their leader had spoken; these seem to have caught the giant lizards who fled from you. At least, Artifex thinks they recognize a suspiciously ink-stained fragment of skin clinging to one of the lizard's muzzles just above the corner of its mouth. (anyone who likes to look a little closer can make a two-roll check: the first roll is Investigation; the second, your choice of Nature or Medicine. DC 13 for both)
The leader slowly advances between his warriors. His eyes are fixed on Gwrgi, who has remained carefully silent and motionless since he first spoke. After a long pause he speaks again. "Most strange this. You come with one of the Godsborn, but your words are .. less than fitting. And when you are questioned about them, you hide behind silence. There is only one way then that I may know truth from untruth."
"You must be willing to die to your old self, that self I cannot trust. You must pass through the rebirth, the 'Osssl'th, that all pass through in our tribe when we come of age. Only then will I know that thy words do not twine like the hyk’v’ysss’t weed, snaking ever under the muddy waters of thy scaleless countenances that are so turbid and hard to read. None such e’er did the Godsborn suffer before in the ranks of their meanest slaves, save those tr’kynt’k’sskcha gk’r’sssnthsh rrrrr’kn who dared not yet be trusted with arms among their people. Even the Fallen did not so. …"
"Yet who knoweth what the children of the secret line may bring about, descended of two moons as they are? In the pit of ‘Osssl'th ye shall prove your faith, for there you will be born anew of the egg and the scale, and shall become one of the Kindred. And none of the Kindred may lie to me and hope to hide their perfidy. Ten floods ago did Semuanya call my eyes to Her service in guiding Her faithful children’s spirits. I see far clearer than that fool the warchief’s son."
The Black Rose listened attentively to the words of the lizardfolks and responded, "If this ritual of yours can prove that this is all a misunderstanding, I will gladly take part in it, as long as you promise the ritual itself is not harmful. What you choose to do if I fail the test, of course, can be harmful. Not that I will fail, because this is truly a misunderstanding." He continued, this time with a smile on his lips, "And after this ritual of yours, maybe you will be willing to share more of your stories and legends. I find all of this truly fascinating."
-----------
He is telling the truth. He believes this is all a misunderstanding, and he truly wants to learn more. Let me know if I need to roll anything.
"the pit..." Artifex says thoughtfully. "Don't suppose it's a trial by combat? That could be entertaining indeed. That being said, truth and untruth are more alike than people seem to think. Talk long enough, and the truth can become whatever one pleases."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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The Black Rose whispered back to Tarton, "It is a good plan..." He paused, his voice calm but carrying a hint of concern, "just be careful!"
Tarton cannot see any change in the surrounding grasses; a wind has risen and the tossing movement of their tops conceals any smaller motions below. Neither does he recognize the name Ts’serh’stchah, though he seems to hear the echoes of a sadly familiar, guttural voice repeating it in his mind every time he hears it spoken by the creatures around ... sometimes with snarling hatred, sometimes with as much contempt and indifference as if this Ts’serh’stchah were not even a flea but a bedbug; and once ... he could have sworn ... with a suppressed cackle of amusement.
His words, on the other hand, have an immediate effect. The instant he is done speaking, a commanding voice raps out a single word in Draconian, and the remaining lizards drop to their haunches. They still eye you warily, but they immediately check their charge at the command. Silence falls for nine counted seconds that you can almost hear the grains of as they tinkle through the hourglass one by one, and then the same voice begins to speak in ungrammatical but fairly fluent Common. You think it is the voice of a male.
"You come into our hunting ground. We loose lizards, yes, so they may defend selves. Four lizard, five of you, fair; others were accident. But you strike to kill lizards, with bow, not drive off or defend only. And you do this before other two loose. You come with one of Ancient Ones' descendants, but these are not fit deeds for such a one's companions. One the gods have darkened may keep staff, and I see no weapon I fear in dragonborn's hands, but rest of you drop arms until I can come speak with you." The voice seems to blend and swirl into the wind, seeming at one point to come from the grass right beside you and the next moment to be floating up the little stream from the nearby riverbank.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
The Black Rose took a step back from the giant lizard, indicating that he wouldn't harm them anymore if they didn't harm him. Then, he spoke, "I am sorry for the actions of me and my frien...." He paused for a second, remembering that even though the others were already friends in his eyes, they might need more time before they felt the same way, and then corrected himself, ".....companions. Let's talk."
Starting with his bow and arrows, then his short sword and finally his three daggers hidden in various places, Tarton drops his weapons outside the pen he is on. While doing this Tarton replies in Draconian, "I thank you for recognizing the fact that accidents do happen to the best of us. I have dropped all my weapons. I look forward to speaking with you, though I'm sure I'm not the one you really want to speak to." He looks at Gwrgi as he sits down on the fence to wait for their approach, very curious about who or what that name belongs to and a little unsettled with what is happening within his mind, all while trying to keep any of it from showing on his face.
Artifex's crossbow, dagger, and quarterstaff hit the ground with little hesitation. "I've no issue dropping these." They say, palming a pebble as It straightens up. "My apologies for the threat I issued previously, I thought it best to approach the situation with a more aggressive tone. Something I'm sure you understand, as warriors. Can I assume I'm speaking to those responsible for the behir skull we saw mounted? An impressive kill to be sure." A smirk rests on Their face, as It scans the area around the group. "You must be noble hunters to possess such a trophy." They're laying it on a little thick, but Artifex figures a little flattery couldn't hurt.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Should I roll anything? I'm thinking a flat charisma check.
Erolith warily slides his bow over his shoulder in a sign that he is ceasing combat.
(Actually I'd say Persuasion is a bit closer. I'll wait to see what the roll is before describing 'Ts’serh’stchah's and the other presumed lizardfolks' reactions)
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Well damn, that's an 8
I would like to join I have a few characters but I would like to be my character Sandy she is a halfling and she's a rogue do I need to put all the information about her?
(not everything. The information I ask for is listed below. In the case of the ability scores, I've decided I won't insist that players reroll those fresh for the campaign as long as they're not ridiculously unbalanced (like all scores above 16, for example ... something on that level), though some DMs do make that a requirement. If you WANT to, though, I've left in the info about the methods I use)
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
A moment of icy silence follows Artifex' words. Then'Ts’serh’stchah speaks again. "Behir or no behir, skull is not your affair. And words are not so easy smoothed away among my people. Takes many more than you have spoken, to try with more words wipe away words. Wait until I come, and I will speak of deed you may do apologize much better." The reeds begin to rustle on both sides of the path you took to come here, and lizardfolk warriors step out, at least a dozen ... except in one place, the spot you paused just before the the lizardfolk's poor wittle doggies decided they wanted to come play. The reeds in that place remain absolutely still ... but there is suddenly a burly lizardfolk there. He does not look like the strongest among his warriors ... one or two are certainly larger ... but you can all feel the power and gravitas you see in his eyes radiating out from him as an almost physical force.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Artifex tilts their head curiously, electing to remain silent, It's smirk unchanged.
Ability scores: str:-1(8) Dex:+1(12) con:+1(12) in:+3(16) wis:+2(14) cha:+1(13)
Character name: Sandy
Character race: Fire Gensai
Character class/planned subclass*: Ranger Level 1
(Background) Backstory: lives alone but one in awhile will spy on people wishing she had someone to talk to etc but knows no one will ever want to get to know me
(I hope this is okay I can change anything if you need me to fyi a little about her personality she's like a Carmelo or a something similar hard on the outside and nice and beautiful on the inside I hope if it's okay if I have her be like a cat like have the cat ears and tail etc if not that's fine)
The Black Rose shifted his attention from the rustling reeds on the right to those on the left. Initially oblivious to the presence that hadn't disturbed the reeds, he suddenly felt the palpable power and gravitas emanating from the burly lizardfolk. It was a force he felt more than saw.
Walks out of the reeds and looks at Black Rose
Erolith looks to the group to decipher what their next actions will be. Escalating violence at this point seems futile.
Fifteen lizardfolk warriors now form a double file lining the pathway by which you came. Four of these came after their leader had spoken; these seem to have caught the giant lizards who fled from you. At least, Artifex thinks they recognize a suspiciously ink-stained fragment of skin clinging to one of the lizard's muzzles just above the corner of its mouth. (anyone who likes to look a little closer can make a two-roll check: the first roll is Investigation; the second, your choice of Nature or Medicine. DC 13 for both)
The leader slowly advances between his warriors. His eyes are fixed on Gwrgi, who has remained carefully silent and motionless since he first spoke. After a long pause he speaks again. "Most strange this. You come with one of the Godsborn, but your words are .. less than fitting. And when you are questioned about them, you hide behind silence. There is only one way then that I may know truth from untruth."
"You must be willing to die to your old self, that self I cannot trust. You must pass through the rebirth, the 'Osssl'th, that all pass through in our tribe when we come of age. Only then will I know that thy words do not twine like the hyk’v’ysss’t weed, snaking ever under the muddy waters of thy scaleless countenances that are so turbid and hard to read. None such e’er did the Godsborn suffer before in the ranks of their meanest slaves, save those tr’kynt’k’sskcha gk’r’sssnthsh rrrrr’kn who dared not yet be trusted with arms among their people. Even the Fallen did not so. …"
"Yet who knoweth what the children of the secret line may bring about, descended of two moons as they are? In the pit of ‘Osssl'th ye shall prove your faith, for there you will be born anew of the egg and the scale, and shall become one of the Kindred. And none of the Kindred may lie to me and hope to hide their perfidy. Ten floods ago did Semuanya call my eyes to Her service in guiding Her faithful children’s spirits. I see far clearer than that fool the warchief’s son."
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
"who are you!?" (How do you do the rolls I wanna do a intimidation)
The Black Rose listened attentively to the words of the lizardfolks and responded, "If this ritual of yours can prove that this is all a misunderstanding, I will gladly take part in it, as long as you promise the ritual itself is not harmful. What you choose to do if I fail the test, of course, can be harmful. Not that I will fail, because this is truly a misunderstanding." He continued, this time with a smile on his lips, "And after this ritual of yours, maybe you will be willing to share more of your stories and legends. I find all of this truly fascinating."
-----------
He is telling the truth. He believes this is all a misunderstanding, and he truly wants to learn more. Let me know if I need to roll anything.
"the pit..." Artifex says thoughtfully. "Don't suppose it's a trial by combat? That could be entertaining indeed. That being said, truth and untruth are more alike than people seem to think. Talk long enough, and the truth can become whatever one pleases."