"If he truly believes himself to be a danger, we should at least take him somewhere secluded. We'll worry about restraint if it becomes necessary, but I'd rather not expose what is clearly a somewhat personal situation to those who may not react as calmly as we."
When Erolith orders the ale, Tarton asks Myrine, "Is there a holding cell or room with no furnishings we can use, or do you know of one nearby that would give us privacy?" The look of terror has mostly passed, but fear and shame are present. His shaking has decreased to only his hands again.
To Artifex he says, "I'm afraid I might be a disappointment to your research efforts, but if you co..." You might have seen the smallest shadow of hope in his eyes, but if it was ever there, it is gone before the thought finishes crossing your mind as he cuts his sentence mid word then shakes his head.
The Black Rose first looked concernedly at Tarton, but as Artifex began speculating about Tarton's condition, he became more and more intrigued. "I might be able to assist you if the need arises. You know, I'm somewhat of a researcher myself."
Then, he turned to Tarton. "Don't worry, Tarton. We will help you get through this. We just agree to be partners after all"
He looked at the rest of the group. "I suggest we all share a room tonight, so we can take turns watching over Tarton."
He then turned back to Tarton. "We have ale, and I have a robe. Is there anything else we need?"
Tarton drags his feet, head down, as everyone heads to the room. He can hardly make himself look at the cup of ale he'll be drinking from soon, let alone carry it, so he leaves it up to someone else to bring it with them. When the door is shut Tarton removes his cloak, takes the rope from his pack, and puts his cloak and pack in a corner. You see now how much skinnier and scrawny he is compared to other halflings in addition to being on the shorter side.
After mustering his courage a bit, he says, "While I agree with what Artifex and The Black Rose said about writing your own story and choosing the mark you leave behind, for me that is only partially true. While by body may be the pen, and my blood the ink, it is not always I that chooses what is written, nor the shape or size of the mark I leave on others."
He holds out the rope and asks, "Will one of you hog tie my hands and feet together behind my back? Once I have taken a drink..." his voice shakes while saying the word and he swallows loudly before continuing, "After I drink... well, you'll see. It won't take but a few seconds. If the rope doesn't hold, you will need to defend yourselves, so draw what ever weapon you feel you need to defend yourselves before I drink. When I am myself again I will say 'bunny fins'. Oh, and I will need someone" his voice cracks, "someone to pour the ale in my mouth. A mouthful or two will do."
I was waiting to see where the DM wanted this to take place, but felt I better just get it going in case he wanted me to explain the setting. If you want to change where this happens, or anything about the room, feel free.
Myrine looks truly startled at Tarton's question. She even tears her attention away from Artifex long enough to give a reasonably coherent response:
"Oh my! I certainly hope you don't plan to drink that much! I know some mercenaries like to celebrate the night before they set out on a new contract, but they tend to prefer waking the next morning in someone else's bed than the Watch. If you really need to let off steam, we rotate our ale through the cellars by the season, so there's always an empty cellar where the wood's been cleared away to let the corners breathe. Or your room if you must, it won't be the first time so we make all the furniture strong enough to last through a storm goliath's rage."
"The cellars will be great. I don't want to disturb other gests near by." Tarton says as if going to a funeral.
Myrine looks truly startled at Tarton's question. She even tears her attention away from Artifex long enough to give a reasonably coherent response:
"Oh my! I certainly hope you don't plan to drink that much! I know some mercenaries like to celebrate the night before they set out on a new contract, but they tend to prefer waking the next morning in someone else's bed than the Watch. If you really need to let off steam, we rotate our ale through the cellars by the season, so there's always an empty cellar where the wood's been cleared away to let the corners breathe. Or your room if you must, it won't be the first time so we make all the furniture strong enough to last through a storm goliath's rage."
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 takes the rope and begins tying Tarton's hands behind his back. "I must say, usually it's I who's asking to be tied up,though the context is usually much more enjoyable. Is the transformation a physical one or merely an alteration of the mind? I once met a very handsome gentleman who had a vicious alter ego, who's transformation was more one of the mind than the body. Jackle or Jekyll, something like that."
The Black Rose pulled out his quarterstaff with one hand while continuing to hold the mug of ale in the other. He knelt down beside Tarton and asked, "Are you ready?" His voice conveyed a mixture of fear and excitement.
Tarton is finally starting to notice how calm everyone is being and looks confused but also concerned. "It sounds like you have encountered a few of, of these people. Were you in the towns guard and came across this often?" The last word is drawn out and you see his face go pale and his body goes a bit stiff as you see a new thought has just occurred to him. He then says, "You're going to turn me in, aren't you. And look at me, I've already LET you tie me up." He looks at the door for a long moment but doesn't move. As he's lying on the floor, now completely tied up he lets his head fall to the ground and softly mutters to himself, "Why would she lead me here to be captured?"
Wisdomsaving throw in log: 6
Suddenly Tarton says loudly, "Looks like I'll not-" His voice is suddenly cut off as his whole body begins to shake violently. If he was standing, he would have certainly fell heavily to the floor. While his body keeps shaking, you first notice that his ears have elongated, then, while his hands have remained unchanged, there are now claws instead of fingernails. Finally, after almost 10 seconds of violent shaking, his eyes open and a dim red light shines from them. You get the sense that the halfling you spent the evening with is no longer there.
Artifex's eyes shine with fascination as the transformation occurs. Although they take a step or two back, they do not draw a weapon, nor does it look particularly worried. "A shame I didn't get to answer his question. The transformation seems physical as well as mental, perhaps some form of lycanthropy."
They sigh wistfully, glancing back the way they had come. "A shame. It seems I'll not be spending the night with another. Though I suppose there's always another day."
The Black Rose looked from Tarton to Erolith, then to Artifex, and back at Tarton again. "Erolith, if necessary, may I suggest that you utilize the blunt side of your sword, if it has one, or perhaps the flat side, so as not to harm our new partner?"
Erolith tightens on the grip slightly above the pommel of his weapon steadying the blunt end for a defensive strike if necessary. Lycanthropy and unnatural alterations to the natural order of things palpably upsets Erolith’s elven sensibilities.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
You watch as he struggles to get free of the ropes, muscles straining, speaking Infernal in a voice that is not his. After 4 minutes his body goes limp. His eyes are the first to change, the light fading, then his ears and fingernails shrink to normal as well. A few seconds later Tarton's eyes flutter open and after a moment he says, "Bunny fins. It's over." Sweat dripping from his face, he looks around and adds in a soft voice, "Good, I didn't get loose." He then closes his eyes and just lays there.
I hope everything's OK with OisinmacCamron. I haven't heard back from him after I PM'd him directly, so I decided to get this moving ahead so we are ready to go when he gets back to it.
Erolith sheaths his weapon and finds a chair to sit. He rests his head back against the wall and closes his eyes almost completely. You understand that he is resting but fully alert all the same.
——-
I too hope he is okay. He is an excellent storyteller.
"Ah." Artifex seems somewhat disappointed. "Well... That was something I suppose. Is the duration constant or does it change overtime? If it changes at what rate does it change?"
After thinking on what happened for a moment, they perked up suddenly, clearly excited to realize it had more questions. "What language was that? Do you say the same thing every time? How long has this been happening? Do you know if anything specific triggers it?"
They finally stop asking questions, catching it's breath. As they do, seem to realize something. "I may have researched something similar...
As the transformation reverted Tarton's back to his normal form, The Black Rose's hands finally stopped shaking. "I have only read about such transformations. However, I am currently working on something to achieve a similar effect, but with better control, of course. But I am far from achieving the desired result," he explained. He then walked over to Tarton and asked, "Are you okay? You're back, right?"
Tarton just lays there for a minute, his breath becoming more relaxed and steady. It is another minute before he starts talking, "Yea, I'm back." he replies to The Black Rose. Seeming to have made up his mind to start at the beginning and get it all over with, he says, "It started when I was a child. Back then I think it lasted for days at a time if not weeks. I don't hear anything or feel anything while it's happening, only a dim sense of existing and fighting for control so I don't know what is said or in what language. I was locked up while they tried to figure out what is... afflicting me. They tried many different ways to cure me or find a remedy but nothing they tried worked."
He decides that's enough of his history and moves on to answering Artifex's specific questions. "As for what triggers it; the surest way is to drink anything containing alcohol, and it seems to last the longest when I do. Other than that, if there is an unusually stressful situation I can sometimes lose control, like being captured and turned over to the guards to be locked up again. Being restrained seems to shorten the duration, though time seems very different while it is happening. How long was I out for, a couple of hours?"
After he asks this question you see the curiosity growing in him again. You watch his internal struggle to not ask more questions, but he gives in, raises his head off the floor, and asks, "Who was it that hired you all to capture me, or did you see a wanted poster somewhere? How long has it taken you to find me? What is my bounty? That was quite an elaborate trap, how long did it take you to set all this up?"
He lays his head back on the floor in resignation as he waits for a response. Then, suddenly he has a bright look in his eyes and smiles as he tries to escape his bonds.
Acrobatics check in log: 9
He lays his head back and whispers to himself, "Well, it was pretty much a given I wouldn't escape if... I hadn't already."
"If he truly believes himself to be a danger, we should at least take him somewhere secluded. We'll worry about restraint if it becomes necessary, but I'd rather not expose what is clearly a somewhat personal situation to those who may not react as calmly as we."
When Erolith orders the ale, Tarton asks Myrine, "Is there a holding cell or room with no furnishings we can use, or do you know of one nearby that would give us privacy?" The look of terror has mostly passed, but fear and shame are present. His shaking has decreased to only his hands again.
To Artifex he says, "I'm afraid I might be a disappointment to your research efforts, but if you co..." You might have seen the smallest shadow of hope in his eyes, but if it was ever there, it is gone before the thought finishes crossing your mind as he cuts his sentence mid word then shakes his head.
The Black Rose first looked concernedly at Tarton, but as Artifex began speculating about Tarton's condition, he became more and more intrigued. "I might be able to assist you if the need arises. You know, I'm somewhat of a researcher myself."
Then, he turned to Tarton. "Don't worry, Tarton. We will help you get through this. We just agree to be partners after all"
He looked at the rest of the group. "I suggest we all share a room tonight, so we can take turns watching over Tarton."
He then turned back to Tarton. "We have ale, and I have a robe. Is there anything else we need?"
Tarton drags his feet, head down, as everyone heads to the room. He can hardly make himself look at the cup of ale he'll be drinking from soon, let alone carry it, so he leaves it up to someone else to bring it with them. When the door is shut Tarton removes his cloak, takes the rope from his pack, and puts his cloak and pack in a corner. You see now how much skinnier and scrawny he is compared to other halflings in addition to being on the shorter side.
After mustering his courage a bit, he says, "While I agree with what Artifex and The Black Rose said about writing your own story and choosing the mark you leave behind, for me that is only partially true. While by body may be the pen, and my blood the ink, it is not always I that chooses what is written, nor the shape or size of the mark I leave on others."
He holds out the rope and asks, "Will one of you hog tie my hands and feet together behind my back? Once I have taken a drink..." his voice shakes while saying the word and he swallows loudly before continuing, "After I drink... well, you'll see. It won't take but a few seconds. If the rope doesn't hold, you will need to defend yourselves, so draw what ever weapon you feel you need to defend yourselves before I drink. When I am myself again I will say 'bunny fins'. Oh, and I will need someone" his voice cracks, "someone to pour the ale in my mouth. A mouthful or two will do."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was waiting to see where the DM wanted this to take place, but felt I better just get it going in case he wanted me to explain the setting. If you want to change where this happens, or anything about the room, feel free.
"The cellars will be great. I don't want to disturb other gests near by." Tarton says as if going to a funeral.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiting for a volunteer or two to tie him up and give him the ale, I don't want to volunteer for you by just writing it in.
Myrine looks truly startled at Tarton's question. She even tears her attention away from Artifex long enough to give a reasonably coherent response:
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 takes the rope and begins tying Tarton's hands behind his back. "I must say, usually it's I who's asking to be tied up,though the context is usually much more enjoyable. Is the transformation a physical one or merely an alteration of the mind? I once met a very handsome gentleman who had a vicious alter ego, who's transformation was more one of the mind than the body. Jackle or Jekyll, something like that."
The Black Rose pulled out his quarterstaff with one hand while continuing to hold the mug of ale in the other. He knelt down beside Tarton and asked, "Are you ready?" His voice conveyed a mixture of fear and excitement.
Tarton is finally starting to notice how calm everyone is being and looks confused but also concerned. "It sounds like you have encountered a few of, of these people. Were you in the towns guard and came across this often?" The last word is drawn out and you see his face go pale and his body goes a bit stiff as you see a new thought has just occurred to him. He then says, "You're going to turn me in, aren't you. And look at me, I've already LET you tie me up." He looks at the door for a long moment but doesn't move. As he's lying on the floor, now completely tied up he lets his head fall to the ground and softly mutters to himself, "Why would she lead me here to be captured?"
Wisdom saving throw in log: 6
Suddenly Tarton says loudly, "Looks like I'll not-" His voice is suddenly cut off as his whole body begins to shake violently. If he was standing, he would have certainly fell heavily to the floor. While his body keeps shaking, you first notice that his ears have elongated, then, while his hands have remained unchanged, there are now claws instead of fingernails. Finally, after almost 10 seconds of violent shaking, his eyes open and a dim red light shines from them. You get the sense that the halfling you spent the evening with is no longer there.
The Black Rose took a step back, quarterstaff now shaking in his hand. "What a fascinating metamorphosis..." he murmured.
Erolith, sword raised, stands in awe having not seen such a transformation before. “Tarton, are you okay?”
Artifex's eyes shine with fascination as the transformation occurs. Although they take a step or two back, they do not draw a weapon, nor does it look particularly worried. "A shame I didn't get to answer his question. The transformation seems physical as well as mental, perhaps some form of lycanthropy."
They sigh wistfully, glancing back the way they had come. "A shame. It seems I'll not be spending the night with another. Though I suppose there's always another day."
The Black Rose looked from Tarton to Erolith, then to Artifex, and back at Tarton again. "Erolith, if necessary, may I suggest that you utilize the blunt side of your sword, if it has one, or perhaps the flat side, so as not to harm our new partner?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I discussed this with OisinmacCameron and he will be controlling my character when he is not in control of himself.
Erolith tightens on the grip slightly above the pommel of his weapon steadying the blunt end for a defensive strike if necessary. Lycanthropy and unnatural alterations to the natural order of things palpably upsets Erolith’s elven sensibilities.
”Has anyone experienced this before?”
You watch as he struggles to get free of the ropes, muscles straining, speaking Infernal in a voice that is not his. After 4 minutes his body goes limp. His eyes are the first to change, the light fading, then his ears and fingernails shrink to normal as well. A few seconds later Tarton's eyes flutter open and after a moment he says, "Bunny fins. It's over." Sweat dripping from his face, he looks around and adds in a soft voice, "Good, I didn't get loose." He then closes his eyes and just lays there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope everything's OK with OisinmacCamron. I haven't heard back from him after I PM'd him directly, so I decided to get this moving ahead so we are ready to go when he gets back to it.
Erolith sheaths his weapon and finds a chair to sit. He rests his head back against the wall and closes his eyes almost completely. You understand that he is resting but fully alert all the same.
——-
I too hope he is okay. He is an excellent storyteller.
"Ah." Artifex seems somewhat disappointed. "Well... That was something I suppose. Is the duration constant or does it change overtime? If it changes at what rate does it change?"
After thinking on what happened for a moment, they perked up suddenly, clearly excited to realize it had more questions. "What language was that? Do you say the same thing every time? How long has this been happening? Do you know if anything specific triggers it?"
They finally stop asking questions, catching it's breath. As they do, seem to realize something. "I may have researched something similar...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Same. This is honestly one of the best campaigns I've been on to b honest.
OisinmacCamron if you do see this, is there a check I could make to see if Artifex has studied or come across anything like this before?
As the transformation reverted Tarton's back to his normal form, The Black Rose's hands finally stopped shaking. "I have only read about such transformations. However, I am currently working on something to achieve a similar effect, but with better control, of course. But I am far from achieving the desired result," he explained. He then walked over to Tarton and asked, "Are you okay? You're back, right?"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree, he is really good at this. I hope he is okay.
Tarton just lays there for a minute, his breath becoming more relaxed and steady. It is another minute before he starts talking, "Yea, I'm back." he replies to The Black Rose. Seeming to have made up his mind to start at the beginning and get it all over with, he says, "It started when I was a child. Back then I think it lasted for days at a time if not weeks. I don't hear anything or feel anything while it's happening, only a dim sense of existing and fighting for control so I don't know what is said or in what language. I was locked up while they tried to figure out what is... afflicting me. They tried many different ways to cure me or find a remedy but nothing they tried worked."
He decides that's enough of his history and moves on to answering Artifex's specific questions. "As for what triggers it; the surest way is to drink anything containing alcohol, and it seems to last the longest when I do. Other than that, if there is an unusually stressful situation I can sometimes lose control, like being captured and turned over to the guards to be locked up again. Being restrained seems to shorten the duration, though time seems very different while it is happening. How long was I out for, a couple of hours?"
After he asks this question you see the curiosity growing in him again. You watch his internal struggle to not ask more questions, but he gives in, raises his head off the floor, and asks, "Who was it that hired you all to capture me, or did you see a wanted poster somewhere? How long has it taken you to find me? What is my bounty? That was quite an elaborate trap, how long did it take you to set all this up?"
He lays his head back on the floor in resignation as he waits for a response. Then, suddenly he has a bright look in his eyes and smiles as he tries to escape his bonds.
Acrobatics check in log: 9
He lays his head back and whispers to himself, "Well, it was pretty much a given I wouldn't escape if... I hadn't already."