The voice chuckles. "Indecision is never a good idea in situations like this. I asked you for one helper, and you thought three. This should be fun! Let's see ...
Oh, this is too rich. '... you should have chosen someone who can use magic ...', you said next. ...
Oh, THANK you, so very much thank you. I've wanted to get my hands on that cockawhoop eladrin for ... Well, anyway, let's see if THEY dance as deftly as your monky friend here can."
And sure enough, The Black Rose (who in fact DID evade both the cetterspap attacks and is therefore not either poisoned or slashed) suddenly feels a cold swirl of mist rise up from the fallen webbing. When he next listens he hears neither cetterspap nor Tarton, but the normal noises of the lizardfolk pit. And Artifex, whose attention has been drawn by the strange immobility of their companions, experiences a strange doubling of sensations as their mind and perceptions fade out of one world and into another. At one moment they are listening to Tser'ts'tchah 's voice declaiming, with the smoothest of mock-sorrow, "Must applaud most creative idea. Alas, lizardfolk not squirrels. Cannot eat nut. So sorry, but two of portions therefore not coun ... "
Next moment, a far smoother and colder voice is laughing in their ears.
"Oh dahling, if you only knew what fate has in store! You like to think you're quite the player, don't you? Well, there's someone I know who's a player too, and on a far vaster scale. And I do believe you're on the docket to meet her soon; and she's had her weather eye out for a chance to play with you for quite some time now." It indulges in a most theatrically villanous chuckle before nailing the 'knock 'em dead' punch line.
"But before all that tediousness, I thought I'd give you a few final moments of enjoyment playing with my cetterspap."
=========
(...aand Artifex is up to roll for initiative as they appear with Tarton in the dream world, and The Black Rose vanishes therefrom; Tarton can try to end the fright again, and then can also roll for initiative ... with or without disadvantage (since it's an ability check, in this case DEX) depending on the result of the save; and as more characters are affected it's easier for the rest to pick up something is unnatural about their sudden stillness ... everyone else can make same rolls if they wish, and DC is now only 9.)
The Black Rose found himself back in the pit. Then he heard Artifex and responded, "No enemy is here, I think. Not here but somewhere else." He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. Quickly, he walked over to Tser'ts'tchah, demanding answers. "What was in the tea? Tarton and I were just somewhere else, fighting a creature made of spiders, and he was terrified." He pointed to Tarton. "Why is he still standing still? Where is my friend? I can't leave him alone with that thing!" The fear he had resisted before now filled him up, tears streaming down his face. "He knew that creature's voice... I can't leave him alone with it. If I'm this scared, I don't know how he must feel."
A low hiss escapes from between clenched teeth as the creatures presence becomes known to Artifex. Their ever present smile falters for the first time since Tarton has met it, but with visible effort, they manage to force it to remain. It's eyes burn with a combination of fear and hatred, and their hand fumbles for a dagger it knows will not be there...but much to their surprise they feel the familiar touch of cold metal at its side. "Tarton." Their voice is steady, but has lost all of its usual humor. "Why is there a foul approximation of an ettercap here, and why in the *seven hells* can it speak!"
Gears grind in their head, it's eyes darting around like a cornered animal before locking back on the monster. "You claim to know me?" Artifex's voice is laced through with equal parts fear, confusion, and disgust.
Artifex appears and sees Tarton looking down in fear of the monster, and after they're done speaking, Tarton says to the monster in a trembling voice, "I assumed the first person I thought of would be the one I brought with me." After a short pause he says, "Oooh, that was the idea I gave you wasn't it? Great. Just great." Tarton can't stop himself in time from thinking about Erolith, but as that thought creeps in, he stops thinking of people altogether so as to not involve anyone else.
Tarton grabs his next arrow and while holding it in his shaking hands answers Artifex's question with almost the exact same answer he gave The Black Rose, "This demon has haunted me for a long time and is who takes over when I lose control of myself. She has brought this monster here to fight me and one of my choosing as a game, and if I win she'll not bother me for a while. You'll likely only get one attack before you're replaced with the next person I thought of."
In anger over his fear of this monster, Tarton yells at the demon, "I will get you out of my mind for good eventually!!" and slashes the arrowhead down his face over his right eye. And with that he has broken the fear that was overwhelming him. And finally he looks directly at the monster and in a much firmer, lower, and fiercer voice he says, "And then I will make evil run from me." He then drops the arrow and draws his short sword ready to charge at the fowl creature.
I want to say he only does 1 point of damage and doesn't lose his eye, but I will leave how much damage is done and all that up to you as you are such a great story creator and teller. I don't know what the initiative order is, nor the effects of the slash he did to refocus himself, so I did not make Tarton's attack.
My apologies, adventures. I have been locked out of my account and the app since I purchased a new mobile device. I am back on the website, obviously, and I am working on unlocking the app.
The Black Rose found himself back in the pit. Then he heard Artifex and responded, "No enemy is here, I think. Not here but somewhere else." He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. Quickly, he walked over to Tser'ts'tchah, demanding answers. "What was in the tea? Tarton and I were just somewhere else, fighting a creature made of spiders, and he was terrified." He pointed to Tarton. "Why is he still standing still? Where is my friend? I can't leave him alone with that thing!" The fear he had resisted before now filled him up, tears streaming down his face. "He knew that creature's voice... I can't leave him alone with it. If I'm this scared, I don't know how he must feel."
The tone of dry amusement evaporates immediately from Tser'ts'tchah's voice as he hears the distress in The Black Rose's questions. "Nothing in tea should do that. And initiation not supposed put candidate in real peril, only to test spirit. But from what you say, sound like uninvited spirit showed up. Initiation is suspended altogether until we help your friend, find out ... what ... " He shakes his head, as if to clear it, then tilts it as if just becoming aware of the strange music The Black Rose's practiced ears picked out from the background a few moments before. For just a moment he looks almst ... befuddled? Then he pulls himself together and resumes where he left off.
"... what going on with him. Go up to first hut on left after you climb path, tell my apprentice come here with spirit bag. Then all of us go help."
A low hiss escapes from between clenched teeth as the creatures presence becomes known to Artifex. Their ever present smile falters for the first time since Tarton has met it, but with visible effort, they manage to force it to remain. It's eyes burn with a combination of fear and hatred, and their hand fumbles for a dagger it knows will not be there...but much to their surprise they feel the familiar touch of cold metal at its side. "Tarton." Their voice is steady, but has lost all of its usual humor. "Why is there a foul approximation of an ettercap here, and why in the *seven hells* can it speak!"
Gears grind in their head, it's eyes darting around like a cornered animal before locking back on the monster. "You claim to know me?" Artifex's voice is laced through with equal parts fear, confusion, and disgust.
Artifex appears and sees Tarton looking down in fear of the monster, and after it is done speaking, Tarton says to the monster in a trembling voice, "I assumed the first person I thought of would be the one I brought with me." After a short pause he says, "Oooh, that was the idea I gave you wasn't it? Great. Just great." Tarton can't stop himself in time from thinking about Erolith, but as that thought creeps in, he stops thinking of people altogether so as to not involve anyone else.
Tarton grabs his next arrow and while holding it in his shaking hands answers Artifex's question with almost the exact same answer he gave The Black Rose, "This demon has haunted me for a long time and is who takes over when I lose control of myself. She has brought this monster here to fight me and one of my choosing as a game, and if I win she'll not bother me for a while. You'll likely only get one attack before you're replaced with the next person I thought of."
In anger over his fear of this monster, Tarton yells at the demon, "I will get you out of my mind for good eventually!!" and slashes the arrowhead down his face over his right eye. And with that he has broken the fear that was overwhelming him. And finally he looks directly at the monster and in a much firmer, lower, and fiercer voice he says, "And then I will make evil run from me." He then drops the arrow and draws his short sword ready to charge at the fowl creature.
I want to say he only does 1 point of damage and doesn't lose his eye, but I will leave how much damage is done and all that up to you as you are such a great story creator and teller. I don't know what the initiative order is, nor the effects of the slash he did to refocus himself, so I did not make Tarton's attack.
"*Nine*Hells, Artifex Cogitat. Always remember that ninth, that's where Mr. Prissmodeus keeps tabs on everyone in the multiverse. And one can slip out a record or two, occasionally." It laughs briefly. "Is that how I know you? You'll never know. And frankly ... all this talking begins to bore me." Artifex hears a whispering hiss as the cetterspap suddenly lunges towards them.
Meanwhile Tarton, reaching deep into wells of courage he never knew he had, slices a small, neat diagonal scar just below his eye. The real pain has the effect of instantly focusing him and breaking the fear. He feels his head clear and knows he will be able to act in time to help Artifex ... but he fears that in its own world, the cetterspap/demon might be quicker than either of them. And in fact ...
=========
Cetterspap claw (at Tarton as he starts his charge)
Spider spray (at Artifex, to keep them off balance)
(For this round initiatives are: Ctrspap 21, Tarton 18, Artifex 8. On the subsequent round, Tarton can decide whether to keep his 18 init throughout the combat, but also allow the cetterspap to keep its 21 initiative each round; or whether he'd prefer to have everyone roll fresh each time.
The arrow wound does in fact do 1 hp, plus roll a d20. On a nat 1 the scar reduces Tarton's CHA by 1 (maybe some dirt gets in the wound and it heals badly?), 2 - 18 there is no further effect beyond the 1hp damage, 19 or 20 his CHA goes up one (from the worldly and experienced look the small scar gives him).
My apologies, adventures. I have been locked out of my account and the app since I purchased a new mobile device. I am back on the website, obviously, and I am working on unlocking the app.
So glad you're OK, welcome back! I'll try not to throw you any curveballs till you get caught up on the thread. Basic summary, though: you're tripping in a muddy pit in the middle of the lizardfolk village; Zelock's character was there when you arrived, and ... well, you can prob guess from the recent posts that Erolith is shortly about to be drawn into the epic legend entitled Tarton's Dream LOL
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
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
---------------------------------------------------- Since it's just a D20 I'll roll it here and quote it. I was thinking you might have Tarton lose the eye but only in the dream scape and have to attack with disadvantage and when he returned he would have his eye back. But if he ever went to the dream plane he would have the wound. That is very generous to potentially give an ability bonus.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
---------------------------------------------------- Since it's just a D20 I'll roll it here and quote it. I was thinking you might have Tarton lose the eye but only in the dream scape and have to attack with disadvantage and when he returned he would have his eye back. But if he ever went to the dream plane he would have the wound. That is very generous to potentially give an ability bonus.
--------------------------------------------- Have you ever seen it list the potentially manipulated dice roll when it didn't say that in the quoted post? I did have trouble getting the quote to load. I had to click it three times before it would show up in the next post.
EDIT: Now I see the manipulated dice roll warning for the first post, but it was originally a 16. If you want I can roll it again and do it from the character sheet.
The Black Rose wiped his tears away and nodded, then followed Tser'ts'tchah's instructions. As he climbed up over the path and started to turn left, he began yelling at every lizardfolk he could find, "I seek Tser'ts'tchah's apprentice! They and their spirit bag are needed by Tser'ts'tchah in the pit!" His voice echoed through the swampy surroundings, urgency lacing his every word. He continued to shout, hoping to quickly locate the apprentice and the spirit bag.
I'm a little unclear, should I take my turn? You said the creature did a few things but didn't make any rolls or anything... Sorry to break the flow of combat
(aaaawks, how careless of me! here's the stats, except since this is a misty moisty dream and the creature isn't entirely physical, halve all damage it does to those it hits [round up]. And yes, go ahead and take both your turns ... since it was a neutral result no need to reroll the scar effect, badfishingdad, can just act normally -- with two eyes, but next round you'll need to stanch the blood with a BA or risk having it run down into your righr eye and partially blind you )
Cetterspap claw (at Tarton as he starts his charge) 4; damage if hits (3)/2 slashing
Spider spray (at Artifex, to keep them off balance) 21; damage if hits (3)/2 poison, and must succeed in a DC 12 WIS saving throw or be afflicted for the next round with the delusion that they are covered with the spiders, suffering disadvantage on any action except attempts to beat and brush off the creatures.
The Black Rose does not have far to go. He has scarcely left the pit when he feels a gentle hand laid on his shoulder to halt him, and he is led into the coolness of a hut that must, from the varied and aromatic smells that swirl down from above , have many different sorts of herbs hanging to dry from the ceiling. His guide is silent until the end, only saying, "Here apprentice of Tser'ts'tchah is.," before hurrying away. The Black Rose picks up a hint of nervousness in the creature's voice; and he also finds it a little odd that the guide phrased it that way instead of putting the shaman's name first and saying '... Tser'ts'tchah's apprentice ... '.
A moment later, the much drier and firmer voice of a female lizardfolk issues from the deeper coolness and echoes that he has learned to associate with an inner chamber. "Am Aassak'ess'thaur, shaman of Semuanya. What for master send you me?"
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
The Black Rose bowed in the direction of the voice. "My friend is..." The Black Rose composed himself and continued, "Aassak'ess'thaur, in short, I was sent to get you and the spirit bag. Tser'ts'tchah needs you and that bag back in the pit as soon as possible. We have run into some complications." He straightened up, his voice calm but urgent, hoping his message conveyed the seriousness of the situation.
Artifex winces slightly at the sting of the poison. "Is that-" their demeanor shifts, and they cut itself off, releasing a string of elvish curses, as they frantically begin brushing themselves off. "Godsdamnitihate*******spiders!"
Tarton dodges the slash from the monster and slashes back at it's leg with his sword. Trying to distract the monster from the ally that Tarton guesses will be coming next he says, "You couldn't handle picking on someone stronger than a halfling child? You must not be a very strong demon. I bet you're just another demon's summoned pet playing at being stronger than she is."
After swinging his sword at the monster in his right hand, he quickly wipes away the blood dripping down his face. Then with his left hand he grabs the back of his hood and pulls it tight with the edge pressing on the wound over his eye to try to apply pressure to slow the bleeding.
-------------------------------------------- Attack: 14 Not sure that hits, but if it does: 9 piercing
Should read my character sheet better, Tarton has advantage on saving throws vs fear (but I like how this turned out anyway).
Added: Forgot to choose the initiative option I was given. Lets go with keeping my 18 and the cetterspap keeping the 21.
The Black Rose bowed in the direction of the voice. "My friend is..." The Black Rose composed himself and continued, "Aassak'ess'thaur, in short, I was sent to get you and the spirit bag. Tser'ts'tchah needs you and that bag back in the pit as soon as possible. We have run into some complications." He straightened up, his voice calm but urgent, hoping his message conveyed the seriousness of the situation.
A hint of dry amusement creeps into the apprentice shaman's voice. The Black Rose can't help a stray thought that master and apprentice are well matched ... or, perhaps, that they well deserve each other. "No. Your friend not Aassak'ess'thaur. IAassak'ess'thaur, in tall not short." She pauses just long enough that he thinks she will say nothing more; then laughs briefly. "Assume you mean your friend's spirit troubled, and master needs bag to cure." He can just hear an indrawn sigh. The next words he hears her speak aloud are, "Coming, then." But with his sharpened hearing he also half hears something that sounds suspiciously like, "Typical. If I been chosen by old Ekath'na'twth ... "
Tarton dodges the slash from the monster and slashes back at it's leg with his sword. Trying to distract the monster from the ally that Tarton guesses will be coming next he says, "You couldn't handle picking on someone stronger than a halfling child? You must not be a very strong demon. I bet you're just another demon's summoned pet playing at being stronger than she is."
-------------------------------------------- Attack: 14 Not sure that hits, but if it does: 9 piercing
Should read my character sheet better, Tarton has advantage on saving throws vs fear (but I like how this turned out anyway).
Added: Forgot to choose the initiative option I was given. Lets go with keeping my 18 and the cetterspap keeping the 21.
The cetterspap quickly pulls its spidery limbs away to avoid Tarton's blow ... but not quite quickly enough. It hisses in pain and anger as the sword pierces its fore'leg'. No blood issues from the strange creature; instead, a clump of spiders is pushed out of the limb and drops to the ground. There, it quickly disperses into individual arachnids who then slowly dissolve into puffs of mist and vanish. And when they do, the body of the cetterspap looks just a little more tenuous; as if the wounds it takes damage not its 'flesh' but the spirit force that holds it together. But the creature does not seem mainly focused on the wound. Its eyes glow red at Tarton's words, and it turns its head to glare at him. Meanwhile, sure enough, he sees Artifex begin to fade away. There is a slight hesitation this time ... almost as if the demon briefly regretted agreeing to any sort of priest being involved in this ... and then the misty outline of Tser'ts'tchah begins to coalesce where Artifex had stood ...
while back in the pit, things become ... interesting. Those there see Artifex, after suddenly becoming unresponsive like The Black Rose had been and standing immobile a little while, drop to the ground equally abruptly and start slapping frantically at their person with many a curse against spiderkind ... at least, they all sound like curses, even the ones in languages no one present has ever heard before. And at the same time, Tser'ts'tchah gets a very startled look in his eyes and then becomes motionless himself ...
... just as the odd music finally becomes audible to all, and most enchantingly sweet music it is too! In fact, >;-) ...
========
why don't we nosh on some DC14 WIS saves (or DC12 for the more sober), this lovely teatime ... At the moment, though you can hear several flautists ... for the music is indeed that of flutes ... only three particular strains are enchanting enough they will require a save, and at the moment only one is close enough to actually take effect. I think I'll stagger it out over 3 rounds for convenience, one save at the beginning of each, and those who save are immune to that particular piper ... well, more than long enough to last through this encounter)
(and a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel ... by the time the merriment in the pit is done, all of the original party should have leveled up to join Uz at lv2. Thought I'd let you know now so you can start planning)
The voice chuckles. "Indecision is never a good idea in situations like this. I asked you for one helper, and you thought three. This should be fun! Let's see ...
Oh, this is too rich. '... you should have chosen someone who can use magic ...', you said next. ...
Oh, THANK you, so very much thank you. I've wanted to get my hands on that cockawhoop eladrin for ... Well, anyway, let's see if THEY dance as deftly as your monky friend here can."
And sure enough, The Black Rose (who in fact DID evade both the cetterspap attacks and is therefore not either poisoned or slashed) suddenly feels a cold swirl of mist rise up from the fallen webbing. When he next listens he hears neither cetterspap nor Tarton, but the normal noises of the lizardfolk pit. And Artifex, whose attention has been drawn by the strange immobility of their companions, experiences a strange doubling of sensations as their mind and perceptions fade out of one world and into another. At one moment they are listening to Tser'ts'tchah 's voice declaiming, with the smoothest of mock-sorrow, "Must applaud most creative idea. Alas, lizardfolk not squirrels. Cannot eat nut. So sorry, but two of portions therefore not coun ... "
Next moment, a far smoother and colder voice is laughing in their ears.
"Oh dahling, if you only knew what fate has in store! You like to think you're quite the player, don't you? Well, there's someone I know who's a player too, and on a far vaster scale. And I do believe you're on the docket to meet her soon; and she's had her weather eye out for a chance to play with you for quite some time now." It indulges in a most theatrically villanous chuckle before nailing the 'knock 'em dead' punch line.
"But before all that tediousness, I thought I'd give you a few final moments of enjoyment playing with my cetterspap."
=========
(...aand Artifex is up to roll for initiative as they appear with Tarton in the dream world, and The Black Rose vanishes therefrom; Tarton can try to end the fright again, and then can also roll for initiative ... with or without disadvantage (since it's an ability check, in this case DEX) depending on the result of the save; and as more characters are affected it's easier for the rest to pick up something is unnatural about their sudden stillness ... everyone else can make same rolls if they wish, and DC is now only 9.)
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 found himself back in the pit. Then he heard Artifex and responded, "No enemy is here, I think. Not here but somewhere else." He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. Quickly, he walked over to Tser'ts'tchah, demanding answers. "What was in the tea? Tarton and I were just somewhere else, fighting a creature made of spiders, and he was terrified." He pointed to Tarton. "Why is he still standing still? Where is my friend? I can't leave him alone with that thing!" The fear he had resisted before now filled him up, tears streaming down his face. "He knew that creature's voice... I can't leave him alone with it. If I'm this scared, I don't know how he must feel."
A low hiss escapes from between clenched teeth as the creatures presence becomes known to Artifex. Their ever present smile falters for the first time since Tarton has met it, but with visible effort, they manage to force it to remain. It's eyes burn with a combination of fear and hatred, and their hand fumbles for a dagger it knows will not be there...but much to their surprise they feel the familiar touch of cold metal at its side. "Tarton." Their voice is steady, but has lost all of its usual humor. "Why is there a foul approximation of an ettercap here, and why in the *seven hells* can it speak!"
Gears grind in their head, it's eyes darting around like a cornered animal before locking back on the monster. "You claim to know me?" Artifex's voice is laced through with equal parts fear, confusion, and disgust.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Init: 8
Artifex appears and sees Tarton looking down in fear of the monster, and after they're done speaking, Tarton says to the monster in a trembling voice, "I assumed the first person I thought of would be the one I brought with me." After a short pause he says, "Oooh, that was the idea I gave you wasn't it? Great. Just great." Tarton can't stop himself in time from thinking about Erolith, but as that thought creeps in, he stops thinking of people altogether so as to not involve anyone else.
Tarton grabs his next arrow and while holding it in his shaking hands answers Artifex's question with almost the exact same answer he gave The Black Rose, "This demon has haunted me for a long time and is who takes over when I lose control of myself. She has brought this monster here to fight me and one of my choosing as a game, and if I win she'll not bother me for a while. You'll likely only get one attack before you're replaced with the next person I thought of."
In anger over his fear of this monster, Tarton yells at the demon, "I will get you out of my mind for good eventually!!" and slashes the arrowhead down his face over his right eye. And with that he has broken the fear that was overwhelming him. And finally he looks directly at the monster and in a much firmer, lower, and fiercer voice he says, "And then I will make evil run from me." He then drops the arrow and draws his short sword ready to charge at the fowl creature.
---------------------------------------------
WIS: 18
Init: 18
I want to say he only does 1 point of damage and doesn't lose his eye, but I will leave how much damage is done and all that up to you as you are such a great story creator and teller.
I don't know what the initiative order is, nor the effects of the slash he did to refocus himself, so I did not make Tarton's attack.
—————————————————
My apologies, adventures. I have been locked out of my account and the app since I purchased a new mobile device. I am back on the website, obviously, and I am working on unlocking the app.
The tone of dry amusement evaporates immediately from Tser'ts'tchah's voice as he hears the distress in The Black Rose's questions. "Nothing in tea should do that. And initiation not supposed put candidate in real peril, only to test spirit. But from what you say, sound like uninvited spirit showed up. Initiation is suspended altogether until we help your friend, find out ... what ... " He shakes his head, as if to clear it, then tilts it as if just becoming aware of the strange music The Black Rose's practiced ears picked out from the background a few moments before. For just a moment he looks almst ... befuddled? Then he pulls himself together and resumes where he left off.
"... what going on with him. Go up to first hut on left after you climb path, tell my apprentice come here with spirit bag. Then all of us go help."
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
"*Nine* Hells, Artifex Cogitat. Always remember that ninth, that's where Mr. Prissmodeus keeps tabs on everyone in the multiverse. And one can slip out a record or two, occasionally." It laughs briefly. "Is that how I know you? You'll never know. And frankly ... all this talking begins to bore me." Artifex hears a whispering hiss as the cetterspap suddenly lunges towards them.
Meanwhile Tarton, reaching deep into wells of courage he never knew he had, slices a small, neat diagonal scar just below his eye. The real pain has the effect of instantly focusing him and breaking the fear. He feels his head clear and knows he will be able to act in time to help Artifex ... but he fears that in its own world, the cetterspap/demon might be quicker than either of them. And in fact ...
=========
Cetterspap claw (at Tarton as he starts his charge)
Spider spray (at Artifex, to keep them off balance)
(For this round initiatives are: Ctrspap 21, Tarton 18, Artifex 8. On the subsequent round, Tarton can decide whether to keep his 18 init throughout the combat, but also allow the cetterspap to keep its 21 initiative each round; or whether he'd prefer to have everyone roll fresh each time.
The arrow wound does in fact do 1 hp, plus roll a d20. On a nat 1 the scar reduces Tarton's CHA by 1 (maybe some dirt gets in the wound and it heals badly?), 2 - 18 there is no further effect beyond the 1hp damage, 19 or 20 his CHA goes up one (from the worldly and experienced look the small scar gives him).
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
So glad you're OK, welcome back! I'll try not to throw you any curveballs till you get caught up on the thread. Basic summary, though: you're tripping in a muddy pit in the middle of the lizardfolk village; Zelock's character was there when you arrived, and ... well, you can prob guess from the recent posts that Erolith is shortly about to be drawn into the epic legend entitled Tarton's Dream LOL
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
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Since it's just a D20 I'll roll it here and quote it. I was thinking you might have Tarton lose the eye but only in the dream scape and have to attack with disadvantage and when he returned he would have his eye back. But if he ever went to the dream plane he would have the wound. That is very generous to potentially give an ability bonus.
13
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Have you ever seen it list the potentially manipulated dice roll when it didn't say that in the quoted post? I did have trouble getting the quote to load. I had to click it three times before it would show up in the next post.
EDIT: Now I see the manipulated dice roll warning for the first post, but it was originally a 16. If you want I can roll it again and do it from the character sheet.
The Black Rose wiped his tears away and nodded, then followed Tser'ts'tchah's instructions. As he climbed up over the path and started to turn left, he began yelling at every lizardfolk he could find, "I seek Tser'ts'tchah's apprentice! They and their spirit bag are needed by Tser'ts'tchah in the pit!" His voice echoed through the swampy surroundings, urgency lacing his every word. He continued to shout, hoping to quickly locate the apprentice and the spirit bag.
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I'm a little unclear, should I take my turn? You said the creature did a few things but didn't make any rolls or anything... Sorry to break the flow of combat
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 does not have far to go. He has scarcely left the pit when he feels a gentle hand laid on his shoulder to halt him, and he is led into the coolness of a hut that must, from the varied and aromatic smells that swirl down from above , have many different sorts of herbs hanging to dry from the ceiling. His guide is silent until the end, only saying, "Here apprentice of Tser'ts'tchah is.," before hurrying away. The Black Rose picks up a hint of nervousness in the creature's voice; and he also finds it a little odd that the guide phrased it that way instead of putting the shaman's name first and saying '... Tser'ts'tchah's apprentice ... '.
A moment later, the much drier and firmer voice of a female lizardfolk issues from the deeper coolness and echoes that he has learned to associate with an inner chamber. "Am Aassak'ess'thaur, shaman of Semuanya. What for master send you me?"
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 bowed in the direction of the voice. "My friend is..." The Black Rose composed himself and continued, "Aassak'ess'thaur, in short, I was sent to get you and the spirit bag. Tser'ts'tchah needs you and that bag back in the pit as soon as possible. We have run into some complications." He straightened up, his voice calm but urgent, hoping his message conveyed the seriousness of the situation.
Artifex winces slightly at the sting of the poison. "Is that-" their demeanor shifts, and they cut itself off, releasing a string of elvish curses, as they frantically begin brushing themselves off. "Godsdamnitihate*******spiders!"
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Wis save: 10
Also apparently there's a language filter on this site, good tonknow
Tarton dodges the slash from the monster and slashes back at it's leg with his sword. Trying to distract the monster from the ally that Tarton guesses will be coming next he says, "You couldn't handle picking on someone stronger than a halfling child? You must not be a very strong demon. I bet you're just another demon's summoned pet playing at being stronger than she is."
After swinging his sword at the monster in his right hand, he quickly wipes away the blood dripping down his face. Then with his left hand he grabs the back of his hood and pulls it tight with the edge pressing on the wound over his eye to try to apply pressure to slow the bleeding.
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Attack: 14
Not sure that hits, but if it does: 9 piercing
Should read my character sheet better, Tarton has advantage on saving throws vs fear (but I like how this turned out anyway).
Added: Forgot to choose the initiative option I was given. Lets go with keeping my 18 and the cetterspap keeping the 21.
A hint of dry amusement creeps into the apprentice shaman's voice. The Black Rose can't help a stray thought that master and apprentice are well matched ... or, perhaps, that they well deserve each other. "No. Your friend not Aassak'ess'thaur. I Aassak'ess'thaur, in tall not short." She pauses just long enough that he thinks she will say nothing more; then laughs briefly. "Assume you mean your friend's spirit troubled, and master needs bag to cure." He can just hear an indrawn sigh. The next words he hears her speak aloud are, "Coming, then." But with his sharpened hearing he also half hears something that sounds suspiciously like, "Typical. If I been chosen by old Ekath'na'twth ... "
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 cetterspap quickly pulls its spidery limbs away to avoid Tarton's blow ... but not quite quickly enough. It hisses in pain and anger as the sword pierces its fore'leg'. No blood issues from the strange creature; instead, a clump of spiders is pushed out of the limb and drops to the ground. There, it quickly disperses into individual arachnids who then slowly dissolve into puffs of mist and vanish. And when they do, the body of the cetterspap looks just a little more tenuous; as if the wounds it takes damage not its 'flesh' but the spirit force that holds it together. But the creature does not seem mainly focused on the wound. Its eyes glow red at Tarton's words, and it turns its head to glare at him. Meanwhile, sure enough, he sees Artifex begin to fade away. There is a slight hesitation this time ... almost as if the demon briefly regretted agreeing to any sort of priest being involved in this ... and then the misty outline of Tser'ts'tchah begins to coalesce where Artifex had stood ...
while back in the pit, things become ... interesting. Those there see Artifex, after suddenly becoming unresponsive like The Black Rose had been and standing immobile a little while, drop to the ground equally abruptly and start slapping frantically at their person with many a curse against spiderkind ... at least, they all sound like curses, even the ones in languages no one present has ever heard before. And at the same time, Tser'ts'tchah gets a very startled look in his eyes and then becomes motionless himself ...
... just as the odd music finally becomes audible to all, and most enchantingly sweet music it is too! In fact, >;-) ...
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why don't we nosh on some DC14 WIS saves (or DC12 for the more sober), this lovely teatime ... At the moment, though you can hear several flautists ... for the music is indeed that of flutes ... only three particular strains are enchanting enough they will require a save, and at the moment only one is close enough to actually take effect. I think I'll stagger it out over 3 rounds for convenience, one save at the beginning of each, and those who save are immune to that particular piper ... well, more than long enough to last through this encounter)
(and a gleam of light at the end of the tunnel ... by the time the merriment in the pit is done, all of the original party should have leveled up to join Uz at lv2. Thought I'd let you know now so you can start planning)
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