With the loss of their clan leaders, their king, and their king's heir, the remaining lizardfolk don't seem to have the will or the numbers to reasonably recapture the escapees. They haunt the edges of your vision, lingering just out of range, waiting for an opportune moment to strike that never comes. The large group making its way out of the Twilight Marsh by raft is big enough to scare the rest of the marsh's predators away, and it seems the same logic applies to the lizardfolk. It takes many hours, but the survivors of the lizardfolk's kidnappings are safely escorted out of the marsh just as night falls. A couple hours past sunset, the rafts reach the Crossing Inn.
There are far too many livestock to hope to carry them out of the swamp in the same fashion, but with Sylyra and Hex's abilities to impart some organization into the animals, they stand a fighting chance of returning to their natural habitats alive.
A few captives speak Draconic and are able to relay the dangers of lingering or heading back into the swamp any time soon; another few days and Throstulgrael was set to arrive, whereupon he would pick a clan leader and feast upon the captives. With its living meat now escaped, it seems likely that the dragon will take its wrath out on the lizardfolk instead.
The paladin can hardly believe his eyes when the big group finally makes it to the inn. The journey back had been tense, but also strangely silent. Or at least, more silent than he had expected it to be, having imagined tensions would arise at the first sign of any creature crossing their path. But perhaps it was only natural. These people were surely just thinking of all those waiting for them ahead on their way, same as Uragum, Carl and him were probably thinking of the pair that had stayed behind.
Auriel was still amazed that Sylyra had decided to stay in the island. The eladrin had looked at the druid as astonished as he had first looked at the ranger when she announced she would be staying. Even more, knowing his deep fear of dragons. That had indeed taken some courage, and this had made the paladin see the druid in a different light. In any case, he couldn't stop feeling grateful that Hex wouldn't be there alone, something he hadn't felt comfortable about to begin with.
Silence turned to noise as soon as they began to land. But it was a good noise. A welcoming noise. Mostly, a happy noise, but the undertones of sadness and despair were also there when some families where informed that their loved ones would not be returning. After all, many of these people knew each other. Like one big family comprised of much smaller ones. Auriel stood a little aways while all of this was happening and when people began calming down, he turned to Carl and Uragum:
- Shall we speak to the owner? He surely knows many of these people and can help us convince a few to make the journey back with us.
If they agree, he'll speak plainly to Romsan Kal, asking exactly what they need to return for Hex, Sylyra, the bodies and the livestock. They don't have time to waste...
Sylyra relishes the sight of Auriel's absolute surprise when he makes his intentions known to stay on the island with Hex. But, playing it coy as usual, the druid hides his true feelings and walks over to drape an arm around the tiefling's shoulders. "We can't let dear Hex here go it alone," he says, smiling casually. "Someone has to stay behind to keep this little she-demon out of trouble."
Truth be told, Sylyra doesn't know WHY he's staying on the island. He wants to wild shape into something that swims fast, head for his bird, and never look back. He wants wine and his warm bed back in Phlan. And maybe someone to be warm in it with him.
Back in Phlan?! When did Phlan become someplace he looked forward to being back in? His home is in Waterdeep where the wine never stops, and there is a party every night. Visions of his friends flash before his eyes. His friends who are always good for a laugh. But he isn't smiling. There's something not right about that thought. That's when Hex interrupts his musing.
Like so many of the others on the island, Uragum wrapped his wounds in bandages. He briefly considered cauterizing the wound but the blood flow seemed to be stopping so he put that idea aside, at least for now. If they got into combat again between now and when they made it back, he may have to reconsider the idea. He idlely rubbed his hand over the wound thinking to himself that it would make a nice additional scar to those he was collecting.
When it was time to leave Uragum was not really surprised at Sylyra's desire to help the livestock. However, Hex was a surprise. He stared at them both long and hard before giving a curt response of, "I wouldn't say it's the best idea. But what do I know about good ideas," he says while putting one hand on his bandaged wounds. "We'll wait for ya at the inn. Just don't go getting swallowed by no frog now." With that he walks towards the freed captives and coordinates returning with them.
Whilst walking back to the inn, he lost himself in thoughts. It all came back to dragons. Old cave with dragon old dragon motifs, blue dragon scale make its way into town and shocking people, underground lair filled with traps modeled off of chromatic dragons, dragon cultists everywhere, and now an actual dragon ordering kidnappings. He felt it, he felt it deep in his bones. One day, sooner or later, it was going to happen, he'd be faced to face with a dragon.
As everyone prepares to leave and Sylyra makes his intentions to stay behind with her known, Hex seems to be in a much better mood. She had hoped he would stay as well, knowing his abilities with animals would prove helpful to herd them all. She goes to thank the druid for deciding to not leave her alone when he suddenly slings his arm over her shoulder. She looks at him with wild and confused eyes, never having personally experienced such behaviour from him before.
Her confusion is immediately shattered and replaced by an eye roll as he calls her a "she-demon". For a moment, from somewhere deep down inside her, she feels the urge to just straight up bite Sylyra's arm in retaliation but no. She isn't some sort of feral child anymore. Instead, she raises her hand to gently caress the druid's cheek with the back of her hand, a sly smile that could rival his own on her face. "Oh thank you, dearest Sylyra. I don't know what I would've done without you. Who would hug all the cows for me if not you?" She then quickly clenches her fist and ruthlessly jabs him in the chest with her elbow, pushing him down to the ground and stepping away. She lets out an annoyed huff and crosses her arms, glaring daggers at him though she can't help but let slip the smallest of amused smirks. "You're lucky I like you or else that would've been a lot worse."
- Shall we speak to the owner? He surely knows many of these people and can help us convince a few to make the journey back with us.
Just as he says this, the eladrin is reminded that, in fact, he's the only one that has promised to return to the island, to his knowledge. Perhaps he shouldn't have implied that Carl and Uragum should do the same. Well, all that was left now was to check the innkeeper's reaction, as well as theirs. He'll throw the innkeeper all the verbal artillery at his disposal to make sure that at least he himself, out of the three, will be able to come back with the needed help.
As he waits to see how everything develops, Auriel briefly daydreams of freeing himself from his chainmail. It was beginning to feel as a second skin, but an all too heavy skin. And one that was calling for an improvement, seeing the poor result it had given against Bogclaw.
Sylyra grunts as he lands on his side. The wound from Bogclaw screams out at him again, but he manages to sit up casually and produce a short-lived "boo boo" face as Hex says, "You're lucky I like you or else that would've been a lot worse."
The druid gets to his feet and tosses back his hair. Giving the others a cheeky grin, he intones dangerously, "Time for you all to leave."
As the loaded rafts are about to set sail, Sylyra sidles up next to Uragum and says quietly, "Do be quick, big guy. I really don't want to be here any longer than I have to be." Taking a step back, the elf motions loosely in Carl's direction, saying so everyone can hear, "Watch out for Frog Bait there. He needs all the help he can get."
As the rafts move away from the island, Sylyra's smile relaxes into a look of somber reality. The show was over. Now they just had to wait. He looks around at the livestock and grimaces as his wound twinges again. He really needed a good night's trance. He begins to trudge toward the nearest encampment in search of a fire and a warm place to rest.
Romsan Kal, the bald-headed and burly proprietor of the Inn, beams at you as you enter. As the surviving captives pour into the common room, some are reunited immediately with waiting loved ones. The room is filled with cries of joy, but also sadness as some find out their kidnapped family members did not survive the trip back.
"Hard to miss a half dozen rafts all floating down the Trank," Romsan explains. "Word travels fast." The innkeeper hands over the fifty gold he'd collected for payment. "You've done a lot of folks good here. Consider me genuinely impressed; and I don't hear those miserable drums tonight either. I'm hoping that's not just temporary," he says.
OOC: Added 10 gp to each character's inventory.
As we close out the story of this adventure, we'll be heading into some downtime. Feel free to RP as much as you'd like before bringing yourselves back to Phlan for some potential downtime activities.
The eladrin stares in silence at the gold pieces in his hand. Until not so long ago, money didn't mean a thing to him. His family had aplenty and he had but to ask anything he wanted or needed. The present Auriel, on the contrary, held onto the gold pieces and kept them away safely. He was going to need every single one of them if he wanted to improve his equipment.
He breathed in deeply and then addressed Romsan:
- The lizardfolk have lost their king, the king's heir and whatever thin alliance they could have among them. They now lie scattered across the marsh and have enough worries flying over their minds - quite literally - to be turning their eyes on this good people anytime soon. - Before continuing, he lowers his voice so as not to be heard by the survivors and their families. He doesn't want to alter the peace they've earned. - Look. I'm sorry to ask this when we've just returned, but we need to come back, and quickly, with boats and a few persons to lead them, so we can get everything we left behind. The livestock that these people need to get by - he said, quoting Hex -, the dead so they can be returned to their loved ones, and our two friends. - The paladin set that order in purpose, putting these people's needs - who didn't match his own - first, in the hopes of achieving what he wanted easilier. - Please, help us finish this the way it is intended.
OOC: Last call for RP before we transition into downtime (I think everyone has probably said all they would like to but I don't have enough time to type out the next post today)!
As he waits for the journey back to happen, the paladin fights hard against his desire to enter into trance right there and then. In that state, his mind wandered back in time and space to a quiet moment many years ago at his ancestral home, with the one he missed with all his heart.
They had spent the evening reading together. Or rather, he had been reading to her and now, finding that the tale was finished, he closed the book shut.
- A hundred years! Can you imagine a trance lasting for a hundred years? - the little child of Spring said, with shock in her eyes and voice.
- It's just a tale, Nerys. - the Autumn young adult answered, but he couldn't do anything other than to smile widely at her.
- Aww, but imagine! And the Sleeping Lady from the tale ... she must be so pretty! Say, brother, do you think I will be pretty when I am older?
- Of course you will, ilmarë. You will be the prettiest of them all! Now, go kiss mother and father, and off to bed.
- All riiiight, caradornë.- said the younger eladrin, as she stood up and kissed the older before running off.
The Autumn elf simply eyed the child of Spring's little steps with affection.
A note regarding the two "Elvish" words: ilmarë means starlight. Caradorne is a (100% sure gramatically incorrect) mix between caran (red) and ornë (tree), to make something up similar to "red maple tree".
Back from this reverie, the paladin rubbed his eyes, tiredly. Painfully. To trance for a hundred years. If only that were possible.
OOC: We are now entering ten days of downtime before the next adventure begins. Most of the activities outlined in the PHB, DMG, and XGtE are available to perform, but if you would simply like to outline what your character is doing, that is fine as well - if it lines up with an activity in those sourcebooks, I will apply it.
For each day between adventures, characters must spend gold equivalent to their lifestyle expenses (1 gp per day for the average inn in Phlan) unless you select "Practicing a Profession" as your downtime activity, in which case you can earn a modest lifestyle without paying the 1 gp per day. This is the "standard" downtime activity, in that unlike most of the other activities, you do not have to spend any money and there are no potential drawbacks. Some other common downtime activities may be:
Crafting (PHB) - You can craft nonmagical objects. Requires a reduced amount of gold compared to purchasing from a shop, but also may require proficiency with a related artisan's tool.
Researching (PHB/XGtE) - Spend your time and money trying to uncover mysteries that are unfurling in the campaign.
Carousing/Gambling (DMG/XGtE) - Requires maintaining a "wealthy" lifestyle to participate in hedonistic activities. High risk, high reward.
Gaining Renown (DMG) - If you belong to a faction, spend your time improving your standing with them.
Buying/Selling Magic Items (XGtE) - This is very dependent on luck and there are no guarantees that you will succeed. It is much easier to find magic items through adventuring, but if you have money to spare you may be lucky enough to find a specific magic item that could be helpful to you, or find someone with enough interest and gold to purchase one of your own magic items.
Gambling (XGtE) - More specific than Carousing, wager between 10 - 1,000 gold.
Work (XGtE) - Not as guaranteed as practicing a profession from the PHB but has more potential benefits.
For characters who wish to continue wrapping up activity within the Twilight Marsh and on the Island of the Lizard King, at least 5 days of downtime will be required to account for travel and resting.
Once everyone has provided their desired downtime activities, I will advance through downtime in one big post and then it's on to our next adventure!
OOC: I'd say Auriel will have to use at least the minimum required 5 days to wrap up the Marsh/Island, as he said he would come back to help bring everything and everybody back. I'd say the exact amount of days will depend at least on Sylyra's and Hex's choices. If they need more than 5 days, he most surely will want to stay with them.
He will spend the remaining days in Phlan deepening the bond to his god and gaining knowledge and contacts related to his "newly acquired profession". In my mind, this character was born as a fighter who only very recently turned into a paladin. So if there is a Temple of Tyr, there he will spend there the remaining days. If not, the temple whose alignment is closest to Tyr's will do. There he will pronounce his oath, and then learn, train, meet fellow paladins, some mentor figure perhaps, and whatever else he can do there. Hope this counts as "practicing a profession"?
Finally, he will want to ask about his sister's status. Due to his backstory, the only way he can do this right now is by sending a letter to any trusting contact he may have made during his short time in the Quivering Forest. He doesn't expect much info, really. Knowing that her status remains the same as when he left the Forest will be enough.
I would like to improve Auriel's AC, because I think that 17 is going to be his death, but I don't see how this could happen during this downtime, because of his other priorities. So, not including any of this in my wish list.
Edited: I would also like to sell Auriel's shield and the blowgun.
Sylyra's main focus for staying behind was to watch over the living animals. He cares not about the corpses of either humanoid or animal. Especially if Auriel returns and clearly wants to help with whatever rituals and tasks Hex indents for the bodies, Sylyra will get back as quickly as he can with the animals. I'll let you, Barty, decide if that still takes the five days or is any shorter. Looking at the downtime activities, it looks like they all take a workweek, so I'm not sure if that means I can't participate since I'm helping finish up the island. One of the main things Sylyar would like to do is work with Morisúrë — attempting to train her to perform simple tasks for now, particularly "come" and "hide". If he can do more in this tenday, let me know. He can't afford proper carousing right now, so one night, when everyone is at the Laughing Goblin (are Auriel and Carl going to room there as well?), he'll encourage everyone to get properly drunk and giddy. Sylyra's always looking to line his pockets, so if there's a way to work or even to return to the fighting pits in the short amount of time, I'd like to do that.
"Especially if Auriel returns and clearly wants to help with whatever rituals and tasks Hex indents for the bodies"
In my mind these bodies are already prepared, and the only thing missing are the boats to bring them back. Is this correct, @potato? In any case from my side, I cannot offer any paladin rituals. (I've read about Ceremony, but it is not available for me.)
"Looking at the downtime activities, it looks like they all take a workweek, so I'm not sure if that means I can't participate since I'm helping finish up the island."
Oops. Same question.
"So one night, when everyone is at the Laughing Goblin (are Auriel and Carl going to room there as well?) he'll encourage everyone to get properly drunk and giddy"
Good question. I need to ask: would I need to sleep in the temple just for joining it? My intention isn't for Auriel to vanish during those downtime days, he would want to spend time with his new friends, after his daily duties. So, short answer: if possible, yes.
Long answer (in spoilers just to avoid an unnecesary long post full of my gibberish. Can be read by whoever wants to):
So my idea is: Auriel might be paladin, but first and foremost, he's an Eladrin. A Feywild creature. Which can result into a curious combination, in my mind at least because, to my knowledge, natives of the Realm of Faerie do not tend to contain their emotions (quite the opposite), but at the same time this specific eladrin has to do it. Letting out the worst part these emotions has led him to his current situation (which has a good side: he's a paladin now! But also, a bad one: he's lost pretty much everything he had so far).
My idea is that he keeps at bay the part of his Eladrin essence that might result into a direct clash with his Oath of Devotion and his backstory. He aims, above all, to protect. And to achieve that, he will use his own skills and those given to him by Tyr.
So, at the mention of fun time, the eladrin side will think: "yeah! " (especially if it's not the kind of fun related to posh noble parties from his past, full of persons which were, let's say, not very nice), and the paladin side will add: "...but you will wake up properly next morning to be able to do your duties the way Tyr expects you to do them, mister!."
I've written this so it can help me sort out this character's RP. Hope I'll read this in the future and that it sill makes sense by then 🤔
Hex doesn't plan on doing anything particularly special with the bodies, just making sure no wildlife comes by to eat them and protecting them from the weather - probably by covering them up and moving them under shade/into shelter. I wouldn't imagine it'd take too much time to do so yeah, just waiting for the boats.
Once the party returns to Phlan, Hex will give Chaab a quick update on where she's been and what happened. For the rest of the tenday, she doesn't really want to do much other than rest and will 100% take up Sylyra on his offer to get drunk. After maybe 2 days though, she'd start feeling a little antsy about lazing around so she'd go look for any available work for the remaining 3 days. She'd ask Chaab first to see if there are any minor tasks he wants done and, if not, then she'll go look elsewhere.
Hex doesn't plan on doing anything particularly special with the bodies, just making sure no wildlife comes by to eat them and protecting them from the weather - probably by covering them up and moving them under shade/into shelter. I wouldn't imagine it'd take too much time to do so yeah, just waiting for the boats.
Carl feels so lucky to have survived, he plans to accompany Fuselad as far as he needs to make sure he’s safe, while traveling he tells him of all of their exploits. After that is done, he returns to help Auriel, Sylyra and Hex with anything necessary. He is initially relieved, but then seems slightly grumpy, like he missed something. A dragon likely knows a lot of information, many secrets. But ho, far too dangerous! Lucky to get out with my hide intact, that’s for sure.
He does indeed stay at the Laughing Goblin, frequently in his room, studying his books, working on his spells and trying to communicate with them with his mind, trying to search out that voice that seems to be hidden away when he needs it most, that seems to laugh at him when he’s near death. Searching for answers. He hones and polishes his battle axe, storing it right underneath his bed.
For work during the week he employs “Squirt Mudbottom” to do most of his dirty work, lifting, carrying, toting here and there. He waves his hands to use shape water and shocking grasp to magically power anything so that he can to avoid heavy labor and help around town. He occasionally will help with any translations needed with comprehend languages. At night, when the candle burns down low, it is study time. Each night. Other inhabitants of the inn hear strange sounds at all hours of the night from time to time coming from his room. He always keeps tabs on Auriel, always curious about what he is doing. And dammit, despite it all, he is fascinated with Sylyra, almost in competition with that particular elf, hoping that he can increase his magical spells and skills to outperform him, one day… one day. He also tries to sit with Uragum and Hex at the dinner table in the Inn, curious to hear tales of adventures in the past, and how their little crew came together. As expressed by Auriel, he hopes to continue adventuring with them all, knowing that his future lies with them, that somehow, someway - they will lead him to his goal.
One night, after far too much drink and revelry, he becomes quite maudlin at the table, deep in his cups and bleary eyed. His battle axe is at the table, it virtually never leaves his side, and as he’s leaning on the handle, it all pours out. “‘S’cause of me. My whole family. Hates me. Fell apart. S’cause of me. Lost it. Well, I didn’t lose it, see. But I was the last one that was seen with it, holdin it. Yah see. So ‘course has to be me, right? Welp. You know what came next? Why I travelled all this way, to be in this very spot right chere? Cause I gave away my soul to find it, I did. Somethin in the library, somethin in that book, spoke to me. On a night quite like this un. I said I’d do anything, give away my soul, do anything… to get back our family heirloom. That frickin sonava*****in axe. That one that had the little blue glow to it, if you looked at it just right. Well, something… spoke back… to me. An laughed at me. Sayin it’d help me. I said yes, dammit. And been haunted ever since ….” He starts half crying, leaning his head on his cup, then promptly passes out. The rest of you have to carry the dwarf back to his room and pour him into his bed, each of you shaking your head at the state of poor Carl. Kind Auriel puts his battle axe under his bed, but he doesn’t even know. Carl wakes up the next morning with a pounding headache…
And dammit, despite it all, he is fascinated with Sylyra, almost in competition with that particular elf
Overall, Sylyra is lighthearted and only slightly snobbish once back in Phlan. Oddly, he makes reference to Waterdeep at every chance he gets. These references are worded in a way that puts Waterdeep and his old life in a negative light. Comparisons where things are better now. Uragum and Hex notice the shift the most, after hearing Sylyra talk so positively and longingly about his old life previously. Those with insight pick up on the fact that the elf is trying to convince himself.
While the revelation that Carl would be around a while was met with clear approval from Sylyra, when the same is said of Auriel, Sylyra acts like it isn't interesting in the least. Toward Auriel, Sylyra is very aloof. He doesn't initiate conversation. He responds with short, casual answers when addressed by the paladin. Acts surprised whenever he's made aware that Auriel is around as if he was completely unaware of his presence, then ignores him. In general, Sylyra acts like the eladrin is part of the background without ever being outright rude to him. The exception is the night the group "parties" together. After some wine, Sylyra acts friendly (not overly) toward Auriel, as if he hadn't just spend a couple of days ignoring him. The next morning, however, Sylyra is back to being cool toward Auriel.
Sylyra, whose interest in the strange little dwarf had already been piqued, is delighted and intrigued when Carl shows so much interest in him. The jesting and ribbing continues, and Sylyra is delighted by what he sees as a kind of little brother to be tortured and mentored (much more torture than mentoring to be honest). The night that they all finally let their hair down at Sylyra's encouragement, the druid is annoyed when Carl casts such a dark shadow over the group with his end-of-the-night scene. In the end, the story only makes Carl more mysterious, so Sylyra resolves to not hold it against him.
Auriel experiences a kind of emotional rollercoaster during this tenday.
He is first happy and relieved to see Sylyra and Hex in one piece, and helps eagerly with everything he can before entering the marsh once again. Once on the keelboat, he's rather silent. That memory of his sister has struck a sorrowful chord he had put away for too long, when he had needed to be focused on all the dangers the party was facing. But just for how long could he avoid thinking about her? And about his parents? The three of them were not that far away, in the Quivering Forest, but despite this it seemed they were worlds appart when he thought of the sole idea of meeting them again. Why it had to be that way? If only he could turn back time and change what happened.
When he's finally able to rest that first night, the next morning he wakes up feeling better. Nothing like a good night's trance to put things in perspective. There surely was a way he could fix things, right? Perhaps not all of them, but if at least he could make things better with his parents. Why be angry at them? What would he achieve by that? Nerys, on the other hand, was a more complicated situation. Perhaps there was someone out there that could help her. A healer. But not of the body, as she was already fine in that regard. No, what she needed was a healer of the mind, and of the spirit. Someone that could rebuild what sheer evil and shelfisness had outrageously decided to tear apart. Yes. There had to be someone like that. He had to believe that.
Arriving at Phlan had him surprised, and perhaps a little taken aback. He felt a little disoriented at first, but got around it soon. Especially when he saw a couple of temples that looked suitable for getting in touch with others like him, where he could learn more about his relatively newly acquired divine powers. He felt a little nervous, as if he was a school boy once again instead of a fully grown elf, but also felt the thrill of the challenge. And he did like challenges.
All these emotions disappeared for a while when they spent the first days in the Laughing Goblin. That was joy, the first true moments of joy since Tyr knew when. Even if it was somewhat blurred due to Sylyra's behaviour, Auriel felt really happy. To be able to spend time with this group, with no dangers surrounding them, felt a little like when he still lived in Mithrendain, at the Fen'Hareth household, and everything was fine inside its walls and nothing was broken. He would laugh with Carl, speak about this and that with Uragum and Hex, and yes, he would frown a little whenever Sylyra outright ignored him, but it didn't matter that much because there they were: together. Safe.
The Eladrin was often heard laughing, especially when he decided to play along with “Squirt Mudbottom”. Whenever he saw something being carried by the invisible friend, he would put something on top of it. Like an apple. Or one of Hex's arrows. And then he waited to see what the dwarf would do once he realized. He even ended up laughing about all the situation with Sylyra. Initially, he shared silent glances with Hex and Uragum as if asking "what the hell did I do? Was it something I said?". But as hours went by he started changing tactics. So whenever he felt ignored, he pushed back saying whatever came to his mind to the wood elf. Like "Good morning, everyone" and then adding "Good morning, Sylyra". Or "Well, what a fine sunny day here in Phlan, huh? I'm sure it's raining cats and dogs in Waterdeep. Don't you think, Sylyra?". It, of course, didn't give much result, but at least it kept Auriel entertained.
The night they all got a drunk (well, not that much in his case, as he had an important event the next day) was weird. Even when he didn't drink that much, several different thoughts did cross his mind for a while. It was like feeling all the season's running through his head, even though he was in full Autumn on the outside. "Man, Carl, why are you trying so hard to impress Sylyra? Don't you see you need to impress no one but yourself? We really need to boost that confidence of yours.", "Hmmm, is that waitress eyeing me or is she eyeing Hex? Not sure. I could go ahead and ask, she sure looks gorgeous". "Hehe, Uragum is big but I bet even one as big as him can be defeated by some good cups of wine!". "Wait a moment, Auriel. What are you even doing here? Is this where you need to be? Shouldn't you be some other place? With Nerys, who you failed to protect once already? Do you think that letter you sent a while ago was enough?"... This trail of thought is suddenly interrupted when Sylyra approaches and he is suddenly nice. At that very moment, that inner turning of the seasons comes to a full stop, and Summer reigns supreme.
- You know, Sylyra? - the eladrin says, gold burning bright in his eyes as he looks deeply at the druid's emmerald ones - You look stunning when you are not wearing that invisible armor of yours. That sort of protective wall you raise around yourself that makes you behave like an as***** most of the time. Can't claim to know what caused it, but I do believe it must weigh heavier than plate armor. If you ever want help removing it ... you know where I am.
He would add more, or would even wait for answer, but at that moment Carl begins pouring out a story that sounds so terrible that there's literally no other place on Toril the eladrin would prefer to be, rather than at his friend's side. So he sits next to him, wraps him with an arm, and just says:
- Let it out, buddy.
After they take Carl to his room, the paladin stays with him for a while, and uses his divine sight as he watches over the dwarf for a while. He did use the sight on the marsh while Carl was next to him but, perhaps he hadn't been paying enough attention?
(Ooc: Not really sure who this question is for. @twombley? @barty?)
Does Divine Sense give anything on Carl? Or his axe? Or his room in general?
Not super important to answer this, I think. But knowing that Auriel likes helping those around, if he can, he will. Even if this only happens as a little RP scenes during downtime, or small conversations at other quiet moments.
Wether he detects anything or not, he'll let the dwarf rest and have a good rest himself. He'll definitely want to ask more about this, when it is appropriate. But tomorrow the paladin will pronounce his oath. An oath of devotion. An oath to protect. And he wants to be fully rested and prepared for that.
With the loss of their clan leaders, their king, and their king's heir, the remaining lizardfolk don't seem to have the will or the numbers to reasonably recapture the escapees. They haunt the edges of your vision, lingering just out of range, waiting for an opportune moment to strike that never comes. The large group making its way out of the Twilight Marsh by raft is big enough to scare the rest of the marsh's predators away, and it seems the same logic applies to the lizardfolk. It takes many hours, but the survivors of the lizardfolk's kidnappings are safely escorted out of the marsh just as night falls. A couple hours past sunset, the rafts reach the Crossing Inn.
There are far too many livestock to hope to carry them out of the swamp in the same fashion, but with Sylyra and Hex's abilities to impart some organization into the animals, they stand a fighting chance of returning to their natural habitats alive.
A few captives speak Draconic and are able to relay the dangers of lingering or heading back into the swamp any time soon; another few days and Throstulgrael was set to arrive, whereupon he would pick a clan leader and feast upon the captives. With its living meat now escaped, it seems likely that the dragon will take its wrath out on the lizardfolk instead.
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The paladin can hardly believe his eyes when the big group finally makes it to the inn. The journey back had been tense, but also strangely silent. Or at least, more silent than he had expected it to be, having imagined tensions would arise at the first sign of any creature crossing their path. But perhaps it was only natural. These people were surely just thinking of all those waiting for them ahead on their way, same as Uragum, Carl and him were probably thinking of the pair that had stayed behind.
Auriel was still amazed that Sylyra had decided to stay in the island. The eladrin had looked at the druid as astonished as he had first looked at the ranger when she announced she would be staying. Even more, knowing his deep fear of dragons. That had indeed taken some courage, and this had made the paladin see the druid in a different light. In any case, he couldn't stop feeling grateful that Hex wouldn't be there alone, something he hadn't felt comfortable about to begin with.
Silence turned to noise as soon as they began to land. But it was a good noise. A welcoming noise. Mostly, a happy noise, but the undertones of sadness and despair were also there when some families where informed that their loved ones would not be returning. After all, many of these people knew each other. Like one big family comprised of much smaller ones. Auriel stood a little aways while all of this was happening and when people began calming down, he turned to Carl and Uragum:
- Shall we speak to the owner? He surely knows many of these people and can help us convince a few to make the journey back with us.
If they agree, he'll speak plainly to Romsan Kal, asking exactly what they need to return for Hex, Sylyra, the bodies and the livestock. They don't have time to waste...
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Sylyra relishes the sight of Auriel's absolute surprise when he makes his intentions known to stay on the island with Hex. But, playing it coy as usual, the druid hides his true feelings and walks over to drape an arm around the tiefling's shoulders. "We can't let dear Hex here go it alone," he says, smiling casually. "Someone has to stay behind to keep this little she-demon out of trouble."
Truth be told, Sylyra doesn't know WHY he's staying on the island. He wants to wild shape into something that swims fast, head for his bird, and never look back. He wants wine and his warm bed back in Phlan. And maybe someone to be warm in it with him.
Back in Phlan?! When did Phlan become someplace he looked forward to being back in? His home is in Waterdeep where the wine never stops, and there is a party every night. Visions of his friends flash before his eyes. His friends who are always good for a laugh. But he isn't smiling. There's something not right about that thought. That's when Hex interrupts his musing.
Like so many of the others on the island, Uragum wrapped his wounds in bandages. He briefly considered cauterizing the wound but the blood flow seemed to be stopping so he put that idea aside, at least for now. If they got into combat again between now and when they made it back, he may have to reconsider the idea. He idlely rubbed his hand over the wound thinking to himself that it would make a nice additional scar to those he was collecting.
When it was time to leave Uragum was not really surprised at Sylyra's desire to help the livestock. However, Hex was a surprise. He stared at them both long and hard before giving a curt response of, "I wouldn't say it's the best idea. But what do I know about good ideas," he says while putting one hand on his bandaged wounds. "We'll wait for ya at the inn. Just don't go getting swallowed by no frog now." With that he walks towards the freed captives and coordinates returning with them.
Whilst walking back to the inn, he lost himself in thoughts. It all came back to dragons. Old cave with dragon old dragon motifs, blue dragon scale make its way into town and shocking people, underground lair filled with traps modeled off of chromatic dragons, dragon cultists everywhere, and now an actual dragon ordering kidnappings. He felt it, he felt it deep in his bones. One day, sooner or later, it was going to happen, he'd be faced to face with a dragon.
As everyone prepares to leave and Sylyra makes his intentions to stay behind with her known, Hex seems to be in a much better mood. She had hoped he would stay as well, knowing his abilities with animals would prove helpful to herd them all. She goes to thank the druid for deciding to not leave her alone when he suddenly slings his arm over her shoulder. She looks at him with wild and confused eyes, never having personally experienced such behaviour from him before.
Her confusion is immediately shattered and replaced by an eye roll as he calls her a "she-demon". For a moment, from somewhere deep down inside her, she feels the urge to just straight up bite Sylyra's arm in retaliation but no. She isn't some sort of feral child anymore. Instead, she raises her hand to gently caress the druid's cheek with the back of her hand, a sly smile that could rival his own on her face. "Oh thank you, dearest Sylyra. I don't know what I would've done without you. Who would hug all the cows for me if not you?" She then quickly clenches her fist and ruthlessly jabs him in the chest with her elbow, pushing him down to the ground and stepping away. She lets out an annoyed huff and crosses her arms, glaring daggers at him though she can't help but let slip the smallest of amused smirks. "You're lucky I like you or else that would've been a lot worse."
Just as he says this, the eladrin is reminded that, in fact, he's the only one that has promised to return to the island, to his knowledge. Perhaps he shouldn't have implied that Carl and Uragum should do the same. Well, all that was left now was to check the innkeeper's reaction, as well as theirs. He'll throw the innkeeper all the verbal artillery at his disposal to make sure that at least he himself, out of the three, will be able to come back with the needed help.
As he waits to see how everything develops, Auriel briefly daydreams of freeing himself from his chainmail. It was beginning to feel as a second skin, but an all too heavy skin. And one that was calling for an improvement, seeing the poor result it had given against Bogclaw.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Sylyra grunts as he lands on his side. The wound from Bogclaw screams out at him again, but he manages to sit up casually and produce a short-lived "boo boo" face as Hex says, "You're lucky I like you or else that would've been a lot worse."
The druid gets to his feet and tosses back his hair. Giving the others a cheeky grin, he intones dangerously, "Time for you all to leave."
As the loaded rafts are about to set sail, Sylyra sidles up next to Uragum and says quietly, "Do be quick, big guy. I really don't want to be here any longer than I have to be." Taking a step back, the elf motions loosely in Carl's direction, saying so everyone can hear, "Watch out for Frog Bait there. He needs all the help he can get."
As the rafts move away from the island, Sylyra's smile relaxes into a look of somber reality. The show was over. Now they just had to wait. He looks around at the livestock and grimaces as his wound twinges again. He really needed a good night's trance. He begins to trudge toward the nearest encampment in search of a fire and a warm place to rest.
Romsan Kal, the bald-headed and burly proprietor of the Inn, beams at you as you enter. As the surviving captives pour into the common room, some are reunited immediately with waiting loved ones. The room is filled with cries of joy, but also sadness as some find out their kidnapped family members did not survive the trip back.
"Hard to miss a half dozen rafts all floating down the Trank," Romsan explains. "Word travels fast." The innkeeper hands over the fifty gold he'd collected for payment. "You've done a lot of folks good here. Consider me genuinely impressed; and I don't hear those miserable drums tonight either. I'm hoping that's not just temporary," he says.
OOC: Added 10 gp to each character's inventory.
As we close out the story of this adventure, we'll be heading into some downtime. Feel free to RP as much as you'd like before bringing yourselves back to Phlan for some potential downtime activities.
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The eladrin stares in silence at the gold pieces in his hand. Until not so long ago, money didn't mean a thing to him. His family had aplenty and he had but to ask anything he wanted or needed. The present Auriel, on the contrary, held onto the gold pieces and kept them away safely. He was going to need every single one of them if he wanted to improve his equipment.
He breathed in deeply and then addressed Romsan:
- The lizardfolk have lost their king, the king's heir and whatever thin alliance they could have among them. They now lie scattered across the marsh and have enough worries flying over their minds - quite literally - to be turning their eyes on this good people anytime soon. - Before continuing, he lowers his voice so as not to be heard by the survivors and their families. He doesn't want to alter the peace they've earned. - Look. I'm sorry to ask this when we've just returned, but we need to come back, and quickly, with boats and a few persons to lead them, so we can get everything we left behind. The livestock that these people need to get by - he said, quoting Hex -, the dead so they can be returned to their loved ones, and our two friends. - The paladin set that order in purpose, putting these people's needs - who didn't match his own - first, in the hopes of achieving what he wanted easilier. - Please, help us finish this the way it is intended.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
OOC: Last call for RP before we transition into downtime (I think everyone has probably said all they would like to but I don't have enough time to type out the next post today)!
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As he waits for the journey back to happen, the paladin fights hard against his desire to enter into trance right there and then. In that state, his mind wandered back in time and space to a quiet moment many years ago at his ancestral home, with the one he missed with all his heart.
Back from this reverie, the paladin rubbed his eyes, tiredly. Painfully. To trance for a hundred years. If only that were possible.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
OOC: We are now entering ten days of downtime before the next adventure begins. Most of the activities outlined in the PHB, DMG, and XGtE are available to perform, but if you would simply like to outline what your character is doing, that is fine as well - if it lines up with an activity in those sourcebooks, I will apply it.
For each day between adventures, characters must spend gold equivalent to their lifestyle expenses (1 gp per day for the average inn in Phlan) unless you select "Practicing a Profession" as your downtime activity, in which case you can earn a modest lifestyle without paying the 1 gp per day. This is the "standard" downtime activity, in that unlike most of the other activities, you do not have to spend any money and there are no potential drawbacks. Some other common downtime activities may be:
For characters who wish to continue wrapping up activity within the Twilight Marsh and on the Island of the Lizard King, at least 5 days of downtime will be required to account for travel and resting.
Once everyone has provided their desired downtime activities, I will advance through downtime in one big post and then it's on to our next adventure!
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: I'd say Auriel will have to use at least the minimum required 5 days to wrap up the Marsh/Island, as he said he would come back to help bring everything and everybody back. I'd say the exact amount of days will depend at least on Sylyra's and Hex's choices. If they need more than 5 days, he most surely will want to stay with them.
He will spend the remaining days in Phlan deepening the bond to his god and gaining knowledge and contacts related to his "newly acquired profession". In my mind, this character was born as a fighter who only very recently turned into a paladin. So if there is a Temple of Tyr, there he will spend there the remaining days. If not, the temple whose alignment is closest to Tyr's will do. There he will pronounce his oath, and then learn, train, meet fellow paladins, some mentor figure perhaps, and whatever else he can do there. Hope this counts as "practicing a profession"?
Finally, he will want to ask about his sister's status. Due to his backstory, the only way he can do this right now is by sending a letter to any trusting contact he may have made during his short time in the Quivering Forest. He doesn't expect much info, really. Knowing that her status remains the same as when he left the Forest will be enough.
I would like to improve Auriel's AC, because I think that 17 is going to be his death, but I don't see how this could happen during this downtime, because of his other priorities. So, not including any of this in my wish list.
Edited: I would also like to sell Auriel's shield and the blowgun.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Sylyra's main focus for staying behind was to watch over the living animals. He cares not about the corpses of either humanoid or animal. Especially if Auriel returns and clearly wants to help with whatever rituals and tasks Hex indents for the bodies, Sylyra will get back as quickly as he can with the animals. I'll let you, Barty, decide if that still takes the five days or is any shorter. Looking at the downtime activities, it looks like they all take a workweek, so I'm not sure if that means I can't participate since I'm helping finish up the island. One of the main things Sylyar would like to do is work with Morisúrë — attempting to train her to perform simple tasks for now, particularly "come" and "hide". If he can do more in this tenday, let me know. He can't afford proper carousing right now, so one night, when everyone is at the Laughing Goblin (are Auriel and Carl going to room there as well?), he'll encourage everyone to get properly drunk and giddy. Sylyra's always looking to line his pockets, so if there's a way to work or even to return to the fighting pits in the short amount of time, I'd like to do that.
"Especially if Auriel returns and clearly wants to help with whatever rituals and tasks Hex indents for the bodies"
In my mind these bodies are already prepared, and the only thing missing are the boats to bring them back. Is this correct, @potato? In any case from my side, I cannot offer any paladin rituals. (I've read about Ceremony, but it is not available for me.)
"Looking at the downtime activities, it looks like they all take a workweek, so I'm not sure if that means I can't participate since I'm helping finish up the island."
Oops. Same question.
"So one night, when everyone is at the Laughing Goblin (are Auriel and Carl going to room there as well?) he'll encourage everyone to get properly drunk and giddy"
Good question. I need to ask: would I need to sleep in the temple just for joining it? My intention isn't for Auriel to vanish during those downtime days, he would want to spend time with his new friends, after his daily duties. So, short answer: if possible, yes.
Long answer (in spoilers just to avoid an unnecesary long post full of my gibberish. Can be read by whoever wants to):
So my idea is: Auriel might be paladin, but first and foremost, he's an Eladrin. A Feywild creature. Which can result into a curious combination, in my mind at least because, to my knowledge, natives of the Realm of Faerie do not tend to contain their emotions (quite the opposite), but at the same time this specific eladrin has to do it. Letting out the worst part these emotions has led him to his current situation (which has a good side: he's a paladin now! But also, a bad one: he's lost pretty much everything he had so far).
My idea is that he keeps at bay the part of his Eladrin essence that might result into a direct clash with his Oath of Devotion and his backstory. He aims, above all, to protect. And to achieve that, he will use his own skills and those given to him by Tyr.
So, at the mention of fun time, the eladrin side will think: "yeah! " (especially if it's not the kind of fun related to posh noble parties from his past, full of persons which were, let's say, not very nice), and the paladin side will add: "...but you will wake up properly next morning to be able to do your duties the way Tyr expects you to do them, mister!."
I've written this so it can help me sort out this character's RP. Hope I'll read this in the future and that it sill makes sense by then 🤔
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hex doesn't plan on doing anything particularly special with the bodies, just making sure no wildlife comes by to eat them and protecting them from the weather - probably by covering them up and moving them under shade/into shelter. I wouldn't imagine it'd take too much time to do so yeah, just waiting for the boats.
Once the party returns to Phlan, Hex will give Chaab a quick update on where she's been and what happened. For the rest of the tenday, she doesn't really want to do much other than rest and will 100% take up Sylyra on his offer to get drunk. After maybe 2 days though, she'd start feeling a little antsy about lazing around so she'd go look for any available work for the remaining 3 days. She'd ask Chaab first to see if there are any minor tasks he wants done and, if not, then she'll go look elsewhere.
👌🏻
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Carl feels so lucky to have survived, he plans to accompany Fuselad as far as he needs to make sure he’s safe, while traveling he tells him of all of their exploits. After that is done, he returns to help Auriel, Sylyra and Hex with anything necessary. He is initially relieved, but then seems slightly grumpy, like he missed something. A dragon likely knows a lot of information, many secrets. But ho, far too dangerous! Lucky to get out with my hide intact, that’s for sure.
He does indeed stay at the Laughing Goblin, frequently in his room, studying his books, working on his spells and trying to communicate with them with his mind, trying to search out that voice that seems to be hidden away when he needs it most, that seems to laugh at him when he’s near death. Searching for answers. He hones and polishes his battle axe, storing it right underneath his bed.
For work during the week he employs “Squirt Mudbottom” to do most of his dirty work, lifting, carrying, toting here and there. He waves his hands to use shape water and shocking grasp to magically power anything so that he can to avoid heavy labor and help around town. He occasionally will help with any translations needed with comprehend languages. At night, when the candle burns down low, it is study time. Each night. Other inhabitants of the inn hear strange sounds at all hours of the night from time to time coming from his room. He always keeps tabs on Auriel, always curious about what he is doing. And dammit, despite it all, he is fascinated with Sylyra, almost in competition with that particular elf, hoping that he can increase his magical spells and skills to outperform him, one day… one day. He also tries to sit with Uragum and Hex at the dinner table in the Inn, curious to hear tales of adventures in the past, and how their little crew came together. As expressed by Auriel, he hopes to continue adventuring with them all, knowing that his future lies with them, that somehow, someway - they will lead him to his goal.
One night, after far too much drink and revelry, he becomes quite maudlin at the table, deep in his cups and bleary eyed. His battle axe is at the table, it virtually never leaves his side, and as he’s leaning on the handle, it all pours out. “‘S’cause of me. My whole family. Hates me. Fell apart. S’cause of me. Lost it. Well, I didn’t lose it, see. But I was the last one that was seen with it, holdin it. Yah see. So ‘course has to be me, right? Welp. You know what came next? Why I travelled all this way, to be in this very spot right chere? Cause I gave away my soul to find it, I did. Somethin in the library, somethin in that book, spoke to me. On a night quite like this un. I said I’d do anything, give away my soul, do anything… to get back our family heirloom. That frickin sonava*****in axe. That one that had the little blue glow to it, if you looked at it just right. Well, something… spoke back… to me. An laughed at me. Sayin it’d help me. I said yes, dammit. And been haunted ever since ….” He starts half crying, leaning his head on his cup, then promptly passes out. The rest of you have to carry the dwarf back to his room and pour him into his bed, each of you shaking your head at the state of poor Carl. Kind Auriel puts his battle axe under his bed, but he doesn’t even know. Carl wakes up the next morning with a pounding headache…
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Overall, Sylyra is lighthearted and only slightly snobbish once back in Phlan. Oddly, he makes reference to Waterdeep at every chance he gets. These references are worded in a way that puts Waterdeep and his old life in a negative light. Comparisons where things are better now. Uragum and Hex notice the shift the most, after hearing Sylyra talk so positively and longingly about his old life previously. Those with insight pick up on the fact that the elf is trying to convince himself.
While the revelation that Carl would be around a while was met with clear approval from Sylyra, when the same is said of Auriel, Sylyra acts like it isn't interesting in the least. Toward Auriel, Sylyra is very aloof. He doesn't initiate conversation. He responds with short, casual answers when addressed by the paladin. Acts surprised whenever he's made aware that Auriel is around as if he was completely unaware of his presence, then ignores him. In general, Sylyra acts like the eladrin is part of the background without ever being outright rude to him. The exception is the night the group "parties" together. After some wine, Sylyra acts friendly (not overly) toward Auriel, as if he hadn't just spend a couple of days ignoring him. The next morning, however, Sylyra is back to being cool toward Auriel.
Sylyra, whose interest in the strange little dwarf had already been piqued, is delighted and intrigued when Carl shows so much interest in him. The jesting and ribbing continues, and Sylyra is delighted by what he sees as a kind of little brother to be tortured and mentored (much more torture than mentoring to be honest). The night that they all finally let their hair down at Sylyra's encouragement, the druid is annoyed when Carl casts such a dark shadow over the group with his end-of-the-night scene. In the end, the story only makes Carl more mysterious, so Sylyra resolves to not hold it against him.
Auriel experiences a kind of emotional rollercoaster during this tenday.
He is first happy and relieved to see Sylyra and Hex in one piece, and helps eagerly with everything he can before entering the marsh once again. Once on the keelboat, he's rather silent. That memory of his sister has struck a sorrowful chord he had put away for too long, when he had needed to be focused on all the dangers the party was facing. But just for how long could he avoid thinking about her? And about his parents? The three of them were not that far away, in the Quivering Forest, but despite this it seemed they were worlds appart when he thought of the sole idea of meeting them again. Why it had to be that way? If only he could turn back time and change what happened.
When he's finally able to rest that first night, the next morning he wakes up feeling better. Nothing like a good night's trance to put things in perspective. There surely was a way he could fix things, right? Perhaps not all of them, but if at least he could make things better with his parents. Why be angry at them? What would he achieve by that? Nerys, on the other hand, was a more complicated situation. Perhaps there was someone out there that could help her. A healer. But not of the body, as she was already fine in that regard. No, what she needed was a healer of the mind, and of the spirit. Someone that could rebuild what sheer evil and shelfisness had outrageously decided to tear apart. Yes. There had to be someone like that. He had to believe that.
Arriving at Phlan had him surprised, and perhaps a little taken aback. He felt a little disoriented at first, but got around it soon. Especially when he saw a couple of temples that looked suitable for getting in touch with others like him, where he could learn more about his relatively newly acquired divine powers. He felt a little nervous, as if he was a school boy once again instead of a fully grown elf, but also felt the thrill of the challenge. And he did like challenges.
All these emotions disappeared for a while when they spent the first days in the Laughing Goblin. That was joy, the first true moments of joy since Tyr knew when. Even if it was somewhat blurred due to Sylyra's behaviour, Auriel felt really happy. To be able to spend time with this group, with no dangers surrounding them, felt a little like when he still lived in Mithrendain, at the Fen'Hareth household, and everything was fine inside its walls and nothing was broken. He would laugh with Carl, speak about this and that with Uragum and Hex, and yes, he would frown a little whenever Sylyra outright ignored him, but it didn't matter that much because there they were: together. Safe.
The Eladrin was often heard laughing, especially when he decided to play along with “Squirt Mudbottom”. Whenever he saw something being carried by the invisible friend, he would put something on top of it. Like an apple. Or one of Hex's arrows. And then he waited to see what the dwarf would do once he realized. He even ended up laughing about all the situation with Sylyra. Initially, he shared silent glances with Hex and Uragum as if asking "what the hell did I do? Was it something I said?". But as hours went by he started changing tactics. So whenever he felt ignored, he pushed back saying whatever came to his mind to the wood elf. Like "Good morning, everyone" and then adding "Good morning, Sylyra". Or "Well, what a fine sunny day here in Phlan, huh? I'm sure it's raining cats and dogs in Waterdeep. Don't you think, Sylyra?". It, of course, didn't give much result, but at least it kept Auriel entertained.
The night they all got a drunk (well, not that much in his case, as he had an important event the next day) was weird. Even when he didn't drink that much, several different thoughts did cross his mind for a while. It was like feeling all the season's running through his head, even though he was in full Autumn on the outside. "Man, Carl, why are you trying so hard to impress Sylyra? Don't you see you need to impress no one but yourself? We really need to boost that confidence of yours.", "Hmmm, is that waitress eyeing me or is she eyeing Hex? Not sure. I could go ahead and ask, she sure looks gorgeous". "Hehe, Uragum is big but I bet even one as big as him can be defeated by some good cups of wine!". "Wait a moment, Auriel. What are you even doing here? Is this where you need to be? Shouldn't you be some other place? With Nerys, who you failed to protect once already? Do you think that letter you sent a while ago was enough?"... This trail of thought is suddenly interrupted when Sylyra approaches and he is suddenly nice. At that very moment, that inner turning of the seasons comes to a full stop, and Summer reigns supreme.
- You know, Sylyra? - the eladrin says, gold burning bright in his eyes as he looks deeply at the druid's emmerald ones - You look stunning when you are not wearing that invisible armor of yours. That sort of protective wall you raise around yourself that makes you behave like an as***** most of the time. Can't claim to know what caused it, but I do believe it must weigh heavier than plate armor. If you ever want help removing it ... you know where I am.
He would add more, or would even wait for answer, but at that moment Carl begins pouring out a story that sounds so terrible that there's literally no other place on Toril the eladrin would prefer to be, rather than at his friend's side. So he sits next to him, wraps him with an arm, and just says:
- Let it out, buddy.
After they take Carl to his room, the paladin stays with him for a while, and uses his divine sight as he watches over the dwarf for a while. He did use the sight on the marsh while Carl was next to him but, perhaps he hadn't been paying enough attention?
(Ooc: Not really sure who this question is for. @twombley? @barty?)
Does Divine Sense give anything on Carl? Or his axe? Or his room in general?
Not super important to answer this, I think. But knowing that Auriel likes helping those around, if he can, he will. Even if this only happens as a little RP scenes during downtime, or small conversations at other quiet moments.
Wether he detects anything or not, he'll let the dwarf rest and have a good rest himself. He'll definitely want to ask more about this, when it is appropriate. But tomorrow the paladin will pronounce his oath. An oath of devotion. An oath to protect. And he wants to be fully rested and prepared for that.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra