Salamir goes silent for a minute after he reads Constance's message, half listening as Viga and Walt reacquaint themselves. His mind is on the situation at hand and all the half truths they have been told.
"It seems to me we have been brought here under false pretences and allowed to walk into the lions den", he says a little annoyed. He turns to Viga, "You sent those kids out with a message about missing sheep and a missing person. Nothing about zealots occupying the village or portals to the shadow realm allowing dangerous beasts to roam around. Portals that you yourselves created. And those kids will be back here soon! I understand you didn't want them to tell the whole truth, but a simple warning to be careful and who to seek out surely wasn't beyond the realms of possibility", he says quietly so no-one outside the group can hear, but his annoyance plain in his tone
"I know I don't speak for us all, but in my opinion dealing with the shadow threat is higher priority than sorting out the politics between the zealots and the village folk. Unless there is more you haven't told us Viga, both parties played a part in that, and need to work together to resolve it. So let's just get through this sham trial and hope everyone sees the sense in working together for the common good", he continues. "Just stay calm, any more aggressive action just fuels their superior attitude, and they do have the upper hand, especially in this temple of theirs", he says looking particularly at Rammand and Persephone. "And stop making me be the sensible one!", he finishes with a chuckle to try and lighten the mood.
Following Viga, Persephone stops short to keep from bumping into her as she talks to Walt.
Then she sees the note from Constance.
Scowling, her lips purse so tightly her mouth seems to disappear. "I see", she says coldly and quietly. She says nothing and sits down in the group.
"I agree Salamir", Persephone responds just as quietly and coldly. "Though we fought the beast in the woods, we assumed that was the only problem. It made the difference on our deciding to charge straight in rather than resting. So I think the politics enables the beasts who won't be banished while it lasts. But rest assured, I will calmly seek for us to leave this place. Alive."
"They finished the last stone of the temple not but five days ago. They left in the wee hours of the morning before the temple dedication. We sent the twins because of their father's disappearance after the livestock had shown up dead. That evening the temple's dedication was performed. That's when the portal opened in the gaurdian tree. Then an attempt to close it they felled the gaurdian! We did initially ask them for help with Alder's disappeariance but they were convinced that our worship of the old gods would be our downfall. That the beast taking the livestock and Alder was our fault. The portal opening, that we did not open again as I said, they insisted was the result of our idol worship not whatever the Nine Hells are in those ruin stones they built the temple no one here wanted! The portals did not start opening until after the twins were sent. The first portal we know of opened here in the gaurdian tree and then second days later out near our homestead not far from the Gunnulf place. We know now portals open and close everywhere! My Kurru has been missing for almost 48 hours and the Alder Gunnulf nearly seven days," she reminds the party. "The portals and beasts all began just days ago. Not the occupation but what could you possibly do about that? I sent for Walt to try and make these cultists see reason. He's more devoted that any one I've ever known. He came it seems just as Alder Gunnulf was taken. Walt was then imprisoned before I even knew of his presence, " Viga finishes exasperated. "What have we lied about?" She then demands. "Who would you believe? My elder Dulana and myself or these ....people, " she gestures around the party.
There is no townspeople about the temple. The pews and benches are vacant but for a few figures seated ahead in white robes. High Warden Reeves stands beside a raised pulpit while the golden masked fighters flank the pulpit on either side. The temple itself is eerily quite. Only the whispers of the party echo around the stone temple covered in broken sigil and glyphs on random stones here or there!
"Walt help them see reason. Have I ever called you for help? In these ten years I've been gone from the Church of the Dawn? Do you know me to be a lair, " Viga implores her old friend.
"Viga child, You have always been a dear friend and honest to your word. Your steong sense of right and wrong was always one of the things i have admired most abiyt you. I think there has probably just been a misunderstanding." Walt replies as he places a hand on her shoulder... seemingly free from the old rope that had been tied around his wrists. His gentle blue eyes would move from her to the new faces he had just been introduced to. "There is a lot going on here in this village and emotions are high. I believe we are all on the same team and so we need to work together." The warm light shining up from the lantern in his lap illuminates his face and cause it to look as though he were glowing. "Let's just focus on one thing at a time... First thing should be getting this trial over with... then we can find and put an end any of the portals and beasts.... and lastly we can find and free the villagers. hopefully by then the heralds have been made to see reason and they will give them up peacefully... but if not.... then the DawnFather will help me to show them the light." The smile on his face turns down as he slides his hand towards his pack and grasps the hilt of his Warhammer still sitting on the ground.
Persephone's tone s no longer cold, but still quiet. 'There are SO many missing pieces. The twins were insistent that there were no footprints around the slain livestock. Which matched our encounter with the shadow beast on our way here. But they were reporting on events a week before the portals appeared, which was after the twins left. And not one of the slain livestock have been reanimated as undead, as happened to our horse within mimutes of it being slain by the shadowbeast? How many different evils are at work here?"
She pauses and thinks a moment.
"The Moon Maiden grants me the ability to break charms. But I'm sure these charlatans would hold it against us. Even assuming that the spell effect that passed over Viga and I was a charm, and the other "worshippers" are under its influence."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I think it's starting, " Viga says moving to sit beside Walt and face the pulpit.
"All rise for her enemenace pontifex Caers Gideon, " High Warden Reeves introduces the older human woman who nods.
High Warden Reeves steps aside as a white and gold robed figure walks out to the pulpit. The older woman climbs the platform gracefully and smoothes out something in front of her on the surface of a lectern inside the pulpit.
"Grave charges, grave indeed," the older human woman begins with a deep frown. "We come to address the following malefactors who attacked our brethren in our streets doing the good work of the righteous Heralds of the Dawn...." her voice trails off as a full apparition of a robed figure walks out of the wall behind the pulpit!
The figure pauses a moment then wailing charges the pontifex!
The banshee releases a mournful wail, provided that she isn’t in sunlight. This wail has no effect on constructs and undead. All other creatures within 60 feet of her that can hear her must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature drops to 0 hit points. On a success, a creature takes 13 psychic damage; and is frightened
One of the golden masked figures drops dead! High Warden Reeves, the other golden masked fighter looks visiblely rattled but still up. The pontifex looks like she's clinging to life but not dead!
Walt's hand would tighten around the hilt of his warhammer as the creature emerged from the wall.... his blue eyes focused on the entity as he shifted his body towards the shield Leaning next to his weapon. When the creature paused for a moment, the old man would brace himself... hoisting his warhammer and shield as the ear shattering scream threated to knock him to his knees. As the shriek subsided, Walt shook his head as small trickles of blood fell from his ears and nose. With his ears ringing and his vision blurry, he looked around to see survey the damage. When his vision finally cleared a moment later and his eyes fell upon the Banshee, his heart would fill with fear...
Before she can even think of and suppress a sarcastic comment to the pontifex, Seph's jaw drops at the sight of the ghost.
Before she can finish the thought of "Great, what ELSE can go wrong", the ghost shows with a scream that it's actually a Banshee.
The scream becomes Persephone's world and she sinks inside it's darkness...
"STOP!", she screams to herself, not knowing if anyone else heard her as she places her hands over her ears. "Undead induced fear is worsened by line of sight" she recalls her teacher saying in the Sisters of the Moon convent. So she turns away from the creature.
To see Ed and Rammand looking dead. And she's getting more angry than she was before she socked the dwarf.
The appearance of the spectre takes a moment to fully register in Constance's exhausted brain. She blinks at the apparition as its jaw stretches open and, though the world around her seems to move in slow motion, the gears in her mind suddenly turn at breakneck speed--muffle the sound! Gloved hands press hard over her pointed ears just before the keening lament reaches her. Even as the high-pitched wail, full of grief and suffering, takes hold of her heart with an icy grip, she can't help but be mesmerized by its tragic and terrifying beauty.
"Spectacular," she whispers as blood trickles out of her ears and along her jaw.
((CON save: 18+2 20 Can Constance attempt to recall any knowledge about banshees in the course of her research? History or Arcana at disadv: 17+4/6 21 or 23 (hallelujah haha). And is there anything she can discern from the robes she's wearing, like era or trade? Does she look human or elvish?))
Salamir stands and listens to the words of the Pontifex, shaking his head slightly as she details how grave the charges are against them, and the good work their Heralds of the Dawn were undertaking at the time. When the ghostly visage appears his eyes go wide in surprise and he starts to reach out a hand to point and warn the Pontifex. And that is when the sound hits him, the sound piercing his mind with its mournful tone and almost sundering his psyche in two.
He drops back into a seated position and clamps his hands over his ears, trying desperately to block out the noise, but it was too late and his mind filled with an unimaginable sorrow.
When the wail stops, he finally looks up through tear filled eyes, trembling with a primal fear at the sight of the ghostly creature.
"Is everyone....ok?", he says shakily, terrified of the creature and yet unable to tear his eyes away to look at the others.
Constance notices before being forced to turn away it's a elven woman in long robes not really sure what era they are ancient yet simultaneously very modern! She looks very much like a powerful caster of some kind. She wears a circlet and rings of varying size. She's however completely opaque white! Colorless and terrifying to behold!
"You conjured this, " High Warden Reeves shouts picking up the pontifex into her armored arms and moving away from the irrate ghostly figure who's wailing has finally stopped! "May the Dawn Father's light project us," she adds as the ghostly figure moves easily through the beams of "sunlight " supposedly piercing the chapel!
OOC Any aggressive movements from the party towards the banshee will trigger initiative order. The Heralds seem to be trying to regroup!
Grasping his hammer and shield, Walt turn his head and look to the tabaxi laying unconscious on the pew behind him. As the fear filled his body, he would turn away from the ghost and place his hammer next to Eye's in the Dark. After muttering a few words, he would place his free hand on the head of the tabaxi and cast Spare the Dying.
"I believe you have brought this on yourselves!" Walt would shout as a warm glow moves from his hand and over the body of the tabaxi. "Promise to let us go and I'll help you to repent for the evil your actions have brought to this village!"
"Help us then," High Warden Reeves shouts back shielding the pontifex and sending the staggering bulwark golden masked figure towards the banshee in a defensive stance as Reeves retreats behind towards her chamber!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
OCC can I get a bit of RP? Y'all are the second pew on the left side of the chapel from the altar. Ignore the space behind the altar. I just couldn't figure out how to block it out without ruining it!
Salamir, with some time, can drag his companion out of the banshee's line of sight behind a support beam.
Salamir reaches up for Rammand, intending to pull him forward onto his shoulder and from there lay him gently on the ground. But not only was Rammand a dwarf, and built quite sturdily, but he was also loaded up with tools and armour and weaponry, which made him a hefty burden. But he can see his companion is in trouble and knows he has to get him away, and so he grits his teeth and hurt though he is himself, manages to get the dwarf the floor.
"Crikey Rammand, how do you manage to even stand upright with all this stuff!", he quips as he hooks his forearms under Rammand's shoulders and starts to drag him behind one of the columns. All the while trembling at even just the thought of the apparition he could still sense was there.
Salamir goes silent for a minute after he reads Constance's message, half listening as Viga and Walt reacquaint themselves. His mind is on the situation at hand and all the half truths they have been told.
"It seems to me we have been brought here under false pretences and allowed to walk into the lions den", he says a little annoyed. He turns to Viga, "You sent those kids out with a message about missing sheep and a missing person. Nothing about zealots occupying the village or portals to the shadow realm allowing dangerous beasts to roam around. Portals that you yourselves created. And those kids will be back here soon! I understand you didn't want them to tell the whole truth, but a simple warning to be careful and who to seek out surely wasn't beyond the realms of possibility", he says quietly so no-one outside the group can hear, but his annoyance plain in his tone
"I know I don't speak for us all, but in my opinion dealing with the shadow threat is higher priority than sorting out the politics between the zealots and the village folk. Unless there is more you haven't told us Viga, both parties played a part in that, and need to work together to resolve it. So let's just get through this sham trial and hope everyone sees the sense in working together for the common good", he continues. "Just stay calm, any more aggressive action just fuels their superior attitude, and they do have the upper hand, especially in this temple of theirs", he says looking particularly at Rammand and Persephone. "And stop making me be the sensible one!", he finishes with a chuckle to try and lighten the mood.
Following Viga, Persephone stops short to keep from bumping into her as she talks to Walt.
Then she sees the note from Constance.
Scowling, her lips purse so tightly her mouth seems to disappear. "I see", she says coldly and quietly. She says nothing and sits down in the group.
"I agree Salamir", Persephone responds just as quietly and coldly. "Though we fought the beast in the woods, we assumed that was the only problem. It made the difference on our deciding to charge straight in rather than resting. So I think the politics enables the beasts who won't be banished while it lasts. But rest assured, I will calmly seek for us to leave this place. Alive."
"They finished the last stone of the temple not but five days ago. They left in the wee hours of the morning before the temple dedication. We sent the twins because of their father's disappearance after the livestock had shown up dead. That evening the temple's dedication was performed. That's when the portal opened in the gaurdian tree. Then an attempt to close it they felled the gaurdian! We did initially ask them for help with Alder's disappeariance but they were convinced that our worship of the old gods would be our downfall. That the beast taking the livestock and Alder was our fault. The portal opening, that we did not open again as I said, they insisted was the result of our idol worship not whatever the Nine Hells are in those ruin stones they built the temple no one here wanted! The portals did not start opening until after the twins were sent. The first portal we know of opened here in the gaurdian tree and then second days later out near our homestead not far from the Gunnulf place. We know now portals open and close everywhere! My Kurru has been missing for almost 48 hours and the Alder Gunnulf nearly seven days," she reminds the party. "The portals and beasts all began just days ago. Not the occupation but what could you possibly do about that? I sent for Walt to try and make these cultists see reason. He's more devoted that any one I've ever known. He came it seems just as Alder Gunnulf was taken. Walt was then imprisoned before I even knew of his presence, " Viga finishes exasperated. "What have we lied about?" She then demands. "Who would you believe? My elder Dulana and myself or these ....people, " she gestures around the party.
There is no townspeople about the temple. The pews and benches are vacant but for a few figures seated ahead in white robes. High Warden Reeves stands beside a raised pulpit while the golden masked fighters flank the pulpit on either side. The temple itself is eerily quite. Only the whispers of the party echo around the stone temple covered in broken sigil and glyphs on random stones here or there!
"Walt help them see reason. Have I ever called you for help? In these ten years I've been gone from the Church of the Dawn? Do you know me to be a lair, " Viga implores her old friend.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Viga child, You have always been a dear friend and honest to your word. Your steong sense of right and wrong was always one of the things i have admired most abiyt you. I think there has probably just been a misunderstanding." Walt replies as he places a hand on her shoulder... seemingly free from the old rope that had been tied around his wrists. His gentle blue eyes would move from her to the new faces he had just been introduced to. "There is a lot going on here in this village and emotions are high. I believe we are all on the same team and so we need to work together." The warm light shining up from the lantern in his lap illuminates his face and cause it to look as though he were glowing. "Let's just focus on one thing at a time... First thing should be getting this trial over with... then we can find and put an end any of the portals and beasts.... and lastly we can find and free the villagers. hopefully by then the heralds have been made to see reason and they will give them up peacefully... but if not.... then the DawnFather will help me to show them the light." The smile on his face turns down as he slides his hand towards his pack and grasps the hilt of his Warhammer still sitting on the ground.
Persephone's tone s no longer cold, but still quiet. 'There are SO many missing pieces. The twins were insistent that there were no footprints around the slain livestock. Which matched our encounter with the shadow beast on our way here. But they were reporting on events a week before the portals appeared, which was after the twins left. And not one of the slain livestock have been reanimated as undead, as happened to our horse within mimutes of it being slain by the shadowbeast? How many different evils are at work here?"
She pauses and thinks a moment.
"The Moon Maiden grants me the ability to break charms. But I'm sure these charlatans would hold it against us. Even assuming that the spell effect that passed over Viga and I was a charm, and the other "worshippers" are under its influence."
"I think it's starting, " Viga says moving to sit beside Walt and face the pulpit.
"All rise for her enemenace pontifex Caers Gideon, " High Warden Reeves introduces the older human woman who nods.
High Warden Reeves steps aside as a white and gold robed figure walks out to the pulpit. The older woman climbs the platform gracefully and smoothes out something in front of her on the surface of a lectern inside the pulpit.
"Grave charges, grave indeed," the older human woman begins with a deep frown. "We come to address the following malefactors who attacked our brethren in our streets doing the good work of the righteous Heralds of the Dawn...." her voice trails off as a full apparition of a robed figure walks out of the wall behind the pulpit!
The figure pauses a moment then wailing charges the pontifex!
The banshee releases a mournful wail, provided that she isn’t in sunlight. This wail has no effect on constructs and undead. All other creatures within 60 feet of her that can hear her must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature drops to 0 hit points. On a success, a creature takes 13 psychic damage; and is frightened
One of the golden masked figures drops dead! High Warden Reeves, the other golden masked fighter looks visiblely rattled but still up. The pontifex looks like she's clinging to life but not dead!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
OCC stupid fracking dice roller.
Viga takes damage and is frightened.
Eyes in the Dark is unconscious.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Con save: 7
Walt con save 22
Walt's hand would tighten around the hilt of his warhammer as the creature emerged from the wall.... his blue eyes focused on the entity as he shifted his body towards the shield Leaning next to his weapon. When the creature paused for a moment, the old man would brace himself... hoisting his warhammer and shield as the ear shattering scream threated to knock him to his knees. As the shriek subsided, Walt shook his head as small trickles of blood fell from his ears and nose. With his ears ringing and his vision blurry, he looked around to see survey the damage. When his vision finally cleared a moment later and his eyes fell upon the Banshee, his heart would fill with fear...
(Persephone rolled 13 on character sheet)
Before she can even think of and suppress a sarcastic comment to the pontifex, Seph's jaw drops at the sight of the ghost.
Before she can finish the thought of "Great, what ELSE can go wrong", the ghost shows with a scream that it's actually a Banshee.
The scream becomes Persephone's world and she sinks inside it's darkness...
"STOP!", she screams to herself, not knowing if anyone else heard her as she places her hands over her ears. "Undead induced fear is worsened by line of sight" she recalls her teacher saying in the Sisters of the Moon convent. So she turns away from the creature.
To see Ed and Rammand looking dead. And she's getting more angry than she was before she socked the dwarf.
The appearance of the spectre takes a moment to fully register in Constance's exhausted brain. She blinks at the apparition as its jaw stretches open and, though the world around her seems to move in slow motion, the gears in her mind suddenly turn at breakneck speed--muffle the sound! Gloved hands press hard over her pointed ears just before the keening lament reaches her. Even as the high-pitched wail, full of grief and suffering, takes hold of her heart with an icy grip, she can't help but be mesmerized by its tragic and terrifying beauty.
"Spectacular," she whispers as blood trickles out of her ears and along her jaw.
((CON save: 18+2 20
Can Constance attempt to recall any knowledge about banshees in the course of her research? History or Arcana at disadv: 17+4/6 21 or 23 (hallelujah haha). And is there anything she can discern from the robes she's wearing, like era or trade? Does she look human or elvish?))
Salamir stands and listens to the words of the Pontifex, shaking his head slightly as she details how grave the charges are against them, and the good work their Heralds of the Dawn were undertaking at the time. When the ghostly visage appears his eyes go wide in surprise and he starts to reach out a hand to point and warn the Pontifex. And that is when the sound hits him, the sound piercing his mind with its mournful tone and almost sundering his psyche in two.
He drops back into a seated position and clamps his hands over his ears, trying desperately to block out the noise, but it was too late and his mind filled with an unimaginable sorrow.
When the wail stops, he finally looks up through tear filled eyes, trembling with a primal fear at the sight of the ghostly creature.
"Is everyone....ok?", he says shakily, terrified of the creature and yet unable to tear his eyes away to look at the others.
Con Save: 19+1=20
Constance notices before being forced to turn away it's a elven woman in long robes not really sure what era they are ancient yet simultaneously very modern! She looks very much like a powerful caster of some kind. She wears a circlet and rings of varying size. She's however completely opaque white! Colorless and terrifying to behold!
"You conjured this, " High Warden Reeves shouts picking up the pontifex into her armored arms and moving away from the irrate ghostly figure who's wailing has finally stopped! "May the Dawn Father's light project us," she adds as the ghostly figure moves easily through the beams of "sunlight " supposedly piercing the chapel!
OOC Any aggressive movements from the party towards the banshee will trigger initiative order. The Heralds seem to be trying to regroup!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Grasping his hammer and shield, Walt turn his head and look to the tabaxi laying unconscious on the pew behind him. As the fear filled his body, he would turn away from the ghost and place his hammer next to Eye's in the Dark. After muttering a few words, he would place his free hand on the head of the tabaxi and cast Spare the Dying.
"I believe you have brought this on yourselves!" Walt would shout as a warm glow moves from his hand and over the body of the tabaxi. "Promise to let us go and I'll help you to repent for the evil your actions have brought to this village!"
Salamir hunkers down amongst the pews out of sight of the ghostly figure, checking on Rammand as he shouts out his own response to the High Warden.
”Walt is right, you know this isn’t our doing. Stop burying your head in the sand and accept you need our help”, he calls out.
If Rammand is still visible to the banshee he will drag him to the floor to get him out of sight.
(OOC: Salamir is effectively hiding from the banshee, and hiding Rammand too, so nothing aggressive from him)
Salamir give me a athletics check!
"Help us then," High Warden Reeves shouts back shielding the pontifex and sending the staggering bulwark golden masked figure towards the banshee in a defensive stance as Reeves retreats behind towards her chamber!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Salamir Athletics: 16-1=15
OCC can I get a bit of RP? Y'all are the second pew on the left side of the chapel from the altar. Ignore the space behind the altar. I just couldn't figure out how to block it out without ruining it!
Salamir, with some time, can drag his companion out of the banshee's line of sight behind a support beam.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Salamir reaches up for Rammand, intending to pull him forward onto his shoulder and from there lay him gently on the ground. But not only was Rammand a dwarf, and built quite sturdily, but he was also loaded up with tools and armour and weaponry, which made him a hefty burden. But he can see his companion is in trouble and knows he has to get him away, and so he grits his teeth and hurt though he is himself, manages to get the dwarf the floor.
"Crikey Rammand, how do you manage to even stand upright with all this stuff!", he quips as he hooks his forearms under Rammand's shoulders and starts to drag him behind one of the columns. All the while trembling at even just the thought of the apparition he could still sense was there.