Sounds good, I missed the part that says wait for everyone to decide haha that is my bad. I get the feeling that Violet may want knowledge too so we may need to roleplay it out or something
Okay, it's been 2 days since we've heard from Callindra. I assume she's just busy, but the character becomes inert if it's 2 days without warning. Violet get's the money, Pict gets knowledge. Since Crassus was concerned with either power or artifact and Erlan settled for the artifact, I suppose it is fair that Erlan get's it and Crassus gets the power. I will make necessary rolls if no one minds and then write things properly in the next post.
1. Violet chooses the gold and decides to try to persuade the creature to give some more (since her Persuasion is the highest among social checks): 13
2. Crassus get's the power - +1 lvl (savour the moment, with all the recent leveling and keeping in mind milestone system, it's going to be much harder from this moment forth.
3. Erlan get's the artifact. Rarity roll using the initiative: 19
4. Pict gets the knowledge, I will describe the answer and Erlan's artifact in the following in-game post.
Sry, I was away and couldn't get a decent Internet connection.
Violet will be interested in (decending priority order) knowledge, power, artifact, gold.
Just read your decision after posting. It's fine with me.
Violetis shocked and absentminded after the fight. Pretty occupied by her own thoughts she isn't realising what the dryad was offering. She is shaking all over caused by the bloodshed all around them. Recognizing the innkeep and his wife she sits down and starts to cry as these weren't some faceless beasts but real people she interacted with.
She doesn't even argue for any reward or try to persuade the dryad.
"Dryad" listened to their decision-making and the result of it. She then rose from the branch and walked to the group.
"It's a practical decision, witch," she said, handing Violetthe heavy leather pouch. "It wouldn't be my choice, but I suppose for a traveller..."
"This was not an easy feat, defeating the beasts,"Violet tried to argue for some more. "And they used their magic on me! Don't you think that warrants a little extra for the troubles and the damage?"
"They have no magic, only the simple ability to put people to sleep. Sounds to me like you slept through most of the fight anyway. That warrants nothing."
A little disappointed, sorceress backed down.
"You chose power, warrior. I did expect that... Well, claim it, then!" With these words, "dryad" leaned in for a kiss before Dragonborn could do anything about it. Illusion did not hold to physical contact and her moonstone-coloured skin, so smooth and shiny on sight felt rough and leathery on touch. A thick white mist rose from her mouth and entred Crassuses. Then, she backed away. "This is as much as I'm willing to part with... for services rendered. Use it well."
She approached Erlan and looked closely in his eyes, searching for who knows what.
"Wise choice, wood-strider. True power lies not in wealth but in the things it affords you. I give you this bow. It's name is Oathbow. It was found in the Illefarn ruins farther into the forest. It's been centuries since a mortal last touched it, but the enchantment still holds. I suspect it can outlive even me. Do not brag about it's power, for there will be many who would want it for themselves. And it doesn't make you invincible."
"Dryad" adressed the druid last.
"I suspected you searched for something in this forest. Your people are not known to leave your lands for no good reason," she took an amulet from Pictshands. "Ah yes, I know this wood. This comes from Emmantiensien, a mighty tree in the North which houses equally mighty Fey, but I'm sure you already knew this. As for curing it... you can't. You can't, because it's not a disease, it's a curse, those can't be cured or dispelled. But every curse can be lifted. The nature of a curse if hard to point, but it feels like it affects the Emmantiensiens strenght of will. Even as I hold only a slither of it's wood it slowly drains mine. Fey do not work like mortals do. Will drives us, protects us, feeds our magic. That's why Emmantiensien wants your worship - to add your will, freely given, to his own. Without it, the tree will wither and fall dormant and the Fey within it will die... And I don't know how to break the curse."
She gave the amulet back to Pictand watched as he fastened it around his neck, then continued.
"The nature of this curse is hard to point, but not it's origin. I knew the Fey it comes from, one who calls herself Queen of Air and Darkness. Although she was called something else when we crossed paths. Her rise to power has been to exclusion of many relationships, mine included, so I have no qualms about telling you all this. Other of my kind will not be so forthcoming. Many side with her. They fear her, and for a good reason. You may walk a thousand leagues in every direction from this very point and find no Fey willing or able to help," she said sadly. "But all is not lost. Where Fey fail, mortals can do their part. Indeed, even amongst ourselves it's hard to find people so knowledgable about the dark magic. There is a powerful necromancer in the city-port of Nyit, across the Witchwood. He comes sometimes in the forest for the supplies and the denizend of it leave him be for the power he wields is quite fearsome and his knowledge of the Arcane is impressive. He will probably be able to help. I do not know how to find him ithin those walls. He looks young, but is much older, his arms are heavily inked. I don't know his real name, but he asked to call him Brennan. This is all I can do."
Woman took a few steps back from the group.
"Rest here. My pixies will take the bodies somewhere else. And the will-o'-wisps will stay with you and protect you through the night. Make no mistake: our dealing do not make us allies. Should our paths cross again, do not ask me for any favors. But you have my thanks nonetheless. And my sympathy."
And just like that, she was gone. The will-o'-wisps remained, however. They dimmed their lights and flew away a few feet, filling the glade with soft radiance.
END OF CHAPTER 1
Guys, I will be gone for a few days. Specifically, from tomorrow till June 30th (or July 2nd, but that is highly unlikely). I have just graduated medschool (yay!) and I need a few days to fry my ass in the sun, because judging by my skin color, I'm practically a vampire. Plus, I want to figure out how to stick personal quests into the campaign, and that too takes some time. I will be online today and probably tomorrow, but after that I will be far away from reliable internet and way too drunk to write stuff.
So I will start Chapter 2 next Saturday. Or Monday, tops. I hope it's alright.
Crassus is shocked for a moment after the "dryad" kisses him because 1. it's been a while since the last time someone kissed him and 2. the feel of the creature that kissed him does not match the appearance of the creature. It's off-putting in a way that he can't put a finger on.
Then he sees Violet just weeping in shock and horror and thinks back to his days as a mercenary. He's seen plenty of soldiers break down in battle, some of them were greens who had never actually been in a battle before and didn't know how bad it actually was. Others were veterans who had seen too many battles and couldn't take any more. Violet looked more like someone from the former group than the latter. "This your first battle? I'm guessing that it is, judging by how you're handling this."
"Yeah it is. I … I don't like hurting everyone."Violetstammers. "I just wish I'd know more about protection than about all that destruction. I mean being able to help and protect people would be great." Violet calms down as Crassus words seem to console her.
A few minutes later she seems deep in thought and you can hear her muttering "Yes... of course … yeah … I would … certainly … yes."
Crassus is actually a little weirded out by this. If he wasn't working with Violet, he'd just write her off as a crazy person. Which she still might be, as she's certainly acted a little odd in the time that she's known him. But the events of the last two days have given him reason to at least think that the simplest explanation isn't always the right one.
"Hey, uh are you talking to someone else right now? Because the four of us are the only ones out here and it looks pretty odd with you just muttering words to what looks like no one in particular."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Sry, Crassus. Yes I was talking to someone else. It's an arcane wizardly thing. I can't fully explain it to you, but I know this telepathic spell which sometimes helps and guides me."
Violetseems very satisfied at the moment, once again smiling. "You see, he told me I could start by learning to protect myself better."
With that Violetonce again takes out her book, flips through some pages. "Ah, here it is." She makes an elaborate gesture chanting "Lombra" and you see shadows flowing from the surrounding tree towards to her, engulfing her for a brief moment, forming some kind of protective layer. She continues her reading on another page "Vigoria". At the same time a swirl of winds erupts around her blowing away leaves on the ground and gently lifting Violetup several inches above ground.
As the 'dryad' faded away into the forest, Pict was left with only his companions, the wisps soft light, and his thoughts to occupy him. He gripped onto his shard of Emmantiensien again, trying to sense anything from the powerful being linked to it, but felt nothing but a dull magical hum. He shook his head sadly, and tucked the shard under his shirt and vest. He considered what the creature had told him. A necromancer. Yet another who would pervert the natural order for his own gain.
He sighed, taking a seat where he stood and feeling the ground beneath him. Suddenly, he could distinctly feel his age, creeping in past the natural magics that usually kept him spry.
For several minutes, he was quiet, thinking about his inevitable journey to the port of Nyit. He knew not whether his newfound allies would accompany him, but he hoped they would. It was difficult to find capable companions in this world.
His thoughts were interrupted when he overhead Violet's explanation of her powers, and the telepathic bond she shared. He flinched a bit as she mentioned the voice in her mind, thinking of Darah in that moment, and cleared his throat. "A powerful friend is a treasure for sure, and many goodly beings contact us from beyond our plane. But be wary too, lass. You can never be too sure of who it is that you're communing with." He paused for a moment, observing her new spells in action, before adding, "Although it seems to be rather helpful as of now."
I sit with my oathbow near a fire I started to keep warm. While seated I attune to my magical weapon. I listen to the group but sit quietly as I have no real input of value. I sit contemplating other ways the situation with the jackalweres could have played out. Remorseful for the killing.
The next few days were fairly simple. After Erlan guided his companions back to the campsite, finding their way was not so difficult. Forest dwellers did not approach them, which was both a relief when they thought of will-o'-wisps and a disappointment when they were forced to eat their dried out rations.
As the company passed through Witchwood, the road became less and less damaged. There were no more overgrown parts or fallen trees blocking passage. More roads joined the main tract and roadsigns, however weathered, were present and readable. They approached civilization, slowly but surely.
You've spent your nights under the sky on the side o the road or in frequent ghost-towns - abandoned villages of no more that 5 or 6 houses that were still standing. Once long ago they were trading posts and stops that provided rest and some sort of protection for the caravans, but what little remained was only good for shielding travellers from the winds and rain.
On one such night the lot of travellers was enjoying a meal of several rabbits the ranger shot. None of them was a particularly good cook, but after dried out meat and cheese in their backpacks, even slightly charred and oversalted rabbit tasted like an ambrosia. They were sitting in an empty barn in the middle of which Violet started a campfire.
Suddenly, Crassus, Pictand Erlangrew wary. They could hear voices from outside the barn, that were approaching, but could not make out the words.
Okay, and so we continue.
The lot of you are still not out of the woods, but soon might be, depending on how you deal with the situation. Violet did not her the voices because of her passive perception being below DC of 10.
The choices how to act are all yours, you can try and eavesdrop (Stealth and Hearing check (perception)), you could try to confront them, warn them that you are all armed and dangerous, hide (stealth), etc., I will not limit your course of action, just make appropriate checks (I will tell you in I need a different one, so don't sweat it), DC for all of them is 15.
You have several minutes before the voices enter the barn.
I try making my way up into the rafters of the barn trying to be stealthy to get the drop on who’s coming. I remove my oath bow and nock an arrow. I try to listen to what is being said. I watch as the Dragonborn draws attention to our position. I shake my head at his actions
Acrobatics: 7
stealth: 6
perception: 21
OOC: I do have the goodberry now to sustain us if need be.
"I'm telling you, I saw someone come in here!" says one of the voices.
"Bullshit," another answers. "It's been weeks since someone..."
The rafters are way too rotten to support Erlansweight. They give out under him, and the elf lands on his feet, undamaged, but having drawn enough attention to himself with a loud thud. The voices cease their conversation.
Then the Dragonborns warning comes, and both voices seem to pause for a second, but are not particularly impressed. Their owners enter the barn carefully, but surely. The second voice belongs to Bandit Captain, the first one - to Berserker.
"You have some nerve to threaten me in my own territory, lizard," captain replies, while keeping an eye on the ranger and the rest of the party. "Who are you and what are you doing in here?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Erlan
”don’t mind the lizard here. He’s kind of a moron at times. We are just weary travelers looking for a dry place to lay our heads for the night. We'll be gone in the morning.”
Persuasion: 22
While standing and holding my oath bow, I ready to utter the command word against the bandit captain if we are attacked.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Pict listens warily to the conversation between Crassus, Erlan, and the figures that have now entered the barn.
Sensing danger, Pictattempts to hide in the shadows of the barn without alerting the two intruders.
Stealth: 14
Once he feels he is sufficiently out of sight (whether or not he is actually hidden), he goes down to his knees, and after a brief moment, his body begins to change shape. After a moment, a panther stands in his place, and watches the two intruders intently.
The bandit captain narrowed his eyes at the elf, inclined to believe him.
"I see. I'm not keen on charity, usually, if you get my meaning. Besides, this place is dangerous, so travelers don't mind a bit of extra protection we can offer. But seeing as you are capable lot, you may stay," he mumbles, admiring a well-crafted bow in Erlanshands.
Picts stealth check succeeds because it's higher than both bandits passive perception. They won't do perception rolls unless in combat.
The next moment they stare at each other, obviously spooked by something. Their kind is not accustomed to hearing strange voices in their heads, but only Violet really knows what frightened two men so. They both left in a hurry.
Callindra, I have an idea. Social interactions via telepathy will also require ability checks (such as intimidation in this case), but advantage may or may not apply. Intimidation had advantage, persuasion - disadvantage and deception remains as it is.
That is from now on, no need to correct already existing post.
Four companions get to continue their meal, discussing what happened and laughing. Pictsdisplay has also impressed everyone - shapeshifting is not what you'd see every day.
The group went to sleep, lulled into false sense of security. You awaken in the middle of the night from the intense heat surrouning you and the suffocating clouds of smoke - the barn is aflame. The walls are stone, but the roof and rafts are wooden. There's also enough flammable junk inside to sustain combustion.
People generally don't react well to things they can't explain or understand. Had you intimidated them with a display of force or skill or even a eloquent threat, bandits might have though you're not worth the trouble. Having assumed the voice in their heads also knows what's going on in them, they decided to play it safe (relatively).
The barn is on fire. Soon, the roof will collapse, burying you under it, so the lot of you needs to get out. There are two accesible passages - the main entrance (with the doors also alight) and the back one (fire hasn't got there yet), but getting there
Someone may try an investigation check to decide the best couse of action, DC is 10 (Bandits are not particularly smart) and I will write what the character concluded.
Pict,coughing violently into the crook of his elbow, will hurriedly make a series of hand signs and speak a few words of power, casting create or destroy water, centering it around the party so that it reaches the front exit.
DM Price of Misfortune (finished)
DM Price of Misfortune (finished)
Sry, I was away and couldn't get a decent Internet connection.
Violet will be interested in (decending priority order) knowledge, power, artifact, gold.
Just read your decision after posting. It's fine with me.
Violet is shocked and absentminded after the fight. Pretty occupied by her own thoughts she isn't realising what the dryad was offering. She is shaking all over caused by the bloodshed all around them. Recognizing the innkeep and his wife she sits down and starts to cry as these weren't some faceless beasts but real people she interacted with.
She doesn't even argue for any reward or try to persuade the dryad.
"Dryad" listened to their decision-making and the result of it. She then rose from the branch and walked to the group.
"It's a practical decision, witch," she said, handing Violet the heavy leather pouch. "It wouldn't be my choice, but I suppose for a traveller..."
"This was not an easy feat, defeating the beasts," Violet tried to argue for some more. "And they used their magic on me! Don't you think that warrants a little extra for the troubles and the damage?"
"They have no magic, only the simple ability to put people to sleep. Sounds to me like you slept through most of the fight anyway. That warrants nothing."
A little disappointed, sorceress backed down.
"You chose power, warrior. I did expect that... Well, claim it, then!" With these words, "dryad" leaned in for a kiss before Dragonborn could do anything about it. Illusion did not hold to physical contact and her moonstone-coloured skin, so smooth and shiny on sight felt rough and leathery on touch. A thick white mist rose from her mouth and entred Crassuses. Then, she backed away. "This is as much as I'm willing to part with... for services rendered. Use it well."
She approached Erlan and looked closely in his eyes, searching for who knows what.
"Wise choice, wood-strider. True power lies not in wealth but in the things it affords you. I give you this bow. It's name is Oathbow. It was found in the Illefarn ruins farther into the forest. It's been centuries since a mortal last touched it, but the enchantment still holds. I suspect it can outlive even me. Do not brag about it's power, for there will be many who would want it for themselves. And it doesn't make you invincible."
"Dryad" adressed the druid last.
"I suspected you searched for something in this forest. Your people are not known to leave your lands for no good reason," she took an amulet from Picts hands. "Ah yes, I know this wood. This comes from Emmantiensien, a mighty tree in the North which houses equally mighty Fey, but I'm sure you already knew this. As for curing it... you can't. You can't, because it's not a disease, it's a curse, those can't be cured or dispelled. But every curse can be lifted. The nature of a curse if hard to point, but it feels like it affects the Emmantiensiens strenght of will. Even as I hold only a slither of it's wood it slowly drains mine. Fey do not work like mortals do. Will drives us, protects us, feeds our magic. That's why Emmantiensien wants your worship - to add your will, freely given, to his own. Without it, the tree will wither and fall dormant and the Fey within it will die... And I don't know how to break the curse."
She gave the amulet back to Pict and watched as he fastened it around his neck, then continued.
"The nature of this curse is hard to point, but not it's origin. I knew the Fey it comes from, one who calls herself Queen of Air and Darkness. Although she was called something else when we crossed paths. Her rise to power has been to exclusion of many relationships, mine included, so I have no qualms about telling you all this. Other of my kind will not be so forthcoming. Many side with her. They fear her, and for a good reason. You may walk a thousand leagues in every direction from this very point and find no Fey willing or able to help," she said sadly. "But all is not lost. Where Fey fail, mortals can do their part. Indeed, even amongst ourselves it's hard to find people so knowledgable about the dark magic. There is a powerful necromancer in the city-port of Nyit, across the Witchwood. He comes sometimes in the forest for the supplies and the denizend of it leave him be for the power he wields is quite fearsome and his knowledge of the Arcane is impressive. He will probably be able to help. I do not know how to find him ithin those walls. He looks young, but is much older, his arms are heavily inked. I don't know his real name, but he asked to call him Brennan. This is all I can do."
Woman took a few steps back from the group.
"Rest here. My pixies will take the bodies somewhere else. And the will-o'-wisps will stay with you and protect you through the night. Make no mistake: our dealing do not make us allies. Should our paths cross again, do not ask me for any favors. But you have my thanks nonetheless. And my sympathy."
And just like that, she was gone. The will-o'-wisps remained, however. They dimmed their lights and flew away a few feet, filling the glade with soft radiance.
END OF CHAPTER 1
DM Price of Misfortune (finished)
Crassus is shocked for a moment after the "dryad" kisses him because 1. it's been a while since the last time someone kissed him and 2. the feel of the creature that kissed him does not match the appearance of the creature. It's off-putting in a way that he can't put a finger on.
Then he sees Violet just weeping in shock and horror and thinks back to his days as a mercenary. He's seen plenty of soldiers break down in battle, some of them were greens who had never actually been in a battle before and didn't know how bad it actually was. Others were veterans who had seen too many battles and couldn't take any more. Violet looked more like someone from the former group than the latter. "This your first battle? I'm guessing that it is, judging by how you're handling this."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"Yeah it is. I … I don't like hurting everyone." Violet stammers. "I just wish I'd know more about protection than about all that destruction. I mean being able to help and protect people would be great." Violet calms down as Crassus words seem to console her.
A few minutes later she seems deep in thought and you can hear her muttering "Yes... of course … yeah … I would … certainly … yes."
Crassus is actually a little weirded out by this. If he wasn't working with Violet, he'd just write her off as a crazy person. Which she still might be, as she's certainly acted a little odd in the time that she's known him. But the events of the last two days have given him reason to at least think that the simplest explanation isn't always the right one.
"Hey, uh are you talking to someone else right now? Because the four of us are the only ones out here and it looks pretty odd with you just muttering words to what looks like no one in particular."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
"Sry, Crassus. Yes I was talking to someone else. It's an arcane wizardly thing. I can't fully explain it to you, but I know this telepathic spell which sometimes helps and guides me."
Violet seems very satisfied at the moment, once again smiling. "You see, he told me I could start by learning to protect myself better."
With that Violet once again takes out her book, flips through some pages. "Ah, here it is." She makes an elaborate gesture chanting "Lombra" and you see shadows flowing from the surrounding tree towards to her, engulfing her for a brief moment, forming some kind of protective layer. She continues her reading on another page "Vigoria". At the same time a swirl of winds erupts around her blowing away leaves on the ground and gently lifting Violet up several inches above ground.
Casting Mage Armor and False Life
AC: 15 and additional temporary HP: 8
As the 'dryad' faded away into the forest, Pict was left with only his companions, the wisps soft light, and his thoughts to occupy him. He gripped onto his shard of Emmantiensien again, trying to sense anything from the powerful being linked to it, but felt nothing but a dull magical hum. He shook his head sadly, and tucked the shard under his shirt and vest. He considered what the creature had told him. A necromancer. Yet another who would pervert the natural order for his own gain.
He sighed, taking a seat where he stood and feeling the ground beneath him. Suddenly, he could distinctly feel his age, creeping in past the natural magics that usually kept him spry.
For several minutes, he was quiet, thinking about his inevitable journey to the port of Nyit. He knew not whether his newfound allies would accompany him, but he hoped they would. It was difficult to find capable companions in this world.
His thoughts were interrupted when he overhead Violet's explanation of her powers, and the telepathic bond she shared. He flinched a bit as she mentioned the voice in her mind, thinking of Darah in that moment, and cleared his throat. "A powerful friend is a treasure for sure, and many goodly beings contact us from beyond our plane. But be wary too, lass. You can never be too sure of who it is that you're communing with." He paused for a moment, observing her new spells in action, before adding, "Although it seems to be rather helpful as of now."
Erlan
I sit with my oathbow near a fire I started to keep warm. While seated I attune to my magical weapon. I listen to the group but sit quietly as I have no real input of value. I sit contemplating other ways the situation with the jackalweres could have played out. Remorseful for the killing.
PC: Fitzroy Hammerstone - The Mad Empiricist of Corinth
DM:
Popular Stream Character Sheets
CHAPTER 2
The next few days were fairly simple. After Erlan guided his companions back to the campsite, finding their way was not so difficult. Forest dwellers did not approach them, which was both a relief when they thought of will-o'-wisps and a disappointment when they were forced to eat their dried out rations.
As the company passed through Witchwood, the road became less and less damaged. There were no more overgrown parts or fallen trees blocking passage. More roads joined the main tract and roadsigns, however weathered, were present and readable. They approached civilization, slowly but surely.
You've spent your nights under the sky on the side o the road or in frequent ghost-towns - abandoned villages of no more that 5 or 6 houses that were still standing. Once long ago they were trading posts and stops that provided rest and some sort of protection for the caravans, but what little remained was only good for shielding travellers from the winds and rain.
On one such night the lot of travellers was enjoying a meal of several rabbits the ranger shot. None of them was a particularly good cook, but after dried out meat and cheese in their backpacks, even slightly charred and oversalted rabbit tasted like an ambrosia. They were sitting in an empty barn in the middle of which Violet started a campfire.
Suddenly, Crassus, Pict and Erlan grew wary. They could hear voices from outside the barn, that were approaching, but could not make out the words.
DM Price of Misfortune (finished)
Crassus is going to call out to these unknown entities and give them a warning, just to be on the safe side.
"The four of us just fought our way out of the Witchwood, so if you're thinking that we're an easy quarry, you've got another thing coming!"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Erlan
I try making my way up into the rafters of the barn trying to be stealthy to get the drop on who’s coming. I remove my oath bow and nock an arrow. I try to listen to what is being said. I watch as the Dragonborn draws attention to our position. I shake my head at his actions
Acrobatics: 7
stealth: 6
perception: 21
OOC: I do have the goodberry now to sustain us if need be.
PC: Fitzroy Hammerstone - The Mad Empiricist of Corinth
DM:
Popular Stream Character Sheets
"I'm telling you, I saw someone come in here!" says one of the voices.
"Bullshit," another answers. "It's been weeks since someone..."
The rafters are way too rotten to support Erlans weight. They give out under him, and the elf lands on his feet, undamaged, but having drawn enough attention to himself with a loud thud. The voices cease their conversation.
Then the Dragonborns warning comes, and both voices seem to pause for a second, but are not particularly impressed. Their owners enter the barn carefully, but surely. The second voice belongs to Bandit Captain, the first one - to Berserker.
"You have some nerve to threaten me in my own territory, lizard," captain replies, while keeping an eye on the ranger and the rest of the party. "Who are you and what are you doing in here?"
DM Price of Misfortune (finished)
Erlan
”don’t mind the lizard here. He’s kind of a moron at times. We are just weary travelers looking for a dry place to lay our heads for the night. We'll be gone in the morning.”
Persuasion: 22
While standing and holding my oath bow, I ready to utter the command word against the bandit captain if we are attacked.
PC: Fitzroy Hammerstone - The Mad Empiricist of Corinth
DM:
Popular Stream Character Sheets
"You'd better leave these travelers alone. They are far more trouble than it's worth your time." a voice inside their heads mumbles.
Pict listens warily to the conversation between Crassus, Erlan, and the figures that have now entered the barn.
Sensing danger, Pict attempts to hide in the shadows of the barn without alerting the two intruders.
Once he feels he is sufficiently out of sight (whether or not he is actually hidden), he goes down to his knees, and after a brief moment, his body begins to change shape. After a moment, a panther stands in his place, and watches the two intruders intently.
The bandit captain narrowed his eyes at the elf, inclined to believe him.
"I see. I'm not keen on charity, usually, if you get my meaning. Besides, this place is dangerous, so travelers don't mind a bit of extra protection we can offer. But seeing as you are capable lot, you may stay," he mumbles, admiring a well-crafted bow in Erlans hands.
Picts stealth check succeeds because it's higher than both bandits passive perception. They won't do perception rolls unless in combat.
The next moment they stare at each other, obviously spooked by something. Their kind is not accustomed to hearing strange voices in their heads, but only Violet really knows what frightened two men so. They both left in a hurry.
Callindra, I have an idea. Social interactions via telepathy will also require ability checks (such as intimidation in this case), but advantage may or may not apply. Intimidation had advantage, persuasion - disadvantage and deception remains as it is.
That is from now on, no need to correct already existing post.
Four companions get to continue their meal, discussing what happened and laughing. Picts display has also impressed everyone - shapeshifting is not what you'd see every day.
The group went to sleep, lulled into false sense of security. You awaken in the middle of the night from the intense heat surrouning you and the suffocating clouds of smoke - the barn is aflame. The walls are stone, but the roof and rafts are wooden. There's also enough flammable junk inside to sustain combustion.
DM Price of Misfortune (finished)
Pict, coughing violently into the crook of his elbow, will hurriedly make a series of hand signs and speak a few words of power, casting create or destroy water, centering it around the party so that it reaches the front exit.