Chronicles of the Accursed Campaign Thread (Group 1)

"It always warms my heart, the self-confidence that some of you kids have, Yasmina..." Duwamilly smiles, amused by the other's imitation - and really proud of the joke-prone drift the group is starting to take "But don't underestimate the battle... I too am convinced that we will triumph, but I don't rule out a priori that the creature that Zolgu will send against us will have the ability to either fly or attack from a distance..."

"This is not to undermine your self-confidence," the gnome cleric is quick to specify "which in my opinion is well justified and is a good help, but only to remind you not to be too reckless... If the enemy can attack from range and happens to seriously injure you while you're in the air and knock you unconscious, the fall... could 'finish the job'... you know? Anyway, I hope Cal, Zander and possibly Lord Amir will manage to keep the monster's focus on them".

While waiting for the Trial, the ex-Preceptor doesn't trust herself wandering around the city of kobolds alone, given that there isn't generally too much sympathy between kobolds and gnomes. To snoop around she would have to use magical resources to make herself safer or to avoid being noticed... but she prefers to preserve her magical energies for the Trial. So, she does nothing but seek (in silence!) her communion with her god, mentally recalling with him the mythical prank with which Garl Glittergold escaped Kulturmak's hunt by causing his own cave to collapse on his head and imprisoning him!

'Zolgu is so nice that he almost seems to beg to emulate his god...' Duwamilly thinks, smiling to herself.

Zander, not being one to like waiting for a fight, sits impatiently. 

Cal will practice his mediation exercises to calm himself and remind him why he must fight.

Delvindra, more than a little unnerved by the Gnome's uncharacteristic silence, rather audaciously helps herself to a sip from Yasmina's wine glass...without asking and with only the slightest nod of thanks. She then spends the rest of the wait channeling her nervous energy into her katas.

(I'm ready to move on when everyone else is)

Yasmina does her best to relax on a kobold-sized slab of a bed...

The interior of the shack has 10 beds and a small table, along with a trapdoor that presumably opens to allow the occupants to descend into the arena. Occasionally, a kobold pops in to gawk at these strangers who wish to undertake the Trial of the Warriors, and if you ask any of them about the Trial they explain that usually 10 promising hopefuls are selected for a chance to become a Kobold Dragonshield in service of Glethegar. More often than not, only one or two of these warriors survive the trial to be granted the honor of serving Glethegar as dragonshields.

But eventually, it seems that the time has come. As you look into the giant arena, you can see a team of kobolds dragging a massive crate into the middle of the arena. As soon as it is positioned, the kobolds scamper as fast and as far away as they can from the crate and disappear into one of the doorways that surrounds the pit. You can hear a heavy thud as they bar the door from the other side.

Hundreds of kobolds gather around the pit, waiting in eager anticipation for the show. You then hear a knock at the door of your shack. On the other side is none other than Zolgu.

"It is time to show yourselves worthy to be devotees of the great and powerful Glethegar," the elder says. "This creature has butchered many of our hopefuls already, but perhaps you will prove more cunning and skillful than they were."

With that last ominous warning, the trap door opens, revealing the stairway into the arena...

Didi takes slow, deep breaths. She will not give in to fear. Her hands will not shake. Her mind is the master of her body...and she wills her mind to remain calm.

She casts her eyes over her companions. Zander, Cal, Milly, and finally Yasmina. A small smile crosses her lips. She has no desire to die. But if this is how it is to happen, there's no one else she would want to be with...

"Alright, kids!" Duwamilly is glad that it's show time... since it's an unavoidable necessity, better to do it sooner rather than later. "Let's get ready to go on stage..."

The gnome cleric smiles, while she prays in private to her beloved god, feeling his amused protecting influence... All of a sudden, the Duwamilly become... four! Distinct as positions in space, but otherwise indistinguishable, as they speak and act in unison. And soon after, Cal, Zander, and Yasmina feel a slight tickling for a moment... quickly followed by a particular confidence in their abilities.

[[ OOC: Duwamilly casts Mirror Image on herself, then Bless on Cal, Zander and Yasmina - since they are the ones most likely will roll attack rolls against the monster - remember to add 1d4 when you do it and also when you have to make a Saving Throw. It is no small advantage, so remember to apply it! ]]

"...and then let's go!" the ex-Preceptor, wand in hand, enters the arena "Come on kids!"

[[ OOC: @DM: May I know how big the arena is and how far from us is the massive crate? ]]

The red-haired Half-Elf is more curious than afraid of what is about to burst out of the crate. What Zulga mentioned about the beast having killed many kobolds didn't impress her much but it could of course still be a terrifying adversary. She notices the Tiefling's small smile and she smiles back, briefly taking her hand. "It will be okay, everything will, just don't forget to breath." She says with a warm smile, then ready to face the Trial.

Didi swallows hard and nods at the Half-Elf.

"Don't stop breathing. I'll try to remember that," she responds with a bit of a gallows grin. "Just remember, if things go bad, stay behind me."

"Let's go" Zander straightens himself up and stretches a bit from sitting for so long. He makes his way down the stairs. But as he does he wonders why Snicker has been so quite. 'I wonder what this means' he thinks. 

"I have not been close to anyone since the death of my family but you all have given me hope for the future and I will die before I see another family dies on my watch. Let's move forward." Cal takes a deep breath and leads the group with Zander. 

Zander turning and looking at Cal. "For so much of my life I've done what others told me. This moment. This fight. I Choose to fight next to you and everyone. I to will fight to my last breath before I leave you or anyone on field."

Delvindra gives Yasmina's hand a quick squeeze before the Half-Elf let's go and then follows the others into the arena...

Numerous dracanic cries ring out in anticipation as you enter the arena! There you stand, facing a gigantic crate. You can hear unsettling sounds from inside the creature's prison, and see it shake as 'the beast' hammers on the inside.

Zolgu raises his staff and fires a burst of arcane power at the crate... shattering the massive lock securing the chains! The chains clatter to the ground, and for a moment there is absolute silence. Then... you hear a deafening crash a the beast slams hard into the wall of the crate. It cracks, and then falls... revealing the occupant...



Roll initiative!

(Monster initiative: 7)

11

Duwamilly's Initiative: 10

"nine hells"

Initiative: 4

Zander Init: 18

Quote from GR_Mustang >>

Zander Init: Dice rolls not yet available for this section.

 Go ahead and roll again, if you don't mind.

Yasmina pulls the hood over her head, disappearing from sight, ready to call on her master should the thing in the crate prove too diffucult for the two cursed blades to handle.

Stealth: 9 (Disadvantage on perception to spot her)
Intiative: 11