Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Theldrin really isn't sure what they're getting themselves into, but smiles and nods, hoping for the best.
Horned Society
Xanrym realizes that The Company made plans for the day, but they had not actually discussed what angle they would use for introducing themselves to each group. He was expecting to meet more of a pastor. Or possibly a high-ranking and politically-connected prelate. Hierarch Warduke's appearance surprises him. The man looks more like Avery than like Abramo. Maybe Xanrym should have expected as much from a disciple of Hextor! But still, Warduke is a "holy" man, so he decides to lead with respect and curiosity but to try to keep it brief.
Xanrym bows to the group and says, "Your holiness. Pardon the interruption. My name is Xanrym. I am a scholar and theologian, and I'm always eager to learn more about the gods and their followers here in the Flanaess, from the Hearth Mother of the farmers to the uncaring Lord of All Magics. And even the small cults of lesser-known gods, like the Queen of All Night. I believe that you are from The Horned Society, are you not? A follower of the Sourge of Battle?" If so, he says, "I would be interested in asking you about your order and the tenets of your faith. I do not mean to disturb your meal, but perhaps we can talk later after you break fast?"
Persuasion: 18 (min value from Silver Tongue feature)
@Charwoman_Gene - No Tactical Mind necessary.
Coriana and Theldrin - You're invited to sit with the women, as the men go aobut their morning routine. The warm smells of incense and sweat fills your nostrils as they put before you a knucklebone from some indeterminate animal. On each face of the knucklebone is a crude picture:
1. Wolf, 2. Wind, 3. Blood, 4. Sky
One of the women picks up the knuckle and closes her eyes, then suddenly blurts out an Omen: "The wolf hunts tonight, her fur falls away revealing her scaly skin." And rolls the bone:
1
Coriana and Theldrin - The Weigwer exclaim, clearly this is a winning roll. They then begin talking to one another about what it could mean, even the one who gave the omen seems surprised that she rolled well. There is no question that this omen must be true.
The knucklebone is then passed to you, one of you is expected to cite an Omen and roll the d4 Knucklebone, hoping that the number matches your Omen. (Let me know if that doesn't make sense to you and I can explain further.)
Xanrym and Syllen - As one of the priests goes to start extoling the virtues of Hextor, Warduke stands up and announces in a deep angry voice, "Do not try to confound me bard! Why have you come before me, pretending to be interested in our faith!? You are an enemy of the Horned Society? Or Iuz?" Clearly he's seen through your ploy.
Khessa and Avery - As you turn to leave, the Knights of the Hart all step forward and attack. You'll have one round of combat before the Broken Crown has time to intervene. Initiative:
Group 1: Avery
Group 2: Knights of the Hart
Group 3: Khessa.
Avery is up, Sir Kipeien and 2 Squires move to attack you and Khessa.
Khessa is surprised to see exactly what she thought was out of the question: actual violence. She had imagined an altercation, giving the ship's security team time to intervene before anyone got hurt...
'Perhaps the knights thought a little more realism was in order!' the blonde arcane warrior observes. The unexpected turn of events, however, makes her slow to react; while Avery and the knights are already springing into action...
Avery attacks: Attack: 19 Damage: 16; Attack: 29 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll.
Heads up-going to be away until Sunday
When the big Hiearch stands up, Xanrym is startled. He takes a step back toward the door in the small galley, holding both of his hands open in front of him, palms facing forward, in a mollifying gesture that also shows that he's not holding a weapon. He says, "You have a keen insight, your holiness. Indeed! I am bard, but both can be true. I'm a 'jack of all trades' and have always dabbled in a variety of interests. I'm raconteur and a historian, a poet and a theologian, a naturalist and an archeologist. I do not limit my conversation to my associates and friends. I'm always happy to meet new people because it's the best way to learn about the world. I've talked with mayors and wizards, merchants and assassins, even a leader among the dark elves in the darkness below. I know of no reason that we could not speak over breakfast. I value conversation with strangers and exchanging news."
Xanrym continues, trying to address Warduke's accusations and questions: "I am interested in your faith. I do not know whether I would choose to join it: I am no soldier, as you see! But I believe that we should give each god their due. I have never met any followers of the Scourge of War before, and I thought that this would be a good opportunity to learn the tenets of our faith. As for the Horned Society and Iuz -- well, I hope that I am no one's enemy! My companions and I are just a small company of adventurers. We are not involved in any of the wars between the rulers of nations and their armies."
Persuasion: 18 (min value from Silver Tongue)
If it looks like none of that is assuaging Warduke's anger (Perception: 17), then...
Xanrym continues moving toward the door as he talks. As he gets to the door, he adds, "But if you do not wish to speak with us, well and good. We will leave you in peace."
(OOC: Hm. I rolled in the character sheet since the forum roller is giving me trouble. Oh, and that second check should have been Insight. If this doesn't at least move Warduke's attitude back to Indifferent, I think that there's nothing that Xanrym can do here with his words.)
Xanrym
Persuasion: 27 (in game log)
Insight: 13 (in game log)
Theldrin doesn't like the sound of this at all, as it reminds him of the Naga. He does his best not to show any emotion however, looking at the bone and then towards Coriana, inviting her to take the roll.
"Two baby birds, stretch their winds ant last and step imto the sky." Roll: 3 [[Can I spend a luck point for "advantage" 3]]
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Khessa and Avery - Avery takes two good swings at Sir Kipeien, who manages to Parry the second hit with his Reaction. He then takes two swings at Avery himself. At that same time, his two squires chase down Khessa, one swinging with their Shortsword while the other flanks with a Handaxe (Pack Tactics).They are making a really good show of this:
Greatsword against Avery Attack: 12 Damage: 13 Slashing
Greatsword against Avery Attack: 9 Damage: 9 Slashing
Shortsword against Khessa Attack: 22 Damage: 7 Piercing
Handaxe against Khessa Attack: 15 Damage: 6 Slashing
Khessa is up, she sees that The Broken Crown will involve themselves in just a moment, but are looking at what she does.
Xanrym and Syllen - Warduke stops at your explanation, and nods one of his priests: “Perhaps these can do our job for us. If they won’t, then we’ll just make them all disappear. I retreat to my quarters now for rest.” Warduke stands up and heads to the large quarters occupied by the Horned Society while his red-robed priest explains:
“We want that Shield Lander, Alaric, dead. We were planning to kill him once we got to Iuz, but we hear he’s made plans to get off the ship early. Perhaps you can help him off if that’s what he wants. The image of a Shield Lander noble with a knife in his back hitting the ground below will please Hextor greatly… and Heirarch Warduke.” The priest waits for your response, the rest of them looking on with grim interest.
Coriana and Theldrin - Even after beseeching a little extra luck, Coriana rolls foul. Three of the Wolf-Sisters laugh, “Birds!? No one be flying from this ship, you’re stuck up here sailor.” They then point at Theldrin, “We ask a truth of you. You obviously have been to the Baklunish lands, so we want to know: Can those people put aside their hatred of each other long enough to aid us in our war with Iuz? Or will they rather destroy each other before he come to claim the leftovers?”
The one Wolf-Sister who didn’t question Theldrin, Mayara, looks at Coriana worriedly, clearly seeing the gravity of your roll. “Whoever those two birds you’re wanting to set free, it seems whatever being is accepting your Omens doesn’t want them to be free of this ship. Will you defy your true master to set them free?”
Far down below, the water churns in the Nyr Dyv. Something down there is watching the sky above.
Khessa is pleased that the two squires are putting on a really good show—but they're avoiding any serious hits. Despite their pack tactics, their sloppy blows have been easily stopped by her excellent armor, which continues to shine without a dent, as if to mock them.
The blonde arcane warrior comments, while holding her Pike in both hands: "My friend and I were leaving without any trouble... But the master whistled—and the dogs ran to try and bite, didn't they? How about we stop now, before I send you flying overboard?"
And, for the sake of demonstration, the tall adventuress lunges at the squire closest to the side of the flying ship, so as to push him, if hit, threateningly towards the void... If the side is less than 10 feet away, she obviously doesn't want to throw him off yet... she just reminds him that it would be possible for her to do so (and that the experience would probably not be pleasant for him).
Khessa's Pike Attack: 7 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. (piercing)
If she hits, she Pushes (thanks to the Mastery property) the enemy 10 feet towards the side (and the void).
"Just because I owe a debt doesn't make them my master. And unfoirtunately, there is a line of people looking to collect debts from me."
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
(OOC: Not sure to what extent Theldrin might have a sense of this though am guessing he'd maybe have some general idea as to popular sentiment. Rolling HIstory with optional Advantage if Drumdigby agrees, for his time studying in Ekbir)
History: 27
If Advantage: 11
Khessa and Avery - Khessa pushes back the squire, and makes a good show of driving him toward the edge of the ship. It is at that point that The Broken Crown get involved. They come in and grapple everyone involved in the fight, assuming you let them they’ll drag you all from one another: “More fights on this ship than we faced in the Blackmarsh!” One says to another as they drag you away and reprimand you.
After a few moments, making you promise now to do it again or they’ll throw you overboard, The Broken Crown let you go. You feel as though you’ve successfully placed yourselves at odds with the Knights of the Hart.
Coriana and Theldrin - Sensing you seem to know what you’re doing with gambling, Mayara lets Coriana dodge her advice and listens to Theldrin’s response. Theldrin recalls knowledge of the politics situation in Western Flanaess. Although the nations currently enjoy peaceful relations, Tusmit profits by playing its political neighbors against each other—Ekbir against Zeif, Zeif against the Ulakandar nomads, the Ulakandar nomads against Ket, and so forth. Pasha Qharlan Sylba of Tusmit is careful to keep his name well clear of these schemes so he can avoid embroiling Tusmit in open warfare. You can choose to give whatever you think Theldrin would knowing this.
Khessa lets herself be pulled back, but adds, for good measure, with The Broken Crown: "In case you hadn't noticed, I didn't start it, I was just trying to end it... I had to defend myself! Speaking of that, if one day you need a hand throwing those troublemakers overboard, just give me a call, if you like... I'll help you for free, I promise" she comradely pats the other mercenaries on the shoulder.
The blonde arcane warrior then checks on Avery: "How are you, my friend? I saw that even though the armor prevented you from being torn to pieces, you must have some bruises underneath from those blows..." and, assuming the other reassures her, she smiles and suggests "Come on, then, let's go find more pleasant company—like that of our friends."
The tall adventuress is curious to see if everything went well for them too...
Xanrym bows his head slightly and steps aside while waving Syllen to back up into the hallway to allow Warduke to pass them more easily...and to give Syllen the opportunity to confirm which room Warduke enters.
Xanrym raises his eyebrows in surprise at this request and looks to the others in the group as though confirming that this request isn't a prank. Really, he's checking each one to see how many Horned Society members are here and whether they look like priests, soldiers, servants, scouts, etc. Investigation: 21 (in game log).
(OOC: I wasn't sure what skill made sense here, but I thought maybe Investigation for deducing their roles based on their gear and general attitude.)
Finally, Xanrym focuses back on the priest with a more serious expression and tries to clarify the request. He asks, "Alaric? He's the lord with the scribe who follows him around, writing down every bit of blather that tumbles forth from his lips? Yes, our Company spoke with him." He glances at Syllen as though reminding him, "He didn't have any remunerative jobs for us." He means to imply that The Company is entirely mercenary and only has loyalty to those who can pay them.
Xanrym continues with the priest: "Speaking of remuneration... Yours is no small request. Say that we accept this job and throw Alaric from the ship with a knife in his back, what's in it for us, exactly? Our Company rarely accepts a job before we settle on the price."
(OOC: To speed things along, Xanrym intends to accept Warduke's "job." He's already thinking about how to make it look like they've fulfilled the priest's demand without actually harming Alaric. But he'd like to secure some sort of agreement about what The Company gets in return. He'd at least want to get a promise that Warduke will meet with them. If he can extract anything else, like the use of their Crown Token, even better. Xanrym isn't too concerned about the threat to "make us disappear.")
"Ah, that is an excellent question..." Theldrin smiles. "And yes, as you can tell from my attire, I indeed spent some time studying in Ekbir. Truth be told, I don't think anyone knows. Intrigue runs deep in the politics there and some say the different nations are being played against each other."