"So you are not the Master? What is this wild goose chase we are being sent on. How certain are you that the Master isn't evil? Seeing as Refeus, assuming we are on about the same person, tried to kill us, and there is a human slaughterhouse under the tavern that he, Refeus, owned. And he apparently answers to the Master too.
On a separate note, a companion of ours was checking out the tavern more, and now this place seems to have rearranged, it seems like he won't be able to get here in the tunnels. Is there another way he can rejoin us or is that a second companion of ours this tower has led to the death of?"
"Oh, dear no. I am not the Master. I am but one of his servants. As for Rufues trying to kill you, I simply do not know why. And as for accusations of a 'human slaughterhouse' under the tavern, well, I also do not know.
"I am but an old man, a servant of the Master, and have been toiling away at this desk day and night for quite some time. Most of the goings on of the outside world are unknown to me. Now, go on, open the chest"
None of the things he just said are lies, according Ember's spell.
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Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters:Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Ellorathe Romantic Rookie
(OK, Salastor and Rufeus. Do the names make anything "click" for Ember's nat 20 attempt to recall anything (besides "envy hand") for the people & address?
New history roll 18 to recognize the names & the old man's face using the Name Dropping background feature.)
"Weapons & spells ready in case the chest is a mimic", she tells the party. "IS the chest a mimic? Or trapped?", she asks the old man. (OOC: gang, do we open 1st or wait for the answer?)
"And "Why would they do that?" is one of my points. It's like they were possessed or something, since those don't seem the actions the man you described would do. How do we cure it? How do we keep from getting possessed ourselves? And why is everyone so secretive about the Master's name?
"The chest is a chest, my dear girl. It will not try to kill you, I promise. As for possesion, I am afraid I cannot help there.
"The Master has and always will be the Master. Nothing more, nothing less. I confess, since it seems not very prudent to lie, considering the spell which you cast, that he has never really confided me his name, even though I am very close to him. I suspect the only one who knew his real name was Rufeus, and if you're account is correct, he has been slain"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters:Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Ellorathe Romantic Rookie
Luckily, the box does not explode. Instead, Beshlog opens it to find...3 rare magic items, one for each party member! The item can be anything of your choice. If you wish to use a home-brew, send it to me so I can approve.
The Old Man looks over at you, as if to say "I told you so"
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Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters:Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Ellorathe Romantic Rookie
A magic needle is held in Beshlog's massive hands, ready to inscribe upon flesh
Artan pulls a carved wooden staff, which thrums with ancient magic (I would suggest Woodlands, since that one is cooler [imagine the things you could do with summoning a tree])
Ember, what rare magic item do you want? (and to answer your earlier question, which I missed: No, you do not recognize these names)
Artansighs "Well of course the magic tower has a magic chest with magic items in it." as he pulls out a thick oak staff (sure, I will go with your suggestion. My only thought for healing was we just lost our main healer) from the chest that honestly didn't look like it would fit in there, whichever way it was lying. He takes his staff of birdcalls, puts it in his bag, which just like the chest, it shouldn't fit in, and then slings the new staff over his back where the old one sat previously.
Ember reaches into the chest, and pulls out a corset, the symbol of a giants head on it.
With that, the Old Man coughs into his hand, drawing your attention back to him. "Well, it seems you have claimed your items. Now then, shouldn't you be on your way?" He gestures to the wall covered with books, "You see that red book with gold lettering on the spine? Pull it out"
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Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters:Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Ellorathe Romantic Rookie
"What's this? A note?" Ember says as she pulls out the corset. She reads it quietly out loud.
"My dear Ember. Seems like yesterday you were a squirmy, howling infant. Now here you are, my grandbaby off saving the world. I tried to think what would be most useful, and sent it to be delivered when you got to the Tower of Rufeus. Give the bad 'uns a punch in the teeth for me. Love, Grandma."
She holds it tight, closes her eyes and sniffs as she sheds a few silent tears. Then stands up and switches her 'Lesser Corset of Adventuring Strength" for the "Corset of Hill Giant Strength". "I love you too Grandma", she whispers.
She reaches for the Red book with Gold lettering on the spine. "You DID remember to remove the Fire Trap, right?", she asks the old man, pausing for him to get the joke before she pulls out the book.
Artanis still not fully certain of the old mans trustworthiness, after everything else that has happened since they arrived at the town. So he makes sure to be stood away from the book when it is pulled. However before Ember pulls on it, he has a thought and turns to Salastor as he should also be in the Zone of Truth. "Did you know that your father had bloodthirsty tendencies? And on that topic, what is your book actually bound in?"
The Old Man stares blankly, not having got the joke
Salastor looks at Artan, then replies "I never dreamed my father would hurt anyone. I guess we all like to think the best of those we love. And my book does appear to be bound in skin, though I do not know why. The Master gave it to me, to contain his teachings, and I do not know where he got the skin. Could be from a human, could not."
Ember pulls the book, and the wall of the library pushes back, and slides to the side, revealing a downward spiraling, dank tunnel, which is dimly light by the glow of the candles atop the Old Man's desk and the few rays of sun which peek through the gray clouds outside the window.
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Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters:Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Ellorathe Romantic Rookie
"I have asked both of you now about the fate of our friend, specifically around his ability to enter this tower the way we did from the tavern. Neither of you answered. I take it to mean that you both think he is dead."
Artan then summons a mote of starlight to his hand, not threatening at all, just to provide more light in the tunnel. It is bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet from the mote. He will gesture to Salastor to lead the way.
Salastor does lead the way, heading down the tunnel. As you walk, he explains "Your friends fate is uncerntain. The tower has changed, so he may eventually find his way back to us, but I cannot say for sure. For all I know, he could be on the otherside of this wall" Salastor wraps his knuckles smartly on the jagged wall, which draws a small amount of blood from the rough hewn stone. He has a sharp intake of breath, then sucks on his fingers. It hurt him more than it should have, it seems.
Finally, after a bit more walking, the floor flattens out, and you come to a rusty iron portcullis. Off in the gloom, those with Darkvision can see the faint outline of a lever, some 15 or 20 feet beyond the portcullis.
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Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters:Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Ellorathe Romantic Rookie
Being ever suspicious, Artanknocks on the same bit of wall. Mostly to see if the wall is possibly dangerous, or if there is something up with Salastor (unless the 23 passive perception shows any sign of teeth or other sharp objects on the wall)
Beshlog does not have darkvision, so he'll have to trust in his companions to figure out where to go next (unless someone wants to cast light; Beshlog himself unfortunately does not have the cantrip ready).
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Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Beshlog does not have darkvision, so he'll have to trust in his companions to figure out where to go next (unless someone wants to cast light; Beshlog himself unfortunately does not have the cantrip ready).
"Sorry, all my spells are combat oriented, one way or another. But I've got torches if you want to light one for us blind folks."
I'll be frank with you, Swift: the wall was normal, there is a different reason why it hurt Salastor so much, but, since the tower doesn't know Artan, it predictably, as he suspected, tries to bite him. Make a DC 15 DEX save WITH Advantage. On a failure, you take 9 Piercing, and the wall grabs your arm, grappling you. You can attempt to break the grapple as normal, and the DC is also 15.
As Beshlog peers into the gloom, he sees two faints outlines slumped against the wall on the opposite side of the portcullis. As Artan brings his mote of starlight forward, the shimmering, blue-ish glow of his druidic magic illuminates two figures, who both appear to be chained to the wall, unconscious.
NEW PLAYERS: DESCRIBE WHAT THE PARTY SEES (AKA, your character)
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Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters:Brorminthe Devout Crusher; Ellorathe Romantic Rookie
"So you are not the Master? What is this wild goose chase we are being sent on. How certain are you that the Master isn't evil? Seeing as Refeus, assuming we are on about the same person, tried to kill us, and there is a human slaughterhouse under the tavern that he, Refeus, owned. And he apparently answers to the Master too.
On a separate note, a companion of ours was checking out the tavern more, and now this place seems to have rearranged, it seems like he won't be able to get here in the tunnels. Is there another way he can rejoin us or is that a second companion of ours this tower has led to the death of?"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
"Oh, dear no. I am not the Master. I am but one of his servants. As for Rufues trying to kill you, I simply do not know why. And as for accusations of a 'human slaughterhouse' under the tavern, well, I also do not know.
"I am but an old man, a servant of the Master, and have been toiling away at this desk day and night for quite some time. Most of the goings on of the outside world are unknown to me. Now, go on, open the chest"
None of the things he just said are lies, according Ember's spell.
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
(OK, Salastor and Rufeus. Do the names make anything "click" for Ember's nat 20 attempt to recall anything (besides "envy hand") for the people & address?
New history roll 18 to recognize the names & the old man's face using the Name Dropping background feature.)
"Weapons & spells ready in case the chest is a mimic", she tells the party.
"IS the chest a mimic? Or trapped?", she asks the old man. (OOC: gang, do we open 1st or wait for the answer?)
"And "Why would they do that?" is one of my points. It's like they were possessed or something, since those don't seem the actions the man you described would do. How do we cure it? How do we keep from getting possessed ourselves? And why is everyone so secretive about the Master's name?
"The chest is a chest, my dear girl. It will not try to kill you, I promise. As for possesion, I am afraid I cannot help there.
"The Master has and always will be the Master. Nothing more, nothing less. I confess, since it seems not very prudent to lie, considering the spell which you cast, that he has never really confided me his name, even though I am very close to him. I suspect the only one who knew his real name was Rufeus, and if you're account is correct, he has been slain"
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
Beshlog glances at the others... if no one else will do it, he will go ahead and open the chest.
"If I get blown to smithereens, well... that's sad, I guess," he says as he steps over and unlatches box.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Luckily, the box does not explode. Instead, Beshlog opens it to find...3 rare magic items, one for each party member! The item can be anything of your choice. If you wish to use a home-brew, send it to me so I can approve.
The Old Man looks over at you, as if to say "I told you so"
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
Beshlog picks up his magic needle and chuckles.
"I guess I can sell this thing now," he says, tapping on his armored vest. "I mean... sweet tats AND a defense boost? What's not to like?"
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
A magic needle is held in Beshlog's massive hands, ready to inscribe upon flesh
Artan pulls a carved wooden staff, which thrums with ancient magic (I would suggest Woodlands, since that one is cooler [imagine the things you could do with summoning a tree])
Ember, what rare magic item do you want? (and to answer your earlier question, which I missed: No, you do not recognize these names)
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
(sorry, original post was for the wrong thread).
If we have the time, Beshlog will go ahead and tat himself up.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Artan sighs "Well of course the magic tower has a magic chest with magic items in it." as he pulls out a thick oak staff (sure, I will go with your suggestion. My only thought for healing was we just lost our main healer) from the chest that honestly didn't look like it would fit in there, whichever way it was lying. He takes his staff of birdcalls, puts it in his bag, which just like the chest, it shouldn't fit in, and then slings the new staff over his back where the old one sat previously.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Ember reaches into the chest, and pulls out a corset, the symbol of a giants head on it.
With that, the Old Man coughs into his hand, drawing your attention back to him. "Well, it seems you have claimed your items. Now then, shouldn't you be on your way?" He gestures to the wall covered with books, "You see that red book with gold lettering on the spine? Pull it out"
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
"What's this? A note?" Ember says as she pulls out the corset. She reads it quietly out loud.
"My dear Ember. Seems like yesterday you were a squirmy, howling infant. Now here you are, my grandbaby off saving the world. I tried to think what would be most useful, and sent it to be delivered when you got to the Tower of Rufeus. Give the bad 'uns a punch in the teeth for me. Love, Grandma."
She holds it tight, closes her eyes and sniffs as she sheds a few silent tears. Then stands up and switches her 'Lesser Corset of Adventuring Strength" for the "Corset of Hill Giant Strength". "I love you too Grandma", she whispers.
She reaches for the Red book with Gold lettering on the spine. "You DID remember to remove the Fire Trap, right?", she asks the old man, pausing for him to get the joke before she pulls out the book.
Artan is still not fully certain of the old mans trustworthiness, after everything else that has happened since they arrived at the town. So he makes sure to be stood away from the book when it is pulled. However before Ember pulls on it, he has a thought and turns to Salastor as he should also be in the Zone of Truth. "Did you know that your father had bloodthirsty tendencies? And on that topic, what is your book actually bound in?"
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
The Old Man stares blankly, not having got the joke
Salastor looks at Artan, then replies "I never dreamed my father would hurt anyone. I guess we all like to think the best of those we love. And my book does appear to be bound in skin, though I do not know why. The Master gave it to me, to contain his teachings, and I do not know where he got the skin. Could be from a human, could not."
Ember pulls the book, and the wall of the library pushes back, and slides to the side, revealing a downward spiraling, dank tunnel, which is dimly light by the glow of the candles atop the Old Man's desk and the few rays of sun which peek through the gray clouds outside the window.
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
"I have asked both of you now about the fate of our friend, specifically around his ability to enter this tower the way we did from the tavern. Neither of you answered. I take it to mean that you both think he is dead."
Artan then summons a mote of starlight to his hand, not threatening at all, just to provide more light in the tunnel. It is bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet from the mote. He will gesture to Salastor to lead the way.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Salastor does lead the way, heading down the tunnel. As you walk, he explains "Your friends fate is uncerntain. The tower has changed, so he may eventually find his way back to us, but I cannot say for sure. For all I know, he could be on the otherside of this wall" Salastor wraps his knuckles smartly on the jagged wall, which draws a small amount of blood from the rough hewn stone. He has a sharp intake of breath, then sucks on his fingers. It hurt him more than it should have, it seems.
Finally, after a bit more walking, the floor flattens out, and you come to a rusty iron portcullis. Off in the gloom, those with Darkvision can see the faint outline of a lever, some 15 or 20 feet beyond the portcullis.
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart
Being ever suspicious, Artan knocks on the same bit of wall. Mostly to see if the wall is possibly dangerous, or if there is something up with Salastor (unless the 23 passive perception shows any sign of teeth or other sharp objects on the wall)
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Beshlog does not have darkvision, so he'll have to trust in his companions to figure out where to go next (unless someone wants to cast light; Beshlog himself unfortunately does not have the cantrip ready).
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
"Sorry, all my spells are combat oriented, one way or another. But I've got torches if you want to light one for us blind folks."
I'll be frank with you, Swift: the wall was normal, there is a different reason why it hurt Salastor so much, but, since the tower doesn't know Artan, it predictably, as he suspected, tries to bite him. Make a DC 15 DEX save WITH Advantage. On a failure, you take 9 Piercing, and the wall grabs your arm, grappling you. You can attempt to break the grapple as normal, and the DC is also 15.
As Beshlog peers into the gloom, he sees two faints outlines slumped against the wall on the opposite side of the portcullis. As Artan brings his mote of starlight forward, the shimmering, blue-ish glow of his druidic magic illuminates two figures, who both appear to be chained to the wall, unconscious.
NEW PLAYERS: DESCRIBE WHAT THE PARTY SEES (AKA, your character)
Hi, I'm Raccoon_Master, a young genderfluid actor, writer, explorer, and bass vocalist. Pronouns They/Them/Theirs
My Characters: Brormin the Devout Crusher; Ellora the Romantic Rookie
Check out my EXTENDED SIGNATUR (hasn't been updated in forever, fyi) and don’t forget to join the Anything but the OGL 2.0 Thread!
"I don't make sense to you, and I don't make sense to myself. Maybe the only one I make sense to is God" ~ Me, trying to sound smart