Lyra shakes her head as the elves disappear, possibly shifted back to another plane... who or whatever the strange humanoid mage had been... likely their place of origin, or at least the mage's... and the horrific creature from her muddled memories, with the third eye unblinking on its forehead...
She looks around at her unlikely cadre of companions with a smile and plays a strangely compelling chord progression on her dark harmonica: "Each of us, a cell of awareness, imperfect and incomplete. Genetic blends with uncertain ends, on a fortune hunt that's far too fleet..."
Anyone glancing at Lyra would see she now wears scale mail armor and shield, along with a jet black warhammer matching her harmonica and hanging at her belt that seems far too heavy for her slim frame. She drops back to prose as she begins to search the bodies of the slain elves and zombies, gathering them in a pile to burn so that they cannot be raised from the dead again, if nothing else.
"All we seem to have in common is that we appear to be targets for multiple factions for reasons I cannot fathom. Captured by the strange elves and whatever that mage was, serving some cause, possibly from another plane. Conversing in a foreign, unfamiliar form of Elvish. Certainly we were the targets of their assailants, worst of all the warlock with the icy glaive who cast such powerful spells. I... have some personal knowledge of such things... And last but not least, the shining, moonlit dark-haired elf who altered reality and slew the glaive-wielder certainly represents a higher power."
Lyra touches her head, trying to recall. "Aurilith, silver dragon of lore in elven form, the ancient champion of Amah, the Lady of Winter." Old Snowshoes.
Lyra's tone does not hide the implication that she herself may represent some higher power as well, though not one that she has mentioned yet.
Leftenant takes a moment to survey the battlefield. He makes mental notes of such things as direction of travel of the wagons and the ambushes likely locations. He looks up to the sky, noting the position of the moons trying to determine the hour of the night. He observes the stars and looks for familiar constellations attempting to discern where they might currently be. He finds himself sitting down on the rock perch a short while later, unsure when he actually took up the resting position. He observes the others working the battlefield before deciding to walk the perimeter. He looks for tracks the ambushes might have left, focusing particular attention to the wooded/rocky section to the east.
After obtaining an understanding of the battle, he will search the fallen ambushes who lay in the east. Only taking small items (like coins) or anything that seems vital to better understanding this conflict the group has found themselves in.
As he returns to the battlefield where Lyra has begun piling bodies, he brings a small bundle of kindling he’s gathered. “I can’t say I understand any of it myself. I thought my fighting days were behind me. But I agree we all must share some common bond that these ‘eclipse’ elves sought to utilize. If we were simply a threat, they didn’t need to capture us. Rather they could have killed is when they found us…where ever that was for each.”
Kalamin lowers the point of his glaive to the ground as the rest disappear, fading back to whatever blasted plane they had invaded from. He was almost certain he'd never seen nor heard of elves such as them before, the rest of the Order needed to be told as soon as possible. The Order...A hand goes to his head as he tries to recall once more what had happened before he was brought here. He'd been at their northern stronghold had he not? Some sort of attack?...
"Aurilith, silver dragon of lore in elven form, the ancient champion of Amah, the Lady of Winter."
The words pull him from his own thoughts, and he glances over towards the source. "You recognized her too? How?" On the subject of the glaive which had evidently contained Aurilith, or at least a connection to her power...The paladin searches the ground for fragments of the weapon. He wouldn't let such an artifact suffer the disrespect of rusting in some muddy field.
As he looks, he speaks his thoughts on the topic of their kidnapping. "The other group wanted to kill us, that's for certain. These elves however...LT is right, they wanted something from us. Where are all of you from, what do you do?"
"I come from Edessa, Baria. Though in truth I haven't been there in a long time."He says wistfully. "I'm a knight from the Selenic Order, my watch took place over the ruins of Delanius in Silvershard."
You're aware of magics allowed to those more naturally attuned to magic who could accomplish something similar, but even then not of this magnitude.This was done by something beyond your average mortal spellcaster.
Among the first smashed wagon you find several strange, abstract, formless sculptures made of some black stone. It's not the volcanic glass obsidian, but something else. There is a particularly large piece that looks like it could be an altar. Strange runes are carved into the base. You also find a few small chests - one contains a set of 5 silver chalices, each engraved with runes similar to the altar. The other chest contains a set of 5 ceremonial daggers - their blades are forged from some dark metal with no shine to it, they're otherwise unremarkable.
In the ruined compartments of the second wagon you find what looks like a collection of spell components. Herbs and incenses - most of which are entirely unrecognizable to you. You find a small box of gemstones(75gp), and several uncut large crystals.
The third wagon is mostly intact, within it you find a featureless black stone sarcophagus with no lid. It's quite large - much larger than what you would expect most average height humanoids to fit into.
You're able to go over a few of the corpses that others haven't gotten to yet. Among the elves(3) you find the equipment they wore - chain shirts, rapiers, shortbows and arrows. Each also wears an identical iron ring with a small ruby inset. The unnamed ambushers(2) wore studded leather, colored to blend into the environment. They had cloaks that achieved a similar effect, and carried shortswords, light crossbows, and bolts. Nothing identifiable is found on their bodies.
Lyra
Among the elves(13) you find the equipment they wore - chain shirts, rapiers, shortbows and arrows. Each also wears an identical iron ring with a small ruby inset. The unnamed ambushers(8) wore studded leather, colored to blend into the environment. They had cloaks that achieved a similar effect, and carried shortswords, light crossbows, and bolts. Nothing identifiable is found on their bodies.
Leftenant
You realize where you are almost immediately - to your shock, you aren't all that far from where you were before. Far to the south and east you can make out the dark outline of the Shimmering Peaks. You can't be more than 85 miles from your home, Neressa. There are a few other towns and villages out in this area you're also aware of.
By the position of the moon, you estimate it to be about an hour past midnight, give or take a quarter hour. Search as you might in the woods and in the area, you can't actually find any tracks to determine which direction these people might have come from. You do find body-shaped imprints in the ground, the faintest of impressions. With a start, you realize why you can't find their tracks - they've mostly already worn away. They must have lain here in wait for days. Whoever this group was, you are certain they were highly trained and dedicated. Among their bodies you find nothing that might give away their identity. They're racially and sexually heterogeneous, with no noticeable common features between them besides their above average physique. All carried the same equipment, studded leather and cloaks dyed to match the environment, shortswords, and light crossbows.
Kalamin
The fog that clouded your mind before is thinner now, and you find it far easier to recall details. The halls of Northwind Eyrie fills your mind. You remember now, that you had returned to the Selenic Order's stronghold for the Night of Silver Stars - once every century all of Imane's moons align, passing through the Guardian's Crown constellation at their zenith. This alignment is a special event for the Order, believed to coincide with a weakening of the veil between Imane and the divine realms, thus allowing for a closer connection to Amah. All knights of the order return to the Eyrie for it, taking part in ceremonies to renew their vows, initiate new knights, and commemorating the Order's founding and its many fallen heroes.
You also remember the attack that came that night. A horde of undead washing over the walls of the Eyrie like a flood. You recall fighting beside Everan and Thalia, and a blade cutting through your chest. The rest is hazy. Your friends dragged you the halls of that ancient stronghold. Then you were laying on an altar, the old words echoing around you. You remember the ice forming around you and then...You were here.
These memories trouble your mind as you search for pieces of the glaive. In the end, all your able to find are the three pieces of the haft and the blade shard which skewered the man who was trying to kill you. Even broken as it is, you can see the the intricate patterns etched into it, mimicking the swirling frost patterns found on a winter windowpane.
History Check: Juno, Leftenant, Glyptemis, and Lyra - The man's claims seem strange to you. Even the most out-of-touch outlander knows what's become of Baria. For him to claim it of all places as his home? Madness. There are very few who manage to escape the dark land of undead that kingdom has become, and none who manage to do so unscathed.
Juno, Leftenent, Glyptemis - Even stranger are his claims to the Selenic Order. It was the most powerful and famous of Amah's knightly orders, dedicated to keeping watch over places in Imane where the veil between planes wore thin to guard against extraplanar incursions. You also know it to be utterly destroyed - headquartered in the north of Baria - its knights were slaughtered on the eve of their most sacred celebration a century and a quarter ago. Soon after, Lord Voronin took the rest of Baria by storm.
Perhaps during the course of this investigation Glyp would want to cast Detect Magic as a ritual, then use that to guide his collection of items. Anything that is magical and carry-able he would want to collect. Specifically checking on whether the chalices, sculptures, altar, ceremonial daggers, the sarcophagus, the rings with rubies, and any of the equipment are giving off a magical aura. Time permitting, he would cast Identify as a ritual on a few of these once he sees what is magical, but at the very least would almost definitely cast Identify on the sarcophagus first and collect the other things to cast it later if the group doesn't want to stick around in this area long enough to cover everything.
Apprehensively addressing Kal’s inquiries LT answers, “It’s been too long to remember where I come from, but I call Neressa home these days. How long is a long time for you my friend? You appear far younger than that which you speak of.”
Leftenant continues to work the battlefield, moving bodies and gathering wood. He tries to keep a running count of each side’s loss. He ponders aloud to those near him as he works. He relays the following statements to the others in the hopes that perhaps they know something and are willing to contribute to his understanding.
“Each side was well and uniformly equipped, though I am completely unaware of any force or faction that dons such garments.”
“The ambushes were lying in wait for several days prior to attacking. They surely knew these elves would pass through at some point. That kind of discipline is, well, fanatical.”
“I might be able to direct us to a town or village close by, but the nearest city is at least four days travel away. (ooc: please advise if time needs to be adjusted.) But I wonder if we continued in the direction of travel if we might gather more answers to what the elves wanted with us? Or if more questions simply lay ahead.”
As he works as well, he would like to evaluate one of the camouflage cloaks trying to determine if it’s worth keeping and incorporating into his woodsman attire. He will probably keep it for a possible disguise regardless.
After casting Detect Magic, the young Tortle would see nothing giving off a tell-tale magical aura. You get a sense that while the items in the wagon: the altar, the gems, crystals, etc...are not magical themselves, they are most certainly components for an intricate and powerful ritual.
Leftenant
3.5 - 4 days travel time at a normal pace is about right. All in all, you count out about 24 bodies for the elves, and 18 for the ambushers. Among the cloaks, you're definitely able to find one that isn't completely ruined. In this sort of environment, where the terrain is a mix of mud, trees, and snow you can definitely see how it might give you an Advantage when hiding.
Kalamin frowns, pushing the memories of the past to the side for now. They were...Confusing, and didn't line up with present matters."20 years, give or take? The Selenic Knights take potential initiates in when they're young, still children. We train for a long time." He says with a slightly bewildered tone. That was a strange thing to say, he was nearing 30, he couldn't look that young. "What did you mean by that?"
Lyra plays a slow, melancholy tune on her harmonica as she listens to the exchange between Leftenant and Kalamin. Her voice is gentle.
"Something is happening here, but I know not what, dedicated of Amah." She directs her words at the paladin. "The moonlit elven figure who saved us from the glaive-wielding warlock who seemed to seek our deaths was almost unmistakably Aurilith, Amah's chosen, though how much I recall such knowledge from legend and lore, and how much from... other sources... I find it difficult to tell."
She pauses and taps her finger on her lips. She reaches out and gently touches Kalamin's shoulder, as if by doing so, she can understand him.
"Yet as LT suggests, you seem to be your own mystery, Kal. From a different time, every bit as much as the red and white elves and their strange mage leader seemed from a different plane. Baria is a land long fallen to the undead hordes, and the tales that tell of her are only those of death and sorrow."
Kalamin stiffens as the words process. Disbelief is his first reaction, that perhaps this is all some elaborate trick. While his mind was suspicious, his heart knew the truth. He knew what his friends had done. Saved his life, but at a cost. He glances over as Lyra puts a hand on his shoulder but doesn't flinch away. "Yes, there's no doubt that was Aurilith. She founded our order, you couldn't walk ten paces in our halls without seeing her face. She was supposed to have been vanquished long ago though."
He draws a shaky breath. "I remember an attack on our stronghold. Hordes of undead, as you say." A pause, and then he asks quietly. "How long since Baria fell?"
Is the incense I found sufficient for casting Find Familiar, and if so how many castings of it would the amount cover?
Glyptemis spends a while busying himself with collecting a variety of materials and components that he finds in the destroyed wagons. The variety and number make for a welcome distraction from the nagging concerns in the back of his head. There was clearly some sort of complex arcane ritual being carried out here. Five silver chalices... five daggers... statues and altars. All of that would be confusing and concerning on its own, but this empty sarcophagus... was there someone in there?
He's halfway listening to Kalamin speaking with Lyra as he rummages, and hearing the question about Baria falling he can't resist the urge to pipe up with the answer to a bit of trivia that he knows: "Approximately one hundred and twenty five years!" He shouts as his head pops up from the wreckage. The attention he'd draw from that outburst catches up to him like a wave and he ducks himself back down to continue searching the wreckage.
There were entire storage containers of the stuff, large enough that it would be impractical to try and carry away all of it. So...feel free to take like 10 blocks of incense? There's enough herbs you recognize for the same, ten castings I'd say. Charcoal you'll have to improvise.
In truth, Lyra had forgotten how long it had been since Baria fell, so she is glad of Glyp's response. For that matter, she is hazy on who exactly the Selenic Order were, so she remains silent on that front too, simply giving Kalamin's shoulder a sympathetic squeeze before leaving him to his thoughts.
Resuming the sweet but melancholy tune on her dark harmonica, Lyra continues to search and stack the bodies to burn.
(Song of Rest: If we stay long enough for a Short Rest, anyone spending Hit Dice to regain hp gains an additional 1d6hp from Song of Rest).
From the bodies of the slain elves (thirteen of them), Lyra gathers all the ruby-inset iron rings and puts them in the pocket of one of the camouflage cloaks from the other assailants, which she dons so as to blend in better with the landscape. She also takes one rapier from an elven corpse.
She turns to Leftenant. "You know this land, warrior. Once we depart, I for one will follow your lead. I was most recently in Twintide by the sea before my abduction. My only request as to our destination is perhaps... not wishing to return to that city just now." Her expression is wry saying this last bit.
Lyra shakes her head as the elves disappear, possibly shifted back to another plane... who or whatever the strange humanoid mage had been... likely their place of origin, or at least the mage's... and the horrific creature from her muddled memories, with the third eye unblinking on its forehead...
She looks around at her unlikely cadre of companions with a smile and plays a strangely compelling chord progression on her dark harmonica:
"Each of us, a cell of awareness, imperfect and incomplete.
Genetic blends with uncertain ends, on a fortune hunt that's far too fleet..."
Anyone glancing at Lyra would see she now wears scale mail armor and shield, along with a jet black warhammer matching her harmonica and hanging at her belt that seems far too heavy for her slim frame. She drops back to prose as she begins to search the bodies of the slain elves and zombies, gathering them in a pile to burn so that they cannot be raised from the dead again, if nothing else.
"All we seem to have in common is that we appear to be targets for multiple factions for reasons I cannot fathom. Captured by the strange elves and whatever that mage was, serving some cause, possibly from another plane. Conversing in a foreign, unfamiliar form of Elvish. Certainly we were the targets of their assailants, worst of all the warlock with the icy glaive who cast such powerful spells. I... have some personal knowledge of such things... And last but not least, the shining, moonlit dark-haired elf who altered reality and slew the glaive-wielder certainly represents a higher power."
Lyra touches her head, trying to recall. "Aurilith, silver dragon of lore in elven form, the ancient champion of Amah, the Lady of Winter." Old Snowshoes.
Lyra's tone does not hide the implication that she herself may represent some higher power as well, though not one that she has mentioned yet.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Leftenant takes a moment to survey the battlefield. He makes mental notes of such things as direction of travel of the wagons and the ambushes likely locations. He looks up to the sky, noting the position of the moons trying to determine the hour of the night. He observes the stars and looks for familiar constellations attempting to discern where they might currently be. He finds himself sitting down on the rock perch a short while later, unsure when he actually took up the resting position. He observes the others working the battlefield before deciding to walk the perimeter. He looks for tracks the ambushes might have left, focusing particular attention to the wooded/rocky section to the east.
After obtaining an understanding of the battle, he will search the fallen ambushes who lay in the east. Only taking small items (like coins) or anything that seems vital to better understanding this conflict the group has found themselves in.
As he returns to the battlefield where Lyra has begun piling bodies, he brings a small bundle of kindling he’s gathered. “I can’t say I understand any of it myself. I thought my fighting days were behind me. But I agree we all must share some common bond that these ‘eclipse’ elves sought to utilize. If we were simply a threat, they didn’t need to capture us. Rather they could have killed is when they found us…where ever that was for each.”
Glyptemis: Arcana check.
Lyra: Investigation check.
Leftenant: Survival check w/ double prof bonus. Investigation for the body searching.
Kalamin lowers the point of his glaive to the ground as the rest disappear, fading back to whatever blasted plane they had invaded from. He was almost certain he'd never seen nor heard of elves such as them before, the rest of the Order needed to be told as soon as possible. The Order...A hand goes to his head as he tries to recall once more what had happened before he was brought here. He'd been at their northern stronghold had he not? Some sort of attack?...
"Aurilith, silver dragon of lore in elven form, the ancient champion of Amah, the Lady of Winter."
The words pull him from his own thoughts, and he glances over towards the source. "You recognized her too? How?" On the subject of the glaive which had evidently contained Aurilith, or at least a connection to her power...The paladin searches the ground for fragments of the weapon. He wouldn't let such an artifact suffer the disrespect of rusting in some muddy field.
As he looks, he speaks his thoughts on the topic of their kidnapping. "The other group wanted to kill us, that's for certain. These elves however...LT is right, they wanted something from us. Where are all of you from, what do you do?"
"I come from Edessa, Baria. Though in truth I haven't been there in a long time." He says wistfully. "I'm a knight from the Selenic Order, my watch took place over the ruins of Delanius in Silvershard."
Kalamin: Wisdom saving throw. And then an investigation check.
OoC: Everyone except Kalamin, a History check please.
OOC: been on the road today so I will post more tomorrow, but that’s a 15 for History on Juno’s part!
Arcana check: 24
History check: 14
Investigation: 3 + 4 + 3 (bardic) = 10
Lyra Investigation: 18
Lyra History: 2 (Natural 1)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Survival: 12
Investigation: 16
History: 11
Glyptemis
You're aware of magics allowed to those more naturally attuned to magic who could accomplish something similar, but even then not of this magnitude.This was done by something beyond your average mortal spellcaster.
Among the first smashed wagon you find several strange, abstract, formless sculptures made of some black stone. It's not the volcanic glass obsidian, but something else. There is a particularly large piece that looks like it could be an altar. Strange runes are carved into the base. You also find a few small chests - one contains a set of 5 silver chalices, each engraved with runes similar to the altar. The other chest contains a set of 5 ceremonial daggers - their blades are forged from some dark metal with no shine to it, they're otherwise unremarkable.
In the ruined compartments of the second wagon you find what looks like a collection of spell components. Herbs and incenses - most of which are entirely unrecognizable to you. You find a small box of gemstones(75gp), and several uncut large crystals.
The third wagon is mostly intact, within it you find a featureless black stone sarcophagus with no lid. It's quite large - much larger than what you would expect most average height humanoids to fit into.
You're able to go over a few of the corpses that others haven't gotten to yet. Among the elves(3) you find the equipment they wore - chain shirts, rapiers, shortbows and arrows. Each also wears an identical iron ring with a small ruby inset. The unnamed ambushers(2) wore studded leather, colored to blend into the environment. They had cloaks that achieved a similar effect, and carried shortswords, light crossbows, and bolts. Nothing identifiable is found on their bodies.
Lyra
Among the elves(13) you find the equipment they wore - chain shirts, rapiers, shortbows and arrows. Each also wears an identical iron ring with a small ruby inset. The unnamed ambushers(8) wore studded leather, colored to blend into the environment. They had cloaks that achieved a similar effect, and carried shortswords, light crossbows, and bolts. Nothing identifiable is found on their bodies.
Leftenant
You realize where you are almost immediately - to your shock, you aren't all that far from where you were before. Far to the south and east you can make out the dark outline of the Shimmering Peaks. You can't be more than 85 miles from your home, Neressa. There are a few other towns and villages out in this area you're also aware of.
By the position of the moon, you estimate it to be about an hour past midnight, give or take a quarter hour. Search as you might in the woods and in the area, you can't actually find any tracks to determine which direction these people might have come from. You do find body-shaped imprints in the ground, the faintest of impressions. With a start, you realize why you can't find their tracks - they've mostly already worn away. They must have lain here in wait for days. Whoever this group was, you are certain they were highly trained and dedicated. Among their bodies you find nothing that might give away their identity. They're racially and sexually heterogeneous, with no noticeable common features between them besides their above average physique. All carried the same equipment, studded leather and cloaks dyed to match the environment, shortswords, and light crossbows.
Kalamin
The fog that clouded your mind before is thinner now, and you find it far easier to recall details. The halls of Northwind Eyrie fills your mind. You remember now, that you had returned to the Selenic Order's stronghold for the Night of Silver Stars - once every century all of Imane's moons align, passing through the Guardian's Crown constellation at their zenith. This alignment is a special event for the Order, believed to coincide with a weakening of the veil between Imane and the divine realms, thus allowing for a closer connection to Amah. All knights of the order return to the Eyrie for it, taking part in ceremonies to renew their vows, initiate new knights, and commemorating the Order's founding and its many fallen heroes.
You also remember the attack that came that night. A horde of undead washing over the walls of the Eyrie like a flood. You recall fighting beside Everan and Thalia, and a blade cutting through your chest. The rest is hazy. Your friends dragged you the halls of that ancient stronghold. Then you were laying on an altar, the old words echoing around you. You remember the ice forming around you and then...You were here.
These memories trouble your mind as you search for pieces of the glaive. In the end, all your able to find are the three pieces of the haft and the blade shard which skewered the man who was trying to kill you. Even broken as it is, you can see the the intricate patterns etched into it, mimicking the swirling frost patterns found on a winter windowpane.
History Check:
Juno, Leftenant, Glyptemis, and Lyra - The man's claims seem strange to you. Even the most out-of-touch outlander knows what's become of Baria. For him to claim it of all places as his home? Madness. There are very few who manage to escape the dark land of undead that kingdom has become, and none who manage to do so unscathed.
Juno, Leftenent, Glyptemis - Even stranger are his claims to the Selenic Order. It was the most powerful and famous of Amah's knightly orders, dedicated to keeping watch over places in Imane where the veil between planes wore thin to guard against extraplanar incursions. You also know it to be utterly destroyed - headquartered in the north of Baria - its knights were slaughtered on the eve of their most sacred celebration a century and a quarter ago. Soon after, Lord Voronin took the rest of Baria by storm.
DM:
Perhaps during the course of this investigation Glyp would want to cast Detect Magic as a ritual, then use that to guide his collection of items. Anything that is magical and carry-able he would want to collect. Specifically checking on whether the chalices, sculptures, altar, ceremonial daggers, the sarcophagus, the rings with rubies, and any of the equipment are giving off a magical aura. Time permitting, he would cast Identify as a ritual on a few of these once he sees what is magical, but at the very least would almost definitely cast Identify on the sarcophagus first and collect the other things to cast it later if the group doesn't want to stick around in this area long enough to cover everything.
Apprehensively addressing Kal’s inquiries LT answers, “It’s been too long to remember where I come from, but I call Neressa home these days. How long is a long time for you my friend? You appear far younger than that which you speak of.”
Leftenant continues to work the battlefield, moving bodies and gathering wood. He tries to keep a running count of each side’s loss. He ponders aloud to those near him as he works. He relays the following statements to the others in the hopes that perhaps they know something and are willing to contribute to his understanding.
“Each side was well and uniformly equipped, though I am completely unaware of any force or faction that dons such garments.”
“The ambushes were lying in wait for several days prior to attacking. They surely knew these elves would pass through at some point. That kind of discipline is, well, fanatical.”
“I might be able to direct us to a town or village close by, but the nearest city is at least four days travel away. (ooc: please advise if time needs to be adjusted.) But I wonder if we continued in the direction of travel if we might gather more answers to what the elves wanted with us? Or if more questions simply lay ahead.”
As he works as well, he would like to evaluate one of the camouflage cloaks trying to determine if it’s worth keeping and incorporating into his woodsman attire. He will probably keep it for a possible disguise regardless.
Pouchwick:
After casting Detect Magic, the young Tortle would see nothing giving off a tell-tale magical aura. You get a sense that while the items in the wagon: the altar, the gems, crystals, etc...are not magical themselves, they are most certainly components for an intricate and powerful ritual.
Leftenant
3.5 - 4 days travel time at a normal pace is about right. All in all, you count out about 24 bodies for the elves, and 18 for the ambushers. Among the cloaks, you're definitely able to find one that isn't completely ruined. In this sort of environment, where the terrain is a mix of mud, trees, and snow you can definitely see how it might give you an Advantage when hiding.
Kalamin frowns, pushing the memories of the past to the side for now. They were...Confusing, and didn't line up with present matters. "20 years, give or take? The Selenic Knights take potential initiates in when they're young, still children. We train for a long time." He says with a slightly bewildered tone. That was a strange thing to say, he was nearing 30, he couldn't look that young. "What did you mean by that?"
Lyra plays a slow, melancholy tune on her harmonica as she listens to the exchange between Leftenant and Kalamin. Her voice is gentle.
"Something is happening here, but I know not what, dedicated of Amah." She directs her words at the paladin. "The moonlit elven figure who saved us from the glaive-wielding warlock who seemed to seek our deaths was almost unmistakably Aurilith, Amah's chosen, though how much I recall such knowledge from legend and lore, and how much from... other sources... I find it difficult to tell."
She pauses and taps her finger on her lips. She reaches out and gently touches Kalamin's shoulder, as if by doing so, she can understand him.
"Yet as LT suggests, you seem to be your own mystery, Kal. From a different time, every bit as much as the red and white elves and their strange mage leader seemed from a different plane. Baria is a land long fallen to the undead hordes, and the tales that tell of her are only those of death and sorrow."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Kalamin stiffens as the words process. Disbelief is his first reaction, that perhaps this is all some elaborate trick. While his mind was suspicious, his heart knew the truth. He knew what his friends had done. Saved his life, but at a cost. He glances over as Lyra puts a hand on his shoulder but doesn't flinch away. "Yes, there's no doubt that was Aurilith. She founded our order, you couldn't walk ten paces in our halls without seeing her face. She was supposed to have been vanquished long ago though."
He draws a shaky breath. "I remember an attack on our stronghold. Hordes of undead, as you say." A pause, and then he asks quietly. "How long since Baria fell?"
DM:
Is the incense I found sufficient for casting Find Familiar, and if so how many castings of it would the amount cover?
Glyptemis spends a while busying himself with collecting a variety of materials and components that he finds in the destroyed wagons. The variety and number make for a welcome distraction from the nagging concerns in the back of his head. There was clearly some sort of complex arcane ritual being carried out here. Five silver chalices... five daggers... statues and altars. All of that would be confusing and concerning on its own, but this empty sarcophagus... was there someone in there?
He's halfway listening to Kalamin speaking with Lyra as he rummages, and hearing the question about Baria falling he can't resist the urge to pipe up with the answer to a bit of trivia that he knows: "Approximately one hundred and twenty five years!" He shouts as his head pops up from the wreckage. The attention he'd draw from that outburst catches up to him like a wave and he ducks himself back down to continue searching the wreckage.
Glyptemis:
There were entire storage containers of the stuff, large enough that it would be impractical to try and carry away all of it. So...feel free to take like 10 blocks of incense? There's enough herbs you recognize for the same, ten castings I'd say. Charcoal you'll have to improvise.
In truth, Lyra had forgotten how long it had been since Baria fell, so she is glad of Glyp's response. For that matter, she is hazy on who exactly the Selenic Order were, so she remains silent on that front too, simply giving Kalamin's shoulder a sympathetic squeeze before leaving him to his thoughts.
Resuming the sweet but melancholy tune on her dark harmonica, Lyra continues to search and stack the bodies to burn.
(Song of Rest: If we stay long enough for a Short Rest, anyone spending Hit Dice to regain hp gains an additional 1d6hp from Song of Rest).
From the bodies of the slain elves (thirteen of them), Lyra gathers all the ruby-inset iron rings and puts them in the pocket of one of the camouflage cloaks from the other assailants, which she dons so as to blend in better with the landscape. She also takes one rapier from an elven corpse.
She turns to Leftenant. "You know this land, warrior. Once we depart, I for one will follow your lead. I was most recently in Twintide by the sea before my abduction. My only request as to our destination is perhaps... not wishing to return to that city just now." Her expression is wry saying this last bit.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk