As the exploration of Mitten's 'rag golem' continues, the last of the Dusk Elf maidens continues to watch over his safety, partially reassured by the lack of warning signs on his part: "Well, at least the dumbwaiter seems do not hide dark or macabre secrets... Not that this deludes me about the nature of this house, but it is a relief, however small, to find every now and then some small section free of disturbing clues".
Still seeing theough Pooky’s eyes, Mittens reports, “Looks like the top room is the master bedroom. I don’t see any monsters or anything in here, so I think we’re good to move on up to the next floor.”
With that, he starts lowering his teddy bear familiar back down to the kitchen. When the dumbwaiter arrives, Pooky folds its his arms before himself in a manner that conveyed great annoyance. Blinking, Mittens comes back to his own senses, and when he sees his irate familiar before him, the wizard rolls his eyes and exclaims in an annoyed tone, “Oh, it wasn’t that bad, and you know it!”
Scooping Pooky up under an arm, Mittens looks the the rest of the group and asks, “Did I miss anything while I was gone?”
"No, Mittens," the last of the Dusk Elf maidens replies "you did not miss anything interesting. We watched over your safety, but objectively nothing and no one attempted to threaten you. Either the real dangers of this house are actually only hidden in the basement, or they are perhaps subtle dangers ... that strike over time or by surprise".
"Anyway," Svetlana shrugs "our plan to explore the house fully - and without letting our guard down - seems like the best we can devise at the moment".
The savage wanderer prepares her broom: "Up the stairs to the next floor then?"
Hazel nodded in agreement with the group's plan to continue their thorough exploration of the house. "It seems that caution has served us well so far,"she commented softly, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of hidden danger. "The silence here might not speak of immediate threats, but we should keep our wits about us. This quiet could be as deceptive as the house's décor."
As Mittens retrieved Pooky from the dumbwaiter, Hazel couldn't help but smile at the familiar's apparent displeasure. "I believe every bit of information helps, Mittens. Your familiar's journey, though seemingly quiet, ensures we aren't walking into a surprise upstairs."
She turned to the group, her voice steady and reassuring. "I'm ready, let's proceed to the upper floors, staying as observant and connected as we have been. Whatever secrets this house holds, we're closer to uncovering them with each step we take together."
“I’ll tap your shoulder if anything appears.” The shadar-kai told the tabaxi as he explained his ability to see through the eyes of his familiar.
He was not surprised to find that the upper floors were as empty and silent as the rest of the house. No scream, no blood marks, closed windows. The only finding there was the jewelry box. There should be a few hundred gold pieces worth of stones there. Extra compensation for their troubles, provided they managed to kill the monster, leave the house. Lorin had no qualms taking from nobles, much less nobles that are likely part of a demented murder cult. Then he thought about the kids. If they were alive they could be innocent. Stealing from them would leave a bad taste.
“Just your leg. Nothing important.” The rogue teased the wizard. He waited for the briefest of moments, almost hopping Mittens would check for the limb, then turned his eyes to Svetlana and Hazel. “Up the stairs.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"My leg?" Mittens repeats, sounding puzzled as he looks down at his lower extremities. "What's wrong with my..."
He trails off when he realizes that Lorin's comment was just a joke, and he looks up at the elf with a flat expression upon his feline face. "Haha, hilarious. 10/10 comedy," he replies dryly, clearly being sarcastic. "Remind me to prank you back later."
When the majority seems ready to head up the stairs, Mittens sets Pooky on top his shoulder where the familiar plops down on its bottom and perches there like a bird. "Well, let's get to it then," he remarks as he starts trudging along with the others, making an obvious effort to place the bulkier members of the group between him and the unknown. As he does, Pooky looks over his shoulder towards Lorin. He brings his paw up to his single eye and then points at the elf, very similar to the "I'm watching you" gesture that humanoids often made, though it looked slightly ridiculous coming from a fluffy teddy bear. If Pooky had facial expressions, you'd expect that his eyes would be narrowed and suspicious.
Perception (from Mittens being cautious as they go up the stairs. He's a bit paranoid): 20
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens finds herself, to her own surprise, smiling at Lorin's joke and giving him a look of amused approval with her azure eyes. Then focusing again on exploration, since the decision to go up has been made, she leads the way upstairs. She holds her shield in her left hand... while with her right hand she takes her broom, then she sits astride it.
The Voices in her head begin to murmur encouragingly together. 'We are with you, Svetlana'. 'We will lift you up, Svetlana'. 'We'll make you sail through the air.' 'Thank you, my people...' Svetlana thinks 'See? When we reach a common understanding we can achieve incredible results!' 'Of course, Svetlana!' the Voices readily respond 'If only you would agree with us a little more often...'
In the meantime, however, once again the agreement makes the difference. Just as a large number of drops of water, if they unite in waves and move in a coherent manner, can release incredible power, so the Voices, the rare times they focus in a coherent manner, are able to partially alter the very fabric of reality... The will of the multitude of slaughtered Dusk Elf maidens, focused on the broom, causes it, like Hazel's before, to defy gravity and actually begin to fly!
The savage wanderer announces she proceeds ahead of everyone and begins to go upstairs (following the same route she would by walking-only she flies, instead, just above the steps). She looks around, alert to anything that seems suspicious or threatening, ready to make good use of her mobility.
Mittens doesn't notice anything untoward as the party climbs the staircase to the second floor. The second floor lets out onto a hall. It is dark, but there are unlit oil lamps mounted on the walls.
Hanging on one wall is a wood-framed portrait of a family: a father, mother, and three children. The two older children resemble Rose and Thorn. Cradled in the father’s arms is a swaddled baby.
Standing suits of armor flank wooden doors in the east and west walls. Each suit of armor clutches a spear and has a visored helm shaped like a wolf’s head.
🕯️🖤Hazel Harkness🖤🕯️ Hazel followed the group up the stairs, her keen eyes scanning the environment for any subtle signs that might explain the house's secrets. As they reached the second floor, her gaze lingered on the portrait of the family. "It seems we're seeing the deeper layers of the Durst family's life," she mused quietly, her voice echoing the somber atmosphere of the hallway. "Rose and Thorn, and a baby not mentioned before."
She approached the suits of armor cautiously, her curiosity tinged with suspicion. "These armors... the wolf’s head helms are particularly striking. They could be mere decorative choices, or perhaps symbolic of something more protective or predatory within the family's history."
Turning to the group, Hazel suggested, "Let's be thorough here but cautious. These armors and this family portrait could hold more than just artistic value. They might be key pieces in understanding the Dursts' true nature and the monster they've mentioned."
Her tone was even but carried the weight of their grim task, emphasizing the need for vigilance as they moved deeper into the unknowns of the house wanting to get a closer look at the spear points to determine what sort of metal they are made from.
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens is wary as soon as she notices the disturbing armor with helm shaped like a wolf's head... In the hunting room, there was a stuffed wolf downstairs... The wolf theme seems recurring in this house. ..
'Don't come any closer, Svetlana!' the Voices in her head advise 'It could be dangerous'. 'Who would make armor so scary but a sadist who cursed it somehow?' 'Perhaps they are ready to attack those who are not of the family...' 'Ok, ok, you all have a point' Svetlana tries to regain control of her thoughts. 'I agree with you. Maybe before searching this floor we should take precautions... Something like tying up the armor, for example...'
But the savage wanderer notices that Hazel in the meantime has approached said armors! Cursing the haste that humans always show, she hurries to position herself at her side, with her shield ready to defend her, in case some supernatural phenomenon causes the armors or their weapons to move. After that, she suggests aloud what she was already thinking: "These scary suits of armor don't inspire me with confidence... What if we tied them up before we continued our exploration? Or at least locked them in one of the rooms below?"
Mittens eyes widen when Svetlana implies that the armor could possibly be a threat. “You really think the armor could hurt us?” he asks worriedly. “If that’s the case, I could just…”
He trails off as he waggles his fingers. A spectral hand, gaunt with an air of malevolence about it, materializes before him. He flexes his fingers, and the and pale blue hand flexes in unison. “I could just smack them real quick to make sure they’re not alive.”
"I'm not an expert in the paranormal..." the last of the Dusk Elf maidens admits, admiring the hand conjured by the tabaxi wizard "But it's an event that wouldn't surprise me entirely, considering that we are in a house which should contain at least one monster and where this family lived, with such a shady past".
'Stop looking at that magic hand like that, Svetlana!' the Voices in her head snort smugly 'It's just a trick!' 'A fairground witch could probably conjure up a more frightening one.' 'Or a funnier one!' 'My son Arkadi would have created it more realistic... How many pranks he enjoyed doing... But then...'
The savage wanderer shakes her head to help clear the grisly memories and forces herself to focus back on the present: "However, we might actually all stay a little behind, ready to retreat or defend ourselves if things get bad... then try to have Mittens' hand first disarm the armors and then dismantle them. I would suggest dismantling, rather than destroying... Out of fear that an overtly violent act like 'attacking' them might activate them".
“If we survive long enough for that, I will.”And with pleasure, Lorin thought. Not that he necessarily liked the idea of being pranked, but compared to the alternatives – being dead, imprisoned in the haunted house for eternity or tortured by a monster – it was excellent.
He followed the group silent like a shadow and often looking over his shoulder. Equal parts thankful and uncomfortable with the silence and emptiness of the house. When they reached the armors his first thought was trap. The things were perfectly aligned in such a manner that anyone passing by them would be unable to evade their axes. The second thing he noticed was their helmets. The wallpaper had hidden wolves in waiting.
“Standing as far behind as we can is a good idea.” Once again Lorin had his hand by the tiller of his crossbow. “I wouldn’t be surprised if those things started moving on their own and decided to kill the closest living things.” Always the optimist. “Let’s just hope we’re not the deer.”
The shadar-kai kept his usual place at the rear of the march. He noticed how quiet Hazel was and deduced she was examining the area in front of them. There was no hope him, but he would love to hear her say that the sentinels were nothing but decoration.
Uncia shuddered reflectively at the suggestion that the two children might be monstrous creatures in disguise, unable to deny the truth of the possibility. "Ugh, I hope they aren't monsters, at least." If that was the case, then she would have ventured into the danger of the house for no reason. Although, now that she considered it, she supposed that the outdoors probably weren't any safer.
"Are we sure there even is a basement?" she asked the party as she followed them upstairs. Yes, the two children had claimed that there was one, but at best they were just children, and at worst who knew what they were. She stopped behind the others as they appeared to be spooked by a set of formidable-looking suits of armor. Nothing surprised Uncia at this point, however. Standing at the rear of the party along with Loren, she gripped her staff. "Tying up these things might not stop them from doing what they're going to do if they do decide to come to life, at least not with ordinary rope," she noted. "They might decide to just break the door down if we shut them in a room, too."
The savage wanderer shakes her head to help clear the grisly memories and forces herself to focus back on the present: "However, we might actually all stay a little behind, ready to retreat or defend ourselves if things get bad... then try to have Mittens' hand first disarm the armors and then dismantle them. I would suggest dismantling, rather than destroying... Out of fear that an overtly violent act like 'attacking' them might activate them".
“Oh, it’s not really a disarming or dismantling kind of hand,” Mittens clarifies as the magical appendage fades away. “It’s more like a “kill things” type of hand. There’s a different kind of hand that does what you’re thinking of, but this one’s meant to destroy life force,” he finishes in a matter-of-fact tone, apparently unbothered by the topic of destroying souls and energy. Looking thoughtful, he adds, “Now that I think about it, there’s a few more spells that involve hands, but they’re way too advanced for me.” He shrugs. “Guess wizards must like hands or something.”
”Anyways, should I give it a shot and see what happens?” he asks, almost sounding eager as he waggles fingers once again.
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens retreats to the mouth of the stairs, keeps her shield and shortsword ready to defend herself from any vengeful armor, advises everyone to stay behind her... then agrees to Mittens' proposal: "Go for it !"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Feeling very, very exposed out in the open by himself, Mittens also takes a few steps back until he's peeking just over the top of the stairs. Mustering his courage, he whispers an arcane phrase under his breath and thrusts his hand towards the suits of armor. The same ghostly hand materializes, this time with tendrils of black lightning crackling about it, and it sails across the hallway to strike the hopefully not animated suit of armor.
Chill Touch Attack: 20 Damage: 1 points of necrotic damage, and the armor can't regain hit points until the start of Mittens' next turn.
🕯️🖤Hazel Harkness🖤🕯️ As Mittens' spectral hand hurtled towards the armor, Hazel watched intently, her stance ready and alert. The arcane display was both fascinating and unnerving, highlighting the unpredictable nature of their current surroundings.
"Let's see what secrets this house continues to hide,"she commented quietly, an edge of anticipation in her voice as she prepared herself for a possible battle. Despite the underlying tension, there was a part of her that thrived on the unfolding mystery, each moment unraveling more of the dark tapestry that enveloped the Durst family's legacy. Hazel kept her focus sharp, prepared to react to whatever the outcome might be.
The armor doesn't react to Mittens' spell. It remains motionless, as do the other suits of armor. However, Hazel notices something about the family portrait. In the portrait, the mother is looking at the baby but her expression is one of scorn, not love. She also notices that there are carvings of dancing youths in each of the doors. Closer inspection reveals that the youths are actually fighting off swarms of bats. As you all gather on the second floor landing, you feel a wave of cold air flow down the staircase, coming from the third floor. The chill feels unnatural.
[[ OOC: OK, the armor did not react... but did it get damaged by Mitten's magic? ]]
If the armor has been damaged:
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens is pleased, even if she doesn't let her guard down: "It's working, Mittens! If the armor keeps not to react... your magic should be able to destroy it - then we'll have one less worry".
If the armor has NOT been damaged:
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens is relieved that the armor doesn't react, but disappointed by the poor effect of the tabaxi's magic: "It doesn't work, Mittens... We have to dismantle them by hand... or lock them in a room".
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
As the exploration of Mitten's 'rag golem' continues, the last of the Dusk Elf maidens continues to watch over his safety, partially reassured by the lack of warning signs on his part: "Well, at least the dumbwaiter seems do not hide dark or macabre secrets... Not that this deludes me about the nature of this house, but it is a relief, however small, to find every now and then some small section free of disturbing clues".
Still seeing theough Pooky’s eyes, Mittens reports, “Looks like the top room is the master bedroom. I don’t see any monsters or anything in here, so I think we’re good to move on up to the next floor.”
With that, he starts lowering his teddy bear familiar back down to the kitchen. When the dumbwaiter arrives, Pooky folds its his arms before himself in a manner that conveyed great annoyance. Blinking, Mittens comes back to his own senses, and when he sees his irate familiar before him, the wizard rolls his eyes and exclaims in an annoyed tone, “Oh, it wasn’t that bad, and you know it!”
Scooping Pooky up under an arm, Mittens looks the the rest of the group and asks, “Did I miss anything while I was gone?”
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
"No, Mittens," the last of the Dusk Elf maidens replies "you did not miss anything interesting. We watched over your safety, but objectively nothing and no one attempted to threaten you. Either the real dangers of this house are actually only hidden in the basement, or they are perhaps subtle dangers ... that strike over time or by surprise".
"Anyway," Svetlana shrugs "our plan to explore the house fully - and without letting our guard down - seems like the best we can devise at the moment".
The savage wanderer prepares her broom: "Up the stairs to the next floor then?"
🕯️🖤Hazel Harkness🖤🕯️
Hazel nodded in agreement with the group's plan to continue their thorough exploration of the house. "It seems that caution has served us well so far," she commented softly, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of hidden danger. "The silence here might not speak of immediate threats, but we should keep our wits about us. This quiet could be as deceptive as the house's décor."
As Mittens retrieved Pooky from the dumbwaiter, Hazel couldn't help but smile at the familiar's apparent displeasure. "I believe every bit of information helps, Mittens. Your familiar's journey, though seemingly quiet, ensures we aren't walking into a surprise upstairs."
She turned to the group, her voice steady and reassuring. "I'm ready, let's proceed to the upper floors, staying as observant and connected as we have been. Whatever secrets this house holds, we're closer to uncovering them with each step we take together."
“I’ll tap your shoulder if anything appears.” The shadar-kai told the tabaxi as he explained his ability to see through the eyes of his familiar.
He was not surprised to find that the upper floors were as empty and silent as the rest of the house. No scream, no blood marks, closed windows. The only finding there was the jewelry box. There should be a few hundred gold pieces worth of stones there. Extra compensation for their troubles, provided they managed to kill the monster, leave the house. Lorin had no qualms taking from nobles, much less nobles that are likely part of a demented murder cult. Then he thought about the kids. If they were alive they could be innocent. Stealing from them would leave a bad taste.
“Just your leg. Nothing important.” The rogue teased the wizard. He waited for the briefest of moments, almost hopping Mittens would check for the limb, then turned his eyes to Svetlana and Hazel. “Up the stairs.”
"My leg?" Mittens repeats, sounding puzzled as he looks down at his lower extremities. "What's wrong with my..."
He trails off when he realizes that Lorin's comment was just a joke, and he looks up at the elf with a flat expression upon his feline face. "Haha, hilarious. 10/10 comedy," he replies dryly, clearly being sarcastic. "Remind me to prank you back later."
When the majority seems ready to head up the stairs, Mittens sets Pooky on top his shoulder where the familiar plops down on its bottom and perches there like a bird. "Well, let's get to it then," he remarks as he starts trudging along with the others, making an obvious effort to place the bulkier members of the group between him and the unknown. As he does, Pooky looks over his shoulder towards Lorin. He brings his paw up to his single eye and then points at the elf, very similar to the "I'm watching you" gesture that humanoids often made, though it looked slightly ridiculous coming from a fluffy teddy bear. If Pooky had facial expressions, you'd expect that his eyes would be narrowed and suspicious.
Perception (from Mittens being cautious as they go up the stairs. He's a bit paranoid): 20
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens finds herself, to her own surprise, smiling at Lorin's joke and giving him a look of amused approval with her azure eyes. Then focusing again on exploration, since the decision to go up has been made, she leads the way upstairs. She holds her shield in her left hand... while with her right hand she takes her broom, then she sits astride it.
The Voices in her head begin to murmur encouragingly together.
'We are with you, Svetlana'.
'We will lift you up, Svetlana'.
'We'll make you sail through the air.'
'Thank you, my people...' Svetlana thinks 'See? When we reach a common understanding we can achieve incredible results!'
'Of course, Svetlana!' the Voices readily respond 'If only you would agree with us a little more often...'
In the meantime, however, once again the agreement makes the difference. Just as a large number of drops of water, if they unite in waves and move in a coherent manner, can release incredible power, so the Voices, the rare times they focus in a coherent manner, are able to partially alter the very fabric of reality... The will of the multitude of slaughtered Dusk Elf maidens, focused on the broom, causes it, like Hazel's before, to defy gravity and actually begin to fly!
The savage wanderer announces she proceeds ahead of everyone and begins to go upstairs (following the same route she would by walking-only she flies, instead, just above the steps). She looks around, alert to anything that seems suspicious or threatening, ready to make good use of her mobility.
Mittens doesn't notice anything untoward as the party climbs the staircase to the second floor. The second floor lets out onto a hall. It is dark, but there are unlit oil lamps mounted on the walls.
Hanging on one wall is a wood-framed portrait of a family: a father, mother, and three children. The two older children resemble Rose and Thorn. Cradled in the father’s arms is a swaddled baby.
Standing suits of armor flank wooden doors in the east and west walls. Each suit of armor clutches a spear and has a visored helm shaped like a wolf’s head.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
🕯️🖤Hazel Harkness🖤🕯️
Hazel followed the group up the stairs, her keen eyes scanning the environment for any subtle signs that might explain the house's secrets. As they reached the second floor, her gaze lingered on the portrait of the family. "It seems we're seeing the deeper layers of the Durst family's life," she mused quietly, her voice echoing the somber atmosphere of the hallway. "Rose and Thorn, and a baby not mentioned before."
She approached the suits of armor cautiously, her curiosity tinged with suspicion. "These armors... the wolf’s head helms are particularly striking. They could be mere decorative choices, or perhaps symbolic of something more protective or predatory within the family's history."
Turning to the group, Hazel suggested, "Let's be thorough here but cautious. These armors and this family portrait could hold more than just artistic value. They might be key pieces in understanding the Dursts' true nature and the monster they've mentioned."
Her tone was even but carried the weight of their grim task, emphasizing the need for vigilance as they moved deeper into the unknowns of the house wanting to get a closer look at the spear points to determine what sort of metal they are made from.
OOC: Investigation Check 18
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens is wary as soon as she notices the disturbing armor with helm shaped like a wolf's head... In the hunting room, there was a stuffed wolf downstairs... The wolf theme seems recurring in this house. ..
'Don't come any closer, Svetlana!' the Voices in her head advise 'It could be dangerous'.
'Who would make armor so scary but a sadist who cursed it somehow?'
'Perhaps they are ready to attack those who are not of the family...'
'Ok, ok, you all have a point' Svetlana tries to regain control of her thoughts. 'I agree with you. Maybe before searching this floor we should take precautions... Something like tying up the armor, for example...'
But the savage wanderer notices that Hazel in the meantime has approached said armors! Cursing the haste that humans always show, she hurries to position herself at her side, with her shield ready to defend her, in case some supernatural phenomenon causes the armors or their weapons to move. After that, she suggests aloud what she was already thinking: "These scary suits of armor don't inspire me with confidence... What if we tied them up before we continued our exploration? Or at least locked them in one of the rooms below?"
Mittens eyes widen when Svetlana implies that the armor could possibly be a threat. “You really think the armor could hurt us?” he asks worriedly. “If that’s the case, I could just…”
He trails off as he waggles his fingers. A spectral hand, gaunt with an air of malevolence about it, materializes before him. He flexes his fingers, and the and pale blue hand flexes in unison. “I could just smack them real quick to make sure they’re not alive.”
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
"I'm not an expert in the paranormal..." the last of the Dusk Elf maidens admits, admiring the hand conjured by the tabaxi wizard "But it's an event that wouldn't surprise me entirely, considering that we are in a house which should contain at least one monster and where this family lived, with such a shady past".
'Stop looking at that magic hand like that, Svetlana!' the Voices in her head snort smugly 'It's just a trick!'
'A fairground witch could probably conjure up a more frightening one.'
'Or a funnier one!'
'My son Arkadi would have created it more realistic... How many pranks he enjoyed doing... But then...'
The savage wanderer shakes her head to help clear the grisly memories and forces herself to focus back on the present: "However, we might actually all stay a little behind, ready to retreat or defend ourselves if things get bad... then try to have Mittens' hand first disarm the armors and then dismantle them. I would suggest dismantling, rather than destroying... Out of fear that an overtly violent act like 'attacking' them might activate them".
“If we survive long enough for that, I will.” And with pleasure, Lorin thought. Not that he necessarily liked the idea of being pranked, but compared to the alternatives – being dead, imprisoned in the haunted house for eternity or tortured by a monster – it was excellent.
He followed the group silent like a shadow and often looking over his shoulder. Equal parts thankful and uncomfortable with the silence and emptiness of the house. When they reached the armors his first thought was trap. The things were perfectly aligned in such a manner that anyone passing by them would be unable to evade their axes. The second thing he noticed was their helmets. The wallpaper had hidden wolves in waiting.
“Standing as far behind as we can is a good idea.” Once again Lorin had his hand by the tiller of his crossbow. “I wouldn’t be surprised if those things started moving on their own and decided to kill the closest living things.” Always the optimist. “Let’s just hope we’re not the deer.”
The shadar-kai kept his usual place at the rear of the march. He noticed how quiet Hazel was and deduced she was examining the area in front of them. There was no hope him, but he would love to hear her say that the sentinels were nothing but decoration.
Uncia shuddered reflectively at the suggestion that the two children might be monstrous creatures in disguise, unable to deny the truth of the possibility. "Ugh, I hope they aren't monsters, at least." If that was the case, then she would have ventured into the danger of the house for no reason. Although, now that she considered it, she supposed that the outdoors probably weren't any safer.
"Are we sure there even is a basement?" she asked the party as she followed them upstairs. Yes, the two children had claimed that there was one, but at best they were just children, and at worst who knew what they were. She stopped behind the others as they appeared to be spooked by a set of formidable-looking suits of armor. Nothing surprised Uncia at this point, however. Standing at the rear of the party along with Loren, she gripped her staff. "Tying up these things might not stop them from doing what they're going to do if they do decide to come to life, at least not with ordinary rope," she noted. "They might decide to just break the door down if we shut them in a room, too."
“Oh, it’s not really a disarming or dismantling kind of hand,” Mittens clarifies as the magical appendage fades away. “It’s more like a “kill things” type of hand. There’s a different kind of hand that does what you’re thinking of, but this one’s meant to destroy life force,” he finishes in a matter-of-fact tone, apparently unbothered by the topic of destroying souls and energy. Looking thoughtful, he adds, “Now that I think about it, there’s a few more spells that involve hands, but they’re way too advanced for me.” He shrugs. “Guess wizards must like hands or something.”
”Anyways, should I give it a shot and see what happens?” he asks, almost sounding eager as he waggles fingers once again.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens retreats to the mouth of the stairs, keeps her shield and shortsword ready to defend herself from any vengeful armor, advises everyone to stay behind her... then agrees to Mittens' proposal: "Go for it !"
Feeling very, very exposed out in the open by himself, Mittens also takes a few steps back until he's peeking just over the top of the stairs. Mustering his courage, he whispers an arcane phrase under his breath and thrusts his hand towards the suits of armor. The same ghostly hand materializes, this time with tendrils of black lightning crackling about it, and it sails across the hallway to strike the hopefully not animated suit of armor.
Chill Touch Attack: 20 Damage: 1 points of necrotic damage, and the armor can't regain hit points until the start of Mittens' next turn.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
🕯️🖤Hazel Harkness🖤🕯️
As Mittens' spectral hand hurtled towards the armor, Hazel watched intently, her stance ready and alert. The arcane display was both fascinating and unnerving, highlighting the unpredictable nature of their current surroundings.
"Let's see what secrets this house continues to hide," she commented quietly, an edge of anticipation in her voice as she prepared herself for a possible battle. Despite the underlying tension, there was a part of her that thrived on the unfolding mystery, each moment unraveling more of the dark tapestry that enveloped the Durst family's legacy. Hazel kept her focus sharp, prepared to react to whatever the outcome might be.
The armor doesn't react to Mittens' spell. It remains motionless, as do the other suits of armor. However, Hazel notices something about the family portrait. In the portrait, the mother is looking at the baby but her expression is one of scorn, not love. She also notices that there are carvings of dancing youths in each of the doors. Closer inspection reveals that the youths are actually fighting off swarms of bats. As you all gather on the second floor landing, you feel a wave of cold air flow down the staircase, coming from the third floor. The chill feels unnatural.
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf (Phandelver and Below) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan (Vecna: Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Gareth Blackwood (Dragon of Icespire Peak) ♦ Karys Velthune (Out of the Abyss) ♦ Surina Xarith (Simple, Heroic Adventure)
DM: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus
[[ OOC: OK, the armor did not react... but did it get damaged by Mitten's magic? ]]
If the armor has been damaged:
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens is pleased, even if she doesn't let her guard down: "It's working, Mittens! If the armor keeps not to react... your magic should be able to destroy it - then we'll have one less worry".
If the armor has NOT been damaged:
The last of the Dusk Elf maidens is relieved that the armor doesn't react, but disappointed by the poor effect of the tabaxi's magic: "It doesn't work, Mittens... We have to dismantle them by hand... or lock them in a room".