The tabaxi mediates on that for a moment. They chuckle, "Heh, you know... yeah. You do... too. Maybe in another life."They then shrug and remove their hand from the ceiling, which slowly rainbow sand trickles out of. "A bug... and a bear? You don't resemble none either! More hairy than I'd expected....You're a curious creature, you know that?" They sit down criss-crossed upon the black abyss.
"Yes, trapped,"they turn their head over to you, "Aren't we all?"
"That's why it gets rather lonely out here, hence the friendship part, but you're the first one here and with you now..."their smile widens, "I'd say let's have a break-out. What's more bonding than a good ol' prison escape, eh?" They waggle their wrist in the air, "Got any cool powers to show? Then I'll show mine-" they do a little jazz hands type segment, watching you with curiosity.
@Argos
((man yeah sorry to hear that. I guess if it's understandable but still that sucks. I hope things get better for you!))
((earlier I saw a graffiti tag that said 'post no beef' and idk this just reminded me of that ahah I should tell the dice that))
The scratches halt for a moment after you'd said that. "No harm..." You can almost feel the drool on this side of the door. "You are entering a restricted area,"one says then the another until their voices overlap. "You are entering a restricted area!"
"Whoa man, what are you doing?"
This is a third voice that approaches. "What?"the human man who is also hypnotized asks.
"Um, this says for employees only and... you're not employees?"
"I am..." the tabaxi tries to cover up.
"No, you're not? I am." Some grumbles. Footsteps are heard leaving.
You seem to recognize this voice. Yes! Yes, the tabaxi from the receptionist desk. Elias, yeah that's his name. He knocks on your door, "You okay in there?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
The tabaxi mediates on that for a moment. They chuckle, "Heh, you know... yeah. You do... too. Maybe in another life."They then shrug and remove their hand from the ceiling, which slowly rainbow sand trickles out of. "A bug... and a bear? You don't resemble none either! More hairy than I'd expected....You're a curious creature, you know that?" They sit down criss-crossed upon the black abyss.
"Yes, trapped,"they turn their head over to you, "Aren't we all?"
"That's why it gets rather lonely out here, hence the friendship part, but you're the first one here and with you now..."their smile widens, "I'd say let's have a break-out. What's more bonding than a good ol' prison escape, eh?" They waggle their wrist in the air, "Got any cool powers to show? Then I'll show mine-" they do a little jazz hands type segment, watching you with curiosity.
[[ Shoot my D&D Beyond has NOT been notifying me of messages and posts like it used to, sorry for the delay lol. Will try to figure that out. ]]
Macario takes a moment to consider the question. Why would this hypnotized woman care if he was happy? Who was dictating her actions at the moment. He glances around the room and replies, "It certainly is a nice party." Taking her gesture as a suggestion, he goes to spin her around and attempts to quickly remove her mask as he does (sleight of hand10 with guidance).
[[ Did we want to update to new spells or any of the other new stuff? I think they've pushed the updates now. ]]
You cast mold earth onto the sand. The darkness of the abyss rises up and like a geyser sends the sand grains up. They sprinkle down onto the ground like glitter. The tabaxi's gin widens at all this, following each grain of sand as they fall down to the floor, turning from rainbow back down to glossy black. The grains fall onto the tabaxi who raises their hands out to catch them. Some even land on their fur, most slide off, but one does not. Instead it bleeds into their skin, creating a black spot that expands further to an open half circle. They pay it no mind.
"WOW!"they exclaim, "I can't believe that!" They laugh, "You really do remind me of someone."
Stretching the waggle out their hands once more. "I guess it's only fair-"
Suddenly a banquet of various foods appears before you: empanadas, puposas, lumpia, and suman. Leches, persimmons, durian, and guava. All sorts of foods that you can imagine. They line a spread on a blanket above the abyss. The blanket shifts in the nonexistent wind; its corners keep blowing upwards. "Have a seat!" And they do as well.
"This is how I don't go hungry. Here in this void"
@Argos
"Oh. Okay, good." Elias says through the metal door, "Yeah they're gone now. Well, no, not really but far enough anyways. Ar- Argee? Inra's guest, right?" He sighs, cutting straight to the point, "What... what are you doing back there?"
@Macario
She watches you intently when you answer. Her dark, unblinking holes where eyes were do nothing but stare.
"No, not the party. This life."
She lets you take her hand and spin her. Her grip is stronger than it should normally be. You don't let it phase you, instead, you reach for her mask. In a split second her arm is onto you, tightly against your wrist then it lets go. Your no-so-secretive attempt to pry off the mask works. You peel it off smooth but what it sounds like is much worse. You hear what sounds to be skin ripping off flesh, the squishing and squelching of it, but yet none does. Instead, snaking tendrils of purple encircle your fingers and her face. They feel ice cold to the touch but quickly retreat and dissipate once you take off the mask.
You hold the dark fox mask in your hand. She stands there and stares. Her eyes are sunken in, compound green-blue eyes like an insect's. Her dark skin turns pasty and swollen where the mask was. There are patches of hair missing where the top of the mask were and still stick to the damned thing. Her canine teeth have become long and pointy. She inhales unsteadily and reaches for her face. The people nearest stop dancing abruptly.
You cast mold earth onto the sand. The darkness of the abyss rises up and like a geyser sends the sand grains up. They sprinkle down onto the ground like glitter. The tabaxi's gin widens at all this, following each grain of sand as they fall down to the floor, turning from rainbow back down to glossy black. The grains fall onto the tabaxi who raises their hands out to catch them. Some even land on their fur, most slide off, but one does not. Instead it bleeds into their skin, creating a black spot that expands further to an open half circle. They pay it no mind.
"WOW!"they exclaim, "I can't believe that!" They laugh, "You really do remind me of someone."
Stretching the waggle out their hands once more. "I guess it's only fair-"
Suddenly a banquet of various foods appears before you: empanadas, puposas, lumpia, and suman. Leches, persimmons, durian, and guava. All sorts of foods that you can imagine. They line a spread on a blanket above the abyss. The blanket shifts in the nonexistent wind; its corners keep blowing upwards. "Have a seat!" And they do as well.
"This is how I don't go hungry. Here in this void"
Macario winces at the sound and takes an involuntary step back. "Are you...okay?" he asks tentatively, glancing back down at the mask in his hand searching for any traces of the magic that had been present in it, but quickly realizes he had reflexively dropped the spell to focus on his poor attempt at sleight of hand. Faint shadows slowly begin to creep down his arms from the sleeves of his tunic as he readies himself in case things turn violent.
"Yes!" they giggle, "It's a banquet for both of us, silly!"They sit cross-legged on the ground beside you. "Tell me more about yourself. I'm getting used to the friend game- thing. I would like to know more about you if we're going to spend all this time together." The tabaxi reaches for a persimmon and bites into it. Another dark spot grows on their fur. "Though, of course, you can leave still up some to mystery. I don't like getting into the thick of it all right away! What do you like to do then? Any hobbies?" They look up to you with curious eyes.
@Argos
((Deception check: 10 - 1 = 9 ))
"Something... back there?"Elias replies. Even from behind the door you can tell he is staring daggers. He huffs, "... Did Inra set you up for this? Look, I got strict orders from Mr. Gonzalez not to let anyone behind that door. Can... can you please come out?"
@Macario
She stands there with legs unsteady. You can hear the jagged inhales with mucus under her breath. "I-"
She reaches out for the nearest table (the snack one) and attempts to hold on. Her extra long fingernails, now sharp at the edges, dig holes into the sides of the wood. "You alright, miss?" The one who says that doesn't dare to put a hand on her.
"Eguuah," she coughs, grabbing at her own throat with her free hand, scratching at it. From deep within her throat you her insect-like thrilling.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Macario looks around for Argos and to see if Inra has noticed what is happening. He tries to come up with any sort of explanation for what is happening to the woman in front of him and begins trying to motion to the other guests to keep their distance. [[ Maybe like a religion or arcana check to recall anything about insect or canine monsters/transformations? Both are +3 so a dirty 20 for whichever you think is more relevant. ]]
"Yes!" they giggle, "It's a banquet for both of us, silly!"They sit cross-legged on the ground beside you. "Tell me more about yourself. I'm getting used to the friend game- thing. I would like to know more about you if we're going to spend all this time together." The tabaxi reaches for a persimmon and bites into it. Another dark spot grows on their fur. "Though, of course, you can leave still up some to mystery. I don't like getting into the thick of it all right away! What do you like to do then? Any hobbies?" They look up to you with curious eyes.
"thanks. meeting your god takes a lot out of you." he begins stuffing his face. "mph. ish gud. nywys, ysh. pryng t th grt jrmun."
You don't see Argos unfortantely. The way you watched him walk was towards upstage at the front, but you lost him in the crowd. Peeking out from between the dancing partygoers, you see a slightly irritated panther tabaxi who you remember was the receptionist who first brought you up after the mimic. He stands outside a black door, putting his ear against it.
Irna is conveniently closing her eyes to the whole thing. She dances wildly, arms and legs flailing about in nearly exaggerated positions. She clutches her staff tight and makes more of the light show. The booms and bangs of these mini-fireworks accentuates the music. She does no seem to notice the commotion downstage, but the man does. You can almost see a glimmer in his eyes as he strums his bandurria.
"Let's give it up for our special guest of honor, Inra!"he shouts. Others turn around and applaud. Inra shoots up some more of the light show.
With each bang the partygoers nearest to the transforming woman flinch and step back, heading to your word as they try to keep their distance between the other dancing bodies and the tables.
You have never seen such a transformation such as this. If you'd have to guess this is something that has to do with fey magic! It has that same tingling sensation that you felt in the in-between when you were closest to the Feywild. You don't know what it is but seeing those compound eyes remind you of the thri-keen who was in the window across your suite just earlier this morning (wow, what a long day you are having!). When her hands start turning a chitinous white and strands of hair start falling down her sides, thoughts run through your head if you've maybe read something about this before. Yes, yes you have you've seen a picture of this before, a drawing in one of your old priest books. A creature that was thought to be trapped between life and death, a long thin pasty body with segmented limbs and wide insect eyes. They have glossy thin wings with fangs and claws for fighting. They have holes within themselves, as if missing something. Unfortunately, you just can't recall their name.
"The- the mask,"the woman rasps and gestures for you to give it to her. Her other hand is gripping at her throat. She hisses between coughs, and her now forked tongue flicks out at you.
Elias says nothing back either while you look around.
You can barely make out the space in front of you. Within this four foot space, you feel the walls right against your skin. Even with your darkvision, the darkness goes up straight ahead. You hear what sounds to be a rodent scuttle. Soon enough the drip drip drip of water follows.
Ahead of you to the right is a small wooden crate, nearly blocking your path forward. A rusted lock rests on top of it. A crowbar lays to the side. You feel no light switches upon the wall. It feels smooth like marble.
Suddenly you feel it, a breeze goes up against your arm. There are goosebumps. A single red light illuminates the hallway. It bobs right in the middle, distant but you can make out flame.
@Brodir
"It looks like it!"They watch as you stuff your face with food and laugh. "Thank you! Summoned it myself." They pierce a guava with their index finger, juice bleeds out of its white flesh, coating the green skin of the fruit in nectar, which the tabaxi has to wipe off on their fur.
"Praying to the god Jormun? Ah the great wrym." They put hand to their mouth and nod, "Bleed from the blood, the meat of the Battle. You know when the world was new there was many of him? A true survivor."The tabaxi takes a bite of the guava, gaining another spot upon their arm. "It wasn't until long until they took them all out. All the abominations. Things that weren't meant to be. Sealed them up... forever."
"I've been so afraid of the future," they lick their lips, "because I thought it was going to be more of the same. But now, it finally isn't." They stand up suddenly, smiling.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Macario begins to extend the mask towards the woman, willing to allow her to put it back on if it means an end to this horrifying transformation, but pauses for a second. He pulls the mask back towards him slightly, holding it just out of her reach. Aware of the risk he is taking, he speaks quickly, hoping she'll have a chance to respond before it's too late. "Who is doing this to you? How can I stop it?" He waits for a response, ready to shove the mask back onto her face as soon as she answers, or if it seems like the transformation is about to complete before she can.
Her eyes slowly blink sideways and she mumbles something incoherent. Her hands reach out for the mask, but as soon as you pull it back she jerks upwards. Her shoulders point upwards uncomfortably, and she shakes. "I-"she closes her tightly and shakes her head, "He said-"The woman shivers violently and bites down her own lip, drawing some blood... or at least what seemed like it except for the fact it was green and slow like molasses. She looks as though she was trying to look back but stumbles and has to catch herself on the table once again. This has gotten much attention from the nearest crowd who begins to back away like you told them to. "Gah-," she whispers, hunched over on the table.
"Gaoler."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Macario's hand darts in and presses the mask to her face, lingering only as long as it takes for her to grab it from him, before he steps back like the rest of the crowd, waiting to see what happens. His hands are itching to draw his sword, but he doesn't want to alarm the rest of the seemingly unaffected guests any more than they already are. As he steps back, he scans the room for Argos once more, and not seeing the elf, begins to move towards Inra and the man on the stage.
The mask and her face close the gap with your the help of your hand. Shadows fling out like tentacles out from the mask and cling onto her face like a squid. This garners a few gasps from the crowd. The woman reaches out to hold onto the mask and heaves. She hunches over and with one hand again reaches for the table. Her head faces down at the bowl.
Her other hand, instead, actually reaches for you. "Thank you." She soon steadies herself, lets go, and turns to you slowly and as blankly as before.
You step towards Inra and the man onstage. People back away from you, not sure of what you're going to do next. She too stands silently to the side. A sudden lightning bolt shatters your attention. It hits right at your side. A burn mark is left singed and smoking on wooden ballroom floors.
Inra on stage smiles right at you wickedly; her hands clutch around her staff still pointed to the right of you. The man next to her just claps. The bandurria is set down beside him. "Well done."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Well, so much for not alarming people, Macario thinks as he looks up to the stage. Where in the Underside was Argos? And where had that tiefling kid gone?
He begins to speak, a bit hesitant, but attempting to feign confidence. "Hardly a grand feat. Who are you?" Shadows once again begin to curl down his arms, beginning faintly around his upper arms where his tunic ends, and growing darker as they pool around his hands like a dark smoke.
The man guffaws. "Oh? Me?"He puts his hands behind his back and leans forward. "I'd just thought you'd enjoy the light show is all. I do love a grand entrance~"Inra stands completely still, now aiming the staff at you. Your shadows surround your hands like pools of night. "Not now." He waves to Inra and she moves the staff upright.
People begin to back away from you now, both in fear and in awe. Instead, the man just smiles.
"I guess you deserve an introduction. Hello I'm me," he points to himself then away and two more times, "myself, and I. Was that good enough for you now? I know you Macario. So let's just put formalities aside. Come on. Come up."
"LET HIM THROUGH!"
The crowd startles and starts to shuffle to left and right. With just a look from him, the masked-woman jumps out to the crowd and hisses, claws out. Two more hisses come out from the right side of the crowd then soon enough buzzing starts to fill the air and you see the two other hypothesized people (human man and male tabaxi) begin flying with glossy green insect wings that have emerged from their back. You hear a familiar voice shout "DEAR GODS!" right after.
The two hiss out at the crowd and try to land among them forces an exodus out from the middle. There is a clear path for you to the stage now.
Some people in the back begin trying to press on the doors to the exit but they can't. They are stuck now.
Macario takes everything in, his mind racing through scenarios and his body tensing as years of combat training itch to take over. Sensing the panic from the crowd behind him, he forces himself to relax. The shadows sink back into his skin, providing a momentary boost to his senses as he studies the man, searching his face for any sign of his intentions (insight24). He begins to slowly approach the stage, keenly aware of the dagger hidden in his boot, ready to grab it at a moment's notice.
[[ I think I'll go ahead and switch because why not? Those wounds were crazy to keep track of anyway ;) ]]
@Brodir
The tabaxi mediates on that for a moment. They chuckle, "Heh, you know... yeah. You do... too. Maybe in another life." They then shrug and remove their hand from the ceiling, which slowly rainbow sand trickles out of. "A bug... and a bear? You don't resemble none either! More hairy than I'd expected....You're a curious creature, you know that?" They sit down criss-crossed upon the black abyss.
"Yes, trapped," they turn their head over to you, "Aren't we all?"
"That's why it gets rather lonely out here, hence the friendship part, but you're the first one here and with you now..." their smile widens, "I'd say let's have a break-out. What's more bonding than a good ol' prison escape, eh?" They waggle their wrist in the air, "Got any cool powers to show? Then I'll show mine-" they do a little jazz hands type segment, watching you with curiosity.
@Argos
((man yeah sorry to hear that. I guess if it's understandable but still that sucks. I hope things get better for you!))
((earlier I saw a graffiti tag that said 'post no beef' and idk this just reminded me of that ahah I should tell the dice that))
The scratches halt for a moment after you'd said that. "No harm..." You can almost feel the drool on this side of the door. "You are entering a restricted area," one says then the another until their voices overlap. "You are entering a restricted area!"
"Whoa man, what are you doing?"
This is a third voice that approaches. "What?" the human man who is also hypnotized asks.
"Um, this says for employees only and... you're not employees?"
"I am..." the tabaxi tries to cover up.
"No, you're not? I am." Some grumbles. Footsteps are heard leaving.
You seem to recognize this voice. Yes! Yes, the tabaxi from the receptionist desk. Elias, yeah that's his name. He knocks on your door, "You okay in there?"
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
"sure." he casts mold earth on the sand.
hi
mourn the flumph. enter the galaxy, join the planetscape! yep. do you like ravenloft?
new thread coming eventually.
bye
"Uhhh yeah, I'm okay. Just some people trying to cause problems!" Argos answered
[[ Shoot my D&D Beyond has NOT been notifying me of messages and posts like it used to, sorry for the delay lol. Will try to figure that out. ]]
Macario takes a moment to consider the question. Why would this hypnotized woman care if he was happy? Who was dictating her actions at the moment. He glances around the room and replies, "It certainly is a nice party." Taking her gesture as a suggestion, he goes to spin her around and attempts to quickly remove her mask as he does (sleight of hand 10 with guidance).
[[ Did we want to update to new spells or any of the other new stuff? I think they've pushed the updates now. ]]
@Brodir
You cast mold earth onto the sand. The darkness of the abyss rises up and like a geyser sends the sand grains up. They sprinkle down onto the ground like glitter. The tabaxi's gin widens at all this, following each grain of sand as they fall down to the floor, turning from rainbow back down to glossy black. The grains fall onto the tabaxi who raises their hands out to catch them. Some even land on their fur, most slide off, but one does not. Instead it bleeds into their skin, creating a black spot that expands further to an open half circle. They pay it no mind.
"WOW!" they exclaim, "I can't believe that!" They laugh, "You really do remind me of someone."
Stretching the waggle out their hands once more. "I guess it's only fair-"
Suddenly a banquet of various foods appears before you: empanadas, puposas, lumpia, and suman. Leches, persimmons, durian, and guava. All sorts of foods that you can imagine. They line a spread on a blanket above the abyss. The blanket shifts in the nonexistent wind; its corners keep blowing upwards. "Have a seat!" And they do as well.
"This is how I don't go hungry. Here in this void"
@Argos
"Oh. Okay, good." Elias says through the metal door, "Yeah they're gone now. Well, no, not really but far enough anyways. Ar- Argee? Inra's guest, right?" He sighs, cutting straight to the point, "What... what are you doing back there?"
@Macario
She watches you intently when you answer. Her dark, unblinking holes where eyes were do nothing but stare.
"No, not the party. This life."
She lets you take her hand and spin her. Her grip is stronger than it should normally be. You don't let it phase you, instead, you reach for her mask. In a split second her arm is onto you, tightly against your wrist then it lets go. Your no-so-secretive attempt to pry off the mask works. You peel it off smooth but what it sounds like is much worse. You hear what sounds to be skin ripping off flesh, the squishing and squelching of it, but yet none does. Instead, snaking tendrils of purple encircle your fingers and her face. They feel ice cold to the touch but quickly retreat and dissipate once you take off the mask.
You hold the dark fox mask in your hand. She stands there and stares. Her eyes are sunken in, compound green-blue eyes like an insect's. Her dark skin turns pasty and swollen where the mask was. There are patches of hair missing where the top of the mask were and still stick to the damned thing. Her canine teeth have become long and pointy. She inhales unsteadily and reaches for her face. The people nearest stop dancing abruptly.
She stands still.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
"pretty nice. mind if I have some?"
hi
mourn the flumph. enter the galaxy, join the planetscape! yep. do you like ravenloft?
new thread coming eventually.
bye
"... I lost something behind there." Argos replied.
Macario winces at the sound and takes an involuntary step back. "Are you...okay?" he asks tentatively, glancing back down at the mask in his hand searching for any traces of the magic that had been present in it, but quickly realizes he had reflexively dropped the spell to focus on his poor attempt at sleight of hand. Faint shadows slowly begin to creep down his arms from the sleeves of his tunic as he readies himself in case things turn violent.
@Brodir
"Yes!" they giggle, "It's a banquet for both of us, silly!" They sit cross-legged on the ground beside you. "Tell me more about yourself. I'm getting used to the friend game- thing. I would like to know more about you if we're going to spend all this time together." The tabaxi reaches for a persimmon and bites into it. Another dark spot grows on their fur. "Though, of course, you can leave still up some to mystery. I don't like getting into the thick of it all right away! What do you like to do then? Any hobbies?" They look up to you with curious eyes.
@Argos
((Deception check: 10 - 1 = 9 ))
"Something... back there?" Elias replies. Even from behind the door you can tell he is staring daggers. He huffs, "... Did Inra set you up for this? Look, I got strict orders from Mr. Gonzalez not to let anyone behind that door. Can... can you please come out?"
@Macario
She stands there with legs unsteady. You can hear the jagged inhales with mucus under her breath. "I-"
She reaches out for the nearest table (the snack one) and attempts to hold on. Her extra long fingernails, now sharp at the edges, dig holes into the sides of the wood. "You alright, miss?" The one who says that doesn't dare to put a hand on her.
"Eguuah," she coughs, grabbing at her own throat with her free hand, scratching at it. From deep within her throat you her insect-like thrilling.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Macario looks around for Argos and to see if Inra has noticed what is happening. He tries to come up with any sort of explanation for what is happening to the woman in front of him and begins trying to motion to the other guests to keep their distance. [[ Maybe like a religion or arcana check to recall anything about insect or canine monsters/transformations? Both are +3 so a dirty 20 for whichever you think is more relevant. ]]
". . ."
Argos casually doesn't listen and proceeds to search inside.
"thanks. meeting your god takes a lot out of you." he begins stuffing his face. "mph. ish gud. nywys, ysh. pryng t th grt jrmun."
hi
mourn the flumph. enter the galaxy, join the planetscape! yep. do you like ravenloft?
new thread coming eventually.
bye
@Macario
You don't see Argos unfortantely. The way you watched him walk was towards upstage at the front, but you lost him in the crowd. Peeking out from between the dancing partygoers, you see a slightly irritated panther tabaxi who you remember was the receptionist who first brought you up after the mimic. He stands outside a black door, putting his ear against it.
Irna is conveniently closing her eyes to the whole thing. She dances wildly, arms and legs flailing about in nearly exaggerated positions. She clutches her staff tight and makes more of the light show. The booms and bangs of these mini-fireworks accentuates the music. She does no seem to notice the commotion downstage, but the man does. You can almost see a glimmer in his eyes as he strums his bandurria.
"Let's give it up for our special guest of honor, Inra!" he shouts. Others turn around and applaud. Inra shoots up some more of the light show.
With each bang the partygoers nearest to the transforming woman flinch and step back, heading to your word as they try to keep their distance between the other dancing bodies and the tables.
You have never seen such a transformation such as this. If you'd have to guess this is something that has to do with fey magic! It has that same tingling sensation that you felt in the in-between when you were closest to the Feywild. You don't know what it is but seeing those compound eyes remind you of the thri-keen who was in the window across your suite just earlier this morning (wow, what a long day you are having!). When her hands start turning a chitinous white and strands of hair start falling down her sides, thoughts run through your head if you've maybe read something about this before. Yes, yes you have you've seen a picture of this before, a drawing in one of your old priest books. A creature that was thought to be trapped between life and death, a long thin pasty body with segmented limbs and wide insect eyes. They have glossy thin wings with fangs and claws for fighting. They have holes within themselves, as if missing something. Unfortunately, you just can't recall their name.
"The- the mask," the woman rasps and gestures for you to give it to her. Her other hand is gripping at her throat. She hisses between coughs, and her now forked tongue flicks out at you.
something like this:
art by TheHuskyLord
heheh it'sactually a horse reference
@Argos
Elias says nothing back either while you look around.
You can barely make out the space in front of you. Within this four foot space, you feel the walls right against your skin. Even with your darkvision, the darkness goes up straight ahead. You hear what sounds to be a rodent scuttle. Soon enough the drip drip drip of water follows.
Ahead of you to the right is a small wooden crate, nearly blocking your path forward. A rusted lock rests on top of it. A crowbar lays to the side. You feel no light switches upon the wall. It feels smooth like marble.
Suddenly you feel it, a breeze goes up against your arm. There are goosebumps. A single red light illuminates the hallway. It bobs right in the middle, distant but you can make out flame.
@Brodir
"It looks like it!" They watch as you stuff your face with food and laugh. "Thank you! Summoned it myself." They pierce a guava with their index finger, juice bleeds out of its white flesh, coating the green skin of the fruit in nectar, which the tabaxi has to wipe off on their fur.
"Praying to the god Jormun? Ah the great wrym." They put hand to their mouth and nod, "Bleed from the blood, the meat of the Battle. You know when the world was new there was many of him? A true survivor." The tabaxi takes a bite of the guava, gaining another spot upon their arm. "It wasn't until long until they took them all out. All the abominations. Things that weren't meant to be. Sealed them up... forever."
"I've been so afraid of the future," they lick their lips, "because I thought it was going to be more of the same. But now, it finally isn't." They stand up suddenly, smiling.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Macario begins to extend the mask towards the woman, willing to allow her to put it back on if it means an end to this horrifying transformation, but pauses for a second. He pulls the mask back towards him slightly, holding it just out of her reach. Aware of the risk he is taking, he speaks quickly, hoping she'll have a chance to respond before it's too late. "Who is doing this to you? How can I stop it?" He waits for a response, ready to shove the mask back onto her face as soon as she answers, or if it seems like the transformation is about to complete before she can.
@Macario
Her eyes slowly blink sideways and she mumbles something incoherent. Her hands reach out for the mask, but as soon as you pull it back she jerks upwards. Her shoulders point upwards uncomfortably, and she shakes. "I-" she closes her tightly and shakes her head, "He said-" The woman shivers violently and bites down her own lip, drawing some blood... or at least what seemed like it except for the fact it was green and slow like molasses. She looks as though she was trying to look back but stumbles and has to catch herself on the table once again. This has gotten much attention from the nearest crowd who begins to back away like you told them to. "Gah-," she whispers, hunched over on the table.
"Gaoler."
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Macario's hand darts in and presses the mask to her face, lingering only as long as it takes for her to grab it from him, before he steps back like the rest of the crowd, waiting to see what happens. His hands are itching to draw his sword, but he doesn't want to alarm the rest of the seemingly unaffected guests any more than they already are. As he steps back, he scans the room for Argos once more, and not seeing the elf, begins to move towards Inra and the man on the stage.
@Macario
The mask and her face close the gap with your the help of your hand. Shadows fling out like tentacles out from the mask and cling onto her face like a squid. This garners a few gasps from the crowd. The woman reaches out to hold onto the mask and heaves. She hunches over and with one hand again reaches for the table. Her head faces down at the bowl.
Her other hand, instead, actually reaches for you. "Thank you." She soon steadies herself, lets go, and turns to you slowly and as blankly as before.
You step towards Inra and the man onstage. People back away from you, not sure of what you're going to do next. She too stands silently to the side. A sudden lightning bolt shatters your attention. It hits right at your side. A burn mark is left singed and smoking on wooden ballroom floors.
Inra on stage smiles right at you wickedly; her hands clutch around her staff still pointed to the right of you. The man next to her just claps. The bandurria is set down beside him. "Well done."
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Well, so much for not alarming people, Macario thinks as he looks up to the stage. Where in the Underside was Argos? And where had that tiefling kid gone?
He begins to speak, a bit hesitant, but attempting to feign confidence. "Hardly a grand feat. Who are you?" Shadows once again begin to curl down his arms, beginning faintly around his upper arms where his tunic ends, and growing darker as they pool around his hands like a dark smoke.
@Macario
The man guffaws. "Oh? Me?" He puts his hands behind his back and leans forward. "I'd just thought you'd enjoy the light show is all. I do love a grand entrance~" Inra stands completely still, now aiming the staff at you. Your shadows surround your hands like pools of night. "Not now." He waves to Inra and she moves the staff upright.
People begin to back away from you now, both in fear and in awe. Instead, the man just smiles.
"I guess you deserve an introduction. Hello I'm me," he points to himself then away and two more times, "myself, and I. Was that good enough for you now? I know you Macario. So let's just put formalities aside. Come on. Come up."
"LET HIM THROUGH!"
The crowd startles and starts to shuffle to left and right. With just a look from him, the masked-woman jumps out to the crowd and hisses, claws out. Two more hisses come out from the right side of the crowd then soon enough buzzing starts to fill the air and you see the two other hypothesized people (human man and male tabaxi) begin flying with glossy green insect wings that have emerged from their back. You hear a familiar voice shout "DEAR GODS!" right after.
The two hiss out at the crowd and try to land among them forces an exodus out from the middle. There is a clear path for you to the stage now.
Some people in the back begin trying to press on the doors to the exit but they can't. They are stuck now.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Macario takes everything in, his mind racing through scenarios and his body tensing as years of combat training itch to take over. Sensing the panic from the crowd behind him, he forces himself to relax. The shadows sink back into his skin, providing a momentary boost to his senses as he studies the man, searching his face for any sign of his intentions (insight 24). He begins to slowly approach the stage, keenly aware of the dagger hidden in his boot, ready to grab it at a moment's notice.
[[ I think I'll go ahead and switch because why not? Those wounds were crazy to keep track of anyway ;) ]]