Dabbert sees how things are going and switches his tactics. He specifically remembers Eren shouting about not being able to pay them, then thinks of the things that were being stolen before the bandits got set on fire. He moves to Hosh's body and quickly takes anything off of it that he can before the money and goods are destroyed.
"Just kill him." Dabbert says to Heiboros, more a suggestion than anything. "His kind are preying off of the suffering of the rest of the world. You think this is the first caravan he's raided? It's not. He's robbed more than us. He's probably done worse than rob other groups. Imagine a weaker group without protection, what they've uh...done. If he gets away, or we let him go, or if we hadn't decimated the others..."
He toe kicks Hosh's burning corpse.
"...they would have kept victimizing people. In my opinion they're worse than the star. The star is an act of the gods or...uh...whatever is out there..."
He points to the sky.
"...but these clowns? They made the decision to be who they are. Don't take the chance on letting him return to his nature."
He points to the enemy cart.
"Can we save those horses? Or are they too far gone?"
As both bolts snuffed out in the churned earth at the dragonborn's clawed feet, and her companions seemed to have a plan on what to do with the bandits, Juniper let out a relieved, shaking breath. A proper rest- and a well earned one at that, she thought- seemed to be near at hand, and with that mind mind she went to aid Ka-Cha with soothing their newly won steeds.
"Well fought," She commended the party at large, the praise threaded through with surprise as the constellation studded form sank and dissipated from the druid. Taking care not to jostle the injured shoulder, she strode up beside the thri-kreen as he appraised the horses, with nary a qualm shown at using the slain creatures to replenish their rations. "Erm-... Pardon my ignorance, are you familiar with handling horses?" An unbidden, curious glance darted down to the unusual carapace with the query, the half-elf's thoughts on full display in her expression even if they'd not been tied telepathically. 'Do they ride? How??'
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Juniper Summers in Drakkenheim - Mind and Matter Delphine Bennett in TheDark Below Ilmrae Zolier in Dragon Heist - One Hell of a Summer Loralai Darkleaf in The Storm King's Thunder Eris Tourmaline in An Adventure in the Mountains Circe Somerset in Candlekeep Mysteries
(Action) Attack @Brodan with Guiding Bolt 8 < AC 11 A Miss. ------> Brodan takes no damage
(Bonus Action) Attack @Brodan with Archer Bolt 12 > AC 11 A Hit. ------> Brodan takes 12 Radiant Damage -----> Brodan now has 11/32 HP
End of Round: Starry Form 9:42 minutes
Dabbert (29/29 HP)
Move 15 ft west, move 30 ft south
(Action) Retrieve money box from Hosh's body
Brodan (23/32 HP)
(Action) Grapple Heiboros (At a disadvantage from darkness First Roll: 18 + 2 = 20; Second Roll: 8 + 2 = 10) ---> 10 ---> Heiboros strength save 5 + 1 = 6 ---> Heiboros is grappled
End of Round: 11/32 HP
It was a long time coming, and Brodan knew this. Since the civil war, he knew that if there was a spot to make money. This would be it. A large vast city with riches left behind. A land without law. Without consequences. He thought he could strike it rich. With a few friends along the way (well those who were indebted to him), he managed to make it. No, never did he actually set foot into the dark city itself, but if he willing, then there was always another way. Seeing how the many adventurers went by to test their luck in the city itself, he knew where he collect a profit. It was no different than those real Hooded Lanterns or city guards or the king's toll collectors. If adventurers would have given up their hard bargained money to those people, then why not him? Was it because they had 'authority'? Who gave them the right to decide? These were his streets and he had a right to collect upon them.
Yet here he was now, cornered. His men either bleeding to death or burnt. A lone dragonborn between a hodgepodge army of so-called 'heroes'. The smoke from his dead men and the ash from the wreckage of the cart billowed upwards in this dry stale air. As if everything in this dreaded wasteland hadn't been dead already.
Another arrow shoots out and into his body, it knocks him over with a huff. Weakly, he reaches over to his chest. Sticky hot blood. He feels the piercing of the starry bolt in his lungs. His chest moves up and down weakly. The pain just as fiery as the actual flames. He watches his cart disintegrate into piles of wooden rubble. Even that wheel that had detached was now on fire.
He sighed at this. The bug-one's voice also echoed in his mind. He was right, he had led his men to their own doom. He was just trying to provoke a fight, a fleeting attempt at death. But it looks like they were less concerned with him now. Especially now that the warrior-looking man, rather than taking a shot at him, went over from the other side of the cart, collecting the dues from his fallen men's body. That locked wooden box would have made an excellent trophy. What can he say, he loved his treasure boxes. He cursed his draconic nature.
"Just kill him."
Hmm.
His men were all burnt. His horses were being stolen now by the elf-one. The other, his lead horse, Daisy, was suggested to be eaten by the bug.
The only other option laid out was the threat to be going into the city itself.
."...they would have kept victimizing people. In my opinion they're worse than the star."
Brodan's chest heaved at that statement and his eyes narrowed. Yeah, he was right. But he had no right to be.
His last thoughts were cut off by the enveloping of the darkness in front of him. That mage seemed to have snuck up on him. All the raw magic and power... wasted on so few who don't know how to wield it. If he had it--- well.
Filled with horrid groans and noises of the dead rising from Heiboros's prestidigitation, he takes a shot in the darkness.
"Whatever I know is going down to the grave with me." He gathers all his strength and lunges forth. "See yous all in the Abyss*."
((*Hell))
Round 3 ends. It's a free for all. You can take any actions without limits.
((I'm going to say that the darkness doesn't really put you guys at a disadvantage. So if you want to just shoot at him or grab him that's totally fine. Sorry I didn't know any other way of ending off this bandit saga, especially with someone as stubborn as Brodan))
Ka-Cha retrieves his thrown chatkcha before cutting up the horse.
"My people see other creatures mostly as food, threats to avoid, or undecided. Therefore the concept of riding is strange to us. As strange as putting a saddle on a steak. But I recognize the usefulness of draft animals. At the very least to keep them alive to eat later. And I understand wound care for survival."
DC Save = 8 + 2 (Proficiency Bonus) + 1 Heiboros Strength modifier = 13 ----> 7 < DC 13 Save ----> Brodan is knocked 15 ft
Inside the darkness it is cold and empty. The silence is deafening. Not even the screams from his horses could be heard. The thug, wrestles with the shadows, feeling his way through in his struggle in the darkness to find that darn bird's talons. He grabs, throwing Heiboros down, and presses down against the aarakocra's wings. Heiboros is pinned.
But just as soon as he got his win. A terrible gust of wind comes off from out him. The all-encompassing fear of mages sends a chill down his spine. He knew then right now why that war was fought. He could barely catch his breath. As much as he holds on, he is thrown off the bird. Brodan is blasted outside of the darkness. The unpacked dirt comes whirling at him and stings at his wounds as he flops to the side of the road. With his scaly arm, he attempts to block out the oncoming winds.
"What do ye want froms me?!" The blue dragonborn coughs, clutching his chest where the starry bolt still lay. "Just let me die with my mens. Please."
((Nah no need for the survival roll. You can cut the meat!))
His horses reel and sputter from Ka-Cha and Juniper's attempts to quell them. The kick and throw their heads until they feel the warmth from the bandages and let off. The collapsed warhorse presses his head against the towering thri-keen. The other gently nudges the elf druid.
The meat falls easily from the dead horse as Ka-Cha takes his rations. Brodan sits there bewildered.
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;
Heiboros drops concentration on darkness to concentrate on gust of wind "You have done horrible things. And you have fought horrible fights. I'm sure many children's parents never came home because of you. The regret you feel must be horrible. The darkness in that city is nothing compared to the darkness within you. If you wish to die, fine. But why die here when you can die in drakkenheim, fighting evil?" He approaches the cowering dragonborn, the wind growing stronger as he comes towards him and hisses. "I'll tell you why. Because of your cowardice and evil. You can fight, I see that. But you fought the wrong people. And now you'll pay for it."
As the combat draws to a close, Hadrian places his greatsword back in its sheath on his back, the metal sliding smoothly against the leather. With arms crossed, he watches the confrontation between the aarakocra and the dragonborn with a dark, gleeful interest. Seeing Brodan suffer stirs a flicker of satisfaction, reminiscent of the rough justice of the seas. But then again, these bandits are just nobodies—dust and ashes. When he makes a name for himself, these people won’t even leave a mark.
After a minute of watching, Hadrian’s attention shifts over to the cart. He strides over to the burned cart and horses, his boots stamping down residual flames. He casually swats out any open flames licking at the horses, the smell of charred wood and burnt flesh filling the air.
He scans the cart, looking for anything that can be salvaged from the wreckage and he gathers what he can. Then, he joins Juniper and Ka-Cha to untie the horses from the smoldering cart, leading them away from the fire and smoke. He touches the one horse that looks like it’s about to kick it, calms it down, giving it at least a fighting chance.
“Bad news, the cart is burned. Good news, we’ve got horse for dinner.” He says, with a tinge of dark humour. He’s not sure how Thri-kreen cooking would taste, but hey, as long as it’s cooked, right?
He turns to Juniper, his brows furrow slightly as he takes in her injury. “How’s your shoulder? Wait, hold still.”He says. He places a hand that seems surprisingly gentle for someone of his size on her wound, warmth radiating from his palm.
A smirk lifts the corner of his lips as he meets her eyes. “They got what’s coming for them.” He says, referring to her brave display of power during the fight.
Investigation to see if anything on the cart was salvageable: 23 Lay on hands 5 hp for that horse with only I think 2 hp left, and another 5 for Juniper.
While Heiboros tends to Brodan and others take care of the horses, Tendilius gets started on the grim task of burying the bodies. Using mold earth to create makeshift graves off to the side of the road he calls out, "Who wants to help me put these bandits in the ground?"
Dabbert takes the box back to Eren, handing it to them for safe keeping, before taking a moment to survey the situation. The extra horses would be handy, though it would be regrettable that they cart wasn't so lucky. At least they had stopped it from being used against other people.
He walks past Juniper and Hadrian, giving them both a grim smile and a nod of approval.
"Well done." He says. It's all he says. All he knows to say. As far as post-combat compliments go, anyway. He continues his trek around the cart as he watches Heiboros drop his concentration to keep the gust of wind blowing on the dragonborn.
"Your men." He practically spits, glaring down at their captive. "You say that like some battlefield commander, like you and yours are somehow deserving of respect. You should be thankful that my friends are better than I am. Tendilius has already made graves, while it is my opinion that we should leave your bodies on the road where you fell so that others like you can see and know that law is coming back to this land, and then you and yours will be hunted down and destroyed like the curs you are. Get a good look at me, lizard, and know that my name is Dabbert Hahft. I'll let the rest decide what to do with you as I've already voiced my opinion, but if you survive this encounter, know that when I'm done in Drakkenheim, I'll make flushing you pukes from every hidey hole you have in the land my top priority. Know I'll be the wolf at your heels for the rest of your miserable lives."
He looks around.
"And I'll do it with the help of anyone who wants to stand with me."
When he's said his piece, he gives an approving nod to Heiboros, supporting whatever the Aarakocra does next, then backs up, leaning on his spear and rotating the arm supporting his shield. He looks over at Ka-Cha as he harvests the meat from the dead horse.
"Horse for dinner is good enough for me." He says, offering up a soft, sad smile to the Thri-Kreen to show gratitude.
Tendilius mulls over Dabbert's words. "If you're looking for a sign to leave up for others, there's various methods of execution that take a while to complete I've read about." he says matter-of-factly. "Impalement for example." he adds before getting back to the task of burying the already dead bandits.
The idea was mulled over in the druid's mind, giving it the benefit of an objective study. As much as Juniper could, at least. There were more things in nature that she couldn't possibly understand them all, behaviors of creatures and celestial bodies alike that were beyond a single mind's comprehension. "I.. I see." The idea of being sorted into three of the given categories still settled a knot of unease in her, she took the answer in all of its blunt honesty with a faint smile- more an attempt to alleviate her own apprehensions than convince the thri-kreen.
"I, ah... I appreciate your clarification." A hand gently patted the calmed horse, quietly reassuring that neither her nor it would fall into that first category. For today, at least.
The smile stayed as Hadrian joined, though faltered a hair at the new of the damages. "I suppose it couldn't be avoided. I imagine a chase could've ended far less favorably than what we accomplished here." Her eyes widened as his hand drew close, a polite dismissal of the needed help never uttered as the warmth spread through the pierced muscle, mending it and skin beneath the torn, bloodied fabric.
"Oh-... thank you." A tentative roll of shoulders was given before they loosened with relief. "That's quite a bit better, thank you."The repeated gratitude was accompanied by a light, dismissive wave of a hand, the wand still in its grasp. A fact that was quickly remedied as she overheard the verbal thrashing the dragonborn was receiving that threatened to outgrow the physical one he'd just endured.
Even so, she didn't try to intercede; survival of the fittest was a tried and true method, she'd been taught. Turning to get a clearer view of Brodan, Dabbert, and Heiboros- there was something to be said about morbid curiosity- she continued in a low, slightly chagrined tone. "I'm a bit surprised myself," The smile briefly widened as she referenced the newfound ability, "But, there's a first time for everything I suppose."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Juniper Summers in Drakkenheim - Mind and Matter Delphine Bennett in TheDark Below Ilmrae Zolier in Dragon Heist - One Hell of a Summer Loralai Darkleaf in The Storm King's Thunder Eris Tourmaline in An Adventure in the Mountains Circe Somerset in Candlekeep Mysteries
The smoke slowly clears from the charred debris that was once a cart. There is a sharp distinct smell of cheap wine (the one you recognize they stole from Eren), which, you can guess, was the reason this cart burnt so bad.
Rummaging among the ashes, you find among the melted metals of rusted weapons that there is only one mace that still stands anywhere near usable. You recover the stolen sauerkraut as well. You can tell from the burnt remains of ramshackle items, that your caravan was not his first target of the day. There is an awful lot of hodgepodge to this haul- a crystalline cane topper, wyvern-shaped carved rocks, a gold monocle with no lens, a tin container of fresh water, cooper frames missing the portraits, now soupy metal chess pieces, cooking utensils, a tiny cage with no door, and a flute. It seems Brodan and his men here was quite the collectors.
Surprisingly, tucked away in the pockets of a bloodied damp pair of clothes, you see a poem written discordantly on small piece of parchment. It starts one place then ends another. It is accompanied throughout, sometimes between the words, by heavily detailed entomological drawings of various insects of all kind. It seems frantic, like someone had to write these all down all at once.
The letters looked to be scratched on three times over as it reads:
The Noble Man, in his noble home. /
Withered, old, and all alone. /
His stare can chill you to the bone, /
a pale man on a pale throne.
@Dabbert
Eren takes the box solemnly and nods with an appreciate smile. "Thanks. Yalls done good. Sorry to see that happen alls today. Its always right before we hits the city that this happens." They unlock the chest, "Here."They hand you an extra 5 gold pieces. "Thanks for not swipin' from me. I've had a too many guards who thought they can at least take a pickin's to the others plunder."
The blue dragonborn struggles to maintain his ground. The ever-present gust of wind is screeches in his ears. It whistles fear and dread as the mage who had caused it steps forth from what was once pitch black darkness. The shadow tendrils seem to slither inward as if it were reeled in by some unknown force back into his body as Brodan watches with his mouth agape. The darkness goes in and spirals inward towards his eyes. The inky blackness that looks like the Abyss itself. Brodan can't help but gasp and sputter. He claws backward as he struggles to get up.
"The darkness in that city is nothing compared to the darkness within you...
But why die here when you can die in drakkenheim, fighting evil?"
"No. No. I-"He still holds out his mace to keep a distance between himself and Heiboros as he steps back. "I ams never goin' to that city. Never!"He barks.
"You- you thinkin' your goin' to the city to do some good, huh? With the 'cademy, huh? Helpin's 'ems hoard all the crystals? Takin' it out from the crater? I know what yous really doing." His voice booms and he points and accusatory finger at everyone around him, "Using 'em peoples for your experiments and what have yous. Turnin' 'em into all sorts of freaks! Makin' 'ems go mad. Killin' each others and rippin' friends and family they once knew limb from limb. Bet that's worse than whats those crystals can do themselves. No, I'ves seen it. Yes, I've have. You mages... what makes you thinkin' yer so special?!"
The thug grits his teeth, feeling the electricity rise from within his throat. He opens his mouth to nothing.
"You-" Him and his mace shakes, "You can't turns me into one of them. **** yous. That's rights! Hrghhhah." His chest heaves and he grips it.
There begins a back and forth between what to do with him. The spittle from the warrior falls right on his face, but he doesn't even care to wipe it.
"LIZARD?!"He shouts, reaching with one arm to take a swipe. He winces as he loses his footing. It takes him all his effort to not fall. All the words flood into his mind at once. Hunted down. Execution. Impalement. Its enough to pierce his cold-blooded heart. He takes a step forward.
"If you're lookin' for monsters. Look at yerselves. Look at the slaughter ye animals did?! THE WHOLE BLASTED LOT OF YOU!"
"They were my men." His cloudy eyes stares right at Dabbert."Had wes been real city guards, you would've given it, wouldn'ts of yous."
"Alls I askeds was for my piece of bread in this unholy world, alrights?"He looks up at the sky and then back down. He sees his men be buried by another one of those darn mages. He snorts. His claws sink into his own palms.
Without looking at any of you, he mutters. "By my own hands." In an instant he takes out from his pocket a vial of Assassin's Blood and downs it. He coughs and wipes his scaly lips. The blood around his leather armor reddens. The thug soon collapses in more heaves and falls flat on the floor dead.
Eren watches all this and suggests, "I have some extra carrots to go with the horse. We can make some stew." They fiddle with their fingers. "I knows a good spot just up ahead where we can camps out for the night. We'll by ol' Emberwood by tomorrow afternoons."
The Aarakocra stares down the dragonborn with a bored expression. He begins to mutter a tune under his breath. Better be a beggar than a thief. But better be a thief than dead. Better be a worker than a beggar. Better be a beggar than a thief. But better be a thief than dead. Better be a noble than a worker. Better be a worker than a beggar. Better be a beggar than a thief. But better be a thief than dead.
After the thug drinks a poison, the Aarakocra shakes his head. "I wanted him to stop. Let us be. But nope. He chose to sacrifice his whole team and commit suicide. What a child."
Ka-Cha looks over at the dying dragonborn, head to the side in curiosity, one narrow 2 ft long antenna up straight, the other drooping, as if it were 1 eyebrow raised.
He thinks
(only to himself this time)
"Every time I think I've got these vertebrates figured out..."
Tendilius looks at the scene as it plays, a bit regretful the bandit was the one to end his life rather than one of his companions. As Eren mentions dinner he perks up. "Carrot and horse meat stew sounds delightful!" He approaches the dead thug and muses, "You know I've never seen the effects of poison up close." He leans down to examine the body with morbid curiosity, "The depictions in books don't really do it justice." He takes out his own tome to begin a rough sketch for an entry detailing the events of the day. Turning to Dabbert he asks, "I know you'd wanted to make an example him for others. What's your preference on what to do with him now?"
+ 300 XP (100 from Thug and 50 x 4 = 200 from bandits)
Despite the initial joke, the journey forth has become somber. Eren helped you all dispose of the bodies which ever way you sought fit. They also hitched the two warhorses onto their own caravan, which Molly and Greenberry took a liking to. They snort and whinny at the new arrivals. Horse language for 'wow new friends.' At least that's what Eren told you. Some point along they road, Eren mentions to you that they always loved nature and when they were younger had wanted to be a druid. "Natures always been my thing. Loved a fishing with friends by the coasts. Pickin' flowers with my sibs. Thinkin' we coulds hunt wild boars in the spring. But I could nevers settle done one place. I'ds die mediating."
At that they grimace. "It's never easy. Death. I'm sorry yalls all had to see that. Every times I'ms a comin's to these roads, there's always someones unlucky. Livin's in that village ain't easy. Yous gets used to it, but... it hurts ya know."
"My pops always been a weirds one. Once,"They darkly chuckle, "He stuck his hands into a snake nest to show me whats not to do one night. Its wasn't poison, but it sure as hells got infected." They sigh, "Lost his mind ones day. He fought for us in the war. Then whens he came out. We thoughts it was just the delirium. It wasn'ts. Put himselfs out of his own misery. Stopped eatin'. Stopped drinkin'. Then one day. I wish- I wish he hadn'ts."
"People don't always make the right things, but it's because people are just peoples. They care too much or too little. Love others so much they run themselves dry. Love themselves too much they wring others out. Love is... hard. Hard to know whatcha fightin' for. They're just... messy."
They pet one of the horses on the back as they still hold up the reins, "That's why I love 'em. You knows. You really see the best and the worst outs here. The city... you betcha. It just draws in everyone. I just want to see how it always plays out. Open air theatre!"
They smile. "You knows I just hopes you makes it the best out there. You've been a good lot so fars. I pray nuthin's gonna come happen to yalls. I wish you all the bests of luck."
One short rest later...
At the Campsite
Around 8 in the evening Eren suggest you all set up camp. They park the caravan on the side of the road and you hear some crows cawing. "Ominous."They point out. "It's like that everyday."
Eren unhooks the horses and they go galloping free. They take to eating at the dried scrubgrasses along the side of the road. The two warhorses seem content with their new companions, although they move a bit slower. Saffron especially, as Eren has taken to naming it, walks with a limp. Eren helps you guys set up makeshift tents (as you do every night) which are just extra wagon tarps and various pieces of wood. A nice campfire is managed to be set up despite the damp earth. It has been raining nonstop since you guys finally left the bandits. Right now its just reduced to a quiet drizzle.
"It's a homemade recipe,"Eren lies. They made it up a few years ago on the road. But it turns out to be quite the killer stew. "We don't have oxtail, but the horse tail works just as well."
From about 100 ft away towards the dried and aching trees, the crunches of fallen branches and the hushing of whispers can be heard. It looks to be about 3 figures huddling forward. They see you guys and wave you down. "Help! Please. We need a place to stay."
[[ spend one hit die during the short rest; healed back to full health
Would I be correct to assume a Lego-Dice roll is you, Skip? ]]
Tendilius looks around, bolstered in confidence from the party's earlier dispatching of the bandits, though he has to wonder if these are similar folk. "Come by the fire and we can talk more." he calls back to the figures. He keeps his wand by his side. He gives Hooty bites of meat here and there as he eats Eren's stew. To the others he says in a hushed tone, "Worst comes to worst, I'm sure we could handle them. May at least see if their plight is genuine first."
Dabbert sees how things are going and switches his tactics. He specifically remembers Eren shouting about not being able to pay them, then thinks of the things that were being stolen before the bandits got set on fire. He moves to Hosh's body and quickly takes anything off of it that he can before the money and goods are destroyed.
"Just kill him." Dabbert says to Heiboros, more a suggestion than anything. "His kind are preying off of the suffering of the rest of the world. You think this is the first caravan he's raided? It's not. He's robbed more than us. He's probably done worse than rob other groups. Imagine a weaker group without protection, what they've uh...done. If he gets away, or we let him go, or if we hadn't decimated the others..."
He toe kicks Hosh's burning corpse.
"...they would have kept victimizing people. In my opinion they're worse than the star. The star is an act of the gods or...uh...whatever is out there..."
He points to the sky.
"...but these clowns? They made the decision to be who they are. Don't take the chance on letting him return to his nature."
He points to the enemy cart.
"Can we save those horses? Or are they too far gone?"
Turn Summary
Retrieve the money box and goods from Hosh's body
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
(Can Ka-Cha just throw a Chatkcha at him while everyone is talking?)
"I have some cloth we cah bandage the horses wounds. And I can cut the dead horse into rations. My people live in a harsh land and do not waste food."
As both bolts snuffed out in the churned earth at the dragonborn's clawed feet, and her companions seemed to have a plan on what to do with the bandits, Juniper let out a relieved, shaking breath. A proper rest- and a well earned one at that, she thought- seemed to be near at hand, and with that mind mind she went to aid Ka-Cha with soothing their newly won steeds.
"Well fought," She commended the party at large, the praise threaded through with surprise as the constellation studded form sank and dissipated from the druid. Taking care not to jostle the injured shoulder, she strode up beside the thri-kreen as he appraised the horses, with nary a qualm shown at using the slain creatures to replenish their rations. "Erm-... Pardon my ignorance, are you familiar with handling horses?" An unbidden, curious glance darted down to the unusual carapace with the query, the half-elf's thoughts on full display in her expression even if they'd not been tied telepathically. 'Do they ride? How??'
Juniper Summers in Drakkenheim - Mind and Matter
Delphine Bennett in The Dark Below
Ilmrae Zolier in Dragon Heist - One Hell of a Summer
Loralai Darkleaf in The Storm King's Thunder
Eris Tourmaline in An Adventure in the Mountains
Circe Somerset in Candlekeep Mysteries
Round 3 begins...
It was a long time coming, and Brodan knew this. Since the civil war, he knew that if there was a spot to make money. This would be it. A large vast city with riches left behind. A land without law. Without consequences. He thought he could strike it rich. With a few friends along the way (well those who were indebted to him), he managed to make it. No, never did he actually set foot into the dark city itself, but if he willing, then there was always another way. Seeing how the many adventurers went by to test their luck in the city itself, he knew where he collect a profit. It was no different than those real Hooded Lanterns or city guards or the king's toll collectors. If adventurers would have given up their hard bargained money to those people, then why not him? Was it because they had 'authority'? Who gave them the right to decide? These were his streets and he had a right to collect upon them.
Yet here he was now, cornered. His men either bleeding to death or burnt. A lone dragonborn between a hodgepodge army of so-called 'heroes'. The smoke from his dead men and the ash from the wreckage of the cart billowed upwards in this dry stale air. As if everything in this dreaded wasteland hadn't been dead already.
Another arrow shoots out and into his body, it knocks him over with a huff. Weakly, he reaches over to his chest. Sticky hot blood. He feels the piercing of the starry bolt in his lungs. His chest moves up and down weakly. The pain just as fiery as the actual flames. He watches his cart disintegrate into piles of wooden rubble. Even that wheel that had detached was now on fire.
He sighed at this. The bug-one's voice also echoed in his mind. He was right, he had led his men to their own doom. He was just trying to provoke a fight, a fleeting attempt at death. But it looks like they were less concerned with him now. Especially now that the warrior-looking man, rather than taking a shot at him, went over from the other side of the cart, collecting the dues from his fallen men's body. That locked wooden box would have made an excellent trophy. What can he say, he loved his treasure boxes. He cursed his draconic nature.
"Just kill him."
Hmm.
His men were all burnt. His horses were being stolen now by the elf-one. The other, his lead horse, Daisy, was suggested to be eaten by the bug.
The only other option laid out was the threat to be going into the city itself.
."...they would have kept victimizing people. In my opinion they're worse than the star."
Brodan's chest heaved at that statement and his eyes narrowed. Yeah, he was right. But he had no right to be.
His last thoughts were cut off by the enveloping of the darkness in front of him. That mage seemed to have snuck up on him. All the raw magic and power... wasted on so few who don't know how to wield it. If he had it--- well.
Filled with horrid groans and noises of the dead rising from Heiboros's prestidigitation, he takes a shot in the darkness.
"Whatever I know is going down to the grave with me." He gathers all his strength and lunges forth. "See yous all in the Abyss*."
((*Hell))
Round 3 ends. It's a free for all. You can take any actions without limits.
((I'm going to say that the darkness doesn't really put you guys at a disadvantage. So if you want to just shoot at him or grab him that's totally fine. Sorry I didn't know any other way of ending off this bandit saga, especially with someone as stubborn as Brodan))
<---- 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
gust of wind on Brodan. If he succeeds the throw, attempt to fly up fifteen feet.
[A paper drops out of a flash of light and drifts to the ground at your feet] -(extended sig)-
Ka-Cha retrieves his thrown chatkcha before cutting up the horse.
"My people see other creatures mostly as food, threats to avoid, or undecided. Therefore the concept of riding is strange to us. As strange as putting a saddle on a steak. But I recognize the usefulness of draft animals. At the very least to keep them alive to eat later. And I understand wound care for survival."
(do I need a survival roll to cut the meat?)
Inside the darkness it is cold and empty. The silence is deafening. Not even the screams from his horses could be heard. The thug, wrestles with the shadows, feeling his way through in his struggle in the darkness to find that darn bird's talons. He grabs, throwing Heiboros down, and presses down against the aarakocra's wings. Heiboros is pinned.
But just as soon as he got his win. A terrible gust of wind comes off from out him. The all-encompassing fear of mages sends a chill down his spine. He knew then right now why that war was fought. He could barely catch his breath. As much as he holds on, he is thrown off the bird. Brodan is blasted outside of the darkness. The unpacked dirt comes whirling at him and stings at his wounds as he flops to the side of the road. With his scaly arm, he attempts to block out the oncoming winds.
"What do ye want froms me?!" The blue dragonborn coughs, clutching his chest where the starry bolt still lay. "Just let me die with my mens. Please."
((Nah no need for the survival roll. You can cut the meat!))
His horses reel and sputter from Ka-Cha and Juniper's attempts to quell them. The kick and throw their heads until they feel the warmth from the bandages and let off. The collapsed warhorse presses his head against the towering thri-keen. The other gently nudges the elf druid.
The meat falls easily from the dead horse as Ka-Cha takes his rations. Brodan sits there bewildered.
<---- 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
Heiboros drops concentration on darkness to concentrate on gust of wind "You have done horrible things. And you have fought horrible fights. I'm sure many children's parents never came home because of you. The regret you feel must be horrible. The darkness in that city is nothing compared to the darkness within you. If you wish to die, fine. But why die here when you can die in drakkenheim, fighting evil?" He approaches the cowering dragonborn, the wind growing stronger as he comes towards him and hisses. "I'll tell you why. Because of your cowardice and evil. You can fight, I see that. But you fought the wrong people. And now you'll pay for it."
[A paper drops out of a flash of light and drifts to the ground at your feet] -(extended sig)-
As the combat draws to a close, Hadrian places his greatsword back in its sheath on his back, the metal sliding smoothly against the leather. With arms crossed, he watches the confrontation between the aarakocra and the dragonborn with a dark, gleeful interest. Seeing Brodan suffer stirs a flicker of satisfaction, reminiscent of the rough justice of the seas. But then again, these bandits are just nobodies—dust and ashes. When he makes a name for himself, these people won’t even leave a mark.
After a minute of watching, Hadrian’s attention shifts over to the cart. He strides over to the burned cart and horses, his boots stamping down residual flames. He casually swats out any open flames licking at the horses, the smell of charred wood and burnt flesh filling the air.
He scans the cart, looking for anything that can be salvaged from the wreckage and he gathers what he can. Then, he joins Juniper and Ka-Cha to untie the horses from the smoldering cart, leading them away from the fire and smoke. He touches the one horse that looks like it’s about to kick it, calms it down, giving it at least a fighting chance.
“Bad news, the cart is burned. Good news, we’ve got horse for dinner.” He says, with a tinge of dark humour. He’s not sure how Thri-kreen cooking would taste, but hey, as long as it’s cooked, right?
He turns to Juniper, his brows furrow slightly as he takes in her injury. “How’s your shoulder? Wait, hold still.”He says. He places a hand that seems surprisingly gentle for someone of his size on her wound, warmth radiating from his palm.
A smirk lifts the corner of his lips as he meets her eyes. “They got what’s coming for them.” He says, referring to her brave display of power during the fight.
Investigation to see if anything on the cart was salvageable: 23
Lay on hands 5 hp for that horse with only I think 2 hp left, and another 5 for Juniper.
While Heiboros tends to Brodan and others take care of the horses, Tendilius gets started on the grim task of burying the bodies. Using mold earth to create makeshift graves off to the side of the road he calls out, "Who wants to help me put these bandits in the ground?"
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Dabbert takes the box back to Eren, handing it to them for safe keeping, before taking a moment to survey the situation. The extra horses would be handy, though it would be regrettable that they cart wasn't so lucky. At least they had stopped it from being used against other people.
He walks past Juniper and Hadrian, giving them both a grim smile and a nod of approval.
"Well done." He says. It's all he says. All he knows to say. As far as post-combat compliments go, anyway. He continues his trek around the cart as he watches Heiboros drop his concentration to keep the gust of wind blowing on the dragonborn.
"Your men." He practically spits, glaring down at their captive. "You say that like some battlefield commander, like you and yours are somehow deserving of respect. You should be thankful that my friends are better than I am. Tendilius has already made graves, while it is my opinion that we should leave your bodies on the road where you fell so that others like you can see and know that law is coming back to this land, and then you and yours will be hunted down and destroyed like the curs you are. Get a good look at me, lizard, and know that my name is Dabbert Hahft. I'll let the rest decide what to do with you as I've already voiced my opinion, but if you survive this encounter, know that when I'm done in Drakkenheim, I'll make flushing you pukes from every hidey hole you have in the land my top priority. Know I'll be the wolf at your heels for the rest of your miserable lives."
He looks around.
"And I'll do it with the help of anyone who wants to stand with me."
When he's said his piece, he gives an approving nod to Heiboros, supporting whatever the Aarakocra does next, then backs up, leaning on his spear and rotating the arm supporting his shield. He looks over at Ka-Cha as he harvests the meat from the dead horse.
"Horse for dinner is good enough for me." He says, offering up a soft, sad smile to the Thri-Kreen to show gratitude.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Tendilius mulls over Dabbert's words. "If you're looking for a sign to leave up for others, there's various methods of execution that take a while to complete I've read about." he says matter-of-factly. "Impalement for example." he adds before getting back to the task of burying the already dead bandits.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
The idea was mulled over in the druid's mind, giving it the benefit of an objective study. As much as Juniper could, at least. There were more things in nature that she couldn't possibly understand them all, behaviors of creatures and celestial bodies alike that were beyond a single mind's comprehension. "I.. I see." The idea of being sorted into three of the given categories still settled a knot of unease in her, she took the answer in all of its blunt honesty with a faint smile- more an attempt to alleviate her own apprehensions than convince the thri-kreen.
"I, ah... I appreciate your clarification." A hand gently patted the calmed horse, quietly reassuring that neither her nor it would fall into that first category. For today, at least.
The smile stayed as Hadrian joined, though faltered a hair at the new of the damages. "I suppose it couldn't be avoided. I imagine a chase could've ended far less favorably than what we accomplished here." Her eyes widened as his hand drew close, a polite dismissal of the needed help never uttered as the warmth spread through the pierced muscle, mending it and skin beneath the torn, bloodied fabric.
"Oh-... thank you." A tentative roll of shoulders was given before they loosened with relief. "That's quite a bit better, thank you." The repeated gratitude was accompanied by a light, dismissive wave of a hand, the wand still in its grasp. A fact that was quickly remedied as she overheard the verbal thrashing the dragonborn was receiving that threatened to outgrow the physical one he'd just endured.
Even so, she didn't try to intercede; survival of the fittest was a tried and true method, she'd been taught. Turning to get a clearer view of Brodan, Dabbert, and Heiboros- there was something to be said about morbid curiosity- she continued in a low, slightly chagrined tone. "I'm a bit surprised myself," The smile briefly widened as she referenced the newfound ability, "But, there's a first time for everything I suppose."
Juniper Summers in Drakkenheim - Mind and Matter
Delphine Bennett in The Dark Below
Ilmrae Zolier in Dragon Heist - One Hell of a Summer
Loralai Darkleaf in The Storm King's Thunder
Eris Tourmaline in An Adventure in the Mountains
Circe Somerset in Candlekeep Mysteries
@Hadrian
The smoke slowly clears from the charred debris that was once a cart. There is a sharp distinct smell of cheap wine (the one you recognize they stole from Eren), which, you can guess, was the reason this cart burnt so bad.
Rummaging among the ashes, you find among the melted metals of rusted weapons that there is only one mace that still stands anywhere near usable. You recover the stolen sauerkraut as well. You can tell from the burnt remains of ramshackle items, that your caravan was not his first target of the day. There is an awful lot of hodgepodge to this haul- a crystalline cane topper, wyvern-shaped carved rocks, a gold monocle with no lens, a tin container of fresh water, cooper frames missing the portraits, now soupy metal chess pieces, cooking utensils, a tiny cage with no door, and a flute. It seems Brodan and his men here was quite the collectors.
Surprisingly, tucked away in the pockets of a bloodied damp pair of clothes, you see a poem written discordantly on small piece of parchment. It starts one place then ends another. It is accompanied throughout, sometimes between the words, by heavily detailed entomological drawings of various insects of all kind. It seems frantic, like someone had to write these all down all at once.
The letters looked to be scratched on three times over as it reads:
The Noble Man, in his noble home. /
Withered, old, and all alone. /
His stare can chill you to the bone, /
a pale man on a pale throne.
@Dabbert
Eren takes the box solemnly and nods with an appreciate smile. "Thanks. Yalls done good. Sorry to see that happen alls today. Its always right before we hits the city that this happens." They unlock the chest, "Here." They hand you an extra 5 gold pieces. "Thanks for not swipin' from me. I've had a too many guards who thought they can at least take a pickin's to the others plunder."
The blue dragonborn struggles to maintain his ground. The ever-present gust of wind is screeches in his ears. It whistles fear and dread as the mage who had caused it steps forth from what was once pitch black darkness. The shadow tendrils seem to slither inward as if it were reeled in by some unknown force back into his body as Brodan watches with his mouth agape. The darkness goes in and spirals inward towards his eyes. The inky blackness that looks like the Abyss itself. Brodan can't help but gasp and sputter. He claws backward as he struggles to get up.
"The darkness in that city is nothing compared to the darkness within you...
But why die here when you can die in drakkenheim, fighting evil?"
"No. No. I-" He still holds out his mace to keep a distance between himself and Heiboros as he steps back. "I ams never goin' to that city. Never!" He barks.
"You- you thinkin' your goin' to the city to do some good, huh? With the 'cademy, huh? Helpin's 'ems hoard all the crystals? Takin' it out from the crater? I know what yous really doing." His voice booms and he points and accusatory finger at everyone around him, "Using 'em peoples for your experiments and what have yous. Turnin' 'em into all sorts of freaks! Makin' 'ems go mad. Killin' each others and rippin' friends and family they once knew limb from limb. Bet that's worse than whats those crystals can do themselves. No, I'ves seen it. Yes, I've have. You mages... what makes you thinkin' yer so special?!"
The thug grits his teeth, feeling the electricity rise from within his throat. He opens his mouth to nothing.
"You-" Him and his mace shakes, "You can't turns me into one of them. **** yous. That's rights! Hrghh hah." His chest heaves and he grips it.
There begins a back and forth between what to do with him. The spittle from the warrior falls right on his face, but he doesn't even care to wipe it.
"LIZARD?!" He shouts, reaching with one arm to take a swipe. He winces as he loses his footing. It takes him all his effort to not fall. All the words flood into his mind at once. Hunted down. Execution. Impalement. Its enough to pierce his cold-blooded heart. He takes a step forward.
"If you're lookin' for monsters. Look at yerselves. Look at the slaughter ye animals did?! THE WHOLE BLASTED LOT OF YOU!"
"They were my men." His cloudy eyes stares right at Dabbert. "Had wes been real city guards, you would've given it, wouldn'ts of yous."
"Alls I askeds was for my piece of bread in this unholy world, alrights?" He looks up at the sky and then back down. He sees his men be buried by another one of those darn mages. He snorts. His claws sink into his own palms.
Without looking at any of you, he mutters. "By my own hands." In an instant he takes out from his pocket a vial of Assassin's Blood and downs it. He coughs and wipes his scaly lips. The blood around his leather armor reddens. The thug soon collapses in more heaves and falls flat on the floor dead.
Eren watches all this and suggests, "I have some extra carrots to go with the horse. We can make some stew." They fiddle with their fingers. "I knows a good spot just up ahead where we can camps out for the night. We'll by ol' Emberwood by tomorrow afternoons."
<---- 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
The Aarakocra stares down the dragonborn with a bored expression. He begins to mutter a tune under his breath. Better be a beggar than a thief. But better be a thief than dead. Better be a worker than a beggar. Better be a beggar than a thief. But better be a thief than dead. Better be a noble than a worker. Better be a worker than a beggar. Better be a beggar than a thief. But better be a thief than dead.
[A paper drops out of a flash of light and drifts to the ground at your feet] -(extended sig)-
After the thug drinks a poison, the Aarakocra shakes his head. "I wanted him to stop. Let us be. But nope. He chose to sacrifice his whole team and commit suicide. What a child."
[A paper drops out of a flash of light and drifts to the ground at your feet] -(extended sig)-
Ka-Cha looks over at the dying dragonborn, head to the side in curiosity, one narrow 2 ft long antenna up straight, the other drooping, as if it were 1 eyebrow raised.
He thinks
(only to himself this time)
"Every time I think I've got these vertebrates figured out..."
He then turns back to making dinner.
Tendilius looks at the scene as it plays, a bit regretful the bandit was the one to end his life rather than one of his companions. As Eren mentions dinner he perks up. "Carrot and horse meat stew sounds delightful!" He approaches the dead thug and muses, "You know I've never seen the effects of poison up close." He leans down to examine the body with morbid curiosity, "The depictions in books don't really do it justice." He takes out his own tome to begin a rough sketch for an entry detailing the events of the day. Turning to Dabbert he asks, "I know you'd wanted to make an example him for others. What's your preference on what to do with him now?"
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
Despite the initial joke, the journey forth has become somber. Eren helped you all dispose of the bodies which ever way you sought fit. They also hitched the two warhorses onto their own caravan, which Molly and Greenberry took a liking to. They snort and whinny at the new arrivals. Horse language for 'wow new friends.' At least that's what Eren told you. Some point along they road, Eren mentions to you that they always loved nature and when they were younger had wanted to be a druid. "Natures always been my thing. Loved a fishing with friends by the coasts. Pickin' flowers with my sibs. Thinkin' we coulds hunt wild boars in the spring. But I could nevers settle done one place. I'ds die mediating."
At that they grimace. "It's never easy. Death. I'm sorry yalls all had to see that. Every times I'ms a comin's to these roads, there's always someones unlucky. Livin's in that village ain't easy. Yous gets used to it, but... it hurts ya know."
"My pops always been a weirds one. Once," They darkly chuckle, "He stuck his hands into a snake nest to show me whats not to do one night. Its wasn't poison, but it sure as hells got infected." They sigh, "Lost his mind ones day. He fought for us in the war. Then whens he came out. We thoughts it was just the delirium. It wasn'ts. Put himselfs out of his own misery. Stopped eatin'. Stopped drinkin'. Then one day. I wish- I wish he hadn'ts."
"People don't always make the right things, but it's because people are just peoples. They care too much or too little. Love others so much they run themselves dry. Love themselves too much they wring others out. Love is... hard. Hard to know whatcha fightin' for. They're just... messy."
They pet one of the horses on the back as they still hold up the reins, "That's why I love 'em. You knows. You really see the best and the worst outs here. The city... you betcha. It just draws in everyone. I just want to see how it always plays out. Open air theatre!"
They smile. "You knows I just hopes you makes it the best out there. You've been a good lot so fars. I pray nuthin's gonna come happen to yalls. I wish you all the bests of luck."
At the Campsite
Around 8 in the evening Eren suggest you all set up camp. They park the caravan on the side of the road and you hear some crows cawing. "Ominous." They point out. "It's like that everyday."
Eren unhooks the horses and they go galloping free. They take to eating at the dried scrubgrasses along the side of the road. The two warhorses seem content with their new companions, although they move a bit slower. Saffron especially, as Eren has taken to naming it, walks with a limp. Eren helps you guys set up makeshift tents (as you do every night) which are just extra wagon tarps and various pieces of wood. A nice campfire is managed to be set up despite the damp earth. It has been raining nonstop since you guys finally left the bandits. Right now its just reduced to a quiet drizzle.
"It's a homemade recipe," Eren lies. They made it up a few years ago on the road. But it turns out to be quite the killer stew. "We don't have oxtail, but the horse tail works just as well."
From about 100 ft away towards the dried and aching trees, the crunches of fallen branches and the hushing of whispers can be heard. It looks to be about 3 figures huddling forward. They see you guys and wave you down. "Help! Please. We need a place to stay."
<---- 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
[[
spend one hit die during the short rest; healed back to full health
Would I be correct to assume a Lego-Dice roll is you, Skip?
]]
Tendilius looks around, bolstered in confidence from the party's earlier dispatching of the bandits, though he has to wonder if these are similar folk. "Come by the fire and we can talk more." he calls back to the figures. He keeps his wand by his side. He gives Hooty bites of meat here and there as he eats Eren's stew. To the others he says in a hushed tone, "Worst comes to worst, I'm sure we could handle them. May at least see if their plight is genuine first."
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary