Sarűmir stares at the now flaming playing card, feeling a bit unnerved by the glowing red eyes. He asks Veo, "What exactly is that? No card glows like that, far as I know." He then turns to Rattlecan, now annoyed that the construct is still swinging at Luna while the group is trying to talk to her. He hands Veo to Athalie, then attemps to grab one of Rattlecan's arms, "Oi! Back off, rustbucket."
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Twinkleblossum sees how the glowing card agitates and excites her friends and companions so will fly and flit around always ending up between two people's shoulders so that she had a clear view of the card.
"Can we trust it's magic? Maybe it's pointing to something worth finding?"
The playful pixies follow along the flight trail like a flying sinuous conga line. Their acrobatic displays much like lazy fireworks that hang in the air drawing oohs and aahs from the amazed and outright clapping from the entertained and appreciative. Their capricious behavior excused by their sylvan charm.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
"Haha! That's what I'm banking on,"Luna says cheekily, shaking Athalie's hand. After the fire blast, Luna just smiles over at Athalie. "What? That? Oh! I call it a mis-illusion. The opposite of an illusion! It shows what's really there."
"I-?" Veo stares at the card frame. "How did you do that?"
"With just a little bit of magic, kitty!"
Veo scowls, her tail raised, though glad to be out of Sarűmir's grip. She goes and stretches and backs herself against the wall so she wouldn't be picked up again. The gnome sidesteps a kick from the rear. At the same moment, Rattlecan goes down again, this time with both its hands fit together in a clasp, ready to bash upon her skull. Sarűmir stops in towards it, ready to stop it, but Luna, at the last second, teleports behind it, causing the said rustbucket to topple over where face meets dirt. It gets back up in less than a minute, and Luna laughs heartily.
The cat sighs and shakes her head. "Nope. Definitely NOT with the Queen's Men." She says the name with such disdain. "Not after the pits." She puts her hand up in a two-fingered salute. Veo Sjena of the Drakkenforce. Crowe and crew are back there. I would have gone with Veo and the Cats, but you know the name has its ring."
"Found it back at the Chapel." She sighs. "Literally I went through mummies and ghosts to get this! Completely empty. Nothing. Nada!" The scowl leaves her face when she laughs at Twinkleblossum's antics. For a split second, there is a predatory glint in her eyes and her tail waggles; it seems she might try to bite one of your pixies but thinks against this. "Me? What would I do with it?" Veo turns to Sarűmir (who is squaring up with the metal construct) once again.
"Word around the grape vines you were messing with Leon - don't call him the Swine. he actually likes that - so was thinking you'd know about. It was gone before we got there. I'm guessing you're the other group sent to retrieve it?" Her long tail hooks around with a curl at the end and she grabs it like it's a staff. She swings it over to her other hand (right hand up) and catches it, moving her tail in tune to what would be the staff's gravity. "The last hands I want it to fall under is those guys. Ugh. I'd rather the Rat Prince get it - he's actually a great guy!"
Luna stands enraptured by Sarűmir's fighting. It seems the animated armor wants a fight!
"Oi! You wanna fight?" Rattlecan rattles right back. It squares up, one foot behind the other and fists raised.
((if you want to fight Rattlecan then round 1 begins ahah and anyone is welcome to fight with rattlecan but it goes first ))
Round 1
Rattlecan
(Action) Attack @Sarűmir with Slam 2 + 4 = 6 < 19 AC A Miss. ---> Sarűmir takes no damage
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sarűmir quickly dodges the blow from Rattlecan, snarling as he pulls out his maul. With both of his hands grasping the hilt, he takes a swing at the metallic construct, attempting to bash it across whatever it would consider a face.
Attack: Maul
To hit: 26
Damage: 15 bludgeoning
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
This night just gets stranger and stranger thinks Sanimar upon seeing the glowing playing card. She is interested in the design of the card and also wonders what its red eyes could be pointing to.
For now, she cheers on Sarumir believing he can handle a rust bucket of a construct. "Good Luck Sarumir"
If the action becomes even more violent, she readies a firebolt
Twinkleblossum flies up to a height of 15 feet and takes a look around to see if the practice sparring is drawing attention.
"Finish him quick Sarumir, we have pressing business to be about." She shouts encouragement to her ally.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
"A mis-illusion." Athalie smiles. "I like it," she says, "it's a bit like a Zone of Truth, keeping things---oof!" As Sarumir tries to hand Veo to her. But Athalie, being quite a bit shorter than either of them, simply stumbles out of the way as the cat is dropped on her. Chuckling a bit as Sarumir moves in on the fiesty tin man. But she's quickly distracted from the fight as Veo keeps talking.
"You mean the sceptre that was at the chapel," Athalie says, listening closely. "The one that... that Lara was supposed to retrieve. I guess there were a lot of people trying to get it, and the Queen's Men got there first." She tilts her head to one side, tapping her chin with one finger. "Are you proposing that we work together to get it back from them? If we were successful... what would happen to the Sceptre then? If we can come to an agreement on that, then I think it would be a good idea. We're short on time--by sundown, was the message we received--and we have no idea what we'll be facing at this auction."
(Action) Chill Touch @Rattlecan for nat 20! + 4 = 24 A Critical Hit. ---> Rattlecan takes 1 x 2 = 2 necrotic damage
(Bonus Action) Dash
Sarűmir smashes the thing's 'face' in with his maul. Even if the armor doesn't say anything, the indents do. Its knightly helmet falls all the way to the back, lolling. If it had a neck it would be snapped in half by now. Instead it just lifts up its wayward helmet (emitting an otherworldly yellow glow from its hollow insides) and just replaces it back between its shoulders where its supposed to go.
"Was that the best you can do?!" it chides.
"Tin Man's feisty today," Veo chuckles, raising up her fist to cheer Sarűmir up too. Despite the fanged smirk on her face, it is real genuine. "With these things if you move too far away, they can't see you,"Luna offers with her hands cupped around her mouth.
A small crowd has begin to gather up. It's not nearly as big as you would expect from a fight, albeit only a practice one. It turns out "this was just like last Thursday" as one person passing by from the bar puts it. The most excited of the group is two human teens who seem to be making a bet.
In the few seconds between punches, Luna takes a running start and ends up nearly 60 feet away with her back to a cottage wall. Above her head, while she hands raised, a ghastly skeletal claw forms. Whispering some sort of incantation, she sends it out snaking towards Rattlecan ever so lightly that it just taps the metal construct on its shoulder. It tenses up. Right where it was grazed a scorching green mark was made. It whips its head around to see the culprit, and just like Luna had said, it can't seem to discern where did it came.
"See!" Luna shouts. "Our dorm was filled to the brim with these guys. Sneaking out was so easy~"
You can almost see Rattlecan scrunching up its face when it turns back around to face you, Sarűmir. Without anyone else to blame other than you, it goes in for another blow, striking you in the shins with a left kick and another punch to the torso. Veo winces for you. One of the teens in the crowd hands the other a silver piece.
Round 2 begins...
Rattlecan
(Multiattack Action 1) Attack @Sarűmir with Slam for 19 = 19 AC A Hit. ---> Sarűmir takes 5 bludgeoning damage ---> Sarűmir is now at 26/31 HP
(Multiattack Action 2) Attack @Sarűmir with Slam for 23 > 19 AC A Hit. ---> Sarűmir takes 5 bludgeoning damage ----> Sarűmir is now at 21/31 HP
Veo turns over to the paladin speaking to her. She takes a moment to stretch, grateful that Athalie didn't try to pick her too. "Mis-illusion? You do? It sounds like the opposite of illusion. Isn't that just... the truth?" She then ruminates over your words and nods.
"Yep. Over at St. Brenna's. Saw your fairy friend." She gives a lighthearted wave over to Twinkleblossum. She tilts her head over at the mention of Lara, not really understanding who but sees the pain in your eyes and looks away. "Honestly, in this free-for-all town, I'm not surprised."
"I think we should. We got the same order from the Order and the Lanterns. Right now we've got them a sorta maybe truce-alliance. But I know sure well they don't want the thieves getting to it first... And we liked what you did for those pilgrims. ... Even if you got a dog with ya."
Veo smiles. "We may not know what they are doing, but the best way is to have a plan. I think it's to get something better that they'd like. St. Virtuous. And then take it right out of their hands. They're obviously trying to lure us. Like last time..." She scowls, holding her left arm. "So let's say... lure them back? Eh?"
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;
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sarűmir yips in pain as the blows land, and fur begins the sprout from his skin. He grows about a foot taller, his nose elongating into a lupine snout and his feet turning to paws in his leather boots. He slowly hangs his maul from his belt, and quickly lashes out with his claws, slashing at Rattlecan's breastplate.
Attack: Predatory Strike (STR)
To hit: 11
Damage: 8
Bonus Action
Attack: Predatory Strike (STR)
To hit: 16
Damage: 8
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
"It sounds like you have an idea of how to turn this around on them."
Twinkleblossum flits away from the direction of Rattlecan and over toward Veo.
"Hopefully we don't have to spring their trap by walking right into it? What were you thinking?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Athalie nods. "I'm at least glad... that her companions made it out alive." It wouldn't be right to wish it had been someone else instead of Lara. If the Flame wanted to take her, it was because she was ready to go to the Flame... the others aren't yet.
Athalie isn't sure who the Lanterns are, but if they're working with the Silver Order, one thing seems clear---nobody wants thieves to have this Sceptre. She nods. "It's always good to be aware of your surroundings... even if I walk into a tavern to perform I've got to read the room, you know? Or I could get hurt." She is momentarily puzzled by Veo's comment about a dog, but she thinks the tabaxi is sincere about wanting to work together---it might be that she just wants backup for a job her team is getting paid for, not that she wants to steal the relic for herself.
"You've had experience with them. What do you think would tip the balance of power, so to speak? What do they want? Money? Information?" Athalie asks Veo.
The yip from Sarumir turns her attention back to the fight. She watches in real surprise as the man grows taller and sprouts fur, snout, and fangs. "Oh!" she says. That's what Veo meant about a dog. She barely stifles a laugh, the realization of the source of Sarumir's conflict with the tabaxi somehow absurdly funny to her. Or maybe my mind is just still a little wobbly... I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
"My guess is if they're willing to auction it off then their main interest is probably gold."
Twinkleblossum dives back down to about eye level above the ground.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
This has become rather convoluted fast. "Gold would make sense but how can we intervene? Our party is small and some becoming more injured by the second" says Sanimar as she glances towards Sarumir. "I strongly advise we get some rest."
(Multiattack Action 1) Attack @Sarűmir with Slam for 19 = 19 AC A Hit. ---> Sarűmir takes 5 bludgeoning damage ---> Sarűmir is now at 26/31 HP
(Multiattack Action 2) Attack @Sarűmir with Slam for 23 > 19 AC A Hit. ---> Sarűmir takes 5 bludgeoning damage ----> Sarűmir is now at 21/31 HP
End of Round: ((Minus 29 HP))
Sarűmir (31/31 HP)
(Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Predatory Strike for 14 A Miss. ----> Rattlecan takes no damage
(Bonus Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Predatory Strike for 23 A Hit. ---> Rattlecan takes 8 bludgeoning damage
End of Round: 21/31 HP
Luna
(Action) Cast suggestion @Rattlecan ---> Rattlecan can't be Charmed.
Veo
Move 20ft southeast
(Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Shortsword for 16 A Miss. ---> Rattlecan takes no damage
(Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Claw for 18 A Hit. ----> Rattlecan takes 8 piercing damage
Although he has no visible eyes, Rattlecan looks like it's about to do a double take when the man in front of it transforms into a werewolf. It near stumbles when Sarűmir slashes at it with his claws. For the first, it ducks, cursing at Sarűmir in some sort of garbled language. As for the second, Sarűmir strikes the metal combatant and tears through the front of its breastplate. It leaves deeps gashes in the iron.
Rattlecan pushes off his attacker when something green overtakes it. A swirling green mass of goo surrounds it when Luna starts chanting. "Stop~ Oh stop~ Stop Mr. Metal Man."She waves her fingers at it with a ghastly voice (or more like one you would use for a story around a campfire). The goo seeps into the construct's armor. "It works! It works!"Luna shouts, elated. Then, within a moment's notice, the goo drips out of the metal-man and pools to the floor. Luna's smile drops.
---
Veo's tail twitches ears flatten against her head at Twinkleblossum's comment. "Yeah... actually that's the thing. I don't really know why they are doing this. I don't even know if going to the other Chapel is even the right thing. Who's to say this is like a religion thing? A money thing, yeah. But there's gotta be something else. They've swiped stuff from the ruins before but why put this card at the Chapel? They want us - or whoever found it - to be coming. There's got to be some sort of end game there. But why? What else can these thieves want?" Veo looks to the sky (at Twinkleblossum) to chew on Athalie's words for a bit. "The Queen..."
"They wanted us to fight each other,"Veo explains and shudders. "They made a game out of it. But hey trauma brings the buddies together! Good stories." She waves over to the two men (the red-head and the knightly knight) emerging from the tavern and hanging out at the doorway. "How's the fight going?" The red-head yells out.
"Er, goin'?" Veo shrugs then winces at Sanimar's comment because at the same moment Rattlecan's hand comes down and strikes Sarűmir across the face in a packed punch. Luna puts her hands over her mouth. Veo jumps in. With an incredible swiftness, she is over at Sarűmir's side in less than a second. A smirk runs across her face but her eyes come across soft. She whips out a shortsword from out her belt and swings it down across Rattlecan's neck. The metal-man grabs the sword by its blade. Veo's face runs pale. Or at least you would think it, but in actuality she swipes again with her left hand, claws out.
"... A distraction." She has some sort of eureka moment.
Rattlecan takes no notice of the smile across Veo's face. However it does not seem to like the amount of gashes it is racking up. It slams it head forward to headbutt the sly tabaxi, but the girl slides to the right just in time to not only leap out of harm's way but also to wrestle her swortsword out the construct's hands. However, Sarűmir is not so lucky because Rattlecan swipes at him with his left hand, striking him by the side and pushing him to the left.
Round 3 begins...
Rattlecan
(Multiattack Action 1) Attack @Veo with Slam for 10 A Miss. ---> Veo takes no damage
(Multiattack Action 2) Attack @Sarűmir with Slam for nat 20 + 4 = 24 > 19 AC A Critical Hit. ---> Sarűmir takes 5 x 2 = 10 / 2 (due to bludgeoning resistance) = 5 bludgeoning damage ----> Sarűmir is now at 16/31 HP
"They're trying to bait us,"Athalie says, frowning. "It's us they want, for some purpose. I doubt thieves and brigands of such a sort care about relics of the saints. This Queen knows that we care about them." She sighs. "It's unfortunately effective... I'm honor bound to retrieve that sceptre in place of my sister who lost her life in the attempt... for the honor of the Flame and of the saints of Drakkenheim." And then she smiles, widely. "It's a good thing that the Light always outshines every shadow... we have no need to worry about the manipulation of thieves. Let us give her the audience she wants, and perhaps we can come to a good arrangement. I'm not afraid."
As Veo's friends appear from the tavern and Veo leaps into the fray, Athalie turns her attention to the fight. Watching her new friends in action turns the smile on her face into an excited grin as she finally gets her mind off of the sceptre for a moment, youthful adrenaline kicking in. "All right, you hoodlum," she shouts out to Rattlecan, "pick on someone your own size, won't you?" It's clear that the paladin means herself, far smaller than Sarumir and even Veo as she is, and she rushes into the fray, drawing her longsword and making a stab at the scurrilous metal constrict.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sarűmir growls in pain as he hears a sharp crack! coming from the blow to his side. He charges back in at Rattlecan, slashing with one heavy paw.
Attack: Predatory Strike (STR)
To Hit: 16
Damage: 11
He then touches his other paw to one of his wounds, drawing blood from it. He begins to draw an arcane symbol in the air, the blood serving as ink for this purpose. He takes 3 necrotic damage as the glyph begins to glow violently (he amplifies the curse). Sarűmir grabs the glyph, crushing in his hand, causing red chains to burst forth from it and wrap around Rattlecan, who must succeed on a DC 12 Strength save or have his movement reduced to 0 and lose the ability to take reactions for 1 minute.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
(Multiattack Action 1) Attack @Veo with Slam for 10 A Miss. ---> Veo takes no damage
(Multiattack Action 2) Attack @Sarűmir with Slam for nat 20 + 4 = 24 > 19 AC A Critical Hit. ---> Sarűmir takes 5 x 2 = 10 / 2 (due to bludgeoning resistance) = 5 bludgeoning damage ----> Sarűmir is now at 16/31 HP
End of Round: Dead
Athalie (17/17 HP)
(Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Longsword for 10 A Miss. ---> Rattlecan takes no damage
Sarűmir (21/31 HP)
(Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Predatory Strike for 17 A Miss. ----> Rattlecan takes no damage
(Bonus Action) Use Blood Curse of Binding with Amplify @Rattlecan ---> Rattlecan must succeed on a STR Saving Throw (DC 12) or the cursed creature’s speed reduced to 0 and it cannot take reactions until the end of your next turn
Rattlecan's Saving Throw 11 + 2 = 13 > DC STR 12 A Success. ---> Rattlecan is not subjected to the Blood Curse of Binding
Sarűmir takes 3 necrotic damage---> Sarűmir is now at 13/31 HP
End of Round: 13/31 HP
Sanimar (25/30 HP)
(Action) Persuasion check 17 @Rattlecan
Veo
(Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Shortsword for 17 A Miss. ---> Rattlecan takes no damage
(Action) Attack @Rattlecan with Shortsword for 19 A Hit. ----> Rattlecan takes 8 piercing damage ---> Rattlecan is now Dead
"Hoodlum?!"The armor appears peeved by that provocative proclamation. "Aren't thee more of a scoundrel than I!" Veo smiles at the wily girl's audacity. Her tail flicks upwards straight with a curl at the end of the tip and her eyes softly narrow playfully.
When Athalie comes in eyes blazing, she takes out her longsword and brings it forward into Rattlecan's chest only for the construct to parry and let it hit the air instead. "Huzzah!"
It goes in for the punch only for suddenly chains to burst out and entangle it. Rattlecan struggles under Sarűmir's grasp. "Unhand me, ruffian!"it protests. It speaks in some sort of weird eccentric fantasy accent that just can't be placed with any time period (it is soooo fake 500s).
"Blood magic," yelps Luna.
"Aha!" In just a single word, you know what it has done. Rattlecan breaks free from its chains (the red links fall to the floor before disappearing) and steps up to Sarűmir. It clenches its fists and struts.
Veo beats it to it. Her sword strikes down upon Rattlecan's ankle, making it falter. It near stops for a moment. "Oh wow... Selina's heel-" Her sentence is cut off by the construct's sudden composure. It stands up tall and towers over her. The cat's tail drops, drooping by her side. "Oh no."
"Enough Rattlecan. You have proven your might now stop and maybe I can fix some of those dents."
Sanimar's shout comes at everyone's surprise. The crowd murmurs. Rattlecan stares at you (well at least, turned its head there). It takes a moment, but it lowers its fists.
Then all of a sudden it raises them up again and charges. Veo strikes first. She slashes her sword down through its neck. The metal construct falls to the floor in a pile. "Well that will sure make a dent out of ya."
And then that was all you see before you all suddenly feel a little tired, like all that morning (and last night's) weight falls heavily from your shoulders and onto your eyes. You can't help but yawn. You try to jolt awake, but you can't help but close your eyes. All except Aster, the half-elf ((who will be pm'd on what he sees)).
You feel yourself rocking, the ground underneath unsteady. One deep breathe of the air and you can tell you're not in the same place. It's harsh and acidic, like it wants to choke you from so much as being in it. All around is a deep purplish fog. You can hardly make out your hands in front of you. This- this ... you know this place.
Most of you anyways. For Athalie, this was what you've heard of in rumors and bard tales... nothing like the place you used to remember. It is eerie and damp, nothing like the vibrant summers. The ones by the coast before the fall.
A minute passes and you can make out more of you surroundings: you're on a boat. There is someone paddling. He has his oars at a odd angle. The water sloshes by gently. It's a ferry. You don't remember paying. The man doesn't say anything. Yet there is... something off about him. You can't tell what. Wait, yes, there it is. He is pale. So very pale it is unnerving. Maybe he is a vampire? A changeling (oh yes, you're heard for those)? You can't tell, at least not from this angle. You're all sort of flopped on the back of his gondola.
You see the faint outline a tower. It's floating in half. You have no idea where you're going.
"Have at thee, knave!"Athalie well remembers her swordplay, grinning as Rattlecan parries her blow. "If scoundrel I be, thou art a general offense, and every man, cur, and graymalkin should beat thee!"And she stands aside as first Sarumir with his strange magic chains... and then Veo with her sword... reduce the metal construct to a pile of scraps.
"There," she says, sheathing her sword triumphantly, grinning at Sarumir, and then Veo. "It is as I said..."and her eyes droop and waver closed... and she knows nothing more.
~*~*~
Athalie doesn't really remember where she is when she begins to awaken. The rhythmic and soothing rocking of the boat lulls her to keep her eyes closed just a little longer. Until the acrid smell of the air begins to set off alarms in her brain, and she stirs awake. Only to glimpse a dead scene, hazy with the discolored fog, and realizes she has no memory of how she got here. In fact, her last memory... oh. Rattlecan. A knot of fear grips her stomach. Had they been betrayed? Were Veo and her friends really working for the Queen's Men? Using the cat as bait, getting them to let their guard down, distracted by the fight with the construct... That's Athalie's first thought, as she sits up, looking around groggily. Obviously Lara's warhorse Creed, and Athalie's own chest of belongings, aren't here. Who knows where they are. Who took them. Athalie grits her teeth, fighting back tears. All I had of her.
But there is little time to think about that. She has herself to look after, right now. She runs her hands over herself, checking to see if her armor, her weapons, what else is on her person, if anything is off or injured. At least she's not restrained or tied up. And next, she looks around the boat, trying to identify who is here with her, slung like the last catch of the day in the bottom of the boat, and who the strange creature is rowing it...
"You should have all your stuff on your person still."
He'd pause a bit for her to turn to him.
"Seems like we've been had. That Luna character charmed me to round us all up on this boat while you were asleep. If that wasn't bad enough, she seems to have plans for the others not on the boat and, to top it off, she stole Lara's horse."
He turns to the ferryman.
"With that said...not sure what the plan for us is. Any ideas on what sticky situation we're in? Trying to kind of get a grasp on where we even are."
(What knowledge check would we need to roll?)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Sarűmir stares at the now flaming playing card, feeling a bit unnerved by the glowing red eyes. He asks Veo, "What exactly is that? No card glows like that, far as I know." He then turns to Rattlecan, now annoyed that the construct is still swinging at Luna while the group is trying to talk to her. He hands Veo to Athalie, then attemps to grab one of Rattlecan's arms, "Oi! Back off, rustbucket."
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
Twinkleblossum sees how the glowing card agitates and excites her friends and companions so will fly and flit around always ending up between two people's shoulders so that she had a clear view of the card.
"Can we trust it's magic? Maybe it's pointing to something worth finding?"
The playful pixies follow along the flight trail like a flying sinuous conga line. Their acrobatic displays much like lazy fireworks that hang in the air drawing oohs and aahs from the amazed and outright clapping from the entertained and appreciative. Their capricious behavior excused by their sylvan charm.
((PIXIE CONGA LINE!!!))
"Haha! That's what I'm banking on," Luna says cheekily, shaking Athalie's hand. After the fire blast, Luna just smiles over at Athalie. "What? That? Oh! I call it a mis-illusion. The opposite of an illusion! It shows what's really there."
"I-?" Veo stares at the card frame. "How did you do that?"
"With just a little bit of magic, kitty!"
Veo scowls, her tail raised, though glad to be out of Sarűmir's grip. She goes and stretches and backs herself against the wall so she wouldn't be picked up again. The gnome sidesteps a kick from the rear. At the same moment, Rattlecan goes down again, this time with both its hands fit together in a clasp, ready to bash upon her skull. Sarűmir stops in towards it, ready to stop it, but Luna, at the last second, teleports behind it, causing the said rustbucket to topple over where face meets dirt. It gets back up in less than a minute, and Luna laughs heartily.
The cat sighs and shakes her head. "Nope. Definitely NOT with the Queen's Men." She says the name with such disdain. "Not after the pits." She puts her hand up in a two-fingered salute. Veo Sjena of the Drakkenforce. Crowe and crew are back there. I would have gone with Veo and the Cats, but you know the name has its ring."
"Found it back at the Chapel." She sighs. "Literally I went through mummies and ghosts to get this! Completely empty. Nothing. Nada!" The scowl leaves her face when she laughs at Twinkleblossum's antics. For a split second, there is a predatory glint in her eyes and her tail waggles; it seems she might try to bite one of your pixies but thinks against this. "Me? What would I do with it?" Veo turns to Sarűmir (who is squaring up with the metal construct) once again.
"Word around the grape vines you were messing with Leon - don't call him the Swine. he actually likes that - so was thinking you'd know about. It was gone before we got there. I'm guessing you're the other group sent to retrieve it?" Her long tail hooks around with a curl at the end and she grabs it like it's a staff. She swings it over to her other hand (right hand up) and catches it, moving her tail in tune to what would be the staff's gravity. "The last hands I want it to fall under is those guys. Ugh. I'd rather the Rat Prince get it - he's actually a great guy!"
Luna stands enraptured by Sarűmir's fighting. It seems the animated armor wants a fight!
"Oi! You wanna fight?" Rattlecan rattles right back. It squares up, one foot behind the other and fists raised.
((if you want to fight Rattlecan then round 1 begins ahah and anyone is welcome to fight with rattlecan but it goes first ))
<---- 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
Sarűmir quickly dodges the blow from Rattlecan, snarling as he pulls out his maul. With both of his hands grasping the hilt, he takes a swing at the metallic construct, attempting to bash it across whatever it would consider a face.
Attack: Maul
To hit: 26
Damage: 15 bludgeoning
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
This night just gets stranger and stranger thinks Sanimar upon seeing the glowing playing card. She is interested in the design of the card and also wonders what its red eyes could be pointing to.
For now, she cheers on Sarumir believing he can handle a rust bucket of a construct. "Good Luck Sarumir"
If the action becomes even more violent, she readies a firebolt
Twinkleblossum flies up to a height of 15 feet and takes a look around to see if the practice sparring is drawing attention.
"Finish him quick Sarumir, we have pressing business to be about." She shouts encouragement to her ally.
"A mis-illusion." Athalie smiles. "I like it," she says, "it's a bit like a Zone of Truth, keeping things---oof!" As Sarumir tries to hand Veo to her. But Athalie, being quite a bit shorter than either of them, simply stumbles out of the way as the cat is dropped on her. Chuckling a bit as Sarumir moves in on the fiesty tin man. But she's quickly distracted from the fight as Veo keeps talking.
"You mean the sceptre that was at the chapel," Athalie says, listening closely. "The one that... that Lara was supposed to retrieve. I guess there were a lot of people trying to get it, and the Queen's Men got there first." She tilts her head to one side, tapping her chin with one finger. "Are you proposing that we work together to get it back from them? If we were successful... what would happen to the Sceptre then? If we can come to an agreement on that, then I think it would be a good idea. We're short on time--by sundown, was the message we received--and we have no idea what we'll be facing at this auction."
Sarűmir smashes the thing's 'face' in with his maul. Even if the armor doesn't say anything, the indents do. Its knightly helmet falls all the way to the back, lolling. If it had a neck it would be snapped in half by now. Instead it just lifts up its wayward helmet (emitting an otherworldly yellow glow from its hollow insides) and just replaces it back between its shoulders where its supposed to go.
"Was that the best you can do?!" it chides.
"Tin Man's feisty today," Veo chuckles, raising up her fist to cheer Sarűmir up too. Despite the fanged smirk on her face, it is real genuine. "With these things if you move too far away, they can't see you," Luna offers with her hands cupped around her mouth.
A small crowd has begin to gather up. It's not nearly as big as you would expect from a fight, albeit only a practice one. It turns out "this was just like last Thursday" as one person passing by from the bar puts it. The most excited of the group is two human teens who seem to be making a bet.
In the few seconds between punches, Luna takes a running start and ends up nearly 60 feet away with her back to a cottage wall. Above her head, while she hands raised, a ghastly skeletal claw forms. Whispering some sort of incantation, she sends it out snaking towards Rattlecan ever so lightly that it just taps the metal construct on its shoulder. It tenses up. Right where it was grazed a scorching green mark was made. It whips its head around to see the culprit, and just like Luna had said, it can't seem to discern where did it came.
"See!" Luna shouts. "Our dorm was filled to the brim with these guys. Sneaking out was so easy~"
You can almost see Rattlecan scrunching up its face when it turns back around to face you, Sarűmir. Without anyone else to blame other than you, it goes in for another blow, striking you in the shins with a left kick and another punch to the torso. Veo winces for you. One of the teens in the crowd hands the other a silver piece.
Veo turns over to the paladin speaking to her. She takes a moment to stretch, grateful that Athalie didn't try to pick her too. "Mis-illusion? You do? It sounds like the opposite of illusion. Isn't that just... the truth?" She then ruminates over your words and nods.
"Yep. Over at St. Brenna's. Saw your fairy friend." She gives a lighthearted wave over to Twinkleblossum. She tilts her head over at the mention of Lara, not really understanding who but sees the pain in your eyes and looks away. "Honestly, in this free-for-all town, I'm not surprised."
"I think we should. We got the same order from the Order and the Lanterns. Right now we've got them a sorta maybe truce-alliance. But I know sure well they don't want the thieves getting to it first... And we liked what you did for those pilgrims. ... Even if you got a dog with ya."
Veo smiles. "We may not know what they are doing, but the best way is to have a plan. I think it's to get something better that they'd like. St. Virtuous. And then take it right out of their hands. They're obviously trying to lure us. Like last time..." She scowls, holding her left arm. "So let's say... lure them back? Eh?"
<---- 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
Sarűmir yips in pain as the blows land, and fur begins the sprout from his skin. He grows about a foot taller, his nose elongating into a lupine snout and his feet turning to paws in his leather boots. He slowly hangs his maul from his belt, and quickly lashes out with his claws, slashing at Rattlecan's breastplate.
Attack: Predatory Strike (STR)
To hit: 11
Damage: 8
Bonus Action
Attack: Predatory Strike (STR)
To hit: 16
Damage: 8
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
"It sounds like you have an idea of how to turn this around on them."
Twinkleblossum flits away from the direction of Rattlecan and over toward Veo.
"Hopefully we don't have to spring their trap by walking right into it? What were you thinking?"
Athalie nods. "I'm at least glad... that her companions made it out alive." It wouldn't be right to wish it had been someone else instead of Lara. If the Flame wanted to take her, it was because she was ready to go to the Flame... the others aren't yet.
Athalie isn't sure who the Lanterns are, but if they're working with the Silver Order, one thing seems clear---nobody wants thieves to have this Sceptre. She nods. "It's always good to be aware of your surroundings... even if I walk into a tavern to perform I've got to read the room, you know? Or I could get hurt." She is momentarily puzzled by Veo's comment about a dog, but she thinks the tabaxi is sincere about wanting to work together---it might be that she just wants backup for a job her team is getting paid for, not that she wants to steal the relic for herself.
"You've had experience with them. What do you think would tip the balance of power, so to speak? What do they want? Money? Information?" Athalie asks Veo.
The yip from Sarumir turns her attention back to the fight. She watches in real surprise as the man grows taller and sprouts fur, snout, and fangs. "Oh!" she says. That's what Veo meant about a dog. She barely stifles a laugh, the realization of the source of Sarumir's conflict with the tabaxi somehow absurdly funny to her. Or maybe my mind is just still a little wobbly... I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Insight: 18 (nat 20!)
"My guess is if they're willing to auction it off then their main interest is probably gold."
Twinkleblossum dives back down to about eye level above the ground.
This has become rather convoluted fast. "Gold would make sense but how can we intervene? Our party is small and some becoming more injured by the second" says Sanimar as she glances towards Sarumir. "I strongly advise we get some rest."
Although he has no visible eyes, Rattlecan looks like it's about to do a double take when the man in front of it transforms into a werewolf. It near stumbles when Sarűmir slashes at it with his claws. For the first, it ducks, cursing at Sarűmir in some sort of garbled language. As for the second, Sarűmir strikes the metal combatant and tears through the front of its breastplate. It leaves deeps gashes in the iron.
Rattlecan pushes off his attacker when something green overtakes it. A swirling green mass of goo surrounds it when Luna starts chanting. "Stop~ Oh stop~ Stop Mr. Metal Man." She waves her fingers at it with a ghastly voice (or more like one you would use for a story around a campfire). The goo seeps into the construct's armor. "It works! It works!" Luna shouts, elated. Then, within a moment's notice, the goo drips out of the metal-man and pools to the floor. Luna's smile drops.
---
Veo's tail twitches ears flatten against her head at Twinkleblossum's comment. "Yeah... actually that's the thing. I don't really know why they are doing this. I don't even know if going to the other Chapel is even the right thing. Who's to say this is like a religion thing? A money thing, yeah. But there's gotta be something else. They've swiped stuff from the ruins before but why put this card at the Chapel? They want us - or whoever found it - to be coming. There's got to be some sort of end game there. But why? What else can these thieves want?" Veo looks to the sky (at Twinkleblossum) to chew on Athalie's words for a bit. "The Queen..."
"They wanted us to fight each other," Veo explains and shudders. "They made a game out of it. But hey trauma brings the buddies together! Good stories." She waves over to the two men (the red-head and the knightly knight) emerging from the tavern and hanging out at the doorway. "How's the fight going?" The red-head yells out.
"Er, goin'?" Veo shrugs then winces at Sanimar's comment because at the same moment Rattlecan's hand comes down and strikes Sarűmir across the face in a packed punch. Luna puts her hands over her mouth. Veo jumps in. With an incredible swiftness, she is over at Sarűmir's side in less than a second. A smirk runs across her face but her eyes come across soft. She whips out a shortsword from out her belt and swings it down across Rattlecan's neck. The metal-man grabs the sword by its blade. Veo's face runs pale. Or at least you would think it, but in actuality she swipes again with her left hand, claws out.
"... A distraction." She has some sort of eureka moment.
Rattlecan takes no notice of the smile across Veo's face. However it does not seem to like the amount of gashes it is racking up. It slams it head forward to headbutt the sly tabaxi, but the girl slides to the right just in time to not only leap out of harm's way but also to wrestle her swortsword out the construct's hands. However, Sarűmir is not so lucky because Rattlecan swipes at him with his left hand, striking him by the side and pushing him to the left.
<---- 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
"They're trying to bait us," Athalie says, frowning. "It's us they want, for some purpose. I doubt thieves and brigands of such a sort care about relics of the saints. This Queen knows that we care about them." She sighs. "It's unfortunately effective... I'm honor bound to retrieve that sceptre in place of my sister who lost her life in the attempt... for the honor of the Flame and of the saints of Drakkenheim." And then she smiles, widely. "It's a good thing that the Light always outshines every shadow... we have no need to worry about the manipulation of thieves. Let us give her the audience she wants, and perhaps we can come to a good arrangement. I'm not afraid."
As Veo's friends appear from the tavern and Veo leaps into the fray, Athalie turns her attention to the fight. Watching her new friends in action turns the smile on her face into an excited grin as she finally gets her mind off of the sceptre for a moment, youthful adrenaline kicking in. "All right, you hoodlum," she shouts out to Rattlecan, "pick on someone your own size, won't you?" It's clear that the paladin means herself, far smaller than Sarumir and even Veo as she is, and she rushes into the fray, drawing her longsword and making a stab at the scurrilous metal constrict.
To hit: 10
Damage: 4
Sarűmir growls in pain as he hears a sharp crack! coming from the blow to his side. He charges back in at Rattlecan, slashing with one heavy paw.
Attack: Predatory Strike (STR)
To Hit: 16
Damage: 11
He then touches his other paw to one of his wounds, drawing blood from it. He begins to draw an arcane symbol in the air, the blood serving as ink for this purpose. He takes 3 necrotic damage as the glyph begins to glow violently (he amplifies the curse). Sarűmir grabs the glyph, crushing in his hand, causing red chains to burst forth from it and wrap around Rattlecan, who must succeed on a DC 12 Strength save or have his movement reduced to 0 and lose the ability to take reactions for 1 minute.
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demiromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the ArchCrone, my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. Was Nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW. Given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
Sanimar has had about enough of this fight "Enough Rattlecan. You have proven your might now stop and maybe I can fix some of those dents"
Persuasion Check
17 rolled in game log
"Hoodlum?!" The armor appears peeved by that provocative proclamation. "Aren't thee more of a scoundrel than I!" Veo smiles at the wily girl's audacity. Her tail flicks upwards straight with a curl at the end of the tip and her eyes softly narrow playfully.
When Athalie comes in eyes blazing, she takes out her longsword and brings it forward into Rattlecan's chest only for the construct to parry and let it hit the air instead. "Huzzah!"
It goes in for the punch only for suddenly chains to burst out and entangle it. Rattlecan struggles under Sarűmir's grasp. "Unhand me, ruffian!" it protests. It speaks in some sort of weird eccentric fantasy accent that just can't be placed with any time period (it is soooo fake 500s).
"Blood magic," yelps Luna.
"Aha!" In just a single word, you know what it has done. Rattlecan breaks free from its chains (the red links fall to the floor before disappearing) and steps up to Sarűmir. It clenches its fists and struts.
Veo beats it to it. Her sword strikes down upon Rattlecan's ankle, making it falter. It near stops for a moment. "Oh wow... Selina's heel-" Her sentence is cut off by the construct's sudden composure. It stands up tall and towers over her. The cat's tail drops, drooping by her side. "Oh no."
"Enough Rattlecan. You have proven your might now stop and maybe I can fix some of those dents."
Sanimar's shout comes at everyone's surprise. The crowd murmurs. Rattlecan stares at you (well at least, turned its head there). It takes a moment, but it lowers its fists.
Then all of a sudden it raises them up again and charges. Veo strikes first. She slashes her sword down through its neck. The metal construct falls to the floor in a pile. "Well that will sure make a dent out of ya."
And then that was all you see before you all suddenly feel a little tired, like all that morning (and last night's) weight falls heavily from your shoulders and onto your eyes. You can't help but yawn. You try to jolt awake, but you can't help but close your eyes. All except Aster, the half-elf ((who will be pm'd on what he sees)).
You fall asleep.
You feel yourself rocking, the ground underneath unsteady. One deep breathe of the air and you can tell you're not in the same place. It's harsh and acidic, like it wants to choke you from so much as being in it. All around is a deep purplish fog. You can hardly make out your hands in front of you. This- this ... you know this place.
Most of you anyways. For Athalie, this was what you've heard of in rumors and bard tales... nothing like the place you used to remember. It is eerie and damp, nothing like the vibrant summers. The ones by the coast before the fall.
A minute passes and you can make out more of you surroundings: you're on a boat. There is someone paddling. He has his oars at a odd angle. The water sloshes by gently. It's a ferry. You don't remember paying. The man doesn't say anything. Yet there is... something off about him. You can't tell what. Wait, yes, there it is. He is pale. So very pale it is unnerving. Maybe he is a vampire? A changeling (oh yes, you're heard for those)? You can't tell, at least not from this angle. You're all sort of flopped on the back of his gondola.
You see the faint outline a tower. It's floating in half. You have no idea where you're going.
Welcome back to Drakkenheim.
<---- 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
"Have at thee, knave!" Athalie well remembers her swordplay, grinning as Rattlecan parries her blow. "If scoundrel I be, thou art a general offense, and every man, cur, and graymalkin should beat thee!" And she stands aside as first Sarumir with his strange magic chains... and then Veo with her sword... reduce the metal construct to a pile of scraps.
"There," she says, sheathing her sword triumphantly, grinning at Sarumir, and then Veo. "It is as I said..." and her eyes droop and waver closed... and she knows nothing more.
~*~*~
Athalie doesn't really remember where she is when she begins to awaken. The rhythmic and soothing rocking of the boat lulls her to keep her eyes closed just a little longer. Until the acrid smell of the air begins to set off alarms in her brain, and she stirs awake. Only to glimpse a dead scene, hazy with the discolored fog, and realizes she has no memory of how she got here. In fact, her last memory... oh. Rattlecan. A knot of fear grips her stomach. Had they been betrayed? Were Veo and her friends really working for the Queen's Men? Using the cat as bait, getting them to let their guard down, distracted by the fight with the construct... That's Athalie's first thought, as she sits up, looking around groggily. Obviously Lara's warhorse Creed, and Athalie's own chest of belongings, aren't here. Who knows where they are. Who took them. Athalie grits her teeth, fighting back tears. All I had of her.
But there is little time to think about that. She has herself to look after, right now. She runs her hands over herself, checking to see if her armor, her weapons, what else is on her person, if anything is off or injured. At least she's not restrained or tied up. And next, she looks around the boat, trying to identify who is here with her, slung like the last catch of the day in the bottom of the boat, and who the strange creature is rowing it...
Aster notices Athalie awaken.
"You should have all your stuff on your person still."
He'd pause a bit for her to turn to him.
"Seems like we've been had. That Luna character charmed me to round us all up on this boat while you were asleep. If that wasn't bad enough, she seems to have plans for the others not on the boat and, to top it off, she stole Lara's horse."
He turns to the ferryman.
"With that said...not sure what the plan for us is. Any ideas on what sticky situation we're in? Trying to kind of get a grasp on where we even are."
(What knowledge check would we need to roll?)