Daewen’s senses reel from the forced intimacy of the vision. The rush of life—the eager pant of the wolf, the delicate flight of the butterfly, the warmth of sun and soil—is an overwhelming, alien surge that briefly shatters her cold composure. It is a powerful, almost painful experience for a creature whose soul is attuned to the silence and apathy of the Shadowfell. Her mind, however, immediately recognizes the value of this overwhelming sensory data. This is what the Material Plane truly feels like...a vivid, vital truth that is impossible to forget. She knows with absolute certainty that this memory—this shock of pure, unfettered existence—is a priceless gift to bring back to her goddess (the Raven Queen).
As the vision fades, the raw, living power coalesces on her arm. She feels a subtle pressure on her inner left forearm as the Celestial Rune (ᛏ) manifests. The rune is etched in obsidian black, lying flush with her pale skin. Its heavy, dark presence outlined by a delicate margin of silver dust. It is a mark of two worlds: the cold shadow she masters and the vibrant purpose she has accepted.
Daewen quickly draws her cloak sleeve over the mark, concealing its stark beauty. Her gaze snaps to Eggo Lass, her silent thought sharp and urgent:
Guard it. It is the only light we will carry to Glemsel.
Her initial weariness is gone. She feels the latent, powerful foreign energy resting in the obsidian beneath her skin. This abyss will not be a place of familiar gloom; it will be a place to test this new strength. She is ready.
Eggo Lass feels taken aback from the experience. A unique one. Certainly not expected, but a pleasant insight in the gods' minds. She pats a hand on her left shoulder, feeling the rune. As Foresti hands her the totem she looks upon it with intrigue. Law. Justice. At the service of the party. And certainly one less thing to worry about. "Thank you." she says, pondering if it could be an arcane focus.
As she sees Daewen's urgent gaze she nods and stows the rod in a safe place.
With a turn to Yistral she speaks, "You mentioned your calendar being clear before. Still got an open slot for the evening? Seems we've got a lovely reservation at an abyssal layer." she smiles with a wink, "Unless the reservation has forgotten itself."
[[ Question about the runes. It mentions using a bonus action to activate it but also mentions saves. For those would it be during the turn use the bonus action to activate it if anticipating a save to come before the start of one's next turn? Or how would you want that to work? ]]
Yistril sighs deliberately and ponders his response
thinks to himself - the gods again do the bare minimum. The boon while not nothing is a far cry from the help gods gave in the past. Maybe the age of gods is waining and men will finally break their yoke.
“yes my calendar is open more to protect my own life than an obligation owed to anyone.”
The revelation is swift and broad and sweeps through her mind as fast as swooping falcons.
On the middle most point of the back of her hands, just below the knuckle of her first finger, her tattoos swell and loop and form a rune that when her hands are brought together bear the shape of an arrow.
The style is as her sect’s mystic and sacred markings and as her mind delves in to the confluence of power she feels when the two halves are brought together, she realises what the gods have given her: Luck, and restoration. Only more of what she already possessed. Only the power that they have been granting her through their planes-traversing servants since she first set out.
The message is clear, plain and simple. She is enough. Her tools are enough. She is already what she must be.
Seeing that the majority of you are satisfied enough with the meagre boons the gods were able to provide, Forseti makes preparations for your descent into the Abyss. He casts a gate spell upon his lectern where Eggo stands with the same level of bravado he has held previously, then holds out a hand to the rest of the party by the still sleeping Njord to carry them over to the portal. He also claims that he has placed the portal where he senses is the safest, saying 'My divine vision is inhibited by the demonic fog the Abyss clouds my eyes with, but I feel I have found a place where you should be able to arrive in peace. It gives me a sense of untouched tranquillity I haven't felt in a very long time...'
However, before you go, another deity speaks up. A goddess with long, golden braided hair, identifiable by some of you as Freya, raises a tentative hand from across the room, and speaks up in a voice more humble and grounded than the grand speeches of the other gods, who speak with such majesty despite having lost their footing in the affairs of mortals. She murmurs 'As you spoke, I ran a comb through the potential timelines that could unfold, and foresaw that a select group of items will be relevant within the heroes' quest in the majority of potential paths they can take. I cannot tell you for what exactly they will be used, or when their time will come, as the nature of their usage can change from timeline to timeline, however I see them being integral to their success either way.' She causes the items she foresaw to appear at your feet, being: a brass key, a small bag of apples, a slip of paper with the name Christine written on it, and a clown costume for each of you.
Once ready, you can step through the portal and enter Glemsel.
Daewen watched the gods' final boons and Freya's odd collection of prophecies, the absurdity of the clown costumes failing to break her focus. Trusting her Shadow's Edge rune more than the god's claim of safety, she shared one final thought with her companions:
The apples are sustenance. The costumes are deception. The key is the door.
Without hesitation, she stepped over the threshold into the abyssal darkness, her grim purpose fully engaged.
OOC: I vote our big-guy Xarkris grabs the brass key, bag of apples, and the slip of paper, as he's the proverbial tank of the group. And then we all get our clown costume.
Why is Pennywise the clown coming to mind with this scene?
Xarkris reaches down and grabs the brass key, the bag of apples, and the slip of paper and places them in his backpack, along the ridiculous Clown Costume. He looks at the Celestial Run on the back of his hand and accepts the mark of confidence from Tyr. He faces Tyr, bows lowly, and growls, "I will not fail you, Tyr". He rises to his full height and enters the portal.
Pompous god, thinks Eggo Lass to herself at Foresti's bravado. As Freya begins to speak she listens with interest. Perhaps something truly useful, pertinent info to be gleaned from the threads of time. As the goddess begins mentioning the items she feels mystified, wondering how each little thing will play a role in the quest.
Then Freya mentions the clown costumes. Her eyes lock on them in stunned shock. Clown costumes. Iblith clown costumes. Goddess-damned clown costumes from that elg'caress! "And people call Lolth evil." she mutters under her breath.
[[ Using this, iblith = excrement/refuse, often derogatory towards non-drow elg'caress: derogatory term towards a female ]]
After seeing Daewen and Xarkris grab the costumes without any fuss she feels a part of her die inside and goes to collect the one assigned to her. (She refuses to call it 'her clown costume.') Holding it away from her like it's a toxic substance she reluctantly puts it in her pack.
"And the paper, a true name perhaps." she adds to Daewen's guesses. "Well if we're heading into The Abyss, may as well get another set of eyes or four."
//proposing a casting of Flock of Familiars //@Shiver, the wording of the spell says the summoned familiars have to be of the same type, but then talks about celestial/fey/fiend. So curious if could do owlx2 and batx2 or if it would have to be the same summon on that regard too. //EDIT: just noticed Gate is 1 minute duration and Flock takes a minute to cast, so nevermind. though still do have the query on creature type
[[ @Merlin, considering we're about to go into the demon-infested Abyss I suppose Pennywise isn't too out of place all considered. :P
Also, I noticed one of Eggo's spell slots ticked off. I can't remember exactly what that's from but I feel like there's a chance that's a remnant from 100 Dungeons. Should I add it back in or just wait until the next short rest? (We haven't even left Celestia and already the Warlock is yearning for a rest. xD) ]]
[Will wait a little bit to see if Mun and Yistral have anything to say or do before progressing.
Really like the use of drow language for Eggo, super cool! For flock of familiars I think I'll say they have all have to be the same, given that it says 'Each familiar uses the same rules and options for a familiar conjured by the find familiar spell', which I think implies singular, along with the fact that it wouldn't be much of flock if they were all different! Good question though! You're welcome to add that spell slot back if you like, unless you want to keep it lost for some sort of realism, as if she spent it on her journey there? Doesn't really matter either way, so up to you!
See, it's funny you mention demonic clowns, as Glemsel is filled with the things Yaratal has forgotten, twisted by the Abyss' influence, and a big thing Yaratal has been lacking in recent years has been joy...probably doesn't take much to figure out how that's going to manifest!]
Yestril sees his companions walk through the gate and looks at the gods. Since hes likely to die where hes going he walks over to in front of frya and thanks her. And does the same for tor. He extended his hand for handshakes. Not expecting either to take it but on the off chance that they did out of humor or intrigue. Moving twds to the table i say “our travles will be long and dangerous thank you for taking the time to aid us. I am uncertain when we will next eat and i notice food and drink aplenty here. “ if not stopped i will take some fruit and a drink and while walking off into the portal take a sip and eat a bite…smiling.
With the parting gifts distributed and Yistral happily stocked up on heavenly food, you make your way through the portal, the gods watching in hopeful silence as you cross over the arcane threshold and into the Abyss.
Daewen is the first to step out, and immediately falls down from the portal, which Foresti mistakenly placed about two feet up from the actual ground. She, and eventually the rest of the party, land in a knee-deep sea of ooze that coats an uneven stone floor. Getting to your feet and looking around, you see that you are in an enormous cavern, slick with slime. Huge bubbles of foul grimy water and chunks of rock hang floating in the air around you, unaffected by gravity, and streams of slime and water somehow climb upwards from the floor to nowhere like a reverse waterfall. Overall, there's an unsettling alien atmosphere about this place, given that the laws of physics seem hazy. The slime you're stood in smells deeply of wet earth and decay, and has the curious quality of being liquid-like when untouched, but becomes firmer and more malleable when you squeeze it with your hands, which feels like holding a gooey lump of unworked clay.
Xarkris, with his high Passive Perception, is immediately alert to any dangers. Whilst the gods assured him this locale was safe, its unpleasant appearance tells him it's likely best to assure that with his own eyes. He squints, and makes out the silhouettes of large eel-like shapes writhing and swimming within the distant suspended aquifers. You can't quite make out what they really are without further examination [would be a Nature check], but they seem far enough away to have not noticed you or to be a concern for now. What's more concerning is the slippery streams of ooze that he can make out worming their way through the sludge, like invisible tadpoles. They blend in well, their form almost identical to their surroundings, but the ripples they create as they swim allows him to spot them when he concentrates. You don't know if these oozes are harmful, but they supposedly haven't sensed you yet, so its best to keep your eyes out and watch where you tread to avoid disturbing them.
Making your way to one of the large, non-floating rocks cropping out of the slime seems like a good place to start, as it means you're out the slime onto dry ground and can look around for any tunnels or openings to get you out of this cave. Luckily, there seems to be one about 60 feet away. The slime is difficult terrain and for every 30 feet travelled, you need to succeed on a DC 10 Perception check to not disturb the oozes.
Eggo Lass looks at the slime around as she falls through the portal. Another lovely gift, eh. (If anyone needs someone cleaning once we're on dry land, let me know.) she telepaths, so as to not alert the eeloids or oozes.
Daewen’s senses reel from the forced intimacy of the vision. The rush of life—the eager pant of the wolf, the delicate flight of the butterfly, the warmth of sun and soil—is an overwhelming, alien surge that briefly shatters her cold composure. It is a powerful, almost painful experience for a creature whose soul is attuned to the silence and apathy of the Shadowfell. Her mind, however, immediately recognizes the value of this overwhelming sensory data. This is what the Material Plane truly feels like...a vivid, vital truth that is impossible to forget. She knows with absolute certainty that this memory—this shock of pure, unfettered existence—is a priceless gift to bring back to her goddess (the Raven Queen).
As the vision fades, the raw, living power coalesces on her arm. She feels a subtle pressure on her inner left forearm as the Celestial Rune (ᛏ) manifests. The rune is etched in obsidian black, lying flush with her pale skin. Its heavy, dark presence outlined by a delicate margin of silver dust. It is a mark of two worlds: the cold shadow she masters and the vibrant purpose she has accepted.
Daewen quickly draws her cloak sleeve over the mark, concealing its stark beauty. Her gaze snaps to Eggo Lass, her silent thought sharp and urgent:
Guard it. It is the only light we will carry to Glemsel.
Her initial weariness is gone. She feels the latent, powerful foreign energy resting in the obsidian beneath her skin. This abyss will not be a place of familiar gloom; it will be a place to test this new strength. She is ready.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Eggo Lass feels taken aback from the experience. A unique one. Certainly not expected, but a pleasant insight in the gods' minds. She pats a hand on her left shoulder, feeling the rune. As Foresti hands her the totem she looks upon it with intrigue. Law. Justice. At the service of the party. And certainly one less thing to worry about. "Thank you." she says, pondering if it could be an arcane focus.
As she sees Daewen's urgent gaze she nods and stows the rod in a safe place.
With a turn to Yistral she speaks, "You mentioned your calendar being clear before. Still got an open slot for the evening? Seems we've got a lovely reservation at an abyssal layer." she smiles with a wink, "Unless the reservation has forgotten itself."
[[ Question about the runes. It mentions using a bonus action to activate it but also mentions saves. For those would it be during the turn use the bonus action to activate it if anticipating a save to come before the start of one's next turn? Or how would you want that to work? ]]
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo Malololomologalo Tumagalokumagalo, Sunny
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion
Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 50, 9/23/25, The Mystery of Your Gift
Yistril sighs deliberately and ponders his response
thinks to himself - the gods again do the bare minimum. The boon while not nothing is a far cry from the help gods gave in the past. Maybe the age of gods is waining and men will finally break their yoke.
“yes my calendar is open more to protect my own life than an obligation owed to anyone.”
The revelation is swift and broad and sweeps through her mind as fast as swooping falcons.
On the middle most point of the back of her hands, just below the knuckle of her first finger, her tattoos swell and loop and form a rune that when her hands are brought together bear the shape of an arrow.
The style is as her sect’s mystic and sacred markings and as her mind delves in to the confluence of power she feels when the two halves are brought together, she realises what the gods have given her: Luck, and restoration. Only more of what she already possessed. Only the power that they have been granting her through their planes-traversing servants since she first set out.
The message is clear, plain and simple. She is enough. Her tools are enough. She is already what she must be.
Mun bows.
Seeing that the majority of you are satisfied enough with the meagre boons the gods were able to provide, Forseti makes preparations for your descent into the Abyss. He casts a gate spell upon his lectern where Eggo stands with the same level of bravado he has held previously, then holds out a hand to the rest of the party by the still sleeping Njord to carry them over to the portal. He also claims that he has placed the portal where he senses is the safest, saying 'My divine vision is inhibited by the demonic fog the Abyss clouds my eyes with, but I feel I have found a place where you should be able to arrive in peace. It gives me a sense of untouched tranquillity I haven't felt in a very long time...'
However, before you go, another deity speaks up. A goddess with long, golden braided hair, identifiable by some of you as Freya, raises a tentative hand from across the room, and speaks up in a voice more humble and grounded than the grand speeches of the other gods, who speak with such majesty despite having lost their footing in the affairs of mortals. She murmurs 'As you spoke, I ran a comb through the potential timelines that could unfold, and foresaw that a select group of items will be relevant within the heroes' quest in the majority of potential paths they can take. I cannot tell you for what exactly they will be used, or when their time will come, as the nature of their usage can change from timeline to timeline, however I see them being integral to their success either way.' She causes the items she foresaw to appear at your feet, being: a brass key, a small bag of apples, a slip of paper with the name Christine written on it, and a clown costume for each of you.
Once ready, you can step through the portal and enter Glemsel.
Xaul Lackluster: Half-Orc Fathomless Warlock: Warlock Dragon Heist
Pushover Gerilwitz: Tiefling Wizard: Acquisitions Incorporated
Sparkles: Aasimar Monk: Drakkenheim: What's In The Here And Now
Angus Ayrshire: Minotaur Celestial Sorcerer: Yawning Portal - Mad Mage
DMing A Land Of Bone And Oblivion, The Hunt for the Balowang and Surviving Tempest City!
Killer Queen has already extended this signature, though not by much!
Daewen watched the gods' final boons and Freya's odd collection of prophecies, the absurdity of the clown costumes failing to break her focus. Trusting her Shadow's Edge rune more than the god's claim of safety, she shared one final thought with her companions:
The apples are sustenance. The costumes are deception. The key is the door.
Without hesitation, she stepped over the threshold into the abyssal darkness, her grim purpose fully engaged.
OOC: I vote our big-guy Xarkris grabs the brass key, bag of apples, and the slip of paper, as he's the proverbial tank of the group. And then we all get our clown costume.
Why is Pennywise the clown coming to mind with this scene?
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Xarkris reaches down and grabs the brass key, the bag of apples, and the slip of paper and places them in his backpack, along the ridiculous Clown Costume. He looks at the Celestial Run on the back of his hand and accepts the mark of confidence from Tyr. He faces Tyr, bows lowly, and growls, "I will not fail you, Tyr". He rises to his full height and enters the portal.
Pompous god, thinks Eggo Lass to herself at Foresti's bravado. As Freya begins to speak she listens with interest. Perhaps something truly useful, pertinent info to be gleaned from the threads of time. As the goddess begins mentioning the items she feels mystified, wondering how each little thing will play a role in the quest.
Then Freya mentions the clown costumes. Her eyes lock on them in stunned shock. Clown costumes. Iblith clown costumes. Goddess-damned clown costumes from that elg'caress! "And people call Lolth evil." she mutters under her breath.
[[ Using this,
iblith = excrement/refuse, often derogatory towards non-drow
elg'caress: derogatory term towards a female ]]
After seeing Daewen and Xarkris grab the costumes without any fuss she feels a part of her die inside and goes to collect the one assigned to her. (She refuses to call it 'her clown costume.') Holding it away from her like it's a toxic substance she reluctantly puts it in her pack.
"And the paper, a true name perhaps." she adds to Daewen's guesses. "Well if we're heading into The Abyss, may as well get another set of eyes or four."
//proposing a casting of Flock of Familiars
//@Shiver, the wording of the spell says the summoned familiars have to be of the same type, but then talks about celestial/fey/fiend. So curious if could do owlx2 and batx2 or if it would have to be the same summon on that regard too.
//EDIT: just noticed Gate is 1 minute duration and Flock takes a minute to cast, so nevermind. though still do have the query on creature type
[[
@Merlin, considering we're about to go into the demon-infested Abyss I suppose Pennywise isn't too out of place all considered. :P
Also, I noticed one of Eggo's spell slots ticked off. I can't remember exactly what that's from but I feel like there's a chance that's a remnant from 100 Dungeons. Should I add it back in or just wait until the next short rest? (We haven't even left Celestia and already the Warlock is yearning for a rest. xD)
]]
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo Malololomologalo Tumagalokumagalo, Sunny
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion
Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 50, 9/23/25, The Mystery of Your Gift
[Will wait a little bit to see if Mun and Yistral have anything to say or do before progressing.
Really like the use of drow language for Eggo, super cool! For flock of familiars I think I'll say they have all have to be the same, given that it says 'Each familiar uses the same rules and options for a familiar conjured by the find familiar spell', which I think implies singular, along with the fact that it wouldn't be much of flock if they were all different! Good question though! You're welcome to add that spell slot back if you like, unless you want to keep it lost for some sort of realism, as if she spent it on her journey there? Doesn't really matter either way, so up to you!
See, it's funny you mention demonic clowns, as Glemsel is filled with the things Yaratal has forgotten, twisted by the Abyss' influence, and a big thing Yaratal has been lacking in recent years has been joy...probably doesn't take much to figure out how that's going to manifest!]
Xaul Lackluster: Half-Orc Fathomless Warlock: Warlock Dragon Heist
Pushover Gerilwitz: Tiefling Wizard: Acquisitions Incorporated
Sparkles: Aasimar Monk: Drakkenheim: What's In The Here And Now
Angus Ayrshire: Minotaur Celestial Sorcerer: Yawning Portal - Mad Mage
DMing A Land Of Bone And Oblivion, The Hunt for the Balowang and Surviving Tempest City!
Killer Queen has already extended this signature, though not by much!
Yestril sees his companions walk through the gate and looks at the gods. Since hes likely to die where hes going he walks over to in front of frya and thanks her. And does the same for tor. He extended his hand for handshakes. Not expecting either to take it but on the off chance that they did out of humor or intrigue. Moving twds to the table i say “our travles will be long and dangerous thank you for taking the time to aid us. I am uncertain when we will next eat and i notice food and drink aplenty here. “ if not stopped i will take some fruit and a drink and while walking off into the portal take a sip and eat a bite…smiling.
Mun takes the costume contemplatively, her face impassive, and stows it in her satchel.
With one last encompassing turn, she takes in the sight of the gods. Carves the vision into her soul. She closes her eyes and steps into the abyss.
With the parting gifts distributed and Yistral happily stocked up on heavenly food, you make your way through the portal, the gods watching in hopeful silence as you cross over the arcane threshold and into the Abyss.
Daewen is the first to step out, and immediately falls down from the portal, which Foresti mistakenly placed about two feet up from the actual ground. She, and eventually the rest of the party, land in a knee-deep sea of ooze that coats an uneven stone floor. Getting to your feet and looking around, you see that you are in an enormous cavern, slick with slime. Huge bubbles of foul grimy water and chunks of rock hang floating in the air around you, unaffected by gravity, and streams of slime and water somehow climb upwards from the floor to nowhere like a reverse waterfall. Overall, there's an unsettling alien atmosphere about this place, given that the laws of physics seem hazy. The slime you're stood in smells deeply of wet earth and decay, and has the curious quality of being liquid-like when untouched, but becomes firmer and more malleable when you squeeze it with your hands, which feels like holding a gooey lump of unworked clay.
Xarkris, with his high Passive Perception, is immediately alert to any dangers. Whilst the gods assured him this locale was safe, its unpleasant appearance tells him it's likely best to assure that with his own eyes. He squints, and makes out the silhouettes of large eel-like shapes writhing and swimming within the distant suspended aquifers. You can't quite make out what they really are without further examination [would be a Nature check], but they seem far enough away to have not noticed you or to be a concern for now. What's more concerning is the slippery streams of ooze that he can make out worming their way through the sludge, like invisible tadpoles. They blend in well, their form almost identical to their surroundings, but the ripples they create as they swim allows him to spot them when he concentrates. You don't know if these oozes are harmful, but they supposedly haven't sensed you yet, so its best to keep your eyes out and watch where you tread to avoid disturbing them.
Making your way to one of the large, non-floating rocks cropping out of the slime seems like a good place to start, as it means you're out the slime onto dry ground and can look around for any tunnels or openings to get you out of this cave. Luckily, there seems to be one about 60 feet away. The slime is difficult terrain and for every 30 feet travelled, you need to succeed on a DC 10 Perception check to not disturb the oozes.
Xaul Lackluster: Half-Orc Fathomless Warlock: Warlock Dragon Heist
Pushover Gerilwitz: Tiefling Wizard: Acquisitions Incorporated
Sparkles: Aasimar Monk: Drakkenheim: What's In The Here And Now
Angus Ayrshire: Minotaur Celestial Sorcerer: Yawning Portal - Mad Mage
DMing A Land Of Bone And Oblivion, The Hunt for the Balowang and Surviving Tempest City!
Killer Queen has already extended this signature, though not by much!
Eggo Lass looks at the slime around as she falls through the portal. Another lovely gift, eh. (If anyone needs someone cleaning once we're on dry land, let me know.) she telepaths, so as to not alert the eeloids or oozes.
Perception:
1st Check: 17+4 = 21
2nd Check: 4+4 = 8
//looks like she and Mun are the same boat there
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo Malololomologalo Tumagalokumagalo, Sunny
Eggo Lass, Bone and Oblivion
Tendilius Mondhaven Paxaramus, Drakkenheim
Silverwood Group 1 | Silverwood Group 2 | Hacking the Hackett
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 50, 9/23/25, The Mystery of Your Gift
Mun stands close to Eggo, tracking where her eyes track and stepping where she steps.