The One Who None Come Out: Campaign Thread

JoJo nods agreeably when asked about going to town.

Okay

New players, you can introduce your characters

A large woman enters the town, 6'2" in full plate armor, bristling with an assortment of weapons, and holding a very dangerous looking dog by the scruff. 

(OOC: I love the image that just brought to mind.)

(OOC: Gail doesn't want the Hellhound eating the townsfolk, so she'll keep a hand on it for now. As part of getting that image, I saw the description of Hell Hounds, and about their murderous personalities. Gail plans to let her new friend have plenty of chances to satisfy it's need to hunt, just not in town... )

As she enters town, Gail silently ponders a name for the Hellhound. The two headed deathdog had been named Fluffy, by it's master, but Gail wasn't inclined to give a Hellhound such a frivolous name.

Etriel Darastrix, who had just arrived, couldn't help but notice the warwoman with the hellish mastiff. Her first reaction was wariness: instinct and experience told her the mastiff was a monster. What kind of woman would bring a monster with her? But then came the thought. A monster. Perhaps. But under control. Perhaps the woman could control it—and therefore the monster wasn't much different from a weapon, whose evilness depends on that of its wielder.

In any case, the traveler was undoubtedly intrigued, so she decided to approach. Gail then saw this blonde elf approaching, with a slender figure and long, straight blonde hair that made her seem a little taller than her modest 5' (or a little more) height. Dressed in clothes that were undoubtedly heavy but equally unmistakably of refined taste, she was equipped with an assortment of weapons (a majestic Longbow, plus other smaller, more maneuverable weapons such as a shortsword, and a dagger) in contrast to her serene and relaxed expression.

A spectral, elegant elven floating hand floats near her, performing a prim greeting gesture, while she approaches calmly, almost giving the impression of floating rather than walking.

"Forgive me, noble lady, my name is Etriel Darastrix and I just came here to explore the famous dungeon and I couldn't help but notice her peculiar pet" her musical voice announces, while her green eyes have a benevolent light as they run over her. "It seems like a fine companion for someone who leads a life of adventure. May I ask how you came by it? And perhaps if you know anything about the infamous 'The One Who None Come Out'? I admit I could be wrong, but something about your appearance leads me to believe you're no stranger to challenge and danger—and therefore might know something about the dungeon."

Gail chuckles, and says, "I'm about as far as you can get from a noble lady. Just an orphan that was picked up by a band of heroes when my home village was wiped out by a necromancer. I'm Gail. And I and my companions just came out of that dungeon. That's where I picked up this new friend." She pats the dog as she continues, "As for the dungeon, we encounter a behir, which turned out to be friendly. We killed a beholder,  the aftermath dropped us into a deep chasm, along with this dog and the demons that were attacking it. I made friends with the dog while we finished of the demons. On our way up the chasm, we saw several other threats on the way up, the biggest ones being a couple of huge brains floating in lakes, one was alive, the other undead. We're planning on returning to deal with those after we prepare."

"If not noble by birth," Etriel Darastrix smiles (and now that she's closer, one can see that her skin is a shade more coppery and vaguely more metallic-scaly than that of a common elf), "you are certainly noble in spirit for the deeds you have accomplished. From what you tell me, you and your companions have eliminated several grave dangers—and you have also shown empathy for your current pet. What is his name, by the way?"

"If you and the others would enjoy my company," the Foreign Traveler offers, her quiet, musical voice "it would be my honor to help you complete the task. I wonder what paths that dungeon allows? And a safer path benefits everyone. A safe path allows travel. Travel allows exchange, knowledge, understanding... And wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world where understanding and harmony reign? Isn't that a beautiful dream to dream? And Sehanine Moonbow, the Lady of Dreams, looks kindly upon those who pursue beautiful dreams..."

As the elven lady and the adventurers spoke in the middle of the street, a figure clad in black approached.

She was about the same height as Etriel Darastrix—except for the two goat-like ebony horns rising from her forehead. A reptilian tail slipped from beneath her cloak, swaying lazily through the air as she walked.

The demonkin stopped a few steps away and pulled back her hood.

Red.Everything was red.

Hair like flame. Skin like fresh blood. Charcoal-dark eyes, half-lidded behind black-framed glasses.

“Greetings, heroes,” she said smoothly. “I couldn’t help but overhear—you’ve just returned from the dungeon called *‘The One Who None Come Out’*?”

Her gaze drifted across them, amused, measuring.

“I happen to have business there myself. If you’re willing to share a few details… I’d be happy to buy you a drink.”

Then her eyes settled on Gail. She smiled—slow, deliberate—revealing a row of sharp teeth.

“By the way… my village was slaughtered by raiders.”

A beat.

“It seems we have something in common, don’t we?”

Musashi comes to a halt beside Gail, the heavy plates of his Ō-yoroi settling with a final, authoritative clack.  He ignores the offer of a drink, his gaze shifting from the elf’s spectral hand to the demonkin’s horns with the detached intensity of a man measuring a battlefield.

"Names and drinks do not win wars" Musashi rumbles, his voice like a wise sage well beyond his apparent years.  "I am Musashi.  If you seek to enter that hole, know that the business within eats the souls of the unprepared.  If your resolve is as sharp as your tongues, then stand with us...if not, stay in the sunlight where it is safe."

Musashi adjusts the straps latching his dual mauls to his back...his gaze lingering on the new friends offering to join.  He does not offer a smile, but he does offer the respect of one warrior recognizing another’s lethality.

"A storm of fire and a song of the wild..." Musashi says, his voice a low, disciplined tone.  "I like it."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Standing a head taller than most men, the warrior in front of you is a living wall of lacquered crimson and black Ō-yoroi plate.  His every movement is accompanied by the heavy, disciplined rattle of iron scales and silk cords.  Strapped to his back are two massive, scarred iron mauls that both look heavy enough to crush a stone golem.  His face is a mask of weathered scars and focused intensity, his eyes missing nothing as they size up everyone in the street.  Unlike the others, he carries no air of nobility..****y the aura of a man who has already fought his way out of hell and is fully prepared to walk back in.

Musashi w/o his armor:

In response to Etriel Gale says, "Nothing to do with being noble, I just don't want others to go through what I did. This fellow doesn't have a name yet, do you have any suggestions? And I'm fine with you joining up, but of course the others will have a say as well."

In response to tiefling, Gale says, "Indeed we do. I was lucky enough for heroes to rescue me and avenge my hamlet right after it happened. A drink sounds good after a dungeon. By the way, I'm Gale." Having worked with a tiefling before, Gale no show more reaction than she does to anyone else.

(OOC: I'm not good enough to show it in my writing, but Gail should come out as friendly enough, but not at charismatic - CHR 8 )

Doc JoJo sits off to side, listening to the others speak, but stays mute.

@Musashi

The tiefling raises an eyebrow, studying the unfamiliar foreign fighter.

“Hey… aren’t you from one of those warrior clans in the Eastern Archipelago? Musa? Wushi… Bushi—something like that. Anyway, you don’t need to worry about me.”

She shrugs.

“Half my work involves soul-sucking monsters. The other half eats people for supper—or turns their skin and bones into furniture.So yeah… I know it’s dangerous. That’s just my life.”

---

@Gail

She notices the difference between them.

Gail fights to make sure no one suffers the way she did.

Ashlass… wants to return that suffering. With interest.

“…I was taken in by an order of wizards. They didn’t give a damn about my revenge.So… I decided to handle it myself.”

Turning away, she starts toward the tavern.

“Name’s Ashlass.No family name. No surname. Just Ashlass.”

Because the wizards found her in her mother’s ashes.

Doc JoJo hears the lady mention to Musashi, “Half my work involves soul-sucking monsters. The other half eats people for supper—or turns their skin and bones into furniture.  So yeah… I know it’s dangerous. That’s just my life.”

JoJo's eyebrow raises a bit hearing those words of defiance.

Dunen, a taller human with white hair and a lean build, steps out of a tree and into the city. Along with him follows a white fox. He looks down at the fox and, with a wave of his hand, changes the fox to a more typical red coloring. His armor appears to be made of some type of leather, interwoven with a vine, but the plates appear to be as hard as steel. 

Seeing the woman (Gail) with the dog, he walks up to her. He calmly says, "Nice 'hound'. A name. Hmmm. How about Grim or Ignus? It would be a crime to call her Fluffy".

"My name is Dunen, a humble druid of the north. And this is my friend Rudy. If you are planning to go back to the dungeon, I would like to join up with you. A childhood friend of mine met her end with that beast of a brain, and I plan to send it back to hell." 

Walks with a wooden staff

Gail responds, "The more the better as far as I'm concerned. Ignus huh?"

Gail turns to the hellhound, "How would you like the name Ignus?

(OOC: Don't know if the hellhound will react. They are smart enough to understand speech, but don't normally understand common. It would definitely help in communicating if this one did 🙂)

OOC -Checking if the dog knows goblin

Doc JoJo changes his gaze from Dunen & looks over at Ignus, and reaching back to his military days, says in a command voice while speaking Goblin, "Sit Ignus"

"Truly, 'the more the better'..." Etriel Darastrix smiles, sweeping her attentive (but friendly) green eyes over the small group that has gathered. "Every journey is easier with the right companions... and often more pleasant, too" she introduces herself to each, sending her graceful elven hand to shake hands.

"It will be a pleasure and an honor to share the road with you" the Foreign Traveler assures. "My peculiar childhood has brought me to assimilate some of the nature of the dragon cub I grew up with — and the martial training I received before embarking on my travels in the name of the Lady of Dreams has given me additional skills to face danger. By combining steel and magic, I will be able to contribute to everyone's safety".

"By the way," the Eladrin Huntress focuses on the possible return to the dungeon "when do you plan to re-enter that den of horrors and mysteries? After you've rested for a few days?"

Once they arrive at the tavern and gather more details, Ashlass will begin to analyze the dungeon and its inhabitants.

Let’s see how much she knows about illithids—and the Elder Brain.

Arcana: 31

Quote from Gaiou >>

Once they arrive at the tavern and gather more details, Ashlass will begin to analyze the dungeon and its inhabitants.

Let’s see how much she knows about illithids—and the Elder Brain.

Arcana: 31

 

OOC: Arcana check 31!? Does this mean Ashlass has a special interest in mind flayers?