"With the entirety of my existence." Jaylen can hardly finish the sentence before the words leave D.O.R.K's being. There was no quavering in her voice. No underlying guile behind the word play. Only conviction on par with a devout follower of some god that bordered on unwavering faith of a tried high priest... or fanaticism. After meeting Jaylen's gaze for a long moment, the living construct finally looked away, adding only afterwards, "You are no longer required to use that designation. Call me... whatever you wish, M-m... Miss Jaa… Miss Jay. Hn. I will need time to research a more appropriate nicknames, as that is law of informal friendship."
As irksome as it may be, D.O.R.K avoids going into detail about her response that night, siting that it would take too much time out of Jaylen's training. But if asked, she offers the compromise of answering in the morning, if not the next time the two aren't as pressed for time. Aside from this, she was content to spend the remaining evening training with Jaylen, and seeing to Trayan and Golem one last time, then quietly patrol the nearby area. At least until her brother returned, and could be 'escorted' to his room. Of the construct herself, she takes up lodging with Golemgote, or as nearby as she could without disturbing his rest.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Devin sleeps soundly and awakens the next day refreshed and ready to go. He just doesn't know where to go next. Hopefully one of the others has an idea.
Jaylen wakes the next morning and begins to say her daily prayers, but decides to seek the Allfaiths shrine she heard mention of the previous day. She enters the shrine and begins looking for a quiet place to pray. As she passes by a nook, she notices the alms box. Her eyes linger on the object and her step slows slightly, but once the temptation is out of her sight, she continues on in search of solitude.
(OOC: I’m struggling to run this on the I-Pad so i think it best if we put the campaign - leaving Secomber - on hold till I stop bouncing around in Oz. We’ll pick it up on 6 May.)
A tall, slender priest of elven descent storms through the shrine with a raven-haired beauty following close on his heels. "Lukian," she almost sings.
The white-haired elf stops and turns, his pale green eyes burning down at the woman despite — or perhaps because of — her pleasant, calm smile. "There must be a way. The vision ... it torments me!" Lukian growls through clenched teeth.
"Your time here is not yet complete. You have several —"
"Lathander calls to me, Helena," the elf interrupts. He begins gesticulating with his hands. "The vision. Giants. Calamity. What does it mean?"
Helena places a small hand on other priest's shoulder. "I know of your frustration and have even asked Sune to reveal to me anything that might help you, but the Princess of Passion has revealed nothing to me. Trust your master. He has never failed you in the past."
Lukian turns away, exhaling in frustration. "He has never failed me, and yet, here I am ... failing him!" He turns in a circle, examining the walls of the shrine. "This place, which was a sanctuary to me, has now become my prison." Looking back at Helena, he says, "I left my village so that I may worship and serve in peace and freedom." His face turns to anguish. "Why do you and the others bind me to this obligation?"
The woman's smile shrinks a little, her brow growing stern. "You agreed to this obligation, Lukian Silverspear. You knew the rules. Six months. You agreed."
At the mention of the elf's name, Jaylen, who couldn't help but overhear the not-quite-shouted conversation, raises her head and squints at the pair.
"Have you never released anyone from their obligation?" Lukian asks. "I could serve ... outside the shrine."
The woman's head is shaking, her face returned to its serene expression. "Your duty is here," she coos. She raises her arms, indicating everything around them. "Within this shrine, our unified faiths serve to bless, comfort and support Secomber, the peaceful western Heartlands, and the savage North. Working together, the servants of the Allfaiths shrine—"
"Excuse me," Jaylen says, interrupting the raven-haired woman's sermon, and now standing very near the pair. The other two priests turn to look in surprise and — on Helena's part — a little annoyed at the plump cleric of Tymora. Jaylen looks at Lukian. "Silverspear?"
Lukian looks at Helena, then back at Jaylen. "Yes. I am from the house Silverspear."
Jaylen furrows her brow, shakes her head a little, then says slowly, "I am on a quest for my lady, Tymora. Last night, she appeared to me again in a dream as a silver bird, as she does. In this dream, the bird picked up a coin, flew to a circle of smooth stones, dropped the coin inside the circle, picked up a silver spear which was lying there, and then flew into a bright light with it." Jaylen looks at Helena, who is now looking surprised, and back to Lukian. "I —"
"Praise Lathander!"Lukian shouts, interrupting her. He places a hand on Jaylen's shoulder and turns to look at Helena. "A substitute!" Helena begins shaking her head. "Wait, Helena. Listen." He looks back at Jaylen. "Don't you see? Tymora is telling this servant of hers to take my place here at the shrine. I am to follow the light of the Morninglord!"
"Lukian, that's not how it works," Helena argues.
"Why not? She can finish my obligation for these two more months. I'm sure this devoted servant will gratefully perform all the necessary duties." He looks at Jaylen, half pleading, but mostly excited.
Jaylen, most surprised by the turn of events, opens and closes her mouth a few times.
Helena stops shaking her head and also looks deep in thought. "I'd ... I'd have to talk to —"
"Yes, yes," Lukian says quickly. "Go, ask. Please." He looks again at Jaylen. "Praise Lathander!" he says again. Not able to help himself, he embraces Jaylen in a strong hug.
"What is your name?" Helena asks Jaylen after she is released.
"Jaylen Graybender," Jaylen says, still acting a little stunned. "I have journeyed here with others — each of us on behalf of our own god — from Waterdeep." She looks at Lukian. "Did I hear you say you had a vision concerning giants?"
"Yes," Lukian says, his excitement evaporating quickly, being replaced by a directness bordering on dominance. The elf proceeds to summarize his vision.
By the end, Jaylen is looking thoughtful. "Another vision." She hums a little to herself as she continues to think. "I wonder if my lady has decided I am not equal to the task, or if this was her intent all along." She looks at Lukian and Helena, her face changing from thoughtful to coy. "At any rate, if my lady wishes me to remain in Secomber, I shall." Looking at Lukian, she says, "If you are to take my place, I should introduce you to the others."
"I still need to —" Helena begins.
Lukian's brow rises at Jaylen. "'Another vision'?" he repeats. "Did you have a vision concerning giants?"
"Not me, but my Lady High Priestess," Jaylen replies. "The others were also privy to visions. Most through a superior." She squints a little at the elf. "It's interesting that you received the vision and not another. Unless you are the superior."
Lukian looks at Helena's back, who has finally turned and stormed off, tired of being ignored. "I am not anyone's superior. But I am the only cleric of Lathander here at the Allfaiths shrine. Take me to these companions of yours. I have many questions."
OOC: OK, gang, a bit of explanation. The more I play Jaylen, the less I like her. So, with Grant's permission, I'm switching characters.
Torunn continues to peruse the workshop, whilst the alchemist makes the gunpowder. Once he is done, Torunn turns to him. "How will you contact me for a favor? My group will not be Secomber for much longer, but I will help you however I can."
Once done at the workshop, Torunn will head back to his room and get to work on the finishing touches of his Musket. The following morning, Torunn packs up his tools and heads to the town outskirts, where after making his morning prayers to Gond. Then he spends the morning, making practice shorts at trees, adding slight tweaks or modifications to the musket as he needs.
OOC: Not sure how to have these conversations, so I'm going to summarize ...
Jaylen leads Lukian about Secomber looking for Dork, Torunn, Devin and Meiva. She explains that she will be staying in Secomber to serve the rest of Lukian's obligation at the Allfaiths shrine, and that Lukian, who has also had a vision concerning giants, wants to accompany them as they continue on their journey. She further explains that Tymora told her through a dream that this is her plan.
Lukian appears very eager to leave, but in a stern way, not an excitable way. He appears very earnest, not at all shy, and only friendly in a "we can benefit from working together" kind of way. He is very vocal in his following of Lathander, sighting his god many times for blessings and knowledge.
He is just over six foot tall; slender, but in good shape; has shortish white hair; pale skin; pale green eyes; and his most interesting physical feature is a scar that begins at the left corner of his mouth, travels up and along his cheek bone, and then disappears into his hairline at his temple. Devin and Meiva also notice something peculiar with his palms. He often gesticulates with his hands, so they get flashes of some kind of marking on both palms, but they don't get a good look. He is currently wearing nondescript clerics robes, but explains he has traveling clothes and other equipment to retrieve from the shrine.
Jaylen says her good-byes in a benign, traveling companion kind of way. She kind of grunts at the two goblins. The only semi-warm words she has are for Dork. She thanks the construct for her training, explains that she already feels more in tune with her gifts, promises to keep practicing, and ends by adopting a particularly confusing facial expression before making a clicking sound with her tongue and then turning and walking back toward the shrine with Lukian. (Vark and Beedo could later explain it looked like Jaylen had gas or was about to throw up.)
About an hour later, Lukian reappears wearing traveling clothes and a smallish pack, and unabashedly displaying a longsword, shield, longbow and quiver of arrows on his back. The shield is wooden and simple, but upon it is carefully painted the holy symbol of Lathander.
Jaylen and Lukian likely find Meiva quickly, as she is strolling around near the All-faith's shrine. When introduced to Lukian, Meiva looks her fellow elf up and down and greets him cordially, though with her usual lack of warmth, referring to herself as "Meiva, cleric of Silvanus."
Meiva says her goodbyes to Jaylen with the same coolness as she greets Lukian.
"May you fare as well as you can," she tells the cleric of Tymora.
"Last evening, I happened to be nearby — obviously as interested in our giant visitors as your party — and I overheard you ask about the island where the Storm King's Queen was killed. It is likely to be in the northern Sea of Swords, so I would suggest we travel the Uluvin Road. Uluvin is known to be a haunted village, but I feel my master drawing me in that direction, so that is where I shall go." Then, apropos of nothing, he says, "Some nights ago, Lathander gave me a vision. In the dream, I was looking down on the large kitchen of a farmhouse where several figures were having breakfast. At the head of the table the farmer, a big burly figure — a giant — sat with his head in his hands, whilst at the foot of the table a vacant setting sat. Two of the farmer’s daughters were sitting on one side of the table with their heads close together obviously in deep conversation. As the sun rose, the early morning rays illuminated the youngest daughter. I then began to rise above the Farmhouse, and I could see the community getting ready for the day's work. In the meals preparation area, an extremely fat cook was stealing bits of food off the plates she was preparing and stuffing them in her mouth. In the blacksmith’s shop, the blacksmith was working on some sort of human-shaped construct. Cleric Jaylen told me you are all privy to visions concerning giants as well. I would be interested in hearing them."
As still as the dead, and as quiet as a church mouse, D.O.R.K sat slumped in her seat at rest against Golemgote like a puppet with its string cut off. The faded out lights in her eyes suddenly flicker to life as red glowing pinpricks in the darkness as she snaps up in her seat. Images begin to play through her head. The first and most horrifying of which was a rain of chess boards and pieces. Each shattering one by one on the ground around her. Looking down, she realized she stood upon a mountain of them.
The image shifts again to a world of darkness in which only a warm light emanating from a chessboard provided any illumination. In her auditory sensors, the sound of smashing wood still echoed. And yet, it is the board and pieces before her that held most sway of her attention. As D.O.R.K tried to analyze the arrangement on the board, a red, metallic hand extends from the darkness on the opposing side. Looking up, the darkness fades just enough away to see... herself -- or at least, the original version of her before the red plates and gems were installed in her form.
Feelings of unease only grew as she watched 'herself' mechanically position a piece on the board. Seeing the other had a commanding lead on her, D.O.R.K's hand began to shake both within the waking dream and in reality. "No plan survives first contact with the enemy." She looks up sharply to the copy at the haunting words. But it never breaks eye contact on the board. "We are our own greatest enemies. Seek out your enemy's enemies as allies, and be prepared to compromise."The other construct starts to look up, and then...
A torrent of images flood D.O.R.K's mind. Far, far too many to make sense of, but she catches a glimpse of a few. One involving a foreign piece entering a match in progress. And another of her Heartbreaker. Only instead of it being in her hand, Vark had been wielding it in defense of... of...
And she awakens fully, confused but alert. Turning to Heartbreaker, which currently rested at her side, D.O.R.K spends much of her remaining sleep/watch cycle staring at the weapon until her version of morning prayers required her putting Vark and Beedo back through the ringer.
Later upon learning the news:
To at least the surprise of Beedo, D.O.R.K immediately hugs Jaylen from behind as soon as she turns to walk away. She says not a word; be the usual barrage of questions or attempts at countermanding Jaylen's apparent new marching orders. She just hugs her for a minute, and then lets her go. Even if her last minute affection prompts a return, D.O.R.K resolutely keeps her eyes lowered until the trickster acolyte truly took her leave.
Of the newcomer and their dream, the living construct says nothing. Even Beedo is not his usual talkative self. But both he and Vark looked at the Lanthander worshiper with deeply narrowed eyes of suspicions from her sides.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Dork, Beedo and Vark see on Lukian's face a moment of curiosity, but then almost immediate acceptance at their introductions. With his right hand, he delicately touches his right ear, the corner of his right eye, and then rests the same hand over his heart in the same greeting he had extended toward Meiva and Devin. "There is much in this world I have yet to experience," the elf explains."My village has spent most of its existence hiding away in the Ardeep Forest. Until I came to Secomber, the only knowledge I held of other races I gleaned from my texts. Only those who keep the borders of my village have the occasional encounter with any from outside ourselves. I am glad to meet ones such as yourselves. I look forward to learning more about you and the races you represent as we travel together." Even as his eyes fall on the goblins' narrowed ones, Lukian continues to appear unperturbed.
Devin tells Lukian about the dreams the others reported from their superiors including Jaylen's. It would be the same as what he overheard Devin tell the giants.
"The Uluvin Road eh? Sounds good to me. I dragged this party, against some of their wishes to the east. And we had learned some things here. But as I said, I am at a loss of which way to go now."
By about mid-morning the party is ready to leave Secomber with its newest member sitting in the Howdah with Toruun, Meiva and Devin. D.O.R.K is riding on the neck of Golemogote and Beedo and Vark are in their usual place riding in the back of the cart (OOC - I’ll work out the costs of what you spent when back in Manila but assumed you stocked up on supplies etc. If you wanted anything special, D.O.R.K. got a 10 foot pole which at this stage is in a single length - Toruun might be able to do something to make it into smaller screwable together lengths).
It is a warmish day (80 degrees Farenheit) with no wind blowing and the party are enjoying their first day of good weather. Not long after lunch as you trundling along the Uluvin Road, you can see directly in front of you at an altitude of about 1000 feet an enormous tower floating on a billowing cloud. You would estimate that the tower is at least a couple of 100 feet tall and the spire looks like a pointy wizard’s hat. The tower floats closest and a sets of stairs made out of what appears to be cloud form in front of the party.
Beedo and Vark share a look between one another after staring Lukian over, and nod as one. "A li'le scrawny, but e'll do. Give'm a month."Beedo says as he turns back to offer his hand for a shake. Once all the pleasantries are out of the way, the Red fellowship busy themselves with final preparations. D.O.R.K throughout it all remains aloof for once. But can occasionally be caught staring unerring in the direction of the allfaiths temple. A place she never visited, and now wanted to less so...
Later...
"I do not like this." D.O.R.K speaks plainly as the stairs appear from nothing. "Beedo! Vark!"She calls out. The two -- or one(Vark) as Beedo had taken to taking a nap to sleep off more of his hangover -- snap out of gawking out the display to looking towards bustling out of the cart in due time. Even without being given particular instructions, the duo go to test the stairs with their weapons, and weight to see if they hold. "Looks pretty solid ta me, Boss Lady! Ain't sure 'ow long iz gonna last. But iz pre'ey clear iz meant fer us. Mi't 'ave to lose da cart tho'."Beedo looks between Golemgote's feet and the with the stairs. "Uh... ain't so sure bout Mr. G. But iz your call."
D.O.R.K stares long and hard at the castle itself. In fact, she never took her eyes of it since its appearance. "We need to send at least a representative." D.O.R.K comments on.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
At the first mention of Golem, Lukian was leery and more than a bit skeptical. "An ... elephant?" he finally asked. When the beast was brought forth, and the group began readying to leave, the elf was amazed, and not at all excited. He stood by and watched the group get everything ready. Then, when the invitation was given for him to ride on the thing, Lukian began to protest. But he quickly quieted, appeared to mentally correct himself, and courageously climbed aboard with an elf's natural grace. It wasn't very long before his stiff back became more relaxed, and he could be seen looking about quite regularly from his high vantage point.
OCC: This can go on as an aside as we continue the actual story:
Lukian found himself sitting beside Devin, whether by design or by happenstance. At some point not too long on the road, Lukian turned to the human and cleared his throat. "So, Devin ... servant of Mystra," Lukian says, enunciated carefully. Devin's not sure if it is cordiality or snobbery he detects in the tone. "From my observances during the visit from the two giants, I estimate that you are the mouthpiece for your band of priests. Am I mistaken?"
OOC: And now ...
Lukian rose to his feet at the announcement of the tower in the sky, standing in the howdah and brazenly ignoring the lumbering gate of the elephant. Once they reach the stairs and Dork orders the goblins forward, the elf climbs down and also approaches, his hands empty. He stands about five feet from the bottom of the stairs, looking up at the tower as the duo pokes and prods the cloud stairs. "Lathander keep us," Lukian whispers. Whether responding to Dork's words, or by his own volition, he finally walks up and carefully steps up onto the first step.
"With the entirety of my existence." Jaylen can hardly finish the sentence before the words leave D.O.R.K's being. There was no quavering in her voice. No underlying guile behind the word play. Only conviction on par with a devout follower of some god that bordered on unwavering faith of a tried high priest... or fanaticism. After meeting Jaylen's gaze for a long moment, the living construct finally looked away, adding only afterwards, "You are no longer required to use that designation. Call me... whatever you wish, M-m... Miss Jaa… Miss Jay. Hn. I will need time to research a more appropriate nicknames, as that is law of informal friendship."
As irksome as it may be, D.O.R.K avoids going into detail about her response that night, siting that it would take too much time out of Jaylen's training. But if asked, she offers the compromise of answering in the morning, if not the next time the two aren't as pressed for time. Aside from this, she was content to spend the remaining evening training with Jaylen, and seeing to Trayan and Golem one last time, then quietly patrol the nearby area. At least until her brother returned, and could be 'escorted' to his room. Of the construct herself, she takes up lodging with Golemgote, or as nearby as she could without disturbing his rest.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Devin sleeps soundly and awakens the next day refreshed and ready to go. He just doesn't know where to go next. Hopefully one of the others has an idea.
Jaylen wakes the next morning and begins to say her daily prayers, but decides to seek the Allfaiths shrine she heard mention of the previous day. She enters the shrine and begins looking for a quiet place to pray. As she passes by a nook, she notices the alms box. Her eyes linger on the object and her step slows slightly, but once the temptation is out of her sight, she continues on in search of solitude.
(OOC: I’m struggling to run this on the I-Pad so i think it best if we put the campaign - leaving Secomber - on hold till I stop bouncing around in Oz. We’ll pick it up on 6 May.)
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Elsewhere in the Shrine ...
A tall, slender priest of elven descent storms through the shrine with a raven-haired beauty following close on his heels. "Lukian," she almost sings.
The white-haired elf stops and turns, his pale green eyes burning down at the woman despite — or perhaps because of — her pleasant, calm smile. "There must be a way. The vision ... it torments me!" Lukian growls through clenched teeth.
"Your time here is not yet complete. You have several —"
"Lathander calls to me, Helena," the elf interrupts. He begins gesticulating with his hands. "The vision. Giants. Calamity. What does it mean?"
Helena places a small hand on other priest's shoulder. "I know of your frustration and have even asked Sune to reveal to me anything that might help you, but the Princess of Passion has revealed nothing to me. Trust your master. He has never failed you in the past."
Lukian turns away, exhaling in frustration. "He has never failed me, and yet, here I am ... failing him!" He turns in a circle, examining the walls of the shrine. "This place, which was a sanctuary to me, has now become my prison." Looking back at Helena, he says, "I left my village so that I may worship and serve in peace and freedom." His face turns to anguish. "Why do you and the others bind me to this obligation?"
The woman's smile shrinks a little, her brow growing stern. "You agreed to this obligation, Lukian Silverspear. You knew the rules. Six months. You agreed."
At the mention of the elf's name, Jaylen, who couldn't help but overhear the not-quite-shouted conversation, raises her head and squints at the pair.
"Have you never released anyone from their obligation?" Lukian asks. "I could serve ... outside the shrine."
The woman's head is shaking, her face returned to its serene expression. "Your duty is here," she coos. She raises her arms, indicating everything around them. "Within this shrine, our unified faiths serve to bless, comfort and support Secomber, the peaceful western Heartlands, and the savage North. Working together, the servants of the Allfaiths shrine—"
"Excuse me," Jaylen says, interrupting the raven-haired woman's sermon, and now standing very near the pair. The other two priests turn to look in surprise and — on Helena's part — a little annoyed at the plump cleric of Tymora. Jaylen looks at Lukian. "Silverspear?"
Lukian looks at Helena, then back at Jaylen. "Yes. I am from the house Silverspear."
Jaylen furrows her brow, shakes her head a little, then says slowly, "I am on a quest for my lady, Tymora. Last night, she appeared to me again in a dream as a silver bird, as she does. In this dream, the bird picked up a coin, flew to a circle of smooth stones, dropped the coin inside the circle, picked up a silver spear which was lying there, and then flew into a bright light with it." Jaylen looks at Helena, who is now looking surprised, and back to Lukian. "I —"
"Praise Lathander!" Lukian shouts, interrupting her. He places a hand on Jaylen's shoulder and turns to look at Helena. "A substitute!" Helena begins shaking her head. "Wait, Helena. Listen." He looks back at Jaylen. "Don't you see? Tymora is telling this servant of hers to take my place here at the shrine. I am to follow the light of the Morninglord!"
"Lukian, that's not how it works," Helena argues.
"Why not? She can finish my obligation for these two more months. I'm sure this devoted servant will gratefully perform all the necessary duties." He looks at Jaylen, half pleading, but mostly excited.
Jaylen, most surprised by the turn of events, opens and closes her mouth a few times.
Helena stops shaking her head and also looks deep in thought. "I'd ... I'd have to talk to —"
"Yes, yes," Lukian says quickly. "Go, ask. Please." He looks again at Jaylen. "Praise Lathander!" he says again. Not able to help himself, he embraces Jaylen in a strong hug.
"What is your name?" Helena asks Jaylen after she is released.
"Jaylen Graybender," Jaylen says, still acting a little stunned. "I have journeyed here with others — each of us on behalf of our own god — from Waterdeep." She looks at Lukian. "Did I hear you say you had a vision concerning giants?"
"Yes," Lukian says, his excitement evaporating quickly, being replaced by a directness bordering on dominance. The elf proceeds to summarize his vision.
By the end, Jaylen is looking thoughtful. "Another vision." She hums a little to herself as she continues to think. "I wonder if my lady has decided I am not equal to the task, or if this was her intent all along." She looks at Lukian and Helena, her face changing from thoughtful to coy. "At any rate, if my lady wishes me to remain in Secomber, I shall." Looking at Lukian, she says, "If you are to take my place, I should introduce you to the others."
"I still need to —" Helena begins.
Lukian's brow rises at Jaylen. "'Another vision'?" he repeats. "Did you have a vision concerning giants?"
"Not me, but my Lady High Priestess," Jaylen replies. "The others were also privy to visions. Most through a superior." She squints a little at the elf. "It's interesting that you received the vision and not another. Unless you are the superior."
Lukian looks at Helena's back, who has finally turned and stormed off, tired of being ignored. "I am not anyone's superior. But I am the only cleric of Lathander here at the Allfaiths shrine. Take me to these companions of yours. I have many questions."
OOC: OK, gang, a bit of explanation. The more I play Jaylen, the less I like her. So, with Grant's permission, I'm switching characters.
Torunn continues to peruse the workshop, whilst the alchemist makes the gunpowder. Once he is done, Torunn turns to him. "How will you contact me for a favor? My group will not be Secomber for much longer, but I will help you however I can."
Once done at the workshop, Torunn will head back to his room and get to work on the finishing touches of his Musket. The following morning, Torunn packs up his tools and heads to the town outskirts, where after making his morning prayers to Gond. Then he spends the morning, making practice shorts at trees, adding slight tweaks or modifications to the musket as he needs.
OOC: Not sure how to have these conversations, so I'm going to summarize ...
Jaylen leads Lukian about Secomber looking for Dork, Torunn, Devin and Meiva. She explains that she will be staying in Secomber to serve the rest of Lukian's obligation at the Allfaiths shrine, and that Lukian, who has also had a vision concerning giants, wants to accompany them as they continue on their journey. She further explains that Tymora told her through a dream that this is her plan.
Lukian appears very eager to leave, but in a stern way, not an excitable way. He appears very earnest, not at all shy, and only friendly in a "we can benefit from working together" kind of way. He is very vocal in his following of Lathander, sighting his god many times for blessings and knowledge.
He is just over six foot tall; slender, but in good shape; has shortish white hair; pale skin; pale green eyes; and his most interesting physical feature is a scar that begins at the left corner of his mouth, travels up and along his cheek bone, and then disappears into his hairline at his temple. Devin and Meiva also notice something peculiar with his palms. He often gesticulates with his hands, so they get flashes of some kind of marking on both palms, but they don't get a good look. He is currently wearing nondescript clerics robes, but explains he has traveling clothes and other equipment to retrieve from the shrine.
Jaylen says her good-byes in a benign, traveling companion kind of way. She kind of grunts at the two goblins. The only semi-warm words she has are for Dork. She thanks the construct for her training, explains that she already feels more in tune with her gifts, promises to keep practicing, and ends by adopting a particularly confusing facial expression before making a clicking sound with her tongue and then turning and walking back toward the shrine with Lukian. (Vark and Beedo could later explain it looked like Jaylen had gas or was about to throw up.)
About an hour later, Lukian reappears wearing traveling clothes and a smallish pack, and unabashedly displaying a longsword, shield, longbow and quiver of arrows on his back. The shield is wooden and simple, but upon it is carefully painted the holy symbol of Lathander.
Jaylen and Lukian likely find Meiva quickly, as she is strolling around near the All-faith's shrine. When introduced to Lukian, Meiva looks her fellow elf up and down and greets him cordially, though with her usual lack of warmth, referring to herself as "Meiva, cleric of Silvanus."
Meiva says her goodbyes to Jaylen with the same coolness as she greets Lukian.
"May you fare as well as you can," she tells the cleric of Tymora.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Devin smiles at the new companion.
"Hey Lukian, I'm Devin in service to her ladyship Mystra. Welcome! So you know what we are up to eh? Glad to have ya."
He waves goodbye to Jaylen. He didn't really know her that well despite their traveling together.
He then tries his best to fill him in on everything they have done and heard since the beginning.
"So you're a fresh set of eyes. Any ideas of where to go next?"
"Last evening, I happened to be nearby — obviously as interested in our giant visitors as your party — and I overheard you ask about the island where the Storm King's Queen was killed. It is likely to be in the northern Sea of Swords, so I would suggest we travel the Uluvin Road. Uluvin is known to be a haunted village, but I feel my master drawing me in that direction, so that is where I shall go." Then, apropos of nothing, he says, "Some nights ago, Lathander gave me a vision. In the dream, I was looking down on the large kitchen of a farmhouse where several figures were having breakfast. At the head of the table the farmer, a big burly figure — a giant — sat with his head in his hands, whilst at the foot of the table a vacant setting sat. Two of the farmer’s daughters were sitting on one side of the table with their heads close together obviously in deep conversation. As the sun rose, the early morning rays illuminated the youngest daughter. I then began to rise above the Farmhouse, and I could see the community getting ready for the day's work. In the meals preparation area, an extremely fat cook was stealing bits of food off the plates she was preparing and stuffing them in her mouth. In the blacksmith’s shop, the blacksmith was working on some sort of human-shaped construct. Cleric Jaylen told me you are all privy to visions concerning giants as well. I would be interested in hearing them."
In the wee hours of the morning:
Later upon learning the news:
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
“Don’t worry, one of my constructs will find you if I require that favour” Amelior replies to Toruun
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Dork, Beedo and Vark see on Lukian's face a moment of curiosity, but then almost immediate acceptance at their introductions. With his right hand, he delicately touches his right ear, the corner of his right eye, and then rests the same hand over his heart in the same greeting he had extended toward Meiva and Devin. "There is much in this world I have yet to experience," the elf explains. "My village has spent most of its existence hiding away in the Ardeep Forest. Until I came to Secomber, the only knowledge I held of other races I gleaned from my texts. Only those who keep the borders of my village have the occasional encounter with any from outside ourselves. I am glad to meet ones such as yourselves. I look forward to learning more about you and the races you represent as we travel together." Even as his eyes fall on the goblins' narrowed ones, Lukian continues to appear unperturbed.
Devin tells Lukian about the dreams the others reported from their superiors including Jaylen's. It would be the same as what he overheard Devin tell the giants.
"The Uluvin Road eh? Sounds good to me. I dragged this party, against some of their wishes to the east. And we had learned some things here. But as I said, I am at a loss of which way to go now."
Day 4, Second Ten-day - Month of Eleasis
By about mid-morning the party is ready to leave Secomber with its newest member sitting in the Howdah with Toruun, Meiva and Devin. D.O.R.K is riding on the neck of Golemogote and Beedo and Vark are in their usual place riding in the back of the cart (OOC - I’ll work out the costs of what you spent when back in Manila but assumed you stocked up on supplies etc. If you wanted anything special, D.O.R.K. got a 10 foot pole which at this stage is in a single length - Toruun might be able to do something to make it into smaller screwable together lengths).
It is a warmish day (80 degrees Farenheit) with no wind blowing and the party are enjoying their first day of good weather. Not long after lunch as you trundling along the Uluvin Road, you can see directly in front of you at an altitude of about 1000 feet an enormous tower floating on a billowing cloud. You would estimate that the tower is at least a couple of 100 feet tall and the spire looks like a pointy wizard’s hat. The tower floats closest and a sets of stairs made out of what appears to be cloud form in front of the party.
So what do you do?
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Meiva's eyes widen as she stares at the castle.
"It is very...high up there," she remarks.
And that's all I have to say about that.
At the first mention of Golem, Lukian was leery and more than a bit skeptical. "An ... elephant?" he finally asked. When the beast was brought forth, and the group began readying to leave, the elf was amazed, and not at all excited. He stood by and watched the group get everything ready. Then, when the invitation was given for him to ride on the thing, Lukian began to protest. But he quickly quieted, appeared to mentally correct himself, and courageously climbed aboard with an elf's natural grace. It wasn't very long before his stiff back became more relaxed, and he could be seen looking about quite regularly from his high vantage point.
OCC: This can go on as an aside as we continue the actual story:
Lukian found himself sitting beside Devin, whether by design or by happenstance. At some point not too long on the road, Lukian turned to the human and cleared his throat. "So, Devin ... servant of Mystra," Lukian says, enunciated carefully. Devin's not sure if it is cordiality or snobbery he detects in the tone. "From my observances during the visit from the two giants, I estimate that you are the mouthpiece for your band of priests. Am I mistaken?"
OOC: And now ...
Lukian rose to his feet at the announcement of the tower in the sky, standing in the howdah and brazenly ignoring the lumbering gate of the elephant. Once they reach the stairs and Dork orders the goblins forward, the elf climbs down and also approaches, his hands empty. He stands about five feet from the bottom of the stairs, looking up at the tower as the duo pokes and prods the cloud stairs. "Lathander keep us," Lukian whispers. Whether responding to Dork's words, or by his own volition, he finally walks up and carefully steps up onto the first step.
Perception: 17 with guidance: 3
As Lukian and Vark step onto the steps, first step and second step respectively they realise that much to their surprise they are solid.
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks