Gilnur readies his shield when the snakes spring from the earth. "Whoa! Now them are some mean looking daisies." Keeping one eye one the large earthworms and another on the approach yuan-ti, the dwarf holds up a hand to indicate he is of no threat. "My friend here speaks true. We're are just looking for some clues as to what we may find in the mist before we head in."
Without touching his weapons, Calinar moves up next to Desarian, ready to offer support if necessary.
"It is our doom, our destiny, to enter the mists and make war on what lurks there. Would you share your knowledge, and let us bless you on your way?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Artemis also raises his hands, palms open and outward, to display that he means no harm to the Yuan-ti. The wood elf however, despite the tense nature of the moment, grins slightly at Gilnur's exclamation regarding the immense serpentine creatures surrounding them. He likewise glances upward at the three menacing sentinels, and though they obviously elicit a primal reaction in the smaller and more vulnerable elf, he also can not help but marvel at them. Quite the sight, after all, and certainly an experience thousands of miles apart from the training Isle that had comprised so much of his life.
Snapping back into the moment however, the archer nods in affirmation of his companion's words. "My friends all speak the truth. We mean you and your people no harm, nor do we seek to loot or pilfer your belongings, discarded or not. We come as representatives of a united and concerted effort to end the menace of that Mist once and for all, and we hope to find others who are of a like mind and heart to our cause. We would greatly welcome any insight or wisdom that you could share about our common enemy, or if you refuse our request, we ask only to be allowed to continue our journey in peace."
The archer pauses for a brief moment before continuing, "Come on friend, we are not your enemy. We are here to help, if you will allow it. Let us aid each other against this shared threat."
(OOC: Sorry all. I came down with the FLU Thursday, so I have been limited. I am starting to feel better, but still hazy and sick)
The man approaching stares at all of you for a long moment before clacking his spear to an arm brace. The shimmering serpents slowly retreat back into the ground. You feel a slight shifting under your feet as they seem to burrow. "I will take you to the elders. If you make any more... untoward... my friends will eat you where you stand."
He leads you the few hundred yards into the village, where most of it already seems to have been cleared out. Getting a better view of it from in here, you can see that this looks to be just the outskirts of the town, and these building more hastily built. Seeing your observation, the man says "I am called Kota. This is our temporary homes that we have been using to monitor the mist and fog. The bulk of our village has already been consumed."
Leading all of you over to the central location, he stops in front of a very wizened old woman. Her scaled skin seems to cover her full body, but she is still human looking. Looking to her right, you see an elderly man, perhaps 20 years her junior. His scales are far more noticeable then hers, but far more so then Kota. You get the feeling the scales manifest more with age?
Looking up at the sound, you see the the woman's eyes are completely milky white. "Ah... So it seems that the Archfey have brought more soldiers to face the mists?" the woman says. You see from her side, a small green tree snake uncoil from around her leg, and continue to look at all of you. Its head seems to be moving as the old woman's does. "Tell me young ones... Do you think you can stop the mists any more then the ones we sent in, or the Archfey's champions before?"'
Calinar kneels before the wizened elder of the yuan-ti community.
"Whether we can or not is of no consequence. We must, therefore we will. Would you accept our blessing, and share your own, before you go on your way, Old Mother?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
"Blessings you say?" She says with a laugh. "Very well... you want blessings?"
She reaches into her robe and takes out a bag. "Since you will likely be the last heroes I see willing to wade into this mist before I meet my ancestors, sure... if you are willing to risk it, reach into my bag and think hard on what you wish. Be warned... my tribe tends to... bite... those not worthy. The choice is yours."
She holds out a bag that looks to be the size of a large coin purse. It is made with shimmering snake skin, and the opening looks to designed to look like a mouth of a snake.
"Well? Those who wish to receive a blessing must be brave enough to reach into my bag."
"Well, this mist ain't going any anywhere anytime soon it seems. And your people - well, everyone really - are going to run out of places to hide from it," Gilnur says standing next to the kneeling paladin. "It won't be any easier if you don't tell us what y'all have found out."
When the elder yuan-ti offers the bag, Gilnur eyes her cautiously. Slowly reaching a hand and noticing the small snake wrapped around her leg he says, "I suppose there's worse things than a little snake bite." I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer.
In response to the elder woman's question, Artemis will simply smirk and dip his head slightly in acknowledgement. "Yes, venerated one. We can defeat the Mist with the proper information, plan of attack, and of course, the grace of those whom we seek to save and protect with our sacrifice."
The wood elf archer will watch as Gilnur steps forward to bravely reach his hand into the mysterious and ominous looking bag. Artemis nods in approval and, once the dwarf has completed his trial, the elf will step forward as well. He removes his gauntlet and tucks it into his belt, then with another nod of deference to the elder woman and another small smirk gracing his fine features the archer will reach his hand into the bag as well, though his emerald eyes make and keep contact with the eyes of the small green snake wrapped around her leg all the while.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: I love dune lol... this was a reference to that, but... different lol.
As Gilnur reaches in his hand, the old woman laughs and clamps the bag shut around Gilnurs hand. The latches close, and it feels like teeth bite down on your hand.
CON Check to resist the Poison: 7
CON Check to resist the pain: 7
INT Check for reasons: 15
WIS Check to fight through it: 16
DEX check for reasons: 19
Bonus for going first without knowing what was coming: 13
As the bag clamps down around your hand, the old woman grabs your arm so you cannot pull away. "Good.... good! Let the trial begin!"
You feel poison burn through your veins and the pain is intense. So intense you fall to the ground to one knee. You can tell your dwarven hardiness prevented any damage from effecting you, but you feel yourself floating. You head towards the mist, and while passing through, you have images flash before your eyes. Your mind is not capable of deciphering them all.
Your mind clarifies, and you are able to get a very clear image once you are through the mists. You see a powerful spell-caster, bound within a forest surrounded by heavily mutated yuan-ti. She is stunning and beautiful. Other Fey creatures would be jealous and it makes your mouth dry. She seems to be being tortured. You hear a voice through the haze. "My grand daughter struggles to keep her sanity against our fallen brethren that seek to please Morgan." The old womans voice says to you.
Suddenly, you snap back to yourself, and you jerk your hand free of the bag. Looking down at your palm, you see a small bone that looks like... a hammer? As you stair at it, the old woman says, "the bag points you to a powerful artifact of your people, buried beneath the mountains. If you can find it, it will aid you in your mission. Hold onto that bone, for it will aid you in some way."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Artemis, all you see is Gilnur stick his hand into the bag, pull something out and sit down on his knees and stair at it. As you do so, you stick your hand into the bag.
Artemis, the woman clamps her arms around yours as the bag bites into your arm. "Let the test begin!"
Your body is also able to fight off the poison and take no damage from it, but you feel your mind fling through the mist. You see hundreds of images and visions, and your brain seems to be cataloging them, not for current use, but for understanding once you get into the mists.
You stop through the mist and it seems to be clearing but the pain is to much and you are unable to glean what the mist was specifically trying to she you. Ripping your hand free of the bag, you manage to hold onto a small piece of metal that is curved in a crescent moon shape, as if a ring was bent into a crescent moon. "There is a powerful artificer artifact within the land of Calling. It will serve you well in your fight. Hold onto that piece as it will aid you in some way."
(OOC: Remember that everyone within 10ft of Cal gets +3 to all their saves)
Without standing (or reading through the whole thread LOL) or speaking further, with eyes locked on the wise woman of the yuan-ti village, the paladin reaches forward and puts his hand inside the bag.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Cal
Reaching your hand into the bag, the woman grabs on your wrists and says "let the test begin." The bag clenches onto your arm, and you feel the bite of pain as it latches on your arm.
CON: 18
CON: 8
INT: 16
WIS: 8
DEX: 9
The pain in your arm is intense, but you manage to push past it without issue, leaving your arm in the bag. You feel the poison realing through your body though, and you take 11 poison damage as it runs through your veins. You feel yourself be flung into the mists, and your mind is flooded with images. It seems the poison is to much for you though, as you are not able to process any of the visions. As you stop, you are able to look about, and it seems as though something is trying to form, but your mind is continuing to reel from the poisoning. As you come to and pull your hand free, you find that you are grasping a small amber gem in your hand. "Keep that item close. It holds the key to a powerful artifact made of sun and steel."
Kyra
Reaching your hand into the bag, the woman grabs on your wrists and says "let the test begin." The bag clenches onto your arm, and you feel the bite of pain as it latches on your arm.
CON: 15
CON: 25
INT: 17
WIS: 12
DEX: 3
Kyra, you reach your hand in and feel the bite of the poison. Your body is able to resist it without issue, but the pain is so sharp, your immediately try to pull your hand free of the bag. (Failing all of the saves after the poison). You yank your hand free before any visions take hold. "Silly child..." the woman hisses. "For you, there will be little chance of survival at all. No gift given to those that retreat from pain when heading into the mists."
Noting that most of the others seem to have gleaned some information from the woman, as well as small items that might prove important, Desarian also steps forward and reaches his hand into the bag, curious to see what she will tell him.
When Des reaches his hand into the bag, his body resists the poison, but the pain is so intense he tries to pull free. Because of this motion the old woman hisses at Des as he does so. She keeps his hand in the bag, and you hear her say, "For you, there will be little chance of survival at all. No gift given to those that retreat from pain when heading into the mists."
As you fly into the mists, your mind is filled with images and events, but your mind stored them for a later date, not able to process them all now.
Finally, your mind clears in the mists. You find yourself in what appears to be a castle of ruin. Inside, you see a sleeping Silver Dragon. Its scales look wrong somehow however. Its eye slits opened and a female voice enters your mind. "I see you... come into the mists so I may consume you!" Its neck raises up and tries to bite at you. You feel yourself scream, and you move away from the mists. As it does so, a voice follows you of the old woman. "Death in the mists is final. Your soul will be trapped within. However, under the Dragons hoard is a crook of rebirth. This may aid you."
Yanking your hand out you hold what looks like a piece of bark. "Hold onto that redwood. In time, you will find a partner or future friend that will require something of the sort."
As all of you look to each other, you all give one another a knowing look. Something... wierd... special... important just happened. The old blind woman looks to the group and says, "the bag of possible futures has spoken. I too will look into the bag."
She plunges her hand into the bag, as the old man next to her says "NO!"
He comes to her side, as does the warrior that led you in. Though she seems lost in a trance, you hear the serpant next to her say in her voice. "It must be done. When I drew my hand into the bag 60 years ago, it showed me a vision of this day, and that I would need to do this again..."
Her eyes glow green and her body starts to levitate. In a multi tonal voice she says, "5 champions will enter the mists. 5 will enter but 3 is all that MAY survive. Champions of darkness, champions of Scale, and champions of Charm may succeed. But will sacrifice must be offered at a time when the light seems lost. The Great Serpant will be burned or frozen to its death, but if the 5 approach, all will fail. The mist will consume the world, and all will be under the depressed veil of entropy."
As she finishes, her body collapses to the ground. She looks up at the heroes, her eyes no longer cloudy, as if she can see through them now. "Its... been so long... since I have seen through my own eyes. My fate has been fulfilled. Take our people eastward. If these people fail... it will not matter, but perhaps a generation can live... in peace..."
As she finishes speaking, her head slumps to the ground. The snake beside her vanished in a puff of smoke.
The warrior looks up to them, tears in his eyes. "The poison from the bag stays in your veins. If you ever reach into the bag a second time, it kills you. She put the weight of her life against you..."
Reaching a withered hand into the palm of the dead woman. As he pulls it forward it looks to expand and extend beyond what could have been in her palm. It looks to be a flute of some kind, made from ivory. The man says, "hold onto this. Give it to the mage... her grand daughter if you find her. It will increase your chances of success."
His mind reeling from the cacophony of images that assaulted his mind, Artemis takes a couple staggering steps backwards and stares forward blankly for a moment, trying to re-center himself and calm his brain's synapses. As if in a dream he watches the other members of his party each brave the elderly woman's bag one after another, but he is still too momentarily taken aback to entirely process their reactions and responses. Slowly, the sensation of metal biting into his tightly gripped palm begins to solidify in the wood elf's conscious and he opens his hand and looks down to see the crescent-shaped piece of metal lying within. The echo of the woman's voice penetrates his mind, hearkening to an artificer's artifact in the land of Calling, and the archer blinks his almond shaped eyes several times at the innocuous piece of metal. Artemis, with extreme caution and care, gently places the crescent piece into his most secure pouch and ensures that the precious trinket is in no danger of being lost or misplaced.
The spectacle of the old woman reaching into the bag immediately drew the elf's attention however, and he watched aghast as the woman's extraordinary reactions clearly heralded a dire response to the act. The words that emerged from both the snake and the woman, words tinged with an otherworldly and sepulchral seeming quality, caused Artemis' finely drawn features to twist into a grimace of apprehension and dread. He shot his emerald eyes around at his companions and could not, would not, accept the idea that some were already fated to die. The party had long ago accepted the risk of death as an inherent danger of their mission, but this shade of certainty that threatened to haunt their endeavor could not be entertained. They had to keep hope and victory alive in their hearts otherwise they might despair at the moment they most needed their courage, and the prophecy would ultimately become self-fulfilling.
As the two men openly mourned the loss of their elder, Artemis bowed his head in respect for the woman. "Go in peace, venerated one. May the spirits of your loved and cherished guide you to better lands."
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“We aren’t here to threaten or loot. We are only hoping to gather knowledge and information,” Desarian responds to the man.
Gilnur readies his shield when the snakes spring from the earth. "Whoa! Now them are some mean looking daisies." Keeping one eye one the large earthworms and another on the approach yuan-ti, the dwarf holds up a hand to indicate he is of no threat. "My friend here speaks true. We're are just looking for some clues as to what we may find in the mist before we head in."
Without touching his weapons, Calinar moves up next to Desarian, ready to offer support if necessary.
"It is our doom, our destiny, to enter the mists and make war on what lurks there. Would you share your knowledge, and let us bless you on your way?"
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Artemis also raises his hands, palms open and outward, to display that he means no harm to the Yuan-ti. The wood elf however, despite the tense nature of the moment, grins slightly at Gilnur's exclamation regarding the immense serpentine creatures surrounding them. He likewise glances upward at the three menacing sentinels, and though they obviously elicit a primal reaction in the smaller and more vulnerable elf, he also can not help but marvel at them. Quite the sight, after all, and certainly an experience thousands of miles apart from the training Isle that had comprised so much of his life.
Snapping back into the moment however, the archer nods in affirmation of his companion's words. "My friends all speak the truth. We mean you and your people no harm, nor do we seek to loot or pilfer your belongings, discarded or not. We come as representatives of a united and concerted effort to end the menace of that Mist once and for all, and we hope to find others who are of a like mind and heart to our cause. We would greatly welcome any insight or wisdom that you could share about our common enemy, or if you refuse our request, we ask only to be allowed to continue our journey in peace."
The archer pauses for a brief moment before continuing, "Come on friend, we are not your enemy. We are here to help, if you will allow it. Let us aid each other against this shared threat."
(OOC: Sorry all. I came down with the FLU Thursday, so I have been limited. I am starting to feel better, but still hazy and sick)
The man approaching stares at all of you for a long moment before clacking his spear to an arm brace. The shimmering serpents slowly retreat back into the ground. You feel a slight shifting under your feet as they seem to burrow. "I will take you to the elders. If you make any more... untoward... my friends will eat you where you stand."
He leads you the few hundred yards into the village, where most of it already seems to have been cleared out. Getting a better view of it from in here, you can see that this looks to be just the outskirts of the town, and these building more hastily built. Seeing your observation, the man says "I am called Kota. This is our temporary homes that we have been using to monitor the mist and fog. The bulk of our village has already been consumed."
Leading all of you over to the central location, he stops in front of a very wizened old woman. Her scaled skin seems to cover her full body, but she is still human looking. Looking to her right, you see an elderly man, perhaps 20 years her junior. His scales are far more noticeable then hers, but far more so then Kota. You get the feeling the scales manifest more with age?
Looking up at the sound, you see the the woman's eyes are completely milky white. "Ah... So it seems that the Archfey have brought more soldiers to face the mists?" the woman says. You see from her side, a small green tree snake uncoil from around her leg, and continue to look at all of you. Its head seems to be moving as the old woman's does. "Tell me young ones... Do you think you can stop the mists any more then the ones we sent in, or the Archfey's champions before?"'
Calinar kneels before the wizened elder of the yuan-ti community.
"Whether we can or not is of no consequence. We must, therefore we will. Would you accept our blessing, and share your own, before you go on your way, Old Mother?"
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
"Blessings you say?" She says with a laugh. "Very well... you want blessings?"
She reaches into her robe and takes out a bag. "Since you will likely be the last heroes I see willing to wade into this mist before I meet my ancestors, sure... if you are willing to risk it, reach into my bag and think hard on what you wish. Be warned... my tribe tends to... bite... those not worthy. The choice is yours."
She holds out a bag that looks to be the size of a large coin purse. It is made with shimmering snake skin, and the opening looks to designed to look like a mouth of a snake.
"Well? Those who wish to receive a blessing must be brave enough to reach into my bag."
"Well, this mist ain't going any anywhere anytime soon it seems. And your people - well, everyone really - are going to run out of places to hide from it," Gilnur says standing next to the kneeling paladin. "It won't be any easier if you don't tell us what y'all have found out."
When the elder yuan-ti offers the bag, Gilnur eyes her cautiously. Slowly reaching a hand and noticing the small snake wrapped around her leg he says, "I suppose there's worse things than a little snake bite." I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer.
In response to the elder woman's question, Artemis will simply smirk and dip his head slightly in acknowledgement. "Yes, venerated one. We can defeat the Mist with the proper information, plan of attack, and of course, the grace of those whom we seek to save and protect with our sacrifice."
The wood elf archer will watch as Gilnur steps forward to bravely reach his hand into the mysterious and ominous looking bag. Artemis nods in approval and, once the dwarf has completed his trial, the elf will step forward as well. He removes his gauntlet and tucks it into his belt, then with another nod of deference to the elder woman and another small smirk gracing his fine features the archer will reach his hand into the bag as well, though his emerald eyes make and keep contact with the eyes of the small green snake wrapped around her leg all the while.
OOC: I love dune lol... this was a reference to that, but... different lol.
As Gilnur reaches in his hand, the old woman laughs and clamps the bag shut around Gilnurs hand. The latches close, and it feels like teeth bite down on your hand.
As the bag clamps down around your hand, the old woman grabs your arm so you cannot pull away. "Good.... good! Let the trial begin!"
You feel poison burn through your veins and the pain is intense. So intense you fall to the ground to one knee. You can tell your dwarven hardiness prevented any damage from effecting you, but you feel yourself floating. You head towards the mist, and while passing through, you have images flash before your eyes. Your mind is not capable of deciphering them all.
Your mind clarifies, and you are able to get a very clear image once you are through the mists. You see a powerful spell-caster, bound within a forest surrounded by heavily mutated yuan-ti. She is stunning and beautiful. Other Fey creatures would be jealous and it makes your mouth dry. She seems to be being tortured. You hear a voice through the haze. "My grand daughter struggles to keep her sanity against our fallen brethren that seek to please Morgan." The old womans voice says to you.
Suddenly, you snap back to yourself, and you jerk your hand free of the bag. Looking down at your palm, you see a small bone that looks like... a hammer? As you stair at it, the old woman says, "the bag points you to a powerful artifact of your people, buried beneath the mountains. If you can find it, it will aid you in your mission. Hold onto that bone, for it will aid you in some way."
Artemis, all you see is Gilnur stick his hand into the bag, pull something out and sit down on his knees and stair at it. As you do so, you stick your hand into the bag.
Artemis, the woman clamps her arms around yours as the bag bites into your arm. "Let the test begin!"
Your body is also able to fight off the poison and take no damage from it, but you feel your mind fling through the mist. You see hundreds of images and visions, and your brain seems to be cataloging them, not for current use, but for understanding once you get into the mists.
You stop through the mist and it seems to be clearing but the pain is to much and you are unable to glean what the mist was specifically trying to she you. Ripping your hand free of the bag, you manage to hold onto a small piece of metal that is curved in a crescent moon shape, as if a ring was bent into a crescent moon. "There is a powerful artificer artifact within the land of Calling. It will serve you well in your fight. Hold onto that piece as it will aid you in some way."
(OOC: Remember that everyone within 10ft of Cal gets +3 to all their saves)
Without standing (or reading through the whole thread LOL) or speaking further, with eyes locked on the wise woman of the yuan-ti village, the paladin reaches forward and puts his hand inside the bag.
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Kyra does the same thing, reaching in the bag as soon as it is available
Cal
Reaching your hand into the bag, the woman grabs on your wrists and says "let the test begin." The bag clenches onto your arm, and you feel the bite of pain as it latches on your arm.
The pain in your arm is intense, but you manage to push past it without issue, leaving your arm in the bag. You feel the poison realing through your body though, and you take 11 poison damage as it runs through your veins. You feel yourself be flung into the mists, and your mind is flooded with images. It seems the poison is to much for you though, as you are not able to process any of the visions. As you stop, you are able to look about, and it seems as though something is trying to form, but your mind is continuing to reel from the poisoning. As you come to and pull your hand free, you find that you are grasping a small amber gem in your hand. "Keep that item close. It holds the key to a powerful artifact made of sun and steel."
Kyra
Reaching your hand into the bag, the woman grabs on your wrists and says "let the test begin." The bag clenches onto your arm, and you feel the bite of pain as it latches on your arm.
Kyra, you reach your hand in and feel the bite of the poison. Your body is able to resist it without issue, but the pain is so sharp, your immediately try to pull your hand free of the bag. (Failing all of the saves after the poison). You yank your hand free before any visions take hold. "Silly child..." the woman hisses. "For you, there will be little chance of survival at all. No gift given to those that retreat from pain when heading into the mists."
Des is left.
Well, great DNDbeyond for screwing up the rolls. Good thing i screen shot them... Cal: 8/22/7/12/22 and Kyra 21/11/4/11/11
Noting that most of the others seem to have gleaned some information from the woman, as well as small items that might prove important, Desarian also steps forward and reaches his hand into the bag, curious to see what she will tell him.
Con: 22
Con: 14
Int: 25
Wis: 12
Dex: 21
(Rolled with the +3 to each from cal)
When Des reaches his hand into the bag, his body resists the poison, but the pain is so intense he tries to pull free. Because of this motion the old woman hisses at Des as he does so. She keeps his hand in the bag, and you hear her say, "For you, there will be little chance of survival at all. No gift given to those that retreat from pain when heading into the mists."
As you fly into the mists, your mind is filled with images and events, but your mind stored them for a later date, not able to process them all now.
Finally, your mind clears in the mists. You find yourself in what appears to be a castle of ruin. Inside, you see a sleeping Silver Dragon. Its scales look wrong somehow however. Its eye slits opened and a female voice enters your mind. "I see you... come into the mists so I may consume you!" Its neck raises up and tries to bite at you. You feel yourself scream, and you move away from the mists. As it does so, a voice follows you of the old woman. "Death in the mists is final. Your soul will be trapped within. However, under the Dragons hoard is a crook of rebirth. This may aid you."
Yanking your hand out you hold what looks like a piece of bark. "Hold onto that redwood. In time, you will find a partner or future friend that will require something of the sort."
As all of you look to each other, you all give one another a knowing look. Something... wierd... special... important just happened. The old blind woman looks to the group and says, "the bag of possible futures has spoken. I too will look into the bag."
She plunges her hand into the bag, as the old man next to her says "NO!"
He comes to her side, as does the warrior that led you in. Though she seems lost in a trance, you hear the serpant next to her say in her voice. "It must be done. When I drew my hand into the bag 60 years ago, it showed me a vision of this day, and that I would need to do this again..."
Her eyes glow green and her body starts to levitate. In a multi tonal voice she says, "5 champions will enter the mists. 5 will enter but 3 is all that MAY survive. Champions of darkness, champions of Scale, and champions of Charm may succeed. But will sacrifice must be offered at a time when the light seems lost. The Great Serpant will be burned or frozen to its death, but if the 5 approach, all will fail. The mist will consume the world, and all will be under the depressed veil of entropy."
As she finishes, her body collapses to the ground. She looks up at the heroes, her eyes no longer cloudy, as if she can see through them now. "Its... been so long... since I have seen through my own eyes. My fate has been fulfilled. Take our people eastward. If these people fail... it will not matter, but perhaps a generation can live... in peace..."
As she finishes speaking, her head slumps to the ground. The snake beside her vanished in a puff of smoke.
The warrior looks up to them, tears in his eyes. "The poison from the bag stays in your veins. If you ever reach into the bag a second time, it kills you. She put the weight of her life against you..."
Reaching a withered hand into the palm of the dead woman. As he pulls it forward it looks to expand and extend beyond what could have been in her palm. It looks to be a flute of some kind, made from ivory. The man says, "hold onto this. Give it to the mage... her grand daughter if you find her. It will increase your chances of success."
His mind reeling from the cacophony of images that assaulted his mind, Artemis takes a couple staggering steps backwards and stares forward blankly for a moment, trying to re-center himself and calm his brain's synapses. As if in a dream he watches the other members of his party each brave the elderly woman's bag one after another, but he is still too momentarily taken aback to entirely process their reactions and responses. Slowly, the sensation of metal biting into his tightly gripped palm begins to solidify in the wood elf's conscious and he opens his hand and looks down to see the crescent-shaped piece of metal lying within. The echo of the woman's voice penetrates his mind, hearkening to an artificer's artifact in the land of Calling, and the archer blinks his almond shaped eyes several times at the innocuous piece of metal. Artemis, with extreme caution and care, gently places the crescent piece into his most secure pouch and ensures that the precious trinket is in no danger of being lost or misplaced.
The spectacle of the old woman reaching into the bag immediately drew the elf's attention however, and he watched aghast as the woman's extraordinary reactions clearly heralded a dire response to the act. The words that emerged from both the snake and the woman, words tinged with an otherworldly and sepulchral seeming quality, caused Artemis' finely drawn features to twist into a grimace of apprehension and dread. He shot his emerald eyes around at his companions and could not, would not, accept the idea that some were already fated to die. The party had long ago accepted the risk of death as an inherent danger of their mission, but this shade of certainty that threatened to haunt their endeavor could not be entertained. They had to keep hope and victory alive in their hearts otherwise they might despair at the moment they most needed their courage, and the prophecy would ultimately become self-fulfilling.
As the two men openly mourned the loss of their elder, Artemis bowed his head in respect for the woman. "Go in peace, venerated one. May the spirits of your loved and cherished guide you to better lands."