Necromancer's Delusion-Homebrew

Perception:  31

Aryn will stow her bow and draw the hilt of the Sun Blade and sprint to the within 10 feet of the drow and ignite the sun blade.  "Who sent you!?! Surrender or die!" she yells loud enough for her allies to hear so they can pinpoint her location.  She was bleeding pretty badly herself but knew the drow was on death's door.

Aryn pinpoints the drow who haphazardly crawls against a tree trunk and sits breathing deeply.  She rushes over to the body and the hilt flashes white as a sword of pure light bursts from the hilt.  The others clearly see the bright shining sword amongst the dim lit forest and quickly make their way towards the beacon denoting Aryn's location.  The drow laughs coughing up more blood.  "Well that's an easy choice... death!" he hisses in pain a constant sneer of hatred on his face.  A large pool of blood begins to form under his leg that still has two arrows embedded in it.  His face though dark skinned becomes more pale with each passing second as he begins to bleed out.  His sword still gripped tightly in his hand and shakily raised in a defensive posture.  He locks eyes with Aryn a look of contempt and determination of his face, then his focus shifts to the rest of the group quickly approaching and smiles.  "Finally a worthy challenge for us." he says aloud almost as if he were speaking to an unseen third party.  he once again locks eyes with Aryn as if daring her to approach before his eyes roll back and his body goes limp.  His chest expands and contracts twice as he takes his last breaths just as the group arrives to the scene.  

(End of combat)

You find Aryn leaning over a drow body still clutching a slightly curved and jagged looking scimitar that has a baked on black coating that gives the appearance of being shrouded in shadows of its own creation.  A small hand crossbow strapped to his leather belt hangs off to one side.  It is difficult to tell the age of drow since they hardly allow sunlight to age their skin but his face shows numerous scars that depict a difficult and dangerous life.  Dark blood seeps from the corner of his mouth while a large pool of blood soaks the ground around his leg.  

As Torq arrives he'll look over the body and turn to Gaelin and Mucor.  "Revive him!  Aryn help me restrain him.  Jinara and Rowan, do you have any spells that can hold him?"  He'd quickly grab and search for weapons and toss them to the side then pull out rope and assist Aryn in tying him up.

Gaelin will pull out the arrows and cast Cure Wounds on the drow’s leg and wait about 20 seconds before casting Revivify. 

Medicine:  19

15

Aryn & Torq quickly disarm and bind the drow while Gaelin, Mucor and Rowan tend to his injuries ensuring the fatal wound in his leg would not kill him immediately upon being revived.  During this a small crowd has gathered around to see the commotion.  Jinara and Valeera immediately disperse the crowd and return to the task of monitoring the individual and area.  Jinara stands ready to dispatch the drow while Rowan summons vines that further restrict his body.  Gaelin releases his spell and a strong jolt appears to run through the limp body.  The eyes of the drow open in surprise and immediately squint in anger as he sees the group standing around him.  He begins mumbling in an unknown language but you guess from the sound and cadence that he is cursing under his breath.

He breathes in deeply and examines his body and leg tensing the muscles and looks back at you with a huff.  "Do what you will.  I shall never speak from this moment on."  His eyes move from person to person locking gazes long enough for you to see that he means to uphold to his statement then looks down at himself and breathes slowly in frustration.

Gaelin will look down at the drow and cast [Tooltip Not Found] to try to shift the feelings of the drow towards himself and the group.  Then he'll turn to look over Aryn for the first time and see how injured she is. "Are you alright?  You look pretty rough... " he whispers to her while he tries to subtly lets his staff rest against her shoulder and uses 4 charges to cast Cure Wounds on Aryn healing 35.

CHA save 18 or he becomes indifferent rather than hostile.

"I'm fine... but I might need your help later... I think a werewolf got me again." she replies then exhales deeply as the healing energy hits her.  "Thanks..." she says with a small pat of her borther's shoulder.  "Now let's get some information."

Jinara- make a perception check!

Aryn or Torq- make an investigation check!

Drow CHA Save:  18

Gaelin- after some investigation of your prepared spells and their descriptions, I think you're casting Calm Emotions.

You watch as Gaelin produces a shimmering aura around the group that glows and glitters in the air.  Collecting around the drow are tiny glowing orbs of arcane energy.  The orbs flash and disappear as the drow cackles to himself continuing to stare down and shrugging off the effect.  Gaelin, you get the sense that were you to try again his resolve to resist would be strengthened slightly.  (He'll get an additional +2 to his saving throw for each successive casting.)

(Good idea though.)

Perception = 21

Jinara reaches into his cloak and pulls out a small vial of purple liquid and tosses it to Gaelin. "Here use this. If you probe to deep, he will know..." Jinara says (its a Potion of Mind Reading

He turns to the drow with eyes closed, (assuming Gaelin does it) awaits for Gaelin to administer the potion, and says in celestial "guide me" and casts Guidance himself. He opens his eyes to reveal his black eyes with silver rings glaring at the drow, then switch to elvish and says "You find yourself in a difficult situation. My friend [pointing to Aryn] wants and is capable of killing you. The other wants to help you. See you raised suspicion during the gathering earlier and that is why she followed you. Your presence here is foreign to the locals and, seeing the weapons you are wielding, only confirms her suspicion in my mind. Your cooperation in this moment will result in a better outcome for everyone. Help us understand why your are scouting here and why your queen has interest in the Mithrend Vale."

Aiming for persuasion for 1 of 2 outcomes (depending on rolls, I assume). #1 would be for him to talk. #2 would be for him to think the answer for Gaelin to hear. My guidance will be added and I will use my inspiration. Depending on his response either verbally or mentally will dictate my next action.

Persuasion = 19 Guidance = 3 Total = XX

Seeing Aryn was OK and his companions were alright, Mucor would look down to the drow and scoff. "I bet I could get him to talk, there are a lot worse things than death... a  lot more painful things than death..." he would say as he locks eyes with the Drow. "Did you know that I know how to help people regrow limbs.... " He would say as he crouches down next the the bloodied elf. "I could just keep cutting pieces off... over and over again... and when I run out... i can just... make them all come back." He would add as he innocently holds his hand and mouths the word "poof"... "Then if I get tired.. I could introduce you to a few of your zombified friends from down by the river... We could encase your feet in stone so you cannot move while they chew on you where you stand... all the while ensuring that you never actually die..." He would finish before standing up. "So... are you sure you don't want to have a nice conversation with us?"

Intimidation? 7 (Rolling again if I get advantage from help of scary looking friends in the background :P) 11 plus guidance 3

not that it matters because AWFUL rolls... I hope the persuasion works :D

Investigation:  18

Aryn shakes her head and leans over to Mucor before she whispers in his ear, "Maybe you should put your hands down...I think it might be too scary for him to handle right now..." She did her best not to smile as Mucor once again had his index fingers pointing straight up from the top of his head like horns.  She'd turn back to teh drow and begin rifling through his clothes and belongings searching for anything of value or importance.

(dang it... also thanks for the bailout Jinara and lmao @ Aryn/Mucor   Poor Mucor...)

Gaelin will accept the potion from Jinara and immediately drink the potion and begin reading the thoughts of the drow as Jinara talks to him.

Mucors eyes would slowly move upward and glance left to right towards his fingers. After letting out a sigh he would reply with a snort and a grin. "Hey... I had horns for a long time and I was much more threatening a few days ago... Now that I am pretty like you, it is way harder to seem scary." He would add before quickly turning around and pointing at the driw. "But I could really hurt you! I could turn into a dot grub and burrow under your flesh and eat you from the inside out!" He would say before a flash of fear washes across his face for a moment and he turns back to Aryn. "I don't think I am as pretty as you.. you are way prettier than me.. I mean uh... nevermind"

(dying...lol...)

Aryn- you search his cloak and trouser pockets finding nothing but a few gold coins (5 gold) and a hidden dagger that you missed while the body was lying on its back.  The dagger appears to be made of the same dark metal and bares the same shadowy visage.  You look over the weapons and find them to be of outstanding quality.  The metal itself seems both familiar and foreign.  The hand crossbow appears to be fashioned for concealment with it's sleak curves and small but rigid form and the front seems to be coated in a thick sap that coats the bolts.  DC16 Medicine or Nature check to discover that the sap is a strong type of poison.

Mucor-The drow scoffs at first as you speak turning his gaze from Jinara to meet yours then Jinara abruptly grabs his face and turns it back to look at him.  You continue your speech feeling as though it is making an impact and watch as the plethora of words from both you and Jinara are making an impact.

Gaelin- As JInara speaks you see images of a young drow training, being beaten, tortured and trained again.  Flashes of battles and a very elegantly dressed female drow giving orders. Then of a human male mage dressed in white and red robes who seems to be in the company of the elegant female drow.  They converse and he begins casting spells at her direction. Then as Jinara seems to break through the defenses of the drow you see a small child in a snow covered forest playing with other children.  Then you see a tear fall from the drow's eye and he begins to speak.

Jinara- you are too focused on the task of interrogation to notice anything about his person that catches your eye or anything happening around you.  Your vision seems to tunnel as you try to lock eyes eventually grasping the drow by the chin and lifting it to meet your gaze.  As you speak you can see the determination in his eyes begin to melt away showing you a flicker of hope in them.  His focus turns to Mucor who speaks but you turn his chin and make him look back at you while Mucor rambles.  The air around you seems to glimmer with arcane or divine energy and for a split second ethereal wings flash into existence from your back them disappear in the blink of an eye.  A tear forms in the drow's eye and rolls down his cheek. "The queen... has always sought to claim the howling forest.  Both sides are in a constant state of war, even if it is unseeen.  The disappearance of the dragon defending Mithrend Vale was the perfect opportunity to begin the invasion.  She sent many of us to scout ahead, blend in and observe.  Your friend is quite formidable.  If you are all as equally skilled you should stand a good chance of repelling the assault.  I don't know when it's coming, my only duty was to observe and report.  She has been warned though.  She may even be watching us still.  She has powerful magicians... one in particular... Wymeron.  A strange human but quite powerful...."  At the name of Wymeron the air around you crackles with heat.  You clinch your fist as you remember the cruel leader of your temple in the city of Zago and realize everything you were told by him was a lie.  The drow begins to choke from an unseen source as your rage builds.    Make a wisdom saving throw!

(*eats popcorn* This is getting good.)

ooc: I thought for sure we were all going to explode again from a surprise fireball. Mucor is extremely flammable it seems lol

(We could still if Jinara chooses.  ;)   )

Medicine:   13

Wisdom Save = 7

Jinara stern but calm demeanor physically changes after hearing the name Wymeron. (For anyone observing), the silver gleam of the arcane energy begins to turn a gold-ish orange, resembling the once golden scales on his forearms. The silver ring in his eyes disappears leaving full black voids where his eyes should be. (Do I notice the choking?) His peripheral vision seems to tunnel and his comrades, who have fought bravely beside him seem to be lost in his eyes to where he only sees this drow. 

(Xtra, if I am able to do this in my current state of mind, I think it would be cool. I am going to use the wings at the catalyst. If not, just ignore and I totally understand)

If Xtra is nice lol -- 

Lightbringers - From the flash of light that oddly appeared to resemble wings on Jinara's back, you see this apparent energy around Jinara begin to coalesce around him and the drow has he hold his chin forward and locking eyes with him. You hear him say in elvish "Wymeron.." before the sentence transitions to language none of you fully understand (Torq may be able to catch the gist knowing Auran since it dialect of Primordial. I want everyone to envision a super scary voice when you hear primordial lol) "is someone I aim to meet again." As he finishes, you all see a small bead float out of his cloak and the energy in the air get pulled into the bead like light in a black hole. In a flash, a globe of silver energy expands out 40 ft in all directions. (I am casting Globe of Invulnerability spending 2 sp for extend spell and distant spell. If anyone is inside that 40 ft radius, then they are protected. Obviously myself and the drow is inside). 

Drow - (rewrite this if you think the drow would respond differently. i am going based on my roll and your explanation of his response to my persuasion check) With the surprise of this being's persuasion, the drow releases his guard ever so slightly revealing the information. As he finishes, the drow notices the energy beginning to coalesce around him and this arcane practitioner (I assume he would not know that I am an aasimar or a sorcerer). A single bead floats up and pulls in the energy before a flash. It blinds him but for a second before everything returns to normal. His breath is a bit rapid out of instinct, but remains as his tortures and training have prepared him for interrogations. 

All can hear this - Jinara reacts quickly after the spell is cast and says "I see the pain on your face. Fear of us, maybe, but I don't think an scout as armed and skilled as you would let your fear us show so quickly. In this moment, you have a choice of paths you wish to follow. One is the path you are currently on. Continue following your queen and fulfilling your lost cause of trying to claim the howling forest. Your pain will continue and you will perish. Your queen will fail. The other path is one of redemption. You know more than I think you are sharing. Aid us in the upcoming attack by providing any and all information you have and we will provide you sanctuary and do our best to offer the same to any of your family that you wish so long as they understand the conditions that apply to you apply to them. Your plight will be done and you will be able to live a peaceful life. We will need your help and your loyalty if you choose this path. Choose now and be confident in what you choose. Without confident, our trust waivers."

(My intention with the globe is the block any scrying or tracing during this 2 minute window. I do not want whomever is watching to hear/see this nor read the minds of any team member as I assume all are within 40 ft of the drow. I am not trying to intimidate, but I understand if the drow responds in that way. I am aiming for persuasion by all account but you, Xtra, know him and how he would respond. I am rolling persuasion below. if it is intimidation, just subtract 5 from it. 

Persuasion = 24

(There is more I want to ask in this 2 minutes, but I will wait to see how this goes.)

(@Jinara- with your perception you would not notice the choking, however you don't obliterate him since you made your save.

You see the drow's eye flare with surprise and blink rapidly as the flash of light momentarily blinds him.  The air around the group become more hospitable as Jinara controls his emotions by focusing them in a different means.  He steadies his breathing and listens to your offer with a cool resolve but appears to be much more amiable than before as he peers around at the shimmering barrier of arcane energy around the group.  As he speaks his voice now sounds raspy and solemn, "I...I have no family.  To be a shadowblade means that you are chosen.  The chosen have no family because... because we destroy them with our own hands.  I have nothing in this life to live for other than myself.  I... I am tired of this never ending conflict.  I am tired of the lies and death but I do not know if you are capable of protecting me.  Fear not, I accept my death.  I have faced death many times and welcome it now as I feel it may be the only way to find peace... or at least an end..." he chuckles to himself, "No group of your size could defeat the queen in her fortress... not even the armies of the high elves and wood elves could be triumphant.  Much like the fortresses to the north, they are too well equipped and defended." He pauses breathing slowly.  His face seems to have aged slightly and he continues,   "However, to get to Wymeron on the other hand would not be as hard.  If that is your target, child of the gods." he says in primordial looking at Jinara with a grin.  You aren't sure if he's accepted your offer or refused it but he seems to be hovering on the line between both.

Jinara ponds for but a few seconds and responds in elvish "I am sorry that you had to experience that pain. I never new my parents. I still do not. Killing them I am sure leaves an emotional scar, but you do not have to embrace death today. The conflict never goes away regardless of the plane you exist in. The difference is the side of the fight you choose. Look at the villagers around the howling forest. Name me one incursion they have do to you. And do not underestimate the our band. We have felled gods, mages, lycans, vampires, and dragons. Our offer includes this expertise. The experience that shaped your life would provide the insight that would give us the chance to stop the attack on these villages. Let this be the end you seek. The end of this chapter the beginning of a new one where you determine your resolve in the conflict for the good." he switches to primordial "Wymeron led my temple for years. He rose in ranks fast. During his tutelage Wymeron kept secrets from me about my heritage and lineage. I aim to figure out what else he has kept from me." 

(If drow has not given a concrete response )-- He waits until he has about 18 seconds left of the globe and says in elvish "Time runs short dark elf. Make your choice." He looks momentarily at Aryn to make sure her weapons are drawn and ready for attack, then looks back at the drow.