The Long Road of the Mage King (Game Thread)

Muscles tense and eyes flickering with flame, Feytok climbs down from the carriage, bringing his few belongings with him. He strides up to the left guard, who is holding the door open still, and says, "I am ready to face my end."

The minotaur snorts. "You rightly believe you might die in the Trial," he says.

"No," says Feytok. "I know I will."

"And you would still....I like this one," says the guard, turning to the other.

“Feytock, will you look at me?”

If Feytock turns Gash will conjure a little figurine of Feytock making sure he got all the features just right. “I hope you’re wrong friend. I am going to have this replicated into a real figurine. I hope to give it to you when I see you on the other side. Otherwise, know that we will never forget you. You are a hero. And you’re very very brave.”

About every 40 minutes Gash will re-conjure the figuring to not lose any detail in his mind. 

"As much as I would love to take the trial I think I am the fastest way for Gash to get back."

Dog volunteers for the trial, handing over the bag of holding after pulling out the healing potions and distributing them to his friends and taking one for himself.

"Do people face separate trials alone or as a group?" He looks at his friends, specifically FeyTok. "I have to do this to get them back. I'll do whatever it takes. We've been through so much and have barely stopped. It feels like it's been months but it's barely been weeks. We can do this. Whatever this is. Who's with me?"

He looks back at the minotaurs. "What are your names? I'm Dog. I'm ready."

Quote from Myk9ma >>

"As much as I would love to take the trial I think I am the fastest way for Gash to get back."

 Gash climbs down off the cart, "Keyrie, you're right. You're faster. You can probably lead our horses better too. If you think it's wise, then I will go into the trial. I don't know how tough or good I am but I can make Feytock and Dog better... You go to the next town. We will see you there." 

He takes the bag and hands it to Keyrie, "Take care. Be safe."

Gash approaches the gate and the guards, "The Galvanizing Gregory is here! Ready to enter."

"I believe in you all, I will find a place to keep the horses then rush back, I expect to see you all waiting for me. Before I go, take these." Keyrie casts good berry four times and hands over all 40 berries. "Eating a berry will heal you for one health, and they can magically sustain you for a day. They only last 24 hours though I hope they will help." Keyrie climbs into the carriage, "Come on Myon, lets go."

Gash, Tock, Dog, and Feytok step into the portal as Myon and Keyrie lead the horses and the carriage back through the woods to the Long Road. Feytok, heading into the portal first is also the first to emerge. It is pitch black. Even his good vision is of no use. He steps forward to get out of the way of the others stepping through when he trips over a body and falls down a spiral staircase. He feels the cold hard stone on his ribs, back, head, and shoulders and he tumbles (taking 7 damage.)

Hearing Feytok's fall, Dog, Tock, and Gash are much more cautious about where they step. In the same moment, the body rouses, having previously been asleep and dumped unceremoniously at the top of the stairs in...whatever this place is. The waking figure (Stones) cannot see any better than Feytok, now at the bottom of the stairs, but can tell there are others here.

"FEYTOK! ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"

“Hello? Hello!? If you’re allies I am a moderately adorable Tabaxi caught in a Minotaur’s trap and need help! If not, I should warn you I ate a sandwich earlier and I’m not gluten free!”

"Dog, I think they're threatening us... what is gluten-free?" Gash whispers before piping up, "Hey! My name is Gregory, I think my friend is down there. Are you the test the Minotaurs outside were talkin about? Did you hurt out friend? What is gluten?!"

"I'm okay," Feytok says from the bottom of the stairs. A soft glow bounces off the walls as he summons a flame into his hands. "Just a couple of bruises. What was that?"

"FeyTok, what do you see down there? Are you okay? Who is Gluteus Free? I am sorry to hear of your plight, tabaxi. I am Doggear Brakespine and we came here to rescue some companions. Why are you here?"

Dog moves gently, minimally, and tries to use the light to get a sense of the room in which he finds himself, and listens and smells to figure out the place.

Perception: 10

"It looks like a stone passageway," Feytok says. "It turns the corner and then splits."

“Ah I apologize, it was merely a joke, a jest! Here friend, let me assist in lighting the way.” I pull out a candle and use Prestidigitation to light it. 

"Thank you for the light. Who are you? Why are you here?" Dog says, as he searches the rest of the entry (does he see the portal? is it a blank wall behind him? anything else in the top area?), and begins to descend the stairs to rejoin FeyTok. "Gregory, do you have any magic to help figure out where the heck we are and what's ahead?"

(It is a blank wall, yes.)

“I can see if there is any magic... or I could conjure a compass but that probably won’t help. I could conjure some chalk to Mark our path... not much in the way of locating or navigating though. I’m more about fire these days...”

message to dog 

”Ah forgive me! My manners have become addled. My name is Colored Stones in the Stream, but you can call me Stones. I am a traveling bard. I sing, I dance, I run with scissors! I had arrived seeking to explore and entertain the residents here, but a small misunderstanding has led me to the minor inconvenience of having to take this trial of theirs in order to return to good standing. I’m sure a fun little puzzle and all will be back to normal. And whom may I ask do I have the pleasure of sharing today’s activities with?”

“I’m Gregory. This is Dogear. The man down there that Feytok. The Minotaur have our friend and we need to pass the trial to save her. I suppose having one more body would help us out quite a lot.”

(You forgot the Kenku!)