Talien remains motionless and says nothing, but his eyes turn purple for a brief moment at Reed's words. Then they return back to an unlit state, dark grey.
Shake whoops with relief as the cage opens. He goes to the chest and pulls out some trousers and a studded leather armor and starts to put them on.
"Thank you all so much. I thought I would never get out of there. You still haven't told me what you are doing down here, but whatever it is I will help you. It's the least I could do, and besides, I don't want to be alone in here anymore."
Shake pulls out his "instrument tuner" and tries to pick the lock of his cage.
Lock pick = 25
Shake makes quick work of the lock and there is a slightly audible click as the mechanism opens. His deft movements may make others feel somewhat abashed at their inability to open the lock while Shake accomplished the feat with a simple “instrument tuner”.
We're down here for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we were hired to obtain a wand. At this point, I'm guessing Balek probably has or uses it. There is also a magic apple tree down here. We were asked to secure one of the apples, but the person who asked us to do that was an imposter, impersonating the local priest.
Talien also is looking for a hammer. We're also looking for information about "The Iron Hand" which the imposter appears to belong to. Any of that ring a bell for you?
"Nice to meet you Alten," Shake says making a formal motion of greeting. After hearing what the party is looking for Shake thinks for a moment then says, "Nope, none of that rings any bells. I did hear that there was some pretty great treasure being kept down here, but nothing specific."
We just killed a couple of Bugbears and 3 or 4 goblins. We've got no idea how many more Balek might have, unless you've got some sort of count Shake?
I've got a tiny bit of healing left (1 hd and Lay on Hands) but I'm out of spells until I get a chance to pray in the morning. I would certainly feel better going against Balek at full strength, but I'm willing to push on if we want to try to finish this now.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Do you guys want a Short or Long rest then? A long rest will have you back up around 9-10pm as it is only early afternoon. That’s good if you want a “night op”... not so much if you don’t.
OOC: if it is that early in the day, I'm thinking a short rest might be in order. I thought it had been closer to a full day. Assuming Balek is down here, a short rest keeps more of an element of surprise. I would expect him to discover all the dead creatures and either fortify or come hunting if we tried to long rest down here.
The alternate is to fully withdraw & come tomorrow, knowing it gives him time to prepare.
Thoughts?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
OOc: a long rest would help, with making this fight make more sense... but we do kinda have him surprised...
to Alten & Rees: i have a few tricks up my sleeve as i have started to make some sense of a new tier of magic but i dont have much energy left for much of that..
"I only saw the one bugbear and a couple goblins at a time. Honestly, I can't tell you how many I saw all together. The bastards all look like each other." Shake listens to the discussion and looks the party over. "If you guys are going to take on Balek then count me in, although I would like a share of the loot. I'll be useful. I have a bit of bardic healing and a few other tricks of my trade. And, also, I'm well rested. I've been languishing in that cage for a long time with nothing to do but rest. If you guys need to sleep I can keep watch." Shake's fingers twitch!!"
“Most warforged take comfort in order and discipline, tending toward law and neutrality. But some have absorbed the morality, or lack thereof, of the beings with which they served.” ~Eberon: Rising from the Last War
We find our Warforged, Talien inert once again standing at rest in the corner of a dimly lit dungeon room on the subterranean floor of the Sunless Citadel. Talien’s internal processes have taken over once more and are working to patch the wounds he received in battle this day. Pale white light emits from his eyes as his body seemingly knits itself back together whilst his tactical system assess the new data acquired since his last core update. Talien’s eyes suddenly go blank as his system power cycles and his mind goes blank once again.....
Talien you find yourself again inside your mind’s eye... some may say your soul... or spirit... whatever it is all you can see is pure white light. You suddenly hear the pop of a hinged door opening on your chest, then the familiar whirling sound as the metallic ball emerges from your chest landing on where the floor should be to protect an image of your master....
“Talien... I did not expect to convey this message so soon after our first conversation, but you have reached a new level of ability so quickly. I have no doubt now that choosing you as a student was the correct choice. I have more instruction for you... information and knowledge to pass on to you to make you better in combat and logic. Indeed... logic. My observations have shown me that you have embraced the subroutines utilized by your comrades that create randomness.... I will teach you how to harness this chaos and use it to your advantage. Are you ready Talien?”
DM Note:
@Sorvas, Talien’s alignment is now Chaoticbased on his interactions with the world and the other PCs. This isn’t good, or bad and can change again based on his future actions.
Since we started this game with Wayfinders Guide you can stick to that for level up options and change your armor if you’d like during your short rest. DM me if you have any specific questions please.
Alten kneels in prayer to Torm. He asks for Torm's assistance in bringing his comrades safely and successfully thru their venture and his guidances in the fight that is coming.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
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"Sorry, he's a little...odd. Very touchy about truth, especially today," Rees says, glancing over at Talien then back at Shake with a shrug.
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Talien remains motionless and says nothing, but his eyes turn purple for a brief moment at Reed's words. Then they return back to an unlit state, dark grey.
Warforged Fighter Talien
Shake pulls out his "instrument tuner" and tries to pick the lock of his cage.
Lock pick = 9
Shake - Fenris Worldsbane's Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citidal
Randy Doe - Water Deep: Dragon Heist
My Thingiverse Profile
Shake whoops with relief as the cage opens. He goes to the chest and pulls out some trousers and a studded leather armor and starts to put them on.
"Thank you all so much. I thought I would never get out of there. You still haven't told me what you are doing down here, but whatever it is I will help you. It's the least I could do, and besides, I don't want to be alone in here anymore."
Shake - Fenris Worldsbane's Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citidal
Randy Doe - Water Deep: Dragon Heist
My Thingiverse Profile
Shake makes quick work of the lock and there is a slightly audible click as the mechanism opens. His deft movements may make others feel somewhat abashed at their inability to open the lock while Shake accomplished the feat with a simple “instrument tuner”.
We're down here for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, we were hired to obtain a wand. At this point, I'm guessing Balek probably has or uses it. There is also a magic apple tree down here. We were asked to secure one of the apples, but the person who asked us to do that was an imposter, impersonating the local priest.
Talien also is looking for a hammer. We're also looking for information about "The Iron Hand" which the imposter appears to belong to. Any of that ring a bell for you?
I'm Alten, by the way.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Looking at the original party
Are we taking a breather or are we looking for somewhere to settle down for the night?
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Did anyone ever search the bodies of all the bugbears and goblins?
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Shake listen's to Alten carefully,
"Nice to meet you Alten," Shake says making a formal motion of greeting. After hearing what the party is looking for Shake thinks for a moment then says, "Nope, none of that rings any bells. I did hear that there was some pretty great treasure being kept down here, but nothing specific."
Shake - Fenris Worldsbane's Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citidal
Randy Doe - Water Deep: Dragon Heist
My Thingiverse Profile
Yes Rees did...
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/play-by-post/37396-tftyp-part-1-the-sunless-citadel-dm?comment=3735
"It looks as though Talien is...settled in. I wouldn't mind at least a short break to patch myself up a bit. I'm Rees, by the way."
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
We just killed a couple of Bugbears and 3 or 4 goblins. We've got no idea how many more Balek might have, unless you've got some sort of count Shake?
I've got a tiny bit of healing left (1 hd and Lay on Hands) but I'm out of spells until I get a chance to pray in the morning. I would certainly feel better going against Balek at full strength, but I'm willing to push on if we want to try to finish this now.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
DM Note:
Do you guys want a Short or Long rest then? A long rest will have you back up around 9-10pm as it is only early afternoon. That’s good if you want a “night op”... not so much if you don’t.
OOC: if it is that early in the day, I'm thinking a short rest might be in order. I thought it had been closer to a full day. Assuming Balek is down here, a short rest keeps more of an element of surprise. I would expect him to discover all the dead creatures and either fortify or come hunting if we tried to long rest down here.
The alternate is to fully withdraw & come tomorrow, knowing it gives him time to prepare.
Thoughts?
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
OOc: a long rest would help, with making this fight make more sense... but we do kinda have him surprised...
to Alten & Rees: i have a few tricks up my sleeve as i have started to make some sense of a new tier of magic but i dont have much energy left for much of that..
Grombrindal "The White Dwarf" (Dwarf - Wizard) - Fenris_Worldsbane's Tales from the Yawning Portal

"I only saw the one bugbear and a couple goblins at a time. Honestly, I can't tell you how many I saw all together. The bastards all look like each other." Shake listens to the discussion and looks the party over. "If you guys are going to take on Balek then count me in, although I would like a share of the loot. I'll be useful. I have a bit of bardic healing and a few other tricks of my trade. And, also, I'm well rested. I've been languishing in that cage for a long time with nothing to do but rest. If you guys need to sleep I can keep watch." Shake's fingers twitch!!"
Shake - Fenris Worldsbane's Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citidal
Randy Doe - Water Deep: Dragon Heist
My Thingiverse Profile
DM Note:
Looks like a short rest.. those of you who want to spend hit die, please roll here. I’ll start the interludes (level ups)
Interlude 2:
Talien
(First Interlude)
“Most warforged take comfort in order and discipline, tending toward law and neutrality. But some have absorbed the morality, or lack thereof, of the beings with which they served.” ~Eberon: Rising from the Last War
We find our Warforged, Talien inert once again standing at rest in the corner of a dimly lit dungeon room on the subterranean floor of the Sunless Citadel. Talien’s internal processes have taken over once more and are working to patch the wounds he received in battle this day. Pale white light emits from his eyes as his body seemingly knits itself back together whilst his tactical system assess the new data acquired since his last core update. Talien’s eyes suddenly go blank as his system power cycles and his mind goes blank once again.....
Talien you find yourself again inside your mind’s eye... some may say your soul... or spirit... whatever it is all you can see is pure white light. You suddenly hear the pop of a hinged door opening on your chest, then the familiar whirling sound as the metallic ball emerges from your chest landing on where the floor should be to protect an image of your master....
“Talien... I did not expect to convey this message so soon after our first conversation, but you have reached a new level of ability so quickly. I have no doubt now that choosing you as a student was the correct choice. I have more instruction for you... information and knowledge to pass on to you to make you better in combat and logic. Indeed... logic. My observations have shown me that you have embraced the subroutines utilized by your comrades that create randomness.... I will teach you how to harness this chaos and use it to your advantage. Are you ready Talien?”
DM Note:
@Sorvas, Talien’s alignment is now Chaoticbased on his interactions with the world and the other PCs. This isn’t good, or bad and can change again based on his future actions.
Since we started this game with Wayfinders Guide you can stick to that for level up options and change your armor if you’d like during your short rest. DM me if you have any specific questions please.
Edit: Formatting
Ooc it didn't remember seeing Rees chime in & and was halfway waiting for Arxius to say something :)
Hitdice 11
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Alten kneels in prayer to Torm. He asks for Torm's assistance in bringing his comrades safely and successfully thru their venture and his guidances in the fight that is coming.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus