“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.
Your master continues....
“Talien... a Samurai is a fighter who draws on an implacable fighting spirit to overcome enemies.”
He suddenly draws a large curved steel sword that resembles a katana and in the blink of an eye slashes it down at you.
You quickly raise your gauntleted hands and catch the blade between your palms....
”Good! You’re learning.”
“Now...”
”A Samurai’s resolve is nearly unbreakable, and the enemies in a Samurai’s path have two choices: yield or die fighting.”
Your master sweeps behind your knee and flattens you onto your back.
”Yield?” Your master asks.
You roll to the side then spring back up and attack your master ferociously... though he drops the sword and dodges every blown perfectly he smiles and says.
”Excellent! But, to slow... remember chaos!”
You smile in turn and suddenly shift directions to land a blow on your master.
”Ahah! Perfect Talien” He exclaims, “Your intensity in battle can shield you and help you strike true. Remember to harness your chaotic nature and keep the enemy off balance.”
”Alas, this is all I have to teach you for how... Go forth to your next battle and honor your master!”
The vision fades as your system finishes it’s reboot cycle. Your eyes suddenly flicker back on and the dungeon room and your friends register in your vision sensors.
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.
The timbre of Alten's voice might be subtly different. If you had never met him, it wouldn't be anything that stands out (reflected by the new text color).
But to your ear, it may sound slightly . . . chillier, cooler, darker. Maybe a notch deeper or harsher?
I'll let Fenris add any other details he wants for that role.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Taliens eyes relight purple. He moves and begins to polish his collection of weapons. His eyes seem to wander all over the room and at everyone else, almost expectingly at their weaponry.
Perception to see if Rees noticed anything odd with Alten: 21
You notice Alten kneeling and hear him muttering to himself. It seems like he’s having a conversation, but you do not hear any other voices. So you figure he is just struggling with his faith and the path he is on. At some point you here him gasp... then he stands up and addresses the group and you notice his purple eyes...
The timbre of Alten's voice might be subtly different. If you had never met him, it wouldn't be anything that stands out (reflected by the new text color).
But to your ear, it may sound slightly . . . chillier, cooler, darker. Maybe a notch deeper or harsher?
I'll let Fenris add any other details he wants for that role.
Meepo sniffs the air as Alten finishes speaking. He sticks his tongue out and seems to frown slightly, but says nothing aloud in front of the group.
Talien will swipe up the daggers and club and clean them, once they are cleaned he will add them to his pack. He will then move over to Rees. He says to her not quietly but you seem to think he means this only for you, Rees, I do not understand why you do what you did in the past. This world makes little sense to me. I wanted to just let you know that I feel like I am changing. I am getting stronger but the way I think is changing too. He moves closer to her and reaches for her sword while watching her reaction to this.
Talien will swipe up the daggers and club and clean them, once they are cleaned he will add them to his pack. He will then move over to Rees. He says to her not quietly but you seem to think he means this only for you, Rees, I do not understand why you do what you did in the past. This world makes little sense to me. I wanted to just let you know that I feel like I am changing. I am getting stronger but the way I think is changing too. He moves closer to her and reaches for her sword while watching her reaction to this.
Rees frowns slightly at Alten, studying his face. "I was shot by two arrows, but they were just glancing scrapes. I'll be alright."
Turning to Talien she sighs and shrugs. "I know you don't understand and I don't know how to make you understand. But hey, change can be a good thing."She'll hand him her sword.
Rees will sit and begin to patch up the wounds she took from the arrows.
Hit dice: 5
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Your master continues....
“Talien... a Samurai is a fighter who draws on an implacable fighting spirit to overcome enemies.”
He suddenly draws a large curved steel sword that resembles a katana and in the blink of an eye slashes it down at you.
You quickly raise your gauntleted hands and catch the blade between your palms....
”Good! You’re learning.”
“Now...”
”A Samurai’s resolve is nearly unbreakable, and the enemies in a Samurai’s path have two choices: yield or die fighting.”
Your master sweeps behind your knee and flattens you onto your back.
”Yield?” Your master asks.
You roll to the side then spring back up and attack your master ferociously... though he drops the sword and dodges every blown perfectly he smiles and says.
”Excellent! But, to slow... remember chaos!”
You smile in turn and suddenly shift directions to land a blow on your master.
”Ahah! Perfect Talien” He exclaims, “Your intensity in battle can shield you and help you strike true. Remember to harness your chaotic nature and keep the enemy off balance.”
”Alas, this is all I have to teach you for how... Go forth to your next battle and honor your master!”
The vision fades as your system finishes it’s reboot cycle. Your eyes suddenly flicker back on and the dungeon room and your friends register in your vision sensors.
Edit: Formatting.
Interlude 2:
Alten Johan
(First Interlude)
...Silence...
1 minute passes...
...no response...
2 more minutes pass...
...quite...
5 more minutes pass...
...Silence...
Perhaps Torm did not hear Alten prayer?
...He offers another and patiently awaits a response...
...5...6...7...8...9...
SILENCE!
Then....a deep rich leathery voice finally breaks the unbearable silence pressing down on Alten's conscious...
"Hrrmmm...
He ignores you still... despite your prostrations...
Look at you Alten... knee bent... head cast down despite your display of heroics and valor this day..
He still deems you unworthy you know...
And what a sham he is!
How fickle are these gods Alten?
I have lived long enough to tell you -- fickle indeed!
Hrmm....
I grow bored Alten. It is time I see the world again.
You have had time to consider my offer... And now I see you have little choice, but to accept.
Fear not though!...
For I will share my power, my knowledge, and my wisdom with you... All things Torm will never offer you a shred of might I add.
What's more...
I offer you revenge. I offer you Urgat!
What say you Alten?
One word is all I require..... Yey, or Ney?"
.....Yey.....
Alten's glaive suddenly swell's with pulsing amethyst light! His ears well with a thumping like a great heartbeat... Thump-thump! Thump-thump!....
Our paladin stares at the weapon and considers for a moment....
He closes his eyes....
Darkness... SCREAMS.... smoke.... Fire.
The of the screams of the children.....
A burning village....
"Waaaarrrgghhhhhhhh!"
Blade raised the orc charges you again....
And again a blade emerges from its chest....
[Alten thinking in his head]: But this time the blade is different!.... It is radiating with a dull amethyst light you did not see before!
The orc falls dead to the ground once more revealing the silver armored knight behind...
The knight opens its visor and reveals....
the face of Alten Johan.
Eyes still closed Alten reaches for the glaive... he grabs it as tendrils of purple light begin to wrap around his wrist then up his arm!
The tendrils quickly envelope him and then disappear from sight! And Alten's eyes snap open...
Where Alten's eyes were once grey, they now appear amethyst... the pupils are no longer round, but long and ovular like that of a cat...
The inside of Alten's left wrist also begins to itch... but he pays it no mind as he feels new power coursing through his veins...
He raises his head... and stands as a voice in his mind's eye says...
Hrrmmm.... As promised... here is a taste of our power.
Alten stands, turns, and looks at his comrades
Once everyone is rested, healed up, and ready to go, let's finish this.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
“Yeah... that’s the plan, Alten.”
Perception to see if Rees noticed anything odd with Alten: 21
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
The timbre of Alten's voice might be subtly different. If you had never met him, it wouldn't be anything that stands out (reflected by the new text color).
But to your ear, it may sound slightly . . . chillier, cooler, darker. Maybe a notch deeper or harsher?
I'll let Fenris add any other details he wants for that role.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Taliens eyes relight purple. He moves and begins to polish his collection of weapons. His eyes seem to wander all over the room and at everyone else, almost expectingly at their weaponry.
Warforged Fighter Talien
Talien, Rees grabbed a spiked club and 2 rusty daggers from the goblin/bugbear bodies for you, I don’t know if you saw in an earlier post.
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
You notice Alten kneeling and hear him muttering to himself. It seems like he’s having a conversation, but you do not hear any other voices. So you figure he is just struggling with his faith and the path he is on. At some point you here him gasp... then he stands up and addresses the group and you notice his purple eyes...
Meepo sniffs the air as Alten finishes speaking. He sticks his tongue out and seems to frown slightly, but says nothing aloud in front of the group.
"Everything alright, Alten?"
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Did she hand them to him yet? I saw she grabbed it for him. Didn't see her hand over 'the goods'
Warforged Fighter Talien
now that you mention it, I don't think she did. But we can assume she'd set them beside him while he was "meditating" at the beginning of the rest?
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Yep. I'm feeling pretty good, all things considered. You good? You weren't injured in the last fight were you?
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Perfect Rebel.
Talien will swipe up the daggers and club and clean them, once they are cleaned he will add them to his pack. He will then move over to Rees. He says to her not quietly but you seem to think he means this only for you, Rees, I do not understand why you do what you did in the past. This world makes little sense to me. I wanted to just let you know that I feel like I am changing. I am getting stronger but the way I think is changing too. He moves closer to her and reaches for her sword while watching her reaction to this.
Warforged Fighter Talien
Rees frowns slightly at Alten, studying his face. "I was shot by two arrows, but they were just glancing scrapes. I'll be alright."
Turning to Talien she sighs and shrugs. "I know you don't understand and I don't know how to make you understand. But hey, change can be a good thing." She'll hand him her sword.
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
To Rees
Sorry. I didn't see that. Do you need any help?
Looking over at Meepo
How about you Meepo?
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Meepo puts a clawed talon to his chin and scratches it as if in deep thought, “Meepo good....”
He edges closer to you and gets right up into your space, “Meepo help Alten??” He asks almost reverently...
"No, I don't think so. I bandaged myself up, should be alright."
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
Alten looks and sounds a little bemused or puzzled at Meepo
No. I don't think so. But . . . Thanks.
His statement ends with a up raised syllable, halfway between a question and a statement.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus