It’s just the hypocrisy of it. Stealing someone’s else’s appearance instead of being yourself. On top of that, so far the two I’ve encountered have used their abilities for apparently evil purposes. I’m not in a trusting mood right now.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
As Talien rushes forward with the rest of the group in tow the hooded figure steps back into the hallway... you can now see a tall slender figure, the outline clearly female, wearing ranger attire with the hood still drawn...
The figure archers her back seemingly ready for a fight, or flight...
When the party gets within ten feet, the figure moves back her hood... revealing Arxius' fair scarred face...
Grom touches the ruby on his Axe and will cast light and make sure the area around us is well lit and we can all see this figure for who or what it is...
“Arxius!” Rees steps forward, hesitating slightly when Alten demanded proof. “Shouldn’t be hard to prove yourself to me, right? To make them feel better?”
“Prove myself?” She looks at the others, studying them. Anger welling up inside her. But they were right. They had already been tricked. She pulled her pack off and dropped it on the ground, taking a jade drag on statue out and holding it out to Rees. “Would you like this back? It’s almost like the figurine I first found you with. Though cleaner. And likely will not incite an angry mob.”
Rees relaxes, grinning and moving forward to wrap Arxius in an enthusiastic hug. “Gods, you’re so stupid. Running off on your own. Where are the others? What are you doing? And yes, I’ll have that back, thank you.” She took off the necklace with Arxius’ totem and held it out to her. “We can trade.”
“Obad Hai,” Arxius muttered as she took her totem back and strung it around her neck. “I do not know where they are. We were ambushed on the way out. I have not long been awake. Down there, the Druid. He was going to feed me to some tree. He’s the reason for the perversion of nature in this hell.”
"The numbskull tied me to a chair," Arxius glances back down the hallway and spits. "I have escaped from much worse in my short years. So sure of himself he left my belongings in the same room. He went out a different door, so I chose the other, and here we are."
"The room up ahead is some sort of study. He referred to it as his quarters. There were tomes and scrolls in there, but I could not read them. They could give us more information of what we are to fight. The other door - I could hear goblins bickering. At least that's what it sounded like. If I recall the map right, it's a room that opens into some sort of large grove. No doubt the tree he spoke of was there. It grows with every body he feeds it. I hope that is not where Corky and Trick ended up."
Trick left to assist Corkie with removing the doppleganger who took over her temple and is pretending to be her back in town, Arxius followed suit for her own reasons
The last chapter we started (back in March IRL) Chapter 8: The Grove Level (Part 2)began on the 5th of Summertide (sometime in the afternoon), 1495 DR
This was a level up after a long rest in which Rees asks the Traveler to look in on Arxius, but he charmingly (albeit cryptically) gets out of it
Let's not forget this later! Super interesting plot point for me :D (a twist that has been sitting in my drafts folder since March)
We've had 1-2 longs rests since then... so Arxius has only been gone for a day (2 max)...
but it doesn't really matter since nobody in the party has Keen Mind anyway (so you can't keep track of time underground)
Chatra was the doppleganger the party defeated (formerly played by @hotshotjoe, then turned NPC for story purposes)[his body could be tree food though.. who knows)
Interlude 2: Arxius
5th to the 7th of Summertide, 1495 DR
Corkie and Arxius support Trick head back to area 42 without much of a hitch until they realize there is no way to easily climb back up the hole whence you all came.
"Any ideas Arxius?" Corkie asks tiredly, "I don't know how much longer Trick can hold out... he's hurt pretty bad..."
Trick groans.
"I am a very good climber.. though it's still about 20' to the entrance of the hole... I can't think of a way up there without rope. Maybe there's something in that cavern to the north... there was an entrance, or some path there as well. I'll go scout it out real quick and see what I can find..."
"Alright, but do be quick..."
"No problem..." Arxius smiles.
She hurries to the north and enters area 43 where the bugbear hunter was defeated in hopes of finding something to aid in their predicament. Arxius looks around the area for a few minutes and when she can't find anything walks towards the unlit pathway twisting away at the back of the cave...
She pauses to think, approaches the entrance, and places both hands against the stone peering inside the gloom... she thinks better of entering and turns around to report what she found, but as she turns.... *CRACK *.... suddenly everything goes black....
It’s just the hypocrisy of it. Stealing someone’s else’s appearance instead of being yourself. On top of that, so far the two I’ve encountered have used their abilities for apparently evil purposes. I’m not in a trusting mood right now.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Rees gives Shake a questioning look but doesn't say anything, continuing forward behind Ungrim
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
As Talien rushes forward with the rest of the group in tow the hooded figure steps back into the hallway... you can now see a tall slender figure, the outline clearly female, wearing ranger attire with the hood still drawn...
The figure archers her back seemingly ready for a fight, or flight...
When the party gets within ten feet, the figure moves back her hood... revealing Arxius' fair scarred face...
Arxius puts her bow away immediately. “Rees,” she says and rushes towards her friend. “Meepo. Thank Obad Hai. I should not have left you.”
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
Alten tenses and watches it play out.
Prove it's you.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Grom touches the ruby on his Axe and will cast light and make sure the area around us is well lit and we can all see this figure for who or what it is...
Grombrindal "The White Dwarf" (Dwarf - Wizard) - Fenris_Worldsbane's Tales from the Yawning Portal
“Arxius!” Rees steps forward, hesitating slightly when Alten demanded proof. “Shouldn’t be hard to prove yourself to me, right? To make them feel better?”
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
“Prove myself?” She looks at the others, studying them. Anger welling up inside her. But they were right. They had already been tricked. She pulled her pack off and dropped it on the ground, taking a jade drag on statue out and holding it out to Rees. “Would you like this back? It’s almost like the figurine I first found you with. Though cleaner. And likely will not incite an angry mob.”
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
Yes. Proof.
Alten remains tense and alert with his hand on his Glaive.
Corkie. Chatra.
He's studying Arxius' and Rees' interactions hard. Insight: 22
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Rees relaxes, grinning and moving forward to wrap Arxius in an enthusiastic hug. “Gods, you’re so stupid. Running off on your own. Where are the others? What are you doing? And yes, I’ll have that back, thank you.” She took off the necklace with Arxius’ totem and held it out to her. “We can trade.”
Rees Changeling Rogue in Tales From the Yawning Portal: Sunless Citadel
Nikya Centaur Blood Hunter in Death House Halloween Oneshot
“Obad Hai,” Arxius muttered as she took her totem back and strung it around her neck. “I do not know where they are. We were ambushed on the way out. I have not long been awake. Down there, the Druid. He was going to feed me to some tree. He’s the reason for the perversion of nature in this hell.”
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
How did you get away? And with your stuff?
OOC: Arxius and the others left 2 days ago? I've lost track of the time.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
"The numbskull tied me to a chair," Arxius glances back down the hallway and spits. "I have escaped from much worse in my short years. So sure of himself he left my belongings in the same room. He went out a different door, so I chose the other, and here we are."
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
That was either stupid or convenient. Just one more question. If you answer this one and aren’t the real Arxius, then we’re screwed no matter what.
What does Talien want you and Grom to show him when we get out of here?
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
Arxius grimaces. "The Big Guy still wants a baby, I take it? Though he seems far more interested in Rees."
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
Alden cocks his head to the side.
I guess it’s either - you’re her or we’re screwed.
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
"Happy to screw either way if you're so intent on it, Alten," Arxius smirks. "But perhaps after dealing with the Druid and the man-eating tree."
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
Alten’s face heats up a bit.
Well . . . So what’re we looking at up ahead?
"Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth." A Camus
"The room up ahead is some sort of study. He referred to it as his quarters. There were tomes and scrolls in there, but I could not read them. They could give us more information of what we are to fight. The other door - I could hear goblins bickering. At least that's what it sounded like. If I recall the map right, it's a room that opens into some sort of large grove. No doubt the tree he spoke of was there. It grows with every body he feeds it. I hope that is not where Corky and Trick ended up."
Arxius, Elven Simic Hybrid Ranger in Tales from the Yawning Portal
Whooot... finally! Been waiting for the reunion for too long!! :)
Some clarifications & housekeeping... (had to do a bit of searching this thread myself, if I missed something or am incorrect please let me know)...
Interlude 2: Arxius
5th to the 7th of Summertide, 1495 DR
Corkie and Arxius support Trick head back to area 42 without much of a hitch until they realize there is no way to easily climb back up the hole whence you all came.
"Any ideas Arxius?" Corkie asks tiredly, "I don't know how much longer Trick can hold out... he's hurt pretty bad..."
Trick groans.
"I am a very good climber.. though it's still about 20' to the entrance of the hole... I can't think of a way up there without rope. Maybe there's something in that cavern to the north... there was an entrance, or some path there as well. I'll go scout it out real quick and see what I can find..."
"Alright, but do be quick..."
"No problem..." Arxius smiles.
She hurries to the north and enters area 43 where the bugbear hunter was defeated in hopes of finding something to aid in their predicament. Arxius looks around the area for a few minutes and when she can't find anything walks towards the unlit pathway twisting away at the back of the cave...
She pauses to think, approaches the entrance, and places both hands against the stone peering inside the gloom... she thinks better of entering and turns around to report what she found, but as she turns.... *CRACK *.... suddenly everything goes black....