Taran interjects, quietly, "M-Mr. J-Juhaan l-likely told you, b-but we found evidence of th-three people being taken a-away. A f-fourth c-came back. W-what e-else do we kn-know?"
The moment Vishal touches the stone, the light stops pulsing and becomes steady.
Vishal:
You hear a voice suddenly sound in your head. It's a female's voice, the words hurried and soft, and you can hear the sounds of fighting in the background of the message. It's almost as if you're getting an audio snapshot into a moment of time.
My name is Likashtai, and I am a guide of the Summit Road. My group was scouting the area near Kintam Ulakhun, all seeming fine. However, tonight we were ambushed by a party of water soldiers, who must have followed us from scouting or come across our camp on patrol. One of our number was on a scouting trip, so with three of us against six of them, and two of us asleep at the start of the battle, I don't foresee us escaping. I've done my best to hastily telepathically lock this stone so that only another kalashtar will receive the message. If you are a rescue party with the Road, you will have weeks at best to get to us and either kill or rescue us. If you are not, get rid of this stone as quickly as you can, and pretend you never found it. I do not know if Tiem will be captured as well, but if he is not, he may be able to help-he is a dromite who prefers leather armor studded with ice.
The sounds of fighting start to die out in the background of the message.
I have little time. Kashtai will deliver my final messages. Be cautious of the Kintam. It is an evil place and Lord Sulatesh will not he-
The words cut off abruptly, as does the message, evidently since Likashtai stopped focusing on it.
River continues to tremble as she looks at Vishal, hiding behind Taran. When the stone stops blinking, her fear subsides to sadness, staring at the steadily-glowing stone in Vishal's hand.
Caelius looks at this scene from next to River with confusion. He puts a comforting hand on River's shoulder and looks worried at Taran and then at Vishal. He signs at Taran,
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Hearing the message Vishal looks worried before holding the stone back out for River to have. "You can take it now. It was a message that only a Kalashtar can hear."Vishal then goes on to reciete the message.
"W-why not?"Taran asks, "I-Is it a m-magic thing? I-Is that wh-why it stopped fl-flashing? C-Can't you j-just m-make it fl-flash again when Vishal gives it b-back."
Taran nods along as Vishal repeats the message, the information matching with what he'd figured. Though he was suddenly more worried about a potential mole within their target's ranks.
He also tried to catch Vishal's eye, subtly indicating Vishal should do something.
Vishal doesn’t yank it back and happily let’s River take it before saying, “So what’s the next move? There is a potential mole so we have to be super careful.”
Taran nods, gesturing behind River's back and trying to indicate something to Vishal about that situation.
Out loud he says "W-we s-still need to secure the r-rest of the camp. M-Might find clues a-about the m-mole. Th-then, I-I can probably track d-down T-Tiem."
"Oh. Okay. Did you find it around here?" Vishal asks
She points at the tent.
Dungeon Master - LSoL
Kaori - Battlemaster Fighter 5 / Paladin 2 (Kenku) - TSR
Cherna Godhari - Grave Cleric 4 (Human) - TW
Breena Mahi'ai - Divination Wizard 8 (Halfling) - WoE
Sharyn Savonath - Open Sea Paladin 4 (Triton) - PoPI
Zephyr - Four Elements (Revised) Monk 4 (Air Genasi) - IO
Takeshi - Mercy Monk 6 (Protector Aasimar) - TBW
Avrui Sirsash - Genie Warlock 2 (Wildhunt Shifter) - WotBS
"Hmmm.....that might be a clue. Can I please see it for a moment River? I can identify it and then give it back to you." Vishal asks.
Taran interjects, quietly, "M-Mr. J-Juhaan l-likely told you, b-but we found evidence of th-three people being taken a-away. A f-fourth c-came back. W-what e-else do we kn-know?"
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
River looks at Vishal then at the stone. When he asks to see it, she flinches, drops it, and begins to cower.
Dungeon Master - LSoL
Kaori - Battlemaster Fighter 5 / Paladin 2 (Kenku) - TSR
Cherna Godhari - Grave Cleric 4 (Human) - TW
Breena Mahi'ai - Divination Wizard 8 (Halfling) - WoE
Sharyn Savonath - Open Sea Paladin 4 (Triton) - PoPI
Zephyr - Four Elements (Revised) Monk 4 (Air Genasi) - IO
Takeshi - Mercy Monk 6 (Protector Aasimar) - TBW
Avrui Sirsash - Genie Warlock 2 (Wildhunt Shifter) - WotBS
Taran moves immediately, "R-R-River, wh-what's wrong?" He says crouching next to her and placing a hand on her trembling shoulder.
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
"Hey River. It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. You can have the stone back." Vishal replies in a soft calming voice as he picks up the stone.
The moment Vishal touches the stone, the light stops pulsing and becomes steady.
Vishal:
You hear a voice suddenly sound in your head. It's a female's voice, the words hurried and soft, and you can hear the sounds of fighting in the background of the message. It's almost as if you're getting an audio snapshot into a moment of time.
My name is Likashtai, and I am a guide of the Summit Road. My group was scouting the area near Kintam Ulakhun, all seeming fine. However, tonight we were ambushed by a party of water soldiers, who must have followed us from scouting or come across our camp on patrol. One of our number was on a scouting trip, so with three of us against six of them, and two of us asleep at the start of the battle, I don't foresee us escaping. I've done my best to hastily telepathically lock this stone so that only another kalashtar will receive the message. If you are a rescue party with the Road, you will have weeks at best to get to us and either kill or rescue us. If you are not, get rid of this stone as quickly as you can, and pretend you never found it. I do not know if Tiem will be captured as well, but if he is not, he may be able to help-he is a dromite who prefers leather armor studded with ice.
The sounds of fighting start to die out in the background of the message.
I have little time. Kashtai will deliver my final messages. Be cautious of the Kintam. It is an evil place and Lord Sulatesh will not he-
The words cut off abruptly, as does the message, evidently since Likashtai stopped focusing on it.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
River continues to tremble as she looks at Vishal, hiding behind Taran. When the stone stops blinking, her fear subsides to sadness, staring at the steadily-glowing stone in Vishal's hand.
Dungeon Master - LSoL
Kaori - Battlemaster Fighter 5 / Paladin 2 (Kenku) - TSR
Cherna Godhari - Grave Cleric 4 (Human) - TW
Breena Mahi'ai - Divination Wizard 8 (Halfling) - WoE
Sharyn Savonath - Open Sea Paladin 4 (Triton) - PoPI
Zephyr - Four Elements (Revised) Monk 4 (Air Genasi) - IO
Takeshi - Mercy Monk 6 (Protector Aasimar) - TBW
Avrui Sirsash - Genie Warlock 2 (Wildhunt Shifter) - WotBS
Taran awkwardly pats River, "R-River, e-even if th-hey aren't the r-right words you n-need to t-tell u-us wh-what's wrong."
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
Caelius looks at this scene from next to River with confusion. He puts a comforting hand on River's shoulder and looks worried at Taran and then at Vishal. He signs at Taran,
What's going on? Is the stone speaking?
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Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
"He took *crr* Shiny... Not mine *crr* Anymore."
Dungeon Master - LSoL
Kaori - Battlemaster Fighter 5 / Paladin 2 (Kenku) - TSR
Cherna Godhari - Grave Cleric 4 (Human) - TW
Breena Mahi'ai - Divination Wizard 8 (Halfling) - WoE
Sharyn Savonath - Open Sea Paladin 4 (Triton) - PoPI
Zephyr - Four Elements (Revised) Monk 4 (Air Genasi) - IO
Takeshi - Mercy Monk 6 (Protector Aasimar) - TBW
Avrui Sirsash - Genie Warlock 2 (Wildhunt Shifter) - WotBS
Hearing the message Vishal looks worried before holding the stone back out for River to have. "You can take it now. It was a message that only a Kalashtar can hear." Vishal then goes on to reciete the message.
Taran signs to Caelius
No. River is just upset. What happened?
"W-why not?" Taran asks, "I-Is it a m-magic thing? I-Is that wh-why it stopped fl-flashing? C-Can't you j-just m-make it fl-flash again when Vishal gives it b-back."
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
OOC: Everyone can read the spoiler, since Vishal apparently was able to memorize the message just like that :P
I tease. Go ahead and read the spoiler.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Taran nods along as Vishal repeats the message, the information matching with what he'd figured. Though he was suddenly more worried about a potential mole within their target's ranks.
He also tried to catch Vishal's eye, subtly indicating Vishal should do something.
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
River shakily reaches out to take the stone back, as if expecting Vishal to yank it away again.
Dungeon Master - LSoL
Kaori - Battlemaster Fighter 5 / Paladin 2 (Kenku) - TSR
Cherna Godhari - Grave Cleric 4 (Human) - TW
Breena Mahi'ai - Divination Wizard 8 (Halfling) - WoE
Sharyn Savonath - Open Sea Paladin 4 (Triton) - PoPI
Zephyr - Four Elements (Revised) Monk 4 (Air Genasi) - IO
Takeshi - Mercy Monk 6 (Protector Aasimar) - TBW
Avrui Sirsash - Genie Warlock 2 (Wildhunt Shifter) - WotBS
Vishal doesn’t yank it back and happily let’s River take it before saying, “So what’s the next move? There is a potential mole so we have to be super careful.”
Taran nods, gesturing behind River's back and trying to indicate something to Vishal about that situation.
Out loud he says "W-we s-still need to secure the r-rest of the camp. M-Might find clues a-about the m-mole. Th-then, I-I can probably track d-down T-Tiem."
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
River takes the stone and scurries away, holding it delicately in her hand and cooing at it.
"Shiny~ *crr* Shiny~ *Crr* Mine~"
Dungeon Master - LSoL
Kaori - Battlemaster Fighter 5 / Paladin 2 (Kenku) - TSR
Cherna Godhari - Grave Cleric 4 (Human) - TW
Breena Mahi'ai - Divination Wizard 8 (Halfling) - WoE
Sharyn Savonath - Open Sea Paladin 4 (Triton) - PoPI
Zephyr - Four Elements (Revised) Monk 4 (Air Genasi) - IO
Takeshi - Mercy Monk 6 (Protector Aasimar) - TBW
Avrui Sirsash - Genie Warlock 2 (Wildhunt Shifter) - WotBS