The tunnel seems to stretch on before you, though in truth it is but a short walk through it. Your view of what lies beyond is obscured pretty much until you arrive safely out. As you emerge, you see another door that could be closed over the passage you have just come through, though it looks little used. Beyond that the sight before you is one that is desolate. There is a depression on top of the hill, and you stand within it. On all sides steep rock faces rise above you, surrounding an almost circular flatter area that makes the Grove, perhaps several hundred feet across. To your left, about midway round the sides you can see carved into the rock face simple but well crafted buildings, which seem to stretch up the side (and is presumably the bottom of the buildings you has previously seen that lie atop the hill. Once they must have been fine looking, but the facings seem, through the gloom, decayed and rotten.
The long-dead remains of many plants and trees fill the area, mostly now little more than mulch (and you are surprised there is anything left after the decades have passed). In the very centre of the depression a great jagged stone rises up, and the dark shadow seems to cling most strongly there. It sits a black and stagnant pool, about 60 feet across and surrounding it are 6 still-standing trees. There trunk and branches seem rotten and decayed, yet still some semblance of life (or unlife) cling to them, as you can see dangling from the branches strange dark fruit growing - revolting and rotten. Yet these are not what catch your eye, for also dangling one from each tree are the lifeless bodies of some hapless slaves. On the nearest, about 60ft away, you can just tell through the gloom that their throat had been cut, the blood acting as some foul nourishment you assume.
The atmosphere here is oppressive, almost a presence in itself, and the shadows seem to cling ever more tightly about you. In the central pool something stirs, and jerking out of it rises a humanoid figure, hard to see at this distance that begins to move towards you.
"So," a voice full of cold, implacable emptiness resounds in your head "who enters here? and why?"
Everyone make a wisdom saving throw as you feel something push into your minds, seeking to take the answer from you rather than listen. You get a sense of something utterly inhuman, ancient and powerful, though sense you are only dealing with a sliver that exists in this plane.
You have the Lingering Shadow's attention, what do you want to do?
Erro could feel something trying to worm its way into his mind; this must have been what his friends had experienced with the shadows at the campfire some nights back. He felt he had shrugged off this probe... maybe... but it was only a matter of time before it knew.
The only advantage they had was surprise, and who knew what thing creature was capable of. Every step closer was one step less that they would have to put up with these Yuan-ti mind games before they closed in on their prize.
”Captain sends me with an extra offering. I’m told... I see that these lucky ones missed the harvest. But surely you could use some extra slaves? No use spending our supplies keeping them alive!”
Erro will attempt to maintain the ruse, aggressively driving the “prisoners” towards the middle of the grove, whacking them with the axe and berating them, hoping to get more distance covered before it came to combat.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Wisdom: 10
Rawk fights the urge to speak and feels her heart begin to beat faster and faster. Fearing she can't hold her voice anymore she weakly chirps, "No... please..."
Ellis is relieved that they are finally out of the tunnel, but now here in the Grove though the sight of it is so dark and grotesque. The rotten and revolting fruit growing from the tree were bad enough, but he was shocked when he saw the lifeless bodies of slaves dangling from each tree, throats cut with their blood as nourishment. It made him so sick, shivering from how oppressive the atmosphere is and all these shadows before hearing the voice in his head. No, no not again. Ellis tried to fight it off but he felt as if he had no control over his vocal chords, being forced to speak. "W-We are here....to banish the.....Lingering Shadow in order....to save the Rutan's Heart..." he had spoken the truth before he was finally able to stop, eyes wide and shaking. Oh no, now it knows of their plan.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
((Lol, these dice are cruel. I like the in-character way you did that though.))
Erro interjects, loudly. “Hah! He has been spouting off the same gibberish since we caught him. Tryin’ a make his way up here with his pals he was when we found ‘em. Surprise, you made it to the top, boy!”
Great role playing of Ellis again Amaya5 - have inspiration
There is a pause, and you can feel the relentless strain on your minds though Erro is able to push aside the probe and hold to his story. You sense an emotion that feels alien, though might be something akin to satisfaction.
"So, you thought to banish me did you? How pitiful. And two of you... yes you match the description that Fenthasa gave." Ellis and Tempest feel a pressure around their minds, the Shadows growing deeper "it will be fitting that your blood feeds my power."
It then addresses Erro "Your Captain's gift pleases me. Bring them to the lake's edge. My vessel will spill their blood"
The humanoid figure comes into view, a long dead humanoid wreathed in shadow itself. It's hand holds a wicked stone knife. To your surprise it was once a Genasi like Tempest, though it's form is rotten and twisted.
(Xtra, I will leave it to you to decide whether this is simply another of Tempest's kind - or your father, long murdered in this place).
Ellis had heard the thing, shocked as it mentioned Fenthasa. So she had told the Lingering Shadow about them? So even if they had been able to lie about why they were here, it would have known who he and Tempest were already. He then felt the pressure, shivering as it spoke of how fitting that their blood will feed it's power. Ellis saw the figure come into view, seeing that it was a long dead humanoid wreathed in shadow and holding a stone knife. He had looked at Erro and the others, nervous but thinking that a fight is inevitable at this point. It saw through their act, whether he had said their goal or not so there is no way it would just let them attempt the ritual. Ellis did not want to go near those trees, not wanting to end up like those slaves and hoping that Erro gives them back their weapons now, ready to free himself from these ropes.
Erro continues in his act, barely able to push down the horror and weirdness of the scene. Almost there and the trap was sprung. Erro continues to force the “prisoners” up to the water’s edge.
Once up to the edge (if they make it that far) Erro says, ”Think of it this way, slugs... however ugly this looks, I guarantees you this is going to be way less painful than my rusty sword drug across your bellies. This is going out in style!”
He walks up beside Rawk and lays the battle axe at her feet. “I’s not a man without honor; at least you’ll die with your last sight your axe, warrior. Besides, I kind of like you. Wish the captain’d let me keep you instead of all this, I kinda think you smell nice, like cinnamon.” (waiting to say that after any cool or dramatic soliloquy from Tempest of course. That comes first!)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Oh snap. 13 1-10 its my dad, 11-20 its not... welp its about to get real.)
Tempest looks over to see this "vessel" his heart pounding from the shadow's exclamation. When he see the humanoid he feels a sharp pang run through his body. His breathing intensifies and he looks away then back to confirm. The coloration was a bit paler, the body tattered and torn... but the face, somewhat distorted with an expression of hopelessness. "It couldn't be." he muttered to himself. He felt his hands and arms trembling as the realization set in. That face, he hadn't seen in years. That face who watched him grow up... now surrounded and consumed with shadow...
"Father?" Tempest utters in a half gasp. A burning hot sensation ran through his hands as he clinched his fists so hard the nails caused his hands to bleed. Tears welled up in his eyes as they met the blank lifeless stare of his beloved father. He mindlessly followed behind the others not feeling Erro's prodding while he kept his focus on the shell of his father. Rage built within him and he put one finger through the loop that would release his hands and pulled. "This ends now." he says with spittle dripping from his mouth.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Initiative: 18
Perception: 18 If disadvantage: 10
Just before acting, Erro will look to see if he can spot any obvious threats besides the genasi with the stone knife. Once he knows, then he’ll take his surprise action.
Ellis reluctantly moves with the others to the edge of the lake, feeling so anxious right now. But then he had heard how angry Tempest was and soon Erro say the codeword, nodding as he now undid the rope to free himself.
For his surprise round, Erro will take a free action to drop Ellis’ weapon, and then movement to step towards the genasi at first in an unsuspecting way. Upon being close enough to strike Erro will use a bonus action to cast Hunter’s Mark on the genasi and unsheathe his blade for a rapier strike, still holding the torch in the other hand, sort of waving it around to see if it does anything.
The tunnel seems to stretch on before you, though in truth it is but a short walk through it. Your view of what lies beyond is obscured pretty much until you arrive safely out. As you emerge, you see another door that could be closed over the passage you have just come through, though it looks little used. Beyond that the sight before you is one that is desolate. There is a depression on top of the hill, and you stand within it. On all sides steep rock faces rise above you, surrounding an almost circular flatter area that makes the Grove, perhaps several hundred feet across. To your left, about midway round the sides you can see carved into the rock face simple but well crafted buildings, which seem to stretch up the side (and is presumably the bottom of the buildings you has previously seen that lie atop the hill. Once they must have been fine looking, but the facings seem, through the gloom, decayed and rotten.
The long-dead remains of many plants and trees fill the area, mostly now little more than mulch (and you are surprised there is anything left after the decades have passed). In the very centre of the depression a great jagged stone rises up, and the dark shadow seems to cling most strongly there. It sits a black and stagnant pool, about 60 feet across and surrounding it are 6 still-standing trees. There trunk and branches seem rotten and decayed, yet still some semblance of life (or unlife) cling to them, as you can see dangling from the branches strange dark fruit growing - revolting and rotten. Yet these are not what catch your eye, for also dangling one from each tree are the lifeless bodies of some hapless slaves. On the nearest, about 60ft away, you can just tell through the gloom that their throat had been cut, the blood acting as some foul nourishment you assume.
The atmosphere here is oppressive, almost a presence in itself, and the shadows seem to cling ever more tightly about you. In the central pool something stirs, and jerking out of it rises a humanoid figure, hard to see at this distance that begins to move towards you.
"So," a voice full of cold, implacable emptiness resounds in your head "who enters here? and why?"
Everyone make a wisdom saving throw as you feel something push into your minds, seeking to take the answer from you rather than listen. You get a sense of something utterly inhuman, ancient and powerful, though sense you are only dealing with a sliver that exists in this plane.
You have the Lingering Shadow's attention, what do you want to do?
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
((Oooh, nice nice. Again, some high quality stuff!))
WIS save: 21
Erro could feel something trying to worm its way into his mind; this must have been what his friends had experienced with the shadows at the campfire some nights back. He felt he had shrugged off this probe... maybe... but it was only a matter of time before it knew.
The only advantage they had was surprise, and who knew what thing creature was capable of. Every step closer was one step less that they would have to put up with these Yuan-ti mind games before they closed in on their prize.
”Captain sends me with an extra offering. I’m told... I see that these lucky ones missed the harvest. But surely you could use some extra slaves? No use spending our supplies keeping them alive!”
Erro will attempt to maintain the ruse, aggressively driving the “prisoners” towards the middle of the grove, whacking them with the axe and berating them, hoping to get more distance covered before it came to combat.
Wisdom: 10
Rawk fights the urge to speak and feels her heart begin to beat faster and faster. Fearing she can't hold her voice anymore she weakly chirps, "No... please..."
Wisdom Save: 4
(Ouch....sorry everyone)
Ellis is relieved that they are finally out of the tunnel, but now here in the Grove though the sight of it is so dark and grotesque. The rotten and revolting fruit growing from the tree were bad enough, but he was shocked when he saw the lifeless bodies of slaves dangling from each tree, throats cut with their blood as nourishment. It made him so sick, shivering from how oppressive the atmosphere is and all these shadows before hearing the voice in his head. No, no not again. Ellis tried to fight it off but he felt as if he had no control over his vocal chords, being forced to speak. "W-We are here....to banish the.....Lingering Shadow in order....to save the Rutan's Heart..." he had spoken the truth before he was finally able to stop, eyes wide and shaking. Oh no, now it knows of their plan.
((Lol, these dice are cruel. I like the in-character way you did that though.))
Erro interjects, loudly. “Hah! He has been spouting off the same gibberish since we caught him. Tryin’ a make his way up here with his pals he was when we found ‘em. Surprise, you made it to the top, boy!”
Deception: 8
Wisdom save: 13
Tempest raises his head and looks around in the shadow. "Not a bad place to die."
((Hmmm, what an interesting pattern of rolls!))
Great role playing of Ellis again Amaya5 - have inspiration
There is a pause, and you can feel the relentless strain on your minds though Erro is able to push aside the probe and hold to his story. You sense an emotion that feels alien, though might be something akin to satisfaction.
"So, you thought to banish me did you? How pitiful. And two of you... yes you match the description that Fenthasa gave." Ellis and Tempest feel a pressure around their minds, the Shadows growing deeper "it will be fitting that your blood feeds my power."
It then addresses Erro "Your Captain's gift pleases me. Bring them to the lake's edge. My vessel will spill their blood"
The humanoid figure comes into view, a long dead humanoid wreathed in shadow itself. It's hand holds a wicked stone knife. To your surprise it was once a Genasi like Tempest, though it's form is rotten and twisted.
(Xtra, I will leave it to you to decide whether this is simply another of Tempest's kind - or your father, long murdered in this place).
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Ellis had heard the thing, shocked as it mentioned Fenthasa. So she had told the Lingering Shadow about them? So even if they had been able to lie about why they were here, it would have known who he and Tempest were already. He then felt the pressure, shivering as it spoke of how fitting that their blood will feed it's power. Ellis saw the figure come into view, seeing that it was a long dead humanoid wreathed in shadow and holding a stone knife. He had looked at Erro and the others, nervous but thinking that a fight is inevitable at this point. It saw through their act, whether he had said their goal or not so there is no way it would just let them attempt the ritual. Ellis did not want to go near those trees, not wanting to end up like those slaves and hoping that Erro gives them back their weapons now, ready to free himself from these ropes.
Erro continues in his act, barely able to push down the horror and weirdness of the scene. Almost there and the trap was sprung. Erro continues to force the “prisoners” up to the water’s edge.
Once up to the edge (if they make it that far) Erro says, ”Think of it this way, slugs... however ugly this looks, I guarantees you this is going to be way less painful than my rusty sword drug across your bellies. This is going out in style!”
He walks up beside Rawk and lays the battle axe at her feet. “I’s not a man without honor; at least you’ll die with your last sight your axe, warrior. Besides, I kind of like you. Wish the captain’d let me keep you instead of all this, I kinda think you smell nice, like cinnamon.” (waiting to say that after any cool or dramatic soliloquy from Tempest of course. That comes first!)
(Oh snap. 13 1-10 its my dad, 11-20 its not... welp its about to get real.)
Tempest looks over to see this "vessel" his heart pounding from the shadow's exclamation. When he see the humanoid he feels a sharp pang run through his body. His breathing intensifies and he looks away then back to confirm. The coloration was a bit paler, the body tattered and torn... but the face, somewhat distorted with an expression of hopelessness. "It couldn't be." he muttered to himself. He felt his hands and arms trembling as the realization set in. That face, he hadn't seen in years. That face who watched him grow up... now surrounded and consumed with shadow...
"Father?" Tempest utters in a half gasp. A burning hot sensation ran through his hands as he clinched his fists so hard the nails caused his hands to bleed. Tears welled up in his eyes as they met the blank lifeless stare of his beloved father. He mindlessly followed behind the others not feeling Erro's prodding while he kept his focus on the shell of his father. Rage built within him and he put one finger through the loop that would release his hands and pulled. "This ends now." he says with spittle dripping from his mouth.
Perception: (to find the lingering shadow.) 10
Initiative: (I have a feeling this is coming.) 16
Excellent, have inspiration Xtra....
Everyone roll initiative.
Erro, you have surprise as the Lingering Shadow still thinks you are a slaver...
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Initiative: 18
Perception: 18 If disadvantage: 10
Just before acting, Erro will look to see if he can spot any obvious threats besides the genasi with the stone knife. Once he knows, then he’ll take his surprise action.
All you can see is what is before you, though when you glance at the pool, you are sure you see the outline of several faces.....
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Ellis reluctantly moves with the others to the edge of the lake, feeling so anxious right now. But then he had heard how angry Tempest was and soon Erro say the codeword, nodding as he now undid the rope to free himself.
Initiative: 19
For his surprise round, Erro will take a free action to drop Ellis’ weapon, and then movement to step towards the genasi at first in an unsuspecting way. Upon being close enough to strike Erro will use a bonus action to cast Hunter’s Mark on the genasi and unsheathe his blade for a rapier strike, still holding the torch in the other hand, sort of waving it around to see if it does anything.
Attack: 8 Damage: 6
Mark if hit: 2.
Erro hesitates and pulls his attack at the last moment. “Did you say father?”
Rawk would mouth thank you if she could but unfortunately for her it just seems like she's opening and shutting her beak quickly.
Initiative: 19
Lingering Shadow: 16
Other things: 4
Do you like my Boots of Flying?