Cracking a smile at the small blue glitter on Chrys' tongue that lingered, Nym glanced over at Kess with a thoughtful nod as she explained the purpose of the oil. "Makes sense. I'd just as well expect something a fae gives us an oil that just makes us glitter. Or grow beards or something. But glad it's something useful. We'll need all the help we can get..."The brief moment of levity of chasing the adorable spirit quickly leaving the cleric as she focused back on the present and looming future.
"I can hold onto it for now if need be. Splitting up is never a good idea..." She said, thinking of the many branching tunnels of the Underdark and Upperdark. "But we may need to if we want to get the children out alive safely. We should probably start discussing that. If we do need to split, should it be two people? Just one? The fastest? The best fighter? Or the one with the most magical ability? Fair arguments could be made for all..."
At the query of their orientation, Nym squinted up at the canopy as she muttered, "I thought it started running further south when we started but it changed direction a few times..." Taking her bearing while murmuring a silent prayer for Guidance and consulting the map once more, she tucked some loose white hair behind a pointed ear and nodded with determination, "The ruins of Vehlarr should be this way."
Through all of the excitement with the fox, Nym indeed gets turned around, but thankfully, Chrys points out the correct direction and you all begin walking south, hoping to reach Velharr by nightfall. After leaving the area behind where you encountered the ghosty blue fey creature, the forest becomes thick and dark once again, and travel resumes to the slower, sometimes frustrating pace that you've often experienced during this journey. At least the weather is decent today, with dry air and temperatures that aren't too hot.
The rest of the afternoon passes rather uneventfully, and after a few hours of navigating a few stretches of twisted, tangled wood and brush, you eventually pop out into a large clearing and realize that you have reached the ruined city. There's not much left; the few buildings that remain within the ruins are decrepit and consist mostly of uninhabitable debris, consumed by neglect and the harsh elements of the forest. What hasn't been crumbled by time and weather, has been broken up and covered by the unrelenting expansion of tenacious roots and branches and thick mats of foliage that push into what were once elaborate and finely built wood and stone structures.
There are some buildings still standing, though, that have seemingly survived the test of time.
"Didn' they say there was loot in them ruins there, that could help us fight the dragon?"Chrys asks the others. "Since we're here, maybe we should take a quick look. Maybe we'll get lucky an' find some sorta dragon-slayin' sword or somethin',"she grumbles, not really hopeful. She scans the buildings, looking for any one in particular that holds promise for holding the possible remnants of ancient elven treasure, or worse yet, anything hiding and waiting to ambush intrepid adventurers who might be seeking loot in said ruins.
Entering the clearing and looking around, you catch sight of one of the few buildings that still stands. It's not far from the city center. The stone structure is clearly a mausoleum of sorts, with a circular base and columns along its edges. Although it’s covered in ivy, the plants seem not to have damaged the masonry that much. As you near, you can make out lupine motifs in bas-relief on the walls.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lavender eyes flicking to where Chrysoberyl was pointing, squinting up at the sun and then at the way she had been trying to lead them, Nym's hand came up to the back of her head in embarrassment, her face hot. "Ah, ahem. Sorry, when it's not clear to see, it's hard for me to pinpoint where the sun is actually at. It all is just....bright to me. Thanks." She was thankful that as they continued on, the forest was denser, making it darker even during day.
They happened upon the ruins rather suddenly, the drow blinking in surprise and emitting a faint, "Oh. We've arrived." Nodding in agreement to Chrys, she replied, "Aelar mentioned we might be able to find something of use in the ruins but he didn't really say what." Cracking a smile, the drow glanced at Moonpetal in the other elf's hand and stated, "I'm fairly sure Kess has the only dragon slaying sword. Though it would be nice if there were more than one." Eyes slowly and carefully looking over the ruins as well as the general landscape they were set in. "EIlistraee guide my eyes to what we seek." Praying for Guidance and giving herself a Vigilant Blessing.
Keeping your eyes out for any signs of life or danger, you carefully approach the the building that appears to be a mausoleum. You can see that it's actually in pretty good shape, much better than most of the building ruins that you see all around the clearing. It has a circular construction, about 70 feet in diameter, with smooth stone walls and a large metal door that still hangs and appears to be very much intact.
Chrys inspects the mausoleum‘s metal doors, crossing her arms. „Damn well-preserved. Wonder if there‘s magic afoot,“ she mutters. She gives it a cursory inspection, laying a hand against the metal and trying to see if it‘s protected somehow.
Arcana: 15
She also eyes it for any physical traps.
Investigation: 13
If everything seems clear, she gives the door a gentle push or a pull, intending to open it just slightly enough to peek inside.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Eyeing the mausoleum warily, Nym glances at Chrys as she inspects and opens the door. "Hopefully we won't wake up anything..."Prepared to cast Turn Undead at a moment's notice. Looking at the architecture of the building, the drow tries to see if she recognize anything as belonging to a particular deity.
Inspecting the metal door of the mausoleum, Chrys finds no traps or wards of any kind, and Nym sees nothing that would indicate any particular deity that is known to her. Nonetheless, Chrys gently pushes the heavy door open, and finds that it swings open very easily and smoothly on its hinges, with little resistance.
Looking inside, you see the inside of the circular building, about 50-60 feet in diameter and about 30 feet high, with an obvious altar at the far end of the chamber, opposite the door. Along the left and right walls, you see matching raised platforms that are accessible by stairs the climb to about 10 feet high, although many of the stairs on the left side lie crumbled. Encircling the entire chamber is a five-foot wide ledge that sits 20-feet up. In addition, there are a number of stone columns, twelve total; six spaced at regular intervals at the edge of the room, and six on the inside of the two platforms, although on the left side, one of the outer and one of the inner pillars have collapsed and lie in large ruins on the stone floor.
Chys slaps her palms together and closes her eyes, praying to the Duin: "Show me what evil might be lurkin' in here, O Wanderer," she prays, using her divine sense to sweep the mausoleum for danger.
With a quick prayer to her deity, Chrys opens her eyes and scans the inside of the small, round chamber. However, her Divine Sense registers no particularly foul odors, which would indicate the presence of evil inside the mausoleum or in the nearby. In her mind, all is silent.
You don't hear anything inside here, but in looking at the floor, Lumen does notice some bits of scattered refuse: small pebbles, disturbed dust, a few small crumbs and tiny bones... things that indicate that someone, or something has been in here recently. He definitely picks up some kind of faint, lingering smell, like that of a creature. (Roll a perception to see if he can discern what it is.)
"That's comforting, at least," Kess would note. "But if our experience with the cave of goblins is any tale, rarely are places such as these truly empty."
Ever since the party had arrive at Velharr, Kess had been very quiet; the last few days had almost seem to blur together, the only break in the monotony being the encounter with the mysterious blue fey creature who apparently felt moved to help their cause.
Kess took comfort in that; truth be told, she was definitely worried about the Pie Pals' chances against that hulking umbral monstrosity that was Duskbringer. Even though her size denoted a young draconic creature, Kess was definitely nervous at the prospect none-the-less; Duskbringer, after all, was a dragon. She took a moment to consider the significance of that fact; Their little band were looking to slay a dragon: the bane of kings and their kingdoms, devourer of nations and their peoples, slayers of heroes, hoarder of fortunes and treasures, death on two wings with the reach of deadly elemental breath.
Kess, in particular, was not looking forward trying to dodge blasts of acid. And even wounded as she apparently was, fewer creatures fought more fiercely than those who felt cornered, regardless if they were man or beast.
She worked through the implications of where this was all leading... If the party succeeded? They'd be dragon slayers... and apparently, to some, probably seen as heroes. And that likely meant fame and word of their deeds spreading, which would be not insignificant if they managed to pull this off. Even here in the heart of the High Forest, she figured that word would likely travel about Duskbringer's death; a dragon's open appearance was no small thing, nor the danger they posed; and to slay one was usually seen as doing great charity. After all, growing up in the north, Kess had been told tales of the danger posed by Aurothator, "Old White Death", himself; that, and to avoid ever provoking the massive white wyrm's attention if ever she saw him. What if somebody managed to lay him low? Word would travel throughout the North.
If they failed? Just another footnote in Faerunian history, another wives' tale speaking of the dangers outside civilization. Indeed, they would all just be another set of bones languishing in a forgotten ruin amidst tarnished, moth-eaten leathers and rusted weaponry.
A memory and a song of grief to her mother...
Her mother. Gifted in magic and gentle, with that smiling countenance and those beautiful dark cerulean locks, skin fair like the moon itself.
Kessdarra didn't consider it until now, but she realized just how much she missed home, as she looked to the other party members. She missed the singing of birds in the pines and the pleasant breezes of the Dale's summers. She missed the pure white snows and stark frozen beauty of the winter, the rustic comfort of Knucklehead stew on a cold night, the savory taste of roasted venison and potatoes prepared in the tradition of the local friendly Reghedmen tribes. And of course, her home, Lonelywood; said to be home to the legendary Regis, a halfling who was said to be a scrimshander of peerless skill and companion to the legendary Drizzt Do'Urden, though the latter one's reputation was now held in mixed regard in the dale, given that many blamed the famed drow ranger for the "Bryn Shander Incident" some years back.
I haven't spoken to her in so long... I hope she's alright.
She was going to aid her friends... and they were going to live, Kess decided, as the group worked on their course of action. They have people waiting for them. All of them did. Duskbringer didn't know it yet, but her days were numbered, and some children were going to be reunited with their parents.
Smell is a funny thing. A pleasing fragrance or a reeking stink might invade your senses and overwhelm your olfactory system, but without reference, it's often difficult to place the actual nature or type of scent. Lumen raises his nose to the dominant and pervasive smell that seems to be lingering in the air inside the mausoleum, it's almost like body odor of some sort, but certainly not human, elvish, dwarvish or half orc. It's something else, no doubt, but whatever it is, this smell has a familiar aroma. It's one that he's well familiar with, however, without a point of reference, he can't seem to place it, or even decide whether it's just ordinary, or actually offensive.
It starts to play a frustrating mind game with Lumen as he racks his brain to try and remember what kind of creature smells like this. As he moves deeper inside the mausoleum, though, he notices the carved idol at the far end of the chamber in front of the altar. Something about that is familiar too. It has a form that seems disturbing, and yet so recognizable, the small, but almost exaggerated reptile-like limbs and claws that are clutching a spear, the pronounced, elongated snout, the distinct, sharp horns on the top of it's hairless almost dog-like head...
It suddenly hits him like a puff of dragon's breath. It all comes together as he stares at the figurine.
This familiar form of this carved likeness that sits in front of him instantly gives reference to the odor that Lumen has been trying to place.
The odor in the air smells just like his friend Krackle.
“Krackle?…..” Lumen says almost to himself as he finally understands the idol’s familiarity. He spins around and looks at the raised walkway and everywhere else in the large room for any hidden observers. He’s hopeful their small friend is there, confused at why that might be, but most of him is terrified that the shadow assassin is playing games somehow with them and Krackle is in danger.
Looking around, you don’t see anyone hiding up there along the ledge. You are the only ones here right now. And just to clarify, it’s not so much that it smells exactly like Krackle, but seeing the carved kobold idol, and you having familiarity with how Krackle smells, you recognize the pervasive odor as being the smell of kobolds.
Cracking a smile at the small blue glitter on Chrys' tongue that lingered, Nym glanced over at Kess with a thoughtful nod as she explained the purpose of the oil. "Makes sense. I'd just as well expect something a fae gives us an oil that just makes us glitter. Or grow beards or something. But glad it's something useful. We'll need all the help we can get..." The brief moment of levity of chasing the adorable spirit quickly leaving the cleric as she focused back on the present and looming future.
"I can hold onto it for now if need be. Splitting up is never a good idea..." She said, thinking of the many branching tunnels of the Underdark and Upperdark. "But we may need to if we want to get the children out alive safely. We should probably start discussing that. If we do need to split, should it be two people? Just one? The fastest? The best fighter? Or the one with the most magical ability? Fair arguments could be made for all..."
At the query of their orientation, Nym squinted up at the canopy as she muttered, "I thought it started running further south when we started but it changed direction a few times..." Taking her bearing while murmuring a silent prayer for Guidance and consulting the map once more, she tucked some loose white hair behind a pointed ear and nodded with determination, "The ruins of Vehlarr should be this way."
Survival: 6
Guidance: 3
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Chrys looks up at the sky. "You sure south is that way? I ain't no tracker, but the sun's o'er there," she says, pointing.
Survival: 14
Through all of the excitement with the fox, Nym indeed gets turned around, but thankfully, Chrys points out the correct direction and you all begin walking south, hoping to reach Velharr by nightfall. After leaving the area behind where you encountered the ghosty blue fey creature, the forest becomes thick and dark once again, and travel resumes to the slower, sometimes frustrating pace that you've often experienced during this journey. At least the weather is decent today, with dry air and temperatures that aren't too hot.
The rest of the afternoon passes rather uneventfully, and after a few hours of navigating a few stretches of twisted, tangled wood and brush, you eventually pop out into a large clearing and realize that you have reached the ruined city. There's not much left; the few buildings that remain within the ruins are decrepit and consist mostly of uninhabitable debris, consumed by neglect and the harsh elements of the forest. What hasn't been crumbled by time and weather, has been broken up and covered by the unrelenting expansion of tenacious roots and branches and thick mats of foliage that push into what were once elaborate and finely built wood and stone structures.
There are some buildings still standing, though, that have seemingly survived the test of time.
"Didn' they say there was loot in them ruins there, that could help us fight the dragon?" Chrys asks the others. "Since we're here, maybe we should take a quick look. Maybe we'll get lucky an' find some sorta dragon-slayin' sword or somethin'," she grumbles, not really hopeful. She scans the buildings, looking for any one in particular that holds promise for holding the possible remnants of ancient elven treasure, or worse yet, anything hiding and waiting to ambush intrepid adventurers who might be seeking loot in said ruins.
Perception: 11
Entering the clearing and looking around, you catch sight of one of the few buildings that still stands. It's not far from the city center. The stone structure is clearly a mausoleum of sorts, with a circular base and columns along its edges. Although it’s covered in ivy, the plants seem not to have damaged the masonry that much. As you near, you can make out lupine motifs in bas-relief on the walls.
Lavender eyes flicking to where Chrysoberyl was pointing, squinting up at the sun and then at the way she had been trying to lead them, Nym's hand came up to the back of her head in embarrassment, her face hot. "Ah, ahem. Sorry, when it's not clear to see, it's hard for me to pinpoint where the sun is actually at. It all is just....bright to me. Thanks." She was thankful that as they continued on, the forest was denser, making it darker even during day.
They happened upon the ruins rather suddenly, the drow blinking in surprise and emitting a faint, "Oh. We've arrived." Nodding in agreement to Chrys, she replied, "Aelar mentioned we might be able to find something of use in the ruins but he didn't really say what." Cracking a smile, the drow glanced at Moonpetal in the other elf's hand and stated, "I'm fairly sure Kess has the only dragon slaying sword. Though it would be nice if there were more than one." Eyes slowly and carefully looking over the ruins as well as the general landscape they were set in. "EIlistraee guide my eyes to what we seek." Praying for Guidance and giving herself a Vigilant Blessing.
Perception: 6
Guidance: 3
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Keeping your eyes out for any signs of life or danger, you carefully approach the the building that appears to be a mausoleum. You can see that it's actually in pretty good shape, much better than most of the building ruins that you see all around the clearing. It has a circular construction, about 70 feet in diameter, with smooth stone walls and a large metal door that still hangs and appears to be very much intact.
Lumen looks around to see if anyone might be observing them as they arrive....
Perception: 9
Chrys inspects the mausoleum‘s metal doors, crossing her arms. „Damn well-preserved. Wonder if there‘s magic afoot,“ she mutters. She gives it a cursory inspection, laying a hand against the metal and trying to see if it‘s protected somehow.
Arcana: 15
She also eyes it for any physical traps.
Investigation: 13
If everything seems clear, she gives the door a gentle push or a pull, intending to open it just slightly enough to peek inside.
Eyeing the mausoleum warily, Nym glances at Chrys as she inspects and opens the door. "Hopefully we won't wake up anything..." Prepared to cast Turn Undead at a moment's notice. Looking at the architecture of the building, the drow tries to see if she recognize anything as belonging to a particular deity.
Religion: 10
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Inspecting the metal door of the mausoleum, Chrys finds no traps or wards of any kind, and Nym sees nothing that would indicate any particular deity that is known to her. Nonetheless, Chrys gently pushes the heavy door open, and finds that it swings open very easily and smoothly on its hinges, with little resistance.
Looking inside, you see the inside of the circular building, about 50-60 feet in diameter and about 30 feet high, with an obvious altar at the far end of the chamber, opposite the door. Along the left and right walls, you see matching raised platforms that are accessible by stairs the climb to about 10 feet high, although many of the stairs on the left side lie crumbled. Encircling the entire chamber is a five-foot wide ledge that sits 20-feet up. In addition, there are a number of stone columns, twelve total; six spaced at regular intervals at the edge of the room, and six on the inside of the two platforms, although on the left side, one of the outer and one of the inner pillars have collapsed and lie in large ruins on the stone floor.
Do we hear anything at all? Smell anything odd? Does the floor seem recently disturbed?
Chys slaps her palms together and closes her eyes, praying to the Duin: "Show me what evil might be lurkin' in here, O Wanderer," she prays, using her divine sense to sweep the mausoleum for danger.
With a quick prayer to her deity, Chrys opens her eyes and scans the inside of the small, round chamber. However, her Divine Sense registers no particularly foul odors, which would indicate the presence of evil inside the mausoleum or in the nearby. In her mind, all is silent.
You don't hear anything inside here, but in looking at the floor, Lumen does notice some bits of scattered refuse: small pebbles, disturbed dust, a few small crumbs and tiny bones... things that indicate that someone, or something has been in here recently. He definitely picks up some kind of faint, lingering smell, like that of a creature. (Roll a perception to see if he can discern what it is.)
„Well, whate‘r‘s waitin‘ fer us in here, it ain‘t from the depths o‘ hell or the reaches o‘ heaven,“ Chrys quietly informs the others.
"That's comforting, at least," Kess would note. "But if our experience with the cave of goblins is any tale, rarely are places such as these truly empty."
Ever since the party had arrive at Velharr, Kess had been very quiet; the last few days had almost seem to blur together, the only break in the monotony being the encounter with the mysterious blue fey creature who apparently felt moved to help their cause.
Kess took comfort in that; truth be told, she was definitely worried about the Pie Pals' chances against that hulking umbral monstrosity that was Duskbringer. Even though her size denoted a young draconic creature, Kess was definitely nervous at the prospect none-the-less; Duskbringer, after all, was a dragon. She took a moment to consider the significance of that fact; Their little band were looking to slay a dragon: the bane of kings and their kingdoms, devourer of nations and their peoples, slayers of heroes, hoarder of fortunes and treasures, death on two wings with the reach of deadly elemental breath.
Kess, in particular, was not looking forward trying to dodge blasts of acid. And even wounded as she apparently was, fewer creatures fought more fiercely than those who felt cornered, regardless if they were man or beast.
She worked through the implications of where this was all leading... If the party succeeded? They'd be dragon slayers... and apparently, to some, probably seen as heroes. And that likely meant fame and word of their deeds spreading, which would be not insignificant if they managed to pull this off. Even here in the heart of the High Forest, she figured that word would likely travel about Duskbringer's death; a dragon's open appearance was no small thing, nor the danger they posed; and to slay one was usually seen as doing great charity. After all, growing up in the north, Kess had been told tales of the danger posed by Aurothator, "Old White Death", himself; that, and to avoid ever provoking the massive white wyrm's attention if ever she saw him. What if somebody managed to lay him low? Word would travel throughout the North.
If they failed? Just another footnote in Faerunian history, another wives' tale speaking of the dangers outside civilization. Indeed, they would all just be another set of bones languishing in a forgotten ruin amidst tarnished, moth-eaten leathers and rusted weaponry.
A memory and a song of grief to her mother...
Her mother. Gifted in magic and gentle, with that smiling countenance and those beautiful dark cerulean locks, skin fair like the moon itself.
Kessdarra didn't consider it until now, but she realized just how much she missed home, as she looked to the other party members. She missed the singing of birds in the pines and the pleasant breezes of the Dale's summers. She missed the pure white snows and stark frozen beauty of the winter, the rustic comfort of Knucklehead stew on a cold night, the savory taste of roasted venison and potatoes prepared in the tradition of the local friendly Reghedmen tribes. And of course, her home, Lonelywood; said to be home to the legendary Regis, a halfling who was said to be a scrimshander of peerless skill and companion to the legendary Drizzt Do'Urden, though the latter one's reputation was now held in mixed regard in the dale, given that many blamed the famed drow ranger for the "Bryn Shander Incident" some years back.
I haven't spoken to her in so long... I hope she's alright.
She was going to aid her friends... and they were going to live, Kess decided, as the group worked on their course of action. They have people waiting for them. All of them did. Duskbringer didn't know it yet, but her days were numbered, and some children were going to be reunited with their parents.
Lumen perception: 22
Smell is a funny thing. A pleasing fragrance or a reeking stink might invade your senses and overwhelm your olfactory system, but without reference, it's often difficult to place the actual nature or type of scent. Lumen raises his nose to the dominant and pervasive smell that seems to be lingering in the air inside the mausoleum, it's almost like body odor of some sort, but certainly not human, elvish, dwarvish or half orc. It's something else, no doubt, but whatever it is, this smell has a familiar aroma. It's one that he's well familiar with, however, without a point of reference, he can't seem to place it, or even decide whether it's just ordinary, or actually offensive.
It starts to play a frustrating mind game with Lumen as he racks his brain to try and remember what kind of creature smells like this. As he moves deeper inside the mausoleum, though, he notices the carved idol at the far end of the chamber in front of the altar. Something about that is familiar too. It has a form that seems disturbing, and yet so recognizable, the small, but almost exaggerated reptile-like limbs and claws that are clutching a spear, the pronounced, elongated snout, the distinct, sharp horns on the top of it's hairless almost dog-like head...
It suddenly hits him like a puff of dragon's breath. It all comes together as he stares at the figurine.
This familiar form of this carved likeness that sits in front of him instantly gives reference to the odor that Lumen has been trying to place.
The odor in the air smells just like his friend Krackle.
“Krackle?…..” Lumen says almost to himself as he finally understands the idol’s familiarity. He spins around and looks at the raised walkway and everywhere else in the large room for any hidden observers. He’s hopeful their small friend is there, confused at why that might be, but most of him is terrified that the shadow assassin is playing games somehow with them and Krackle is in danger.
Looking around, you don’t see anyone hiding up there along the ledge. You are the only ones here right now. And just to clarify, it’s not so much that it smells exactly like Krackle, but seeing the carved kobold idol, and you having familiarity with how Krackle smells, you recognize the pervasive odor as being the smell of kobolds.