Kessdarra warily eyes the lowering sun, realizing that the party's only viable shelter would be inside of Ravensglade Keep. She looks down to Vesper, who had practically stayed glued by her side ever since Duskbringer's end... and Kess could not help but worry for the young half-elf. Vesper was strong, stronger than she realized... but where would she go, Kess wondered, once they had finally left this forest...?
More yet, how long did they have until winter? Kess laughed at herself a bit, her thoughts going back across the miles of northern Faerun. Right now, the run on the knucklehead would be going on in force, with the fishermen arguing back and forth and everyone else hurriedly making ready for the coming winter.
What day was it, even? She was a bit too tired to really care right now... but it was a valid thing to consider.
"I agree... they'll probably leave us alone," She says to Chrys, before looking down at Vesper, who seemed fixated at where the dragon had earlier tossed her around like a child's toy, seeming to drift and out of consciousness; it would be cute to Kess if the circumstances leading to it hadn't been so brutal and traumatizing. "Um... for the sake of our injured friends, perhaps we should so something that can be eaten and goes down easy, like a stew? I'm sure we've enough rations to boil stock and add things here or there, much less water and a pot."
Looking around the room, Kess couldn't help but look over in Nym's direction; in some ways, the drow priestess had been savaged even worse than Vesper had; while Vesper had endured the agony of having her body broken, Nym had faced the vile wyrm's acidic breath.
"How are you holding up, Nym...? I'm sorry, I never checked back on you after all that happened... I just... you know."
Upon seeing the softest of inhalations in Vesper's torso after casting her cantrip, the drow settled in at her side, taking in her many injuries and trying to quell the rising panic in her throat, barely registering the battle going on still. Seeing the dwarf pour her own divine healing into their friend, Nym nervously wetted her lips before saying, "S-Straighten her limbs for me? It's going to take a while for me to heal and I don't want anything to grow wrong."Her brow was furrowed in concern and concentration as she tried to push past the fact that this was a companion that she had been traveling with and trusted in battle for the past week and focus on the injuries. What needed mending where. Pouring the highest level of Cure Wounds that she could cast into the sorceress and then another. She wasn't used to casting such intensive healing magic, nor healing such awful wounds, let alone while being in pain herself, so it took longer than it probably should have. The cleric's expression intense in its focus, not interrupting the conversation between her patient and the paladin and barely even hearing it. But finally she did what she could and together with Chrysoberyl, she helped the half elf to her feet.
x2 2nd Level Cure Wounds: 15+18=33 Healing for Vesper
Seeing that Chrys had it in hand and Vesper was well enough to walk on her own but likely needed emotional support still, Nym trailed behind them, a bit shakey herself. Seeing the blonde girl break into heartbreaking sobs upon reuniting with Kess, she was struck with the realization that Vesper must be much younger than she seemed. For any of elven descent, even half, age was a but a number. Seeing the normally stoic sorceress so emotional made the realization much more poignant. But if any deserved to be emotional, it was certainly Vesper, having almost died. How close had she been? If Nym had been but a moment too late with that Cantrip? The cleric shuddered at the thought before her lavender eyes fell on Duskbringer's corpse. The dragon could harm no more. And it appeared everyone else had made it out alive as well. Eyes drifting closed, she murmured, "Thank you Eilistraee." Before raising her voice and asking, "Who else needs healing?"Knowing surely that not everyone made it out of the battle unscathed. Otherwise she was quiet, listening to Chrys and Silver speak with melancholy.
At least until she was broken out of her upright trance by Kess' voice, blinking before registering the words that were said. The drow had certainly never looked worse. Glancing down at herself she said, "The acid thankfully couldn't breach my armor, but what wasn't armored..."She gestures to her left leg, arm and side of her face with little expression. The acid had splashed all along the left side of her body, including the front of her torso, and had eaten through the shine of her silvery scale mail but left it intact. Her robes and cloak was in tatters but her modesty was preserved in a small mercy. Thanks to her screwing her eyes tightly shut, her vision was saved, but her screaming had left her lips damaged on the left side. The chemical burns were uneven as the acid had splashed over her, leaving her forehead unmarred but taking away half of her left eyebrow and melting her left ear, a good portion of the underside of her hair and what had grown around her ear gone now. She was no longer bleeding thanks to Chrys' Lay on Hands but the skin that had been damaged was still an angry red, contrasting sharply with her otherwise grey hued ebony skin.
"Glad for once that I don't own a hand mirror." The drow tried to joke flatly, eyes unfocused as she stared towards Duskbringer's corpse, her good hand holding her holy symbol with white knuckles.
Channeling the most powerful healing that Elistraee will grand her, Nym is able to fully cure Vesper's wounds, and with Chrys's help, they're able to set her arm so that it mends correctly and doesn't have any deformities. Of course, they're unable to cure her shock, but at least she's not suffering physically anymore. Nym, however, is still feeling the pain of her own wounds, from Duskbringer's significant attack, but as bad as some of the damage appears to be to her lips, face and ear, she knows from experience that applying the same kind of powerful healing she administered to Vesper will help heal much of that, even if it does leave at least a bit of scarring to her skin.
As the sun goes down, you set up your tents on the comfortable grass outside the keep. There's a nice flat spot between the trail and the loch, away from the dragon's corpse, so with suitable shelter made for the night you build a small fire and manage to combine enough of your rations together to make a rather tasty soup, at least the most tasty meal you've had in days.
You actually feel quite safe up here, on this magnificent patch of land that's halfway up the massive butte. As the light from the stars begins to twinkle and the very last light fades from the sky, you can still see the outline of the massive cliff, the reflection of the loch, and of course, hear the steady flow of the waterfall and the river. The land around Ravensglade keep is truly an an amazing place, and you can see why the elves would have wanted to build their home here. The view and ambience of the place even seems to calm Vesper, and she marvels at just how beautiful it is here, which is the first positive thing she's said in hours. It's a sign that there's still hope and love inside her, even it's been beat down from today's events.
Eventually, you begin to see a glow at the horizon and then watch as Selûne (the moon) slowly appears and rises above the landscape, providing even more light by which you can see, for both safely and mere appreciation of this place. There are no other creatures that you see or hear, aside from the normal small critters that move about during the night and go about whatever nocturnal business occupies them.
When the moon is fairly high in the sky, you finally fall asleep and enjoy long, peaceful hours of revitalizing rest, that ends when the first light of the sun begins to crest above the forest at the eastern skyline. Just as the evening was here, it's a quiet, tranquil morning, probably the most calm morning this place as seen every since Duskbringer brought her dark sickness here, and when you open your eyes, you do, in fact feel thoroughly rested and ready for the new day.
(Should I roll for the dragon harvesting? Perhaps someone wants to help?)
Lumen asks the group if it would be safe, and advisable, for him to play some elven music he's picked up over the years with his lute, and perhaps conjure some illusions up in the sky, against the moon, of a dragon being vanquished, of small but mighty figures triumphing, of families and residents rising from the ashes, of the keep and these buildings being repaired and again lifted to the sky.
"A small gesture to try to lift our spirits, to warn away any who might want to do us harm, to reassure anyone else hiding here, to let those two kids and their guide out there in the woods know that the threat is gone," he says. If the group agrees, he manifests a moving series of silent images overhead, and accompanies it with a first showing of his ballad of the group's dragon hunt and victory.
"You all did well today. It is an honor to fight alongside you all. Nym, if you would let me try a [spell[healing word[/spell] or two to remove some of the hurt and damage, I'd be happy to."
He sighs, and is happy to play it quiet for a bit.
"I was thinking, the Pie Pals has never been my favorite name, but it's obviously grown on me. But everything changes and adapts. We have moved beyond fairs, and pies, and onto a larger struggle for the safety of the very peoples of this realm. And this group represents many different types of people, from all walks of life. That's our strength. Perhaps the Pie Pals... will one day be renamed... The Peoples."
The night sky here is beautiful, Selune and the stars working in concert to weave a tapestry of light over their heads. Lumen also does his part, working his magic to accompany his music, which is most enjoyable. "You are a skilled lutist indeed Lumen," she lets him know. "And your illusions are most enjoyable."
None of the tents are long enough to comfortably fit Silver, but she has been sleeping with moss for a mattress and branches for a roof for several months now, and tonight of all nights she wishes to see the sky. She finds the Lady of Mystery away to the south-east, though she focuses on the part of the constellation she has always known as the Dragon of Dawn.
"In the morning it will be a new dawn for this place,"she speaks out. "And for your party as well, I think. I have been without purpose for some time now, until sighting Duskbringer overhead led me here, and to you all. And now that Duskbringer is dead, I am without purpose again. That is unless... you all would agree to my travelling with you. I feel most deeply that it was not mere chance that led our paths to cross in this way. If you will have me I would be honoured to join the Pie Pals, or the Peoples, or whichever name you take."
(Nym would help Lumen harvest what they could from Duskbringer's corpse. And add Guidance to that as well!)
The soup that they concocted was unusual to her palate but interesting. She felt like she could improve it with more mushrooms but perhaps next time. Leaning back with her weight on her good arm, Nym managed to tear her eyes away from the pretty illusions the bard conjured as he offered his help. "I appreciate that, thank you Lumen." Using the last of her magic she couldn't quite heal all of her wounds, but with Lumen's assistance of a Healing Word or two, the sting from the acid was finally gone. The scarring looking much less horrifying now that it was healed over, the skin an even color, if warped. She could feel it under her fingertips as she explored her own face. With the tents up she took the time to change out of her ruined robes to the set of plain clothes she had packed. She could still wear her scale mail over it, although fit awkwardly. But she was happy to simply be free of her armor for now, feeling like not just a physical weight had been lifted from her for the first time since she had been rescued by these ragtag adventurers. The Pie Pals. Or were they any longer?
Listening to them debate about a possible name change, the cleric's head tilted in consideration of the name the half orc put forth before Chrys threw one out, causing her eyebrow and a half to raise. "The Dawnbringers." She said aloud, as if to test how it tasted on her tongue to say before stating, "A fitting end to that dragon. And an interesting beginning for a group of many stories in the future. Though I must admit it would be awkward if I couldn't look right at my companions ever again for fear of blinding myself." The drow tried to joke. After a hearbeat, she nodded towards Silver. "I'm of the same mind though. I've hardly been with you all for long. Though... I'd like to stay. I still want to travel further and meet more people. And that seems to be done a lot easier while with others."Fingers intertwining as her arms rested over her knees, Nym continued without making eye contact with anyone, "And I admit that I've become fond of this group. Of you all."Lavender eyes finally flick up to survey the young bard, wise fighter, passionate paladin, and sorcerers both young and new. "But even if we don't stick together, for whatever reason, ...I'm glad to have met you all."
Lumen pauses briefly in his playing and says with a soft grunt, "I assumed you were both already a part of this group, here to stay if you wish it. If you're looking for my opinion, you've more than earned your place here. I'd be happy to have you."
((I'm assuming this is roleplay from the night previous???))
"I second that, myself," Kess nods in agreement with Lumen. "You both risked life and limb right alongside us. Against a dragon, no less. You are both one of us, whether we're the Pie Pals, the Dawnbringers, or Luskan Door Knockers."
Kess was clearly tired with evidence of that lame joke, but the smile on her face was all the same genuine; she too had removed her armor for the time being, and was relaxing.
"And for the record, Nym... I feel for you... but just know that acid-breathing witch could never take what actually makes you beautiful."
As this conversation happened, Kess looked over at a restful Vesper, so grateful that she was alive... and left wondering what this would mean going forward. The terror in her eyes had been all too real; Kess had seen that look before on some girls in Luskan who had angered some of the city's... less savory citizens. The implications of that did not escape Kess... and wondered if the band would soon be yet another body less.
"Well look,"Chrys says, "We ain't all sure 'bout what the future's gon hold fer us. But I do know one thing... we gotta get back ta Aelar an' Lia an' tell 'em the news 'fore anythin' else. An' we gotta figure if we're gonna give Grumbar's red gem back ta that hag, Oolga or Braida or whomever, ya know, the one who took ya,"Chrys nods at Nym. "Or," fergit 'bout her an' move right on back ta Yartar an' let Dundragon know that his nymph girl's all right. An' don't fergit 'bout that shadow assassin that got 'way from us... we did a far sight in pissin' off Shar, an' this Talissan Shadow fella's still got a bone ta pick with us, right?"
She frowns. "Lest we got some way of communicatin' o'er far distances, I'm thinkin' we should stick together till we git back ta civilization... mebbie e'en Yartar." She shoots a sympathetic look at Vesper. "We can decide if we're stayin' together or if any o' us are breakin' up there, but if I ain't missin' my guess... we're gonna need ta know more 'bout what Duskbringer said ta ya with her dyin' breaths,"Chrys looks at Silver here, "An' what mage could be powerful enough ta trick a dragon. I got the feelin' we might be able ta git two birds with one stone there... lettin' that ol' mage Dundragon know what's up, an' pickin' his brain for any information on any o' them names Duskbringer mighta dropped. Bein' prepared is better 'n any armor if we're gonna be facin' a new challenge here. 'Fact, we should probably ask Fivin what he knows 'bout any o' this too, if we be seein' him again. He seemed a shifty type, but he did help us out in tha' end. Maybe he knows somethin' that could help us out, too."
(for clarification, Chrys is suggesting to go all the way back to Yartar as a sort of 'base of operations' city to both drop Vesper off, tick off this never ending Dryad quest LOL, and also pick Ander's brains about Valarken, doppelgangers/changelings, and werewolves since he seems to be an arch-mage. She, like me, is putting for suggestions, not demands, to kind of give the group a focus on where to go next, with the immediate problem being to meet with the elves of the keep and tell them the dragon is dead first and foremost.)
"I had thought to share what I learned from Duskbringer in the morning, so as not to burden any of you with distraction before sleep. It certainly sounds as though you already have plenty on your plate. On our plate," she corrects herself with a smile. "But perhaps with all the information, the answer will come in sleep..."
She pauses to consider, then continues. "The dragon spoke of the spirit which accompanied it until she fell. She said that it was the spirit of a man named Valarken, who was once a Duke in Balder's Gate. They made a deal that Duskbringer would assist him in reclaiming his role as ruler of that city, and in return Duskbringer would have endless wealth and an army of orcs at her command. However no orcs ever arrived - the spirit had lied to her. They were here to settle a grievance Velarken had against the ancestors of the people here, saying they had once betrayed him when he allied himself with werewolves of the ruined city of Vehlarr, of which I have not heard, and I was not told the nature of the betrayal, or Velarken's prior relationship with the people here. Perhaps your friends who are from here will know more.
It is concerning that such a malevolent spirit roams the world, but I cannot see how a spirit could rule a city, and I doubt he will be able to find an ally stronger than a dragon."
“Perhaps he has no intention of remaining a spirit…” Kess suggested, her expression grave. “I’m not the most powerful practitioner of the art, but I have heard tell of dweomers that can return even the long dead to life. If that’s what this… Velarken was after, I wonder if we will cross paths with his schemes yet again in the future. After all, if he was willing and able enough to use a dragon to do this to the kinfolk of Nym and myself… I dread to think what else he could be plotting.”
Looking over at Lumen and Kess at both of their welcoming words, Nym shared a smile with Silver before laughing at Kess' 'joke'. "Luskan Door Knockers? I don't think I've heard of that one before. Though if it's up for a vote, I'm leaning towards 'Dawnbreakers'." There was a tenseness in her frame that was nearly unnoticeable until the other elf's words and the drow seemed to melt, as if an unknown thread of tension had suddenly left her as she stared at Kessdarra, lips slightly apart with a dazed sort of look before coming back to herself with a wetting of her lips and rapid blink, looking off to the left of her companion, seemingly flustered. "Th-Thank you. I appreciate your kind words." Tucking her white hair behind an ear, the woman smiled to herself a little, reassuring herself that it was merely the camp fire that made her feel so warm.
Listening to Chrys go over the group's extensive to do list, Nym couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. "You certainly do keep busy, don't you?" Grimacing slightly at mention of the hag that had held her captive, the cleric spoke up, "I don't like the thought of that witch getting ahold of anything that might make her more powerful, but neither would I relish being on her bad side once more or even getting near her again..." Right fist tightening in her left hand, her expression hardened as she finished, "She had mentioned doing some sort of trade. I think it was either other 'special items', or where they were, for the head of that orc chief and his rock."She pointed up at the red stone orbiting her own head currently for the benefit of Silver before she realized she likely had no idea what was going on. "Oolga or Braida or whatever she calls herself is a foul witch that lives by a lake further in the forest. I was held against my will by her for three days until I was rescued,"Nodding towards the rest of the group. "She traded my life for hers." Shaking her head, the woman finished, "I don't think I can make an unbiased decision on the matter. I'll be willing to defer to the group's decision on that matter. I'm enjoying the benefits that this stone is giving me, but I'm willing to part with it if needed."
Listening to the names of so many places being bandied about as well as Duskbringer's last words via Silver was a lot to take in. "So many places... I admit I'm excited to visit a real city." With a deep sigh, the drow offered to take first watch for the night.
Lumen spends much of the evening digging into Duskbringer's corprse, doing his best to harvest as much of her vital parts that he can; the components that he knows will probably fetch somewhat decent coin.
He starts with the easy ones, or rather the EASIER ones. Nothing about this process is easy, as he quickly discovers. However, with a sharp dagger and some careful cutting, prying and pulling, Lumen is able to successfully extract most of her teeth, fangs, claws and her good horn.
With your combined knowledge of weapons and arcana, you are pretty sure that the forty teeth can be made into exceptionally strong and sharp arrow heads, the four fangs can be used as javelin points, and the eight good claws can be made into daggers. The horn can be used to fashion wands. Of course, all of these items have value and can be sold.
Lumen discovers that Duskbringer's wings are too damaged to be of good use, and her scales are very hard to remove; he would definitely need help with that from one of his companions in order to remove enough to be of use.
He also finds that her fundamentum, the large bag that holds her acid, looks to be extremely delicate, and likely beyond his skill to try and remove. It’s easy to see that the slightest error in precision would would result in a very painful disaster.
Nym recommends against attempting to remove Diskbringer's fundamentum but will definitely help Lumen carefully remove as many scales as they can/can carry.
(Do I need to roll anything myself or just give Lumen help advantage and Guidance?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nym rolls up the sleeves of her simple tunic and pats Lumen on the back with a few murmured words to the Dark Maiden before setting to work with her friend.
Even with Nym’s guidance and assistance with the blade, neither of you has any experience skinning a creature like this. A dragon is no mere buck or bear, and the process of removing the hide, or even large enough sections of the hide cleanly enough for use or potential sale proves to be a feat beyond your skill level. Even if you could, Duskbringer’s hide is full of sword and arrow holes from the battle.
The best you can do is to remove a handful of individual scales, about 50 in total, all of which are in perfect condition. Holding them in your hand, you can’t help but remember the time when you saw one from this very dragon lying on the ground near the hag’s den over a week ago, before you even knew of Duskbringer.
You’re also able to harvest about 25 lbs of good dragon meat, which is better than the finest steak imaginable. You can cook and eat some now, and dry the rest for travel.
Lumen thanks the others for their help and does his best to roast some dragon meat, and stow away the claws, teeth, horns, etc. He’s ready to hit the hay after a long day.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Kessdarra warily eyes the lowering sun, realizing that the party's only viable shelter would be inside of Ravensglade Keep. She looks down to Vesper, who had practically stayed glued by her side ever since Duskbringer's end... and Kess could not help but worry for the young half-elf. Vesper was strong, stronger than she realized... but where would she go, Kess wondered, once they had finally left this forest...?
More yet, how long did they have until winter? Kess laughed at herself a bit, her thoughts going back across the miles of northern Faerun. Right now, the run on the knucklehead would be going on in force, with the fishermen arguing back and forth and everyone else hurriedly making ready for the coming winter.
What day was it, even? She was a bit too tired to really care right now... but it was a valid thing to consider.
"I agree... they'll probably leave us alone," She says to Chrys, before looking down at Vesper, who seemed fixated at where the dragon had earlier tossed her around like a child's toy, seeming to drift and out of consciousness; it would be cute to Kess if the circumstances leading to it hadn't been so brutal and traumatizing. "Um... for the sake of our injured friends, perhaps we should so something that can be eaten and goes down easy, like a stew? I'm sure we've enough rations to boil stock and add things here or there, much less water and a pot."
Looking around the room, Kess couldn't help but look over in Nym's direction; in some ways, the drow priestess had been savaged even worse than Vesper had; while Vesper had endured the agony of having her body broken, Nym had faced the vile wyrm's acidic breath.
"How are you holding up, Nym...? I'm sorry, I never checked back on you after all that happened... I just... you know."
Upon seeing the softest of inhalations in Vesper's torso after casting her cantrip, the drow settled in at her side, taking in her many injuries and trying to quell the rising panic in her throat, barely registering the battle going on still. Seeing the dwarf pour her own divine healing into their friend, Nym nervously wetted her lips before saying, "S-Straighten her limbs for me? It's going to take a while for me to heal and I don't want anything to grow wrong." Her brow was furrowed in concern and concentration as she tried to push past the fact that this was a companion that she had been traveling with and trusted in battle for the past week and focus on the injuries. What needed mending where. Pouring the highest level of Cure Wounds that she could cast into the sorceress and then another. She wasn't used to casting such intensive healing magic, nor healing such awful wounds, let alone while being in pain herself, so it took longer than it probably should have. The cleric's expression intense in its focus, not interrupting the conversation between her patient and the paladin and barely even hearing it. But finally she did what she could and together with Chrysoberyl, she helped the half elf to her feet.
x2 2nd Level Cure Wounds: 15+18=33 Healing for Vesper
Seeing that Chrys had it in hand and Vesper was well enough to walk on her own but likely needed emotional support still, Nym trailed behind them, a bit shakey herself. Seeing the blonde girl break into heartbreaking sobs upon reuniting with Kess, she was struck with the realization that Vesper must be much younger than she seemed. For any of elven descent, even half, age was a but a number. Seeing the normally stoic sorceress so emotional made the realization much more poignant. But if any deserved to be emotional, it was certainly Vesper, having almost died. How close had she been? If Nym had been but a moment too late with that Cantrip? The cleric shuddered at the thought before her lavender eyes fell on Duskbringer's corpse. The dragon could harm no more. And it appeared everyone else had made it out alive as well. Eyes drifting closed, she murmured, "Thank you Eilistraee." Before raising her voice and asking, "Who else needs healing?" Knowing surely that not everyone made it out of the battle unscathed. Otherwise she was quiet, listening to Chrys and Silver speak with melancholy.
At least until she was broken out of her upright trance by Kess' voice, blinking before registering the words that were said. The drow had certainly never looked worse. Glancing down at herself she said, "The acid thankfully couldn't breach my armor, but what wasn't armored..." She gestures to her left leg, arm and side of her face with little expression. The acid had splashed all along the left side of her body, including the front of her torso, and had eaten through the shine of her silvery scale mail but left it intact. Her robes and cloak was in tatters but her modesty was preserved in a small mercy. Thanks to her screwing her eyes tightly shut, her vision was saved, but her screaming had left her lips damaged on the left side. The chemical burns were uneven as the acid had splashed over her, leaving her forehead unmarred but taking away half of her left eyebrow and melting her left ear, a good portion of the underside of her hair and what had grown around her ear gone now. She was no longer bleeding thanks to Chrys' Lay on Hands but the skin that had been damaged was still an angry red, contrasting sharply with her otherwise grey hued ebony skin.
"Glad for once that I don't own a hand mirror." The drow tried to joke flatly, eyes unfocused as she stared towards Duskbringer's corpse, her good hand holding her holy symbol with white knuckles.
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Channeling the most powerful healing that Elistraee will grand her, Nym is able to fully cure Vesper's wounds, and with Chrys's help, they're able to set her arm so that it mends correctly and doesn't have any deformities. Of course, they're unable to cure her shock, but at least she's not suffering physically anymore. Nym, however, is still feeling the pain of her own wounds, from Duskbringer's significant attack, but as bad as some of the damage appears to be to her lips, face and ear, she knows from experience that applying the same kind of powerful healing she administered to Vesper will help heal much of that, even if it does leave at least a bit of scarring to her skin.
As the sun goes down, you set up your tents on the comfortable grass outside the keep. There's a nice flat spot between the trail and the loch, away from the dragon's corpse, so with suitable shelter made for the night you build a small fire and manage to combine enough of your rations together to make a rather tasty soup, at least the most tasty meal you've had in days.
You actually feel quite safe up here, on this magnificent patch of land that's halfway up the massive butte. As the light from the stars begins to twinkle and the very last light fades from the sky, you can still see the outline of the massive cliff, the reflection of the loch, and of course, hear the steady flow of the waterfall and the river. The land around Ravensglade keep is truly an an amazing place, and you can see why the elves would have wanted to build their home here. The view and ambience of the place even seems to calm Vesper, and she marvels at just how beautiful it is here, which is the first positive thing she's said in hours. It's a sign that there's still hope and love inside her, even it's been beat down from today's events.
Eventually, you begin to see a glow at the horizon and then watch as Selûne (the moon) slowly appears and rises above the landscape, providing even more light by which you can see, for both safely and mere appreciation of this place. There are no other creatures that you see or hear, aside from the normal small critters that move about during the night and go about whatever nocturnal business occupies them.
When the moon is fairly high in the sky, you finally fall asleep and enjoy long, peaceful hours of revitalizing rest, that ends when the first light of the sun begins to crest above the forest at the eastern skyline. Just as the evening was here, it's a quiet, tranquil morning, probably the most calm morning this place as seen every since Duskbringer brought her dark sickness here, and when you open your eyes, you do, in fact feel thoroughly rested and ready for the new day.
(Should I roll for the dragon harvesting? Perhaps someone wants to help?)
Lumen asks the group if it would be safe, and advisable, for him to play some elven music he's picked up over the years with his lute, and perhaps conjure some illusions up in the sky, against the moon, of a dragon being vanquished, of small but mighty figures triumphing, of families and residents rising from the ashes, of the keep and these buildings being repaired and again lifted to the sky.
"A small gesture to try to lift our spirits, to warn away any who might want to do us harm, to reassure anyone else hiding here, to let those two kids and their guide out there in the woods know that the threat is gone," he says. If the group agrees, he manifests a moving series of silent images overhead, and accompanies it with a first showing of his ballad of the group's dragon hunt and victory.
"You all did well today. It is an honor to fight alongside you all. Nym, if you would let me try a [spell[healing word[/spell] or two to remove some of the hurt and damage, I'd be happy to."
He sighs, and is happy to play it quiet for a bit.
"I was thinking, the Pie Pals has never been my favorite name, but it's obviously grown on me. But everything changes and adapts. We have moved beyond fairs, and pies, and onto a larger struggle for the safety of the very peoples of this realm. And this group represents many different types of people, from all walks of life. That's our strength. Perhaps the Pie Pals... will one day be renamed... The Peoples."
The night sky here is beautiful, Selune and the stars working in concert to weave a tapestry of light over their heads. Lumen also does his part, working his magic to accompany his music, which is most enjoyable. "You are a skilled lutist indeed Lumen," she lets him know. "And your illusions are most enjoyable."
None of the tents are long enough to comfortably fit Silver, but she has been sleeping with moss for a mattress and branches for a roof for several months now, and tonight of all nights she wishes to see the sky. She finds the Lady of Mystery away to the south-east, though she focuses on the part of the constellation she has always known as the Dragon of Dawn.
"In the morning it will be a new dawn for this place," she speaks out. "And for your party as well, I think. I have been without purpose for some time now, until sighting Duskbringer overhead led me here, and to you all. And now that Duskbringer is dead, I am without purpose again. That is unless... you all would agree to my travelling with you. I feel most deeply that it was not mere chance that led our paths to cross in this way. If you will have me I would be honoured to join the Pie Pals, or the Peoples, or whichever name you take."
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
"I dunno," Chrys says as she enjoys the music. "Seems kinda appropriate ta call us the Dawnbringers, considerin' all what's happened, right?"
(Nym would help Lumen harvest what they could from Duskbringer's corpse. And add Guidance to that as well!)
The soup that they concocted was unusual to her palate but interesting. She felt like she could improve it with more mushrooms but perhaps next time. Leaning back with her weight on her good arm, Nym managed to tear her eyes away from the pretty illusions the bard conjured as he offered his help. "I appreciate that, thank you Lumen." Using the last of her magic she couldn't quite heal all of her wounds, but with Lumen's assistance of a Healing Word or two, the sting from the acid was finally gone. The scarring looking much less horrifying now that it was healed over, the skin an even color, if warped. She could feel it under her fingertips as she explored her own face. With the tents up she took the time to change out of her ruined robes to the set of plain clothes she had packed. She could still wear her scale mail over it, although fit awkwardly. But she was happy to simply be free of her armor for now, feeling like not just a physical weight had been lifted from her for the first time since she had been rescued by these ragtag adventurers. The Pie Pals. Or were they any longer?
Listening to them debate about a possible name change, the cleric's head tilted in consideration of the name the half orc put forth before Chrys threw one out, causing her eyebrow and a half to raise. "The Dawnbringers." She said aloud, as if to test how it tasted on her tongue to say before stating, "A fitting end to that dragon. And an interesting beginning for a group of many stories in the future. Though I must admit it would be awkward if I couldn't look right at my companions ever again for fear of blinding myself." The drow tried to joke. After a hearbeat, she nodded towards Silver. "I'm of the same mind though. I've hardly been with you all for long. Though... I'd like to stay. I still want to travel further and meet more people. And that seems to be done a lot easier while with others." Fingers intertwining as her arms rested over her knees, Nym continued without making eye contact with anyone, "And I admit that I've become fond of this group. Of you all." Lavender eyes finally flick up to survey the young bard, wise fighter, passionate paladin, and sorcerers both young and new. "But even if we don't stick together, for whatever reason, ...I'm glad to have met you all."
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Lumen pauses briefly in his playing and says with a soft grunt, "I assumed you were both already a part of this group, here to stay if you wish it. If you're looking for my opinion, you've more than earned your place here. I'd be happy to have you."
((I'm assuming this is roleplay from the night previous???))
"I second that, myself," Kess nods in agreement with Lumen. "You both risked life and limb right alongside us. Against a dragon, no less. You are both one of us, whether we're the Pie Pals, the Dawnbringers, or Luskan Door Knockers."
Kess was clearly tired with evidence of that lame joke, but the smile on her face was all the same genuine; she too had removed her armor for the time being, and was relaxing.
"And for the record, Nym... I feel for you... but just know that acid-breathing witch could never take what actually makes you beautiful."
As this conversation happened, Kess looked over at a restful Vesper, so grateful that she was alive... and left wondering what this would mean going forward. The terror in her eyes had been all too real; Kess had seen that look before on some girls in Luskan who had angered some of the city's... less savory citizens. The implications of that did not escape Kess... and wondered if the band would soon be yet another body less.
"Well look," Chrys says, "We ain't all sure 'bout what the future's gon hold fer us. But I do know one thing... we gotta get back ta Aelar an' Lia an' tell 'em the news 'fore anythin' else. An' we gotta figure if we're gonna give Grumbar's red gem back ta that hag, Oolga or Braida or whomever, ya know, the one who took ya," Chrys nods at Nym. "Or," fergit 'bout her an' move right on back ta Yartar an' let Dundragon know that his nymph girl's all right. An' don't fergit 'bout that shadow assassin that got 'way from us... we did a far sight in pissin' off Shar, an' this Talissan Shadow fella's still got a bone ta pick with us, right?"
She frowns. "Lest we got some way of communicatin' o'er far distances, I'm thinkin' we should stick together till we git back ta civilization... mebbie e'en Yartar." She shoots a sympathetic look at Vesper. "We can decide if we're stayin' together or if any o' us are breakin' up there, but if I ain't missin' my guess... we're gonna need ta know more 'bout what Duskbringer said ta ya with her dyin' breaths," Chrys looks at Silver here, "An' what mage could be powerful enough ta trick a dragon. I got the feelin' we might be able ta git two birds with one stone there... lettin' that ol' mage Dundragon know what's up, an' pickin' his brain for any information on any o' them names Duskbringer mighta dropped. Bein' prepared is better 'n any armor if we're gonna be facin' a new challenge here. 'Fact, we should probably ask Fivin what he knows 'bout any o' this too, if we be seein' him again. He seemed a shifty type, but he did help us out in tha' end. Maybe he knows somethin' that could help us out, too."
(for clarification, Chrys is suggesting to go all the way back to Yartar as a sort of 'base of operations' city to both drop Vesper off, tick off this never ending Dryad quest LOL, and also pick Ander's brains about Valarken, doppelgangers/changelings, and werewolves since he seems to be an arch-mage. She, like me, is putting for suggestions, not demands, to kind of give the group a focus on where to go next, with the immediate problem being to meet with the elves of the keep and tell them the dragon is dead first and foremost.)
"I had thought to share what I learned from Duskbringer in the morning, so as not to burden any of you with distraction before sleep. It certainly sounds as though you already have plenty on your plate. On our plate," she corrects herself with a smile. "But perhaps with all the information, the answer will come in sleep..."
She pauses to consider, then continues. "The dragon spoke of the spirit which accompanied it until she fell. She said that it was the spirit of a man named Valarken, who was once a Duke in Balder's Gate. They made a deal that Duskbringer would assist him in reclaiming his role as ruler of that city, and in return Duskbringer would have endless wealth and an army of orcs at her command. However no orcs ever arrived - the spirit had lied to her. They were here to settle a grievance Velarken had against the ancestors of the people here, saying they had once betrayed him when he allied himself with werewolves of the ruined city of Vehlarr, of which I have not heard, and I was not told the nature of the betrayal, or Velarken's prior relationship with the people here. Perhaps your friends who are from here will know more.
It is concerning that such a malevolent spirit roams the world, but I cannot see how a spirit could rule a city, and I doubt he will be able to find an ally stronger than a dragon."
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
“Perhaps he has no intention of remaining a spirit…” Kess suggested, her expression grave. “I’m not the most powerful practitioner of the art, but I have heard tell of dweomers that can return even the long dead to life. If that’s what this… Velarken was after, I wonder if we will cross paths with his schemes yet again in the future. After all, if he was willing and able enough to use a dragon to do this to the kinfolk of Nym and myself… I dread to think what else he could be plotting.”
Looking over at Lumen and Kess at both of their welcoming words, Nym shared a smile with Silver before laughing at Kess' 'joke'. "Luskan Door Knockers? I don't think I've heard of that one before. Though if it's up for a vote, I'm leaning towards 'Dawnbreakers'." There was a tenseness in her frame that was nearly unnoticeable until the other elf's words and the drow seemed to melt, as if an unknown thread of tension had suddenly left her as she stared at Kessdarra, lips slightly apart with a dazed sort of look before coming back to herself with a wetting of her lips and rapid blink, looking off to the left of her companion, seemingly flustered. "Th-Thank you. I appreciate your kind words." Tucking her white hair behind an ear, the woman smiled to herself a little, reassuring herself that it was merely the camp fire that made her feel so warm.
Listening to Chrys go over the group's extensive to do list, Nym couldn't help but raise her eyebrows. "You certainly do keep busy, don't you?" Grimacing slightly at mention of the hag that had held her captive, the cleric spoke up, "I don't like the thought of that witch getting ahold of anything that might make her more powerful, but neither would I relish being on her bad side once more or even getting near her again..." Right fist tightening in her left hand, her expression hardened as she finished, "She had mentioned doing some sort of trade. I think it was either other 'special items', or where they were, for the head of that orc chief and his rock." She pointed up at the red stone orbiting her own head currently for the benefit of Silver before she realized she likely had no idea what was going on. "Oolga or Braida or whatever she calls herself is a foul witch that lives by a lake further in the forest. I was held against my will by her for three days until I was rescued," Nodding towards the rest of the group. "She traded my life for hers." Shaking her head, the woman finished, "I don't think I can make an unbiased decision on the matter. I'll be willing to defer to the group's decision on that matter. I'm enjoying the benefits that this stone is giving me, but I'm willing to part with it if needed."
Listening to the names of so many places being bandied about as well as Duskbringer's last words via Silver was a lot to take in. "So many places... I admit I'm excited to visit a real city." With a deep sigh, the drow offered to take first watch for the night.
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Lumen survival/nature is the same, and he will accept help.
19
21
4
19
19
22
16
Lumen asks about the stone and if it seems to have any other effects.
Lumen spends much of the evening digging into Duskbringer's corprse, doing his best to harvest as much of her vital parts that he can; the components that he knows will probably fetch somewhat decent coin.
He starts with the easy ones, or rather the EASIER ones. Nothing about this process is easy, as he quickly discovers. However, with a sharp dagger and some careful cutting, prying and pulling, Lumen is able to successfully extract most of her teeth, fangs, claws and her good horn.
With your combined knowledge of weapons and arcana, you are pretty sure that the forty teeth can be made into exceptionally strong and sharp arrow heads, the four fangs can be used as javelin points, and the eight good claws can be made into daggers. The horn can be used to fashion wands. Of course, all of these items have value and can be sold.
Lumen discovers that Duskbringer's wings are too damaged to be of good use, and her scales are very hard to remove; he would definitely need help with that from one of his companions in order to remove enough to be of use.
He also finds that her fundamentum, the large bag that holds her acid, looks to be extremely delicate, and likely beyond his skill to try and remove. It’s easy to see that the slightest error in precision would would result in a very painful disaster.
Nym recommends against attempting to remove Diskbringer's fundamentum but will definitely help Lumen carefully remove as many scales as they can/can carry.
(Do I need to roll anything myself or just give Lumen help advantage and Guidance?)
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
You can help him with your own Survival or Nature roll and give Guidance.
Nym rolls up the sleeves of her simple tunic and pats Lumen on the back with a few murmured words to the Dark Maiden before setting to work with her friend.
Guidance to Lumen! 1
Survival: 11
Nym Durnodel - Aspiring Heroes of Faerûn // Danica Amastacia - Red Dead Annihilation
Even with Nym’s guidance and assistance with the blade, neither of you has any experience skinning a creature like this. A dragon is no mere buck or bear, and the process of removing the hide, or even large enough sections of the hide cleanly enough for use or potential sale proves to be a feat beyond your skill level. Even if you could, Duskbringer’s hide is full of sword and arrow holes from the battle.
The best you can do is to remove a handful of individual scales, about 50 in total, all of which are in perfect condition. Holding them in your hand, you can’t help but remember the time when you saw one from this very dragon lying on the ground near the hag’s den over a week ago, before you even knew of Duskbringer.
You’re also able to harvest about 25 lbs of good dragon meat, which is better than the finest steak imaginable. You can cook and eat some now, and dry the rest for travel.
Lumen thanks the others for their help and does his best to roast some dragon meat, and stow away the claws, teeth, horns, etc. He’s ready to hit the hay after a long day.