The vines snap out from Lafetha hand; reaching into the air and they strike the wisp. The light it was emitting fades as it slowly dissolves in the air, leaving nothing behind. The crew glances around to see each other, still on the very outer edge of where the Starfall struck the ground. The ground still full of ash.
The Dagger:
Flickering Dagger 1d4 + Str, +1d6 psychic damage. Requires Attunement If attunement is ever dropped, the dagger vanishes.
(Combat Over)
Sounds continue to move throughout the thick air. The sound of a raging fire coming from one direction. In another,the sound of wood cracking and twisting. And yet a different path and distance is the sound of something muttering; but it's just a bit too far away to hear. All along the edge of your sight, small shadows darting around. As if something else is circling you....
Suddenly, the crew hears laughter. But it resides in their own mind. Followed by hearing their own voice, speaking to them.
Abigail & Tarak
Oh what fun, oh seeker mine. Come to seek me out? Come to take me home? Perhaps we can make each other whole. To do so will be a show. Will you succeed? Let me gift you this once. And let you decide.
Morgan
(Another voice whispers in unison with the voice in your head, although sometimes it deviates...) Oh what fun, oh seeker mine. Come to seek merun out? Come to take me go home? Perhaps we can make each otherit whole. To do so will be a show. Will you succeed? Let me giftseduce you this once. And let you decide.
Lafetha
Oh what fun, oh seeker mine. Come to seek me out? Come to take me home? Perhaps we can make each other whole. To do so will be a show. Will you succeed? Let me gift you this once. And let you decide.
(Another voice is carried on the wind, seeming to stem from a growing heat in your heart) What you gave up, for our power Is nothing compared to what they gave up, to be here.
Two, not even two foot tall, blue skinned humanoid things with pointed ears, small but hooked noses, and mouth full of sharp teeth pop out. A blue blur as they toss out a padlock and then a keyring with 3 keys on it, before they seem to step back and fade out of sight. The speed in which they move unnaturally fast. For both Abigail and Lafetha, not even your memory of Shale/Cora moved that quick... But guessing from the shadows that dart around you, there are a few of them watching.
"guys, someone is playing hide and seek but also offering sexual favors? I don't know. I hate telepathy, there is she's so much noise in my head anyway."
Morgan calls out to the blue men, "hey blue guys! You're super fast and that's cool. I'd really appreciate it if we could move forward with out any hindrances. I promise you can keep any keys and padlocks we find , if you do us this solid. " persuasion20 .
"guys, someone is playing hide and seek but also offering sexual favors? I don't know. I hate telepathy, there is she's so much noise in my head anyway."
Morgan calls out to the blue men, "hey blue guys! You're super fast and that's cool. I'd really appreciate it if we could move forward with out any hindrances. I promise you can keep any keys and padlocks we find , if you do us this solid. " persuasion20 .
The blue skin creatures don’t say anything. But you’re certain they could hear you.
Tarak Hears the laughter and then his own voice. Once it recites it’s words he says to himself “Who or what are you? Angel or Demon? Either way I intend to find out.”
He takes a few minutes thinking over the recited wordsinsight15
then he says “Someone inspect the keys and the padlock I find it too much of a coincidence that we hear three sounds in three directions and they give us three keys.” Once done resting he says “I say we check out the area where we heard cracking wood first. Thoughts?”
Lafetha thinks about what the voice is saying and try's to recall if she knows what it means arcana20
You stop and try to make sense of it. It's likely suggesting that whatever came here may have had to sacrifice to arrive on this world. But there's a lot of contradictions in theories on the planes and pathways to the world above.
It's suggested to be impossible. Yet Starfalls happen. Eshe was dead, crossing over, before being brought back.
To know more, you'll likely need a extensive library with tomes and theorists. The largest known university sits in the city of Vinyata, over in the country of Ethuria. Closer by in Unity, Diadochi did mention the great halls in the city of Dhram-Phal you could eventually find your way towards. Ossus, the country you're sitting in still, being private is a bit more restrictive when it comes to accessing their centers of knowledge.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Morgan shakes their head, "I'm not picking things up anymore. They explode for no reason! Also keys are for chumps. This in particular seems like fey buggery. Like the Padlock will have 'what is good in life?' written on it. and then one of the keys will have 'the true meaning of friendship." and if we don't choose that one we get a horrible curse. Trick is that there are always more options then they give you... here, let me show you..." Morgan picks up the padlock and keys. inspects them to make sure there are no obvious markings like they predicted as long as it doesn't say anything along the lines of "Murder Death Bad" then thieves tools. 17
Assuming Morgan is still conscious they say, "This forest is in ruins, trees are going to be falling down and splintering for hours. It's the muttering that interests me. It'll probably be someone who will hurt, impede or hex us... You know what, you talked me into it. What's up with this cracking?"
Morgan, when you pick up the padlock you can tell that it's rather plain. Perhaps too plain, made to look smooth and unassuming. Each of the three keys appears to be the same, but are all made of stone.
Using your thieves tools, nothing seems to happen. But you can tell from playing with the tumblers that it can turn clockwise and unlock. And counter clockwise and unlock. But the padlock always snaps back down. Luckily, your quick skill with the tools keeps it from snapping under the changing tumbles when they slam back down.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Abigail tries to make sense of the riddle and the intentions of the voice in her head (Insight: 8 )
"Morgan, let me see those a second."
Assuming Morgan hands over the lock and key set:
Abigail Investigates (12) the padlock and key while walking around. Assuming she does not find anything of particular importance she will continue to pace a little ways from the group, turning away and whispering an incantation (Detect Magic). She then continues her investigation of the item, as well as taking a look around at their surroundings (Perception: 7 )
Tarak Hears the laughter and then his own voice. Once it recites it’s words he says to himself “Who or what are you? Angel or Demon? Either way I intend to find out.”
He takes a few minutes thinking over the recited wordsinsight15
Abigail tries to make sense of the riddle and the intentions of the voice in her head (Insight: 6 )
"Morgan, let me see those a second."
Assuming Morgan hands over the lock and key set:
Abigail Investigates (9) the padlock and key while walking around. Assuming she does not find anything of particular importance she will continue to pace a little ways from the group, turning away and whispering an incantation (Detect Magic). She then continues her investigation of the item, as well as taking a look around at their surroundings (Perception: 18 )
Abigail...
You aren't able to make heads of tails of the voice that spoke to you. But the lock does appear to be.. something. Both the keys and the padlock giving off a aura of conjuration. You do believe that if you turned it with one of the keys clockwise, it would do one thing. And counter clockwise, it would do another. Looking around further, you notice the auras around your crew members items. The knife that Tarak picked up and something else in his bag. Morgan's cloak and boots. Lafetha's broach and wand. As well as the auras stemming off of your own equipment.
You do notice the same quick things darting around - never still - circling around and watching you all.
Tarak Hears the laughter and then his own voice. Once it recites it’s words he says to himself “Who or what are you? Angel or Demon? Either way I intend to find out.”
He takes a few minutes thinking over the recited wordsinsight15
Tarak...
You aren't able to discern anything behind the voice in your head.
((If you do any other fiddling while heading to the sounds of the cracking wood, please do post it with letting me know you're doing it before arriving at the scene below:))
The crew eventually sets out to the sounds of the cracking wood. Cautious as they step further into the destroyed landscape. The shadows continue to follow them; always at a distance. Minutes pass by as they draw closer and closer to the sounds. Beginning to find husks of trees that have had their bark blown off from the same wave that struck the boat. Small woodland creatures lay face down in the ash covered dirt; dead. Their tiny bodies devoid of color, leaving behind something truly lifeless.
Further along, you all begin to see what seem to be tracks. Wide circles, evenly spaced as if something is walking. While the sightlines are still too hard to make out anything, you do see two shadows. One kneeling down as it finishes saying something. Again, the Sylvan words ringing out.
In Sylvan
I shall take and walk with you, and plant your seed somewhere else. For this ground will not let you regrow as you should.
As the kneeling humanoid figure moves back up, the sounds of cracking wood cry out. It's motions seeming to be causing the sound. The other figure standing nearby, motionless.
Morgan looks to Lafetha, "can we help these people? do they even need help? I don't know how treeple work. if we can't then it sucks but we should head towards the starfall."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lafetha looks over at Morgan, "It wouldn't hurt to ask. I mean their home did just get destroyed."
Lafetha walks over to the humanoid figure cautiously. In Sylvan, " My friends and I saw the starfall and what it has done to the forest. We were wondering if you would like some help?"
Tarak, looking around there isn't much of note to give you any insight. The footprints aren't very deep, so you guess the creature is similar size and weight to yourself. But what is odd is that there's only one set of tracks, and two shadows....
Lafetha, as you step up and closer to the two - both come into view.
One of the shadows is another of those fuzzy, humanoid shapes made of stars and starlight. It's shorter than the other, leaner. In one hand is a singular long blade; it too vibrating and pulsing with it's odd energy. You still find it hard to focus on it. Only able to really see it out of the corner of your eyes. It steps in front of the other creature, one arm stretched behind; like someone guarding another.
The other creature... you're not sure exactly what it is. Six feet tall. A face seeming carved of wood; along with the rest of it's body. But... that wood is broken up. Shifting and moving as it swallows up light. Bits and pieces of bark seem to drift off of it periodically, vanishing from existence after they reach a few inches away before reappearing somewhere else on it. Sometimes crashing into the bark it already has, merging and causing other bits to break off in different directions. But the cycle always repeating.
The wood covered void's face turns to look at Lafetha, it's speech monotone and slow.... (In Sylvan)
We seek passage. Away from here. Somewhere safe....
Again, suddenly, the crew hears their own respective voice, talking into their head.
Shall we not be entertained again, oh seeker mine?
As Tarak walks forward, the situation drastically changes.
The Starlight turns it's blade, and instantly springs into a attack. Words in Sylvan quickly exchanging between the two. Dark pools of energy begin to form in the hands of the wooded creature.
In Sylvan:
Starlight: We did not sacrifice for this to happen again. Tree: I carried you both here; I cannot carry you back.
Again, your own voice rings in your head...
So we begin our entertainment, Oh Seeker Mine. Go forth...
Round 1 (Begin)
Situation: Once Tarak came into view, the two instantly sprung into getting ready for a fight and seem quick to escalate.
Lafetha stands closest to the Star and Wood Creatures; about 10 feet. Tarak, is about 20 feet from them. Morgan and Abigail are roughly 30ish feet away.
*Disadvantage on all attacks against the Starlight creature*
Initiatives: Wood: ((4 - had to delete original post)) Star: ((9 - had to delete original post)) Tarak: 19 Abigail: 16 Lafetha: 16 Morgan:
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Initiative 9 (19)
Tarak seeing them go immediately into offensive position sighs. “What is with you people? If I lived my life the way you do attacking people at first sight without any provocation then I’d be fighting all the time. But since you insist that we do this.”
Tarak raises his shield into place and draws his Flickering blade. He atttacks the Starlight creature
attack 14 damage 6 psychic damage 6
Extra attack 16 damage 5 psychic damage 1
Wrathful Smite first attack damage 5 wrathful Smite extra attack damage 4
Now that there aren't as many enemies around, Lafetha decides to help Abigail and Morgan try to take out the last orb.
thorn whip attack 24 damage 12
The vines snap out from Lafetha hand; reaching into the air and they strike the wisp. The light it was emitting fades as it slowly dissolves in the air, leaving nothing behind. The crew glances around to see each other, still on the very outer edge of where the Starfall struck the ground. The ground still full of ash.
The Dagger:
Flickering Dagger
1d4 + Str, +1d6 psychic damage.
Requires Attunement
If attunement is ever dropped, the dagger vanishes.
(Combat Over)
Sounds continue to move throughout the thick air. The sound of a raging fire coming from one direction. In another, the sound of wood cracking and twisting. And yet a different path and distance is the sound of something muttering; but it's just a bit too far away to hear. All along the edge of your sight, small shadows darting around. As if something else is circling you....
Suddenly, the crew hears laughter. But it resides in their own mind. Followed by hearing their own voice, speaking to them.
Abigail & Tarak
Oh what fun, oh seeker mine.
Come to seek me out?
Come to take me home?
Perhaps we can make each other whole.
To do so will be a show.
Will you succeed?
Let me gift you this once. And let you decide.
Morgan
(Another voice whispers in unison with the voice in your head, although sometimes it deviates...)
Oh what fun, oh seeker mine.
Come to seek
merun out?Come to take
mego home?Perhaps we can make
each otherit whole.To do so will be a show.
Will you succeed?
Let me
giftseduce you this once. And let you decide.Lafetha
Oh what fun, oh seeker mine.
Come to seek me out?
Come to take me home?
Perhaps we can make each other whole.
To do so will be a show.
Will you succeed?
Let me gift you this once. And let you decide.
(Another voice is carried on the wind, seeming to stem from a growing heat in your heart)
What you gave up, for our power
Is nothing compared to what they gave up, to be here.
Two, not even two foot tall, blue skinned humanoid things with pointed ears, small but hooked noses, and mouth full of sharp teeth pop out. A blue blur as they toss out a padlock and then a keyring with 3 keys on it, before they seem to step back and fade out of sight. The speed in which they move unnaturally fast. For both Abigail and Lafetha, not even your memory of Shale/Cora moved that quick... But guessing from the shadows that dart around you, there are a few of them watching.
What do you do?
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
"guys, someone is playing hide and seek but also offering sexual favors? I don't know. I hate telepathy, there is she's so much noise in my head anyway."
Morgan calls out to the blue men, "hey blue guys! You're super fast and that's cool. I'd really appreciate it if we could move forward with out any hindrances. I promise you can keep any keys and padlocks we find , if you do us this solid. " persuasion 20 .
The blue skin creatures don’t say anything. But you’re certain they could hear you.
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Tarak Hears the laughter and then his own voice. Once it recites it’s words he says to himself “Who or what are you? Angel or Demon? Either way I intend to find out.”
He takes a few minutes thinking over the recited wordsinsight 15
then he says “Someone inspect the keys and the padlock I find it too much of a coincidence that we hear three sounds in three directions and they give us three keys.” Once done resting he says “I say we check out the area where we heard cracking wood first. Thoughts?”
Lafetha thinks about what the voice is saying and try's to recall if she knows what it means arcana 27
You stop and try to make sense of it. It's likely suggesting that whatever came here may have had to sacrifice to arrive on this world. But there's a lot of contradictions in theories on the planes and pathways to the world above.
It's suggested to be impossible. Yet Starfalls happen. Eshe was dead, crossing over, before being brought back.
To know more, you'll likely need a extensive library with tomes and theorists. The largest known university sits in the city of Vinyata, over in the country of Ethuria. Closer by in Unity, Diadochi did mention the great halls in the city of Dhram-Phal you could eventually find your way towards. Ossus, the country you're sitting in still, being private is a bit more restrictive when it comes to accessing their centers of knowledge.
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Morgan shakes their head, "I'm not picking things up anymore. They explode for no reason! Also keys are for chumps. This in particular seems like fey buggery. Like the Padlock will have 'what is good in life?' written on it. and then one of the keys will have 'the true meaning of friendship." and if we don't choose that one we get a horrible curse. Trick is that there are always more options then they give you... here, let me show you..." Morgan picks up the padlock and keys. inspects them to make sure there are no obvious markings like they predicted as long as it doesn't say anything along the lines of "Murder Death Bad" then thieves tools. 17
Assuming Morgan is still conscious they say, "This forest is in ruins, trees are going to be falling down and splintering for hours. It's the muttering that interests me. It'll probably be someone who will hurt, impede or hex us... You know what, you talked me into it. What's up with this cracking?"
Morgan, when you pick up the padlock you can tell that it's rather plain. Perhaps too plain, made to look smooth and unassuming. Each of the three keys appears to be the same, but are all made of stone.
Using your thieves tools, nothing seems to happen. But you can tell from playing with the tumblers that it can turn clockwise and unlock. And counter clockwise and unlock. But the padlock always snaps back down. Luckily, your quick skill with the tools keeps it from snapping under the changing tumbles when they slam back down.
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Abigail tries to make sense of the riddle and the intentions of the voice in her head (Insight: 8 )
"Morgan, let me see those a second."
Assuming Morgan hands over the lock and key set:
Abigail Investigates (12) the padlock and key while walking around. Assuming she does not find anything of particular importance she will continue to pace a little ways from the group, turning away and whispering an incantation (Detect Magic). She then continues her investigation of the item, as well as taking a look around at their surroundings (Perception: 7 )
Abigail...
You aren't able to make heads of tails of the voice that spoke to you. But the lock does appear to be.. something. Both the keys and the padlock giving off a aura of conjuration. You do believe that if you turned it with one of the keys clockwise, it would do one thing. And counter clockwise, it would do another. Looking around further, you notice the auras around your crew members items. The knife that Tarak picked up and something else in his bag. Morgan's cloak and boots. Lafetha's broach and wand. As well as the auras stemming off of your own equipment.
You do notice the same quick things darting around - never still - circling around and watching you all.
Tarak...
You aren't able to discern anything behind the voice in your head.
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
((If you do any other fiddling while heading to the sounds of the cracking wood, please do post it with letting me know you're doing it before arriving at the scene below:))
The crew eventually sets out to the sounds of the cracking wood. Cautious as they step further into the destroyed landscape. The shadows continue to follow them; always at a distance. Minutes pass by as they draw closer and closer to the sounds. Beginning to find husks of trees that have had their bark blown off from the same wave that struck the boat. Small woodland creatures lay face down in the ash covered dirt; dead. Their tiny bodies devoid of color, leaving behind something truly lifeless.
Further along, you all begin to see what seem to be tracks. Wide circles, evenly spaced as if something is walking. While the sightlines are still too hard to make out anything, you do see two shadows. One kneeling down as it finishes saying something. Again, the Sylvan words ringing out.
In Sylvan
I shall take and walk with you, and plant your seed somewhere else. For this ground will not let you regrow as you should.
As the kneeling humanoid figure moves back up, the sounds of cracking wood cry out. It's motions seeming to be causing the sound. The other figure standing nearby, motionless.
What do you do?
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Tarak tries to see if he can ascertain what is in the area ahead. investigation 18
Morgan looks to Lafetha, "can we help these people? do they even need help? I don't know how treeple work. if we can't then it sucks but we should head towards the starfall."
Lafetha looks over at Morgan, "It wouldn't hurt to ask. I mean their home did just get destroyed."
Lafetha walks over to the humanoid figure cautiously. In Sylvan, " My friends and I saw the starfall and what it has done to the forest. We were wondering if you would like some help?"
If needed: Persuasion 8
Tarak, looking around there isn't much of note to give you any insight. The footprints aren't very deep, so you guess the creature is similar size and weight to yourself. But what is odd is that there's only one set of tracks, and two shadows....
Lafetha, as you step up and closer to the two - both come into view.
One of the shadows is another of those fuzzy, humanoid shapes made of stars and starlight. It's shorter than the other, leaner. In one hand is a singular long blade; it too vibrating and pulsing with it's odd energy. You still find it hard to focus on it. Only able to really see it out of the corner of your eyes. It steps in front of the other creature, one arm stretched behind; like someone guarding another.
The other creature... you're not sure exactly what it is. Six feet tall. A face seeming carved of wood; along with the rest of it's body. But... that wood is broken up. Shifting and moving as it swallows up light. Bits and pieces of bark seem to drift off of it periodically, vanishing from existence after they reach a few inches away before reappearing somewhere else on it. Sometimes crashing into the bark it already has, merging and causing other bits to break off in different directions. But the cycle always repeating.
The wood covered void's face turns to look at Lafetha, it's speech monotone and slow....
(In Sylvan)
We seek passage. Away from here. Somewhere safe....
Again, suddenly, the crew hears their own respective voice, talking into their head.
Shall we not be entertained again, oh seeker mine?
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Tarak listens as Lafetha translates “What do you run from and how can we help? How many of you are there? Are you the voice I hear in my head?”
As Tarak walks forward, the situation drastically changes.
The Starlight turns it's blade, and instantly springs into a attack. Words in Sylvan quickly exchanging between the two. Dark pools of energy begin to form in the hands of the wooded creature.
In Sylvan:
Starlight: We did not sacrifice for this to happen again.
Tree: I carried you both here; I cannot carry you back.
Again, your own voice rings in your head...
So we begin our entertainment, Oh Seeker Mine. Go forth...
Round 1 (Begin)
Situation: Once Tarak came into view, the two instantly sprung into getting ready for a fight and seem quick to escalate.
Lafetha stands closest to the Star and Wood Creatures; about 10 feet. Tarak, is about 20 feet from them. Morgan and Abigail are roughly 30ish feet away.
*Disadvantage on all attacks against the Starlight creature*
Initiatives:
Wood: ((4 - had to delete original post))
Star: ((9 - had to delete original post))
Tarak: 19
Abigail: 16
Lafetha: 16
Morgan:
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Initiative 9 (19)
Tarak seeing them go immediately into offensive position sighs. “What is with you people? If I lived my life the way you do attacking people at first sight without any provocation then I’d be fighting all the time. But since you insist that we do this.”
Tarak raises his shield into place and draws his Flickering blade. He atttacks the Starlight creature
attack 14 damage 6 psychic damage 6
Extra attack 16 damage 5 psychic damage 1
Wrathful Smite first attack damage 5
wrathful Smite extra attack damage 4
If he attacks anyone other than Tarak
AOO 10 damage 4 psychic damage 3
Wrathful Smite AOO 6