(There are no copies of you all, It is the same but with a Statue, you are the only light sources. This is why it feels so empty in the middle of the room as the light did not reach either side, leaving you in a ball of darkness)
Arbon knows dwarvish, and relays the message to everyone. "Does anyone have any ideas as to what it might mean? I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is a phoenix. But I can't see how there'd be one of those in this hell hole."
"No idea, beyond thinking the same as you--it's related to a phoenix. Maybe we'll find more context further in? If it's some sort of warning... I don't know that we have a choice, here."
You feel a sense of weightlessness as you pass through the doors to the mirrored hall. The doors slowly close behind you, not-so-subtly pushing you towards the statue. Looking back from the closing doors, where there were once one, now there are two. The statue you saw is of some kind of human, maybe dwarf, holding a savage looking ax high in the air shouting to the heavens. It is unevenly draped in some kind of robe of crimson red, ragged as torn curtains. In front of it, is another kind of human, maybe dwarf. Hands on its knees, it sits there staring at whatever is in its lap.
You take a single step towards it, and you are thrust forth into a vision of the past. A sepia film covers the world about you and the hall fills with the images of panicked and screaming dwarves clinging desperately to hope as the doors shut. A single one of them raises an ax high into the air and shouts louder than all thought possible, sending a yell throughout the caves such that those about the mine may hear it. He then stood on a stone square in the center and proclaimed there would be “no extinction, no eradication!”
“From Ashes, Came Fire!”A deep voice boomed through the air.
A whirlwind of fire engulfed the entire room around this mighty dwarf. The burning inferno exploded many into mere puffs of ash with the violent wind and set many more ablaze with the cinders. The warrior would not be deterred, however, and pulled from his bag a mighty robe. It slide over his armor, and to the floor fell the empty bag as it did. He raised his ax once more with a roar and the vision ends.
The kneeling one is now standing to the left of the statue. You can see that it is too tall to be a dwarf, leaning more towards Elvish or perhaps a very thin human. You try to get a better look at it, taking another step and once again are thrust into a vision of the past.
You can see how the rooms were developed passed the deeper mine. First, the room with the braziers was the ritual room the dwarves used to gain entrance to the abyss. As you soar overhead, you can see them review hundreds of ancient tomes and texts looking for something just before and inside the hall. The final image they stop on is that of a man wreathed in black, a silhouette even in the brightest day and in the most direct light. It says that a great sacrifice would be required to even gain its attention, and an even greater sacrifice to sate its appetite so that a deal with it might be made.
An unknown amount of time later, you see the same dwarves leading wheel barrels of bodies down the tunnels from the hall to the area where the bridge was. They dump the bodies into one of the twin ditches, filling it with equally large amounts of smoking incense. They make wretched prayers of a grotesque nature, offering self mutilations and dark praises to their unholy deity at the mirror between the two places. In the hall, prisoners are chained and held. There are elves, dwarves, orcs, and all other manner of creature that the same laboratory dwarves repeatedly kill, ritually offer their heart in a bowl on a stone square in the middle of the room, and then drag out the body to dispose of like the others. When the heart is placed on the square, it combusts spontaneously, burning to ash. You realize then that you are witnessing the birth of madness as the bowl fills to capacity before erupting into a visage of a human but made of flame. It does not speak, merely looking upon the chained prisoners in contempt, executing them on the spot. It looks to the dwarves in goggles before watching them kneel.
One final scene plays out, and it ironically starts at the beginning of the mine. It begins with a single laboratory dwarf explaining that the military officer who'd been down there was killed by something to a security officer. The security officer follows him into the deeper mine entrance, and for a few moments it seems totally normal. Then, like bees from a drowning hive, maw demons began to swarm from the hole. At first, they feed on everything living, then dead, then they began attacking each other. The few dwarves that did survive the initial onslaught were found by another laboratory worker, and as you can imagine were carefully lead down to the hall where a resistance began to form. Little did they realize the laboratory dwarves locked them inside the hall before they themselves were transformed into maw demons awaiting any who'd come looking.
The image then blurs together with the previous and you see the same scene play out where the warrior shouts in defiance.
Once again back in the room, you see the statue but not the second figure.
Just before you can make it all the way to it, however, the second figure stands back up as if it was resting on the back of the statue. It walks out to the right, and you can see that this being has no color to it but black, as though it were a tear in the space it occupies. It bends and twists while looking at you.
A whisper caught on the wind bounces about the room like a pinball against a row of glasses.
Ambon stands tall, "And from ashes come fire." He bows slightly before standing tall once again. "You are the one that called for all who entered these mines?"
As the visions of the panicked dwarves start Grahl readies himself but notices they are faded images. Not real. Like so much in this place. He will watch what happens and try to keep his guard up.
His attention is then drawn the the booming voice.
Seeing how the dwarves chose a dark pact instead of fighting disgusts Grahl, a warriors death should be considered the greatest honor. Grahl tries to piece together the images to determine what happened. This dark figure seems the cause of the twisted dwarves.
Grahl will wait to see the creatures response, but look around unsure if what they are looking at is another illusion.
The lone figure nods agreeing to Arbon's statement but doesn't reply verbally. It slowly pulls its head left to right looking at each one of you individually. You all get a different sense of its being as its stare leaves you contemplating
For Onyx...
You sense that this being is something familiar. You can feel a kind of aura emanating from it, but you cannot place what exactly it is. It feels similar to the cosmic power behind your patron, but not as infinite, like a portion of it had been placed in a manikin and made to move. In some twisted way, you see abit of yourself in it as this thought comes to you, given that you merely channel the forces of some greater being as well.
For Grahl...
You sense that this being is completely foreign. You can feel a kind of aura emanating from it, and you can tell that it is magical. It feels suppressing, choking, like its attempting to prevent the flow of air into your lungs with each second of its existence. You have felt this kind of presence only once before, in the fires of war. In some twisted way, you see this shade as your greatest enemy, not in its individuality but in its conceptual form as something trying to kill you merely because you stand before it.
For Arbon...
You sense that this being is somewhat distant. You can't feel any kind of aura or emotion coming from it. It feels cold, dark, like a very far away star in the sky must feel surrounded by infinite blackness. In this way, you understand what it might be like to get surrounded by enemies and feel hope being crushed as you are overpowered not only physically but mentally as each wave destroyed is replaced with twice as many as before. In some twisted way, you see this sole figure as the metaphysical representation of an unending assault, and are certain a battle with it would be so.
Onyx's head swirled with thoughts about these revelations. Where those accurate flashbacks of history? "Surely they had to have been!" Had they somehow walked straight into the abyss?! "Certainly feels like it!" And, as interesting a sight as this fiend in front of them was, (and it had to be a fiend, right?) it was odd how their cleric was conversing with it so calmly.
"What is going on?" thought the warlock as the last impressions fell on him.
It felt.... as if the being was... limited. Not some sort of demigod--and certainly nothing to be worshipped--but something that had an air of physicality to it. Of vulnerability.
"Which means it can be fought if need be. Good!" thought Onyx.
Composing himself as best he could, he waited for Arbon to continue his conversation with it, now intently curious as to everything about it.
The more Grahl looks at the figure the harder it becomes to keep his gaze off of it. Something about it, almost addictive feeling for Grahl. His adrenaline rushes through his body and his eyes narrow.
Could it be trying to use more tricks on Grahl he thinks.
Just standing here makes Grahl feel uneasy, so he starts to cautiously take some sidesteps to get to the figures flank. Grahls eyes narrow and he cant help but figit with his fingers across the handle of his axe. Patience was not his greatest strenght and every moment seemed like an eternity. Grahl tries his best to resist the urge to burst into action.
"Interesting," Arbon says as he scratches his chin. "So for what reason do you beckon us here? You resonate that of an unending battle, but I see no foes. Why would you wish me to feel that? You obviously have some plan for us here." Arbon lowers his mace, placing the head on the ground. "Tell us what you want. Plain and simple. A battle is too simple, inelegant for something such as you. So... why do you bring us here?"
Direct, and to the point, thought Onyx. He turned to the entity before them, trying desperately not to speculate on the answer only to wind up disappointed.
Grahl lets Arbons words about Battle being to simple slide. He will assume Arbon is merely trying to goad the figure into revealing its intentions. After all, what could a creature thats likes to play tricks on people's minds know about battle.
Grahl will continue his wait, somehow the figures very presence bothers Grahl. But he cannot determine why.
Onyx sighed, having suddenly lost most interest in the being. "Really? That's the sum total of your appeal to us... to bring more innocent people for you to slaughter, or to serve you for nefarious purposes. To do it, or else?"
He leveled an accusatory gaze at the dark figure as he spat the next word. "Pathetic.
I've never seen the appeal of making a pact with a dark patron. The whole, 'lose your own soul' bit and such. At least my patron gave a pretty fair deal, without risk to my integrity. Still, I guess the prospect of power presents quite the temptation to some. But you? You're not offering anything except the absense of punishment. And you expect that to compel us? Again, pathetic. Even without the death of your last 'client'--the hunter, clearly--a child could see the absurdity of your request."
The warlock readied a spell, and waited for the others' reactions. He hadn't given it much thought, but he seriously didn't think any of the others would be willing to work with this entity either. He was confident they'd all put an end to it--and he only hesistated to ensure that that was so.
(( Should the being look like it's going to attack, Onyx will try to do so first. He'll keep his spell readied each round until he sees reason to belay it. Attack roll:25 ))
The shade raises its right arm as if to take praise from a cheering audience. Its left leg sweeps behind its right and it bows graciously, arm still extended. Head lowered, it whispers,
Arbon picks up his mace, gripping it tightly and raises his shield. "I cannot let you continue to draw innocent people here to their deaths. I would be remiss to stand by and do nothing. You think we'll be overwhelmed? You think we're here to die? I think you'll find we're not so easily wiped away."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The corner of Grahls mouth turns up into a big smile to see his allies go for a fight before he does. After the agonising moments of waiting he can finally fight this creature. Whatever it was Grahl felt a rush of excitement as he no longer had to restrain himself. The adrenaline can finally take over as he narrows his eyes and looks to his almost washed off warpaint (made with blood).
Seeing Onyx and Chazrael attacking from afar Grahl wastes no more time and rushes towards the creature in a bellowing warcry Bbwaaaarrrgghhh ...for GRUUMMSHH With his words the blade of his axe starts glowing a faint yellow tone. As he rushes forward he will stop a few feet away from the creature planting his feet firmly into the ground and spinning his body, using the momentum of his sprint to give additional speed to his attack. Swinging his axe wide towards the creature.
Movement: Towards the creature Bonus Action: Rage Action: Reckless Axe Attack: 23 Damage: 16 on hit it does an extra 7 radiant dmg from Divine Fury.
(There are no copies of you all, It is the same but with a Statue, you are the only light sources. This is why it feels so empty in the middle of the room as the light did not reach either side, leaving you in a ball of darkness)
Arbon knows dwarvish, and relays the message to everyone. "Does anyone have any ideas as to what it might mean? I mean, the first thing that comes to mind is a phoenix. But I can't see how there'd be one of those in this hell hole."
"No idea, beyond thinking the same as you--it's related to a phoenix. Maybe we'll find more context further in? If it's some sort of warning... I don't know that we have a choice, here."
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
You feel a sense of weightlessness as you pass through the doors to the mirrored hall. The doors slowly close behind you, not-so-subtly pushing you towards the statue. Looking back from the closing doors, where there were once one, now there are two. The statue you saw is of some kind of human, maybe dwarf, holding a savage looking ax high in the air shouting to the heavens. It is unevenly draped in some kind of robe of crimson red, ragged as torn curtains. In front of it, is another kind of human, maybe dwarf. Hands on its knees, it sits there staring at whatever is in its lap.
You take a single step towards it, and you are thrust forth into a vision of the past. A sepia film covers the world about you and the hall fills with the images of panicked and screaming dwarves clinging desperately to hope as the doors shut. A single one of them raises an ax high into the air and shouts louder than all thought possible, sending a yell throughout the caves such that those about the mine may hear it. He then stood on a stone square in the center and proclaimed there would be “no extinction, no eradication!”
“From Ashes, Came Fire!” A deep voice boomed through the air.
A whirlwind of fire engulfed the entire room around this mighty dwarf. The burning inferno exploded many into mere puffs of ash with the violent wind and set many more ablaze with the cinders. The warrior would not be deterred, however, and pulled from his bag a mighty robe. It slide over his armor, and to the floor fell the empty bag as it did. He raised his ax once more with a roar and the vision ends.
The kneeling one is now standing to the left of the statue. You can see that it is too tall to be a dwarf, leaning more towards Elvish or perhaps a very thin human. You try to get a better look at it, taking another step and once again are thrust into a vision of the past.
You can see how the rooms were developed passed the deeper mine. First, the room with the braziers was the ritual room the dwarves used to gain entrance to the abyss. As you soar overhead, you can see them review hundreds of ancient tomes and texts looking for something just before and inside the hall. The final image they stop on is that of a man wreathed in black, a silhouette even in the brightest day and in the most direct light. It says that a great sacrifice would be required to even gain its attention, and an even greater sacrifice to sate its appetite so that a deal with it might be made.
An unknown amount of time later, you see the same dwarves leading wheel barrels of bodies down the tunnels from the hall to the area where the bridge was. They dump the bodies into one of the twin ditches, filling it with equally large amounts of smoking incense. They make wretched prayers of a grotesque nature, offering self mutilations and dark praises to their unholy deity at the mirror between the two places. In the hall, prisoners are chained and held. There are elves, dwarves, orcs, and all other manner of creature that the same laboratory dwarves repeatedly kill, ritually offer their heart in a bowl on a stone square in the middle of the room, and then drag out the body to dispose of like the others. When the heart is placed on the square, it combusts spontaneously, burning to ash. You realize then that you are witnessing the birth of madness as the bowl fills to capacity before erupting into a visage of a human but made of flame. It does not speak, merely looking upon the chained prisoners in contempt, executing them on the spot. It looks to the dwarves in goggles before watching them kneel.
One final scene plays out, and it ironically starts at the beginning of the mine. It begins with a single laboratory dwarf explaining that the military officer who'd been down there was killed by something to a security officer. The security officer follows him into the deeper mine entrance, and for a few moments it seems totally normal. Then, like bees from a drowning hive, maw demons began to swarm from the hole. At first, they feed on everything living, then dead, then they began attacking each other. The few dwarves that did survive the initial onslaught were found by another laboratory worker, and as you can imagine were carefully lead down to the hall where a resistance began to form. Little did they realize the laboratory dwarves locked them inside the hall before they themselves were transformed into maw demons awaiting any who'd come looking.
The image then blurs together with the previous and you see the same scene play out where the warrior shouts in defiance.
Once again back in the room, you see the statue but not the second figure.
Just before you can make it all the way to it, however, the second figure stands back up as if it was resting on the back of the statue. It walks out to the right, and you can see that this being has no color to it but black, as though it were a tear in the space it occupies. It bends and twists while looking at you.
A whisper caught on the wind bounces about the room like a pinball against a row of glasses.
“From Fiiiiiire, Came Ashessss.”
Ambon stands tall, "And from ashes come fire." He bows slightly before standing tall once again. "You are the one that called for all who entered these mines?"
Chazrael stands still, letting Ambon do the talking.
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
As the visions of the panicked dwarves start Grahl readies himself but notices they are faded images. Not real. Like so much in this place. He will watch what happens and try to keep his guard up.
His attention is then drawn the the booming voice.
Seeing how the dwarves chose a dark pact instead of fighting disgusts Grahl, a warriors death should be considered the greatest honor. Grahl tries to piece together the images to determine what happened. This dark figure seems the cause of the twisted dwarves.
Grahl will wait to see the creatures response, but look around unsure if what they are looking at is another illusion.
The lone figure nods agreeing to Arbon's statement but doesn't reply verbally. It slowly pulls its head left to right looking at each one of you individually. You all get a different sense of its being as its stare leaves you contemplating
For Onyx...
You sense that this being is something familiar. You can feel a kind of aura emanating from it, but you cannot place what exactly it is. It feels similar to the cosmic power behind your patron, but not as infinite, like a portion of it had been placed in a manikin and made to move. In some twisted way, you see abit of yourself in it as this thought comes to you, given that you merely channel the forces of some greater being as well.
For Grahl...
You sense that this being is completely foreign. You can feel a kind of aura emanating from it, and you can tell that it is magical. It feels suppressing, choking, like its attempting to prevent the flow of air into your lungs with each second of its existence. You have felt this kind of presence only once before, in the fires of war. In some twisted way, you see this shade as your greatest enemy, not in its individuality but in its conceptual form as something trying to kill you merely because you stand before it.
For Arbon...
You sense that this being is somewhat distant. You can't feel any kind of aura or emotion coming from it. It feels cold, dark, like a very far away star in the sky must feel surrounded by infinite blackness. In this way, you understand what it might be like to get surrounded by enemies and feel hope being crushed as you are overpowered not only physically but mentally as each wave destroyed is replaced with twice as many as before. In some twisted way, you see this sole figure as the metaphysical representation of an unending assault, and are certain a battle with it would be so.
Onyx's head swirled with thoughts about these revelations. Where those accurate flashbacks of history? "Surely they had to have been!" Had they somehow walked straight into the abyss?! "Certainly feels like it!" And, as interesting a sight as this fiend in front of them was, (and it had to be a fiend, right?) it was odd how their cleric was conversing with it so calmly.
"What is going on?" thought the warlock as the last impressions fell on him.
It felt.... as if the being was... limited. Not some sort of demigod--and certainly nothing to be worshipped--but something that had an air of physicality to it. Of vulnerability.
"Which means it can be fought if need be. Good!" thought Onyx.
Composing himself as best he could, he waited for Arbon to continue his conversation with it, now intently curious as to everything about it.
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
The more Grahl looks at the figure the harder it becomes to keep his gaze off of it. Something about it, almost addictive feeling for Grahl. His adrenaline rushes through his body and his eyes narrow.
Could it be trying to use more tricks on Grahl he thinks.
Just standing here makes Grahl feel uneasy, so he starts to cautiously take some sidesteps to get to the figures flank. Grahls eyes narrow and he cant help but figit with his fingers across the handle of his axe.
Patience was not his greatest strenght and every moment seemed like an eternity. Grahl tries his best to resist the urge to burst into action.
"Interesting," Arbon says as he scratches his chin. "So for what reason do you beckon us here? You resonate that of an unending battle, but I see no foes. Why would you wish me to feel that? You obviously have some plan for us here." Arbon lowers his mace, placing the head on the ground. "Tell us what you want. Plain and simple. A battle is too simple, inelegant for something such as you. So... why do you bring us here?"
Direct, and to the point, thought Onyx. He turned to the entity before them, trying desperately not to speculate on the answer only to wind up disappointed.
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Chazrael nods. "I also like this direct approach."
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
Grahl lets Arbons words about Battle being to simple slide. He will assume Arbon is merely trying to goad the figure into revealing its intentions. After all, what could a creature thats likes to play tricks on people's minds know about battle.
Grahl will continue his wait, somehow the figures very presence bothers Grahl. But he cannot determine why.
The shade laughs at your replies and does indeed respond.
“You...will bring more.”
It looks over you all again, tilting its head awkwardly.
“You...will bring more, or your death will.”
The head rapidly shifts to the other side.
“The man in the house with no WWWINdows! He'll bring them...He brought you...”
It motions its hands to the dark ceiling, at nothing in particular.
“Who...Who will serve?”
Onyx sighed, having suddenly lost most interest in the being. "Really? That's the sum total of your appeal to us... to bring more innocent people for you to slaughter, or to serve you for nefarious purposes. To do it, or else?"
He leveled an accusatory gaze at the dark figure as he spat the next word. "Pathetic.
I've never seen the appeal of making a pact with a dark patron. The whole, 'lose your own soul' bit and such. At least my patron gave a pretty fair deal, without risk to my integrity. Still, I guess the prospect of power presents quite the temptation to some. But you? You're not offering anything except the absense of punishment. And you expect that to compel us? Again, pathetic. Even without the death of your last 'client'--the hunter, clearly--a child could see the absurdity of your request."
The warlock readied a spell, and waited for the others' reactions. He hadn't given it much thought, but he seriously didn't think any of the others would be willing to work with this entity either. He was confident they'd all put an end to it--and he only hesistated to ensure that that was so.
(( Should the being look like it's going to attack, Onyx will try to do so first. He'll keep his spell readied each round until he sees reason to belay it. Attack roll: 25 ))
Tooltips Post (2024 PHB updates) - incl. General Rules
>> New FOW threat & treasure tables: fow-advanced-threat-tables.pdf fow-advanced-treasure-table.pdf
Chazrael nodded. "I'm with him." He turned to the owling on his shoulder and gently placed him on the ground. "Wait here while I shoot this thing."
Attack - Attack: 12 Damage: 7
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
The shade raises its right arm as if to take praise from a cheering audience. Its left leg sweeps behind its right and it bows graciously, arm still extended. Head lowered, it whispers,
"Does that go...for...ALL of you...?"
It remains bowed
Arbon picks up his mace, gripping it tightly and raises his shield. "I cannot let you continue to draw innocent people here to their deaths. I would be remiss to stand by and do nothing. You think we'll be overwhelmed? You think we're here to die? I think you'll find we're not so easily wiped away."
The corner of Grahls mouth turns up into a big smile to see his allies go for a fight before he does. After the agonising moments of waiting he can finally fight this creature. Whatever it was Grahl felt a rush of excitement as he no longer had to restrain himself. The adrenaline can finally take over as he narrows his eyes and looks to his almost washed off warpaint (made with blood).
Seeing Onyx and Chazrael attacking from afar Grahl wastes no more time and rushes towards the creature in a bellowing warcry Bbwaaaarrrgghhh ...for GRUUMMSHH With his words the blade of his axe starts glowing a faint yellow tone. As he rushes forward he will stop a few feet away from the creature planting his feet firmly into the ground and spinning his body, using the momentum of his sprint to give additional speed to his attack. Swinging his axe wide towards the creature.