((I will be going away for a week tomorrow. Vacation with the family. So i probably won't be able to post very much at all. Maybe once a day or something, depends on the wifi in the villa we're staying in. Rue can just control Skabb during my leave, I know that he is in good hands (Don't kill him, please).))

((Hey all! Sorry for my absence. I caught an office bug. bleh!))

At last, the day of the festival is here. As you walk to the Faran Tree, you can see everyone is trying to camp out the best spots in the city. As far as you can tell, most, if not all, of Dorborden is present tonight. Shops have closed, many of the more upscale shops have been spelled, and the amount of guards on duty is staggering. They seem to keep traffic flowing through the streets, preventing anyone from sitting on the cobblestone road on the outermost perimeter of the tree. 

As everyone waits, a few apprentice spellcasters from the various guilds cast dancing lights to add to the ambiance. Musicians, illusionists, and other street performers try to entertain the different crowds hoping to make some money before the guards shoo them away. Some tailors and other crafters seem to be selling some commemorative memorabilia in honor of the event -- not just a cash grab, of course. Finally, there are food vendors aplenty in force.

Where might you be sitting? If you would like to be sitting near the tree, roll just a d20. If you roll a 15 or higher, you sit as close as you'd like. Otherwise, formulate a post attempting to get a seat, and we will see how it works out. If you would like to interact with each other or any of these vendors, do not hesitate to approach them!

Jiron shuffles awkwardly through the crowd. He isn't a fan of large social events, but this divination ritual was too enticing to pass up. He tries attempts to find a spot near the tree, but makes it so he doesn't stand out from the crowd too much. He takes a deep breath as he reaches the perimeter of the humanoid sea, and pulls out his notebook as he looks for a seat.

Seat Check-14

((SOOO CLOOOOSE!))

Rolling for Skabb: 9

Skabb happens upon Jiron in the sea of monsters. The tabaxi grins, happy to see a friendly face, "Heya! I see you are having some trouble finding a spot too." Skabb gestures to the crowd. "I'm thinking of climbing onto a roof... Care to join me?"

Skritch's roll to find a seat, post to come when I wake up tomorrow.

7

.......yep.

((Yep, you get NOWHERE near that tree lmao. In fact, by the time you get there, the crowd has only thickened. Roll me a perception if you'd like. If you score 15 or better, you see Jiron and Skabb talking to each other and can possibly join in whatever plan they might have to get a good view.))

Skritch, not really comprehending the ways of city life, rolls out from under his rooftop blanket a little later than usual to find the streets already choked with a sea of bodies. Horrified at the idea of trying to navigate the pressed throng, he endeavors to scale the nearby rooftops on his way towards the main square. It is slow going, and more than a little troublesome, as these fabricated structures he traverses are not as easy to scale as the thick trees of his homeland, and more than once, a current occupant would open an upper-floor window to yell angrily at the poor bird or throw small trinkets his way in frustration at the sounds of little avian feet scratching along the top of their domicile.

Much later, Skritch comes to the edge of the great open area below the mighty tree. The masses of people below are almost a terrifying bewilderment to him. Never had he guessed that so many had come to live here. They were an uncountable sum that almost overwhelmed his senses. From his guttered perch along the rooftoops, Skritch scans the crowd in hopes of a friendly face.

Perception Check: 5

"Yes, I think that would be preferable." Jiron replies to his Tabaxi comrade as he approaches. The hobgoblin is noticeably uncomrtable in such large a crowd. "Though, I might want to see if I can find a decent spyglass or pair of binoculars, first. I'll meet you at the Sanrika entrance to the plaza."

Jiron will then take a breath and once again plunge into the sea of humanoid forms, looking, desperately, for someone selling some sort of ranged viewing equipment. He will also scan the roofs he can see for a good place to sit.

(For binoculars)Investigation-19

(For roofs)Perception-18

((I wouldn't happen to see a bird on those roofs, would I? ;P))

((You likely might!))

(Brand seat check: 20)

Brand muscles his way through the crowd. His size and peoples' reputation seemed to deter much resistance. When he stood within 100' of the epicenter of the ceremony, he found an inconspicuous spot to the side.

Jiron spies a familiar birdie with a lost look on his face! Oddly enough, Skritch seems to have found a pretty good spot despite the circumstances. It seems not many have thought to watch from the rooftops aside from families that live in those homes, but any of the shops that are closed seem up for grabs. 

From Brand and Skritch's spots, they will be able to easily see Baba Aga. These appear to be their best bets. Skabb can be seen climbing up the roof and spots Skritch himself. With a not-so-nimble leap, he barely makes it to the roof with Skritch. "What a small world!" He greets the kenku with a toothy smirk.

"Skabb friend find Skritch!" squawks the surprised aven. "Not lost in furry throng." He says, waving the massive sea of packed bodies in the square.

"Well, that's convenient," Jiron chuckles to himself as his eye catches his feathered friend up on a rooftop, and he notices Skabb seems to have found him, too. Taking in a breath as he exits the crowd, Jiron attempts to find a way up to the perch Skritch has found himself in.

As you all settle in, you wait only a few moments longer for the main show to begin. You might make a bit of small talk, or sit there in silence, as you eye the Faran tree every few seconds. The noise of the crowd heightens as anticipation grows to see Baba Aga. Baba Aga has not made a public appearance in quite awhile, and has seen very few visitors in the last decade. 

The sky overhead clutters with darkened clouds. An early evening becomes as dark as the dead of night. Several folks seem worried that it may begin to rain until a high pitched cackle rings through the air. Skritch can tell it is Baba Aga's laughter. She sounds like she is everywhere all at once. Eyes dart around the tree toward a tall stage made of wood still sprouting leaves and apples. Where was she?

"Up here, my darlings!" 

You may have already seen her, but were perhaps unsure, but Baba Aga hovers over the ground sitting on a broomstick. The crowd roars into life once again, so many of the monstrous folk reaching out for her. You can even spot a few people crying just from the sight of her. 

The dancing lights from all around gather closer to Baba Aga, illuminating her to the people. She waves at everyone to keep it down and quiet down, but it seems only some of the crowd obeys. She appears to sigh.

SNAP!

Baba Aga snaps her fingers and suddenly the entire area is devoid of sound, even you aren't able to make much of a sound at all. You realize that you don't hear much at all. Not the sound of breathing, the rustling of the leaves from Faran, or the shifting of bodies. It's almost deafening until Baba Aga speaks. "My my, I'm so happy to see Oethea's Children so excited. We must carry on, however, sweet young ones. If we do not complete the divination tonight then it will be another 100 years before I'm able to cast such a monumental spell again. Understand, my pretties?"

A few people nodded, but mostly watched her in awe. She snapped her fingers again and noise returned to the world. This time, everyone seemed to stay silent.

"Eheheh, that is better." Baba Aga floated backwards and landed onto the raised platform. She took her broom in hand, which transformed into her staff. "Now, if those who were trained could begin..." Surrounding her platform were a mix of dryads and dark furred tabaxi. A few dryads stood before tall drums, and begun to pat them rhythmically. 

(I will continue in a moment. Please let me know if you want to sit silently and watch this entire scene or if you would like chances to interject.) 

Skritch just sits in an entranced awe.

Jiron snaps up his notebook, nearly dropping his pen, and begins frivolously writing excessively detailed notes. The pen seems to blur over the paper at the speed of sound as he takes in every relevant detail. Date, star alignment, time, the specific rhythm of the drums, even Baba Agas specific movements.

Baba Aga snaps her fingers and a bubbling cauldron appears on the stage in a puff of smoke. The smell of sulfur wafts in the air as the old witch dances around the cauldron. In a sing songy voice, she adds ingredients to the cauldron by manifesting them seemingly out of nowhere. You, however, don't seem to understand a word she is saying.

You see what looks like various animal parts be flung into the cauldron. Each time a new addition falls in the cauldron sparks in a dazzling array of colors and smells. Whatever your favorite meal is, this cauldron begins to smell of it, even if you don't eat meat! Baba Aga sticks a finger in, despite the boiling broth, and tastes it.

"Almost done, my lovelies, now I will introduce our volunteer!" Baba Aga claps her hands together.

Materializing from Baba Aga's shadow is a small cloaked person with their hood pulled up. They walk up and stand beside the old hag. Baga Aga grins and pulls down the hood revealing-

Gasps escape from the audience. Could it be-?

"Yes, indeed," Baba Aga nods. "This individual was a Gaian!"

You see a halfling girl standing there. A look of tense determination planted on her face. In another life, you imagine her as you may have seen or heard her people described: smug, carefree, and typically in the pocket of the humans. Halflings were not the worst of the Gaians, but their allegiance to the humans made them unforgivable. Of course the humans only didn't slaughter them for they looked like deformed humans themselves. They treated these halflings as such and then renamed their people 'halfling.' For their original name was-

"I'm no Gaian!" The girl shouts over the wave of boos and hisses that came in her direction. "I am Kithkin! I offer my life to Oethea!"

Baba Aga hurried to the Kithkin's side. "Do you truly? Do you hear that my loves? The Kithkin will offer her life for Oethea!"

The crowd was unsure what to make of this.

The hag takes the Kithkin's hand and walks her over to the back of the cauldron. There appears to be a raised platform as the two of them stand over the cauldron. "Dolloh, my apprentice! The odds of your death are quite high. Will you sacrifice yourself in Oethea's name? Will your belief in our cause guide Oethea's voice to us?"

Several in the audience cried out, 'No, take me! Oethea will never answer that Gaian!'

"Yes!" Dolloh nodded. 

In one swift motion, too agile for any old woman, the hag slits the Kithkin's throat and pushes the girl into the cauldron. Your eyes remain transfixed on the cauldron as a pillow of purple smoke rushes forth from it's maw and gathers above in small cloud. The cloud circles until it seems to become solid, like an egg, but thunder cracks within. Soon you see purple and blue flashes revealing the outline of something within writhing and screaming in agony. Baba Aga laughs and laughs as this happens. Most of the audience is too stunned to react, but a few seem to think of running away.

Finally, the egg cracks open and reveals the Kithkin girl once again, but transformed. She lowers onto the platform. Her eyes glow between a mix of purple and blue.

"I see many potential futures for the Oethean people." The Kithkin speaks, her voice booming and containing the crackle of a lightning strike. "However, what happens to them depends heavily on those who are chosen."

"Chosen?" Baba Aga hurries up to stand near the girl. "Who shall be chosen, oracle?" The Kithkin is silent. "Spit it out!"

"The time has come to become proactive. Gather allies. Gather territory. Gather glory. Take the fight to the enemy of Oethea or conquer the lands unknown to you to the north. The choice rests with those who are chosen."

"Yes, yes, that is all well and good-" Baba Aga wraps an arm around the Kithkin's shoulder. "But who shall be chosen?"

"Oethea will lend her power to the chosen!" The Kithkin floats up, her hair floating as if she were underwater. The dark clouds above begin to crackle with power as Dolloh's voice shouts, "Accept the mark! Be blessed, Oethea's Chosen!" Several lightning strikes hit the audience, targeting specific individuals in the crowd. 

You are one of the many to be hit by the lightning.

Your flesh burns, but a particular part of you feels like it's on fire. When you go to attend it, you see the outline of a symbol glow in colorful hues. Where and what is up to you. You feel strange as the glowing stops and leaves behind a mark not unlike a tattoo. All the pain you had felt from the lightning disappears with the glow. 

((( --- You are all gaining a feat! Funny enough, this comes just in time as Wizard's released the Wayfinder Guide to Eberron. In essence, these symbols are pretty similar to Dragonmarks. You decide where the mark appears, what it looks like, and what color you'd like associated with it. The mark is about the size of your character's fist.

I have created these feats, and you should be able to add them. 

Skritch receives "The Curse's Mark"
Skabb receives "The Dreamer's Mark"
Jiron receives "The Maker's Mark"
Brand receives "The Sea's Mark"

Congratulations, you are among the Chosen. ;) --- )))

((I'm not entirely sure how to add this feat at the option only appears when I would normally gain a feat at 4th level. If you know how I can add it, feel free to explain. Otherwise, as the DM, you should be able to edit the custom content into our characters maybe?))

((I went ahead and added everyone's, but the way you do it is you go to view your sheet, then click on Features, then click on Feats, then click on Manage Feats. That lets you add feats w/o needing a level up.))

((And by everyone, I mean Jiron still needs to look his up. Not sure if you guys can VIEW my homebrew (which is unpublished). I know you can view it from the sheet. Here is a link to Maker's Mark: https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/feats/29394-the-makers-mark))