Elavor smiles, watching as Ronegan enters the shop safely, and then quickly darts to the cartography shop, hardly believing that he'd find a place like this here... let alone that he'd find THIS CITY...Umbryl Arcana was what that dark haired elf called it...
"Truly unbelievable..."He says as he goes to open the door to the shop
"Sounds ominous. Is that who the other houses are claiming attacked them? I heard it was each house in turn attacking another with all manner of beasts doing their bidding," Tobias Blackwood says.
"Yes. It's brought many of us to the surface to find these beasts," Bane adds nodding.
"You all aren't looking at the evil staring you in the face," Ramsey says tugging up the sleeve of his tunic and baring a scarred forearm with the largest scar of all a brand of the Lightbringer. "They seek to kill any deviation, any challenger to their law and order," he says his tone dripping in venom. "They are the cancer as much as the Darkness," he adds jerking down his sleeve over the old scar. "Look to your leaders Varen Ironblood. None are innocent and being complacent makes them just as guilty," he adds motioning with his head to the group when another person exits the order common house.
They are tall and board with sharp features and large glossy tusks, a half-orc female in animal hides rejoins the group nodding to Varen.
"Well met," the half-orc barbarian woman says to Varen. Her face is scarred by a claw mark having ruined one of her eyes. She wears a Medusa medallion that matches Ramsey's breastplate. "Topsider," she then says to Ramsey who modes. "Ah," she adds in a gruff voice, "explains your expression," she adds chuckling. "They call me Patience which..." she chuckles again, "was rather cruel of my human adoptive parents wasn't it," she explains as chuckle. "You looking for a fight? We've got business in the north," she says.
..........
"Hello," Tully replies moving fluidly behind the counter to look at Ronegan. "Yes! Why indeed, indeed abjuration happens to be my specialty," the centaur grins. "Divination isn't hard to come by..." he trails off turning back to the bookcase and begins plucking down tomes, "but I'm not so well versed there," he confesses putting now three tomes on tbe counter for Ronegan to try. "These should help you for now," he adds cordially. However the mention of the Darkness and healing he frowns deeply. "Our leaders protect us...the Darkness does not fall beyond the Umbryl Acrana it can not penetrate our wards. You may live a thousand life times here my friend but only here in the confines of the city," he explains next in a hushed almost reverent tone. "May of our leaders in the beginning who took shelter here are still alive and those who wandered back up to the surface never returned. The Lightbringer or so that scourge is called compelled those seeking justice but not truth. We get plenty down here such as yourself who seek refuge. It's a temporary respite from the sickness but if you return to tbe surface beyond our wards it will return," the stoic centaur explains. Putting his hands on the tomes. "May the boon if learning aid you," Tully says giving a curt nod as the front door jingles the admittance of another customer and he begins his greeting again leaving Ronegan to the tomes.
OOC: Ronegan it will take 1 hour per level of spell to copy at a cost of 50 gp per level. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells
....
Elavor enters a brightly lit shop with a pipe smoky interior. A harried looking halfling sits behind a large desk feverishly copying one map scroll to another barely looking up.
"Yeah...?" The halfling says still distracted by his work.
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“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Kiran hesitates for a long time before answering, "Most of the time, my assignments were given to me by my superiors within the church. But there were times when I identified proven threats to the empire that I brought in of my own accord. Petal, the king's status should give him quite a bit of protection, and your status with him may protect you as well. I don't know that I can really coach you, but if I may suggest, insist on the king being present for any questioning, he's a bright young man and should be able to help you, don't speak without his approval." Turning back to Ran, "As for the Darkness, I was taught that the church, led by the Emperor, drove back the Darkness, but that it can't be destroyed (@DM correct me if I'm wrong on that). As for the truth of things, I don't know. I don't even truly know what the Darkness is. If it is simply some disease, it won't be gone until all arcane is, if it is a part of some malign force, it may be possible that it retreated and waited for us to drop our guard somewhat and now returns. I just don't know."
"There are many evils in this world, Ramsey. I wish they were as straightforward as the beast in the forest or vampire in the crypt. Sometimes good hearts are lead astray by ignorance. And sometimes evil men corrupt others under so-called good intentions. I'm afraid whatever is going on between the houses is an attempt to skew the world under the banner that led to that brand." she says, motioning to his arm. "Or... something worse."
Varen nods at the half-orc. "Varen Delisse, of Deephallow. A pleasure, Patience. You go north? Sailing off continent, or just up the coastline?"
Kiran hesitates for a long time before answering, "Most of the time, my assignments were given to me by my superiors within the church. But there were times when I identified proven threats to the empire that I brought in of my own accord. Petal, the king's status should give him quite a bit of protection, and your status with him may protect you as well. I don't know that I can really coach you, but if I may suggest, insist on the king being present for any questioning, he's a bright young man and should be able to help you, don't speak without his approval." Turning back to Ran, "As for the Darkness, I was taught that the church, led by the Emperor, drove back the Darkness, but that it can't be destroyed (@DM correct me if I'm wrong on that). As for the truth of things, I don't know. I don't even truly know what the Darkness is. If it is simply some disease, it won't be gone until all arcane is, if it is a part of some malign force, it may be possible that it retreated and waited for us to drop our guard somewhat and now returns. I just don't know."
Petal folds her arms and frowns at Kiran. ”So, keep our heads down, and try to let the world go by without being noticed? I know you probably don’t care, you just march people to their deaths without even asking why! Never mind risking your own neck for anything or anyone! That’s not me. Protecting myself is not my priority. Maybe I could die tomorrow, but if we don’t try to do something, King Onyx and Elavor won’t have long! That’s more important to me. Maybe it’s about time you made your own choices for once!”
She addresses both Kiran and Ran, determined “Our friends are sick, and the church is the only one with the power to help them! Now, answering questions about why we are all sick is..... probably not ideal. I will talk to the king, but I want to learn - how they can truly heal, how they can drive back the darkness, and what they know about these attacks! If the church are really all about redemption, then here I am, I’m converting! This inquisition, it’s not just going to be one way! I have some inquiries if my own.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Hello, this is quite the shop you've got. Do you happen to sell any rare maps? Maybe of this city? Or the connecting area? I'm also looking to for any supplies, inks, papers,... rare tools. Also, I happen to belong to the cartographers guild in Ospel, and I'm..well.. I'm speechless that I've never found this place...what can you tell me of it?" Elavor puts on his smile and looks around him, seeing if there's any items of rarity or interest that he might be able to lift... if he was so inclined...
Kiran hesitates for a long time before answering, "Most of the time, my assignments were given to me by my superiors within the church. But there were times when I identified proven threats to the empire that I brought in of my own accord. Petal, the king's status should give him quite a bit of protection, and your status with him may protect you as well. I don't know that I can really coach you, but if I may suggest, insist on the king being present for any questioning, he's a bright young man and should be able to help you, don't speak without his approval." Turning back to Ran, "As for the Darkness, I was taught that the church, led by the Emperor, drove back the Darkness, but that it can't be destroyed (@DM correct me if I'm wrong on that). As for the truth of things, I don't know. I don't even truly know what the Darkness is. If it is simply some disease, it won't be gone until all arcane is, if it is a part of some malign force, it may be possible that it retreated and waited for us to drop our guard somewhat and now returns. I just don't know."
Petal folds her arms and frowns at Kiran. ”So, keep our heads down, and try to let the world go by without being noticed? I know you probably don’t care, you just march people to their deaths without even asking why! Never mind risking your own neck for anything or anyone! That’s not me. Protecting myself is not my priority. Maybe I could die tomorrow, but if we don’t try to do something, King Onyx and Elavor won’t have long! That’s more important to me. Maybe it’s about time you made your own choices for once!”
She addresses both Kiran and Ran, determined “Our friends are sick, and the church is the only one with the power to help them! Now, answering questions about why we are all sick is..... probably not ideal. I will talk to the king, but I want to learn - how they can truly heal, how they can drive back the darkness, and what they know about these attacks! If the church are really all about redemption, then here I am, I’m converting! This inquisition, it’s not just going to be one way! I have some inquiries if my own.”
Kiran sighs exasperatedly, "Why do you always seek to make the worst of me? I'm not asking you to do nothing, I'm suggesting you trust the king's judgement. I'm not saying this just for your protection. What do you think would happen to the king if they found out he was surrounded not just by those inflicted with the Darknesses effects, but by those who make use of the very arcane magics it feeds upon? For that matter, do you think you know anything the church hasn't already discovered? What do you hope to teach them? And before you speak to me of making choices, don't forget I made my choice. I've decided to step away from that role and into this one because I don't like what I was doing, what I was becoming. And where has your impulsive choices led you? To being responsible for introducing the Darkness to someone you claim to be protecting and helping. Think before you act, before you endanger the lives of anyone else. Now, if you'll excuse me, its time to get some sleep." And he leaves for his room for the night.
"Think about who your allies really are Lady Delisse," Ramsey says curtly, "put your faith in no one and nothing but your own eyes and ears," he adds next moving off from the group before they quickly follow behind all but Patience remains.
"Leave it to his highness to make a dramatic exit," Patience says rolling her eyes. "We've chartered a ship to see where my cursed sire must have sailed from to get here. There are no more orcs bands in tbw wilds of Embera or if they're are they're well hidden. Take care Ironblood seems we're becoming a dying breed," she nods curtly before jogging off to met up with her friends.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Ronegan pulls out his spellbook from the canister on his hip and inks from his rucksack and writes in the margins of one of his papers a quick note. Reluctant to discuss Darkness -- it has no sway down here. Long lives possible. How? Why?
Even as the centaur spoke, Ronegan felt a longing for this place. He would not have to worry down here, for fear of being branded a heretic. He would not have to face a life that would perhaps end as Malachite's did, wasting away from the effects of...whatever took the poor old man. It would be so easy to slip away into the crowd, find a bed, and then...
The halfling shook his head firmly. At least until he knew Opal and Onyx were safe, he could not. The fact that the Darkness could not reach down here was interesting though, and something Ronegan knew he would have to discuss with Varen and Elavor and investigate further.
His head swimming with all these thoughts Ronegan opens one of the abjuration texts, finds the Mage Armor spell and begins the arduous process of copying the spell into his spellbook. (-100 gp).
"Hello, this is quite the shop you've got. Do you happen to sell any rare maps? Maybe of this city? Or the connecting area? I'm also looking to for any supplies, inks, papers,... rare tools. Also, I happen to belong to the cartographers guild in Ospel, and I'm..well.. I'm speechless that I've never found this place...what can you tell me of it?" Elavor puts on his smile and looks around him, seeing if there's any items of rarity or interest that he might be able to lift... if he was so inclined...
Perception 14
OOC: apologies this didn't load when I last checked.
Elavor doesn't see anything highly irregular looking around. Lots of common equipment of a much finer quality than his own. The harried halfling looks up from his work.
"Topsider? You...there isn't a bit of magic about you but your ears are half pointed," the halfling says frowning at Elavor once he's clapped eyes on him! "I have things for sale certainly but no...no maps of this place will leave here while I'm still breathing," he adds arms crossed over his wee chest still frowning. "Who brought you here anyhow? It isn't like the veil to part for your kind," he adds curtly. "No magic folk," he clarifies gesturing at the rogue.
OOC: Roll a sleight of hand as well as a d6 we'll see what you get, if anything, secretly or you'll be noticed.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Ran watches Kiran leave the common room and then waits a moment longer before turning to Petal.
”Remind me not to get on your bad side.” Ran says. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re right. We should try and learn as much as we can tomorrow. And I think his reaction tonight, and the royal guard waiting here, and everything else shows that the church doesn’t know everything.”
Ran then finishes checking on the windows.
”What if the Lightbringer and the Darkness are connected? Not a conspiracy or anything but connected magically. Don’t know why I think this, but maybe you can’t get rid of one without getting rid of both.”
Ran shrugs and sighs. Then he gives Petal a slight bow.
"Calm seas and favorable winds, Patience." Varen will watch the group depart, then go inside the building.
OOC: I am annoyed. The site isn't notifying me at all and now on mobile, it doesn't load ALL y'alls posts for whatever reason.
Pushing open a well-fortified door Varen is struck with the thought, this is an armory, as she enters the stone room. Then the smell. A pungent mix of sweet, sour, and then rotten! The space is vast but it's a single area divided into two distinctive parts. One side seems an armory of sorts with various arms and armors. The other side, which is occupied, looks much like an old fashion apothecary/alchemy shop. At a table on the apothecary side is an elven woman. She is facing the door but looks distracted standing over a table laden with alchemy items. The shop is lit up by the dozen or so lanterns floating in the air around the expansive room. She seems consumed by the various liquids she's put on to boil these liquids look like they are varying viscosities within glass vessels as well as a large brass distillery where a sickly black treacle-like liquid slowly drips out into a ceramic jug! There is also a large cauldron over a fire in the only visible hearth.
"Can I help you," a dwarven man then suddenly appears from the armory side.
He's got bristly black hair with pale skin. His eyes are white and he moves as if he's very aware Varen is there but does not look directly in Varen's direction.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
"Yes, hello there. I am Varen Delisse, of the Order of Ironblood." She pulls out the silver signet ring that she wears on the chain around her neck, the one that has the Delisse family crest on the front side, and a small symbol of the Order engraved on the inside of the band, though she wonders if the dwarf can perceive it or not.
"I have come seeking information... and, once that's done, I need to restock on some of the rarer reagents I need for mutagens." She says, looking over at the apothecary side.
OOC: For brevity's sake, I'll add in my questions here and we can assume that they occured more conversationally, instead of having like five back and fourth posts.
"I am amazed at this place. We were lucky to find it, myself and a companion of equal talent. What is it called, and how long has it existed under the nose of the heart of the Church?"
"I traveled with House Firstforge for the tournament. On the road we were attacked by bandits wearing the heraldry of the other Houses, as well as gnolls, all under the commands of an entity known as the "Dark Wanderer". Other Houses met similar attacks, and faced different monstrosities from what the stories tell. Has any other hunter found similar leads? Heard errarnt whispers about this Dark Wanderer?"
"My name is Bailon and that's my wife Astrid," the dwarven man gestures at the elf still busy with her work. "Welcome to the Umbryl Arcana built in the ruins of the former city of Torrenea where once stood the largest temple of Ioun, our Knowing Mistress, in all of Embera. To those touched by the arcana she will always protect. My wife can help you with your tonics but as for the rest..." he trails off thoughtfully worrying a medallion about his neck plucked from hus beard. Varen you can see it now he's wearing a medallion with three eyes in a pyramid shape engraved in silver. "As for this Dark Wanderer you seek I myself have never heard of such an entity. Is it a man or beast you seek?" He asks looking at you, you finally notice a blue arcane eye has appeared on his forhead! "Seeking future fortune we can divine this...here...here," he takes you by the elbow, "look into this bowl and tell me what you see," he adds gesturing at a bowl on a pedestal of silvery almost living looking liquid!
OOC: Varen roll a d12 for me please. We can do the purchasing but via PM.
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“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
After Ronegan finishes copying the spell, he will thank the centaur profusely, and realizing the time, will return to the ferry to await his compatriots. To pass the time, he will study the inhabitants of the Umbryl Arcana and make a few hurried notes for this own memories of the place. It was so...remarkable to him and he knew he would return, perhaps for good, once he was sure Onyx and Opal were safe and their future secure.
"I wish I knew the manner of this Dark Wanderer. All we had was a ciphered letter that mentioned him... or her... or it. It was written in an odd code using little pictograms of people that appeared to be dancing, but one that spelled out a plot of murder."
Varen allows herself to be taken to the odd bowl, and peers in.
"Well, yes, my companions are of.. magical inclination, I suppose. I simply accompanied them, on the ferry ride over. No maps for sale though? That's unfortunate... I will take a bottle of black ink, though. I'm running rather low... " Elavor explains, sliding the required coinage across the counter for the halfling and then spreading his hands wide. The pretension the halfling exuded over him not being "magic folk" definitely made his mind up. He'd most certainly find something in this store, quickly now, while the shopkeeper had his back turned...
(Sleight of Hand : 5)
( 1d6: 4 )
If successful, Elavor will thank the shopkeeper and exit the store quickly, rejoining with Ronegan as speedily as possible...
Peering into the silver liquid Varen remembers whispers of such a relic. An oracle bowl which divines possibilities. Looking into the liquid she feel herself lul and relax before suddenly her consciousness is pulled forward! A horrifying feeling washing over her as if she's plunged into ice cold water! Then she breaks the surface with a gasp of breath. Looking out Varen sees a gathering of robed figures around a bedside... They seem to be praying? Discussing? Chanting? She's not exactly sure but whatever they are doing the figure on the bed she can clearly see is struggling as streams of something connecting these robed figures to the lone figure on the bed run between them! Then the room flashes brightly making your eyes go white like staring into the sun! As the burn fades your eyes refocus as the figures are gone and a man stands their surrounded by light backed by yourself, Ronegan, Ran, Petal, Kiran, Elavor (who's figure is slightly faded) and the Firstforge twins! The male figure sheathed in light bends over the now no longer struggling figure, the robed entities having dissolved by the flash of light, before you're thrust out of the oracle bowl back into Bailon and Astrid's shop!
"You've seen what might come to pass not what is or what will be," Bailon says his arcane eye still bright with blue energy. "I can not tell you how to seek it only you can discover this path," he adds then gestures at Astrid who's come from her work and hus wiping bloody hands on a cloth.
.....
Elavor speaking to the halfling thinks he sees a pair of compasses near the end of the table he can easily swipe. The halfling turns for a display of inks Elavor reaches for the compasses but sadly the halfling straightens up and turns glaring at the half-elf.
"Are you really trying to steal from me boy," the halfling begins in utter disbelief! "In all my days," he pauses smirking..."there have been many nefarious folk pass through here but no one, not one has been foolish enough to make an attempt," he adds grimacing making no movements and speaking no other words!
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
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Elavor smiles, watching as Ronegan enters the shop safely, and then quickly darts to the cartography shop, hardly believing that he'd find a place like this here... let alone that he'd find THIS CITY...Umbryl Arcana was what that dark haired elf called it...
"Truly unbelievable..." He says as he goes to open the door to the shop
"Sounds ominous. Is that who the other houses are claiming attacked them? I heard it was each house in turn attacking another with all manner of beasts doing their bidding," Tobias Blackwood says.
"Yes. It's brought many of us to the surface to find these beasts," Bane adds nodding.
"You all aren't looking at the evil staring you in the face," Ramsey says tugging up the sleeve of his tunic and baring a scarred forearm with the largest scar of all a brand of the Lightbringer. "They seek to kill any deviation, any challenger to their law and order," he says his tone dripping in venom. "They are the cancer as much as the Darkness," he adds jerking down his sleeve over the old scar. "Look to your leaders Varen Ironblood. None are innocent and being complacent makes them just as guilty," he adds motioning with his head to the group when another person exits the order common house.
They are tall and board with sharp features and large glossy tusks, a half-orc female in animal hides rejoins the group nodding to Varen.
"Well met," the half-orc barbarian woman says to Varen. Her face is scarred by a claw mark having ruined one of her eyes. She wears a Medusa medallion that matches Ramsey's breastplate. "Topsider," she then says to Ramsey who modes. "Ah," she adds in a gruff voice, "explains your expression," she adds chuckling. "They call me Patience which..." she chuckles again, "was rather cruel of my human adoptive parents wasn't it," she explains as chuckle. "You looking for a fight? We've got business in the north," she says.
..........
"Hello," Tully replies moving fluidly behind the counter to look at Ronegan. "Yes! Why indeed, indeed abjuration happens to be my specialty," the centaur grins. "Divination isn't hard to come by..." he trails off turning back to the bookcase and begins plucking down tomes, "but I'm not so well versed there," he confesses putting now three tomes on tbe counter for Ronegan to try. "These should help you for now," he adds cordially. However the mention of the Darkness and healing he frowns deeply. "Our leaders protect us...the Darkness does not fall beyond the Umbryl Acrana it can not penetrate our wards. You may live a thousand life times here my friend but only here in the confines of the city," he explains next in a hushed almost reverent tone. "May of our leaders in the beginning who took shelter here are still alive and those who wandered back up to the surface never returned. The Lightbringer or so that scourge is called compelled those seeking justice but not truth. We get plenty down here such as yourself who seek refuge. It's a temporary respite from the sickness but if you return to tbe surface beyond our wards it will return," the stoic centaur explains. Putting his hands on the tomes. "May the boon if learning aid you," Tully says giving a curt nod as the front door jingles the admittance of another customer and he begins his greeting again leaving Ronegan to the tomes.
OOC: Ronegan it will take 1 hour per level of spell to copy at a cost of 50 gp per level. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells
....
Elavor enters a brightly lit shop with a pipe smoky interior. A harried looking halfling sits behind a large desk feverishly copying one map scroll to another barely looking up.
"Yeah...?" The halfling says still distracted by his work.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Kiran hesitates for a long time before answering, "Most of the time, my assignments were given to me by my superiors within the church. But there were times when I identified proven threats to the empire that I brought in of my own accord. Petal, the king's status should give him quite a bit of protection, and your status with him may protect you as well. I don't know that I can really coach you, but if I may suggest, insist on the king being present for any questioning, he's a bright young man and should be able to help you, don't speak without his approval." Turning back to Ran, "As for the Darkness, I was taught that the church, led by the Emperor, drove back the Darkness, but that it can't be destroyed (@DM correct me if I'm wrong on that). As for the truth of things, I don't know. I don't even truly know what the Darkness is. If it is simply some disease, it won't be gone until all arcane is, if it is a part of some malign force, it may be possible that it retreated and waited for us to drop our guard somewhat and now returns. I just don't know."
"There are many evils in this world, Ramsey. I wish they were as straightforward as the beast in the forest or vampire in the crypt. Sometimes good hearts are lead astray by ignorance. And sometimes evil men corrupt others under so-called good intentions. I'm afraid whatever is going on between the houses is an attempt to skew the world under the banner that led to that brand." she says, motioning to his arm. "Or... something worse."
Varen nods at the half-orc. "Varen Delisse, of Deephallow. A pleasure, Patience. You go north? Sailing off continent, or just up the coastline?"
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Petal folds her arms and frowns at Kiran. ”So, keep our heads down, and try to let the world go by without being noticed? I know you probably don’t care, you just march people to their deaths without even asking why! Never mind risking your own neck for anything or anyone! That’s not me. Protecting myself is not my priority. Maybe I could die tomorrow, but if we don’t try to do something, King Onyx and Elavor won’t have long! That’s more important to me. Maybe it’s about time you made your own choices for once!”
She addresses both Kiran and Ran, determined “Our friends are sick, and the church is the only one with the power to help them! Now, answering questions about why we are all sick is..... probably not ideal. I will talk to the king, but I want to learn - how they can truly heal, how they can drive back the darkness, and what they know about these attacks! If the church are really all about redemption, then here I am, I’m converting! This inquisition, it’s not just going to be one way! I have some inquiries if my own.”
Gilgin Hardhammer - Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Forge Domain) - Icewind Dale
Petal - Forest Gnome Druid (Circle of the Land - Forest) - Unsung Heroes of Embera
"Hello, this is quite the shop you've got. Do you happen to sell any rare maps? Maybe of this city? Or the connecting area? I'm also looking to for any supplies, inks, papers,... rare tools. Also, I happen to belong to the cartographers guild in Ospel, and I'm..well.. I'm speechless that I've never found this place...what can you tell me of it?" Elavor puts on his smile and looks around him, seeing if there's any items of rarity or interest that he might be able to lift... if he was so inclined...
Perception 14
Kiran sighs exasperatedly, "Why do you always seek to make the worst of me? I'm not asking you to do nothing, I'm suggesting you trust the king's judgement. I'm not saying this just for your protection. What do you think would happen to the king if they found out he was surrounded not just by those inflicted with the Darknesses effects, but by those who make use of the very arcane magics it feeds upon? For that matter, do you think you know anything the church hasn't already discovered? What do you hope to teach them? And before you speak to me of making choices, don't forget I made my choice. I've decided to step away from that role and into this one because I don't like what I was doing, what I was becoming. And where has your impulsive choices led you? To being responsible for introducing the Darkness to someone you claim to be protecting and helping. Think before you act, before you endanger the lives of anyone else. Now, if you'll excuse me, its time to get some sleep." And he leaves for his room for the night.
"Think about who your allies really are Lady Delisse," Ramsey says curtly, "put your faith in no one and nothing but your own eyes and ears," he adds next moving off from the group before they quickly follow behind all but Patience remains.
"Leave it to his highness to make a dramatic exit," Patience says rolling her eyes. "We've chartered a ship to see where my cursed sire must have sailed from to get here. There are no more orcs bands in tbw wilds of Embera or if they're are they're well hidden. Take care Ironblood seems we're becoming a dying breed," she nods curtly before jogging off to met up with her friends.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
"Calm seas and favorable winds, Patience." Varen will watch the group depart, then go inside the building.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Ronegan pulls out his spellbook from the canister on his hip and inks from his rucksack and writes in the margins of one of his papers a quick note. Reluctant to discuss Darkness -- it has no sway down here. Long lives possible. How? Why?
Even as the centaur spoke, Ronegan felt a longing for this place. He would not have to worry down here, for fear of being branded a heretic. He would not have to face a life that would perhaps end as Malachite's did, wasting away from the effects of...whatever took the poor old man. It would be so easy to slip away into the crowd, find a bed, and then...
The halfling shook his head firmly. At least until he knew Opal and Onyx were safe, he could not. The fact that the Darkness could not reach down here was interesting though, and something Ronegan knew he would have to discuss with Varen and Elavor and investigate further.
His head swimming with all these thoughts Ronegan opens one of the abjuration texts, finds the Mage Armor spell and begins the arduous process of copying the spell into his spellbook. (-100 gp).
OOC: apologies this didn't load when I last checked.
Elavor doesn't see anything highly irregular looking around. Lots of common equipment of a much finer quality than his own. The harried halfling looks up from his work.
"Topsider? You...there isn't a bit of magic about you but your ears are half pointed," the halfling says frowning at Elavor once he's clapped eyes on him! "I have things for sale certainly but no...no maps of this place will leave here while I'm still breathing," he adds arms crossed over his wee chest still frowning. "Who brought you here anyhow? It isn't like the veil to part for your kind," he adds curtly. "No magic folk," he clarifies gesturing at the rogue.
OOC: Roll a sleight of hand as well as a d6 we'll see what you get, if anything, secretly or you'll be noticed.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Ran watches Kiran leave the common room and then waits a moment longer before turning to Petal.
”Remind me not to get on your bad side.” Ran says. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re right. We should try and learn as much as we can tomorrow. And I think his reaction tonight, and the royal guard waiting here, and everything else shows that the church doesn’t know everything.”
Ran then finishes checking on the windows.
”What if the Lightbringer and the Darkness are connected? Not a conspiracy or anything but connected magically. Don’t know why I think this, but maybe you can’t get rid of one without getting rid of both.”
Ran shrugs and sighs. Then he gives Petal a slight bow.
”Good night, Petal.”
Petal ponders on Rans idea - it couldn’t be could it?
Before retiring to bed, she wanders around the apartment, checking for any servants she could help with preparations for the morning.
Gilgin Hardhammer - Mountain Dwarf Cleric (Forge Domain) - Icewind Dale
Petal - Forest Gnome Druid (Circle of the Land - Forest) - Unsung Heroes of Embera
OOC: I am annoyed. The site isn't notifying me at all and now on mobile, it doesn't load ALL y'alls posts for whatever reason.
Pushing open a well-fortified door Varen is struck with the thought, this is an armory, as she enters the stone room. Then the smell. A pungent mix of sweet, sour, and then rotten! The space is vast but it's a single area divided into two distinctive parts. One side seems an armory of sorts with various arms and armors. The other side, which is occupied, looks much like an old fashion apothecary/alchemy shop. At a table on the apothecary side is an elven woman. She is facing the door but looks distracted standing over a table laden with alchemy items. The shop is lit up by the dozen or so lanterns floating in the air around the expansive room. She seems consumed by the various liquids she's put on to boil these liquids look like they are varying viscosities within glass vessels as well as a large brass distillery where a sickly black treacle-like liquid slowly drips out into a ceramic jug! There is also a large cauldron over a fire in the only visible hearth.
"Can I help you," a dwarven man then suddenly appears from the armory side.
He's got bristly black hair with pale skin. His eyes are white and he moves as if he's very aware Varen is there but does not look directly in Varen's direction.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
"Yes, hello there. I am Varen Delisse, of the Order of Ironblood." She pulls out the silver signet ring that she wears on the chain around her neck, the one that has the Delisse family crest on the front side, and a small symbol of the Order engraved on the inside of the band, though she wonders if the dwarf can perceive it or not.
"I have come seeking information... and, once that's done, I need to restock on some of the rarer reagents I need for mutagens." She says, looking over at the apothecary side.
OOC: For brevity's sake, I'll add in my questions here and we can assume that they occured more conversationally, instead of having like five back and fourth posts.
"I am amazed at this place. We were lucky to find it, myself and a companion of equal talent. What is it called, and how long has it existed under the nose of the heart of the Church?"
"I traveled with House Firstforge for the tournament. On the road we were attacked by bandits wearing the heraldry of the other Houses, as well as gnolls, all under the commands of an entity known as the "Dark Wanderer". Other Houses met similar attacks, and faced different monstrosities from what the stories tell. Has any other hunter found similar leads? Heard errarnt whispers about this Dark Wanderer?"
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
"My name is Bailon and that's my wife Astrid," the dwarven man gestures at the elf still busy with her work. "Welcome to the Umbryl Arcana built in the ruins of the former city of Torrenea where once stood the largest temple of Ioun, our Knowing Mistress, in all of Embera. To those touched by the arcana she will always protect. My wife can help you with your tonics but as for the rest..." he trails off thoughtfully worrying a medallion about his neck plucked from hus beard. Varen you can see it now he's wearing a medallion with three eyes in a pyramid shape engraved in silver. "As for this Dark Wanderer you seek I myself have never heard of such an entity. Is it a man or beast you seek?" He asks looking at you, you finally notice a blue arcane eye has appeared on his forhead! "Seeking future fortune we can divine this...here...here," he takes you by the elbow, "look into this bowl and tell me what you see," he adds gesturing at a bowl on a pedestal of silvery almost living looking liquid!
OOC: Varen roll a d12 for me please. We can do the purchasing but via PM.
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
After Ronegan finishes copying the spell, he will thank the centaur profusely, and realizing the time, will return to the ferry to await his compatriots. To pass the time, he will study the inhabitants of the Umbryl Arcana and make a few hurried notes for this own memories of the place. It was so...remarkable to him and he knew he would return, perhaps for good, once he was sure Onyx and Opal were safe and their future secure.
6
"I wish I knew the manner of this Dark Wanderer. All we had was a ciphered letter that mentioned him... or her... or it. It was written in an odd code using little pictograms of people that appeared to be dancing, but one that spelled out a plot of murder."
Varen allows herself to be taken to the odd bowl, and peers in.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
"Well, yes, my companions are of.. magical inclination, I suppose. I simply accompanied them, on the ferry ride over. No maps for sale though? That's unfortunate... I will take a bottle of black ink, though. I'm running rather low... " Elavor explains, sliding the required coinage across the counter for the halfling and then spreading his hands wide. The pretension the halfling exuded over him not being "magic folk" definitely made his mind up. He'd most certainly find something in this store, quickly now, while the shopkeeper had his back turned...
(Sleight of Hand : 5)
( 1d6: 4 )
If successful, Elavor will thank the shopkeeper and exit the store quickly, rejoining with Ronegan as speedily as possible...
Peering into the silver liquid Varen remembers whispers of such a relic. An oracle bowl which divines possibilities. Looking into the liquid she feel herself lul and relax before suddenly her consciousness is pulled forward! A horrifying feeling washing over her as if she's plunged into ice cold water! Then she breaks the surface with a gasp of breath. Looking out Varen sees a gathering of robed figures around a bedside... They seem to be praying? Discussing? Chanting? She's not exactly sure but whatever they are doing the figure on the bed she can clearly see is struggling as streams of something connecting these robed figures to the lone figure on the bed run between them! Then the room flashes brightly making your eyes go white like staring into the sun! As the burn fades your eyes refocus as the figures are gone and a man stands their surrounded by light backed by yourself, Ronegan, Ran, Petal, Kiran, Elavor (who's figure is slightly faded) and the Firstforge twins! The male figure sheathed in light bends over the now no longer struggling figure, the robed entities having dissolved by the flash of light, before you're thrust out of the oracle bowl back into Bailon and Astrid's shop!
"You've seen what might come to pass not what is or what will be," Bailon says his arcane eye still bright with blue energy. "I can not tell you how to seek it only you can discover this path," he adds then gestures at Astrid who's come from her work and hus wiping bloody hands on a cloth.
.....
Elavor speaking to the halfling thinks he sees a pair of compasses near the end of the table he can easily swipe. The halfling turns for a display of inks Elavor reaches for the compasses but sadly the halfling straightens up and turns glaring at the half-elf.
"Are you really trying to steal from me boy," the halfling begins in utter disbelief! "In all my days," he pauses smirking..."there have been many nefarious folk pass through here but no one, not one has been foolish enough to make an attempt," he adds grimacing making no movements and speaking no other words!
Elavor however activates snare.
Elavor please roll a DEX save DC 16 with disadvantage as your PC is surprised by this attack!
“But no living man am I! You look upon a woman...You stand between me and my lord and kin. Begone, if you be not deathless! For living or dark undead, I will smite you, if you touch him.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King