Rudick hmphs. "If they are safe guarding it as well as they are, they'll shoot that owl the moment it so much as try and abscond with their precious herb. And unless you can make that herb invisible as well, you'll just be painting a target on you... assuming you can even get close enough." He said dryly, turns to Alev and Sergei, and then after a moment'silence sighs. "Same goes for him. Though I do not understand your magics well enough, he'd also need to know what it looks like. And pray that don't have their own shaman or whatever whose laid some protections upon it -- But, none of that matters right now. As far as I'm concerned, we have those 11 days to work with. More than enough time, consider how close they are to Vallaki, to attempt both." He reminds pointedly.
"For now, however, we head to the Abbey. Gond willing, then at best we might acquire something to ease the symptoms, if nothing else. Now. Enough of this chatter and talks of windmills -- which, I still don't understand why that's of any import -- but for now, we keep moving. Alev. Should I carry you, or can you bear it for now?" He asked pointedly.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"You're not pitying me, aren't you?" Alev asks, but he's limping, and he's too feverish to go around flying... "...Oh, what the hell. It will be full moon by the time we arrive if I keep slowing us down like this."
He extends his wings and, without asking first, he jumps into the air to swoop down on Rudick's back and pulls his feathered arms around his neck for a piggyback ride. "Am I too heavy?" He chirps at him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Active Campaigns:
Raiketsu's Princes of the Apocalypse (DM: Raiketsu) - Shautha: Half-Orc, Level 3 Druid (Circle of Land: Mountain) ⟆ Monster Misfits Adventures (DM: ShadIn) - Vrakskan Onyxadyn: Dragonborn, Level 3 Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) ⟆ Rime of the Frostmaiden (DM: Sarvaeth) - Rildayne Uln'hyrr: Drow Elf, Level 1 Warlock of the Archfey
((Sorry for that delay. We're remodeling the house))
Ismark shrugs at Rudick's last comment and says, "I just remembered that the only windmill in Barovia is up here somewhere, that's all."
The party begins to move on, passing through the gate. The rain is now just a mere drizzle compared to the fury of the storm before. The fresh scent of rain mixes with the smell of pine wood and creates a pleasant smell when compared to the rot that seemed to pervade the air of the Village of Barovia. You are almost startled when you see your first animal besides rats and ravens. You hear the song of a bird cry out and see a mountain bluebird sitting atop a nest nestled in the boughs of a pine tree. It's joined by another bluebird that arrives with a work in its mouth, and you can hear the faint chirping of baby birds crying for food. The more you travel, the more signs of animals you can find. You see deer tracks in the mud of the road, see a fox staring out you from under a bush, hear other birdcalls, and you even see a gray rabbit bound across muddy trail ahead of you. Flowers poke their delicate heads out and soak in what little sun there is. It seems that life actually thrives on this side of the gates.
You steadily rise in elevation as you walk the trail. After a few hours, you come to a point where you can we the whole valley. To your right, you can see the village of Barovia of in the distance. High upon a mountain near the village, you can see a from castle stark against the heavy sky. To your left, you can see a heavy pine forest dominating the valley floor. A large lake rests against the mountain side, and you can see town near it in the forest. The colors on that side seem to be a bit more vibrant than what you've seen so far.
You continue on the mountainous slopes and begin to descend. The road branches off, and Ismark says, "I believe that form takes you to the windmill." You continue on and enter into the forest as you leave the mountains. The rain by this point has stopped, and the clouds begin to clear away just in time for you to see the sun begin to set across the horizon. The sight of the familiar, but slightly obscured event brings a small sense of hope in you.
You continue on this forest trail for nearly an hour when you see Vallaki. The Old Svalich Road meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade. The dirt road end at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadow he figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are 1⁄2 dozen pikes with wolves' heads impaled on them. A 15 foot high wall encloses the town, its vertical logs held together with thick ropes and mortar. The top of each log has been sharpened To a point and shines for a moment as the last ray of dimmed sunlight disappears behind mountains. Wooden scaffolding hugs the inside of the palisade 12' off the ground, and you see a few timid faces of guards peering over the wall at you. As you approach, you hear a gruff male voice call out, "State your business!"
The farther you have traveled, the worse Alev has gotten. He moans and groans as he twists and thrashes in Rudick's arms. He shivers and is covered in sweat. He has become incoherent to any attempts to talk to him as the fever overtakes his mind.
As he becomes incoherent by the fever, Alev starts to delirate. When he's not thrashing and groaning from the pain, he's softly rambling the same words, like he's talking to someone in whatever fever-induced dream he's currently having. "I'm sorry, please don't leave, don't leave me alone, please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
With his trembling body, messy feathers and glazed eyes he later closes, he looks like a very big, dying bird. He's not quite here right now.
Earlier, Rudick gave Alev a flat look for the question, and might've crossed his arms if not for needing the shield arm for the rain. Fortunately, before the Orc can reinforce the obvious, hearing the avian come to the conclusion alone, the Orc simply nodded and readjusted back pack in preparation for a passenger. Just in time, too. "Hmph. Please. If I can manage a cart full of goods in place of a draft horse, I can manage a bag of feathers." He states, readjusting further keep Alev propped, before nodding for whoever's on point to press on.
Throughout the journey Rudick tries to keep the passing changes in the environ and directions given along the way in mind, but... between Alev's conditions and the events back at Tsar, the Orc trudged along more like a construct than an Orc with a purpose. At least until they got to the gate...
Rudick started to open his mouth a terse remark at the tip of his tongue. But then pauses, seeming to reconsider, before looking to the reformed paladin(Lenian?) and Sergei, motioning for them to speak instead. Meanwhile, he whispered to Alev despite knowing the words would likely be lost to him, "Quiet, young one. Noone's abandoning you yet."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Standing next to Rudick. Looking at his friend being carried by the (comparatively - to him) huge orc, Skip tried to soothe Alev’s mind with calming words, as if coaxing a wild animal into shelter. At the sound of the guards challenge, his natural instinct to hide kicks in, and he flips his hood up to hide his features, but manages to stop himself from melting into the shadows. “Ismark, Ireena, I think you should perhaps talk our way in? You know of these people. We are strangers here”
You see both of the shadowy figures approach you. Up above them, you hear several crossbows click as they are loaded and aimed down at you. As the figures approach, you can see that one is man and the other is a woman, and both of them are dressed as guards. The woman is short, but has a lithe build. She moves with a sinuous grace, and she has a severe expression. The man is huge- nearly 8 feet tall, and is built like a mountain. His musculature puts Rudick's to shame, and a thick black beard covers his face. Despite his formidable appearance, you can see laugh lines radiating from his eyes. The woman says in a tight, no-nonsense tone, "Show me your teeth." She inspects everyone's mouth and then walks around the group, eyeing each of you suspiciously. She resumes her position near the male guard and says, "I'm Nyanka, and this is Lazlo." She gestures towards Alev and says, "What's wrong with him?"
"He caught pneumonia from the chill wet weather. These birdbrains have such poor constitution! Have you any healers or physiks in the town that may be of service?"
A brow rises at the demand, yet offered little in the way of resistance, considering the vampire and all that. Still, Rudick is guarded knowing full well his features, and kept a careful eye on the mountain throughout much of the inspection. "Mn. Not sure if you all felt or saw the storm before, but it did not make for pleasant journies."He adds, hoping, if nothing else to add in Sergei's story. "The name is Rudick, for what it matters."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Nyanka sets her hands against her waist and looks up at Lazlo. He nods after a moment, and Nyanka turns back to the party and says, "All right then. Stay out of trouble." The pair turn and make their way back towards the gate, and you see that the to re opens up to invite you into the city.
Leann leads the way through the gates. "Where can we find a healer, or, in leu of that, a place to rest for the night?" She asks the guards at the gate.
After a curt nod given to the pair of guards in understanding, Rudick looks down dryly at Skip, before rolling his eyes. "Have it your way. But I'd be carefully, if I were you. Least you find yourself beneath his heel by accident."He deadpans. With that, he lingers if only to hear the guards response to Leann, before readjusting his birdy burden and marching on inside the village.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The woman responds, "The Blue Water Inn offers food and a place to rest, and it's by the town square. If you want a healer, go to St. Andral's Church on the far end of town." With that, you enter the town, and the gate is closed behind you and bound with iron chains a by a few more guards. In what little light left, you can see that this town is in much better condition than Barovia. You can see a few people scurrying through the streets and entering into their homes as darkness descends in all its glory. These people, while fearful, aren't as downtrodden as the Barovians you've seen so far. A few of them spot Rudick and cross to then other side of the street to put space between them.
Ghosting along by Rudicks side, Skip puts his opinion forth “We should probably head to this church first. Alev needs seeing too soonest, and I doubt we would get a room if anyone saw him”
Though no stranger to the looks, the face plate belatedly comes back down over Orcish mug, if for no other reason than avoid attracting further attention. A futile effort given the avian on his back, but it brought some small piece of mind.
"Church it is."Rudick comments. "Though, I hope discretion is a quality of theirs. For all our sake, given what has been said to the guards. Otherwise, we may not find ourselves 'welcome' in Vallaki for very long."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Rudick hmphs. "If they are safe guarding it as well as they are, they'll shoot that owl the moment it so much as try and abscond with their precious herb. And unless you can make that herb invisible as well, you'll just be painting a target on you... assuming you can even get close enough." He said dryly, turns to Alev and Sergei, and then after a moment'silence sighs. "Same goes for him. Though I do not understand your magics well enough, he'd also need to know what it looks like. And pray that don't have their own shaman or whatever whose laid some protections upon it -- But, none of that matters right now. As far as I'm concerned, we have those 11 days to work with. More than enough time, consider how close they are to Vallaki, to attempt both." He reminds pointedly.
"For now, however, we head to the Abbey. Gond willing, then at best we might acquire something to ease the symptoms, if nothing else. Now. Enough of this chatter and talks of windmills -- which, I still don't understand why that's of any import -- but for now, we keep moving. Alev. Should I carry you, or can you bear it for now?" He asked pointedly.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"You're not pitying me, aren't you?" Alev asks, but he's limping, and he's too feverish to go around flying... "...Oh, what the hell. It will be full moon by the time we arrive if I keep slowing us down like this."
He extends his wings and, without asking first, he jumps into the air to swoop down on Rudick's back and pulls his feathered arms around his neck for a piggyback ride. "Am I too heavy?" He chirps at him.
Active Campaigns:
Raiketsu's Princes of the Apocalypse (DM: Raiketsu) - Shautha: Half-Orc, Level 3 Druid (Circle of Land: Mountain) ⟆ Monster Misfits Adventures (DM: ShadIn) - Vrakskan Onyxadyn: Dragonborn, Level 3 Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) ⟆ Rime of the Frostmaiden (DM: Sarvaeth) - Rildayne Uln'hyrr: Drow Elf, Level 1 Warlock of the Archfey
RachelEvening's Tyranny of the Dragon Queen - DM
RachelEvening's Tomb of Annihilation - DM
((Sorry for that delay. We're remodeling the house))
Ismark shrugs at Rudick's last comment and says, "I just remembered that the only windmill in Barovia is up here somewhere, that's all."
The party begins to move on, passing through the gate. The rain is now just a mere drizzle compared to the fury of the storm before. The fresh scent of rain mixes with the smell of pine wood and creates a pleasant smell when compared to the rot that seemed to pervade the air of the Village of Barovia. You are almost startled when you see your first animal besides rats and ravens. You hear the song of a bird cry out and see a mountain bluebird sitting atop a nest nestled in the boughs of a pine tree. It's joined by another bluebird that arrives with a work in its mouth, and you can hear the faint chirping of baby birds crying for food. The more you travel, the more signs of animals you can find. You see deer tracks in the mud of the road, see a fox staring out you from under a bush, hear other birdcalls, and you even see a gray rabbit bound across muddy trail ahead of you. Flowers poke their delicate heads out and soak in what little sun there is. It seems that life actually thrives on this side of the gates.
You steadily rise in elevation as you walk the trail. After a few hours, you come to a point where you can we the whole valley. To your right, you can see the village of Barovia of in the distance. High upon a mountain near the village, you can see a from castle stark against the heavy sky. To your left, you can see a heavy pine forest dominating the valley floor. A large lake rests against the mountain side, and you can see town near it in the forest. The colors on that side seem to be a bit more vibrant than what you've seen so far.
You continue on the mountainous slopes and begin to descend. The road branches off, and Ismark says, "I believe that form takes you to the windmill." You continue on and enter into the forest as you leave the mountains. The rain by this point has stopped, and the clouds begin to clear away just in time for you to see the sun begin to set across the horizon. The sight of the familiar, but slightly obscured event brings a small sense of hope in you.
You continue on this forest trail for nearly an hour when you see Vallaki. The Old Svalich Road meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade. The dirt road end at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadow he figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are 1⁄2 dozen pikes with wolves' heads impaled on them. A 15 foot high wall encloses the town, its vertical logs held together with thick ropes and mortar. The top of each log has been sharpened To a point and shines for a moment as the last ray of dimmed sunlight disappears behind mountains. Wooden scaffolding hugs the inside of the palisade 12' off the ground, and you see a few timid faces of guards peering over the wall at you. As you approach, you hear a gruff male voice call out, "State your business!"
The farther you have traveled, the worse Alev has gotten. He moans and groans as he twists and thrashes in Rudick's arms. He shivers and is covered in sweat. He has become incoherent to any attempts to talk to him as the fever overtakes his mind.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
((Welp, damn...))
As he becomes incoherent by the fever, Alev starts to delirate. When he's not thrashing and groaning from the pain, he's softly rambling the same words, like he's talking to someone in whatever fever-induced dream he's currently having. "I'm sorry, please don't leave, don't leave me alone, please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
With his trembling body, messy feathers and glazed eyes he later closes, he looks like a very big, dying bird. He's not quite here right now.
Active Campaigns:
Raiketsu's Princes of the Apocalypse (DM: Raiketsu) - Shautha: Half-Orc, Level 3 Druid (Circle of Land: Mountain) ⟆ Monster Misfits Adventures (DM: ShadIn) - Vrakskan Onyxadyn: Dragonborn, Level 3 Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) ⟆ Rime of the Frostmaiden (DM: Sarvaeth) - Rildayne Uln'hyrr: Drow Elf, Level 1 Warlock of the Archfey
RachelEvening's Tyranny of the Dragon Queen - DM
RachelEvening's Tomb of Annihilation - DM
Earlier, Rudick gave Alev a flat look for the question, and might've crossed his arms if not for needing the shield arm for the rain. Fortunately, before the Orc can reinforce the obvious, hearing the avian come to the conclusion alone, the Orc simply nodded and readjusted back pack in preparation for a passenger. Just in time, too. "Hmph. Please. If I can manage a cart full of goods in place of a draft horse, I can manage a bag of feathers." He states, readjusting further keep Alev propped, before nodding for whoever's on point to press on.
Throughout the journey Rudick tries to keep the passing changes in the environ and directions given along the way in mind, but... between Alev's conditions and the events back at Tsar, the Orc trudged along more like a construct than an Orc with a purpose. At least until they got to the gate...
Rudick started to open his mouth a terse remark at the tip of his tongue. But then pauses, seeming to reconsider, before looking to the reformed paladin(Lenian?) and Sergei, motioning for them to speak instead. Meanwhile, he whispered to Alev despite knowing the words would likely be lost to him, "Quiet, young one. Noone's abandoning you yet."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Standing next to Rudick. Looking at his friend being carried by the (comparatively - to him) huge orc, Skip tried to soothe Alev’s mind with calming words, as if coaxing a wild animal into shelter. At the sound of the guards challenge, his natural instinct to hide kicks in, and he flips his hood up to hide his features, but manages to stop himself from melting into the shadows.
“Ismark, Ireena, I think you should perhaps talk our way in? You know of these people. We are strangers here”
Sergei mutters out the side of his mouth
“Keep him under control”
To the guards he says
“We are travelers, come to visit our relatives.”
He doesn’t want to say they are come from the village they came from, Strahd could have spies anywhere.
"We seek shelter for the night." Leann calls. "I am a paladin of Torm, and these are my companions."
You see both of the shadowy figures approach you. Up above them, you hear several crossbows click as they are loaded and aimed down at you. As the figures approach, you can see that one is man and the other is a woman, and both of them are dressed as guards. The woman is short, but has a lithe build. She moves with a sinuous grace, and she has a severe expression. The man is huge- nearly 8 feet tall, and is built like a mountain. His musculature puts Rudick's to shame, and a thick black beard covers his face. Despite his formidable appearance, you can see laugh lines radiating from his eyes. The woman says in a tight, no-nonsense tone, "Show me your teeth." She inspects everyone's mouth and then walks around the group, eyeing each of you suspiciously. She resumes her position near the male guard and says, "I'm Nyanka, and this is Lazlo." She gestures towards Alev and says, "What's wrong with him?"
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Sergei smoothly replies,
"He caught pneumonia from the chill wet weather. These birdbrains have such poor constitution! Have you any healers or physiks in the town that may be of service?"
Persuasion if needed
22
A brow rises at the demand, yet offered little in the way of resistance, considering the vampire and all that. Still, Rudick is guarded knowing full well his features, and kept a careful eye on the mountain throughout much of the inspection. "Mn. Not sure if you all felt or saw the storm before, but it did not make for pleasant journies." He adds, hoping, if nothing else to add in Sergei's story. "The name is Rudick, for what it matters."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Nyanka sets her hands against her waist and looks up at Lazlo. He nods after a moment, and Nyanka turns back to the party and says, "All right then. Stay out of trouble." The pair turn and make their way back towards the gate, and you see that the to re opens up to invite you into the city.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Leaning in to Rudick, Skip whispers “Ok, I’ll stand behind him in our next fight” with a wink and a smile
Leann leads the way through the gates. "Where can we find a healer, or, in leu of that, a place to rest for the night?" She asks the guards at the gate.
Alev is still delirious and half-conscious, but he's not rambling anymore. He's just shivering a lot, still feverish.
Active Campaigns:
Raiketsu's Princes of the Apocalypse (DM: Raiketsu) - Shautha: Half-Orc, Level 3 Druid (Circle of Land: Mountain) ⟆ Monster Misfits Adventures (DM: ShadIn) - Vrakskan Onyxadyn: Dragonborn, Level 3 Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) ⟆ Rime of the Frostmaiden (DM: Sarvaeth) - Rildayne Uln'hyrr: Drow Elf, Level 1 Warlock of the Archfey
RachelEvening's Tyranny of the Dragon Queen - DM
RachelEvening's Tomb of Annihilation - DM
After a curt nod given to the pair of guards in understanding, Rudick looks down dryly at Skip, before rolling his eyes. "Have it your way. But I'd be carefully, if I were you. Least you find yourself beneath his heel by accident." He deadpans. With that, he lingers if only to hear the guards response to Leann, before readjusting his birdy burden and marching on inside the village.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The woman responds, "The Blue Water Inn offers food and a place to rest, and it's by the town square. If you want a healer, go to St. Andral's Church on the far end of town." With that, you enter the town, and the gate is closed behind you and bound with iron chains a by a few more guards. In what little light left, you can see that this town is in much better condition than Barovia. You can see a few people scurrying through the streets and entering into their homes as darkness descends in all its glory. These people, while fearful, aren't as downtrodden as the Barovians you've seen so far. A few of them spot Rudick and cross to then other side of the street to put space between them.
DM- Azalin's Doom
DM- Surviving the Unsurvivable
Ghosting along by Rudicks side, Skip puts his opinion forth “We should probably head to this church first. Alev needs seeing too soonest, and I doubt we would get a room if anyone saw him”
Sergei nods in agreement
“Makes sense to me, let’s go to the church.”
Having grown up in a sort of church, he’s always a little interested to see what others are like.
Though no stranger to the looks, the face plate belatedly comes back down over Orcish mug, if for no other reason than avoid attracting further attention. A futile effort given the avian on his back, but it brought some small piece of mind.
"Church it is." Rudick comments. "Though, I hope discretion is a quality of theirs. For all our sake, given what has been said to the guards. Otherwise, we may not find ourselves 'welcome' in Vallaki for very long."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.