( I don't want to leave anybody out, so I will hold on any updates until Eric's player has posted and until Xylys's player has had another chance to post.)
a travelling schoolman teach in a market town inn's common room (for the price of a flagon and a trencher of stew) how the Elves of olden times built many architectural wonders, fair cities and tall towers connected by white stone roads, remnants of which may be seen here and there across the land today. Civil war destroyed the Elfin Realm and the losers fled. Or else the victors retired Beyond the Fields we Know to nurse their wounds. In truth, scholars debate the cause, course, and outcome of the 'Faerie Wars', which occurred centuries before humanity had very thickly settled these lands.
Xylys
believes the Dockalfar, a host of evil fairies who haunted the realm ages ago, possessed many strange and wonderful magical secrets and treasures. So did their enemies, the more-or-less benign sort of elves or fays. If a mortal man could obtain such magic, he might become powerful indeed...
It's best to take precautions dealing with anything of Faerie. Put an iron nail on a loop and wear it round your neck, as some fairies cannot abide cold iron. Puts your clothes on backwards when entering a fairy grove. Be cautious about accepting food and drink from fairies. Keep an eye out for toadstools. And always use good manners.
Eric knows
of the Dockalfar as wicked fairies of old nursery rhymes and fables. Thank the Earth Mother he hasn't met any! Not that he can be sure of, at any rate. He's seen and heard his share of hard-to-explain things while hunting in the woods and fields; queerly spiraling rock paintings unlike any limner's work, fiddle music drifting out of what seemed an empty glade, a silver fox that seemed to vanish into a solid boulder, and more besides.
He never ventured far into the Darkling Wood as a boy, so he can't say for sure what could live in that place....
Garulfs he knows from hunters tales as evil witch-men who don wolf skins and do a magic dance under the full moon to transform into wolves. Savage and ravenous, they prey not only on deer and sheep but on human beings. To slay a garulf, one should use a silvered blade or a silver sling stone blessed by a priest. Never look a garulf straight in the eyes, lest the Fear seize you and freeze your limbs!
Alyna recalls
from temple lessons that the Fairy Folk divided long ago into two mutually hostile factions: Liosalfar and the Dockalfar. The Liosalfar may prove friendly to Mortals, but their ways are alien to human thought and habit. Mother Katerina says that elves and fairies of all sorts ought to be avoided by anyone with sense. The Dockalfar, by all accounts, are wicked and will harm mortals for sport or spite.
It's hard to believe the kindly, mischievous playmates in Alyna's dreams could be of the latter ilk, but if they were such, then she wouldn't be the first mortal deceived by fairy creatures.
"You are in the fairy land Werthan." Alyna still sounded angry and bitter - it was not completely miller's fault but if one who thinks with his stomach, can only blame himself for the traps he falls into. "They are the Good Folk! But you know the stories as well as we all do - you loose track of time here! Do you remember how you even get in here? It was ten days ago! Snap out of it now and let's return while we can." "If we can", added she quieter.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"How in the blazes did you come to be here anyway?" Xylys asks. "Weren't you suppose to be comin' back to the village? What, did the 'Good Folk' entice you with something?" He looks around, "By the way of a reminder, don't be consuming anything lest you suffer the same fate as the Miller."
He will casually glance around to see if anything attracts his attention, glowing wands, magnificent spell books, jewel encrusted crowns, the usual sort of thing one expects to find in fairylands. And then he will be looking for things dull and drab, that seem a bit . . . off.
Arcana 15
Investigation 19
Cutting a small piece of rope, about 18", he will untwist it and use part of it to tie one of his iron pitons around his neck.
"Anybody got a bit of string? You might want to tie a bit of iron round ye necks."
Xylys sees much beautiful plate and cutlery, but no books or wands or crowns. He does spot a tarnished dagger resting on a table, drab amidst the brightness of the other objects.
Werthan rubs his eyes as if coming out of sleep.
"The Good Folk? Yes, now I remember! I was coming back from Monkshall in the evening. Cutting time by not resting long. I had to get that seed-wheat back to Rillford. The moon was full...I saw them riding on their white horses by moonlight. The most beautiful thing I ever saw. Not sure what happened, but after that it's all dreamy until..well..about now."
Xylys will take one of his own daggers and a silver coin and set them next to the tarnished dagger, which he will pick up, whispering, “Traded new and silver for old,” as he does so.
Going over to the Miller he says, “Master Miller, you should thank the Good Folk for their hospitality, let them know that you were honored to be their guest but that you must return home now. And say that politely.”
When the Miller finishes, Xylys will nod at the others and start heading back the way they came.
Xylys will take one of his own daggers and a silver coin and set them next to the tarnished dagger, which he will pick up, whispering, “Traded new and silver for old,” as he does so.
Going over to the Miller he says, “Master Miller, you should thank the Good Folk for their hospitality, let them know that you were honored to be their guest but that you must return home now. And say that politely.”
When the Miller finishes, Xylys will nod at the others and start heading back the way they came.
The gate slams shut with a boom, nearly crushing one of Shayne's feet!
Flames leaps up in the central pit, brightening the hall.
The air shimmers and suddenly a gathering of tall, fair lords and ladies appears standing behind the tables, watching you. At the center of the farthest table stands the fairest among them all, a regal woman in a silvery gray gossamer gown wearing a delicate crown of sapphires and silver set atop her long raven hair. Her violet eyes seem to sparkle with magical fires. A host of smaller fairies attend the lordly assemblage; cricket-like musicians, diminutive dragonfly-winged pages, wizened old servingmen the height of tree stumps, a boy cupbearer with golden cat's eyes.
Werthan drops to his knees and bows his head.
The Queen, speaking in crystal tones, announces: "What has been taken and paid for, the seeker-of-magics may keep. May he not regret his purchase." Her lips quirk in a knowing smile. "Werthan the Miller, We do hereby grant you leave to depart Our realm in peace and friendship. These others may go with you. But first, the ill-mannered knaveamong them must receive his punishment."
She points at Shayne and whispers strange, slurring words...
------------------------
initiative
The Queen
8
Twenty Armed Liosalfar/Dockalfar (can you guess which?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Good Folk" was beginning to feel not that good and more like any other rich noble out there - randomly assaulting whoever they want or taking whoever or whatever they wanted. Not that anything could be done about it, though, Alyna had at least to try. She bowed to an obvious queen as she would to do so to the owner of their village: "Please, your majesty, I am begging you to show mercy. If any of us offended your laws it was but out of ignorance not malice. I could swear that non of us will ever set foot in your lands again. But please, let us all leave in peace."
Shayne acts affronted and hurt before holding his arms out to his sides, empty, and standing still.
“The loveliest of all ladies does wound me! A knave I may be, and your recognizing the fact when knowing me so shortly is most impressive. Truly a brilliance of mind as well as beauty...”
“But ill-mannered? I beg your pardon, oh most gracious and benevolent of hosts, but on this I must protest. Since I stepped foot into this realm... I have appreciated it’s wonder, I have adored it’s variety and I have absolutely loved its melodies! Oh if I could play as wonderfully... alas, I fear none of my kind could ever hope to come closer than shallow mimicry.”
“I savored the wonders of this land as breathlessly as any could ever expect of a tourist, not once being ill-mannered... excepting after I was treated ill first.”
“Did I insult and eventually stab a tree? I confess, I was that stupid... which admittedly is stupid, even for a human kind. Yet... did not the tree wound me first? I approached respectfully and in awe and yet I was burnt near to death before I struck back... perhaps you have a type of manners in this realm far superior to the ones we mere humans have, but we tend to find the one who did the first damage to be the ill-tempered one.”
“But perhaps I am wrong, perhaps you refer to my unkind words in this place? I admit, I have no defense for that... all I can do is plead for the understanding and compassion one as great as you surely has in over abundance! Though the words were unkind, the intention was not. How could I intend to be rude or insulting when your amazing veils and magics made it such that I wasn’t even aware of your presence? I meant my words to be shocking, but to the millers ears, not your own. If I knew I was in the presence of one such as yourself, I’d have of course comported myself with a much more civil tongue. I yearned to snap the miller out of his fog, not offend the fairest of the fair.”
“If I was so bold I would suggest your clever illusions and deceits about your presence were what caused the insult, not my own words. But no, only a fool would be so bold... “
“So here I am, at your mercy. I have been wounded and tricked and yet I would never claim to have been treated ill... I am just saddened that you accuse me of such...”
And if Shayne gets out his speech he lowers his head and awaits what comes...
Shayne acts affronted and hurt before holding his arms out to his sides, empty, and standing still.
“The loveliest of all ladies does wound me! A knave I may be, and your recognizing the fact when knowing me so shortly is most impressive. Truly a brilliance of mind as well as beauty...”
“But ill-mannered? I beg your pardon, oh most gracious and benevolent of hosts, but on this I must protest. Since I stepped foot into this realm... I have appreciated it’s wonder, I have adored it’s variety and I have absolutely loved its melodies! Oh if I could play as wonderfully... alas, I fear none of my kind could ever hope to come closer than shallow mimicry.”
“I savored the wonders of this land as breathlessly as any could ever expect of a tourist, not once being ill-mannered... excepting after I was treated ill first.”
“Did I insult and eventually stab a tree? I confess, I was that stupid... which admittedly is stupid, even for a human kind. Yet... did not the tree wound me first? I approached respectfully and in awe and yet I was burnt near to death before I struck back... perhaps you have a type of manners in this realm far superior to the ones we mere humans have, but we tend to find the one who did the first damage to be the ill-tempered one.”
“But perhaps I am wrong, perhaps you refer to my unkind words in this place? I admit, I have no defense for that... all I can do is plead for the understanding and compassion one as great as you surely has in over abundance! Though the words were unkind, the intention was not. How could I intend to be rude or insulting when your amazing veils and magics made it such that I wasn’t even aware of your presence? I meant my words to be shocking, but to the millers ears, not your own. If I knew I was in the presence of one such as yourself, I’d have of course comported myself with a much more civil tongue. I yearned to snap the miller out of his fog, not offend the fairest of the fair.”
“If I was so bold I would suggest your clever illusions and deceits about your presence were what caused the insult, not my own words. But no, only a fool would be so bold... “
“So here I am, at your mercy. I have been wounded and tricked and yet I would never claim to have been treated ill... I am just saddened that you accuse me of such...”
And if Shayne gets out his speech he lowers his head and awaits what comes...
(This is a long speech to fit into a single round. I'll let it stand for now, but the Queen's actions this round may interrupt Shayne's words before he reaches the end. We'll see. I also need an initiative roll from him, please. If he rolls well, the bard may get more words out before whatever happens, happens.
((I could break the speech up into 6 seconds sound bites if you prefer :D But Shayne will be taking no attack, defense or other actions. But if he cannot pass on initiative... 10 ))
Eric's jaw drops with the appearance of the "Good Folk". Never had he seen such beauty as the female standing in front of him. Shayne's words fall on deaf ears as he drops to a knee - his interpretation of a formal curtsey.
No declared action for Xylys? I will interpret that as silence, some display of respect due the fay monarch, and maybe keeping an eye on possible escape routes. Sound about right? Let me know if you want an edit.
Alyna curtsies and blurts out her plea for pardon on Shayne’s behalf. The Queen continues to incant. The Elf-lords and knights stand with hands on sword hilts, but make no hostile moves toward your party beyond that.
Shayne launches into his own speech, but doesn’t get any further than the part about mimicking the fairies’ music when his voice unexpectedly falters. He feels tingly all over. His vision blurs and doubles before coming back into focus.
The rest of you witness a sudden transformation; where Shayne had been, now you see a man-sized, black, cricket-like creature, standing upright in Shayne’s coat. Inhuman mouth parts twitch mutely. The insectoid being lurches on its long, crooked legs before regaining its balance. When its comb-backed forearms brush together the momentary contact produces a twang like a fiddle being tuned.
“Your wish is granted, child. Now you can make the music you so admire. And with this boon you have your punishment, for you surely can utter no insults in this new shape which you shall wear whene’er the moon be new, as ‘tis tonight.”
The lords and ladies of the Good Folk assembled in the hall murmur approval and clap politely at the Queen’s clever jest. Fairy servants leer and giggle.
The Queen turns her attention to Eric. “Your manner pleases me best.”
She motions toward one of the little winged pages, who flits to the woodsman carrying a gray silken sack.
“Seven years your folk shall sew and reap crops without fear of drought or storm. Eat well. And remember my justice and my mercy. “
She casts a cool gaze over all your party. And then, her mood shifting like quicksilver, she smiles and laughs all carefree.
“To horse, my vassals! We will escort our friend Werthan to the Ring.”
Under the new moon, the cursed man transforms into a big hopping bug and…. plays music.
Shayne cannot speak in this form, but his cricket ‘fiddle’ counts as a musical instrument and thus he could learn to use it to cast magic, like a bard using another instrument. And he’s automatically proficient with it. He does not lose human intelligence. I’d say he gains a bonus when jumping, too.)
All players:
((If your PCs aren't attacking, trying to flee, or casting spells, we can drop 'combat time' and proceed with RP in a freer fashion.))
( I don't want to leave anybody out, so I will hold on any updates until Eric's player has posted and until Xylys's player has had another chance to post.)
"You are in the fairy land Werthan." Alyna still sounded angry and bitter - it was not completely miller's fault but if one who thinks with his stomach, can only blame himself for the traps he falls into. "They are the Good Folk! But you know the stories as well as we all do - you loose track of time here! Do you remember how you even get in here? It was ten days ago! Snap out of it now and let's return while we can." "If we can", added she quieter.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"How in the blazes did you come to be here anyway?" Xylys asks. "Weren't you suppose to be comin' back to the village? What, did the 'Good Folk' entice you with something?" He looks around, "By the way of a reminder, don't be consuming anything lest you suffer the same fate as the Miller."
He will casually glance around to see if anything attracts his attention, glowing wands, magnificent spell books, jewel encrusted crowns, the usual sort of thing one expects to find in fairylands. And then he will be looking for things dull and drab, that seem a bit . . . off.
Arcana 15
Investigation 19
Cutting a small piece of rope, about 18", he will untwist it and use part of it to tie one of his iron pitons around his neck.
"Anybody got a bit of string? You might want to tie a bit of iron round ye necks."
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Xylys sees much beautiful plate and cutlery, but no books or wands or crowns. He does spot a tarnished dagger resting on a table, drab amidst the brightness of the other objects.
Werthan rubs his eyes as if coming out of sleep.
"The Good Folk? Yes, now I remember! I was coming back from Monkshall in the evening. Cutting time by not resting long. I had to get that seed-wheat back to Rillford. The moon was full...I saw them riding on their white horses by moonlight. The most beautiful thing I ever saw. Not sure what happened, but after that it's all dreamy until..well..about now."
He glances at Alyna,
"You said you could get me home? Alyna.''
(You may, if you wish, roll an Arcana check related to Werthan. )
Xylys will take one of his own daggers and a silver coin and set them next to the tarnished dagger, which he will pick up, whispering, “Traded new and silver for old,” as he does so.
Going over to the Miller he says, “Master Miller, you should thank the Good Folk for their hospitality, let them know that you were honored to be their guest but that you must return home now. And say that politely.”
When the Miller finishes, Xylys will nod at the others and start heading back the way they came.
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Arcana. 15
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
The gate slams shut with a boom, nearly crushing one of Shayne's feet!
Flames leaps up in the central pit, brightening the hall.
The air shimmers and suddenly a gathering of tall, fair lords and ladies appears standing behind the tables, watching you. At the center of the farthest table stands the fairest among them all, a regal woman in a silvery gray gossamer gown wearing a delicate crown of sapphires and silver set atop her long raven hair. Her violet eyes seem to sparkle with magical fires. A host of smaller fairies attend the lordly assemblage; cricket-like musicians, diminutive dragonfly-winged pages, wizened old servingmen the height of tree stumps, a boy cupbearer with golden cat's eyes.
Werthan drops to his knees and bows his head.
The Queen, speaking in crystal tones, announces: "What has been taken and paid for, the seeker-of-magics may keep. May he not regret his purchase." Her lips quirk in a knowing smile. "Werthan the Miller, We do hereby grant you leave to depart Our realm in peace and friendship. These others may go with you. But first, the ill-mannered knave among them must receive his punishment."
She points at Shayne and whispers strange, slurring words...
------------------------
initiative
The Queen
8
Twenty Armed Liosalfar/Dockalfar (can you guess which?)
7
(The other fairy creatures stay back for now.
Your PCs may do or attempt whatever you like.
The gate is closed. )
Xylys can see now that
Werthan followed the fairy procession and abandoned his cart and the seed grain under a magical charm of some kind. The man wasn't in his right mind.
"Good Folk" was beginning to feel not that good and more like any other rich noble out there - randomly assaulting whoever they want or taking whoever or whatever they wanted. Not that anything could be done about it, though, Alyna had at least to try. She bowed to an obvious queen as she would to do so to the owner of their village: "Please, your majesty, I am begging you to show mercy. If any of us offended your laws it was but out of ignorance not malice. I could swear that non of us will ever set foot in your lands again. But please, let us all leave in peace."
Persuasion: 13
Initiative: 20
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Shayne acts affronted and hurt before holding his arms out to his sides, empty, and standing still.
“The loveliest of all ladies does wound me! A knave I may be, and your recognizing the fact when knowing me so shortly is most impressive. Truly a brilliance of mind as well as beauty...”
“But ill-mannered? I beg your pardon, oh most gracious and benevolent of hosts, but on this I must protest. Since I stepped foot into this realm... I have appreciated it’s wonder, I have adored it’s variety and I have absolutely loved its melodies! Oh if I could play as wonderfully... alas, I fear none of my kind could ever hope to come closer than shallow mimicry.”
“I savored the wonders of this land as breathlessly as any could ever expect of a tourist, not once being ill-mannered... excepting after I was treated ill first.”
“Did I insult and eventually stab a tree? I confess, I was that stupid... which admittedly is stupid, even for a human kind. Yet... did not the tree wound me first? I approached respectfully and in awe and yet I was burnt near to death before I struck back... perhaps you have a type of manners in this realm far superior to the ones we mere humans have, but we tend to find the one who did the first damage to be the ill-tempered one.”
“But perhaps I am wrong, perhaps you refer to my unkind words in this place? I admit, I have no defense for that... all I can do is plead for the understanding and compassion one as great as you surely has in over abundance! Though the words were unkind, the intention was not. How could I intend to be rude or insulting when your amazing veils and magics made it such that I wasn’t even aware of your presence? I meant my words to be shocking, but to the millers ears, not your own. If I knew I was in the presence of one such as yourself, I’d have of course comported myself with a much more civil tongue. I yearned to snap the miller out of his fog, not offend the fairest of the fair.”
“If I was so bold I would suggest your clever illusions and deceits about your presence were what caused the insult, not my own words. But no, only a fool would be so bold... “
“So here I am, at your mercy. I have been wounded and tricked and yet I would never claim to have been treated ill... I am just saddened that you accuse me of such...”
And if Shayne gets out his speech he lowers his head and awaits what comes...
(This is a long speech to fit into a single round. I'll let it stand for now, but the Queen's actions this round may interrupt Shayne's words before he reaches the end. We'll see. I also need an initiative roll from him, please. If he rolls well, the bard may get more words out before whatever happens, happens.
Eric and Xylys also get actions. )
((I could break the speech up into 6 seconds sound bites if you prefer :D But Shayne will be taking no attack, defense or other actions. But if he cannot pass on initiative... 10 ))
Eric's jaw drops with the appearance of the "Good Folk". Never had he seen such beauty as the female standing in front of him. Shayne's words fall on deaf ears as he drops to a knee - his interpretation of a formal curtsey.
Initiative 5
( Kaemgen, go ahead and give me a Wisdom saving throw, as it may be necessary in this round)
16
Xylys Initiative 17
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Alyna curtsies and blurts out her plea for pardon on Shayne’s behalf. The Queen continues to incant. The Elf-lords and knights stand with hands on sword hilts, but make no hostile moves toward your party beyond that.
Shayne launches into his own speech, but doesn’t get any further than the part about mimicking the fairies’ music when his voice unexpectedly falters. He feels tingly all over. His vision blurs and doubles before coming back into focus.
The rest of you witness a sudden transformation; where Shayne had been, now you see a man-sized, black, cricket-like creature, standing upright in Shayne’s coat. Inhuman mouth parts twitch mutely. The insectoid being lurches on its long, crooked legs before regaining its balance. When its comb-backed forearms brush together the momentary contact produces a twang like a fiddle being tuned.
“Your wish is granted, child. Now you can make the music you so admire. And with this boon you have your punishment, for you surely can utter no insults in this new shape which you shall wear whene’er the moon be new, as ‘tis tonight.”
The lords and ladies of the Good Folk assembled in the hall murmur approval and clap politely at the Queen’s clever jest. Fairy servants leer and giggle.
The Queen turns her attention to Eric. “Your manner pleases me best.”
She motions toward one of the little winged pages, who flits to the woodsman carrying a gray silken sack.
“Seven years your folk shall sew and reap crops without fear of drought or storm. Eat well. And remember my justice and my mercy. “
She casts a cool gaze over all your party. And then, her mood shifting like quicksilver, she smiles and laughs all carefree.
“To horse, my vassals! We will escort our friend Werthan to the Ring.”
Kaemgen:
(Yup, your PC is now a were-cricket.
Under the new moon, the cursed man transforms into a big hopping bug and…. plays music.
Shayne cannot speak in this form, but his cricket ‘fiddle’ counts as a musical instrument and thus he could learn to use it to cast magic, like a bard using another instrument. And he’s automatically proficient with it. He does not lose human intelligence. I’d say he gains a bonus when jumping, too.)
All players:
((If your PCs aren't attacking, trying to flee, or casting spells, we can drop 'combat time' and proceed with RP in a freer fashion.))