Kaemgen has stated that he's withdrawing from play, as per a recent OOC message. That's fine. I understand that the game isn't working out for the player and I appreciate his candor.
What I need from you other guys is a decision.
Are your characters attacking, casting spells, or otherwise acting aggressively? If not, we can forgo combat rounds and I will narrate the next bit, allowing you the freedom to add your own RP posts as usual. )
Queen's action (takes effect on her turn, 21 init count, if not interrupted):
sleep centered on Shayne, cast as 2nd level spell.
Doesn't effect the Liosalfar. If anybody is close to Shayne, he may be caught in it. I will assume your PCs are out of area of effect unless you post something that indicates the contrary.
Eric takes the silken sack from the flighty servant and in his best Elvish replies with "Thank you your Highness".
He remains on one knee until dismissed. His head bowed, he sneaks a peek at the ongoings. An audible gasp is all that escapes his lips. He remains steadfast in his posture.
"Ah!" Alyna gasped at the transformation and when the cricket fell, she thought he was surely dead now. The fairytale turned out to be a nightmare after all and it was not over yet - they did not reach home. With eyes full of tears the girl bowed again and not raising her head begged: "Would you allow us to take his body home, oh mighty queen? So his relatives could say proper good buy."
"Ah!" Alyna gasped at the transformation and when the cricket fell, she thought he was surely dead now. The fairytale turned out to be a nightmare after all and it was not over yet - they did not reach home. With eyes full of tears the girl bowed again and not raising her head begged: "Would you allow us to take his body home, oh mighty queen? So his relatives could say proper good buy."
"'You are mistaken, sweet maid. He but sleeps." She shakes her head. " We are not as our dark cousins. Nor is his alteration inescapable. We could have freed him with ease, and such was Our true intent--once he'd learned to show better manners. But he dared to attack Us in Our very hall! Truly atrocious behavior in any guest, most of all one who comes uninvited."
The monarch of the Good Folk smiles sadly. She comes near Alyna and lays a slender hand on the young woman's shoulder. Her voice takes on a familiar, comforting tone,
"Your tears soften my heart. For your sake, will I repent of his punishment, at this price: you will cross through the Ring at Midsummer's Eve and abide with me a short while and serve me. He will be restored when he returns to the other side, but he must never return here. Do you agree?"
"I do." What else could she say? She was the one insisting to come in and continue to press on while Shayne wanted nothing more than return. "You are most generous, your majesty."She would need a few minutes to realise the full generosity of the offer - regarding both the forgiveness and the invitation part - but even now her answer was genuine, she was grateful.
The Queen lays a charm on Shayne to prevent him injuring anyone or fleeing.
The Liosalfar courtiers escort Werthan and his rescuers through the gate, down the marble stairs, and into the meadow, where serving fays bring milk-white mounts for the company. Presently, the fay ruler takes her seat and orders the cavalcade to begin.
It starts with a walk, but soon the pace quickens. An elf-herald blows a silver horn, and all the fairy host spur their mounts to a gallop. Carried along in the rush, you fairly fly through the woods and fields of Faerie, the terrain rolling away beneath your horses' pounding hooves.
At Elf Hill (in Faerie) a dozen of the little cricket-fiddlers gather to play a wild tune. The Queen charges her steed right up the hillside and jumps it into the circle of toadstools, vanishing in an instant. All follow. Shayne chirps and hops after Alyna.
Dawn's light pinks the eastern sky on the far side of the Ring.
The Queen gestures toward Shayne, who has regained his human shape. The young man staggers toward her, seeming drunk or befuddled.
"Go home, boy."
Shayne bobs his head, grinning idiotically.
The Queen turns toward Alyna, Xylys, Eric, and Werthan. "Farewell, Mortals."
Alyna bowed again - not for the last time, as she well remembered, but it did not matter, there journey was not over just yet. Even if the road through the woods now did not feel like something frightening - in fact, cold air of the "right" side of the hill already gave that home, almost relaxing feeling - but it was a road ahead nevertheless. "I thank you majesty once more and will return at Midsummer's Eve," she repeated her promise once more, wrapped her arm around Shayne, and made the first step downhill, gently guiding the guy towards the tree line and the road to the village.
Eric breathes a sigh of relief. Not just for having made it back to the "correct" side of the Ring, but for being free of the presence of the Queen. The punishment Shayne had received scared the woodsman. The tales from his childhood were indeed true - DO NOT ENTER THE DARKLING WOODS. The initial travel through the woods had given him a false sense of security. The woods were as dangerous as he'd been taught.
"Let's be free of these woods as quickly as we can. Dawn is breaking which gives us the full day to exit. Alyna, can you ask the forest critters for the fastest way back to Rilford?"
"If we find one," nodded Alyna, helping Shane to sit under the tree while she concentrated on her "lucky-charm" trying to get that sense of the nature around. "But you might want to check for your signs too - just in case we need to go back the long way."
Eric breathes a sigh of relief. Not just for having made it back to the "correct" side of the Ring, but for being free of the presence of the Queen. The punishment Shayne had received scared the woodsman. The tales from his childhood were indeed true - DO NOT ENTER THE DARKLING WOODS. The initial travel through the woods had given him a false sense of security. The woods were as dangerous as he'd been taught.
"Let's be free of these woods as quickly as we can. Dawn is breaking which gives us the full day to exit. Alyna, can you ask the forest critters for the fastest way back to Rilford?"
(Not an update, but a mechanical note:
If Alyna wants to find animals and question them, roll perception DC10 and animal handling DC 10 --in early morning there are quite a few things moving about in the forest-- and then mark a casting of speak with animals. If she succeeds on both checks, she will get some info.
Eric may roll a Survival check DC12 to orient and estimate distances, times, and possible routes. )
“Remind me never to doubt the tales of these woods,” Xylys said, his tone very pensive. “They are dark indeed, with things pretty much antithetical to our kind. Although Shayne has paid a price for his boldness, which I am fairly certain he will put to song, we have been successful, up to this point. Even though the winter will be harder than one would have expected, some how we will pull through. Now, let’s get out of these woods and back to normal folks and things.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
"The Queen promised us seven years of no drought or storm and in that sack she gave to Erik has to be something helpful with that. May be the year would not be harsh either and we succeeded more than we hoped." But it was mostly mumbling, Alyna was busy with the Speak with Animals spell
Alyna soon finds a doe grazing at the verge of the clearing around the fairy mound.
The animal understands that Big-Two-Legged-Things keep their lair in the fields past where the trees stop, out where the sun rises and down along the Long-Big-Moving-Water. The Big Spider lives out that way, and eats some of the pigs that the Two Legs catch every year. Good food there. The Two-Legs protect their fields with Flying Thorns. Dangerous! It tells her, in its own terms, the shortest route there but warns her to be careful. Alyna is a Two-Legs, but not like the others. She can talk. Those other her near her look scary. Time to go. The animal darts away, vanishing into the brush and trees.
From what she's learned, the fastest way through the forest to Rillford would be going back by trails her party has already explored, all the way to Spithrax's lair. From there, Rillford ought to lie someplace southeast. They'd have to go off trail, but it shouldn't be more than three miles of forest to cross.
Having no other was to express his displeasure with the fake justice of the queen, Shayne leaps at the Queen and attempts to bite her...
Bite attack: Attack: 5 Damage: 0
((Without were-form stats I'm not sure what modifiers or such to use... So feel free to apply as needed.))
Shayne's surprise leap and attack lands him on a table, where he can bite some of the food, but not the Queen.
((All players, please roll initiative unless your PC is doing and saying nothing. ))
The Queen steps back with a look of disgust and anger on her face. (Elvish) ''Vile creature!"
Her vassals draw their swords and move to surround you all, poised to strike down anyone who attacks their sovereign.
initiative 12
Werthan stays down on his knees, his mouth shut and his eyes downcast.
The Queen begins another spell.
initiative 21
Cricket Shayne initiative: 2
((Without were-form stats I'm not sure what modifiers or such to use... So feel free to apply as needed.))
(EDIT
Kaemgen has stated that he's withdrawing from play, as per a recent OOC message. That's fine. I understand that the game isn't working out for the player and I appreciate his candor.
What I need from you other guys is a decision.
Are your characters attacking, casting spells, or otherwise acting aggressively? If not, we can forgo combat rounds and I will narrate the next bit, allowing you the freedom to add your own RP posts as usual. )
She points at Shayne and whispers strange, slurring words...
Xylys will concentrate on trying to imprint the Queens spell in his mind for future reference, trying to use his Arcane Focus to aid in the attempt.
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Initiative 9
"Wait please!" Xylys cries out. "He is maddened from fear. Let us take him away from here. Please! I implore you."
Persuasion 7
It seems too late for poor Shayne.
"Let us be away from here," he calls to the others, "We cannot stand against these Folk and we promised to retrieve the Miller."
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Queen's action (takes effect on her turn, 21 init count, if not interrupted):
sleep centered on Shayne, cast as 2nd level spell.
Doesn't effect the Liosalfar. If anybody is close to Shayne, he may be caught in it. I will assume your PCs are out of area of effect unless you post something that indicates the contrary.
44
Eric takes the silken sack from the flighty servant and in his best Elvish replies with "Thank you your Highness".
He remains on one knee until dismissed. His head bowed, he sneaks a peek at the ongoings. An audible gasp is all that escapes his lips. He remains steadfast in his posture.
"Ah!" Alyna gasped at the transformation and when the cricket fell, she thought he was surely dead now. The fairytale turned out to be a nightmare after all and it was not over yet - they did not reach home. With eyes full of tears the girl bowed again and not raising her head begged: "Would you allow us to take his body home, oh mighty queen? So his relatives could say proper good buy."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"'You are mistaken, sweet maid. He but sleeps." She shakes her head. " We are not as our dark cousins. Nor is his alteration inescapable. We could have freed him with ease, and such was Our true intent--once he'd learned to show better manners. But he dared to attack Us in Our very hall! Truly atrocious behavior in any guest, most of all one who comes uninvited."
The monarch of the Good Folk smiles sadly. She comes near Alyna and lays a slender hand on the young woman's shoulder. Her voice takes on a familiar, comforting tone,
"Your tears soften my heart. For your sake, will I repent of his punishment, at this price: you will cross through the Ring at Midsummer's Eve and abide with me a short while and serve me. He will be restored when he returns to the other side, but he must never return here. Do you agree?"
"I do." What else could she say? She was the one insisting to come in and continue to press on while Shayne wanted nothing more than return. "You are most generous, your majesty." She would need a few minutes to realise the full generosity of the offer - regarding both the forgiveness and the invitation part - but even now her answer was genuine, she was grateful.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
The Queen lays a charm on Shayne to prevent him injuring anyone or fleeing.
The Liosalfar courtiers escort Werthan and his rescuers through the gate, down the marble stairs, and into the meadow, where serving fays bring milk-white mounts for the company. Presently, the fay ruler takes her seat and orders the cavalcade to begin.
It starts with a walk, but soon the pace quickens. An elf-herald blows a silver horn, and all the fairy host spur their mounts to a gallop. Carried along in the rush, you fairly fly through the woods and fields of Faerie, the terrain rolling away beneath your horses' pounding hooves.
At Elf Hill (in Faerie) a dozen of the little cricket-fiddlers gather to play a wild tune. The Queen charges her steed right up the hillside and jumps it into the circle of toadstools, vanishing in an instant. All follow. Shayne chirps and hops after Alyna.
Dawn's light pinks the eastern sky on the far side of the Ring.
The Queen gestures toward Shayne, who has regained his human shape. The young man staggers toward her, seeming drunk or befuddled.
"Go home, boy."
Shayne bobs his head, grinning idiotically.
The Queen turns toward Alyna, Xylys, Eric, and Werthan. "Farewell, Mortals."
((All active PCs gain inspiration.
I will pause any further updates till you have all posted.
Feel free to RP this as you like, but please don't just skip the scene back to Rillford. Getting Werthan home requires crossing the Darkling Wood.))
Alyna bowed again - not for the last time, as she well remembered, but it did not matter, there journey was not over just yet. Even if the road through the woods now did not feel like something frightening - in fact, cold air of the "right" side of the hill already gave that home, almost relaxing feeling - but it was a road ahead nevertheless. "I thank you majesty once more and will return at Midsummer's Eve," she repeated her promise once more, wrapped her arm around Shayne, and made the first step downhill, gently guiding the guy towards the tree line and the road to the village.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Eric breathes a sigh of relief. Not just for having made it back to the "correct" side of the Ring, but for being free of the presence of the Queen. The punishment Shayne had received scared the woodsman. The tales from his childhood were indeed true - DO NOT ENTER THE DARKLING WOODS. The initial travel through the woods had given him a false sense of security. The woods were as dangerous as he'd been taught.
"Let's be free of these woods as quickly as we can. Dawn is breaking which gives us the full day to exit. Alyna, can you ask the forest critters for the fastest way back to Rilford?"
"If we find one," nodded Alyna, helping Shane to sit under the tree while she concentrated on her "lucky-charm" trying to get that sense of the nature around. "But you might want to check for your signs too - just in case we need to go back the long way."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
(Not an update, but a mechanical note:
If Alyna wants to find animals and question them, roll perception DC10 and animal handling DC 10 --in early morning there are quite a few things moving about in the forest-- and then mark a casting of speak with animals. If she succeeds on both checks, she will get some info.
Eric may roll a Survival check DC12 to orient and estimate distances, times, and possible routes. )
“Remind me never to doubt the tales of these woods,” Xylys said, his tone very pensive. “They are dark indeed, with things pretty much antithetical to our kind. Although Shayne has paid a price for his boldness, which I am fairly certain he will put to song, we have been successful, up to this point. Even though the winter will be harder than one would have expected, some how we will pull through. Now, let’s get out of these woods and back to normal folks and things.”
Panic is a mechanism that strengthens the gene pool.
Perception DC10 : 18 + 3 (from Guidance)
animal handling DC 10: 25 + 2 (from Guidance)
"The Queen promised us seven years of no drought or storm and in that sack she gave to Erik has to be something helpful with that. May be the year would not be harsh either and we succeeded more than we hoped." But it was mostly mumbling, Alyna was busy with the Speak with Animals spell
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Alyna soon finds a doe grazing at the verge of the clearing around the fairy mound.
The animal understands that Big-Two-Legged-Things keep their lair in the fields past where the trees stop, out where the sun rises and down along the Long-Big-Moving-Water. The Big Spider lives out that way, and eats some of the pigs that the Two Legs catch every year. Good food there. The Two-Legs protect their fields with Flying Thorns. Dangerous! It tells her, in its own terms, the shortest route there but warns her to be careful. Alyna is a Two-Legs, but not like the others. She can talk. Those other her near her look scary. Time to go. The animal darts away, vanishing into the brush and trees.
From what she's learned, the fastest way through the forest to Rillford would be going back by trails her party has already explored, all the way to Spithrax's lair. From there, Rillford ought to lie someplace southeast. They'd have to go off trail, but it shouldn't be more than three miles of forest to cross.
There might be another way, of course.
(Eric may roll if his player likes)