Running around to each of the doors(four in total), you don't hear anything that indicates there's anything moving behind any of the doors. Likewise, Dib doesn't smell anything particularly disturbing. The manor is full of unfamiliar scents to him, but nothing stands out like the carnage of the rooms.
To the offering of the shortsword, she waves her hand. "No that's fine, you should use it. I've got plenty of tricks up myself to escape a close quarters situation."
Silthras nods, "Very well. If I am caught at close range, it would be good to have this as an option. But if you change your mind, let me know..."
After Kal finishes taking down the plate armor and securing the various pieces to his pack with rope, he stands again and heads towards the door he intended to open earlier. Heading over to the west side of the room, he steps onto the crimson rug and turns the knob, opening the door. The hinges let out a long drawn out creak as the door opens, revealing an open space similar to a living room. A marble statue of an armored knight stands in the corner as you walk in, and you immediately spot another door to the west. A cabinet with a globe atop it and a chest sitting next to it sits on the north wall, and a desk surrounded by bookshelves on the west wall. Further in the room, you see couches atop a fine rug next to the fire place...And a figure standing beyond that.
On the southern end of the room is a feminine figure dressed in all black clothing, nearly identical to the clothing you've seen on the corpses in the house. Long dark hair falls down her back in an intricate braid, and you can see a pair of short swords hanging from her hips. She does not move as you enter, not even to turn her head to look. The woman remains facing away from you, keeping utterly still.
Usul nods, perhaps a bit too vigorously, in agreement. Though he also, quietly, starts to reach towards his pack where his crossbow is strapped. Dib rather quickly scurries down Usul’s cloak into a hidden pocket inside.
(( If one more person nods, Silthras will usher them away from the door and out of sight...a good distance away...then speak: ))
Silthras clears his throat, "Excuse me, madam....my guess is that you are not the owner of this establishment. May I ask what has happened here? There are bodies strewn on the ground floor."
Kal also nods, though doesn't loosen his grip on his sword, and doesn't budge when the half-elf tries to shoo him out of sight. This didn't seem right, he wasn't willing to go too far if danger was near.
There is a hint of movement as Silthras begins to speak, strands of hair fall to the side as her head tilts slightly. An uncomfortable silence follows for half a minute before the woman slowly turns. On any other day, she might have been considered a great beauty, with an angular face, prominent cheekbones, and gorgeous blue eyes. But facing you now you can see mud smeared across hundreds of tiny cuts across her face and neck, the angry red of infection showing clearly from beneath the caked mud. Most unsettling however, is the unwavering smile pasted over an otherwise hateful glare.
Still the woman says nothing, but continues to stare at the party.
Velyra's steps back until she's against the wall, not wanting to leave the room but wanting to put as much distance as she possibly could between them. The woman's demeanor was unsettling, almost unnatural. "Careful, I don't like this." She whispers.
Silthras pauses, looks of compassion then disgust rapidly crossing his face before it quickly returns to a neutral expression. He looks between the woman and Kal, thankful for the knight's presence. First he whispers, "Another undead, do you think? Controlled from afar, perhaps?"
More loudly he says, "Your injuries look grave madam. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"
Usul gasps and takes a quick step back, almost bumping into the wall behind him as he watches the woman, and his companions. He quickly casts an illusion of a chest to match the one in the room around himself, hiding in it.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The woman finally breaks her silence, opening her grin wider, parting her clenched teeth to speak. What you first suspected was a whisper gradually evolves into a dry, raspy heaving sound. Her tongue pushes further beyond her lips, splitting and wrapping around both sides of her cheeks as her head tilts back. The tongue continues to push forth further and further until you realize that it's not a tongue at all, but slender, elongated fingers. As the woman's mouth gapes open wider, her cheeks tear, and a sickening crack marks her skull severing from the spine. As malformed hands pull a hairless, emaciated figure from her bloated throat, fear claws at the back of your neck.
With a wet tearing sound, the woman's body is torn asunder, leaving a tall, dark, blood-soaked humanoid figure standing in the messy remains. It seems to be wearing a cloak of some black leathery material, and lacks a nose and mouth. Instead, the face is marked by three large hollow cavities; two where the eyes should be, and one above centered on the forehead. It's long spindly fingers end with sharp, claw likes nails, and seems to tower above even as it hunches over in the room.
The creature cocks its head, then takes a silent, menacing step forward...
Rolls
Initiative: Kal - 5 Silthras - 21 Usul - 24 Velyra - 16 SO - 17
Map
(the light blue circle is an indication of Usul's illusion. efficacy unknown at this point)
(( When he took damage before, Silthras shuld have made a save to keep concentrating: 19 on Hex...more to come ))
Silthras gasps in horror and involuntarily takes a a few steps back before he gathers his wits, and focuses a malevolent gaze on the creature. Arcane energy then leaps from his fingers toward it and he takes the opportunity to put even more distance between himself and the appalling vision, shrugging an apology to his friends. Gods! Now we know why the eyes are removed!
Bonus Action: Transfer Hex to creature. Action: Eldritch Blast: Attack: 13 Damage: 17 Movement: 2 squares NE
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Velyra lets out a string of elven curses as the gruesome scene unfolds before her, trying in vain to back up further only to be met by the wall. Divine words fly from her lips and her hand stretches forth, releasing a Guiding Bolt(2nd Level) at the unknown horror.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The hex spell settles onto the creature, briefly warping the shadows around the creature into shards before snapping back into place. A bolt of eldritch energy flies across the room - the creature moves unnaturally quick, bending out of the way from the attack. For a moment it stands tall as if to gloat, before a blast of radiant energy takes it square in the chest. It writhes in soundless agony as the spell boils away the blood and guts from its chest, revealing a deathly pale skin underneath. The radiant energy spreads across the creature, outlining it in a dim glow.
There is a malevolent, hateful energy in its eyeless sockets as it glares across the room at the party...The darkness within them seems to pull you in, and a bitter cold shoots through your limbs.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
For Velyra and Silthras, the cold spreads throughout their entire bodies as a dreadful fear seizes their minds, rendering them paralyzed. Kal and Usul are able to power through the enchanting effect, blinking their eyes and shaking the cold from the limbs.
The creature stalks forward, soundlessly bounding over the furniture in the way as it bears down on the party. It stops before the lone knight, swipingwith a clawed hand. From it's right arm, a sickly spike of bone extends from its forearm as it stabs forward at Kal.
Kal grits his teeth as the thing's talon tears into his flesh, pulling back briefly to release himself from the attack. There is a faint crackle as sparks dance along his blade before he brings it to rear, slashing at the creature's midsection.
Running around to each of the doors(four in total), you don't hear anything that indicates there's anything moving behind any of the doors. Likewise, Dib doesn't smell anything particularly disturbing. The manor is full of unfamiliar scents to him, but nothing stands out like the carnage of the rooms.
The sword did not have a sheath with it in the display case.
Silthras nods, "Very well. If I am caught at close range, it would be good to have this as an option. But if you change your mind, let me know..."
After Kal finishes taking down the plate armor and securing the various pieces to his pack with rope, he stands again and heads towards the door he intended to open earlier. Heading over to the west side of the room, he steps onto the crimson rug and turns the knob, opening the door. The hinges let out a long drawn out creak as the door opens, revealing an open space similar to a living room. A marble statue of an armored knight stands in the corner as you walk in, and you immediately spot another door to the west. A cabinet with a globe atop it and a chest sitting next to it sits on the north wall, and a desk surrounded by bookshelves on the west wall. Further in the room, you see couches atop a fine rug next to the fire place...And a figure standing beyond that.
On the southern end of the room is a feminine figure dressed in all black clothing, nearly identical to the clothing you've seen on the corpses in the house. Long dark hair falls down her back in an intricate braid, and you can see a pair of short swords hanging from her hips. She does not move as you enter, not even to turn her head to look. The woman remains facing away from you, keeping utterly still.
Silthras looks to his companions, mouthing words, touches his lips, and points to the woman. Should I speak?
Usul nods, perhaps a bit too vigorously, in agreement. Though he also, quietly, starts to reach towards his pack where his crossbow is strapped. Dib rather quickly scurries down Usul’s cloak into a hidden pocket inside.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
(( If one more person nods, Silthras will usher them away from the door and out of sight...a good distance away...then speak: ))
Silthras clears his throat, "Excuse me, madam....my guess is that you are not the owner of this establishment. May I ask what has happened here? There are bodies strewn on the ground floor."
Kal also nods, though doesn't loosen his grip on his sword, and doesn't budge when the half-elf tries to shoo him out of sight. This didn't seem right, he wasn't willing to go too far if danger was near.
There is a hint of movement as Silthras begins to speak, strands of hair fall to the side as her head tilts slightly. An uncomfortable silence follows for half a minute before the woman slowly turns. On any other day, she might have been considered a great beauty, with an angular face, prominent cheekbones, and gorgeous blue eyes. But facing you now you can see mud smeared across hundreds of tiny cuts across her face and neck, the angry red of infection showing clearly from beneath the caked mud. Most unsettling however, is the unwavering smile pasted over an otherwise hateful glare.
Still the woman says nothing, but continues to stare at the party.
Velyra's steps back until she's against the wall, not wanting to leave the room but wanting to put as much distance as she possibly could between them. The woman's demeanor was unsettling, almost unnatural. "Careful, I don't like this." She whispers.
(( Gulp! ))
Silthras pauses, looks of compassion then disgust rapidly crossing his face before it quickly returns to a neutral expression. He looks between the woman and Kal, thankful for the knight's presence. First he whispers, "Another undead, do you think? Controlled from afar, perhaps?"
More loudly he says, "Your injuries look grave madam. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"
Usul gasps and takes a quick step back, almost bumping into the wall behind him as he watches the woman, and his companions. He quickly casts an illusion of a chest to match the one in the room around himself, hiding in it.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
The woman finally breaks her silence, opening her grin wider, parting her clenched teeth to speak. What you first suspected was a whisper gradually evolves into a dry, raspy heaving sound. Her tongue pushes further beyond her lips, splitting and wrapping around both sides of her cheeks as her head tilts back. The tongue continues to push forth further and further until you realize that it's not a tongue at all, but slender, elongated fingers. As the woman's mouth gapes open wider, her cheeks tear, and a sickening crack marks her skull severing from the spine. As malformed hands pull a hairless, emaciated figure from her bloated throat, fear claws at the back of your neck.
With a wet tearing sound, the woman's body is torn asunder, leaving a tall, dark, blood-soaked humanoid figure standing in the messy remains. It seems to be wearing a cloak of some black leathery material, and lacks a nose and mouth. Instead, the face is marked by three large hollow cavities; two where the eyes should be, and one above centered on the forehead. It's long spindly fingers end with sharp, claw likes nails, and seems to tower above even as it hunches over in the room.
The creature cocks its head, then takes a silent, menacing step forward...
Rolls
Initiative:
Kal - 5
Silthras - 21
Usul - 24
Velyra - 16
SO - 17
Map
(the light blue circle is an indication of Usul's illusion. efficacy unknown at this point)
Order:
Silthras
Velyra
???
Usul
Kal
(( When he took damage before, Silthras shuld have made a save to keep concentrating: 19 on Hex...more to come ))
Silthras gasps in horror and involuntarily takes a a few steps back before he gathers his wits, and focuses a malevolent gaze on the creature. Arcane energy then leaps from his fingers toward it and he takes the opportunity to put even more distance between himself and the appalling vision, shrugging an apology to his friends. Gods! Now we know why the eyes are removed!
Bonus Action: Transfer Hex to creature.
Action: Eldritch Blast: Attack: 13 Damage: 17
Movement: 2 squares NE
Velyra lets out a string of elven curses as the gruesome scene unfolds before her, trying in vain to back up further only to be met by the wall. Divine words fly from her lips and her hand stretches forth, releasing a Guiding Bolt(2nd Level) at the unknown horror.
Attack: 26 Damage: 38
The hex spell settles onto the creature, briefly warping the shadows around the creature into shards before snapping back into place. A bolt of eldritch energy flies across the room - the creature moves unnaturally quick, bending out of the way from the attack. For a moment it stands tall as if to gloat, before a blast of radiant energy takes it square in the chest. It writhes in soundless agony as the spell boils away the blood and guts from its chest, revealing a deathly pale skin underneath. The radiant energy spreads across the creature, outlining it in a dim glow.
There is a malevolent, hateful energy in its eyeless sockets as it glares across the room at the party...The darkness within them seems to pull you in, and a bitter cold shoots through your limbs.
Kal Wisdom Save: 8
Silthras Wisdom Save: 1
Usul Wisdom Save: 12
Velyra Wisdom Save: 21
For Velyra and Silthras, the cold spreads throughout their entire bodies as a dreadful fear seizes their minds, rendering them paralyzed. Kal and Usul are able to power through the enchanting effect, blinking their eyes and shaking the cold from the limbs.
The creature stalks forward, soundlessly bounding over the furniture in the way as it bears down on the party. It stops before the lone knight, swipingwith a clawed hand. From it's right arm, a sickly spike of bone extends from its forearm as it stabs forward at Kal.
??? Claw Attack Kal: Attack: 19 Damage: 8
??? Talon Attack Kal: Attack: 20 Damage: 12
Although he manages to bash away the claw attack, the bone talon pierces through a gap in his armor, digging deep into his shoulder
Map
Order:
Silthras(Paralyzed)
Velyra(Paralyzed)
???
Usul
Kal
Kal grits his teeth as the thing's talon tears into his flesh, pulling back briefly to release himself from the attack. There is a faint crackle as sparks dance along his blade before he brings it to rear, slashing at the creature's midsection.
Attack: 12 Damage: 12
Thunderous Smite: 6