Sho stared at Onyx’s bare arm for a moment, before turning away, knowing how much it meant for the man. And it seemed like it was enough for the start of some trust again, knowing no one was listening on them. Sho fell silent for a few lengthy moments, almost too long, as if he wasn’t going to answer.
“I grew up at an underground church.” He starts quietly, “A church of the Raven Queen. I served at the alter, and I learned the rituals and the processes. Our priestess was a Shadar-kai, the elves of the Shadowfell. It had always been about the semblance of balance between life and death.”
“But one day she spoke out of turn. Her words revealed that her wisdom and beliefs was no teachings of the Raven Queen, but those of her sworn enemy.” He pauses for a second, allowing the context to connect.
“The next day, city watch was at the door. Banging, shouting, screaming. There was a tumult. Everyone was running for their lives. My parents had called for me, but they were lost among the crowd. She had a secret tunnel, and she asked me to come with her.” He looks up at the paladin again, “So I did.”
Talion raises his eyebrows as Sho gets up to depart. No sense of self preservation. He nods at the potion that the priest still holds, "Might want to drink that before going off with him." He grins his grin at the warrior.
Watching the priests back, he wonders what he is getting himself into, and hen the pair have moved off, he stands and moves to keep them in sight. He makes no attempt to hide himself, content to ensure that if the paladin tries to follow through on his previous threats, Talion will be there to respond from a safe distance. He settles down again to rest, his eyes rarely leaving the two men.
An involuntary shudder ripples through his body at the sound of the long-forgotten children's game. Mother of whores, if the chanting wasn't enough. He shakes his head, and tries to find a different vantage point, further away from Bert and the deceitful, cowardly and unstable elf, but still in sight of the odd pair of god-botherers.
Onyx visibility bristles as Talion follows them. Sho had the right idea - this was the kind of thing that was best handled in private. Still, he doesn't address it. The conversation itself was private enough.
"The true gods are often unsettlingly quiet. That might have been your first clue, but you were a child. You bear no blame.". He wondered if he might have idea of how the rest of the story went. "So. . . instead of seeking out the true Raven Queen you. . . ? "
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
Erven has a curious and concerned look as he watches Onyx and Sho march out of the room together. "Odd... what language were they speaking Bert?" He pauses, listening for any sound of fighting from the two, but just hears more of the guttural language, in the distance. He eyes Talion apparently following them to look and notes the pouty little ***** look that he gave Erven. "Those two seem pretty close, even closer now, I wonder what that means. Is Sho trying to convert him to follow Vecna?" He turns his attention to Bertolt. "So Bert, tell me. I was under the impression from everything that I've heard before that Vecna is an evil god. Am I mistaken? Would it make sense that his followers (he looks in the direction of Sho) are evil as well? Tell me what you have uncovered."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Onyx visibility bristles as Talion follows them. Sho had the right idea - this was the kind of thing that was best handled in private. Still, he doesn't address it. The conversation itself was private enough.
Talion is content to keep Sho in sight, and respects Sho's desire for a private conversation.
(( Given the map with no long straight corridors, I assume that means he's lounging against the south wall of D13 (south of south entry to 'worm room'); if Sho and Onyx want to go up the north corridor, he won't follow unless they go into the alcoves or he otherwise loses sight of them -- if they stay in the corridor, he should be able to see them all the way ))
Bert's little game reminded him of his childhood, and he starts to sing one of the songs that the priests made them sing every morning -- one of the few things he actually enjoyed. He chooses something bright and cheerful, trying to time it to fit in with the now-distant chanting, and to make it clear he's not trying to eavesdrop.
Performance: 5 (passive 14?)
Sadly, while his voice sounds fine, the damp atmosphere, unfamiliar accoustics, and exhaustion combine to make it hard for him to sunchronize with the chanting. The clashing timing turns it into an amateurish rendition, and he soon stops. Shitty song anyway but he continues anyway, a grin on his face as his song clashes annoyingly with the chant. Just like the old days. What was it they said? If you can't sing well, sing loudly? He launches into subsequent verses with even more gusto...
When the short rest is over, another false life: 8
Sho stared at Onyx’s bare arm for a moment, before turning away, knowing how much it meant for the man. And it seemed like it was enough for the start of some trust again, knowing no one was listening on them. Sho fell silent for a few lengthy moments, almost too long, as if he wasn’t going to answer.
“I grew up at an underground church.” He starts quietly, “A church of the Raven Queen. I served at the alter, and I learned the rituals and the processes. Our priestess was a Shadar-kai, the elves of the Shadowfell. It had always been about the semblance of balance between life and death.”
“But one day she spoke out of turn. Her words revealed that her wisdom and beliefs was no teachings of the Raven Queen, but those of her sworn enemy.” He pauses for a second, allowing the context to connect.
“The next day, city watch was at the door. Banging, shouting, screaming. There was a tumult. Everyone was running for their lives. My parents had called for me, but they were lost among the crowd. She had a secret tunnel, and she asked me to come with her.” He looks up at the paladin again, “So I did.”
You could roll a history check to see if you know anything about Onyx’s markings.
Talion, no passives for performance that I know of!
Onyx visibility bristles as Talion follows them. Sho had the right idea - this was the kind of thing that was best handled in private. Still, he doesn't address it. The conversation itself was private enough.
"The true gods are often unsettlingly quiet. That might have been your first clue, but you were a child. You bear no blame.". He wondered if he might have idea of how the rest of the story went. "So. . . instead of seeking out the true Raven Queen you. . . ? "
“There is… a very thin line between life and death.” Sho said faintly, in a tepid tone, as if he were talking about something irrelevant of him. He speaks of his initiation, where for years, all they did was to push the line further and further. He was poisoned, paralyzed, and buried alive. He drowned, burned, starved, and bled. He felt the last drip of blood leaving his veins, he felt every bone in his body breaking, the last bit air escaping his lungs, and he felt the last beat of his heart. Without fail, his priestess was always there, to pull him back at the end. This was what it was about - the Undying King looks after men who have the courage and will to defy the cycle between life and death. Eventually, he learned to give in. He watched himself bleed, he held his hand over the flame and not flinch, and he let himself drown without fighting. And that was when the initiation was complete.
“The Raven Queen teaches the balance between life and death, where both were necessary. That is untrue, I have learned. Death is an eventuality. But life could always be prevented. Every child born is a donation to the domain of the living. They are not here on their own volition.”
“The question is moot now.” Sho says with resigned finality. He turns to Onyx, “I had rejected the Raven Queen. It was a decision I made. And I still make the same decision every day.”
"Vecna is an evil God that is true but he serves an important purpose at times as well. He stops wizards from accessing dangerous magic at times but it does cause them to become strange creatures. He is also said to have risen from being a mortal but many things about him are hard to discern as one of his main portfolios is secrets. In my own search for knowledge who is to say I have not been an aid to Vecna.... " The bard pauses and pulls out his pipe, lighting it and taking several drafts from it before speaking again.
"Now the real thing we need to talk about is the arguing and selfish actions. I for one do not want to die here and the best way to not do that is for all of us to keep our own petty prejudices to ourselves. If that is to hard then as far as I am concerned those that can not work together can go their separate ways from the rest of us." Bertolt says as he stands up and runs a hand through his hair, moving to then light the latern in order to create more light.
Erven straightens up and hears Bertolt’s words, a serious look on his face. “Hmm. Ok. Do you think that Sho is becoming a “strange creature?” If so it wouldn’t happen rapidly, would it? I don’t know about such magical things.” He pauses, considering. “I surely do not want to remain in this house, as a servant for the Dursts or whoever is controlling them. I see the value of working together. I am amazed that we survived that last encounter with those… things. They were stronger than the sort I have fought before.” He looks over at Talion, then back to Bert. “I’ve done things before that I’m not proud of. In order to survive. Living alone in the woods, for many, many years. The second time Sehanine came to me in a dream, she said “You cannot do this alone.” That’s when I headed toward the village. The same holds true now.” He stops again and looks at Talion. “I am prepared to lead, if you want. I feel more protected now and I can resist the evil magic of this house. I may fight in a different manner than you are used to, I am not like the strong Paladin marching toward the enemy like our friend in there, I fight with guerrilla tactics, in unusual ways. I am sorry that I lost my temper back there, I did not injure the priest but I gave him a piece of my mind. Everything I do is wrong to him. I can’t abide by the constant insults and verbal attacks from him. If he agrees to keep his mouth shut, I’ll hold my tongue as well.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
"To be honest, you know that's not the answer I was hoping for. I won't see eye to eye with you there."
He starts fastening his gauntlets.
"But you're . . . not a bad person, I think. You at least fought for me when I was . . . hexed. As long as you don't start calling back those who found their death, raising undead to serve you, I can deal with it. . . we should get back to the others."
Lothar
What kind of vibe is Onyx getting from Sho at this point? Does he think he got most of the story?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sho let out a tired sigh as he gave a vague glance in Talion's direction and nodded towards Onyx. He switches back to Common, "You can go first. I still have something to say to Talion."
He waits for Onyx to leave before finishing his potions.
Talion makes way for the Paladin then, mercifully, the singing stops. He waits for Sho to follow, but frowns when he remains in place. After waiting for the rough clamking of Onyx's armour to recede, he moves up to the priest.
Sho watches as Talion comes towards him. He puts the empty vials of potions back on the table and waits for him to come closer. He sighs at Talion's question, he tucks his hair behind ear and starts in the same soft whisper.
"It was... a conversation." He answers. He doesn't really know how else to make of it. They talked. And that was all he could honestly say about it. From his point of view, his impression of Onyx hadn't changed much. He had always known his stance from beginning, without the need of him making it clear.
He lifts his chin slightly, revealing a dragged red slash on his bare neck. "I hope he knows I am not the one he should be watching his back for."
"He has become more unstable and dangerous since his god visited him." He recalls how much better Erven seemed after the nervous hour he spent watching over the elf. Then, more recently, the denial of all the he previously said -- denunciation of Talion, attacking Sho, threats to kill, the unbridled anger and fear. The violence. How long had it taken? A few minutes perhaps for him to relapse and regress even further, all in response to honest words spoken calmly. "People often lash out like that when they know they are in the wrong, so there may be some hope for him yet -- if ever he realizes -- but I won't hold my breath."
He looks toward the rest of the party then back to Sho, "But...fools aside...I think Onyx interrupted when you were about to tell me why you follow the god you do...Those two..." again, he glances in the direction or Onyx and Ervan, "...they seem quick to anger, quick to judge, and prone to violence. You - you seem more serene and accepting than the words of the others would suggest. " Perhaps not prone enough to violence!
"He has become more unstable and dangerous since his god visited him." He recalls how much better Erven seemed after the nervous hour he spent watching over the elf. Then, more recently, the denial of all the he previously said -- denunciation of Talion, attacking Sho, threats to kill, the unbridled anger and fear. The violence. How long had it taken? A few minutes perhaps for him to relapse and regress even further, all in response to honest words spoken calmly. "People often lash out like that when they know they are in the wrong, so there may be some hope for him yet -- if ever he realizes -- but I won't hold my breath."
He looks toward the rest of the party then back to Sho, "But...fools aside...I think Onyx interrupted when you were about to tell me why you follow the god you do...Those two..." again, he glances in the direction or Onyx and Ervan, "...they seem quick to anger, quick to judge, and prone to violence. You - you seem more serene and accepting than the words of the others would suggest. " Perhaps not prone enough to violence!
"A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything." Sho states succinctly, looking at Talion. "One may follow a god, but they still may be faithless. Their values are easily swayed by anything - greed, fear, and anger. They fall apart very quickly."
"And I don't stand by men who stand for nothing."
He closes his eyes briefly in recollection, then starts to recount what he had said to Onyx.
What kind of vibe is Onyx getting from Sho at this point? Does he think he got most of the story?
Insight (if applicable) 6
Onyx
Sho seems to be telling his truth as far as you can tell. You look for tell-tale signs of lying and find none. This doesn't quiet your innate suspicion of him but in the words he has said, you don't detect any lies...
"Vecna is an evil God that is true but he serves an important purpose at times as well. He stops wizards from accessing dangerous magic at times but it does cause them to become strange creatures. He is also said to have risen from being a mortal but many things about him are hard to discern as one of his main portfolios is secrets. In my own search for knowledge who is to say I have not been an aid to Vecna.... " The bard pauses and pulls out his pipe, lighting it and taking several drafts from it before speaking again.
"Now the real thing we need to talk about is the arguing and selfish actions. I for one do not want to die here and the best way to not do that is for all of us to keep our own petty prejudices to ourselves. If that is to hard then as far as I am concerned those that can not work together can go their separate ways from the rest of us." Bertolt says as he stands up and runs a hand through his hair, moving to then light the latern in order to create more light.
Bert -
roll a charisma check for me, with advantage, using any charisma-based skill you choose...(tell me which skill you used :)
Talion approaches Bert, "You were thorough searching the bunk room. Would you mind looking over the bedroom? I'll help. We didn't get further than the locker before all hell broke loose."
(eg. In alcoves, in bed, cupboards etc; Talion will help Bert in investigation and Perception checks...).
Sho stared at Onyx’s bare arm for a moment, before turning away, knowing how much it meant for the man. And it seemed like it was enough for the start of some trust again, knowing no one was listening on them. Sho fell silent for a few lengthy moments, almost too long, as if he wasn’t going to answer.
“I grew up at an underground church.” He starts quietly, “A church of the Raven Queen. I served at the alter, and I learned the rituals and the processes. Our priestess was a Shadar-kai, the elves of the Shadowfell. It had always been about the semblance of balance between life and death.”
“But one day she spoke out of turn. Her words revealed that her wisdom and beliefs was no teachings of the Raven Queen, but those of her sworn enemy.” He pauses for a second, allowing the context to connect.
“The next day, city watch was at the door. Banging, shouting, screaming. There was a tumult. Everyone was running for their lives. My parents had called for me, but they were lost among the crowd. She had a secret tunnel, and she asked me to come with her.” He looks up at the paladin again, “So I did.”
Talion raises his eyebrows as Sho gets up to depart. No sense of self preservation. He nods at the potion that the priest still holds, "Might want to drink that before going off with him." He grins his grin at the warrior.
Watching the priests back, he wonders what he is getting himself into, and hen the pair have moved off, he stands and moves to keep them in sight. He makes no attempt to hide himself, content to ensure that if the paladin tries to follow through on his previous threats, Talion will be there to respond from a safe distance. He settles down again to rest, his eyes rarely leaving the two men.
An involuntary shudder ripples through his body at the sound of the long-forgotten children's game. Mother of whores, if the chanting wasn't enough. He shakes his head, and tries to find a different vantage point, further away from Bert and the deceitful, cowardly and unstable elf, but still in sight of the odd pair of god-botherers.
(( Not sure where the 'worm room' is...typo? ))Onyx visibility bristles as Talion follows them. Sho had the right idea - this was the kind of thing that was best handled in private. Still, he doesn't address it. The conversation itself was private enough.
"The true gods are often unsettlingly quiet. That might have been your first clue, but you were a child. You bear no blame.". He wondered if he might have idea of how the rest of the story went. "So. . . instead of seeking out the true Raven Queen you. . . ? "
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
Erven has a curious and concerned look as he watches Onyx and Sho march out of the room together. "Odd... what language were they speaking Bert?" He pauses, listening for any sound of fighting from the two, but just hears more of the guttural language, in the distance. He eyes Talion apparently following them to look and notes the pouty little ***** look that he gave Erven. "Those two seem pretty close, even closer now, I wonder what that means. Is Sho trying to convert him to follow Vecna?" He turns his attention to Bertolt. "So Bert, tell me. I was under the impression from everything that I've heard before that Vecna is an evil god. Am I mistaken? Would it make sense that his followers (he looks in the direction of Sho) are evil as well? Tell me what you have uncovered."
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Talion is content to keep Sho in sight, and respects Sho's desire for a private conversation.
(( Given the map with no long straight corridors, I assume that means he's lounging against the south wall of D13 (south of south entry to 'worm room'); if Sho and Onyx want to go up the north corridor, he won't follow unless they go into the alcoves or he otherwise loses sight of them -- if they stay in the corridor, he should be able to see them all the way ))
Bert's little game reminded him of his childhood, and he starts to sing one of the songs that the priests made them sing every morning -- one of the few things he actually enjoyed. He chooses something bright and cheerful, trying to time it to fit in with the now-distant chanting, and to make it clear he's not trying to eavesdrop.
Performance: 5 (passive 14?)
Sadly, while his voice sounds fine, the damp atmosphere, unfamiliar accoustics, and exhaustion combine to make it hard for him to sunchronize with the chanting. The clashing timing turns it into an amateurish rendition,
and he soon stops. Shitty song anywaybut he continues anyway, a grin on his face as his song clashes annoyingly with the chant. Just like the old days. What was it they said? If you can't sing well, sing loudly? He launches into subsequent verses with even more gusto...When the short rest is over, another false life: 8
You could roll a history check to see if you know anything about Onyx’s markings.
Talion, no passives for performance that I know of!
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
“There is… a very thin line between life and death.” Sho said faintly, in a tepid tone, as if he were talking about something irrelevant of him. He speaks of his initiation, where for years, all they did was to push the line further and further. He was poisoned, paralyzed, and buried alive. He drowned, burned, starved, and bled. He felt the last drip of blood leaving his veins, he felt every bone in his body breaking, the last bit air escaping his lungs, and he felt the last beat of his heart. Without fail, his priestess was always there, to pull him back at the end. This was what it was about - the Undying King looks after men who have the courage and will to defy the cycle between life and death. Eventually, he learned to give in. He watched himself bleed, he held his hand over the flame and not flinch, and he let himself drown without fighting. And that was when the initiation was complete.
“The Raven Queen teaches the balance between life and death, where both were necessary. That is untrue, I have learned. Death is an eventuality. But life could always be prevented. Every child born is a donation to the domain of the living. They are not here on their own volition.”
“The question is moot now.” Sho says with resigned finality. He turns to Onyx, “I had rejected the Raven Queen. It was a decision I made. And I still make the same decision every day.”
History: 8
"Vecna is an evil God that is true but he serves an important purpose at times as well. He stops wizards from accessing dangerous magic at times but it does cause them to become strange creatures. He is also said to have risen from being a mortal but many things about him are hard to discern as one of his main portfolios is secrets. In my own search for knowledge who is to say I have not been an aid to Vecna.... " The bard pauses and pulls out his pipe, lighting it and taking several drafts from it before speaking again.
"Now the real thing we need to talk about is the arguing and selfish actions. I for one do not want to die here and the best way to not do that is for all of us to keep our own petty prejudices to ourselves. If that is to hard then as far as I am concerned those that can not work together can go their separate ways from the rest of us." Bertolt says as he stands up and runs a hand through his hair, moving to then light the latern in order to create more light.
Erven straightens up and hears Bertolt’s words, a serious look on his face. “Hmm. Ok. Do you think that Sho is becoming a “strange creature?” If so it wouldn’t happen rapidly, would it? I don’t know about such magical things.” He pauses, considering. “I surely do not want to remain in this house, as a servant for the Dursts or whoever is controlling them. I see the value of working together. I am amazed that we survived that last encounter with those… things. They were stronger than the sort I have fought before.” He looks over at Talion, then back to Bert. “I’ve done things before that I’m not proud of. In order to survive. Living alone in the woods, for many, many years. The second time Sehanine came to me in a dream, she said “You cannot do this alone.” That’s when I headed toward the village. The same holds true now.” He stops again and looks at Talion. “I am prepared to lead, if you want. I feel more protected now and I can resist the evil magic of this house. I may fight in a different manner than you are used to, I am not like the strong Paladin marching toward the enemy like our friend in there, I fight with guerrilla tactics, in unusual ways. I am sorry that I lost my temper back there, I did not injure the priest but I gave him a piece of my mind. Everything I do is wrong to him. I can’t abide by the constant insults and verbal attacks from him. If he agrees to keep his mouth shut, I’ll hold my tongue as well.”
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Barring any info from Onyx, you note the reptilian scales with unease as above but don’t recall anything about them.
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
Onyx grimaces.
"To be honest, you know that's not the answer I was hoping for. I won't see eye to eye with you there."
He starts fastening his gauntlets.
"But you're . . . not a bad person, I think. You at least fought for me when I was . . . hexed. As long as you don't start calling back those who found their death, raising undead to serve you, I can deal with it. . . we should get back to the others."
Lothar
What kind of vibe is Onyx getting from Sho at this point? Does he think he got most of the story?
Insight (if applicable) 6
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
Sho let out a tired sigh as he gave a vague glance in Talion's direction and nodded towards Onyx. He switches back to Common, "You can go first. I still have something to say to Talion."
He waits for Onyx to leave before finishing his potions.
8 9
Talion makes way for the Paladin then, mercifully, the singing stops. He waits for Sho to follow, but frowns when he remains in place. After waiting for the rough clamking of Onyx's armour to recede, he moves up to the priest.
"How did that go?" he asks quietly.
Sho watches as Talion comes towards him. He puts the empty vials of potions back on the table and waits for him to come closer. He sighs at Talion's question, he tucks his hair behind ear and starts in the same soft whisper.
"It was... a conversation." He answers. He doesn't really know how else to make of it. They talked. And that was all he could honestly say about it. From his point of view, his impression of Onyx hadn't changed much. He had always known his stance from beginning, without the need of him making it clear.
He lifts his chin slightly, revealing a dragged red slash on his bare neck. "I hope he knows I am not the one he should be watching his back for."
Talion nods, still speaking in low tones.
Sho:
"He has become more unstable and dangerous since his god visited him." He recalls how much better Erven seemed after the nervous hour he spent watching over the elf. Then, more recently, the denial of all the he previously said -- denunciation of Talion, attacking Sho, threats to kill, the unbridled anger and fear. The violence. How long had it taken? A few minutes perhaps for him to relapse and regress even further, all in response to honest words spoken calmly. "People often lash out like that when they know they are in the wrong, so there may be some hope for him yet -- if ever he realizes -- but I won't hold my breath."
He looks toward the rest of the party then back to Sho, "But...fools aside...I think Onyx interrupted when you were about to tell me why you follow the god you do...Those two..." again, he glances in the direction or Onyx and Ervan, "...they seem quick to anger, quick to judge, and prone to violence. You - you seem more serene and accepting than the words of the others would suggest. " Perhaps not prone enough to violence!
"A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything." Sho states succinctly, looking at Talion. "One may follow a god, but they still may be faithless. Their values are easily swayed by anything - greed, fear, and anger. They fall apart very quickly."
"And I don't stand by men who stand for nothing."
He closes his eyes briefly in recollection, then starts to recount what he had said to Onyx.
Onyx
Sho seems to be telling his truth as far as you can tell. You look for tell-tale signs of lying and find none. This doesn't quiet your innate suspicion of him but in the words he has said, you don't detect any lies...
Bert -
roll a charisma check for me, with advantage, using any charisma-based skill you choose...(tell me which skill you used :)
DM - And In The Darkness, Rot: The Sunless Citadel
DM - Our Little Lives Kept In Equipoise: Curse of Strahd
DM - Misprize Thou Not These Shadows That Belong: The Lost Mines of Phandelver
PC - Azzure - Tyranny of Dragons
(( Some time later, after resting ))
Talion approaches Bert, "You were thorough searching the bunk room. Would you mind looking over the bedroom? I'll help. We didn't get further than the locker before all hell broke loose."
(eg. In alcoves, in bed, cupboards etc; Talion will help Bert in investigation and Perception checks...).
Persuasion: 18