For each of you, you remember, there was pain, much pain, then darkness. The battle was lost. In your physical forms, your bodies were beaten and broken, and life rapidly slipped away from you as you laid on the cold ground, your body and soul losing touch with The Weave as you died.
Or did you? The Weave works in very mysterious ways, and something happened that you weren't quite expecting.
[The rest of this part is beyond ordinary comprehension but described as well as possible in an attempt to garner understanding.]
In the [darkness] you [slept] for an untold amount of time. You do not know how long. You could feel a [sensation] that your souls were being [separated] from your body, and you accepted the fate, whether you wanted to or not. There was no pain anymore, only the [form the spirit] is it left your physical form.
In a way you’d never be able to understand or describe in the darkness, your spirit [traveled] to another [place], and finally, you hoped, you will be at peace. It was difficult to place, as up until this point, whatever you were experiencing - you have never experienced before. There were no words TO explain it, but you knew one thing, your soul was leaving the Prime Material Plane to..someplace else.
You [awakened] as a soul in a different place, [without body]. A place you’ve never been to before. When you look down at [yourself], you can tell it is [you], but in a different [form]. Your mind reels to process what is happening, adjusting to try to accept this new [reality]. The [room] you are in is dark, made of black stone, enormous. It's very hot. You share this room with millions of other souls but there are four souls near you [recognize] from your [previous life]. Your friends! How can this be? You appear to be in a [place] where warriors - [dead and alive] - are being equipped for battle, the sounds of war can be heard outside whatever complex this is.
A massive Soul Gate Guardian is [scanning] the lines of souls, an angelic being in battle armor so large it dwarfs the largest creature you have ever seen in your mortal lifetime. Some souls [disappear], some are ushered outside to join whatever battle is happening [outside]. You all try and stick together. You try and [communicate] with your friends, but cannot. You hear a language being spoken that you do not understand. Wherever you are, this is not [heaven], and this is not [hell]. But, as the massive doors open to let souls [free], a battle is raging [outside]. The sky is red, as if it was on fire, the landscape mountainous, and pitted from eons of battle. Souls, [alive and dead], do battle with themselves and you are escorted in the mass of millions to join this fate. You catch a glimpse of the sky, and it is clearly not the same from where you came from. You are someplace else in the multiverse, no longer on the prime material plane. Before the grip of anxiety can overcome you, the Soul Gate Guardian scans you all over. Something is different. It recognizes the discrepancy. It [broadcasts] something to you all, and with a wave of it’s hand, and a mighty flesh of red [magic], you are [whisked] away to [another place].
LIFE
You feel your soul once again traveling to a different place. Familiar sensations return in understanding, but The Weave affects everyone, and everything. As your souls struggle to reconnect with their physical forms back on the Prime Material Plane, you all can hear a voice in the back of your minds, as if hearing a message half asleep from someone you don't know. But one of you DO recognize the voice.
Could it be...?
“Ach, boy. Is that you? What are ye doin' here? No. This ain’t good, lad. It ain't your time. The Weave is a tricky one, it is. I don’t have much time, lad, I’m sorry for just leavin’ like that, the way I did, back then. One day you’ll understand. Until then, here’s a small gift for ya. For you, and your friends, too. Tell yer mum I love her, I miss ye both so much - and be careful next time, ok?”
Slowly, achingly painfully, you all awake from the darkness like waking from a long, deep, slumber. Slowly, your wounds mend, your organs shift and remake, and you find yourselves back in Undermountain. As you slowly groan and sit up, four other friends you know are groggily doing the same.
Ra'iik was unconscious before his body even hit the ground. Darkness. Rest. He wasn't tired anymore. The fire in his heart has subsided. All the questions of why they had engaged the other party had left his mind.
All he could experience was his naked soul floating through this experience of the soul guard waving it's hand and a weight returning to his body. A material weight. Gravity. A voice.
Ra'iik takes a deep, long breath in through his nose, re refilling his empty lungs with air.
In his mind, he had failed. As a Paladin of protection, he had failed to protect and be a pillar of hope, light and strength. Is this why Helm has granted him a second chance? Was this even Helm's intervention?
Grianne comes to consciousness. Her head hurts. Her arms and legs hurt. Everything hurts. Pain. Pain means one is still alive. The darkness fades from her eyes. She stands, body weak, and looks to her allies. Who has survived this disastrous encounter and betrayal?
She reaches for her power granted by the forest to try to ease the burden of life she feels once again.
His ocular sensors come back online, and he bolts upright to his full 6'8" towering height. Looking around the room, he's startled to see the rest of his group also coming back online...except for a few missing. What just happened? Where was he? What was that feeling he had...did he have a soul?!
He quickly scrambles over to where Alessandra is laying on the ground, and gently lifts her up to a sitting position, back against a wall.
When Alessandra fell, breathing (what she would assumed to have been) her last breath, she couldn't help but smile. She was never afraid of death. She welcomed it with a strong embrace, thinking that, now, finally, she could be at peace, that she could finally be with them again, this time permanently.
The aasimar had expected the darkness to consume her and she felt herself floating for a time before her eyes opened. She was standing in her subconscious again, her husband standing feet away having had expected her arrival, but his arms were empty. Noticing the usual bundle in his arms gone she approaches him cautiously, her happiness pushing itself aside to be replaced with concern.
"Oskar... Where is Melody?" She reaches out to him, her hand gently resting on his chest now, her eyes looking up at him.
He cups her cheek, a solemn smile making way onto his face. "She's... Okay. She's resting... I wanted to speak with you alone."
"... Speak with me about what--"
"Your father came to visit us." He admitted, the hand that was gently caressed her cheek now rested on her shoulder. "He... He came with a warning..."
Alessandra's eyebrows furrowed as her face steeled itself, her hand dropping to her side. "What warning?"
"The more... The deeper you travel through Undermoutain, the harder it will be for you to stay in control... And the more powerful he will get. Melody and I," He pauses. "We will fade and cease to exist."
"I... I don't understand, I'm already dead, that warning means nothing--"
"Aless," He cuts her off, his eyes staring deeply into her's, easily reading her fear. "You're not done yet." His free hand delicately grabs hold of one of hers, showing her how she was fading away into little dust particles. "You are not done yet, my love."
She feels breathless, retracting her hand away from him, noticing her other fading as well. There are tears stinging at the corner of her eyes, threatening to fall down her pale cheeks. "What--? No... No! I... I-- I can't no, please--"
"The Gods have much faith in you, Aless, you need to continue fighting, even if we are gone, we will always be a part of you."
"No! Oskar, please-- Not again, I can't--"
"Yes, you can." He affirmed as he pulled away from her. "Just remember..."
After that, she remembered seeing souls... And so much... Red... Then hearing an unfamiliar voice... Waking up...
Alessandra sucks in a breath, almost reluctantly, before bringing herself to sit up. She sits there for a minute or two in silence, her eyes focusing on the dirt, focusing on remembering, trying to piece together what exactly happened. The aasimar felt such an intense mixture of emotions within herself all at once. Grief. Sadness. Anger. Each emotion swirled deep into the pit of her stomach, the blood hunter afraid she would throw it all up in a few seconds, but she manages to stomach it, just enough for her to look up and survey who was still alive with her. That's when she heard OU812 move, feeling his cool metal against her skin as he helped adjust her to sit against a wall.
She gives herself a second to recuperate, her lips cracking open to speak in response to his question. "I am... I am fine...Thank you," She croaks. Despite her body feeling good as new, mentally she felt so tired. "Are... Are you okay?" Her head tilts over to look at the others. "Are they...?"
You awaken at the edge of a massive forest on a small pebbled beach by a massive river. (THE X ON THE MAP) You skin feels something amazing - the Sun. You look up and see the yellow star, white puffy clouds, a blue sky, and it appears - according to the warmth - to be a beautiful autumn day. You can see ordinary woodland creatures and insects everywhere. How is this possible? Where are you?
The River: Large blind fish swim freely up and down this river. The river's depth varies from a few feet to 30 feet.
Between the forest and the river behind along the narrow, pebbled beach you can see wooden signs that bear the following warning in Common, and Elvish:
BEHOLD WYLLOW’S WOOD. HARM NOT, LEST YE BE HARM’D.
Time and space collide as Evrik continues to fall through the darkness. Memories of his childhood. Faint memories of his father showing him small tricks. Moments in the woods together as they sat and felt the forces around them... And memories of the teasing, and the strange looks... adolescence that was lonely. Very few friends, an outsider. Son of the Eldrik... But the love of his mother... Young adulthood, the introduction to the priest. The books. Acceptance. The yearning to learn. Time to read, to understand, to practice, to touch, to feel. But the secrets... "The letter!" Siggarlum....
"Siggarlum? Father, what of Siggarlum?"
The fall into the underdark came rushing into Evrik's mind. The capture by the Drow. Anger filled his mind as the events rushed by. "Stool!" Evrik reached out to grab his fallen friend, but the time warped again and there was the Demogorgan. Consuming his comrade, "Cade!" and Evrik again began to fall into the darkness...
Wake boy! 'Tis the one that keeps me from you and yer mom. Ye've but had a glimpse. Their darkness will pull you in. Hold strong lad. Keep yer 'ead about ye. The darkness will beckon, but heed not it's call. Look to the gods for strength. And use their darkness against them...
Evrik's mind spun deeper, back to the battle. A memory that was not his. He saw his friend fall. "Siggarlum!" The priest? He watches as the hooded figure lifts Siggarlum from the darkness. "Evrik! Pay attention! The life you sought may yet be found!" Siggarlum exclaims... the note! He catches the glimpse of the priest again as he heads away. That familiar face as the hood falls away. "Wake boy!"
Evrik gasps as the weave spits his soul back out into his body and he feels the warm touch of his father. Resurrection!
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Though not currently a member, seeking admission to the really long and important signature club. Please consider this as a current CV.
Using OU812 as a support, Alessandra brings herself back onto her feet, taking a look around their new surroundings as the others stirred from their not-so-permanent slumber. "I felt like I haven't seen the sun in ages..." She murmurs quietly as she reads the warning sign. "But... It figures, we're still in the Undermountain... With less than we came in with..." She gives a small frown, finding that she had very little hope left in her. There was no way that the rest of them had been resurrected as they were... Was there?
She waits for everyone to compose themselves before moving on, although she wanted to head to the river for a moment to splash her face a bit beforehand.
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Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Grianne steadies herself with her staff. She basks in the light, drawing in it energy. With a word in a secret language, she spawns a handful of berrys.
Our job is not done it seems. Would anyone care for a berry before we explore this beautiful place.
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Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
"A berry would be ace." Ra'iik says, with a horse throat. He looks focussed, unphased as to what has happened.
Of course, on the inside, it was a different story. But it's built in now, and he's learnt to put on a strong face.
"We should head down there..." He says, pointing to 1 "But let's see what's around this immediate area (2d) first." As he enters into 2D, he'll use his "Divine Sense".
Evrik rises anxiously and approaches the others. He mindlessly takes a berry from Grianne's open hand and pops it in his mouth as he continues to move around the others looking for something. No, someone. Who's not there...
"Did you see him?!" He asks as he continues looking around and down into the darkness. "Was Siggarlum with him? Did he say anything to you?" As his mind comes to accept that the hooded priest is nowhere to be found, Evrik begins to settle down and groups up with the others.
He looks over to Grianne, "Sorry for my crassness, thank you for the berry." Nodding to Aless Evrik agrees, "Aye, the sun would feel nice, but I fear Grianne is correct, our work here is not yet done." Addressing them all he adds, "I had flashes of my life. But not just mine," and he recounts the images and words he heard as his soul ventured towards darkness. "My father, one I assumed lost to a dark path, he warned me, the demons continue their attempts to rise. The depths here will challenge us all. I am especially drawn to the forces of life, both light and dark, I will need your help, friends. And in return, I promise mine to you."
As he continues to settle down, Evrik notices all are not here, "Are the others arisen? Have any been found?" But he knows that darkness could have come for any of them, or the weave may have turned and twisted a new path for them just as it delivered him and Biggs here. Or did it? Perhaps Biggs wasn't here, was that all just a vision? Evrik calmed himself, all would be clear in time. He focused back on the situation at hand.
He follows Ra'iik, "Agreed, it seems as good a start as any." He pats OU812 on the back as he passes, "How are you doing tin man? All systems go?"
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Though not currently a member, seeking admission to the really long and important signature club. Please consider this as a current CV.
"we should hunt that other party." Ra'iik says. "The way we attacked head on, right after our betrayal was foolish. If we take them on one at a time, maybe we can find out what their agenda is."
As you all rise, you notice that the immediate beach area you awoke in shows no evidence at all the rest of your friends who have died. While you hold memories of them, your mind assimilates to your new reality. Something, or someone, has saved you all from death. And, now you are here. In a way you can't explain, it's like you were plucked from wherever you were to this new place. You have all of your armor and weapons, but they are clearly banged up - evidence that the battle you fought before was real. But..where are you now?
One thing is certain, the loss of your friends weighs heavy on your heart, and your shoulders feel heavy as your very souls seem to be tested as some mysterious force you cannot understand that's giving..and doing so much taking. You distract your mind to look around.
You are clearly in a forest with a real sky. How can this be? Weren't we all..underground? When you look up, how is it possible the sun is shining in the sky, and you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. When you are still, and quiet, you can hear the birds chirping, and the soft rustling of other forest creatures. You can hear a massive river behind you. Perhaps, the River Sargauth? What IS this magical place? Are you out of Undermountain?
ALESSANDRA
As you walk east towards the river along the beach, you clean your face, and the water is cold, and refreshing. As you refresh, you can see large blind fish swimming up and down this dark, sluggish river that flows further south, plunging over waterfalls every mile or so. The river’s depth varies from a few feet to as much as 30 feet in spots. Along the river are forest creatures like small bears and deer who give you curious looks, but continue feeding or drinking. Between the forest and the river are, again, the carved wooden signs that bear the following warning: BEHOLD WYLLOW’S WOOD. HARM NOT, LEST YE BE HARM’D.
GRIANNE
You notice that your pockets a just a little bit lighter. You look through your buttons. The special buttons that you found during the beginning of your journey to stop Halaster and the end of your world have disappeared. You feel a heavy weight on your heart, a sorrow, a deep sadness - only barely held at bay by the fact that you are still alive. With a deep understanding of the cosmos, and what must be done, you take a moment to find resolve and rejoin your friends, determined once again to learn more about your place in the universe, and how you can save it.
THE FOREST
You enter the forest. The forest contains both deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as berry bushes and other shrubs. All kinds of flowers grow here, but no roses, you notice. Most of the trees are mature, with heights of 30 to 50 feet. Running through the forest are crumbling, 20-foot-high walkways atop ivy-covered, white marble archways supported by thick white marble columns. Some sections of the walkways have collapsed due to, what could be, age or seismic activity.
Foot trails meander between them: DC15 WIS (Survival): ?????
2D - THE OLD GRAVE
Thin rays of sunlight penetrate the dense canopy of this old forest, whose trees are covered with moss. You come across an old grave. The grave stands amid a grove of dead, burned trees. It is marked with a headstone that reads in Common, “Here lies Crissann, human friend and companion.” The top of the gravestone is carved in the shape of a rose. Nothing else of interest is in this area. From here, you can head to 2A, B, or C.
Noticing that his comrades look a little hungry, but no worse the wear, OU812 wades into the river and continues to march right down to the depths, looking to grab one of the huge fish and bring it back (Warforged don't need to eat, drink, or breathe, so he can frolic around underwater with no issues).
Iron Fist melee attack on a tasty looking fish- Attack: 19 Damage: 8 (rolled @ advantage, since the first are blind)
Returning back to dry land, OU812 drops the fish on the ground in front of the group, and then proceeds to gather up dry wood from just inside the forest. He'll drag a few meaty branches back to the beach, and start a nice warming fire for the rest of the crew to relax and get their bearings. Soon, he'll skewer the huge fish with a branch, and proceed to cook it over the fire. Within minutes, the gang is chowing down on freshly cooked fish and the berries provided by Grianne.
The Forest
OU812 will get down on all four appendages, and like a dog, start to sniff around the foot trails meandering around the walkways (Survival: 10).
As you kill the fish, collect the branches, and start a fire, and cook it - you get (or maybe you dont) a very foreboding sense that the forest DOES NOT APPRECIATE what you're doing. You are visitors in this place. Killing an animal, burning the wood, starting a fire: PROBABLY NOT ALLOWED since the sign by the beaches state, CLEARLY:
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lmao
Ra'iik crouches down, looking at the tracks. Survival: 16
Did his divine sense register anything?
"As an action, you can detect good and evil. Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover."
Evrik examines the tracks briefly, but just enough to realize, that this seems something best left to Grianne. "May the gods guide your vision," he says as he touches her ever so lightly above her brow. "What do think Grianne? Can you tell anything from the trails?"
"These woods seem to be a place of sanctuary.. Grianne, are these Elf tracks you think?" He help 's Grianne with her survival check by pointing out what he's already found.
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"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
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DEATH
Darkness.
For each of you, you remember, there was pain, much pain, then darkness. The battle was lost. In your physical forms, your bodies were beaten and broken, and life rapidly slipped away from you as you laid on the cold ground, your body and soul losing touch with The Weave as you died.
Or did you? The Weave works in very mysterious ways, and something happened that you weren't quite expecting.
[The rest of this part is beyond ordinary comprehension but described as well as possible in an attempt to garner understanding.]
In the [darkness] you [slept] for an untold amount of time. You do not know how long. You could feel a [sensation] that your souls were being [separated] from your body, and you accepted the fate, whether you wanted to or not. There was no pain anymore, only the [form the spirit] is it left your physical form.
In a way you’d never be able to understand or describe in the darkness, your spirit [traveled] to another [place], and finally, you hoped, you will be at peace. It was difficult to place, as up until this point, whatever you were experiencing - you have never experienced before. There were no words TO explain it, but you knew one thing, your soul was leaving the Prime Material Plane to..someplace else.
You [awakened] as a soul in a different place, [without body]. A place you’ve never been to before. When you look down at [yourself], you can tell it is [you], but in a different [form]. Your mind reels to process what is happening, adjusting to try to accept this new [reality]. The [room] you are in is dark, made of black stone, enormous. It's very hot. You share this room with millions of other souls but there are four souls near you [recognize] from your [previous life]. Your friends! How can this be? You appear to be in a [place] where warriors - [dead and alive] - are being equipped for battle, the sounds of war can be heard outside whatever complex this is.
A massive Soul Gate Guardian is [scanning] the lines of souls, an angelic being in battle armor so large it dwarfs the largest creature you have ever seen in your mortal lifetime. Some souls [disappear], some are ushered outside to join whatever battle is happening [outside]. You all try and stick together. You try and [communicate] with your friends, but cannot. You hear a language being spoken that you do not understand. Wherever you are, this is not [heaven], and this is not [hell]. But, as the massive doors open to let souls [free], a battle is raging [outside]. The sky is red, as if it was on fire, the landscape mountainous, and pitted from eons of battle. Souls, [alive and dead], do battle with themselves and you are escorted in the mass of millions to join this fate. You catch a glimpse of the sky, and it is clearly not the same from where you came from. You are someplace else in the multiverse, no longer on the prime material plane. Before the grip of anxiety can overcome you, the Soul Gate Guardian scans you all over. Something is different. It recognizes the discrepancy. It [broadcasts] something to you all, and with a wave of it’s hand, and a mighty flesh of red [magic], you are [whisked] away to [another place].
LIFE
You feel your soul once again traveling to a different place. Familiar sensations return in understanding, but The Weave affects everyone, and everything. As your souls struggle to reconnect with their physical forms back on the Prime Material Plane, you all can hear a voice in the back of your minds, as if hearing a message half asleep from someone you don't know. But one of you DO recognize the voice.
Could it be...?
“Ach, boy. Is that you? What are ye doin' here? No. This ain’t good, lad. It ain't your time. The Weave is a tricky one, it is. I don’t have much time, lad, I’m sorry for just leavin’ like that, the way I did, back then. One day you’ll understand. Until then, here’s a small gift for ya. For you, and your friends, too. Tell yer mum I love her, I miss ye both so much - and be careful next time, ok?”
Slowly, achingly painfully, you all awake from the darkness like waking from a long, deep, slumber. Slowly, your wounds mend, your organs shift and remake, and you find yourselves back in Undermountain. As you slowly groan and sit up, four other friends you know are groggily doing the same.
Somehow, you’re all alive.
But..how?
RA'IIK
Ra'iik was unconscious before his body even hit the ground. Darkness. Rest. He wasn't tired anymore. The fire in his heart has subsided. All the questions of why they had engaged the other party had left his mind.
All he could experience was his naked soul floating through this experience of the soul guard waving it's hand and a weight returning to his body. A material weight. Gravity. A voice.
Ra'iik takes a deep, long breath in through his nose, re refilling his empty lungs with air.
In his mind, he had failed. As a Paladin of protection, he had failed to protect and be a pillar of hope, light and strength. Is this why Helm has granted him a second chance? Was this even Helm's intervention?
He needed to know more, so he opens his eyes.
GRIANNE
Grianne comes to consciousness. Her head hurts. Her arms and legs hurt. Everything hurts. Pain. Pain means one is still alive. The darkness fades from her eyes. She stands, body weak, and looks to her allies. Who has survived this disastrous encounter and betrayal?
She reaches for her power granted by the forest to try to ease the burden of life she feels once again.
OU812
OU812's systems all reboot successfully, and automatically executes a Built In Test command:
Damage assessment..................................negative
Power cells..................................full capacity
Fatigue..................................negative
Movement..................................fully functional
Weapons..................................present
Armor..................................present
Command leadership..................................searching...searching...searching...
His ocular sensors come back online, and he bolts upright to his full 6'8" towering height. Looking around the room, he's startled to see the rest of his group also coming back online...except for a few missing. What just happened? Where was he? What was that feeling he had...did he have a soul?!
He quickly scrambles over to where Alessandra is laying on the ground, and gently lifts her up to a sitting position, back against a wall.
"Are your systems functioning adequately, ma'am?"
ALESSANDRA
When Alessandra fell, breathing (what she would assumed to have been) her last breath, she couldn't help but smile. She was never afraid of death. She welcomed it with a strong embrace, thinking that, now, finally, she could be at peace, that she could finally be with them again, this time permanently.
The aasimar had expected the darkness to consume her and she felt herself floating for a time before her eyes opened. She was standing in her subconscious again, her husband standing feet away having had expected her arrival, but his arms were empty. Noticing the usual bundle in his arms gone she approaches him cautiously, her happiness pushing itself aside to be replaced with concern.
"Oskar... Where is Melody?" She reaches out to him, her hand gently resting on his chest now, her eyes looking up at him.
He cups her cheek, a solemn smile making way onto his face. "She's... Okay. She's resting... I wanted to speak with you alone."
"... Speak with me about what--"
"Your father came to visit us." He admitted, the hand that was gently caressed her cheek now rested on her shoulder. "He... He came with a warning..."
Alessandra's eyebrows furrowed as her face steeled itself, her hand dropping to her side. "What warning?"
"The more... The deeper you travel through Undermoutain, the harder it will be for you to stay in control... And the more powerful he will get. Melody and I," He pauses. "We will fade and cease to exist."
"I... I don't understand, I'm already dead, that warning means nothing--"
"Aless," He cuts her off, his eyes staring deeply into her's, easily reading her fear. "You're not done yet." His free hand delicately grabs hold of one of hers, showing her how she was fading away into little dust particles. "You are not done yet, my love."
She feels breathless, retracting her hand away from him, noticing her other fading as well. There are tears stinging at the corner of her eyes, threatening to fall down her pale cheeks. "What--? No... No! I... I-- I can't no, please--"
"The Gods have much faith in you, Aless, you need to continue fighting, even if we are gone, we will always be a part of you."
"No! Oskar, please-- Not again, I can't--"
"Yes, you can." He affirmed as he pulled away from her. "Just remember..."
After that, she remembered seeing souls... And so much... Red... Then hearing an unfamiliar voice... Waking up...
Alessandra sucks in a breath, almost reluctantly, before bringing herself to sit up. She sits there for a minute or two in silence, her eyes focusing on the dirt, focusing on remembering, trying to piece together what exactly happened. The aasimar felt such an intense mixture of emotions within herself all at once. Grief. Sadness. Anger. Each emotion swirled deep into the pit of her stomach, the blood hunter afraid she would throw it all up in a few seconds, but she manages to stomach it, just enough for her to look up and survey who was still alive with her. That's when she heard OU812 move, feeling his cool metal against her skin as he helped adjust her to sit against a wall.
She gives herself a second to recuperate, her lips cracking open to speak in response to his question. "I am... I am fine...Thank you," She croaks. Despite her body feeling good as new, mentally she felt so tired. "Are... Are you okay?" Her head tilts over to look at the others. "Are they...?"
WYLLOWWOOD
You awaken at the edge of a massive forest on a small pebbled beach by a massive river. (THE X ON THE MAP) You skin feels something amazing - the Sun. You look up and see the yellow star, white puffy clouds, a blue sky, and it appears - according to the warmth - to be a beautiful autumn day. You can see ordinary woodland creatures and insects everywhere. How is this possible? Where are you?
The River: Large blind fish swim freely up and down this river. The river's depth varies from a few feet to 30 feet.
Between the forest and the river behind along the narrow, pebbled beach you can see wooden signs that bear the following warning in Common, and Elvish:
BEHOLD WYLLOW’S WOOD. HARM NOT, LEST YE BE HARM’D.
"Father?"
Time and space collide as Evrik continues to fall through the darkness. Memories of his childhood. Faint memories of his father showing him small tricks. Moments in the woods together as they sat and felt the forces around them... And memories of the teasing, and the strange looks... adolescence that was lonely. Very few friends, an outsider. Son of the Eldrik... But the love of his mother... Young adulthood, the introduction to the priest. The books. Acceptance. The yearning to learn. Time to read, to understand, to practice, to touch, to feel. But the secrets... "The letter!" Siggarlum....
"Siggarlum? Father, what of Siggarlum?"
The fall into the underdark came rushing into Evrik's mind. The capture by the Drow. Anger filled his mind as the events rushed by. "Stool!" Evrik reached out to grab his fallen friend, but the time warped again and there was the Demogorgan. Consuming his comrade, "Cade!" and Evrik again began to fall into the darkness...
Evrik's mind spun deeper, back to the battle. A memory that was not his. He saw his friend fall. "Siggarlum!" The priest? He watches as the hooded figure lifts Siggarlum from the darkness. "Evrik! Pay attention! The life you sought may yet be found!" Siggarlum exclaims... the note! He catches the glimpse of the priest again as he heads away. That familiar face as the hood falls away. "Wake boy!"
Evrik gasps as the weave spits his soul back out into his body and he feels the warm touch of his father. Resurrection!
Though not currently a member, seeking admission to the really long and important signature club. Please consider this as a current CV.
Other personalities... Burgee , The Colorless Knight, Fiorello, RW Goodbarrel, Dred, Evrik - Out of the Abyss & Dungeon of the Mad Mage
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(Here are some of the first areas you can explore.)
Using OU812 as a support, Alessandra brings herself back onto her feet, taking a look around their new surroundings as the others stirred from their not-so-permanent slumber. "I felt like I haven't seen the sun in ages..." She murmurs quietly as she reads the warning sign. "But... It figures, we're still in the Undermountain... With less than we came in with..." She gives a small frown, finding that she had very little hope left in her. There was no way that the rest of them had been resurrected as they were... Was there?
She waits for everyone to compose themselves before moving on, although she wanted to head to the river for a moment to splash her face a bit beforehand.
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Grianne steadies herself with her staff. She basks in the light, drawing in it energy. With a word in a secret language, she spawns a handful of berrys.
Our job is not done it seems. Would anyone care for a berry before we explore this beautiful place.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 12 (8W-4L)- - Coliseum of Conquest: Master of Faerie Fire. Just don't ask her to spell it.
Grianne Wildpaw: Wood Elf Druid level 6 (2W-1L)- - Coliseum Reborn : Master of a Myriad of forms.
Runt, the Stormchosen: Half-Orc barbarian level 5 -- The Guild
Tomoe Gozen: Human Fighter Samurai level 5 -- Cronero (Solo Campaign)
"A berry would be ace." Ra'iik says, with a horse throat. He looks focussed, unphased as to what has happened.
Of course, on the inside, it was a different story. But it's built in now, and he's learnt to put on a strong face.
"We should head down there..." He says, pointing to 1 "But let's see what's around this immediate area (2d) first." As he enters into 2D, he'll use his "Divine Sense".
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
Evrik rises anxiously and approaches the others. He mindlessly takes a berry from Grianne's open hand and pops it in his mouth as he continues to move around the others looking for something. No, someone. Who's not there...
"Did you see him?!" He asks as he continues looking around and down into the darkness. "Was Siggarlum with him? Did he say anything to you?" As his mind comes to accept that the hooded priest is nowhere to be found, Evrik begins to settle down and groups up with the others.
He looks over to Grianne, "Sorry for my crassness, thank you for the berry." Nodding to Aless Evrik agrees, "Aye, the sun would feel nice, but I fear Grianne is correct, our work here is not yet done." Addressing them all he adds, "I had flashes of my life. But not just mine," and he recounts the images and words he heard as his soul ventured towards darkness. "My father, one I assumed lost to a dark path, he warned me, the demons continue their attempts to rise. The depths here will challenge us all. I am especially drawn to the forces of life, both light and dark, I will need your help, friends. And in return, I promise mine to you."
As he continues to settle down, Evrik notices all are not here, "Are the others arisen? Have any been found?" But he knows that darkness could have come for any of them, or the weave may have turned and twisted a new path for them just as it delivered him and Biggs here. Or did it? Perhaps Biggs wasn't here, was that all just a vision? Evrik calmed himself, all would be clear in time. He focused back on the situation at hand.
He follows Ra'iik, "Agreed, it seems as good a start as any." He pats OU812 on the back as he passes, "How are you doing tin man? All systems go?"
Though not currently a member, seeking admission to the really long and important signature club. Please consider this as a current CV.
Other personalities... Burgee , The Colorless Knight, Fiorello, RW Goodbarrel, Dred, Evrik - Out of the Abyss & Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Site Rules & Guidelines || Tooltips || Homebrew FAQ || Snippet Codes || Syllvva's Guides
"we should hunt that other party." Ra'iik says. "The way we attacked head on, right after our betrayal was foolish. If we take them on one at a time, maybe we can find out what their agenda is."
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
AND THEN THERE WERE FIVE
As you all rise, you notice that the immediate beach area you awoke in shows no evidence at all the rest of your friends who have died. While you hold memories of them, your mind assimilates to your new reality. Something, or someone, has saved you all from death. And, now you are here. In a way you can't explain, it's like you were plucked from wherever you were to this new place. You have all of your armor and weapons, but they are clearly banged up - evidence that the battle you fought before was real. But..where are you now?
One thing is certain, the loss of your friends weighs heavy on your heart, and your shoulders feel heavy as your very souls seem to be tested as some mysterious force you cannot understand that's giving..and doing so much taking. You distract your mind to look around.
You are clearly in a forest with a real sky. How can this be? Weren't we all..underground? When you look up, how is it possible the sun is shining in the sky, and you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. When you are still, and quiet, you can hear the birds chirping, and the soft rustling of other forest creatures. You can hear a massive river behind you. Perhaps, the River Sargauth? What IS this magical place? Are you out of Undermountain?
ALESSANDRA
As you walk east towards the river along the beach, you clean your face, and the water is cold, and refreshing. As you refresh, you can see large blind fish swimming up and down this dark, sluggish river that flows further south, plunging over waterfalls every mile or so. The river’s depth varies from a few feet to as much as 30 feet in spots. Along the river are forest creatures like small bears and deer who give you curious looks, but continue feeding or drinking. Between the forest and the river are, again, the carved wooden signs that bear the following warning: BEHOLD WYLLOW’S WOOD. HARM NOT, LEST YE BE HARM’D.
GRIANNE
You notice that your pockets a just a little bit lighter. You look through your buttons. The special buttons that you found during the beginning of your journey to stop Halaster and the end of your world have disappeared. You feel a heavy weight on your heart, a sorrow, a deep sadness - only barely held at bay by the fact that you are still alive. With a deep understanding of the cosmos, and what must be done, you take a moment to find resolve and rejoin your friends, determined once again to learn more about your place in the universe, and how you can save it.
THE FOREST
You enter the forest. The forest contains both deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as berry bushes and other shrubs. All kinds of flowers grow here, but no roses, you notice. Most of the trees are mature, with heights of 30 to 50 feet. Running through the forest are crumbling, 20-foot-high walkways atop ivy-covered, white marble archways supported by thick white marble columns. Some sections of the walkways have collapsed due to, what could be, age or seismic activity.
Foot trails meander between them: DC15 WIS (Survival): ?????
2D - THE OLD GRAVE
Thin rays of sunlight penetrate the dense canopy of this old forest, whose trees are covered with moss. You come across an old grave. The grave stands amid a grove of dead, burned trees. It is marked with a headstone that reads in Common, “Here lies Crissann, human friend and companion.” The top of the gravestone is carved in the shape of a rose. Nothing else of interest is in this area. From here, you can head to 2A, B, or C.
The Beach
Noticing that his comrades look a little hungry, but no worse the wear, OU812 wades into the river and continues to march right down to the depths, looking to grab one of the huge fish and bring it back (Warforged don't need to eat, drink, or breathe, so he can frolic around underwater with no issues).
Iron Fist melee attack on a tasty looking fish- Attack: 19 Damage: 8 (rolled @ advantage, since the first are blind)
Returning back to dry land, OU812 drops the fish on the ground in front of the group, and then proceeds to gather up dry wood from just inside the forest. He'll drag a few meaty branches back to the beach, and start a nice warming fire for the rest of the crew to relax and get their bearings. Soon, he'll skewer the huge fish with a branch, and proceed to cook it over the fire. Within minutes, the gang is chowing down on freshly cooked fish and the berries provided by Grianne.
The Forest
OU812 will get down on all four appendages, and like a dog, start to sniff around the foot trails meandering around the walkways (Survival: 10).
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
As you kill the fish, collect the branches, and start a fire, and cook it - you get (or maybe you dont) a very foreboding sense that the forest DOES NOT APPRECIATE what you're doing. You are visitors in this place. Killing an animal, burning the wood, starting a fire: PROBABLY NOT ALLOWED since the sign by the beaches state, CLEARLY:
BEHOLD WYLLOW’S WOOD. HARM NOT, LEST YE BE HARM’D
Final warning.
Lmao
Ra'iik crouches down, looking at the tracks. Survival: 16
Did his divine sense register anything?
"As an action, you can detect good and evil. Until the end of your next turn, you can sense anything affected by the hallow spell or know the location of any celestial, fiend, undead within 60 ft. that is not behind total cover."
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk
Oh, oops. Negative.
The tracks appear to come from a single lone humanoid, possibly an elf.
Evrik examines the tracks briefly, but just enough to realize, that this seems something best left to Grianne. "May the gods guide your vision," he says as he touches her ever so lightly above her brow. "What do think Grianne? Can you tell anything from the trails?"
Guidance for Grianne
Though not currently a member, seeking admission to the really long and important signature club. Please consider this as a current CV.
Other personalities... Burgee , The Colorless Knight, Fiorello, RW Goodbarrel, Dred, Evrik - Out of the Abyss & Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Site Rules & Guidelines || Tooltips || Homebrew FAQ || Snippet Codes || Syllvva's Guides
"These woods seem to be a place of sanctuary.. Grianne, are these Elf tracks you think?" He help 's Grianne with her survival check by pointing out what he's already found.
"CoS" Rumble- Tabaxi Shadow Monk