almost 48 hours and only 2 people posted... :(
Action 1
Tillia settled herself into her assigned space on the vessel after they boarded. It was cramped and lacked in privacy but it would suffice. Salina found a safe perch and began to trill, her song strange for such a bird, as the two settled in.
Action 2
Having arrived safely Tillia looked out at the water and listened as the captain spoke to them. She considered the situation and said, "That seems acceptable, if we need longer we will get word to you and we can make any further arrangements then." She then went below decks and began to change, she placed her clothing securely in her bag and then returned to the deck in the same swimming garment she'd worn for clearing out the Lucky Bones. She looked at the captain and said, "Salina will be staying here with you, she's not accustomed to the water nor is she willing to go. She can communicate with you if someone knows draconic, it would be useful if so as it would be a means of knowing that we are well or in trouble." She looked at the small thrush fondly, "She won't eat much, I've got seed in this pouch for her."
Action 2:
Noravia was a little discouraged at the news that they still had three or four miles to go. Swimming that distance would take forever. "Is there a smaller boat that we can take to row ourselves closer instead of swimming the remaining distance?"
tag Sargeata
The inquisitor nodded, "Please wait as long as you deem feasible. Tomorrow night may not be long enough, it all depends on how things go."
Eirik nodded at this. ”It would be good if you could spend a few days in the region,” the monk said.
"Meanwhile, I vote we send Eirik off here to scout. Once he can work out how we get there I'm happy to sneak ahead."
”I can certainly try, but it’ll likely take a while, for there is a lot of ground to cover and I doubt the waters are crystal clear,” the monk said, shrugging his shoulders. It would be good to get in more practice using the enchanted cloak before he needed to use it in battle, but searching the gods only knew how large an area underwater might take days, particularly if the waters were murky enough to limit his sight to a few dozens of yards.
Noravia was a little discouraged at the news that they still had three or four miles to go. Swimming that distance would take forever. "Is there a smaller boat that we can take to row ourselves closer instead of swimming the remaining distance?"
”A rowboat we could manage on our own would be handy,” Eirik once again agreed with Noravia’s suggestion. ”That is, if you can spare one of yours for a while.”
Did you all see the regional map at the bottom of the turn?
There is no need to swim or row but you can if you want to.
Sargaeta would land you on the coast and then you make your way south on land.
Just give me an approach.
I intend to recap later today.
Action 2
Vandomir continued to be standoffish around Tillia, he just wasn't sure what was going on with her. "Well, she can make up her own mind on such things," he thought. He was enjoying the sea air, and the breeze through his hair. "Why did I not go to sea when I was younger," he asked under his breath to no one in particular, "this life could be quite intoxicating."
While checking all of his gear, including ensuring his spare bowstrings were properly stored in waterproof pouches, Vandomir observed, "I see no reason why the good Captain cannot go about his business, and we can send a Raven for him when we are ready to be retrieved. The only downside to this arrangement comes about if we need an emergency retrieval."
"Seems like a good idea." agreed Caleb "Maybe we should give him a Raven as well, for now."
Action 1
”A singularly dismal place,” Eirik said as they looked down upon the village. The monk tried to spy signs of trouble or of the villages themselves, but could see very little of interest. ”Do Aava’s people even live here any longer? Has the village fallen already?”
Action 2
Eirik ran nimbly down the crude stone stairs, leading the way towards the village, eyes open for traps set to deter unescorted visitors. Besides, with the sea so close, the air was bound to be lousy with humidity and the stone steps could well be slippery.
There are signs of life and people walking about listlessly (is that a word?).
Action 1
”A singularly dismal place,” Eirik said as they looked down upon the village. The monk tried to spy signs of trouble or the presence of an occupying force but could see little to signify either. "These people seem half beaten already."
Caleb still moved like a man with a hangover, the listless grey village matching his sullen demeanour. "Do you think it always looked like this?" he asked the monk.
"Let me go first - I'm pretty good at sneaking"
Caleb proved as good as his word, and vanished into the cut rock staircase like a mouse into a hole. Two steps down his hands flew out from rain slick rock and - out of sight of his companions - he soared out into space. Desperately he prayed for help - and a moment later his fall slowed, and when the thin man hit the ground it was slow enough that he could absorb the blow with his knees. 'Watch that first step' he thought to himself 'It's a doozy.'
er..., two out of five players is not good.
We're losing a little a bit of steam here. Let's see if we can get back to the 'at least one decent post per day' deal.
Questions?
Game on!
Action 1
When she realized that the village wasn't all underwater as she expected Tillia pulled forth a cloak to drape around herself until she had a chance to determine if she needed to get fully dressed again or not. "Well, this isn't what I expected. Looks like I'm a bit under-dressed for this place." She looked over at Vandomir to see what his reaction was before continuing, "So, how do we get down there?"
Action 2
When they found the ladderesque way down the mage looked rather nervous. She wasn't a good climber, and she wasn't looking forward to this. She cast her standard protection spell before she took her turn going down, waiting until Vandomir had already started. She was a bit aggravated with his behavior towards her the last few days and had decided that something should be done to spark his interest once again, she just hoped she didn't take it too far.
Action 1:
Noravia looked down at Acisazi below and was glad they had come when they did. "It looks like they need someone to bring them hope. Seems like we've gotten here in time."
Even though they had more important things to focus on, the inquisitor was somewhat concerned with Caleb's behavior. It was almost opposite to what she had witnessed the evening before. While they were making their way to the cliffs she pulled him towards the back of the group and keeping her voice low she asked, "Are you ok?" Then she paused before hesitantly asking, "Did you change your mind? Or did I do something wrong?"
tag Caleb
Action 2:
Noravia looked at the carved niches skeptically. She didn't have high hopes for her descent but it was her only option. Taking a deep breath, she follows Eirik. she was definitely not as graceful as the monk as she climbed down but the niches were more solid and well-placed than she expected. Soon she was down the side of the cliff.
Caleb took a deep breath. "It's the city. I'm tied to it somehow - I forgot you joined after that. I can feel myself getting weaker out here. My luck's gone. I'm slower. I feel... wrong. I thought it was seasickness, and hangover... but it's not getting better." he smiled weakly "I realise I'm not great company right now, but I promise once we get back to Kintargo I'll make it up to you."
He looked out at the dismal city, then back towards the ship "And frankly, the faster that happens, the better."
Yes, correct. This village is NOT urban and thus you lose a couple of your minor abilities. I had forgotten about that.
I intend to recap later today.
Questions?
Game on!
Can you send me 263 please?
Caleb took a deep breath. "It's the city. I'm tied to it somehow - I forgot you joined after that. I can feel myself getting weaker out here. My luck's gone. I'm slower. I feel... wrong. I thought it was seasickness, and hangover... but it's not getting better." he smiled weakly "I realise I'm not great company right now, but I promise once we get back to Kintargo I'll make it up to you."
He looked out at the dismal city, then back towards the ship "And frankly, the faster that happens, the better."
Understanding and then relief showed on Noravia's face. "I had no idea that you were so invested in the city of Kintargo. I always assumed that your abilities were from Callistria alone. The more I learn about you Caleb, the more fascinating you become."
"Alright then. Let's help the elves so that we can get you home and feeling more like yourself."
Action 1
Vandomir had not been outside Kintargo much during his years, and he felt bereft of a comfort to which he had grown accustomed in the streets of the city. He responded to Tillia's question, "well, I suppose we shall have to go down and see what the village is about, and see where we go from there."
Action 2
Noticing Tillia's seeming reluctance to go down the ladder, Vandomir touched her on the elbow, "let me go first, and should you fall, either I can catch you, or we can plummet to our doom together."
Vandomir approached the ladder, turned and start to descend, as his head reached ground level, and Tillia almost went out of view, he said "come along now, you asked for the way, and now we know, nothing to be concerned with." He took his time, wanting to be close in case she did fall. When he saw her start to get onto the ladder above him, he nearly fell off the ladder in surprise. She was uncovered from below. He could feel his cheeks begin to burn, and his palms sweat. "This is not going to make the climb any easier," he thought. "What is that woman up to?"
@Noravia - It looks like the "small" CLW wand I had for a while is used up. Did you want to give me the new "small" one, and you keep the full one, so the healing is spread around?
Action 1
Reaching the ground finally Tillia leaned in and gave Vandomir a quick peck on the cheek, "Thanks for being there if I fell." She turned then and headed towards the town, her cloak swishing along with her steps enticingly. The residents of the village gawked at her and she found their reaction...pleasing. She was glad to see that they were at least interested enough to look at her small group as they entered the town.
Action 2
When they were accosted by the warden she gave him a pleasant smile and replied, "I'm sorry Sir, we were asked to come here and help your people. We found a group of aquatic elves led by a woman named Aava. They had been captured and were being tortured by sahuagin, we saved and freed them and then agreed to help with the plight of your village."
Action 1:
Noravia returned the stares of the people as they entered Acisazi. "I thought from what Aava had said that we would be greeted eagerly, not nervously."
Action 2:
Immediately Noravia was on alert. There was obviously something off in the way the warden was acting. Her hand automatically moved to rest on her weapon as she waited to see if Tillia's words could sway the crowd's attitude.
Action 1
Noravia returned the stares of the people as they entered Acisazi. "I thought from what Aava had said that we would be greeted eagerly, not nervously."
”Not all strangers come with good intentions, and these people have the look of those used to being under the boot,” Eirik murmured as he considered the village. ”Perhaps Aava wasn’t good with our descriptions, or perhaps her message never got here at all.” To his orderly mind, the place seemed too chaotic and ramshackle by half, but it wasn’t his place to judge how these people lived. Besides, what could one expect from a place like this? The constant moisture would eat up wood structures at record pace, and the waves would erode anything built at the water’s edge.
Action 2
When they were accosted by the warden she gave him a pleasant smile and replied, "I'm sorry Sir, we were asked to come here and help your people. We found a group of aquatic elves led by a woman named Aava. They had been captured and were being tortured by sahuagin, we saved and freed them and then agreed to help with the plight of your village."
Eirik traded glances with the inquisitor, realizing she had spotted what he had. Something strange about the man challenging them. Plenty of reason for him to do what he did, particularly if word of their deeds in the city hadn’t carried this far, but there just might be something else to it as well.
Caleb looked around, not meeting Noravia's gaze. "Very few of my abilities come from Calistria. Most come from my Prisoner. Conversation for another time though." The sorceror's avoidance might have passed for nervousness about their upcoming encounter with someone not trained to see through desperate deceptions.
"I don't mean to sound judgemental..." Caleb murmured quietly, his eyes going blank as he drew upon the Prisoner within.
There was something strange, Caleb noted, about the way the man talked. Unconciously he found himself running the pattern through his mind, like the rhythm of a song.
'I am too tired to deal with mysteries now.'
When they were accosted by the warden she gave him a pleasant smile and replied, "I'm sorry Sir, we were asked to come here and help your people. We found a group of aquatic elves led by a woman named Aava. They had been captured and were being tortured by sahuagin, we saved and freed them and then agreed to help with the plight of your village."
Mennerr calmly approached the strangers but then clenched his fists, sharp claws dug into his palms, "Aava... Aava is dead and we don't know how she died. No one asked for your help; the village is just fine. You are not welcome here."
The other elves and half-elves looked scared, more of Mennerr than the newcomers but none dare speak out.
------------
Mennerr's movements and thought process seems to be off somehow. As if he starts to want to do/say something but ends up doing/saying something else.
To Noravia it seemed like the warden was at war within himself about what he wanted to say and what he did say. "When was the last time you saw Aava? How do you know that she's dead? With all due respect to you warden, you and your people don't seem fine. We've traveled a great distance to help. I assure you that we mean you no harm."
The inquisitor wondered if the village was under duress or if they were being held captive somehow. Or maybe the warden was possessed by something.
Action 1
A kiss on the cheek? Vandomir was more confused than ever. "Women," he muttered as he watched the sway of her hips as she walked away.
Action 2
"Aava was our friend, we have shed blood with her in combat. And we have a debt to repay to her. Where did she die?" Vandomir adjusted his arrows and sword as he asked, figuring they would all be needed soon enough.
"Aava was our friend, we have shed blood with her in combat. And we have a debt to repay to her. Where did she die?" Vandomir adjusted his arrows and sword as he asked, figuring they would all be needed soon enough.
The warden hesitated but then answered, "Aava left a couple of weeks ago. She's not back because she's dead. She was supposed to return but never did."
He seemed about to strike at the foreigners but then changed his mind and left.
Another elf watched him leave and said, "Have you see Aava? if so, you must see our Speaker there." He pointed to a the large structure in the center of the village, a building constructed over the framework of a blue whale’s bones.
tag?
Noravia nodded as she stepped forward. "Yes we've seen Aava. And within the last two weeks. She was very much alive. Why is it that we should see your Speaker?"
Noravia nodded as she stepped forward. "Yes we've seen Aava. And within the last two weeks. She was very much alive. Why is it that we should see your Speaker?"
’Strangers with tales conflicting with what was assumed as truth, an almost-confrontation with a spokesman of the village, self-appointed or not. No wonder the people would like to delegate deciding what to do with us and our tales to a figure of authority, Eirik thought as he kept one eye on the suspiciously acting man challenging them. The way the man twitched and started was quite bizarre. In his line of work, he had worked with a couple cases involved with people who had acted a little bit like this man, but those had been either abusers of drugs very far gone into their addiction, or those minds had been stretch past the point of breaking by events real or imagined. But the person here was apparently known and allowed to speak for the villagers… so perhaps something else was afoot. The news of an ancient menace rising to shadow the villager’s lives could well drive people into extremes, and lashing out at something one perceived as easy targets could turn one’s attention away from the enemy one could do nothing against. But still…
Noravia nodded as she stepped forward. "Yes we've seen Aava. And within the last two weeks. She was very much alive. Why is it that we should see your Speaker?"
The elf looked at the structure, "Because she sent Aava and the others away when this whole thing started. She has information and maybe you can help lift the curse."
Meanwhile the warden headed for the shore.
--------------
I intend to recap later today when you meet the Speaker unless I hear otherwise.
Vandomir decided to take the bull by the horns on this one, "well, it sure as hell was not for the warm hospitality." He debated what to tell the woman, and decided to go with the truth. "We recently rescued a group of your people being held prisoner by skum. Their leader was Aava, and she told us that your village was in dire straits, being subjugated by a wicked creature called an aboleth. We made a promise to her that we should come to your aid, and here we are." Vandomir thought, "I believe I handled that rather well."
The inquisitor thought that the noble had summed up why they were in Acisazi very well but she added a few questions of her own. "Why is everyone so nervous and hostile towards strangers? I thought that Mennerr was going to cause us physical harm at one point and we did nothing to provoke him other than arrive. What exactly is wrong with everyone?"
Tillia gave Vandomir a shocked look at his lack of manners and almost called him on it. Instead she decided that she'd simply keep it in mind and deal with it later. Once he'd finished with what he had to say the mage nodded in agreement and continued, "Aava told us what was happening but as she's been gone for two weeks it would be good to get any information you have that might be of help or that she didn't know yet. Also, if you know of anyone who has knowledge of these wards that Aava mentioned had failed I'd like to speak with them, warding magic isn't my specialty but I do know some about them."
The Speaker slowly sat up and with slow, deliberate speech told them what she knew about the situation of her village.
Menotheguro’s arrival in the Drowned Eye now threatens Acisazi’s survival. The depths of the Drowned Eye have long been haunted, but until recently, wards placed by long-dead Acisazi elders have kept this vile influence contained. When Menotheguro claimed the Drowned Eye, it destroyed those wards. Since then, the malevolence that infuses the site has been expanding, and as this influence grows, the elves of the village grow sickly and listless. Menotheguro has attacked the village with its undead minions twice to date, the assaults ending as quickly as they began with the abduction of a dozen or so elves each time. The village sent two groups of scouts out for aid—one to Kintargo, and another deeper into the sea to the nearest aquatic elf settlement of Mirivenn, a few hundred miles to the west.
Today, the elves and half-elves of Acisazi are depressed, gaunt, and haunted by an almost palpable sense of doom. The influence coming from the ancient magic found within the Drowned Eye is ancient and mysterious, and not all that well understood by the elves. They know the Drowned Eye is source of the malaise, but also know that they lack the resources to deal with it—any of their number that travel to the Drowned Eye vanish at best, or join the undead ranks of the enemy at worst.
The Elder pleaded, "Can you help us? And tell me of Aava; is she alive?"
tag?
The Elder pleaded, "Can you help us? And tell me of Aava; is she alive?"
"We are here to try, Elder" Eirik said. "Aava was alive and well the last we saw of her, only two days ago. We can only hope she remains so."
Caleb say down in the hut, apparently happy to get the weight from his feet. "I'd say those kidnapped probably joined the other side."
Caleb piped up "I have to say it's actually nice to have an enemy where I can say this: we need to cut out the heart. This Abowleth will just keep making things worse until someone turns him into sushi." He nodded "Either we do a big raid, and risk everyone dying, or we sneak some people in as an assassination squad."
Nah, the elves are like the Europeans; they speak many languages. :)
Recap later today.
Game on!