Rurik listens, carefully staring at the book.
"How does one learn the language of demons and devils exactly? "
"How does one learn the language of demons and devils exactly? "
They tried to kill me.
Vadym takes out his book of blank pages again and opens it toward Rurik. He touches the corner.
These are memories. Look.
As he touches the page it looks as though some of the whiteness of the paper lifts off the page revealing marks made with charcoal, eventually revealing a horrific scene. Six men, each chained to a section of a hexagonal wall. Each man has some sort of tentacled creature wrapped around his throat. The creatures limbs inserted into eyes, ears, noses, mouths...
In the middle of the room is a pedestal holding a skull surrounded by an arrangement of candles.
Vadym points to one of the men.
That's me. I survived. They did not. I heard it's thoughts. And now I know. And now I hunt.
His eyes turn different colors as he speaks and his skin turns frosty again, but he slowly turns back to normal as he snaps the book shut and stows it away.
"How does one learn the language of demons and devils exactly? "They tried to kill me.
Vadym takes out his book of blank pages again and opens it toward Rurik. He touches the corner.
These are memories. Look.
As he touches the page it looks as though some of the whiteness of the paper lifts off the page revealing marks made with charcoal, eventually revealing a horrific scene. Six men, each chained to a section of a hexagonal wall. Each man has some sort of tentacled creature wrapped around his throat. The creatures limbs inserted into eyes, ears, noses, mouths...
In the middle of the room is a pedestal holding a skull surrounded by an arrangement of candles.
Vadym points to one of the men.
That's me. I survived. They did not. I heard it's thoughts. And now I know. And now I hunt.
His eyes turn different colors as he speaks and his skin turns frosty again, but he slowly turns back to normal as he snaps the book shut and stows it away.
"Forgive me. You have to admit... I mean quite a coincidence..."
He pauses.
"Look. I don't sense evil in you. And that thing.." he points to the cut apart book. "is my first contact with an extraplanar evil."
Rurik stares at the book. With sleepy hanging eyes.
"I think we could all use a good night's sleep. I'll take watch until sunrise. I think our minds will be sharper. "
Rurik gets a level of fatigue.
Erazire and Florr, DC 17 Con save vs fatigue, at disadvantage since you're already fatigued.
"I think we could all use a good night's sleep. I'll take watch until sunrise. I think our minds will be sharper. "You had long journey. Rest. I can watch. My job to care for house and visitors.
He looks to Floor.
She has contract.
Rurik shakes his head.
"I'd like first watch. I'm Rurik by the way. That Erazire. We're guild members coming back from a rescue mission. That's Florr, she is too. She's also co-owner of this mansion. We should have some friends coming to pick us up sometime tomorrow."
He starts taking off his armor and motions to the corpse bits.
" We should probably rebury them tomorrow. Hopefully the storm will be over by then. "
Rurik shakes his head.
"I'd like first watch. I'm Rurik by the way. That Erazire. We're guild members coming back from a rescue mission. That's Florr, she is too. She's also co-owner of this mansion. We should have some friends coming to pick us up sometime tomorrow."
He starts taking off his armor and motions to the corpse bits.
" We should probably rebury them tomorrow. Hopefully the storm will be over by then. "
I am Vadym. Beds upstairs. Clean. Warm. Wake me for relief.
"I'll take third, if needed." Erazire takes a separate bedroom on the second floor.
There are no beds.
The night is very quiet. The storm has stopped and there is no wind and no sounds of wildlife. All is still.
The house smells like thick wood varnish and sawdust. It's cold away from the fire. Your sleep is restful but waking up is difficult.
Erazire wakes suddenly, breathing hard, as if he were drowning. He is flaying his arms dramatically for a moment before he realizes he's in the manor again. He holds his hand to his head to gather himself before he stands and walks downstairs to meet the others.
Rurik spends the morning burying the dead using his pick to help open the hard packed ground and his shield to shovel snow. Afterwards he gives a small prayer and sprinkles some holy water on the ground. He takes a sip of the holy water before going inside and giving himself a washcloth bath with a basin he found in the kitchen. Afterwards he combs out his beard and hair, braiding each one a tight simple braid before starting to put his armor back on. Afterwards he goes through his pack finding a short string of simmer sausages and a cheese wheel cuts them up and eats a few leaving the rest for others.
Florr thanks Vadym for the use of a room, and tells Rurik she will help with the burials the next day.
She practically sleep walks upstairs and takes the first empty room she sees.
She wakes early with a start, the memory of a blue dragon head staring her down with its other heads dead beside it burned vividly in her eyes. She rubs her eyes and tries to forget her sadness at being away from her family. She puts on her cloak and finds Rurik out with his pickaxe. She eagerly eats a lot of cheese and sausage plus adds fish jerky to the mix for others.
Vadym arose early (either he took the 4th watch or he didn't wake anyone else to relieve him). By the time the others start their morning rituals he already has several dozen drawings scattered about him by the fire of what looks to be a multi-headed dragon. His fingers and palms are blackened by charcoal.
He thanks Rurik for preparing food and helps to bury the bodies. He is able to make light work of shoveling by moving large mounds of snow by magical means . He performs a silent prayer of his own when the deed is done.
Erazire helps bury the bodies. He doesn't say much during the dark business.
Florr waits until breakfast is over to ask Vadym several things.
"Vadym, is there anyone else coming here to help with the renovations? This is a big job for one person! Also, do you know where the transportation area is from here to Haven's Cross? We have friends who went back there, and I'd like to know they made it safely." She pauses. "And I have a companion at Haven's Cross that I miss very much. I cannot wait to go for a gallop with Storm Surge!"
When they are all together again, she will ask, "Does anyone have any ideas about the '89'? Do you think it could mean 89 days from now something will happen? Or even 89 hours? I think we should be vigilant." She looks at Rurik. "I'd like to hear your ideas on it."
"Vadym, is there anyone else coming here to help with the renovations? This is a big job for one person!
Winter. No work. I watch, keep warm, burn garbage.
Also, do you know where the transportation area is from here to Haven's Cross?
Transportation? Road south. I have no cart. No horse. No mule.
Does anyone have any ideas about the '89'? Do you think it could mean 89 days from now something will happen? Or even 89 hours? I think we should be vigilant." She looks at Rurik. "I'd like to hear your ideas on it."
The script. Demonic. 89...Abyss..Dagon...
He flips through a thick tome and presents it to the others.
Florr peers eagerly into the tome.
"Rurik, do you know where Old Bill might've made a transportation spot?"
Florr peers eagerly into the tome.
"Rurik, do you know where Old Bill might've made a transportation spot?"
Rurik shakes his head and looks at the drawings being burned.
"Last night I... what is that?"
"Last night I... what is that?"
Dream. Now I pray. Gods guide sword.
"Last night I... what is that?"Dream. Now I pray. Gods guide sword.
"Whoa whoa. You show me, with your magic. Show me your dream. "
Florr listens intently.
"I had a crazy, intense dream last night! I saw a manifestation of Umberlee - a many headed dragon creature was trying to attack me on my family's boat at sea. I was able to take it down... Except... One head was staring me down, a blue dragon with piercing eyes..." She shakes her head, trying to get the image of the eyes out of her head.
"What was your dream, Vadym?"
Florr listens intently.
"I had a crazy, intense dream last night! I saw a manifestation of Umberlee - a many headed dragon creature was trying to attack me on my family's boat at sea. I was able to take it down... Except... One head was staring me down, a blue dragon with piercing eyes..." She shakes her head, trying to get the image of the eyes out of her head.
"What was your dream, Vadym?"
Rurik stares knowingly.
"I had a similar dream..though I thought the beast was Tiamat, mother hydra, creator of evil dragons...hm. I was able to withstand all of it's attacks but I was unable to hurt it...it was only a matter of time...There was another. Two heads...like apes. Arms were like tentacles."
He strokes his beard.
"There was another too. An alien like creature...from far beyond. I think it was this Dagon Vadym found in his book."
He looks into the book Vadym had, assuming it's available.
"If Dagon is also known as 'Father Dagon'..lives in the 'Shadowsea' and Tiamat is known as 'Mother Hydra'....Umberlee is the known as the 'wavemother'. But there was the other..."
"I've heard an old saying that evil comes in threes (is this four?). Perhaps Tiamat and Umberlee are the same entity. Maybe one is influencing the other. And maybe...mothers...father...perhaps they're breeding."
He seems overwhelmed.
"Erazire, did you dream?"
"Whoa whoa. You show me, with your magic. Show me your dream. "
"I had a similar dream..though I thought the beast was Tiamat, mother hydra, creator of evil dragons...hm.
Tiamat, yes. I fought in dream. White head remained.
He holds a hand open toward Rurik containing a small but detailed illusory sculpture of the multi-headed beast from his dream.
"Yesss... I dreamt of the Mother. I fought her, cutting off all her headsss, except one. The Green remained, but it quickly turned to amethyst..." He shudders at this. "I don't know if I told you about... my clan. It might be related. I don't know."
"Vadym - Rurik - we all seem to have dreamed of a big multi-headed dragon creature. I knew it was a manifestation of Umberlee, the sea witch goddess."
She pauses.
"Could we have all dreamed about the SAME creature?" She points to the image in Vadym's hand. "That looks like a similar creature. It's like I described my dream to Vadym and he interpreted it - it doesn't look exactly the same, but it's so similar! And Rurik, and Erazire - you dreamed of a multi-headed hydra and that's similar to mine. White, green, blue heads remained..."
She pauses again. "If Tiamat is 'mother' and Umberlee is also 'mother' then they could be the same! And if this 'father' Dagon is around, perhaps they are indeed breeding."
She shudders.
"Vadym - Rurik - we all seem to have dreamed of a big multi-headed dragon creature. I knew it was a manifestation of Umberlee, the sea witch goddess."
She pauses.
"Could we have all dreamed about the SAME creature?" She points to the image in Vadym's hand. "That looks like a similar creature. It's like I described my dream to Vadym and he interpreted it - it doesn't look exactly the same, but it's so similar! And Rurik, and Erazire - you dreamed of a multi-headed hydra and that's similar to mine. White, green, blue heads remained..."
She pauses again. "If Tiamat is 'mother' and Umberlee is also 'mother' then they could be the same! And if this 'father' Dagon is around, perhaps they are indeed breeding."
She shudders.
"Hmm. Amethyst? I don't know anything about Amethyst dragons..
Late in the afternoon you hear the sound of wind chimes outside and Aengus, Bill, Sighanna and her Griffon are outside the door covered in snow.
He gives Erazire and Florr a small pouch containing 500 platinum each. "This is for the successful rescue mission. Guldar told me what happened on your trip there, and back. That tribe of Elves were very formidable. You were each very brave. That forest..maybe good will come back to it."
After hearing about the second book with similar writing, Bill becomes serious. "It would seem that more are involved with this tablet and the efforts to bring evil to our plane than I realized. I think that tablet is a portal to the Abyss, specifically the Shadowsea. The two headed ape creature you described is a common aspect of the Demon Prince Demogorgon who lives on the 85th layer of the Abyss. It seems there's some sort of dark alliance. We need to read these books if we have hope of unraveling this plot. The good news is that demons and extraplanar beings can't act in the material plane without help of natives. We've already uncovered three, there's likely many more."
Bill shakes his head and smiles "Adventuring is serious work! Anyway.."
He goes outside and uses the bottom of his staff to clear away snow outside the Manor, near where the stable ones stood. Underneath is a series of flagstones arranged in a circle like a small patio. Each is etched with letters. "What you need to do to activate the portal is press firmly on the letters in sequence to spell the name of the family that once occupied this manor and then whisper a command phrase. That phrase will be given to Florr, Olias, Oleksandr and Thravum, they're free to share it with those they feel are trustworthy. This circle is linked to one I've build in the guild yard."
I think we should try to have a restful and thoughtful winter. Hopefully Oleksandr has made progress with learning Deep Speech and the team in Blasingdell returns soon. Lord Haven told me they're dealing with a dragon.
"Unless there is protest, I'll store this damaged book in my library."
All failed in dreams alone. Together we win. Let me help.
All failed in dreams alone. Together we win. Let me help.
"I'm not sure what or who sent those dreams to us, but you're right, in a way they were optimistic."
"Hello my friends, and my new friends!" Sighanna greets Florr and Rurik, and introduces herself to Erazire and Vadym.
"I would be willing to help here at the Manor with what I can. Vadym, could you use the services of a Griffon Rider?"
"Hmm. Amethyst? I don't know anything about Amethyst dragons.."Vadym - Rurik - we all seem to have dreamed of a big multi-headed dragon creature. I knew it was a manifestation of Umberlee, the sea witch goddess."
She pauses.
"Could we have all dreamed about the SAME creature?" She points to the image in Vadym's hand. "That looks like a similar creature. It's like I described my dream to Vadym and he interpreted it - it doesn't look exactly the same, but it's so similar! And Rurik, and Erazire - you dreamed of a multi-headed hydra and that's similar to mine. White, green, blue heads remained..."
She pauses again. "If Tiamat is 'mother' and Umberlee is also 'mother' then they could be the same! And if this 'father' Dagon is around, perhaps they are indeed breeding."
She shudders.
Erazire lets out a deep breath before sharing. "Before joining the guild, my tribe... we were attacked in the middle of the night by thesssse purple dragonborn. Their breath was... sssstrange, the color of amethyssst, and caused a rotting wherever it touched." He shows them his scars. "I remember there was one with a large ssstaff that ssseemed to be the leader..." He pauses again. "My entire village was killed." Erazire grows quiet and walks off to be alone for awhile. He returns when he hears Bill arrive.
Vadym addresses Bill
This...brewing evil. Followers...hurt me. I am sure. God's of good lead me here.
He pauses in a moment of self-consciousness; he felt his complexion turning icy again. He looks away for a breath or two and begins again.
Your clan is pure. Capable. We have same enemy. Let me join. I have to help. I am Vadym.
He looks away again for several breaths.
"Hmm. Amethyst? I don't know anything about Amethyst dragons.."Vadym - Rurik - we all seem to have dreamed of a big multi-headed dragon creature. I knew it was a manifestation of Umberlee, the sea witch goddess."
She pauses.
"Could we have all dreamed about the SAME creature?" She points to the image in Vadym's hand. "That looks like a similar creature. It's like I described my dream to Vadym and he interpreted it - it doesn't look exactly the same, but it's so similar! And Rurik, and Erazire - you dreamed of a multi-headed hydra and that's similar to mine. White, green, blue heads remained..."
She pauses again. "If Tiamat is 'mother' and Umberlee is also 'mother' then they could be the same! And if this 'father' Dagon is around, perhaps they are indeed breeding."
She shudders.
Erazire lets out a deep breath before sharing. "Before joining the guild, my tribe... we were attacked in the middle of the night by thesssse purple dragonborn. Their breath was... sssstrange, the color of amethyssst, and caused a rotting wherever it touched." He shows them his scars. "I remember there was one with a large ssstaff that ssseemed to be the leader..." He pauses again. "My entire village was killed." Erazire grows quiet and walks off to be alone for awhile. He returns when he hears Bill arrive.
Pre-Bill
"Hmmm. I believe a staff topped with an amethyst was confiscated along with another one of those books from Mallark and the Mind Flayer a few weeks ago. It would seem your tribe was targeted by followers of these evil entities."
All the characters not currently in the dragon's lair are starting downtime mode. Describe how any of your characters spends the next month or so. After making your post your character will be level 5. You may want to spend your time researching or investigating plot elements, training a skill, crafting an item, commissioning some work, etc.
After an exhausting journey Nikolai relishes a warm bed and the tavern atmosphere of the Drunken Horse. After a week or so of drinking his money he starts to get a little anxious. The heavy snowfall is giving him a mild case of cabin fever. He'll challenge other patrons to cards or dice or even chess. He has found in the past that the different games attract different sorts of adversaries. Dice players are more reckless. Card players like to think they are in control (but they seem to lose more when using Nikolai's deck). Chess players tend to be rare in his haunts, and they seem to be the most careful, but the nature of the game leads to longer conversations. All of them are useful to chat up to see what they let slip into the rumor mill.
He becomes particularly interested in Breena's ring of invisibility. He has deposited most of his valuables into the guild bank, but he is considerably short of the asking price. He won't risk trying to outright steal it. People are getting to know him here and he doesn't need a target on his back. He needs to raise some capital if possible or work out a deal.
"That is a mighty fine ring but at that price you could own the whole town! No one around here that could use this ring has that kind of money. What can I do for you to bring down the price? Everyone has a job they don't have the stomach for. I'm small. I barely have a stomach."
After an exhausting journey Nikolai relishes a warm bed and the tavern atmosphere of the Drunken Horse. After a week or so of drinking his money he starts to get a little anxious. The heavy snowfall is giving him a mild case of cabin fever. He'll challenge other patrons to cards or dice or even chess. He has found in the past that the different games attract different sorts of adversaries. Dice players are more reckless. Card players like to think they are in control (but they seem to lose more when using Nikolai's deck). Chess players tend to be rare in his haunts, and they seem to be the most careful, but the nature of the game leads to longer conversations. All of them are useful to chat up to see what they let slip into the rumor mill.[/i]
You find Quara willing to gamble with you.
"Alright you little squat. Game's Rusty Knuckles. We each throw 6 dice. We choose 2 to reroll. If we match numbers those dice are taken off. Gambler showing the highest total dice at the end wins. How much you in for?"
He becomes particularly interested in Breena's ring of invisibility. He has deposited most of his valuables into the guild bank, but he is considerably short of the asking price. He won't risk trying to outright steal it. People are getting to know him here and he doesn't need a target on his back. He needs to raise some capital if possible or work out a deal.
"That is a mighty fine ring but at that price you could own the whole town! No one around here that could use this ring has that kind of money. What can I do for you to bring down the price? Everyone has a job they don't have the stomach for. I'm small. I barely have a stomach."
Breena is a tall, lanky woman in her late teens. She's got freckles and wiry muscles and a boyish build. She's lounging in the yard with her head resting in the greyish brown fur of a Timberwolf the size of a small horse. It's sleeping.
She turns to you. "Look. USING this ring could let you own this town. I'm not stupid. This ring is very valuable, I won't take less than 10, unless you have a decent trade to go with. There are plenty of guild members here and an occasional traveler with the means and need same as you. If you don't buy it, I'm sure I won't have it for long."
Breena is a tall, lanky woman in her late teens. She's got freckles and wiry muscles and a boyish build. She's lounging in the yard with her head resting in the greyish brown fur of a Timberwolf the size of a small horse. It's sleeping.
She turns to you. "Look. USING this ring could let you own this town. I'm not stupid. This ring is very valuable, I won't take less than 10, unless you have a decent trade to go with. There are plenty of guild members here and an occasional traveler with the means and need same as you. If you don't buy it, I'm sure I won't have it for long."
"Didn't mean to offend Miss. Just seeing if there were any work I could do to help pay. I'll get you your 20."
You find Quara willing to gamble with you.
"Alright you little squat. Game's Rusty Knuckles. We each throw 6 dice. We choose 2 to reroll. If we match numbers those dice are taken off. Gambler showing the highest total dice at the end wins. How much you in for?"
"Huh, never played Rusty Knuckles before but I'll kick in 50 gold to the pot. You probably heard of our run-in with them elves. What have you been up to to get money burning your pockets?"
Figuring he might as well take advantage of warfare being the only thing he knows, Erazire seeks out Guldar, hoping to learn his trade. He approaches the blacksmith one evening. "Hello," he begins slowly, "I wonder if you are accepting apprenticesss. I'd like to learn your trade, and I'm looking for employment while we ressst here. Are you looking for help?" While he's therem he also asks Guldar, "What do you think this ring isss worth?" He shows him his ring of protection.
This ring allows you to roll one saving throw per long rest at advantage. You may choose to use this ability after rolling the save
"Didn't mean to offend Miss. Just seeing if there were any work I could do to help pay. I'll get you your 20."Breena is a tall, lanky woman in her late teens. She's got freckles and wiry muscles and a boyish build. She's lounging in the yard with her head resting in the greyish brown fur of a Timberwolf the size of a small horse. It's sleeping.
She turns to you. "Look. USING this ring could let you own this town. I'm not stupid. This ring is very valuable, I won't take less than 10, unless you have a decent trade to go with. There are plenty of guild members here and an occasional traveler with the means and need same as you. If you don't buy it, I'm sure I won't have it for long."
"No jobs I'm hiring for sorry. Trades are always considered of course."
Figuring he might as well take advantage of warfare being the only thing he knows, Erazire seeks out Guldar, hoping to learn his trade. He approaches the blacksmith one evening. "Hello," he begins slowly, "I wonder if you are accepting apprenticesss. I'd like to learn your trade, and I'm looking for employment while we ressst here. Are you looking for help?" While he's therem he also asks Guldar, "What do you think this ring isss worth?" He shows him his ring of protection.
** spoiler omitted **
"Hmmm. This is quite simple, but powerful magic. I haven't seen many of these. I've heard them called "guardian rings". I'd imagine you could ask around 10 grand fairly, maybe more."
You find Quara willing to gamble with you.
"Alright you little squat. Game's Rusty Knuckles. We each throw 6 dice. We choose 2 to reroll. If we match numbers those dice are taken off. Gambler showing the highest total dice at the end wins. How much you in for?"
"Huh, never played Rusty Knuckles before but I'll kick in 50 gold to the pot. You probably heard of our run-in with them elves. What have you been up to to get money burning your pockets?"
She grumbles, scoops up the 1's and let's them fly.
"4, 2, 6, 4, 3, 4."
She plops the dice in your hand. "You're up."
Figuring he might as well take advantage of warfare being the only thing he knows, Erazire seeks out Guldar, hoping to learn his trade. He approaches the blacksmith one evening. "Hello," he begins slowly, "I wonder if you are accepting apprenticesss. I'd like to learn your trade, and I'm looking for employment while we ressst here. Are you looking for help?" While he's therem he also asks Guldar, "What do you think this ring isss worth?" He shows him his ring of protection.
** spoiler omitted **
"Not really looking for apprentices, but I wouldn't mind teaching you the basics. I'll teach you how to use the tools and work the forge. You'll need to do chores. My daughter will be pleased."
"4, 2, 6, 4, 3, 4."
She plops the dice in your hand. "You're up."
"Not much of a talker eh? That's alright, I can talk enough for both of us. Let's see how the bones roll for me."
"Hoo boy look at them fives! And you without any to cancel them out."
He re-rolls the ones
"5, 2, 5, 5, 3, 3"
"So we both lose a 3 and a 2 giving us both 18? Does that mean we should put 50 more into the pot?"
Florr heads back to Haven’s Cross. Her first visit was to Storm Surge at the stables. She takes him out of town and gallops around the town wall several times. They take a break and eat apples and Florr tells her buddy all about her adventures.
Throughout the coming weeks Florr focuses on two things: discovering more about the events at the mansion and learning more about her inherent sorcerery.
The day after her visit with Storm Surge, Florr goes and chats with Old Bill. She tells him what she can remember about the events at the mansion, from the ghost coming out of the wall to the skeletons that they had buried to the dreams and the ink oozing from the walls. She asks him for insight and for any of his ideas, and anything she could do to help. “I’m worried that there is still an evil force there,” she says to Old Bill. “Can I help take care of any of that with you? I can smite some evil down!” she says, rather enthusiastically.
Florr begins a daily routine. Each morning, rain or shine, she takes Storm Surge out for a gallop to a stream outside of town. She tethers him on a long lead so he can graze and walk. She then takes her boots off and steps into the deep part of the stream, feet planted strongly apart. She concentrates on the flowing water around her feet, feeling the inherent strength and power of the water. She feels tiny pebbles bump her feet, moved by the veins of the stream. She focuses on channeling her own inherent power, experimenting with feeling her magic begin in different parts of her body. She also noticed how her mood and emotions influenced this as well. She also walks up and down the stream within the length of a mile, observing different parts of the stream, the shore, the rock bottom, the fish within. She thinks what she sees and experiences and how her magic is like all of the components of the stream. After several hours, she would get Storm Surge and gallop back to town.
"4, 2, 6, 4, 3, 4."
She plops the dice in your hand. "You're up."
"So we both lose a 3 and a 2 giving us both 18? Does that mean we should put 50 more into the pot?"
She laughs. "Lady Fortune is making this pretty interesting. What do you say we honor her?" She slides a stack of 50 platinum pieces onto the table.
She looks back at you. "3 dice each. What do you say?"