Sunrise
You remember the dragon attacking. The moon behind its outstretched, gossamer wings. The impact of its landing. The horrifying revelation that the black sand wafting across its wasted frame was in fact millions of spiders skittering beneath its translucent scales. You remember its spider eyes locking with yours, and then its jaw unhinging and the black motes of its breath billowing over you, and then burrowing, tunneling and cavorting under your skin. The blinding pain as the motes erupted from your pores as a spider swarm, and skittered back to the dragon with your life energy. You remember fear, falling, and screams muted by your own heartbeat. Then blackness.
You awoke days ago, paralyzed atop the dragon's stockpile of tangled bodies, where you still lie with humans, goblins and reptilian beasts in a tangled mass of limbs and wide-eyed faces. Most are conscious. All are paralyzed. Each horror-stricken face breathes with a slow asthmatic gasp, sucking air past spiders crawling from its throat. Each day, the dragon's slave, a gnome with fiery orange hair, force feeds you water and a slurry of horse flesh and dragon bile. Each day, spiders crawl in and out of your open mouth, delivering your lifeblood to the dragon, as you stare helpless.
But something has changed. The dragon has been absent for over a day, and as the sun rose, the spiders climbed out and soon turned to dust. You've since shaken off your paralysis. Looking around, you see a great vulture nudging a paralyzed goblin and ripping flesh from other victims. Wind whistles through the large single opening of this massive wooden shack. Sand covers a hard, pink, mucous floor, and two large columns of the same material provide support.
Seeing you move, the gnome slave fumbles for a horn you've heard summon the dragon before.
"Not this time!" Olivia springs forward barreling shoulder first into the smaller creature, hoping to knock the air from him, separate him from the horn or at least put the gnome on his back.
CMB
Ow, my head. How did that dragon do that? Was that magic, if so I need to learn that spell. Wonder if it would teach me? Wait what is that gnome doing? Wait what is that woman doing!?!
"Hey, leave some of him for me!" Asopus stands and aims is hands towards combat, hoping that his magic missile could offer some aid in this fight.
"Not this time!" Olivia springs forward barreling shoulder first into the smaller creature, hoping to knock the air from him, separate him from the horn or at least put the gnome on his back.
CMB1d20+4
Olivia's Initiative:
Gnome's Initiative:
Vinter starts awake, instantly on guard. His training and experience living in the wild allows him to be instantly active upon awakening. Not sure what's going on, but knowing the Gnome has something to do with it, he grabs any object which comes to hand...if there is anything, and heaves it at the gnome. Spitting and hacking and trying to get the taste out of his mouth.
Improvised (-4), PBS +1
STR + PBS
Cursing as he lurches free, Ariso grabs his sling from his belt as he steps sideways and loads a sling stone from a pouch on his hip.
Looking around to Quickly assess his situation, Jabbik sees the gnome trying to draw the horn.
The Order's training must have saved me. Must stop that gnome from Summoning it back until I can figure out where we are. Where is BloodyPaws?
He quickly searches for his mount, and decided the Gnome is the more pressing issue.
Draws his bow and tries to shoot the Gnome
"Not this time!" Olivia springs forward barreling shoulder first into the smaller creature, hoping to knock the air from him, separate him from the horn or at least put the gnome on his back.
CMB1d20+4
Olivia's Initiative: 1d20+1
Gnome's Initiative: 1d20+2
Ecko noticed the others were moving and found that he was also able to move, albeit stiffly. After days spent struggling to get his body to cooperate, he had given up trying. The first thing he did was shake himself and spit repeatedly. Though he had seen the spiders disintegrate, he could still feel them crawling through his feathers, in and out of his beak. He expected that he'd remember that feeling for the rest of his life.
Leaping up, he started to loot around in his bag for a bomb to throw, and then decided against it, seeing others charging at the gnome. Instead he reached for his gun, to find it wasn't there. 'Now where the hell...' Frowning, he noticed too that his staff was gone.
Knowing he's not strong enough to overpower the gnome, Ecko begins looking around for something else he can use to attack.
The gnome cries out in pain as Asopus' magic missile strikes him seconds before Olivia slaps the horn from his hand. Jabbik's arrow strikes true in his shoulder, as well and the gnome retreats into the nearest corner, holding up his arms to ward off further abuse.
"I didn't have a choice!", he squeaks. "It was this or be eaten- or jump to my death! You'd do the same!"
[dice=Initiative]1d20+2
Ecko noticed the others were moving and found that he was also able to move, albeit stiffly. After days spent struggling to get his body to cooperate, he had given up trying. The first thing he did was shake himself and spit repeatedly. Though he had seen the spiders disintegrate, he could still feel them crawling through his feathers, in and out of his beak. He expected that he'd remember that feeling for the rest of his life.
Leaping up, he started to loot around in his bag for a bomb to throw, and then decided against it, seeing others charging at the gnome. Instead he reached for his gun, to find it wasn't there. 'Now where the hell...' Frowning, he noticed too that his staff was gone.
Knowing he's not strong enough to overpower the gnome, Ecko begins looking around for something else he can use to attack.
[dice=Perception]1d20+6
You see a sizable pot of boiling horseflesh and bile and a smaller one that you know contains some water. A small quarterstaff lay next to the goblin the vulture keeps nudging and you can see two shortswords and a buckler mounted to the wall. There's a chest with brass filigree inlay and four drawers against one wall.
Asopus listens to the cries of the gnome as he looks around.
I wonder what that dragon even was? Of more concern, what is that vulture doing? Ah who cares, I need to find something that can get me out of here.
Asopus begins to comb through the bodies underneath him looking for any survivors or items he can use to help out. While combing through the bodies he asks What is or was that THING that you served?
Ariso steps forward quickly to pick up the horn. "I'll take that! Now, what's this pretty thing, then?" he murmurs, holding it up to examine it. After a moment, he passes his hands over it, and intones a short invocation, one word of which stands out clearly: Loki.
"I didn't have a choice!", he squeaks. "It was this or be eaten- or jump to my death! You'd do the same!"
"I most certainly would not." Olivia grasps the gnome by his orange hair and pulls him to his feet, looking him over carefully to make sure he is unarmed.
What is or was that THING that you served?
"You should answer the man's question." Olivia adds, staring the gnome in the eyes, looking for any signs of deception.
Asopus finds a variety of creatures stacked like cord wood on the floor:
- A mean-looking boar, saddled for a rider.
- A goblin dressed in leather armor and adorned with primitive fetishes. One of his arms has had a brass-filigreed glass tube of some sort grafted to it. The vulture caws at you as you get close to him and you can see that its feathers are actually a mass of undulating flatworms.
- A comely, bejeweled human maiden in a slightly torn dress. (What would a dragon's lair be without a maiden, after all?)
- A griffon.
- A dragon-like creature with six legs and no wings. Its mouth has been tied shut with a length of spider silk. Its eyes are filled with hate.
- A giant spider.
- A dead camel
- Four dead goblins.
On the floor beneath the bodies, you also find a corked vial filled with a bubbly red liquid.
"I didn't have a choice!", he squeaks. "It was this or be eaten- or jump to my death! You'd do the same!""I most certainly would not." Olivia grasps the gnome by his orange hair and pulls him to his feet, looking him over carefully to make sure he is unarmed. [dice=Perception]1d20+2
What is or was that THING that you served?"You should answer the man's question." Olivia adds, staring the gnome in the eyes, looking for any signs of deception. [dice=Preemptive sense motive]1d20+4
The gnome carries a short sword and a sling; he winces as you pull him up by his hair.
"Agh! I don't know! Ask the goblins, they've probably got a better idea than me! It just pushed that horn at me and put me to work tending to you lot after it caught me! Listen, I can help you escape, just let go of me!"
Ariso steps forward quickly to pick up the horn. "I'll take that! Now, what's this pretty thing, then?" he murmurs, holding it up to examine it. After a moment, he passes his hands over it, and intones a short invocation, one word of which stands out clearly: Loki.
[dice=Perception]1d20+3
Ariso:
Asopus picks up the red vial and puts it in his pack.Might be useful, might not. Who knows? Then stands saying.
" I don't want to interrupt anybody, but can someone see to helping the woman,and griffon. Also, did somebody lose a riding boar?"
As an after thought Asopus adds " Oh and is that vulture's feathers supposed to be made out of worms?"
Asopus moves over to the dragon-like creature and from a safe distance begins to speak in another language to it.
"Can you understand me? If you can, nod if you need help."
Ecko nudges the vulture out of the way and picks up the quarterstaff. Feeling somewhat more at ease, he looks to the others, studying them for a moment, before turning to the gnome.
After thinking for a minute, he says, "You claim to be able to help us escape, and yet you have not attempted yourself before now? You must be either a fool or a liar. In either case, it would not be difficult to dunk you into this pot." He gestures to the boiling horseflesh. "But you may yet save yourself, little one, by answering our questions. Starting with this: Where is my pistol?"
Asopus picks up the red vial and puts it in his pack.Might be useful, might not. Who knows? Then stands saying.
" I don't want to interrupt anybody, but can someone see to helping the woman,and griffon. Also, did somebody lose a riding boar?"
As an after thought Asopus adds " Oh and is that vulture's feathers supposed to be made out of worms?"
Asopus moves over to the dragon-like creature and from a safe distance begins to speak in another language to it.
** spoiler omitted **
The creature doesn't move- it must be paralyzed like the rest.
Ecko nudges the vulture out of the way and picks up the quarterstaff. Feeling somewhat more at ease, he looks to the others, studying them for a moment, before turning to the gnome.
After thinking for a minute, he says, "You claim to be able to help us escape, and yet you have not attempted yourself before now? You must be either a fool or a liar. In either case, it would not be difficult to dunk you into this pot." He gestures to the boiling horseflesh. "But you may yet save yourself, little one, by answering our questions. Starting with this: Where is my pistol?"
"Look outside and tell me I'm a fool! You have no idea where you are- or what's under us!"
"I locked your weapon into a drawer- but you'll have to unlock it... or I can do it if you swear to let me go."
Ecko is not interested in making such an agreement, not when there might be more that they need the Gnome for. The question of where they are certainly catches in his mind, but he decides "First things first" and instead walks over to the locked drawer. He reaches into his bag to pull out his toolkit, examines the lock to see if there's anything awry, and if there isn't, gets to work on opening it.
As he works he responds to Asopus without glancing back from the task at hand.
"Look outside and tell me I'm a fool! You have no idea where you are- or what's under us!"
Seeing that he is at least agreeable, Olivia lets go of the gnomes hair. I'm glad that you are seeing reason. Tell me, what will we find outside of that door, Mr....?
Asopus continues to speak towards the paralyzed dragon-like creature, but his words are now addressing Ecko.
"True, we should make sure we're armed before helping out. I cannot offer any help to getting back any items, but I might be able to figure out what this creature is."
Asopus stops for a moment then thinks and adds.
"Have you ever seen anything like those spiders or that dragons breath before? I would not want to go up against those again, so whatever happens we should try to keep that horn from sounding."
" I don't want to interrupt anybody, but can someone see to helping the woman,and griffon. Also, did somebody lose a riding boar?"
Ariso slips the horn into his pocket and hearkens to the imperious-sounding man's words. He walks over to the stacked bodies, immediately focusing on the comely bejewelled maiden (who wouldn't?).
"Here now miss, let me help you out of there." As gently as he may, Ariso "unstacks" her, being careful both not to put his hands in any delicate places, nor look too obviously at the jewellery that adorns her frame.
"Don't worry now, we'll get you out of... wherever we are," he finishes lamely.
Seeing the Gnome beign taken care of, He looks for BloodyPaws. Hearing Asopus mention a boar. He runs over to check it out and make sure its BloodyPaws.
Checking him over Thanks for finding him. Smiling at Asopus.
Looking at the gnome So Where are we?
Neither Asopus or Ecko have seen anything like the multi-legged dragon creature before.
Ecko is not interested in making such an agreement, not when there might be more that they need the Gnome for. The question of where they are certainly catches in his mind, but he decides "First things first" and instead walks over to the locked drawer. He reaches into his bag to pull out his toolkit, examines the lock to see if there's anything awry, and if there isn't, gets to work on opening it.
[dice=Perception]1d20+6
[dice=Lockpickery]1d20+6As he works he responds to Asopus without glancing back from the task at hand.
** spoiler omitted **
You work deftly at the lock, certain that you have the tumblers lined up... but the last one proves trickier than expected and the lock remains closed tight.
"Look outside and tell me I'm a fool! You have no idea where you are- or what's under us!"
Seeing that he is at least agreeable, Olivia lets go of the gnomes hair. I'm glad that you are seeing reason. Tell me, what will we find outside of that door, Mr....?
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+9
"Lusterfiz. Nabbit Lusterfiz. You wouldn't believe me if I told you- you're better off having a look for yourself."
He rubs his scalp with his unwounded arm."It is a bit awe-inspiring, in that sanity-shattering 'we're doomed' sort of way."
" I don't want to interrupt anybody, but can someone see to helping the woman,and griffon. Also, did somebody lose a riding boar?"
Ariso slips the horn into his pocket and hearkens to the imperious-sounding man's words. He walks over to the stacked bodies, immediately focusing on the comely bejewelled maiden (who wouldn't?).
"Here now miss, let me help you out of there." As gently as he may, Ariso "unstacks" her, being careful both not to put his hands in any delicate places, nor look too obviously at the jewellery that adorns her frame.
"Don't worry now, we'll get you out of... wherever we are," he finishes lamely.
She's rigid as a stone, eyes wide and unblinking. You feel a faint, sluggish pulse on her neck.
Vinter stands up, and looks around the area. He lets the others deal with the Gnome...he is free again, and intends to stay that way. He looks for his bow, hammer, and shield. Then, out of the corner of his eye he sees the Goblin walking around.
"Hey there's a Greenskin over there". "Grab him, I'm sure he had something to do with this whole thing". "Stinking Gob's can't be trusted".
He then accelerates his process of looking for a decent weapon.
She's rigid as a stone, eyes wide and unblinking. You feel a faint, sluggish pulse on her neck.
Ariso slips the horn into his pocket and hearkens to the imperious-sounding man's words. He walks over to the stacked bodies, immediately focusing on the comely bejewelled maiden (who wouldn't?)."Here now miss, let me help you out of there." As gently as he may, Ariso "unstacks" her, being careful both not to put his hands in any delicate places, nor look too obviously at the jewellery that adorns her frame.
"Don't worry now, we'll get you out of... wherever we are," he finishes lamely.
Ariso's eyes crinkle in concern as he feels her weak pulse.
Noticing that the others are far more trusting of the gnome doesn't necessarily put Ecko at ease, but leaves him feeling more comfortable striking a deal with him. Finding himself unable to open the lock, blaming his stiff fingers, he looks to the gnome. "Okay, Nabbit. It looks like we're all in a position to help each other. I'll be much more able to do that fully armed." He gestures towards the desk. "If you'd please?"
To Vinter he mutters dryly. "Yes, the tiny goblin obviously has full control over the dragon. Sit down before you hurt yourself."
Regardless of the gnome's action, he'll try to communicate more openly with him. "My name is Ecko. How did you end up here?"
He glances back towards Ariso, trying to make small talk with a petrified woman, and makes a clucking sound that the others may or may not identify as a chuckle, but stops himself short. "Strange that some of us are walking around while others remain so... indisposed." He strokes his beak, turning back towards Nabbit. "Any idea why that might be?"
He glances back towards Ariso, trying to make small talk with a petrified woman, and makes a clucking sound that the others may or may not identify as a chuckle, but stops himself short.
Asopus not sure what the creature is and not wanting to get any closer at the moment decides that he will head over towards the cliff the gnome mentioned making sure to stay out of the dragon-like creature's and the vulture's reach. On the way Asopus will hold up his dagger and ask.
"Is everybody fine with me killing this paralyzed spider?"
If no one objects Asopus moves over to coup de grâce the spider. If anybody objects he continues towards the cliff.
"Stab it, please!" Ariso call over his shoulder as he checks the paralysed girl for obvious signs of injury. "Filthy, hairy things...
"Keep a hold of that sword and sling Mr Lusterfiz, you may have need of them soon." Olivia draws the spear from her back and heads over to the opening to see what the fuss is about.
"Is everybody fine with me killing this paralyzed spider?"
"Are we sure the thing doesn't belong to the paralyzed woman on the floor?" Oliva asks as she walks to the door, "I've heard of stranger pets... such as boars." she adds under her breath.
Well it wouldn't do to make the woman with a spear angry. As, I am quite sure she could destroy me if I tried.
Asopus thinks as he leaves the spider alone for now, but he continues on to see this "sanity-shattering" cliff for himself.
Vinter stands up, and looks around the area. He lets the others deal with the Gnome...he is free again, and intends to stay that way. He looks for his bow, hammer, and shield. Then, out of the corner of his eye he sees the Goblin walking around.
"Hey there's a Greenskin over there". "Grab him, I'm sure he had something to do with this whole thing". "Stinking Gob's can't be trusted".
He then accelerates his process of looking for a decent weapon.
You find your hammer and shield on your person where you left them- your bow, on the other hand, must be miles away.
She's rigid as a stone, eyes wide and unblinking. You feel a faint, sluggish pulse on her neck.
Ariso slips the horn into his pocket and hearkens to the imperious-sounding man's words. He walks over to the stacked bodies, immediately focusing on the comely bejewelled maiden (who wouldn't?)."Here now miss, let me help you out of there." As gently as he may, Ariso "unstacks" her, being careful both not to put his hands in any delicate places, nor look too obviously at the jewellery that adorns her frame.
"Don't worry now, we'll get you out of... wherever we are," he finishes lamely.
Ariso's eyes crinkle in concern as he feels her weak pulse.
She has several scrapes and bruises, but nothing severe.
Noticing that the others are far more trusting of the gnome doesn't necessarily put Ecko at ease, but leaves him feeling more comfortable striking a deal with him. Finding himself unable to open the lock, blaming his stiff fingers, he looks to the gnome. "Okay, Nabbit. It looks like we're all in a position to help each other. I'll be much more able to do that fully armed." He gestures towards the desk. "If you'd please?"
To Vinter he mutters dryly. "Yes, the tiny goblin obviously has full control over the dragon. Sit down before you hurt yourself."
Regardless of the gnome's action, he'll try to communicate more openly with him. "My name is Ecko. How did you end up here?"
He glances back towards Ariso, trying to make small talk with a petrified woman, and makes a clucking sound that the others may or may not identify as a chuckle, but stops himself short. "Strange that some of us are walking around while others remain so... indisposed." He strokes his beak, turning back towards Nabbit. "Any idea why that might be?"
When no one moves to block his way, Nabbit begins work on the lock with his own tools.
"I came looking for my sister, Brinx. She and the rest of her group were taken as slaves by the bastard Dust Diggers. I followed her familiar for miles... before the dragon ate it and took me for its slave. Been stuck here for the last few weeks tending to you and the rest of its, um, larder."With a click, Nabbit finishes opening the lock and steps aside to allow Ecko to open the chest.
Looking down.
A vast desert lies 200 ft. below, and dunes stretch endlessly in every direction. You stand, not on a mountain, but atop a massive creature. Your wooden room sits between the eyestalks of a colossal slug frozen in time. Its pink mucous skin is cracked like a parched desert floor and peels away in great sunburned sheets. About 100 ft. down, the slug's intestine-like tentacles grapple the leg of its larger rival, a skinless humanoid with a forest of leechlike heads, also frozen in time. The rival's hand holds a 100-ft.-long, fluted-bone pin with lines of backward-curving hooks down its length. Between the creatures and the pin extracted gore hangs from the puncture wound like floating islands of flesh and blood.
Lesser creatures have lashed ramshackle structures upon the abominations. Most appear smashed. A wooden tunnel stretching between the abominations has collapsed in the middle, where a pair of dead goblins' bodies landed on it. Bridges formerly leading to islands of flesh dangle from ropes. No structures lead down from your perch. In fact, this exit overhangs the slug's face, providing a view straight down to the desert floor.
"What in the name of the gods is going on here?!? I thought we were just in the mountains, but this thing is ALIVE!"
Asopus quickly rushes back from the ledge and moves over towards the gnome and collects himself for a moment before asking
"Could we use that griffon or vulture as a way to get down?"
If he could hear what the gnome said.
"Were all of the other creatures here when you got here or did the arrive separately? If they did arrive separately, did the woman arrive with that spider?"
"By the forge.." The aasimar looks wide eyed out at the sprawling wastes.
[
"Could we use that griffon or vulture as a way to get down?"
Olivia nods in agreement. "If the griffon can be roused, it seems to be our best bet off of this thing.
Though perhaps we've missed something. Has anyone found any hatches or doors?" Olivia asks the room in general, "There may be some other way out of here that could lead to a ladder or bridge.
'Weeks?' Ecko thought. 'Can it really have been that long?' He shook his head, looking at the gnome with a sense of respect. He simply nods in understanding and says "Much obliged" before opening the drawer to get his pistol.
Ecko picks up the weapon and inspects it closely, making sure it hasn't been damaged or tampered with. Anyone looking would have no idea at all what he's checking for, since the thing looks battered to hell. It's the kind of weapon that just screams "stand back, because I may explode".
Satisfied with the state of it, Ecko holsters it and moves to see what the others are looking at, and becomes noticeably shaken by the view. He looks down at his arms and makes that same clucking sound, though in obvious despair, at the hilarious twist of fate that his people have come so far from simply being birds, and yet have lost something terribly important along the way.
He collapses onto the floor, nearly landing onto one of the goblin corpses as he does so.
Ariso is torn from his cursory examination of the still-paralysed maiden by the various exclamations of his fellows. Face apprehensive, he moves slowly past the stricken tengu to stand next to the fearsome-looking spear maiden.
His eyes widen and his mouth forms an "O" as the sight out of the shack greets him. His mind reels for a moment, then his shoulders slump as he dismisses various half-thought solutions.
"Holy hells," he mutters. "Lord Loki, we could use some of your luck right about now." He turns to the spear maiden. "Any ideas?"
Looking at the human Who seems to be Accusing him of working with the dragon Watch yer tongue Human! We of the Order of the Scarlet Boar have protected people of the Western Wastes for longer then you've been alive. You watch your manners or you shall find out how we treat those who besmirch our order.
To Olivia THIS Boar is my Mount, I am a cavalier in the Order of the Scarlet Boar. Pleased to meet you, Jabbik the name. He says keeping an eye on Vinter
Taking a look over the edge Oh My Gosh, this must be one of the Great Old Ones Recalling stories from his youth
I wonder which one this is....