Thistletorp bravely looks up through the darkness towards where the dragon once was. Hiya! I'm Thistletorp Babblebrook, pleased to meet ya! He sticks out his hand up in the inky darkness. Are you a real dragon? Because we saw a model of one that was all ropes and pulleys and things. It was a LOT of fun to play with that. But, it wasn't real. And, everyone says that dragons aren't real. Sometimes, they say that dragons were never real, which I'm not really sure I believe that. I mean, they said that about the lizard people on the moon, and they were there!!! So, it's possible that dragons were real. But, they've never been seen in so long that peopel think they're dead. Are you dead? You don't look dead. You look real. But, the puppet dragon looked real, too. Maybe you're just a puppet? Is there someone inside you making you do those things? Poor puppet! You have to do what someone else says! I'm sure its' very entertaining for us, and you're a very good puppet. But, you still have to do what someone else says. Like, when you made it dark, just now. I bet you did it because someone told you to do it, and not because you wanted to do it. That must be very said for you, puppet.
The hairs of the back of Caitlyn's suddenly prickle and some instinct makes her turn to see the well. From within something horrible, something impossible, from her nightmares arose. There was no question of what it was, and when it's scream rent the air her blood ran cold. Eyes wide withn horror she mutters, "Damn..."
Suddenly Jackun spoke and broke the spell, he was right. "Quick into the ruins!", she bellowed.
Caitlyn runs north to the building!
Unable to see the others, Tania retreats to the safety of the ruins nearby.
Looking about at her companions' fear, not yet seeing why they were so scared the half-elf will look around. Feeling the fear of the dragon creep over her like the shadow of darkness that it brings, the half elf sees the dragon and screams as the fear over takes her. A dragon? Creatures of legend, that have not been seen since the time of Huma. she says. Widley she looks about trying to flee the creature in a panic as she runs towards the ruins.
Jakun spoke into the darkness, "We must take cover and let this thing come to us, we cannot beat it in the open". He reached out for Goldmoon and hurriedly guided her toward the ruins.
Thistletorp, unmoved by the display, addressed the dragon, "Hiya! I'm Thistletorp Babblebrook, pleased to meet ya! He sticks out his hand up in the inky darkness. Are you a real dragon? Because we saw a model of one that was all ropes and pulleys and things. It was a LOT of fun to play with that. But, it wasn't real. And, everyone says that dragons aren't real. Sometimes, they say that dragons were never real, which I'm not really sure I believe that. I mean, they said that about the lizard people on the moon, and they were there!!! So, it's possible that dragons were real. But, they've never been seen in so long that peopel think they're dead. Are you dead? You don't look dead. You look real. But, the puppet dragon looked real, too. Maybe you're just a puppet? Is there someone inside you making you do those things? Poor puppet! You have to do what someone else says! I'm sure its' very entertaining for us, and you're a very good puppet. But, you still have to do what someone else says. Like, when you made it dark, just now. I bet you did it because someone told you to do it, and not because you wanted to do it. That must be very said for you, puppet."
"Quick into the ruins!", Caitlyn bellowed, making for the domed building to the north. Tania, no happier at being in the open and effectively blind against a dragon than anyone else, took her advice.
"A dragon? Creatures of legend, that have not been seen since the time of Huma," Mariel observed as the terror struck, then followed the rest toward cover. Gavin did the same a moment later.
The dragon hovered above, a sable cloud blotting out stars. Its sinuous neck drew back, then flashed forward. Jaws opened and a hissing torrent of acid raced through the air. It engulfed Tania and Gavin, searing their flesh and causing them more pain than they'd hoped to endure in a lifetime.
well damn, she's taunted. That's...interesting. Thistle is the only one still in his old position. And he taunted her. However, Onyx does have blindsense and the taunt doesn't compel her to attack him. Also it's a line breath weapon and she's above. Let's say she can line up no more than two PCs.
Oh dear. Pairs are Gavin+Tania, Mariel+Goldmoon, Caitlyn+Jakun.
Gavin and Tania it is. Ref DC 23
[opc]that wasn't supposed to work that way. Sorry guys![/ooc]
Tania's scream hisses through the darkness, echoing the sound of acid cutting through her skin. She hopes for death, and yet, she keeps running to the safety of the ruins.
The half-elf will flee at a double speed to the safety of the building, still fascinating and in awe of the dragon, yet scared to her soul.
[opc]that wasn't supposed to work that way. Sorry guys![/ooc]
Jakun considers the spell selection he currently has in place and holds waiting to see what the others do.
Weapon drawn, Caitlyn rushes for the building entrance. As she gets close to the threshold her eyes take in her surroundings, searching for a good choke point to fight, or for any obvious dangers...
Thistletorp pokes his tongue out from between his tightened lips and fires at the black dragon.
The cleric, entering the building, will look around.
Jakun considers the spell selection he currently has in place and holds waiting to see what the others do.
The caustic burn of acid shakes Gavin from his cowering stupor. The pain was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. It fell on him like a rain of magma. The skin on his forearm bubbles until raw muscle is exposed. Half of his face and scalp simply slough off of his skull, like warmed butter melting, leaving him grossly disfigured. He hobbles as best he can under what he can only hope is some sort of cover.
"Yaaauuuurrrghhhhhh! Help me! HELP ME" he screams in a half-gargle.
The pain reaches it's peak as nerves burn off and the awful smell of burning flesh and hair causes Gavin to expel the contents of his stomach.
Hearing her friend scream, the half elf will stop what she is doing and run back out to him, mace in hand, scared out of her mind, and stand over him.
I am Mariel Uth Kaldar, you will not harm my friend as long as breath remains in my body.
Thistletorp took aim and fired his bow at the dragon, but the other companions made for the ruins as the kender's shaft flew just short of the black dragon's scales.
Those who fled, including the striken Gavin and Tania, soon found themselves past a pair of golden doors and beneath a high, vaulted ceiling engraved with a pattern of starbursts.* The years seemed to have barely touched the building, with only spots of mold and mildew growing around cracks and in crevasses. The floor had weathered the centuries the worst, with a greenish sheen nearly everywhere. Doors like those they had just passed led further within.
Mariel turned back to help the wounded Gavin to shelter and defied the dragon.
"I am Mariel Uth Kaldar, you will not harm my friend as long as breath remains in my body."
With a roar, the sable wyrm folded her rings and plunging back into the well like a great, falling stone. Silence fell over the ruins of Xak Tsaroth.
Dice Know religion
Thistletorp rushes to his friends' aid, only to slow down and stair at all the interesting shadows and carvings. Woooooow! That was a dragon. I still don't think it was real. And these carvings! And oh, Gavin! Is there anything anyone can do? Oh that's soo... I'm going to make that dragon pay for what it did to you, real or not!
Looking around the half-elf will look around. A temple to one of the Ancient God who left us after the Fall of Istar and the Cataclysm. Some wonder if they really ever existed. This is a temple to the goddess, Mishakel, fabled goddess of healing. But if dragons are real as we have just seen, so to are the gods? she asks.
Looking around wide eyed, Caitlyn winces when she sees the devastation wrought by the dragon's breath, 'Gods that looks utterly excruciating!'
Hearing Mariel's words Caitlyn walks up to her and remarks, "So this temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Healing? Too bad she's gone with all the others, Gavin and Tania are in desperate need..." Hell. Gavin looked as bad as Justin had after the test. The test that Justin never recovered from.
Caitlyn decided to investigate the area. If this truly was a temple from before the cataclysm, there was a chance there might be a cache of old potions hidden somewhere. 'And pigs might fly', she thought as she searched, the effort might be forlorn but she couldn't just stand there and do nothing when her friends where hurt.
Caitlyn decided to investigate the area. If this truly was a temple from before the cataclysm, there was a chance there might be a cache of old potions hidden somewhere. 'And pigs might fly', she thought as she searched, the effort might be forlorn but she couldn't just stand there and do nothing when her friends where hurt.
[dice=Survival - any tracks?]1d20+9
[dice=Perception - anything hidden?]1d20+9
Caitlyn cast about. She saw a few tracks that looked like something a draconian would make, but not many and not recently. Her further investigations revealed a few broken weapons tossed in a corner of the antechamber, but it was otherwise bare up to the ajar inner doors.
Goldmoon regarded Tania and Gavin gravely. "I have never seen such terrible wounds. I'm sorry that my journey has brought them to you." As she spoke, she lowered her staff just slightly in their direction. The end nearer the wounded companions glowed brighter than it had before. The plainswoman looked at it, puzzled.
"Believe me, it feels worse than it looks..." says Tania with a weak smile. "Goddess of healing you say? I'll play the believer if it gets me some soothing." she replies to Mariel, obviously unimpressed by old faiths.
The Staff glows brighter. If i remember correctly the color of Quen IlluminI was blue. Perhaps the Staff comes from her? states sagely.
The Staff glows brighter. If i remember correctly the color of Quen IlluminI was blue. Perhaps the Staff comes from her? states sagely.
"It could be; the Forestmaster sent us here for a reason," Goldmoon said. She dipped the staff nearer Tania and the glow brightened further. A light kindling in the plainswoman's eyes, she gently touched the staff to Tania. The blue light flashed and her wounds were gone. It was as if she'd never been hurt at all.
Not wasting a moment, Goldmoon swung the staff around to Gavin and his wounds likewise vanished. The staff's glow sunk back to its normal intensity.
Seeing what takes place, the half elf will kneel Never before with my training with the Seekers did I ever see anything like that. The wounds are healed as if they were never there! The power of the Gods! Has it returned? Quen Illumini, is she present?
Tania wants to say something negative, or at least keep her doubts, but the sudden surge of healing is like nothing she's ever felt. And she finds herself hoping...
The half-elf will look around and speak in Qualanesti Quen Illumini, are you here? Goddess of Healing, are you here? Quen Illumini, please, make yourself known if you are. We have waited so long for a sign that you are with us. She continues in Qualanesti If Quen Illumini is here why not Paladine, the gods of my forefather, both Solamnic and elven. E'li, please, Father of Light, make yourself known. Your people suffer
The half-elf will look around and speak in Qualanesti Quen Illumini, are you here? Goddess of Healing, are you here? Quen Illumini, please, make yourself known if you are. We have waited so long for a sign that you are with us. She continues in Qualanesti If Quen Illumini is here why not Paladine, the gods of my forefather, both Solamnic and elven. E'li, please, Father of Light, make yourself known. Your people suffer
The antechamber offered no answer, not even an echo, but Mariel had the sudden sense of a great, kind, and patient force somewhere beyond the doors leading deeper within.
She will follow the feeling to the source.
Caitlyn gasps in wonder, "Wow... Did that just happen?!" She walks closer to Gavin and marvels at the new pink skin poking out through the acid pitted wreckage of his jumper. Quietly she murmurs, "Dangit Gavin, you scared me there. That beast, I thought. I thought that was it, we were all going to die." Still marveling at how unharmed he is she adds, "This changes everything doesn't it?"
Noting Mariel suddenly walking off with a determined look in her eye, Caitlyn calls to the others, "Come on! Lets follow Mariel!"
Numbing pain disperses and is quickly replaced with a rejuvenating thrumming of healing energy. Gavin steadies himself. "What...what just happened?" He runs his fingers through his hair and touches all the parts he felt melt away. "....bless you, Lady Goldmoon. I heard death's call, I was sure of it. Bless you."
Gavin takes a seat, in complete awe of what just happened. "Please, give me a moment."
Numbing pain disperses and is quickly replaced with a rejuvenating thrumming of healing energy. Gavin steadies himself. "What...what just happened?" He runs his fingers through his hair and touches all the parts he felt melt away. "....bless you, Lady Goldmoon. I heard death's call, I was sure of it. Bless you."
Gavin takes a seat, in complete awe of what just happened. "Please, give me a moment."
"Of course," Goldmoon said, similarly stricken. "But you must not thank me. It was the staff's doing." She sat down next to him, looking at the blue crystal staff.
Mariel went past the inner doors, followed by Caitlyn. There they found themselves beneath the great dome they saw form without. Delicate tiles, far more delicate than ought to have survived centuries, spread out beneath their feet in an azure sign of Mishakal: two rings joined together and marked by stars.
Presiding over it all stood a larger than life statue of a woman of singular grace and beauty, delicate feminine form communicating hidden strength and draped in flowing robes.Her has fell down to her shoulders and neck. She wore an amulet of the same sign as the mosaic and a slender diadem.
A steady calm filled the room, making the companions' travails seem a distant memory. In the statue's gaze, they beheld great warmth.
Jakun lifts Gavin up from the floor, "My friend I am glad you are healed! That is certainly powerful magic Goldmoon, I wonder if it would have similarly healed me considering what happened when I touched it..."
Jakun steps into the room assisting Gavin as he moves, "A wondrous room considering the wear on the rest of the Temple. I wonder though what we are doing here. The power of that creature ay well be too much for us".
Quenesti Pah, are you here? she asks in Qualanesti.
Thistletorp stares in awe as Gavin's wounds are healed. OOOOOoooooh! That's amazing! That's even better than glowing! His hand stretched towards the blue crystal staff. I could keep it really safe!
Quenesti Pah, are you here? she asks in Qualanesti.
Mariel received no answer.
"OOOOOoooooh! That's amazing! That's even better than glowing!" His hand stretched towards the blue crystal staff. "I could keep it really safe!"
Goldmoon smiled politely and drew the staff away from Thistletorp's grasp.
"I think it had best stay with me, little one. Remember it didn't like Jakun at all. You're not hurt, so why risk it?"
Ok. But, if you ever need someone to keep it safe. I'll watch it! I'm really good at watchign things!
The half elf will collapse onto her knees and begin to weep Has hope been lost? Are the gods playing with people? Are we dice to be cast when needed? she states as she hold onto the statue.