.
Done (hopefully)
Le Dot
Dot of Fear
Alkariani looked around in a slightly dazed state, her fingers wrapping tight around the shaft of the Totem Spear she carried to reassure herself of it's presence. She could feel the history carved into the shaft, hear the faint whistling as she moved it, and felt comfort. If nothing else she was armed and the whistling meant air...
She moved over to the edge of this reality, and pushed the tip of the spear to see if this was some kind of illusion. Nothing. No resistance at all. Glancing over made her queasy - she wasn't sure when a drop into such an abyss would end. She didn't like the idea of falling until she finally died of thirst, and moved a more comfortable distance from the edge.
This meant moving towards the other people there. She considered challenging them, seeing if any knew what this was all about - but the look of confusion on there face was enough to suggest to her that most of them didn't know. Or were good at hiding there emotions. Instead, she announced, "I am Alkariani Spearsong. Does...does anyone have any idea what's going on? Beyond the obvious, 'snatched by magic to a weird place' I mean?"
As she waited for replies, she moved over and glanced at the lists available, and took one of the maps before glancing into the dungeon entrance. So we are rewarded if we pay this game? I wonder who is watching us play...
Binx jolted awake and looked around. well, this is a different way to go about things.... Seeing several strangers doing the same, he grinned with understanding. "Suddenly awoken in the middle of the night? Check. Four to six strangers? Check. Vague or misleading mission objective? Check. He chuckles briefly. Thackeray Binx. Scientist, mage, and translator. So, who pissed off Drendle Dreng this time?" Taking a map, he glanced at it while waiting for one of his Pathfinder companions to own up to their misdeed.
Squinting and rubbing his just wakening eyes as he looks around, Taranis looks about uncertain of his surroundings. Well this is a surprise Fo̱s He mutters as he taps his sword. A bright light begins to hum around the blade. Taking advantage of the brighter light, he begins to take in his surroundings. Seeing the spear wielding woman awake an moving, Taranis approaches her trying to hide his own confusion as best he can. I are Taranis Nox of Hermea. I'm as clueless as you are but, I can only assume someone plans to make us the pawns of their sport.
Asimi stayed crouched looking at those here. Luckily the light was not bright here and her eyes were unaffected. Pulling the scarf up over her face like a mask she stared at them all.
Moving cautiously, Asimi would move towards the sign and takes a map. Listening quietly to them talk she studied each. One, with slightly pointed ears, pale skin and red hair, clutched a spear. Another, Thackeray Binx seemed to like to talk. Disoriented though he was he had a good grasp on what was going on. A third taps his sword and light appears and she hissed softly averting her eyes.
Standing slightly she spoke tersely and roughly, as if her voice did not get used at all.
"Skills you possess? Communal challenge, communal dedication."
Hadn't their been enough pain the last two weeks?
Why did someone pick me for this?
Two seconds passed as Hetra stared at what had just been his table at home. Now there was no table, and no home, and not much of... anything. The guardsman, covered from view with scarves and clothing, stumbled back to the edge of the grey room which he had been stolen to.
What is going on? the man cries within his mind, eyes darting around, looking at each of the others with a frightened gaze. "Who did this?" He asks the question in a tremulous voice, staring at them as he pulled his hammer out from it's belt loop, trying to achieve some feeling of safety.
The weapon made him feel only a small bit better.
Binx blinks in confusion at his companions' unexpected reactions. "Um ... I don't mean to sound rude, but are all of you new or something? Every other mission's like this. Didn't anyone warn you about Venture Captain Dreng?"
Turning her eyes to the human, Thackery Binx, Alkariani considered for a moment. "Venture Captain? As in the Pathfinders?" She shook her head slowly. "I am not of the Pathfinders. I am Shriikirri-Quah Shoanti. I was on the way to Korvosa for some negotiations when I ended...here." She shook her head slowly. "I'm afraid I don't know what a Drendle Dren is, either."
She nodded at one of the other humans, and considered. "Greetings Taranis Nox. Well met." She glanced at the bright light of his sword - not an unusual ability for a spellcaster, but she'd yet to find the right Word to do it herself.
Next, Alkariani's eye was drawn to another figure. Another woman. Another Half-Elf. Alkariani was surprised. She hadn't met very many of her own kind. Although, given how she was crouched and the veil across her eyes, this one seemed almost...feral. "My skills? I am a negotiator. I also have some skills with a spear, and some minor magics."
Finally she looked over at the last human. He seemed nervous. "I am afraid I don't know who did this. I would like to find out. Unfortunately, I suspect any answers will either be in there," she gestued to the dungeon entrance with the tip of the spear, "Or after it."
At these words, Binx's bemused attitude instantly changes. "I see.... Well then, we've obviously been abducted! This isn't Pahfinder-sanctioned or I would have heard about it. Well then, what do we know so far?" His eyes taking on an intense stare, Binx nods at Taranis. "Wielding a sword. You're obviously some sort of Battlemage. No holy symbol, so I'm assuming your talents are more of the arcane persuasion?" He grins at Alkariani. "You've already told us about yourself." Turning to the cloaked man, he continues speaking. "As for you ... ... I'm afraid I have no idea! Give me something more to work with. Unless you're a Drow, in which case it's probably better to stay covered." he chuckles briefly then regains his analytical affect. Last, he smiles at the feral woman. "And lastly ... you shy from light and seem less 'refined' than the rest of us. Maybe you prefer the outdoors ... away from civilization ... you're a follower of the Green Faith, aren't you?"
Without pausing for a response, he indicates himself. "As I said a minute ago, my name's Thackery Binx. I'm a student of the arcane arts, a chemist, and a translator of ancient writings."
After a pause to let this sink in, he continues by gesturing at their surroundings. "As for where we are: this is obviously a demiplane. We're clearly dealing with a powerful mage. Unfortunately, something seems to be repressing the majority of my powers. Don't worry, I'm sure I can figure it out, but it'll take time." He shakes his head suddenly, and the analytical intensity in his eyes fades away. "Well, that's what I've deduced thus far. Any questions?"
Asimi shrugs one shoulder as he addressed her. It was her way of saying half right.
Taking a moment she dropped off her back and gear, thankful the weight was gone. Rolling her shoulders she decided it was time to redistribute the weight. They could see two stretches partially stained with blood tied to her back pack. Shifting all of her gear to re-balance it for quick dropping for battle and scouting.
'Refined, give me a break. People like you are just putting on trappings, hiding from the fear of what the wild can do to you.' Of course she didn't voice this. It would only make them puff up like a bird and her throat still hurt from forcing herself to speak as it was.
Looking at the door, the map and the chest she remembered something from her teacher's old tests.
"Test of survival, conquest. Reward is growth." Now Asimi meant personal growth but it was easy to take it many different ways.
"Scout." Pointing at herself.
What were they all talking about? Pathfinders, Shoanti, Drow... What kind of insanity had he been dropped into. Refusing to lower his hammer, Hetra tried to avoid notice as he snuck over to the chest, looking over it.
I just want something to do away from these people...
Whatever they were, the one speaking of Pathfinders was one if the most loquacious of the group, which was disturbing in its own right. Despite all the confusing words and statements being thrown around, Hetra refused to ask questions about them. Hopefully they would be revealed in time?
Maybe?
Taranis ponders each person's comments then walks the edges of the Demi-plane. Not to sound pushy, but I don't imagine we can get out of this mess by talking. Perhaps it would be in out best interest to explore beyond the door. Looking at each of them in turn, Taranis grabs the door handle and makes a gesture as if ready to open the door for them.
Alkariani nodded slightly. "Whoever or whatever has set this up would seem to want us to play their game. Until we know more about how this all works it makes sense for us to play how they want us to." It was not, of course, wise enough to upset anything that could whisk a bunch of people to, if Binx was correct, to a created demiplane of some kind.
"Before we enter, however," she pointed to the list of buildings they could apparently build, "We may wish to select some of these. I presume some of them would be useful. For example, the everflowing spring. We need water. Although according to these rules, we also need a park to have it in..." Alkariani shrugged. "Whatever game we are playing, it has these rules, so I suggest we use them to our benefit and create a base of operations for time between these dungeons. If someone else will offer up a park, I will buy the spring. We can concern ourselves with food later."
Asimi looks at the list and points at the Park and then points to herself.
"My Home." Her voice was still rough but at least you could tell it was female. "If build spring make it natural." Her tone implied this wasn't a demand but a request.
Binx nods to Taranis. "Of course, my good man. I was just distributing what information we have thus far. Knowledge is power, after all." Walking over and perusing the building list, he frowns. "Don't we need a Quarry as well? And workers to run it? My admittedly limited understanding is that we'll need a House, Quarry, Park - and then the Spring. I'll contribute what I can."
"Okay, upon further perusal, it seems that the House can wait. Use my resources as you best see fit."
As the others talk, the shadows in one corner of the square platform moves, and out steps a tall, dark skinned cowled elf, who looks around at those present with cool, calculating eyes.
He walks to the box, and reads the note quietly, then nods in understanding. "It would make sense to build a shop." He says simply, not bothering to introduce or list his specialties like those before him.
Binx raises an eyebrow at the newcomer.
Hetra steps back as the strange man steps in, glancing at him from beneath his scarf. Don't worry, these other people will protect from danger... Hetra thought quietly to himself, before biting his lip. There was no real proof that they were good people either. But at least he had to try and work with them...
"Can we get some food as well?" The human speaks quietly, eyes darting from person to person. "We can build the Farm for at least something... I don't know if anyone has brought any real amount of food..." Hetra's voice trails off as he glances at the pointy-eared humanoid that had stepped in from nowhere.
"I am who and what I need to be."
Alkariani glanced at the newcomer. Some sort of Elf? I've never heard of one with black skin before. Her own pale skin was unable to tan, even in the baking sun of the Cinderlands. Burn, yes, but it had certainly never come near such a shade as this man possessed. And the tongue he spoke with Binx...
Shaking her head, the Half-Elf replied, "We seem to have five of these resource points each. With the Quarry, Park and Everflowing Spring we have used fifteen of those points. The shop - and the mill required to build it - cost fourteen more, leaving one. The farm would cost eight, leaving seven. That assumes we pool our resources, which makes the most sense."
Considering, she added, "Given that this shop can apparently get equipment without anything to supply it, it may be able to get food without a farm. On the other hand, I'd rather not go hungry if they don't. The normal rules don't seem to apply to this place, though..." She shrugged. "As long as we have water, we can manage a short while."
Taranis looks at each of the others expectantly then shrugs and moves to the box everyone seems interested in. Well there are six of us here with five of these "points". So, Assuming the shop, mill, quarry, park and spring can all fit in this space we are set. Otherwise we may just want to get the park and spring, grab what we can beyond the door and dump it in the box. Taranis Shrugs again and looks to the others. In any case, I'd guess whoever or whatever put us here is going to force us to work together so I you need my points, I can give them up for whatever we need.
Asimi glanced at the ones speaking in the underground tongue. Thankful her flesh was completely cover. She had never thought she would meet one in her lifetime but it seemed they do exhist; Drow.
'As my trainer said, they are secretive and sneaky. Must keep my eye out for him. I care not for these shops, just what I need to to survive.'
Straightens and moves to the door.
"So we are agreed," Alkariani said as she glanced around at the others and at the retreating Half-Elf, "That we buy the following - a park, a quarry, a everflowing spring, a mill and a shop in the hope that these things provide us with basic supplies?"
"If that is so," The wordcaster added, "Then I suppose it is time to see what is through the door..."
"Very well. Before we discover what lies beyond this door, in the interest of survivability, I have a few items that I'm willing to share..." Binx rummages through various pockets and retrieves two vials of Alchemist's Fire, two Alkali Flasks, and one Smokestick.
Hetra looks at the objects that the strange man held out, eyebrows furrowing, before looking back around the group. "Does anyone know what to expect here?" he says quietly, biting his lip afterwards. "I have a feeling that something's going to try and..." Hetra gulps in nervousness. "kill us..." The boy whispers, lowering his hammer to his side as he glances at the door.
Asimi gave a dry chuckle looking at Hetra. "Clear place beyond door. Take what is useful. Survive. Expect that." Seeing the items Thackery held out she shrugged her shoulders and stood at the door.
Once those items were handed out she would inspect the door looking for traps and the like before opening. Just because it seemed safe didn't mean it was.
Asimi would look at the other before opening the door.
Binx nods in approval and waits for Asimi to open the door.
Taking a look at the map she would motion for them to be cautious and looks at the stares slowly making her way down looking for traps. At the split she checks the bottom and would motion for them to stay and heads right to check that dead in for traps or any other things of note.
If Asimi mentions the trap, Phaenox will offer to assist her in disabling it. "I have some skill in removing these, if you would like the help"
Asimi grinned slightly seeing the trap. This was a very cunning trap but some of the others probably didn't have the ability to be nimble. Stepping back she would drop her pack slowly. Pulling out her tools and would start to get to work.
Asimi would finish and looking back having been concentrating on the trap not letting things distract her.
(If it doesn't trip)
"Oh, sorry was concentrating. Good to know."
Asimi smiles and grabs chalk and marks the spot before continuing on and continues her search for more traps. It may be paranoia but she didn't care. One good trap could take them out.
Asimi signals it is safe up to this point. She would check right first and continues to search for traps in that little hook before peeking around the corner checking to see if any obvious threats are there.
Asimi scans the roof of the passage before moving back to the main hallway and then searches to the end of the hallway and peeks around the left corner and checks that hallway.
(When I need to roll again just tell me)
Looking down the two splits in the passage, Alkariani mutters a single word, "Gilah," in an attempt to spot any magical auras in either direction. The word made the world pulse - Alkariani knew that if there was any magic in the area, she would would taste it in the air thanks to the word, and with a little time could even work out what kind it was.
Taranis follows as the group begins to trickle down into the depths beyond the door. Looking at the walls he runs his hands along the walls. Hmm, I wonder... He mutters to himself. Curious but unsure, Taranis proceeds to grip the stone in an attempt to pull himself to the top of the wall to get a better view.