Yes, the small bones of what appeared to be some sort of large rodent.
Sophie turned around to see the roaches. "Not again!" she cried out. She had never been a huge fan of creepy crawlies, but she could take a spider outside if she had to...But, what is up with all these huge bugs! She reached for her weapon with shaking arms and tried to aim, but she nearly dropped the crossbow as she pulled the trigger. Catching it and holding on for dear life, she ran behind half-orc and began trembling. "I'm sorry!" she whimpered, "I've never had to fight like this before!"
Action 1:
We have a moment now, if you are still in pain?”
Eliora laughed heartily, "No, no pain." She hesitated as she inspected her bite wound, "But my wound seems to have reopened with that climb. If you can help me rebandage it, it would be greatly appreciated."
Action 1:
"Two unrelated divines in a group this size? That's a good sign. Anyone else have any hidden depths?" Kyarel asked casually.
Action 2:
Kyarel's keen eyes turned from studying the broach to the skittering in the distance. Once again he aimed and let fly.
Action 1
"But my wound seems to have reopened with that climb. If you can help me rebandage it, it would be greatly appreciated."
"Pleased to," Shiro said, smiling brightly at the tall woman. "Remember. If change your mind, this humble monk happy to be of service."
"Two unrelated divines in a group this size? That's a good sign. Anyone else have any hidden depths?" Kyarel asked casually.
"Mistaken, honored magus. This one not divine. Mere candle before the bonfire that is the Lord," Shiro said quickly as he was busy making a well-meaning mess of Eliora's bandages, misinterpreting the elf's words.
Action 2
Shiro stepped back in horror as the group of gigantic bugs approached them. Yet there was nowhere safe to retreat, the way behind leading into unexplored darkness. Thus, they had to fight. Taking a step back to maintain as much distance from the insects as he could, the monk raised his free hand towards the creatures, open palm toward them, and murmured a few quick words of invocation.
A moment later, a bolt of black smoke filled with embers glowing bright red and orange streaked towards the closest insect, hitting it with the force of a battering ram.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, Sophie
, hit
Action 1
Kyarra seriously considered the tiny man's offer, then shook her head. "My thanks, but no. Best to wait until such healing is necessary."
Action 2
Kyarra stepped between the tiny man and the bleeding girl, drawing her shortsword. She lunged at the vermin, splitting its exoskeleton and spilling its guts on the cavern floor.
Wiping her blade clean, she surveyed the damage. "Sophie, are you badly hurt?"
As she tried to run, Sophie saw her path blocked off. Before she could react, she felt fangs in her thigh and her body being dragged to the ground. She let out a scream and suddenly she couldn't see anything anymore. Not the cave. Not Kyarra running to her aid and killing the creature. Suddenly a beam of fire burst out of her, aimed at the already dead cockroach but veering around the cavern wildly.
Opening her eyes she blinked a few times, as she saw Kyarra mouthing something. Asking if she was okay? Sophie nodded silently, clearly embarrassed and very much in shock. Running on adrenaline she got up quickly and moved away from everyone with her arms folded and her head down. However, her leg was now bleeding quite heavily and began to shake slightly as the pain began to catch up to her.
"S...sorry..." she mumbled quietly.
"S...sorry..." she mumbled quietly.
"The time for changing minds, now, yes?" the monk said, listening no complaints as he took out the metal-wire effigy he had been fiddling with earlier. But now, in the heart of the crude, stylized human figurine, a flickering flame burned, growing brighter and steadier as the warlock invoked his patron's power.
"Lord of Embers, link this flame with me. Lord of Cinders, share your light and warmth with us, in this place of darkness, for we and lost and the night is long," with the murmured words the light grew and grew, flowing along Shiro's arms to touch the three wounded women one by one, washing away their pain and anxiety.
Eliora's face fell when she realized there were no more foes to attack. But she chided herself for such selfish thoughts and instead turned her attention to congratulating the others. "Well done little fighters! The bugs never stood a chance."
She bent down and loomed over Sophie. The half-orc offered her hand, "Admirable effort but feel free to stand behind me next time, like him." Eliora finished by pointing at Lord Gwerm.
The half-orc was a little surprised when the small human reached out and touched her with healing energy. "Thank you for this kindness, Brother Shiro."
OOC:
HEALING
You guys also have your hit dice (only 1 at 1st level) plus your CON modifier to spend throughout the day, either right after a long rest (8 hours) or after any short rest (1 hour but no more than 2 between long rests). You gain the hit dice back after a long rest. This is a slight variation from the original rules which has you recover ALL your hit points after a long rest but only half your hit dice to spend. I MAY change this later if I find you guys are taking too much damage.
I am finding out that critters here hit harder than PF so make sure you are aware of the actions: 'dodge' and 'help'.
TERENDELEV'S SCALES
I originally said that you could negate a hit or a failed saving throw but this is hard to implement in PBP. How are these options:
a) it negates your first failed saving throw of the day; or
b) it negate your first hit or first failed saving throw of the day.
I kind of like a) because I usually ask for you to roll your own saves and this would allow you to write up any fluff that goes along with the 'dragon's spirit' helping you.
Thoughts?
Kyarra watched the tiny, bald human with growing admiration. "That spell you cast earlier - it was very impressive. I have lived with many mages in my life, but have yet to see such magic. Your god must be...broad-minded to allow for such fire and devastation, but also for such gentle healing." The elf thought of a shaman that had fought along side them at the Tanglebriar - his spirits granted healing, but it felt like the wounds were being scoured by acid as he did so.
Looking at the twice-scorched bugs, Kyarra realized that something didn't add up. Where did that firebolt come from? Turning, she drew an imaginary line from the dead bug to where the bolt must have come from. "Sophie? Was that you? You didn't tell us you were a mage."
"Thank you for this kindness, Brother Shiro."
”Very much welcome,” the short monk replied happily, pleased to have been of some help.
"That spell you cast earlier - it was very impressive. I have lived with many mages in my life, but have yet to see such magic. Your god must be...broad-minded to allow for such fire and devastation, but also for such gentle healing."
"The Lord... mysterious," Shiro said, a wistful smile on his lips. ”In the monastery, only fragments of stories found, many likely made up. A great sin he once committed, a great sacrifice to make amends. Still, untold deaths, destiny of a realm cast in ashes. Best intentions leading to disaster. This one was chosen by the kami, the Lord, to serve. Why, this monk does not know. For what purpose, can only guess. Time, perhaps, will tell.”
"Thank you..." Sophie said quietly as Shiro applied magic to her wounds. The leg still ached, but at least the bleeding stopped and she was no longer feeling woozy in the head. She watched with quiet wonder as the monk performed the healing magic. He had let out that mighty blast earlier too. How does he manage such power and still maintain so much control? Maybe I could ask him...? However, right now her voice seemed to be escaping her.
At least perhaps it seems that no one noticed what I did... She thought to herself. But then she noticed Kyarra approaching with a curious look in the eye. Or not. Oh no... "Oh no...no...no..." Sophie shook her head several times, "I mean...um...yes I did...er...do that. I'm so, so sorry...But I'm not a mage...I just got..." Her eyes watered up and words started flowing out, "Um...scared...and I'll try to reign it in. I'm trying to keep it under control...I really am!" She gave Kyarra a pleading looks, "Please don't leave me behind..."
"Sorcery?" Kyarel asked with interest, and a little envy. "You've magic in the blood? You're lucky - that's very rare!" 'Would've been nice not to have to spend my whole life studying to get to the point where I can cast a few cantrips.'
Sophie winced at the word sorcery and gave Kyarel a confused look. "Lucky?" Did he miss the part where I could have roasted his sister? I guess at least he doesn't seem mad. "I don't know about that...maybe if I could use it like you and Brother Shiro...but...I can't so...um...should we maybe keep moving?" She was clearly uncomfortable talking about her magic.
Action 1:
"Amme had friends who were sorcerers. They all had control. Kyarel paused, then admitted "Though I remember one of them did complain about lack of control when he was very young. He did say it was a rough three decades."
Action 2:
"That's Torag! God of dwarves! Maybe there's a dwarven cleric around here - or even just supplies." Kyarel took off towards the temple...
Action 1
Kyarra tipped her head slightly, trying to understand Sophie's reluctance to talk about, or use her power. All those decades of begging amme to teach me, and this one has power without asking. But I suppose not everybody has a handful of powerful mages as their own personal tutors. Despite being raised in the way she was, the ranger understood little about the different forms of magic and mages.
Patting the half-elf awkwardly on the shoulder, she said, "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll sort it out. And it looks like our other three, no four, companions can help you." She almost forgot to include the blind elf in her count, but knew that he likely had advice to give, even without sight.
Action 2
Rolling her eyes, Kyarra called to her rash brother, "Kyarel, wait. We don't know what's in that other cave....there could be danger nearby. Let's do this smart and safe."
Action 1
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll sort it out. And it looks like our other three, no four, companions can help you."
”This humble monk, happy to help if he can,” Shiro agreed quickly, nodding his head. ”Mental clarity, confidence. Many things to help control power. Yours, your own. Mine, loaned, given to this monk’s use. Many differences, yes, but in the end, not so many, perhaps,” he trailed off, sounding frustrated his lack of mastery of the language made getting his message across difficult.
”First step, acceptance. Deny your power, deny control over it,” he added after a moment of thought.
Action 2
"Kyarel, wait. We don't know what's in that other cave....there could be danger nearby. Let's do this smart and safe."
”Any living here, in this darkness, among these creatures… not quick to welcome strangers beating on their door, perhaps?” Shiro added his own voice of caution to the elven archer’s urgings.
"Three decades!" Sophie replied with a pained expression. She sighed, but listened to their advice. Denying my power, denies control over it? That was an interesting thought. She was supposed to by trying to learn to control it. That's why she came here. But as soon as things started going wrong, she had immediately started trying to bury it again. "Okay...I'll try...but um...if something attacks us again...maybe give me some...uh...space... She gave them a serious look, "I just don't wanna hurt anyone..."
Action 2:
Sophie looked to the others, "I don't know. Many dwarves that I've met are very hospitable! Always up to share a drink and a meal...but I guess that was in a tavern...and not in a strange underground cave..." She turned to Kyaral, "Maybe we should approach carefully. In case there's more critters or blob demons! Then we should knock. My pop pop always said you should always knock before entering a room!"
Yes, you backtracked and checked where the cockroaches came from but found nothing of note.
You are standing in the 5' wide passage that leads to the 'building'.
If you move in, I'll detail that in the next turn.
Questions?
Game on!
So the building is in the cavern with the nasty green light?
So the building is in the cavern with the nasty green light?
Yes.
Kyarra's brow wrinkled in thought. "Are not Torag's colours gold and grey? I do not like the look of that light. We should exercise extreme caution."
Turning to the injured archer, she said, "Keep an eye on that south tunnel, and shout if you see anything coming." To Eliora, she said, "Shall we investigate? Kyarel, Sophie, stay behind us. Shiro...where do you prefer to be?" She wasn't quite sure what to make of the small, powerful man.
Sophie quickly and obediently fell behind Kyarra with her crossbow drawn. She only hesitated briefly to make sure that Horgus had left a spot for her.
Eliora drew her weapon and nodded at Kyarra, "Torag is a friend to Iomedae. If a structure dedicated to him has been tainted then we need to make it right."
Action 2:
Maybe she was a little overconfident as she stepped up to the door. Eliora figured that a stuck door was no match for her but she was wrong. She gave the door a shoulder check but dwarven stone proved to be more resilient than other human structures.
Action 1
Anevia fell into black, silent anger at this, her eyes narrowing as she tensed her bow and looked south.
”Angering the woman pointing an arrow at the back of your head… not the path to wisdom and enlightenment, nor healthy long life,” Shiro murmured, concerned for the selfish noble’s survival. The way the man was acting, if a beast didn’t get him, his fellow survivors would.
Action 2
As there was no room for them all in the temple’s small antechamber, Shiro waited outside the building, waiting for the armored lady to force her way past the inner door, occupying himself by keeping watch.
Yes, if you keep trying, you will eventually force your way in...
"Since we are already slowing down to cautiously check the building, I don't see any harm in her taking a rest." Sophie said diplomatically. Though, she did eye Anevia with slight curiosity. Sophie had been holding back enough of her own secrets to recognize when someone else was not being forthcoming. Ultimately, she decided it wasn't her place to probe. Everyone has there own stuff they're dealing with...Who am I to stick my nose in it?
Action 1:
Kyarel sighed, rolled his eyes, but took the designated permission.
When Anevia and Gwerm started sniping he started openly, mouth and large elf eyes opened wide. He went silent, and looked to his sister to see what to do.
Action 2:
"Do you think it is locked?" Kyarel asked curiously.
Kyarra caught her brother's eye, then turned to glare at the two troublemakers. "I care not for your pasts, nor your squabbles. But if we are to survive this, we must work together, and for Ketephys' sake, stop shouting at each other!"
Action 2
Kyarra approached cautiously, eyeing the glowing fungus with suspicion. When it seemed unlikely to attack, she turned her attention to the possible temple.
Seeing Eliora struggle with the door, she moved forward to help. Remembering Sophie's advice, she first knocked on the door. "Hello? Anybody inside? We're friendly."
Waiting a few moments, she shrugged then said, "Let's push together. On three. 1....2.....3"
Action 1:
Eliora vigorously shook her head, "I can't protect everyone if we split up, even if it is to search ahead. We need to stay together for everyone's sake. The only opinion I care about is Iomedae's and doing what's right is what she'd want me to do."
Action 2:
The paladin's face scrunched up as the foul stench of evil assaulted her senses. "Evil! Fear not, former priest of Torag, I will free you of this foul taint." She drew her longsword and rapidly approached the dust covered undead dwarf.
"Woah!" Alarmed, Kyarra reached forward and grabbed the half-orc by her meaty arm, trying to halt her approach. "What are you doing? Stop!" she cried, digging in her heels as the paladin dragged her forward a few steps.
Eliora looked down at Kyarra with a look of surprise as the elf tried to stop her. "What are you doing? There is evil that must be destroyed - both for our good and so that undead dwarf can finally be at rest. It makes no sense to stop."
Action 1
He then rubbed his fingers together, “How about you little man? What can I get you for your troubles?”
”Spreading out… most unwise,” Shiro said, shaking his head. ”Most expansive of lords, would you have two guards when you can have five? These risks, not worth.”
Sophie looked confused by the whole exchange. "Evil? Undead" You mean he's...?" She called out to the dwarf, "Mister Dwarf, sir? Can you hear us...Are you okay?" She asked from behind the others.
Kyarra looked at the dusty corpse. "Undead? You mean, like vampire?!" She kept a firm grip on the half-orc's arm, though she wasn't sure she could stop her if she tried. "Look, if we're going to survive this, you need to talk to us! If there's a threat, we need to assess it, and figure out the best way to beat it. Don't just charge in without talking to us."
She looked again at the unmoving corpse. "Are you sure its undead? We can't magically sense vampires. Just looks like a dead guy to me. So, let's do this safe, and careful. Got it?" She experimentally released Eliora, hoping she wouldn't charge off again without at least explaining.
Kyarel gave a little strangled noise when the dead dwarf turned around and shrieked. For all the magic he had grown up with, black necromancy was something he had never seen - and he'd not yet had the lifespan to have his shock reflex ground down by time.
Quickly he took to one knee, knocked and shot through the gap between his sister's right thigh and Eliora's left knee. The arrow whistled through the gap and thunked into the dead dwarf's chest.
Kyarra had an arrow knocked and aimed before she had fully processed her target. She didn't take time to think, she just let her training take over, and released the arrow.
It sank into the undead's tattered chest, to be followed immediately by her brother's arrow, less than a finger's width from hers. "Right," she stammered, "Magical vampire sensor. Sorry."
Dropping her bow, she pulled out her shortsword and stepped diagonally away, preparing to flank the creature should it engage Eliora.
"Please return to rest, honoured elder!" Shiro yelped as the very much dead dwarf lurched towards them. From the monk's raised hand, another bolt of smoke and burning embers streaked forth, striking the undead creature a few inches below the twin arrows.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, Eliora
, hit