Action 1:
Eliora was still confused, "Looks aren't evil. Although there are some who believe that Iomedae shouldn't have accepted me as one of her servants because of how I look."
Then she grinned, "But I will tell you what my father told me, those people are ignorant fools who know nothing of what truly matters."
Action 3:
Eliora unwound her rope and tied one end to her waist. Then, with no warning, she launched herself across the gap.
"Now I can help the others climb up the other side if they can't jump themselves.
Sophie looked at the jump uncertainly. How am I going to make that, I'll definitely need Eliora's rope. Then she looked at a her party members and felt selfish. Forget me...how is Avernia going to do this?
"Um, maybe we should lower her down...then lift her up?" She remarked to the others as she pointed at Avernia.
Kyarra pulled out her own rope. Moving to the injured archer, she said, "Here, let's make a sling, then we can lower you down, hopefully without too much bumping. Then Eliora can help you up the other side. "
Looking at her skinny brother, Kyarra raised an eyebrow and said, "How about you, Kyarel? Do you want to go down and up? There's little I can do to help you jump."
When everybody was across safely, Kyarra took a few deep breaths, centred herself, and launched herself across the gap.
Action 1:
Kyarel's previous revulsion left him feeling ashamed. Elves adapted the their environment over mere centuries, leaving them inured to most appearance based discrimination. 'Judging someone based on their appearance alone? How human of me.'
Action 2:
"Really?" Kyarel scoffs - quietly - at his sister's distrust. He raises the back of his hand as she starts to object. "Fine. Whatever."
Action 3:
"I'll climb down with the wounded, and make sure they're okay to get down and back up." he offers "and I wouldn't need your help to judge that little gap."
Kyarra pulled out her own rope. Moving to the injured archer, she said, "Here, let's make a sling, then we can lower you down, hopefully without too much bumping. Then Eliora can help you up the other side. "
Shiro eyed the jagged gap in the floor with some concern. It was too wide to jump across comfortably, but the little monk didn't particularly like some of those sharp-looking splinters of rock sticking out from the sides. One had to be careful climbing down to come away with all his fingers still attached. Thus, once Eliora leaped across the chasm with ease he decided to try his luck, following her example.
Backing away to take as much of a running start as the uneven footing and darkness permitted, the Tian man launched himself forward, his right foot landing at the very edge of the gap...
... his was about to sigh in relief when his slipper-clad foot slipped on loose rocks, sending him tumbling backwards and down, his arm desperately lunging for the rope he had seen Eliora beginning to lower into the chasm...
I wanted to make the challenge easier but with worst consequences (jumping) or a bit harder but with milder consequences (climbing).
It's an athletics check for both and you add your STR modifier for the roll.
You can attenuate or even totally mitigate for these consequences by RPing your attempts (i.e., use of rope, etc.).
With this in mind, I'll recap later today and will roll for whoever hasn't rolled already.
Questions?
Game on!
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, pass
, pass
, pass
"Spore cougher? Sophie asked nervously, "What kind of monster is that? It sound dangerous!"
Action 2
”Many thanks,” Shiro said, bowing low to Eliora once he got his wildly beating heart back under control. That had been one scary experience, but thanks to city guardian’s quick thinking, survivable. ”This humble monk, almost saw the faces of his ancestors. Much disproval, in those eyes. Glad not to join them yet.”
Action 3
"Spore cougher?" Sophie asked nervously, "What kind of monster is that? It sound dangerous!"
The name didn't ring any bells with Shiro. "This creature... you know of it? You can tell us?" he asked Lann. "Came through the cave, to get to the tower? If not defeat, how did you get past before?"
The name didn't ring any bells with Shiro. "This creature... you know of it? You can tell us?" he asked Lann. "Came through the cave, to get to the tower? If not defeat, how did you get past before?"
Lann shook his head, "We are going this way because of the collapsed tunnels in our usual route. We know of this creature but we try to avoid it."
He assessed the group, "The thing... shoots out spores and those spores are deadly or make you do strange things."
Lann breathed and held his breath, "Maybe if we hold our breath... There are many of us; surely we can defeat it."
Action 1:
Eliora started to protest the offer to help carry her gear but then paused mid-thought. She shuffled items between the two packs she carried to put all the heavy stuff in hers while giving the deaf girl a few lighter items to carry in the other pack. "Thanks for helping."
"If we're going to be friends, how do we talk to each other?"
Action 2:
Eliora slapped Brother Shiro on the back, "Admiral effort. Glad I was here to keep you from falling."
Action 3:
The half-orc began questioning Lann about the spore creature. "How far does it shoot it's spores? Have you fought it before? If we cover our nose and mouth, will it still affect us? That may be easier for some than holding their breath...not me, but others."
"I guess we can try and not breath it in..." Sophie remarked as she thought to herself. "Oh! So, when I was back at the inn, sometimes we had to clean the outhouse. Horrible job. But, we used to wrap scarves around our face...you know, to cover our face and nose so as not to get sick! Maybe we could do something like that?"
Kyarra's mind reached back to her lessons, and by some miracle, came up with the right one. "Basidirond," she said, "that's what we call them. They're a plant, but they can move around and attack. They've got a pointy cone thing on top they can thump you with, or whack you with a clump of spores. Avoid that - the infection can kill you. They can also release a cloud that'll make you hallucinate. But that sticks close to them."
The elf thought another moment, trying to come with any other tidbits. "Don't close with it if you don't have to. Cold's no good, but fire might be. Sophie, can you try that if we come across it? Everybody else, range weapons in you have them. Let's go slow and careful, and don't bunch up, so it can't poison us all at once."
When everybody was ready, Kyarra nocked an arrow and moved cautiously into the cave.
Action 3:
"Good idea. Damp cloths." Kyarel suggested when Sophie spoke up. "If we end up using fire that'll help with the smoke as well."
He turned to his sister "Bow. Got it. How smart are these things? Are illusions likely to help?"
Sophie's eye's widened in fear at the request for her to produce fire on command. Still she nodded and gulped. "I...I'll try..."
Action 1:
Eliora started moving towards the bodies, "Fallen brothers!" But something gave her pause, "They don't look right. I've never known a servant of Iomedae to use such weapons."
"Kyarra, you seem to know about this spore cougher. Can the spores infect you even after it's dead? Is it okay to get closer?"
Action 2:
Eliora made sure she had Dyra's attention when she said, "Your home is lovely. I like how the lights reflect off the water."
Action 2
Shiro looked at the strange settlement with open wonder, a delighted smile on his lips. A cave lit by luminous fungus, a calm underwater lake that had never felt the touch of wind to muddle its clear waters, and the best of all, children who approached them with open curiosity. And no adults yelling after them, immediately calling them away from the approaching strangers? That, to Shiro, spoke loudly of the promise for peace.
Eliora made sure she had Dyra's attention when she said, "Your home is lovely. I like how the lights reflect off the water."
”Very beautiful, yes,” Shiro agreed happily, drinking in the sights, waving his hand enthusiastically to greet the horde of children. ”Serene. An oasis of life, in lifeless tunnels. This humble monk, honored to be allowed to see.”
Sophie took in their surroundings. It wasn't exactly a place she would want to set up shop, but there was something fascinating about the place. I wonder how many humans from the topside actually get to see this place? "Yes. Thank you for your hospitality. If you have a kitchen somewhere, maybe I can thank you. I make a mean stew..."
Action 1:
"Given time I could summon a servitor to drag them away, if you want to..." he hesitated and looked over at Horgus, memories of the merchant lord's previous behaviour all too easy to mind "...Check to see if they have water or rations."
Action 2:
Kyarel released a breath he hadn't realised he was holding, and felt his shoulders relax. 'Water!'
He smiles along with the others, though he finds himself a trifle less comfortable with the children skipping amongst them. Still on edge from the fights of the last day the rapidly moving targets leave him twitchy. 'Children.' he reminds himself 'They're just children.'
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Action 1:
"Given time I could summon a servitor to drag them away, if you want to..." he hesitated and looked over at Horgus, memories of the merchant lord's previous behaviour all too easy to mind "...Check to see if they have water or rations."
Kyarra nodded. "Good thinking. If the Basidirond is hiding, or some other threat, or if the spores are still active, there will be less threat." She clapped Kyarel on the shoulder. "It's good to see all that learning wasn't wasted!"
Action 2
Despite their ugliness, the appearance of the mongrel children made Kyarra relax. These people wouldn't be inviting them to the lair of their spawn if they were planning treachery. Wouldn't amme be shocked to see us now.
As the hideous children approached them, Kyarra said, "Kyarel, look! Your kin approaches! I always suspected that you were adopted, but here is the proof."
Action 1:
Eliora didn't like what she was hearing because it conflicted with what the dead men were wearing. "Those belonging to Iomedae wouldn't be helping anything bad and I've never seen that bull's head before. It isn't anything belonging to Iomedae. Wrong weapons and wrong actions suggest they shouldn't be dressed as crusaders of Iomedae."
Action 2:
Eliora frowned at Kyarra and patted Kyarel comfortingly on the shoulder, "There is nothing wrong with being adopted. I was adopted and it was the best thing that happened to me. Do not let your sister shame you." Then she glowered at Kyarra, "That wasn't very nice."
Action 1:
Sophie took a curious glance at the necklace. What an odd symbol. However, otherwise she thought little of it.
She also gave Kyarra a slightly disappointed look. She could understand that she was just teasing her brother, but it didn't feel quite right that the joke was at the children's expense. She gave the kids a big smile and hoped they had either not overheard the remark or that the implication had gone over their heads.
Action 2:
"Hello." she said, approaching Chief Sull with an awkward curtsy. "We are in the cave by accident. There was an attack on the surface and it caused some sort of...I don't really know...fissure I guess? Well, we suffered a terrible fall." She gave a sad look, "I think we were the only ones who survived the drop." Taking a deep breath she continued. "We were caved in from above, so we have been exploring the caves trying to find our way back to the surface. We met your people...Helped them free Crel and then they kindly offered us shelter for the night...We've been traveling many hours..."
Action 1
"Those belonging to Iomedae wouldn't be helping anything bad and I've never seen that bull's head before. It isn't anything belonging to Iomedae. Wrong weapons and wrong actions suggest they shouldn't be dressed as crusaders of Iomedae."
Shiro peered at the symbol with avid interest. Clearly the thing had been dear to the departed man, to have him clutch it with his last strength, rather than a weapon. A symbol of his divine patron, likely, but which one... Shiro wasn't all that familiar with the western pantheon of gods - some of the deities commonly worshiped here had no presence in Tian, and others were known in different guise, with different names.
"A bull... a deity of strength and violence, perhaps, to pick such a symbol for itself," Shiro mused aloud.
Action 3
"Honored elder, thank you for meeting," Shiro said, giving the silvery-haired mongrel a deep bow, with his hands hidden in his shirt's wide sleeves. "Us... refugees from the city above," he went on, hesitating a bit with the word, lamenting his lack of linguistic sophistication with this crude western speech. He hoped an earnest and honest voice would help bridge any gaps left by poorly chosen words.
"As told to your people before, the city above, raided by creatures of the void. Raided. Burned. A giant oni, made a rift into elsewhere. We fell through, here. Many died. Few, survived, as a honored dragon intervened. Protected us, even as it fell. Now, here. Lost. Seeking way up, to surface. Along the way, met your people. Saw their need, helped them. In return, escorted here, in hopes of shelter and directions."
Realizing that her words had offended the mongrels, Kyarra hastily backtracked. "No! I mean, because I'm so ugly, and my brother is so cute! And you guys are so cute too! That's all..." she trailed off, looking to her brother for support.
Action 1:
"Baphomet" spits Kyarel, the word an epithet in his mouth. "Demon lord of Minotaurs. Safe to say they weren't crusaders of Iomedae, even in passing - the faiths are anathema to each other."
Action 2:
Kyarel pauses, realising this is the opening he always wanted. Not just that the insults wrote themselves, but now Kyarra had called herself ugly. Desire to tease warred with shame, and shame won.
"It's an elven joke." Kyarel assured Eliora "Our lifespans are so long we don't have hereditary traits. Instead we adapt to the environment. Elves raised together look similar because of the environment and not because of their consanguinity. 'Adoption' isn't a slur to us. I grew up in inside, so my skin is pale and my hair white, to make the most of what sunlight there is."
"These kids obviously grew up underground, and they're very pale too. That's what you meant, right, Kyarra?"
Action 3:
"Chief. Can I ask? Why are your people all so different? Is there something wrong with the water under here, or something?"
Staring at her brother, Kyarra could only mutely nod. She had lost his train of thought, but it couldn't be worse than her gaffe, so she nodded along and hoped for the best.
Sophie listened to the chief's story with sadness. She couldn't help but remember her incident in the kitchen. The sudden fear in the eyes of the other kitchen workers over something she couldn't control. That had felt so awful, she could only imagine their experiences. Unlike her, they couldn't hide in society. Unlike her, they had risked their life for a cause, only to have that cause turn against them and their innocent children. "Your offer to help us is both kind and noble." Sophie said with a bow. "...and if I am so favored by the gods to survive back to the surface, I would be most honored to relay such a message." Sophie looked back the party and blushed, realizing she had gotten a little carried away. Oh right. I'm nobody...and nobody is going to listen to me..." "Um...of course I don't speak for everyone here...and I guess this other tribe will not be as open and understanding to our plight..."
Yeah, level up. This is a 'demon' campaign so I need you guys a little stronger to actually start fighting demons. :)
Let's stick to the wording but you can always create the illusion of a 'wall' (or a big creature) and have people 'hide' behind it. You are a creative sort of fellow so I'm sure you'll find a way. :)
Questions?
Game on!
Action 1:
Eliora could feel anger rising in her chest as it was revealed that evil was abusing Iomedae's name. She spit on the bodies of the dead impostors, "How dare they foul Iomedae's blessed name! If they weren't already dead I would kill them."
At Anevia's expressed concern, the half-orc said, "The Eagle Watch prides themselves on rooting out corruption and impropriety. They would be difficult to infiltrate. They always seemed hyper vigilant to the point of mistrust. The few members of the Eagle Watch that I met didn't believe there was goodness in me. Maybe that same doubt will protect them from what you fear."
Eliora hoped she was being comforting so she added, "But I think their intentions are good. Belief that the demon threat is closer than we would like to think helps the fight against them."
Action 3:
Eliora nodded, "Then we destroy the traitors. If they're working with evil cultists who would defile Iomedae's name then they deserve their fate."
Kyarra shook her head, confused. "How many layers of deception are normal in this city? Iomedae, that is your goddess, Eliora? And these people, these bull worshippers, are pretending to be part of your church? But they are also pretending to be part of these Eagle Watchers? But the Eagle Watchers are watching for corruption, such as these bull cult?" She shook her head again, white-blond hair bobbing in its bun.
Turning to the injured woman, Kyarra said, "I do not mean to be pessimistic, but wouldn't the greatest threat to your wife come from the demons overrunning the city, and not some cultists that may or may not have infiltrated her own cult?"
Action 3
"How many are there in this group? Are they a city like this, with children? I will not slaughter babies, no matter how evil their parents."
EDIT - level up will have to wait until after the weekend.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
+6hp, Font of Magic, +2 Sorcery Points, +1 Spell Per Day, +1 Spell Known (Color Spray)
I'm Ok with these changes. You can apply them to your PC sheet.
Questions?
Game on!
Just some minor comments on your level up info:
- your spells known are based on charisma not constitution but it doesn't change the number since CHA=CON in your case; and
- your spell slots per day are 2 1st level spell slots (later you will gain higher level spell slots).
Make these changes to your PC sheet.
Questions?
Game on!
+6hp, Font of Magic, +2 Sorcery Points, +1 Spell Per Day, +1 Spell Known (Color Spray)
I'm Ok with these changes. You can apply them to your PC sheet.
Questions?
Game on!
Action 1:
"Which is not to say that she's already been killed in the demon assault or anything." Kyarel jumps in reassuringly "Just that it is imperative we bring word of these infiltrators to the surface as soon as possible - though we'll have to be careful to ensure any survivors are not ALSO infiltrators."
Action 3:
"I think what my sister is trying to say," Kyarel jumped in "Is that she won't kill children, and if these traitors who happened to look like you have children she's hoping that you have a pre-existing plan for helping to adopt and redeem them, not that she thinks you were going to." He smiled carefully at the chief.
Level-up:
HP: 5+1
Spells known: Guiding Bolt
Spell slots: +1 1st
Healing Light: +d6
Invocations: Agonizing Blast, Misty Visions
Action 3
Shiro nodded his emphatic agreement to the thought of not committing wanton genocide of an opposing tribe. He had been victim of such a raid as a child, after all, and had no wish to subject anyone else to such an atrocity. ”Also, for children among the tribe, sanctuary needs to be guaranteed,” he added. ”To survive on their own, without their parents, if our attack succeeds… most unlikely. Quick death, easier than such abandonment.”
”This tribe… close neighbors, yes? Then, before, often visited, perhaps traded with? So the terrain well known to you?” Shiro asked, hoping the mongrels could provide them with accurate maps and at least a good guess of the number of opponents.
Level-up:
HP: 5+1
Spells known: Guiding Bolt
Spell slots: +1 1st
Healing Light: +d6
Invocations: Agonizing Blast, Misty Visions
I'm good with the changes so you can apply them.
Questions?
Game on!
Do you want to have a spellbook/wizard among the tribe? If so I'll have him studying a bit with them. If not then I'll just smooth over him getting better (which is normal).
Yeah, go ahead and do a partial level up.
We'll have the two spells you want be given to you by the mongrels as payment for your service.
We will come with a scene for the sword right before everyone levels up to third level so you will be somewhat handicapped for most of the 2nd level.
All good though, I'll fudge the dice a little in your favor as compensation. :)
Questions?
Game on!
Just some minor comments on your level up info:
- your spells known are based on charisma not constitution but it doesn't change the number since CHA=CON in your case; and
- your spell slots per day are 2 1st level spell slots (later you will gain higher level spell slots).Make these changes to your PC sheet.
Questions?
Game on!
Level up info:
Fighting style: Archery - +2 to attack with ranged weapons
Spell casting - 2 spells known
HP=6+2=8
Spells known:
Ensnarking strike
Hunter's mark
Spell save dc=8+2+2=12
spell attack modifier=4
Nothing happens to our skills, right? Not until our proficiency bonus or ability modifier changes?
Did I forget anything?
HP = 1d6 (so 4, right?)
+1 1st level spell/day (not that he casts much...)
+1 prepared spell
+A rcane Tradition (on hold)
+2 spells known; torn between [longstrider, shield and detect magic]. Any thoughts?