"I *know* - somehow - that the hanakahi fruit's poisonous juice is part of your communion with your million gods. Though not the details. Is this something you would speak of?"
"I *know* - somehow - that the hanakahi fruit's poisonous juice is part of your communion with your million gods. Though not the details. Is this something you would speak of?"
Baraab's eyes flash with bloodshot fury at the Unfettered Prince's words, as does the newcomer L'an.
It takes a substantial moment before the merchant appears to collect himself enough to voice a response,
"We would never speak of such sacred things among the uninitiated."
The Unfettered Prince smiles.
"I mean no insult, Baraab. I am curious about very many matters, including your worship. But I will not march farther in that direction."
The Unfettered Prince smiles.
"I mean no insult, Baraab. I am curious about very many matters, including your worship. But I will not march farther in that direction."
[dice=Diplomacy to smooth matter over]1d20+48
]
The red garbed man at first merely nods in affirmation of the Unfettered Prince's reply. After a tense moment, he finally verbalizes his reaction.
"Surely an accidental misstep of one not a acquainted with the mores and customs of our holy religion."
"In any event, this is the way that your strange sodality shall make progress towards your goal of reaching the great city of Qi."
"If, as you have already expressed your willingness to do, you all accompany and safeguard both my health and well being, as well as that of the remainder of my caravan, including especially the sacred person of the Holy Priest of the Million Gods of the Challifani, then, when we have once again attained the protection of our beloved home in the City State of Lhauric, Supreme Jewel of Errid Kaloum of the Divided Seas of the Beyond, then our people shall see fit to assist you in the use a marvelous means of transport to quickly attain your goal, the details of which shall be furnished upon the successful completion of our homeward journey."
"I can, however, assure you with complete conviction that the rapidity and ease of transport which I shall be able to offer you on your journey to Qi will not be easily excelled among any other clime or people that you may happen to encounter, and certainly none to be had in this isolated settlement of the Navarene Coast."
Oscar looked up at the Cal and held his gaze. For a dozen heart beats, or what passed for such, he stared with pure determination.
break his cloudy demeanor, Oscar finally cracked and relaxed. He stepped up to the much taller figured, and patted his leg jovially.
Brother Ismin holds forth a large tome for the inspection of Oscar. The Aeon Priest visually offers it to the strange automaton with a forward gesture. It appears as if he wishes Oscar to read the book.
The red garbed man at first merely nods in affirmation of the Unfettered Prince's reply. After a tense moment, he finally verbalizes his reaction.
"Surely an accidental misstep of one not a acquainted with the mores and customs of our holy religion."
"In any event, this is the way that your strange sodality shall make progress towards your goal of reaching the great city of Qi."
"If, as you have already expressed your willingness to do, you all accompany and safeguard both my health and well being, as well as that of the remainder of my caravan, including especially the sacred person of the Holy Priest of the Million Gods of the Challifani, then, when we have once again attained the protection of our beloved home in the City State of Lhauric, Supreme Jewel of Errid Kaloum of the Divided Seas of the Beyond, then our people shall see fit to assist you in the use a marvelous means of transport to quickly attain your goal, the details of which shall be furnished upon the successful completion of our homeward journey."
"I can, however, assure you with complete conviction that the rapidity and ease of transport which I shall be able to offer you on your journey to Qi will not be easily excelled among any other clime or people that you may happen to encounter, and certainly none to be had in this isolated settlement of the Navarene Coast."
The Unfettered Prince grins.
"Most excellent! You will be far safer and we shall have our conveyence!"
|
Oscar's attention was diverted by the approaching priest. It appeared to be the same person who greeted him in the square earlier, and fortunately guided him to these unique individuals.
As he watched, the priest pulled a carefully wrapped packed, wrapped in some sort of folded cloth and began unwrapping it. Beneath its layers, an ancient tome lay. Although the construct wasn't terribly familiar with them, he still knew that they carried great knowledge. This priest patiently held it out for Oscar to take.
Taking his new object of delight, he immediately opened it to the middle and was pleasantly surprised to feel the very characters pressing against his eyes. His mind felt the extremely pleasing sense of stretched skin, in ways he wanted to explore, privately and perhaps later.
Tucking behind his shoulder, he eagerly jumped forward to shake the priests hand in glee and appreciations. A thought crossed his mind, and put a finger up. Pulling on his imaginary sleeve and letting it partially disappear, he hoped he conveyed a need for some 'real' clothes, or at least a tunic. At his size, a shirt would probably cover plenty.
Oscar's attention was diverted by the approaching priest. It appeared to be the same person who greeted him in the square earlier, and fortunately guided him to these unique individuals.
As he watched, the priest pulled a carefully wrapped packed, wrapped in some sort of folded cloth and began unwrapping it. Beneath its layers, an ancient tome lay. Although the construct wasn't terribly familiar with them, he still knew that they carried great knowledge. This priest patiently held it out for Oscar to take.
Taking his new object of delight, he immediately opened it to the middle and was pleasantly surprised to feel the very characters pressing against his eyes. His mind felt the extremely pleasing sense of stretched skin, in ways he wanted to explore, privately and perhaps later.
Tucking behind his shoulder, he eagerly jumped forward to shake the priests hand in glee and appreciations. A thought crossed his mind, and put a finger up. Pulling on his imaginary sleeve and letting it partially disappear, he hoped he conveyed a need for some 'real' clothes, or at least a tunic. At his size, a shirt would probably cover plenty.
The first leg of the journey outside the Village of Halfstar is relatively uneventful. Soon, the late afternoon sun begins to fade into dusk. It is the time that travelers generally make camp, but when and where to do so remains a question to be decided....
The Unfettered Prince maintains his cheerful disposition on this initial stage, his keen eyes seeking a campsite.
The Unfettered Prince maintains his cheerful disposition on this initial stage, his keen eyes seeking a campsite.
[dice=Knowledge Geography to note the lay of the land]1d20 + 19
[dice=Knowledge Nature for noting beneficial or hostile flora and fauna]1d20+19
[dice=Survival to seek out a prime camp site]1d20 + 15
The territory which the amnesiacs and others are currently traversing is a woodland with trees distinguished by pink wood and bark and purple leaves. It is known as the Gaelanthus Woods.
There are ruins of a previous world in the deep valley towards the center of the woods known as the Vooscacus Depression. These shine with an other worldly light that does not dim, even at night.
The peculiarly-colored trees excrete poisonous sap that can drive sentient beings insane through skin contact or ingestion.
The woods are also said to be a hunting ground for some kind of foreign entities that eat humans and arrived from another corner of the super continent. There is said to be a gate, or several, in some portion of the woods.
It is said that the mysterious creatures, known as snatchers or gobblers, who hunt the woods for humans will not approach the ruins in the Vooscacus Depression. The party is probably near this area.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The book felt amazing. It held shapes and symbols that begged to be comprehended. You never did, but the longer you stared the more depth and definition they seemed to take on. Even the very concept of language, seemed a mystery that felt just out reach beyond those symbols, but by looking at them, maybe, just maybe, you started to understand a little bit.
Language for Oscar went well beyond talking. His increased comprehension of words almost went unnoticed at first, because they were eclipsed by epiphanies. Memories, or something very close to them, came back in waves. He remembered how to hold the book properly. Not with his hands, but having the air just balance it open. He remember many more things as the day progressed
He took to keeping it open, and walking. He'd alternated his attention between the floating symbols and then seeing if he could understand a bit more of people's conversation after a time. There were a couple times though where he did remember something particularly important.
At one point during the middle of the day, Oscar came around insistently, hands held high. "Bless??
At his stature they still barely came up to people's chests, but the oddly texture small construct seemed persistent. Eventually he'd manage to bug everyone with his repeated mono syllable questions, before settling down.
As the shadows started to stretch, one shadow happen to jump out of his own. It raced up and down him in feline grace and joy. Around the next bend, the sunlight drove back the odd creature back into whatever corner it had hid in.
Earlier...
The Unfettered Prince seems amused at Oscar's antics.
"Bless me then, enthused one!"
********************************************************
The Prince looks about and declares:
"See the pink bark and purple leaves? These are the Gaelanthus Woods. Their sap is poison that brings madness through touch or taste. Hunters, nicknamed 'gobblers' and 'snatchers', prowl the woods, eaters of humans. A gate - or gates - allows them to strike from another part of the continent. They do not approach the ruins in the Vooscacus Depression, which we are near!"
|
|
The wooden creature's bones gave a gently hum and then a pop. Nothing seemed terribly different, but Oscar had the widest grin. Each acquiescence just split it further.
After a time, a spot of trees appeared nearby. The Prince's proclamation held clear caution. Finding himself by the tall figure he looked on at the trees, asking " ... Home-ish?"
Kiyoshi glides out of the shadows as the Prince points out the dangers of the foliage around them, "I wonder if the sap could be weaponized? I don't believe it would hurt me. Any idea what is considered a toxic or lethal concentration, or how long it lasts after being harvested?"
[dice=Perception]1d20+17
Nothing.
[dice=Perception]1d20+20
Some kind of enemy assailants, perhaps these 'gobblers' spoken of by the Unfettered Prince, are quickly approaching the caravan's position.
[dice=Perception]1d20+37
Some kind of enemy assailants, perhaps these 'gobblers' spoken of by the Unfettered Prince, are quickly approaching the caravan's position.
|
|
Oscar constant watchfulness pulled his gaze towards the horizon. Those things did not seem to be trees. What else had the Prince mentioned?
Again, appearing by the tall figure, he tugged at the Prince's kilt, pointing off in the distance. " ... prowl-mates? That didn't seem right. " ... gob-prowl-friends?" Close enough.
"Unfriendly company, in any case," Aerik said, commanding the local vegetation to turn upon the onrushing group. A non-lethal option to begin with, to give their assailants a chance to reconsider their course of action. At the very least, it would slow and break up the charge.
At Oscar's and Aerik's warning, Kiyoshi takes full advantage of his incorporeal nature to hide himself from all but the most powerful of senses and literally steps into one of the trees, just poking his eyes out into a shadow of the branches and leaves to give himself a decent view of the group's area while remaining hidden. "Ready yourselves. If you remain nearby, I should be able to thin the herd before they can reach us. Even better if you lure them near this tree."
Readying himself, Kiyoshi prepares to lash out with one of his tails against any of the incoming creatures who pass within range (10ft).
|
|
Oscar giggled as he watched Kiyoshi disappear into a tree. Clearly the funny ghost was going to surprise them with tickles.
He would help!
Wind [5]: Windstorm (Blowing from all directions inwards towards the tree)
Medium creatures are checked. Checked creatures cannot move against the wind, unless they make a DC 40 Strength check. Airborne creature instead must make a DC 50 Fly check.
Small creatures are blown away. Blow away creatures must make a DC 45 Strength check or are knocked prone and roll 1d4 x 10’, and dealt 1d4 non lethal damage per 10’. Airborne creatures instead must make a DC 55 Fly check or are blown back 2d6 × 10 feet and take 2d6 points of nonlethal damage.
Normal ranged weapons passing through the area auto fail.
Siege weapons suffer a -19 to hit.
Fly checks take a -8
Sounds based Perception suffers a -8
Gain 60' fly speed, average maneuverability. Does not stack with other fly speeds. Does not take penalty to fly while using this movement type.
+2 untyped bonus to ranged attack. Ranged attacks take no penalty due to wind and can pass through wind wall and similar effects.
Oscar giggled as he watched Kiyoshi disappear into a tree. Clearly the funny ghost was going to surprise them with tickles.
He would help!
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
Noticing the sudden commotion among their new travel-companions, the crimson-garbed native of Lhauric known as Bara'ab narrows his eyes and glances into the strangely-tinted trees.
"What have you detected?"
|
|
The Prince seemed overly focused on his own preparations to answer. Ozzie had to think hard about good choices for the words.
Peeking from around the prince's leg, he answering the crimson clothed creature. "A pack, hasty joining us. Maybe gob-prowl-friends, bringing storm?" He looked up questioningly again.
The Prince seemed overly focused on his own preparations to answer. Ozzie had to think hard about good choices for the words.
Peeking from around the prince's leg, he answering the crimson clothed creature. "A pack, hasty joining us. Maybe gob-prowl-friends, bringing storm?" He looked up questioningly again.
The eyes of the argumentative priest of the Challifani narrow,
"We encountered much peril on our journey hither by means of such as these."
He looks around warily,
"How close are they?"