Veratash was unwilling to yield his point of view. He replied to Zdravko saying "I would not propose peace with them, and do not assume I don't have any stakes in this. I do." The kalashtar was fuming with rage. "But running in like a bunch of grunts any time a cultist appears seems like the quickest way to die, or worst, to not find out what the bigger picture is. Charging in without any knowledge of what's going on is exactly what those aberrations do. Would you fight something by acting exactly as it would, goblin?" Veratash didn't mean the last bit to sound offensive, but he realized it did too late, and flinched.
Artur listened to what Veratash said and then asked "So, what is your plan?"
The savage orc just watched and listened as the accusations flew back and forth. Perhaps he was wrong in seeking this group out. His hopes of them being an asset in the fight against the daelkyr were quickly dissipating. In fact, they now didn't even look like a coherent group at all. Orshok shook his head and sighed.
Remembering the impressive resources the group had displayed only minutes ago, the orc waited for the argument to naturally subside...
------------
OOC: just letting everyone (Nyd, Tharivol, and Briar) have their say before stepping in...
I like it!
Questions?
Game on!
Shaking her head at the emotions running high after the fight, Briar tried to centre herself, yet something nagged at her.
She spared a glance at Artur
”Veratash does not understand, he is yet young in the world and sees more black and white than shades of grey. I have something more important to ask you, to strike to the point, do you plan on saying anything to Zdravko about the combat?”
”Well met. I am Briar, a Gatekeeper. This is Liti, my... friend.”
The weasel stared at the Orc, snuffed then moved to the front of the barge to stare ahead.
She gestured at the others.
”We are some of us new travelling companions, though we share the same goal possibly as you. We wish to end the corruption wherever we find it. I am sorry we did not take heed of your warning, and I would like to thank you for trying to provide the right advice.”
She glanced around
”Do you take us to a haven in the swamp? Are there others here that also wish the cult to be ended?”
"I was planning to talk to her in private, like I did with you, yes."
Moving along next to Nyd, Tharivol whispered from his self-imposed shadows, "Good job, Nyd. I'll stay invisible awhile longer, because I'm fairly beat and we don't know where we're going." Then, he stepped away again as reflex to always zig zag when moving in the shadows.
After the alligator retreated, Tharivol appeared from the shadows. "Well met. I've introduced myself here as Gilavar Throndel, minstrel at your service."
"We also have a bigger lead now. I've always wanted to own an Elemental Galleon, and Captain Vennet d’Lyrandar just donated his to us. Even his House would appreciate us taking down a Khyber lover. Bad for business."
"We also have a bigger lead now. I've always wanted to own an Elemental Galleon, and Captain Vennet d’Lyrandar just donated his to us. Even his House would appreciate us taking down a Khyber lover. Bad for business."[/b]
OOC: I hadn't thought about this but yep, it makes sense.
I intend to move things along later today.
Questions?
Game on!
MAGIC ITEMS
I'm finally getting around to writing down the desired items that I received from PCs and I want to make sure I didn't miss anyone.
Here's what I have so far:
PC::Major Uncommon::Major Rare
Artur::Yes::Yes
Briar::Yes::Yes
Nyd::No::No (just something about warforged components but no details)
Tharivol::Yes::Yes
Veratash::No::No
Zdravko::Yes::Yes
Please let me know if I missed something, which I may very well have.
Again, the items will be 'found' throughout the campaign but I wanted to make sure I had up to date information.
Questions?
Game on!
Veratash listened calmly to all the points of view. He then replied "It's funny you accuse me of being young and inexperienced when it wasn't me who acted like a teenager, charging in carelessly. If you want to say someone sees the world as black and white, look at yourselves", pointing to Briar and Zdravko. "You are the ones who are all 'Oh, cultists. Die!' I dare say that it was you who haven't experienced the shades of grey of the world. You act like barbarians and that is how barbarians think, I've come to realize."
To Zdravko, he said "Well, I do hope you see that all those million years of your kind fighting the Khyber weren't done by charging in face first at every opportunity. Think for a second, if you can. What did really work? What stood for thousands of years? Yes, those stones! The seal that Tam-tam reforged. It is always something more thought out and careful that worked". He then looked at the orc then back at Zdravko and said "And we've been searching for any knowledge to draw on for days, and when someone fi-nal-ly shows up sharing their knowledge, the first thing we do is do exactly the opposite as he said? How is that wise in any account?"
He finally turned to Artur and said "I mean any of you no offense, but I believe we need to listen to the one person who probably knows more than us what is going on. Honestly, we were so lucky. We were in Captain Vennet's boat and he could have disposed of us any time he wanted. We were very lucky he didn't act. I don't want to rely on luck anymore. I want to be aware of the situation and only act when it is clear where and what the pieces in this puzzle are."
Veratash would later realize he had grown much that day. More important than being liked, he had to be conscious of his choices and actions.
OOC: great RPing everyone!
Veratash: take inspiration.
Questions?
Game on!
To the little Orc Nyd says. "We are investigating a dangerous cult."
Nyd looks a little pensive "Unfortunately some of my companions forgotten the benefits of military intelligence and sought to eliminate a threat to the city sooner rather than later. It's an action I can understand, but the timing might have been better."
"No, I mean what's your plan for dealing with them?"
Turn 083 – All Cultists Must Die
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
Happy New Year!!!
"Do you know where we can find this 'Master of Silence'?"
Tharivol magically seasons the meat with his Prestidigitation, in order to choke down some offered food, in order to politely show respect to the generosity. He offers to season his companions meat, too, while encouraging them to eat. Thank you for the kind offering.
After a polite pause, Gilavar asks, "did you recognize the foreign captain in the meeting tonight? How long have you seen him in this cult?"
Briar didn’t turn to face Veratash until he had finished, and when she did, she took care to stare at his chest instead of his eyes. Liti began to hiss, but a sharp gesture from the shifter cowed her. Perhaps the first time anyone had seen that happen since the weasel had begun travelling with the group.
”Barbarians? Your opinion is that we are ‘barbarians’?”
Her voice spiked slightly at the word, she flinched at the sound of her own raised voice and her tone returned to it’s normal calm.
”Firstly, that’s your opinion. You have a right to it, but understand that doesn’t make you right.”
Her jaw was clenched tight.
”You are right about the plan, it was wrecked. If we had gotten in position before we attacked, and had attacked together, perhaps there wouldn’t now be a new abomination roaming Zarash’ak.”
Her head began to turn towards Zdravko, but instead she closed her eyes and returned to face Veratash.
”In finding your new opinion Veratash, have you stopped to consider for one moment as to why several trained warriors, with varied cultural backgrounds, might all have decided together with a few moments notice that attacking might have been the right thing to do there?”
She exhaled, drew breath, released her shoulders.
”The seals, the Gatekeeper seals. They are weakened every time there is a working of malicious magic on this side of the veil. Every time cults gather and intone their spells and rituals for summoning the denizens of Khyber, every time perverted magic twists the flesh of normal people. The veil rips and rips, tiny tears become ragged holes, it becomes easier and easier to breach...”
She trailed off, clearly wrestling with strong emotions, but keeping them in check. At least for now.
”You speak of Tam Tam, with but a mere fragment of understanding. She could have summoned aid, planned an attack Instead of risking all right there, right then, to repair the seal. She understood, you must stop the breach, whether it is already there or about to be, even if it costs your life. As it cost hers to make the crystal seal whole.”
Finally she raised her gaze to meet Veratash’s
”I forgive you your words, though my opinion is that they were ill chosen.”
She thinks for a moment, then continues, gesturing at Tharivol
”Present company perhaps excluded, but I could make a case for those who sit in their positions of power and use their wealth and influence to simply increase their own assets rather than to fight against corruption. Could they then not be considered ‘barbarians’ with no understanding of what is really important?”
She shrugs.
”We tried to stop evil people doing evil things. You may disagree with the how, and if you have another suggestion then great. But as Artur has asked, it needs to be something actually actionable. Bear in mind that there have been centuries of warriors, sages, magic users all greater than us that have failed to find anything better than ‘kill it with fire’ and keep it contained.”
She sighs.
”One of Tam Tam’s favourite sayings was that in order to make good decisions you need wisdom, but wisdom can only be gained through making bad decisions. Please try to see the world through eyes other than your own. The most important thing I ever learned was to recognise where my own knowledge ends, and where others begins and they may make better decisions.”
She reached out to lightly touch Veratash on the arm.
”I say all this with the desire to educate, not to admonish, and if I offended you by calling you young or naive, I apologise.”
Artur gives Briar an appraising nod at her speech.
OOC: Correct, Nyd and Tharivol are not in the 'Actions 1' scene. I'll adjust Briar's speech accordingly in the turn recap.
I think it's obvious, or maybe it is to me who has been using it for a long time, but here's some 'code' that I use in my turn recaps. If the text/dialogue is separated by...
two spaces, it is a totally different scene (I may or may not put a heading on it);
one space, it is the same scene but the focus turned to another person;
no space, it is the same scene and dialogue/text is in response to previous dialogue/text.
Questions?
Game on!
PS: Nice speech Briar; take inspiration.
Answering Artur's question, Veratash said "I don't know, maybe talk it over between the group before acting? I'm new to this, but I guess this is why I'm questioning so much? Maybe I just wish questioning was more common place"
Then, answering Briar, Veratash smiled and said "I am humbled by your wisdom. I realize there is much I don't know. And I do wish I knew how to honor Tam Tam. I suggest we listen to the local and his wisdom. Maybe what I am trying to say is that none of us know everything and need to get as much information as we can before striking. If I may talk of Tam Tam, she sacrificed herself, but she wasn't careless. She knew exactly what was happening and what was at stake. Maybe this is what we should learn from her."
Veratash took the meat and allowed Gilavar to mess with it before eating. He wasn't really ready for boned rat meat wrapped in stinky leaves. He ate in silence, taking in all the talk and events that had transpired that day.
Veratash heard Artur ask about the whereabouts of the Master of Silence and added "Yeah, how can we get to him? We want to.... silence the master... of silence". He finished talking as if what he had said had been a joke.
I'll give Nyd and Zdravko a chance to post and recap tomorrow.
Questions?
Game on!
"Tharivol, how is your condition? Should we stop before we reach the recovery to heal? Given our recent history, I suspect some time to recover might be apt."
Nyd is carefully checking their rear, making sure that they aren't being followed as they move. He has once again put his hood up, hoping to blend into the crowd at least a little.
Out loud, Nyd speaks to the ugly Orc. "Do you have a place I can lay low for the evening? I don't believe we are being followed..." "But there is no sense in taking chances and I would not want to lead the cult to one of your regular resting places."
Out loud, Nyd speaks to the ugly Orc. "Do you have a place I can lay low for the evening? I don't believe we are being followed..."[Dice=Perception]1d20+4 "But there is no sense in taking chances and I would not want to lead the cult to one of your regular resting places."
OOC: Nyd and Tharivol are on the street ONLY until the raft goes to 'shore'.
Once you read 'ON THE MANGROVE', the entire group is together. Is this understood?
Is anyone else having issues following?
Questions?
Game on!
"Yes, I would like to talk to Batul tomorrow if at all possible." said Artur before settling down for the night. He too soon began snoring.
"Attacking the leader does seem like a wise strategy. But first, I wish to have more intell."
Nyd settles against one of the mangrove trees. "I will take first 'watch'."
Briar paused chewing of the swamp rat haunch, she had already passed a leg to Liti who was sloppily chewing it on the floor.
"It is wise to want to remove the source of the poison rather than just remove the affected part."
She twitched
"We must then I fear wait for Batul. Even though we know the captain's identity, if we must wait to find out his master's location we cannot strike it seems. Also, we may be under threat ourselves now. No telling who else was under those robes, and the captain has more local sway than us. He could try to get us arrested or assassinated. We were not... subtle with our identities."
Briar stared at the changing colours wrought with the setting sun's fading pallete on the grey-green of the swamp. The shifting hues and accompanying cacophany of insects brought a rare smile to her face. She curled up between the roots of a tree, Liti hesitantly followed, a hair's breadth from her feet.
Veratash noted that the group's nerves were calming, as well as his own. He spatted some mosquitoes before giving in to their insistence. Before laying down to sleep he looked long at Karok. The bond between these beasts and their masters is deep, he though a little envious. "Tomorrow is a busy day. Let us rest", he finally said and slept.
Tharivol thanks Nyd and agrees to take watch after his four hour trance.
As he had been recently, Artur had been sketching a design on one of his slates, something that (should someone look over his shoulder) seemed to resemble a suit of full plate armor, with some odd differences: much like his current armor, there was a circle on the upper breast that clearly was meant to show off his Dragonmark. The eyes of the full helm glowed menacingly, as did the palm of his outstretched left hand.
Fire seemed to pour out of the soles of his boots....
Without prompting, Artur collected one of the poles when offered and began poling the boat.
"I believe that Briar has some knowledge of foraging for food." suggested Artur "I've heard it's part of their training."
Like any infantryman, Artur was accustomed to long periods of intense physical labor, so he poled the boat far longer than his smaller frame might suggest, actually removing his breastplate and sweater underneath as a result of the sweaty work. A glowing blue sigil, clearly the Dragonmark of House Cannith, sat burned into his chest.
For the next three days, Artur pulled more than his fair share of poling duty, pushing their conveyance along as much as he was able, even managing to match Nyd push for push without complaint for long periods of the day.
"I will take shifts on the pole as necessary. I am afraid I do not truly have the skills to help supply you with food; since I do not need to eat myself."
After a session of rowing Nyd carefully sits down. "That may have been too much for my body."
From Nyd's shoulder Ansuz pipes up. "Ansuz tries too."
After an hour Ansuz returns with a small lizard, which Liti promptly eats. Ansuz seems very proud of this accomplishment.
Veratash woke up with pains in his shoulder on which he slept. It was easy to see that he deeply missed a comfortable bed. As the orc told them about their tribe, the kalashtar felt suspicious. I wonder if they are indeed on our side. He was tired of being fooled and measured the orc while he talked.
Veratash was skinny and not particularly agile, but he could endure some hardships, which is how he survived being hunted for so long the week before. He had no desire to spend three days in a boat, but it seemed he had no options left. He remembered trying to survive in the wilderness on his own with bitterness and knew he wasn't particularly good at foraging.
Over the days he wasn't a particularly fast rower, but the life of a psychic that he chose proved to prepare his body for long exertions over time.
"Yes." The wounded elf replies in the uncomfortable silence.
Tharivol lets others take the poles while he provides quiet entertainment.
He would aid Briar looking for something edible.
The minstrel starts to write a song about the ritual turned retreat from a chuul starting with the orc boy escort.
with
After three days, it sounds better than any of the names that he tries to hang on it.
Briar nodded
”We believe it might be the captain of the Lyrandar vessel. However that is literally at face value. We do not know if the face was disguise, magic or otherwise to perhaps mislead us. We have no actual evidence.”
Briar was content and took her turns with the poles stoically, poling for hours at a time and refusing the first few offers to swap out, judging that she should try to do more than several of the others who might lack her rugged physique.
When not poling she spent time knotting string in to a drag net of sorts.
”The swamp water is too shallow for a traditional pole, if we can’t stop to work the pools this will do.”
The scraps of string she used kept fraying and breaking whenever something caught, leaving the net unable to catch more than a few fish.
Liti licked Ansuz in appreciation, and jumped off in to the water.
She brought back a few fish of her own, only partially chewed, and happily dropped one at Ansuz’s feet as she chittered away to tell the owl all about where she’d been.
OOC: The CON thing for 'rowing' should have been a 'save' and not a 'check', my bad.
The aid another is not clear whether the person that aids has to beat a certain DC or not. In fact, I think the person that 'aids' just states so and the person actually doing the task has advantage on it.
I'll give Zdravko some time to post and then recap.
Questions?
Game on!
Ansuz nods back and nibbles a bit of the fish to be polite. and then shares the rest with Liti.
Veratash saw everyone working so hard to get food that he felt bad for not doing it. He decided to help.
Unfortunately he know as much about surviving as he knew about warforged history. Nothing! He constantly kept asking Briar whether that bush had tasty berries. Eventually she got mad at him and shushed him.
After the fourth time Veratash had pointed out the same black and purple berries that would have left him writhing on the floor of the skiff for days, Briar rolled her eyes and placed a finger on his lips.
”Theres not enough parchment in Zarash’ak to write a list of all the things in this swamp that can kill you. So instead, I will just point out the ones that are safe when we come across them. That way you can concentrate on your rowing”.
There was a brief smile and a simple pat on his shoulder, before she returned to wrangling the errant string she hoped would hold together better this time.
As the big man began badgering their guide, Artur tensed but did not say anything. He didn't understand the language, but he had been a soldier far too long not to recognize a dressing down when he saw one. Not wanting to have to fight anyone he didn't have to, Artur chose to wait to see the situation play out.
He did, however, move to stand next to Briar and quietly say "If things are about to go sideways, you should challenge the big guy to a duel; particularly, make sure you insult his masculinity and prowess as a warrior. Bullies always seem to have rather fragile egos."
Briar rolled her eyes and quietly replied
"Very tiresome if this does play out that way. I take it you want me to win? If you're after someone to gracefully lose so we look like good fighters but not as good as them then you'll need to appoint someone else. I'd be spending all my self-control holding back, submitting would be too much for the beast under my skin, it would rip me apart, followed shortly by anyone else in the vicinity."
She glanced at him
"That may have been what the more sophisticated amongst us would have called an 'overshare', do feel free to forget I said anything."
She watched as the tirade continued.
"To me it looks like an older brother or uncle admonishing their family for going off without approval..."
She shrugged.
"But I only speak Common so who knows? Let's hope our guide speaks up."