Kokam nods to acknowledge Hallvardr's compliment, then turns to examine the rest of the room for threats.
Seeing nothing for now, she smiles at the Ulfen's deadpan jest, My father would have said the same thing..." she thought, fighting down the surge of melancholy as she thought of her family , so far away through distance and time.
She bites back a angry retort as the large man once again 'forgets' her name, "None that I see..." she replies.
She then strides to where Damon lies, hearing Stella's explanation, "Yes, let us rest here....but first..." she says, walking over to the priest's skull, using her boot and staff to pulverize it into dust and small pieces. Then with a motion of her head, bids Hallvardr to help her remove the rest of the priest's body from the temple, tossing it against a nearby wall.
As she kneels to examine it's robes for anything of use , she says,"There, it will be easier to rest without that thing nearby....and my name is Kokam Kawlo...Kokam....Kawlo. Please remember it!" she states plainly to the large Ulfen.
|
”Thank you, Stella, for seeing to my wounds,” said Damon as he slowly got to his feet with her help. ”And thank you for healing me during the battle, Stormbrow,” said the wounded paladin humbly, extending his hand in a symbol of friendship and thanks.
At Horgus’ words, Damon said, ”Indeed, losing one’s faith down here would be a lonely and terrible way to die, Lord Gwerm. We must all lean on our faith in these troubled times—that and the kindness of our friends.”
”Speaking of faith, I would rest here as long as needed, but the neglect of this temple saddens me too much right now. I see you have already removed the body of the faithless priest,” says Damon, smiling at his companions, asking, ”Who would help me clean and tidy this temple, rededicating it to Torag as is proper when we are done before we take our ease?”
Damon cleaned, dusted, and tidied the temple as best he could with the help of those willing, setting up the now-pristine Warhammer in a position of honor on the altar and sprinkling some holy water over it. Kneeling before the altar, Damon prayed in thanks to Iomedae for his life, asking her to invite Torag to return to his holy place. He then sat in a pew and rested as best he could given the pain of his injuries.
OOC:
Onyx watched the head leave the undead priest's shoulders, and would have smiled if he wasn't concerned for Damon. He started to approach when he heard Stormbrow's question. He thought of the markings on his back Riftwarden? How would he know that I have any connection to those people?
"Ha! I am no Riftwarden, Stormbrow. I know only the faintest amount about then, but it would seem the threat has passed. Thank you for helping Damon. I'll take a thorough look around to make sure that this place will suit our immediate needs."
He searched the room thoroughly, and was confident there was nothing else hidden.
...
At Damon's words Onyx nodded and began to help his friend.
"That's one for each of us now... at least you didn't get your ass beat by a maggot... You doing alright?"
|
|
Speaking softly to Onyx as they worked, Damon said, "Between Stormbrow and Stella I am physically okay, though I feel weak and will need to rest when we are done putting this temple right." With a sigh, he added for the scout's ears alone, "Though I also am having trouble keeping my spirits up...The death and destruction in the city above, my fall during battle in the depths below--from which neither the scale nor my faith protected me, my weakness now...The 'voice' has come back, now more strongly than before in these dark times. I know I only mentioned it the once before, and I thought I had left it behind me after training with the Order, but it has returned. I fear I may one day succumb to it and be as faithless as the forsaken priest we just fought."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Onyx nodded and said, loudly enough to be heard by the others "It's been a long day for all of us, we were devoured by Golarion itself! If anyone here says that they aren't exhausted, they're a lying ass."
More quietly he added "The day has taken it's toll on us all. I worry for my father and the rest of Kenabres, but we're stuck down here for Nethys knows how long... one arrow. That's how many I've landed since the fall. One. I don't know if it's that noble prick, the maggot, or everything else, but I'm far from my best too. So push past that voice. Tell it to shove it the best way you know how. Prove it wrong. Continue leading us out of here, and get us back to the real fight." Onyx slapped Damon's shoulder as he continued to put things in order.
"Happy to help! Next time try using your shield instead of you body to block an attack!" Stella replied to Damon in her best (and failed) attempt at humor; while trying to stay upbeat, concerns about their situation began to weigh on Stella's mind. Though her connection to Desna was seemingly reconnected, she still felt...off. Being away from the sky for long periods of time had always seemed to have an adverse effect on her as if the walls were slowly closing in around her tighter and tighter. With thoughts of being trapped underground indefinitely swirling through her mind, the stress of the entire situation the party found themselves in began to weigh on her strongly once again. I do really hope we do not stay here too long losing herself in thought as the others began working to clean up the church.
Eventually noticing the others others milling about, Stella tried to put away her unease and decided to join in on the clean-up in the hopes of making the time pass by a little bit faster. Approaching the fountain, she saw some holy water in the bottom of the basin and made a quick prayer to Desna & Torag before grabing a couple clear vials from her satchel and filling them to the brim with the newly blessed water, glowly with a faint holy light from her words. Desna, Torag, guide us Stella whispered to herself before moving along to finish the the other work in the church.
Unfortunately for Stella with so many people working together, the church clean-up was finished fairly quickly and she was left with her unsettled thoughts and a longing for the freedom of above-ground world. Finding an empty corner of the main chamber, she sat down and tried to and mediate and clear her mind as she waited for the others to be ready to move forward.
|
|
Damon smiled as they put the finishing touches on the temple and made himself comfortable on a pew, stretching out to rest once the main door had been secured.
Before he drifted off to nap, he said to Kokam, "Thanks for having my back in that last fight. Do you mind checking with our wizard to see if that ring the forsaken priest was wearing has any magical properties? We can use any advantage down here."
Looking over at Hallvardr, Damon added with a yawning smile, "Wake me up when it's time to continue our journey, Stormbrow. You pulled me back from the brink of death with your voice, so my guess is rousing me from a nap will be no problem."
OOC: just taking your collective pulse here..
How's everyone doing with the game and format? Interesting? Hard to keep up with?
What about pace of the game?
We have gone through some RP and combat situations; it's going to be more of the same in that regards. As the campaign advances, I intend to make it more personal so the more connections (friends and foes) I have to play with, the better.
Anything you would like to see more of or less of?
General feedback?
|
|
I am enjoying the pace, the combat challenges, and the RP. I probably check the boards too often, but I like the ongoing story. I have gotten used to writing in past tense mostly (except for the quotes), though I still have to go back and edit a few times. Horgus is delightfully annoying, and playing a Paladin who struggles with an occasional evil-ish inner monologue confiding in a Tiefling is humorously ironic. I hope everyone is enjoying themselves as well--I try and push/pull people into the story when I can.
Kokam returns from outside the temple and sees Damon and Onyx in quiet conversation. Despite herself, she feels a pang of jealousy at their obvious friendship. It's been a while since she had a true friend. At the monastery she had had some friends when younger, but when her abilities began to outshine their's they began to shun her...make jokes about her heritage....Kellid-this, Kellid-that.
She smiles then, realizing why Hallvardr's offhand reference to her heritage rankled so. It was his way...and her childhood hurts had no place here. Even more so with her new...hopefully...friends.
At Damon's suggestion to clean up the Temple, she rushes to help, realizing removing the fallen priest's body was but one act in bringing the Temple back.
Dusting her hands off, she smiles as Damon thanks her , inclining her head, "I was glad we were able to destroy it. One less evil in this world. I will see what the wizard has to say about the ring. Rest well, Damon."
She approaches the elf, touching him gently on the shoulder, "Master elf, the creature had this ring in it's possession. Could you examine it?"
At Damon's request he just grunts agreeably.
When it comes to Kokam, he just shrugs at her name, nods and does his part to clean. After all the Gods must be honoured. He lingers around the font.
"The water seems special... not to drink. I have heard of bless'd water before... would this be such? Could you use that to re-sanctify the temple?"
Curious and strange... she does not want to be numbered among her Warrior people. Maybe she is outcast or some stain of honour drove her from them, he considers in his duties.
He leans back once the work is done and stretches out in a pew, trying to make himself comfortable like the Iomedaen. He could use the sleep...
OOC: I'm glad you are enjoying the game, pace, recaps, etc.
Feel free to provide ongoing feedback as the game develops.
Unfortunately, I got caught up with work and won't be able to recap until tomorrow morning.
Questions?
Game on!
|
|
Damon woke up in the “morning” feeling refreshed and renewed. Getting ready himself, the young Paladin was happy to be alive, though their situation was still dire. Though he spoke to most, Damon made a special point of thanking Anevia.
“Thank you, Anevia, for your steady support yesterday. How is your leg?”
As they moved through the tunnels and Damon saw the sad crusader statues, he mused, ”I wonder in which crusade the warriors depicted here fought...”
Onyx woke and began his morning routine of stretches and basic exercises to loosen his muscles and prepare his body for a long day's trek. His back and ribs could be heard loudly popping as he arched his back. Looking around, he saw that everybody else was in about the same shape.
With his preparations done, he moved around and handed out rations to everybody, making s point to ask them all how they were doing, and if they had any concerns for the day ahead. He handed Horgus his share in silence.
He put away his supplies and looked at the gathered people "Well? Are we ready for another bright and sunny day in the bowels of the world?"
Onyx was immediately curious about the figures, but wanted to make sure the room was safe before entering. He swept a practised eye across the chamber.
With the room free of immediate danger, he moved forward and began looking at the carved figures, brushing a hand across the stone armour and weapons.
In response to Damon's question he shrugged "I have no idea... but what are they doing down here? Were these catacombs, or something similar? Seems a strange place for a temple and monuments..."
Action 1
Hallvardr felt good, if a little stiff, on rising. He was alive, he had something in his belly (after he ate) and had the prospect of something of worth to do - namely survive and possibly take the fight to the demons.
He took care to thrust some trail cake, a handful of dried berries and nuts and a strip of jerky upon the wizard, archer and the noble. He then offered the same to any of his friends that would take it.
He stroked the silver dragon scale thoughtfully, the swell of emotions softening his expression until he put it inside his jerkin.
He nodded gratefully at his new friends.
Today is a good day. Let us make the most of it.
Action 2 and 3
Your city must be rich if it can make such statues then bury them where none can see them, he comments after a few moments of gazing on the carven effigies.
What victory or loss do they stand for?
Kokam rose early, as was her habit. Moving to the outside of the Temple, she uses the space there to practice the key movements of her Art, her spear , hands and feet snapping at imaginary enemies.
Thus exercised, she re-entered and saw other stirring and most importantly sharing foodstuffs. She reaches into her own pack and shared the road rations placed there by her Elder, the neatly packaged hard cheese and cured meats reminding her of her second home.
She nodded and smiled at Hallvardr's comment , "Yes...we are fed...and alive. There is much to be said for that! "
Kokam followed Onyx as he went along the wall, tracing the symbols on the graven shields...
... the shapes of which brought to mind lessons on the series of Crusades that had been launched against the Demons of the Worldwound over the years.
"These symbols,and the style of armor...they're from the First Crusade, I believe." she said softly, "Strange that they're depicted with sadness, as the First Crusade was considered a success at the time....perhaps these were carved later when that opinion...changed."
"These symbols,and the style of armor...they're from the First Crusade, I believe." she said softly, "Strange that they're depicted with sadness, as the First Crusade was considered a success at the time....perhaps these were carved later when that opinion...changed."
Once Aravashnial heard about the statues in the cavern room, he became very intrigued. He shared one of his theories with the group—an old legend that after the First Crusade, a group of crusaders who had become infected with Abyssal energies fled into these caverns to raise their deformed children in peace, and that their descendants live on today in the tunnels below the city.
The presence of these statues here gave significant credence to the tale, as the elf assumed they were carved by the children.
Anevia looked on interested while Horgus snorted, "We best move on quickly lest we stir some of these deformed children, and we suffer similar consequences. This was almost a hundred years ago and they're probably cursed, diseased, or worse!"
Onyx looked to Anevia, eyebrows raised "They're real?! I always thought they were just stories that mothers told to get misbehaving children to sleep!"
Sounds like a troll story we would tell children. I would scoff at it, if it were not for these statues bearing witness.
Not a problem; thanks for letting us know.
I'll move things along later today.
Questions?
Game on!
Stella wasn't sure where she was but she could hear her parents preaching. While trying to puzzle out where she might be a large group of people began to approach her parents in the square. Towering over her, they failed to notice the small child standing in the square and surrounded her accidentally trapping her in the center. Feeling a wave of anxiety and fear, she tried her best to push her way out of the crowd but went unnoticed by the entranced audience. Despairing, she crouched into a ball and closed her eyes hoping to will herself out of her predicament...
Stella awoke with a start the following "morning" to see that everyone else had already awakened and were preparing themselves to continue on. While physically rested, all the stresses she was feeling had left her more anxious and mentally exhausted. She tried to de-stress by beginning to meditate & pray but before she could make any progress, it was time to continue on; disheveled, frustrated and on edge she quickly threw her things into her satchel and readied to leave.
"Well? Are we ready for another bright and sunny day in the bowels of the world?"
A nod was all that Stella could muster, Granite's comment just another reminder that she had no idea how long they'd be stuck here for (or if they'd even make it out at all...).
Arriving at the next cavern, Stella listened half-hardheartedly as the group examined and discussed the strange crusader statues hidden below ground. With her driving focus almost entirely on escaping the cavern, she held back on asking the group to hurry up as they lingered momentarily at the statues. At this rate we'll never get out of here she said to herself as her anxiety continued to rise, the walls of cavern seeming to close in around her more and more.
Turn 024 - Sad First Crusaders
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, Kokam
Stella was surprisingly quick to respond to the situation considering everything that was circulating through her mind at the moment the stalactite fell. Shocked into temporary focus, she was surprised when a moment later some sort of darkness had appeared in front of them. Sensing that it was potentially unnatural and growing suspicious, she quickly conjured a ball of flame in her hand and waited for the threat to show itself. After a moment when the room was temporarily flooded with silvery light, she realized that Kokam had somehow gotten caught in inside the darkness and called out "Kokam! Are you alright?! What was that silvery light?!"
"Groetus' crooked grin, of course there are tentacles now too!" Onyx swore.
He moved back, drew his bow and waited for something to shoot.
"Kokam, get out of there, or make some noise so we can find you!"
Calistras tit! I can't see a cursed' thing - it's like a veritable wall of darkness, Hallvardr cursed, striding forward.
Koram, Remember the strength of your forebears!, he shouts, hopefully to inspire her to great deeds.
very busy start to the day.....ill get a post in later...
very busy start to the day.....ill get a post in later...
OOC: I'll give Kokam a few more hours to see if she can post but I intend to move things along later this afternoon.
Questions?
Game on!
Kollam listens with interest to the old elf's tale of mongrel crusader babies, gazing up at the sad visages of the statues with new understanding.
Then a tentacled part of the roof sailed at her head! Thankfully, the dragon scale proved it worth , the ghostly wings forming around her head, deflecting the 'what-ever-it-was' onto the floor. Kokam's spear spun up to attack, but a pall of pure darkness descended upon her.
Disconcerted, Kokam nonetheless struck out with her spear where she though the creature might be....
Then with her spear held before her, she backs away until hopefully she exits the darkness, calling out to her friends, "I'm backing out of!! the darkness....!
Turn 025 – Spheres of Darkness
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, miss
, E
, miss
, miss
, Damon
|
|
Actions 1:
Damon called out to Kokam, "The darkness moves with the creatures! We must either back off or fight them on their terms! Aravashnial, if you have a powerful light spell, now would be the time!"
Having seen the darkness move towards him, Damon hoped that the offending creature was at the center of the unnatural blackness. Saying a quick prayer to Iomedae as he was enveloped by the inky blackness, Damon strikes at the enemy, trying to keep his shield and blade between himself and the creature.
Onyx was visibly frustrated as he was unable to see a target. Abadar's scales... two?! He held his arrow at the ready in case a chance to strike presented itself. He heard Damon's cry and shot towards the darkness, hoping to hit his mark.
Kokam's back hit the wall and she involuntarily flinched. Luckily so, as her sudden movement seemed to throw off the creature, it's tentacles merely brushing past her head, instead of grabbing hold.
Her eyes wide open, but still not seeing a thing, Kokam strikes out with her spear, trying to let her other senses inform her attack...
... this time, the soft slithering of the creature's flesh allowed her spear to strike home!
Heartened by her success, Kokam nonetheless very much desired to leave the preternatural darkness and so moved along the wall to her right...
Iomedaen, your Goddess watches you! Do not disappoint her! Kill that thing from the pit of hell!.
The Ulfen warrior notes where Damon entered the darkness and moves in and stabs.
for
disadv
for
Unsure what to do when Damon was also quickly shrouded in darkness, Stella ran over to one of the non-fighters and said "Sorry need to borrow this!" before she grabbed one of the torches they were carrying and threw it as far as she could into the center of the darkness hoping to give Kokam and Damon a light to help & guide them.
Read the OOC.
Questions, comments, and/or suggestions?
Game on!
, miss
, miss
, Hallvardr
, hit, critical
|
|
Hearing Stormbrow's muffled shouts after feeling his sword connect with the dark creature, Damon resisted the temptation to try and flank the creature in the dark, worried that he might lose his way and accidentally strike the Ulfen warrior.
"Iomedae guide my blade," he says quietly, slicing downwards at where he hoped the enemy still was, using his ears and his faith to guide him in his attempt to hit the enemy but miss his ally.
.
Stella was disheartened to see her attempt to help Damon and Kokam fail so miserably. Not wanting to accidentally hit one of her companions, she decided to do the next best thing she could think of. Desna if you can hear this please share your foresight with me! she thought to herself as she rushed into the center of the darkness making as much noise as possible with her shield and in the hopes of distracting or drawing the attention of whatever was attacking.
Pleased that he didn't hear Damon shout out after his arrow plunged into the darkness, Onyx drew another arrow and nocked it on his bowstring. As he drew back the string he watched Stella run into the darkness, shield raised. She's running into it?! Hells below... He fired at the same place again, hoping his arrow will strike true, despite all the new obstacles.
He waited a moment and listened for any human-sounding shouts. No sound is good... I hope.
Burning my DM awarded inspiration die... logically I'd resist something grabbing my head.
Action - take it away
Move - can't move without provoke so drawing sword
Bonus - Word of Healing
Free - drop spear
or Is it Str or Athletics?
"Gmmmfffph", Hallvardr swore as he felt a crushing weight land on his head and shoulders. He dropped his spear and strove mightily to free himself. Grunting he strained and tore the tentacles and weight from his upper body, the threw it to the floor.
He then drew his sword and uttered a paen of praise to Gorum, seeking The Lord in Irons healing might.
He almost groaned in relief as strained muscles and cracked bones seared white hot with His gods power then stopped hurting.
Round 3
With her head intact, for now, Kokam's confidence began to grow, even though she could still not see anything in the inky blackness. Straining her ears, she held back a old Kellid curse as Stella began to make a startling amount of noise.
She felt, rather and heard, the next attack and brought her spear up to push the thing away....following up with a quick jab of her own where she though the creature had been...
Kokam smiles as her spear once again makes contact, as she warily continues to move along to wall...