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Yeah, it's been intermittent for me too the last couple of days.
Unity feel the pleasant ache of effort as they quickly shower before heading to their quarters on GD. While they certainly enjoyed their time out in the wild, they also enjoy having been of use here to their allies... and to themself, quite frankly. But now, they're certainly ready for sleep. They curl up on the floor of their small room and lay their heads down, soon falling asleep. Unity dream that they're hunting: It's hard to catch something they're so evenly match with, but Unity persevere. They follow the trail through the jungle, and when they lose it at a stream, they head upstream and leap up onto a small rise they see... and yes, there's a faint scent and trace there.
It seems a long hunt, but at the same time just minutes before they finally catch sight of their quarry. They leap on them just as they turn to their pursuer, all going down in a tangle of flailing paws and snarling heads. This other has a bladed tail they have to watch for, but they seem to lack some of the extra hardening of their hide they have. They both leap aside as a third Unity tries to ambush them during their melee. The three three-headed chimeras prowl in a wary circle for a moment, gauging their differences, looking for weaknesses. All at once they all attack again. But soon another hunting Unity joins the fight. And another, and another, until the jungle seems filled with their battle, dozens of variations of their form slashing and biting and snarling and spitting all manner of deadly substances. And yet, for all this, not one of them falls. This is... wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong! This is not how they should be! They're harming the world with their fighting! they roar, and sudden silence falls over the jungle. For a long moment they all stand there, looking warily at one another. At last Unity say, "Do we even know why we're fighting? Do we even know why we're here? Do we even know what we're for?" Slowly, all the variations of Unity gather together. They see one another, seeing how they might have been if their path had been a little different. But in all this variation they do not see the answer. And so they all turn to the sky and, from a thousand triplets of throats, roar, "What are we to be!?"
I suppose I should post here that I'm still around, too, instead of just chatting with VoA on Discord. :D
Brennus strenuously objects to being called an evil genius! He's studied history, he knows that evil geniuses have a statistically alarmingly high probability of being killed by a group of around 3-6 supernaturally competent wanderers just as their plans are about to bear fruit. This is why he takes pains to be a neutral genius at worst. That said, I will definitely give this some thought after work today. I will say the issue with the death ward idea is it's a 4th-level spell, so outside of reach for normal casting at our level, so the scroll would have to be cast via Use Magic Device at a fairly difficult DC for our level. That said there may be a Spherecasting alternative.
Oh yeah, I don't think I'd shared this reference sheet for Brennus I'd gotten here yet.
Well, you know, when you're on an island paradise in a demiplane in the Queen of Witches' hut that's just the sort of thing you have lying around.
Brennus makes a wordless cry of excitement as he comes over and investigates Ratchet's unique 'spellbook'. He looks through the index for a moment. "Certainly several here I don't already have... though so long as I continue to have access to your written spells, I can prepare spells from others' spellbooks. Or even cast them directly, with a few reagents. Now, which ones do I want to record in my own spellbook... oh yes, and here's the list of what I have available."
Brennus unfolds his prosthetic arms (with a thanks to Ratchet) and reaches into his pack with them, pulling out his spellbook and some inks and quills. After listing off his own spells, he mentions, "Gauntlet, you use a spellbook as well, don't you? We should discuss some trades as well." Then he starts picking out things to copy from Ratchet's spells.
Yeah, I've been having intermittent issues, too. Sometimes I get the page claiming there's scheduled maintenance when there's clearly no scheduled maintenance going on...
"Maybe we could pass him and then lay an ambush ahead?" Brennus croaks, not moving from his perch. His suggestion is certainly in no way motivated by the idea of resting for a bit longer...
Kit & Greta: Kit frowns slightly in thought. "I suppose I could try to scry through this blizzard..."
"Or you could have some of the witches who specialize in this kind of thing do it," his wife replies. "Or that," Kit flashes a grin in response. "Well, back to Whitethrone, then? I don't think we need to check on the lich to know there's a lot of dangerous undead. We can start coordinating reaching out to possible allies for this fight in addition to the scrying." Greta nods, and crouches slightly to allow him to get on her back once again for the ride back.
Correct, though given current circumstances I could just assume Selena continues to use the thundercloud and Kalchine continues to wait for them to break through the wall.
I was trying to remember if I'd shared any Kit & Greta art. Well, in case I hadn't, here's a picture of Kit alone and then one of Kit and Greta together. :)
What, you think the kingdom wants a malevolent outsider manipulating people in their kingdom? Brennus figures telling them about it is the ultimate fallback in case we all die or something.
Pink-Eye:
"I am Brennus." Brennus bob his head in a sort of bow. "I've recently become a coworker with someone I understand was a friend of yours in the past, Gauntlet the warforged. It's actually at his request I've come. You see, we've been hired for two separate jobs at once, and we could use some help with one of them while managing the other."
"As for the veracity of my acquaintance with Gauntlet, before I get to the job offer, he said, and I quote, 'Just tell him Gauntlet needs his help, and to please put his tankard down before he does.'" ******* Brennus listens intently to the information, but he freezes for a moment at the end. Then he looks over all of his companions, finishing on Gauntlet's head (right next to him, given he's perched on the warforged's shoulder). Then he turns back to Viorr. "Oddly enough, this amulet may relate to our request for information," he says. "Some time ago, some of our group--I was not present at the time--retrieved a marble statue for one Mistress Kaelys Tola, which was missing a single piece--an amulet. Marble being an odd thing to make amulets from, this may well be the very same amulet." "What's more, we recently learned that said statue may actually be the petrified body of malevolent extraplanar being, exactly the sort of being that might well be capable of influencing minds despite being petrified. Mistress Kaelys herself has left Sharn, and her whereabouts were to be our request. Now, however, if this being could possibly have influenced Lucan... well, he may well be going to reunite the final piece of the 'statue' with the rest, which would make her location, or at least the location of the statue she took with her, very relevant at present."
Hey Rollo! Good to 'see' you again. :D
Brennus notes that at least Erix remembered what the instructions were. He does wonder somewhat if his new allies know the meaning of the word discretion, but exercises some of his own by not speaking up. Pink-eye: Brennus finds a spot to perch nearby the minotaur, suspecting that the pack on his back will draw attention. As soon as the minotaur is looking at him, he says, "Message for Pink-eye, that would be you, yes?"
Kit sighs as he watches Kira crawl over to her two brothers. The thing he most hates about what he's doing is how little time he and Greta have with their three cubs, but... if they're going to have a future country to live in that's worth living in, it has to be done. He looks over at Greta as she finishes talking with the nurse that will be in charge of their cubs' care while they're out on this mission, seeing that same pain reflected in her eyes. Wordlessly they leave their home, shutting the door on the yips and barks of their cubs. Kit gives Harsk, standing guard outside, an appreciative nod, which the stoic half-orc returns wordlessly. Together, Kit and Greta slip out of Whitethrone into the wilderness, headed toward the first of the invading armies they'll infiltrate.
"If none of you are lacking in firearms, I could make use of that weapon, as I tend to fight at very close ranges where a flame-throwing pistol would be of most utility," 15-0-10 states, still in its more robotic voice. It swaps to a 'noir investigator' voice. "Your theory's good there, Sparks. That's probably what killed the vics. Except... that message made it sound like there was something more than just the low-lifes we've killed already." It returns to its robotic-but-inflected voice. "Finishing with the ship and then investigating the rock is a logical course of action."
I find myself thinking that Kit's most likely first contact among the other PC's would be Areelu. The former Worldwound isn't that far from Irrisen (Just the Realm of the Mammoth Lords in between) and her concept of being a monster seeking redemption would definitely fit in with his aim to make a nation that welcomes both humanoids and those typically seen as monstrous... and he'd also be wary about her power and whether or not her remorse is genuine.
I was just looking and seeing this campaign has been going for almost nine years now. :D Think we'll finish before the ten year mark?
I guess since this thread has been resurrected, I could point out that the Reign of Winter campaign I've been running for several years is partway through the last module now. I picked it up from another GM partway through the 3rd module, so I've been GMing it for more than half the play time. The PC's have been great fun to watch RP through all the craziness involved in Reign of Winter. It'll be strange once it's over...
Well, Brennus will want to spend some time getting to know his new allies, for certain. Maybe arranging a more permanent place to roost than whatever perch at Gauntlet's place he's been using. He'd definitely want to spend time with Ratchet talking more details about the science behind his technology, and Frank about magical theory and the planes. He will probably at some point try to wheedle some books out of every member of the party.
The way Brennus is looking at the Lantern Archon is almost... hungry. "I'm certain we can figure out a small something for appropriate recompense. An exchange of knowledge, perhaps? Though speaking of knowledge, anything you could share about this Idol might be helpful, just in case we encounter any more agents it might have. Not to mention anything about its current state. For example, if we find we cannot take the whole statue, would breaking off a couple of fingers and arranging for them to be thrown overboard off a ship midway across the ocean to Xen'Drik be a good way to guarantee it will not revive?"
"Justice is a nice little lie you humanoids use to hold your societies together," Brennus states in a rough voice from his perch a little ways away from their captive. "It's not a real thing that actually exists. What you really wanted was revenge, which is generally a pretty useless thing unless it's against something likely to be a threat again in the future." He ruffles his feathers slightly. "I am curious where you got the resources for so many potions. Though you did mention being a thief."
"Getting anything out of the computer systems will not be possible for another 5.93333 hours," 15-0-10 states. "If we are not planning on an extended maintenance period, it is not likely worth our time to wait."
Brennus ruffles his feathers slightly as he tilts his head in thought. "That seems workable. With how close the penthouse and the tavern are, those of us in either location can support the others easily enough. I might ask for a short trip to somewhere magical scrolls can be purchased earlier in the day, at after which I should be capable of aiding in communications somewhat." He croaks a laugh. "It is ever the lament of the worker of arcana that there is not enough time for all the spells one wishes to learn."
I guess the question is, do we want him to know about the whole bit with the Fates? I think that's the piece that's in question here.
Yeah, this has been a little hard to follow since we got a little metaphysical on what was going on. Here's my general understanding: * The false Narvus and several other Deceivers had set up Helanthrop to seem like a super-productive hub of planar industry attractive to crafter Earth spirits, while it was actually engineered to cause friction and overwork so that the crystals produced had subtle flaws that would influence the planes they were used in. * When we came in and started dismantling this, the Deceivers at first tried to discredit us. When that didn't work they decided it was time to cut and run, with a couple of them fighting as rearguard. * We cut off their escape and destroyed the Deceivers most capable of fighting. This included the false Narvus, who was apparently so deeply involved in the makeup of Helanthrop that their death started to destabilize the demiplane. * The remaining Deceivers tried to continue fomenting conflict, probably to hasten the destruction of the demiplane and give them an opening to escape. We started to work against it. * Azzim and Terexaltherin worked with the crystal orb that Narvus had apparently used as part of the foundation of Helanthrop. Somehow this caused the conflict, and the way past it, to physically manifest as a closed door. * Terexaltherin, being the eager little dragon that he is, guessed that the door, being a physical representation of the issues facing the demiplane, could also work the other way--that manipulating the door correctly could cause changes in Helanthrop. So he set to work on the door as if it had a particularly complex lock while encouraging the rest of the group to work directly on calming the conflict. * Apparently messing with the metaphysical underpinnings of reality gave Terexaltherin a glimpse on what I'm guessing are our multiverse's version of the Fates, who basically said "Wait he's not supposed to do that" then "Well I suppose he can get away with it this time". * This seems to have let him succeed in calming the problems in the demiplane, while apparently also banishing the Deceivers. * Now we're left with a door that seems to open to a nice spot somewhere on the more Neutral Good side of the Elemental Plane of Earth, which *may* actually be the base of a great planar crossroads area. So the question is, now what? Is this suggesting that Helanthrop be rebuilt in this new location as a Neutral Good-ish Elemental Plane of Earth version of Sigil? Is this a final distraction to get everyone out of Helanthrop while the Deceivers swoop in and take what they want? That's my read of things.
Unity dream of stalemate They are eating the goat god. The goat god is eating them. Each heals from what it consumes from the other. Together they are as an Ouroboros, caught in an eternal cycle of consumption and regrowth. But it is not perfect. With each cycle, they are each a little smaller. Shrinking, shrinking, shrinking away... Unity dream of reigning They lay on a great stone, as one after another, animals come before them. The weak, they cull and eat. The strongest, they merely scratch, that they may copy their strengths for themself, before sending them on to breed. Those in between are turned back, to try again to grow stronger. It is a responsibility that has grown tiresome, but who else is ready to take it on?
"We like the idea of fighting that thing we saw on foot even less," Unity say. "And it needs to go." "We can't imagine anything good is coming of it indirectly devouring the blood of millions of goats from many worlds. But we do have other priorities right now."
Unity do not leap into combat with the... goat-god. The chupacabra were patheticly weak compared to them, but not only are there millions of them here, that creature must be large enough it might well be able to fit *Unity* in its mouth. No, better to take this material back, perhaps to plan a future expedition with companions to confront this threat. They head back to the cruiser and report their success.
Thanks for the temporary wrap-up!
I'm aware. Brennus is being overcautious.
Yeah, I recorded it (I assumed she hit one of the two attacking her instead of the one I had the rest of you hitting), I just forgot to mention it in narration.
Ah, I have a busy weekend and a lot of stuff happens. :D
When Dirk, Sparks, and Zephyr arrive at the Eoxian embassy, they notice a small robot sitting on its haunches not far from the entrance they're headed towards. It's quadrupedal, with a vaguely animal-like head--a long, narrow muzzle with metallic 'teeth' in its mouth, a mismatched pair of triangular ears (one shorter and wider, the other taller and narrower), and similarly disparate camera 'eyes'. Its four legs are also varying in appearance. It also has two 'tails', one thicker with a handful of patches of scraggly gray false fur clinging to it, which splits into a trio of manipulator tendrils, one of which looks to end in another camera. The second 'tail' is far more slender, though it similarly splits into a pair of manipulator tendrils at the end. Its casing is patched, pitted, and in many places has obviously had segments replaced. Its flanks have a few small solar panels integrated into its casing, and the symbol of Sarenrae is painted (rather inexpertly) in flaking golden paint on each side. But perhaps most interestingly, a familiar mote of light dances between the two tendrils of its smaller tail. It stands as it sees the approaching trio of solarions and lifts said tendrils, shaking them in what might be supposed to be a wave. It opens its mouth and a voice that sounds very like that of the young protagonist of an action holovid from last year emerges. "Oh! Three fellow solarians! I wouldn't have thought I would see something like that here! Hello fellow solarians!"
"If I knew how it would help I wouldn't want to look at the book," Brennus lies. "Can you think of a reason why a man whose interests seem otherwise entirely centered on art would have such a book? I *suppose* it could simply have been a random impulse, a moment of curiosity, but it's still the only thing that seems out-of-place." "As for the artist, I'm not thinking the artist would be the murderer, yes. I suppose I am rather, as you say, grasping at straws here, given the lack of anything else to focus on."
Hmmm, I should think about this...
A strong start is good for sure! :)
Yeah, hope things are going well for you!
I think it's safe to say I like these ideas. :D
Part of me is tempted to have Zilvazaraat show up right in the middle of all these heartfelt conversations. :D
Fin is able to find a village and arrange for the drained soldiers to be taken care of.
That would be fine.
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