Dargys's page

Shane, I'm sorry RL has hammered you and yours so hard. I'm glad you're seeing to your mental health and your apology is kind.

That said, I have had in the last two weeks a burst of family troubles, new obligations, health troubles for those dear to me, and more arise to the point where I worry I don't have time for all the games I'm in and may need to drop (at least) one. So I'll be taking Dargys out. Just say he's getting his family to safety or whatever. My apologies to my fellow players.

He washes his hands, and says, "Fine, but I can't stay long, Nanna. I was going to ask you something about things you noticed, odd situations or people strange people. Particularly around..." He names the area. She can be a bit of a flake but she knows old stories, and the gossip chain. Even as he starts to help with the potatoes while she talks

"My thanks, to you, and Conn," He rises after this blessing, "Please say a prayer for my family, if you would to protect them from threats holy and petty alike."

And, unless there is something else, he plans to head towards his home. He was told to ask the Townsfolk for what they might know. Well, his grandmother is... to put it kindly, a bit off, but she knows old tales and stories. Maybe there is something she knows about unusual activities, or old incidents similar to the one they met.

Dargys’ mind is on Antero’s lack of manners, but then he notices among the acolytes and workers over a dozen men and woman patrolling the inside of the cathedral. His mind catches that he might have seen a couple outside also. They have similar garb as the woman aiding Sethiel, just less ornate. Temple guard, and with what Dargys knows of the city they are probably needed with the value of everything within.

Good security. He observes.

"Deshe, Alistair, Erik, Dargys—maybe ye can help gather information from the townsfolk. Any clues about unusual activities or suspicious individuals could be invaluable."

Dargys has his doubts that he'll be much good at gathering information from Townsfolk but will give it a try after this.

“I am currently investigating my own unusual situation here in the city limits, so my man power resources are tied up in that. But I will aid where I can. If you’d allow me, I would like to examine each of you. Granting you a blessing of Conn.”

"I'd be honored," He says with a lowered head, and waits his turn.

Sorry, some RL Stuff with housemates and friends came up and my posting was neglected. Will try to respond tomorrow

Dargys notes that he's being given the silent treatment despite his efforts to have things on decent terms.

And he too goes to help drop Sethiel off with the others. He is concerned for the poor elf who was an ally to them.

He notices the merchant scurry back, and the eyeball he's getting from the man Not so much as an apology. I guess rich men pay in coin, but not manners. Still, fear as much as bluster maybe influencing the ass. And he's not alone in that. I had the shivers too. He takes a gentling breath.

"As Klaus has said, we went down, and we explored, and we returned and reported. And what we reported was horrific, no doubt. You must be terrified by the news and with good reason. I tell you, it was terrifying for us too. More than once, the unnaturalness of it all seeped into our very souls. It's enough to make anyone be not at their best, to be fair to the both of us. Alistair and Rasmus are right, we need to learn more, check other sources. We'll do that. Then , better prepared we'll go back in... or at least I plan to, always did. If I might suggest, if you are of a particular faith, you might want to purchase yourself a holy symbol. Maybe it won't help, but it surely cannot hurt."

A look at the coin, "As for the payment, I'll take no more than the hundred I was offered at the start, and then I'll get the rest of my share when I do more than exploring and get back. There appears to be some disagreement between us about giving your solemn word, and a job being very different. The latter can be negotiated or renegotiated. The former is never given lightly, or shouldn't be. I'll wait till I'm done with the job before taking more than the 100 for myself or items found so there's no further confusion. If I go in and die on the mission, I'll ask any further coin I was going to get to go to my family."

Dargys hopes this clears up further misunderstanding and on decent terms.

Dargys shoots Klaus a grateful look.

As far as I know, no WORD was given?

From Dargys' POV, he's been shaken supernaturally, has no idea what the heck they just faced, and asked HOW to defeat something so he could do so... and just got insulted to his face by a pompous windbag who is lying in order to insult him and tarnish his reputation.

So just taking that BS was not going to happen.

Dargys bristles at that and stands up and for a moment and gets in Antero's way, "I don't care how rich you are, you don't LIE and tell me I swore an Oath or promised when I did not. I am asking EARNESTLY if anyone has ideas on how to beat those things, and if you just don't know, SAY SO..." His eyes smolder, "And I put my body on the line when I choose. Your gold is yours, true, and I'll try to earn it, but you do not own me, OR my allies!" He towers over the merchant
Intimidation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Then he takes a breath to calm himself, "You have no idea. FINE. We'll learn what we can on the history and how to best it. There was a vision. I will try to remember details. Maybe there was a clue in there."

"Clear it out? How?" Dargys is brave by nature, but that was insane.

Once EVERYONE in the group is through, he closes and rebars it for now. "Water ghosts, odd visions... I think someone else can explain it better than I."

"Oh Hell... Dargys says when they find the door locked. He bangs away with the hilt of his sword, "Okay, let us out."

Will Save plus Trait bonus 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

His wounds heal, he should be happy, but Dargys is shivering from the vision "What in the bowels of the coldest hell was THAT!!?"

Dargys charges past Deshe "Sounds like Klaus found another one!"

Double Move again seems required

Deepest sympathies to you and your family.

The light from the fallen torch fading behind him, Dargys curses a bit under his breath and keeps going as best he can. Fortunately his shield should take any collusions with walls or the like pretty solidly.

Not sure if that will slow him down but if he can, he double moves again.

"Well," Dargys admits with a grimace "That blow hurt like hell. Thank you for the help with that one. We need to find Deshe and Sethiel and get the blazes out of here. If this all goes round like we think, then we might as well head this way..." He gestures what he THINKS might be east and south and closer to the exit "And see if we find him there!" And he moves that way quickly. He also calls out "DESHE! We're trying to get to you!"

Double Move.

Dargys whirls around to face the rushing foe...

Another Will Save. Trait included 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Once more his courage holds, and once more he strikes out with his sword
to hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
DMG if that hits: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Edit: Possible crit. To confirm... 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Heh, well, definitely no crit, but he hit.

"They can be hurt!" Dargys eyes light up "And steel can do it." He even smiles. Unknown or not, he can fight these!

Will Save (Has Courageous trait): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

"We're caught betwixt and between," He curses as he grits his teeth to help fight the fear. So far, so good. Maybe a quick 'kill' is possible. Sword in one hand, shield in another, he steps up to the nearer of the two foes and slices. "Rasmus, another is going to be behind us shortly. Double team this, or back to back?"

To hit w/longsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
DMG: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Dargys takes a deep breath, nods and moves. "Topside it is. We can regroup there, Rasmus, and try again" He sees Klaus go one direction, "pardon..." And he follows the Wizard's path. Klaus is the only one here he'd call friend, and he'll stay by him.

Besides, magic might be the only thing that works on some ghosts!

"Deshe might need some help. I'd offer, but it might be easier for one of the taller folk," Belfer suggests to those around him.

"I'll be with you in a moment, Deshe, if you really need the help but I think..." And then the lights flicker and things move "On Second thought, we may need your help... stuff is getting weird!" He yells, raising his shield defensively.

"It's looking like this loops around ? I can't be sure, but yes, that metal door is looking more likely."

Dargys gives Rasmus a hapless shrug at the wrong way possibility

It's good. He has Improved Shield Bash so he can wham someone with it pretty well

"So far, so good?" he mutters to Alistair, deferring to him in this.

Dargys holds the light source, though he'd prefer to hold his blade. The shield stays ready for certain.

Dargys looks as far as the light allows and asks Alistair "How much lead do you need to scout without my own noise ruining it? Or do you prefer I just get your back period? "

When he heard of the details of the vision, he's horrified, and intrigued.

"We need to find something that fits that water drop impression. I bet it will act like a key and pop that puppy open. I hear some wizards will pay good money for old spells. Is that right Klaus?" Alistair asks. Then he moves back toward the hall he had just come down and calls out, "Hey guys, come one down. I don't want us to get too spread out and there is another tunnel down here I want to check out."

"Very well," He looks at the others, "Do what you will, I'm going to follow Alistair. See what's up"

Not sure he's close enough to get a perception roll but if when he does 1d20 ⇒ 8

"I've never seen or heard of anything like this," Klaus says seriously. "Are we even sure it's a book and not just some fancy decoration?"

Dargys gives a shrug at that, but the situation with Belfer has him naturally focused. He does feel helpless against things like 'possession'.

Hearing Deshe's inquiry, he answers to the void, his eyes still closed, "I'm here... I'm just going to rest here for a bit while the rest of me catches up. That bowl... is darker... malignant... and more powerful than I initially thought possible... I had a vision... or maybe it showed me? Of somewhere else... of a battlefield of bone between two armies of hideous things.".

Belfer stops, allowing the cold stone floor to anchor his mind to where he lays, before asking, "You're a man of the cloth Deshe. Are you familiar with a robed skeletal figure that carries a bone staff topped with black crescents and an hour glass hanging from it?"

"Hideous things? Can you describe them in more detail than that? I'd understand if not, but maybe there's something historical about it?"

"Fair enough, you were more worried about what might happen than what had happened, I see where I got on the wrong track."

"Just so, and no harm done. I'll try to focus on the now a bit more." A respectful nod.

Then "Sounds like Rasmus and Alastair have found somethings." Times like this he wishes he were as learned as Klaus.

Dargys listens to Rasmus respectfully, the man's not wrong about his family mattering to him, "Not trying to keep an argument going. Opinions vary and that's fine. I just didn't want any miscommunication, or misrepresentation, even if only accidental." He ponders it over, "maybe I am a bit tense due to this situation. I'll work on it. Hell of a lot different from a straight forward pitfight."

Dargys arches a brow at THAT interpretation, "Let's see, some wanted to go 'that way' down a chute, and others wanted to 'that way' further down the halls and each was about to head off and apparently keep going... So no, I didn't mean 'further than arm's reach'. I meant things are dangerous enough without going off in two separate directions and we shouldn't keep stretching it out for reasons Rasmus explained. Now staying in view of each other? That I think is sensible. I hear stories about trap doors or dropped portcullis traps separating heroes in stories, which maybe bunk, but that's about all I've got."

Dargys then ponders "Right now, I'm mostly staying fast while others nose around just to keep line of sight between all involved as best I can while others search. Rasmus, if I'm doing it wrong you let me know, you seem the most experienced."

"Well, if you say so, Deshe." He doesn't sound convinced, but he IS new at this.

"Belfer, we appear to be split up again, why don't we join the others and head back here later? I don't 'dungeoning' but I know that dividing our forces like this when we could get attacked isn't wise."

Regarding the first, Congratulations to you and your wife!

As to the second? I'll have to think about it

Mumbling to Dargys, "Besides, if I don't come back with you alive and well, I just know Ulrikke would make sure my death is worse than anything down here..."

A shake of his head, clearly he has a hard time believing the man's sister is THAT enamored.

Instead his focus grows on Deshe's comment and he's ready to follow the lead on a proper burial.

Then Alastair goes one way, and Belfer wants to go another "So help me if we start to split up again..." A low growl

It doesn’t surprise me one bit that I have to play the foil to instant cup-of-heroes, just add hot water spirit. :P

I say that in the most affectionate way possible, my dear fellow players, but part of the immersion for me is that those untested and who have no current reason to throw themselves on the sword of danger would not unthinkingly devoid themselves of life for the sake of some random, probably hostile, spirit’s unvalidated words after just witnessing some traumatic hauntings the moments before.

I know we’re all here to be and play heroes, but I prefer heroics to happen organically and characters who behave like actual people. And people get hysterical, have clashes of conscience v. duty v. self-preservation v. actual and possible rational thought. Considering all the care and creativity I see in the roleplay so far, I’d like to think we’re more than “Quest giver hath spoken! No one but we can accept and complete this divine quest but those upon whose ears the prophecy has fallen! Sally forth for victory or death!” like we’re not literally in a basement 20 ft down from a town full of a lot more qualified people to handle something named a “Doom”.

If you guys think I’m ridiculous to expect anymore than “instantly joining Team Heroes,” I will abide by that decision and play Klaus as just a wizard in a dungeon delve. But if you actually expect Klaus the character, we need to be a bit more than one-dimensional.

No hard feelings, I swear. I’m not mad and hoping I’m not making anyone mad. Just meant to be a small request in style of play because it lets me know just how much/little I should be putting into Klaus and his evolution of character (assuming he lives) over the course of things. :)

After all, I’m certain the GM has plans for reticent and reluctant heroes which will up the stakes. I’d like to Call (raps knuckles on the table) and see what the River is to get my bet’s worth for the character and the story’s sake, if you feel me.

I totally respect Klaus' reactions are sane and to a large degree sensible. Good RP actually. I might disagree with the premise that Dargys and the others are not acting organically and so on. Dargys' latest IC posts pretty much sum up his rationale for 'being a hero' right now. His family is in danger, or so it seems. He wants to stop that threat before it gets topside not because he's a hero but because he's an older brother with an overdeveloped sense of protecting his family. He also wants wealth and as Alistair says, if the guard pours through here instead, goodbye to a lot of loot. He came into this dungeon feeling his back to the wall by life. He's got his batty old grandmother telling him he has the blood of a heroic noble in his veins, he's got family to look after etc.

All this has been part and parcel of the RP he's shown even before we hit dungeon, or at least that was my intent. I don't think it's a stretch to say his reasons to stick around are more than just the game demanding it. Others in the party have their own IC reasons which I won't presume too much on. I think I see a desire for glory, fellow Greed, and religious duty just to name a few but I could be wrong on that.

Klaus may need his own reasons, and hopefully friendship will be one.

As for sending word back, while this IS a bit of a meta excuse, we could send Sethiel back to former PC land and have him spread word while the rest of us go on. That would cover both Klaus' desire to spread word, and , if the GM wishes, free him from having to run a GMPC.

Dargys ponders Klaus’ words, and is not disdainful of his points, but he is resigned, ”Klaus, listen… I don’t blame you for being confused, worried, and most especially scared. By the hells, I’m terrified. But that’s why I think we should stick it out. You say we should report to the guard, but there’s a lot we don’t know, so what do we report? We ran out on a job when a water ice ghost attacked? With what evidence? They’d like put us away in an Asylum. Then there’s the matter of this ‘doom’. Even if we’re listened to, while the guards fuss over the paperwork of whether they should take action or not, it could be too late.”

He scratches his chin, ”Alistair also brings up a point. Your family is wealthy and I envy that, but most of us? This is our one chance to better our lots, and the lots of our kin. I want to save my family, aye, but I also want to better things for them and myself and this is an honorable way to do that. I risk my life at least three times a week for a pittance. Oh odds are good I’ll live but accidents happen even in mock fights. I’m not brave, I’m...running out of options. I want wealth that allows me some pride in the earning, you want respect from those that know you. THIS is our chance for that.”

Then the warrior smiles weakly ”Sides, I’m staying down here with or with out you, if I die because a wizard wasn’t here to help me, who will marry your sister?”

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Dargys raises his shield as if holding off the wave with it, and holds his breath...
and his ground.

“What in the blazes was that? I’ve seen some haunts before, but none of them have ever done that!”

"You're one up on me, Rasmus. Damned if I know what's going on. I do know we can't let whatever is in here 'doom' anyone topside. Some of us have family that would be in danger." He sets his jaw at that notion

"You have our ally hostage, why should we trust you?" Dargys warns the THING, "You tell us to leave, then say how we're doomed. How do we STOP the Doom?"

Darygys presents his sword hurriedly then gapes as the Spirit possesses Sethiel, then he says "Who is Siduri?"

Ah, I didn't read discussion thread until after I posted in play by post. Not sure how this changes things for Dargys' action

Room w/Table Dargys moves quickly, striding past Klaus to assist Sethiel, "Klaus, find a spell that might hurt this thing if my sword fails. Sethiel, if you can grab my shield and pull yourself out of it's grip!" He is not a leader, and knows others have better ideas than he, but it's the only one he can think of.

As Combat hasn't started yet I'm not sure how far I can go, but his idea is to lend his strength to pull Sethiel out of the monster's grip if possible, or, barring that, taking a swing at the creature without hitting Sethiel if he can.

"That patch on the wall near Sethiel, is that ...man shaped?" A confused look, "Never saw seepage just happen to take that form before."

He doesn't poke at it or anything, hoping someone is more versed in natural philosophy.

Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 12 +2 vs fear thanks to trait, but not sure if that applies here

Edit: Looks like he made it anyway

He whispers, "Did anyone hear that?"

Dargys reads out what was written by Rasmus to the others, then adds his own "If we can find out who the spirit was maybe we can at least get word to their loved ones."

Dargys takes the time to catch Rasmus's attention. He makes a writing motion, if Rasmus has pen and paper to offer, the warrior hastily writes down what's happened though it is a bit rushed

Assume a skim over what you mised
If no paper is available, he tries to move lips slow enough so the fellow can read them.

That's a fair request. Let me get on it. Don't want you feeling left out

Sorry, I got a little lost on who was where at what time so glad you clarified. My bad, as the ancients used to say