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I have received a mysterious parcel. The parcel was opened. A light reflected upon its contents and all has been made anew...
Very excited. I'll make Ani a proper alias and get all the other specifics set asap. Ani will have looked for new opportunities and groups to work with after she fled her first established group. Would be interested in fleshing out how everyone met and the type of things they had been about prior to the current break before the upcoming adventure.
Pretty much. Related plan in the works so if others are so compelled feel free to PM...
Looks like Ani got missed in the list (one of two oracle stargazer submissions). Ani, Oracle (Stargazer) / Barbarian (Mooncursed) / Rage Prophet.
Ani, Oracle (Stargazer) / Barbarian (Mooncursed) / Rage Prophet.
Be aware of themes of domestic violence and abuse in Ani's backstory. Backstory:
She gazed into the starry sky, stealing this early morning moment for herself. There would be a full day of work for them, but this time was hers. He’d come home drunk again. His poor excuse for wife wouldn’t be back from the city for another few days. The hovel they lived in was even more of a disaster than normal. Her only reprieve was that he was so drunk that he was soundly asleep. She wouldn’t have to worry about him bothering her while she tended to the mess. The luxury of folding the laundry underneath the night sky was not lost on her. It was rare that she could do so without skulking off to the ledges that abutted their small seaside village. The local healer Ampha, a kind old woman told her that the water called to her. She was more interested in the stars – reflected almost perfectly in the waters – when they were calm. The only reason this previous year of life was marked by anyone other than her was because of the change. He’d beaten quite harshly because of what it meant. She could bear children now. She couldn’t let that happen he yelled, no matter what he did. As far as she was concerned she already cared for two children, her father and his wife. They hadn’t cared for her for as long as she remembered. Ampha had gifted her with a telescope. Apparently the tinkerers in the city had crafted them from metal and fine glass lens made from the sand that seemed to be everywhere these days. The creation was a miracle as far as she was concerned. Ampha said Ani had earned it. She’d been helping the aging woman for years as a way to get away from home. And as long as her father kept getting more than his fair share of what she earned and kept the hovel clean he didn’t hit her too often for ‘neglecting her family.’ When she looked through the telescope for the first time it was almost like she could touch the stars. It went with her whenever she could steel moments within view of those glowing orbs. Ani had kept impeccable care of the infernal contraption. He would have taken care of the thing sooner, but she had hidden it well. His third curse had found it when she was packing her things. Apparently she had had enough of him. Since the years of drinking had finally taken their toll on his manly abilities his wife had become more and more impatient with him. Even as old as she was, she was still a beauty. It was only a matter of time that she would find someone more capable than him in the city. And so Ani would suffer. He could no longer pleasure himself with her so she would take no pleasure in ogling the night sky with this silly metallic tube. He took great pleasure in snapping the thing in half. Ani didn’t crumble the way he expected. The rage in her eyes was unexpected. And she was so much taller than he remembered. When she reached for what remained of the thing he was sure her nails seemed longer than he remembered. Maybe he should have spent a bit more on the drink he’d brought home. The cursed moon was so bright. All the same he nearly tripped as he stumbled through the door. He never made it to his bed. The constable couldn’t figure out how a wolf had gotten into the village without anyone noticing. No one thought to ask Ani. Everyone assumed she left with her stepmother. That was how little this little village was. Ampha knew better. She’d read the portents and done what she could to steer Ani away from that path. The rage had been too strong. It had been easy to give herself over to the rage. The old man hadn’t even seen her coming. The pleasure of feeling his neck snap between her teeth was almost enough to make up for the putrid taste of his blood. She ran free that night. Truly free for the first time in her life. Free beneath the brightest full moon she had ever seen. It was a shame he’d broken her telescope. She’d find a way to buy another. All the same, something nagged at her. As if there was something at the edge of her memory that just wouldn’t come to the surface. Ampha followed her for years, thwarting Ani’s rage whenever she could. At times it cost Ani the lives of those she’d grown to trust. But mostly, it just seemed like bad luck. Until that morning. He’d been everything Ani’s father hadn’t been. Charming and intelligent. Patient and at times – even wise. Ani was naturally cautious, but Ampha watched powerless as he brought her daughter into his circle. He directed her carefully, making sure not to ask to much of her. Letting her see only what he wanted her to see. In time, Ani came to see his enemies as her enemies. It was then that Ampha had to intervene. The small village was not all that different from where Ani had grown up. Instead of the shore of an ocean it was nestled under the shadow of a moment. The villagers had mined it’s riches for generations, careful to respect the natural balance of the area that had guarded by a druidic enclave that had remained unseen for even longer than that. But Triton had made sure Ani didn’t see any of those details. All she saw was the greedy leaders that were keeping the villagers impoverished. He taken the memories of her father and used them to turn her into a cruel weapon. By morning nearly all the elders of the village were gravely wounded. So too was Ani. Her face was familiar somehow. The memory, along with the feeling of the burns were seared into Ani. Triton’s anger was nearly as harsh. She did everything she could to make him happy, but in the end she realized he was not unlike her father. Even in her rage he was too powerful. Her only choice was to run… The lass was something else. Quite a task to track, even for a dwarf with his knack for tracking. He’d tried to warn her about Triton, but she’d been smitten. Alas, even after he found her he had too much heart to hand her over to Triton. Thankfully the man had the attention span of a goblin. As patient as he claimed to be the next young thing that came into town had him prancing about like a young buck out to stud. He’d met some frivolous humans over his many years, Triton was something else. But boy, he sure did pay well. That too didn’t lass. It was nearly unheard of that good ol’ Grimsby didn’t track down his quarry. Eventually Triton began to suspect that the dwarf hadn’t been completely honest with him. It was all the excuse Grimsby needed to look for work elsewhere. And he even had a chance to check in on Ani now and then. Two goals:
1) To touch a star. 2) To defeat Triton Two secrets:
1) That she killed her father. 2) That Ampha is her mother. People tied to Ani:
1) Ampha, Ani’s mother and one time mentor. Now enemy. 2) Triton, one time leader. A reminder of how far afoot Ani went… (She considers him an enemy, but him she is nothing but a tool he tossed aside.) 3) Grimsby, dwarven ranger that Ani used to work with / still knows.
Hope you all are well with the new year. Enjoying getting back into things on the boards. Thanks for the heads up. I'm pretty sure I still owe you my address GM Rat Sass. I'll toss an email your way this afternoon.
I'll touch base. Thank you for the heads up and PM.
Fun stuff. I found a group that needed someone to step in to GM for them here on the boards. Picking up part way through book 2 of Reign of Winter. Would still be fun to get into something as a player down the line, but for now I am enjoying being back into things.
Appreciate the extra eyes.
Hey strangers. Glad to see you all are still at it. Been missing gaming. Figured I'd give you all a poke and see if I might crash the party and or if you all know of a pbp game looking for a player.
A 5-foot wide orb like creature dominated by a central eye and large serrated mouth rises from the water. Hundreds of small seaweed-like bristles hang from the bottom of its body. Two large crab-like pincers protrude from its body, and two long, thin eyestalks sprout from the top of its orb. A ray flies from each of its eyestalks, spreads toward Otah and Aldebert, and another shoots strait at Pent. Ami:
As you and Yeen approach the Axe wielder rises to his feet. With a gesture and chanting a floating battle axe appears near you. Round One: All PC now acting.
Initiative
GM: ,
Now imagine having to position your character in front of said character so that he can poke at the baddies in front of your character with his lance. Ok, maybe you shouldn't imagine that.
Much appreciated.
Right back at ya. Guessing we're still in a holding pattern?
Are all three adventures that are included scaled for level 12 characters? Are there scaling suggestions?
Looking sternly toward the other fellow.
Lareg charges toward the dark clad individual with the tinder twig. Via telepathy: I'll be there as soon as I've taken care of this fire hazard. , .
Not sure of what he's seeing, Lareg guesses at some possibilities - sharing them mentally. Via telepathy: "The men have pulled rod shaped objects from their bag. Could be a firework display or something much worse."
Lareg watches cautiously. What's in the bag? What does the pair seem to intend?
Seeing the fellows heading toward the main gate, Lareg moves to follow. Doing his best not to be spotted. He mentally shares his observations. "Headed toward the main gate, dark clad men on the move."
Lareg's ears strain as he overhears the activity in the square while keeping a watchful for the dark clad men.
Lareg carefully moves through the crowd working to get out of sight of the darkclad fellows, using nearby buildings to gain cover. Then he returns via a different route, hoping to get closer to the pair without them noticing. Once he's close enough he tries to gather the men's intentions.
+4 for Initiative. Still working on moving over Lareg's info from my character sheet.
Map looks awesome. Quick breakdown on nameplates in Roll20. - Click 'Edit' or the gear icon on a token.
That will make name visible to all.
No problem. Should have a chance to get Lareg typed in soonish.
Will poke at Roll20 shortly.
It's alive!
The light of the courtyard seems to be holding back the surrounding forrest. Rheynold: As you rest and recover you consider the events of your unconscious time as described by the others. The description of Aak's attempted channeling of energy reminds you of the way the dome has only been able to partially protect those below from whatever corruption is at sway in the land. This power, over the generations, has shaped the way everyone from beneath the dome responds to healing energy. (
Aak's attentive care of Tamayra while also tending Rheynold is greatly leaves both feeling much better while Aak is ready for mush much deserved rest.
Pent: The door seems cold to the touch, much like the other stone brick nearby. You hear the slight sound of water, as if dripping.
With protection from whatever else lurks in the forest Aak is able to successfully tend to Reynold through what could be a night. With the constant twilight it is impossible to gauge the time of day. Reynold awakes not fully recovered, but much better. Through the evening everyone remains undisturbed. There are continued glyphs of some figure or shadow within the wooden structure beyond the courtyard.
The sounds of running feet echo through the tunnel. Aldebert: You do indeed notice Thomas lurch toward Quinn and hear shout 'oww'.
Tamayra:
The area seems safe enough for Aak to begin his long term care. Perception rolls:
Perception>22: You can clearly see the shadow of a figure within the wooden structure.
Otah:
You make it down the rope easily. At the bottom is a halting atop a cat of some kind that seems panicked. Ami: Yes, Ami notices the moving rope as mentioned in the spoiler up thread. You also seen a dwarf climbing down the rope.
The sounds of clanging armor against the side of the well echo throughout the stone structure. Otah: You've made it to the rope and are about 20 feet of 60 feet down.
In front of the wooden structure is a large, white‐lacquered torii gate marking the courtyard’s entrance. The structure is a two‐storey lodge constructed entirely from interlocked timbers. Jenya: From what you can see from the outside of the structure the first floor seems empty. You're not sure if you heard footsteps on the second floor or if it's a trick of the forest.
The awesome!
Had to figure out who had what skills. Turns out Tamyra had Knowledge (nature) and Survival covered. Rheynold should be back with us soonish.
Using the statue as a guide, Tamayra leads the party on while Aak and Jenya manage to carry Reynold. Tamayra leads everyone first to the closest sculpture and then following it's direction to another statue. The last statue leads the group to a clearing roughly two hundred feet across, dotted with twisting cherry‐blossom trees with bioluminescent petals a pale shade of blue that shed a dim light throughout the area. Within its center stands a wooden structure. Moss‐covered, stone lanterns line the flagstone path leading to the spacious courtyard in front of the wooden structure. Tamayra: , .
Pent: Near the door toward the end of the hall you see a corpse. This one is not like the others. You'll need to get closer to be sure, but it seems recent and shows signs of having encountered the creatures you and the others have just dispatched.
Ami: Above you can hear the angels sound their displeasure, their words are incompressible to you, but clearly aggressive.
The remaining creature bursts into flames as it mutely stands within the sphere as it's fire covers the deathless creature.
Aldebert swings mightily, but is unable to halt the creature's advance as it reaches toward him with a slam attack ( ) that fails to connect. As he swing the hammer again it slams into the creature, dropping it to the ground easily.
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