[4E]Apocalypse Now (IC)

[russdm]

(Here is the IC thread)

You awaken from your sleep among the ruins of a major city. Steam rises from where the sun dried up last night's rain. You eat a heartless meal with your companions, each of you recalling one simple truth: This is all your fault.

[Lord Vampyre]

Sindral Ravenwing - Changeling Assassin / MC Avenger

Having kept the final watch, Elsindril wanders the perimeter of the camp, trying to remember where things went wrong. He keeps an ever vigilant look out as the rest of his party begin to awaken.

In his current form, the one he had chosen since his life at the monastery. He appears to be a young man with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Rather than help him blend in the black clothes, seem to be intended to make him stand out. Securing his cloak is the symbol of the Raven Queen.

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Just in case.

Perception: (1d20+8)[14]

[IcemanJRC]

Ash - Shifter Fighter

Ash sits with his companions, his chain mail clinks lightly against his brown tunic and his boots scrap against the ground as he eats from a plate resting on his trousers. His eyes distant as he trys to remember the days before all this.

This is horrible...

Ash mumbles under his breath...

[Lord Vampyre]

Sindral Ravenwing - Changeling Assassin / MC Avenger

Having secured the perimeter of the encampment, Elsindril returns to the rest of the party. Sitting upon the hard ground to eat a cold meal, he looks at the those now awake and in a flat voice he adds his agreement to the Shifter's appraisal of the situation, "The situation is horrible, and eventhough I am sure there we could have prevented it, I can't seem to recall what has transpired to cause this level of destruction. As soon as we've all eaten we should probably scout out the ruins, and see if we can find any survivors and any information we can uncover." It appears that once again, I have arrived too late to make a difference. If only I knew what has occurred.

With that Sindral begins eating the cold meal.

[docHigh]

Orryn - Gnome Bard

Despite the mayhem, before eating the gnome tries to clean himself up, brush clothes clean of dust and then eats the cold breakfast. Nothing special, but it will allow to regain strength.
Some part of him knows, he could have done something to prevent this, but the other part feels glad he is not dead or even worse, imprisoned again. "Fellows, look at the bright side. We are still alive."

[AbsentiaMentis]

Erdan - Elf Archer Ranger

Erdan looked at his tablemates and realised the dire situation they were in. "We will have to brace ourselves for whatever may happen. Most inhabitants of ruined cities are not that fond of the ruiners." He let go of a wry smile when the thought about a much heard remark upon his birthplace "Hah, who lives in a dirty & grimy hole now? The forest doesn't seem all that bad suddenly. The food was better, definitely.

[Lord Vampyre]

Sindral Ravenwing - Changeling Assassin / MC Avenger

Sindral finds no comfort in his comrades words. He begins to worry about what is to come. I'm not afraid of death. I know the Raven Queen will care for my soul once I've crossed that veil. It is the senseless loss of life that I mourn for. The Raven Queen has taught her followers to maintain the balance between life and death. Unfortunately, I fear there will be more killing before we are able to restore that balance.

[docHigh]

Orryn - Gnome Bard

Before standing up Orryn takes out his flute, plays a sad song to mourn the lives lost in the city and later hums with the same melody:
"I stand, bones and ashes beneath my feet,
Was not it me? Was that not thee'?
Death, wind, broken dreams.
Corellon, hope is all they need."

"Sitting here and regretting will do no good. Since i don't recall either what has happened, i'd like to remain with you to find it out. You can call me Orryn." Setting the flute back to his backpack, he fastens the shield and is eager to get moving.

[IcemanJRC]

Ash - Shifter Fighter

Ash finishes his food, setting down the plate and jumping up,
AH! What's wrong with us! Why are we sitting here? What happened? Why don't I remember?!

Ash grips his forehead in frustration, this is all a big mess that he can't make sense of.

[Lord Vampyre]

Sindral Ravenwing - Changeling Assassin / MC Avenger

Easy, we will find our answers. We should search the city first, then perhaps we will have gathered some leads. Unfortunately, it seems we are all in the same predicament. I am Sindral Ravenwing, instrument of the Raven Queen.

With that Sindral gathers the rest of his belongings, ready to get moving.

[AbsentiaMentis]

"I am Erdan, and this is my instrument." he said as he tapped his longbow. "You are correct, there is no need for us to stay here. Let us venture out and see if we can help someone."

[IcemanJRC]

Ash - Shifter Fighter

Ash nods curtly,
Well, I'm Ash Moonchild, and I'm getting restless, let's go.
He shoulders his bag and grabs his weapon, a gleaming blade, curved and glowing like a crescent moon.

[tynger1234]

Kaleshtar - Dragonborn Fighter

Kaleshtar sits near the edge of the camp quietly eating, listening intently on what his companions are saying. Secretly he thinks to himself "I thought I was done with this. After all my old friends had given up, this is how I repay them? I don't even have the decency to remember what it is that I have done... maybe the pits affected me too much, maybe I should have been the one to die."

Kaleshtar hears his companioons getting up and ready to move; he picks up his shield and axe. "Atleast we're finally doing the right thing now... by the way, my name is Kaleshtar."

[docHigh]

While everybody is ready, the small gnome addresses all: "I don't want to stick to stereotypes, but Kaleshtar, would you take the front while Ash will cover our rear. Erdan, your people usually have keen senses - you'll be our eyes and ears. As for the direction .. i think starting from eastern part of the city is as good as any. We should find survivors and see if they can help us.." and with a small delay he adds ".. or we can help them."

Spoiler

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Aiding Erdan to keep an eye out.
Aid Perception: (1d20+6)[16]

[AbsentiaMentis]

Erdan nodded. "East, towards the sun. That would be a change from all the darkness that surrounds us in this dark and dreary place. Most likely we're needed everywhere. Let's hope not for punishment."

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Making a perception check then. 1d20+12+2 = 23. Hah, that's 1 above my passive :p

[IcemanJRC]

Ash nods,
Whatever, I'm just anxious to get moving. This place is starting to get freaky...
He shakes his head and twirls his khopesh, making a strange high sound and sparkly glint. He takes up the assigned position.

[tynger1234]

Kaleshtar nods to the gnome aswell,
"Yeah, i'll take point. This place is starting to get on my nerves too."
Kaleshtar trudges over to the front off the line.

[Lord Vampyre]

Sindral used to being over looked in his profession, isn't surprised when Orryn forgets his presence, as the little Gnome tries to assign specific duties. With a quiet voice, "Orryn, perhaps it would be better if Kaleshtar and Ash gaurd the rear, while Erdan and I scout ahead. My profession with the church requires me to be ever vigilant and if Erdan's people are as perceptive as you say then we will work well together. That is my humble advice. Other than that, it doesn't matter where we start to me, as long as we get started."

Not use to working with a group, Elsindril begins moving off towards the east. His form becomes insubstantial, appearing to blend with the nearby shadows. Before getting too far he remembers to check and make sure everyone was in agreement with heading to the east to begin the search.

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Shade Form is an encounter power that has a sustain minor. It will persist until Sindral attacks or comes out of it. Important note Sindral is Insubstantial while in Shade Form and gains vulnerable 5 radiant. In addition, he can make Stealth checks to become hidden if he has any cover or concealment.

Stealth: (1d20+11)[21]
Perception: (1d20+8)[10]

[russdm]

As the sun rises more, you are able to see that the ruins around you were once that of a keep of some kind.

You assemble yourselves and begin walking eastward. You walk among more ruins, finding larger amounts of debris than where you slept.

[AbsentiaMentis]

"Does anyone remember how long we were out?" Erdan asks as the group was moving east. "The ruins and scattered debris seem very old, as if ages have past. There are blackened bones scattered everywhere but there are a few bleached white over there." Erdan walks closer to the bleached bones to examine them, his bow readied.

Spoiler

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If you want:
Minor Action: Draw bow
Nature check on the bones: 1d20+10: 19
Perception (if possible) on the bones: 1d20+12: 13 (Hahahaha. Well, passive perc: 22)

[docHigh]

"We can't have been out for more than a day, maybe two. Otherwise we'd have been eaten by vulteres. But these ruins are much-much older, look at its state" Orryn says kicking a rock with his foot. "What worries me is not the loss of memories. We will recall what happened or find it out. But look at the bones. These people should have had relatives, friends, other common people to bury them. Now they are still here. What could be here that keeps people away? None the less, should there be combat, know that i can assist in positioning and healing."

With more light shed by the dawning day, Orryn suggests to companions "If we don't find anything here, we should head to the larger part of the ruins. This was once a keep. It should have had a magistrat's hall or some sort of library."

[Lord Vampyre]

Seeing the desolation of the ancient ruins, Elsindril looks to the surrounding countryside for comfort. The balance has been shifted. Now with life nearly extinguished, perhaps nature can start a new. How far can this destruction extend? Is it isolated to this city?

Continuing on, Elsindril keeps ever vigilant in his search for what has happened.

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Perception: (1d20+8)[9]
Stealth: (1d20+11)[25]

[IcemanJRC]

Ash walks along with his comrades,
This is so boring... Why am I here? Why are we here? Why is the city destroyed? Why are all of us dudes?!
Ash thinks to himself as he lazily observes the countryside.

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Perception: Passive: 12

[tynger1234]

Kaleshtar holds up the rear with Ash.
How could we have possibly done this, what made us willing to... were we set up by something? There is no way five people were capable of laying waste to an entire city.
Kaleshtar trudges to keep up with the rest of the group, mumbling his thoughts under his breath.

[AbsentiaMentis]

As Erdan approaches the bleached bones, they appear to be human, dwarven, elfish and orcish. He notices the strange composition, maybe a party of some sorts. Looking closer he notices a chest and something glistening! The debris would have to be moved. He calls for help and cautions them to be careful. It could be a trap seeing the odd coincidence, lying next to whited bones.

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Bingo! I found a chest and some gold. But be careful, it can be a trap.

- Perception check on chest and coins for traps: 1d20+12: 13 Rofl. Passive-22
- Acrobatics check to clear debris [if possible]: 1d20+10: 15

[russdm]

OOC

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Moving Debris would be Strength checks, not acrobatics.

[AbsentiaMentis]

OOC

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I know, but mine is crap. 1d20 : 1. Hahahaha!

[russdm]

Alright then, will use acrobatics for you, i think it would work.

Absentia, you move some of the debris. There is more that still needs to be moved. You don't see any traps.

The debris you move is broken stone and wood. Also, broken furniture is moved by you.

[Lord Vampyre]

Elsindril's form seems to flow out of the shadows as it solidifies into a young red haired and green eyed human male. Coming out of the shadows, he stoops to assist Erdan with the chest.

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Perception: (1d20+8)[27] looking for traps
Athletics: (1d20+1)[11] to help move the debri
Thievery: (1d20+9)[23] in there are any traps

[IcemanJRC]

Ash moves up to them,
Step aside and let me try.
He smiles, cracks his knuckles and puts on a cocky smile.

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Athletics: (1d20+11)[29]