The Sea of Starry Night II [IC]

[Dr._Bob]

Sheyra pulls out two healing potions, Lissa tends to Darius' ankle, and the rest of you bind your wounds as best you can.

The winged creatures are closing fast from all directions. Their skin is glowing an intense blue, and from a distance they resemble fireflies, except that the creatures are just a little bit more than half the size of a human. It is not clear where they came from, but they are all (about two dozen now) definitely making a beeline for your position.




OOC: There isn't much time for resting or healing. The creatures will be upon you in two rounds. I need to know who is staying on the roof and who is climbing down. Those of you who climb down, please indicate whether you climb back down into the alley, or jump down the other side of the roof (into one of the main boulevards).

[The_King_of_Durf]

Darius

After helping Lissa down, Darius sits down in the alley. He rests the side of his head that isn't clawed open on his arm, tapping his foot in the dust.

I wonder if this'll be the end. But then, what is the end, really? Maybe it's just an end, leading to another beginning. Maybe I'll see them all again, all the people I've killed. Maybe I'll see my parents, my brother, maybe Sedryn or Djital even. Maybe I'll just turn to dust.

Was I a good person? Did I make a difference in this world? Did I help anyone but myself? I'd like to hope so... I'd like to hope that something I did counted for something...

Darius turns his head up to the sky and waits.

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn looks warily at the approaching lights. I don't know if they're dangerous. They seemed to be warning us about the golems and I looked straight at one and nothing happened. I might as well wait them out... Fizahn lies down on the roof, flipping his dagger up into the air ad watching the approaching lights.

[Frojoe21]

Aeroz

"Out of the frying pan, eh" the elf says to no one in particular.

Well, I guess I should jump, I mean I don't know what in the hells those things are. And Darius is injured, so he can't fight, another is dead and it really seems that our capable fighters and clerics are getting the boot here. The least I could do is try to negotiate with them, but what if they are mindless? What if I am mind...stay away from that train of thought man. I'll stay. Thats it, I'll stay, and if it comes to it I'll fight and defend these people I've come to rely on if I have to. Not just for the sake of maybe seeing the surface, but for maybe I can stop any more deaths from occuring. Oh well, here it goes...

Aeroz's hand snaps to his rapier and readies himself to draw it if any trouble should arise. He stands upright and straight.

"Hey, Fizhan, what do you think are the odds that they'll be willing to talk this out peacefully?"

[bhdrake]

Lumpy, Half-Orc Warrior

The burly orc finishes inspecting his wounds, looking moderately pleased by the way the stone dust and blood congealed together, slowing bloodloss. He taps a few weak points in his armor with a scowl, before wiping a bloody handprint onto the wall beside him,

"Ain't nothing fer it now but ta wait and see.." Pulling his gauntlet back on, he unslings his heavy bow, stringing the weapon with a grunt, fangs gritted against the painful exertation. He leans the weapon against the wall beside him, ready to be used if necessary,

"Ya sure ya don't wanna trade?" He nods to the bow, then at Darius and his greatsword, "I can't hit squat with this thing."

[The_King_of_Durf]

Darius

"This thing is only reason I didn't die a few seconds ago. I'd trade you, but I think it'd make me a lot more harmless, seeing as how most of the fighting we're doing now is melee, and I can't even see that far in the darkness to use a bow to good effect."

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

Soon the flickering of the blue lights drew Callos's attention from where he had been kneeling. When he turned and spun around his eyes were red and watery and rage stood out clearly on his face but he did nothing more then clench handfuls of his purple robes tightly.

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

The Gods helped me up on this wall, and I'll be damned if I let a bunch of big blue fireflies force me down.
...maybe literally damned.

He unhooks his spear from his back, and readies himself for their approach.

But I really hope I don't have to try and spear any of them...

[Phasm]

Lissa

After getting down off the wall with Darius' help and wrapping his ankle as best she can, Lissa listens intently to the conversation and sounds around her. "I take it from what you people are saying that our little glowing friends are back." But really, they're not actually our friends. The gnome rubs her holy symbol, thinking. "We haven't tried talking to them yet, have we? It's worth a shot... they know we're here anyway."

Lissa cups her hands over her mouth, tilts her head back and yells in Undercommon, "Hey! Blue glowing people! We don't want to fight you if you don't want to fight us. Hope you don't mind that we smashed the stone monsters, they were kinda trying to kill us." She pauses. "Oh, any of you feel like telling us which way to the surface? That's where we're going, so if you do, we'll go and be out of your hair. Or whatever."


OOC: Lissa is now down off the roof, next to Darius. Cookie to whoever can identify the song reference in this post! I paraphrased it, but it's recognizable if you know the song.

[Dr._Bob]

The air is filled with the sound of flapping wings as the creatures swoop down into a controlled stall before dropping lightly onto the rooftops surrounding the alley.

They give wide berth to the party members still on the roof, instead gawking at the debris down below in the alley. They chatter amongst themselves in a foreign tongue. They seem excited.

Each creature is a small humanoid a little more than 3 ft tall, blue skinned, and luminescent. Ink-black tattoos cover their bodies, creating interesting (almost mesmerizing) patterns. Most are naked, male and female, seemingly without any sense of shame about their nudity. Their wings are bat-like and furry, but otherwise their bodies are completely hairless. They are well-formed and attractive in their own way. They stare at your party with curiosity. They have disproportionately large eyes, and their cat-like pupils constrict into narrow vertical slits due to proximity of the everburning torches.

A few of the creatures seem to be clothed in mismatched, oversized hats, shirts or breeches. One of these clothed creatures is wearing some kind of sash with a tartan pattern. He replies to Lissa in accented Undercommon:

"Hail heroes! You have delivered Sphur Pentak from the clawed horrors! We are in your debt!"

As one, the two dozen creatures bow gracefully, extending their wings backward.

"Come, some of you are badly injured. We have healers and surgeons.

"The rest of you are invited to the Sunflower for refreshment! We have much to celebrate!"

[hr]
The creatures gather about Djital, lifting his body reverently and lifting him into the air. Others gently grab a hold of Lumpy, Hajih, and Darius, lifting them into the air as well. Those four are borne aloft toward a large building.

At first, Callos resists letting them near Djital's body, but they make soothing hand gestures and eventually the party is convinced that they mean no harm. The fighters are too badly injured to protest too much as the creatures airlift them to the nearest hospital.

The others are guided off the roof and out of the alley. The creatures chatter excitedly as they escort the remaining party members toward a large stone tavern. A stone sign outside bears a carved image of a sunflower in full blossom.

Your group had explored this building earlier, finding within little besides carved stone tables and benches and a few stone mugs and loaves of bread.

The creatures stop outside the building and the one with the tartan sash extends his arm inviting each of you to enter.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

It was almost unsaid that Callos was, at the least, hesitant to let the creatures close to Djital's body. It was only the soothing gestures that kept him from striking at the creatures right then and there. A stony gaze settled on any of the blue creatures to come close to him though he still let them bear him away to the Sunflower tavern. The purple robed necromancer continued to mutter to himself to low for anyone to hear as he went into the building but once he was inside be became quiet and withdrawn, almost sullen.

[The_King_of_Durf]

Darius

As the party members below reach the tavern entrance, they hear an excited voice above them.

"Holy crap I'm flying!"

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

After recovering from his shock at their gratitude, Achby eagerly follows the creatures along to refreshment.

Wow... what interesting... people! It's amazing... wings underground! They seem very nice. They've been very nice to me so far. And they certainly look quite nice. Some of those women are rather nice-looking indeed. Almost as nice as some of the girls at home... and certainly better than people from any other race I've met since leaving home...

He smiles to the person ushering him inside, and walks in eagerly.
I suppose I should stay suspicious... but there's just been too much. Whatever happens in here will happen.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

The dour orc ic a bit surprised to sea his prediction about the blue creatures to actually be correct. While he had no doubts in his ability to judge situations, the underdark had proven to be consistantly confounding to most normal trains of thought thus far. He did have thre presence of mind to grab his bow before they lifted him away, even more surprised that they can actually manage to haul his fair heft,

"Hey, hey, easy!"

He continues to ponder things as they fly him off, too weak to oppose them one way, and desperate enough to take his chances. The cynical corner of his mind offer did offer a fair counterargument, It could always be a slaughterhouse. You wouldn't even know the difference down here

Trying not to think about it, he attempts to convese with the creatures carrying him,

"So, ah.. What's with the big stone.. things?

[Zeal]

Hajih, Human Ranger

"HEY, hey, hey....watch the hat!" Hajih grips Thokk's sword tightly in one hand and his hat in the other.

I wonder if I can get those pants back from the half naked swordsman, seeing that he won't be too self conscious now.

[Phasm]

Lissa

It's plain from her expression that Lissa is torn between excitement, apprehension, and sheer frustration at not being able to see. "Would somebody please describe these people for me? I can tell that they're a proper size, and somebody said earlier that they're blue, they glow and they fly. But we're close enough for details now! Please tell me? Oh, and they said we were great heroes for destroying the 'clawed horrors', they're in our debt, they want to heal us up and celebrate."

Thinking that the flying people might take offense at her use of an unfamiliar language, Lissa hastily explains. "Sorry about that, but most of us don't speak Undercommon. I can't see, so I was asking my friends to describe you to me. I also told them what you said back at the battle site, so everybody knows you're friendly."

[Dr._Bob]

Lumpy tries to engage the creatures in conversation, but they simply smile and shrug their shoulders. Soon all three of the fighters (Lumpy, Hajih, and Darius) are lowered to the ground in the center of a courtyard in a far corner of the city. A robed creature (unusual for being clothed) greets them, raising a hand. A feeling of enormous fatigue washes over the three fighters, and they slump to the ground unconscious ...

[hr]
As the other members of the party enter the tavern, a remarkable transformation seems to take place. Where earlier in the exploration of the city, the tavern appeared to be an empty building filled only with some stone benches and tables, now the tavern was alive with movement and noise and filled with the winged humanoids, who pat you on the back and raise glasses towards you, cheering in an unfamiliar language.

Your everburning torches seem unnaturally dimmed in the tavern, but the creatures' glow, though fainter here than outside, is enough to allow to you see comfortably.

Strangely, the world now seems to be completely devoid of color. Everything appears to be black and white. The creatures themselves, instead of glowing bright blue, now appear to be white, with black geometric patterns on their skin. The tables are now covered with food and drink, but the fruit lacks their characteristic colors and are instead shades of gray. The mugs appear to be filled with a transparent, but colorless beer of some kind.

Mugs are placed into your hands, and voices call out in broken Undercommon, "Drink! Drink!"

Many of the female creatures seem to find Fizahn and Achkby particularly attractive. They beat their wings coyly and playfully nudge each other out of the way in order to sidle up next to the gnome and halfling. Since many of the creatures are unclothed and quite comely, their proximity is somewhat discomfiting.

The entire situation is quite confusing and disorienting. You seem to be heroes all of a sudden, but the sudden apparent alteration in the nature of the city (or at least the tavern) is quite bizarre ...

After a while, Lumpy, Darius, and Hajih enter the tavern as well, escorted by more creatures. They have been fully healed. They seem a little bit groggy, residual from the healing process, but soon their heads clear and they join their companions in the center of the tavern, where a table of honor (scaled for gnome/halfling-sized humanoids) has been set.


OOC: Help yourselves to a Heroes' Feast (as per the 6th level cleric/bard spell)! Unfortunately, Lissa's sight is not restored by the meal ...

[Frojoe21]

Aeroz

Seeing the glowy blue things flirt with Achby and Fizhan, he chuckles and whispers to Lissa "I think you've got some competition."

Aeroz takes part in the giant meal that has been prepared for the group. He seems to be greatly enjoying himself because this is the first bit of real food that he has eaten in weeks possibly.

The elf turns to the nearest glowing creature and asks "What do you call yourselves anyways? I've never seen or heard of a people quite like yours. Are you native here or from far away?"

[bhdrake]

Lumpy, Half-Orc Warrior

The big orc stifled a fangy yawn as he ducked into the tavern. The ceiling was a bit low, but it didn't botherr Lumpy particular, being that he was shorter than most elves. He surveyed the room lazily, taking it in with a fatigued expression, tinged with a hair of amusement. Ain't all bad, I guess. The lack of color went unnoticed to him, as it were. He was entirely used to relying on his monochrome nightvision, and it made little difference.

But the food.. Laying eyes on the food, the stout warrior split his lips in a toothy grin. He paused by the door, taking a long few minutes to strip his prohibitive armor, battered as it was. Underneath, in only his woven pants, several new scars had joined his repetoire, the large raking slashes stark and unfaded amonst older markings. He pulled the drawstring on his pants, tightening the garment around his increasingly gaunt form before padding barefoot over to the table. It was too low for him, but he simply plopped down on the floor, digging in.

Once he layed hands on the food, all bets were off. The orc digs in, putting away food with near frightening efficiency. Driven by a good week of near solid starvation, he eats fiercely, what might be bordering gluttony were he not so malnourished from the start. He pauses, washing down a particularily large swallow from a mug of ale,

"So anyone get anything else out'a these things? Wouldn't give me a damned word.. not that I'll complain, seems ta be working out alright."

He chomps into a piece of fruit, tusks tearing fully half of it away, which he swallows without chewing,

"So what's the deal here? Anyone?"

[The_King_of_Durf]

Darius

Darius takes a seat at the table, eyeing his surroundings sleepily. It takes him about ten seconds to notice the food in front of him, then he digs in. He doesn't bother to say a word as he wolfs down the feast.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos DeTerran

He ate the food, unhappily at that. This was not an occasin for him to be cheerful and he glared at any of the blue things that close to him. Still the food was filling and it settled the grumbling in his stomach.

[Zeal]

Hajih, Human Ranger

Digging into the food, Hajih keeps his hand close to the handle of Thokk's sword at all times.

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn digs into the food for a while, and he eats untill he's full. He keeps looking around warily after he's finished. Why isn't there any color? Uneasily, he leaves the tavern and waits outside for a while.

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

A hero's celebration, a feast, and pretty nude ladies! Isn't this nice! It's a bit of a shame that they have wings, but it's all right, really.

Grinning broadly, Achkby saunters over to the table laid out for them and seats himself with a good deal of bench space on either side.
So much food... but I s'pose t'wouldn't look to good to gorge myself like that half-orc oaf.
He loads the space in front of him with food of all sorts, and digs in, with a measured gusto, carefully keeping himself clean.
"'Ello, ladies! I don't s'pose..."
Damn. They can't understand me. That is the wrong language for this land.
He keeps eating heartily, but begins to slow down as he looks around, realizing that they grayness isn't merely a soft lighting of the darkness, but truely an absence of color. An'... an' where did this all come from? Sudden food, all of these people... seems a bit strange, suddenly finding all of these people, when this is, after all, what I want most, minus the wings.
The food and drink beginning to lose a bit of its flavor in Achkby's mouth, he rises from his seat, holding making reassuring gestures with his hands to the dreatures around him. Sipping slowly from his mug, he meanders his way outside after Fizahn.

Finding the gnome uneasily lounging against the wall outside, Achkby nods to him, and takes another draught from his mug.
I never really talked to him all that much. It's strange, really... we likely have more in common than either of us does with any other... except maybe he and Lissa, but they haven't exactly meshed, either.
Well, I hope now's not too late to start talking.
"You think this all's a bit weird?" he begins in Human.
"I'd like nothin' more righ' now 'an ta have a feast in my honor with lots of people my size 'appy ta see me" he continues, slding back towards the country form of Common he was taught as a boy. Then he chuckles a bit. "Ta tell you the truth, the naked ladies could 'ave walked right from an idle daydream o' mine, sans the wings." He frowns for a moment, but then goes on. "Bu' this som'ow ain't quite righ'. This food's good an' all, sure," he says, gesturing with his goblet hand, and then stares at the cup as if noticing it for the first time. He throws it across the street.
"But it don't taste right to me! Hells, maybe I'm paranoid, but d'you see any color?! What's goin' on here?" He ends not enraged, but more plaintive. His brow furrowed, he looks questioningly to Fizahn.

[Elmorwen]

Sheyra

Sheyra's eyes light up at the sight of the food, and she quickly begins devouring her part of it. As curious as she is about the situation, questions can wait until she has something in her stomach.

[Dr._Bob]

Fizahn and Achkby step outside the tavern warily, as if expecting to be restrained or somehow prevented from moving about freely. The cheerful creatures make no attempts to prevent the two from leaving the celebration, however.

Stepping outside with their drinks, they are amazed to see that the apparent transformations were not limited to the tavern only - the entire city appears to have been altered.

While Sphur Pentak had initially appeared to be a deserted stone replica of a city, now it appears to be a bustling and vibrant (albeit completely colorless) living town.

Dozens of softly glowing winged creatures walk the streets or soar through the air. Streetlights glow dimly at every street corner. The buildings are no longer empty stone shells, but are instead fully inhabited. The stores and market stalls are open and bustling, despite the fact that it appears to be night.

Fizahn and Achkby look up and note that the night sky is dark gray and featureless. What!? They both do a double-take, stunned to realize that they are looking at the sky!. The cave ceiling seems to have vanished!

Turning back towards the tavern entrance, they notice for the first time that the heavy frame of the doorway is intricately carved, covered in minute runes. Thinking back, they remember that similar decoratively carved doorways were present throughout the "deserted" stone city they had been exploring.

[hr]
Inside the tavern, the celebration continues. A few of the creatures apparently speak Undercommon, and they translate for the other creatures while Lumpy and Lissa translate for the rest of the party.

Through this awkward system, you learn that these creatures are known as gloamings and that they apparently live here. They seem genuinely grateful that you have managed to destroy the stone constructs, but they also seem fascinated by you and your possessions as well.

Hands reach out to pat your shoulders and touch your hair. They are especially intrigued by facial hair. They also lightly touch your armor and packs, admiring their workmanship. Every once in a while, you catch a gloaming rubbing his or her face with a piece of fabric or a leather strap, as if such items are fascinating novelties.




OOC: OK, last chance for any theories as to what is going on. Please post your speculations in the OOC thread, and I will award the XP bonuses shortly.

[King_of_GRiffins]

Elthan II

"Achby!", Elthan says as he steps outside, "You seem suprised. I thought it was a little odd myself as to the abscence of color, but after adding a few things together, it seems clear; The change in the buildings, the appearance of the creatures from nowhere, the transformation of all color to gray. I'm not sure at exactly what point it happened, but it could be possible we are now on the plane of shadows by some means(possibly one of the gloamlings abilities). I may be wrong, but I don't know of anything else that makes much sence..."

He gives Achby some time to consider the idea.

(OOC: My speculation)

[Phasm]

Lissa

Lissa just stands in the doorway for a moment, transfixed. She inhales several times, savoring the aroma of hot, fresh food. A smell that none of the group has experienced in weeks. "If some illusionist is playing silly buggers here, there WILL be a reckoning. If there's really food here... lead me to it!" Despite a bit of bumping into people, Lissa locates the table in fairly short order, and looks delighted at the fact that she can sit down at it comfortably. The gnome promptly begins to dig in with the assistance of Linda, who passes her serving dishes and describes what's in them. The spellcaster also takes pity on the frustrated gnome and describes the scene, between bites.

At Aeroz' comment, Lissa frowns then sighs. "Yeah, probably." She looks rather pensive.

Stupid naked hussies, trying to steal my man...
Since when is he your man?
Ummm... he just is, okay?!
Not good enough, sweetheart, and you know it. You have to tell men how you feel! What do you think he is, a mind-reader?
Oh, shut up already.
Not gonna happen. You volunteered for this cleric gig, you got me with the package.
JUST SHUT UP AND LET ME EAT!

Which Lissa does. The food turns out to be a bit odd in flavor, but it tastes good, it's fresh and there's plenty of it. When the gloamings begin to touch her, Lissa tentatively touches back, trying to make out facial features.


(OOC: I figure a good-aligned cleric probably has a rather more vocal conscience than most people, especially a newly-minted one like Lissa. ;) )

[bhdrake]

Lumpy, Half-Orc Warrior

"HEY! Hands off the beard!"

The big orc swats half-heartedly at the gloamings who run hands along his leathery scar-crossed skin and through his beard. He almost rises when he sees them rooting through his things, but stops once he's realized that he doesn't have anything he's worried about them stealing anymore. Which gets him thinking... Ain't likely, but what's to lose?

Lumpy stands, having already eaten enough to feed two or three normal humans comfortably, leaving his mug there,

"I'll be back. Something I wanna check on real quick. Keep an eye on my stuff."

He wanders outside, nodding to the others gathered there before plodding back through the streets, trying to make his way back to wherer he remembers seeing the market and weapon shops. He's looking of course, for a flail, though one his size isn't a terribly likely possibility. If he doesn't find anything, he'll head back and keep eating.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

When Lissa came in the necromancer looked up and almost smiled. Almost. The least he could do was help out some of these new companions rather then sit there and mope. Stumbling slightly through the gloamings and the furniture he makes his way over to the blind gnome and sits down by here as he grabs another plate of food. After all it had been a long time since he actually had food food, not some sentinent creature, aside from the drow rations they had got. Digging in he looked catiously over at the gnome then just asked.

"Something on your mind Lissa? You seem distracted. Hey! Off the robe, its the only thing I have!"