Akin to Family [5e urban campaign]

[kulosle]

In the middle of a vast expansive desert, lies the secret halfling holy city Tylok. You've lived hear for a few weeks now and you've learned a few things. The city seems to be magically colder. The sand that the city is built on is cold to the touch, always. The city is a Theocracy. The 3 main governing bodies are: the council, they decide mostly about common policies such as recunstruction and trade; the bishopric, apointed by the council, they are people who have risen the ranks in the church they set laws; Saints, appointed by the bishopric; they are the holiest beings in the city. By unanimous vote they can override any other branch of government but they do not make policy or laws on their own. They are the physical embodiement of the demi-god Lillith while she is away (which is always), they appoint the council out of a list of nominees. There is no required number for any of these groups. There is infact some contention because the bishopric has not ordained a new saint in a over 20 years. There is currently only one, Saint Jude. Her family is kind of treated as royalty at this point.

You've learned that the city trades with the nearest elven city. The halflings mostly trade for food, as only a small amount grows naturally in the city. they export salt, iron, and crafts. Every halfling in the city seems to be an amazing craftsman/artist in one field or another: blacksmith, painting, pastry cheff, etc.

The city is slightly more advanced than most cities. A combination of magic, enchantment, and ingenuity the city has running water, indoor plumming, trollies, and other unnatural wonders. This is a highly magical city. Magical items will be easier to find. And items that do unique things will be possible to get. If you have an idea or a need for a magical item, there are people in the city you can ask to see if they will be able to make it. And they will let you know the price.

You have all been given housing and are expected to participate in the citizenry malitia. See the town gets attacked often by undead, ogres, even demons, or sometimes just people with evil intent. It seems as if evil is drawn to the city. Towns folk will tell you thats because their town is built on top of shards of the great sword wielded by the demon god in the great war. Their town is a kind of seal on it. Preventing it's infulence from spreading. Also this prevents their goddess from living in the city. The sword has an awful affect on them. What the affect is changes depending on who's telling the story but they are all bad like anger or madness.

We start with you all on watch one evening along with 6 other halflings. One of which, Captain Hilda, is actually in the army. Your shift is from 8pm till midnight.

Before we get started. Post once as an intro into your character. Let us know what you look like, what you do, why you were wondering in the desert to begin with, and why you stayed. And just a little some thing about your backstory. Once everyone has and they have posted their characters in the drive I'll make a post that starts us off.

[Faechaser]

Paws is a young giant, not quite an adult by the standards of her people. She is currently in a pilgrimage of sorts, following the cryptic riddles of the sphinxes in search of a way forward. She's afraid that she won't be able to remain a member of the Mystic Tribe if she isn't able to demonstrate some magical growth before her 30th birthday, but is also unwilling to stop living her life on her own terms.
She's stayed at the halfling City largely out of curiosity, having never been to a non giant settlement. Additionally, she finds herself drawn to the rest of the party as all of them are casters of various varieties.
Paws is 8' tall with a dark complexion and dirty blonde hair which is kept short and fanned out around her head to resemble a mane. She wears dark makeup around her green eyes to make them seem more catlike in shape. Paws is muscular, but not lithe or thin and surprisingly clumsy dispute her cat like movements. She wears a series of furs and small leather pouches which she fills with neat rocks, feathers, and other trinkets, though many are now empty from trading for essentials, such as the large blanket that she wears as a cape. Around her neck is a cord with a set of massive rat teeth, a momento of her first real combat.

[awelker]

Shirshike is a seven year old female Aarakockra. She is four feet tall and is sometimes teased by her tribe for being short.
(as far as I know, this isn't canon for the race) Being unmated, she is pulled to follow migratory patterns. All Aarakocra know this to be a way to find a mate, but Shirshike was too interested in the sights to notice a potential mate.
Tylok was on their path, and the magic leeching out of the city drew many Aarakocra to it like cats to catnip. Plus lots of shiny things mean that she is never bored. So there are others of her tribe in the city but I don't know why she isn't with them, because anyone not Aarakocra makes her feel uneasy.
She was given a house but she only occupies the roof (I feel like the buildings are kind of Egyptian), because being in probably any building is too confining.
As fascinated as she is with members of the party, she doesn't feel comfortable around them. She remembers everyone's name and things about them (I probably won't), but she will only interact with them unless absolutely necessary.

[TheFireweaver]

Cyrian Markos appears to be a human entering middle age, with short curly black hair and olive skin. He stands about six feet tall, his sinewy frame littered and twisted by slave brands in half a dozen extraplanar languages, some of which occasionally glow and writhe beneath his flesh. His expression is grim and unyielding, and his eyes glimmer with the same unspeakable energies that suffuse his scars, especially in the dark; Cyrain has seen dark deeds in his time, and has swung a sword in service to fell masters.

He has recently escaped captivity in the gladiator fighting pits of a distant and terrible realm, finding himself in the city by teleportation mishap. When clad for battle, he wears an imposing suit armor which seems to smoke and smolder as he strides unhurriedly towards the enemy. Occasionally, he whispers what seem to be fervent prayers (or curses) to some unknown god, and whatever power he calls upon answers with fearsome wrath.

Cyrian has chosen to stay in the city because he has nowhere else to go, and the hospitality of these strange small folk, despite his dire mien and strange brands, is a comfort to him, and because the whispers of a great sword buried somewhere beneath his feet call to the part of him that wishes revenge on his former captors.

[Julian 2]

Ashes falling, the crackle of smouldering wood, the sound of a lone bell ringing. This is all the priest remembered as he clawed his way out of the smouldering monistary, the last survivor of a brutal masacare.

He is a grim faced man, with sunken eyes, lips constantly moving with silent prayers to the dead. He wears a heavy brown robe, with a bugbear hair sash and simple shoes even though the heat is sweltering and his body is weak...too weak to save anyone.

He also has a taunture so that's cool..

The priest has wandered for a long time now...mind slowly slipping away. This must be a test. Or a curse. Perhaps both? Isn't everything? Punishment for not believing hard enough or a test to prove your continued devotion. Yes yes yes that must be it. Why else would something like this happen. Its up to him now to spread the word, to warn others so that they to can know gods scornful love. Just like he has know the burning heat of the desert which has lain his heart bare and shown him the vast web of sin that we are all trapped in.


But finally a town, some reprieve from the maddening solitude or has the madness just begun?

[kulosle]

Gaurd duty. It is the first night you've had to do it. The city is built into the southwest side of the mountain. Completely surrounding the city on the southwest side is a giant chasm called the demon scar. It is supposedly from where the great sword was originally swung. it is pitch black and radiates heat. this makes the city impossible to enter without climbing the steep mountain or crossing the red scar on 1 of it's 3 bridges. You guys are currently guarding the west bridge. but there is a southwest and south bridge as well. the southwest bridge is under construction though. (I'm working on a map)

You have 10 halflings with you on gaurd duty, the captain who seems to not like you 4. There is a ballista and a catapult. That takes 3 people to man each. The halflings seem to know how to man them, but you can volunteer to help of your prefer. There is a large gaurd tower that one of the halflings is in. It has a bell to ring for reinforcements. Only Hilda knows the single for it.

The night is dark and surprisingly cold. The winds are very strong kicking up sand and making it hard to see very far past the bridge. You guys are on the city side of the bridge on the wall.

Interactions everyone post where they want to be and who they want to talk to. 1 post each.

[awelker]

"The captain who seems to not like you four." The feeling is mutual. Shirshike is standing away from the group as best she can. She is more focused on the weather than her brethren-in-arms. she does a perception check, roll 14.

[Faechaser]

"the captain and bird whom seem not to like you" Ignores this entirely. Gawks at everyone openly and looms around Cyrian in particular, who she suspects of being a certified badass. Avoids directly interacting with the mumbling priest because he looks like the kind that only gives out doom and gloom fortune tellings.

[Faechaser]

"the captain and bird whom seem not to like you" Ignores this entirely. Gawks at everyone openly and looms around Cyrian in particular, who she suspects of being a certified badass. Avoids directly interacting with the mumbling priest because he looks like the kind that only gives out doom and gloom fortune tellings.

[TheFireweaver]

Cyrian leans against the side of the bridge, hunkering down out of the wind as it carries the dripping embers of his armor tumbling off into the night. While his enchanted mail protects him from the worst of the cold, Cyrian is a long campaigner and knows not to expend energy until some threat reveals itself. He occasionally flips open the faceplate of his plumed helm to sip something from his canteen, or to chew on a hunk of dark bread.

When he notices that he seems to have caught the attention of the big furry thing the halflings insisted on bringing along, Cyrian wordlessly offers it half his remaining loaf. He's not sure if it can speak, but most brutes enjoy food, and it's better to be the hand that feeds.

[Faechaser]

Accepts dark bread, pulls out a diminutive jar of jam from within cloak, dips bread (badly), "You know, the Mystic tribe figured out this whole process for separating the kernals out from the meaty seed bits, then they bleach and wash it, and then they bake it. Real soft sweet bread. Good stuff." *Offers Cyrian some jam with one hand, crams a half loaf in her mouth with the other.*

[kulosle]

The sand starts to pick up around the city and shirshike cant see anything into the storm. The bridge is 600ft long. And it starts to be hard to hear over the wind when suddenly the wind dies down significantly. You see 2 dozen zombies and something else that needs knowledge religion to identify and a perception check a good view. All standing on the other end of the bridge

Initiatives
Shirshike 15
Paul 7
Cyrian 6
Paws 11
Allies 5
Enemies 0

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Julian 2]

OC: I will make a religion check. Also how often do zombies appear? Is this unusual? Are they coming from the big scar thing?

IC: Brother Paul Matswain's eyes swiftly open. He had been lost in deep prayer and contemplation, but he now comes to in his surrounding. He gives a quick glance over to his odd companions and yells over the sand storm:

"Another test from god! Or a curse! Yes, perhaps both? God's are always testing us to see if we are worthy of their glorious creation. Or punishing us for our mortal sins. Or perhaps both, yes, yes...both. Always a cursed test to see what we are willing to do to keep serving them in this mortal world." At some point the conversation trails off into talking to himself as he has been prone to do. No matter how intense or raving his words seem to be, his expression seems composed and serious.

He readies himself for battle clutching on to his metal hitting stick. (Like one of those big crosses Catholic's carry but made of metal).

[awelker]

I ready myself for attack by nocking an arrow.

[Faechaser]

Paws will grab a ballista round, move 30 ft out onto the bridge and roar at the creatures.

[Julian 2]

OC: Got a 7 modded on perception but a nat 20 on religion check about the situation...so there's that.

I will set up a reaction that once they get super close I will cast protection evil on myself or which ever party member is nearest

[TheFireweaver]

Cyrian sighs and mutters a curse, flipping the mesh of his helmet shut as it begins to spark with embers.

I trace a magical sigil on the ground and Bless the operators of the siege weapons. They get +1d4 on attacks and saving throws. I then take a position on the wall, shield out.

[Faechaser]

Paws stalks forward another 30 feet and readies and action to chunk a 'spear' at then when they get close enough

[kulosle]

Hilda shouts at the seige teams and they fire their shots. the catapult takes out 2 zombies, and the ballista takes out another. (21 zombies left). Hilda and the other 2 halfings ready their longbows to fire.

the little creature in the middle of the zombie horde jumps into the air. and suddenly a large pool of water appears on your side of the bridge

Spoiler: skill checks

Show

perception
amanda 8+4= 12
gavin 3+0= 3
julian 19+5= 24
jackson 18+4= 22

knowledge religion
julian 10+2=12
jackson 7+2=9

knowledge arcana
julian 7+0
jackson 17+2

only julian and jackson can see well enough. julian recognises what it is (crackler). and jackson recognises that he cast silent image (which normally doesn't go that far).

Spoiler: crackler

Show

really weak fiends resistance to cold, fire, lighting, and bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non magical attacks. immune to poison does not notmally have the ability to cast silent image, but is naturally magical. but are easy to hit and don't have many hit points.

then all of a sudden all the remaining zombies dash forward 120 feet. Now they are only 520 ft out. everyone that can reach from that distance. which is just amanda and the halflings roll with disadvantage to hit.

hilda hits and kills 2
halfling archer 1 hits but it's still up.
halfling archer 2 missed
19 zombies and 1 fiend left

amanda. post on attack with your longbow. you have disadvantage which means you roll 2 d20 and take the worse one. i'm just going to do away with trying to use the dice roller on here. it's too inconvenient. and i trust you guys. if you want to succeed on something just use one of your plot points. which your team still has 4 of.

[awelker]

ooc: hoping I do this right.

I fly up and arrow, rolling an 8 and 20. I roll an 8 for damage. I don't remember if I did attack rolls for the action, so I just did new rolls and got 17 and 15, damage inflicted 9.

[Faechaser]

*sees the zombies sprint and lets out a small shout of surprise. Then, recognizing the illusion, hops off the wall (acrobatics 12) and heads over to the 'oasis', takes an action to enlarge self and pull out the edges of her cloak across the bridge to block line of sight to the illusion. Then as a bonus action 'braces up' for 10 temp hp. (1 Moxie remaining)*

[Julian 2]

"Fowl demons from the abyss...wretched lies sent to test us. This creature that controls the masses is no lamb. It will take more than brute strength to fell them."

I'm going to get off the wall and behind Paw's if possible then cast Protection form evil on them.

[TheFireweaver]

Cyrian pulls out a javelin and readies an action to throw it at the nearest threat that gets within range

[kulosle]

the horde moves forward another 40 feet making them 360 from the wall and 330 from Paws and 310 from shirshike

Spoiler: saves

Show

shirshike 4
cyrian 7
paul 13
paws 14

you all hear a voice coming from the horde. the voice isn't shouting but you all hear it perfectly saying "We've come to take you back"
Shirshike, to you the voice sounds exactly like the family/tribe member you like least. And to Cyrian it sounds exactly like the jailer who would take you from your cell to the fighting pits. right down to the ridiculous laugh he use to do. Paul and Paws know this to be an illusion coming from the Cackle fiend. Although they have no idea what everyone else heard.

hilda hits twice, kills 1
halfling archer 1 miss
halfling archer 2 hits once, kills 0
18 zombies and 1 fiend left

The one hilda kills completely disintegrates. her bow is clearly magical.