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Pure chaos. That was all it was, swarms of strange creatures and unusual accidents have plagued the expedition from the beginning, and now you are running for your life. A bit of quick thinking and ingenuity allowed you to escape the carnage left behind.
You enter a new cavern as a mist rises reducing visibility to zero. A shadow appears in the mist. "you have been chosen" it says before your world goes black.
You awake in a hexagonal room with a strange violet globe in the center. Puddles of clear slime dot the room and a single stone statue faces away. Other people are at each corner of the room, also just waking by the looks of it.
Spoiler
Put any OOC in a spoiler rather than a different thread. Use the thread roller, i'll be making rolls in secret.
Binding check for Focalor (1d20+11)[21], to see if serís udner his influence.
Also, just a pair of question, could I spend 100 of the gp I have left on a Least Crystal of Illumination (MIC, Weapon Crystal, light as the spell in a 10ft range while slotted)? Also, Seri would have spent her whole life amongst ogres, harpies and hags, I'm assuming that the creatures that attacked us where much more uncommon then these or the citizens of Draoom?
__________________ Saul in Black Rock / Seri in Arcane Destiny / Jussio in Red Hand of Doom
*I take a moment to clear my head before trying to get my bearings. I quickly look around the room for immediate threats, and activate Hunter's Stance*
The cavern seems to be devoid of any threat, and you recognize those in the room as others hired for the expedition. You do hear a slight clicking coming from the globe in the center of the room, as well as a groan of pain.
Seri slowly picks herself up, her eyes scanning the room. She's of average height for a human, with long black hair which seems to receive minimal care. Though she wears armor and carries a weapon and shield, she also wears various necklaces, bracelets and earring, all with strange symbols and made of rather unorthodox materials. She mutters a few words in a strange tongue on behalf of those from the caravan that weren't 'chosen'. Que la vida del debil alimente al fuerte, su essencia seguira en ellos.
Her eyes land on the strange globe in the center of the room. She tries to remember if she's ever seen anything like that with Mother, and steps closer to get a better look.
Spoiler
She spoke in Giant, translation: "Let the lifes of the weak feed the strong, their essence will live on within them."
Knowledge: Arcane on the Globe: (1d20+6)[13]
__________________ Saul in Black Rock / Seri in Arcane Destiny / Jussio in Red Hand of Doom
You recognize it vaguely as a tool of the some planar entity and know that it's dangerous to enter it but otherwise remember nothing more. Upon closer inspection, you see a shadow of a creature trying to claw its way out weakly. It is small and groans in pain.
Last edited by EdroGrimshell : 11-07-2009 at 12:29 PM.
The half-elven bardic paladin snaps awake when his stamina returns, then quickly hops to his feet. He wastes no time assessing the situation, looking around the room and listening carefully for anything out of the ordinary, using the bright light of the protective wards of his holy shield for illumination.
If the coast is clear, he does a quick equipment check, finding all his adventuring gear beyond his sword, bow, armor, shield, clothes, kazoo, and heroic cape missing, most likely lost in the chaos preceding loss of consciousness.
He finds it odd that the only thing he can remember with any degree of clarity from the chaos was the voice declaring him "Chosen", and isn't sure what to make of it, but assumes it has something to do with the current situation.
"Everyone else okay? Declare yourself if you are here. If anyon needs medical attention, let me know. Davian Hawkstar!" he says, trying to assess the situation with the expedition members who also made it to this unusual cavern.
Spoiler
His shield, being magical, sheds light like a torch: 20-ft bright light, 20 more shadowy illumination for a total of 40 ft, both doubled for Davian's Low-Light vision for 40 ft bright, 80 ft shadowy illumination.
I'm saying he lost his non-combat gear because I'm too lazy to shop for it... Still have the money it would be worth though.
I'm not sure if you want me to make the Awareness rolls or if you'd rather make them seperately (Though I'm, pretty sure there is nothing to see that isn't obvious already in a metagame sense, I must act in character!)
* Volanth stands up from his previous, almost crouching position.*
Volanth stands 6' tall, and is solidly built. He wears a very loose light tan outfit, reminiscent of nomads. Cloth wraps about his head, and the lower half of his face. A wide leather belt with a shoulder strap supports a falchion on one side, with a large flail on the other. What can be seen of his face is both masculine, and at the same time delicate, perhaps reminiscent of elven blood.
I am Volanth. I seem to be unharmed, aside from being suddenly brought here against my will.
Last edited by Evil the Cat : 11-07-2009 at 05:35 PM.
Seri looks around as at the others after the half elf speaks up. 'Hawkstar' didn't seem to be around , or he would have surely answered his summons. After a few seconds, she answers, "My condolence, it looks like Davian didn't make it." in a dismissive tone. She's digging around her pockets and has her eyes back on the globe before she finishes the sentence. In the same tone she adds. "I was given the name Seri... and it looks like I'll go another day without any new scars. Lucky, isn't it?"
When she finally finds a peeble or a similar object, hse carefully tosses it towards the globe, watching the results with anticipation. If it simply bounces off, she'll draw closer still and tap it with her hatchet.
__________________ Saul in Black Rock / Seri in Arcane Destiny / Jussio in Red Hand of Doom
Jecht stands slowly, always assessing his surrounding. The small kobold slinks back to the edge of the room, instinctively putting the wall to his back. Seeing only those he previously knew to be allies, he relaxes a little.
He walks up to the globe in the center, and looks, trying to recall anything similar to it in the infernal texts he once studied.
Seri
The pebble hits and bounces back, a slight ripple going through the globe but otherwise remaining still.
As you touch it with your hatchet it tears and a creature, seemingly made entirely of bone, falls out. It appears to be breathing, marking it as not undead, and moans slightly before whispering "thank you" and falling unconscious.
The creature is hunchbacked, a row of short spikes running down its back. A thin tail trails behind it ending on a long blade-like protrusion. Its arms end in claws and its form is relatively humanoid otherwise. Closer inspection reveals a thin layer of skin that is chalk white stretched over its body.
Looking inside the globe you see a mangled set of peasant's clothing and what looked like a pile of lizard-like skin.
OOC
Spoiler
Jecht figures the same as Seri did with her result.
Last edited by EdroGrimshell : 11-07-2009 at 05:51 PM.
The creature is like none you have seen before, its entire structure is foreign but you are able to deduce that it is an aberration of some kind. The creature sleeps rather soundly, curled up in a way reminicent of a cat. The pain it had been feeling inside the globe seems to have ended, only its chest's movement and slightly twitching tail indicate its alive.
Seri nods at the creature, smiling, as it collapses. She goes over to the creature and kneels down, hopping to get a better look at his condition. "Disturbing, yes... just imagine, if we hadn't arrived to free him? Trapped at someone mercy forever." She puts her hatchet away and, while turning to the half elf, runs her hand down the creatures spines. "He may need some help."
Spoiler
Knowledge Arcane: (1d20+7)[16] though I think I may need Dungeoneering,
__________________ Saul in Black Rock / Seri in Arcane Destiny / Jussio in Red Hand of Doom
Some features on the creature seem almost artificial, like they were added to it, while others look twisted and misshapen. It seems to have been created from something else. You cannot identify exactly what but you have heard of certain spells that could accomplish this sort of result, powerful transmutations and strange rituals that can "better" existing creatures. This looks like the result of an incomplete casting of such a spell.
Taking longer than others to wake up, his eyes open but his vision is blurry. "Where am I?" He mutters to himself, trying to pull together the recollection of his past events.
Looking around the room he sees others, but hesitant to say anything he wanders towards the middle of the room. For some reason that he will probably never figure out the meaning of, his hands are drawn to the orb and he places them, palm down, on either side of the orb and looks at the creature within.
((Sorry for the delay, I didn't know the IC thread was up ^^))
Last edited by AngelOmnipotent : 11-08-2009 at 06:51 AM.
I would say this is most likely an Aberration of some kind. It does not conform to normal standards found in life, even altered forms. I am forced to wonder, why would such a creature be held in such confinement. While I do indeed sympathize with such an unpleasant situation.
* His eyes grow distant. He pauses for a few seconds, seemingly lost in thought, before continuing.
While it's plight was indeed horrific, we cannot help but wonder why it was confined, and indeed that it may have been confined for good reason, and recognize that this creature may actually be dangerous.
Spoiler
This may be a very bad idea, but I will use mindlink on the creature. Since its asleep, it should be auto-willing.
Terrox
Inside the sphere, you find a pile of what looks oddly like lizard skin, upon closer inspection you find there are no skales and are disgusted to find what looks like it could have been a human face at the top of the pile.
Volanth
Surprisingly, the mindlink reveals a mind that "feels" similar to that of a human, which confuses you significantly. Its mind seems resistant to any attempt to find out more and the link rapidly decays. A single image floats to your mind as this happens and you see a swirling mass of images and hear screaming as blood sprays into the air then it ends.
OOC
Spoiler
Evil the cat roll a Will save to see if you are shaken by the image
I rolled a spot check for Terrox and most of the other players, you were the only one to spot this little shocker.
With your knowledge of the arcane, you are able to garner a bit of information on the transformation as a ritualistic spell that went only half finished. The ritual is meant to turn an ordinary creature (commonly an animal although more malevolent creatures use humanoids) into an easily controlled servant or bodyguard. You are not sure as to the effects of an incomplete transformation such as this and its effects on the creature. You conclude that it was once some common humanoid, like a human or elf, although its stature could easily be related to a gnome or halfling.
"He was thankful, that's already puts this... Aberration... higher then some of those with 'pure blood' that I've met." She looks over the poor creature one last time before standing up and flourishing her hatchet. "I could lob of a head if you need to feel safe, who knows, it may even be merciful... The Fleshweaver of Droaam would be proud of this."
She spots the statue. Not waiting for an answer, she goes to see if bears Mordain's likeness. Well, the likeness she was told off. He probably wouldn't keep one for long.
Spoiler
Just a format I use, if there's no quotation marks and in itallics, then its thought.
__________________ Saul in Black Rock / Seri in Arcane Destiny / Jussio in Red Hand of Doom
Colvin suddenly announces, "Doubtful this poor creature was willing to undergo a transformation like this. The ritual wasn't finished, so I don't know if it's willing to serve whoever was tranforming it or not. We should wait for it to awaken and see what it does then."
__________________
-Avatar thanks to thelizard
Chaotic Evil
-Why are these buildings not on fire yet? Who left this villager alive?
Though the other party members were quick to accept the abberation, Davian Hawkstar wasn't so quick to dismiss such an unusual-looking creature as anything more than gracious for its freedom. Even the foulest creatures of Darkness would thank their savior from torture, even if it intended to kill them in a matter of minutes anyway.
Without voicing his suspicions, to avoid either reflecting poorly on himself or the unproven beast, he focuses his mind on the creature, using his divine vision to make sure the creature the party was so quick to support wasn't actually a minion of darkness in disguise.
Spoiler
Using my paladin Detect Evil ability, from halfway between my starting corner and the center of the room, facing the creature. Even if the creature is not evil, the area should also detect traces of evil in front of me in a 90o cone.
Volanth
You manage to keep your fear in check from what could possibly have been the creatures last sights before it fell unconscious. The image was disturbing and you feel slightly disturbed that someone would put anything through that kind of experience.
Davian
You detect no evil from the creature, however, the orb it was in radiate a moderate aura of evil that sends a chill down your spine. The transformation Colvin spoke of obviously being involuntary from this small bit of information. You also detect a faint aura of evil from the statue Seri is approaching.
Seri
The statue is an elf of some kind, dressed in elaborate robes and a book held under its arm. Strangely, the entire statue is stone except the book. The staue depicts a smirk on the elf's face and a look that gave off an eerie aura of malevolence even if it is only a statue. It appears to be a rendition of someone walking away in triumph.
As this goes on, the creature stirs and tears pour from its closed eyes as it begins to shift uncomfortably.
Last edited by EdroGrimshell : 11-08-2009 at 12:58 PM.
Detecting the malevolent aura of the statue out of his peripherial vision, Davian shouted a warning to his ally approaching the statue, "Hold up, Seri! The statue radiates supernatural evil." Immediately after his warning, he proceeds to add, "Don't touch the book, either... Though it's not tainted, it could be a trap. In case anyone's not sure, that orb in the center of the room is undeniably evil," he adds as an afterthought, and, accepting it as such himself, decides to come over himself to investigate the statue. Subtle evils were often far more dangerous than the obvious ones such as the orb.
You find a small quick release connected to the book, mostly hidden from view, it looks a little excessive for a common book, it consists of a small slot connected to the quick release. The book itself has no visible traps and the statue has three mechanisms on it; the left arm has a very subtle joint indicating it could be moved, an eye looks like it could be a trigger if pressed, and the right ear looks like it could be used as a lever.
After staring off into space shocked for a few moments, Volanth speaks:
This... creature. It has suffered greatly, perhaps been tortured. I.. what may have been it's last moments before being... changed. I think it may have once been human.
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