In the twilight of the fading last battle of Avegnum's martial career - at least for the present time if Kaellanna has her way with him - the final visible drow absconds with his soul internalized in to the row of animated trees trying to finish the remaining party members. Unsuccessful in the attempt the trees continue to thrash about at the invisible bubble surrounding the mercury man, surrounding the remaining members. Leaving the armored and slimed corpse of the giant Vik'Gotror at the foot of the animated tree-line, to be pulled into the trees and the ground beneath them, the party moves north into the cleared area where they fought the scorrow for a second time, beyond the grasp of the animated undergrowth and the lashings of the animated trees. Pausing in the north end of the clearing, crowding around the newly arrived skeletally clad man on a skeleton horse, the party takes a pause to heal a bit.
"I need to heal Tara," Kaellanna says to the group, "at least enough so she can make the journey back to Vik's camp site. Anyone else on the verge of death?" She looks around at the group taking each into account before ignoring them and healing her feline companion a couple times with her wand. "Who invited the undead cavalry?" Kaellanna asks bitterly to no one in particular. "Vel seems happy to see it here. Figures, the unnatural is drawn to the unnatural."
Vel gets 3200 XP.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add the 400 XP to Vel, please add it.
DeleteKaellanna and Tara lead the party back the way they came through the burned paths of Vik'Gotror, which are already starting to grow back around the edges - more evidence of the odd nature of the 'natural' surroundings that have been permeated by some kind benevolent, life-loving, evilness. Shortly after the trek begins Tara yeowls in mournful pain and vomits her guts up. Picking herself back up the cat looks definitely sick, or possibly poisoned. Her elf heals her again a couple times with her wand of curing before the trek continues back to the campsite.
ReplyDeleteAs the party travels back to camp they make note of the new plant growth. Not looking as much like undergrowth as like spiked weeds of a certain vigorous girth, Kaellanna suggests staying as far away from the edges as possible. She fears the plants may try to harm the wounded party, though nothing happens as long as the protective bubble around the mercury man remains. Returning back to the presumed safe site the party finds it much like it was previously, though the new growth of plant matter has begun here in ernest as everywhere else. Still an oblong shape it holds a large clearing on on side and a pool of seemingly fresh water on the other side.
"We should bed down and make ready for the evening" Kaellanna comments generally, "I can take some watch, but someone else needs to take more of the watch so I can prepare spells for tomorrow. If anyone can think of any natural magics we may need tomorrow I may try to work them in if I can spare the prayers in the evil place."
"I can take watch all night for the entore party if Vel would like me to" the mercury man answers in tones to happy for the environment or the recent happenings. "What do you say, Vel" he ask?
"Well gosh mister, that would be fine with me! You know, you're a pretty great guy, anybody ever tell you that? What was your name again?" Vel says rapidly as he heads over to drink some water from the pool.
ReplyDeleteWaiting for the metal man's response he thinks about what magic the druid might want to prepare for the following day. "Some way to speak with plants would be good... but what are we going to do now with Vik and Avegnum dead? Do we want to head back to the gropey plants and drow area or go north and try and find that ruined giant city?" In a surprising moment of foresight, "I think if we knew some of those answers we could better prepare. By the way skeleton man, who are you what were you doing before you came here?"
Ever curious, Vel wants answers before his mind wanders to some other topics like corpses, decay, and-.... "Oooh, a stick in the water!" The young man exclaims as he splashes in to retrieve it.
Looking up from the inexplicably interesting stick, Vel waves to Halvdan, "Nice to meet ya! I'm Vel Biggleton, loosely associated with the House Ghallanda. And as to where we are, we think it's Xen'drik, the continent south of Khorvaire. I can't say for sure because I've never been here before and on another topic there do seem to be a number of fascinating ways to die here."
ReplyDeleteTrailing off wistfully, Vel falls into silence.
"Anyone else find it hard to breathe?" Says Halvdan, "So where to?"
ReplyDelete"Yeah, it was really hard when we got here but Kaellanna can help out in that area with her magic that she likes to use. It seems like I need to nap for a night but then we could either go the the ruined city or back to the plants. If Kaellanna can talk to the plants, and with Mr. Metal Man here, we should be able to get through them and find those drow ears."
ReplyDelete"I guess you can call me Lev. I don't really have a name really. I'm just, you know, here to help" the mercury man replies to Vel, "But I can tell you more after you sleep and wake up."
ReplyDelete"Good point, Vel" Kaellanna replies, "I don't want to go back to those terrible trees or to the ruined city, I just want to go home, back to Eldeen, back to my beloved plants and animals, back to the coolness and the snow, back to the natural surroundings .... I just want to get far, far away from this fetid, evil, unnatural swamp-jungle that the messed-up unnatural magic brought us to. This place sucks! We are surrounded by things that want to kill us!
"As far as Avegnum goes I'm going to use my natural magic to reincarnate him again. If he wants to come back he will, if he doesn't, well then we will have to find our own way out.
"As far as you go, Mr skeleton man, how about you take off that helm and tell us your life story. Are you some kind of unnatural necromancer with bone armor, or what. I may be able to cast Endure Elements on you tomorrow, but for now you just have to deal with the heat. The altitude I can do nothing about. This all depends on your story, though. I am a druid, and not happy being this close to an undead thing or it's master, or the idea of traveling with either, though our present situation makes me less picky than I would like."
Halvdan removes his helm and smiles.
ReplyDelete"Oh, and if you don't re-incarnate Avegnum, I'd be happy to turn him into a zombie."
"Me, I am a general, I was fighting in the..." He hesitates for a moment, still trying to acclimate to the high altitude, "It was brutal and then zap, I was here."
"A general? I thought you guys didn't have much work since the Last War between all the nations a few years back. Oh! I think Avegnum fought in that war too, maybe you guys tried to kill each other?" Vel blurts out innocently.
ReplyDelete"It sure was lucky you found us out here Lev, do you know why a teleport might have dumped us here instead of where we were going?"
"You will do no such thing aberrant, Karrnathi skeleton general! If Avegnum doesn't want to come back his remains will be respectfully, and naturally, dealt with. No one will turn him into a skeleton or anything else abnormal. Got that! Now keep it down you pseudo-natural section. I have to sleep in order to cast spells tomorrow. Give me four hours and I'll take watch." With that Kaellanna beds down on the far side of the pool and begins her elven meditations for the evening.
ReplyDelete"All I know about you being here is that you died and now I'm here to fix you, Vel. Go ahead and sleep, I'll keep watch over you and tell you what I can do to fix you tomorrow" Lev replies to Vel, before he sits next to the human and stares at him with lid-less, pupil-less eyes of flexible metalic material.
"Lighten up." Says Halvdan, "Just trying to help out and give another option."
ReplyDelete"What's your story...you with the eyes?"
"Yeah, Lev, while I normally fall asleep really easily when someone is watching me, could you tell me a story, maybe a little more about you and how you found us so quickly?" Vel implores as he yawns and lies down for the night.
ReplyDeleteWith his blank lid-less eyes and generally happy facial expression Lev settles in near Vel to reply, "Well, as far as how I found you I have to say you are not to quiet of a group. Lots of noise, even in this jungle, you are easy to follow. ... More about me? Not much more to say, I don't think - you got in trouble a little while back, I think you will recall, or at least you will recall the before and after, right? Now that you have been returned to the living I have been returned to heal you. You know, back to the way you used to be - back to being a good person, not like the undue influence that has come over you making you are what you have become - evil.
ReplyDeleteFrom the other side of the pool Kaellanna yells to the group, "All my rations have been infested with some kind of larval worm-things!" She throws the rations into the jungle before finally settling down to meditate.
ReplyDelete"Wow, what a waste of food, you know, I could have purified that. There are starving people somewhere in this world."
ReplyDeleteHearing mention of food perks Vel up, "Yay! Purified trail biscuits, really? Hmm, if they were in her's would you mind taking a look at mine Halvdan and purifying it if there are some wigglies in them? Hey, Kaellanna, aren't you used to eating bugs and stuff as a druid? Natural order and all?"
ReplyDeleteBefore letting himself truly drift off he waits to see what the others say.
Halvdan takes the rations from Vel and remarks, "Hey, these aren't maggots, it's a mold."
ReplyDeleteHalvdan casts purify food on the rations but the mold doesn't go away.
"Damn it, magical mold. So do you think we could convince our colleague to hunt something down for us to eat? Or..." Halvdan takes some rations and gives it to Vel, "Have some of mine."
"Oh thanks!" Vel exclaims as he tears into ration. "Hey Kaellanna, this guy seems pretty nice, why don't give him a break? Of everything we've met here apart from Vik he hasn't tried to kill us yet so that must be a good sign, right?"
ReplyDelete"Figures you two would get along well," Kaellanna replies after her meditations. "I'll take watch for a while as you two sleep. You both do actually sleep, right? Aberrations, arcanists, undead, constructs ... What could be next? I'm feeling mightily left out here. Unnatural on top of unnatural. Perhaps tomorrow we can do some scouting and figure out what plan we want to take to try to get back to the real world."
ReplyDeleteHalvdan yawns and cozies up to his bony horse,
ReplyDelete"I need to snooze."
Snuggling into the jungle floor, Vel quickly falls asleep under Lev's glowing, unblinking gaze.
ReplyDeleteFor the night the party sleeps. Snuggled in their dirty little pits with the watchfully unblinking eyes of Lev, and the post meditative gaze of Kaellanna keeping them safe. In the morning the party wakes and and prepares for the coming day's events. Everyone finds themselves to have healed normally except for Vel who is completely healed - much more healed than he should have been.
ReplyDeleteFeeling surprisingly refreshed, Vel thinks back on the previous day's events and concludes that he must regain his strength faster either after killing things or having had friends die. He carefully files the information away for later in case he may need to test it out. Heading around to everyone, he shakes them awake if they are not already up and then says brightly, "Morning all! So where did we want to go today again? Halvdan, Kaellanna, Lev? Any thoughts?"
ReplyDeleteSuddenly realizing he is not under the effects of the druid's spell any longer, he sits down as the heat and altitude get to him in order to rest.
"First thing is to reincarnate Avegnum" Kaellanna replies, " after that I'll worry about your comfort, arcanist. Kaellanna spends the next ten minutes casting the spell to reincarnate the man she refuses to publicly admit her attraction for.
ReplyDeletePlease roll a percentile, Kyle, if you are interested in having Avegnum reincarnated.
Rolled an 18!
Delete"So how do you feel, Vel? I healed you while you slept. I hope you are fully healthy now" Lev asks with his blankly happy expression.
ReplyDelete"Yeah, I feel really good now Lev, thanks! How was the night for you?" Vel says breathlessly as sweat trickles down the side of his face. "I'm getting a bit warm now but I can wait until we see what happens to Avegnum."
ReplyDeleteKaellanna finishes casting her spell on Avegnum's Deep Halfling body. Little sparklies of farie dust glitter over his corpse as it begins to form anew. First becoming vacant of detail and then enlarging and filling in. The process ends with the final measure of detail reapplied to the deceased figure, and then initial intake of first breath from the young-adult reformed form of the new, new Avegnum Nor. As he takes his first few breaths his eyes flutter about and then open. He then draws in a deep breath and grimaces before his eyes focus and the glitteryness fades. Avegnum stands, naked, in front of the party. Interestingly no one is quite sure what he is. Having distinct features of many a race, he looks around and at the party. Each person in the party sees in Avegnum's new form references to the typical anatomy of humans, elves, dwarves, goblinoids, orcs, gnomes and his original halfling. Though none of the anatomy is distinctly of any specific race, it is close enough to any known humanoid that he could pass simply by speaking the language required.
ReplyDeleteGrunting and hacking as his new lungs react to the air, Avegnum opens slightly slitted, almost feline golden eyes as he looks around. As his memories reassemble, he immediately notices that everything he sees is from a different height than usual. Quickly glancing at his body he swears, "Frell you Dorn! You can't keep me down, I'll show you! This'll just make me be better."
ReplyDeleteInstantly recognizing the Karnathi heraldry on the armored warrior with Vel and Kaellanna, Avegnum reaches for his weapon (yes the great sword... fuck, that doesn't really sound any better) but grimaces again with unfamiliar, pointed teeth as he sees all of his gear in a pile several feet away.
"Kaellanna, mind explaining to me who those two strangers are and why I'm a MAN THING!?"
Meanwhile, VEl is rolling around on the floor squealing, "Yay! Avegnum's back, huzzah! He's my buddy too, Lev."
Knowing the effects of reincarnate, and not sure which two people her close friend makes reference to, while being slightly uncomfortable with his absolute nakedness so close to her own self, Kaellanna whispers quietly to the new new Avegnum, partially as a means of keeping secrets, and partially as a means of getting closer to the new incarnation of the warblade, "We'll, the human rolling around on the ground and giggling like a crazy person is actually a crazy person, and an unnatural arcanist who is known as 'Vel'. The only other girl here is Tara, who is my life-long companion from the mountains of The Reaches. The unnatural metallic-looking statue-like creature is a construct that came to us last night after you fell claiming to want to help and heal Vel, which I think he did last knight, as I saw him touching the warlock in a repeated succession of rhythmic motions I found difficult to watch. He claims to be called 'Lev', thiugh i find that weak. The other 'person', if I can really call him that is something of a warlord-paladin-warrior heavily influenced by the undead and completely unnatural in all ways. He has so far called himself 'Halvdan'.
ReplyDelete"I strongly suggest we get away from the arcanist, the undead acolyte, and the subservient construct and make our own way out of here. What do you say, my excellent friend, and willing recipient of druidic true natural magic? Will you go with me and leave these abominations to their own consequences?"
Out loud, so everyone can hear, Kaellanna replies to one of Avegnum's questions, "You are presently a race known as 'mongrelfolk' in the common human tongue. They are a hearty race of people who's only goal seems to be a desire to get along with everyone else without making conflict. They are good at pretending to fit in, which I think you may find difficult."
ReplyDeleteAvegnum flexes and does a test tumble before smiling and nodding, "It always was hard fitting in with moves like that. Though I think I need some new clothes if anybody has some pants and a normal sized weapon at least?"
ReplyDeleteThinking things over for a few seconds while he waits for a response from the group, he then whispers back to Kaellanna more honestly than he's spoken to her since his first death. "You know I'd go with you anywhere, dear, but considering this place killed me once, I think we might need the numbers to get out of here alive. I know the Karnathi from the war, he'll be good in a fight despite his methods and I did promise to keep Vel safe. From what you say they all bear minding though, you watch my back and I'll watch yours and Tara's?"
Meanwhile Vel has been rummaging around in his bag of holding and exclaims triumphantly. "I don't have pants, but I do have PANTALOONS! Momma Biggleton told me to bring them in case I was able to set up any trade meetings to sell my spices but I think this would be an ok time to bring them out."
Avegnum blinks slowly and the absurd sight, shakes his head, and dons the pantaloons.
(Avegnum can still use his sword for now, just eat the penalty I suppose.)
DeleteAvegnum grabs his halfing sized greatsword and decides to run through some blade drills in order to figure out how his new body feels while he waits for the others to figure out where they should head today.
ReplyDeleteHalvdan wakes from a long slumber, "Man this heat is getting to me."
ReplyDelete"Hey Avegnum, need a sparring partner?"
Kaellanna asks if anyone needs any healing. She casts several spells on Tara and hits everyone with an endure elements spell so the heat is not to much to handle. The altitude is still getting to everyone except Tara, who is naturally accustomed to great altitudes. After Tara is enspelled, Kaellanna looks to heal anyone else that may need some. While doing so Tara hurls again in the undergrowth - further evidence of some sickness that she needs help with. "Damn," Kaellanna comments, "I forgot about that. I need to cure Tara of what ever is making her sick. I think after that Tara and I will head a different way from the rest of you. I need to take care of Tara and myself in a natural way that you don't seem to understand or really care about. If I find a way out I'll try to get word to you so you can follow." With that Kaellanna begins packing her items and gathering up the sick Tara to head their own way.
ReplyDelete"Well, Vel, what do you say, ready for me to heal you?" asks Lev, then adds, "You know, how you have been different ever since you came back from ... the other side." All the while he stares intently at Vel with his unblinking, glowing eyes, and a happy, almost innocent look on his face.
ReplyDelete"It was so peaceful there, nice and dark as things just took their time and fell apart. I guess I have felt a little different, but it's not bad, I just see things in a new way. Oh, yes, I suppose these cuts need some tending, if you don't mind Lev. Hey, have you ever been there Lev?"
ReplyDeleteStartled by Kaellanna's announcement, Avegnum halts his practice and heads over to her with his blade resting on a tan scaled shoulder. "Please stay with us! This place is more dangerous than we could have imagined and if you really want to leave us, then do it after we get out of here. I want to make sure you're safe before you go your own way and I still thing we'd be safer together."
(I'll try some Diplomacy to get her to stay with us.)
Avegnum and Kaellanna talk amongst themselves in hushed tones that occasionally flare into heated words. After a long ten minutes of tense debate, and negotiation Kaellanna agrees to give it another day to see what happens, though she stipulates that she won't maintain (heal/cure/protect) the unnatural members of the group any longer, they will have to take care of themselves, and she strongly suggests they group not fight everything it comes across and instead concentrates on finding it's way home.
ReplyDeleteShocked at what he is hearing Lev respond, "Not bad! Peaceful! That's no way to explain the influence of corruption, chaos and evil! It's not just a new way, Vel, it's a wrong way. A way that will only quickly lead to your death after it destroys your mind and soul and turns you into a monster that will kill all your friends first! Of course I've never been there. How could I? As I told I was created to heal you, and I couldn't heal you until you were damaged. So, I have only been here since yesterday. Think of your mom and dad, Vel, think of all the people you grew up with. Would you want to kill them and eat their flesh? That's what you will turn in to if you keep going this way. Think of when your short friend here died and how you felt, and now that he's back a bigger how you feel now. Think of how you used to love and care for people, and what you are feeling about them today. Think about this and wee can talk more later. Please, Vel, think about it and realize what it is and what it is doing to you."
Lev's words do reach young man but then his thoughts start to drift. When he's prompted to think about his friends and then his family a warm feeling suffuses his emotions until he realizes that his parents really liked to cook, which tangentially leads to pies, and of course, what sort of meat pies are Vel's favorite: Steak and Kidney. Ergo, at the end of Lev's speech, Vel is wistfully contemplating the required ingredients for an elf steak (well aged meat) and halfling kidney pie 9maybe a handful for each depending on size?) without thinking anything is amiss.
ReplyDelete"Yeah, maybe we should go home," Vel says still thinking of cooking, "Didn't Vik say we had to go north or something? Which way is that?"
"So uhm...Druid lady...can you like change? Shift into a bird or something and fly above the trees to get a better look?" Says Halvdan, "Also, look, I think we got off to a bad start, I know you don't like me much, but we're in this together and if we're going to get out of this in one piece, we really need to work as a team. I'm not trying to take charge here, even though I am a General, but please, do this for the greater good...please?"
ReplyDelete"My name is Kaellanna, and out of respect to the aspects of your living nature I'll call you Halvdan, unless you prefer something else, general. And yes, I can Wild Shape into any small, medium or large animal. I can go up and take a look around to see what is about us and possibly find a way out of this place," Kaellanna replies.
ReplyDeleteShe then morphs into a large eagle and begins a spiraly ascent into the canopy of the trees. After ataining a height of about a 100' the eagle is no longer visible due to the branches and the general dimness of the place.
Tara walks around the group with her head down as if worried about something. It's at this time that Vel notices she seems a little bit heavier than usual - as if she has managed to gain wait here while the rest of the party is having a hard time finding edible food that is not infested with mold.
Curious about the change in Tara, Vel studies her closely while racking his brain for what might be the cause: pregnancy, cancer, her fur absorbing water from the humid air? Considering Lev's words earlier and the claim that Vel had supposedly 'changed', maybe the jungle or foes they had met here had done something to the feline companion.
ReplyDelete"If I can figure this out then Kaellanna will like me double plus good for sure!" the man thinks to himself.
(I suppose he'll try and use K. Arcane/Religion/Planes to see what might be growing within...)
Ad Hoc XP (role-playing & adventuring):
ReplyDeleteAvegnum = 200 XP
Vel = 400 XP
Halvdan = 500 XP
Knowledge of the arcane, religion or the planes has helped Vel little in understanding what is afflicting Tara. He is slightly worried, though, mostly for himself and the thought that it may affect him later on, at the sight of the somewhat lathargic, slugish, bloated and sickened arctic feline.
ReplyDeleteAfter a good 10-15 minutes eagle-Kaellanna comes back from the above, and changes shape back into an elf. "I had to fly about 160' in the air to get clear of all the trees. The higher I flew the darker it got until I rose above the canopy. At that time it became lighter because, even though it appears to be night time, the stars are out and a couple of the moons are full. The celestial bodies look out of place - what I know of them tells me we are very far away from Sharn - farther away than any of us have been before, except perhaps for the General here. I don't know ...
ReplyDelete"We are on some kind of island only a few miles wide and maybe several miles long. The entire island is covered with these massive trees except for the out 50' or so. Most of that area is rocky beach-like. All around the island is flowing lava perhaps 300' wide. Through the moonlight I could see that beyond the lava, on all sides except north of us, are very tall jagged mountains. They are snow capped mountains so I am guessing they are very cold and over 12,000 feet tall. Based on this observation and the effects of the altitude I would guess we are at least half that height, putting us at least 6,000 feet up.
“North of us is a different story. In that direction, after getting through the trees, beyond the rocky 'beach' area, and past the lava river, there is the ruin of the city the giant told us about. It looks as he implied, a giant city well past its prime. From what I know of the history of Xen'drik the city must have been a ruin for at least several thousand years. Most of the building look relatively low, only a story or two, but in the center there is a single massive tower probably as tall as anything in Sharn, if not taller. Scale is hard to judge because of the distance and the larger-than-normal size of it all.
“Amidst the building ruins I can make out several areas that look overgrown – like maybe they used to be parks or gardens or ponds or something – but now they resemble the area we are in except not as large in scope or scale.
“That’s all I could make out at night, except I forgot to mention the bridges. There are a few bridges crossing from this ‘garden’ area to the ruins. Only one bridge even attempts to cross the lava anymore. I don’t know how, but it is still mostly standing. Only the middle 100 feet or so are missing, and it’s probably 60 feet above the lava and maybe 30 wide. Looks like a ruined foot-bridge for very over-sized people.”
Kaellanna turns her attention to Tara at this point and begins checking her out to try to determine what is bothering the kitty and how to fix the problem.
"I forgot to mention that the city is surrounded by the tall snowy mountains as well. At least what I could see of it in the moonlight" Kaellanna adds.
Delete"Thank you Kaellanna,I could almost kiss you." Halvdan says, "Thank you for doing that. So what do you think? Should we go check out the city? Maybe there is someone still there, maybe I'm being optimistic, but maybe there may be an answer as to how we get off this damn island."
ReplyDeleteFrowning slightly while he thinks, Avegnum eventually says, "I agree, the city seems like our best bet at the moment and while I'm curious about what those drow were doing around here, little things like our long term survival do take priority. The sooner we get out of the jungle, the sooner we can find help for Tara too."
ReplyDelete"We're going sightseeing!?" Vel exclaims. Having not seen many ruined cities he is very intrigued and secretly hopes to find lots of giant bones to play with. "Lev, do you know anything about this city? Oh, since you were trying to heal me do you think you could take a look at Tara if Kaellanna would let you?"
"I'm game." Halvdan says, "I'd also like to see if I can find any fermentable grains, or honey, or fruit and make a nice alcoholic beverage."
ReplyDeleteKaellanna spends several minutes checking Tara to to determine what is afflicting her, "Hm, hu, oh that's ..." She mumbles, before standing and turning to the group, "Look, when it comes to battle you guys are great; I have no complaints, but look here, what do you intend to do to get us out of this place? If we are all just going to sit around and look at our feet, I can do that perfectly well with Tara and her paws. Are we heading northish to the bridges or are we going to hunt the drow to see how they get out - if they get out of here - or are you just going to find the nearest lava and jump in, hoping your unnatural bone gods and fiends will protect you from the burn of it all?" She paces back and forth a bit,obviously upset, and pets Tara on her head before continuing, "I can lead us where we need to go, where we want to go, but where do we want to go? As for some kind of grains or fruits to ferment ... ... ... What the hell are to talking about, 'General'? What are you; some kind of mental deficient or something? Are you really a General, or just some kid who lusts over military conquest like it's a drama you watched on some staged play in Karrnath - if you really are from that nature forsaken realm of undead loving ... Oh! I don't even know what to say about all this."
ReplyDeleteKaellanna stomps off after Tara who has wandered to the encroaching edge of the clear pools's surrounding canopy before turning on the men of the group and exclaiming, "Look, I'm ready to go to Hell to help us all get out of here and back to the Eldeen, or Sharn, or the bone-and-flesh realm of the Karrns, or wherever we can lead happy, health, natural lives, but this sitting around wondering what to do next is killing me and my cat, my closest friend, and frankly the only one I'm willing to die for any more ... But back to basics ... Do you need food? Do you need me and Tara to hunt down some foods edible in this mountainous bucket of swamp-marsh-jungle hole of hell and all of it's evil denizens trying to eat us?"
She pauses again before calming down and addressing the group in her usual quiet way, "I've changed my mind, I think we should head to the bridge that crosses the most lava and see what we can do to get across and make our way in to the ruins to try to find a way back out and back to the real world. That's the way I'm going and taking Tara. If the rst of you want to do that as well I happy to travel with you, for now, and see what happens. So, what do you four say?" She finishes with an exasperated huff before getting Tara ready to head northish.
A crazy plan has entered Vel's mind as his glazed eyes stare at the jungle during Kaellanna's rant. As a sliver of drool dribbles down his chin the following things go through his mind: bridge with hole, people, bag, turnips that speak, wings, bag, haberdashers, flying, salt.
ReplyDelete"YES!" He shouts. "I've got a plan. Let's go to the bridge and we can fly I tell you! Fly!!"
He's about to sprint off into the jungle at a random direction when Lev grabs him by the shoulder to hold him back. Seeing that two of the group seem keen on heading towards the bridge, Avegnum nods his assent and gathers his ill sized gear, ready to set off at Kaellanna's direction.
"Well, I guess since no one else has anything to add," Kaellanna eyes the general, "then I'll lead the group to the most intact of the bridges. Get all you stuff together, we leave in a few moments."
ReplyDelete…
Kaellanna orients herself first and then leads the way through the thick undergrowth without looking back. She moves quickly, much faster than even Tara can keep up with her, and causes the group to spread out. First the druid, then the cat, then the general, then the doubly-reborn, then the fiend-spawn, then the construct.. As the group spreads out they get about 10' - 20' between each, just out of sight in most cases, before Kaellanna stops and waits for the rest to catch up.
The jungle sounds as if the undergrowth is crawling with vermin, alive with the chitin of thousands of creatures surrounding the group. The group works it's way like an expanding and contracting worm for two to three hours before the worm finally contracts on it's head at the edge of jungle looking out at a barren stretch of rock and sand before the soil and stones form into a bridge that arches up and away in the darkerness.
Inside the jungle the light is as if late dawn or early dusk. Though just as the massive trees and undergrowth end the ambient light ends as well. Above the night sky the group can see the thousands of stars above and four of the twelve moons. One moon is full and high, the rest are slivers or setting beyond the jagged carnivorous teeth-like mountains that Kaellanna told the group surrounds them in all visible directions. The rock-and-soil formed bridge, starting at the farthest extents of those who can see in the dark, projects itself up and away, above the heat and glow of the lava slowly flowing below it, and into the celestially-illuminated darkness high above. Arching slowly up the bridge gradually changes to solid unadorned stone running north across the steaming river of liquid rock.
The group pauses to catch it's breath against the thin air before Kaellanna silently leads them on toward the bridge, almost as if in a trance state. She stops at the foot of the bridge before turning to look at the group and speaking, “Up there, above the lava, the bridge is broken. As you can see it looks as if it grew out of the rock below us, but just 30 or 40 feet up the rock looks like something created by an arcanist.” She pauses before continuing, “This makes me even more uncomfortable than the jungle-marsh-forest we just left. So, Vel, what's you awesome plan to get us all across to the ruins?”
Drinking in the sights, Vel uses K.Arcana to see if he can learn a little bit more about the bridge, maybe it wasn't really broken, just inactive at the moment.
ReplyDeleteTaking a few moments to channel the energy within himself, Vel grunts as a winglike cape of shadows emerges from his back. (Fell Flight Invocation) He then removes an inconspicuous cloth sack from his bag with a surprisingly large opening. Inside it, the group can see a cavernous space only partially filled with packets of salt, pepper, and tobacco. "All aboard Vel Air, Conveying Companions Across Lava Since.... well now I guess. Oh, hmm.. I might have to take a couple trips to get us all over there. This should be fun!"
A little bit perturbed by Vel's manner, Avegnum tries to think of some alternate method across the gaping chasm but fails to come up with anything. "What do you guys think?" He asks.
Avegnum will also use K.History to see what he knows about the moons and the current combination in the sky above.
DeleteVel determines that he believes that the bridge was originally magically formed, like a wall of stone spell, though if it was a single wall of stone spell it would have to have been cast by an insanely powerful as it is 45' wide, at least 10' thick, and extends up and away beyond Vel's dark vision.
ReplyDeleteAvegnum knows from history that the full moon brings about lycanthropes of all sorts. The more full moons out the more lycanthropes come out. He does not know if lycanthropes exist on Xendrik, he has never heard any stories of them there, but he has never heard any stories of them not there either.
"Thanks Vel," Kaellanna replies coldly, "but I'll be turing into something that can fly and carrying myself and Tara across. I can carry others who don't have happy thought about being inside a bag of holding."
"Aw, c'mon!" Vel whines at the elf's response. "Who wants to come with me?"
ReplyDeleteLev immediately steps up with seemingly eager gleaming eyes which makes the crazed man smile.
Considering his options, Avegnum shakes his head at being forced to choose between companions but moves over to Kaellanna. "I'll go with you over the gap if you'll have me, though we should move quickly so we can find a place to rest for the night"
To the mongrelfolk man, "Night? We just woke up a few hours ago." Then turning to Vel, "I think the General and his pet will have to go with you Vel," Kaellanna comments, "To big for me to carry. First I'll take Avegnum, then Tara."
ReplyDeleteThe elf doesn't even wait for a response before transforming herself into an animal for the second time today. This time, like last time she turns into a bird. This time, however, she changes into a much larger bird than last time. When finally transformed she stands well over 10' tall with a wingspan almost 20' across. Ready to fly after flapping her wings a few times, she launches herself into the air, circles around and swoops down grabbing Avegnum in her talons and flies him off into the moonlit darkness north of the party – never to be seen again, wait …
Lev eagerly climbs into the sack of holding as he has no concern for breathing. General Halvdan guides his boney steed into the ever expanding sack, and then climbs in himself after asking of Vel, “How long can I breath in this thing?”
Avegnum whips across the lava river separating the garden from the city, separating the easy from the difficult, according to the now expired Vik'Gotror. Avegnum thought the jungle was hot before being protected by Kaellanna's magic, but even now after the elements have been endured he feels the extreme heat of the lava river as it flows past and under him in his flight to the north shore. Kaellanna seems little concerned with her proximity to the lava or the heat, only keeping just under the side of the expansive stone bridge she flies next to.
Suddenly the bridge is no longer next to the pair as they rush through the solitary lunar darkness, one companion hanging low and swinging beneath the other. Away and ahead she continues to sprint through the air into essential darkness. All around Avegnum can see darker areas of darkness swarming and receding as he passes swiftly by. Then suddenly through the darkness the ragged opposite edge of the gigantic smooth stone bridge appears in front of him. Kaellanna swerves down and left to avoid the imminent collision then continues sprinting through the sweltering heat and engulfing darkness. Below the glowing lava flow generates enough light that Avegnum can make out the opposite shore as the druid-bird carries him in low and fast just prior to letting go and dropping him a short distance from the intensity of the liquid rock shore before circling around again and heading back into the darkness she just emerged from.
Avegnum finds himself standing on the remains of an ancient road now cracked and weathered with plant life pushing through and between the breaks in the stone. The road he's on is a crossroad becoming the broken bridge behind him and heading into the ruins ahead and on either side. All around he can just make out the shapes of large structures. In the dimness of the small full moon Avegnum can see he is surrounded by gargantuan structures in various states of decay. Based on the window locations the buildings would easily accommodate someone 15', or even 30' in some cases, tall. All around him the darkness is complete, though variegated in it absoluteness. All around the decay is palpable, and the air thick with an oppression Avegnum has only felt a similarity to in the Mournlands. Though, the memory of the Mournlands pales in comparison to the dank oppression he feels here. Aside from the moon and the stars above Avegnum can see a light burning high above him and to his left. It burns like a lighthouse high above, and may rival the tallest towers of Sharn, though distance is impossible to tell in the night darkness.
Lol, I guess I misunderstood about the time of day when you described the light level.
DeleteEyes shining with fervent admiration, Avegnum murmurs to Kaellanna so that only she can hear, "Glorious!"
ReplyDeleteThe glee and adoration he feels is fleeting though, as the ruined city's palpable aura settles over him. Combat reflexes kicking into overdrive, he immediately scans his surroundings while he waits for the others to arrive. (Listen/Spot and I guess Hide just in case)
Back on the bridge Vel says, "Oh I'm sure it'll be fine!! In ya go!" He quickly sets off after Keallanna, using the reflected light from her wings to orient himself as he eventually joins Avegnum on the desolate road. Oddly, the strange feeling leaves Vel almost indifferent, he's much more interested in the bright light up the the air and is about to ask about it when he feels a punch in his leg through the bag of holding and realizes he needs to let people out.
Here Vel, jump on my bony steed, let's go.
ReplyDeleteSurrounded by the gargantuan structures avegnum sees nothing more than the darkness, and shadows cast by the moonlight and lava light. He does hear what sounds like a cross between running water and dragging wet, heavy bags. None of the sounds are particularly close and they come from several locations in all directions except behind (the lava flow).
ReplyDeleteVel actually feels no more ominous feelings she he's on the far side of the lava flow. Landing next to Avegnum he feels almost as if he were going home when he touches ground next to his mongrelfolk protector. Beside his intellectual curiosity driving him toward the light, Vel also feels a tug on his heart pulling him northward through the city.
Lev gets out and looks around with his shining eyes. "Oh, Vel, I don't like this place," He whispers, "Maybe we sould go back and try to find another way out. How about following the drow and seeing if they get out of ... Oh, did you hear that?" Lev looks around fervently before stepping back a few steps toward the lava flow.
In the darkness illuminated by a small, though full, moon the group can tell it is presently in the ruins of a city once built for the like of large-to-huge sized creatures. Though it has been many eons since the fall of this giant civilization the ruins are still in good enough repair that the buildings are recognizable and mostly still useful. All are made of stone: flat, unadorned, monochromatic stone formed in the same way as the broken bridge the party just flew next to.