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Post by Story Teller: Gem on Apr 6, 2024 15:00:02 GMT -5
Things have been weird, lately, haven't they?
The whispers of civil war in the West. Residents from a forgotten realm creating confusion, even chaos, in our world. Flowers that warp reality and time. A creature so ancient and primordial that it slumbered in a volcano, a volcano which is now gone from the face of Charon, a permanent scar that indents the land. Earthquakes, disasters, carving the land to pieces, the sky now moving where once the stars had been fixed, tides that swell and descend with force added by currents that did not exist until recently.
At the centre of it all; the shattering of the Sol Stone.
Still, life goes on. But it is weird, now, isn't it? Or at least, weirder? The world has been undeniably off-kilter ever since the barriers came down, ever since we knew the gods have been dead for millenia. Perhaps this, the reason you find yourselves in the Arid Mesa, is yet another of those things that simply needs to be dealt with. Another persistent symptom of a destablized world. If you can help people, help create some stability, shouldn't you? You live here too, after all. It's sound reasoning.
Never before has it been more apparent that the impact that individuals can have on Charon is staggering. The rebirth and destruction of Vulcadreaus proved such capabilities. Even those who were not present, not involved, survived the dramatic upheaval and chose to support their fellow Charonites. Without the aid dead gods to beseech for deliverance, it instead falls to Charon's people to resolve such issues, now. The truest test of a civilization; free will, and the choice to weild it.
What burden. What bliss.
Much of the Arid Mesa is bleak, but lately, there has been... light. In the Lost Caverns along the coast, there have been reports of flickering, dancing lights within the caves. Will o' The Wisps, faerie lights, whatever you want to call them, are not common in this area, but nothing is standard anymore, is it?
Though it is very unusual for the victims of Wisps to turn up after they go missing; that is what has been happening here, bodies discovered at the mouths of caves a day or two after they vanish within the tunnels. Even more strange that when their bodies are recovered, they find the victims have been slashed to ribbons.
Weird.
The locals refuse to go anywhere near these caves now, fully abandoning them until they are guaranteed safe once more. That is where the call to action came to you; something is weird in the Arid Mesa, and someone needs to discover why.
Any preliminary investigation would lead you to the opinions of the people in the area. Locals refuse to discuss the matter, and warn you away from entering the caves at all, and otherwise, will not say why-- but the look in their eyes smacks of superstitious fear. Others, newer to the region and clearly skeptics, have come to the conclusion that the lights are simply some creature, like Glimmertongues, that came over on a ship out of the Pale City and have infested the tunnels.
Whatever the cause, you have a mystery on your hands. The people that have arrived with you to investigate are perhaps your best bet at seeing this through to whatever payday was promised to you. No guide will willingly attend the caves with you-- you are, for all intents and purposes, on your own.
But, at least you are together.
The gray sky grows violet with approaching dusk. An entrance to the caves lies off the rocky road, near the shore. You have time to prepare.
But not much.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Apr 6, 2024 16:36:59 GMT -5
Rena cracks her neck, trilling softly as she idly tugs at her new Stormrider scarf. The chain of her curse twists and slithers through the air around her…there’s usually two, but…something in the air here has changed things. A lifespark earring, a simple silver starburst, dangles from where it’s tied into the feathers on one side of her head, next to her and Bell’s Bond-rings. The crow stands as tall as her four foot frame will allow, idly flipping a coin along her knuckles as she eyes the cavern entrance. She and her murder had been hired to investigate and clear out the caves, but upon arrival they’d found the locals…unwilling to assist, when it came to the caverns themselves. Rena shivers a little, frozen mist puffing from her nostrils as she breathes out…She trills softly, taking out a vial of ink and dipping a dull talon into it, then using that talon to trace her murder's crest on her wrist1; an eye encircled by feathers. by itself, the mark does nothing. once she's applied it to her teammates, they'll be able to speak to eachother without uttering a word between them.
Bell stands at his wife’s side, fuzzy and uncertain around the edges, but sure and as real as Rena. His ragged feathers ruffle and smooth out, ruffle and smooth out…he feels the same thing she does. There’s something in the air, something strange and twisted and wrong...but regardless, they will stand together. They will fight together. And they will make it home safe. The other option…is no option at all.
Loci trills softly from his place by his mother and father, cracking his knuckles and letting out a determined chirp. He knows his task. He knows what he’ll need to do. And never has he been so sure that he’ll need to do it. But…he’s ready. He won’t have to fight, not unless mom turns the key on her end of the bond to send him into a frenzy…but if it comes to that, he knows that his Hunger will guide him true.
Whistle stands a little ways away, idly cleaning her bayonets as she eyes her surroundings. She doesn’t trust this place, doesn’t like how it’s caused one of her mom’s chains to vanish, doesn’t like how it caused Mael, her little sibling, to vanish. Something’s wrong with this place. She can feel it. And judging by the feathers ruffling on the rest of the murder…so can everyone else.
Wind and Wind are sat down on a rock, going over the combat formations Rena had instructed them all to follow…Rena, Bell, and Loci as a spearhead, Whistle, Wind and WInd as ranged support. The twins don’t like it, but…it’s necessary, in case things come to violence…
…they’ll head back to town to try and gather more information in a few minutes. In the meantime, they wait. In the meantime, they watch. In the meantime, they hunger...
The other members of the team should be arriving soon…
1 - Inked Markings = 1/3
Effects Stormrider's Cloak - flavored to scarf
NPCs
Warlord Distant Whistle - Whistle 4/4 HP Winding Gears - Wind 4/4 HP
Pets Dancing Chain - 1/1 HP
Summons Necromancer Buzzing Locusts - Loci Wind through Bones - Wind
Spirit Guardian Tolling Bell - Bell - 2/2 HP
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Post by Iryla on Apr 9, 2024 12:02:16 GMT -5
Why exactly Iryla had agreed to join this investigation so shortly after the- The… Incident in the Frost Gale was something she would never quite understand. Perhaps it was that lingering sense of never really having anything to lose. Perhaps it was her still child-like curiosity, her need to know, that pushed her into doing this. There were a million half-baked answers swirling in her head as she crept quietly towards the meeting point. None of which changed the reality that she was here, in the Arid Mesa, perhaps uncomfortably close to the Frost Gale and joining with a stranger and a child even younger than her to investigate some… Funky lights in caves?
‘I’m sure this won’t end horribly.’
The soft, derisive snort she lets out is louder than her footsteps across the ground.
She was told to look for black birds to find her teammates upon being sent on this wild goose chase of an expedition. Not exactly helpful information, but she had worked with less and still managed. Perhaps she was looking for a pendant with a bird symbol on it, someone’s familiar perhaps, or even a hood maybe, one colored like raven’s feathers with a hook like a Bird’s beak-
Or…
Or she could just be… Looking for literal ravens?
It’s only her extensive training1 under the likes of Zarius and Cyran that keeps her from tripping over her own feet at the sight of the literal murder waiting for her and Astrid. For once, the information she was given had actually been straightforward and accurate and she couldn’t quite believe which part of this scenario was more ridiculous.
She- Whatever- A literal murder of crows would be her companions? Not the weirdest thing to ever happen to her. So. Fine. Yeah.
Ugh.
Iryla straightens herself, relaxing her stance and letting the shadows of the rocky walls around them lessen over her form2. Her footsteps begin to make a soft padding noise against stone and sand as she approaches the cavern entrance. The black winged figures waiting for her seemed to be watching the entrance vigilantly, so there was no doubt they would notice her approach now.
“Er- Hello…?” Iryla clears her throat, silently cursing herself for sounding so unsure. She had better training and experience now than that. “Hello. I believe you’re waiting for an… Iryla?”
1One with Shadows 2 Pass without a Trace
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 9, 2024 22:15:44 GMT -5
In the few times Astrid has been to Arid Mesa, strange things have been afoot. It started with cultists and a hunt for their leader Scern which resulted in a very unexpected encounter with the god Ziev. All of that was…a lot, for more reasons than one, and that event has shaped not just Astrid’s continued adventuring but the world as a whole. And then the volcano blew up, and that was a whole ‘nother thing. Now there’s weird fae stuff going on, and the latest and greatest of the weird stuff happening with that is here. Where the weird stuff all started. Great. At least she won’t be dealing with this alone. According to the locals, they’ve seen a gaggle of weird avianfolk and a white haired half-elf heading in the cave’s direction, which roughly matches what Astrid knows about her partners. That’s about all the information Astrid can get out of the villagers, which is going to have to be enough. It wouldn’t be Astrid on an adventure if she didn’t dive headfirst into a weird cave with mysteries surrounding it. What could be worse than dwarves cursed to be yetis or giant bugs? Probably nothing. Making sure that she’s got full pockets and is ready to jump into things, Astrid heads to the mouth of the cave. Because of Iryla’s white hair, the girl is easy to see from a distance, and Astrid only knows a handful of adventuring white-haired elves, so maybe she knows this one! With a spring in her step, Astrid rushes up the hill to the mouth and finds that the white-haired elf is indeed familiar and looking a lot more conscious than the last time she saw her over a year ago. “Is that you, Iryla?” Astrid asks as she rushes up. “Aye, it is! Hi! It’s been a while since ya passed out from heat stroke on that volcano, huh?” Unable to hold in her laughter, Astrid lets it out and then chokes it back. “Hope yer doin’ alright all thin’s considered. Thought ya got buried under the rubble a’ the volcano, it’s been so long since I seen ya!” While her teasing is good-natured, Astrid does recall that Iryla stayed in the Rookery in Darkveil, but that old place is still just a broken husk of itself. She tries to keep herself in good spirits though, which is slightly easier to do with the Zarius situation slightly more…in hand. (Pun intended.) Compared to the last time Astrid encountered Iryla, the half-dwarf is exactly the same height, but not exactly the same pieces. A four-inch scar marks her right cheek, and her left arm seems to be completely covered in form-fitting metal armor, which is strange considering Astrid is not presently wearing the rest of her mismatched armor. [1] Closer inspection would reveal that the blue light seeping between the gaps is in fact pure magic filling the interior; there is no flesh to be discovered beneath the metal plates. The prosthetic is connected at her shoulder with a combination of magic and machinery to keep it in place and operating just as fluidly as a real arm might. As Astrid finishes greeting a long-since-seen companion, she looks to the group of avianfolk who she presumes to be the others joining them with a big, friendly smile on her face. As Astrid raises her gloved (real) right hand to give a wave and offer a handshake, she realizes that there is something odd about these bird people. Some of them are undead. There are two types of creatures that Astrid is not particularly a fan of. She does not fear them, she simply does not like them. After her many encounters with the various creatures of Charon, Astrid is at the point that she would literally rather fight a dragon than face decaying corpse creatures or giant bugs. Which is the worse between the two of them? Well, she’s still deciding on that. Right now, Astrid is quickly trying to process the situation. Are these undead here causing the problem? Were they about to attack Iryla,and Astrid just happened to interrupt? No time to think; be prepared to protect. In a flash, a mismatched suit of armor suddenly appears around Astrid’s form, [2] which, in the dying light of the day, makes her extremely difficult to see. [3] It’s almost as if she’s a blur or that there are two, maybe even three of her, at the same time. The effect may be almost dizzying. “Stay back!” Astrid warns, holding her left arm out between Rena and Iryla while in her right hand manifests a war hammer as tall as Astrid that seems to be made out of solid ice that makes it difficult to see. [4,5] Lightning flickers across its surface, and despite its massive size, the girl wields it as if it weighs no more than a simple stick. A smaller hammer made of silver hangs from Astrid's belt and thrums a threat to monsters and evil creatures. [6]As fast as everything happens, it’s easy to tell that this kid means business, and her business is not fucking around with undead.
1. Arcanatek Prosthetic 2. Armor Locket 3. Phantasmal Diplopic Plate - When wearing this armor, one will appear to possess a pair of afterimages at all times. These after images are almost perfect representations of the wearer, although their outline will shift and flicker if watched closely. While they are at rest, one will appear on either side of the wearer. While in motion, one will appear to be slightly ahead of them, with the other slightly behind them. These afterimages are especially convincing in dark environments. 4. Spellblade - Always There 5. War Hammer - Spellblade weapon (lightning), pale ice, heavy enchantment 6. The Doting Dad's Defender - has effects of Silvered Weapon enchantment Subclasses: Transmuter, Arcanatek Researcher Bringing pets: -Buttfellow (Arcanatek Researcher golem, does not count against 1 Cap) - in Pet Pocket 1 -Blu P Rint (AKA Blupee, Book Golem, counts against 1 Cap) - in Pet Pocket 2 Hit prevention/Defensive nonsense: -Helmet (1/1 head HP) -Icicle Pauldrons + Spitfire Gauntlets (2/2 arms HP) -Padding, Phantasmal Diplopic Plate (4/4 chest HP) -Greaves (1/1 legs HP, 1/1 lightning HP) -Rime Mantle (can be activated twice per topic, each activation lasts 2 posts) -Boomer Buckler (2/2 shield HP) -Arcanatek Prosthetic (2/2 arm HP if in Defense Mode, not currently active) -Flower Crown (1/1 Mind Altering Effects HP) -Guardian Stuffy (1/1 Mind Altering or Fear Effect HP) Knight: Stalwart Armor - Ignores attempts to bypass armor Knight: Tis But a Scratch - Half damage from physical sources Spirit Guardian: Devoted Spirits - 2 Spirits with 4 HP each (not summoned presently) Troll King Heart: Passively heals minor wounds if undamaged for 1 post (**RULING?)
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Post by Story Teller: Gem on Apr 10, 2024 18:48:25 GMT -5
As the group gets aquainted in their own way, the sky begins to molt through shades of gray as more clouds gather overhead. This far North, it gets dark a little faster than further South, and despite the advent of spring, there is still an uncomfortable nip in the air. A ways behind you in the village, doors shutter and hearths are lit, delicate wisps of smoke billowing up into the sky above from chimneys. Petrified as the townfolk are, and given what they have already told you, they have no interest in being out and about once the sun sets. They know better than to truck with whatever is in that cave, for good or for ill. They entrust your fates to yourselves; you seemed capable enough, at least. As the wind picks up, there is a sharp, harsh shriek that drifts through the mouth of the cave, echoing off the lonely walls within. The harrowing sound is cut short quickly, too soon to tell the source or it's nature; delight or terror, you do not know. It could have even been the wind, if you are so inclined to believe such comforts. What you do know for certain is that you did not see anyone enter the cave before you before arriving. The only people who have been at the mouth, for as long as you have been there, has been the three of you, and your entourage. The maw of rock hangs open, silent and waiting.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Apr 10, 2024 20:22:38 GMT -5
Loci and Wind let out low hisses, placing themselves between Astrid and the rest of the murder, their decorative, emotive, spectral feathers fluffing out and bristling as the two skeletons get into loose ready stances, Loci’s eyelights flashing acidic green and WInd’s flickering a toxic pink before they visibly rein in their protective instincts. Rena lets out a resigned sigh, raising one feathered eyebrow at Astrid as she looks the half-dwarf up and down with her silver eyes, “...and even if any of us felt like living up to the stereotypes whose evidence I’ve no doubt you’ve lived through, just going off that visceral response to registering my children’s nature, we’d be better off running from someone as well equipped as you. In any case,” the crow cracks her neck as the lone chain of her curse curls and twists in its orbit around her, "...I do believe we’re all here to clear out the cavern? The one that just howled like the damned? Perhaps we ought to deal with the job before our personal squabbles?”Bell trills his agreement with his wife, his amber eyes watching Astrid’s face, analyzing her reactions, weighing the costs and benefits of advising his wife to have the murder leave the job, to leave the belligerent half-dwarf and the more friendly half-elf to their fates…no, no, she’d never forgive him. Sometimes you have to put up with people who dislike, who hate and fear you for no reason. He did it before, back when he was alive. He’s done it in his second life, and he has no doubt that this will be far from the last time. Whistle and Wind share a glance, then glance over Astrid, “...well, this’ll be fun…” the elder sibling mutters, her ruby eyes flecked with a caustic red. The golden eyed sibling trills in amusement, standing and stretching and hefting a crossbow that’s easily as long as he is tall over his shoulder, “...we may as well get going now, Mom. Let these two decide if they want to team up with a gaggle of freaks,” the last word is spit like a curse as the little crow glances back at Astrid with disdain evident in his eyes of gold and electric yellow before turning away to head into the cave. The rest of the murder shares a flurry of chirps and whistles before turning as a group to head into the cave. As they move, they assume a particular formation; the two living fledglings at the center, bracketed on either side by the undead, the specter of Bell at the back and Rena at the front. Whistle and Wind both have their weapons at the ready, while Rena's hands crackle with black frost 1 as she allows a pair of bayonets to drop into her hands, patterns of that same black frost curling along the blades 2 as the flowers at the hilt of her sword begin to burn to a pale, bone white. She takes a moment, signaling for her murder to stop so she can safely drop her bayonets to the ground, only for another pair to drop into each hand to be coated in patterns of that black frost. Again. And again. And again, before she reaches up with one hand coated in black frost to grasp the handle of the sword on her back, that same frost rapidly forming patterns across the sheathed blade. Then she turns around, eyes burning bone white as she gestures for her children’s weapons, touching a hand first to each of Wind’s bolts, then to both of Whistle’s bayonets to coat them in the same black frost.
1 - Permafrost A unique spell that you can cast before or in conjunction with another ice spell. The next ice spell you would cast after casting permafrost will become immune to heat and fire, unable to be melted or effected by the heat. This allows you to use your ice spells against fire mages without getting completely countered. 2 - Cold Touch Your hands become like ice, glowing blue and giving off an aura of cold. If you touch anyone they will feel a very light amount of cold, but the real effect is when you touch a weapon. By touching the weapon you can do one of two things. You can ice over the edge or damage side of the weapon, causing it to deal reduced damage. Or you can sharpen the damage edge with the ice to make it deal increased damage.
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 13, 2024 10:24:44 GMT -5
Astrid’s hammer follows the movement of the two skeletal avians as they move defensively, eyes narrowing slightly then looking past them at Rena as she speaks. Her children? A mix of conflicted thoughts whirl through Astrid’s mind while she considers the implications of the whole situation. Did this woman raise her children as undead? Astrid can’t begin to imagine why someone would do that, and yet… there is a pang of jealousy in her chest, which is only exacerbated when Wind punctuates everything with that final stress of “freaks.” At this, Astrid’s stance and grip on her hammer falters. She’s experienced plenty of scorn and superstition from others because of her nature, something she can’t control. A half-dwarf, half-something; muddied blood; devil child; it doesn’t matter. Astrid may not be a fan of undead, but how is she any better than the rest of the superstitious dwarves to make assumptions?
Before any of them can get introductions or apologies out, the cave seems to wail, and the murder leave the two half-bloods while they go investigate it. Astrid watches them go with some mix of embarrassment and concern lingering on her face before she looks at Iryla behind her. “Erm… I didn’t realize they were here ta look into the spooky cave thin’...” she admits, her shoulders falling in defeat. “Good ta see ya again… I’m gonna…” ’...go apologize,’ is left unsaid.
Resting her hammer over her shoulder, Astrid rushes into the cave after the murder. “Hey!!” she calls out. “Wait up!”
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Post by Iryla on Apr 16, 2024 9:50:06 GMT -5
Of course, nothing could ever truly be simple in Iryla’s life, could it? The brief joy at seeing her young dwarven friend (mostly?) whole and in good spirits is quickly dashed by the stress of- God damn it- Wait- No- They’re not enemies Astrid- Please, just wait a moment-
Iryla can tell that even after explanations are made and tempers are, er, pacified, that there is tension in the air. Which definitely doesn’t bode well for their teamwork in this stupid cave but you know what? She's worked with worse.
She chases after Astrid when she takes off to go apologize, quietly mourning any chance they had for a discreet entrance into the cave. “Wait- Astrid, hold on. Lets not go running and shouting in this place, alright? Just- Give the family a moment- Let them cool off and apologies can be made when we’re a little more settled, yeah…?” Hopefully their feathers weren't too ruffled by that botched introduction and god damn it- the puns. She was going to be thinking in puns this whole damned investigation wasn't she?
Wonderful.
She keeps her comments about them already causing a disturbance in the place they’ve come to investigate to herself, thank you, realizing they probably wouldn’t be appreciated at the moment. And the puns. Those would never see the light of day if Iryla had any say in what came out of her own stupid mouth.
Though…. Iryla did have her own apology to make.
She coughs a bit, awkwardly trying to get her footing before she ends up blurting out-
“Yeah, sorry for disappearing for like- A year- I kinda…. Well, y’know, sometimes you just get… buried in an avalanche for… awhile?” Longer than should have been humanly possible to survive but who’s keeping track of that kind of thing, right? “It’s fine.”
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Post by Story Teller: Gem on Apr 19, 2024 18:52:11 GMT -5
On that auspicious note, the team begins to venture forward into the caves. With Rena preparing blades with magic adhered for her family, Astrid attempting to make amends by rushing forward, and Iryla catching up with Astrid, the team is focused on what lies before them. But not around them. Even with nightfall descending quickly in the village beyond, it very quickly goes dark within the confines of the cave. Sooner than one might have expected, given how much light appeared to be left before you entered. Turning back to face the direction you came in reveals nothing but the dark stone of the cave around you. There is no extra light that comes forth from the cave around you; only the preternatural glow of Astrid's weaponry, crackles of lightning that throws the shadows of jagged rock into sharp relief, revealing passage after passage that you cannot recall which you may have already traversed. And yet, inexplicably, there is a wind; or, at least, it is cold here. Colder than it was outside. This isn't so unusual, given that the cool earth is still on the thaw after a long winter, but the distant sound of air moving against rock has a pattern to it, a rhythm that strikes your brains more like something is whispering, and it is either very small, or very far away. Before you can discern more than this, abruptly, your world shifts. BRRRMMMMMMGCCCKHHRRRRRRRRRRR
Already narrow earthen passageways heave, constricting and rumbling like the precursor to a heart attack, encompassing you with the idea that you are surrounded on all sides by the very thing threatening you. Above, the shrill rending of cleaving stone is punctuated by trickles of silt and loose rock tumbling down around you.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Apr 19, 2024 21:15:50 GMT -5
Rena grimaces, silver eyes briefly burning bone white as she lets out an irritated grinding noise, “...and this, ladies and gentlemen, is why, whenever we we can get away with it, we do recon before going in…” the crow sighs, cracking her neck and straightening up even as two brief pulses of starlight has her bayonets back in their proper places up her sleeves. 1 That done, she turns to glance over her family and…teammates, “...alright, sound off, who’s more dead than they were a minute ago?” silver eyes glance around, visually checking over everyone before she moves to begin fussing over her children, checking them all for any sort of wounds - scrapes, bruises, cracked or broken bones - and wrapping her massive wingspan around her family, pulling them tight in an attempt to calm herself as much as them, feathers puffed out in alarm. Only once the moment has passed and the crows are all calm do they return their attention to their surroundings, moving back into formation as six pairs of varicolored, very faintly shining eyes turning toward Astrid and Iryla, each teammate quickly mobbed by a pair of twins. Loci and Whistle move to check over Astrid, checking the half dwarf for wounds before pulling her to her feet. WInd and Wind fuss over Iryla, chirping and trilling anxiously as they help the half elf to her feet.
1 - Summon: Possession - two casts. Rena Inked Marking Stormrider's Cloak Drake Gland Quick Palm Silent Step Surface Scaling Lock Pick Wings Dancing Chain - 1/1 hp Throwing Knives - Dual Shot - Permafrost/Cold Touch imbued Rose Urumi - Permafrost/Cold Touch imbued Lifespark Earring - Inactive Undead Servant - Army of the Damned Undying Frenzy Persistent Dead Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 1/2 Spirit Shroud - Shroud Affliction Hired Help - Two for One Banner Lord - 1/1 Enchanting Sigil - Ice
Loci - checking over Astrid Whistle - checking over Astrid Wind - checking over Iryla Wind - checking over Iryla Bell - Shroud Affliction
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 22, 2024 11:50:26 GMT -5
Astrid rushes into the cave with Iryla just behind her. “If I don’t apologize quick then we might not find the right time fer me ta apologize at all,” Astrid says, looking over her shoulder at Iryla and not paying much mind to the cave itself. She’s been in plenty of caves! Stoneblood runs in her veins! Why would she pay extra attention to the rock walls around her? Regardless, Astrid pauses to help Iryla over any challenging climbs if she so needs it (though Astrid figures someone as light on her feet as Iryla probably won’t). As she extends a metal hand out to offer assistance, the weight of Iryla’s words hit her, and her arm goes slack. “Wait. WHAT? How long is a while?? Were ya under there fer months? How the heck are ya even alive?” Astrid would have died of hunger in that time, she just knows it. Still, how the heck did Iryla survive that long? Maybe she’s just much more capable of existing in cold environments than hot ones. That would explain why she suddenly went unconscious during their escape from Larry on Mount Drakolt last year. Sure, it’s pretty chilly here at the tail end of winter in Arid Mesa, but Astrid still finds herself worrying about her friend, so she rifles through her bag and presents Iryla with a collapsible metal rod [1] should she take it. “Hang on ta that if ya can. I can cast spells through it. Think of it like a… magical lightnin’ rod. It’s more useful fer ya ta have it on yer person than fer me, an’ it’s real funny if ya throw it somewhere I can blow somethin’ up.”Continuing forward, Astrid doesn’t notice much of how the cave starts to grow darker. Her eyes flicker shimmers of gold in the darkness [2] while she looks ahead. Finally, she spots Rena and the murder and rushes forward, prepared to call out again, only for the cave to start rumbling around them. Oh no. A cave in? Did she cause this by yelling earlier? No, this is something different. The ground shifts and the cave entrances scattered around them move unnaturally. What is this thing, alive?! Astrid manages to stay on her feet, [3] but that doesn’t mean staying upright is safe. “Don’t get buried again, Iryla!” she shouts before teleporting to an area she can see [4] that seems to be free of the falling rocks but is hopefully still fairly close to her companions and in the same part of the cavern. The last thing she wants to do now is get separated, even if she is pretty concerned about half of the crow family being undead. See, when things are bad, a few neutral undead are the least of your worries, aren’t they? What Astrid does not expect through all of this is the appearance of a familiar, amorphous, spectral figure that can’t quite decide if it’s a dwarf or a fellblood. [5] Greenish-blue in color, the figure stands at under five feet tall, and wisps of ethereal magic trail off of its form, which seems to be ever-shifting in one way or another. The closest approximation could be trying to discern someone’s reflection in the surface of water moved gently by wind. “Is everyone alright??” Astrid asks, looking through any dust that may be clouding the area only to realize two things: the first is that this dang spirit has reappeared without her asking it to, and she still doesn’t have a clue what it is because it can’t or won’t talk to her. The second is a pair of bird children, one dead and one alive, checking on her. “Where the heck did ya come from this time?” she chuffs at the spirit who only responds by looking in her direction. Then she looks at the two bird children kindly checking on her. “Oh, uh… Hi. Thanks. Erm, sorry fer bein’ rude earlier. I’m Astrid.” It feels especially strange to introduce herself to undead kids, and while she doesn't feel entirely unjustified in how she reacted, she does feel guilty for jumping to conclusions. In some effort to make things less weird, Astrid turns her hip with the silvered hammer hanging from her belt away from the undead of the two fledglings.
1. Arcane Proxy - can cast spells through it at up to 100ft away 2. Night Vision 3. Knight - Immovable Bastion 4. ACTION - Cast Blink via Displacer Cape to a clear area near the murder 5. ACTION - Spirit Guardian: Guardian Spirit [1/2 summons per topic, level 4, 4/4 HP] Passives: -Night Vision -Bull’s Strength - stronk -Baloth Muscles (right arm) - bonk structures good -Troll King’s Heart - passive regeneration -Aura of Vulcadreaus/Touch of Divinity - ?? -Book Golem (when present, currently in Pet Pocket) - Spells cannot be countered when in line of sight of Astrid. -Sun-Sparked Goggles - Cannot be blinded -Raider’s Loincloth - Movement speed cannot be reduced in any way -Red Rogue’s Hood - Can communicate telepathically with another RRH holder -Weapon Tether - attached to Doting Dad’s Defender -War Hammer - Spellblade weapon (lightning), pale ice, heavy enchantment, double strike (Tourney Favor) -The Doting Dad's Defender - battle hammer, silvered enchantment, ice rune -Stormraider’s Cloak - not affected by storms, repels rainfall -Spidersilk boots - can walk on walls and ceilings -Helmet (1/1 head HP) -Icicle Pauldrons + Spitfire Gauntlets (2/2 arms HP) -Padding, Phantasmal Diplopic Plate (4/4 chest HP) -Greaves (1/1 legs HP, 1/1 lightning HP) -Rime Mantle (can be activated twice per topic, each activation lasts 2 posts) -Boomer Buckler (2/2 shield HP) -Arcanatek Prosthetic (2/2 arm HP if in Defense Mode, not currently active) -Flower Crown (1/1 Mind Altering Effects HP) -Guardian Stuffy (1/1 Mind Altering or Fear Effect HP) -Bardic Virtuoso: Inspiring Sigil (2/2 Fear/Charm Effects HP) -Knight: Stalwart Armor - ignores attempts to bypass armor -Knight: Immovable Bastion - can’t be forcibly moved or knocked down -Knight: Light as a feather - Armor doesn’t count towards item limit -Knight: Tis But a scratch - half damage from physical sources -Spellblade: Arcane Soul - Weapon has lightning, ignores resistance/immunity to lightning -Spellblade: Arcane Focus - Can cast spells through weapon -Spellblade: One with the Blade - Weapon doesn’t count against carrying capacity -Spellblade: Always There - Cannot be disarmed of bonded weapon. Can summon weapon. -Spirit Guardian: Shroud abilities - (while within the 25ft diameter shroud) Allies: x2 elemental spell abilities. Enemies: spells downgraded one level, reduced spell duration by one post, halved spell damage dealt, no benefits to speed buffs/cannot teleport, lose armor hit preventions, enchantments on weapons are deactivated -Spirit Guardian: Spirit abilities - 4 HP per spirit, can grapple and restrain enemies for one post once per topic per spirit
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Post by Story Teller: Gem on Apr 28, 2024 14:12:59 GMT -5
It doesn't take the group long to realize, given how well they see in the dark and how diligent they are in ensuring their party is in one piece that not all is as it seems. Rather than run away from the sound of the cave collapsing in on them, Rena especially chooses to remain static, the murder holding fast to one another, protective as they brace for... Nothing. Not that, anyway. In the chaos, while attention is pulled away from the immediate area, Astrid would see it first-- but by god, so fast. Rather than the falling rocks, a pair of shapes even shorter than the half-dwarf seem to leap out of the walls, weaving through the legs of the people within the tunnel, moving with agility that, to someone who could not see, might find them to be rocks bounding between their legs. Some, certainly, would feel it; the skeletons, the Murder, Astrid and her spectral ancestor, feel the sensation of something cold and harsh ripping between, the impact of something sharp and decidedly not stone on their sources of protection, cutting into bone and flesh where appropriate, where protections failed. Iryla, most of all; something along her left thigh stabs into her, an unexpected and painful puncture that, should she brush her hand over the area, she can feel the cause. Sticking out of her leg, a tiny, rusted butchers knife, as though crafted for childrens hands and razor sharp. It is then you realize the tumbling rocks had been an illusion. A powerful one at that. You realize then that there is something in these caves with you, and it used this illusion for cover to strike at you from the relative darkness of the interior of the cave. Somwhere around you, though you cannot discern where, as the false sound of falling rocks fades, you hear instead, shrill tinny giggles echoing from farther in. The sounds come from all around you. You don't know where they are, not yet, but there is now a rushing sound of water, churning, swirling through tunnels not yet in your view. You cannot tell if this is yet another illusion. But, around the corner, you do detect a faint mote of light, flickering like a candle.
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Post by Rena Brighteyes on Apr 28, 2024 19:59:18 GMT -5
Loci lets out an angry, hiss as a rusty blade slashes his fibula, his eye lights flashing acidic green as he slaps away the blade that goes for Whistle, uncaring of the pain but downright murderous that someone, some thing would dare to attempt to harm his twin. Wind does much the same as Loci, though she lets out a whimper at the pain of the twin wounds, spectral tears welling up in her sockets as she suppresses a sob and stumbles slightly. Wind lets out a curse, resisting the urge to fire off a bolt at the fleeing critters and instead moving to hug his twin tight, trilling and chirping comfort as best he can even as he gently guides his sister over to their mother, who promptly scoops the crying skeleton into her arms with a worried trill. Rena doesn't even flinch as a shield of black ice crystalizes in the air, faced toward the little creature that attempts to cut at her leg. It shatters into nothing under the impact of the blow, even as the blade pings off of it, leaving the crow ultimately unharmed. Her silver eyes flash a cold, bone white as she glares after the creatures that dared to harm her chicks. The crow shakes her head a moment later, refocusing on the holding her skeletal daughter close, on murmuring words of comfort and encouragement to her pained, crying chick, rather than on how she'd like to - focus, Brighteyes - she shakes herself again, shifting to hold her daughter with one arm and bringing out a small, rune-engraved vial with the other. She's taken to using this specific vial to store her ink, "...alright, I rather think that's enough of a reason to get this over with already. Astrid, Iryla, get over here. I need t'give both of you my mark, so we can all communicate and find eachother if'n we get split up," even as she speaks, the crow is dipping one talon into the lightless substance within the vial, "...I've already got one on me, so I just need t'do the two of you."As each of her teammates step close, she gently grasps a wrist and uses her talon to carefully inscribe the symbol of an eye encircled by feathers on the inside of their forearm 1. as the final stroke is completed on each mark, Astrid and Iryla each feel more than hear Rena's broadcast to them, "...alright, that's both of you done. I haven't figured out the trick to making them protective, unfortunately, but...well, it's one more advantage"Throughout all of this, the murder presses close, eyes and eye lights occasionally flashing with hateful, caustic light as they offer comfort to one of their own...though one skeleton seems to be missing, emerald eye lights absent as Loci moves to investigate the sound of rushing water. Wouldn't do to have someone who can't come back get hurt, trapped, or killed...It's alright, though. He let Mom know where he was heading with a few trills and whistles, so she won't worry...too badly...hopefully. ah, who's he kidding, she's going to worry herself bald. But she’s got his Egg in her satchel, alongside Wind’s and that of those of his two siblings who’ve yet to hatch, so she can craft him a fresh shell whenever she gets a clear moment, should he die a second time.
1 - Application of Inked Marking to Iryla and Astrid Rena - 0/6 wounds Inked Marking Stormrider's Cloak Drake Gland Quick Palm Silent Step Surface Scaling Lock Pick Wings Dancing Chain - 0/1 hp - cooling down 0/3 Throwing Knives - Dual Shot - Permafrost/Cold Touch imbued Rose Urumi - Permafrost/Cold Touch imbued Lifespark Earring - Inactive Undead Servant - Army of the Damned Undying Frenzy Persistent Dead Guardian Spirit - Caller of Spirits - 1/2 summons Spirit Shroud - Shroud Affliction Hired Help - Two for One Banner Lord - 1/1 Enchanting Sigil - Ice Loci - 2/4 wounds protecting Whistle, going to investigate the sounds of flowing water Whistle - 0/4 wounds comforting Wind Wind - 0/4 wounds comforting Wind Wind - 2/4 wounds protecting Wind, receiving comfort Bell - Shroud Affliction - 2/2 hp comforting Wind
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Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 30, 2024 21:02:20 GMT -5
Before any of the crow kids can respond or introduce themselves, the guardian spirit rushes forth between the half-dwarf and some fast moving creature. With a swift motion, its hand swings down and interposes itself between a blade and Astrid’s shin. [1] The blade slices through the spectral guardian, but the spirit quickly reforms itself to look around alertly before making a lunge at the nearest of the little critters in an attempt to restrain it. [2]Astrid also whips around to see one of the critters drive a blade into her friend’s thigh, drawing blood. And then they leave it there. Well, Iryla didn’t get crushed by falling rocks, at least. Tetanus though, that might pose a problem. Astrid’s attention turns to the strange skeletal children comforting one of their living siblings, who seems particularly fazed by the event. Admittedly, it was pretty startling, but things are relatively okay. “Adventurin’ can be pretty tough an’ scary,” Astrid says in some attempt to be reassuring. "Important thin' is that ya don't let it shake ya too much 'cause that'll make it harder ta deal with the other stuff. Ya ain't alone. Ya got this."She has no idea how old the kids are, but with their size and what she knows of Fish, she expects they’re pretty young. Given how young the half-dwarf is and how often people close to her worry about her while adventuring (see: The child got grounded for willingly losing an arm.), she’s surprised that their parental figure would bring them into a dangerous place. Then again, she is also surprised that their parental figure would (presumably) raise them from the dead, but that’s a thought that gives Astrid a whole slew of mixed feelings. So that’s what it’s like to be on the other end of the worry stick. Rena’s command shakes Astrid out of it, and she looks over at the crow mom with an expression that can only be described as slightly disgusted shock that someone would dare tell the hellion what to do. If Cantio ever spoke to her that way– Well, it’s not a problem because he wouldn’t, but for some reason the tone just really makes Astrid bristle in a way she doesn’t expect. “Miss Crow Lady, I’m sure yer a bit stressed about the situation, but ya could be a bit nicer in askin’,” Astrid says, holding back her urge to be a little pissant and instead opting for tact and grace. She begrudgingly admits Thadda’s lessons on courtly behavior have been helpful. “...It sounds like a good idea though, so thanks,” she continues, stepping over and receiving a strange ink marking on her arm, which is challenging given one of them is metal and the other is covered in a gauntlet. After pulling the gauntlet off briefly, the mark is given, and Astrid re-equips herself and takes a glance around. There’s no time to waste because that rhyme was really freakin’ ominous.Now the sound of rushing water. Astrid grimaces, not sure what she can do to prepare and for a moment really regretting not getting the special glasses from the Mage’s Guild sooner. Those would probably be a great help here given that despite the sound of a cave in, no rocks actually fell. “Is that water real?” she wonders aloud. The rock fall trick could have just been a feint to get them to let their guard down, but she doesn’t really have anything that can prevent a wave of water from washing her away. But she does have the means of checking things out ahead. In a somewhat hypocritical move, Astrid manifests the magic to call upon her ghostly guardian, Melodia. [3] A lithe, spectral elven woman with a tattered dress and hair that seems to float as if she’s underwater appears in the cave beside Astrid and quickly takes stock of what is going on. She knew Astrid was going off on another adventure, but she surely did not expect some of the companions. Astrid makes a motion that Melodia knows means “I’ll explain later” and decides not to ask. “Hello, Astrid and friends, I hope things are well,” Melodia says, though she grimaces when she sees the knife in Iryla’s thigh. “Or… perhaps they aren’t. How can I help?”Astrid points at the flickering light farther in and quickly explains what she remembers of the weird rhyme. “ I’m gonna go that way. Can ya look ahead an’ warn me if ya see anythin’ concernin’?” she asks. “Of course, though…” Finally, Melodia notices the sound of rushing water, and she seems to freeze in place with a distant expression. Only the movement of her hair gives away that she isn’t actually frozen. “...Melodia?” Astrid asks hesitantly, reaching out for Melodia despite knowing that this won’t really do anything for either of them. Suddenly, the ghost shakes herself out of it and looks at Astrid, blinking to recover, and Astrid draws back. “...Are ya alright?” she asks. Melodia brushes stray hairs behind her ear and recollects herself. “Yes… I’m alright. I’m sorry. I’ll go right ahead. Don’t stay too close, just in case,” she says, turning and floating to travel towards the light. Astrid isn’t exactly sure what to make of that, but she glances back at everyone else and starts moving toward the light with plenty of distance between her and Melodia to give herself time to react in case something happens. As she creeps forward, Astrid picks up a rock in the cave and infuses it with magic, [4] a precaution for later in case she needs it. “Hey little fellas,” Astrid calls to the entities of the cave while thinking of their threatening little rhyme. Maybe the best thing to do is play along? “Might be dark outside, but it ain’t bedtime yet. Me Da says I can stay up late as I like. An’ I don’t know ‘bout that water rushin’ in the distance, but if yer thinkin’ it’s bathtime, I’d have ta disagree ta that. Ya know how hard it is ta get kids ta take a proper bath these days?” It takes a lot of Astrid's composure not to giggle at Melodia obviously rolling her eyes ahead of her. If her spirit guardian is able to restrain one of the little buggers, it will keep it in place so we can potentially question it. If not, it follows closely behind Astrid.
1. Spirit Guardian -1 HP [1/2 summons per topic, level 4, 3/4 HP] 2. Spirit Guardian: Ancestral Fervor - attempts to restrain one of the little guys (not a PC action) 3. ACTION - Call Ghost [post 1/3] to summon Melodia for scouting 4. ACTION - Thunder Bomb - cast on a rock, can be activated later [+2 static charges] Passives: -Night Vision -Bull’s Strength - stronk -Baloth Muscles (right arm) - bonk structures good -Troll King’s Heart - passive regeneration -Aura of Vulcadreaus/Touch of Divinity - ?? -Book Golem (when present, currently in Pet Pocket) - Spells cannot be countered when in line of sight of Astrid. -Sun-Sparked Goggles - Cannot be blinded -Raider’s Loincloth - Movement speed cannot be reduced in any way -Red Rogue’s Hood - Can communicate telepathically with another RRH holder -Weapon Tether - attached to Doting Dad’s Defender -War Hammer - Spellblade weapon (lightning), pale ice, heavy enchantment, double strike (Tourney Favor) -The Doting Dad's Defender - battle hammer, silvered enchantment, ice rune -Stormraider’s Cloak - not affected by storms, repels rainfall -Spidersilk boots - can walk on walls and ceilings -Helmet (1/1 head HP) -Icicle Pauldrons + Spitfire Gauntlets (2/2 arms HP) -Padding, Phantasmal Diplopic Plate (4/4 chest HP) -Greaves (1/1 legs HP, 1/1 lightning HP) -Rime Mantle (can be activated twice per topic, each activation lasts 2 posts) -Boomer Buckler (2/2 shield HP) -Arcanatek Prosthetic (2/2 arm HP if in Defense Mode, not currently active) -Flower Crown (1/1 Mind Altering Effects HP) -Guardian Stuffy (1/1 Mind Altering or Fear Effect HP) -Bardic Virtuoso: Inspiring Sigil (2/2 Fear/Charm Effects HP) -Knight: Stalwart Armor - ignores attempts to bypass armor -Knight: Immovable Bastion - can’t be forcibly moved or knocked down -Knight: Light as a feather - Armor doesn’t count towards item limit -Knight: Tis But a scratch - half damage from physical sources -Spellblade: Arcane Soul - Weapon has lightning, ignores resistance/immunity to lightning -Spellblade: Arcane Focus - Can cast spells through weapon -Spellblade: One with the Blade - Weapon doesn’t count against carrying capacity -Spellblade: Always There - Cannot be disarmed of bonded weapon. Can summon weapon. -Spirit Guardian: Shroud abilities - (while within the 25ft diameter shroud) Allies: x2 elemental spell abilities. Enemies: spells downgraded one level, reduced spell duration by one post, halved spell damage dealt, no benefits to speed buffs/cannot teleport, lose armor hit preventions, enchantments on weapons are deactivated -Spirit Guardian: Spirit abilities - 4 HP per spirit, can grapple and restrain enemies for one post once per topic per spirit
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