The year is 1374 DR. Sixteen years have passed since the Time of Troubles, when the gods were made humble, and forced to wander the Realms as mortals. With the ascension of the mad god Cyric, Prince of Lies, and the recent return of the tyrant god Bane, Lord of Darkness, the future of Faerûn seems increasingly uncertain. It falls to bold individuals who possess an abundance of cunning, might, and determination to shape the future... should they be up to the challenge."All right. Once I create the circle, it's as simple as walking directly into it. You may experience some... mild discomfort, but I promise that you'll be (mostly) fine." Lael lectures the Eilistraeans, waggling his index finger at them whilst pretending a comically stern demeanor. Chessayne smiles and waves at the amassed crowd who carry as many supplies as their arms will hold. "And remember dearies, this is not a race."The mage bows ostentatiously at Chessayne, beaming at her - a gesture she returns. Luaue's left eye twitches, yet she refrains from commenting on this. Her frustration comes as no surprise, given that he did not offer the same respect to either of you. "Listen to the kind lady, children, and let me handle the rest." Without further delay, the half-breed unfurls his scroll and takes his place at the far end of the dining hall, reciting an incantation in a bizarre permutation of the traitor tongue.
>>5603889Having depleted their capable warriors in the struggle against the Malarites, those few adults who remain have little in the way of combat capability. With the mage's concentration consumed by his work, the burden of slowing the advance of the Thousand Scars falls to Luaue, yourself, and Alantha, should it come to that. For the displacer beast's part, she seems to implicitly understand that she cannot defeat the orcish warband by her lonesome, though your attempts to elaborate on the specifics of your escape plan are mostly lost on her.The three of you enter the now-emptied rotunda, where the stark statue of Moradin yet stands proud, as if in defiance of the incursion of his hated enemies. Outside, across the partially demolished bridge, the orcs and their ogre allies mobilize. Heeding the commands of their leader, indistinct from this distance, they are assuredly already preparing to execute a concrete plan. The half-breed sighs and sizes up the opposition, placing her hands confidently at her sides."You have the most experience with this sort of thing, sis-" she catches herself. "Sindiira. What do you suggest?"You may choose no more than three.>Luaue has a bow, she must know how to use it. She should harass them from here.>[Intellect] A well-constructed barricade is a worthy first line of defense.>Alantha is unpredictable, though we can put that to use. I shall allow her to act freely.>[Will] I am not one to plead with the gods, but cannot hurt to beseech Moradin for aid. >[Agility] Let us see if I cannot find a way to disrupt their efforts myself...>[Write-in.]
>>5603893Previous Adventures: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Forgotten+Realms+Adventures The Rules™: https://pastebin.com/VRQHDHSr Jezyrene's Abilities: https://pastebin.com/0kjsLuHW
>>5603893>>5603893>[Intellect] A well-constructed barricade is a worthy first line of defense.We and anyone strong enough can do that while..>Luaue has a bow, she must know how to use it. She should harass them from here.(If we can only do one, barricade)
>>5603893Good to see you again, GW.>Luaue has a bow, she must know how to use it. She should harass them from here.>[Intellect] A well-constructed barricade is a worthy first line of defense.>[Will] I am not one to plead with the gods, but cannot hurt to beseech Moradin for aid.Might as well see how bad our standing is with the Soul Forger. He might appreciate some orc blood spilled for him, at least.
>>5603943Support
For those that didn't see: "You may choose no more than three.">Luaue has a bow, she must know how to use it. She should harass them from here.>[Intellect] A well-constructed barricade is a worthy first line of defense.>[Agility] Let us see if I cannot find a way to disrupt their efforts myself...Being harried by a displacer beast is a hell of a thing, but when those orcs will most likely be advancing lockstep, a formation is more than enough to ruin the advantage of not appearing where you truly are, especially when lacking maneuverability due to being on a bridge. Begging for divine intervention uses up one of our 3 choices, and I'd rather pick something that isn't so transient. Would really love if Lael had a shatter on hand, but somehow I doubt it.
>>5603893>Luaue has a bow, she must know how to use it. She should harass them from here.>[Intellect] A well-constructed barricade is a worthy first line of defense.>[Agility] Let us see if I cannot find a way to disrupt their efforts myself...
>>5603893And we're back! Hell yeah>Luaue has a bow, she must know how to use it. She should harass them from here.>[Intellect] A well-constructed barricade is a worthy first line of defense.[>[Will] I am not one to plead with the gods, but cannot hurt to beseech Moradin for aid. My thought process is that well, ranged attacks are good, letting Alantha go wild risks her being left behind and she's a useful asset (who would probably die alone). As for pleading to Moradin, I got the implication there might have been some divine providence involved in Moradin letting the Elistraeans finding this place as succour, so hopefully it's not that crazy. I don't suppose anons feel like doing a Malar showdown repeat and challenging the Twice scarred to a duel?Admittedly, we got very, very luck that time.
>>5603893>>5604057Actually, changing my vote to this write in:>Utilize racial spellcasting to cast darkness upon the bridge.I'm assuming that as the bridge is partially demolished, there are holes in it. The orc's cannot safely pass the bridge if they cannot even see where to go on the bridge, and risk falling to their doom.
>>5604325Fairly confident we can't do that due to neglecting our practice for decades.
>>5604334Here is a pertinent quote from greenwood on the subject:>Jez can cast faerie fire, dancing lights, and darkness (there is even a fighting style revolving around this one) like any other drow, but she is a poor spellcaster and her already deficient ability has atrophied from disuse. It would take practice for her to employ them in any meaningful capacity, and attaining highborn magic would be even more demanding.Luckily, Jez isn't the only person here. I'm sure that with all the drow available they could blanket the bridge in darkness, making it nigh impassable.
>>5604342Hm... Not a bad idea. However, is it impenetrable magical super-darkness? Orcs have Darkvision.Better to have people cast light spells to dazzle/blind them, perhaps?
>>5604432It's impenetrable magic super darkness, darkvision only works for an absence of light, not magical darkness.
>>5604342you want the people who are evacuating to cast spells en masse? Pretty much all of whom are surface dwelling drows who probably have an even weaker connection to their subterrenean innate magic than Jez does?
>>5604476Would only need a couple of Drow to do it, and it's a matter of lineage rather than connection to the faezress of the underdark currently as the whole surface issue was fixed in the 1360s. Just bring maybe 1 or 2 over as darkness should last for 10 minutes.
There seems to be a discussion happening, so I'll let the vote go on for a bit longer than normal.
Half orc barbarian 23 STR also I am allowed to use shadow weave sorcerer spells up to level 5 because of a pharmaceutical experiment I was a part ofI immediately attempt to locate and rape Mystra
>>5603893>>5603937Changing this vote to:>Alantha is unpredictable, though we can put that to use. I shall allow her to act freely.>[Agility] Let us see if I cannot find a way to disrupt their efforts myself...>Have our Drow use magical darkness to cloak our attack and to delay retaliation by the Thousand Scars while the vulnerable escape
>>5604914Could you elaborate upon the condition of the bridge? Would it be possible to cast darkness upon areas filled with holes, if said holes even exist?
>>5604945>Could you elaborate upon the condition of the bridge?Like most of the fortress, the structure was in excellent condition. Lael's spell has left a gap that makes it impassable on foot, though a daring individual might be capable of leaping across.>Would it be possible to cast darkness upon areas filled with holes, if said holes even exist?If anons think that having someone cast Darkness over the area is the best course, I don't see why not.
Right, so if their only way to get over is a leap, and by covering it in darkness they would have no way to properly judge where to leap. I highly recommend that people change their votes to reflect this as this is a means to prevent their egress at little to no danger to Jez and her charges.
>>5603893>[Intellect] A well-constructed barricade is a worthy first line of defense.>[Agility] Let us see if I cannot find a way to disrupt their efforts myself...>Have our Drow use magical darkness to cloak our attack and to delay retaliation by the Thousand Scars while the vulnerable escape
We've got a bit of a predicament here. The vote is divided enough that I might consider a runoff.
>>5606437Taking into account my vote change and that other anon's (>>5604325 and >>5604940), picrel's what I've got. I'll change my Alantha vote to>Pray to Moradinand thus break the tie
>>5606459All right, we'll run with it. Vote closed.
>>5604325But before anything else, even though this option did not come through, it was a close vote and I feel that the write-in is clever enough to merit Fortune.You're going to need it, ho ho.
Well at least we got a fortune out of it. Really don't see why people didn't want to go the darkness route, it's a really simple method of preventing attack.
>>5606901It was a clever idea. Default options often just win. Maybe we can try it out next fight?
Rolled 5 (1d20)(Intellect 14) Success on 14 or lower.We are fortifying this position.
Rolled 8 (1d20)>>5607291(Will 13) Success on 13 or lower.Moradin, save us!
>>5606901For a write in to be succesful, you generally have to post it among the first replies so it sets the tone from the get go. That's my experience. Especially when it's posted in relation to a weekend. Folks ain't going to look back during those days, generally.And with a write in you generally need to motivate it more/better. Here the eventual effects and likelihood of success were fairly unclear until some additional information was given, some time later. And even then anons might judge that as less useful than say, waking up an avatar of a god, or whatever they are reading in.
Well at least it could be a perfect method of retreat. In the event that Jez needs to run away from the Orc army, she need only jump over the gap and then use darkness like a squid inking itself.
>>5603943>>5604013>>5604113>>5604256>>5604325>>5604940>>5605795Communicating how you intend to stymy the efforts of the Thousand Scars proves troublesome at first, as you explain that constructing a fortification would be a simple and effective means of barring their path, but cannot quite find the word for this. "A barricade!" Announces Luaue, intuiting the meaning behind your words. It still bothers you that the half-breed is more familiar with an illogical barbarian language than a civilized one which makes sense, but you've no choice but to overlook this for now."There are still some furnishings in here. Everyone can do something." She turns and begins marching for the banquet hall. "We have prevailed against danger before. I know if we just work together-" you seize Luaue by the shoulder, pulling her back. "No. You have a bow. Stop them from coming," you instruct. The both of you look out to the orcs across the bridge and note that they are repositioning to make room for arrival. The half-breed looks back to you and nods. "You can count of me.""Alantha, follow!" You order, breaking into a sprint for the banquet hall. Luaue, meanwhile, nocks an arrow, wetting her lips as she finds an ideal position from which to shoot. Emerging from behind the orcish mass to take its place at the front of their formation is a creature which, from this distance, superficially resembles an ogre. Yet, it differs from the primitive giant-kin in that its skin possesses a unique teal tinge. Luaue looses her arrow, the projectile catching the creature unawares, lodging itself in the giant-kin's knee. Contorting as its leg gives way, the ogre accidentally collapses over the edge, plummeting toward the magma river. Without a moment's pause, her assault continues, as she unleashes a salvo which murders unprepared orcs in serial, forcing them into a temporary retreat. Despite her muddied heritage, you can at least breathe easy knowing that she is a talented warrior like yourself.
>>5608742Defense is not a great strength of the Ilythiiri way of war. The emphasis on stealth and superior mobility leaves maintaining battle lines to traps, slaves, and the extensive list of horrible beasts at your disposal. Still, you assemble those adults and the older children who are capable of working with their hands, and set to work constructing a makeshift fortification from whatever furnishings can be appropriated from your surroundings. Even Alantha assists, putting her tentacles to use by hauling objects too heavy for humanoid arms to lift.The priestess also contributes her fair share, having done her part to delay the enemy's approach. Thanks in no small part to your ingenuity, you are able to fashion a sturdy barricade which obstructs entry into the rotunda, and not a moment too soon; reemerging on the other side of the gap is a group of orcs who hurl a hail of javelins your way as you scramble to further reinforce the barrier. Thankfully, the crude light spears prove no match for dwarven craftwork, colliding with the stone furniture to no effect. The half-breed wipes the sweat from her brow, well aware that she would have been skewered were she slower to retreat.As the Eilistraeans filter back into the banquet hall, anxious to be free of this ruin, you peer through a gap in the fortification to monitor the progress of the Thousand Scars. Their leader returns with another blue ogre following close behind. With a gesture, he issues a command to the ogre in the primitive orcish tongue, prompting it to initiate a series of gestures whilst reciting curious words of power. It is a magic spell, and through it, the ogre manipulates the stone of the bridge as though it is clay, extruding one side of the central gap and seamlessly merging it with the other.
>>5608747You have witnessed your fair share of magical displays over the years, and oft you are left wondering how they can ignore immutable principles of reality such as the very nature of stone. Twice-Scarred and his lackeys cross the newly-mended bridge, javelins at the ready should any Ilythiiri emerge to harass them. Together with Luaue and Alantha, the three of you position yourselves at the end of the rotunda opposite the barricade, guarding the path leading to the banquet hall. With any luck, the barricade should hold.Refusing to be denied, the savages throw their strength against your hastily-made fortification, hellbent on deconstructing it. Yet the obstacle withstands more punishment than any could have anticipated, a testament to your resourcefulness. Regardless, you know that it cannot stand indefinitely. "Moradin!" You shout at the statue, impassioned by your unfavorable circumstances. You are not one for prayer, although... "Do... something!" No response. Could it be that such a simple plea is not enough to motivate the dwarven god to intercede on your behalf?A quick glance at the banquet hall reveals that Lael's magics are manifesting in the form of a lustrous silver arc on the floor, gradually taking the shape of a full circle. He has been at work for perhaps three or four minutes now, meaning you have not escaped danger just yet...With this in mind, you reason that the spell is more or less a third of the way toward completion.
>>5608752The barricade crumbles, its crash resounding throughout the fortress like an admission of its defeat.Entering the rotunda with an assertive gait is a burly figure clad in dark armor draped in black fabric. His face is obscured by an iron mask, fashioned in the style of a humanoid skull, and in his left hand he carries with him a vicious double-axe. The blue ogre, along with the orcs in his company, arrange themselves in a circular formation with him at the center. This is indisputably Wurgoth Twice-Scarred, orcish warlord and uncontested leader of the Thousand Scars."I admire your tenacity, dark elves. Few possess the will to resist us, and fewer still the might," he applauds with a baritone voice accompanied by a metallic reverb. His knowledge of the human language, it seems, exceeds yours, demonstrating unusual intelligence for a member of his race. He paces back and forth, wordlessly sizing each of you up. Luaue has broken into a sweat, unsure of whether to ready an arrow or draw her sword, whilst Alantha emits a low growl and remains at your side, her hesitance to attack indicating that her fear of him exceeds her hatred."When my eyes looked over the remains of my dead warriors, I recognized their wounds as the handiwork of a drow. It was no small task for my scouts to follow your tracks, but the rewards are worth the challenge. You have brought us to our prize, and for this, I offer each of you the privilege of a quick death." He pauses to afford you the chance to respond.Select however many seem appropriate. But be reasonable.>Who are the Thousand Scars, really, and what is this this 'prize' they pursue? >[Intellect] Perchance I could start a philosophical discussion to waste his time?>I would instead demand the privilege of a duel. Or is he afraid that I will be victorious?>Luaue is better with words than I. She should say something to distract them.>[Agility] I know this one mesmerizing trick that I can do with my sword...>I know that I will regret asking this, but... why does he wear the mask?>[Write-in.]
>>5608755>I know that I will regret asking this, but... why does he wear the mask?>[Intellect] Perchance I could start a philosophical discussion to waste his time?
>>5608755>I know that I will regret asking this, but... why does he wear the mask?>I would instead demand the privilege of a duel. Or is he afraid that I will be victorious?>Try to communicate to Luaue to cast darkness between Jez and the teleportation circle. There is no doubt that the ogre would interfere with Lael's casting, or dispel his work outright once it finishes. Breaking line of sight in this manner should prevent that.The spell is a third of the way towards completion. Jez just needs to pull out all her tricks and stall. The real issue is the ogre mage. It just takes one casting of counterspell or dispel magic to completely remove the Eilistraean's means of escape. However, as spells typically depend on line of sight, using darkness should throw a wrench in that. Of course, whether or not the orcs even allow that is a different question.
>>5608755>I know that I will regret asking this, but... why does he wear the mask?>I would instead demand the privilege of a duel. Or is he afraid that I will be victorious?>Try to communicate to Luaue to cast darkness between Jez and the teleportation circle. There is no doubt that the ogre would interfere with Lael's casting, or dispel his work outright once it finishes. Breaking line of sight in this manner should prevent that.Supporting >>5608806
>>5608755Does our Feat "Mage killer" provide any insight on defeating the ogre magi? (cool to see one btw!) >I know that I will regret asking this, but... why does he wear the mask?>[Intellect] Perchance I could start a philosophical discussion to waste his time?>I would instead demand the privilege of a duel. Or is he afraid that I will be victorious?>If plausible, convey to Luaue a means of casting darkness to veil the teleportation circle (if this wouldn't make Lael's job difficult. I'm not sure if half elves have the same night vision?)If a fight starts, I suggest we use our fortune point to toss the acid flask on the big chief or the mage (if it's a big fight). Mage is maybe a better idea since I think it would do damage him each "turn" which would make spellcasting for that creature difficult/impossible. What do you guys think?"Do you know the difference between an error and a mistake, Twice-scarred? An error only becomes a mistake if you refuse to correct it. I have been told that you have refused to change in the face of the new ways taken up by that other group that call themselves the Thousand Scars. Why is that?"Alantha talked about how The twice scarred leads a group of tradionalists who cling to old orcish ways, whereas another group is taking up new ways of hunting/warfare inspired by surface world gods. It's a topic that dips into philosophyAlso, surprised Jez only said "that" to Moradin given the roll. We shall see...
>>5608755>[Intellect] Perchance I could start a philosophical discussion to waste his time?>I know that I will regret asking this, but... why does he wear the mask?>Try to communicate to Luaue to cast darkness between Jez and the teleportation circle.
>>5608985>I'm not sure if half elves have the same night vision?I explained this earlier, but darkness is essentially completely opaque. Like, imagine a sphere that creates a complete void of light that is impossible to be seen through. That's darkness. It's magical, you can't see through it with darkvision, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it. The purpose of darkness is only to break line of sight in order to prevent dispel magic or counterspell, or at least use up slots, if you were to focus on using game terms.
>>5609143Fair, thank's for repeating.
Rolled 12 (1d20)(Intellect 14, +3 Elf Dilettante, -3 Skeptical Audience) Success on 14 or lower.Let's see if Jez has the gift of gab.I probably should have expected a certain option to win, but it's still strange that every single voter picked it.
>>5609510Nice. The Great Jezby.Just thought i'd mention that I think the dwarven crossbow is missing from our character sheet, I believe we kept it?
Sadly we chose the option that didn't give us shot on the run, though what we chose was superior imo.
>>5609510No 4chan board is going to a miss a chance to banepost
>>5609897I mean, to be fair, it is legitimately an interesting question why an orc boy wears a mask like that. More interesting than asking bane who just needs it to live.
The update will be here within the hour. But first, some answers.>>5608985>Does our Feat "Mage killer" provide any insight on defeating the ogre magi?Jez doesn't know much about this particular creature. Though the bonuses would still apply against it.>Alantha talked about how The twice scarred leads a group of tradionalists who cling to old orcish ways, whereas another group is taking up new ways of hunting/warfare inspired by surface world gods. This might be Alantha's quirky beast speak or maybe me poorly conveying my intent, but what I was trying to get at is that the Scars led by Twice-Scarred are the unorthodox ones, and they have been subjugating other communities of orcs.>>5609719>Just thought i'd mention that I think the dwarven crossbow is missing from our character sheet, I believe we kept it?This is true. I just forgot to add it because it wasn't on my mind at the time. Since Jez now has her first ranged weapon, I will elaborate a little on ranged combat. Unlike melee weapons which always work the same, there is a penalty for shooting at a close distance, a penalty for shooting into a melee, and various situations in which shooting will be done at a penalty, such as if a target is behind cover. There is no limit to the number of Banes a roll can have, so line up those shots carefully! On the other hand, ammunition is not tracked for my own sanity.Anyways, update soon.
>>5608790>>5608806>>5608919>>5608927>>5608985>>5609060"Why do you wear that?" You inquire, gesturing at your face. You, of course, refer to his mask, although this is merely a means of stalling for time as Lael works his magics. The warlord must be confident that he has you cornered, or mayhaps he is in no hurry to see you dead, as he decides to entertain your question. Letting the shaft of his weapon res on his shoulder, he adopts a more relaxed posture and and inclines his head slightly. His minions must be well-disciplined, for they show no intention of attacking without his direction."It is a reminder of the price I have paid for strength, a tax of flesh and blood and health. Cruel are the lessons of Realms, yet they are gainful for those willing to learn them. Twice was I was I taught the meaning of suffering, once by orcs, and again at the hands of humans. Twice was I scarred, and twice did I take my revenge." He adjusts his posture and returns his attention to you. Curious. Orcs have no stigma against physical disfigurements, none that you are aware of, and even take pride in displaying battle scars. Was the marring of Wurgoth's body so horrific as to merit concealing it? It is impossible to know. That said, the warlord's eloquence is such that he would run circles around you in a debate. But in that lies an opportunity, so long as you select the right words to keep him talking...
>>5612017"But you are an orc. No lesson will make you better than us, the Ilythiiri," you proudly assert. "Sis- Sindiira, don't provoke them!" Grumbles Luaue with a hushed yell. Yet it is true - however much physical prowess he has attained, even the mightiest orc warrior is cursed with a pitiful lifespan and a meager intellect, to say nothing of their culture, or really, the lack thereof. You would almost pity their miserable race, were they not so stubbornly belligerent."You think yourself my better?" Queries the warlord, chuckling to himself. "The drow hide away in caverns for fear of the sun, unable to provide for themselves unless by theft. You cow behind your slaves in battle, and your men are so pathetic that your women take up arms and command in their place. Everything we own, we have earned through iron and muscle. We carve out our place in this world, as is our birthright, while you squander your lives fighting amongst yourselves.""I know we are better," you insist. Grappling with the limits of your grasp on this foreign language, you go on. "The Ilythiiri made art, history, and cities from nothing in the wild Underdark. Our trade, warfare, and magic get better every year. You are still the same as two hundred years ago. We are greatness. You are savages."Twice-Scarred bellows mightily, losing himself entirely to laughter.
>>5612019As this goes on, you attempt to communicate to Luaue that she should cast a spell of darkness over the entrance to the dining hall, silently mouthing the words at her in Ilythiirra. Admittedly, know absolutely nothing whatsoever about spellcraft - the arcane secrets never took hold in your young mind - though you fear that the blue ogre might somehow possess the means to disrupt Lael's spell, and intend to prevent this.Her brow furrows thoughtfully, and she mouths back; apparently, she is not actually capable of doing this. What good is it to be of Ilythiiri descent if she cannot put the acceptable half of her being to use? Then again, you are in no position to criticize, given that you have seldom made good use of the magics at your disposal. Doing so would restrict your movement and consume your focus considerably, and you are liable to cut your own hand off if you were to attempt the necessary gestures in a melee.The priestess looks over her shoulder, here eyes lighting up as she spots Chessayne observing the situation from afar. Wordlessly, they stare at one another, until the elderly woman seems to acknowledge Luaue's intent and stretches her arms, weaving a curtain of sable darkness that engulfs any and all light. If the blue ogre saw this take place, it does not seem to have agitated him in the slightest.It is now impossible to tell by sight how close the spell is to completion.
>>5612021The warlord approaches your group gingerly, evaluating the threat each of you poses to him. Luaue nocks and arrow and levels her weapon at him undaunted, though he pays her little mind, unimpressed by her bravado. Alantha similarly whips her tentacles at him and snarls, her eyes filled with fear and loathing, and while he does stop a moment to inspect the displacer beast, he moves along, viewing her as nothing more than a natural curiosity. That leaves you. You are a seasoned combatant and have managed to survive two hundred years and more of turmoil. In the past, you have fought against countless opponents, orcs among them, and emerged victorious. Though surrounded and outnumbered you may be, you feel fairly confident in your chances of making it through this situation with your life. Granted, he does not know any of this, but he seems to recognize your ability from your posture.You envision him smirking beneath his mask as he relaxedly brings his weapon to bear, his voice taking on an amused inflection. "My patience has worn thin, dark elf. Make peace with your gods." His statement rouses his lackeys into action, eagerly moving forward to join the warlord on the offensive.Your move, Jezyrene. Pick one.>The battle is on! The three of us will fight them, together.>[Will] Perchance if I am loud enough, I could keep him arguing for a few moments more?>I challenge him to a duel! He had best find the courage to face me alone!>It would be incredibly convenient if Moradin did something right this moment!>[Write-in.]
>>5612023>>[Will] Perchance if I am loud enough, I could keep him arguing for a few moments more?"If orcs are superior why do they smell so bad huh? Checkmate atheists."
>>5612023>I challenge him to a duel! He had best find the courage to face me alone!He could very well just laugh and say no, after all why toss a clear victory away.
>>5611974Thanks for the explanations! >>5612023Oh boy, now we can't track when the circle is done. However I guess if 3-4 minutes is a third, we need to stall for about 12-16 minutes. So 15 minutes in total. If each turn has taken up an equal amount of time we should be two thirds through now.>I challenge him to a duel! He had best find the courage to face me alone!"Prove it! I have battled the dangers of the Underdark for centuries, lead armies to victory and slain more of your kind by myself than there are followers in your army. I earned the favor of Malar by slaying his head priest. And you think yourself better than me? Prove it! By dent of steel and blood in hand."Although, I really don't want Jez to die. Is a group fight the better choice?I kek'd at the Moradin option btw. It would be incredibly convenient.
>>5612023>>The battle is on! The three of us will fight them, together
>>5612023>>[Will] Perchance if I am loud enough, I could keep him arguing for a few moments more?I'm not confident that we could take him on alone without an underhanded card to play
Speaking of dirty tricks, don't Drows apply poison to their weapons?
>>5612023>I challenge him to a duel! He had best find the courage to face me alone!>It would be incredibly convenient if Moradin did something right this moment!
>>5612567Pick just one anon
>>5612023>It would be incredibly convenient if Moradin did something right this moment!ANY TIME NOW, MORADIN
>>5612023>It would be incredibly convenient if Moradin did something right this moment!
Is there any particular reason that people think Jez is worthy of divine intervention at this very moment? Especially considering who she is? The Eilistraeeans are literally squatters at best, even if they're respectful about it. Trying to bank on literal divine intervention when not a follower of the deity you're trying to call on is really quite silly, and it's even worse when you can only pick ONE option.
>>5612788Changing to the Ben Shapiro option>[Will] Perchance if I am loud enough, I could keep him arguing for a few moments more?
>>5612639Ah, fair play. Changing from >>5612567 to>>5612023>Moradiiiiiin! Heeeelp!
>>5612023Switching from >>5612084to>>[Will] Perchance if I am loud enough, I could keep him arguing for a few moments more?Rather try for a duel to keep him occupied, but anything is better than blindly expecting divine intervention.
Rolled 7 (1d20)(Will 13) Success on 13 or lower.We have chosen to trust in the heart of the dice.>>5612545They do. Drow are some of the best poisoners in the Realms, though the Eilistraeans shy away from using them because of their more benevolent attitudes. Jez is a bit of an oddity - the reason why she doesn't is because she belongs to a minority of drow who prefer heavier armaments.
We've been unreasonably lucky so far. I'm glad that the quest has dice to show this.
>>5613256Waukeen instead of Tymora?
Rolled 9 (1d20)>>5613256To be fair, we need to be lucky almost every time, our opponents need to be lucky only once or twice. We have next to no room for failure.Our luck will run out soon.
>>5612039>>5612102>>5612110>>5612482>>5612687>>5612883>>5612896>>5613168"Nau! Zexen'uma tarthe d'jal! Vith'ir dos waele iblith!" You stomp and scream until the fortress is flooded by a deluge of rants. Despite your insistence that you are the his better, competing against the warlord in single combat is a gambit that you would prefer to avoid. Not that you are afraid that the outcome would be in his favor, however. Surely not! That would be unthinkable. No, definitely not.Most unexpectedly, Twice-Scarred stops in his tracks. With a wave of his hand, his obedient minions come to a halt. Luaue and Alantha, orcs and ogres all, stare at you dumbfounded as you throw the most unholy temper tantrum in the history of the Realms. Moradin's stone-faced visage, dour and unmovable, oppresses you with the gaze of quiet judgement. It is as though all the planes have been overtaken by the echoes of your ravings, given no choice but to suffer the cacophony that is your mighty fulmination.... And it dies the very moment that the remaining supply of air in your lungs is depleted. Awed by your uncontained ferocity, none find it within themselves to act, let alone speak. Desperate to respire, you gasp for air, shaking as you look over those present, ally and foe, all of whom remain as still as the ancient masonry of the fortress.
>>5616344Not a second later, an ear-splitting crackle erupts from the dining hall behind you, the agonizing cry of space itself being mercilessly shredded, causing the fortress to tremble and groan. Briefly, a wave of dull blue light washes over reality, a byproduct emitted by the exercise of potent arcane energies. Lael, finished with his incantation, wastes no time in commenting on the outcome. "Ooh, that... doesn't usually happen. Erm, never mind! Everything is under control! Everybody step into the circle!"Simultaneously, you flee with the priestess for the only chance you have at deliverance, with Alantha catching on and speeding past the two of you. Quicker to react than his servants, the warlord breaks into a sprint, hellbent on seeing at least one of you dead. Yet good fortune strikes at unexpected moments - the statue of Moradin, centerpiece of the grand rotunda, is knocked from its base by the localized earthquake, its weight threatening to reduce the orc to a bloody smear across the floor. His good sense wins out over his bloodlust, and he rapidly changes course. The graven image slams into the ground, barring the warlord's path and gifting you precious seconds.Is it blind luck, or did the mirthless dwarven patriarch take pity on your kin?Chessayne's shroud of darkness dissipates, just in time for the three of you to rejoin the others. Together, the mage and the elder usher the Eilistraeans through a luminescent circle on the floor. Instantaneously, those who enter seem to wink out of existence once their bodies have crossed the threshold, a disturbing sight. You have witnessed many spells, and even experienced the effects of some yourself, but the thought of being flung from one location to the next in the blink of an eye is... unnerving.
>>5616347"Hurry it up, Sandra! You're taking a tenday and a half too long!" Barks Lael at you, as he seals the entrance to the dining hall behind you with a barrier of silken webs. You possess not the will, the time, or the breath to retort, lagging as those with you pull ahead. Together with Chessayne, they step into the circle and vanish, leaving only yourself and the mage here in the fortress.Abandoning any concern over whatever ill effects you may soon be subject to, you recklessly cross the thin boundary between the spell and its surroundings. For a fraction of a second, your body ceases to exist, depriving you of all senses as the sights and sounds of the ruin become empty void. You are a soul, immaterial energy shot across the planes at a speed that exceeds time. This is nothing like Amaranth's portal, a gateway leading from one location to another; you are experiencing the instant transmission of your body, true teleportation.You are not in control of Lael's unstable magics. But you seem to possess some limited influence over where you will arrive.>Am I... falling, into the light?>My body is descending into darkness.
>>5616350>My body is descending into darkness.
>>5616350>Am I... falling, into the light?>SandraThere will be a reckoning. It's interesting how Jez has some influence at all, I take that this is due to Lael's odd casting then.
>>5616350>>Am I... falling, into the light?Sandra who?
>>5616350>Am I... falling, into the light?
>>5616350>>My body is descending into darkness.
>>5616350>Am I... falling, into the light?Would rather fall into light than land on our ass here.
Vote closed.>>5616716Well...
>>5616365>>5616371>>5616382>>5616412>>5616488>>5616716The universe is light, and you have been caught in the gravitational pull of its very core. The world's omnipresent glare swallows you, scorching your eyes and roasting your skin as your physical form materializes. You are descending gently toward the center of an infinitely vast emptiness... or so you would believe. An invisible force tugs subtly at your body, pulling you away from the great mass further ahead. It is at this moment that you experience a most terrible epiphany. Until now, you have not been descending, but ascending, upwards into the air.And now you are falling.Abject pain joins a series of awful cracks in concert as your backside collides with the ground. The atmosphere becomes hostile, growing so thick as to stick to your throat and irritate your eyes further. Blind and suffocating, you thrash violently whilst cursing your ill luck. How could it be that you have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and journeyed so far across foreign lands only to die such a pathetic death?Yet a glimmer of hope reveals itself in your weakest moment. Steadily, your vision returns to you, and you are able to manage a few labored breaths. The world of light recedes, revealing to you a midday sky, broken up by the wood spires that take the place of mushrooms on the surface. You rest on a path of tightly packed sand. A cloud of the grainy substance, kicked up by your sudden impact, disperses, providing you with full visibility once your vision has adjusted. This is a familiar place - the southern road leading to Everlund, the very same that you walked when you first emerged from the Underdark. Which would mean that you have spent the past several minutes clumsily flailing around in the dirt.None must know of this.
>>5618269You rise to your feet and dust yourself off, spitting up a gob of sandy mucus. A cursory examination of your surroundings reveals the presence of no individuals in your immediate area. The teleportation spell, evidently, was not perfect, though you managed to arrive with all of your limbs attached. You cannot say the same for the Eilistraeans, however. It must be that they were sent to some other location nearby.Indeed, you are not separated for long. Further down the road, the Eilistraeans congregate around Everlund's gate. Chessayne and the other adults have their hands full trying to keep the children together, counting heads to ensure that none were left behind as Luaue tries to reason with the guards posted at the city's entrance. Hoping to spare your aching back further anguish, you take your time, and approach at a leisurely pace."Look, I'm real sorry, m'lady. I already asked, and we have our orders. No drow. And no... uh, monsters," explains one of Greycastle's underlings, nervously eyeing Alantha, who amuses herself by poking her tentacles through the gate's iron grid as if she were going to kill him. His fellows keep their weapons angled at the displacer beast, though her posture indicates that she does not see them as a threat. "Oh, you're fine though, m'lady." He clears his throat and nods toward you.
>>5618270"Are you daft?!" Shouts the half-breed, extending an open hand in your direction as she argues against him. "Why is she allowed in, but not us?! Do you expect these children to fend for themselves?!" Clearly distraught, the man wipes a bead of sweat from his brow and sighs. "I- I don't have the power to make these decisions! Please, understand!" He pleads, yet the half-breed will have none of it. "No, you understand! We..." she cuts herself off and shakes her head, drawing a heavy sigh."I'm... sorry. I shouldn't be like this." Luaue pivots to face you and folds her arms. "For now, we will return to the Silverwood. With the followers of Malar gone, we will finally have the chance to mourn our dead. I know that you said you would convince these people to come to our aid," she huffs, glancing at at the anxious guardsman as Alantha gleefully torments him, "but you are welcome to join us, sis- Sindiira. We have the supplies to make it through the better part of a tenday, so there is no need to rush."Well?>I will see about speaking with the council right this moment. I can convince them, somehow.>Right now, I must rest. I shall see about this council business tomorrow, in the morning.>Heavens know why they care so much about the dead, but I suppose I shall accompany them.
>>5618272>I don't think it will be easy convincing the council, but I better start right away. Hopefully it will be done before the tenday is over. No doubt some tasks will have to be done. I will speak to my abban, Amaranth. If all goes well we can provide some aid to you in the forest meanwhile.>Assuming you feel you can make it to the Silverwood on your ownBasicly, Jez is aware this will be a process requiring politics and no doubt quests, better get to it asap. Meanwhile we have some connections and gold, which can hopefully be used to maintain some safety or supplies to them outside the city walls until/if we manage a proper agreement with Everlund.Maybe we could get a few guarsd/mercenaries to help guard the refugees while they are in the silverwood, until something better is setup.However, it would have been cool to see Luaue meet the body of her mother the cleric with that magical sword. If that is where they are headed.
>>5618272>Right now, I must rest. I shall see about this council business tomorrow, in the morning.Need bath. Need bed.
>>5618272>>5618334Support.I really would rather Jez speak with her allies before anything else, her having friends in the council and the Mielekki priesthood should be utilized before meeting with the council itself. Both for pertinent political guidance and resources to shortly sustain the Drow population if possible. Though I imagine Amaranth would be far more important than Willow in this regard, Willow doesn't exactly strike me as the most politically oriented. As for the council itself, Jez is probably going to have to end up doing favors for Brandt Greycastle, Rupert Tenpenny, and Sten Silvershard. Dulnar and Arara are likely going to refuse to do anything regarding the Eilistraean refugees. I seriously hope that Tenpenny doesn't require much, haven't forgotten about his general.... everything, along with how he groped Jez. Furthermore, I can't imagine Sten would care for any favors that would be done for Tenpenny or Greycastle, as said favors are probably highly illegal, and he's still a paladin of Helm.Man, I hope this doesn't end with all the Eilistraeans being slaughtered by the gnomish stalking artifice or whatever, or other Drow interceptors that are still after Jez. Also, where the heck is Lael?
>>5618272>>Right now, I must rest. I shall see about this council business tomorrow, in the morning.We are overworked and we need to zzzzzzzz
>>5618272>I will see about speaking with the council right this moment. I can convince them, somehow.Is Lael dood?
>>5618334+1.>I’ll let Willow know you’re here, too. She and her forest friends made sure to reinforce your temple grounds against Malarite reprisals. She’ll be happy to know you’re back.
>>5618664>>5618272Just in case votes need to connect to the option posts for it to count.
>>5618334Supporting
Vote closed.
>>5618334>>5618336>>5618386>>5618461>>5618616>>5618664>>5619121"You go. I will speak with the council." Though it has been at least a tenday since your last bath and your encounter with the orcish warlord has no doubt cursed you a several strands of yellow hair, you feel that this is a task best done sooner rather than later. "It will not be easy to make them help you." Luaue offers a reaffirming smile and shakes her head. "Even if you do not succeed, it warms my heart to know that you will try."Waving to get the attention of the other adults, she steps away from Everlund's gate. "We spent a long time in hiding, but these woods were our home, once. We should be able to find our way with no trouble." Ready to depart, the Eilistraeans fall in behind the priestess. "Thank you, Sindiira. Goddess light your path." What a peculiar thing to say. There is plenty of light all about, and any more would most definitely cause your eyeballs to melt.Scanning the faces of the crowd, you cannot help but notice the absence of the mage whose magics flung you across the Realms. "Where is the half-breed boy?" You ask Luaue, who seems mildly irritated by something you've said. Electing to disregard it for the moment, she sighs, her voice conveying genuine concern despite her previous quarrels with him. "Truth be told, I thought he would be with you. We managed to find everyone else. You don't think..." she trails off.
>>5620703You shrug. The boy is not your burden to manage, and his 'unique' proclivities have earned him no pity from you besides. "He must be fine," you remark nonchalantly, inclining your head southward to indicate that the Eilistraeans should be on their way. Wishing you the best, they set off on their journey to the Silverwood, returning to the forest that was once theirs.Of course, the unorthodox Ilythiiri are not the only ones to part ways with you. Alantha, growing bored with her game of frightening the unfortunate human male, stretches her limbs and sets out for the open wilderness without so much as acknowledging you. This outcome was to be expected, you reckon; the displacer beast is still a wild animal, albeit a remarkably intelligent one. She cares little for the conventions of sapient beings, and as a devout follower of Malar's precepts, would fare poorly in a large city. Still, you get the distinct impression that you will be seeing her again someday.Thus, you are left to your own devices. Your first thought is to visit the Evergreen Hall, Mielikki's shrine here in Everlund, to consult with Willow, though she is nowhere to be found. The few volunteers tasked with staffing the temple explain that she and her fellows are preoccupied with undoing the harm dealt by the Malarites to the Silverwood. What this means is unknown - you cannot say that you understand the mechanisms at work in nature, much less how they might be damaged.You suppose, then, that the Eilistraeans and Mielikkians will be having their reunion without you. For the time being, you must decide on your next course of action.>Ilanis knows this city and its people. She may be able to offer me some insight into convincing the less cooperative members of the council.>I should speak with Amaranth. It could very well be that he is the only member of the council who would care to aid my people.>The Hall of the Elders might contain some knowledge that I could leverage to my advantage. Thus, my search begins there.
>>5620708>I should speak with Amaranth. It could very well be that he is the only member of the council who would care to aid my people.Despite what we think of his student, we should at least inform Amaranth what happened so he can check up on him. As well as recommend that Lael is assigned a book report on the biggest book of elven etiquette we can find in the tower.
>>5620708>I should speak with Amaranth. It could very well be that he is the only member of the council who would care to aid my people.>>5620719Support. Shit-talk Lael to his mentor, 100%.
>>5620762No shittalking, as we don't want to suggest that Amaranth is at fault for his student being a breast ogling troglodyte. Just offering a recommendation, in case he decides to try those moves on a Lolthite next time.Also, we need confirmation that he's never going to introduce Lael to Ilanis, they might make naive love/boob crazed babies.
>>5620708>>Ilanis knows this city and its people. She may be able to offer me some insight into convincing the less cooperative members of the council.
>>5620708>I should speak with Amaranth. It could very well be that he is the only member of the council who would care to aid my people.
>>5620719I'll support this!We can still talk to Ilanis afterwards, but just in case Lael, Amaranth's asset is in danger, well, it's only right to treat our best ally with respectAlso I unironicly think Amaranth has got to be the nicest person in this setting so far
>>5621377I'd say it's a competition between Ilanis and Amaranth... but then again Amaranth did play a large part in raising Ilanis.
>>5621406That's fair. Ilanis somehow seems born more of childlike innocence (even if she's more a teenager) if the distinction makes sense, whereas Amaranth just seems to have that kind of enlightened "kindness" or perhaps empathy is the better word, from a life long lived (where blood spilled has been seen).
>>5620708>>I should speak with Amaranth. It could very well be that he is the only member of the council who would care to aid my people.
>>5621491It's hilarious that this is said about someone who's around a century old. At least, I'm pretty sure Ilanis is somewhere around that age, iirc Greenwood gave a comparison for Ilanis in that she was in her 20's, as compared to Jez's 40's when compared to human lifespans.
>>5621827Considering how Jez has been spending a decent amount on makeup, perfume and dresses, including a literal princess style dress, I'm not sure she has any right to criticize Ilanis' naivete.
>>5621840Jez knowing what's best in life is the farthest thing from naivete! Though it would be nice if Jez spent some of her hard earned coin on actual armor rather than creature comforts... unless actual armor provides an agility penalty, still don't know about that.
>>5621846There are some armors with a static Defense that have no Agility bonus and some with a partial Agility bonus, and of course ones with the full bonus like the bustenhalt. The obvious advantage of heavy armor is being able to forego investing in Agility, although having an Agility bonus of zero has certain benefits as well.
>>5621840We're j-just trying to fit in!
>>5621864If Jez were to wear armor that provided no agility bonus, would she face a penalty in regards to some agility checks? Or would there be a more narrative penalty, in that some choices simply aren't there anymore? I.E. being able to dodge the huntlord when he charged at Jez, climbing stuff, etc.
>>5621827I assume mental development varies somewhat with species longevity. And who knows, Ilanis could be especially childish, I've met 50 year old who behave like teenagers, though rare. Could also be residual effects of mana leakage from growing up around her mage father, Amaranth the standin father and the high priestess of Corellon whose name I forget this exact moment.
>>5622191Biological development for elves occurs at the same rate as humans for the most part. The whole bit about elves being adults at 100 is a cultural thing stemming from their long lives. It's not a matter of mental development anyway, elves as a species are simply more passionate in general. This is demonstrated in plenty of splatbooks, or any general sourcebook that mentions elves. Now, if you're talking about mental development that is completely removed from the biological component, then yeah it takes a while for them to stop being ridiculously impulsive compared to other races. Or perhaps they never stop being impulsive, really depends on the person. Some elves live far longer than other elves for a reason after all.Also, not sure where that whole mana leakage bit is coming from, unless I'm really off base, that isn't really a particular thing in the forgotten realms universe, as spells are cast via interacting with the weave. Perhaps if Amaranth was creature like a dragon, as dragons are sort of walking talking bits of "stitching" in the weave (I forget the exact terminology, one splatbook referred to dragons as basically knots, or bunched up fabric, etc in the weave or something), and actively leak out magic to the point that they get lair effects. For instance, Amaranth has been stated to be around the same age as Jez by Greenwood, but is physically in his 30's as compared to Jez's 40's. Why? No clue really, but I imagine a early mid 200's year old wizard would eventually get their hands on some form of longevity magic.Also, funnily enough according to Ed Greenwood, >Such potions were once far more common than they are today (someone in the failing days of Netheril was making and selling lots of them), because magic was once more widespread and better understood than it is now. People have been drinking them, but there are still a lot of them out there, hidden in dungeons not yet fully plundered.Some crazy ass alchemist was going around flooding the market to the point that people are STILL finding the potions of longevity from one guy in particular. That's a little over 2000 years ago, and people are STILL finding his shit in particular. Holy shit.
>>5622553>mana leakageI appreciate the thought you put into this, but I was just making a silly joke, anon!Also, I like the idea of "Ra's al ghul" the crazy alchemist who decided to drown the market in supply and probably killed it forever. Assuming that's what happened. Also impressive that the potions are viable 2000 years later after just presumably hanging out in some derelict ruin
>>5622560The failing of Netheril was due to the Phaerimm, the Sharn, and most specifically Karsus being a dumbass and trying to steal Mystra's godhood. Issue is, Mystra is the one who's holding magic together, so Karsus ended up causing nearly all of the floating cities of Netheril to fall and break into pieces. Furthermore, thanks to the Netherese Empire being THE big magic empire of the time, a lot of knowledge was lost, such as knowledge regarding potions of longevity. Plus, the "common" potions of longevity actually suck in regards to efficacy compared to other canon examples that aren't in loot tables. Really, whoever the mad alchemist was, their biggest achievement was probably figuring out the secret to an insane shelf life.Honestly there was probably way better stuff in Imaskar, till they got in a fight with the gods from Earth due to stealing humans to use as slaves (specifically people from Indus Valley Civilizations and Egypt), which lead to the gods creating physical avatars to travel to Toril's crystal sphere in order to punch out all the mage kings in the area.
>>5621864Penalties would depend on the particular set of armor, though Jez has feats that mitigate some of those drawbacks. And, she'd never have trouble performing acrobatic stunts in heavy armor. >>5622560We have to populate random dungeons with loot somehow...>>5622553>For instance, Amaranth has been stated to be around the same age as Jez by Greenwood, but is physically in his 30's as compared to Jez's 40's. Why?Sun elves tend to live longer than their dark elf cousins.
