#magic boats and planar travel

[ihaveatypeanditstrickstergods]

I guess it’s exu calamity meta day because now I’m thinking about the Raven Queen and Vecna and Laerryn and the Tree of Names (spoilers for EXU Calamity and Critical Role Campaign 1).

So, like, we know that Vecna was trying to recreate the Raven Queen’s ritual, and unlike some of the unsuccessful aspirants to godhood he had some insight about her actual method (hence why it worked).  And part of what he was doing was siphoning magic from the world through the anti-magic spheres.  Presumably ascension to godhood takes a lot of energy (especially if you don’t have an apogee solstice to work with).

Then in EXU Calamity, we’re introduced to Avalir, an Age of Arcanum flying city that stockpiles ether by taking magical items and breaking them down, then storing it in batteries to channel it into the ground when it lands.  We meet Laerryn Coramar-Seelie, who is planning on siphoning off a chunk of the city’s power in order to create a ley line to another plane.  We share her frustrations as the Tree of Names (and the Arboreal Calix, which was added to the Tree after the Raven Queen’s ascension), a spell engine placed in the city by the druids they took a mountaintop from, pops up as an obstacle to her goal, constantly trying to pull the energy that she needs.

And we learn that the Raven Queen was from Avalir--or at least had some connections to Avalir’s leadership, given that the granddaughter of the city’s founder has fond memories of spending time with her.

So now I’m thinking, the unnamed mage who became the Raven Queen must have gotten all the energy she needed for her ritual somewhere.  While it’s possible that she went around the world setting up antimagic spheres like Vecna did, I don’t think that’s what happened--she likely had much easier access to the amount of ether she would need right there in Avalir.  How much do you want to bet that the Replenishment after the Raven Queen’s ascension was a little scanty, that a chunk of the ether that should have been there wasn’t?  We see Laerryn pull huge chunks of the city’s power at once to power the Astral Leywright, but I don’t think she was the first to take a swathe of ether for her own purpose.

And of course, it was during that Replenishment that the Gau’Drashari hurriedly updated their agreement with Avalir and installed the Arboreal Calix over the Tree of Names.  At that point, the Tree had already been doing its job of inscribing wards over Exandria, protecting the world from interplanar dangers, so why add the Calix?  Why then, so soon after the Raven Queen’s ascension?  There are a few potential answers to this, and personally, I think it’s a combination of two: To beef up the planar barrier, and as an ether bottleneck.  Like, yes, we see the tree holding the toy boat and maybe possibly also Evandrin, so clearly it’s keeping things from traveling into the Material Plane, but I’m pretty sure it was also involved with how Evandrin got calibrated to the Astral Plane in the first place.  But more interestingly, once Laerryn tries firing up the Leywright, the Calix starts asking for more power--large amounts of power.  While I’m sure that it would be going towards keeping the barrier between planes going (and as the Calamity approached, it probably needed it), I think it was also trying to pull enough power that Laerryn would have to stop what she was doing. 

And of course, blocking off interplanar travel and keeping huge chunks of Avalir’s ether from being used all at once would both serve to keep anyone on the city from reproducing the Raven Queen’s ritual.

#critical role #critical role meta #raven queen #matron of ravens #exu calamity #vecna #critical role vecna #laerryn coramar-seelie #tree of names #arboreal calix #astral leywright #avalir

[bookshelfpassageway]

Always here for Eugene Riverworth posting tbh, he is not my gender but he is very Gender and I love this chaotic mess of a wizard

Glad to hear it! His gender is indeed very powerful and he's proud of it. (It is also the result of a lifetime of me looking at men and going "...I could do it better, though", but yknow...)

He WILL continue to escalate.

Things that have happened to him lately, because I haven't caught people up in a while:

high stakes political negotiations because the Mages' Guild did a whoopsie war crime! 

started dating our sadboy firewizard (they partook in a boat race together, had an incident where they tried to dimension door each other to safely simultaneously which forced a wild magic roll, and later the whole party escaped with a 9th level invisibility from the salty losing Karen team. Eugene went "hey do you wanna get out of here and get coffee" and Rothwin went "...mocha?")

generally been getting on better terms with most of the party (especially our warlock, they've been playing chicken with pettiness. Also went "hey no hard feelings" to our bard, who is also a charlatan having a hard time adjusting to the mortifying ordeal of being in a found family)

Realized he may have to do planar travel again cause there's a guy in Hell we want to get rid of before he comes back to kick our asses. He's not thrilled but like, he'll go. At this point this may as well be his life now.

Was, as mentioned in an earlier post, offered land and titles along with the rest of the party by the Emperor of his homeland, due to thanks for adventuring deeds and sorting out the war crime incident. Every single other person in the party took gold, or went "I'm going to do something selfless with this favor", leaving Eugene to waltz in and be the sole owner of an Earldom. He's Lord Bainhurst now. Good god.

also the Emperor would like a private word. His son is missing. Can you help? Why, says Eugene, would he be able to help? Well it turns out Eugene's kismesis former business partner in crime and personal petty nemesis is, in fact, the crown prince having a Rebellion Moment. God damn it.

Oh also said nemesis/royalty got captured by the daughter of the devil we need to finish off in Hell, as previously mentioned, because she is obsessed with vengeance for us banishing her daddy back to whence he came.

oh also his new boyfriend's (shitty terrible antimagic cult leader) dad has also been captured. Along with, possibly, multiple others whose identity we do not yet know, because of course, this is a trap.  

oh also, he finally found out about the magic item book that's been recording all his dreams, including the one that he canonically had that was a sitcom episode, that the other party in the same universe gatecrashed during a funky god lore quest.

#my posts #answered #Eugene Riverworth

[ehay]

My brain will not let go of The Bridge. 

#tissaia de vries #yennefer of vengerberg #my art #fic rec #galeaspida #the witcher #magic boats and planar travel #and evil elves oh my #tissaia is canonically powerful and don't you forget it

[aandriskobold]

Session 52 of the Bastard Knights

in which the Bastards have a chat with everyone they've ever met, again; Hako is either possessed or on some serious steroids swimming between continents; we meet a tiefling who's horny in more ways than one; and find out "when you put us in a hole, we just start stripping and kissing."

- Kaze Sends to Velis asking after Hako, since we can't Send to her either. They tell us to fuck off, leave them alone, fuck off, tell them if we see Hako, and go fuck ourselves.

- Kaze sends Elinor in a Dream to Isak, who says things are complicated in Cord and his mum Mutayyim is still a ceiling, but at least they're together.

- The party eventually elects to send Salvio in a Dream to Hako, who is incredibly enthusiastic, in a boat and alone. She says a lot went down in the Fulcrum, and now she's swimming to the monastery of the Order of Michiki where the Bastards are, and is a couple of days away, having left when Cedric spoke to her the previous night. Since that journey should take three months, we are SuspiciousTM.

- The party decides to leave immediately and not wait for Hako (?) to join us. Kaze and Elinor, through Dreams, try to Dispel Magic, Divine Sense, and Zone of Truth her. Hako insists that she is swimming and is fine and not in league with Ito, but she's clearly got some weird time stuff going on. [Every single one of us rolled direly on perception checks during these dreams, so who knows what's up with her.]

- While we travel to Soratsu, Kaze teaches Leech to fire a longbow, and Leech keeps sleepwalking, dreaming of their old life, an etiquette lesson ("How do you respond to being addressed indirectly in court?" ".... with violence?"), a secret trip outside the New City. These dreams are from the point of view of their ward whose soul now inhabits Leech, and when they look down in them they see only darkness, and hear a raspy voice begging for help. When they awake, they have always walked to the west, the direction of Sovatn. After a while Elinor trains Motley to wake her when she notices Leech sleepwalking.

- One day, we hear a twig snap in the forest and discover an absolutely ripped, spectacularly horny, 6'5" red and yellow tiefling following us. Kaze casts Suggestion to make them tell us who they are and what they want, and we find that their name is Endo Nen, they want revenge, and they are immensely charmed by Kaze. It turns out they've heard of Kaze - in fact, they've heard of all of us Bastard Knights, because Professor Endo is a Master of the Arcane Arts at the university of Kosatenushi, and they are very interested in all of our magical items. They explain that in the tidal storms caused by Big Moon, some magical items were stolen and they want our help to get one back in particular: a navigational tool that may just be the exact thing that we're looking for, the one that allows planar travel. We agree to help them.

- Speaking of planar travel, Endo and Kaze chat about being from different planes. Endo is very casual about this while Kaze is mostly confused and curious, and they sometimes speak in Tekiroshi which the rest of the party can't understand. Either way, Endo flirts a lot with Kaze, scandalising the group since he's MARRIED, don't you know!

- Endo leads the party to Soratsu, a stunning city with a thriving airship port they get us through the gate on research papers, giving false names such as Sally Bird and Dolly Parton. The city is full of refugees from the coastal upheaval, who ask us well-endowed travellers to help them out but are ungrateful at the blessing of a leech. Endo locates the factory, sensing the presence of the magical item below it, and we find a secret door, which tells obnoxious knock knock jokes until Leech knock knocks, at which point the ground opens below our feet.

- [Everyone, including the four NPCs with us, except for the fucking horse, fail the dex save.] Pffr the horse watches as we all fall for over a minute and find ourselves separated into containment cells, except for people who were holding onto each other, which is Elinor and Irma, and Kaze and Endo ooooOOoooOoO.

- Magic doesn't work in this place, so when Dancing Lights fails Leech takes off their shirt to light the room with the glow of their ward's soul. Then the cells start to fill with gas and everyone passes out, except that Kaze can hold their breath indefinitely AND produce their own air, so they have no choice but to snog Endo to keep them conscious. Purely for practical reasons, of course.

- At which point a yakfolk in a gas mask enters the room. He motions to stop the gas, removes the mask, and sighs. Kankyo Hiro says, "Kaze... we've got a lot to talk about." To which Endo says, "Wait... you two know each other?" And Larc, an ice man who can't be knocked out with gas, sums up the general feeling with "this is getting fucking weird."

#it's kaze's dad everyone! and not the one we expected to meet here #according to x #dnd #the bastard knights #endo nen is a new PC btw and i'm very excited about them

[darkelfshadow]

Session Summary - 101

AKA “The Trap Is Sprung”

Adventures in Taggriell

Session 101  (Date: 22nd January 2021)

Players Present:

- Rob (Known as “Varis”) Elf Male.

- Bob (Known as “Sir Krondor) Dwarf Male.

- Paul (Known as “Labarett”) Elf Male.

- Travis (Known as “Trenchant”) Human Male.

- Arthur (Known as “Gim”) Dwarf Male.

Absent Players

- John (Known as “Ragnar”) Dwarf Male. <Played By Rob>

NPC

- (Known as “Naillae”) Elf Female. <Controlled by Travis>

Summary

- Moonday, 15th Desnus in the year 815 (Second Era). Summer.

- The party begin this session, mid afternoon still within the large massive complex of Kranun’s Crater. Having dispatched Kranun, who had been taken over by the ancient extra-planar being Tyranthraxus, the party now set about organising what to do next.

- The party make their way up to a large ledge, about 100 feet up the crater wall, where the party believe that the broken statue head may have come from. Labarett detects a strong source of magic coming from the crater wall and Gim locates a faint and very old depression in the ledge ground that would indicate that the statue head did indeed come from where the source of magic is.

- Using his Mage Hand to move aside some ivory leaves growing on the crater wall, Labarett finds a shiny metal sphere engraved with twin entwined circles. Varis and Ragnar step towards the shiny sphere, Ragnar exclaiming that it is the symbol of his god Berronar Truesilver.

- Ragnar places his hand upon the sphere and yellow glowing light erupts in front of him to form into the shape of a door. As the light fades away a pair of large double doors now stand before the party but the doors are not connected to the crater wall.

- When the doors are opened only bright light can be seen. When Ragnar steps inside he disappears and the party realise that these doors are a portal to somewhere else. One by one the party enter to find themselves in a large stone hewn chamber with a stone coffin in the centre. The coffin has a warrior surrounded by light engraved upon it, holding a blazing sword, and with the symbol of Truesilver carved on it. To the sides are two metal braziers with flickering flames, but the braziers and the metal are translucent. Four alcoves on the walls, each with a hand sized hole, can be seen positioned around the room. Two stone statues flank the entry wall, one with a broken section of its head missing.

- Varis carelessly steps off the engraved area of the floor that follows the outer edge of the chamber, and as he does so rays of light start to shoot at the party burning them with radiant light. Figures in light can be seen beginning to form.

- Sir Krondor shouts out, “Get back on the engraved section ya bloody idiot!”

- Varis sheepishly looks down at his feet, and then takes a step back onto the engraved floor and away from the coffin. The rays of light stop and so too the figures in light fade away.

- The party begin to examine the room, being careful to remain on the outer engraved section of the chamber. They eventually work out that a person of good and true heart can place their hands into the translucent flames and then ignite the four holes around the room. Only Ragnar and Trenchant appear to be of good enough virtue to do this. As each hole is lit up, a ray of light shoots forth from the hole directly at the coffin. Gim gets badly burnt when he places his hand into the fires.

- Once all four rays of light shine upon the coffin an audible click can be heard from the coffin. Confident that they have dealt with the room, Ragnar steps straight to the coffin, but once again the rays of light shoot forth and strike each member of the party, burning them radiance. This time the figures of light immediately appear: seven Radiant Spirits and a large mass of glowing faces and limbs (Souls Of The Past).

- The party are forced to battle, but soon discover that destroying the creatures achieves little as they simple reform. The party are getting damaged badly, Gim especially as the foes seem to take offence as his presence, perhaps sensing the darkness carried within his heart. Gim, Bucky and Shadow are forced to flee the chamber but discover that once they leave the chamber they are unable to get back in whilst the party still rages.

- The Souls Of The Past is able to temporarily control some of the party to attack each other.

- Sir Krondor realises that the party can not keep attacking these foes, they have to do something else. He tries to push the lid off the stone coffin but it is too heavy. He shouts out, straining, “I need some help here!”

- Varis is shooting arrows around the room and trying to stay away from foes, “A little busy here!”

- Trenchant races over to the coffin and begins to help push the lid. The other members of the party are trying to fight off the foes, forcing the way closer to the coffin.

- Trenchant sees that Sir Krondor is struggling, he shouts words of Inspiration towards Sir Krondor. With one final heave, the Dwarf Knight, helped by Trenchant, push the stone lid of the coffin and it moves a foot open revealing an empty coffin with a sword hilt, with no blade, laying on the ground.

- Sir Krondor shouts, “Ragnar grab it!”

- Ragnar leans into the coffin and grabs the sword hilt, the fabled Sun Blade that he has searched for eons. The weapon of his order. He raises the sword hilt high and a suddenly a blade of blazing light erupts from the hilt, lighting up the room. The Radiant Spirits and Souls Of The Past shy away from the sword. Ragnar starts to chase down each of the foes, slashing the blade of light, and as it slices through each one they disappear permanently.

- As the party try to stay away from the fleeing but still attacking foes, Ragnar follows and one by one the foes are finally dispatched. The party leave through the portal and return to the Crater, with Ragnar now possessing the ancient Sun Blade of Truesilver.

- The party quickly set about siphoning the remaining liquid in the Pool of Radiance into the barrel, which Trenchant tries to inscribe the arcane symbols on the barrel that he saw in his vision, with Labarett and Ragnar assisting him. He does not quite get it right, as he does not know all the symbols required. When he is finished, the rest of the party look at the barrel with some suspicion and skepticism.

- Labarett looks at the barrel, like it might explode any minute, “How do we know that the symbols you put on the barrel are working.”

- Trenchant stammers, “Well of course they’re right. Should be as safe as houses.”

- Naillae says, “Lover, you know I am impressed with your many talents, and your very talented hands. But this is magic! You’re not a wizard or trained in this. Shouldn’t the symbols be glowing?”

- Trenchant walks up to the barrel and kicks it, as he discreetly uses a Minor Illusion, to cause the symbols to glow, “See. Told you, nothing to worry about.”

- Labarett seeing the glowing symbols nods his head, “Good enough then.”

- The party use Varis’s summoned Giant Owl to transport them and the “protected” barrel up from the crater’s bottom to the top ridge, 200 feet above. Using the abandoned wagon to transport the barrel,  they set off towards the Phlan.

- A couple of hours later as night sets in, they setup camp with Trenchant using Leomund’s Tiny Hut to hide and protect the party, with the barrel and wagon left outside the arcane protected shelter.

- Toilday, 16th Desnus in the year 815 (Second Era). Summer.

- The party arise and Trenchant dismisses the Leomund’s Tiny Hut. The grass and bushes all around the area, except for where their Hut had been, is now black and withered. The party look around the black area, that extends about 20 feet around them.

- Varis looks at this dark area, “Was it like this when we set up camp?”

- “Yes, yes, it was dark when we got here. Come on let’s go,” Trenchant says quickly.

- Sir Krondor tilts his head in disbelief, “We just happened, by chance, to set up camp in the only black area of land that the eye can see from horizon to horizon?”

- Trenchant ignores the question and the party quickly break camp, the strange area of black around them unsettling them, and they leave once again with the “protected” barrel.

- The day goes by uneventfully but the party full uneasy. They once again set up camp, this time Sir Krondor looks around to make sure the ground looks normal.

- Wealday, 17th Desnus in the year 815 (Second Era). Summer.

- The party arise, once again protected by arcane shielding of Leomund’s Tiny Hut. When Trenchant dismisses the Hut they see the ground, grass and bushes around them are now black once again, up to distance of about 40 feet.

- “Right!” Sir Krondor bellows, “Don’t give me any of ya guff this time! The ground is now bloody black and it wasn’t last night. That barrel is dangerous!”

- “Yes, I’ve felt unwell all yesterday travelling with that thing,” adds Naillae, “I’m starting to feel sick.”

- “Me too,” adds Labarett.

- “Alright, I might have missed some symbols,” Trenchant admits but quickly continues when he sees Sir Krondor about to bellow, “But we are only a few hours from the coast and our ship. It will last until then.”

- The party quickly set off and hurriedly make their way towards the coast and do indeed find the Frostskimmr waiting for them anchored off shore. Three row boats leave the ship and meet them at the beach, with Captain Lerustah and Maccath The Crimson meeting them. Maccath immediately recognises the danger of the poorly protected barrel and warns Captain Lerustah that the ship and crew will not make a week long journey back to Crescent Moon with that barrel on board. She suggests either dumping the contents into the sea or taking it somewhere closer where someone might know what to do with it.

- The party suggest taking it to Phlan and giving it to the Lord Sage as he was quite knowledgable about the Pool of Radiance. The party set off on the two hour sail back up to Phlan and easily dock into port. There appears to be less Cult guards on the streets. Thankful for their good fortune, they take the barrel, along with other cargo, in a cart back into the city and to Mentor’s Library where the Lord Sage is in hiding.

- The Lord Sage is alarmed to have the dangerous liquid so close to him at first but he quickly controls himself and sets about making a new properly protected container, which will be ready by tomorrow.

- The party leave the Library and make their way around the outskirts of Podol Plaza, and enter into the Tea Kettle. They are greeted by Madame Freona and Olisara Lightsong. The party are updated on the current situation on Phlan. For some reason, the Cult’s patrols have been reduced, though the few remaining patrols are acting in a much more aggressive and antagonistic manner towards the locals. Olisara explains that Captain Greycastle and her men have been dealing with the Cult patrols, intervening when things get out of hand.

- Olisara still does not know who the “Black Knight” is or what their plan is, but the Black Knight has been attacking officers of the Cult when they are poorly guarded.

- The party then head over next door to the Cracked Crown Inn, where they are greeted by Ellywick and Seranolla The Whisperer. They exchange some information.

- Once done the party head over to the main bridge to the other side of the city, where they see a young mother and her child being spoken to harshly by a pair of Cult guards. When one of the guards slaps the mother down to the ground, with a heavy metal gauntlet fist, suddenly Captain Greycastle and half a dozen of her men leap out of a nearby wagon. They immediately cut down one guard and knocked the other unconscious.

- From around the bridge, from various buildings come the sound of shouts and one particularly loud voice, “The trap worked! Quickly capture Greycastle!”

- From one building, on the opposite side to the party, a large group of Dragonwing Enforcers lead by a Dragonfang race out.

- The Dragonfang and Dragonwings leap up, their wings extending as they fly over to the bridge and quickly surround Greycastle and her men.

- Trenchant speaks, “We can’t let Greycastle be captured by the Cult! She knows too much!”

- The party can hear the sounds of other Cult forces desperately trying to get out of the other buildings. Sir Krondor yells, “Make this fast!”

- The party race forward and engage, watching as two of Greycastle’s Knights are quickly dropped to the ground under the combined assault of the Cult Enforcers. Captain Greycastle struggles against multiple foes, sustaining serious injuries. The party quickly cast Healing spells towards Greycastle.

- Trenchant summons a Stinking Cloud over the entire bridge, friend and foe alike, to slow down the combat. Some of the party race into the Cloud, and begin swinging weapons into the foes.

- The bridge and riverfront suddenly plunge into shadow as something massive flies overhead, the sound of beating wings and a strong gust of wind knocking down people.

- “Vorgansharax is here! I’m getting Greycastle!” shouts Labarett as he starts to sprint with inhuman speed, through the Cloud and towards Captain Greycastle.

- Labarett reaches her and shouts, “Captain! Captain we have to get you out of here! Vorgansharax is here!”

- She knocks aside an incoming sword and then kicks back another Dragonwing Enforcer, shouting “I will not leave my men behind!”

- Labarett side steps towards her, “You have my blood oath, on my late father’s name, we will rescue you and all your men, but will need to leave NOW!”

- The Captain parries an incoming Dragonwing sword, knocking the Enforcer’s head with her other gauntlet, “Lead me away then!” As Labarett pulls her back, she shouts out, “Soldiers! Defensive line, withdrawal to my voice now!”

- Her Knights, well trained, move into a defensive line, cutting off the bridge and retreating backwards.

- Vorgansharax appears again, his gigantic form sweeping across the sky, as the DragonFear sweeps across the battle. Bucky, Naillae, and Shadow all succumb and drop to the ground, trembling in Fear. Captain Greycastle and all her Knights ignore the Fear.

- Another group of foes has now arrived, Red Plume Mercenaries lead by a Dragonfang Enforcer. Trenchant smiles, “Thanks for the troops.” The Bard casts Mass Suggestion on the newly arrived Mercenaries and shouts, “The Cult has betrayed you! Fight them now before they kill you!”

- All but three of the Mercenaries are affected, and they immediately turn their heavy crossbows against the Dragonfang.

- The party run towards a sewer grate, with Captain Greycastle and her men retreating in a controlled formation. The party use Spell, arrow and blade to cut down any remaining foe trying to stop them. They manage to pull the sewer grate off and they begin descending into the sewers. One by one they jump down into the darkness, fighting back the remaining foes. With only three of the party left, and Captain Greycastle and all her men now rescued into the sewers, Vorgansharax swoops down, his massive bulk breaking and smashing the tops of the buildings, scattering broken roof tiles onto the paving.

- The Dragon’s massive claws reach out towards Gim and Varis, intent on grabbing them to sweep them up into the air. Gim manages to deflect the claws away with his Greatsword and Varis dives to the ground, rolling away from the claws.

- Gim runs towards the sewer hole, “That’s it! I’m out of here!” and then leaps into the dark hole. He is quickly followed by the last two members of the party.

- Captain Greycastle, who is now holding a lit torch speaks, “Quickly follow me. I will lead any pursuers to the Guild traps and lead us to our hideout.”

<And as the party once again race through the sewers of Phlan, lucky to be alive and feeling elated at saving Captain Greycastle, that is the end of the session.>

XP Allocation

Group - Combined (This is equally divided by the number of players who were involved)

Quests (Only quests that are completed or rendered undoable, during this session, are shown here)

- “The Radiant Light” - Recover The SunBlade = 200 XP

- “Wonder Of Ages” - Recover Barrel Of Radiance (1/2 Barrel) = 200 XP

- “Rally To Me!” - Rescue Captain Greycastle = 5000 XP

- “Remember The Fallen” - Loss Of Civilian Life in Rescue Penalty = NIL

- “Lost Brothers In Arms” - Loss Of Military Life in Rescue Penalty = -400 XP Penalty

Creatures Overcome

- Radiant Spirit = 1400 XP

- Souls Of The Past = 1800 XP

- Dragonfang Enforcer = 1800 XP

- Dragonwing Enforcers = 3600 XP

Individual (This is only given to that person and is not divided amongst all players)

Special Bonus (Outstanding Role Playing)

Nil

XP Levels and Player Allocations

Player : Start +  Received = Total  (Notes)

Rob : 133466 + 2429 = 135895

Arthur : 106934 + 1943 = 104332

John : 102875 + 1457 = 104332

Travis : 122807 + 1943 = 124750

Paul : 112290 + 1943 = 114233

Bob : 124129 + 1943 = 126072

NPC (Naillae) : + (972)

#D&D #DnD #5th #5e #ROT

[jakattax]

I like it when you talk about d&d!

This is going to be long but I want to know more about your hot boi wizard Kurtis!

How old is your character?

Are your parents still alive?

If one or both of your parents are dead when and how did they die?

Who raised you after your parents died?

Do you have any siblings?

Have any of them died?

If any siblings have died how did they die?

What do your siblings do?

Is your character married?

Does your character have children?

What social class is your character from?

How has their upbringing affected their world view?

How did your character get started in their chosen class?

Does your character have any heroes or inspirational figures?

Does your character have any significant personal items?

Is your character religious?

Is your character guided by a prophecy?

What is your character’s view on magic?

Has your character ever served in the military?

Has your character ever been arrested? What for?

How did your character meet his current adventuring companions?

Has your character ever crossed anyone?

Does your character have any enemies?

What are your character’s goals in life?

How important is the accumulation of wealth?

If your character died tomorrow what would they be remembered for?

Where did your character learn or train their skills?

1:) Kurt is 24.

2:) Yup, Emeric and Anna-Sophia. Bad blood with his papa.

3:) Yup, Dolores. Hasn’t seen her in a year or two so would be nice to find her in-game.

4:) Nope Dolores is still alive. I hope haha god knows what my DM has done.

5:) She runs some of the family business matters. Was supposed to be Kurt but he went off to wizard school and went mad so…

6:) No. Probably never will be.

7:) Nooooo he’s bisexual but leans to more liking men so it’s out the question in his mind.

8:) upper class, like total rich boy from old aristocratic house. But he’s broke as shit now.

9:) oh jeesh, I mean he likes his creature comforts, he doesn’t throw around “I was rich I want a goose feathered pillow” but definitely still carries that arrogance and vanity and cockiness of being a rich kid. But worldview is totally chaotic so it’s kinda “we’re all in the same boat, nothing matters, so what you want so long as you aren’t killing people, fuck it”

10:) minor talent in magic read a few books in his family’s library and papa bought him into the most expensive magic academy.

11:) yeh! One of his hobbies his poetry so poets of his world like Varden Tulance. Haven’t talked with my DM if Varden is dead or alive but if he is then Kurt would deffo want to meet him.

12:) oh yeh, a note left by somebody who released him from the attic-prison. His og purile doublet that’s the last relic of being a rich kid and his spell book, a gift from his sister.

13:) nope.

14:) nope.

15:) As a wizard Kurt obviously thinks that magic is the supreme force in his world, and wants to really explore it and experiment and push the boundaries particularly with planar travel. But it is dangerous and needs time to study and do properly.

16:) nope.

17:) oh yeh. Kurt was a trouble maker, out of the campaign I think he was a rake and would have smashed up bars and been a little tear away enough to get him behind bars until people knew he was a Depoer and swiftly let out. In game we fucked up a mission BIG TIME the priest died and the guards thought we did it, had my hands tied and gagged so no magic for me. But Kurt is use to prison, he’s chill with it.

18:) Kurt was sleeping in some shit hole tavern and tried to pickpocket them, got caught by our goliath barbarian and asked me to join them. Met the rest of the gang on a ship just chatting on a long journey and that’s how the Barrel Bastards formed.

19:) oh yehhhhhh his papa Emeric, my former Archmage Dena and a powerful drow freedom-fighter turned demon possessed terrorist Ardath Yesternight.

20:) yup. Hazred, the wizard at the academy who manipulated him to take part in a ritual which turned his hair shock white and temporarily made him insane. We’ve met him once but he’s gone again and the beautiful thing is some weird fungus man erased my memories of him, so when I meet him again I’ve got no idea what to did to Kurt. That’s fucked up.

21:) to reunite with his old school friends, to find out why my papa locked me in the attic when I needed the love of my family, to right the wrongs in my life, to be happy and to bury my past for the sake of happiness. And to be a powerful wizard obv like big wizard tower type of mage.

22:) big. Once a very rich kid now broke, hence all his pickpocketing. Material components are expensive! Our DM is relatively stingey with money so any opportunity Kurt can line with pockets with gold he’s taking it, even if it breaks the law. Chaotic neutral yall!

23:) being the ghost of balkar, the made mage to lord Emeric, the shame of the Depoer family, the freak. But to my friends; king Kurtis, the magic man, the wizard who never says it but loves his friends passionately, enough to literally send a woman to the nine hells who hurt them. A good man who’s doing his best protecting those who he loves.

24:) The Chromatica Academy. The most expensive and the only magic academy in the continents. Got expelled though, y’know going mad after trying to (unknowingly) summon lords of the abyss and 3 accidental student deaths is never good.

That was long! But fun, Kurt is my favourite character I’ve played. More questions like this are more than welcome.

#d&d oc #dnd oc #original character #kurtis #wizard

[korora12]

Ladybug Week Day 5 - AU

Day 4 Day 6

Word Count: 7169

“So what are we thinking?” Ser Schnee asked. “Long-lost aunt?”

Doubtful, Crescent Rose said, the spirit’s voice echoing in Ruby’s head. My ties to the Rose lineage aren’t what they used to be, but I don’t remember ever knowing this woman.

“Crescent Rose doesn’t think so,” Ruby repeated for the rest of the room’s sake.

The woman in question was presently lying unconscious in a guest bedroom in Beacon Castle, Ruby’s home, with the entirety of the Summer Rose Court gathered around her. She looked almost exactly like Ruby did, only aged by about a decade. Her style of dress was strange, though, unlike anything she’d ever seen someone wear. She wore no armor, but her cloak was made of a fabric so strong that nothing they did could tear or rend it, and yet Glynda assured them it wasn’t enchanted. Most bizarre of all, though, was her weapon. Ruby had thought it was no more than a poorly designed spear, but Nora had immediately recognized it as a weapon she’d called a gun. Though even she’d remarked on how it’s design was unlike any gun she’d seen before.

“Perhaps she’s traveled here from the future?” Penny suggested.

“Everything we know about how the world works says that would be impossible,” Glynda assured her. Yet, despite saying so, she was the only one not giving Penny a strange look for suggesting such a thing.

The woman began to stir. Her eyes blinked open; silver, Ruby noted, another point of familiarity. Her eyes traveled slowly around the room, still half-lidded and groggy. “Is this an intervention?” she muttered. “I swear I’ve been taking it easy on the cookies.” Then her gaze landed on Ruby, standing close to the bedside, and stopped moving. She blinked a few times, rubbed her eyes as if to clear the sleep from them, then suddenly shot upwards.

Weapons were drawn, but when the woman made no further movement beyond slowly raising her unarmed hands, Ruby ordered them to relax.

“I don’t suppose anyone could tell me where I am?”

“You’re in Beacon Castle,” Ruby answered, summoning as much royal authority as she could. “My home. A portal opened in my garden, and when we arrived, you were passed out on the ground. Care to explain who you are and where you came from?”

The woman met Ruby’s gaze unflinchingly. “My name is Ruby Rose.”

A soft “Oho!” came from Penny’s direction, but Ruby refused to break eye contact with the stranger.

“Would I be right to guess that your name is also Ruby Rose?” she continued.

Blake answered before Ruby could. “She is Rubilacxe Rose, Queen of Vale and Surrounding Territories. Attempting to impersonate her is a serious crime that could earn you the death sentence.” She had positioned herself on the opposite side of the bed, so that when the stranger faced Ruby, she had to turn away from Blake.

The impostor didn’t react to her presence, nor even turned around as she addressed her. “You must be Blake, then.” She made a wordless sound, more a whine than anything else, and flopped back down on the bed. “This is the last time we take a cleanup job from a mad scientist. I don’t care how well he pays.”

Looks of confusion were traded generously around the room until Weiss opted to pick up the trailing end of the, apparently two-way, interrogation. “You still haven’t answered the Queen’s question. Where are you from and why did you enter the Castle Grounds without permission?”

The impostor propped herself up with her arms, not quite sitting, but no longer laying either. Ruby noted that she was acting very casual and unconcerned, despite being surrounded by a dozen armed people currently holding her captive. “Does the name Eltanin mean anything to you?”

The name sounded very vaguely familiar to Ruby, but she couldn’t say why. Fortunately, Ozpin was there to save the day. “I believe there’s a small settlement far to the northwest, near the edge of the Kata territories, by that name.”

“Huh,” the impostor said. “Well, that’s not where I’m from. Me and my crew, we live on a ship called Crescent Rose; I’m it’s captain.” Crescent Rose bristled in her mind, indignant at sharing a name with a mere boat. “We pick up work here and there to get by; we’d taken a cleanup job for this scientist named Arthur Watts. One of his labs had been destroyed by an explosion, so we were supposed to cart the wreckage off to another location for him to rebuild. Of course, Watts is the kind of guy who thinks impossible is for people with less than three doctorates, so we probably shouldn’t have been handling anything there without radiation suits and ten-foot…” she cocked her head to the side. “What are those grabby things called that let you pick up stuff from far away? I’m blanking on their name right now. Whatever, it doesn’t matter, mistakes were made, is my point.” She hummed for a moment, staring off into space in thought. “The last thing I remember was finding a piece of Watt’s tech that looked to still be in one piece. Then everything went white and I woke up here.” She returned her gaze to meet Ruby’s. “Was there a small, black box nearby where you found me?”

“Nope,” Yang answered. She and Blake had been the only ones with her when they’d found the impostor. “Just you and your gun.” She pointed at Nora, who still maintained a firm grip on the weapon.

“You’re claiming to have been teleported into the castle grounds against your will?” Glynda asked. “That kind of magic is far beyond the work of any but the strongest of mages. Furthermore, we’ve already confirmed that you came from beyond this plane; you can’t claim otherwise.”

By which she means I confirmed it, Crescent Rose said.

The impostor shook her head. “Not magic, science. And I’m not just from another plane; I think I’m from another universe altogether.” She paused. “Erm, that might not be the best explanation. How should I put this?”

Ruby wasn’t following the explanation anymore. Firstly, magic was a part of the world that could be studied by science the same as anything else, but the impostor seemed to consider them separate things. Then she claimed to be from outside the plane of Vale, yet not from another plane? Was she claiming to be from the void between planes? Only spirits were supposed to be able to survive there.

Fortunately, Glynda seemed to be following better. “You’re referring to the multisystem theory?” she asked.

The impostor brightened. “Maybe? What is that?”

Glynda nodded. “It’s a mostly disregarded hypothesis that there could be other planar systems, or universes, beyond our own. With enough of these universes, you would expect to see some similarities or repetitions between them.”

“That’s close enough,” the impostor replied. “I’m not claiming to be the queen, but I am Ruby Rose. My crewmates are Blake Belladonna, Weiss Schnee, and Yang Xiao-Long, and if I ended up here, the others probably did too.”

Ruby shared looks with the three women in question. “There were three other portals opened at the same time as yours, but they were further away.”

“One of the portals opened inside the Curia,” Glynda added. “The wizards informed us that a crystalline golem came through it, which they’ve taken into custody for now. One of your friends?”

The impostor – no, the other Ruby – nodded. “That’s probably Weiss.”

Ser Schnee turned to leave the room. “A golem? I should like to see that. I’ll be taking the Knights Auffallend to the Curia, then. The wizards aren’t set up to hold prisoners for long. Your Majesty.” She bowed, then left.

“Right,” Ruby said, still trying to wrap her head around the situation. “We’ve already sent soldiers out to the other two locations, but we won’t hear back from them for a while. One portal opened in the western desert, and the other a bit closer, but to the south.”

“No offense to your soldiers,” the other Ruby said, finally sitting up properly and throwing her legs over the side of the bed towards Ruby. “But the moment my crewmates wake up they’re going to disappear. Especially Blake. If we want to find them, we’ll have to go ourselves.”

It was a refreshing change of pace to watch Blake sneak up on someone else for once. She moved with all the grace and stealth of a panther, every movement exact and silent, not even stirring the air as she placed the bone-white blade of her hand scythe against Ruby’s doppelganger’s neck beneath her cloak. Blake pressed against her back, mouth to her ear. “You’re still our prisoner. You don’t get to go anywhere without permission.”

Ruby’s counterpart didn’t even flinch, instead grinning mischievously. “Are you going to tie me to the bed, then, Blake? I hope you make the others leave before you have your way with me.”

Ruby tried to hide the blush that rose to her cheeks in response to the images her response conjured. Blake seemed equally distracted, which the other Ruby also noticed. In an instant their positions were switched, Blake pinned to the bed with the other Ruby’s arm at her neck. She was grinning as she taunted, “Unless you’d rather me be on top?”

Ruby grabbed her counterpart’s hood. “I might be able to accept that you’re some alternate version of me.” With a slight boost from Crescent Rose, she pulled hard enough to send her flying across the room. “But that doesn’t mean you get to flirt with my fiancée.”

The other Ruby stumbled, missed her step, and landed with a crash against the wall, sliding slowly to the ground. “Fiancée?” she muttered, sounding slightly dazed and looking like her worldview was in the middle of being redefined.

Ruby wondered, with everything that had happened today, if she had a similar look on her face.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Despite the potential risks involved, Ruby had ultimately decided to let this Captain Rose accompany them to the Southern Forest to investigate the opened portal. Her Majesty rode atop Celica, one of Yang’s sand dragons, sharing the saddle with their prisoner, who claimed to have never ridden a horse before. Jaune and Penny rode alongside the queen, with Blake taking up the rear. The rest of the court were either investigating the other portals or had remained in the castle.

Blake’s position gave her a good vantage point on the prisoner. The woman’s weapon had been returned to her and she now carried it slung loosely across her back. Ruby seemed to trust her, and they were heading into grimm territory, so it was best for everyone to be armed.

Blake still wasn’t sure about her story. The idea that she came from a different world with different physical laws, that nonetheless produced similar people, seemed completely bizarre. And yet, it would explain many of her strange traits. Her looks could be chalked up to coincidence, and knowledge about the court members was hardly a secret, but that wouldn’t explain her lack of reaction upon discovering Penny was a robot. Not to mention her aura, or lack thereof. Her soul was quiet, nearly impossible to feel. Even when they’d been on the bed together, close enough to share breath, Blake had barely felt a glimmer from the silver-eyed woman. Her lack of spiritual presence was unsettling, especially in light of her significant physical presence.

Which is to say that she was certainly cute enough to be Ruby.

Blake rode a bit closer, letting her keen ears drop eaves on the pair of lookalikes.

“How weird,” Ruby was saying. “A whole species of living crystals? It’s hard to imagine.”

Captain Rose shrugged. “Yeah, well, Weiss is still Weiss. You’ll see when you meet her.”

“Is that it, then? Two kingdoms of humans, Vale and Vacuo, plus faunus and materia?”

“There’s one more intelligent species,” the captain said. “The qedem are shapeshifters from the planet Mistral. Most of them can look human, but their natural form looks like a big lizard crossed with a bat.”

“Like a dragon?” Ruby asked.

“What’s a dragon?”

Ruby patted their mount. “Like this guy, but bigger and with wings.”

“They’re a little bulkier, but otherwise you’ve got the idea.” Captain Rose began waving her hands about, as if trying to paint a picture in the air. “They’ve got feathers and scales and can range in size from small dog to large horse. My world’s Ren, Nora, and Pyrrha are all qedem.”

The thought of Nora having the bulk and destructive capabilities of a dragon was a bit terrifying, Blake was unashamed to admit. She did her best to scrub the image from her mind, grateful that they wouldn’t be meeting any time soon.

“Oh,” the captain continued, “and I guess there’s proteans too; that’s what Yang is. Proteans are technically human, but one of their parents is a qedem who was in human form when… well, when they began.”

Blake tried to picture what that would look like. Would Yang be covered in feathers? Scales? Would she have wings growing out of her back? Or would both parents appearing human mean that she would look completely human too? The concept of heredity wasn’t very well understood, so Blake could only make guesses until she finally met her. If she even existed, she reminded herself.

“Your world sounds really strange,” Ruby said.

“Mine does?” Captain Rose sounded incredulous. “At least we don’t have spirits and magic portals.”

“Exactly!” Ruby exclaimed. “You have no magic! How do you manage to get anything done? Especially with the grimm everywhere.”

“Technology.” Captain Rose swung her weapon around her torso, pointing it at the forest ahead of them. “If we get the chance, I’ll show you what this bad boy can do.”

Ruby looked over the gun, a gleam visible in her eyes, even from the poor angle Blake sat at. “I look forward to it. Does he have a name?”

“A name?”

“Of course. A proper weapon deserves a proper name.”

“I used to name my weapons, but it made it harder to upgrade to new ones.” She didn’t name her weapons? How un-Ruby-like. “Now I just name ships. Does yours have a name, then?”

Ruby patted her glaive, where it was strapped to her mount’s side. “Yup. This is Little Thorn.”

Captain Rose chuckled. “Thorn, huh? The perfect weapon for a Rose. Mind if I borrow it?”

“Go right ahead,” Ruby offered.

The captain raised her weapon aloft. “Then from here on out you shall be known as Iron Thorn.” She lowered the weapon, adjusting the strap so it once again hung on her back. “He’s got a brother back home who I’ll call Bright Thorn.”

“You have to treat your weapons right,” Ruby lectured. “They’re like your children, but as long as you do right by them, they’ll never let you down.”

“I know something about that. Speaking of children,” Captain Rose said, changing the subject, “and their various prerequisites, you mentioned that you were engaged?” she briefly turned to meet Blake’s gaze, probably noting how close she’d ridden. Blake drew closer still.

“The wedding is scheduled to take place next week,” she said. “Your arrival has been interfering with the preparations.”

“Blake,” Ruby chastised, “please play nice.”

“So soon?” Captain Rose asked. “You two have known each other for a while, then?”

“A little over a year,” Ruby answered. “I would’ve been okay with waiting a bit longer, but, well.” She shrugged. “Politics, you know?”

“Being Queen sounds like a tough job.”

“It is.” Ruby sighed. “I think I envy you a bit. One ship sounds a whole lot easier to run than a country.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” the captain disagreed. “Keep everyone safe, keep everyone fed. Same thing, really, just on a smaller scale.”

The pair’s moment of commiseration, powerful despite its brevity, was suddenly shattered by several loud screeches. Mounts were halted and weapons were drawn; everyone recognized the soul-piercing scream of a grimm about to attack.

They were well into the forest at this point, trees surrounding them on all sides. A perfect place for an ambush, if one had the smarts to make use of that. Which grimm usually didn’t, unless someone was controlling them again.

The first of the grimm dropped from the trees ahead of them. It was a large beast, monkey-like in shape but at least seven feet tall. A loud crack split the air and it went slack, already fading as it crashed into the ground. Blake’s eyes were drawn to the source of the sound. Captain Rose had slipped off the back of the sand dragon and was standing with her weapon against her shoulder, pointed up into the trees. Three more cracks signaled the fall of three more grimm, these ones not even leaving the trees before they died.

Despite herself, Blake was impressed. A skilled longbowman with enchanted arrows would still have difficulty making those shots. Blake wasn’t sure how much was the weapon and how much its wielder, but it was indisputably effective.

“You’re from around here, Blake,” Ruby said, joining her counterpart on the ground. “Do you know what kind of grimm these are?”

“They look like beringels,” she answered, “except I’ve never seen beringels with wings before.”

The rest of the grimm attacked as one. Leaping from the forest cover, they circled the group on wings too small to hold their bulk.

Blake was suddenly too busy staying alive to give more than the least amount of attention to her companions. She caught glimpses of Jaune, sticking close to Ruby and keeping grimm off her with his shield, and Penny, wielding a pair of identical swords and tearing through the grimm like they were wet paper. Even the impostor Ruby was holding her own, proving just as lethal in close combat as she was at range.

A pair of beringel swooped through the air at her. She ducked low, letting them pass overhead, then turned and launched her chain-scythe into the side of the nearest one. It struck deep, lodging itself in the creature’s ribcage. She was being pulled along as it flew, slowly arcing itself upwards. She moved with the momentum, launching herself into the air and swinging around until she was above it. A sharp tug brought her down on its back, and Gambol soon found its mark in the creature’s neck. It fell to the ground, fading even as it plowed through the dirt.

Blake looked around as she landed, trying to locate the other one that had attacked her. When she found it, she froze. Even if she could move, there was no way she would make it in time. Instead, she was forced to watch the scene unfold as if in slow motion.

Penny was in the thick of battle, taking on all comers and showing no hesitation as she fought multiple foes at once. Jaune and Ruby had stayed close together. Crescent Rose’s power was leaking out in small bursts, allowing Ruby’s semblance to keep most of the large creatures at bay using bursts of wind laden with rose petals. The few who got through were quickly struck down by either Crocea Mors or Little Thorn. Captain Rose, however, had ended up separate from the rest of the group.

One of the beringel, perhaps the one who’d attacked Blake moments ago, had flown up high, hiding itself in the shadows of the forest canopy. These grimm could move remarkably quietly, the movement of their wings barely registering even to her sharp, feline ears. There was no way the captain could hear it as it came down behind her.

“Ruby!” she shouted in warning, already knowing it would be too late. It raised a giant fist above its head, ready to bring it down on its target. Blake’s breath was caught in her lungs, wrapped around her chest and squeezing her heart.

Then, in an instant, the creature’s head was severed from its body. Smoke poured from the gaping hole, steadily traveling down its body as it faded away. Wreathed in the dissipating cloud was a woman with a familiar face. A few minor features, like the shade of her skin, were different, but the overall resemblance was undeniable. It was a face she’d seen in mirrors and pools of water; it was her own.

“You should really be watching your back, Ruby,” the woman, the other Blake, said.

Captain Rose whipped her gun around, pointing the end of it over the other Blake’s shoulder. Another loud crack and another beringel fell from the sky. “How can I,” she retorted, “when I’m so busy watching yours?”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Between the addition of a new fighter and the beringel’s slowly decreasing numbers, the grimm soon made the decision to cut their losses and flee. Total casualties: zero. Or negative one, since they’d managed to find Blake during the battle.

Ruby Rose, Captain of the starship Crescent Rose and voted Best Girlfriend in Two Universes by the only person whose opinion on the subject mattered, was overjoyed to see Blake alive and unharmed. She’d been doing her best to hide it, but she’d been worried ever since she’d woken up.

Her worry eased further when they returned to the castle to find Weiss and, before long, Yang equally safe and sound. The two Weisses couldn’t have looked more different, and boy was it weird to see Weiss as a human, but the Yangs could’ve passed for twins, despite their age difference. She had already overheard them whispering about swapping outfits and both feared and anticipated whatever hijinks awaited.

With the four of them reunited, Ruby had hoped that returning home would be as simple as flipping a switch. Unfortunately, it seemed this universe was no more generous than her own. The black box had come through with Weiss and had been returned to her when the human Weiss, Ser Schnee, had picked her up from where she’d come through. Unfortunately, all attempts to activate it had resulted in complete failure. At Glynda’s recommendation, they’d returned it to the wizards of the Curia, allowing them to study it in hopes that their magic could do what Ruby’s jiggery-pokery couldn’t.

That left the four of them with nothing to do for over a week, none of them allowed outside the castle walls unsupervised for numerous reasons, mostly to do with their appearances resembling important political figures. Ruby was about to go mad from boredom when the day of the wedding finally came.

She really wasn’t sure what to think about it. The wedding of Ruby Rose and Blake Belladonna. It wasn’t something she’d given much thought to, her relationship with her own Blake still too young to be going down that rabbit hole. And yet here she was, a guest at her own wedding, getting a glimpse of what might, someday, be.

Although she suspected her own wedding wouldn’t ever be so grand.

The ceremony was being held outdoors, in the courtyard opposite the royal stables. The castle gates had been propped open, allowing anyone, even commoners, to enter and watch. Humans and faunus intermingled peacefully, an event, Ruby had been told, that was unfortunately rare of late. Seats of honor were reserved for delegates and representatives of the surrounding lands and neighboring planes, as well as close friends and family. Ruby scanned their faces, but aside from the members of the Summer Rose Court, she recognized few of them. There was Oobleck, an old co-worker of hers from Beacon and a librarian and researcher in this world, but she’d already met him while staying in the castle. The same went for Port, another member of the castle staff. She thought she spied Coco, unsurprisingly dressed like a noblewoman, talking with a much less well-dressed Velvet, as well as the less pleasant sight of Cardin Winchester, looking like a clergyman, of all things. Far outside the castle walls, all throughout the city, sounds of music floated through the air. Everyone was celebrating the Queen’s marriage.

Ruby and her crew hadn’t been given seats of honor, and instead were swaddled in heavy, identity-concealing cloaks and standing amongst the common masses. Ruby kept looking around, trying to spot any more familiar faces in the crowd. Was that the mayor of Evernight she spied?

The sound of trumpets signaled the beginning of the ceremony. The main doors of the castle were flung wide open, and out stepped Queen Rubilacxe Rose. She was dressed in a shining white suit of plate armor, trimmed in gold and etched with images of roses twisting about it. Underneath was a wine-red shirt, the tails of which reached down to the backs of her knees, and black pants. Atop her head was a crown of silver molded in the shape of roses, a single red stone sitting front-and-center, embedded in a crescent moon. At her side, his arm wrapped around hers, was Taiyang Xiao Long.

As inappropriate as it would be, Ruby nonetheless felt the urge to rush over and greet him. She hadn’t seen her own father in person in over a year, not since she’d left Vale. Sure, there were video chats, but bandwidth was expensive and unreliable so far from the rest of the galaxy, so such conversations were unhappily few.

Instead of rushing over and ruining the wedding for everyone, Ruby instead took the time, as the duo made their way down the aisle, to imagine herself in her counterpart’s shoes. They didn’t look comfortable. Ruby had imagined what her wedding day might look like when she was younger. She was usually wearing a dress in those daydreams, sometimes a suit, but always cloth. Metal armor looked so uncomfortable. Yang had a set of power armor she used to battle grimm with, on the rare occasion she wasn’t piloting a ship to fight them. Ruby had tried to fit in it once, and the attempt had done nothing good to her body.

What felt like an eternity later, but was in fact only a few minutes, the father/daughter duo finally reached the table where Ozpin stood ready to officiate. Her father bowed deeply to the Queen, then took a seat nearby. Then the trumpets sounded again, and a second pair exited the castle.

All eyes in the courtyard were on Blake. She was gorgeous, though Ruby would admit to being biased about the matter. She wore a dress so long that a young faunus girl followed behind her to lift the end off the ground so it didn’t trail through the dirt. It was two-toned; the bodice was white, with a low neckline and thin straps in lieu of sleeves. It was decorated with patterns of stones that glistened when they caught the sunlight and stretched past the waistline in loose loops and curls. The skirt, bell-shaped and made of overlapping layers, was dyed a purple so dark it nearly looked black. She didn’t wear a veil; instead, she had a crown of her own, this one made of actual flowers. Roses were woven together by their stems, each a shade of golden-yellow that matched Blake’s eyes, save for a single red rose near her left ears. An intricate braid interwoven with strings of polished wooden beads trailed down her back.

Ruby’s breath was caught in her throat the moment Blake Belladonna of the Southern Forest walked through the castle doors. At her side, her partner inhaled sharply. Ruby spared a moment to glance over at her girlfriend. It wasn’t awe that held her in place the way it did everyone else.

She turned back to the soon-to-be princess, trying to figure out what had set her partner off. Walking the bride down the aisle was a man Ruby didn’t recognize, dressed in fur-lined robes and possessing a pair of horns jutting out of his auburn hair.

“Do you know him?” Ruby whispered.

“That’s Adam,” Blake responded in the same hushed tone.

Oh. Adam had been Blake’s abusive ex-boyfriend. While Ruby still didn’t know many details, she could imagine how strange it would be to see such a person handing her alternate off at her wedding.

“I guess they have a different relationship in this world,” Blake muttered.

Ruby drew close to her, threading their fingers together and bumping shoulders. Blake squeezed her hand in response.

The couple of the day were united at last. Like Tai, Adam bowed to the queen and retreated to his seat, though Ruby noticed his bow seemed a bit shallower than Tai’s. Ozpin began the ceremony, speaking loudly enough to be heard all throughout the hushed crowd.

“We are gathered here today to witness the union of human and faunus. But more than that, we witness a union of love and commitment that has withstood countless tests.”

He continued on in the same vein, referencing events that Ruby had been told about but not witnessed and praising the couple for their feats. The speech was full of politically-aligned language with heavy emphasis on themes of strengthening the kingdom and unifying the two species, and seemed to say very little about the women actually getting married.

If Ruby had to guess, she’d say the two brides weren’t hearing a word of it, tuning it out in favor of each other’s presence.

Vows were exchanged, promises to support each other and to support the kingdom, and then Blake was anointed with rosewater and welcomed into the royal family. Finally, rings were exchanged. Queen Ruby placed a silver band on Princess Blake’s hand, then received a gold one in return.

Moments before the two could kiss and seal the deal, a piercing screech split the air and tore a portal open overhead. In an instant, the confusing swirl of emotions churning in Ruby’s stomach settled into something more familiar. Through the gap in space, Ruby saw a formless ocean of reds and blacks, twisting and gyrating to an ever-present song of rage and violence. A single massive claw gripped the edge of the portal, and an equally-sized grimm mask soon followed. It had the approximate shape of a deer’s skull, with sharp teeth and a brace of antlers that wound together as they plunged skyward, all tangled and intertwined like branches of an ancient tree, complete with tendrils of ivy and patches of moss hanging off.

Expectant cheers instead came out as screams of terror as panic drove the crowd into a frenzy. And yet, despite the pushing and pulling of people trying desperately to be anywhere except where they presently stood, a path was cleared between the royal couple and the woman Ruby had spotted in the crowd earlier. Her hair was black and her dress red, decorated with gold lining and glass jewelry. A pair of curved swords were strapped cross-wise on her back.

“For shame,” the woman said, her silken voice somehow perfectly understandable despite the panicked screams filling the air. “Lord Ozpin, you forgot the most important part.” She held out her hands palms up, and flames began to pour forth from them. “You didn’t ask if anyone has reason to object.”

The queen turned to her betrothed, stealing a quick kiss and sealing the deal. Then she tore the cloth off the table they stood at, revealing her and Blake’s weapons underneath.

She seemed to have the situation under control, so Ruby instead chose to focus on her crew, who were having a hard time staying together as people jostled them from all angles.

“I can’t see a thing in this cloak,” Weiss complained. “What’s happening?”

“Trouble,” was all Yang replied.

“Finally.” Weiss threw off her cloak and drew her blade in a flourish. “Who are we fighting?” She sounded excited. Spending so much time with Yang, Weiss was starting to pick up parts of her personality. “Oh,” she said as she turned her face to the portal above. “How did I not notice that?”

“From what she’s told me,” Ruby said, “the queen should be able to handle that on her own. We’ve got other fish to fry.” Though the alpha grimm had managed to catch everyone’s attention, other portals were opening throughout the courtyard, letting hordes of smaller grimm through. Ruby whipped Iron Thorn out from under her own heavy garments and chambered a round. “It’s time to repay our hosts for taking care of us for so long.”

Yang leapt high in the air, the heat from her armor activating burning off her extraneous outer layers, and landed atop a grimm moments before it could sink its teeth into a crying child. The rest of the crew followed her example.

The battle was intense, spilling out of the courtyard and into the city at large. Still, Ruby and her crew played their part, killing grimm and saving lives wherever they could. When everything was over, things had turned out better than expected. Casualties of the attack were few, and deaths even fewer. The alpha grimm had been cleaved in twain by the queen when she turned her glaive into a giant, glowing scythe, though not before it did significant damage to the castle walls, and the rest of the grimm were either driven off or killed.

After the all clear was sounded, Ruby and her crew retreated to the castle foyer, tending their wounds and trying not to draw attention to themselves. Most of the wedding crowd had been funneled inside after the attack began, letting the castle’s magical defenses tear apart any grimm that tried to step foot within, and many still remained.

The queen was making the rounds, talking softly with people, calming the worried, and generally being present and visible. When she reached Ruby’s little corner, where the four of them sat leaning against a pillar, she stopped.

“Thank you for your help today,” she said.

“Of course,” Ruby responded. “Did you get the woman responsible for all this?”

“Unfortunately, no. She managed to escape during the battle.” The queen sighed. “We figured something would happen today. Between the recent change in grimm behavior and the appearance of mutants, like those flying beringel from the forest, it seemed likely someone was controlling the grimm again. If they were going to attack, today was a likely day to do it.”

“It would’ve been nice to have a heads up,” Blake said, “if you saw this coming.”

“Sorry,” the queen said, and she did look genuinely apologetic. “You guys were kind of an unexpected addition to the situation and I didn’t want to put more on your shoulders than you deserved.”

“I understand,” Ruby assured her. “Sorry your wedding day got ruined like this.”

“Oh, pshah.” The queen waved her hand through the air. “This wasn’t the real wedding. Today was for the city and the nobles. We have a more private ceremony planned for the day after tomorrow, friends and family only.” She hesitated a moment, then continued. “You guys have more than proven yourselves to be friends today. If you’d like to stay a bit longer, you’d definitely be invited.”

“Sure,” Yang said. “It’s not like we’ve got anywhere else to go.”

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you guys about that.” The queen was fidgeting, a sign of anxiety that Ruby shared with her. “Today’s been so hectic I haven’t had the chance to say anything yet, but late last night the we received a message from the Curia. They’re pretty sure they can open a portal back to your world. I’d understand if you wanted to return home as soon as possible; we could do it tomorrow, if you’d like.”

Ruby shared glances with each of her crewmates, finding a general consensus in each of their looks. She stood from her spot and bowed at her waist. “Your Majesty, we would be honored to attend your wedding. Home can wait a little while longer.”

x-x-x-x-x-x-x

As promised, the second ceremony was a smaller affair. It was held in the throne room, with chairs that Blake and her crewmates were actually allowed to use this time. Most of the people present were court members, and the rest had been filled in as to their existence, so there was no need for heavy, identity-concealing clothing this time. Blake recognized most of the people present, either from having met them here or having met their counterparts in her own world; the only exceptions were the blonde boy with a monkey tail who sat next to Velvet and Coco on Blake’s counterpart’s side of the aisle, and a freckle-faced boy sitting next to Ruby’s uncle Qrow on the queen’s side.

This time the local Blake, now a princess (and wasn’t that an entertaining thought) was dressed in something that resembled a tuxedo. She wore a white shirt with puffy sleeves and silver cufflinks, as well as a black vest and trousers. Atop this was a black, fur-trimmed half-cloak that hung over her left shoulder and was held around her neck by a silver brooch. She entered first, accompanied again by her Adam.

Blake had wanted to talk her about that, to pull her aside the day before and ask all the questions spinning through her head. But when she’d tried, the words wouldn’t come out. The plan was to leave the next day, so her chances to try again were slowly dwindling away.

All unpleasant thoughts were blown away the moment Ruby, the other one, the queen, stepped into the room. Her dress had short sleeves and a neckline that ran along her collarbone. The bodice had been fitted tightly, so that it perfectly hugged the curve of her waist. The skirt was relatively thin, though still big enough to leave a trail, and the whole thing was dyed a deep red that darkened to black as it reached the bottom. Thin gold bracelets adorned each of her wrists, which paired with a tight, matching necklace. The simple outfit belied the elegance with which she wore it. Blake was unable to tear her eyes away from the sight of her walking down the aisle, though she maintained enough clarity to reach out blindly and grasp her girlfriend’s hand.

There was no bowl of rosewater this time, just Ozpin, Ruby, and Blake. “We’re gathered her today to celebrate love,” Ozpin began. “Today we forgo speeches about politics, interspecies relations, and the strength of the kingdom, and instead find joy as two people who love each other dearly make the promise to continue together until the end. Ruby, Blake, if you two would join hands.”

The princess raised her right hand, the queen her left, and the two wrapped their pinkies around each other’s.

“Ruby,” Ozpin prompted, “your vows.”

The queen nodded. “I wrote mine down, because I knew I’d be too nervous today to remember everything I wanted to say. But then I lost the paper I’d written it on, so I really hope I get this right.” She cleared her throat and began. “The first time I saw you, you stood with such confidence and certainty that if you’d told me you were royalty, I would’ve believed you. I’ve often thought since then that you’d make a far better queen than I could. But fate has made me queen and I can only make you my princess. As queen I’m supposed to say that I have to put my kingdom first, but I can’t. Your love means too much to me; I would throw everything out for your sake. If everything and everyone displeases you, then we can run away together and live our lives in secret. I vow to stand by your side, wherever you go. I vow to support you, in everything you try. I vow to love you, when I’m old and gray and can’t remember my own name, I’ll still remember you.”

Then it was the princess’s turn. “I never expected any of this,” she said. “Not even in my wildest dreams. You’ve made me the happiest person in the world, Ruby Rose. You did this, not as the Queen of Vale, but as yourself. I didn’t think much of you at first, but I’ve never been happier to be wrong about someone. I can’t promise you that our life will be easy; the tasks ahead of us are daunting, to say the least. I wish I could whisk you away to some tiny cottage on a lake, where we could live out the rest of our days in quiet bliss. But you’ve chosen to live your life on the difficult path, and I will love you forever for that. That’s not a promise, it’s just a fact; at this point, nothing could make me love you less. A vow is meant to be kept, a decision made every day for the rest of our lives, so I vow to stay. I vow to never run away from a problem that can be faced head on. I vow that whatever struggles may come between us, I’ll address them alongside you, as your wife.”

Blake found her gaze latched to the royal couple and unable to move. She couldn’t bring herself to look at her girlfriend right now. The words her counterpart spoke weighed heavily on her ears. She wondered if anyone else here really understood the depth of what she was promising. To never run away, when that was all she was good at. She tried to picture herself saying those words to her own Ruby, but she wasn’t there yet. Marriage is supposed to make you into a whole new person; if this Blake could keep her vows, then that would certainly be true for her. No wonder they say marriage is terrifying.

With both vows completed, the ceremony drew towards its close. Ozpin picked up a long span of soft, white rope and began winding it around the couple’s hands and wrists, until the two were completely bound together by the cord and a single, clasped pinky. As he tied the final tie in the knot, he declared, “With this I pronounce you wife and wife. You may kiss.”

Finally, Blake was able to look away, her gaze drifting to the side. Golden eyes met silver, and Ruby lifted their joined hands and pressed her lips against Blake’s hand. Blake returned the kiss in kind. A mixture of emotions ate away at her, bafflement at the absurdity of her situation, confusion about the emotions she was confronted with, and no small amount of love for the woman at her side.

Tonight they’d party and tomorrow they’d return home, but for that one moment there was only the two of them. Blake’s stomach settled a bit at the thought.

“I love you,” she whispered, just loud enough for Ruby to hear. She’d never said it before, but the moment she did she knew she meant it.

“I love you too,” Ruby whispered back.

#rwby #ruby rose #blake belladonna #ladybug #ladybug rwby #ladybug (rwby) #ladybugweek #Summer Rose Court #fanfiction #my writing #The Last Frontier #space au #Ladybugweek2K19

[probablyottrpgideas]

Game Recap Series: EIS 0

Since I started this series I’ve only been playing my Dungeonbowl campaign, which has meant I had completely forgotten to do an Up-to-Speed post for the actual real proper campaign I’m running. Since we had our first session of that game in over 2 months last Sunday, I need to do a recap, so I’ll push through the update as quickly as possible before I get to that session. Here goes:

In the land of Caerwyn, there is one central government, the Tyrian Empire, and the largest institution within the Empire is the Imperial military. Given this juggernaut of resources, many people enlist as a means to pull themselves out of debt or receive training they otherwise would have to pay a lot of money for.

Through a variety of reasons, a pool of new recruits all join at the same time, and underwent basic training. 

Group A (PCs)

Avoyelles Isani: Drow, Circle of Twilight Druid, Charlatan (Feygate) Arner Diomal’st’ano: Eladrin, Sorcerer/Cleric, Archeologist (Encarlin) Nerra: Half-Elf, Skirmisher Rogue, Criminal (Imperial) Eleric “Relic” Mort: Human, Champion Fighter, Gladiator (Imperial) Jimothy Tames: Githyanki, Battlemaster Kensai, Merchant (Imperial)

Group B (NPCs)

Nichollo Gioirdani: Eladrin, Evokation Wizard, Folk Hero (Feygate) Sorel Conera’st’ona: Deva, Storm Cleric, Outlander (Encarlin) Errol Goddard: Pixie, College of Maestro Bard, Artist (Imperial) Farren Selch: Feytouched Githzerai, Path of Brawn Barbarian, Urchin (Imperial) Robert Tames: Razorclaw Shifter, Inquisitive Rogue, Charlatan (Imperial)

During their training, rather than be transferred to one of the many formal units, they are instead put through a rigorous induction test (involving being dropped with minimal resources and separated from one another in the middle of a blizzard) to join the mysterious and prestigious Empire Intelligence Services.

After their induction the two teams were assigned separate senior agents; Group A would be led by Celia Sapienza (Eladrin, Shinobi Kensai, Guardsman, Feygate) and Group B would be led by Glymmer d’Embry (Elf, Wyrmling Shogun, Scion, Imperial). Group A were then given their first mission; investigate a series of disappearances in the northern town of Farren’s Landing that had the local guard puzzled. 

Arriving in Farren’s Landing and setting up their temporary base in the top level of a local inn, the group began investigating the three disappearances that they knew of, as well as organising a meeting with a locally known smuggler who might be able to provide them with information. Within the course of their investigation they discovered a number of details; all three disappearances featured a paw print as of a large dog, and two of the three featured closed and locked doors. They also discovered that one of the disappeared was a member of the local crime family, and that all three had interacted in some way with the local manor. Arner and Relic visited a local dog training yard with a mould of the paw-prints and confirmed Arner’s suspicion that the culprit was using some kind of Blink Dog. 

Using Celia’s cover story that they were the retinue of a minor Feygate noble to establish an audience with the Duke, the team investigated the manor and discovered that a number of scholars from the arcane library had been recently dismissed. One of those figures, a young sorcerer named Dareg Shille, had been messing about with Blood Magic, and after discussing with the senior arcanist what sort of mutations could be achieved using blood magic the team began to believe that Dareg Shille had twisted a once good-aligned fey into assisting him in abducting townsfolk.

Using both the Pollan crime family and the local guard for assistance, the team tracked Shille to the flood-water tunnels under the city and, despite being forcibly separated by the Blink Dog’s ability to grab hold of them and teleport them away, they slew the dog and Shille, although they were too late to rescue any of the abductees. 

While in town, they received a message from command of a new mission; the late brother of the Duke of Farren’s Landing had apparently been having an affair with the young sister of the Empress, and the two had been trading letters that, should they be made public, would embarrass the royal family. The team had to track down the hiding place of the letters and bring them back to command. By discussing the details of the Lord’s personal life with the residents of the Duke’s manor, the group identified a hunting lodge deep in the nearby forest, and travelled out there to retrieve the letters. However, as they pulled the letters from their hiding spot, the group was ambushed by unknown assailants, who used blinding and stunning alchemical explosives to temporarily subdue the party. When they recovered the assailants were gone and the letters still remained, and no-one was quite able to work out what had been taken/done. Still, they returned the letters to command, and their CO Warren Caine told them not to worry about it, as without more to go on they couldn’t really do much more anyway.

Returning to the field base the team had a week of rest before being sent off on their new mission; a mercenary guard for a lord of the royal court had been accused of the murder of the lord’s son. Ma Wei, a talented and dangerous arcane archer, had resisted arrest and fled, heading north. The last word anyone had was of her boarding a boat at Farren’s Landing.

The team geared up and returned to Farren’s Landing, without Celia (who was on another mission at the time), finding the docks and asking around to see if anyone had seen an elf matching Ma Wei’s description. A few people mentioned they had seen her getting on an ice-cutter, implying that she was heading further north into the frozen polar continent of Kalteheim, although they could not remember the name of the ship she had boarded.

Needing passage to the north for themselves, the team went looking for someone with a similar ice-field ready ship, and were directed to Emilie Greys (Shade, Nightstalker Shadowblade, Pirate), captain of the Viaggiatore. Greys turned out to be a Shade, and what’s more her entire crew were comprised of the dregs of mortal races, be they shadow creatures or shapeshifters or even an ogre. After a minor scuffle with sahaugin saw the team step in to protect the crew, they were accepted as friends and the journey continued much more congenially.

Halfway to Kalteheim, the Viaggiatore stopped off at a small island town called Isla Helado to restock, and the team, with nothing else to do, decided to investigate a local haunted castle. Once there they destroyed the ghost of the old Imperial commander and the skeleton soldiers, broke the enchantment on the armoury, and cleared the place out. In the process, a ghost of a dog imprinted on Relic, and now follows him around (the team now call him Zero, after the ghost dog from The Nightmare Before Christmas).

While stuck on Isla Helado, the team were treated to a story/mass hallucination by the skaldic ships quartermaster, Lucas Rimeweather AKA Old Man Exposition. Through his storytelling the team got to live through the story of how Captain Greys became a shade, 1000 years previously when the Viaggiatore crew were only six;

Captain Ysalt Margaine: Deva, Shugenja Cleric, Pirate, Imperial E4-G13 AKA Birdbot: Warforged, Path of the Eagle Totem Barbarian, Gladiator, Imperial Amaya DeSaad AKA Goldfist: Lightborn, Sweet Science Pugilist, Vigilante, Imperial/Fallow Elena Willow: Hamadryad, College of Courtship Bard, Courtesan, Feygate Everett McCree: Changeling, Shadow Spy Rogue, Cultist, Imperial Emile Greys: At the time, a regular human

The story went that Emilie, seeking the power to wreak vengeance on those who had killed her family, had tried and failed to become a Shade. So the crew went to Marnati City and sought out the expertise of a non-binary Elven magician called Maester Delver. Delver told the crew that the only way to save Emilie was to complete the full ritual, turning her into not only a Shade but a Shadowblade. The ritual could only be found in the Isle of the Lost in the Shadowfell, and to get there they would need to be able to travel across the planes. They suggested that the best way would be to bind the soul of a planar travelling creature to their vessel, and they provided the crew with some soul-binding artifacts. Meanwhile, the crew tracked down rumours of a Shadow Dragon hiding in the islands south of Caerwyn, and so travelled there. They got the location of the Shadow Dragon, found it, slew it, and bound its soul to the Viaggiatore. Once complete, they travelled into the Shadowfell and found the Isle of the Lost. 

Retrieving the correct ritual required them to complete the challenge of the seven virtues. The first room was a puzzle, testing their wisdom, where they had to solve a riddle to find the key to the next room. The second was a large battle arena with a cage door that only allowed a single combatant through. Birdbot went through and faced off against an Earth Elemental on his own, testing his courage. After this was completed the cage lifted and Birdbot was attacked by a fearsome dracolich, forcing the others to rush to his aid, testing their loyalty. Once they realised there was no way they could defeat the dracolich the team had to lay down their weapons, testing their humility. They then passed into the next room, which was filled to the brim with treasures untold, which they had to walk past without touching, testing their temperance. At the end they had to place something of value in the empty chest in front of the door, testing their charity. The last room was a gigantic library of scrolls; this, a test of their faith, simply meant they had to select one scroll without looking at it and continue on. Here, at last, they messed it up, and while they retrieved the ritual they were forced to leave Birdbot behind. They rescued Emilie and the story ended there.

Finally arriving at Fort Rast in Kalteheim, the team signed on as crewmembers of the Viaggiatore so that their names could be withheld from the ships manifest and then quietly came ashore, seeking out a local inn named the Frozen Hearth. There they asked around with the locals to see if anyone had seen Ma Wei, and they were directed to a local Bard who had been away for a while and recently returned. Av and Jimothy interrogated the boy, and found that he had indeed come through on the ship Illusion of Choice, where he had been friends with Ma Wei. He directed them to the hunting paths north of the fort, and the group decided to see what they could find. While this was happening, Nerra thought she saw someone following the group, but said nothing.

On heading out for a look around, the team became acquainted with the peculiarity of the local fauna of Kalteheim; largely, that everything was giant. Proximity to high magical fields had caused all natural creatures to take on colossal sizes, with rabbits the size of lions and wolves as big as mountains. Also at around this time, Celia appeared with bad news; Robert, Jimothy’s husband and member of the B team, had been badly injured on a mission. Jimothy left to be with his husband while he recovered, and the team were joined by Kitt Delkatt (Human, Hunter Ranger, Consort, Imperial), a new recruit. 

While out on the Hine Plain, a frozen wasteland north of the fort and the apparent direction Ma Wei had travelled, the group encountered an Ice Titan, a snow fox three or four times the size of an elephant. They tried everything, from hiding to running to fighting, but the creature seemed to barely notice their attacks. In the end, the group were saved by an unlikely ally; another Ice Titan, a wolf so large that its head was a mere shadow in the sky, which crashed out through the snow and snapped up the fox in its jaws like it was nothing. 

The team continued on until they reached a gorge, where they found evidence of someone having climbed down inside. Following the trail, the team was attacked by a hail of magical arrows, and they might have been in danger had Celia not revealed that they were there on behalf of the Intelligence services, not the police. Ma Wei, nervous but now curious, allowed them inside the old Stealth Corps. fox-hole she was hiding in. The two groups discussed their positions and came to the conclusion that someone was setting Wei up; the best bet would be to take her into EIS protective custody while they looked into the frame job.

While they were discussing things, however, they were attacked by pursuer that Nerra had almost seen; a Chaotin (homebrew elvish subtype) assassin with powerful psychic abilities. The team were all, barring Avoyelles, paralysed by the assassin and would have died, were it not for Zero possessing an Ice Titan and eating him. 

On the way back to the Fort, half the team fell into a fresh ravine and discovered an ancient, abandoned temple, where a gauntlet of necromantic power was killing any wandering traveller and turning them into skeletons. One such skeleton had retained his mind, Mac Bonney (Awakened Undead Skeleton, Marksman Rogue, Archeologist, Imperial) and he assisted the team in fighting off the hordes of skeletised bugbears, minotaurs, ogres and a powerful bone naga. In return, Mac was brought back with them to the EIS camp.

After this lengthy trip the party were paid their salary and given the chance to come stay in the Imperial Capital city of Tyria for a while, which would give them the ability to visit Robert and catch up with Jimothy. While in town they got to know their fellow spies, including getting better acquainted with Errol, Farren, Warren and Glymmer on a personal level, as well as go shopping and generally explore the metropolitan excesses on display. Jimothy, who had begun to develop a reverence for Kord, found a temple to the thunder god and explored the possibility of becoming a paladin. He also got into an underground boxing match with Relic and handed the fighter’s ass to him.

Their leave was cut short however when Warren received word that the two cultists who had been captured after the attack that had left Robert injured had revealed something in their interrogation; something terrible was going to happen in the small town of Brattenhome, east/south-east of Faelmarch. The team were dispatched there as quickly as possible.

When they arrived, Relic detached himself from the group; Avoyelles, who had been flirting heavily with the fighter, took this as an opportunity to sulk following the recent revelation that he had a wife, and so no-one questioned it. In truth, he was spending his time on a separate mission for Warren, looking for an old equipment cache hidden somewhere in Brattenhome which contained some documents Warren needed retrieved in secret.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team filled his spot by befriending another traveller passing through the town, a copper dragonborn named Alketh (Dragonborn, Evokation Wizard, Sage, Imperial). They began their investigation, and quickly discovered that a young elvish storehand, Yushiro Nakai, had disappeared. As it was late when they arrived they turned in shortly after, but the next morning Yushiro reappeared, shortly before mutating into a horrifying spider creature. The team dispatched her, and then spoke with the sheriff of the town to discuss what had happened. He asked them to keep the investigation quiet, but that he would help them out if they needed it. 

The team then took a quick trip into the forest to follow up a lead (dead-end; the Walshes were not cultists at all but vryloka isolationists, and while they were antagonistic towards the team intruding onto their land they were not investigated further). On their return to town, however, they found that five more townsfolk had been kidnapped in the night, and the town was now in uproar. Getting a meeting with the mayor, the team identified what they were in town to do and the mayor gave them access to whatever resources they wanted. The group split up to conduct parallel investigations into a number of leads, including the homestead of one of the disappeared folks, the fishing boat of another, and a creepy warehouse at the edge of town. The group in the warehouse were attacked by another mutated villager, a trio of giant spiders and a swarm of regular spiders, and they barely escaped with their lives.

Which brings us, at last, to the most recent session...

#EIS with OTT #recaps