After a few days Talathel decided he was comfortable enough in pretending to be a monk. After all, he had been pretending to be a monk for quite some time. He took Kilink left the city early in the morning and Illuvaen led them over the forest paths for several days until they finally found themselves in the valley that led to the foot of the tower. Dohn had recommended simply walking inside with confidence and working out the plan from there - security was tight, but only on the outside. At that point Talathel put on the monk garments and led the group down the path. They were stopped quite quickly by a woman wearing a dark cloak.
"Where are you going?"
"Prisoners for an experiment revered one."
"Whose orders?"
"Vergon's." He said stepping closer. As they talked privately the rest of the group felt anxious, but finally she waived them on through. After another half hour of travel they were ushered through the archway that led into the tower and heard the doors shut behind them with a threatening clang.
Is Druuv with us? Nym wouldn't have been ok with leaving until she'd met up with them.
ReplyDeleteYes, Druuv is with you. She joined up with you the day after Illuvaen found out about his mother. I haven't stated that yet, though. Sorry. She found a place nearby to where he spent the night and followed him back to Dohn's apartment the next day.
ReplyDeleteI glossed over a bunch of small events to speed up the whole process.
ReplyDeleteTalathel took a look about the tower, trying to be discreet about it. He did not want people to know this was his first time inside.
ReplyDeletePerception:
Roll(1d20)+8:
11,+8
Total:19
(Just looking for a description of the tower and people inside, nothing in particular.)
The room is large with numerous passages, people, and carts moving around. They appear to love the color black as all the stonework, stairs, and clothing is largely black. The only other colors are the whites of the monk orders, and random servants who walk around.
ReplyDeleteNym shifts uncomfortably and looks around for a staircase leading upward or any useful tools she could easily take without notice.
ReplyDeletePerception: (1d20)+6
13+6
19
Druuv tries looking at the servants and the people around her, making special note of their demeanor and their activity (Are they quiet, slow, and plodding along, or are they scurrying about in a frenzy, for instance) She also tries to determine the racial and sexual demographic of the people around her.
ReplyDeletePerception: Roll(1d20)+0:
7,+0
Total:7
Druuv is unable to notice anything about anybody.
ReplyDeleteNym spots several staircases leading all about. One looks like the staircase for the deungon. There is also a central staircase, but two large cloaked men are standing near it. The room is clean and there do not appear to be any useable tools.
Also, if you do not post at all during a day I will post for you the next morning.
ReplyDeleteDarvin was slightly annoyed that the had to appear servile and downtrodden. The most annoying part of this was that Talathel had decided to play up the role and had hit him several times on the way here. He was also uncomfortable with his swords and guns being hidden away and Guybrush was none too please to have to ride in the backpack.
ReplyDeleteNym waited for something, anything, to happen, but apparently they all were just going to stand around looking at the tapestries.
ReplyDeleteDruuv looked at Nym, and her growing anxiety over nothing happened, and whispered, "Is everything okay? You seem really tense." As she said this, it appeared she had forgotten, for the moment, that they were in the shadowcasters' tower.
ReplyDeleteRealizing how her first comment would have sounded, she said, "I mean, I know we're in a tense situation, but you seem a little... off, somehow. Just wanted to see if you're alright."
Illuvaen stepped close, still looking downtrodden, and whispered.
ReplyDelete"I think my mother will be downstairs. I will try to slip away now and see if I can find her. You all should go on ahead and make your way up to the crystal and the dreamgate."
"Sounds good Illuvaen." Talathel replied. "I think that means we take those stairs over there." He said pointing towards the ornate central stairs.
ReplyDelete"Yes, I believe so. Good luck!" Illuvaen stepped away from them, head bowed, and walked towards the dungeon staircase.
"Now, Doehn said their security is very light; however there will be areas in which we will see things that aren't real. Shadowcasters use them to keep their slaves in check."
After Illuvaen was off, Nym whispered to Druuv, "I'm alright..." and tried a smile. She looked more like she was planning to hurl than smile. Nym took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself before whispering to her companions, "Remember you can will their illusions away." Nym looked at Darvin with worry in her eyes as the group started toward the central stairs.
ReplyDeleteTalathel waited until he was certain the other monks were out of earshot.
ReplyDelete"Be strong, Killink. Its time to find our way home."
He led them towards the stairs, took a deep breath and began the ascent.
Even with his swords hidden, his monkey stuffed in a backpack and his best friend hitting him on the head, Darvin was ready for the tower. He desperately wanted to get home. He looked at his companions and said, "Let's do this!" Then he sidled up to Nym and whispered, "I can't wait to get home with you." And discretely kissed her on the cheek.
ReplyDeleteThe stairway is dimly lit and the steps made from a gritty stone. As Kilink climbs the steps they are passed by a variety of cloaked men, monks, and the odd servant. After two flights of stairs a cloaked man steps out from the shadow of the landing.
ReplyDelete"Can I help you find anything Mr. Monk?"
Druuv keeps her head down but peeks up at him and tries to discern his intentions.
ReplyDeleteSense Motive: Roll(1d20)+0:
19,+0
Total:19 Finally, a decent skill roll!
It is hard to tell to much about the man's emotions and intentions as his face is hidden, but he is standing directly in the path up the stairs. His hands are folded across his body and clearly seems intent upon questioning them.
ReplyDeleteDruuv, seeing the man stopping them, feigned being scared and leapt at Nym, wrapping her arms around her, letting them stretch as she wrapped her up several times. Druuv pulled herself up and kissed Nym as she hugged her, tenuously, testing the waters, and seeing how Nym would respond.
ReplyDeleteBluff check: Roll(1d20)+0:
8,+0
Total:8 The DM is giving me +5, giving me 13
The man stood aghast and open mouthed.
ReplyDelete"Um..." He said. "So..."
He is quite distracted.
"No, we will be fine once we get up to the gate. These prisoners have been selected for experiments. As you they're starting to get delusional, and so we must make haste."
ReplyDeleteThe man simply nodded and waived you on through.
ReplyDeleteNym blushed from Druuv's kiss and looked confused at the goblin. She wondered, Is this how her people share fear? If they weren't in front of a shadowcaster guard trying to look like downtrodden slaves, she would have giggled in confusion and nervousness. Instead she bowed her head, goblin still attached, and marched after Talathel trying to look meek.
ReplyDeleteTalathel led the group further up the stairs. He did not know if it was real or just his nerves, but as they came nearer to the top of the stairs, he felt a strong energy.
ReplyDeleteThe dreamgate. The way home...
As soon as the man was out of sight down the stairs, Druuv said, "Thanks, Nym," and gave her a quick kiss, untangling herself, and walking along beside her once more as if nothing had happened.
ReplyDeleteThe next landing consists of three archways. Seeing no one around Kilink continue upward. The next several floors seem to have the same layout. After climbing the stairs and passing very similar looking landings Kilink stops to catch their breath.
ReplyDeleteIs there anything special about this landing where they are stopping? Druuv looks around and tries to take it all in as she catches her breath.
ReplyDeletePerception: Roll(1d20)+0:
10,+0
Total:10
The landing is fairly unremarkable. Three arches lead away from the landing, and the stairs continue upward.
ReplyDeleteNym listens for anyone approaching or any voices nearby.
ReplyDeletePerception: (1d20)+6
9+6
15
There is a cacophony of sounds, but nothing discernible.
ReplyDeleteAny smells from the different archways or the stairs?
ReplyDeleteThey smell oddly similar.
ReplyDeleteImagine that! They must all go to the same place!
ReplyDeleteDruuv nods that they should take the first archway on their left.
As Druuv step forwards she finds herself in a room with four similar archways.
ReplyDeleteAre you implying she went through the archway by herself? She wouldn't do that. If everyone else was going toward the stairs, she would go along, but her opinion is that the archway to the left looks just as good.
ReplyDeleteYes, sorry I misread your previous post. How about she just poked her head through the arch and then came back and described it?
ReplyDeleteNo worries. It shall be as you said.
ReplyDeleteDruuv nods toward the gateway on her left, then walks over and pokes her head through, becoming a bit puzzled, and turning back, describes what she saw. She adds in a bit of color about how each archway looked more sinister than the last and how she was lucky to have escaped with her life. They were fortunate they didn't listen to her ill-informed advice, though that archway to the right looks pretty tempting...
Darvin keeps his mouth shut and creeps along quietly.
ReplyDeleteYou have now gone up around eight flights of stairs. The stairs do keep going upward, or you could explore the side passages.
ReplyDeleteDo we know if the Dreamgate is on the top floor, or could it be on a lower one? I don't think we want to do to much exploring if our goal is just at the top.
ReplyDeleteDoehn's map has a vague description of it being near the crystal and toward the top of the building.
ReplyDeleteDruuv votes that the group continue until they either arrive at the top or see something unusual, whichever happens first.
ReplyDeletePerception: Roll(1d20)+0:
18,+0
Total:18
"What are we stopping for?" Asked Darvin, "Let's keep going up. We are getting close. I can feel it."
ReplyDeleteAs Kilink heads further up the stairs they see that the landings continue to be oddly identical. Further, the odd cacophony of sounds continues to surround them, but without any unique discernible sounds. After another half an hour of travel they stop for another breather.
ReplyDelete"I don't like the look of this. It just seems off. I know the tower is huge but, this is ridiculous."
ReplyDeleteIn response, Druuv says, "Why don't we scout out all of the side portals at the same time, and make sure there's nothing we're missing?" She points to the first doorway on her right. "I'll poke my head in here." She points to the stairs. "Talathel, you check the stairs." She points to the second archway. "Nym, you check that portal, and Darvin, you take that last one" She ends, pointing at the final archway. Without further ado, she walks over to the archway, turning to see that her companions are following her suggestions before poking her head through.
ReplyDeleteAs Druuv approach the archway she sees that it opens into another room that has four archways, including the one that Druuv is peering through.
ReplyDeleteNym, when looking through the archway, sees a large boxy room that has three archways leading off into other rooms, and a fourth when she counts the one that she is peering through.
Darvin, sees a similar room.
Talathel, after looking up the stairs sees another nearly identical landing.
posting for Dan
ReplyDeleteDruuv stepped back into the landing area and searched around for any sign of other people:
Roll(1d20)+0:
17,+0
Total:17
As she looks around she is able to see numerous boot prints. After comparing it to her own, and grabbing the feet of the people around her, she realizes that all of the prints on the ground are from their own shoes.
"I think we have been walking in circles!"
Talathel came back down to the landing. "Well, that can't be good."
ReplyDeleteHe sat on the steps thinking. "This is probably one of their illusions. lets try and focus and see if we can find the right path."
Will:
Roll(1d20)+5:
17,+5
Total:22
"Maybe we could ask the guard down a few levels where to go..." said Nym, not really comfortable with the option but not sure what else they should do.
ReplyDeleteI don't have regular internet in Vancouver so may not be able to post every day. :(
As Talathel looks about the room the landing and stairway fade away to reveal a blank room with a set of stairs that lead up for a short time before leading back down. As he looks closely he realizes that they must have been walking up the staircase and then back down the stairs. It appears that Kilink simply was caught in the illusion.
ReplyDeleteThe surrounding sounds are more apparent and he is able to make out individual sounds. When he examines the floor marking he realizes that they must have climbed five sets of stairs before being caught in the trap.
Before anyone else has a chance to snap out of the illusion several cloaked men appear up the stairs.
ReplyDelete"I suspect, dear Monk, that our leader would like a word with you. Were you not warned about the fifth floor trap?"
Where are all of us situated in the room right now? Are we all at the edges or close in, etc?
ReplyDeleteNym desperately hoped Talathel could explain this away and acted as though she were a mere slave being led to testing.
ReplyDeleteDiplomacy
ReplyDeleteRoll(1d20)+2:
13,+2
Total:15
"My apologies, brother. I had indeed been warned, but had forgotten. My mind has preoccupied. These prisoners, you see, will be used for an expirement involving the Dreamgate. I've been thinking about this all this time, that I must have fallen into one of our traps. Very embarrassing. Now, if you please, we have an expirement to conduct for the Good of the Order."
"Certainly. However, I must escort you to the council chambers... it appears that they are searching for some test subjects for the crystal and I think these..." he point at the rest of Kilink "will do nicely."
ReplyDeleteDarvin hears the last comment from the cloaked fellow and tries to decipher whether this is a fortuitous turn of events or not. On an unrelated note, he also wonders how the ship and the people on it are doing, like his good friend Thjodolf.
ReplyDeleteWell... um... let's just say that Faerun has taken an interesting turn
ReplyDeleteThe man starts to lead Talathel up the steps and finally ushers them into a large dark room. In the middle of the room is a glowing crystal, and behind it is a large gate.
"Ah, our visitors from another world have arrived." A deep voice says.
"Thank you for bringing them to us dear Monk. Your order has certainly found its proper course."
Nym was more than a little disturbed by this and wondered if Kilink could take these shadowcasters.
ReplyDeleteDruuv tries to cautiously eye the men as she attempts to walk in a very passive, very apathetic way toward them.
ReplyDeleteBluff: Roll(1d20)+4:
6,+4
Total:10
Druuv also attempts to get an end of her rope in her hand without being noticed. She makes it look like she tripped, and grabs the rope as she recovers.
ReplyDeleteSleight of Hand: Roll(1d20)+5:
2,+5
Total:7 Man, she is just sucking it up on the rolls tonight. Not that that's very unusual.
The senior Shadowcaster raises his hands and the rope shoots across the room.
ReplyDelete"How did she get this?"
Visitors from another world, Talathel thought. They must know of us.
ReplyDeleteHe watched as Druuv attempted...whatever it was she was attempting. He was not sure what the shadowcasters had in mind, but the elf could not imagine Druuv's antics as helping their cause in any way.
As Kilink's eyes adjust to the darkness they see a large shimmer in the distance. Every now and then the shimmer changes colors. Not too far away a large crystal sits surrounded by hooded figures.
ReplyDelete"Let's start the experiment on that goblin."
"Good plan."