Beranhond, Talathel, Lailsan, and Aelysin all felt something smack them in the face. Tigrisclawu, in the way of cats, managed to land on his feet. When they opened their eyes they then realized that it would have been better to say that their face smacked the ground.
"Welcome to the Astral plane... or at least a very small controlled portion of it that the Wizards of Thay use to move around. We have a bit of a walk before our exit." Zalkar said in an awfully cheerful voice.
Monday, December 20, 2010
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Talathel picked himself up off the floor of the plane. This reminded him to much of the dream world.
ReplyDelete"Well then, lets make haste. I don't know how Darvin and Nym will take to our rather sudden departure. The shorter we are gone, the better."
Aelysin began to laugh. "Oh I am sure they will love being abandoned by us." After she stopped laughing she looked thoughtful for a moment. "But Nym starting to get really... vicious there, do you think everything will be OK?"
ReplyDeleteYou are standing on a dirt path twenty feet wide. The sides of the path fall sharply off into blue sky. Off in the distance are shapes that look like mountains, cities, and even large humanoids. When you look behind you see a large silvery shaped door. Everyone is surprised to see large silk threads stretching from the door to their backs.
"What is this?" Lailsan asks.
Zalkar smiles. "I made those so that we couldn't get lost." When Beranhond furrowed his brow he quickly continued. "We made, through great effort, a straightforward path, but I wanted to make sure we could find our way back. We have a hike ahead of us and that will take us roughly halfway to Thay."
Could everyone level up to level 8? Also, Could Alan roll up a level 6 character sheet for Lailsan, and I believe Pipper and Guybrush will need to be leveled up as well. Thanks y'all!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Pipper and Guybrush... are they just sitting awkwardly and watching?"
I think the implication here is either:
ReplyDelete1) Nym and Darvin's lovemaking is so awesome we all deserve 2 levels for it.
2) Violet is such an amazing addition to the game that everyone should get an extra 2 levels to celebrate (or the 2 levels are the only thing that will keep her from poisoning herself as she concocts poison in the middle of the camp).
3) The gateway that Beranhond and Talathel are going through is going to be so difficult that they'll each need 2 levels in order to get through.
I like all of these reasons. Any other votes?
Alan, I have some interesting ideas for Lailsan if you'd like any help. I completely understand if you want to do it yourself. Just wanted to put the offer on the table.
ReplyDelete"Not what I expected from the astral plane," Talathel said, not knowing exactly what his expectations were.
ReplyDelete"I don't suppose you wizards of Thay have access to any other planes of existence?"
Before Zalkar has a chance to answer a large glowing spheres passes overhead. Its brightness causes everyone to close their eyes. After a moment Zalkar squints, sighs, and shouts. "All clear. The Astral plane is beautiful... but there are naturally dangers." He waves his hands and everyone starts to move.
ReplyDelete"The Astral Planes are the gateway to any number of realms - I imagine there have been some Thayish wizards who have made their way to countless planes. What are you curious about?"
"I am a member of The Old Order. Our founder Koldael is rumored to be trying to find a way to access Pandemonium."
ReplyDelete"Ah, well, I haven't heard of anyone actually making it all the way to Pandemonum, but I am not well versed. You should certainly inquire at our keep in Thay, there might be someone who can answer more questions for you."
ReplyDeleteThe five of them made their way down the path. Zalkar and Talathel took up the lead, while in the back Aelysin and Beranhond took up the rearguard.
ReplyDelete"Are you sure we can trust him?" Aelysin asked.
"Well, he couldn't lie when we questioned him."
"Well, sure, but the truth can actually be used to hide motives."
"I guess... but, if what he says is true then it needs to be looked into."
"Oh... right... you mean if Ceilith is really in charge of the Paladins at Thay you will need to run to the arms of your lover."
Beranhond blushed and turned to look at her.
"You know that she has nothing to do with this us going to Thay."
"Right, I am sure that she has nothing to do with it. You could just tell me that she is the reason why you won't pay any attention to me."
He blushed even more fiercely.
"I am teasing you Eth." She said laying a hand on his shoulder for a moment. "But really, I wouldn't mind if you paid more attention to me."
Beranhond quickly decided to change the subject.
"How is the bow treating you."
She laughed and brought it forward.
"I like it - it isn't quite as nice as the one I lost last year, but it will do quite nicely if we run across anything. Thank you."
"Glad you approve. I have a feeling the world is going to be a much rougher place and I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."
"Oh, that's sweet of you."
Beranhond laughed. "It's partially so that you can stand in front of me if anything bad shows up." She hit him and glared before laughing.
"And you were doing so well too..."
Talathel was not all that relieved by what they had said. Surely if Koldael was trying to reach Pandemonium he would have contacted those with access to the plane by now. Perhaps there were others who could enter this plane. Perhaps Koldael did not rely on the magic of these wizards and had found his way to Pandemonium.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe, he was still traveling about Faerun in search of answers.
Talathel shrugged and continued forward.
Zalkar led the group down the dirt path and pointed out some of the more fantastic sights of the region.
ReplyDelete"If you look to your left far in the distance you will see a portal." The portal sat on what appeared to be a floating dirt platform far in the distance.
"We think leads to some call 'regnum somnium' or the realm of dreams. There have been rumors that it is where the raw material of imagination comes from... other just suggest that it is a similar world to our own, but with more possibilities." He pointed high above.
"We think that plane up there is where the gods reside, or at least the important once, they naturally don't tell us too much." He said as he elbowed Talathel playfully in the side.
The brightness and clear skies gave the walk an almost spring like feel. As such, they spread out on the trail and Tigrisclawu took to bounding across in search of non-existent mice. As they walked Lailsan kept glancing back at Beranhond and Aelysin who were keeping just out of the hearing range of whispers. Taking Talathel's hand she leaned in against his shoulder
"Poor Beranhond, he doesn't have much of a chance." She said. After another moment she looked across the deepness toward the gate.
"Do you think that gate leads to that realm you traveled to?"
Zalkar turned to Talathel and looked quite excited.
ReplyDelete"Do you mean that you traveled to another plane? How did you get there, did you travel through here or another way?"
"We crossed into another realm, but we did not come this way. I don't know if I truly know how we got to wherever we were."
ReplyDeleteHe squeezed Lailsan's hand.
"Fascinating..."
ReplyDeleteThey continued walking, Zalkar, Lailsan and Talathel in front with Aelysin and Beranhond in the back. They walked for a few hours before winding up a split in the road.
"This shouldn't be here..." Zalkar said with a nervous tone. "We, through a great deal of effort, made a straight path between the various gates. Our journey to the land of the Shaar was using a well established path." He started sounding a bit hysterical.
Beranhond stepped forward.
ReplyDelete"Do you think that the path we need is one of these two, or are you worried that the path we need is completely gone?"
Zalkar said nothing for a moment.
ReplyDelete"I hope that one of them is the right path, but the larger concern is that we could meet some planar creature, or that if take the wrong path we could wind up in who knows where...."
"And how does something like that happen? Shouldn't you know your own way home?"
ReplyDelete"We created artificial paths through the astral plane - direct safe paths. Unfortunately, if those paths changed it could mean they are returning to their old routes which were much more confusing and led to different gates. Also, it means that we might be facing some hostile creatures along the way." he paused. "Short answer, yes I know the way home, long answer... I might send us on the wrong way because the route I used is now different."
ReplyDeleteAelysin rolled her eyes and turned away from the pontificating Zalkar. For a red wizard of Thay he sure seemed bookish and nonthreatening. Of course, Eth was trained as a Paladin of Torm, but he sure didn't come across as smite filled or overtly judicious. She looked back down the path from which they came and was surprised to see a large red beast shape moving in their direction.
ReplyDelete"Zalkar!" She said in a slightly alarmed tone. However, he didn't hear her, or decided not to respond.
"Zalkar! Large red beast shape!" She shouted again. She then raised her bow, putting two arrows into place and fired at what she assumed to be the creatures eye.
Roll(1d20)+6: (-2 for rapidshot)
20,+6
Total:26
crit?
Roll(1d20)+6:
19,+6
Total:25
(yes)
Damage:
Roll(1d8)+1:
8,+1
Total:9x3 (for the first arrow)
Roll(1d8)+1:
3,+1
Total:4 (second arrow)
Although she hits the creature straight in the eye it neither slows, nor seems that concerned by the attack. Grimacing, she quickly reloads and attacks again. (rapidshot).
Roll(1d20)+6: (-2 for rapidshot)
13,+6
Total:19
The second arrow bounces off the creature. As it gets closer it seems to be getting larger.
"I think we might want to run..."
Beranhond was a little bit concerned about Zalkar's lack of directions. Great, we are lost in the astral play with a seemingly inept Thayvian wizard. Oh joy. Beranhond thought to himself.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if we...
However, his thought was interrupted when Aelysin shouted out "Zalkar!"
Beranhond started to turn to look at her. I am getting rather fond of her he thought but, that is probably something that I should... His thoughts were interrupted for the second time when he was the large rest beast moving down the path toward them. Before he could react Aelysin drew her bow and launched two volleys of arrows at the creature. Though one seemed to hit the creature directly in its eye, it neither slowed nor seemed concerned!
"I think we might want to run..." Aelysin called out. Beranhond nodded in agreement. He stepped back and took Aelysin's hand and then started to run. Tigrisclawu started to bound along beside him.
"Lovely company you find, isn't Beranhond?"
"Now is not the time to chat Tigrisclawu!" Beranhond shouted at the cat.
Talathel and Lailsan took off at the same time. The two pairs managed to quickly pass the befuddled Zalkar. However, after a moment he too caught up with them. The poundings of the beast picked up in speed and seemed to be gaining on them.
ReplyDelete"To the right!" Zalkar shouted as the five of them approached the crossroad. They stormed on down the path as quickly as they could.
Aelysin stole a glance behind them and was shocked to see that the beast was right behind them.
"Duck!" She shouted.
However before anyone could act upon her call the beast swung his fists down onto the ground. The path started to shake and then it started to split. The shaking caused them to lose their footing and they tripped and fell face first onto the ground. Behind them the beast roared, but oddly, the sound became more and more distant...
While our adventurers tasted the dirt, the path was following the normal procedure for paths in the astral plane: it was finding a path to join. As the split deepened the two parts swung away from one another and Within seconds the formerly unitary path had become two completely wholly distinct and separate paths. The newly torn end of the path connected up with other paths and created new networks and connections through this part of the astral plane.