Feel free to close the scene with your next post. Unless you give me something to respond to I'll start us off on the next chapter which takes place the following afternoon (arriving at Emberwood).
Denalz Member
STATUS: My valentine's D&D game got cancelled. Now what? 4 mos ago
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4 mos ago
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My valentine's D&D game got cancelled. Now what?
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4 mos ago
Tiptoeing back in here for a while…
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Finally back.
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Everything's changing...
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Been through some loss, but thankful for what I have...
Bio
Hello. I go by “Denalz” and I can’t wait to meet you! I’m a woman in her 30’s living in the Midwest and a published author of a successful fantasy romance series. I love to read books of all sub-genres under fantasy. Been roleplaying since I was 14 so I have a fair bit of experience. In addition, I like to DM for a group of friends in my home. Dungeons and Dragons for the win!
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"I shall think of him when I next pray."
Ludwig blinks at you, open mouthed. He turns his head slowly back in the direction of his transformed companion. He doesn't squat down to confirm what you've said, only stares with slumped shoulders.
A strangled whimper escapes Endras lips. She slides down the barn wall, landing in a heavy heap upon the ground. Hugging her knees into her chest, she begins weeping.
"I'll start cleaning up the mess." Eren offers. He puts a hand on Ludwig's shoulder. "Will you help me move his body?"
A quarter hour later and it's like nothing has changed save for being down one party member. You and the others scoot your bedrolls to avoid what mess Eren wasn't able to mop up. Endra slips into her bedroll without a word and closes her eyes. Beside her, Ludwig tucks into his own with an exhausted sigh. His misery filled eyes find yours, "Think hard on what brings you to Drakkenheim, friend and consider...is it worth possibly meeting a similar fate?"
Ludwig blinks at you, open mouthed. He turns his head slowly back in the direction of his transformed companion. He doesn't squat down to confirm what you've said, only stares with slumped shoulders.
A strangled whimper escapes Endras lips. She slides down the barn wall, landing in a heavy heap upon the ground. Hugging her knees into her chest, she begins weeping.
"I'll start cleaning up the mess." Eren offers. He puts a hand on Ludwig's shoulder. "Will you help me move his body?"
A quarter hour later and it's like nothing has changed save for being down one party member. You and the others scoot your bedrolls to avoid what mess Eren wasn't able to mop up. Endra slips into her bedroll without a word and closes her eyes. Beside her, Ludwig tucks into his own with an exhausted sigh. His misery filled eyes find yours, "Think hard on what brings you to Drakkenheim, friend and consider...is it worth possibly meeting a similar fate?"
Rikard, or whatever he has become, shrieks in pain, falling forward. His human hand closes around empty air as Endra jolts back just quickly enough to avoid being grappled.
Beside you, Eren has sprung up out of his bedroll. His mouth drops at the scene in front of him as his hands search the straw-covered dirt for his club.
The creature snarls, then, looking up, makes another leap at Endra who meets him with a short sword she unsheathes so quickly it could only be by reflex. The monster impales itself, howling. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, Endra yanks her sword arm back and thrusts it forward for another stab. Blood explodes from the creature's mouth in a gurgling cough. All at once, it's limbs go limp and its body slumps to the ground. Endra shuffles backward, choking on a horrified cry. Her back meets the wall.
"Ale and Ashes!" Eren curses, his club finally in hand.
"What-" Ludwig stands over his companion's arrow-pierced body. He raises his voice, "What happened?!"
Eren says nothing, looking to you. Endra's gaze is fixed upon Rikard, tears forming in her eyes.
I just now rolled for everyone, sorry. Here's the turn order...
Maxwell -19
Commoner (Eren) -16
Scout (Endra) -14
Dreg (Rikard) -10
Many Colors -9
Noble (Ludwig) -1
Maxwell -19
Commoner (Eren) -16
Scout (Endra) -14
Dreg (Rikard) -10
Many Colors -9
Noble (Ludwig) -1
The next hours bring an end to the storm, replaced by the steady pattering of rain on the barn's roof. Dreams of a dark city with looming walls haunt your sleep. You wake to the sound of muffled whispers. Peering up through the shadows you spot Many Colors perched on a rafter. You follow your old friend's gaze back to the ground, across the nearly extinguished fire. There you see Endra squatted down over a restless figure. Rikard's face is ashy and covered in a sheen of sweat. Eyes closed, the warrior mutters something unintelligible.
"Rikard,"Endra whispers. She reaches to grasp him by the arm. "Rikard, wake up."
From under the man's heavy cloak, something slips out. At first it appears like his other arm or...something like one. You squint, trying to make sense of what you're seeing. A grey, slimy tentacle lies next to the man's body which suddenly thrashes to one side, knocking Endra to her rear.
Hissss!
Rikard's eyes open, but the piercing blue which had been there before is gone, clouded over with a dull, milky sheen. He bares his teeth at the woman and, again, an awful hiss passes his blue lips.
Endra's gaze widens in shock and her body freezes there on the ground. In an instant, Rikard is leaping to his knees, arm and tentacle outsrtetched for his companion.
"Rikard,"Endra whispers. She reaches to grasp him by the arm. "Rikard, wake up."
From under the man's heavy cloak, something slips out. At first it appears like his other arm or...something like one. You squint, trying to make sense of what you're seeing. A grey, slimy tentacle lies next to the man's body which suddenly thrashes to one side, knocking Endra to her rear.
Hissss!
Rikard's eyes open, but the piercing blue which had been there before is gone, clouded over with a dull, milky sheen. He bares his teeth at the woman and, again, an awful hiss passes his blue lips.
Endra's gaze widens in shock and her body freezes there on the ground. In an instant, Rikard is leaping to his knees, arm and tentacle outsrtetched for his companion.
Ludwig nods, "Right then, probably best to bed down for the night. We can't get away from that city fast enough and our friend here could use a good night's sleep. Thank you kindly for the stew. And thank you both for taking us in tonight."
After handing back her cup, Endra gets to her feet and begins unfurling bedrolls. Rikard stays on the ground, looking no better than when he first arrived. She and Ludwig all but place the warrior into his sack before Ludwig tucks in himself.
"I'll take the first watch," Endra offers.
After handing back her cup, Endra gets to her feet and begins unfurling bedrolls. Rikard stays on the ground, looking no better than when he first arrived. She and Ludwig all but place the warrior into his sack before Ludwig tucks in himself.
"I'll take the first watch," Endra offers.
The three travelers listen to your tale in rapt silence. Even Rikard momentarily seems lucid enough to take in a detail or two. Eren, on the other hand, sits grinning, enjoying the story for all its worth.
"...and yearns eternally for darker things still."
CRACK!
"Ho ho!" Eren laughs. "My friend has a penchant for the dramatic. Had I not seen his handiwork earlier today I might suggest he take up with a troupe of bards."
Ludwig, who only just seems to shake off the spell he'd been under, looks at you. "So those men outside...the bandits? You killed them?"
"All of them?" Endra adds.
"...and yearns eternally for darker things still."
CRACK!
"Ho ho!" Eren laughs. "My friend has a penchant for the dramatic. Had I not seen his handiwork earlier today I might suggest he take up with a troupe of bards."
Ludwig, who only just seems to shake off the spell he'd been under, looks at you. "So those men outside...the bandits? You killed them?"
"All of them?" Endra adds.
Hey there. I don't want you to think I've forgotten about you. Just haven't felt well the past couple of days. Hopefully I'll be back on the horn by tomorrow.
Ludwig and Endra squint at the mask then exchange brief glances. Ludwig shakes his head. "I'm sorry friend, but we never saw a thing like that before nor heard of the man you mentioned."
"Who is he?" Endra asks.
Before you can answer, a crack of thunder shakes the rafters sending vibrations up your boots. "Ale and ashes!" Eren exclaims, then chuckles. "Perfect weather for a ghost story, eh Joseph?"
"Who is he?" Endra asks.
Before you can answer, a crack of thunder shakes the rafters sending vibrations up your boots. "Ale and ashes!" Eren exclaims, then chuckles. "Perfect weather for a ghost story, eh Joseph?"
I think my preference would be two fold:
1. I'd prefer to develop the relationship narratively as I feel the system in Strixhaven is a little too abrupt. I think you can go from meeting someone to becoming their beloved within two-three interactions.
2. I like the idea of granting inspiration after each long rest but I would add in the caveat that the inspiration only happens if you've interacted with your beloved within the past 24 hours.
1. I'd prefer to develop the relationship narratively as I feel the system in Strixhaven is a little too abrupt. I think you can go from meeting someone to becoming their beloved within two-three interactions.
2. I like the idea of granting inspiration after each long rest but I would add in the caveat that the inspiration only happens if you've interacted with your beloved within the past 24 hours.
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