Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"After you." Buddy would wait for you to try and possess him like you did yesterday. However when you try, nothing happens. It feels the same, the same strange all-body encompassing feeling, however you don't seem to have any visions, and you haven't really gone anywhere either. You'd be able to get out of Buddy's body but it doesn't seem like you could possess him right now. Buddy notices that you haven't vanished yet and speaks up. "Is there something wrong?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"My apology. It is simply something I feel I am used to." Buddy paused for a few seconds as if thinking before he spoke up again. "Yes... It is familiar. Perhaps I was a soldier. That would explain my abilities and my preference for a hierarchy. I have a few memories back since yesterday. I know I was a soldier of some sort. I fought in battles alongside my superior. I am not sure who our enemies were... Thinking on it, these memories do not even make it clear if I was actually human, or perhaps I am actually an elf or an orc." Buddy said before lowering his hand to stop trying to pat you. "Would you like to try and possess me again? See if that will awaken any new memories within me?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"Were it possible, I would be laughing at you right now." Buddy turned to look at you. "I will admit, I do not enjoy the idea of being magically compelled to do anything. But fortunately though the ring makes you my master and I must obey your commands, it does nothing to make me feel any emotion towards you. That is to say... Should I hate or befriend you, that at least is out of my own violation. My body is yours to command, but my mind is not. That being said..." Buddy reached out towards you. His hand phased through your head, as it usually does since you're an astral projection, but it seemed like he was trying to pat you. "Thanks to your command, I was more easily able to resist the magical compulsion of the harpy. If I had to choose between two beings trying to assert control over me, I would gladly ally with you. Do not worry yourself, Master Sylvia. Though I do not know much about my previous life, and I do not know much about you, you have so far done nothing but please and accommodate me, which I feel is more than most people would have done."

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Now's a good time as ever, Orchid will activate his Reckless Endurance! That leaves him at exactly 1HP but still in this fight! @Hekazu

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"It seemed to have cast some sort of spell on me that took over my mind. I could only vaguely feel it but it was like... I needed to get closer to the creature. It enthralled me, you could say. Magically of course, it is not as if I would be so foolish as to run off a cliff just to hack it down, tempting as that would be." Buddy said in total stillness. Sometimes it was hard to know if this voice even did come from him seeing how little he reacts to your words. "I suppose your next question would be how. Fortunately, I have something of an answer. You see... Though I look and feel like a construct, indeed I am about as far from human as one can be, I am still a living, sentient, independent creature. At least as much as Ser Pylia and Ser Shortfang. I do not breath, I do not eat, I do not sleep, and yet even I am susceptible to magics that control the mind and affect the body. I may not bleed, but pierce my armored carapace and I do still feel pain. Expose me to toxic airs and I shall still be sickened. After all, while this body is inhuman, I used to be human."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

You would awaken once more nearby Buddy, outside of the cabin. There was a light rain however that didn't prevent the bright blue moon from illuminating the night. Buddy seemed to notice you and nods. "I thought I might see you here. Seemed to be true, that you'll be here when you are asleep. Curiously, last night did you awaken tire? I would not want to take your rest away from you even bond as we are." It seemed that Buddy was taking shelter with the mules, standing underneath the tent as the rain dripped off the tarp. "Regardless it is nice to have some company. I should use that book you gave me more often."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

"So you just woke up in this world?" Pylia looked curiously at you. "I mean I believe you, don't have any reasons not to, it's just... I don't know, suppose I thought these things would be more dramatic. Did you perhaps have a wish to live another life? Did you... I'm sorry to say this, but were you perhaps dying? Wanting a second chance?" As Pylia says this she realizes how offensive she is and just goes to lay down. "That was dumb of me, you don't need to answer that. I just... I'm tired I guess. It's been a long day. Goodnight Sylvia."

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Pylia sighed. "More and more Mysteries. It'd be one thing if we can learn more about the dragon at Gransys, but to learn more about you and your fate... I'm sure we'll have to look elsewhere." Pylia laid down onto the bedroll and looked to the ceiling. "I've been thinking... How exactly did you get here? I mean I know I prayed for the Defiance for some guidance, and then you showed up but... Why you?" Pylia sat up and looked at you with a hand raised. "I don't mean that in offense! I... I'm glad you're here. It's just... Surely I took you away from your own life. I'm sure you had precious people to be with. You're strong no doubt but... I guess I'm just trying to wrack my mind about why they had to take you. Someone who... Who has something to lose. A life, a family... Ah, I'm just sounding rude aren't I?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Pylia listened intently, quite amused by the tale. "Oh, now you've gotten me curious Sylvia. Enough tales to last one thousand and one nights... That's more than three years! She surely must have a creative and strong mind to keep that up every night." Pylia sat up and thought more about it, raising her finger up. "Though it's not quite as impressive, I have heard of a slightly similar tale up north. In the land of the horse lords, when their nation was unified, Crystaalilk Khanate had a powerful warlord would would demand the daughter of every family from every nation he took over. Fearful of losing their child, one man who had feminine looks offered himself in his daughter's place. When it came time to... Copulate... Actually maybe I shouldn't finish this tale, tis a dirty one." Pylia said with an embarrassed look. She tried to ignore it and move on. "In any case! I've never heard of that tale before. But to think that a magic door uses it as a riddle, perhaps someone in this world or before it has heard of this tale before?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Shortfang yawned, as did Andrews and Elena. Seemed like they were getting sleepy. Elena said Andrews should go to sleep but he wanted to keep listening. Shortfang agreed, as he had one more tale to tell. The final tale of Pun-Pun's adventures. "Yes, one more grand enemy to fight. By now, Pun-Pun great hero among kobolds. He make city for kobold, call Dragonhome, for all dragon kind. Kobold, Dragonborn, even Ferrodsuaco and good dragons! But not all easy. Though Pun-Pun strong, many still say Pun-Pun is weak, because he kobold. Many tribes say he lies, that Gold Dragon do all work and Pun-Pun do nothing but steal glory to make him king. Pun-Pun listen, want to do something to show he real strong. So, one final journey. Ferrodsuaco say there is evil wizard who will rewrite world, think he is one true god. He in faraway world, try to be all mighty. So Pun-Pun stop him."

Moving the bedrolls out, Shortfang began to physically make the "map" Pun-Pun took, using various creases and dips as mountains and lakes. "Pun-Pun travel far. Go to many temples to pray to different gods. Pun-Pun no worship, but he know he need all help he can get. Even Ferrodsuaco don't know how to stop evil wizard C'tan. On journey, Pun-Pun make new friend with snake name Marya. Marya just regular snake, but Pun-Pun find her egg and hatch it. Marya become familiar for Pun-Pun's journey to power." As Shortfang finished this part of the tale, Andrews laid his head on his sister's lap. Try as he might, he quickly ends up falling asleep. Shortfang himself yawns a bit. "Mhmm. Finish story another time." He says as he goes to sleep near the fireplace. He couldn't really burrow here without digging up the wood, so he just curled up like a cat near the warmest thing nearby.

Pylia helped Elena take Andrews to their sleeping spot. The other three older adults parted ways. Muriel said she might be up for a short while longer, but otherwise she plans to head to bed soon. Andras would soon join his children for resting tonight. Ferric helped Mica get to bed though he admits he's not very tired, but doesn't want to just sit around doing nothing either. Finally Pylia turned to you. "Don't suppose you want to tell me that story now? Shortfang's tales were entertaining, but I'm curious about what stories you know."