The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent
vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums
here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules
document is now in effect.
[DnD] The Fantastical Contraption - Pt. 4 - Heart of Darkness
Posts
He snatches the paper, and rushes off to his study, slamming the door. You hear a slight click after.
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
Swanky fishes into his pockets and begins pulling things out and resting them on the table. 2 buttons, a small pile of dirt, a fish skull, a set of keys (that he quickly puts back into his pocket), a corkscrew, and a few vials of arcane ritual ingredients that he had "procured" from Daus' room.
Looking nervously at Carrel, Swanky slid the vials over to his brother. "He really should be careful where he leaves things, I was just bringing these down to return to him".
Suddenly Swanky's eyes lit up and he drew his sword and placed in on the table with his other belongings. He turned his scabbard upside down and a small parchment fell out. Swanky replaced his sword all all his assorted Swag and uncrumpled the parchment on the table. On the parchment was a carefully sketched layout of the general goods store in town with markers showing where the most valuable items were kept. Swanky quickly turned the parchment over to show some hastily drawn schematics for parts that seemed to match his brothers' artwork.
Swanky shifted his weight and tried with his most serious tone..."Ya, umm they proprietor of the store wanted me to work up a little something for him...he is trying to improve his security. Hired me on as a consultant." Carrel's raised eyebrow let Swanky know that his story was not getting him anywhere fast. "Look, don't tell dad, ok? But the important thing is the schematics, right? Spooky same dreams and whatnots?"
_____________________________________________
HoTS: Schmutz#1686
Skarr enters the kitchen, his tusked face looking haggard and drawn. Clearly he hadn't gotten much sleep last night.
"Skarr tired and grumpy, Swanky no yell so much, or Swanky find his heart in Skarr's belly." Skarr mutters, dropping down in his traditional seat. His mass had long since stopped breaking fragile wooded chairs in Corran's Reach. Living with a master inventor made for never having to break furniture again. By accident anyway. He immediatly grabs for whatever food is on the table, shoving it into his tusked mouth.
Skarr must be tired, you haven't heard him drop into his native Orcish speech patterns in years. Not since Corran taught each of the brothers how to properly read and write. Shaking his head to clear the cobwens, and downing a glass of juice (Korin's most likely since Skarr's place setting isn't actually on the table yet), Skarr woke up enough to elaborate.
"Grrr. I was up late last night trying to come up with some designs. As usual they all stunk, so I went to sleep. But then I had these awful dreams, just awful. I was dreaming of parts, of all things. Not blood or violence, not glory or women. But these stupid parts!" Skarr tosses a folded piece of parchment on the table, showing the crude designs from his dreams. He then notices Korin's and Swanky's sketches as well.
"I saw those in my dreams too. What in the Nine Hells does that mean?"
Reaching for more food, Skarr notices his plate and cup are missing. "Hey! Where are my.....SWANKY!!!!"
"Ok, boys, I need you to be completely, 100 PERCENT honest with me, and I will NOT GET MAD at you. Now...did ANY of you sneak into my library last night and use my collection of tomes as research for your schematics?"
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
"I didn't."
Daus had a policy of always being completely honest about everything.
Carrel's demeanor had gone from somewhat curious to full blown mesmerized with the situation going on around him, his attention frozen on Corran.
"Also, Swanky's planning to rob the general goods store. Sorry Swanky."
"Ladies and gentlemen of the kitchen:
On the first count of breaking and entering into the library for the purposes of looking up schematics last night, my client pleads not guilty. By way of proof, my client offers offers testimony of everyone who both knows Swanky P. Corranson and has ever seen a schematic. They all testify that Swanky thinks schematics are lame and not worth breaking and entering for.
On the second count of conspiracy to rob the general store my client pleads not guilty. The only evidence offered is a drawing of the store that seems to label valuables. Anyone could have drawn that on the back of my client's schematics and placed it into his scabbard. Furthermore, Korin is a jerk.
That is all"
Swanky steps down from his chair and glares at Korin.
_____________________________________________
HoTS: Schmutz#1686
"Boys, what you are looking at are the finest mechanical implements and tools ever created. EVER. Some say they've had divine influence, some say arcane, primal, psionic...but the point is, that with these...these tools, one could create whatever he wanted. The story is that long ago, Dillibrac, an inventor to rival even my own genius, found them in an old temple. He did what any good inventor would do...come up with pages upon pages of glorious design documents, on various ways to use these parts. But then he did what any good inventor wouldn't do...use them to create a machine solely intended for destroying a world. A great alliance of all the forces of Keltain came together, and stopped his machine at the last minute. They broke it down, and scattered the key pieces all over the land. I've even been able to piece together where a few of them are...but I've found them to be places with...charming local character.
I don't know why you each had a dream of the parts of Dillibrac...but I tell you what: It's making me feel like creating. Haven't felt it in years..."
He pauses for a thought.
"Boys...you're starting to come into your own. I can't keep you at the Reach much longer. You need to go out into the world, explore it! See what there is to see! And I think that, in your own ways, you have become strong. You ARE strong. Strong enough, in body and ESPECIALLY in mind, to get those parts back to me. One last chore from your old man.
What do you boys say?"
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
The whole condundrum facing his father is beyond Skarr's understanding or, frankly, his caring. Inventors doing thier whole inventing thing. Bah. What Skarr wanted was to get out. He liked it here in Corran's Reach, he liked his family, but Skarr wanted out. He wanted to see the world, he wanted to live like those in Corran's books. A life of adventure. He go anywhere, see anything. Slay monsters, amass treasures and glory. Maybe he'd even find a tribe of Orcs and see what life was like living as one of them? Skarr snapped out of his daydreams and turned and ear back to the table...
Blah, blah, blah. They were talking about inventions again or still. Gods, Skarr was getting tired of it. Stupid dreams.
Skarr smiled, someone was listening. "What do I say? I'll tell you what I say: Where's my axe?"
Wish List:
Level2: Bracers of Mighty Striking
Level3: Vanguard Execution Axe +1
Level4: Cloak of the Walking Wounded +1
Level5: Battleforged Platemail +1 (Hopefully, I'll have taken the feat by the time I get this item)
"Where's Skarr's axe? Somebody find his axe! We got things to do, people to see, some...whatevers to find! Oh man, I need my stuff, lets get going. Who else is going? Nevermind, figure it out, I'll be right back!"
Swanky raced up to his room and filled his pack with all the gear he thought he would need. Of course his normal camping gear, but he knew this trip was going to be even better. He slid the bottom out of the trunk at the foot of his bed, revealing his secret cache. He packed up his climbing kit, crowbar, glass cutter, grappling hook (of course), dagger and a stack of shuriken. So full of excitement he could hardly stand it, he sprinted back into the kitchen, to see who else was ready to go.
_____________________________________________
HoTS: Schmutz#1686
Now, the first piece will likely be the easiest to retrieve. The peak on the otherside of this forest? There's an old hidey-hole there. Used to be used by bandits and such. I know for a fact, there's a Dillibrac piece there. I also know, for a fact, that the place won't be unoccupied. Too well defensible and hidden to pass up from that element of people. You take the road, though, and when it branches towards Highspring, you go west instead, up the peak for a bit. There should be a little plateau, with the lair carved into the mountain side. Shouldn't miss it. Now...go on and get me my materials, boys!"
I'm putting a link to the map of the region in the OP. Just in case you fellas forgot what the place looked like.
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
The five sons of a famous inventor dream of the works of Dillibrac. The one inventor who would get the most out of them. Someone wanted Corran to change the world some more. And that's what was too obvious.
But what was there to do, but watch and be on guard? His dad's judgment might not be trusted here. That left Carrel, the only one he could carry on a real conversation w--
He spared a brief glance at the gnome. Could Carrel's judgment be trusted, either? His... awe would wear off eventually, but even then? Carrel drew power from the Feywild, but Daus was unclear on the details. Could the Feywild, in turn, influence him in some way? Could the dreams have found their source there?
Daus' quiet concern for his brother flared again.
Unfortunately, tomorrow is a long day of work. I won't actually update the adventure until after, so from now til then is RP time.
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
You make your final preparations to leave the Reach. As all five of you gather at the front door, you hear the gnome walk over to you.
"Ah, my boys...I knew this day would come. My boys stepping out into the world on their own. Does me proud to realize I didn't waste all those years raising you five." He grins.
"Now do yourselves proud out there...and do ME proud by bringing back that Dillibrac piece!" He then shoves you out the door, and slams it shut. You hear a slight click. You begin to think that he has been waiting for this day.
The sky is clear, and the weather warm as you set out. It takes you the better part of a day to follow the road to where Corran indicated, but sure enough, you come to the crossroads he talked about. You turn away from the road, and begin to head up the side of the small mountain. After about an hour's worth of climbing, you come to a flat plataeu. Sure enough, nearly 50 feet in front of you the mountain wall resumes, and there is a staircase carved into the side of the mountain. It zigzags upwards for about 30 feet before it stops at what looks to you to be some kind of door.
Also, off to the side you see an opening in the mountain wall.
So what's your course of action?
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
Hey all, I'll be gone for the weekend, assume Skarr wants to cave everything's head open with his Axe until I get back...
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
Swanky takes off before anyone can talk him out of it, creeping carefully up to the small opening in the mountainside. He crouches behind a nearby bush and peers into the opening.
OOC:
Stealth Check: 1d20+9 (14) = 23
Perception Check 1d20+5 (15) = 20
_____________________________________________
HoTS: Schmutz#1686
Korin stops at the base of the stairs. "Hey, guys," he says, studying them carefully, "Don't you think it's kinda odd for stairs to be carved out here? Hmm..."
History: 1d20+2=12
"No, if he needs us, he'll shout."
Sure, I don't want you guys to wait for me so if its needed, go ahead and roll for me.
"By the way, stranger," Korin says with a smirk, now that he's noticed Daus's new form, "My other brother seems to have wandered off again. Keep an eye out for him, would you?"
Korin:
They were not pretty.
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
"There's no need to thank me for scouting or anything, I do it because I care. If anyone cares to know, it sounds like theres some sort of underground stream through the cave opening, but I didn't see any ne'er-do-wells in the area. Well, no more than us, anyhoo"
"So, whatcha think? Door or passageway?"
_____________________________________________
HoTS: Schmutz#1686
Carrel tapped his staff on the ground a couple times and fiddled with something in his pocket before waiting for a response.
Also which of the brothers is slipping more into the leadership role? Better than ruling by committee on everything, and the role can always change hands on a later fool's errand...
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
Korin stands in front of the others, trying to look as authoritative as possible. "So, I say we go straight up to the front door. It's better to face a known danger than an unknown one, if you ask me."
Korin is more than willing to take the lead. It's up to you if your characters are insane enough to follow him. :P
If they marched right up to the front door, they'd look like idiots. Which they mostly were. And they mostly would be. But given the choice between stairs and any kind of climbing at all, Daus knew there was no choice.
"Good point, Korin." It was a terrible point. If there were bandits, they didn't know anything about them. the cave might go directly to where they wanted to be. There were reasons to go to the front door, but Korin had not touched on even one of them. None of that mattered next to the convienence of stairs.
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
He bounded half way up the stairs before he realized that his group was still behind him. He turns and waves for them to catch up, stamping his foot impatiently, but unwilling to go further without them.
_____________________________________________
HoTS: Schmutz#1686
"Well, well, humie-type folks! Aldough one of em's big and green...still, 'dough, orders is orders! BOYZ!!"
After he shouts, you see several smaller scaly figures emerge from platforms cut into the rock 10 feet above the door. One of them leaps out from the platform to land on the staircase behind you.
Roll for initiative!
Map:
You can place yourselves in the 5 squares from E5 to E8, and D6.
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
Also I'll take E7, I suppose.
"Korin, you are a tactical genius."
"I know, right?"
I'll start in D6, if there aren't any complaints. Also, as a note, my Mantle of Elation Class Feature, gives me and any allies within 5 squares +3 to opportunity attack damage rolls. In addition, due to my Mantle of Readiness feat, we all also get +2 to movement speed for the first round.
"Korin, you are an idiot." Skarr says, glaring at his brothers. The clever uses of sarcasm are currently beyond Skarr. His blood is up, and there are foes before him. How he longed for a day like today! Skarr hefted his axe, and moved into the fight.
Initiative = 20 (modified) from Invisible Castle.
Skarr will start in E5
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!
Chicago Megagame group
Watch me struggle to learn streaming! Point and laugh!