Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 8, 2019 19:06:11 GMT
A soft rain covered the city of Waterdeep, with wind howling from the sea in constant light breezes that made raindrops take on certain shapes at times. Everything was wet outside of the refuge buildings provided, and the white noise the water made was soothing as it was convenient for the one that approached under it's cover. The surface-dweller housings were as disgusting as their people, and the foul smell of their stench reached all the way to the distant shore he had come from. Lyfnan was big by human standards, and without having legs one would have thought his going was sluggish. One would have been wrong.
Through the wet surfaces of the city he slithered about rather quickly until he reached the Greenglade towers, the nondetection spell he had on himself working his magic as he entered the building and followed the magic lure of the artifact towards the thief, trident in hand. The Baranyth amulet he could feel in the air like an invisible thread, pulling upwards as he made it's way towards the upper floors. It had been stolen from his rightful place after a raid weeks ago, killing Fessera and her guards. All of the would-be thieves paid for their folly with their lives but one got away, because they never realised there was one more. Too late they realised that one managed to take something with him.
It mattered not, for the blood curse would do short work of any who took illegitimate possession of it.
He reached the top floor, and slid it's way to the right door leaving a trail of water beneath him, she sound of his body inching hastily forward being barely audible against the floor. Finally, he reached the right door. He readied the trident. His hand reached the doorknob, and attempted to open it slowly. And to Thea, if she was paying attention it would reveal a huge humanoid with blue scales for skin and a snake-fish-like lower torso and legs. A Merfolk by the looks of it, feral, armed, with pieces of bone armor sewn into his upper torso, along with a small pearl necklace. His deep blue eyes scanned the room until they locked on to Thea.
"Human"
He said in an angered deep growl that dragged along any vocal
"Thief"
He corrected and then continued just as angry
"Return the stone to me right now!"
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 8, 2019 19:30:56 GMT
Thea’s room was on the top floor of the Greenglades tower, with a big window overlooking the city on the rightmost wall. Generally, Thea had it arranged with a little nook of an armchair and a divan at the fireplace, and her work station close to the window, a little table with a stool next to it. Her bed was against the far wall from the door, gauzy blue curtains hanging down from the bed posts create a little separation from the rest of the room. Thea had come home late; she was still faintly buzzed from a bit of alcoholic cider, and the sounds of the rain had kept her from sleeping. She had moved the table and stool to the side, and dragged her big armchair over to the edge of the open window, curling up in the chair and gazing out the window at the rain. A few drops sprinkled her occasionally, little splashes of water, but Thea didn’t mind. The storm was light, not enough to get lost in, just a soothing, pleasant hum at the back of her mind. It was dark, but the lights of the city were just enough to see the clouds and bursts of rain.
It had been a pleasant day; things felt like they were going well, here in Waterdeep. Thea had plenty of work, friends - new and old. When she had made the decision to leave Urmlaspyr and come to Waterdeep, it had been - complicated. She had known it was the right decision, the thing she had to do to move forward with her life and cut some particular ties, or at least weaken them (Thea wasn't sure if they could ever be severed, not fully). That hadn't meant she'd been totally confident in the choice. Yes, she was an amazing glassblower and, yes, she'd never particularly had trouble making friends... but what if Waterdeep was so full of artisans that her work didn't stand out? What if her upbringing in Urmlaspyr had left her too countrified for the big city? So far, neither fear - however vague - seemed to have come true. Not only that, but the friends she'd made in Waterdeep had pushed her further than ever before in her magic. Thea might quibble with Citrine's methods, but she couldn't deny that they'd had results.
Thea was just, just on the edge of falling asleep, knees drawn up to her chest, turned half towards the window, when the merfolk’s voice cut through the air. Thea shrieked, eyes opening wide. She shrieked again at the sight of a stranger – a male stranger! – at the doorway of her room, and promptly yanked her sheer robe shut over herself, hiding the two pale whitish-blue knees exposed by her short shift. “What – ” Thea shrieked again. “Who – “ Her eyes were wide and terrified, and she hunched back against the chair, staring at the merman at her door. |
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 8, 2019 19:46:21 GMT
"The Baranyth amulet! Hand it over to me or suffer even more pain that you have already brought upon yourself, thief!"
The Merfolk growled and made it's way inside the room accomodating it's huge, alien features inside the place. Though he was not used to the difference in architecture and decoration. He promptly proceeded to knock things over just by moving forward in that odd way; slithering his tail side to side and balancing his body in a very similar fashion with broad moves from his arms, one in which he was agitating a dangerous looking trident that glowed with a faint, pale blue glimmer.
He showed her a row of sharp, pointy teeth and quickly turned towards the nearest wardrobe, towards the nearest big human container and proceeded to ransack it without care or concern breaking it in the brutish process, sending splinter pieces flying in all directions with another roar coming from within it's jaws.
"Where is it, the gemstone you stole!"
Lyfnan could sense it all around him but could not pinpoint it's exact location. The spell was not that precise although it was very useful to track things across long distances. It was just not made for really short ones. Could be anywhere; that glowing blue crystal that had the sea contained within, sparkling like a constallation constantly on the move.
The Merfolk turned back towards Thea and slithered forward knocking yet another thing to the ground with a loud thud.
"You..."
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 8, 2019 20:15:14 GMT
The main wardrobe was at the far end of the room, next to the bed, but there was a smaller stand of drawers close to the door.
Thea shrieked, full-voice, as the merfolk began to ransack the drawers, leaping to her feet from the chair, hands clenching into fists.
“Stop it!” Thea gritted her teeth. Wind burst in through the open window, dancing around Thea, rustling the curtains at the window and the bed, and tossing about the clothing and wooden splinters as anger seeped in, replacing surprise and fear.
“I have stolen nothing – I am no thief!” Thea cried out, her hair and robe fluttering in the breeze, eyes tight and angry as she stared at the merfolk, who had just knocked the inkwell off her little table, sending it splashing on the floor. “How dare you burst into my room in the middle of the night and accuse me of such things! Stop this – now – or I will defend myself.” Thea’s eyes flashed with anger, the wind fluttering to a stop around her.
Thea had no idea what the merfolk was talking about – the phrase baranyth amulet meant nothing to her. The accusation of being a thief hurt, much more than she might have expected. Thea knew she was not perfect, but to steal? Never! What artisan would? Thea couldn’t imagine such a thing. Her life was devoted to the creation of beautiful things, the appreciation of them – and as such a creator she knew too well the pain someone would feel when being stolen from. She had never in her life stolen.
But… the accusation hit closer to home than Thea might have wished. Had her conscience truly been clear, she would never have responded to strongly. Thea was no thief. She had never stolen. But… had she looked the other way? Not here in Waterdeep, but back home in Urmlaspyr? Thea couldn’t imagine it was true, but also couldn’t ignore the faint nagging sensation that this might be Dom’s doing.
((Thea uses the cantrip gust! Harmless sensory effect))
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 10, 2019 21:57:29 GMT
The feral merfolk was surprised to see the wind answer the girl's calling, the way it burst open into the room sending the smaller objects flying about. He seemed to hesitate for a split second. None of the other men had been magic users, and... He knew enough about wizards to know that theirs wasn't truly magic. They were only borrowing, stealing power from the weave through foul tricks due to not being able to perform magic themselves, the power was not in them and yet this woman... The wind was surrounding them without a catalyst, without a gesture. It could be... No, it surely was a trick!
"Don't lie to me!"
The Merfolk said then rising his voice to suffocate her's, returning to his previous state of anger grabbing the trident with both hands now, his tongue slithering through his big sharp teeth with anger.
"I can feel it's blue shimmer through the weave, I know it's in this very room"
He declared and it was no boast, he could. Not for long however since the spell would fade away eventually after a day on the next dawn but it was still enough for him to have tracked the stone all the way to this foul city the surface dewellers called Waterdeep.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 10, 2019 22:04:24 GMT
Blue shimmer.
Gemstone.
A merfolk.
Thea’s eyes widened.
Oh, no, she really was an idiot. “Wait,” Thea exhaled, slowly, the last of the wind calming, and her hair as well, fluttering back down to rest on her shoulders. “Just – wait.” She rubbed her face, pinching the bridge of her nose, and looked back at the man.
“A blue gemstone? Looks like… the sea in the form of a stone?” Thea asked, feeling abruptly very tired. She glanced down at herself, and promptly wrapped her robe around herself tightly again, crossing her arms across her front to hold it in place. She wished she had shoes; the normally comforting feel of the carpet by the window under her feet just made her feel even more naked.
“I didn’t steal it,” Thea said, firmly, not raising her voice again, but not yielding to his anger either. “Stop ransacking my room,” she glanced down at the ink soaking into her rug, and back at the mostly destroyed cabinets by the door, then at the merfolk. “Tell me what’s going on, calmly – and then we’ll see.” Her nerves were still taut, lightning just a gesture away. He was close – closer than she might like – but Thea wouldn’t hesitate to do even more damage to her belongings, if necessary.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 11, 2019 4:20:05 GMT
Persuasion check: MQoCnLYb1d20+61d20+6
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 11, 2019 21:38:44 GMT
The merfolks anger was barely held in by her sudden willingness to talk. For a moment he could have believed her then, that she actually had no idea what was going on. But then it hit him, of course she did. She was just trying to assuage the bad situation she was in, had there ever been a thief that claimed to be guilty of theft? Of course not, it was but a ploy to try and weasel herself out of the righteous retribution that had finally found her.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
The merfolk shouted her way.
"Yes, you know exactly what it is, and where it is, the gem you stole from the sanctuary, give it to me now or I shall end your life!"
He threatened her this time and not her belongings, tired of wasting time with a human who was probably lying to him. Whilst he wasn't quite versed in desciphering their facial expression the circumstancial evidence spoke for itself... But did it? The Merfolk had a certain doubt about him regarding the situation but his natural mistrust of outsiders and surface dwellers specially prevented him from being street-smart about the situation.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 11, 2019 22:03:03 GMT
It was clear he didn’t believe her. Very clear. How could someone just not know who had stolen their precious gem? On the other hand, Thea had to admit, the merman had a very fair claim to having tracked it to her.
“I didn’t steal it,” Thea said, clearly, looking at the merman. She wasn’t sure this method was working, and did her best to switch tactics. “It was given to me in exchange for work I did as an artisan.” She raised her voice, just a fraction. “What claim do you have to it? How do I know you don’t just seek to steal it from me?”
The merman was growing angrier and angrier, and Thea was, despite her wish to calm him down and avoid any more damage to her room, also wouldn’t hesitate to strike back if she had to. One hand rose to clasp the little pendant hanging at her throat, fishing it out from under her robe and holding it tight. Her other hand, carefully, released the robe; modesty felt like rather less of a priority right just now.
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 12, 2019 0:17:02 GMT
Insight
z91QCDUt1d20+2
"Liar!" He growled even angrier than before as she tried to make her stance by telling the truth, it was offensive enough that the stone had been stolen but even worse than he was getting lied to his face by the thief. And she was trying to ask him, of all people, what claim he had?
"That stone was made by the great sorceress of the sea, Morwenna. It is the legacy of her magic, fool, and will always find it's way to the rightful owner. Anyone else that tries to take hold of it will find only death in time. Many thieves have tried their luck already, and ships have sunk to the bottom of the sea as a consequence of their imprudence. It is only fitting that you should die as well, for it is the fate that awaits liars and traitors."
He declared almost puffing out his chest in a prideful display as he mentioned it and quickly readied his trident to use, however he did so with only one hand. The other hand was free now.
"I am Lyfnan, the temple guardian, and I am done speaking with you. You've had ample chance of surrender to save your pitiful life. Now, it is fate that guides my hands!"1d20+2
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 12, 2019 16:09:18 GMT
Thea's initiative: dY5BADjX1d20+21d20+2
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 12, 2019 16:26:17 GMT
58PlF6rQ1d20+31d20+3
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 12, 2019 16:48:07 GMT
Lyfnan made a gesture with his hands towards Thea, muttering a few words in a language that sounded more like gurgling than anything else, but the intention in his eyes was clear as the air around his fingers took on a faint blue coloring attempting to shoot a Hold Person spell on her. Something that would render her helpless at once should it connect, but what chances did the puny human had in any case, that display he had seen earlier it was just more of their tricks, always lying.
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Post by moralhazard on Mar 12, 2019 17:15:48 GMT
Thea had never before been able to – to feel spells. Was that the right way to put it? It was new to her, seeing a swirl of magic in the air before her. Not seeing, quite – seeing-sensing. It was a natural, almost automatic reaction to point one hand at the merman and turn it in a neat half-circle, as if reaching out and untwisting the spell with a burst of wind. The spell would collapse, almost drifting apart.
Thea was thoroughly sick of this argument. She was sick of being called a thief, sick of the merman not listening to her, sick of having been interrupted in her quiet, peaceful night at home, sick of – all of it. The fear and anger she’d felt when the merman first burst through her door swirled inside her, dissolving the last of her resolve to spare her room. It was, Thea felt, only stuff after all.
It wasn’t much of a shift to point at the merman instead. “Strike,” Thea murmured in primordial, her own harsh, guttural language, and a massive bolt of lightning would shoot from her hair, slamming through the merman and into the fireplace behind him. The rug at the fireplace would erupt into flame, along with the wood stacked behind her.
Thea uses counterspell in her reaction, then casts lightning bolt at the merman.
Lightning bolt damage: BfiSgwWt8d6
Dex save against spell DC of 14 for half damage!
Thea has 4/3/1 spell slots remaining. 8d6
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Arioch
Approved
Level 6 — Barbarian
Posts: 333
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Post by Arioch on Mar 12, 2019 17:19:16 GMT
Dexterity saving throw DC 14!
9586oqXx1d20+3
Merman's own attack!
1d20+4
Just as the spell was getting ready to go off and make her an easy picking the spell collapsed and disappeared, out of his reach, out of his power. Despite the difference in species it would be easy to tell apart just how shocked he was regarding what had just happened. How was she even able to do that? He had just began to realise how he had underestimated her when a lightning bolt struck him and almost sent him reeling back as electricity coursed through his body, through him and against the wall as well. The merfolk shrieked in pain with a growl before grabbing hold of his trident with both hands and attempting to pierce Thea with it.
How was it possible? It was clear he hadn't been expecting that and his resolve was not what it had been... But he also had a duty to complete and couldn't turn back without the stone the thief was keeping.1d20+3·1d20+4
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