*This is the IC thread for my Past Tense 4th edition game.*
Once you were proud and powerful heroes, hunting down powerful and dangerous foes. The most recent of these was a Lich you've been after for some time now. After several months you finally managed to track him down, beat through his forces, and slay him. Unfortunately, when you went to destroy his Phylactery, it unleashed a terrible curse. Your bodies spasmed and you each fell, twitching, to the floor.
When you awoke, the air seemed even more stale than before and you found yourselves weakened. Exiting the crypt required you to wade through mounds of rubble and walls of webbing - The corpses of the foes you'd killed on your way in nowhere to be found - and the floor is covered in a deep layer of dust which you kick up with each step. Finally reaching the exit into the sunlight, you can't help but stop and stare in awe. When you'd first entered the crpyt, it had been located in a graveyard just outside of town... but now all that can be seen in every direction is Jungle, and a few broken and worn rocks around you that may once have been tombstones. Glancing back, you see the crypt you left appears to be all that is still standing - and that just barely.
A gasp from one draws the attention of all. On the other side of the crypt, down the hill and out a hundred feet, lies the beginning of the largest body of water you've ever seen, stretching out into the distance farther than your sight can follow it.
Just what the hell happened in there, you wonder as the sun meanders slowly across the sky.
ooc
It appears to be late afternoon.
As described, the lich's lair was in a cemetery on a hill just outside of a major city. You came out the same way you went in and now stand staring at a jungle where the city should be, and the cemetery has been overgrown. On the other side of the hill is the coastline, and a vast ocean.
Ruthear ar'Thar, Veteran of the Twilight Wars and one of the Worlds more famous Warlords, crouches near the Crypts entrance carefully examining a handful of dirt and stones as if to divine meaning from them.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" he roars, hurling the dirt away in frustration. "This is impossible! Whatever has happend! This should not be. It is not possible I say!"
Rising to his feet, the black-clad Tiefling turns to his companions, his face in shadows and his regally curved horns outlined against the slowly setting sun.
"A simple delusion, clearly. A pathetic mind-trick to fool the foolish." he growls. "Almost had fooled me there! Trickster-Corpse!"
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"My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death"
Illian looks around in dismay as the others emerge from the crypt and gasps at the sight in front of him. He tries to recollect his thoughts and concentrates briefly.
ooc
Illian tries to detect magic effects in the area, illusions, or any trace of spells used; i'd say taking ten is reasonable: arcana 22, insight 22
Then he comes to a sudden realization and almost jumps at the shock and yells desperately, almost in tears.My lute! The lute of Fae is gone!
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Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
Ash shields her eyes from the sun for a few seconds then look out to the surrounding.
"Let's not get carried away, surely there is an explanation to this..." says the tall eladrin woman, calmly.
She walks down the steps for a few feet and try to look for signs of the town that used to be standing near the crypt. She turns around and looks at Illian as he yells ub shock.
Verity has followed the group quietly. He gently runs his fingers over an nearby vine. The plant has been growing here for years...
I'm afraid it's not an illusion Master ar'Thar. Even the unseen lord couldn't effect this kind of change so quickly, at least not on the material plane.
He looks back at the crypt behind him. Is this the same crypt we entered such a short time ago? I wonder...
Let me gather myself and see if I can sense any sort of magical energies. Verity squats down on the ground focusing himself to try to sense magic.
Interested in playing 4th edition online? The Living 4th EnWorld Campaign is open! [character creationwikiforum]
I am in an interesting period of my life; I will post in games that I run three times a week (M,W,F); and try to maintain obligations in existing games.
...disquieting...
There was no end to his patience and endurance. He played day and night, his obsession was somewhat disquieting. It was less as if he were playing to dispel gloom or beguile tedium than as if he were giving himself up to the fangs of gaming devils."
Kawabata Yasunari - The Master of Go
"That's what I feared, Varity... But everything is so different. Are we on another plane of existance? or How long have we been uncouncious?" Wonders Ash.
One of the last to leave is the Knight, Lady Keira, dragging with her the steed that she stubbornly dragged into the crypt and had no opportunities to use, yet she insisted that she might have a need for it at some point.
"Strange, where did that cowardly squire of mine go?" Keira mutters, looking around for her Squire Tuomas, whose courage ran out just before they entered the crypt and after this he had found an excuse to wait outside the crypt, keeping an eye out for more enemies.
It is at that point she discovers that the entire world appears to have changed and she raises a brow. "Did I overlook this jungle when we began our quest? And where did the city go?"
Verity finishes spending his minute in concentration. Interesting...
ooc
Punting until Jemal tells me what, if anything, I've sensed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SarahRequiem
"That's what I feared, Varity... But everything is so different. Are we on another plane of existance? or How long have we been uncouncious?" Wonders Ash.
I do not think we are on another plane... This is certainly not the feywild or the shadowfell.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bialaska
"Did I overlook this jungle when we began our quest? And where did the city go?"
I am not sure, my lady, that the city went anywhere.
__________________
Interested in playing 4th edition online? The Living 4th EnWorld Campaign is open! [character creationwikiforum]
I am in an interesting period of my life; I will post in games that I run three times a week (M,W,F); and try to maintain obligations in existing games.
...disquieting...
There was no end to his patience and endurance. He played day and night, his obsession was somewhat disquieting. It was less as if he were playing to dispel gloom or beguile tedium than as if he were giving himself up to the fangs of gaming devils."
Kawabata Yasunari - The Master of Go
"If what we see is not a phantasm, than either the city has been moved... or we have." Ruthear growls.
"But not only the city has vanished. That incompetent squire of Lady Keira is gone, as are the fell beasts we vanquished at the very entrance of the crypt and this..." pointing to the blue vastness on the other side, he snarls "...THIS, was not here before."
"Either way, Night will soon be falling and we should best answer this conundrum before than."
Looking out to the forest, than back to the ruined crypt the Tiefling concludes. "We could explore this miserable patch of land to learn more about our whereabouts, or.. backtrack to the Phylactery and unriddle this mysterious curse."
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"My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death"
There is no magic to be sensed on top of the hill, not even faint or fading magic... Which is especially strange because the wards you had to get through going in should still have been detectable for days.
Verity ponders for a moment and remembers that the stars look distincively different to perceptive eyes from different locations. He remembers what they should look like from many places he's been, so if they have travelled to another plane/location, he may be able to tell where tonight(Nature Knowledge).
Perception Checks for anybody looking/searching: (They are cumulative, read each one you make)
DC 12
There are no footprints except your own on the hill top, nor paths.
DC 18
The crypt you exited looks exactly like the one you entered. Although much more worn, it's markings and carvings are distinctive.
DC 24
As you are searching, you turn over one of the gravestones to find Lady Keira's name! The date of death is the day you went in, and the stone appears weathered and battered by time. On the bottom, it has a barely legible quote "She taught me to be the best Squire I could, and I shall carry on knighthood in her stead"
Come join us in the Shifting Seas and Transitive Isles of Living 4th Edition, amazing adventures and great fun guaranteed!
Then to play community 4e in Eberron join us in LEB too! Give life to your characters and contribute to the living settings!
Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
"I however see no paths or trails up here. No sign of recent passings."
Ruthear muses on his own proposals, barely taking time to study the surroundings with due care.
"Best than, to return into the crypt and study the traces of the curse! What do you say?"
__________________
"My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death"
OOC Perception = 27 Verity looks at his companions inquisitive faces... Oh... yes... there is no magic. Nothing. The traps that the lich laid are not even in evidence.
He moves up to the crypt and stares for a long time at the carvings. I would swear these were the same carvings. Just look... the star pattern here is a regional mark... and this depression? One of Illian's bolts.... they leave a distinctive pattern when they strike stone.
Stone... he looks down at a peculiarly shaped rock. This... is new though.
Though new is hardly the right word, as he flips over the decrepid and cracked stone Verity lets out an audible gasp.
For the stone is Lady Keira's Tombstone.
Quote:
The date of death is the day you went in, and the stone appears weathered and battered by time. On the bottom, it has a barely legible quote "She taught me to be the best Squire I could, and I shall carry on knighthood in her stead"
__________________
Interested in playing 4th edition online? The Living 4th EnWorld Campaign is open! [character creationwikiforum]
I am in an interesting period of my life; I will post in games that I run three times a week (M,W,F); and try to maintain obligations in existing games.
...disquieting...
There was no end to his patience and endurance. He played day and night, his obsession was somewhat disquieting. It was less as if he were playing to dispel gloom or beguile tedium than as if he were giving himself up to the fangs of gaming devils."
Kawabata Yasunari - The Master of Go
"Humans," the sinew bugbear says the hundred time, seemingly appearing from nowhere, as he has a habit of eternal sneaking. "If this appears the same tomb and the same hill and there is no illusion, it IS the same tomb and the same hill. And if neither us or the tomb has be transported and this is no fake gravestone, one of this facts isn't quite right. We haven't been transported locally, but..." he breaks off, looking shocked.
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I got to inform lord Celangor* immediately Says Illian, more and more agitated, as he hastily looks for something inside his bag...and can't find it: Where is my Sending Stone? Then he almost faints as he opens wide the bag itself and looks inside This is NOT my Bag of Holding!! and falls to his knees, eyes shut and whining at the sky All my nifty magic items...GONE!!!
ooc
*supposedly, the bralani lord that handed Illian and the party the lute of Fae.
Hope i'm not depicting Illian too much of an idiot...
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Then to play community 4e in Eberron join us in LEB too! Give life to your characters and contribute to the living settings!
Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
Illian looks up at Ash and his face suddenly turns back serious. He stands up and says in a sad voice We're alive...yes... Then, he collects a leaf from the ground Sylas,brat, sir Gerold... for you and bringing it at his lips, he whistles a brief, melancholic, simple music. Then he lets the leaf slowly fall towards the entrance of the crypt. For you.
Then he turns at the others, smiles broadly, and comments: The old man and the midget really loved that melody... the wouldn't admit it, but I'm pretty sure he liked it too
Come join us in the Shifting Seas and Transitive Isles of Living 4th Edition, amazing adventures and great fun guaranteed!
Then to play community 4e in Eberron join us in LEB too! Give life to your characters and contribute to the living settings!
Please excuse my poor English. It is not my first language.
"I say we go look for that town, it can't have disapeared without leaving a single trace. we will find something, I'm sure of it. Anyone agree?"
"Disappeared without leaving a single trace? Maybe it has. Maybe not!"
Ruthear responds with an uncaring shrug towards the distant forest.
"But whatever has changed, it began with the curse unleashed by the Phylactery." he hesitates for a moment, lost in thought. "And seemingly, I can not recall whether the Phylactery was ultimately destroyed."
"Whatever has been done to us, it was a curse of terrible power. If we return into the crypt and wrest from it its secrets, we will be able to reverse its effect and.. " a fearsome gleem appearing briefly in the Tieflings eyes "..and quite likely master it."
Pointing into the gloomy entrance with a long and taloned finger, Ruthear proposes "Why don't we head back inside?"
DM
Did the Heroes actually destroy the Phylactery? or Not? or is that indeed unknown as suggested above?
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"My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death"
"Mastering unknown powers and such sounds alright, Ruthear. You know I like your plans most. But first we are in a heck of a weird wood with a strange old gravestone depicting yesterday and not a bucket to $#!+ into! We should first gain some answers before conquering the world. But don't forget the second part!" Ripper adds with a grinn only a bugbear can manage.
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Hi I'm a comic and rpg nerd. Don't hurt me, please.
Upon hearing Verity's gasp, Keira turns in his direction. Is everything alright? she then asks, not noticing the gravestone.
Then she hears Ilian whining about his magic items and it is at this point she takes a closer look at herself, quickly joining Ilian in his grief.
"Sehanine's Holy Avenger? Where is it? We must find it with utmost haste! The thief must still be inside the crypt! He stole my blade and replaced it when I did not notice!" Lady Keira then starts walking back towards the entrance of the crypt.
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