D&D 5E [D&D 5e] Planescape - In Through the Out Door

[Quickleaf]

With a groan resembling the creaking of an old leather tome, Shandrizar quips back at Oz with a wry smile. "Good to know we have a billy goat if I ever need help swallowing my pride."

Surveying the cramped living quarters, the floating spellbook is determined not to stay here, if not for the ongoing yugoloth attack then for the sheer unsuitability of such a space for an archmage of his stature. Not even a bookshelf in sight! "Good to meet you, Bix. I am Shandrizar...master of...well, just Shandrizar will have to do. This is Graydon, my bonded Conjurer. You do appear to have several mutations of your upper eyestalks, though hardly enough to not qualify you as a beholder. I mean, take for instance, my condition. I assure you beneath this handsome papery facade is a man; it's just my...physical shell...is a temporary inconvenience. Now, Bix, would you be so kind as to inform us of a way out of this inn? As a member of the Free League - yes? - you certainly cannot abide by the subjugation of innocents at the hands of fiends?"

Then, telepathically to Graydon:

Conjurer, it would appear our host Bix is an exiled beholder, creatures also known as eye tyrants, megalomaniacs from an unknown dimension who see themselves as superior to other forms of life. They are afflicted with madness, one and all. Perhaps Bix hails from the realm of Ilsensine in the Outlands? Ah, what you would call the Plane of Concordant Opposition, I believe. Clearly, an atypical representative of his species.

 

[Pembinasa]

Silently, to Shandrizar: And here I thought you didn't want your name getting out like this, o Master of Awkward Pauses. I was planning to start calling you Shandi! That said, for all that these 'eye tyrants' sound like a terrifying group, this one doesn't seem threatening in the slightest- well, unless he were to float over and try to bite me. Any precautions you might suggest in case of sudden betrayals by our intended rescuer? I certainly don't see another way out of here- unless this Bix guards one of these 'portal' things that are apparently all the rage in this place.

To Bix, he'd try to offer a graceful bow in the space permitted. "It's just as the book says. All we seek is an exit, so that we might cease crowding and concerning you in your personal space. Might there be anything we can do that would aid you in making this much-desired outcome a reality?"

Forget disguising his speech patterns, Graydon's leg still hurts and he wants out of here. If fancy words to guide this Bix's mind towards getting them gone will help, he'll get as loquacious as he needs to.

 

[Shayuri]

Shard's knuckles whitened around the haft of her spear. Bix seemed civil enough, and he was no more obviously a monster than the ravaging demons below. Something about him twisted inside her though, sparking startling desires for violence in the back of her mind.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to put some distance between herself and what she was feeling.

He hasn't done anything to us. If he does, I'll return in kind. For now we need him though.

"Yes," she said roughly. "We need to get out of here."

 

[Unsung]

Bix gulps, and it occurs to you to wonder where anything it swallows could possibly have room to go.

At that moment, a loud crash from downstairs rocks the whole building. That seems to make up his mind for him. "Urk-- oh gods-- follow me," he mutters.

A small, slightly damp drawstring pouch levitates off one of the shelves and pulls close to the scaly, spherical body. Bix edges through the small crowd that is the party, out of the dirty apartment and into the ruined hallway.

The beholder makes some faint unhappy noises as you pass by a dead man around the corner. It looks to be one of the smiths you saw earlier, with that other modron. An older man, but still brawny, with a bald pate and a thin white beard. His leather apron is smeared with blood. A line of neat puncture wounds, like you might get with a pitchfork or a trident, are punched in his chest, just below the neck.

Bix hovers by a slat door, not latched and not entirely closed. "There's a portal in the courtyard through here," he says softly, and leans up against the door as if to listen through it.

Even without being next to the door you can hear some muffled voices and the snapping of dry twigs underfoot.

 

[KirayaTiDrekan]

Rusty unfolds itself and follows.

 

[Queenie]

"Give me a moment," Lili says, "I need some quiet." She moves her arms hypnotically and in whispers she speaks words unknown to most. She looks to be deeply concentrating as she balances on her dragon.

OOC: Casting Detect Thoughts to find out how many creatures are on the other side of the door.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section]Picayune eyed Shandrizar. The book was a curiousity. Picayune's fingers twitched. He shook his hand, trying to quelch the urge to grab the book and crack open the spine. When temptation overbore will, Picayune poked a finger at Shandrizar. "Say, brother. What kinda thing you be? Ain't never seen no talkin' flyin' book afore. You got music in yous?" The effigy lilted his head to the right, making a study of the tome.[/section]

 

[Shayuri]

Shard went to the exit, but paused as Lili cast her spell. She took up a rearguard place, keeping an eye on the door to Bix's room, on Bix, and on Picayune as well...but more just to make sure the spirit didn't wander off than out of distrust.

She hoped the winged woman was quick. The demons wouldn't wait forever.

 

[Unsung]

[sblock=Liliana]
The pixie, tiny as she is, can peep through the keyhole and sees a humped figure, no taller than halfling-height. It and several others seem to be milling about in the cramped courtyard. Between the overgrown dead grass and the wood-and-brick roof supports, it's difficult to make out their exact shape.

Reaching out with the spell, there are exactly [roll0] of them in range.
[/sblock]

 

[CanadienneBacon]

OOC: Queenie and Fenris have family visiting for the next six weeks, I think. They are likely to be super busy with kid activities and family time for at least some of that time. I don't want to speak for Queenie, but I don't think she would mind if you posted for her here and there for the next while. Would allow her to enjoy her time with the family.