covaithe's E1: Death's Reach

[Oni]

Kylek glanced at the thorns that littered the place, stroking the scales on his powerful jaw.

Hmm...

He strode toward one of the clumps of bushes. Ignoring their life-sapping sting Kylek grabbed a handful of the dangerous plant to inspect it more closely. Nostrils flaring, he sniffed at the broken ends of the shadowthorn. Long forgotten memories stirred in his mind, gathering secret herbs, ancient Red Claw elders brewing strange brews, the wild rituals in which the warriors would consume the vision inducing potion.

Maybe...

[sblock=ooc]

Nature (1d20+17=21)
To see if the shadowthorn might be made into some kind of vision inducing tea or potion or the like

LoL, would WotC put psychedelic plants in a module?

[/sblock]

 

[covaithe]

The thorns do appear to be coated with a sticky residue with a faint astringent odor. It is not the same species as the thorns used by the Red Claw elders in their rites, but whether it would have similar effects, Kylek cannot guess merely by examining the thorns.

[sblock=ooc]Some promising ideas, here. Unfortunately, your rolls have been low so far.

Let me know if/when you go for the ritual. Until then, if you're studying things, knowledge checks are certainly appropriate.[/sblock]

 

[Oni]

Kylek rubbed the residue between his taloned fingers, turning to the others with a thoughtful look on his face.

I don't know for certain, but I think they may have made a drug from this. What do you think?

 

[Lord Sessadore]

Sarenax ruminates over Kylek's suggestion, but doesn't have anything to add immediately. "Possible. But I am not familiar with any traditions or rituals of the Raven Queen involving such substances."
[sblock=OOC]Religion (1d20+19=20)
Was trying to remember if there was any tradition or ritual of the Raven Queen's followers involving plant-based drugs, like something made from the thorns. Pretty sure that this turn up squat, though

I suppose if that roll miraculously did turn up some clue it could just be a delayed recollection, haha.[/sblock]

 

[CaBaNa]

Lucifa made her way over to Massacre's contemporaries with a slow relaxed gait. Giving Massacre some time to rummage through his consciousness for information.
Would you like to hear the history of thorns in ritual and religion? the question is obviously rhetorical as the arch-lich launches immediately into his long-winded lesson Well...


[sblock=Rolls]

45 history
27 religion

to identify thorns used in religious rites or other rituals, including there properties as hallucinogens or components.

[/sblock]

 

[covaithe]

Massacre launches into a long dissertation on the history and significance of thorns in religious contexts, complete with anecdotes and citations from memory of a number of rather gruesome stories. It seems that thorns feature in the stories and rites of many deities and quasi-deific beings, either as instruments for punishing their foes, or as a means of self-sacrifice and purification for their followers.

There are few stories of the Raven Queen using thorns as an instrument of punishment, and what few there are seem to be of dubious origin. It seems that when She feels the need to exert some divine authority, she prefers death rather than pain as a tool. Her followers describe this quality as a pragmatic -- perhaps even merciful -- rejection of unnecessary torment and cruelty, whereas her detractors believe it marks an unforgiving vindictiveness, blind to subtler shades of good and evil. On the other hand, her adherents often believe that by teaching themselves to ignore bodily pain, they can more closely attune themselves to the spiritual perfection that -- they feel -- must surely await them in Her realm. There is a sizeable body of literature on the best ways to torture oneself, including a number of appalling uses for thorns. Likewise, there are any number of zealots who prefer to use drugs of all descriptions to achieve their version of enlightenment. But there is effectively no evidence that the Raven Queen actually endorses such tactics, or that they provide their victims with greater insight into Her will.


[sblock=Religion or Insight DC 25, new roll]What few commandments the Raven Queen has given Her followers have been short, direct, and very literal. If one of her high servants said "pierced by thorns' deadly visions," probably someone is gonna get pierced by some thorns, and have some visions, which could be deadly.
[/sblock]

 

[stonegod]

[sblock=OOC]Untrained Religion 25, Insight 27[/sblock]Batin glances at the thorns, and says simply, The Queen's words have no mystery; they are as they are. Pricked deadly visions are the future.

 

[renau1g]

Kalas sat quietly and waited while the others discussed the thorns, rolling some over in his hands while they did.

[sblock=OOC]
religion; insight; nature (1d20 10=27, 1d20 17=24, 1d20 22=37)

To see if the shadowthorn might be made into some kind of vision inducing tea or potion or the like (Copying from Oni)
[/sblock]

 

[Lord Sessadore]

"Batin is right." Without another word, Sarenax grabs a particularly long and sharp looking thorn from the nearest bush, bares his left hand, and stabs the flesh of his palm with the thorn.

Ignoring the pain, Sarenax waits a moment for the visions his Queen promised.
[sblock=Rolls]Religion: 1d20+19=27; Insight: 1d20+20=21. What is it with these nat 1's? Sheesh.

I figured I might as well get it over with [/sblock]

 

[covaithe]

Sarenax feels a sharp pain as the thorn goes in, which quickly fades, replaced by an excruciating pain in the joints of his hand, which swells and stiffens into a gnarled fist. The pain grows in throbbing waves, and the terrible swelling spreads up Sarenax's arm. After two dozen racing heartbeats, his breathing slows to a shuddering gasp, and his eyes roll up in their sockets.

[sblock=Sarenax]Your sight dims and grows slightly faint, as if there were a very thin white cloth in front of your face. You feel terribly tired. Breathing is a vast exertion, such that with each breath you wonder how you will muster the strength for the next. Suddenly you realize that soon you will not. It doesn't matter whether it's one or two more breaths, or a hundred million. That, despite resurrection magic, lichdom, and even deification if that is your fate, sooner or later your physical self will cease to be, and whatever is left of you, if anything, will become something else. This is not exactly news; you've known for most of your life that you would die, and as all living beings must, have made your own peace with the idea. But until now, you never really felt, deep in your bones, the inevitability of it. You will die. And She will be waiting.

With this realization, your pain dips to bearable levels, and your eyes return to normal.
[/sblock]

After only a few seconds, Sarenax breathes normally, eyes rolling back down and opening. The thorn falls from his hand, leaving the swelling and stiffness behind, along with some painful black welts beneath the skin reaching up past the elbow.

A slight breeze swirls the mist for a moment, and suddenly there are two three paths onward visible through the mists, one to the north and one each to the east and west.

[sblock=ooc]Sarenax takes 30 necrotic damage, but the first gate is passed![/sblock]