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

[Unsung]

A little mood music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PevWsWNjSZ4&

This place is wrong, all wrong.

The street careens up in front of you, stretching away into the sky, disappearing into the low-hanging, smoggy-looking clouds overhead. You feel like you are falling, constantly falling.

Looking down is no relief-- the streets are paved with multicoloured tiles set into an unwholesome-looking plaster. Mounds of filth, shredded paper and fabric fetch up against the disquieting shapes of the piles of junk and human debris beneath the row houses. You dare not look inside. The crowds around you look at you with pity or disgust-- of the many haggard faces, every third one appears markedly inhuman-- too long, too flat, the wrong colour, mottled with scars or scales, distorted into something animalistic, something out of the fears of primordial humanity.

Neither is the architecture your friend. The buildings here are all sweeping curves and serrated, scimitar-like adornments. They cast strange shadows, and looking at the way they seem to weave together against the flat gray sky, you begin to feel distinctly ill at ease.

You catch sight of one of the figures you have come to associate with the city guard-- musclebound, often mountainous men clad head to toe in glittering red armour. He looks out of place, and hovers at a street corner as if afraid to go any further.

Overwhelmed, you turn down an alley for a moment's respite, still in sight of the guard.

You fetch up against the filthy brickwork and catch your breath. Several others share the alley with you. Perhaps they had the same idea. Something passes between you-- recognition. That brief, sudden spike of familiarity that perhaps may be felt between lost tourists everywhere.

You find yourself in a strange place. What do you do?

OOC: You can choose to already be in this particular alley or not, as it strikes you but one way or another, you find you have found yourselves in the worst slum this impossible city has to offer. [MENTION=21379]goatunit[/MENTION], you know the one I mean. [MENTION=6776473]Pembinasa[/MENTION], you probably do too, but Graydon likely wouldn't. [MENTION=6755061]Kiraya_TiDrekan[/MENTION] Drone won't show up quite yet, but I won't keep you waiting for too long. [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=11146]CanadienneBacon[/MENTION] [MENTION=8058]Queenie[/MENTION] [MENTION=2820]Fenris[/MENTION] Whether you took a wrong turn somewhere, stumbled out of a portal, or paid actual money for lodgings here, I leave that up to you.

OOC Thread: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...-5e-Planescape-In-Through-the-Out-Door-(Full)
Rogues Gallery: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...escape-In-Through-the-Out-Door-Rogues-Gallery

 

[goatunit]

OOC: I hope I'm not misunderstanding and that you mean for Eurid to be present as well. Let me know and I'll remove this post if necessary.

Eurid kicks away the reaching tendrils of a small ooze puddle, reacting hungrily to the clumps of wet ash he's wiping from a copper urn to flick into the slime. His black tabard is wet, and crusted with multi-hued stains from the acrid drizzle of the Hive. His hair is likewise damp, and hangs in heavy curls over his downcast face as he mutters some near-silent prayer to whatever gods might have known that poor deader even ever existed.

The ceremony complete, the paladin flicks his hand a few times to cast the clinging remainder from his gloved hand. He grips the urn thoughtlessly, peering inside and wobbling it casually before discarding it among a handy heap of trash. He fingers his purse absently a moment, half to make sure it's still there, and half as a consideration on whether to stop in the Styx Oarsman for a pint. With this last little task completed, his sabbatical has officially begun--but where to go? What to do?

 

[Unsung]

OOC: No misunderstanding. Do what you will. Maybe don't bail out our merry band of clueless right away, but you can be on the scene anytime you want.

 

[Pembinasa]

"Aaargh..." Graydon slumped against the stone, clutching his head. "You'd think the intersection of everywhere would at least have a decent hangover cure on hand!"

Sure he'd made it here just fine, and the place looked amazing- but he hadn't intended on slumming it quite so soon! Best keep in the eyesight of that guardian of Harmony- strange name, but if the fellow kept him from getting stabbed then Graydon would be happy to join in a rousing chorus or whatever. At least, once it stopped feeling like his brain was trying to make a jailbreak out of his skull!

Wait, there were other people here, weren't there? The illusionist straightened up a bit and squinted down the alley, taking a firmer grip on his staff as he did so.

 

[Shayuri]

Sigil was the City of Doors, and its name wasn't just an observation of its architecture. This was cast vividly into perspective when an empty doorway...the door long ago burned or kicked in or otherwise dissociated from its frame...suddenly flashed with a ghostly blue-violet light. It tucked in, twisting in ways that hurt the eyes to see, and then a woman lurched out. The strange vortex winked out behind her, leaving it just a a gaping hole in an abandoned building once again.

The woman was slim of build, but fairly tall, with long hair so blonde it looked almost white and eyes a peculiar violet shade. She had a long coat on that was stained and torn, and under it a suit of glittering armor; metal scales over a leather backing. A shield was strapped to her back, and she had a spear in her right hand. Most noteworthy though was the strange gleaming stone on her forehead. No, not on...IN her forehead. Set there like a gem in a ring, poking out from her skin with no visible wound. As if it had simply grown there. It was uneven in shape, and shone a dull reddish color.

She stumbled against the alley's far wall, having appeared from the portal already moving quickly. Quickly she adjusted, looking around, breathing hard, and trying to get her bearing. She noticed the others in the alley nearly immediately.

"You there," the woman called. "I need to know if this...where..."

She trailed off, her eyes following the narrow strip of the 'sky' visible out and up from the alley. The curve of the City arced overhead, instantly recognizable to anyone who'd been there before. The woman's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in horror.

"I can't be here," she said softly, dread lacing her voice. "I can't be here. I have to..."

She whirled to face the doorway she'd come through, and dug into her pouch to toss out a little handful of some kind of pale sand or dust at it.

But nothing happened. No vortex. No way out. The City of Doors could be cruel.

"Oh no," she whispered.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section]It was the discarded urn that caught his attention. The dull plink of metal falling to the filthy tile mosaic byway. Dey's death here. But no 'bone? No drummer? No marchin' in dey's streets? Hunh. The effigy wiffled through the air, over to the rubbish heap next to the tiefling, and picked up the urn to examine it. Ayup. Look like dat nancy ole gold cup deys put Big Berta in. The effigy looked around at the decay and dirt in the causeway. Wors'n Algiers Point. Lordy. Where is I?

The effigy hovered, formless, turning over the urn round and round, as if it held the secrets of the universe.[/section]

 

[goatunit]

Eurid monitors the levitating urn with all the cynical carelessness of a true Cager.

"You've had your rites, Toma," he barks in a commanding tone. "Don't go clinging to this falsehood now. You're so close to the end."

He doesn't want to get his holy symbol involved yet, so simply goes to swat the urn out of the air.

 

[Pembinasa]

...Okay, wow, surprises!

Graydon's head was turning back and forth like his neck was a swivel-mount, trying to process what was going on; it's a random filthy alley in the Poor Quarter, yet there's still a surprise stone-horned warrioress whose speech somehow sounded like sunshine felt, for all that she was freaking out right now- and on the other hand, somebody with a tail was giving what seemed to be a pep talk to a floating burial urn.

Headache be damned, I already like this place... and I really wish I'd prepared Detect Magic this morning.

Still, he'll respond to the girl first; she's the one who actually talked to him, after all. So he'll go ahead and cough politely to catch her attention.

"You seem to have a habit of answering your own questions, Miss; but surely it's not so bad as all that? The circumstances are pretty strange, but this is a place of wonder."

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section]When Eurid tugged at the urn, the effigy resisted, grasping the urn harder and tugging back in response. The effigy darted upward ten feet above Eurid's head--urn in hand. Hoo, boy! We gots us a player! the effigy thought, sending a whispered message Eurid's way.[/section]

OOC: Casting message at Eurid and whispering "Don' know no Toma, an' I don' need no rites. 'Less you got King cake or a trumpet? 'Cause den we gots us a par-tay, brother. Jess don' swallow da plastic baby."

 

[Queenie]

*clip clop clip clop* Comes the sound of hooves down the alley. A smiling, handsome satyr comes into view. The curly brown fur of his legs stands in stark contrast to the auburn colored, shimmering locks cascading down the side of his head. His grin widens as recognition of those in the alley comes over him. He reaches up and pokes the top of his head “Wake up wee one.” Slowly his hair begins to grow up out of his head before the hair sprouts large, iridescent purply pink wings and the long locks part to reveal a sleepy fairy who coos as she stretches as she tries to shake herself awake.

It was hard to think that just a week ago they had been traipsing through the ancient spires of Cendriane, when suddenly they were transported into this new place. Perhaps that was part of the ancient curse on the place, or it was a weird crossing of ley lines. Oz had been so far unable to figure out how to get back to the Feywild at that spot, lending credence to the fact that it wasn’t a true portal between realms. So for two weeks, Liliana and Oz had wandered around this extraordinary city, marveling at the strange architecture as much as ogling the eccentric denizens here, for both Oz and Liliana were explorers at heart. They had a small room at a local Inn and had been attempting to figure out how to get home, though not with much urgency.

The fairy rubs her tiny eyes, the color of which can’t be pinned down as they seem to change somewhere between the teal of the ocean waves and the bluest of skies. As her wings flap and she holds herself in the air next to Oz, she seems to have a light emanating from her lithe diminutive body and tiny sparkles fall from her. She watches the game of urn tug ‘o war with glee, a smile forming on her face.

“Greetings friends,” she speaks, her joyful voice almost sounding like tiny bells ringing, “Well met.” This slight, beautiful creature seems very out of place for the filthy, never ending streets of Sigil. “That looks like a fun game, perhaps we could play too?” She looks hopeful.

Oz shakes his head, his own long brown locks now in view. He laughs, “Liliana Elora, will you get back over here! You can’t just fly up to people and get involved in their,” he looks over the strange group, ”…Stuff. It ain’t right.”

But it is too late. The fairy is already flying towards the game.

 

[goatunit]

Eurid lets the urn go, setting his hands on his hips and watching it bob about overhead. When he hears the message, he shakes his head. Barmy deaders always chuffle the blankest screed.

"Indecipherable gibberish," he complains. "So you're not Toma's ghost, then. That's well and good. Doesn't hook me to nothing, and I'll on-my-way and you'll with the urn bit. But put an ear on this, afore you hit the blinds: Don't go around tossing accusations that us tieflings eat babies. Don't know what a plastic is and don't..."

He trails off as the fairy and satyr appear. What's the Hive Ward coming to?

 

[Shayuri]

...Okay, wow, surprises!

Graydon's head was turning back and forth like his neck was a swivel-mount, trying to process what was going on; it's a random filthy alley in the Poor Quarter, yet there's still a surprise stone-horned warrioress whose speech somehow sounded like sunshine felt, for all that she was freaking out right now- and on the other hand, somebody with a tail was giving what seemed to be a pep talk to a floating burial urn.

Headache be damned, I already like this place... and I really wish I'd prepared Detect Magic this morning.

Still, he'll respond to the girl first; she's the one who actually talked to him, after all. So he'll go ahead and cough politely to catch her attention.

"You seem to have a habit of answering your own questions, Miss; but surely it's not so bad as all that? The circumstances are pretty strange, but this is a place of wonder."

The woman shook her head and leaned back against the wall.

"No...I don't know...I just feel like this is a very dangerous place for me. I shouldn't stay."

She focused on Graydon then, more completely. The confusion and fear seemed to ease somewhat, or perhaps she just mastered them. "You know the city. You're comfortable here. Can you direct me to a way out? One of the..." She paused, frowning, as if suddenly becoming aware of something she didn't understand. "...cracks?"

 

[CanadienneBacon]

[section]The effigy dropped the urn in surprise. The copper pot tinked to the dirt-laden alley, landing at Eurid's feet. In a fit of pique, the effigy jetted to the pixie and phased right through her, taking care to land outside of her body after phasing. 'Nother play-ah! Hoo! The effigy skirted back around front of the little lady, waiting with glee for her reaction.[/section]

OOC: Phasing: You can move through other creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. If you end your turn inside a solid object, you take 1d10 force damage.

 

[Queenie]

OOC: So, question! What does Picayune look like? Can we see through him or does he look solid or can we not see him at all? Can we hear him? Would there be a reason for us to think he is "dead"? Obviously the little light fairy would not take super kindly to death so I just want to have an idea if she senses that. What does everyone look like, if you haven't described yourself yet? Sorry to be a pita!

 

[Queenie]

Lili has a friendly smile on her face as she flies forward, hoping to make new friends and play. Then suddenly she stops as terror comes over her. She visibly shivers and shakes and a terrifying high pitch scream, so much louder than her little body would suggest, pierces the air. Her light seems to dim then POOF! A large dragon appears in the alley and the petrified fairy is gone.

OOC: Lili is so panicked that she accidentally or perhaps protectively sets off a major image of a fearsome dragon in the alley way. She's also disappeared, but really she is just hiding and trembling back by Oz, which I am sure some or all of you may have seen.

 

[Pembinasa]

Graydon frowned thoughtfully, furrowing his brow at the fighting-woman's words- and then pressed a hand to his forehead. Okay, OW.

"There are doubtless better places to be than this specific corner, but I'm afraid I'm just as foreign to this place as you are; I only arrived last... whatever they have instead of nights here? No sun to set, after all. If you want a... portal, I guess? It'd have to be from someone more in the know."

Right about then is when he was distracted by the Fey presentation, and the young wizard started rubbing his temples with a groan. "Look, you seem to be all kinds of special, Lady. Do you have any idea what's going on over there? I'm not sure I'm up to dealing with this yet."

 

[Unsung]

Lili has a friendly smile on her face as she flies forward, hoping to make new friends and play. Then suddenly she stops as terror comes over her. She visibly shivers and shakes and a terrifying high pitch scream, so much louder than her little body would suggest, pierces the air. Her light seems to dim then POOF! A large dragon appears in the alley and the petrified fairy is gone.

The effect is both immediate and complete. The shambling beggars and assorted nobodies of the Hive are not easily surprised, but their sense of self-preservation would put them in the running for most craven in all creation.

It doesn't take much. "....DRAGON!!!!" shouts a mud-caked spiny devil, lying on his side, arms and legs wrapped around an oversized bottle of overproof screech rum.

He might as well have put a match to a powderkeg. The crowd erupts, leaving a ten-meter bubble of empty space, occupied solely by the drunken devil and the red-armoured guard across the street.

The guard, no longer sleepy-eyed, stares into the alley. He locks eyes with the Dustman, Eurid.

His hand, supporting his bulky body against his red steel halberd, trembles, very slightly.

The next instant, he has whipped about and is vaulting away up the street, back to the comparative safety of the Lower Ward.

 

[goatunit]

Eurid has been around the block, but he's never seen a dragon. He's certainly never imagined he might meet one in Sigil. Fortunately, the thing's sudden appearance in place of the frightened fairy is enough to make him suspect illusionary magic.

Besides, if he's wrong, then death is not something he fears.

The paladin clears his throat, sympathy for these lost souls coming over him.

"Alright, alright," he announces. Perhaps even the wizard and woman can hear him. "Huddle up, you berks. These displays are liable to get us all mazed."

 

[Shayuri]

Shard looked over from where she was conversing, and the gem in her forehead shimmered as a hard, determined look came over her face. She hefted the spear and scowled.

"Don't HUDDLE UP! Scatter!" Then she lifted her voice and appeared to address the dragon. "Spawn of Apep! You..."

And then she paused, her head tilting slightly to one side. She sniffed the air. Her expression went from belligerant to disgusted.

"Oh. I see. A shadow. Sorcery."

Dismissing the fearsome creature completely, she looked back at Grayson, but her bearing was different. She stood straighter, her eyes were narrower and colder as she appraised him.

"So you're new to this place. Tell me, in your travels have you ever encountered another crystal, or gem, that looks like this?" She pointed to the stone in her forehead, which flickered now with an uneasy red light, like the pulsing of a heartbeat.

(OOC - Rolling Shard's save to see if she's taken in. [roll0])

 

[Fenris]

Oz may have been the only one to not have been surprised at the appearance of the dragon. Perhaps it was the bored expression on his face or the way he dead-panned "Oh no a dragon." This is a trick he has seen before. He looks about, taking in the suddenly vacant area. To the air he replies "Subtle, very subtle wee one. And I see by the quick decisions of the guard that not only are they fast on their feet as well as decisions, but are unable to fill out a codpiece. Ok, you said scatter, you said huddle up. Shall we call it a draw and stand in our current places?" grins the satyr.