Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3765424" data-attributes="member: 11760">"The title ring any bells for you?" Tucker asks, elbowing Oktav."No, but the church doesn't keep these sorts of books, they burn them. If there is a list of such books, it's not for the eyes of an acolyte to see.""Is it just me, or does that look like a happy-dance?" Tucker points to the woodcut on the open page. "Who'd be happy about 'the coming darkness?'""This Cult of Chaos for one, I'd imagine," Bufer replies. "Member they ain't the malevolent idiots the professor's making them out to be. Or at least not any more. "How about this 'House Vladaam,' Redshirt? You think they knew what they were doing when they sent this thing?""I don't know anything about Palastani noble houses," the acolyte says with a shrug."You said they hand-delivered it, right, Fancy-tickle-gnome?" Hazel asks. "I'd say they knew what they was about.""Seems like them as want chaos would be joyful about the chance to destroy a center of knowledge and learning," Emus nods."Well, what say we return the favor?" Tucker says, rolling his head around, neck joints popping loudly as he limbers up. "If you're ready to cast your spell, I'm ready to watch your back."A cold iron fist seems to close around Bufer's heart, causing him to realize that in asking all these questions, he has merely been putting off his casting of the rite. He takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly, then nods soberly at Tucker."You're right, deputy. Let's get started." He glances up at Oktav. "You best stand back with Flower now, lad. He and the animals will take care of you. Don't be frightened: Whatever it is that's going to manifest itself is going to be coming for me. You just hang back away from the fight, and it'll be over before ye know it.""You're coming home with us," Hazel says, cutting Bufer off before he can launch into one of his speeches. "Don't think any different. Besides, what'll I tell that pretty little minstrel lass at the Cat if I don't bring you back?" She clasps her hands over her heart with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh, the love that almost was."Emus snorts and pulls Urak from his back. He tightens his grip on the haft and whistles to Skeeter. Pointing to Oktav, he orders the dog to guard the acolyte.Tucker takes up a position to Bufer's left, and gives his new sword a practice swing to make sure it doesn't clang against the wall."Lothian is with us, friends." Emmerson unsheathes Judgment and places its tip on the ground. "And may his Judgment be kind to us.""Listen, I'm mainly gonna be calling on Garl for this, naturally," Bufer says, "But if the rest of you want to pray to Lothian or Hanseath or whoever, and kind of ask them to help us out, I think we'd both me much obliged. Garl's an amiable sort, and not one so proud as to turn away a helping hand, as it were.""All right, everybody ready?" Off the nods of the others, Bufer smiles what he hopes is a reassuring smile at each of them in turn. "Right, then. May Garl be with us all."Bufer takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and begins to intone the exorcism ritual of his people, as written in The Pseudonomicon:"Demons and devils, we chuckle at thee,HAHAHAHA BEGONE!Ghosts and goblins, we chortle at thee,HAHAHAHA BEGONE!Wights and witches, we guffaw at thee,HAHAHAHA BEGONE!Bodaks and boogidy-boogidies, we snicker at thee,HAHAHAHA BEGONE!So laugh the blessed of the Loresong Faen."Before me, GARL GLITTERGOLD, the watchful protector,Behind me, CALLADURAN SMOOTHHANDS, the hidden whisperer,At my left hand, SHEYANNA FLAXENSTRAND, fey blessed princess,At my right hand, RILL CLEVERTHRUSH, harmonious artisan."For about me flames the accumulated wisdom of the FAEN LORESONG,For above me shines the accrued whimsy of the LORESONG FAEN."Let us pray ..."Over the sound of Bufer's laughing and Emmerson and Vonmora praying in their own ways, it's hard to hear at first, but everyone's attention is slowly drawn upward, where they can clearly hear the sound of a body hanging from a rope, the hemp sliding back and forth across the ceiling beam as the body twists. Although there's nothing visible there, air moves across their faces, as the mother superior's invisible body twirls to and fro.Meanwhile, the Book of Ascendant Night slams itself shut and then open again and an invisible hand begins to furiously flip through pages, stopping on one woodcut after another, showing a quick succession of images, from the ritual sacrifice of a king, to cultists dancing beneath the moon, to the very ground tearing open and gigantic obscene figures pulling their way out of the earth and feasting on terrified mortals.The bedroom door slams shut.</blockquote>

Verification