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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 4896979" data-attributes="member: 99">Astavian found himself aware of being in a white, featureless void.  Before he could speculate that he was dead he sensed an approach and saw a large, golden-scaled Dragonborn.  Ryukaar.  He knelt before his deity."Stand Astavian, and well met.  I have little time and things hang in the Balance."Astavian stood but could think of nothing to say."Your service in my name has not gone unnoticed.  You have done well and your faith has been steadfast.  But events are about to unfold, terrible events, and ones I had not foreseen.  That faith will be tested."Astavian found a way to stand up even straighter than before."May I hold your sword?"Astavian reverently drew his weapon and offered it.  Ryukaar examined it with a smile, noting the chisel tip that had resulted from Steelslicer's claw.  Ryukaar held up his left hand and it seemed to grow much larger as both the fingers and claws extended.  Suddenly he flashed the blade down and cut off one of his own fingers.  Astavian gasped and Ryukaar, for all of his divinity, winced in pain.Ryukaar then bent and retrieved the large claw.  His mouth moved with whispered words that Astavian did not understand.  But he watched as Ryukaar pressed the golden claw against the blade of his sword and the two became one.  The sword now held the same shape as before but had a slightly golden color and nimbus, stained slightly with red smears of blood.  Ryukaar handed the blade back to Astavian who couldn't help but kneel again as he received this gift."You have placed your faith in me, Astavian.  And now I place my faith in you.  Whatever happens I know that you will do what is right.  I look forward to our next meeting."The roaring in Astavian's ears was that of the waterfall and he knelt still holding the sword.  It's faint golden glow was barely discernable in the sunlight.  But it was there, as were the bloodstains."What happened?" asked Eshik.Astavian turned to see his companions all sprawled on the rocky ground as though they had fallen there.  One by one they awoke and got to their feet in confusion.  Astavian, still trying to internalize what had just happened, explained simply, "We were visited by Ryukaar."None of the others had any sort of vision or recollection of anything besides having seen a bright golden light.  But they couldn't deny that they felt rested and refreshed, which was most welcome as they hadn't properly slept since before their attack on the Lizardfolk village.With steely determination, Astavian led the way down the spiraling pathway into the mists below.*******Ok so I consider some of my strengths as a GM to be designing fun and challenging encounters and spinning diabolical plots by my powers that be.  The method acting...not so much.  So here I had to portray a deity addressing one of his flock and I knew that it was important that it seem like a Big Deal without it feeling hokey.Riggs can tell you whether I did a good job or not (he's a better roleplayer than I am) but I think I made the right call in pulling him out of the room with the other players.  It removed any distractions or potential for wisecracks by the other players.  And it also diminished any sense of stage fright for either of us.The actual speech I gave was probably a bit less smooth and cool than what I've posted above but the details were essentially the same.  If Riggs remembers any major departures then I'd encourage him to post about them.</blockquote>

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