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Story Hour
Session Stories - Moments in Roleplaying (updated 6/15/2023)
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<blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 8292862" data-attributes="member: 6971069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Story VI - Apologies and Opportunities</strong></p><p></p><p>The stone floor made a loud cracking sound, and Rafelor pitched forward into the darkness below. Arnara stepped forward involuntarily in alarm, as she heard his body making a loud plop sound as it hit a substance thicker than water. Arnara was about to breath a sigh of relief when Rafelor started to scream in pain.</p><p></p><p>Arnara stepped towards the edge and looked down and her heart sank. Rafelor had fallen into a pit of bright green slime. Already the substance was smoking and causing his flesh to peel as the acid burned his skin. But before she could react, Hawthorne threw down a rope into the pit, allowing Rafelor to climb out. While getting out of the pit was an improvement, Arnara was concerned. She had read about this type of hazard in a book back in the Misty Forest, and she knew that it was strong enough to dissolve metals and flesh with ease.</p><p></p><p>Arnara began to recite some arcane syllables; while she didn’t know much about the slime, she remembered it was vulnerable to fire. She hoped that she could purge the foul substance from Rafelor…hopefully without killing him. If she had to burn Ralefor to save him, so be it. Far better than the alternative.</p><p></p><p>Hawthorne with a heave, pulled up Rafelor back into the sun light. Already the rope was dissolving where the rope touched Rafelor’s coated body. The half-elf was grimacing in pain as he lay there on the stone in front of the shrine.</p><p></p><p>“I’m sorry about this Rafelor,” Arnara said as she winced and began her incantation. She was nearly finished, when Morrigan suddenly flew in front of her face.</p><p></p><p>“Stop that! I need to destroy the slime before Rafelor dissol—” and she batted Morrigan away from her face. Morrigan then hovered between Arnara, blocking her view.</p><p></p><p>“Morrigan! Really! I need to burn it away, don’t…get…in…the…way?”</p><p></p><p>Just beyond Morrigan on the tiled stone lay Rafelor in a shaft of afternoon sunlight, and as Arnara watched, the slime began to steam. He brushed his hands over the slime, which now flaked off in dried clumps. Arnara looked at him puzzled and then looked at the sun and then back at the now recovering half-elf.</p><p></p><p>“Of course. Its only found underground; it must be vulnerable to the sun’s light,” she sighed in relief. “Thanks Mori,” and she smiled at the owl. “Why don’t you look inside the shrine real quick.”</p><p></p><p>“My sodding rope! Its ruined!” Hawthorne exclaimed.</p><p></p><p>“Just the end,” Shalai pointed out. “Just cut it short and whip the tip.”</p><p></p><p>Toddy hovered there, arms crossed, visor down. His stance and the slightest shake of his head indicated his disapproval at Hawthorne's complaints about his rope.</p><p></p><p>“You didn’t even lose half of it,” Aegis pointed to the fraying line as Hawthorne started to coil it again.</p><p></p><p>Arnara simply shook her head, simply relieved. She was about to say something, when from the shrine came a loud shriek.</p><p></p><p>“Morrigan?” Arnara said aloud and shifted her vision to see from the owl’s eyes. A single moment was all that was needed, as the owl’s wings were bearing Morrigan on a hasty retreat. In her eyes, she saw two humanoids and two more figures with serpentine tails. The four were watching the owl with surprise, when Morrigan flew back towards the entrance. Arnara could see herself in the owl’s vision, as she banked to her right, looking for cover.</p><p></p><p>Arnara shook her head clearing her mind, and quickly uttered in elvish.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Vas Flam”</em></p><p></p><p>Streaking from her left hand, as small bead appeared, and streaked into the shrine, the bead changed colors from a dim red, to an incandescent yellow, as it flew down the passage leading inside.</p><p></p><p>“Arnara what ar—” Toddy began, before he was cut off by a detonation as fire and air whipped around each other in a cyclone of fiery destruction. Gouts of flame erupted from the shrine followed by billowing black smoke.</p><p></p><p>“What the hell are you—” Rafelor started as he clambered to his feet, but he stopped as he heard the shrieks of pain and anger from within the now darkened shrine.</p><p></p><p>“We have unwanted company,” Arnara said simply as she drew her rapier. She brought the blade's hilt to her lips and she kissed it, and then with a quick flourish moved away from the entrance as she waited for the reprisals of the Yuan-ti within.</p><p></p><p>Toddy turned his head simply turned to look where the sounds of the of the screaming snakeskin came from. He flew down the passage, dragging the tip of the great sword behind him in a shower of sparks. He flew over the pit of slime without concern and flung himself into combat. He swung his sword, attempting to hew a serpent bodied foe into twain. His strike was true, and dark venomous blood sprayed the man’s armor, covering it in dark red ichor.</p><p></p><p>Shalai saw the flying Toddy charge into the room and raced to follow. As Toddy flew and avoided the open pit, Shalai began to increase his pace to make the jump. But before he could launch himself across the gap, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a barrage of arrows leaving slits in the wall. Pausing, he batted one out of the air, only for it to tumble into the pit of slime below. But he found himself beset by more, as arrows pierces his left leg, right arm, and near the collarbone.</p><p></p><p>“Damn it all,” he swore and retreated back towards the courtyard of the shrine, leaving a trail of blood. His face was contorted in pain, as he looked for a solace outside, fair from the passageway of death.</p><p></p><p>Hawthorne blinked and pulled out his crossbow, ready to thread a quarrel through the slits in the wall.</p><p></p><p>“You call that a shot? Let me show y—” he started, when he heard a sibilant hiss next to him. Twisting around he let fly a quarrel into a bush that was now melting into the form of another snake bodied Yuan-ti. Hawthorne’s hands quickly pulled the lever on the cranequin and set a bolt on the rails of his heavy crossbow, letting another bolt to fly, striking the Yuan-ti where the abdomen of a normal person was.</p><p></p><p>Rafelor grasped his morningstar, and charged and swiftly brought the head down, crushing the shoulder of Hawthorne’s assailant. He then spun, letting the momentum of his instrument of pain carry through striking the snake like figure in the jaw. The Yuan-ti’s head swiveled twisting its body around before collapsing onto the ground. Rafelor smiled and shouted, “That’s right, this what a…oh crap,” as he saw another Yuan-ti emerge from what once was a simple shrub.</p><p></p><p>Aegis watched the second figure emerge and then looked down the tunnel where Toddy had charged. Grimacing, he pulled out a hammer from his tinkers’ tools, and a small glass vial. He hefted the vial into the air, and swung with all his might, somehow batting the vial unbroken into the passage right behind Toddy. The vial sailed, and struck a wall, sundering it into pieces. As the glass shards flew in the passageway, a loud sound of thunder echoed throughout the stone hall. From behind the walls came the sound of hissed and high-pitched shrieks as bone and stone were smashed into flinders as the magic burst forth in sudden explosion.</p><p></p><p>Toddy stood there glaring into the slitted eyes of his foes. One of them tilted its head coolly regarding the floating warrior, shouting “I recommend you protect us from the silvered headed huuuman behind you.” Toddy frowned and shook his head, he then turned to see the white hair figure battling away arrows with his bare hands.</p><p></p><p>He…he…he was a threat! No, he was a <em>Southerner</em>! I am north of him, and I cannot let him harm these good upstanding snake-like people. He turned in the air, and pulled in his great sword, glaring at the retreating white-haired figure Shalai…wait…how did he know he was a threat? Grimacing, he knew it didn’t matter; just he was a threat. Toddy began to ready himself to charge back down the passageway, leading with the tip of his sword aimed for evil Shalai’s gut.</p><p></p><p>“I don’t think so,” Arnara said, as she stepped with elven grace, and stood in the way of Toddy, ready to charge. As she moved, she, cast into the air a dusty cobweb. spinning, she uttered the words “<em>Fallacina Aranax</em>” and gracefully danced out of the vision of Toddy.</p><p></p><p><em>What is Arnara doing?</em> Toddy thought. Then bursting from the ceiling and flagstone came an explosion of sticky threads. Toddy shook his arm trying to free himself, but this only made things worse as his forearm struck more strands. He trying to twist in the air and found himself in a nightmare of ropes and sticky webbing. Nothing he did, improved things, and he found that even his mighty strength was no match for the elf’s will.</p><p></p><p>But <em>why? </em>“Arnara, that southerner Shalai is a threat! We must put him down like the dog he is!”</p><p></p><p>While Azaka fired her bow at the attacking Yuan-ti, Aegis quickly moved out of sight of the angry Toddy, and with a quick tap of his hammer, flung a bolt of fire at the serpent, assailing Hawthorne. The bolt struck true, and the smell of burned scale and flesh permeated the area, as it staggered from the strike. It hissed and looked at Hawthorne, ready to strike when Morrigan flew in front of the serpent, her wings fanning in front, beating the air in front of the Yuan-ti’s face. And then like that, she flew off. The Yuan-ti turned to face Hawthorne again ready to attack.</p><p></p><p>THWACK!</p><p></p><p>The Yuan-ti slumped to the ground in a heap dead, while Hawthorne angrily ran towards the passage, reloading his crossbow as he moved. Once at the entrance, he saw that Toddy was entangled in what looked to be a giant spider’s web, as were several other figures. As he raised his crossbow to take his shot, he heard the twang of a bowstring, and realized too late, that the Yuan-ti were waiting for him as two arrows flew down the corridor. The first grazed and sliced Hawthorne along the left arm, causing a thin stream of blood to hit the wall. But the second on, sank deep into Hawthorne’s chest. Hawthorne blinked and pulled the lever, flinging a quarrel past Toddy, and striking the Yuan-ti in the neck. Quickly he then pulled himself against the wall, out of the bow-snake’s vision and started to reload.</p><p></p><p>Shalai, panted for air, and pulled out a potion from his pack. Biting the cork, he pulled out the stopper with his teeth and spat it out and started to swallow the contents. Only as he did so, did he realize that the glass was cracked, and half the contents poured over his face.</p><p></p><p>“That’s not nearly enough,” he stammered as his wounds partially closed. He tossed the bottle down in frustration. “Aegis! Do you have another potion?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes!” as Aegis’ hammer rang out, and another bolt of fire lashed at the serpentine Yuan-ti, knocking it to the ground. “Let me dig it out!”</p><p></p><p>“Hurry…Toddy doesn’t like me much!” Shalai said, running over to Aegis.</p><p></p><p>“You SOUTHERNER!!”</p><p></p><p>“I’m looking!” Aegis said, as he rifled through his pouches, standing behind Azaka as she fired again trying to hit the serpent folk.</p><p></p><p>“He’s not going anywhere!” Arnara shouted. “Work the ones down in the walls!” and with rapier in hand, she spun again across the entrance, and flung a bolt of fire into the arrow slit in the wall. The bolt skidded off the sides of the narrow gap, reducing its effectiveness. But it still found its mark, judging by the angry hiss in response. Meanwhile Arnara spun back against the wall out of sight of the Yuan-ti.</p><p></p><p>Rafelor then saw his chance, and moving forward, dropping his morning start, and casting aside his shield, while pulling out his loaded crossbow. He stood took aim, and fired a bolt, between Toddy’s legs and striking the serpent form behind him, felling the foul snake.</p><p></p><p>“You SOUTHERNER I…will…wait? You foul serpents!” Toddy yelled in frustration, unable to move, and unable to strike them.”</p><p></p><p>“Here! Take it!” and Aegis slapped a potion in the hands of Shalai, who tore away the cork, and quaffed the contents. Instantly the wounds closed, and Shalai moved again to the Shrine and threw a dart into to the arrow slit. The dark found its mark, and only a muffled gurgle came from beyond. Shalai then moved to flank the passage and waited. At the same time, Aegis moved forward and tapped his hammer, causing another bolt of fire to leap through another arrow slit. The inhuman scream was short, followed by the sound of a body landing on stone.</p><p></p><p>Anara smiled, as she heard Toddy’s exclamation, and she released her hold on the binding, holding the webs in place. As soon as she did, she heard a triumphant “ah-HA” followed by the sound of Toddy’s great sword, cleaving flesh from bone, and the gurgling hiss fading to silence. Arana smiled and waited, as she heard the great sword slice into the last Yuan-ti.</p><p></p><p>Toddy returned to the group, covered in the gore of the slaughtered Yuan-ti. Turning to look at Arnara he glared and said nothing. Arnara shrugged, “Its better than throwing another ball of fire in the room with you.”</p><p></p><p>“Can you get the cube?” Toddy intoned from beneath his visor.</p><p></p><p>“Possibly, but direct grabs don’t seem to work in the shrines.” She stood looking down the passageway and could easily see the familiar pedestal and cube that rested upon it. She made a quick gestured and sent a ghostly feminine hand down the passage to grasp the cube and lift it from the pedestal.</p><p></p><p>The moment the cube was lifted into the air, the sounds of bow strings, and arrows impacting stone echoed from the shrine. But the cube floated down the passage unimpeded.</p><p></p><p>“Well, this actually might—” Arnara began. But as the cube crossed the threshold and entered the light, the cube evaporated into green mist.</p><p></p><p>“—not work. As expected,” She said as the cube reappeared on the pedestal. “Toddy, a ride into the room if you please.” And she gracefully draped her arms around the man and held on, as Toddy flew her into the chamber.</p><p></p><p>“Well now what do we—” Aegis started when they heard Arnara shout, “We are going to need some help in here!” followed by sounds of arrows, Arnara’s rapier and Toddy’s great sword slicing into stone.</p><p></p><p>“What? No!” and Hawthorne flew in the chamber with crossbow drawn, followed by Shalai, who jumped over the pit of slime. Unfortunately, his landing triggered another section of the floor to collapse revealing another pit. But he continued in and joined the melee inside, Aegis followed as well, leaping on beams that separated the pits, joining the fray.</p><p></p><p>Azaka stood there, looking into the darkness, she then sighed and started to collect arrows. Rafelor stood there a moment, before kicking a stone in frustration.</p><p></p><p>“Damn it. What the hell am I…ARGH!” and he sat down on the stone and waited.</p><p></p><p>The sounds of steel and flesh against stone for awhile continued. Rafelor sat steaming and waited. Eventually the sounds of combat changed to conversations, and then heated arguments. Eventually the others left the chamber, being carried back by either Toddy or Hawthorne.</p><p></p><p>“…I think the Yuan-ti took it. But even if they didn’t solve it and the cube is still here, it isn’t going anywhere," said Arnara. “So, we should rest, and see if anyone left here.” The others nodded, and started nodded, and started to patch up their wounds. Arnara, untouched by the fight simply sighed and spotted Rafelor sitting on the ground. After a moment, Arnara sat down next to the half-elf, much to Rafelor’s surprise.</p><p></p><p>“You appear frustrated,” Arnara said simply looking with a sidelong glance at Rafelor.</p><p></p><p>“Statues attack, and I’m stuck out here!” Rafelor glared at Arnara. “Of course, I’m frustrated. You have a spell for everything. Nothing ever bothers or flusters you.”</p><p></p><p>“Frustrated? Or Jealous?” Arnara asked quietly.</p><p></p><p>“What difference does it make?” Rafelor retorted.</p><p></p><p>Arnara looked down at the ground a moment before replying, “I suppose none. But you are not correct. I do get frustrated, I just…don’t show it. But I have something for you,” and she reached into a pouch, and pulled out a scroll, and handed it to the half-elf.</p><p></p><p>Rafelor, took the scroll from her, and unrolled it. Written within were in elvish were arcane symbols, patterns, and notes. Rafelor looked at Arnara in confusion.</p><p></p><p>“I noticed when I…cleaned you up that you weren’t thankful. I was confused…and hurt by this. I only meant to return some dignity to you, by removing the filth. I…didn’t realize that by <strong><em>me</em></strong> removing it, that you would feel embarrassed,” Arnara looked at Rafelor with a sad look on her face. “The truth is you remind me of someone I cared for, and I don’t…want to lose you as a…friend. So that,” and she gestured at the scroll, “is the incantation that can teach you to...clean yourself. If you follow the instructions and with practice, you can learn to make the weave do what you want. If you want to…learn more, let me know.”</p><p></p><p>Arnara stood up, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “Its your choice of course. If you choose to apply yourself in a different way, I understand. But consider this…an apology.” Arnara then walked towards Aegis who seemed to be interested in something Hawthorne had found.</p><p></p><p>Leaving Rafelor sitting there staring at the scroll, wondering on what path he should choose.</p><p></p><p><strong>Session notes.</strong></p><p>Ah...Omu. As I mentioned before there is a Journal that is constantly being 'corrected' Arnara. At first it was done as a spur of the moment piece of humor. But as I felt out the character, I realized that Arnara, while having a sense of humor, it isn't random. </p><p></p><p>This started me to think back on her story from the Journal of Souls, and I started to weave more backstory. I then worked with Rafelor's player who also wanted to extend his story a bit to explain some future choices.</p><p></p><p>The end result is a collaboration that is still continuing on the relationship between Arnara the noble elf, and the very common half-elf smuggler Rafelor. More of this story continues ahead.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nthal, post: 8292862, member: 6971069"] [CENTER][B]Story VI - Apologies and Opportunities[/B][/CENTER] The stone floor made a loud cracking sound, and Rafelor pitched forward into the darkness below. Arnara stepped forward involuntarily in alarm, as she heard his body making a loud plop sound as it hit a substance thicker than water. Arnara was about to breath a sigh of relief when Rafelor started to scream in pain. Arnara stepped towards the edge and looked down and her heart sank. Rafelor had fallen into a pit of bright green slime. Already the substance was smoking and causing his flesh to peel as the acid burned his skin. But before she could react, Hawthorne threw down a rope into the pit, allowing Rafelor to climb out. While getting out of the pit was an improvement, Arnara was concerned. She had read about this type of hazard in a book back in the Misty Forest, and she knew that it was strong enough to dissolve metals and flesh with ease. Arnara began to recite some arcane syllables; while she didn’t know much about the slime, she remembered it was vulnerable to fire. She hoped that she could purge the foul substance from Rafelor…hopefully without killing him. If she had to burn Ralefor to save him, so be it. Far better than the alternative. Hawthorne with a heave, pulled up Rafelor back into the sun light. Already the rope was dissolving where the rope touched Rafelor’s coated body. The half-elf was grimacing in pain as he lay there on the stone in front of the shrine. “I’m sorry about this Rafelor,” Arnara said as she winced and began her incantation. She was nearly finished, when Morrigan suddenly flew in front of her face. “Stop that! I need to destroy the slime before Rafelor dissol—” and she batted Morrigan away from her face. Morrigan then hovered between Arnara, blocking her view. “Morrigan! Really! I need to burn it away, don’t…get…in…the…way?” Just beyond Morrigan on the tiled stone lay Rafelor in a shaft of afternoon sunlight, and as Arnara watched, the slime began to steam. He brushed his hands over the slime, which now flaked off in dried clumps. Arnara looked at him puzzled and then looked at the sun and then back at the now recovering half-elf. “Of course. Its only found underground; it must be vulnerable to the sun’s light,” she sighed in relief. “Thanks Mori,” and she smiled at the owl. “Why don’t you look inside the shrine real quick.” “My sodding rope! Its ruined!” Hawthorne exclaimed. “Just the end,” Shalai pointed out. “Just cut it short and whip the tip.” Toddy hovered there, arms crossed, visor down. His stance and the slightest shake of his head indicated his disapproval at Hawthorne's complaints about his rope. “You didn’t even lose half of it,” Aegis pointed to the fraying line as Hawthorne started to coil it again. Arnara simply shook her head, simply relieved. She was about to say something, when from the shrine came a loud shriek. “Morrigan?” Arnara said aloud and shifted her vision to see from the owl’s eyes. A single moment was all that was needed, as the owl’s wings were bearing Morrigan on a hasty retreat. In her eyes, she saw two humanoids and two more figures with serpentine tails. The four were watching the owl with surprise, when Morrigan flew back towards the entrance. Arnara could see herself in the owl’s vision, as she banked to her right, looking for cover. Arnara shook her head clearing her mind, and quickly uttered in elvish. “[I]Vas Flam”[/I] Streaking from her left hand, as small bead appeared, and streaked into the shrine, the bead changed colors from a dim red, to an incandescent yellow, as it flew down the passage leading inside. “Arnara what ar—” Toddy began, before he was cut off by a detonation as fire and air whipped around each other in a cyclone of fiery destruction. Gouts of flame erupted from the shrine followed by billowing black smoke. “What the hell are you—” Rafelor started as he clambered to his feet, but he stopped as he heard the shrieks of pain and anger from within the now darkened shrine. “We have unwanted company,” Arnara said simply as she drew her rapier. She brought the blade's hilt to her lips and she kissed it, and then with a quick flourish moved away from the entrance as she waited for the reprisals of the Yuan-ti within. Toddy turned his head simply turned to look where the sounds of the of the screaming snakeskin came from. He flew down the passage, dragging the tip of the great sword behind him in a shower of sparks. He flew over the pit of slime without concern and flung himself into combat. He swung his sword, attempting to hew a serpent bodied foe into twain. His strike was true, and dark venomous blood sprayed the man’s armor, covering it in dark red ichor. Shalai saw the flying Toddy charge into the room and raced to follow. As Toddy flew and avoided the open pit, Shalai began to increase his pace to make the jump. But before he could launch himself across the gap, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a barrage of arrows leaving slits in the wall. Pausing, he batted one out of the air, only for it to tumble into the pit of slime below. But he found himself beset by more, as arrows pierces his left leg, right arm, and near the collarbone. “Damn it all,” he swore and retreated back towards the courtyard of the shrine, leaving a trail of blood. His face was contorted in pain, as he looked for a solace outside, fair from the passageway of death. Hawthorne blinked and pulled out his crossbow, ready to thread a quarrel through the slits in the wall. “You call that a shot? Let me show y—” he started, when he heard a sibilant hiss next to him. Twisting around he let fly a quarrel into a bush that was now melting into the form of another snake bodied Yuan-ti. Hawthorne’s hands quickly pulled the lever on the cranequin and set a bolt on the rails of his heavy crossbow, letting another bolt to fly, striking the Yuan-ti where the abdomen of a normal person was. Rafelor grasped his morningstar, and charged and swiftly brought the head down, crushing the shoulder of Hawthorne’s assailant. He then spun, letting the momentum of his instrument of pain carry through striking the snake like figure in the jaw. The Yuan-ti’s head swiveled twisting its body around before collapsing onto the ground. Rafelor smiled and shouted, “That’s right, this what a…oh crap,” as he saw another Yuan-ti emerge from what once was a simple shrub. Aegis watched the second figure emerge and then looked down the tunnel where Toddy had charged. Grimacing, he pulled out a hammer from his tinkers’ tools, and a small glass vial. He hefted the vial into the air, and swung with all his might, somehow batting the vial unbroken into the passage right behind Toddy. The vial sailed, and struck a wall, sundering it into pieces. As the glass shards flew in the passageway, a loud sound of thunder echoed throughout the stone hall. From behind the walls came the sound of hissed and high-pitched shrieks as bone and stone were smashed into flinders as the magic burst forth in sudden explosion. Toddy stood there glaring into the slitted eyes of his foes. One of them tilted its head coolly regarding the floating warrior, shouting “I recommend you protect us from the silvered headed huuuman behind you.” Toddy frowned and shook his head, he then turned to see the white hair figure battling away arrows with his bare hands. He…he…he was a threat! No, he was a [I]Southerner[/I]! I am north of him, and I cannot let him harm these good upstanding snake-like people. He turned in the air, and pulled in his great sword, glaring at the retreating white-haired figure Shalai…wait…how did he know he was a threat? Grimacing, he knew it didn’t matter; just he was a threat. Toddy began to ready himself to charge back down the passageway, leading with the tip of his sword aimed for evil Shalai’s gut. “I don’t think so,” Arnara said, as she stepped with elven grace, and stood in the way of Toddy, ready to charge. As she moved, she, cast into the air a dusty cobweb. spinning, she uttered the words “[I]Fallacina Aranax[/I]” and gracefully danced out of the vision of Toddy. [I]What is Arnara doing?[/I] Toddy thought. Then bursting from the ceiling and flagstone came an explosion of sticky threads. Toddy shook his arm trying to free himself, but this only made things worse as his forearm struck more strands. He trying to twist in the air and found himself in a nightmare of ropes and sticky webbing. Nothing he did, improved things, and he found that even his mighty strength was no match for the elf’s will. But [I]why? [/I]“Arnara, that southerner Shalai is a threat! We must put him down like the dog he is!” While Azaka fired her bow at the attacking Yuan-ti, Aegis quickly moved out of sight of the angry Toddy, and with a quick tap of his hammer, flung a bolt of fire at the serpent, assailing Hawthorne. The bolt struck true, and the smell of burned scale and flesh permeated the area, as it staggered from the strike. It hissed and looked at Hawthorne, ready to strike when Morrigan flew in front of the serpent, her wings fanning in front, beating the air in front of the Yuan-ti’s face. And then like that, she flew off. The Yuan-ti turned to face Hawthorne again ready to attack. THWACK! The Yuan-ti slumped to the ground in a heap dead, while Hawthorne angrily ran towards the passage, reloading his crossbow as he moved. Once at the entrance, he saw that Toddy was entangled in what looked to be a giant spider’s web, as were several other figures. As he raised his crossbow to take his shot, he heard the twang of a bowstring, and realized too late, that the Yuan-ti were waiting for him as two arrows flew down the corridor. The first grazed and sliced Hawthorne along the left arm, causing a thin stream of blood to hit the wall. But the second on, sank deep into Hawthorne’s chest. Hawthorne blinked and pulled the lever, flinging a quarrel past Toddy, and striking the Yuan-ti in the neck. Quickly he then pulled himself against the wall, out of the bow-snake’s vision and started to reload. Shalai, panted for air, and pulled out a potion from his pack. Biting the cork, he pulled out the stopper with his teeth and spat it out and started to swallow the contents. Only as he did so, did he realize that the glass was cracked, and half the contents poured over his face. “That’s not nearly enough,” he stammered as his wounds partially closed. He tossed the bottle down in frustration. “Aegis! Do you have another potion?” “Yes!” as Aegis’ hammer rang out, and another bolt of fire lashed at the serpentine Yuan-ti, knocking it to the ground. “Let me dig it out!” “Hurry…Toddy doesn’t like me much!” Shalai said, running over to Aegis. “You SOUTHERNER!!” “I’m looking!” Aegis said, as he rifled through his pouches, standing behind Azaka as she fired again trying to hit the serpent folk. “He’s not going anywhere!” Arnara shouted. “Work the ones down in the walls!” and with rapier in hand, she spun again across the entrance, and flung a bolt of fire into the arrow slit in the wall. The bolt skidded off the sides of the narrow gap, reducing its effectiveness. But it still found its mark, judging by the angry hiss in response. Meanwhile Arnara spun back against the wall out of sight of the Yuan-ti. Rafelor then saw his chance, and moving forward, dropping his morning start, and casting aside his shield, while pulling out his loaded crossbow. He stood took aim, and fired a bolt, between Toddy’s legs and striking the serpent form behind him, felling the foul snake. “You SOUTHERNER I…will…wait? You foul serpents!” Toddy yelled in frustration, unable to move, and unable to strike them.” “Here! Take it!” and Aegis slapped a potion in the hands of Shalai, who tore away the cork, and quaffed the contents. Instantly the wounds closed, and Shalai moved again to the Shrine and threw a dart into to the arrow slit. The dark found its mark, and only a muffled gurgle came from beyond. Shalai then moved to flank the passage and waited. At the same time, Aegis moved forward and tapped his hammer, causing another bolt of fire to leap through another arrow slit. The inhuman scream was short, followed by the sound of a body landing on stone. Anara smiled, as she heard Toddy’s exclamation, and she released her hold on the binding, holding the webs in place. As soon as she did, she heard a triumphant “ah-HA” followed by the sound of Toddy’s great sword, cleaving flesh from bone, and the gurgling hiss fading to silence. Arana smiled and waited, as she heard the great sword slice into the last Yuan-ti. Toddy returned to the group, covered in the gore of the slaughtered Yuan-ti. Turning to look at Arnara he glared and said nothing. Arnara shrugged, “Its better than throwing another ball of fire in the room with you.” “Can you get the cube?” Toddy intoned from beneath his visor. “Possibly, but direct grabs don’t seem to work in the shrines.” She stood looking down the passageway and could easily see the familiar pedestal and cube that rested upon it. She made a quick gestured and sent a ghostly feminine hand down the passage to grasp the cube and lift it from the pedestal. The moment the cube was lifted into the air, the sounds of bow strings, and arrows impacting stone echoed from the shrine. But the cube floated down the passage unimpeded. “Well, this actually might—” Arnara began. But as the cube crossed the threshold and entered the light, the cube evaporated into green mist. “—not work. As expected,” She said as the cube reappeared on the pedestal. “Toddy, a ride into the room if you please.” And she gracefully draped her arms around the man and held on, as Toddy flew her into the chamber. “Well now what do we—” Aegis started when they heard Arnara shout, “We are going to need some help in here!” followed by sounds of arrows, Arnara’s rapier and Toddy’s great sword slicing into stone. “What? No!” and Hawthorne flew in the chamber with crossbow drawn, followed by Shalai, who jumped over the pit of slime. Unfortunately, his landing triggered another section of the floor to collapse revealing another pit. But he continued in and joined the melee inside, Aegis followed as well, leaping on beams that separated the pits, joining the fray. Azaka stood there, looking into the darkness, she then sighed and started to collect arrows. Rafelor stood there a moment, before kicking a stone in frustration. “Damn it. What the hell am I…ARGH!” and he sat down on the stone and waited. The sounds of steel and flesh against stone for awhile continued. Rafelor sat steaming and waited. Eventually the sounds of combat changed to conversations, and then heated arguments. Eventually the others left the chamber, being carried back by either Toddy or Hawthorne. “…I think the Yuan-ti took it. But even if they didn’t solve it and the cube is still here, it isn’t going anywhere," said Arnara. “So, we should rest, and see if anyone left here.” The others nodded, and started nodded, and started to patch up their wounds. Arnara, untouched by the fight simply sighed and spotted Rafelor sitting on the ground. After a moment, Arnara sat down next to the half-elf, much to Rafelor’s surprise. “You appear frustrated,” Arnara said simply looking with a sidelong glance at Rafelor. “Statues attack, and I’m stuck out here!” Rafelor glared at Arnara. “Of course, I’m frustrated. You have a spell for everything. Nothing ever bothers or flusters you.” “Frustrated? Or Jealous?” Arnara asked quietly. “What difference does it make?” Rafelor retorted. Arnara looked down at the ground a moment before replying, “I suppose none. But you are not correct. I do get frustrated, I just…don’t show it. But I have something for you,” and she reached into a pouch, and pulled out a scroll, and handed it to the half-elf. Rafelor, took the scroll from her, and unrolled it. Written within were in elvish were arcane symbols, patterns, and notes. Rafelor looked at Arnara in confusion. “I noticed when I…cleaned you up that you weren’t thankful. I was confused…and hurt by this. I only meant to return some dignity to you, by removing the filth. I…didn’t realize that by [B][I]me[/I][/B] removing it, that you would feel embarrassed,” Arnara looked at Rafelor with a sad look on her face. “The truth is you remind me of someone I cared for, and I don’t…want to lose you as a…friend. So that,” and she gestured at the scroll, “is the incantation that can teach you to...clean yourself. If you follow the instructions and with practice, you can learn to make the weave do what you want. If you want to…learn more, let me know.” Arnara stood up, looking suddenly uncomfortable. “Its your choice of course. If you choose to apply yourself in a different way, I understand. But consider this…an apology.” Arnara then walked towards Aegis who seemed to be interested in something Hawthorne had found. Leaving Rafelor sitting there staring at the scroll, wondering on what path he should choose. [B]Session notes.[/B] Ah...Omu. As I mentioned before there is a Journal that is constantly being 'corrected' Arnara. At first it was done as a spur of the moment piece of humor. But as I felt out the character, I realized that Arnara, while having a sense of humor, it isn't random. This started me to think back on her story from the Journal of Souls, and I started to weave more backstory. I then worked with Rafelor's player who also wanted to extend his story a bit to explain some future choices. The end result is a collaboration that is still continuing on the relationship between Arnara the noble elf, and the very common half-elf smuggler Rafelor. More of this story continues ahead. [/QUOTE]
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Session Stories - Moments in Roleplaying (updated 6/15/2023)
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