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<blockquote data-quote="htetickrt" data-source="post: 1371501" data-attributes="member: 16534"><p>Welcome to the boards, greywalker! Of course, you mean that you miss Dobi because everyone loves the little fella and wants him around all the time, not because anything has happened to him, right? Sigh. At least I've caught up to Quid's introduction with this update. Only a few more of these before the action begins.</p><p> </p><p style="text-align: center">A Brief Rest</p><p></p><p>Kyree mumbles, "I'm getting really tired of caves," as he manifests his bow. The nimble archer sidles up to the cave wall to reduce the area from which he could likely be attacked as he focuses his elven senses into the darkness, looking and listening for any sign of an unfriendly occupant. His caution limits his effectiveness, and he neither sees nor hears anything.</p><p> </p><p>Steve whinnies, catching the same scent as Earl. Trella slides into her familiar role as party leader, urging everyone to stay still and alert for the time being.</p><p> </p><p>To Earl she whispers, "What and where?"</p><p> </p><p>Earl doesn't know what, but he's pretty clear that it is deep inside the cave, and doesn't appear to be moving around much, an opinion shared by Khail’s horse. Snicker, however, smells something familiar, which he shares with Kai.</p><p> </p><p>The sorceress translates for the group: "Dragon."</p><p> </p><p>Trella replies, "Worst...teleport...ever,” pulling her hair away from her scalp.</p><p> </p><p>The doughty druid quickly regroups. “Anyone feel like fighting a dragon right now?” She doesn’t wait for an answer. “I think a safe plan would be to take the Kai shuttle down to the pretty green plain below. Shouldn’t be too difficult to teleport there, I hope. Less experienced go first; I might try and speak with those birds and make nice with them to keep 'em from divebombing us.”</p><p> </p><p>Kai agrees, after trying to find out from Snicker if the dragon is good, bad, big, or small. “I’d prefer to keep pairs of more- and less-experienced people together, just in case something goes wrong.”</p><p> </p><p>Snicker’s analysis complete, the pseudodragon’s telepathic voice is heard by the gathered group for the first time. “It’s either big and far away, or smaller and closer.” He sounds proud of himself.</p><p> </p><p>Rhien offers, "If we are looking for a safe place to rest, I would be willing to climb up or down a ways to see if I could find a less occupied cave."</p><p> </p><p>Kai strokes Snicker's snout and mentally praises him for being so smart while nodding to Rhien. "I'll teleport us if you don't find anything. Be careful." Snicker enjoys the praise and makes a purring sound as Kai pets him.</p><p> </p><p>Danek abruptly volunteers, “I can go with Rhien, or in an opposite direction.” She pauses after speaking, self-conscious at the sound of her own voice. </p><p> </p><p>Rhien smiles. “That would be welcome, Danek. If you have rope, we can tie ourselves together, in case one of us should fall.” The monk’s gentle tone subverts the barbarian’s instinct to take offense. Khail gives the cave an unsuccessful once-over with his holy sight before following them.</p><p> </p><p>They return twenty minutes later. Rhien gently nudges Danek to make a report.</p><p> </p><p>The barbarian shuffles her feet awkwardly, but says with some pride, "We searched down the mountain some and found a few caves. They were all dark inside, but we might be able to get there, with some rope and muscle."</p><p> </p><p>Khail pats her on the back. “Good show! I found two more myself, above us.”</p><p> </p><p>Danek bristles and scowls at the too-friendly paladin. She retreats to the side of the cave entrance, grumbling something inaudible.</p><p> </p><p>Trella takes in the news. "Since I haven't seen the caves, does any one of them look safer than the others? What I'm really interested in hearing is that you found a shallow unoccupied cave with only one passable open end, the one to the outside, which I could cover with a wall of thorns courtesy of my handy-dandy staff. Well?"</p><p> </p><p>Rhien shrugs and responds apologetically, "Sorry, Trella, but the caves were dark and neither Danek nor I could see in past a dozen feet or so.” Khail nods his concurrence with this assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Dobi snaps out of his personal reverie. Having been off plane for the first time, there was a lot for him to process, and the halfling was deep in thought, perhaps composing a song, while his new companions were scaling the mountain face. Finally snapping to, the rogue surveys the landscape, looking for geographical landmarks that might help him identify where he is on Toril. Seeing only mountains ringing the party, Dobi gets down, places his ear to the cave wall, and attempts to see if he can hear anything. The slow, deep breathing of a very large creature fills his ears, but since this is nothing that he did not already know, the halfling decides not to be outdone by any animal and sniffs at the air. Unfortunately, Dobi's nose knows nothing, and he merely ends up looking a bit silly.</p><p> </p><p>Trella concentrates, willing her form into that of a bat. Taking wing, she flits amongst the caves below, avoiding a tribe of kobolds, a group of roving duergar, and the lair of some hideous misshapen beast. On her fourth try she finds a shallow cave that appears to be completely unoccupied. Quickly returning to the party, the druid resumes her own shape and shares her findings with the rest of the group.</p><p> </p><p>"Excellent, excellent, my dear sweet Trella," says Dobi, uncharacteristically quiet due to the nearby wyrm. He begins extracting the silk rope from his pack. "I think most of us can climb down using rope if we help each other out, though perhaps Earl will require magical aid. I suggest those first and last be able to fly or teleport, as they will be in most peril, potentially caught on either end all alone. Of course I happily volunteer for either of these tasks."</p><p> </p><p>Trella bows with a flourish and an awkward smile, meant to hide her premonition that something terrible is about to happen. She takes the rear while Kai explores her new abilities, handing out the ability to fly to fully half the group, which obviates the need for Dobi’s rope. It takes a while to pry Kyree, who is fighting back an urge to try and kill the dragon and take its stuff, away, but soon the large and varied band is floating gently down. Kai sails further out, just enjoying feeling the wind in her face for a while. Snicker happily joins her, playfully circumnavigating the sorceress in wide arcs.</p><p> </p><p>Trella scoops up Dobi and follows, herding the party into the sole safe cavern. She sets a wall of thorns to guard against entry via an activation of her staff and solicits opinions. Though Dobi smiles at the idea of fighting the dragon, relishing the great tale that such a battle might produce, the notion is not taken seriously by the group. Shared rations and quiet watches ensue, leading to a whispered request for stories as darkness falls.</p><p> </p><p>Trella offers, "Tell him the one about Eduardo just walking along. That one _never_ ceases to amuse."</p><p> </p><p>At the mention of Eduardo's name, Kai's eyes harden, and she turns away to face the nearest stone wall. Buttercup shows his tusks at the rogue's mention, but what the gesture means under these circumstances is difficult to gauge.</p><p> </p><p>Khail answers Dobi's curious look with, "Eduardo was once a comrade of ours whom we took to be a friend. He betrayed us.” Khail is quiet for a long moment. Anger mixes with a wistful sadness in his voice when he finally continues. “We were all strangers before that first quest, snatched from our homes to play the pawn in a game we could not have understood. There was no way for us to know that Eduardo was an assassin, sent to ensure our failure. Still, he did not succeed.” Khail’s small grey eyes are far away. “We have crossed paths several times since then, and our meetings have never been pleasant.”</p><p> </p><p>Seemingly remembering the point of his tale, the paladin forces a smile. “Trella refers to Eduardo's response to being jailed early in our acquaintance."</p><p> </p><p>Kyree anticipates Dobi's next question, and interjects, "He's dead now," with more than a little satisfaction*.</p><p> </p><p>Trella smirks and says, "That had to be the most boring way to tell that story I could imagine." She breaks into a wider smile at this. "It's good to know some things don't change."</p><p> </p><p>Khail shares her broad smile, indicating that some things do. Despite this newfound good-humor, the warrior remains practical at heart, and launches into a brief summary of who he and the rest of the Stepchildren are, and how they came to be here, supplemented by commentary from Kai and Trella, and the occasional "Woo-hoo" from Kyree.</p><p> </p><p>The bard listens attentively throughout the long tale, joined by the rest of his recently found companions. These latter stare raptly at those they rescued, awed by what they have seen. When the story winds down, Dobi gladly returns the favor, leaping to a higher perch and regaling the combined group with the recent history of the realms. Andy's band is stunned by the immensity of it all, while Trella's is more concerned with what they have missed. Kyree curses particularly the drow infestation of Cormanthor, earning him a pat on the back from the druid**.</p><p> </p><p>The final stories of the night are told by Cerridwin in the guise of a series of folksongs from her youth. They are simple things, as Thistlehome does not possess the splendor of a Waterdeep, but they are heartfelt and full of earthy wisdom, and much appreciated by all. Cerridwin blushes at Kyree's attention when she is done, and moves off to be alone, quite confused by what her life has become.</p><p> </p><p>At Trella's orders the fire is put out, and those not already on watch or slumbering join one of the two groups. The wall of thorns vanishes silently before midnight, but no creature troubles the party. When dawn comes, Rhien is gazing at the slow growth of pink on the horizon, though his sad gray eyes seem to be looking much farther away.</p><p> </p><p>Kyree approaches to speak with the monk, but is startled by the sudden appearance of a glowing door in the back of the cave. His bow is manifested and nocked with an arrow in an instant, trained on the figure emerging from the portal, but the archer lowers it slightly when the newcomer's posture is one of curiosity rather than violence. Kyree's sharp eyes take in her appearance, and he is joined moments later by the rest of the group.</p><p> </p><p>A longish shock of unkempt golden hair, tied back into a neat pony tale and held with a jeweled silver hair clip, crowns a pretty but otherwise unremarkable face highlighted by an aristocratic nose and large friendly eyes. Her slender figure is accentuated by her well tailored leather jerkin—which, had it a label, would read "North Face"—and tight leather leggings, the latter tied down at the ankles and tucked into a small pair of sturdy but supple calfskin boots from which two fine daggers jut. Her finely woven very short green cape is held on with an elegant silver brooch, and a matching buckle closes her belt, which holds a matched pair of weapons. On her left a gleaming metal nunchaku made of interlocking metal disks swings slowly at her side, while on the right a wicked-looking jeweled machete that is roughly the same size and shape of a scimitar rests within a leather scabbard. Thin silver bracelets accentuate her tanned bare arms, and around her aquiline neck hangs the gold coin that indicates her allegiance to the goddess of trade, Waukeen.</p><p> </p><p>Dobi, never one to forget a face or the tale it accompanies, approaches the newcomer with surprise. "Quid? Of Amn?"</p><p> </p><p>Though unable to match the halfling's recall, Quid does recognize him, and grants him a smiling, "Good to see you again friend. Might I ask where we are, and by whom you are accompanied?" Behind her smile, Quid girds herself for a quick vanishing act, having no desire to engage in combat with the horde of armed people staring at her in shock.</p><p> </p><p><em>* Eduardo was a PC, played by the same person running Buttercup. I let him be an assassin, sent to kill the creature the rest of the party was trying to protect. While it did lead to many memorable moments, I don’t plan on allowing this in the future. It’s just too difficult to be fair to all concerned.</em></p><p><em>** During their previous adventure, Kyree—an elf—was oddly friendly toward a drow priestess they met. Trella—a half-elf—was not appreciative of this, and the whole thing degenerated into a really amusing out-of-character discussion about why all elves should hate drow. Kyree, having learned his lesson, is exhibiting this.</em></p><p><em></em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="htetickrt, post: 1371501, member: 16534"] Welcome to the boards, greywalker! Of course, you mean that you miss Dobi because everyone loves the little fella and wants him around all the time, not because anything has happened to him, right? Sigh. At least I've caught up to Quid's introduction with this update. Only a few more of these before the action begins. [center]A Brief Rest[/center] Kyree mumbles, "I'm getting really tired of caves," as he manifests his bow. The nimble archer sidles up to the cave wall to reduce the area from which he could likely be attacked as he focuses his elven senses into the darkness, looking and listening for any sign of an unfriendly occupant. His caution limits his effectiveness, and he neither sees nor hears anything. Steve whinnies, catching the same scent as Earl. Trella slides into her familiar role as party leader, urging everyone to stay still and alert for the time being. To Earl she whispers, "What and where?" Earl doesn't know what, but he's pretty clear that it is deep inside the cave, and doesn't appear to be moving around much, an opinion shared by Khail’s horse. Snicker, however, smells something familiar, which he shares with Kai. The sorceress translates for the group: "Dragon." Trella replies, "Worst...teleport...ever,” pulling her hair away from her scalp. The doughty druid quickly regroups. “Anyone feel like fighting a dragon right now?” She doesn’t wait for an answer. “I think a safe plan would be to take the Kai shuttle down to the pretty green plain below. Shouldn’t be too difficult to teleport there, I hope. Less experienced go first; I might try and speak with those birds and make nice with them to keep 'em from divebombing us.” Kai agrees, after trying to find out from Snicker if the dragon is good, bad, big, or small. “I’d prefer to keep pairs of more- and less-experienced people together, just in case something goes wrong.” Snicker’s analysis complete, the pseudodragon’s telepathic voice is heard by the gathered group for the first time. “It’s either big and far away, or smaller and closer.” He sounds proud of himself. Rhien offers, "If we are looking for a safe place to rest, I would be willing to climb up or down a ways to see if I could find a less occupied cave." Kai strokes Snicker's snout and mentally praises him for being so smart while nodding to Rhien. "I'll teleport us if you don't find anything. Be careful." Snicker enjoys the praise and makes a purring sound as Kai pets him. Danek abruptly volunteers, “I can go with Rhien, or in an opposite direction.” She pauses after speaking, self-conscious at the sound of her own voice. Rhien smiles. “That would be welcome, Danek. If you have rope, we can tie ourselves together, in case one of us should fall.” The monk’s gentle tone subverts the barbarian’s instinct to take offense. Khail gives the cave an unsuccessful once-over with his holy sight before following them. They return twenty minutes later. Rhien gently nudges Danek to make a report. The barbarian shuffles her feet awkwardly, but says with some pride, "We searched down the mountain some and found a few caves. They were all dark inside, but we might be able to get there, with some rope and muscle." Khail pats her on the back. “Good show! I found two more myself, above us.” Danek bristles and scowls at the too-friendly paladin. She retreats to the side of the cave entrance, grumbling something inaudible. Trella takes in the news. "Since I haven't seen the caves, does any one of them look safer than the others? What I'm really interested in hearing is that you found a shallow unoccupied cave with only one passable open end, the one to the outside, which I could cover with a wall of thorns courtesy of my handy-dandy staff. Well?" Rhien shrugs and responds apologetically, "Sorry, Trella, but the caves were dark and neither Danek nor I could see in past a dozen feet or so.” Khail nods his concurrence with this assessment. Dobi snaps out of his personal reverie. Having been off plane for the first time, there was a lot for him to process, and the halfling was deep in thought, perhaps composing a song, while his new companions were scaling the mountain face. Finally snapping to, the rogue surveys the landscape, looking for geographical landmarks that might help him identify where he is on Toril. Seeing only mountains ringing the party, Dobi gets down, places his ear to the cave wall, and attempts to see if he can hear anything. The slow, deep breathing of a very large creature fills his ears, but since this is nothing that he did not already know, the halfling decides not to be outdone by any animal and sniffs at the air. Unfortunately, Dobi's nose knows nothing, and he merely ends up looking a bit silly. Trella concentrates, willing her form into that of a bat. Taking wing, she flits amongst the caves below, avoiding a tribe of kobolds, a group of roving duergar, and the lair of some hideous misshapen beast. On her fourth try she finds a shallow cave that appears to be completely unoccupied. Quickly returning to the party, the druid resumes her own shape and shares her findings with the rest of the group. "Excellent, excellent, my dear sweet Trella," says Dobi, uncharacteristically quiet due to the nearby wyrm. He begins extracting the silk rope from his pack. "I think most of us can climb down using rope if we help each other out, though perhaps Earl will require magical aid. I suggest those first and last be able to fly or teleport, as they will be in most peril, potentially caught on either end all alone. Of course I happily volunteer for either of these tasks." Trella bows with a flourish and an awkward smile, meant to hide her premonition that something terrible is about to happen. She takes the rear while Kai explores her new abilities, handing out the ability to fly to fully half the group, which obviates the need for Dobi’s rope. It takes a while to pry Kyree, who is fighting back an urge to try and kill the dragon and take its stuff, away, but soon the large and varied band is floating gently down. Kai sails further out, just enjoying feeling the wind in her face for a while. Snicker happily joins her, playfully circumnavigating the sorceress in wide arcs. Trella scoops up Dobi and follows, herding the party into the sole safe cavern. She sets a wall of thorns to guard against entry via an activation of her staff and solicits opinions. Though Dobi smiles at the idea of fighting the dragon, relishing the great tale that such a battle might produce, the notion is not taken seriously by the group. Shared rations and quiet watches ensue, leading to a whispered request for stories as darkness falls. Trella offers, "Tell him the one about Eduardo just walking along. That one _never_ ceases to amuse." At the mention of Eduardo's name, Kai's eyes harden, and she turns away to face the nearest stone wall. Buttercup shows his tusks at the rogue's mention, but what the gesture means under these circumstances is difficult to gauge. Khail answers Dobi's curious look with, "Eduardo was once a comrade of ours whom we took to be a friend. He betrayed us.” Khail is quiet for a long moment. Anger mixes with a wistful sadness in his voice when he finally continues. “We were all strangers before that first quest, snatched from our homes to play the pawn in a game we could not have understood. There was no way for us to know that Eduardo was an assassin, sent to ensure our failure. Still, he did not succeed.” Khail’s small grey eyes are far away. “We have crossed paths several times since then, and our meetings have never been pleasant.” Seemingly remembering the point of his tale, the paladin forces a smile. “Trella refers to Eduardo's response to being jailed early in our acquaintance." Kyree anticipates Dobi's next question, and interjects, "He's dead now," with more than a little satisfaction*. Trella smirks and says, "That had to be the most boring way to tell that story I could imagine." She breaks into a wider smile at this. "It's good to know some things don't change." Khail shares her broad smile, indicating that some things do. Despite this newfound good-humor, the warrior remains practical at heart, and launches into a brief summary of who he and the rest of the Stepchildren are, and how they came to be here, supplemented by commentary from Kai and Trella, and the occasional "Woo-hoo" from Kyree. The bard listens attentively throughout the long tale, joined by the rest of his recently found companions. These latter stare raptly at those they rescued, awed by what they have seen. When the story winds down, Dobi gladly returns the favor, leaping to a higher perch and regaling the combined group with the recent history of the realms. Andy's band is stunned by the immensity of it all, while Trella's is more concerned with what they have missed. Kyree curses particularly the drow infestation of Cormanthor, earning him a pat on the back from the druid**. The final stories of the night are told by Cerridwin in the guise of a series of folksongs from her youth. They are simple things, as Thistlehome does not possess the splendor of a Waterdeep, but they are heartfelt and full of earthy wisdom, and much appreciated by all. Cerridwin blushes at Kyree's attention when she is done, and moves off to be alone, quite confused by what her life has become. At Trella's orders the fire is put out, and those not already on watch or slumbering join one of the two groups. The wall of thorns vanishes silently before midnight, but no creature troubles the party. When dawn comes, Rhien is gazing at the slow growth of pink on the horizon, though his sad gray eyes seem to be looking much farther away. Kyree approaches to speak with the monk, but is startled by the sudden appearance of a glowing door in the back of the cave. His bow is manifested and nocked with an arrow in an instant, trained on the figure emerging from the portal, but the archer lowers it slightly when the newcomer's posture is one of curiosity rather than violence. Kyree's sharp eyes take in her appearance, and he is joined moments later by the rest of the group. A longish shock of unkempt golden hair, tied back into a neat pony tale and held with a jeweled silver hair clip, crowns a pretty but otherwise unremarkable face highlighted by an aristocratic nose and large friendly eyes. Her slender figure is accentuated by her well tailored leather jerkin—which, had it a label, would read "North Face"—and tight leather leggings, the latter tied down at the ankles and tucked into a small pair of sturdy but supple calfskin boots from which two fine daggers jut. Her finely woven very short green cape is held on with an elegant silver brooch, and a matching buckle closes her belt, which holds a matched pair of weapons. On her left a gleaming metal nunchaku made of interlocking metal disks swings slowly at her side, while on the right a wicked-looking jeweled machete that is roughly the same size and shape of a scimitar rests within a leather scabbard. Thin silver bracelets accentuate her tanned bare arms, and around her aquiline neck hangs the gold coin that indicates her allegiance to the goddess of trade, Waukeen. Dobi, never one to forget a face or the tale it accompanies, approaches the newcomer with surprise. "Quid? Of Amn?" Though unable to match the halfling's recall, Quid does recognize him, and grants him a smiling, "Good to see you again friend. Might I ask where we are, and by whom you are accompanied?" Behind her smile, Quid girds herself for a quick vanishing act, having no desire to engage in combat with the horde of armed people staring at her in shock. [i]* Eduardo was a PC, played by the same person running Buttercup. I let him be an assassin, sent to kill the creature the rest of the party was trying to protect. While it did lead to many memorable moments, I don’t plan on allowing this in the future. It’s just too difficult to be fair to all concerned.[/i] [i]** During their previous adventure, Kyree—an elf—was oddly friendly toward a drow priestess they met. Trella—a half-elf—was not appreciative of this, and the whole thing degenerated into a really amusing out-of-character discussion about why all elves should hate drow. Kyree, having learned his lesson, is exhibiting this. [/i] [/QUOTE]
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