in character 2. The Black Script (continued)

[roryb]

HAVING ARRIVED...

...in Lysor after adventures in Klaar, our heroes celebrated their windfalls. Balathu learned that Nur-Yunna had dispatched minions across Lemuria in search of something. Much of his loot went toward sending out his own feelers to counter the machinations of his father.

Asara had made the rounds in Lysor, carousing and offending many members of the peerage. The northlander soon found herself in the slums without coin.

For her part, Tikina had been taken under the wing of crotchety and peculiar Quarr, who shared many of the secrets of alchemy with her. Together, they afforded a small laboratory to begin a series of experiences. Soon, they overheard of some strange wizard’s pet or monstrous freak of nature haunting the city at night. Their attempts to track the mystery creature had been fruitless…at least until the night of All Moat’s Day, a celebration of Afyrean supplication.

That night, the heroes had been summoned to a banquet. Quarr had spared no expense. Revelers danced in the streets. Ecclesiasts of Afyra gave blessing to the bounty of crops and food. However, before the heroes had gotten to the banquet hall, a handful of mad men — the yellow druids — came to murder. The heroes stood in their way and dispatched them.

When the inexplicable conflict was over, during the mayhem many of the citizens of Lysor pointed at the heroes. The city watch was summoned and the heroes fled. While they did, Tikina discovered the clues of some strange enigma. Quarr guessed the same — their errant mystery monster had been there.

When during their escape they strayed into a plaza, they saw the thing standing there under the stars. A strange tentacled one-eyed thing on a tripod of spindly legs. being seen, the thing climbed a building, tossing statues and pottery at them. They gave chase across rooftops and alleys, inflicting some harm on the thing. It disintegrated into a pool of ichor and escaped.

The heroes took refuge in the abode of Jenkor Tol, a minor lord of Lysor who Balathu had remedied from a most embarrassing affliction. Jenkor spoke of strange times, all starting since Lanar Zboon, the infamous tomb-raider, had recovered a dark text and quickly died at the hands of the druids of Morgazzon. Furthermore, Jenkor told of a galley borne out of Zalut with emissaries with strange sigils. The delegation from Thule owned a dreadful house in the hills just at the edge of town where foreign emissaries own stately homes.

With that information, the heroes stole away to investigate the holdings of Zalut in the eastern hills…

Show this

Link to the full start of The Black Script here.

Link to Shades of Ygddar here.

More to come...

 

[roryb]

The Black Script

Scene 3 (continued)

---

Tikina made it easily to the slate roofed structure. Years of neglect riddled the rooftop along with the detritus of avians. There was no sign anyone had been on the rooftop in recent memory, except for winged creatures. Milord gave a harsh skirl from where he wheeled above in the darkness.

Tikina lowered the rope to her awaiting friends. In moments, they all three found themselves reunited on rooftop. Tile chips and refuse crunched underfoot. From their nighttime vantage, the entirety of Lysor lay out below them in its pearly splendor. The whitewashed walls of the Serene Palace and Afyraneum stood alight in its cradle to the north in the midst of the acropolis. To the north lay the poor man's quarter from whence their bloody conflict with the yellow druids and pursuit of the strange ichorous creature had transpired. Due west was the bay and fog veiled twinkling lanterns.

On this rooftop were broken slates. A set of ruined gables no longer barred access to some sort of attic ingress. Feathers festooned the rough edges of the opening. Provided one kicked the remnants of the frames away, these were easy enough for a large man to pass inside with but a modest stoop of the head. However, something chuckled within. It was a low pitch, and certainly not human.

Player Expendables

Asara	Tikina	Balathu
Hero Point: 5 Lifeblood: 14	Hero Point: 3 Lifeblood: 8	Arcane Points: 11 Hero Points: 5 Lifeblood: 10

 

 

Edited March 3 by roryb (see edit history)

[Sir Lazeabout]

Lifeblood 10/10 Arcane Points 11/11 Hero Points 5/5

Balathu freezes to the spot, breath caught in his throat. If this is indeed a fastness of his father's, then there is no telling what hideous thing might have been placed on guard. Nur-Yunna has delved deep into the sorcerous arts, and he has many horrific friends and allies within the lower planes. He tries to search his mind for some memory of a sound like the one he just heard among the hordes of hell...

 

[roryb]

There was a plethora of winged fiends enumerated in the annals of the black grimoire. With the clues given the size of the opening and strange gray and blue plumage, a guess immediately entered Balathu’s bald head. Little known to most, one gargantuan bird of prey was thought to be of the natural order. However, few of the monstrous predators of Lemuria were truly birthed from nature. The sorcerer-kings of old interbred fauna with horrific beings of the void.

The cunning flying raptor known today as the mythunga was one such abomination. With a massive beak and capable of flying off with a man, these creatures often swooped down from clouds or with the sun in the eyes of their prey to surprise. They were not particularly trainable — and the sorcerer could only guess if this one was used wittingly as a guardian or had just taken up residence on its own accord.

Player Expendables

Asara	Tikina	Balathu
Hero Point: 5 Lifeblood: 14	Hero Point: 3 Lifeblood: 8	Arcane Points: 11 Hero Points: 5 Lifeblood: 10

 

 

[Dybrar]

Tɪᴋɪɴᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Tʜɪᴇғ (sheet)Lifeblood: 8 / 8   Defence: 1          Hero Points: 3 She picked her quiet way across the dilapidated rooftop. Though careful and nimble, her movements were made to seem almost casual by long experience and habit. Nor were her unshod feet daunted by the roof’s broken slates or the grime that coated them. For better or worse, her being so young, the thief seemed fairly in her element here. Drawing near the opening promising access to the mansion proper, Tikina looked encouraged until that disconcerting chuckling issued from within. “Um. That does not sound good,” she whispered, all but freezing in place. “Is that what I think it is…?”

[Neopopulas]

Barbarian 2 | Hunter 1 | Soldier 0 | Mercenary 0 || Strength 2 | Agility 2 | Mind 0 | Appeal 0
Melee 2 | Ranged 0 | Defense 2 | Initiative 1 || Hero Points 5 / 5 | Lifeblood 14 / 14
Equipment: Battle harness (-1), Sword, Axes (2)
The Valgardian Blade: Attackkeep(3d6,highest,2)+5 | Damagekeep(2d6,highest,1)+2 || Twin Axes: AttackMelee: 2d6+4 | Thrown: 2d6+2 | DamageMelee: 1d6+2 | Thrown: 1d6+1

---

Coming up behind Tikina, Asara lowers herself and whispers "I don't think it can be anything else.."

[roryb]

As the three heroes gawked into the feather lined blackness to fathom what manner of horror roosted within, the low chuckling trumpeted suddenly louder into a fanfare of violence. A massive beak exploded from aperture with stunning alacrity, streaked along its considerable length with brilliant and exotic orange and violet. Small crimson discs burned with predatory malice from the creature’s bony eye sockets. A fierce flapping of wings inside its foul rooftop refuge sent a whirlwind of choking debris and blinding filth swirling about the three, causing their few loose garments to flail about.

This was no adult hunter of the sky. Nonetheless, this adolescent was large enough to easily swallow all of Tikina’s slight form into its gullet whole. From above, Milord squawked noisily, adding to the cacophony.

Player Expendables

Asara	Tikina	Balathu
Hero Point: 5 Lifeblood: 14	Hero Point: 3 Lifeblood: 8	Arcane Points: 11 Hero Points: 5 Lifeblood: 10

 

Creature Stats

First, it’s initiative time. I’m going to call this a surprising situation, so imposing a -1 modifier to your initiative roll. This thing is classed as a villain for initiative purposes. Just for reminders, it’s Mind + Init (but check for any boons that might be useful). You’ll need a success. I’ll also impose that if you lose your initiative roll, you’ll each also have a penalty die to all rolls imposed from either choking on debris or being blinded, your choice. This lasts for 1d3 turns.

Good luck!

Young Mythunga

Size: Very Large

Attributes		Combat Abilities
Strength	5	Attack	+4
Agility	2	Damage	d6H
Mind	0	Defense	2
Lifeblood	25	Protection	0

 

 

[Sir Lazeabout]

Lifeblood 10/10 Arcane Points 11/11 Hero Points 5/5

Balathu springs into action... though the blast of air unbalances him and costs him precious seconds.

 

Edited March 12 by Sir Lazeabout (see edit history)

[Dybrar]

Tɪᴋɪɴᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Tʜɪᴇғ (sheet)Lifeblood: 8 / 8   Defence: 1          Hero Points: 3 Flinging up one arm to shield her face, Tikina tried both to keep her balance and not to let down her guard too badly against this new threat.

[Neopopulas]

Barbarian 2 | Hunter 1 | Soldier 0 | Mercenary 0 || Strength 2 | Agility 2 | Mind 0 | Appeal 0
Melee 2 | Ranged 0 | Defense 2 | Initiative 1 || Hero Points 5 / 5 | Lifeblood 14 / 14
Equipment: Battle harness (-1), Sword, Axes (2)
The Valgardian Blade: Attackkeep(3d6,highest,2)+5 | Damagekeep(2d6,highest,1)+2 || Twin Axes: AttackMelee: 2d6+4 | Thrown: 2d6+2 | DamageMelee: 1d6+2 | Thrown: 1d6+1

---

"A worthy foe i'm sure.. Come creature, come!"

[Dybrar]

Tɪᴋɪɴᴀ ᴛʜᴇ Tʜɪᴇғ (sheet)Lifeblood: 8 / 8   Defence: 1          Hero Points: 3 There was, she quickly judged, no real chance of venturing past this large avian peacefully. As Tikina cautiously stepped back across the rooftop, it nevertheless was with a modicum of regret that she drew her sling and launched a small rounded stone at the beast. Perhaps a lucky hit to some sensitive part of its body would suffice to make it withdraw?

Mechanics

Tikina backs away from the hole and the monster, then makes a ranged attack against it with her sling. Apart from her Agility, the attack's modifiers include +1 for being within Point Blank range (her sling's range increment being 30') and -2 for the mythunga's defence.

Edited March 16 by Dybrar (see edit history)

[roryb]

The tiny projectile either flew astray somewhere in the dark recesses of the monster’s lair, or was ineffectual against its overwhelming size. Both Asara and Balathu fought to keep the blowing detritus from their eyes and face. Like a storm, the giant avian burst half of its girth from the narrow opening like a battering ram.

Although blinded, Asara’s northron instincts alerted her that danger came with the force of Hurm’s hammer. She flew aside, finding a giant outstretched beak just above her, the thing shrieked like a jungle chark. Unless anyone who might have been at home was completely deaf, they heard the beast’s clarion.

Player Expendables

Asara	Tikina	Balathu
Hero Point: 5 Lifeblood: 14	Hero Point: 3 Lifeblood: 8	Arcane Points: 11 Hero Points: 5 Lifeblood: 10

 

Creature Stats and OOC Notes

That was a narrow miss on a ram attack versus Asara. That was the beast’s Strength versus Asara’s defense. Success would have caused her to “save” or get knocked from the rooftop and take falling damage.

You all get to go now. Asara has a round to deal with a penalty die for the feathers and bird filth in the eyes, while Balathu has two. If you take actions with a relevant bonus die (such as an attack with trademark weapon, for example) while the distraction is in effect, the penalty and bonus dice will cancel each other out.

 

Young Mythunga

Size: Very Large

Attributes		Combat Abilities
Strength	5	Attack	+4
Agility	2	Damage	d6H
Mind	0	Defense	2
Lifeblood	25	Protection	0

 

 

Edited March 16 by roryb (see edit history)

[Sir Lazeabout]

Lifeblood 10/10 Arcane Points 11/11 Hero Points 5/5

With his left arm shielding his eyes from the flying dust, Balathu charges forward, slashing at the creature with the sword in his right hand.

 

[Neopopulas]

Barbarian 2 | Hunter 1 | Soldier 0 | Mercenary 0 || Strength 2 | Agility 2 | Mind 0 | Appeal 0
Melee 2 | Ranged 0 | Defense 2 | Initiative 1 || Hero Points 5 / 5 | Lifeblood 14 / 14
Equipment: Battle harness (-1), Sword, Axes (2)
The Valgardian Blade: AttackAttack:drop(3d6,lowest,1)+5 | DamageDamage:drop(2d6,lowest,1)+2 || Twin Axes: AttackMelee: 2d6+4 | Thrown: 2d6+2 | DamageMelee: 1d6+2 | Thrown: 1d6+1

---

"Creature, do you think that can stop me!?" she charges in to get as close to the creature as she can, sweeping with her long blade.

[roryb]

The sword swipe caught the monster just where its lower beak joined its neck. Blood gushed from the wound. The thing withdrew in agony, shaking its snapping bill, but getting caught in the confines of the window. The sound of its shriek was terrifying.

By her action, Asara was no longer plagued by the debris in her eyes. She also stood askance, legs apart, placed between Tikina and the mythunga.

Player Expendables

Asara	Tikina	Balathu
Hero Point: 5 Lifeblood: 14	Hero Point: 3 Lifeblood: 8	Arcane Points: 11 Hero Points: 5 Lifeblood: 10

 

Creature Stats and OOC Notes

Just a little bookkeeping to end Turn 1 for everyone. I'm looking at @Neopopulas's results here, too. It looks like the dice are a little funny (and not in that haha way). With her distraction affecting this turn's action, her trademark weapon bonus die is cancelled by her momentary penalty die. So, results should be read just as straight-up 2d6. Taking the first two dice in order, she gets 8 with her 2 Agility and 2 Melee added, but minus the bird's defense of 2. Still just over the threshold to hit.

7 damage taken off, bringing its Lifeblood to 18. Nicely done.

Next turn begins with @Dybrar's action.

Young Mythunga

Size: Very Large

Attributes		Combat Abilities
Strength	5	Attack	+4
Agility	2	Damage	d6H
Mind	0	Defense	2
Lifeblood	18	Protection	0