Book Two: Cult of Cinders

[Sarcasticfury]

Following Renali's instruction, you pass through the gold-and-silver mists, sprinting through the threshold, and exit to arrive somewhere in the Mwangi Expanse. You immediately notice how the climate here is different from that of Breachill in late summer, as the cloying heat and humidity hangs heavy in the atmosphere of this open-air temple, its surrounding stone arches smeared black with soot. Charred branches and clumps of roots mark the shape of the garden that once stood here, but the plants and flowers have been ripped up and burned. In the middle of the ring of stone arches, in the center of a cold pit of charcoal, a half-complete wooden pillar once capped with a dragon’s visage stands near a pile of carved rocks and a small sack of cloth. Only one section of the ring of stone arches is solid—a section of wall that bears an exact duplicate of Huntergate as it appeared in the wall below Citadel Altaerein. Beyond the open archways elsewhere sprawls a verdant expanse of a tropical jungle.

 

Upon exiting, you very quickly notice that you are surrounded by a force of 20 elves, with the same dark skin tone that Renali possesses. All of them are holding you at bowpoint, though as you look upon their faces, you see caution, rather than malice.

DC 20 Society

These are Ekujae elves. Indigenous to the Mwangi Expanse, they tend to keep to themselves and dislike trespassers on their land.

 

[bduds2006]

 Klaatu Kobold Thaumaturge Sheet

AC: 23, HP: 56/56, Perception: +10

Hero Points: 0

Class Fetures

Class ProficienciesExpert in Perception
EXPERT SAVES Fortitude Save, Reflex Save, Will Save
TRAINED WEAPON PROFICIENCIES Unarmed Strike, Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
TRAINED ARMOR PROFICIENCIES Unarmored defense, Light Armor, Medium Armor  Esoteric Lore | Exploit Vulnerability | First Implement: Weapon|  Familiar: Undead Rat | Talisman Escoterica | Implement Empowerment | Second Implement: Amulet |

Languages: Common, Draconic

 

 

 

Klaatu emerged from the archeway and kept running several more yards before tripping on the vegetation and falling flat on his face. He rolled over onto his back, still huffing and puffing from the run. As he sat up, then he realized that they were surrounded. Quickly scrambling to his feet he said, "Uh, hello. We come to kill the Cinderclaws." He swallows hard and this time says in Draconic, "Uh... We come with Renali to end the Cinderclaws threat."

[AvalonR]

[FLOATLEFT][IMG2=170]https://i.imgur.com/acxrAbM.png[/IMG2][/FLOATLEFT][U][B][COLOR="Grey"][SIZE="3"][B]Mara - Slave Assassin[/B][/SIZE][/COLOR][/B][/U] [SIZE="1"][B]AC:[/B] 23 [B]| HP:[/B] 63/63 [B]|Class DC:[/B] 21 [B]Fortitude:[/B] +9 [B]| Reflex:[/B] +13 [B]| Will:[/B] +11 [B]| Perception:[/B] +11 [B]Active Effects:[/B] None. [B]Conditions:[/B] None.[/SIZE]

Mara - Slave Assassin
AC: 23 | HP: 63/63 |Class DC: 21
Fortitude: +9 | Reflex: +13 | Will: +11 | Perception: +11
Active Effects: None.
Conditions: None.

 

"Oh, elves." Mara blinked, unsure of how to deal with this exactly. She could talk to them, but she wasn't good at talking. And also they might not like an outsider like her messing with their lands. Especially more so that she looked like them. Sort of. More than some of the others. Or perhaps the other way around?

 

 Mara wasn't sure. And didn't want to ruin things. She glanced around at the others, quiet and hopeful someone else would do the talking. Like Adair. She was always willing to talk.

[Beca_brain]

Erux

 

 Lizardfolk Champion Redeemer 4

Character Sheet

AC: 22 | Perception +7 | HP: 64/64

Hero Points: 1/1 | Focus Points: 1/1 | Conditions: None

Trained Skills

 

+10 Athletics
+7 Deception
+9 Intimidation (E)
+7 Nature
+7 Religion
+7 Survival
+5 Iruxi Lore
+5 Legal Lore

Erux first takes a defensive stance, mouth half open and ready to intimidate, frill relaxed but not quite open. When nothing happens after the first few seconds she begins to relax and lowers her glaive. "I think we are not your enemy, and you are not ours. I will wait for Renali to come through, she will know how to explain." She looks around at the jungle and stone of the temple, tilts her head up toward the sun and half shuts her third eyelid. "It is much nicer here, the blood can run warm easily. I might not even need to sit by a fire in the morning."

[Toraka_Stormheart]

Title

Cruthadair - Character Sheet

---

AC: 20 Fort: +10 Ref: +12 Will: +11

HP: 55/55 Hero Points: 2/3 | Perception: +9

Spell Slots: 4/4 (1st) 4/4 (2nd) 3/3 (3rd) | Alchemy PreparedAlchemical Cartridges: 20 | ConditionsNone

---

The first thing Cruthadair noticed was the heat.

In what felt like an instant, the heavy, pressing air with all its humidity beared down on her. She found herself fighting to take in a breath, the blood rushing to her cheeks as she was let down from being carried by Monster. Her body broke out in sweat immediately, and the dwarfette was becoming keenly aware of how much fabric was sticking to her skin from all her robes.

Seeing the natives with pointed objects bearing down on them, Cruthadair's eyes went wide. Instinctively, one of her feet stepped to place herself in front of the ghoul woman that brought her in. Raising her hands up disarmingly, the wizard silently glanced to the others, urging them to do the same.

 

Show Mechanics

Action 1:

Action 2:

Action 3:

 

[Sapphic Reiver]

Aoife Tait

Aoife Tait
AC: 22 | HP: 51/51| Class DC: 21 | Crossbow: Loaded | Character Sheet
Fortitude: +10 | Reflex:+13 | Will: +11 | Perception: +11
Active Effects: None. | Fake Out: Available
Conditions: None.

---

"'Ey! 'auld up fae me! Ah've onlae got tiny legs!" Aoife shouted after Monster, taking off at a sprint. The stark difference in atmosphere hit the halfling like a truck as she found herself suddenly blasted with hot air, stopping with a skid of her heels behind the others. "Ye might favour tha bold, Chaldira, but 'ells, ye could'nae 'ave let 'is end up bein' teleported 'tae a shaded place, could'ye?" the Halfling murmured to herself, clutching her coin tightly against her chest as she tried to shade herself from the sun and glaring heat within Monster and Adair's shadows. Aoife had barely been here for ten minutes and already there was sweat beading on her forehead, leaning forward with her hands resting on her knees. "Ye can put'cher arraes doon, ah dinny fink none 'ae us are in any state 'tae threaten yis." panted the short brunette, wiping sweat from her forehead with a followed up huff of hot air.

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Sapphic Reiver (see edit history)

[Sarcasticfury]

After a tense moment, Renali steps forward and speaks to the elves in a language none of you understand, though it's clear from her body language that she's talking about the six of you in a friendly manner and not like enemies to be slain. One of the elves, a man set apart from the others by his gold jewelry and bracers, calls out back in response to her and steps forward into the ruined temple, holding his palms open at his sides to show he is unarmed. The rest of the elves relax the draw of their bowstrings and put their weapons at rest, though their arrows remained nocked, ready to fire quickly. The elf in gold jewelry stops a respectful distance away and gives a very slight bow. “I am Jahsi, of the Leopard Clan,” he says, speaking in accented Taldane. “My mother is of the River Clan. It is not often that we get outsiders as uncommon as you in Ekujae lands, but if one of our kindred trusts you, then so shall we. Our home, Akrivel is a few hours from here. We can answer any questions you may have on the way there.”

 

 

[bduds2006]

 Klaatu Kobold Thaumaturge Sheet

AC: 23, HP: 56/56, Perception: +10

Hero Points: 0

Class Fetures

Class ProficienciesExpert in Perception
EXPERT SAVES Fortitude Save, Reflex Save, Will Save
TRAINED WEAPON PROFICIENCIES Unarmed Strike, Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
TRAINED ARMOR PROFICIENCIES Unarmored defense, Light Armor, Medium Armor  Esoteric Lore | Exploit Vulnerability | First Implement: Weapon|  Familiar: Undead Rat | Talisman Escoterica | Implement Empowerment | Second Implement: Amulet |

Languages: Common, Draconic

Klaatu scratches his head slightly as he looks at all the Elves. "So wes have to go hours away... That's lots of walking through the greens. I'm green. I don't want to get lost... Is there noise I can make or yous all make to help find lost people? Or... or we all hold hands?" He raise his little fist in offering his hand.