Dungeons and Dragons discussion
Instruments of Fate (Batman)
>
Instruments of Fate (With Pulp)
((I love this guy. He just keeps talking. XD))Anwen listened joyfully before giving one final, soft laugh.
"Ah, so this establishment takes the craft very seriously. That is a pleasure to hear. So thank you very much and I do hope to cross paths with you once again," she politely bowed and bid farewell. Anwen turned back to the waitress and walked with her back to the door, gently nudging her and whispering: "If you need new employment here, I would definitely check out here. Maybe our performance can put you in a good light."
Mod
Anwen listened joyfully before giving one final, soft laugh.
"Ah, so this establishment takes the craft very seriously. That is a pleasure to hear...."
((Yeah. I love memes where someone takes a movie quote, or song lyrics, or someone using street slang and they rewrite it into the most overly formal, verbose, gentrified spiel.
So that definitely was an influence. Writing him is fun but it takes forever. My whole thought process for his first post was that he should sound as though he's reciting a legal contract at you rather than talking to you but he's gotta give service with a smile at all costs. But this place is run by theater kids. He took over and the bit evolved for the better.))
I'll wait for Austin.
Speaking of, I hope you don't feel like you're getting the short end of the stick, Austin. This old lady is fun to write too. Really love the push-and-pull, back-and-forth as to how insane she really is.))
Mod
Mod
Mod
Mod
Mod
Inside is a twenty by twenty foot room with black carpet woven with images of stars and planets on every wall, floor, and ceiling. Every corner contains a magical bubble of light that ebbs and flows between blue, green, and pink. At the far end of the room is a mahoghany double door. To either side of the room is a curved desk littered with playbills and programs.
Behind the left is a huge orc with green skin, enormous muscles, and a severe underbite. His tusks are as long as your thumbs. His thick black hair is neatly combed and a curl falls across his forehead above brass goggles with glass lenses at least an inch thick. The ends of the leather straps flop around above his comparitively small ears. He is wearing a purple and gray knit vest without sleeves over a white shirt with the sleeves rolled to the elbow. He is counting pamphlets and organizing then in piles.
To the right is a girl you almost missed, wearing black coveralls and a black beret. Her skin and hair can only be described as translucent silver and seem to both absorb and reflect the lights, giving it the illusion of movement and rapid growth.
***
@Henry, You pull up the first mandrake without issue and are horrified to see what looks like a tiny old man with elongated limbs, curled in a fetal position, wrinkled, and naked as a baby bird. It has a color like a yam and papery smooth bark like stripped river birch but it looks far too similar to skin. You hand it to Matthias who looks equally uncomfortable. As you begin to pull the next one, you feel your hands start to sweat. ((Make a dex check.))
((I can post tomorrow. It’s late for me.))
Mod
Mod
There's never any pressure to post when I do. Certainly not at two in the morning.
Austin wrote: "((Can i grip the mandrake with the glove and do a strength check? Or athletics check?))"
((You're wearing the gloves, but they're just a bit too big, so you're fighting the floppy fingers and the mandrake is giving you a weird sense of discomfort. Kind of like how onions make you cry.))
((Oh fair. I was saying that so you knew that I would be a bit and not skip me. Yesterday was a long but good day.))((Has my character met anyone like the black beret woman? I ask because, if not, Anwen would automatically go to her and wonder if she was celestial related.
Also, what is, like, the religion in this world? Aasimars are tied to gods but Henry sounds Christian.))
Mod
It'd be Arcana or Nature to determine what you can tell about her.
Religion is very Greek in that the gods represent natural phenomenon and/or abstract ideas. People pray to whatever god they are seeking guidance from. A farmer might pray to a harvest god or a sailor to Uuna or Uura. Here are just a few dieties: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)
((Drat. A fiiiiive.Ooo thank you!!))
Mod
((XD Fair.))Anwen looked around the wonderful, glorious foyer. She managed to contain her excitement until she saw the silver woman and her eyes widened in complete astonishment and shock. Anwen double-checked her appearance, ensuring she looked respectable, before making her way over to the woman.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where I could inquire about booking an audition? I am a traveling bard that would be honored to display my skills at such a wonderful and beautiful establishment," Anwen spoke quietly but surely, resisting the urge to be outright rude and as for the woman's ancestry.
Mod
There's never any pressure to post when I do. Certainly not at two in the morning.
Austin wrote: "((Can i grip the mandrake wit..."
((16+1 dex check.))
Mod
***
@Austin, You pull the gloves a little more snug and are able to maintain control over the ill-fitting fingers. and pull a second mandrake out. At the sight of the ugly little root, you can feel sweat bead on your forehead and a slight naseous sensation in your stomach. You hand it to Matthias so he now has two and figure you should also take two for yourself.
((I'll just say this: The last check was a DC 10. Since you beat it by 5 (6 technically), the next check drops from 15 down to 10. The third will be a 20 (15 if check two is passed by 5.))
Anwen blinked in surprised and held back a small sigh of disappointment when the reflection was closer to herself than the woman appeared to be. She smiled and nodded. "Oh I would love one, thank you. And absolutely not an issue. That is a wonderful and useful gift to have. You must be absolutely stellar on the stage," Anwen reassured and complimented before taking the pamphlet.Anwen turned back to the waitress and motion for her to follow, before heading to the double doors.
Mod
"She seems nice." A deeper voice says.
"She didn't even ask your name." The girl says quietly.
You look at the pamphlet and see it is illustrated with pictures of thespians and performers. 'Enroll Today!' the text reads with a tagline reading, "Find out if you qualify for our internship program or collegiate courses today!" It folds out into multiple panels, explaining the various core values of the courses, but before you can really take a closer look, a pair of gnomes carrying a large mirror bumps into you.
"Excuse us! Sorry." "Mind opening the door?" "The purple one!"
The hall beyond the lobby goes off in both directions with several, brightly painted doors all along. The carpeting continues, but this space seems brighter. Two sets double doors stand in front of you, each marked with a white smiling mask and a white crying mask. Near the far end of each side of the hall is a wide staircase leading upward. Several people, come in and out of the rooms.
An older, nervous looking man with a puppet. A harengon girl in coattails pulling a bouquet of carrots, lettuce, and celery from a tophat. A pair of long-limbed Elvish twin dancers in matching leotards. A moody boy with pale skin and black and gray striped clothes sitting in a corner reading aloud from a script. A little human girl with blonde pigtails asks each person if she can paint their face and is met with only chuckles. Her smile never fades from her freckled, gap-toothed face. She bounces up to you. "Care for some face paint?"
***
@Henry, The nausea churns your stomach and a sense of vertigo sets in. You fall to your knees and drop the mandrake as Matthias yells and vainly tries to catch it. The extended limbs of the root stretch and try to lash at you but still lack the reach. ((Also rolled a 4+1. Do you want you or Matthias to go first?))
Anwen gave a small smirk, overhearing the other room. She barely had a moment to take in the room before the two gnomes made their way over. “Oh dear! Of course!”Anwen quickly opened the purple door for them and waited until they passed before closing it. She slowly made her way through the hall, jaw slightly dropped in wonder and amazement. Anwen noticed each performer and smiled and watched them each with the same amount of interest and respect.
She looked down at the girl, glancing back at the waitress, before smiling wide. “Can you do a small design on my check? How much would it be?”
Mod
Mod
@Austin, Yep. Combat. You hit, so roll damage. Are you doing an unarmed strike?))
@Anwen, The waitress tentatively raises a hand. "I'm next." The girl grins wider and pulls a little paint set from her satchel. "You're a fluter.. I mean a flautist, right?" She sounds as if she's been practicing saying the word. "Play me a song. After I finish, of course. It's hard to paint with a flute in the way. Whatcha want? A butterfly? A kitty cat? A dog? An owlbear? A mushroom? A Dragon? A giraffe? A pig? A..."
The waitress cuts her off before she can recite the entire encyclopedia. "I'll take a frog."
Mod
Mod
Anwen laughed softly but nodded as she got down to the girl's height. "I certainly will for you. Any particular requests? I know many songs from my travels so I may know what you prefer."And I would love a small heart with sparkles or whatever small thing you'd like to make," she answered, turning her cheek to the child. "I'll give you creative liberty with it."
Mod
@Silver, The little girl hands you a small compact mirror. She touches her brush into some bright pink paint, puts it on the side of her pallet, then mixes in some red to darken the shade to a magenta-ish hue. She deftly paints the twin curves of a Valentines' heart on your cheek, then washes her brush. Next she outlines the shape in a silver border. Near the top right half, she draws a short chain of three conjoined circles connected to a square. After washing the brush, she adds a black keyhole to the square. Next is a halo of nearly transparent glitter paint, an expertly tilted ellipse like the rings of a planet. The silvery flakes catch the light with an iridescent sheen, turquoise, purple, and bright green.
The waitresses' frog is, you're told enthusiastically, a strawberry dart frog, bright red with blue limbs. It is on a branch with leaves in two or three shades of green. "Thanks! Very pretty!" The waitress says.
Ever beaming and pigtails bouncing, the girl starts to ask you for a song. Just then you see a man in a green cloak exit the room at the end of the hall. His pointed hood obscures his face, but you swear he looks at you without turning his head before disappearing up the stairs. ((Perception check)). Another man runs out. He is bald save for a shoulder length ring around the back of his head, with a thin mustache that curls up at the ends, a hawkish nose, and a short pointed goatee. He is wearing a light gray-blue doublet with two rows of brass buttons, billowing hose pantaloons, and a ruffle collar. You see a playing card in his hand as he wrings his wrists nervously. "What is the meaning of this? You can't just stalk around the theater saying 'Good luck' in the theater and wrecking havok! "How'd you even get in my office? Someone stop him!"
Even as he says it, you hear someone upstairs scream. Then glass shattering. "He jumped out the window!", "No way! He never hit the ground. I'm telling you, it were the mir'r! It's shattered.", "Weren't the mirror! He bumped it on his way through! He went through the window", "Don't make sense! Window were open and it's a two story jump. He'd at least turn an ankle if he didn't break it. Ain't no glass neither!"
Mod
Mod
((Rolled a 4+1))
Mod
Anwen admired the heart, complimenting the girl on her immense skill. She laughed along with the girl’s description of the frog and agreed that it was indeed a strawberry dart frog. As Anwen pulled out her pan flute, standing up straight now as she prepared to play, she turned towards the commotion. She kept her smile but her happy light left her eyes as she realized she recognized the man who had a singular card right in front of him. First he’s at the tavern, unaffected by the magical affects of three schools, and now at the theatre? Where I am?
Sowing bad luck? With a—calling card. “Friend, wait here. I’ll return with a song,” Anwen smiled at the waitress and child, handing the waitress her pan flute, before hurrying after the strange man.
She quickly darted up the stairs, clutching her skirt out of habit though it was short enough for stairs. Anwen followed the sounds of surprise and shock.
Mod
((13+5 to hit and 8+3 damage if i hit.))
Mod
Suddenly from downstairs you hear another shout. Mr. Tremblelance'svoice. "Hey! That's the cad! Right out of the illusion room!" Another softer feminine voice speaks around tears. "Stepped right out of the looking glass and bowled me over while I was standing atop a stepladder! I think he broke my leg!"
@Henry, ((The mandrake takes 11 damage bringing its HP down to seven.)) Matthias shrugs and points to his earmuffs. He tries to stab down into the pot, but can't seem to pinpoint the root. Suddenly it lashes a limb out and strikes him for 3 bludgeoning and a poisoin. He drops his sword as his hand swells. It then tries to lash at you, but only his your armor. ((15+1=16))
Anwen paused at the end of hallway, realized that, without a reputation, she was not going to get anywhere close. She turned back to the stairs and pursed her lips, hurrying back down. Anwen went to the seemingly owner and spoke: “Where is he?” Her voice held authority she knew she had no purpose holding. She was nothing more than a wandering bard. That gave her no credence to do anything but wander, sing, and dance. But this man had been somewhere he shouldn’t have been able to escape unscathed. That and she had some words about him breaking theater tradition in an amazing theater.
Mod
(( 2+5=7 to hit 4+3dmg if i hit.))
Mod
Further down the hall, you see a couple of porters talking to the gnome's that had carried the mirror into the room in question. One of them points at you. Nearby, the harengon girl is sitting on the floor, back against the wall, wincing as her leg is being wrapped up in a cast.
At the end, you see the waitress talking to the silver haired girl and the orc from the lobby. The former seems really distressed and the orc has his huge hand on her entire shoulder as if to comfort her.
@Henry, Unfortunately, your attack misses the mandrake and you strike nothing but dirt. It swings its at you yet again, then tries to hit Matthias, but he had moved to pick up his sword. ((It rolled 18+1 on you, dealing 2+1=3 bludgeoning and 1 poison damage.))
Anwen pursed her lips again, nodding once, before hurrying down to to the Illusion Room to see if she could get inside or at least look inside. Anwen knew there was no way she could catch up to the trickster, speed and endurance and survival tracking was not her thing. But Anwen was very good at piecing things together. If she hoped to glen anything, it would be the start of how he pulled this off. If he really teleported through mirrors, if he really did manage to pull off an escape. How he survived the bar for so long. And for how long. And who was he? What did he want? Jack of Spades?
Mod
Mod
Dang this plant has done more damage to me than the pianist.))
The Batman (Reagan) wrote: "((Sorry, I missed a few words in my last post. The card is the Jack of Spades (also called Knaves) and has words scrawled across it.))"((Oh thank you.))
Mod
@Henry, When the Mandrake hits you, you grabs its tentacle-like roots and yank it from the pot, throwing it to the ground and stabbing it. It has stopped moving, save for one tendril, which weakly tries to attack your boot. Matthias, puffy and red, steps on the groping limb. ((Dealing the singular damage required to finish it off. You now have four mandrakes to bring to the crazy bootlegger witch.))
Mod
Mod
"Just a moment, Reggie. Be right back."He walks up to you. "Excuse me, Ms. I'm afraid this here yellow ribbon is meant to flag this room as an active crime scene. Do you have an Adventurers License or Guild Clearance?" Then he speaks in a whisper.
"ᴼʳ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ᵃ ʳᵉᵃˡˡʸ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᵉˣᶜᵘˢᵉˀ"***
@Henry, You push open the back door of the Mandrake room and see that the building opens up to a mottled yellow and green yard, more weeds than grass. This particular unit has its own fence, a rickety wooden thing with splintered boards and a slap-dash dark brown paint job. Thorny vines and thistles grow around it so that it almost seems to be a briarpatch. Along the back "wall" a creek cuts through the space, its banks are slick with algae and moss, but the water looks crystal clear. The woman stands at a large still, a huge copper vat set on a a rough platform of riverstones and several wooden barrels and copper buckets are connected to it via copper pipes and tubes.
"Oh, you survived!"She sounds surprised but not disappointed.
"S'good. Means the earmuffs still work. Weren't too sure, they're so worn out. Alright, you got the roots? Eh, those'll do, I s'pose. Drop 'em in with the rest!"
"Yes," Anwen quickly spoke, voice quiet as her expression turned serious. "That gentlemen came from a cursed bar where no one who fell under its spell left unscathed. Except he. You can ask my friend," she nodded towards the waitress, "who will confirm that she has been under a spell for the past year. At least two patrons have been petrified and, for some reason, this man is unscathed and now threatening Mr. Tremblelance with not only bad luck but a calling card. So, I have good reason to investigate. He's from somewhere he shouldn't have escaped so easily, already causing problems as if unaware what he just survived."
Mod
Mod
I am glad this brings you joy, Miss Anwen Blodwen." The Maitre D' says cheerfully. His Cheshire grin seems to widen. "Joy, like luck, can also be a wonderful yet fleeting phenomenon. I, likewise, am ecstatic and elated to cross paths with such an individual as yourself who finds beauty and enjoyment in the small and mundane bits of existence. Cherish this deeply and hold on to it tightly as you would the most precious of jewels.
I do regret that we must part ways before our conversation has truly begun its course, but I too have duties and I do not want to prevent or delay you from fulfilling yours. However, allow me to answer your final query before you continue. Inquire not about employment but for an audition of your talent, for they wish you to demonstrate a love for the craft and not merely a desire for monetary gain. This is a lengthier, more involved process, but will pay dividends in more ways than in the financial or fiduciary sense.
Also, avoid referring to your perspective field as just "entertainment" for this has connotations where the vestments of your profession may be regarded as... optional. Be specific in your talents as a poet, singer, or musician.
I apologize that I cannot provide any letters of recommendation or appraisal of your character as might be expected in many places of business, for I possess no ability in that area, but I appreciate you seeking my guidance and I hope it serves you well. I sincerely wish you the best in your endeavors. May our paths cross again in the near future."
***
@Henry, Matthias shakes his head. "I'm afraid not. But I got the impression that's what she was getting ready to help us with. She mentioned a still. That means "Moonshine, and that requires cold water." He looks over his shoulder at the door then grabs one end of the planks to help you lift them up. He begins digging through the crates and hands you a wad of beeswax and some heavily worn leather gloves you know would be oversized for just about anyone before pulling out a battered notebook. Between the pages of hastily scribbled numbers in a spidery hand and crude drawings of various carnivorous flora, are some legal documents on loose leaf parchment. "Huh. These are up to date licenses. She was telling the truth." He scratches his brow, shaking his head increduously.