Hekazu

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Morndath had to say she had not been quite expecting the sheer flood of words to leave the mouth of the old man, the waves of the verbal ruse crashing over her and trying to turn her mind over to their side like a ship in a storm. She was taken aback by all the devotion the man showed for the Queen of Dragons, but she could not just take everything at face value. Things were not really adding up here, were they? No, she would need to go over what she knew... but not before she had shown how one did not try to speak back to a wearer of purple. She extended her left arm and waved it downwards with all her fingers kept together. The guards behind everyone took a step forward, but those behind Torus also grabbed his shoulders and rather forcefully guided him to his knees.

"Your words of devotion are impressive Torag, but one does not question their superiors in our army. I do not know how Parum has handled you, but that is a thing you certainly should learn to live with", she retorted about the old man's words against her judgement on Orchid's tight-lippedness. In what had been told to her by the guard captain, the situation had been directly the opposite between the half-orc and his supposed mount. Torag had not spoken much, but Orchid, he was one Parum had to keep under control. Of course, that was very little to go from yet... but a conflict in the interests of the group also worried her.

It seemed quite clearly that Parum was here for gold. The half-orc followed her for power. Very ordinary for a group of mercenaries. But then there was this... druid, she assumed, who would praise the glory of the Queen of Dragons like his life depended on it. Hell, perhaps it did. She turned to look at Kyra, who responded by immediately speaking out of turn: "If you are to ask about my motivations, they are simple. I am to ease the suffering of my companions. No more, no less." The same gesture followed and the pink haired priestess was sent to her knees, but Morndath appeared surprisingly satisfied by her answer.

"As expected of a Cleric of something as pathetic as Chauntea", she stated with her eyes resting on the holy symbol of the cleric. Morndath then turned to Parum with a lopsided smile on her face. "So, you say you seek to join us, but to me it appears like your friend here had already made the decision to serve the Queen of Dragons herself, praise Tiamat's glory, well before you even walked in here. Tell me, just where do you think he got his idea?"

@Lucius Cypher@Ryonara - She is talking to you two
@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Gordian Nought@Irredeemable

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

The bridge of Morndath's nose wrinkled, but on the other hand she did not seem to begin demanding a better explanation from Orchid. It seemed as if she was disapproving of the unwillingness to talk the barbarian exhibited, but then again he was just that. A barbarian. "Power. Power one can most definitely have. It comes with devotion and practice, though we can only offer the other. It is up to you to live to fulfil the remaining one", she stated regarding Orchid's motivations to join the cult. She took a deep breath as she prepared to move on to the next subject which was how they had captured Brannor.

"And we marched in to Greenest and retrieved trinkets for the hoard, praise Tiamat's glory. You do realise that you might have just as well not answered my question? But perhaps your friend, or even mount if I am to believe my underling, would be willing to speak more of it, hmm?" she turned towards Torus, an already sceptical look in her eyes. "Torag, was it? So, tell me what your friend refuses. How did you manage to take down the champion of Greenest?"

@Gordian Nought - She is talking to you
@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Lucius Cypher@Ryonara@Irredeemable

Ragnarov Fleet controlled space - Trespassers will be shot!

"Rakja Fleet. Very well. Did they keep the fruits of their slaves' labour on the planets or on their ships? Your plan did not really include the part where we would get spoils of war. After all, the Ragnarov Fleet can not simply move forward out of sheer goodwill. But if we know what to expect, this sounds like something that would nonetheless be in our interests. We may be in touch. For the time being, we will leave you in the care of Chief Medic Ceraun Farohm with Captain Vropda as a secondary caretaker. Sister, could you escort him to the medbays?" the General concluded, assuming the human would still answer his question.

As soon as he would be gone with Vropda and the guardsmen, Creft would contact the rest of the legislative council. Especially Fleet Admiral Teng. The first one to answer would nonetheless be Forever, like always. All the meeting calls went through the spokesman. "General. Did the drifter have anything useful to tell?" the sphinx like figure asked, shaking his mane from which grains of sand fell to the floor. The General's expression module came online and slowly the edges of his mouth started creeping upwards.

"You could say so, Spokesman. I think we have found our next mining operation."

@Gordian Nought@scifidude47

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

@The Harbinger of Ferocity
The camp seems to be bustling just like when they first arrived. They are having Brannor haul another box, this one heavier and with less snoring. The things the other prisoners carry do not seem that different.

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

"The difference would be that we are not just any ragtag group of bandits after money. We do not 'split the loot' as seems to be the common practice among your people. We pay for a job well done. One does not march in here like they owned the place", Morndath educated Parum on the subject of how joining her outfit functioned. "As for whether you will make it in, capturing the champion of Greenest, be it outside of his more powerful form, does speak for itself. Yet...", she turned to face Orchid now, "I am unsure if I trust the entirety of your ragtag group."

She stepped a bit to the side as Cyanwrath raised his hand in the air and took two approaching steps at Orchid, his nostrils twitching a bit. One could almost see the clockwork churning in his head, as if he thought he recognised the half-orc from somewhere, but in the end he closed his eyes and shook his head. "No. Nothing. Carry on", he would grumble and step back, Morndath giving him an annoyed look.

"So you are the trusted warrior of this band, I take it. Why do you seek to fight for the mighty Cult of the Dragon?" she asked with her hands spread out, her face displaying a hint of curiosity though it remained quite neutral. "And just how did you overpower a man quite like the champion?" Now there was even a hint of a smile on her face.

@Lucius Cypher - She is talking to you
@The Harbinger of Ferocity@Gordian Nought@Ryonara@Irredeemable

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Where is the character submissions forum and what are the available classes/skills/requirements for a character?

@baraquiel

That would be if you return to the topic view and look just above the topics, left of the "New Roleplay" button there should be the OOC and Character Submissions subforums. Any chargen info is available on the subforum :)

The Magical Planet - Ecetopia - Open

Jump-in is that once your character is accepted in the submissions forum you can just drop them off here. Our little expedition could use a few more for sure, so feel free to introduce your character and see if ours think they fit in. Lich hunting is a good job mate. @baraquiel

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

The runners knew exactly where they were heading. They each met with a group of cultists, from which they would spread to different directions, this repeating once more before they were scouring through the entirety of the camp, looking for the names Parum, Torag, Orchid and Shepard. And to their pleasure, they could easily find two of them in the same place. "Torag and Orchid, of the group led by Parum, are we correct?" they would be addressed before being ushered to move along. "Morndath waits for you at the big tent. Won't do good to keep her waiting, so go on now." A peaceful enough suggestion on its own, but they carried themselves with a certain level of nervousness and stayed behind to make sure they would be heading for the right direction. The veteran was much less scared by this fact though.

"Oh, would you look at that! Morndath herself! You must've done well boys! Who knows, you might even get a little piece of the Hoard for yourselves to keep. Maybe even a weapon or a suit of armour for you, impatient one!" he would deliver with a boisterous laugh and raised his tankard, drinking for the good fortune of his new acquaintances. Yet once they were gone, the smile would drain off of his face as he looked after Orchid and mumbled to himself: "Just you better not go lying to her like that, lad." There was nobody close who would hear the sentiments though.

As for Parum, a cultist would jog up to her and share his business with her after a short, almost formal bow. "Parum, the leader of the bunch who brought in the newest prisoner, no? You may have struck something unexpectedly good. Morndath herself wants to meet with you. Big tent, I'm sure you know where it is. I would not keep her waiting", she was told, not much unlike the others had been. They, too, would linger to see if Parum headed in the right direction. Of course, this lingering served a dual purpose. Were one not to go, they would raise an alarm. Such were Cyanwrath's orders.

Nonetheless once everyone was gathered, Kyra having joined them just as well for the sake of upholding the ruse, they would find themselves inside the tent and standing on a rough carpet, facing two people dressed in purple. Cyanwrath they knew, who could forget something as unusual as a blue half-dragon in a span less than a day, but Morndath was a new one to them. They had seen a flash of her from the battlements, but now she was here in person. All things considered, there was a rather tomboyish look to the human, her black hair cut into something resembling a rough bowl cut and her face being of somewhat rougher disposition than most women one would meet. "Ah, there you are. So you were the ones that captured the very champion of Greenest, if I am to believe the report you gave to one of my underlings... and Cyanwrath's eyes. The latter has never done me wrong. So just to make things clear, I would like to ask a few questions."

On that final sentence, a bunch cultists in the heavier armaments stepped into the tent behind the group, two of them behind each member of the party. They would not do anything overtly hostile right off the bat, but their presence was already a sign of the leaders being careful and quite likely even suspicious around the group. Morndath would turn to look at Parum and ask a two part question: "So, who are you and why are you not on my ledgers?"

Mechanics&Rolls

The party (excluding Brannor and Rebrer) has been moved into the tent for questioning. Anyone who wants to make clear their character resisted this event should do so in the OOC immediately. Morndath has focused her attention on Parum and is now expecting an answer from her. She will proceed in order from her, though anyone looking to speak out of turn should contact the one who would speak next. And me. If not, the order goes Parum @Ryonara -> Morndath (DM) -> Orchid @Lucius Cypher -> Morndath (DM) -> Torus @Gordian Nought -> DM

As your characters are outside of this little meeting, @The Harbinger of Ferocity and @Irredeemable, you may post at any point. If Rebrer wants to hop in to the tent, I should be contacted first though.

So, @Ryonara, the stage is yours.

D&D 5e - The Lost Lands

The feeling of oblivion itself laying claim on his body was a powerful sting. The blade cut his wound proof flesh, carrying the much less radiant flame that would catch on to the Monster Slayer's armour and flesh. The feeling of pain was there no longer as he grit his teeth together and raised his sword in response. He could swear if he could see his hands through his gloves he would see straight through his skin, so great was the feeling of emptiness within him. But he knew that below it all, there would be the shining light he had not been ready to bring forth. He could now. But he was too weak. His body could not take both it and the assault of the man counted together. Calling upon it would be a waste...

And then he heard the words of the Bard. He grit his teeth and ripped his eyes away from Cesar as his spell flushed over his person, the feeling of emptiness receding somewhat as the flames dug deeper into his flesh. Apparently no plan survived contact with one Cesar Lorenzo Tidesong Bolivar... but in the end, if the choices were between fighting the enemy and backing up the antics of a fool or adding the wild card as another group of adversaries to be fought, the answer was clear. When the plan needs to adapt, for whatever reason, it does.

Theodore roared the Three Ideals of the templar out loud in the language of celestials: "The Light provides, the Light preserves, and the Light perseveres!" He had nothing to fear. Even if his act would only bring his own demise, he would have lived and died serving the Light. There was nothing more he could give than his all. And that he had done.

The man interposed himself between the two men, the Green and the running one and jumped at the former while Katia assaulted them. Despite his sheer will and determination, the adversary would draw the longer end of the stick and shake off his attempts at stopping their movement. In religious fervour, Theodore screamed the Three Ideals one more time and drew his second blade, defying any and all might the snuffer could throw his way.

Mechanics&Rolls

Theodore fails his Constitution save against the flames that linger on his person with a roll of 7, suffering 2 fire damage and staying aflame.

As for his action, he will attempt to Grapple the Green Man to stop him for reaching Cesar, the carrier of the flame, but ultimately fails the contested check with a roll of 14 against an unknown result.

HP: 10/35 AC: 16 Concentrating: Nope
Radiant Consumption: Available
Slayer's Eye: On the Green Man.
War Priest: 0/2 uses expended

Spells expended:
1/1 Free Unique
3/3 1st

@The Harbinger of Ferocity

D&D 5e - Hoard of the Dragon Queen

@Lucius Cypher
If you could roll Deception for the delivery of your fabricated tale, that would be appreciated.