rivaan

Frozen Darkness

@Lucius Cypher no worries RL takes priority, I understand ^^

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Kosara Tiefling, Warlock (Celestial), Level 03 HP: 21/ 21 Armor Class: 12(15 Mage Armor) Conditions: N/A Location: Hayloft Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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Attempts to lighten up the mood of the girl weren’t going too smoothly so far, Kosara noted. She was really worried about what to do here! A child was not feeling good and she didn’t know how to make it better! It was NOT a good thing. If she was her grandpa, she’d have done something bigger and better to help fix the girl’s mood. However she wasn’t, so she and Kathryn would have to do this the old fashioned way, problem was that she had no idea what that way was! She was of half a mind to ask if Lizbeth wants to learn some curious skills. Maybe teach her some basic dances? Actually that had potential! Then her eyes glided over their cart and she suddenly had the thought of racing with that thing sneak it’s way back inside her head.

She suddenly halted and blinked in confused manner as the girl rather seriously stared at the older woman. The white teifling followed their eyes and noted them staring at each other for a bit, wow she could practically sense the unspoken seriousness here! Was this a skill? Can it be learned?” Hmm? “ She made a questioning sound as she heard names being thrown about. Names of gods and rose an eyebrow, making a really hard thinking face. There was a story here and she wondered what it was!

Then Kosara’s head did a sharp turn and looked at Hugh. She had nearly forgotten their Fancy Sneaky Monk friend because of the veritable excitement since arrival! He was sneaky as his title implied indeed! Also smart!” You’re right! Think we can drop the mule off for the evening? I am sure Mr. Mule’s tired from puling the cart the entire day! Mr Mule was so hungry he tried to attack that Cabbage Cart earlier after all! We should make sure he gets fed properly.” All in all the party’s situation was decent. They had a roof over their heads, they had transport, job opportunities and most importantly a place to explore! All the possible things lurking about to be discovered! Though, just as her mind was wandering away on merry treasure hunts and possible glorious adventures, she realized there was still Lizbeth and dragged her attention back to the matters at hand.

After they separate from Cecily and Lizbeth, they were going to be free to go on with their own devices. Kosara planned to make use of the time and opportunity then. For now though, there were still young girls to try cheering up! If it didn’t work, HUGs were going to do it. Hugs always do it!

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Kosara Tiefling, Warlock (Celestial), Level 03 HP: 21/ 21 Armor Class: 12(15 Mage Armor) Conditions: N/A Location: The Honey Barn! → Hayloft Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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As Marcie was positive with the gained attention, so did Kosara with the brief comments and compliment on her and V’s exquisitiveness. She also smiled ever more brightly, getting reminded of some of her sisters in mannerism from the owner of the Honey Barn. Maybe one day when the man they considered sort of father figure in the Caravan Stop retired, one of her sisters were going to take over and eventually bring it to something similar? Well unlikely given the difference in culture and dominant fashions, but Kosara could well see the future owner having similar attitude as this Halfling woman, especially if it was some of her sisters she had in mind.

“Well it’s a type of big… lyre’s the closest analog to it, I think?” Kosara mused aloud at the woman’s question about what the music instrument she was used to playing. Of course her main task was always the dancing. She had sisters who were more skilled in playing the instruments than herself and while she learned and on occasion played, she was almost always a dancer. Of course she missed playing at times. The ability to make music as you wished.” I would love to perform for you, Madam, if I get the chance.” She informed the woman with a huge smile on her face. Of course she loved to dance for people! Dancing was her life after all and she loved the activity very very much.:” I also know some massages that help with sore back and muscles, a bit of professional necessity!”

Kosara let out a slight blush at the compliment of her hair and nodded eagerly, waiting with utmost attention when the woman whispered the ‘secret’ of taking care of her hair in the north. Kosara’s eyes grew bigger and she immediately started nodding silently. Agreeing to keep the secret well.. a secret. Maybe she should do it too… back home she did it often enough because of baths and and what not. Here it wasn’t quite so… mostly cause it was cold. She very much missed the hot sands where you could take a bath and by completely alright to move about drenched in water. Could toss yourself into the oasis and be dry in matter of minutes. Though swimming in the oasis was kind of forbidden. Not that she hadn’t secretly done it when she was smaller.” Thank you, I will give it a try when I get the chance.” She whispered back.

“I think we need to settle in for longings since we arrived, but I’ll be sure to come to see if we cannot work together, Madam Marcie!” Kosara promised, waving energetically, as the woman excused herself to return to her tasks. Yeah it was indeed reminding her more of home despite how different it was. At least how Marcie was making it sound. If for nothing else she might just see if they can arrange a performance or two so she could enjoy a tiny slice of home away from home. That and she wondered what shows and performances they’ve got here. Maybe there was something they could make use of back home?

When they finally arrived at the Heyloft it certainly was a new experience for Kosara!” Ohhh!” She exclaimed and marvel when she saw the bales of hay that were about and quickly hurried over to them, patting htem a few times before concluding that YES they were going to make a fine enough bedding with the right additions. Like her bedroll on top of the hay, so she’s not laying directly on it. Cause she really had no idea where she’d get a bath afterwards if she slept directly onto the hay. Still she studied the surroundings more, taking in both the doors, where the lamp and the fire bowl were. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Kathryn seemingly consoling the younger girl. It was a very adorable sight actually. The big strong warrior princess trying to keep the tiny young girl from crumbling down.

Seeing it being done in the moment, Kosara quickly hopped over, but didn’t join in the hug.” Hey, Lizbeth, do you want to see how heroic Kathryn can look?” Kosara asked, creating a simple static palm sized illusionary image with Prestidigitation. Kind of how she did for the party when they just met. This time she did it of the warrior woman instead of herself so it looked like it was tiny figurine that was spinning in a music box. It was her attempt to distract the girl really. She even did a second prestidigitation to add some harmless sparkles over hte tiny illusionary image to make it look even more heroic.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Kosara Tiefling, Warlock (Celestial), Level 03 HP: 21/ 21 Armor Class: 12(15 Mage Armor) Conditions: N/A Location: Avonshire ( Around town. ) → The Honey Barn! Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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The journey through town passed quickly and without much time to let one’s mind wander loose. Kosara had to admit she learned a lot of how to drive a mule drawn carriage. A very important skill to have, she realized. A wagon was invaluable tool to have at your disposal. All the gear and supply storage on the road! She saw a few on the roads that had more wooden walls and even roof and realized that it could be a home on the road too! Eve a canvas covered one could serve as a nice tent replacement and you didn’t even have to sleep on the ground! Admittedly she liked sleeping on the soft earth with nary but her blankets and bedrolls, however there were times when the only available surface was rocks… and then there was this rain thing that was much more issue here in the north and outside the deserts.

When it came to the options of accommodations, she was pondering the options of the common room of an inn and this hayloft. Kathryn expressed interest in the hayloft and Kosara wasn’t far behind to quip and chip in also.” I’m interested too! Never seen a hayloft before!” She called joyfully, wondering what the experience of sleeping in one would be.

From there on the journey slowly continued onwards until they reached the fabled ‘Honey Barn’. First thing that Kosara noted was...” It’s not covered in Honey...” She said audibly and with a disappointed sigh.” I mean… I didn’t think it would be, but I hoped.” Alright, one childish dream of things that weren’t meant to be broken. On a side note though it looked… big..ish. Maybe bigger than the main hall of the tavern she grew up in… scratch that the main floor of this place was bigger than her home. The caravan stop however made up with having a few different buildings and also a very nice outdoor area for those that wanted to be on the outside. Still Kosara felt really curious and wondered how it looked on the inside. Ideas of the possibilities of it ever being a barn covered in honey vanishing from her mind when a rather well shaped, but short woman with penchant for purple arrived! Kosara had only seen that much purple on V before! For that reason the teifling stole a glance at the bard, evaluating the shades of purple for a brief moment, concluding that V’s was more tasteful and returned her attention to the woman. Fancy hair… check… that expression… check… way of acting and speaking… check. Kosara had her pegged as the owner of this place right away due the similarities to a few people back home and the word exchange of the woman with Cecily only confirmed it. That corsait thing that she was wearing, certainly didn’t look comfortable however. It also was certain to get in the way of her type of dancing! Plus nobody in their right mind with wear something like that in the deserts with all the blazing sun and the scorching sands. Sand got EVERYWHERE… it was a recipe for disaster to wear something that tight fit and made out of leather.

When the introductions were given and an offer for a handshake arrived, Kosara hopped to it in her almost patented energetic way.” Hello, Madame Marcie!” She greeted in turn a huge smile on her face.” My name’s Kosara. I’m a dancer by trade and I play the Simsimiyya.” She greeted in return, not mentioning that she was apparently an adventurer too. Less because of some grand masterplan of subterfuge and more of the fact that Kosara will forever consider herself dancer first, traveler second and adventurer third.

“It looks like a great place! Very shiny and… costly looking! Must have taken a lot of time and effort to build up! My sisters would have loved to work at a place like this at least for a time. Though when I left, busyness in the desert was still high, nowhere near as it appears to be here.” She added when the woman mentioned her property in this case the Honey Barn.” I am looking forward to this festival, thank you! It’s going to be my first Festival! I’m looking to see and experience as much as I could!”

“If I may ask, Madam Marci, how do you maintain your nice raven hair this well in the North?” Kosara asked with genuine curiosity and plea in her voice.” Back home in the south, my sisters and I took care of it easily enough, but my usual lotions doesn’t seem to be working as well in the colder weather! What’s more they are hard to find or make since the products don’t seem to grow here!” She added, showing her impressive white braid.

Frozen Darkness

"Yeah, you are right." Cat nodded at Donny's assestment of the situation with the chasm ahead of them. She eyed how wide the hole was and roughly how much space she had to pick up speed, given ehr current gear and a few other possible factors that were of note for a jump of that nature. Usually a jump of ten feet was nothing for her, but being underground with ice and her usual gear was a bit iffy. That and she wasn't actually certain how stable the ground was.

She quickly began securing everything on herself. Making sure the bag was tightly closed and even if something goes wrong, nothing would fall out. That her rifle was neatly around her body on it's sling and so on. Once everything was indeed ready, she pulled her knife in a reverse grip and gestured to Donny." Alright, give me the rope. Need to wrap it around myself just in case, I'm not very sure that the ground near the chasm is stable enough. Better be safe than sorry." Once the rope was handed over and she wrapped one end around her waist, she nodded at him, before bolting forward.

One step, two steps, three steps and she was right by the edge. Just as she was already in the process of crouching down in the motion to build up potential energy for the jump, a cracking sound filled her ear and she by instinct jumped early and just in time as the entire chunk of the floor underneath her feet simply fell down into the chasm, shards of concrete and ice breaking off. She however managed to jump in time, what wasn't as good was that she didn't have enough energy build into the jump to make it clean over. Instead half her body was over the edge only, legs dangling as she hit the other side, almost blowing all the air in her lungs when the edge of the chasm hit into her chest. It bloody hurt, but she managed to hold on because she stapped her dagger deep into the ice, managing to grab a bit of leverage to not slip downwards.

Cat was trying to catch her breath, knowing that she might have cracked a rib with that hit, but had no choice. With feet flailing about until she managed to step on a nice tiny ledge and her other hand grasping forward and into objects on the other end, she finally pulled herself over the edge, crawled over to the railtracks and untied the rops from herself transfering it to the tracks and gave Donny the thumbs up to move over as she was busy examining her ribs by lightly touching them to see if anything gae easily. Nothing was moving too much, so she was thinking it was cracked ribs case and the hurtful line across her lower chest gave credence to that theory. Cat knew that in a day or two if she was to take off her shirts, there would be a dark blue/green line where the chasm edge had impacted. Not pleasant, not pleasant at all. Clentching her teeth, she supposed it could have been worse. She oculd have lost grip of her knife or the knife could have not been enough to hold herself from slipping. Then who knew how she might have hurt herself from that fall, even if she had the rope tied to donny for just that situation. Just impacting back the other side of the chasm at a bad angle could be deadly or crippling. She was lucky this time.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Kosara Tiefling, Warlock (Celestial), Level 03 HP: 21/ 21 Armor Class: 12(15 Mage Armor) Conditions: N/A Location: Avonshire Gates! -> Around town. Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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“There, there. Hugs help indeed!” Kosara smiled as the girl had accepted the hug and made herself comfortable! Hugs were the best and it didn’t matter a few tears were wiped into her new coat. In fact it was a bonus feature… probably! From there curious news were delivered from the older woman, including the missing people report and the local legend of the constable that was today quite annoyed about something or other. As they progressed to prepare for the next trek of their journey which was to deliver the wine to the needed places and as the remains were moved over to their wagon, the tiefling quickly took her position on their own wagon. Apparently the agreement was to help the family and to do so they had to follow! Escort duty like proper heroes of good.

Now the only issue was where to give less alcohol, though Kosara’s opinion quickly made itself known. In fact almost instantly as soon as the question was posed, having been bested by speed only by Marita.” The munacipirial… mani...muri...” She halted herself, trying to recall the exact word. It wasn’t in her usual vocabulary actually and she had no idea what IT was. It didn’t sound too important though.” Ahh municipal that was it, yeah I saw we leave less there. The other places need the alcohol more. Especially the last one… Honey Barn? Sounds like a place that uses a lot of alcohol. And if I’m getting my logic right, it’s a very important thing to have alcohol there, if they do what I think they do.” She quipped her copper coin into the pool to see what everybody decides to do. On that note, she wondered what her sisters back home were doing nowdays. Here it was cold, but at the oasis it was hot all time of the year. Were they busy? Were supplies delivered in time? She sometimes felt lonely out here, not much, but a little bit and felt the nostalgia and longing of home. Especially now that they were going to visit a brothel! Granted she didn’t live in a brothel, but she supposed it might as well have been. She wondered if this one was well versed in information too.

As they eventually began moving, Kosara pondered the way from now on. They were in town now, there was investigation and she could ask around at the Honey Barn. They probably knew a lot of local gossip information if they were wanting to share. It was a good chance. Journeying across town and following the other wagon turned out to be a bit of an experience and learning trip actually. Having just today learned the ancient venerated art of driving a wagon, Kosara was doing so with admirable skill for a first timer… especially first time let to drive a wagon in a busy streets and town, but she wasn’t thinking about that. In fact she was busy trying to navigate the streets as people were moving about, some not minding they were trying to cross in front of a moving wagon! At one point she even had to make a sudden stop when another horse drawn wagon appeared from a side street and crossed her path without warning! The nerve! At least all in all the mule was behaving well and as a whole she was keeping up with Cecily’s wagon. That is until the mule decided to turn to one side of the role and moved there, pulling the wagon with it.

“Hey, stop, Mr Mule!” The tiefling called as it most unceremoniously moved in front of a wagon filled with cabbages!” Noooo, leave those cabbages alone! I will figure how to make you into a walking emergency food and food storage otherwise!” Kosara quickly pulled the reigns of it, making the animal’s head move left and right as it stubbornly wanted them cabbages. This continued for a little while until with enough pulling to one side and calling the command to start moving again and snapping at the reigns the mule finally let the cart of cabbages alone and as Kosara passed by the owner, she could swear she heard him saying something along the lines of ‘Phew, saved… it usually never works. Thank the gods.’ Poor man! To have his cart of cabbages always assaulted by mules for him to comment like this!

In any case, at least after that experience, the mule didn’t start any rebellious activities again. Though Kosara very nearly got separated by the other wagon again when a some sheep that were being led somewhere were blocking most of the street, but with some adept handling and care she carefully drove the wagon around them, skirting the edge of the street, but making sure not to push into anybody. It was honestly stressful journey, educational and really, REALLY made her to want to do some driving on the endless desert sands… or maybe just a flat area without people and obstacles to see exactly how fast this could go. All in all? It was a nice experience despite the cabbages debacle.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Kosara Tiefling, Warlock (Celestial), Level 03 HP: 21/ 21 Armor Class: 12(15 Mage Armor) Conditions: N/A Location: Avonshire Gates! Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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Kosara was grateful when somebody took the torch in retelling the rest of the details… Hugh took to the challenge and then she was quickly disappointed when it turned out he wasn’t telling about the real problem she struggled to figure how to mention! The leg roast… wait that thought came out wrong. The roasted leg… she blinked and shook her head. Her real problem was to figure how to bring out the topic of potentially these two’s family being cooked and eaten by goblins. Kathryn was instead to the rescue like the strong brave knightly princess that she was and broached the topic in a very diplomatic martial way, that the tiefling took note of for future reference. Yes that was a good way to do it!

‘Ohh heroes!’ Kosara exclaimed in her head in glee. She already kind of liked the Constable already! He knew just how to make her feel happy. Yes they had to strive to be like the heroes of old and story! And then he started going on what sounded kind of like a veiled rant of some sort or another how they had to follow rules and that maybe he knew they were hired for specific purpose, but she wasn’t quite sure if he knew KNEW or he just suspected knew. Or if he thought he knew what they were here for, but he was actually thinking of something else entirely. Yes, Kosara’s head was kind of trying to juggle complex logic and conspiracy theories worthy of a fairy tale. Thinking about it wasn’t there always a person of power involved in stories…? He eyes followed the departing man. The pale tiefling now was thinking and pondering if they had truly a conspiracy in the make!

Then the local girl affected by emotions pulled a hug on V. Kosara well approved of that action, especially given the situation and she was even more happy that V seemed alright with it. While the older woman was offering them some help with at least having a place to sleep or introduction to a local tavern, she also had a request. Kosara used the chance to slowly move over to the girl and V before giving Lizbeth a hug too.” It’s alright to cry.” She told the girl.” It’s going to be alright though, hugs help.”

“I’m all for helping too!” She piped up when Marita stated her desire to help the family.” Though we’ve recovered some of the wine, the goblins had drank some of it. Would that be a big problem?” She informed the older woman. It was their wine it seemed, so they had the right to know. The pale tiefling didn’t know the financial situation of the family. That wine could have been their lifeline! A lost or damaged shipment could be bad and in this case there was going to be wine missing.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Kosara Tiefling, Warlock (Celestial), Level 03 HP: 21/ 21 Armor Class: 12(15 Mage Armor) Conditions: N/A Location: Avonshire Gates! Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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From the place where the evil goblins had killed the wagon crew and likely eaten some of them the group had departed after settling their positions and loot and other things around. As it turned out, they now had TWO WAGONS to move, so Kosara found herself in the curious for her chance to solo lead their first one after V who was controling the merchant one. It honestly seemed like the mule had decided that since she fed it stuff it was going to comply with her orders for the time being so it wasn’t making any fuss and calmly following the other wagon. It could also be the fact it was trained to do so, but Kosara was honestly enjoying the journey even if there wasn’t actually much for her to do aside holding the reigns, looking around and on occasion pull them about if she really had to. At some point she began humming a tune from the deserts, though the surroundings were anything, but that. Still it was some marvelous jolly time!

“It is indeed!” Kosara greeted back a fisherman who passed by them with his catch for the day as he was returning to the city. She had never fished before, there wasn’t anywhere to do so in the oasis, but thinking about it it was probably a thing she had to try out since she was out here to the north and there were opportunities to. She had to put it on her list of things she had to do. Along with making a man of snow and learning to make snow balls. Which were apparently NOT a spell despite the similarities in the name with the spell ‘Fireball’. Which raised a question if there was a spell that created a massive snowball that explodes in ice and frost out there somewhere. Sadly in all her years of asking travelers in the oasis she never got an answer to that. Maybe she had to ask V if she knew. The bard seemed more versed on the topic of magic than herself.

Moving towards the gate, something pulled her attention out to the front of V’s wagon. A man, woman and a younger woman/girl were there. There were guards and the man in armor and hammer was moving towards them. Hearing them speak, Kosara realized that they probably were possibly aware to whom the wagon belonged. The man who looked like a guard… rather more guardly than the other guards, a Constable as he called himself! He sounded not quite as possibly pleased by their presence. The woman was more friendly! At the suggestion to step out, Kosara made sure everything was fine and the wagon was stopped then she proceeded to turn to the side of the seat and jumped doing a somersault from the wagon and landing next to it.

“Hello Sir Constable, Madam Cecily and Miss Lizbeth!” Kosara cheerfully greeted them.” My name’s Kosara! Pleasure to meet you all!” She added, smiling before looking at the serious looking Constable,practically skipping a few steps closer.” Well you see, there were some goblins making a camp just side the road and there was a wagon and we figured to attack them. And then we did, there was this tall rock that we used as cover, and I shot at the goblins, and the others attacked, and then there was a coffin goblin, and he ran and I killed him with a spell, but there were more in the trees and then they shattered when V hit them with a spell and then I healed her because she was wounded by the tree goblins...” She fired all that in a veritable single breath before finally then stopping. Kosara made a thinking expression, looking at the others if she was missing anything. She felt like there was something missing from the retelling… something about the campfire. Then she recalled the leg. “ Ooohhhh...” She threw V, Marita and surprisingly even Hugh - The Sneaky Fancy Monk, a pleading look for help with retelling the rest.

Frozen Darkness

@Lucius Cypher and posted!

Frozen Darkness

"We should go." Cat stated firmly, pondering the chances of once more going underground, but they had to do so sooner or later again. It was simply safer underground." We've attracted a fuck load of attention right now, can't stay. Things will start approaching soon and that shambler's just the first of many in my experience." She explained to him, helping him out to start heading towards teh tunnels once more.

"Monsters and feral mutants will arrive fast because that's how they react to commotions and lound noises in difference to natural creatures and animals. People will also gather up to scout and see what this all was about and if they could profit from it... Back in the colony we had to protect ourselves more than once because sometime going wrong and attracting attention from loud noises from an accident or the like. Besides we've got our loot." Once at the tunel of the metro, she readies her weapon and making sure there was nobody directly at the entrance started to proceed downwards with great care. She kept her ears open for the light cracking of snow and ice under feet. Anything to announce they weren't alone. For the time being though at least there weren't things, so they had the time to get going and if she recalled the map correctly, following the direction to the left around the old derailed traincar, they would be heading in the direction of another of the marked out locations on the treasure map they were following. It was far far away, they weren't going to get there today unless the tunnel led directly there without any hindrences along the way, but at this point it was well known to everybody that the underground networks were a maze because many places had collapsed and new ways were opened by nature, men and monsters.

"We should also be considering where we will camp out once we get deeper into the tunnels. If we are lucky maybe we can find a nice alcove somewhere along the ways that we can trap or barriace to make creatures have hard time noticing it."