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| A closer view of just the new cards. Click for a large, readable version. |
As with Kotaresh, your moment of success is punctuated with the sudden appearance of fantastic treasures. They appear on you, or in your hands!
- To Tak-tha is bestowed the Timebomb of the Ancients
- To Nevdor, the Belt of Endurance
- To Hanar Hammerforge, the Chalice of Recovery
- For Bhareg, the Krater of Might
- To Selvantis, a Mystic Urn
- For Arden, the Elixir of Slaughter.
OOC: Congratulations, dungeoneers. The way back to the Great Hub is open once again (oh, by the way, the doors closed when you started those skill challenges, but hey, they're open again)!
What are you doing now?
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| A full view of all the glory. |
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteAs the passageway leading back to the main chamber opens again and the divine treasure appears, the ranger tucks the crystal skull securely under his arm and stows his gift into his satchel, offering his thanks to Asar-Segt. He then tears a strip from his tunic, using the fabric to tie a quick makeshift bandage around his slitted wrist, pulling it tight to staunch the flow of blood.
His wound bound, he proudly, but cautiously, walks back into the central hub, keeping a wary eye open for anything that might have changed from the taking of the skull.
OOC: Heal +6
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteTak-tha carefully tucks away his new reward, double checking that the previous one is still there. Satisfied, he accompanies the newer adventurer back out to the central hub, weapons drawn in case of a surprise attack. "We need to get that skull on one of the columns."
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden gives a brief prayer of thanks to Asar-Segt and stows his new treasure in one of the many small pockets in his robes. He tucks in behind Tak-tha as he makes his way back to the central hub.
Uh oh, there's trouble brewing...
ReplyDeleteWhen you return to the Great Hub, you find things have changed. The braziers have dimmed, and floating above the three pedestals is a ghostly robed eladrin. This strange spectre's face is tattooed in purple fire with the symbols of the four gods.
He hovers above the pedestals, possibly unware of your presense.
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteGritting his teeth as he draws one of his swords with his wounded hand, causing the bindings at his wrist to darken further, gripping the skull tightly to his body with his good arm. Tense and ready in case of danger, the ranger slowly approaches the pedestals and the ghostly apparition.
As you approach the pedestals, the ghostly eladrin opens his eyes and faces you. His face tattoos burning brighter with awareness.
ReplyDeleteWith a deep resonance, he intones, "Mortals, I am the exarch of the divine, immortal and with great power. I challenge you to a test of luck. Choose one of you who will oppose me." He raises his hand and points at Hanar. To all of you, he warns, "Don't f&*k with me, or this will happen to you."
Then, Hanar Hammerforge explodes, showering the rest of you in his blood and entrails!
OOC: Hanar, it's a sad thing your adventures have ended here. For the rest of you, choose ONE who will challenge the Exarch in a test of luck... Once chosen, I will reveal the rules of the game!
As the shower of gore washes over the group, the ranger sheathes his blade with a trembling hand, certain that steel has no place in this challenge. He wipes what once was a valued comrade from his eyes and steps slowly forward, holding out the skull of Asar-Segt, walking towards the pedestals.
ReplyDelete“Exarch of the Divines, I humbly ask that I be allowed to place the revered skull of Asar-Segt, Master of Magic, Sovereign of Sacrifice, the Ash Ghoul and Eater of the Pyre Flame, before we accept your challenge.”
Not awaiting a reply, the half-elf follows his heart and tests his luck already, stepping boldly forward and placing the blood-streaked skull on an empty plinth.
OOC: Normally around the table, the group decides together on who the challenger will be, so I will pause for a bit for more group consensus. You guys can choose Selvantis if you wish, but let's get a least a few "votes" before I continue.
ReplyDeleteSelvantis places the skull upon the pedestal, and it too glows like the first. The exarch says, "Stop delaying and give me your choice."
ReplyDeleteOOC: No divine boon from placing the skull on the pedestal... at least not yet.
OOC: Heh, damn, I was hoping for a boon before we had to do this. Also I wasn't offering myself as the challenger, just trying to placate his divine masters into letting Selvantis put that on the pedestal without getting zorched!
ReplyDelete[Bhareg]
ReplyDelete"I am willing to accept the challenge. I also have little enough pride and more than enough self preservation that I'm not opposed to choosing Selvantis."
You see that the knuckles gripping Bhareg's staff are white, contrasting more sharply than usual against his black claws.
OOC: wondering if that was totally random, or if the module says "Gak the healer."
OOC: It was a lack of posting thing. See the end of the "How to Play" tab. With his loss, you also lose the Gem of True Seeing and the Chalice of Recovery. I'll place those treasure cards back in the deck to possibly be drawn again.
DeleteOOC: It's probably a random die roll for sudden doom with a tough save.
ReplyDelete[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden says "Luck has never been evident in my life, I prefer more direct control. However I will if called upon, but I feel Sylvantris a better choice."
OOC: Can someone make a quick knowledge check of History, Arcana, and/or Religion to see if we know something about this figure that might help tip the odds in our favor? Maybe a certain race or skill set will help us out?
ReplyDeleteVery curious about this development, Nevdor eyes the divine being with awe, and a dashing smile appears upon his face.
ReplyDeleteOOC:
Poor Hanar, we hardly knew ye. If a game of luck this is, then I think the rogue should do it. Oh, thats me! It would be a feather in my cap if I could best the divine exarch, and if I don't, the rest of you will live to tell my tale. Also, from a min/max POV, you guys have had much stronger rolls to play so far, and with my perception and thievery skills, I could at least keep the exarch from cheating!
So yes, I volunteer. But anything from an arcana/history/religion check to sway my choice or help me out would be nice.
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden isn't about to do any active arcane probing of a guy that can make dwarves explode but he will report any passive arcane sense he gets. He also quietly tells the group about anything he knows about this exarch.
tech: arcana +10 history +10
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteAfter studying the exarch for a moment, you remember who he is. He was a champion mage who attempted to stead the Crucible in a previous generation. As the story has it, that particular group gathered all of the skulls except that of Asar-Segt. In the end, however, they failed. In the final test, when all his friends were dead and he stood alone against his foe, he offered his life and swore eternal servitude in exchange for the gods' sparing of the world.
OOC: Ooh, natural 20 on the history check, revealing the story above. As players, you might be interested to know that the story told above actually happened at Gencon 2011. The lone standing dungeoneer was played by @Hzurr and the DM was none other than @saveversusdeath himself. This encounter with the exarch was then written into the module for future steadings, and now you know... "the rest of the story".
Off topic, if I can get three votes on one person, and that person agrees, we'll have our challenger. Let me know!
OOC: If Nevdor is willing to take the plunge, I'll concede to him and his rougey ways. If he's having second thoughts, since Selvantis is up there anyways I'm willing to accept the challenge. Balls in your court Nevdor!
ReplyDeleteOOC: Let's get one more "aye" for Nevdor from another dungeoneer, and we'll proceed.
ReplyDelete[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteSensing the inherent danger in provoking the Exarch further, the ranger steps back from the pedestals and joins the party. He claps a hand on Nevdors shoulder, smiling softly at the rouge's confident grin.
"A five footed rabbit with a four-leafed-clover and a horse-shoe in his pocket couldn't best you, my friend."
He steps aside, leaving the path open for their favorite thief and takes a moment to check the bindings on his wrist, wincing as attempts to bandage the sliced flesh properly.
Tech: -5 hp from bloodloss (for storytelling), Heal+6 to bind the wound and staunch the bloodflow
OOC: Selvantis is down to 24 of 29 hp. His attempt to bind the wound is successful.
ReplyDelete[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteBhareg's gaze shifts between the skulls, Selvantis, and the Exarch before settling on Nevdor. "May the Gods' will be with you, friend."
Nevdor thanks his comrades, and slowly walks forth towards the divine exarch. "exarch, I am will represent us in this game of chance.". He rolls up his sleeves, "I'll even play you fair".
ReplyDeleteOOC: let's do this!