Corvus laughs ate the mention of the parties achievements.

"Well if you are thwarting gods then maybe we can be fast friends."
Pulling a small chunk of bread out of his pocket he offers it to the new friend on his head.

He looks to Dido & Callie as he does so. "Then it may be time to simply rid the world of these gods altogether, or limit their interference. No one being deserves to control the fates of another, not even the gods. Though I would never come to force my way on another I believe we should put less faith and time into hoping another will save us and forge our future for us. I say mortals need to more faith in their own power to forge their own future and that reliance on themselves over that of reliance over a fickle god who has no true care of what becomes of them."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:49, Mon 11 Apr 2016.

Mits giggles.  "Anyone else getting the 'familiar' puns?"

Nom!  Pyrus prefers toast, so he breaths fire on the bread a bit before munching.  With nothing to give in return handy, the little dragon flies over to Mits, takes some coin, and flies over to hand it to Corvus.  Mits just chuckles.  (( OOC: Technically, my familiar cannot do any of this stuff mechanically. ))

She looks to Corvus and says, "Plot twist!  Corvus achieves his goal and discovers that he himself has become the very thing he strove to stop: a being that controlled the fate of the world!  In desperation, he shatters himself into a zillion pieces to prevent himself from becoming a tyrant!  But then ambitious mortals rise to replace the defeated pantheon, and all his work is undone!  Reminds me of a song.

♫ "Ensuing power vacuum,
A toppled leader dies.
His body fuels the power fire,
And the flames rise to the skies." ♫

  "Every day of my life, chirp."  Superbird isn't jealous of how cute Pyrus can be, that would be crazy.

  "Unfortunately, even if such a thing were a wholly desirable result, evil cultsists and demons get along just fine without their gods compared to those trying to heal stab wounds on a battlefield."

  The Sorcerer does have more faith in his friends than the dieties they follow, though.  But making fun of Sehanine's dislike of crossbows is quite different compared wanting to punch her for hanging out on the moon all the time.

Dido was beginning to look annoyed at what Corvus said, but Mittens' commentary kinda lightens his mood a little. "I'm sure there are a lot of people who use faith as a crutch, Corvus. But I'm not one of them. And frankly, the gods did not give me the martial training or ability to kick in a steel gate. That's all me. Perhaps one way to help you understand where Callie and I come from: Everyone needs faith in something. For you, it's faith in yourself and fellow mortals. There are a number of worshipers who would consider me blasphemous for saying this, but the reason I follow Moradin and the Platinum Dragon is not because they are gods, but because those two follow the same beliefs I do. Kind of like role models."

Callie nods. "For many mortals, they have faith in their mom or dad. For me, a priestess of Sehanine was my mother when my real mother wasn't around. In my lonelier moments, Sehanine herself was the only one around. Everyone needs someone to lean on, be it a friend, a relative, or a god. Those who refuse to acknowledge this basic fact of the heart are both self-deceiving... and quite alone."

Corvus bows his head slightly, "Forgive if I have offended you young ones, I do not mean to tarnish your beliefs and I can agree on the fact people need something to believe in."

He thinks to himself for a moment, "It seems I have not worded myself well. I am still not good at conversing in this language, I mostly converse with Luna in  Abyssal and she has been my only companion for some time. I have met many that follow gods and put their faith in them and some have like you kept their pride their own fire that makes them who they are and drives them. Sadly that has not been the case for most whom I have seen. Many come to rely on those who call themselves gods and forever lose themselves to the Idea that they have no control over their own future."

His face hardens, "I myself was raised as a son of a human blacksmith, we were happy in our home until those who followed a god that called my kind blasphemous and a curse on the world stripped me of my home and my parents who raised me all in blind faith of some god." He takes a long breath and calms himself a bit. "Those who blindly follow, trust unconditionally, rely on on how to make every decision, and look to for every answer from some god who makes decisions on what they think might be interesting. Those are the people who need freeing from the gods control."

"That being said, I do not resent all gods, some maintain the reasonable balance that allows for their people to worship and follow them, but do not teach or interfere with the development of the mortals that follow. They simply provide the guidance to live on as as themselves to mortals that need that boost, that push that makes them want to keep going.Those gods that instead of forging the persons future for them, show their followers how to forge their own future have even my respect."

Mittens has a great reply!  https://queerfemmetalk.files.w...trick_jaws_drops.png

...not.

"...Sorry for your loss."

Pyrus slides down to Corvus's shoulder to hug his neck and pat him comfortingly.

  Yes, Terdisas's family still exists so as he figured, his life problems are somewhat pedestrian.  So far as having to skip town to avoid annoying the magical secret police is normal.

  Though it does also highlight part of why he's been so paranoid even to people he's known for several levels until recently.

  "Cultists are never something that ends well for those involved, no matter the names they go by."  Terdisas doubts it will be any comfort that the Gods those people claimed to follow won't allow them into the good afterlife funhouse, seeing how that is later, and dead family is more immediate a concern.

Pyrus shares Callie's sentiment. Callie is carefully watching the man and says, "Sorry, Corvus." and walks over to him before opening her arms to him. "I do not mean to sound sappy, but if you travel with us, you will find love, acceptance, and a couple religious folk who will lay the smack-down on the types who hunt you down just for how you were born."

Dido nods and adds, "I think we already established he's coming with us. Corvus, if you need anything, let us know. But for now, know you are now in the company of heroes."

He's not about to add that another wonderful advantage to ascending to godhood is being able to find your dead loved ones.

And don't worry, Terdisas. Dido has a happier life than you ...wait.

When Callie walks up to Corvus the big Shadow Wolf that had been sitting patiently to the side walks toward her and examines her. "Calm yourself Luna they are friends."

Corvus reaches to pat Callie on the head and smiles as best he knows how. "Well it seems for now at least my days will be filled with more noise, and my father would turn in his grave if I turned down an offer of friendship from kind fellows such as yourself." He looks to Callie.
"Especially an adorable one such as yourself."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:36, Mon 11 Apr 2016.

Pyrus agrees that Callie is adorable.  So he flies over to her shoulder to lick her cheek knowing full well the cute reaction he'll likely get.

Mittens suddenly has a Mittens puppet on her left hand and a Corvus puppet on her right hand.

Mittens puppet says, "Oh!  A devilish person!  You look awesome and stuff!  Come join our adventure!"

Corvus puppet answers, "Very well."

Mittens puppet explains, "We're investigating the mysterious dreams I've been having about a Pyramid of Power.  Our investigation led us here to this suspicious clearing."

"Well no wonder you were wary when I showed up."

"Precisely!  Now.  It's time to get to the bottom of this weird feeling we got when we arrived at this place."

Mits begins to search the area.

As you look around, a figure appears near the center of the clearing—a ghost, perhaps, an insubstantial vision of a male tiefling
draped in robes. “Greetings, travelers,” the image says. “What do
you seek in the Pyramid of Shadows?”

Mittens puppet gawks.  "Hi!  I'm Mittens!  Who are you?"

“We are the protector of the forest ruins, a place sacred to Melora
in the distant past,” says the image. “What brings you to this
forlorn place?”
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:03, Mon 11 Apr 2016.

  "I suppose a safe passage through said pyramid would be nice, if likely not within it's capabilities."  You don't get called the Pyramid of Shadows from a reputation of constant toe stubbing in poor lighting.

The intended effect Pyrus was going for happens: Callie shrugs the shoulder Pyrus is on, squinting the eye on the side of the face that got licked while giggling and smiling. She reaches up to snatch the dragon and cradle it in her arms.

Callie looks up at Corvus as he pats her head and mentions her adorable nature. A blush crosses her cheeks and she says, "Uh... thanks, Corvus."

To be fair, when Callie and Dido find out Corvus thought them children, they won't exactly be able to say child adventurers are unheard of; they adventured with one before, after all. Callie and Dido will probably always think of Rolen and worry for him from time to time for years to come. He was a cute kid.

When yet another tiefling shows up, Callie begins to wonder if this is a tiefling convention. She gives a polite bow and says, "Hello, Protector. Blessings. I am Callie. This is Kitau, Dido, Terdisas, Superbird, Corvus, and you now know Mittens. We come here to investigate why Mittens has had visions of this place."

Dido gives a fist-to-chest salute and says, "Greetings." He isn't quite as loose with blessings as Callie is. Though he suspects there is little he can do to bless this poor apparition.

Visual for the illusary Tiefling: http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/...131189/Karavakos.jpg

Corvus steps to stand beside Callie's left while Luna takes her right eyes low and focused on her surroundings. "You are quick to trust young one, but it is not wise to trust immediately everyone or thing you meet. And yes that includes me."

He looks to the ghostly figure. "By what bonds are you held to this plane my brother? No soul should be left to wander. Though I can offer little help in passing you over I may be able to put your mind at ease so you may pass on your own."

“Enter the pyramid and all will be revealed.”

The image points then fades away.

At the center of the clearing, amid a small tumble
of worn stones, they see a small, glowing pyramid. The
object, about a foot on each side, is covered with unknown
markings. (Arcana DC 28 to recognize that the markings
are Supernal.)

Mits sweatdrops and stares. "Well at least it was less annoying than the Vecna image thing."

  "Going to take that as a 'no' for safe passage guarantee, then.  Unfortunately, a lack of anything better to do is the second highest leading cause of doing potentially dangerous things anyways."

  "So clerly as we know better, we won't be doing that-wow I can't keep a straight beak saging that, tweet."

  At least it's not the spooky runes or the lava runes.

Dido says, "Yeah. This image at least was cordial. But I'm guessing it was merely an image and not a full-on ghost."

Callie says, "Do not mistake my desire to believe in people, or being comfortable with someone not attacking me for ease of trust, Corvus. As an adventurer, I have found I will take what I can get as a reprieve from constant strife."

Dido puts his hands on his knees to look the pyramid over. "...are we supposed to shrink? Or is this supposed to grow?"

Corvus walks over and examines the markings, "Hm I have not come across such runes in my travels, If I had time to study them I might could come up with something but at a quick glance they seem foreign to me. If we are not strained for time i can refer to some parchments I have on me and try and decipher them."

(Corvus offering to take a 20 to try and read the symbols up to DM & party if he can if he can.)

Mits hrms.  "Considering the thematic stuff we've encountered, I'm guessing that this mini pyramid is a gateway to the Pyramid which itself is located in the Shadowfell.  As for us entering in spite of it being dangerous, that is kindofa given.  'Cause if not us, then some nasty gnoll will claim the wealth of power within.  If you can't figure out the writings, we can always just poke it with a stick."

Very wizardly of you, Mittens.

Corvus is able to determine that the runes are Supernal, the language of angels and devils.  But the meaning is indecipherable.

(( Because the module doesn't even tell the DM what it says.  Maybe it says, "Speak, friend. And enter." or something. ))

  "Well, knowing overly elaborate structure builders this may very well simply be the tip of a normal sized pyramid buried under the ground.  But teleportation or portals seem much more likely, because they just pop up constantly."

Dido says, "He made it sound so easy. So I guess it's a simple matter of touching the thing and thinking about entering." He proceeds to do so.

Callie looks hesitant to let him, but at the same time, doesn't really see much other way to try and enter. Should Dido's attempt be successful, Callie will immediately follow.

If the characters pick up or touch the pyramid, the
object consumes them.

Corvus laughs, "Well this is interesting, never seen transportation magic like this, Luna return to me." Luna turns to mist and returns to Corvus laying herself on his skin like a tattoo.
Corvus walks over an follows the two ahead of him laughing as he enters.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:15, Tue 12 Apr 2016.

  Terdisas sighs, but he's a CHA/DEX build, not an INT/WIS build, so follows after into the questionable artifact.

The small pyramid suddenly expands. You can’t tell if you’re
shrinking or it’s growing, but it fills your view and
you’re immersed in darkness. The voice of the tiefling comes to you
one last time. “Welcome to the Pyramid of Shadows. The only way
to win your freedom is to kill us—three times.” His mocking laughter taunts you, fading away as light returns and a tremendous
stench assails you, suggesting that you’ve left the forest behind.

The characters are now in the Entrance Pit of the Pyramid
of Shadows. They have been transported into the extradimensional space that exists outside space or time.

A stench of death and blood assails you as you appear suddenly
atop a pile of bodies. Humans, dwarves, elves, halflings, and
others, all apparently recently killed but all wearing clothing
and armor of an earlier age. The pile of bodies seems to shift, as
though something might be moving beneath it. Above you, at the
top of the pit, you see a hideous, two-headed giant—he’s rubbing
two blades together with an eager gleam in the eyes of both its
horrifying heads.

Perception Check
DC 16: You see a flash of something large and green moving
through the refuse beneath your feet. It might be a giant snake or
worm.

Callie still has Pyrus in her arms, but Mittens is nowhere to be seen.

http://i.imgur.com/C0SQQD1.jpg