John tells Blaze "I spotted a shift in the dimensional curtain between the Inn and, well, something like a shadowy realm. My peripheral vision picked up a momentary elongation of the normal dimensions of my forge. Figured another incursion was starting. What do we do?"

Seeing nothing amiss, Aego shrugs his shoulders, and comes back down to the common room; intent on waking The Keeper to tell him of the incident. He recalls the incident that happened in the inn in the past and would be remiss if he let this unusual occurrence go unmentioned.

When Evangeline asks him what's the matter, he tells her. "That lit wall sconce, off to the side of the fireplace," he states pointing to the offending wall sconce, "A moment ago, it grew unusually dim before returning to its normal glow. What caught my attention was the movement of a shadow. By the time I turned my head to take a better look at the moving shadow, and track it, the shadow was gone. I swear I saw it float up the stairs and disappear. I'm going to mention this to The Keeper."

True to his word, he heads over to wake the sleeping man. Like the others, he learns that The Keeper is unavailable, and when Blaze asks if he can help, Aego tells the same story he told to Evangeline.

Alton and John should be able to hear what he says too since the Chronicler stated that everyone heard what Blaze had to say and Aego's recanting of what happened is stated after Blaze speaks.

Camber rubs his eyes and closes the book he's reading on demon outsiders as the stub of his candle flickers and threatens to go out. Dancing shadows from the sputtering candle prompt him to light a fresh candle using the dying flame. His belly rumbles.

Setting aside the book, he rolls from the bed after throwing off the coverlets: determined to fetch some food from the inn's kitchen. The brighter light from the fresh candle suddenly ceases as he blows it out. He heads for the door, opens it, and steps into the hall before heading for the stairs.

The movement of a shadowy form, possibly a large rat, is seen from the corner of his eye. He looks, but the varmint is gone before he can focus on where he thought he saw it moving. He heads for the stairs and descends. When he reaches the common room, he notices the discussion going on around The Keeper who is being carried away by some of the inn's employees. Concern flashes across his face as he wonders if something bad has happened to the old man.

He walks up to the group forming around the other innkeeper, and listens in. When Blaze finishes stating how long The Keeper would be unavailable, Camber asks, "What has happened to him? Why would he be incapacitated so long? Has someone harmed him?"

His question is ignored for the moment as Blaze asks the others why they need to urgently speak to The Keeper and if he can be of help instead. Camber listens in to their explanations as to why and stark fear blanches his face as white as a sheet. Forgetting all about ordering some food, Camber bolts for the stairs taking them two at a time. He reaches the landing, and races to his door where he flings it open, enters, and then slams it shut. Shaking hands fumble with the flint, steel and tinder as he tries to relight the candle. After several attempts he succeeds. He locates his weapon and begins donning his armor as fast as he possibly can.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:50, Thu 11 Jan.

"I too witnessed a disturbance in the lab, I had thought it perhaps scrying from my people, but it seems a much more widespread incident.   We should marshal support for the defense of the realm whilst the keeper sleep.  John and I, along with the cleric Evangeline, are a good team.  Other suggestions of who might be able to guard the keeper directly?   Who stood during the last incursion?"

Alton recalls a similar story he had read in relation to powerful beings, then it came to him the Odin sleep,
Alton shrugged and decided to share his recollection

"Some recountances of dieties have similar ideas, Odin for example fell into the Odin sleep according to the lore.  Seems to have some similarities...."

The next narrative update on the overall scenario will be Monday, 1/15/2024. You may roleplay banter amongst yourselves, but if you engage any NPC or do something that requires a GM response, you'll have to wait until next Monday to get that response. Thanks!
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:01, Thu 11 Jan.

Having watched the hedge for a while, Zoho stands suddenly, and makes his way to the inn.   This would need careful thought and consideration.

I think we've had plenty of time to allow those who want to participate in this event to do so. I haven't heard from Dagger, Garret, Larmiun, Macawi, and Tandon so I will have them in their rooms in the inn. You can still participate by reacting to the next posted narration as everyone in the inn will be able to hear the commotion.

Those who are participating are Aego Yr, Alton Chasmyr, Camber of Culdi, Evangeline, John D'Oh, and Zoho Perse.

Zoho hustles to the Wayfarer's Inn via the most expedient route he can take. Along the way he doesn't witness anything else unusual though there does appear to be a warming of the clime that is unusual to the steady atmosphere that one has come to know here. He pauses to look over the inn to see if anything outside appears unusual, but again, nothing seems amiss. Gingerly, he opens the door and peers inside. Looking in, he sees everything appears to be normal, though a gathering of guests around Blaze draws him in to see what is going on.

As he approaches, he witnesses that The Keeper is being carefully carried to the back of the house by several of the male servers. Curious, he thinks. The gathered guests and workers are talking amongst themselves and to Blaze. Listening in, he is soon to learn that some of these guests and residents have also witnessed the unusual disturbance in the dimensions that parallel this plane of existence, just as he had.

Blaze listens to their tales and is quick to reassure everyone that The Keeper is just fine and it's perfectly normal what happens to the elderly man when it's his time to rest. He also makes it clear that in The Keepers absence, he's in charge. When he hears the various accountings regarding the unusual interference described by those who witnessed it in the extradimensional space that is the Netherworld's space in this demi-plane, he does what it takes to reassure you that he'll look into it and consult with the other leaders here as soon as possible. Until then, he advises everyone go about their normal activities.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Mon 15 Jan.

PM to Camber of Culdi:

A baleful shrieking scream comes from somewhere upstairs and is perhaps synonymous with the man who'd just fled up the stairs a moment ago. The first is followed by a second scream that shatters the tranquil calm that Blaze is trying to establish. Blaze looks for a security guard and spots two already heading towards the commotion. He urges them on as they head for the stairs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:21, Mon 15 Jan.

Aego listens to the others tell of their experiences and though he still feels uncomfortable regarding the incidences, he is just about to go about his business when the blood-curdling scream resounding from above interrupts his thoughts. Not being one to hesitate when danger presents itself, Aego releases his shortsword and heads for the stairs. Like the man earlier, Aego bounds up them two at a time. Hearing the struggle coming from a closed door down the hall, he heads towards it. When he's sure that it is where the struggle is coming from, he will try to open the door by its handle. If it won't open or is locked, he will attempt to kick it in.

Aego Yr rolled 14 using 1d20.  Kick in a door.

Hearing a scream from up the stairs, Alton travels upwards as well, but only as support behind at least one more capable fighter....

Alton will let John up ahead of him for certain....

With his Dragon stance and Sudden Leap, John bounds up the stairs (45' across and up) in a fast second (swift action), passing the two security guards. He lands and orients on the last toned of the scream.



09:49, Today: John D'oh rolled 35 using 1d20+17 ((18)).
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Mon 15 Jan.

Evangeline let the men chase after the stranger first, they could engage him, her or it, she would patch them up later. Swiftly she moved up the stairs, remembering Alton and John working well together with her as healing backup.

Like Evangeline, Zoho follows the others up the stairs making sure to stay at the rear of the group.

The next update is Saturday, January 20, 2024. If nobody else will join in on this scenario, it will be the last time I slow the scenario down to a 5-day update. With only this many participants, I will instead update like any other game I run which allows up to 3 days for posts or even earlier if everyone playing posts before 3 days. If the others join in, then I will determine if the 5-day update will remain in effect. Thanks!
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:32, Tue 16 Jan.

Camber yells for help again and can only hope his voice will carry to someone. He knows there is no way he can hold out against such odds though he puts up a heroic fight to buy some time in hopes that someone will arrive to help him.

He swings his Morningstar and spiked gauntlet...

Camber of Culdi rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Attack with Morningstar.
Camber of Culdi rolled 6 using 1d8+3.  Damage with Morningstar.

Alton watches John leap into action and wonders if he will ever actually get to utilize his Trapsmith haste spell upon him, it lasts only for a few seconds, but it could make the first series of attacks all the more devestating.....

Camber's struggle against the overwhelming odds is indeed heroic in nature but even with a delivered blow to one of the assailants, he is swiftly subdued. Time is of the essence, but the locked door wastes precious moments as Aego tries to swiftly come to the man who is calling for help from within.

Aego kicks the door and is rewarded with the doors old brittle bar shattering and the door swinging open hard enough to slam the wall. Across the room Aego sees a shimmering portal between the small table and bed. Beyond the translucent circular portal is a desert-like landscape of reddish-lavender rock buttes and deep chasms gouging the land like erratic veins. The sky is blood-red, and the time of day could be dusk or perhaps even dawn. It is hard to say as things in this dimension seem to be blurry to the eye even when concentrating hard to see them clearly. This could also be due to tornadic dust devils that can be seen swirling a reddish dust that obscures the vision and might possibly even affect one's ability to breathe. Of what you are seeing, two things are the most notable.

First, is the occasional sighting, due to the whirling dust clouds, of three 6'-foot-tall humanlike creatures that are rapidly fleeing across the landscape. The creatures appear to be wrapped in chains, wearing them instead of clothing. It also appears that one of them is carrying the limp form of a humanoid, possibly the man who was abducted from this room. The forms disappear in and out of view as they descend into and out of the chasms or are lost from view to the rocky outcroppings and buttes.

The second thing you note is a floating obsidian citadel; perhaps 15 to 20 miles away. Again, it is hard to tell distance in the dust obscured and dim lighting. The citadel fades in and out of view because it seems like it bobs up and down like a bobber does in the waves of the ocean when one is fishing. The buttes act as the obscuring waves. With only a momentary viewing, it is hard to tell how fast or in which direction the citadel is moving.

Alton and John quickly come up behind Aego and can see what he is seeing. Evangeline and Zoho cannot see as they are still 10'-15'-feet behind Alton and John.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:52, Sun 21 Jan.

Alton, no stranger to portals, knows that in the last adventure John had went though exactly such a thing with him to the drow city...


Alton takes in every detail of the landscape seeking to know as much as he can....
Today: Alton Chasmyr rolled 23 using 1d20+10.  know planes with inspiration

"Portal!!!  Hold we know not this barren landscape, we dare not enter without Evangeline."
Alton begins wrapping his shemagh around his neck, and the his new goggles in case they decide to go through...

John says "that coloration....it could be Athas, which would mean a desert planet. We are not supplied for a journey to a world like that. But a floating citadel? I do not remember any such in the early days of my career so it might not BE Athas. What occurred in this room? Was there a kudnapping?" he asks.

Evangeline rushed up the stairs and caught up with Alton John, looking through the rift in the fabric. The aasimar frowned, her mind dealing with what she saw, trying to make sense of it. "Care to fill me in?" she asked, looking for more information.

ooc: Knowl.of the Planes 16.
23:18, Today: Evangeline rolled 25 using 1d20+15 ((10)).

Alton:

Evangeline:

Zoho comes up close behind the others, and watches.

Alton pauses a bit longer taking in what he is seeing, the land features and any identifying features...

"I believe we are viewing some place in the Great Beyond, either a demi or lower plain, most likely either the Outer Rifts or Abaddon, I cannot say for certain from what I see."


"Neither is a place I would wish to visit....."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Sun 21 Jan.

Evangeline nodded in agreement with Alton's assessment, it could be a number of different planes. There were a few questions that popped into the priestess' head, like why did they take Camber and how did they manage to open a rift to the Netherworld, though none of them were relevant at this point in time. "Can you describe the creatures that took him? Perhaps if we can identify them we can determine which plane's denizens they are?" the aasimar asked the men, hoping to make sense of this strange occurrence. Her sky-blue eyes lingered on the portal, attempting to discern any signs of decaying magical energies which would lead to a closing of the rift between the worlds.

ooc:
11:03, Today: Evangeline rolled 23 using 1d20+8 ((15)) Knowledge Arcana (How long does the portal stay open?)
11:14, Today: Evangeline rolled 17 using 1d20+8 ((9)). Knowl. ot.Planes (What kind of creature stole Camber?)