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09:38, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow.

Posted by ylvaFor group 0
ylva
GM, 6 posts
The GM
Mon 24 Feb 2020
at 07:03
  • msg #1

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

It's a small group gathered on the road to Falcon's Hollow. Seven men and women, against whatever nightmare has overtaken the village and its environs. The woods are thick, but you've reached, some two hours' walk away from the village proper, the edge of what can properly be called the affected area.

It's not hard to see the border. The forest boughs are thick enough overhead that even now at midmorning, it's shady and cool. But here...the darkness lies thicker. Under the trees beside the road, you can see the shadows rolling and twisting. Almost tangible, it seems, as though they might reach out and touch you. They don't move into the open ground of the road, though, don't move into the sunlight.

The air is still and silent. Not quiet, but silent, as though every bird, every insect, has been struck dumb. Not that you see any to begin with. There's no sign of life at all beyond the trees and your traveling companions. No sign of bodies, either, or struggle in general. Just silent, cool air, and shadows.
Caleb Miller
player, 2 posts
Mon 24 Feb 2020
at 09:16
  • msg #2

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

"Well,that's ominous. I don't know much at all about magic, any of you lot got a clue?" Caleb gestures towards the shadows with his large crossbow, a bolt readied to fire, looking around at the eclectic group he's found himself with.
Hester Darkeye
player, 5 posts
Strange girl she is.
Coming home she is.
Mon 24 Feb 2020
at 13:28
  • msg #3

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

"I have some magic", says the shortest, a mere slip of a girl who reeked of magic to those who could tell.  Even to those with no magic, the black eyes with no whites and the silver hair might give a clue although she appeared to be dressed like any peasant maiden for all that.  "But I wouldn't say I know much".

She knelt on the ground before the border. "Let's see", she said and began chanting and making eldritch movements with her hands.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Mon 24 Feb 2020.
Arell Kirkwood
player, 7 posts
Paladin of Abadar
AC 19 HP 64/64
Mon 24 Feb 2020
at 14:15
  • msg #4

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

A tall man with silver-gray hair shrugs his armored shoulders, "Could be a lot of things...none of them are good" he groused, "Hopefully it's not something local.  Be easier to get rid of if it just moved in."

He quiets as Hester works her mojo.  Girl had definitely changed since last he saw her.  Her hair used to be brown for one.

Then again, so had his.
Bristle Chonk
player, 6 posts
Cleric of Death and Info
AC 22, HP 36/36
Mon 24 Feb 2020
at 21:13
  • msg #5

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Bristle stood next to the group with her armored arms crossed. She squinted at the scene before her, checking to see if her deathwatch vision managed to pick up on anything noteworthy. But when Caleb asked if anyone had a clue about the magic that was present, Bristle decided it was time to take her vision up another notch. "I also know of magical things," Bristle added to Hester's comment. "This area is... intriguing."

Bristle clutched the holy symbol danging from her neck, closed her eyes, and whispered a quick prayer. When she opened her eyes again, the changeling woman peered over the border before them in an attempt to help determine which kind of magics were present. "You seeing what I'm seeing?" she asked, mostly to Hester. Unfortunately, Bristle was not very confident about what it was that she was seeing.



Bristle is using Detect Magic (along with her Deathwatch vision) to scan the surroundings and figure out what kind of magics are here.
15:11, Today: Bristle Chonk rolled 13 using 1d20+11.  Know: Arcana - determine magic schools present.
Not the best start...

Illix
player, 6 posts
Atheist Rogue
HP51 AC24 F3 R11 W4
Tue 25 Feb 2020
at 00:52
  • msg #6

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Illix moved quietly across the road, his step being so light you could barely hear him moving at all. Dressed in a mithral chain shirt which had a faint shimmer of magic to it, his chest was festooned with assorted bottles and vials on bandoleers, whilst a longsword hung from his hip.

"Ominous indeed." Illix replied to Caleb. "I don't know magic, but something is certainly off."
Ralla
player, 6 posts
I never drink...wine.
HP 28/28 F 2 R 5 W 5
Tue 25 Feb 2020
at 06:21
  • msg #7

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

The group had gathered on the road some distance back. Ralla's eyes studying all of them, but pausing at the sight of Arell. A friend from some time past now almost an old man. It hurt her heart to see him aged so. Still she gave a simple greeting, wanting to say more, but not being able to find the words. “Hello Arell...”

As they moved, Ralla rode her horse and enjoyed the darkness as it was easy on the eyes. The shadows rolling along gave her pause, as they where something they needed to keep an eye on.
Hannah
player, 3 posts
Tue 25 Feb 2020
at 15:38
  • msg #8

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Hannah is tall and slender, with a bright blue skin and greener teal hair. She wears simple, light clothing, and carries a hefty bag at her hip. Her only obvious weapon is a shortbow, slung on her shoulder. Notably, she wears no shoes, anywhere she goes.

Hannah seems to carry an air of positivity with her, seeming to take great joy in the natural surroundings, but here, with the village and its ills looming, she reminds one of a small candle in a vast cavern.

"I don't know magic like that, either, but I can tell you this is off. Something bad happened, or is happening, here."
Arell Kirkwood
player, 8 posts
Paladin of Abadar
AC 19 HP 64/64
Tue 25 Feb 2020
at 15:51
  • msg #9

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

"Ralla..." Arell had breathed, a paragraph of emotion lodged in that one word.

Unfortunately now wasn't the time for reminiscing, so he steeled himself and pressed forward.

"You're...looking well." He tried, "You helping out with this, or just dropping in to say hi?"



Back in the present, Arell kept waiting for something to jump out and try to eat them.  He looked over to Ralla and her horse.  He wished he had her poise.  But damn it all, he KNEW this road...it used to be nice before whatever happened.  He couldn't help fret over what had happened to everyone back in town.
Caleb Miller
player, 4 posts
Tue 25 Feb 2020
at 16:30
  • msg #10

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

While waiting for the apparent mages to finish doing their checks, Caleb continued scanning the surroundings, watching for any signs of movement. He was no wizard, but he knew that there was undeniably something wrong here. Too quiet, that's what it was.
As the blue skinned woman spoke, he spared a glance before turning his attention back to the trees, "I'd say happening, rather than happened. It lets you be pleasantly surprised if everything doesn't go straight into the shit. Besides, the way those shadows are moving, I think it'd be a little too optimistic to assume the worst was over just yet."
Ralla
player, 7 posts
I never drink...wine.
HP 28/28 F2 R5 W5
Wed 26 Feb 2020
at 06:52
  • msg #11

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow


Ralla raised an eyebrow and many thoughts ran through her head with a small smile. “Just here Arell, guess I'm lucky...the life of a hunter it seems.” Looking over to the shadows pointed out by Caleb, Ralla nods. “I see them, sadly, I think they will come for us as soon as the sun sets...Who knows or could say for sure...”

22:48, Today: Ralla rolled 9 using 1d20+7.  Knowledge: Religion.
...

ylva
GM, 7 posts
The GM
Fri 28 Feb 2020
at 20:03
  • msg #12

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Moving onward, the trees pass by and the silence grows thicker. The air feels cold, and somehow slimy against your skin. The shadows are thick.

There is no one around.

Finally, you see the outlying buildings of the village - a temple of Erastil, some houses, and of course, a lumber mill. Nothing is moving within that you can see from a distance.
Arell Kirkwood
player, 9 posts
Paladin of Abadar
AC 19 HP 64/64
Fri 28 Feb 2020
at 20:54
  • msg #13

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

"At least the temple is still standing." Arell remarked, picking up his pace slightly.

Erastil may not have been Arell's god, but the church did serve as a good community space.

If anyone might know what was going on, they'd probably be there (or know who did).
Hester Darkeye
player, 7 posts
Strange girl she is.
Coming home she is.
Fri 28 Feb 2020
at 21:28
  • msg #14

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Realising that magic did not seem to be working, Hester decided to rely on her own senses instead.  She moved forward slowly, keeping all of her senses as honed as she can.  She looked around, trying to see if anything was missing from when last she had been here.  She listened carefully for the sound of the wind or of any living things. She took a deep breath to smell whatever there was to smell.

21:27, Today: Hester Darkeye rolled 26 using 1d20+9.  Perception.
Caleb Miller
player, 5 posts
Fri 28 Feb 2020
at 21:43
  • msg #15

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

"Yes, that's a good sign. Still, there's been nothing in the way of communication from this place for weeks and I don't like that there are no people around. I think we should look around for someone, maybe in the houses first and then the temple before we head on to the village proper."
Having said his piece, Caleb waits a moment for any response from the others before readying his crossbow and approaching the houses low and quiet, keeping his eyes and ears peeled for any sign of movement as he approaches.


Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
15:45, Today: Caleb Miller rolled 31 using 1d20+12.  perception.

15:44, Today: Caleb Miller rolled 23 using 1d20+20.  stealth roll.


This message was last edited by the player at 21:46, Fri 28 Feb 2020.
Illix
player, 7 posts
Atheist Rogue
HP51 AC24 F3 R11 W4
Sat 29 Feb 2020
at 19:03
  • msg #16

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Illix turns to Arell at his comment about the temple still being standing.

"The temple stands, and yet there are no worshippers. It shows how little gods care about us, and that we can only rely on ourselves for protection, not unrewarding servitude."

Following the precautions of the others, Illiex drew his rapier, for if something were to ambush them, he could always drop it for a bow, but didn't want his bow if the ambush was too close and close enough to stab.
ylva
GM, 8 posts
The GM
Sat 29 Feb 2020
at 19:33
  • msg #17

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

The air smells of...rotting food, and rain coming soon, but not decaying corpses. There is still no sign of movement or life within the village. The air stands serene and silent.

Moving into the outskirts of town, the houses look as though everyone quite simply stood up and left. There are meals half-eaten on the tables, rotting, but no flies, or rats, or anything at all that has nibbled on the food. A book sits open, a book of children's stories. A basin of water sits where someone was washing their dishes, the rag draped on the basin's edge, dry.

There's no sign at all of violence, or forced entry. The doors are unlocked, and undamaged.
Bristle Chonk
player, 7 posts
Cleric of Death and Info
AC 22, HP 36/36
Sat 29 Feb 2020
at 19:44
  • msg #18

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

"Ominous," Bristle commented as they looked over the deserted house. It was eerie how untouched the scene was. "Are we dealing with a mass mind-control situation here? Or maybe like a siren song of sorts?" Bristle wouldn't admit it to her newfound companions, but she may have dabbled in a bit of mind manipulation in the past. Nothing of this scale though. Not even close.

The changeling woman moseyed over to the children's book to see what story it was open to. Mostly out of curiosity.
Hester Darkeye
player, 8 posts
Strange girl she is.
Coming home she is.
Sat 29 Feb 2020
at 20:07
  • msg #19

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Hester shook her head, "Not unless someone was abe to control the minds not only of people but of rats and crows and flies and maggots.  Life has gone from this place.  It's ominous certainly, but an omen of what?"

She looks back the way they all came, looking to see if there was still a way back into the world from which they came.
Illix
player, 8 posts
Atheist Rogue
HP51 AC24 F3 R11 W4
Sat 29 Feb 2020
at 20:42
  • msg #20

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

"If we are, wouldn't we be effected?" Illix pipes up, during the discussion on if some form of mind control effect.

Illix was also intrigued by the children's book, curious if the stories told here were the same or different to those back home.

20:40, Today: Illix rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Knowledge: Local.
Assuming there might be something in it to seem similar to what's going on.

ylva
GM, 9 posts
The GM
Sat 29 Feb 2020
at 20:56
  • msg #21

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

The children's book is lying open to a story about a hungry wolf who devoured children who wandered in the woods at night. The wolf eventually was tricked into a pit by a clever girl, but the last three pages are torn out, making it hard to say how it ends - it's a common enough story that there are numerous endings in different versions.
Bristle Chonk
player, 8 posts
Cleric of Death and Info
AC 22, HP 36/36
Sat 29 Feb 2020
at 22:39
  • msg #22

The Shadows of Falcon's Hollow

Bristle shrugged, both in response to Hester's question and Illix's since she didn't know the answer to either.

Then, seeing that the end of the story had it's pages ripped out, Bristle tucked the book into her pack. (So long as everyone else was finished taking a peek.) It was probably not related to their current situation, but her gut still thought it may be a clue. If nothing else, it could make some good tinder for starting a campfire.

"These empty houses are kind of giving me the creeps. Should we go check the temple? Or maybe look for tracks? It would be good to know if everyone in town headed in the same direction, or if any tracks are fresh."
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