From PROLOGUE - Sothri
From PROLOGUE - Thakk

A large figure stood at the chamber entrance, the large form blocking out much of the light from outside. Inside the chamber a small blue kobold had it's back to a large piece of rubble and was attempting to push it into the pool.

The pair were in a circular chamber, clearly cut from the mountain and not naturally forming. The chamber was 30ft wide with a 20ft wide pool of water in the center, in the middle of this pool a column of stone about 2ft wide with a rounded top raised slightly above the waterline. Green vines and foliage hung from the domed ceiling alongside stalactite icicles which were slowly melting. Above the pool the ceiling rose to 20ft high with six holes in a tight circle about half a foot wide and a foot apart. The floor was carved from the stone; a 5ft walkway around the edge of the room, circling the pool. The dome ceiling had collapsed slightly in places, leaving rubble, rocks and debris piled up in places along the edge of the room.

Opposite the cave entrance was a large stone door in the wall. 20ft tall it broke the perfect dome of the room, over the top of the door words were etched into the stone. Etched on the door were a series of dots connected by lines.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:01, Wed 07 July 2021.

The goliath entered the chamber and looked around. He noted the small creature, of course, but his gaze were drawn by many of the other things as well. He was nearly 8 feet tall, more lean than bulk. A cloak, imitating an elven design style, covered his leather armor and other garments. All had decorations of smaller stones, attached with bands. Some of the stones had a slight glow. Pulling back his hood, he exposed his bald head. He had dark gray skin with lighter patterns. He appeared neither hostile nor particularly friendly. One hand held an old staff, the other arm was missing from right below the shoulder.

He now looked at the creature again, and concluded it was not another druid. "Greetings, traveler. I am Thakk Stonedancer Kiligeneo. Are you heading for the Astral Grove too?" Thakk's voice was very deep, but not sinister. Talking in the common language, his tone had the sing-song accent of his mother's tongue. Thakk stepped a little closer. He was fairly relaxed, but aware that some of the creatures one encountered in the world could be hostile. "Who and what are you, little one?"

Sothri strained against the rock, hoping to shove enough of them into the water that she could use it for a causeway. But it was large and bulky and heavy and she - wasn't. She sighed and settled back on her haunches, then squeaked as the light through the cavemouth was blotted out by a huge, hulking dark shape.

Immediately she abandoned the large stone that wasn't moving anyway, snatched up her shield and thrust it towards the Scary Silhouette.

"Stayback!" she demanded, fright edging her tone if he could perceive it. "StaybackorI-"

Slowly the deep voice and calm attitudes settled in to her ears and she lowered her shield and blade to peek at him across the top and backed a few paces to keep the huge powerful humanoid from getting too close to her until she understood what he was.

"IamSothriBrightblade," she offered. "IseekthedruidsoftheGrove, seekthewhitewingedone. Haveyouseenthem? Whatareyou?"


22:24, Today: Sothri Brightblade rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Intimidation (stay back!).

Thakk was starting to adjust his initial judgement regarding the hostility of the creature. She talked fast, or at least in a way that Thakk had to concentrate to understand. Fortunately, he had a tool that augmented his ability to process information. It did not only help with the analysis of the heavenly constellations, but also with communication. In any case, the goliath complied and did not come closer.

"I am a druid, but my grove is far from here. I am a guest of this grove, however; the Astral Grove." Thakk leaned his staff against his chest, and held out his hand disarmingly. He was clearly convinced that this creature was capable of violence. "I don't know the white-winged one. I only know Zelinia. She has long white hair." he ran his hand over his bald head. "Why do you seek the druids?"

07:26, Today: Sothri Brightblade rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  Insight Thakk for attitude :)

The small blue-scaled reptilian creature eyed him expressionlessly for a few moments. The large hairless humanoid wasn't of a kind she had encountered before but although his build and tattoos were strange and intimidating to her, but after a prolonged study she decided he didn't mean her any harm. She could breathe more easily, and she lowered her weapon and her shield.

It could be very stressful being a lone kobold out in the wilds.

"WellmetdruidStonedancer," she chattered at last. "SpoketoTaladrielspoketoGarethspoketoOldJemmyspoketoSnugglebunandKindWoman, saidtospeaktotheDruids. HaveyouseenTrueDragon? Small, white, winged, overthesepeaks?"

She squatted on her haunches, giving the Stonedancer an attitude of curiosity and enquiry, respectful packmate-listening-to-shaman.

Thakk sighed deeply. So she was a dragon.

He shook his head. "Not seen the dragon, but I am looking for her. She took something from the druids, and I need to get it back." Thakk felt a little dizzy so he sat down on the ground, legs crossed. He placed his staff across his thighs. Sitting like this, his eyes were probably still higher than the other creature, but the difference wasn't quite as severe.

"Why do you seek the dragon, SothriBrightblade?"

Sothri turned her head from side to side, giving Thakk a long and measuring look - well no, several alternate short and measuring looks - before she spoke again, her snout opening for a short chatter in common. "Thisdragoniskintoanother." She fell silent and considered for a few more moments, then spoke again.

"Otherdragontookfromme, andsoIhuntits... its..." she gestured, frowning as she struggled with the unfamiliar term in Common. "Pack? Kin? Ally?"

She appreciated ThakkStonedancerKiligeneo bringing his head down closer to the earth, she had felt a little dizzy trying to meet his gaze.

"WhiteDragonmustdie," she insisted at last. "Ifthief, canhelptotakebackyoursomething."

Finally she lay her rapier on the ground and extended one scaled hand towards him. Cautiously, wary of his strength but mimicking the gesture she'd learned. "Ispact?"

This little creature was hunting the dragon?! Thakk wondered if all of her kind were equally brave. Maybe to them, bravery wasn't proportional to body size, and they had much more of it per pound than others? "Other dragon took from me too..." Thakk glanced down where his missing arm should be.

Thakk shook his head. "You must be the bravest person I have ever met." He looked at the little kobold hand and at his own, hesitating just a little. His voice lowered; not in pitch, but volume. "I must warn you that I'm afraid of the dragon. Of all of them, truth be told. Nevertheless, I have to do this. If you still want pact, you have one."

Should she not retract her hand at this admission, Thakk would take it in his own and give a gentle squeeze.

Her hand was swallowed in his, and her eyes flicked nervously around until the gentle squeeze was done and she was released. A kobold alone in an outsized and frightening world, all too often Sothri felt that she was scared of everything. Dragons, giants, tallfolk, deathclaws, dire wolves, eagles, poisonteeth, minotaurs, hunters, demons...

But no. She had to be brave. The Platinum One would expect it. They would expect it, even if she had to do it alone.

DruidStonedancer released her hand, and she stilled her nerves with an effort, made herself meet his gaze.

"Notbrave," she said simply. "Notbravetodowhatmustbedone. Justhavetodothis, likeyousay. Cannotfacebigdragon. Cannotfindbigdragon. Yet."

She smiled toothily. "Sowecanpickonsomeoneourownsize, andseehowthingsgrowfromthere." She looked up, around. "Doyouknowwherethedruidsarehere? Throughdoor? Onpillar?"

Thakk gave a nod. He could understand the necessity of bravery. Sometimes, though, fear just seemed too overwhelming. "When I met the druid Zelinia, she told me that I could find resources and allies in the human settlement of Barrow's Edge. It is a few days southeast of here. The route goes through this place; the Astral Grove. She did say that opening the way would be a test of wisdom."

At this point, Thakk stood up again and looked around. "It seems reasonable to start with the door, although I suspect this test of merit could involve the pillar and these holes as well. The druidic Circle of Stars draws power from starlight. Dots and lines represent constellations as well as past and future patterns of celestial bodies." He indicated similar patterns on the door as on his own garments.

"These words spell Astral Grove in the druid codex, so I suspect we have to go through it. The opening of the door, however, could be a complex challenge. Let's see..." Thakk started studying the patterns on the door as well as the column and the holes from his unique perspective as a relatively young member of the Circle.

Happy to make a roll of some kind here.

Thakk inspected the door as Sothri continued to eye the pool in the center of the room.

Feel free to roll any checks you feel relevant as you take actions. If I need a specific check I will PM you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:12, Mon 21 June 2021.