Demiplane

Be sure to read and follow the guidelines for our forums.

Jan 22, 2019 1:22 am
Zenithral wakes up some time later atop the luxurious bed in the corner of the demiplane room. The door is gone, as is the symbol that caused magical sleep.

At the desk across the room sits the drow woman. Open before her is the case of sending stones. She holds one of the stones in her left hand, and jots down notes with her right. She doesn't seem to have noticed that Zenithral is awake.
Jan 22, 2019 1:59 am
Wha..? Zenithral moves his eyes around looking for his bow and quiver or tries to sense if it's still on his person. I'm an idiot...Alalla is going to want to kill me when I get out of here...assuming I do, indeed, get out of here that is...How clumsy must one be to fall forward and roll several meters into a dimensional portal?! This is exactly why Alalla just wanted to leave it be...
Jan 22, 2019 2:38 am
Zenithral sees his bow and quiver leaning against the wall near the bed, his pack tucked neatly beside them.

The drow sets down her stone and finishes her notes, then files it tidily into a drawer of the desk. She turns to look over at Zenithral and catches his eye. She blinks and looks away, but not before Zenithral notices the bruises nearly hidden by her midnight skin.
Jan 22, 2019 3:35 am
He eyes the bow, but decides against it. If she wanted me dead, she would have killed me already... He starts to sit up, but then realizes just how comfortable the bed is. Maybe some more sleep wouldn't hurt...? "How long have I been out?" Zenithral asks in elvish.
Jan 22, 2019 3:56 am
The woman turns slowly to face him. Her golden eyes seem both hesitant and curious. When she replies in Elvish, her accent is quite different from Zenithral's, the vowels more nasal and the consonants harsher than customary for surface elves. But it is the rhythm and cadence of her speech that most strikes him as foreign. "The spell should have worn off hours ago. You must have been very tired." She looks down at her hands, lacing and unlacing her fingers together.
Jan 22, 2019 4:07 am
"Fighting a war on such little sleep does that to an elf. Well...half-elf, actually." He tilts his head and looks her up and down. "I am Zenithral Liadon, Arcane Archer of Bryn Shander. I am here by accident, but who are you and what are you doing here? Do you own this demiplane, do you work for the fiends, or something else? I've never considered myself a great judge of character..." He takes a good look around, taking mental notes of the layout, furnishings, and contents.
Last edited January 22, 2019 4:11 am

Rolls

Perception (Notice all the things!) - (1d20+3)

(4) + 3 = 7

Investigation (Identify and remember all the things!) - (1d20+7)

(7) + 7 = 14

Persuasion (Let's chat, shall we?) - (1d20+7)

(15) + 7 = 22

Preemptive Insight on her next words - (1d20+8)

(17) + 8 = 25

Jan 22, 2019 4:35 am
Her eyes stay mostly downcast as she listens to Zenithral's words. As he waits for an answer, Zenithral finds himself wondering how this dark elf female has such a shy demeanor. In matriarchal drow society, the women are infamous for being larger, stronger, and more willful than the men. But despite the glimmer of intelligence in this woman's eyes, her every behavior seems to be in response to fear.

She finally answers with a simple statement: "I know who you are." Her eyes trace the bookshelves and floor, but watches Zenithral warily out of the corner of her eye (and the archer notices that the shelves are full of books and scrolls, with subjects ranging from history to arcane lore). She seems to find something encouraging in his posture and words, however, and so continues. "My name is Ginafae Despana. I am sister to Malavon Despana, who created this place."

She winces, and turns away again.
Jan 22, 2019 3:12 pm
Sister...looks like we might have some sibling abuse going on... "Ah, so Malavon is the great magician here. And you are her...sidekick? Servant? Prisoner? If I had to make a guess, those glyphs weren't just made to keep people out. But you needn't answer if you do not wish to...I apologize; I have probably spoken out of turn...How often does Malavon visit?"

Rolls

Persuasion (Cursed tongue of mine...) - (1d20+7)

(15) + 7 = 22

Jan 22, 2019 5:37 pm
Ginafae's eyebrows raise at something Zenithral says, but she waits until he has finished speaking to address it. "Malavon is my brother. He is a very powerful wizard. Sometimes he does not come for days at a time. It depends..."

She puts a hand gingerly to her face. "Of what fiends did you speak, just now? My brother is a good man, but I fear that his current employer is driving him to evil deeds, for all that he dresses like a goodly priest."

She blinks, then lowers her head, white hair falling over her eyes. "But it is not my place to criticize, nor to second-guess."
Jan 22, 2019 7:57 pm
Zenithral turns red. "Oh...sorry. I was...er...not raised in elven culture and am not as familiar with the gender of names as I would like...to be." He scratches the back of his head. "I wrongly assumed the norms of drow culture carried through to private affairs as well...the only other drow I've met in recent years is a traveling collector of sorts by the name of Nim..."

Zenithral nods. "I know of this 'priest'. He calls himself the Revered Brother Poquelin, a supposed servant of Ilmater, but he is nothing but a Pretender." Zenithral's eyes glow a fierce, radiant white when he says this. ""I do not wish to divulge everything I know, but know your brother's employer is a devious devil in disguise. He confounds, misleads, and manipulates everyone he makes contact with, such as that Pomab fool...and myself..." Zenithral scowls and stands, turning towards one of the shelves.

"You're not wrong to question your brother. No one is ever wrong to have questions," he says eventually. "Your brother may be good, but his actions might have terrible consequences. If he's as powerful as this," Zenithral says, gesturing around to the demiplane, "then it may prove difficult to convince or coerce him otherwise..."
Jan 22, 2019 10:26 pm
Ginafae's frown at the mention of Nym is enough to show what she thinks of him. "We hardly follow the 'norms' of drow culture - if you can call it culture." She winces again, as though at her own harsh tone. "My brother prefers life outside of drow society - at least on such a grand scale as a city. He dislikes being under the thumb of the matrons..." She stares at a spot on the wall for a long moment.

An ebony hand goes to her lips at the revelation of Poquelin's true identity. "I did not know.... and Malavon, he may not know either! I am sure he would be a better man if not for this job." Her lip curls just slightly in disgust at Pomab's name. "Pomab, on the other hand... I could not believe him to be a good man in any sense of the word."

Ginafae's eyes flick to the walls and she shakes her head in apprehension. "But my brother will not be happy to find you here. He knows of you and your companions, at least from what the reports have said." Her gaze goes to the desk and the sending stones. "If he finds you here in his study, he may kill you - or worse. He hates surface elves as much as the next drow, and is one of the most gifted spellcasters among our people. He even rivaled Gromph Baenre of Menzoberranzan for the position of archwizard of the city."

She grips her own arms as she begins to tremble. "I am sorry! I should not have pulled you into the room as the door was closing, but I did not wish to see you killed!"
Jan 22, 2019 10:50 pm
The light in Zenithral's eyes fades as he turns to face Ginafae. "Oh..." He sits on the bed solemnly. "If that is true, then I owe you my life. If I were to die from the door closing, and I am to die here, what is the difference? I'd prefer you know the truth and at least have a chance of swaying your brother and die than just me being dead."

Zenithral glances around the room and taps his feet. "Are you a spellcaster? If so, you may be able to help me escape. Or perhaps there are some spellbooks or spell scrolls in here we could make use of...If we can come up with such a plan, I could tell you more about this devil to help you and your brother."

Rolls

Persuasion - (1d20+7)

(6) + 7 = 13

Jan 23, 2019 2:38 am
Ginafae holds her hands to her face as though trying to hold the tears in. "I have studied some arcane magic, as there is little else for me to do here. But my own skills are meager. I do not know that I will be of much use..."

She motions to the bookshelves. "Please, have a look."
OOC:
Arcana would be appropriate here.
Jan 23, 2019 2:59 am
Zenithral nods and tries to give her a warm smile. "Thank you."

He tries to summon Fluphy and begins scouring the bookshelves for anything that might help him escape the demiplane, specifically to help him avoid detection and death when the door opens. Invisibility? Teleportation? Zenithral regrets not spending more time dabbling in the arcane arts.

Rolls

Arcana - (1d20+7)

(10) + 7 = 17

Jan 23, 2019 3:42 am
Fluphy *poofs* into existence, much to Ginafae's delight. While Zenithral searches the bookshelves, she calls the flumph to her and flips it over, then tickles its underside - and for the first time that Zenithral can remember, his familiar doesn't seem too bothered by being upside down. In fact, the flumph seems to be warbling contentedly. Attention on Fluphy, the drow does give one warning: "The password is 'faern golhyrr'. Be sure to speak it before you touch anything on the shelf."

Armed with the password, Zenithral searches and finds several spell scrolls. An ornate case - likely worth several hundred gold pieces on its own - holds a magnificent dagger with a crimson blade and gold hilt, as well as one very complicated-looking spell. It looks to be a powerful magic created by Malavon himself.
OOC:
Scroll of Invisibility
Scroll of Banishment
Scroll of Fire Shield

(Within the ornate case)
Magic dagger
Scroll of Malavon's Rage
Jan 23, 2019 3:47 am
"Fluphy, this is---" Zenithral tilts his head as the flumph floats over to her. He shrugs, remembering the underdark origin of flumphs.

"Faern golhyrr," Zenithral repeats. He looks at Ginafae for confirmation as he tentatively touches a scroll and braces for petrification. After finding himself still conscious and made of flesh, he gets to work.
OOC:
Zenithral casts Identify as a ritual on the dagger and again on the Scroll of Malavon's Rage
Last edited January 23, 2019 3:49 am
Jan 23, 2019 4:14 am
[ +- ] Fire Kiss
[ +- ] Malavon's Rage
Ginafae looks up from the flumph as Zenithral handles the ornate box. "My brother is a very talented - even considered a genius of the magical arts. He created that spell himself, his pride and joy." There is pride in her voice, and no small amount of adoration. "I am sure that if only he can be separated from this Poquelin that he will be able to put his talents to better use."

She leans over with interest to look at the dagger, then pulls back. "That was purchased recently from the houseless rogue you mentioned earlier. Nym said he stole it from a dragon's hoard himself." She scoffs. "He nearly charged my brother a dragon's hoard for it."
Jan 23, 2019 5:06 am
Zenithral chuckles. "I might know the dragon..."

He leaves the two items in the case, then lifts two of the scrolls he found earlier. "This scroll can potentially send me back to the Material plane," he says holding the scroll of banishment. He lifts the scroll of invisibility "And this one could help me stay hidden when your brother returns. I might be able to get past and out the door if I'm lucky...though I'm not fond of those traps..."

The case of sending stones catches Zenithral's eye. "Now wait just a moment...do you know who each of those contacts? Are they labeled?" His eyes dart around searching for one that matches the one the party had.

Rolls

Investigation - (1d20+7)

(1) + 7 = 8

Jan 23, 2019 5:23 am
Ginafae glances at the scrolls and nods. "Yes, I believe they might -"

Just then, a door appears in the wall.

Ginafae's eyes widen in panic. "My brother comes! Quickly, pick one of those spells, and I will help you!"
OOC:
If Zenithral chooses to try to cast a spell from one of the scrolls, Ginafae will give him advantage on his intelligence check to properly cast it - although he could probably manage the Invisibility one on his own.

Bear in mind that Banishment will take a DC 14 intelligence check to successfully cast and then Zenithral would have to fail a Charisma save against the spell for it to actually work on him (DC 15). Also, he would have no control over where he ended up.

On the other hand, does he want to risk Malavon discovering him?

Hmm...
Jan 23, 2019 7:07 pm
"Belhifet. The devil's name is Belhifet," Zenithral says quickly. "He is trying to manipulate soul to help the devils win the war against the demons and take over all. Keep Fluphy with you for now. He may be able to tell you more...perhaps he can even prove my words to your brother through memory."

Zenithral rushes next to the doorway, opens the scroll of invisibility, and attempts to cast it.

(Zenithral tries to cast Invisibility and tries to Hide with Action Surge)

Fluphy floats around trying to feign cheerfulness.

Zenithral ties to stand motionless next to the door and prays he's not noticed. He faces the wall to keep his face hidden if Malavon dispells his invisibility.
OOC:
The Guidance roll was an accident but doesn't matter
Last edited January 23, 2019 7:11 pm

Rolls

Intelligence (Cast the spell perhaps?) Adv, Guidance - (1d20+2, 1d20+2, 1d4)

1d20+2 : (18) + 2 = 20

1d20+2 : (7) + 2 = 9

1d4 : (1) = 1

Stealth (You can't hear me! Maybe...) - (1d20+3)

(7) + 3 = 10

load next

You do not have permission to post in this thread.