Post-session #5: "Pharasma's Realm"

"Pharasma's Realm"


Armania had been watching the winged Kobold for a while now. Blue smoke surrounded him, whirling around in patterns. His eyes closed, taking deep breaths, he concentrated on whatever arcane ritual he was performing. She had found him by chance as she spotted some blue smoke wafting out of a rather large hole behind his tent in General Wallace's forest encampment. Curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself climbing down the hole and finding him in his trance state in a small, dug-out underground chamber.

As the minutes passed by, Armania's curiosity began to slowly wane as he continued to sit motionless, the blue smoke still continuing to circle him. After another minute, she had just about gotten up to leave when his eyes suddenly snapped open and he stood up. The room swam around her and transformed in to a dark, dull, stone platform. It was open on all sides and she could see gray cloud lazily moving around them, although none passed into the open area. Near the center of the platform was a spiral staircase with several different humans standing in some sort of line.

She gave a start as she looked back towards the Kobold and saw him staring at something she unfortunately recognized by appearance: it was a Herald of Pharasma, the god of Fate and Death. The dark plate armor, hooded cloak, and black bird-like wings were unmistakable. As she scrambled to get up, she found that she was making no headway, as if she was not contacting the ground. With a sigh of relief, Armania relaxed, realizing that the ritual had apparently not fully affected her, but only drug her partially into wherever this was. At the very least, she was not apparently visible to the two before her, who paid her no attention.

"Herald," the Kobold said, with a slight hint of annoyance and anger, "you called me here, so here I am. What is the purpose of this meeting?" Armania's eyes widened as the Kobold addressed the Herald in such a manner.

The Herald cross its arms and stared down at the Kobold. When it spoke, a booming, feminine voice seemed to call out not from it, but from the area above the Kobold. "You have committed your crimes yet again, spawn of the dragons. We had an agreement and you have broken it."

The Kobold's eyes narrowed at the Herald and he snapped an accusing finger in the direction of its "face". "Don't play games with me, Herald, I haven't broken our agreement. None of us went in to your realm again until you dragged me here. Is Pharasma having seconds thoughts, hmmmm? Is she ready to admit her wrongdoing?"

A loud crack rang out through the room as the Herald produced a silvery longsword from the air and struck the ground in front of the Kobold. "SILENCE," it shouted, "it was you who entered the realm without permission! There has been no trespass in my master's part. Now," it raised the sword to the Kobold's throat. "You will answer for your second offense."

Pushing the sword forward, the blade passed straight through the unconcerned Kobold's neck. However, instead of cutting, it parted around it like a mist. The Herald paused and then withdrew the sword, which vanished back in to the air as it withdrew. "I cannot judge you. You have not broken your agreement. It was not you who entered the realm again."

"No, it was not," the Kobold said impatiently, "you sensed someone else of course, and they did come in using the same Titan machinery. I believe I know who it was." He paused and tapped his foot, looking up slyly.

The Herald leaned in closer. "I suppose you will not tell me unless I provide some sort of compensation for you. Very well, what is it you desire?"

"Ah, just a small matter of negotiation," the Kobold smirked, "I merely wish to ... discuss an alliance with your master, Pharasma."

The sword returned to the Herald's hand. "Absolutely not!" the voice boomed out, "my master does not side with anyone - especially not on the material plane! You have asked this before and you were turned down!"

"That is a pity," the Kobold said, obviously feigning sorrow, "it would hurt me to not be able to tell my ally, Pharasma, what her sister has been up to; how she is connected to all of this; how the intruders are very much in-league with her and how the Titans are assisting them."

There was a period of silence for several seconds as the Herald seemed to carefully consider the Kobold's words. "I do not know how you know this, but ... you have seen her actions and know of the intruders? Tell me immediately and I will judge if you are truthful." She held the sword out again towards him. "My blade will judge if you are truthful."

"First things first," the Kobold said, lazily swirling the blade around a clawed finger, "you will need to deal with those troublesome Tita-"

The underground room came suddenly swirled back in to view for Armania as she felt a sharp pain pierce her side. She gasped as she looked down and saw a dagger being swiftly removed from her. Another blade slid under her throat and forced her to look up, where she was met with a pair of green, lizard-like eyes. The other red Kobold who had accompanied the winged one was  brandishing a wicked looking tail blade at her throat, turning her head back and forth to examine it. She felt two other familiar pokes in her gut, which she guessed were where the other two hands and blades were.

"You should not be here," it hissed at Armania, "you will disturb him. Leave, now, before I decide to kill you." The Kobold withdrew the dagger and placed it back under its cloak while shoving Armania back towards the hole. Stumbling and groaning in pain, she crawled shakily up the hole and back in the the encampment.

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To answer a question that popped up last time: sorry, not level 3 yet.

Wait, we're level 2?

Yeah, after the second session everyone was level 2.

https://archengeiadnd.forumotion.com/t210-post-session-2-to-the-gates

Lost it again! I love this work computer and its random "go back" buttons.

Anyway, Elbren/Javan/Essoje, just to clarify: your swords are +1 attack and +1 damage, but only if wielded together. If you only wield one, you've got to choose. Kind of a special deal to get dual enchants but with that stipulation. I didn't think that would be a problem for you since you'll be using both anyway.

Are you typing it in the browser on google documents? If it's browser trouble, you should try typing it up on a document program like MS Word.

No, I was just trying to type it out at work real quick while it was in my head and I smashed the "back" button while I was doing it. I normally write it out in Notepad or something first but I just didn't for some reason.

Anyway, it's up now. Just pounded it out again while it was still fresh - first post is edited.

Armania is not doing well.

Let's say that the sword with the black hilt is the +1 damage, and the one with the white hilt is the +1 to hit. Because twin swords and rule of cool.

Now excuse me while I return to bed.

Alright, sounds good. Sleep dat off!

Kobolds are badass in this setting.

Heh, I suppose they are a little more powerful in this setting than normal. A little more highly regarded too, although that's more because of their backing right now.

Sorry about my sudden outburst at the giants guys, but I promise I'm not channeling Rory. It'll make sense later.