DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 3O - A Journey of a Thousand Years begins with a single step

Jaliera

She is still in a panic, just trying to get away. But she hears Davroar's voice, possibly the only sound that might break through to her.

"It burns!" she yells, not even looking back.

Jaliera Wisdom
Gypsy rolled 1d20+2,1d20+2 and got 8, 4

[OOC: What can I say? It's fire! ]

<Bern>

He turns when he hears Jalira scream. He is about to go after her when he sees Davroar doing that and figures he would have a better chance to help her.

Zhu

As she is backing away she can hear Sindar begin to sing and some of the terror she feels flows away.

Note: Tried rolling with Advantage in Roll20 but the adjustments were wrong so did it here instead
Zhu Wis Save w/Advantage
Zeim rolled d20+2,d20+2 and got 16, 11
Total = 16

Zindra

"It seems so real," she says as she ducks to avoid an illusionary flapping wing.

Kriv

He nodded to Sindar, but his grip on the defensive staff did not lessen. Knowing the fear he felt was magical in origin rather than the result of a terrifying creature was cold comfort, given it did not reduce the grasp of the icy claws clutching his heart. The Dragonborn took pride in his mind, in being willing and able to test himself against all-comers. Running away was for humans and their ilk. Giving in to a phobia imposed from without was antithetical to whom he aspired to be, no matter how much it might turn his guts to jelly. Mind over matter, mind over matter. What can we discern of the nature of this magic?

Kriv Knowledge Arcana with disadvantage
AJ rolled 1d20+3,1d20+3 and got 4, 6

It was hard to focus.

Arus

He raises an eyebrow at the sound of commotion within and exchanges a glance with Bern.

"They'll call if they need us." he says with a smirk.

DM

Less than a minute ago the party was united in an plan to grab the magical stone.

Right now, it doesn't appear anyone has any sort of a plan, mostly reacting.

Zindra and Kriv are still facing down the illusion, holding fast to their positions. They can't summon up the courage to move any closer to it, but they aren't backing down either.

Sindar was the only one of the initial group who saw the dragon to immediately recognize it for what it was, and is doing his best to counter the spell, which is of at least some help to those who have chosen to leave the room. Zhu has managed to regain control of her emotional reaction as a response.

Jaliera, on the other hand, is clearly still distraught and while Davroar is trying to help, it's clear she's not going to go back into that room anytime soon.

Bern and Arus seem willing to help if asked, but are trying to remain undistracted from the dragon-drama.

Vordana, as a halfling, has a unique reaction.

OOC:
1. still need a 2nd initial roll from Vordana since she had advantage due to Brave trait; on failure, since she fled, she can roll again with advantage.
2. Zindra and Kriv remain frightened, facing down an imaginary foe. They can't move any closer.
3. Zhu, Sindar, and maybe Vordana (see point 1) have regained their senses. Having left the room they no longer see the illusion. Davroar, Bern, and Arus never saw it to begin with. All of them can discuss what to do next.
4, Jaliera may be a little calmer than before, but no matter how much anyone tries to convince her, she will refuse to go back into the room with the mural for now. Another Mage Hand attempt is out of the question.

Davroar

Jaliera has a head start and she is just as fast as him. Davroar only manages to catch up to her after a fair bit of running. Once he reaches Jaliera's right side he grabs her opposite shoulder and twists her backwards at the same time he turns to fall on to his back so that she lands on his chest while Davroar takes the brunt of the fall and then they both come sliding to a halt.

"Got you", he says with a gasp. While he sees no flames or smoke from her clothing, he casts a cantrip to create instant sensation around them as if they fell into a chilling cold stream to try and calm her down.

<Bern>

It looked like things had settled down a bit. "What happened", he asked in general.

[OOC: There was a dragon breathing fire and smoke.. ]

Jaliera

She falls on top of Davroar, suddenly aware of a cooling sensation all around her and then Davroar's closeness, which in itself is a great comfort. She is visibly shaking.

"F..fire d..dragon."

Which is all she manages to get out before bursting into tears. And tears are not normally a Jaliera item.

Kriv

Kriv looked across at Zindra. "Every fibre of my being refuses to countenance getting any closer to the rune or the illusion produced when we touched it. I imagine you're feeling much the same way. However, I think I may have found a loophole. I'm going to have to ask you to trust me."

Kriv attempted to shove Zindra towards the rune as best he was able.

Davroar

He is shocked at first when Jaliera breaks down, but he does not release his hold on her. He knows about Jaliera's intense fear of fire, so he tries to calm her down just by holding her for a couple of minutes as he slows his own heart rate down after their run. With his breathing calmed down he slowly disengages himself and shape changes into a small light brown Labrador puppy. He then quickly clambers up onto her left shoulder to start licking her salty tears from her cheeks. Davroar hopes this will snap her out of her fear.

Jaliera

She is still crying but laughing too, reaching out to scratch behind the pups ears, knowing that Davroar will enjoy it too.

She takes a deep breath and smiles at him.

"You are the best."

And she means it whole heartedly.

"Think I just need a minute."

But already she is thinking ahead, glancing back over her shoulder to ensure there is no threat and to see if everyone else is OK.

Vordana

Vordana Wisdom (Brave)
Miales rolled 1d20 and got 5

Nope Vordana is perfectly happy petting her Flycatcher ate the road. She sends her friend to find the others once she calms down but still does not want to head back in just yet.

Zindra

Even though he spoke the words, when Kriv tried to shove her closer to the deadly-in-her-mind dragon, she resisted. But as agile as she was, Kriv was stronger.

Zindra Acrobatics with disadvantage
Neptune rolled 1d20+3,1d20+3 and got 7, 20

Kriv wins. I'll let Aqua resolve

DM

The illusion is still frightening to both Kriv and Zindra, and while either of them alone might be unable to approach the mural from whence the dragon spawned, they seem to be able to push each other... literally... toward a potential solution. Kriv manages to forcefully shove Zindra within reach of the stone, himself still a few feet behind her.

Despite the flapping wings and shaking stones and occasional warm breath they perceive, Sindar's inspiring song at least keeps their fear from affecting them any worse. Zindra now has the choice of trying to do something about the stone herself... or perhaps pulling Kriv up to help her?

Meanwhile the rest of the party remains further out in the ruins. Davroar is helping Jaliera settle down a bit, Bern and Arus are still focusing on any potential threats from outside, and Vordana is doing what Flycatcher would do... getting as far away from large winged creatures as possible.

Zindra
Moving forward, no of her own will but rather because of the force of Kriv's talon shoving her, Zindra finds herself face to face with the rune stone. All the talk was about it seemed like the stone could be removed, so she grabs it and tries to do so.

(OOC - Since Zhu succeeded in her save, can she approach and assist without needing to save?)

OOC: As long as Sindar keeps singing.

[OOC: Sindar is still singing. Can he toss in a line to offer a Bardic Inspiration to Zhu for her try? If so he does so.]

Kriv

Kriv nodded as Zindra got to work on trying to pull the rune. Rather than just idly watch, however, he busied himself retrieving the rope from his pack and securing it around his left lower leg, before chucking the remainder of the rope towards her.

"Should you need assistance or retribution in like kind, Zindra, pull sharply."

Davroar

He is happy that Jaliera seems to be back to her normal self, so he gives a lick on the tip of her nose as a fun parting gift as he bounds off her shoulder.
The world is so much more alive when he is animal form with the enhanced smells, so he will remain in his dog form as he slowly ambles back towards the ruins and stops after several feet to see if Jaliera is following.