The Sundered Way

[thinkslogically]

((You know Nemeia is right there, don't you?))

[BadgeAddict]

(Not sure where you are sitting/standing and how intently you are focused on what randy is doing.) <-- Hopefully enough to distract you from her whittling.

[thinkslogically]

((me neither! She's distracting Bramble, so not super far away, but...
Perception: 1D20+4 = [6]+4 = 10

...not noticing much else I guess!

just stop wrecking the nice imaginary cart!! ))

[spiderwrangler]

The DC to notice someone carving the seat right next to you is 8.

[thinkslogically]

Nemeia slaps at Zephyr's hand.

"Oi! Stop that! You want to look like a professional outfit in the cities, you don't graffiti your own cart! Makes you look poor and unrefined, and then you start attracting the wrong sorts of attention, whether it's from buyers thinking you're desperate or guards thinking you're selling knock-offs or stolen goods. Appearances are everything in this game, love!"

[spiderwrangler]

Randy: As you hold out the gem, his eyes light up as he reaches for it. As you ask your question, he pauses, turning to look at you, his now piercing gaze holding your own.

"What you ask, it is no idle question. You know this?"

Tess: Some of the more fanciful bard's tales tell of travels to other planes and other dimensions. While there are supposedly spells that the most practiced of magic users can use to travel between them directly, there are also reported... if the stories can be believed... places where the connection between this plane and the others grows closer, close enough to cross over if the right conditions are met. One ballad you'd heard spoke of a "Gate of Planes", apparently a pocket dimension or some sort that was close to all the planes at once, and could serve as a travel nexus. The next verse was about the hero wooing a maiden from every plane and setting himself up in his own harem dimension though, so a grain of salt and all that.

Ulmwin: You recall having heard stories about gates to other planes, and know that it is most often facilitated by pretty high level magic. It's not something to be trifled with, an unprepared traveler could easily find themselves stranded in inhospitable surroundings, out of spells and running out of options. Planar travel is a serious undertaking, not something to be taken lightly.



Zephyr gets spotted and scolded, Bramble surging forward as Tess diverts her attention to admonish the bored/sulky tiefling.

[thinkslogically]

Nemeia chuckles as she remembers the ballad and wonders if the hero was any relation of Holger's then rushes to try and catch Bramble before he crashes the cart off the road again.

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

Randy: As you hold out the gem, his eyes light up as he reaches for it. As you ask your question, he pauses, turning to look at you, his now piercing gaze holding your own.

"What you ask, it is no idle question. You know this?"

Randy gives him a haunted look. "Aye, I know." His expression becomes grimly determined. " I've been called."

[M0rtimer]

"...Okay, who's going to help knock him down and tie him up before he does something crazy?" Ulmwin asks, only half-joking... Although looking at Randy with a face that's saying he wants an explanation for what the hell he's talking about.

[Theis2]

"Might be Randy accidently sat on Helms legendary stick up his ass and he wants it back now?"

Holger chuckles silently at his joke, hiding his own worrying.

Holger sadly does not know a whole lot about the gate of planes, but sounds like a way to meet his benefactor and undo all her work.


Ones the gate is dealt with, Holger will pose his own question for the madman.

"So what is different about lord Estermont, what is he hiding? I can transmute your berries to taste of anything you want, as long as I am familiar with it. A savory steak, exotic lemon or mud if you prefer, it's your choice."

Holger knowledge: 1D20+2 = [9]+2 = 11

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

Randy holds up a hand to the others indicating for them to wait a minute. "I'll explain shortly." His eyes are locked on the halfling's. "The Gate of Y'ah Ga'rihunn must be closed. The Old Ones are moving again. If their followers seize the Gate, this world is lost. I think you know this."

[thinkslogically]

Nemeia looks at Randy and then to Ulmwin and Holger with increasing concern.

Whatever he's talking about now is beyond her knowledge, but it doesn't sound good...

Int: 1D20+2 = [6]+2 = 8

[Arch Lich Burns]

Maji looks at Randy with a worried look. He's not sure if he's gone crazy or if he's hiding something. Whatever it is, Maji looks alert for trouble coming from wither of them.


Int: 1D20-1 = [12]-1 = 11

[Theis2]

Holger may know stuff about ancient beings

Holger knowlegde: 1D20+2 = [17]+2 = 19

[M0rtimer]

"I know enough about the old ones to know that I should not know more about the old ones... And that I'd consider myself woefully under-qualified to deal with anything concerning them."

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

Randy gives Mort a quick glance. "Only madmen want to deal with the Old Ones. I certainly don't. The question isn't whether you want to deal with them, but whether THEY want to deal with you. And, unfortunately, they do. We're all in great danger, whatever our desires in the matter are."

[thinkslogically]

Nemeia holds Bramble's bridle nervously and keeps watching Randy.

"Ok sweetheart, if you say so..."

She turns her back to Randy and whispers to Ulmwin, Holger and Maji:

► Show Spoiler

"Has he lost his mind? What were those berries he ate yesterday?"

[Arch Lich Burns]

Maj writes andshows to Tess Whatever he saw, he refused to tell me.
Survival: 1D20+5 = [9]+5 = 14
(I figured survival would be more appropriate on telling what the berries do)

[thinkslogically]

Still whispering to the others:

"Maybe he poisoned himself? Poor lamb. Let's keep an eye on him and see about getting him to a healer when we get to the city... And in the meantime, let's be very careful of any detours he might suggest. I don't know what he thinks is calling him, but this doesn't sound like him."

She looks at Holger for a moment, thinking.

"...there seems to be some of that going around lately."

[spiderwrangler]

Randy:"Aye, I know." " I've been called."

"Called? How very rude, yes?", he remarks with a sad smile, reaching up, gem forgotten to grasp you by the face, his knobbly little fingers gripping the sides of your head.

"The Gate of Y'ah Ga'rihunn must be closed. The Old Ones are moving again. If their followers seize the Gate, this world is lost. I think you know this."

He shivers and presses his forehead against yours, the scent of halfling hermit filling your nose as he whispers to you.

► Show Spoiler

That doesn't mean you, Burns.

► Show Spoiler

"It IS closed, yes? If it were open, we'd not be here! But someone seeks to open it? Bad, very, very bad. There is no where, there is no when... at least, not reliably, yes? Not an easy task you have, lesser tasks have broken... others. I offered information... but have little to give here. Followers of Those Between and Beyond hold tight to secrets, they do. If their tendrils are stirring the world, dig them out and trace them back... like roots of a weed. I have little more to give to help you... I... I'm sorry. Once perhaps, but no more... no more."

He releases you and steps back, tears spilling down his dusty cheeks.

Holger:

"So what is different about lord Estermont, what is he hiding? I can transmute your berries to taste of anything you want, as long as I am familiar with it. A savory steak, exotic lemon or mud if you prefer, it's your choice."

The wizened halfling looks to you, wiping his face as his mood shifts to one much more jovial, his previous distress seemingly forgotten.

"Ah, but I've no need for such magics, yes? A shiny gem, that I'd take for information on the Lord of Estmont!"

Tess: The ranger's gone batty... either that or he's asking deeper questions than you can plumb the depths of.

Maji: He doesn't seem to still be under the effects of the berries, but he's been in a bit of a mood since he got high off his gourd.
((Don't recall if you ever got a good look at the berries?))

Holger: What you recall of "Old Ones" seemed to refer to beings that existed before the gods, beings that roamed the cosmos... Why Randy is asking about such things now, you're not sure. Over the years, some have sought out the Old Ones as a source of power... a patron of sorts, to strike some sort of pact.

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

Randy can't help but look a bit disappointed, but nods his head. He very quietly answers back.

If you're eves dropping, you'd better be rolling perception!

► Show Spoiler

"I though that might be the case. I understand little master."

He hesitates and then whispers a question:
(Spider Only. Not you, Burns!)

► Show Spoiler

"The dreams. Do they ever go away?"

[thinkslogically]

With her back turned, Nemeia doesn't immediately catch on to the fact that Randy has lowered his voice...

Perception: 1D20+4 = [10]+4 = 14

[spiderwrangler]

Randy: He looks at you sadly.

► Show Spoiler

"I'll let you know... "

[M0rtimer]

curiosity perception: 1D20+2 = [6]+2 = 8

(nope)

[Lurks_In_Shadows]

Randy closes his eyes and swallows hard. He then opens his eyes and smiles back sadly. He pats the Halfling on the shoulder. He turns the halfling's hand over, places the ruby in it, and closes his fist over. "If you make it to town, have a few rounds on me."

He stands up and walks back over to the wagon and leans wearily against it. He gestures to the others for them to ask their questions. "When you're done, gather round. You're owed an explanation."