Bien, mais fatigué.
TD
ES COO Shitposting Dept. of GWF
The door to the Platinum Penguin swings open. You look. You see... nothing? Oh wait, better shift those eyes down. There she is. The tiniest Tortle you ever did see. A new face around here. Such a unique shell as well, clearly there was some special magic at play. But who is she?
The tiny female Tortle looks around the room. She sees nobody she recognizes, a cautious frown spreads on her face.
...Oh dear.
The tiny Tortle fixes her eyes on the penguin at the bar, maybe this penguin knows something. She wiggles her way over, weaving between the other patrons. She climbs up one of the stools, plops her hands down, and smiles at the penguin.
Hi there! Any chance one of my kind has been here? He was probably asking about lettuce.
The tiny female Tortle looks around the room. She sees nobody she recognizes, a cautious frown spreads on her face.
...Oh dear.
The tiny Tortle fixes her eyes on the penguin at the bar, maybe this penguin knows something. She wiggles her way over, weaving between the other patrons. She climbs up one of the stools, plops her hands down, and smiles at the penguin.
Hi there! Any chance one of my kind has been here? He was probably asking about lettuce.
Crystal smiles at the precious tortle with a warm and knowing look.
Ah, yes. He certainly loves his lettuce, I gave him some rather large bowls to work through while he was here! I believe he's presently on an adventure, but I suspect he'll be back shortly. Would you like to stay here with us until he returns, hon?
Ah, yes. He certainly loves his lettuce, I gave him some rather large bowls to work through while he was here! I believe he's presently on an adventure, but I suspect he'll be back shortly. Would you like to stay here with us until he returns, hon?
TD
ES COO Shitposting Dept. of GWF
The unnamed Tortle lets out a soft and playful giggle.
He's a crucial part of my destiny after all. He has a constable for getting himself into precarious packages.
The Tortle pauses. Is she using these words correctly? She's not sure, but surely she sounds smart.
Staying here seems like a magnificent solution! It's absolutely thrilling to hear you know him and that he may dilly dally into this fine place at any moment.
But... tell me, will I be safe here?
Her eyes look around the room, her small size tends to make her an easy target sometimes.
He's a crucial part of my destiny after all. He has a constable for getting himself into precarious packages.
The Tortle pauses. Is she using these words correctly? She's not sure, but surely she sounds smart.
Staying here seems like a magnificent solution! It's absolutely thrilling to hear you know him and that he may dilly dally into this fine place at any moment.
But... tell me, will I be safe here?
Her eyes look around the room, her small size tends to make her an easy target sometimes.
Crystal gives her a reassuring look and offers a small bowl of lettuce to the tiny Tortle.
Everyone is a friend here, and if you would like to stay here while you await your friend's return, you're welcome to a room at the inn, where you may rest and relax. You're in the safest hands you could ask for here, hon.
Everyone is a friend here, and if you would like to stay here while you await your friend's return, you're welcome to a room at the inn, where you may rest and relax. You're in the safest hands you could ask for here, hon.
TD
ES COO Shitposting Dept. of GWF
The tiny Tortle looks down at the small bowl of lettuce. She lets out a soft smile at the penguin's gesture. She gently slides the bowl back to the penguin.
I appreciate the hospitality. Truly, that is very kind of you! Thank you for the bowl of lettuce... but, that's more of my brother's speed than my own.
A room would be wonderful! I don't have much in the way of coin, but I often get bored waiting around...
Perhaps I can help around around here?
The tiny Tortle giggles once more. She's a playful little thing.
You can call me Dream by the way. Of the Tortle family. What's your name?
I appreciate the hospitality. Truly, that is very kind of you! Thank you for the bowl of lettuce... but, that's more of my brother's speed than my own.
A room would be wonderful! I don't have much in the way of coin, but I often get bored waiting around...
Perhaps I can help around around here?
The tiny Tortle giggles once more. She's a playful little thing.
You can call me Dream by the way. Of the Tortle family. What's your name?
Crystal smiles at the playful Tortle's excited demeanor.
It's wonderful to meet you, Dream, my name is Crystal, the proprietor of this Inn. You don't need to worry about coin, I'm happy to offer you a room while you wait. The Tortles have been customers for as long as this establishment has existed and I'm pleased to offer my Inn to such a wonderful family. If you would like to help out while you're here, you are more than welcome to, though by no means obligated to do so!
It's wonderful to meet you, Dream, my name is Crystal, the proprietor of this Inn. You don't need to worry about coin, I'm happy to offer you a room while you wait. The Tortles have been customers for as long as this establishment has existed and I'm pleased to offer my Inn to such a wonderful family. If you would like to help out while you're here, you are more than welcome to, though by no means obligated to do so!
TD
ES COO Shitposting Dept. of GWF
Dream claps her hands with a gleeful expression.
Crystal! What a lovely name! I have a feeling we're going to get along spectacularly. I'm happy to hear my rather large family has been making their way through here.
Just stay away from Danger. He's a bad bad Tortle.
I am always happy to help!
Dreams slaps her Tortle claw to her mouth and blows Crystal a kiss, then winks.
This'll be fun!
Crystal! What a lovely name! I have a feeling we're going to get along spectacularly. I'm happy to hear my rather large family has been making their way through here.
Just stay away from Danger. He's a bad bad Tortle.
I am always happy to help!
Dreams slaps her Tortle claw to her mouth and blows Crystal a kiss, then winks.
This'll be fun!
OP
As you stand poised to continue your adventure drink, an indescribable sensation overcomes you. You feel a sudden discord in time, as if months have passed in an instant while you stood stock-still mid-breath. You feel the drag of air against your limbs as you try to ambulate yourself through the chrono-molasses, each attempt to contract a muscle and urge yourself into action becoming an insurmountable task.
The intangible lag abates as quickly as it beset you, with every struggled attempt to move your body hitting all at once as if queued actions, culminating in some sick dance moves as you flail around. After your impromptu break-dancing, as you regain control of your own destiny, your hands instinctively move towards your weapon in an effort to defend yourself against whatever evil wizard had foisted this time-fuckery upon you.
But no cackling robed antagonist presents themselves. Instead, you find a small point of light flicker into existence about chest level, a short distance away from you. The point swirls in a circular motion, with each revolution adding more scintilating sparks as from hot iron worked in a blacksmith's forge. The rotating point begins to expand, taking on the appearance of a firework twirled on a string about a central axis, cascading glittering embers against the floor and walls. Momentarily you worry about the fire hazard, but the embers never settle, instead floating slightly above the surfaces before twinkling out of existence.
As the central iris of the ring expands, your surroundings beyond the brilliant swirling frame begin to warp and blur. What should have been the wall of the room you occupy dissipates until you can clearly see through the portal into another land. Great stone pillars rise from the weathered slabs of the floor, each linked together with a beautifully decorated arch, though they support no roof. The open sky above shines silvery moonlight down upon the area, illuminating in stark relief a large statue in the center of the area. This statue depicts a wise figure with a kind smile, surrounded by seven songbirds. The statue exudes a comforting presence, even being but a viewer looking through time and space.
At the base of the statue, you can make out the comparatively small figure of a tiefling, curved horns glinting in the moonlight, crouched by a rain puddle. They carefully fill a vial from the reflective pool, and seem oblivious to the magical swirling vortex materializing a few dozen feet away from them.
As you step closer to the portal and reach your hand forward, you feel a thrum of energy against your fingertips. The moment you make contact, a voice echoes through your mind without touching your ears.
"Time is fleeting. A great threat looms over Toril from beyond the stars, and the planet needs every able-bodied savior it can muster. Time on this side of the portal will halt, should you chose to step through.
Do not fret, only your essence will travel from this place to inhabit a copy of your body. Should you perish, or once this threat has been quelled, you will return back here free from harm.
Adventurers, assemble!"
The intangible lag abates as quickly as it beset you, with every struggled attempt to move your body hitting all at once as if queued actions, culminating in some sick dance moves as you flail around. After your impromptu break-dancing, as you regain control of your own destiny, your hands instinctively move towards your weapon in an effort to defend yourself against whatever evil wizard had foisted this time-fuckery upon you.
But no cackling robed antagonist presents themselves. Instead, you find a small point of light flicker into existence about chest level, a short distance away from you. The point swirls in a circular motion, with each revolution adding more scintilating sparks as from hot iron worked in a blacksmith's forge. The rotating point begins to expand, taking on the appearance of a firework twirled on a string about a central axis, cascading glittering embers against the floor and walls. Momentarily you worry about the fire hazard, but the embers never settle, instead floating slightly above the surfaces before twinkling out of existence.
At the base of the statue, you can make out the comparatively small figure of a tiefling, curved horns glinting in the moonlight, crouched by a rain puddle. They carefully fill a vial from the reflective pool, and seem oblivious to the magical swirling vortex materializing a few dozen feet away from them.
As you step closer to the portal and reach your hand forward, you feel a thrum of energy against your fingertips. The moment you make contact, a voice echoes through your mind without touching your ears.
"Time is fleeting. A great threat looms over Toril from beyond the stars, and the planet needs every able-bodied savior it can muster. Time on this side of the portal will halt, should you chose to step through.
Do not fret, only your essence will travel from this place to inhabit a copy of your body. Should you perish, or once this threat has been quelled, you will return back here free from harm.
Adventurers, assemble!"
((While this idea was primarily to get the current campaigns players some action, it's also an opportunity for anyone who's been on the sidelines to participate for a one-shot battle. So I'm posting it here, too.
My campaign is at their final encounter, which I've already steered off-course from the official source adventure to add more homebrew story. While the battle as written is scaled for a level 3 party, I have plans to both rebalance it a bit for my (now) level 4 players, as well as add some lower-level minion adds that'll be more suited for characters who're still level 2 (or 1).
If you've any interest in jumping in, with the agreement that it won't affect your current campaign progress, or risk getting your character killed, please feel free to join us in The Wary Wolf Tavern thread so that I can try to plan the final encounter in earnest.))
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