Second Darkness [Shadow in the Sky] (IC)

[lostsole31]

And with that .... they get Rod, the notes, the chisel, the coffer, and the fancy boots carefully and painstakingly up and out of the caverns. Also, you collect Ginny.

You are out of the smuggler's tunnels.

Out of the basement level.

Back up to the Gold Goblin proper.

You are all exhausted. Ginny awakens shortly thereafter (having been unconscious for about an hour).

Sol says that since the Gold Goblin is shut down, he can let you stay in rooms for tonight, maybe tomorrow. He will have Rod's body in the northern bar but he's too tired (as are you all) to contact a Pharasmin priest.

And everyone, will they or no, finds themselves sleeping in beds far more comfortable then the pallets in the ruined tenement they're used to sleeping on.

[lostsole31]

Wealday, 30 Gozran 4708 AR

Each of you (Ozzy, Visto) wake up and clear your heads, and note that you heal any remaining ills from the day before (including the 1 CON Ozzy suffered). When you go to prepare yourselves for whatever this day has for you, you both realize that your minds have expanded significantly, being able to weave more than you had before ... not just normal veils, but the allowance to weave smaller, more utilitarian veils as well.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

What do you set up for the new day?

[lostsole31]

As the PCs collect, one of the servants Sol has hired for the interim is spooked. It seems something is happening to the Blot outside.

[bcool999]

Ozlech

Hearing of the happenings outside, Ozzy complains loudly as he walks towards the door to go see what the hubbub is about.

”Well here we go again with more weirdness from our local stain in the air. I hope whatever it does this time doesn’t mess with the wildlife again. I still blame the birds spiraling like that on the Blot.”

Spoiler: Ooc

Show

Ozzy will go outside to see what particular brand of weirdness the Blot has today.

[lostsole31]

Does Visto hide in fear indoors, or does he accompany Friend Ozzy outside?

[meemaas]

Visto does indeed follow Ozzy out, but not before investing some of his Essence into his Friend to protect him.

Spoiler

Show

Invest 2E into Ozzy, Ferocity Vivification. Also another 2E into Ginny, same Vivification, just because.

[lostsole31]

Sol follows Ozzy and Visto outside as well. Your internal clocks are thrown off because of everything that happened the day before and because of your previous exhaustion. It is actually early evening, and not morning ... it seems everyone slept later and longer than intended ... but as long as was needed.

The first thing they notice is that the strange shadow in the sky is gone. The Blot is no longer there.

Then, there is a flash in the sky, attracting their (and everyone else in Riddleport's) attention. A streak of light arcs down from the sky, a falling star traveling a southward course. Yet the star does not burn out—indeed, the streak lengthens and soon seems almost as if it were hurtling directly at Riddleport. As the streaming light draws near, panic grips the streets, but a moment later the falling star arcs over the city and out to sea, trailing behind it a smoky scar and the sound of thunder.

The star streaks out to the south, reflected by the sea below, and then a moment later it no longer is seen streaking, but a strange, false dawn seems to rise to the south as a brilliant blast of light fills the horizon. Several moments later, a tremendous explosion rolls through Riddleport as a powerful earth tremor strikes. Ozzy and Ginny tumble prone on the ground, as do many other Riddleportians, though Sol and Visto manage to keep their footing ... an earthquake rumbling all around. The quake isn’t enough to destroy buildings, but it is enough to knock some shingles from roofs, shake objects off of shelves, or crack the Sandpoint glass windows in several of the city’s more affluent structures. As the tremor continues, an angry orange ball of fire rises into the sky on the horizon over where the blast occurred, spreading in an ominous mushroom-shaped cloud.

By this time, much of Riddleport (including the PCs, following the sounds of commotion) has gathered at the wharves and southern points of town for a better view of the distant holocaust. A few minutes later, the water of Riddleport Bay suddenly retreats into a bizarre and sudden low tide, revealing several sunken wrecks and flopping fish and more than a few stranded sharks. Ozzy, Ginny, and around them many other Riddleporters get to their feet and notice the strange withdrawn water, remarking over its strangeness. The PCs discuss amongst themselves what it might mean, but don't know.

Only about 20 seconds alter, though, the water comes rushing back in toward Riddleport, a 7-foot-high wall of churning froth slams into the waterfront with incredible power. Fortunately, the shape of Riddleport's harbor minimizes the impact of what could have been with this tsunami, but the massive force is still unstoppable. Ginny, Sol, and Visto all manage to fly up before being hit by the full force, but Ozzy gets slammed by the water and is carried 40' inland, taking 7 NL from buffeting and 4 lethal from impact. The water then recedes, and Ozzy feels himself being pulled out towards the harbor with so many other unfortunate souls. He's a heavy man, and Sol is weak, and Visto and Ginny unexceptional, but they all manage to help their friend to safety. The same cannot be said for many other victims.

Several smaller tsunamis strike Riddleport in the surrounding rounds, but these are not severe enough to do much more damage.

The heroes, none of them very strong but all willing, pitch in to help where they can. In the end, the tsunami deals more damage to Riddleport than the tremor. Dozens of ships are damaged, a few are sunk, but more are left stranded as far inland as Wharf Street. Many of Riddleport’s piers are ruined or damaged, and several of the smaller buildings along the waterfront are destroyed or partially collapse. Over the next several hours, the crimelords and overlord of Riddleport mobilize in a way rarely seen in the lawless city, working together to put out fires, save citizens who have been swept out into the harbor, or kill angry and disoriented reefclaws, sharks, bunyips, and other dangerous sea creatures that have suddenly become stranded in the city streets. The heroes have their hands full ..... being heroes.

And they still have that journal from the strange purple ghast-lady to look over, written in a strange tongue. None of you are linguists and cryptographers, so it is going to take some work to find out what that journal contains.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR REACHING THE END OF BOOK 1 OF THE SECOND DARKNESS CAMPAIGN: "SHADOWS IN THE SKY!"
PLEASE PROVIDE NO MORE POSTS HERE AT THIS TIME.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF SECOND DARKNESS: "CHILDREN OF THE VOID" ... COMING SOON!