Sleeping Giants Game 9

Intro

Ana's Induction Ceremony

The day is September 13th, the year 507. It was nearly 6 years ago, but you still remember it like it was yesterday.

You awoke early that morning, much like any other. You preferred to spend as much of your time in the darkness as possible, though you were still expected to join the others at dawn. Today, however, you wouldn’t be training with the others. Nor would you get to spend the day meditating inside, with the curtains drawn. Today, you’d be attending your very own Induction Ceremony.

You were trained well ahead of time so you knew what to expect. The ceremony itself would be completely silent, save for the three gong strikes and the one spoken word from you. Other than yourself, the only people in attendance were Monks of the Order. The white marble of the room made it difficult for you to see at first, and while you quickly adjusted, you still needed to squint ever so slightly the entire time.

Bwong. The first gong strike, and you receive your robes. They are draped over your head by two of the monks, and the bright white fabric stands in stark contrast to your dark skin. On the back of the robes is the intricate embroidery of the mark of the Order. Both monks take a step back, bow to you, and then silently walk to the back of the room.

Bwong. The second gong strike, and you receive your gift. A new monk approaches you, holding both hands forward, one on top of the other, with an unknown object shrouded in golden silk. You take the object from his hands, and it almost feels as if there is nothing at all hiding in the silk. You slowly unwrap it, and reach in to pull out your gift: a small, seemingly mundane needle, that you would later learn is completely unable to be bent.

Bwong. The third, and final, gong strike, and you receive your moniker. Though you have been referred to as Ana during your training, for security purposes – both for yourself and the Order – you would have to shed that name and instead adopt a moniker that the other top-tier students would refer to you as. A monk stands before you, his hands raised as if to help funnel your spoken word to the rest of the room.

You take a deep breath before saying the moniker you spent so much time coming up with. “Keras.”

The name echoes throughout the room, and with that the ceremony draws to a close. You did use your moniker for a long while, but – for reasons you already know and need not recall – you have since reverted back to your original name. Likely for good.

Recap

Recap notes, by Laura

"DAY 3 ~6:00 AM"

• Health: 17; Spells: 0; B.Insp: 0
• OPENS: ANA - 9/13/507 - Memory of Induction Ceremony
  • Attendants: Ana & Monks of the Order
  • Gift Received: Small Needle (unable to be bent)
  • Moniker Given: "KERAS" (time taken to decide)
• Nil and room ful of kobolds (21 in #, not a threat)
• Addresses them in Draconic - She tells them that their Queen is no longer alive - she fell in battle to us. Several kobolds turn to an older looking one.
• The older kobold is confused..
• Nil tells him that they work for her now and asks/orders that they swear their fealty to her
• Jordan asks what Nil is saying? Nil tells him
• Nil asks for 2 kobolds to guard the entrance so we can go and kill all of the goblins
• Kobold: Which entrance? Nil: How many are there? Kobold: Four?
• Kobold told to place one kobold at each entrance to inform Nil if anyone passes through them
• Nil: Supplies? Kobold: Not really any supplies
• Some bandages taken from the kobolds
• Nil tells kobolds to treat the rest of the group with respect
• The group enters into the room to take a rest. The kobolds seem wary, but willing - not aggressive
• Four kobolds leave to guard entrances
• SHORT REST
  • Uneventful. Song of Rest played, but unused by Stratton
  • Nil investigates scroll - Scroll of Mage Armor
  • Lyla investigates scroll - Scroll of Knock
  • Ford - Feather - A non-magical oak tree will sprout when feather is touched to the ground - 6 feet tall, 5' diameter and branches spread out to 30'!
  • Nil gives scroll to Ana (because she has no armor)
    • But it's not able to be used... so Nil takes it back
• Nil gives a kobold the OSIS card
• Ana takes out needle - it points directly down in this room (large room). Ana asks the oldest kobold how to get there? He says that that is the Underdark - they don't go there - too scary. He says the entrance is via a crack in one of the walls
• Ana warns the older kobold to be wary of Calcryx
• Nil gives eldest kobold a trinket - one of the peridot dragon carvings
• In short rest, Lyla was reading - she attempted to teach the "children" something
• In a separate room, 4 goblins (prisoners of war) are found chained up
• Jordan walks in, Stratton accompanies
• Jordan punches one in the face - 4 damage
• Asks who leads them?
• Goblins lead by Dern
• Where? In the base
• Nil joins
• Stratton asks how mayn there? 30 or 40
• Ana - how many are hobgoblins? 3/4? (already dead)
• Jordan: Do you go to the Underdark?
• Goblin: We don't. "Ballsag" does...
• "Ballsag" is downstairs; Dern is upstairs
• Ballsag brings them food from the Underdark
• Ana: How many entrances to their base?
• Goblin: 2/3 - none unmarked, unless the ones where the ghosts are? They don't go there...
• Nil lights one of the goblins on fire, essentially murdering it
• Threatens the Goblin we've been talking to
• Jordan, Nil, Stratton leave
• Ana asks if the Goblin wants to be a guide? Then forces one along as a guide anyway. Key to unlock goblin gotten from Nil. Noose tied around goblin's neck by Ana. Threatens him for compliance.
• Group decides to go after the Goblins - go after Dern
• Before going off, check one remaining door in the hall - Goblin (Stork) asked what's behind it? Stork says it's Goblin-ville. This is the door they had barricaded from the dragon sounds.
• Nil tells Ford to collect some caltrops.
• Lyla is recruited to do this too - Lyla uses Mage Hand - collects them into a bag. Gets 20' of caltrops.
• Runs into a hobgoblin & 2 other goblins. Is accompanied by Nil.
• Lyla finishes off the hobgoblin and one of the goblins
• The remaining goblin runs away - runs into hallway to find Stratton and Jordan who were on their way to help the battle
• Stratton finishes it off with an additional arrow
• Jordan, Stratton meet back up with Nil and Lyla post battle.