#beany writes

[bardicbeany]

silver, ooze, lantern

You stumble upon the ruins of an ancient monastery, obscured by thick trees and centuries of decay. It must have been nice at one time. Old vines engulf elegant marble statues of heroes now forgotten. Strange fungi and tree roots interrupt tile mosaics of battles fought long ago.

You get the sense that even after all this time, this place is still holy. Each step is deliberate. Cautious. With respect for whatever the people once worshiped here. Inside the main chamber something catches your eye. Upon the ruined altar is a silver lantern. Seemingly untouched by the passage of time it looks out of place here.

You approach the lantern, enraptured with how the silver sparkles in the sunlight filtering through the shattered windows. It is so pristine. So beautiful. You must have it for yourself.

The moment you touch the lantern a jolt of searing pain radiates from your hand. Collapsing to your knees you cry out in pain, but oddly you hear nothing. You feel something oozing down your arm. Is it blood? You don’t know. There’s so much of it, whatever it is. Everything is bright and you can barely see the lantern. You try to let go of it but can’t. Something isn’t letting you.

“Who dares touch the Light of Sumari!?” A voice booms in your head.

What do you do?

randomencountered | my encounters

[bardicbeany]

trumpet - mountain - waterfall

Plop. plop. plop.

You awake to water droplets falling on your face. You drowsily wipe them away. Your head is pounding. Aching. Your vision fuzzy. Your ears ringing. You must’ve hit your head in the fall. It takes you a moment to remember what happened.

You didn’t want any of this. All you wanted was to beguile your fellows with smooth songs. The mountains, apparently, were not as entertained. Thinking about it now, playing your trumpet while traversing a mountain pass was a huge mistake. Fumbling around for your gear you curse under your breath. Your beloved instrument landed beside you, but it’s bent in half. Unusable. Unless there’s some hermit nearby who knows how to repair it.

On your feet now, you move aside small rocks looking for other items scattered in the landslide. A sigh of relief. Your weapon was undamaged at least, but your clothes are water logged. It’ll take time for everything to dry.

You look up and call for the others but you’re unsure if they can hear you from all the way down here. Out of the corner of your eye you spot the likely source of the water. A large waterfall two hundred or so feet away cascading down the side of the mountain. The air around you is misty. Chilly. You shiver.

You spot a cave behind the waterfall and decide to trek your way over to it. Better to wait there and get dry while the others find a way down to you. You find a rocky pathway up to it and plop your soggy stuff down thirty feet inside, away from the mist of the waterfall.

“Who goes there?”A rumbling voice says from deeper inside the cave.

You jump to your feet. Whatever it is, the creature towers over you. The only other thing discernible in the dim light is its large pair of wings.

What do you do?

randomencountered | my encounters

[bardicbeany]

#randomencountered: gleaming, bone, verdant

The remote village of Langar sits atop a mountainous outcropping overlooking a lush green valley below. The whole valley floor, blanketed in dense tropical jungle, is broken up only by the mighty Tyri River snaking northward. Thick vines like outstretched arms climb the steep cliff sides but don’t quite reach where Langar lies.

You spot the town’s insignia from a distance. Emblazoned in bronze on both sides of the gate is a warrior atop a pegasus mid-flight, about to throw a lance. There at the gate the guards greet you warmly. They see the weapons at your hip and ask if you’re looking to earn some extra coin. When you say yes they escort you to the barracks. Inside you meet the captain of the guard, a grizzled black dragonborn riddled with old battle scars. She shakes your hand firmly and introduces herself as Nusuma.

Over a cold pint of ale–paid out Nusuma’s own pocket–she tells you that some of her men are missing. “Sent ‘em scouting late last night. Haven’t heard a peep from ‘em since. I’ll pay you handsomely if you find ‘em. Preferably alive. Not many around here to take their place.”

She goes on to tell you the town has been having trouble with aarakocra that live on other side of the valley. Aerial raids. Stolen items here and there. Destruction of property. Been a real nuisance. Nusuma suspects her men may have been run afoul and become the first casualties.

“What better than to send adventurers such as yourselves? Those blasted birds won’t be expecting you!” She guffaws, her teeth gleaming like knives in the candlelight.

You climb atop a grey speckled pegasus that flies you down to the last known location of the scouts. The guards who flew you down wish you luck and bid you ado. You watch the winged horses ascend and become tiny dots in the sky.

The path through the jungle is long and arduous. A few hours through the bushes and the briar gets you only a mile or two of distance. While slow, you and your party have seen no sign of the missing scouts. In jungle this dense you wonder if you’ll actually be able to find them. You’re about to sit down for a breather when something catches your eye.

It’s something bright. Possibly sparkly. Whatever it is, it’s coming from a cluster of nearby vines. Kneeling closer you see it’s a metal pin.The hair on the back of your neck stands on end. It’s the town’s insignia. Maybe its a clue? You swear there was something more here and keep looking.

That’s when you hear the crunching. The creaking. 

Rising up out of the brush atop a hefty stalk is an upturned human skull. Or at least, you think it’s human. The higher the skull rises the more bones you see. A femur. Two ribs. Maybe a hand.

The verdant beast roars. Its sun bleached bones whine and shake. 

Roll for initiative.

randomencountered | my encounters

[bardicbeany]

#randomencountered: depth, tinged, copper

You and your party follow the lead given to you by Thuriboziik, a copper dragon who had one of her eggs stolen by a clan of lizardfolk two nights ago. She would chase down the thieves herself, but she does not want the rest of her clutch put in danger by her absence. She implores you work quickly. Who knows what these lizardfolk want with her egg? 

On Thuriboziik’s word you head southto the Sapphire Depths, a deep canyon pockmarked with caves. Upon arrival the ancient canyon appears more wound in the earth than a natural landmark. You find a narrow path leading down to the bottom, and begin your descent. The rocks are bleary shades of black and gray, with a tinge of dark blue. If you look close enough you swear the rocks hadn’t been carved by years of wind and water, but by claw marks.

It doesn’t take long to find which cave the lizardfolk holed themselves up in. Outside the cave lay the remains of past meals and enemies. The lizardfolk you encounter at the entrance go down easy enough. You head deeper inside.  

What you weren’t expecting was the massive size of the cave, entwined with dozens of other caves and passageways carved out of the cliff sides. You dispatch lizardfolk when you find them, slowly working your way further in. 

Nor do you expect the ancient blue dragon waiting for you in the cave system’s depths. “So Thuriboziiksent you instead of coming here herself?” The blue dragon cackles. “No surprise. She’s always been a coward. It’s unfortunate you have to die for her cowardice.” 

The air crackles with electricity.

Roll for initiative.

randomencountered | my encounters

[bardicbeany]

lamp broccoli steel

Nearly a week has passed since your party began their trek through the Blackfen Swamp. Just up ahead, a moss-covered wooden sign reading The Silver Sword Inn creaks softly in the wind. Famished and exhausted from the long journey, you gladly enter the inn. 

Upon your approach you barely take notice of an antique lamp sitting in one of the windows. The flame flickers ominously when you open the door. Inside you find meager accommodations. Rough wooden flooring that has seen better days. Old paintings of nature scenes line the walls. Around you are four tables, nearly empty, save for three hooded patrons seated in the back.  

A male wood elf with long black hair and amber eyes is behind the bar. “C-can I help you?”

You ask if there’s rooms available and what’s on the menu. “There is, but grilled boar and broccoli is all there’s to eat. Chef went home early tonight.” He says apologetically. Nervously. His gaze darts about the room. 

You all order ale and take a seat at one of the empty tables. The elf disappears into a back room. Your empty stomachs grumble impatiently as you wait. You take a sip of your ale in the mean time.

You suddenly feel the cold steel of a sword pressing against your back. The three hooded figures have you surrounded. Closer now, you can see they’re two more elves and one half elf.

“What are a bunch of outsiders doing here?” The half elf snarls.   

What do you do?

randomencountered  | my encounters

[bardicbeany]

Zel'Voryn and someone else, cause crystals.

a perfect opportunity to write about Zel and her girlfriend! also the perfect excuse to finally get a name for her gf…

OC Kiss Week | My Characters 

Chikani sat cross legged at the foot of their usual meeting spot. An ancient six armed statue made of synth and stone towered over her. The statue’s face had long since worn away by time. Nearly all the floating sigil stones surrounding the statue had already formed the day’s daily symbol. Today’s one looked like some sort of constellation she didn’t recognize. Kani drummed her fingers impatiently on her knee. If Zel’Voryn didn’t show up soon, she’d have to leave without seeing her girlfriend. Again.

As the last sigil stone landed into position Zel’Voryn dashed into the chamber. “I’m here! I’m here!” She yelled, sounding a bit winded and nearly tripping over one of the stones.

Chikani rose from where she sat. “Let me guess, the Elders prevented you from leaving again?”

“Of course they did! Ever since all this,” Zel gestured wildly to herself and the crystal on her forehead, “They barely let me out of their sights!”

Kani sighed with a smile, “I know, I’m just glad you could make it this time.”

“Me too.”

Zel’Voryn walked up to her girlfriend and took her hand. She leaned in and kissed Kani tenderly. Kani squeezed her hand and wrapped her other arm around Zel’Voryn’s neck. After the ritual that had transformed Zel into living crystal, it was like finding each other all over again. Together they learned and re-learned what was different, and what was still the same.

Eventually the two broke the kiss, and hand in hand, sat together by the statue. Chikani rested her head on Zel’s shoulder. Zel’Voryn kissed the top of her head. For awhile there was only the comfortable silence between them. For awhile, the two of them could could just be.

Their meeting time drew to a close. The sigil stones began to float once more, as they always did. Chikani sighed sadly as she traced the crystal on Zel’s forehead with her fingertips. “Shouldn’t you be returning to the village soon?”

“I should be...” Zel replied with a sly smile. “But I don’t care. The Elders can deal with me being a bit late this time. I have more important things to tend to right here.” She wrapped her arms around Chikani’s waist and kissed her again.

[bardicbeany]

Frori and C for the minific?

C. A moment’s respite.

THIS ONE IS REALLY LATE I APOLOGIZE BUT I FINALLY GOT SOME INSP AND HERE IT IS.

Frori sat down upon a mossy rock after a long day’s hike through the woods. She cursed under her breath. She should be close to the next town by now. She took a waterskin full of homemade ale and chugged a few gulps.

A few hundred feet away came inquisitive squawking. On the branches of an ancient evergreen were three ravens eyeing her curiously.

She smiled up at them. “Hello there!” She put way the waterskin and grabbed a small pouch at her side. She jingled the goodies inside. The ravens were instantly enthralled, hopping cheerfully on the branches.

“You want some?” She opened the pouch, revealing the random pieces of junk inside. Scraps of metal. A piece of sea glass. A few rocks. “Help me out here. Show me where the nearest town is and I’ll give you some.”

One of the ravens flew over to her, nodded, then flew back to its companions. Frori grinned as she got up off her boulder and followed the corvids. Sometimes being a reclaimer isn’t all that bad.    

[bardicbeany]

Don't chase the rabbit Gil

Gil and her twin brother Glin basked in the refreshing shade of a grove of ancient trees on a hot summer’s day. Glin lazily strummed his guitar, humming a tune Gil hadn’t heard yet. Gil grinned as she listened, feasting on a handful of fresh wild flowers.

That’s when she heard the screaming.

Or at least, she thought it might be screaming. Sometimes she heard it, other times her brother’s voice drowned it out. Whoever or whatever it was, they sounded frightened. In pain.

“Glin! Glin stop playing!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, was my song boring yo-”

“Shh, no! Listen! Do you hear that?”

Glin huffed, annoyed, but put his guitar up against a tree. “I don’t hear anything, Gi–” His eyes suddenly opened wide. Terror crept onto his face. “What is that?”

“I don’t know, but c’mon!” Gil jumped onto her feet and ran off in the direction of the unnerving noise, disappearing into the brush.

“Crap, Gil! Gil where are you going! Wait up!” She heard her brother say as he clambered after her.

The screaming was close, wherever it might be. Gil sprinted as fast as her feet would carry her. She shivered as the sun’s rays became increasingly blocked out by the canopy, the forest floor darkening with the shade.

She heard it again and made a sharp turn towards the East. She burst through some thick bushes. And there, thrashing about on the ground, surrounded in a pool of blood, was a small centaur-like creature. Its broken hind leg was lodged in a bear trap.

Right on cue Glin was at Gil’s side, “There you ar–Wha?”

The creature in the trap was a young hybsil who’s horns had barely begun to grow in. The hybsil’s doe brown eyes darted to her fearfully. At the hybsil’s side was a spear which she grabbed tightly and aimed at the twins. “If you’re going to take me, hunters, I’m not going down with out a fight!”    

[rabbit ask meme]