[User] It was late at night and Tsubaki was having issues sleeping once again. With a moderately frustrated sigh she quietly hopped out of her bunk. She reached into her chest and pulled out a small black case before stepping out of the bedroom into the girls' common room.   My garlic plant is in the back corner to the left of the bathroom, the electric tea kettle was on the coffee table by the couch before we went to bed. Tea set is in the cupboard just to my left. I guess I didn't need to grab my glasses, I can find it all without.   After mapping out the room in her head, she lightly steps around in the dark, first grabbing the tea and tea set and taking it to the table. She turns on the electric tea kettle to boil the water and walks over to her plant, feeling a few leaves before deciding on one to pull off. She returns to the table, lays across the couch and begins playing a soft, sad song on the leaf she picked.

[User] Cold...    Asami slowly partially wakes with this thought.  Practically sleepwalking, it drives her to slip out of her covers and climb across the space separating the beds, to the other top bunk.  This sleepy-ninja routine has become an irregular but not uncommon occurrence the past month or two, since she became comfortable with two of her roommates.  It varies which bed she sleep-slinks into, but tonight it's the one with   no Tsubaki?  Empty?  This is a determent to my body temperature.    The distinct lack of her target wakes Asami up further, as she blinks a little and climbs down, now more curious than anything.  Operating by moonlight and memory, she slips out the door into the common room, to begin her very short investigation.

[User] Tsubaki can vaguely see the silhouette of someone exiting the door. After a few more notes, she ends her song and places her leaf on the table.   I can't make out who it is...   She sits up and takes a pair of black rimmed glasses out of the case she brought with her. The little warrior opens them with a flick of her wrist and places them on her face.  "Oh, hey Asami, did I wake you? Or did you try to pull a Chika and found out I wasn't there?"  She smiles to her friend, even though it's dark.

[User] "Cold."   Asami simply says in reply, still sleepy but glad her investigation didn't take her out of the common area.  Her curiosity sated, she smiles, waves a little, and turns around with the intent of making her way to Miyuki's bed for warmth instead, but pauses as she wonders something.   "Too early.  You couldn't sleep?"

[User] "Yeah... Couldn't stop thinking about things. I'll be fine though, I'll sleep on the roof of the school later. Or the clubroom for my old club. Or anywhere really. I'm not too picky, you know that."  She turns and prepares the tea leaves as she speaks.

[User] Asami turns back again and slowly shuffles over to the couch, flopping down on it if there's any space to.   "Want to talk about said thoughts?"

[User] Tsubaki sighs and relaxes a bit.  "I killed a man four years ago. Right in front of my sister. I can still feel the blood on me. Both of theirs..."  She goes wide eyed and covers her mouth.   I said it. Chika, I'm sorry! I promised I wouldn't...

[User] Sensing her friend's distress, Asami puts an arm around Tsubaki and holds her close.   "I'm sorry...  I didn't mean to bring it back to the front of your thoughts."   She appears to have, in her tiredness, misread the  cause  of the distress.

[User] Tsubaki shakes her head.  "Don't worry about it. It's always in my mind."  She carefully and gracefully prepares the tea with a calm demeanor, showing lots of experience in the practice and giving a noble air similar to that found in a tea ceremony.  "It's why I got this strong. If I was strong enough then, Chika would still be able to use her arm unhindered."

[User] Asami looks on with sadness in the dim light and leans her head on the other's shoulder.   "Tsubaki... please don't hide like that?  It's okay to let me see how you feel, you don't need to clam up and put on a calm mask..."

[User] Tsubaki's hands shake as she pours a small cup of tea, tears slowly welling up in her eyes.  "I have to be strong, Asami. Stronger than anyone. I have to be strong for her. Strong enough that I don't lose control. That way, she can't get hurt again. That way, she doesn't have to see the darker side of her hero."

[User] Asami reaches down to steady and guide Tsubaki's hand.   "Chika will always love you, no matter what.  I'm certain of it.  I know you're strong... I understand why you have to be."   She pulls the girl into a hug that she seems to need after gently pushing down the tea pot.

[User] Tsubaki tightly embraces her friend after letting go of the teapot, fully crying for the first time in a very, very long time.  "After the first couple strikes... He was no longer a threat. I kept slashing and stabbing. Over and over and over. I only stopped when Chika hugged me tightly. She was bleeding and more worried about my mental state. I know she'll always love me, but she doesn't need to see such things."

[User] Asami rubs her friend's back as she opens up.   "Nobody can decide what they see though, no matter how much we wish it.  We can't close our eyes and cover our ears, and still lead a full life.  You were there for her, and you were there to comfort her; that's what's really important, and that's what was in your control.  She  knows  you'll do anything for her, and I suspect that's worth more than the cost to find it out."   She knows she's toeing the line here and things could blow up spectacularly if she phrases anything wrongly, but feels like she needs to keep at it.   "I don't know her nearly as well as you... but do you think she'd ever blame you?"

[User] Tsubaki wipes her face to little effect, a sad smile playing across her lips.  "She won't. I took so many things from her and she refused to blame me. Someone has to though. I can't let myself be forgiven unless I find a way to mend her arm. For a while, I'd wake up in a cold sweat. I started sleeping better after she started sneaking into my bed."  The little warrior's tears stop flowing as she speaks. She chuckles softly before speaking again.  "And I'm supposed to be the big sister. She's always taking care of me."

[User] Asami bites her lip and steels her resolve before speaking this time.   "As... as s-someone who was a l-little s-s-sister too, even if only b-by a few minutes, you t-take care of each other.  And that's how it s-should be."   She lets out a staggering breath after having managed to get that out.   "You  both  take care of each other.  Doesn't matter how it manifests.  I w-was always a lot happier when I g-got to take care of... of m-mine."

[User] Tsubaki moves herself and Asami so that her head on the little hero's chest and holds her close.  "I understand. Her and I do take care of one another.I'm sorry that, in comforting me, you ended up hurting yourself."

[User] Asami makes several wide blinks as she's moved.   "Hurting?  N-no, I'm okay, I didn't... not that much..."   She blushes ever so slightly.

[User] Tsubaki shakes her head and gives a caring smile.  "The past is painful. I know it and you know it. That's why I won't ask you about it. Just know that, no matter what, I'm going to be here for you."

[User] "I... I guess so."   Asami pays attention to Tsubaki's heartbeat, using it as a focus to keep herself grounded in the present.   "Do you feel a bit better at least?   I hope so... "

[User] Tsubaki pets Asami's hair and nods.  "Yeah, I'm better. I'm really sorry about all of that."  She looks over at the tea she made and sighs.  "I'd offer you a cup, but you're going to want to get back to sleep. Drinking this tea isn't helpful for that."

[User] Asami makes a small affirmative sound and scoots down the couch a little so she can rest her head in Tsubaki's lap.   "Cold.   I miss her... "   She shivers, though it's hard to tell whether her temperature or the memory is more of a factor.

[User] Tsubaki takes a sip of her tea and grabs the leaf off the table.   I can't do anything about her sister, but I can help her feel a little better.   She begins playing a gentle song she made from fond memories.

[User] By the time the song  starts  Asami is nearly asleep, and about five measures in she's the rest of the way gone, vaguely smiling.  Her body still shivers from time to time, and she has the sensation of someone about to resume a nearly-caught dream.

[User] Tsubaki loops through the song a few more times before finishing and putting the leaf down.   She looks so adorable when she's sleeping... So defenseless...   She slowly leans in towards Asami before stopping abruptly and shaking her head to clear it of the thoughts.   Bad Tsubaki! Bad!

[User] Asami shivers in her sleep, looking terrified of something.   " ...not how I feel... ...think that... ...real... ...not me, couldn't be anymore... ...has to be... "  she murmurs in her sleep, twisting her body restlessly.

[User] Tsubaki gently pulls Asami up into a tight embrace, more concerned with comforting her friend than letting her keep sleeping.   Is this my fault? I didn't mean for this. I'm sorry Asami-chan.

[User]
 Asami lets out a small whimper as she's being moved, but otherwise doesn't quite wake.  The shift does stop the sleep talking though, even with it being clear she's still in the same dream from her twitches and expression.

 Spoiler: OOC
Feel free to initiate time skip if you need to, since this is pretty reactability-poor.

[User] Tsubaki takes a deep breath.  "I said I'd protect you. That doesn't stop just because it's not physical."  She hops to her feet, pushing Asami onto the couch as she does, in hopes of waking her up.

[User] The sudden movement jolts Asami awake with a sharp breath.  Her eyes snap open possessing a faint glow in the darkness that fades in a few seconds... one of her signs of a nearly-started persona invocation on this side.   "A...Akemi?  Where are... wait, this is...  oh... "   She slumps down bonelessly as reality and the present come back to her.

[User] Tsubaki sits down next to Asami.  "I'm sorry. You were having what looked to be a nightmare. I wasn't about to let you sit in your pain."

[User] Asami lies unresponsive for a while other than reaching a hand toward Tsubaki and leaving it to hang there in the air.  After some time, she speaks with a dead, emotionless voice never before heard from her.   "You did the right thing."

[User] Tsubaki grabs Asami's hand and presses it against the tiny warrior's chest.  "Alright. I'll act quicker next time. Are you feeling okay?"

[User]
 "No,"  she replies candidly in the same tone as before.   "But I am  fine ."   Asami says the last word in English, and something about the way she says it evokes chills.    Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional, Beloved?  Oh, no...

 Spoiler: OOC
Remember, Asami's mother is British.

[User] Tsubaki isn't quite sure what Asami means, but she gets the feeling it's not good.   In this situation...   She pulls her friend into a tight embrace.  "I'm here, it'll be okay."

[User] Asami is more or less a rag doll in the embrace, but either it or Tsubaki's words do seem to help a little.  After minutes that feel like hours, her head slowly cranes up to look at Tsubaki's face.   "Sometimes the dream becomes reality,"  she whispers as if in answer to an unasked question, and her blank mask cracks as a tear starts to slip out.

[User] Tsubaki gently wipes the tear from Asami's face.  "I won't pretend to understand. But, if your nightmare becomes reality, I'll crush it into a million pieces."

[User] Asami's eyes go wide, the mask cracking further as she shakes.   "I don't know if..."   She presses her face into Tsubaki's shoulder.   " You don't understand...   I don't usually remember those dreams, but they've become much more frequent the last few months.  It changes every time, but there's always one line that stays the same..."   She shivers, knowing that this has to come out precise to convey the full meaning and pulls Tsubaki's head down so that she's right next to her ear.  She breathes deeply and clenches up, her eyes flashing visibly and a ghostly aura of light forming as she gathers the needed mindset and strength.  In the most haunting tone she's ever uttered, she whispers.   "I am a Shadow; the  true  self."

[User] Tsubaki's eyes shoot wide open, understanding it on a primal level. She closes her eyes and smiles.  "No matter what's inside you. No matter what you can't show me. I'll accept you. No matter what. After all, I care a lot about you."

[User] Asami wavers dizzily as the aura fades and rests her head against Tsubaki again, breathing shallowly.  She puts her weakened arms around the hero and starts slipping away to sleep again, suddenly inexplicably exhausted and more than a little delirious.   "I know you will..."  she murmurs just before drifting off.   " Love... you... sis..ter... "

[User] Tsubaki picks up her friend.   "Love you too, Asami..."   With those words she carries her friend back to Asami's bed and climbs in with her.


[User]
 Party #2: Primary offensive strategy vs. Displacers is Spike Growth combined with ranged attacks. Primary defensive strategy is a zone of pain composed of Spike Growth, Careful Web, and Repelling Blast.

 party 2 rolled 7 initiative

Rolled Stats:
13	16	8	14	8	15
10	12	13	12	10	16

Cardinal Ramsey (corrupt cleric, inspired by Cardinal Woolsey and Zhaspahr Clyntahn)
Acolyte Human Fighter 1/Fiendlock 2/Wild Sorcerer 4
Str 15 Dex 8 Con 14 Int 13 Wis 8 Cha 19 - ruddy, round, jowly, choleric and bad-tempered, forceful
HP 50, AC 21 [Plate armor, shield, defense Style]
Feats: Heavy Armor Master, [ASI: Cha 17 => 19]
Skills: Athletics, Deception, Religion, Intimidation, Insight
Invocations: Agonizing Blast, Repelling Blast
Metamagic: Quickened Spell, Careful spell
Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Booming Blade, Thunderclap, Greenflame Blade, Minor Illusion, Blade Ward, Friends
Warlock spells: Expeditious Retreat, Hex, Armor of Agathys
Sorcerer spells: Disguise Self, Suggestion, Shield, Detect Thoughts, Blur
Spell slots: 4/3 and 2

Grey Strider (pragmatic mercenary/assassin, inspired by Captain Demos from Codex Aliera and Goodman Grey from Dresden Files)
Human Sailor Hunter 5/Rogue 2
Str 12 Dex 18 Con 14 Int 10 Wis 13 Cha 10 - quiet, nonchalant, self-confident, amoral, occasionally witty
HP 58, AC 16 [studded leather] or 18 [w/ shield]
Archery style
Feats: Sharpshooter, [ASI: Dex 17=>18, Con 13=>14]
Skills: (Expert)Stealth, Perception, (Expert)Athletics, Acrobatics, Deception
Spells: Longstrider, Spike Growth, Pass Without Trace, Fog Cloud
Spell slots: 4/2

Party #2: Sometime in the hour before finding himself in the cube, Cardinal Ramsey casts Armor of Agathys II and Disguise Self to look like a scrawny balding fellow in a blue robe. Grey Strider casts Longstrider on himself.

Ramsey's remaining slots: 4/1 and 1.
Grey's remaining slots: 3/2
Ramsey is wielding a battleaxe and shield
Grey has his shield and rapier slung but his longbow out

 DM ruling needed: Web ensnares creatures who start their turn in the web or enter the web during their turn. Does casting a web on yourself and other creatures count as "entering the web during your turn" for only the caster, for all creatures, or for nobody? Who has to make a saving throw?

I'd have everyone make their save immediately. This is because creatures moving before their turn (battlemaster's powers, etc) might escape a web without even making a save, and it's probably not intended.

Initiative for battle #2

Results:
[1d20+2]->[7+2] = 9
[1d20+2]->[18+2] = 20
[1d20+2]->[14+2] = 16
[1d20+2]->[11+2] = 13
[1d20+2]->[2+2] = 4
[1d20+2]->[13+2] = 15

All beasts but #5 go before characters; then PCs, then every beast cycling over.

All beasts charge their prey. They are not stopping to delay or ready action, as they not smart enough (int 6). They also do not realize that they might (or might not) better be served to wait until their prey are in a position they can all attack.
They end up encircling their prey, but only #4 gets to attack Ramsey. The others are dashing to get to their positions.
Those that can't get to their prey are just hanging back, circling and waiting for an opportunity.

Beasts attack:
[1d20+6]->[10+6] = 16
[1d20+6]->[18+6] = 24

#4 hits ramsey once, for
[1d6+4]->[5+4] = 9
[1d6]->[3+0] = 3

12 damage, which gets reduced to 9 by Ramsey's armor (i would rule that one attack = one DR, at least for physical attacks)
Ramsey doesn't take any damage, but his Armor of Agathys only has 1 hp remaining before it fades.
#4 takes 5 cold damage.

#4, based on Displacer beast fluff, has seen magic before. It probably knows the prey has some kind of magic barrier, but does not form any more thoughts about that, except "more attacks -> more blood next time -> eat"
It probably realizes the barrier is diminishing in power.

It may or may not notice something about Ramsey's disguise (if it was important, i'd probably grant the creature a passive investigation check at disadvantage) but it wouldn't change anything as the creature is not intelligent enough to think anything about it, nor would be able to see through it even if it passed the check.

[User]
 Ramsey's Armor of Agathys II should inflict 10 points of cold damage, not 5.

However, Ramsey will Shield* to avoid the hit, instead of taking damage. (AC 26 = miss.)

I'll post my moves in a followup post.

* I didn't explicitly say this, but my intent was for Ramsey to have a hand free at the start of combat, since he can always draw his battleaxe on his turn if he needs to use it. If that's a problem, he doesn't have to shield, he could take the hit instead--not a big deal either way for me, but being able to Shield was my original intent.

Are the DMG options for Overrun and Tumble (DMG page 272) allowed? (Use a bonus action or action to move through a hostile creature's square as difficult terrain, after succeeding on an opposed Athletics or Acrobatics check.)

[User]
 Originally Posted by MaxWilson
 Ramsey's Armor of Agathys II should inflict 10 points of cold damage, not 5.

However, Ramsey will Shield* to avoid the hit, instead of taking damage. (AC 26 = miss.)

I'll post my moves in a followup post.

* I didn't explicitly say this, but my intent was for Ramsey to have a hand free at the start of combat, since he can always draw his battleaxe on his turn if he needs to use it. If that's a problem, he doesn't have to shield, he could take the hit instead--not a big deal either way for me, but being able to Shield was my original intent.

Are the DMG options for Overrun and Tumble (DMG page 272) allowed? (Use a bonus action or action to move through a hostile creature's square as difficult terrain, after succeeding on an opposed Athletics or Acrobatics check.)

My mistake on the armor damage. Also you can consider the PC shielded.
Yes, feel free to use Overrun/tumble for DMG.

[User]
 Grey casts Spike Growth.

Ramsey casts Web from P2 to S5, catching beasts #1, #3, and #4 in the area. DC is 15, their Dex save is +2, so they need a 13 or better to save. In order, they roll: (1, 15, 12). #1 and #4 are restrained in the Web.

Then Ramsey casts Quickened Eldritch Blast.

Attacks beast #4 with the first ray: rolls at advantage against restrained target (Displacement doesn't work when restrained) (11, 8) +7 = 18, a hit! for d10+4 (7+4=11) points of damage. It is blasted 10' back over the spikes for 4d4 damage ( DM ruling needed:  does being pushed across Spike Growth still cause damage? if not ignore this roll) for (2,3,1,1=7) points of damage. Displace Beast #4 is down 18 HP but is no longer restrained and is in fact no longer within the area of the Web.

Second ray of Eldritch Blast targets beast #3. Rolls at disadvantage because of Displacement (3,6) +7 = 10, misses.

Finally, Ramsey moves left one square.

Status: Ramsey is down to slots 4/1 and 0 (after AoA II, Web, Shield, and Disguise Self) and only 2 Sorcery Points but has full Armor of Agathys 10 remaining. Spike Growth and Web are both active. Displacer beast #1 is restrained in the web and #4 is down 18 HP.

(Apologies for the messed-up AoE graphics. I drew the AoEs before the Eldritch Blast.)

[User] The PC Cardinal Ramsey. Rolled stats 13(to Int), 16(to Cha+1), 8(to Dex), 14(to Con), 8(to Wis), 15(to Str). Final stats are 15, 8, 14, 13, 8, 19 with Heavy Armor Mastery and +2 Cha as the level 4 ASI. So I think he's missing the second human stat boost as well as the boost from HAM. It's probably important to him.

[User]
 Good catch. Bump his Con up to 16. (That is, he can put the 14 in Str and the 15 in Con, and HAM bumps Str back up to 15 while Human bumps Con up to 16.)

That gives him 57 HP and +6 on Con saves. So, he is even ruddier and stockier than before.


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[User]
 Roland's journal, 2nd day of Spring.

Wolf carcass in dry riverbed this morning. Morningstar wound on burst stomach. Left me feeling bad, infected.

I came out here two days ago on an extended scouting mission. There'd been some problem with the foraging parties that the peasants send out, teams had been disappearing, no noise, no bodies. Whatever it was had got the villagers spooked. The whole of Gant was up in arms, calling on the local Watch to do something about it. They didn't. They just sent me.

It didn't take long before I found something. A day into the forest that borders the town I found the first signs of a struggle. Blood on the rocks, scraps of clothes. Even found a shuriken. Where in Novis a peasant got a shuriken I don't know, but there it was, bent, half buried in the mud. I followed an easy trail to a cave, and that's where I found them..

[User]
 Survival:  10+2 = 12

   The trail ends here, at this cave.

It smells in there. Like swamp slime, and death. It reminds me of an exhibition a few years back, some rich merchant had a glass tank big enough to walk in, full of hothouse plants. He kept his pets in there. Lizards. I didn't hate those animals back then, but the stench was overwhelming. It's like that now.

I can't find anything out from here. I have to go in.
 Move Silently:   (1d20+7)[ 27 ]
 Hide:   (1d20+7)[ 14 ]
  Listen:   (1d20+3)[ 18 ]
  Listen:   (1d20+3)[ 7 ]
   It gets dark after the second twist in the passage. Too dark to see. It feels like the walls fall away up ahead, but I need light to be sure.
This place feels like a lair and smells like a tomb. I listen, hard.
    Listen:   (1d20-1)[ 14 ]

[User]
 I hear shuffling feet on stone in the cavern ahead. Sounds like two of them, whatever they are.
Lighting my torch will let them know I'm here, but in these tight quarters I can deal with two of almost anything.
I light my torch, and let the burning stick fall to the ground.
 Initiative:   (1d20+6)[ 10 ]
 Tsssss
  Initiative:   (1d20-1)[ 3 ]
 Seltur molik, svent coi!
  Initiative:  (1d20-1)[ 17 ]
   Well, so that's what they are. Some kind of lizard people. Primitive. Clubs, skins. Their physiology looks like a cross between humans and lizards, almost like kobolds. I guess the standard anthro weaknesses apply. Nothing to worry about.
 Knowledge (local/humanoid):  (1d20+22)[ 27 ] (5/6)

   Is that a human? Yeah, filth covered and bloodied, but it's a man alright.
It looks like I interrupted their meal...
  oh thank gods
  Initiative:   (1d20)[ 7 ]

[User]
 The big one runs straight at me. He's a little quicker on the uptake than his friend, or me, truth be told. Still, he doesn't seem to see the guisarme in my hand. Guisarme. Fancy name for a bladed hook on a stick. I swing low, trying to trip him.
 Attack (trip):   (1d20+7)[ 24 ]
 Strength:   (1d20+6)[ 13 ]  vs   Strength:   (1d20)[ 1 ]

[User]
 I drop him. Heh. I have time to get a swing in against the prone creature.
 Attack:   (1d20+11)[ 14 ]  for  (2d4+10)[ 18 ]  +  (1d6)[ 2 ]  (2/6)

   It looks like 'dinner's coming to his senses. He charges at the other one, who's ready for him, with a club.
The prisoner's a human. He doesn't stand much of a chance. Naked, unarmed, trying to wrestle an overgrown lizard.
  Attack (grapple):   (1d20+1)[ 20 ]
  AoO: Club   (1d20+1)[ 20 ]  for  (1d6)[ 4 ]
  Grapple:   (1d20+2)[ 9 ]  for  (1d3+1)[ 4 ]   vs   (1d20+1)[ 14 ]

[User]
 The fool's already dead, he just doesn't know it. He stood up better than I expected to that club, but the smaller one's about to go to town on him, and I'm too slow to do anything about it...
  Full Attack: Club   (1d20+1)[ 21 ]  for  (1d6)[ 2 ] ,  Claw   (1d20-1)[ 14 ]  for  (1d4)[ 2 ] ,  Bite   (1d20-1)[ 10 ]  for  (1d4)[ 3 ]

[User]
 And the man goes down. Maybe I can still save him, if I get to him in time. Maybe.
   That's right scales. Your friend's dead. It's just you and me, and I'm giving it everything I've got.
I twirl my guisarme and charge.
 Attack:   (1d20+9)[ 24 ]  for  (2d4+10)[ 16 ]  +  (1d6)[ 6 ]  (0/6)

[User]
 The head goes flying. It's graceful, in a brutal kind of way.
Brutality is the only kind of beauty I still expect to find in this place.

There's still time to save the man.
 Heal:   (1d20+2)[ 3 ]

[User]
 I can see his life slipping away. I put everything I had into the fight, now I've got nothing left when I really need it.
I place my right hand on the clasp of my belt. My other hand goes on the man's forehead.

I don't know exactly what I'm doing. I know the belt can close wounds, though I've never used it on someone else before.
It's time for it to earn what I paid for it.
 Healing Belt:   (4d8)[ 23 ] HP

[User] The man was grateful. Of course he was. Told me his name was Jason, told me his whole damn life story. I met his wife even. She didn't like me. There was some gold from the Watch like always, and everything went back to normal. I tried to sketch the lizards for the local scout master, found out they were called troglodytes. You learn something new every day. At least, you learn something a hundred people already knew. Nothing is new anymore.

[User]
 Roland's Journal, 35th day of Spring

Far-Gant. Dismal little town. They set it up a few years ago to supply Gant with timber, just a few leaky log cabins. Later on they built an inn and guardhouse, once the masters in Gant realised they were making money out there. It was raining when I arrived, and I didn't care for it, not one bit. I was only there in the first place because some of the loggers had been going missing. Strange case. They sleep in a communal longhouse, stay together when they walk out into the woods, and barely go a mile into the forest in the first place. Not many places for them to be spirited away without anyone seeing.

They had me set up to stay with the governor. I'd never heard of a governor before, guess they only put them in charge of tiny little hamlets. Just enough of a title to keep whatever uppity commoner they made into their tool happy. I know what you're thinking. Remote logging camp, casual desecration of an ancient forest, it's got to be dryads right? Well... maybe. That first night, when I met the governor, that's when I started to think the problem might lie a lot closer to home.

[User]
 Hello Governor. Nice house you've got here.
 Bluff:   (1d20+5)[ 20 ]  (5/6)

   It's a hole. A wood cabin with aspirations. It's styled like one of the big merchant houses in the city, but with none of the quality or class.
 They said that you offered to take me in while I look for your missing lumberjacks. Kind of you, don't like the look of those longhouses.
 Speak nothing of it! Speaking of our distant masters, they informed me of your mission, but neglected to mention your name..
 Roland Ness.
   I hold out my hand for him to shake. He turns away. He's acting like he didn't notice the gesture, but I think I catch a flash of something across his face. Fear? Disgust? Maybe I'm just imagining things again. That happens sometimes, late at night.
Sense Motive (hunch):   (1d20+4)[ 15 ]  (4/6)

 Ah yes, Mr. Ness. Well, it's good to have you here. If I lose any more workers the officials back in Gant will have my neck! Ha-ha.
   Not your neck, just your title, land and money. For a man like you, might as well be the same thing.
 Well, I'm here to save your neck, but I'm not starting until morning. You got somewhere I can get dry and sleep? Maybe a pallet by a fire?
 Heavens, no. You'll have the guest bedroom. Victor will show you up. Victor!
   The butler appears at the door like a ghost. He doesn't look much healthier than one either. Face drawn, mouth just slightly hanging open, just enough to taint the picture.
 Sirrr?
 Show Mr. Ness here up to the guest bedroom will you, fetch him some towels and see he's fed.
 Yes sirr. Show Mr. Ness the guest bedroom, bring him towels, food and wine.
 That's right. Well Mr. Ness, I expect to be awake for some time with this paperwork, but I shall see you tomorrow evening. Victor here can help you with anything you need.
   He leads me up the stairs to a small bedroom. It's not bad. Better than I expect. I send the butler away, looking into his eyes gives me a bad feeling. I don't hold it against him, people have said the same thing about me. I do a quick search of the room, but there's nothing out of place. No eye-holes in the painting, no secret door in the closet. I guess I'll find out more about this mess tomorrow. Just hope the rain will stop.
 Search:   (1d20+11)[ 16 ]  (3/6)

[User]
 When I wake up, I find a plate of bread and cold meat next to the bed, and a wooden bowl of hot water. Good hospitality from the governor. The governor, kind of rude of me not to ask for his name, but I was wet, tired. It makes me wonder why he didn't offer it though. Maybe he's just socially backward. That's fine. I'm missing a few graces myself.

I don't spend much time in the manor. I wash, eat, muddle through enough of a ritual to let me cast Mage Hand and Protection From Evil later on. I don't know what's going on here, but some kind of 'evil' is a safe bet. Evil. I've almost forgotten what it is. Is the Church Evil or Good? What about those troglodytes I fought last month? Were they Evil? Or just hungry?

When I open the door to the room, the butler, Victor, he's just standing outside.
 Morning sirrr. I'm to provide food and drink, and to help you with anything you need.
 I know, thanks Vic, appreciate it. I'm headed out now though, catch you later.
   Where did the governor even find a butler out here anyway. Maybe he promoted a lumberjack, the guy has the build of one.

It isn't raining. That's a blessing. My first stop is the guard house, to speak to the commander of the local Guard. I may not have heard of the governor before, but I knew this commander's name. Erika Childs. She was a famous soldier back in her day, bringing our own brand of 'civilization' to the natives. Her pattern was always the same. Arrive, slaughter, then try and build while the ground was still muddy with blood. And back home they always cheered, always applauded whatever temporary, isolated watch tower, or wooden-stake fort, or mission temple she'd managed to throw up.

She was the golden daughter of Gant, until Bridden Fields. I guess guarding this muddy ruin of a village is the reward for mercy. As far as I'm concerned, sparing those orc kids is the only thing she has going for her.

The barracks doesn't smell bad at all. I was expecting sweat, sword oil, old food. It's clean in here, and I can see why. Of twelve beds, only two look like they're being slept in. Two guards to look after an entire town, out here in the wilds. Hilarious. I make my way to the back where I know I'll find the commander's private rooms. I knock.

Long seconds pass...

[User]
 Come in.
...

 Sorry to catch you sleeping, commander. I'm Roland Ness, they sent me about the disappearances.
   She's wearing some kind of armoured slip. A nightshirt with leather plates sewn into the breast and stomach. Intimidating. I guess it must be comfortable enough though.
 -yawn- Eh, no problem. I'm sick of the letters HQ keep sending about it.
   She waves at a stack of unopened letters on her desk. She's stopped even trying to keep faith with the leadership in Gant. Can't say I blame her, banishment after a lifetime of service. I wonder, if she were back in that forest clearing again, looking down into that pit of orcish children, would she still stay her hand, even knowing the consequences? I need to believe the answers 'yes', at least until I get out of the same room with her.
 I'll try not to take up much of your time. What do you know about it?
   Her eyes lose focus, looking past me. I can see the face that made the leaders love her. The cold, analytical stare. I might be the only civilian who's seen her eyes like that. The true face she only shows when she's being debriefed, or when she's killing.
 The first disappeared two weeks ago. That was a particularly bad night. Some of the horses had broken free in a storm, and I took John and Maja, they're the privates out there, out to look for them, as well as most of the labourers. When we came back we were a man down, Jonas never turned up. I sent out search parties, but you saw the barracks out there, I just don't have any resources. They found nothing.
 Who since then? And when did they disappear?
   I already know the answers, they were in my mission papers, but I want to hear it from her.
 Matthias three nights later. It was a calm night, he went to bunk with the rest of the workers, and wasn't there in the morning. Eva two nights after that. And that was the pattern. Every three nights, another one goes missing from a crowded room of sleeping workers. No sign of a struggle, no tracks, even on the muddy days, though if they used the gravel paths I wouldn't expect any.
 You ever set any watches around the longhouses? Try and catch whatever it is in the act?
 I did... they didn't see anything.
 Bluff:   (1d20-1)[ 12 ]
 Sense Motive:   (1d20+4)[ 18 ]  (5/6)

 You.. never set the damn watches, did you commander.
 -sigh- You saw what I have to work with out there in the barracks. Those lumberjacks aren't weak men and women. Something that can take one of them without a sound could handle either of my people without any trouble at all. And then I'm a commander with one subordinate.
 You're meant to be here to protect the village, commander! If you're not even trying to do that, what are you!?

Just.. never mind. So it could be anything, anything smart enough not to leave a trace. Did you leave their things alone at least?
 John looked at the beds of the first couple to go, just to check for a struggle. We tied red ribbons around the bedposts, and nobody's slept in them since.
 What about Detect Evil? Detect Magic? Done any divination?
 Look around, we don't have anyone out here who can do that. I asked for them to send out a paladin, but they just sent  you !
   Yeah. They just sent me.

[User]
 The longhouses seem grim at first. Bare wooden walls, draughty gaps around the door. But when I look closer there are real mattresses on the bunks, and little iron stoves kicking out heat every few meters along the wall. This probably isn't a bad life for the workers.

They're all already out there in the forest. The masters sleep while the servants toil, it's always this way. I wander over to the closest bunk with a red ribbon. This must have been one of the first, the blankets have been thrown off, the cupboard on the ground next to it has been gone through. Probably by one of the inept guards, looking for clues. The sheet covering the mattress is pristine, but I pull it off anyway. You never know where the clue will turn up, even a stray hair can turn into a key in the right hands.

There. Under the sheet. The tiniest spot of blood. It's staining the weave of the mattress, down where the man's foot would have been. It's not exactly fresh, but it hasn't turned to the brown rust that blood goes after about a week. The blood's on the mattress, but not the sheet.

I check around the room, looking at the rest of the mattresses.
 Search:   (1d20+11)[ 22 ]  (4/6)

   Every mattress is the same. A spot of blood down by the feet, but no blood on the sheet. None of the sheets on the red ribbon beds even smell. Whoever's doing this changes the sheets. They must do it before morning, or else someone would have noticed the blood. Creepy son of a wretch... Who could take a man in a room full of his sleeping friends without making a sound, and hang around long enough to change the sheets? What could do that?

What's this feeling? Fear? Hello old friend. I thought you were gone for good. I don't have any choice. I'm going to have to wait out and try and catch this thing. Lucky for me tonight is the night. The third night since the last disappearance. I make my way over to the inn, the Lost Horse, got some time to kill. The Lost Horse. That must happen a lot around here. Badly built stables, lots of storms, lots of frightened horses bolting into the woods. It's a clean enough place. A quick look at the chalk board out front confirms my suspicious about the room prices - astronomical. The occasional administrative inspector can afford to stay here, but not me. I don't get an expense account.

When the workers trickle in at sunset I spend a few hours talking with them and playing dice. They're a decent bunch, simple, but they know why I'm here. I'm on their side. I ask around about the missing men and women. What were they like. Did you notice anything unusual. Just standard questions, but made the loggers think I was some kind of inspired investigator. They don't realise I'm just the guy they throw at the cheap problems, when the ones in charge don't really care.
 Gather Information:   (1d20+3)[ 9 ]
   Nothing interesting. One of them got sick a few days earlier, but that doesn't mean much either way. I pay my tab and go back to the manor. I don't mind the governor, but I'm not looking forward to seeing that gaunt as a ghost butler again. Something there is not right.

[User]
 Hello again Mr. Ness! Come in, sit down. There's roast beef on the table. I've already eaten I'm afraid, I wasn't sure when you would return.
   There really is beef on the table. Weird, I haven't seen a cow since I left Gant days ago.

We sit. I eat while he drinks wine. He's quite a talker, no love for the church, healthy disrespect for authority. I'm almost starting to like him. The only dark cloud on the evening is that damned butler. Every time he looks at me I feel shivers run down my spine, but I know he can't be the one I'm looking for. He's not quiet, he's not intelligent. I correct last night's mistake and get the governor's  name. Gideon.
  Diplomacy:   10+12
  He asks about the case of course, he's got a vested interest. I divert him, I don't want to talk about the blood I found, or any of my conclusions. Not even with the governor.
 Will you stay up with me, Mr Ness? Perhaps a game of cards?
 Not tonight governor. I'm going to be a little rude, and go straight up to my room.
 Ah well, that's a shame. Shall I have Victor show you up?
 No! Uh, that's fine governor. I know my way now.
   I walk to the room and lock the door. I don't want that butler in here while I'm asleep, not even to leave breakfast. I stuff some pillows under the blankets to fake a sleeping body, an old trick. The room is on the second story and it's about 20 feet down to the ground. I brought a rope with me, it's in my bag, but I think I should be able to handle the fall.

I go to the window, slide it open, quietly, quietly. Only 20 feet. It'll hurt, but not in any lasting way.

I jump.
 Tumble (fall):  10+11

[User]
 I make my way down the gravel road to the longhouses where the loggers sleep. They'll all be in there by now, playing whatever quiet games they use to pass the time until they're bored. It's dark out, but there's a moon. I find a place where I can hide with my back to one of the log walls, a wood pile in front of me. It's a good spot, I can make out the door to the longhouse with ease.
 Hide:  20+11

   I sit. I wait.

A couple of hours pass before I think I see movement. I can see a figure creeping up to the longhouse, and the sight of it makes me sick to my stomach. Tall, naked, skin as white as corpse flesh, and long sharp teeth, like he'd filed them all to points. He moves without making a sound, and as he passes in front of the building his skin shifts and turns a mottled brown, changing colour like a cuttlefish to blend in. If he'd had any kind of cover, or if he were a little further back in the gloom, I wouldn't have seen him at all.

Let me tell you something you might not know about me. I'm a craftsman. I know, I don't look like much of a carpenter. I don't make things of beauty, or anything useful like chairs or a baskets. I make poisons. Trekking through the wilderness makes you intimately familiar with what's bad to eat, and what stings when you touch it. When you know a few of those plants, it's pretty easy to mix something you can put on a blade that will knock somebody out.

I want this thing alive, so I can make it talk, just in case it can talk. I brought a cold iron dagger with me thinking I might run into a fae. Hells, I wish it were a fae. The dagger's covered in poison now, something to drop him without doing permanent damage. I throw it before he even knows I'm here.
 Attack (dagger, thrown):   (1d20+9)[ 15 ]  for  (1d4+2)[ 4 ]  (5/6)
 Poison:  Unconsciousness DC13
 Fort:   (1d20)[ 11 ]


[User]
 Hello players (and any spectators reading along),

I am P.J. your friendly neighborhood Storyteller. Before we start, here are a few ground rules for the PCs.

-This is an invite only game so please only post if you are directly involved in the game.

-We have players on very different schedules and experience levels so please allow others time to reply when involved in a scene. Expect the pace of the game to run slowly at times due to this.

-Avoid huge posts, nothing to much more then a paragraph. Leave actions open ended as you would around a table. To aid in the game flow just post what you are doing and I will handle the rolls and reply with results (at  http://rpgroller.com/wod/ ).

Example - John posts: "I walk into the abandoned warehouse and look around for potential ambushes and clues".
I post in reply: "The room is large and dusty with many large 5'x5' crates stacked 3 or 4 high forming rows. It appears as no one has been in it for over a year, save for some fresh muddy foot-prints leading deeper into the warehouse".

-Announce beforehand if you want to use willpower points before a roll.

-Have fun! From this point on, keep it in character. PM or e-mail me with any concerns.


[User]
 All members and recruits of The Institute are expected to keep their activities out of the public eye. The Institute is not a public agency, and it wishes to avoid legal and criminal entanglements. Any and all measures are approved to maintain that condition.  : Sinclair field guide, page 1.

Since its' inception nearly three centuries ago, The Sinclair Institute has been one of the most successful private brokerage firms and investment banks, employing over a hundred thousand individuals across 70 countries and hundreds of locations. Within the last decade, Sinclair has bought out multiple companies in various fields including medicine, alternative energies, weapons development, research labs, private hospitals, and even for-profit higher education.

This all makes for an absolutely perfect cover and cash flow for one of the largest supernatural organizations in the world. Below each of the locations Sinclair Subsidiaries owns and operates is a multi-leveled safe house and base of operations for their true purpose. The protection, rehabilitation and/or incarceration of supernatural entities and the weapons they would use against humanity.

You are the latest recruits for the New England location opening later this week. Publicly, there is a new hospital opening in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts. Not so publicly, the previous safe house for Sinclair burned to the ground following a particularly nasty case took out the small cell they had in the area. With a new location comes new blood.

That's how it started. Whether you were a part of another organization hunting the supernatural, or maybe you just knew more than you let on to most. Hell, maybe you're just a regular Joe with a particular set of skills they wanted. Whatever your story is, you were jumped on the street and brought to the basement of Sinclair General Hospital with a burlap sack over your head. That was 13 hours ago. 13 hours without food, water, or sleep in a tiny white room. You and 19 others all without a clue what happens next.

[User]
 Joe had spent the past 13 hours sitting in a white room with a bunch of other schmucks and the only question on his mind?   Where the **** is my dog?   He was trying to think of a way out of this damn room but all he could hear was everyone bitching about being hungry.  WILL YOU ALL SHUT UP!!

 Spoiler: Character Description
Joe is a man in his 60s, he has long, just shy of shoulder length, grey hair and a bushy unkempt beard. He is well built for a man of his years and he is approximately 6'0 tall and made of lean muscle.

[User]
 Janos had quickly ceased resisting when he was jumped. He could possibly take one. Maybe two. Three or more? Cut your losses, protect your vitals, pray if you have to - and look for openings later on. Well, so far there were pretty few openings he could make use of. Much as he did not want to, he had to be patient. He knew how to be patient. He had to.

He tried to get the sack out of his head, while his hands felt the terrain by him and his ears and brain tried to make some sense of the din around. Presuming he could get an actual view of what was happening, his eyes would soon become narrownarrow and wary as looked around himself in the white room, trying to make sense of it all. This did not look like a prison - sorry, not the sort of prison a judge threw you in. Some secret place for terrorists and the like, perhaps?

 Spoiler: Character description
Janos is a man approaching his 30s with an average build, tending towards lean and athletic but with a whiff of going spoiled from easier living.  He wears comfortable clothes, has a carefully trimmed hair and moustache, but his eyes are often wary and shiftless.


[User]
 OOC

The stone giant lumbers down the long and winding road... (Beatles) and walks upon some travelers who seem to be priests of Pelor. They seem to be mourning over something, but you can't see what. YET! 😁

[User]
 Pierre walks up to the group of priests, quietly looking over the shoulders of those present. His shadow eclipses the man closest to him.

  What's going on here? Did someone die?

[User] " No, but our brother, he has been captured, by, by... Some evil goblinoids. " The priest looks up at you as if begging you " Please, please, help us. "

[User]
 The young giant's hairless brow furrows as he hears this.

 "Where did they take him? How many? Have they killed anyone?"

[User] The main priest shivers as he remembers the horrible moment. " There, there were two of them they went that, that, away. " He points towards the forest. At the giant's third question the priest shakes his head.

[User] Pierre replies with a snort,  "Pfft, that's it? Don't worry, I'll see if I can get your friend back."  His great strides soon take him into the forest.

[User] As you walk towards the forest you begin to see what looks like a base in the forest.

[User]
 Pierre begins to worry as he sees the outline of a camp.   Maybe I spoke too soon...

 Spoiler: Spot check to determine more features
 Grrr...

[User]
 You see that there are some guards posted by the doors to the entrance of the base. You make them out to be around 5-9 small creatures.

Do you continue?

[User]
 I'd better be ready to bolt in case they sound the alarm. Still, they don't know who I am, or that I'm after the priest, so there's that at least.

Pierre continues walking toward the gate, making no effort to hide himself.   If I look like I'm trying to sneak up, there's only one way this will end...

[User]
 The goblin-like creatures grow larger and you can now see that they are actually taller than the normal goblin. You recognize them from your travels as a hobgoblin.

They charge you and surround you (flanking) and they hit you once for 2 damage.


[User]
 Impiltur is a nation united by necessity, formed from individual city-states after a hobgoblin invasion.  Like their northern neighbours, Impilturans are highly religious, devoted to the worship of the Triad of Torm, Tyr and Ilmater.  Members of paladin orders control many of the kingdom’s assets, dedicating themselves to the prosperity and security of the people.
 Impiltur’’s wealth lies in trade, for all
 its major cities are seaports. Before the
 days of unity, the four cities had close
 ties with Procampur, Sembia, and with
 their fellow city-states along the Inner Sea. Now the ships all sail under
 the Impilturian banner, and the
 traders manipulate the market quite to
 their own advantage.
 Furthermore, Impiltur has become
 the gateway between east and south.
 The nation acts as liaison between the
 Bloodstone Lands and the powers of
 the Sea of Fallen Stars . Ashanath, Narfell,
 and Rashemen beyond the Great
 Dale also conduct much business
 through Impiltur. The strange goods
 that flow into Impiltur from these lands
 can bring high prices.

[User]
 Impiltur  fought The Fiend Wars for years, noble knights and others vs. the demons.  Until the forces of good won.  The demons were defeated.  The land was a bit at peace, at least with no demons.  By the wise knew the demons would not stay gone forever.  And slowly they did come back.

Duri ng this time your parents were adventures....enter that part of your backstory.

[User]
 Wolfgang 's parents were adventurers who fought against all manner of evil creatures in their past. It was they, along with their friends, that saved Impiltur from it's doom at the hands of the demonic forces of evil.  Damian and Wolfos Volos were human adventurers who fell in love after obtaining peace for their homelands. The others who fought alongside them were Xaphan Lothar and Claudia Galfien; both powerful in their own right and just as dedicated as Wolfgang's parents. It was always thought that Xaphan and Claudia would end up together, but it never came to pass. Xaphan changed. Without warning he betrayed his friends, killing Claudia in cold blood and damning Damian and Wolfos. It shamed Damian that he couldn't avenge Claudia's death and it killed Wolfos inside that the woman who was like a sister to her was gone forever.

Xaphan escaped with his life, retreating to the protection of his dark masters. If it wasn't for Wolfos being with child, they would have hunted the bastard to the ninth circle of hell. Little did they know that Xaphan's treachery went much deeper than simple murder. When the child was born they could see the signs of corruption. Horns upon his brow, a long leathery tail, fiery red hair, and darkened skin with patches of scales. Their son was born a tiefling, known by the Impilturians as 'the tainted'.

Wolfgang's life was harsh. Growing up children would avoid him, unless they had some crackpot plan to steal treats or break into an old abandoned house... then they'd invite him to their plots only to lay the blame on 'the tainted' when the adults caught them. He was never fully accepted. Tolerated for a time perhaps, but never actually treated like an equal. He learned to harden himself, to focus on his training with his father or the odd jobs he could get as a young adult before going out on his own.

Little that Wolfgang knows, his curse is not only of his blood but of his soul. The one who becomes closest to him is doomed to be consumed by a demon lord. The same demon lord with which Xaphan made a pact. In exchange for the death of Claudia, the one prophesied to be the downfall of the demon lord, and the corruption of the Volos's child he would gain eternal life and power beyond any mortal. This demon lord would wait until Wolfgang's soul would meet it's soul mate and then he would consume that poor soul, innocent or otherwise. The torment of this would surely drive the young tiefling to embrace his the dark nature of his blood and start the transformation of Wolfgang into a demon lord.

[User]
 Wolfgang  like many problem children spent most of his life on the move.  Your parents moving from town to town whenever they felt things got too bad. Until the day, living with your parents in the tiny village of  Whisperhollow  when the knights came.

Five men on horseback and a single woman.  Four of the men wear the standard guard outfit: plate armor, white tabors, gray cloaks timed in white fur, and white plumed helms.  The fifth man is the same, but has a red sash.  The woman is in brown robes.

 "I am Einar Lothbrokson, a knight of the realm.  I am here seeking a person by the name of Wolfgang"     he says loudly.

[User]
 Until this disturbance, Wolfgang had been performing his chores. The appearance of a knight of the realm had to be of some importance, but why they would come for him he could not fathom.   What manner of Knights are these men in regards to Impiltur?   The tiefling approached the men on horseback, keeping enough distance between himself and them that if things turned sour he would have a good chance to run.   Do they mean me harm or good will?   Putting on his best friendly face, Wolfgang met gaze with the man who spoke and said, " You have found him. What business do you have with me? "

 Spoiler: Skill Checks
Knowledge (Local):  (1d20+8)[ 16 ]    What manner of Knights are these men in regards to Impiltur?
Sense Motive:  (1d20+6)[ 18 ]    Do they mean me harm or good will?

[User]
 Spoiler
="Checks"
 local  they look to be standard knights of the realm in the service of the crown.

 sense motive  there weapons are not drawn, and they have a mostly relaxed and even bored look, except the one with the red sash who looks intrested.

 Einar Lothbrokson   "Ah, well met"   He says as he dismounts  "I need to speak with you.  You....are needed."

[User] " Needed? Not likely. " Wolfgang dropped the stack of wood he had been moving, sighing as the weight of the wrapped bundle was taken off of his shoulders. " Tieflings like myself are rarely  needed . There have been those that have  needed  me to remain off certain streets. Others that  needed  me to leave town completely. So tell me, Knight Lothbrokson, what is it that you need me to do. "

[User]
 Einar Lothbrokson   "Ah, I see you speak your mind and have a sharp tongue.  But, let me explain.

There are dark forces all across our land.  We defeated them in the Fiend Wars, but we did not destroy them all.  Evil, like weeds, just keeps coming back.  And that is what the knights, clerics and paladins do.  Seek out the evil and destroy it.  But knights and the rest work best fighting evil out in the open.  Evil they can see and fight toe to toe.  But evil does not always show itself in the open.  Often it is hidden, hiding in the shadows.  And knights, and the rest also can't do some of the more.....shall we say less then noble things that need to be done.

So the king had an idea.  A group of knights, unlike the standard ones.  Black knights.  Ones that can do such things.  And a couple of years ago, he did just that.  We entered the dark places and the shadows, and struck out against evil.  And we have had quite some success.  But we feel we can do more.  Much more.  And that brings us to you."

[User] Wolfgang listened intently to the man's little speech, his eyebrow quirking slightly as he heard him mention 'black knights'. Crossing his arms over his chest, the Tiefling sighed. " Black Knights, eh? I suppose you think that the best way to fight the darkness is with something even darker? Blacker than (k)night... " He uncrossed his arms, placing one on his hip and extending the other. " I have been looking for work, this is just as good an opportunity to get away from this place as any. So what do I have to do? "

[User]
 einar   "just to be clear....we are not looking to fight evil with evil.  Just fight back with a touch of gray.

If it sounds like something you want to do, just say yes.  You will need to leave for the capital with us"

[User] I know how these humans think. Playing along will work in my favor.   Clearing his throat, smirking the entire time, Wolfgang replied, " Yes, yes, yes... I was only jesting. Now, shall we be on our way on the morrow? Or are we leaving this very moment? " Conner, if he was 'out', would want to say goodbye to his parents before leaving. But for the moment, Wolfgang was present. The goody-two-shoe of a son would miss saying goodbye if they left immediately.

[User] Einar   "We will leave within the hour.  You have time to gather your things and say goodbye.  We will return with a horse for you to ride." . He says with a smile.

[User] Wolfgang nodded to the man saying, " I understand. " He left to find his parents and tell them goodbye. He allowed Conner access to the memories of the conversation with the knight, modifying it slightly so his other self wouldn't quite remember what Wolfgang had said exactly. Conner would share a heartfelt and tearful goodbye with his mother and father before packing up his belongings and readying himself for the trip. Within the hour he was waiting outside, his parents standing nearby to watch him go.   I'm ready.

[User]
 They return shortly, with a empty black horse for you.....then it is just a quick ride to the outlands of the capital.

 Spoiler: Question
So saying at this time you be ''zero level'', would you want to role play through training, meeting other black nights, meeting mentors and so on or just skip to graduation day?

They head toward a dark, black stone castle..........

[User]
 Spoiler: undefined
I suppose we can roleplay it all out if you'd like. Would make any social connections more viable for later use. I would care more about my mentor being harmed or threatened if I actually experienced the roleplay with him.

Conner felt apprehension as they approached the darkened castle. While he trusted that most people were inherently good, he never knew what to expect from humans. Hoping for the best he followed the knights lead.

[User]
 The black stone castle is full of young people, future black knights all.  They are a mix of males and females.  A mix of humans, dwarfs, cat-like humanoids, turtle-like humanoids and even a couple of teiflings.  You don't get much time to socialize.  The first couple of weeks are simple basic training, then lots of tests.  You learn your basic skills and class features.  At least half of the people you saw on the first day wash out and leave.  And that leaves a class of twenty.  And you finally get some free time to socialize before the more advanced traing starts.

 Soliloquy  is a female tiefling who keeps an eye on you throughout the training.

 Sunha Swordcleaver  a female half orc
 Maria Fireheart  a female human
 Tern Halfsnake  mostly human? male
 Kellen Wintersun   human male
 Valkrun Darkheart   human male
 Lugen Sandbanks  is one of the turtle like humanoids

[User] (((Unfortunately I will have to drop out of this game. Suddenly I'm moving several months ahead of schedule, to up to the end of May but with the way my wife is talking it might just be the middle or beginning of May. Sorry for such short notice, but is just about as much notice as I received.)))


[User]
 Not long ago you received a message from a royal messenger, calling you to meet King Minos himself. Perhaps it is talk of your good deeds, that has called you to his presence, or tales of infamy. Regardless, you hurry to the royal meeting, and upon arrival in the palace, you walk through a grand courtyard with glorious statues of heroes of legend guarding the exits. You walk through into the main hallway, where a servant greets you and beckons you to follow him. As you arrive in the king's great hall, you see 5 others that are also there in addition to the king and his entourage. King Minos sits solemnly on his throne, gazing into the distance, as a short, stubby, richly dressed man begins to speak.

" Greetings, heroes. You have been called here because there is a crisis in our great city of Atlantis. You have been chosen as those who are most likely to be able to deal with this threat, without endangering our greatest warriors. A few days ago, something strange happened at the Temple of Athena, they began to stop praying to the goddess, we still don't fully know why. All we know is that only one of the many messengers we sent has returned, he reported a temple full of statues in contorted expressions of pain, and a host of monstrosities. We need you to... "

Suddenly a guard bursts through the door, panting, " Sir, there's an attack in the courtyard! " he shouts, before resting against a wall and breathing heavily. In desperation the king himself now speaks aloud:

" Please, adventurers, you must protect the palace, and then find out what happened to Medusa and the temple's priestesses, and slay whatever monstrosities are preventing the goddess from speaking to us. Even Poseidon grows angry as earthquakes shake the southern city. Please, you must put a stop to this. "

[User] "We should go at once!"  Khalkanthros' unnatural voice commanded as he turned to the others.

[User] Phoebe nodded and let her hand drop to her blade. While fighting in cities was not the sort of thing she did often, the people and creatures living there should be protected from unnatural monstrosities, same as any other.

[User]
 Indeed, there is little time to waste.
Atharis unstrapped his spear and shield. Whatever was threatening the city threatened his research here. Furthermore if the crisis here grew out of control he would have nowhere to hide from the Necropolis Guard of Thebes.

[User] "Fine"  Brassidus speaks, turning to leave while simultaneously unsoldering his arbalest from his back. He rams a bolt into the firing mechanism before turning to Khalkanthros  "But don't tell me what to do."

[User]
 As you head back through the main hall and in to the courtyard, you notice suddenly that there are a lot more statues than normal. A group of statues form a phalanx-style formation blocking your view of most of the courtyard, but through the gaps you can see more statues, of servants, nobles, and other visitors. One or two corpses lie on the ground, bitten on the leg. You hear a soft hissing as you approach the courtyard, although while your vision is obscured by the group of guard statues.

 Spoiler: OOC

I'm going to roll initiative for you all.

[User]
 "Should we hold position or advance?"  The automaton grabbed its shield and longsword.  "Where are they?"

 Spoiler: Perception
 (1d20+4)[ 11 ]

[User]
 Khalkanthros: You hear hissing, and you think it comes from multiple directions, towards the edge of the courtyard.

 Spoiler: Initative Order

Khalkanthros:  (1d20-1)[ 11 ]
Atharis:  (1d20)[ 6 ]
Pyrrhus:  (1d20+2)[ 12 ]
Manto:  (1d20+4)[ 19 ]
Phoebe:  (1d20+4)[ 20 ]
Brassidus:  (1d20+4)[ 13 ]
?1:  (1d20-1)[ 13 ]
?2:  (1d20-1)[ 7 ]
?3: [roll]1d20-1[roll]
Try to act in order of Initiative, but you can declare your actions when it is not your round in initiative yet.

[User]
 I recommend that we hold our position at the gate. We do not know the enemies strength and I believe that we it would be to our advantage to hold a choke point.
Atharis glances about the courtyard searching for the enemy.

 Spoiler: Perception
[roll0]
[roll]1d20+4[/roll]

[User]
 " I agree with the Theban ,   what manner of beast do I face on this day?!  " he bellows, partially a challenge, partially a yell at the servants beyond the phalanx of statues. He readies his crossbow and points it beyond the statues to the courtyard.   Wait. Medusa. Phalanxes.     These stautes might be former palace guardsmen.   he says aloud to no one in particular.

 Spoiler:  OCC: Perception Roll

[roll]1d20+5[/roll]

[User]
 Phoebe bit her lip. She wasn't one for patience most of the time, and having to stand around waiting. But she did have something to do in the meantime...

 Spoiler: ooc
Spending one use of Divine Sense to detect unnatural creatures and holy or unholy ground withing 60 ft.

[User]
 Atharis: You hear hissing from multiple directions, but you can't tell from where.
Brassidus: You hear hissing from multiple directions, perhaps three distinct hisses in all, from around the edge of the courtyard.
Phoebe:  (1d20)[ 17 ]  You hear hissing from multiple directions, from around the edge of the courtyard, and spot three signs of movement, two at the edge of the courtyard, and one from right behind the statues of guards. Your divine sense does not pick up any undead, fiends, or celestials, nor any hallowed or desecrated places.

[User]
 Manto grinned widely as she followed the others out into the courtyard.  Talk was cheap.  Action was... well, everything.

 "Come and face us, cowards,"  she bellowed,  "the daughter of Heracles would give you the gift of battle!"

She watched for a response, ready to pounce on the first enemy to show itself.

 Spoiler
Manto is Readying to attack the first enemy she sees. Perception because she's keeping an eye out.  (1d20+6)[ 20 ]

[User]
 Phoebe gripped her sword tightly, ready to pounce. City or Forest, it seemed like there were always monsters to be hunted.

 Spoiler: Action
Also readying an attack vs the first enemy to show themselves in range

[User]
 Brassidus exhales slightly, his muscles stiffening as he does. He places his finger on the trigger of his Arbalest, waiting to pincushion anything that may arrive.

 Spoiler: OOC

Also also readying an attack action to shoot the first monster to come within range (100ft)

[User]
 Spoiler: Rolls

 (1d20+7)[ 11 ]
 (1d8+4)[ 5 ]
 (1d20+7)[ 20 ]
 (1d8+4)[ 12 ]
 (1d20+7)[ 8 ]
 (1d8+7)[ 11 ]
 (1d20+7)[ 23 ]
 (1d8+7)[ 8 ]
 (1d20+7)[ 24 ]
 (1d8+7)[ 12 ]
 (1d20+5)[ 21 ]
 (2d6+3)[ 13 ]
 (2d6)[ 7 ]

Manto: As you prepare to attack with your staff ready, a hissing lizard-like creature leaps up at you, from behind the statues, but before it can attack you swing twice at it, missing the first time, but smashing it in the side of the face the second. The creature bites at you, dealing 13 piercing damage, and 7 poison damage.
Phoebe: Suddenly, a hissing lizard-like creature leaps at Manto, and you attack it, missing the first time, and hitting the second with your rapier.
Brassidus: Your weapon fires twice as a lizard-like creature leaps towards Manto, hitting once.
Everyone: At the start of each of your turns, you must now make a DC 12 saving throw or be restrained.

[User]
 "Well this is certainly an interesting sensation. It appears they turn those that gaze upon them to stone, I recommend averting your eyes and fighting blind,"  Pyrrhus states plainly as his reddish skin begins to take on a greyish hue and his joints begin to stiffen. He is just able to pluck a few string on his lyre while singing a few lines from a song about Pheidippides and his great endurance.

 Spoiler: OOC
If that was a Con check, then Enhanced ability Constitution targeting Pyrrhus. If not I'll modify my post.

[User]
 OOC Notes: I assume that the Saving Throw is Strength since it's avoiding being Restrained.

 "Stay back!"  Khalkanthros shouted with a slight bit of timidness as he swung his longsword twice at the nearest monster.

 Spoiler: Rolls

Saving Throw  (1d20+6)[ 8 ]
Attack rolls:  (1d20+6)[ 9 ]   (1d20+6)[ 8 ]
Damage rolls:  (1d8+5)[ 10 ]   (1d8+5)[ 8 ]

[User]
 Phoebe, seeing her ally struck, rushed forwards with increased fury, attacking wildly.  You will slay no creature here,as long as I and my Goddess stand."  Her Blade began to vibrate with pent up fury, the fury of Nature's Warrior.

 Spoiler: Attacks
What all that means is I'm casting Thunderous Smite with my Bonus Action.

Attack 1: (d20+6)[ 11 ]
Attack 2: (d20+6)[ 12 ]

Damage 1:  (1d8+4)[ 7 ]
Damage 2:  (1d8+4)[ 10 ]

Thunderous Smite  (2d6)[ 6 ]

[User]
 Manto struggles to avoid the lizard's strikes, but is feeling oddly sluggish.  She strikes out with her staff and furious kicks, hoping to end it before it can cause further harm.

 Spoiler: Actions
So restrained is: Movement=0. Advantage on attacks against you, disadvantage on attacks you make, and disadvantage on dex saving throws.  Basically those of us who failed are Effed!  But I will try anyway. Spending a Ki to Flurry of Blows.  If either flurry attack hits, the thing has to make a DC 14 Dex save or be prone. So all these attacks are 2d20 taking the worst.  Staff 1: [roll]1d20+7; 1d20+7; 1d8+4[/roll], Staff 2: [roll]1d20+7; 1d20+7; 1d8+4[/roll], Unarmed 1: [roll]1d20+7; 1d20+7; 1d6+4[/roll], Unarmed 2: [roll]1d20+7; 1d20+7; 1d6+4[/roll]

[User]
 Atharis heeds Pyrhuss's advice and quickly averts his eyes. As he does so he murmurs a prayer to the Lord of the Dead and draws fortitude from the underworld.

 Spoiler: OOC
Taken at Atharis's initiative step. He casts Enhance ability constitution and averts his eyes to avoid taking the Con check.

[User]
 Brassidus shrugs off the stiff feelings that occur when he looks at the creature.   Not my time. Not yet.   he quickly fires off two bolts at the farthest creature. Cutting off those that could flank them seemed like a pertinent strategy.

 Spoiler: OOC

Firing off two crossbow bolts.
1: To hit  (1d20+9)[ 16 ]
Damage roll:  (1d10+4)[ 7 ]
Critical damage, if any:  (1d10)[ 8 ]

2:To hit  (1d20+9)[ 13 ]
Damage roll:  (1d10+4)[ 13 ]
Critical damage, if any:  (1d10)[ 4 ]


[User]
 Having landed in the desert, with no idea where to go, you were shown the way to the centre of the desert. People around you treat you like some kind of god. You don't know why.

 "Welcome to my invention."

Who could come up with this? A world torn into warring nations, not a single one at all like any other, and this... a desert in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing at all?

 "Welcome to my world."

And these people have to live in this world? This world that if this person's simple greeting is to be believed is just a creation of an overactive imagination? Who would make this?

 "Welcome to the game."

And is this just a game? Who would make all this just to laugh at the poor people who had to live there? None of this makes sense.

You are torn from your line of thought as you reach the ruins in the centre of the desert.

[User]
 Yuri brushes a hand against the old stone, confirming to herself once again that this place appears to be more than just a dream.  She walks deeper into the abandoned ruins at the heart of Verto before taking a seat on a overturned pillar.

 "So.  I've fallen from the sky, and the world needs me to... do what, exactly?"

She'd read a lot of stories about stuff like this. Terrible evils, majestic heroes - she was going to be a hero, of course, but the actual  doing  of it was a bit tricky.  The local people must have some kind of government, maybe she should go talk to the leader(s)?  Actually, she probably should have done that before running off into the ruins! Gah, great way to start your new job as divine savior, Yuri!

The girl hops back to her feet and starts heading back out of the ruins.  The citizens would probably find it odd how she asked for a place to collect her thoughts only to immediately come back out, but.. eh... maybe she could pass it off as being a quick thinker? Yeah, that's the ticket.

The evoker tries to find a lone individual or a small group.  One that doesn't look particularly busy, that is. The whole town would probably start a song-and-dance number if she willed it, but that wasn't a reason to have them do it!

[User] You see a group of three humans sitting around talking, and another one walking on her own. A few dwarves are milling about, taking a break from their work - whatever their work is, in any case. A group of warforged moves along, having a conversation that seems more agitated than warforged would usually have.

[User]
 Hrm.. the lone woman might be a good choice but.. the warforged might be agitated about something serious? Maybe she could learn something that needs fixing right now.

Yuri almost heads over to the construct group, only to stop herself when she realizes she doesn't really know how to start that conversation.  "Hey, you seem agitated - maybe I can be of service?" ??

...

She heads to the milling about dwarves instead. Bearings first, random help offering later.

 "Excuse me. I, uh, fell from the sky about an hour ago. Could you tell me a bit about this city, its leaders, any great problems it has?"

[User]
 The dwarves look at each other as though they've seen something that they had all been told would happen, and never quite believed it. "Fell from the sky? Wait, you don't think...?"
"Oh come on, mate, she's having us on. Everyone's heard about the prophecy, and she's not the first to try and pass herself off as the Chosen."
"Just look at her! She's not some old runt from the slums, is she?"
"Hmm... you've a point. So anyway, whatever's the case, welcome to Verto, ruled by one Thurnus Mithraldir, the centre of trade in the middle of nowhere. Full of these warforged things, since they're the ones who made the first bits of it, and then there's us dwarves who found the damned thing when the warforged lost it. These gnomes decided that, hey, they'd show up and help us, the elans ran away from whoever and ended up here, and you've got humans who're here because they're everywhere, then elves, halflings, orcs and whatnot that pass through every however often."

"Right now," picks up the other, "We're kinda looking for a miracle. Each of the realms is supposed to get its own Chosen, who is destined to fall into the sky from some whole other world and lead us to victory. If that really is you, I'd suggest talking to the king, since he seems to know what's what."

[User]
 Hrm, so there were other "chosen", and the nations might not be working together?  Some sort of war game? But if nothing was making them fight, maybe she could unite the players!

 "That sounds like a plan.  Thanks for your help!"  * *lightly hops backward into the air**   "Where should I go to find the king?"

The girl tried to recall the most impressive buildings she'd passed on her way to the ruins.  Maybe it was the stone tower? Or the squat marble building.  Or even underground - there weren't many dwarves in Yuri's homeworld, but she was  pretty sure  living underground was a thing they did. Although that might be a world-specific sort of thing?

[User]
 Spoiler: OOC
You actually know the answer to that question and I don't, so...

"Come, I'll show you. Nothing better to do right this moment in time, anyhow."

[User]
 "Thanks! I'm Yuri Asanova."

It doesn't prove to be a long walk, the duo arriving before the squat marble building in a matter of minutes.  The dawn's light completely overtakes the city as Yuri and the helpful dwarf enter the building.  Yuri's initial surprise that they could just walk in was replaced with understanding as she looked about the first floor - the king's meeting room  was  underground.  Looks like she'll have to speak with the guards next... she should try to look more impressive for this.  The girl unleashes her true nature and puts on a determined face.

 "Hello! I fell from the sky recently, can I speak with the king?"

She quickly smiles as well, rapidly switching to a more relaxed stance with all the grace of a drunk bison after looking at the people's response to her 'determined' face.

 Spoiler: OOC
@Location: Ah, I was leaving it open in case you had a preference. Although in retrospect I should have mentioned that. My apologies.

Yuri manifested her true nature (wings, the extra eyes, etc), I should have said if she was already in it or not at the start. If you were operating under the impression she was already in it I can edit this post. She chooses to exclude everyone she's aware of from the fear effect.

Unintentional Intimidate Check:  (1d20+19)[ 23 ]
Diplomacy Check:  (1d20+5)[ 22 ]

[User]
 "Fell from the... dear god. Sir! SIR! It's the chosen! No, I've not gone mad, she's right there! No, seriously..."

The guard's voice trails off as he runs to tell the king of your arrival. Huh.

[User]
 Yuri smiles at the display.  She was a convincing champion, at least!

The girl patiently waits for the dwarves to give her further instruction, excitedly glancing about the spiraling staircase leading deeper into the structure as she waits.

[User] The other guard, looking shaken but slightly more in control of himself, nods to you. "You'd better come in, Chosen." He gestures for you to follow him.

[User]
 Yuri follows the dwarf.

 "Ah, I apologize if I startled you."

She was beginning to feel a little bad about her earlier display... she'd have to remember to be more.. refined.. next time... Focus! The girl takes a deep breath.  Whatever the king was about to tell her was going to be extremely important.

Yuri finishes collecting her thoughts by the time the dwarf leads her to a particularly impressive set of doors.

[User] The king smiles as you appear. "Ah, Chosen. It's good to see you arrive, after all this time. I have to admit, I doubted you'd ever arrive. Now, how much have you had explained to you, hmm?"

[User]
 "Well... I know this city's name is Verto. Dwarves, warforged, gnomes, elan, humans, and others live here."  Yuri marked each group off on a finger  " My arrival was prophesied, and there are other chosen, also from another world, that fell to other cities. I'm apparently really powerful relative to the other people here."  The girl couldn't help but smile about  that . Although..

 "I was also told that I'm supposed to lead you to victory, but why do the realms have to fight in the first place?"


[User]
 "Welcome to my invention. Welcome to my world. Welcome to the game."

The words still ring in your ears as you are taken to your new home. What do they mean?

 "Welcome to my invention."

Who could come up with this? A world torn into warring nations, not a single one at all like any other, and this... a tiny fishing village, left abandoned to grow into this sprawling mass.

 "Welcome to my world."

And these people have to live in this world? This world that if this person's simple greeting is to be believed is just a creation of an overactive imagination? Who would make this?

 "Welcome to the game."

And is this just a game? Who would make all this just to laugh at the poor people who had to live there? None of this makes sense.

All words are swept from your mind as you see the observatory for the first time.

[User]
 Everything still seemed so surreal to him. His senses still seemed to register everything with a slight delay. People stopped in the street to look at him, his pitch-black wings and chest-gem unlike anything they had seen. The raven cast down his gaze at his hand as he slowly clenched it into a fist. His sense slowly seemed to be getting back into snch, but as he cast his eyes upward, he saw something that stole his breath away.

What he saw up on the  mountain left him awestruck. He slowly walked towards it, his only thought on getting up there. A familliar tightness was felt in his chest as his wings unfolded and extended to their full length, those around him backing off. Another familliar feeling, a much needed warmth, ignited in his chest. He lift up his hand before him, and while for a moment, nothing happened, it was after about fifteen seconds that one could see something. The air was visibly vibrating above his hand, small arcs of electricty jumping out of the  ball of condensing and rapidly heating gas. Z'tiphen slowly closed his hand around it, before opening it again, revealing a small sphere of light, not much larger than a marble, but shining with a brilliant white.

His hand closed around the small ball of fusing gas, and his wings slowly began to flap. With each flap, his skin began to glow, intenisfying with every stroke. After a few more beats, he leaped, his body flaring up in a blinding, brilliant white, as another stroke of his wings sent him rocketing skyward, leaving below a dazzled, and most likely terrified audience.

 Spoiler: OOC Explanation
Much of that is basically just fluff, but the hard facts is a Shooting Star boost, combined with a flying run action, that just shot me straight up about 160 ft.

The light faded quickly, as did the boost in speed. He slowly turned toward the observatory, until finally he had achieved level flight. By now, that surreal feeling was all but gone, the wind in his hair, slipping over his feathers, that sense of freedom that flight brought. It all reminded him just how good it felt to be alive.

[User] You gaze upon the observatory of Citacar Mar, the massive telescope looming far above the rest of the city. As you observe it, so do the people of the city look upon you in wonder, waiting for your input on the situation in which they find themselves.

[User]
 He slowly circled over the city several times, slowly gaining altitude as he tried to take note of any possible locations of interest. After several minutes, he turned toward the observatory and dropped into a slight dive.

Upon reaching it, Z'tiphen brings himself to a halt, dropping onto the ground. He then takes a moment to readjust the canvas strap on his googles, before approaching the observatory by foot, seeing if he might find a door.

[User] You do indeed see a door - not a particularly special one, mind you, but a door at that. It's closed, but doesn't seem to have a lock - or even so much as a handle, though it looks easy enough just to push.

[User]
 Z'tiphen approaches the door, a bit wary. He knock on the door.  "Hello? Is anyone here?"  He calls out, raising he voice lightly in doing so.

If no one opens the door, he will attempt to open the door and step inside.

[User] The observatory is empty, apart from a few chairs and the end of the giant telescope pointing into the room.

[User]
 Z'tiphen steps toward the telescope, and although the urge is there, rerains from touching it, for fearing of breaking something. He looks around, somewhat disappointed. He wished to learn more of this marvelous device, but it seems that would have to be left for another time. He then turns to leave the observatory.

 Spoiler: assuming that no-one confornts Z'tiphen, or otherwise prevents him from leaving
The hell raven spreads his wings as he leaps off the mountainside, gently gliding down to the city below. He lands, before addresing one of the nearby citzens.  "I wish to meet with the leade  of this place, where may I find them?"  He asks, his tone straightforward and demanding.

[User] "Good question. This place hasn't had  a  leader in quite some time, though if you want the guy who throws the most weight around, that'd probably be the druid Elavantis, or Doavel, the commander of the militia. They'll probably show up at the council meeting house soon." The man indicates the house, which you can just see not too far away. "Along with the other council members, anyway."

[User]
 "I see... You have my thanks."  He says, before reaching into a small pouch, pulling out a silver coin, and flicking it to the man.

Z'tiphen then once again took flight, going toward the house the man had pointed out.


[User]
 The Sleeping Forest       - The Water's of Rebirth
Arc: 0 - The Last Light

Upon the clearing at the end of the forest, they walked. The lights from the strange black trees that moved and swayed with life created a surreal atmosphere. Flames, of standing torches, guided the way across a small pond where they stopped. The halted upon the bridge's center. Luka looked down into the pool's reflection.   " This is it. The place, you will be made whole once more... are you ready?"

[User]
 Ikal'Daka

He stops to look around, taking in his surroundings for only a brief moment. He opens his maw to speak,  "Yes Luka, I am ready for what will happen."


[User] A US naval battle group headed by an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, and described by President Donald Trump as an "armada", is expected to reach the Korean peninsula later in the week.


[User] The South Korean news agency Yonhap said the detained American citizen, in his 50s, was a former professor from Yanbian University in China and had been in North Korea for a month in connection with relief programmes.


[User] In January last year, US student Otto Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea.


[User] He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport, Yonhap said.


[User] In January last year, US student Otto Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea.


[User] In April last year, Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old naturalised US citizen born in South Korea, was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour for spying. He had been arrested the previous October.


[User] Kim's imprisonment comes amid a period of high tensions. North Korea has recently conducted a series of missile tests following its fourth nuclear test in January, both of which break UN sanctions.


[User] Pyongyang attempted to launch two mid-range ballistic missiles on Thursday which crashed shortly after their launches, prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.


[User] It is believed it will attempt a fifth nuclear test soon.


[User] The recent burst in activity is thought to be a ramp-up to a rare party congress due to be held on 6 May, where leader Kim Jong-un is expected to consolidate power.


[User] Otto Frederick Warmbier, a US student who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in March 2016 for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel and "crimes against the state".


[User] Hyeon Soo Lim, a Canadian Christian pastor of South Korean origin, was sentenced to a life term of hard labour in December, also for "crimes against the state".


[User] Sandra Suh, an American aid worker, was arrested then expelled in April 2015, accused of gathering and producing anti-North propaganda.


[User] Matthew Todd Miller was sentenced to six years' hard labour in September 2014 for what North Korean state media described as "hostile acts", but was released in November the same year.


[User] Kenneth Bae was arrested in November 2012 and accused of using his tourism business to form groups to overthrow the government. Sentenced to 15 years' hard labour in May 2013 but was released along with Mr Miller.


[User] Jeffrey Fowle, held for five months and charged with "anti-state" crimes, was released in October 2014.


[User] The latest detention comes amid high tension on the peninsula, with the US warning its "strategic patience" on the North's nuclear programme is over.


[User] The man was identified only by his surname, Kim.


[User] He becomes the third American to be detained by the North; one has been sentenced for spying, the other for trying to steal a sign from a hotel.


[User] The latest detention comes amid high tension on the peninsula, with the US warning its "strategic patience" on the North's nuclear programme is over.


[User] A US naval battle group headed by an aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, and described by President Donald Trump as an "armada", is expected to reach the Korean peninsula later in the week.


[User] The South Korean news agency Yonhap said the detained American citizen, in his 50s, was a former professor from Yanbian University in China and had been in North Korea for a month in connection with relief programmes.


[User] In January last year, US student Otto Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea.


[User] He was arrested at Pyongyang International Airport, Yonhap said.


[User] In January last year, US student Otto Warmbier, 21, was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea.


[User] In April last year, Kim Dong-chul, a 62-year-old naturalised US citizen born in South Korea, was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour for spying. He had been arrested the previous October.


[User] Kim's imprisonment comes amid a period of high tensions. North Korea has recently conducted a series of missile tests following its fourth nuclear test in January, both of which break UN sanctions.


[User] Pyongyang attempted to launch two mid-range ballistic missiles on Thursday which crashed shortly after their launches, prompting an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.


[User] It is believed it will attempt a fifth nuclear test soon.


[User] The recent burst in activity is thought to be a ramp-up to a rare party congress due to be held on 6 May, where leader Kim Jong-un is expected to consolidate power.


[User] Otto Frederick Warmbier, a US student who was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour in March 2016 for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel and "crimes against the state".


[User] Hyeon Soo Lim, a Canadian Christian pastor of South Korean origin, was sentenced to a life term of hard labour in December, also for "crimes against the state".


[User] Sandra Suh, an American aid worker, was arrested then expelled in April 2015, accused of gathering and producing anti-North propaganda.


[User] Matthew Todd Miller was sentenced to six years' hard labour in September 2014 for what North Korean state media described as "hostile acts", but was released in November the same year.


[User] Kenneth Bae was arrested in November 2012 and accused of using his tourism business to form groups to overthrow the government. Sentenced to 15 years' hard labour in May 2013 but was released along with Mr Miller.


[User] Jeffrey Fowle, held for five months and charged with "anti-state" crimes, was released in October 2014.


[User] The latest detention comes amid high tension on the peninsula, with the US warning its "strategic patience" on the North's nuclear programme is over.


[User] The man was identified only by his surname, Kim.


[User] He becomes the third American to be detained by the North; one has been sentenced for spying, the other for trying to steal a sign from a hotel.


[User] The latest detention comes amid high tension on the peninsula, with the US warning its "strategic patience" on the North's nuclear programme is over.


[User]
 Whose thin column mother to or I'm me in alright now one be was his number whose will be whose them mother with two in your home cool same me them it this here individuals homier poo is s be went schools 3 my yes while school for me I'm see me youthful mother 3 cool year from his see mother the mother and d them well his those   Elite Test 360  my rights yes ho p 9 and both the show now and whose why it no doubt me huh PC now you ask who knows and after that saw last see this me does well him mother to be his or yes him me %um to up me name in its sconce like now I'm house he bro you or this from me to and this them him this yes and normal youthful for me and its whose thin line mother to or I'm me name well p now one be was your nor whose will be whose one mother with two in your home for thing me them it this here individuals homier poop his me schools the three.

 http://www.x4facts.com/elite-test-360/