IC Story Thread: Ch.1, Ad.3 - Black Hand

I can’t just stand here. Noticing Astalor’s obvious injury, Éothain yells as he pushes forward through the crowd, "He’s hurt! Why won’t you priests help him?"

OOC:

Éothain is moving toward where the middle red dot is.

Aug 21, 2025 8:34 pm

"The lightening! It's going to strike again. Move away." Duinhir warns the people closest to the stage. He feels the energy building up. "It is out of control!"

Aug 25, 2025 1:49 pm

Cirion follows Astalor's panicked glances towards the top of the roof.
did he place another bone pile there? Is he worried it has been sabotaged?

Rolls

Perception - (1d20+4)

(4) + 4 = 8

Aug 25, 2025 2:20 pm

Dr_B says:

Cirion follows Astalor's panicked glances towards the top of the roof.
did he place another bone pile there? Is he worried it has been sabotaged?

OOC:

So, I'm not sure if you're just role-playing as if Cirion doesn't know, or of you as a player genuinely don't know, but that is where the bone pile was that Eothain knocked down, as you were shooting the other one.

Cirion would know this, because he was right next to it, because that is just a few feet away from where he shot his arrow from.

Would you like to do something else with your turn?

Aug 25, 2025 2:30 pm

As Eothain approaches the cult priest in the middle, the robed man steps in front of him - the two standing face to face - and with wild eyes he raises his forearm and his curved dagger and slices his arm open, spilling blood.

Meanwhile, as Duinhir raises the alarm, those closest to the platform can feel it too, and they know the truth of his words. Several scream instinctively with panic as they run away, running into those behind them, who are both enrapt by the spectacle and unaware of the impending lightning strike, as they are apparently beyond the radius where they can feel it's energy...

Aug 25, 2025 6:18 pm

rpgventurer Inactive for 17 days

Duinhir himself tries to get a good distance from the failing sorcerer. That lightning could strike any moment now, he guesses

Éothain

Aug 25, 2025 6:40 pm

"Out of my way! I want to help!" Éothain tries to push the cult priest backwards by shoving both shoulders, then backs up a few feet.This might break up whatever sorcery is going on.

OOC:

He doesn't want to be near someone who might be hit by lightning.

Rolls

Shove action - (1d20)

(3) = 3

Aug 25, 2025 7:53 pm

OOC:

ah OK - I wasn't sure if he had seen that, I thought the roof was above him. All good. He will spend the round seeding more skepticism with his words, instead

Cirion works the crowd's back rows, the furthest away from Astalor. He walks around scoffing as if offended, derision in his voice.
"What is all this? Some joke? A man calling lightning to himself to burn? This isn't what was promised in the scrolls! Look!! He cannot control lightning at all!"

Rolls

Persuasion (Doubled) - (1d20+2)

(20) + 2 = 22

Aug 26, 2025 3:41 pm

rpgventurer Inactive for 17 days

As Cirion gives voice to the doubts and ill will that lurks in the minds of others, those others join him in agreement! Open derision and displeasure can be heard, as Astalor struggles to channel nature's fury...

It is many of these people who are in the back row when those nearest the platform begin to flee and crash into them.

OOC:

@rpgventurer please give me a Dex save for Eothain. DC14 scratch that! He unbelievably got shoved with a 3 (which would be higher than that due to Eothain's STR bonus)! lol

As Eothain shoves the cultist, Astalor thrusts his blackened hand and arm forward like an open palmed punch - he shrieks with the effort as charred flesh cracks and falls away around his elbow - and a lightning bolt arcs down from the sky!

The lightning strikes the cultist JUST after Eothain shoves him away, and the man convulses bodily, and falls to the ground, lifelessly!

Those who were fleeing didn't necessarily see the strike, but they scream no less, as they can FEEL the energy released behind them, and those who weren't fleeing, and instead were looking on with open derision and getting crashed into by those fleeing, many of them scream and stagger away!

Astalor let's out a ragged breath and collapses to his belly on the platform.

The other two cultists rush to the side of their fallen comrade.

Rolls

Cultist, Resist Shove - (1d20)

(3) = 3

Damage - (6d6)

Éothain

Aug 26, 2025 7:22 pm

Éothain stays where he is and calls to the crowd, "Away! Away! They can’t control the lightning! Save yourselves!"

Aug 26, 2025 8:08 pm

Duinhir halts his retreat when the lightning strikes. Astalor is down again. This must mean a small break from lightning strikes. Duinhir means to take advantage of it.
He rushes to the spot where Astalor is lying to try and prevent him from calling further lightning.

OOC:

I'm unsure how far it is and whether or not Duinhir can move AND do an action. Leaving an athletics roll if applicable to jump and hold Astalor

Rolls

Athletics - (1d20+1)

(7) + 1 = 8

Aug 26, 2025 9:49 pm

Cirion sees Duinhir rushing towards the fallen Astalor.
He stays poised for action, in case Astalor's allied priests react to Duinhir 's approach.

OOC:

just observing for now, ready to attack if things go south

Aug 27, 2025 3:08 pm

With Eothain raising further alarm, some people go so far as to flee the entire courtyard, many though just go to the fringes near the stairs back down to the encampment. At which point they pause, morbidly concerned or curious what will happen.

What happened to the priest?! Is Bangdu Caun even still alive??

...

Duinhir is able to get to the platform surface, where he can see Astalor huffing with heavy exertion. He lifts his head at the sound of Duinhir's boots, and tries to look stern and composed, rising to his knees to brush himself off. But the ritual appears to be over, there is no continued chanting or movement from the sorcerer or the cult priests.

One of whom now notices Duinhir up by Astalor, and shouts in the Black Speech, motioning him down. He also begins to move toward Duinhir.

The rain begins to tail off and there is no more rubbing of thunder or flashes of lightning overhead.

Someone amongst the watchers says, "He is rising..."

Aug 27, 2025 8:40 pm

OOC:

So, decision time, gang. Do we seize the moment to physically deal with Astalor, or do we assume he is done for now and play it cool, seeing how he has humiliated himself? Duinhir could attack or stand down. I won't attack unless you agree on this course of action.

Aug 27, 2025 10:55 pm

OOC:

This is not an attempt to dissuade you from doing it. But rather I'm just employing the mechanics that are meant to make morality mean something in this game. But killing him now - unarmed, etc. - would be 4 automatic Shadow for each of you.

Aug 28, 2025 9:48 am

OOC:

there is a chance that the three priests also know magic, which would put us at great disadvantage. My take is, we successfully sabotaged their recruitment attempt. Maybe it is time to report to someone knowledgeable in magic matters, to try build up some defences against the enemy (now alerted that we are an opposed faction!)

Aug 28, 2025 1:24 pm

OOC:

If you guys need a refresher, here is the conversation that ultimately sent you here:

https://gamersplane.com/forums/thread/31929/?p=1555578#p1555578

EDIT: The teal-deer is that...

1. Lady Blackridge offered you 10 gold coins a piece to bring Astalor to her. One way or another. Your legal authority to apprehend or kill him is... basically non-existent (you're no official agents or authority of Gondor), UNLESS you have proof of crimes.

And while that still wouldn't actually give you any sort of authority (unless it's an act in self defense), it would seem to be an ameliorating circumstance to... whatever happens afterward.

2. No authority of Gondor - or any other nation - knows you're out here looking for him/have found him/nor may ever know you have found him nor what you do with him. All the witnesses here are... people of dubious alliances at best, and, if they don't act against you and whatever you do? Are they gonna go run and tell anyone with any authority over you? Are they gonna go run and tell Gondor?

3. You have a letter that he's printed in the black speech. You have proof of dark magic rituals being practiced on his boat (where you witnessed he had imprisoned a tormented spirit). There was an empty, filthy coffin in his garage. You've witnessed him practicing sorcery invoking the Black Speech. You just witnessed him kill a man.

Other things you know of Astalor is that he has kidnapped the children of an official of Gondor, in an attempt to coerce that person... whom also, you know, happens to be looking for a Palantir (purportedly in service to The Free Peoples of Middle Earth). You also now know Astalor is an agent of The Enemy - invoking Morgoth, which Lady B said she's waging her war against.

So...

These are the things I would be thinking about and the questions I'd be asking myself as a character.

Just wanted to bring up all of this for you to consider, before deciding on your next action, as I figure a lot of this has maybe been lost over IRL time.

Which, btw, I am totally good with you all deliberating at length ooc. As your characters have had ample time to discuss this in the past. (And probably would have.) It just didn't absolutely need to happen till now. So we can say that you've already had the discussion you should have now.

And lastly, perhaps, just because something invokes Shadow doesn't mean it's Evil, or that your character is Evil, it just means that in this world where there is a very real battle between Good and Evil being waged in the hearts and minds of Men, that killing him now with no legal authority and while he is unarmed absolutely blurs the lines between what is Good and what is Evil and that makes it harder to fight the War and/or that doing what it takes to win that War might destroy you.

What is Good?

What is Evil?

What is RIGHT?

And what burden is your character willing to shoulder, so that others may not have to suffer?

Aug 29, 2025 9:01 pm

rpgventurer Inactive for 17 days

Duinhir sees the priest wave him off. He hesitates for a brief moment, while he quickly looks around and to get eye contact with his companions.

OOC:

Unless we attack, I don't think we haven't done anything that prooves we work against them. So, we could possibly stand down and regroup/replan. That seems to be Dr_B's preferred course of action. What do you think, rpgventurer?

Aug 30, 2025 1:41 am

OOC:

I think they are defeated and agree we should regroup.

Last edited August 30, 2025 1:41 am

Aug 30, 2025 7:53 am