#like hes clearly had this bard teacher and this cleric teacher set up for a while but fig and kristen just don’t go to class

[gods-favorite-autistic]

As fun as the whole “taking away preexisting npcs so the players can actually interact with the people around that I set up” thing is I do want Ayda back. And unfortunately I am not asking 🔫🥰👍

[mollymauk-the-peacock]

Did I mention that Jess is a werewolf now?

Oh... well Jess is a werewolf now...

The whole excerpt of our role-playing below the cut if that’s of interest. It’s a lot of text, but it was one of my favorite campaign twists. Slightly edited for brevity, though not much. (Though removed instances of rolls and combat, as they took a bit out of the narrative when presented)

Cast of characters:

Poesy - (My PC) Human Gunslinger

Dottidee aka Dots - (PC) Gnomish Arcane Trickster/Feylock; wielder of a legendary blade, Shadow’s Edge,  that allows her to shift to the Shadowfell at will and sense the goings on of the parallel plane within the immediate area.

Jesse Edgewood - (NPC) Human Gunslinger/Bard; Poesy’s SO; Party knowledge prior was that Jess had been bitten by a shifted werewolf but didn’t undergo the change, which is not uncommon for individuals in our world. It remains dormant in your system forever, unless otherwise triggered by circumstances (news to us)

Clint Perch - (NPC) Young orphaned human druid; adopted by the town, lives with Jess

Brent - (Villain NPC) Half-elf Gunslinger/assassin; trained under Parre Despa, the man who once was Jesse’s teacher and the who orchestrated the original attack that ended with Jesse’s latent lycanthropy and ultimately sought to destroy Jesse’s family from the inside; the son of the Necromancer and nephew of the Death Cleric the party is currently attempting to end; apparent spy planted in the party’s chosen hometown/base of operations (we didn’t know he existed until a few days prior)

The Children of the Moon - (Group) Lycans of a sort, more magically-driven, less biological and fey than the sort of lycanthropy that affects the werewolves of Edgewood.

Annise - (NPC) Changeling Leader of the Shadows, the spy sect of the Champions mercenary group (Of which Dots and Jess are members)

Thaesilvancii - (NPC) Fledgling demigod protector of Sharvel; a silver dragon 

Shaen - (NPC) Half-elf, second to the leader of Champion’s defense forces, stationed at the North Tower.

Yenra - (NPC) Half-elf leader of the Champion’s Clerics

Ceila - (NPC) High Elf leader of the Champion’s Arcanists

Robert Balten - (NPC) Human Ranger; Long time family friend of Poesy’s; as good as a second brother; leader of military group the Talons operating from their home city-state Mountbatten

Edgewood Family - Shannon (Mom), John (oldest brother), Jacob (younger brother), Sarah (younger sister)

Setting: 

Sharvel, a crossroads town, growing larger by the day, chosen by the party as their apparent base of operations. Poesy lives with Jesse in his small house off the stables and smithy along with Clint and Jesse’s sister Sarah. Dots lives in the Inn across the town square from Jesse’s with her daughter Serasee.

North Tower, centralized Champion outpost

{” ”} --- Indicates some sort of telepathic communication, ie. message, telepathy, etc...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sharvel; 3rd day of Earth, Ruen, 773

Moon Phases: Longun - Full moon | Von - full moon

Season: Fall

Time: Just past midnight

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DM: The night grows darker and you all find rest in familiar beds. Sleep comes quickly. You both, with your unnatural perceptions, hear the crash, but to Poesy it is like the world is splintering around her. She wakes to the dim light of the moons shining through the bedroom window. To Dots, the crash was distant, but loud.

Poesy realizes almost immediately that she cannot move. There is a stale smell and she feels off, almost drunk.

Dots: Can I tell where the sound came from?

Poesy: Is there any light in the room?

Dots: Wandering into the hall...

DM: There is enough light for Poesy to see, and now you can start to turn your head.  You are alone in the bed and the bedroom door is open.  There's candlelight coming from the next room. Dots, it's hard to tell. There's no commotion from the Inn’s patrons. Poesy's arms and legs start moving sluggishly. Tingling painfully. 

You've been drunk enough to know that this is probably chemical, but it's something else.  Maybe some kind of poison. Dots, it's quiet, just past midnight. 

Poesy is finally able to sit up.

Poesy: Reaching over to the bedside table and grabbing Reciprocity as quietly as possible

DM: She can see the candle and something next to it, shiny.  Something small.

Poesy: ... what is it?

DM: Poesy manages to stand, holding the wall.

Dots: No broken windows visible? Going back to bed, then...

DM: She makes her way to the table where a single candle illuminates a note.

The note reads: 

Enough rest, it's time to go hunting.

-Brent

The shiny object is a silver bullet.

From beyond the ruined door Poesy hears the not so distant sound of a wolf's howl piercing the silence of the night.

Clint: "What was it!?"

Poesy: Snagging it and the note. Thrusting it out to Clint

DM: Clint is groggy, holding the wall.

Poesy: Going to grab her gun belt and boots. Are Jesse's things still where they should be?

DM: They are, but his night shirt is in shreds on the floor.

Poesy: Fantastic.

Clint: "Who's Brent?"

Poesy: Putting Jesse’s belts on bandolier-style after her coat over her nightdress.

Clint: He pauses and sniffs the air, then looks Poesy in the eyes.

Poesy: "The sick fuck who's been sticking his rat nose into things in Sharvel..."

Clint: "It's Jesse, isn't it?"

Poesy: "He's done something to him, hasn't he?"

Clint: "Go, I'll tell everyone.  Monks first." 

Poesy: Handing him one of the spare revolvers from her things, "Be careful."

DM: He gives a nod before he's gone. Clint flies out the door, sprinting barefoot through the street toward the monastery.

Poesy: Running across the street to the Inn. Finding Dots. Just straight up banging on her door as loud as possible.

Dots: "Aah. Be right there.."

Poesy: "Jesse's gone. Brent was here."

Dots: Throwing on her harness over her nightclothes.

Poesy: "Fucker drugged me. Did something to Jesse..."

Dots: "Gone where?"

Poesy: "I don't know," Handing her the note and bullet, "Clint's gone to the monks."

"The door was smashed down. Out towards town. We need to follow."

Does it feel like anything is off about the bullet? Is it one of Poesy's/Jesse's or is it strange?

DM: It's Merit sized, looks well made.  Nothing else peculiar other than it being silver.

Dots: Already heading towards the front door. "When you say Brent *did something* to Jesse..? Hurt him? Is Jesse fleeing?"

Poesy: "I don't know. But this," pointing to the silver bullet, "doesn't bode well. Especially considering the state of things in the house..."

"I don't even know what I'm thinking at this point. But nothing good has happened."

"And that's not my bullet. We should move quickly..."

"But careful. Don't need to barrel into some bullshit trap. That's what he wants, clearly."

Dots: "Poesy, nothing you said makes sense to me, but if we need to rescue Jesse, I'm ready."

Poesy: "I don't even *know* what's happening... We'll start at the house."

Poesy's already moving

"Do you feel anything? Off? With the Shadowfell?"

DM: Dots has spent plenty of time scoping out various areas for threats within the Shadowfell, so she'll know when something is off. For just such an occasion as this. Something is popping in and out of the Shadowfell. Distant. She only feels the transition.

Dots: "There's.. like something... blipping. Moving between the planes."

DM: Returning to the house it's clear there are large wolf tracks at the back door.

Dots: "Is this Clint?"

Poesy: She shakes her head

Dots: "That way." Dots points.

Poesy: Activating the Telestones. (**enchanted, paired stones allowing Telepathy between the party for an hour)

DM: You are both suddenly overwhelmed with a rush of emotions.  Fear... anger... hunger.  You know it's Jesse, but it is raw.

Poesy: {"Jesse? Where are you?"}

Dots: "Oh, I don't like whatever in the hells THIS is.."

Poesy: Poesy looks quite disconcerted, "Um... all signs were pointing towards something... wolf? In nature? Like the kind we were researching... not the Children..."

"The kind Jesse's already been involved with... thanks to Despa..."

"Unless that's precisely what he wants me to think and I just don't know at all..."

"There was an odd smell... Chemicals. I couldn't move. Jesse's clothes were in tatters. The note and the bullet were laid out to be found. Back door destroyed..."

Is there any sense of where Jesse's at?

{"Love? Can you come to me?"}

Dots: "Can chemicals turn a man into a wolf? Are they like magic?"

Poesy: “Couldn’t say. I don’t know exactly what they’ve done. Or really what happened to Jesse before when he got bit. It’s all... I’m at a loss.”

DM: You both feel the rage turn from an eleven down to about an eight.

Then you smell what he smells, the city, animals, people, and you feel him recognize Poesy's scent.

The unmistakable sound of a rifle echoes through the night answered by a pained howl.

Lights are starting to turn on.

Poesy: Where'd the shot come from?

DM: Dots feels more movement in the Shadowfell. At least several hundred yards away and not aimed at you.

Poesy: Heading off to the sound, running that way, the howl, if its a different trajectory.

Dots: Running. Full speed. {"Poesy, I might need to check out the Shadowfell. If I disappear, I'll be back in a minute."}

Poesy: She nods, still moving towards the howl.

To Jesse, not expecting a real response, {"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"}

DM: The response is pain, you feel it in your left thigh.

The two of you run.

You don't spend much time in this part of Sharvel. It's mostly houses, two stories, sometimes three. Tight alleys and cobble streets with dim street lamps. Most of the light comes from the two full moons.

Dots, you haven't felt the disturbance from the shadowfell for few hundred feet, it's only occasional and it hops around. Suddenly you round a corner and spot Brent for a split second, then he disappears into a shadow.  You feel him blink through the Shadowfell and then you feel him on the rooftop above, his footsteps sprinting away.

Dots: {"This motherfucker is jumping through planes AND distances at the same time!"}

Poesy: {"Can you catch him? But don't go too far.... I need to find Jesse."}

Are there townspeople coming out now with all the ruckus?

DM: There are, mostly curious, a few carrying clubs or pitchforks but looking defensive.

Poesy: "INSIDE. NOW."

DM: A few do run inside, but some barely seem to hear you. Nobody is looking for trouble.

You hear him first. Heavy footsteps on a roof. Tiles falling into an alley. Chasing after him it's hard to tell where he is exactly until suddenly you feel his breath on your hair. He's breathing heavily, so heavily you feel like his breath alone could knock you over.

Poesy: Turning... What am I looking at here...

DM: He's easily two feet taller than you, at least nine feet tall, if he weren't hunched over.  This beast in Jesse's night pants is all muscle and hair and teeth as long as her fingers. 

He whines, scratching at his thigh.

Poesy: Not stepping back, but it's pretty clear that it's rather terrifying... "Could you... get down please." Gesturing for him to sit down lower.

DM: He crouches.

Poesy: He seems pretty lucid?

DM: Nearly. He looks wild, scared, ready to snap. You're pretty secluded.

Dots: "Jesse...*

Poesy: Tentatively petting along the side of his face... trying to get a look at the bullet wound. While attempting to offer some little distraction.

DM: He growls a little, but allows it.

Poesy: "Breathe, please..."

DM: Dots, you feel Brent coming.

Dots: "Jesse, hold still. Don't do anything, please."

DM: Jesse turns toward Brent's approach, his hair bristling.

Dots: Cast invisibility on Jesse.  

DM: Jesse vanishes. You can feel him calming down.

Poesy: Poesy pulls her hand away carefully

Dots: Standing between Jesse and wherever I'm sensing Brent. "Here he comes."

Poesy: Reciprocity is out and oh-so-ready

Dots: Grabbing Shadow's Edge...

DM: Both of you feel arms, massive, furred arms, wrap around you before you fly into the air, bounding across rooftops like ragdolls.

Dots: {-oof- "That works too..." }

DM: He is barely outpacing Brent, who is in your trail without deviation. He finally comes to a stop in his stable.

Dots: "He's still coming. We need to end this!"

Poesy: Pulling on his arm to be let loose, "Get *down*, Jesse. You're hurt." She points to a corner or somewhere with cover, then nods to Dots.

Using the Telestone to try and gauge Jesse's emotions, {"What was that for?"}

DM: Jesse sets you down. All you get from Jesse is fear.

Then he's gone.  You don't feel him near you.

Dots, Brent turns North, headed out of town.

Poesy: "No...”

{"Where are you!?"}

Dots: "What in the hells just happened?"

"Quick, the horses! He's leaving town, but if we stay close I think I can track him!"

Poesy: Is there any sign at all of where Jesse's gone?

Poesy nods absently to Dots and helps with horses, "Which direction, Dots?"

DM: They mount the horses and head for the north. Dots, you hear his footsteps.

Poesy: Grabbing the sending stone, messaging Clint, {"Clint, where are the monks? Brent is leaving town now. North. Jesse's... not good, but we'll figure it out."}

Clint: {"Lilia and Harlen are looking. North, got it.  We contacted the Children of the Moon. Do not let him kill."}

DM: Chasing after them on horseback, soon things get very quiet.  Only the sounds of the horses on the open road.

Dots: Can I see them?

DM: You can feel Brent, he has a lead.

Poesy: {"Jesse? Where are you? I need you to let me know."}

Dots: {"I think they're IN the Shadowfell."}

Poesy: "Clint's told the monks Lilia and Harlen will be coming this way, with any luck."

To Jess, through the stones, {"Don't hurt anyone. Even Brent. Even if you really want to. Just stay back. We'll find you."}

Dots: "What could he be trying to do..? And WHY?"

Poesy: To Dots, "Children of the Moon are coming as well... Figure out what happened. Clint says Jesse can't kill. I don't know what that would lead to."

Dots: "If we get close enough, I might be able to stop Brent. Physically, at least."

Poesy: "We can end Brent, if the opportunity is provided. Just don't let Jesse do it."

Dots: "Right!"

DM: Brent is slowing.

Poesy: {"Love, I know you're afraid, I could feel it, just stay safe. Away from others, so they don't do anything out of shock. Just stay safe, and we'll be there soon."}

Focusing on the road, trying to keep an eye out for Brent. Putting on goggles (**Goggles of Night) and unslinging Merit

Dots: "We're gaining on him. But if he can jump through planes at will - and how IS he doing that? - then we'd have to incapacitate him with our first attacks, or lose him. I can't do it safely more than a couple times."

"I can go to the Shadowfell alone.. then no matter where he jumped, one of us would be on him.. "

Poesy: "If you think it will help... But we'll also be alone until you can move again. Don't get stuck."

Dots: "Hey, I don't want that any more than you do. Less, probably!"

DM: As you round a turn you see a flash in the distance.

Poesy is nearly pushed off her horse as a bullet tears through her shoulder, but holds tight to the reins.

Dots feels another jump

Poesy sees him occasionally, glimpses.

Dots: Dots hops off her horse; shifting to the  Shadowfell - full speed on foot.

Poesy: Poesy steadies her hand, aiming her revolver for his next appearance, intending to aim for his legs.

DM: Brent takes a shot in the leg, but continues to move. Dots, you're closing.

He's orbiting, trying to flank Poesy

Poesy feels a second shot graze her ribs as she rides on before Brent disappears into the Shadowfell once more.

When he reappears, Poesy takes a second shot towards his legs which strikes true, and knocks him prone on his back.

Dots, closing in on Brent from within the Shadowfell uses the moment to shift back while plunging Shadow’s Edge into his chest.

She feels a sudden RIP,  the dagger is nearly torn from her grasp. 

Brent is ripped away from her and lifted into the air by a leg by an invisible Jesse.

Dots: "Jesse, dammit, no!"

Poesy: "NO! JESSE, NO!" Racing that way still, fuck.

If Brent is dangling for any extended period of time, Poesy's gonna empty Reciprocity on him.

DM: Jesse appears, growling with Brent's head fully in his open mouth.

Brent is screaming.

Poesy, fire away

Poesy: "JESSE, PLEASE."

Dots: Shoving my arms into Jesse's mouth.

Poesy unloads six shots into Brent’s chest

DM: Jesse drops him as Dots intervenes.

Brent is dead.

Poesy: Running over to check on Jesse

Dots: Immediately dropping to search Brent's corpse.

Poesy: Making sure he didn't do any real damage to Brent himself? Hoping that having someone die in your mouth doesn't count...

Just unabashedly grabbing him by the furry face and looking over him to see if anything has changed.

Dots: "If his *relatives* are tracking him, we need to find out - and fast. And I want to know how he could jump planes so quickly."

Poesy: Not at all listening to anything, sobbing openly, "I told you! I told you not to hurt him!"

Dots: "...And if he's got any damn antidote..."

DM: Jesse whines.

Brent doesn't have an antidote, but he has a spellbook. One of the spells is Suggestion.

Jesse is breathing heavily again, but now he's also over the place, stressed.

Poesy: Tugging him to the side and nudging him to sit down. Shushing him, trying to be relaxing, but probably not effective, really.

Dots: "Poesy, you might want to check that gun of his - I'd be surprised if it wasn't enchanted. And I found a spellbook, but no arcane focus... so you might look his corpse over while you're at it, since I obviously missed *something*.

"Jesse will be okay for a minute. Look at this, Jesse." Pulling out my mechanical bird & winding it up.

Poesy: "I will." Poesy mops her face with a sleeve, gestures for Jesse to stay where he is.

Taking a deep breath and shaking it out. Having a look over Brent. Then inspecting the gun.

Dots: "You've looked better, Jesse - I have to say."

Poesy: Looking for anything magical or seeming like it has the potential. Whatever he used to bamf. Searching for whatever he used on Jesse, if anything. Whatever could have caused the chemical smell. What he used to drug Poesy.

DM: Brent has an enormous vial, probably a potion.  He also has a smoky black tattoo in one arm.  His rifle is obviously custom, probably enchanted.

He's also got a mask that looks strange and a round object that resembles a canteen.

Dots: "Okay, I missed more than one thing..."

Poesy: Stashing all the things in the portable hole in the safe.

Smelling the inside of the canteen?

DM: Same smell as the house.

Poesy: Chemicals? Is this shit ether?

DM: Basically

Poesy: Wincing and stashing it too.

DM: Jesse points to the forest, whining.

Poesy: Poesy leans close to Brent’s face, "I hope your dad watched."

Standing, moving back to Jesse, "Dots, there's a tattoo. You might want to get a look at it, in case you see it again."

What's happening in the forest?

DM: He seems like he wants to go. You feel his fear, anxiety.

Poesy: {"What's the matter?"} Taking one of his hands

DM: You see him attacking someone, feel fear, then him in the forest and you just feel loneliness.

Poesy: Is the someone a generic thought or does it feel like a memory? Just a fear?

DM: Generic. His fear.

Poesy: Trying to project a calming feeling to him, reassuring. {"You're going to be okay."}

Slipping out the anchor, "I've got this too? If that helps you feel better. There's nothing to fear, we'll be fine."

DM: He isn't making a break for it, but he's definitely anxious.

Poesy: Sitting down in front of him.

DM: He grabs your hands and points it at himself.

Poesy: "If we need it."

"Dots, can you get a message to Annise? See how things are proceeding in Sharvel, if she can't find out. Let them know where we are."

Dots: "Where are those damned monks, anyway?"

Poesy: "Slow, it seems."

Dots: "I was just thinking about exactly that."

Poesy: "Say it loud enough that Harlen's ears might itch." Smiling at Jesse, trying to ease the mood. 

Dots: "How far outside town are we now, Poesy? And in what direction? I'm disoriented from the shifting."

Poesy: “Not far. Two hours ‘til sunrise”

Poesy carefully repositions herself on the ground however necessary to not have hers or Jesse's back to Sharvel, should someone come up behind. So it's not surprising.

Dots: {"Annise, we're just north from Sharvel. We killed Brent, but Jesse is... changed... we need help."}

Poesy: She puts the anchor in her lap and tucks her nightgown around her legs, getting comfortable. Holding both his hands. Humming that silly song they sang together on their walk earlier in the day.

Has Jesse got any blood on him that doesn't appear to be his own? Or byproduct of Brent.

DM: He doesn't, but he's increasingly agitated. Hungry.

Poesy: Singing the song out loud, making up dumb lyrics about Sharvel

Annise: {"You're who Lilia is tracking, I'll tell her.  Sending help."}

DM: Jesse seems to calm, but the hunger is clearly growing.

Dots: Through the telepathy stones: {"Lilia's on her way."}

"Poesy!" Tossing some meat rations to her.

Poesy: Holding them out carefully to him, "Do you want these? Think they'll help?"

DM: He sniffs them and his stomach growls audibly, but he declines.

Poesy: "Do you want to stay in the portable hole? The others will be here soon."

"I left the mantle at home... I can't get you anywhere quickly, I'm sorry."

DM: As you say this, you get the sense suddenly that something big is near. Then one of the moons blinks. Something blocked it for an instant. The presence shifts and a silver robed man approaches.

Thaesilvancii: "Hello."

DM: Jesse instantly goes down a notch.

Dots: "Old friend!" Jumping up to greet him.

Sil: "I apologize for frightening you, it was the only way to arrive quickly."

Dots: "No apologies needed! We're desperately glad to see you!"

DM: Jesse starts scratching at himself, pleading for help.

Poesy: A mite confused, "It's *very* good to see you." She grabs his other hand again so he doesn't hurt himself in that panic... "Can you help, Sil?"

Sil: "Calm, friend," he gestures.

DM: Jesse calms instantly.

Sil: "I cannot cure him, but I can ease his stress."

Poesy: "Anything helps... Do you know... how? What we can do?"

DM: He reaches out, touches Jesse's snout, and the werewolf falls asleep.

Poesy: "Oh!" Trying to not let him drop hard, as much as she can manage to guide his massive body.

Dots: "That'll do.."

DM: He's snoring gently and if Poesy closes her eyes she can barely tell the difference from normal Jesse snores.

Poesy: "Well.... that's quite something..." She pauses for a moment... "What the fuck is this? What did he do to him!?"

"The bastard drugged me and did something and next I knew..." Poesy gestures to Jesse in his current state, "What was he aiming at?"

Sil: "I cannot tell you precisely what's happened to him, it's not an enchantment."

Dots: "Not.. an enchantment? Then.. what else could it possibly be?"

Sil: "Possibly something more natural, though quite foreign to me."

Poesy: She pulls her knees up to her chin and stays seated beside him.

"Are the others on their way?"

"Clint mentioned Children of the Moon..."

Sil: He nods, "Most are keeping their distance.  The Children may have answers, but his own family may have more."

Poesy: "They already know what's happened?"

Sil: "No, I thought it best to assess the situation."

Poesy: She nods, "How are we getting him home? Will this last, or will he wake soon?"

Dots: "You might not want to hear this, Poesy, but I think if we can't.. fix him right away, we should get him to the cells. Someplace we can hold him where he can't hurt himself or anyone else."

Poesy: "The sun will be rising soon enough... hopefully things will get easier... But you're right."

"And he'd insist, really... already wanted me to use the anchor, anyway..."

Sil: "I can take him to the North Tower, to secure him.  He would give his life to prevent harm to an innocent."

"I must leave you there though. My duty is to protect Sharvel."

Dots: "Can you take this corpse as well? We don't want to misplace it. It might help us find out what happened. "

DM: He looks at the corpse, then wiggles a finger and a large chest appears. The corpse rises, falls inside, and the chest closes and disappears.

Poesy: Still watching Jesse’s sleeping, wolfish form, "Taking him now?"

Sil: "I'll call ahead."

Poesy: Nodding, "He was shot earlier. He'll need some healing too."

Sil: "They're ready.  Healing, I believe they will have such resources," Sil starts moving you into position, "Are you ready?"

Poesy: Shrugging and nodding...

DM: He motions in the air and a shimmering point appears, then expands. It's a portal into the cells under the tower. But then the portal moves and you're in the tower basement, on the opposite side of a set of bars from Jesse. The portal closes and Sil is gone.

Dots, you remember stories of the werewolves who lived near your home, not far from Edgewood, but few hard details.They were said to hunt only at night though and return to being human during the day.

Poesy: Poesy lets out a long shaky breath before moving close to the bars. Jesse still asleep through that?

DM: He seems unfazed. You hear hurried steps coming down the stone stairs. The footsteps stop, there's a pause, and the door opens slowly. Shaen enters alone, unarmed, unarmored. He points toward Dri'lien's cell and two men silently open it and take him away.  He gawks a bit, but remains silent.

Shaen: Whispering, "What do you need?"

Poesy: "I don't know... Is Yenra here?"

Shaen: "She is, yes.  If you need anything, anyone, we'll get whatever . . . I'm so sorry, Poesy."

Poesy: She shakes her head, "I don't even know what to think yet. What we can do..."

Shaen: "Everyone is awake.  EVERYONE.  They're all working on this right now."

Poesy: "Good. Yenra... and we need to send for Shannon. John. Maybe they'll know more... But not while he's like this."

Shaen: "I think I hear her coming.  She'll patch up that wound."

DM: There's a soft tap on the door and Jesse stirs with a low growl. Shaen opens the door for Yenra. She silently goes to the bars and reaches through, placing a hand on him without hesitation.

Poesy: Crouching close, but out of arm's reach should that not be a good wakeup

DM: He twitches, then snores more. She whispers her spell and the wounds close completely. She gets an odd expression, then casts another spell.

Yenra: "Poison, both of you." She barely speaks, more mouthing the words almost silently.

Poesy: "I was assuming..." Stepping back and laying out the portable hole in the open space and retrieving all the things we took off him. Passing the flask to Yenra. And the weird mask.

Yenra: "It's an Edrian poison gas, that would have put you to sleep, kept you that way." She spots the vial and picks it up, smelling it, "A potion?"

Poesy: "No idea."

Dots: "And a poison made Jesse like this too? "

Yenra: "I'll see if one of the arcanists can identify it."

Poesy: "Thank you.” Pulling out a blanket from the portable hole too. Putting it over Jesse best that can be done through the bars.

Yenra: "If it were a curse . . maybe a restorative spell.  I'll see if we have the components." She brushes away a tear, "We'll bring him back, Poesy."

Poesy: Giving her a watery smile, "Thank you, Yenra."

DM: There are more footsteps and the door opens hastily.

Datan: "Gods . . it's true."

DM: Ceila is right behind him as Yenra leaves.

Poesy: Poesy's just giving up on trying to stem the crying. Between the visitors and exhaustion, it's just not worth the effort. Giving them room. If they're moving closer to the cell

DM: Neither do.  Ceila takes the vial from Yenra and begins examining it. Datan steps a little closer, but is using some magic.

Datan: "He's still with us, Poesy.  Still in there."

Poesy: "I know. He was quite present. Until it started getting more difficult. He thinks he has to leave, though, I'm sure of it."

Datan: "Robert is on his way, he said he has some experience.  Something about 'rangers'."

Poesy: "I suppose he would. He's still surprising me."

Dots: "What about rangers?"

Poesy: "Edgewood Rangers, presumably. Though I'm not sure what exactly they have to do in this case... But Robert's a Talon. He must have some information we're not privy to there."

Ceila: "This is a rage potion."

Poesy: Poesy sighs, "That might explain the door.... what does it do exactly?"

Ceila: "It makes everything a target, but . . " she steps aside as Robert arrives.

Robert: "Werewolves are immune to psychotropics.  Immune to disease." He rushes to Poesy and wraps her in a hug.

Poesy: Mostly just collapsing into it

Robert: "We didn't learn much, some basics.  Dirty tricks did this. Along with a very old bite."

Poesy: "How? What sort of tricks?"

Robert: "Anything to piss him off.  The rage induces the change, song with the full moons and possibly some magic.  It's... been done before."

Poesy: "Can anything stop it now?"

Robert: "He needs to control it.  He needs to face the dawn without killing anyone."

Dots: "... Every dawn?"

Robert: He shakes his head. "After tonight his fate will be decided."

Poesy: "I don't think he has, but he was alone before we could reach him... And the way Brent died... He didn't do it... I think... Finish it, at least..." she rambles on, quite quickly.

Robert: "Can't change any of that now.  Will he comply?  He has to see the sun come up and the sky is getting light."

Poesy: "He didn't try to hurt us. But it was getting harder. Mostly harder to just keep him from leaving. He was afraid of hurting anyone."

"He has to be awake?"

Robert: "There's no choice.  If he's down here he might never change back." Robert nods.

Poesy: “Let me know what to do. Make everyone move. Nobody outside."

DM: The snoring has stopped and you realize Jesse is watching Robert.

Dots: Glancing at Poesy for guidance..

Poesy: Looking at Jesse, "You heard all that, then?"

Robert: "I'll clear a path to the top.  Don't delay."

DM: Jesse grunts.  Robert leaves and starts barking orders in a tone Poesy has definitely never heard. Jesse scoots to the back of the cell.

Poesy: "Dots, can you follow along in the Shadowfell? Is it safe here for you to do that?"

Dots: "I can. Tell me when - I won't be able to stay long."

Poesy: "If something's wrong... come, but no sooner. I don't want you in harm's way, okay?"

Stepping up to the bars, "Love, you'll come with me?"

DM: He steps forward, but grabs the bars to hold the door shut.

Dots: "... Maybe you're too close to him? He's very emotional right now... Want me to try?"

Poesy: Poesy lets out a choked sob and nods to Dots before stepping back, "Not too close.” 

Taking off Jesse's gun belt and setting it down. Stripping off the coat too so it's just poesy's holster and anchor

Dots: "Breathe, Jesse. This is the most important thing you've ever had to do. You need to calm yourself and follow Poesy outside. Then you'll be yourself again."

DM: He doesn't move for a moment, then he shoves the cell door open, breaking the lock and partially bending a bar. He holds his hand toward Poesy.

Dots: Backing slowly toward Poesy.

Messaging Poesy: {"Okay, it's all up to you now."}

Poesy: Stepping in front of Dots and moving closer to him, palms up, {"You should head out. Stay close, but out of sight if you can..."}

Looking Jesse over, trying to get a read on him (which is already so easy when he's just human...)

"Are you ready? I'll be with you, right beside you."

DM: He is as easy to read as a pet dog.  He's afraid, timid, and compliant.

Poesy: Holding out her hands closer, “You're much stronger than you let yourself think you are."

"We can do this, and you'll be just fine."

Stepping back closer to the door and seeing if he's following

DM: He lets you lead.

Poesy: Carefully taking a hand again. Heading back to the top of the tower where we fought the wyverns

"I know you wanted to leave. But I'd really rather you wouldn't,” she smiles at him, coaxing along.

"And your mom, too. John, Jacob, and Sarah. They'll be waiting for you back home. Everything is so good..."

DM: Jesse pats Dots on the head as he passes. It feels like someone setting a sand bag in top of your head.

Dots: Beaming at him.

Poesy: Picking up speed a touch. Not anything rushed, but brisker

DM: Jesse follows without hesitation now. He matches easily.

Poesy: "Gods, you're tall usually, but this is just ridiculous."

DM: He scoops Poesy up and starts taking three steps at a time.

Poesy: Laughing a tearful laugh, "A little warning, darling."

How close until dawn?

DM: It's pretty light now, but in moments you're at the top.

Poesy: If he doesn't immediately head in the direction that the sun will first crest, pointing to it

DM: He's just looking around, but he focuses. Then the sun appears and he freezes.

Poesy: "Let me down, please."

DM: He lets Poesy down absently, transfixed on the rising sun.

Poesy: Standing beside him, not between him and the light, taking a hand

Thinking about the Golden Phoenix and everything it stands for....

Saying a little prayer for the first time ever...

DM: Suddenly he starts to fall over on Poesy, but as he does she suddenly finds herself holding the man, shirtless, fur-less.

Poesy: Letting out a rushed breath and trying to keep him upright. Looking him over... making sure nothing is amiss...

DM: He's exhausted, haggard, but human. He weakly grabs Poesy's cheek and pulls her into a kiss.

Poesy: Openly sobbing. Definitely not letting him move an inch.

Jesse: "I remember . . I remember." He starts sobbing.

Poesy: "Are you okay?" She does everything possible to soothe.

DM: He starts looking himself over.  He looks remarkably good, tough there's a hole in his pants.

Poesy: "He shot you..."

Jesse: "I remember..."

Poesy: "What do you remember?"

Dots: Dots slides a flask of water across the floor to them.

DM: He beckons for her to come closer.

Dots: Trotting over. "Hey, friend.."

Jesse: He takes the flask, "Thank you... I remember Brent waking me, punching me, forcing the potion." He gives Dots a hug.

Dots: "Do you remember not eating my arms? Because I really appreciated that!" Returning the hug.

Jesse: "I do, and thank you."

Poesy: "Do you remember the rest?"

He nods.

Dots: "What did he DO to you?" Dots blurts out.

Jesse: "They... we know after, if we remember after the change, that we're in control. I won't hurt anyone."

Dots: "But.. are you a werewolf now?"

Jesse: "He provoked me.  By the time I had changed he was gone."

Dots: "Does that mean.. were you always a werewolf, deep down?"

Jesse: He nods.

Dots: "Oh!"

Poesy: "But you'll have to change now?"

Jesse: "I will, but if I do it on my own... hunt on my own..."

Poesy: "But you didn't hurt anyone?"

Jesse: He shakes his head, "I was only after Brent."

Poesy: "He just wanted you to change and be set loose? He didn't try to use you for anything?"

Jesse: "I don't know.  I feel like he was leading me around, but I was in a fog."

Poesy: "I don't know what his endgame was... but he was definitely playing one..."

"No matter... will you be alright?"

Jesse: He nods.

DM: Poesy can tell that he wants it to be true, but he's afraid of how close he came to murdering both of you. He sniffs the air.

Jesse: "Mom's here."

Poesy: Taking his hands again and kissing his knuckles, "I wasn't afraid of you. Only that you might be too afraid to stay."

Not letting him go until he really seems to get it, "I trust you."

DM: He wraps his arms around Poesy. It's a good minute before Shannon arrives. He stands to greet her and as he hugs her she looks over his shoulder at Poesy, mouthing: "Thank you."

Poesy: Nodding to her. Sneaking away for a moment, then running down the stairs to grab the things that got left by the cells (Jesse's belt in particular)\And flagging down someone to get Jesse some clothes. 

DM: John is waiting just out of sight with your clothes and Jesse's in his arms.

Poesy: Helping him carry things.

"He's okay."

Dots: From upstairs, she messages Poesy: ("Is this just a thing that can happen to humans, and no one told me?"}

Poesy: {"Well fuck, I didn't know myself! What a mess..."}

Dots: {"But his family, at least? Does that mean that your-er, his children will be werewolves too?"}

Poesy: Poesy's downstairs with John, stock still, blushing furiously... There's no response...

John: "Are you okay, Poesy?"

Poesy: "Hm?" She nods, "Mm-hm... Tired... It's been a long night."

Only just really appraising herself, realizing that she's in quite a state. Bloody, bullet-hole-ridden, frilly-ass nightgown and such.

"I should probably see a healer... or sleep..."

John: "It's never easy, even when you're prepared.  The worst is over though."

Poesy: "You've seen this?"

John: He nods.  "Every werewolf in Edgewood goes through their Dawn.  Usually it's around puberty.  For those few bitten, their first full moons.  Jesse hid his bite for years, suppressed it with potions.  He's not the first."

"I didn't even know until he'd graduated high school."

Poesy: "This might've happened even without the meddling?"

John: "Every double moon has been a fight.  A struggle.  I don't know how or why he didn't want it, but he lost tonight.  Lost a battle he's been fighting for more than a decade."

"It could have been much worse though."

"Some lose control.  They wake up with no memory of the night.  Just blood.  Sometimes naked in the woods."

Poesy: "What would have happened? If he'd killed Brent..."

John: "I promised him a long time ago..." he takes his revolver from it's holster and dumps out six silver bullets, "... Thank you."

Poesy: She blanches.

John: He gives Poesy a stiff hug, "Go on, get dressed.  I'll get these to Jesse."