Gnome's OOTA Story Thread [CLOSED]

Katryl grabs the items.  They're mildly intetesting but nothing that will help them out right now. Everything goes into her pack for now, then she rushes as fast as she can back to the cavern. 

"I found the shinies, but no way out nor anything to help us," Kayryl says, once back with the others. "Looks like this is the only possible path.  Let's just hope it leads somewhere."

She takes a breath, "So, how do we break through more?"

Quote from Culuril >>

 

...

She takes a breath, "So, how do we break through more?"

"With heavy weapons, I would say..." Khessa shows her Maul, as she reaches a height from which she can hit the edges of the hole. The blonde arcane warrior then readily begins trying to shatter said edges, to widen the crack - at least enough for a person to pass. "My Maul and Ebzer's Greataxe. The arrows I don't think would be effective and the fire... if used too abundantly, would risk depleting our oxygen supply. I hope, however, that a few blows will suffice... we have already seen that the weight of the water is causing more and more of the ceiling near the crack to give way".

Trying to keep her balance, the tall adventuress uses the long range of her weapon to strike again... and again... and again...

The chipping begins to work, as more of the ceiling falls away, but letting in more and more water. The force with which the water starts coming in gives you the impression that you are under a much larger body of water currently. The flooding quickly begins to fill the entire temple...you're going to have to swim for it as you see Globbagool squeezing in the corner and rising up through the water as well, until it is completely flooded...

(Everyone make a DEX saving throw as you attempt to escape the flooded tomb)

(Katryl DEX Save: 11)

(Eldeth DEX Save: 17)

Khessa's DEX saving throw: 3

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Khessa's DEX saving throw: 6

"Hey Globbagool!" Khessa calls "Wait for u... GLUB GLUB GLUB!"

Too focused on her new friend, the blonde arcane warrior finds herself swallowing more water than she'd like!

Traydark growls but does his best to follow the others as they fight the rushing water threatening to drown them all as rats. 

(Dex save: 4)

Traydark would use his Misty Step magic if needed to bring him closer to safety.
Darkwing would change form to an invisible toad at any point when flying would no longer be possible.

It is a tense few moments as you all make a swim for it, the water flooding the temple below, swimming up through the open crack in the earthen ceiling. As you make your way up you are hit with a swifter current for a moment before pushing through to break out into a spacious chamber above. Darkwing changes into a toad and swims out with a wet plop on the hard dirt. Globbagool floats up the water and oozes onto the land above. "Wow! That was fun! I didn't know I could float like that!"

Katryl, Khessa and Silas all had a hard time (I rolled for Ebzer/Silas) getting up and out and suffer 1 point of exhaustion.

(also congratz for making it out of the temple! Everyone can level up to 4!)

Khessa coughs and spits water for quite a few time, while recovering from her ordeal.

Once she fully realizes she hasn't drowned, the blonde arcane warrior looks around, worried, to make sure no one is left behind... 'Yes, everyone is here!' she notes with relief 'We all did it!'

Only then, the tall adventuress joins the new friend's enthusiasm: "Yes Glabbagool! You were great! It is official: you are the first Ooze Adventurer ever! And the world's gotta know your name!"

Khessa pats everyone on the shoulder, smiling and kissing cheeks: "We did it, friends!" and a new confidence in her ability is to be seen in the deep of her blue eyes "Neither that earthquake, nor the flood has been able to stop us! We will go to the end of this!"

Coming up from the water, the noble drow starts to use his drow magic to heat and dry himself, shaking his head as he looks over at the sentient ooze. "You don't seriously mean to bring that thing along do you?" He quietly asks the blonde arcane warrior, giving her a smirk as he glances over her wet clothes. "Our journey to Neverlight Grove will take forever if we have to wait for this thing to slither along. Would you at least consider chopping it up and just bring along a small portion of it to carry. Also I must remind you that with all that is going on with the abyssal incursion into the Underdark we can be almost certain that your new friend is actually a servant of the father of slime Jubilex." He adds, giving Khessa a stern look.

Khessa realizes that the drow warlock is not remaining indifferent, as he looks at her and at first wonders why... then, finally, realizing how the wet clothes, adhering to the parts not covered by the armor, are revealing more than usual, she smiles back, not making an exaggerated effort to change the situation, while replying: "Traydark, 'that thing', as you call it, is our new friend Globbagool. The same friend who stopped some oozes from dissolving us and that helped us to inspect that deadly trap we got ourselves in. All right, it couldn't find a way out, but for example it found treasure that will be useful to all of us! How could we think of abandoning it?" the gaze of those blue eyes becomes sweet "The ooze that had attacked us in Velkynvelve, if we think about it now, had surely been under the influence of Jubilex, when it attacked us ferociously saying 'Flesh for the faceless lord!', but Globbagool? If it was under the influence of Jubilex, why would it have helped us, against the oozes (which are the typical servants of Jubilex)? Wouldn't it have been more convenient for Jubilex if we all died down there? Instead Globbagool has tried its best to avoid it! I believe that, as Rumpadump was able by his free will to reject Zuggtmoy (and not follow his kin and Sarith), so Globbagool is not serving Jubilex".

The blonde arcane warrior adds: "Yes, considering that I usually already carry both Stool and Rumpadump, the speed of Globbagool poses an important logistical problem... But you know what? Maybe I have the solution. Do you remember those pages of lizard-skin parchment held together between two leather covers from two different books, full of mad scribbles and arcane formulas, which Droki had with him and which I have kept? Well, studying them I discovered that they are a kind of spellbook - they contain spells! One of these is a ritual that allows me to carry objects and creatures weighing up to 500 pounds. Globbagool shouldn't be too heavy - it's gelatinous in material... it even floated on water! If I have a free moment I'll take the time to study that spell until I make it my own and I can write it down in my spellbook... then I'll be able to cast that ritual as many times as needed - and carry Globbagool at my own speed. We could have the advantages of his help without the disadvantages of his slowness! Is fantastic, isn't it?"

"Come on, Traydark, trust me… It's as I tried to explain to Errde, before we left her… strength is in variety, because variety bring versatility" the tall adventuress places her hand gently on his back. "Have you ever had reason to regret the friends I've added to our group?"

"Frequently." The noble drow mutters dryly, but he realizes there is no point arguing with the human as she apparently has already made her frail mind up. Still, there were times when he appreciated her tenacity and creativity and as long as she would take care of the ooze not slowing them down it might still serve some purpose, slithering forth to spring traps and set off ambushes meant for him and the his more useful followers. "We should find somewhere to rest and recover now." He says after a while, looking around at the others in the team.

When the drow noble seems to resign himself to the addition of the new member, Khessa smiles brightly and hugs him: "I know you're a sweetheart, deep down, Traydark. And as for the 'find somewhere to rest and recover', I couldn't agree more! Come on, let's get going! As soon as we find a suitable place, I have several magical tasks to perform..."

(OOC: Assuming we find such a place)

When the party finally identifies a position that is quiet enough and defensible to be adopted as a place to camp, the blonde arcane warrior first of all dedicates herself to magical studies: she takes her heavily bound spellbook out of her backpack and opens it in front of her, smiling as she reads the now familiar words on your back 'Knowledge must be forged to last' - considering all the effort she's putting into progressing in arcane knowledge, she really does feel like she's doing a strenuous job like working at a forge!

The tall adventurer then opens the improbable 'spellbook' of Droki to the side and dedicates herself to the meticulous and patient work of comparing the annotations and choices of magical symbols to signify the concepts, instructions, processes unleashed in the Weave...

As always happens to her in these moments, Khessa is completely absorbed by the task and her mind launches into continuous comparisons and connections, so much so that when she finally manages to translate the ritual from the original magical code to the one she has made her own, she also gains some useful insight into other spells, the final form of which she had been sketching but had not yet managed to complete.

'So,' thinks the blonde arcane warrior 'maybe I've always been wrong after all - from what Droki wrote, if one takes into account that he is clearly speaking metaphorically here, this one should be the correct symbol to end the opening sequence of this kind of ritual. I, on the other hand, in my attempts to complete Find Familiar, tried to reuse the terminator from Unseen Servant - since it was also the only terminator I knew. Instead there are several, each connected to the opening pattern... I absolutely have to do this test too, later!'

The attempt to cast the Floating Disk is a success! The tall adventurer first tests the hold of the spell with light objects, verifies that it follows her independently, that it stops without hitting her... Finally, she also uses it for the particular purpose she had thought of: moving the Ooze Adventurer!

(OOC: @DM: Globbagool doesn't weigh more than 500 pounds, right? And... does it enjoy being transported at Khessa's speed?)

After that, Khessa tests the insights she has had and, after a few iterations, manages to complete the final form of two spells she has been interested in for some time now: Protection from Evil and Good and, above all, Find Familiar, for which she had also previously bought the component during her stay in Gracklstugh!

'Yes, I'm perfectly sure' the blonde arcane warrior smiles. 'This is the definitive form of the ritual, the form that until now had eluded me. Maybe I should thank Droki after all… Maybe. Except that he sold names of innocents to Demogorgon's followers so they could perform rituals upon them that twisted their body and soul. On second thought, I think that Droki, as a thank, will have to settle for the fact that I didn't torture him long and slowly. But let's not digress; there is a very important reason why I wanted so dearly to learn this ritual... how long have I waited for this moment? And now... and now, finally, I can do it!'

The tall adventuress, suddenly very excited, begins preparations for summoning the familiar.

Khessa starts fetching a brass brazier and burning in it charcoal, incense, and herbs with a penetrating scent, chanting ancient formulas and slightly swaying her body to the rhythm of the invocation.

As the ritual comes to life, the form of the invocation becomes more rhythmic and faster, at times hypnotic, until, in the end, when the substances in the brazier have been completely consumed and even the last clouds of smoke are dissipating in the air , a small winged creature descends from above, from behind a stalactite above the summoner's head... although it's hard to tell how long it had been there! No one has seen it approach... Did it appear out of nowhere?

Always behaving as if everything were perfectly normal, the little creature leans on the blonde arcane warrior's shoulder. It looks like a bat. But the familiarity with which she deals with Khessa and the light of her intelligence in the back of her eyes makes one suspect that it is something else.

"See how cute?!" the tall adventuress scratches him under his fur, while introducing him to her other friends "His name is Anator! You can touch him, he won't hurt you. He is just another new friend - to Traydark's delight. A magical friend. He is my 'familiar'. A celestial spirit who came down from heaven to help us. You've already met Darkwing, the bat who is Traydark's familiar; well, Anator can do the same things... apart from becoming invisible - that's something that I still have to figure out how to make him do it... Who knows if one day my mysterious 'mentor' will deign to explain it to me?" she smiles at the drow noble.

"Anyway, there's one more thing I want you all to know..." the voice of Khessa grows sweet "I called him Anator, like one of my brothers, the one who died during the drow slave raid that wiped out Twardens, my village. Anator died trying to protect us. And I believe that wherever he is now, he never stopped trying to do it. This spell summons a celestial spirit... And I think the spirit that was sent to me may be Anator's. He would have come, if some celestial power had proposed this to him. I think it's him. I think it's Anator" and she caresses him. "Welcome back, Anator! Oh," noting that the bat seems to regard the drow warlock with some wariness "and don't be too afraid from Traydark, right? I know, he is a drow, like the one who killed you... but he is different; believe me, he is a sweetheart, deep down" she winks. "You just have to go very deep".

(OOC: @DM: No need for Anator to really be Khessa's brother - whether it really is or not I leave it to your discretion - this is just what Khessa believes)

"Very very deep," Katryl mutters under her breath.  She had swam out from the temple, just barely holding her breath. She had thought she was going to pass out there for a moment. Dragging herself from the water, she had spent many long minutes just lying there, trying to get enough oxygen to satisfy her burning lungs. Still weary, she agrees that they ought to find a good place to rest.  And to do it quickly. She is relieved when they finally do find a place and stop. She takes full advantage of the time to rest. 

"That it is quite unnecessary, I would appreciate if I don't get wet again quite yet." The noble drow says dryly, taking a step back as the still wet arcane warrior tries to hug him. "You should focus on your magical tasks now human, and remind your new pet to not try to hug anyone either."

The noble drow simply shakes his head at the blonde human's delusional thought of the spirit of her dead brother returning to serve as her familiar, giving the arcane warrior a slightly worried glance. Perhaps the madness of mighty Demogorgon was getting to her, it would certainly explain her erratic behaviour collecting hordes of annoying pets during their journey. He simply smirks at Khessa's and Katryl's comments about him deep down being different than other drow. Of course he was an exceptional drow, he would prove that in time, but the deeper anyone would go the more darkness they would find, his dark destiny was inevitable but as long as the others assisted him in investigating the demonic incursion into the Underdark they could all believe what they wanted.

The noble drow would then find a comfortable spot for his newly acquired bedroll and go into a restful trance while his own familiar kept vigilant lookout for approaching threats.

Quote from Oberon99 >>

"That it is quite unnecessary, I would appreciate if I don't get wet again quite yet." The noble drow says dryly, taking a step back as the still wet arcane warrior tries to hug him. "You should focus on your magical tasks now human, and remind your new pet to not try to hug anyone either."

"Oh, my dearest..." Khessa winks at Traydark "All this aversion to 'get wet' could give rise to interesting theories as to why drow have such dark skin..."

However, the blonde arcane warrior spares him the hug and in fact, acknowledging the soundness of the advice, focuses on her magical tasks (OOC: so she learns new spells and summons the familiar as already posted).

(If you haven't taken a long rest go ahead and do so)

Gathering yourself together once you have had a chance to rest from the flooded temple below, with another new friend in tow, head back into the forbidding Underdark, once again plunged into the strange and wondrous realm below. Thankfully you also have a couple of pleasant myconids with you who, while not exactly sure how to get to Netherlight Grove, do have a sense of the direction and are able to more or less keep you going in the right direction. Because of the familiar's blindsight, you are also able to easily avoid the more unsavory denizens of the Underdark. The journey still takes a few days, until you find a natural tunnel is fit for relatively easy travel, formed by a drying underground stream and dimly lit by glowing lichen.

Upon entering the cavern of the grove, you leave the horrors of the Underdark behind and find yourselves in a hidden enchanted place, strangely alien but serenely beautiful. The access tunnel opens above the grove’s main floor, provides you with a panoramic view of a mushroom forest that covers every surface — including the ceiling — and illuminates the darkness with brilliantly colorful bioluminescent patterns. On the other side of this exotic forest, the cavern narrows into a ravine. In a cavern beyond the ravine, a glimpse of a majestic mushroom tower can be seen, although the poor light and a rising mist makes it impossible to discern its details.

Khessa stops for a moment, admiring the view and sighing: "It's beautiful... Maybe... strange... but beautiful! I never thought that in the Underdark there could be so much natural light! Ebzer, Traydark... did you know? Have you ever seen anything like this?"

However, as a precaution, the blonde arcane warrior asks the two myconids (assuming they are the best experts of this place): "Stool, Rumpadump... Is the mushroom forest dangerous to cross? Is there anything we should know? A path that is preferable to follow? And the majestic mushroom tower... is that where the 'lady' who is so generous with her 'gift' resides?"

'And Sarith...' the tall adventurer cannot help but think, in private, seeing once again, in her memory, like in a nightmare, the terrified eyes of her traveling companion who asks for help... 'Will he be here now? Will it be possible to free him?'

As they took their rest, after she'd had a moment to recover a bit, Katryl tells the others, "When I went back to that room with the broken fountain, I did manage to find those shinnies that Globbagool mentioned."  She pulls out the coins from her pack (41 gp, 112 sp) as well as the 3 green-gold bracelets (25 gp ea.) and sets them on the ground.  "Then there were these two containers."  And she pulls out the potion of healing (greater) and oil of Slipperiness and sets those near the coins.  Lastly, she takes out the dagger with a spider design on the hilt, the dagger, +1.  "This is definitely magical. I might keep it, though I suppose this is more than like a drow weapon."  She looks to the others to see what they think of dividing the items. 

Making their way into cavern of the Neverlight Grove, Katryl can't help but agree with Khessa's statement. "This is a beautiful place."  She waits as the blonde woman speaks with Stool and Rumpadump.