Dev looks dumbly at the wand that Jurgen hands to him, taking it without understanding. Mathilda’s words offer little more clarity, and Dev is astonished to hear in them a veiled threat. But when she begins reading from the scroll she has produced, he begins to understand, or thinks he does, that the Dwendalians were taking their leave, and that Dev has somehow borrowed time with Ubo as collateral. Not his intention, but compared to the idea of facing Mathilda in battle, he would take it. The relief this thought brings him gives him poise as he stands, and watches whatever happens next, curiosity and concern both written in his innocent features.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Giant Spider Lokilia continues to fight with the creature closest at hand. (Bite Attack: 22, Damage: 7 piercing, CON Save DC 11 or take 9 poison damage, 4 poison damage on success)
If the creature she is fighting is defeated she would move to try to intercept any remaining creatures.
Lokilia drops her opponent to the ground dead, Normonts has already turned away from him assuming he is fallen, even as Normont fires. Startled it punches out at Quinn. Quinns previous opponent leaps on his back and tries to sink suddenly shark-like teeth into his shoulder.
Dev looks dumbly at the wand that Jurgen hands to him, taking it without understanding. Mathilda’s words offer little more clarity, and Dev is astonished to hear in them a veiled threat. But when she begins reading from the scroll she has produced, he begins to understand, or thinks he does, that the Dwendalians were taking their leave, and that Dev has somehow borrowed time with Ubo as collateral. Not his intention, but compared to the idea of facing Mathilda in battle, he would take it. The relief this thought brings him gives him poise as he stands, and watches whatever happens next, curiosity and concern both written in his innocent features.
11
There is a blinding blue flash of light and Dev finds himself alone on the platform.....movement below seems to indicate that he wasn't the only one to see the bright blue flash.....
Looking up a few levels he hears a shot and sees a muzzle flash.....his friends aren't too far away....
Normont stays right where he is, hoping to distract the creatures to allow Quinn to get a killing blow or two.
He does try once more to shoot one of them, but once again at point blank range it isn't easy.
"Again, Amber", he calls in Gnomish, to which Amber sends another blast of force at the same creature.
Normont
Action (disadvantage due to being in melee): Shoot the creature that looks worst for wear with his pistol - To Hit: (2, 9,)+3=5 Bonus Action: Command Amber Movement: None
Amber
Action: Force Strike the creature that looks worst for wear - To Hit: 15+4=19, Damage: 3+2=5 [force]
As the Dwendalians disappear – returning home, Dev believes – he raises one hand and waves it hesitantly, unsure if they can still see him, until the blue flash answers the question definitively.
In the moments that follow, aware that on the level or levels beneath him more creatures stir, Dev, now alone, must consider: hide here or return up to find his friends?
The choice is easy. The teenager bounds up the staircase the Dwendalians had so recently descended.
They destroyed all the shape-stealers on their way down. The way should be clear,’ he thinks.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Normont stays right where he is, hoping to distract the creatures to allow Quinn to get a killing blow or two.
He does try once more to shoot one of them, but once again at point blank range it isn't easy.
"Again, Amber", he calls in Gnomish, to which Amber sends another blast of force at the same creature.
Normont
Action (disadvantage due to being in melee): Shoot the creature that looks worst for wear with his pistol - To Hit: (2, 9,)+3=5 Bonus Action: Command Amber Movement: None
Amber
Action: Force Strike the creature that looks worst for wear - To Hit: 15+4=19, Damage: 3+2=5 [force]
Ambers blast hits one of the creatures as Quinn lays into it...
As the Dwendalians disappear – returning home, Dev believes – he raises one hand and waves it hesitantly, unsure if they can still see him, until the blue flash answers the question definitively.
In the moments that follow, aware that on the level or levels beneath him more creatures stir, Dev, now alone, must consider: hide here or return up to find his friends?
The choice is easy. The teenager bounds up the staircase the Dwendalians had so recently descended.
They destroyed all the shape-stealers on their way down. The way should be clear,’ he thinks.
Dev began picking his way upwards as quickly as he dared, the trail of devastation was a little scary....blasted and scorched bodies were strewn about and charred chunks of creatures festooned the levels as he ascended....soon he could clearly hear the sounds of combat on the level above as he worked his way back to his friends....
The blow against Giant Spider Lokilia misses and she still remains in the creature form. Since the one she had attacked before hadn't seem to quite die yet, she attempts to bite it again. (Bite Attack: 14, Damage: 9 piercing; CON Save DC 11 or take 4 poison damage, 2 poison damage on success)
Normont feels stuck, desperately wanting to back away but knowing that would expose him to a potentially fatal strike. And so he stands his ground and aims point blank at the creature he has been attempting to drop, puling the trigger ands hoping for the best.
"Keep it up", he says again in Gnomish, and Amber swoops in for another blast trying to free her master to retreat.
Normont
Action (disadvantage due to being in melee): Shoot the creature he shot at last time with his pistol - To Hit: (17, 19,)+5=22, Damage: 6+3=9 [magical piercing] Bonus Action: Command Amber Movement: None
Amber
Action: Force Strike the creature she hit last time - To Hit: 20+4=24 [crit], Damage: 2+2+2=6 [force]
(OOC: Just realised DnDBeyond had messed up my pistol attack, dropping the proficiency bonus as firearms doesn't count for pistol for some reason. Back up to +5 to hit now I have fixed it)
"Nuts and bolts that was close, thanks for bringing me back, Quinn", Normont says sagging a little from his wounds. He waits for the others to lead the way to the stairs down.
"Perhaps once we find him, we can find a safe spot to rest. It doesn't sound like going up will get us out, not according to the lady on the screen anyway".
Dev rushes up the last staircase, and when he makes it to the same level as the others, tears of joy twinkle in his eyes, he toots a few happy notes on his pan-pipes and another musical illusion begins to sound.
“Hi Quinn. Hi Normont. I’m so glad to see you. Is... Lokilia...” he trails off, deep concern suddenly cut into his features as he looks for the druid. When his eyes fall on her unexpected giant spider form instead, his jaw drops and he backs away in fear. "Aaah! Giant spider!!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
Normont sees the figure rushing up the stairs, and trains his pistol on it before seeing it is Dev. Even then, knowing what the creatures do in impersonating people they know, he doesn't let down his guard or his weapon.
When Dev blows on his pan-pipes and throws his voice, he relaxes a bit.
"Not to worry Dev, the giant spider is Lokilia. And boy is it good to see you alive. I thought you were a goner when you floated down", he says relieved. "Are you hurt? What did you find down there? Where did the Dwendalions go? I am not sure we can get out the way we came right now", he says all at once.
Dev stands up from where he tripped over himself to get away from the giant spider, and laughs in appreciation and awe at Lokilia’s amazing abilities, now approaching to take in the sight of her with curiosity. But behind his joy-filled eyes, Dev looks scratched, bruised, wobbly on his legs, and in short, exhausted. The spark of energy that sometimes twinkles in his expression is absent. But his excitement is enough to launch him into an explanation and recounting of where he has been.
“I had to jump… I was surrounded by a pair of them, and pretty spent, and I knew I couldn’t get away, except for one way. On a melody? So I did. I was able to float down almost to the bottom of the shaft.”
[Quotes of DM Posts:]
Dev sees a red glow below him becoming brighter and warmer as he falls, soon the levels he passes no longer have screens or interfaces at all but are simply banks upon banks of crystals.......he sees one gantry below, a wild eyed old man sits upon it surrounded by three of the creatures who shift in and out of various forms as the man screams at them to leave him alone.....he is dirty and flush-faced and sweating profusely in the hot air rising from below but his screaming stops replaced by a look of utter confusion as Dev comes into view....
Dev describes taking careful note of his surroundings, his glance unconsciously ping-ponging to Normont as he speaks, hoping to stand up to his older and more experienced companion’s insightful methods:
-Q.Is there anything down here that could be “the prize“? A. Nothing that seems obvious....
-Q. How many levels below his companions is he? A. Approximately 10 by his count.
-Q. How many levels below the Dwendallians? A. Approximately 8-7 by his count.
-Q. How far down is he, in yards & feet? A. 100-120 yards....hard to tell exactly....
-Q. How many shape-stealers did Dev count on the way down? A. Probably a dozen or so but some levels were heavily obscured by banks of crystals.
-Q. How much farther down does the shaft go? A. Looking down there are maybe another 5 levels before the bottom......which is kind of just a reddish heat haze from this perspective.
-Q. The shape-stealer de Rollo said they were from the Abyss. Does this shaft go down to the Abyss (whatever that is)? I.e., does it just keep going, getting hotter & hotter? A. Peering through the heat haze below he can see a metal grid work or lattice at the base of the shaft, a huge series of blades spins underneath it forcing hot air up the shaft. On the level just above it are a series of displays and panels, the only ones he has seen for the last 7 or so levels.
“I found Mr. Ubo and was able to talk some sense into him. He was nice. He misses his wife and daughter. And he helped me when, while we were coming back upstairs, more of those shape-stealers attacked us.
“The man called Jurgen and the woman called Mathilda? They were trying to save him, but they also kept talking about a 'prize' under orders from um, The Assembly, they said. But Mr. Ubo said, ‘The knowledge locked in this place.....with the secrets here the Assembly could gain enough power to rule uncontested....that was my mission here.’ Something else he said… made me think that might not be such a good idea for that to happen.
“Anyhow, Mr. Ubo and I made it up to where Ms. Mathilda and Mr. Jurgen were, and…
[Quotes of DM Posts:]
Mathilde looked at Dev and sighed a little, " Ve vill return shortly und claim the knowledge here for the Assembly and the Dwendalian Empire......I would advise not being here vhen Ve do."
Jurgen gave Mathilde a bemused grin …[and said] to Dev, " Run, Bitte."
Ubo nodded to Dev, " Zhank you."
The woman pulled out a scroll from her belt and began reading from it.....
There was a blinding blue flash of light and Dev finds himself alone on the platform.....movement below seems to indicate that he wasn't the only one to see the bright blue flash.....
Looking up a few levels he hears a shot and sees a muzzle flash.....his friends aren't too far away....
“And that’s what happened,” he finishes, breathlessly. “Oh!,” he says, having forgotten,” Mr. Jurgen gave me this.” He shows Normont the silver wand. “But… I’m not sure what to do with it?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters
The Giant Spider that is Lokilia is also looking to be in rough condition. As Dev reunites with the rest of the group and there seems to be a lull, she reverts to her normal half-elf form. "Normont, it looks like your injures need tending," she says as she grasps the totem about her neck and casts Goodberry. She produces 10 berries and offers them to the gnome. "Eat these. I can produce some more if they are needed."
She gives a glance to Dev and then to Quinn. "Are you two alright?"
Normont looks concerned by Dev's report, "That is a lot of good information, Dev. You make a fine detective".
"I don't know about you all, but I don't like the idea of this Jurgen and Mathilda returning to claim knowledge or artefacts that will tip the balance of power. Nor do I like the threat implied in their return. We saw an image of one of the others in the expedition on a monitor. I think it was a recording, but she advised heading down to the library below to switch something off to remove the defences. After that, a doppelgänger appears and killed her, so I think it was real. And she said the way out above is not useable anyway. Did you spot a library?".
When Lokilia returns to normal form and gives him the goodberries he throws her a grateful smile, "Thank you. I do have a potion, but would rather save it in case the worst happens to one of you".
He hands Dev half of the goodberries, and eats the other half.
Dev looks dumbly at the wand that Jurgen hands to him, taking it without understanding. Mathilda’s words offer little more clarity, and Dev is astonished to hear in them a veiled threat. But when she begins reading from the scroll she has produced, he begins to understand, or thinks he does, that the Dwendalians were taking their leave, and that Dev has somehow borrowed time with Ubo as collateral. Not his intention, but compared to the idea of facing Mathilda in battle, he would take it. The relief this thought brings him gives him poise as he stands, and watches whatever happens next, curiosity and concern both written in his innocent features.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Giant Spider Lokilia continues to fight with the creature closest at hand.
(Bite Attack: 22, Damage: 7 piercing, CON Save DC 11 or take 9 poison damage, 4 poison damage on success)
If the creature she is fighting is defeated she would move to try to intercept any remaining creatures.
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Lokilia Vaelphin | Sabina Featherwound | Liivi Orav | Vanizi | Dirtbrain | Elielle Hillwind | Britari/Halila Talgeta/Jesa Gumovi
Lokilia drops her opponent to the ground dead, Normonts has already turned away from him assuming he is fallen, even as Normont fires. Startled it punches out at Quinn. Quinns previous opponent leaps on his back and tries to sink suddenly shark-like teeth into his shoulder.
Vs Quinn Attack: 13 Damage: 6
Vs Quinn Attack: 15 Damage: 9
( Everyones up)
11
There is a blinding blue flash of light and Dev finds himself alone on the platform.....movement below seems to indicate that he wasn't the only one to see the bright blue flash.....
Looking up a few levels he hears a shot and sees a muzzle flash.....his friends aren't too far away....
Normont stays right where he is, hoping to distract the creatures to allow Quinn to get a killing blow or two.
He does try once more to shoot one of them, but once again at point blank range it isn't easy.
"Again, Amber", he calls in Gnomish, to which Amber sends another blast of force at the same creature.
Normont
Action (disadvantage due to being in melee): Shoot the creature that looks worst for wear with his pistol - To Hit: (2,
9,)+3=5Bonus Action: Command Amber
Movement: None
Amber
Action: Force Strike the creature that looks worst for wear - To Hit: 15+4=19, Damage: 3+2=5 [force]
Quinn will attack last if needed.
Attack: 10
Damage: 4
(OOC: Normont was hoping to grant flanking for advantage @Zelock)
Giant Spider Lokilia will attack whichever creature she is able to reach first.
(Bite Attack: 16, Damage: 4 piercing, make CON Save DC 11 or take 9 poison damage or 4 on success)
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Lokilia Vaelphin | Sabina Featherwound | Liivi Orav | Vanizi | Dirtbrain | Elielle Hillwind | Britari/Halila Talgeta/Jesa Gumovi
As the Dwendalians disappear – returning home, Dev believes – he raises one hand and waves it hesitantly, unsure if they can still see him, until the blue flash answers the question definitively.
In the moments that follow, aware that on the level or levels beneath him more creatures stir, Dev, now alone, must consider: hide here or return up to find his friends?
The choice is easy. The teenager bounds up the staircase the Dwendalians had so recently descended.
They destroyed all the shape-stealers on their way down. The way should be clear,’ he thinks.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Ambers blast hits one of the creatures as Quinn lays into it...
Quinns blow momenterily stymied the creature but it still seemed hale...
As it recovered Lokilia jumped onto its back and sank her fangs in pumping poison......it did not look well....
The creature beside it swatted at Lokilia trying to dislodge her while the poisoned one swung wildly at Quinn once more....
Vs Lokilia Attack: 11 Damage: 10
Vs Quinn Attack: 10 Damage: 10
Dev began picking his way upwards as quickly as he dared, the trail of devastation was a little scary....blasted and scorched bodies were strewn about and charred chunks of creatures festooned the levels as he ascended....soon he could clearly hear the sounds of combat on the level above as he worked his way back to his friends....
The blow against Giant Spider Lokilia misses and she still remains in the creature form. Since the one she had attacked before hadn't seem to quite die yet, she attempts to bite it again.
(Bite Attack: 14, Damage: 9 piercing; CON Save DC 11 or take 4 poison damage, 2 poison damage on success)
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Lokilia Vaelphin | Sabina Featherwound | Liivi Orav | Vanizi | Dirtbrain | Elielle Hillwind | Britari/Halila Talgeta/Jesa Gumovi
Normont feels stuck, desperately wanting to back away but knowing that would expose him to a potentially fatal strike. And so he stands his ground and aims point blank at the creature he has been attempting to drop, puling the trigger ands hoping for the best.
"Keep it up", he says again in Gnomish, and Amber swoops in for another blast trying to free her master to retreat.
Normont
Action (disadvantage due to being in melee): Shoot the creature he shot at last time with his pistol - To Hit: (17,
19,)+5=22, Damage: 6+3=9 [magical piercing]Bonus Action: Command Amber
Movement: None
Amber
Action: Force Strike the creature she hit last time - To Hit: 20+4=24 [crit], Damage: 2+2+2=6 [force]
(OOC: Just realised DnDBeyond had messed up my pistol attack, dropping the proficiency bonus as firearms doesn't count for pistol for some reason. Back up to +5 to hit now I have fixed it)
Between them Lokilia, Normont and Amber put down the last two creatures on their level....
"Nuts and bolts that was close, thanks for bringing me back, Quinn", Normont says sagging a little from his wounds. He waits for the others to lead the way to the stairs down.
"Perhaps once we find him, we can find a safe spot to rest. It doesn't sound like going up will get us out, not according to the lady on the screen anyway".
Dev rushes up the last staircase, and when he makes it to the same level as the others, tears of joy twinkle in his eyes, he toots a few happy notes on his pan-pipes and another musical illusion begins to sound.
“Hi Quinn. Hi Normont. I’m so glad to see you. Is... Lokilia...” he trails off, deep concern suddenly cut into his features as he looks for the druid. When his eyes fall on her unexpected giant spider form instead, his jaw drops and he backs away in fear. "Aaah! Giant spider!!"
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
Normont sees the figure rushing up the stairs, and trains his pistol on it before seeing it is Dev. Even then, knowing what the creatures do in impersonating people they know, he doesn't let down his guard or his weapon.
When Dev blows on his pan-pipes and throws his voice, he relaxes a bit.
"Not to worry Dev, the giant spider is Lokilia. And boy is it good to see you alive. I thought you were a goner when you floated down", he says relieved. "Are you hurt? What did you find down there? Where did the Dwendalions go? I am not sure we can get out the way we came right now", he says all at once.
Dev will see his pretty hurt right now.
Dev stands up from where he tripped over himself to get away from the giant spider, and laughs in appreciation and awe at Lokilia’s amazing abilities, now approaching to take in the sight of her with curiosity. But behind his joy-filled eyes, Dev looks scratched, bruised, wobbly on his legs, and in short, exhausted. The spark of energy that sometimes twinkles in his expression is absent. But his excitement is enough to launch him into an explanation and recounting of where he has been.
“I had to jump… I was surrounded by a pair of them, and pretty spent, and I knew I couldn’t get away, except for one way. On a melody? So I did. I was able to float down almost to the bottom of the shaft.”
[Quotes of DM Posts:]
Dev sees a red glow below him becoming brighter and warmer as he falls, soon the levels he passes no longer have screens or interfaces at all but are simply banks upon banks of crystals.......he sees one gantry below, a wild eyed old man sits upon it surrounded by three of the creatures who shift in and out of various forms as the man screams at them to leave him alone.....he is dirty and flush-faced and sweating profusely in the hot air rising from below but his screaming stops replaced by a look of utter confusion as Dev comes into view....
Dev describes taking careful note of his surroundings, his glance unconsciously ping-ponging to Normont as he speaks, hoping to stand up to his older and more experienced companion’s insightful methods:
-Q.Is there anything down here that could be “the prize“? A. Nothing that seems obvious....
-Q. How many levels below his companions is he? A. Approximately 10 by his count.
-Q. How many levels below the Dwendallians? A. Approximately 8-7 by his count.
-Q. How far down is he, in yards & feet? A. 100-120 yards....hard to tell exactly....
-Q. How many shape-stealers did Dev count on the way down? A. Probably a dozen or so but some levels were heavily obscured by banks of crystals.
-Q. How much farther down does the shaft go? A. Looking down there are maybe another 5 levels before the bottom......which is kind of just a reddish heat haze from this perspective.
-Q. The shape-stealer de Rollo said they were from the Abyss. Does this shaft go down to the Abyss (whatever that is)? I.e., does it just keep going, getting hotter & hotter? A. Peering through the heat haze below he can see a metal grid work or lattice at the base of the shaft, a huge series of blades spins underneath it forcing hot air up the shaft. On the level just above it are a series of displays and panels, the only ones he has seen for the last 7 or so levels.
“I found Mr. Ubo and was able to talk some sense into him. He was nice. He misses his wife and daughter. And he helped me when, while we were coming back upstairs, more of those shape-stealers attacked us.
“The man called Jurgen and the woman called Mathilda? They were trying to save him, but they also kept talking about a 'prize' under orders from um, The Assembly, they said. But Mr. Ubo said, ‘The knowledge locked in this place.....with the secrets here the Assembly could gain enough power to rule uncontested....that was my mission here.’ Something else he said… made me think that might not be such a good idea for that to happen.
“Anyhow, Mr. Ubo and I made it up to where Ms. Mathilda and Mr. Jurgen were, and…
[Quotes of DM Posts:]
Mathilde looked at Dev and sighed a little, " Ve vill return shortly und claim the knowledge here for the Assembly and the Dwendalian Empire......I would advise not being here vhen Ve do."
Jurgen gave Mathilde a bemused grin …[and said] to Dev, " Run, Bitte."
Ubo nodded to Dev, " Zhank you."
The woman pulled out a scroll from her belt and began reading from it.....
There was a blinding blue flash of light and Dev finds himself alone on the platform.....movement below seems to indicate that he wasn't the only one to see the bright blue flash.....
Looking up a few levels he hears a shot and sees a muzzle flash.....his friends aren't too far away....
“And that’s what happened,” he finishes, breathlessly. “Oh!,” he says, having forgotten,” Mr. Jurgen gave me this.” He shows Normont the silver wand. “But… I’m not sure what to do with it?”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters
The Giant Spider that is Lokilia is also looking to be in rough condition. As Dev reunites with the rest of the group and there seems to be a lull, she reverts to her normal half-elf form. "Normont, it looks like your injures need tending," she says as she grasps the totem about her neck and casts Goodberry. She produces 10 berries and offers them to the gnome. "Eat these. I can produce some more if they are needed."
She gives a glance to Dev and then to Quinn. "Are you two alright?"
Rabbit Sebrica | Skarai | Katryl Brightfury | Lokilia Vaelphin | Sabina Featherwound | Liivi Orav | Vanizi | Dirtbrain | Elielle Hillwind | Britari/Halila Talgeta/Jesa Gumovi
Normont looks concerned by Dev's report, "That is a lot of good information, Dev. You make a fine detective".
"I don't know about you all, but I don't like the idea of this Jurgen and Mathilda returning to claim knowledge or artefacts that will tip the balance of power. Nor do I like the threat implied in their return. We saw an image of one of the others in the expedition on a monitor. I think it was a recording, but she advised heading down to the library below to switch something off to remove the defences. After that, a doppelgänger appears and killed her, so I think it was real. And she said the way out above is not useable anyway. Did you spot a library?".
When Lokilia returns to normal form and gives him the goodberries he throws her a grateful smile, "Thank you. I do have a potion, but would rather save it in case the worst happens to one of you".
He hands Dev half of the goodberries, and eats the other half.