"Well, it has come to my attention that a rather unusual creature has appeared in the caves outside of the city... an aberrant creature known as a gibbering mouther. Aberrations, as I am sure you all know, are strange, alien creatures that should not exist and yet somehow still do, usually hailing from the Far Realm. The task I have for you is simple enough: retrieve the creature and bring it back to me, alive if possible. If you can do that, I will reward each of you with 50 gold pieces. If you find yourselves forced to kill it, I can still give you a somewhat smaller reward, though exactly how much depends on how intact the corpse is. Does that sound like an interesting job to you fine people?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
She smiles and stops for a second, realizing that she doesn't recall seeing anything in the druid that looked like a curse, so she asks:
- By the way, what's your curse exactly, Hewelathan? I don't think I've seen anything wrong happen around you? Your belt simply looks super useful as it is.
(OOC: rewinding a bit to before they got to Theodemar Hercan office.)
As the group walks to the university from Lady Elora's mansion, Hewelathan addresses Rhaenys's question. He explains, "Once I acquired the belt--that's a whole other story, maybe for another day--I was excited. You see, this belt gives me great strength, even as great at the legendary storm giants who live in the high places above the clouds. Why, I could probably lift that full barrel of water over there by myself. But, you're right. The belt does not talk to me or through me, like Flinn's sword, but I fear that it harbors the essence of a wrathful storm giant. Or perhaps it was cursed by their gods?
"You may have noticed that ever since I arrived at the Temple of Ilmater, we've been traveling under clouds and even rain? And so it has been for me for many months, ever since I started using the belt. Everywhere I go, the clouds seem to follow me and gather in the sky above. I have dedicated my life to protecting the Wild Places of the world, and it was a great loss for me not to see the starry sky above me at night. Or never to feel the warmth of the mid-day sun. At first, it seemed like a small sacrifice for the power of the belt, but you don't know what it's to live like day-after-day, week-after-week."
Hewelathan's voice sounds sad and weary as he speaks about it. The sound of someone who has dealt with a manageable problem, but one that they cannot avoid and see no prospect of ever resolving. "Of course, that's a burden that a man could bear," he continues. "But I fear that it is worse than that. Much worse! The wrath of a storm giant is like a tempest that shakes the walls and can bring down even might trees with deep roots! The thing that drove me to seek help at the Temple of Ilmater was a...I can only call it: a disaster. A freak storm, unusually strong and also out-of-season, struck a village where I had been staying, recovering from injuries and an illness. It went on for days. Wind and flooding rains and, eventually, hail large enough to ruin a whole harvest in the fields. Finally, a tornado that ripped through the village. I was lucky and survived unscathed. But many homes were destroyed; people and animals, injured or killed.
"It's hard to know for certain, but I fear that I may have caused it. That is, I feel that my belt brought that storm down upon the town. Since that disaster, I try to keep moving: never sleeping two nights in a row in the same place. It seems like the rains always come if I stay too long. And I fear that the rains will eventually turn to storms and the storms into a tempest!"
Hewelthan shakes his head and glances up at the cloud-filled sky. "I don't know for certain, but I dare not risk bringing another such storm down on those around me. I don't want to be responsible for more disaster and death." He glances around the group and gives them a strained smile, saying, "I'm sorry. Maybe I should have warned you, but since we were traveling, I didn't think that there was much risk. But that's why I said that I'd prefer a job that takes us out of Tormere. I fear what may happen if I tarry too long in the city while we wait for a ship."
-Hmm. Thank you mister Theodemar for your information about that creature, that will surely help us get it in your preferred state. We will set out soon. I am sure our team can think of something to get that thing whole back. However that can not be promised, some mishaps to the plans usually happen when at least one side has murderous intents. And i assume something like that would, but hey you never know, maybe we can have a little chat with it and convince it to subject itself for science.
Tytus tries to land that job, and hopes that one of his friends have some ace up a sleeve, and can summon magical trap or something like that. That would be useful. But really the whole time when he is saying that he thinks to himself: "What the actual hell has that man just described to him??? If magical trap wont work i hope to see fire raining from sky again and fry that thing."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently playing: DM - Dragon of Icespire Peak | Tytus Wolan - Warlock (Chronicles of the Accursed) | Biezdar Kamrazzan - Warrior (Icespire Peak)
"Aberations are far from my specialty,"Korba says, running his hand along the hilt of his sword, adding, "Though I can weaken it a bit hopefully allowing us to capture it."
"Well, it has come to my attention that a rather unusual creature has appeared in the caves outside of the city... an aberrant creature known as a gibbering mouther. Aberrations, as I am sure you all know, are strange, alien creatures that should not exist and yet somehow still do, usually hailing from the Far Realm. The task I have for you is simple enough: retrieve the creature and bring it back to me, alive if possible. If you can do that, I will reward each of you with 50 gold pieces. If you find yourselves forced to kill it, I can still give you a somewhat smaller reward, though exactly how much depends on how intact the corpse is. Does that sound like an interesting job to you fine people?"
After hearing about the creature, Hewelathan exclaims, "Its existence is a blasphemy against Nature!" He appears equal parts horrified and offended at the very idea of such a creature.
The offer seems fair to Hewlathan, but he wonders whether the elf could provide them with a way to bring the creature back to Tormere. He says, "I'd be glad to remove such a thing from the wilderness and deliver it to you, alive or dead! But do you propose that we bring it through the streets of Tormere to this academy, Master Hercan? How could we contain it? We certainly could not leash it. Can it even be caged? Or stuffed into a crate? Do you have anything we could use to bring it back here?"
"Yes, I did think about that, as a matter of fact," the wizard says with a nod. "I have an extra-large specimen collection cylinder for situations just like this one... as well as a hand cart that you can transport it on. The trick will be getting the monster into the jar, but I'm sure that a clever bunch like you will be able to figure something out."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Rhaenys didn't answer immediately to Hewelathan's explanation of his curse. They had already reached the wizard's office by the time he finished, so all she could do was offer him a comforting and understanding smile. There would be time to talk about it later.
When the nature (or rather, unnature) of the creature is revealed, Rhaenys gasps.
- By all the gods, what a horrible creature! I'd hate for anyone to come across something like that! Hells I'm not even fond of seeing it myself, but we have to deal with it. Eugh, disgusting.
Regarding how to deal with it, Rhaenys looks to Korba:
- Perhaps we could combine our strengths. The staff grants me the ability to move things (even huge things) with my mind so if your magic can make the creature weaker to my spell, we could try moving it directly into the jar. I would also suggest that we all cover our ears (unless any of you can create an area of silence?) so we are not affected by the babbling of the creature's mouths. It will be hard to fight the creature being deaf, but it sounds better than being affected by it's mouths' magic. Also, we need to stay out of its range, or else we'll have difficulty moving.
She looks at the group and ends up saying:
- And if things go wrong, then yes, let's be prepared to rain fire and every other element on it. Better to kill the creature than let it kill us. What do you guys think?
Hewelathan continues to be impressed by the powers provided by Rhaenys's staff. In response to her question, he says, "Sorry, no. I haven't heard anyone of my order having the ability to silence another creature like that."
"Yes, I did think about that, as a matter of fact," the wizard says with a nod. "I have an extra-large specimen collection cylinder for situations just like this one... as well as a hand cart that you can transport it on. The trick will be getting the monster into the jar, but I'm sure that a clever bunch like you will be able to figure something out."
Whenever they are shown the "specimen collection cylinder," Hewelathan checks to see how heavy it is when its empty. He also asks, "Is this cylinder sound-proof? It's great that we have a way to contain the monster if we capture it alive, but I wouldn't want to drive the people of Tormere mad while we wheel the cart down the street."
Is the collection cylinder made of metal, glass, or something else? In particular, is it transparent? If not, they're going to need to get a big blanket or something so that they can cover the cylinder before they try to bring it back to Tormere. Otherwise, they're going to cause a panic when people see the horrific aberration.
Jodie smiles, "Sounds like a plan, of sorts. Bards have been known to master silence, but I'm not quite there yet. I'll still mastering LOUD."
The half-elf blushes and then points her finger up. "I can inspire anyone more likely to get rattled by the gibbering. Also, the harp can grant protection against aberrations. Be pretty useful if you had to get close, but it's not going to help you keep your wits straight."
She pauses and then performs a crude kind of puppetry with her fingers, "We can lure it out while at a safe distance, like catching a fish in a line. We tie a rope to whomever goes in... Doesn't make sense for us all to be bait. Hey, I have this die. Let's roll to see who goes in..."
The cylinder is made mostly of some kind of tempered glass (DC 25 Strength check to shatter) with a metal lid. According to the professor, it is sound proof.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
The wizard gives you detailed directions to the cave, which will allow you to find it easily. Is there anything else that any of you need to do? If not, you can make your way to the cave without further delay...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
On their way to the monster's lair, Rhaenys makes sure to grab cotton so the party can use it to protect themselves against the babbling effect of the creature.
- So, with what we have discussed, the only thing left would be to choose the bait to lure the gibbering mouth? We could try using a magical illusion, but if that doesn't work then we will need to lure it ourselves. Not a job any of us would desire, but a necessary one. Any volunteers? - she grimaces as she says this, knowing that it's not anyone would want to do - At least we have the potions the Temple gave us in case anyone gets badly hurt. Hope it doesn't come to that. Anything else we want to add to the plan?
Leonin-Rhaenys gives everyone the cotton and says:
- Let's use this when the monster appears, and not a moment before. We don't want to be deaf to other things that we may find along the way.
Hewelathan asks, "Are we sure that this is the gibbering thing's lair? Is it possible that anything else would share the cave with such a monster? Do we need to send in a scout first?"
Did the professor give them any indication of whether the cave is just a simple "dug out" that keeps the creature out of the rain? Or are they going to need to go 100+ feet into a branching network of tunnels to find it first?
Are they all going into the cave together to find and collect the gibbering mouther? Or are they trying to lure the monster all the way out of the cave?
On their way to the monster's lair, Rhaenys makes sure to grab cotton so the party can use it to protect themselves against the babbling effect of the creature.
Hewelathan suggests wax, too: "Isn't there some old story about a hero plugging his ears with wax? If the cotton only muffles the sound, wax may plug the ears entirely."
- So, with what we have discussed,
Hewelathan has questions about the logistics of stuffing the monster into the cylinder. He asks Rhaenys, "Do we need to dig a pit so that you can just push the creature into the cylinder? Or can you actually lift the creature up off the ground and into the cylinder?"
And: "Once the monster is in the cylinder, can you prevent it from escaping? Or should I assume that the monster will be trying to attack or get out while we try to put the lid on the container?"
And finally: "Have you used this power before to do anything like this? Do you need to practice on one of us first?"
Hewelathan volunteers to put the lid on the cylinder once Rhaenys drops the creature in it or to hold the specimen cylinder steady so that it doesn't tip over while someone else puts on the lid.
Leonin-Rhaenys gives everyone the cotton and says:
And Hewelathan can help to light a candle or torch so that they can heat the wax and soften it for use.
- No, I've never tried it before. We can try it beforehand if you'd like, but mind you, that won't mean that if it works now it will work later: the creature can always resist the spell, if it is particularly strong ... or lucky. It doesn't look that this creature is super strong, and with Korba's help it will be weakened so we would have to be very unfortunate if it resisted the spell. And well, if it does I guess it is a matter of hurting it until I can re-cast the spell again, or until we kill it - Rhaenys explains - And yes, the spell allows to move huge creatures 30 feet in every direction with each "pull". So yes, it can be even be lifted in the air.
Regarding the cylinder, she adds:
- The wizard said the cylinder was tough to break. But it can be locked with an arcane lock if necessary.
As you stand around the mouth of the cave, you can hear some strange sounds in the distance. But you can tell that it's much deeper within the cave, echoing through the winding tunnels. It looks like you could probably fit the cylinder into the cave for now, though you have no way of knowing if the tunnels may get narrower (I assume that when you start hearing the disturbing noises, that's when you all stop up your ears).
Do you all enter the cave, send your 'bait' in to try to lure the aberration out towards you, or do something else entirely?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
"- I am not eager to be the bait, but I think am the most fitting to do some scouting. "
Tytus feels like he has not much to add to the plan of capturing so he wants to be useful where he can, not waiting for the approval, he says:
"- I am going in, give couple of minutes. I will try to see if there are other dangers, and get the general outline of the cave. I think I will be ok."
He becomes invisible, and then he pulls out a torch and lights it. Then he goes in to the cave just to scout around.
/Stealth (16+2=18)/(2+2=4) rolled twice assuming advantage with invisibility first roll is higher anyway
Do you all enter the cave, send your 'bait' in to try to lure the aberration out towards you, or do something else entirely?
(Before the ears are all stopped up...)
Hewelathan suggests, "It's probably better if we can lure it out here without getting too close, if we can. If we try to catch it in the cave, we may get caught in a tunnel where the roof is too low to lift the monster up and put it in the cylinder. Unless someone knows a spell that can dig a hole quickly, we wouldn't be able to get the cylinder under the monster."
Tytus feels like he has not much to add to the plan of capturing so he wants to be useful where he can, not waiting for the approval, he says:
"- I am going in, give couple of minutes. I will try to see if there are other dangers, and get the general outline of the cave. I think I will be ok."
He becomes invisible, and then he pulls out a torch and lights it. Then he goes in to the cave just to scout around.
Hewelathan is impressed by the man's bravery but alarmed at the haste. As Tytus vanishes, he takes out a piece of chalk and says, "Tytus, here!", holding the chalk out toward the spot where Tytus vanished. If (invisible) Tytus takes the chalk, Hewelathan shouts,"To mark the turns that you take! We'll come after you! Don't get too far ahead!"
Hewelathan doesn't think that they all need to go, but he says, "If that thing surprises him at close range and we're all out here, Tytus could be dead (or worse!) before we can get to him. A couple of us with darkvision should follow behind, at a distance, in case he get into trouble. Rhaenys, stay here with the cylinder. Flinn, could you stay here and guard Rhaenys? If the creature leaves the cave to hunt, you might be here when it returns to the cave."
Hewelathan will follow Tytus into the tunnel, trying to stay about 90' behind Tytus, based on the torch light. (That way, he can get into spell-casting range in 1 round.) He would be happy for Korba or Jodie to come with him.
Hewelathan does not want to get lost in "a maze of twisty little passages, all alike," so he doesn't plan to follow Tytus into each side tunnel. Instead, he'll wait on whatever seems to be the "main" tunnel until Tytus returns or until he can see the torch light shining from one of the other tunnel openings ahead.
Before he heads into the tunnel, Hewelathan tells Rhaenys, "I'll trust to Luck and leave my ears open for now. If something attacks you out here, shout, and we'll come back."
The elf smiles at the questions.
"Well, it has come to my attention that a rather unusual creature has appeared in the caves outside of the city... an aberrant creature known as a gibbering mouther. Aberrations, as I am sure you all know, are strange, alien creatures that should not exist and yet somehow still do, usually hailing from the Far Realm. The task I have for you is simple enough: retrieve the creature and bring it back to me, alive if possible. If you can do that, I will reward each of you with 50 gold pieces. If you find yourselves forced to kill it, I can still give you a somewhat smaller reward, though exactly how much depends on how intact the corpse is. Does that sound like an interesting job to you fine people?"
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
(OOC: rewinding a bit to before they got to Theodemar Hercan office.)
As the group walks to the university from Lady Elora's mansion, Hewelathan addresses Rhaenys's question. He explains, "Once I acquired the belt--that's a whole other story, maybe for another day--I was excited. You see, this belt gives me great strength, even as great at the legendary storm giants who live in the high places above the clouds. Why, I could probably lift that full barrel of water over there by myself. But, you're right. The belt does not talk to me or through me, like Flinn's sword, but I fear that it harbors the essence of a wrathful storm giant. Or perhaps it was cursed by their gods?
"You may have noticed that ever since I arrived at the Temple of Ilmater, we've been traveling under clouds and even rain? And so it has been for me for many months, ever since I started using the belt. Everywhere I go, the clouds seem to follow me and gather in the sky above. I have dedicated my life to protecting the Wild Places of the world, and it was a great loss for me not to see the starry sky above me at night. Or never to feel the warmth of the mid-day sun. At first, it seemed like a small sacrifice for the power of the belt, but you don't know what it's to live like day-after-day, week-after-week."
Hewelathan's voice sounds sad and weary as he speaks about it. The sound of someone who has dealt with a manageable problem, but one that they cannot avoid and see no prospect of ever resolving. "Of course, that's a burden that a man could bear," he continues. "But I fear that it is worse than that. Much worse! The wrath of a storm giant is like a tempest that shakes the walls and can bring down even might trees with deep roots! The thing that drove me to seek help at the Temple of Ilmater was a...I can only call it: a disaster. A freak storm, unusually strong and also out-of-season, struck a village where I had been staying, recovering from injuries and an illness. It went on for days. Wind and flooding rains and, eventually, hail large enough to ruin a whole harvest in the fields. Finally, a tornado that ripped through the village. I was lucky and survived unscathed. But many homes were destroyed; people and animals, injured or killed.
"It's hard to know for certain, but I fear that I may have caused it. That is, I feel that my belt brought that storm down upon the town. Since that disaster, I try to keep moving: never sleeping two nights in a row in the same place. It seems like the rains always come if I stay too long. And I fear that the rains will eventually turn to storms and the storms into a tempest!"
Hewelthan shakes his head and glances up at the cloud-filled sky. "I don't know for certain, but I dare not risk bringing another such storm down on those around me. I don't want to be responsible for more disaster and death." He glances around the group and gives them a strained smile, saying, "I'm sorry. Maybe I should have warned you, but since we were traveling, I didn't think that there was much risk. But that's why I said that I'd prefer a job that takes us out of Tormere. I fear what may happen if I tarry too long in the city while we wait for a ship."
-Hmm. Thank you mister Theodemar for your information about that creature, that will surely help us get it in your preferred state. We will set out soon. I am sure our team can think of something to get that thing whole back. However that can not be promised, some mishaps to the plans usually happen when at least one side has murderous intents. And i assume something like that would, but hey you never know, maybe we can have a little chat with it and convince it to subject itself for science.
Tytus tries to land that job, and hopes that one of his friends have some ace up a sleeve, and can summon magical trap or something like that. That would be useful. But really the whole time when he is saying that he thinks to himself: "What the actual hell has that man just described to him??? If magical trap wont work i hope to see fire raining from sky again and fry that thing."
Currently playing: DM - Dragon of Icespire Peak | Tytus Wolan - Warlock (Chronicles of the Accursed) | Biezdar Kamrazzan - Warrior (Icespire Peak)
"Aberations are far from my specialty," Korba says, running his hand along the hilt of his sword, adding, "Though I can weaken it a bit hopefully allowing us to capture it."
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
After hearing about the creature, Hewelathan exclaims, "Its existence is a blasphemy against Nature!" He appears equal parts horrified and offended at the very idea of such a creature.
The offer seems fair to Hewlathan, but he wonders whether the elf could provide them with a way to bring the creature back to Tormere. He says, "I'd be glad to remove such a thing from the wilderness and deliver it to you, alive or dead! But do you propose that we bring it through the streets of Tormere to this academy, Master Hercan? How could we contain it? We certainly could not leash it. Can it even be caged? Or stuffed into a crate? Do you have anything we could use to bring it back here?"
"Yes, I did think about that, as a matter of fact," the wizard says with a nod. "I have an extra-large specimen collection cylinder for situations just like this one... as well as a hand cart that you can transport it on. The trick will be getting the monster into the jar, but I'm sure that a clever bunch like you will be able to figure something out."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Rhaenys didn't answer immediately to Hewelathan's explanation of his curse. They had already reached the wizard's office by the time he finished, so all she could do was offer him a comforting and understanding smile. There would be time to talk about it later.
When the nature (or rather, unnature) of the creature is revealed, Rhaenys gasps.
- By all the gods, what a horrible creature! I'd hate for anyone to come across something like that! Hells I'm not even fond of seeing it myself, but we have to deal with it. Eugh, disgusting.
Regarding how to deal with it, Rhaenys looks to Korba:
- Perhaps we could combine our strengths. The staff grants me the ability to move things (even huge things) with my mind so if your magic can make the creature weaker to my spell, we could try moving it directly into the jar. I would also suggest that we all cover our ears (unless any of you can create an area of silence?) so we are not affected by the babbling of the creature's mouths. It will be hard to fight the creature being deaf, but it sounds better than being affected by it's mouths' magic. Also, we need to stay out of its range, or else we'll have difficulty moving.
She looks at the group and ends up saying:
- And if things go wrong, then yes, let's be prepared to rain fire and every other element on it. Better to kill the creature than let it kill us. What do you guys think?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hewelathan continues to be impressed by the powers provided by Rhaenys's staff. In response to her question, he says, "Sorry, no. I haven't heard anyone of my order having the ability to silence another creature like that."
Whenever they are shown the "specimen collection cylinder," Hewelathan checks to see how heavy it is when its empty. He also asks, "Is this cylinder sound-proof? It's great that we have a way to contain the monster if we capture it alive, but I wouldn't want to drive the people of Tormere mad while we wheel the cart down the street."
Is the collection cylinder made of metal, glass, or something else? In particular, is it transparent? If not, they're going to need to get a big blanket or something so that they can cover the cylinder before they try to bring it back to Tormere. Otherwise, they're going to cause a panic when people see the horrific aberration.
Jodie smiles, "Sounds like a plan, of sorts. Bards have been known to master silence, but I'm not quite there yet. I'll still mastering LOUD."
The half-elf blushes and then points her finger up. "I can inspire anyone more likely to get rattled by the gibbering. Also, the harp can grant protection against aberrations. Be pretty useful if you had to get close, but it's not going to help you keep your wits straight."
She pauses and then performs a crude kind of puppetry with her fingers, "We can lure it out while at a safe distance, like catching a fish in a line. We tie a rope to whomever goes in... Doesn't make sense for us all to be bait. Hey, I have this die. Let's roll to see who goes in..."
Fargen Hill Dwarf Cleric/Barbarian - Hoard of the Dragon Queen, Jodie Olwen Half-Elf Bard- Chronicles of the Accursed
The cylinder is made mostly of some kind of tempered glass (DC 25 Strength check to shatter) with a metal lid. According to the professor, it is sound proof.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
"Let us plan while we walk," Korba says, looking to the wizard and asking where the caves are so they can begin their approach.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
The wizard gives you detailed directions to the cave, which will allow you to find it easily. Is there anything else that any of you need to do? If not, you can make your way to the cave without further delay...

Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
On their way to the monster's lair, Rhaenys makes sure to grab cotton so the party can use it to protect themselves against the babbling effect of the creature.
- So, with what we have discussed, the only thing left would be to choose the bait to lure the gibbering mouth? We could try using a magical illusion, but if that doesn't work then we will need to lure it ourselves. Not a job any of us would desire, but a necessary one. Any volunteers? - she grimaces as she says this, knowing that it's not anyone would want to do - At least we have the potions the Temple gave us in case anyone gets badly hurt. Hope it doesn't come to that. Anything else we want to add to the plan?
Leonin-Rhaenys gives everyone the cotton and says:
- Let's use this when the monster appears, and not a moment before. We don't want to be deaf to other things that we may find along the way.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hewelathan asks, "Are we sure that this is the gibbering thing's lair? Is it possible that anything else would share the cave with such a monster? Do we need to send in a scout first?"
Did the professor give them any indication of whether the cave is just a simple "dug out" that keeps the creature out of the rain? Or are they going to need to go 100+ feet into a branching network of tunnels to find it first?
Are they all going into the cave together to find and collect the gibbering mouther? Or are they trying to lure the monster all the way out of the cave?
Hewelathan suggests wax, too: "Isn't there some old story about a hero plugging his ears with wax? If the cotton only muffles the sound, wax may plug the ears entirely."
Hewelathan has questions about the logistics of stuffing the monster into the cylinder. He asks Rhaenys, "Do we need to dig a pit so that you can just push the creature into the cylinder? Or can you actually lift the creature up off the ground and into the cylinder?"
And: "Once the monster is in the cylinder, can you prevent it from escaping? Or should I assume that the monster will be trying to attack or get out while we try to put the lid on the container?"
And finally: "Have you used this power before to do anything like this? Do you need to practice on one of us first?"
Hewelathan volunteers to put the lid on the cylinder once Rhaenys drops the creature in it or to hold the specimen cylinder steady so that it doesn't tip over while someone else puts on the lid.
And Hewelathan can help to light a candle or torch so that they can heat the wax and soften it for use.
- No, I've never tried it before. We can try it beforehand if you'd like, but mind you, that won't mean that if it works now it will work later: the creature can always resist the spell, if it is particularly strong ... or lucky. It doesn't look that this creature is super strong, and with Korba's help it will be weakened so we would have to be very unfortunate if it resisted the spell. And well, if it does I guess it is a matter of hurting it until I can re-cast the spell again, or until we kill it - Rhaenys explains - And yes, the spell allows to move huge creatures 30 feet in every direction with each "pull". So yes, it can be even be lifted in the air.
Regarding the cylinder, she adds:
- The wizard said the cylinder was tough to break. But it can be locked with an arcane lock if necessary.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
As you stand around the mouth of the cave, you can hear some strange sounds in the distance. But you can tell that it's much deeper within the cave, echoing through the winding tunnels. It looks like you could probably fit the cylinder into the cave for now, though you have no way of knowing if the tunnels may get narrower (I assume that when you start hearing the disturbing noises, that's when you all stop up your ears).
Do you all enter the cave, send your 'bait' in to try to lure the aberration out towards you, or do something else entirely?
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
"- I am not eager to be the bait, but I think am the most fitting to do some scouting. "
Tytus feels like he has not much to add to the plan of capturing so he wants to be useful where he can, not waiting for the approval, he says:
"- I am going in, give couple of minutes. I will try to see if there are other dangers, and get the general outline of the cave. I think I will be ok."
He becomes invisible, and then he pulls out a torch and lights it. Then he goes in to the cave just to scout around.
/Stealth (16+2=18)/(2+2=4) rolled twice assuming advantage with invisibility first roll is higher anyway
Perception 16-1=15/
Currently playing: DM - Dragon of Icespire Peak | Tytus Wolan - Warlock (Chronicles of the Accursed) | Biezdar Kamrazzan - Warrior (Icespire Peak)
(Before the ears are all stopped up...)
Hewelathan suggests, "It's probably better if we can lure it out here without getting too close, if we can. If we try to catch it in the cave, we may get caught in a tunnel where the roof is too low to lift the monster up and put it in the cylinder. Unless someone knows a spell that can dig a hole quickly, we wouldn't be able to get the cylinder under the monster."
Hewelathan is impressed by the man's bravery but alarmed at the haste. As Tytus vanishes, he takes out a piece of chalk and says, "Tytus, here!", holding the chalk out toward the spot where Tytus vanished. If (invisible) Tytus takes the chalk, Hewelathan shouts, "To mark the turns that you take! We'll come after you! Don't get too far ahead!"
Hewelathan doesn't think that they all need to go, but he says, "If that thing surprises him at close range and we're all out here, Tytus could be dead (or worse!) before we can get to him. A couple of us with darkvision should follow behind, at a distance, in case he get into trouble. Rhaenys, stay here with the cylinder. Flinn, could you stay here and guard Rhaenys? If the creature leaves the cave to hunt, you might be here when it returns to the cave."
Hewelathan will follow Tytus into the tunnel, trying to stay about 90' behind Tytus, based on the torch light. (That way, he can get into spell-casting range in 1 round.) He would be happy for Korba or Jodie to come with him.
Hewelathan does not want to get lost in "a maze of twisty little passages, all alike," so he doesn't plan to follow Tytus into each side tunnel. Instead, he'll wait on whatever seems to be the "main" tunnel until Tytus returns or until he can see the torch light shining from one of the other tunnel openings ahead.
Before he heads into the tunnel, Hewelathan tells Rhaenys, "I'll trust to Luck and leave my ears open for now. If something attacks you out here, shout, and we'll come back."
Tytus will take the chalk, and say in hushed voice:
"- Thanks for caring for me, I will be ok but that is a good idea"
Tytus will Mark his path for others to follow if he gets into trouble.
Currently playing: DM - Dragon of Icespire Peak | Tytus Wolan - Warlock (Chronicles of the Accursed) | Biezdar Kamrazzan - Warrior (Icespire Peak)
Jodie tries to give Tytus a boost of confidence before he's out of earshot
"Don't worry, I'm sure you're the least delicious of us all to eat." (bardic inspiration to Tytus)
Jodie walks alongside Hewelathan with her harp in hand.
Fargen Hill Dwarf Cleric/Barbarian - Hoard of the Dragon Queen, Jodie Olwen Half-Elf Bard- Chronicles of the Accursed