As your party heads down the stairs into the basement, a horrifying sight awaits you! Your DM's corpse lies on the ground, shriveled up. In his place is the lich Acererak!
WELCOME, MORTALS! WHO IS PREPARED FOR THE DUNGEONEERING OF THE DRAGONS!
He leans back in his chair and reads a slip of paper.
SO, LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT. ALVYN TUREN, GNOMISH WIZARD, EILI, FIRBOLG RANGER, GRUGG, GOLIATH BARBARIAN, KOSADIUS VORADES, AASIMAR PALADIN, AND ZANDAK FIRETOOTH, SHIFTER DRUID.
He opens up the Tomb of Annihilation module and begins reading.
OK, LET'S START!
DISASTER HAS STRUCK FAERUN! FOR NEARLY THE PAST MONTH, THE TALK OF THE STREETS HAS BEEN ABOUT THE DEATH CURSE, A TERRIBLE DISEASE THAT HAS APPARENTLY SPREAD ALL OVER FAERUN! IT TARGETS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO LIFE BY MAGIC, SEEMINGLY DRAINING THE LIFE FROM THEM AS THEY GROW THINNER AND WEAKER, UNTIL THEY FINALLY CROAK. MAGICAL RESURRECTION FAILS, AND TEMPLES AND SCHOLARS OF DIVINE MAGIC ARE AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN THIS DREADFUL CURSE!
RECENTLY, A POSTER WAS POSTED ON THE POSTER POSTING POST, LOOKING FOR ADVENTURERS TO MAN AN EXPEDITION TO CHULT. THE POSTER INVITES YOU TO THE HOUSE OF SYNDRA SYLVANE, A RETIRED ADVENTURER AND MERCHANT. THIS IS WHERE YOUR STORY STARTS!
A uniformed attendant leads you up a grand staircase to the third floor, then ushers you into a wood-paneled room with a fireplace, comfortable chairs, and a heavy table bearing goblets and bottles of wine. The darkly paneled walls are hung with maps and sea charts. Racks, shelves, and cabinets hold hundreds more rolled-up maps and charts. A person is seated in an overstuffed chair near the fire. You can't discern a gender, because only the person's head emerges from under a heavy blanket draped over the chair, and an embroidered hood and silver mask con· ceal the wearer's face. Even the person's dry, raspy voice provides no clue.
"Help yourselves to wine, and seat yourselves, friends- I hope I may call you that"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Zandak remains standing, staring with amusement of this silver mask. Though he can always feel the connection to the earth, no matter where he goes even to a different plane, this made Zandak feel less connected somehow. Yet he keeps his cool and says with a straight blank face, “When it comes to these times it is difficult to discern friend from foe.”
"Friends? Oh, how kind of you. Yes, I suppose... I suppose you can call us that. Not many stakes in the calling, after all," Alvyn says, pouring some wine from one of the open bottles into a goblet and swirling it under his nose and taking a sip. "Is this a 1483 vintage? Good year that was. Good year. Well, for wine, anyway. Not so much for... well... I suppose there's death and suffering every year. May as well enjoy the good things in life when we... Sorry, you were saying?"
Briefly, yet without hiding this action from anybody watching him, Grugg looks around the room for anything that would be a threat to him. Nothing really scares him, but he can still determine what might cause him harm.
"Friendship is earned. Axe in skull is also earned. Wine is good start to friendship. "
Grugg points to himself with both thumbs.
"Grugg"
Grugg makes a motion with his right hand over to his party of adventurers.
"Strong friends."
Grugg takes a seat in the position most directly facing their host and stares (almost with a dumb-look) intently as if waiting for the next movement to occur. Also, patiently waiting for wine to be served in the tallest cup available.
"Now that you're all here, let me fill you in on the details. Long ago I was an adventurer. I died, and was raised. I decided to put my back to the adventuring life forever. However, I am now afflicted with the Death Curse, which is slowly killing me. I don't know how long I'll last, and clerics can't help me. I have contacts within the Harpers who have informed me that this Death Curse is caused by a magical device known as the Soulmonger, located somewhere within the jungles of Chult."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Zandak gives a sympathetic grunt, and motions his head more forward to express that he is listening with all intent of helping this man. Zandak gives a slight smile.
Eili's massive form struggled to fit in the human-sized chair, conscious of every little creak the wooden frame made underneath her, as she sipped from the top of her full-to-the-brim wine glass. "'Somewhere in the jungles of Chult' sounds incredibly vague. Did they have any more specifics on its location or its... properties?"
"I have a map of Chult, though it is missing quite a lot of area, but I do not know the location of the Soulmonger. Perhaps you can find this out when you arrive."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"Ooh, a mysterious artifact, lost in the jungle!" says Alvyn, clapping his hands gleefully. "There's nothing I like more than a good mystery!" he exclaims. "You know, I think 'Soulmonger' rings a bit of a bell. I think I may have run across some references to it in the course of my extensive research on magical apparati. Though it might have been... well I think it was Soulmonger. If you wouldn't mind, perhaps you can jog my memory. What else can you tell us about this object?"
Zandak’s ears perk up in interest, the Soulmonger huh? “I would like to know more of this Soulmonger myself. If it disturbs the current of Nature then it must be destroyed. But first I need to know everything I can about it.”
Eili furrows her brow. "This sounds like a rather... dangerous mission. I cannot speak for the others, but I am fairly new when it comes to this sort of thing. Why not hire some more... experienced adventurers?"
"What need to know except how to destroy it and what reward is? It bad. We strong."
Grugg's muscles ripple across his body as he gets up from his seat, hulks over to the wine bottles. Not having a clue which year is good or which vineyard is best, Grugg proceeds to sample each bottle...straight from the bottle...and nod in stoic approval after each one...
"It seems to be affecting the whole of Faerun, maybe even all of Toril. It prevents all forms of resurrection known to us, and slowly kills those who have been resurrected before. That is all I know."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Zandak puts an assuring hand on Eili’s shoulder, with a warm smile he nods to her and with comfort, “Don’t worry, as creature of nature, I will have your back. I don’t know if you all have mine, but I promise to all of you that I will make sure we all get out of this alive. We will rid this evil and save countless lives.” He looks to the Silver Masked fellow, “I will find this ‘Soulmonger’ and destroy it. You have my word.”
Kosadius stands listening to all the ones within the chamber. Not saying much until he had heard all that is to be heard from everyone and then smiles brightly. "There is a reason all this is happening and as you have said, it is this thing you are talking about and who ever is controlling it. There are many fates intertwined and Lathander has brought me here to have my fate meet all yours. This quest is a righteous quest and I, Kosadius Vorades will take this task in hand and by Lathanders divine light, will we accomplish this." his voice deep when he speaks and by all sounds he seems confident in his abilities.
Now looking onto the others he smiles brightly once again. " What say you all? I am willing and it sounds like a couple of others as well." He stand and with the sun emblem on the front of his shield to show who he follows in his faith.
She leads you down to the port, where a sloop awaits. It has a single mast flying a square mainsail plus two triangular foresails, one aft sail, and a small topsail. It says 'The Brazen Pegasus' in large white letters on the side. A hulking man whose face is almost hidden by a heavy beard streaked with gray stands in front and, noticing Syndra, waves you all aboard. A female rock gnome awaits you aboard the ship. She begins to speak.
"Welcome aboard The Brazen Pegasus! I'm Captain Ortimay, and this is Grig. We'll be your captain and first mate for the remainder of this trip. Everyone ready to go? We've been waiting for hours!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
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As your party heads down the stairs into the basement, a horrifying sight awaits you! Your DM's corpse lies on the ground, shriveled up. In his place is the lich Acererak!
WELCOME, MORTALS! WHO IS PREPARED FOR THE DUNGEONEERING OF THE DRAGONS!
He leans back in his chair and reads a slip of paper.
SO, LET ME SEE IF I GOT THIS RIGHT. ALVYN TUREN, GNOMISH WIZARD, EILI, FIRBOLG RANGER, GRUGG, GOLIATH BARBARIAN, KOSADIUS VORADES, AASIMAR PALADIN, AND ZANDAK FIRETOOTH, SHIFTER DRUID.
He opens up the Tomb of Annihilation module and begins reading.
OK, LET'S START!
DISASTER HAS STRUCK FAERUN! FOR NEARLY THE PAST MONTH, THE TALK OF THE STREETS HAS BEEN ABOUT THE DEATH CURSE, A TERRIBLE DISEASE THAT HAS APPARENTLY SPREAD ALL OVER FAERUN! IT TARGETS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN RESTORED TO LIFE BY MAGIC, SEEMINGLY DRAINING THE LIFE FROM THEM AS THEY GROW THINNER AND WEAKER, UNTIL THEY FINALLY CROAK. MAGICAL RESURRECTION FAILS, AND TEMPLES AND SCHOLARS OF DIVINE MAGIC ARE AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN THIS DREADFUL CURSE!
RECENTLY, A POSTER WAS POSTED ON THE POSTER POSTING POST, LOOKING FOR ADVENTURERS TO MAN AN EXPEDITION TO CHULT. THE POSTER INVITES YOU TO THE HOUSE OF SYNDRA SYLVANE, A RETIRED ADVENTURER AND MERCHANT. THIS IS WHERE YOUR STORY STARTS!
A uniformed attendant leads you up a grand staircase to the third floor, then ushers you into a wood-paneled room with a fireplace, comfortable chairs, and a heavy table bearing goblets and bottles of wine. The darkly paneled walls are hung with maps and sea charts. Racks, shelves, and cabinets hold hundreds more rolled-up maps and charts. A person is seated in an overstuffed chair near the fire. You can't discern a gender, because only the person's head emerges from under a heavy blanket draped over the chair, and an embroidered hood and silver mask con· ceal the wearer's face. Even the person's dry, raspy voice provides no clue.
"Help yourselves to wine, and seat yourselves, friends- I hope I may call you that"
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Zandak remains standing, staring with amusement of this silver mask. Though he can always feel the connection to the earth, no matter where he goes even to a different plane, this made Zandak feel less connected somehow. Yet he keeps his cool and says with a straight blank face, “When it comes to these times it is difficult to discern friend from foe.”
"Friends? Oh, how kind of you. Yes, I suppose... I suppose you can call us that. Not many stakes in the calling, after all," Alvyn says, pouring some wine from one of the open bottles into a goblet and swirling it under his nose and taking a sip. "Is this a 1483 vintage? Good year that was. Good year. Well, for wine, anyway. Not so much for... well... I suppose there's death and suffering every year. May as well enjoy the good things in life when we... Sorry, you were saying?"
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
Briefly, yet without hiding this action from anybody watching him, Grugg looks around the room for anything that would be a threat to him. Nothing really scares him, but he can still determine what might cause him harm.
"Friendship is earned. Axe in skull is also earned. Wine is good start to friendship. "
Grugg points to himself with both thumbs.
"Grugg"
Grugg makes a motion with his right hand over to his party of adventurers.
"Strong friends."
Grugg takes a seat in the position most directly facing their host and stares (almost with a dumb-look) intently as if waiting for the next movement to occur. Also, patiently waiting for wine to be served in the tallest cup available.
"Now that you're all here, let me fill you in on the details. Long ago I was an adventurer. I died, and was raised. I decided to put my back to the adventuring life forever. However, I am now afflicted with the Death Curse, which is slowly killing me. I don't know how long I'll last, and clerics can't help me. I have contacts within the Harpers who have informed me that this Death Curse is caused by a magical device known as the Soulmonger, located somewhere within the jungles of Chult."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Zandak gives a sympathetic grunt, and motions his head more forward to express that he is listening with all intent of helping this man. Zandak gives a slight smile.
Eili's massive form struggled to fit in the human-sized chair, conscious of every little creak the wooden frame made underneath her, as she sipped from the top of her full-to-the-brim wine glass. "'Somewhere in the jungles of Chult' sounds incredibly vague. Did they have any more specifics on its location or its... properties?"
"I have a map of Chult, though it is missing quite a lot of area, but I do not know the location of the Soulmonger. Perhaps you can find this out when you arrive."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
"Soulmonger. We destroy it? Give you undead life back?"
"Ooh, a mysterious artifact, lost in the jungle!" says Alvyn, clapping his hands gleefully. "There's nothing I like more than a good mystery!" he exclaims. "You know, I think 'Soulmonger' rings a bit of a bell. I think I may have run across some references to it in the course of my extensive research on magical apparati. Though it might have been... well I think it was Soulmonger. If you wouldn't mind, perhaps you can jog my memory. What else can you tell us about this object?"
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
Zandak’s ears perk up in interest, the Soulmonger huh? “I would like to know more of this Soulmonger myself. If it disturbs the current of Nature then it must be destroyed. But first I need to know everything I can about it.”
Eili furrows her brow. "This sounds like a rather... dangerous mission. I cannot speak for the others, but I am fairly new when it comes to this sort of thing. Why not hire some more... experienced adventurers?"
"What need to know except how to destroy it and what reward is? It bad. We strong."
Grugg's muscles ripple across his body as he gets up from his seat, hulks over to the wine bottles. Not having a clue which year is good or which vineyard is best, Grugg proceeds to sample each bottle...straight from the bottle...and nod in stoic approval after each one...
"It seems to be affecting the whole of Faerun, maybe even all of Toril. It prevents all forms of resurrection known to us, and slowly kills those who have been resurrected before. That is all I know."
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."
Zandak puts an assuring hand on Eili’s shoulder, with a warm smile he nods to her and with comfort, “Don’t worry, as creature of nature, I will have your back. I don’t know if you all have mine, but I promise to all of you that I will make sure we all get out of this alive. We will rid this evil and save countless lives.” He looks to the Silver Masked fellow, “I will find this ‘Soulmonger’ and destroy it. You have my word.”
Grugg puts the bottle of wine in his oversized hands down on the wine tray. Turns to face his companions and says,
"Grugg destroy Soulmonger thing, too. Little merchant negotiate biggest reward with Faerun?"
Grugg glances between his party and the only part of the eyes he can see behind the embroidered hood and the silver mask of their host.
Eili returns Zandak's gesture, being as gentle as possible as her massive hand envelopes his shoulder. "I, at least, will have your back as well."
Kosadius stands listening to all the ones within the chamber. Not saying much until he had heard all that is to be heard from everyone and then smiles brightly. "There is a reason all this is happening and as you have said, it is this thing you are talking about and who ever is controlling it. There are many fates intertwined and Lathander has brought me here to have my fate meet all yours. This quest is a righteous quest and I, Kosadius Vorades will take this task in hand and by Lathanders divine light, will we accomplish this." his voice deep when he speaks and by all sounds he seems confident in his abilities.
Now looking onto the others he smiles brightly once again. " What say you all? I am willing and it sounds like a couple of others as well." He stand and with the sun emblem on the front of his shield to show who he follows in his faith.
Grugg raises his wine bottle and says,
"Dilly, Dilly! I heard that in tavern once..."
"We are all ready then? Good. Let's go."
She leads you down to the port, where a sloop awaits. It has a single mast flying a square mainsail plus two triangular foresails, one aft sail, and a small topsail. It says 'The Brazen Pegasus' in large white letters on the side. A hulking man whose face is almost hidden by a heavy beard streaked with gray stands in front and, noticing Syndra, waves you all aboard. A female rock gnome awaits you aboard the ship. She begins to speak.
"Welcome aboard The Brazen Pegasus! I'm Captain Ortimay, and this is Grig. We'll be your captain and first mate for the remainder of this trip. Everyone ready to go? We've been waiting for hours!"
"Ignorance is bliss, and you look absolutely miserable."