Dalrak will chuckle at his goblin friend during the encounter with the bird person. Dalrak raises of a glass of ale, mouthing "cheers," toward Brix while still holding the crossbow. Dalrak drinks it all down quickly before taking his crossbow in both hands again. It has become a commonality of Dalrak coming up with glasses of ale at the most inopportune times. There has never been a good explanation. Dalrak always says it's just because of his dwarven ancestry.
"My friend, pay no heed to our leader, he has a lot on his mind, and gets grumpy close to his bedtime."
Bowing low to the aarakocra, he continues "Ours is curious band. We all fight for different things, but do so together. I am ashamed to say that while others present do good for honor, or duty, I prefer the clink of coins in my pocket as a motivator. You understand of course, that a group such as ours has expenses and so forth, in order to function effectively. In essence, what can we do for you, and what's in it for us?"
The aarakocra seems unfazed by the suggestion of compensation, as though they were expecting the question. "Yes, of course, we do not expect to procure your services for nothing. Let me tell you what you can do for us, and then I will tell you what we can provide you in return."
"My name is RAWWWWK!" here the aarakocra makes a loud squawking sound that sounds a bit different from the squawks with which they have periodically been punctuating their sentences, "although, I find that most non-aarakocra have difficulty with the inflection, so most call me simply 'Rawk'. I am a cleric in the temple of Savras in the mountains just north of here." They gestures with an arm and a wing to the north.
"Our divination rituals have revealed the arrival of a powerful artifact somewhere beneath the city. Its effects are not thoroughly understood, but it is believed that it emits an arcane... SQQUAAAW! what is the word in common... a... resonance? that subverts the usual process of death, instead producing thralls in the service of the one who controls the resonator. We would ask that you go beneath the city and find the resonator, and then meet me back here. Our temple maintains a repository of dangerous artifacts, reachable only with flight and well guarded by magical wards. We believe that an antimagic field within this repository is the safest place for the resonator. One of the advantages of worshiping the god of divination is that within our walls we are well equipped to see anyone coming well in advance of their arrival and take suitable countermeasures."
"As for what's in it for you, I'm sure we can find something suitable from among the ... less dangerous items in our archives to provide you in exchange for the resonator. Do we have a deal? I'm afraid that we cannot afford to give you much time to deliberate, as the longer the resonator is active under the city, the more undead attacks there will be."
“What manner of beings live under the city already?” Jarl asks. “Have there been any strange events or activity by them or in the environment of late, that might have precipitated this artifact becoming active?”
Turning to the cleric, Rawk replies, "RAAAA! We cannot be sure. However, our rituals also reveal the presence of a powerful mind below the earth. My colleague SKRAWW! -- the non-aarakocrans call him 'Skraw' -- has seen visions of a tentacled creature he believes may be an aboleth, a creature of the underdark known to accumulate menageries of slaves...perhaps it wishes to use the resonator to expand its sphere of influence. Aboleths prefer aquatic environments, so that is what controls the resonator, it is unlikely that it has taken up residence within the city structures themselves. More likely it has a lair somewhere in the system of natural caves beneath Avlor."
Then, to Jarl, "The sewer system running beneath the city is home to the usual sewer-dwellers, mostly rodents and the like, as far as we know. There is also the system of caves that is little explored, but we believe it runs quite deep. In fact..." Rawk pauses, again cocking their head to examine the druid's face, "it would not be a surprise if there were communities of your brethren and, more worrisome, sistren connected to the city through these caverns. From time to time over the years, citizens of Avlor have disappeared, and there have been sightings of drow that seem to coincide with those instances."
"I advise you not to show your face to Avlorians, if you can avoid it. Tell me, and I ask simply out of curiosity, how is it that a male drow finds himself traveling with a party of adventurers such as this?"
After hearing the aarakocra's promise of compensation for a job, Brix grows uninterested in the majority of whatever else the aarakocra is saying. He's now off to the side with his rapier unsheathed, poking at one of the remaining zombie bodies. "DALRAK! WHERE DID YOU GET THAT ALE?"
“Oh, well, I was trying to track down the source of some mining runoff that was poisoning my clan’s water supply, and I ran into these three —“ he points at Shale, Brix, and Dalrak “— and it turned out — after Dalrak almost killed me, but I’ve forgiven him — they were interested in shutting down the mine as well. Apparently there was some dispute over who actually owned the mine. And the miners. But it all worked out, and I asked if I could come along.”
”My cloak should help a little to mask my features, or I can stay on the periphery. I’ve found that trying too hard to disguise myself can backfire if someone sees through it.”
Jarl tries to remember if he’s heard anything about other drow in this region. Or aboleth.
Squiggles raises his eyebrows. "First an Aarokocra and now an aboleth? Is it Elemental Planes day? I'm interested, reward or no reward. I've only read about Aboleths, and meeting one would provide invaluable knowledge!"
"Perhaps it'll swallow you whole, and you'll get to experience it's insides first-hand? Certainly a tale to tell the grandchildren!"
Stroking his beard, Balian turns to Rawk. "It would appear you have caught our attention with your plight. Most of us, anyway", he says, casting a glance at Brix. Extending his hand for the aarakocra to shake, he continues. "Consider us hired!"
"I don't suppose you know of the best place to enter the sewers to get to this cave system you mentioned? I'd rather trudge through as little of this town's waste as possible."
Rawk nods at Jarl, then looks at Squiggles. "No, Elemental Planes Day was last month. It's a shame you missed it! It's a wonderful festival in this region. Communities of immigrants -- aarakocra, tritons, genasi -- get together to celebrate their ancestral heritage. It's gotten a bit commercial in recent years, but the food is fantastic; I'm particularly partial to the triton fish tents, myself RAAA!. Although this year a fire elemental showed up and wound up burning down an earth genasi jewelry stand. It was a whole thing."
"Aboleths, though, well, they are not originally of this plane, you're right about that, though their native plane isn't an elemental plane, strictly speaking. They originally hail from the Far Realms, along with mind-flayers, beholders, and a few other absolutely terrifying creatures RAAAA! though a number of them have been living in this plane's underdark for, oh, millenia at least. In any case, they're not invited to Elemental Planes Day."
Then, turning to Balian, "Excellent. The city of Avlor will be most grateful if you succeed in this. As to getting to the caves, the most direct route is likely to be via the temple of Kelemvor there (gestures to the cathedral bordering the plaza on the east). The acolytes undertook an expansion of their undercroft several years ago, intending to annex a part of the caves, but ran out of funds and had to abandon the project. There may still be a way in through there. However, the Kelemvorites are quite protective of their holy structures, so they are unlikely to just let you walk right in. A well placed ... donation RAAA! ... has been known to help, however. Please, if you speak to the Kelemvorites, you mustn't let on that I sent you. They have not seen what I have of your deeds, and it will not reflect well if it is believed that a random group of passing adventurers was entrusted with this important task.
Of course, a crypt devoted to the god of death may not be the safest of locations during the present moment. The other possibility is to approach from the sewers, as you say. There is an access point just behind the temple, and I believe there may be passages there that connect to the caves directly. That of course is not likely to be safe either; there's no telling what creatures live in there. But to a group of adventurers as experienced as yourselves, I'm sure it will not present too great a challenge RAAAA!"
Jarl, you're far enough from home that you wouldn't know specifically about drow communities near here. You do know something about aboleths, though, as a native of the underdark. Why don't you make a history check with advantage to see how much you know.
Shale digs through his pack while the aarakocra explains their options. He pulls out a small bowl with many varied gems. "Any place to have a quick meal before we march off to our doom," the cleric asks hopefully.
Dalrak stands listening to the Aarakocra. Dalrak gets a dumb look on his face at the mention of Elemental Planes Day. Dalrak looks at the others, wondering if the Aarakocra is ******* with us.
"A tavern Shale, a tavern. Something where I can ease my nerves," Dalrak says. "I do not think Brix will have any exceptions either." Dalrak begins to pack up all the weapons he used in the fight giving them a good cleaning before stowing them away.
"Ah, yes, you wouldn't want to head to the caves on an empty stomach. Most businesses have been closing early since the undead troubles began. People tend to want to limit comings and goings as much as they can. The zombies are around during the day, too, of course, but it's a bit easier to distinguish them from living people in the light. Being raised so quickly as they seem to be, you don't get the telltale rotting flesh that would normally help you spot a zombie, you see. Let me see... RAAA! Your best bet is probably Rhogar's place, which is off the beaten path a bit, off an alley a couple blocks to the north." Rawk gestures between two of the houses on the north side of the plaza. "Two blocks through there and then just to the left. There's no sign, but look for a heavy iron door with rivets in it. Rhogar screens his clientele carefully anyway, so I think he doesn't mind staying open a bit later."
"Do emphasize the 'quick' though, if you don't mind. Avlor is a populous city; people are dying all the time." Then, glancing over at Brix bellowing about ale, the aarakocra continues, "and do go easy on the drinks? If there is an aboleth down there, you'll want your minds as sharp as possible." Watching Brix clomping around aimlessly, they add, "Even if that might be a lost cause in some cases RAAA!"
"Good luck. I'll meet you back here when you've obtained the resonator. Those of you who survive, anyway." They begin turning to leave and then suddenly stop and face you again. "RAAA! I almost forgot. Skraw saw these symbols in his vision as well... Perhaps you'd be the best person to hang on to this." They hand Squiggles a piece of vellum with some arcane-looking runes jotted down on it. "I don't know what they mean, but they might be important."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Squiggles finishes his sketch of the Aarakocra, and looks at the vellum to decipher the runes, clearly excited at the feel of new vellum in his hands. "Thank you RawwwwK!"
You have seen runes like this before, though not these specific runes. You know that they aren't meant to represent language in the usual sense; rather they often function similarly to somatic or material components when casting certain spells, sometimes by inscribing them into objects when casting a spell on the object (as with a glyph of warding), or possibly by tracing their shape with a finger or a wand while casting a spell (such as when activating a teleportation circle). You've also heard about scholars known as "rune smiths", who can inscribe runes into objects to imbue them with permanent magical properties, allowing them to be attuned to by a user as with more conventional magical items. Your understanding is attuning to these items is a bit different from attuning to conventional magical items, and requires a certain expertise in the use of runes, such as that possessed by a rune smith. This offers a measure of security by preventing the untrained from making use of the item's properties.
Dalrak says "goodbye brraaakkkk," as well, but it comes out sounding like Chewbacca. I head over to Brix and Shale after the aarokocra has left. "Can you believe that bird? Want's our help to defeat some monsters, get a magical item in the process and tells us we'll probably die.... Then he has the nerve to tell us not to get drunk? To be honest, I don't even think dwarfs can get drunk."
You haven't heard about anything that could affect such a large area like this.
"We haven't been able to obtain an image of the thing itself, unfortunately; just sense the resonance it emits. It will presumably be emitting a strong magical aura. RAAA! Of course, it may not be the only thing doing that. I'm afraid that's about all I know!"
Dalrak will chuckle at his goblin friend during the encounter with the bird person. Dalrak raises of a glass of ale, mouthing "cheers," toward Brix while still holding the crossbow. Dalrak drinks it all down quickly before taking his crossbow in both hands again. It has become a commonality of Dalrak coming up with glasses of ale at the most inopportune times. There has never been a good explanation. Dalrak always says it's just because of his dwarven ancestry.
PC: Brozznan Kane - Undead in Skyraker |
DM:
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"My friend, pay no heed to our leader, he has a lot on his mind, and gets grumpy close to his bedtime."
Bowing low to the aarakocra, he continues "Ours is curious band. We all fight for different things, but do so together. I am ashamed to say that while others present do good for honor, or duty, I prefer the clink of coins in my pocket as a motivator. You understand of course, that a group such as ours has expenses and so forth, in order to function effectively. In essence, what can we do for you, and what's in it for us?"
The aarakocra seems unfazed by the suggestion of compensation, as though they were expecting the question. "Yes, of course, we do not expect to procure your services for nothing. Let me tell you what you can do for us, and then I will tell you what we can provide you in return."
"My name is RAWWWWK!" here the aarakocra makes a loud squawking sound that sounds a bit different from the squawks with which they have periodically been punctuating their sentences, "although, I find that most non-aarakocra have difficulty with the inflection, so most call me simply 'Rawk'. I am a cleric in the temple of Savras in the mountains just north of here." They gestures with an arm and a wing to the north.
"Our divination rituals have revealed the arrival of a powerful artifact somewhere beneath the city. Its effects are not thoroughly understood, but it is believed that it emits an arcane... SQQUAAAW! what is the word in common... a... resonance? that subverts the usual process of death, instead producing thralls in the service of the one who controls the resonator. We would ask that you go beneath the city and find the resonator, and then meet me back here. Our temple maintains a repository of dangerous artifacts, reachable only with flight and well guarded by magical wards. We believe that an antimagic field within this repository is the safest place for the resonator. One of the advantages of worshiping the god of divination is that within our walls we are well equipped to see anyone coming well in advance of their arrival and take suitable countermeasures."
"As for what's in it for you, I'm sure we can find something suitable from among the ... less dangerous items in our archives to provide you in exchange for the resonator. Do we have a deal? I'm afraid that we cannot afford to give you much time to deliberate, as the longer the resonator is active under the city, the more undead attacks there will be."
"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)
"Hang on a minute, Brix. I really want that ale too, but this may be important." Shale remains to listen to the request of this fellow cleric.
"Do you you know what may in control of this resonator?"
“What manner of beings live under the city already?” Jarl asks. “Have there been any strange events or activity by them or in the environment of late, that might have precipitated this artifact becoming active?”
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Turning to the cleric, Rawk replies, "RAAAA! We cannot be sure. However, our rituals also reveal the presence of a powerful mind below the earth. My colleague SKRAWW! -- the non-aarakocrans call him 'Skraw' -- has seen visions of a tentacled creature he believes may be an aboleth, a creature of the underdark known to accumulate menageries of slaves...perhaps it wishes to use the resonator to expand its sphere of influence. Aboleths prefer aquatic environments, so that is what controls the resonator, it is unlikely that it has taken up residence within the city structures themselves. More likely it has a lair somewhere in the system of natural caves beneath Avlor."
"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)
Then, to Jarl, "The sewer system running beneath the city is home to the usual sewer-dwellers, mostly rodents and the like, as far as we know. There is also the system of caves that is little explored, but we believe it runs quite deep. In fact..." Rawk pauses, again cocking their head to examine the druid's face, "it would not be a surprise if there were communities of your brethren and, more worrisome, sistren connected to the city through these caverns. From time to time over the years, citizens of Avlor have disappeared, and there have been sightings of drow that seem to coincide with those instances."
"I advise you not to show your face to Avlorians, if you can avoid it. Tell me, and I ask simply out of curiosity, how is it that a male drow finds himself traveling with a party of adventurers such as this?"
"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)
BRIX
After hearing the aarakocra's promise of compensation for a job, Brix grows uninterested in the majority of whatever else the aarakocra is saying. He's now off to the side with his rapier unsheathed, poking at one of the remaining zombie bodies. "DALRAK! WHERE DID YOU GET THAT ALE?"
“Oh, well, I was trying to track down the source of some mining runoff that was poisoning my clan’s water supply, and I ran into these three —“ he points at Shale, Brix, and Dalrak “— and it turned out — after Dalrak almost killed me, but I’ve forgiven him — they were interested in shutting down the mine as well. Apparently there was some dispute over who actually owned the mine. And the miners. But it all worked out, and I asked if I could come along.”
”My cloak should help a little to mask my features, or I can stay on the periphery. I’ve found that trying too hard to disguise myself can backfire if someone sees through it.”
Jarl tries to remember if he’s heard anything about other drow in this region. Or aboleth.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Squiggles raises his eyebrows. "First an Aarokocra and now an aboleth? Is it Elemental Planes day? I'm interested, reward or no reward. I've only read about Aboleths, and meeting one would provide invaluable knowledge!"
"Perhaps it'll swallow you whole, and you'll get to experience it's insides first-hand? Certainly a tale to tell the grandchildren!"
Stroking his beard, Balian turns to Rawk. "It would appear you have caught our attention with your plight. Most of us, anyway", he says, casting a glance at Brix. Extending his hand for the aarakocra to shake, he continues. "Consider us hired!"
"I don't suppose you know of the best place to enter the sewers to get to this cave system you mentioned? I'd rather trudge through as little of this town's waste as possible."
Rawk nods at Jarl, then looks at Squiggles. "No, Elemental Planes Day was last month. It's a shame you missed it! It's a wonderful festival in this region. Communities of immigrants -- aarakocra, tritons, genasi -- get together to celebrate their ancestral heritage. It's gotten a bit commercial in recent years, but the food is fantastic; I'm particularly partial to the triton fish tents, myself RAAA!. Although this year a fire elemental showed up and wound up burning down an earth genasi jewelry stand. It was a whole thing."
"Aboleths, though, well, they are not originally of this plane, you're right about that, though their native plane isn't an elemental plane, strictly speaking. They originally hail from the Far Realms, along with mind-flayers, beholders, and a few other absolutely terrifying creatures RAAAA! though a number of them have been living in this plane's underdark for, oh, millenia at least. In any case, they're not invited to Elemental Planes Day."
Then, turning to Balian, "Excellent. The city of Avlor will be most grateful if you succeed in this. As to getting to the caves, the most direct route is likely to be via the temple of Kelemvor there (gestures to the cathedral bordering the plaza on the east). The acolytes undertook an expansion of their undercroft several years ago, intending to annex a part of the caves, but ran out of funds and had to abandon the project. There may still be a way in through there. However, the Kelemvorites are quite protective of their holy structures, so they are unlikely to just let you walk right in. A well placed ... donation RAAA! ... has been known to help, however. Please, if you speak to the Kelemvorites, you mustn't let on that I sent you. They have not seen what I have of your deeds, and it will not reflect well if it is believed that a random group of passing adventurers was entrusted with this important task.
Of course, a crypt devoted to the god of death may not be the safest of locations during the present moment. The other possibility is to approach from the sewers, as you say. There is an access point just behind the temple, and I believe there may be passages there that connect to the caves directly. That of course is not likely to be safe either; there's no telling what creatures live in there. But to a group of adventurers as experienced as yourselves, I'm sure it will not present too great a challenge RAAAA!"
Jarl, you're far enough from home that you wouldn't know specifically about drow communities near here. You do know something about aboleths, though, as a native of the underdark. Why don't you make a history check with advantage to see how much you know.
"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)
Shale digs through his pack while the aarakocra explains their options. He pulls out a small bowl with many varied gems. "Any place to have a quick meal before we march off to our doom," the cleric asks hopefully.
Dalrak stands listening to the Aarakocra. Dalrak gets a dumb look on his face at the mention of Elemental Planes Day. Dalrak looks at the others, wondering if the Aarakocra is ******* with us.
"A tavern Shale, a tavern. Something where I can ease my nerves," Dalrak says. "I do not think Brix will have any exceptions either." Dalrak begins to pack up all the weapons he used in the fight giving them a good cleaning before stowing them away.
PC: Brozznan Kane - Undead in Skyraker |
DM:
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"Ah, yes, you wouldn't want to head to the caves on an empty stomach. Most businesses have been closing early since the undead troubles began. People tend to want to limit comings and goings as much as they can. The zombies are around during the day, too, of course, but it's a bit easier to distinguish them from living people in the light. Being raised so quickly as they seem to be, you don't get the telltale rotting flesh that would normally help you spot a zombie, you see. Let me see... RAAA! Your best bet is probably Rhogar's place, which is off the beaten path a bit, off an alley a couple blocks to the north." Rawk gestures between two of the houses on the north side of the plaza. "Two blocks through there and then just to the left. There's no sign, but look for a heavy iron door with rivets in it. Rhogar screens his clientele carefully anyway, so I think he doesn't mind staying open a bit later."
"Do emphasize the 'quick' though, if you don't mind. Avlor is a populous city; people are dying all the time." Then, glancing over at Brix bellowing about ale, the aarakocra continues, "and do go easy on the drinks? If there is an aboleth down there, you'll want your minds as sharp as possible." Watching Brix clomping around aimlessly, they add, "Even if that might be a lost cause in some cases RAAA!"
"Good luck. I'll meet you back here when you've obtained the resonator. Those of you who survive, anyway." They begin turning to leave and then suddenly stop and face you again. "RAAA! I almost forgot. Skraw saw these symbols in his vision as well... Perhaps you'd be the best person to hang on to this." They hand Squiggles a piece of vellum with some arcane-looking runes jotted down on it. "I don't know what they mean, but they might be important."
"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)
Squiggles finishes his sketch of the Aarakocra, and looks at the vellum to decipher the runes, clearly excited at the feel of new vellum in his hands. "Thank you RawwwwK!"
Arcana check 10
Squiggles:
You have seen runes like this before, though not these specific runes. You know that they aren't meant to represent language in the usual sense; rather they often function similarly to somatic or material components when casting certain spells, sometimes by inscribing them into objects when casting a spell on the object (as with a glyph of warding), or possibly by tracing their shape with a finger or a wand while casting a spell (such as when activating a teleportation circle). You've also heard about scholars known as "rune smiths", who can inscribe runes into objects to imbue them with permanent magical properties, allowing them to be attuned to by a user as with more conventional magical items. Your understanding is attuning to these items is a bit different from attuning to conventional magical items, and requires a certain expertise in the use of runes, such as that possessed by a rune smith. This offers a measure of security by preventing the untrained from making use of the item's properties.
"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)
Dalrak says "goodbye brraaakkkk," as well, but it comes out sounding like Chewbacca. I head over to Brix and Shale after the aarokocra has left. "Can you believe that bird? Want's our help to defeat some monsters, get a magical item in the process and tells us we'll probably die.... Then he has the nerve to tell us not to get drunk? To be honest, I don't even think dwarfs can get drunk."
PC: Brozznan Kane - Undead in Skyraker |
DM:
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History check: 18
"Do you have any idea what the artifact may look like, or how we can identify it?"
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
You haven't heard about anything that could affect such a large area like this.
"We haven't been able to obtain an image of the thing itself, unfortunately; just sense the resonance it emits. It will presumably be emitting a strong magical aura. RAAA! Of course, it may not be the only thing doing that. I'm afraid that's about all I know!"
"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)