After resting the party awakens to find themselves alone in the room. Even though you had people on watch none of you are sure of when he left. Each of you on watch were certain he was still there but none can say for certain.
You gather your gear and follow the directions given by the Knight down the passageways of the labyrinth and find the exit as described to you. A section of wall appears to have come alive. A portal is in the wall that you push through. As you climb out the other side you feel suddenly very cold. Everything is dark with strange lights.
You recall what the knight told you. The Upside Down is a kind of alternate dimension — an echo of the Material Plane (where we all live). That means in some ways it’s very similar to our world, but in others it’s completely different.
The Upside Down is a cold, dark place. It’s always night there, and the air is always cold (like just before a snow storm). You never feel warm in the Upside Down.
You wander through the forest and realize that in places where our world and the Upside Down touch each other, the Upside Down looks like our world — the same buildings, trees, and other structures — but they’re always broken and ruined.
You find yourselves wandering the streets of the village where Sir Tristan lives. The buildings look old and worn down. The keep is crumbled and falling apart.
It is lonely, dark, and desolate with a cold wind blowing all the time. Strange howling noises are on the wind and make it feel like something is stalking you, lurking just out of sight in the darkness.
You find tracks made by the thessalhydra, but also tracks made by other monsters. But the tracks are impossible to follow. The tracks come and go. Sometimes they loop back on themselves. None of it makes any sense.
With a blast of lightning and thunder, a woman appears on a hill near the nearby. She begins to approach.
Darvin deems that the woman does not pose a threat to them. As she approaches she seems to be in a hurry but she does stop to talk with them.
"Pray thee, stay out of my way for your own safety. I am on a great quest. What brings you to this dreadfully awful place? I have seen naught but monsters for many a day."
"We came to kill a terrible monster and save a village!" Gil would say motioning to the rubble and busted keep and buildings... "This village actually... well... kinda... A nicer version of this on the material plane" He would say with a smile.
Tibi bows to the woman with a flourish "pray tell me my good lady what quest are you on, perhaps Tymora has deemed that our paths shall run together for a short while?"
"A terrible monster you say? Then you hunt the thessalhydra. It is not my quest but I can aid you in yours. The thessalhydra uses the Upside Down as a way to return to its lair without being tracked. The lair is a cave where the Material Plane and the Upside Down touch. A special plant grows there — a plant whose flowers bloom in both worlds. These flowers can be used to cross between worlds if you perform a certain ritual. A key component of this ritual is blood from a monstrosity. The thessalhydra is a monstrosity, so it can use its own blood to open a gateway."
The Proud Princess points towards the direction to the cavern where the flowers grow.
"But if you want to open a gateway, you will also need the blood of a monstrosity. I know of one that has been stalking around the Upside Down lately: a demogorgon! The demogorgon is attracted to the smell of blood. The easiest way to get its attention is to spill blood on the ground. But since there are so few creatures in the Upside Down, the only source is you. You can cut yourself to spill blood in hopes of attracting the monster."
She points down at some of the many tracks on the ground.
"Or you can try to stalk the demogorgon, but this is very difficult."
She smiles at each of you.
"Good luck on your quest! I have my own and cannot tarry. I hope what I have told you helps. "
"Well that is something! Gentlemen, do we have a volunteers for spilling some of their blood to attract this so called Demogorgon! No then I suggest we trust to Tymora and draw lots."Tibi then picks four bits of grass, one of which he shortens and holding them in all in his hand continues "right whose first?"
Propose that the DM roll a D4 1 = Darvin 2 = Gilbert 3 = Whistler 4 = Tibi
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
"Wait, before we cut ourselves.. Do we really NEED to summon the demogorgon? I mean if the creature we are after is a monstrosity... can't we just use its blood when we kill it? OR is it likley that the Tessalhydra is no longer in the upsidown and already returned to its lair?" Gil would say pondering to himself aloud.
*If it sounds like they have to kill the demogorgon to get to the tessalhydra's lair, Gilbert would pull out a dagger and slash it across his forearm. He would be sure not to slice deep enough to hit any bone or muscle or tendons but would slash long enough that blood would freely drip down his arm and fingertips.
I put this in a spoiler because I realized that Whistler already cut himself lol.
"Hang on a minute my friend" Tibi says to Whistler "you don't need to cut yourself as well as Gilbert drew the short straw! But go ahead if you wish, the greater the blood the sooner I suspect that demogorgon will appear!"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond DM - Four bards walk into a bar... Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Both Gilbert and Whistler cut their hands, the blood dripping onto the ground. It doesn't seem like much blood but you wait to see if the monster approaches but a few minutes later you don't see or hear anything.
Gilbert would snap his fingers as his spectral bat pops into existence with a puff of blue mist. "Can you fly around and make sure there isn't a creature out there that we cannot see?" He would ask the Bat before it flies off making circles around the group, slowly moving farther and farther away. In the meantime, Gil would take the blade along side his previous cut, hoping a little more blood will do the trick.
OOC: bat it has blind sight so I was hoping it could help if the thing is invisible.
While the others are attempting to summon this demogorgon with a blood ritual of sorts and Gil's familiar is scouting, Darvin begins a ritual of his own. "Just in case it tries to talk... this might help," he says, casting comprehend languages (takes ten minutes to cast as a ritual, so if we need to move on before then it's fine).
Darvin has finished his ritual spell by only a few minutes when Gilbert's familiar alerts him that something approaches from the north. About 100 feet away, that which approaches is the size and shape of an adult humanoid.
Whistler nods to Tibi, and puts up two fingers indicating that he will take the 2nd watch.
(( take a long rest ))
Gil will snuggle up with his head on his pack and sleep.
After resting the party awakens to find themselves alone in the room. Even though you had people on watch none of you are sure of when he left. Each of you on watch were certain he was still there but none can say for certain.
You gather your gear and follow the directions given by the Knight down the passageways of the labyrinth and find the exit as described to you. A section of wall appears to have come alive. A portal is in the wall that you push through. As you climb out the other side you feel suddenly very cold. Everything is dark with strange lights.
You recall what the knight told you. The Upside Down is a kind of alternate dimension — an echo of the Material Plane (where we all live). That means in some ways it’s very similar to our world, but in others it’s completely different.
The Upside Down is a cold, dark place. It’s always night there, and the air is always cold (like just before a snow storm). You never feel warm in the Upside Down.
You wander through the forest and realize that in places where our world and the Upside Down touch each other, the Upside Down looks like our world — the same buildings, trees, and other structures — but they’re always broken and ruined.
You find yourselves wandering the streets of the village where Sir Tristan lives. The buildings look old and worn down. The keep is crumbled and falling apart.
It is lonely, dark, and desolate with a cold wind blowing all the time. Strange howling noises are on the wind and make it feel like something is stalking you, lurking just out of sight in the darkness.
You find tracks made by the thessalhydra, but also tracks made by other monsters. But the tracks are impossible to follow. The tracks come and go. Sometimes they loop back on themselves. None of it makes any sense.
With a blast of lightning and thunder, a woman appears on a hill near the nearby. She begins to approach.
Darvin approaches the woman, attempting to assess whether she seems to intend them any harm.
Insight: 14
If he doesn't think she does, he addresses her (spoilered since he won't say this if she seems a threat):
"Greetings," he says with a smile. "You don't look like a native of this place. From where do you hail? We have just arrived ourselves."
"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)
Darvin deems that the woman does not pose a threat to them. As she approaches she seems to be in a hurry but she does stop to talk with them.
"Pray thee, stay out of my way for your own safety. I am on a great quest. What brings you to this dreadfully awful place? I have seen naught but monsters for many a day."
"We came to kill a terrible monster and save a village!" Gil would say motioning to the rubble and busted keep and buildings... "This village actually... well... kinda... A nicer version of this on the material plane" He would say with a smile.
Tibi bows to the woman with a flourish "pray tell me my good lady what quest are you on, perhaps Tymora has deemed that our paths shall run together for a short while?"
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
"A terrible monster you say? Then you hunt the thessalhydra. It is not my quest but I can aid you in yours. The thessalhydra uses the Upside Down as a way to return to its lair without being tracked. The lair is a cave where the Material Plane and the Upside Down touch. A special plant grows there — a plant whose flowers bloom in both worlds. These flowers can be used to cross between worlds if you perform a certain ritual. A key component of this ritual is blood from a monstrosity. The thessalhydra is a monstrosity, so it can use its own blood to open a gateway."
The Proud Princess points towards the direction to the cavern where the flowers grow.
"But if you want to open a gateway, you will also need the blood of a monstrosity. I know of one that has been stalking around the Upside Down lately: a demogorgon! The demogorgon is attracted to the smell of blood. The easiest way to get its attention is to spill blood on the ground. But since there are so few creatures in the Upside Down, the only source is you. You can cut yourself to spill blood in hopes of attracting the monster."
She points down at some of the many tracks on the ground.
"Or you can try to stalk the demogorgon, but this is very difficult."
She smiles at each of you.
"Good luck on your quest! I have my own and cannot tarry. I hope what I have told you helps. "
And with that said she strides away from you.
"Well that is something! Gentlemen, do we have a volunteers for spilling some of their blood to attract this so called Demogorgon! No then I suggest we trust to Tymora and draw lots." Tibi then picks four bits of grass, one of which he shortens and holding them in all in his hand continues "right whose first?"
Propose that the DM roll a D4
1 = Darvin
2 = Gilbert
3 = Whistler
4 = Tibi
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
2
Whilst the group talks to the strange women, not being one for small talk, Whistler keeps an eye out for any signs of danger.
Perception: 18
Then when the women mentions the need of blood, he draws a small knife, and cuts his palm.
"Wait, before we cut ourselves.. Do we really NEED to summon the demogorgon? I mean if the creature we are after is a monstrosity... can't we just use its blood when we kill it? OR is it likley that the Tessalhydra is no longer in the upsidown and already returned to its lair?" Gil would say pondering to himself aloud.
*If it sounds like they have to kill the demogorgon to get to the tessalhydra's lair, Gilbert would pull out a dagger and slash it across his forearm. He would be sure not to slice deep enough to hit any bone or muscle or tendons but would slash long enough that blood would freely drip down his arm and fingertips.
I put this in a spoiler because I realized that Whistler already cut himself lol.
"Hang on a minute my friend" Tibi says to Whistler "you don't need to cut yourself as well as Gilbert drew the short straw! But go ahead if you wish, the greater the blood the sooner I suspect that demogorgon will appear!"
DM - Storm King's Thunder - The Gods Respond
DM - Four bards walk into a bar...
Cracitus Tibicen (Tibi) - Aarokocra - Rogue [Swashbuckler] / Fighter [Battlemaster]
Both Gilbert and Whistler cut their hands, the blood dripping onto the ground. It doesn't seem like much blood but you wait to see if the monster approaches but a few minutes later you don't see or hear anything.
Gilbert would snap his fingers as his spectral bat pops into existence with a puff of blue mist. "Can you fly around and make sure there isn't a creature out there that we cannot see?" He would ask the Bat before it flies off making circles around the group, slowly moving farther and farther away. In the meantime, Gil would take the blade along side his previous cut, hoping a little more blood will do the trick.
OOC: bat it has blind sight so I was hoping it could help if the thing is invisible.
While the others are attempting to summon this demogorgon with a blood ritual of sorts and Gil's familiar is scouting, Darvin begins a ritual of his own. "Just in case it tries to talk... this might help," he says, casting comprehend languages (takes ten minutes to cast as a ritual, so if we need to move on before then it's fine).
"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)
Darvin has finished his ritual spell by only a few minutes when Gilbert's familiar alerts him that something approaches from the north. About 100 feet away, that which approaches is the size and shape of an adult humanoid.
(OOC: Is it invisible?)
(No, but it's behind a small hill and out of direct line of sight. The familiar lets you know it is moving slowly, as if hunting. )