Soar looks to Aiwin as he sits down. "Locals seem friendly. Learn anything?"she says. Her eyes scan the room again, calmly, tiredly, but alert for any sign of dislike or malevolence. She may be paranoid but she thinks there's cultists in every shadow, and she's concerned this is a trap and they're being watched.
But she's ready to finish her meal, find a cot to sleep early, and then set out before dawn, as quickly as possible.
Aiwin just nods looking at Soar "Learned from the conversations that the maze surrounding the tower is a dangerous and mysterious place, with ever-changing features. There are stories of dragons, ooze creatures that consume flesh, and even cat people, not like Tabaxi, but actual house cats living as a society. Some believe that those who enter the maze forget much of what they experienced due to magic. Also learned of Old Xonthal, associated with the tower, was rumored to seek eternal life or godhood. There are conflicting rumors about his current state, with some suggesting he is sustained by draining the blood of adventurers and others saying he is a lich now controlling undead. The tower used to be inhabited, but everyone was expelled over a century ago, leading to speculation about what happened exactly. The elderly half-elf warned me against venturing into the maze, suggesting that few return. Overall, the stories are filled with speculation and cautionary advice, but little concrete information for us to go off. Might be good to maybe try and find out more about this Xonthal character."
Bazavur looks directly at Tobin, “Don’t you have a portable library?”
He finishes the rest of his food, drains his glass, stifles a belch and then looks at everyone in turn. “We gonna start tonight? Might be helpful to avoid notice from the tower entering the maze under cover of darkness.”
(depending on the response of everyone else. Bazavur will get ready to go into the maze tonight if everyone wants to go. Or, if the group does not want to start tonight, he will get up from the table. Do a brief stroll around the inn/tavern and maybe the nearest two-three buildings for some fresh air. Then find someplace he can sleep. Since he has no money and does not want to ask anyone to room with them.)
Tobin and Bazavur, the archmage Xonthal lived over a hundred years ago, and made his home in a mysterious tower near the southern tip of the Greypeak Mountains, north of the Marsh of Chelimber. He is believed to be long dead, but was always reclusive. His tower is said to be a dangerous place and few but the most battle-hardened adventurers have dared enter.
Tobin, in addition to this, you know that Xonthal was an expert in both time-altering magic and the feathermagic used in Maztica.
Tobin recounts to Bazavur what he learned before they left (from his History check). “I expect, given the history I unearthed earlier, we may run into chronomancy in the maze, and possibly magic involving feathers as well,” he adds.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Varan looks to Tobin, "That sounds useful, wish Aiwin and I had somethin' like that for some adventures." He then looks back to Bazavur, "True enough there, appreciate the honesty." Varan takes the opportunity, as Aiwin rejoins their table, to consume his food and drink a bit more quickly than one would expect. Once all the information has been passed around, he chimes in, "I think that is probably all the information we'll get, the rest we'll have to pick up once inside the maze. So, now here is the proposal, we can do a bit of scoutin' tonight; or wait until the mornin' to go in. We can take a group vote and go with the majority."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Soar listen's to Aiwin's report of what the locals said and replies, "great, my favorite."Bazavur would hear sarcasm in her voice, which isn't her usual tone.
"Well, I'm fine with scouting tonight, seeing what your little friend can see. I can also try to locate an object of interest within 1,000 feet. Might not work, but could be worth a shot. Shall we go have a look? Gather what information we can and then come back to allow people to rest?"
She'll settle her bill and then go with the party to have a look at the entrance to the maze, gawking like a tourist who has heard some tall tales in a tavern.
Once dinner is done, you all exit the tavern and head over to the mouth of the maze. The path from the village is short, and curved, and leads to a wooden fence, erected by the villagers to keep children and idiots from wandering in. You can easily get past it.
Looking inside, you see high maze hedge walls, impeccably maintained, and the path ahead curving quite a bit, so you can really only see about fifteen feet beyond the entrance. The hedges are perhaps ten feet tall, perhaps a little higher. Ahead, rising about the maze, is Xonthal's Tower itself; you don't see any lights or anyone on top at the moment.
”Right,” says Tobin, getting out his journal and magic quill and turning to a new page. He writes, “Maze of Xonthal’s Tower, First Entry,” and summons his Tiny Spectral Spirit Guide. Casting Detect Magic and See Invisibility using the Spirit Guide’s senses (it already has darkvision), Tobin sends it in to explore the maze after thoroughly examining the external structure for magical auras and hidden/invisible items or creatures.
Arcana Check in Game Log: 30
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Tobin, the entire maze glows, very faintly but just about perceptibly for you, with conjuration magic.
Your spirit guide approaches the very edge of the maze, passes through... and is no longer manifest. I would say that with your very high Arcana check, you would understand the reason is that the spirit guide was suddenly no longer within 300 feet of you.
Looking frustrated, Tobin says, “Once my Spirit Guide crossed the threshold of the maze, it was yeeted more than 300 feet away and I lost connection. If we go in, we should go in together and perhaps holding hands to try and arrive at the same place and not be separated.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Looking frustrated, Tobin says, “Once my Spirit Guide crossed the threshold of the maze, it was yeeted more than 300 feet away and I lost connection. If we go in, we should go in together and perhaps holding hands to try and arrive at the same place and not be separated.”
“Well that complicated things,” Bazavur says simply, trying to console his frustrated companion. “Perhaps this is one of the challenges/defenses of the maze?”
Bazavur moves towards the spot where the spirit guide vanished from sight and waits for everyone else to be ready to enter the maze. Or, be talked back to the tavern to rest for the night. Either way.
"If we are not too tired, I think the urgency of our mission suggests we should proceed tonight," contributes Tobin, stepping up and grabbing Bazavur's hand.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Soar looks to Aiwin as he sits down. "Locals seem friendly. Learn anything?" she says. Her eyes scan the room again, calmly, tiredly, but alert for any sign of dislike or malevolence. She may be paranoid but she thinks there's cultists in every shadow, and she's concerned this is a trap and they're being watched.
But she's ready to finish her meal, find a cot to sleep early, and then set out before dawn, as quickly as possible.
Aiwin just nods looking at Soar "Learned from the conversations that the maze surrounding the tower is a dangerous and mysterious place, with ever-changing features. There are stories of dragons, ooze creatures that consume flesh, and even cat people, not like Tabaxi, but actual house cats living as a society. Some believe that those who enter the maze forget much of what they experienced due to magic. Also learned of Old Xonthal, associated with the tower, was rumored to seek eternal life or godhood. There are conflicting rumors about his current state, with some suggesting he is sustained by draining the blood of adventurers and others saying he is a lich now controlling undead. The tower used to be inhabited, but everyone was expelled over a century ago, leading to speculation about what happened exactly. The elderly half-elf warned me against venturing into the maze, suggesting that few return. Overall, the stories are filled with speculation and cautionary advice, but little concrete information for us to go off. Might be good to maybe try and find out more about this Xonthal character."
Campaigns:
Wildemount: The Felderwin Irregulars (2020) - Balassar Silverstone - Dragonborn Fighter (Rune Knight) Lv. 5 | Rise of TIamat - Aiwin Aralana - Wood Elf Fighter/Ranger (Arcane Archer/Gloom Stalker) Lv. 9
Bazavur looks directly at Tobin, “Don’t you have a portable library?”
He finishes the rest of his food, drains his glass, stifles a belch and then looks at everyone in turn. “We gonna start tonight? Might be helpful to avoid notice from the tower entering the maze under cover of darkness.”
(depending on the response of everyone else. Bazavur will get ready to go into the maze tonight if everyone wants to go. Or, if the group does not want to start tonight, he will get up from the table. Do a brief stroll around the inn/tavern and maybe the nearest two-three buildings for some fresh air. Then find someplace he can sleep. Since he has no money and does not want to ask anyone to room with them.)
Tobin recounts to Bazavur what he learned before they left (from his History check). “I expect, given the history I unearthed earlier, we may run into chronomancy in the maze, and possibly magic involving feathers as well,” he adds.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Bazavur nods in agreement. “I was hoping maybe there was something you missed.” He shrugs, waiting for Varan and Aiwin to chime in.
Varan looks to Tobin, "That sounds useful, wish Aiwin and I had somethin' like that for some adventures." He then looks back to Bazavur, "True enough there, appreciate the honesty." Varan takes the opportunity, as Aiwin rejoins their table, to consume his food and drink a bit more quickly than one would expect. Once all the information has been passed around, he chimes in, "I think that is probably all the information we'll get, the rest we'll have to pick up once inside the maze. So, now here is the proposal, we can do a bit of scoutin' tonight; or wait until the mornin' to go in. We can take a group vote and go with the majority."
Be excellent to each other, and roll for initiative dudes!
Tobin:
I am good with sending my Spirit Guide in. He can get up to 300 feet from me, so we can do some initial scouting that way, perhaps,” says Tobin.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
“Sounds reasonable to me. Let’s go with that. What do you think Soar?” Bazavur says good naturedly.
Soar listen's to Aiwin's report of what the locals said and replies, "great, my favorite." Bazavur would hear sarcasm in her voice, which isn't her usual tone.
"Well, I'm fine with scouting tonight, seeing what your little friend can see. I can also try to locate an object of interest within 1,000 feet. Might not work, but could be worth a shot. Shall we go have a look? Gather what information we can and then come back to allow people to rest?"
She'll settle her bill and then go with the party to have a look at the entrance to the maze, gawking like a tourist who has heard some tall tales in a tavern.
Once dinner is done, you all exit the tavern and head over to the mouth of the maze. The path from the village is short, and curved, and leads to a wooden fence, erected by the villagers to keep children and idiots from wandering in. You can easily get past it.
Looking inside, you see high maze hedge walls, impeccably maintained, and the path ahead curving quite a bit, so you can really only see about fifteen feet beyond the entrance. The hedges are perhaps ten feet tall, perhaps a little higher. Ahead, rising about the maze, is Xonthal's Tower itself; you don't see any lights or anyone on top at the moment.
Tobin:
”Right,” says Tobin, getting out his journal and magic quill and turning to a new page. He writes, “Maze of Xonthal’s Tower, First Entry,” and summons his Tiny Spectral Spirit Guide. Casting Detect Magic and See Invisibility using the Spirit Guide’s senses (it already has darkvision), Tobin sends it in to explore the maze after thoroughly examining the external structure for magical auras and hidden/invisible items or creatures.
Arcana Check in Game Log: 30
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Tobin, the entire maze glows, very faintly but just about perceptibly for you, with conjuration magic.
Your spirit guide approaches the very edge of the maze, passes through... and is no longer manifest. I would say that with your very high Arcana check, you would understand the reason is that the spirit guide was suddenly no longer within 300 feet of you.
Soar casts locate object and tries to detect a dragon mask within 1,000 feet.
Tobin:
Looking frustrated, Tobin says, “Once my Spirit Guide crossed the threshold of the maze, it was yeeted more than 300 feet away and I lost connection. If we go in, we should go in together and perhaps holding hands to try and arrive at the same place and not be separated.”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Soar, can you roll an Arcana check for me please?
(The die in the game roller nearly stopped on 20, but then rolled to a 2. I am no longer a fan if the in-game roller.)
Soar arcana: 2
Soar, there is a dragon mask in the direction of the tower. You know that it's not the dragon mask you've seen directly, but something similar.
“Well that complicated things,” Bazavur says simply, trying to console his frustrated companion. “Perhaps this is one of the challenges/defenses of the maze?”
Bazavur moves towards the spot where the spirit guide vanished from sight and waits for everyone else to be ready to enter the maze. Or, be talked back to the tavern to rest for the night. Either way.
Tobin:
"If we are not too tired, I think the urgency of our mission suggests we should proceed tonight," contributes Tobin, stepping up and grabbing Bazavur's hand.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Bazavur, you enter the maze. You don't notice anything unusual or vanish from the sight of the others.
Tobin enters too, and grabs your hand.