The tiny dragon looks at you and you all hear her voice once more: "I am Elonast, I was locked up here because I reminded my master too much of her good side, and once I get out of here I will make her think she should never have locked me up. Please let me out, maybe I can help you in some way... actually, why are all of you here?"
"Is your master the Duchess? We're are here looking for a grimoire, could be locked in a lock or vault. Do you know anything about it? I'll open the lock if you promise to help us and not alert anyone"
The tiny dragon squints her eyes: "Indeed. She is my master. You can tell how kind she has become based on her treatment of me." She gestures with one of her wings towards the terrible condition of her cell. "By her grimoire, I assume you mean her phylactery. I do indeed know where it is, as well as all of her defenses that she has set up. So please please let me out of here. It is my wish to see her defeated and purged of the corruption, and you seem to be a means of making that possible."
Drox nods, and smiles in excitement. He is excited by seeing a real dragon, and he is glad that she will help us with our quest. Drox turns to the group, "I believe we should let this poor creature free, she seems trustworthy enough. Who would want to help the person who imprisoned them after all?"He then looks to Raenor, "If you would be so kind to work your magic."He gestures to the cell door.
"Agreed, we need to get this beautiful, majestic Elonast out of this prison!" Ander's eyes glimmer as he looks at the small dragon. He knows that it must be magical in some way and wonders whether it could help him to understand his power.
Reanor looks at the lock mechanism and says "Aye, it's just a regular lock. May Tymora guide our decision and give us guidance" - He grabs a thin lockpick from with his pack, and fiddles with it in the key hole for a couple seconds. Without a sound, the cell door opens slowly with its own weight. "Okay Elonast, yer free. Do you need anything lads? Food or water? Then we need to hurry for the philactery. Share with us what ye ken"
Once the tiny dragon is let free she immediately flits over to Ander and curls up on top of his head. You then hear her once again in all of your minds: "Being an undead creature herself, my master is a master of the art of necromancy. At one time she swore she would only use it for good, but when..." she seems to trail off inside of your heads: "Anyway, you shall have several traps ahead of you. Most can be easily avoided if you simply do not touch anything, her traps are designed to lure in those who are naturally curious, the adventurous sort if you would. As for common foes, my master employs several undead who guard this complex. Though I sense a shift, it seems to me that most of them have been brought above ground for a-" the ceiling rumbles as what you can only assume to be a powerful explosion goes off. "attack... hmmm... you may wish to continue as fast as possible. Quickly down this hall!"
As you begin moving Ander hears the voice of Elonast inside of his head: "I see. So it appears like you have been touched with sorcerous magic, have you not?"
Ander attempts (mostly unsuccessfully) to hold in his glee as the dragon curls up on his head. His step becomes lighter as he practically skips along the hall. "Can she hear my thoughts? Yes, I have been touched by sorcerous magic." He waits expectantly to see if the dragon replies.
Ander hears back in his head: "Indeed... We pseudodragons are blessed with telepathy, so I can indeed read your thoughts if you broadcast them like that."
As you continue walking you pass by several cells, one has the body of a rotting, dead tiefling, another has a plethora of dis-limbed hands and feet, while the other has a ton of gems and bones inside. Elonast notes to all of you: "Watch out, each one of these is a terrible trap. Let us continue."
A strong mildew smell permeates this room. Green algae grows like moss from cracks in the walls, floor, and ceiling. A skeleton lies at the room’s center, its hand caught in a closed, steel trapdoor. On the Western side of the room another stone door leads out. Elonast continues speaking to you all in your minds: "Oh, ignore the hand. Just go past everything." She says the last part as you all walk into this room. Shall we continue?
Ander looks nervously at the skeleton as they enter the room. As the pseudo-dragon on his head dismisses it, he realizes it may just be an intimidation piece put there by the Duchess. He continues across the room with the group, slightly more confident.
Elonast responds inside of Raenor's mind: "'Twas an enemy of Zaldara whose mind she broke and subsequently boiled him alive, leaving nothing but the bones which she positioned in this fashion to tempt adventurers like yourselves." The bones look in mostly pristine condition, a stark contrast from the surrounding room which is full of moss and lichen.
The door opens as you pass through another hallway and make it to the next room. A small stair leads from a landing to another floor just below it. Arms and armor are mounted on the walls. All are rusted and ruined, save for a round shield, painted red with two battered longswords hanging behind it. Elonast recommends to you all that: "By the way... I wouldn't touch those things if I were you.Ah, my aching joints, how nice it feels to have the wind rushing across my wings again. Also, try to be as quiet as possible around here. " She says the latter part in a "lower voice of thought."
You slowly open the door as Elonast speaks first in Meji's mind and then in all of yours. To Meji she says: "Indeed. My mistress has several undead that guard her cellar. From specters, to ghouls, to skeletons. All you should beware." Then as the door creaks open she continues (now in everyone's mind): "There are several creatures just beyond the bend... be quiet, and try not to throw up." As you then peer inside the next room. This crumbling hall has a large curve and the stench of rotten eggs coming from cracks in the ceiling. A gross duet of gnashing teeth and guttural throat sounds comes from around the bend. Two doors lead out of this hall (which also continues farther into the area). Elonast motions to the light spell, and makes a cutting motion across her neck. She then points to the door on the left. "Cut the light and head there. You've almost done it. "
"What's your name? Why were you locked down here? What are yer plans if we let ye out?"
The tiny dragon looks at you and you all hear her voice once more: "I am Elonast, I was locked up here because I reminded my master too much of her good side, and once I get out of here I will make her think she should never have locked me up. Please let me out, maybe I can help you in some way... actually, why are all of you here?"
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
"Is your master the Duchess? We're are here looking for a grimoire, could be locked in a lock or vault. Do you know anything about it? I'll open the lock if you promise to help us and not alert anyone"
The tiny dragon squints her eyes: "Indeed. She is my master. You can tell how kind she has become based on her treatment of me." She gestures with one of her wings towards the terrible condition of her cell. "By her grimoire, I assume you mean her phylactery. I do indeed know where it is, as well as all of her defenses that she has set up. So please please let me out of here. It is my wish to see her defeated and purged of the corruption, and you seem to be a means of making that possible."
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Drox nods, and smiles in excitement. He is excited by seeing a real dragon, and he is glad that she will help us with our quest. Drox turns to the group, "I believe we should let this poor creature free, she seems trustworthy enough. Who would want to help the person who imprisoned them after all?" He then looks to Raenor, "If you would be so kind to work your magic." He gestures to the cell door.
"Agreed, we need to get this beautiful, majestic Elonast out of this prison!" Ander's eyes glimmer as he looks at the small dragon. He knows that it must be magical in some way and wonders whether it could help him to understand his power.
Reanor looks at the lock mechanism and says "Aye, it's just a regular lock. May Tymora guide our decision and give us guidance" - He grabs a thin lockpick from with his pack, and fiddles with it in the key hole for a couple seconds. Without a sound, the cell door opens slowly with its own weight. "Okay Elonast, yer free. Do you need anything lads? Food or water? Then we need to hurry for the philactery. Share with us what ye ken"
Mesi Looks at the tiny Dragon "Greetings Elonast." he says "I am Mesi of Tymora, the blessing of the lady be upon you."
"Tellus Elonast, what types of foes will we face and what types of magic has the duchess mastered. so that we are better prepared."
Once the tiny dragon is let free she immediately flits over to Ander and curls up on top of his head. You then hear her once again in all of your minds: "Being an undead creature herself, my master is a master of the art of necromancy. At one time she swore she would only use it for good, but when..." she seems to trail off inside of your heads: "Anyway, you shall have several traps ahead of you. Most can be easily avoided if you simply do not touch anything, her traps are designed to lure in those who are naturally curious, the adventurous sort if you would. As for common foes, my master employs several undead who guard this complex. Though I sense a shift, it seems to me that most of them have been brought above ground for a-" the ceiling rumbles as what you can only assume to be a powerful explosion goes off. "attack... hmmm... you may wish to continue as fast as possible. Quickly down this hall!"
As you begin moving Ander hears the voice of Elonast inside of his head: "I see. So it appears like you have been touched with sorcerous magic, have you not?"
OOC: Awaiting affirmations/other questions.
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Ander attempts (mostly unsuccessfully) to hold in his glee as the dragon curls up on his head. His step becomes lighter as he practically skips along the hall. "Can she hear my thoughts? Yes, I have been touched by sorcerous magic." He waits expectantly to see if the dragon replies.
Ander hears back in his head: "Indeed... We pseudodragons are blessed with telepathy, so I can indeed read your thoughts if you broadcast them like that."
As you continue walking you pass by several cells, one has the body of a rotting, dead tiefling, another has a plethora of dis-limbed hands and feet, while the other has a ton of gems and bones inside. Elonast notes to all of you: "Watch out, each one of these is a terrible trap. Let us continue."
Do you continue?
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
A strong mildew smell permeates this room. Green algae grows like moss from cracks in the walls, floor, and ceiling. A skeleton lies at the room’s center, its hand caught in a closed, steel trapdoor. On the Western side of the room another stone door leads out. Elonast continues speaking to you all in your minds: "Oh, ignore the hand. Just go past everything." She says the last part as you all walk into this room. Shall we continue?
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Reanor asks: "How did he die?"
OOC: Is the skeleton 'fresh' or does it look like it lies there for long?
Ander looks nervously at the skeleton as they enter the room. As the pseudo-dragon on his head dismisses it, he realizes it may just be an intimidation piece put there by the Duchess. He continues across the room with the group, slightly more confident.
Mesi Grips his Boarding pike tighter and moves on, scanning all areas.
Elonast responds inside of Raenor's mind: "'Twas an enemy of Zaldara whose mind she broke and subsequently boiled him alive, leaving nothing but the bones which she positioned in this fashion to tempt adventurers like yourselves." The bones look in mostly pristine condition, a stark contrast from the surrounding room which is full of moss and lichen.
OOC: Just need to see what Drox is doing.
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
The door opens as you pass through another hallway and make it to the next room. A small stair leads from a landing to another floor just below it. Arms and armor are mounted on the walls. All are rusted and ruined, save for a round shield, painted red with two battered longswords hanging behind it. Elonast recommends to you all that: "By the way... I wouldn't touch those things if I were you.Ah, my aching joints, how nice it feels to have the wind rushing across my wings again. Also, try to be as quiet as possible around here. " She says the latter part in a "lower voice of thought."
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Mesi whispers to Elonast "you mentioned earlier that your master has undead guards...do you know what type of undead? skeletons or ghouls maybe?"
You slowly open the door as Elonast speaks first in Meji's mind and then in all of yours. To Meji she says: "Indeed. My mistress has several undead that guard her cellar. From specters, to ghouls, to skeletons. All you should beware." Then as the door creaks open she continues (now in everyone's mind): "There are several creatures just beyond the bend... be quiet, and try not to throw up." As you then peer inside the next room. This crumbling hall has a large curve and the stench of rotten eggs coming from cracks in the ceiling. A gross duet of gnashing teeth and guttural throat sounds comes from around the bend. Two doors lead out of this hall (which also continues farther into the area). Elonast motions to the light spell, and makes a cutting motion across her neck. She then points to the door on the left. "Cut the light and head there. You've almost done it. "
DM of Tomb of Annihilation (and more) Group 2 and Group 3
Mesi does as bid and ends his light cantrip.