This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL MOMENTUM: 4, CHAOS: 0 Doc22, Daewen25, Arora22, Neph21,Zhi19, Raza12, Mock11, Drow1Cutthroat(5)(AC15/HP2), Drow8Cutthroat(5)(AC15/HP30)
Neph hides behind a rock, too weak to attack the remaining cutthroat, focuses on protecting himself. He shouts over to the dwarves "Why don't you come help us finish them off? Enjoying the show?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
The dwarven children look down at you from one of the giant dinosaur mounts, wondering how in the world you think a bunch of 6 year olds could defend themselves against a drow raiding party.
Seeing that Daewen appears to look like a goth 13 year old girl (although in reality she's 300+ years old), she can relate to Nephs musings to the dwarven children not joining in on the attack. Silly children, they're more than capable of joining the fight.
Arora, still fighting through the pain of the last blade that landed on her, ignores the pain and continues to fight the remaining two drow. She goes after the last standing drow.
Among the dead drow are documents Miah can read. They detail the layout of the land around Rybalka as well as weaknesses in defenses. Notes written in Undercommon highlight arrows pointing from the site of Krelgar Keep and Adrik's Folly toward Rybalka, surrounding the village on three sides. None of these maps have names, only various landmarks the heroes will recognize. It's very clear that Holoth is planning an assault on the Upperwolrd, starting with Rybalka.
The caravan thanks you all for your assistance, grateful for the perfect timing and help.
Neph drops down on his knees, holds his hand up to the dwarven children. "No problem. You head on home now. Be safe. We have this handled. Just a flesh wound." He slumps down on his buttocks, nearly falling over/passing out.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Daewen’s healing fay hangs around for a few rounds, healing Daewen for an additional 7 hp, and then she commands the fay to fly over and land on Neph’s shoulder, healing him for 9 hp before it winks out of existence.
"It is concerning to see the Drow attacking caravans this close to Embla. If Holoth is acting this openly, war cannot be far off. Come. We must press on. We will be there soon." Miah explains.
Zhisshikassa's spectral guardians wink out of existence as the final Drow fall. Zhi slowly lowers his hands as if every movement causes him difficulty - he eventually wraps his clawed hands over his knees and wretches. Black, blood-like substance spills to the ground as Zhi coughs up some blood.
He bends down near the Drow, in the process painlessly ripping several arrows from his chest and shoulders. Blood turns his bluish cowls purple as he seems to desperately grope out for something - yes! A vial of Drow poison the raiders used to coat their weapons with. Hands shaking, he tips the vial backwards and consumes the acrid contents - in fact, poisons were the only food Zhi actually seemed to enjoy. It's a strange habit, but the Yuan-Ti considered the consumption of toxins medicinal.
After slowly licking his lips and standing to his (rather short) height, Zhi slowly trails towards the rest of the party. "I am injured and most of my spells are expended. If we take a caravan towards Holoth, I will request a short respite - walking suits me poorly, and I must recover mentally and physically."
Zhissi swivels towards Miah, soulless eyes peering into the man...yes, he would be suitable for future demon-summoning. Preferably live when the sacrifice happened. Zhi hasn't told anyone the blood needs to be from someone dead longer than a day. Zhi preferred to summon when they were living, anyways - it was more eventful. "Sanity is only a factor for those not committed to their goals, Miah. Very well. I still request a small rest, though you apparently make the decisions for everyone - so go ahead," he snaps before downing another vial of Drow poison. Some of it dribbles from an unclosed wound in Zhi's neck. Zhi doesn't care. Pain was low on his list of priorities to care about.
"We are almost there. We can be ambushed again at any time if we linger. You have healers among you, no? Once at Embla, we can all rest, especially the more..fragile..members of your group. Come." He continues on.
Raza moves through the drow corpses collecting the few arrows she can find as the others talk. So much blood! It's surprising they are all still alive. "Yes, we made it through another battle, I will not be joining you all this day and neither will my companions." She silently agrees with Zhi about a rest, she wouldn't mind one herself.
Neph bows to Daewen, thanking her for healing him. He helps Raza, going from Drow body to body, searching them, looking for any intel, checking pockets. He will go along with the party, should we stay or should we go, worried that if we stay there will be trouble, but if we go it could be double. He is too exhausted and he messages Daewen “Where am I going?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Mock casts a careful eye over the group, making small notes about who's worse off. Her own body aches with all the injuries she'd taken, but she shrugs it off well enough. She's still standing. She'll make do till they can get some rest.
"Think the worst part of that was the poison," she says, wiping the blood off her axe and onto her pants. She makes a face. "Could really do without that bit."
Off in the distance was a large dwarven city in the Underworld. We had finally arrived. Miah waved to the guards and we were let in. This is what we saw:
The gates part, presenting a majestic, active trading city. The dwarven architecture is carved with expert craftsmanship to be strong, solid, and functional. Yet it still retains the reverence for the stone which gave birth to every building, each appears to be formed out of solid gemstone of a different color. A rose colored, stalactite-shaped structure at the city's center draws your eye.
"That's the Trade Gonjola," Miah says. "That's where the Merchant Circle meets and where all trade negotiations and major mercantile decisions are made." The imposing structure, like the others, is bound with strips of solid mithral. Torchlight flickers within, illuminating the crystal and displaying the occupants as silhouettes upon the exterior of the complex. "Just behind and to the left is the Celebration Gonjola," Miah explains, continuing the tour. The structure is nearly identical to the first except its crystal is a deep emerald color. There is barely on-tenth the number of silhouettes cast upon the exterior of the gonjola, perhaps the attacks on Embla's merchants have diminished the dwarves normally celebratory spirits. The third and final of the mysterious structures is the Justice Gonjola. This gonjola is forged of azure crystal, silhouettes of people inside walk with utmost purpose, their movements orderly and planned. "That's is where court is held, disagreements between trading parties, mercantile groups, or other disputes are handled there."
After taking in the handiwork of the dwarves your eyes wander to another impressive feat, the locals have taken to building all of their homes into the sides of the cave, and they soar far above the ground. "This prevents invaders or thieves from entering our homes. Well, it is a deterrent at the very least and it keeps the cave rats out. Mercantile visitors to our fair city stay in dome-homes of shaped stone with are distributed on the east side of town. Most of the shops, inns, and taverns are found on the ground floor of the cavern, directly in front of you, in fact."
"Within this very cave, to the north, are Granite Falls and the Granite River, which flows across the city and bisects the cave. Two bridges grant access to the other side of the cave, which holds out volcanically heated swimming holes, lakes actually. Then there's the Cage: a fighting arena for those that choose not to settle their disputes in court or feel they are above the law. Finally there's the guard tower and the mushroom farms off in the eastern caves."
"It is Embla tradition that friends are taken straight to one's own house, so come. I will take you there. The Merchant Circle meets first thing each morning, but it'll take me a day to get permission for you to attend. Let us go to my home where my wife will brew us some mushroom tea, and make vvor stew with balak blood rolls."
Miah's home is a sizeable swelling that requires strong arms to reach, and a long climb up a dangling rope ladder. Poor Zhi. Such security seems overdone, but as you heft yourself up the rope ladder, through the small opening, and into the cave-side home you immediately find a sense of safety that you have not felt since leaving the surface.
Miah reached out to help each of you stand. "Please make yourselves at home. We shall eat, share ale, and then retire before it gets too late so that you can tour the city while I arrange for us to meet with the Merchant Circle first thing the following morn." You notice Miah takes extra time to secure the front door and double check the deadbolt, glancing out the peephole before turning back to the group. "Eh. One can never be too safe these days with the drow stirring up trouble. Again, thanks for coming back with me and trying to solve the problem. Let me introduce you to my wife Gvendolynn." Miah introduces his wife, a sharp woman with many talents. You soon discover she is a woman who loves to entertain visitors with food, music, and dance, as well as a good discussion of ancient dwarven history and lore, or talking trade and politics alongside her husband.
She brings out vvor stew, balak blood rolls, and 'shroom tea. Eventually, it's time for bed, and the next day you are free to explore the city.
BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL
MOMENTUM: 4, CHAOS: 0
Doc22, Daewen25, Arora22, Neph21, Zhi19, Raza12, Mock11, Drow1Cutthroat(5)(AC15/HP2), Drow8Cutthroat(5)(AC15/HP30)
20, 10
BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL
MOMENTUM: 4, CHAOS: 0
Doc22, Daewen25, Arora22, Neph21, Zhi19, Raza12, Mock11, Drow8Cutthroat(5)(AC15/HP23)
Neph hides behind a rock, too weak to attack the remaining cutthroat, focuses on protecting himself. He shouts over to the dwarves "Why don't you come help us finish them off? Enjoying the show?"
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
The dwarven children look down at you from one of the giant dinosaur mounts, wondering how in the world you think a bunch of 6 year olds could defend themselves against a drow raiding party.
Seeing that Daewen appears to look like a goth 13 year old girl (although in reality she's 300+ years old), she can relate to Nephs musings to the dwarven children not joining in on the attack. Silly children, they're more than capable of joining the fight.
Daewen attempts to finish off Drow8Cutthroat-
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Arora, still fighting through the pain of the last blade that landed on her, ignores the pain and continues to fight the remaining two drow. She goes after the last standing drow.
Short Sword Attack 1: 16 Damage: 10
Short Sword Attack 2: 25 Damage: 8
Bonus off hand Attack: 16 Damage: 12
D&D 5E BEYOND: Ada - Sorceress / Isa - Sorceress / Naris - Oathbreaker Paladin
CYBERPUNK RED DISCORD: Isa - Solo 5 / Angel - Solo 5 / Faun - Tech 5 / Raja - Nomad 5
PATHFINDER 2e DISCORD: Crystal - Sorceress
Among the dead drow are documents Miah can read. They detail the layout of the land around Rybalka as well as weaknesses in defenses. Notes written in Undercommon highlight arrows pointing from the site of Krelgar Keep and Adrik's Folly toward Rybalka, surrounding the village on three sides. None of these maps have names, only various landmarks the heroes will recognize. It's very clear that Holoth is planning an assault on the Upperwolrd, starting with Rybalka.
The caravan thanks you all for your assistance, grateful for the perfect timing and help.
Neph drops down on his knees, holds his hand up to the dwarven children. "No problem. You head on home now. Be safe. We have this handled. Just a flesh wound." He slumps down on his buttocks, nearly falling over/passing out.
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Daewen’s healing fay hangs around for a few rounds, healing Daewen for an additional 7 hp, and then she commands the fay to fly over and land on Neph’s shoulder, healing him for 9 hp before it winks out of existence.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
"It is concerning to see the Drow attacking caravans this close to Embla. If Holoth is acting this openly, war cannot be far off. Come. We must press on. We will be there soon." Miah explains.
Zhisshikassa's spectral guardians wink out of existence as the final Drow fall. Zhi slowly lowers his hands as if every movement causes him difficulty - he eventually wraps his clawed hands over his knees and wretches. Black, blood-like substance spills to the ground as Zhi coughs up some blood.
He bends down near the Drow, in the process painlessly ripping several arrows from his chest and shoulders. Blood turns his bluish cowls purple as he seems to desperately grope out for something - yes! A vial of Drow poison the raiders used to coat their weapons with. Hands shaking, he tips the vial backwards and consumes the acrid contents - in fact, poisons were the only food Zhi actually seemed to enjoy. It's a strange habit, but the Yuan-Ti considered the consumption of toxins medicinal.
After slowly licking his lips and standing to his (rather short) height, Zhi slowly trails towards the rest of the party. "I am injured and most of my spells are expended. If we take a caravan towards Holoth, I will request a short respite - walking suits me poorly, and I must recover mentally and physically."
"We will not be taking the caravan to Holoth - it's the Drow city. Are you mad, snake?"
Zhissi swivels towards Miah, soulless eyes peering into the man...yes, he would be suitable for future demon-summoning. Preferably live when the sacrifice happened. Zhi hasn't told anyone the blood needs to be from someone dead longer than a day. Zhi preferred to summon when they were living, anyways - it was more eventful. "Sanity is only a factor for those not committed to their goals, Miah. Very well. I still request a small rest, though you apparently make the decisions for everyone - so go ahead," he snaps before downing another vial of Drow poison. Some of it dribbles from an unclosed wound in Zhi's neck. Zhi doesn't care. Pain was low on his list of priorities to care about.
"We are almost there. We can be ambushed again at any time if we linger. You have healers among you, no? Once at Embla, we can all rest, especially the more..fragile..members of your group. Come." He continues on.
Raza moves through the drow corpses collecting the few arrows she can find as the others talk. So much blood! It's surprising they are all still alive. "Yes, we made it through another battle, I will not be joining you all this day and neither will my companions." She silently agrees with Zhi about a rest, she wouldn't mind one herself.
Neph bows to Daewen, thanking her for healing him. He helps Raza, going from Drow body to body, searching them, looking for any intel, checking pockets. He will go along with the party, should we stay or should we go, worried that if we stay there will be trouble, but if we go it could be double. He is too exhausted and he messages Daewen “Where am I going?”
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Daewen thinks/messages a response back to Neph: You guys stay here, and rest up. I’ll scout ahead and make sure you guys aren’t bothered.
With that, Daewen whithers into the shadows and becomes invisible once again.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Mock casts a careful eye over the group, making small notes about who's worse off. Her own body aches with all the injuries she'd taken, but she shrugs it off well enough. She's still standing. She'll make do till they can get some rest.
"Think the worst part of that was the poison," she says, wiping the blood off her axe and onto her pants. She makes a face. "Could really do without that bit."
Off in the distance was a large dwarven city in the Underworld. We had finally arrived. Miah waved to the guards and we were let in. This is what we saw:
The gates part, presenting a majestic, active trading city. The dwarven architecture is carved with expert craftsmanship to be strong, solid, and functional. Yet it still retains the reverence for the stone which gave birth to every building, each appears to be formed out of solid gemstone of a different color. A rose colored, stalactite-shaped structure at the city's center draws your eye.
"That's the Trade Gonjola," Miah says. "That's where the Merchant Circle meets and where all trade negotiations and major mercantile decisions are made." The imposing structure, like the others, is bound with strips of solid mithral. Torchlight flickers within, illuminating the crystal and displaying the occupants as silhouettes upon the exterior of the complex. "Just behind and to the left is the Celebration Gonjola," Miah explains, continuing the tour. The structure is nearly identical to the first except its crystal is a deep emerald color. There is barely on-tenth the number of silhouettes cast upon the exterior of the gonjola, perhaps the attacks on Embla's merchants have diminished the dwarves normally celebratory spirits. The third and final of the mysterious structures is the Justice Gonjola. This gonjola is forged of azure crystal, silhouettes of people inside walk with utmost purpose, their movements orderly and planned. "That's is where court is held, disagreements between trading parties, mercantile groups, or other disputes are handled there."
After taking in the handiwork of the dwarves your eyes wander to another impressive feat, the locals have taken to building all of their homes into the sides of the cave, and they soar far above the ground. "This prevents invaders or thieves from entering our homes. Well, it is a deterrent at the very least and it keeps the cave rats out. Mercantile visitors to our fair city stay in dome-homes of shaped stone with are distributed on the east side of town. Most of the shops, inns, and taverns are found on the ground floor of the cavern, directly in front of you, in fact."
"Within this very cave, to the north, are Granite Falls and the Granite River, which flows across the city and bisects the cave. Two bridges grant access to the other side of the cave, which holds out volcanically heated swimming holes, lakes actually. Then there's the Cage: a fighting arena for those that choose not to settle their disputes in court or feel they are above the law. Finally there's the guard tower and the mushroom farms off in the eastern caves."
"It is Embla tradition that friends are taken straight to one's own house, so come. I will take you there. The Merchant Circle meets first thing each morning, but it'll take me a day to get permission for you to attend. Let us go to my home where my wife will brew us some mushroom tea, and make vvor stew with balak blood rolls."
Miah's home is a sizeable swelling that requires strong arms to reach, and a long climb up a dangling rope ladder. Poor Zhi. Such security seems overdone, but as you heft yourself up the rope ladder, through the small opening, and into the cave-side home you immediately find a sense of safety that you have not felt since leaving the surface.
Miah reached out to help each of you stand. "Please make yourselves at home. We shall eat, share ale, and then retire before it gets too late so that you can tour the city while I arrange for us to meet with the Merchant Circle first thing the following morn." You notice Miah takes extra time to secure the front door and double check the deadbolt, glancing out the peephole before turning back to the group. "Eh. One can never be too safe these days with the drow stirring up trouble. Again, thanks for coming back with me and trying to solve the problem. Let me introduce you to my wife Gvendolynn." Miah introduces his wife, a sharp woman with many talents. You soon discover she is a woman who loves to entertain visitors with food, music, and dance, as well as a good discussion of ancient dwarven history and lore, or talking trade and politics alongside her husband.
She brings out vvor stew, balak blood rolls, and 'shroom tea. Eventually, it's time for bed, and the next day you are free to explore the city.