Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
Sign in- Marketplace
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
Sign in
"It appears to be careful balance. Lieutenant Falstaff asks us to remain a very neutral party. I do not find fault in his logic. Guild fell into near ruin before because involving themselves in politics. If ve go against guild, ve lose support after having pissed off a whole bunch of hags and necromancers. Ve must appear neutral - AND - appear to be the best. A guild for the duke and for all peoples. Villing to say no to bad jobs. It sets boundaries."
"It is hard line. How do you believe he should dress? Speak? Who to speak to and who to avoid? Vhen to leave?"
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Yes, I suppose it can be hard to tell sometimes what will turn political and what will not. Admittedly I have my family's interests to handle as well but I would of course not mix them up with the team's business." Aubrey starts, motioning to the barmaid for more wine. "As for dress Grugga and I have already prepared, but I would be happy to take any of you others to my tailor to make sure you have an appropriate attire for the evening in question. The rest is rather more complicated and would likely take years of training to master I'm afraid, I'm not sure who will be there and what topics will be discussed but I will do what I can to find out and prepare properly for it. As long as we try to stay somewhat discreet and polite I'm sure we will all do fine though." He finishes with an encouraging smile.
"So, were there any specific favors or advice I should try to procure from the good duke then? Should we should bring up the matter of the mirror at this dinner?" Aubrey continues after a moment.
At Grugga’s invitation, Leelan nods and smiles.
"I’d be delighted, my dear companion. I would also need to spend some time to read up on certain subjects so that I can finally provide my insight when you ask for it.", he says as he chuckles.
During the talk on attire, Leelan explains that he also had a suit commissioned before the investigation of the manor.
"Favors from the Duke? ... ... We're bringing in some good money for the empire. Think we could ask for reduced taxes for items we find? If we have better access to magical items then we can take better jobs, from which we'll find more magic items, etc. etc. You know, make it more worthwhile for us to stay in the empire on our work, especially since we're providing a, um, public benefit with our jobs so far. And if we find more items, then the empire still gets a good chunk of taxes."
The young orc stretches back in his chair, cracking his back, and yawns. He makes an exasperated noise as a thought enters his mind: "Fuff... but we'd better go back and see the Bonnaducci's, eh? They're probably ready for us. Hopefully what they found will corroborate our story - the mere fact they had a basement full of chains and a sacrificial slab would be good evidence. Hmmm... I wonder if we should have shown them everything before we destroyed it. Maybe a bit zealous there...." He covers his eyes with his hands and groans, "Ugggh... this could still turn sideways after all we did. Ghost jobs don't leave proof."
"In my small amount of time and experience with nobles if you are not sure of what to do or say it helps to stay quiet and only answer if you are asked a question. Although that might be due to being told to do that in the past." Guilim says with a small shrug after listening for the most part.
Rohuzar picks up the tab at the Steak & Ale Tavern - 5gp, 5sp - and you make your way back to meet with Chris Bonnaducci. He is astride his horse outside Flamewatch Hall, reviewing some paperwork with a carpenter and a stonemason. At your approach, he dismisses the contractors and climbs down out of the saddle, removing his gloves.
"Greetings," he says, then turns to look over the looming edifice of the old building. "All appears to be as you say. The Medium could not detect any haunting presence, and the basement... well, the less said about that, the better." He pulls out rolled banknote from within his cloak. He hesitates a moment before handing it over. "500gp was the agreed fee. But circumstances have changed, slightly."
"The damage to the interior of the living quarters was not insignificant. A certain risk to the property was always anticipated, but it will set my parents back good coin getting things set back to rights inside."
"... But... there is also value in discretion. This place already has a grim reputation. Certainly, a few tall tales add ambiance to a homestead. But if the contents of that cellar became public knowledge, well... it would not do to have our family connected with such stories, even if they occurred centuries before we came to possess the place."
"So here is my proposal. We shall overlook the damages to the interior, pay you the agreed upon 500gp... and you will speak to no one about what you discovered in the bowels of this hall." He holds out the banknote. "Do we have an agreement?"
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Rohuzar nods along amiably until the final negotiations. Then he puts on a concerned frown. "I believe this vill only do if there are certain assurances. The mirror must be taken by a third party, to be disposed of permanently. It is important to my team, as ve have seen the horrors it abetted. If they vere less scrupulous, they vould ask for more money - far, far more than your costs in destroyed property - and end it at that."
"I can guarantee a discreet report to Lieutenant Falstaff of the Red Band should you decide not to follow the good, and experienced advice of these professionals. If you provide proof and confirmation from an experienced third party - members in good standing Grugga may provide a list of such third parties- then no one besides us need ever know. Our dinner tomorrow vith the duke vill have no surprises."
Rohuzar scans his party for any additional words, but this is not an invitation to negotiation. He settles back on Bonnaducci.
Add 6 for intimidation, or 4 for persuasion 1
Paladin - warforged - orange
Grugga leans in and whispers to Rohuzar, so that Bonnaducci cannot hear it: "I defer to you in these matters, always. But very lucrative and prestigious opportunities might present themselves if the Duke learns how we're protecting his city..."
Grugga leans back and advises nothing more, positive that his boss had already thought of what he just said. However, he speaks up so Bonnaducci can hear and confirms, "I can find someone to protect it. Consider the safety to your family having it out of the house - the mirror is magical and powerful, and it might draw evil entities to it. Better to have them drawn to someone who can deal with it rather than your family, eh?"
Grugga avoids mentioning that the hag may come back in 100 years, so it doesn't sound like the job is only half done.
The young Bonnaducci heir listens with a frown, though it is unclear if his concern is about your suggestions, or his struggles to understand Rohuzar's accent. He raises an eyebrow at your mention of dinner with the Duke, but does not comment on it.
At last he responds. "The property here belongs to my father, mirror included. I cannot make commitments for him as to what he will or will not do with it. However, I can assure you he is not a man with any interest or inkling to dabble with infernal powers. I expect he would decide to have the item destroyed, with or without your advice. That said, the best I can say is that I will pass along your... expert opinion."
"As long as that is agreeable, and as long as your discreet report to your superiors includes no mention of fiends or human sacrifice, then we have a deal."
He hands over the banknote for 500gp if there are not additional objections.
[Dinner with Duke Schmidt is set for tomorrow night. There has been talk of looking for finery to wear or library visits. What, if anything, do you guys plan to do for the next 24 hours?]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Aubrey would offer to take Rohuzar and Guilim to his tailor or help them out in any other way they desire to prepare them for the dinner. Unless other plans are made he would then return to the Old Mill Taphouse to fraternize and to listen in on the latest rumors in general and rumors about the duke and his dealings in particular. He would also hope to recieve some message from his family regarding when he can move back into the family townhouse. Oh, and most importantly, Aubrey would find a place to purchase necessary components to resummon Furvus.
After a good and long rest(tm), Leelan would accompany Grugga at the library (if that is still his wish) to read up on the undead.
He would also go to a book store to find the materials necessary to restore a damaged book.
On his outings, he would make a point to find a more isolated corner to also work on the restoration of the hag’s tome.
Yup. Rohuzar is taking Aubrey's advice on all things wardrobe. Getting clothes is first. He'll even follow to the taphouse, doing his best to learn Aubrey's manner of speech.
While he listens, he'll be making two written reports. One mentioning the mirror, the hag, and the sacrifices etc, and one not. Which one he turns in will depend on if Bonnaducci holds up his end of the bargain.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Sorry, Old Mill Taphouse is a members only club I think. We could see about a membership though if Rohuzar would want that.
Whaaaa? No. That's money that could be saved for retirement
Paladin - warforged - orange
Since Rohuzar has the end of the mission well in hand, Grugga will try to make his free-time productive; he will go to the library with Leelan and read up on all this natural magic that his education skipped over. He'll try to learn more about the fiend hag that haunted that house and the god Phobos.
I think you had us roll investigation last library trip: 17
22
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Yes, the Old Mill Taphouse is a members only club, requiring dues and a sponsorship. While Aubrey could sponsor Rohuzar, it does sound like he wouldn't be interested.
Aubrey:
The Old Mill Taphouse is filled with talk of a noble wedding. Apparently, many of the invitations were lost in transit and it has caused a hullabaloo. Only a few of the nobility in Bardstown received their invites. Who is invited and who is excluded from these things are treasured topics among the gossips and rumor mongers... now everyone is upset but unsure if they were deliberately excluded or if their invite was just lost. And since the wedding is out in Weatherock, new invitations haven't had time to be dispatched yet. It is a source of great embarrassment for the families involved. Or it will be, once they learn the extent to which this has caused a stir among the old families of Bardstown.
Of the Duke, you confirm only what you have already heard... that he is well loved by the people of Bardstown, flamboyant and fond of fancy wigs and hats, and that he is as devoted as any to the young emperor, part of Vigor II's most inner circles.
Aubrey introduces Rohuzar and Guilim to his tailor.
For Rohuzar, the old tailor recommends something subtle and reserved. "Let that big Orc's frame and figure do the talking." He recommends something like this:
At the shorter but equally muscled Guilim he consents to a little more straps and accessories. "The wee folk are not ill-thought of for talking extra steps to call attention to themselves down there." He recommends the following:
[If those aren't to your tastes, feel free to come up with anything else you prefer. Each outfit will set you back 10gp.]
Grugga and Leelan:
You hit up the great library.
Grugga, you are able to find an old, apocyphal tome written by an alleged demon hunter which has a long section on Night Hags:
Night hags were wicked witches that dwelt in the Lower Planes whose nightmarish minds and abilities made them appear to embody the ideals of the hag race. They were known for their ability to induce horrific dreams and for harvesting souls, which were used as currency in the Abyss and Nine Hells. It is said their most ancient origins begin in the feywild, that chaotic plane from whence all other hags originate. But somewhere along the way, the night hags became even more corrupted with evil than the rest of their sisters, and were exiled to - or left of their own free will - to the lower planes. They are now more fiend than fey.
Night hags were horrendously hideous beings, unrivaled in their repulsiveness even when compared to most other hags and much more so when compared to ordinary crones. To describe them as merely ugly was an immeasurable understatement and comparing them to human women at all could be seen as an affront to the gender. Whether sickly and stout, of average build, or gaunt and bony, night hags were most visually similar to small female trolls, complete with a strange strength hidden behind their decrepit frames and a deadly set of long, night-black nails. Their gait was slow and their bodies ungainly despite their similarity in height and weight to human females, a problem caused by the uncanny ways their joints moved.
Both diabolical and destructive, night hags combined the most despicable traits from fiends throughout the lower planes with the insidious nature of their sinister sisterhood. From their hag side they adopted the desire to sow misery and malcontent in the hearts of mortals everywhere, particularly through the method of bargaining. Like devils, they harbored an indomitable megalomania and unbreakable ambition, crossed with the overpowering need for carnage more typically found in demons.
However, the common thread running through their various hateful heritages was the utter glee with which they approached the act of corruption. Night hags were perversely subversive and took delight in turning virtues into vices, either by amplifying positive traits until they became unhealthy or by simply turning ideals into their diametric opposites. Corrupting mortals was both business and pleasure for them as doing so was not only innately satisfying but, like demons and devils, also granted them the victim's soul upon death which they could use as a commodity later on. No bond was too sacred, tactic too low, or act too merciless for the soul-hungry merchants of Hades.
Night hags normally kept two powerful magic items with them at all time, the first of which was a special periapt known as a heartstone. Also called 'charms of blackness', heartstones were lustrous and magically potent black jewels worn as amulets by night hags. When in their possession, they allowed night hags to activate their ability to become ethereal and to cure any disease simply by touching it, a tool of incredible importance for any resident of the plague-ridden plane of Oinos. They were, particularly when used by good-aligned beings, substantially less useful out of a night hag's hands, shattering after ten uses and incapable of granting non-night hags the ability to travel to the Ethereal Plane. To craft a new heartstone required a month's worth of work and the sacrifice of several souls in the process, making the retrieval of a lost heartstone of paramount importance to them.
Night hags could use their spectral state to haunt the dreams of those on the Material Plane. They would ride on a victim's back, filling their sleeping minds with mind-bending visions, crippling anxieties and dread-inducing nightmares until the break of dawn. Through this method, night hags could gradually wear down their prey both physically and mentally, sapping their vitality while driving them mad in the hopes that they would grow even more depraved. Visits from a night hag in such a fashion only had to last an hour before all benefits of a night's rest was lost and powerful restoration magic was normally required to help victims recover. If unimpeded in their mental invasions, night hags would continue straddling their marks until they died in their sleep. It was at this point that a night hag's other powerful item, her soul bag, came into use. Crafted over the course of a week from the flesh of a sacrificed humanoid, soul bags were black sacks that could hold a single soul that had been killed by a night hag's dream haunting ability, although unlike heartstones only the specific creator could use them.
Most of the information on Phobos is limited, and nothing you haven't already heard before. It seems much of its lore has been stricken from the records.
Leelan, you research the undead. You learn a little more about the following common types of undead monsters:
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"What a horrible creature!" Grugga exclaims near-silently, after poring through an old tome in the library. He beckons Leelan over and points to the passages he found across several books, tomes, and scrolls ((reveals my portion of the spoiler)), calling specific attention to the paragraph about the invisible hags' night visits. "That's what she was doing even though no one was living in the house for most of the last century." He whispers to the Gnome.
He looks up at the big grandfather clock in he main hall of the grand library. "It's almost time for dinner with the Duke. Are we ready to meet the others at the Robust Hound? Any more library investigation will have to wait, though I don't think I'll find any more about night hags or Phobos..."
Aubrey would congratulate Rohuzar and Guilim on they excellent choices of attires.
He would geatly enjoy the night off at The Old Mill Taphouse.
At breakfast at the Robust Hound Inn and Tavern the next day, Aubrey would share the gossip he got from The Old Mill Taphouse.
He would then take a stroll through Bardstown, returning to his room at the Inn for a rest before readying himself for the dinner with Duke Schmidt.
Guilim gives a look and shakes his head as after wearing his armor for so long he feels all but naked without it unless in private or somewhere very well defended. In the end he relents and buys the clothes. He adds a bit of his own flair by incorporating some accessories that are worn by his people.