Samuel places his hand atop Ankita’s. He gazes blankly into her eyes, pain apparent in his eyes; pain both for the lose of Ranala, but also for the lose of innocence in Ankita. She wouldn’t sense fear or disgust in his reaction to her; just sorrow.
Samuel nods slowly toward Ankita, then turns his view to observe the conversation with the mountain of a man atop the island in the middle of the room.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Damian sees the others gather around the corpse of Ranala, but he just looks away, in guilt, over having lost a team member, because that was what she had become, one of them. He forces the guilt away, no weakness can be revealed, and turns to Mortlock standing alone now on the small island. "We have been sent to this wretched place on orders from The Flaming Fist to exterminate the vermin of the Dead Three lurking in these sewers. We have no dealings with your family Mortlock. Help us to put down this cultist and you will walk out of here with your life." Damian says in a commanding voice. Persuasion: 20 (Rolled with advantage if help action is given, otherwise go with first roll.)
Damian - Mortlock smirks and says, "With pleasure." Grimacing, he sets his greatclub down headfirst on the small island and rests against it for a moment. You can see that he is gravely wounded though there appears to be fight in him still. He looks over the party, "I hope you're better off than you look, the thing that awaits us is tenfold more dangerous than anything you've faced thus far. More than once I was unable to speak or move when the Death's Head of Bhaal turned its gaze upon me and there were times when I knew I dealt it a mighty blow only to find it seemingly unharmed. If your task is to exterminate all of the vermin lurking in this dungeon, you've surely saved the most deadly for last." His horribly scarred face contorts into what you believe is another smirk, "Luckily for you all the Death's Head wants me dead most of all. I believe I can keep its attention for a while, but if I am slain it will surely come for you." Mortlock scratches his chin with a large stubby finger and says, "If you aren't too picky about the company you fight alongside, we might be able to find some... reinforcements down here before we face it." Seeing your reactions he chuckles and adds, "Don't worry, they aren't cultists."
"We have already shown us ready to strike a deal with infernal powers to complete this mission. What reinforcements are you talking about Mortlock?" Damian says, ready to trust this brute for now.
Also, IF we decide on a short rest to heal a bit (because I think we have a hit dice to use from level 3), Samuel will include Mortlock in the Song of Rest.
Damian - Mortlock raises his unburned eyebrow and scoffs, "Infernal powers?" He looks to you all seriously and says, "Take it from me, if you play with fire you will get burned. A lesson my mother and brothers will soon learn... No, these reinforcements are not infernal. Merely undead servants."
Samuel - Mortlock smiles unsettlingly at you and says, "That they will."
All - To the group, Mortlock says, "There is a shrine to Myrkul back the way you came. It is covered in bones and black candles. The Lord of Bones' followers heap bones upon the altar, light the candles, and speak the incantation that is revealed. The bones are animated by foul magics and serve those who summoned them. I will stay here and hold off the Death's Head as best I can. Do not tarry, else I will surely fall and then it will come for you."
Any who would backtrack to the alter will find that this dry, partially collapsed room contains a stone altar with humanoid skulls and bones piled around it. The top of the altar is covered with dozens of half-melted candles made of black wax, all currently unlit.
At Damien’s mention of infernal powers Ankita’s head lowers a bit in shame. Can they tell? Do they know? Do they know I did it for them? She has to put these feelings aside as apparently there are worse things ahead.
”I recall that area, we can head back and I can use my flame to light the candles.” (Unless are we taking a short rest first? Ankita is ok, but she got a “long rest” you could say.)
"Let us rest first Ankita before we call upon these servants of Myrkul." Damian suggests and heads back to the closest area without sewer water for a short rest before they summon the undead.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Damian finds a spot by a wall to sit down and rest, not used to this type of exertion. As he does he feels the bond to his infernal patron strengthen and his infernal powers increasing. Recovery: 17 + 2
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
All - For DM's eyes only:
Death's Head of Bhaal Stealth check: 30
Ankita & Remi -
About halfway through the rest, you hear something stalking the stone passages outside the room you are in. It pauses outside the door for a few moments... Then continues on its way. You don't believe the Death's Head of Bhaal has opted to remain in the area you left it and is instead likely searching for a place to set up an ambush...
All - The short rest passes and Mortlock is itching to see the coming conflict to its conclusion, whatever that may be.
Mortlock, Short Rest + Song of Rest: 90 + 5
Note:
Interestingly enough, when creatures take short rests they too can spend hit dice and add their CON modifier. Mortlock has 12d8 and a +3 CON modifier for a bonus of +36! Mortlock is at his Hit Point maximum of 90HP.
All - The altar has been indicated in RED on the map.
Samuel places his hand atop Ankita’s. He gazes blankly into her eyes, pain apparent in his eyes; pain both for the lose of Ranala, but also for the lose of innocence in Ankita. She wouldn’t sense fear or disgust in his reaction to her; just sorrow.
Ankita's body shudders in release of tension she didn't even realize she was holding in with the look from Samuel. She whispers, "Thank you."
Samuel nods slowly toward Ankita, then turns his view to observe the conversation with the mountain of a man atop the island in the middle of the room.
Damian sees the others gather around the corpse of Ranala, but he just looks away, in guilt, over having lost a team member, because that was what she had become, one of them. He forces the guilt away, no weakness can be revealed, and turns to Mortlock standing alone now on the small island. "We have been sent to this wretched place on orders from The Flaming Fist to exterminate the vermin of the Dead Three lurking in these sewers. We have no dealings with your family Mortlock. Help us to put down this cultist and you will walk out of here with your life." Damian says in a commanding voice. Persuasion: 20 (Rolled with advantage if help action is given, otherwise go with first roll.)
Damian - Mortlock smirks and says, "With pleasure." Grimacing, he sets his greatclub down headfirst on the small island and rests against it for a moment. You can see that he is gravely wounded though there appears to be fight in him still. He looks over the party, "I hope you're better off than you look, the thing that awaits us is tenfold more dangerous than anything you've faced thus far. More than once I was unable to speak or move when the Death's Head of Bhaal turned its gaze upon me and there were times when I knew I dealt it a mighty blow only to find it seemingly unharmed. If your task is to exterminate all of the vermin lurking in this dungeon, you've surely saved the most deadly for last." His horribly scarred face contorts into what you believe is another smirk, "Luckily for you all the Death's Head wants me dead most of all. I believe I can keep its attention for a while, but if I am slain it will surely come for you." Mortlock scratches his chin with a large stubby finger and says, "If you aren't too picky about the company you fight alongside, we might be able to find some... reinforcements down here before we face it." Seeing your reactions he chuckles and adds, "Don't worry, they aren't cultists."
"We have already shown us ready to strike a deal with infernal powers to complete this mission. What reinforcements are you talking about Mortlock?" Damian says, ready to trust this brute for now.
“Summon your reinforcements. They shall serve as fodder.”
Persuasion: 13 (Minimum possible result of 17 due to SilverTongue)
May I grant guidance?
DM: In the Shadow of the Mountains: Lost Mine of Phandelver
If so, Guidance roll: 18
Also, IF we decide on a short rest to heal a bit (because I think we have a hit dice to use from level 3), Samuel will include Mortlock in the Song of Rest.
Damian - Mortlock raises his unburned eyebrow and scoffs, "Infernal powers?" He looks to you all seriously and says, "Take it from me, if you play with fire you will get burned. A lesson my mother and brothers will soon learn... No, these reinforcements are not infernal. Merely undead servants."
Samuel - Mortlock smiles unsettlingly at you and says, "That they will."
All - To the group, Mortlock says, "There is a shrine to Myrkul back the way you came. It is covered in bones and black candles. The Lord of Bones' followers heap bones upon the altar, light the candles, and speak the incantation that is revealed. The bones are animated by foul magics and serve those who summoned them. I will stay here and hold off the Death's Head as best I can. Do not tarry, else I will surely fall and then it will come for you."
Any who would backtrack to the alter will find that this dry, partially collapsed room contains a stone altar with humanoid skulls and bones piled around it. The top of the altar is covered with dozens of half-melted candles made of black wax, all currently unlit.
At Damien’s mention of infernal powers Ankita’s head lowers a bit in shame. Can they tell? Do they know? Do they know I did it for them? She has to put these feelings aside as apparently there are worse things ahead.
”I recall that area, we can head back and I can use my flame to light the candles.” (Unless are we taking a short rest first? Ankita is ok, but she got a “long rest” you could say.)
All - Let me know if you all decide to attempt to rest first or summon reinforcements first.
"Let us rest first Ankita before we call upon these servants of Myrkul." Damian suggests and heads back to the closest area without sewer water for a short rest before they summon the undead.
Samuel plays a somber tune, reminiscent of a funeral dirge for their Song of Rest.
Healing: 2+1
Remi rests a bit, trying to eliminate the smell from his nose, focuses on the song of rest.
Hit die : 3 plus song of rest : 2
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Damian finds a spot by a wall to sit down and rest, not used to this type of exertion.
As he does he feels the bond to his infernal patron strengthen and his infernal powers increasing.
Recovery: 17 + 2
Ankita sits back and lets the sorrow wash over her while she rests.
9 + 4
All - For DM's eyes only:
Death's Head of Bhaal Stealth check: 30
Ankita & Remi -
About halfway through the rest, you hear something stalking the stone passages outside the room you are in. It pauses outside the door for a few moments... Then continues on its way. You don't believe the Death's Head of Bhaal has opted to remain in the area you left it and is instead likely searching for a place to set up an ambush...
All - The short rest passes and Mortlock is itching to see the coming conflict to its conclusion, whatever that may be.
Mortlock, Short Rest + Song of Rest: 90 + 5
Note:
Interestingly enough, when creatures take short rests they too can spend hit dice and add their CON modifier. Mortlock has 12d8 and a +3 CON modifier for a bonus of +36! Mortlock is at his Hit Point maximum of 90HP.
All - The altar has been indicated in RED on the map.
“We’ve delayed long enough. Let’s do what we must and be done with this vile place.”