Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Jaq arrives at Lurn a handful of moments before Cladmir and golem arrive and finally Kroshav arrives. Jaq stands shivering over Lurn, unsure of what to do but does find Ealu to be something of a wind block.
The snow here is with a mix of Lurn's blood and the blood of yeti, turning the snow into a steaming sanguine slush but it is quickly beginning to freeze.
Lurn has fallen in such a way that the gaping wounds left by the yetis' claws are visible, revealing far more damage than anyone could have survived. Lurn's eyes are open, staring at the clear sky as his remains paralyzed in the look of determination it held as he summoned the angelic reapers to protect himself and his party members. Ealu's rough assessment slams home with Kroshav as he recognizes death, taking only moments longer for the other party members to see the same reality.
Lurn
Somewhere, far away from the mountainside Lurn finds himself standing in a dark, endless plain of sand specked with grey, dirty bits of bone. He can see, but there is no light in the sky. Looking down to his body he finds he is naked but that his arm is restored, but in skeletal form. The hand spasms, and shivers uncontrollably.
A sound, faint, breaks the unnatural silence. Lurn's eyes are drawn towards the horizon were in the distance a greater darknesses, deeper somehow then the pitch sky is approaching from the east like a storm front. His hand spasms again and Lurn is forced hold it away from himself. The sound comes again, closer now a low and distant laughter. A greasy whisper surrounds Lurn,
"Welcome back Lurn. We have been waiting for you."
There is no where to run, nothing to hide behind as the darkness eats of up the dead plain and almost before Lurn can react the wave of darkness arrives before him and stops. Inside the darkness hideous, pained whispering in a thousand voices assaults Lurn before they become silent and the darkness collapses in on itself to a point just in front of the firbolg becoming a towering, vaguely humaniod shape that somehow recognizes from before despite the lack of features. A smooth, deep voice speaks from the pit of the twisting void,
"Welcome to your eternity Lurn, I have so many plans for you."
The thing extends a wispy, shadowy tendril towards Lurn who finds his skeletal arm nearly uncontrollable as it reaches towards that tendril. His skeletal arm drags Lurn across the bone-littered sand, grasping and struggling to reach. Then it stops. The tendrils movement pauses as well, mere inches from the outstretched fingers of Lurn's dead hand. Then with a burst the darkness shoots forward, stopping with a cool flash of light.
A wave of familiar power washes over Lurn and his skeletal arm crumbles and falls to the sand. The same wave hits the looming void and it shudders back with a hiss. Peace fills Lurn for the first time since he awoke in this place and a man's voice, deep and cold echoes,
"You have no claim to this one demon. He is mine, body and soul. He has served me unto the end against you and yours. You know this."
The void before Lurn waivers and for a moment appears to draw back before moving forward with a roar. The darkness envelopes the firbolg, but a soft purple light suffuses his skin and the void howls in rage and pain as it touches the light. The light dims for a beat and then explodes outwards in a blinding flash leaving Lurn blinking to see for a moment.
When he is able to see, Lurn notes the landscape has changed, from black it is now gray and featureless. The sand and bones are gone leaving smooth...something beneath his feet. He is clothed now in a gray tunic, a symbol of his Lord's scales on his breast. Lurn's arm is back, this time as he remembers it and fully in his control. Looking up from his restored arm he sees he is standing before the gates of a city, people of all types moving through. Guards look on from the parapets, flying humans above them and guards stand to the sides of the doors of the gate. Lurn is drawn to the flow of silent people and quickly finds himself walking next to a minotaur, a goblin, a human, an elf and many creatures he has never seen before all dressed in grey but none with the symbol on their breast. A guard catches his eye and gives the firbolg a nod, an approving nod. Through the gate the crowds split into dozens of paths, the humaniod beings held aloft on wings directing them smoothly and rapidly.
When Lurn comes to the front of the line a flying, and now that he is closer Lurn can see faintly glowing, creature, a woman in armor with a great-sword on her back lands before him as the rest of those near him split around like he is a stone in a river. She says nothing as she looks Lurn up and down, like inspecting a side of meat. After a few moments a faint smile appears on her lips and she kneels before Lurn. Looking up she says in a musical voice,
"Our Lord said you would be coming, I am to take you to him myself for your judging."
She rises and extends a guantleted hand to Lurn, who upon taking it feels himself rising into the air. He is immediately pulled forward, faster than he has ever moved before. As the air rushes past him, he sees that he now has wings of his own. A sprawling city flashes by below them and ahead of them Lurn sees the Crystal Spire rising up above it all piercing into the grey sky and feels - knows in his very core that he is ready to be judged as the Spire fills his vision.
"NO! LURN!"
Kroshav skids to his knees in the snow, placing hands on the firbolg and channeling healing energy into his friend.
Futilely attempting Lay on Hands for 10.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
The holy magic flows towards Lurn through Kroshav's hands but simply stops, finding no where to go. Kroshav's hands continue to glow while Jaq's glowpants slowly fade beneath a thin layer of ice.
Kroshav lets his hands fall to his sides, numb.
"Please, it can't be Lurn's time to go... Please Bahumut, he has so much more good to do... Hieroneuous, he has chivalry and honor and valor for days! Torm, who in the world has the courage and self-sacrifice to lose an arm doing what's needed? And Ilmater, to endure that, refusing the offer to be granted a replacement arm until he could do it himself? Tyr, if he dies here in the snow, there is no justice in that... I know death is rarely just, but he has so much more to do..."
If he doesn't feel anything moving within him as he appeals to his gods, he'll broaden his pleas.
"Pelor, please, Lurn has done you a service in the past, and for us to emerge from the darkness underground into the light only for his light to be snuffed out...."
"Kev... Kelemvor. He is your servant. You know better than any that there is so, so much more that he can and should do in your name. He's enforced your boundary of death for years, spent his life serving you. Surely his work is not done, surely you need him... we need him... ... I need him. please..."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Cladmir looked on at the tragic scene of Kroshav and the fallen Lurn, a scene he had seen many times in the field of battle but never got used to. He knows there was nothing he could do now so he bowed his head in respect and thanks for his fallen comrade before readying his bow and scan the horizon for any threat that may linger.
Jaq quickly lands and sees the tragic scene and is at a loss for words, but then Kroshav, begins a very moving plea to his many gods. He moves to Kroshav's side and places a comforting hand on the paladin's shoulder, seeing the pain the man is in.
Holding back another shiver he watches quietly. "Let's bring him inside the library." he finally and quietly says.
((Religion check from Kroshav please, with advantage.))
((Making a case that he's making more of an emotional plea than one based on the logic of scripture, in the event that a Charisma (Religion) check was possible rather than one based on him being smart...))
Religion: 8
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
At first Kroshav feels oddly cut off from his gods but something about his plea seems to get a response and then it is a wave of impressions that are hard to sort. A feeling of consolation and sadness comes after the call to Bahumat or maybe it is both Hieroneuous and Bahumat? Torm seems to be sending something like, approval or need? Can that be right? Illmater... maybe resolve? Tyr sends nothing...or maybe a vague sense of annoyance? Over all those impressions is a vague image of a tall, tall tower in grey place?
(History check or intelligence religion, with advantage if Kroshav ever listened to Lurn talk about his religion)
As those impressions fade away, the snow seems to glitter more brightly around Kroshav and he somehow feels regret lace with resolve in its light.
The final call to Kelemvor is stolen away by the wind only to seemingly echo back,
"boundary of death for years...boundary of death...boundary of death...boundary of death...."
Smarts: 14
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
The image doesn't ring any bells for Kroshav and just adds to the general confusion and despair he is feeling.
Jaq's words finally filter through, and Kroshav gives a wracking sob and stands, nodding. He lifts his friend's body, cradling it in his arms and loses some of his composure as the normally strong and hearty form lies limp and slack against his chest. He'll place one foot in front of the other, pacing his way back towards the entrance to the Library, his mind a swirl of anger, regret and shame, the last stinging the hardest, for surely he'd be divinely admonished for being so prideful to think that this was all his fault, which compounds the shame further. Tears running freely down his face freeze against his armor and Lurn's rapidly cooling body.
Ealu nuzzles Jaq, the trailing rope clenched in her teeth. She headbutts him again and noses her head up towards her back, indicating the shivering elf should climb up.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Jaq nods at Ealu. He will first cut off the trailing rope with his rapier, then hop on for a ride. He will slowly coil the rope up and save it.
She will trot him back to the hole, not wanting to delay while he's cold, but not wanting to chill him further with a sprint across the snow.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Cladmir, never really know what to do in this kind of situation (hence his -2 charisma and only +1 to wisdom -- he wanted to do or say something but know not what to do or say because in the past he tended to make things worse) will just follow everyone back silently, glad that Jaq was able to reach out to the Dragonborn.
Kroshav, carrying Lurn's body, returns slowly to the entrance of the library archives. Ealu arrives much sooner with a shivering elf in tow, not even bothering to slow as she proceeds to take Jaq down then stairs and then down again and again and again. It is considerably warmer here but Jaq finds he is still shivering uncontrollably.
The golem standing at the top of the stairs down doesn't move and the Librarian doesn't make herself evident.
((What are you doing with Lurn's body? What is Jaq doing to get warm?))
Up on the mountainside, Cladmir follows slowly behind the others and, hearing a scraping sound, turns to the golem has grabbed the yeti and is dragging it after them.
Kroshav finds a place to lay Lurn on the first level, if there are any shelves or alcoves built into the wall that will fit him, he'll place him there before descending to find some blankets or sheets of some sort to wrap him as a burial shroud. He's moving automatically, his face grim and unspeaking. He will also look around the gear they have recovered or found for an axe.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Did Jaq see any fireplaces or what means was used to keep the library warm?
First off he will get out of his wet clothes and swap into his dry more fancy clothes in his pack. That'll help a little bit, right away, he hopes.
If nothing evident pops up that he has seen warming the building, he will seek out Joe and then head back up to the unused portion of the most upper level and start a bonfire with some unused shelving and some of Joe's fire magic, if she is willing.
Seeing that Kroshav is taking care of Lurn's body Cladmir would do what he does after battle: focus first on the living. To that end he would be assisting Jaq as needed. If there is a fireplace he will try and gather more wood. He will also try and see if he can find some warm blankets or anything Jaq could use, and if it is possible he would break out his cook utensil and fire a way to brew something warm to help Jaq fight the cold.
Only once it seems like Jaq is settled down would Cladmir go to see if Kroshav needs any more help.
While Kroshav lays Lurn on an empty stone shelf not far from the entrance to the archives, Jaq sees about a wardrobe change. He is immediately warmer, but still shivering. He knows better than to ask about fires in the archives, but has seen that the duergar that were here had been making fires on the second level.
Mikram, carried by a golem, comes out and asks Jaq,
"What's happening? Why ye dressed like that?"
Apparently the Librarian hasn't told Mikram the news and Joe wanders out of her room with a book and says,
"What be a happenin'? Yer dressed like a popped up flop!"
While Jaq is standing and shivering looking at the odd pair before him, Cladmir gathers a dozen blankets recovered from the Drow for him and enough 'wood' from broken down crates to burn for a cooking fire. A warm drink sounds nice.
Kroshav can be heard digging through the thrown away items room and finds a pair of proper lumbering axes.
((The shelves are carved from the stone, hard to burn.))