Akame had already started turning to leave but halted half way. With a sigh of resignation he turned back to face the drow fully. He saw no reason to pick a fight but it seems Chadderlay saw things otherwise. So was this what adventuring was like? Just barge into someone else's home, kill and rob them? Having been a spy since reaching adulthood, he's done much in service to his country that some might find objectionably, but this seemed somehow... worse. It lacked... higher purpose.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
<ooc: Well, I don't think the dead front giant is going to miss his magic spear in the other room, but nobody wanted that, so the spellbook is the only other thing of value in the area. The rest is the result of his hoatile disposition: "Yilsebek has no desire to share his recent discovery with potential rivals, nor does he trust surface-dwellers. For these reasons, characters can’t persuade Yilsebek to join forces with them." Combat is nearly u avoidable, but nobody's forcing you to take his spellbook or his Elverquisst.>
The drow mage guesses the red wizard is feigning ignorance of the arcane treasure promised by the ancient netherese enclave.
"Oh, you know us. You can't dig a hole ten feet without finding a drow. Now, a better question, I'd say, is why a Red Wizard has wandered so far from the desert to tunnel beneath a glacier. What exactly is it that had brought you so far from home, Thayan?"
Akame pipes up, "We're here spreading the gospel of the Smiling Lady, Tymora! Those who serve Her are blessed with good luck. AND they don't get damned to the Abyss to be tormented forever by the Spider Demon! What a deal!"
One of the warriots looks at you incredulously and notes: "You don't look like any priests I've ever seen."
<ooc: Google drow priestess at your own risk>
The mage silences him with a glare and adds "It's been a tendsy since we established this outpost and I've not seen but a few creepy undead kobolds and some muttering one-eyed weirdos. We're a long way from ten towns. No. You're not priests. I'd wager my life on it. What are you really looking for down here?"
<Morwena and chadderlay are indeed hu ting ancient magicsl treasure for its own sake. Its kind of her thing and she dragged him i to it. I dont actuslly know what great reason Akame has for being here, but if we established it or you want to let the Thayans know, now would be a good time. Or yoi could lie or say nothing.>
(Akame is only there to join the group, he doesn't even know what is here. Wizard stuff isn't really his thing anyway)
Earlier we said something to the effect of the possibility of your enemies plotting to do something nefarious and that points you this way. Could be vague enough that you don't know exactly, but I might actually be thinking of @InkedBee's Rashemi character, comw to think of it. That would make sense. Anyhow, the group is through the door adjacent to the room you were in with the pear orchard. The two PCs in the caves of hunger (or really their players) went the other way, because treasure, etc.(?)
Waiting on @rob in a DM before I place them there, but if you walk theough that door, you'll see them.
...
It's too bad Akame wasn't in Kwalish's lair. That place was all traps. A very good match for the character, I think.
"We seek items lost to the ages and buried beneath the ice."
After a few more smoothing strokes of Mister Fancy's fur, Chadderlay will dismiss his familiar into it's pocket dimension.
"Have you come across anything of interest in the tenday you've been here ahead of us? Other than the undead gnolls and kobolds of course."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
At this comment, the drow mage signals with a nod and starts to cast a spell.
As noted earlier. One warrior us oreparing faerie fire and another awaits it's casting to fire his ha d crossbow (readied action) but... Akame wins initiative.
Round 1
Akame
Drow mage Y
Morwena 3
*M was a 10, I edited the order to reflect initiative
Meanwhile, back at the Harper's Icewind Dale outpost:
Jaan’vald the Githzerai leader if the resistance fiddles with some piece if mechano-magical material, which warbles and squawks intermittently as he adjusts dials and screws, until at last a steady beep interrupts a soft white noise at a regular interval. Holding the apparatus aloft, the gith presses a switch that causes a protrusion to extend from the oddly shaped bulb thst is rhe machine, from which two feelers unfurl and start waving around in the air. Sweeping tbe device left to right, then up and down, the beeping becomes more or less frequent with the orientation of the device. "Got you!" He exclaims.
"Is that what I think?" Remallia Haventree asks, approaching Jaan’vald. "Have you found the far realm batteries the Thayans have been making?"
Nodding as he watches the little lights arrayed across the shiny membranes surface of tbe device play ths way and that, Jaan’vald replies "This detector is showing a very strong and distinct reading in that direction. If that isn't where they're storing the batteries they've made, then I don't know what else it could be.
Zehira strides over, confidently. "Then we need to go there now. If we can destroy the remains batteries, the Thayans will be finished and we can avert the fate of Ostoria."
Remi gives Zehira a hard stare as she inhales, her patience tested, subtly glancing towards Sam Angus Amri and Tetrevess, indicating their status as uninitiated in whatever secrets Zehira is divulging at present.
(Leaving room for RP. Amri isn't coming with you, but he is revived after that fight, so I guess he's there. Let's say hes still unconscious.)
XGtE says you hit the target to identify it. But it uses either an action or a reaction. I'm willing to go either way, despite the fact that it hasn't been cast yet.
(I should have been more clear, its part of a reaction to counterspell it. Akame will go ahead and cast Subtle Spell Counterspell at 5th level to stop that.)
Akame pulled out his new wand and used some of its power in tandem with his own special power to try to paralyze the warriors. Seeing the mage start to cast a nasty spell, he countered it without giving any sign of doing anything.
(Casting hold person from the wand and apply Twinned Spell to it on both warriors. Wis save DC 17 vs paralysis
Then he will use a BA to convert 4th level slot to sorcery points)
Meanwhile, back at the Harper's Icewind Dale outpost:
Jaan’vald the Githzerai leader if the resistance fiddles with some piece if mechano-magical material, which warbles and squawks intermittently as he adjusts dials and screws, until at last a steady beep interrupts a soft white noise at a regular interval. Holding the apparatus aloft, the gith presses a switch that causes a protrusion to extend from the oddly shaped bulb thst is rhe machine, from which two feelers unfurl and start waving around in the air. Sweeping tbe device left to right, then up and down, the beeping becomes more or less frequent with the orientation of the device. "Got you!" He exclaims.
"Is that what I think?" Remallia Haventree asks, approaching Jaan’vald. "Have you found the far realm batteries the Thayans have been making?"
Nodding as he watches the little lights arrayed across the shiny membranes surface of tbe device play ths way and that, Jaan’vald replies "This detector is showing a very strong and distinct reading in that direction. If that isn't where they're storing the batteries they've made, then I don't know what else it could be.
Zehira strides over, confidently. "Then we need to go there now. If we can destroy the remains batteries, the Thayans will be finished and we can avert the fate of Ostoria."
Remi gives Zehira a hard stare as she inhales, her patience tested, subtly glancing towards Sam Angus Amri and Tetrevess, indicating their status as uninitiated in whatever secrets Zehira is divulging at present.
(Leaving room for RP. Amri isn't coming with you, but he is revived after that fight, so I guess he's there. Let's say hes still unconscious.)
Angus History roll to see if he knows what Zehira is talking about. 22
Ostoria was the ancient giant empire. As is common among our paleontologists and archeologists, there is significant debate as to the thealth if the population in the days surrounding ding thr cataclysm some poi t to as a si guard event in the end of an era. The giants and dragons were embattled for ages before the fall of Ostoria. It's hard to separate myth and legend from fact this far back in time, but it is said that the conflict was resolved writ a game that ended in a draw, creating peace between the factions. However we know drsgins persisted and dominated Abeir and in the absence of certain specific historical events, would likely be the unquestioned rulers of Toril today.
What really became of the giant empire is uncertain. While k owledge of the more recent empire of Netheril us widely known, it's location moat.inacessible in the Anauroch desert, the ruins of Ostoria remain lost, it's geographic range unknown to modern scholars.
“Pardon my ignorance, but I am unfamiliar with the fate of Ostoria. I traveled a lot and it’s hard to keep up with histories everywhere.” Tetrevess says. “We certainly can be entrusted to help, if it is for the greater good” he adds
(I should have been more clear, its part of a reaction to counterspell it. Akame will go ahead and cast Subtle Spell Counterspell at 5th level to stop that.)
Akame pulled out his new wand and used some of its power in tandem with his own special power to try to paralyze the warriors. Seeing the mage start to cast a nasty spell, he countered it without giving any sign of doing anything.
(Casting hold person from the wand and apply Twinned Spell to it on both warriors. Wis save DC 17 vs paralysis
Then he will use a BA to convert 4th level slot to sorcery points)
< J craw was super clear the intention of the wording was that counterspell or identify can be the reaction. Normally, since Akame won initiative it would really have to be the reaction, but I think it's reasonable in this scenario to allow identify as an action and cou terspwll.as the reaction. At this point it's too late to chsnge that, but the modifications to CS afforded by the use of the action serve the sorcerer well as the cloudkill spell does not go off. >
Seeing rhe mages Spell fizzle out, Morwena decides she doesn't really.fsncy a fight with the drow.on their terms and removes herself.to the previous chamber, turning into the small cave with the spear protruding from the ice floor, there she casts invisibility on herself.
The drow warriors cast faerie fire <as noted earlier> and fire a bolt from a hand crossbow aimed at hadderlay who now glows with an aura of purple light.
10 7 piercing and DC13 cin save against becoming poisoned for 1 hour.
Remalia looks soberly at Sam. "We know where the batteries are. Now we have a decisive opportunity to turn the tide in our favor, but it won't be easy. If we should fail... someone has ro make certain Szazz Tam's plot doesn't come to fruition. We would charge you with this task. If you succeed, we are happy ro reward your efforts. Should you fail to return, know that the Harpers, the giant court and the Sha'sal Khou will honor your names even until the last of our numbers walk Toril." She concludes, "Or sail the Astral," addends Jaan’vald. "Here, take this and follow it. It will show you where the signal.is coming fr9m, just follow it and you'll find the warehouse or whatever it is the Thayans are using to store the far realm batteries they've made."
Zehira steps forward, silently looking to each in turn, "Samogri, Angus, Tetrevess: csn we count in you?"
<Spoiler: you won't do this. The module described is really bland and I don't want to run it, so you're going to meet up with Akame and Chadderlay and where running that. It will tie back in with this plot, but that's at another teir, which you'll be ready for by then.>
Akame had already started turning to leave but halted half way. With a sigh of resignation he turned back to face the drow fully. He saw no reason to pick a fight but it seems Chadderlay saw things otherwise. So was this what adventuring was like? Just barge into someone else's home, kill and rob them? Having been a spy since reaching adulthood, he's done much in service to his country that some might find objectionably, but this seemed somehow... worse. It lacked... higher purpose.
<ooc: Well, I don't think the dead front giant is going to miss his magic spear in the other room, but nobody wanted that, so the spellbook is the only other thing of value in the area. The rest is the result of his hoatile disposition: "Yilsebek has no desire to share his recent discovery with potential rivals, nor does he trust surface-dwellers. For these reasons, characters can’t persuade Yilsebek to join forces with them." Combat is nearly u avoidable, but nobody's forcing you to take his spellbook or his Elverquisst.>
Yilsebek considers Chadderalys words (Insight 20
The drow mage guesses the red wizard is feigning ignorance of the arcane treasure promised by the ancient netherese enclave.
"Oh, you know us. You can't dig a hole ten feet without finding a drow. Now, a better question, I'd say, is why a Red Wizard has wandered so far from the desert to tunnel beneath a glacier. What exactly is it that had brought you so far from home, Thayan?"
Akame pipes up, "We're here spreading the gospel of the Smiling Lady, Tymora! Those who serve Her are blessed with good luck. AND they don't get damned to the Abyss to be tormented forever by the Spider Demon! What a deal!"
One of the warriots looks at you incredulously and notes: "You don't look like any priests I've ever seen."
<ooc: Google drow priestess at your own risk>
The mage silences him with a glare and adds "It's been a tendsy since we established this outpost and I've not seen but a few creepy undead kobolds and some muttering one-eyed weirdos. We're a long way from ten towns. No. You're not priests. I'd wager my life on it. What are you really looking for down here?"
<Morwena and chadderlay are indeed hu ting ancient magicsl treasure for its own sake. Its kind of her thing and she dragged him i to it. I dont actuslly know what great reason Akame has for being here, but if we established it or you want to let the Thayans know, now would be a good time. Or yoi could lie or say nothing.>
(Akame is only there to join the group, he doesn't even know what is here. Wizard stuff isn't really his thing anyway)
Quote from ikarbino >>
(Akame is only there to join the group, he doesn't even know what is here. Wizard stuff isn't really his thing anyway)
Earlier we said something to the effect of the possibility of your enemies plotting to do something nefarious and that points you this way. Could be vague enough that you don't know exactly, but I might actually be thinking of @InkedBee's Rashemi character, comw to think of it. That would make sense. Anyhow, the group is through the door adjacent to the room you were in with the pear orchard. The two PCs in the caves of hunger (or really their players) went the other way, because treasure, etc.(?)
Waiting on @rob in a DM before I place them there, but if you walk theough that door, you'll see them.
...
It's too bad Akame wasn't in Kwalish's lair. That place was all traps. A very good match for the character, I think.
"We seek items lost to the ages and buried beneath the ice."
After a few more smoothing strokes of Mister Fancy's fur, Chadderlay will dismiss his familiar into it's pocket dimension.
"Have you come across anything of interest in the tenday you've been here ahead of us? Other than the undead gnolls and kobolds of course."
At this comment, the drow mage signals with a nod and starts to cast a spell.
As noted earlier. One warrior us oreparing faerie fire and another awaits it's casting to fire his ha d crossbow (readied action) but... Akame wins initiative.
Round 1
Akame
Drow mage Y
Morwena 3
*M was a 10, I edited the order to reflect initiative
Warrior T
Warrior M
Chadderlay
Bugbears
Here is the map again
Akame is up.
Meanwhile, back at the Harper's Icewind Dale outpost:
Jaan’vald the Githzerai leader if the resistance fiddles with some piece if mechano-magical material, which warbles and squawks intermittently as he adjusts dials and screws, until at last a steady beep interrupts a soft white noise at a regular interval. Holding the apparatus aloft, the gith presses a switch that causes a protrusion to extend from the oddly shaped bulb thst is rhe machine, from which two feelers unfurl and start waving around in the air. Sweeping tbe device left to right, then up and down, the beeping becomes more or less frequent with the orientation of the device. "Got you!" He exclaims.
"Is that what I think?" Remallia Haventree asks, approaching Jaan’vald. "Have you found the far realm batteries the Thayans have been making?"
Nodding as he watches the little lights arrayed across the shiny membranes surface of tbe device play ths way and that, Jaan’vald replies "This detector is showing a very strong and distinct reading in that direction. If that isn't where they're storing the batteries they've made, then I don't know what else it could be.
Zehira strides over, confidently. "Then we need to go there now. If we can destroy the remains batteries, the Thayans will be finished and we can avert the fate of Ostoria."
Remi gives Zehira a hard stare as she inhales, her patience tested, subtly glancing towards Sam Angus Amri and Tetrevess, indicating their status as uninitiated in whatever secrets Zehira is divulging at present.
(Leaving room for RP. Amri isn't coming with you, but he is revived after that fight, so I guess he's there. Let's say hes still unconscious.)
(What spell is it, can Akame recognize it? Arcana 20 )
Angus History roll to see if he knows what Zehira is talking about. 22
XGtE says you hit the target to identify it. But it uses either an action or a reaction. I'm willing to go either way, despite the fact that it hasn't been cast yet.
In either case, it's cloudkill
(I should have been more clear, its part of a reaction to counterspell it. Akame will go ahead and cast Subtle Spell Counterspell at 5th level to stop that.)
Akame pulled out his new wand and used some of its power in tandem with his own special power to try to paralyze the warriors. Seeing the mage start to cast a nasty spell, he countered it without giving any sign of doing anything.
(Casting hold person from the wand and apply Twinned Spell to it on both warriors. Wis save DC 17 vs paralysis
Then he will use a BA to convert 4th level slot to sorcery points)
Sam stairs back “what do you intend”
insight check: 12
Ostoria was the ancient giant empire. As is common among our paleontologists and archeologists, there is significant debate as to the thealth if the population in the days surrounding ding thr cataclysm some poi t to as a si guard event in the end of an era. The giants and dragons were embattled for ages before the fall of Ostoria. It's hard to separate myth and legend from fact this far back in time, but it is said that the conflict was resolved writ a game that ended in a draw, creating peace between the factions. However we know drsgins persisted and dominated Abeir and in the absence of certain specific historical events, would likely be the unquestioned rulers of Toril today.
What really became of the giant empire is uncertain. While k owledge of the more recent empire of Netheril us widely known, it's location moat.inacessible in the Anauroch desert, the ruins of Ostoria remain lost, it's geographic range unknown to modern scholars.
“Pardon my ignorance, but I am unfamiliar with the fate of Ostoria. I traveled a lot and it’s hard to keep up with histories everywhere.” Tetrevess says. “We certainly can be entrusted to help, if it is for the greater good” he adds
< J craw was super clear the intention of the wording was that counterspell or identify can be the reaction. Normally, since Akame won initiative it would really have to be the reaction, but I think it's reasonable in this scenario to allow identify as an action and cou terspwll.as the reaction. At this point it's too late to chsnge that, but the modifications to CS afforded by the use of the action serve the sorcerer well as the cloudkill spell does not go off. >
https://twitter.com/JeremyECrawford/status/928766415263252480
Seeing rhe mages Spell fizzle out, Morwena decides she doesn't really.fsncy a fight with the drow.on their terms and removes herself.to the previous chamber, turning into the small cave with the spear protruding from the ice floor, there she casts invisibility on herself.
The drow warriors cast faerie fire <as noted earlier> and fire a bolt from a hand crossbow aimed at hadderlay who now glows with an aura of purple light.
10 7 piercing and DC13 cin save against becoming poisoned for 1 hour.
Chadderlay and his bugbears are up.
》Sam stares back “what do you intend”
insight check: 11
Remalia looks soberly at Sam. "We know where the batteries are. Now we have a decisive opportunity to turn the tide in our favor, but it won't be easy. If we should fail... someone has ro make certain Szazz Tam's plot doesn't come to fruition. We would charge you with this task. If you succeed, we are happy ro reward your efforts. Should you fail to return, know that the Harpers, the giant court and the Sha'sal Khou will honor your names even until the last of our numbers walk Toril." She concludes, "Or sail the Astral," addends Jaan’vald. "Here, take this and follow it. It will show you where the signal.is coming fr9m, just follow it and you'll find the warehouse or whatever it is the Thayans are using to store the far realm batteries they've made."
Zehira steps forward, silently looking to each in turn, "Samogri, Angus, Tetrevess: csn we count in you?"
<Spoiler: you won't do this. The module described is really bland and I don't want to run it, so you're going to meet up with Akame and Chadderlay and where running that. It will tie back in with this plot, but that's at another teir, which you'll be ready for by then.>