The quiet butler reaches out for one of the mushrooms but the quaggoth turns just as they're about to reach it and can't get a hold of one.
"Oh, so do they move..." murmurs Khessa "And just as something was trying to get part of the fungi. Mere chance? Hmmm..."
Anyway, the blonde arcane warrior decides that they might get hostile if they realize are being tampered with... so she leave the Quaggoths (and their fungi) alone.
"I do appreciate your strive for knowledge Khessa but those fungi might have brought doom to us all, it's infectious spores might even be airborne. If indeed demonic in nature I would assume these quaggoths are now the mindless servants of the Lady of Fungi herself, Zuggtmoy." The noble drow says grimly and even with contempt for the demon queen. Leaving the quaggoths, Traydark too is ready to resume the journey to Gracklstugh.
"Zuggtmoy?" Khessa is visibly impressed by the amount of knowledge of the noble drow in arcane matters "A lady among demons? Is she a danger of the same class of Demogorgon?! If so many and so powerful demons are coming, our situation is even more critical than I thought".
Coming nearer to Traydark and speaking in a lower tone, so that he only can hear: "Now... Shuushar transformed at Demogorgon arrival, as if he was one of his followers. If Zuggtmoy can infect with spores... and we have someone" she nods almost imperceptibly in Stool's direction "that communicate only with spores... Can not be that another demon follower is among us?"
"Not sure the Lady of Rot and Decay is actually present in the Underdark as mighty Demogorgon appears to be, but her foul presence could be sensed all the same. She is certainly not as powerful as some of the others but could still spell doom over us all if she roamed freely within the Realms, so I agree, If recent demonic activity is not only the work of the Deep Father the situation is definitely even worse than we have feared."The noble drow answers. "Yes, you are right to be suspicious Khessa, there is hope for you still." Traydark continues in a lowered voice and a wink. "I agree though we should watch Stool and the others carefully though for any demonic influence."
(Well, our perceptor should be Silas, since in first line and high perception - while Katryl should be able to provide food with her Deep Delver feature she described in the OOC thread. If it is possible to combine Katryl's feature with foraging, Eldeth has always been our forager, I think she should roll survival)
(Thanks Gnomes! Not bad, thanks! I'm ready too... but I didn't post, because we're waiting for the two rolls of Perception and Survival... and having Khessa roll them would be suboptimal - Silas and Eldeth give better guarantees)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Katryl Perception: 10) (Eldeth Survival: 16)
Katryl listened to the speculation about Zuggtmoy with skepticism but kept any thoughts to herself. She of course is more than ready to continue on, having thought it better to never to have stopped in the first place.
After determining that the fungi-encrusted quaggoni pose no immediate threat, Ebzer has been remaining mostly silent, brooding. If they pause for any significant time, he begins tattooing himself again. He eats only the bare minimum, choosing to fast, and seems to be uttering silent prayers or chants as he walks. While he was never loquacious, he has seemed much more withdrawn since the encounter with the Demogorgon.
As the duergar rests, Traydark would eventually approach him with a friendly smile, taking a seat by his side. "I don't want to disturb you Ebzer but I can see something is troubling you. We will still need you when words won't suffice, more than you might think. What we saw back in Sloobludop, there is no dishonor in not staying to face a demon prince, you know that right? You definitely did the right thing trying to get out of there, so did we all. I have felt demonic presence all my life back in Menzoberranzan but this, what we saw coming out of the Darklake, most creatures would simply go mad at the mere sight of mighty Demogorgon." The noble drow says softly.
"Absolutely!" Khessa confirms, sitting next to Ebzer, on the other side of Traydark, and passing his left arm on the dwarf's shoulders "You know that Buppido has become like this" she tries to play down jokingly "because once, as a child, did he see Demogorgon? So, do you see? All in all, we have been lucky!"
"Come on," she exhorts him, looking at him affectionately with her blue eyes "Traydark is right! We need you and we want you back with us! Can you tell us what's up? Would you like to speak a little with us about it?"
"Beware, if you don't confide in us," the tall adventuress smiles at him, pretending to be threatening"we'll leave and send the mushroom-covered Quaggoths to keep you company in our place! We'll then see who you prefer!"
Another day or so passes in the Underdark, your travels taking you in the direction of Gracklstugh with the ever looming thoughts of both a demon lord loose in the Underdark, as well as the potential to run into your old drow friends who would just love to take you back to Velkynvelve for a good lashing. The perpetual darkness, even punctuated by your own light at times, and the rare glowing mushrooms of various colors and sizes continue to add to the exotic atmosphere. During a suspiciously quiet moment, there is a loud -CRACK- and the path you're standing on suddenly gives way! A large slap of the path falls down in front, putting you all on a steep slide into a cavern below!
(Everyone make a Dexterity saving throw: DC 13 or take 5 points of bludgeoning damage)
On the upside, once you dust yourself off, you find that the cavern is large and filled will all manner of mushrooms and fungi! The air is warm and humid, possibly from a geothermal vent not too far away. Among the fungi you see some barrel like stalks, some lichen that looks pale orange-white in color, some smaller mushrooms slightly nose-shaped and several two foot tall stalks with dark red caps.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Traydark Dex save: 6 Sarith Dex save: 9
After the fall the noble drow gets up and magically cleans himself from the dust from the crashing boulders around him. Looking around the fungi filled cavern, Traydark explains the different uses of the mushrooms found to Khessa and any others who would not possess this knowledge. "We should harvest the Barrelstalk. I don't think anything else is of much use to us." He comments, ready to head on towards Gracklstugh.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(I totally typed in a response earlier but must have forgot to hit "post"...)
(Before the collapse)
Ebzer looks into the drow's eyes for several long moment, then sighs and says, "When I were a lad, me village were invaded by yer kin. I wanted t'fight beside me mum and dad, but Mum conked me on t'head with her hammer, and then sealed me up in a tunnel fer protection. When I come to me senses, t'battle were over, me family dead." He pauses a few more seconds, then continues, "I swore to t'Gods on that day that I'd never run from another battle, never desert those who depended on me... and I never did, until Sloobludop."
He is silent for many heartbeats. "The fear of those moments has faded, but it has left me questioning my resolve... even my own... sanity. I am now seeking assistance from my ancestors to block the fear and madness. The tattoos are part of the process of binding or sealing the protective influence of my ancestors to me, and me to them. I pray to the Gods that it will be enough. I cannot bear to lose another family." With that, he clasps arms with Traydark, and contorts his face at Khessa in what must be a duergar smile, or else indigestion.
(After the collapse and slide)
DEX Save (Advantage due to Danger Sense) 14
Ebzer recognizes the Fire lichen (roll needed?) and recommends that the party collect it and use it to barter in Glacklstugh.
Traydark twitches as the duergar clasps arms with him but then he relaxes in his hold. "You didn't desert anyone Ebzer, nor will you...friend. I'm truly sorry to hear about your family. I hope you find any guidance you feel that you need from your ancestors but I for one still believe in you Ebzer, that you have both the strength and the courage needed to oppose this madness that seems to permeate our world beneath the surface." The noble drow says in a sincere tone.
(He will however abstain from any offers of a group hug ;-)
(And after collapse)
Traydark would agree that the Fire lichen could be useful in Gracklstugh although he has little sense of what it would be worth. His knowledge about the fungi is merely theoretical and he does not really know how to harvest or transport it.
"Traydark is right, Ebzer, you did not desert anyone - for that one was not our battle. We retreated to regroup and to have a chance to stop that terrible threat in the future, that's all. I have seen you fight when we had no escape against the kuo-toa - you fought against their leader with all you had," there is true admiration in Khessa's blue eyes "collapsing and risking to die, instead of giving up. And that's why we are still alive".
"You can trust yourself, friend!" the blonde arcane warrior concludes "Your new family, believe me, trusts you!" she hugs him and stays like that for a few moments, moved by his words.
"Oh, so do they move..." murmurs Khessa "And just as something was trying to get part of the fungi. Mere chance? Hmmm..."
Anyway, the blonde arcane warrior decides that they might get hostile if they realize are being tampered with... so she leave the Quaggoths (and their fungi) alone.
She is ready to resume the journey.
"I do appreciate your strive for knowledge Khessa but those fungi might have brought doom to us all, it's infectious spores might even be airborne. If indeed demonic in nature I would assume these quaggoths are now the mindless servants of the Lady of Fungi herself, Zuggtmoy." The noble drow says grimly and even with contempt for the demon queen.
Leaving the quaggoths, Traydark too is ready to resume the journey to Gracklstugh.
"Zuggtmoy?" Khessa is visibly impressed by the amount of knowledge of the noble drow in arcane matters "A lady among demons? Is she a danger of the same class of Demogorgon?! If so many and so powerful demons are coming, our situation is even more critical than I thought".
Coming nearer to Traydark and speaking in a lower tone, so that he only can hear: "Now... Shuushar transformed at Demogorgon arrival, as if he was one of his followers. If Zuggtmoy can infect with spores... and we have someone" she nods almost imperceptibly in Stool's direction "that communicate only with spores... Can not be that another demon follower is among us?"
"Not sure the Lady of Rot and Decay is actually present in the Underdark as mighty Demogorgon appears to be, but her foul presence could be sensed all the same. She is certainly not as powerful as some of the others but could still spell doom over us all if she roamed freely within the Realms, so I agree, If recent demonic activity is not only the work of the Deep Father the situation is definitely even worse than we have feared." The noble drow answers. "Yes, you are right to be suspicious Khessa, there is hope for you still." Traydark continues in a lowered voice and a wink. "I agree though we should watch Stool and the others carefully though for any demonic influence."
"Of course there is hope for me!" she winks back "I have the luck to train with the bests..."
(If you're heading on, roll a perception check and survival if you're going to forage at all)
(Well, our perceptor should be Silas, since in first line and high perception - while Katryl should be able to provide food with her Deep Delver feature she described in the OOC thread. If it is possible to combine Katryl's feature with foraging, Eldeth has always been our forager, I think she should roll survival)
(Hope everyone had a good holiday! I'm still here and ready whenever y'all get back. No rush. :) )
(Thanks Gnomes! Not bad, thanks! I'm ready too... but I didn't post, because we're waiting for the two rolls of Perception and Survival... and having Khessa roll them would be suboptimal - Silas and Eldeth give better guarantees)
(Katryl Perception: 10)
(Eldeth Survival: 16)
Katryl listened to the speculation about Zuggtmoy with skepticism but kept any thoughts to herself. She of course is more than ready to continue on, having thought it better to never to have stopped in the first place.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
After determining that the fungi-encrusted quaggoni pose no immediate threat, Ebzer has been remaining mostly silent, brooding. If they pause for any significant time, he begins tattooing himself again. He eats only the bare minimum, choosing to fast, and seems to be uttering silent prayers or chants as he walks. While he was never loquacious, he has seemed much more withdrawn since the encounter with the Demogorgon.
As the duergar rests, Traydark would eventually approach him with a friendly smile, taking a seat by his side. "I don't want to disturb you Ebzer but I can see something is troubling you. We will still need you when words won't suffice, more than you might think. What we saw back in Sloobludop, there is no dishonor in not staying to face a demon prince, you know that right? You definitely did the right thing trying to get out of there, so did we all. I have felt demonic presence all my life back in Menzoberranzan but this, what we saw coming out of the Darklake, most creatures would simply go mad at the mere sight of mighty Demogorgon." The noble drow says softly.
"Absolutely!" Khessa confirms, sitting next to Ebzer, on the other side of Traydark, and passing his left arm on the dwarf's shoulders "You know that Buppido has become like this" she tries to play down jokingly "because once, as a child, did he see Demogorgon? So, do you see? All in all, we have been lucky!"
"Come on," she exhorts him, looking at him affectionately with her blue eyes "Traydark is right! We need you and we want you back with us! Can you tell us what's up? Would you like to speak a little with us about it?"
"Beware, if you don't confide in us," the tall adventuress smiles at him, pretending to be threatening "we'll leave and send the mushroom-covered Quaggoths to keep you company in our place! We'll then see who you prefer!"
Another day or so passes in the Underdark, your travels taking you in the direction of Gracklstugh with the ever looming thoughts of both a demon lord loose in the Underdark, as well as the potential to run into your old drow friends who would just love to take you back to Velkynvelve for a good lashing. The perpetual darkness, even punctuated by your own light at times, and the rare glowing mushrooms of various colors and sizes continue to add to the exotic atmosphere. During a suspiciously quiet moment, there is a loud -CRACK- and the path you're standing on suddenly gives way! A large slap of the path falls down in front, putting you all on a steep slide into a cavern below!
(Everyone make a Dexterity saving throw: DC 13 or take 5 points of bludgeoning damage)
On the upside, once you dust yourself off, you find that the cavern is large and filled will all manner of mushrooms and fungi! The air is warm and humid, possibly from a geothermal vent not too far away. Among the fungi you see some barrel like stalks, some lichen that looks pale orange-white in color, some smaller mushrooms slightly nose-shaped and several two foot tall stalks with dark red caps.
====================================================================================================================================
OOC info:
Barrelstalk: 7 gallons of water, 8lbs of food
Fire lichen: ground and fermented into spicy paste for seasoning/flavoring, also known to be an ingredient in a fiery brew from the dueregar
Nilhogg's Nose: Adv on perception checks using smell, DisAdv on saving throws that rely on smell
Torchstalk: Can be lit to provide light for 24 hours (standard torch). Chance to explode when lit.
Traydark Dex save: 6
Sarith Dex save: 9
After the fall the noble drow gets up and magically cleans himself from the dust from the crashing boulders around him. Looking around the fungi filled cavern, Traydark explains the different uses of the mushrooms found to Khessa and any others who would not possess this knowledge. "We should harvest the Barrelstalk. I don't think anything else is of much use to us." He comments, ready to head on towards Gracklstugh.
(I totally typed in a response earlier but must have forgot to hit "post"...)
(Before the collapse)
Ebzer looks into the drow's eyes for several long moment, then sighs and says, "When I were a lad, me village were invaded by yer kin. I wanted t'fight beside me mum and dad, but Mum conked me on t'head with her hammer, and then sealed me up in a tunnel fer protection. When I come to me senses, t'battle were over, me family dead." He pauses a few more seconds, then continues, "I swore to t'Gods on that day that I'd never run from another battle, never desert those who depended on me... and I never did, until Sloobludop."
He is silent for many heartbeats. "The fear of those moments has faded, but it has left me questioning my resolve... even my own... sanity. I am now seeking assistance from my ancestors to block the fear and madness. The tattoos are part of the process of binding or sealing the protective influence of my ancestors to me, and me to them. I pray to the Gods that it will be enough. I cannot bear to lose another family." With that, he clasps arms with Traydark, and contorts his face at Khessa in what must be a duergar smile, or else indigestion.
(After the collapse and slide)
DEX Save (Advantage due to Danger Sense) 14
Ebzer recognizes the Fire lichen (roll needed?) and recommends that the party collect it and use it to barter in Glacklstugh.
(No roll needed here, the survival roll earlier was good enough, plus your all's experience with the Underdark)
(Still before the collapse)
Traydark twitches as the duergar clasps arms with him but then he relaxes in his hold. "You didn't desert anyone Ebzer, nor will you...friend. I'm truly sorry to hear about your family. I hope you find any guidance you feel that you need from your ancestors but I for one still believe in you Ebzer, that you have both the strength and the courage needed to oppose this madness that seems to permeate our world beneath the surface." The noble drow says in a sincere tone.
(He will however abstain from any offers of a group hug ;-)
(And after collapse)
Traydark would agree that the Fire lichen could be useful in Gracklstugh although he has little sense of what it would be worth. His knowledge about the fungi is merely theoretical and he does not really know how to harvest or transport it.
Before collapse:
"Traydark is right, Ebzer, you did not desert anyone - for that one was not our battle. We retreated to regroup and to have a chance to stop that terrible threat in the future, that's all. I have seen you fight when we had no escape against the kuo-toa - you fought against their leader with all you had," there is true admiration in Khessa's blue eyes "collapsing and risking to die, instead of giving up. And that's why we are still alive".
"You can trust yourself, friend!" the blonde arcane warrior concludes "Your new family, believe me, trusts you!" she hugs him and stays like that for a few moments, moved by his words.
At collapse:
Khessa's dex save: 12