Gnome's OOTA Story Thread [CLOSED]

Katryl is more than happy to talk with Horkas about campsites and the lizards.

At the campsite, once it's been established, she spends her time mostly with the scouts, making sure they have what they need.  She is then ready to follow Traydark into the city. 

With a temporary camp secured, the rest of you enter into the the hidden passage that leads to Mantol-Derith, following the narrow tunnel that eventually opens up to a large trench that divides the city. It is 20ft wide and 50ft deep all the way across the city, and there is a broken crystal platform in the middle of the trench with 4 smaller wooden platforms around it. Traydark and Khessa would note that a simple pull of a lever would employ the basic magic that raises and lowers the wooden platforms up to the main city area above.

The trench bisects an enormous cavern with a 30-foot-high ceiling supported by naturally formed stone columns. Continual flame spells cast on stone lampposts reflect off crystals embedded in the walls and ceiling, illuminating myriad fountains, waterfalls, streams, and pools. Water drips from stalactites onto leather tarps covering clusters of merchant stalls west and east of the trench. Beyond these marketplaces are well-tended gardens of mold and fungi, crystal walkways, and stone bridges. The tranquil beauty of Mantol-Derith is undone by sounds of combat to the northeast, where you hear the thunderous boom of metal against stone and see panicked svirfneblin running from 8-foot-tall duergar.

"Is this fighting normal here?" Katryl asks Traydark and Khessa. She is wary, but not sure how concerned to be. 

Khessa smiles for a moment, lost in the pleasant memories that this place arouses in her... comfort... the calming, almost hypnotic noise of the waterfalls... pleasant company... the liberation of her family... but Katryl's voice immediately brings her back to reality! What is happening? Is this a conflict between factions... or is it the nefarious madness-inducing influence of the Demon Lords that is starting to make itself felt in this city too?

[[ OOC: @DM: As far as Khessa knows from the time she has been here, is this fighting 'normal'? Is this something she has already seen happen? ]]

(Yes, despite it's socially precarious nature, Mantol-Derith is normally very peaceful, though you woldn't equate that to being safe per se. More like a so-called Mexican standoff kind of peace. Everyone does their business peacefully because no one wants to start a turf war and ruin their mercantile options. So if something is going down as it seems, that is highly unusual for sure.)

The noble drow is pleased to finally return to his new home in the Underdark. It is however not the kind of return he was hoping for, hearing the clamour of combat ahead and seeing hostilities that had apparently broken out between the duergar and svirneblin enclaves of Mantol-Derith. "No, to my knowledge this is a place with peace built upon the interest to keep trade profitable to all enclaves flowing through this city." Traydark answers the genasi with a slightly troubled look. "We should probably try to not get involved though as we know nothing about what caused this dissent between the svirfneblin and duergar. It might unfortunately be the madness and corruption of the abyss that finally reached Mantol-Derith." He continues, motioning for his companions to follow him on a detour to avoid the conflict. "I will be taking you all to my home here in Mantol-Derith but first we will speak to my zhentarim contact here who will be able to provide us with more mercenaries, but hopefully also some information on how to find our way to the fabled library of Gravenhollow." He says, leading the companions on to the zhentarim enclave to meet with Ghazrim DuLoc.

Khessa tries her best to convince herself to follow Traydark without intervening in what is happening; however, she finds herself frequently looking back to check how the scene of violence is evolving...

Are the svirfneblin making it to safety? Or do the pursuing duergar catch up and slaughter them? How do the others present react? They pull away? Are they hiding? Are they preparing to defend themselves? Does anyone seem ready to intervene? Do they look elsewhere?

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Khessa tries her best to convince herself to follow Traydark without intervening in what is happening; however, she finds herself frequently looking back to check how the scene of violence is evolving...

Are the svirfneblin making it to safety? Or do the pursuing duergar catch up and slaughter them? How do the others present react? They pull away? Are they hiding? Are they preparing to defend themselves? Does anyone seem ready to intervene? Do they look elsewhere?

 (Make a perception check)

Khessa's Perception: 11

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Khessa's Perception: 3

[[ OOC: It's probably for the best... Khessa won't see anything dramatic and will be able to follow Traydark without too many pangs of conscience ]]

It certainly is chaotic right now! But it doesn't look like the two running are on friendly terms.

The situation is too chaotic for Khessa to get a sense of with her furtive glances back... she just hopes that the situation hasn't degraded to the point that scenes like these are the new normal!

In the meantime, knowing nothing of the reasons for the clash nor how it is evolving, the blonde arcane warrior resigns herself with a sigh and continues to follow the noble drow. Perhaps his contact will be able to explain all this.

Horkas feels a natural pull towards his cousin svirfneblin, but like Traydark he knows it is likely for the party's own good to avoid any conflicts right now. He also keeps looking over his shoulder at the pursuit, hoping the two parties do not catch up with each other and that the situation resolves itself soon.

Katryl follows as Traydark moves the group along. "Are druegar normally 8-foot tall here?" 

"No, not normally..." The noble drow says with a grin, glancing back at the genasi. "...but all duergar has the inherent magical ability to grow large like that when they want." He explains as he continues to lead the companions on to the zhentarim enclave and Ghazrim DuLoc.

Khessa adds "I've seen them do it, a few times, during my stay here in Mantol-Derith... I think they can only do it sporadically... Point is, I saw some of them suddenly grow to that size - for example to gain a combat advantage - but they revert just as suddenly to their original size after a short time".

Katryl seems satisfied with the answer from both Traydark and Khessa. "Ok then, guess it's not quite so strange then. So, how far to wherever it is we're going?" 

Lunaria, however, does not follow the group. Her feet remain rooted like her clan's namesake as she briefly observes the scene to try and get some bearings on the situation. Then, with an entirely calm demeanor, the cleric takes long strides towards the kerfuffle to try and intercept the svirfneblin and the not-that-much-taller-than-her duergar.


((With her passive of 17 for perception and insight, can Lulu intuit anything about the situation?))

As the white firbolg turns and strides towards the commotion, the noble drow lets out a tired sigh. "It seems we will interfere after all..." He says with a hint of annoyance in his tone. "...try to not take to arms before we know what is really going on here." He firmly suggest to the others, moving quickly to catch up with Lunaria, doing what he can to assess the situation more thoroughly.

Perception: 18
Insight: 7

Horkas will watch their backs and the perimeter, in case this was a diversion and someone else is the true threat - whether from pickpocketing or worse!

Perception: 11 (meh...)