Gnome's OOTA Story Thread [CLOSED]

Both Ghazrim and the Beholder (who is now quick to tell you their name is Lorthuun in a very grumpy voice) decline magical assistance, as they have some sort of unspoken bet between them on who will recover from their wounds faster.

(Did Horkas' Arcana: 18 or Religion: 23 checks reveal anything about the gemstone, like what might relieve an individual of its influence or how to destroy it?)

Quote from Rhanloi >>

(Did Horkas' Arcana: 18 or Religion: 23 checks reveal anything about the gemstone, like what might relieve an individual of its influence or how to destroy it?)

 It is tainted by a demon lord and seems to be able to exert some control or influence on those who touch it, but seeing as it is imbued with such immense power, it probably won't be undone by any mundane means, but it is just a gem, not an artifact per se, so theoretically it shouldn't be that hard to destroy it. However, the madness caused by it is likely to be needed to be cured separately.

Katryl is relieved as Lulu keeps an eye on the beholder, and then when it awakens it introduces itself without violence.  She listens to the other conversations. "Seems like a trip to this Gravenhollow place could give us answers to several of our questions."

Khessa is perplexed... The threat of Demon Lord madness looms; a threat that can clearly destroy the entire city... and the Angels seem more concerned with the connections between Zhentarim and Gravenhollow than with the terrible threat. Is it possible that the Angels don't care about the safety of an entire city? No, of course not... or they wouldn't be Angels. They must have their reasons for acting like this...

The blonde arcane warrior, however, responds to the Angel in the form of Genasi: "Yes, of course, I personally am very interested in reaching as soon as possible a place of lost knowledge like Gravenhollow must be... but we certainly cannot abandon Mantol-Derith to its fate! We are absolutely certain that the gem has nothing to do with it, but this means that we must identify and destroy the vessel of the Demon Lord madness before it has time to decree the end of the city - and of all the people who live there lives! We can not simply walk away and leave things as they are... Come on, celestials... all these people are doomed to die if we don't put an end to this... is there something I'm not considering?"

The gnome stands next to Lulu and whispers to her, "We need to destroy the gem. Put it on a granite rock and we'll quickly hit it with our smashing tools before Khessa can stop us..." 

As soon as the gem is dumped onto the rock, and without actually touching the cursed stone, Horkas will use both hands to strike it with his infused warhammer! 

(Just because something isn't moving doesn't mean you get advantage btw. We attack doors all the time and don't get advantage. It would have to have the prone condition which a gem does not have.)

[[ OOC: Oh, well... go on and do a straight roll, Horkas. I do not expect the gem to have a very challenging AC ]]

Khessa, meanwhile, is depserately trying to explain to the odd couple (Zhentarim and beholder) that it is better if more factions remain in Mantol-Derith, since this means a greater number of defenders (and a greater variety of talents), in case of an attack by the demons. She therefore does not realize the move by Horkas - who in any case, being an Angel, certainly knows what he is doing...

Horkas' first roll was an 8, so the attack would be 16 =)

(Sorry I was waiting to see is Lulu was going to offer the gem out of her box but okay)

Horkas is able to easily smash the gem. (Khessa's madness remains) 

Ghazrim remains unconvinced as only having one faction to deal with is easier to manage than negotiating with 3 others all the time.

(When you all are ready to leave this place just say so)

"Well, forgive me for being curious but I simply didn't expect the solution to our problem just waiting to be handed over without me being informed about that from my contact in Gauntlgrym." The noble drow says, still trying to put information together to make sense of what is happening. "We are of course indeed grateful for this..." He says while inspecting the ring on his finger. "...but before we leave for Gravenhollow, was there also some mercenaries the Black Network wanted to send along with the expedition?" He asks with a polite smile.

"Of course." Ghazrim makes a whistle noise and three Zhentarim thugs come out from one of the nearby sheds, giving a quick nod to Ghazrim and Traydark.

The noble drow turns to inspect the zhentarim, hoping they are reliable and outfitted to join the expedition. "Are you briefed on the purpose of this expedition you are joining?" He asks calmly.

Insight: 18

Ghazrim waves a hand at them, "This is Nero Kelvane, Lenora Haskur, Aligor Moonwhisper, they've been told about the demon lord spotting and that they are assigned to aid you in securing the Underdark as best as possible. However if you feel the need to elaborate further that's up to you." The three human thugs (Nero and Aligor are male, Lenora is a female) nod a bit, all decked out in basic gear.

(They certainly seem as capable as any Zhentarim agent)

"Good..." The noble drow says with a firm nod. "...now, was there anything more you could tell us about Gravenhollow and what we should expect there, or anything more we should discuss before leaving Mantol-Derith." He continues, otherwise readying himself for departure. It felt strange to finally be back to his new home and just leave again but since they were now in possession of the means to find Gravenhollow there was really no reason to linger here.

"Unfortunately, my knowledge of Gravenhollow is rather limited, but since it supposedly contains vast stores of history and knowledge I expect you'll find more help once you get there. And don't worry about here, we'll get the place put right again eventually. If you need any basic supplies though we have plenty at the moment, the agents here can bring what you need when you go."

"Good, we will make our leave then." Traydark says, looking around to the others for agreement. "Thank you for your assistance Ghazrim, we hope stability return to Mantol-Derith soon."

Khessa was busy in her conversation with Ghazrim when, suddenly, that noise... like a crystal shattering from a violent blow... 'The gem! The angel Horkas shattered it into a thousand pieces! And my head as well!' she startles, puts her hands to her temples... 'No!' she then realizes 'Not my head, but something inside... which is no longer there! The gem! The gem had bewitched me! The gem was the cause of everything! Good thing the angel Horkas, being a celestial, was not affected by it and destroyed it!'

The blonde arcane warrior approaches the angel in gnome form, admiring: "Horkas! Thank goodness you understood what had to be done! Yes, it was the gem that was the cause of everything! It had bewitched me, that cursed crystal! But now its influence is broken! Well done, surely, from today on, things will be much better here in Mantol-Derith! What would I do without you celestials..."

Finally free both from the influence of the stone and from the worry of the total annihilation of Mantol-Derith, the tall adventurer focuses again on the offers of the Zhentarim and when they offer 'any basic supplies' she tries to ask: "Since we will have to travel through the demon-infested Underdark... and that many of our friends do not possess magical weapons... Do you happen to have any vials of holy water to supply us? Or if not that, then at least acid or alchemist's fire? So that our friends have the opportunity to make themselves useful even in case we encounter adversaries against whom their common weapons prove ineffective..."

Ghazrim shakes his head, "No, we have basic supplies. Food stuffs, blankets, tools, that sort of thing. I don't think we have any stores of things like acid and holy water."

Having wanted to wait until they were outside the city and in a secure location lest someone else be inadvertently affected by the gem or something be released from it upon breaking, Lulu relaxes when neither happens. She claps the gnome on the shoulder for a job well done and makes note that Khessa still seems to be under the effects of some sort of fanciful Madness.

“Food stuffs, and mounts if ye’ve any to spare, would be much welcome, Mr. DuLoc,” she says, gathering the shards and powder of the gem back into the alms box. “As would any information or rumors ye might’ve heard about a lost Emerald Enclave scout? A high elf by the name of Sladis Vadir.”