Gnome's OOTA Story Thread [CLOSED]

Lulu leans forward to give her mount comforting scritches just behind its jaw. No doubt their reptilian companions smelt the threat as well, but she speaks in the Speech of Beasts to warn them nonetheless. She has far less to say to their group, however, instead quietly observing their company's feelings on the matter; if they are weary from their travels and many battles or eager to quash this threat where it jiggles.


((Insight: 19+7 26))

The general vibe of the rest of the entourage is middling by now, grateful to have skirted many dangers already, but not quite itching for another brawl either.  The mental weight of your charge is beginning to show, however, should you feel it necessary to meet a threat they are still quite willing to engage in the hopes of stemming the demonic tide.

"I think I agree that we should avoid trouble if we can," Katryl says, getting a grin on her face. "Hard to believe - I agree with Traydark. Who would have thought that would happen!" She speaks to the other scouts and tries to determine with them if they would be able to avoid these oozes. 

The teasing comment from the fire genasi brings a small smile to the noble drow, but he doesn't retort, instead looking to the others for their opinions, ready to go along with the majority.

"You celestials..." Khessa is amused "Always ready to support each another, aren't you? So be it, I trust your better judgment... let's just avoid the oozes, if possible".

'Probably, reaching Gravenhollow is a more important goal than stopping whatever Jubilex is trying to accomplish here' the blonde arcane warrior thinks to herself. 'I must trust those who have had the whole eternity to perfect their wisdom'.

You are about to continue on when the lizard mounts begin to shift ever more nervously, a sickening breeze comes wafting back your direction followed by a nauseating squelch and soft rumble when one of the forward scouts comes running back and whispering loudly, "It's moving our way!" Not a moment or two later, whether by darkvision or in the light of whatever you have with you, you see it isn't a mound of oozes....but one, horrific, immense ooze, bubbling and oozing everywhere, then suddenly dozens of deep red eyes appear all over the mass as it slowly begins to approach the path your group is on!

The wave of demonic energy crashes over the cleric—the sickening sense of insatiable hunger and overwhelming despair turning her stomach. “Tis no mindless ooze,” she says, her tone steady, but severe as she brandishes her holy symbol . “We’ve a Demon Lord in our path, my friends. Steel yerselves.”  

Lulu prays to her Goddess for aid as the symbol begins to glow. “Mistress of Moonlight, Queen of Beasts, lend us yer Light. Protect us from those who defile the sanctity of the Dark.” The immense form of a spectral unicorn shimmers into shape in the path ahead, a stalwart guard of divine radiance and faith. 

((Lulu casts Guardian of Faith 30 ft ahead of their group, summoning the Large spectral guardian to block as much of the Demon Lord’s path as possible.))

"Fool, you cannot hope to vanquish great Juilex." The noble drow says grimly. "The earth elemental can possibly buy us some time as we fall back and find another way to Gravenhollow." He says firmly, calling the earth elemental servant to block the path of the immense approaching ooze.

“Lord Duskryn, I suggest ye choose yer words more mindfully,” Lulu says lowly, fixing the drow with a stone-faced expression that says she does not take kindly to being called a fool nor the suggestion they have no hope to defeat this evil. Not when that hope has become such a fragile creature for their group. “That is what the Guardian will do. Buy us time or distance." To everyone she adds, still uncharacteristically serious, "I suggest we make use of it.”

The noble drow is a bit taken aback by the firbolgs retort but says nothing, simply leaving as instructed as soon as the earth elemental servant stands ready alongside the Guardian of faith to slow the Faceless Lord in it's advance.

Khessa is hit with one surprise after another. She was expecting yet another of Jubilex's servants... but... that rubbish is Jubilex itself!? And while her servants usually crawl rather slowly... he instead managed to move quickly enough to arrive shortly after the scouts had returned to announce his presence?! And the angels... this time, instead of collaborating in celestial harmony, they have differences of opinion and exchange sharp words?!

'So, it's just as I thought... it's the only explanation...' the blonde arcane warrior finds herself thinking 'This is all just a stupid game. These are not real angels, they are only imagined. And whoever is imagining them is succumbing to stress of the situation. And whoever is in charge of everything has decided to kill us, sending us against a threat that we are not at all prepared to face. It's game over'.

However, the memory of Elias immediately comes back to the tall adventuress, of how grateful he had been after she had helped him overcome the after-effects of the nightmares... The memory of Anator rediscovered... Of the freed family... 'Well, whether this whole world and who inhabits it is real or no,' she therefore thinks 'I, Khessa, am part of it. And I'm as free as the blowing wind. I decide not to give up. I'll keep up fighting to the end'.

Khessa immediately casts an abjuration to defend her from demonic influences (she is unaware that Lunaria, albeit more slowly, is trying to invoke the same effect). She then generally agrees with the plan to maintain distance at all costs: "I don't know how much power you secretly have, Angels, but in a simple head-on collision with a Demon Lord, I and the other mere mortals of the Army would have no hope. I was hoping to surprise the Faceless Lord after he emerged weakened from the battle against his equal, the Queen of Fungi. But Jubilex seems in great shape at the moment, to me... If you can weaken him enough, I will stay and fight at your side, but if you cannot, it is best that, for the moment, we retreat - or at the very least we maintain as much distance as possible".

If the angels decide to retreat, the blonde arcane warrior makes the infantry retreat first - who cannot count on the speed of the lizards and she remains last, checking the situation - that is, whether Jubilex gains ground or not. If she notices that Jubilex is slower than the Army, she also tries to dissuade him from chasing by tossing Fire Bolts at him, making use of her greater mobility to avoid being caught. She also tries to understand whether Jubilex does in fact appear to show signs of a recent struggle... Could it be that he has just confronted Zuggtmoy near Gravenhollow? Does he seem slowed down or impaired in any way?

Katryl looks between Lulu and Traydark as they seem to conflict on strategy. "I suppose if we can hold that thing off a bit it would be good. We should start having the rest of our forces pull back though."  She steels herself as Lulu said.  Briefly she whispers, "Mistress of Moonlight... or...  well... my words probably don't mean much. But please do try to keep Lunaria alive through this.  And protect all of us."  

She will have her bow at the ready and try to keep back.  She is ready to head off after the others when it becomes necessary. 

With the sudden and frightening appearance of a genuine demon lord about to cross your path, you hasten to prepare yourselves for a desperate stand if necessary, doing what you can to ensure the best chance of survival. But, it seems, as you wait in the tense darkness and the demon lord begins to pass by your group...that it continues on its way. If they noticed you they have not reacted, merely continuing on a different path for the time being. The incredible stench of ooze and slime reeks horribly as the monstrous demon lord squelches by your caravan is nauseating however, even at some distance.

(Everyone make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw or suffer 1 point of exhaustion from the intense presence of the demon lord. This is not a magical effect or spell.)

Khessa's Constitution saving throw: 17

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

Khessa's Constitution saving throw: 11

Khessa is slow to move away from the Demon Lord's path, as she tries to estimate first whether it is injured or tired, then, at least, how quickly it is moving.

[[ OOC: @DM: How fast is Jubilex moving? Asking because, well, we are not fighting him now, but sooner or later we'll have to... Better to knwo something about him than nothing ]]

The blonde arcane warrior pays the consequences: the long exposure to the horrible stench also takes its toll on her exceptional resistance and our heroine, when she finally retreats towards safety, is tested by her 'close encounter' with the filthy Demon Lord.

(Katryl CON Save: 19) 

(Horkas Con save: 7 =(

The gnome retches as the demon lord passes by, the stench overpowering his senses..."At least the blighted slime-lord has other business to attend to." he mutters between heaves.

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

[[ OOC: @DM: How fast is Jubilex moving? Asking because, well, we are not fighting him now, but sooner or later we'll have to... Better to knwo something about him than nothing ]]

 

 (He seems to be moving at a normal-ish pace. Doesn't seem particularly fast or slow.)

Lunaria's expression does not change as she retreats with the others, stopping only when it seems the demon lord will not pursue. Her tail curls around her leg and it takes every ounce of her willpower not to retch alongside the gnome as she tries to appear a steady beacon of calm. "The business of a wedding, perhaps?" she wonders aloud as she reaches down to rub circles into Horkas’ back. 

Turning to visually assess the rest of their group, her eyes search for Katryl then Traydark in particular, having already been alongside Khessa. "Is everyone alright?"

((CON save: 10+2 12
Performance: Natural 20+0 20 lol))

"Yes," Khessa confirms, perhaps weakened, but lucid (at least as lucid as madness allows her) "he's probably heading towards the wedding. That should be his main plot... Perhaps he has stolen secrets useful to Gravenhollow and is now going to the ceremony to make good use of it".

“We would do well to follow his trail,” the blonde arcane warrior deduces “once we too have discovered what we can in this mythical library”.