"I find a feast with or without your help. So be on your way and take that wretched excuse for a creature with you. When Yeenoghu rises I will bask in his glory and raze their city."
Grisha glowers but neither he, nor the other cultists in the area move to attack or draw weapons of any kind. They appear to be quite content with you leaving as you are.
Khessa, partly disappointed by the total inconclusiveness of the encounter, partly relieved by the fact that at least it didn't lead to violence, takes cloud form again and starts following Katryl's safe guidance again.
Turning back into your cloud forms, leaving the pathetic, wretched settlement of the Filthriddens behind as the denizens watch you change and fly off, you can easily make your way through more of the Labyrinth, for about another hour (leaving 1 hour left) when the echoing sounds of marching feet reaches you, though on your current path you do not see anything yet that could make the noise.
The windy form of the noble drow would gesticulate that the team simply swooshes onwards to see who the marchers are, not likely demons since marching would require cohesion which in itself was anathema to the hordes of the abyss. Still if there was demons or others that they would need to fight ahead the team could most likely simply swoosh back and solidify before macrhing forwards to meet them.
As you search for the source of the marching sounds, it appears to come from a fairly narrow passage, which thankfully isn't as difficult to navigate as a cloud, but it twists and turns for a few minutes before opening to a shelf about 15 ft wide, looking down over a stretch of straight tunnel, 20 ft below you. A curious procession of creatures marches along the tunnel below your position. Twelve of the creatures are identical. Each has a round body, spindly arms and legs, a pair of fluttering wings rising above its arms, and a single eye staring out over a wide, smiling mouth. At the column’s head stands a creature that looks like an inverted pyramid held up by six legs. It scuttles like a crab. On each side of its body, an eye is set above a mouth. Under the mouth, a single arm grips a spear in its hand.
Lulu, just a wisp of cloud, floats above the strange creatures. And wonders if they look anything like the equally strange creature they found in the beholder's makeshift prison?
It takes Traydark a while longer to figure them out, as they look rather worn down, but with Lulu's help (and perhaps others) they do bear a remarkable resemblance to the one you found earlier, although one of them is distinctly different, but probably still of the same general type.
Khessa, without knowing it, has thoughts similar to those of Lulu: these creatures of approximately geometric shape (apart from eyes and appendages) remind her of Mr Ball King's 'special prisoner'.
'Does this mean... that we are close to the Maze Engine?!' the blonde arcane warrior thinks excitedly. If this fabled eldritch device is as powerful as Mr Ball King believed, being able to examine it, even for a moment, is too good an opportunity to pass up! She begins to solidify on the shelf, so she can communicate with others.
Once the transformation is complete, after sharing her thoughts with everyone, the tall adventuress, with her blue eyes sparkling with lively excitement, proposes: "Let's follow the march in cloud form! Or, let's follow their tracks backwards! If we found the Maze Engine and studied it a little... with a bit of luck maybe we could even use it to produce some of the components we need - or to get help in another way! In your opinion, what is more likely? Are they going towards the Engine or are they coming away?”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The artificer would likely know about modrons, especially after studying the one from the beholder's lair. (Int check: 12 - if successful, he will share his knowledge with the others when they turn into solid form)
"I'm sorry for again not being overly optimistic about your plans human. We have absolutely no idea where they are marching from or marching to. We could spend months following them without taking us one inch closer to our goal. If you do insist on interacting with them then perhaps we should simply try to talk to the inverted pyramid up front and hope it is not as brokan as the thing we found in the Vast Oblivium."The noble drow says as he briefly solidifies.
"I'm not so sure these things are really going to be helpful," Katryl says. "Shouldn't we just keep looking on her own?" She's skeptical that these creatures will help.
"Well, in fact almost everyone we meet in these part of the Underdark is not helpful at all..." admits Khessa "But if we prefer to continue searching on our own to the risk of communicating with them, at least let's continue our searches in one of the two directions: either the one they're going to, or the one they're coming from. They're kind of constructs... I strongly suspect they're connected to the famous 'Maze Engine' that's supposed to be in the area. And if we found that thing, it might certainly prove useful to us!"
Horkas pitches in to the discussion... "Aw, c'mon. Why break the streak now? Let's go talk to the leader modron - it is likely the only one of that group that could have answers. It will only take a few minutes, but may save us hours."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The noble drow chuckles as he is about to react the same way as the fiery genesi scout. "Okay, why not, let's try some talking again." He says without much optimism, then resuming wind form to get to the head of the column, enough ahead to resume solid form before addressing the pyramid one, making a peaceful bow and gesture to hopefully make them stop and listen. "Greetings, we are searching for something called the Maze Engine that is supposed to be found somewhere in this region. You wouldn't know where to find it?" He tries in the common tongue, hoping the modrons understood.
Persuasion if relevant: 11
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"I find a feast with or without your help. So be on your way and take that wretched excuse for a creature with you. When Yeenoghu rises I will bask in his glory and raze their city."
Grisha glowers but neither he, nor the other cultists in the area move to attack or draw weapons of any kind. They appear to be quite content with you leaving as you are.
"Well, guess that didn't work out," Katryl says. "Shall we be on our way?" She's ready to head on.
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
Lulu nods and begins the one minute transformation time to walk with the wind again.
Seeming relieved as the team decides to move on, the noble drow too starts the transformation to wind form, ready to follow Katryl through the maze.
Khessa, partly disappointed by the total inconclusiveness of the encounter, partly relieved by the fact that at least it didn't lead to violence, takes cloud form again and starts following Katryl's safe guidance again.
Turning back into your cloud forms, leaving the pathetic, wretched settlement of the Filthriddens behind as the denizens watch you change and fly off, you can easily make your way through more of the Labyrinth, for about another hour (leaving 1 hour left) when the echoing sounds of marching feet reaches you, though on your current path you do not see anything yet that could make the noise.
The windy form of the noble drow would gesticulate that the team simply swooshes onwards to see who the marchers are, not likely demons since marching would require cohesion which in itself was anathema to the hordes of the abyss. Still if there was demons or others that they would need to fight ahead the team could most likely simply swoosh back and solidify before macrhing forwards to meet them.
As you search for the source of the marching sounds, it appears to come from a fairly narrow passage, which thankfully isn't as difficult to navigate as a cloud, but it twists and turns for a few minutes before opening to a shelf about 15 ft wide, looking down over a stretch of straight tunnel, 20 ft below you. A curious procession of creatures marches along the tunnel below your position. Twelve of the creatures are identical. Each has a round body, spindly arms and legs, a pair of fluttering wings rising above its arms, and a single eye staring out over a wide, smiling mouth. At the column’s head stands a creature that looks like an inverted pyramid held up by six legs. It scuttles like a crab. On each side of its body, an eye is set above a mouth. Under the mouth, a single arm grips a spear in its hand.
Traydark knowledge to determine what kind of weird creatures this is: 3
Lulu, just a wisp of cloud, floats above the strange creatures. And wonders if they look anything like the equally strange creature they found in the beholder's makeshift prison?
It takes Traydark a while longer to figure them out, as they look rather worn down, but with Lulu's help (and perhaps others) they do bear a remarkable resemblance to the one you found earlier, although one of them is distinctly different, but probably still of the same general type.
Khessa, without knowing it, has thoughts similar to those of Lulu: these creatures of approximately geometric shape (apart from eyes and appendages) remind her of Mr Ball King's 'special prisoner'.
'Does this mean... that we are close to the Maze Engine?!' the blonde arcane warrior thinks excitedly. If this fabled eldritch device is as powerful as Mr Ball King believed, being able to examine it, even for a moment, is too good an opportunity to pass up! She begins to solidify on the shelf, so she can communicate with others.
Once the transformation is complete, after sharing her thoughts with everyone, the tall adventuress, with her blue eyes sparkling with lively excitement, proposes: "Let's follow the march in cloud form! Or, let's follow their tracks backwards! If we found the Maze Engine and studied it a little... with a bit of luck maybe we could even use it to produce some of the components we need - or to get help in another way! In your opinion, what is more likely? Are they going towards the Engine or are they coming away?”
The artificer would likely know about modrons, especially after studying the one from the beholder's lair. (Int check: 12 - if successful, he will share his knowledge with the others when they turn into solid form)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
They do appear to be modrons, most like the one you found earlier, though one is different, more...complex perhaps.
"I'm sorry for again not being overly optimistic about your plans human. We have absolutely no idea where they are marching from or marching to. We could spend months following them without taking us one inch closer to our goal. If you do insist on interacting with them then perhaps we should simply try to talk to the inverted pyramid up front and hope it is not as brokan as the thing we found in the Vast Oblivium." The noble drow says as he briefly solidifies.
"I'm not so sure these things are really going to be helpful," Katryl says. "Shouldn't we just keep looking on her own?" She's skeptical that these creatures will help.
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
"Well, in fact almost everyone we meet in these part of the Underdark is not helpful at all..." admits Khessa "But if we prefer to continue searching on our own to the risk of communicating with them, at least let's continue our searches in one of the two directions: either the one they're going to, or the one they're coming from. They're kind of constructs... I strongly suspect they're connected to the famous 'Maze Engine' that's supposed to be in the area. And if we found that thing, it might certainly prove useful to us!"
Horkas pitches in to the discussion... "Aw, c'mon. Why break the streak now? Let's go talk to the leader modron - it is likely the only one of that group that could have answers. It will only take a few minutes, but may save us hours."
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Katryl gives Horkas a shrug. She still looks skeptical but she's not going to stop anyone from going to talk to them.
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
The noble drow chuckles as he is about to react the same way as the fiery genesi scout. "Okay, why not, let's try some talking again." He says without much optimism, then resuming wind form to get to the head of the column, enough ahead to resume solid form before addressing the pyramid one, making a peaceful bow and gesture to hopefully make them stop and listen. "Greetings, we are searching for something called the Maze Engine that is supposed to be found somewhere in this region. You wouldn't know where to find it?" He tries in the common tongue, hoping the modrons understood.
Persuasion if relevant: 11