There is no sign of the strange derro as you pass back through the city, but finding your way to the West Clef isn't very difficult thankfully. As you pass through the gates, the stench in the air changes from acrid and metallic to fetid and repugnant, the fires of industry replaced by squalor. The homes in this part of Gracklstugh are crudely carved from the rock or are just holes in the walls, arranged in no apparent order. The chatter in the air is unnerving, with hundreds of derro muttering, screaming at each other, and otherwise reveling in their insanity. Those who spot you look at you with a burning hatred. In addition, if the familiar is entering while invisible, you'll notice the derro notice that and will swarm to their location to attack.
'Buppido could have been incredibly useful to us, in carrying out research in this area inhabited by derro...' Khessa is thinking, wondering what on earth they are attacking, that swarm of derro they are pursuing... thin air? Oh, well, who cares... 'Why did he leave like that?! Even if he had intended to settle here and not continue with us, he could at least take his leave more calmly... and if he had left us a way to contact him, perhaps now he would have been able to help us. By the way, he was also nice… Oh, well, so be it, there's nothing we can do about it'.
Katryl puzzles for a moment at the derro seeming to chase something in the air. But she then takes a moment to look over the crowded area. (Investigation: 12)
Traydark, you notice as your familiar flits about that there are small, almost imperceptible flashes around the ground and area, almost at random, flashes of arcane runes lighting up for only a brief moment. You can surmise from this that while the derro themselves might not see through invisibility, their territory is filled with these runes to help them know when invisible persons are nearby. Already knowing that the duergar like to use invisible patrols and their disdain for each other, the arcane defense makes more sense.
In addition, everyone except Khessa notices after walking through the territory for close to an hour and doing your best to ignore the mad creatures (no more so than typical), you see an odd pile of moldy rags, boxes and refuse with a small purplish haze emanating from the pile.
Khessa, busy looking around at derro-face-height in the vain hope of recognizing Buppido or Droki, does not notice at all neither the mysterious runes nor the small purplish haze; in fact she passes near the odd pile of moldy rags, boxes and refuses without paying particular attention to it.
Noticing the arcane runes and realizing they detect his invisible servant, the noble drow would command Darkwing to go visible again for now to not rile up these mad creatures any further. Coming upon the pile with the purplish haze, Traydark tries to determine if the purplish haze is dangerous somehow, pointing the pile out to the others. "Perhaps use your servant to examine that pile?" He suggests to the blonde arcane warrior.
"That pile? And why Traydark? What's so interest..." Khessa finally looks down and notices the purplish haze "Oh, I see! It doesn't look like Buppido or Droki... But it sure is something out of the ordinary".
The blonde arcane warrior retreats to a quiet corner, where she begins to chant softly, gesturing over and over as he runs a rod through her fingers that helps her focus the Weave's magical energy.
When the faithful and discreet butler answers the call and appears, the tall adventuress sends him to delicately move parts of the pile to see what it is that gives off the bizarre luminescence, advising her companions: "Just in case, keep ready for trouble. We don't know what this thing is..."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Well done my young apprentice." The noble drow mutters and as the telekinetic magics of the tall blonde human rummages through the pile with the purplish haze, Traydark takes a step closer to see if there is anything of interest there.
"Even today I'm learning something new..." winks Khessa "I didn't know yet, in Undercommon, this use of the word 'apprentice' to designate 'someone capable of casting a spell that you, instead, can't'..."
But, as much as she jokes to defuse the drama, the blonde arcane warrior already has her hands on the hilt of the greatsword, ready for anything...
It takes a bit for Katryl to notice Khessa casting some sort of spell. She looks at Traydark, "What is this servant you're having her send?"
It seems she's perhaps too late though as the invisible entity already moved to the pile. "Wait! What do you think you're doing!" she calls out to the woman.
It takes a bit for Katryl to notice Khessa casting some sort of spell. She looks at Traydark, "What is this servant you're having her send?"
It seems she's perhaps too late though as the invisible entity already moved to the pile. "Wait! What do you think you're doing!" she calls out to the woman.
"Trying to find out what gives off that strange luminescence..." the blonde arcane warrior simply replies "Why, aren't you curious?"
"It is a magical force that can be controlled to perform simple tasks, such as shifting through a pile with a purplish haze over it when you believe it might be unsafe to do so yourself." The noble drow explains to the genasi, his purple eyes still focused on the pile of junk.
"And neither of you recall the glowing symbols and aggressive reaction of the derro to the last invisible being in their midst?" Katryl asks, rather incredulously. "That was literally within the last hour or so!"
"I admit I'm not certain what triggered those arcane symbols earlier but if it was indeed invisibility like that of the duergar then this particular magic should not be a problem as it is not invisibility per se, simply a telekinetic force that has no substance, but thank you for your concern."The noble drow answers a bit dryly.
"And anyway," adds Khessa, her blue eyes shining with curiosity "how do we find out if we don't even try? It's experiments that advance knowledge... It won't take long - plus we're at a standstill, for now, with our boring searches for Droki. Who knows if this strange glowing will provide some clue?"
Ebzer and Silas follow Traydark, keeping eyes and ears open as they move along the dim streets of the duergar city.
There is no sign of the strange derro as you pass back through the city, but finding your way to the West Clef isn't very difficult thankfully. As you pass through the gates, the stench in the air changes from acrid and metallic to fetid and repugnant, the fires of industry replaced by squalor. The homes in this part of Gracklstugh are crudely carved from the rock or are just holes in the walls, arranged in no apparent order. The chatter in the air is unnerving, with hundreds of derro muttering, screaming at each other, and otherwise reveling in their insanity. Those who spot you look at you with a burning hatred. In addition, if the familiar is entering while invisible, you'll notice the derro notice that and will swarm to their location to attack.
'Buppido could have been incredibly useful to us, in carrying out research in this area inhabited by derro...' Khessa is thinking, wondering what on earth they are attacking, that swarm of derro they are pursuing... thin air? Oh, well, who cares... 'Why did he leave like that?! Even if he had intended to settle here and not continue with us, he could at least take his leave more calmly... and if he had left us a way to contact him, perhaps now he would have been able to help us. By the way, he was also nice… Oh, well, so be it, there's nothing we can do about it'.
(Anyone make an investigation check)
Khessa's investigation: 11
Ebzer investigation to see if there is any method to the madness around him. 13
Katryl puzzles for a moment at the derro seeming to chase something in the air. But she then takes a moment to look over the crowded area. (Investigation: 12)
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
Traydark investigation: 19
Sarith investigation: 10
Traydark, you notice as your familiar flits about that there are small, almost imperceptible flashes around the ground and area, almost at random, flashes of arcane runes lighting up for only a brief moment. You can surmise from this that while the derro themselves might not see through invisibility, their territory is filled with these runes to help them know when invisible persons are nearby. Already knowing that the duergar like to use invisible patrols and their disdain for each other, the arcane defense makes more sense.
In addition, everyone except Khessa notices after walking through the territory for close to an hour and doing your best to ignore the mad creatures (no more so than typical), you see an odd pile of moldy rags, boxes and refuse with a small purplish haze emanating from the pile.
Khessa, busy looking around at derro-face-height in the vain hope of recognizing Buppido or Droki, does not notice at all neither the mysterious runes nor the small purplish haze; in fact she passes near the odd pile of moldy rags, boxes and refuses without paying particular attention to it.
Noticing the arcane runes and realizing they detect his invisible servant, the noble drow would command Darkwing to go visible again for now to not rile up these mad creatures any further. Coming upon the pile with the purplish haze, Traydark tries to determine if the purplish haze is dangerous somehow, pointing the pile out to the others. "Perhaps use your servant to examine that pile?" He suggests to the blonde arcane warrior.
Intelligence check: 3
"That pile? And why Traydark? What's so interest..." Khessa finally looks down and notices the purplish haze "Oh, I see! It doesn't look like Buppido or Droki... But it sure is something out of the ordinary".
The blonde arcane warrior retreats to a quiet corner, where she begins to chant softly, gesturing over and over as he runs a rod through her fingers that helps her focus the Weave's magical energy.
(OOC: Casting Unseen Servant as a ritual)
When the faithful and discreet butler answers the call and appears, the tall adventuress sends him to delicately move parts of the pile to see what it is that gives off the bizarre luminescence, advising her companions: "Just in case, keep ready for trouble. We don't know what this thing is..."
"Well done my young apprentice." The noble drow mutters and as the telekinetic magics of the tall blonde human rummages through the pile with the purplish haze, Traydark takes a step closer to see if there is anything of interest there.
Perception: 9
"Even today I'm learning something new..." winks Khessa "I didn't know yet, in Undercommon, this use of the word 'apprentice' to designate 'someone capable of casting a spell that you, instead, can't'..."
But, as much as she jokes to defuse the drama, the blonde arcane warrior already has her hands on the hilt of the greatsword, ready for anything...
It takes a bit for Katryl to notice Khessa casting some sort of spell. She looks at Traydark, "What is this servant you're having her send?"
It seems she's perhaps too late though as the invisible entity already moved to the pile. "Wait! What do you think you're doing!" she calls out to the woman.
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
"Trying to find out what gives off that strange luminescence..." the blonde arcane warrior simply replies "Why, aren't you curious?"
"It is a magical force that can be controlled to perform simple tasks, such as shifting through a pile with a purplish haze over it when you believe it might be unsafe to do so yourself." The noble drow explains to the genasi, his purple eyes still focused on the pile of junk.
"And neither of you recall the glowing symbols and aggressive reaction of the derro to the last invisible being in their midst?" Katryl asks, rather incredulously. "That was literally within the last hour or so!"
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
"I admit I'm not certain what triggered those arcane symbols earlier but if it was indeed invisibility like that of the duergar then this particular magic should not be a problem as it is not invisibility per se, simply a telekinetic force that has no substance, but thank you for your concern." The noble drow answers a bit dryly.
"And anyway," adds Khessa, her blue eyes shining with curiosity "how do we find out if we don't even try? It's experiments that advance knowledge... It won't take long - plus we're at a standstill, for now, with our boring searches for Droki. Who knows if this strange glowing will provide some clue?"