"I suppose you can rest here as Downfall is full of Bullywugs. No one bothers me here" says Octavian
"Oh! How kind of you," Valrieth tries not to sound ungrateful, but she looks uncertainly at the toadstools. She wonders whether she would have nightmares sleeping under the giant toadstools, especially with the heartless elf so close. "My friends and I need to finish exploring Downfall first, but we may return in a little bit to rest before we go to Bavlorna's hut."
(Unless Finley or Gan-Re have something else to ask, Val heads back up to the boardwalk near D15. She relays what they heard from Octavian, in case Gan-Re didn't hear it, including his offer to let them sleep in his toadstool patch for the night. Then she can lead them up to D15.)
"We will return and help ye find the light of your life again, or at least yer heart." Finley nods and follows Valrieth to the hut. "Since we're already in trouble, shall we go ahead and avail us of whatever may be in there?" He looks for Gan-Re, "Shall ye check fer traps and th' like? Ah think tha' it does seem a bit suspicious just sittin' there like that."
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Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
"We will return and help ye find the light of your life again, or at least yer heart." Finley nods and follows Valrieth to the hut. "Since we're already in trouble, shall we go ahead and avail us of whatever may be in there?" He looks for Gan-Re, "Shall ye check fer traps and th' like? Ah think tha' it does seem a bit suspicious just sittin' there like that."
Valrieth leans her head into the hut and calls, "Hello? Is anyone there?" If she gets no answer, she suggests, "Maybe the owner is just away from home? I don't want to steal from innocent people, even bullywugs, but we need to gather whatever information, and we don't have time just to wait around. I'd say, let's look around, but I agree. Be careful."
She gets our her star map and uses it to cast guidance on Finley. (OOC: he has the best investigation score.)
Then Val casts produce flame and takes one step across the threshold, hoping that werehouses really don't exist. She looks up toward the brazier for any sign of more animated coals and looks around the room from the threshold, checking for anyone or anything dangerous. (Perception13)
If she doesn't see anything, she'll walk into the room about 5' to the right (west) of the doorway. She holds her hand with the flame up over her head to help light up the room. She doesn't want to get too close to the chest in the center of the room. Best to leave that to Gan-Re or Finley in case there's a trap.
Valrieth says, "Maybe I should cast Detect Magic to see whether there's some sort of magical ward on the chest, like there was on that door to the attic room in the Leaning Tower?"
If Finley and Gan-Re don't object and agree to stand watch for any bullywugs coming, she'll sit down on the floor of the room and perform another ritual casting of Detect Magic.
Then she examines the chest and looks once around the room to ensure that there's not some enchantment or abjuration here that sound an alarm or trap them as they explore the room.
No there are magics on the chest though there is faint glow from within the chest.
Once Valrieth sees that, she says, "The chest isn't magical, but it looks like something inside it is. But why would someone leave something magical here, unguarded? Be careful when you open it!"
She casts Produce Flame again and stands back and to the side. As Gan-Re (OOC: do we still have Gan-Re or is he already gone?) or Finley opens the chest, she's ready to throw the flame at anything that attacks them.
It's filled with herbs and spices. It looks as if you found someone's pantry. The magic Val senses is from a dried black lizard. It is from the school of evocation.
The magic Val senses is from a dried black lizard. It is from the school of evocation.
Valrieth points out the dried lizard and says, "There's an evocation aura coming from *that*. So, I don't think it's just another ingredient. Do you think we should take it? Maybe it'll be useful against Bavlorna if we can figure out how to use it."
If Finley agrees that they should take the dried lizard, they have a dilemma. Who should take risks like touching an unknown, enchanted item? Val suggests that Finley should take the lizard since he may be able to ward off some of the detrimental effects with absorb elements.
(OOC: of course, Val has Lucky Footwork, which would help if they need to pass a DEX save. If it's a CON save, then Finley would be better.)
Assuming that Finley takes the lizard, Val stands way back at the door in case the magic triggers when he first touches it. She stands ready, whispering, "Carefully!"
"The dried lizard, aye? Ah got these heavy magic gauntlets on, so stand back and keep an eye out fer anyone showing up out there." Finley cracks his knuckles together and gingerly reaches in to carefully pull the lizard out, "some nice spices in here too.."
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Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
(As I said Gan-re is gone. Poof he slipped into another fey domain)
(OOC: Thanks! Since we discussed Gan-Re's departure via the PM thread, I just wasn't sure whether we were just saying that it had already happened around the time the Trio was in the toadstool patch or whether you were going to post about his departure after they're done in D15.
I guess we should also assume that Octavian already joined Finley and Valrieth and is with them now in D15? I saw that you added Octavian to the campaign as a Psi Warrior, which definitely makes him a good replacement for Gan-Re's role as a melee damage dealer.)
Nothing happens as Finley picks up the dried black lizard.
Valrieth lets out a sigh of relief. She looks at the spices, but she says apologetically, "Yes, well, I expect that we'll be relying on Goodberry for sustenance while we're in Hither, and even if we make it to Thither, I don't expect that we'll have much time for cooking. Besides, I don't mind taking back things that Agdon Longscarf stole, but I'd rather not raid some poor bullywug's pantry."
Val looks in the chest and then briefly around the rest of the hut to see whether there's a paper or anything describing how to use the lizard. Assuming that she doesn't find anything, Val looks at the dried lizard suspiciously. "It's too bad that you weren't able to get a pearl from the Wonderous Wares. I'm not sure how else we'll figure out what to do with this lizard. Evocation....most of those spells create an instantaneous effect, right? But I can't think of any that are related to lizards. I guess there must be a way to trigger the effect. Maybe a magic word or -- I don't know -- maybe we're supposed to throw the lizard at the target? But even if we knew how to trigger the effect, it's hard to know when to use it if we don't know what effect we'll get. If one of us has time to study it later, maybe we'll discover more. Until then, maybe just pop it in your backpack for now?"
Valrieth pokes her head out of the hut and looks in both directions down along boardwalk from D15. Does she see or hear any bullywug guards coming, yet? Perception19
If not, she asks Finley, "Where to next? Should we keep exploring Downfall for clues to Bavlorna's powers? Or...I don't know...maybe we should just sneak into Bavlorna's hut and return this book. If the hag isn't at home, maybe we could sneak around her hut and find out more about her or where she could have put Clapperclaw's head and Octavian's heart. Without Gan-Re, we can't fly there, but if the king's bullywugs haven't come after us, yet, maybe we could make it back to the boat and then row out to Bavlorna's hut."
Valrieth puts Finley's arm kindly and says,"I know that it's hard to go on when you lose a good friend. I felt the same way when Hisa fell through that portal back to Faerun. But at least you know that Gan-Re is out of Hither and safe for now. But we still have our quest to rescue the kidnapped children and to free Zybilna so that she can undo whatever these hags have done to Prismeer. Maybe Gan-Re will rejoin us later? Or if not, maybe you'll find him after we finish the quest. Imagine what stories you'll have to share with him after such a grand adventure!" But she sighs worriedly. She was starting to plan how to get Clapperclaw's head (and Octavian's heart) from Bavlorna's hut. Val hoped that they could sneak in and out, but if Bavlorna confronts them, would they be able to fight her without Gan-Re? He was always the bravest of the Trio. Her imagination summons an image of a hag, unbidden: tall and powerful but with shriveled skin and wild hair like brambles, her wizened hand ending in long claws as hard as steel. And in her hand, Octavian's still-beating heart!
Feeling ill, Val pushes the thought of the hag away. Maybe the old fairy tales had just exaggerated hags' powers. (But the part about Octavian's heart wasn't from a fairy tale.) Val resolutely drags her thoughts back to practical details. Gan-Re had been the one who was able to pick the locked box from the Leaning Tower and Agdon Longscarf's treasure box and the lock on Margot's prison cell. "At least we still have Jingle Jangle's key," she thinks to herself. The Fates always provided a way, and surely there must still be a way for Finley and her to succeed with Octavian's help.
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"I suppose you can rest here as Downfall is full of Bullywugs. No one bothers me here" says Octavian
"Oh! How kind of you," Valrieth tries not to sound ungrateful, but she looks uncertainly at the toadstools. She wonders whether she would have nightmares sleeping under the giant toadstools, especially with the heartless elf so close. "My friends and I need to finish exploring Downfall first, but we may return in a little bit to rest before we go to Bavlorna's hut."
(Unless Finley or Gan-Re have something else to ask, Val heads back up to the boardwalk near D15. She relays what they heard from Octavian, in case Gan-Re didn't hear it, including his offer to let them sleep in his toadstool patch for the night. Then she can lead them up to D15.)
D15
"We will return and help ye find the light of your life again, or at least yer heart." Finley nods and follows Valrieth to the hut. "Since we're already in trouble, shall we go ahead and avail us of whatever may be in there?" He looks for Gan-Re, "Shall ye check fer traps and th' like? Ah think tha' it does seem a bit suspicious just sittin' there like that."
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
Valrieth leans her head into the hut and calls, "Hello? Is anyone there?" If she gets no answer, she suggests, "Maybe the owner is just away from home? I don't want to steal from innocent people, even bullywugs, but we need to gather whatever information, and we don't have time just to wait around. I'd say, let's look around, but I agree. Be careful."
She gets our her star map and uses it to cast guidance on Finley. (OOC: he has the best investigation score.)
Then Val casts produce flame and takes one step across the threshold, hoping that werehouses really don't exist. She looks up toward the brazier for any sign of more animated coals and looks around the room from the threshold, checking for anyone or anything dangerous. (Perception 13)
If she doesn't see anything, she'll walk into the room about 5' to the right (west) of the doorway. She holds her hand with the flame up over her head to help light up the room. She doesn't want to get too close to the chest in the center of the room. Best to leave that to Gan-Re or Finley in case there's a trap.
(OOC: Anyone have a 10' pole?)
No one is home and nothing stands out.
Finley follows Valrieth into the hut, "ah'll give it a look see." He carefully makes his way over to the chest to examine it.
(Investigation for Traps: 26 Nat 20 XD)
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
There are no traps.
Valrieth says, "Maybe I should cast Detect Magic to see whether there's some sort of magical ward on the chest, like there was on that door to the attic room in the Leaning Tower?"
If Finley and Gan-Re don't object and agree to stand watch for any bullywugs coming, she'll sit down on the floor of the room and perform another ritual casting of Detect Magic.
Then she examines the chest and looks once around the room to ensure that there's not some enchantment or abjuration here that sound an alarm or trap them as they explore the room.
No there are magics on the chest though there is faint glow from within the chest.
Once Valrieth sees that, she says, "The chest isn't magical, but it looks like something inside it is. But why would someone leave something magical here, unguarded? Be careful when you open it!"
She casts Produce Flame again and stands back and to the side. As Gan-Re (OOC: do we still have Gan-Re or is he already gone?) or Finley opens the chest, she's ready to throw the flame at anything that attacks them.
(As I said Gan-re is gone. Poof he slipped into another fey domain)
Finley nods, "we'll make it up ta whoever owns it once we save our friend." He opens it up if it isn't locked.
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
It's filled with herbs and spices. It looks as if you found someone's pantry. The magic Val senses is from a dried black lizard. It is from the school of evocation.
Valrieth points out the dried lizard and says, "There's an evocation aura coming from *that*. So, I don't think it's just another ingredient. Do you think we should take it? Maybe it'll be useful against Bavlorna if we can figure out how to use it."
If Finley agrees that they should take the dried lizard, they have a dilemma. Who should take risks like touching an unknown, enchanted item? Val suggests that Finley should take the lizard since he may be able to ward off some of the detrimental effects with absorb elements.
(OOC: of course, Val has Lucky Footwork, which would help if they need to pass a DEX save. If it's a CON save, then Finley would be better.)
Assuming that Finley takes the lizard, Val stands way back at the door in case the magic triggers when he first touches it. She stands ready, whispering, "Carefully!"
"The dried lizard, aye? Ah got these heavy magic gauntlets on, so stand back and keep an eye out fer anyone showing up out there." Finley cracks his knuckles together and gingerly reaches in to carefully pull the lizard out, "some nice spices in here too.."
Finley Stoneshaft, Dwarf Artificer - The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, Falkas, Half-Elf Drow Warlock - Keys of Empire
(OOC: Thanks! Since we discussed Gan-Re's departure via the PM thread, I just wasn't sure whether we were just saying that it had already happened around the time the Trio was in the toadstool patch or whether you were going to post about his departure after they're done in D15.
I guess we should also assume that Octavian already joined Finley and Valrieth and is with them now in D15? I saw that you added Octavian to the campaign as a Psi Warrior, which definitely makes him a good replacement for Gan-Re's role as a melee damage dealer.)
Yes, Octavian is with you standing back.
Nothing happens as Finley picks up the dried black lizard.
Valrieth lets out a sigh of relief. She looks at the spices, but she says apologetically, "Yes, well, I expect that we'll be relying on Goodberry for sustenance while we're in Hither, and even if we make it to Thither, I don't expect that we'll have much time for cooking. Besides, I don't mind taking back things that Agdon Longscarf stole, but I'd rather not raid some poor bullywug's pantry."
Val looks in the chest and then briefly around the rest of the hut to see whether there's a paper or anything describing how to use the lizard. Assuming that she doesn't find anything, Val looks at the dried lizard suspiciously. "It's too bad that you weren't able to get a pearl from the Wonderous Wares. I'm not sure how else we'll figure out what to do with this lizard. Evocation....most of those spells create an instantaneous effect, right? But I can't think of any that are related to lizards. I guess there must be a way to trigger the effect. Maybe a magic word or -- I don't know -- maybe we're supposed to throw the lizard at the target? But even if we knew how to trigger the effect, it's hard to know when to use it if we don't know what effect we'll get. If one of us has time to study it later, maybe we'll discover more. Until then, maybe just pop it in your backpack for now?"
Valrieth pokes her head out of the hut and looks in both directions down along boardwalk from D15. Does she see or hear any bullywug guards coming, yet? Perception 19
If not, she asks Finley, "Where to next? Should we keep exploring Downfall for clues to Bavlorna's powers? Or...I don't know...maybe we should just sneak into Bavlorna's hut and return this book. If the hag isn't at home, maybe we could sneak around her hut and find out more about her or where she could have put Clapperclaw's head and Octavian's heart. Without Gan-Re, we can't fly there, but if the king's bullywugs haven't come after us, yet, maybe we could make it back to the boat and then row out to Bavlorna's hut."
Valrieth puts Finley's arm kindly and says, "I know that it's hard to go on when you lose a good friend. I felt the same way when Hisa fell through that portal back to Faerun. But at least you know that Gan-Re is out of Hither and safe for now. But we still have our quest to rescue the kidnapped children and to free Zybilna so that she can undo whatever these hags have done to Prismeer. Maybe Gan-Re will rejoin us later? Or if not, maybe you'll find him after we finish the quest. Imagine what stories you'll have to share with him after such a grand adventure!" But she sighs worriedly. She was starting to plan how to get Clapperclaw's head (and Octavian's heart) from Bavlorna's hut. Val hoped that they could sneak in and out, but if Bavlorna confronts them, would they be able to fight her without Gan-Re? He was always the bravest of the Trio. Her imagination summons an image of a hag, unbidden: tall and powerful but with shriveled skin and wild hair like brambles, her wizened hand ending in long claws as hard as steel. And in her hand, Octavian's still-beating heart!
Feeling ill, Val pushes the thought of the hag away. Maybe the old fairy tales had just exaggerated hags' powers. (But the part about Octavian's heart wasn't from a fairy tale.) Val resolutely drags her thoughts back to practical details. Gan-Re had been the one who was able to pick the locked box from the Leaning Tower and Agdon Longscarf's treasure box and the lock on Margot's prison cell. "At least we still have Jingle Jangle's key," she thinks to herself. The Fates always provided a way, and surely there must still be a way for Finley and her to succeed with Octavian's help.