Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

Boona pokes herself then looks up at the crazy woman...." Why keep flesh nuggets?  Boona here for her friends."

Nightblade:

"There is an abandoned library to the south that you may rest if needed," offers Nightblade, "But I ask that you do not initiate conflict with the cultists...yet."  The drow elf attempts to usher the party to the southern door past the bedrolls. 

He moves up to Boona and lays a hand on her shoulder, saying, "Let us speak with my employer first, if you don't mind--I am not sure how much good we can do conversing with this cultist".  He grants her additional healing--Cure Wounds:  36

Jorzu 

Flinching at the sight of the Mind Flayer illusion, Jorzu quickly follows Nightblade into the next room. With his nerves still frayed from the apparent loss of Fergus the sight of the cultist and it's gemmules does nothing to ease his burden. He edges closer to Nightblade and asks; "You allow them in such close quarters to your camp?" He stares at the cultist as they file into the southern room.

Nightblade:

”They make me uneasy as well.  It was…not my choice to stop and camp here,” responds Nightblade.  Jorzu gets the impression that the drow would have long since taken the fight to the cult with whatever allies he could muster, but is being restrained from charging in by something—likely the aforementioned employer.

The strange woman calls down from her lofty position atop the statue, to Boona. "These little ones are my friends. Would you like to meet them? They are progeny of the Caller. Come! You can be their friend, too! They love new friends."

Meanwhile, in the room to the south: "I'll get Nythalyn and Yanthdel," mutters Thiala, a drow armed with a hand crossbow and shortsword, hopping up off her bedroll. She opens the door to the west, where two drow peer out from an adjoining room adorned with mostly empty bookshelves. "Nightblade found someone," she quickly explains.

"Who are these people? Who did you find? Can they help?" asks Nythalyn quietly to Nightblade. "We will pay for their help. We need to parlay with numbers on our side."

Boona ignores the crazy woman and goes with Nightblade obviously confused as to why she is not swatting people and nuggets at this very moment.

She turns to Nightblade, " You are small. But Boona feel good when you touch her.  We keep you."

Nightblade:

Answering quietly as well, Nightblade says, “These adventurers are here to take on the cult and rescue some of their fellow surface dwellers.  I expect we could easily find common purpose if we were to attack the cult, but the subtleties of a parley may be more…difficult.  I told them the basics of our situation and they agreed to come speak with you.  I have not yet mentioned payment.”

Nythalyn hurriedly ushers the rest of the party into this old Reading Room and closes the door to the north. He and his brother wear studded leather armor rather than chain, but is otherwise similarly armed to the others.

He turns to the party. "Welcome, strangers. We are here only to convince our father, Ontharyx, to return home. The cultists have powers here that are unfamiliar to us. We would force our way into the chambers beyond, but we know that the cultists are too strong, especially with their strange pets, who are fiercer than they look. We are willing to pay for your services. If indeed you can force your way past that crazed guard and her pets, we would ask that you capture Ontharyx, and bring him here to us Is this something you can help us with?"

Jorzu 

As he listens to the drow a puzzled look creeps across Jorzu's face. He shuffles next to Boona and beckons she lean down before whispering; "Why would children need to capture their father?" 

Bryony follows Nightblade further into the temple. She watches the strange vision play out with growing unease. Still reeling from the loss of Fergus, the halfling eyes the cultist on top of the dwarven statue with clear suspicion bordering on actual hatred. Before she can say anything too nasty, though, Nightblade draws her and Boona into a room full of drow. This does little to reassure the halfling, who stares around at all the under-elves with wide eyes.

Bryony doesn't hear what Jorzu whispers to Boona, but she has the same thought. "We were probably going to have to do that anyway in order to save my Aunt," she says. "Being paid for it sounds nice, but it's personally not my priority. I won't say no to gold though. I've still gotta eat after all, and halflings can eat a lot. Don't let our size fool you." She tries for a smile, but it's weak. She's not really in a lighthearted mood at the moment.

"If my friends agree, then we will help you. I know what it's like to lose a family member," Bryony continues. "Although I'm curious as to why you say we have to capture your father? Does that mean he will try to attack us? Is he under the cult's power somehow?" The halfling recalls the cultists they have already encountered with their strange psionic abilities. Maybe they've mentally dominated this Ontharyx to do their bidding.

"Also, if we help get your father back, will you help us rescue my Aunt?" Bryony asks. "I'd rather your help with that than gold."

Quote from See_Ess >>

Jorzu 

As he listens to the drow a puzzled look creeps across Jorzu's face. He shuffles next to Boona and beckons she lean down before whispering; "Why would children need to capture their father?" 

Boona shrugs, " Where Bryony family? Which one we need smash to get them?"

She ignored the voice in her head....she knew it was a liar now.....well. at least until it had more convincing things to say...

"I'm afraid we can only offer limited help and little gold," replies Nythalyn. "Our father said he received a psychic call, and we worry he has joined this dangerous cult. We've been hoping he might appear in the chamber you just saw, so we can talk to him, but he hasn’t yet been seen there. He clearly remains deeper in the temple. He isn’t likely to come willingly, I don't think, so we hope he can be subdued and brought back here. We don’t care what happens to any other cultists. We're certain we can convince our father of the error of his ways, despite his apparent decision to join these freaks. In lieu of gold, for payment we can offer you this magical periapt in exchange for our father." He nods to Yanthdel, who produces a small silver pendant. "We can help you in your quests as we can, but I'm afraid our immediate priority is bringing our father home."

Nightblade:

”I will, of course, offer my assistance as well,” says Nightblade, “although a brief rest before continuing we allow me to refocus and have better access to my more potent powers.” (needs a short rest).

”Also, just in case there are multiple of our kind enthralled by the cult, does your father have any distinguishing characteristics that may help us identify him?” he adds, having just considered this possibility.

Bryony nods. Some help is better than none. The halfling takes the silver pendant. 

"What does this do?" she asks. 

"Father? He has a deep scar across his nose. And the noble Henlifel eyes. Nightblade, even if you have not met him, you will certainly know him," replies Nythalyn to Nightblade. 

Yanthdel lets Bryony examine the pendant before taking it back.  "It will give the wearer protection against disease. Perhaps even against whatever is transforming the cultists. And perhaps your friends as well?" he adds, glancing at Jorzu's throat eye, which has slipped out of its collar to glance desperately around.

Jorzu 

Dissatisfied with Boona's reply but then reassured by the openness of the drow Jorzu approaches Nightblade. "I too need a rest to access....greater powers. We have travelled for a while though, perhaps my friends would prefer a longer respite" he says to the curious newcomer. "I am happy with just the hour though, if that's more suitable" before turning to Nythalyn to ask; "Is there a private area for us to rest? Or is this the most secure place?" He nods towards the door and most certainly the cultist and her gemmules. Alâedixx sits in the corner grumpily picking at the warts on his chin.

Nightblade:

”Thank you, Nythalyn,” responds Nightblade, satisfied that the adventurers now have the description as well.

Turning to the three-eyed Jorzu, he says, “The room to the south is unoccupied and we have seen only the one entrance.  It should be suitable for resting.”

Bryony reluctantly agrees to a rest. She is still feeling quite woozy and worn out from the fight with the snake lady and her rock monsters. "I don't want to rest too long but an hour sounds good," the halfling says.

Turning to Jorzu, she motions toward the silver pendant. "Maybe you should wear it, Jorzu," she says, glancing nervously at his third eye.

Boona shrugs and heads in to rest, if Bryony is happy with it so is she.

Yanthdel pockets the pendant. Clearly, they intend payment to be made after services are performed. 

You are ushered into the remains of a library to the south. 

It is indeed what Nightblade has promised - a former library that seems like it should be well-defended by the drow. Shelves cover the stone walls of this room from floor to ceiling. Sagging books that have been reduced to little more than scraps and dust fill the shelves, although a few books bound in metal have survived the long years of abandonment.

Does everyone want to take a Short Rest? How do you want to spend this time?