Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Did we leave the tuning fork in its mount? If not, never mind. If so, ask Sariel if it can br retrieved without enfing our current safe state.
The tuning fork did not travel with you from the tomb in the Spine of the World Mountains.
Trolkarl steps forward head bowed.
Watcher Sariel... I am Trolkarl, bearer of Darkbane.
My patron is a Celestial as well.
It is not right to have one of the heavens treated as a chained instrument even in our desperate situation.
The flask brought us together. But we should end this compulsion of its magic now. I would ask for his aid freely, the way honor demands.
Turns slightly to Kragen and Chadwick
You serve Tyr the JUST. We should release him.
Sariel, if you will guide us of your own will, we will be grateful. If not, we accept, and our debt for helping us this far remains.
Xymox raises a questioning eyebrow at Trolkarl, then shrugs with indifference.
Sariel replies, "I have heard of these items that can trap an entity from the outer planes and compel a brief servitude once freed. I am not aware that that servitude can be cancelled." He nods to Trolkarl, "I can sense the weapon you bear to be of the upper planes. Your group has treated me well and I see no reason to discontinue assisting you. Especially if your belief of the phylactery is true. The opportunity to significantly harm or destroy a lich, any lich, is a laudable outcome."
Very well. If you are happy to travel with us, then we should continue.
Sariel nods. The journey continues for many hours. The good news is that traveling in the Deep Ethereal is not taxing. Serethia and Kellen have no trouble keeping pace with the rest of you. It seems that you are traveling alone in the mists for an extended period of time, but taking no time at all, when you find something. It is not a color curtain as described by Sariel as what you seek. Instead it appears to be a wall of some kind. It extends upwards and downwards and to the sides out of sight. Sariel stops when it comes into sight.
"This appears to be a Demi-Plane. Planar entities and powerful mortal spell casters can create such things with the force of their will. Anything could be inside. The rules of light, gravity, breathable air and everything else is up to the whim of whatever created this. Or, whatever controls it now. Left unattended these will regress back to the ether," Sariel informs you. "My traveling spell to bring us all to the Ethereal is about to expire. We face a choice on how to proceed. Enter the Demi-Plane, use your scroll in an attempt to return to your Material Plane, or, allow the spell to expire and return to the Abyss are the options I can see before you. How would you like to proceed?," the Deva asks.
Serethia immediately speaks up, "I do NOT want to return to the Abyss. Thank you." She looks at Kragen with a hard stare.
Kellen also voices his thought, "It seems that return to the Abyss only dooms all of us to the fate that was previously in store for the lady and myself. I would not wish that upon anyone."
Starker:”I vote for our not being eaten by the Mukbaks. While it would be an edifying experience, in the nature of things I could not profit from the knowledge gained nor write a journal article about it as I was slowly being converted into an edifice of fecal matter ….
”Whereas the mysteries of the demiplane beckon! Let us hie we thither and immediately rest for many hours.”
Serethia looks to Starker with mouth agape. She recovers and adds, "Or, as we would say in Neverwinter, 'Let's go into the Demi-Plane.'"
When they first meet Sariel...
While bowing, "Sariel, my name is Chadwick Leroy Jenkins Paladin of Tyr. It is a wonder and a privilege to meet a celestial being such as yourself. "
Chadwick then, as politely as possible, proceeds to go full fan boi. Asking far ranging questions and even asking trying to speak to him in Celestial.
When debating.
The lack of breathable air gives me pause, but I believe Tyr will see us safely home.
Bowing deeply and formally to Sariel.
"Thank you for rescuing us from that dreadful place, and your guidance, wisdom, and company during the trip. You will be missed."
*Update*
The entire time walking is spent with Chadwick peppering Sariel with questions. About everything. Sariel answers every one with the patience of a saint…
When it is confirmed that it is a celestial Starker’s interest is piqued. He and Cyrus start to observe it through variously colored and scribed lenses, Cyrus walks around it with a mini dowsing rod. Starker takes down notes as soon as he can, and you see that he is filling out a three column table. At the top of the second column is a decent sketch of the Kyton, and on top of the third one of Sariel. The entries and row labels are encoded. He pulls out the kyton’s talisman briefly and then mutters, “Not yet. Should start with controlled conditions and less powerful fuel.” Puts talisman back and notebook and starts to hum a childhood song, slightly off key.
Sariel address Xymox, "There are always choices, Drow. Some better than others. Some more righteous than others. But, always choices."
Xymox: "Going back to the abyss isn't much of an option for us mere mortals. Lead on please, Watcher Sariel."
“The Abyss is a fell place, indeed. Even Devas find it draining to spend extended time there,” Sariel answers.
Kragen politely listens to his compatriots as they are enamored with this heavenly being. Kragen, humbled, cant help reflect and smile at his fortune in meeting this odd group of "friends", smikes thinking about the opportunities he has been provided being in their company. A Celestial nonetheless, indeed!
"Yartol, what was the other names you had used in referencing this ill wizard we have in this artifact? Maybe Sariel is familair with thise?"
"Sareil the Watcher, The Company is in your debt. Know that saving us will not be in vein. We intend" then looms at Starker sideways frowning "To see this vile creature ended for good. He was up to nefarious acts that had wide ranging impact."
"It appears thr company has choosen the demi-plane as opposed to the Abyss again. A fine choice as any. Far thee well Sir!"
Then heads off into the demiplane
“We are not yet free of potential return to the Abyss, Kragen,” Sariel responds. “Passage from the Ethereal must be found. This Demi-Plane remains a part of the Ethereal. If the spell ends while we are within, the Abyss is our destination,” said while following Kragen through the curtain before you.
Serethia and Kellen follow.
Starker <chuckling, contemplating the geometric distortion that briefly allowed Father Kragen to ‘loom’ over him> cinches up his backpack, rests EmFer’s Chastisement on his right shoulder at order arms, chitters at Cyrus until the MMM scrambles up to the left shoulder, smiles a lopsided smile, and walks into the Demi-Plane whistling an aharmonic tune of three-quarter steps he seems to be composing/calculating on the fly.
It measures about 2 miles in diameter. The base is a flat disc mildly concave with the center lower than the rim. The roof is a dome of comingled mists of astral and ethereal vapors. It reaches straight upwards on the edges at the rim. The apex of the dome is in the center and reaches upwards 1 mile.
The center of the demi-plane has a tower made of intertwined black and silver stone. It sits upon an island surrounded by a deep moat. The moat is about four hundred yards across. The island is about four hundred yards in diameter. The lands surrounding this tower are arrayed in concentric circles. The innermost is grassland, the middle layer crop lands and the outermost ring is forested. The swirling mists of astral and ethereal vapors form a curtain at the rim. Illumination is provided by the dome glowing with a soft, golden light. The temperature is pleasantly warm.
Floating through the air on a gentle circular breeze are purple crystals. Their sizes range from the size of a grape to a grapefruit.
Demi-Plane
Xymox drifts up beside Serethia, glancing at the floating crystals.
“So. Romantic pocket universe.
Mysterious tower.
Soul prison in my coat.”
He gives her a sideways grin.
“On a scale from ‘bad date’ to ‘catastrophic destiny,’ where do you think we are right now?”
Then, to Sariel:
“Watcher Sariel, be honest—
have you ever escorted a group this dysfunctional through planar limbo before?”