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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The inn is easy to find. It is a relatively large one with stables, many rooms and a large common room. There are many people here enjoying the drinks served. It seems they have a local ale, some wine from Cormyr that Trolkarl identifies as a 'pass' in the places he goes as well as something like dwarven spirits, but with a tang like edge. The crowd is raucous and a mix of humans, dwarves and gnomes.
Rooms are arranged without trouble and you soon find a large bowl of a steaming stew of beef (?) with root vegetables in a thick brown gravy. Several rounds of bread are dropped off with this. This is the best you have eaten in a while. The kobolds tried. But oatmeal with dried meats and berries gets old quickly.
Starker:”Was anyone able to contact Xagyg? As mighty as we are, I think The Company will need some allies if we are to fend off a universe eating paradox powered embodiment of instantiated nihilism. “
Looking into his mug "I miss my stein. I wonder they would be willing to fashion me another?"
Kragen looks oddly at Starker "i do not speak wizard language however i can contact Xagyg if you would like. What is your message?"
Kragen inquires with the Innkeep about rooms for each of them. Then inquires "Master innkeep, how far is Mirabar from this town? Are there merchant trains running between here and Mirabar? Where would.i inquire about transport for me and my companions?"
Starker to Kragen:”tell him I translated the quipu and that Xathuul is coming to destroy our universe. Illiandel was its pawn, thinning the walls between universes.”
Rooms arranged. Mirabar is two days on foot or one day riding hard. He usually gets supplies every other week or so. Heavy wagon hauling kegs and livestock for slaughter.
Are there enough horses for the rest of the party for purchase? Otherwise we'll walk.
Back at the table, Xymox scribbles new lines beneath the title of his growing ballad.
The Dragon’s Bargain
He mutters aloud while writing:
“Verse three… betrayal.”
“Verse four… kobold imprisonment.”
“Verse five…”
He glances at Starker.
“…cosmic annihilation.”
He sighs.
“This song is becoming distressingly long.”
Horses are not for sale here. This is a very small town.
Let’s hit the trail for Mirabar unless there is need for more shoe leather here.
Starker, thank you for sharing this new information on Xathuul.
Perhaps along the road we might speak of how The Company makes its weightier decisions. I say this as likely the least rule-bound among us. I did not leave Cormyr to follow any charter. But recent events give me pause.
The demon scroll. The matter of Yartol. In both cases we had strong voices and firm convictions but no agreement that I could discern. I have no interest in acting as a merchants guild committee with Robert’s Rules of Order. But when the stakes are high, we should choose together before we act. A simple vote may be necessary at times
Starker:”I would suggest we consider and weigh expertise. In matters of negotiation, perhaps Xymox’s opinion as to approach should weigh more than mine. In matters of battle magic, I modestly suggest that I am owed some deference, and that when split second decisions are needed I be allowed to crave forgiveness rather than permission.
“But it is true that there are some very important topics where our different philosophies will lead to incompatable preferences. I hope that our time together will lend us the grace to trust each of us to do what they think best for The Company. We are none of us diametrically opposed in outlook. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every illithid’s corpse and dragon grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over Faerun, will yet swell the chorus of The Company, when again touched, as surely, they will be, by the better celestials of our nature.”
The stew bowls sit mostly empty now, the fire in the inn’s hearth popping softly while the wind outside reminds everyone that the mountains are still very much winter’s domain.
Xymox sits back in his chair, violin resting across his knees. He draws the bow lazily across the strings once or twice—more thinking than playing. After a moment he lets the note fade and looks around the table at the others.
“Well then,” he begins lightly, “we have slain a dragon, survived betrayal, negotiated with kobolds, discovered a potential universe-ending horror, and walked several days through what I can only describe as an extremely enthusiastic amount of cold.”
He rubs his gloved hands together with exaggerated displeasure.
“I feel it is time we address a rather important question.”
He gestures vaguely around the table.
“What in all the Nine Hells are we doing next?”
His violet eyes move from face to face.
“We could march off toward Kellistor’s tower and poke at whatever reality-tearing nonsense Starker uncovered.”
“We could try to find Yartol and Allindra, assuming they haven’t flown halfway across Faerûn already.”
“We could send word to Xagyg, which would be the responsible thing to do—something I admit makes me suspicious.”
A faint smirk appears.
“Or…”
He leans forward slightly.
“…we could go to Mirabar, acquire horses, information, equipment, and perhaps a hot bath that doesn’t involve boiled mushrooms and kobold supervision.”
He glances toward the frosted window.
“And—purely as a personal observation—I would not object if our next adventure involved a climate in which my fingers do not threaten to fall off during violin practice.”
A beat passes.
“Warm sun. Civilized streets. A tavern that serves wine in something other than a chipped mining mug.”
He lifts his own mug and eyes it critically.
“Is that truly so much to ask?”
Xymox looks around the table again, tone now more earnest beneath the humor.
“So… tell me.”
“What does The Company intend to do?”
“Because if we are marching straight back into another frozen deathtrap filled with cultists and cosmic abominations…”
He sighs dramatically and adjusts the tuning peg on his violin.
“…I would at least like advance notice.”
Kragen listens and nods as each member of The Company provides their perspective on recent events. Kragen seems exteremly thoughtful, which is odd as he is never short of Tyr's divine wisdom.
Speaks up when others are done "although Tyr commands may heart and my conscience, he does not have command of The Company. Our bond and commitment to each other demands equal voice. If my voice becomes too loud, i ask my compatriots to be heard. Wisdom without knowledge and experience is hubris"
Kragen responds to Starker. "I will send Xagyg your message Mage Starker, maybe he understands these events and their import?"
Chadwick, like Kragen, has been quiet. He seems pensive, spending more time staring into his mug than drinking from it.
"I read Allindra's letter last night. (Pauses) I understand better what they went through. That beast was cruelty incarnate, the torture they went through could break just about anyone." The sorrow is clear on his face.
"I stand by my judgement, it was a correct ruling (seems like he says this more to reassure himself), but they did right by us in the end."
Pauses to drink and gather his thoughts.
"We have many things to address, correct, and people to save (he looks at Kragen for the last part and puts his hand on his arm. Perhaps we start with the greatest evils and threats first before we get to the judgement of Yartol and Allindra?"
He clears his throat.
"For now let's carry on to Shalecliff. I'm sure they'll welcome the news of the slaying of the beast. I would also like to see how the reconstruction is going, and it'll be nice to see Bessia, Bronk and the others."
/plans?
Starker:”Has Xagyg responded to our message? Have we an assignment from him? If not, let us hie we to Shalecliff!
”There is plenty of room left in my instantiation of Leomund’s Chest if any of you care to store dense items you do not need near to hand.”
Kargen responds to Starker and the Company. "I have messaged as requested. Here is what i communicated."
A sending to Xagyg: "Mage Starker has translated the quipu and that Xathuul is coming to destroy our universe. Illiandel was its pawn, thinning the walls between universes.”
"His response"
XAGYG - Xathuul meaning unclear. Context needed. Will research in depth once done. Will likely need to meet again. Next time in Waterdeep will notify.
It is a two day trip to Mirabar. This is a big trading city of the north. It is ruled by the trade houses and functions in an orderly manner. High and wide, sloped walls protect the city proper and there is a strong standing militia to protect against marauding humanoids from the mountains.
Any common item you wish to purchase is available here for listed prices.
Rooms are easily arranged at an inn. There are many taverns here as well for food and drink.