"Let's give it to Hoid. The amount of damage he could do with it would give any enemy pause."
Chadwick then hurries off to don his armour and the rest of his weapons. He comes back with gleaming armour and weapons, his hair vibrant and full bodied.
As much as I want to be active in the upcoming ride of the Valkyries, I've got packed day. I'll do my best to respond, but don't wait too long on me.
I’ll take the potion, but depending on the type, Chadwick might get more benefit. For example, if it is hill giant, Hoid would only get an effective +1, whereas Chadwick would get +2 (I think).
Starker: “Lady Arin, since the point of this ever-changing changing exercise now seems to be to get you to this Whatshisname, I suggest you take this Potion of Gaseous Form to use if it appears that consuming it is the prudent course. Please do return it should you not use it during our journey.”
Belkar and three acolytes join you. Lady Arin tucks the potion into her clothes. Inkan invokes a prayer to Tyr to deliver you safely and you are off. The walk to the palace is pleasant. Weather on The Rock is constant it seems and a pleasant 80F on the day side. High Town is quite different than Low Town even though they are a short walk away. All of the buildings are of much better construction than in Low Town. Buildings here are also spaced apart instead of being crowded atop one another. There really are no alley ways for skulking about here. The only animals evident are draft animals pulling carts or carriages. No one rides here you notice.
Lady Arin announces her presence to the gate attendants. It is only a short wait until you are admitted. Belkar and the acolytes bid you good day and best luck in your dealings and return to the temple. Lady Arin hands the potion to Starker. All of you are taken to a salon to wait. All of your weapons are asked for prior to this.
Starker to the party while we are alone: ”When do we get paid? I worry you are not understanding what a coin flip it was when I put that monster to sleep. If he had used his psionic blast one more time we would all be dead. To get a line of site to a point far enough behind him so as not to send several of you to sleep I had to come and stay out of cover and thus join you all in his cone of mental destruction. I do not give a fig for Stormrider or their so-called ‘Plan’. Ventrix was going to pay us. Who will pay us now? It costs money to live, it costs a lot of money for me to transfer spells into my spellbook. When do we get paid?”
Hoid to Starker in draconic, “Please shut up. If need be, I will pay you. As for risking your delicate neck by being in range of the mindflayer, feel free to flee next time. Those of us that were in the thick of battle are unimpressed with your whining.”
Starker:”Hoid, I appreciate your candor and rest assured I will remember your words. I worry that you sustained an injury that affects both your memory and your ability to distinguish between reasoned argument and whining. As to whether or not I was in the so-called ‘thick’ of battle wherever I was was viscous enough to allow me to contribute meaningfully to the defeat of the quaggoths, the ogres, the rust monsters, and the mindflayer. Only an idiot mage wades into what you say is the ‘thick’ of battle and idiot mages tend not to live long enough to cast fireballs.”
The attendants at Andru’s palace are polite and show you to a comfortable salon. A tray of sweet breads and small beer flagons are brought for you. It is only a short time before Lady Arin enters the room along with a well-groomed man wearing a long sword at his side. Arin moves into the room while the man remains by the door, arms crossed.
Arin addresses you, “Thank you for all that you have done. My work here is completed and my ship leaves for Waterdeep later today.” She gestures to the man, “This is Stellos. He is the Sword Master to Prince Andru. Should your travels take you to Waterdeep, the Stormrider house will welcome you.” She stands to go as Stellos walks towards you. “Thank you, Lady Stormrider. Your efforts are much appreciated,” he bows to her. “Gentlemen,” he turns to all of you, “I hope you can fill in some blanks for me. Lady Arin mentioned you were hired by Lady Ventrix to find her. Seemingly at the behest of our Liege, Prince Andru.” He pauses briefly and continues, “There are two things about this that interest me. Firstly, I have asked and can assure you that no directive was sent to Lady Ventrix to do this. Secondly, Lady Ventrix was found unresponsive in her chambers this morning. She lives, but responds to no one.” He then looks about to each of you, “Can you offer any information about these things? And, I was told you have notes made by the abductor of Lady Arin. Can you share those with the Prince?”
"Well met Master Stellos, i am Kragen Gravelbeard, Cleric of Tyr.", "While on our home world, we were investigating an odd occurrence. A flying ship had been damaged and was attacked. After assisting the Captain Mallinora in defeating a group that assailed and killed her crew, we proceeded to repair the ship and took up hire as a replacement crew."
"After saving a Living Treant ship, we navigated and returned it to the Rock of Bral and her owners the Space Elves.", "Capt Mallinora introduced us to one of her associates here on the Rock named Lady Ventrix. She offered our group a job to find a missing person, Lady Arin Stormrider. We were told she disappeared from her rooms at the Prancing Pony in High Town. This was the night of her arrival. Agents of Prince Andru spotted her heading into Low Town that night and she never returned. That is all the information Lady Ventrix offered."
"after investigating at the Happy Beholder, a bar owned and operated by the beholder Large Luigi. After spreading word of their search, along with some coin, Trolkarl, Chadwick and Starker caught the interest of a trio from the Juggler's Blade organized crime group. They suggested that the help of Durgan Vox, owner of the Lucky Lady gambling hall, be enlisted. After regrouping and debating the group headed to the Lucky Lady. Durgan Vox invited us to his table to inquire about the group's origins and visit here on Bral. Tales were shared about a missing love of Chadwick's and Durgan Vox offered information to help, for a price. The price for information leading to the Lady's whereabouts was for our group to retrieve an special item that Durgan wanted to sell. We retrieved the item from his competitors and Durgan provided the location of the "Fight Club". We investigated and found a warren underneath the club which was a used by a evil being to do vile and unthinkable acts against various beings. We found the Lady in the warrens as you have heard."
"That is as much as we were told when we met the Lady Ventrix on the docks?"
Stellos nods along with Kragen’s tale. “Much of that aligns with what I know as well. This is a real mess. The mind flayer embassy is like a kicked hornet nest today,” he looks about the room. “Where can I find you later to return these dovcuments to you?”
“Sir, that likely depends on how the kicked nest of hornets reacts to us. We have secured rooms at several inns to hide our comings and goings, but we do not know this rock well enough to opine on our safety moving forward. Do you estimate the mindflayers are likely to seek retribution from us, particularly if we go back to our rooms and keep to ourselves?”
“That is tough to answer,” he responds to Hoid. “Can they identify you? If not you are likely okay. If yes, well, how soon can you leave? Can the captain you spoke about earlier give you passage?”
“Most we encountered could only identify us if raised from or communed with the dead. However, we left some mindless thralls alive and we were followed by some guards from the fight club to the temple. Also, I am ignorant of the abilities of the mindflayers. The one we killed certainly saw us and I do not know whether their kind can communicate mentally over great distances. If so, I would suspect that worm face would have alerted it’s fellow beings while we were killing it and its lackeys.”
Nodding in acknowledgement “a wise recommendation Priest Inkan, we would appreciate any assistance you can provide.”
”let us make haste”
Starker casts Mage Shield, gathers his backpack (complete with mindflayer head), and has Cyrus perch on his left shoulder. “I am ready.”
Starker: “Who would like to carry this likely potion of giant strength?”
"Let's give it to Hoid. The amount of damage he could do with it would give any enemy pause."
Chadwick then hurries off to don his armour and the rest of his weapons. He comes back with gleaming armour and weapons, his hair vibrant and full bodied.
As much as I want to be active in the upcoming ride of the Valkyries, I've got packed day. I'll do my best to respond, but don't wait too long on me.
I’ll take the potion, but depending on the type, Chadwick might get more benefit. For example, if it is hill giant, Hoid would only get an effective +1, whereas Chadwick would get +2 (I think).
I will assume that a great sword is available.
Starker: “Lady Arin, since the point of this ever-changing changing exercise now seems to be to get you to this Whatshisname, I suggest you take this Potion of Gaseous Form to use if it appears that consuming it is the prudent course. Please do return it should you not use it during our journey.”
(I added a potion of hill giant strength to Hoid’s inventory as a placeholder.)
Belkar and three acolytes join you. Lady Arin tucks the potion into her clothes. Inkan invokes a prayer to Tyr to deliver you safely and you are off. The walk to the palace is pleasant. Weather on The Rock is constant it seems and a pleasant 80F on the day side. High Town is quite different than Low Town even though they are a short walk away. All of the buildings are of much better construction than in Low Town. Buildings here are also spaced apart instead of being crowded atop one another. There really are no alley ways for skulking about here. The only animals evident are draft animals pulling carts or carriages. No one rides here you notice.
Lady Arin announces her presence to the gate attendants. It is only a short wait until you are admitted. Belkar and the acolytes bid you good day and best luck in your dealings and return to the temple. Lady Arin hands the potion to Starker. All of you are taken to a salon to wait. All of your weapons are asked for prior to this.
Lady Arin is escorted off to meet with Stellos.
Starker to the party while we are alone: ”When do we get paid? I worry you are not understanding what a coin flip it was when I put that monster to sleep. If he had used his psionic blast one more time we would all be dead. To get a line of site to a point far enough behind him so as not to send several of you to sleep I had to come and stay out of cover and thus join you all in his cone of mental destruction. I do not give a fig for Stormrider or their so-called ‘Plan’. Ventrix was going to pay us. Who will pay us now? It costs money to live, it costs a lot of money for me to transfer spells into my spellbook. When do we get paid?”
Hoid to Starker in draconic, “Please shut up. If need be, I will pay you. As for risking your delicate neck by being in range of the mindflayer, feel free to flee next time. Those of us that were in the thick of battle are unimpressed with your whining.”
Starker:”Hoid, I appreciate your candor and rest assured I will remember your words. I worry that you sustained an injury that affects both your memory and your ability to distinguish between reasoned argument and whining. As to whether or not I was in the so-called ‘thick’ of battle wherever I was was viscous enough to allow me to contribute meaningfully to the defeat of the quaggoths, the ogres, the rust monsters, and the mindflayer. Only an idiot mage wades into what you say is the ‘thick’ of battle and idiot mages tend not to live long enough to cast fireballs.”
The attendants at Andru’s palace are polite and show you to a comfortable salon. A tray of sweet breads and small beer flagons are brought for you. It is only a short time before Lady Arin enters the room along with a well-groomed man wearing a long sword at his side. Arin moves into the room while the man remains by the door, arms crossed.
Arin addresses you, “Thank you for all that you have done. My work here is completed and my ship leaves for Waterdeep later today.” She gestures to the man, “This is Stellos. He is the Sword Master to Prince Andru. Should your travels take you to Waterdeep, the Stormrider house will welcome you.” She stands to go as Stellos walks towards you. “Thank you, Lady Stormrider. Your efforts are much appreciated,” he bows to her. “Gentlemen,” he turns to all of you, “I hope you can fill in some blanks for me. Lady Arin mentioned you were hired by Lady Ventrix to find her. Seemingly at the behest of our Liege, Prince Andru.” He pauses briefly and continues, “There are two things about this that interest me. Firstly, I have asked and can assure you that no directive was sent to Lady Ventrix to do this. Secondly, Lady Ventrix was found unresponsive in her chambers this morning. She lives, but responds to no one.” He then looks about to each of you, “Can you offer any information about these things? And, I was told you have notes made by the abductor of Lady Arin. Can you share those with the Prince?”
Starker hands the notes to Stellos.
Stellos accepts them, “Thank you. I will personally make sure they are returned to you once they have been examined.”
"Well met Master Stellos, i am Kragen Gravelbeard, Cleric of Tyr.", "While on our home world, we were investigating an odd occurrence. A flying ship had been damaged and was attacked. After assisting the Captain Mallinora in defeating a group that assailed and killed her crew, we proceeded to repair the ship and took up hire as a replacement crew."
"After saving a Living Treant ship, we navigated and returned it to the Rock of Bral and her owners the Space Elves.", "Capt Mallinora introduced us to one of her associates here on the Rock named Lady Ventrix. She offered our group a job to find a missing person, Lady Arin Stormrider. We were told she disappeared from her rooms at the Prancing Pony in High Town. This was the night of her arrival. Agents of Prince Andru spotted her heading into Low Town that night and she never returned. That is all the information Lady Ventrix offered."
"after investigating at the Happy Beholder, a bar owned and operated by the beholder Large Luigi. After spreading word of their search, along with some coin, Trolkarl, Chadwick and Starker caught the interest of a trio from the Juggler's Blade organized crime group. They suggested that the help of Durgan Vox, owner of the Lucky Lady gambling hall, be enlisted. After regrouping and debating the group headed to the Lucky Lady. Durgan Vox invited us to his table to inquire about the group's origins and visit here on Bral. Tales were shared about a missing love of Chadwick's and Durgan Vox offered information to help, for a price. The price for information leading to the Lady's whereabouts was for our group to retrieve an special item that Durgan wanted to sell. We retrieved the item from his competitors and Durgan provided the location of the "Fight Club". We investigated and found a warren underneath the club which was a used by a evil being to do vile and unthinkable acts against various beings. We found the Lady in the warrens as you have heard."
"That is as much as we were told when we met the Lady Ventrix on the docks?"
Stellos nods along with Kragen’s tale. “Much of that aligns with what I know as well. This is a real mess. The mind flayer embassy is like a kicked hornet nest today,” he looks about the room. “Where can I find you later to return these dovcuments to you?”
“Sir, that likely depends on how the kicked nest of hornets reacts to us. We have secured rooms at several inns to hide our comings and goings, but we do not know this rock well enough to opine on our safety moving forward. Do you estimate the mindflayers are likely to seek retribution from us, particularly if we go back to our rooms and keep to ourselves?”
“That is tough to answer,” he responds to Hoid. “Can they identify you? If not you are likely okay. If yes, well, how soon can you leave? Can the captain you spoke about earlier give you passage?”
“Most we encountered could only identify us if raised from or communed with the dead. However, we left some mindless thralls alive and we were followed by some guards from the fight club to the temple. Also, I am ignorant of the abilities of the mindflayers. The one we killed certainly saw us and I do not know whether their kind can communicate mentally over great distances. If so, I would suspect that worm face would have alerted it’s fellow beings while we were killing it and its lackeys.”
"Plus we have angered a few of the criminal elements in the city as well.
Given that this mission was on your behalf, perhaps you could recommend a secure place to stay until we are about to depart?"