Nickeline does her best to sleep in the crypt. She notices that she does not fear the orcs or Ruby at all (not that she would ever fear a lone kobold). Between her faith, confidence in herself and her allies, and having something much scarier to worry about, they no longer seem like a problem. Indeed, Nickeline is glad they are there.
As Nickeline prays for her spells at what seems like dawn, she senses that the Lord of Smiths approves of her recent actions. 'Going deep underground and fighting undead for a magic sword—how could he not?' she thinks.
Upon learning the tripwires in the next room are gone, she says, "I don't suppose one of you decided to get an early start by disarming those traps? If so, thank you, good job. If not, and it's the enemy who did it, why? To clear the path so they can better attack us? To replace the traps with something worse? I suppose a third party could have removed the tripwires, too."
Hewelathan sleeps soundly, but he wishes that he could see sky and stars during his watch. While he's fascinated by the weird ecosystem of fungus and creatures in the Underdark, he still finds the subterranean environment oppressive. Or maybe that's just their dangerous surroundings and the proximity to the undead priestess of Lolth! He can practically feel the dusty, cold hate radiating from the center of the crypt.
Hewelathan finds the news of the disabled traps unnerving. "No," he replies to Nickeline. "I worry that they no longer need the trip-wires because whatever was behind those doors has been set loose. Or perhaps it's an invitation to proceed to the center of the crypt? Then again, when a spider invites an insect into its web, they'd best find another path. Unless they think that they can beat the spider in its own home!"
(OOC: I'm still making some decisions about HeweIathan's level up and his prepared spells for the day. I've normally been leaving Flaming Sphere to Nickeline, but Hewelathan may prepare that one today just so that we have more ways to do fire damage. I'll likely also prepare Pass Without Trace again if we want to attempt stealth, but it may be difficult to sneak up on Talice since it seems like she may now know that we're here.
I guess the question before the party is whether to continue straight to the center of the crypt or to try going sideways for a couple of rooms and then approach the center that way. No idea which way would be safer. There are 8 rings before the center room. We got through 4 rings on the previous day: animated coffin room, bypassed the pressure plates and weird statues, snake room, and mummification chamber. We also cleared out some skeletons to either "side" of the snake chamber. That still leaves us at least 4 rooms before we reach the central chamber. More, if we decided to go to the side a few rooms before heading to the center.)
Tamphalic has slept underground plenty a time in his travels and research, although inside a crypt is a new one, and slept very well.
"It is weird indeed that the tripwires are gone. On the one hand we could just go to another room, but I would normally take the approach where we know what happened instead of not knowing, and thus I'd prefer to still go to that room, to investigate why and how the trip wires are now gone." he says "Regarding how to get to the center, I still think its best to not take a to direct approach, on the one hand because that might be the most obvious, and on the other to get to know more of what is inside this crypt."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war |Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
So, go forward through the mummification chamber and then into the used-to-have-tripwires room to investigate what was done there. Then maybe branch out from there to a side room and zig-zag into the center of the "web" of rooms?
The party enters the room that was formerly webbed with trip-wires. The stone doors remain sealed, and there aren't any signs that they changed position in the night.
What you do notice, though, when looking down the side-halls is that they have been blocked off with massive stone doors... it's probably possible to break these doors, but it would probably take some time. If you peer into the next room, you also don't see any visible traps or monsters. You can guess that the side halls are likely blocked off in this room as well. It seems that the Mistress of the Black Crypt is rather eager to meet you without delay...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
"At least we'll have a clear and direct path when it's time to leave," says Nickeline. Pushing her optimism to the limit, she continues, "It definitely feels like an invitation. Maybe the years of torturous undeath have led our host to change her ways and she's actually really nice now."
"At least we'll have a clear and direct path when it's time to leave," says Nickeline. Pushing her optimism to the limit, she continues, "It definitely feels like an invitation. Maybe the years of torturous undeath have led our host to change her ways and she's actually really nice now."
Nickeline proceeds forward with caution.
Hewelathan says darkly, "I do not believe that centuries of undeath would make anyone nicer." He asks Nickeline for a dose of the mummy rot antidote before they get going, and then he falls into his normal place near the back of the marching order.
Hewelathan will cast Guidance on Jodie or Korba if they want to scout ahead a bit, but since it seems that Talice expects them, he's not sure how much value there is in Stealth.
"I think its clear that she wants us for herself, not her minions." Tamphalic says as he continues in the middle of the group "Although, I expect she has minions close by aswell."
(Anyone wants gift of alacrity casts on him/her?)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war |Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
The party continues towards the central chamber, your footsteps echoing through the eerie silence. Nothing accosts you as you march through the darkness... which is perhaps even more terrifying than another fight. As you reach the center of the tomb, a voice calls out to you...
You come in the company of the Zenxeral Summersong... the female voice says, echoing through the hallway. Or rather, the Defiler. It seems a most unusual coincidence that someone so closely associated with the Lord of the Shaded Isle has come to my domain... Could it be that my dearest husband has sent you to avenge the half-breed child because he is too much of a coward to come here himself? He was always such a weak fool...
The priestess's voice drips with venom, amplified by an otherworldly power. As you look into the central chamber, you can finally see her. Her empty eye sockets glow faintly as she stares at you from her throne that appears to be made of severed spider-legs...
(OOC: Assuming our normal marching order, where Jodie would have been in front to scout...)
Hewelathan files into the room and then moves up from the rear to stand next to Jodie. After hearing the undead priestess's words, he whispers a quiet prayer for the wits of the most cunning creatures who manage to trick their predators and touches Jodie's arm. She's the one who made a bargain with a dragon, and Talice is calling out Jodie's lute. He gives her an encouraging nod.
"Men are fools, it is true. But like Zenxerai trapped in the magical lute, men can be instruments of greatness when tamed &played. Lord Akkron did send us here, perhaps to foolishly bargain even if he assured you were not to be trusted. But as you said, he is...or was a man. But prove he was weak and foolish, for we only heard his side of your tale. We are on no mission of vengeance, but rather salvation from the cursed fragments of Sserah's soul."
"Men are fools, it is true. But like Zenxerai trapped in the magical lute, men can be instruments of greatness when tamed &played. Lord Akkron did send us here, perhaps to foolishly bargain even if he assured you were not to be trusted. But as you said, he is...or was a man. But prove he was weak and foolish, for we only heard his side of your tale. We are on no mission of vengeance, but rather salvation from the cursed fragments of Sserah's soul."
That was with guidance. I almost cast Enhance ability. Oh well.
Jodie smiles pleasantly, hopeful Talice will be reasonable and willing to provide some context Lord Akkron may have occluded...
Assuming this fails, Tamphalic manipulates time slightly to give Jodie a do-over.
((Chronal shift for a reroll, I assume this includes the guidance, as it is a reroll of ability check, not just of the d20))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war |Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
Tamphalic witnesses the lukewarm response to Jodie's words and seeks to adjust things slightly... Whether it was the delivery or a certain twinkle in Jodie's eye, but the second attempt seems to have the same weight and presence as Talice's necrotic energy.
Nickeline happily hands over the mummy rot antidote to Hewelathan.
She mouths prayers for courage to herself as she marches through the darkness. As she approaches Talice's throne, her free hand unconsciously drifts up to clutch her holy symbol.
She's glad that Talice is focused on Jodie and that Jodie seems more than capable of meeting Talice head on, at least when it comes to talking.
Tamphalic witnesses the lukewarm response to Jodie's words and seeks to adjust things slightly... Whether it was the delivery or a certain twinkle in Jodie's eye, but the second attempt seems to have the same weight and presence as Talice's necrotic energy.
Amazing!!! Rerolled 2 -> 20 If the Guidance roll (2) is unchanged the total is 29
(Well that's... something. I guess you get an evil monologue instead of immediately being disintegrated lol)
A hollow laugh escapes the dark priestess as she remains seated on her iron throne.
You certainly have a way with words, half-breed, the undead drow says coldly. But what reason could he have to send ambassadors after two thousand years?
She pauses, her mummified face remaining completely unmoving.
Perhaps that is how long it took him to realize that a half-breed could serve no greater purpose than to spill her blood for the glory of Lolth.
She gives Korba an unnerving smile as she says that...
But I know how set in his ways he is... I doubt he is even able to see past a limited human perspective. A mortal life... or a thousand... or even a million... matter not. All races of Faerûn will one day bow before Lolth's supremacy, and they shall gladly give up their so-called freedom and their meaningless lives to bring glory to the Spider Queen. But I doubt that the Lord of the Shaded Isle has come to that realization yet. It seems far more likely that he has sent you to rob me... and if he seeks to dispose of the remnants of the mad dragon lord, then I already know what he wanted you to steal...
Hildegard rides slowly forward on Perdita, her eyes on the treacherous drow. She waits, quietly, to hear what Talice has to say in response to Jodie... and she grips her reins, and sword hilt, tighter as she listens. Talice is utterly bound to Lloth and her depravity, there is not a drop of repentence for her crimes. Hildegard feels an echo of Lord Akkron's sorrow in her heart. His understandable rage at what Talice did to him twisted him terribly... but the undead visage before Hildegard has a worse fate. The fate of soaking her hands in blood and glorying in it. There will be no mercy for her, in the end. And so Hildegard lets go of her sword hilt. Perhaps indeed she will bargain. If not, it would be my duty and honor to end the abomination of her existence.
"The deed of the Seven Heroes has been sung to this day,"the paladin says, seated on the back of the nightmare. "You say you know what we seek to set Sserah Nightbane to rest. Will you bargain with us for it, or will it come to arms?"
Perhaps that is how long it took him to realize that a half-breed could serve no greater purpose than to spill her blood for the glory of Lolth.
She gives Korba an unnerving smile as she says that...
But I know how set in his ways he is... I doubt he is even able to see past a limited human perspective. A mortal life... or a thousand... or even a million... matter not. All races of Faerûn will one day bow before Lolth's supremacy, and they shall gladly give up their so-called freedom and their meaningless lives to bring glory to the Spider Queen. But I doubt that the Lord of the Shaded Isle has come to that realization yet. It seems far more likely that he has sent you to rob me... and if he seeks to dispose of the remnants of the mad dragon lord, then I already know what he wanted you to steal...
Korba is used to poor treatment at the hands of drow elves, especially from the priestesses of Lolth, whose devotion to the supremacy of pureblood drow was unparalleled. He's glad of his dark glasses to hide his full reaction to the mummy priestess's words. He puts a hand to his sword but does not draw it yet.
Korba shakes his head at Hildegard's willingness to fight Talice. They've done well so far, but he fears that few of them would survive a fight with Talice, especially if the undead priestess has many of her undead thralls nearby. He glances around the room without moving his head, looking for the other exits and places where Talice's minions may be hiding out of sight.
Korba addresses Talice in Elvish, which Jodie should understand, and uses what is likely one of her titles, given her position, "But surely, Most Favored High Priestess of Lolth, the other races will never have a chance to learn fealty to Lolth if the Dragon Lord Sserrah Nightbane rises again. Sserrah seeks to conquer all of Faerûn. Would you stand by and idly watch while a new challenger ascends to godhood and claims the whole world as her hoard?" His tone is flat, revealing little. He secretly hopes that Jodie can take that idea and use it to gain Talice's assistance. Or at least avoid a fight with her.
Tamphalic stands by, silent, not having anything to add yet as he only came to this group late, and hasn't heard all about Talice and Lord Akkron.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war |Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
Talice taps her bony fingers against her armrest as she observes you all.
I shall humor you a bit longer, she says, making it exceedingly obvious through her tone of voice how much she thinks Sserah's return would impact Lolth's grand plans. What do you believe you can give me which would be a worthy trade for a priceless item of legendary power? Choose your answer wisely...
(Note: a nat-20 on a Persuasion check isn't going to stop her from trying to murder you all if you give her an answer she doesn't like... or if you take too long to come up with something...)
Nickeline does her best to sleep in the crypt. She notices that she does not fear the orcs or Ruby at all (not that she would ever fear a lone kobold). Between her faith, confidence in herself and her allies, and having something much scarier to worry about, they no longer seem like a problem. Indeed, Nickeline is glad they are there.
As Nickeline prays for her spells at what seems like dawn, she senses that the Lord of Smiths approves of her recent actions. 'Going deep underground and fighting undead for a magic sword—how could he not?' she thinks.
Upon learning the tripwires in the next room are gone, she says, "I don't suppose one of you decided to get an early start by disarming those traps? If so, thank you, good job. If not, and it's the enemy who did it, why? To clear the path so they can better attack us? To replace the traps with something worse? I suppose a third party could have removed the tripwires, too."
OOC:
Preparing Locate Object and Augury; keeping the same spells otherwise.
Action: Cast Aid on Hildegard, Jodie, and Korba (if they are willing)
Hewelathan sleeps soundly, but he wishes that he could see sky and stars during his watch. While he's fascinated by the weird ecosystem of fungus and creatures in the Underdark, he still finds the subterranean environment oppressive. Or maybe that's just their dangerous surroundings and the proximity to the undead priestess of Lolth! He can practically feel the dusty, cold hate radiating from the center of the crypt.
Hewelathan finds the news of the disabled traps unnerving. "No," he replies to Nickeline. "I worry that they no longer need the trip-wires because whatever was behind those doors has been set loose. Or perhaps it's an invitation to proceed to the center of the crypt? Then again, when a spider invites an insect into its web, they'd best find another path. Unless they think that they can beat the spider in its own home!"
(OOC: I'm still making some decisions about HeweIathan's level up and his prepared spells for the day. I've normally been leaving Flaming Sphere to Nickeline, but Hewelathan may prepare that one today just so that we have more ways to do fire damage. I'll likely also prepare Pass Without Trace again if we want to attempt stealth, but it may be difficult to sneak up on Talice since it seems like she may now know that we're here.
I guess the question before the party is whether to continue straight to the center of the crypt or to try going sideways for a couple of rooms and then approach the center that way. No idea which way would be safer. There are 8 rings before the center room. We got through 4 rings on the previous day: animated coffin room, bypassed the pressure plates and weird statues, snake room, and mummification chamber. We also cleared out some skeletons to either "side" of the snake chamber. That still leaves us at least 4 rooms before we reach the central chamber. More, if we decided to go to the side a few rooms before heading to the center.)
Tamphalic has slept underground plenty a time in his travels and research, although inside a crypt is a new one, and slept very well.
"It is weird indeed that the tripwires are gone. On the one hand we could just go to another room, but I would normally take the approach where we know what happened instead of not knowing, and thus I'd prefer to still go to that room, to investigate why and how the trip wires are now gone." he says "Regarding how to get to the center, I still think its best to not take a to direct approach, on the one hand because that might be the most obvious, and on the other to get to know more of what is inside this crypt."
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war | Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
So, go forward through the mummification chamber and then into the used-to-have-tripwires room to investigate what was done there. Then maybe branch out from there to a side room and zig-zag into the center of the "web" of rooms?
Moving along...
The party enters the room that was formerly webbed with trip-wires. The stone doors remain sealed, and there aren't any signs that they changed position in the night.
What you do notice, though, when looking down the side-halls is that they have been blocked off with massive stone doors... it's probably possible to break these doors, but it would probably take some time. If you peer into the next room, you also don't see any visible traps or monsters. You can guess that the side halls are likely blocked off in this room as well. It seems that the Mistress of the Black Crypt is rather eager to meet you without delay...
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
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"At least we'll have a clear and direct path when it's time to leave," says Nickeline. Pushing her optimism to the limit, she continues, "It definitely feels like an invitation. Maybe the years of torturous undeath have led our host to change her ways and she's actually really nice now."
Nickeline proceeds forward with caution.
"Appreciate the optimism... but I have my doubts we're going to be that lucky," Urgad mutters.
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Hewelathan says darkly, "I do not believe that centuries of undeath would make anyone nicer." He asks Nickeline for a dose of the mummy rot antidote before they get going, and then he falls into his normal place near the back of the marching order.
Hewelathan will cast Guidance on Jodie or Korba if they want to scout ahead a bit, but since it seems that Talice expects them, he's not sure how much value there is in Stealth.
"I think its clear that she wants us for herself, not her minions." Tamphalic says as he continues in the middle of the group "Although, I expect she has minions close by aswell."
(Anyone wants gift of alacrity casts on him/her?)
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war | Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
The party continues towards the central chamber, your footsteps echoing through the eerie silence. Nothing accosts you as you march through the darkness... which is perhaps even more terrifying than another fight. As you reach the center of the tomb, a voice calls out to you...

You come in the company of the Zenxeral Summersong... the female voice says, echoing through the hallway. Or rather, the Defiler. It seems a most unusual coincidence that someone so closely associated with the Lord of the Shaded Isle has come to my domain... Could it be that my dearest husband has sent you to avenge the half-breed child because he is too much of a coward to come here himself? He was always such a weak fool...
The priestess's voice drips with venom, amplified by an otherworldly power. As you look into the central chamber, you can finally see her. Her empty eye sockets glow faintly as she stares at you from her throne that appears to be made of severed spider-legs...
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
(OOC: Assuming our normal marching order, where Jodie would have been in front to scout...)
Hewelathan files into the room and then moves up from the rear to stand next to Jodie. After hearing the undead priestess's words, he whispers a quiet prayer for the wits of the most cunning creatures who manage to trick their predators and touches Jodie's arm. She's the one who made a bargain with a dragon, and Talice is calling out Jodie's lute. He gives her an encouraging nod.
Hewelathan grants Guidance on Persuasion to Jodie.
Concentration: Guidance
"Men are fools, it is true. But like Zenxerai trapped in the magical lute, men can be instruments of greatness when tamed & played. Lord Akkron did send us here, perhaps to foolishly bargain even if he assured you were not to be trusted. But as you said, he is...or was a man. But prove he was weak and foolish, for we only heard his side of your tale. We are on no mission of vengeance, but rather salvation from the cursed fragments of Sserah's soul."
Persuasion: 11
That was with guidance. I almost cast Enhance ability. Oh well.
Jodie smiles pleasantly, hopeful Talice will be reasonable and willing to provide some context Lord Akkron may have occluded...
Fargen Hill Dwarf Cleric/Barbarian - Hoard of the Dragon Queen, Jodie Olwen Half-Elf Bard- Chronicles of the Accursed
Assuming this fails, Tamphalic manipulates time slightly to give Jodie a do-over.
((Chronal shift for a reroll, I assume this includes the guidance, as it is a reroll of ability check, not just of the d20))
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war | Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
Tamphalic witnesses the lukewarm response to Jodie's words and seeks to adjust things slightly... Whether it was the delivery or a certain twinkle in Jodie's eye, but the second attempt seems to have the same weight and presence as Talice's necrotic energy.
Persuasion: 29
Amazing!!! Rerolled 2 -> 20 If the Guidance roll (2) is unchanged the total is 29
Fargen Hill Dwarf Cleric/Barbarian - Hoard of the Dragon Queen, Jodie Olwen Half-Elf Bard- Chronicles of the Accursed
Nickeline happily hands over the mummy rot antidote to Hewelathan.
She mouths prayers for courage to herself as she marches through the darkness. As she approaches Talice's throne, her free hand unconsciously drifts up to clutch her holy symbol.
She's glad that Talice is focused on Jodie and that Jodie seems more than capable of meeting Talice head on, at least when it comes to talking.
(Well that's... something. I guess you get an evil monologue instead of immediately being disintegrated lol)
A hollow laugh escapes the dark priestess as she remains seated on her iron throne.
You certainly have a way with words, half-breed, the undead drow says coldly. But what reason could he have to send ambassadors after two thousand years?
She pauses, her mummified face remaining completely unmoving.
Perhaps that is how long it took him to realize that a half-breed could serve no greater purpose than to spill her blood for the glory of Lolth.
She gives Korba an unnerving smile as she says that...
But I know how set in his ways he is... I doubt he is even able to see past a limited human perspective. A mortal life... or a thousand... or even a million... matter not. All races of Faerûn will one day bow before Lolth's supremacy, and they shall gladly give up their so-called freedom and their meaningless lives to bring glory to the Spider Queen. But I doubt that the Lord of the Shaded Isle has come to that realization yet. It seems far more likely that he has sent you to rob me... and if he seeks to dispose of the remnants of the mad dragon lord, then I already know what he wanted you to steal...
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Hildegard rides slowly forward on Perdita, her eyes on the treacherous drow. She waits, quietly, to hear what Talice has to say in response to Jodie... and she grips her reins, and sword hilt, tighter as she listens. Talice is utterly bound to Lloth and her depravity, there is not a drop of repentence for her crimes. Hildegard feels an echo of Lord Akkron's sorrow in her heart. His understandable rage at what Talice did to him twisted him terribly... but the undead visage before Hildegard has a worse fate. The fate of soaking her hands in blood and glorying in it. There will be no mercy for her, in the end. And so Hildegard lets go of her sword hilt. Perhaps indeed she will bargain. If not, it would be my duty and honor to end the abomination of her existence.
"The deed of the Seven Heroes has been sung to this day," the paladin says, seated on the back of the nightmare. "You say you know what we seek to set Sserah Nightbane to rest. Will you bargain with us for it, or will it come to arms?"
Korba is used to poor treatment at the hands of drow elves, especially from the priestesses of Lolth, whose devotion to the supremacy of pureblood drow was unparalleled. He's glad of his dark glasses to hide his full reaction to the mummy priestess's words. He puts a hand to his sword but does not draw it yet.
Korba shakes his head at Hildegard's willingness to fight Talice. They've done well so far, but he fears that few of them would survive a fight with Talice, especially if the undead priestess has many of her undead thralls nearby. He glances around the room without moving his head, looking for the other exits and places where Talice's minions may be hiding out of sight.
Korba addresses Talice in Elvish, which Jodie should understand, and uses what is likely one of her titles, given her position, "But surely, Most Favored High Priestess of Lolth, the other races will never have a chance to learn fealty to Lolth if the Dragon Lord Sserrah Nightbane rises again. Sserrah seeks to conquer all of Faerûn. Would you stand by and idly watch while a new challenger ascends to godhood and claims the whole world as her hoard?" His tone is flat, revealing little. He secretly hopes that Jodie can take that idea and use it to gain Talice's assistance. Or at least avoid a fight with her.
Tamphalic stands by, silent, not having anything to add yet as he only came to this group late, and hasn't heard all about Talice and Lord Akkron.
"grandpa" Salkur, Gnome Arti/Sorc: Forged in Chaos | Pepin, Human Arti/Cleric: Goblin horde | Mixtli, Volc Genasi Arti: Champions of the Citadel | Erix Vadalitis, Human Druid: Rising from the last war | Smithy, Human Arti: Night Ravens: Black orchids for Biscotti | Tamphalic Aliprax, Dragonborn Wizard: Chronicles of the Accursed | Doc, Dwarven Cleric (2024): Adventure at Hope's End | Abathax, Tiefling Illriger: Hunt for the Balowang | Gorin Mestel, Human Arti: Descend into Avernus
Talice taps her bony fingers against her armrest as she observes you all.
I shall humor you a bit longer, she says, making it exceedingly obvious through her tone of voice how much she thinks Sserah's return would impact Lolth's grand plans. What do you believe you can give me which would be a worthy trade for a priceless item of legendary power? Choose your answer wisely...
(Note: a nat-20 on a Persuasion check isn't going to stop her from trying to murder you all if you give her an answer she doesn't like... or if you take too long to come up with something...)
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
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