With that Jordbugg and Maggwyn are able to guide the party through the hazy mist. Ahead is a cratered street..
The blasted street is filled with small craters, tiny crystals glow with prismatic light within each.
Here..was a mother load of crystal and trouble. Six shambling husk covered in crystal with purple eyes. As they collect the rocks into the center. The air is filled with a sorta.. static almost like the smell before a thunderstorm.
Fifth teen Delrium Chips. Each could sell for 5 gold (10 gold to the right connections but unlikely for most.)
Than... four larger chunks.. fragments. (Worth 50 gold but 100 to the right connects though unlikely. But as spell components they do count as 100 gold.)
This was a decent first find! Only problem was all six husk surrounding it and worshiping the rocks. Was it worship? As they moan and surrounded the rocks themselves.
Xarian shakes his head slowly as the Flamekeeper declares her doubts at what the Academy is interested in and speaks of destroying delerium.
In truth, the Academy, probably like many organizations, consists of many different people. The Academy itself thinks nothing. It is the people. Some do want to research delerium for the benefit of all, not for profit. Others have different goals, including ones I cannot fathom. Yet if these people sell to anyone else, the buyers will likely *only* seek profit or power. And if delerium is traded and spread throughout the continent... throughout the world...
He pauses in thought, continuing to gaze deeper into the city. And I am not convinced that the she or the Silver Order, for all their certainty, know how to destroy delerium safely, certainly not in large quantities. They may risk making things worse. Looking at this city, how the effect is... growing, how it is... transforming. I do not think it so easy as simply destroying a rock, and in fact, I was told it was not. We shall see.
Xarian looks equally non-plussed by Fazil's purely transactional approach to delerium as the other mage explains the approach he suggests. The big man opens his mouth to speak, but closes it again, finding he cannot rightly articulate the unease he feels at thinking of the material as mundane treasure.
As a result, Xarian is distracted when the unlikely group arrives at the Haze Husks. Slowly, he draws his Maul and stands, observing them. Specifically, he tries to identify whether the strange, charged effect in the air is coming form the Haze Husks or from the collection of delerium itself.
Meanwhile, his owl Ash briefly wings up into the air to scout whether there are any other apparent threats lurking nearby, using her Keen Hearing and Sight.
From a distance Jordgubb points over showing the group the prize and the enemy, "see hmm? I can restrain them from a distance making it easier for those who need to get close to do damage, yes? I'll wait for your signal nd try to get a good vantage point for the fight ahead" with a nod Jordgubb gets a little distance from the group and sees if he can find himself a roof or overlook to clamber up to in the vicinity.
(Active perception for looking for a vantage point on the husks 23 passive 14 if he can take his time.)
Seeing as no one else was picking up the small shard, Maggwyn dons her new gloves and scoops it up, wrapping it in cloth and tucking it away in her pack.
She raises an eyebrow to Xarian's declaration of not wanting to state what his purpose was. "Then why are you nosing around what everyone else is up to?"
Maggwyn is surprised at the large amount of delerium they had found and looks around to see if there are any other parties that have arrived here as well.
As she stares at this situation she asks Xarian, "So how long have you been with the Academy?"
Jordbudd only see's crumbling buildings nearby, he could stand on some but with high perception.. This area looks rough. Is it the gathered crystals? The roofs look almost unsafe to stand on.
As Maggwyn looks around for exactly that.. She finds a few people twenty maybe thirty feet behind the husk. Problem was.. they were all dead. Four dead humans, three men in heavy armor and a woman holding a wand. Though they were horribly mutilated.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Fazil watches intently as Maggwyn secures the Delerium Fragment. His eyes follow her every move, ensuring she handles it safely. Once it's stowed away, he falls in line with the rest of the party, alert and ready.
As they move. he notices some of the group members ahead slowing down and eventually halting. This sets off an alarm in his mind. He knows from experience that sudden stops like this often mean trouble.
Fazil's heart quickens. He scans the area quickly, his eyes darting around the area. He’s looking for any signs of movement, anything unusual that might indicate an ambush or hidden danger. He checks their flanks and peers into the darkness behind them, trying to determine if they’ve unwittingly wandered into a trap or if they’re being silently surrounded by unseen foes.
He grips his wand and spellbook tighter, ready for whatever might come, hoping they aren't already encircled without realizing it.
Seeing the large Delerium just made it worse for him.
Investigation Check: 19 (OOC: Checking if there are any other hidden parties in the background, watching everything at a distance.) Passive Investigation: 15
Seeing as no one else was picking up the small shard, Maggwyn dons her new gloves and scoops it up, wrapping it in cloth and tucking it away in her pack.
She raises an eyebrow to Xarian's declaration of not wanting to state what his purpose was. "Then why are you nosing around what everyone else is up to?"
Maggwyn is surprised at the large amount of delerium they had found and looks around to see if there are any other parties that have arrived here as well.
As she stares at this situation she asks Xarian, "So how long have you been with the Academy?"
Xarian looks puzzled at Maggwyn's seeming remonstration. Interesting. Why such aversion to questions? I accepted it when she declined to answer. He remembers the guard captain and Leuchten declaring confidently that only unsavory types do not like questions simply being asked, but then also recalls that the guard captain had been none too fond of being on the receiving end of questions himself...
"I, ah... I'm not allowed to say my overall purpose here,Maggwyn, and I didn't ask anyone theirs either." He pauses and peers down hesitantly at her.
"I've just asked what you were each, ah... planning to do with the delerium once you got it, and I already told you what I would do with it."
Unless, he wonders, their sole purpose is to find, sell and profit from delerium, in which case, I suppose the two questions are almost the same...
Absently, he answers her other question. "I've been, ah... been with the Academy less than a year. Not... not a child mage-born recruit like most."
Ash can hear fighting far off but doesn't see anything approaching the party at least not for now. As for the charged effect it does seem to be from the Delirium itself at least for the most part that is.
Fazil finds no parties nearby at least not for the moment but he is smart enough to know that others could be heading for this very hunt at this moment.
OOC I added Xarian's results as well as I forgot sorry was tired that day (Just got off work now actually too lol)
As the party heads off, Thuribula's attention is caught by part of Jordgubb's comment. "You're looking for clues to a cure? A cure for what?"
The Flamekeeper slows down cautiously as the shambling husks come into view. The dead bodies of prior adventerers littering the streets behind the haze husks and their pit of delerium. She holds up a hand to stay the others as she says to them, softly, "Be careful about closing with these. When they are destroyed, they explode... which could be damaging and, likely, poisoning with this contamination as well. But what I do know, or at least, what I was taught..."She readies her shield and draws her hammer. "If the Divine radiance is the final blow that destroys them... it will stop the explosion. Therefore, I should be the only one that closes with them, if that is possible."
But Thuribula learned this in Elyria, not in the field, and there are many unanswered questions. How do I know when the next blow will destroy them? They're not alive, and a killing blow isn't always obvious on undead... not taking her eyes off of the haze husks, she whispers a prayer, and then addresses her companions. "What would you all like to do?"
Jordgubb taps his nose in secrecy and grins at Thuribula as she asks what he could possibly be researching.
Looking around at the rubble and ruin, the sickly dragonborn gives up on such an unstable vantage point and merely hides himself in the rubble, hoping for a bit if cover within 60ft of the husks.
I changed the map, everyone starts at the bottom but if ya guys don't know how to add a piece for yourselves I can later! (Multi tasking IRL right now sorry lol.)
Thuribula doesn't press the strange little creature about his search for a cure, but finds herself wondering if he has been mutated by the delerium. There will be time for that later... if we all survive, and don't also find ourselves in dire need of a cure.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Fazil scowls under his hood, realizing he might have underestimated how many battles they could face in a single day. The thought of continuous fighting wears on him, but he knows he must stay sharp. He reminds himself to be careful and not to let greed or recklessness get the better of him. As long as he remains cautious and thinks strategically, he should be able to handle whatever challenges come their way.
He takes a deep breath to steady his nerves. The area around him seems to close in, and every shadow and sound is a potential threat. But he is determined. He won’t let this place break him. With a quick glance at his companions, he reassures himself that they can face anything together, as long as they remain vigilant and stick to their plan.
After seeing the bodies in the street, Maggwyn's focus changes from Xarian to the husks and the situation at hand. She listens intently to Thuribula and nods to her assertion to allow her the closing blow though how to determine that....
"The delerium-infused area where they are congregating may itself be dangerous, charging the air like clouds in a lightning storm. I believe that the delerium itself is the source of this effect, not the Haze Husks. We may wish to keep away." Xarian looks apologetic as he presents his educated guess.
"So yes, ah... radiant damage and... another choice is to kill them at range so any explosion is far from us and we never have to enter the area charged by delerium. The Haze Husks do not look fast, and Ash tells of no other foes nearby."
"Hitting them at range and retreating if they advance may best. We can destroy a few before they reach us. Flamekeeper Thuri," (he does not try to pronounce her whole name), "and I can be in front to meet them. I am usually able to knock foes backwards and away with my maul."
(Hoping to use Crusher feat to push foes backward on a hit and avoid the explosion - suggesting 'kiting' Haze Husks, with Xarian and Thuri in front).
Sorry you mean push them back and someone else finish them off to avoid the explosion. Not his attack killing them my bad, yeah he could do damage push them back and retreat while someone else finishes them off to avoid the explosion
With that Jordbugg and Maggwyn are able to guide the party through the hazy mist. Ahead is a cratered street..
The blasted street is filled with small craters, tiny crystals glow with prismatic light within each.
Here..was a mother load of crystal and trouble. Six shambling husk covered in crystal with purple eyes. As they collect the rocks into the center. The air is filled with a sorta.. static almost like the smell before a thunderstorm.
Fifth teen Delrium Chips. Each could sell for 5 gold (10 gold to the right connections but unlikely for most.)
Than... four larger chunks.. fragments. (Worth 50 gold but 100 to the right connects though unlikely. But as spell components they do count as 100 gold.)
This was a decent first find! Only problem was all six husk surrounding it and worshiping the rocks. Was it worship? As they moan and surrounded the rocks themselves.
(Prior to arriving at the Haze Husks)
Xarian shakes his head slowly as the Flamekeeper declares her doubts at what the Academy is interested in and speaks of destroying delerium.
In truth, the Academy, probably like many organizations, consists of many different people. The Academy itself thinks nothing. It is the people. Some do want to research delerium for the benefit of all, not for profit. Others have different goals, including ones I cannot fathom. Yet if these people sell to anyone else, the buyers will likely *only* seek profit or power. And if delerium is traded and spread throughout the continent... throughout the world...
He pauses in thought, continuing to gaze deeper into the city. And I am not convinced that the she or the Silver Order, for all their certainty, know how to destroy delerium safely, certainly not in large quantities. They may risk making things worse. Looking at this city, how the effect is... growing, how it is... transforming. I do not think it so easy as simply destroying a rock, and in fact, I was told it was not. We shall see.
Xarian looks equally non-plussed by Fazil's purely transactional approach to delerium as the other mage explains the approach he suggests. The big man opens his mouth to speak, but closes it again, finding he cannot rightly articulate the unease he feels at thinking of the material as mundane treasure.
As a result, Xarian is distracted when the unlikely group arrives at the Haze Husks. Slowly, he draws his Maul and stands, observing them. Specifically, he tries to identify whether the strange, charged effect in the air is coming form the Haze Husks or from the collection of delerium itself.
Xarian's Investigation: 18
Meanwhile, his owl Ash briefly wings up into the air to scout whether there are any other apparent threats lurking nearby, using her Keen Hearing and Sight.
Ash's Perception: also 18
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
From a distance Jordgubb points over showing the group the prize and the enemy, "see hmm? I can restrain them from a distance making it easier for those who need to get close to do damage, yes? I'll wait for your signal nd try to get a good vantage point for the fight ahead" with a nod Jordgubb gets a little distance from the group and sees if he can find himself a roof or overlook to clamber up to in the vicinity.
(Active perception for looking for a vantage point on the husks 23 passive 14 if he can take his time.)
Seeing as no one else was picking up the small shard, Maggwyn dons her new gloves and scoops it up, wrapping it in cloth and tucking it away in her pack.
She raises an eyebrow to Xarian's declaration of not wanting to state what his purpose was. "Then why are you nosing around what everyone else is up to?"
Maggwyn is surprised at the large amount of delerium they had found and looks around to see if there are any other parties that have arrived here as well.
As she stares at this situation she asks Xarian, "So how long have you been with the Academy?"
Jordbudd only see's crumbling buildings nearby, he could stand on some but with high perception.. This area looks rough. Is it the gathered crystals? The roofs look almost unsafe to stand on.
As Maggwyn looks around for exactly that.. She finds a few people twenty maybe thirty feet behind the husk. Problem was.. they were all dead. Four dead humans, three men in heavy armor and a woman holding a wand. Though they were horribly mutilated.
Fazil watches intently as Maggwyn secures the Delerium Fragment. His eyes follow her every move, ensuring she handles it safely. Once it's stowed away, he falls in line with the rest of the party, alert and ready.
As they move. he notices some of the group members ahead slowing down and eventually halting. This sets off an alarm in his mind. He knows from experience that sudden stops like this often mean trouble.
Fazil's heart quickens. He scans the area quickly, his eyes darting around the area. He’s looking for any signs of movement, anything unusual that might indicate an ambush or hidden danger. He checks their flanks and peers into the darkness behind them, trying to determine if they’ve unwittingly wandered into a trap or if they’re being silently surrounded by unseen foes.
He grips his wand and spellbook tighter, ready for whatever might come, hoping they aren't already encircled without realizing it.
Seeing the large Delerium just made it worse for him.
Investigation Check: 19 (OOC: Checking if there are any other hidden parties in the background, watching everything at a distance.)
Passive Investigation: 15
Xarian looks puzzled at Maggwyn's seeming remonstration. Interesting. Why such aversion to questions? I accepted it when she declined to answer. He remembers the guard captain and Leuchten declaring confidently that only unsavory types do not like questions simply being asked, but then also recalls that the guard captain had been none too fond of being on the receiving end of questions himself...
"I, ah... I'm not allowed to say my overall purpose here, Maggwyn, and I didn't ask anyone theirs either." He pauses and peers down hesitantly at her.
"I've just asked what you were each, ah... planning to do with the delerium once you got it, and I already told you what I would do with it."
Unless, he wonders, their sole purpose is to find, sell and profit from delerium, in which case, I suppose the two questions are almost the same...
Absently, he answers her other question. "I've been, ah... been with the Academy less than a year. Not... not a child mage-born recruit like most."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Ash can hear fighting far off but doesn't see anything approaching the party at least not for now. As for the charged effect it does seem to be from the Delirium itself at least for the most part that is.
Fazil finds no parties nearby at least not for the moment but he is smart enough to know that others could be heading for this very hunt at this moment.
OOC
I added Xarian's results as well as I forgot sorry was tired that day (Just got off work now actually too lol)
As the party heads off, Thuribula's attention is caught by part of Jordgubb's comment. "You're looking for clues to a cure? A cure for what?"
The Flamekeeper slows down cautiously as the shambling husks come into view. The dead bodies of prior adventerers littering the streets behind the haze husks and their pit of delerium. She holds up a hand to stay the others as she says to them, softly, "Be careful about closing with these. When they are destroyed, they explode... which could be damaging and, likely, poisoning with this contamination as well. But what I do know, or at least, what I was taught..." She readies her shield and draws her hammer. "If the Divine radiance is the final blow that destroys them... it will stop the explosion. Therefore, I should be the only one that closes with them, if that is possible."
But Thuribula learned this in Elyria, not in the field, and there are many unanswered questions. How do I know when the next blow will destroy them? They're not alive, and a killing blow isn't always obvious on undead... not taking her eyes off of the haze husks, she whispers a prayer, and then addresses her companions. "What would you all like to do?"
Jordgubb taps his nose in secrecy and grins at Thuribula as she asks what he could possibly be researching.
Looking around at the rubble and ruin, the sickly dragonborn gives up on such an unstable vantage point and merely hides himself in the rubble, hoping for a bit if cover within 60ft of the husks.
OOC
I changed the map, everyone starts at the bottom but if ya guys don't know how to add a piece for yourselves I can later! (Multi tasking IRL right now sorry lol.)
Thuribula doesn't press the strange little creature about his search for a cure, but finds herself wondering if he has been mutated by the delerium. There will be time for that later... if we all survive, and don't also find ourselves in dire need of a cure.
Thuribula Initiative: 15
OOC
Everyone can roll initiative if they are ready ^^
Fazil scowls under his hood, realizing he might have underestimated how many battles they could face in a single day. The thought of continuous fighting wears on him, but he knows he must stay sharp. He reminds himself to be careful and not to let greed or recklessness get the better of him. As long as he remains cautious and thinks strategically, he should be able to handle whatever challenges come their way.
He takes a deep breath to steady his nerves. The area around him seems to close in, and every shadow and sound is a potential threat. But he is determined. He won’t let this place break him. With a quick glance at his companions, he reassures himself that they can face anything together, as long as they remain vigilant and stick to their plan.
Initiative: 12
After seeing the bodies in the street, Maggwyn's focus changes from Xarian to the husks and the situation at hand. She listens intently to Thuribula and nods to her assertion to allow her the closing blow though how to determine that....
Initiative 17
"The delerium-infused area where they are congregating may itself be dangerous, charging the air like clouds in a lightning storm. I believe that the delerium itself is the source of this effect, not the Haze Husks. We may wish to keep away." Xarian looks apologetic as he presents his educated guess.
"So yes, ah... radiant damage and... another choice is to kill them at range so any explosion is far from us and we never have to enter the area charged by delerium. The Haze Husks do not look fast, and Ash tells of no other foes nearby."
"Hitting them at range and retreating if they advance may best. We can destroy a few before they reach us. Flamekeeper Thuri," (he does not try to pronounce her whole name), "and I can be in front to meet them. I am usually able to knock foes backwards and away with my maul."
(Hoping to use Crusher feat to push foes backward on a hit and avoid the explosion - suggesting 'kiting' Haze Husks, with Xarian and Thuri in front).
Xarian's Initiative: 7
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
OOC
Rolling Husk Iniative I think I'm only missing Jord's initiative roll.
6
4
11
-1
10
-1
OOC
Xarian isn't sure if they'd push back than explode. Or explode the moment they die
OOC
Edit sorry
Sorry you mean push them back and someone else finish them off to avoid the explosion. Not his attack killing them my bad, yeah he could do damage push them back and retreat while someone else finishes them off to avoid the explosion
Sorry for the hold up! Initiative 3