That's correct. Bruthwol appears to be on the level.
Not seeing any obvious or immediate threats, Xanrym moves out from his hiding position. He doesn't go immediately to the wagon: first, he quietly moves around the battle field and recovers any of his and Syllen's crossbow bolts that aren't broken. With his cloak, he is probably still difficult to spot in the dim lighting even when he's moving around. Xanrym hopes that Bruthwol doesn't realize that Xanrym was hiding and just thinks that he initially missed the bard among the big carcasses off to the side of the road.
Xanrym finally approaches the wagon with his hands held open in front of him and says in a friendly tone, "Well met, Bruthwol! I'm Xanrym, and I see that you've already met the rest of our Company." He joins the conversation and looks to see whether Bruthwol has any nets to replace the one that the Grick Ancient shredded.
(OOC: I'll wait to see how Bruthwol responds to everyone else's questions before I have Xanrym press for more details. But if you don't want to role play the whole conversation, I'll summarize in the spoiler below.)
Xanrym would talk to Bruthwol while looking through his wares. He'd like to confirm / find out:
What do locals call this great body of water?
The name of the city on the other side of the sea is "Pedestal"?
Is Pedestal a city of other dwarves like him? If not, what peoples live there? Is it a mix of different peoples?
Who rules Pedestal?
Is anyone, including surfacer dwellers, free to visit Pedestal? (He's trying to understand whether Pedestal operates like a normal city or whether there are different customs in the Underdark. Is Pedestal more like the City of Greyhawk or more like a fort?)
Is there a "ruler" of Pedestal, like a king or thane or even a council of elders? "A prosperous merchant like you must know the great powers in Pedestal!"
Does Bruthwol trade in any more exotic goods, like rare books, antiquities recovered from ancient ruins, or even magical items? If not, is there anyone in Pedestal who does?
If Xanrym feels like Bruthwol is holding back, he would take take out one of the tiger eye gems from his pouch while they're talking and start playing with it idly while they talk. He mentions how it's their Company's first trip into this grand subterranean grotto, and they're not sure what to expect. He implies that they may be willing to pay for good information.
Sleight of Hand: 25 <- subtly taking out the gem and rolling it between his fingers without dropping it.
Bruthwal smiles at your want for information, "You have questions? I can try to answer them. An informed customer is a repeat customer!" He first addresses Khessa, "Pedestal just over yonder there was once a drow city-state, known for its access to the frontier beyond and beneath the Sullen Sea. However, a prolonged but successful war with a mind flayer pod weakened the city, leaving it susceptible to a magical plague that brought the ruling class low twenty years ago. The Drow still have a presence here but more and more are being recalled to their capital, I don't know why" He then gives you the map shared before of the area and this explanation, "This vault is the Great Grotto. Once a major center of trade, it has been relegated to a backwater by the disease and war. Brigands, ne'er-do-wells, and refugees from this or that Underdark power inhabit the city. Of course, even lowlifes need trade to sustain them. Thus, I also call Pedestal my home"
He sells you all you want, and once Xanrym comes out asking about power groups in the city he keeps talking, "Listen, Pedestal has no central power. Several groups claim sovereignty, but during bad weeks, the city is little better than a war zone. Good weeks are merely lawless. Anarchy rose in the collapse of the drow hierarchy. And the plague wiped nearly all of em out. The three top power groups are the Inheritors, House Dusklorn, and the guild. I mean the Assassins' Guild, of course. The assassins are making a play for complete control by trying to ally with House Dusklorn, but the Inheritors oppose them. Who knows what the Inheritors want, they say a Pedestal free of drow and assassin control. Doesn't sound too bad to me. Anyway, you won't be turned back from the city because of your heritage, but who knows what the gate guard will demand to pass, or even who mans the gate at this point"
He thinks to himself a moment then adds, "If you want to locate that person your after, talk to Es Sarch. You can find him in the Dripstone Inn on the Street of Five Hanged, directly north three blocks from Pedestal's southern gate. He knows everything about the City, but he's sure to want something in return for his help, more than I certainly."
Bruthwol will go to head north, away from the road, "I must be off, got a couple stops to make before returning to Pedestal, maybe i'll see you in the city in a few days... maybe not."
Khessa pats Bruthwol on the shoulder and smiles widely: "Thank you Bruthwol, I consider you a friend. Let me know if you need me, okay? I'll do my best to repay you for all this information".
Then the blonde arcane warrior turns to the others: "I think we have nothing left to do but head towards Pedestal, keeping an eye out for any kuo-toa ambushes. In the city, we can look for further information".
'Maybe even on the drow slaves and my family?' the tall adventuress can't help but think, while in the depths of her blue eyes a light of hope lights up.
Avery nods, "At least we have a general lay of the land, where to wary, and where to start and a name. That is a good start, I am glad that fate for a change, allowed our passing with him."
Bruthwol will go to head north, away from the road, "I must be off, got a couple stops to make before returning to Pedestal, maybe i'll see you in the city in a few days... maybe not."
Xanrym asks Bruthwol, "Oh? Is there another settlement off that direction?" He checks the map in the Light of Theldrin's staff. "It looks like the only ways out of the Great Grotto are the two ends of this road: the tunnel you just came from and the other exit on the other side of the Sullen Sea and beyond Pedestal."
Before Bruthwol leaves, Xanrym follows up with another question, "Are there any other cities or settlements along this road?" He looks back toward the tunnel to the west, for example. "If you head out from Pedestal in either direction and leave the Great Grotto, what's the first community you'd reach in either direction? And how long would it take to get there?" Xanrym wonders whether there are a string of communities along this road, like the small villages and farming towns that he's accustomed to passing in between Hochoch and Hookhill for example.
Finally, Xanrym thanks Bruthwol and apologizes for delaying him. "May Fharlanghn keep you safe on your drive until you reach Pedestal!"
Xanrym was pretty well provisioned before they left the Free City. He just purchased the following items from Bruthwol:
2 nets - he thought that it was useful against the Grick, but now he realizes that the restrained creature can also simply cut it's way out
1 rope - to replace his "extra" rope that he left tied to a spike at the rift
A bottle of vinegar (if he has it) - Xanrym would like to preserve a bit of the Gibbering Mouther's tongue or skin, hoping the it will be valuable to a wizard who wants to make an item that causes or prevents Confusion.
But he overpaid Bruthwol by giving him one Tiger Eye gemstone (10 gp), which he means as compensation for the map and for the information, saying, "If you hear any important news or new information, come find us. I expect that we'll be in Pedestal for at least a few days."
(OOC: @drumdigby - What time of day was it when the party first climbed down into the Rift? Did The Company find the Rift before noon? Or later in the day?)
Once Bruthwol departs, Xanrym turns to his companions and remarks, "Imagine living in a city where there are only two ways to leave! We don't have that sort of thing in our world, unless...maybe a castle built on a mountain top where everything is a long fall except for the roads in and out." Xanrym thinks privately that when the drow were in power, it must have made it easy for them to control who came and went from Pedestal. They would just have to fortify and guard the two exits. It must be difficult to muster an army against a location like the Great Grotto! Then again, after fighting the ancient Grick, perhaps the powers in the Underdark have big, dangerous creatures like that in their thrall. Or, as Bruthwol implied, maybe the best way to topple the drow city was through a (magical?) plague.
Xanrym continues to practical decisions. "We made it through the fight against those aberrations OK -- thanks to Syllen's healing magic. But that was probably the stiffest fight I've seen since we fought the naga outside Orlane. We've been going non-stop ever since we found the Rift in the Cairn Hills. I'd say that it's time to rest and eat something." Xanrym tries to figure out what time it is. At least a few hours have passed since they first found the Rift in the Cairn Hills, but he's not sleepy yet, so he figures that they can make it to Pedestal before the end of the "day."
(OOC: @all - Does anyone want to do anything before taking a Short Rest? Does everyone agree with taking a Short Rest here, near where we came through the Earth Node?)
During the rest, Xanrym asks everyone what they want to do next. He says, "It sounds like the one who killed that halfling and used the Earth Node last went over to Pedestal. We don't know whether that was Fhadheela herself, some other agent of Xeron's cult, or someone working against the cult. But that's our only lead." Xanrym points out that it's unclear whether the halfling and goblin whom they found on the ledge above the Earth Node were working for or against Xeron's cult. Did the halfling intercept the letter that Khessa found, but Xeron's cult attacked and killed them? Or were they agents of Xeron's cult, and they were slain by someone who could be a potential ally? "Or maybe they were agents of Xeron's cult, and this 'Fhadheela' was displeased by the letter they delivered and took out her anger on them?" (In this case, he assumes that the female whom Bruthwol saw leaving the Earth Node portal was Fhadheela herself.)
There's no way to know the ultimate destination of Xeron's cult. Were they taking the Forgotten King's bones to Pedestal? Or was Pedestal just a stopping point on their way to some deeper, darker cavern in the Underdark? But as far as Xanrym sees it, their only clue leads them to Pedestal.
Does everyone agree their their next step is to go to Pedestal? After the Short Rest, The Company will walk on the road east and cross the Sullen Sea via the Oceanbridge. Once they get to Pedestal, they can try to make contact with Es Sarch and then see whether there's something like an inn in Pedestal where they can sleep.
(OOC: Short Rest and then venturing to Pedestal sounds good)
Before heading onto the Oceanbridge, Theldrin will use one of his scrolls of Mage Armor. He will also use Arcane Recovery during the Short Rest to recover one third level slot.
[[ OOC: OK for Short Rest before venturing to Pedestal. Khessa after the short rest uses Arcane recovery to rrecover a 2nd level slot ]]
Khessa ponders: "Rest and eat something? Maybe you're right Xanrym... I was getting carried away by the rush; we'll face the trials that await us more easily after we've recovered our strength".
The blonde arcane warrior searches with her eyes for the most defensible place that can be found nearby and sits there, using the time to organize her thoughts - and the notes she's taken in her spellbook as well. An Earth Node! She never thought she would one day discover a place of such intrinsic magic...
As often happens to her, contact with magic is regenerating and after just an hour the tall adventuress is ready to face the new journey.
Bruthwol explains there are a couple camps of folk up north. Westward would get you closer to Drow territory. What city you’d find he doesn’t know, he just delivered to small camps of various underground peoples. Eastward is Mind Flayer territory, he advises NOT to go that way. As for the Earth Node, it will take a day or two for it to recharge and you can get out of here.
It would probably be late afternoon on the surface. You need to find a place to sleep soon, but you’re not all completely exhausted.
You all take a an hour to Short Rest and make your way toward the Oceanbridge unless anyone has a better idea.
It would probably be late afternoon on the surface. You need to find a place to sleep soon, but you’re not all completely exhausted.
Plenty of time for a rest before we hike to Pedestal. It looks like it's 2 - 3 miles to get there, so even traveling at a slow pace, The Company should make it there by our regular dinner time if we don't run into any serious problems.
You all take a an hour to Short Rest and make your way toward the Oceanbridge unless anyone has a better idea.
Yes, Xanrym generally feels that their best option is to find Es Sarch as soon as possible. But as The Company gathers their things to leave the Earth Node portal behind, Xanrym suggests that maybe Syllen could check for the tracks of the woman who last used the portal. It sounds like she took the road east, but if Syllen could find her tracks from the Earth Node portal to the road, then he might know what to look for later if, for example, her tracks leave the road before it gets to Oceanbridge. (Bruthwol saw her turn east "toward Oceanbridge," but he didn't watch her long enough to confirm that she actually headed across the Sullen Sea.)
(Oh I must not have seen that. Syllen definitely finds that the person who left the node came this way and crossed the Oceanbridge.)
You travel for a while and reach the bride at the south end of the Great Grotto. Spans of massive stone blocks mingle with the sculpted southern side of the Grotto, forming this bridge over the dark waters of the SuIlen Sea. The bridge rises about 2 feet above the surface of the water at its highest, eventually connecting to the road on the eastern side of the Sea near Pedestal's southern gate. You see about halfway that a section of the bridge has been compromised.
The bridge rises about 2 feet above the surface of the water at its highest
(OOC:
Does it really only rise 2 feet above the surface of the water? With a length of over 1 mile and a max height of 24 inches above the surface of the water, that's more like a causeway than a bridge.
How wide is the Oceanbridge?
Does the Oceanbridge have a railing, or is it open to the sea on one or both sides?
Based on the map, it looks like only the first ~5000 feet of the Oceanbridge spans over the Sullen Sea. After that, does the rest of the way to Pedestal run right along the south wall of the Great Grotto so that there's only water on one side of the bridge?
Is that second half of the route still suspended over the Sullen Sea? Or does that part of the road just run along a narrow "shore" between the Sullen Sea and the southern wall of the grotto?
As always after a Short Rest, Xanrym performs a ritual casting of Comprehend Languages.
Given what Bruthwol Coalhauler said about travelers not making it across the bridge and about "Kuo-Toa" in the Sullen Sea, Xanrym thinks that they should cross to Pedestal at a slow pace, watching for monsters or an ambush. Will someone risk a familiar (or Syllen's dog "Sentry") to scout ahead? Or should Xanrym scout ahead of The Company?
(OOC: If Xanrym is acting as the scout, Syllen would probably need to cast Darkvision on him so that he's not at a disadvantage to spot anything hidden in the Dim Light of the grotto.)
Theldrin is ready to head out onto the bridge, keeping towards the middle of the party. He waits to see if Khessa wants to send Anator ahead to scout, and if not will summon Dusk from his pocket dimension.
Syllen recommends using Nav as a scout. If someone is willing to guide him, Syllen will use his ability to see through Nav's eyes to improve their chances of noticing other creatures.
Khessa imitates Xanrym, casting a a ritual that allows her to understand unknown tongues, after which she gladly agrees to guide Syllen, while he uses his ability to see through Nav's eyes to improve their chances of noticing other creatures!
'Drow!' the blonde arcane warrior is excited 'I'm about to meet drow again! But this time I'm no longer a young cabbage farmer with no battle experience! This time I'll be the one to capture them - and then I'll be able to extract any information they may have about where their slaves are usually taken!'
With a deadly determined light in her blue eyes, the tall adventuress guides the cleric...
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Not seeing any obvious or immediate threats, Xanrym moves out from his hiding position. He doesn't go immediately to the wagon: first, he quietly moves around the battle field and recovers any of his and Syllen's crossbow bolts that aren't broken. With his cloak, he is probably still difficult to spot in the dim lighting even when he's moving around. Xanrym hopes that Bruthwol doesn't realize that Xanrym was hiding and just thinks that he initially missed the bard among the big carcasses off to the side of the road.
Xanrym finally approaches the wagon with his hands held open in front of him and says in a friendly tone, "Well met, Bruthwol! I'm Xanrym, and I see that you've already met the rest of our Company." He joins the conversation and looks to see whether Bruthwol has any nets to replace the one that the Grick Ancient shredded.
(OOC: I'll wait to see how Bruthwol responds to everyone else's questions before I have Xanrym press for more details. But if you don't want to role play the whole conversation, I'll summarize in the spoiler below.)
Xanrym would talk to Bruthwol while looking through his wares. He'd like to confirm / find out:
If Xanrym feels like Bruthwol is holding back, he would take take out one of the tiger eye gems from his pouch while they're talking and start playing with it idly while they talk. He mentions how it's their Company's first trip into this grand subterranean grotto, and they're not sure what to expect. He implies that they may be willing to pay for good information.
Sleight of Hand: 25 <- subtly taking out the gem and rolling it between his fingers without dropping it.
Bruthwal smiles at your want for information, "You have questions? I can try to answer them. An informed customer is a repeat customer!" He first addresses Khessa, "Pedestal just over yonder there was once a drow city-state, known for its access to the frontier beyond and beneath the Sullen Sea. However, a prolonged but successful war with a mind flayer pod weakened the city, leaving it susceptible to a magical plague that brought the ruling class low twenty years ago. The Drow still have a presence here but more and more are being recalled to their capital, I don't know why" He then gives you the map shared before of the area and this explanation, "This vault is the Great Grotto. Once a major center of trade, it has been relegated to a backwater by the disease and war. Brigands, ne'er-do-wells, and refugees from this or that Underdark power inhabit the city. Of course, even lowlifes need trade to sustain them. Thus, I also call Pedestal my home"
He sells you all you want, and once Xanrym comes out asking about power groups in the city he keeps talking, "Listen, Pedestal has no central power. Several groups claim sovereignty, but during bad weeks, the city is little better than a war zone. Good weeks are merely lawless. Anarchy rose in the collapse of the drow hierarchy. And the plague wiped nearly all of em out. The three top power groups are the Inheritors, House Dusklorn, and the guild. I mean the Assassins' Guild, of course. The assassins are making a play for complete control by trying to ally with House Dusklorn, but the Inheritors oppose them. Who knows what the Inheritors want, they say a Pedestal free of drow and assassin control. Doesn't sound too bad to me. Anyway, you won't be turned back from the city because of your heritage, but who knows what the gate guard will demand to pass, or even who mans the gate at this point"
He thinks to himself a moment then adds, "If you want to locate that person your after, talk to Es Sarch. You can find him in the Dripstone Inn on the Street of Five Hanged, directly north three blocks from Pedestal's southern gate. He knows everything about the City, but he's sure to want something in return for his help, more than I certainly."
Bruthwol will go to head north, away from the road, "I must be off, got a couple stops to make before returning to Pedestal, maybe i'll see you in the city in a few days... maybe not."
Khessa pats Bruthwol on the shoulder and smiles widely: "Thank you Bruthwol, I consider you a friend. Let me know if you need me, okay? I'll do my best to repay you for all this information".
Then the blonde arcane warrior turns to the others: "I think we have nothing left to do but head towards Pedestal, keeping an eye out for any kuo-toa ambushes. In the city, we can look for further information".
'Maybe even on the drow slaves and my family?' the tall adventuress can't help but think, while in the depths of her blue eyes a light of hope lights up.
Avery nods, "At least we have a general lay of the land, where to wary, and where to start and a name. That is a good start, I am glad that fate for a change, allowed our passing with him."
Theldrin thanks Bruthwal warmly, purchasing 50 feet of silk rope and 4 torches, tipping him a few gold pieces.
Xanrym asks Bruthwol, "Oh? Is there another settlement off that direction?" He checks the map in the Light of Theldrin's staff. "It looks like the only ways out of the Great Grotto are the two ends of this road: the tunnel you just came from and the other exit on the other side of the Sullen Sea and beyond Pedestal."
Before Bruthwol leaves, Xanrym follows up with another question, "Are there any other cities or settlements along this road?" He looks back toward the tunnel to the west, for example. "If you head out from Pedestal in either direction and leave the Great Grotto, what's the first community you'd reach in either direction? And how long would it take to get there?" Xanrym wonders whether there are a string of communities along this road, like the small villages and farming towns that he's accustomed to passing in between Hochoch and Hookhill for example.
Finally, Xanrym thanks Bruthwol and apologizes for delaying him. "May Fharlanghn keep you safe on your drive until you reach Pedestal!"
Xanrym was pretty well provisioned before they left the Free City. He just purchased the following items from Bruthwol:
But he overpaid Bruthwol by giving him one Tiger Eye gemstone (10 gp), which he means as compensation for the map and for the information, saying, "If you hear any important news or new information, come find us. I expect that we'll be in Pedestal for at least a few days."
(OOC: OK. I'm done with Bruthwol for now.)
(OOC: @drumdigby - What time of day was it when the party first climbed down into the Rift? Did The Company find the Rift before noon? Or later in the day?)
Once Bruthwol departs, Xanrym turns to his companions and remarks, "Imagine living in a city where there are only two ways to leave! We don't have that sort of thing in our world, unless...maybe a castle built on a mountain top where everything is a long fall except for the roads in and out." Xanrym thinks privately that when the drow were in power, it must have made it easy for them to control who came and went from Pedestal. They would just have to fortify and guard the two exits. It must be difficult to muster an army against a location like the Great Grotto! Then again, after fighting the ancient Grick, perhaps the powers in the Underdark have big, dangerous creatures like that in their thrall. Or, as Bruthwol implied, maybe the best way to topple the drow city was through a (magical?) plague.
Xanrym continues to practical decisions. "We made it through the fight against those aberrations OK -- thanks to Syllen's healing magic. But that was probably the stiffest fight I've seen since we fought the naga outside Orlane. We've been going non-stop ever since we found the Rift in the Cairn Hills. I'd say that it's time to rest and eat something." Xanrym tries to figure out what time it is. At least a few hours have passed since they first found the Rift in the Cairn Hills, but he's not sleepy yet, so he figures that they can make it to Pedestal before the end of the "day."
(OOC: @all - Does anyone want to do anything before taking a Short Rest? Does everyone agree with taking a Short Rest here, near where we came through the Earth Node?)
During the rest, Xanrym asks everyone what they want to do next. He says, "It sounds like the one who killed that halfling and used the Earth Node last went over to Pedestal. We don't know whether that was Fhadheela herself, some other agent of Xeron's cult, or someone working against the cult. But that's our only lead." Xanrym points out that it's unclear whether the halfling and goblin whom they found on the ledge above the Earth Node were working for or against Xeron's cult. Did the halfling intercept the letter that Khessa found, but Xeron's cult attacked and killed them? Or were they agents of Xeron's cult, and they were slain by someone who could be a potential ally? "Or maybe they were agents of Xeron's cult, and this 'Fhadheela' was displeased by the letter they delivered and took out her anger on them?" (In this case, he assumes that the female whom Bruthwol saw leaving the Earth Node portal was Fhadheela herself.)
There's no way to know the ultimate destination of Xeron's cult. Were they taking the Forgotten King's bones to Pedestal? Or was Pedestal just a stopping point on their way to some deeper, darker cavern in the Underdark? But as far as Xanrym sees it, their only clue leads them to Pedestal.
Does everyone agree their their next step is to go to Pedestal? After the Short Rest, The Company will walk on the road east and cross the Sullen Sea via the Oceanbridge. Once they get to Pedestal, they can try to make contact with Es Sarch and then see whether there's something like an inn in Pedestal where they can sleep.
(OOC: Short Rest and then venturing to Pedestal sounds good)
Before heading onto the Oceanbridge, Theldrin will use one of his scrolls of Mage Armor. He will also use Arcane Recovery during the Short Rest to recover one third level slot.
(OOC: Will be mia today.)
Syllen thanks Bruthwol for the information and will buy a hooded lantern and oil. Syllen agrees with Xanrym's plan.
[[ OOC: OK for Short Rest before venturing to Pedestal. Khessa after the short rest uses Arcane recovery to rrecover a 2nd level slot ]]
Khessa ponders: "Rest and eat something? Maybe you're right Xanrym... I was getting carried away by the rush; we'll face the trials that await us more easily after we've recovered our strength".
The blonde arcane warrior searches with her eyes for the most defensible place that can be found nearby and sits there, using the time to organize her thoughts - and the notes she's taken in her spellbook as well. An Earth Node! She never thought she would one day discover a place of such intrinsic magic...
As often happens to her, contact with magic is regenerating and after just an hour the tall adventuress is ready to face the new journey.
[[Coriana bought ropes, spikes, a hammer, grappling hook, and a bedroll.]]
Does this area feel like the earth node did on the other side? Is there possibly a way back? Arcana: 14
"I'll stay alert and play lifeguard if anyone goes in the drink."
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Bruthwol explains there are a couple camps of folk up north. Westward would get you closer to Drow territory. What city you’d find he doesn’t know, he just delivered to small camps of various underground peoples. Eastward is Mind Flayer territory, he advises NOT to go that way. As for the Earth Node, it will take a day or two for it to recharge and you can get out of here.
It would probably be late afternoon on the surface. You need to find a place to sleep soon, but you’re not all completely exhausted.
You all take a an hour to Short Rest and make your way toward the Oceanbridge unless anyone has a better idea.
Plenty of time for a rest before we hike to Pedestal. It looks like it's 2 - 3 miles to get there, so even traveling at a slow pace, The Company should make it there by our regular dinner time if we don't run into any serious problems.
Yes, Xanrym generally feels that their best option is to find Es Sarch as soon as possible. But as The Company gathers their things to leave the Earth Node portal behind, Xanrym suggests that maybe Syllen could check for the tracks of the woman who last used the portal. It sounds like she took the road east, but if Syllen could find her tracks from the Earth Node portal to the road, then he might know what to look for later if, for example, her tracks leave the road before it gets to Oceanbridge. (Bruthwol saw her turn east "toward Oceanbridge," but he didn't watch her long enough to confirm that she actually headed across the Sullen Sea.)
(OOC: not sure if I missed it but did we hear if Syllen found any tracks with his earlier Survival check?)
(Oh I must not have seen that. Syllen definitely finds that the person who left the node came this way and crossed the Oceanbridge.)
You travel for a while and reach the bride at the south end of the Great Grotto. Spans of massive stone blocks mingle with the sculpted southern side of the Grotto, forming this bridge over the dark waters of the SuIlen Sea. The bridge rises about 2 feet above the surface of the water at its highest, eventually connecting to the road on the eastern side of the Sea near Pedestal's southern gate. You see about halfway that a section of the bridge has been compromised.
Do you make preparations before crossing?
"Let me lead, my gifts will let me get through this as easy as pie." Coriana says, taking the first steps onto the bridge.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
(OOC:
)
As always after a Short Rest, Xanrym performs a ritual casting of Comprehend Languages.
Given what Bruthwol Coalhauler said about travelers not making it across the bridge and about "Kuo-Toa" in the Sullen Sea, Xanrym thinks that they should cross to Pedestal at a slow pace, watching for monsters or an ambush. Will someone risk a familiar (or Syllen's dog "Sentry") to scout ahead? Or should Xanrym scout ahead of The Company?
(OOC: If Xanrym is acting as the scout, Syllen would probably need to cast Darkvision on him so that he's not at a disadvantage to spot anything hidden in the Dim Light of the grotto.)
Theldrin is ready to head out onto the bridge, keeping towards the middle of the party. He waits to see if Khessa wants to send Anator ahead to scout, and if not will summon Dusk from his pocket dimension.
Syllen recommends using Nav as a scout. If someone is willing to guide him, Syllen will use his ability to see through Nav's eyes to improve their chances of noticing other creatures.
Khessa imitates Xanrym, casting a a ritual that allows her to understand unknown tongues, after which she gladly agrees to guide Syllen, while he uses his ability to see through Nav's eyes to improve their chances of noticing other creatures!
'Drow!' the blonde arcane warrior is excited 'I'm about to meet drow again! But this time I'm no longer a young cabbage farmer with no battle experience! This time I'll be the one to capture them - and then I'll be able to extract any information they may have about where their slaves are usually taken!'
With a deadly determined light in her blue eyes, the tall adventuress guides the cleric...