The remaining Troglodytes break and flee. They yell something as they do, and you notice that the scampering sounds behind you start to get further away. It seems you've succesfully fought them all off. The halls of this dungeon seem finally quiet for the first time in what seems like an age.
Your attention turns to Toska on the floor, a hole in her chest and her eyes open and looking into the distance blankly. You also see that at the shore of the lake, the corpse of Explictica Defilus has changed. Instead of how she seemed in life, her corpse has no skin but simply a giant bone snake corpse with a human skull, her skin some kind of magical mirage powered by her life force. In the mouth of the skull you see something shining as the bones slowly wash into the lake.
(OOC: Did the troglodytes who fled back to the lake just jump in the water and swim back to the western shore? Or did they take the time to get back in their boat and shove off? I'm wondering whether we now have a boat on our side of the naga's lake.)
Nithrissa, thinking that Avery is chasing after the fleeing troglodytes, shoulders the greatsword and follows him to the lake. If the troglodytes are out of reach, she spits on the ground and says, "Nasty creatures! I can practically taste their stench!" After being held captive and dragged back and forth to the naga's den, Nithrissa has developed a deep hatred for troglodytes. (Even years later, I imagine that she kills troglodytes on sight.)
If the troglodtyes are out of reach (either swimming or rowing away), she helps Avery drag the snake skeleton onto the shore and then keeps watch on the lake to make sure that no other creatures sneak up on them from the water while Avery examines the skeleton.
Xanrym opens the door to the south cautiously and holds his lantern out to check that there's no sight nor sound of troglodytes coming from that direction. After a moment, once he's convinced that it's really all clear, he pulls his head back into the chapel and leans wearily against the wall to catch his breath. "Well, that was a little more resistance than I anticipated after they knew that we had killed their 'god'," Xanrym admits. "Once we put up a fight, I thought that they'd break and run sooner."
Xanrym kneels down next to Toska and shakes his head, "This injury is beyond my healing powers. Poor Toska! We should transport her body back to Orlane for a proper burial at least." Then he says, more hopefully, "Perhaps we'll even be able to find a powerful enough cleric to restore her to life! Maybe Merikka will send a new high cleric to reconsecrate the temple in Orlane, or we could find another follower of St. Cutherbert who could cast such a spell. I don't know what we'd owe them for such a service, but I feel that we owe it to Toska to at least try. I wouldn't want to leave her body out here in the Rushmoors."
As his mind returns to their recent battle against the naga, Xanrym says, "Explicita Defilus said something odd about being his chosen consort. And she mentioned...the 'Undying King'...I think." He asks Theldrin and Liarin, "Does that title mean anything to you? This cult seems dedicated to the naga, and we haven't heard any of her followers mention a king. Just this 'Queen of Darkness' nonsense."
(OOC:
If that's a Religion check, then it should probably be Xanrym. Religion17
But if it would be a History or Arcana check, perhaps Xanrym can just help Theldrin brainstorm possibilities?
Avery pulls a misshapen red crystal out of the naga’s mouth. At the same time he notices that the bones seem to already be decaying rather quickly. The jaw of the skull falls off as he pries out the crystal.
As for knowledge checks, no one knows anything about any Undying King. You’ll need to find someone with a much greater knowledge of arcane and divine lore. Nithrissa will carry the body of Toska if you ask her to. As she pulls the corpse onto her shoulder she mutters, “You won’t find any around here with the skill to bring her back. You’ll need to take trip down to Keoland, or maybe even to the city of Greyhawk.” She says that last name with a sneer, clearly not a fan of the Free City.
He then joins Avery and Xanrym in examining the crystal. "Hmmm...not sure what to make of this," he says pensively, "I should try to Identify it later."
"Keoland is my homeland," Theldrin says in response to Nithrissa, but doesn't seem offended. He continues with a slight grin, "It's been many years since I've been to Greyhawk... I would certainly be willing to try to find someone who could help us bring her back."
Avery pulls a misshapen red crystal out of the naga’s mouth. At the same time he notices that the bones seem to already be decaying rather quickly. The jaw of the skull falls off as he pries out the crystal.
(OOC: Would a successful Arcana check or maybe a Religion check reveal anything about this crystal? Or do we have to wait for Theldrin to Identify it?)
As for knowledge checks, no one knows anything about any Undying King. You’ll need to find someone with a much greater knowledge of arcane and divine lore.
(OOC: Fair enough!)
While no one has heard of the Undying King, Xanrym feels like it's important enough to try to track it down. He jots down a note to remind himself to try researching it later after they've successfully gotten back to civilization!
Nithrissa will carry the body of Toska if you ask her to. As she pulls the corpse onto her shoulder she mutters, “You won’t find any around here with the skill to bring her back. You’ll need to take trip down to Keoland, or maybe even to the city of Greyhawk.” She says that last name with a sneer, clearly not a fan of the Free City.
Yes, Xanrym asks Nithrissa to carry Toska for them. Xanrym suggests, "We're tired and spent after that fight, especially since it came on the heels of our fight with the naga and Garath. The troglodtyes seems to have retreated...for now. Let's use that opportunity to get back upstairs to the room where we slept last night so that we can rest, regroup, and decide what to do next."
Xanrym had originally thought that if they somehow defeated the naga, they could spend a few days exploring the entire dungeon to discover more of its secrets and all of the cult's hidden treasures. But the death of Toska weighs heavily on him. He doesn't want risk losing another companion, not even Nithrissa, just for the chance of finding more treasure. And he knows that Nithrissa is right. It will take them 5 days just to get back to Orlane, possibly more because they'll have to carry Toska's body. Unless they're exceptionally lucky, they won't be able to find a cleric to raise until her spirit has been gone for too long. He says, "I don't know how we're going to find someone in Keoland or even in the City of Greyhawk who could and willresurrect Toska, but I feel like we should try."
Xanrym believes that they've barely seen half of this dungeon, but after Toska's death, he'd rather cut the exploration short and head back to Orlane sooner. "We've already done what we came to do," he argues. "We have defeated the naga and crushed her cult. Orlane is free." Xanrym's proposal would be:
Return immediately to room 20b (where they spent the night last night) and make sure that Mayor Ormond and the children are safe.
Spend the rest of the day and night resting and healing. Only fight if something try to attack them in 20b.
In the morning, return to the lower level to explore the naga's "nest" next to the lake and the water-filled room that they saw farther south (away from the troglodytes).
Then head for the exit, only stopping to collect the treasure that Zgotar, the red slaad, was guarding.
Leave the Rushmoors and escort the mayor back to Orlane.
From there, they can hopefully finally rest in safety and begin planning what to do next.
He then joins Avery and Xanrym in examining the crystal. "Hmmm...not sure what to make of this," he says pensively, "I should try to Identify it later."
Xanrym lets out a long whistle at the crystal, saying, "Nice find, Avery! This must be the 'control crystal' that Zgotar told us about. Too bad we'll have to destroy it to free the slaad. I wonder what it's worth! Hopefully the treasure that Zgotar is guarding is at least as valuable as this crystal."
Later, when they're resting, Xanrym wonders aloud whether they should take the crystal to Zgotar or destroy it themselves before they return to the Zgotar's chamber. In particular, he asks, "Do you think that Zgotar will vanish back to his own plane as soon as the crystal is destroyed? Or do you think that the slaad will free on this plane -- however briefly -- before he returns to his own plane?" The fight with the naga could have easily killed them all, and he doesn't want to imagine what a fight with a rampaging extradimensional creature of unknown abilities, like the slaad, would be like. Not good. (Xanrym assumes, of course, that Avery and Nithrissa are strong enough to crack the crystal and that they don't need Zgotar's help to do that.)
Xanrym knows that if you destroy the Control Crystal, the Slaad is free to act as they want. But a Slaad is not allowed to destroy their own or any other Control Crystal. He would also know that Red Slaad are not able to dimension hop, so the Slaad would be stuck in this dimension either way.
Xanrym knows that if you destroy the Control Crystal, the Slaad is free to act as they want. But a Slaad is not allowed to destroy their own or any other Control Crystal. He would also know that Red Slaad are not able to dimension hop, so the Slaad would be stuck in this dimension either way.
Once they're taking their initial Short Rest, Xanrym shares this information with the party. "How does everyone feel about freeing the slaad and letting it loose upon Oerth? Do you think that we can trust Zgotar's gratitude to leave us alone after we free them from the crystal?", Xanrym asks. "Maybe we should first use the crystal to ensure that the Zgotar cannot attack us while we get the treasure. Then we could destroy the crystal once we're far away from here. That way, Zgotar goes free but cannot attack us right away."
I am for releasing the Slaad, without endangering us. Then see what it was guarding. (Side note-will be at an reenactment this weekend, won't be back until Sunday evening)
(OOC: @drumdigby - anything preventing the party from making it back upstairs, sharing the good news with Mayor Ormond, and starting a Short Rest? If not, we can mark of a Short Rest and set a watch schedule.
If we stay put in that room upstairs for the rest of the day and the whole night, let us know what rolls you need for "random" encounters.)
No more random encounters. You’ve killed or scared off all the wandering monsters.
You all head back upstairs to where you had the mayor wait with the children and Heckle. As you stomp up the stairs you at first don’t see anything. But after a few worried moments, the Mayor and his enterage emerge from the Troglodyte hovel to the west. He sighs a relief when he sees you, “Thank goodness, we heard a scream from downstairs and moments later had to hide from a group of Troglodytes fleeing up here. I had hoped for the best but prepared for the worst and just kept us in here. Were you successful? No casual…” His eyes focus on Toska’s body on Nithrissa’s back and puts his hand to his head, “I’m so sorry.”
And you can all take that Short Rest while you’re up here. Although Mayor Ormond won’t want to spend too long in this dungeon if he can help it. He wants to get the children out safely to Orlane. He’ll introduce them as Tye and Zoe, the children of Orlanes carpenter, who recently returned mysteriously to Orlane with his wife, sans children of course. The children will explain they somehow resisted the naga’s gaze, while their parents did not. They still seem very shaken.
And it misses. The two remaining Trogs make a DC 10 WIS check for Morale:
12
The remaining Troglodytes break and flee. They yell something as they do, and you notice that the scampering sounds behind you start to get further away. It seems you've succesfully fought them all off. The halls of this dungeon seem finally quiet for the first time in what seems like an age.
Your attention turns to Toska on the floor, a hole in her chest and her eyes open and looking into the distance blankly. You also see that at the shore of the lake, the corpse of Explictica Defilus has changed. Instead of how she seemed in life, her corpse has no skin but simply a giant bone snake corpse with a human skull, her skin some kind of magical mirage powered by her life force. In the mouth of the skull you see something shining as the bones slowly wash into the lake.
Avery will go and pull the remains onto the shore and see what is shining in the skull.
(OOC: Did the troglodytes who fled back to the lake just jump in the water and swim back to the western shore? Or did they take the time to get back in their boat and shove off? I'm wondering whether we now have a boat on our side of the naga's lake.)
Nithrissa, thinking that Avery is chasing after the fleeing troglodytes, shoulders the greatsword and follows him to the lake. If the troglodytes are out of reach, she spits on the ground and says, "Nasty creatures! I can practically taste their stench!" After being held captive and dragged back and forth to the naga's den, Nithrissa has developed a deep hatred for troglodytes. (Even years later, I imagine that she kills troglodytes on sight.)
If the troglodtyes are out of reach (either swimming or rowing away), she helps Avery drag the snake skeleton onto the shore and then keeps watch on the lake to make sure that no other creatures sneak up on them from the water while Avery examines the skeleton.
Xanrym opens the door to the south cautiously and holds his lantern out to check that there's no sight nor sound of troglodytes coming from that direction. After a moment, once he's convinced that it's really all clear, he pulls his head back into the chapel and leans wearily against the wall to catch his breath. "Well, that was a little more resistance than I anticipated after they knew that we had killed their 'god'," Xanrym admits. "Once we put up a fight, I thought that they'd break and run sooner."
Xanrym kneels down next to Toska and shakes his head, "This injury is beyond my healing powers. Poor Toska! We should transport her body back to Orlane for a proper burial at least." Then he says, more hopefully, "Perhaps we'll even be able to find a powerful enough cleric to restore her to life! Maybe Merikka will send a new high cleric to reconsecrate the temple in Orlane, or we could find another follower of St. Cutherbert who could cast such a spell. I don't know what we'd owe them for such a service, but I feel that we owe it to Toska to at least try. I wouldn't want to leave her body out here in the Rushmoors."
As his mind returns to their recent battle against the naga, Xanrym says, "Explicita Defilus said something odd about being his chosen consort. And she mentioned...the 'Undying King'...I think." He asks Theldrin and Liarin, "Does that title mean anything to you? This cult seems dedicated to the naga, and we haven't heard any of her followers mention a king. Just this 'Queen of Darkness' nonsense."
(OOC:
If that's a Religion check, then it should probably be Xanrym. Religion 17
But if it would be a History or Arcana check, perhaps Xanrym can just help Theldrin brainstorm possibilities?
)
Avery pulls a misshapen red crystal out of the naga’s mouth. At the same time he notices that the bones seem to already be decaying rather quickly. The jaw of the skull falls off as he pries out the crystal.
As for knowledge checks, no one knows anything about any Undying King. You’ll need to find someone with a much greater knowledge of arcane and divine lore. Nithrissa will carry the body of Toska if you ask her to. As she pulls the corpse onto her shoulder she mutters, “You won’t find any around here with the skill to bring her back. You’ll need to take trip down to Keoland, or maybe even to the city of Greyhawk.” She says that last name with a sneer, clearly not a fan of the Free City.
If possible Theldrin takes a parting shot at the fleeing Trogs.
Fire Bolt
Attack: 26 Damage: 20
He then joins Avery and Xanrym in examining the crystal. "Hmmm...not sure what to make of this," he says pensively, "I should try to Identify it later."
Investigation: 11
"Keoland is my homeland," Theldrin says in response to Nithrissa, but doesn't seem offended. He continues with a slight grin, "It's been many years since I've been to Greyhawk... I would certainly be willing to try to find someone who could help us bring her back."
(OOC: Would a successful Arcana check or maybe a Religion check reveal anything about this crystal? Or do we have to wait for Theldrin to Identify it?)
(OOC: Fair enough!)
While no one has heard of the Undying King, Xanrym feels like it's important enough to try to track it down. He jots down a note to remind himself to try researching it later after they've successfully gotten back to civilization!
Yes, Xanrym asks Nithrissa to carry Toska for them. Xanrym suggests, "We're tired and spent after that fight, especially since it came on the heels of our fight with the naga and Garath. The troglodtyes seems to have retreated...for now. Let's use that opportunity to get back upstairs to the room where we slept last night so that we can rest, regroup, and decide what to do next."
Xanrym had originally thought that if they somehow defeated the naga, they could spend a few days exploring the entire dungeon to discover more of its secrets and all of the cult's hidden treasures. But the death of Toska weighs heavily on him. He doesn't want risk losing another companion, not even Nithrissa, just for the chance of finding more treasure. And he knows that Nithrissa is right. It will take them 5 days just to get back to Orlane, possibly more because they'll have to carry Toska's body. Unless they're exceptionally lucky, they won't be able to find a cleric to raise until her spirit has been gone for too long. He says, "I don't know how we're going to find someone in Keoland or even in the City of Greyhawk who could and will resurrect Toska, but I feel like we should try."
Xanrym believes that they've barely seen half of this dungeon, but after Toska's death, he'd rather cut the exploration short and head back to Orlane sooner. "We've already done what we came to do," he argues. "We have defeated the naga and crushed her cult. Orlane is free." Xanrym's proposal would be:
You can’t tell just by looking at the crystal, but you would remember the Slaad Zgotar requesting you steal back his Control Crystal from the naga.
As for that plan, I’ll assume that is your plan if no one has any amendments.
Sounds like a plan to me
(OOC: Thanks for the reminder! I was thinking that killing the naga would free Zgotar, but I see that my notes said that we needed to "destroy the red gem she has in her possession" to free the slaad and "open your path to the treasure.")
Xanrym lets out a long whistle at the crystal, saying, "Nice find, Avery! This must be the 'control crystal' that Zgotar told us about. Too bad we'll have to destroy it to free the slaad. I wonder what it's worth! Hopefully the treasure that Zgotar is guarding is at least as valuable as this crystal."
Later, when they're resting, Xanrym wonders aloud whether they should take the crystal to Zgotar or destroy it themselves before they return to the Zgotar's chamber. In particular, he asks, "Do you think that Zgotar will vanish back to his own plane as soon as the crystal is destroyed? Or do you think that the slaad will free on this plane -- however briefly -- before he returns to his own plane?" The fight with the naga could have easily killed them all, and he doesn't want to imagine what a fight with a rampaging extradimensional creature of unknown abilities, like the slaad, would be like. Not good. (Xanrym assumes, of course, that Avery and Nithrissa are strong enough to crack the crystal and that they don't need Zgotar's help to do that.)
"Probably no way to know until we try it," Theldrin replies with a shrug. (OOC: the plan sounds good)
Arcana roll for Xanrym (rolled in game log): 24
Xanrym knows that if you destroy the Control Crystal, the Slaad is free to act as they want. But a Slaad is not allowed to destroy their own or any other Control Crystal. He would also know that Red Slaad are not able to dimension hop, so the Slaad would be stuck in this dimension either way.
Once they're taking their initial Short Rest, Xanrym shares this information with the party. "How does everyone feel about freeing the slaad and letting it loose upon Oerth? Do you think that we can trust Zgotar's gratitude to leave us alone after we free them from the crystal?", Xanrym asks. "Maybe we should first use the crystal to ensure that the Zgotar cannot attack us while we get the treasure. Then we could destroy the crystal once we're far away from here. That way, Zgotar goes free but cannot attack us right away."
I am for releasing the Slaad, without endangering us. Then see what it was guarding. (Side note-will be at an reenactment this weekend, won't be back until Sunday evening)
(OOC: @drumdigby - anything preventing the party from making it back upstairs, sharing the good news with Mayor Ormond, and starting a Short Rest? If not, we can mark of a Short Rest and set a watch schedule.
If we stay put in that room upstairs for the rest of the day and the whole night, let us know what rolls you need for "random" encounters.)
No more random encounters. You’ve killed or scared off all the wandering monsters.
You all head back upstairs to where you had the mayor wait with the children and Heckle. As you stomp up the stairs you at first don’t see anything. But after a few worried moments, the Mayor and his enterage emerge from the Troglodyte hovel to the west. He sighs a relief when he sees you, “Thank goodness, we heard a scream from downstairs and moments later had to hide from a group of Troglodytes fleeing up here. I had hoped for the best but prepared for the worst and just kept us in here. Were you successful? No casual…” His eyes focus on Toska’s body on Nithrissa’s back and puts his hand to his head, “I’m so sorry.”
And you can all take that Short Rest while you’re up here. Although Mayor Ormond won’t want to spend too long in this dungeon if he can help it. He wants to get the children out safely to Orlane. He’ll introduce them as Tye and Zoe, the children of Orlanes carpenter, who recently returned mysteriously to Orlane with his wife, sans children of course. The children will explain they somehow resisted the naga’s gaze, while their parents did not. They still seem very shaken.