Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Theldrin takes a closer look at the papers he found to see if they contain any valuable information.
Khessa has only received superficial wounds [[ OOC: 10 damage at the moment ]], so she reassures Syllen: "Just a few scratches, my friend, nothing to worry about."
The blonde arcane warrior has many questions that might interest her, but none of them are so simple that they require a simple yes or no answer. However, she asks Balthial if, based on his ordinary knowledge (and therefore without the need for magic), he has any idea who the creatures she described as the buyers of Eshta, Yassa, and Larrya (her mother and two sisters) might be, and, if so, where they might have taken them. "I know absolutely nothing about those extraplanar creatures, Balthial... so even simple hypotheses or conjectures, if you can offer them, will be valuable to me as a starting point."
Xanrym knows Sertrous is an ancient, serpentine demon lord and one of the Elder Evils.
Balthial will nod at the mention of Fharlanghn “I was sent here when we had word something was inhabiting a previously deactivated Shrine of Orcus. I arrived and immediately found the Necromental and decided no real threat lay there. Fadheela, however, was another matter. The last thing I remember was arriving in her sanctum and seeing her eyes looking into my own.” He shakes his head and then goes on to answer your questions. “I had not heard of the Vanguard of Sertrous before, but the name is easily detected as evil. As for The Undying King, that sparks something within me, but it’s as though I have forgotten the context… like a memory at the edge of my thoughts.”
(I must have missed Xanrym choosing to look inside the chest, but he would find 3658gp in gold and jewellery. An obsidian ring, a key shaped like a serpent, and of course the staff next to the chest.)
Commune is Yes/No questions only, so Khessa might want to think about how she phrases hers.
Theldrin reads the notes. The second slightly older than the first.
“Lord Iuz,
Hail the Vanguard of Sertrous!
As you see, I am good to my word. Through Fadheela, I have sent you the bones and most of the items you requested. I still search for Merthúvial as I write this, the blade is well hidden. I hope the Vanguard is pleased.
You would do well, my lord, to consider your contract with the hobgoblin armies. The brutish contingent you sent to me went on a looting spree that almost compromised the entire mission.
Should you desire it, I will put down that embarrassing issue myself.
Xeron.”
And the second
“Fadheela
Where is my consort Orinielle?! Where are the bones?! You will deliver either or both to me promptly or incur my wrath fully!
His Most Profane Eminence, Master of the Dread and Awful Presences
Iuz.”
Xanrym confirms that he only suffered a minor scratch from the Mezzoloth that grappled him, but his voice is a little ragged, and his eyes look red and irritated: he took the full effect of that first round of the Cloudkill. He tries to shake that off, saying, "Thank you, Syllen. But I think that Avery and Coriana again took the brunt of the opponents' attacks."
Some time later, Xanrym remarks on the Coriana's good fortune: she acquired Ellesarwa's breastplate (with its magical protection from poison) just days before they faced this venomous foe and the Mezzoloth's toxic cloud! Given that they're currently entangled in a conflict with the yuan-ti followers of a serpentine demon lord, Xanrym suggests that she not be too hasty in discarding its protection.
[[ OOC: Xanrym is at 27/45, but he has healing resources of his own if we don't think that we'll get to take a Short Rest before we have to continue on. Unless Syllen plans to top up everyone with Aura of Vitality or something, Xanrym could just consume a healing potion. ]]
Now that The Company has a quiet moment, Xanrym shares this information with the others. "The letter from Xeron that we found earlier mentioned 'the Vanguard.' He must have meant this Vanguard of Sertrous that Orinielle mentioned. I now understand why Fadheela, a medusa/yuan-ti hybrid, and Xeron, a yuan-ti sorcerer, were involved! Sertrous is a demonic serpent. It is said that Sertrous is an Elder Evil, a demon lord who existed long before the Wind Dukes of Aaqa came to Oerth, even before the Age of Mortals and before Oerth itself was created!" Xanrym expresses his concern that the "vanguard" might be trying to bring Sertrous into this world: maybe that's why they stole the bones of the Forgotten King!
"Perhaps the Necromental may be no real threat to a blessed being such as yourself, but it could still be a stiff test for mere mortals!", Xanrym exclaims. "I am glad that we were able to defeat Fadheela and set you free so that your wrath may fall, like St. Cuthbert's might cudgel, on such evil entities!"
Xanrym also tries to explain to Balthial what they found in the graveyard and asks Khessa to share the last page of Maroe's secret journal with Balthial. Xanrym feels that the Necromental should be defeated and the Shrine of Orcus thrown down, but he was hoping that Balthial might take care of that now that he's free from Fadheela's power.
As to the "The Undying King," Xanrym isn't concerned since that matter does not seem to touch on their current quest. He does find it curious that this is not the first time he has heard an answer like the one Balthial gave. He's beginning to wonder whether the Undying King has some power that helps keep his identity hidden, even from a powerful celestial.
[[ OOC: Thanks! It was after the fight and just before he left S35 to speak with Balthial. He just wanted to make sure that the Forgotten Kings' bones weren't still there in Fadheela's closet. ]]
Syllen's hand shakes as his curse is lifted. Taking a moment to feel the lack of lycanthropy running through his veins a smile appears on his face.
“Thank you for this gift.”
(OOC: For healing DDB shows Coriana at full life. I would prefer not using my last level 3 spell slot in case things go south. If the decision is made to not short rest Syllen would want to use one of his Cure Wounds spell scrolls and a spell slot to heal Avery and Xanrym. Potions are more versatile than spell scrolls.)
Khessa had intended to ask the question in normal conversation, to the Deva, not through magic to the God. She is obviously extremely interested in saving the women of her family, but she wouldn't have the arrogance to exploit a shared and limited resource, such as the Commune's questions, without at least asking her companions' permission first. Even more so now that an evil Serpent God appears to be involved, whose return must be prevented... Freeing the three women would be of little use if they were to perish and suffer alongside the rest of the world under the tyranny of a cruel deity awakened in the mortal dimension.
If the Deva can't/won't answer, the blonde arcane warrior will accept the situation for now.
If possible, the tall adventuress also fulfills Xanrym's request to share the last page of Maroe's secret journal with Balthial.
Balthial will read the journal and nod, “As suspected, yes. In releasing the devastation known in this city as the Plagueburst, this Maroe also transcended himself into eternity. Possibly he intended to reach godhood, but there is no shortcut to thus. Instead he was absorbed and became a part of the magic of this place, I’m sure you’ve felt it too. I am intent on leaving it be, these places attract powerful evil beings, and they tend not to leave. This is good, and keep the balance of good and evil in the rest of the world intact. You of course can do whatever you wish, as long as you don’t release any of these creatures, or the Spike’s permanent master, into the world.”
Xanrym is a little surprised: the idea of leaving such Evil in place to "maintain the balance" is a new concept to him. He was always more interested in heroic tales than in the catechism of any particular faith. His study of Religion started with an interest in exploring ancient ruins and the gods of forgotten civilizations. But since The Company encountered the naga cult (in Orlane) and then fought Krell (the half-orc follower of Lolth on the Emperor of the Waves), his interest turned toward practical knowledge like the practices of strange cults or the taxonomy of fiends and even stranger "Elder Evils."
Xanrym asks, "But what about the Orcus Figurine? Do you think that it would be safe to destroy that cursed item, at least?"
He also points to the strange contraption at the west end of Fadheela's room -- the two metal rods with the green lightning crackling between them -- and asks Balthial, "Have you ever seen anything like that before? Do you know what its purpose is?"
Xanrym will take a moment to discuss possible questions for Commune with the other members of The Company. Unless someone else has a better question, he plans to ask Balthial, "Are the Forgotten King's bones still in Pedestal?" If yes, Xanrym may also ask whether the bones are still in the Necromancer's Spike.
If the bones are still in the Necromancer's Spike, then Xanrym thinks that The Company may need to spend another day searching through the areas that they have not yet explored. They should probably go right away so that they can use Avery's berserkers to help them fight off any more of Maroe's guardians.
If the bones are in Pedestal but not the Necromancer's Spike, then Xanrym would like to gather whatever treasure they can and leave right away. (He has a couple of ideas for getting out of the Necromancer's Spike.) The Company could go back to Es Sarch to see whether he can give them any more information. They could also try to leverage their other contacts, like Khessa's brother, to try to track down the bones before someone takes them out of Pedestal.
But if the bones are no longer in Pedestal, then Xanrym is not sure what he would ask next. He cannot think of two yes/no questions what would definitely help them narrow down where the bones were taken and who has them now.
Khessa agrees with Xanrym's strategy of asking.
If the bones are no longer in Pedestal, the next question might be whether Iuz's agents possess them (so she can at least have a general idea of who to look for)—but she hopes it won't come to that and that the treasure is still in the Spike.
If she were to ask, she'd like to ask if her mother and two sisters are still on the prime material plane, since "extraplanar creatures" purchased them (so she can at least know whether she should search for news of them on Oerth... or whether she should plan to search for them in other dimensions). But only if she were to ask; she agrees that the priority is to recover the bones before they are used to unleash some great evil upon the world.
Theldrin appears lost in thought as he rubs his beard, pondering the implications of Balthial's concept of balance of good and evil in the world. He stirs as his attention is brought back to the matters at hand, and gives Xanrym a nod in agreement as to the first question.
"Perhaps if we can find out what we need to know about the location of the bones, without using all our questions, then we can ask about your family..." Theldrin adds, looking at Khessa.
"I'd greatly appreciate that!" Khessa beams at the battlemage.
"So, no one seems to have had better ideas than Xanrym's initial one..." the blonde arcane warrior talks to everyone this time, taking stock of the situation. "Let's ask if the Forgotten King's bones are still in Pedestal as a first question — and see what answer we get."
Balthial looks at the Orcus Figurine in disgust, “Yes, if you wish I can destroy that for you.” He doesn’t know what the lightning contraption is, and doesn’t look much interested.
When Xanrym asks the first question, ‘Are the Forgotten King's bones still in Pedestal?’ Balthial’s eyes glaze over and turn golden and he says in an even more angelic and dispassionate voice:
“No.”
"Nothing's ever easy..." Khessa sighs at the revelation that the treasure the party seeks isn't anywhere near.
The blonde arcane warrior then reiterates her earlier proposal to the party: "Shall we ask, then, whether Iuz's agents possess them (so we can at least have a general idea of who to look for)? Or has anyone thought of more useful questions?"
Theldrin can't hide the disappointment that turns his usual frown into a deeper scowl, but he also sighs with a slight shrug, before replying, "Seems as good a follow up question as any I can think of..."
Xanrym says, almost apologetically, "It would be good to confirm it -- if it's true. But it's a bit of a shot in the dark, isn't it? From what Orinielle said and what was in the letter, it sounds like Fadheela betrayed Iuz and sent the bones somewhere else." He pauses a moment to think what their next step could be. Even if they know that Iuz's agents have the bones, they could be anywhere! If the bones aren't here, The Company has hit a dead end. What they need is a way to start the search again! He suggests: "Maybe it would be easier to find the trail even if we don't know the destination. We could ask:
'Does anyone else in Pedestal know what Fadheela did with the Forgotten King's bones?'."
Knowing that they have a very limited time to ask any questions, Xanrym looks to see whether any of the others have a better suggestion.
From the edge of the group, and not directed at the deva, Coriana says, "The bloody bones aren't even here? Of all the flaming nosense out of the nine hells..." She trails off with a litany of muttered oaths.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Does anyone else in Pedestal know what Fadheela did with the Forgotten King's bones?
“No”
"We can only hope that Fadheela left clues of her doing, then..." Khessa sighs. "Shall we try to ask if there are any clues left in this place as to the bones' destination? At the very least, if the answer is yes, we know we should keep searching until we find some..."