You make your hasty preparations and set off on the overland journey to the Seagrow Caves to check up on the myconids.
The air is unsettlingly quiet as you pass over the central island. No wind rustles the leaves. Even stranger, you hear no birdsong… What you do notice is the hair on your arms standing on end. A low grade buzz tingling through your flesh. It’s a familiar sensation, one you last felt when you arrived at the cliffside observatory.
You also notice an occasional occurrence of glassy crystal jutting from the earth. They don’t appear to be a part of the natural landscape. In fact, you’ve seen these before too… again, near the observatory.
As you crest over the highest elevation of your route and start descending towards the southern shore you notice something up ahead… a dark cloud of insects obscuring something at the bottom of a shallow ravine nearby…The air here is unnaturally arid in a way that doesn’t match the ecology around you but the carrion smell from the ravine carries, nonetheless. Your skin feels alive with static charge.
All of you have the uncanny sense that you are being watched.
What would you like to do?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Augustus will work his way down the ravine, pulling his scarf over his nose as he goes and straining his eyes to try and make out whatever's at the center of the cloud of flies. He'll approach cautiously, spear in hand.
Sir Beauregard looks around for signs of an ambush. He scans the sky and considers the angles a dragon might attack from, taking care to avoid making lines with others for Sparkrender. Taking a path off to the side a bit, he descends into the ravine.
Sir Beauregard looks down at the decaying dragon. “There should be nothing on this island, present company excluded, that could do that. It must have been the Author.” He examines the blade and scorch marks. “A servant of Orcus perhaps? Bent on using the power here for demonic purposes and playing Sparkrender as he played Aidron?” He straightens up. “Again we face an adversary who may outmatch us. Let us hurry and hope for the best.”
Morlock will look about for any additional clues as to what did this to it.
Close examination shows that the cuts were made by a small, sharp blade. Probably a dagger. Before or after death? Hard to say... You're no expert on dragon biology, at least when it comes to field forensics. Various scorch marks and acid burns on the body are easier to recognize.
More intriguing, you notice some of the cuts are made in the shape arcane symbols (Arcana check to assess their significance). Also, chunks of the dragon's flesh appear to be carved out and harvested, much like the scales and the horn.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Sir Beauregard nods to Morlock as he relates his findings. “Worse. The Author may have taken Sparkrender as the ritual sacrifice, not having Aidron. The ritual may have begun or even ended. Still, though, I think we should proceed to the Myconids unless those symbols form a map.”
Morlock looks more intently at the arcane symbols for answers
Arcana 23
The symbols certainly suggest a ritual spell... or, rather, the preparation of material components for a ritual spell... The type of symbols you see follow the discipline of transmutation interlaced with elements of necromancy.
The spell itself is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Experimental magic to be sure. Without more context, it's impossible to know for sure, but the symbols suggest the material is being prepared for some sort of cutting edge transmutation magic. Best guess? Whoever etched the runs on the body was seeking to magically manipulate the harvested organic matter while preserving its magical potency.
To what end? You have no idea... but whoever's doing this seems to know exactly what they're doing... and they're playing with some troublingly volatile magic.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Vinn nods. "Hopefully the myconids can come and help decompose this-- it feels like poison." He then kicks the carcass. "... it won't turn undead right?"
"Aye, it seems time is of the essence," Augustus says. "Perhaps we can offer an ensured respite for the young lad. He may not have been our friend, but no one deserves the torture of an incomplete death. And it looks to me, he's suffered enough. I'd love to give him a true burial, but if we take too long here, we may have more graves to dig." Augustus will pull a few handfuls of salted earth from the pouch in his belt and sprinkle them over the remnants of the proud dragon. He'll place a pair of moon-silvers where the eyes used to be and say a quick sailor's prayer. Augustus will then stand, dusting off his hands solemnly, and turn to the others ready to go.
Morlock nods and says "We should get a move on, but first, Sir Beauregard, would you do me the favor of quickly separating this creatures head from its body? Then we can move quickly to stop the presumed ritual."
As the head cleaves cleanly from the body, a bit of residual lightning force thrums through the handle of Sir Beauregard's axe, resulting in little more than a light tingle.
You each regard what remains of your former adversary in your own private way as you continue on toward the Seagrow Caves.
As you arrive at the mouth of the cave, you see no obvious signs of distress.
A cluster of four giant crabs, encased in fungus, now stand guard, perched on various rocks where the giant octopus once stood guard.
They are in a resting position when you first see them, with their legs tucked underneath their bodies. However, theyeach rise to a cautious, crouching stance as you approach, their antennae twitching. They make no aggressive moves, but only seem to watch at the ready in case you decide to attack.
One of them splits off and scurries deeper into the cave.
What would you like to do?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
"Seems there is a welcoming committee. We need to go that way. Do you think they will let us pass?" Morlocksays, already knowing in his heart the answer. He readies himself for combat.
Morlock, still stuffing things in bags and packs and pouches, joins the group. "Sorry I'm late. But I ready to go."
D&D since 1984
Central Island
Late Morning
You make your hasty preparations and set off on the overland journey to the Seagrow Caves to check up on the myconids.
The air is unsettlingly quiet as you pass over the central island. No wind rustles the leaves. Even stranger, you hear no birdsong… What you do notice is the hair on your arms standing on end. A low grade buzz tingling through your flesh. It’s a familiar sensation, one you last felt when you arrived at the cliffside observatory.
You also notice an occasional occurrence of glassy crystal jutting from the earth. They don’t appear to be a part of the natural landscape. In fact, you’ve seen these before too… again, near the observatory.
As you crest over the highest elevation of your route and start descending towards the southern shore you notice something up ahead… a dark cloud of insects obscuring something at the bottom of a shallow ravine nearby…The air here is unnaturally arid in a way that doesn’t match the ecology around you but the carrion smell from the ravine carries, nonetheless. Your skin feels alive with static charge.
All of you have the uncanny sense that you are being watched.
What would you like to do?
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Augustus will work his way down the ravine, pulling his scarf over his nose as he goes and straining his eyes to try and make out whatever's at the center of the cloud of flies. He'll approach cautiously, spear in hand.
Sir Beauregard looks around for signs of an ambush. He scans the sky and considers the angles a dragon might attack from, taking care to avoid making lines with others for Sparkrender. Taking a path off to the side a bit, he descends into the ravine.
Your hearts catch in your throat as you look into the ravine and see a mutilated draconic form half submerged in rancid rain water...
Much of the dragon's blue scales are gone... flayed from the body from the look of it.
The dragon's horn is also gone.
Along with its eyes and a few of its teeth.
The body is riddled with scorch marks and cuts from a fine blade.
Still... The size, age and type of dragon suggest only one likely answer.
This is... or was... Sparkrender...
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Sir Beauregard looks down at the decaying dragon. “There should be nothing on this island, present company excluded, that could do that. It must have been the Author.” He examines the blade and scorch marks. “A servant of Orcus perhaps? Bent on using the power here for demonic purposes and playing Sparkrender as he played Aidron?” He straightens up. “Again we face an adversary who may outmatch us. Let us hurry and hope for the best.”
Morlock will look about for any additional clues as to what did this to it.
Investigation: 14
Perception: 12
Medicine: 1 (2-1; guess he's not a doctor)
Nature: 22
D&D since 1984
Close examination shows that the cuts were made by a small, sharp blade. Probably a dagger. Before or after death? Hard to say... You're no expert on dragon biology, at least when it comes to field forensics. Various scorch marks and acid burns on the body are easier to recognize.
More intriguing, you notice some of the cuts are made in the shape arcane symbols (Arcana check to assess their significance). Also, chunks of the dragon's flesh appear to be carved out and harvested, much like the scales and the horn.
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Morlock looks more intently at the arcane symbols for answers
Arcana 23
D&D since 1984
Sir Beauregard nods to Morlock as he relates his findings. “Worse. The Author may have taken Sparkrender as the ritual sacrifice, not having Aidron. The ritual may have begun or even ended. Still, though, I think we should proceed to the Myconids unless those symbols form a map.”
The symbols certainly suggest a ritual spell... or, rather, the preparation of material components for a ritual spell... The type of symbols you see follow the discipline of transmutation interlaced with elements of necromancy.
The spell itself is unlike anything you've ever seen before. Experimental magic to be sure. Without more context, it's impossible to know for sure, but the symbols suggest the material is being prepared for some sort of cutting edge transmutation magic. Best guess? Whoever etched the runs on the body was seeking to magically manipulate the harvested organic matter while preserving its magical potency.
To what end? You have no idea... but whoever's doing this seems to know exactly what they're doing... and they're playing with some troublingly volatile magic.
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
Morlocks eyes widen. He shares.
"We need to stop this and soon."
D&D since 1984
Vinn nods. "Hopefully the myconids can come and help decompose this-- it feels like poison." He then kicks the carcass. "... it won't turn undead right?"
Morlock will think if it may become undead.
D&D since 1984
"Aye, it seems time is of the essence," Augustus says. "Perhaps we can offer an ensured respite for the young lad. He may not have been our friend, but no one deserves the torture of an incomplete death. And it looks to me, he's suffered enough. I'd love to give him a true burial, but if we take too long here, we may have more graves to dig." Augustus will pull a few handfuls of salted earth from the pouch in his belt and sprinkle them over the remnants of the proud dragon. He'll place a pair of moon-silvers where the eyes used to be and say a quick sailor's prayer. Augustus will then stand, dusting off his hands solemnly, and turn to the others ready to go.
Morlock nods and says "We should get a move on, but first, Sir Beauregard, would you do me the favor of quickly separating this creatures head from its body? Then we can move quickly to stop the presumed ritual."
D&D since 1984
Sir Beauregard draws the magical battle axe and swings it two handed to remove the head.
As the head cleaves cleanly from the body, a bit of residual lightning force thrums through the handle of Sir Beauregard's axe, resulting in little more than a light tingle.
You each regard what remains of your former adversary in your own private way as you continue on toward the Seagrow Caves.
Seagrow Caves
Midday
As you arrive at the mouth of the cave, you see no obvious signs of distress.
A cluster of four giant crabs, encased in fungus, now stand guard, perched on various rocks where the giant octopus once stood guard.
They are in a resting position when you first see them, with their legs tucked underneath their bodies. However, they each rise to a cautious, crouching stance as you approach, their antennae twitching. They make no aggressive moves, but only seem to watch at the ready in case you decide to attack.
One of them splits off and scurries deeper into the cave.
What would you like to do?
DM - Classic Adventures Reborn
Rylan - L1 Human Paladin - Barty's "Princes of the Apocalypse"
"Seems there is a welcoming committee. We need to go that way. Do you think they will let us pass?" Morlock says, already knowing in his heart the answer. He readies himself for combat.
D&D since 1984
Sir Beauregard stands calmly waiting for the crab to return, presumably with a Myconid.