The drow pursuit party doesn't seem to be moving quickly; despite their familiarity with this part of the Underdark, they are advancing with caution. Varis and Zilly breathe a sigh of relief after successfully donning their armor. Eldeth, after realizing the majority of the group has opted to avoid battle, lowers her axe and agrees to take cover somewhere among the rocks on the gorge's eastern wall.
With Zilly's illusion in place, the eleven members of the group slowly pick their way through the jagged terrain that leads downward into what seems to be unending darkness. The wall of the gorge provides an abundance of handholds and footholds that ensure a relatively safe downward climb to everyone, including the nearly helpless Stool. Everyone reaches a place of hiding that seems satisfactory and a suspenseful waiting game begins. Eyes and ears are strained to pick up any hint of those who hunt you. The next sound to reach everyone's ears is, undoubtedly, something that no one expected.
The sound is neither the hushed tones of drow voices nor the careful trod of drow boots. It is, rather, an entirely inhuman shriek that comes from somewhere above the gorge. The source of the distressing sound is clearly moving, for it grows louder with each second. When you hear the sound initially, it is behind you (as if it coming from the other side of the gorge), but the foul noise is soon overhead, and moments later it is upon the rocky ledge above you. Some fell winged creature has violently smashed into the rocks and begins to shake off the force of the blow it just sustained. From your vantage point, you see only claws and leather wings as the creature begins to stand upright and look down the passageway you used just minutes ago. When the creature finally silences itself, the voices of the drow, full of alarm, reach your ears: Demon! Vrock!
You have no doubt that the drow have turned and fled. The creature above you does not follow them; instead, it turns and looks out over the gorge over which it just flew. You hope the creature will soon move along and take no notice of you, but you have no such luck. Stool, with the effect of its rapport spores still fully active, expresses its unease with the winged creature above. A telepathic voice altogether foreign to all of you then joins the conversation: What food has Ingzari found?
The monster then turns its gaze to the rocky terrain below--the terrain where all of you are hidden--and begins to search for whoever is on the other end of the telepathic connection.
The sharp twang of a crossbow breaks the silence, which suggests to all of you that Sarith has taken aim at the creature (which now has full confirmation that there's at least one tasty morsel hiding among the rocks). Sarith's crossbow bolt shatters as it strikes the rocks, confirming that he has only succeeded in alerting the demon of an enemy presence...
All players may act in any order, the creature is within 30' of each of you. Sarith's position has been revealed; yours, however, has not.
From his hiding place, Monar turns his head and glares at Sarith, barely managing to keep silent. He slowly moves and picks up a javelin, holding it ready to throw if the creature decides to attack.
If triggered: Attack: 15 Damage: 7 Surprise damage: 5
And yet, the slaver finds himself drawing his swords, discarding his useless wooden bow. He had planned on using his stringless bow to hook and push his drow pursuers off the edge as they came, but now they're fighting some winged horror. His want for something to go right right now is palpable – if not by the grind of his teeth, then by his venomous glare. If his swords being readied do not alert the Vrock, he'll move in and swing on the nasty critter the moment it goes for Sarith. The more people stick around for the long haul, the better chance he has of escaping. A guide familiar with this hellhole, like a drow, becomes a valuable commodity. Plus, he muses, I could sell him when all this is over.
Like a cat stalking a mouse, the vrock silently makes its way toward Sarith, gripping the rocks with its enormous taloned feet and clawed hands. Szefarian's nostrils are filled with the stench of the fiend as it literally steps over his hiding spot unaware. At this close range he can see the vrock is badly wounded; dark ichor drips from multiple wounds on the vrock's legs and abdomen.
Szefarian's blade adds one more injury to the vrock, which emits a furious hiss. A moment later, Monar's javelin sticks into the fiend's wing. The vrock's attention is now divided among multiple foes...
Zilly tries to remain small and hidden, and casts Vicious Mockery on the Vrock, criticizing how weak it is and how easy it will be for a drow to kill it.
The words of Zilly's enchantment fill the air briefly and the vrock emits a sharp squawk in response, indicating the spell had its intended effect.
With a throaty "Die, fiend!", Eldeth calls out and lunges forward with her shortsword and swings at the demon. Her blade misses and creates a faint shower of sparks at it clanks against the rocky side of the gorge. The dwarf stabs a second time and is successful. The rest of the escaped prisoners seem content to remain hidden.
The action for Varis is next; the vrock will then follow (w/ disadvantage).
Varis peeks out from behind the outcropping where he was attempting to hide. His face falls as he sees his fellow prisoner attack the flying demon, but he throws a bolt of eldritch energy in the general direction of the creature. He ducks back behind the rock, hoping to avoid the thing's attention.
Attack: 9 Damage: 2 rolled in dice rolling channel.
Varis watches his attack streak wide of the vrock. The demon seems wholly unphased by the narrow miss as it descends upon Sarith with its talons. The first clawed swipe misses the drow, but the second slices across Sarith's chest with devastating force. Sarith slumps to the ground with blood pouring from his wounds.
With Sarith immobilized the vrock whips its head around and easily closes its beak on Eldeth, who roars in pain. The dwarf scout is sorely wounded but remains standing.
Wanting no more of this unexpected battle, the vrock takes flight and attempts to flee into the darkness of the gorge.
Szefarian is within range, if he wishes to react with an opportunity attack. After that, those who wish to attack from range may do so. NOTE: Sarith is dying.
Seeing the Vrock fly off, Zilly comes out from behind a rock, he can hear the pain coming from the Drow and can see the gash on his chest, it looks bad.
Zilly, sings to himself, a little Svirfneblin lullaby from his childhood. Magic courses through him and he sends that magic racing into Sarith.
Monar looks to Sarith and begins to move towards the Drow, but stops as Zilly attempts to heal him. His eyes narrow at the idiot, then his attention turns to the fleeing Vrok. Grabbing another of his javelins, he hurls it after the demon. "Not sure I want that thing still alive and able to follow us," he says once the javelin flies. "And I'm going to knock seven shades of shit out of that stupid bastard over there if we survive this. We should move down, now, before it decides it's hungry enough to try again for lunch, and before those guards find enough courage to drag their arses back here."
Sarithsputters back to consciousness, grasping at his chest and moaning in pain. Monar's javelin soars through the air and bounces harmlessly off the vrock as it continues its flight.
Tarnstrak calls out to the group, "Let us descend now. The drow will return."
Looking below, you see the rough, jagged terrain continues, offering an abundance of handholds and hiding places.
Szefarian also takes a moment to don his scaled mail, grumbling about the fool of a drow almost getting himself killed. If that man's a murderer, he's a dumb one.
Varis watches the demon fly away and decides not to send another bolt of eldritch magic at it, not wanting to give it a reason to return and finish the job. Having no practical healing skills to help with Sarith or the other wounded, he spends the time looking around the gorge as the others help the wounded, looking for other avenues of escape.
”yes, we should keep moving, but where? Should we follow the bottom of the gorge, or climb up the other side? And where are we going? Does anyone know the path to the surface?”
Monar considers Zilly's offer for a little longer than seems necessary. "I think so. Your help would be appreciated. I would have preferred to stay out of my armour, for the sake of moving quietly," his gaze rises to where the Vrok flew off, "but if there's more like that around, I think I would rather have it on." He begins to don his armour, as quickly as he can.
"Is anyone else hurt. I can heal a little, but it would be best saving it for emergencies, it could be the difference between life and death." His gaze falls back on Sarith and his golden eyes burn into the Drow. "Why did you attack it?"
He rubs his face. "Where is your Neverlight Grove, Stool? Do you know the way from here?" He looks down. "If there is a river at the bottom of this, we could follow the damned thing. It might lead out eventually..." he pauses and curses to himself, "or be impassable. Let's make a decision once we're down and see what's down there, shall we."
Zilly helps Monar get into his armor. “I understand your dilemma. Stealth can save your life in the underdark, but so can your armor when a Vrock’s claw slashes out at you. I fear we will need to make many tradeoffs such as this before we are free of our drow pursuers.”
Then to all he says, “Let’s continue downward and see what it brings us, we don’t have many other options unfortunately.”
As the party members equip themselves for the next phase of the escape, the conversation about where to go and how to get there becomes a primary focus. A few ideas are presented, some of which are contradictory, and Buppido and Sarith quickly square off verbally. In summary...
Eldeth hails from the Underdark city of Gauntlgrym, and once again suggests that should be the destination. She is wholly uncertain, however, how to reach her home.
Tarnstrak and Treacle are certain the north passage (which you did not take) would have eventually led to the deep gnome settlement of Blingdenstone; Zilly senses this accurate.
Sarith believes the party, if it continues westward, will eventually reach the Darklake, a vast network of underground rivers, natural tunnels, and canals that connect innumerable water-filled caverns and chambers.
Buppido argues that the Darklake is to the south and hints that Sarith wants to lead everyone into a trap (an accusation that causes Sarith to respond with a string of Undercommon obsenites).
Stool, as expected, telepathically talks of Neverlight Grove but offers no guidance on where its home is.
Jimjar seems indifferent but does remind everyone that the vrock seemed to come from the west.
Zilly walks up to Sarith and places his hand on his chest. He lowers his voice so just Sarith can hear Stealth:10 and says “You know as well as I do, we are in a very dangerous situation here. I have limited magic, and I choose to use much of it to heal you. We are counting on you, and your expertise, to help us survive. I don’t care why you were in that cell, but I expect you to do everything in your power to help guide ALL of us to safety. If this is not something you’re interested in, no worries, no hard feelings, you can go your own way. If you stay, I will do my best to keep you ... to keep all of us alive. But if you stay, you’re agreeing to what I just said.”
Zilly gives a quick nod, a nod of approval, and walks away before the Drow can speak.
"You know your way round this Darklake?" Monar asks Sarith, then eyes the two Gnomes. "Too late to go north, unless you want to head back in to the welcoming arms of our friends back there." His gaze falls on Buppido. "If Darklake is to the south as you say, what is to the west, do you know?" He growls to himself. "Doesn't matter what's where, we made our choice. We stick with it or go back and I ain't for going back." He glowers at Sarith, "so I guess we're gonna have to trust him, for now, even if he is trying to get himself killed."
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The drow pursuit party doesn't seem to be moving quickly; despite their familiarity with this part of the Underdark, they are advancing with caution. Varis and Zilly breathe a sigh of relief after successfully donning their armor. Eldeth, after realizing the majority of the group has opted to avoid battle, lowers her axe and agrees to take cover somewhere among the rocks on the gorge's eastern wall.
With Zilly's illusion in place, the eleven members of the group slowly pick their way through the jagged terrain that leads downward into what seems to be unending darkness. The wall of the gorge provides an abundance of handholds and footholds that ensure a relatively safe downward climb to everyone, including the nearly helpless Stool. Everyone reaches a place of hiding that seems satisfactory and a suspenseful waiting game begins. Eyes and ears are strained to pick up any hint of those who hunt you. The next sound to reach everyone's ears is, undoubtedly, something that no one expected.
The sound is neither the hushed tones of drow voices nor the careful trod of drow boots. It is, rather, an entirely inhuman shriek that comes from somewhere above the gorge. The source of the distressing sound is clearly moving, for it grows louder with each second. When you hear the sound initially, it is behind you (as if it coming from the other side of the gorge), but the foul noise is soon overhead, and moments later it is upon the rocky ledge above you. Some fell winged creature has violently smashed into the rocks and begins to shake off the force of the blow it just sustained. From your vantage point, you see only claws and leather wings as the creature begins to stand upright and look down the passageway you used just minutes ago. When the creature finally silences itself, the voices of the drow, full of alarm, reach your ears: Demon! Vrock!
You have no doubt that the drow have turned and fled. The creature above you does not follow them; instead, it turns and looks out over the gorge over which it just flew. You hope the creature will soon move along and take no notice of you, but you have no such luck. Stool, with the effect of its rapport spores still fully active, expresses its unease with the winged creature above. A telepathic voice altogether foreign to all of you then joins the conversation: What food has Ingzari found?
The monster then turns its gaze to the rocky terrain below--the terrain where all of you are hidden--and begins to search for whoever is on the other end of the telepathic connection.
The sharp twang of a crossbow breaks the silence, which suggests to all of you that Sarith has taken aim at the creature (which now has full confirmation that there's at least one tasty morsel hiding among the rocks). Sarith's crossbow bolt shatters as it strikes the rocks, confirming that he has only succeeded in alerting the demon of an enemy presence...
All players may act in any order, the creature is within 30' of each of you. Sarith's position has been revealed; yours, however, has not.
From his hiding place, Monar turns his head and glares at Sarith, barely managing to keep silent. He slowly moves and picks up a javelin, holding it ready to throw if the creature decides to attack.
If triggered:
Attack: 15 Damage: 7 Surprise damage: 5
Idiot.
And yet, the slaver finds himself drawing his swords, discarding his useless wooden bow. He had planned on using his stringless bow to hook and push his drow pursuers off the edge as they came, but now they're fighting some winged horror. His want for something to go right right now is palpable – if not by the grind of his teeth, then by his venomous glare. If his swords being readied do not alert the Vrock, he'll move in and swing on the nasty critter the moment it goes for Sarith. The more people stick around for the long haul, the better chance he has of escaping. A guide familiar with this hellhole, like a drow, becomes a valuable commodity. Plus, he muses, I could sell him when all this is over.
[To hit: 21, Damage: 4]
Like a cat stalking a mouse, the vrock silently makes its way toward Sarith, gripping the rocks with its enormous taloned feet and clawed hands. Szefarian's nostrils are filled with the stench of the fiend as it literally steps over his hiding spot unaware. At this close range he can see the vrock is badly wounded; dark ichor drips from multiple wounds on the vrock's legs and abdomen.
Szefarian's blade adds one more injury to the vrock, which emits a furious hiss. A moment later, Monar's javelin sticks into the fiend's wing. The vrock's attention is now divided among multiple foes...
Zilly and Varis can act next, in any order.
Zilly tries to remain small and hidden, and casts Vicious Mockery on the Vrock, criticizing how weak it is and how easy it will be for a drow to kill it.
DC 14 Wisdom or: 3 damage / Disadvantage
The words of Zilly's enchantment fill the air briefly and the vrock emits a sharp squawk in response, indicating the spell had its intended effect.
With a throaty "Die, fiend!", Eldeth calls out and lunges forward with her shortsword and swings at the demon. Her blade misses and creates a faint shower of sparks at it clanks against the rocky side of the gorge. The dwarf stabs a second time and is successful. The rest of the escaped prisoners seem content to remain hidden.
The action for Varis is next; the vrock will then follow (w/ disadvantage).
Varis peeks out from behind the outcropping where he was attempting to hide. His face falls as he sees his fellow prisoner attack the flying demon, but he throws a bolt of eldritch energy in the general direction of the creature. He ducks back behind the rock, hoping to avoid the thing's attention.
Attack: 9 Damage: 2 rolled in dice rolling channel.
Varis watches his attack streak wide of the vrock. The demon seems wholly unphased by the narrow miss as it descends upon Sarith with its talons. The first clawed swipe misses the drow, but the second slices across Sarith's chest with devastating force. Sarith slumps to the ground with blood pouring from his wounds.
With Sarith immobilized the vrock whips its head around and easily closes its beak on Eldeth, who roars in pain. The dwarf scout is sorely wounded but remains standing.
Wanting no more of this unexpected battle, the vrock takes flight and attempts to flee into the darkness of the gorge.
Szefarian is within range, if he wishes to react with an opportunity attack. After that, those who wish to attack from range may do so. NOTE: Sarith is dying.
Seeing the Vrock fly off, Zilly comes out from behind a rock, he can hear the pain coming from the Drow and can see the gash on his chest, it looks bad.
Zilly, sings to himself, a little Svirfneblin lullaby from his childhood. Magic courses through him and he sends that magic racing into Sarith.
Healing Word on Sarith for: 7
Monar looks to Sarith and begins to move towards the Drow, but stops as Zilly attempts to heal him. His eyes narrow at the idiot, then his attention turns to the fleeing Vrok. Grabbing another of his javelins, he hurls it after the demon. "Not sure I want that thing still alive and able to follow us," he says once the javelin flies. "And I'm going to knock seven shades of shit out of that stupid bastard over there if we survive this. We should move down, now, before it decides it's hungry enough to try again for lunch, and before those guards find enough courage to drag their arses back here."
Javelin attack: 13 Damage: 7
Sarith sputters back to consciousness, grasping at his chest and moaning in pain. Monar's javelin soars through the air and bounces harmlessly off the vrock as it continues its flight.
Tarnstrak calls out to the group, "Let us descend now. The drow will return."
Looking below, you see the rough, jagged terrain continues, offering an abundance of handholds and hiding places.
(Combat has ended)
"Monar, would you like to take a few minutes to get your armor on? I can help you if you like."
Eldeth chimes in, "Aye, I'll do the same."
The dwarf dons her leather armor, and, wincing in discomfort, Sarith puts on his chain shirt.
Szefarian also takes a moment to don his scaled mail, grumbling about the fool of a drow almost getting himself killed. If that man's a murderer, he's a dumb one.
Varis watches the demon fly away and decides not to send another bolt of eldritch magic at it, not wanting to give it a reason to return and finish the job. Having no practical healing skills to help with Sarith or the other wounded, he spends the time looking around the gorge as the others help the wounded, looking for other avenues of escape.
”yes, we should keep moving, but where? Should we follow the bottom of the gorge, or climb up the other side? And where are we going? Does anyone know the path to the surface?”
Monar considers Zilly's offer for a little longer than seems necessary. "I think so. Your help would be appreciated. I would have preferred to stay out of my armour, for the sake of moving quietly," his gaze rises to where the Vrok flew off, "but if there's more like that around, I think I would rather have it on." He begins to don his armour, as quickly as he can.
"Is anyone else hurt. I can heal a little, but it would be best saving it for emergencies, it could be the difference between life and death." His gaze falls back on Sarith and his golden eyes burn into the Drow. "Why did you attack it?"
He rubs his face. "Where is your Neverlight Grove, Stool? Do you know the way from here?" He looks down. "If there is a river at the bottom of this, we could follow the damned thing. It might lead out eventually..." he pauses and curses to himself, "or be impassable. Let's make a decision once we're down and see what's down there, shall we."
Zilly helps Monar get into his armor. “I understand your dilemma. Stealth can save your life in the underdark, but so can your armor when a Vrock’s claw slashes out at you. I fear we will need to make many tradeoffs such as this before we are free of our drow pursuers.”
Then to all he says, “Let’s continue downward and see what it brings us, we don’t have many other options unfortunately.”
As the party members equip themselves for the next phase of the escape, the conversation about where to go and how to get there becomes a primary focus. A few ideas are presented, some of which are contradictory, and Buppido and Sarith quickly square off verbally. In summary...
Zilly walks up to Sarith and places his hand on his chest. He lowers his voice so just Sarith can hear Stealth:10 and says “You know as well as I do, we are in a very dangerous situation here. I have limited magic, and I choose to use much of it to heal you. We are counting on you, and your expertise, to help us survive. I don’t care why you were in that cell, but I expect you to do everything in your power to help guide ALL of us to safety. If this is not something you’re interested in, no worries, no hard feelings, you can go your own way. If you stay, I will do my best to keep you ... to keep all of us alive. But if you stay, you’re agreeing to what I just said.”
Zilly gives a quick nod, a nod of approval, and walks away before the Drow can speak.
"You know your way round this Darklake?" Monar asks Sarith, then eyes the two Gnomes. "Too late to go north, unless you want to head back in to the welcoming arms of our friends back there." His gaze falls on Buppido. "If Darklake is to the south as you say, what is to the west, do you know?" He growls to himself. "Doesn't matter what's where, we made our choice. We stick with it or go back and I ain't for going back." He glowers at Sarith, "so I guess we're gonna have to trust him, for now, even if he is trying to get himself killed."