Lira, Amdaeng and Ning find a cafe with a view towards the gardens and sample some local and imported teas and pastries while gossiping about their companions past and present....
Amdaeng presses Lira a little about her life with Shareela and about Liras family, and shares more of her own past both in the pits and in the alcoves and on the rooftops of Fang.....and family tensions that accompanied those.
After doing various errands and relaxing, the time comes to visit the Serpent Queen once again. The group decides it may not be in anyone's best interest to include Halbert in the meeting, as they are concerned about the Queen's reaction. In addition, Vydar has spent some time looking at the strange amulet. He is struggling with what it does, but it is certainly magical, likely protective in nature. It continues to be warm to the touch.
The iron gates of her estate open without a sound, and you are guided once more through manicured gardens and silent corridors into the same opulent sitting room as before. Velvet cushions. Exotic blooms. The faint scent of perfume and something sharper beneath it.
Servants offer refreshments with downcast eyes. The room is warm, still, waiting.
Then—before you see anything—you feel it, a powerful presence, as the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
She enters soundlessly, regal and unhurried, her gaze settling on you with cool curiosity. One long hand lifts a glass of wine as though she has been here all along.
Her lips curve, polite… and dangerous.
“Ahhh… I ssssee you have returned.”
She takes a slow sip.
“Tell me…”
Her voice softens, every word drawn out like silk over a blade.
While awaiting someone else to respond to her question, Jherak eyes the Serpant Queen.
”She’s really quite attractive, for a hideous snake headed beast, with no doubt a deadly bite,” he thinks to himself. “Hope she can’t read my thoughts.”
Zarbyn presents the Serpent Queen with the perfume.
"One of the tasks was to retrieve a special perfume, I hope you find it to your liking."
He walks slowly and casually toward the nearest window or balcony to look outside at the parts of Blacksand visible from here. As he turns back from the window he has produced a key, holding it between his pointer finger and thumb.
"Working with Serethys herself we settled on 'The Iron Hand' and decided as a added bonus you should have the key."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
She looks at Jherak for a moment, her eyes are intoxicating. She is very mysterious, and shockingly beautiful.
The Queen smiles, a forked tongue coming out and going back in her mouth, "Delicioussss." She takes the perfume. "Tell me more of this Iron Hand and the key you pressent?"
"As Serethys explained it a iron gauntlet would be placed over his hand so he would be unable to practice his art, it would be accompanied by constant itching and burning to serve as a reminder that his ability to practice art, while remaining intact will be inaccessible, locked behind the gauntlet."
Zarbyn walks comfortably and swiftly over to the Serpent Queen and gives her the key.
"We all agreed you should have the key to the gauntlet."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
She smiles in delight. "Oh, you have outdone yourselvessss." Her body almost shakes un undulating pleasure. "You have accomplished what was asked of you." The brings them to what appears to be a large tree trunk, carved into a coffee table. The surface is smooth and polished, as if petrified (it is petrified wood).
"Now, let us see your wizzzzard hidesss. His skillss are great, and he is able to move his abode, so asssss not to be dissscovered easily." She beings chanting and moving her hands as a ritual summons her magic. "But.....I sssseeeee all in thissss place of filth."
Before you, the table seems to take on the image of Port Blacksand, each street and building rises in three dimensions. Red dots line the streets, buildings, and boats. You realize you are looking at people. Identifying the Serpent Queens, home, you see dots in the home at your current location.
Slowly, the image begins to magnify over one area, focusing closer and closer. A greenish liquid comes out of her mouth (venom you guess) and drips onto the table. Then all the other lights disappear, and only one remains. "There you are.....my little wizzzzard." She smiles in satisfaction. "Today, he hidessss at thissss bridge." (GREEN STAR)
The caresses the key in her hand. "It was a pleasssure doing businessss with you." And with that, she nods and slithers into a room out of view.
Vydar is clearly disgusted at the festivities surrounding the execution. Had there been a smaller crowed he likely would have attempted to step in and end it seeing that the dwarf being led to his death hadn't seemed like one who deserved such a fate. However, with their planned meeting, the fact that he hadn't even talked to the dwarf, and just everything else going on, trying to do anything about any of this would have been a fruitless endeavor which likely would have ended in them all getting sent to prison at best.
He doesn't express any interest in shopping, opting to spend that time studying the amulet he'd gotten from the goblin's hide out. Due to his last experience with an item he'd collected from the cult... and the dream he'd had that night he was far more cautious when studying the amulet than he'd normally be with any other item. However, when he eventually concludes it has something to do with protection, and can't seem to determine what else it does he decides to cast a spell he hasn't used since the day they found Natalie Storm's body.
Vydar Casts Identify on the amulet. (Before seeing the serpent queen) Spell Details:
You choose one object that you must touch throughout the casting of the spell. If it is a magic item or some other magic-imbued object, you learn its properties and how to use them, whether it requires attunement to use, and how many charges it has, if any. You learn whether any spells are affecting the item and what they are. If the item was created by a spell, you learn which spell created it.
When the group finally meets the serpent queen, Vydar stays silent when the others offer her the items they'd brought. He's glad she approved of their chosen punishment for the man who'd humiliated her, and can't help but smirk slightly at her reaction. However he quickly hides that expression behind his usual glare. He watches the Serpent Queen carefully when she works her magic, clearly intrigued by it. His eyes remain on the table and on the green light when she leaves, before shifting to his party members.
"I have a feeling we should hurry to that location. The tunnels we found will have to wait. If all goes well we might still be able to investigate more after we talk to this wizard."
Lev stays quiet through the exchange, eyes hard as ever in spite of their apparent success. He nods in response to Vydar’s statement though. If the wizard can move his house as he pleases then there’s nothing stopping him from moving it before they reach him. He eyes the room where the serpent queen went, then looks to his companions expectantly before heading for the exit.
This small pendant holds a flickering ember sealed in crimson crystal. It remains warm to the touch even in the most freezing of temperatures. Legends say it was forged by Nicodemus as a safeguard against Shareella’s endless winter—one spark of defiance against the Snow Witch’s reign. It was stolen by Malbordus, the child of darkness and has been lost for a century.
While wearing and attuned to the Flame Pendant, you gain the following benefits:
Cold Resistance
You have resistance to cold damage.
Ember Against the Freeze
You have advantage on saving throws against effects that would impose the paralyzed condition due to cold or ice magic (such as freezing spells, supernatural blizzards, or Shareella’s powers).
Sense the Snow Witch
The pendant glows with faint firelight whenever Shareella the Snow Witch or her magic is within 120 feet of you. The glow intensifies the closer she is, becoming bright as a torch if she is within 30 feet.
Spark of Warmth (1/Day)
As a bonus action, you awaken the pendant’s inner flame, causing it to radiate comforting heat in a 10-foot radius aura centered on you for 1 minute.
While the aura lasts, you and friendly creatures of your choice within the aura gain the following benefits:
Advantage on saving throws against cold damage and cold-based magical effects
Advantage on saving throws against being charmed
This warmth feels like standing near a hearth in the dead of winter, pushing back not only the freezing air but the creeping enchantments woven into Shareella’s storm.
Once this property is used, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.
(For some reason, Vydar gets the sense there is more…but his magic is not strong enough to reveal it.)
(In regards to what he found out about the amulet)
Vydar is a bit shocked when his spell reveals the item's identity. Partly because it was supposedly lost for a century and partly because of it's relevance to their quest. However, the feeling that there's more to the item than his spell revealed irritates him. Both because it makes him feel weak, and because he still isn't sure if he can trust it. Despite it's origin, he can't help but wonder if Malbordus tainted it in any way when he'd stolen it. Not to mention the fact that this red amulet seems like a clear parallel to the blue one around Lira's neck. With these in mind he is a bit hesitant to put it on before seeing the serpent queen... well that on top of knowing that it will likely glow non stop while Lira is in his vicinity, and that he'd need to attune to it before it would be useful. With these things in mind he puts the amulet away for the time being.
Vydar nods to both Amdaeng and Lev, then unless anyone objects, he makes his way out of the Serpent Queen's manor. Maybe the Wizard they are looking for will know more about the red amulet... though he mostly hopes he can help free Lira from hers.
The group leaves the Serpent Queens Manor and grabs Halbert on route to the bridge. After a short walk, you arrive at the bridge you saw on the magical table. It is like the other bridge you crossed yesterday (where the fight occurred). It is made of stone and crosses over the Catfish River. There are not many people about at the moment. Some fishermen in small boats along the river. The spectacle at the Execution district is clearly over, as the crowds have dispersed. The weather is again poor today, with cold rain and gray skies.
Zarbyn leaves with the others relieved that the Serpent Queen was pleased enough to let us know where Nicodemus would be today.
"I don't know if we should just wait for him to show or call out to him for an audience? Perhaps mention how much he's needed to counter Shareella's influence?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
AMdaeng walks across the bridge twice looking for alcoves or hidden doors or the like then hangs over the side with Lira ( Help) holding her legs to look underneath the structure.
Amdaeng sees a sort of distortion on the east side of the bridge. Looking over the side, at first she notices nothing. Then, she notes a lantern hook afixed to nothing. There is also a strange scent of herbs and ink. Then, she sees a single step that should be there at the top of the river's water. Dry and untouched by the rain, as if it is protected by a threshold.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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+1 shield ——maybe 500-1000
Lira, Amdaeng and Ning find a cafe with a view towards the gardens and sample some local and imported teas and pastries while gossiping about their companions past and present....
Amdaeng presses Lira a little about her life with Shareela and about Liras family, and shares more of her own past both in the pits and in the alcoves and on the rooftops of Fang.....and family tensions that accompanied those.
After doing various errands and relaxing, the time comes to visit the Serpent Queen once again. The group decides it may not be in anyone's best interest to include Halbert in the meeting, as they are concerned about the Queen's reaction. In addition, Vydar has spent some time looking at the strange amulet. He is struggling with what it does, but it is certainly magical, likely protective in nature. It continues to be warm to the touch.
The iron gates of her estate open without a sound, and you are guided once more through manicured gardens and silent corridors into the same opulent sitting room as before. Velvet cushions. Exotic blooms. The faint scent of perfume and something sharper beneath it.
Servants offer refreshments with downcast eyes. The room is warm, still, waiting.
Then—before you see anything—you feel it, a powerful presence, as the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
She enters soundlessly, regal and unhurried, her gaze settling on you with cool curiosity. One long hand lifts a glass of wine as though she has been here all along.
Her lips curve, polite… and dangerous.
“Ahhh… I ssssee you have returned.”
She takes a slow sip.
“Tell me…”
Her voice softens, every word drawn out like silk over a blade.
“Did you complete the favorrrsss I asked of you?”
While awaiting someone else to respond to her question, Jherak eyes the Serpant Queen.
”She’s really quite attractive, for a hideous snake headed beast, with no doubt a deadly bite,” he thinks to himself. “Hope she can’t read my thoughts.”
Lira stepped forward, " Both tasks have been completed as requested, Your Grace."
" I will allow the esteemed Zarbyn to give any further information required and to present you with the requested item."
Zarbyn presents the Serpent Queen with the perfume.
"One of the tasks was to retrieve a special perfume, I hope you find it to your liking."
He walks slowly and casually toward the nearest window or balcony to look outside at the parts of Blacksand visible from here. As he turns back from the window he has produced a key, holding it between his pointer finger and thumb.
"Working with Serethys herself we settled on 'The Iron Hand' and decided as a added bonus you should have the key."
She looks at Jherak for a moment, her eyes are intoxicating. She is very mysterious, and shockingly beautiful.
The Queen smiles, a forked tongue coming out and going back in her mouth, "Delicioussss." She takes the perfume. "Tell me more of this Iron Hand and the key you pressent?"
"As Serethys explained it a iron gauntlet would be placed over his hand so he would be unable to practice his art, it would be accompanied by constant itching and burning to serve as a reminder that his ability to practice art, while remaining intact will be inaccessible, locked behind the gauntlet."
Zarbyn walks comfortably and swiftly over to the Serpent Queen and gives her the key.
"We all agreed you should have the key to the gauntlet."
She smiles in delight. "Oh, you have outdone yourselvessss." Her body almost shakes un undulating pleasure. "You have accomplished what was asked of you."
The brings them to what appears to be a large tree trunk, carved into a coffee table. The surface is smooth and polished, as if petrified (it is petrified wood).
"Now, let us see your wizzzzard hidesss. His skillss are great, and he is able to move his abode, so asssss not to be dissscovered easily." She beings chanting and moving her hands as a ritual summons her magic. "But.....I sssseeeee all in thissss place of filth."
Before you, the table seems to take on the image of Port Blacksand, each street and building rises in three dimensions. Red dots line the streets, buildings, and boats. You realize you are looking at people. Identifying the Serpent Queens, home, you see dots in the home at your current location.
Slowly, the image begins to magnify over one area, focusing closer and closer. A greenish liquid comes out of her mouth (venom you guess) and drips onto the table. Then all the other lights disappear, and only one remains. "There you are.....my little wizzzzard." She smiles in satisfaction. "Today, he hidessss at thissss bridge." (GREEN STAR)
The caresses the key in her hand. "It was a pleasssure doing businessss with you." And with that, she nods and slithers into a room out of view.
Vydar is clearly disgusted at the festivities surrounding the execution. Had there been a smaller crowed he likely would have attempted to step in and end it seeing that the dwarf being led to his death hadn't seemed like one who deserved such a fate. However, with their planned meeting, the fact that he hadn't even talked to the dwarf, and just everything else going on, trying to do anything about any of this would have been a fruitless endeavor which likely would have ended in them all getting sent to prison at best.
He doesn't express any interest in shopping, opting to spend that time studying the amulet he'd gotten from the goblin's hide out. Due to his last experience with an item he'd collected from the cult... and the dream he'd had that night he was far more cautious when studying the amulet than he'd normally be with any other item. However, when he eventually concludes it has something to do with protection, and can't seem to determine what else it does he decides to cast a spell he hasn't used since the day they found Natalie Storm's body.
Vydar Casts Identify on the amulet. (Before seeing the serpent queen)
Spell Details:
You choose one object that you must touch throughout the casting of the spell. If it is a magic item or some other magic-imbued object, you learn its properties and how to use them, whether it requires attunement to use, and how many charges it has, if any. You learn whether any spells are affecting the item and what they are. If the item was created by a spell, you learn which spell created it.
When the group finally meets the serpent queen, Vydar stays silent when the others offer her the items they'd brought. He's glad she approved of their chosen punishment for the man who'd humiliated her, and can't help but smirk slightly at her reaction. However he quickly hides that expression behind his usual glare. He watches the Serpent Queen carefully when she works her magic, clearly intrigued by it. His eyes remain on the table and on the green light when she leaves, before shifting to his party members.
"I have a feeling we should hurry to that location. The tunnels we found will have to wait. If all goes well we might still be able to investigate more after we talk to this wizard."
Lev stays quiet through the exchange, eyes hard as ever in spite of their apparent success. He nods in response to Vydar’s statement though. If the wizard can move his house as he pleases then there’s nothing stopping him from moving it before they reach him.
He eyes the room where the serpent queen went, then looks to his companions expectantly before heading for the exit.
The sooner they get out of Blacksand the better.
Amdaeng and Lira nod to Vidar, " Well....we are dismissed. Hurrying it is!"
VYDAR
Flame Pendant of the Thawing Heart
Wondrous Item, rare (requires attunement)
This small pendant holds a flickering ember sealed in crimson crystal. It remains warm to the touch even in the most freezing of temperatures. Legends say it was forged by Nicodemus as a safeguard against Shareella’s endless winter—one spark of defiance against the Snow Witch’s reign. It was stolen by Malbordus, the child of darkness and has been lost for a century.
While wearing and attuned to the Flame Pendant, you gain the following benefits:
Cold Resistance
You have resistance to cold damage.
Ember Against the Freeze
You have advantage on saving throws against effects that would impose the paralyzed condition due to cold or ice magic (such as freezing spells, supernatural blizzards, or Shareella’s powers).
Sense the Snow Witch
The pendant glows with faint firelight whenever Shareella the Snow Witch or her magic is within 120 feet of you. The glow intensifies the closer she is, becoming bright as a torch if she is within 30 feet.
Spark of Warmth (1/Day)
As a bonus action, you awaken the pendant’s inner flame, causing it to radiate comforting heat in a 10-foot radius aura centered on you for 1 minute.
While the aura lasts, you and friendly creatures of your choice within the aura gain the following benefits:
This warmth feels like standing near a hearth in the dead of winter, pushing back not only the freezing air but the creeping enchantments woven into Shareella’s storm.
Once this property is used, it can’t be used again until the next dawn.
(For some reason, Vydar gets the sense there is more…but his magic is not strong enough to reveal it.)
(In regards to what he found out about the amulet)
Vydar is a bit shocked when his spell reveals the item's identity. Partly because it was supposedly lost for a century and partly because of it's relevance to their quest. However, the feeling that there's more to the item than his spell revealed irritates him. Both because it makes him feel weak, and because he still isn't sure if he can trust it. Despite it's origin, he can't help but wonder if Malbordus tainted it in any way when he'd stolen it. Not to mention the fact that this red amulet seems like a clear parallel to the blue one around Lira's neck. With these in mind he is a bit hesitant to put it on before seeing the serpent queen... well that on top of knowing that it will likely glow non stop while Lira is in his vicinity, and that he'd need to attune to it before it would be useful. With these things in mind he puts the amulet away for the time being.
Vydar nods to both Amdaeng and Lev, then unless anyone objects, he makes his way out of the Serpent Queen's manor. Maybe the Wizard they are looking for will know more about the red amulet... though he mostly hopes he can help free Lira from hers.
The group leaves the Serpent Queens Manor and grabs Halbert on route to the bridge. After a short walk, you arrive at the bridge you saw on the magical table. It is like the other bridge you crossed yesterday (where the fight occurred). It is made of stone and crosses over the Catfish River. There are not many people about at the moment. Some fishermen in small boats along the river. The spectacle at the Execution district is clearly over, as the crowds have dispersed. The weather is again poor today, with cold rain and gray skies.
Amdaeng stares at the bridge for a good while seeing no wizards tower or the like......
" Is he part troll? Does he live under the bridge?"
Zarbyn leaves with the others relieved that the Serpent Queen was pleased enough to let us know where Nicodemus would be today.
"I don't know if we should just wait for him to show or call out to him for an audience? Perhaps mention how much he's needed to counter Shareella's influence?"
Random sailors and others pass the bridge from time to time, as you stare at it.
(Perceptions rolls, investigation, or maybe some other way of finding the guy)
AMdaeng walks across the bridge twice looking for alcoves or hidden doors or the like then hangs over the side with Lira ( Help) holding her legs to look underneath the structure.
Investigation- 22
Perception- 17
Amdaeng sees a sort of distortion on the east side of the bridge. Looking over the side, at first she notices nothing. Then, she notes a lantern hook afixed to nothing. There is also a strange scent of herbs and ink. Then, she sees a single step that should be there at the top of the river's water. Dry and untouched by the rain, as if it is protected by a threshold.