"Stop... Stop! Please!" he says, surrendering for whatever evil doing Graxx believes he is responsible for. "I'm Chaab, and I had been tasked with investigating Cult activities in the caves by my boss. I'm a Zhentarim agent, okay, there... now you know. Can we leave now?" He backs up to one of the corners of the cage as it rattles "The Zhentarim have been investigating some strange happenings in the area. What the Kuo-Toa told you is true, a black dragon laired here until recently, and it was parleying with humans for some reason. The dragon hadn’t been seen in a while, but the humans were still skulking in the area, so I was ordered to came and investigate. I found that the dragon had been killed by some adventurers, but that they perished as well. Someone emptied the dragon’s hoard and started harvesting parts of the dead dragon. I was trying to escape the lair and report my findings when I was waylaid by dozens of these nasty creatures. Since then, the fishmen have been in talks with the humans to secure the area, but I don’t know more about their relationship. I swear!"
He continues: "What I do know is that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of these things living elsewhere in the lair. Their numbers are currently low because during the day they go deeper into the cave to hunt or whatever they do there, but if we don't escape soon, the sheer numbers of these Kuo-Toa will be too much to fight. Of that, I am certain. So, once again, can't we just leave... please? His strength sapping,I've been here for too long, unlike these farmers who were captured this morning."
The man in unconscious but stable. There is little you can do to help him except dressing his many small wounds. Alternatively, you could magically heal him. He will wake up naturally in 0 hours (minimum = 30 minutes).
"Looks like we should get out of here as quick as possible." Then Rose says, looking at the unconscious man, "Somebody is going to need to carry him out."
“What is this “We”, Drow?” Graxx walks away from the Drow and finds a dead Kuo-Toa. He will then take the body and throw it into the northern water way to test if the quippers hunger once more.
Cato busies himself with healing the father of the children, while Rose looks over his shoulder.
Still looking at Graxx, Chaab says "Oi... you don't plan to leave me here, right?", but the barbarian has already left to tend to his next task. Turning to Utar, Chaab then say "My belongings are now long gone, parceled out among my captors. I care not, as long as I leave this place. I did manage to stash these away though" he mentions, as he pulls out of a hidden pocket in the small of his back two slender vials of a liquid separated into brown, silver, and gray layers resembling bands of stone. As he shakes them, the bottles fail to mix the colors. "I was planning to use them on a grandiose escape plan but never figured out how to leave my cage first." This is when Cato arrives to unlock Chaab's cage having already unlocked the other two just before Drazzim decided to give them a smack. Looking at both Cato and Utar, and whoever else is nearby (but certainly not Graxx), he then adds "What do you say you take me back to Phlan and these babies are yours?"
As Graxx tests the water, he finds no immediate reaction from the quippers. It seems that whatever hunger they might have has been satiated by the previous Kuo-Toa body left in the water.
Now awake, the man speaks up "Thank you, whoever you are. You have saved my family and employees. I have nothing to offer you in ways of a reward, but hope your generosity will see us back safe to town. I don't think the children want to go back to the peat farm just yet."
The Zhentarim are an unscrupulous shadow network that seeks to expand its influence and power throughout Faerûn. The organization is ambitious, opportunistic, and meritocratic. The organization generally seeks to amass wealth, look for opportunities to seize power, gain influence over important people and organizations, and dominate Faerûn. The institution has persisted for centuries, and their existence and intentions are well documented, although pinpointing individual members has always been difficult. A member of the Zhentarim thinks of himself or herself as a member of a large family, and relies on the Black Network for resources and security. However, members are granted enough autonomy to pursue their own interests and gain some measure of personal power or influence. The Black Network is a meritocracy. It promises “the best of the best,” although in truth, the Zhentarim is more interested in spreading its own propaganda and influence than investing in the improvement of its individual members.
The Zhentarim came to prominence in Phlan generations ago, when their Hatemaster Cvaal Daoran became the Lord Protector of Phlan following the defeat of the wyrm that corrupted the city (named Tyranthraxus, and perhaps the same dragon mentioned by Chaab) in 1375 DR. Daoran’s ascension as the Lord Protector of Phlan may have saved the city, however. During the Shadowbane War of 1383 DR, Daoran’s alliance with fey from the Quivering Forest spared it from the fate of Zhentil Keep; which, along with the nearby Citadel of the Raven, would be ultimately destroyed by the Netherese.
Today, the Zhentarim's influence over Phlan has decreased considerably, and they are attempting to regain some ground by bringing the Welcomers (the local thieves' guild) into their sphere of influence.
(Cato, if you haven't done so yet, please add "black dragon scale shield" to your inventory. As mentioned before, it functions as a regular shield)
Drazzim looks to the captured people, then to the drow. He seems to mull it over for a moment before hesitantly stepping up to the drow's cell. "Don't make me regret this, drow." He says, working to open the cage. Drazzim doesn't appreciate the drow, as most dwarves don't. However, he knows not all drow are truly evil, and he would never want to leave someone to rot in a cell, even if he thinks they deserve it. Torog's not taking anyone here today. "You leave now, before I change my mind and you find an axe in your skull, dark elf."He says with a growl, trying to keep his gruff blood splattered exterior.
Graxx announces to the others with gruffness at the sight of an uncaged Drow, "The fish are not biting. It is time to go." Graxx then walks to the south end of the water. He then says in a complete opposite tone of voice that sounds like he is trying to be comforting but isn't sure to how to be so it comes out strangely pitched and awkward, "I am happy to carry children or gnomes on my shoulders to keep you out of the water." Graxx enters the water and waits to see if his services are needed.
You've seen these items before for sale at specialized shops or, most frequently, in black markets. Without a doubt, these are vials of potion of climbing.
With Cato's help, Drazzim swings the cage's door open. Sensing that Graxx is not the only one that has reservations against him, Chaab hands over the vials to Rose, who has been staring at them intensely, saying "Here, just take them. Let it not be said that Chaab is ungrateful, unlike some of my saviors who clearly benefited from my translation services in an hour of need." Realizing his little jab may not go unmatched, Chaab storms toward the portion of the pool of water that is not currently being guarded by Graxx and begins to swim away, clearly hoping to never see any of you again (you can still see him, but not for much longer).
As this is happening, the father approaches Graxx and says "Thank you brave one, but I made sure my younglings knew how to swim from a young age. The fishmen forced us to swim on the way in, I'm sure the little ones can do it again if needed. Shall we?"
Darrius will also carry a bundle of children or gnomes if the children are looking tired and not wanting to swim. "You've been locked in a cage for the past couple hours. Perhaps they aught not swim."
Graxx appears to be in physical pain for a moment as he fights the urge to chase the Drow after hearing the Drow's comment but his compassion for children causes him to hold this emotion inside.
Graxx then looks to the father. "My companion is right. I am not concerned as much about your children's swimming as I am concerned about..." Graxx leans in to whisper to the Father so the children cannot hear. "What may be in the water. If any of those Fish men are waiting I want to be able to get the children to safety quickly." Graxx reaches down to scoop up two unless the father tries to stop him and says. Graxx then motions to the father and says, "Carry my companions torch if you want to be useful so that he may carry others. We need light and need to move quickly if we can get to the Dro... If we can get to safety." Graxx then will enter the water and begin to exit the current room.
Not one to decline kindness, the father smiles for the first time since you've met him "Thank you once again. I did not want to burden you further, but I'm sure the children will enjoy being carried by their new heroes... I'm Angus, by the way." He turns to Graxx and says "These are Alleena and Kithian, my daughters," and then to Darrius, "and my sons Quayle and Volland... The children will certainly want to know the names of their saviors too."
Angus' smile then changes to a curious expression as the group prepares to enter the water "I've been wondering, how did you know to come for us so quickly after we had been taken? I can only think that my wife, Millivent, made to town safely. Is that indeed the case? If so, what of Bo, our youngest?"
As you begin to wade in the water, you can hear the middle-aged woman behind you, one of the hired peat farmhands "I've ne'er seen so much gold in my life! Surely these adventurers need some kind of reward, and I certainly ain't paying 'em with my meager copper wages". The unshaven older man then replies "Heck, if they don't want them coins, we could certainly use 'em".
Utar gathers the gold offerings from infront of the statue, "There will be a reckoning back at The Tea Kettle." He then wades into the water and heads to the other side.
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Rose will attempt to perform first aid on the unconscious father: (Medicine 5)
"Stop... Stop! Please!" he says, surrendering for whatever evil doing Graxx believes he is responsible for. "I'm Chaab, and I had been tasked with investigating Cult activities in the caves by my boss. I'm a Zhentarim agent, okay, there... now you know. Can we leave now?" He backs up to one of the corners of the cage as it rattles "The Zhentarim have been investigating some strange happenings in the area. What the Kuo-Toa told you is true, a black dragon laired here until recently, and it was parleying with humans for some reason. The dragon hadn’t been seen in a while, but the humans were still skulking in the area, so I was ordered to came and investigate. I found that the dragon had been killed by some adventurers, but that they perished as well. Someone emptied the dragon’s hoard and started harvesting parts of the dead dragon. I was trying to escape the lair and report my findings when I was waylaid by dozens of these nasty creatures. Since then, the fishmen have been in talks with the humans to secure the area, but I don’t know more about their relationship. I swear!"
He continues: "What I do know is that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of these things living elsewhere in the lair. Their numbers are currently low because during the day they go deeper into the cave to hunt or whatever they do there, but if we don't escape soon, the sheer numbers of these Kuo-Toa will be too much to fight. Of that, I am certain. So, once again, can't we just leave... please? His strength sapping, I've been here for too long, unlike these farmers who were captured this morning."
Utar’s and Rose's medicine checks:
"Looks like we should get out of here as quick as possible." Then Rose says, looking at the unconscious man, "Somebody is going to need to carry him out."
Cato will take the shield and the key. Then he will attempt to unlock unopend cages. When he comes to the man Rose is tending, he asks,
"I still have some healing ability. Should I apply it to this man?"
IRL: Dungeon Master--Adventures in the Cassitana Islands
PbP: Player--Esvaris Liadon, Wood Elf Monk 2/Cleric 2--Clerical Heirs: A Divine Mystery
Utar nods. "Aye Cato. If what this Drow says is true, we should get these people moving." Utar stands and shakily moves out of the cage.
Standing beside Graxx, he narrows his eyes at the Drow. "Where are your things, Chaab?"
History check on Chaab's employer, The Zhentarim
18
"Alright then. Be healed, my friend" Cato says to the unconscious man, casting healing word, giving him 6 hitpoints
IRL: Dungeon Master--Adventures in the Cassitana Islands
PbP: Player--Esvaris Liadon, Wood Elf Monk 2/Cleric 2--Clerical Heirs: A Divine Mystery
“What is this “We”, Drow?” Graxx walks away from the Drow and finds a dead Kuo-Toa. He will then take the body and throw it into the northern water way to test if the quippers hunger once more.
Cato busies himself with healing the father of the children, while Rose looks over his shoulder.
Still looking at Graxx, Chaab says "Oi... you don't plan to leave me here, right?", but the barbarian has already left to tend to his next task. Turning to Utar, Chaab then say "My belongings are now long gone, parceled out among my captors. I care not, as long as I leave this place. I did manage to stash these away though" he mentions, as he pulls out of a hidden pocket in the small of his back two slender vials of a liquid separated into brown, silver, and gray layers resembling bands of stone. As he shakes them, the bottles fail to mix the colors. "I was planning to use them on a grandiose escape plan but never figured out how to leave my cage first." This is when Cato arrives to unlock Chaab's cage having already unlocked the other two just before Drazzim decided to give them a smack. Looking at both Cato and Utar, and whoever else is nearby (but certainly not Graxx), he then adds "What do you say you take me back to Phlan and these babies are yours?"
As Graxx tests the water, he finds no immediate reaction from the quippers. It seems that whatever hunger they might have has been satiated by the previous Kuo-Toa body left in the water.
Now awake, the man speaks up "Thank you, whoever you are. You have saved my family and employees. I have nothing to offer you in ways of a reward, but hope your generosity will see us back safe to town. I don't think the children want to go back to the peat farm just yet."
Utar's history check:
The Zhentarim are an unscrupulous shadow network that seeks to expand its influence and power throughout Faerûn. The organization is ambitious, opportunistic, and meritocratic. The organization generally seeks to amass wealth, look for opportunities to seize power, gain influence over important people and organizations, and dominate Faerûn. The institution has persisted for centuries, and their existence and intentions are well documented, although pinpointing individual members has always been difficult. A member of the Zhentarim thinks of himself or herself as a member of a large family, and relies on the Black Network for resources and security. However, members are granted enough autonomy to pursue their own interests and gain some measure of personal power or influence. The Black Network is a meritocracy. It promises “the best of the best,” although in truth, the Zhentarim is more interested in spreading its own propaganda and influence than investing in the improvement of its individual members.
The Zhentarim came to prominence in Phlan generations ago, when their Hatemaster Cvaal Daoran became the Lord Protector of Phlan following the defeat of the wyrm that corrupted the city (named Tyranthraxus, and perhaps the same dragon mentioned by Chaab) in 1375 DR. Daoran’s ascension as the Lord Protector of Phlan may have saved the city, however. During the Shadowbane War of 1383 DR, Daoran’s alliance with fey from the Quivering Forest spared it from the fate of Zhentil Keep; which, along with the nearby Citadel of the Raven, would be ultimately destroyed by the Netherese.
Today, the Zhentarim's influence over Phlan has decreased considerably, and they are attempting to regain some ground by bringing the Welcomers (the local thieves' guild) into their sphere of influence.
(Cato, if you haven't done so yet, please add "black dragon scale shield" to your inventory. As mentioned before, it functions as a regular shield)
Rose is curious. "What, exactly, is in those vials?" (She tries to guess: Arcana 18)
Drazzim looks to the captured people, then to the drow. He seems to mull it over for a moment before hesitantly stepping up to the drow's cell. "Don't make me regret this, drow." He says, working to open the cage. Drazzim doesn't appreciate the drow, as most dwarves don't. However, he knows not all drow are truly evil, and he would never want to leave someone to rot in a cell, even if he thinks they deserve it. Torog's not taking anyone here today. "You leave now, before I change my mind and you find an axe in your skull, dark elf." He says with a growl, trying to keep his gruff blood splattered exterior.
Graxx announces to the others with gruffness at the sight of an uncaged Drow, "The fish are not biting. It is time to go." Graxx then walks to the south end of the water. He then says in a complete opposite tone of voice that sounds like he is trying to be comforting but isn't sure to how to be so it comes out strangely pitched and awkward, "I am happy to carry children or gnomes on my shoulders to keep you out of the water." Graxx enters the water and waits to see if his services are needed.
Rose's arcana check:
You've seen these items before for sale at specialized shops or, most frequently, in black markets. Without a doubt, these are vials of potion of climbing.
With Cato's help, Drazzim swings the cage's door open. Sensing that Graxx is not the only one that has reservations against him, Chaab hands over the vials to Rose, who has been staring at them intensely, saying "Here, just take them. Let it not be said that Chaab is ungrateful, unlike some of my saviors who clearly benefited from my translation services in an hour of need." Realizing his little jab may not go unmatched, Chaab storms toward the portion of the pool of water that is not currently being guarded by Graxx and begins to swim away, clearly hoping to never see any of you again (you can still see him, but not for much longer).
As this is happening, the father approaches Graxx and says "Thank you brave one, but I made sure my younglings knew how to swim from a young age. The fishmen forced us to swim on the way in, I'm sure the little ones can do it again if needed. Shall we?"
Darrius will also carry a bundle of children or gnomes if the children are looking tired and not wanting to swim. "You've been locked in a cage for the past couple hours. Perhaps they aught not swim."
Graxx appears to be in physical pain for a moment as he fights the urge to chase the Drow after hearing the Drow's comment but his compassion for children causes him to hold this emotion inside.
Graxx then looks to the father. "My companion is right. I am not concerned as much about your children's swimming as I am concerned about..." Graxx leans in to whisper to the Father so the children cannot hear. "What may be in the water. If any of those Fish men are waiting I want to be able to get the children to safety quickly." Graxx reaches down to scoop up two unless the father tries to stop him and says. Graxx then motions to the father and says, "Carry my companions torch if you want to be useful so that he may carry others. We need light and need to move quickly if we can get to the Dro... If we can get to safety." Graxx then will enter the water and begin to exit the current room.
Rose will swim so that the tall folk are able to carry more children. (Athletics 15, when the time comes.)
Not one to decline kindness, the father smiles for the first time since you've met him "Thank you once again. I did not want to burden you further, but I'm sure the children will enjoy being carried by their new heroes... I'm Angus, by the way." He turns to Graxx and says "These are Alleena and Kithian, my daughters," and then to Darrius, "and my sons Quayle and Volland... The children will certainly want to know the names of their saviors too."
Angus' smile then changes to a curious expression as the group prepares to enter the water "I've been wondering, how did you know to come for us so quickly after we had been taken? I can only think that my wife, Millivent, made to town safely. Is that indeed the case? If so, what of Bo, our youngest?"
As you begin to wade in the water, you can hear the middle-aged woman behind you, one of the hired peat farmhands "I've ne'er seen so much gold in my life! Surely these adventurers need some kind of reward, and I certainly ain't paying 'em with my meager copper wages". The unshaven older man then replies "Heck, if they don't want them coins, we could certainly use 'em".
Cato will wait until everyone is in the water before diving into the pool himself.
IRL: Dungeon Master--Adventures in the Cassitana Islands
PbP: Player--Esvaris Liadon, Wood Elf Monk 2/Cleric 2--Clerical Heirs: A Divine Mystery
"Don't worry", says Rose, "Millivent and Bo are safe."
Utar gathers the gold offerings from infront of the statue, "There will be a reckoning back at The Tea Kettle." He then wades into the water and heads to the other side.