“Jumpy?! Ha, you’d be jumpy to if you pointed at a mushroom and it exploded in your face! Speaking of which…” He turns back to the older kender on the Giant Striders back “Bucky, myconids feed the home mushroom things with dead things right, for fold and stuff, like fertilizer? Do you think that this grove of mushrooms would account for a large dragon body? Like this is part of what’s causing the dragon magic to leach into the ground and contaminate stuff?”
Merkas pats Yuki on the arm and heads back to his mount. “You’re gonna have to explain the dice sometime but for now we gotta figure out how to neutralize some mushroom folk with cabin fever before the clean up gets here. And we really don’t want to exterminate them if we can help it”
(oops! Didn't see this post! Sorry!)
Buckeran considers the thought for a moment. "It seems reasonable. But although little is known about this den, I would presume it's much bigger than this, and the actual lair would be much deeper in. Blue Dragon's are accomplished burrowers. While it's unlikely we'll find a labyrinth, it is likely that if there's a dragon corpse, it's on a lower level of this den. Or at least, that's where the horde would be." He waves a mangled hand in the air... "Besides, there's plenty of death to be found here. With the lightning storm outside, and little creepy crawlies everywhere, I imagine that the Myconids have more than enough fertilizer to tend their crops... or at least what was their crops. My my... I certainly hope they can rebuild. Though they attacked us, I almost feel bad for them."
Buckeran waves his disfigured and happily at the new Harengon who's come to join them. His excitement over seeing a new rabbitkin is clearly spread across his face. "A far-travellor! And so fancy too! You must have many stories to tell of your homeland, which I'd love to chronical if you'll permit me. I must say, harengon fascinate me! Such varied and excited creatures. So full of mystery!"
He hops off Barkly and wonders toward Yuki, fidgeting with the few fingers he has remaining, and puts on his magic monacle. Then he studies the new acquaintance's weapons and clothing. "Fascinating! A Longsword of Wounding! I presume Kasi made that for you? She's gotten quite good at forging weapons then. If true, she's to be commended!" He let's out a low whistle. "And a lovely cloak! Fascinating... truly wondrous! If you ever grow tired of it, I'm sure I can purchase it from you for a good price... mhmmhmm!" His choked giggle at the thought of adding to his already massive collecting of rare magic items reveals a somewhat greedy nature. He has a reputation for hording oddities in Santekh, which precedes him from his Bandit years when he was young. He eyes your rings with somewhat less interest, but lets out a faint, "Hm..." at the one that isn't a signet ring. And decides to let the topic drop.
"Where was I... we've been struggling to make headway into this dragon's lair. And I've no intention to rest until we've cleared out the horde. I get first dibs on the treasure, for the Santekh treasury, of course, and I assume much of it will need to be purified before it's usable to you, but you're welcome to whatever you can carry. The council is more concerned with purifying this den than whatever gold and weapons may be found inside. Even though I'd love to talk in depth about your travels here, we really must move along. Are you fresh to continue your travels?"
Orr the Unseen remains where they are. They appear much more interested in the behavior of the myconids than this introduction. The fire burst that started it all is finally out, and the myconids are moving west to put out more of the flames. Smoke is starting to filter out of the chamber, but the air is still acrid and stings the eyes a bit. With the myconids still fussing over their grove it seems you still have a few moments of respite before they potentially become a threat again. Still this magical madness intrigues the introspective orc. If it can turn a circle of myconids mad, then why wasn't the carrion eater equally affected. Perhaps it has something to do with levels of intelligence? If so, Orr the Unseen has cause for concern. How long can we remain in this cavern before the magic starts plaguing the party? Minutes? Years? A more powerful student of arcane or divine arts would be able to answer these questions. They take a moment to stare up at the crystalline ceiling... no sky above. No stars. Even with the night sky to grant them wisdom, they are inadequate to the task. But here... in this den, they feel strangely disconnected and slow to thought.
The crystal archway remains to the north. To the west and east, there are more areas of the den to explore as well. Due to the fact that the myconids are scrambling everywhere, it's safe to say there are no traps in this part of the dungeon.
Yuki smiles politely at Bucky, but as he receives his weapons back from Hastos, he grips his sword tightly.
”Actually, this sword is my mother’s. I accepted it and have been mastering it since then.”
At the glance to his ring, he waves his hand subtly over it and causes it to disappear. From his pocket he produces the Guild Signet ring and slips it on.
”so, aside from calming down the myconids somehow, what is the end goal here that we’re looking for in here?”
Sera crumpled the warning note she had just read aloud.
So Goldenspear was sending assassins now? All this effort over an escaped servant. And what use was a dead servant anyway?
For a brief moment she was back in that night. He was over her. His men holding her....the laughing...the pain and fear...
She closed her eyes sharply and forced the memory down. Killed or kidnapped? Let them try. She is no helpless girl any more.
“Thank you for bringing the letter, Yuki,” she said, voice steady again. “We are exploring this abandoned dragon cave to stop the foul, sickening effect it has on the land… now.”
She cast a sideways glance at Buckeran.
“Abandoned might be a slight miscalculation. If there is no dragon, there are certainly plenty of other creatures. We may even find a hoard—consider that a bonus.” She straightened. “We are the Dawnbound. We welcome all assistance given for a good cause.”
Sera stepped closer to the haregon. Her symbiotic living armor shifted, veins slick and dark, small spines rising subtly as she studied him.
“You came here alone,” she said calmly. “That is a good qualification in itself.” A pause. “Help us. Do your part with the same effort as the rest, and you receive an equal share of whatever we find.”
One eyebrow lifted in challenge.
“You in?”
She then glanced at Hastos and gave a brief approving look—yes, we shouldn’t linger—whatever the haregon decided.
“More assassins for you? Any idea why he wants you dead so badly? Are you a threat to him somehow?” Merkas muses at the words from Kasi. ”Like the childrens books was your father secretly the real duke and this silverstick hid that from everyone, and now you’re the last surviving heir? Or is it just ‘If I can’t have her, noone can!’ Type thing?”
At Yukis response about his blade “Oh a mothers sword, I wonder if yours and Sera’a father will get along?” Merkas quips and turns back the way Hastos mentioned. “Yeah we best move forward, hopefully an answer for this problem will come to us. Maybe the dragon had a way to seal off these side chambers”
With the scurrying myconids not setting off any more musical notes it’s obvious that the exit has a different activation as well as the lack of traps in the room.
Sera crumpled the warning note she had just read aloud.
So Goldenspear was sending assassins now? All this effort over an escaped servant. And what use was a dead servant anyway?
For a brief moment she was back in that night. He was over her. His men holding her....the laughing...the pain and fear...
She closed her eyes sharply and forced the memory down. Killed or kidnapped? Let them try. She is no helpless girl any more.
“Thank you for bringing the letter, Yuki,” she said, voice steady again. “We are exploring this abandoned dragon cave to stop the foul, sickening effect it has on the land… now.”
She cast a sideways glance at Buckeran.
“Abandoned might be a slight miscalculation. If there is no dragon, there are certainly plenty of other creatures. We may even find a hoard—consider that a bonus.” She straightened. “We are the Dawnbound. We welcome all assistance given for a good cause.”
Sera stepped closer to the haregon. Her symbiotic living armor shifted, veins slick and dark, small spines rising subtly as she studied him.
“You came here alone,” she said calmly. “That is a good qualification in itself.” A pause. “Help us. Do your part with the same effort as the rest, and you receive an equal share of whatever we find.”
One eyebrow lifted in challenge.
“You in?”
She then glanced at Hastos and gave a brief approving look—yes, we shouldn’t linger—whatever the haregon decided.
He stretches briefly, his arms raised high as he stifles a yawn. He then draws his longsword and rests it on his shoulders. Finally, he exhales slowly, as soft pale blue light subtly surrounds him and manifest a faint image of leather armor around his robe. (Casted Mage Armor)
“You seem like an intriguing lot and it’s a long walk back anyhow. Yuki Hopsworth at your service.”
“Well then let’s go, Barkly if you wouldn’t mind” Merkas points into the deeper cavern. “Let’s find this treasure hoard, and maybe the myconid trash pile, bet they got lot of non fertilizer stuff piled up somewhere”
You make your way into the tunnel. The sprouts to the east hesitate as you make your direction known, and then the remaining adult myconid wobbles its head, and the sprouts retreat, granting you a wide berth towards the main entrance.
When you approach the tunnel, the crystals shine even brighter than the main gate. The air itself seems to be filled with a sort of glittery substance, and you are reminded of the illusionary druid's warning about crystal dust. The tiles before you are large, like the ones that opened the main gate. Nothing seems to be moving within the tunnel. Absolutely nothing. But you can see carcasses of instects and subterranean crustaceans sparsely littered throughout the tunnel.
The lighting here is as bright as daylight, but broken by prismatic crystals that paint rainbows along the floor and walls. Two mushrooms are still on fire, and the myconids seem to have those well under control. The remaining fires will be out on their next turn.
Hastos examines the tiles on the floor, but the shimmering light makes it difficult to make out anything useful. (Investigation: 3) He closes his eyes and reaches out with his remaining senses to see if he can detect anything unusual. (Pexception: 22)
Yuki turns around and guards the team's rear, keeping an eye on the myconids as the team does their investigation on how to move forward without blowing up.
Stopping at the entrance with the others, Merkas looks over the husks and bones in the room “Hey Sera? You still got that wind fan thingy? I don’t know it’s a good idea but I once heard of a guy causing a lot of trouble with glass he ground up and sent flying on the wind, wonder if that’s the risk in here? Or maybe the light is too powerful in there?”
“Watcha think Bucky, you got anything to help us see those corpses without getting closer?” The kender asks as he starts digging through the nag of holding. He pulls out one of the rocks they collected across the wastes. “Or I try and send a mephit in to see what happens, cause I am guessing whatever killed them things in there won’t react to blinky or one of Seras card things”
He holds the core while waiting for a response, as soon as he gets an affirmative he will speak the word learned from their ogre guide and send the dust mephit into the room.
" Seems smart...we got a bunch of creatures we can summon. Efreet, illusions and a unstable demon. .." she shivers at that ones mentioning..." and mephits...so yes. Send one in. Let us find out. We might have reached the area of undeads...was it not suspected we face undeads? "
Sera have her most powerful spell ready but start with one of her most used cantrips first.. " Paladine protect us what killed the creatures here?"
( cast guidance for her perception and end up with 19 )
Pulling out her Fathers sword hilt...with a short command the energy blade emerges. Crackling and humming.
Yuki turns around and guards the team's rear, keeping an eye on the myconids as the team does their investigation on how to move forward without blowing up.
Behind you, it seems like the myconids have put out the fires. The sprouts that were closest to you are peering at you from a safe distance, but do not advance. They're wobbling their heads in excitement and curiosity though. The rest of the myconids begin advancing towards the party, but at a slow and nonthreatening pace. Their body language implies interest, rather than aggression.
Behind you, it seems like the myconids have put out the fires. The sprouts that were closest to you are peering at you from a safe distance, but do not advance. They're wobbling their heads in excitement and curiosity though. The rest of the myconids begin advancing towards the party, but at a slow and nonthreatening pace. Their body language implies interest, rather than aggression.
He rolls his eyes with a smile, then uses a combination of Elementalism and Prestidigitation to create a tiny transparent red Pegasus that smells like oak wood incense to run around and play with the myconids.
Behind you, it seems like the myconids have put out the fires. The sprouts that were closest to you are peering at you from a safe distance, but do not advance. They're wobbling their heads in excitement and curiosity though. The rest of the myconids begin advancing towards the party, but at a slow and nonthreatening pace. Their body language implies interest, rather than aggression.
He rolls his eyes with a smile, then uses a combination of Elementalism and Prestidigitation to create a tiny transparent red Pegasus that smells like oak wood incense to run around and play with the myconids.
As the tiny red pegasus approaches, the Sprouts grow feral again and attack it, and the illusion dissipates as they swarm over it, and then observe the empty space with confusion. Then their eyes turn back on you with wonder and curiosity. While it's clear that the myconids have no more interest in attacking the party, they haven't lost their violent impulses. And you can all sense why, even if only vaguely. The spoiled magic that has blighted the desert is at its most potent here in this Dragon's lair. It feels thick, and fetid, like a hot, humid day's sweat. But instead of heat, the air is electric, prickling your skin, and causing hair to stiffen and frizz.
In this realization, their curiosity takes on new meaning. Perhaps they're not looking at you with childlike wonder and amazement. Perhaps they're waiting to watch you die horribly in that tunnel.
“If not, I wonder if you made it rain, Sera, if it would wash the dust out of the air.” Hastos says as he ties a pice of cloth over his nose and mouth.
Merkas speaks the phrase he learned and casts the mephit core into the room. “Let’s go Dusty, sorry this is your first mission.” As the mephit moves into the chamber, He looks back at Sera, “I thought you had the wind fan thing? Or is that Ory? Nevermind, the rains as good idea as any”Still staring into the chamber and looking at all the crystal around the area he looks to the fighters shields. “How reflective you think those are? Maybe we bounce some light around in there?” (8 perception, looking to see if the corpses have tiny holes in them like from lasers/concentrated light or look like they’re sandblasted from the crystal dust)
Dusty, the Dust Mephit, glides forward, looking about for something to maul. Once it realizes there's no immediate danger, it understands its role as a scout. Moving forward, it turns back at 15 foot intervals and says something to you in a gravelly language that you do not understand. Then... towards the end of its move, it starts to dissipate and reform, as if being attacked. Annoyed, it starts swatting at the air around it. It's form begins to sparkle, and it starts to turn back, reaching out towards you. It's babbling sentences in a language you don't understand. About halfway back from its journey, its movements start to slow, and its body rigidifies. It drops to the ground, 15 feet inside the hallway... a shimmering crystal statue of a Dust Mephit.
Merkas can sense that the Dust Mephit is still alive. Its immunity to poison makes it impossible for it to die from the toxins in the crystal dust. And so, as far as you can tell, it is unharmed, but immobilized. You can send it away to free it from its crystalline prison, or you can attempt to shatter the crystal still growing around it.
(oops! Didn't see this post! Sorry!)
Buckeran considers the thought for a moment. "It seems reasonable. But although little is known about this den, I would presume it's much bigger than this, and the actual lair would be much deeper in. Blue Dragon's are accomplished burrowers. While it's unlikely we'll find a labyrinth, it is likely that if there's a dragon corpse, it's on a lower level of this den. Or at least, that's where the horde would be." He waves a mangled hand in the air... "Besides, there's plenty of death to be found here. With the lightning storm outside, and little creepy crawlies everywhere, I imagine that the Myconids have more than enough fertilizer to tend their crops... or at least what was their crops. My my... I certainly hope they can rebuild. Though they attacked us, I almost feel bad for them."
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
“Perhaps we should venture forward through the archway before our mushroom friends decide to resume their attack?” Hastos poses to the group.
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Yuki smiles politely at Bucky, but as he receives his weapons back from Hastos, he grips his sword tightly.
”Actually, this sword is my mother’s. I accepted it and have been mastering it since then.”
At the glance to his ring, he waves his hand subtly over it and causes it to disappear. From his pocket he produces the Guild Signet ring and slips it on.
”so, aside from calming down the myconids somehow, what is the end goal here that we’re looking for in here?”
Sera crumpled the warning note she had just read aloud.
So Goldenspear was sending assassins now? All this effort over an escaped servant. And what use was a dead servant anyway?
For a brief moment she was back in that night. He was over her. His men holding her....the laughing...the pain and fear...
She closed her eyes sharply and forced the memory down. Killed or kidnapped? Let them try. She is no helpless girl any more.
“Thank you for bringing the letter, Yuki,” she said, voice steady again. “We are exploring this abandoned dragon cave to stop the foul, sickening effect it has on the land… now.”
She cast a sideways glance at Buckeran.
“Abandoned might be a slight miscalculation. If there is no dragon, there are certainly plenty of other creatures. We may even find a hoard—consider that a bonus.” She straightened. “We are the Dawnbound. We welcome all assistance given for a good cause.”
Sera stepped closer to the haregon. Her symbiotic living armor shifted, veins slick and dark, small spines rising subtly as she studied him.
“You came here alone,” she said calmly. “That is a good qualification in itself.” A pause. “Help us. Do your part with the same effort as the rest, and you receive an equal share of whatever we find.”
One eyebrow lifted in challenge.
“You in?”
She then glanced at Hastos and gave a brief approving look—yes, we shouldn’t linger—whatever the haregon decided.
“More assassins for you? Any idea why he wants you dead so badly? Are you a threat to him somehow?” Merkas muses at the words from Kasi. ”Like the childrens books was your father secretly the real duke and this silverstick hid that from everyone, and now you’re the last surviving heir? Or is it just ‘If I can’t have her, noone can!’ Type thing?”
At Yukis response about his blade “Oh a mothers sword, I wonder if yours and Sera’a father will get along?” Merkas quips and turns back the way Hastos mentioned. “Yeah we best move forward, hopefully an answer for this problem will come to us. Maybe the dragon had a way to seal off these side chambers”
With the scurrying myconids not setting off any more musical notes it’s obvious that the exit has a different activation as well as the lack of traps in the room.
Loyalty Begets Honour
He stretches briefly, his arms raised high as he stifles a yawn. He then draws his longsword and rests it on his shoulders. Finally, he exhales slowly, as soft pale blue light subtly surrounds him and manifest a faint image of leather armor around his robe. (Casted Mage Armor)
“You seem like an intriguing lot and it’s a long walk back anyhow. Yuki Hopsworth at your service.”
“Well then let’s go, Barkly if you wouldn’t mind” Merkas points into the deeper cavern. “Let’s find this treasure hoard, and maybe the myconid trash pile, bet they got lot of non fertilizer stuff piled up somewhere”
Loyalty Begets Honour
Sera nods a slight smile at thevharekins bold demenour. Wlndering how he perform in battle...she guessrd they find out soon enough.
" we leave the startled fungimen for now...let us head north..."
You make your way into the tunnel. The sprouts to the east hesitate as you make your direction known, and then the remaining adult myconid wobbles its head, and the sprouts retreat, granting you a wide berth towards the main entrance.
When you approach the tunnel, the crystals shine even brighter than the main gate. The air itself seems to be filled with a sort of glittery substance, and you are reminded of the illusionary druid's warning about crystal dust. The tiles before you are large, like the ones that opened the main gate. Nothing seems to be moving within the tunnel. Absolutely nothing. But you can see carcasses of instects and subterranean crustaceans sparsely littered throughout the tunnel.
The lighting here is as bright as daylight, but broken by prismatic crystals that paint rainbows along the floor and walls. Two mushrooms are still on fire, and the myconids seem to have those well under control. The remaining fires will be out on their next turn.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
Hastos examines the tiles on the floor, but the shimmering light makes it difficult to make out anything useful. (Investigation: 3) He closes his eyes and reaches out with his remaining senses to see if he can detect anything unusual. (Pexception: 22)
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Yuki turns around and guards the team's rear, keeping an eye on the myconids as the team does their investigation on how to move forward without blowing up.
Stopping at the entrance with the others, Merkas looks over the husks and bones in the room “Hey Sera? You still got that wind fan thingy? I don’t know it’s a good idea but I once heard of a guy causing a lot of trouble with glass he ground up and sent flying on the wind, wonder if that’s the risk in here? Or maybe the light is too powerful in there?”
“Watcha think Bucky, you got anything to help us see those corpses without getting closer?” The kender asks as he starts digging through the nag of holding. He pulls out one of the rocks they collected across the wastes. “Or I try and send a mephit in to see what happens, cause I am guessing whatever killed them things in there won’t react to blinky or one of Seras card things”
He holds the core while waiting for a response, as soon as he gets an affirmative he will speak the word learned from their ogre guide and send the dust mephit into the room.
Loyalty Begets Honour
" Seems smart...we got a bunch of creatures we can summon. Efreet, illusions and a unstable demon. .." she shivers at that ones mentioning..." and mephits...so yes. Send one in. Let us find out. We might have reached the area of undeads...was it not suspected we face undeads? "
Sera have her most powerful spell ready but start with one of her most used cantrips first.. " Paladine protect us what killed the creatures here?"
( cast guidance for her perception and end up with 19 )
Pulling out her Fathers sword hilt...with a short command the energy blade emerges. Crackling and humming.
Behind you, it seems like the myconids have put out the fires. The sprouts that were closest to you are peering at you from a safe distance, but do not advance. They're wobbling their heads in excitement and curiosity though. The rest of the myconids begin advancing towards the party, but at a slow and nonthreatening pace. Their body language implies interest, rather than aggression.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
He rolls his eyes with a smile, then uses a combination of Elementalism and Prestidigitation to create a tiny transparent red Pegasus that smells like oak wood incense to run around and play with the myconids.
"Cute.." Sera see the Haregons display of magic to try calm the fungi younglings. Then focus back on the path ahead.
" seems the crystal dust here gets nasty if inhaled or covered in it...did you have that gust of Wind Merkas??"
Seras living armor responded to her worries and a facemask grew over the lower part of her face covering and filtering the air...
As the tiny red pegasus approaches, the Sprouts grow feral again and attack it, and the illusion dissipates as they swarm over it, and then observe the empty space with confusion. Then their eyes turn back on you with wonder and curiosity. While it's clear that the myconids have no more interest in attacking the party, they haven't lost their violent impulses. And you can all sense why, even if only vaguely. The spoiled magic that has blighted the desert is at its most potent here in this Dragon's lair. It feels thick, and fetid, like a hot, humid day's sweat. But instead of heat, the air is electric, prickling your skin, and causing hair to stiffen and frizz.
In this realization, their curiosity takes on new meaning. Perhaps they're not looking at you with childlike wonder and amazement. Perhaps they're waiting to watch you die horribly in that tunnel.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk
“If not, I wonder if you made it rain, Sera, if it would wash the dust out of the air.” Hastos says as he ties a pice of cloth over his nose and mouth.
Character: Hastos, Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread
Merkas speaks the phrase he learned and casts the mephit core into the room. “Let’s go Dusty, sorry this is your first mission.”
As the mephit moves into the chamber, He looks back at Sera, “I thought you had the wind fan thing? Or is that Ory? Nevermind, the rains as good idea as any” Still staring into the chamber and looking at all the crystal around the area he looks to the fighters shields. “How reflective you think those are? Maybe we bounce some light around in there?” (8 perception, looking to see if the corpses have tiny holes in them like from lasers/concentrated light or look like they’re sandblasted from the crystal dust)
Loyalty Begets Honour
Dusty, the Dust Mephit, glides forward, looking about for something to maul. Once it realizes there's no immediate danger, it understands its role as a scout. Moving forward, it turns back at 15 foot intervals and says something to you in a gravelly language that you do not understand. Then... towards the end of its move, it starts to dissipate and reform, as if being attacked. Annoyed, it starts swatting at the air around it. It's form begins to sparkle, and it starts to turn back, reaching out towards you. It's babbling sentences in a language you don't understand. About halfway back from its journey, its movements start to slow, and its body rigidifies. It drops to the ground, 15 feet inside the hallway... a shimmering crystal statue of a Dust Mephit.
Merkas can sense that the Dust Mephit is still alive. Its immunity to poison makes it impossible for it to die from the toxins in the crystal dust. And so, as far as you can tell, it is unharmed, but immobilized. You can send it away to free it from its crystalline prison, or you can attempt to shatter the crystal still growing around it.
She/her, DM and Player.
My DM Registry
My Campaigns:
Ibahalii Vriwhulth, the Reaper of Glory v2: IC Thread (PbP); Secrets of the Island (On Discord)
My Characters:
Krik-tul, Thri-kreen monk