"Wait . . . " Vanizi had started to call out, but too late to prevent Vesta from setting off the trap. "The skeleton tells me the group was beset by many traps. Well, and mistakes. Shadowed blades from the walls, a swarm of sacred spiders, and a webbed abomination." She looks back to the animated corpse, "Thank you, it sounds harrowing. Could you tell me what you were seeking here?" From the first answer, it seemed asking for help avoiding the traps was out of the question.
"We sought the Spider Queen's Fang, a wickedly sharp dagger imbued with venomous magic that paralyzes or weakens its victims,"the tiefling replied to Vanizi's second question.
Vanizi pauses as the Lolth worshippers come over and speak with Vesta. Hoping to wait until they go back to their prayers, she then asks the others. "Anything else I should ask? I have 3 more questions. I'm guessing from their fates they aren't going to help us navigate the traps though." She pauses a moment. "I thought perhaps I could try to ask specifically how the traps were activated?"
"Hmm, just some thoughts" Davis says, "ask if they know about a piece of a rod? Or perhaps which of these doors they came through? may give us an idea of what's on the other side? Where did they believe the fang was located?"
Magrea seems to be slightly overwhelmed, but having done her part in helping for now and being asked to quiet down, she joins Zyl on the ground and starts swaying back and forth, slowly zoning out.
Davis suddenly realizes he has never had one of Zyl's brownies. He thinks he would like to try one, but perhaps now is not the time as the Duergar and Hobgoblin are watching them, and then there are the corpses on the ground...
Vanizi listens to Davis' suggestions then continues with asking another question. "Have you seen or heard about a piece of a rod that was kept around here?"
But the two worshipers are not returning. (Vesta - if you want to try and persuade them that you really belong here, roll a Persuasion of Intimidation check vs their Insight: 20)
If the skeletal remains could laugh or exhibit any kind of emotion, you are sure it would bark a laugh as it answers your next question. "Where we least expected them!"
Vesta stares at the two worshipers, who don't seem inclined to return to their shrine.
"Well, what are you still hanging around for?" she says, making her voice imperious. "Show's over. We have important business to attend to for the dark Mother. We can't do that with you two just standing there gawking at us."
Vanizi shakes her head as the previous answer turned out to not be all that helpful. For the final question she asks quietly, "Where was this Spider Queen's Fang located?"She is hoping to keep the two worshippers from listening in to her question.
Vesta stares down the two worshipers who are growing more and more suspicious but turn and leave the group. (Success!) Vanizi's dead friend replies to her last question. "In the Spider Queen's Lair, located in the depths of the Enchanted Forest..." The skeletal remains lie silent, the sliver of its spirit returned to the afterlife. DC18 Investigation:
Putting all of the pieces together, you deduce that this adventuring party was likely killed somewhere else but staged here to make the area look like it was a dead end. The fake & trapped gemstones the size of your fist are also part of the deterrence... Clearly, this is some kind of hideout for agents and worshippers of Lolth, the demon-god queen of deceit, shadows, and spiders.
"That's it for questioning this one. guess we know there are traps," Vanizi says to the group. "And maybe treasures. I suppose though we just need to try to make it through this door first."
"I was just talking to the skeleton here, not really looking for anything. But we should be looking for traps. Perhaps we should start with this door here?" She nods to the door close at hand - the one in the northeast. "Not sure if anyone is good at those kinds of things?"
"Wait . . . " Vanizi had started to call out, but too late to prevent Vesta from setting off the trap. "The skeleton tells me the group was beset by many traps. Well, and mistakes. Shadowed blades from the walls, a swarm of sacred spiders, and a webbed abomination." She looks back to the animated corpse, "Thank you, it sounds harrowing. Could you tell me what you were seeking here?" From the first answer, it seemed asking for help avoiding the traps was out of the question.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
"We sought the Spider Queen's Fang, a wickedly sharp dagger imbued with venomous magic that paralyzes or weakens its victims," the tiefling replied to Vanizi's second question.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
"Thank you," Vesta says gratefully to Magrea. "I should have been more careful."
The two worshipers return and speak in Undercommon. "Yes, it is our first time here," replies in Undercommon. "We will not make such a mistake again."
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 4 Halfling Rogue (The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan - Lvl. 10 Half-Elf Sorcerer (Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Aasimar Paladin (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Selene Albion - Lvl. 12 Human Ranger (In-Person Homebrew Campaign) ♦ Phaerdra Tor'viir - Lvl. 3 Drow Wizard (Exandria Sandbox Campaign)
Vanizi pauses as the Lolth worshippers come over and speak with Vesta. Hoping to wait until they go back to their prayers, she then asks the others. "Anything else I should ask? I have 3 more questions. I'm guessing from their fates they aren't going to help us navigate the traps though." She pauses a moment. "I thought perhaps I could try to ask specifically how the traps were activated?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
"Hmm, just some thoughts" Davis says, "ask if they know about a piece of a rod? Or perhaps which of these doors they came through? may give us an idea of what's on the other side? Where did they believe the fang was located?"
Zyl sat on the ground while the other smart people talked to dead things and dark things and munched on a brownie.
Magrea seems to be slightly overwhelmed, but having done her part in helping for now and being asked to quiet down, she joins Zyl on the ground and starts swaying back and forth, slowly zoning out.
Katarina is in pretty much the same position as Zyl... dumb Barbarian with no idea what the smart people are doing.
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
Davis suddenly realizes he has never had one of Zyl's brownies. He thinks he would like to try one, but perhaps now is not the time as the Duergar and Hobgoblin are watching them, and then there are the corpses on the ground...
Vanizi listens to Davis' suggestions then continues with asking another question. "Have you seen or heard about a piece of a rod that was kept around here?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
The corpse merely says, "No."
But the two worshipers are not returning. (Vesta - if you want to try and persuade them that you really belong here, roll a Persuasion of Intimidation check vs their Insight: 20)
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Vanizi continues with another question right after the last answer. "Where were these traps located that killed your companions?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
If the skeletal remains could laugh or exhibit any kind of emotion, you are sure it would bark a laugh as it answers your next question. "Where we least expected them!"
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Vesta stares at the two worshipers, who don't seem inclined to return to their shrine.
"Well, what are you still hanging around for?" she says, making her voice imperious. "Show's over. We have important business to attend to for the dark Mother. We can't do that with you two just standing there gawking at us."
Persuasion - 23
Extended Signature
Characters: Bryony Alderleaf - Lvl. 4 Halfling Rogue (The Shattered Obelisk) ♦ Vesta Trevelyan - Lvl. 10 Half-Elf Sorcerer (Eve of Ruin) ♦ Ada Kendrick - Lvl. 4 Aasimar Paladin (Curse of Strahd) ♦ Selene Albion - Lvl. 12 Human Ranger (In-Person Homebrew Campaign) ♦ Phaerdra Tor'viir - Lvl. 3 Drow Wizard (Exandria Sandbox Campaign)
Vanizi shakes her head as the previous answer turned out to not be all that helpful. For the final question she asks quietly, "Where was this Spider Queen's Fang located?" She is hoping to keep the two worshippers from listening in to her question.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
(Ooops - sorry! Y'all are waitin' on me =)
Vesta stares down the two worshipers who are growing more and more suspicious but turn and leave the group. (Success!)
Vanizi's dead friend replies to her last question. "In the Spider Queen's Lair, located in the depths of the Enchanted Forest..." The skeletal remains lie silent, the sliver of its spirit returned to the afterlife. DC18 Investigation:
Putting all of the pieces together, you deduce that this adventuring party was likely killed somewhere else but staged here to make the area look like it was a dead end. The fake & trapped gemstones the size of your fist are also part of the deterrence... Clearly, this is some kind of hideout for agents and worshippers of Lolth, the demon-god queen of deceit, shadows, and spiders.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
(Vanizi Investigation: 5)
"That's it for questioning this one. guess we know there are traps," Vanizi says to the group. "And maybe treasures. I suppose though we just need to try to make it through this door first."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue
Davis Investigation: 17
[On the tip of his tongue...]
Magrea stands and walks over to the group as they seem to be looking for something. She joins in. (Investigation 16)
"What are we looking at?"
"I was just talking to the skeleton here, not really looking for anything. But we should be looking for traps. Perhaps we should start with this door here?" She nods to the door close at hand - the one in the northeast. "Not sure if anyone is good at those kinds of things?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi ||
Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue