Erik Soong's Call of the Netherdeep

 DM: LOL!

Morgan is touched with a bit more chaos: He recovers his Heroic Inspiration. 

The Aurora Watch hadn’t fully closed the stone doors, draped in a full length tabard with glyphs of warning, instead watching how the battle unfolded. When Morgan jams a foot between the doors to pry them open and then jams his face through, he sees one standing near the door while the other two continues to lend aid to their fallen brethren. The one standing by Morgan looks a bit sheepish as Morgan chides them.

The tabards ignite and creatures apparate around him and while he does not turn into a potted plant, the Aurora Watch seem to interpret the pink bubbles as Morgan being very upset.

“It looked like you had it under control and, well, you did say to get away from you…” The one near him offers once the additional creatures disappear. “Besides, we had to make sure Rusty, Leroy, and Vaxolan were okay.” He says while gesturing to his recovering fellow soldiers.

Nivi gazes bemused at the odd, harmless creatures, fireworks and bubbles emanating in rapid succession from Morgan.

"You know, if this whole adventuring thing doesn't work out, Pretty Boy?  We can always rent you out for kids' birthday parties."

When the Aurora Watchmen respond to explain their actions, she remains expressionless but her pale green eyes glint with a sardonic inner grin.

[Aurora Watch]:  “Besides, we had to make sure Rusty, Leroy, and Vaxolan were okay.”

"Had to make sure, eh?  Well, you boys nailed it, then.  For a second there, could have sworn it was your own gallant asses you were making sure of."

With a mock salute in their general direction, she turns back to her other companions  more seriously as Jacaranda asks if anyone is hurt.

"Think only Sky and you, Straight Arrow got hit.  Besides Rusty, Leroy and Vaxolan, that is.  Wouldn't want to forget about those lovely lads!  So... maybe someone with better manners than me ask what kind of note Aloysia showed 'em to get through here two days ago along with Ayo and her other pals.  Doubt that slippery elven b!tch had a nice note from the Taskhand like we got.  So what gives?  Unless they never actually went through..."

Sky patches himself up with two Cure Wounds castings: 10 healing and 14 healing.  He uses Lay on Hands for an additional 4 healing.

He walks over to Morgan once the fires and pink bubbles cease, and quizzically tilts his head.  "Are you ... all right?"

Morgan shows a thumbs-up to Sky. A smile follows... along with a couple of pink bubbles drifting from his mouth.

Then he turns toward the soldiers.

The smile disappears.

With the flumph now firmly perched on his hat, Morgan begins gesticulating furiously, occasionally grabbing one of its tentacles to emphasize a point (whether the flumph appreciates being used as a visual aid is... unclear).

Morgan hands carve increasingly agitated shapes through the air.
From his mouth emerges a continuous stream of pink bubbles that float upward and gather near the ceiling.

The result is somewhat undermined by the fact that every furious accusation, dramatic gesture, and silent condemnation is accompanied by cheerful little blub blub blub sounds.

Randa amuses herself watching the display of magical side effects.

" So, shall we?", she indicated the door.

[Nivi above asked this of the others in the party] "...maybe someone with better manners than me ask what kind of note Aloysia showed 'em to get through here two days ago along with Ayo and her other pals.  Doubt that slippery elven b!tch had a nice note from the Taskhand like we got.  So what gives?  Unless they never actually went through..."

Seeing as none of her companions pay any attention to Nivi's stated request, except possibly Morgan who is speaking agitatedly in unintelligible pink bubbles at the moment, Nivi sighs and approaches the guards herself, knowing her abrasive style is not suited to persuasion.

"Right.  Let's try this again, lads of the Aurora Watch.  Friends and I just took care of that little shadowy double trouble for you back there, yeah?  So maybe you see your way clear to doing us a solid and spilling what you know before we head in?  No need to risk your pretty faces."

"We're going in after Aloysia, yeah?  Skinny elven broad in a shitty hat who gave your crew the slip from the Ready Room two nights back, then conned this other crew of six, pals of our little band here.  Talked them into joining up with her before heading past your post here into Betrayer's Rise.  Ring a bell?  And not for nothing, you laughed in our faces til we flashed the Taskhand's note.  So what note did Aloysia show you all to get through?"

(If necessary, Nivi describes Ayo and the rather unique makeup of her group, as well as Aloysia to the Aurora Watchmen.)

The officer, who coincidentally is the off-duty one, falls all over himself to praise Nivi and the party. “No! No, no no, you guys of course can go in. You are friends of the Taskmaster, so you are friends of us. Also, you can tell him we let you in once the paperwork was confirmed to all be in order. And, if it pleases you, you can say that we got out of your way immediately so you can dispatch those Gloomstalkers in the way that only ones such as yourself are capable of. Very brave and powerful and of course, handsome. Wow, how is it that adventurers are always so attractive? Is it like, a requirement or something? Anyway, please, go on through whenever you wish."

The officer nods along as Nivi describes Ayo and Aloysia. “Sorry hero, but no one has come up these steps before you. On my honor, the only people who have braved these steep steps besides the Aurora Watch was almost two weeks ago when the Cobalt Soul was granted entry. And of that sorry party, only what’s-her-name came rushing out the very same day, bloodied and terrified. The tiefling chatterbox girl. Very cute. Glasses as big as dinner plates. Talks even more when she is afraid than when she is excited.

“Our last orders were to detain Aloysia and we are eager to give her some payback for giving us the slip." He punctuates his words by punching his hands together in mock threat. "Your friends, while unknown to me, would have been noticed based on your description. Can’t miss an ogre if you try and a genasi is rare enough to stand out. Are you sure they came this way? I know that Aloysia wanted in, but surely your friends aren’t crazy enough to want so badly to die young?”

The three Aurora Watch that have been injured are found to all be alive, but none are in very good shape and will be out of commission for weeks. Off-duty holds a hand out to stop some of the heroes from moving forward. "Hey, you guys are adventurers. Do you have any Healing Potions to spare? These guys had rotten luck and pulled the short straws on standing guard inside."

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

The officer, who coincidentally is the off-duty one, falls all over himself to praise Nivi and the party. “No! No, no no, you guys of course can go in. You are friends of the Taskmaster, so you are friends of us. Also, you can tell him we let you in once the paperwork was confirmed to all be in order. And, if it pleases you, you can say that we got out of your way immediately so you can dispatch those Gloomstalkers in the way that only ones such as yourself are capable of. Very brave and powerful and of course, handsome. Wow, how is it that adventurers are always so attractive? Is it like, a requirement or something? Anyway, please, go on through whenever you wish."

 

"A -- att- tractive?!" Sky hides his face behind his shoulder cloak and blushes furiously, giggling softly.  "Oh d-d-d-dear..."

DM: LOL!

OOC: Is the the the cute tiefling chatterbox girl he's referring to Question?

Medicine check: 12 (to see how seriously injured the soldiers are, whether they can simply go to the infirmary or need immediate medical attention)

Jacaranda sighed dramatically, " Nothing on me, Sorry."

She placed a hand on Skys shoulder, " I mean.....I guess....your features are fairly pleasant.....not to my taste....and your far too young...but your parents should be pleased they made a relatively handsome child."

" I guess hat-***** could have teleported them in.......she's fairly powerful right?"

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

The officer, who coincidentally is the off-duty one, falls all over himself to praise Nivi and the party. “No! No, no no, you guys of course can go in. You are friends of the Taskmaster, so you are friends of us. Also, you can tell him we let you in once the paperwork was confirmed to all be in order. And, if it pleases you, you can say that we got out of your way immediately so you can dispatch those Gloomstalkers in the way that only ones such as yourself are capable of. Very brave and powerful and of course, handsome. Wow, how is it that adventurers are always so attractive? Is it like, a requirement or something? Anyway, please, go on through whenever you wish."

The officer nods along as Nivi describes Ayo and Aloysia. “Sorry hero, but no one has come up these steps before you. On my honor, the only people who have braved these steep steps besides the Aurora Watch was almost two weeks ago when the Cobalt Soul was granted entry. And of that sorry party, only what’s-her-name came rushing out the very same day, bloodied and terrified. The tiefling chatterbox girl. Very cute. Glasses as big as dinner plates. Talks even more when she is afraid than when she is excited.

“Our last orders were to detain Aloysia and we are eager to give her some payback for giving us the slip." He punctuates his words by punching his hands together in mock threat. "Your friends, while unknown to me, would have been noticed based on your description. Can’t miss an ogre if you try and a genasi is rare enough to stand out. Are you sure they came this way? I know that Aloysia wanted in, but surely your friends aren’t crazy enough to want so badly to die young?”

The three Aurora Watch that have been injured are found to all be alive, but none are in very good shape and will be out of commission for weeks. Off-duty holds a hand out to stop some of the heroes from moving forward. "Hey, you guys are adventurers. Do you have any Healing Potions to spare? These guys had rotten luck and pulled the short straws on standing guard inside."

Frekor chuckels a little for the guards reaction and complete 180º change in their behavior towards the party.

"I only got a small healing scroll, and not that much magic within me to heal all of you. Specially considering we're going in to stop Aloysia. If we manage to survive this we may be able to spare the magic that we are left with to heal you.... I'm sorry, but I have to be pragmatic here. Our best healer is in the city, and we'll need our paladin to be in top condition if we want to make it out of here once we find that woman." says the ranger showing that he would help if the party was in a beter condition and situation.

Quote from Damian_May >>

" I guess hat-***** could have teleported them in.......she's fairly powerful right?"

"Or maybe there's a secret entrance. If it only had one entrance, eventually it would be cleared. These things have to get in somehow." adds before taking point on the front fo the group to keep moving.

Quote from TeethAgatha >>

OOC: Is the the the cute tiefling chatterbox girl he's referring to Question?

(OOC: I think so, she's the only Cobalt Soul member we've met here.) 

Quote from Wysperra >>

Quote from Erik_Soong >>

 

(OOC: Thanks for pulling up the map.)

Sky furrows his brow and tries to concentrate on the task of healing.

Using a higher-level spell slot, he casts Cure Wounds upon Jacaranda as she heads towards the door.  She receives 19 Healing.

DM: Morgan would be fairly confident that, based on the description, the officer was referring to Question.

The three soldiers are pretty banged up. With Morgan's 12 Medicine Check, he can tell that they will live, but some are suffering injuries that will take time to heal. A dark purple tiefling is among them and her legs have been so badly broken that they resemble a pretzel, the armor has been crushed to pinch them into place. Another has several blade wounds, likely from a Gloomstalker bite, across their abdomen. The last is missing an arm, which cannot seem to be found, but the wound has been given a tourniquet.

Now that everyone has a chance to look around. The corridor that the party stands in is actually a bloodstained bridge that extends over a chasm of swirling silver mist. From deep below, within the mists, are hissing voices. Frekor and Nivi can make out the words, while everyone else just hears vague hissing. “Together. Yes, we can break them together. Come to us. Let us catch you. Let us have you. Come to us. We won’t let you fall. We all float down here. You’ll float too.”

On the far side of the bridge, where the three Aurora Watch soldiers fell, is a second double door of black stone inscribed with a circle containing the profile of a smiling woman. The symbol is gouged with deep marks, as if something with claws has tried, but failed, to scour it from the stone. Sky would recognize this woman as Avandra, the Change Bringer.

All is silent and dark, the only light coming from that of the open doors out into Bazzoxan. As Jacaranda approaches the interior double door, it begins to radiate faint crimson light. The light slowly pulses, as if beckoning her to touch it. The Jewel of Three Prayers grows warm to the touch and pulses in sync with the glowing door.

The off-duty officer gawks at her. “Uh... Never did that before..”

The party hears the sounds of massive stones shift, slide, drop, and otherwise move behind the door with every pulse. “Nine hells, its changing again.” The officer grunts. Seeing the party looking to him for answers, he elaborates.

“Sometimes the place inside changes. We never can seem to predict it. Sometimes the maps we make are wrong. Something will change and you can never be sure what or why. There is no pattern. Traps that we found will be moved, changed, reset, that kind of thing. Our priests say that stronger souls cause the change. The last time it changed was when the Taskmaster himself was here. Hasn’t changed since. A few weeks, I think. It makes maps unreliable, which is one reason we never get very far.” He points to the map that has since returned to the party.

“That map might be unreliable, or it might be perfect. You honestly won’t know until you get inside.”

"This woman is Avandra, the Change Bringer," Sky says as he points to the image on the wall.  He frowns.  "Goddess.  Might explain the transformations going on."

[Guards] “No! No, no no, you guys of course can go in. You are friends of the Taskmaster, so you are friends of us. Also, you can tell him we let you in once the paperwork was confirmed to all be in order. And, if it pleases you, you can say that we got out of your way immediately so you can dispatch those Gloomstalkers in the way that only ones such as yourself are capable of. Very brave and powerful and of course, handsome. Wow, how is it that adventurers are always so attractive? Is it like, a requirement or something? Anyway, please, go on through whenever you wish."

Nivi remains expressionless, but the amused glint in her eyes vanishes as if it had never been.  Could do without the empty flattery you chinless coward.

So she is taken aback when Sky blushes and giggles at the compliments.  She hasn't known many goliaths, but she does not recall any of the ones she did know reacting like that to insincere praise.  Unless it was an act?  But then, Sky does not seem one for putting on acts either.

"Just remember, Sky.  The guards buttering us up now? Same ones shoved our apparent lack of a pass from the Taskhand in our faces a minute back."

Still, she makes no objection if anyone does heal any of the severely injured Aurora Watchmen.  She has no healing spells or potions herself.

[Jacaranda] "I guess hat-***** could have teleported them in.......she's fairly powerful right?"

"Dunno, Straight Arrow.  Heard teleporting a crew of seven someplace unknown is no mean feat.  Not sure even my mage of a lady mother could do it.  What's bothering me is - did Aloysia and your six pals even go in yet?  Might be invisible out here, waiting to slip in when these lads open up the doors for us.  None of you got any way to talk with Ayo or her crew, right?  Sending Stone or something?  Guess you would have used it already if you did."

"Not sure we got a choice though.  You all are sure Aloysia wanted in here, right?  Someone like that... she's gonna find a way in.  Got to go ourselves."

[Voices from the misty chasm below] "Together. Yes, we can break them together. Come to us. Let us catch you. Let us have you. Come to us. We won’t let you fall. We all float down here. You’ll float too.”

"Yeah," Nivi drawls.  "Bet Desu thought she'd float too.  How'd that work out for her?"

[OOC: Actually, I healed Jacaranda.  Sky agrees with Frekor: we need to preserve our healing for what we're going to face in this place.]