Dungeon of the Mad Mage (#9 PbP)

Ooh, not very sneaky, Sneakianne.

Azrael, Sphere rolled high enough to tell you that these halls were once a revered Temple of Dumathion. Evrik is familiar with this dwarven God, and Sphere knows everything about this God that you would find (on google). 

Wedge, this area appears to be a prison area. Four grimlocks are terrorizing about six prisoners. 

Because of the battle outside AREA 6, whoever is in AREA 6 will not be surprised. You approach.

AREA 6 is a large temple of Dumathion. It has been converted into what looks like a spider hatchery by the Drow. There are small spiders literally everywhere in this temple and it gives you the willies.

FEATURES

DIAS: At the far end of the temple is a Drow Priestess, presiding over 4 drow warriors, a drow mage, and 3 giant spiders. She looks curiously and annoyed at the interruption.

SPIDERS: This entire temple writhes with countless spiders everywhere. Once you enter this area, each person inside this area takes 1d4 damage from spider bites each round, no avoiding it.

WEB COCOONS: Stone pillars hold up the 30-foot-high arched ceiling, which is concealed by a thick canopy of spiderwebs. Strung between the pillars and bas-relief carvings of towering dwarves protruding from the walls are humanoid corpses cocooned in spider silk.

SACRIFICE: The back wall of the temple is carved with a towering bas-relief of a mountain. Lashed to the mountain with sticky webs is a struggling and gagged male drow with sacks of spider eggs clinging to his body.

“What is this?! Who interrupts my ceremony! Always interruptions. So! Do we have guests? More sacrifices to Lloth? Show yourselves.”

Tigrianne bristles at the sound of the dark goddesses name.

Desecration of a dwarf temple...mmmm...

You are outnumbered.

Shut your stupid whiny gob! 'Be good, don't start fights, don't make lots of noise, don't get into carriages with boys..mewmewmewmewmew'

But what if the boys have candy? dont you like candy?

After the battle with the quags, Alessandra kept her sword aflame, looking to and fro at the options on what path to take next. She noticed Azrael and some of the others head down the spider infested hall, meanwhile Wedge (that was it's name, wasn't it?) was going in another area, his owner busy with... Something. "Looking for another meal?" She questioned the bugbear, finally putting out her blade and sliding it back into its scabbard. She was sure the others wouldn't get into trouble the few moments they stayed behind. Hopefully.

THE DROW OF THE TEMPLE OF DUMATHION

The priestess of Lolth is an imposing figure. She is tall, and beautiful, like most Drow of high ranking status are. She knows there are a few of you by the door. She is wearing priest robes under her very stylish and imposing metal armor.

"Come out." she purrs. "We will not hurt you...much. Tell us your intentions." She tilts her head, looking away - as if something is communicating to her. "Yes. Soon, my lovelies. Soon. Let us see what has interrupted our ritual first."

The Drow who is lashed to the back mountain wall with spider eggs attached to him struggles and moans in pain. The three giant spiders start creeping, and the four drow warriors slowly move away from the dias toward the door. Two are male, two are female, heavily armored, strong, and almost too gorgeous to kill. They don't think that about you guys.

WARNING: Be careful here. What your characters say could provoke an attack at any moment. Be sure what you're saying is what you want said.

Ra'iik stays quiet, not allowing his enthusiasm compel him to miss speak and say something stupid.

"Not quite, Mon Cheri. These no longer so fine fellows are sentient to some extent. And by my peoples code, we try to limit our scavenging of the like when we can." He looks up to her. "Not to say I ain't the least interested. But these folk don't taste all that well anyhow. So I'm more inclined to see they got collared or..." Mr. Biggs perks up at something, then looks in the direction Wedge left. Then off in the direction everyone else.

With a click of his tongue, Biggs finally looks back to Aless. "Shit... Seems I got business elsewhere. I trust you folk have this." He says in a quiet whisper before sneaking off to meet up with Wedge to ambush some grimlocks. 

Stealth:8.

(I desperately need Breastplate, because this disadvantage on stealth is harsh.)

Quote from Mehmen >>

 

(I desperately need Breastplate, because this disadvantage on stealth is harsh.)

 OOC: DUDE! say something earlier. Lythril has a spare in her pack.

"Excuse us Ms. Lady Priestess Woman! We are envoys of the Crookshank gang from one level up. The boss was interested in establishing a trade like thing with the Drow down here?"

Deception 16

 Azrael would speak, as he was the first to have peeked within.  His visage was stern, but otherwise emotionless, mich like a true dragon guarding its hoard while speaking to its intruders as he kept himself at 1/2 cover with the door. 

"What are our intentions?" He mimed "Why we're just exploring the depths of halasters dungeon hideaway, and happened to stumble upon you here, oh revered of Lolth." He bit back what he truly wished to say.. all Drow are evil, with VERY few exceptions.

He then silently cast Detect Thoughts on her

(Legit not sure if the spell needs a save when cast, and cant find any info for/against it, or ONLY if I try to probe 'deeper' as it doesn't ask for one until then, but if so, DC14 WIS)

(He will proceed based on the outcome)

Evrik hears the drow priestess and his mind rushes back to the underdark. The priestess... memories flooded his mind. The death and carnage he had to witness there. These Drow, they had no worth to him. They preyed on the innocent and held them as slaves or worse. The anger began to rise. It was her, or one like her. They took him from his clan. They felled the helpless soul. They cannot be trusted. She must die! Evrik thought as he knelt down beside one of the defeated Quaggoth. His eyes looked at the priestess. I will lay you to rest, he promised her silently. And he began to pray.

OU812 picks up the dropped pickaxes (parts for Stella!) and all the other bits and bobbles that he can find: Perception 22

Standing behind the door, concealed, OU812 pulls out his greataxe and stands at the Ready to attack anything that get's close to Azrael.

Alessandra gives the bugbear a quizzical look after giving her a reason for his departure. She considers her options for a moment, but the good (was that really it?) told her to chase after him, especially after hearing him noisily make his way down the hall. Two was better than one after all, the others would be fine considering how many of them had gone down the path Azrael had taken. She scoffed slightly at the memory of the Dragonborn reprimanding her for not joining them in taking care of the ballistia, and how he would most likely do the same this time, maybe worse.

You've handled worse, my dear.

Stealth (if needed): 6

((is it too late to turn around lol))

EVRIK: A hatred begins to swell in you. The Drow. You remember them. They are the reason you're in this mess in the first place. You look at the Quaggoth, close your eyes. Something happens. The voice, again. 

"You will never be free of the anger you hold deep inside. The guilt you feel will eat you alive from within. Trust me. I know. There is no fear in conviction, no cowardice in faith. Only in death does duty end. A mind without purpose will wander in dark places. Take this gift, and submit to your new knowledge."

You made a choice that would change your life forever, finally giving in to the The Weave and it's illusion of a rogue who was locked up with you years ago when you, yourself, were a prisoner of the Drow..like her.The knowledge of the magic of death begins to unwind and unravel in your mind.

Somewhere, someplace far away, in another time and space, someone screams.

BIGGS/WEDGE/ALESSANDRA: 4 grimlocks are banging with their clubs against the bars of the locked cell, antagonizing 6 prisoners. They're laughing and making so much noise they wouldn't hope to hear you approach. They don't see you.

AT THE TEMPLE: Az, your spell reveals to you some basic information about the Drow Priestess. She is proud, and fearless, for she has assumed control of "Stromkuhldur" and converted a temple once dedicated to Dumathoin into a hatchery for giant spiders. Under her command, the drow have begun secret experiments using humanoids as incubators for giant spider eggs. She is waiting for you all to make a move, attack, and use you all as additional incubators. For the Spider Queen. She is very upset at the drow that is chained up behind her. (None of the other players know this information.)

Insight: 10

"Crookshank envoy explorers travelling in Halaster's domain. Come then. Let us discuss this." she purrs, beckoning you to come further in. The four warriors and spiders inch closer. 

+12 parts, OU812

Azrael smiles at her cooly, his teeth unintentionally showing as he continues to peruse the surface of her mind. He shifted, moving himself out from the doorway, arms spread wide, as he bowed before her.  I too, am a worshiper of Lolth. I was gifted this form so I woulds be able to trick the surface dwellers. I was sent to find you here  to aid in your experiments, as well as to assess your worthiness to possess the Stromkuhldur. 

He would spin around to face his friends, casting his hand out as if 'commanding' the rest of the party that she could 'see' to Kneel! he would bark out, winking his eye at them, all except Ou8, hoping they'd catch his hint to be ready to ambush if necessary, that this was all an 'act'

Inspired Performance/Persuasion: 23

If everyone played along... perhaps he could glean more information. Without waiting to see if the rest complied but silently hoping they did, he would turn back around, looking at her. In an attempt to guide her surface thoughts again, he would say Your house has sent me to collect a detailed report on your findings thus-far, about how well this hatchery experiment is faring, as well as what you have learned about the Stromkuhldur.

Hoping his words would make her think of her houses 'family name' as well as to make her think of whether this 'Stromkuhldur' was an object, a place, or a person.

Regardless of how that fared, knowing his time on his detect thoughts spell would be waning soon, he added in And what did that filthy male do to earn your ire? he said with a smile that was a little too happy at seeing the Drow suffer.

Depending on the parties reaction to his charade will determine what he does.

Situation A:

If the party follows his lead, he will play along as long as he can, until the situation becomes potentially dangerous, waiting until the last 5 seconds of his spell before probing into her mind, he will immediately use his mental probe to attempt to forcefully  extract the information from her, as well as learn what her greatest fear is..

Situation B:

If the situation becomes dangerous despite his efforts and the parties compliance, he will immediately use his mental probe to attempt to forcefully  extract the information from her, as well as learn what her greatest fear is.

Situation B:

if the party doesn't follow his lead, or his questions provoke the priestess somehow he will immediately use his mental probe to attempt to forcefully  extract the information from her, as well as learn what her greatest fear is.

Situation-ABC: DC check 14 Wis Save, if the conditionals are triggered.

Very nice! I should make everyone roll insight LOWER than your score to see if someone misses the hint. That would be a funny RP scene.

Insight: 20

Editing.. will post more at lunch.

NOTE: Guys, from now on when dealing with important or deadly NPCs, the FIRST person to speak is considered to be the one to lay the foundation of a story/fib/lie/persuation. If someone ELSE speaks with a different story, any rolls from that new player will be at disadvantage. Ill use this soft rule going forward.

(It's not like I know you got spares! And he's already kind of freeloading as is... Sort of.)

(Rai. It needs a Wis save only when probing deeper. Otherwise, you can always read someones surface thoughts with the spell, which may or may not get you much more than 'I can go for a burger' or an echo of the persons spoken words)

Mr. Biggs resists the urge to crack his neck during the approach, but boy is it a mighty one! Perhaps only due to being so close to her, Biggs turns hearing Alessandra follow after him and gives her a quizzical look. Then shrugs and goes back to his business. Between Lythril and Ra'iik, the rest were in good hands. After one last glance back to Aless to see if she was ready, Biggs springs the ambush...

From the prisoners perspective the long arm of the law comes down from out of nowhere and tries to cave in the skull of the closest Grimlock. By the time the grimlocks buddies turn to source, a barrage of glowing darts sink in any remaining grimlock.

Action: Biggs Casts Booming Blade and smacks a bit--grimlock from 10ft away.
Attack: 21 Damage: 27.

Action Surge!

Biggs Casts Magic Missile at 3rd level, sending 2 darts each to 2 other grimlocks, and one to the farthest off one. 
5 x2(total 10) of force damage for two Grimlock but one who only reaches the flat dice roll damage. 

(Forgot about Wedge.)

Wedge does his best looking around for any unlocking mechanism or keys to free the prisoners.

Perception: 7.