Eldeth draws an arrow to her longbow and fires it into the quivering form of the ooze, passing completely through it. The extra wound is too much and the shape deflates as more acid spills out than it manages to recover, until there is just a puddle left.
Having some experience in the Underdark, she remarks, "Oozes be having no language or intelligence. That one be controlled by another. We be needing to leave, now! What be the faceless lord?"
Sarith responds, "I've never heard of Ilvara or Asha being able to control oozes. If something else is attacking us with oozes, our best course of action is to run and get as far as we can. We need to move!"
Jimjar, Tozer and Beegred's weapons are still sizzling and blobs of metal are sloughing off onto to the ground. Your weapons now do -1 damage. Eldeth only fired 1 arrow, and it is destroyed.
Beegred mubbles to himself, oblivious that it can be overheard. "She is attacking an enemy that is wounded and heavily outnumbered... Well, smarter to fight against the weak and wounded, and avoid the healthy and overpowered Drow in their towers."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Tozer looks at his maul and mumbles some angry words in Dwarvish under his breath. He then picks up Derendil and takes a few steps south. "Good riddance, Velkynvelve."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xilyrah kneels next to Ferriman, taking care not to touch the ooze that is sizzling on his skin and the ground nearby. Laying a hand on his head she mumbles in Elvish under her breath...
Medicine: 4
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Xilyrah kneels next to what is left of Ferriman and frantically wipes away the remaining acid. She does everything she can and stops the damage from getting worse. She tilts the head back to open the airway so he can keep breathing. With each inhalation, you hear a wet phlegm-y sound and on each exhalation the grotesque visage blows thick bloody bubbles which escape through the open cheeks or mouth. After several intakes of breath, Ferriman begins to cough. And soon the coughs lose their intensity until even those stop. As you watch, the breathing is labored and sounds very 'liquid'.
Convinced by Beegred, Ront picks up Ferriman and then the whole group makes its way south-west, meeting the western chasm wall just south of the western tunnel. The group continues to follow the wall southward. Those that have darkvision look to the east as you pass and don't see the lift or anyone at the base. The silence is eerie and not at all what you expect given your escape. Those without darkvision find the experience nerve wracking, hand on the shoulder of those ahead.
The cavern to the south narrows and the roof of the cavern descends steeply to meet the walls and floor. At this point, the source of the light manifests itself as one of the bioluminescent lamps hanging from a pole, leaning against the wall. Next to it, where the tunnel narrows to approximately 10 feet wide, is an inky blackness that rejects the light of the lamp. No one can see in or beyond this blackness.
Those in the lead (Narstin) are at the limit of their darkvision (60 feet) from the lamp. What do you do?
Sarith (in a quiet voice to the group) is worried that the darkness might be a Drow spell, similar to what he used by the quaggoth/guard platform.
Beegred will check if the lamp (leaning against the wall) has phosphorescent moss inside. If so, he will take the lamp (and give it to Narstin later). To the group: "If there are guards on the other side, do we want to go back, and try the west or north lights instead?... If we want to push through here, I have an idea, but it is dangerous, so I want to hear what you all suggest first."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Beegred approaches the lamp with the remainder following in the formation. When approximately 25 feet away, Shoor and Jorlan step out of the cloudy darkness. Shoor steps forward and Jorlan moves next to the lamp. Shoor postures, his shield donned and short sword in hand, speaking in Elvish, "You see Jorlan? The lesser races would never have managed to escape without a drow to help them. Placing Sarith in that prison with all those prisoners to help him escape was a mistake. And it was obvious that Sarith would not have fled north towards Menzoberranzan, nor west to the Darklake. Hence why I chose to guard this south passage."
Jorlan replies, "If you were so certain, then why did you send the rest of your forces to the north and west passages?"
Shoor swings his head back, irritated at being interrupted. Turning back towards Sarith, he continues, "No one in that pitiful group is a match for me. I will challenge Sarith to combat and kill him here and now, sending the traitor to Lolth myself. The rest will cower and beg to return to the cages. Then this will all be over and if Mistress Ilvara insists on sending Sarith to Menzoberranzan, she can revive him and rip his soul out of Lolth's grasp."
Switching to undercommon, Shoor explains the situation to everyone, "Listen up, slaves. There are forces arrayed throughout the chasm, and all I need to call them here is for Jorlan to put out that lamp. But that is not my intention. What will happen is I will challenge Sarith there, "pointing at Sarith " to combat and put him down like one of you lesser races, once and for all. Then you will all return to your cages..." Shoor pauses, lost in thought, "... unless you wish to try me as well? I'd humour you and will put you in your places without even killing you. Maybe you can even go first, to give Sarith some false hope." Shoor laughs wickedly, making eye contact with Sarith.
Speaking once again in Elvish, "Jorlan, you are not to engage in combat or hinder the prisoners. If they do not honor single combat, only then you may snuff out that lamp and call the reinforcements while I hold them off."
Finishing, he turns and speaks in undercommon, "Lets get this underway. Who faces me first? Sarith or one of you lessers?"
Upon seeing the two drow warriors, Tozer gently lowers Derendil to the cavern floor, and, instinctively, he takes hold of his maul with both hands. The dwarf recognizes the Elvish and Undercommon tongues but understands nothing that Shoor is saying.
Tozer looks at the faces of his fellow escapees, trying to discern from their expressions what might now be happening. Shoor's laughs sets the barbarian's teeth on edge.
Beegred is ready to attack, but holds off while Shoor is monologue-ing. He shares Tozer's confusion. (Common) "What is laughing boy saying? I didn't get any of that Elvish squeaking or Undercommon grunting."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xilyrah has been listening intently to the conversation between Shoor and Jorlan, filling in the gaps of Narstin's translation via the telepathic link.
Turning her attention to the disfigured drow she says, "Oh Jorlan, I see you're still being spoken to as if you're an inferior. Are you not weary of the constant belittling? Shouldn't you rightfully be by Mistress Ilvara's side?" Dropping her voice into a more conspiratorial tone she continues, "What a TRAGEDY it would be if Shoor were killed during a prisoner escape. Soooo many wounds on his body. It would be difficult to identify what or WHO killed him? And Mistress Ilvara, she'd be all alone, desperate for a protector, yes????"
Shoor scoffs and replies in undercommon with utter contempt, "Defiled mockery of a drow...Sarith leads you, do not speak in his place. You could not possibly understand the superiority of Drow society. Jorlan could never advance in station by seeking the aid of lesser races." Without even looking at Jorlan, Shoor asks in Elvish, "If they speak true and you wish to return to Mistress Ilvara's side so desperately you'd debase yourself by aiding these vermin, then speak now!"
Jorlan, standing rigid next to the lamp with sword and shield in hand doesn't say a word. The only thing he does is unfurl the last three maimed fingers of his sword hand and make a 'come' gesture with them behind Shoor's back.
Hearing only silence, Shoor's smile gets wider and more wicked. "Jorlan knows his place. Nowwill Sarith face me or lower himself below these lesser races? Who will be first?"
Beegred: is wiping away the tears from Xilyrah's impassioned speak. Then he gets a hold of himself, and remembers that it was an act. (OOC: It was a 23, after all.)
Beegred looks at Sarith, slaps him on the back for encouragement in the duel to come, steps back to give him room to fight... then shoots Shoor with the hand crossbow.
Attack: 24 Damage: 4 (If it hits, I assume the Drow poison is still potent for now: CON save DC 13.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tozer is relegated to relying purely on the body language of the others. Neither connected to the telepathic link nor able to understand what was said by Xilyrah and the drow, Tozer keeps his eyes riveted upon Shoor and Jorlan. While trying to decipher Jorlan's hand motion, Tozer hears the familiar snap of a crossbow. The dwarf needed no other sign to tell him that it was time to act.
Initiative (if deemed necessary by DM): 11
Maul attack on Shoor (if Tozer is indeed able to act before Shoor):17| Bludgeoning damage:7
Choosing, for now, to avoid melee with the drow warrior, Jimjar makes an attempt to blind Shoor by casting Blindness/Deafness. (DC 11 CON save for Shoor to avoid being blinded)
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Eldeth draws an arrow to her longbow and fires it into the quivering form of the ooze, passing completely through it. The extra wound is too much and the shape deflates as more acid spills out than it manages to recover, until there is just a puddle left.
Having some experience in the Underdark, she remarks, "Oozes be having no language or intelligence. That one be controlled by another. We be needing to leave, now! What be the faceless lord?"
Sarith responds, "I've never heard of Ilvara or Asha being able to control oozes. If something else is attacking us with oozes, our best course of action is to run and get as far as we can. We need to move!"
Jimjar, Tozer and Beegred's weapons are still sizzling and blobs of metal are sloughing off onto to the ground. Your weapons now do -1 damage. Eldeth only fired 1 arrow, and it is destroyed.
Everyone gets 10 XP.
Beegred mubbles to himself, oblivious that it can be overheard. "She is attacking an enemy that is wounded and heavily outnumbered... Well, smarter to fight against the weak and wounded, and avoid the healthy and overpowered Drow in their towers."
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Tozer looks at his maul and mumbles some angry words in Dwarvish under his breath. He then picks up Derendil and takes a few steps south. "Good riddance, Velkynvelve."
As if given a cue by Tozer, Buppido tries to usher Sarith onward saying, "It is time to leave. The divine plan needs us elsewhere."
Xilyrah kneels next to Ferriman, taking care not to touch the ooze that is sizzling on his skin and the ground nearby. Laying a hand on his head she mumbles in Elvish under her breath...
Medicine: 4
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
"Not without him," Narstin says with a nod at the man he still kneels over. "Give me one moment longer."Medicine: 11 (Unless he's doing a death save first and fails). Advasntage if someone helps me: 12(Nevermind, Xilyrah posted before me)
Xilyrah kneels next to what is left of Ferriman and frantically wipes away the remaining acid. She does everything she can and stops the damage from getting worse. She tilts the head back to open the airway so he can keep breathing. With each inhalation, you hear a wet phlegm-y sound and on each exhalation the grotesque visage blows thick bloody bubbles which escape through the open cheeks or mouth. After several intakes of breath, Ferriman begins to cough. And soon the coughs lose their intensity until even those stop. As you watch, the breathing is labored and sounds very 'liquid'.
Xilyrah stands up and says to the group, "He's stable, but I don't hold out much hope."
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Convinced by Beegred, Ront picks up Ferriman and then the whole group makes its way south-west, meeting the western chasm wall just south of the western tunnel. The group continues to follow the wall southward. Those that have darkvision look to the east as you pass and don't see the lift or anyone at the base. The silence is eerie and not at all what you expect given your escape. Those without darkvision find the experience nerve wracking, hand on the shoulder of those ahead.
The cavern to the south narrows and the roof of the cavern descends steeply to meet the walls and floor. At this point, the source of the light manifests itself as one of the bioluminescent lamps hanging from a pole, leaning against the wall. Next to it, where the tunnel narrows to approximately 10 feet wide, is an inky blackness that rejects the light of the lamp. No one can see in or beyond this blackness.
Those in the lead (Narstin) are at the limit of their darkvision (60 feet) from the lamp. What do you do?
Sarith (in a quiet voice to the group) is worried that the darkness might be a Drow spell, similar to what he used by the quaggoth/guard platform.
Beegred will check if the lamp (leaning against the wall) has phosphorescent moss inside. If so, he will take the lamp (and give it to Narstin later). To the group: "If there are guards on the other side, do we want to go back, and try the west or north lights instead?... If we want to push through here, I have an idea, but it is dangerous, so I want to hear what you all suggest first."
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Beegred approaches the lamp with the remainder following in the formation. When approximately 25 feet away, Shoor and Jorlan step out of the cloudy darkness. Shoor steps forward and Jorlan moves next to the lamp. Shoor postures, his shield donned and short sword in hand, speaking in Elvish, "You see Jorlan? The lesser races would never have managed to escape without a drow to help them. Placing Sarith in that prison with all those prisoners to help him escape was a mistake. And it was obvious that Sarith would not have fled north towards Menzoberranzan, nor west to the Darklake. Hence why I chose to guard this south passage."
Jorlan replies, "If you were so certain, then why did you send the rest of your forces to the north and west passages?"
Shoor swings his head back, irritated at being interrupted. Turning back towards Sarith, he continues, "No one in that pitiful group is a match for me. I will challenge Sarith to combat and kill him here and now, sending the traitor to Lolth myself. The rest will cower and beg to return to the cages. Then this will all be over and if Mistress Ilvara insists on sending Sarith to Menzoberranzan, she can revive him and rip his soul out of Lolth's grasp."
Switching to undercommon, Shoor explains the situation to everyone, "Listen up, slaves. There are forces arrayed throughout the chasm, and all I need to call them here is for Jorlan to put out that lamp. But that is not my intention. What will happen is I will challenge Sarith there, "pointing at Sarith " to combat and put him down like one of you lesser races, once and for all. Then you will all return to your cages..." Shoor pauses, lost in thought, "... unless you wish to try me as well? I'd humour you and will put you in your places without even killing you. Maybe you can even go first, to give Sarith some false hope." Shoor laughs wickedly, making eye contact with Sarith.
Speaking once again in Elvish, "Jorlan, you are not to engage in combat or hinder the prisoners. If they do not honor single combat, only then you may snuff out that lamp and call the reinforcements while I hold them off."
Finishing, he turns and speaks in undercommon, "Lets get this underway. Who faces me first? Sarith or one of you lessers?"
Upon seeing the two drow warriors, Tozer gently lowers Derendil to the cavern floor, and, instinctively, he takes hold of his maul with both hands. The dwarf recognizes the Elvish and Undercommon tongues but understands nothing that Shoor is saying.
Tozer looks at the faces of his fellow escapees, trying to discern from their expressions what might now be happening. Shoor's laughs sets the barbarian's teeth on edge.
Beegred is ready to attack, but holds off while Shoor is monologue-ing. He shares Tozer's confusion. (Common) "What is laughing boy saying? I didn't get any of that Elvish squeaking or Undercommon grunting."
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Narstin translates the Elvish portions over the telepathic link, but doesn't understand the undercommon himself to help with that.
Xilyrah has been listening intently to the conversation between Shoor and Jorlan, filling in the gaps of Narstin's translation via the telepathic link.
Turning her attention to the disfigured drow she says, "Oh Jorlan, I see you're still being spoken to as if you're an inferior. Are you not weary of the constant belittling? Shouldn't you rightfully be by Mistress Ilvara's side?" Dropping her voice into a more conspiratorial tone she continues, "What a TRAGEDY it would be if Shoor were killed during a prisoner escape. Soooo many wounds on his body. It would be difficult to identify what or WHO killed him? And Mistress Ilvara, she'd be all alone, desperate for a protector, yes????"
Persuasion: 23
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Shoor scoffs and replies in undercommon with utter contempt, "Defiled mockery of a drow...Sarith leads you, do not speak in his place. You could not possibly understand the superiority of Drow society. Jorlan could never advance in station by seeking the aid of lesser races." Without even looking at Jorlan, Shoor asks in Elvish, "If they speak true and you wish to return to Mistress Ilvara's side so desperately you'd debase yourself by aiding these vermin, then speak now!"
Jorlan, standing rigid next to the lamp with sword and shield in hand doesn't say a word. The only thing he does is unfurl the last three maimed fingers of his sword hand and make a 'come' gesture with them behind Shoor's back.
Hearing only silence, Shoor's smile gets wider and more wicked. "Jorlan knows his place. Now will Sarith face me or lower himself below these lesser races? Who will be first?"
Beegred: is wiping away the tears from Xilyrah's impassioned speak. Then he gets a hold of himself, and remembers that it was an act. (OOC: It was a 23, after all.)
Beegred looks at Sarith, slaps him on the back for encouragement in the duel to come, steps back to give him room to fight... then shoots Shoor with the hand crossbow.
Attack: 24 Damage: 4 (If it hits, I assume the Drow poison is still potent for now: CON save DC 13.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Tozer is relegated to relying purely on the body language of the others. Neither connected to the telepathic link nor able to understand what was said by Xilyrah and the drow, Tozer keeps his eyes riveted upon Shoor and Jorlan. While trying to decipher Jorlan's hand motion, Tozer hears the familiar snap of a crossbow. The dwarf needed no other sign to tell him that it was time to act.
(Sarith, Valthana, Jimjar, Ront, Tozer, Buppido, Beegred and Xilyrah all act before Shoor. So the above posts can be followed in posting order.)
Beegred loads a crossbow and fires at Shoor, who was anticipating Sarith to step forward or order someone to do so. The bolt hits...
Shoor CON save vs. DC 13 poison: 10
... and Shoor hurriedly yanks it out, but too late to stop the poison.
Tozer and Valthana lower Derendil and Stool to the ground, ready to participate in the battle.
Choosing, for now, to avoid melee with the drow warrior, Jimjar makes an attempt to blind Shoor by casting Blindness/Deafness. (DC 11 CON save for Shoor to avoid being blinded)