Necromancer's Delusion-Homebrew

(OOC: Only double 19s that time... getting really rusty... Is Janria still under her control?)

Aryn chases down the cloud of mist and cleaves the cloud in half.  As you swing you expect no resistance but as the sword makes contact you feel as though your cutting through a thick liquid.  The mist swirls inward around the speed of the sword and erupts into a ball of flame.  As the flame explodes outward you almost hear a weak high pitched cry say "Noooo"then disappear in a poof of smoke.  The severed head of the vampire spawn begins to rapidly deteriorate and all that remains is a ashy grey skull with long incisors.  

Jinara- You feel a sharp pain in the back of your head as the connection to your lovely vampire is severed.  You blink rapidly as the pain fades and see the wall of fire in front of you.  You quickly drop the spell and find three of your friends and a pile of burn bones. 

(end of combat)

All-You make your way around the now deserted fortress within the mountain.  To the north you find a large dining hall and a room filled with coffins and large pool of blood, which you assume was the vampire's resting place. To the east you find multiple living quarters, laboratory, library  and armory.  Further east you descend slightly and come to a large area of cut stone with a single heavy door.  As you enter you see multiple villagers being held captive in large steel cells and find another door on the eastern wall.  A short stone hallway leads to another heavy door that opens to the gruesome sight of a torture chamber.  Returning to the dungeon you release the villagers and ensure them they are safe to return to their town.  They inform you there will be a reward waiting for you if you choose to stop by.  You make your way to the eastern dining hall and sit on the lavish chairs as you take a moment to breathe.  The adrenaline leaves your veins and you feel tired.

(Well done everyone.  Dice were kind and dice were cruel but y'all handled that really well!)

Updated map:

(Lol yup she's slippin.  Soon she'll be rolling terrible like the rest of us.)

Gaelin will cast Mass Cure Wounds from his staff healing everyone: 32.  Then cast Cure Wounds on himself for 12.  I had 2 HP after the wall of fire.  That was close!

After taking a moment to sit Gaelin would get up and say, "The reward sounds nice but right now I'd like to take a look around this place." and would wander around looking for anything interesting or of value.

Investigation:  12

(I'll post any findings later this afternoon.  If you'd like to look around roll investigation.)

Aryn would make sure her brother was okay then check on the others.  She was lucky and made it through relatively unscathed.  As her brother got up she would follow saying, "I'll go with you. You look like you could use a hand anyway."

Investigation:  27

As Jinara comes back to his own consciousness, he realizes the carnage he has done. He begins muttering (in celestial if anyone speaks it) "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry....." He begins walking around looking haphazardly around the facilities partly to avoid the horror he just just inflicted on his companions, but also to maybe find something worthy of redemption.

(I'm giving myself disadvantage on this Investigation roll for narrative sake)

Inv 19

Zinmaer will also investigate

Inv 18

Zinmaer- you check the many living quarters and find a few small pouches of coins totaling 40 gold altogether.

Gaelin- you search the library and armory finding a small emerald worth 100 gold and a fancy pair of boots.

Jinara- you search the laboratory and armory finding a fine silken rope, a diamond worth 250 gold, and an ruby worth 100 gold.

Aryn- you search the smithy and what appear to be smaller workstations and find a small chest of platinum pieces totaling 40 platinum and an odd looking quiver with three pouches instead of one.  Also in the northern room full of coffins you discover a portion of the wall appears to be made up of smaller stones.  Taking a step back the area of smaller stones seems to form the shape of a doorway that has been walled off.

You all congregate back to the dining hall to discuss your findings and take another break.

When we all get back together I ritual cast Detect Magic then will cast Identify on any that emit a magical aura.  "This place had some good stuff.  I don't know about y'all but I am beat.  I think I might just sleep as soon as we get back to the grove... though I may grab some food."

Aryn would let her brother finish checking over the items then say to Mucor, "Hey Mucor, think you could help me out with something?  I found what I think is a old doorway that got sealed up in the coffin room.  Would your control of the earth be able to pull the stones out?"  If Mucor is willing to help Aryn would lead him and the others to the area.

The boots- Winged Boots , rope- Rope of Climbing and quiver- Efficient Quiver each emit a magical aura.  As you cast identify on each their nature and utility become evident to you.

(Mucor if you want to roll investigation as well you can and I'll just add that in on the side.)  

Gaelin examines and explains what each of the magical items is and says, "If it's okay with everyone I'd like the boots, but I know everyone here could use them so if anyone else wants them that's okay."

(O.o  I didn't know such a thing existed.)

"I like the quiver." Aryn says as she picks it up looking over its features. She then proceeds to take hand fulls of arrows from her small satchel and will start excitedly shoving them into the new quiver.  Feeling eyes staring at her and hearing nothing but silence she'd look up and say sheepishly "Unless... anyone else wants to use it... so how about that door Mucor?"

(Holy crap I missed a lot, this weekend has been busy)

Mucor investigation 10

 As it becomes clear that the vampire has been defeated, he would wave his hand towards Jinara. "Release him, and spread out... search out and Crush any remaining skeletons.." Mucor would say before reaching into his pack and pulling out the soggy Button. "Feel free to munch on anything you like friend, Let me know if you want me to carry anything back for you as a snack for the road" He would say as he places Button on the ground in front of him. As his friends spread out and begin searching, Mucor would also look around the area, making sure to take anything of value or anything that could be useful. As Aryn asks about the door, Mucor will nod and with a snort point the tip of his staff towards the doorway and the dirt beneath it. He would cast mold earth to move the dirtfrom under the blocked up entrance in hope of collapsing the wall... if that did not work, he would cast enhance ability on himself before attempting to get a running start and plow through the wall with his horns.

Button investigate 19

(No worries)

Mucor-Button would scurry over to one of the skeletons and sit on top of it with his root legs curling around a toe bone.  Within a few minutes the bone had disappeared and button had grown about half an inch.  You take a couple femur bones and place them in your bag of holding as well as a few finger bones that you keep in a small pouch as a treat bag.  While searching you find an ornate metal shield that Gaelin identifies as a Delruin Shield. 

Mucor/all- Aryn leads you back to the room of coffins and you begin moving the stones slowly with your cantrip.  After a few minutes the doorway is cleared and you enter a large secondary room covered in dust and cobwebs that holds a still functioning teleportation circle.  You exit the keep with your new items and skull trophy and find the druid waiting int he forest.  You inform him of the hidden teleportation circle and of the reward in the town.  He cocks his head in confusion at the news of the teleportation circle and instructs you to follow the dirt road to the west to the town of Emvale roughly 2 miles away and that he will meet you back at the keep in a couple hours with Inara and additional druids from the grove.  He gives a short farewell before disappearing through a portal in a nearby tree.  

All- You make your way to the town of Emvale and are greeted by a swarm of thankful villagers.  They lead you to the local town hall where you are publicly awarded a chest of 2000 gold and 600 platinum by the local lord.  You sit and observe as a short ceremony of celebration and remembrance of those lost over the years takes place and are shocked by the number of names listed as lost.  The lord thanks you for your bravery and safe return of their villagers, as well as ending the over 300 year affliction from the local vampire.  You thank the lord and town for their generosity and inform them you must return to meet up with the Elanaetas.  They bid you farewell and make your way back to the keep.  

Arriving late afternoon at the keep you find it bustling with at least 20 druids including Inara.  Inara greets you and says, "Thank you.  We were unaware that this keep had a permanent teleportation circle.  We knew the Emvales were wealthy enough to afford one but did not expect they had the need of one.  At least they had the wisdom to seal it and conceal it from Maven.  I can't imagine the destruction Daegon could reap with a private circle this far behind the lines. This causes a few challenges but also provides an opportunity for your group should you accept. I know you are tired so we will return to the grove while the others ensure the keep and circle are safe.  In the morning we shall return here for we have much to discuss."

(to be continued)

You return tho the grove in high spirits but the concern of Inara and the grove seems to linger in the back of your mind.  You eat and return to your quarters discussing the new items you have found then periodically each find your way to a deep slumber.  You each awaken fully clothed in a town familiar to some as Riverwood.  It is in ruin.  Burnt corpses and collapsed buildings litter the ground while the undead roam free through the streets.  Orcs and ogres break and burn homes as you stand near a fountain watching the horde approach.  They stop in a stacked line 20 feet away and stare emotionless as the middle begins to part.  Slowly walking forward you catch the shadow of three figures moving towards you, their expressions and features obscured by smoke and ash.  The middle shadow's eyes glow red and a sharp pain hits the back of you skulls.  You hear a male voice from within your mind say, "You... you have been nothing but thorns in my side.  I shall rip you out and toss you to the fire.  The world will watch as you scream in agony.  I am coming, and will see you soon."  You each awaken as a second sharp pain in your head jerks you awake.  You look down and ash falls from your hair.  You look over to your armor and clothes and they too have bits of ash on them and smell of smoke.  Exhaustion hits your bodies and you fall back asleep. 

You wake later that you expected but fully refreshed. You check your clothing and the ash has disappeared along with the smell of smoke.  You make your way to the bonfires and grab food.  Inara finds you and requests you gather your things and follow her after you finish your meals.  You return to your quarters and prepare yourselves for whatever the day holds and meet Inara following her to the mother tree and are transported back to the keep.  More druids are present at the keep as well as priests and a mage.  Inara takes you up to the smaller dining hall where you find Geo and the local lord of Emvale.  The doors are closed and she requests you sit.

"We have an opportunity for your group.  This keep has a private teleportation circle that has been unknown to the world for over 300 years.  This is an asset that requires protection, which the grove is not fully capable of providing.  However, we have enlisted the help of some allies and are working on securing the circle from Daegon ever being able to use it.  Our allies are quite powerful but are also busy fighting battles on other fronts so their presence is only temporary.  This is where you come in.  You have proven yourselves worthy allies.  It is the wish of the grove that your group take command of this keep.  Should you accept there are many benefits but also responsibility."  She pauses to look at each of you as if reading your thoughts, measuring you.  

"This keep will not only serve as your own stronghold but as a shelter for the inhabitants of the nearby area and some refugees of the war.  Some of these inhabitants will include skilled artisans.  You will also gain the command of a few small army groups that will defend the keep when you are away.  This is a generous but challenging opportunity, one I believe you are ready for but before we continue I need to know.  Are you interested in taking command of this keep, defending it from Daegon and any others who would seek to use it for foul desires?"

(Welcome to level 8)

(We get a keep?  Sweet!)

"I am interested." Aryn says trying to control her enthusiasm.  

"I would accept this responsibility" Mucor would say with a snort. "I have many ideas on how to improve upon the grounds of the keep.... " he would add before patting Button on the head.

"I agree.  I believe we are capable of handling this place, with some improvements as Mucor said." Gaelin would add.

(Also who wants what in terms of items?  If someone else wants the boots i could use the shield.)

• Quiver- Aryn
• Shield- Gaelin
• Boots-
• Rope-

(400 gold and 120 platinum each)

(OOC: I already have a shield so you can have that one. I don't really need any of that stuff but will take rope or boots if no one else wants... but seriously I am already attuned to 3 things so someoene else can have them. Also, since I am dumb.. how much money do we get each?)

"If someone would want my boots (Boots of Elvenkind), I would love the Boots with Wings" says Jinara very timidly standing a few yards away from the rest of the group. Jinara's body language is still presently an element of insecurity after his control over his own dominion was taken from him by Maven. "I think being able to fly would provide a tactical advantage in being able to protect the keep." "Oh, I am sorry Inara, I also accept this responsibility...if the team would still have me."

Zinmaer says "I too accept this challenge and responsibility. I have not called a place home in a very long time."