Necromancer's Delusion-Homebrew

(how much time do we have until sundown?)

Aryn smiles and makes various compliments on the layout and furnishings, not overdoing it but not holding back either.  When they make it to the den she'll begin her comments on the family and children.  "Oh you're girls are all grown up.   They're beautiful just like their mother.  How old are they now?"  After Zilyana replies Aryn will wait a moment and ask,  "Did your husband want to try for a boy?  Sorry to be so forward, I know my husband is pushing for us to have children and he really wants a boy, that's why I ask."

Mucor is getting his beauty sleep :D

(Apologies all, lost power from the hurricane last night and internet has been down.  @Jinara- it is early morning so sunset will be in roughly 10-11 hours.)

(Oh no! I hope everything is ok!)

(Take care of yourself Xtra.) 

Gaelin will listen closely to Iris' words and says, "We should move quickly then, together.  It will take a bit more time searching each building one at a time but we can't learn anything if we're dead." he adds a chuckle to try and disguise his slight fear.  "Kelgos, Cedany and Valeera, you three keep watch while Iris, Jinara and I search through these buildings.  If you see anything, call it out and give us the location.  before we start let's fly up on Valeera's back and get an overhead layout.  That will give me time to connect us telepathically." Gaelin adds and mounts Valeera then immediately begins ritual casting Telepathic bond on all of them.

(All good.  Just a bit of water in the basement. )

Gaelin & Jinara- Perception checks from everyone who's flying up with Valeera.

Aryn-Make an insight check!   Zilyana smiles at each compliment as you make your way around the house.  She seems jovial with your company and the ability to chat with someone other than family or servants.  "Thank you dear.  Zilmae and Venaerys will be 30 this coming spring.  They are quite talented cooks.  They won a large bakery and restaurant in Zhesa.  It's close enough I guess but I do miss them being at home."  She says still looking happy.  When you mention a boy she looks at you then coughs to clear her throat as if she choked on something and her voice is a bit horse when she answers.  "Well, I can understand that.  We actually lost a child, a baby boy years ago and it devastated us.  We decided not to have children after that.  It was too painful to bear... but time heals all wounds I suppose.  We still have our girls and that's all we can ask for." she says with a half hearted smile.  

Kelgos- 13 1

Cedany- 2 4

Insight:  22

"Oh I'm so sorry... I can't imagine what the pain you must've felt.  I'm glad you have been able to recover so well.  I'd still be torn up if that happened to me." she says with a comforting hand on her shoulder. Deciding to change the subject back to her daughters she asks.  "What's the name of the shop? If we visit the city I'd love to experience their cooking."

Perception:   19        Valeera :    12

Aryn- She is genuinely upset at the thought of her losing her son.  It takes her a moment to calm enough to continue conversing.  You can tell there's a bit of fear and shame mixed in with the sadness though as if there's more to the story, some of which you already know.  You watch as she replies as her eyes flicker over to a painting of her husband and back down to the floor before she regains her composure.  You watch this glance as the expression of fear crosses her face and make the connection that her husband is the root of it.  Composed but a bit teary eyed she smiles at the change of pace and says, "The Cook and Creme is the name of their shop.  It's quite delicious.  If you ever visit there please make sure to send them my love.  Are you sure you can't stay for lunch?  It's less than an hour away now." she says with an appreciative smile.  As Zilyana mentions the time, your internal clock would be reminding you that almost two hours have passed in conversing and touring the house. 

Gaelin & Jinara- You all fly up as Gaelin continues casting his spell and make a few long passes over the large overgrown ruins.  As you climb you begin to make out just how large this ancient capital city was.  As you near the coast roughly 1000 feet away from the keep you can make out the stone foundation and pillars of the old harbor.  Various piles of ivy and moss covered stones designate the destroyed remains of once large structures.  Kelgos catches a few glimpses of movement in the shadows from the buildings while Valeera calls out each creature she spots.  You look and see two types of creatures.  Ones resembling the pale withered corpse and others that seem to have an ethereal glow and hollow outline.  Some of these incorporeal beings traverse between buildings slowly as if following your trail, unafraid of the sunlight while others seem to immediately hide from the large dragon flying above them. Iris looks down at these creatures and says, "This place appears to be crawling with ghosts and other undead.  While I know pain and violent deaths can cause such creatures to linger it is odd that there are so many.  It's as if the area is cursed in some way." (sharing this only because her previous nat 20 religion roll)  At the conclusion of 10 minutes your minds are tethered to allow telepathic communication and you have a relatively good grasp of the city layout, though the scattered ruins and centuries of erosion have obscured most of the paths and roadways.    There are three large semi-standing structures that stand out from above.  The Keep beset against the cliff to the northwest, a large circular structure that appears like a coliseum with a collapsed side and a tall rectangular building with a partially collapsed dome structure atop the roof.

Telepathically, Jinara says "I have a way that we can safely stay through the night. Well, increase our chances of survival drastically. I need 10 minutes anytime before sunset and we can hinder or prevent the undead from overtaking us."

Aryn will act surprised by the time passing and say, "Oh my.  I had no idea.  I wish I could but I really should be getting back.  I hope the invitation still remains open.  I'll write you the next time we're in town for a visit or if we plan on visiting your daughter's shop.  Thank you so much for your hospitality it has truly been a pleasure.  If I could get one more cup of that delicious tea, I'd be grateful."  If she's provided some hot tea she'll stay a few minutes more to drink it then hop on her horse and ride back beginning at a slower pace until she's out of sight of the house then changing to full gallop.

Perception:    24                

Survival:  7

Gaelin turns to Jinara, "Do you think we'll be here that long?  I think we should investigate the two large structures first then see if we can enter the keep last.  Valeera, do you think you can set down near that domed building over there?" pointing to the desired building. 

(Didn't Xtra say it was sunrise?  If we can avoid dark places- aka the keep, we can probably limit the number of things we have to fight.)

(This spell reaches 40,000 square feet. If we place where the most shadows are, like the keep, we should be able to search that place with little issue)

"I want to be as diligent as possible. If Neltharion is still alive in the Shadowfell, knowing all facets of his history will hopefully lend a weaknesses or exploit. The question that comes to mind immediately is why here? The keep could hold answers or secrets." Jinara says

Gaelin & Jinara- Valeera descends down to the large rectangular structure standing nearly 150 feet tall and towering above many of the other collapsed buildings.  As she settles on the ground nearby you see movement to the east and north but can't make out any shapes.  Kelgos cuts away at vines and you step into the building through the empty opening where a long rotted double door used to stand.  Valeera transforms back to a human and enters the structure last guarding the door.  The air within is thick and acrid with dust, ash and humidity.  Looking up you can see through the large hole in the roof where the dome collapsed.  The large stone floor is covered in a thick layer of dirt and near the center of the structure plants grow within the rubble while the rest of the structure seems to lie still as if frozen in time.  Need Investigation checks from Gaelin and Jinara and perception from Valeera, Cedany and Kelgos!

Iris- 12   (Iris is carrying y'all.  lol)

Aryn-  Zilyana frowns and slumps slightly at the news of your imminent departure but quickly smiles and hugs you, "Thank you so much for stopping by.  You have an open invitation anytime.  Please do write and of course you can have more tea." she says motioning to the steward who bows and rushes off to fill your request.  It takes you a few minutes to down the tea and Zilyana tells you more about her daughters and the delicious foods they make before you finish and she hugs you one final time.  Your coat is brought back to you and you easily mount the horse and trot off into the cold landscape.  Though you can see the large walled city to the southeast you forget which road to travel down and end up taking the roundabout way, but you do arrive after 2 hours of travel.    

Investigation ( plus guidance) = 20 4

Kelgos - 17

Cedany - 1

Valeera-  31                 Gaelin-   7

(Heck yea Iris! and Valeera! lol)

Gaelin & Jinara-  Jinara and Iris each head west along a wall that divides the southern half of the structure.  Gaelin heads north towards the pile of rubble left from the collapsing dome while Cedany and Kelgos spread to stay equidistant from the group and Valeera continues to watch the entrance.  The northeast corner of the structure is also partially collapsed from the upper level falling in on the ground floor.  To the east of the entrance large stone stairs lead to a second floor that is shrouded in darkness. Jinara dusts off the wall to discover it's not entirely flat.  There appear to be spaced ridges that you deduce are the last remnants of built in shelves of some sort.  Iris continues into corner and digs through an abnormally large pile of dirt to find a small gold ring with an emerald still slung on a bony skeletal hand.  As Gaelin inspects the pile his vision is suddenly filled with the sight of a woman with scraggly hair and pained visage.  He recoils as the incorporeal creature emerges from the rubble and fades through his body.  Valeera and kelgos both see this occur and shout to alarm the group.  From the outer walls you see 1.. 3...5...6 incorporeal creatures emerge and hear a wail from deeper in the structure.

Gaelin- make a DC 13 Cha or be possessed.

Initiative Order:
Jinara, Valeera, Kelgos
Creatures
Iris, Cedany, Gaelin

Jinara, Valeera & Kelgos!

map:  

A frustrated Aryn will keep her cool and quickly rush to the tailor to pick up the commissioned clothes.  Even though she was running later than she wanted she would take time to calm herself and remove her makeup before entering.  She'd be polite to whoever attended her in the Swift Spindle, unless they didn't have her clothes ready.   

If they do have their clothes done, she'd bow and say, "Thank you.  You truly are as good and quick as they say.  Here are the rented clothes. I'll be sure to tell anyone in need of a tailor of your helpfulness." then take her leave.  After leaving the tailor, she'd go back to the tower as quickly as she could to check up on Mucor.

Investigation to check the quality of the clothes:  22