"I think we should ensure there is nothing else dangerous here before we take these boats out on the underground lake..." the fighter suggests. If the group agrees, he will head towards the north door, letting his friends with better night vision check out the passage leading west.
Dr A shudders as he recalls what these creatures are and whom they serve.
Broodguards, humanoids transformed by yuan-ti into simple-minded, scaly creatures that do their masters’ bidding. The transformation process warps not only a subject’s body but also its mind, making it instinctively obey any yuan-ti and filling it with a seething rage that rises at the sight of non-reptilian creatures.
The yuan-ti were once humans who thrived in the earliest days of civilization and worshiped serpents as totem animals. They lauded the serpent’s sinuous flexibility, its calculated poise, and its deadly strike. Their advanced philosophy taught the virtue of detachment from emotion and of clear, focused thought.
Yuan-ti culture was among the richest in the mortal world. Their warriors were legendary, their empires always expanding. Yuan-ti temples stood at the centers of ancient metropolises, reaching ever higher in prayer to the gods they longed to emulate. In time, the serpent gods heard those prayers, their sibilant voices responding from the darkness as they told the yuan-ti what they must do. The yuan-ti religion grew more fanatical in its devotion. Cults bound themselves to the worship of the serpent gods and imitated their ways, indulging in cannibalism and humanoid sacrifice. Through foul sorcery, the yuan-ti bred with snakes, utterly sacrificing their humanity to become like the serpent gods in form, as well as in thought and emotion.
You recall hearing rumors of Yuan-ti living in Chult. Perhaps you have found a hidden compound of these creatures.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Though the western passage turns out of sight Keyleth can hear muffled voices. Additionally she can smell a campfire burning.
Turning her attention to the lock on the northern door she attempts to unlock it but is unsuccessful. Additionally she didn't notice the small needle trap hidden in the lock. It snaps out and Keyleth tries to pull her hand out of the way in time.
DC 16 Dex save 24
but quick as she is the needle pricks her. She takes 9 poison damage and the world around her is plunged into darkness as she realizes she is blind.
A blinded creature can't see and automatically fails any ability check that requires sight.
Attack rolls against the creature have advantage, and the creature's attack rolls have disadvantage.
Kirinar sees the woman draw her hand back quickly and hears her gasp. He asks with playful concern, "Everything OK, there, Keyleth? Did you get a splinter in your hand or did you find a trap?"
OoC: Did you roll perception/investigation somewhere for Keyleth to notice the trap? She has a passive perception of 24 for vision with her goggles on, FWIW, and passive investigation of 16. I realize I didn't specifically call out that I was checking for traps, but it's standard procedure in dungeons. I wouldn't say anything but blinded would make Keyleth pretty much useless if it goes on for any length of time, so it would likely mean going back up to the surface to rest. Which, tbh, might not be the worst idea anyway.
OoC: Did you roll perception/investigation somewhere for Keyleth to notice the trap? She has a passive perception of 24 for vision with her goggles on, FWIW, and passive investigation of 16. I realize I didn't specifically call out that I was checking for traps, but it's standard procedure in dungeons. I wouldn't say anything but blinded would make Keyleth pretty much useless if it goes on for any length of time, so it would likely mean going back up to the surface to rest. Which, tbh, might not be the worst idea anyway.
DC to notice the trap was 20 and your PP was 19, but I didn't take into consideration the goggles. So I am willing to retcon the trap. No more blinded and no damage.
You notice the trap and are unsuccessful in unlocking the door.
Following the passage it opens up into a larger room with a cooking fire in the center. Several people are scattered throughout the room. There are a couple dwarves and several Chultan humans and they appear to be commoners and slaves. 2 of the broodguards stand near a door on the north side.
On the west side is a creature with a snake head and human body. He wears a red cloth headdress. He glances up at you as you enter the room but then looks back at a mirror he holds. He seems more interested in gazing at his own reflection in a hand mirror than paying attention to you or the slaves.
A small human boy approaches you. "I am Khoti and the mighty slavemaster, Issar, wishes to know who you are and why you are here?"
Kirinar smiles at the young boy and says, "Hello, Khoti. I am Kirinar, and these are my friends and colleagues. I suppose that big guy in the red headdress is the slavemaster, then? He can talk to you with that mirror-thing? Can he force you to do things, even if you don't want to?" He keeps an eye on the slavemaster and the two guards to the north, looking for any signs of hostility while he talks with the lad.
The two broodguards look alert but not hostile at the moment. The slavemaster looks engrossed in his own reflection judging by how much he stares at the mirror.
"No he doesn't speak to me that way, honestly he doesn't talk much at all. But we are slaves here to do the bidding of the master, and he, Issar is in charge of us. They punish us when we don't work hard enough. So why are you here?"
Whilst listening to Khoti's answer, Dr A thinks to himself "ahbut I wonder if he's getting advice or orders from that thing? Well lets find out" as he uses the Helm of Telepathy to cast Detect Thoughts on Issar (the figure gazing into the mirror)
You detect no telepathic communication between Issar and the boy. His initial thoughts are on himself and keeping someone named Ras Nsi off his back for the slow progress of the slaves.
"I think we should ensure there is nothing else dangerous here before we take these boats out on the underground lake..." the fighter suggests. If the group agrees, he will head towards the north door, letting his friends with better night vision check out the passage leading west.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
Would Keyleth know what these creatures are (/were)? (Nature?: 9)
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
Dr A strokes his chin examining the creatures (Arcana = 18 & Nature = 20) "ahbut I think I've heard of these creatures before"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Dr A shudders as he recalls what these creatures are and whom they serve.
Broodguards, humanoids transformed by yuan-ti into simple-minded, scaly creatures that do their masters’ bidding. The transformation process warps not only a subject’s body but also its mind, making it instinctively obey any yuan-ti and filling it with a seething rage that rises at the sight of non-reptilian creatures.
The yuan-ti were once humans who thrived in the earliest days of civilization and worshiped serpents as totem animals. They lauded the serpent’s sinuous flexibility, its calculated poise, and its deadly strike. Their advanced philosophy taught the virtue of detachment from emotion and of clear, focused thought.
Yuan-ti culture was among the richest in the mortal world. Their warriors were legendary, their empires always expanding. Yuan-ti temples stood at the centers of ancient metropolises, reaching ever higher in prayer to the gods they longed to emulate. In time, the serpent gods heard those prayers, their sibilant voices responding from the darkness as they told the yuan-ti what they must do. The yuan-ti religion grew more fanatical in its devotion. Cults bound themselves to the worship of the serpent gods and imitated their ways, indulging in cannibalism and humanoid sacrifice. Through foul sorcery, the yuan-ti bred with snakes, utterly sacrificing their humanity to become like the serpent gods in form, as well as in thought and emotion.
You recall hearing rumors of Yuan-ti living in Chult. Perhaps you have found a hidden compound of these creatures.
Meanwhile Kirinar checks the door and finds it to be locked.
Keyleth takes a look down the western passage first (Perception: 28),
but then, if it seems safe, attempts to pick the lock on the door that Kirinar is trying to open (Thieves' Tools: 10)
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
Though the western passage turns out of sight Keyleth can hear muffled voices. Additionally she can smell a campfire burning.
Turning her attention to the lock on the northern door she attempts to unlock it but is unsuccessful. Additionally she didn't notice the small needle trap hidden in the lock. It snaps out and Keyleth tries to pull her hand out of the way in time.
DC 16 Dex save 24
but quick as she is the needle pricks her. She takes 9 poison damage and the world around her is plunged into darkness as she realizes she is blind.
Kirinar sees the woman draw her hand back quickly and hears her gasp. He asks with playful concern, "Everything OK, there, Keyleth? Did you get a splinter in your hand or did you find a trap?"
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
OoC: Did you roll perception/investigation somewhere for Keyleth to notice the trap? She has a passive perception of 24 for vision with her goggles on, FWIW, and passive investigation of 16. I realize I didn't specifically call out that I was checking for traps, but it's standard procedure in dungeons. I wouldn't say anything but blinded would make Keyleth pretty much useless if it goes on for any length of time, so it would likely mean going back up to the surface to rest. Which, tbh, might not be the worst idea anyway.
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
“Trap - did somebody say Trap?” Dr A asks with concern.
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
DC to notice the trap was 20 and your PP was 19, but I didn't take into consideration the goggles. So I am willing to retcon the trap. No more blinded and no damage.
You notice the trap and are unsuccessful in unlocking the door.
OoC: Oh wow, that's a high DC. Ok. Well.
Keyleth reports in a whisper what she heard and smelled down the western passage.
"I can't seem to crack this one," she sighs, failing to unlock the door. "I guess that leaves west..."
"Darvin" | Changeling | Hexblade 1 / Swords Bard 6 | Descent Into Avernus (AC 19; PP 14; 52/52 HP)
Anton Chergoba | Human | Battlemaster 4 | Lost Mines of Phandelver (AC 20; PP 14; 36/36 HP)
OOC: Apologies but I am back.
"West is fine with me, but we should be careful, because those scaly guys looked like they were for a reason, so we don't want to get ambushed!"
Following the passage it opens up into a larger room with a cooking fire in the center. Several people are scattered throughout the room. There are a couple dwarves and several Chultan humans and they appear to be commoners and slaves. 2 of the broodguards stand near a door on the north side.
On the west side is a creature with a snake head and human body. He wears a red cloth headdress. He glances up at you as you enter the room but then looks back at a mirror he holds. He seems more interested in gazing at his own reflection in a hand mirror than paying attention to you or the slaves.
A small human boy approaches you. "I am Khoti and the mighty slavemaster, Issar, wishes to know who you are and why you are here?"
Kirinar smiles at the young boy and says, "Hello, Khoti. I am Kirinar, and these are my friends and colleagues. I suppose that big guy in the red headdress is the slavemaster, then? He can talk to you with that mirror-thing? Can he force you to do things, even if you don't want to?" He keeps an eye on the slavemaster and the two guards to the north, looking for any signs of hostility while he talks with the lad.
Love God. Love Others. Any Questions?
The two broodguards look alert but not hostile at the moment. The slavemaster looks engrossed in his own reflection judging by how much he stares at the mirror.
"No he doesn't speak to me that way, honestly he doesn't talk much at all. But we are slaves here to do the bidding of the master, and he, Issar is in charge of us. They punish us when we don't work hard enough. So why are you here?"
Whilst listening to Khoti's answer, Dr A thinks to himself "ahbut I wonder if he's getting advice or orders from that thing? Well lets find out" as he uses the Helm of Telepathy to cast Detect Thoughts on Issar (the figure gazing into the mirror)
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
You detect no telepathic communication between Issar and the boy. His initial thoughts are on himself and keeping someone named Ras Nsi off his back for the slow progress of the slaves.
So the mirror is not some sort of communication device
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
No. He is very vain and likes to look at himself.