Is the cave set up such that we could attempt to sneak past them?
To get to the rockfall on the west side or the other passage in the SW corner will require getting within 10' of them. So you won't be in melee range, but certainly close enough that sneaking is unlikely.
Ah, why not? Quillary tries to remember if she's ever heard or seen anything about creatures like this. Arcana: 20
Quillary vaguely remembers being in a tavern, where a drunken adventurer was bragging about fighting Xorn. A nearby sage complained that the adventurer had actually fought Umber Hulks, then proceeded to give a lecture about what Xorn are really like. Quillary tuned out of the boring lecture, so she is thinking hard right now to remember any of the details.
Senses by Darkvision and Tremorsense, as far as anyone in the party can see. So they are likely aware of the party.
Can "glide" through the earth and stone.
Intelligent, not inherently evil, but mostly concerned about eating gems and precious metals. While they seem content with chowing on the crystals, they might get defensive if the party approaches, or even attack to get the metals/gems the party is carrying.
If you have to fight, AC 19. Resistant to non-magical weapons, but otherwise normal. About as much of a Challenge as an earth elemental.
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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)
Quillary relates all of this to her companions. "We could lure them away, or bribe them, with our gold..." she manages to blush a little as she remembers what happened to all the gold.
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ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Drusk: "Not sure if we want to throw our gold at evil monsters and hungry elementals. Takes money to open a bistro and throw massive parties in Lliira's honor... I'm worried that if they see us throwing "food" on the ground, they may get riled up enough to go straight to the source."
"So far, it seems like we could fight, try to walk by them (if they are not hostile), or leave a trail of gold further away from that passage. Or to back out and try going east (probably into Drow-controlled areas). Did I miss any options?"
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)
"Perhaps if we conceal our metals from them, approach slowly and attempt to walk past as if nothing was amiss." Jorin frowns, "Not that I am advocating avoiding a fight, but we do not know how long we will be down here and what else we may face." Jorin frowns again...
"As I am the smallest and nimblest of us ... and perhaps the least threatening, I could try to pass by them alone and see how they react," Hildigrim offers. "I will be on my guard and will hopefully be able to avoid any potential harm. If they don't appear to be interested as I pass, Quillary could come next, then Jorin or Drusk, and then Pascal. With any luck, they won't mind us."
When Hildigrim is 40' away from the Xorn, they continue eating, but they seem a little agitated.
When Hildigrim is 30' away, they stop eating. You can't read the facial expressions of a 3-eyed rock monster, but they are in an aggressive posture towards the halfling, striking their fists against their bodies and the ground.
(I'd need to know if Hildigrim continues forward towards the Xorn, if he backs up, or if the rest of the party moves to join Hildi where he is.)
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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)
(OOC: Let's say that Hildi has 10 minutes left on the spell, so he will have it for the rest of this encounter, but it will expire after that.
I just checked the character sheets, and Quillary speaks Primordial (!!). So she struggles a little bit with the dialect for the Terran language, but both Q and H understand them, and Q can speak to them.
The Xorn are yelling for you intruders and food stealers to leave, before you are punished by them... The blue crystals they are eating are not gem-grade materials, but they are still semi-precious stones, probably several hundred GP worth in bulk. Adventurers and humanoid under-dwellers have been taking them or fighting the Xorn for them.
Despite your peaceful gestures, they don't trust you... I was pushing this to be a "either fight, or go back to the east passage", but you've pointed out that communication is possible... If Quillary or Hildigrim want to try to Persuade them (check roll), it is possible to talk your way out. Just very unlikely to succeed, and failure will lead to a fight (for trying to trick them). )
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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)
Quillary cocks her head at the sounds the creatures are making. “That sounds... well, they are not happy with us... I would guess they have no concept of us being different from others they have met, who have stolen their foodstuffs, those gems. They are shouting... I am afraid they may not be willing to let us by.”
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ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Hildigrim spreads his lips in a friendly (if a bit nervous) smile while still pointing at the ceiling in a "we're not hostile" gesture. Not turning his back on the creatures or even turning his head, he asks out of the side of his mouth, "Can you understand them, Quillary? My spell translates their speech for me, but unless I cast it on them, it is doubtful they will understand me. Perhaps you could convince them to let us pass." He chances a jerk of the head to actually look at the half-elf, his face full of alarm. "But please don't off them anymore of our gold." He quickly faces forward again, resuming his smile toward the creatures.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Quillary shakes her head, “They do not eat gold, but rather precious stones... I think we do not have enough of those to satisfy them. I will try to speak with them.”
”I need a gem,” she snaps her fingers and holds out a hand. When she gets one from someone, she steps forward, moving slowly to where Hildi stands.
Then she begins speaking in a strange, halting and grinding language...
I guess we start with a Persuasion roll? Then I will elaborate based on that?
Persuasion: 14
...”Earth kin, I am one who seeks to pass by with my clan, I am one who respects the ways of silt and rock, one who does not covet the stone, and as speaker for those with me, I will guarantee their peaceful passage. I offer this token, will you let us pass?” She holds out the gem.
Quillary shakes her head, “They do not eat gold, but rather precious stones...”
”I need a gem,” she snaps her fingers and holds out a hand. When she gets one from someone, she steps forward, moving slowly to where Hildi stands.
(OOC: They eat gems AND precious metals.)
Drusk will reluctantly hand Quillary his 50 GP citrine gem (which I am deleting from his inventory).
After Quillary's impassioned speech, she holds up the gem. The earth elementals have nothing to do with water or fluids, but you almost swear that you see drool coming from their jaws. She tosses the gem onto the ground about 10' from their position. The Xorn scramble over each other to get to the gem. While they are momentarily busy, your party quickly scampers to the SW corner to the passage south.
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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)
He chances a jerk of the head to actually look at the half-elf, his face full of alarm. "But please don't off them anymore of our gold." He quickly faces forward again, resuming his smile toward the creatures.
Jorin fails to stifle a laugh and then turns it into a cough.
Hey we did it! Solved an encounter without bloodshed!
(That weeping you hear is from the DM, who was trying to force a fight.
But I can't argue with persistence, a reasonable plan, and a timely check roll.)
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)
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Ah, why not? Quillary tries to remember if she's ever heard or seen anything about creatures like this. Arcana: 17
edit: !!!!!!!
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
To get to the rockfall on the west side or the other passage in the SW corner will require getting within 10' of them. So you won't be in melee range, but certainly close enough that sneaking is unlikely.
Quillary vaguely remembers being in a tavern, where a drunken adventurer was bragging about fighting Xorn. A nearby sage complained that the adventurer had actually fought Umber Hulks, then proceeded to give a lecture about what Xorn are really like. Quillary tuned out of the boring lecture, so she is thinking hard right now to remember any of the details.
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)
Quillary relates all of this to her companions. "We could lure them away, or bribe them, with our gold..." she manages to blush a little as she remembers what happened to all the gold.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Drusk: "Not sure if we want to throw our gold at evil monsters and hungry elementals. Takes money to open a bistro and throw massive parties in Lliira's honor... I'm worried that if they see us throwing "food" on the ground, they may get riled up enough to go straight to the source."
"So far, it seems like we could fight, try to walk by them (if they are not hostile), or leave a trail of gold further away from that passage. Or to back out and try going east (probably into Drow-controlled areas). Did I miss any options?"
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)
“Maybe Cory will be among the drow,” Quillary says hopefully. “But I am also open to fighting.”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
"Perhaps if we conceal our metals from them, approach slowly and attempt to walk past as if nothing was amiss." Jorin frowns, "Not that I am advocating avoiding a fight, but we do not know how long we will be down here and what else we may face." Jorin frowns again...
OOC - Jorin doesn't like GuiltySparc's idea, lol
"As I am the smallest and nimblest of us ... and perhaps the least threatening, I could try to pass by them alone and see how they react," Hildigrim offers. "I will be on my guard and will hopefully be able to avoid any potential harm. If they don't appear to be interested as I pass, Quillary could come next, then Jorin or Drusk, and then Pascal. With any luck, they won't mind us."
(I'll have Hildigrim try his suggestion.)
When Hildigrim is 40' away from the Xorn, they continue eating, but they seem a little agitated.
When Hildigrim is 30' away, they stop eating. You can't read the facial expressions of a 3-eyed rock monster, but they are in an aggressive posture towards the halfling, striking their fists against their bodies and the ground.
(I'd need to know if Hildigrim continues forward towards the Xorn, if he backs up, or if the rest of the party moves to join Hildi where he is.)
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)
Quillary stays where she is and stage whispers for Hildigrim to come back!
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Hildigrim stops and raises his hands in an "I'm unarmed" posture.
Has it been less than an hour since we first talked with the ettin? Would Hildi's comprehend languages still be up?
(OOC: Let's say that Hildi has 10 minutes left on the spell, so he will have it for the rest of this encounter, but it will expire after that.
I just checked the character sheets, and Quillary speaks Primordial (!!). So she struggles a little bit with the dialect for the Terran language, but both Q and H understand them, and Q can speak to them.
The Xorn are yelling for you intruders and food stealers to leave, before you are punished by them... The blue crystals they are eating are not gem-grade materials, but they are still semi-precious stones, probably several hundred GP worth in bulk. Adventurers and humanoid under-dwellers have been taking them or fighting the Xorn for them.
Despite your peaceful gestures, they don't trust you... I was pushing this to be a "either fight, or go back to the east passage", but you've pointed out that communication is possible... If Quillary or Hildigrim want to try to Persuade them (check roll), it is possible to talk your way out. Just very unlikely to succeed, and failure will lead to a fight (for trying to trick them). )
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)
Quillary cocks her head at the sounds the creatures are making. “That sounds... well, they are not happy with us... I would guess they have no concept of us being different from others they have met, who have stolen their foodstuffs, those gems. They are shouting... I am afraid they may not be willing to let us by.”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
"Perhaps you could try to convince them that we are just passing through?"
Quillary looks skeptical, but looks to the others for a vote.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Hildigrim spreads his lips in a friendly (if a bit nervous) smile while still pointing at the ceiling in a "we're not hostile" gesture. Not turning his back on the creatures or even turning his head, he asks out of the side of his mouth, "Can you understand them, Quillary? My spell translates their speech for me, but unless I cast it on them, it is doubtful they will understand me. Perhaps you could convince them to let us pass." He chances a jerk of the head to actually look at the half-elf, his face full of alarm. "But please don't off them anymore of our gold." He quickly faces forward again, resuming his smile toward the creatures.
Quillary shakes her head, “They do not eat gold, but rather precious stones... I think we do not have enough of those to satisfy them. I will try to speak with them.”
”I need a gem,” she snaps her fingers and holds out a hand. When she gets one from someone, she steps forward, moving slowly to where Hildi stands.
Then she begins speaking in a strange, halting and grinding language...
I guess we start with a Persuasion roll? Then I will elaborate based on that?
Persuasion: 14
...”Earth kin, I am one who seeks to pass by with my clan, I am one who respects the ways of silt and rock, one who does not covet the stone, and as speaker for those with me, I will guarantee their peaceful passage. I offer this token, will you let us pass?” She holds out the gem.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
(OOC: They eat gems AND precious metals.)
Drusk will reluctantly hand Quillary his 50 GP citrine gem (which I am deleting from his inventory).
After Quillary's impassioned speech, she holds up the gem. The earth elementals have nothing to do with water or fluids, but you almost swear that you see drool coming from their jaws. She tosses the gem onto the ground about 10' from their position. The Xorn scramble over each other to get to the gem. While they are momentarily busy, your party quickly scampers to the SW corner to the passage south.
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)
Jorin fails to stifle a laugh and then turns it into a cough.
Hey we did it! Solved an encounter without bloodshed!
(That weeping you hear is from the DM, who was trying to force a fight.
But I can't argue with persistence, a reasonable plan, and a timely check roll.)
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)