As Chuth crashes to the ground, beaten and dead, Camilla releases Bell from her tight, fearful hug and looks at the monstrosity, breathing a huge sigh of relief.
"******* hell, I thought I lost you, Bell."She said, petting the Kenku. "What a ***** of a fight that was. Cmon, let's get you patched up and explore this ******* of a cave."
Camilla carried Bell to the others and provided as much healing was required to make sure everyone was ok.
You come across a side room in the cave, Neronvains small shrine to Fenmarel Mestarine — the elven god of outcasts, scapegoats, and solitude — resembling a pair of white eyes peering out from the dark wall above a small basin. Also present here is a journal that reveals Neronvain’s relationship to King Melandrach, whom Neronvain refers to frequently as “my poor father.” The journal also reveals that the Green Dragon Mask is already at the Well of Dragons, under Severin’s protection and ready to be assembled into the Mask of the Dragon Queen.
Chuth’s small hoard contains ten gold trade bars from Baldur’s Gate worth 50 gp each, plus 10 pp, 120 gp, 2,400 sp, and 8,000 cp.
In any event, the threat against the Misty Forest is ended. King Melandrach hears of your actions and is grateful for your bravery. However, the discovery that his lost son Neronvain is a wyrmspeaker fills him with shame and rage.
Li'riya lands with the boots as soon as Chuth falls, her face still set in an expression of stony anger as she follows the others. She tucks the journal into her bag after everyone who wants to has given it a look, then stays quiet.
SESSION 3: THE THIRD SESSION / XONTHAL'S TOWER / MISSION TO THAY
Weary and hungry, you all return to Waterdeep to report your progress.
The third council featured another new face — the tiefling Rian Nightshade, introduced as a special adviser to Lord Neverember.
UPDATE: NERONVAIN News that the dragon attacks in the elven forest have ended is gratefully received by all on the council. However, King Melandrach responds with cold fury to news of his son Neronvain’s betrayal. He remains hesitant to put elves in the front lines of combat, but no longer acts as a roadblock to negotiations. His pragmatism means that he no longer has any qualms against you all securing the allegiance of Red Wizards, giants, or even devils in the fight against the Cult of the Dragon — as long as such allies are conveniently arrayed in front of his elves in battle.
UPDATE: METALLIC DRAGONS All the delegates are impressed that you all have gained the support of the metallic dragons. The good dragons are wise and just creatures, and their acceptance of you all greatly boosts your standing in everyone’s eyes.
King Melandrach is furious to give an apology for the Dracorage mythal. He makes the apology because honor demands it, but he resents you all for forcing his hand. Connerad Brawnanvil is similarly unhappy if a concession was made in response to the ancient dragonmoots of the dwarves. The traditions of the dragonmoot saved many lives in their time, and the fact that one metallic dragon was injured indicates that it was probably misbehaving. Dwarves have no patience for tolerating misbehaving dragons, no matter what their color.
As an effect of the way in which you all have impressed the dragon council, it now falls to you to allocate the dragons that have pledged their service to the factions. Dragons allocated to a delegate of the Lords’ Alliance are assigned to protect the capital city of the delegate’s territory. A dragon assigned to the Harpers will be used for intelligence gathering. The Order of the Gauntlet sends any dragons to the city of Elturel, while the Emerald Enclave sends dragons to guard the ancient treant known as the Grandfather Tree. You all can also distribute dragons to specific regions. In such a scenario, a dragon protects a 100-mile-radius area around the point where it is assigned, stopping draconic raids in that area.
NEW MISSION: XONTHAL'S TOWER At the summit, information comes to you all revealing that a senior member of the Cult of the Dragon seeks to defect from the group, and that the cultist is offering a dragon mask as part of his plea for aid. Though the offer could be a trap, the council delegates believe that the risk is worth it. The defector is holed up in a fortress known as Xonthal’s Tower, recently taken over by the cult. Because a small team has a better chance to successfully infiltrate the tower than a larger force, you are asked to investigate.
NEW MISSION: MISSION TO THAY The Red Wizards are integral to the cult’s plans for summoning Tiamat, but the Red Wizards allied with the Cult of the Dragon are exiles with no connection to Thay. The Thayan Red Wizards approach the Council of Waterdeep asking for an envoy to be sent to Thay, where they must convince the most reviled wizards in Faerûn to join with the forces of the Sword Coast for the common good.
Go ahead and RP if you wish, or pick a new mission to continue on.
Li'riya shows absolutely no sympathy towards any of the complainers when she hears about their reactions, although she does worry a bit about whether being the one to kill Neronvain put her on his shit list.
When she gets back, she finds a note from her grandmother.
Li'riya,
I'm tired of your nosy, ignorant friends and you leaving me out of any planning. You claimed you wanted my help, but I see now that you only had a vague thought I could be useful, and that you should write me, not any concrete plan on how to fold me into the effort. I've spoken with the Council personally, and they placed me working solo on hunting down some troublemaking dragons in the North. We may have had our differences, but I still wish you good luck with your own missions-you'll need it.
"Who says you need a bard to be affected by vicious cock blockery. I mean Mockery. Vicious mockery. Sorry, I keep getting those spells confused."She joked, slapping you sisterly on the shoulder.
Camilla got serious for a moment. She sighed. "You know..one of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you can't change. Maybe one day you'll stop thinking of the past, and see the amazing thing you have right here. Right now."
Astrid, proudly: “And I’m your belovedly weird aunt who always is there to give you a piece of candy from my purse, to brighten your spirits deary! We’re your family now, and we ain’t disappointed in you in the slightest!”
SESSION 3: THE THIRD SESSION / XONTHAL'S TOWER / MISSION TO THAY
At the end of the third session of the council, deciding to investigate the defector first, a Zhentarim agent slips you all a paper message. On it, it says:
“You don’t know me, but we can help each other immeasurably. My name is Iskander, and I made a terrible mistake in joining the Cult of the Dragon. The cult’s horrifying plans are sure to bring doom to all, but I can stop those plans with your help. Rescue me from the cult’s clutches, and I will deliver to you the prize of prizes: the Blue Dragon Mask. Without it, Severin faces an insurmountable setback in his effort to call Tiamat back to our world. The mask is here in Xonthal’s Tower, being studied and guarded by only a handful of wizards, including myself. The danger of my treason becoming known grows with every passing day, and if I’m discovered, I’ll surely be killed. Please hurry, for the sake of everyone and everything you value.”
As you approach the tower, you notice movement high up on the tower. A human male dressed in black robes stands on the balcony, waving something over his head. It’s hard to make out details from this distance, but it might be a blue mask. “Heroes,”the figure screams,“the cult knows you are here! I’ve taken the mask, but they’ll realize it’s missing within minutes! Look for me beneath the tower, for it’s the only place I have a chance to hide. This is the key that will let you teleport into the dungeon.”As he speaks, the figure holds aloft a second item — some sort of white, glimmering hourglass. “I will leave it behind after I use it, but others may find it before you do.”The speaker looks over his shoulder as another figure suddenly dashes out onto the balcony. A flash of blades and spell-fire erupts. Then the figure who spoke pitches his attacker over the railing before dashing back inside.
AREA 8 - AUDIENCE CHAMBER
The only way to pass from one level to another is by using teleport circles built into the tower (marked “T” on the map). The walls of this chamber bear exotic geometric designs representing feathers, eagles, and snakes, all rendered in a style you’ve never seen before. The decorations in the room are reminiscent of a Maztican style of architecture. To one side of the room, a human female is sprawled face down in a pool of blood. She is dressed like a high-ranking member of the Cult of the Dragon.
Bell brought up the suggestion that they obtain some information from the corpse in the room and when the group had agreed, Bell got to work. She pushes the body on its back, frowning slightly as she does so, then lights a stick of incense. When Messalina changes her appearance to look like a cultist, Bell begins to cast Speak with Dead and then quickly dashes behind Camilla as her kind wasn’t known to join dragon humping cults.
((take it away sassy! Remember we only have five questions to ask it))
Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
After the wizard appeared at the top of the tower and did his little playacting, Astrid whispers to the group “Wow, these cultists really picked a loser of an actor to lure us into their obvious trap....keep your heads on a swivel here!”
Like her big brother Sherlock, Astrid Holmes starts pacing around the crime scene, checking out (without touching) the body, as well as the room they’re in. Investigation: 32 or 24, whichever is larger)
Narrowing her eyes, Li'riya nocks a pair of arrows, her fingers blurring on the string as she fires.
Attack: 27 Damage: 12
Attack: 14 Damage: 10
Colossus Slayer: 4
Zephyr strike damage (force): 4
Burning zephyr strike on that first strike: 30
She takes flight with her boots as she fires.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
As Chuth crashes to the ground, beaten and dead, Camilla releases Bell from her tight, fearful hug and looks at the monstrosity, breathing a huge sigh of relief.
"******* hell, I thought I lost you, Bell." She said, petting the Kenku. "What a ***** of a fight that was. Cmon, let's get you patched up and explore this ******* of a cave."
Camilla carried Bell to the others and provided as much healing was required to make sure everyone was ok.
You come across a side room in the cave, Neronvains small shrine to Fenmarel Mestarine — the elven god of outcasts, scapegoats, and solitude — resembling a pair of white eyes peering out from the dark wall above a small basin. Also present here is a journal that reveals Neronvain’s relationship to King Melandrach, whom Neronvain refers to frequently as “my poor father.” The journal also reveals that the Green Dragon Mask is already at the Well of Dragons, under Severin’s protection and ready to be assembled into the Mask of the Dragon Queen.
Chuth’s small hoard contains ten gold trade bars from Baldur’s Gate worth 50 gp each, plus 10 pp, 120 gp, 2,400 sp, and 8,000 cp.
In any event, the threat against the Misty Forest is ended. King Melandrach hears of your actions and is grateful for your bravery. However, the discovery that his lost son Neronvain is a wyrmspeaker fills him with shame and rage.
Go ahead and level up!
Li'riya lands with the boots as soon as Chuth falls, her face still set in an expression of stony anger as she follows the others. She tucks the journal into her bag after everyone who wants to has given it a look, then stays quiet.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
SESSION 3: THE THIRD SESSION / XONTHAL'S TOWER / MISSION TO THAY
Weary and hungry, you all return to Waterdeep to report your progress.
The third council featured another new face — the tiefling Rian Nightshade, introduced as a special adviser to Lord Neverember.
UPDATE: NERONVAIN
News that the dragon attacks in the elven forest have ended is gratefully received by all on the council. However, King Melandrach responds with cold fury to news of his son Neronvain’s betrayal. He remains hesitant to put elves in the front lines of combat, but no longer acts as a roadblock to negotiations. His pragmatism means that he no longer has any qualms against you all securing the allegiance of Red Wizards, giants, or even devils in the fight against the Cult of the Dragon — as long as such allies are conveniently arrayed in front of his elves in battle.
UPDATE: METALLIC DRAGONS
All the delegates are impressed that you all have gained the support of the metallic dragons. The good dragons are wise and just creatures, and their acceptance of you all greatly boosts your standing in everyone’s eyes.
King Melandrach is furious to give an apology for the Dracorage mythal. He makes the apology because honor demands it, but he resents you all for forcing his hand. Connerad Brawnanvil is similarly unhappy if a concession was made in response to the ancient dragonmoots of the dwarves. The traditions of the dragonmoot saved many lives in their time, and the fact that one metallic dragon was injured indicates that it was probably misbehaving. Dwarves have no patience for tolerating misbehaving dragons, no matter what their color.
As an effect of the way in which you all have impressed the dragon council, it now falls to you to allocate the dragons that have pledged their service to the factions. Dragons allocated to a delegate of the Lords’ Alliance are assigned to protect the capital city of the delegate’s territory. A dragon assigned to the Harpers will be used for intelligence gathering. The Order of the Gauntlet sends any dragons to the city of Elturel, while the Emerald Enclave sends dragons to guard the ancient treant known as the Grandfather Tree. You all can also distribute dragons to specific regions. In such a scenario, a dragon protects a 100-mile-radius area around the point where it is assigned, stopping draconic raids in that area.
NEW MISSION: XONTHAL'S TOWER
At the summit, information comes to you all revealing that a senior member of the Cult of the Dragon seeks to defect from the group, and that the cultist is offering a dragon mask as part of his plea for aid. Though the offer could be a trap, the council delegates believe that the risk is worth it. The defector is holed up in a fortress known as Xonthal’s Tower, recently taken over by the cult. Because a small team has a better chance to successfully infiltrate the tower than a larger force, you are asked to investigate.
NEW MISSION: MISSION TO THAY
The Red Wizards are integral to the cult’s plans for summoning Tiamat, but the Red Wizards allied with the Cult of the Dragon are exiles with no connection to Thay. The Thayan Red Wizards approach the Council of Waterdeep asking for an envoy to be sent to Thay, where they must convince the most reviled wizards in Faerûn to join with the forces of the Sword Coast for the common good.
Go ahead and RP if you wish, or pick a new mission to continue on.
Li'riya shows absolutely no sympathy towards any of the complainers when she hears about their reactions, although she does worry a bit about whether being the one to kill Neronvain put her on his shit list.
When she gets back, she finds a note from her grandmother.
Li'riya,
I'm tired of your nosy, ignorant friends and you leaving me out of any planning. You claimed you wanted my help, but I see now that you only had a vague thought I could be useful, and that you should write me, not any concrete plan on how to fold me into the effort. I've spoken with the Council personally, and they placed me working solo on hunting down some troublemaking dragons in the North. We may have had our differences, but I still wish you good luck with your own missions-you'll need it.
-Ka'ralya
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
"Wow, isn't she lovely." Camilla said very sarcastically, clearly looking over Li'riya's shoulder reading the note, too.
Li'riya rubs her forehead with her knuckles. "Well...at least she's helping the cause," she sighs.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
"Who says you need a bard to be affected by vicious cock blockery. I mean Mockery. Vicious mockery. Sorry, I keep getting those spells confused." She joked, slapping you sisterly on the shoulder.
Li'riya groans. "So much for repairing our relationship," she mutters. "And just when she might have actually been proud of me."
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Camilla got serious for a moment. She sighed. "You know..one of the happiest moments in life is when you find the courage to let go of what you can't change. Maybe one day you'll stop thinking of the past, and see the amazing thing you have right here. Right now."
Messalina wraps an arm across Li'riya's shoulder. "Cami's right you know. You've got a family right here, with us."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Astrid, proudly: “And I’m your belovedly weird aunt who always is there to give you a piece of candy from my purse, to brighten your spirits deary! We’re your family now, and we ain’t disappointed in you in the slightest!”
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
Li'riya smiles. "Thank you all. Now, we should get going."
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
SESSION 3: THE THIRD SESSION / XONTHAL'S TOWER / MISSION TO THAY
At the end of the third session of the council, deciding to investigate the defector first, a Zhentarim agent slips you all a paper message. On it, it says:
“You don’t know me, but we can help each other immeasurably. My name is Iskander, and I made a terrible mistake in joining the Cult of the Dragon. The cult’s horrifying plans are sure to bring doom to all, but I can stop those plans with your help. Rescue me from the cult’s clutches, and I will deliver to you the prize of prizes: the Blue Dragon Mask. Without it, Severin faces an insurmountable setback in his effort to call Tiamat back to our world. The mask is here in Xonthal’s Tower, being studied and guarded by only a handful of wizards, including myself. The danger of my treason becoming known grows with every passing day, and if I’m discovered, I’ll surely be killed. Please hurry, for the sake of everyone and everything you value.”
As you approach the tower, you notice movement high up on the tower. A human male dressed in black robes stands on the balcony, waving something over his head. It’s hard to make out details from this distance, but it might be a blue mask. “Heroes,” the figure screams, “the cult knows you are here! I’ve taken the mask, but they’ll realize it’s missing within minutes! Look for me beneath the tower, for it’s the only place I have a chance to hide. This is the key that will let you teleport into the dungeon.” As he speaks, the figure holds aloft a second item — some sort of white, glimmering hourglass. “I will leave it behind after I use it, but others may find it before you do.” The speaker looks over his shoulder as another figure suddenly dashes out onto the balcony. A flash of blades and spell-fire erupts. Then the figure who spoke pitches his attacker over the railing before dashing back inside.
AREA 8 - AUDIENCE CHAMBER
The only way to pass from one level to another is by using teleport circles built into the tower (marked “T” on the map). The walls of this chamber bear exotic geometric designs representing feathers, eagles, and snakes, all rendered in a style you’ve never seen before. The decorations in the room are reminiscent of a Maztican style of architecture. To one side of the room, a human female is sprawled face down in a pool of blood. She is dressed like a high-ranking member of the Cult of the Dragon.
Bell brought up the suggestion that they obtain some information from the corpse in the room and when the group had agreed, Bell got to work. She pushes the body on its back, frowning slightly as she does so, then lights a stick of incense. When Messalina changes her appearance to look like a cultist, Bell begins to cast Speak with Dead and then quickly dashes behind Camilla as her kind wasn’t known to join dragon humping cults.
((take it away sassy! Remember we only have five questions to ask it))
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ\
After the wizard appeared at the top of the tower and did his little playacting, Astrid whispers to the group “Wow, these cultists really picked a loser of an actor to lure us into their obvious trap....keep your heads on a swivel here!”
Like her big brother Sherlock, Astrid Holmes starts pacing around the crime scene, checking out (without touching) the body, as well as the room they’re in. Investigation: 32 or 24, whichever is larger)
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
The dead cultist was killed using a Dragontooth Dagger.
Messalina makes herself look like a dragon cultist so that she can play
twentyfive questions with this dead person.Question One: "Who were you?"
Question Two: "Why were you killed?"
Question Three: "Are there any quick routes to the teleporters?"
Question Four: "Are there any traps at the teleporters?"
Question Five: "Where do the teleporters lead?"
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
A servant of the Queen
Betrayed
Up
No
Down
Astrid: “Talkative corpse, that one....Well, I guess we go.....up....to get down?”
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?