Shae would look to Maxine, “It is a spellbook. I believe it allows me to harness and channel the divine energy Kam shares with me.” She’d kind of glance away shyly and look back to the Artificer, “I honestly don’t think I understand the intricacies of how it all works... but I can say that I’m thankful for it.” The warlock would sigh, “I also think that there’s much more I need to learn.”
When Snively would speak up and ask to huddle the group together, Shae would listen intently. At the end, when he starts to point at some pictures and mentions a green hag, she’d blurt “The mother of the stone!?” Shae would slowly make her way over to take a closer look at the pictures to see if it looks familiar. “Kam. Is that who you showed me?” She tried her best to recall the details of her dream and compare them to what was in the professors gazetteer.
Shae, one of the images stands out to you, but it is not the one that the Professor is pointing at.
"Shae, I need to keep this short. I'm more powerful at night, but most of it is spent trying to keep the mother of the stone from spreading her influence over you and your group. She grows stronger with the moon. I think you must find her soon, or it'll be too late, and I won't be able to protect you and your friends." As his voice echoes through your mind, you recall the image of an old woman, with parchment-like dark skin, fairly stout, and two horns curving back across their head.
Professor, as you ask Gruk about the ritual, he gives you a guilty look: "Gruk know ritual. Gruk not want to say, because ritual is sacred. Ritual is good, not bad. Koro-arak not go through ritual. Gruk know". At the Professor's question, one of the green grung responds "Krik name is. Krik follow Gruk. Gruk wise." The other responds too, saying "Grrak friend of Krik. Grrak follow, if Krik follow."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
"Understand or not, still very impressive!" approved Maxine appearance of the tom in the middle of the jungle but did not have time to add anything else - they were summoned to for a cultural trivia.
"So.... there are no "bad" ritual that could change scale colour? Can not say I am convinced - he did not say anything about Horned Ladies, most likely simply does not know. But it's good to know at least his own tribe did not promote that Koro-arak."
To Maxine, the Professor answers, “Our approach to the grung village would be much safer if we have had a chance to deal with Koro-arak’s ally, especially if its defeat will reverse whatever magic has turned Koro-arak’s scales golden. I counsel we do this first, if we can find it.”
Turning to Shae, Snively asks, ”Shae, what do you mean by the ‘Mother of Stone’? Could she be this Green Hag? Have you had any visions of where to find her or how to defeat her?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Shae’s eyes would narrow and scan the Professor’s Gazetteer as she’d listen to Kam’s response. Her nose would wrinkle, “No not the green hag... the Horned lady.” She starts tapping the picture. “She grows stronger with the moon.”
The warlock would close her eyes to try to organize her thoughts and recall things in order, “I had a dream the last night... it was humanoid woman, bent by age, holding what looks to be an amulet or ritual stone, much like the one the Professor found. She seemed to be talking to it, and moving her hands in arcane or religious patters. Suddenly, the figure shifted, and transformed into a form of a grung, surrounded by a dozen or so other grung. One of the grung in the crowd appears to be slightly taller, and the other grung kept a respectful distance. The first grung I saw had the stone. He took it with him, running away from the others.” She’d open her eyes, “I think she’s “The Mother of the Stone”.”
Maxine continued to be irritated (and irritating too) skeptical inquisitor: "Wait, is that grung in the vision that Koro-arak? What colour was his scale? Or does the vision means some past events and how the tribe got the stone in the first place?" "Not that good with the prophecies and stuff."
Berrus, while the rest discuss your options, you make the rounds, ensuring that the earthwall is repaired, and you help Brax bind his wounded forearm. Shame about the shield, but all it'll serve as now is firewood... When you hear Maxine suggest to march to the village or start fighting, your attention is drawn back to the conversation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
"Can you recall anything else, Shae? Perhaps the scale color of the lead grung, and if the figure shifting was a scene change in your dream or the transformation of the horned lady into a grung?" asks the Professor. Turning to Gruk, he asks, "The Gazetteer indicates the Horned Lady resides in a giant skull on the shore of the lake--do you know where that is, Gruk?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"The Steaming Lake?" Gruk asked in disbelief, "Evil place. Grung do not go there. Everything dead, not even lizardfolk go there". Gruk was gesticulating, as if to underscore the point further.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Shae would think hard, back to the visions and shake her head, "The vision was very smokey, with dull and muted tones. Though, the Gruk did seem a lighter shade. Perhaps gold? And I would say the shift would be a change in scene."
"Thank you, Shae," says the Professor, "that is helpful. It seems that this 'Horned Lady' may be the enchanter of the stone that the grung rely on to warn them of danger. Furthermore, at some point the grung leader took the stone and ran away from his tribe, which would make sense given that we found the stone in the grasp of a decaying skeleton at the carnivorous plant field. This discussion of growing stronger with the moon seems to indicate this creature may have some sort of lycanthrope or fey affinity."
Continuing on in a somewhat scholarly tone, Snively adds, "But none of this clarifies the potential involvement of Koro-arak with Horned Lady, though it makes sense that, having meddled with the tribe before using the stone, she may meddle with it once more using Koro-arak. I still say our best option is to meet her before moving on to the whole tribe. If she is hostile and responsible for Koro-arak's evil, destroying her will weaken him. If she is not responsible, negotiating with her may gain us information or leverage with the tribe."
Taking a deep breath, the Professor repeats his observations in the grung language, then asks the others, "What do you think we should do?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Gruk's eyes widen, seemingly he understood your intent: "Gruk not go there. Evil place. But Gruk stay here and prepare. Get more grung, to confront Koro-Arak after Long-knives go to Steaming Lake."
Unless anyone has an other idea, I want to know how you're breaking up camp, what you're leaving here, and what you're taking with, what your marching order is, and who navigates.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
The attack happened at dawn, after you all got your long rest. The sun has now risen and it is early morning, with the rest of the jungle coming to life around you, and the busy chirping of the birds filling the air.
Maxine, you're still weak from the fever that has now broken out (Exhaustion 2).
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Then another Con save: 18 minus level of Exhaustion?
Actually, long sleep and Shae's healing helped! Looking (and feeling) better, Maxine was prepared to move to the lake.
"Do we need everything with us or can we trust our new friends to keep an eye on the camp? So far they were the only one attacking, may be it's a good spot to be if grungs are friendly? Besides, Captain still need rest. We can go in small numbers - may be you, Professor, Shae, Berrus and I? And take only minimal supplies?"
”Sounds reasonable to me,” remarks the Professor. “Let’s map out a route.” While they have a few minutes remaining on the Comprehend Languages spell, the Professor uses the Gazetteer and their map to consult with Gruk to get landmarks along the way to the steaming lake (and for later on the way back to camp). He invites any who are going on the trip to look at his work and hopefully benefit from it, as he is not personally that great at orienteering.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
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Shae would look to Maxine, “It is a spellbook. I believe it allows me to harness and channel the divine energy Kam shares with me.” She’d kind of glance away shyly and look back to the Artificer, “I honestly don’t think I understand the intricacies of how it all works... but I can say that I’m thankful for it.” The warlock would sigh, “I also think that there’s much more I need to learn.”
When Snively would speak up and ask to huddle the group together, Shae would listen intently. At the end, when he starts to point at some pictures and mentions a green hag, she’d blurt “The mother of the stone!?” Shae would slowly make her way over to take a closer look at the pictures to see if it looks familiar. “Kam. Is that who you showed me?” She tried her best to recall the details of her dream and compare them to what was in the professors gazetteer.
just an unstable unicorn.
Berrus listens and understands maybe the half of it :) "i dunno about all this magik stuff, but im with ye"
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Shae, one of the images stands out to you, but it is not the one that the Professor is pointing at.
"Shae, I need to keep this short. I'm more powerful at night, but most of it is spent trying to keep the mother of the stone from spreading her influence over you and your group. She grows stronger with the moon. I think you must find her soon, or it'll be too late, and I won't be able to protect you and your friends." As his voice echoes through your mind, you recall the image of an old woman, with parchment-like dark skin, fairly stout, and two horns curving back across their head.
Professor, as you ask Gruk about the ritual, he gives you a guilty look: "Gruk know ritual. Gruk not want to say, because ritual is sacred. Ritual is good, not bad. Koro-arak not go through ritual. Gruk know". At the Professor's question, one of the green grung responds "Krik name is. Krik follow Gruk. Gruk wise." The other responds too, saying "Grrak friend of Krik. Grrak follow, if Krik follow."
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
"Understand or not, still very impressive!" approved Maxine appearance of the tom in the middle of the jungle but did not have time to add anything else - they were summoned to for a cultural trivia.
"So.... there are no "bad" ritual that could change scale colour? Can not say I am convinced - he did not say anything about Horned Ladies, most likely simply does not know. But it's good to know at least his own tribe did not promote that Koro-arak."
"So.. are we just marching in to the village?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
The Professor:
To Maxine, the Professor answers, “Our approach to the grung village would be much safer if we have had a chance to deal with Koro-arak’s ally, especially if its defeat will reverse whatever magic has turned Koro-arak’s scales golden. I counsel we do this first, if we can find it.”
Turning to Shae, Snively asks, ”Shae, what do you mean by the ‘Mother of Stone’? Could she be this Green Hag? Have you had any visions of where to find her or how to defeat her?”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Shae’s eyes would narrow and scan the Professor’s Gazetteer as she’d listen to Kam’s response. Her nose would wrinkle, “No not the green hag... the Horned lady.” She starts tapping the picture. “She grows stronger with the moon.”
The warlock would close her eyes to try to organize her thoughts and recall things in order, “I had a dream the last night... it was humanoid woman, bent by age, holding what looks to be an amulet or ritual stone, much like the one the Professor found. She seemed to be talking to it, and moving her hands in arcane or religious patters. Suddenly, the figure shifted, and transformed into a form of a grung, surrounded by a dozen or so other grung. One of the grung in the crowd appears to be slightly taller, and the other grung kept a respectful distance. The first grung I saw had the stone. He took it with him, running away from the others.” She’d open her eyes, “I think she’s “The Mother of the Stone”.”
just an unstable unicorn.
Maxine continued to be irritated (and irritating too) skeptical inquisitor: "Wait, is that grung in the vision that Koro-arak? What colour was his scale? Or does the vision means some past events and how the tribe got the stone in the first place?" "Not that good with the prophecies and stuff."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Berrus, while the rest discuss your options, you make the rounds, ensuring that the earthwall is repaired, and you help Brax bind his wounded forearm. Shame about the shield, but all it'll serve as now is firewood... When you hear Maxine suggest to march to the village or start fighting, your attention is drawn back to the conversation.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
The Professor:
"Can you recall anything else, Shae? Perhaps the scale color of the lead grung, and if the figure shifting was a scene change in your dream or the transformation of the horned lady into a grung?" asks the Professor. Turning to Gruk, he asks, "The Gazetteer indicates the Horned Lady resides in a giant skull on the shore of the lake--do you know where that is, Gruk?"
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
"The Steaming Lake?" Gruk asked in disbelief, "Evil place. Grung do not go there. Everything dead, not even lizardfolk go there". Gruk was gesticulating, as if to underscore the point further.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
"If they wont even go there..." Berrus leaves the sentence unfinished
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Shae would think hard, back to the visions and shake her head, "The vision was very smokey, with dull and muted tones. Though, the Gruk did seem a lighter shade. Perhaps gold? And I would say the shift would be a change in scene."
just an unstable unicorn.
The Professor:
"Thank you, Shae," says the Professor, "that is helpful. It seems that this 'Horned Lady' may be the enchanter of the stone that the grung rely on to warn them of danger. Furthermore, at some point the grung leader took the stone and ran away from his tribe, which would make sense given that we found the stone in the grasp of a decaying skeleton at the carnivorous plant field. This discussion of growing stronger with the moon seems to indicate this creature may have some sort of lycanthrope or fey affinity."
Continuing on in a somewhat scholarly tone, Snively adds, "But none of this clarifies the potential involvement of Koro-arak with Horned Lady, though it makes sense that, having meddled with the tribe before using the stone, she may meddle with it once more using Koro-arak. I still say our best option is to meet her before moving on to the whole tribe. If she is hostile and responsible for Koro-arak's evil, destroying her will weaken him. If she is not responsible, negotiating with her may gain us information or leverage with the tribe."
Taking a deep breath, the Professor repeats his observations in the grung language, then asks the others, "What do you think we should do?"
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
OOC: Anyone else have an idea, or should we head to the steaming lake?
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
steaming lake may be best course
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Gruk's eyes widen, seemingly he understood your intent: "Gruk not go there. Evil place. But Gruk stay here and prepare. Get more grung, to confront Koro-Arak after Long-knives go to Steaming Lake."
Unless anyone has an other idea, I want to know how you're breaking up camp, what you're leaving here, and what you're taking with, what your marching order is, and who navigates.
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
What time is it now? Attack happen in the middle of the night, did we get the long rest?
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
The attack happened at dawn, after you all got your long rest. The sun has now risen and it is early morning, with the rest of the jungle coming to life around you, and the busy chirping of the birds filling the air.
Maxine, you're still weak from the fever that has now broken out (Exhaustion 2).
Union!- Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Embers in the Dark - Errydha (Homebrew) Setting
Welcome to the Jungle- Far Realms
Citadel of the Unsleeping Sun - Erathis (Grim Hollow) Setting
Yevelda the Mutt- 3rd Level Half-Orc Battlemaster Fighter- Far Realms
Rehgys- 5th Level Satyr Bard of Eloquence- Far Realms
Then another Con save: 18 minus level of Exhaustion?
Actually, long sleep and Shae's healing helped! Looking (and feeling) better, Maxine was prepared to move to the lake.
"Do we need everything with us or can we trust our new friends to keep an eye on the camp? So far they were the only one attacking, may be it's a good spot to be if grungs are friendly? Besides, Captain still need rest. We can go in small numbers - may be you, Professor, Shae, Berrus and I? And take only minimal supplies?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Professor S:
”Sounds reasonable to me,” remarks the Professor. “Let’s map out a route.” While they have a few minutes remaining on the Comprehend Languages spell, the Professor uses the Gazetteer and their map to consult with Gruk to get landmarks along the way to the steaming lake (and for later on the way back to camp). He invites any who are going on the trip to look at his work and hopefully benefit from it, as he is not personally that great at orienteering.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"