This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
With his companion's landing their attacks with vigor, Solomon redoubles his efforts. Attempting to circle round the beast while it is distracted, he slices his sword low at its hamstrings.
The Fomorian is able to shake off the cruel words of Fingolin. The smaller eye staring back and not breaking eye contact while the other large eye looks erratically over the room.
Brocc isn’t able to get out of the hold of the giant’s grasp at first. But when a bolt goes sinking into Fomorian’s neck gushing blood like a warm viscous shower from Tennanaz’s crossbow.
Solomon sinks the blade in deep, bringing the giant to its knees before the two clerics slam with their holy weapons. The giant cries out in agony as the body begins to slump over.
As it struggles to breath and maintain its strength to start conscious. You hear another scream, a familiar voice, the voice of the spectral wizard: The Blackstaff. “WAIT! Do not kill the beast!” He begins to float through the ceiling down to the floor. “Her life essence is what was binding the portal between the realms closed. She has held the tides back for so long, if she were to die..... this tower will fall and I do not know what evil may weep through the cracks. Allow me to put her back into her cage, keep the magic of the tower going.... and I will double the reward of what I promised you before!”
(The party must decide, follow Cembessa’s orders to kill the giant, or allow the wizard to continue to bind the creature. Possibly stopping unknown terrors or possibly leaving for someone else to try and free again.)
"Seems like the better choice to me." Brocc says as he pushes up from where he fell when the giant released him. "I say let the wizard bind the thing back in its cell."
"I want to help you wizard, but what will stop the other group from coming back and attempt again to free the Fomorian? If that happened, we'd have to deal with the Fomorian AND whatever comes through the portal."
Solomon silently nods as Brocc talks, stroking his beard as he thinks. "It seems the lesser evil, if what this wizard says is true. We were given orders to ensure the power is not reclaimed, and we have succeeded in our task. Binding the creature restores the status quo. If we kill the creature, then we may unleash something far worse..."
He turns and addresses Blackstaff directly. "Can this portal be permanently closed by other means? If not... this fortress is poorly defended, can we offer assistance in protecting what lies within?"
Solomon attempts to recall any lore he may have picked up regarding the closure of portals.
Solomon tried to recall his knowledge of arcana. This level of magic is above the level you ever recall practicing or researching. Everything that the Blackstaff mage is saying could theoretically make sense. You know if the portal is created over one of the lay lines that cover the world that align the planes together; once a portal is created, the veil stays thin between realms especially at certain time of the year.
”Well of course it’s possible to shut down that portal.... theoretically I suppose! But think of everything here that would come tumbling down. The amount of research wiped away. Hasn’t the world lost enough already? You don’t know the arcane secrets I could share...” the Blackstaff rebuttals
Fouder dismisses his weapon too, looking across to Falwynn. "Yeah, took quite a bit of damage there." He looks across to the companion that had healed him. "That was very gracious of you, much appreciated." He sighs. "I'd heal myself, but I don't have much energy left in me."
Fouder looks to the wizard. "Is there anything we can do to help protect this place? As my friend here says, what is to stop them coming back to try again?"
Tennezaz lowers his crossbow and slowly returns it to his belt, cracking his neck as he looks towards the ghostly wizard and the deformed creature they had finished fighting. He seems to consider whether or not they should kill the creature to do as they agreed but shrugs it off. While he did not say it out loud he smirked internally as if they betrayed Cembassa and she was not happy he would be anle to say I told you so when he said it was a bad idea to chooose sides.
"Wait a moment, my friend", Solomon says as the gnome walks past him. He approaches the ghostly form with a look of concern on his face.
"If you had wards in place before, then it's clear that they did not work. You talk of research that will be lost, and sharing knowledge; so share it with us, and help make the world you have departed a better place. Is that not better than haunting a place of learning that has no students? Now... how would we close the portal? Theoretically, of course."
Becoming more nervous with the conversation “There is no way to just close the damned thing! It used the life force of the Fomorian to keep it stable. Without anything it will revert back to its natural order. Docile.... harmless, until it’s not.” He begins to slightly raise his voice
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"You twist your words Wizard, speak plainly!" Solomon's voice raises slightly in response to Blackstaff, his dark bushy eyebrows knitted together. "There is 'no way to just close' the portal, yet it's theoretically possible. I ask you again, how do we close the portal permanently? What would be the consequences for this place, you and your colleagues..."
The apparition of the wizard punches the brow of his nose for a moment. “No, it is you twisting my words through a lack of understanding. Yes, you may close the Magic’s sealing the portal. But the portal only exists as it sits on the planar lay lines. The weak spots betwixt the realms. There will always be a scar.... a tear between this plane and the abyssal plane here. With nothing to control it once the portal is down. The magic harnessed from the portal is what sustains the tower, without having a true Blackstaff to run things. Once it is closed the tower will fall. Think of everything lost; the research, the artifacts, knowledge beyond any one persons lifetime.... destroyed.”
Solomon:
You get the feeling that this wizard is prideful. What transpires outside what happens to him and the tower seem to be inconsequential to him. His words do seem truthful but probably more honest-adjacent, the magnitude of problems sprung once the portal is closed may not be as dire as he makes it seem.
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"Come on big fella, time to go down." Falwynn continues attacking the giant.
Spiritual Weapon Attack: 20 Damage: 11
Sacred Flame Dex Save DC 14 or take 6 radiant damage.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
With his companion's landing their attacks with vigor, Solomon redoubles his efforts. Attempting to circle round the beast while it is distracted, he slices his sword low at its hamstrings.
Attack: 23 (Booming Blade)
Damage: 11
Fouder sends another Guiding Bolt towards the Fomorian, before moving his Spiritual weapon up and attacking.
Attack: 9 Damage: 16
Spiritual weapon Attack: 20 Damage: 12
(The spiritual weapon attack was rolled with advantage since I didn't count on a Nat 1 for the guiding bolt...)
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
Fomorian dex save - 4
19 - Fouder attack roll
Fomorian wis save - 9
Tennenaz attack - 1
(without modifiers)
The Fomorian is able to shake off the cruel words of Fingolin. The smaller eye staring back and not breaking eye contact while the other large eye looks erratically over the room.
Brocc isn’t able to get out of the hold of the giant’s grasp at first. But when a bolt goes sinking into Fomorian’s neck gushing blood like a warm viscous shower from Tennanaz’s crossbow.
Solomon sinks the blade in deep, bringing the giant to its knees before the two clerics slam with their holy weapons. The giant cries out in agony as the body begins to slump over.
As it struggles to breath and maintain its strength to start conscious. You hear another scream, a familiar voice, the voice of the spectral wizard: The Blackstaff. “WAIT! Do not kill the beast!” He begins to float through the ceiling down to the floor. “Her life essence is what was binding the portal between the realms closed. She has held the tides back for so long, if she were to die..... this tower will fall and I do not know what evil may weep through the cracks. Allow me to put her back into her cage, keep the magic of the tower going.... and I will double the reward of what I promised you before!”
(The party must decide, follow Cembessa’s orders to kill the giant, or allow the wizard to continue to bind the creature. Possibly stopping unknown terrors or possibly leaving for someone else to try and free again.)
"Seems like the better choice to me." Brocc says as he pushes up from where he fell when the giant released him. "I say let the wizard bind the thing back in its cell."
"I want to help you wizard, but what will stop the other group from coming back and attempt again to free the Fomorian? If that happened, we'd have to deal with the Fomorian AND whatever comes through the portal."
"can you trust this wizard?" Falwynn asks.
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"It is his tower." Brocc informs the others.
Solomon silently nods as Brocc talks, stroking his beard as he thinks. "It seems the lesser evil, if what this wizard says is true. We were given orders to ensure the power is not reclaimed, and we have succeeded in our task. Binding the creature restores the status quo. If we kill the creature, then we may unleash something far worse..."
He turns and addresses Blackstaff directly. "Can this portal be permanently closed by other means? If not... this fortress is poorly defended, can we offer assistance in protecting what lies within?"
Solomon attempts to recall any lore he may have picked up regarding the closure of portals.
Arcana: 14
"So be it." Falwynn dismisses his spectral weapon and stands at ease. "Founder, you okay?"
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Solomon tried to recall his knowledge of arcana. This level of magic is above the level you ever recall practicing or researching. Everything that the Blackstaff mage is saying could theoretically make sense. You know if the portal is created over one of the lay lines that cover the world that align the planes together; once a portal is created, the veil stays thin between realms especially at certain time of the year.
”Well of course it’s possible to shut down that portal.... theoretically I suppose! But think of everything here that would come tumbling down. The amount of research wiped away. Hasn’t the world lost enough already? You don’t know the arcane secrets I could share...” the Blackstaff rebuttals
Fouder dismisses his weapon too, looking across to Falwynn. "Yeah, took quite a bit of damage there." He looks across to the companion that had healed him. "That was very gracious of you, much appreciated." He sighs. "I'd heal myself, but I don't have much energy left in me."
Fouder looks to the wizard. "Is there anything we can do to help protect this place? As my friend here says, what is to stop them coming back to try again?"
Zydalia Quexx - Level 2 - Tiefling/Barbarian
Fouder Amberbreaker - Level 4 - Mountain Dwarf/Tempest Cleric
DM - The Children of Hadal
Tennezaz lowers his crossbow and slowly returns it to his belt, cracking his neck as he looks towards the ghostly wizard and the deformed creature they had finished fighting. He seems to consider whether or not they should kill the creature to do as they agreed but shrugs it off. While he did not say it out loud he smirked internally as if they betrayed Cembassa and she was not happy he would be anle to say I told you so when he said it was a bad idea to chooose sides.
“We can put up wards, yes .... more wards. I’ll get the others to start right away once it is done.” The ghost replies
"Do what you will then." Brocc says, moving back to his mount and checking it for damage.
"Wait a moment, my friend", Solomon says as the gnome walks past him. He approaches the ghostly form with a look of concern on his face.
"If you had wards in place before, then it's clear that they did not work. You talk of research that will be lost, and sharing knowledge; so share it with us, and help make the world you have departed a better place. Is that not better than haunting a place of learning that has no students? Now... how would we close the portal? Theoretically, of course."
Becoming more nervous with the conversation “There is no way to just close the damned thing! It used the life force of the Fomorian to keep it stable. Without anything it will revert back to its natural order. Docile.... harmless, until it’s not.” He begins to slightly raise his voice
"You twist your words Wizard, speak plainly!" Solomon's voice raises slightly in response to Blackstaff, his dark bushy eyebrows knitted together. "There is 'no way to just close' the portal, yet it's theoretically possible. I ask you again, how do we close the portal permanently? What would be the consequences for this place, you and your colleagues..."
Insight: 16
The apparition of the wizard punches the brow of his nose for a moment. “No, it is you twisting my words through a lack of understanding. Yes, you may close the Magic’s sealing the portal. But the portal only exists as it sits on the planar lay lines. The weak spots betwixt the realms. There will always be a scar.... a tear between this plane and the abyssal plane here. With nothing to control it once the portal is down. The magic harnessed from the portal is what sustains the tower, without having a true Blackstaff to run things. Once it is closed the tower will fall. Think of everything lost; the research, the artifacts, knowledge beyond any one persons lifetime.... destroyed.”
Solomon:
You get the feeling that this wizard is prideful. What transpires outside what happens to him and the tower seem to be inconsequential to him. His words do seem truthful but probably more honest-adjacent, the magnitude of problems sprung once the portal is closed may not be as dire as he makes it seem.