[ok. I feel technically that all this was started by Scoria’s intimidation attempt, so we’ll do that first, then use the rolled initiatives if necessary. ]
”Wait, woman!” Screams Zaldara, a panicked like upon her face. She glances with a perturbed sneer at Flynn, who sprints to the fallen Remallia, unstoppering a red vial. Zaldara’s eyes flick back to her spellbook.
"Hands on the ground first - you move, I rip this in half" snarls Scoria. Her hands are still poised to rip the book in half, and the spine is under obvious tension. "Now. The death curse - tell us what you know!" Scoria snarls, low and menancing, with a fast glance over to Taman, Flynn and Remallia to supply the details.
"Yes, tell us about the curse that prevents raising people from the dead." taman says, seeing they have the lady's attention. "Supposively it does much what that book does for you, what do you know about it?"
Flynn empties a potion into Remallia's mouth but she is in no shape to negotiate; Flynn stays at her side, some 60 ft away.
Zaldara scowls at Scoria and Taman. "That book is the only thing keeping you from annihilation; destroy it and you destroy yourselves." She lets her point sink in before continuing. "I do not know much about this curse, despite researching it. The only possible cause of it is something I've only heard whispers about. It is a device known as the Soulmonger. I know not who has created it nor who maintains it but it is an artifact fit for a god. As you suspect, it seems to be some kind of phylactery. Its consumption of souls, at this magnitude, would be enough to supply an undead being of such power such as this world, perhaps this plane, has never seen."
She reaches a hand out towards Scoria. "Throw the book down, back away, and I will tell you where my studies show it to be located."
"And what assurance do you give us that we will even be allowed to walk away from here?" taman asks with a raised eyebrow. He glances back at the fallen woman near Flynn. "It seems those who hired us to do this deed are in no condition to assure our safety..." He notes dryly.
"Hands down, mouldy!" Scoria shouts, and starts to tear the book - just enough to make a point. She sneers at the lich, driven still by rage "I destroy this, and you don't get to come back, isn't that right? Might kill me, but I'm happy to take you with me. So answer the man - what guarantees are you offering, and why should we trust them?"
(Scoria's passive perception is 13 - she wouldn't be actively looking right now, too much ragey tunnel vision)
"STOP!" shrieks Zaldara; Taman can sense genuine terror in her voice, and while an undead abomination, her appearance lends truth to the bargain. Zaldara seems to have little fight left in her.
"I will tell you to the best of my ability where the Soulmonger can be found, and then you will throw me the book; you will gather your dead and dying, and I will retreat from your aggression upon my tower into its depths. Are we agreed?"
"Chult," she responds quickly. "All the souls are being drawn inexorably to the south, to the jungle peninsula of Chult." She steps forward tensely. "Now, my book..."
[If doing anything other than handing over the book, roll initiative]
"Scoria, hand me the book." Taman says, tugging on the book gently until his companion releases it. he holds it briefly, then tosses it to the undead lady. Even as it flies through the air he tugs his companions back towards the fallen harper. "Scoria, can you carry her?" Taman asks as they gather up Flynn and anyone else they can, keeping everyone moving away from the undead lady.
"Until we meet again," hisses the lich, as she dissolves into a black smoke that whisks back inside her tower. As they gather Remallia and other fallen and drag people away from the tower, the adventurers note Zaldara's undead fallen re-assembling themselves, some helping their 'neighbors': gathering up bones, torn limbs, and skulls from the ground.
"I hope this information will be enough for Syndra," sighs Remallia as Scoria sets her down on a cart full of wounded Harpers far from the battle. "I have sent a messenger to her with the news. I'm sure we should check in with her soon, but I have matters to attend to now. You may travel with us back to Baldur's Gate, and stay at our camp. Arrangements will be made."
Two days later, as the Harpers are still making their way back to the city, a rider appears with four horses in tow. He speaks quickly and quietly with various escalating officers of the Harpers until he is finally ushered into Remalia's presence. She joins the adventurers as the messenger turns his mount and rockets back toward the city.
"It seems Syndra has need of you, and quickly," she says, hoisting four sacks that clink. She personally ties them to each horse's saddlebag. "As promised," she says, nodding at the sacks. "125 gold each." She pauses a moment. "And you have made an ally of the Harpers. Any of us would gladly work with you again. You each have shown great courage, and, more importantly, great efficacy. If whatever Syndra offers is not palatable, please find me; we could use people such as yourselves at a time like this..."
"Syndra will see the horses returned to us, but you'd best be off," she offers you all a final salute before heading back to her place in the column. A half-elf of few words.
A stablehand takes the mounts as the heroes arrive at Silvanus, Syndra Sylvane's manorhouse. The former adventurer and merchant clearly has done well for herself over the years; the mansion is massive and luxurious and bedecked with gold, silver, and all manner of flowers.
A uniformed attendant leads them up a grand staircase to the third floor, then ushers them into a wood-paneled room with a fireplace, comfy chairs, and a heavy table bearing goblets and bottles of wine. The darkly paneled walls are hung with maps and sea charts. Racks, shelves, and cabinets hold hundreds more rolled-up maps and charts.
Syndra slumps in an overstuffed chair near the fire, wrapped in multiple robes and wearing the silver mask with hood. "Please, help yourselves," she rasps, gesturing to the wine. She wastes no further time, clearing her throat wetly.
"Excellent work with Zaldara; Remallia was very impressed. We now have a cause and location of origin for the Death Curse; this Soulmonger seems to rest in Chult," she pauses a moment. "Chult is... not optimal. It is a largely unmapped and undiscovered peninsula ringed with mountains and choked with rainforests. Enormous reptiles, savage goblins, and an army of undead prowl its jungles and ruins. Mapping the place has always been nigh impossible, and nothing is known about the region's current geography beyond a few miles from the coast."
Flynn swallows audibly and scratches his neck.
"Working from dozens of sea charts, log books, and explorers' journals, I assembled everything known about the current state of Chult into one map. I'll provide it if you undertake my mission. That mission is, of course, to find this Soulmonger and neutralize the Death Curse. You have already shown your interest by helping Remallia, but this will be a dangerous endeavor. None will be shamed by turning away now. I'll give you a moment." The uniformed attendant helps Syndra to a wooden chair with wheels and ushers her from the room, leaving you alone. Over her shoulder she utters, "If necessary, as reward I can provide any magic item you wish from my personal armory, if you are motivated by such things."
The door closes. Flynn looks to Cimeri with tears in his eyes. "Cimeri...I... I'm so sorry. I can't leave my family here. This is just too much. And we could have been killed in that cellar! It was terrifying!" Flynn begins to quake and covers his face. "I will have to stay here."
[This is Flynn's exit, stage right. He cannot be convinced to continue. We can open up to recruiting, or if someone knows someone good, we can do that too. You can also find or hire an NPC for whatever you need. Your choice.
I can assume you'll take this quest; any negotiation you want to do can be done now. I will wait for all responses before moving forward. I'm happy to jump ahead to Chult at this point, so if anyone wants to get provisions or rumors or anything here in Baldur's Gate for a night before leaving let me know]
(DM, any chance we level up now? If so that would change what I do before leaving the city... I also have a few good people I could ask if they wish to join, I think I can find someone if you guys don't mind me checking.)
(No objection from me to a couple more people you know and want to see here)
Cimeri slowly nodded: "I understand, Uncle Flynn." She did not, but it did not matter either - the man almost died up there, horribly. Considering consequences of death (especially elven death!) - she would not want the loose the last person she considered family. "I promise to return and we will solve it, no matter what!"
Cimeri tried to radiate confidence she did not feel and hoped it looked convincingly. To now she concentrated on gathering as much information about Chult as it was possible - the land sounded surreal, more than another plane of existence almost. And it was good - in addition to sadness from all the losses, Cimeri, to her surprise, felt also excitement of an explorer!
Scoria initiative: 18
[ok. I feel technically that all this was started by Scoria’s intimidation attempt, so we’ll do that first, then use the rolled initiatives if necessary. ]
”Wait, woman!” Screams Zaldara, a panicked like upon her face. She glances with a perturbed sneer at Flynn, who sprints to the fallen Remallia, unstoppering a red vial. Zaldara’s eyes flick back to her spellbook.
“You wish to bargain? And what is your request?”
"Hands on the ground first - you move, I rip this in half" snarls Scoria. Her hands are still poised to rip the book in half, and the spine is under obvious tension. "Now. The death curse - tell us what you know!" Scoria snarls, low and menancing, with a fast glance over to Taman, Flynn and Remallia to supply the details.
"Yes, tell us about the curse that prevents raising people from the dead." taman says, seeing they have the lady's attention. "Supposively it does much what that book does for you, what do you know about it?"
Flynn empties a potion into Remallia's mouth but she is in no shape to negotiate; Flynn stays at her side, some 60 ft away.
Zaldara scowls at Scoria and Taman. "That book is the only thing keeping you from annihilation; destroy it and you destroy yourselves." She lets her point sink in before continuing. "I do not know much about this curse, despite researching it. The only possible cause of it is something I've only heard whispers about. It is a device known as the Soulmonger. I know not who has created it nor who maintains it but it is an artifact fit for a god. As you suspect, it seems to be some kind of phylactery. Its consumption of souls, at this magnitude, would be enough to supply an undead being of such power such as this world, perhaps this plane, has never seen."
She reaches a hand out towards Scoria. "Throw the book down, back away, and I will tell you where my studies show it to be located."
"And what assurance do you give us that we will even be allowed to walk away from here?" taman asks with a raised eyebrow. He glances back at the fallen woman near Flynn. "It seems those who hired us to do this deed are in no condition to assure our safety..." He notes dryly.
[Insight check for anybody who wants to... take advantage on it due to optics of the situation]
Taman insight: 16
(Flynn's char sheet is no longer available, so not able to look up his info...)
"Hands down, mouldy!" Scoria shouts, and starts to tear the book - just enough to make a point. She sneers at the lich, driven still by rage "I destroy this, and you don't get to come back, isn't that right? Might kill me, but I'm happy to take you with me. So answer the man - what guarantees are you offering, and why should we trust them?"
(Scoria's passive perception is 13 - she wouldn't be actively looking right now, too much ragey tunnel vision)
[Bummer about Flynn, but I can use that...]
"STOP!" shrieks Zaldara; Taman can sense genuine terror in her voice, and while an undead abomination, her appearance lends truth to the bargain. Zaldara seems to have little fight left in her.
"I will tell you to the best of my ability where the Soulmonger can be found, and then you will throw me the book; you will gather your dead and dying, and I will retreat from your aggression upon my tower into its depths. Are we agreed?"
"We are agreed." Taman confirms. "Scoria, please relax that grip just a bit..." He then glances to the undead lady. "Please continue..."
"Chult," she responds quickly. "All the souls are being drawn inexorably to the south, to the jungle peninsula of Chult." She steps forward tensely. "Now, my book..."
[If doing anything other than handing over the book, roll initiative]
"Scoria, hand me the book." Taman says, tugging on the book gently until his companion releases it. he holds it briefly, then tosses it to the undead lady. Even as it flies through the air he tugs his companions back towards the fallen harper. "Scoria, can you carry her?" Taman asks as they gather up Flynn and anyone else they can, keeping everyone moving away from the undead lady.
[I have to be a troublemaker DM and allow Scoria a chance to resist the book being taken if she wishes to...let us know, Scoria]
Gimeri was just listening - she doubted anyone was expecting her talking anyway. But she listened intently: Insight 9
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Scoria will trust Taman’s judgement and release the book to him, then pick up Remallia - assuming no funny business...
"Until we meet again," hisses the lich, as she dissolves into a black smoke that whisks back inside her tower. As they gather Remallia and other fallen and drag people away from the tower, the adventurers note Zaldara's undead fallen re-assembling themselves, some helping their 'neighbors': gathering up bones, torn limbs, and skulls from the ground.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************
"I hope this information will be enough for Syndra," sighs Remallia as Scoria sets her down on a cart full of wounded Harpers far from the battle. "I have sent a messenger to her with the news. I'm sure we should check in with her soon, but I have matters to attend to now. You may travel with us back to Baldur's Gate, and stay at our camp. Arrangements will be made."
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************
Two days later, as the Harpers are still making their way back to the city, a rider appears with four horses in tow. He speaks quickly and quietly with various escalating officers of the Harpers until he is finally ushered into Remalia's presence. She joins the adventurers as the messenger turns his mount and rockets back toward the city.
"It seems Syndra has need of you, and quickly," she says, hoisting four sacks that clink. She personally ties them to each horse's saddlebag. "As promised," she says, nodding at the sacks. "125 gold each." She pauses a moment. "And you have made an ally of the Harpers. Any of us would gladly work with you again. You each have shown great courage, and, more importantly, great efficacy. If whatever Syndra offers is not palatable, please find me; we could use people such as yourselves at a time like this..."
"Syndra will see the horses returned to us, but you'd best be off," she offers you all a final salute before heading back to her place in the column. A half-elf of few words.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************
A stablehand takes the mounts as the heroes arrive at Silvanus, Syndra Sylvane's manorhouse. The former adventurer and merchant clearly has done well for herself over the years; the mansion is massive and luxurious and bedecked with gold, silver, and all manner of flowers.
A uniformed attendant leads them up a grand staircase to the third floor, then ushers them into a wood-paneled room with a fireplace, comfy chairs, and a heavy table bearing goblets and bottles of wine. The darkly paneled walls are hung with maps and sea charts. Racks, shelves, and cabinets hold hundreds more rolled-up maps and charts.
Syndra slumps in an overstuffed chair near the fire, wrapped in multiple robes and wearing the silver mask with hood. "Please, help yourselves," she rasps, gesturing to the wine. She wastes no further time, clearing her throat wetly.
"Excellent work with Zaldara; Remallia was very impressed. We now have a cause and location of origin for the Death Curse; this Soulmonger seems to rest in Chult," she pauses a moment. "Chult is... not optimal. It is a largely unmapped and undiscovered peninsula ringed with mountains and choked with rainforests. Enormous reptiles, savage goblins, and an army of undead prowl its jungles and ruins. Mapping the place has always been nigh impossible, and nothing is known about the region's current geography beyond a few miles from the coast."
Flynn swallows audibly and scratches his neck.
"Working from dozens of sea charts, log books, and explorers' journals, I assembled everything known about the current state of Chult into one map. I'll provide it if you undertake my mission. That mission is, of course, to find this Soulmonger and neutralize the Death Curse. You have already shown your interest by helping Remallia, but this will be a dangerous endeavor. None will be shamed by turning away now. I'll give you a moment." The uniformed attendant helps Syndra to a wooden chair with wheels and ushers her from the room, leaving you alone. Over her shoulder she utters, "If necessary, as reward I can provide any magic item you wish from my personal armory, if you are motivated by such things."
The door closes. Flynn looks to Cimeri with tears in his eyes. "Cimeri...I... I'm so sorry. I can't leave my family here. This is just too much. And we could have been killed in that cellar! It was terrifying!" Flynn begins to quake and covers his face. "I will have to stay here."
[This is Flynn's exit, stage right. He cannot be convinced to continue. We can open up to recruiting, or if someone knows someone good, we can do that too. You can also find or hire an NPC for whatever you need. Your choice.
I can assume you'll take this quest; any negotiation you want to do can be done now. I will wait for all responses before moving forward. I'm happy to jump ahead to Chult at this point, so if anyone wants to get provisions or rumors or anything here in Baldur's Gate for a night before leaving let me know]
(DM, any chance we level up now? If so that would change what I do before leaving the city... I also have a few good people I could ask if they wish to join, I think I can find someone if you guys don't mind me checking.)
(No objection from me to a couple more people you know and want to see here)
Cimeri slowly nodded: "I understand, Uncle Flynn." She did not, but it did not matter either - the man almost died up there, horribly. Considering consequences of death (especially elven death!) - she would not want the loose the last person she considered family. "I promise to return and we will solve it, no matter what!"
Cimeri tried to radiate confidence she did not feel and hoped it looked convincingly. To now she concentrated on gathering as much information about Chult as it was possible - the land sounded surreal, more than another plane of existence almost. And it was good - in addition to sadness from all the losses, Cimeri, to her surprise, felt also excitement of an explorer!
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
[Yes, you have all reached 2nd level, feel free to level now]