This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kei
Kei-crab swims as far from the worm as his legs allow and then slowly morphs back into Kei as Kellen disappears down the gullet of the worm. "I'm just about sick of this thing!" he splutters as the salty water splashes his human face once again. A few arcane words later, shadows pull from the water around the worm and form the shape of Kei's hound form on the back of the worm. When the hound forms fully Kei sends a flaming surge of energy sizzling across the waters surface. It bursts directly over the worms head.
M - swims 30ft away, ensuring he's away from the action
BA - summons Hound of Ill Omen on the worms back. Initiative 8
A - casts Fireball at 4th level on the worms head for 37 fire damage. DC17 DEX save at disadvantage due to hound feature
Kei swims out to a safe distance and drops his crab form. He finds himself treading water, unable to understand what has happened to him or what's going on, unable to use magic, unable to formulate a plan. He understands that Kellen was eaten by this huge, hostile worm, and that there's a strange creature drifting listlessly somewhere below him that might be a friend, but little else.
(Kei's Intelligence and Charisma scores have become 1. He can't cast spells, activate magic items, understand language, or communicate in any intelligible way. He can, however, identify his friends, follow them, and even protect them.)
Hours pass. The cool, dry winds of evening have arrived. Darkness has fallen over the devastated city.
Kellen was swallowed – twice – by the worm attacking Seaton. This time, though, his body is successfully digested. But his story doesn't end here. Disembodied, he senses other minds nearby, intellects swirling in untethered madness, anger, and chaos. Kellen, though, is somehow different from them. His peculiarly high intelligence and charisma bring him attention, curiosity, and a slight hesitation in the endless, boiling war between these hundreds – or thousands? – of long-dead but semi-conscious victims of this unearthly worm, fighting with each other. Kellen senses an opportunity here. He may try to wrest at least partial control over these deeply angry minds swirling here within the worm – perhaps a truce, if only temporary. Kellen may make a Charisma check to try to gain a modicum of control, if not of the worm itself, then of the cacophony of dead minds within it.
Gerrard is slowly regaining consciousness, if interrupted by blinding pain. His skin was peeled away prematurely, completing his metamorphosis into aboleth form before his new body was ready. His nascent skin is incomplete. But his tentacles are ready, and his new glands produce a comforting cloud of muscus around him. His mind has changed, too. He cares not a whit about Seaton, or about humanoid affairs, or about anything above the surface. He can hear the Endless Nadir calling him - the sweet voices of ten thousand aboleths leagues below the surface of the ocean. Some of the voices he recognizes, like Nhatharaq's and Yalathrok's. But there are much older, wiser voices, grandfatherly, older than the surface world itself. And another voice: Esmerelda's. She has already metamorphosed, before Gerrard. She is already at the Endless Nadir. She calls for Gerrard. He finds himself swimming deeper. He is going home.
Kei, while again human, has been reduced to a primitive animal state. He cannot think, or speak, or perform magic. But he can swim fast, and he can hunt fish, and he can breathe underwater - his gift of the sea. And he has two choices – does he follow the rampaging worm? Or does he stay with this strange, wounded thing floating below him that used to be his friend?
A peculiar calmness falls over Kei. Perhaps that of the primal world where matters of men mean nothing. He watches as the worm continues its path of destruction. He cares not. His concern is focused on the strange creature below the waves. For some reason he feels compelled to follow it. To where, he is unsure. But the feeling is strong. This creature is, or was, a friend. He dives down...
Waking in pain, Gerrard focuses his mind using his warrior training almost before he realizes his new form (Second Wind). The concerns of the surface world quickly dwindling into insignificance, he notes his friend Kei swimming towards him. Reaching out telepathically, he begins to communicate, then realizes his friend’s mind has been broken by the worm. He then just focuses on sending comforting emotions.
Getting his bearings, Gerraboleth swims alongside Master Kei slowly and makes his way to where the Iuz sorcerer fell, looking for its body…perhaps there is something in its possession that can mend his friend—a decision to dwell with him among Aboleths or not is something he would prefer Kei makes when of sound mind.
It is then he hears his love’s call and nearly abandons his ally…Still, Kei is as much a creature of the sea as of the land at this point. Gerraboleth will treat him as an honored ally and protect him from any harm until his mind can be restored and he makes his own decision of what to do next.
in any case, Gerraboleth’s home is now in the depths below. The call strengthens the longer he lingers, and he will soon join his love deep beneath the waves.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Abandoning the ruined city of Seaton and the deadly gargantuan worm terrorizing its coast, Gerraboleth and Kei swim out to sea – deeper, deeper, away from land, tens of miles, then hundreds, then a thousand or more, the days and nights becoming completely indistinguishable in the depths of the ocean. Kei, with a mind as sharp as the savviest little toothy fish that swims in the deep, finds plenty to hunt and eat along the way. Gerraboleth seems to find sustenance in the deep sea itself, as well as from the long-distance mental conversations he has with his brothers and sisters in the Endless Nadir, especially Esmereldaboleth.
In the deepest, deadest part of the black ocean, within a jagged trench which descends yet deeper into the bowels of the world, lies the ancient abolethic city called the Endless Nadir, an alien, lightless, mucus-filled labyrinth of spiraling tunnels and dark, knifelike spires. It is a place of long-forgotten knowledge, of horrible secrets, of the history before time began, and of forgotten arcane antiquity. It is Gerraboleth's home, and he is glad to reach it. Kei is treated as a protected pet, a curiosity, a prize from the surface.
It is not long after they reach the aboleth city – weeks or months or years after leaving Seaton, as time has little meaning here – that Kei's mind returns – slowly at first, and then all at once. (His INT and CHA are restored.)
Seaton's ruling party was obliterated together with the city itself. Duke Marik Feldren, ruler of Seaton, was crushed by a wall when the worm-induced tidal wave tore into the low quarter of the city, killing thousands. The duke's mother was already dead two months, having fallen sick with a sudden illness (rumored to be poison). Shortly after the wave struck, eyewitnesses saw the duke's cousin Elwood Feldren of the Royal Navy fall in combat with the worm aboard the last warship. Of the duke's younger brother Gerrard Feldren, nobody ever learned of his fate, as he was not heard from again.
Deep below the ocean, Gerraboleth has learned that the worm was a Neothelid, a horror reportedly unleashed by the mighty cambion and demigod, Iuz, ruler of a frozen land far to the north. Aligned with the demon lord of the Abyss, Iuz is usually of little interest to the aboleth, piquing their curiosity only when the worm was recently disturbed from its long sleep in an undersea cyst.
I welcome you to write any epilogues as you see fit.
And as to the worm? I invite Kellen to roll that final Charisma check.
While unable to fully pacify the boiling chaos empowering the horrid neothelid, Kellen's superior will and intellect give him a lead voice in the madness driving the gargantuan worm.
He is successfully able to turn the worm away from the city and south, out to sea. Kellen is left in semicontrol of this horror, even as it hungers for new minds, as a thousand angry backseat drivers scream contradictions at him.
(The lifeless body of Captain Xendros, tiefling priest recently turned archpriest, former trade delegate to Saltmarsh from the Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz, was noted by Gerraboleth before he departed. She carried many things – much gold jewelry etched with the grim designs of Iuz, for example – but also a number of useful magic items. Unfortunately, Gerraboleth was not interested in material possessions, nor was Kei while he was in his limited state of mind. Nevertheless, it was Gerraboleth's recognition of the dark symbolism of Iuz that allowed the elder brains of the Endless Nadir to piece together who had unleashed the neothelid.)
Amongst the many, many days spent swimming he shares space with the creature but little else. There is no talking, no shared meals, not even an acknowledgement of each others presence. He is still sure there is more to it than meets the eye but just can't place it.
The time spent submerged solidifies his gift imbued by his Patron. As the two draw closer to the Endless Nadir Kei has more regular visions, no, sensations of familiarity about their destination. The darkness, whilst stifling, felt homely to him. The watery embrace awaking something in him he had felt long ago. Where they headed to the home of his Patron? Only time would tell.
The Endless Nadir...Kei had not heard of this place until recently yet upon his arrival he knew it to be a place he knew well. It was indeed home to the hive-mind that had gifted him his warlock powers so long ago. For the first time in his life he sought no treasure, no power for he had it all here at his disposal. The ancient knowledge available through every tunnel and soaring spire was more valuable than any treasure found on the surface.
With his mind restored he chose to stay with the aboleths, with Gerraboleth. His friend had taught him by example that one doesn't leave their friends, no matter what.
Embarking on his new adventure as an aquatic aberration, Gerraboleth divides his time between learning the vast knowledge of the denizens in the Endless Nadir, protecting us longtime friend, and getting to know his fated true love, Esmereldabolteh.
Overjoyed that Master Kei chooses to stay even when his mind returns, Gerraboleth quickly grows familiar with the powers of his new form. Inspired by his love and his closest friend, he makes plans to track down and extract Master Kellen’s consciousness from the neothelid…Indeed if suitable bodies can be found for all the souls within and the great worm can be controlled, Gerraboleth could have an army at his disposal!
Whether he succeeds and what he might do with such powerful allies remains to be seen. Stay tuned!
Kellen: DC 18 Strength saving throw: 1
Kellen vanishes down the slimy, toothy, tentacly worm gullet for the second time... (Sorry, Kellen!)
Kei-Crab and Kellen (if he's still up) may act.
Kei
Kei-crab swims as far from the worm as his legs allow and then slowly morphs back into Kei as Kellen disappears down the gullet of the worm. "I'm just about sick of this thing!" he splutters as the salty water splashes his human face once again. A few arcane words later, shadows pull from the water around the worm and form the shape of Kei's hound form on the back of the worm. When the hound forms fully Kei sends a flaming surge of energy sizzling across the waters surface. It bursts directly over the worms head.
M - swims 30ft away, ensuring he's away from the action
BA - summons Hound of Ill Omen on the worms back. Initiative 8
A - casts Fireball at 4th level on the worms head for 37 fire damage. DC17 DEX save at disadvantage due to hound feature
Kei swims out to a safe distance and drops his crab form. He finds himself treading water, unable to understand what has happened to him or what's going on, unable to use magic, unable to formulate a plan. He understands that Kellen was eaten by this huge, hostile worm, and that there's a strange creature drifting listlessly somewhere below him that might be a friend, but little else.
(Kei's Intelligence and Charisma scores have become 1. He can't cast spells, activate magic items, understand language, or communicate in any intelligible way. He can, however, identify his friends, follow them, and even protect them.)
Hours pass. The cool, dry winds of evening have arrived. Darkness has fallen over the devastated city.
Kellen was swallowed – twice – by the worm attacking Seaton. This time, though, his body is successfully digested. But his story doesn't end here. Disembodied, he senses other minds nearby, intellects swirling in untethered madness, anger, and chaos. Kellen, though, is somehow different from them. His peculiarly high intelligence and charisma bring him attention, curiosity, and a slight hesitation in the endless, boiling war between these hundreds – or thousands? – of long-dead but semi-conscious victims of this unearthly worm, fighting with each other. Kellen senses an opportunity here. He may try to wrest at least partial control over these deeply angry minds swirling here within the worm – perhaps a truce, if only temporary. Kellen may make a Charisma check to try to gain a modicum of control, if not of the worm itself, then of the cacophony of dead minds within it.
Gerrard is slowly regaining consciousness, if interrupted by blinding pain. His skin was peeled away prematurely, completing his metamorphosis into aboleth form before his new body was ready. His nascent skin is incomplete. But his tentacles are ready, and his new glands produce a comforting cloud of muscus around him. His mind has changed, too. He cares not a whit about Seaton, or about humanoid affairs, or about anything above the surface. He can hear the Endless Nadir calling him - the sweet voices of ten thousand aboleths leagues below the surface of the ocean. Some of the voices he recognizes, like Nhatharaq's and Yalathrok's. But there are much older, wiser voices, grandfatherly, older than the surface world itself. And another voice: Esmerelda's. She has already metamorphosed, before Gerrard. She is already at the Endless Nadir. She calls for Gerrard. He finds himself swimming deeper. He is going home.
Kei, while again human, has been reduced to a primitive animal state. He cannot think, or speak, or perform magic. But he can swim fast, and he can hunt fish, and he can breathe underwater - his gift of the sea. And he has two choices – does he follow the rampaging worm? Or does he stay with this strange, wounded thing floating below him that used to be his friend?
Kei
A peculiar calmness falls over Kei. Perhaps that of the primal world where matters of men mean nothing. He watches as the worm continues its path of destruction. He cares not. His concern is focused on the strange creature below the waves. For some reason he feels compelled to follow it. To where, he is unsure. But the feeling is strong. This creature is, or was, a friend. He dives down...
Gerrard:
Waking in pain, Gerrard focuses his mind using his warrior training almost before he realizes his new form (Second Wind). The concerns of the surface world quickly dwindling into insignificance, he notes his friend Kei swimming towards him. Reaching out telepathically, he begins to communicate, then realizes his friend’s mind has been broken by the worm. He then just focuses on sending comforting emotions.
Getting his bearings, Gerraboleth swims alongside Master Kei slowly and makes his way to where the Iuz sorcerer fell, looking for its body…perhaps there is something in its possession that can mend his friend—a decision to dwell with him among Aboleths or not is something he would prefer Kei makes when of sound mind.
It is then he hears his love’s call and nearly abandons his ally…Still, Kei is as much a creature of the sea as of the land at this point. Gerraboleth will treat him as an honored ally and protect him from any harm until his mind can be restored and he makes his own decision of what to do next.
in any case, Gerraboleth’s home is now in the depths below. The call strengthens the longer he lingers, and he will soon join his love deep beneath the waves.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Abandoning the ruined city of Seaton and the deadly gargantuan worm terrorizing its coast, Gerraboleth and Kei swim out to sea – deeper, deeper, away from land, tens of miles, then hundreds, then a thousand or more, the days and nights becoming completely indistinguishable in the depths of the ocean. Kei, with a mind as sharp as the savviest little toothy fish that swims in the deep, finds plenty to hunt and eat along the way. Gerraboleth seems to find sustenance in the deep sea itself, as well as from the long-distance mental conversations he has with his brothers and sisters in the Endless Nadir, especially Esmereldaboleth.
In the deepest, deadest part of the black ocean, within a jagged trench which descends yet deeper into the bowels of the world, lies the ancient abolethic city called the Endless Nadir, an alien, lightless, mucus-filled labyrinth of spiraling tunnels and dark, knifelike spires. It is a place of long-forgotten knowledge, of horrible secrets, of the history before time began, and of forgotten arcane antiquity. It is Gerraboleth's home, and he is glad to reach it. Kei is treated as a protected pet, a curiosity, a prize from the surface.
It is not long after they reach the aboleth city – weeks or months or years after leaving Seaton, as time has little meaning here – that Kei's mind returns – slowly at first, and then all at once. (His INT and CHA are restored.)
It is about here that our game must end.
Seaton's ruling party was obliterated together with the city itself. Duke Marik Feldren, ruler of Seaton, was crushed by a wall when the worm-induced tidal wave tore into the low quarter of the city, killing thousands. The duke's mother was already dead two months, having fallen sick with a sudden illness (rumored to be poison). Shortly after the wave struck, eyewitnesses saw the duke's cousin Elwood Feldren of the Royal Navy fall in combat with the worm aboard the last warship. Of the duke's younger brother Gerrard Feldren, nobody ever learned of his fate, as he was not heard from again.
Deep below the ocean, Gerraboleth has learned that the worm was a Neothelid, a horror reportedly unleashed by the mighty cambion and demigod, Iuz, ruler of a frozen land far to the north. Aligned with the demon lord of the Abyss, Iuz is usually of little interest to the aboleth, piquing their curiosity only when the worm was recently disturbed from its long sleep in an undersea cyst.
I welcome you to write any epilogues as you see fit.
And as to the worm? I invite Kellen to roll that final Charisma check.
(Kellen Charisma check: 16 )
While unable to fully pacify the boiling chaos empowering the horrid neothelid, Kellen's superior will and intellect give him a lead voice in the madness driving the gargantuan worm.
He is successfully able to turn the worm away from the city and south, out to sea. Kellen is left in semicontrol of this horror, even as it hungers for new minds, as a thousand angry backseat drivers scream contradictions at him.
(The lifeless body of Captain Xendros, tiefling priest recently turned archpriest, former trade delegate to Saltmarsh from the Faithful Quartermasters of Iuz, was noted by Gerraboleth before he departed. She carried many things – much gold jewelry etched with the grim designs of Iuz, for example – but also a number of useful magic items. Unfortunately, Gerraboleth was not interested in material possessions, nor was Kei while he was in his limited state of mind. Nevertheless, it was Gerraboleth's recognition of the dark symbolism of Iuz that allowed the elder brains of the Endless Nadir to piece together who had unleashed the neothelid.)
Kei
Amongst the many, many days spent swimming he shares space with the creature but little else. There is no talking, no shared meals, not even an acknowledgement of each others presence. He is still sure there is more to it than meets the eye but just can't place it.
The time spent submerged solidifies his gift imbued by his Patron. As the two draw closer to the Endless Nadir Kei has more regular visions, no, sensations of familiarity about their destination. The darkness, whilst stifling, felt homely to him. The watery embrace awaking something in him he had felt long ago. Where they headed to the home of his Patron? Only time would tell.
The Endless Nadir...Kei had not heard of this place until recently yet upon his arrival he knew it to be a place he knew well. It was indeed home to the hive-mind that had gifted him his warlock powers so long ago. For the first time in his life he sought no treasure, no power for he had it all here at his disposal. The ancient knowledge available through every tunnel and soaring spire was more valuable than any treasure found on the surface.
With his mind restored he chose to stay with the aboleths, with Gerraboleth. His friend had taught him by example that one doesn't leave their friends, no matter what.
Gerraboleth:
Embarking on his new adventure as an aquatic aberration, Gerraboleth divides his time between learning the vast knowledge of the denizens in the Endless Nadir, protecting us longtime friend, and getting to know his fated true love, Esmereldabolteh.
Overjoyed that Master Kei chooses to stay even when his mind returns, Gerraboleth quickly grows familiar with the powers of his new form. Inspired by his love and his closest friend, he makes plans to track down and extract Master Kellen’s consciousness from the neothelid…Indeed if suitable bodies can be found for all the souls within and the great worm can be controlled, Gerraboleth could have an army at his disposal!
Whether he succeeds and what he might do with such powerful allies remains to be seen. Stay tuned!
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"