Oorr tries to speak telepathically with Glabbagool and make him understand the situation they have ahead.
"Glabbagool, soon we may pass near a duergar city. Likely, they might not understand you. For your safety, it is better that we separate near this city. While we search information there, you can scout around. Knowing the web of tunnels beforehand would be very convenient. If you are comfortable with it, of course."
Glabbagool consents, knowing how he affects those he comes across, and not wanting to absorb anyone... unwillingly. He will scout the outer tunnels around Gracklstugh to the best of his ability. He will await word from you should you need him.
“I can’t wait to finally find some civilisation. Ahhh I dream of a good ale and a bed !!! Bupido, Belwar any idea on what we should expect here ? Are there customs we should know about before entering the city ?”
Bupiddo responds, "The only custom you should know is to keep a low profile. This group will stand out like an owlbear in a field of bees. We're likely going to enter through a gate in the darklake district. We should head to one of the more open places for people passing through. Gholhbrorn's Lair Inn. We should be able to gather any information we need there.
(OOG Belwar would also be familiar with this inn, and the need for surface dweller's to stay in the main trade district on the shore of the darklake. Going into other areas is a good way to get arrested. The guards use any pretext to incarcerate outsiders, given the chance)
"Let's go, then". Valrish pulls up his hoodie, looking at all the derros and underdark races that swarm the city. "Which way is this inn?" He asks Buppido.
OOC: Christmas killed the campaign.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP Characters Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
The ground at your feet has been getting smoother and flatter, a welcome respite from the uneven passages to which you have grown wearily accustomed. Eventually, stone tiles become more noticeable, turning the path into a proper road. You can see spots of light in the distance, blue-white and too regularly placed to be phosphorescent mushrooms.
The lights are proper lamps flanking two massive stone gates blocking the tunnel. Before you get a chance to examine the intricate carvings on the gates’ surface, a harsh voice hisses from a slit on the cavern wall that was not there before.
“State your names and business!” the voice orders in Dwarvish. Other similar slits open, revealing the tips of a dozen crossbow bolts. Behind you, a metallic din announces a group of six heavily armored dwarves appearing out of thin air, their swords leveled at you from behind sturdy metal shields.
Bupiddo eyes the arrow slits nervously. Most of the other party members huddle together, wary of the duergar on all sides. You're clearly outnumbered. Bupiddo whispers loudly to the group, "I suggest someone start talking... and be convincing about it."
"Oi, Belwar. Tell them to let us pass." Valrish looks at the gnome, not too comfortable being surrounded with swords, his hand slowly reaching for his longsword's hilt. "Or at least, to not put us on the pointy side of the edge."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP Characters Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
Griming whispers "hum that would have been easier to get in with Hemeth", turning his head and glancing at the reaction of Bupido
OOC: I would like to help any Belwar persuasion by saying in dwarvish
"We ask permission to enter your magnificent city to rest, to use our coins and we will be on our way out very fast. We will causes no problem and we will respect the laws of the city." Grimnir bows to the direction of the guards.
"Travelers? Awful strange looking group of travelers... well armed too, by the looks of it. Where did you say you were traveling from, traveling to? What business do you have in the deepkingdom other than 'spending your coin?'"
The numerous duergar press closer, and you notice several of them eyeing your weapons and gear. A few more duergar materialize from thin air, wielding wicked looking pikes. It seems there are a number of them that are invisible, but you have no way of knowing how many. This also explains where the ones behind you came from. They may have been following you for some time.
(OOG Belwar and Grimnir can make a persuasion check each, or one of you can make a persuasion check with advantage as you answer the guard.)
“Well, since we would like to enter your city, I think it is best to be truthfully. Some Drows attacked us, thinking we would be easy prey, but they regretted it and we are now on our way to the surface. And yes, we are well armed, but honestly , who wouldn’t in the underdark… Particularly these days. We found weird thing happening in the underdark. Did you notice strange events these last weeks ?
At any rate, if you let us spend some time in your renowned city, we will first use our coins in your business but we will also remember how well we were welcomed in Gracklstugh. Once back at the surface, I would be happy to set up new trade routes with you.
As a token of my appreciation, here a flask of a liquor we brew in my hometown and here’s some coins for the toll. I guess business is business and paying a toll to enter the city is understandable.”
Griming hands over to what seems their leader: 20gp from his pockets and one of his dearest flasks of liquor.
You hear a large sigh from Bupiddo, and several of the other party members look more nervous. The main guard behind the gate replies.
"Aye, that's a lovely tale, but I'm afraid we're not letting anyone in the city without proper business. In fact, all of you traveling together seems quite suspicious to me, and I don't like the look of that one there. He's got more of the madness in his eyes than is usual for his kind."You see a spear shaft point at Bupiddo, who snarls slightly. "Guards, arrest them. We'll see what Errde Blackskull wants to do with them. Oh, and you all can fight back if you want. It might make it a little harder, but it would make it oh so much more fun." With the last word, you hear a strange lift in the guard's voice, as if he's been waiting for an opportunity to kill someone. At least a dozen visible Duergar advance on you, and you see at least 10 crossbows zero in on your position from the guard houses above the gate.
The guards take any visible weapons from your hands or bodies as the giant gates in the cavern open up. A cart is brought out where they toss all the weapons. They force you in to a single file line and then march you through the gate, the cart of weapons being dragged behind. As you pass through the gates, the main guard yells out, "No, not that ugly beast, it stays outside. We got enough vermin in the city."The guards approach Zippy, who skitters away, and up a wall towards the back of the cavern out of reach of the duergar. He watches as the gate closes behind all of you.
A wave of heat slams against you as an acrid smog rises to choke the air out of your lungs. The Darklake spreads out beyond a jumble of buildings and streets, reflecting the lights of countless fires burning across the city within hollowed-out columns and stalagmites.
Though the streets are crowded, you move easily within the surging throng of buyers, merchants, and slaves. You aren’t the only outsiders here, as you spy drow, svirfneblin, derro, orcs, and other races in the crowds. The shouting of people blends with the sound of distant hammering to create a constant, distracting din.
You are marched through the masses of people, two duergar beside each of you, and several trailing behind by the cart. While most of the crowd ignores you, several duergar give you sneers and grunts, and some of the other races raise eyebrows at the sight of you. South of your position you see several large gates with Duergar guards stationed at them. They seem to be only allowing other duergar and the occasional derro through to another part of the city. Other races are yelled at and chased off if they even get close to the gates. You're passing by one of these gates, and about to turn a corner towards a set of low buildings near the darklake.
The rhythmic hammering of the city’s forges is drowned for a second by a thundering roar and the sound of crumbling rock. Duergar and visitors alike turn to look as a two-headed, gray-skinned giant bursts through a gate, howling madly and lashing out left and right, littering the plaza with rock and stone debris. As he bellows, one of his swings connects with a duergar soldier, whose broken body flies through the air and crashes near you with a sickening crunch.
The rest of your guard immediately jump to the defense of the city, going after the two headed giant, and trying to get the bystanders out of the way. Chaos erupts in the street as people panic. You are not shackled, but your weapons are currently on a cart, by which stand two of the duergar. They are currently focused on the giant.
(OOG Roll Initiative! Though this is not necessarily a combat encounter if you don't choose to attack anything, I'd prefer to get initiative rolled and go in turn order to keep track of things if that's okay.)
(OOG Belwar would also be familiar with this inn, and the need for surface dweller's to stay in the main trade district on the shore of the darklake. Going into other areas is a good way to get arrested. The guards use any pretext to incarcerate outsiders, given the chance)
"Let's go, then". Valrish pulls up his hoodie, looking at all the derros and underdark races that swarm the city. "Which way is this inn?" He asks Buppido.
OOC: Christmas killed the campaign.
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
"Can't wait to get a ale !"
OOC: yes , I guess that's normal. :) Happy new year by the way !!!
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Chapter 4: Gracklstugh

Bupiddo eyes the arrow slits nervously. Most of the other party members huddle together, wary of the duergar on all sides. You're clearly outnumbered. Bupiddo whispers loudly to the group, "I suggest someone start talking... and be convincing about it."
"What did the good dwarf say?" Oorr asks his travelling companions, not daring to move a feather.
OOC Oorr doesn't know Dwarvish ;-)
"Oi, Belwar. Tell them to let us pass." Valrish looks at the gnome, not too comfortable being surrounded with swords, his hand slowly reaching for his longsword's hilt. "Or at least, to not put us on the pointy side of the edge."
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
"Travelers to Gracklstugh," I say curtly (in Dwarvish, of course), before introducing the party.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Griming whispers "hum that would have been easier to get in with Hemeth", turning his head and glancing at the reaction of Bupido
OOC: I would like to help any Belwar persuasion by saying in dwarvish
"We ask permission to enter your magnificent city to rest, to use our coins and we will be on our way out very fast. We will causes no problem and we will respect the laws of the city." Grimnir bows to the direction of the guards.
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
"Travelers? Awful strange looking group of travelers... well armed too, by the looks of it. Where did you say you were traveling from, traveling to? What business do you have in the deepkingdom other than 'spending your coin?'"
The numerous duergar press closer, and you notice several of them eyeing your weapons and gear. A few more duergar materialize from thin air, wielding wicked looking pikes. It seems there are a number of them that are invisible, but you have no way of knowing how many. This also explains where the ones behind you came from. They may have been following you for some time.
(OOG Belwar and Grimnir can make a persuasion check each, or one of you can make a persuasion check with advantage as you answer the guard.)
“Well, since we would like to enter your city, I think it is best to be truthfully. Some Drows attacked us, thinking we would be easy prey, but they regretted it and we are now on our way to the surface. And yes, we are well armed, but honestly , who wouldn’t in the underdark… Particularly these days. We found weird thing happening in the underdark. Did you notice strange events these last weeks ?
At any rate, if you let us spend some time in your renowned city, we will first use our coins in your business but we will also remember how well we were welcomed in Gracklstugh. Once back at the surface, I would be happy to set up new trade routes with you.
As a token of my appreciation, here a flask of a liquor we brew in my hometown and here’s some coins for the toll. I guess business is business and paying a toll to enter the city is understandable.”
Griming hands over to what seems their leader: 20gp from his pockets and one of his dearest flasks of liquor.
Persuasion 8
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
You hear a large sigh from Bupiddo, and several of the other party members look more nervous. The main guard behind the gate replies.
"Aye, that's a lovely tale, but I'm afraid we're not letting anyone in the city without proper business. In fact, all of you traveling together seems quite suspicious to me, and I don't like the look of that one there. He's got more of the madness in his eyes than is usual for his kind." You see a spear shaft point at Bupiddo, who snarls slightly. "Guards, arrest them. We'll see what Errde Blackskull wants to do with them. Oh, and you all can fight back if you want. It might make it a little harder, but it would make it oh so much more fun." With the last word, you hear a strange lift in the guard's voice, as if he's been waiting for an opportunity to kill someone. At least a dozen visible Duergar advance on you, and you see at least 10 crossbows zero in on your position from the guard houses above the gate.
"No one resist. I'd rather like to live at least a little longer."
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Oorr doesn't resist, but he fears for Zippy.
"very well, bring us to your leader..."
Grimnir is showing his hands to the Duergars.
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Valrish slowly lifts hands. "What exactly is going on?" He asks, not to happy about their situation.
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
In common, Grimnir explain the situation.
“Well, it seems they don’t trust us and would like to bring us to their leader. I’m guessing that if we don’t follow, they’ll kill us on the spot...”
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
The guards take any visible weapons from your hands or bodies as the giant gates in the cavern open up. A cart is brought out where they toss all the weapons. They force you in to a single file line and then march you through the gate, the cart of weapons being dragged behind. As you pass through the gates, the main guard yells out, "No, not that ugly beast, it stays outside. We got enough vermin in the city." The guards approach Zippy, who skitters away, and up a wall towards the back of the cavern out of reach of the duergar. He watches as the gate closes behind all of you.
You are marched through the masses of people, two duergar beside each of you, and several trailing behind by the cart. While most of the crowd ignores you, several duergar give you sneers and grunts, and some of the other races raise eyebrows at the sight of you. South of your position you see several large gates with Duergar guards stationed at them. They seem to be only allowing other duergar and the occasional derro through to another part of the city. Other races are yelled at and chased off if they even get close to the gates. You're passing by one of these gates, and about to turn a corner towards a set of low buildings near the darklake.
The rest of your guard immediately jump to the defense of the city, going after the two headed giant, and trying to get the bystanders out of the way. Chaos erupts in the street as people panic. You are not shackled, but your weapons are currently on a cart, by which stand two of the duergar. They are currently focused on the giant.
(OOG Roll Initiative! Though this is not necessarily a combat encounter if you don't choose to attack anything, I'd prefer to get initiative rolled and go in turn order to keep track of things if that's okay.)
Grimnir grabs the duergar lying on the floor and places him safely behind the cart. Does he look dead, uncouncious ?
if uncouncious, Grimnir stabilises him medicine 14
Then, whispering to the others: “I think now is the time to show those duergars that we can help them. Let’s get this giant down.”
Initiative 19
ooc: how far are we from the giant ?
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
Initiative: 10
OOC: What do I roll to know if it's an ettin?
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)