Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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Enwynn recalls a tome she once had the leisure to study at length which detailed the various customs of Dwarves above and below Titans surface: she knows those of Warpstone and Fangthane are generally laid to rest in great stone tombs deep within the earth, those of the Tornhelm, Redweed and Battleaxe Clans seem to currently lean towards immoliation as the preferred funeral custom, though she knows all three in the past tended towards tombs like those below Warpstone and Fangthane......and tombs often have guardians. Those of the great cities had guardians built of stone and metal, but smaller settlements made do with dwarven warriors who allowed themselves to be placed as eternal watchmen over their fellows.
Kerellim, Throff to non-Dwarves, takes them back into her embrace at death and distributes their spirits throughout the stone and earth to be released back to rebirth when new tunnels are cut. She thinks it likely if the gold price was not paid that these doughty dwarves would have awakened once again.
The end of the hall narrows into a dwarven carved passageway with a large number of smaller side tunnels leading off left and right every 10' or so with the corridor continuing on for another 50' before coming to a stop.
Tzedaka casts Guidance on Tannin, "Vhat do you see width dose sharp eyes,TanninTziynok?"
Then she does the same for Garret (Guidance) : "And you, my little Port Blacksand Scoundrel, Vhat do your sharp eyes see?"
(While placing her blessing on each, In Thieves Cant: Tannin, Garret, others?)
"Do not trust your lives to this Libb. His motives are not the same as yours. His allegiance will change in an instant. Trust must be earned, as it was for all who have joined the heroes. His fear of Zagor outweighs his "kindness" to us. I do not trust where he leads. Should we play Zagor's game? Where is the usual wariness and distrust of Herman? Your friend just died. A hero of Allansia. And for now, I do not accept Libb as his equal under his current....conditions."
She looks up after bestowing her blessing upon each Tannin and Garret, her sweet young countenance and smile, perhaps easily read by some as..feigned.
Libb points to the end and begins marching straight on....
Banzo quicksteps to get ahead of Libb so that he won't run headlong into any possible danger.
"Is it much farther?"
Garet suppressed every Thieves urge in his body when he heard the sound of that clinking, wanting to go down the well and retrieve the gold.
But he's not even sure Lord Logaan would protect him against Throffs wrath.
Having rejoined the party with Sunblade still lit he listened to what Tzedaka had to say, he concentrated his senses trying to get a read on the situation, these senses somehow enhanced by Tzedaka. But whether it was the resistance to the gold previously or the fell nature of the place he found it difficult to bring his senses to bare.
He quickly fired off a symbol in Thieves Cant to Tzedaka and Tannin.
Wary
The being had not earned his trust and he agreed with Tzedakas assessment and for that reason the blade still remained ignited in his hand, although he made a show that he was using its light properties, he knew that it could quickly be turned to attack if needed.
Ooc Perception with guidance 11
Enwynn offers quietly in consolation "If I recall the text correctly, the gold coin is a small price to pay for one's life. I understand from what I have been told that Dwarven Tomb Guardians are no quick fight, nor easy to evade once awoken." then heads swiftly after Banzo and Libb, wryly reflecting to herself that while running towards potential trouble is certainly a heroic thing to do, it not always wise.
Piercer in hand, she stares into the darkness of the nearest alcove, as best she can, wary of being abruptly redistributed into the bowels of the earth.
OOC: Enwynn rolls Perception, and rolls a 1 for a total of 7.
" Not far."
Those peering into the alcoves are able to make out carved stone crypts and similar vaults in the walls of each alcove.
When Libb reaches the dead end he points to the left, looking that way you see a similar alcove but the central crypt has been destroyed with picks and shovels and the rear wall vault tunneled through. The walls are lined with dozens of dead partially covered by rubble, the bodies all are desiccated and have looks of terror permanently etched on their faces....some still clutch tools in their hands.
" Just through there."
Tzedaka continues to study Libb, hoping to gain some insight into his motives and see if he may be luring them into a trap (insight : 13
"Were those dead always there when you and your master came through here Libb?"
Banzo doubts the mind flayer would have gone this way if it was dangerous but the presence of so many dead gives him pause.
He will have Zeno, his black and white tuxedo pattern cat familiar try to hide and sneak ahead to scout.
Zeno's Stealth: 6
" Them? Yeah, they always there. I think they broke down tomb and whatever was sleeping there wasn't happy."
" Ok, so through there dwarf tunnels stop go back to new tunnel, ahead short walk is big gold door with Z on it, and outside that door are the guards."
"" I wait here til they're dead."
Zeno slipped ahead confirming with Banzos eyes everything Libb had said, the small cat stuck to the shadows and soon Banzo saw a carved arched antechamber with six hulking ogre-sized Chaos Beast Men, wolfish snouts below goat-like brows of curving horns, silver-white fur.....hook clawed hands holding great polearms and occasionly tell-tale signs of Chaos.....an eye opening in a shoulder muscle, flexing tendrils from an elbow joint.....the glimmer of insanity in a goat-like eye.
Banzo will share what he's learned from Zeno's scouting with the party. He will signal them to stop here and quickly decide how to proceed. In a whisper, "Wait! Let's figure out how best to begin against them. I can cast Slow and see how many I get with it, everyone else should focus on those who aren't affected by my spell."
Not wanting to lose our chance at surprise Banzo will recall Zeno.
Zeno headed back without issue.
( Ok...well we know what Banzo plans to do....anyone else?)
(ooc: does anyone want to cast anything at around the same time as my Slow spell?)
(ps: those with really good stealth, or a way to get a bonus to their stealth should try for the surprise round.)
(OOC: No plant life of any sort in the target room according to Zeno and Libb, not even fungi or lichen? Yes, there is a good reason for this question, because the alternatives are Guidance Buff, many rocks, a whole lot of rocks or Wither And Bloom.)
( Bare stone and metal.)
Tzedaka looks at group. “Motter can empower some of you (bless) or ven Dey enter my sisters can assist us (spirit guardian, also slows in Area of effect, so could catch them as they enter room )”
(OK, well that rules out plants as terrain modifiers to movement. The Rocks spells would work but it's non-specific as to who gets slowed down by the rubble underfoot side effect.)
Enwynn quietly suggests "I can keep two of them busy with the same enchantment that I used at the bridge*. If we can find a way of slowing more of them down, then that would be useful."
* Hold Person
Herman scratches his tattoo that itches and adds:
"There is nothing really I can do until I see those monsters but I am ready"