Lost Lab of Kwalish

(OOC: Etrigan doesn´t know anything about the priest really, at least I think he doesn´t. The temple will probably have one though and Etrigan is here to bring down the whole temple, literary if possible. And its only Huarache the tabaxi artificer who is with Etrigan back from the temple. Sam is back at the temple.)

<The temple does have a priest.  I could see Etrigan wanting to slay him, perhaps at his patron's urging.  It's not Thesselar - to avoid confusion, because it is a little confusing. He runs the place, but he's not the priest. Definitely really in to Moloch, though.  This info is free.  Even anyone in town would know this much, but they mostly look away from any eye contact.   They behave as one does after years of abuse.>

<Huarache, I'm assuming you'll all long rest here, which is the thing we were waiting for to hit level 9, (this was not a secret) so please level up your character before we head off to something requiring dice mechanics.>

Just to help me have things ready to go when Huarache responds, are you guys planning on heading back into the Temple of Moloch or take a travel day back to the Tomb of Horrors?  If you agree, you already have a majority vote and we'll just move Sam as needed.

Sorry, I've been busy all day. I will take care of the leveling up, and Huarache is fine with either option.

(OOC: About what to do next, perhaps there could be an in character discussion about that involving Huarache since he is the only one present who could explain the main mission regarding aquiring those missing parts. As stated to Tetrevess, Etrigan wants to go back and take care of any priests at the temple. Is there another character joining at this point. In that case they would want to join this conversation.)

(OOC either fine with me,  an ic discussion is good once we’re done recruiting) 

I'm planning on having our new player [a rogue] join from within the Temple of Moloch, meeting Sam first.  I just sent him the link.

(OOC: Well I guess we could just go back then, but it would be easier for me if we at least could say that Huarache first explained the story behind him being at the temple so that we are in on the missing part collecting mission. Also, did I miss something or could I start with some magic items? If we decide to go back to the temple I suggest we have a plan, because my impression at least was that we were close to tpk several times in there. When we hastily retreated Etrigans idea of a plan was for him to take the identity of the diehard ranger Barbatos to try to avoid at least some of the fights. Any thoughts on that?)

(OOC-Going back to the temple sounds good.  Tetrevess is in the area because he has read about it.  But he could be talked into another place too.   As for items, DM is working that out I think, but ignore the items I had on my sheet to start, I was just playing around with options for future, still getting familiar with 5e rules and items) 

(OOC: And what about Tetrevess´thoughts on a plan entering the temple of doom with a warlock, a wizard and an artificer? :-)

Quote from Oberon99 >>

(OOC: And what about Tetrevess´thoughts on a plan entering the temple of doom with a warlock, a wizard and an artificer? :-)

 “what we lack in strength we must make up for with strategy” is what he would say.   We will need to be smart!  :).  

(OOC: Great, but can we be a bit more specific. Shall we try out Etrigan taking the identity of that ranger for instance or do you have any other suggestions?)

I support the subterfuge.  I think before the eyes if the statue went missing, banter would have been a bit easier, but with them gone, it's likely a bit more hostile.

Taking the lore dump off Huaraches shoulders, I'll just relate this bit of summary so we can continue:

 we are a few hundred years in the past, relative to 1495 DR.  The tomb of Annihilation is under construction.  The party was sent here by the legendary inventor Kwalish to retrieve parts of a weapon of mass destruction unleashed on Greyhawk ages ago by Lum the Mad.  This Infernal Machine was constructed from parts of a crashed planar craft responsible for planar rifts in the Barrier Peaks, linking Toril and Oerth (where Greyhawk is).

The tomb of Horrors is being built a few days travel from the Temple of Moloch, home to Thesselar.  They are essentially competing evil entities vying for resources.  To this end, Moghaddam, the architect of the tomb of horror, hires thieves and spies.  Currently he's lost some sent to collect his gemsmith, and maybe also the jeweled eyes if the Great statue of Moloch.

The PCs have Lso made deals with various other entities to do some things that are of a deeper scope.  Campaign wide, Some lawfully aligned NPCs in Sigil tasked the party to stop a higher dimensional creature from taking over the multiverse, but that's not really relevant at the moment.  Also the planar craft is being run as a temple currently under the control of Ctwnmiir the vampire and Mary Greymalkin, NPCs that left the party to be evil.  Mary is Iggwilv's great granddaughter and Ctenmiir once possessed the weapon called whelm... you don't need to k ow all that right now, but HuarChe and SM surely do know most of that.  Not about Whelm, I just thought thT was cool, and she might have mentioned it ro these him at some point.  He doesn't have it anymore.

I support the subterfuge.  I think before the eyes if the statue went missing, banter would have been a bit easier, but with them gone, it's likely a bit more hostile.

Taking the lore dump off Huaraches shoulders, I'll just relate this bit of summary so we can continue:

 we are a few hundred years in the past, relative to 1495 DR.  The tomb of Annihilation is under construction.  The party was sent here by the legendary inventor Kwalish to retrieve parts of a weapon of mass destruction unleashed on Greyhawk ages ago by Lum the Mad.  This Infernal Machine was constructed from parts of a crashed planar craft responsible for planar rifts in the Barrier Peaks, linking Toril and Oerth (where Greyhawk is).

The tomb of Horrors is being built a few days travel from the Temple of Moloch, home to Thesselar.  They are essentially competing evil entities vying for resources.  To this end, Moghaddam, the architect of the tomb of horror, hires thieves and spies.  Currently he's lost some sent to collect his gemsmith, and maybe also the jeweled eyes if the Great statue of Moloch.

The PCs have Lso made deals with various other entities to do some things that are of a deeper scope.  Campaign wide, Some lawfully aligned NPCs in Sigil tasked the party to stop a higher dimensional creature from taking over the multiverse, but that's not really relevant at the moment.  Also the planar craft is being run as a temple currently under the control of Ctwnmiir the vampire and Mary Greymalkin, NPCs that left the party to be evil.  Mary is Iggwilv's great granddaughter and Ctenmiir once possessed the weapon called whelm... you don't need to k ow all that right now, but HuarChe and SM surely do know most of that.  Not about Whelm, I just thought thT was cool, and she might have mentioned it ro these him at some point.  He doesn't have it anymore.

(OOC: Thanks but I was mostly interested in Etrigan knowing. Can we say that Huarache told us most of this at the pub? If I am going to roleplay I need to try to make this story somewhat coherent for Etrigan. So do we/Huarache know what we/he is looking for in the temple, and maybe even where to find it?)

Yes, Huarache definitely knows this, that's why I'm stating it all here.  They've actually recovered some pieces already, but there are more. Technically an unknown number but you could probably find out from the right NPc or just look till you find them all, I'm sure you'll know when you have them all.  Like a jihsaw puzzle missing a piece.

Meanwhile... in the dungeon.  Sam has woken up after Thesselar himself quelled the disturbance and cleansed the temple.  He had called for Dam to be brought to him to question over what transpired and who stole his gems.  He's assuming this is just another lizardfolk guard and not involved in the theft.  (I'm completely ignoring the amazing armor he's wearing for this roleplay)

Sam is led to a chamber by two guards.

Amazing instruments of complex design fill this laboratory, all seemingly engaged in active experimentation. Facing the doorway is a wooden desk, its legs resembling four small dryads whose outstretched hands are clasped together to support a desktop littered with thick tomes, alchemical vessels, and a complex control panel.

An ancient male human sits behind the desk, with a homunculus perched on his shoulder.

“More of Moghadam’s mercenaries, I presume?” the figure asks wearily. “I still haven’t disposed of the last poor souls the so-called master of the tomb sent here.” The homunculus then pulls the alchemist’s face into an expression of wry contempt.

Quote from Wile_E_Coyote >>

Yes, Huarache definitely knows this, that's why I'm stating it all here.  They've actually recovered some pieces already, but there are more. Technically an unknown number but you could probably find out from the right NPc or just look till you find them all, I'm sure you'll know when you have them all.  Like a jihsaw puzzle missing a piece.

 

 (OOC: Yes I realize Huarache knows most of this, the question was whether he told Etrigan and Tetrevess about it at the pub. I´m going to assume that he did then. To me this wouldn´t be roleplaying if I didn´t try to keep track of what Etrigan would know and what he wouldn´t know.)

Yup.  I'm assuming he'd tell you after you saved his life and helped him reach the village, But it is more a lore dump than anything and I think the dm's responsibility.  He can tell you more himself, but I imagine he'd hit those points at least.