As Joshua enters, he sees that a home of sorts is sheltered within the dome of woven branches. It is sparsely furnished with chests, shelves, a table, and a reclined couch, all of it old and of elven craft. Standing just inside the entrance, it appears vacant.
As he lights the room and utters his request however, the air grows cold, and a powerful feeling of dread grips him. A cold, pale light flickers in the air, rapidly taking on the form of a female elf, her hair and robes waving in a spectral wind. She might have been beautiful once, but a hateful expression twists her features now. She glides about the room slowly over each of the things in the room, watching him as she does. Then sweeping up close to him in a rush, a grotesque visage of withered beauty hovering in front of him.
Joshua stands patiently, not flinching as she moves in close examining him and the light. Her wicked expression softens only slightly as she forms a smile. "You mentioned a gift. Let me see it, and perhaps I will pass on some of my knowledge." She breathes out in a breath more than words.
Joshua will slowly produce the jeweled comb, holding it flat out in his hand. "A beautiful comb, for one a regal as yourself. My lady I seek the knowledge of a spell book owned by a Mage named Bowgentle. If this offering pleases you I ask only for that small boon."
Second Persuasion check: 23 (Maybe with advantage pretty please from my impassioned words 20) (Nvm lol)
The ghostly figure smiles with cold amusement. “Very well,”she says. Reaching out an icy hand to pluck the comb from his palm. "I traded the book to a necromancer named Tsernoth from the city of Iriaebor more than a hundred years ago. I know not what happened to it from there. You have been pleasant company. Go in peace." She fades away into nothing taking the comb with her.
(This information should be provided to Sister Garaele in Phandalin when possible, but please award yourselves 40 xp each to your character sheets. Also award yourselves 40 ea for talking to Hamun Kost, reporting back to Phandalin is part of this, but assuming you will do this when you next return so total of 80 xp between the two. If anything further done with Hamun, xp adjusted later.)
*Nicely done, Inspiration has been awarded to Joshua.
With a slight smile, you can all see a fine bead of sweat finally roll down the side of Joshua's face. "Well that was intense. Were there any other tasks we set out to do this way? Do we dare go back and try to convince the necromancer that Agatha wouldn't give us the information he seeks?"
"Great work Joshua, this could have been our toughest fight and you allowed it to pass without any conflict" says Prentiss, glad that he doesn't have to unleash the curse again just yet.
He nods at Velshir's statement, saying "I'm coming to that view too. We can try to convince him and risk an ambush by those...things, or we can take the initiative and rid Faerun of one more evildoer"
"OK then, let's go see how much our necromancer friend likes bad news"says Prentiss grimly. Then with an awkward smile "If he likes hanging around graveyards so much then I'm happy to give him permanent residence"
He lets the attempt at humour hang for a moment, then immediately worries that he has not hit the right tone for the occasion. He starts to worry that he has opened up a bit too much, coughs nervously and picks up his kit bag ready to set off.
- You know that although easy to hit, they can be tough to kill, sometimes having more health reserves than you.
- Occasionally, a zombie has been known to rise again after being thought to have been re-killed after some time has passed, though not regeneration-related. (sometimes when brought to Zero the can make a constitution save and go back to 1 hp).
- And they understand languages that they knew in life but cannot speak.
“If we are to be in conflict with this necromancer, then it may be best to devise a strategem of surprise, and act with sudden and decisive force. Perhaps not kill outright, but thoroughly neutralize him before any diplomacy is attempted. Or would that only make a dangerous enemy, if we do not ultimately slay him?”
"Is there any way to truly neutralize a spellcaster while wanting them to still be able to talk? Their very mouths can be weapons"says Prentiss. "Given the danger he poses, I vote for swift and lethal surprise; we'll see what his tent tells us afterwards. Folk like that normally can't help keeping a journal of some sort"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Nodding his head and stepping in front of the group "I agree with Prentiss, who knows what magics this necromancer has at his disposal. We need to be wary, while slow and easy to hit, zombies can take a surprising amount of damage and still keep going. They've also been known to occasionally get back up from what should be a lethal blow." Turning and looking his friends in the eyes one by one "Sheila, if you could use your vines to slow their advance Loren and Velshir can move in and strike them down. Prentiss you have an amazing gift that can bring down a whole bataillion, embrace it. Its going to be a hard fight but we've come this far and together we can bring any foe to heel."
(Joshua is attempting to inspire his teammates maybe Persuasion: 17)
Prentiss is uncomfortable with praise, especially for his...curse? Did he still see it that way? Joshua called it a gift, yet it had brought Prentiss so much pain. He was certainly trying to turn it to Good, and this was a real chance to do so.
He knew his place in the plan, and it was a good plan - he took his place in the line and headed off.
Already on the road from Agatha's, you all pick up pace trying to make as much distance from Agatha's Lair to the Old Owl Well as possible. You find that back-tracking over the route that you took to travel here, makes the trip a little faster than it may have otherwise been. Sheyla is even able to gather a few supplies to replenish seeds and herbs that she noticed on the way there. Velshir strides out ahead, able to enjoy his increasing speed and practicing a little as he goes to scout, for the group. Aside from branches, none of you encounter anything along the way.
As you approach the region where the Old Owl Well is, you spot the familiar tower in the distance.
As Joshua enters, he sees that a home of sorts is sheltered within the dome of woven branches. It is sparsely furnished with chests, shelves, a table, and a reclined couch, all of it old and of elven craft. Standing just inside the entrance, it appears vacant.
As he lights the room and utters his request however, the air grows cold, and a powerful feeling of dread grips him. A cold, pale light flickers in the air, rapidly taking on the form of a female elf, her hair and robes waving in a spectral wind. She might have been beautiful once, but a hateful expression twists her features now. She glides about the room slowly over each of the things in the room, watching him as she does. Then sweeping up close to him in a rush, a grotesque visage of withered beauty hovering in front of him.
Joshua stands patiently, not flinching as she moves in close examining him and the light. Her wicked expression softens only slightly as she forms a smile. "You mentioned a gift. Let me see it, and perhaps I will pass on some of my knowledge." She breathes out in a breath more than words.
Joshua will slowly produce the jeweled comb, holding it flat out in his hand. "A beautiful comb, for one a regal as yourself. My lady I seek the knowledge of a spell book owned by a Mage named Bowgentle. If this offering pleases you I ask only for that small boon."
Second Persuasion check: 23 (
Maybe with advantage pretty please from my impassioned words 20)(Nvm lol)The ghostly figure smiles with cold amusement. “Very well,” she says. Reaching out an icy hand to pluck the comb from his palm. "I traded the book to a necromancer named Tsernoth from the city of Iriaebor more than a hundred years ago. I know not what happened to it from there. You have been pleasant company. Go in peace." She fades away into nothing taking the comb with her.
(This information should be provided to Sister Garaele in Phandalin when possible, but please award yourselves 40 xp each to your character sheets. Also award yourselves 40 ea for talking to Hamun Kost, reporting back to Phandalin is part of this, but assuming you will do this when you next return so total of 80 xp between the two. If anything further done with Hamun, xp adjusted later.)
*Nicely done, Inspiration has been awarded to Joshua.
Velshir says,
“That was easy enough. It probably could have gone a lot worse. Well done, Joshua. Now what is our next task?”
With a slight smile, you can all see a fine bead of sweat finally roll down the side of Joshua's face. "Well that was intense. Were there any other tasks we set out to do this way? Do we dare go back and try to convince the necromancer that Agatha wouldn't give us the information he seeks?"
"If we go back to the necromancer, it should only be with the intent to neutralize the undead threat. No more, no less."
"Great work Joshua, this could have been our toughest fight and you allowed it to pass without any conflict" says Prentiss, glad that he doesn't have to unleash the curse again just yet.
He nods at Velshir's statement, saying "I'm coming to that view too. We can try to convince him and risk an ambush by those...things, or we can take the initiative and rid Faerun of one more evildoer"
"I have no qualms over proceeding with your latter suggestion."
(How much would Joshua know about zombies History or Arcana: 10)
"OK then, let's go see how much our necromancer friend likes bad news" says Prentiss grimly. Then with an awkward smile "If he likes hanging around graveyards so much then I'm happy to give him permanent residence"
He lets the attempt at humour hang for a moment, then immediately worries that he has not hit the right tone for the occasion. He starts to worry that he has opened up a bit too much, coughs nervously and picks up his kit bag ready to set off.
@joshua
- You know that although easy to hit, they can be tough to kill, sometimes having more health reserves than you.
- Occasionally, a zombie has been known to rise again after being thought to have been re-killed after some time has passed, though not regeneration-related. (sometimes when brought to Zero the can make a constitution save and go back to 1 hp).
- And they understand languages that they knew in life but cannot speak.
Velshir says,
“If we are to be in conflict with this necromancer, then it may be best to devise a strategem of surprise, and act with sudden and decisive force. Perhaps not kill outright, but thoroughly neutralize him before any diplomacy is attempted. Or would that only make a dangerous enemy, if we do not ultimately slay him?”
"Is there any way to truly neutralize a spellcaster while wanting them to still be able to talk? Their very mouths can be weapons" says Prentiss. "Given the danger he poses, I vote for swift and lethal surprise; we'll see what his tent tells us afterwards. Folk like that normally can't help keeping a journal of some sort"
Nodding his head and stepping in front of the group "I agree with Prentiss, who knows what magics this necromancer has at his disposal. We need to be wary, while slow and easy to hit, zombies can take a surprising amount of damage and still keep going. They've also been known to occasionally get back up from what should be a lethal blow." Turning and looking his friends in the eyes one by one "Sheila, if you could use your vines to slow their advance Loren and Velshir can move in and strike them down. Prentiss you have an amazing gift that can bring down a whole bataillion, embrace it. Its going to be a hard fight but we've come this far and together we can bring any foe to heel."
(Joshua is attempting to inspire his teammates maybe Persuasion: 17)
Velshir is in agreement with the plan.
Prentiss is uncomfortable with praise, especially for his...curse? Did he still see it that way? Joshua called it a gift, yet it had brought Prentiss so much pain. He was certainly trying to turn it to Good, and this was a real chance to do so.
He knew his place in the plan, and it was a good plan - he took his place in the line and headed off.
Loren shivers and nods. "The less we have to do with the undead, the better. Let's get out of here."
Loren scouts ahead, eager to put distance between himself and the banshee.
(see ooc then I will post)
Already on the road from Agatha's, you all pick up pace trying to make as much distance from Agatha's Lair to the Old Owl Well as possible. You find that back-tracking over the route that you took to travel here, makes the trip a little faster than it may have otherwise been. Sheyla is even able to gather a few supplies to replenish seeds and herbs that she noticed on the way there. Velshir strides out ahead, able to enjoy his increasing speed and practicing a little as he goes to scout, for the group. Aside from branches, none of you encounter anything along the way.
As you approach the region where the Old Owl Well is, you spot the familiar tower in the distance.
How do you approach?
Are the walls completely intact?