Mica similarly turns towards the arrow slits, a somewhat apologetic and sympathetic expression on his face. As he speaks, purplish radiance emanates from his mouth. “My apologies. We come in peace. My compatriots and I were swirled around by a nasty blizzard that tore through us while we were tracking game out of Easthaven. We only mean to seek shelter for a moment and to be steered in the proper direction before we way.”
Deception: 24
Mica’s got his own Guidance now, folks. Albeit a more Fiendish variety.
The massive door slowly begin to open. From here, not only can you see the door open, but the portcullis that's behind it opens as well.
X2 - VESTIBULE
Beyond the portcullis is an empty room with a narrow opening at the far end and an arrow slit in the western wall. You get the sense that you are being observed.
The time for subterfuge having passed, the heavily armored Paladin moves to the fore. 'Ho there! Can you tell us anything about that terrifying beast that just burst forth from here? Are you all in distress? In need of any help?'
"We are not in need of help, and are not in distress. WE are responsible to the release of the dragon and the destruction of Ten-Towns. Long live Xardorok."a voice calls from ahead, invisible. "Are you here to pay your respects? Or is your presence here have a more..sinister..intention?"
'I have been many things - a son, a brother, a shepherd and even a bouncer - but I've never been sinister for even one moment in my life.'
Kilmus holds out his empty hand and lowers the tip of his heavy blade, an attempt to look more passive than his armed and armored form might otherwise suggest.
'We have come to parley with the master of this fortress.'
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Help me out here Bane" Rak would whisper as he asks for guidance"I got no love to Ten Towns either, Maybe we can work out some kind of an alliance or something." The gith would say as he glances towards the arrow slit.
"Lost? Offering assistance? A parley. And now an alliance? We have no need of an alliance with surface dwellers - much less surface dwellers clearly without a plan."an invisible voice declares. "The Great Xardorok is busy and does not wish to be disturbed. Be gone."
A low stone table flanked by stone benches dominates this room, which is heated and illuminated by braziers of glowing-hot coals. Through the hazy smoke, you see featureless stone doors lining the walls.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mica steps forward. "Surface-dwellers? You must hail from the Underdark, or some other similar realm. My companions and I have recently ventured to the Underdark, and we have tangled with several creatures which originate there. Actually, you may find yourselves not alone in attempting to conquer the Tentowns as you say - we know you to have the ability to prevent eyes from seeing you, but if you are so fierce and determined in your goals to conquer Tentowns, why go unseen? It would certainly help the barter of information we can possibly have with the Great Xardrok you speak of."
Rak would focus on the hot coals and as he looks into the open arrow slit... He would then use his mind to pick one of the hot coals up and begin moving it closer and closer to the opening in the wall. The gith hopes that if there is someone invisible inside that he could bump into them with the floating hot coal before they notice. (and then maybe make them yell or break their invisibility?)
The hot iron coal lifts, approaches, and passes through the slit. You hear a loud PSSSS and someone yelping in pain. A duegar female warrior who was looking through the slit becomes visible, and clearly upset she was caught off guard.
3
"All we need-"
"HEY!"the female duegar calls out. "Of of them used magic!"
About four duegar in the hall become visible, all of them carrying hammers and javelins. "All right. We are done here. Be gone."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mica watches as his Fiendish counterpart claps his feathered hands together, smiling at the now-visible Duergar. “On the contrary, my friends, we have just begun. I implore you to take us to Xardorok, or the coldness of Hadar will be the last thing you know. Bring us to him and let us discuss our matters in peace, and I give you my word nobody should be harmed.” From his little pocket dimension, Mica feels a compelling sense the presence was not being forthright in its intentions. Hadar wanted souls, not peace, but diplomacy was a safer route.
"Hey, don't threaten us. That's rude. There's like, sixty of us to your, what..two and three fourths? Very well, surface filth."a Duergar captain says, groaning loudly at the persistence. "Follow us. Once false move and you're dead."
You are escorted by javelin point down the hall by the path of purple to the throne room. As you journey to it, you can get a guage of how many duergar are in this facility, and it's well over fifty. They all appear to be engaged in mining, forging, and other blacksmithing tasks. In the throne room, Lord Xardorok is sitting on his throne. He as a soot-stained, gray-bearded duergar with a jagged black crown on his brow and a spiky black gauntlet on one hand. His crown and gauntlet are made of chardalyn.
The ceiling of the throne room hall arches to a height of thirty feet. Stone steps lead up to a semicircular dais against the south wall. Atop the dais is a misshapen throne crudely carved out of black crystal where Xardorock sits. Small, crackling flames burn in braziers that occupy the room’s corners.
Slumped near the east wall is a tall, bipedal fungus creature. Luminous spores float in the air around it. A savage, white-furred biped has torn off one of the creature’s arms and is holding it while four other white-furred bipeds covered with fungal growths try to capture the floating spores in jugs.
Xardorok is currently enjoying this activity when he's interrupted by the guards and your presence. The guard who escorted you steps up and clears his throat in a loud manner, getting Xardorok's attention.
"My Lord, these "lost" - or whatever - surface dwellers insist on speaking with you. I tried to deter them, and one of them used a silly magic spell to reveal one of us with a hot coal, and the bird threatened us. I know you're very busy, and all, but can you talk to them, and then murder them? That would be great. I mean, who lets strangers into their house in the first place? Thanks."
The guard backs up after his presentation, gesturing to you all.
"Alright, let's get this over with."Xardorok Sunblight moans to himself, clearly bored. "I am Lord Xardorok Sunblight - ruler of the Sunblight Clan. State your business."
(A couple questions - how far is Xardorok from the party, how many guards are (visibly) in the room, and where are the guards in the room? Also, are those white-furred creatures Yetis?)
(Mobile)
Mica similarly turns towards the arrow slits, a somewhat apologetic and sympathetic expression on his face. As he speaks, purplish radiance emanates from his mouth. “My apologies. We come in peace. My compatriots and I were swirled around by a nasty blizzard that tore through us while we were tracking game out of Easthaven. We only mean to seek shelter for a moment and to be steered in the proper direction before we way.”
Deception: 24
Mica’s got his own Guidance now, folks. Albeit a more Fiendish variety.
Insight: 11
The massive door slowly begin to open. From here, not only can you see the door open, but the portcullis that's behind it opens as well.
X2 - VESTIBULE
Beyond the portcullis is an empty room with a narrow opening at the far end and an arrow slit in the western wall. You get the sense that you are being observed.
The time for subterfuge having passed, the heavily armored Paladin moves to the fore. 'Ho there! Can you tell us anything about that terrifying beast that just burst forth from here? Are you all in distress? In need of any help?'
Seeing Kilmus move to the lead, Phineas slips behind, hands dropping back to his weapons and follows.
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd)
Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist)
Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
Rak would also stand with one hand on his greatsword, quickly moving north, hoping to move out of the small room before they are trapped inside.
"We are not in need of help, and are not in distress. WE are responsible to the release of the dragon and the destruction of Ten-Towns. Long live Xardorok." a voice calls from ahead, invisible. "Are you here to pay your respects? Or is your presence here have a more..sinister..intention?"
Phineas winces, looking to the others. "Subterfuge? Or assault?"
Corrin Kettlewhistle: Halfling Life Cleric (Curse of Strahd)
Kip Dalton: Human Lore Bard (Waterdeep Dragon Heist)
Debauchery Dalliance: Half-Drow Oath of Conquest Paladin (White Plume Mountain)
'I have been many things - a son, a brother, a shepherd and even a bouncer - but I've never been sinister for even one moment in my life.'
Kilmus holds out his empty hand and lowers the tip of his heavy blade, an attempt to look more passive than his armed and armored form might otherwise suggest.
'We have come to parley with the master of this fortress.'
"Parley?" another invisible voice asks. "To what end? Speak!"
"Help me out here Bane" Rak would whisper as he asks for guidance"I got no love to Ten Towns either, Maybe we can work out some kind of an alliance or something." The gith would say as he glances towards the arrow slit.
deception? 17 plus 2
"Lost? Offering assistance? A parley. And now an alliance? We have no need of an alliance with surface dwellers - much less surface dwellers clearly without a plan." an invisible voice declares. "The Great Xardorok is busy and does not wish to be disturbed. Be gone."
Rak would walk towards the open arrow slit and look inside.
A low stone table flanked by stone benches dominates this room, which is heated and illuminated by braziers of glowing-hot coals. Through the hazy smoke, you see featureless stone doors lining the walls.
Mica steps forward. "Surface-dwellers? You must hail from the Underdark, or some other similar realm. My companions and I have recently ventured to the Underdark, and we have tangled with several creatures which originate there. Actually, you may find yourselves not alone in attempting to conquer the Tentowns as you say - we know you to have the ability to prevent eyes from seeing you, but if you are so fierce and determined in your goals to conquer Tentowns, why go unseen? It would certainly help the barter of information we can possibly have with the Great Xardrok you speak of."
Persuasion? - 12
Rak would focus on the hot coals and as he looks into the open arrow slit... He would then use his mind to pick one of the hot coals up and begin moving it closer and closer to the opening in the wall. The gith hopes that if there is someone invisible inside that he could bump into them with the floating hot coal before they notice. (and then maybe make them yell or break their invisibility?)
The hot iron coal lifts, approaches, and passes through the slit. You hear a loud PSSSS and someone yelping in pain. A duegar female warrior who was looking through the slit becomes visible, and clearly upset she was caught off guard.
3
"All we need-"
"HEY!" the female duegar calls out. "Of of them used magic!"
About four duegar in the hall become visible, all of them carrying hammers and javelins. "All right. We are done here. Be gone."
Mica watches as his Fiendish counterpart claps his feathered hands together, smiling at the now-visible Duergar. “On the contrary, my friends, we have just begun. I implore you to take us to Xardorok, or the coldness of Hadar will be the last thing you know. Bring us to him and let us discuss our matters in peace, and I give you my word nobody should be harmed.” From his little pocket dimension, Mica feels a compelling sense the presence was not being forthright in its intentions. Hadar wanted souls, not peace, but diplomacy was a safer route.
Any Charisma check - 9
"Hey, don't threaten us. That's rude. There's like, sixty of us to your, what..two and three fourths? Very well, surface filth." a Duergar captain says, groaning loudly at the persistence. "Follow us. Once false move and you're dead."
You are escorted by javelin point down the hall by the path of purple to the throne room. As you journey to it, you can get a guage of how many duergar are in this facility, and it's well over fifty. They all appear to be engaged in mining, forging, and other blacksmithing tasks. In the throne room, Lord Xardorok is sitting on his throne. He as a soot-stained, gray-bearded duergar with a jagged black crown on his brow and a spiky black gauntlet on one hand. His crown and gauntlet are made of chardalyn.
The ceiling of the throne room hall arches to a height of thirty feet. Stone steps lead up to a semicircular dais against the south wall. Atop the dais is a misshapen throne crudely carved out of black crystal where Xardorock sits. Small, crackling flames burn in braziers that occupy the room’s corners.
Slumped near the east wall is a tall, bipedal fungus creature. Luminous spores float in the air around it. A savage, white-furred biped has torn off one of the creature’s arms and is holding it while four other white-furred bipeds covered with fungal growths try to capture the floating spores in jugs.
Xardorok is currently enjoying this activity when he's interrupted by the guards and your presence. The guard who escorted you steps up and clears his throat in a loud manner, getting Xardorok's attention.
"My Lord, these "lost" - or whatever - surface dwellers insist on speaking with you. I tried to deter them, and one of them used a silly magic spell to reveal one of us with a hot coal, and the bird threatened us. I know you're very busy, and all, but can you talk to them, and then murder them? That would be great. I mean, who lets strangers into their house in the first place? Thanks."
The guard backs up after his presentation, gesturing to you all.
"Alright, let's get this over with." Xardorok Sunblight moans to himself, clearly bored. "I am Lord Xardorok Sunblight - ruler of the Sunblight Clan. State your business."
(A couple questions - how far is Xardorok from the party, how many guards are (visibly) in the room, and where are the guards in the room? Also, are those white-furred creatures Yetis?)
Kilmus mutters under his breath as they enter the throne room 'Lend me some of your famous honey tongue, Uncle Terry...'