((Right now he has it cast on Azaka, and has 1 hour of concentration on her. If folks agree with the plan to use his magic to get down, he'll need an hour to rest and regain another slot and use of his wildshape, so if Azaka (and Phillip? so she has a buddy?) head down before his concentration ends, he can then cast it on Alton or Evo, wait for them to make it down, then spend his regained higher level slot on the other one, change into Got-ipede, and head down with them. Eku can help escort folks up and down? What time was it when we reached the top of the tower? Should take no more than an hour and fifteen minutes or so for us all to be back on the ground (hour short rest, another 5 minutes to get everyone down the side of the tower? longer if they aren't comfortable walking down the side and insist on climbing down the inside). ))
"May I look at that scroll?"
Gotur scans it before giving out a low whistle.
"This is some powerful stuff... I... Well, it's a bit beyond me at the moment, but I get how it works. There's a chance I could use it, but I might also fail, but if we need a scouting report on an area, I can get it directly from the jungle itself."
"Ability to fly!? How long does that last? If I'm understanding the map right, we're the closest to Kir Sabal that we're going to get right now, but it's in the opposite direction of where Nanny Poopy is... but if it lets us FLY over the jungle, that would actually make things faster. Though... Azaka, would flying be better or worse for you? If it's just short term though, I don't know about taking the detour, we've kind of got a deadline coming up... literally? Or would it be an un-deadline? Though allies are good..."
If the other seem keen to take a bit of a rest before heading down via vine climb, Gotur will clear seat himself with his back to the tower, staff across his knees and meditate. Over the next hour, the plant life near him grows a bit more quickly and vibrantly.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Eku can indeed help folks down. The party reached the top of the tower around 11pm day 5. I think that timing to climb down sounds right!
Eku would respond to Gotur"It is a very sacred ritual. Let me explain..."
DANCE OF THE SEVEN WINDS
One of the aarakocra at Kir Sabal knows a ritual called the Dance of the Seven Winds, which temporarily grants magical flight to as many as ten nonflying creatures. The ritual, which takes 10 minutes to complete, can only be performed by an aarakocra elder and requires a black orchid as a material component which can be found only in Nangalore.
Eku has told you briefly about this place before as she has retrieved some rare flowers from here before. Just not black orchid. It is on the map, SW of Kir Sabal.
Anyhow, the aarakocra must grind the orchid to powder, inhale it, and dance in circles around the ritual’s beneficiaries uninterrupted while seven other aarakocra chant prayers. When the dance concludes, the aarakocra's wings disappear and loses the ability to fly. The ritual’s beneficiaries each gain a magical flying speed of 30 feet (allowing them to fly 4 miles per hour). This benefit lasts for 3 days, after which the wings reappear on the aarakocra.
Assuming everyone is on board with the climbing plan down and Gotur has enough magic to do it with resting in between, will the party then camp for a long rest once they are at the bottom of the tower? Or perhaps walk back closer to the river/canoe and make the camp there?
It is around 00:30 on DAY 6 when camp starts. Let me know about the camp (where) and I will use the pre-set watch schedule we have. Also, you might as well let me know what the next plan of action might be. Azaka is very pleased getting her mask back and is on board to help the party with whatever might be next. Gotur, she is not keen on the idea of flying. At all. She will likely do it but only because she has her mask. And there's no promising that she will have a good flight. She is deathly afraid of heights so there'd be rolls during flight for sure to make sure she keeps it together. She would rather hike it/canoe it when possible. Yep, Eku is keen on getting to the Nanny Pu’pu. There are so many options.
Let me know what everyone else might be thinking especially after learning more about the flight (temporary) and then Eku/Azaka can chime in and we can get going. I will be rolling for an encounter possibility once camp is determined as well.
Alton waits patiently on the third floor of the tower for his turn to climb down however the group decides.
I’d say it makes sense to head to Nangalore and Kir Sabal first, then flying, travel quickly back to Mhala (where the hag is, right?). Then, we could travel Orolunga to talk with the oracle before heading to Omu.
I think that is what Alton would be thinking, but is open to what the group wants to do and may change based on Azaka’s fear of heights.
"Aye would like to camp at the base of the tower if we can so we can give rites to the bodies the pterafolk tossed down. Aye'll make the hut wherever we like."
In regards to the flying,
"Wouldn't that leave us without boats for the way back? Aye'm okay with the destinations though!"
Phillip nods at Evo, “Uh huh, camping at the bottom sounds like a good plan.... And I like the idea of a quick visit to see the Aarakocra. Yep yep”.
He thinks and looks up at the sky, ”Even iffffff we end up walking with the boats in the end, it would still be good to have the power of fffff-P’light... just in case we need it in a pinch. Yup yup yup”.
He licks each of his eyeballs in turn and thinks again. ”And we could always try ffff-P’lying AND carrying the boats? Not sure that would work though? Hmmm...”.
((Can’t remember if anyone had done a proper search of the pterafolk level. If not, Phillip would gladly help someone do that))
If Phillip and Azaka head down the tower first, when they’re alone, he’ll apologise for almost hitting her with his arrows. And he’ll eventually ask about her shapeshifting abilities and whether she was born with it. “I hope this isn’t insensitive, uh huh?... .... But could I... ‘catch it’??... I’ve only heard stories... and... but...”. He trails off, but he does seem unusually interested in her tiger abilities.
Before the camp settles down for the night, Phillip will attempt to forage for materials to make some arrows ((was it Gotur with woodcarving? Maybe he’ll see and offer to help when it comes to making them)).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Alton, Eku says "Correct. That evil hag is in Mbala."
((the party could travel 3 hexes a day with that flying speed))
Evo, you do notice the pterafolk bodies dead on the ground. They are completely obliterated from the fall.
All of the pterafolk levels have been searched.
Phillip, Azaka smiles. "It's ok, little one. I was upset in the moment, but now that moment is over. And besides, the arrow didn't hit me. It might've been different had it done so." and she grins at you in a friendly jokingly way."Thank you for helping with this, little one. I will forever appreciate it." and she continues to examine her mask with pure joy.
Phillip, you get more than enough materials to make arrows! At least 20 solid shafts, some nice tips maybe from rock or various shells along with some beautiful colored feathers.
Roll for evening camp: 7
It is a peaceful sleep.
So, it is a very hot morning on Day 6. Say 8:30am. Is the current plan of action what Alton suggested then which is to head to Nangalore first to retrieve those black orchids? It looks like you might be able to walk with the canoes east to the river olung and then travel south down to Nangalore. There are a few locations as you walk east as well (Mezro which is a ruined chultan city and Ataaz Muhahah which is huge gorge.)
Anyhow, let me know what the plan of action is and then I will process day 6 and let me know if I missed anything.
Evo would first set about gathering the dead around the base of the tower for proper cremation after saying a few general rites over them, hoping their souls are not trapped in the Soulmonger.
After that he is good to follow whatever plan the group decides on, but isn't thrilled with the idea of packing the canoes. Based on the varied heights of the group he will get stuck lugging one with Alton and Phillip who, despite their pleasant attitudes, aren't built for carrying things.
"What other aid might the aarakocra give? Three days of flying from Kir Sabal to Mbala drops us right in the middle of the jungle, right? It's a long trip out of our way, faster flight doesn't get us there faster, nor safer. Might take twice as long as going to Mbala straight off. But if they can help us be better able to take down Nanny Poopy, it might be worth the extra time... but the longer we take getting to Omu, the worse it is for folks who're plagued."
Walking is 1 hex and canoeing is 2, flying is 3?
From Firefinger to Nangalore to Kir Sabal is 4 hexes portaging, 19 by boat, then another 2 to Kir Sabal, so ~16 days travel at a minimum? More if we run into difficulties, and another day or two if we have to go to Mezro first, then up Ataaz Muhahah (I don't trust something the adventure designers name phonetically after an evil laugh, btw), which might have rapids that need to be portaged around. From Kir Sabal, three days of flying at 3 hexes per day puts us 9 hexes closer to Mbala, which drops us right in the middle of dense undead territory (if we know about those zones on the map), and it'd be another 9 days to get to Mbala. So total we're looking at close to a month to get to Mbala via Kir Sabal.
Portaging from Firefinger to River Soshenstar then up to Mbala is four days on foot on either end of a four day canoe trip, so could get there in about half the time.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
((Hmm... Yes, it does seem a long way out of our way only to be left in the deepest but if the jungle. On that logic, I think Phillip would vote for heading straight to Mhala by river too)).
((So, the group decision is to head back up river to Nyanzaru and then down the river to Mbala? Unless the aaracokra have something else big to add to the the pot I don't see it being worth the better part of a month doing their thing.))
Evo (and anyone else who might've helped) gathers the mangled pterafolk corpses and performs his rites as they are prepared for cremation. You indeed fear their souls are far from free and something just doesn't feel right. You've done more of these ceremonies than you can remember, and this one feels different.
For travel, yes those numbers are generally correct, although they can be changed depending on some circumstances. (deciding to travel fast, environmental factors, etc.).
(Spider that's an awesome map/plan. I also laughed at Muhahah!!)
Ok, so we are going to Mbala first. Eku is ecstatic. "YES. The witch shall meet her fate."
Will the party cross the jungle to get to the river Soshenstar, or will they go back to Nyanzaru and then down the river, avoiding the short cut through the jungle?
She will likely also give info about Camp Righteous and Camp Vengeance which are on the way to Mbala on that river Soshenstar as the party gets closer. These conversations would happen during travel to Mbala.
((Right now he has it cast on Azaka, and has 1 hour of concentration on her. If folks agree with the plan to use his magic to get down, he'll need an hour to rest and regain another slot and use of his wildshape, so if Azaka (and Phillip? so she has a buddy?) head down before his concentration ends, he can then cast it on Alton or Evo, wait for them to make it down, then spend his regained higher level slot on the other one, change into Got-ipede, and head down with them. Eku can help escort folks up and down? What time was it when we reached the top of the tower? Should take no more than an hour and fifteen minutes or so for us all to be back on the ground (hour short rest, another 5 minutes to get everyone down the side of the tower? longer if they aren't comfortable walking down the side and insist on climbing down the inside). ))
"May I look at that scroll?"
Gotur scans it before giving out a low whistle.
"This is some powerful stuff... I... Well, it's a bit beyond me at the moment, but I get how it works. There's a chance I could use it, but I might also fail, but if we need a scouting report on an area, I can get it directly from the jungle itself."
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Phillip would gladly escort Azaka down ((he has a few things to speak to her about during the hour at the bottom maybe)).
He’ll suggest he could send up a light-arrow, as a signal, when they are safely down, or just flash a light.
Before they leave, he quickly searches the battlefield and retrieves half his spent arrows.
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
"Ability to fly!? How long does that last? If I'm understanding the map right, we're the closest to Kir Sabal that we're going to get right now, but it's in the opposite direction of where Nanny Poopy is... but if it lets us FLY over the jungle, that would actually make things faster. Though... Azaka, would flying be better or worse for you? If it's just short term though, I don't know about taking the detour, we've kind of got a deadline coming up... literally? Or would it be an un-deadline? Though allies are good..."
If the other seem keen to take a bit of a rest before heading down via vine climb, Gotur will clear seat himself with his back to the tower, staff across his knees and meditate. Over the next hour, the plant life near him grows a bit more quickly and vibrantly.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Eku can indeed help folks down. The party reached the top of the tower around 11pm day 5. I think that timing to climb down sounds right!
Eku would respond to Gotur "It is a very sacred ritual. Let me explain..."
DANCE OF THE SEVEN WINDS
One of the aarakocra at Kir Sabal knows a ritual called the Dance of the Seven Winds, which temporarily grants magical flight to as many as ten nonflying creatures. The ritual, which takes 10 minutes to complete, can only be performed by an aarakocra elder and requires a black orchid as a material component which can be found only in Nangalore.
Eku has told you briefly about this place before as she has retrieved some rare flowers from here before. Just not black orchid. It is on the map, SW of Kir Sabal.
Anyhow, the aarakocra must grind the orchid to powder, inhale it, and dance in circles around the ritual’s beneficiaries uninterrupted while seven other aarakocra chant prayers. When the dance concludes, the aarakocra's wings disappear and loses the ability to fly. The ritual’s beneficiaries each gain a magical flying speed of 30 feet (allowing them to fly 4 miles per hour). This benefit lasts for 3 days, after which the wings reappear on the aarakocra.
Assuming everyone is on board with the climbing plan down and Gotur has enough magic to do it with resting in between, will the party then camp for a long rest once they are at the bottom of the tower? Or perhaps walk back closer to the river/canoe and make the camp there?
It is around 00:30 on DAY 6 when camp starts. Let me know about the camp (where) and I will use the pre-set watch schedule we have. Also, you might as well let me know what the next plan of action might be. Azaka is very pleased getting her mask back and is on board to help the party with whatever might be next. Gotur, she is not keen on the idea of flying. At all. She will likely do it but only because she has her mask. And there's no promising that she will have a good flight. She is deathly afraid of heights so there'd be rolls during flight for sure to make sure she keeps it together. She would rather hike it/canoe it when possible. Yep, Eku is keen on getting to the Nanny Pu’pu. There are so many options.
Let me know what everyone else might be thinking especially after learning more about the flight (temporary) and then Eku/Azaka can chime in and we can get going. I will be rolling for an encounter possibility once camp is determined as well.
Alton waits patiently on the third floor of the tower for his turn to climb down however the group decides.
I’d say it makes sense to head to Nangalore and Kir Sabal first, then flying, travel quickly back to Mhala (where the hag is, right?). Then, we could travel Orolunga to talk with the oracle before heading to Omu.
I think that is what Alton would be thinking, but is open to what the group wants to do and may change based on Azaka’s fear of heights.
Alton Thorngage- (Klein’s One Shot String Adventure)
Holden Stonefist-(A Tale of Mercenaries)
Fenrick Wolfsbane- (Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden)
DMing-Ctleath13’s Lost Mines of Phandelver and Ctleath13’s Out of the Abyss
((How many hexes can be traversed in a day at that speed flying?))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
"Aye would like to camp at the base of the tower if we can so we can give rites to the bodies the pterafolk tossed down. Aye'll make the hut wherever we like."
In regards to the flying,
"Wouldn't that leave us without boats for the way back? Aye'm okay with the destinations though!"
Phillip nods at Evo, “Uh huh, camping at the bottom sounds like a good plan.... And I like the idea of a quick visit to see the Aarakocra. Yep yep”.
He thinks and looks up at the sky, ”Even iffffff we end up walking with the boats in the end, it would still be good to have the power of fffff-P’light... just in case we need it in a pinch. Yup yup yup”.
He licks each of his eyeballs in turn and thinks again. ”And we could always try ffff-P’lying AND carrying the boats? Not sure that would work though? Hmmm...”.
((Can’t remember if anyone had done a proper search of the pterafolk level. If not, Phillip would gladly help someone do that))
If Phillip and Azaka head down the tower first, when they’re alone, he’ll apologise for almost hitting her with his arrows. And he’ll eventually ask about her shapeshifting abilities and whether she was born with it. “I hope this isn’t insensitive, uh huh?... .... But could I... ‘catch it’??... I’ve only heard stories... and... but...”. He trails off, but he does seem unusually interested in her tiger abilities.
Before the camp settles down for the night, Phillip will attempt to forage for materials to make some arrows ((was it Gotur with woodcarving? Maybe he’ll see and offer to help when it comes to making them)).
Survival check (if needed): 26
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Alton, Eku says "Correct. That evil hag is in Mbala."
((the party could travel 3 hexes a day with that flying speed))
Evo, you do notice the pterafolk bodies dead on the ground. They are completely obliterated from the fall.
All of the pterafolk levels have been searched.
Phillip, Azaka smiles. "It's ok, little one. I was upset in the moment, but now that moment is over. And besides, the arrow didn't hit me. It might've been different had it done so." and she grins at you in a friendly jokingly way. "Thank you for helping with this, little one. I will forever appreciate it." and she continues to examine her mask with pure joy.
Phillip, you get more than enough materials to make arrows! At least 20 solid shafts, some nice tips maybe from rock or various shells along with some beautiful colored feathers.
Roll for evening camp: 7
It is a peaceful sleep.
So, it is a very hot morning on Day 6. Say 8:30am. Is the current plan of action what Alton suggested then which is to head to Nangalore first to retrieve those black orchids? It looks like you might be able to walk with the canoes east to the river olung and then travel south down to Nangalore. There are a few locations as you walk east as well (Mezro which is a ruined chultan city and Ataaz Muhahah which is huge gorge.)
Anyhow, let me know what the plan of action is and then I will process day 6 and let me know if I missed anything.
Evo would first set about gathering the dead around the base of the tower for proper cremation after saying a few general rites over them, hoping their souls are not trapped in the Soulmonger.
After that he is good to follow whatever plan the group decides on, but isn't thrilled with the idea of packing the canoes. Based on the varied heights of the group he will get stuck lugging one with Alton and Phillip who, despite their pleasant attitudes, aren't built for carrying things.
"What other aid might the aarakocra give? Three days of flying from Kir Sabal to Mbala drops us right in the middle of the jungle, right? It's a long trip out of our way, faster flight doesn't get us there faster, nor safer. Might take twice as long as going to Mbala straight off. But if they can help us be better able to take down Nanny Poopy, it might be worth the extra time... but the longer we take getting to Omu, the worse it is for folks who're plagued."
Walking is 1 hex and canoeing is 2, flying is 3?
From Firefinger to Nangalore to Kir Sabal is 4 hexes portaging, 19 by boat, then another 2 to Kir Sabal, so ~16 days travel at a minimum? More if we run into difficulties, and another day or two if we have to go to Mezro first, then up Ataaz Muhahah (I don't trust something the adventure designers name phonetically after an evil laugh, btw), which might have rapids that need to be portaged around. From Kir Sabal, three days of flying at 3 hexes per day puts us 9 hexes closer to Mbala, which drops us right in the middle of dense undead territory (if we know about those zones on the map), and it'd be another 9 days to get to Mbala. So total we're looking at close to a month to get to Mbala via Kir Sabal.
Portaging from Firefinger to River Soshenstar then up to Mbala is four days on foot on either end of a four day canoe trip, so could get there in about half the time.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
((Ending up in the middle of a red skull and crossbones seems like a bad choice. I am morbidly interested in visiting Muhahaha!))
((Hmm... Yes, it does seem a long way out of our way only to be left in the deepest but if the jungle. On that logic, I think Phillip would vote for heading straight to Mhala by river too)).
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
((Not saying I'm not curious about Muahahaha, just don't trust it at a meta level!))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
(Alton would be fine with that plan as well.)
Alton Thorngage- (Klein’s One Shot String Adventure)
Holden Stonefist-(A Tale of Mercenaries)
Fenrick Wolfsbane- (Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden)
DMing-Ctleath13’s Lost Mines of Phandelver and Ctleath13’s Out of the Abyss
((So, the group decision is to head back up river to Nyanzaru and then down the river to Mbala? Unless the aaracokra have something else big to add to the the pot I don't see it being worth the better part of a month doing their thing.))
Evo (and anyone else who might've helped) gathers the mangled pterafolk corpses and performs his rites as they are prepared for cremation. You indeed fear their souls are far from free and something just doesn't feel right. You've done more of these ceremonies than you can remember, and this one feels different.
For travel, yes those numbers are generally correct, although they can be changed depending on some circumstances. (deciding to travel fast, environmental factors, etc.).
(Spider that's an awesome map/plan. I also laughed at Muhahah!!)
Ok, so we are going to Mbala first. Eku is ecstatic. "YES. The witch shall meet her fate."
Will the party cross the jungle to get to the river Soshenstar, or will they go back to Nyanzaru and then down the river, avoiding the short cut through the jungle?
* 8:30AM, DAY 6.
I will post some lore about Mbala that Eku would've explained to you as soon as I can.
She will likely also give info about Camp Righteous and Camp Vengeance which are on the way to Mbala on that river Soshenstar as the party gets closer. These conversations would happen during travel to Mbala.
((Isn't it about the same to take the boats up and then back down rather than to try and cross the jungle?))