D&D 5E [IC] Creamsteak's Princes of Elemental Evil

The monk is dead. They had no wealth on them, only their singed robes.

The party now stands at the entrance to some kind of cavern.

An enormous chasm splits the earth as far as the eye can see in the pervasive subterranean darkness. A crude, narrow stairway hugs the rock alongside the chasm, twisting madly in hairpin turns around sharp outcroppings.

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[section]Dent stuck his head inside the cavern long enough to let his half-elven eyes adjust to the light and view the chasm, then exited and stood outside the cave mouth, just to its north. He waited for the others to join him, hoping the group might speak together quietly before entering the cave. "Our voices perhaps carry less from here," he offered. "Any particular plan of entry? What's our marching order? I proposed myself in the forward position with Carradoc and Thaliss in the middle, and Maighan at our rear. Unless we want to scout, in which case I am not the best option to take point--at least not in this armor." The military strategist in Dent resurfaced. He waited a moment and looked around at his colleagues, hopeful someone would offer magicks to make the group stealthy. [/section]


[sblock=OOC]
AC 21
hp 39/54[/sblock]

Thaliss nods at Dent and responds telepathically I agree with the marching order you propose. Now, if you can wait a few minutes, I will ward the entrance so I can be warned if anything enters it. This will protect our backs. He then looks at Carradoc and adds I will also be conjuring something that will help trigger traps, and can be in front of our group as we advance in the caves. Thaliss pauses, looks at the dead Monks, and concludes As we do this, perhaps you and Maignan can hide our tracks and the bodies?

Assuming consent, Thaliss begins casting the rituals, and once done, finishes up the cleaning and is ready to proceed.

[sblock=ooc]Thaliss proceeds to cast alarm as a ritual in the area of the cave's entrance. 20-foot cube, and he'll pick an area inside so the spell covers from side to side, including the ceiling
He'll then cast unseen servant as a ritual and order the servant to pick up a rock or branch that weighs about 30 lbs. He orders the servant to walk 40 ft agead of him (so 30 ft ahead of the group)
Thaliss will then try to remove the scent and erase any tracks and signs of the fight using multiple castings of prestidigitation, move earth and mage hand
[/sblock]

The journey is precarious, though the party is careful.

Jagged and uneven, the stair threatens to spill travelers into the chasm's mouth. After several treacherous miles, the stairway terminates on a broad, flat landing that juts out over the immense black chasm.

In the gloom, a lost dwarven city lays in ruins beneath the glittering cavern vault. Broken statues stand in the midst of empty plazas, staring sightlessly into the darkness. A huge step pyramid rises at the edge of the precipice, and from the moat that surrounds it a misty waterfall whispers over the chasm's ledge.

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As the party approaches from this side the nearest structure is a dwarven pillbox or tower in an octagon shape on the corner of the ruins. The pyramid can be seen overhead, and the chasm and waterfall can be seen to one side. As you approach...

The carved reliefs of two dwarves face one another in profile to complete an arch beyond the ledge. Through the arch, the blocky contours of a lost dwarven city sprawl in the subterranean night. From somewhere within comes an agonized wail, followed by a breathless ramble of whimpering pleas. Then the whole city seems to join the chorus with the screams of creatures mad from torment.

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A squat stone gatehouse stands at the entrance to the dwarven city.

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Carradoc looks at the door to the gatehouse: is there an apparent lock? are there hinges? He reconnoitres to determine if this is a viable way in.

Dent did as Thaliss requested and dealt with the dead monks. He hacked off their limbs, then threw the remains behind the densely foliated shrubs surrounding the open area. With any luck, animals would come and forage.

When the group arrived at the platform after several miles' worth of hiking, Dent went to C41 and carefully leaned over slightly to look down and then toward the water.

The remaining initiates are tied up and the party takes a short rest to gather themselves. They also find themselves feeling a bit enlightened.

Yes.

WINDVANE
Weapon (spear), legendary (requires attunement)

A silver spear, Windvane has dark sapphires on the filigreed surface of its polished head. Held by its shining haft, the weapon feels insubstantial, as if clutching a cool, gently flowing breeze.

You have a +2 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls you make with this magic weapon, which has the finesse weapon property. When you hit with it, the target takes an extra 1d6 lightning damage.

Air Mastery. You gain the following benefits while you hold Windvane:

• You can speak Auran fluently.
• You have resistance to lightning damage.
• You can cast dominate monster (save DC 17) on an air elemental. Once you have done so, Windvane can't be used this way again until the next dawn.

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