Assault on Dragonspear (5e PBP) IC

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Dr. Morgan Wells - Mini-sheet

Dr. Morgan Wells Race: Human HP: 37/37 AC: 12/15(Mage Armour)	Pass Perc: 11 Pass Inv: 21 Pass Ins: 11 AR: 1/1	Spell Slots: 1st [X] [] [] [] 2nd [] [] [] 3rd [] [] [] 4th [X]
Arcane Ward: 19/19	Initiative: +2	Spell Save DC: 16
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 8-1 DEX: 14 + 2 CON: 12 + 1 INT: 20+5(+8) WIS: 12 +1(+4) CHA:12 +1	Spoiler: Skills Arcana:11 History: 8 Investigation:11 Medicine: 4 Persuasion: 4 Religion: 8	Spoiler: Spells Cantrips Control Flames, Chill touch, Shape water, Shocking grasp, Message, Mending Memorized spells 1st Grease, Mage Armour, Shield, 2nd Arcane Lock, Invisibility, Web, Misty Step, See Invisibility 3rd Dispel Magic, Slow, Haste 4th Arcane Eye, Banishment

---

"By the end of this meeting, I should be able to try a Sending."

Morgan takes his spell book out of the satchel and plunks it onto the the table. He opens it and starts reading as the meeting continues.

Slightly distracted, he nods at Tommi's question,

"It would be good to know what they were up to last. And, maybe, Mr. Darktreader, as the Duke's Scoutmaster, maybe you can enlighten us on what's going on with the Duke."

Spoiler: OOC

I'll switch out my spells which I can do during a short rest, 1/day.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

"I will try to find out," said Kelson Darktreader, "But I do not know."

"Of course, I tried to scry for Titus," said Ashfell, as Delfen nodded that he had tried as well, "But he has been subjected to a rite of Nondetection. He took his horse from Waterdeep to speak to you ahead of this meeting, four days ago, but he did not arrive."

"It was two days ago that Escella was supposed to meet me by the Tannery." added Kelson, "There has been no sign of her since."

Kelson was well-known locally for his tracking abilities. For him to say 'no sign' meant that there really was no trace.

"We can try to scry for her later at Delfen's Tower," added Ashfell as Delfen nodded again, "But I suspect that we will find the same as Titus."

"This is all very sad," interjected Shalendra, never one for sentiment, "But it is all a distraction. How have you used the information that I gave you? I was told that you had discovered something very important in your research at Blackstaff Tower."

"Yes, yes..." Ashfell grew flustered. Kelson had caused the information to get jumbled, and Ashfell's concern for his nephew had put him off track.

In an attempt to get things back on track, Ashfell announced without preamble, "I have discovered the identity of our foe. Moreover, I think that I can say with certainty: I know what the Red Wizards are trying to do."

 

[MetaVoid]

Vairar looks a bit dejected
"Grave news, disappearances."
He sighs
"It is always something, there cannnot be a string of good news. That is not adventurers lot. I can try sending and I can pray for locate object, but that only works once we're in correct area. It would check most of the town at once. Just in case. But we may need to move fast on other things. Let's hear what The Reds have in store for us."

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Dr. Morgan Wells - Mini-sheet

Dr. Morgan Wells Race: Human HP: 37/37 AC: 12/15(Mage Armour)	Pass Perc: 11 Pass Inv: 21 Pass Ins: 11 AR: 1/1	Spell Slots: 1st [X] [] [] [] 2nd [] [] [] 3rd [] [] [] 4th [X]
Arcane Ward: 19/19	Initiative: +2	Spell Save DC: 16
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 8-1 DEX: 14 + 2 CON: 12 + 1 INT: 20+5(+8) WIS: 12 +1(+4) CHA:12 +1	Spoiler: Skills Arcana:11 History: 8 Investigation:11 Medicine: 4 Persuasion: 4 Religion: 8	Spoiler: Spells Cantrips Control Flames, Chill touch, Shape water, Shocking grasp, Message, Mending Memorized spells 1st Grease, Mage Armour, Shield, 2nd Arcane Lock, Invisibility, Web, Misty Step, See Invisibility 3rd Dispel Magic, Slow, Haste 4th Arcane Eye, Banishment

---

"I will try to find out," said Kelson Darktreader, "But I do not know."

"Of course, I tried to scry for Titus," said Ashfell, as Delfen nodded that he had tried as well, "But he has been subjected to a rite of Nondetection. He took his horse from Waterdeep to speak to you ahead of this meeting, four days ago, but he did not arrive."

"It was two days ago that Escella was supposed to meet me by the Tannery." added Kelson, "There has been no sign of her since."

"We can try to scry for her later at Delfen's Tower," added Ashfell as Delfen nodded again, "But I suspect that we will find the same as Titus."

Morgan, who was leafing through his book, looking for the required spell, looked up at that news. He sighed, closed the book and pushed it away.

Vairar looks a bit dejected
"Grave news, disappearances."
He sighs
"It is always something, there cannnot be a string of good news. That is not adventurers lot. I can try sending and I can pray for locate object, but that only works once we're in correct area. It would check most of the town at once. Just in case. But we may need to move fast on other things. Let's hear what The Reds have in store for us."

Leaning back in his chair, he scratched his beard absentmindedly,

"There's no point. Both Locate Object and Sending are Divinations. If our targets - our friends - are warded against Scrying, they'll be warded against all divinations. The Sending won't know where to deliver the message."

There was no arguing that point. Morgan was an expert in Protection Magic and he knew the spells would fail.

"If we want to track them, we'd have to rely on mundane means. That means following our main leads. Which are the Red Wizards. Find them and we'll find our allies."

He nodded to Ashfell,

"Continue, Master Ashfell, we should tell them what's happening."

---

Spoiler: OOC

Never mind. Not switching out the spells

 

[Kobold Stew]

"Yes. Tell us what we need -- you have your volunteers."

Tommi adjusts the borrowed belt. But then it occurs to him: "If you know this, then why the wait?What has caused the delay?"

 

[FitzTheRuke]

"We had hoped to have the full support of the Duke," answered Ashfell, not entirely sure what delay Tommi was referring to, "But, yes - we must not wait any longer."

He nodded to Morgan and said, "Without further ado, then. You have had various troubles with a mysterious 'Titan' known as Sing-Axe. Agents of Thay have attempted to force Escella, Titus, and Shalendra to act under his influence. But he is not a Titan. He is an Atropol named Xingax. An associate of Szass Tam, the Lich-King of Thay. A hundred years ago he was killed in Thay by a Warrior Bard named Bareris. But, as many extraplanar creatures do, his 'death' in the material plane simply banished him to his original plane: The Abyss. He should be trapped there, unable to return to the material, but there are ways to free him. This is the Thayan's goal! To free Xingax from the Abyss."

He let that sink in for a moment before continuing, "I will not explain why it must be done here on the sword coast - it is a complicated matter of prophesies and planar alignments, and not as simple as a Planar Shift, due to the various rules surrounding planar travel for non-mortals. But there are two places that it can be done, locally. It is almost certain that they are attempting to do it at Dragonspear Castle - this is where I want you to go, as soon as possible. But there is another possibility, which Delfen and I will check before joining you south."

Lord Darfin stood and said, with concern in his voice, "There is a third place. And it explains what they intended with my sister's involvement. It is a family secret, but I trust everyone here. In the past, some members of my family were Fey'ri; half-demons. My father's most sacred charge was to guard a place hidden in the Ardeep Forest - the House of Long Silences - that once allowed my accursed kin to travel to and from the Abyss. I will go there immediately and make sure that it remains secure. I truly hope that I will find that our success against the troubles at the Floshin Estate prevented the Thayans from gaining access to that location."

"Yes, that is very troubling." said Ashfell, who seemed very much to wish that he had known that ahead of time, to add it to his research, but he let it pass, saying, "We have work to do. Are there any questions?"

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Dr. Morgan Wells - Mini-sheet

Dr. Morgan Wells Race: Human HP: 37/37 AC: 12/15(Mage Armour)	Pass Perc: 11 Pass Inv: 21 Pass Ins: 11 AR: 1/1	Spell Slots: 1st [X] [] [] [] 2nd [] [] [] 3rd [] [] [] 4th [X]
Arcane Ward: 19/19	Initiative: +2	Spell Save DC: 16
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 8-1 DEX: 14 + 2 CON: 12 + 1 INT: 20+5(+8) WIS: 12 +1(+4) CHA:12 +1	Spoiler: Skills Arcana:11 History: 8 Investigation:11 Medicine: 4 Persuasion: 4 Religion: 8	Spoiler: Spells Cantrips Control Flames, Chill touch, Shape water, Shocking grasp, Message, Mending Memorized spells 1st Grease, Mage Armour, Shield, 2nd Arcane Lock, Invisibility, Web, Misty Step, See Invisibility 3rd Dispel Magic, Slow, Haste 4th Arcane Eye, Banishment

---

I do. What does it mean that the Duke won't seeus? Is the he just barricading himself in his house or is he under some influence?

How far is the journey to the Dragonspear Castle? Will we have to camp outside or will there be places for us to rest in the evenings?

When should we leave?

Oh yes, lastly: Can you go over again what we should do once we get there?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

"I'm going to be frank, because it is just us here," said Lord Darfin, after Kelson had left, "I have served many Dukes of Daggerford as advisor. My father had served them all until his death, twenty years ago. Many of them have been brave, humble, kind, or just. Maldwyn is none of these things, nor does he heed nor seek my council. I would not say such things, if I were not so frustrated with his actions today. It may be that he is under someone's influence, or it may be that he simply fears a third Dragonspear War."

The Wizard Delfen said, "It is true that we informed him of much of today's discussion, last night. It was our duty to do so, that he would be informed when he spoke to you all today. We had thought that he would be inclined to help."

Sir Isteval spoke up to answer some of Morgan's questions of travel logistics: "Dragonspear is 60 leagues south along the Trade Way, then 15 more along its old road into the highlands toward the moors. I had hoped to use the Duke's horses, changing them at Liam's Hold and the Way Inn, which would have cut that section's travel time in half. On the other hand, I suppose that we will not have to wait for the militia to march. If we push ourselves, we can be there in six days."

Delfen shook his head and said, "With a group this small, I can teleport you to an old Circle that I know that is a mile south of Bowshot."

Isteval calculated and said, "That should knock off two days' travel. Though if I am to accompany them, I must bring my horse, or I will only slow things down"

Sir Isteval used a reinforced sheathe on his greatsword as a walking stick, as one of his legs had been mangled in a battle with a dragon some years before. The wizard agreed that, though it was more difficult, it was possible to create a teleportation circle that could accommodate a horse.

"Four days," concluded Isteval, "South of all the good Inns. There are, of course, many farms and small hamlets where we could ask for shelter, but generally, yes: We will need to 'rough it'. I have a good tent, from my adventuring days."

 

[Kobold Stew]

Tommi listens to the explanations, conscious that he should be taking notes. But he's not, and he trusts that Morgan has the details. He's impressed at Morgan -- asking clear questions, directly. It's not how he thinks he should talk to Lord Darfin. Yet there are some things bugging him.

When Darfin mentioned two possible places where the Atropal might be summoned, and then listed three, his brow furrowed. News of the devilish contamination within Darfin's bloodline itself was shocking, and it immediately made Tommi wonder whether there were any residual cords tugging at his Lordship's heart, the fiber of his being. Tommi knew not to enquire about that too much right now, but he would ask Morgan later.

He's heard of an Atropal of course, but such a disgusting creature is the product of schoolboy exaggeration. "Surely an Atropal would never come here?"

That was said aloud, though he hadn't meant it to. "Um, sorry your Lordship". Tommi bowed, and then realized he'd taken his eyes off of Lord Darfin and corrected that as he stood up. Suddenly everything was uncertain. "Of course we can head to Dragonspear Castle to stop this Ksignacks." He has mispronounced it. "Xingax." he repeats.

"And saving two day' travel makes sense. Sorry, I'm Tommi, Jyn's boy." He bows again as he introduces himself, not sure if he needs to or not. "You know that, your lordship." He tries again.

"But is it safe for you to check out two of the other potential places on your own? This seems, um, pretty dangerous, and the stakes are high. If something were found to be happening at one of these other places, would you be safe? Would it still make sense to head to Dragonspear?" He clears his throat. "We just, um, want to be helpful if we can. Leaving two of the three possible places to an even smaller group, even if they seem unlikely to us now, seems like we're taking a risk. Sir. Your lordship."

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The Elf Lord was again content to allow the Waterdhavian Wizard to do most of the talking, as he possessed the most information. Ashfell, having looked at Darfin out of politeness, answered Tommi, "Dragonspear seems the most likely place, but we must accept that it could be a ruse. Those of us checking on the other places have two things going for us. Three if you count Lord Darfin's familiarity with his 'House of Long Silences'."

Again, the Wizard seemed like he wished that he knew more of the place, but he accepted that it was a Floshin Family Secret, and was content to have been informed of it at all. He continued, "That is, we command the more powerful magic, and can more quickly join you if we find nothing."

Aware that he'd said nothing of what would happen if the opposite were true, Ashfell added, "We are in no way belittling your contribution. In fact, we are asking you to take the largest risk. I am convinced that Dragonspear is the correct place, and I expect that we will join you quickly. However, if we are wrong and you find nothing at Dragonspear, while we find formidable forces at one or the other of the other two places, well... If it is something that we can't handle without you, I suppose that we will retreat. But at that point, perhaps it would be best for us to bring our concern to Waterdeep and set the issue before the Blackstaff, or the Open Lord Herself. I have left word with both, so it won't come without any warning. At that point, things will be so dire that we may be able to put together resources to summon you through magical means, should we conclude that your presence is required for our success."

Though it was possible to take his last statements as an insult, he said it with a tone that suggested that he honestly thought that they might, in fact, be indispensable.