(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Merrick- Team CAVES!

Merrick Thorburn Race: Human	HP: 48/53 AC: 15/17(with shield)	Buffs:
Rage: 2/3	Inner Healing:1/4	HD: 1/4
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 16+3(+5) DEX: 14+1(+2) CON: 16+3(+5) INT: 8-1(+-1) WIS: 10+0(+0) CHA:11 +0(+0)	Spoiler: Skills Athletics+5 Intimidate: 2/5 Perception: 2 Performance 2 Stealth: 4 Survival: 2	Spoiler: Spells Daily: JUMP: 1/1 At will Thaumaturgy Message

Of course they grant wishes. Do you not remember? They came upon us after we defeated the fakkir of death, and granted each of us a wish. They went to you, Merrick, and you wished to be taken home and made the Lord of the Wilds! Then they went to Urgan, and he wished to be brought back to his home as the most powerful of all wizards! Then they went to Torhak, and he wished to be taken back and made the leader of the Ranger Conclave!

And so it was. Finally, they came to me, Merrick. And Rabb al-Raml said unto me, "What do you wish for, Shamal, our most loyal servant?"

I looked upon the cave, and I thought of you, my good friends. And so I said, "My lord, I am lonely. I wish my friends were back." AND IT WAS SO!

Shamal starts laughing.

Habibi, I only ask for the power to carry out the wishes of the djinn, not that my own will be be made manifest. I do not trouble my mind with great powers.

Shamal then goes to the water and performs a short dance of the Faisan that was passed down for generations, known to cleanse impurities from the scant waters that they would come across, and distributes the drinking water to the group. Thinking for a second of the angry tree, Shamal looks at the group and says, I know not what evil drives this creature, but I do know that thirst drives many to madness. It would be inhospitable to deny any creature the blessings of Rabb al-Wahah.

With that, Shamal waves the saif al-bedawai in a pattern, causing rain to fall on to the tree creature. He then pours out the rest of the purified water so that it would flow to it while sitting down and waiting for the group to begin moving again.

Merrick is sitting with his shield on the ground and he has the fresh meats and cheeses and bread he’d taken from the Wizard’s home spread out on it like a Charcuterie board for everyone to share. He listens to Shamal’s story with interest.

“Lord of the Wilds is a big wish. I’d be happy for a cold beer but I seem to be on a path I can’t get off of. It’s leading me right into the middle of this mountain.

Your optimism sure makes the journey more enjoyable”

When Shamal summons the water, he’s impressed,

“That’s a fine gift for a desert dweller to wield, if you ask me. And an even finer one to share. Thanks. I’m sure he’s thankful too” he points at the tree.

He fills his water skin with the fresh water and notices Urgan has returned. He’s surprised to see the hyena,

“Well, paint me blue and call me George! You got ‘im back. He gives the furry creature a pet but then remembers something. He rummages in his bag,

“Oh, hey guys, take these. They might be useful.”

“It’s a few of those red bandanas. Maybe we can bluff our way a bit further in. Maybe pretend we are on a shift change. It’s about supper time anyways and they might be expecting relief.”

He ties one around the hyena’s neck.

“Now he’s one of the gang”

Spoiler: Ooc

Character sheet updated and a bit of rp

Merrick still has red bandanas from the mercs that we can try to pass as one of them.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves

The writhing Treant visibly calmed as Torhak sang a song in old elvish. It swayed for a time, before repeating a few of the words in a deep rumbling elvish, as if it were only just remembering the language.

Then Shamal first told his story, the tree's old man-like face seemed to relax its expression of bereaved frustration. When Shamal laughed, the face appeared astonished. But finally, when Shamal did a rain dance, and water fell about its boughs and roots, the tree sighed and said, this time in the common tongue that the group had been using to converse, "Hoo. An act of kindness? I haven't seen kindness in an age. And laughter - I remember when birds would sit on my branches and tell jokes to one-another. How they tittered. It would make my brothers laugh, deep and long."

But then he twisted and looked at the other two trees, now lifeless and petrified. He frowned and said, "Or perhaps it is not so kind, after all. Perhaps a little water will serve to prolong the suffering of Ironbark. Hoo. 'Tis a sad day when an act of kindness can result only in cruelty.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Lake

With the transporter disabled (and its floor occupied by muddy dead bodies), the group chose to honor their agreement with Guldred the Lizardfolk. Returning to their kayaks they paddled their way northward, to where the muddy banks rose up out of the muck to be steep, sloping ledges overhead. Guldred scampered along them, clinging to them with his claws, and beckoning to them to follow. Where the lake passed between the two highest ridges, it narrowed and dropped, creating a fast-flowing current that left the fish, still swarming what was left of two cultists, well behind. Bjorn swam safely beside the second boat, ready to follow them through the gap (it was better than to be overtaken, as the water here was not deep enough for his big frog-body to stay below the deepest draft of the kayak.)

Shade-9, Aywin, and Bill slipped their kayak through the gap first, dropping into a lower, larger lake than the one they'd been in before. Its ceiling was high overhead, and jagged with stalactites. Two things stood out as their vision adjusted to the darkness (quick before Loklafd and Darius arrived with the glowing sword to light their way): Up on the cliffs to the west, where Guldred was, the lizardfolk passed in front of the mouth of a large cave. Some seemingly far-away light source in the cave caused Guldred to be back-lit in silhouette.

In addition, the lake twisted eastward and back toward the south, with a deep, dark pool behind the ridge that had created the narrow gap. Otherwise, the lake continued northward into darkness. Guldred appeared to be carrying forward.

OOC: You've gotten the general hang of the kayaks. I won't make you roll here, though it is somewhat challenging to drop into the lower lake. Feel free to send Svetlana to investigate 3, 4, or 5 on the notes in the map. (Pick 1 at a time).

Spoiler: Map

Notes: 1) Pool of the Bitey-Fish, left behind. 2) Narrow, Shallow Gap. 3) Large Cave High Above. 4) Deep Dark Pool. 5) Largest Lake Cavern.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Caves

When the group were nearly ready to pack up their things and continue on, Merrick suddenly gasped. He was looking at Shamal, who now bore the Mark of Bhaal. The symbol of the God of Murder, a skull with a dozen drops of blood circling it counter-clockwise - was visible on his forehead, as if he had a very well crafted tattoo.

OOC: At least Shamal can cast Hold Person 3x per Long Rest. Unfortunately, he's also Cursed and Attuned to the Bhaalite Idol known as Foe Rendered Harmless.

 

[Neurotic]

"Whatever is faster! Those above will get here very soon and with spells, we have to be out of here. Also, do we have to go into the sewer!?"
It is hard to tell which is more important to Lorent, to not get soiled or to survive by his tone.

He looks at the cultist with loathing. "You destroyed my clothes! Why couldn't you use something civilized like mind spike?"
He quickly fires a warning shot into the portculis and moves away from the monster.

Spoiler: Actions

Action: neurotic: D20 + 5;D10#lorentseldritchblastvsfanatic1 → 7; 10(2 + 5);10#Lorents eldritch blast vs fanatic 1
Move: AM54 (should be full cover now?)

 

[MetaVoid]

Team Caves

The writhing Treant visibly calmed as Torhak sang a song in old elvish. It swayed for a time, before repeating a few of the words in a deep rumbling elvish, as if it were only just remembering the language. Then Shamal first told his story, the tree's old man-like face seemed to relax its expression of bereaved frustration. When Shamal laughed, the face appeared astonished. But finally, when Shamal did a rain dance, and water fell about its boughs and roots, the tree sighed and said, this time in the common tongue that the group had been using to converse, "Hoo. An act of kindness? I haven't seen kindness in an age. And laughter - I remember when birds would sit on my branches and tell jokes to one-another. How they tittered. It would make my brothers laugh, deep and long." But then he twisted and looked at the other two trees, now lifeless and petrified. He frowned and said, "Or perhaps it is not so kind, after all. Perhaps a little water will serve to prolong the suffering of Ironbark. Hoo. 'Tis a sad day when an act of kindness can result only in cruelty.

"Hold on for a bit more Elder, we're here to cleanse this den of evil. I promise a contingent of good people that will dig you out to see Sun again. Or me by myself if I have to."
Torhak thinks about the kobolds. "You might even have your own helpers if you can come to an agreement with the locals. Teach them the way of the surface."

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The Treant sighed at Torhak's suggestion of allying with the locals, and he showed the dwarf several branches that had been hacked off and were now relatively stumpy, saying, "Ho-ah! When the 'locals' first arrived, I treated them like I would any small animal! But they are deceitful vermin. More akin to a wood louse than to a vole."

Pikki did not appear to be insulted, assuming she understood at all, which was unlikely.

 

[Tonguez]

TEAM LAKE - SUBJECT:SHADE-9 - LOWER LAKE CAVERN

Shade-9 steadied the kayak as it rode the current down into the lower cavern, his internal systems calibrating quickly to the changing conditions.

“What is your status?" Shade-9 inquired of Aywin as they settled in to the flow of the lower lake, his eyes, glowing faintly in the darkness, focussed up on the westward ledge where Guldred was silhouetted against a cave mouth, then scanned across to the dark pool curling to the east and south.

"[Subject:Guldred] is focussed on the western cave" the warforged observed flatly "illumination source consistent with occupation. Increase Potential to establish contact with Lizard folk faction - remain alert."


[Environmental Scan: Lake Lower Cavern -narrow gap and drop to larger lake cavern. Active lake current and potential stalactite fall hazards.

• West-Cave Mouth: Elevated, climb required. Light source detected beyond. Flag: Potential Lizard folk habitation.
• East - Dark Pool: Deep pool veers southward. Concealed access node - high risk hazard vector [confirmation pending]
• Northward Passage: Extends beyond sensor limit. Hazard vector [Flagged for further reconnaissance]

Secondary sweep of potential hazard vectors advised]

OOC: Perception: 1D20+6 = [13]+6 = 19

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Merrick- Team CAVES!

Merrick Thorburn Race: Human	HP: 48/53 AC: 15/17(with shield)	Buffs:
Rage: 2/3	Inner Healing:1/4	HD: 1/4
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 16+3(+5) DEX: 14+1(+2) CON: 16+3(+5) INT: 8-1(+-1) WIS: 10+0(+0) CHA:11 +0(+0)	Spoiler: Skills Athletics+5 Intimidate: 2/5 Perception: 2 Performance 2 Stealth: 4 Survival: 2	Spoiler: Spells Daily: JUMP: 1/1 At will Thaumaturgy Message

Merrick stared at the tree fascinated.

He was a bit sad at its outlook. Maybe they could come back and help it once the cult was destroyed. He looked to the others to hear their opinion but his jaw dropped when he saw Shamal,

“Holy gods, Shamal, what’s on your forehead? Are you feeling okay?”

 

[Lidgar]

TEAM LAKE - Bjorn
Once through the chute, Bjorn-form stayed submerged and swam to the right towards the deep pool. He swam cautiously, keeping an eye out for any danger in the deeper waters.

OOC: Bjorn stays under water and moves to 33Z. Perception check: 1D20+6 = [18]+6 = 24 Stealth check: 1D20+2 = [11]+2 = 13