D&D 5E [IC] Uller's Out of the Abyss

[Uller]

"Shuushar, how would you ask? You know him best."

Shuushar: "I think you ask him directly. They will feel threatened by the gnomes. But if he's in a position where he is asking strangers to possibly help him kill his daughter, he is desperate. If he has to fight you, it will weaken him too much to do what he wants and the village is lost to him. You can't get to where you want to go without his help but all you need is a guide, two boats and enough food to get you to your next location. That's nothing compared to what he is asking of you. Expect them to react badly to the news of the twins. But they won't initiate violence. Ploop is too smart for that. But if it comes to violence, you'll be at a disadvantage. His magic is strong. Once he is indebted to you, he won't resort to violence against you unless you force him to. But he may look to change any deals."

 

[SunGold]

"Then tell him this: two of our companions--don't tell him who yet--are cursed with lycanthropy. We have been with them for weeks and no one has been harmed. They have it under control for now, but we know they won't for long. If he and his god will cure our friends, we will risk our lives serving both of them in battle. Our friends will stay in our camp, away from him and his people, except for a trip directly to the altar. If this is unacceptable, we will leave in peace."

 

[JustinCase]

Erevan nods, accepting this course of action even if it wasn't his first choice. No going back now. And wasn't it the most important thing to look out for friends and not become as cold and calculating as those underground folk?

Absentmindedly, the elf touches the shoes hanging from his neck, his mind going back to YukYuk and Spiderbait. No, looking out for friends was more important than anything, even survival.

 

[DMAesh]

Ezraen nods, a grim look of determination on his face, "Let's do this."

 

[Uller]

Ploop: "Lycanthropes! Brrrrr! Very dangerous. You will bind them and bring them to me." When it becomes obvious you feel threatened he adds "No harm will come to them. But we must remove the curse immediately. Being this close to the shrines could make the curse permanent if we don't deal with it."

 

[DMAesh]

Ezraen goes to Topsy and Turvy, explaining the situation, "We will be right by your side. Please trust that we will not let harm come to either of you."

 

[SunGold]

Surana nods in agreement. "If they even try, they'll have a fight on their hands. But I don't believe they will. They need us as much as we need them."

 

[JustinCase]

Erevan gives Topsy and Turvy an encouraging smile. "You'll be alright. I promise."

Nevertheless, the elf follows closely, aware of any hostile actions from the kuo toa, ready to fight if it comes to that.

 

[Uller]

Topsy and Turvy are at first horrified at the idea of being tied up by kuo-toa and dragged off to their shrine. But after a bit of persuasion they settle down. They realize this is probably their only hope and agree. Ploop's soldiers give you straps made by some sort of dried fishgut to bind them and yourselves for your 'disguise'. The two gnomes are clearly distraught and uncomfortable. The soldiers double check their bindings and tighten them obviously painfully (you could tell they were afraid to even approach the gnomes until they were bound). They ignore your bindings.

Erevan is able to cast his disguise spell to hid your weapons in a sack he is carrying but can't be seen.

Ploop, and a couple monitors and whips along with a small troop of a half dozen or so smaller kuo-toa accompany you towards the village. As you approach you see that the village proper is bracketed by walls on it's northern and southern side (you are approaching from the south. But as you get even nearer, you can sort of see through it. You realize it is actually layers of netting. There is a 'gate' in the middle and four 'whips' are standing guard. They stand and respectfully step aside when they see Ploop leading the procession. One stands in the middle and speaks to the archpriest in their own language. Ploop replies and then he too stands aside.

Once you pass through the gate you can see the village is comprised of more tents similar to the ones you saw in Ploop's camp. You see no permanent buildings. The place reeks of rotting fish and other fouls smells. You long for even a gentle breeze to deliver cleaner air. Everywhere is refuse of various sorts. Kuo-toa of various sizes and hues are milling around going about their day. They all seem to wander aimlessly in small groups, like schools of fish. Some stop to look at the parade. Some move away as if afraid. Some look a bit hostile.

In the distance, about in the middle of the village you see what appears to be a 9' tall statue looming over the cluster of tents. You seem to be making for it.

OOC: Does anyone do anything at this point?

 

[SunGold]

OOC: Whoa, I didn't realize we'd be taking the gnomes *at the same time we were tied up.* I thought we were supposed to get a chance to look around the city first, so I didn't realize we needed to be tied up on the first trip. This seems kind of crazy. Alsoooo I don't like that guards who are occupying his city - opposing him, his god, and his leadership - are standing aside respectfully to let him in. That's weird. Where are the gnomes going to be when we fight? And is that statue we're heading toward the Sea Mother? (Want to make sure they're not taking us toward the other shrine and fight first.)

Surana angrily approaches the kuo-toa who are tightening the gnomes' bonds, and begins undoing their work. "Your priest said 'no harm,' she snarls at them. "If you break his word already, you can fight your own damn battle." (I assume Shuushar is still with us to translate that.)

OOC: Also...why do the bots always copy my posts? I'm starting to feel personally attacked. Reported...again...