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Shilsen's Eberron SH (Finished - The Last Word : 9/20/15)
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<blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 2970452" data-attributes="member: 198"><p>Trillia agrees to Tuneer’s request and displays what they found, as do her companions, though they are careful to not produce the ‘reference goblin,’ the mummified arm, or either of the symbionts. After examining the objects, Tuneer says that while many of the artifacts are valuable, she has no objection to the group taking them, but the two byeshk weapons would be very helpful to her people. </p><p></p><p>The adventurers hand them over and then Six asks whether there are byeshk deposits locally available. Tuneer says there are not, with the byeshk weapons they have being relics of the past or crafted from byeshk brought by more recent members of the tribe from places like Darguun. Six explains that he was wondering if the Dhakaani have anything that they could trade, since perhaps he could find a way to obtain byeshk for them, or other things that they may need.</p><p></p><p> Tuneer seems surprised at the offer and then says that her people have little that they could trade and it is not a real concern of theirs, but Six persists, pointing out that the kind of artifacts they found could be valuable to collectors. Tuneer says that she cannot decide about this personally, but promises to talk to others. Six asks if there is any way he could contact them, since the Angels are likely to return here, and Gareth adds that it would help to have some form of identification so that they are not attacked by mistake on their next visit. Tuneer says that she will have their descriptions passed around and they will be safe. As for contact, she says that if they return here the chances are the Dhakaani will spot them. “Especially if you make camps with a ring of dead runehounds around it.”</p><p></p><p>With that, the Dhakaani take their leave, heading away towards the north. The adventurers take down the <em>tiny hut</em> and wake Luna, who had moved on from preparing her spells outside to taking a nap. The other spellcasters settle down to preparing their spells.</p><p></p><p>Once they are done, they heal the various forms of damage that were still in effect from the previous day. Trillia and Nameless each cast an <em>identify</em> on one symbiont. Though they are not truly magic items, they have some similar properties, and the spells reveal certain aspects. The first is what Trillia calls a tongueworm and displays the same abilities as a <em>ring of spell-storing</em>, though it has to be attached to one’s tongue to work (whether to cast spells into or out of it). It currently contains a <em>true strike</em> spell. Nameless identifies the band-like symbiont as similar to a <em>ring of regeneration</em>, but capable of attaching to an arm, leg or neck. </p><p></p><p>By the time they are done explaining, Luna is jumping up and down in a small puddle of her own drool, going, “Oooh, oooh, oooh - let me try it, let me try it!” Korm momentarily thinks of trying to dissuade her, but decides it’s futile and settles for saying, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you turn into an aberration.” Trillia adds that they are likely to have aspects and drawbacks that the <em>identify</em> didn’t reveal, but by the time she’s done, Luna is sticking the band around her arm.</p><p></p><p>She feels it clamp on tightly and then a minor pain as she feels it attach suckers that pierce her skin. Though the pain disappears instantly, there is a concurrent feeling of weakness*, which doesn’t. When she tells the others, Trillia says that’s probably a result of the band attaching itself and drawing some initial sustenance from her, since symbionts need to be attached to a host in order to survive. She says that the weakness probably only occurs when attaching or removing a symbiont. A relieved Luna quickly uses a spell to heal herself and then attaches the tongue to her own.</p><p></p><p>When she does, she feels it clasp on like the band, and then feels it uncoil itself (which, since she has her mouth open and tongues extended, everyone else has the joy of seeing) and stretch all the way back to her throat and down it, where it attaches. This too leads to a slightly different feeling of weakness**, requiring the use of another spell, and more amusingly, turns Luna’s voice thin and tinny. The effect remains even when Luna changes into a bear, since the symbionts (being living creatures rather than real magical items) retain their shape and function even when she wild shapes, causing her growl to sound a lot less threatening than it used to. </p><p></p><p>With that taken care of, the group settles down to breakfast. Luna discovers that she is incredibly hungry and eats three times what she normally does. Korm says, “I told you that symbiont would make you fat. I just didn’t know it would do so indirectly.”</p><p></p><p>Over breakfast, the group discusses what to do with Naxaliyen’s messengers. Gareth says, “I think we should kill them and take whatever they bring.”</p><p></p><p>Korm shakes his head. “No. We promised to parley with them, so we should.”</p><p></p><p>“Why would you parley with them?”</p><p></p><p>Korm replies, in a tone that says the answer should be obvious, “Honor.”</p><p></p><p>“But they are aberrations, which you oppose, and are evil. They deserve no honor.”</p><p></p><p>“They do not deserve honor. But I do. So I act honorably, even if they do not.”</p><p></p><p>Nameless says, “A druid teaching a paladin about honor. Why am I not surprised?” To Korm, he adds, “Though I’m loath to agree with Gareth, I’ve got to say that you’re insane if you expect them not to attack us.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, I’m aware that it’s quite likely they might attack us. In which case I will happily kill them. But I will not be the one to lie. I can be prepared for treachery without being treacherous myself,” concludes Korm, giving Gareth a meaningful look.</p><p></p><p>The discussion is interrupted by a squawk from the <em>raven skull rod</em>. Its eyes glow and it relays a message, “My messengers will reach you in thirty minutes. I have sent you information, artifacts and magic. Make sure that your information is equally valuable.” </p><p></p><p>After some discussion, the Angels decide not to reply, and then begin to consider what they will say once the messengers arrive. About fifteen minutes after the <em>raven skull rod</em> spoke, some of them catch sight of movement in the distance, about a quarter of a mile from camp.</p><p></p><p>While the Angels make their preparations and cast protective spells, the messengers head towards the camp. When they come to a stop some sixty feet away, the leader, a pale and thin dolgaunt steps forward. Its eyeless sockets gaze at the adventurers, as does a small orb that continually circles its head, appearing to be a disembodied eye. It has three holes in its forehead, as did the messenger the previous night. </p><p></p><p>Behind it is a large open wagon, driven by a pair of nervous-looking dolgrims. It is pulled by an extremely large and malformed ox, the two extra legs and the eye growing out of the tip of its left horn being clear indications of its nature. Beside the wagon stand two large ogres, each of which has a long fringe of tentacles growing on its head instead of hair. </p><p></p><p>The dolgaunt says, “We are the messengers from Naxaliyen. You are expecting us, yes?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes.”</p><p></p><p>“Good.” With that, the dolgaunt’s eye sockets begin to glow with a yellow light, and its voice is replaced by that of Naxaliyen. Its tentacles, which had been moving constantly, slump immediately. </p><p></p><p>“Here is what I promised you. Now give me the information.”</p><p></p><p>“First we see what you are giving us.”</p><p></p><p>At Naxaliyen’s command, the dolgrims turn the wagon around, to show that it holds two sacks and a large box. He climbs onto the wagon and opens them in turn, revealing weapons and armor, Dhakaani artifacts, thousands of silver coins, solid gold bars, parchments (which, unsurprisingly, seems to be made of skin) with writing in daelkyr on them, and other valuable items. Nameless casts a <em>detect magic</em> and finds magical auras from five items in the chest.</p><p></p><p>“Now tell me.”</p><p></p><p>Nameless looks at the others and then goes into the preplanned story. “He who is not to be named sent us here. He, she or it—we are not sure—appears to us in dreams. Or rather, to him.” He points at Six.</p><p></p><p>Though the dolgaunt displays no expression, the voice coming through it sounds a little uncertain. “I do a little of your kind. You do not sleep, so how does this Snookums…”</p><p></p><p>“Shhhh!” chorus a number of the Angels, while Trillia chokes back her laughter.</p><p></p><p>This time the dolgaunt waves its tentacles irritated. “I do not have time for that! As I was saying, if you do not sleep, how are you contacted in dreams?”</p><p></p><p>“We’re a little confused about that ourselves,” says Nameless, trying to sound as sincere as he can. “He who is not to be named told us to go to that room, at any cost, and release what was there.”</p><p></p><p>“So that was your objective? What did you release from there?”</p><p></p><p>The Angels provide a completely honest and detailed coverage of everything that they saw in the chamber, focusing on the glowing red hobgoblin. </p><p></p><p>Naxaliyen listens, asking a few questions here and there. When they are done, he asks, “So you are done with whatever you wished to accomplish here? You will leave now and not return?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, we will leave now,” says Korm. “But I wish to test what you have given us first.”</p><p></p><p>Naxaliyen steps away as Korm climbs onto the wagon. He takes out one of the bars of gold and cuts it in half, the meteoric iron of his sword slicing through neatly to reveal that it is solid gold all the way through.</p><p></p><p>“Let me do something,” says Nameless. Naxaliyen immediately steps away and the ogres step before him. “Do not worry,” reassures Nameless.</p><p></p><p>Nevertheless, Naxaliyen says to the ogres in daelkyr, “Careful - he may try something foolish.”</p><p></p><p>Nameless grins and says in daelkyr as well, “No, I will <em>not</em> try something foolish.”</p><p></p><p>Naxaliyen doesn’t reply and Nameless tells Korm and Trillia (who has been studying the artifacts), “Get off the wagon. I want to use a <em>dispel</em> and see what it shows.”</p><p></p><p>“Good idea,” says Trillia, descending and casting <em>detect magic</em>.”</p><p></p><p>Nameless casts the spell and Trillia sees that the magical auras on the items in the chest promptly wink out. As she opens her mouth to tell him, Naxaliyen reaches down to his belt and pulls off a small chain hanging there.</p><p></p><p>He promptly disappears in a flash of light, as do the two dolgrims, which had descended and been standing near the wagon. In their stead appear three creatures. Where Naxaliyen was standing appears a mind flayer, but this one has had its tentacles amputated down to short nubs, each with a small gem set into the end. It is also missing an eye, and the other one is far too massive for its head, causing the skin around it to bulge out grotesquely. The eye glows with a bright blue light. The dolgrims are replaced by a pair of creatures that some of the group recognize as nagas. They are large snakes with vaguely human-like heads, reticulated emerald-green patterns running over their bodies, and fiery orange-red spines jutting from their backbones. Each is dripping with water, which pools on the ground around it.</p><p></p><p>“Now!” cries the mind flayer in daelkyr, its long hands moving in the gestures of a spell.</p><p></p><p>* 1d3 Str dmg</p><p>** 1d3 Con dmg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="shilsen, post: 2970452, member: 198"] Trillia agrees to Tuneer’s request and displays what they found, as do her companions, though they are careful to not produce the ‘reference goblin,’ the mummified arm, or either of the symbionts. After examining the objects, Tuneer says that while many of the artifacts are valuable, she has no objection to the group taking them, but the two byeshk weapons would be very helpful to her people. The adventurers hand them over and then Six asks whether there are byeshk deposits locally available. Tuneer says there are not, with the byeshk weapons they have being relics of the past or crafted from byeshk brought by more recent members of the tribe from places like Darguun. Six explains that he was wondering if the Dhakaani have anything that they could trade, since perhaps he could find a way to obtain byeshk for them, or other things that they may need. Tuneer seems surprised at the offer and then says that her people have little that they could trade and it is not a real concern of theirs, but Six persists, pointing out that the kind of artifacts they found could be valuable to collectors. Tuneer says that she cannot decide about this personally, but promises to talk to others. Six asks if there is any way he could contact them, since the Angels are likely to return here, and Gareth adds that it would help to have some form of identification so that they are not attacked by mistake on their next visit. Tuneer says that she will have their descriptions passed around and they will be safe. As for contact, she says that if they return here the chances are the Dhakaani will spot them. “Especially if you make camps with a ring of dead runehounds around it.” With that, the Dhakaani take their leave, heading away towards the north. The adventurers take down the [I]tiny hut[/I] and wake Luna, who had moved on from preparing her spells outside to taking a nap. The other spellcasters settle down to preparing their spells. Once they are done, they heal the various forms of damage that were still in effect from the previous day. Trillia and Nameless each cast an [I]identify[/I] on one symbiont. Though they are not truly magic items, they have some similar properties, and the spells reveal certain aspects. The first is what Trillia calls a tongueworm and displays the same abilities as a [I]ring of spell-storing[/I], though it has to be attached to one’s tongue to work (whether to cast spells into or out of it). It currently contains a [I]true strike[/I] spell. Nameless identifies the band-like symbiont as similar to a [I]ring of regeneration[/I], but capable of attaching to an arm, leg or neck. By the time they are done explaining, Luna is jumping up and down in a small puddle of her own drool, going, “Oooh, oooh, oooh - let me try it, let me try it!” Korm momentarily thinks of trying to dissuade her, but decides it’s futile and settles for saying, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you turn into an aberration.” Trillia adds that they are likely to have aspects and drawbacks that the [I]identify[/I] didn’t reveal, but by the time she’s done, Luna is sticking the band around her arm. She feels it clamp on tightly and then a minor pain as she feels it attach suckers that pierce her skin. Though the pain disappears instantly, there is a concurrent feeling of weakness*, which doesn’t. When she tells the others, Trillia says that’s probably a result of the band attaching itself and drawing some initial sustenance from her, since symbionts need to be attached to a host in order to survive. She says that the weakness probably only occurs when attaching or removing a symbiont. A relieved Luna quickly uses a spell to heal herself and then attaches the tongue to her own. When she does, she feels it clasp on like the band, and then feels it uncoil itself (which, since she has her mouth open and tongues extended, everyone else has the joy of seeing) and stretch all the way back to her throat and down it, where it attaches. This too leads to a slightly different feeling of weakness**, requiring the use of another spell, and more amusingly, turns Luna’s voice thin and tinny. The effect remains even when Luna changes into a bear, since the symbionts (being living creatures rather than real magical items) retain their shape and function even when she wild shapes, causing her growl to sound a lot less threatening than it used to. With that taken care of, the group settles down to breakfast. Luna discovers that she is incredibly hungry and eats three times what she normally does. Korm says, “I told you that symbiont would make you fat. I just didn’t know it would do so indirectly.” Over breakfast, the group discusses what to do with Naxaliyen’s messengers. Gareth says, “I think we should kill them and take whatever they bring.” Korm shakes his head. “No. We promised to parley with them, so we should.” “Why would you parley with them?” Korm replies, in a tone that says the answer should be obvious, “Honor.” “But they are aberrations, which you oppose, and are evil. They deserve no honor.” “They do not deserve honor. But I do. So I act honorably, even if they do not.” Nameless says, “A druid teaching a paladin about honor. Why am I not surprised?” To Korm, he adds, “Though I’m loath to agree with Gareth, I’ve got to say that you’re insane if you expect them not to attack us.” “Oh, I’m aware that it’s quite likely they might attack us. In which case I will happily kill them. But I will not be the one to lie. I can be prepared for treachery without being treacherous myself,” concludes Korm, giving Gareth a meaningful look. The discussion is interrupted by a squawk from the [I]raven skull rod[/I]. Its eyes glow and it relays a message, “My messengers will reach you in thirty minutes. I have sent you information, artifacts and magic. Make sure that your information is equally valuable.” After some discussion, the Angels decide not to reply, and then begin to consider what they will say once the messengers arrive. About fifteen minutes after the [I]raven skull rod[/I] spoke, some of them catch sight of movement in the distance, about a quarter of a mile from camp. While the Angels make their preparations and cast protective spells, the messengers head towards the camp. When they come to a stop some sixty feet away, the leader, a pale and thin dolgaunt steps forward. Its eyeless sockets gaze at the adventurers, as does a small orb that continually circles its head, appearing to be a disembodied eye. It has three holes in its forehead, as did the messenger the previous night. Behind it is a large open wagon, driven by a pair of nervous-looking dolgrims. It is pulled by an extremely large and malformed ox, the two extra legs and the eye growing out of the tip of its left horn being clear indications of its nature. Beside the wagon stand two large ogres, each of which has a long fringe of tentacles growing on its head instead of hair. The dolgaunt says, “We are the messengers from Naxaliyen. You are expecting us, yes?” “Yes.” “Good.” With that, the dolgaunt’s eye sockets begin to glow with a yellow light, and its voice is replaced by that of Naxaliyen. Its tentacles, which had been moving constantly, slump immediately. “Here is what I promised you. Now give me the information.” “First we see what you are giving us.” At Naxaliyen’s command, the dolgrims turn the wagon around, to show that it holds two sacks and a large box. He climbs onto the wagon and opens them in turn, revealing weapons and armor, Dhakaani artifacts, thousands of silver coins, solid gold bars, parchments (which, unsurprisingly, seems to be made of skin) with writing in daelkyr on them, and other valuable items. Nameless casts a [I]detect magic[/I] and finds magical auras from five items in the chest. “Now tell me.” Nameless looks at the others and then goes into the preplanned story. “He who is not to be named sent us here. He, she or it—we are not sure—appears to us in dreams. Or rather, to him.” He points at Six. Though the dolgaunt displays no expression, the voice coming through it sounds a little uncertain. “I do a little of your kind. You do not sleep, so how does this Snookums…” “Shhhh!” chorus a number of the Angels, while Trillia chokes back her laughter. This time the dolgaunt waves its tentacles irritated. “I do not have time for that! As I was saying, if you do not sleep, how are you contacted in dreams?” “We’re a little confused about that ourselves,” says Nameless, trying to sound as sincere as he can. “He who is not to be named told us to go to that room, at any cost, and release what was there.” “So that was your objective? What did you release from there?” The Angels provide a completely honest and detailed coverage of everything that they saw in the chamber, focusing on the glowing red hobgoblin. Naxaliyen listens, asking a few questions here and there. When they are done, he asks, “So you are done with whatever you wished to accomplish here? You will leave now and not return?” “Yes, we will leave now,” says Korm. “But I wish to test what you have given us first.” Naxaliyen steps away as Korm climbs onto the wagon. He takes out one of the bars of gold and cuts it in half, the meteoric iron of his sword slicing through neatly to reveal that it is solid gold all the way through. “Let me do something,” says Nameless. Naxaliyen immediately steps away and the ogres step before him. “Do not worry,” reassures Nameless. Nevertheless, Naxaliyen says to the ogres in daelkyr, “Careful - he may try something foolish.” Nameless grins and says in daelkyr as well, “No, I will [I]not[/I] try something foolish.” Naxaliyen doesn’t reply and Nameless tells Korm and Trillia (who has been studying the artifacts), “Get off the wagon. I want to use a [I]dispel[/I] and see what it shows.” “Good idea,” says Trillia, descending and casting [I]detect magic[/I].” Nameless casts the spell and Trillia sees that the magical auras on the items in the chest promptly wink out. As she opens her mouth to tell him, Naxaliyen reaches down to his belt and pulls off a small chain hanging there. He promptly disappears in a flash of light, as do the two dolgrims, which had descended and been standing near the wagon. In their stead appear three creatures. Where Naxaliyen was standing appears a mind flayer, but this one has had its tentacles amputated down to short nubs, each with a small gem set into the end. It is also missing an eye, and the other one is far too massive for its head, causing the skin around it to bulge out grotesquely. The eye glows with a bright blue light. The dolgrims are replaced by a pair of creatures that some of the group recognize as nagas. They are large snakes with vaguely human-like heads, reticulated emerald-green patterns running over their bodies, and fiery orange-red spines jutting from their backbones. Each is dripping with water, which pools on the ground around it. “Now!” cries the mind flayer in daelkyr, its long hands moving in the gestures of a spell. * 1d3 Str dmg ** 1d3 Con dmg [/QUOTE]
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