Cormyr - The Tearing of the Wave

[LtPowers]

"I'm not sure we should press our luck right now," replies the Bard. "I consider ourselves fortunate to be in the position we are in. These particular lizardfolk appear to be fairly neutral, philosophically; they likely only want to be left alone. If the meeting with their chieftain goes well, we may be able to effect some trade... though I would not be surprised if Cormyrian coins were flatly rejected. We should be prepared to offer goods for barter."

Spoiler

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Bardic Knowledge check on the term "Shadowslain" or its Draconic translation: (1d20+10)[30]
Alternatively: Knowledge (local [Cormyr]): (1d20+6)[7]

Maesyn Silverhair

[achinca]

Rayen is the first one to lower her shield and sheathes her weapon. She seemed totally unperturbed by the scaly creatures surrounding her.

Ryxikor is less comfortable among the lizardfolks but decides to comply with the scaled humanoid demands. He believes they are truthful in their intentions.

Quill explains the agreement reached with the lizardfolks. A term has caught his attention, “blind minded” and asks for a clarification. The poison dust lizard folks that is next to him replies “Like no mind. Following orders blindly. Like he is not his own lizard!”. This would describe a dominated parishioner.

Savin wants to know what shadowslain means and if the lizardfolks would be willing to trade.

Maesyn discourages the idea of trying to sell stuff to the lizardfolks. He thinks about the strange word shadowslain and the best understanding he gets is walking lizardfolks who have been killed by some darkness.

The group of heroes, who is in single lane and surrounded on each side by lizardfolks, starts its trek.

The air grows humid and warm, and s sulfurous scent reaches the group nose. Ahead, a mist clings to the trees, cloaking the swamp in a haze. A rumbling shakes the ground beneath the hero feet, and the lizardfolk quicken their pace, eagerly splashing forward through water that grows warm as it swirls about the group legs. Suddenly, the heroes an explosion and through the trees, you glimpse a pillar of steaming water shooting 100 feet into the air, clearly geyser of some sort.

The lizardfolk lead the heroes through the trees and fog to a wide clearing. The marshy ground gives way to wet gravel, muddy ground and bare rock pierced by bubbling pools of steaming water. Small huts woven of reeds and branches dot the clearing.

A male lizardfolk exits from the biggest hut. He has a club at his waist and it wearing a ring, bracers and a strange symbol around his neck. He starts speaking in common, constantly ducking his head, as if it helped him forming the words. “Welcome. I am Kesessek, cleric of Essylliss. I am the Chieftain of the Sharptooth tribe. I am questions and answers for you but before we discuss, would you allow me to cast a zone of truth as we speak?”

[Ouroborosi]

Quill turns to the group ready to translate and as he opens his mouth he realises the lizard wasn't speaking Draconic but common.. well sort of.

Cast what? And while there speaking? Wouldn't take make the casting needlessly complicated.

Zone of Truth wasn't even mentioned in his illusionist classes. A geographical region where one sees the truth, hears the truth, speaks the truth? or where a lie is seen as truth? or?

"Don't worry I am what i appear to be just a Gnome. So you can waste your spell on me" he shrugs
Quill leans toward Axara who is like Kesessek a divine caster "psst it allows them to see through illusions correct?" the gnome whispers proudly

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a spell from the enchantment school so quill is completely in the dark.
and a knowledge religion (1d20+6)[26] to learn a bit about Essylliss to see how to greet a cleric with respect.

[Jeraoa]

Rayen walks silently in the group of lizards. She finds herself thinking about home and once again wondering if Thore is feeding the cats. When the geyser erupts some where off to the side, she starts a little and decides that maybe she should stop day dreaming. Home may be something that she will not see for awhile.

Rayen nods when the lizard cleric asks about casting the spell. "I have nothing to lie about."

[LtPowers]

Spoiler

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Bardic knowledge check on the name "Kesessek": (1d20+10)[28]
Intelligence check (can't use Knowledge (religion) untrained) to identify Essylliss: (1d20+3)[23]
Knowledge (arcana) to identify Zone of Truth spell (if applicable): (1d20+10)[18]

Need these results before I post what Maesyn says.

Maesyn Silverhair

[achinca]

Axara looks at the Lizardfolk cleric. "Kessessek, as long as you do not worship Shar, I have nothing to hide."

She is familiar with the spell and explain to all how it works.

She whispers "Do not try to resist it. He will know. So accept it or flat out refuse."

[razorback]

"Kessessek, I have no fear of speaking an untruth."

[Ouroborosi]

After a explanation about the real use of the spell. Quills weasel suddenly looks scared and disappears.

"By the trickster!" Quill yells "I already know you took the last cookie in Wheloon miss assistant so why are you hiding!"

[achinca]

Axara explains the nature of the spell zone of truth to the group. The entire group agrees even if it freaks Miss Assistant, Quill’s weasel.

Kessessek moves the group a little away from the huts and closer to the geyser and away from the warriors. He casts his spell and starts talking.

“You are welcome among- us, hairy ones, we share a common enemy. I am Kesessek Chieftain of the Sharptooth tribe. Those here are but some of our number. I lead this war party against the Shadowscale tribe."

He pauses before adding "We attacked you to free you. We thought you were like t he other dream walkers who go to the hairy-one keep. What lead you to the Skull Staff and what question can I answer you?"

[Ouroborosi]

After the word hairy ones Quill rubs his little gouty with a big smile.

The illusionist knows he probably should wait for the bard to answer but he foolishy answers.

''one moment.'' As he rumbles into one of his scroll cases.

And whips up the weaver the group had signed half a week ago.

"I am here to represent the city of Wheloon in the official recognised it better be i signed does papers adventure party the Wheloon Vigilantes. Who stumbled upon a highly illegal cult of Shar who practised, murder, torture, and abduction led the priestess Arthas that had disguised there cult as a clerkly of Mystra the goddess of magic who we have cleric of in our party. Had these brave then me at least but rebellious group of adventures not intervened you folks would have indeed "rescued" more blind minded.

Where here to stop Arthas her collages from ripping the weave asunder and possibly rescue the once she send to the Lost Refuge."

You don't eat gnome meat do you?

[LtPowers]

Maesyn intentionally failed his saving throw against the zone of truth.

"Indeed," nods the bard. "We hope you've seen the last of these 'dream walkers', as you most accurately called them. We have followed their trail this far, in an attempt to determine if any of them can be rescued and returned to their homes. I don't know how familiar you are with the human gods, but Shar is an evil goddess of shadow and deception. It seems as if there might be a connection with the Shadowscale tribe you mentioned.

"Do you know how many 'dream walkers' have passed through? And what has become of them?"


Maesyn Silverhair

[achinca]

Quill tries to explain to Kessessek the mission the group is on. The lizardfolk chieftain looks at Quill with a totally confused look. He looks like he has no idea what the gnome is saying.

Once Quill asks about eating gnome meat, Kessessek shakes his head. “No, we do not eat gnome meat. But we have crocodile meat if you are hungry. ”

Maesyn steps in and Kessessek seems to have a better understanding of what the bard is saying. “I know little about humans gods other that Shar is evil and Mystra is good. The Shadowscale is a sad story. Once we called the Shadowscale tribe the Dragonslayers, but now a dragon rules them, and they have fallen into darkness. Their chieftain is Kersarra Shadowscale. The blood of the dragon runs strong in her veins, and so does its evil.

"Something has happened to the Shadowscales. When their r aiders carne to our lands this year, they were changed, Their eyes glowed like fire, and a shadows wrapped their scales to protect them. They were dead, their spirits departed and replaced by dark ness. Now they attack us to kill or capture. Those who are captured face a fare worse than death. They become Shadowscales and return to fight their nestmates.”

Yes, we have seen hairy" ones like you. Some work with the Shadowscales. Many more have walked the path to the keep as though dream-walking. We don't know what they do with them, but when they go in, they do not come out.

Axara steps in “You mentioned that you had a common enemy. What did you mean?

Kessessek keeps nodding his head as his speak “We see that you are no friend of the• Shadowscales and those in the hairy ones' keep, and we ask you to help us. I believe that some of our people are held in the dark tower. They captured the old chieftain and my mate, Ashala, in a recent raid, and we have not seen them among the dead. Will you free them?

[puffmagicdragon]

The elf stands relaxed, with his thumbs casually looped over his weapons belt, only inches from his hilts, knowing he can pull his weapons free at a moments notice. He watches the lizardfolk carefully, as he remains silent, he is in a zone of truth afterall, he knows not to say anything. But once the chieftain asks for the group's help, Ryx can't help but think, Are you serious, everybody wants our help.

"What's in it for us?" he whispers to Maesyn.

[Ouroborosi]

Quill covers his mouth to hide the big grin the gnome sports every time Kessessek keeps nodding his head. It reminds him of his aunt who created tiny head banging dolls out of big twigs.

if Kessessek gets a bit anoyed by the gnome then the illusinist will jump up.

"Well where here to rescue people i am not picky. But there was one problem with our original mission" the gnome tries to change the subject "The ideal and quickest way to get to the last refuge is pretending to be a dreamwalker. But we don't know how they where escorted, dressed and acted. The only hint given was bringing the skull staff to it."

the gnome smiles innocently
"Any ideas?"

overhearing Ryx wisper Quill wipers back (i knows the lizard will hear him but this way its more fun) "It is not what they can do for us but what they can do for the abductsies. The "rite" required fasting so even crodile meat could strengthen them for there way back to Wheloon if there are survivors that is"

[puffmagicdragon]

Ryxikor looks at the accountant skeptically, kind of surprised he would need to explain, but he finally speaks up, looking down to Quill, "Didn't the lizardman say he saw hairy ones, working with some Shadowscales, whatever they are, and something about a keep? Aren't the hairy ones, humans? Dont you suppose those hairy ones eat? I would suspect there are food stores in the keep."

[LtPowers]

Spoiler

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Bardic Knowledge check on the name "Kersarra Shadowscale": (1d20+10)[16]

Maesyn nods. "I'm sorry for your loss. We will certainly rescue anyone we can... but there are only six of us. From your description, it sounds as if the Shadowscale clan is powerful and extremely dangerous. What can we do that your tribe cannot?"

He turns to the dragon shaman. "Rayen, do you have any insights? A guess, perhaps, as to what kind of dragon we might be dealing with? Any chance it's in league with Shar?"


Maesyn Silverhair

[achinca]

Kessessek looks at Ryxikor as if he totally expected that question to be the first one after asking for help.

“ lf you help us, we will help you. We have little, and we own no golden or silver circles, but I will give you all I own. If you free these in the keep, I will give you all my magic."

As this point, the group that brought the group to Kessessek approaches the chieftain and he sends them back to see if more dream walkers are coming. The fog is increasing in intensity.

As Quill mentions the last refuge, Kessessek answers “the keep lies deeper in the swamp. Hairy ones and Shadowscales live there. Many of them come and go-more than we can hope to fight, especially when they command the keep.”

As the issue of food comes up, Quill and Ryxikor argue.

Maesyn tries to see if he remembers anything about Kersarra but nothing comes to mind. So he asks Kessessek. “ Kersarra's scales are black and she has horns that points forward just like her father, Despayr.”

He continues “We could not stand against their raiders. Many Sharptooths died. More were taken prisoner and carried back to the hairy ones’ keep. Other tribes were also attacked The Sharptooth tribe survives only because it has joined with the Blackscales and Poison Dusks. We can lead you to the keep but we cannot enter it. Too many Shadowscales waiting for us. Will you help us?”

[razorback]

Savin sits back on his haunches and pulls out his dagger, digging the point into the soft ground as he listens to the two groups interact.

He nods agreement with what is being said as he follows the conversation.

"How far is this keep? And, how many warriors do they posses?"

[puffmagicdragon]

The elf turns to the lizardfolk leader as he mentions magic, obviously intrigued, the chieftain spoke the correct word to have Ryx's help. "What magic do you speak of?" curiosity getting the better of him.

[Ouroborosi]

Quill has a hart time understanding the big lizard so he sits down and whips out the map to the last refuge and scratches his ear with the duck feather it uses to write down a few notes.

"Wait... so is the last refuge a different place or does the dragon resides there to?" Not looking forward in fighting a dragon most of them don't have a sense of humor anyway. But he just shakes his head.

"As for the dragon... any info could help... what is it's size, it's scale color and the kind of energy it's breath attack gives. Familiar with the lay out of the keep?"

[achinca]

Kessessek looks at Savin as he tries to get used to the man from the plains accent. “ We do not know. A bunch of hairy people. A lot of Shadowscale. Ketsarra. Too strong for us. I thought that if we could stop the flow of dreamwalkers …..." He stops speaking but continues to bob his head. “Keep is about half a day if we bring you there… ”

Ryxikor gets excited when he hears the word “Magic” Kessessek replies “I have a stick that contains magic to help me help my tribe. If you help us, the stick is yours. ”

Kessessek listens to Quill “Kessara is only dragon from her father, Despayr.” Quill senses a feeling of fear in his eyes. “She also has lizardfolk trait as if she came from a unholy alliance. She is scary and black! She is unholy. She leads the Shadowscales but somehow has left the swamp to live in the keep. Unholy I told you.”

He continues “I have never been in the keep. It scares me.” ”

[Ouroborosi]

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let's see if Quill knows about black dragons knowledge arcane: (1d20+8)[9] failure Quill wizard school is about study don't be a human in that regard

"The good thing is we don't have to confront a full fledge black dragon but a half breed. The bad thing is that these black dragons are so humourless i neglected my studies on these folks... Any idea how to prepare to confront her?" the gnome throws his arms in the air.

"If the keep is the refuge i suggest we continue following the map grab the skull staff and head toward the refuge... Hopefully we can catch them of guard that way... "

[Ouroborosi]

"Besides if they realise there steady flow of magical glow worms has dried up the folks in the monastery will tighten there guard and that will cut us of with the only road where familiar with" the gnome points his finger to the trail to the monastery on the refuge map.

[achinca]

Quill curses himself for not listening when his teachers were talking about black dragons. That was because Ruby Redhead, his crush, had started to pay attention to him and was blinking her eyes at him. Sadly, he found later that all she wanted was for him to do her potions homework. However, Quill got the last laugh because she felt for the local stud fighter who is now out of shape and out of work and she is now obese and going crazy taking care of her five kids.

Maesyn is a much better student of magic and bardic lore and share with the group that black dragons have an acid breath weapon. They can breathe under water. They usually like to make their lairs in warm marshes and submerged caves. These lairs often carry an acrid smell, a hint at the dragon’s highly acidic breath weapon. Older dragons have a variety of magical powers, such as darkness, insect plague, and corrupt water. Unlike many creatures, black dragons can use these abilities while submerged.
Regarding half-dragon, Maesyn shares that dragons can breed with virtually any creature. Half-dragon is the direct result of one such mating. This result reveals all dragon traits. A half-dragon tends to strongly resemble its draconic parent in both appearance and demeanor, while retaining the traits of its non-draconic parent. Compared to their non-draconic parents, half-dragons are strong, hearty, and iron-willed. Half-dragons have curling talons, sharp fangs, and tough, scaly hides. Particularly large half-dragons also develop functional wings.

Finally, the name of Despayr brings back to his mind the story that he is a special black dragon with unique attribute. There are various legends about his powers and his breath weapon, all contracting each other. However, all legends agree that he was touched by some god or goddess before his birth.

At the point, it is clear that Kessessek has shared everything he could or wanted to share with the group. Quill indicates that the group should continue towards the lost refuge. Axara nods in agreement.

Suddenly, the group is totally taken by surprise as a shriek like that of a hawk comes from above, and the group look up to see gray tentacles descending rapidly from the fog above the heroes to lash out at Kessessek. Suddenly hollow-roars ring out. From the fog, seven lizardfolks swathed in rippling shadow regards the heroes with eyes that flicker with an unholy light.

Ten tentacles, held together by what looks like a giant brain with a beak attack Kessessek. Five of them are able to attack him and inflict damages. The lizardfolk cleric strong constitution allows him to shake a paralysis attempt.

Each lizardfolk is not wearing anything and carrying 5 javelins.

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Kessessek: -16 HP - Currently at 26/42

[Ouroborosi]

With the lizards to far and the tentacles forming a more direct threat the gnome stands up and casts "speculo!" a small squadron of quills pop up once again. While he uses his combined brain power to figure out what and how dangerous these floating parrot with brains really is.

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casting mirror image (1d4+2)[3] and a knowledge arcane: (1d20+9)[20] to know what it is this better be high gnomes love weird things

ooc: if quill gets grabbed before this he tries to swing his magic missle spell to the creature

[Jeraoa]

Rayen chooses to turn her attention to the lizards that popped up in the water. She quickly arms herself and stands firm in her position. "Quill, I shall watch your back. Not sure if my skills will hit that nasty thing floating over there."

She quickly changes her draconic aura back to the one that gave them all extra damage.

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+1 to damage rolls
Hp: 41
Ac: 18

[puffmagicdragon]

Seeing the dangers suddenly arise, Ryxikor unshoulders his elven-made shortbow and retrieves an arrow from his quiver, as he moves to what he considers a better position, trying to get about thirty feet away from the flying creature, but staying out of range of the tentacles. As soon as he sees anb opening he lets his arrow fly.

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HP: 30/30
AC: 17, 19 vs flying creature
move action: move to T12, and grab abow and arrow
standard action: attack with short bow
attack: (1d20+8)[27]
damage: (1d6+1)[3]

[achinca]

Initiative: Axara, Savin, Ryxikor, Enemies, Rayen, Quill, Kessessek (stopped here) Maesyn

Axara calls into Mystra to grant her the power to take down that flying horror. She focuses on Maesyn beautiful harp before a cacophony of sound hit the flaying monster in the hair but no one else. The creature is stunned and falls to the ground.

Savin moves and strikes the stun creature on the ground. The warrior strikes the helpless creature quite hard. The creature looks significantly damaged.

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Creature under 50% HP

Ryxikor moves 30 feet away for the creature and unleashes and arrow that enters the beached flying brain.

Two (S3 & S5) of the Shadowslain Shadowscales made a double move and the other 5 advances and throw a javelin. Two are aimed at Axara but she easily block them with her shield and armor. One is sent toward Rayen but falls way short. The one toward Quill ends up on the side of a hut and only the one towards Savin hit its maximum damages.

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Savin: -9HP – Currently at 37/46

Rayen puts herself in a defensive position and changes her aura to help her companions hurt the enemies a little bit more.

Quill speaks arcane and suddenly 3 more Quills show up. The gnome also recognizes the flying brain with tentacles as a grell. It is an aberration which has blindsight. Its tactics are usually to paralyze a prey with its tentacles and then they construct them to death. They have a long list of immunities.

Kessessek attacks the grell on the ground like a typical lizardfolk, with his claws and bite. Somehow, the cleric fails to connect on his target.

Effect:

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Draconic aura: +1 damage roll

[Ouroborosi]

"retrain from using energy attacks there immune to a lot of things"

quill yells just before he casted his mirror image spell.

the Quills al take a step to the south-west and all at the same time anounce
"Advocabit cælum inspiratione arma insecta" all holding a unlit candle and a a small bag from his spell component pouch.

suddenly a Celestial Giant Fire Beetle appears above the Grell and attacks the aberration.

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Summon monster II: Celestial Giant Fire Beetle (1d3)[3]

[Ouroborosi]

all try to attack the grell the once that can't to that head to the nearest hostile lizardfolk. using there smite evil for the day
http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Celesti...5e_Creature%29

(1d20)[11] (2d4+2)[9] draconic aura+smite evil (+1)
(1d20)[15] (2d4+2)[6] draconic aura+smite evil (+1)
(1d20)[11] (2d4+2)[4] draconic aura+smite evil (+1)