Megadungeon B (IC) III

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

"Be careful with fire! If the building burns, the wraith may flee entirely before we can deal with it." Scarecrow says, moving into the building (if he can't reach it normally, he also has the anklets of translocation to teleport 10ft and inside), before breathing cold at the wraith.

Spoiler

Show

(5d6+5)[20]

[Malimar]

Disreputable Ruins

Eleanor doesn't have much to do but run to the site of combat, so I'll post now rather than waiting, and she does that. Namia, too.


Shian and his psicrystal flit back to the window! The building is a bit more than 30' big, so he needs to enter to acid the wraith, unless Scarecrow prompts it to move. I imagine readying an action and staying safe is more desirable than entering the building and getting Bad Touched, so they do that!


Scarecrow does need to use his Anklets of Translocation to get all the way into the building, so he does that! He breathes cold, but the wraith is insubstantial and frost covers everything except it!


The wraith, having delayed, jumps back into the initiative to try to touch Scarecrow! It very much hits him! Scarecrow takes 1 damage, but he resists the drain!


Shian and his psicrystal take their readied actions! Shian hits the wraith! The psicrystal's acid just passes right through it!


Doldor moves to get a slightly better shot, and pegs the wraith with fire! It burns a bit, and looks extremely unhappy!


Brutus, safe away from the wraith, delays (made nervous by the fire but that's ok)!


The fire spreads, sending sparks high up into the drizzly cloudy sky!

Spoiler: Map

Show

,#...............€€€.................................
##...............€€€.............................%%%.
.................€€€......‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%%%%%%........%..
.......€€€................‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%%%%%...........
.......€€€.........*....**‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%%%%...........
.......€€€........**..*...‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%%%...........
......................**..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%%...........
€€...............**.€€€**.‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%...........
€€......**....€€€*..€€€...‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%...........
€€......**....€€€**.€€€...‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...........
.....€€€....**€€€.b**..**.‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...........
.....€€€....****....*...*.‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...........
.....€€€...****......**...‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...........
...........******..*.*.*..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...........
*..........€€€****........‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️+...........
...........€€€.*....*.....‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️,#...........
...........€€€............‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️,,#...........
....................*.....‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️+###...........
.....................**..............................
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%................................
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%................................
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%................................
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%................................
.*‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%%...........................%%...
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️%..........................%%%%..
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️#...........................%%...
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️#................................
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️................................
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️......................E.........
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️................................
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...............####|####........
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...............#,,,C,,,#........
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️...............#,,w,,,,#........
..‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️.............N.+,,,,,,,+H.......
....................................#,,,,,,,#........
..............................*.....#,,,,,,,#........
....................................####+####........
........................................D...........%
...................................................%%

. = grassy scorched ground
# = ruined building
% = heap of rubble (extremely difficult terrain; can be clambered over using 15' of movement)
‼️ = flaming rubble (extremely difficult terrain; can be clambered through using 15' of movement)
, = dim, ruined building interior (difficult terrain)
| = ruined doorway (can pass through, not difficult terrain)
+ = ruined window (can pass through, difficult terrain)
€ = cage-wagons full of chains with gropagas on top
* = defeated monster

C = Scarecrow
D = Doldor (1 negative level)
H = Shian and his psicrystal (20' up)
E = Eleanor
N = Namia (who is fatigued)
b = Brutus
w = wraith

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

On one hand, Scarecrow doesn't wish to set the building ablaze. On the other hand, he wants to finish this as quickly as he can... Betting everything on that moment, Scarecrow huffs once, but lets out two puffs!

Spoiler

Show

miss on 1 - (1d2)[1] (5d6)[21] fire damage, DC 22 halves. Not using Power Surge or anything, so that there's no recharge.
miss on 1 - (1d2)[2] (5d6)[18] fire damage, DC 22 halves. quickened, 4 rounds recharge.

[Malimar]

Disreputable Ruins

Scarecrow huffs and puffs and breathes and everything burns except the wraith, and then he breathes again and everything burns including the wraith! It evaporates!


All the foes are defeated! The fires burn merrily, all three buildings burn completely down! Everyone reconvenes and gathers in the space between the buildings!

Eleanor and Namia gain 1050xp each, Shian, Doldor, and Scarecrow gain 880xp each! And let's go with a bonus everyone gains an additional 500xp for killing all the things and not letting anything get away that could be dangerous. Which levels Scarecrow up to level 9, according to my calculations.


The gropagas begin to pack up -- not the wagons or the chains, they're leaving them here (the wagons were pulled by creatures that have since been released, after all), but everything else they brought. One of them will require a "donation" of 40gp from Eleanor (her magic weapon lasts a total of 4 minutes before flickering out).

None of the gropagas present is high enough level to have restoration (which you'll probably want to find a source for three castings of, to get rid of Doldor's negative level and Namia's and Eleanor's Constitution drain) prepared. Probably even the High Gropaga back in Endeesy isn't.

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

"These wraiths sure were persistent, but not as much as we were!" Scarecrow says, flexing and examining the damage that the wraiths dealt to his body. Between them and the damage he caused to himself with fire and debris, it was starting to be something that he shouldn't ignore, so Scarecrow adjusted his belts and unleashed the waves of recovery magic. Even with the rebirth, he was still a 'forged... But the others, except for Shian, suffered more than himself throughout the battle. "These enemies were no laughing manner... I know that it must be frustrating to hold back and let others handle the situation, and I know it would go against my own nature as well, so I don't blame you, but it was quite unwise. It was quick thinking that helped us prevent any losses today, but let's try not be in this situation at all next time." Scarecrow says. He didn't want to be too harsh, nor he felt that it was his place to scold anyone, but he wasn't comfortable with how afraid he was back there...

"We aren't too far from Numiel's Monastery... Closer than we are to Endeesy, too. We could go there and see if they are able to help you recover... I'd also like to see the felldrakes that were released here get to safety." Scarecrow mentions.

Spoiler: healing rolls

Show

41 damage taken this time, will heal at least 35 of it.

(2d8)[11](2d8)[9](2d8)[9](2d8)[7](2d8)[10](2d8)[4]

[RaggedAngel]

Doldor

Doldor's shape shifts and flows, and he turns back from a spiky raptor into a surly dwarf. He lets out a slow breath of relief, then gives Brutus a big hug. The pony is glad to get a hug, and is rather exhausted after the battle.

After taking a moment, Doldor looks around the group. "I've got healing charges left in my belt and a wand, so if anyone wants to be healed just pipe up."

He listens to Scarecrow, and finds himself conflicted. "I agree that in a fight like that, it would have been better to keep a firm defensive line; but such things are difficult to do in the heat of battle, and it's hard to ask warriors to stand back when there is fighting to be done. Eleanor and Namia were at risk of death, certainly, and I don't like to see such things, but a towering oak tree is made strong by the buffeting winds."

Doldor has, of course, never seen an old-growth forest, and therefore has never seen a towering oak tree; but he knows about them, gosh darnnit.

He takes stock of the battlefield. "Did any of those monsters drop anything worthwhile? We just got a payday, but it can never hurt to keep our coffers full. You can load me up with as much stuff as I can carry; weight is no big matter to a dwarf. And then I think we should head to the Monastery. I hate to keep imposing on them, but we are in desperate need of some rest, and I'm worried about the dark afflictions currently on myself, Eleanor, and Namia. If we don't do something to take care of them we could all end up permanently damaged."

[Malimar]

Disreputable Ruins

The gropagas, without the carts and wagons and chained beasties, can make better time and can defend themselves better than they could on the way up, so they're content to return to Endeesy unescorted if the party wants to head to the Monastery.

One of them disburses to the party the 1000 gp that I believe the High Gropaga promised for the escort. (That's 200gp for each person.)

[RCgothic]

Eleanor

Eleanor immediately hands back 40gp of her share of the 200.

"I concur that it's probably a good idea to head to the Monastery. Although once we are recovered I would appreciate a chance to do some shopping in Endeesey."

[RaggedAngel]

Doldor

Doldor takes a few minutes to look around the battlefield with Brutus to see if they can find anything of value in the carnage. After that, he confirms that the party wants to journey to the monastery, then Wildshapes into an Axiomatic Dire Hawk to take to the skies and keep an eye out for trouble while the party travels.

[Malimar]

Disreputable Ruins

The damp battlefield is strewn with bones and corpses and would be getting pretty ripe except the smell of burning wood overpowers the smell of mouldering corpses. But there's nothing in particular to be found here other than plentiful chains and shackles and the like. The foes were not provided with any equipment by the gropagas.

[Rizban]

Shian

Landing nearby, Shian chirps and adds his own thoughts.

'I should like to return to Endeesy soon. I placed an order there before leaving that I want to collect sooner rather than later.'

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

"I have placed an order as well, though it will probably take a few more days to complete... But it's getting late, too, and the monastery isn't too far..." Scarecrow says, looking at Doldor. "Wouldn't a bat be more appropriate at this time of the night?"

[Malimar]

Disreputable Ruins

Well, the monastery is a bit closer, albeit in almost exactly the wrong direction. Abbot Waxter is almost certainly not powerful enough to prepare restoration, but there's a chance he might have a scroll of it on hand. If he does, he's likely to provide the spell for free, the party having provided so many services to the monastery in the past.

On the other hand, Mario's Discount Magic Supply Emporium (of which the nearest franchises are in Endeesy and Noodleton) or one of the scroll shops in Endeesy are probably more likely to have scrolls for sale. Or, for that matter, restoration is a spell of the third circle for a Healer, and it's just possible that one of the priests of one of the temples in Endeesy is a Healer of sufficient power who might offer it for a suitable donation.

So those are some things to contemplate as a decision is made.

[Artorias]

Namia

Namia sets down her greathammer and drags it as she moves back to the core of the group, her steps heavy, showing how tired and weakened she is "Where are the priests going? If they are going in a direction we want to go to we could go with them, no? It would be much safer if we traveled in such a large group, at least for a while"

[RaggedAngel]

Doldor

Doldor, being a druid, probably noticed that it was night and not day. Thankfully, Dire Hawks have low-light vision, which actually makes them better at seeing at night than Desmondu Hunting Bats. Who knew?

After considering the available options further, he looks toward Endeesy. "On further consideration, maybe we should head back to the city. We may have better luck finding Healers or Scrolls of Restoration, and if we can't find three, I was planning on using my spells tomorrow to empower myself so that I can resist the long-term effects of the wight's touch. Greater Resistance, Bear's Endurance, Guidance, that kind of thing. It's not idea; there's no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to this kind of dark magic. But I should be able to shrug it off, hopefully, and we can focus on finding spells for Namia and Eleanor. As far as I'm aware, there is no time requirement to restoring them, so we don't have to rush."

[Malimar]

Disreputable Ruins

So that's now, like, three or four votes for Endeesy instead of the Monastery! If nobody has really strong opinions to head to the monastery instead, we can soon get this show back on the road, yes?

[RaggedAngel]

Brutus

Brutus is very tired after the fight, and everyone is just standing around now. He wants to get walking again. He misses a lot of things about his old body, but his new body really likes to walk.

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

"You are probably right..." Scarecrow says, but the hesitation is obvious. "You should head back to Endeesy then. You'll be safe with the gropagas... I'm too worried about the felldrakes, and have to make sure they get to the monastery safely. I should be back in Endeesy by tomorrow."

Unless anyone has strong objections, Scarecrow will head out to follow in the felldrakes' tracks (which should be easy, since he was the one that provided them directions to the monastery), picking between the varag and winged elf forms, whichever will allow him to travel fastest.

[Malimar]

The Slopes of Mount Dis

So Scarecrow heads northeast towards the monastery; most of the rest of the party (including all the gropagas) heads west towards Serpent Pass, to head southeast on the road from there!

Spoiler: Scarecrow and anyone else heading to the Monastery

Show

The night is dark and full of terrors. But Scarecrow, in a fast form, eventually catches up to the felldrakes, who are frolicking and generally need herding to get to the monastery in any reasonable amount of time, and then once he catches up, the group of him and the felldrakes is large enough that many things may not bother them.


On the way, the group startles a patch of mushrooms! The mushrooms, the size of cats, with white stalks and red bulbous heads, were... doing something, it's not clear what, but they flee from the drakes and Scarecrow off to the southeast.


Unless they pursue the mushrooms, the group reaches the monastery around midnight! A few of the monastery's local felldrakes bound up and greet the newcomers! Only one cenobite is awake, and he brings Scarecrow to the guest house for the rest of the night, unless Scarecrow really wants the abbot to be awoken.

Spoiler: Doldor, Brutus, Namia, Shian, the gropagas, and anyone else heading to Endeesy

Show

The night is dark and full of terrors. But the party is large and unlikely to be molested!

The party is unmolested on their way down the hill to Serpent Pass... but once they get to the road, they discover a wrecked caravan of several wagons, twelve miscellaneous humanoid corpses, and the bodies of several oxen. The wagons have been overturned and their contents smashed and scattered, everything valuable has been looted, leaving only cheap trinkets and smashed carpentry. Despite the warmth and dampness of the night, the bodies and wagons are covered in a rime of slightly melty frost.

[Rizban]

Shian

Spoiler: On the way to Endeesy

Show

Flying back and forth over the caravan to scan the destruction, Shian muses a bit.

'You don't suppose it's another white dragon?'

[RaggedAngel]

Doldor

Spoiler: To Endeesy

Show

Brutus begins to sniff around the wagons for the smell of anything unusual, while Doldor wheels overhead, using his keen raptor-vision to look around. Doldor muses on the fact that he's been two different kinds of raptor today.

Spot: (1d20+7)[18]

[Malimar]

Spoiler: The Road to Endeesy

Show

Serpent Pass

Brutus smells only death and ice!

The gropagas go over the scene, looking for any valuables or hidden messages from Inglip, but they find nothing.

There are a few big claw-marks in the soil, on the bodies, and especially on the wagons, and on closer inspection several of the oxen have been torn into and partially devoured, and there appears to be one or two fewer ox corpses than you would expect from the number of wagons. Somebody froze everybody to death, tore the scene to pieces, gnawed on some of the oxen, and absconded with an ox and all the valuables.

Shian and Doldor fly above the scene! They see nothing of any possible perpetrators.

[RaggedAngel]

Doldor

Spoiler: To Endeesy

Show

Unless the gropagas have divinatory abilities they'd like to use, Doldor recommends that the party make a note of the location of the attack and then move on. It's unfortunate, but if the attacker has left the scene it would be unwise to attack them, given their injuries and the fact that Doldor has expended the bulk of his daily magic.

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

Spoiler: Monastery

Show

Not really knowing much about the mushrooms, and not being attacked by them,
Scarecrow decides not to give chase.

At the Monastery, Scarecrow watches as the felldrakes greet each other, the pack slowly growing...
Numiel has a small army of them here already. He considers heading out to Endeesy already, but decides to exchange words with the Abbot first, so he goes to meditate the night away.

[Rizban]

Shian

Spoiler

Show

Agreeing with Doldor, Shian is ready to get back to Endeesy.

[RCgothic]

Eleanor

Spoiler: On the way to Endeesy

Show

Eleanor stands guard over the gropogas as Shian and Doldor complete their aerial survey. To Eleanor's inexperienced eyes she could very much believe that this was the work of a white dragon. Nothing much to do but report the loss and continue onwards.

[Malimar]

Spoiler: Monastery

Show

Monastery of Numiel at Perch Hill

In the morning, the monastery's inhabitants awaken, and Abbot Waxter comes to the guest house! "Welcome, my friend! Would you care to perform morning prayers with us?"

Today, Mesgel, the Green Wanderer of Disgust (representing things staying the same) is in the Scythe (representing agriculture and patience). So it's a good day to not change your farming habits, I guess!

Spoiler: Road to Endeesy

Show

Serpent Pass

The party, in the end, leaves the wreckage behind for the scavengers, and takes the road downhill to the southeast!


Gus

On the way, the group is not accosted by anything in particular. Some dark creatures in the night, in the cornfields, in the sky, but nothing attacks the large group.

They do come across a patch of tasty, dense, wild earthmelons, though.


Endeesy

And then they approach the gates of Endeesy in the wee hours of the morning! After some discussion with the guards on duty, the party convinces them they're not horrible monsters that will do violence to the populace, and are permitted inside.

The gropagas depart, the party heads to their various sleeping-places, and pass an uneventful night of rest, well into the morning!


The Next Morning

Today, Mesgel, the Green Wanderer of Disgust (representing things staying the same) is in the Scythe (representing agriculture and patience). So it's a good day to not change your farming habits, I guess!

Late in the morning, everyone except Scarecrow re-gathers at the Adventurer's Guild and has brunch!

There are probably a few new bounties on the board since the last they checked. But they'll probably want to wait for Scarecrow, who may be turning up at any moment.

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

Spoiler: At the monastery

Show

Scarecrow exchanges greetings, admits his lack of knowledge in the proper prayer, but is eager to learn, and joins the Abbot.

Afterwards, asking for some of the Abbot's time, Scarecrow shares with him the tales of the last two days,
with them becoming champions and slayers of undead. "It's weird being blessed by Inglip, especially considering the current... Friction, but the reward will go a long way towards helping us on our quest to reverse the Inundation. And I'm glad that we were around to make sure none of the dangerous undead that they had planned to release could escape into the wild. My allies were hurt in the battle, so I also wanted to ask if you may have scrolls with Restoration and such, I would gladly buy them... I can also offer you this scroll of lesser planar ally, which is attuned to Numiel. Since we have no clerics in our group, this may be more of use to you..." Scarecrow offers. "And please, tell us if the felldrakes that we keep inviting here are stretching your resources..." He adds, a bit embarrassed. "I didn't ask you before offering them a place here..."

"I also have some information regarding Aramil Silverleaf. It's not much though... He contracted an affliction called the Flux, caused due to a flux storm conjured by Ned the Half-Elf on the Omorashi Empire's coast. Aramil, along with a group of people that don't really fit the description of the Prior's murderers, came to Professor Johnson in Endeesy, trying to cure the Flux. According to the professor, they left before he could cure them, with Aramil leaving the world entirely, and the others suspected dead from the flux. Without any information about the others, I suspect it has been too long and the trail has gone cold. I'm sorry... If we do find anything about the group, I'll be sure to let you know."

After their conversation, Scarecrow bids the Abbot, and the felldrakes, goodbye, and flies back to Endeesy.

[Malimar]

Spoiler: Monastery

Show

Monastery of Numiel

The actual chapel is too small for more than a handful of people, so most of the monastery-wide services are performed out under the sun -- which is at least as appropriate anyway, windowy though the chapel is.

The service is very orderly, mostly Abbot Waxter reading from the Book of Numiel, occasional call and response. Some of the bits are in Common, some are in Celestial, some are in Draconic -- but these cenobites aren't actually particularly learned, so mostly it's Common. Sometimes the lantern archon Malasavuulael contributes.

Then the cenobites retire to the dining room for breakfast, while Waxter claims a few rolls and heads to his office (a small, book-cluttered room) to discusss with Scarecrow!

"Ah, yes. Well, though Romus is a Numielite nation, and Koprulu has officially declared a holy war, theologically, Numiel and Inglip aren't in conflict themselves, so you should be alright accepting the blessing of both."

"Well, let's see... Restoration, that's a powerful scroll..." He checks a shelf of scrolls, and eventually concludes, "Sadly, we lack scrolls of that power. I do have one scroll of heal, but..." A bit more explanation from Scarecrow, and it turns out that heal will not cure any of the afflictions affecting any party members. "I could send away to the Archbishop of Shell for a few, but it would take days to arrive, you're probably in more of a hurry than that."

Waxter accepts the scroll of lesser planar ally keyed to Numiel, but insists on paying Scarecrow 500gp (a fair price) for it. "You have given us so much already, and a dragon's hoard ought to be acquired as fairly as possible."

"Oh, the drakes are enthusiastic workers in the garden and on watch. Mostly they feed themselves on the local wildlife, so it's really no problem taking them in."

The Abbot nods sagely as Scarecrow brings more information about Aramil. "Interesting. Well, I hope Numiel's justice finds him wherever he has gone to."

And then, their business concluded, Scarecrow bids farewell to the abbot and the felldrakes (who frolic and don't entirely understand what's going on) and flies south to Endeesy!


Gus

On his flight, Scarecrow spots below him: a lion (a good omen!), miscellaneous wildlife, and some sheep watched over by a shepherd.

Adventurer's Guild

In late morning, Scarecrow walks into the Adventurer's Guildhall, and finds the rest of the party already there, brunching!

(There are probably a few new bounties on the board since the last Scarecrow checked.)

[Sliver]

Scarecrow

Greeting the group, Scarecrow joins at the table, offering each of them 100g, explaining that Abbot Waxter paid him for the scroll only if prompted. Then explaining where the scroll came from, since he may have forgot to mention it.

"It will take at least a couple of days before my order is ready, and since I have quite a bit more gold, I'll need to consider what else I should buy... But you need to equip yourselves as well, so we should perhaps take some time off for now, until everything's ready." Scarecrow says, considering their quest. "We should also look into inter- and intra-planar travel... Resistances should be easier to come by once we have that arranged."