Chult Hex Crawl - IC

[The Hellbug]

This time blinded by the monster's death explosion, Nolwenn shrieks in shock and, no longer able to predict where the next set of claws will come from, flails wildly, her defensive spell momentarily forgotten as she scrambles to clear her vision. It's something she should have seen coming, and now she realizes that her only hope is in the intervention of one of her allies, but her flustered mind refuses to consider that a likelihood. Pain is what she expects, and dread at the image of powerful jaws chomping down on her neck or cruelly sharp claws slicing straight through her invisible shield fill the wizard's mind. What she gets is far stranger.

A chilly hand, being pulled off balance and dragged backwards, the cold of metal on bare skin. Nolwenn hurries to wipe the disgusting slime from her eyes, and, as soon as she can see, finds herself on the inside of the very same cage she had been attempting to breach just minutes before. But it's just her--no pack, no spellbook, no arcane focus, not even any clothes--her and the caged woman, that is. The wizard has, from the outside, seen her as a prisoner, a curiosity, and a potential ally, but now, wounded and separated from her allies and most of her magic, she begins to see the erstwhile-supposed prisoner as something else: a danger in her own right.

Desdemona's yowl spurs Nolwenn into action, and she calls on her fey blood, attempting to teleport herself back outside the cage, a spell that has served her well in dangerous situations in the past. She disappears in a cloud of mist, but something goes wrong, and a split second later the wizard reappears, disoriented, exactly where she had vanished from. When she realizes nothing has changed, Nolwenn finally feels totally helpless, naked as she factually is, and she panics.

"H-help! Help!"

Her call for aid from her allies isn't even a scream but more of an anxious gasp as she scoots as far away from her cellmate as the bars allow. "P-please," she pleads, tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes as she holds out her hands to fend away the caged woman, "don't hurt me. I don't know what you want, but I don't want to die!"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Action to clear the goop. Bonus action to fail at escaping the cage. Move to cower.

[agignac]

What had once been Red's construct is no longer tied to the artificer, and his command does nothing. The construct continues to attack Draelin, tearing elven flesh and spilling elven blood. Draelin fights best as best he can, but he struggles to draw his melee weapon, and his hands are slippery with blood.

Red and Ondro destroy the final mucous monster, and Ondros finds himself covered in more goop. The floor around him is thick with slippery slime, and he struggles to keep his footing. No need for another save-vs-blindness as you're already blind. Dex save at start of round to stay on your feet, and again if you move. Both at disadvantage.

The prisoner, having pulled Nolwenn through the bars of the cage somehow, looked utterly baffled as Nolwenn pleads for her life. The emaciated woman, as naked as Nolwenn, back up against the other end of the cage, her hands raised placatingly. She speaks beautiful words in a low voice, as if trying to calm a spooked animal.

Outside the cage, Desdemona spits and hisses at the prisoner's general direction.

[The Hellbug]

Heart still pounding, Nolwenn vigilantly watches her captor retreat and...attempt to calm her? A realization dawns upon the wizard that was impossible in the immediate shock of her abduction. If the woman wanted to harm her, and Nolwenn suspects she could if she can do something like pulling her through those bars, she absolutely has her at her mercy already. "You don't want to hurt me," she whispers, lowering her arms and relaxing the barest bit, "you were trying to protect me, weren't you? Wait! The others!"

Nolwenn, with one nervous glance back at the prisoner, turns around and takes in the battle that's still going on outside. With only one foe left, it looks like things are in hand, although Draelin looks outmatched and...is that Red's construct under all that?

"I'm okay!" the wizard reassures the combatants, "or, at least, I'm safe. I don't think they can get in here. Help Draelin!"

Finally, there's her familiar. Nolwenn sniffs and wipes her nose on her arm. "Shhh, shhh, Des," she coos to the fey cat, "it's fine. It was scary, but I think she's a friend. Keep yourself safe."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Nolwenn has no relevant actions to take.

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 26/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: Blinded Ondros struggles to keep his footing, slipping repeatedly on the greasy viscera of the exploded spiky creatures they've killed. He stands back up to his feet, let's the maul fall from his grasp, and draws the longbow. He can sense exactly where the creature is, and it's moving fast, attacking someone, but Ondros is not sure who. He nocks an arrow and lets loose. Spoiler: Turn 3 Show Action - Longbow Attack vs Construct Attack - (1d20+5)[8] Damage - (1d8+2)[4] Attack - (1d20+5)[20] Damage - (1d8+2)[5] Bonus Action - Second Wind - (1d10+6)[11]

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns cursed. Someone had suborned his creation. This called for swift retribution. But first he had to destroy what had been stolen from him.
He threw his weapon in quick succession, trying to take it out for good.

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+4)[21] damage if all hit (1d8+16)[23]
(1d20+4)[6] damage if all hit (1d8+16)[20]

[agignac]

The Red Horns had created the construct with magic, but somehow the worm-demon below had perverted his creation. What had once defended them was now attacking, and Draelin was foundering under its ferocious onslaught. He fought back as best he could, though a rapier was not a great weapon versus the twiggy creature. But finally, arrows and yklwa were able to bring the construct down.

Nobody was prepared for the strength of the explosion. The snot monsters had blown apart, but the radius of damage had been minor. Perhaps due to the alchemy which had created it, or perhaps due to the magic which had subverted it, the construct's death caused an explosion that filled the room. The sticks that had made it became sharp shrapnel, blasting outwards. Only Nolwenn and the prisoner were safe, as the magic that created the cell prevented physical objects from entering.

(8 damage, or Dex save DC 12 for half. That includes Des)

Then it was over, and Draelin was lying motionless in a pool of blood and spikes.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns picked himself up from the ground, pulling small pieces of twig from his armor.

"Oh no. Draelin!" He rushed to the unmoving form his fellow explorer, searching for signs of life.

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn winces and throws her hands up to shield herself from the explosion, but the shrapnel is entirely repelled by the magical cage, leaving her entirely unharmed. Desdemona isn't so lucky. The cat yowls in pain as she's caught by the blast and tossed under the counter.

"Des!" Nolwenn shouts, feeling her familiar's injury as merely a vague discomfort, but it's a strange feeling all the same. Luckily, the wizard is able to breathe a sigh of relief when the cat raises her head and gets to her feet, limping but looking to be in no immediate danger. The same cannot be said for Nolwenn's elven companion.

"No, Draelin, no no no," the wizard babbles when sees Red approach his prone form, again avoiding grabbing the magically-protected bars at the last minute. "Red, Red, tell me he's okay. Wait, there's a..." She suddenly tries to reach as far as she dares between the bars towards her bag, but can't get far without risking touching the bars. With a huff, Nolwenn gives up on trying to reach it herself and continues, her volume increasing with her anxiety.

"There's a healing potion in my bag, right there," she sputters, and the tears are returning, "Red, Ondros, anyone, it's right there!"

[agignac]

The prisoner crawled cautiously to Nolwenn. Catching the wizard's attention, she gestures to the other side of the bars, then mimes pushing Nolwenn through. Her offer is clear.

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 22/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: -- Ondros can hear all the commotion but can only perceive what is happening out to a short range. The explosion takes him completely by surprise. He shouts in alarm and pain as tiny sharp objects pierce him. He hears the others shouting, something is wrong with Draelin. The loxodon clears the gunk from his eyes and the lab is a wreck. Nolwenn is in the cage with the prisoner, nude, and Red is huddled over Draelin, who is lying in a pool of blood. Ondros' eyes go wide, and then he rushes to Nolwenn's bag under her direction to retrieve the potion. He moves to Red's side as quickly as he can muster with the slick goo all over the floor, and hands the potion to Red, Here Red, the healing potion!

[The Hellbug]

"Third pocket on the back. Yes, that's the one! Go! Go!"

Nolwenn's attention being occupied with guiding Ondros to the potentially life-saving potion in her pack and it's administration, it would take her cell-mate nothing short of grabbing her by the shoulder to turn her focus elsewhere. The wizard stands up to get a better view, and hope flutters in her chest as the tiefling pours the potion into Draelin's mouth.

Come on, come on. If he's using the potion then he must still be alive...

[Pyrophilios]

Without question or hesitation, The Red Horns funneled the potion into Draelin's mouth, careful not to fill his lungs.
"Come on, you've survived worse. We have to get out of here. The thing below corrupts existing creatures and it has access to the whole ocean..."

[agignac]

Draelin coughs and sputters as the magical healing begins to take affect. It's enough to keep him alive, but he's still seriously wounded. He staggers to his feet, wiping blood from his eyes. "I liked your construct better this morning."

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 22/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: -- Nolwenn, can you get out of there or do you need me to smash that open? Draelin, I can carry you out back to the ship. He looks to them all, We're getting out of here right?

[Pyrophilios]

"I certainly am - I have to prepare to face this thing." The Red Horns replied.

[The Hellbug]

Draelin slowly gets to his feet, and relief washes over Nolwenn like a wave, his gallows humor doing wonders for the situation. Not knowing which god to thank, she silently thanks them all. Everyone knew that the expedition into Chult would be dangerous, and the jungle has claimed a handful of her fellow explorers already, but Draelin is different. Even though their time together has been relatively brief, it has been rife with risk and triumph, and already considers both he and Red among her closest confidantes. Especially after she herself had insisted on investigating this strange tower, Nolwenn doesn't know what she would do if he perished.

Ondros's question shakes her from her thoughts. Firstly, she finally notices the cell's inhabitant at her side. Secondly, with the adrenaline fading, the wizard's mind also turns to her own nakedness. She flushes slightly with embarrassment, but resists the urge to do anything else, judging that confidence and blind dignity will have to be her allies. "I think so, or she can, at least. And a good thing, too. I don't even think you'd be able to budge it. The enchantments protecting it are quite potent," she answers, then turns to the cell-woman, "except to you. I think we should go, too, but give me just a moment."

Nolwenn nods to the prisoner but holds a single finger up and makes a stern expression to signify her wish for just a little more time. Then she points at herself. "Nolwenn," she says and bows, "thank you for helping me." Next, the wizard very slowly and deliberately, so as not to appear aggressive, raises her hands and casts a spell, the same one she has used to detect magical beings in the past. Next, remembering the woman's cold hands when abducted her, Nolwenn squats down beside her cellmate and slowly puts her hand on her shoulder.

Edit addition:

Nodding with a 'hmm' at her discoveries, the wizard finally returns the the woman's gestures of pushing through the bars, but again she holds up a finger for a pause. Her words are slow, clear, and soothing. "We are leaving to rest," she points around her whole group and then up and out the tower, "but will return to kill that thing." She accompanies this with a copy of the woman's sign from earlier, pointing down and then holding her hands way out, followed by drawing her finger across her throat.

"You," she points emphatically at the prisoner and then up and out again, "can come with us." A repeat of the pointing towards her group. "It will be safe; come with us." She waves a beckoning hand, then holds it out, offering to take the emaciated woman's in her own.

[agignac]

The prisoner submitted to Nolwenn's inquiries, looking exhausted. She clearly wasn't used to this much excitement. When it was time to leave the cage, she nodded her ascent. Scooting forward on her bum, she held her hand out to Nolwenn. The wizard took it, and this time, was able to see and feel what was happening.

To everybody else, the prisoner and Nolwenn suddenly looked less real, less there. To Nolwenn, it looked like the world around her suddenly became thin, permeable. The prisoner looked solid, as did Draelin and Ondros. Their clothes and possessions, however, had that thin, not-quite-there property. The Red Horns was downright uncomfortable to look at - he became a blurred, shifting being that seemed neither here, nor not-here. It was unsettling, almost nauseating to look at.

The prisoner scooted forward, moving through the bars as if they weren't there. Nolwenn followed. The sensation was...curious. She could feel a coolness where the bars were, but it was faint. Other than that, it looked like moving through an illusion. As if the whole tower were an illusion, and she and the others were the only solid things in it.

Then she was through. The prisoner let go of her hand, and the world regained its solidity. The prisoner, still in a sitting position, folded over onto the floor, clearly exhausted.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns moved towards the pole: "Let's move upwards. Ondros, can you carry the ex-prisoner? I'll make sure upstairs is still safe."

With that, he used to pole to glide upwards.

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn, upon exiting the cage, wastes no time in dressing herself (reaching for her mirror pendant first) except to greet a limping but suddenly very needy Desdemona and make sure the collapsed prisoner is okay. Red and Ondros, though on separate occasions, are both absolutely correct: there will be time for discussing the situation and planning once they're all safely back on the Brazen Pegasus.

Once she's done, the wizard tosses her own cloak over the emaciated woman's shoulders and steps aside for Ondros, hoping he has no issue with carrying her out. "Yes, out we go," she agrees with Red, though she ends up calling him back down when pain shoots through her leg as she beings to try to help Draelin. Sure enough, one of the slime monster's spines is lodged in her wound.

"Red, can you come back down and help Draelin!" she shouts up the tower, "he's a little much for me at the moment!"

On the way out, Nolwenn lags behind twice: once to find an unbroken vial in the lab to fill with a slime sample from one of the monsters, and another time to check the wardrobe in the bedroom for anything the prisoner might be able to use. The wizard's own clothing should suffice, but, this being an expedition into lands unknown, she's only brought the bare minimum and hopes to keep what she has. She does spend a moment staring at one of the portraits but soon follows her companions out into the blinding equatorial sun and safety.

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 22/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: -- Go, go! Ondros says to Nolwenn, I will take them both. The loxodon throws Draelin over one shoulder, and the former prisoner, now draped in Nolwenn's cloak, over the other. He moves to the pole and grasps it with his trunk, moving up through the tower. Spoiler Show Loxodons count as a size larger for carrying capacity, so Ondros can carry 600lbs before being encumbered.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns took a quick look around in the upper floors.

A lot less hesitant, he now confiscated anything that looked like it could help uncover what was going on here, before moving up to the top floor once more.

[agignac]

The Red Horns, unaware of Nolwenn calling him from below, looked through the library. The books were all written in an unfamiliar language, and he didn't find anything that looked helpful.

Ondros arrived first, with two passengers. Draelin struggled down, insisting he could make it out on his own. The prisoner wrapped her arms around Ondros's neck, trying to make it easier for him to carry her.

Nolwenn and Des came up last, then everybody slid upwards to the bedroom.

Nolwenn raided the wardrobe first. The clothes were all of excellent quality, though she couldn't immediately identify the fabric. Most of the clothes were wide-legged pants and long kaftans, all in geometric designs. They were too big for the prisoner, but Nolwenn is able to cinch them up enough that they won't fall off. The woman runs her fingers over the fabric, a look of wonderment on her face.

In the trunk, Red finds a small chest with a supply of gold coins in an unfamiliar design. They are triangular with a hole punched through the middle. (There are 237 coins, but they are a bit larger than the ones you're used to). He also finds a wand, a few hand-written journals, and dagger. The weapon is heavily encrusted with gold and blue gems, and has a narrow, but sharp looking blade. There is also a small brazier also encrusted with blue gems, and a thumb-sized black crystal.

Spoiler: dagger

Show

You may recognize the image, but I just stole it, it's not the same weapon.

Finally, you slide up the pole to the top room. Bright sunlight spills in through the open door. Krieger jumps when you slide up - he was looking at the telescope, fiddling with the knobs. "Oh! I didn't hear you coming up! Anything interesting down there? We were getting worried. You should come out and see the weird jellyfish out here. Who is she?" he asks, finally noticing Ondros's passenger.

Out on the railing, Barb and Starr were sitting on the edge, dangling their legs, throwing crumbled off bits of tower wall at the jellyfish. There are two of them, enormous white jellies, with thick tentacles dangling down out of sight. The bits of masonry bounce right off their thick bodies.

Suddenly, in Ondros's arms, the prisoner begins to panic. She is staring out at the ocean, eyes wide with terror, and crying out words that you don't understand in her melodious language.

[The Hellbug]

Nolwenn is relieved to be getting out the tower...and surprised to see that some of the Brazen Pegasus's crew has disembarked into it. "We found her in a cell down below," Nolwenn answers the kobold, for now not feeling the need to go into her strange abilities or nature, "but we all need to get back to the ship. We can say more later, but there's something very dangerous down..."

The wizard is interrupted, though, by the formerly-caged woman's screams of terror. Nolwenn is at her and Ondros's side in an instant. "It's okay, it's okay," she coos, almost songlike. She does her best to replicate the woman's gesture and tone from when she, herself, was the one panicking, "it's the ocean. We'll be totally safe on the boat. No way for that thing in the depths to get to us..."

While trying to see exactly what the former prisoner is looking at, Nolwenn's eyes are drawn to the jellyfish, and the wizard's attempts at consoling the shrieking woman trail off. There's something odd about the creatures. It's not their size, not their color, no...and it shouldn't be unheard of for them to be just drifting like this...and that's it.

"Hey, shouldn't those things be drifting with the waves?" she suggests dubiously, "they don't exactly swim, do they?"

[Pyrophilios]

Not knowing the significance of the materials and without time for deeper study, The Red Horns shoved all that gear into his bag of holding - including the money and the dagger. A comprehend languages and identification ritual on board of the ship would be in order later.

When they reached the top he gave the waiting crew a tearse warning: "We have to get away from here right now. A very large, very tentacly monster sits in the base of the tower with the power to corrupt creatures into its servants. There is no reason to assume, that those weird jelly fish aren't its servants as well.

I'll fly the woman down to the ship, while you climb down. Cry if anyone needs help. I'll come back to assist."

[agignac]

The halfling twins stared at the tiefling in surprise. "Really? A tentacly monster is inside with jellyfish servants?" Barb throws another bit of stone at one of the jellies. "Well, it's not like they can hurt us if we don't go in the water. As evil minions go, they're not very good."

The prisoner had stopped crying out in fear, responding to Nolwenn's soothing, but she was still clearly badly upset by the sight of the ocean. However, her fear intensified when Red came to fly her over to the boat. She absolutely refused to allow the tiefling to touch her. She clung to Ondros tightly, shrinking away from The Red Horns' outstretched arms. She repeated the same sound she'd made when saw the ocean, which seemed to be her word for "No."

Draelin, on the other hand, happily accepts a ride with Red. Starr looks at the elf and says, "Wow, you guys really had a big fight, eh? Also, you all really stink."

[The Hellbug]

"Okay, if you don't want Red, it won't be him," Nolwenn reassures the deeply agitated woman, "Ondros, you going to be okay on the plank with her?" The wizard turns to her tiefling ally and reassures him as well. "It's nothing personal, I don't think. I may have perceived you the way she does while she was pulling me through the bars. It's...messy."

Hurt and tired as she is, though, Nolwenn is anxious to get everyone off of the tower and back to the ship and (hopefully) safety. "It had more than that inside the tower. I think they may have been formerly related to our new friend, here," Nolwenn replies crisply to the pair of halflings, "but we don't know exactly what it's capable of so, please, back to the ship and we'll explain there. And careful. I'm with Red. Those jellyfish could be trouble."

[Dr.Samurai]

Ondros Loxodon Rune Knight Fighter AC: 18 HP: 22/64 PPer: 12 PInv: 10 PIns: 20 Second Wind: 1/1 | Action Surge: 1/1 Frost Rune: 0/1 | Stone Rune: 1/1 Giant's Might: 3/3 Traits: Darkvision 120ft Conditions: -- There, there, Ondros says, in as gentle a manner as he can. It's not a soft voice in which he speaks, but more of a caring confidence, We'll be on the boat in a moment. Just cover your eyes. He lifts the woman a little more and holds her closer to his body, then his large ear flaps fold to cover her face from seeing the outside. He moves swiftly across the plank and moves toward the stairs that go below deck, Where can I take her to stay? She doesn't want to see the water, he says to the Captain.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns immediately went about identifying the loot for any signs of magic and what that magic did.

He appreciated the captain taking the ship away from the tower - it certainly was much more dangerous than it appeared.

Spoiler

Show

Detect Magic and Identify as rituals on the looted objects.

[agignac]

The ship sails rapidly away from the tower and its resident jellyfish, heading south again. Captain Ortimay Swift and Dark asks for a full account of what happened within the tower.

The prisoner refuses to be left below, and clings to Ondros. She is happier on the deck, finally releasing him, and basks in the warm sunshine, although she stays low and refuses to look over the sides of the ship.

Desdemona climbs the mast to the crows nest, curls up, and begins to thoroughly clean herself.

Draelin collapses into a hammock, only to have his rest interrupted by a bucket of ocean water being dumped on him. "You all stink. Really bad. What is that slime on you?" The halfling twins haul up bucket after bucket, insisting that you wash the slime from yourselves.

Red spends forty minutes detecting the magical items and identifying them. The knife and brazier are meant to be used together to enhance summoning spells. The crystal is protection against eavesdropping and scrying.

Nolwenn poked at the spot in her arm where she knew a spine had gone in. There was no sign of it now, and it hurt like hell. After asking around, she found that Cyril, the dragonborn, was considered the sawbones of the crew, and was willing to go in after the spine.

She sat Nolwenn at a table, and sterilized her arm with a copious amount of rum. She carefully cleaned her sharpest filleting knife, and then sliced carefully to widen the wound. With a pair of tweezers, she dug around for the spine, but couldn't get a hold of it. Cursing, she found a pair of pliers, cleaned them, and asked Nolwenn, "Want me to try again?"

Nolwenn gritted her teeth and nodded. Cyril, black tongue poking out between sharp teeth, narrowed her eyes and attacked the spine. This time she was able to pull it out, though a fair amount of flesh and a fresh flow of blood accompanied it. Examining the spine, she exclaimed, "Look at the secondary spines on this! Are they...are they growing? Deity! It's a good thing we got this out when we did...who knows what would have happened if it had stayed inside you." She puts the spine in a bowl, where it quivers and wiggles of its own accord.

[Pyrophilios]

The Red Horns had heard Nolwenn's suppressed cries and came to investigate. Seeing the wriggling spike, it didn't take him long to put 2 and 2 together.

"Ondros, didn't you get hit too with those things? Let me get my herbalism kit, before we dig through your hide. This doesn't have to be a butcher's job."

Rummaging through his bag of holding, The Red Horns produced a kit with various pots, sharp knives and powders.

"Let's see what we can find."

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+3)[21]+(1d4)[1] Guidance for the exploratory part of the medicine check

(1d4)[1] Guidance for the removal + (1d6)[6] Knowledge from a past life. Herbalism toolkit proficiency to gain advantage on the medicine check

(1d20)[7]/(1d20)[9]+3= Total 19