Lilly's healing stabilizes Jordan, and his moan becomes more of a raspy breathing. Some additional healing from Kjell manages to get him able to walk. However, he still looks half desiccated, and it appears it will take time or more powerful healing to completely restore him - if that is even possible.
He forces out a frail, "thank you..." but even that effort leads him to a coughing fit. Johana helps him to his feet and looks ready to get out of there as quickly as possible.
Pulling Krieger out of the water, he is not breathing. Fortunately, some quick healing causes him to reflexively cough out some of filthy water and begin breathing again. Unfortunately, he remains unconscious and won't awaken. You do manage to easily break the ice off his legs and free them.
The sludge remnants of the creature are then absorbed into the slab, which begins glowing brightly again, slightly pulsing as if it is breathing.
Seeing Jordan revive, Taman breathes a sigh of relief, then notices that Krieger is still breathing as well. He rushes over and expends his last bit of healing magic:
"I think we could all do with a breather," Taman suggests, "But afterwards we should probably report the presence of this strange rock to someone."
Perception:
Startled, Duncan looks over to the defeated creature in surprise.
"Um. Guys! I think that thing might not be as dead as we thought. I think I can still hear it breathing!"
Perception: 1d20+5
Startled, Duncan looks over to the defeated creature in surprise.
"Um. Guys! I think that thing might not be as dead as we thought. I think I can still hear it breathing!"
Lilly spends a few minutes tending her own wounds, then starts at Duncan's statement. "What! Wonder if it will burn"?
Cure Wounds (2nd Level slot)
"Maybe someone strong could break it...?" Taman wonders aloud, looking warily at the pulsing stone.
"Should I try it?" Kjell's finished calling on his northern gods for aid, and lifts his hammer, ready to strike if the party suggests it.
"Should I try it?" Kjell's finished calling on his northern gods for aid, and lifts his hammer, ready to strike if the party suggests it.
The breathing can be heard by everyone and is timed with the pulsing of the lines of light on the slab.
Jordan begins to panic, "NO! *cough cough* It still wants to feed on us! *hack cough hack* still hear... in my head..." Johana pulls him to his feet and helps him out of the room.
"Maybe we should all get out of the room first, and do this cautiously. How about I stand just outside the doorway and blast it from a distance until it's destroyed?"
"The might of Thor knows no fear of living stones," Kjell scoffs, lining up a shot. "Besides, if there's evil, I'm to meet it head-on. In the name of the gods, the darkness shall be quelled!"
Kjell's warhammer strikes the slab solidly, causing a spider web of cracks where the blow fell. A mental roar of pain flashes through all of your minds as several of the glowing lines that cross the cracked section flicker and fade out.
The rest of the glowing lines continue to pulse, but the breathing has a slight rasp in it now.
"By Thor's strength, Odin's power, Tyr's skill, and the might of the gods, you shall be gone!" Kjell continues to pound away at the stone, ignoring the flashes of pain as he hammers away.
Mael adds a firebolt to the attack.
Taman stands warily between the action and the two civilians, hoping to protect them if anything goes wrong.
With each strike against the slab, the lines flicker out, and it mentally roars in pain until the last line disappears and with a final, painful cry of anguish the slab crumbles.
Then the room is silent except for your own breathing, and the quiet sloshing of the water disturbed by the falling onyx chunks.
"Well done, friends!" Taman declares in his usual, chipper tone. "Now, shall we take a breather before trekking back?"
Duncan goes over and examines the remains of the platform.
Perception:
Duncan goes over and examines the remains of the platform.
Perception: 1d20+5
There slab appears to have been solid onyx, and the surface smooth with no signs of the magical lines that once crossed it. It is quite cold, but otherwise unremarkable.
Jordan calms notably, "Don't... hear it..."
Johana helps her brother to his feet and then addresses the group, "Is it finally gone? And did it...it... is Krieger dead?"
"And did it...it... is Krieger dead?"
"And did it...it... is Krieger dead?"
"Well I guess that is that! Lets get out of this sewer and get medical help for our friends."
"I think that is a great idea. Don't want these wounds to get infected down here in this filth".
Lilly grabs up a few freshly dead rats for Eyeball while returning to the surface.
As group helps Johana's brother and carries Krieger back through the sewers, the path is long and winding but uneventful. Climbing up to the grate, a bitter wind blows in, chilling everyone. Wet clothes begin to partially freeze as the party hurries across the street to Johana's home.
"The window is broken in Jordan's room, so I'm going to lay him down in mine. Hopefully some rest at home will help. Over there is a couch for Krieger. I... I'm sorry I only have a couple other seats... but thank you for saving my brother! Thank you!" She then hurries off, smiling broadly, to get her brother settled in as he weakly nods and waves his appreciation.
Current Status:
Jordan's appearance has improved and his wounds are healed, but he is still exhausted and hasn't spoken.
Krieger still hasn't awakened.
It is already late afternoon and time for the meeting with Aleanor approaches within the next couple hours.
Taman keeps eyeing Krieger on the way back. Once Johana has left the room, he says, "I think Krieger's left his body somehow, and I don't know if he's coming back." Taman begins flipping frantically through his book of adventuring notes as he says, "I'm sorry, I don't know if I have anything on this..."
Then, as if struck by inspiration, he announces, "Perhaps our meeting tonight will be related and we'll learn something useful! We should rest up and make sure we're ready." His face returns to a happy, beaming smile.
"If you don't mind I'll stay in your brothers room... just in case something comes looking for unfinished business. I need to rest up a bit anyway, and Eyeball will be all too happy to keep watch".
Cure Wounds1
Cure Wounds2
Cure Wounds3
Cure Wounds4
Lilly takes the first two spells for herself, and offers the last two to whomever needs them most.
Mael spends his time in quiet contemplation as he awaits the meeting.
Duncan waits with Mal, checking over his weapons and keeping an eye on the place.
The group finishes drying their clothes and tending to their wounds. They leave Krieger in the care of Johana and head over to the Sign of the Fair Warrior. The bitter cold wind has unfortunately not let up.
The howl of the wind is only broken by a lone figure clutching a bundle of papers attempting to hand them out to the very few people actually out on the streets. They all hurry past, ignoring him, and rushing to get to their destinations.
The man, who looks as if years of labor have aged him beyond his years, sees the group and hurries over to them, eyes wide and smile bright despite the bitter cold. With red, chapped hands trembling from the cold, he holds out a sheet of paper that flaps violently in the wind. Nearly shouting to be heard over the wind, he says, "Master Enoch has wisdom for each and every one of us! Unstop your ears and open your mind to the wisdom of Master Enoch!"
The man seems to little care if anyone actually takes the paper as he moves to continue walking down the street.
Lilly grabs one of the sheets from the man, and has to move quickly to keep Eyeball from snatching the sheet and flying off... one of his favorite games.
The paper is a crudely printed flyer that reads:
As predicted by Master Enoch, the change approaches; don't be caught unawares when the True Masters arrive! For just a small contribution of gold you too can hear the revelations of Master Enoch and his inspired Ministry of the True Masters. Choose your own destiny: Remain in the dark or become one of The Elect, the chosen few guaranteed the grace of the True Masters! Hear Master Enoch speak at his nightly meetings at the end of Quietshore Lane, just after nightfall. See you there!
The man continues on his way proclaiming the wisdom of Master Enoch until he can no longer be heard above the wind.
Entering the tavern, you see Handsome John behind the bar again and his face lights up at your entrance. "Thought I'd be alone tonight what with that nasty a'blowing! Glad to have some customers! Please have a seat anywhere you like and let me know what you'll be having." Other than the bartender, there is no one else in the establishment.
Handsome John is briefly startled by the sight of Eyeball, but quickly regains his composure. "Normally I'd make you leave your critter outside, but if it won't be making a mess... of any sort... then I suppose it won't bother any of the other patrons!" he says with a forced chuckle.
"So what can I get for ya?"
"Greetings!" Taman declares bouncily. "Let's get started with some drinks and bread for the group!" Taman tosses a gold coin in payment.
Lilly nods and grimaces as Eyeball tries to fly off her shoulder after a particularly large and tasty looking moth, flits across the room. Her struggles only result in the creature still hanging from her shoulder, but somehow upside down, and under her arm.
"He'll be good", she says with a glare at the willful creature, "But if he breaks anything, or makes a mess I'll make it good".
Handsome John gladly takes the gold coin and hurries back to the kitchen. After a moment, he emerges with bread and the same drinks as they each had the previous night. "My finest drinks for the finest guests of the evening!" he says with a chuckle. Having paying customers has improved his mood significantly.
"Say, didn't you have a dwarven fella with ya? Will he be coming by? Either way, I hope you all have big appetites because I have a fair bit of food preparing in back!"
John waits on the group, tending to their needs, and as the evening progresses, it becomes apparent that Aleanor is not coming. In fact, no one is. Even the Brothers Bleak - Handsome John's dwarven bouncers - never arrive.
It appears as if our meeting may not happen. Should we be concerned over the lack of attendance on Aleanor's part, or your dwarven friends?
Duncan breaths a little easier as the dwarven bouncers do not arrive, but is more concerned when their contact also is a no show.
"I hope nothing has happened to her. With all the weird things going on around here, I hope she has not fallen afoul of something...or someone!"
Upon return to the surface, Kjell seems at a loss. "I'm not sure how much healing magic of mine can help your brother just now," he says, looking at Johanna with a solemn expression. "But I swear by the gods and skies above, I shall find a way to help him!" He raises his hammer in triumph with a wild grin. "Of course, right now I could use a rest and some food."
When the rest of the group comes to the tavern, Kjell is already there, having come to rest up and get some good food and drink. He raises his tankard in greeting as the others arrive, and waves them to his table to pass the time until the meeting.
When that time comes and goes, though, he grows concerned, and nods with Duncan's thoughts. "Indeed. Aleanor can handle herself, to be sure, but with trouble like this morning, even she might need a helping hand." He drains his tankard, slams it on the table, and stands. "We should go and find her!"
As John brings out another rounds of drinks, he hears the conversation. "Aleanor? Stern elf lady you wouldn't want to mess with? She doesn't come here regularly, but last time was about a week ago. Were you supposed to meet her?"
Meet me at the Sign of the Fair Warrior in Stormport, on the next new moon. Something extraordinary is happening, and you need to know about it. The ranks of the Elect are swelling.
– Aleanor Pathsteader
Stormport is a bustling mid-size free city on the edge of the northern sea; its population is mostly human, but with sizable minorities of elves, half-elves, and halflings. The Sign of the Fair Warrior is one of the city's nicer inns, owned by a heavily scarred old human veteran known as Handsome John (the nickname is presumably ironic).
You've made your way here with little time to spare; tonight is the next new moon. A bitterly cold wind, late for this time of spring, blows through the area, apparently keeping most people off the streets.
The tavern area of the Fair Warrior is vacant aside from an odd assortment of 5 people sitting at a table eating. Someone, presumably the innkeeper, brings them food and drink.
The door opens and two more enter the tavern. Handsome John's face lights up at the new arrivals, "Just when I thought no one else would be comin' tonight! Welcome! Welcome! Have a seat anywhere! You thirsty? Hungry?"
A wine drinker eh. That stuff's for sissies. Ale. That's a real Dwarven drink! a grumpy looking Dwarf says as he approaches the bar.
Barkeep. Finest Dwarven Stout you have! And it better not be that rotpiss you served that man there. Garnult points to someone else at the bar he notices drinking Ale, but not Dwarven Ale.