Sebastian sees that the gugs have many arms and holds for them to get closer so he isn't rended in multiple directions.
Tyrandro shoots his arrows from behind the cover of his fluffy companion. Again, he is able to take down one of the beasts in a single volley.
Iolana tries to seize up one of the gug's minds, but it turns out to be surprisingly willful for a beast.
Trinia begins inspiring courage with a rowdy flute solo that amplifies pleasantly in the cavern's acoustics.
The two remaining gugs howl and move forward to attack. At first, it seems like the furthest one stopped short of reaching Tunstall but then its arms contort in impossible ways that hurt your head to even think about and a claw reaches out 15 feet to rake at the wolf. If Tunstall weren't on the defensive, it would have surely got him. The second gug takes a more straightforward attempt with an up close bite, but also cannot break Tunstall's defense.
Ayako casts Searing Light at the closest Gug
Tyrandro keeps shooting, starting with the one further away.
Fluffy bites the one in front of him.
Iolana sends an Elemental Ray at the gug in front of Fluffy.
Sebastian moves up to attack. In a series of flukes, he trips up and allows the gug to attack him. The gug overcompensates and tumbles over Sebastian. Sebastian then gets off his attack on the gug and he stumbles again in a furry tangle.
Tyrandro attacks the furthest gug first and easily kills it. He is able to plant an extra arrow in the last gug too. Fluffy also takes a bite out of the remaining gug.
Iolana hits the gug with a direct hit of a weak ice ray but it isn't enough to finish it.
Trinia maintains her inspirational song.
The gug bites at Sebastian who dodges out of the way, then tears into Tunstall with its four claws. All four hit and it tears Tunstall's flesh open, rending him further.
Sebastian acrobatics to get into a flank on the Gug. Then he twists and stabs at the Gug.
Iolana lets another Elemental Ray Fly.
Mushu floats his wand up and heals Fluffy, placing the wolf into his debt.
Tyrandro gets a very displeased look as Fluffy not only gets his fur tousled. "Keep your fingers off my pet."
Ayako heals Tunstall.
Sebastian redeems himself by tumbling around the gug and stabbing it in the back, finishing it off.
All that remains is the dark foreboding lake and the island with the soft glow.
There is going to be a giant tentacle in that lake isn't there?
"Of course there is. She waves at Seb to lead the way.
Seb moves toward the lake carefully.
We could skip the whole inevitable collapsing castle thing by grabbing the sword if it is there, and teleporting away with Laori's corpse. Hold on.
Ayako writes a quick note.
Sial,
Congratulations are in order for your new role. May you have no regrets about your choice.You have been a staunch ally during our battles in Scarwall so blessings of Zon-Kuthon upon you.
Ayako
Anyone want to add on?
"No thanks. You words are good to make sure he got no hard feelings about us." Tyrandro comments.
He looks carefully around if there are any signs of the next attack.
Well everyone gets ready, I can summon an elemental to carry us over to whatever is glowing.
"What element?" Tyrandro asks skeptical.
Air, a big one
I'll add to the letter."
Good luck on your new position. I hope it works out for you, and may you be in much pain as Zon Kuthon requires. We know you can't leave, but if you wish us to send any comfort items, and you can guarantee that the creature delivering them will come to no harm. I'll see what i can do to make your long future a comfortable or uncomfortable one.
Iolana
You never know if Zon Kuthon followers will want to be comfortable or uncomfortable. So confusing."
"Are we ready?"
Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
Scattered among the gug dwellings are a total of 19 assorted gemstones worth 250 gp each. One of the gugs recently caught a svirfneblin in the deep caves below this area while on a hunt, and the deep gnome’s mostly eaten body still lies in the westernmost hovel, along with much damaged gear (little of which remains functional). The gnome’s still-working Small +3 aberration-bane heavy pick lies against the northern wall where the gug threw it.
The point of light out in the lake is, in fact, the blade Serithtial, embedded point-first into a stony rock outcropping in the lake’s northeast area.
As you venture out onto the water, Serithtial senses you and its glow grows brighter. Then when you touchdown on the rocky island, Kleestad, or what he has become, emerges from the lake.
Kleestad is a disgusting creature that is part immense worm and part humanoid. He is just over 80 feet in length, with sickly pale flesh infested with rot and pustules. Dozens of spiky legs twitch along the length of his body, while his upper torso, bloated and pallid, is still vaguely human.
Ugh, how about we fly above it and yank the sword out? A quick teleport with Triana will get us back home and help us avoid a tussle
"Keep that in mind when it goes south."
Sebastian yanks Serithtial out of the ground with ease and holds it aloft over his head. The sword magically changes shape to that of a rapier.
Iolana casts haste.
Kleestad spews a 50-foot cone of acidic blood that washes over the entire island hitting all of you. The acid clings to your body and its rancid stench nauseates you.
Trinia uses inspire courage +2.
Tyrandro ducks away behind Ayako, avoiding the disgusting stuff altogether.
"Thanks, you're my hero." he tells her, before he starts shooting the ugly.
Ayako gets hit with the vile brew and gets burned and violently sick, helplessly turning and vomiting on Tyrando's pants
"Ewww."
Iolana takes all the damage. "That's disgusting. Almost as disgusting as getting swallowed by a worm."
Sebastian manages to avoid most of the damage. He holds up Serithtial with a smile. "This weapon will do nicely in our battle against the Queen."
Ayako barfs and is ill for a while
Tyrandro fires a lot of arrows, intent on making it die. He hurts it badly but it still fights on.
Ayako is unable to do anything except spew out the sickly fluids that may have gotten in her mouth. Iolana isn't any better off either.
Seb stabs at the creature.
Sebastian takes his holy artifact and eviscerates the worm-like abomination. More horrible fluids spew out of its wounds and it collapses back into the lake. Its corpse floats atop the water like a rotting beached whale.
"That is some weapon. I'm sure we'll be able to use this to free Korvosa of the Queens's influence and convince my sister to leave her service." Sebastian wipes the blade clean and sheaths it.
Ayako keeps vomiting black nile and somethings that look like tentacled creatures slither from her throat and slither towards the lake. Urghh..Gooooo Blargh!
Tyrandro gives Sebastion a high five. "That was quick work."
"Do you have some magic cleaning. Two of the combatants spilled their inner values over all of us and it would be really nice to get rid of that." Tyrandro suggests.
"Do we need anything else from here or can we pack up and leave?"
Iolana casts Prestidigitation on everyone. "There all clean. I'm ready to leave this place behind. Let's head back to Korvosa."
She offers to Teleport everyone home.
Ayako will drop off the note to Sial. Well that about covers it. Time for a major bath
So, what shall we do when we get back to Korsova? Teleport straight to her highness and behead her?
"Don't forget Laori. If we teleport to the Pharasmin Temple they could raise her." Tyrandro reminds the others.
We have her in the bag.
You teleport out of Castle Scarwall, leaving it behind for the last time. In time, the orc tribes will likely discover that the castle is no longer haunted and take up residence. But what becomes of the castle is neither your concern nor your responsibility. You have much more pressing issues to address back home.
Since you have already been traveling back and forth between Korvosa and the Castle, you are aware of the oppressive state that Korvosa has fallen into. But to summarize again:
With the Sable Company gone, the Korvosan Guard reduced to little more than a shadow of its former glory, the silence of the noble houses, the retreat of the Hellknights and the wizards of the Acadamae into their respective fortresses, and finally the church of Abadar’s public declaration of support of the city’s new ruler, the formerly vibrant city has dulled. Merchants still come and go from Korvosa, but they are taxed heavily and tend not to stay overnight. Locals no longer have to fear riots, plagues, or even much in the way of thievery, but the Gray Maidens (who if anything have become more aggressive after abandoning the Longacre Building) have little patience for lawbreakers of any sort. Compounding this are Queen Ileosa’s numerous new and often ridiculous laws, which force the city’s citizens into ever-increasing debt and despair.
Your first stop upon returning to the city is the Dead Warrens to meet with the Church of Pharasma. Upon arriving in the ossuary, you are reunited with Cressida, Neolandus, Vencarlo, Amin Jalento, Grau Soldado, and others. As you arrive, you are quickly greeted by a joyful and thankful Cressida Kroft, a bit more ragged and rough-looking than before but no less friendly and supportive. After the reunion, Cressida asks for updates on your adventures in Scarwall.
"If you're looking for a new home, castle Scarwall would be available now. All former inhabitants got evicted." Tyrandro gives a short summary. "Only one grumpy follower of Zon-Kuthon will inhabit the basement. But as there are no doors that lead there, it should be no big issue."
"As for followers of Zon-Kuthon. We have here a dead one that I would like to have back alive."
We have recovered what we needed. I suppose we can head right to the queen and deal with her. So no more of these ridiculous statues.
Indeed. This is Laori and has she been a firm ally. Bringing her back seems only proper
Seb pulls out Serithial and shows it to their allies. "We have the sword that will free the Queen from Kazavon's control. Whether she can be saved otherwise. I hope so." I also hope my sister can be saved.
"Have you learned anything that could help us?" he asks Cressida.
"We made some friends in the Cinderlands, and Tyrando got to visit Kar Maga. It's his favorite city." she gives the marksman a quick grin.
"We do wish that Laori be raised. She's been a good friend to us, and didn't deserve to die as she did."
Tyrandro groans at the mentioning of his 'favorite city.'
Cressida and the others present are awed at the sight of the holy artifact. "Truly you are the heroes this city needs. At last I feel like we have a chance to fight back. Of course we can raise your ally. I will gladly take her to the archbishop as soon as our conversation is complete. As to what I have learned, I have a good deal of information to share with you." says Cressida.
"Things are rapidly approaching a critical point in Korvosa, and that if the move against the queen is to happen, it must happen before she and her forces are too entrenched. The relatively minor victories you may have had earlier against the Red Mantis and Gray Maidens have helped, but now the remaining assassins and Gray Maidens have retreated into Castle Korvosa, where they are free to plot with impunity."
"My plan represents a final legal gambit—I intend to publicly reveal that seneschal Neolandus yet lives, and that Queen Ileosa attempted to have him assassinated. With him still alive, Korvosa’s nobles and other government agencies beyond the queen have a legal option beyond open rebellion to depose Ileosa. I hope that this will rally the noble houses, arbiters, and magistrates, but I also fear that doing so will spur Ileosa to step up the violence to even greater levels."
"Therefore, before us rebels can take to the streets and seek out the support of the city, we need someone to take the initiative against the monarchy. At first, this means that we need intelligence from the castle. I have heard numerous rumors about what has been going on inside Castle Korvosa: that the Gray Maidens have withdrawn into the keep with their remaining leaders, that devils and a dragon dwell within, that the Red Mantis are now secretly in control of the building, and that Ileosa has transformed into a monster. What I need are heroes like you willing to infiltrate Castle Korvosa to not only find out what exactly we’re all up against, but also to do your best to undermine and defeat Ileosa and her minions. Leadership is the key to control, and without it, Ileosa can’t remain in power."
"I have prepared a list of tasks for you to accomplish. I am hesitant to make her move with Neolandus to reclaim control until the majority of these tasks are accomplished, but in the end I will listen to your advice as to when it’s safe to do so."