"We need to find a way to capture or kill that bird, if we see it again. Kern, can you do that? As long as it follows us, whoever its master is will know we're coming."
Alister rubs his hand through his hair. "As much as I want to see my family again, I think we need to deal with this Vordakai. This is a threat to the centaurs and if Aecorra is right, then it's where the rest of Varnhold is being held. If they're still alive. If we go home to Stagfell now, we risk its power growing. We won't rest easy until it's destroyed."
"I can enchant Kern with spells of flight and speed. They should allow him to catch up to the bird when it flees."
"I am not sure wasting time on the bird makes much sense, but Kern wishes to try then we should find a place within the mountains where the bird has to come closer to keep us in line of sight and then launch the attack." Mikhail says.
"We will look for a suitable spot, particularly as we go through the mountain passes," replies Piotr.
"In the end, there may be nothing for it but to do our business in Stagfell as quickly as possible then try to deal with this threat. Poor consolation, but we may have drawn this creature's attention from the centaurs."
Kern flies up, attacks and injures the raven. It is a much more rugged bird than any ordinary animal and flaps away, moving into a dive, headed in the direction of the tomb.
Kern swiftly switches to Skybolt after slicing into the raven spy. A magically induced flurry or arrows ensues as he flies after the bird.
Booming thunder and crackling lightning engulf the bird with each successful arrow.
Kern swiftly kills the raven.
Now what?
"We should get to the cave and rest. I will take the Water Breathing spells in the morning and we can continue to explore the areas we did not get to." Mikhail says.
Alister nods. "Agreed. Whoever that raven belonged to is now probably alarmed and will be on high alert. So actually, the longer we take to return to the tower, either the more time for preparations or the more fatigued they will be from being on alert. It's likely a wash either way."
Kern nods in agreement while he settles in for first watch.
"Anyone want roast raven?" Kern asks with a raised eyebrow as he waits for their cozy cabin.
"Did you bring the raven?," asks Piotr.
"If so, it should be checked for magical effects and items."
Piotr proceeds to do just that.
Dead, it is just a plain old raven.
"Good. Let's rest for the night and then we get back to see what's left of this Vordakai." The Baron looks over in the direction of Stagfell for a moment, but then he turns and seem decided. "Come on then."
The night passes without incident. Everything is quiet, as if a hush has fallen over the mountain valley. Returning to the island, you stand before the entrance, a sense of menacing foreboding in the eerie silence.
Mikhail calls upon Abadar to give everyone the ability to breathe water for much of the rest of the day and then begins trudging down the stone steps that lead into the waters depths. "Let us go find this creature and end this threat to the surrounding communities." He says right before his head falls beneath the surface.
Piotr casts his daily protective magic, before spending a moment with Corb. He now wonders whether the fate of their opponent's familiar will have made Corb a target.
Out of habit Kern goes to draw his blade, but stops himself to draw Skybolt. He gives a curt nod to the group before following Mikhail's lead.
Before proceeding he uses his Longstrider wand.
You enter the tomb, pass the zombie tunnel, enter the lake, swim through the flooded room, squeeze past the broken bars, travel down the stairs and find yourselves in the room where you fought the daemon.
Now what?
Mikhail moves to the first set of doors that they did not enter and waits to see if Kern finds anything amiss.
Piotr stays back, ready to use his magic in case there is a threat beyond the doors.
Kern inspects the doors before stepping back behind Mikhail.
Aristu stands behind Kern and holds up a steady bright light to illuminate the door.
Alister readies to find whatever weird horror might be behind the door. "Ok, let's find this Vordakai."
Mikhail opens the door and finds...disappointment. It's an unfinished staircase.
:-)
"On the plus side, that's one less place to explore. Disappointing, in a way though," says Piotr.
"Still, isn't it a little encouraging that whatever is here was entombed before construction was completed?"
Kern lets out a relieved snort as he lowers his nocked arrow.
"Can't say I'm too disappointed. But onward to the next unknown danger."
Kerns leads the team to the only unexplored door. He examines the door before stepping aside for Mikhail to open it.
Mikhail opens the door, which reveals an old and dusty corridor bending around to the left.
"Creepy old corridor, bending out of sight. Check. Ok, let's go see what else is here." Alister casts a light spell on Mikhail's shield to help them see, then waits to follow them in.
The passageway curves around to the left, proceeds down a flight of steps and ends in a arched doorway. The door is made of iron that appears to have mostly avoided the ravages of rust for millennia. Perhaps it has a preserving enchantment on it.
Mikhail stays back as Kern searches and asks the others ”Are there magical wards on this one? It might explain why this creature did not come to face us when we were last here.”
Kern moves slowly down the hall to investigate the doorway.
If he finds no danger, he'll give Mikhail the nod to proceed.
Piotr will cast a cantrip before examining the door and the nearby area.
Piotr finds no magic beyond the ancient preservation magic, and Kern finds no traps. So Mikhail opens the door, revealing a large, dark chamber. Your light illumines only part of the large, low space.
This chamber’s walls are composed of burial alcoves. All are empty save for small stone shelf ledges holding assorted bits of pottery.
Alister carefully enters the room. "Burial alcoves. Does anyone see any inscriptions? Or bodies?" He moves to examine one of the alcoves.
Before entering, Piotr casts Detect Magic again. He will repeat as he approaches the niches near Alister.
Mikhail enters the room and looks around to see if there are any interesting hints as to the culture and how they dealt with their dead.
Kern moves into the center of the room to scan for any undead cyclops that may be angry they're there.
With a pair of horrible screams, two hideous figures leap out of the stonework to attack those mortals who would dare insult the crypt with their presence! You all recognize them as the same sort of creature that tried to kill Piotr on the mountainside.
+2 for Initiative
STATUS
Kernithar - Frightened 1
Soul Eater 1
Soul Eater 2
Aristu
Mikhail
Piotr - Frightened 1
Alister - Frightened 1
When the creatures appear with a scream, Alister instinctively screams back at the one closest to him.