On her way home from the herbalist, Florr takes an extra day to get back to Haven's Cross. Halfway on her journey she decides to actively look for herbs. She holds the herb book and walks next to Storm Surge for four hours on the lookout for herbs that she would recognize.
On her way home from the herbalist, Florr takes an extra day to get back to Haven's Cross. Halfway on her journey she decides to actively look for herbs. She holds the herb book and walks next to Storm Surge for four hours on the lookout for herbs that she would recognize.
[dice=Survival to find recognizable herbs]1d20+4
[dice=Advantage from book]1d20+4
Few flowers grow now that the frosts have come, but Florr does come across a pretty sizeable length of
Florr carefully wraps the vine in a burlap bag and stashes it in the saddlebags. When she gets back to Haven's Cross she takes a few inches from it and adds it to a pot of boiling water. She stews it for several hours as she carefully washes and brushes the swamp sludge from Storm Surge's coat, hair, and hooves. She cools the brew and bottles it.
She tastes a drop of her concoction left in the pot. She thinks it tasts a little weak and watery. She sets another pot on to boil while she cleans the rest of the vine she found. She drops it in and lets it simmer down until the water has left the pot. She cools the thicker brew and bottles it, tasting a bit before sealing it.
After she stews the vine and cleans up her horse, she takes the incense to the temple. She reverently goes inside and looks for a door that might lead to the Priest. She is careful it to disturb any worshippers.
The temple looks to be a large round building. The door opens and you see a large round room made from smooth stone. There are various benches, braziers and a small altar with a silver bowl. It's very cold, plain and you don't hear or see anyone. In the back of the room is a door. It's locked. You think you may here some conversation but it's muffled. You also swear you get a wiff of something...unpleasant and slightly familiar.
Florr walks quietly back to the door and knocks.
Florr walks quietly back to the door and knocks.
[dice =perception on smell recognition] 1d20 +2
It's rot.
Nikolai notices floor go into the temple. The town is very quiet and boring, not much is getting past you.
Just as Florr is raising her hand, thinking about knocking on the door she feels a tug on her cloak at about waste level.
"Hey Florr. What are you doing in here? What's that smell?"
Just as Florr is raising her hand, thinking about knocking on the door she feels a tug on her cloak at about waste level.
"Hey Florr. What are you doing in here? What's that smell?"
The muffled conversation ceases after you speak. There's a bit of shuffling.
"The temple is close. Please come back tomorrow." you hear from the other side of the door.
"The temple is close. Please come back tomorrow."
"Oh, pardon me good sir. Was just hoping to speak my thanks to the gods. I will see myself out."
He looks at Florr and holds a finger up to his lips. He stomps of loudly back to the entrance. Then sneaks back to where he was. He puts his ear up to the door trying to discern what they are saying. He'll look for cracks to peek through or a keyhole as well.
Florr watches him, shaking her head when he makes the stomping noises (not because of his trickery but because of his disturbing the worshippers). She doesn't say anything but listens intently.
You're able to peer through a small crack between the door and the floor. You see a dark staircase that spirals underneath you, some dim lighting comes from beyond. A very tall stretched humanoid shadow is being cast against the stairs. The smell is quite foul.
Nikolai urgently motions for Florr to move her head closer so he can say something. He whispers in her ear,
"Florr, I don't know what you are doing here but these guys are up to something. This door leads downstairs. Are there any other ways inside?"
Nikolai urgently motions for Florr to move her head closer so he can say something. He whispers in her ear,
"Florr, I don't know what you are doing here but these guys are up to something. This door leads downstairs. Are there any other ways inside?"
Nope. No windows at all, a bit strange, using daylight to see if far more economical. (Religion check if you'd like).
Nikolai will try the door handle to see if it is locked, as silently as possible.
The door is locked, though it seems like a weak one. You're very quiet.
Nikolai urgently motions for Florr to move her head closer so he can say something. He whispers in her ear,
"Florr, I don't know what you are doing here but these guys are up to something. This door leads downstairs. Are there any other ways inside?"
Florr replies in a hushed tone, "I am delivering incense from the herbalist." She motions to the bundle in her hand. "This smell is awful. Reminds me of fish rot. I was going to give this bundle to the priest."
"Ah, that's great. The first rule of sneaking is have a reason to be there. If the conversation gets too preachy you take over."
He waves his hand in front of his nose.
"It's no wonder they need this stuff."
He then removes a few pins and a bent small bent metal rod from his pockets.
[dice=knowledge religion, mainly what do their robes look like, color cut etc if I know]1d20+1
The god this temple follows is known as "the blind god" who's proper name is Caecus. They're known for their neutrality and generosity since they'll offer healing and refuge to any who seek it. It's priests wear blindfolds at all times and plain, very clean, white linen robes. You've heard rumors that the priests actually scoop out their own eyes as a sign of their devotion before being accepted into the order.
Florr holds up the bundle. "Those robes are pretty useful," she says quietly. "Do you want this?"
The god this temple follows is known as "the blind god" who's proper name is Caecus. They're known for their neutrality and generosity since they'll offer healing and refuge to any who seek it. It's priests wear blindfolds at all times and plain, very clean, white linen robes. You've heard rumors that the priests actually scoop out their own eyes as a sign of their devotion before being accepted into the order.
Nikolai's clothes change into the robes of the devout Caecus followers. He lifts a ratty strip of cloth up from over his eyes.
"Listen, If I hear anything or I feel we are about to encounter this group I may have to pull this blindfold down. We are making your delivery as scheduled. We found this door unlocked. Let's just try to get a look at what they are doing."
Florr holds up the bundle. "Those robes are pretty useful," she says quietly. "Do you want this?"
"Why don't you hold onto that. These guys are weird about sight. If I have to lose that I don't want to lose my hands too."
You're able to peer through a small crack between the door and the floor. You see a dark staircase that spirals underneath you, some dim lighting comes from beyond. A very tall stretched humanoid shadow is being cast against the stairs. The smell is quite foul.
He will wait for the shadow to descend back down the stairs before he attempts to open the door (if he can pick the lock).
The god this temple follows is known as "the blind god" who's proper name is Caecus. They're known for their neutrality and generosity since they'll offer healing and refuge to any who seek it. It's priests wear blindfolds at all times and plain, very clean, white linen robes. You've heard rumors that the priests actually scoop out their own eyes as a sign of their devotion before being accepted into the order.Nikolai's clothes change into the robes of the devout Caecus followers. He lifts a ratty strip of cloth up from over his eyes.
"Listen, If I hear anything or I feel we are about to encounter this group I may have to pull this blindfold down. We are making your delivery as scheduled. We found this door unlocked. Let's just try to get a look at what they are doing."
Florr holds up the bundle. "Those robes are pretty useful," she says quietly. "Do you want this?""Why don't you hold onto that. These guys are weird about sight. If I have to lose that I don't want to lose my hands too."
You're able to peer through a small crack between the door and the floor. You see a dark staircase that spirals underneath you, some dim lighting comes from beyond. A very tall stretched humanoid shadow is being cast against the stairs. The smell is quite foul.He will wait for the shadow to descend back down the stairs before he attempts to open the door (if he can pick the lock).
The shadow moves away and you hear an odd conversation. A one sided conversation.
"They're gone master...yes I know you're hungry...I'm not used to the mind speaking...it's a habit to speak out loud!...I've heard nothing of the tablet or Karl...you're healing you'll be strong again soon...yes I'm sorry master."
The lock makes the satisfying 'click' that you've learned to love.
Florr quickly puts out a hand to Nikolai's shoulder. "The voice just mentioned Karl, and the tablet - we just took care of it - it destroyed Rubrim Grima - please be careful Nikolai!"
The conversation stops suddenly.
Roll for initiative.
A tall priest in white robes wearing a thick blindfold stands behind you blocking the door.
"I told you to leave. The temple is closed."
His hands whirl around in a dazzling pattern, tiny streaks of light appearing behind his fingers as they trail through the air.
Florr holds up her hands, which are empty. "Wait, we just want to help!"
She suddenly ceases all motion, her hands by her sides and her eyes open and staring at the lights.
Before your eyes the priest instantly becomes a young man in red robes and short blonde hair (Florr feels like she recognizes him from somewhere). He reaches behind him and drops a bar across the front door. He lifts Nikolai over his shoulder and uses his other hand to tightly grip Florrs hair and starts dragging/carrying you towards the stairs.
(2nd turn)
"Stop.... please...... mistake....... incense!" Florr manages to gasp.
Nikolai manages to groan into the priest's ear,
"We was just uh delivering yer incense...you rrrrreally need it...swamp ass."
Nikolai allows his bladder to flow freely.
You're carried and dragged slowly towards the stairs. Florr is let go at the top of the stairs and the blonde haired man begins to descend the stairs.
Nikolai, as you're carried you glimpse the floor of the basement (albeit upside down) you see more than a half dozen corpses on the floor, there looks to be quite a bit of powdered something or other covering them and the floor. You see someone slumped but sitting up in a bed on the far side of the room, but you can only see them from the waist down.
(3rd round)
Nikolai makes another gasp,
"Your mother...didn't mind me...peeing on her either."
As you're placed on the ground the being's face comes into view. Your limp and lifeless body is left a short walk from the injured beast. It's face quivers at the sight of you. Your mind shouts "FOOD". The being slowly and painfully tries to stand from the chair. It looks quite injured. The blonde man starts back up the stairs to Florr.
(Fourth Round)
Florr watches her friend and the man disappear around the corner of the stairs. She listens intently to anything she can hear. She wills her mind to move, to do anything. Nothing happens. She's so frustrated and worried for Nikolai. "Grrrrr!"
"If you kill us... you'll never find them..."
Florr watches her friend and the man disappear around the corner of the stairs. She listens intently to anything she can hear. She wills her mind to move, to do anything. Nothing happens. She's so frustrated and worried for Nikolai. "Grrrrr!"
The blonde man reaches out towards Florr, you get the first good look at his expression. He looks a bit overwhelmed, but stern. (Passive Insight)
He grunts as he lifts Florr over his shoulder. He's a bit scrawny._____________________________________________________________________
The creature drags itself in an awkward alien limp, the tendrils on it's face reach and shake with strain towards Nikolai's face.
_____________________________________________________________________
There's a loud knocking on the front door.
The blonde man lets out a frustrated growl.
"The temple is closed! I'm sorry my...child...I'm bathing!"
"Open this door now or I'll send you to the bottom of the nine hells! Aengus, get this door open! Guards come quick!"'
The blonde man puts down Aengus and looks a bit panicked. The creature looming over Nikolai let's out a surprised yelp, it's tentacles flop to his chest in defeat. He disappears.
"What in the hell is going on Rurik?!"
HNUGH (with Advantage)
The door cracks in half and falls to the floor.
Florr and Nikolai find themselves able to move.
Initiative order is:
Florr
Creepers
Nikolai
Rurik
Aengus
Florr, seeing the door broken down by Aengus, turns and rushes down the stairs to find Nikolai. She sees him at the bottom of the stairs, standing and looking fine. "Phew!" she calls, "Aengus and Rurik are here!" She turns and runs back up the stairs.
She touches her amulet and throws her right hand out towards the man. A wave of thunderous force rushes out of her palm.
He takes 4 damage and is not pushed back. Creepers are up!
Florr swears she feels herself get shoved or pushed from behind but maybe it was a reverberation from her thunderwave from using it in an enclosed stone space. She's also surprised such a frail looking man was able to withstand your blast. He points out the door and utters a terrible alien string of gurgles, grunts and clicks. Inky black appendages appear and engulf all outside.
When a creature enters the affected area for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there, the creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take 3d6 bludgeoning damage and be restrained by the tentacles until the spell ends. A creature that starts its turn in the area and is already restrained by the tentacles takes 3d6 bludgeoning damage.
A creature restrained by the tentacles can use its action to make a Strength or Dexterity check (its choice) against your spell save DC. On a success, it frees itself
_______________________________________________________________
The abberation suddenly appears behind the blonde man, and in the same instant a purple cube surrounds them. When the cube disappears, they're gone as well.
Aengus is engulfed, the tentacles wrap around his body squeezing and buffeting him with great force. He's unable to move.