Meredian shrugs sensuously,
"A calculated risk. "
The succubus smirks at the consideration of the Siabrae.
"If I were to restrict my nature to those who deserve the pleasure it can bring, I would never had the chance to exert it. Luckily for the world, I am far more generous than that." Says Delyliath biting her lip.
"But yes.. even though what you call 'suppressing wills' I call redirecting it through desire, I am pretty good at that, and have the means to deal with those who resist my invitations. which leads me to the plan..."
The succubus sits on a rock resting a leg upon the other.
"Let's say for a moment that we can simply convince the caravan guards to hand us their cargo along with their fealty. wouldn't that be a further way to not expend your allies on pointless combat? The only life I would really need to take would be the one of the guard we should catch separated from the rest and that I will impersonate"
She say as her inhuman traits disappear, her hair turns to white and her skin into dark greyish blue.
"even in case of failure, I would probably manage to turn half of them into allies or at least non combatant before the need of your intervention arises."
A funnel weaver the size of an elephant in back with what appears to be a humanoid child fused to a fleshy mass with tentacles coming off it. Said creature is unconscious and making the shallow breaths of one recently concussed to an inch of their life.
Meredian continues to survey as the group talks. She lifts a languid finger to point at the fleshy tentacle mass. "That's interesting. Your work?"
Her tone is one of curiosity and not a hint of disgust. Perhaps even a hint of admiration.
The succubus smirks at the consideration of the Siabrae.
"If I were to restrict my nature to those who deserve the pleasure it can bring, I would never had the chance to exert it. Luckily for the world, I am far more generous than that." Says Delyliath biting her lip.
"But yes.. even though what you call 'suppressing wills' I call redirecting it through desire, I am pretty good at that, and have the means to deal with those who resist my invitations. which leads me to the plan..."
The succubus sits on a rock resting a leg upon the other.
"Let's say for a moment that we can simply convince the caravan guards to hand us their cargo along with their fealty. wouldn't that be a further way to not expend your allies on pointless combat? The only life I would really need to take would be the one of the guard we should catch separated from the rest and that I will impersonate"
She say as her inhuman traits disappear, her hair turns to white and her skin into dark greyish blue.
"even in case of failure, I would probably manage to turn half of them into allies or at least non combatant before the need of your intervention arises."
"An efficient plan. Though we should still be prepared to move in and strangle them all if need be. I do like efficiency, though it's far less entertaining than the alternatives. "
Sanriel looks at the succubus
" Were it so simple that domination and charms would work I doubt the lady in linens would have sent such a varied group to attack the problem. In addition I promised my arachnid allies a feast of drow corpses, and the lady failed to inform me of your arrival before I summoned. That in mind I will press for enough of a meal to satisfy them. If your plan turns out to be workable then we shall use it, if it fails then I will enact mine. We cannot be certain until we see out opposition though."
The druid looks to the Drow in question
"No, that Abomination is not my creation. It attempted to lull me with spores it releases that draw prey close, I was unaffected and unreachable to its tentacles so I beat it until it stopped moving. My intention is to use it as a form of bait by forcing it to use its power. And no I have no idea what it is precisely though I've heard tales of similar creatures luring unwary travelers with the sounds of wounded animals or children crying."
Knowledge check to know what the tentacle creatures is.
Dungeoneering
A smug smile appears on Delyliath's face.
"Honestly, I believe the lady merely have lots of resources and is prone to overkill, sending a group that is likely to annihilate the competition in a few dozen different ways without fail. I would also argue the contrary. If she believed my charms to be ineffectual, why would she enlist me to this expedition? "
"Still..." continues the succubus "We do have all those resources, and we could very well put them to good use. There are lots of trinkets that keep the will from wandering away, but those are expensive trinkets.
Drows are not intrinsically able to resist me, trust me... I experimented quite extensively on them. And while the leader of the caravan, and perhaps a few of his most trusted and precious underlings can be somehow shielded from my influence, chances are most of the caravan is not.
Although I wouldn't mind a new pet and playmate, your little 8 legged friends can have their meal.. I'm really unconcerned about those drows fate once we obtain what we want. Beside that, I could learn where this caravan was supposed to go, who's feet are we stepping on in redirecting it, and all sorts of useful intelligence.
While we succubi are adept at reading our prey desires, there is really nothing that stop us from using our talent on less lecherous readings of the mind."
"Whatever we do lets not make the mistakes we did last time where we just sat around talking about what we were going to do instead of doing something. How about Delyliath does her thing and lures the caravan into some sort of heinous trap so we can dispatch the lot of them? Everybody wins. "
"Yeah, what Meredian said. It's kinda lame when I have to make progress for the team by jumping into whatever traps are waiting so that we move forward."
Bowing at the waist as the demoness comes from the ceiling, he smiles and scans the group. The man in front of the group is rather tall, but very slim and his muscles are like corded rope, very tight, and unobtrusive, but hard and strong. Though he wears a cloak that reaches down to sweep the stone floor, it does not hide the dark green of his scaled armor. He has a few daggers tucked into his belt and a satchel on his side. On his right hand is a buckler that is silvery and reflects the natural luminescence. The lantern near his foot is hooded and sheds no light.
The spider-woman that decends from the ceiling to come to rest near the group, cries out a greeting to the skeletal figure whom Jaduf had been recruited by, and he thinks to question his own decision. But he shows this lady the courtesy of a bow as well as he attempts to not contemplate what horrific thing she might have been carrying in the bag. He is not scientifically inclined, and thus fails to understand what the robes she wears signify.
Jaduf remains silent as Sanriel prepares to explain the situation, or at least discuss the situation with the new-comers, hoping to pick up on the reasoning and motivation of his new and strange companions.
This hope is shattered as their fairly quiet conversation is interrupted by the hellish shrill of yet another of the denizens of the underdark. For the love of the gods! The Under is supposed to be a quiet and lonely place with dangerous predators spread far and wide! Now there are six of these damned things! AND the new one is screaming.
As the Skeleton references the fact that the light is like shouting idiotically in the dark, Jaduf looks down to confirm that the light is sealed, and then looks around at the naturally glowing fungus and other bioluminescence and furrows his brow slightly, but says nothing.
Jaduf goes to speak but the drow female arrives and begins to stroke her own ego, he simply shuts his mouth and bows to her just as he did all of the others. Then the discussion of the usefulness of mortals and undead comes up, and Jaduf rolls his eyes, hoping that they get onto a topic he cares about, or actually matters to the current situation
When Sanriel goes to explain the task at hand he listens intently, committing every word to memory about the plan and the caravan.
Because of the cloth obscuring his face, Jaduf’s smile is hidden as the others discuss the plan and leave him out of the main discussion. He begins to think that the group as a whole at least mostly knows and respects each other, but they are not paying him any mind. The lack of respect is irksome, but it proves that they fail to consider him a threat, and that could be useful...
"For one who appears to have been at the game of favors for quite some time I would not be quick to judge precisely the nature behind the lady's decisions. So long as my obligations are satisfied I care little for how those results are achieved."
the druid looks to his spider herd, as a few of the smaller ones skitter in spirals around the stone skeleton. A small word to the creatures gets them back into line.
" I am entirely aware of the nature of your kin, and have no doubt that you could do as you suggest. As to the defense of the caravan we know nothing and can plan nothing until we arrive there, as all we know of the situation right now is nothing. We will have something to discuss once we change this dire flaw."
with his response he looks at the rest of the group and waits a beat
"If we are done with questions or concerns let us get to the task at hand as suggested."
"For one who appears to have been at the game of favors for quite some time I would not be quick to judge precisely the nature behind the lady's decisions. So long as my obligations are satisfied I care little for how those results are achieved."
the druid looks to his spider herd, as a few of the smaller ones skitter in spirals around the stone skeleton. A small word to the creatures gets them back into line.
" I am entirely aware of the nature of your kin, and have no doubt that you could do as you suggest. As to the defense of the caravan we know nothing and can plan nothing until we arrive there, as all we know of the situation right now is nothing. We will have something to discuss once we change this dire flaw."
with his response he looks at the rest of the group and waits a beat
"If we are done with questions or concerns let us get to the task at hand as suggested."
"He's crass, but I like his style." Meridian says to whomever happens to be closest.
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Manners was something she still had a faint memory of, so Jhaelwyn returned Jaduf's bow with a curious eight legged curtsey a thin smile. Handsome. For a human... With a dreamy gaze she looked at him for a while - thinking on how she could make him even handsomer. A little adjustment here and there ... she mused to herself.
When the other drow joined their merry band she groaned. Carefree as only a Noble can be. And LOUD! Why are they *always* LOUD? And *happy*! Blech Her thoughts were betrayed by her sour visage, but she remained silent and greeted Meredian with a nod. She hasn't been impolite yet. she reminded herself. Just LOUD.
On the topic of getting to work, she seems excited. "Yes, where is this caravans path? If we know it - I could weave a web... Yes such a tangled web we could weave. Tangled and beautiful. Yes... To cut off one route - and trap unwary fools!"
The returned curtsey surprises Jaduf, and the smile he finds somehow...disturbing...
Jaduf Reib looks at the companions gathered and interjects, "If I could make a suggestion, perhaps there should be a general plan before we do reconnaissance work. Now, I don't know any of you, or even possess a vague idea of what it is that you specialize in, so we should start with that. I am Jaduf Reib, I am an assassin and scout, but I am from the surface and so I have to have light, which makes me much easier to detect in the underdark."
"Jhaelwyn." The Drider straightens her back and brushes some imaginary dirt away from her coat. "I am was a most esteemed Fleshwrapper and scholar of the Arcane."
The returned curtsey surprises Jaduf, and the smile he finds somehow...disturbing...
Jaduf Reib looks at the companions gathered and interjects, "If I could make a suggestion, perhaps there should be a general plan before we do reconnaissance work. Now, I don't know any of you, or even possess a vague idea of what it is that you specialize in, so we should start with that. I am Jaduf Reib, I am an assassin and scout, but I am from the surface and so I have to have light, which makes me much easier to detect in the underdark."
"An excellent point. I am Theurge Meridian Adriatnaic. Meaning I weird both the arcane and divine. I have many tricks up my proverbial sleeves, but here's one of my favorites."
She nods her head at a rather large rock and it flies off into the darkness. Seconds later the sound of a bouncing boulder and miniature landslide emit from the darkness.
"I've joined this crew (indicating Delyliath, Illia, and Anaxian) because they are exceedingly entertaining and I'm prone to boredom."
"Jhaelwyn." The Drider straightens her back and brushes some imaginary dirt away from her coat. "I am was a most esteemed Fleshwrapper and scholar of the Arcane."
"Ohh! A Fleshwarper! Ive not seen a good flesh warper for centuries. I hope your work is as artistic as I remember the others being. "
Sanriel nods
"Jaduf does have a point but preferably keep the gilding to a limitation we can bond over our various tortured backstories once I have fed my spider horde. As I have said before I am Sanriel, I cast spells associated with nature, am a capable speaker and can pass though the earth as though I was not there. "
With that sanriel passes a skeletal hand into a solid rock on his belt and back out
" additonally I have some crystals I obtained in a previous job that could help you Jaduf they generate powerful light and would be good in blinding drow if combat is joined.
Until such time you are welcome to use my largest spider as a mount so you don't have to grope about in the dark."
"Oh my..." The drider blushes lightly. Ah, if I only had my lab ...!
"And uh, my thing is being mostly invulnerable and an Erinyes. I could teleport into the middle of their caravan, and they won't be able to hurt me without significant effort." Illia- gives a slight tap on her shield.
"And uh, my thing is being mostly invulnerable and an Erinyes. I could teleport into the middle of their caravan, and they won't be able to hurt me without significant effort." Illia- gives a slight tap on her shield.
"Dropping into the middle of the caravan is a terrible scouting strategy." Jaduf interjects immediately, "The caravan has no idea that we are here, and keeping it that way lets us keep the upper hand. Even if the battle is utterly one sided, having the advantage when your forces are overwhelmingly more powerful, means less damage to the victors. Scouting them on foot or through magic is the best way, keeping our existence secret is worth the extra time and effort."
Jaduf tries to pander to the ones who think they are extremely superior to the drow, while making sure to try and keep his own skin as safe as possible...
as the other list their various talents she wonders how to describe hers.
"let's see... I'm quite an expert in infiltration, interrogation, coercion and misdirection. Also, though it probably does not apply in this case I used to prepare camp wherever we had to move securing a place to hide and a retinue of complacent locals wherever we go."
She caresses her rapier "Also I'm not half bad using this if there is something that needs a more violent sort of persuasion, although I prefer other way to dispatch people. I don't have to draw you a picture on how us succubi usually operate when it comes to annihilating a life do I?"
The succubus smiles sending a malicious look to the human.
1d20+12
1d20+12
** spoiler omitted **
To all. The Perception Rolls for the first one all were successful enough to discern what could be the sounds of a cart or perhaps the clinking of pots and pans perhaps like a tinker or peddler of some kind.
The second roll is a much fainter shuffling like sound much farther away. Much much fainter
The small drake hisses, tilts his head to the side and his outline turns blurred again. With no other visible threat present, it shuffled a bit to the side out of sight of the captured plant-thingy.
[dice=Perception]1d20+15
[dice=Know(Dungeoneering)]1d20+9
[dice=Perception]1d20+15
Your perception rolls are a touch substandard Sorry
Yes Dark Folk. Mostly Creepers and a least a Stalker (The nicer blades)
Knowledge check to know what the tentacle creatures is.
Dungeoneering 1d20+10
It looks much like a human female or elfish female might look with what appears to be clothing on it. On closer examination it is a different sort of thing. Nothing seen before. It does have a mass of tentacles that came out from the back portion with the front part of her opened up into a maw of fang like thorns or some such.
With it still out of commission it had not retracted the appendages
[dice=Knowledge Dungeoneering]1d20+13
It looks much like a human female or elfish female might look with what appears to be clothing on it. On closer examination it is a different sort of thing. Nothing seen before. It does have a mass of tentacles that came out from the back portion with the front part of her opened up into a maw of fang like thorns or some such.
With it still out of commission it had not retracted the appendages
1d20+12
1d20+12
** spoiler omitted **
To all. The Perception Rolls for the first one all were successful enough to discern what could be the sounds of a cart or perhaps the clinking of pots and pans perhaps like a tinker or peddler of some kind.
The second roll is a much fainter shuffling like sound much farther away. Much much fainter
"Quiet! Do you hear that? There is clanking, coming from that direction...he hisses through his teeth to the nearby group. Closing his eyes he focuses and then says "And something is moving from over there...
Drawing a weapon from his belt Jaduf fades into a darker patch, moving toward the source of the shuffling noise.
the Sibrae stands statue still for a few seconds as he waits and listens. the sounds of the cavern coming to him. "Their footfalls sound like something I have encountered before. Dark folk, commonly mad but possibly possessing information about the caverns we travel. We ought subjugate them if they prove a threat. I doubt they would try such a thing unless we happen to be standing on a nest of them.." The druid seeing little reason for stealth at this point begins walking toward the sounds.
As Meridian gestured to the cat during his introduction, it split down the back like it had been opened with a zipper, dozens of small delicate claws unlinking themselves beneath the fur and falling open.
The cat turned itself inside out, revealing it to be merely a shell of skin, fur on the outside, intricately tattooed and rune-stitched leather on the inside.
Sitting in the center of the cat skin was a tiny dragon.
I suppose pretense of disguise is rather moot at this point. a dry voice echoed in the minds of all present. I am Anaxian.
The little dragon was pale, ranging from just shy of white along it's neck and underbelly to iridescent ivory along it's back. It scanned the onlookers with eyes glowed deep purple. Small silver clasps bejeweled with amethyst and onyx decorated it's body, clamped around spikes and hornes. Other jewelry pierced it's scaled form like the body modifications of Tar-Baphon cults, but more with an eye to actual asthetic beauty than what crazed cultists envision it to be. Gems dotted the insides of its forelegs and across its chest. It's wing membranes were faintly tattooed with stark white arcane designs
The dragon was tiny, but carried itself with a regal pride and grace. The sense of inherent superiority was palpable.
I confess I must have missed the connection these dark folk play in regards to our goal. Understanding that would certainly help us decide on an approach.
"I was wondering when you were going to change." Meridian says casually at Anaxian
"Are we sending the succubus to subjugate the dark folk then?"
Sanriel glances to the dragonling, and then to the pool of cat on the floor before settling on the tiny creature.
this will be the third time they refer to that creature by name, I can only assume whatever it is is powerful enough to merit the respect of these outsiders. Joy.
The druid breaks from his thoughts, as examining the creature and hoping it spontaneously changed into something else did not appear to be working.
"Well. That does answer my concerns as to why the Meredian called you by name. I will assume from the... costume. that you are the necromancer Delyliath was referring to a moment ago? the skeleton dryly asks "I am becoming less enthused with this plan by the minute. Two outsiders, a spider-drow abomination, a dragonling riding an undead cat, and a recalcitrant drow. Lovely. Hopefully the human stays what he is.
Looking at the still humanoid dark elf sanriel over exaggerates a shrug.
"Dark folk are humanoids capable of speech that explode when you kill them. So they are useless as food and doubtlessly many creatures down here know that. The creatures stand a fair chance of knowing some about the drow city the Caravan is coming from, possibly even what path it will take. Depending on their numbers they could also serve as fair cannon fodder if we need to assault the caravan. But mostly while they are likely to know little their knowledge of the area is still better than the grand total of nothing we currently have. But yes Delyliaths race born skills would likely be best for the task. Though if there is enough of them prefrence would be to defeat those you encounter non-lethally so as to question and/or concert them into fodder."
"But it's kinda like the gnolls in our last adventure. Sure, they're their, and they might be useful. But the fact remains we don't need them. Let's just scout and ambush the caravan. We have waaaaay more power on hand than we need to take them out."
"I don't know what gnolls you refer to, in this instance we really do need information of some kind. I was given a basic direction to where the Caravan would be arriving and little else, the trouble with this being that the Underdark is a three dimensional labyrinth of endless twists. Finding the particular route the Caravan will use will be irritating otherwise."
"Well. That does answer my concerns as to why the Meredian called you by name. I will assume from the... costume. that you are the necromancer Delyliath was referring to a moment ago?
Yes.
Anaxian said simply.
The cat-skin rolled itself up and vanished completely somewhere beneath the little dragon's wings.
"So.. about the plan..." says the succubus addressing the Siabrae. He made himself in position to be a leader and she had no intention to challenge his throne.
"I was thinking about doing a little bit of recon. Standard fare... detect magic, reading the mind of a couple of them for surface thoughts.
then I plan to aim for a weak willed one and lure him with a telepathic suggestion to break ranks with an excuse.. possibly physiological.
Then charm, extensive mind reading... I will waste him away, take his equipment and alter myself to mimic his form and rejoin the caravan. at that point I will try to work the entire caravan from the inside.
You can keep at telepathic distance and receive updates on how am I doing.
If anything goes wrong, I will either teleport away or go ethereal. If things really go south, and they shouldn't, I will teleport to were I stashed my sword and shield, re equip with gear I'm comfortable with and rejoin you in a matter of seconds.
Is that acceptable? I think that whatever is the general plan, having me working at eroding them from the inside will do nothing but facilitate things.
Also .. if it is at all possible we should try keeping the leader alive. He's likely the one I can fish out more information from.
"It sounds workable, if the caravans defenses can repell it than we likely have other problems to be concerned over. We still need to find the caravan and discover its defenses before moving further. I am unsure what we would do with the leader given the Lady in Linens preference to return us to a gathering point and send us out again. That said I will ensure I and my summoned aid avoid slaying the leader if you can indicate who that is and I will ask the rest of you to do the same. As to staying in contact I assume Anaxian or someone else in the group that is telepathic would act to return messages it would make more sense to use them for such." The druid responds giving no expression to the mental cringe he was having over the topic of having a demon speaking to him in his head.
When we return I am going to need to discuss the nature of this group with the Lady. I do not know how long I will be able to work with those creatures in good faith. vile outsiders...
As all talk among themselves the noises resolve into a little bit louder clinking and clanking, also the creak of a small wooden cart and sounds of many many claws on the hard stone floor.
There is a voice as well, male, talking. It is too far a side cavern away, to be certain what is being said. However it does not seem to remind any of Elvish or Drow.
Who is going to go see what is over there?
Approaching the clinking and clanking, Jaduf's eyes struggle to pierce the darkness and see the source of the noise, and try to understand what is being said. With his weapon at the ready he tries to close the distance.
Ahead of him he sees a strange sight, it is a few hundred feet, perhaps almost 300 away from where the rest of the group is at.
There are two individuals in front of him. The larger of the two is pulling a wooden cart that has a small lantern on a hook on it, providing very faint illumination, about equal to a hooded lantern but in a diffused fashion in a pale green tint.
He will have to close the gap to get much more information
"Hide, I will call you if needed." the druid states to his collection of spiders. "Now to go see what that is." The druid states as he sinks into the ground until nothing below his eye sockets show moving toward the noise.
EDIT:
** spoiler omitted **
Illia- investigates.
"Hide, I will call you if needed." the druid states to his collection of spiders. "Now to go see what that is." The druid states as he sinks into the ground until nothing below his eye sockets show moving toward the noise.
One seems to be a humanoid male like figure.
The other one is the size of a large ogre or small giant, pulling a wooden cart behind them. The wooden cart that has a small lantern on a hook on it, providing very faint illumination, about equal to a hooded lantern but in a diffused fashion in a pale green tint.
They are not Drow nor Dark Folk.
How close are you getting?
On the
** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **
He can climb the walls with little difficulty at all.
He can tell the smaller of the two is a male type figure, talking in an unfamiliar language to the larger female like figure. The larger one is the size of a large sized ogre or smallish giant. Both are in crude clothing. No obvious weapons.
Neither are Drow nor Dark Folk
[dice=Perception, True Seeing, See in Darkness]1d20+22
[dice=Stealth]1d20+19Illia- investigates.
There are two beings over there a few hundred feet away trudging along the cavern. The smaller seems to be male, the larger female, the size of a large ogre or so, pulling a cart of some sort.
"Hide, I will call you if needed." the druid states to his collection of spiders. "Now to go see what that is." The druid states as he sinks into the ground until nothing below his eye sockets show moving toward the noise.
EDIT:
[dice=perception] 1d20+24
[dice=stealth]1d20+21
No real need for stealth in his case