[5e] Courts of the Shadow Fey (Inactive)

Game Master mishima

"Has anyone found where the Winter's Kiss is? Should we still make our way there? Or start organizing the Resistance?" Carnadine asks.

After a pause, he starts, "Wait, you said the archives was barred? Maybe we've got some peace before they come to search our bodies, but we really need to find a way out."

Deimus gets a muttered word of thanks for his troubles. Strangely, the normally outspoken, even boisterous, Torsdottir is subdued and quiet. She imbues the emerald on her neck with light and stays away from any place that something could hide behind if she can help it. Her posture is more like a scared child's than the confident warrior the others have seen. She shivers from a cold the others can't feel and ehr mind spins as she relives the vision she had while unconscious the first time in the fight. She feels alone, even with the others around her as she follows their lead.

Silver eyes pass me by. Do not see me in the shadows. Silver eyes pass me by. Do not see me in the shadows. Silver eyes-

"Ah, Myzi I knows many paths through the Citadel...old paths like the tracks of blood in a man. But less for one of your size! Here you are lucky, this library was designed by a very clever dwarf. This dwarf imagined a time when all the books and all the scrolls and hard work of the Council might be consumed in flame...a true pity to think of that." he couldn't help adding sarcastically. "To the point, there are flues which would carry the heat skyward, instead of letting it expand throughout the main chambers...you could fit in these fire tunnels I think. Less certain is where you might go from there, being on the roof then...hmm. You might be spotted by the Griffon Knights up there...and I do not know their allegiances..."

"This Winter's Kiss, did you find it? I couldn't say before, but my mice glimpsed a house hidden from the eyes of men...you see these fey are not so clever with their wordings, mm? I think you should yet pursue this Ambassador...if nothing else to learn his strengths and plot to eliminate him. Or maybe your so called treaty exists and could be used against them. Still, men in his position enjoy the art of the deal. He might be turned somehow...the fey are so fickle...their shadow cousins likely are as well..." his whiskers rock back and forth as he nods to himself.

”Fookin’ grand. Who designed a palace without wards against teleportation and the like? It’s like this place wants to be conquered. Bah!” Knowing that his best chance of once again seeing his beloved meant moving forward, he continued ”Everyone good to get a move on? Some of ye got mighty banged up. But I’d like to beat the arrogance out of this ambassador ‘fore the night is out.”

"Yes, we need to move. But, I think it would be worthwhile to hole up somewhere for bit. Our Thorsdottir needs to get her groove back." Carnadine suggests watching her concerning behavior.

"Myzi, would you know of a sanctuary for us in the city? If they've targeted us already in the archives. Perhaps, our homes have already been targeted, too. We need somewhere else to base our resistance."

"Tzk." reflects Deimus, his spirit washed by the news that the fey had moved in on the town with even greater zeal, taking over the Citadel.

"The Free City is at stake, and all is almost lost it seemsz. Szo yes, we must hurry and find this Ambassador. As for sanctuary, I know a place we might use..." he adds, ready to go.

Though, as he reflects, he truly did not know who could or could not be trusted on the Council, including this one...

Insight on Myzi: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

"I'll take the apology on behalf of your council now from you, Lord Councillor." Lexi said.

Turning to the others, Lexi would say "While we're here, we should grab any books we think might contain the information we're looking for. That would give us a little bit for our injured compatriots to rest, and while they sit down, the rest of us can grab books that look appropriate and have the people sitting down skim them. It's not a perfect plan, but it's better than leaving all the information here that we may need later."

"Great idea!" replies Deimus, though he has no idea what those books might be...

Yes Lexi, short rest!

At Hrungnir's concern "You might have a moment here...but not long. When these...assassin...things...don't report, they may come looking."

As for Carnadine's seeking of sanctuary, he grins "There are many other powers in Zobeck with many other interests. Some make it their business to stay hidden...the Cartways might suit. Or the Kobold Ghetto...in fact the fey seem to be strangely avoiding them. None of their edicts have yet to target the Ghetto, have they? Hmm. Yes...its a time of change, many powers...change means opportunity. Exciting times."

At Lexi's curt demand his whiskers waggle "The council as you know it is no more, I think its safe to say! But my Lady, if you would accept this one's regret...mmm. Had I known some would so easily bend to this new tide...I would have done things differently. I would have made certain...preparations. It is easy to lose foresight while growing fat on the teat...I should've seen this coming, and warned you...yes, I am sorry."

Deimus sizes up the strange creature and his dizzying remarks. From the gearforged kobold's perspective, Myzi the First is acting now in his most honest. To contrast with before, the kobold spirit could empathize with his outspoken nature, always riding the edge of professionalism...holding back enough to keep some modicum of a label of 'proper'. You see a man-mouse with many connections, with never any real love of Zobeck, but a love of the game...and the game as it is, with the fey taking power, somehow doesn't suit Myzi I's...investments. So you have a strange, but loyal, ally.

Lexi's acquisitions are certainly possible, none of the important documents were damaged by vomit and/or the demon vortex exploding. The parcel plot map especially should make finding it trivial. Or any other straight up larceny you might want to commit here.

You don't have to take Myzi I escape path here. Not trying to railroad, just presenting an option. But, if you want to go further with the fire flues idea, its a climb up a shallowly sloping shaft. From the top floor of the archives, someone could climb some shelves and wriggle into the flue, then body brace up another 40 ft or so to the roof with a rope and grapple let down for the others, if someone has such.

If none dissent, consider a short rest done. Spend those HD.

Lexi works as she listens, grabbing books that seem both relevant and portable. She grabs five table cloths to use as sacks for the group's eventual departure.

"Try and distribute the weight evenly between these 5 tablecloths, keeping in mind that we'll all be carrying them." she states as she brings over the first stack of books she pulls.

short rest: 17 + 5d10 + 10 ⇒ 17 + (3, 10, 4, 2, 8) + 10 = 54

Carnadine relaxes with Raseri. After a breather, he performs a kata with his longsword and shield that looks strange outside of Morgau.

GM, did Carnadine identify that tipstaff of the Morgau wine?

The noble dhampir offers Lexi his coil of rope from his backpack.

Carnadine, yes...

The gnomish tips were true, and the Watchman records of mark being right where they should be. Yours is of a certain family Hendryk...the member of note, an illegitimate son of a barrister guildmaster. The records note that he reached the rank Sergeant...not by merit, but apparently by his father's influences. From the reports, his last note was as leader of a roving patrol in the Lower Zobeck district. You find a scribbled note in the margin "Sometimes dealing with the Watch is worse than dealing with the problem at hand..." whatever that means.

Short Rest: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Raseri spends the time the others use to gather books and scrolls for later reading to try putting the incident behind her. She listens to Myzi with only half an ear. The rest of her attention revisits the dream yet again. She can't forget the silver eyes in her own face glaring back at her. After a little time, she asks, "What am I," in a soft, uncertain voice.

Ras, when you roll HD to recover hp on a short rest, you get your con mod added. So you just regained 8 instead of 6, putting you at 26/26. If/when you get a long rest, the wraith drain will expire getting you back at max hp.

Oh good, I was worried if I was going to be stuck at 26 for the rest of the game. :)

While her more bookish companions gather intel, Kjeta opens the bag and remarks, "This abomination had another black opal engraved with crest, identical to the ones found at the first temple assassination. It seems whoever sent those first ones sent this as well."

As she's examining the opal, Kjeta notes the ashen remains' scent with some surprise. "Am I mad, or is there something in this that smells like milkthistle? I wonder..." On a hunch, she scoops it up into an empty bag.

"As for pursuing the ambassador tonight...I'm not sure how much good I'll be. I had the crappiest dreams last night and I woke up exhausted. Too exhausted to draw down Ninkash's blessing--even after my morning ale! I wonder if we'd better wait in Deimus' safe house and pray for a better night's sleep tonight."

OK to press on today too...but know that this Cleric has zero spells today.

"What's milkthistle?" asked Lexi, her head peeking from behind a stack of books.

With a look of surprise, Kjeta responds, "Oh, an herb I use in my healing potions. Seems odd that a thing like that would smell similar...but I kind of want to see if I can create something useful out of its remains."

”Wonder if that means these were made with alchemy.” Hrungnir mused as he went about collecting the books he had found. He had made good progress with his research, and assumed that he had already found the most relevant times in the archives. ”Hmmm. Here, one second.”

He pulled out a copper coin, and put it in the remains of the spectres.

”Runes. The Otalan rune to be Precise. Took me over a decade to learn it, and even longer to master. Now, I believe the fey targeted us because of their bird-spies back at the council. But I can play that game too. I’ve had this coin for awhile, so if I trace the rune on a mirror or the like, I can scry it. Takes awhile to trace the rune and doesn’t last long. But my hope is that whomever made these will come back for the remains. If they do, and they scoop it up, I’ll be able to see who they are and where they are. Many assumptions here, I know. But worth a try.”

"So our next step is to climb out? Tzk..." comments Deimus as he looks up, his mental tube humming softly while he wonders how he will manage not to break his neck.

"I believe your representative knows another way Lord Gearforged."

Not sure what Lexi meant there, but yes you could try to escape using other means. The first step would be to open the large iron door that is currently barred from the other side.

If you prefer, the climb is as mentioned from the top floor, and is a shallowly sloping square shaft. You can get in and body brace yourself up without much effort, no roll assuming as long as out of combat. A rope secured at the top and let down would be useful for any rolls that might need to be made.

I thought the councillor said he knew another way out.

Many for one the size of a mouse (he transformed from a mouse into the humanoid form before you at the end of combat). But just the flues. But you don't have to listen, you could somehow break down the barred door and fight/sneak your way out the front perhaps.

Flues are probably our best bet.

"I do not think I can survive another fight like that one," Raseri says as the others discuss how to leave, "If the flues are hidden from their eyes, then let us go that way."

With no strong opinions one way or the other, ill just prod things along a bit...

"...yes, well...happy you are all still alive. If you'll excuse me, I have some other pressing business interests to attend to. If you need me again, come to the King's Head...I'll find you."

The party makes its way up the spiral stairs to the top floor, and after a little poking around finds the fire flues Myzi I mentioned. The bookshelves act as a convenient ladder anchor for even armored characters to sure footedly climb up and into the open hatch. Its a tight squeeze and dimly lit from skylight above...the shaft is roughly a 60 degree angle, yet putting your butt and back on one side and feet and hands on the other enables rapid if tiring progress.

Near the top, you hear a feathers ruffling and an eagle-like screech...

Deimus strains upward, his metallic body scraping alarmingly against the slanted walls, though, as he realizes after a bit of climbing, scraping sounds meant he wasn't falling to his doom.

As he nears the top, he stops, startled by the sound, and whispers: "Remember: be weary of ravens!"

Is it daytime or nighttime?

Still day, but approaching evening...sunset seems to be just around the corner.

edit: of course I just hand waved the point where you moved on. You could say you waited until sundown if you wish.

Lexi would want to wait until dark, but she's only one person.

Raseri would defer to the others.
As they wait, Raseri takes some time to fix the jagged holes in her dress. While it is whole again, it is still in poor shape with all of the blood stains.

Carnadine would second Lexi's desire to wait until sundown to escape.

"Not just ravens, Deimus. Griffons!"

He would volunteer to exit first.

”Griffins? And they’re on whose side?” Hrungnir asked, unwilling to believe that a city such as this could fall so quickly.

"Considering how much the fey have infiltrated the city, the griffon riders of Zobeck could be on their own side."

Awkwardly you sprout out of the fire flue and onto the highest allure (wall-walk) of the Citadel of Zobeck. The source of the screeching is confirmed: the bastion of the Griffon Knights is just another 40 ft down. The night is crisp but comfortable and refreshing after being stuffed up indoors nearly all day. You can see much of Zobeck and the north roads that lead to Carnadine's lands from here, including the river Argent which seems to be thawing in streaks...white in the moonlight.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

History: 1d20 ⇒ 13

"There, men in armor lie dead. It may be that these are the riders fallen in battle," she whispers to the others, "There should be six griffons and riders. Let us hope they are not looking for us."

"Alemaiden, do you want to call your new owl friend? We might need the air support if the fey have affected the griffons that revolted against their knights who might lay down there." Carnadine offers.

The ghost knight starts picking the best way to climb down.

From immediately adjacent to the flue exit, its a sheer drop-off of about 50 ft to the district plaza below (which is eerily unlit for such an important location at night). The white stone bricks are jagged enough to make the climb possible, if difficult...a rope could make it much easier. On the other hand, that might make you all more noticeable.

Then, near the griffon bastion are a series of supporting buttresses that have a much more forgiving slope. The allure also continues past the bastion to the anterior of the Citadel, the side which faces the river.

Investigation: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Carnadine investigates the bodies. "There was a long and glorious battle here, the four knights of the Griffon Order armed with longbows and dual shortswords seem to have been attacked by the same. I wonder which loyalty survived."

"It doesn't much matter now. We need to get off the wall as soon as possible." said Lexi at a near whisper as she began looking for a way down. Deciding on the Griffin Bastion as the way down, Lexi moved to it and began planning her path down before scaling the wall.

Taking a look at the wall, how hard does Lexi think it will be to climb down? Also, is the bottom in darkness or just dim illumination?

Its dim for those with darkvision, darkness for others. Your invisibility power would kick in if you took a shadowy side of the Citadel down. You gauge its a moderate difficulty (15) climb, but as before no roll is required unless combat were to begin. You can change it one difficulty class with a rope, so it would become an easy climb (10).

There are also 4 griffons here that fly. They could carry 2 passengers each easily.

Carnadine will explore the griffons as mounts.

Up close, the griffons are as majestic and monstrous as you've heard. Known horse eaters, the half-eagle half-lions hunt in packs with swift efficiency. If tavern jests are true, the Knights raise the riding griffons from eggs (probably not sitting atop them though as the drunks would have it)...requiring an incredibly expensive food supply of horse flesh, and a certain patience for ferocity. If that weren't enough, these particular mounts are trained to wear custom plate armor...truly an elite mount.

It seems these 4 were in the process of being suited up, lacking a few pieces which remain hung on the wall. The saddles are strapped tight, however.

As before, high animal handling roll. Instead, you can try the 3 note ocarina, but you have a much lower chance of playing the right command song randomly (roll d100, success 80 or above). Spells and other things might help as well.

Lexi scampers down into the darkness and waits for the others to make their way down. Once there, she disappears from view.

Raseri moves timidly behind Lexi until she goes over wall. Knowing that her outfit isn't going to do her any favors, Raseri hands off her slippers to one of the others that has some way of carrying them without using their hands, then borrows a knife to alter the dress, shortening the hem well above her knees. Even the darkness, it's hard to miss the furious blush of embarrassment she wears as she takes the fabric she had cut off and ties it around her. She only hoped they wouldn't run into anyone before she could either change or fix the dress.

The climb down is not one of her more pleasant experiences, Her bare feet and hands ached from the strain of handing to the wall and the tight dress did not help with mobility. Even so, she still makes it down without any issues.

"Where's Shadow," she asks after looking around for a moment, "I was hoping she could help me steal some of my dignity back from that tailor."

With Lexi and the Thorsdottir disappearing over the side, Carnadine looks longing at the griffons. Where would he stable one, if not here? Well-practiced at curbing his desires, he turns away and follows them down the slope.

Deimus takes in the amazing sight down his beloved city. He’s never seen in such a way, lying down in front of him.

When they get moving, he closes the line, overly careful, he’s happy not to have someone behind him.

He keeps an eye out to Carnadine, in case the knight finds a more glamorous way down.

Ras, I know its probably out of character to grab it, but there was some chain mail up there. Just making sure you noticed it.

Lex spills down the side of the buttress like a condensation drop on a glass of beer, though none see her. Touching down in the plaza, she sees many familiar faces from the afternoon before...but they seem almost drugged or drunk.

DM: 2d20 ⇒ (7, 12) = 19

Lex pops back into sight briefly to guide the others down in a way that doesn't alert any nearby. The climb down is at times grueling but ultimately just tedious, some hands are rubbed raw and muscles feel like they are about to burst...but then a foothold comes and a cool breeze refreshes. Taking it one stone at a time and never looking down...

Her visage nearly translucent as moonlight, she makes the perfect scout in this setting. Lexi could quite easily plot a path forward that encounters the least people on your way to the next destination...

If she does...

The first recognizable person you all pass (just as he turns the other way and Lexi motions you forward) is that strange kobold taco vendor stumbling around in the street. His taco has gone cold, and he no longer sings his advertisement...if he wasn't so unharmed youd think he just got bludgeoned over the forehead.