Doc, do you think this is one of those "haunts"? Will they keep coming back, and how would we stop it if so?[dice=kn.rel]1d20+11
"Hard ta tell. I think ___[insert gm adjudication here]___"
Doc thinks the haunts were actual undead, not psychic residue that will reform. He thinks this type of undead is permanently gone when destroyed in battle.
Damil tells you that the folding boat was left hidden on the shores of Rivenrake Island. He can show you, if you take him with you.
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"I'm more than a little concerned about your health, Ezranadir and Nasir. This place probably holds more serious dangers, including the possible ghost of a dismantled runelord, and it seems that the only way we can heal you, and help Doc fully recover after his return from death in Magnimar, is to go back to Magnimar and pay for some restoration spells. We could sell the treasures we found here and upgrade equipment as well, plus buy another wand of healing to augment Doc's capabilities. This sepulcher has been untouched for thousands of years, if we can get the main entrance to reseal there shouldn't be any harm in taking a week or two away and then coming back fully capable. Are we in such a hurry that we risk our lives right now? In our dream, Sorshen said that Alaznist has arisen but not that she was an immediate threat. Not that we should necessarily trust the word of one runelord about another..."
"If you believe so then let us return to Magnimar. But first let us secure this place and seek the folding boat Damil and his crew so kindly left for us to find."
Ter flaps her wings a bit. Magnimar pigeons, fat and slow!
Ayita goes over to the other alcove and looks inside for traps, skeletons, etc... We should at least examine the rest of this room.
[dice=perception]1d20+17+2+1
Ayita is quite certain that this room does not have any traps or errant skeletons.
We should at least examine the rest of this room.Hatfield looks around too: [dice=Perception]1d20+1 But he's a bit distracted.
He also does another sweep of the area with Detect Poison.
Doc detects no poisons.
"Nasir, how are you feeling? Are you OK with a quick trip back to Magnimar before we continue on?"
If we're all agreeing to leave, Frantino will ask Ayita to first come with him to slab E2f on the other side, the one with the beheaded hydra artwork, and see if the red jasper we just pulled from the urns looks like a match for one of the four depressions. We won't actually try to insert it yet. Then we'll head to the entrance, wait for everyone to get past the first stone block that lowered into the floor, and Frantino will say "Runelord Thybidos" again to see if it raises back into position.
"Nasir, how are you feeling? Are you OK with a quick trip back to Magnimar before we continue on?"
If we're all agreeing to leave, Frantino will ask Ayita to first come with him to slab E2f on the other side, the one with the beheaded hydra artwork, and see if the red jasper we just pulled from the urns looks like a match for one of the four depressions. We won't actually try to insert it yet. Then we'll head to the entrance, wait for everyone to get past the first stone block that lowered into the floor, and Frantino will say "Runelord Thybidos" again to see if it raises back into position.
The red jasper appears to fit one or two of the depressions. Hard to tell which one without trying it.
Say "Runelord Thybidos" has no affect.
"Alzough I am much weakened, I am hesitant to leave zis blace wizout what we came here for. I am concerned zat za minions we defeated are not za only ones are enemies can send. A lot can habben in a week if ozers arrive before we return, and we do not know how well our enemies blans broceed. I will, however, go along with what za majority wishes."
"I agree, Nasir, we shouldn't leave the Sepulchurs wide open like this."
Frantino probes around the slab trying to make it slide back up. It seems to be both mechanical and magical, since it responded to a verbal password.
"Ayita, do you want to give it a try? You are more skilled at these, plus you got the other one to open."
Frantino will aid Ayita's disable roll. Automatic success.
Unfortunately, the stone pillar refuses to budge. It appears to be permanently retracted into the ground. Even saying "thybidos" again does nothing.
Want me to try the jasper in these spots before we go?
She examines the spots carefully for evidence that either is part of a trap.
[dice=perceive for traps]1d20+17+2+1
She finds no traps.
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"I would say leave the jasper fitting for when we return. If it is one of the key stones then we do not want to try fitting it and have it be magically stuck. We should take it with us. As for the opening at the entrance, I can levitate a 700-lb boulder and place it to block the entrance to deter anyone if they happen by. Let us go. The sooner we depart, the sooner we can return."
"Once you move a sufficiently large boulder into the gap, we can shove some branches into any gaps and I can use wood shape up to three times to fill in the rest of the space, enough to keep most curious creatures out until we return. Sounds like a good Plan B!"
While we work, Frantino talks through a plan and asks everyone for help with adding details he might be overlooking.
"By keeping the jasper gem with us, we make it impossible for anyone else to get past that door, assuming that it is one of the required gems. Once this entrance is as blocked as we can get it, we should head back to the ship and brief Captain Antefalle on our plan. We can have Damil show the captain what beach they stowed the folding boat on so we can row ashore and fetch it, that seems much faster and less dangerous than trekking for hours across the island to this other beach and back while Damil plots his escape.
"Assuming that all goes well and Captain Antefalle agrees to take us to Magnimar for a quick visit and a return to this island, we need to make sure we inventory our treasure on the way and decide what we should sell. It can't hurt to ask the Sihedron Council if they'll pay for the restoration castings, since we're bringing them a prisoner from the Peacock Cult and news of a separate plot to spread a plague in Magnimar courtesy of the information we got off of Maga Szuul's body. If they won't, we should pay for those and a new healing wand out of party funds and then split the remaining gold, take a day to upgrade equipment, and get back here as quickly as possible. I'm sure that if Roscoe were still with us (may Pharasma have mercy on his soul) he would argue that Ezranadir, Nasir, and Doc would be responsible for those on their own. Oh, my, how do we get word to Roscoe's family about his fate in the Gauntlet of Fury? We should return his sihedron amulet to them, since it was his only possession that wasn't dissolved by the acid shower."
Szuul's book
3rd—cure serious wounds, haste, clay skin, orchid's drop
2nd—barkskin, invisibility, resist energy, spider climb, vomit swarm, alter self, Aram Zey's focus, hidden blades, see invisibility
1st—cure light wounds, enlarge person, bomber's eye, invisibility alarm
"Let us go zen. Hopefully, we can find za ship and it will bring us back here again."
Nasir starts making his way out of the tomb.
Oddly, Roscoe's sihedron medallion refuses to leave the crypt. When you walk towards the entrance, it begins pulling and pulling until either you take it out of whatever pocket it is in, or it rips its way through your clothing.
Otherwise, all is fine. You successfully reach the shore and signal the watchman on Tyalee's Whim. A boat is launched to pick you up.
It takes hours to trek back and forth, bringing loot (and prisoner!) to Tyalee's Whim. Night comes soon and you all find yourself sitting with the rough sailors of the Whim as they playing drinking games, crushing the wooden husk of coconuts on their head when they lose.
Rivenrake Island awakens you in the morning. With chickens. The island is awash in the sounds of cocks crowing. Surprising, since you didn't see any chickens yesterday. Perhaps they are Invisible Chickens (CR1)? Camouflage Chickens (CR0)? Either...
We brought Damil to the ship's brig yesterday with all of the loot before we slept overnight, then we found and started exploring the Forlorn Sepulchurs earlier today. Frantino's proposal is to sail around the island and have Damil show Captain Antefelle the beach where they landed and stowed the folding boat. If we have to we'll row ashore with him to find the boat, but I think we'll be able to find it without him present, even if they folded it back into box form. Enough of us have detect magic that we'll be able to triangulate its location.
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We brought Damil to the ship's brig yesterday with all of the loot before we slept overnight, then we found and started exploring the Forlorn Sepulchurs earlier today. Frantino's proposal is to sail around the island and have Damil show Captain Antefelle the beach where they landed and stowed the folding boat. If we have to we'll row ashore with him to find the boat, but I think we'll be able to find it without him present, even if they folded it back into box form. Enough of us have detect magic that we'll be able to triangulate its location.
Finding the folding boat is a relatively simple matter, once you convince Captain Antefalle to circumnavigate the island.
The trip back to Magnimar is successful. Upon your arrival, a representative of the Sihedron Council invites you all to report back on what you've discovered.
Doc, Nasir, and Ezranadir will miss the council meeting, as the are seeking spellcasting services to address their various infirmities.
Three day trip back to Magnimar, sailing with the wind.
Knowledge (local) DC25 results in finding an interested party to buy your unpriced items. These are ancient items of great historical value. Assign normal PHB pricing, despite their time-worn condition. Failure on the roll mean 50% PHB pricing.
Any standard items from the PHB sell for 50%.
One roll. Add'l aids allowed.
After one person begins scouting for buyers, the word gets out amongst the thassilonian antiquities market that you're looking and prices only go down.
Frantino has a +8 and inspiration, meaning a +11.5 on average. As a Magnimar native from a prominent family who was educated here, is there a circumstance bonus? Maybe he can ask Aunt Zimandi for help with introductions.
before local bonus and aid rolls
Frantino also assumed that the members of the Sihedron Council would want first dibs, at least on the books, but we'd have to insist on a fair price.
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Ayita picks up the Lucerne hammer, Social Control in her other hand. She considers both, taking some slow-motion swings. She then takes a small piece of leather off of Social Control, and puts the +1 earthbreaker into the group's pile. She ties the leather onto the hammer...
This is Social Control now.
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After the meeting with the Council, Ayita goes shopping with Ter and Yazhi; she comes back with several items and some colorful new Varisian scarves wrapped around her hair. Yazhi has a scarf as a decorative collar as well; Ayita chose a very nice one for her but got it at a good price... there are visible bloodstains on it. Ter thinks it's very funny.
Ayita and Frantino (and anyone else who makes it back quickly after getting a restoration) brief the Sihedron Council on the events so far on the island, especially the danger posed by Maga Szuul and the cult he's in, the activities of the Peacock Cult, and present Damil for further interrogation.
Frantino then visits his friend Audrahni and goes shopping. He shows back up at Kaddren Manor with his mithral buckler enhanced to +1 light fortification (thus meeting the final prerequisite for the feat Ability Mastery), a +1 ring of protection, a headband of vast intellect +2, and two scrolls of fly, which cost the same as one potion. He is mulling buying an adamantine heavy pick as well, in case we need to break through some of these stone doors, or at least the one with the beheaded hydra on it.
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Ter is flying around watching everyone's shopping, and sees Frantino looking at the headband of vast intellect.
Ayita getting Aerial Agility headband, might fly better sometime. Flying important.
Draft Magnimar purchase list 2/2025
2 x Cloak of Resistance +1 (1 for each animal). 2000gp
+2str Composite Longbow upgraded to +3str, +1 magical Composite Longbow . 2400gp
+2 Headband Aerial Agility - wisdom. 4500gp
+1 studded leather traded for group's +1 lamellar leather armor --
+1 Amulet of Natural Armor (free from group)
+1 Amulet of Might Fists (for Yazhi) 4000gp
When the PCs arrive at Heidmarch Manor, they’re eagerly welcomed and ushered into the council room where Sheila Heidmarch waits for them, along with Koriah Azmeren and a dark-haired woman with pointed ears and goatlike horns. [ooc](See image on Roll20)[ooc] The woman remains silent and observant until later in the meeting.
"Welcome, friends. I see that only a few of you have survived. I mourn your losses on Hollow Mountain," she says, sadly. "Tell us what happened."
When Frantino and Ayita mention that Maga Szuul was a member of a cult of Yamasoth based in the Gecko, here in Magnimar, both Koriah and Sheila look at each other.
"We are having disturbing reports throughout the city of a strange new affliction that’s been striking vagrants in Underbridge—a sinister sickness that turns ordinary people into monsters!" Koriah says.
"I'm hearing whispers of discontent. That WE should do something about it. Not the Mayor or City Guard. Us. The Sihedron Council," adds Sheila.
As you continue relating the story of your adventures on Rivenrake Island, the Council listens carefully to your dream of Runelord Sorshen. They seem worried about the invitation to Korvosa that Sorshen has extended.
"You should take precautions before following up on the invitation. But... if Sorshen truly does wish to help, having her as an ally could be invaluable," considers Koriah. "You need to be sure its not just somebody POSING as Sorshen."
As you finish your report to the council, Koriah introduces the third woman. "This is Ayavah, a talented local artist. She recently came to the council with dire news for “the council’s heroes.” At first, the we thought Ayavah meant the Sihedron Heroes and we were debating how to handle the request. But then she specific she was seeking all of you lot!"
When Ayavah clarified her statement to indicate she was seeking all of you, the Sihedron Council was intrigued. Ayavah claims to be not just a sculptor but also a sorcerer whose gift of magic comes from something more than study—she says she is destined for something more. She claims to receive visions now and then, and in one such vision she saw something of great importance to each of you.
When asked about her vision, Ayavah says she saw the heroes, minus Roscoe, standing side by side with Runelord Sorshen before a vast, churning portal.
"Where are your friends?," she asks. "Have they all perished on Rivenrake Island?"
Clearly she is worried by the absence of Nasir, Doc and Ezranadir. The vision was maddeningly vague, but she’s certain it represents something in the future, and if the entire group of heroes and Sorshen are not present before this vast portal, wherever it may be, something dire will befall Varisia—for beyond the portal Ayavah had a glimpse of a towering elephantine behemoth thundering through reality toward this world.
The Sihedron Council trusts Ayavah’s report of the vision (bolstered by the use of falsehood-detecting magic), even if its members aren’t quite convinced of the vision’s source.
"You know," says Ayavah. "I live near the Gecko, in a small complex in the piling opposite the Gecko. I've noticed lots of comings and goings through a hexagonal window at the Gecko's upper heights."
She hesitates. "And, umm, well, I swear I've seen a serpentine ghost going in and out. I fear it may be the ndead spirit of one of Underbridge's most notorious monsters, a lamia matriarch named Xanesha."
"WHAT?" exclaims Koriah. She turns to Sheila Heidmarch. "If this is true, we must investigate the Gecko IMMEDIATELY!"
Heidmarch nods. "But who, Koriah? The Council's resources are spread thin. If it IS Xanesha, allied with this cult of Yamasoth... we don't have anybody right now who can handle it."
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Ma'am, three of our friends are fine and are seeking magical help in the city for draining effects of evil magics. One, Roscoe, we are grieving the loss of. We have his personal effects for his family.
She looks at Frantino.
We will help however we can! Is anything known about the magics that are turning the people into monsters? What do the monsters look like, might we be able to restore the people affected? Though if an undead is involved...
"Honored Council members, as a native Magnimarian I will help however I can and see if my companions will be willing join this quest. However, we had intended this visit to be brief, we still have unfinished business to finish exploring the Forlorn Sepulchers back on Rivenrake Island and consult with the spirit of Thybidos, the runelord of wrath before Alaznist. Sorshen implied he has information that will aid our effort to ultimately confront Alaznist, assuming she really has returned. Should we delay going to the Gecko until we return, or should we run down this lead in the Gecko first?"
Nasir spends additional time in the temple of Serenrae speaking with the clergy about his ordeal. He is counseled on improvements in arms and armament and encouraged to seek out Sarenrite artisans to provide him with what he needs. He trades in his chainmail or a new set of plate armor emblazoned with a flaming Angelic Ankh incrusted in gold on the chest. The priests enchant it to resist the draining effects from the touch of demons and undead.
He has his blade enchanted produce fire. Inscribed on the blade in golden Keleshite script, sacred scripture from The Birth of Light and Truth reads "Mercy is the first gift, fire the last. If darkness will not yield to the light, then let it be undone by the sacred blaze, and from its ashes may new life grow."
Finally, he seeks out a wayfinder to protect his ioun stone and help light his way. Once this is accomplished, Nasir seeks out his friends and arrives late to Heidmarch Manor to meet with the Sihedron Council.
"Sorry I am late. Blease let me know if zere is anyzing I can add to za discussion."