GM Badblood's The Dragon's Demand

Game Master Lance K

heal : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Ilvaria is sad that nothing magical remains.

"We need to see where the wizard lived and what he was doing. Do you kobolds know where that is?"

Suizal finds a key ring with two large brass keys on it.

Hunclay has a manor on the same hill as the tower. And the party did hear in the town that Hunclay has wanted this tower knocked down for awhile, so that part makes sense. What they do t know is why it was so important to him.

If you want your party to get enough XP to level up, the only thing left to do at this point is deal with the haunt.

"I think he lived in the town with the humans but I get the impression that he didn't get along with them. I know they didn't want him to knock the tower down. Kobolds wouldn't do something like this in defiance of the clan," she opines.

Heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

I think we need to take his body up to town. Proof that he is dead. ??

So we need to gather the treasure to take out of here. And we need to stop and talk with the prisoner (haunt) before we leave. He might have useful information, or not. But at least he didn't seem like a dangerous haunt. (from what I read)

It is time to be moving, I think. The longer we are under ground- the more nervous I become for additional kobolds arriving. There has been enough death- though we are on the luckier end of it today. Come on Tanssi"

Andwise swings up and onto the shadowy cat, ready to head back to the upper levels

"If we need some help carrying things, Tanssi would be glad to help"

Do I look like a pack mule to you, Andwise? Just a few moments ago you were complaining I wasn't around to protect you when the real fighting started. Perhaps I should just leave you in your own messes more often to prove a point...

Suizal nods. "I have an inkling that we need to go visit that one 'prisoner' again before we leave. Who wants to come with?" She turns her back and leaves, without helping out with any of the heavy lifting.

The kobold archer, who happens to be named Sesserak, points out that the tunnel up ahead leads to their settlement. "It looks like you have everything you need, so I suppose you'd be okay with me going, right? Ande I don't suppose you're going to give me any of my stuff back?"

The party collects the body of the wizard Hunclay and carries it back to the entrance of the dungeon. The hardest part of the return trip is to make it across the acid pool, as there is only foot wide ledge to grab onto it. But eventually the make it back to the entrance and leave the body there.

Irlana is a bit small for any heavy lifting but will do what she can to help.

"Prisoner? Right. The ghostly guy? Maybe we can figure out why he's still here? And he might know something from the history that is important about the this place!"

Ilvaria nods with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, we have to get them out. Would be strange to leave them."

Falcon stares at the body of Hunclay Well...do you think we're gonna get in trouble for this? Cus these people already arrested us once!

Falcon stares at the tower So it is like I thought though. He tried to bring down the tower and got killed. Just didnt realize he hired a scaly demolitions team.

Falcon does consent to go back to the ghost.

"Strange that he wanted the tower collapsed though. Unless he found something and didn't want anyone else knowing about it? The treasure here might just be the beginnings of a hoard!"

The party passes by the open jail cells and through the hidden door leading to the cells where the starving prisoner was dwelling. They notice that unlike the other cells where the doors where all flung wide open, all the doors in this section are still closed fast and locked. As soon as they look into the eye port of the door where the prisoner was, they can see a pair of hungry eyes looking at them from the darkness.

“Oh, gods, kind faces! Aroden bless you, noble souls! I ain’t seen the jailers in ages, I think they forgot about us! We ain’t eaten in days and the water’s all but gone—my cousins’re both sick. I swear we’d give back the boar if we could, but we ate it, starvin’ as we was. We didn’t even know it was the Baron’s lands, didn’t know we was poachin’! I beg you, we’re all gonna die in here! Kindness, noble souls, we’ve suffered awful! Good Baron Sarvo wills it!”

There appears to be no recognition from the prisoner that he has already met the adventurers.

Suizal sighs. 'Two can play that game, not completely realizing that theres something more to this.

"We have some food and water for you.... again. What are your names?". The sylph eyes Irlana and whispers to the halfling, "What do you think?"

intelligence: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"They are so weak that they forgot that we were here earlier! We have to get them out! How do we open these cells?" the Drow asks.

The apparation appears to be confused, saying "Again? It has been many days since we have eaten. Please slide a little food under the door for me. Even a small bowl of water would be a great mercy. Please, the good Baron Sarvo wills it."

"I have been here so long and I have been so hungry, I cannot seem to recall what my name was before. The jailers said that we don't need our names anymore because we are no longer people, the good Baron Sarvo wills it!" he shrieks before chuckling unnervingly.

When Ilvaria mentions letting the prisoners out, he shouts "No please! I don't want to be taken out. I'll die if I'm put on the rack again! Just let me stay in here, just a bit of food or water please. The good Baron Sarvo wills it!"

You still have an iron key that opens all the prison doors in the dungeon.

Ilvaria takes the keys and opens the doors.

Falcon nods Just so you know, Arodens kinda dead. Sorry about that

As Ilvaria unlocks the door, the prisoner shrieks and retreats to a corner of the room where he can't be seen from the eye port. When the party enters the room, though, there is no sign of the man. Lying curled up in the corner there is dusty skeleton and lying next to it in neat pile is the food that was offered to it earlier.

Suizal and Ilvaria notice that one of the stones on the northern side of the wall appears to be worn quite a bit smoother than the others.

Irlana glances around the room, calling out, "Good sir. You and your cousins have been pardoned. There is food and water, and treatment for your sick cousins. The Good Baron Sarvo wills it!"

As his companions speak to the obviously strange spirit, Andwise remains firmly atop of Tanssi.

If this thing is hungry, I will gladly part with a ration or two... however, I doubt that is the actual problem. It certainly seems to be something abnormal, of which I have little experience or knowledge. But please, do what you must to place this creature at peace"

Absentmindedly, he runs his finger through the shadowy hair of his mount, awaiting the outcome of the interaction.

At least we aren't in a hurry, huh Tanssi?

Suizal points at the rock. "Hey, that's strange. Look there.". She approaches the smoother stone. "Why is that so smooth? Doesn't it take years to wear down stone like that?"

There is a strange coldness to the air in this prison cell but otherwise there is no sign of the starving man in here, just the bones lying in the corner of the cell. Andwise has a sickening feeling in his stomach that something horrible happened in this place.

Suizal can see that this stone appears to have been worn smooth by touch and is sticking out just a little bit more than the other stones in the wall.

Suizal pushes Sir Falcon towards the stone. "See, right there. Touch it! See what happens."

Ilvaria moves forward and investigates the spot that Suizal discovers.

”What is going on here?!“

Ilvaria agrees that the stone looks out of place and that perhaps something would happen if it was pushed.

Ilvaria pushes.

Hearing discussion about the stone, Andwise slides off of Tanssi and slowly approaches- though the catlike creature continues to pad alongside of him.

Perception, Andwise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Perception, Tanssi: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Is there some mechanism? This room makes me feel... uncomfortable. Perhaps I can take a closer look before we do anything else? Despite my previous failures, I really am OK with mechanical devices...

Disable Device: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Andwise can tell that the stone is the opening mechanism for a secret door. Once its been pointed out it is quite easy to see where there are seams in the masonry. It doesn't appear to be locked and he doesn't find any signs of a trap. Ilvaria pushes on the stone and while she can feel it give, she realizes it is pretty heavy. Putting her shoulders into it, she manages to swing the secret door open.

In the room at the end of this narrow corridor is a strange metallic contraption of gears and chains. A large lever extends out at a forty-five-degree angle from the front of it. Floating several feet above the ground in front of the lever is a glowing ball of crackling electricity that's about three feet in diameter.

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Suizal calls out to the others, "A lighting elemental! Be careful - they're extremely magnetic," she eyes Sir Falcon.

Knowing that these creatures likely have a connection to her home plane, she starts talking to it in Auran.

These allies are expectantly very competent!

She raises her arms.

“We really mean no harm!“ she says in common.

Irlana looks at the strange contraption. "Elementals are living creatures right? Why would it still be here? Is that thing, that machine trapping it?"

Andwise takes a step back as the door opens, and another as the ball of electricity is revealed.

"Is it... is it safe?"

Suizal also knows that elementals are popular guardians because they don't need to eat, sleep or even breathe and they don't age either.

The elemental responds to Suizal, in Auran:

"I have been tasked with guarding this machine," the elemental answers back in a voice that sounds like soft rumbling thunder. "All interlopers will be slain."

Auran happens to be the ONLY language this creature speaks.

Hearing the rolling thunder from the creature Irlana steps back one step. "It sounds angry. Should we be leaving?"

Suizal will interpret.

"He says he's guarding that machine and all interlopers will be slain."

"I told him we don't want the machine and asked if we can leave. Do you guys want me to ask anything more?"

"Ask him who ordered him to guard the machine, and what the machine does!"

Suizal, roll a Diplomacy check

The creature's constant sparking turns to a lower, gentler hum as it seems to consider Suizal's words.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Auto aid diplomacy

Ilvaria still looks peaceful.

The creature's crackling remains calm as it says in Auran, "I never learned the name of the wizard who summoned me, but after it happened I was told to stay here and guard the machine against anyone else besides him and several other people. I don't know what the machine does, but when the lever is pulled it makes a great noise that shakes the walls of this room. I remember that the wizard came and pulled the lever the last time I saw him and I haven't seen anyone else here until you showed up."

"I did hear a great noise and felt the walls shake about a few hours ago. But I have never been further outside than the prison cell my chamber is connected to. I did not know that there was a tower above me, although I did always suapect that this place was under the earth, so it doesn't surprise me."

"How long have you been here? Do you get bored ever, just being here by yourself. How do you entertain yourself!"

Then Suizal's ears perk up. "Can you describe the wizard perhaps? What about the other people? Can you describe them as well?"

"And what happened when the wizard pulled the lever? When was that? Recently?"

Seeing and hearing the exchange between Suizal and the elemental, but not understanding any of it, Irlana assumes that it is peaceful. She stays back but calls out, "It may be enslaved here. Ask if it knows how it could be released, or if it wants to be released."

Sir Falcon taps his foot. So is he like a familiar?

“We have to kill it. We are here to investigate. This thing is also dangerous. If the townsfolk come here then it’s important that all areas are safe!!“ the drow says in a calculated tone.

"I've been here for a long time. That's all I know. Its not like I can see the sun down here. the elemental answers grumpily.

"He looked like any other humanoid. He was made of meat and he wore clothes over that and he had hair in his head. You all look the the same to me, frankly. Sometimes there was another guy with him though. He would sit on his shoulder and pretend to be a bird, but it was clear that he was no bird. I don't know what he was, but definitely wasn't a bird."

"I feel like I already told you that," the elemental says, clearly annoyed. "He came and pulled the lever and then he left and I never saw him again. And I've been here ever since. That was a very long time ago."

You don't think he's talking about Hunclay but someone who was around when this prison was still in use.

Suizal knows that this creature is most likely not a familiar but he wouldn't know what is binding this creature here, although it could be as simple as it not being able to leave the room. Ilvaria suggests killing the creature just to be safe.

"We can't kill it!" Suizal feels some sort of elemental connection to the creature.

"I think it is wise to point out that we could, in fact, kill it... though it appears you may not want to. Those aren't technically the same thing."

The halfling nods at Ilvaria, in support.

"Besides, I want a better look at that machine. It seems important."

Falcon looks confused Ask it if it wants to leave?

"You're just trying to trick me into leaving so that you can pull the lever, aren't you? the elemental says, crackling sharply.