The cavern is tear shaped, and a whole city was built. There were tunnels strewn along the sides. Some of them led to the surface, others to other parts of the Underdark. Time was kept by heating a particular spire, and as it cools it was measured.
It was "day" time, and you are rousing out of your beds.
GM: It's time to describe your morning routine. Take as long as you want. I'll give you a chance to roleplay your breakfast after everyone is done.
Vierka is an early riser. She has quite a lot to do before the rest of her day can start. Excluding the normal necessities, she mentally prepares herself for her morning ritual. She makes sure her dagger is clean, and she wears her ritual dress before she goes down to see the new additions of the House of Healing. There she spends at least an hour doing her ritual and obedience to her patron, before she goes to wash up and send her dress for cleaning
Zak rose before the spire had finished its slow cooling, already awake in the still-darkness. He never truly slept deeply - not here, not ever.
A faint glow from the alchemical burner in the corner illuminated the cramped stone chamber. A trio of vials simmered quietly atop it, their contents shifting hues like venom in a serpent’s gland. He leaned in, inspected one, sniffed once - acrid, metallic, almost right. He adjusted the flame, then stood, rolling one shoulder with a quiet pop.
No prayers. No mirror. Just a splash of water over the face, a moment to sharpen the questions in his head, and the day began.
He dressed with practiced precision: the worn chain shirt first, then the buckler strapped snug to his arm. Tools were checked, poisons capped. The lacquered case of extracts clicked shut with finality. A silvered morningstar slid into its loop low across his back, and a cold iron longspear - polished, barbed, and beautiful in its own way - was taken from where it leaned, upright and waiting like a sentinel.
By the time the heat in the spire dimmed, he had already stepped out - not rushing, simply moving with quiet resolve.
Some people woke to light. Zak woke to intent.
Nathrae's morning routine is one of early rising and early practice. Her gladii are a natural fit for her hands--she twirls them and flashes their blades with cold, efficient precision. Once she's loosened herself up, she finally gets dressed and prepares to truly start the day.
Tael woke long before day began, it was ingrained in her by the Blackened Fist. Discipline above all else. Well perhaps not above "all else".
After she finished her training, she sat cross legged and meditated, allowing the power of her mid to refill with the strength of will that may be needed to face and overcome danger.
Then she kneeled and prayed to the Spider-Goddess. So perhaps Discipline did come before all else. Sometimes, she wondered why she prayed to the Goddess that swept away her home and her family. But then, she served the very agents of chaos that acted as the hand of the Goddess in doing so. This despite the fact that her own Matron Mother was a High Priestess! This praying had been ingrained in her and for now anyway, it wasn't going away.
She washed herself, dressed herself and broke her fast simply with porridge. She then turned to her gear to make sure everything was in order. One never knew when they would be sent out into the underdark or the stenchstreets to deal with a problem and not having your gear ready was not an excuse to delay.
And so Taelith Odara exited her room prepared to the day.
In the next hour, all of you have had your breakfast. Waiting for you was Vaeralith Baenrae. A male, and an arcanist to boot. He had golden hair and blue eyes. A rarity among the drow.
"I have a mission for you," he says. "It comes from the matron mother. I'd like you to retrieve an artifact for me, held by House Vel'adrin. It's a magical artifact, so be wary. This mission would require guile."
Tael nods in understanding, "Do we know where within House Vel'adrin the artifact would be located? Can we receive a description of the artifact to ensure we are taking the correct item? Finally, are we to slay any who stand in our way or must we merely incapacitate them? Killing is easier but if Matron Mother wishes a more delicate approach, we hear and shall obey."
Tael nods in understanding, "Do we know where within House Vel'adrin the artifact would be located? Can we receive a description of the artifact to ensure we are taking the correct item? Finally, are we to slay any who stand in our way or must we merely incapacitate them? Killing is easier but if Matron Mother wishes a more delicate approach, we hear and shall obey."
"Wizardly divination has found that the artifact, a crystal sword, is held in a vault," he says. "But we think it's fake. The real sword might be on a platter held by a statue of a previous mother. You are to confuse the enemy in house Vel'adrin."
Zak listens in silence at first. His fingers rest lightly on the haft of his spear - not tense, but poised. After a moment, he speaks.
"Confusion can be accomplished" - he says, though his tone makes it clear this is no boast - "But confusion without control? That becomes noise. Sloppy"
He steps forward slightly, angling his body so he can study the speaker more closely.
"What exactly is the matron’s will in this? Does she want chaos… or deniability? If guards are killed on sight, if we leave bodies in the corridors and witnesses behind… any illusion of misdirection will dissolve. That cannot be undone"
He folds his arms. "Should we point the trail to another House? Or leave no trail at all? We can try to plan either - but not both"
His eyes narrow faintly, calculating. "If this is to be a clean fracture, we’ll need to know where the cracks are meant to show"
He folds his arms. "Should we point the trail to another House? Or leave no trail at all? We can try to plan either - but not both"
"The mother wants the trail to point to another house, house Shaka," the Wizard said. "Try to create a way so that Shaka is blamed, but no evidence should be led to us."
Make a roll first, this is to remember.
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 9 + (6) = 33
House Shaka is an upstart house, and the Matron of house Baenrae feel it's getting too big for its britches, and wants to teach that house a lesson. It's located in the Northwest of Menzoberranzan. House Shaka is also a rival to House Baenrae. Although it's rumored that some of that house is going after a God unknown to the drow. The Matron Mother wants House Shaka to be put in it's place. To worship Lolth and only Lolth.
Nathrae casually spins one of her gladii on the table, point-first, as she listens to the mission briefing.
"I can acquire evidence of other houses. It's easy when they are sent to my house for some attendance. If you seek something specific, I can acquire such items" she offers her own resources
"Insignia's of House Shaka, that's what we need, enough for each of us".
"The matron mother wants you to get the insignia yourselves, as a test to see if you can be stealthy or resourceful," says the wizard. "However, I do believe that will be quite hard, so I'm loaning you some invisibility rings."
Tael nods to Vaeralith, "Understood, I believe that Vierkacha may well be able to assist with my idea.
The rings are quite welcome and will of course be returned to you once our mission is complete".
She pauses for a moment, "Is there any way that you can cast a spell to create an illusionary picture of the blade? Perhaps we have have a fake created and replace the actual item with the fake, making our presence completely undetectable and leading them to believe they possess something of value which is now in the hands of the Matron Mother!"
Tael nods to Vaeralith, "Understood, I believe that Vierkacha may well be able to assist with my idea.
The rings are quite welcome and will of course be returned to you once our mission is complete".
She pauses for a moment, "Is there any way that you can cast a spell to create an illusionary picture of the blade? Perhaps we have have a fake created and replace the actual item with the fake, making our presence completely undetectable and leading them to believe they possess something of value which is now in the hands of the Matron Mother!"
"Sounds like a plan," said the male. "I'll have one of our blacksmiths work on the fake."
"Excellent.
In the meantime, we should probably scout the environs of the caverns near the House, best to know the entrances and exits before hand".
"Then perhaps I should head to my House and try to procure those items then, correct?" she offers again as she gets up to take her leave
"Agreed on both accounts" - Zak nodded.
"Agreed on both accounts" - Zak nodded.
Yeah, Stealth is hard for you.
"Then perhaps I should head to my House and try to procure those items then, correct?" she offers again as she gets up to take her leave
The drow magi nods his head yes.
(and sorry. I used the wrong there)
Yeah, Stealth is hard for you.
Yeah, Stealth is hard for you.
You put it on, and you turn invisible.
No charges. You put it on, you turn invisible. Vierkacha is right, it takes a standard action to put it on.
No charges. You put it on, you turn invisible. Vierkacha is right, it takes a standard action to put it on.
"Hmm, perhaps Vierkacha and Zak head to the house of healing while Nathrae and I scout the environs of House Shaka".
Tael dons the Ring of Invisibility.
Nathrae shrugs and rises before sheathing her gladius.
"It'd be good to get out of the house, really."
"Just try not get caught" she warns as she takes out her ritual dagger "I would hate to have to administer my craft on you so soon in our endeavours. But then again, we could improve your abilities" she gives him a devious grin
"Just try not get caught"
"We are simply going out for a stroll to take in fresh air, nothing more", Tael grins back.
---
Tale motions to Nathrae, "Let's take that stroll".
---
"I will busy myself elsewhere" - Zak grunted - "Like I already pointed out, I am not interested in going to the house of healing, so I will do my own investigation" - he added - "Shall we reconvene here in... Two hours?"
"I will busy myself elsewhere" - Zak grunted - "Like I already pointed out, I am not interested in going to the house of healing, so I will do my own investigation" - he added - "Shall we reconvene here in... Two hours?"
"We may need more time then that to get there, scout, and return, let's make it four".
The wizard nods.
"Four hours it is" - Zak agreed, and moved off.
"Four hours it is" - Zak agreed, and moved off.
"Wait, aren't you forgetting something?" the Wizard asks.
He hasn't given you the rings yet.
Zak waits for one of the ring before leaving.
The wizard opens a chest, and hands out stainless steel rings to each of you, adorned with an opal. "These are the rings I've talked about," he says. "They will grant you invisibility."
Once on his own, Zak carries out a careful examination of the ring, to make sure it does not have any additional dweomers.
Once on his own, Zak carries out a careful examination of the ring, to make sure it does not have any additional dweomers.
You can take 20.
He hasn't given you the rings yet.
Tael slightly bows, "This shall increase our effectiveness for the glory of House Baenre".
You can take 20.Once on his own, Zak carries out a careful examination of the ring, to make sure it does not have any additional dweomers.
Nathrae plucks one of the invisibility rings and holds it in her hand.