"Now that they are taken care of, let's resume our other tasks. Back to the Dreamlands."
"Sounds good by me. How much more do we need to do before we can talk to that 'Yellow King' again?" Kat's expression is grave--even more than usual--as she asks. She has something on her mind.
The White Rabbit seems to be trying on the boots...but he graciously hands them over to...
Viscount's Signet Ring
Feline Tail (blue and purple mottled fur)
Skull of ghoul royalty
Green stone idol of a water lizard
Night hag ambassador's heartstone
Captain's tricorn
Red webbed foot
Skull of ghoul royalty?
"I don't know how many gifts we need, Kat. I would try to get all of them that Lowls got.
What is the matter?"
"Right, of course." Kat folds her arms and looks away. She knew that was the case, but she couldn't help but ask. She's just too antsy to get back to Lowls and find out what he knows about Mari. "Just...anxious to interrogate him more. That's all."
Mara added, "The Mad Poet sounds unpredictable. I agree with Dervak — we should get all the items on Lowls' list. As for where to go next, nothing could be worse than the Viscount's party!" She shuddered at the thought of Viscount Brellin's 'beloved'. The whole affair had confirmed some of her worst fears concerning spiders.
"The skull of ghoul royalty sounds as good as any."
She said to Kat, "When we're ready, the Yellow King is going to lead us to the Mad Poet, so you'll have a chance to talk to him then, at any rate."
Theophilus claps.
I just love meeting royalty!
Perhaps it's the excitement of meeting and stealing the skull of a ghoul queen that throws him off, or just the fact that Theo has the attention span of a gerbil on crush, but he cannot complete the Dreamlands Excursion ritual. You feel the strain as the magic taxes your mind and body, Rowan gets a nosebleed, Mara develops thick bruises, and Kat becomes pale. Luckily the third time is a charm and the stairs open the portal downward.
You arrive in an enormous underground cavern dimly illuminated by multicolored phosphorescent fungus. Surrounding you are six ghouls chanting in a dusty language,
The more academic of you recognize a string of summoning symbols set in a circle around where you appeared. You soon see that you're in a war camp comprising entirely of ghouls, some arrange themselves into strike groups, others strap on makeshift armor, and a few spar with one another. Amidst the ghouls you are familiar with you see ghouls with rancid green flesh, hoof-like feet, and a semi-canine face. Kat recognizes them as Leng ghouls, ghouls native to the places where the Dreamlands connect to Leng. They are more civilized, though no less cruel, than their prime material plane cousins.
One of the Leng ghouls pushes through the throng of lesser ghouls to you signaling for a parlay, "My name is Wilkins. I did not expect the summoning ritual to work, but Nyarlathotep smiles on us today."
Theophilus smiles weakly.
Howdy.
The White Rabbit wets himself!
After the second ritual attempt, Mara proposed resting for the night, and trying again in the morning. First, however, she healed her comrades and herself.
1st lvl (5): Ant Haul, Cure Light Wounds x2, Liberating Command, Remove Fear
2nd lvl (4): Barkskin x3, Remove Paralysis
3rd lvl (3): Heroism x3
4th lvl (2): Threefold Aspect, Wandering Star Motes
The next day, the ritual was a success. Seeing that they had arrived in a ghoul camp, she called on her mother to channel the courage of orcish heroes. This task was looking to be more that a raid on a necropolis.
She greeted the approaching emissary, "How do you do, Wilkins? My name is Mara. I had heard that your kin are more social than the ghouls where we come from, and I can see that it is true. I am interested to learn more about your society."
Theophilus swallows the lump in his throat.
Well said, Mara. We represent the lollypop...err...apologies; wrong script. Would you like some tea? Yes, that feels right.
The White Rabbit takes a handkerchief and he begins cleaning Theo's pant leg.
According to The Manual of Silence the extraplanar ghouls of the Dreamlands are far more social—though no less wicked—than their bestial kin in the waking world. They have rich histories and large communities led by royalty.
A discourse on the dread Plateau of Leng, The Unified Manual of Understanding, explains that a more powerful form of ghoul inhabits regions where the Dreamlands connects to Leng. These Leng ghouls are shrewder than their lesser kin.
Kat finds the modifications to the Dreamlands ritual needed to travel to a necropolis likely to have the skull they need.
Dervak winces at Mara's attempt at flattery. I bet they respect strength.
He checks to see if the Vorpal Scimitar is at his waist; if not, he has his falchion on his back. Dervak draws himself up to his full height. "I am Dervak. A warrior. I know a bit about Leng and some of its people, though I have not met your kind before. Tell me Wilkins, why did you seek to summon us?"
Kat folds her arms and keeps a wary eye on the leng ghouls. As if the normal ones weren’t bad enough.
”And what are these ‘seven suns?’”
She watches Wilkins closely for any tells as to his intentions. She is curious if he intends to eat the group or some other unsavory goal.
Dervak finds the vorpal scimitar right where he expects it.
It’s hard to read Wilkins but you think he’s giving Mara a wry smile, ”Well I certainly wouldn’t presume to judge you based on the living humanoids I’ve encountered, weak and pathetic things. I’m glad you will give us the same courtesy.”
He explains the situation, ”A large tribe of gugs currently occupies an underground necropolis that we once inhabited, but abandoned a few years ago. The gugs wouldn’t attack when we occupied it but moved in once we left. We see their occupation as a defilement of our history and tradition.”
He motions to the war camp, ”We’ve gathered these lesser ghouls, the best ally we could muster on such short notice, and they volunteered to conduct a summoning ritual. You will target the Plaza of Bones, a choke point that is likely to be lightly guarded. But still could be significant in the larger battle. We’ll depart in a few minutes on a 4 mile journey."
Kat gets the sense that Wilkins is playing it straight.
Mara got the feeling that this was a very dangerous mission. She asked Wilkins, "How many gugs are we talking about? I assume your army will be attacking at the same time? A large tribe of gugs sounds like a formidable enemy!"
She conferred with her comrades, "Opinions? What do we know about gugs?"
Kat knows that they are large aberrations. Their black furred arms split into two sets of claws and they have large vertical mouths overgrown with course hair and bony protuberances. They are typically 16ft tall and weight 2000lbs. They are cruel and cunning hunters, who are just as likely to sacrifice their quarry to their terrible deities as eat them.
Wilkins answers, "We will split off into several groups and attack from different angles. Our scouts reported merely 4 gugs where you're attacking."
Theo continues to smile weakly.
Theophilus signs.
How does this procure the skull of a ghoul queen?
"A four mile journey. So a bit over an hour, maybe. Mara, when we are getting close, can you cast that Barkskin spell on me?
There is a chance these gugs could try to ambush us before we get to the Plaza of Bones."
He addresses the ghouls. "There is a price for our service. We wish for the skull of one of your royalty. This is a necropolis that we go to? So there could be one such skull there? That is our price."
Mara replied to Dervak, "My Barkskin spell will only last a bit over an hour, so I think it's best to wait until we're about to enter the necropolis."
She had been hesitant to mention that they were after a skull, afraid that the ghouls might find the idea offensive. She studied Wilkins' reaction to Dervak's proposal.
Before they departed for the necropolis, Mara took a moment to attune her phylactery to monitor the health of Dervak, Kat and Rowan.
If the question bothers Wilkins he doesn't show it, "There are no royals among our army but the Plaza of Bone contains the mausoleum of Scarcrim Vost, a prince destroyed many decades ago. His skull likely remains. We will allow this lesser defilement." Mara notices that some of the lesser ghouls mutter to themselves when the subject of the skull comes up.
Mara asked Wilkins, "Do these particular gugs have and any notable qualities that are different from 'normal' gugs? Do you have any particular advice for fighting them?" She really wasn't that familiar with gugs in general, but didn't want to broadcast her ignorance. From what Kat had related about their size and physiology, they sounded like fearsome opponents.
"Bloody gugs, not looking forward to a scrap with a buncha those." Kat eyes the lesser ghouls muttering about the skull, trying to determine whether their behavior necessitated wariness.
Theophilus begins packing for the journey. After that he, the White Rabbit and any civilized ghouls sit for a few games of cards.
The White Rabbit doe not cheat...
Wilkins answers Mara, "Hit them hard and hit them fast. Our plan of attack is to send in a lot of small strike forces and pick them off one by one. We'll move in and paralyze them then let the lesser ghouls tear them apart."
Kat gets the sense that the lesser ghouls are not taking well to Wilkin's promise. It could be trouble. Too many of the ghouls are walking off to war to take up cards with Theo.
When they arrived at the entrance to the necropolis, Mara recited a few prayers over Dervak and Rowan, preparing them for the coming battle. She also cast a spell on herself, and took out a scroll and read it.
Theophilus buffs at the entrance (assuming we are close in time).
All of Dervak's buff spells are min/level. If we are at the Plaza, he will cast the following:
Enlarge Person
Shield
Long Arm
Mirror Image images
That leaves him with a single 2nd-level spell slot left.
AC 24 (touch 10, FF 24), CMD 26 (+7 Armor, +3 natural, +4 Shield, +1 Deflection, -1 Size)
Saves F+11/R+6/W+9 (+2 vs fear)
Init +4
Per +14
Attack +16/+11 (1d8+11/18-20) (+7 BAB, +6 Str, +1 MW, +3 Morale, -1 Size; damage +9 Str, +2 AS)
PA: +14/+9 (1d8+17/18-20)
The promenade to the Plaza of Bones is thirty feet wide and twenty feet high, with two columns of pillars marching down the center. Multicolored fungi along the ceiling bathe the passageway in an eerie glow. The floor is scattered with cracked bones, which are more numerous at the far end of the promenade. Each of the columns in the promenade is carved to resemble multiple intertwined skeletons of humanoids, animals, and stranger creatures. The bones littering the floor here are plentiful, but not so much so that they restrict movement. However, moving through this area on the ground is noisy
Kat notices a nearly invisible tripwire.
Theophilus looks up at the ceiling as they stop short of entering.
The White Rabbit begins to unwind a tape measure.
Perhaps, we might lure them outside?
When they reached the expected battle site, Mara concentrated, causing her form to start wavering; she retrieved a scroll and read it, then rose into the air. She pulled out another scroll, ready to use it at the right moment, then flew forward next to the first pillar on the right, and listened.
"Let's not take too much time, Theophilus. These spells won't last long."
Dervak waits for Kat to disable the trap, or else he will just avoid it if possible.
No one hears anything, except Kat who clearly hears two gugs who are far too stealthy for creatures of their size.
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Kat holds up a hand for everyone to halt when she sees the tripwire. ”Tripwire. Hold up.” She rubs her hands together then gets to work on disabling it.
Kat pokes at her closest comrade until she has all their attentions, then she points out the two gugs she spotted.
Theophilus sadly nods.
The White Rabbit rolls back up the tape.
The two pretend not to look bummed.
They are unsuccessful, since, they do actually look bummed.
I have a plan. I have 12% of a plan., he whispers.
The trap is disabled, Kat can bypass if she wants.
Mara flew back and consulted with the others, speaking in a low voice, "The terrain looks favorable: the gugs should have trouble all engaging with us in such a tight space. If they pack together, they'll be more vulnerable to my spells.
"Dervak, I think you'll have to advance up the center — the side are too tight. I'll fly above you, and check the pillars, in case there's anything funny about them. Rowan and Kat, I think you'll have to each go up a different side; keep an eye out for more tripwires. Theo, since you're flying, you can probably position yourself as you like."
She paused,and then added, "One more thing — I'm going to cast a spell with colorful, hypnotic lights. If any of them seem to be staring at the lights, don't attack or approach those ones — it'll snap them out it. I'll move the lights away, and hopefully they'll follow."
Theophilus nods.
All right, Guardians; this may be dangerous, so, let's put on our mean faces!
The White Rabbit puts on his mean face (he still looks cute and cuddly).
Theophilus will Fly opposite side as Mara; also keeping an eye out for ceiling/columns shannagins.
Would Dervak have to Squeeze to move down the center? If so, he'll dismiss the Enlarge Person. If not, he'll keep it up. But either way, he'll wait for his allies to draw out the gugs that Kat heard.
"Theophilus, maybe a summoning?"
Theophilus slaps himself in the face. The White Rabbit face palms himself also.
An opening act! Splendid idea, my good friend Dervak!
Theophilus starts to Summon; placing him center of pillars.
Theophilus explains (in Terran) to Rocky that his job is to Earth Guide pop up, getting their attention and pop down moving around.
Rocky does not seem excited playing the Whack-o-mo game with Gugs (trained in Dungeoneering...lol.). He strugs his mud covered shoulders, does a few knee bends and strides forward.
The White Rabbit seems to be humming Eye of the Tiger.
Always acts in surprise round, if surprised acts last
The two elementals pass through the bone covered walls of the nearby necropolis wall.
Theophilus hits Rocky with a Fortune Hex.
He Cackles. He floats 5' closer.
Rocky and Rocky 2 reports what they see as they enter past the columns--in Terran.
Rocky yells and can be heard from around the corner through the pillars, "Yo, Theo. I see two o them an a lot o bones." Rocky 2 also yelling, "There's a big stone building, square ya know?"