23 August 2019

Badger's Banquet, Mindflayer's Tea

A door opens and a translucent badger stands at the door, inviting the adventurers in. Inside is a rectangular room with a table with an enormous spread of wonderful foods including favorites of all of the Irregulars. Looking around nonplussed the individuals seem not to know what to do or say. Autun, trusting that this is part of divine grace connected to the holy tree in sunlight from the previous room, decides they should dig in: he makes a plate for Ezri, then one for Bree, and one-by-one each of them. The ghostly badger has curled up by the fire. Each one of them eats their fill of quail, boar, shepherds pie, fresh greens with cucumber and onion, forest berries, and more. Bree goes over to the badger and tries to talk to it, but gets very little in response. She comes back, fixes a plate and sets it beside the badger spirit; later the plate is empty. Bree also pockets some cheese. Similarly, Kais sees that there is clearly more food than the group will eat, and asks the badger if he may save some for later, the badger seems to shrug or nod or something. Kais packs up food which won't spoil quickly, considers what they are likely to eat over the next couple of days and then packs up what perishables seem like will stay good enough for a day or two.

As Bree begins to look around, the badger tugs on her sleeve and nudges her to the other door in the room. Bree is hesitant to separate herself from the group, but in the end goes. After a while she returns looking freshly bathed, in clean clothes and tells us that she discovered a wondrous spa in the next room with great little tub, magical hot water, towels, oils and soaps and lotions and such. There's also a bedroom perfect for her. Ezri goes and finds the tub suits her just fine, and is shown to a room perfect for her. Autun goes and finds that the tub is not little at all, it's perfectly sized for a firbolg and later is shown a room with a luxurious bed in which he can truly stretch out. Caius goes last and takes an hour-long soak as all of his stresses and worries melt away.

The next morning, each wake feeling better and healthier than ever. As the last person enters the dining room, the door to the bath and bedrooms vanishes. The great dining table is laid with an amazing pancake buffet, and the crew joyously take in their fill. Caius can't help himself and stashes a few extra for later. Near the door are several sacks, each containing a well prepared travel meal seemingly tailored to each of the badger's guests. Additionally is a strange bag which has a note stating: Windbag, good for 24 hours of favorable winds, can be used three times -- this will make certainly sailing to the gnomish city of Blingdenstone a breeze. With nods of thanks to the badger, and a restored sense of vigor and purpose, the group decides it is time to head on with their mission to warn the gnomes of Blingdenstone.

On the way out they each stop at the great tree and bask in its majesty before heading further up. The way is easy, and all masonry seems to have been repaired and restored. Once atop, they unfold the boat. The winds are quite favorable and they head out with Shuushar at the rudder.

Sailing is smooth for about a week. Not much happens, and while they don't need the fish for food this moment, they don't even catch or even see sign of any fish. The party passes the time by trying to identify some of the more fantastic items they have obtained, discussing their travels so far, and thinking about the implications of what they've seen, like the three-headed flail necklace of the gnoll causing them to recall what they can of the Demon Prince Yeenoghu. The necklace with the spheres remains a mystery but Autun feels it must convey some form of evocation. Finally, ahead there are some some small islands with strange bleached lichen draping around the sparse mushroom forest. Are these strange white filaments a sign of the Great Seeder?

Suddenly, Shuushar leaps to the mast and drops the sail and tells Autun to grab the oars to stop the boat. Just in time, too, as the boat gently beaches on a sand bar. Bree casts a spell enabling all to walk upon the water and the group begins to try to portage with the boat. As they start to get situated to push and pull, Kais has the feeling that they are being watched. Shuushar notices figures in the forest and points for the others to see. Some quaggoth and two large beasts with huge mandibles and great claws, emerge from the forest: Umber hulks!

Caius moves in, positioning himself right between the umberhulks to defend the group, striking his rapier against his shield creating a resounding ringing. Shuushar scoops up Rumpadump and hides in the boat. Autun leaps in to the fray swinging his mighty axe as Bree lights up one of the umber hulks with a green glow. The umber hulks are so strange that to even look upon them is deeply confusing; Kais runs the wrong direction and Ezri attacks Bree, apparently mistaking Bree for an enemy!

Magic protects Caius to some extent as the great claws of the umber hulks and sharp mandibles cut deeply into him. Autun takes the full brunt of the savage attacks aimed at him. Caius strikes true on the hulk he targets. Calling upon Mielikki, Autun's axe thunders and blazes with divine glory as it cuts deeply into his umber hulk foe. With a bit of distance, Kais gets his senses back and sneakily from his distant position looses arrows at the umber hulks striking with formidable potency. Bree chants and a great ball of fire erupts from behind the beasts burning them. Caius falls back, taking a hefty strike as he does so, and envokes a gastly image of himself causing fear in his assailants. As a quaggoth and both of the umber hulks turn to flee, Autun takes advantage of his opponent's distraction and fells the hulk with a swing of his massive axe.

Next, the adventurers focus on the remaining quaggoth, one of which is attacking Ezri and the other Bree. Caius cheers to Ezri as he runs towards her, bolstering her resolve. Ezri, creates a sword of flames with which she slices the quaggoth down in a single blazing strike. Arrows and eldritch blasts make short work of Bree's opponent.

Ezri thanks Caius for being such an inspiration. There is silence for a moment as the party survey's the situation; they appear victorious.

"Was all that really necessary?" Out of the forest comes a most unexpected figure, robed, tall and thin, with a head like a octopus. A creature of tales and nightmares; none other than a legendary brain eating Mind flayer. The wounded umber hulk from earlier lumbers beside the figure. "These are my servants." Taken aback, the party steels itself for another assault. Caius retorts, "They attacked us." The mind flayer looks frustrated and says something to the effect of, "well they're even less mentally capable than your sort, bound to get themselves in to trouble." Then goes on to suggest that this whole situation is very unfortunate, and asks if they have news. "Yes, we have" says Autun. Kais watches the figure's body language closely and with an glance and raised eyebrow seems to indicate that he believes the mind flayer is indeed peaceful. Autun speaks briefly of the appearance of Demogorgon and the destruction of Sloodublop. The mind flayer says he wishes to know more and unexpectedly invites everyone to his humble abode for tea!

After some understandable hesitation, and a brief discussion including that the mind flayer's diet is currently well cared for, the party follows. The mind flayer introduces himself as Ezradaur and learns the names of all the party. Sure enough, Ezradaur prepares what seems to be surface tea for the group. The adventurers tell more detail of the demons in Velkynvelve, the dreams in Sloodublop, the divided people, the appearance of the Lord of All That Swims in Darkness, the divided people of Neverlight Grove and The Great Seeder, the corruption of The Dark Prince and seduction of the Succubus in the city of Gracklestugh, and their duty to spread the word and warn the people of Blingdenstone.

Ezradaur asks if there has been news of the mind flayer city of Ryxyg, but the party has heard nothing. Ezradaur shares that a Neothelid has escaped and is out of control. The very appearance of a neothelid is something that typically only happens if the tadpole-like larval mind flayer is not properly cared for ... typically this would only happen if a city's elder brain had died, thus the concern. He tells of a Society of Brilliance, and mentions the name of Razzillax, another mind flayer who a member of said society. Perhaps he knows more, but as of yet Ezradaur has been unable to make contact.

During all of the discussion, Bree's ears start burning -- a feeling she associates with the mischief of her patron -- and she suddenly needs to pee. Ezradaur directs her out back. She excuses herself. Outside she hears a pleading whisper, but in a language she can not understand. She takes her time and calls upon the powers granted by Nathair Sgiathach to understand the words. Through a hole in the wall of a large fenced pen, she sees a desperate Duergar. While Bree can comprehend what she hears, she can't speak the language back, and thus is unable to give the gray dwarf more than her name. However, from the whispers Bree learns that the duergar's name is Tillis from someplace called Mantol Derith as the dwarf begs to be rescued from the certain fate of having an eaten brain.

Bree returns to the group and says nothing. With all of the news exchanged the party thanks Ezradaur for the tea and head back to their boat. As they prepare to pull away Bree describes what she heard and saw. As the picture unfolds, Autun puts his great head in his hand, "We must go back." Caius reasons that a rescue is too great of a risk. A galled Kais blurts out in seeming disbelief, "Oh come on!"

In hushed tones, they begin to hatch a plan....

---

Prior: 16 August 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 30 August 2019

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Inventory

Gained:

• Wind bag (3 charges) gift from a badger
• 8 nice surface "to go bag" rations
• 8? rations of additional leftovers/foodstuffs: bread, eggs, cheese, etc.
• bree's leftover cheese

Lost:

• 8 nice surface "to go bag" rations
• 8? rations of additional leftovers/foodstuffs: bread, eggs, cheese, etc.
• 40? additional rations
• 3 arrows (Kais, Jimjar)

Party inventory (excluding Gained and Lost items above)

personal items

• all of our original possessions, except coins and disposables (Autun's already added in-line)

cash and jewelry

• 530 copper coins (cp)
• 989 silver coins (sp)
• 1827 gold coins (gp)
• 0 electrum coins (ep)
• 54 platinum coins (pp)
• -cost of rooms
• -cost of Ezri's companion of negotiable affections
• -cost of Bree's surface coin
• misc gems worth 16gp
• 12 small gems worth 1 gp each (held by Jimjar)
• 7 gems x 2gp each
• 3 amythysts worth 10gp each
• 2 Rings from Werz Saltbaron given in thanks (worth?)
• a pouch of surface coins. (value?) The pouch of coins seems to correspond to the coins in the obelisk notebook for the last week's worth entries or so.
• a silver bracelet worth 5gp
• a silver bracelet worth 6gp
• Gold ring with the insignia of Ilvara's family
• A necklace with silvered spider fangs (Ezri)
• 1 surface coin (carried by Bree)
• gnoll necklace with 3 headed flail (Yeenoghu??)
• silver headdress (worth?)
• 3 rings with gems (from dead drow) (worth?)
• 2x 300 GP diamond (gifts from Basidia, Hgraam) (Autun)
• necklace with unicorn head (Autun)

magic consumables

• 5x Potion of Greater Healing (4d4+2)
• 2x potion of healing (2d4 + 2)
• 2x gourd of antitoxin - found in a hook horror den (gives 1 hour of advantage on saving throws against poison)
• Holy water, flask - found in a hook horror den (Autun)
• 3x spell components for Find Familiar (Kais)
• 23 pygmywort mushrooms (divided about evenly in party)
• 16 bigwig (embiggen) mushrooms (divided about evenly)
• Potion of fire breath (Bree)
• 8x ampules of poison
• 2x Vials of poison
• Keoghtom's Ointment - 5 doses of aloe salve, jar found in Nerrick's chest
• 2x potions of Alchemist Fire
• 4x Vials of Acid
• 2x spell component pouch
• Autun's herb/component pouch: garlic, thyme, basil, ginger, mandrake root, belladonna, wolvesbane, yew leaves, cinnamon bark, firelichen

magic and other special items

• Bag of Holding - from a trapped drow, carried by Autun
• Oil of sharpness, Glass jar with snowglobe-like liquid in it (Autun)
• Necklace with round black balls, found in badger tunnels - seems to be evocation?
• Folding Boat - gifted by Errde Blackskull on behalf of the Deep King.
• Boots of Elvenkind - gifted to Kais by Errde Blackskull for undisclosed reasons. They have an old-looking floral motif. (Kais)
• Stone Speaker Crystal - a gift from Hgraam - (Autun)
• scroll of Protection From Fiends in a box of surface wood - (Autun)
• 2x pair of spectacles of darkvision gift from the Bregan D'aerthe and Badger tunnels (Caius, Autun)
• a Quiver of Ehlonna - found in a hook horror den; ancient-looking floral motif, (Kais)
• Bree's Book of Shadows - found hidden amongst Kobold skeletons
• a +1 Magic Shield - Recovered from the gullet of a Shambling Mound (carried by Caius)
• bag of magical rubies for delivery
• Rod of the Pact Keeper - hobbit-sized walking stick found on the corpse of the reanimated Buppido (Bree)
• Preacher's Pendant of Sending - found on the corpse of drow priestess (Autun)
• Scroll of Gentle Repose - from Nerrick's chest (now copied into Bree's spellbook)
• A book with 3 wizards' spells (crazy) from Nerrick's chest
• recipes for Alchemist's fire and Acid
• Illusory Instrument (Caius)

misc

• a large pouch of incense worth 10gp
• 6 perfumes worth ~2gp each
• 12 pouches of potpourri containing surface flowers
• bolts of velvet, silk, and linen worth 5gp each
• a feather of some unknown bird
• 5 furs worth 3gp each
• 1 ball of amber
• notebook with documentation of objects retrieved by the obelisk
• detached hand of a deep gnome wearing a 2gp ring, hand to be returned to Blindenstone
• Chest with a key - medium (about 30cm x 30 x 60), obtained from Nerrick
• a hairy belt from an unknown surface animal (worn by Kais)
• snuff box with bits of incense (~1gp worth)
• a surface leather belt (worn by Caius)
• Portrait of Ilvara - found on the corpse of the reanimated Buppido
• insignia from the dead drow priestess
• 5 drow insignia
• Small tome of heretical gods of the Dark Selderij, found on the corpse of drow priestess (Autun)
• Bone dice - mundane, yet seemingly very fair, given to Jimjar
• fishing tackle x4
• Thieves' lantern - hooded lantern found in a strange cottage (Kais)
• pouch with incense (worth 5gp)
• Underdark / Dwarvish recipe book - Ezri - found amongst Kobold skeletons
• Dwarven poetry book - found amongst Kobold skeletons, "some crappy poetry about gemstones"
• bone flute - seems mundane, found in boneyard
• strange bone hourglass - seems mundane, found in boneyard (worth 2gp) (Autun)
• silver hand mirror
• small wood box
• decorated quiver (5gp)
• drow underwear
• a bunch of hairpins (fished out from between the teeth of the elf-Quaggoth)
• some rope: mostly hemp + 50 feet silk rope and 100 feet of silk rope
• 2 grappling hooks
• 2 bag of pitons (Kais, Autun)
• Large simple broach of giant origin (Autun)
• Healer's kit (Autun)
• Autun's clothes: simple, high hard boots, belt, belt pouches
• Autun's great leather backpack, bedroll
• 2 tarps 10'x10' for simple tent (Autun)
• 10' pole
• 10 torches (Autun)
• water/wineskins (Autun x2)
• tinderbox, flint, steel, carving knife, whetstone (Autun)
• messkit, dented pot (Autun)
• 5 sticks of incense (Autun)
• Gorglak's incriminating letter - found in Lorthio's alchemist lab - (given to Errde Blackskull)
• Droki's note to Nerrick - obtained from Nerrick - (shown to Errde Blackskull, given to Hgraam)

armor and weapons

• Myconid leather armor (Rumpadump)
• plush purple velvet cloak (worn by Autun)
• Silvered sickle, non-magical - (Ezri) recovered from a shambling mound
• 2 studded leather armor (kept by Kais, Caius)
• 3 short swords (kept by Kais, Caius)
• 3 daggers (kept by Kais)
• 1 hand crossbow (kept by Kais)
• 2 bags of caltrops (Kais, Autun)
• 2 longbows (one kept by Kais, one kept by Autun)
• Autun's Chainmail, with coif, jerkin with unicorn head
• Great Axe, heavy, two handed (Autun)
• extra great axe from ettin (Autun)
• heavy longbow (Autun)
• hand axe (Autun)
• Rapier (Caius)

ammo

• 21 +1 arrows (9x Autun, 12x Kais)
• 150 arrows (Kais, Jimjar)
• 33 longbow arrows (Autun)
• 90 crossbow bolts
• 10 spears
• extra drow silk bowstring (Autun)

food and firewood

• 260+ rations
• salted fish (how much?)
• blue cap mushroom spores
• 8-10 water orbs
• salt, a kilo or two
• fire lichen
• shambling mound debris (tinder)
• zurkhwood for firewood
• small amount of surface wood for kindling (were weapon shafts)

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Prior: 16 August 2019, All: Play_Sessions, Next: 30 August 2019