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[D&D] The Lost Mines of Phandelver
- Thread starter ravenvii
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Save some of the Redbrands for the rest of us when we get there.
I make no promises!
You walk across the sprawling farm. The flat farm, with rows and rows of crop, stretches in all directions. Directly in front of you, it abruptly ends and transforms into a forest, as forbidding and thick as you remember it from your journey down the Triboar Trail. You can see the crumbling manor rising through low clouds to your left, as ominous as ever.
As you approach the forest, you see the small deer track that Carp described. It is fairly obvious, but you could not have taken note of it if not for Carp's crudely drawn map.
You enter the forest, following the deer path until -- indeed -- a poorly constructed trapdoor reveals itself before you, barely hidden amongst the thickets. The trapdoor is open. The Redbrands seems to believe that no one will find the entrance. Through the trapdoor you can see hastily constructed steps leading down into a darkened tunnel.
@Plutonius @twietee @Moyank24 @Huntn do you proceed?
As you approach the forest, you see the small deer track that Carp described. It is fairly obvious, but you could not have taken note of it if not for Carp's crudely drawn map.
You enter the forest, following the deer path until -- indeed -- a poorly constructed trapdoor reveals itself before you, barely hidden amongst the thickets. The trapdoor is open. The Redbrands seems to believe that no one will find the entrance. Through the trapdoor you can see hastily constructed steps leading down into a darkened tunnel.
@Plutonius @twietee @Moyank24 @Huntn do you proceed?
Okay: Syllin will conclude her lengthy communing with Sister Garaele on Tuesday, then.
Up to my eyes with Christmas nonsense myself.
Seasonal greetings to my fellow warriors and travellers and adventurers and GG.
Up to my eyes with Christmas nonsense myself.
Seasonal greetings to my fellow warriors and travellers and adventurers and GG.
Another dark tunnel
. Can the two dwarves cast light on my shield and the Count's shield ?
We then descend the steps with both dwarves (dark vision) about 20' in front of us followed by myself, Portia, and the Count. We want to see any enemies before they see our lights.
We left detailed directions at the farm to the secret passage so hopefully Syllin will finish up with her meeting with the sister and join us.
You descend into the darkness. The tunnel stretches out as far as the deafen light could reach, as dry and grim as a catacomb.Another dark tunnel
Can the two dwarves cast light on my shield and the Count's shield ?
We then descend the steps with both dwarves (dark vision) about 20' in front of us followed by myself, Portia, and the Count. We want to see any enemies before they see our lights.
We left detailed directions at the farm to the secret passage so hopefully Syllin will finish up with her meeting with the sister and join us.
Fortunately the tunnel was ultimately uninteresting; you eventually spot a spot of slight distinct from the dwarf's spell; the spot eventually expands into an opening.
You find yourselves in a large chamber.
A cold breeze fills this natural cavern, carrying with it the faint scent of decaying flesh. A crevasse divides the cavern and is flanked by two rough stone columns that support the twenty-foot-high ceiling. Two arched wooden bridges span the chasm.
A crazed cackle fills the air as you enter the crevasse. "I sense... I am hungry!"
"I SENSE POWER!"
Cackling continue to fill the air. You suddenly realize that there was no sound -- rather, your minds were filled with vague images and emotions that invoke an understanding of the cackle and the words.
Suddenly, Bartholomeo drops to his knees, clutching his head. "No, no, NO!"
***
Earlier...
Sister Graeta looks at you. Her expression could be interpreted as expectant; but she did not expect an immediate response; rather, she merely expects that the response comes as the very next words that emerge from your lips, whenever that may be.
You take a long time to consider your reply; you have found yourself in, perhaps of your own fault, an delicate situation. As a proper reply forms in your mind, you open your mouth -- and the thought was suddenly swept aside and replaced with images of hunger, cruelty and suffering.
Sister Graeta looks at you in horror, and rushes forward. As the shrine turns ninety degrees, your mind was consumed.
You hungrily approach the body of a murdered Phandalin, dragged to the crevasse by the Redbrands. You attack a man wielding a silver longsword fighting off the horror that descends upon him. You watch as the man's body and mind failed and he, too, was consumed. You taste the flesh and you taste the man's dying mind.
Then another. And another. And behind it all was the sound of insane cackling. The last remainder of the mind that named itself Syllin detects only three discrete words that form from the jumble of horror. I SENSE POWER, said with delight and terrible anticipation.
Soon the images of hunger, hate and insanity begins to fill your mind, replacing the self, piece by piece. You were defenseless against the onslaught.
You did not merely see the images; you also felt it. You felt the hunger, you felt the hunger and rapture as the flesh are torn from their bodies and their minds ripped apart, you felt insanity eating at the edges of your consciousness, cackling. You are it.
And you are Syllin no more.
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Ah.
Fascinating.
So, Syllin is consumed by a magical thought - or tsunami, or impulse from elsewhere?
Has Syllin then merged with some higher consciousness?
And, is Syllin (whom I must say I rather liked) temporarily - or permanently - incapacitated, or hors de combat?
Fascinating.
So, Syllin is consumed by a magical thought - or tsunami, or impulse from elsewhere?
Has Syllin then merged with some higher consciousness?
And, is Syllin (whom I must say I rather liked) temporarily - or permanently - incapacitated, or hors de combat?
Ah, wow.
Recap:
- #2582 The Shrine is in town across the street from the Inn. Syllin means to gain some enlightenment from an elder elf.
- #2583 Syllin waits patiently at the shrine, waiting for Syster Garaele to finish her meditation.
- #2585 Sister Garaele wants Syllin (and party?) to approach a banshee named Agatha and ask the location of Bowgentle's spell book.
- #2586 Without commitment until conferring with the party, Syllin wonders if Sister Garael can offer help to the party.
- #2587 Sister Garaele is troubled by "negotiation" and wants to know more about the purpose of Syllin's party.
- #2604 Syllin is still at the shrine.
- #2609 When sent to deliver a message to Syllin, good lad Carp reports the shrine (in town) is empty (#2619)
- #2621 Claus disturbs my tea ritual to urge haste in confronting Redbrands.
- #2629 We enter the passageway minus Syllin.
- And now this explosive entry...
- Is the Shrine that turns on Syllin the shrine in town?
- Now with a big empty whole in the narrative, it is evident that something has gone terribly wrong, that Sister Garaele is in over her head, or likes delving in risky business, or is evil herself, and...
the comely elf we know as Syllin has either been changed into an agent of darkness (temporarily or permanently-unknown), made helpless to witness, is under control of, or has been destroyed and is/was at the very same crevice we are at, in the tunnel presumed to lead to the Redbrands mansion (based on bolded type in quoted post).
So we don't know anything about Syllin other than she is absent from the shrine. All we do know is that upon entering the cavern with the crevice, we have come upon an evil presence, and Barty has acquired a splitting headache, I'll assume he is being attacked.
What do/can we see? Without a target, my first inclination is to retreat pulling Barty with us.
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We are only aware that we have been discovered and that we are probably under magical attack (possibly by Glasstaff ?). @ravenvii just gave us the Syllin info to make things interesting but we are not actually aware of it.
@Huntn, @twietee, and @Moyank24. Do we retreat and leave this place or do we charge across the bridge ?
I'm in favor of all of us charging across the bridge but I could go either way.
I acknowledged that in my previous post. I'll reserve judgement until I get a DM response for my previous post regarding what can be seen, if anything. Having been discovered, charging into an unknown situation, against unknown odds, against some unknown thing that can get into our heads, seems a bit reckless to me. Do ya feel lucky punk?
Are we equipped with magical defenses?
I acknowledged that in my previous post. I'll reserve judgement until I get a DM response for my previous post regarding what can be seen, if anything. Having been discovered, charging into an unknown situation, against unknown odds, against some unknown thing that can get into our heads, seems a bit reckless to me. Do ya feel lucky punk?
And I was just about to say that we should totally go for it!
I acknowledged that in my previous post. I'll reserve judgement until I get a DM response for my previous post regarding what can be seen, if anything. Having been discovered, charging into an unknown situation, against unknown odds, against some unknown thing that can get into our heads, seems a bit reckless to me. Do ya feel lucky punk?
Based on what our characters know, it has to be Glasstaff (who we are trying to capture). We don't have magical defenses but then again, we will never have magical defenses when we face Glasstaff.
Then let's go for it !!!
Orders: Charge across the bridge hoping that Portia (@Moyank24), Velo (@Huntn), and Veit (@twietee) follow.
<Lol, fine, whatever, I bet you'd not do that in real life.
>
I'm with you, to face whatever the outcome.
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<Lol, fine, whatever, I bet you'd not do that in real life.
View attachment 680451 I with you, to face whatever the outcome.
Not a chance. In real life I would never had left the original city
.I got the Pathfinder core rules for Christmas. If you are interested in playing outside this game, I highly recommend getting this book. The book itself is 8.5" x 11" 575 pages of small print. They also released a complete PDF of the book so you can check it out before buying it.
Not a chance. In real life I would never had left the original city
I got the Pathfinder core rules for Christmas. If you are interested in playing outside this game, I highly recommend getting this book. The book itself is 8.5" x 11" 575 pages of small print. They also released a complete PDF of the book so you can check it out before buying it.
I have no local contacts who would be interested in this activity. Therefore my options appear to be online only which I would be happy to consider if there is such an opportunity.
As Claus, Portia, Delo and Veit march across the closest bridge, Bartholomeo stays behind, on his knees.
"Not her... no, please, don't..."
Cackling fills your minds. You feel the presence attempt to claw away your self, bit by bit. You realize that you cannot be sure whether it is succeeding -- and realize that this is the most frightening aspect of the being.
"I am hungry, the Redbrands have captives somewhere. Why don't they bring them to me? Hungry. I consumed a great mind, great power! But hungry, still. YOU! You won't beat me!"
The words breaks into incoherence as crazed cackling consumes any meaning.
Suddenly, from behind you, a... thing appears from behind the column, as hideous as anything you've ever seen. Black, spindly arms and legs...
Gods! The eye. The huge, singular eye takes up the majority of the thing's body, its pupil darting here and there as evil laughter fills the air soundlessly. It scurries on fours towards the kneeling Bartholomeo as the feeling of sheer dread and hunger, originating from your own self and the telepathic emanations from the creature, jumbled into a vile soup of emotion, fills your entire being.
Barely able to fight the presence in your minds, you manage to remain in control of your minds.
"I CONSUME THIS MAN! UNLESS... UNLESS!"
The monster invades your minds once more. Laughter, then "OH! YOU CARE FOR HIM? THEN YOU HELP ME? HELP MY HUNGER? YOU WILL? WILL?"
The sound of cackling, evil and all-consuming, makes an horrifically tempting offer to you -- drown in it, drown in the laughter and insanity, and all will become meaningless -- for infinity. The dwarves' minds, being imbued with magic, nearly buckled. Claus' and Portia' minds, however, is much more resilient.
@Plutonius @Moyank24 @twietee @Huntn how do you respond?
"Not her... no, please, don't..."
Cackling fills your minds. You feel the presence attempt to claw away your self, bit by bit. You realize that you cannot be sure whether it is succeeding -- and realize that this is the most frightening aspect of the being.
"I am hungry, the Redbrands have captives somewhere. Why don't they bring them to me? Hungry. I consumed a great mind, great power! But hungry, still. YOU! You won't beat me!"
The words breaks into incoherence as crazed cackling consumes any meaning.
Suddenly, from behind you, a... thing appears from behind the column, as hideous as anything you've ever seen. Black, spindly arms and legs...
Gods! The eye. The huge, singular eye takes up the majority of the thing's body, its pupil darting here and there as evil laughter fills the air soundlessly. It scurries on fours towards the kneeling Bartholomeo as the feeling of sheer dread and hunger, originating from your own self and the telepathic emanations from the creature, jumbled into a vile soup of emotion, fills your entire being.
Barely able to fight the presence in your minds, you manage to remain in control of your minds.
"I CONSUME THIS MAN! UNLESS... UNLESS!"
The monster invades your minds once more. Laughter, then "OH! YOU CARE FOR HIM? THEN YOU HELP ME? HELP MY HUNGER? YOU WILL? WILL?"
The sound of cackling, evil and all-consuming, makes an horrifically tempting offer to you -- drown in it, drown in the laughter and insanity, and all will become meaningless -- for infinity. The dwarves' minds, being imbued with magic, nearly buckled. Claus' and Portia' minds, however, is much more resilient.
@Plutonius @Moyank24 @twietee @Huntn how do you respond?
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Velo, you were right. This looks like something other than the Redbrands. At least Syllin is safe and is not down here.
Portia (@Moyank24), help me hold this evil creature back until we can escape back up the stairs (the stairs out should be nearby). Velo (@Huntn) and Veit (@twietee), help however you can but see if you can get the Count up the stairs and out of here.
Claus advances on the creature with rapier and shield to drive it away from the Count.