Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Brian]

"Understood," Condign tells the sphinx. "We will do our best."

With a final look at the chamber, he turns and follows Shorak up the stairs.

[Dave W.]

Adamant nods at Condign's remarks. He turns to the medusa-spirit, careful not to look at the eyes, "I understand. You are under a geas. The responsibility for your actions flow to those that bound you. For my part, I will absolve you of any ill you do us."

"May you both rest in the Light until we meet again."

Adamant hooks the hammer to his belt and heads upstairs.

[Brian]

Condign, who is a few steps behind Shorak, suddenly pauses. He turns, taking in each of his comrades, and sees their grim faces. He raises a hand to get their attention.

"We are about to leave the first true place of sanctuary we have found on this accursed plane. Outside, the emissary presumably waits, as well as the yugoloth. We left danger behind, only to once again face it. If we succeed, we will return to Eberron, with the lady Histra, and with the knowledge we came here to find. Our adventure will be a story fit for bards. We have much to be proud of." His face grows grim. "Our success has come at a price. We leave behind one of our own, condemned to spend his long life with the dead, if he is not dead already. Syrdan's courage and compassion will sustain us during this dark hour. When we fight, we fight for him." At this point, his voice takes on a lethal edge. "When we fight Krez, we fight for Syrdan. And when he kill Krez, we will avenge Syrdan, as well as the valiant crew of the Merrow Down. We do this not because it is hard. We do this because our loyalty to one another demands no less. I am proud to be one of you. Never doubt that."

Finished, he turns to Shorak. "I will be right behind you."

_______________________________________________

Condign uses the Inspiring Leader feat. Everyone gains 11 temporary hit points.

I think we'll need them.

DM's Edit: Brian has elected to grant this to everyone, Tangat included, but not himself. He can only choose 6 creatures. And these temporary hit points last until you use them up or have another long rest.

[Dave W.]

Adamant draws tall and pulls his shield in place on his left arm. "For Syrdan!" he echos Condign's call. "Though I will look forward to hearing the tale of how he escaped one day... until I learn otherwise."

"Kal, what is our order of march? Normally I would prefer to be in front next to Condign but I think we can expect an ambush before too long... and in that case any position may suddenly be the front rank."

---

Thanks Brian!

[Dave B.]

Feeling inspired by Condign's words, Shorak nods his thanks and turns to head up the stairs when the rest of the group starts to move.

[Joe]

Streko approaches Condign. He bows low.

"Thank you, my friend." When he has risen back to his full height, he reaches into his haversack and pulls out a single item.

"I know you gave me some things to hold. I would ask that, in the coming battle, you hold this for me. Use it when you can. Wait for the most opportune moment. Do not hesitate."

He hands Condign a small mirror.

"I wonder if this might come in handy. Is her body immune to her own curse? I do not know for sure, but if she does gaze at herself in the mirror and nothing happens, it will hopefully be of little consequence, except that we shall know for sure."
________________________________________________

Not sure if "insight" is the correct roll for this or if a roll is even necessary, but: Streko:1D20+7 → 11(4 + 7)

Not that this is going to be helpful in any way.

[Ken]

Belarin feels inspired by Condign's words, but his face also shows the guilt he feels. "I had several moments today when I strongly considered helping Syrdan tear apart the ir'Serell home brick by black brick," he says as he ascends. "I still lean in that direction."

As they near the top, he continues, "The Emissary can be fooled. We've seen that. He might be like his master, Branash ... no subtlety, just brute force. If we do face him, keep him off balance. He hasn't seen what we're capable of when we're not three-quarters dead."

[Jeff]

Leaving the sphinx apparition and ghostly medusa behind, you ascend the stairs and return to the chandelier chamber. The candles are still lit (and the candles not melted), the portcullis is still closed. The alcove you've stepped through has returned to its merely illusionary state, where the wall looks like it's been painted with black paint.

[Brian]

Condign looks up at the chandelier. Twenty-five feet is a long way. "Anyone have an idea how to put out the candles?"

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks around the chamber to see if there is anything he missed last time that might help in putting out the candles.

[Jeff]

It's a pretty big room. Does Shorak intend to take the time to search every square foot? I can do rolls for you, but I need some more specific actions to work with.

Anyone else?

[Ken]

Belarin stares at the candles and says, "If they were a bit closer, I could snuff them out like this." He snaps his fingers. "Anything around that could lower the chandelier?" He glances around for a mechanism.

[Dave B.]

Shorak stares at the portcullis and the walls to either side. If nothing presents itself, he'll continue along the walls to the left of the portcullis. Hopefully, there is some sort of mechanism to help raise and lower the portcullis.

[Dave W.]

"Well, I'm not sure there's much I can contribute... if we could produce a stream of water that would be a nice literary counterpoint to the way we lit the candles. Or more simply a quantity of water produced above them to rain down. Or a good wind?."

"After those options, I could suggest trying to lift the gate, though in my experience that tends to be harder than it sounds. It turns out these things are designed to stay down." Nevertheless Adamant approaches the portcullis. He sets his shield down next to the doorway and bends down to grab the metal bars. He gives them a good pull to at least measure how much effort is required.

[Jeff]

Shorak is thorough in his search but find no indications of a mechanism along the walls or by the portcullis himself. Adamant, in testing the bars, believes it would be exceedingly difficult to lift them with sheer force. But maybe not impossible.

Greshnaza then emerges from the alcove behind you. Her good lifts up a moment, prompting an instinctive look away for those closest to her. "You lit the candles," she says matter-of-factly. Either extinguish them or block the light." Saying that, she lifts her arms and a globe of darkness appears around the chandelier. Thirty foot in diameter, it completely conceals them and the room is plunged into darkness. You can just barely see each other out in the gloom.

But the portcullis glides upward. "Go."

[Dave W.]

Dec 20, 2015 17:40:50 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Greshnaza then emerges from the alcove behind you. Her good lifts up a moment, prompting an instinctive look away for those closest to her. "You lit the candles," she says matter-of-factly. Either extinguish them or block the light." Saying that, she lifts her arms and a globe of darkness appears around the chandelier. Thirty foot in diameter, it completely conceals them and the room is plunged into darkness. You can just barely see each other out in the gloom.

But the portcullis glides upward. "Go."

"Thank you Greshnaza. We will free you soon."

Adamant snatches up his shield and leaves the lighthouse. He scans for trouble and will guard the group exit.

[Joe]

Streko instinctively pulls out Therendor and holds the hilt tightly in his hand. He notices a slight tremor. "Once more through the gates of Khyber and into the Realm of the Dead. For once, I would like to go someplace I'd prefer to stay awhile, rather than palces I nearly die getting out of."

He chooses the remain close to Kal and Tangat, should they be in need of his aid, but he also keeps an eye on his other friends.

[Brian]

Condign moves purposefully through the portcullis, mace in hand. Once outside, he quickly scans the area to try and catch sight of the emissary.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using proboards

[Darren]

Kal has been uncharacteristically quiet as the group begins to move towards the exit. He rolls his eyes at his companions and nods in thanks to Greshnaza as she opens the portcullis. (Really, guys? You didn't think to ask the people who live here? ) His thoughts are consumed with their next steps. If Histra is not easily found...? What to do first when they get back? Regroup with Larest? Seek reinforcements from Deneith? Go straight for the lighthouse while surprise is still on their side?

Despite resting, Kal feels exhausted. Part of him wants to lie down and let Dollurh consume him. Maybe we've already been here too long.

"Condign, take the lead," he says as the tiefling moves past him and through the exit. "Shorak, keep close to him and guide our way. Belarin and Streko, stay by my side here, a little way behind Shorak. Adamant, follow behind. Keep us safe, my friend, as you always have." Kal eyes the sky above. "Belarin, keep a keen eye overhead. Surprises could come from anywhere right now. And all of you, be alert for any sign of Histra." Kal takes a deep breath and is happy to release it without coughing. "Let's go."

[Jeff]

Before you stretches the rocky causeway leading back to the mainland. It is empty of any visible creature. Conspicuously so. There is no sign of Branash’s wraith. Nor Histra.

Looking out over the dark sky—which has gone from deep blue to almost black, suggestive of an actual “nighttime” here—Shorak now sees a few distant swirling vortices of shifting colors. Which is to say more color than this bleak landscape normally offers. These must be the portals back to Eberron! Judging from where they’re rising up from the stone cityscape, he judges one to exist somewhere in the area that approximates Southwatch, one in the Temple section of Oldgate, and one directly where Lorsmarch Palace—the Coin Lords’ own seat of power—sits. In fact, he can see a few slender stone spires rising up from that site and the vortex of colors is centered near their top.

This being the Stormreach layout itself, though of course the Shadowfell version deviates in many ways:

[Dave B.]

Shorak follows several feet behind Condign. He has his tri-bladed boomerang in hand, while looking around for Branash's 'emissary' or the nycaloth. Seeing the positions of what can only be the portals back to the living world, he shakes his head. "I see three potential ways out of here. One has to be ruled out completely, unless we want to risk dropping into the laps of the Coin Lords." He looks toward the northwest, or at least what would be northwest in Stormreach and points in that general direction. We can head that way and try that one first. We would need to travel past it to get the last one." He looks back at the rest of the group to make sure they hear the possible risks. "The closer portal may drop us into Southwatch, the area Krez is staying. The other one is past that and farther to reach, but chances are it would return us to a much safer area in Oldgate, assuming it is connected to a friendly temple. If anybody has a preference, let me know. Either way, we still need to head in that direction first." He again points to the northwest.

[Darren]

Kal nods at Shorak. "If we're going that way anyway, let's make for that one. We can always change our minds when we get there. Hopefully, Histra will find us between here and there."

[Brian]

Acknowledging Shorak's guidance, Condign says, "We make for Oldgate. It will be up to the lady Histra to find us. I am reluctant to leave this realm without her, but we must find our way back to Eberron, and these portals are the only way we can make the attempt without assistance. If possible, we must return and hope she will find us. Is everyone in agreement?" He looks pointedly at Belarin.

_____________________________________________

If no one objects, Condign will take the lead with Shorak, per Kal's request, and make for the portal. He will keep looking for signs of the emissary or the nycoloth. Jeff, let me know if you need a perception check.

[Jeff]

With Condign and Shorak both in the lead, and everyone as alert as possible, you set out across the causeway, which somehow seems so much longer than before. Or perhaps it is the known and unseen enemies that hunt you and the fact you feel very exposed out here. The water is darkness, too still, and ominous.

It also truly feels like night now. There is still a faint rumble in the unseen clouds overhead. Some light would be welcome, as you can only make out details a short distance. The darkvision solution that Histra applied to your eyes appears to have run its course now, and so you are left feeling half blind in this place.

Only Condign can still see as well as before. He sees even Shorak squinting every now and then to make out details int he gloom.

[Dave W.]

Adamant nods to Kal's instruction, "I will protect the rear." He waits for his friends to pass and then follows behind.

To Shorak's enumeration of exits, "I agree, Oldgate seems the most useful exit. I am also concerned for Histra. I wish we had a way to locate her. I did not think to prepare the prayer to locate items..." Adamant begins to think aloud, "...though I'm not sure what of hers I am intimate enough with to use as the focus... and that also assumes she is near by and the object is still with her..."

"I'm afraid I am of no help..."

As they march, Adamant takes up the hammer... His sword is so familiar to his hand after years of use; it almost seems a betrayal to hold another weapon. He has used hammers before and even has asked his sword to become a hammer. But every weapon is different. You had to build a relationship with each unique one; you need to learn if you can love another.

---

Adamant marches along looking for trouble, handling his hammer...

[Ken]

Belarin stares at Condign for a long moment, alarm evident in his eyes. Then he nods. "Oldgate it is," he says. "We leave when we can, if we're able. Be mindful, though, that what is a holy place in Eberron may be decidedly un-holy here. We could well end up as ghoulish acolytes of a foul god."

He searches the sky for any sign of the nycaloth, and then he focuses on the terrain before them as they walk.

_____________________

Jeff, every couple of minutes as they walk, Belarin will scan the area in front of the group, using the Eldritch Sight invocation.

[Joe]

Streko follows close to Kal. "I'm not sure if you wish to risk alerting the world around us, but I do have light for us to see, should it be requested. Otherwise, few if any of us will be able to detect something coming toward us until, perhaps, it is too late."

[Dave B.]

Dec 22, 2015 22:19:53 GMT -4 Joe said:

Streko follows close to Kal. "I'm not sure if you wish to risk alerting the world around us, but I do have light for us to see, should it be requested. Otherwise, few if any of us will be able to detect something coming toward us until, perhaps, it is too late."

"Some light would be welcome. But, that would probably bring all the spirits of this realm right to us. Yet, I don't see a choice, if we want to be able to see where we are going. Not to mention the disadvantage we'll be at in this gloom." Shorak says with a slight frown. He continues to follow Condign, keeping a lookout for their enemies and making sure the swirling vortices are still in sight.

[Jeff]

Soon the party has crossed the causeway and back to the mainland, and nothing has accosted you. Shorak still feels certain that something is eyeing them, and it’s likely either the yugoloth or the emissary wraith. Hoping to avoid the Whelmed, he cuts a path due westward, heading up into what approximates the Harbor district from this side of the shoreline. The ground rises and falls, and plenty of rubble lies strewn in the “streets,” so the group is forced to take it slow. There are so many places for an ambush that Shorak keeps the pace especially slow and cautious as he scouts ahead short distances time after time. Worse, away from the shoreline there is a thin fog that seems to be present just about everywhere. No one’s sure if Dolurrh has its own weather; is this fog here all the time, or just sometimes?

Knowing that to reach the Oldgate section of this dark city he needs to cut across the middle, Shorak favors the main avenues as they exist here. They look like shallow ravines, with rounded stalagtite-like formations replacing buildings rising up tall on each side.

Then, within two hours of setting out from the Lighthouse, Shorak leads the group to a junction where it’s not clear which is the better path. One goes straight west, one goes straight north, and both are likely to lead eventually northwest to where they need to go. He can still see the color vortices that have become his landmarks. Geographically the closest one at the moment is the one around the Lorsmarch Palace spires—the one the party is opting to avoid. He’s aiming to give that a wide berth.

The path to the west is wide but is strewn with boulders in a formation that positively screams ambush to his sensibilities. Even ogres and giants could hide behind those stones.

The path to the north is narrow but is broken by a dark fissure about twenty feet across. A stone-and-wood bridge spans it. A rocky ledge juts from the fog over both the bridge and fissure on the right side. A humanoid figure stands there on the ledge, human sized.

Condign’s eyes cannot penetrate the fog any better than anyone else, but the darkness is not so great to him. The figure looks robed and carrying a staff, and it’s standing as still a statue.

[Dave W.]

Dec 22, 2015 22:50:07 GMT -4 Dave B. said:

Dec 22, 2015 22:19:53 GMT -4 Joe said:

Streko follows close to Kal. "I'm not sure if you wish to risk alerting the world around us, but I do have light for us to see, should it be requested. Otherwise, few if any of us will be able to detect something coming toward us until, perhaps, it is too late."

"Some light would be welcome. But, that would probably bring all the spirits of this realm right to us. Yet, I don't see a choice, if we want to be able to see where we are going. Not to mention the disadvantage we'll be at in this gloom." Shorak says with a slight frown. He continues to follow Condign, keeping a lookout for their enemies and making sure the swirling vortices are still in sight.

"I can create light as well if that is desired." Adamant says touching the Delver's Light on mounted on his shoulder, "Either full daylight or torchlight."

---

Not sure that Adamant is aware of the figure on the bridge, what with being at the end of a 6+dog line.