Chapter 17: Deep Reflections

[Brian]

Nov 19, 2019 10:26:50 GMT -4 Elvis said:

Thul turns his head when he hears the Redman come up behind him.

"I'm just getting something I left behind." he says, "It'll only take me a few minutes and I'll meet you on the ship."

"Sorry, Captain," Melethos says. "We don't leave party members behind, for any reason. If you mean to return to the cave, I'll accompany you." He pulls his rope from his pack. "I'll help anchor you if you try and cross that bridge."

He offers the rope to Captain Thul.

[Elvis]

Thul nods, but all he can do it wait until the xornthing returns.

He waits a few minutes before attempting to climb the ice ramp with the Redman's help.

Should that happen, he will leave his ruckpack and Syndra here.

[Jeff]

Sem comes running up behind Melethos and Thul. "Wait, wait. Captain, I'm out of Thul-saving spells today. Can you maybe not attempt to fall to your death?"

But then the xorn appears, walking casually up the rock wall on the opposite side of the bridge, its three feet wading through the stone itself like it's just thick mud. When it reaches the ledge that accesses the cave, the creature stops—and it reaches out to visually inspect the floating immovable rod there. Melethos can now see what brought Thul over this way. The curious magical item is rooted in mid-air like a convenient hand-hold. He and his friends hadn't even noticed it when they emerged from the cave, since it wasn't directly in their path.

The xorn has one hand on the rod, and with another points at Thul. The third arm makes, you think, a shrugging gesture. It murmurs a question.

[Brian]

Melethos grins. "Your magical rod. Yes, you wouldn't want to leave that behind. I'd be glad to help you retrieve it, just let me know how I can help."

[Elvis]

Heh.

"Clever, bastard." Thul says. "Looks like the xornthing is doing all the hard work on this one."

He hold up Syndra as if grasping the rod. He then over exaggerates mimicking pressing the deactivation switch with his other hand.

"I appreciate the save, Professor. You done good."

[Jeff]

The xorn studies the rod for a moment more, and seems to catch on Thul's gestures quickly. A finger finds the release button, activating it. The rod comes easily into the xorn's hand, and swivels its body around, passing the rod from one hand to another as if giving each of its three eyes a good look at it. 

It raises the device up, sliding its edge around its maw as if tasting it. The creature's whole squat body deflates somewhat, like it's disappointed.

Then it turns, and it swivels, and casts the metal object across the chasm.... The throw is strong and surprisingly accurate, and might hit Thul in the chest if he doesn't catch or fumble it....

---

Xorn's ranged throw: nat 20!

Roll a Dexterity check for Thul to see if he can catch it. Should the roll be poor, Melethos (who stands beside him) may attempt as well.

[Elvis]

Not familiar with xornthings, Thul doesn't realize what is happening until the last second... "Fekking hell!"

Thul flinches and his hand snaps out. Surprising himself, he snatches the rod out of mid-air.

He gives the xornthing a parting Karrnathi salute, then turns back to the Redman and gnome.

"I'm ready."  

---

Dex check: d20+1 = 18

[Brian]

"Good catch," Melethos says to Thul, then turns to Sem. "Let's get back to the ship and get moving. I want out of this cavern."

Melethos leads the two back to the azer bridge.

______________________________________

If the others have already gone across, Melethos will wait for Thul and Sem to cross, then go last. If no one has crossed, he'll wait his turn and still cross last.

[Jeff]

After his smooth catch, Sem says. "Am I the only one to notice that the ones who like you the most, Captain, aren't even adjacent to your own species? They usually have a different number of limbs—or none at all, like elementals."

"While mephits and slaadi....usual number of limbs..." he goes on quiet, more to himself, as he presses a finger to his chin as if pondering the matter.

Then the gnome snaps himself out of the thought, turns on his heel, and follows after Melethos towards the ship. To Thul he says, "You know, I did do most of the heavy-lifting with the xorn. First, my coins and gems, then my dispelling to get it free from the circle. Where would any of you be without a Zil?"

[Elvis]

"Don't analyse me, Professor." Thul says as he re-packs the rod. "I'm far to simple to understand."

He fishes out a pouch, "Here." he says, handing it to the gnome. "I found this."

The pouch fits his whole hand. Inside is a hefty - and valuable - ruby.

[Darren]

Kal sighs heavily as he watches Melethos charge off after the wandering Captain Thul. He looks at Shorak's questioning expression, then his shoulders sag. "I'm exhausted, Shorak. If they want to go back, clearly nothing I say will matter. I am returning to the ship." With that, Kal makes his way down the azer platforms to the Dragonfly.

[Jeff]

Sem doesn't wait. He slips the magenta-hued ruby out of the bag, cocks his head in an appraising way, then stows it in a pocket. "Fortunately for you, I study ancient relics, not psyches. I'm not sure which should apply to you anyway, Captain."

By the time Kal reaches the bottom of the "stair" of floating platforms, Sem, Melethos, and Thul have returned to the keep's porch.

In a matter of minutes, the rest of the party has come down and gathered on the deck of the Dragonfly. Tangat is the first to greet each and every one of you, barking crazily—it echoes off the walls of the cavern. He even swipes Thul's fingers with his tongue; none are exempt from his affection that all of you are, in fact, alive and returned. Streko is nearly bowled over. When he calms down, he sits and constantly shoves against Kal's legs.

"I am glad to see you all well," Starg says. 

"Took long enough," Kurra adds.

"I'll say it," Sem quips. "We look terrible. And Melethos may or may not be the same tiefling, what with his altered horns and all. Oh, and Captain Thul cleverly distracted some of those slaadi with his body for a little while, which I think has bought us some time. But, uhh, they're still watching us. So...." He points up towards the peninsula of stone they're lurking in, where the first ice-bridge used to be.

Brack, at the helm, looks on you all with an unreadable expression. He, too, looks weary. "Steady as she goes?" he asks Kal with a growl in his voice.

Calirataia is perched at the bowsprit. "There is a waterfall ahead, that flows west to east, not up to down. But I believe we will fit beneath it.

[Elvis]

As the ship begins to move, Thul heads to the aft and watches for any sign of the cogship.

[Jeff]

Elvis, does that imply zero interaction with anyone? Or just when the ship starts moving again (it isn't currently).

[Darren]

Kal smiles wearily as Tangat leaps against his chest. "I am glad to see you, too, my friend," he says in Halfling, placing the furry warrior's paws back on the deck and scratching his ears. "Carry on, Captain," Kal says to Brack. "We should receive no trouble from either the dragon or the azers. Everyone else, stay alert until we are clear of the cave. Captain Brack, as soon as you feel we are in a safe enough position, we will resume watch on rotation. We need to rest and recover from our wounds."

[Elvis]

Once Thul sees what is happening or not happening with the cogship, he returns to warforged.

"Syndra." He says the name as if it will invoke something unpleasant. "Made the decision to be reunited with the hammer."

He says it loud enough for the others to hear.

"It was her decision and did not wish to remain unused in a dragon's horde."

[Dave W.]

sorry need to step back a bit.

Nov 19, 2019 10:26:29 GMT -4 Ken said:

Nov 18, 2019 17:58:39 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

Adamant watches Thul run off with Syndra, "I didn't do that." he says quietly.

"Well, you and a fire elemental... let's face it, it never would've worked," says Belarin, still watching Thul from a distance. "You should settle down with a nice air elemental, or maybe a sylph. I can set you up."

Adamant finds a warm feeling bubbling up and lets out a bass snort. "Air? Surely not Air... Earth or Wood perhaps? Metal I suppose, if such a thing exists."

"Well, getting Histra back safe is probably better than quick. So we will be leaving here before she will be free." Adamant continues with Belarin, "So, I hate to ask, can you bring the drow female body over to the keep from the ship? If necessary I will kill the undead again."

[Ken]

Once back on the ship, Belarin nods to Adamant and he says to the drow zombie, "Return to the keep. Once there, find the other drow. When you see them, lie on the ground... and be at peace, if such a thing is possible. Return to death's embrace. Your service will be ended." He concentrates on his words, hoping that his mental command will sink in even if his words don't.

[Brian]

Melethos motions to Kurra. "We need to rescue the lady Histra. I'm worried she might be dying. Did you make any progress with the braziers? Have you found a way to get her out?"

[Joe]

Streko accepts Tangat's affection openly, nearly falling over, scratching his chest and head and giving him a big hug. "Thank you! That was much needed!"

He goes to each his friends and turns, clasps their arms and gives a nod of appreciation. Adamant, he extents his arms around. Streko then makes his way to Belarin. "I am much depleted, but tell me what you need. Whatever I have to offer is yours. We WILL get the Lady Histra back, my brother, of that I have no doubt. If magic is needed, give me specifics so I may plead my case to Olladra for that gift upon my rest."

[Dave B.]

Shorak gladly heads back to the Dragonfly with everyone else. He looks around at the group, his usual smile wilted with exhaustion. He gives Streko's shoulder a grateful squeeze when the halfling comes to him, nodding his own gratitude. Turning to Belarin, Shorak offers an apologetic smile, "I would assist with the braziers if I had the skill. For now I will make sure nobody bothers Kurra as she works out how to save her."

"I will man one of the crossbows as we proceed. Just in case." Shorak says and moves to the side of the boat that will allow him the best view of where the Slaadi are gathered. "Once we are clear and presumably safe, I will sleep until someone wakes me up." He adds.

[Jeff]

Sem speaks with Kurra aside for a minute, both gesturing towards the braziers.

Nov 19, 2019 18:06:27 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Return to the keep. Once there, find the other drow. When you see them, lie on the ground... and be at peace, if such a thing is possible. Return to death's embrace. Your service will be ended." He concentrates on his words, hoping that his mental command will sink in even if his words don't.

After Belarin issues commands to the zombie Sulatar, he sees that it cannot register all of it at once. ("Return to the keep.") She—it—starts to walk to the gunwale, and the head turns to look around the most obvious means of leaving the ship. ("Once there, find the other drow.") The zombie doesn't react to this. ("When you see them, lie on the ground...and be at peace, if such a thing is possible.") No reaction except to stop moving. ("Return to death's embrace. Your service will be ended.")

It is clear that the last thing he said becomes the prevailing command. Belarin can well imagine Histra's scolding tone at his command of the zombies. "They are not imbued with true intelligence," she might say. "They are mindless currently," she did say, and he even remembers what she said about this specimen in particular. Again, he wonders at her current fate.

Sem comes up beside Belarin. "Just tell her to climb the platforms until the platforms end, and to wait by the broken gates of the keep when she finds it. Hopefully that isn't too much for her to...understand."

Thul moves to the sterncastle and watches the cavern to the north. Shorak moves to the same, and takes up one of the mounted crossbows.

Nov 19, 2019 18:43:22 GMT -4 Brian said:

Melethos motions to Kurra. "We need to rescue the lady Histra. I'm worried she might be dying. Did you make any progress with the braziers? Have you found a way to get her out?"

Kurra looks as tired as any of you, and irritable. "I have ideas, tiefling. I need to experiment...and it sounds like we'll have less interference once we're out of this place. When I see Eberron's sky again, and if I haven't fallen on my face, I'll do what I can, all right?"

[Brian]

Melethos bows deeply. "Of course, my lady Kurra. The fate of our friend is in your hands." As he rises, a slight grin on his face, he turns to Belarin. "Soon, my friend. Histra is our priority now." Lastly, he focuses on Kalarian. "What orders?"

[Darren]

"Stay alert until we clear the cave. Then we can go on watch in rotation and rest. Adamant first. Then we'll talk."

[Dave W.]

Adamant returns Streko's hug, though he can make his arms all the way around the halfling. "Thank you Good Streko. It is more help than you know."

Adamant watches Belarin struggle to get the undead drow to submit to peace. "Just have her go to the keep, I will go with her and finish this. My friends I must beg a small delay."

The warforged walks with grim determination, behind the zombie to the keep and unsheathes the Riddermark blade…

---

Jeff, do you want a roll or can he just strike off her head if she's standing there?

[Jeff]

I don't know that Belarin knows Adamant's full intent, but should it be relevant, Belarin at least knows that by default, Histra's zombies will defend themselves. So if attacked and explicitly commanded to not fight back....it will immediately fight back. (But no complex commmands. So can't say, "Go up those platforms and when you're up there, if attacked by this warforged, do not fight back. That's too many commands. She'd just do that last one."

Mechanically, Adamant would need to hit (with an attack roll) and then deal enough damage to her to finish her off. Though, she is already somewhat damaged from battle earlier (including some of Kal's Storm Sphere's bludgeoning damage). If this is what he does end up doing, then his first attack will be with advantage, since Histra already designated to her servants that all of you are allies not to be harmed. But once attacked by an ally, that ally has presented itself as an enemy.

[Ken]

"NO," Belarin says strongly. "Enough delays, Adamant. I'll get her up there -- that's the best I can do. But once she leaves the ship, we are out of here. YES, you have a promise. I have one, too, by the Host - not to let Histra die alone. We are DONE with this place."

He looks to Sem and says, "Thank you." He says to the zombie, "Climb those platforms until they end. Find the broken gates of the keep. Wait there."

[Jeff]

Nov 19, 2019 14:15:31 GMT -4 Elvis said:

As the ship begins to move, Thul heads to the aft and watches for any sign of the cogship.

"It's there, all right," Brack says to Thul when the Karrn looks to the gloom of the north end of the cavern where you came in. "I can feel that damned Cogship still just waiting for us to clear the way."

Nov 19, 2019 14:48:36 GMT -4 Elvis said:

Once Thul sees what is happening or not happening with the cogship, he returns to warforged.

"Syndra." He says the name as if it will invoke something unpleasant. "Made the decision to be reunited with the hammer."

He says it loud enough for the others to hear.

"It was her decision and did not wish to remain unused in a dragon's horde."

Kurra shrugs. "Just don't go starting any fires. Be sensible. I've had plenty of experience with objects that...talk to you, as such. Let me know if you have any concerns about that thing." She indicates the hammer.

Nov 20, 2019 15:47:32 GMT -4 Ken said:

"He says to the zombie, "Climb those platforms until they end. Find the broken gates of the keep. Wait there."

The Sulatar zombie steps up to the gunwale and jumps to the first platform, beginning her ascension without care.

[Elvis]

Thul listens to the dwarfwoman and nods his thanks. "Looks like I'm in for a long, and weird, conversation."

[Joe]

Streko walks up to Melethos. "Is there some way to pass a message to the Azurs. Ask them to bring down their gate as soon as we pass so that anything behind us would remain here. It would seem a sensible precaution. You, Kal and Thul have ad the most dealings with them thus far. And if there was a way to contact the water elementals as well, that would help, but I am unsure as to how to do that and convey our messages."