Chapter 19: Endless Nights

[Joe]

Responding to Calirataia, Streko nods. "Rest easy. We are here to take you home and recover."

To the others, he shakes his head. "Recovering is smart for all of us. However, destroying this gaunt will be made more difficult if we should have to engage more directly. I see now that banishing the creature does it no harm, nor helps us leave this place."

To Histra, specifically, Streko asks: "What can you tell us about this creature that will help us destroy it quickly. We cannot hope to have it as the sole enemy to focus on. Can we?"
__________________________________________________

Short rest is good. Streko will spend 5 hit dice to regain hit points lost.

Short Rest HP Gain → 28 hit points

[Ken]

Belarin pulls out a potion and offers it to Histra. "Please," he says. "Take this. I need you, and - right now - so does everyone else."

To the others, he says, "A hour's rest, that'll help." He looks around at everyone. "That was rough, and we all survived. We can do this!"

_____________

Belarin invites Histra to take his potion of healing. He then takes a short rest. Rolling 6 hit dice for recovery: 6d8(7,2,5,3,6,7) + 6 = Belarin regains 36 hp, plus his 2 warlock spell slots.

[Dave W.]

"We should rest," Adamant says to the group. "We should also stay fairly close to each other... and stay away from the green vapor, it is debilitating."

Adamant stations himself near Calirataia and rests.

---

I think I only have 6 HD left... we didn't long-rest since we used those...

dlw32: 5D10+10 → 29(5 +4 +2 +3 +5 + 10)

Though I could get it done with only 5HD, I'll spend the last one too...
dlw32: 1D10+2 → 10(8 + 2)

so +39 hp added to 45, I'm up to 84. Not bad.

[Brian]

If we make it through the short rest, Melethos will spend his remaining three hit dice:

Melethos: 3D10+9 → 23(1 +7 +6 + 9)#Hit Points gained from spending three hit die

He regains Action Surge and Second Wind. He also regains his one Warlock spell slot.

[Dave B.]

"Well, if we have to kill the fiend to escape from this place, then so be it. A little rest and regrouping can only help." Shorak opines and finds a place away from any of the holes spewing the green vapor.

HP recovery: 5d8+5=28.

[Jeff]

You all hunker down, regrouping as you can. A combination of meditation, focus, and simply treating your injuries without magic the best you can. Knowing that you're all still alive, and Calirataia rescued, gives you all a steady resolve.

Histra keeps the wraith quite distant, floating on patrol near the gunwale. Whenever it passes close, it is impossible to ignore. It like trying to relax in a room when a tiger is suddenly let into the room; your instincts revolte, and fight or flight impulses make you tense. Except this metaphoric tiger is undead.

Meanwhile, Histra huddles close with Belarin for warmth. Both are soaked to the skin, chilled by water and deathly magics. Fortunately, it is not very cold on this ship. It seems to lack weather of any kind, and is neither cold nor hot. It doesn't feel like Xen'drik. It is uncomfortably similar to Dolurrh and brings up some grim memories.

Histra waves away Belarin's potion. "Save it for last resorts." After some twenty minutes, she rises. "Stay with the others. Form a plan. I will learn anything else I can from her." She walks over to speak with Relwalyn, who continues to stand in place looking concerned, but not surveying your party at all. She is the definition of aloof. But when Histra starts speaking to her, she looks back at the necromancer and listens. The two woman, one living, one that clearly hasn't in a long time, speak quietly to each other.

Calirataia lapses into sleep again, lying up against Adamant.

---

Histra spends all her hit dice and regains 46 hit points. She is at max hit points; she looks weary but determined to stay alive.

The short rest will happen, is happening, but I suggest continuing any sort of plan you might want to make not last minute.

[Brian]

Melethos tends to the few wounds he'd received, mostly scraps and cuts received while clinging to the gaunt. He watches the others do the same. As a team, they are good, very good. This gaunt shouldn't prove too difficult, but he fears they will face more than the fiend. He pauses, then shakes his head. He needs to trust the skills he and his friends possess. They are formidable.

He senses time is running out. He gathers his friends together and addresses them.

"Once again we face enemies, but this time we are weary from battle. The fight with the skeletons and mages was difficult, but in the end, we succeeded. They are defeated, and we rescued Calirataia from the fiend." He smiles at the dryad, asleep next to Adamant. "We are not safe yet. We must fight again and end the threat of the gaunt if we are to find the Dragonfly and our companions. We will need all our skills working together. Adamant, your divine protections will keep us safer. Streko, your faith will be our shield. Kal, your bravery will inspire. Shorak, your quickness will give us an advantage. Belarin, your wit will keep us calm. And the lady Histra, your knowledge will be a light in this dark place. Together, we are an powerful force. That force may be tested soon, but I am confident we will prevail."

He claps his hands together, a loud, sharp sound. "What are your recommendations for the fight? Quick, tell me your thoughts."

_______________________________________________________

Jeff, I think Mel's +2 to armor class is probably gone by now.

Melethos uses his Inspiring Leader feat. Adamant, Belarin, Histra, Kal, Shorak, and Streko each gain fourteen temporary hit points.

I think we going to need them.

[Darren]

I rolled 3 hit dice for Kal, assuming that as normal, the dice roller would screw me. Of course the first two brought Kal up to max, so I don't know if that third one is just burnt, but either way is fine and Kal should be back up to max hit points.

Kal slides down against the mast, weariness overtaking him. He looks at at Melethos, feeling inspired by his friend's words. "Most of my strength is gone, Melethos," he says. "I'm afraid my greater magic is consumed. I believe that if a fight is to come, we must concentrate our attacks and avoid getting spread out as we did before. I think our focus must be on the fiend, on eliminating it as quickly as possible. We should seek to surround and control it, not let it use its size and flight against us. I have just enough strength in me to grant two of you the ability to fly, as long as I am protected so I don't lose my concentration." Kal looks around the ship. "Consider our battlefield, Melethos. Where would you place us?"

[Darren]

I went ahead and rolled another two which got me a total of 10 which brings Kal up to 75.

[Joe]

Streko shudders. "We are prepared as we can be, I think. Shorak, do not forget about the healing drought I provided you with. It can also be used as a weapon. Use it wisely."

He feels the invigoration of Melethos's speech and smiles. "For what it's worth, I will attempt to stay as close as possible to the demon and repel any undead that it may attempt to heal from. If we destroy his power supply, we might defeat him more quickly and thereby leave more quickly. Although, I do worry about this skeletal dragon you spoke of, Melethos."

[Ken]

Belarin gets up, somewhat reluctantly, from his comfy position on the deck with Histra. "I can 'ghost' you, Melethos," he says. "Or Adamant. I think the two of you would hurt it if you were able to get close to."

[Dave W.]

Adamant does sit with Calirataia, letting her rest against him, hopefully reasuringly.

When Kal mentions flight, Adamant softly replies, "Oh, yes, that was terrifying... but helpful, you and Melethos had the right plan."

"I think if we can, we should try to stay together as much as possible. The fiend may still be fixated on Calirataia. If so we should stay near her as well."

"Did I hear someone say that the fiend gathers strength when we kill undead? Do we know more about that? Can it actually raise the dead? Will we be facing it alone or also a crowd? umm, gathering? shamble? of undead?"

[Brian]

Jan 15, 2021 13:46:28 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin gets up, somewhat reluctantly, from his comfy position on the deck with Histra. "I can 'ghost' you, Melethos," he says. "Or Adamant. I think the two of you would hurt it if you were able to get close to."

Melethos nods. "I'd thought about that. But if the fiend remains focused on Calirataia, would it not be better to ghost her, keep the fiend from finding her?"

[Dave W.]

Jan 15, 2021 13:51:07 GMT -4 Brian said:

Melethos nods. "I'd thought about that. But if the fiend remains focused on Calirataia, would it not be better to ghost her, keep the fiend from finding her?"

"Yes," Adamant interjects, "I was considering applying the prayer of Sanctuary again for her. Being concealed won't last long applied to me. I am too simple a creature in my attacking style. I do better when the enemy can see me."

"Perhaps Shorak who seems to do better with ambushing and surprise."

[Brian]

"I'm considering grouping around the dryad," Melethos says, "with Shorak and I taking flight. Attack from the ground and the sky. I know we are weary, but can anyone provide any protections, other than the ghosting?"

[Jeff]

While you are talking, you hear some occasional outbursts from Relwalyn where the ghost and Histra stand a distance away. The spirit's appearance twists with her emotional outbursts and her feet come off the ground. The corpse-form takes shape again. Histra turns and gives your party a nod, and holds her hand out as if to say it's okay. . but Histra says something you cannot hear which seems to calm the ghost, and she returns to her feet in her living, fairer form.

You do all get the sense that Histra will have some useful intel to share soon.

[Dave W.]

Jan 15, 2021 15:14:37 GMT -4 Brian said:

"I'm considering grouping around the dryad," Melethos says, "with Shorak and I taking flight. Attack from the ground and the sky. I know we are weary, but can anyone provide any protections, other than the ghosting?"

"I can Bless 3-5 of us. That will require some concentration."

[Joe]

Streko listens and nods. "My protections are time sensitive and will take away from my ability to attack and defend. It is best I be allowed to make the first ranged attack on the demon, then allow the rest of you to go after it while I protect from undead. I would hate my most powerful attack spell to consume my friends. Also, I will be able to cause some confusion via visual trickery to help in my defense if I need to, but I suspect you will all be keeping it quite busy yourselves."

[Jeff]

Histra walks over to your group, her expression thoughtful. She gestures for everyone to come closer. She speaks quietly, and slowly. "When the spirit appears living, she is ignorant of what has become of her; she knows only her past and the 'current' threat to her 'life' and ship. When she appears dead, she remembers, and is capable only of lament and rage. It is the latter form that takes shape, that can possess and become murderous."

"Here is what I have learned from her. This woman was once a modest practitioner of hedge magic, raised in western Aundair. As an adolescent she joined an expedition with her elder brother, and they ventured into the jungles of Q'Bara and came upon the ruin of a city from the Age of Demons." She shrugs. "No doubt Sem Darlesh would know more about it. I do not. Relwalyn's brother and their entire expedition were all slain . . . she alone survived, spared by a very old black dragon that dwells there and guards the ruin. The dragon is named Rhashaak, and she become his disciple. Like a warlock, beholden to the wyrm's agenda." She gives a quick nod toward Belarin. "Her pact with Rhashaak changed her life, and she became wealthy, worldly, more powerful, and vastly more interested in many things. What quest brought her to Xen'drik she does not say; that is Rhashaak's business.

"But her ship," Histra continues, tapping the deck with her staff, "this ship, is known as Rhashaak's Fang. She owned it, supplied it, crewed it. Her patron could afford far more. She had two wizardly servants whose loyalty went beyond gold; it may be that they were devoted to the same dragon as she." She looks toward the wet bones and withered staff of one of the undead water-mages. "She had sailors but needed protection and an experienced pilot.

"The man she hired was a privateer named Willan Kraal, a Lhazaarite and helmsman. An adventurer in his own right. He'd found himself in Stormreach without a ship, but head of a company of mercenaries, also of Lhazaar." Now she points toward the skeleton warriors with sabers and scimitars. 

"She took Kraal in and his men. She . . . dallied with him as well, became emotionally entangled."

      

She shakes her head briefly, then lets out a sigh and takes Belarin's hand. "Kraal was jealous and controlling. On their voyage, the ship one day encountered a creature Relwalyn only calls the Horned Serpent. Not a dragon, I think, but a great snake knowledgeable of her errand. She could speak to it in Draconic. She met with it and they had conversations several times. Days went by as it followed their ship on the river. Kraal, however, did not like it, or the increasing time it took her away from him. Relwalyn and Kraal quarreled but neither would compromise. One day, he attacked it outright, with a wand of lightning. Drove it off by force, demanding it never return. Relwalyn was furious that he would jeopardize her quest this way.

"Then came Long Shadows. The Serpent returned for revenge; one by one, it poisoned the crew with its venom, striking and disappearing. They sickened and began to die. Some it drowned. By the third day, Kraal spotted it and attacked again with greater force, determined to kill it. The Serpent fled again. Relwalyn confronted him again, and . . . we have seen some of what followed. He bound her to the mast so she could not interfere, intending to bait the Serpent into returning. Meanwhile, Kraal used a scroll of demon summoning, one of his own personal treasures. He only intended to command the demon to kill the Serpent.

"Kraal chose the worst time to unleash such great magic. Answering the summons was a Mabarian gaunt, over which he had no control. One by one the fiend destroyed them. Relwalyn was one of the first victims, along with her two mages. Whatever a gaunt kills becomes a servant and a source of 'food.' That is the healing I spoke of. Kraal himself, I think, drowned himself in madness and grief. The gaunt did not. Yet we have seen his face: Mabar's influence is strong. The sailors who were poisoned or drowned by the Horned Serpent . . . they are him, somehow. His spirit made them take shape.

"With the entire crew dead, the ship was drawn into Mabar. It is the guant's playground and lair. Its nest." She looks to Calirataia. "I do not know what it wants with the dryad or why it didn't kill her already. I suspect it is her fey nature. It may wish to study her. Or it may be her link to the Dragonfly that interests it. Perhaps it believes it can claim the Dragonfly as it has this ship."

Histra sits back on the deck, physically tired, but the discussion has clearly piqued her academic interest and it's given her new strength. "Then Histra looks to Melethos. "The dragon carcass you describe may have been its most powerful prey once. I do not think we need worry about it. The green mist is part of the plane itself, and it gathers wherever a gaunt lairs. Weakens those caught within it, like a spider's webs and venom."

Histra stops here, allowing the story and her initial speculations to sink in.

[Dave W.]

“A tragedy. How can one be so foolish to try to control someone you love? Love is a choice, it can only exist freely. Or so it seems to me.”

“But you believe her story? I mean, if the gaunt killed her wouldn’t she be it’s servant? Or does her pact protect her somehow?”

[Brian]

"Adamant makes a good point," Melethos replies, "but I suspect Histra has already considered that. She seems unconcerned, so I am as well." He pauses, thinking back to the dragon skeleton, the heads impaled on the stone pillars. "I suppose whatever approached as Adamant and I left might have been the gaunt. I know not how massive it weighs. It could have been what rocked the ship." To Histra, he says, "Is the Horned Serpent still a threat?"

[Jeff]

Jan 16, 2021 5:14:51 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

“But you believe her story? I mean, if the gaunt killed her wouldn’t she be it’s servant? Or does her pact protect her somehow?”

"For various reasons, yes, I believe it. In part, due to my own persuasion with the dead; in part, due to her independent will, which may be influenced by the bonds of her pact. Yet she is no deathlock, subservient completely to the dragon in death. Grief consumes her. Ghosts are seldom duplicitous, for emotion sustains them." Histra seems to have more reasons, but isn't bothering elaborating.

Jan 16, 2021 8:09:18 GMT -4 Brian said:

To Histra, he says, "Is the Horned Serpent still a threat?"

Histra shakes her head. "I don't know, but in her tale, the Serpent was never slain. Unless it came aboard the ship, I doubt the gaunt ever met it."

Attachments:

[Brian]

Melethos mutters something under his breath. "Time grows short. I'm surprised the gaunt hasn't appeared yet. If the serpent remains, we'll find out soon enough." He gestures to the dryad. "Adamant, wake her. Belarin, when the time comes, make her invisible. Kal will cast his Fly spell on Shorak and me. We'll attack from the air. Everyone else huddle around Calirataia. Streko, don't try and turn the gaunt unless we're in trouble. I want it where we can hit it. Instead, when the time comes, cast your protection spells where you feel they will be most effective. If the gaunt shows with allies..." He smiles. "We'll improvise. Does anyone have any questions?"

Melethos waits for any response from his friends.

[Jeff]

"And if it doesn't appear? If it waits for us?" Histra asks. "We do not have infinite time. Moreover, I would save your invisibility spells. The gaunt has no eyes. Its senses are other. It can 'see' well enough. Consider we may need to go down. Killing it will release us from this place." She then indicates the nearby ghost. "And it will destroy her, as we must." Histra looks over to where Adamant and Calirataia sit. "It will give her peace."

Short rest isn't quite finished yet.

[Dave W.]

When Histra defends her trust in the ghost’s story, he nods, “I have come to trust your instincts Histra.”

Jan 16, 2021 10:15:29 GMT -4 Brian said:

He gestures to the dryad. "Adamant, wake her.”

“To what purpose? She can not help us. She can not so much as move. She will be no lighter to carry awake?”

“Or do you think if she is awake, the fiend will be drawn here?”

[Joe]

Streko shakes his head. "I have one powerful spell left in me, Melethos, and I would rather use it to attack the Gaunt than attempt another Banishment, which may or may not work. Otherwise, whatever protection spells I have, I shall use. Which leads me to ask, Histra, what IS the Gaunt? A demon? An Undead creature of some sort? Should I wish to protect Calirataia from it, what shall I protect her from specifically?"

[Brian]

Jan 16, 2021 11:08:38 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

“To what purpose? She can not help us. She can not so much as move. She will be no lighter to carry awake?”

“Or do you think if she is awake, the fiend will be drawn here?”

Melethos shakes his head. "I don't know why the gaunt had an interest in her, nor whether he will sense her or not, but I'd rather give her the choice of being awake or not. Please, ask her."

[Ken]

Belarin frowns, but he takes strength from Histra's hand in his. "Yes, unfortunately, most of my magicks are about trickery and deception," he says to the group. "It's VERY annoying that he doesn't have eyes. I'll stand ready to dispel anything he tries to throw at us."

[Darren]

Kal listens as his friends strategize. "If we are to head down to find the fiend," he says to Histra, "how do we get there? Can you ask her?" he gestures to the ghostly woman in their midst. "Going through the mist is dangerous to all of us, especially Calirataia. Is there another way down?"

[Dave W.]

“Very well.”

Adamant moves the dryad gently, “Calirataia, can you wake a moment? Be at peace, we are all together now. But I must tell you, the fiend will return. Histra says we must destroy it to return to the Dragonfly. We are almost ready to do just that.”

---

Did Cali get hp back from the short rest too? Just curious.