Chapter 19: Endless Nights

[Dave B.]

Shorak agrees with just about all the proposed planning. He offers up one opinion, "I do believe, very strongly, that our best option, if the fiend manages to return with more undead, is to not waste our attacks on them. If we concentrate our attacks on the fiend, we force it to destroy its own allies to heal itself. It will take longer to kill it that way, but we won't be suffering as many attacks from different fronts, as we did earlier." He shrugs, as if a bit embarassed to say so much. "That's how I see it, anyway. But, flying? I'm fine with that." Shorak smiles at that, a little excited at the thought of an aerial battle.

[Jeff]

Jan 16, 2021 12:17:39 GMT -4 Joe said:

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?"

Histra considers it. "It is akin to a demon. Spawned by the plane for some purpose like Khyber's own."

Jan 16, 2021 18:21:42 GMT -4 Darren said:

"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?"

Histra shakes her head. "Three of you have already seen what it looks like below. I can only guess. But I can send the wraith and see what it sees. Shall I?"

Jan 16, 2021 21:40:23 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

“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.

The dryad opens her eyes. They look wilder. She smiles at him, but the green of her eyes is discolored now. "I feel severed, Adamant. Too far from my . . . my tree." She shuts her eyes and looks angry. "Let me fight. I will conjure a wind wall where you think it's needed. I can still do that. To defend whoever needs defending. Winged foes cannot move through it."

Yup, Calirataia regains 22 hit points.

[Brian]

Jan 17, 2021 12:32:17 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra shakes her head. "Three of you have already seen what it looks like below. I can only guess. But I can send the wraith and see what it sees. Shall I?"

Melethos looks at Kal. "I think that's an excellent idea." To Histra, he says, "Yes, send the wraith. Maybe we can learn more about what we're facing."

[Darren]

Jan 17, 2021 13:37:48 GMT -4 Brian said:

Jan 17, 2021 12:32:17 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Histra shakes her head. "Three of you have already seen what it looks like below. I can only guess. But I can send the wraith and see what it sees. Shall I?"

Melethos looks at Kal. "I think that's an excellent idea." To Histra, he says, "Yes, send the wraith. Maybe we can learn more about what we're facing."

Kal nods in agreement. "Any information we can gain is valuable. Meanwhile," he looks around, "everyone check all the doors and hatches. Let's see if any of them open."

[Ken]

Belarin walks around, giving a tug at the nearest door or hatch.

[Dave B.]

Shorak, seeing Belarin checking doors, nods and says "Excellent idea. I will help you check the doors." Shorak joins Belarin in checking the doors and hatches.

[Brian]

Realizing they must be quick, Melethos helps in checking the doors and hatches.

[Jeff]

Short rest completed, and (I think) all hit dice and hit points handled. As well as Belarin's and Melethos's warlock slots.

---

Jan 17, 2021 13:37:48 GMT -4 Brian said:

Melethos looks at Kal. "I think that's an excellent idea." To Histra, he says, "Yes, send the wraith. Maybe we can learn more about what we're facing."

Jan 17, 2021 18:06:17 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal nods in agreement. "Any information we can gain is valuable. Meanwhile," he looks around, "everyone check all the doors and hatches. Let's see if any of them open."

Histra rises with her staff and turns to where the wraith hovers nearby. She says nothing, but it begins to move.

Belarin moves to the nearest door right, which looks as though it may lead beneath the forecastle. Shorak moves to the opposite door, which looks to lead beneath the sterncastle. Melethos sees no hatches, so he heads toward the stairs to the first level of the stern.

Belarin grasps the doorknob, turns, and pulls. Shorak does the same. This time, they move, and open easily . . . 

Immediately, a small cloud of green vapor billows out of each revealed doorway as though pressured and seeking a place to go. Both human and halfdrow are caught within it!

Constitution saving throws needed for both Belarin and Shorak! (Adamant is not close enough to lend his aura's protection.) I'll allow Shorak's Dungeon Delver feat to apply here (though it's not strictly a trap), so he'll have advantage on this roll.

[Ken]

Constitution saving throw: 1d20(20) + 1 = 21. Ooooh, nice.

Belarin coughs and tries to close the door. "Damm...cough...I listened to Kal...cough!"

[Brian]

Hearing Belarin coughing, Melethos turns, sees the green vapor flowing out the door the warlock just opened, and stops. He notices Shorak has opened his door, releasing the same fumes.

He hurries back to Kal and the others. "There's our answer. We can open the doors, but that vapor will still be a barrier." His brows draw together in a frown. "Let's see what Histra learns from the wraith, but if we need to take this below deck, a few of us might have to go and deal with the dragon skeleton. The vapor rises from it. Get rid of it and we might get rid of the vapor."

[Dave W.]

Jan 17, 2021 12:32:17 GMT -4 Jeff said:

The dryad opens her eyes. They look wilder. She smiles at him, but the green of her eyes is discolored now. "I feel severed, Adamant. Too far from my . . . my tree." She shuts her eyes and looks angry. "Let me fight. I will conjure a wind wall where you think it's needed. I can still do that. To defend whoever needs defending. Winged foes cannot move through it."

“That will be helpful when the time comes. We will get back as soon as we can, I’m expecting the fiend to arrive anytime now. Relax but be ready. I will talk to Melthos a minute and be right back.” again a reassuring touch of her hand as he gets up.

Finding the tiefling, “Calirataia offers to bring up a wall of wind, she thinks it will help repel flying creatures.” The earlier impatience and frustration are gone now but a healthy note of concern has replaced it,

[Darren]

Jan 18, 2021 15:28:43 GMT -4 Brian said:

Hearing Belarin coughing, Melethos turns, sees the green vapor flowing out the door the warlock just opened, and stops. He notices Shorak has opened his door, releasing the same fumes.

He hurries back to Kal and the others. "There's our answer. We can open the doors, but that vapor will still be a barrier." His brows draw together in a frown. "Let's see what Histra learns from the wraith, but if we need to take this below deck, a few of us might have to go and deal with the dragon skeleton. The vapor rises from it. Get rid of it and we might get rid of the vapor."

Kal rubs his chin. "That will be a problem," he says, looking over at Calirataia. "I don't know if she can handle another journey through the mist. I'm not sure I can handle it, myself. Suggestions?"

[Jeff]

Belarin stumbles back, and quickly feels like it's not responding as quickly as it ought to. Strength-sapping mist, indeed. But he pushes the sensation away.

Histra frowns at the situation, and then the wraith chooses the very door that Belarin opened. It plunges into the mist and out of sight. Histra leans on her staff and shuts her eyes as the wraith, unseen, begins its exploration.

[Dave B.]

Shorak cursses and coughs, throwing his full weight into shutting the door, so no more vapor can come through.

Advantaged constitution save: 1d20+2=11; 1d20+11.

[Jeff]

Shorak gains one level of exhaustion (disadvantage on ability checks). But note, this doesn't affect saving throws or attack rolls.

[Brian]

Jan 18, 2021 17:27:36 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal rubs his chin. "That will be a problem," he says, looking over at Calirataia. "I don't know if she can handle another journey through the mist. I'm not sure I can handle it, myself. Suggestions?"

"If we have to go below deck," Melethos says, "I suggest Adamant join me, as well as Histra and Belarin. Adamant may help protect us from the vapor's effects, while Belarin and Histra give us a variety of skills to utilize. The rest can stay behind to defend the dryad." He looks at Histra. "How do you feel about making that journey?"

[Jeff]

Histra turns her head toward Melethos when he addresses her, then opens her eyes and sees they have gone black. She is evidently blind now, seeing only what her wraith is seeing. "I advise nothing until I see more. It is a maze below us. I am seeking the lowest point. If I can locate the gaunt . . ." She tilts her head and squints. "Yes, there are more moving things below. Undead. Though, not many."

[Ken]

"I don't mind going down," says Belarin, "but what is the goal? To flush out the gaunt? To rouse the Serpent to our side, if that's even possible? Both?"

[Darren]

Kal shakes his head. "I think separating is a bad idea. We are not at the top of our fighting form as it is. It will likely take all of us for this battle. We need a plan that keeps us together."

[Brian]

"Either we all go down or we all stay up here," Melethos says. "I suggest we wait for Histra to complete her reconnaissance, find out what we are up against, before we make any more decisions. It's possible she can use to wraith to lead the gaunt up here." He looks at the green vapor leaking up from the deck holes. "I'd rather not go back down there unless absolutely necessary."

[Jeff]

Histra's expression is one of deep in concentration. But she smiles. "Wraiths know no walls. It it is going down . . . There are some moving. The dead. Husks . . . zombies . . . corporeal, they cannot pass through walls as I can." She grips her staff in white knuckles suddenly. "I see it! The gaunt is aware of me, of my servant. It is coming with its minions. Coming now."

The necromancer opens her eyes, and can see again. She turns to Melethos, the designated field commander. "The battle comes to us. We need not go below. Where would you have us make a stand? We have moments now, maybe a minute."

Calirataia mutters something and, using Adamant's solid frame, climbs to her feet. "I am ready," the dryad says, her resolve stronger than her body.

[Darren]

Kal breathes out a sigh that could almost be mistaken for relief. He likewise looks to Melethos for orders. "Seems like we're going to have to do some crowd control, too. I cannot conjure a wall to stop them AND provide you with the power of flight. I am too drained."

[Dave W.]

"I agree with Kal, stay together. And without finding a route to the fiend clear of the green vapor, I don't like the idea of going below at all."

[Dave W.]

Jan 19, 2021 14:44:18 GMT -4 Darren said:

Kal breathes out a sigh that could almost be mistaken for relief. He likewise looks to Melethos for orders. "Seems like we're going to have to do some crowd control, too. I cannot conjure a wall to stop them AND provide you with the power of flight. I am too drained."

"Calirataia can provide a wall, not fire, but wind. Do you know where you'd want it? Or do you need to see the enemy first? Tell her where and when..."

[Brian]

Melethos doesn't hesitate. "We make our stand here"--he gestures to the area around the mast and the railing surrounding it--"and we will face outward. Calirataia will stand in the middle. Kal and Streko stand on either side of her. Streko, you try to turn the undead. Belarin, Shorak, and I will stand along the south railing and focus on the gaunt if we can, other enemies if we can't. Adamant, you guard the dryad. Stand where your protections are best utilized. Kal, hold your fire wall until you feel it's necessary. Lady Histra, I leave you and your wraith to do what you can. You know your skills better than I."

He looks around at his friends. "Any questions? Be quick!"

[Jeff]

Calirataia moves to stand at the base of the mast indicated by Melethos. "My wind can break bones. It may not be able to stop that . . . fiend, but it will batter anything trying to pass through it." She gestures with her hands as if she were conjuring it already (but she hasn't yet): "Twice Adamant's height, fifty feet in length, and I can curl and shape it as necessary."

I'll update the map soon.

[Dave W.]

Jan 19, 2021 15:45:30 GMT -4 Brian said:

..."Streko, you try to turn the undead."

"No!" Adamant interjects, "We aren't to turn the undead... our ally Relwalyn will be turned as well..."

"I think the wall should curve around us perhaps 10' from our front line? Kal? Melethos?"

[Darren]

"We will need to see the approach of the enemy. I'll call it then. The goal is to isolate the undead from us so that we may focus our attacks on the fiend without getting overwhelmed. Remember that is our goal."

_______________
Brian/Jeff, can you provide a map showing where you want everyone to stand? I'm on board, but I'm having trouble visualizing it.

[Jeff]

If Brian can specify where he wants each person to be, as specific as possible, I'll update the map based on that.

[Brian]

Cali moves to the square one south of Streko's current position (the same as moving one square east of her current position).
Streko moves to the square Cali had just left.
Kal moves to the square one east of Cali's new position.
Shorak moves to the square one south of Streko.
Melethos moves to the square one south of Cali.
Belarin moves to the square one south of Kal.
Adamant can stay where he is.
If Histra is amenable, she can move to the square one east of Adamant. She has her wraith to help protect her.