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kaiju-z · 3 years

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Seon Adventures Episode 38: Bathhouses and Bonds

After a month of travel, successfully retrieving the King’s Blade, Ena, learning who their client is, i. e. Akar’Niel and choosing to learn more about the circumstances of the mass elimination of dwarves and dragonborn on Seon, the party have reached Guan.

And straight off the bat, no pun intended, the group discover they are followed by an imp. After a quick discussion on whether to take it down or not, Malak stils his hand from sending the denizen of Hell back home, as it approaches the group.

Through a quick inspection of the party, the shape changing critter flies over to Mournimar and delivers the Tiefling Ranger a Sending Stone, of a blue diamond make. After which it does a JoJo pose and poofs.

As stated previously, this was a Sending Stone, allowing someone to cast 2 sending messages a day. But only to the person that has the other one. Rocky Talkies, as Malak puts it. (Or Hayden, I’m not sure. They’re both wholesome and we love them).

Mournimar gets that explained to him and calls the person that gifted it to him. And he hears a familiar voice from the other end say " Well you are alive, then!”. Much to the tiefling’s frustration, he recognizes the voice as that of his ex-boyfriend, Lazarus, follower of Potencia.

Mourni tries to ask what he wants, but instead Lazarus does the “kh-kh” noise (you know the one, where someone does a double pistols and a wink???) and that’s about all the messaging that goes on for that day.

Again. Much to Mournimar’s frustration.

Malak suggests getting rid of the stone. But Mournimar wants to keep it.

Luck suggests flipping a coin and he even brings one out from his journal bag. But Jun suggests Mournimar hold onto it and in the end, they agree on that.

(Also Mournimar gets a praise from Jun, which makes him feel validated).

The rest of the day passes uneventfully and they carry on, as the ground beneath their feet becomes more and more rocky. WIth the most perceptive in the party taking note that there’s a slight silhouette in the near distance of a town.

During the night, Belli receives a dream, like everyone else, but Mournimar, before her. As everyone had kept their dreams to themselves, for the following day, the group find themselves walking into a small and cozy town, which Arryn guesses would be Sodinvorg, most likely.

Very different from what the group had been used to so far. In a wasteland such as this (which funny enough is the right temperature for Luctan to feel at straight up at home?!) Sodinvorg’s constructed of tall buildings made out of clay, all painted red, white or red and white. Most split in multiple flats as they can tell from the windows. A variety of people in the windows, mostly Yuan-Ti, Kobolds, Tabaxi and Lizardfolk.

People here know each other and are close, mingling with each other.

Notable locations are the bathhouse, the tavern and the marketplace.

Luctan makes a b-line for the bathhouse, all excited and swept under the positive nostalgia of the enviroment he find himself in, with Jun joining him, all the while Belli would go and buy certain supplies. Cement included for some reason?! And then go to the apothecary.

A pair of young lizardfolk women run the bathhouse, which the pair of Jun and Luck can discern is constructed very intricately and with a style to it. (The place is essentially a roman bathhouse.)

Mournimar woud go to the Rolls and Scrolls place, where one could buy spell scrolls and delicious breads, as advertised, while Malak would check with the antique shop.

Inside the bath house, Jun takes on her mask of a beautiful Drow woman, named Valencia, having noted that there aren’t really any humans in the area. Valencia is a bit posh. Long white hair in a bun.

As they score themselves a place in the bath, The Disguise Duo enjoy a relaxing bath, unbothered by the cramped and crowded enviroment, as they are confident about themselves and their bodies.

No juicy gossip in the area and even if there was, a loud comment about Mommy Milkers from another of the patrons would distract the duo.

Arryn eventually joins the two, but after an unfortunate bomb dive goes wrong, he leaves, as the pool was too shallow for any acrobatics. Luctan’s Healing Word aids him in recovering from at least the physical pain, at least.

The duo have another talk, where Luck learns of Jun’s origins. Though she began her careers in Sa Doma, she was originally from Elmeria. Which, to say the least, was a neat coincidence, as the party had gotten their initial name there, when asked by Morticia.

Jun would share that, given her race as a Changeling, few doors were truly open for her, as a Shapeshifter in a world that had a bias against them, and so, the bounty hunting life and that of an escort were ones that she could slip into easily. Luck would bemoan her fate, how opportunities were taken from her due to things she couldn’t help. But was glad for her being able to make the best of it.

“When one door closes, another opens”, the two would agree.

Luck would tell her his story, in turn, being candid about the facts, though, naturally, given they were speaking around others, he’d of course avoid using the “H” word as to where he had come from. Besides, the yalready knew about that from the fight at the barn.

Luck would come to a point, admitting that he was unsure what to do with himself now. He was content helping people, but he had no plan on what to do with himself now, when he didn’t take on the rest of his revenge quest.

Jun encourages him to take the time and consider. And she’d admit that conversations weren’t generally something people would approach her for, given her non-violent work ethic.

But Luck would compliment her for her talk, appreciating being able to talk openly with her on matters. Jun would note that he was about the 3rd person to praise her for that.

Meanwhile, at the Rolls and Scrolls, Mournimar spends big money on several rolls and scrolls, making Matiro, the Yuan-Ti’s day with all the cash that comes his way.

Feather Fall, Aid, Calm Emotions and Find Steed are all bought and paid for by the Ranger, with the latter three being bought for a collective 500 gold.

Furthemore, the tiefling buys 7 loafs of bread, for the party and Arryn.

And then. Before he leaves, Mournimar leaves the man a tip of 5 platinum. And upon leaving, he can distinctly hear the Yuan-Ti scurry off, screaming to a friend: “PHILLIP! I’M IN LOVE!”

At a convergence point, Mournimar gets a gold piece from Jun and a pat on the head. Getting validated by an older female figure boosts his morale. Quite evident from his tail wagging like crazy.

From the calico Tabaxi, Jolly Sunrise, proprietor of “ Happy Belly Rubs “, Belli gets a healing herb, a root that healing potions are made from.

(It is at this point that we spend 10 minutes on Tabaxi bathroom name jokes. It’s just-you had to be there.)

Jolly makes a “Jolly Secret Rub”, which gives the party 1d8 Temp Hp. Gives special smelling salts, which are used as Spare The Dying as a bonus action. 165 worth. And lastly, upon Belli’s request, she delivers onto the Half-Orc Bard a pair of extra spicy peppers, referred to as “Dragon’s Breath”.

“Don’t give it to halflings. It could genuinely kill them.” she would note.

Also Belli learns that Jolly has a tiefling brother. Due to his fire resistance, she had learned that these could kill anoyone, without fire resistance. (Though that could’ve been a joke0

After the bread, the party go to the Cozy Leaf. An older tabaxi man, orange and graying around the nose, heads the place. He has a menu. There’s coffee, milk, honey milk. Maple Milk! The man’s name is Leaf On The Water. He has a strange clockwork device playing relaxing music nearby, giving the place a wholesome atmosphere.

His Grandson, an Artificer, built this contraption. Travels and sends new stuff to the old cat. There’s a stick figure drawing at the counter, drawn by the youngest in the family, his granddaughter. The grandson is taller than him. Grandson is 30. Grand Daughter is 3.

There’s even a portrait that gets showcased of the family. One big orange family. Himself, his three kids and his two grandkids.

Most of the group, but the bearded ones, get themselves a warm beverage. Honey Milk and Maple Milk.

While the patrty slowly unwind for the day, Belli asks Jun if she has any expertise with chemicals. Interesting enough, the Bloodhunter does have skills with alchemy supplies. And the two work on making pepper spray. Super. Spicy. Pepper Spray.

Malak find himself buying several items from the antique shop, run by the kobolds Zett and Nix, Red and Bronze respectively.

From the items presented to him, he takes what he could consider lucky charms.

Among them a coin of a strange material, a stone figurine of a snake, as well as a small silver rod with no decoration. It makes a harp noise. Notably, the rod gives off faint evocation magic.

Before purchasing these, he asks the Kobolds, just to be sure, that they hadn’t pilfered these from any gravesights and the like. They specify that any item they have in their shop has been brought in from families, who found no use for them.

They are established businessmen here. And the price for the collection of items bought is 25 silver. Enough to cover rent for the month.

Malak thanks them in Draconic and leaves after the monetary exchange.

At the end of the day, as everyone prepares for the night’s rest in the tavern, Jun keeps an ear and eye out for gossip, while Mournimar takes a single room for himself (and Morgan).

One, where he has himself his own little dream.

End of Episode.

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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And here’s all the art from session 34 of Seon Adventures~

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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Seon Adventures, episode 33: “Dog is God Spelled Backwards”

Following the level up and meeting with Arkniel, the party would go to Crystalgate. There, offscreen, they each would invest in the 5,000 gold that each of them had received and would buy certain items and provisions they’d see as worthwhile and important for the time to come.

Once they had completed what they wanted to do in town, they would reconvene at the Eastern exit of Crystalgate and make their way out and onto the dusty road... towards the border. And beyond.

On the way there, they would be shadowed by a mysterious redhaired woman, bedecked in worn out armor and weaponry, quite obvious in her approach towards the group.

After some discussion between the party, it would be Luck, who’d approach and ask her what was up and why she was following them. She was completely taken off guard by this and would introduce herself as Luandala Mistsplitter, a duelist for hire.

And she had been hired to challenge a certain tiefling ranger to a duel to the death, on someone’s behalf.

Much to Mournimar’s surprise and to the party’s, it was not his mother that was the client and, from what they figured, based on the gender being male, which Luandala accidentally spilled, even though it was a vow of secrecy... Mournimar would suggest it was his ex-boyfriend, Lazarus. Another Drow, who he had a tragic history with.

The spunky, if wethered by age and battle, duelist would ask Mournimar if he was down to the duel to the death and Mournimar would decline. It seemed illogical to persue this quest. Furthemore, the rest of the party would chime in that it would be quite easy for them to just gang up on her and take her out. So why not just give up and move to Sa Doma, as per the suggestion of Jun. Start a new life there.

Before Luandalla could even express how much money she’d need to start over somewhere, Luck had already handed her 200 gold pieces (she would have said a second later that she’d need 50 and then Luck, in turn, say to use them for good).

With directions from the Disguise Duo, both in locations to visit and money to spend a plenty, Luandalla would end her quest, which she had previously said would mean her life, and carry on to Sa Doma...

With that problem solved, the party would carry on with their carriage and tense atmosphere, going past villages and nature, drawing closer and closer to the border, seperating Aetorumia and Gulorum.

And they would have completely missed a river, had it not been for noise of some sort of conflict.

The party would be drawn to a location, where a duo of armed men had netted a dog. Bandits, perhaps, or trappers, who were to catch and sell this pupper for a high price?

It made sense at the time, as the dog was quite rare in it’s appearance. A Corgi. Male, as the party would later learn as he called for help from Morgan, asking him to get his entorauge to rescue him.

And... A fight would break out, right as the Mournimar, Belli and Morgan charged in, the latter half of the party keeping a distance at first. A fight that would start the moment the net carrying men called for back up, shouting “INTRUDERS!”

As a number of armed men, from leathers to chain mail and ultimately plate, with a variety of weapons, ran out of their hide out, a cave, across the river, the fight would begin.

It was fast, brutal and with almost no room for the band to make headway in combatting The Cultbusters, who as a force of Level 9 were too strong for mere crossbows and swords.

Between Jun’s fast footwork and piercing attacks with the Gambler’s blade, invoking her Bloodhunter abilities as needed.

Between Belli’s animating objects capabilities, bardic insults and her new dabbling into Dominating the mind of the enemy.

The overconfident Luctan’s semi-ok skill with the crossbow and a Guiding Bolt that would explode a man to vapors, much to the tiefling’s own shock.

The ranger, Mournimar’s sniping skill with the bow, striking true where it counted.

And Malak’s regretful, but determined Bless and Blight...

All, but one of the men were slain.

The last remaining of them, Luctan had attempted to spare, for one reason or another, and had attempted to send on his way with a promise of changing his ways. The others, less in the mindset, would approach and Jun would tie the man down with her Tentacle ability.

He would be questioned and it would come out that he as a soldier in the war, who never returned home. And, fro mthe way he spoke, it was assumed that he and his now-dead comrades had all deserted at some point?!

He had family in Crystalgate. Last having seen them, it was his wife, two children and a third one on the way. Something, which pissed Belli off, during the interrogation. To abandon your family was a sin worse than death, it seemed, for the lyrical Narah, who moments prior had enchanted this man to (unsuccessfully) deman one of his allies, much to the horror of the thought.

In between all this, the Corgi, who had shocked everyone by casting spells not but moments prior (A radiant Eldritch Blast here, a trippy Hypnotic Pattern there) would speak. And all that collectively would shock everyone still alive in the area, but the canine himself. It was insane to see for the group, but in the midst of battle, with the red mist over their minds, they hadn’t completely aknowledged things).

His explanation on what happened was, and thanks to Belli’s arcane knowledge she’d understand what happened, that he once looked through a book and suddenly he gained sentience. Quite possibly, he read the necessary lines for the Awakened spell.

Regardless. As things were, the man was spared. And let go, with the demand by the party that he return home, to his family, in Crystalgate. With Belli ordering him to speak to her father and find work under him.

A burrial, for the fallen soldiers, followed, initiated by Malak, followed by Luctan and finished with the rest of the group, before a Prestidigitation cleaning process.

The talking dog, named Samson, would join the group, upon regaining his equipment. And together, they would carry on, wordlessly, until they reached the border. The only conversation happens between Samson and Orion, whom Samson immediatelly dislikes, upon learning how he is being misused as Familiar and how content he is with his role.

He’d make moves to correct the Fey creature’s behavior by tricking the party into believing that Orion wanted to join them in their combat activities. Be a useful lil’ man.

At the border, there is a rest station, a small town named Nisca, for provisions and necessary equipment, to help travelers one way or another in their treks.

Within the area, the general population is mid-life and beyond, worn down by time and life in general. What soldiers the party meets are in various states of health, going from healthy, to injured and recovering. The past war’s scars remain deep upon their frames, as the party notes, setting their carriage someplace proper, before taking to the local tavern.

Specifically, before that, though. Samson would approach a fountain, at the bottom of which he and the party could see coins. It would appear that this was a memorial countain of sorts.

Not that it bothered the pup to hop in the water. But before he could do anything naughty, Malak would pull him back out and carry him underarm to the tavern, “The Warrior’s Rest Inn” (Inn, in theory, anyways), where their 7 of them, Morgan included, would have their meal of meat and potato stew and drink of ales, wine and brandy.

They’d take to rooms, with Belli and Mournimar nabbing one, Samson occupying one of his own, for himself and Luctan, with Malak as his watch, the remaining one. Jun would opt to sleep in the carriage and ultimately having the best sleep of the group.

As the rooms’ beds were made for function, less for comfort.

In the middle of the night, two things happened.

First of all, a determined little Samson would trot his way out of the Inn and back to the fountain. Where he’d summon a mage hand and bring out a number of coins, for himself.

Which would trigger a reaction, before the pup could skitter his way back to bed.

In an instant, three ghostly figures would rise from the fountain and begin approaching the dog, who dared steal from this memorial for the fallen.

With a well precisioned Deception, however, Samson would counter and make them believe that he was just a doggo, normal and natural, instead of a magical being. And instead, have them focus on the magehand, which carried the coins.

The ghosts, revenants, specters, what have you, would attack the hand and pop it like a balloon. And once the coins returned to the fountain with a light splash, the Celestial Warbork would dash his way back inside and hide in bed.

Second of all, Malak would approach Luck and wake him with a light kick to get his attention

The two would then have a conversation about the recent developement... The Chain Devil and his imps that came for Luctan, under his mother’s orders. The very fact that Luctan was the child of Potentia, Malak’s most hated enemy among the evil deities.

Malak would express to Luck, in a quiet, but determined, serious and calculated tone that the next time they come for him, and they would, surely attempt another abduction, he’d be putting the rest of the party in danger once more.

Luctan agreed, sadly, that this would be the case. He would try to keep his emotions in check in that moment and betray no sorrow in the truth of the matter, as he had practiced and trained to keep these things in the past. A politician’s skill, as Ficus would put it, had he been there.

Malak would make it clear to the tiefling that the next time it happened and he’d have to choose between Luck and the rest of the party, he’d send him to Hell himself, if it meant ending this hounding.

Luctan would nod and acknowledge and understand and accept his actions, remorse slipping by the calm mask he’d try to keep during the conversation.

Malak would take something from his pocket and reach it over to Luctan, telling him: “You’re not the only one with problems.” And Luck, before noticing the item being passed over, would agree. “I know.”

“Good.” Malak would answer and hand him an oval shape. A ball. An orb. Magical in some way.

“Something to help you in your travels, as you are new to these lands.” he’d state, before the two seperated and returned to bed.

Luctan, looking between the magical orb and the gifter of said orb for quite a while, would soon find himself asleep. Mercifully, with no attacks this night, from his mother’s servants.

In the morning, during breakfast, Malak would catch everyone’s attention and speak up, making an announcement.

He would speak from the heart with few words, but each of them held power, conviction and... frankly, disappointment. With the party and how they handled themselves in that recent fight.

“I feel it was beneath you and beneath me.” he’d say.

He’d particularly express his distaste with Belli’s choice of casting Dominate Person. While the spell can be useful in many ways, the way she had used it was horrible. “How would you feel if someone dominated you and made you attack your friend? Castrate them?” he’d ask her in his own words and Belli would admit her regret, once it was pointed out to her.

No amount of verbal acrobatics and athletics would change the fact that the party had brutalized those men, over the perceived “crime” of netting a dog, to sell. Which is a thing that people have done in the past, without any high horse death sentences thrown upon them.

In hindsight, they should have shown more mercy than they did. And also in hindsight, regardless of the status of Samson, who, along with Morgan, had been eating near the table, during this discussion.

This had given them pause. Malak’s logic was infallable in that moment.

The group had been cocky and seemingly uncaring of the lives they had cut short. And they had been uncaring. Be it because of past experiences or their own personalities getting the better of them.

Luctan specifically would look to his hands at that moment. The hands that held the orb that now occupied his journal case had so callously casted a Twin Guiding Bolt at two of the deserting soldiers. Missing one, obliterating another. And he’d think of what he had said at the time, to Malak. “Don’t worry, I’ll hit the other one next time.” Completely tone death of the situatio nthat had transpired.

While most of the party express their regret of their decisions that day, the damage had already been done and the men were irreversably dead.

The right thing to do onward would be to do better and that may just happen. But that is for another experience, for the party to see.

With Malak finishing his piece on this subject, he would then proceed to hand out gifts for the rest of the group, as he had for Luctan the night previously. Jun gets a smooth pipe of river stone. Belli receives a pouch, bright and in vibrant colors. And Mournimar - a flower pot, filled with Soil. Currently Empty.

Each item has a function to them, revealed in the order of:

Jun's gift, Pipe of Remembrance: This long, delicate wooden pipe features a bowl made from smooth river stone. When the pipe is lit, smoke exhaled from it does not dissipate, instead lingering around the bearer. After 10 minutes, the smoke forms moving shapes that reenact the bearer’s most impressive and heroic achievements for 5 minutes. When this realistic performance is complete, the smoke dissipates. The pipe can’t be used this way again until the next dawn.

Belli's, Handy Spice Pouch: This belt pouch appears empty and has 10 charges. While holding the pouch, you can use an action to expend 1 of its charges, speak the name of any nonmagical food seasoning (such as salt, pepper, saffron, or cilantro), and remove a pinch of the desired seasoning from the pouch. A pinch is enough to season a single meal. The pouch regains 1d6 + 4 expended charges daily at dawn.

Mourni's Pot of Awakening: If you plant an ordinary shrub in this 10-pound clay pot and let it grow for 30 days, the shrub magically transforms into an awakened shrub at the end of that time. When the shrub awakens, its roots break the pot, destroying it. The awakened shrub is friendly toward you. Absent commands from you, it does nothing

And Luck got an Orb of Direction: While holding this orb, you can use an action to determine which way is north. This property functions only on the Material Plane.

With the gifts handed out and Malak laying out the moral failing of what had transpired, the cleric would go, finish his meal outside.

While doing so, Samson would go with Jun to the fountain, where he’d ask her about the party and whether this was a common occurance. She’d explain to him that she only knew the party for a week, two almost. And generally, the atmosphere was, yes, very tense with this group.

Always something that’d happen.

Samson, who had previously sassed the Changeling woman, would then find her a kindered spirit. The new person to the group and he’d swear to her that, should rocks fall on the party or something, Jun would be the person he’d jump to shove out of the way.

Which is. Very sweet from the sentient pupper. And Jun would appreciate him for that.

Once mealtime was done, the party would gather in their carriage and, after Luck left seven gold coins in the fountain and Malak collected a map for their travels, to aid them further, along with Jun’s knowledge of directions towards Tatum, they’d set off on the next part of their journey. Out of Aeterumia and off to the third country on the continent of Seon: Galorum.

To Galorum, to Tutum. And to The Temple Of the Slayed Prince.

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#art #my art #Seon Adventures #D&D #DnD #Dungeons & Dragons #Dungeons and Dragons #Belli Narah #Half-Orc Bard #Jun #Changeling Bloodhunter #Luctan Evenchord #Tiefling Fighter Sorcerer #Malak #Human Cleric #Mournimar Da'Vir #Tiefling Ranger #Samson #Corgi Celestial Warlock

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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And here’s all the art from Seon Adventures 33.

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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Art from msession 36 of Seon Adventures

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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Seon Adventures, Episode 36: The King, The Guard, The Blade

Last on Seon Adventures! The Cultbusters had gone and traversed through the treacherous traps of the Fallen King’s Tomb; confronted mirror creatures and bested them in riddle combat; snuck through metalic guards and browsed through the dedicated libraries...

Now, they stand before the spirit of the King, himself. A Purple Tiefling man in humble clothing as each party in this conversation genuinely wants to know truths...

He shifts his weight on his back leg and looks to each of the adventurers, expectantly, certainly hoping for no unnecessary bloodshed. And welcomes the party. Friends or foes.

Luctan, who up until now hadn’t seen any ghosts (and had his mind wiped of the memory of the time travel shenanigans) states the obvious.

“So. You’re a ghost.”

That certainly breaks the tension and the party ask the king of what had occured. Desperately wanting to know answers to questions he himself may not have reached the full legway to.

The fall happened after his passing. His temple wasn’t finished until the end of the war, or so he heard. He’s heard things around him, the builders talking about it. Kobolds. So sadly, even the king was in ignorance of the situation.

But question for question, his highness questions them on what they, themselves knew of the events. And they would recite Arryn’s story, as best as that was told and remembered. And the King would try to fill in the gaps:

The place, where he transitioned into unlife, very unpleasant to remember that event, but dragons were sent to them. A pair of black ones, large and fierce. He took one of them down with the help of some brave warriors. They took that one down and his wings have been buit into the wall.

The other was shot down and taken away to question and interrogate away by the Kingdom’s allies in Guan. After his passing, he has heard fairly one sided stuff. He doesn’t want to believe that what happened happened. It seems impossible to him, even if he doesn’t understand much of magic.

Belli tries to recall if something like that would have been possible… All of them try, but none think we can figure it out. However Malak believes spells can be amplified by multiple people. Multiples... the council, maybe?!

When prodded on why this happened. This... war. The King would bemoan the events.

The battle started with a failed negotiation. It was his mother that started it. She wanted to negotiate some Southern Lands, fertile lands. Just that, leave it at that. He thought they could do better. Then? Empty threats that turned to words spoken and words into actions. And then actions taken turning into Rot.

When the queary of who commissioned them would be brought up, the truth was that they didn’t know much. Beyond the face that they were approached by for the job, there was nothing certain. Though... Putting things together on a certain perspective? Technically the council commissioned could have been the commissioners, but probably those, who argued with the king’s mother. Over land. And money.

The King’s Blade was and is a weapon with magical abilities. A sentient one too. Passed down the generations from one ruler to the next. He would confirm that it was still in the vault.

The King would mention that he was connected to the Iron Guardians that the party had snuck past in the smoke and that he would be able to turn them off for an easier exit. But the stone construct that was protecting the vault? That would be a daunting task only the party could deal with.

Malak, who has totally seen ghosts before (All of the ghosts) offers the king a chance to transition. Like. Right now. No money required.

And the King’d accept.

But as Malak casts his Channel Divinity feature, the king would grip at his head, panic and start running in a circle, screaming in fear and terror. Because. Well. His CR is too high for that?!!

Essentially, Malak gave the king Existential Dread.The poor ghost man.

“Dick move.” - the king would state, once the CD would wear off. And Malak in turn would claim, in a huff, that the King wasn’t quite as committed to carrying on as he initially said.

A few minutes of this goes on, before Malak gives it a second go, this time with a Banishment spell onto the King, who was beginning to regret even telling the party of the Construct.

As he accepts the banishment, he clearly gives Malak the stink eye for the trouble and is sent away to the afterlife.

With the party never getting his name.

Fuck.

With the task done, the party consider resting in the tomb, before advancing to the treasury. But comedy ensues as Malak refuses to sleep in a place of the dead. And the party go back and forth on whether they should sleep here or not.

And ultimately agree on just going to the vault.

Also Jun takes some time to sit on the throne and more specifically the statue of the king’s lap. Because she deserves this. Congratulations, Queen.

Leading the way afterwards is Mournimar, who mentions along the way that he and Belli had seen the construct before, while it was keeping it’s vision on Jun, Luck and Malak in the library. Something that he had forgotten to mention to them previously to this moment.

With this knowledge on their minds, the party elect to split and take a seperate route. Jun and Luck taking the upper coridor, while Malak, Mournimar and Belli (and Morgan) go for the Library entrance.

As Mournimar turns around, he sees an Orange light looking directly at him and it comes from some kind of glowing gem. It glows, the orange deepends to an orangy-red.

Roll for initiative and Luck is the first to make his move.

He elects to try and distract the construct and steps forward, clapping and “complimenting” it. Asking it to let them pass. And holding an action.

While this goes on, Mournimar Hunter’s Marks, swears under his breath that the party doesn’t have a choice and fires. One miss. One hit. And backs away. 11 damage.

- On Belli’s turn, she uses her Animating Performance. And animates one of the shields, causing it to end up thrusting itself away from the grip of the designed defender.

AND FOR HER BONUS ACTION!

She mocks it. Ooh, not as strong as you used to be. Bit of rust setting in. Maybe you should retire and give it a rest?” Aaand that doesn’t quite work out, sadly as psychic attacks don’t effect a machine.

On Jun’s turn... She runs over to the construct and Hexes it, taking away it’s advantage with Strength attacks..

Using her Mystic Frenzy, she casts Booming Blade. And cuts into it! Thanks to Belli, both of Jun’s attacks hit the being and she stabs in and between the plates for a lot of damage. 36 DAMAGE O _ O

And the retaliation comes quick as she gets slammed by it’s remaining shield in turn. The requirements for Luck’s attack spring up and he tries to shrink the creature to a much smaller size, but it resists his magical influence as steam starts to billow from it’s body. White-ish, magical steam, which causes Jun and Luck to lose some of their energy, Slow-ing them down.

On Malak’s turn... he casts Spiritual Weapon right next to the Floating Shield. So it’s a nAnimated Team Up! Smack for +8 Force Damage. Toll the Dead afterwards!

With his movement halved, Luctan can only pull his Greatsword out and swing the Evenchord, slashing it across the body of the bionic enemy.

It’s the Ranger’s turn again. Bonus action, Mournimar casts Ensnaring Strike on the Guardian. At Level 2, which turns off the Mark. With the creature restrained, Mournimar fires and hits it twice with his arrows.

Bonus action, Belli tells the shield to protect Luck and Jun. And as an Action she tries to Dispell the Stone Construct’s control over the Slow Fog?!

With a tremendous grip on her confidence, she succeeds in this endeavor. Now free to attack, Jun cuts into herself for her Crimson Rite. For a collective 38 damage. Oil starts to leak out from it’s back.

And a brief flicker emits from it’s gem as a reaction to the damage dealt. And the smoke pops out once more. Causing Luck and Jun to be slowed yet again.

The construct crashes into Jun again, but before it can hit again, she manages to roll out of it’s way, avoiding further damage.

On Malak’s turn, he sends the spiritual weapon to make an attack, which connects for 6 Force Damage. And after that attempts to wound it with a Chill Touch, which sadly doesn’t work as intended... With that thought, the cleric would move behind Luck and Jun, ready to heal them if they lose their balance.

On Luck’s turn, he shiftshis sword to his left hand and channels a different kind of magic than what he normally uses, before smashing his fist into the body of the construct, in defense of Jun, citing “Now that’s no way to treat a lady.”, but like, slow like. Inflict Wounds. 9 Necrotic.

On Mournimar’s turn, the arrow sniper gets a sudden sense of inspiration as he aims for the crystal, while the thing focuses on Jun. 26! 1 damage to the crystal, a vulnerable area! An arrow sticks out of the crystal and it’s like it’s blinking eratically at random patterns! Second shot hits again! 24 damage ON THE GEM!!! HE SPLITS THE ARROW!

Yeah, by this point it doesn’t look great at all.

On Belli’s turn... Belli casts mage hand and carries the acid bomb to drop it onto the crystal! It drops perfectly on the crystal. But the acid damage has little effect!

As a Bonus Action she inspires Jun. “You got this, Queen!”

“Aw, shucks, lil’ ol’ me?!” she jokes and now full of inspiration and Bloodhunter Badassdom, Jun does the deed. 25 Damage!

HOW DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS?!

Jun takes out the Gollem’s knee, slices through it, causing it to drop to a knee. And then slowly pushes her sword through the crystal, pulling a decapitation move.

It’s fallen. Dead.

With a key in the back of it’s head.

A key.

And there’s another big metal door.

Which is big. And made of metal. But are there hinges on it?!

One can not quite tell.

Mournimar and Jun take turns trying to lockpick the vault’s door, With Jun receiving a Greater Healing Potion from Luck for her troubles in the fight, before her turn with the picks.

But neither quite gets the job done, while Malak calmly grabs the key out of their view and waits for his chance.

(Also, btw. The shield’s name is now “Simon”. And Belli wants to keep it.)

And once it arrives, he walks up to the door.

Then he touches it and mutters something, like a prayer of sorts, being a little shit as he unlocks the door with the key.

Inside are all the treasures of the King. The floor is littered with coins. And in the back of the room, on a cushion lays the King’s Blade. Behind the blade is a large skull of a dragon that was killed with it. Black Dragon Scales everywhere, forming a collage of the King.

With Mournimar vibing with Morgan and Belli finding interest in a box of animal figurines, Malak steps up to the sword, before Jun and Luck can do anything more than just watch it intently.

He asks them to wait a moment, so he can check the weapon for any curses. The cleric then pokes it gently, casting Remove Curse. Whether that succeeds or not is unknown.

Browsing the vault, the party find multiple items, some, which clearly emit magic, once Detect Magic is cast. A ring mail armor is among them, but no one finds the want to pick it up. Belli’s distracted by a box with 8 turquoise animal figurines. 8 different kinds. Dog, cat, deer, bear, gorilla, raven, owl and a gecko, while Malak gets a party’s worth of Greater Healing Potions from a box.

With a keen analytical eye, the cleric takes note that Enchantment and Evocation magic emits from the sword. There’s also slight abjuration on the Dragon Scale Collage, but as a preservative.

And then?

Luck picks up the sword.

And speaks to it.

Asking it if it has a name? Gender? Anything like that?!

And it does speak. And she introduces herself as Ena. A very eloquent lady of a long sword, who hasn’t been held in a long while.

With a voice that makes it sound like he is almost flirting with her, Luck catches up Enaon what has and might have been going on in the time of her last use.

She is perfectly fine traveling with the party and even feels comfortable in Luck’s grasp as there seems t obe some kind of “Royalty” feeling to him. Curious of the possibilities, the party also bring along the dragon skull, placing it in the bag of holding, after Luck shrinks it down with his last remaining 2nd level slot of Enlarge/Reduce.

Before they leave, the party discuss what to do with the gold here. All this fortune could be used to help the neighboring settlements and the party agree to return one day and gather it, or send someone to gather it, who’d be careful enough to avoid the traps.

For a moment Luctan considers taking a bunch of gems, a thought crossing his mind. But Jun talks him out, bewhildered after the talk the group just had on the use of the coin.

On the way out, once the six of them make it back to the 1st level, Malak stands in the center of the open room and casts Destroy Undead to eliminate the Kobolds and the creature in the sarchophagus.

He destroys the Kobolds’ bodies, but the Mummy rises. Angry.

And a quick fight begins.

- On Luck’s turn, he casts Guiding Bolt, then charges in as he Action Surges and slices twice with Ena for some immense damage.

Then? The darndest thing happens once the Bard comes up.

Belli casts Polymorph and tries to turn the mummy into a baby. And insults it. “You’re just a stupid little baby.”

And-

And-and-

And it works?!

Jun is horrified by all of Belli’s anti-babyness and just leaves the room. The mummy baby tries to hurt Malak, but fails, as it teeths. The cleric isn’t even perturbed by the litteral ankle biter as he notes: “Hey Belli, remember that talk we had about traumatizing people?”

And Belli immensely apologizes for the situation at hand. It was a spur of the moment thing.

Not wanting to hurt a baby, even if the mummy wasn’t a real one, Mournimar looks to see if he has any intoxicants to just pass the time. But alas. He does not. He does not have the good kush.

Malak’s next. He slaps the baby, ending the toddler shenanigans and swings with the Fated Potential, damaging the creature for 5 slashing.

Luctan Mercifully finishes things off with a Quickened Guiding Bolt and a Nat 20 Slash of the King’s Blade and the Mummy’s dead.

It’s dead.

O. V. A. Ovah.

With no mention being made along the way, the party hotfoot it out of the tomb and walk over to Arryn, who was preparing dinner.

“Hot Diggity Dog”- Arryn, quoting the Dragonborn Tribes. As Luck presents the blade. When discussing what had transpired inside the home of the dead, the party ponder on the remaining dragon. Chances are the other black dragon was taken to the Capitol of Guan, which is where the party elects heading. To Necesills.

With that said, Arryn offers his stew to the party and the lot of them sit together and finally eat. During the meal, Belli receives a message in her head from Nel.

“Good evening, darlings! Just had a thought, I should probably let you know! Amelia and I will be relocating temporarily. Take care!” Belli asks her what’s up. And then sends that in the form of a Sending spell so she can reply and not waste any spellslots on her turn.

Nel ran out of slots for it. Thanks to a work thing, Nel had to move. Amelia would have told the lot of them, when they returned, but Nel figured with her Sending it’d be a much more convenient messaging.

Belli learns that the two of them are relocating to a town called Havik. It’s the northern most town. It’s the last piece of civilization, while in Aetorumia.

With that said and done, the party prepare to get their shut eye, with watches and everything. But before they can get to that, someone clears their voice in the viscinity of the seven (+2 horses and Fey cat).

They look and-

It’s him again.

“Did you miss me?!” asks Ark’Niel with a smug expression on his face as he leans against a pillar in the sand.

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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Seon Adventures, Episode 37: The Client

When last we left off, Akar’Niel showed himself before the adventuring party, the Cultbusters for the 2nd time in two weeks time, after their group finished the most important part of their dungeon delving quest within the Tomb of the Fallen King.

With his re-introducing words of “Did you miss me?”, Akar’Niel takes the stage.

And there he was, leaning on a pillar.

Face to face again, this time before rest would overtake them, Akar’Niel makes himself known to the party. The Half-Elven man is met with a mix of intrigue from Jun and Luck, distaste from Mournimar and Belli and a careful study by Malak.

Morgan surely would be by his partner’s side due to the surprise appearance, while Arryn? Arryn was taking a well needed rest, oblivious to the conversation that was transpiring.

With the semi-hostile atmosphere coming from the party, Akar’Niel reveals to the lot of them that he is the client, who requested the fetching of Ena, currently in Luck’s possession.

From the initial interrogation, it’s hard to tell much about his intentions with the blade, aside from keeping it gathering dust in the tomb, or a museum to just be gawked at. However - Belli and Mournimar gather that he’s asking intently about the sword, but based on his physique, there’s a reason he’s not trying to wrestle it off. And Jun?

Jun knows he lied and knows who River is. There’s an eyebrow twitch, when Luck asked why it mattered to him. He’s very emotionally invested in this artifact.

Furthemore, he tells the party he is of the Circle of Shaksban, the exclusionary spellcaster guild in Crystalgate. To try and gain the party’s trust, Akar’Niel offers himself to be placed under a Zone of Truth spell and willfully fail his save.

Belli casts said spell and a question and answer series begins, wherein he re-affirms he is who he is and what his intentions for the sword are. To hand it to the Darksbane Army for use, specifically, as they are considered by many, in different tones, as “the noble sort”.

During the talk, while Belli slips up and mentions that there’s only one human in their party, despite Luck wearing his disguise, Jun takes note of something about Akar’Niel. She can see his eyes have a bit of a yellow flicker that moves like a vine in the wind. Furthemore, There’s almost like a faint breeze going through his hair, despite there being no wind?

The conversation carries on for about as long as the Zone of Truth permits, with an air of tension being raised from a half-suspicious and half-amicable side of the party. And Ena herself speaks to Luck, when he asks her what her take is on this arrangement.

Ena finds the party’s client a smug man, but is indifferent in who wields her, as long as blood can be shed. A bit unnerving, if honest answer from the weapon of a late king.

A deal ends up being struck, where the party agree to return Ena themselves, rather than hand it over at this moment to Akar’Niel. And that whenst he checks on the group the sound of wind chimes will follow.

With his departure, the six go to sleep, taking a long rest.

And in the morning? Luctan brings out the Dragon Skull for Malak to question. After debating what the questions should be...

Malak casts Speak With Dead. And for flavor and more amicable conversing, he asks in Draconic:

- 1. ”What were the names of you and the other dragon that attacked?”- “I’m Izyr. Lord of the Sands. My companion is Zamberrut , the Barbarian.”

- 2.“What destroyed the dwarves and dragonborn?” – “A magic not even I know.”

- 3. “Do you know who cast it?” – “The wizards. The magic users, who enforced my brother and I.”

- 4. “Do you know any of their names or locations?””I don’t know their names. They gave us fake ones.”

- 5. “What were the names they gave you?” – “We met with a man, who called himself Nehren and a woman, who called herself Seriza.”

Curious.

Very curious. And requiring further questioning.

Malak would ask again, after sharing his findings with the party.

- 1. “What did they use to compel you and the other dragon?” – “The same thing it always is. A fuck ton of cash.” They were bribed!

- 2. “What did the people that compelled you look like?” – “Well, the tiny one had a weird face, gray hair. Very old. And the woman, a heavier set woman. Human?!”

- 3. “Where did you first meet them? At the mountains, a little bit north of here. Right near the border.”

- 4. “Were they wearing any identifying marks? Jewelry, anything. Special cloaks.”- “No? I don’t think they did. This was like five years ago, man. One of them had this three headed dragon guy, which I found weird.”

- 5. “Did he have 3 heads or a symbol with 3 heads?”- “A symbol.”

Interesting info. They were hired. But it wasn’t clear if it was the work of the council. But one of them was a Fornas worshippers, the little graying man. A 3 headed Dragon symbol meant just that.

Why though? Why would a Fornas worshiper do this sort of cruelty?!

The party once again agree to proceed to Guan.

And so begin the days of travel once again.

On the first day, they go north and come across what one can tell are the remains of a town, just based on the slight shapes. There are visible peaks of what was once the town of Hertis. The travelers could hear faint whistling as they’d pass through. A jaunty little tune.

How jaunty? Jaunty enough that it slaps!

Following around a corner of the remains of a building, the group finds themselves in front of a lone tent. A campsite. This here seems to be a homemade farm with tomato plants in buckets. And the whistling is coming from inside the tent.

As though we are heard, the tune carries on with it’s performer stepping out to see their guests. And it is a female Kenku, 3ft tall and carrying firewood in her arms.

Most of them hadn’t seen one since the tournament, from the team of rogues, but as she speaks in a variety of intriguing voices, Luck and Belli remember hearing of this particularity of the Kenku before. They were cursed to not speak in their own voices, so they learned to mimic others’.

“Well hi!” Zooter would say in one voice. (which we later learned OOC was of the gril from session 3 or 4, who flirted with Belli).

From what the group can gather, Zooter, as she introduces herself, is a lil’ survivor, making a life out here for themselves.

The Cultbusters and the lone citizen, Zooter exchange pleasantries and foods. With the party giving her dried meats for a potato, much to her delight. To a point where she even states that if they ever need a safe spot to rest the night, she will offer them one.

(Seriously, Zooter has such a cool mix of voices. Scorpion among them.)

Surprisingly, from the corner of their eyes, Luck, Belli and Mournimar can see the inside of the tent. What the surprising thing is the small shrine to Ebriosus, which eventually also comes to Jun’s knowledge.

And she reaches into her wares, pulling out tens of platinum coins, which she hands Zooter and the two bond over their connection through Her.

Excited, Mournimar buys of the plant that would grow into the intoxicant “Steam Root” and through some big brain thinking, decides to plant it in the pot Malak bought for him.

(And many weed jokes were had.)

“You know? I loved you from the moment I saw you.” Zooter would say to Jun in another familiar voice, which she herself would specifically and only her recognize.

Later down the line, the group would carry on with their journey, parting ways with Zooter, the friendship made that day cherished forever.

And some good progress is made in travel.

On day 2, nothing really happens. If there’s any nasty shit in the desert, they see and avoid it. But that night, as they settle down, take their usual watches and the like, Jun has a dream to herself.

Day 3. That evening comes to a close and on the next day it’s very open dunes. They travel on more rocky/mountainous terrain. Very hilly. (And they are alive with the sound of music). Their awareness of our surroundings is good enough to where we’re safe. They sleep and nothing happens.

Day 4, the sand is less and the rock is more. Still wasteland, still no water They come across small streams at least once a day.

On the evening of the 5th day, Malak has a specific dream as well.

On day 6... They climb to the top of a little canyon that’s going on. Because they’re higher up, there’s no risk of danger. They get a feeling that for the next few days they’ll be pretty safe.

The 7th day comes and goes and on the 8th, Luctan has a dream. A promissing dream.

Then comes Day 8. Smooth as fuck.

Day 9. They march and march on through and Arryn informs his travelmates that at this point today? They’ve been in Guan for a few days. He didn’t want to mention anything, ‘cause he didn’t want to jynx the group when they passed the border on day 6.

On day 9 the travelers come across to a barely a settlement. A few tents. Some lizard folk, the occasional kobold too. No farms, but there are caravans. We can tell they’ve been there for a while. On the outside, there is one Lizardfolk, more beefy than the rest. And he is digging a hole. Diggy-diggy-hole.

He welcomes the party and proclaims that they are coming through in a good weather season. “Isn’t it lovely?“ Sand storms and humidity. Yep. It’s been wild.

He introduces himself as Eknam, the town burrier. So essentially, he is the undertaker of this settlement. Low on town people, but he’s optimistic that things are turning around. One of their ladies is swollen. So, it might be a big clutch!

They lost their town location, but what’s left of them, they’re called the Gromlets. Eknam’s idea was Bog Creatures, but they have no bog.

They’re trying to find a place that’ll support them and the water supply isn’t tainted?! Aside from the side effects, there’s the whole limbs dropping off if you drink water 2 years in a row?! Due to their resistances, it takes longer for the Lizardfolk to be affected, but for others? Much-much quicker.

Malak offers help and eventually clears the water for several days with Purify Food and Drink, while speaking to the settlers in draconic: “Hello, I’m the water technician. I’m here to clean your pipes.”

Greatful, Eknam welcomes the lot of them to Guan.

Eknam notes, upon us mentioning where they’re headed, that they’re going in the right direction of the capitol. Only have to go east and if they don’t get to it, they’d go north.

After some more directions, regarding going through the canyons, Eknam mentions that if the party bring them anything interesting they’d enjoy, they’d welcome the Cultbusters into the family.

While the directions are given, Jun shifts into a lizard folk and searches for the pregnant lady, whom she finds in an open tent, resting comfortably, big and next to an egg that had recently been laid by her. Bless her.

Jun congratulates her, before going off to search for the strongest camp person. Who would be Eknam in this case. The expecting mom’s a bit confused about the congratulations, but is grateful.

It is then that Jun talks with Eknam.

She asks him to keep her safe and sound from any harm. Eknam would ease her concern for what could be by stating how she is their highest priority. Always watched. Noting how every settler in the area kept a close eye on her tent.

“She is always our priority.”

Before the party leave, they give them some stuff to help them along with the developement of their settlement. Clothes and the like.

With goodbyes being made, the party would carry on to the next leg of the journey.

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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All the art from session 35 of Seon Adventures~!

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kaiju-z · 3 years

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Seon Adventures, Episode 35: The Tomb Of The Fallen King

We carry on from whenst we left, the entrance of the tomb, where our heroes would, hopefully only temporarily part ways with Aryn, the Half-Dwarf. With the promise of and gifting of coin and that they wouldn’t abscond with too much of the contents of the resting place of the king, the party would head inside, with Luctan at the front, followed by Mournimar, Belli, Jun and Malak. Morgan stepping along beside them in his Dire Wolfy way.

All around the wall, these blue lights come on.Blue, like on the base of a really hot fire. There’s a sign on the front, saying “Those who continue risk disturbing those who sacrificed themselves to grant “us” our lives.”

The words themselves immediatelly give off a bad vibe, given the multiple meanings they could hold...

The party would take their path to the northern door. Through it, they can see that the walls are lined with depictions of battles and clashes and the walls west and east, each has a dragon. The right one is shaded a darker color than the opposite. They bring down destruction. Another door ahead, a horned man with a dark blade. The walls have dates on them. Around 5-6 years ago.

The dates show things like, a year before the war ended on one. No one knows why the creatures were sent. The other is a couple of weeks after the war ended. Didn’t happen long after.

This... is a fairly young tomb. Even if no one really comes here.

Stepping further upward, there appear to be three pathways, in an open hallway.

In blank sandstone, the doors don’t seem to have locks on them. Followed closely by Belli, Mournimar diverts and checks what’s on the right.

To the right, there’s a room with a fountain. Long dried out and kind of, gold lining the circles around the fountain. The majority of the place is painted purple and they stare at the backwall. Another artwork, more of a mural than a carving. To the left of it there’s a dragonborn outlined in golden paint. Beneath the art is the description. And in the back, to the center of the wall is a coffin.

With a call, Mournimar brings the rest of the group inside. Much to the party’s surprise, the door closes behind them, but with a quick checo if it’s locked or not, it opens easily...

With a sigh of relief, the writing can be read now. “Here rests Toxal the Never-Conquered. Even in death she never showed fear.” Notably, on the right side of the coffin there’s a mural of her leading an army of kobolds.

At the bottom, a similar layout. But in this room, again a coffin in the middle. It appears to be of a lizardfolk warrior, dual wielding a pair of weapons. Engraven below, in Draconic are the words “Here rests Zaidi the Unending. She rests here to protect her King.”

Making a split decision, Luctan and the duo go to check the lizardfolk’s room, while Jun and Malak go to check the other room. But the moment they enter, stepping on a particular plate on the ground causes iron bars to drop on the entrance behind them.

Much to their shock, a type of green, ill smelling gas emits from the coffin and slowly begins to fill the room they are now trapped in. And it is then that they notice a skeleton in a corner of the room, drooped and unliving.

Malak would step back quickly from the room ahead of them and join the group at the bars, from where he’d check for a possible way to get them out. With an observant eye, the cleric would discern that there is a handhold at the bottom. With a combined physical effort, the party manage to lift up their would be death prison’s entrance and escape to the other side.

And interestingly, this is when the poisonous fumes would stop.

With that concern out of the way and a determination to be more perceptive on the path ahead, the team watches as Malak approaches the skeleton, after Mournimar performs a careful check on the room so they could avoid the pressure plates. Standing and then crouching before the boney body of the skeleton, Malak casts Animate Dead and raises it upwards with necromantic powers.

Enter: Skelli

With the body animated, Malak now has a test subject with which the party can more easily traverse through the rooms and corridors of the tomb. And he is put to work immediatelly in the room north of the fountain and statue, stepping on plate after plate.

And the Skelli-roomba’s prognosis is: the room’s clear.

As a reward he is armed with an axe, by Malak. And he orders his servant to unlock the door ahead. Which doesn’t work well, as Skelli’s finger breaks off. Luckily for them, Mournimar steps in, frees and re-attaches the finger for the skeleton, before unlocking the door with his thieves’ tools.

The door opens with a light skree. And the room in front of him is fucking huge. The size of at least two rooms stacked next to each other. With 12 coffins on the east and west parts of the room, about kobold size. And a huge sarcofagus in the middle. A very concerning threat, one might say.

In a group effort, helping one another, the party sneak with the help of Mournimar’s Pass Without A Trace, from the east part of the tomb’s 1st floor to the west part, with no trouble. The skeleton being of the stealthiest nature.

In this room, in the back, the gravings show 3 sets of weapons. A Longsword, Two shortswords overlapping each other and an elegant dagger. Fancy engravings, where the artist gave up partway through. And the backroom is a case with a glass top.

Belli follows Malak as they check the room to the south. Similar situation. There is a depiction of a dwarf with a very long beard and no hair at all. “Here rests Navaren the Fearless. Even in death, their protection lives on in us.”

On the other end of the room... A similar kind of pattern. Again an empty room, in the corner, a skeleton with very long arms and a battle axe on top of it. The skeleton is very long dead.

Malak checks the skeleton... With a medicine check, we can tell it was a hobgoblin. The skull is caved in and the ribs are cracked. Leg bones fractured. This was a very rough night that they had. By the looks of the daggers by the waist, the battle axe is less of what the Hobgoblin had brought and more what was brought onto their skull.

Concerned about magical demise, Malak casts Detect Magic... And nothing in particular catches his eye here. But it sure does look pretty. That done, he casts Speak With Dead and proceeds to converse with the body.

1. “What killed you?” he asks. – “The fuckin’- dead bitch in the sarcophagus.” the answer comes.

2. “Why did you come here?” he questions. “Money.” is said in turn.

3. “Did you steal anything?” he wonders. “I tried, but I didn’t get a chance!” the skeleton admits.

4. “Did you see any other creatures in here?” the queary is almost done.. “Only the dead ones.” ...

5. “Were there any in the large atrium in the room next door?” “The dead bitch in the sarcophagus was and her 12 friends.”

And the conversation ends there. Malak steps away and updates the party on what he had learned. Through a quick discussion, the decision is made to walk forward and quietly, unless the corpses themselves come back up.

At one point, as they threat carefully, the team can hear a loud clunk from Malak’s armor, but Luck instinctively grabs said armor piece and holds it in place, knowing how Plate Armo can be in such situations and thus, they make it through to the 2nd floor.

In a surprisingly empty room.

The murals on these walls depict empty sets of armor and kobolds standing among the rubble of what used to be the army. In the south corner of the room, there are several kobolds holding helmets and staring off into the sunset.

A quick sweepthrough of the room establishes that there are no loose plates or the like. And with some relief, Mournimar now leads the group forward, through a hallway, keeping his eyes peeled on possible dangers ahead...

It’s very clean, as though someone recently swept it and Mournimar notes this. Being the quietest, Mournimar stealths a bit forward for the group. Scouting work to be done! There is a door to his right… And ahead in the hallway, there’s an open entrance.

Thick, wide room. It’s seemingly empty. The door to the south looks very heavy. There’s a very strong, probably steel looking lock that looks more intricate than anything. There’s a rug in the room, large and square

He checks the weird rug.

It’s just a rug.

Resigning to this revelation, he moves back and up north, to the room he’d see ahead, once he made the first turn... And stepping through...

It seems completely empty and he can’t see anything...

He stealths inside. Turns his head to the right as there is a mirror.

At a closer look, the mirror is a bit off. The reflection is more hunched over, longer claws and Mournimar backs away instantly. He can tell it’s magical as fuck.

Mournimar talks to his reflection. “What do you want? What are you doing?”

Aren’t you just going insane?!”Considering talking to the mirror, yeah. The feral reflection claims that i t’s having a great time, on the other hand.

The reflection condescends on Mournimar. Mournimar goes back to the group and calls for the others.

As they enter the room, the door slams behind them, naturally. And this time with a click to it. As opposed to a simple shutting. Morgan on the other side of the door.

Now trapped inside, they look at their reflections.

Skelli appears to be a dwarven man with blueish skin, however his proportions are off, a bit stretched. He wears red wizardly robes and has a bushy beard and hair.

Belli waves at her own duplicate, who is in mostly pink clothing. Much to her chagrin. And the two have an all out sass off about their personality.

Jun has a side shave going on. And a lump on her abdomen.

Luctan is full mountianman and there’s a constant twitch in his eye. Paranoid to the max.

Malak is the scariest of all. Because instead of his usual self, he just has the moustache. Like, pencil line moustache (EVEN THOUGH I MADE IT THICKER!).

They put it to us planely. They are trapped in this room, until we answer 3 riddles in order and to the satisfaction of their duplicates. Seeing as they can’t find another way out, the party accept. And the first question gets pitched by Nega-Malak.

“There was a green house. Inside the green house there was a white house. Inside the white house there was a red house. Inside the red house there were little black babies.”

The debate rages o nbetween the five, with Skelli blankly standing at the side, as they try to figure out what the answer could be. The specific words, in that order... What could they- And then Luctan comes to a realization. A memory of his past hits him of his days, when he was still being pampered, back in Hell.

Confidently, the red tiefling steps up and proclaims “Watermelon”. At first it seems like he failed, but the Nega-Malak admits defeat, frustrated that this one got answered so well.

The Evil Jun steps up next and gives her riddle: “When I live, I cry. If you don't kill me, I'll die.”

Again, debateing the answer for a bit, with the creatures in the mirror taunting them, asking them if their suggestions to each other are their final answer. Until Belli answers with trust in Luctan’s suggestion on what it could be: “A Candle!”

And again, correct answer! The doubles were now getting a bit tense, because the party wasn’t being “any fun” with their correct answers. But there was still at least one more chance to fuck up and restart this whole thing.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise.” The paranoid Luck double steps up and rasps his own riddle, sounding like he had smoked for 15 years.: Never was, and yet will always be. I am never seen, and yet always come. I carry nothing, yet hold much for some. Tell me, what am I?"

This one appears tricky for them to answer. Even confiding in each other about the answer appears to be unhelpful, as many options could apply. That and Jun was still a bit freaked out about the suggestion from the chaos siblings that the answer to the previosu question was “a baby”.

Malak decides to cut the bullshit and answer as best as he can figure. “The Future”. And that was the wrong answer. Close, but it was really, just “Tomorrow”.

And so, the game would restart. There is banter between the two sides. With Malak suggesting that he ask them a riddle, in turn for the door. But they refuse, as they are the ones in control here. Them’s the rules. But for Malak, this isn’t about rules or control. He just wants to prove these assholes wrong.

The next question to be asked is spoken: “Many have heard me, but no one has seen me, and I will not speak back until spoken to.”

And Mournimar steps up to give his answer: “Echo”. The correct answer. 1/3

“I'm light as a feather, yet the strongest man can't hold me for more than 5 minutes. What am I?“ comes the next riddle. And the answer is uttered among the party: “Breath.” 2/3

The doubles then bring up another riddle. Confident in the puzzle of it: How far can you walk into a forest?” They almost finish their question, before Belli raises her voice in determination, confidence and knowledge:

“Halfway and then we’re walking out.” The doubles are annoyed that they were bested by the people they were copying in such a distorted mannor and the door opens for the heroes with a light screech, a tail wagging dire wolf on the other end.

Malak proceeds to ask them a riddle of his own: If they fail, they must provide them with information on what’s in the tomb. Everything. “What has wings like a dragon, it will never fly. It can swim in the ocean, but will always stay dry." And they fail to provide the suitable answer.

The tomb is 5 years old-ish?! They started building it 7 years ago. There’s a secret entrance to the private restroom. We need to go to the northwest to the king’s floor.

They ask Malak for the answer to that riddle. And he provides them with the words “Dragon’s Shadow”. The answer evoking a response from Mournimar’s double, who screeches “ I’ll fuckin’ kill ‘em!” but leaves, anyways.

As the sibs go through the door, Luctan observes Malak as he pulls out the Fated Potential Great Axe, with Jun watching inside the room. He ponders on the nature of those beings, following Jun’s suggestion they rid the place of the mirror, so as not to risk others befalling to this riddle game as well.

He recalls some knowledge. Those things? They’re not devils, but sometimes, and it’s usually one of Jorzoth’s perverted methods of torture, Devils trap spirits, who hated each other in life and leave them with a minor glimpse of the outside world. This mirror is one of those glimpses.

Malak shatters the mirror and swears he hears a deep breath from the mirror. And then nothing.

Jun makes a Wisdom Save. 7. Hm. Malak would then walk out of the room, with Luctan making way for Jun to pass before him. And they’d leave this part of the tomb.

Returning to the carpet room.

Mournimar shows Belli the big metal door. It’s Big. Made of metal and a door. A big metal door! And the underside of the carpet is clear.

The party head Northwest.

There’s a sign, saying the same old same old. That no one should enter, etc. Skelli is sent to inspect the room on the left. And once he enters, the door closes behind the skeleton. From there, 8 seconds pass. And Malak feels his spell on the boney half-dwarf drop. (RIP Skelli).

Planning occurs. And Belli summons Orion, much to his protest, to use him for the task she has in mind. She brings out a gunpowder bomb. And has Orion take the form of a seagull. She ties the bomb to his ankle and the poor familiar “bravely” enters the scene, wherein Belli can see two metalic figures, in rusted armor, swing for the birb.

Needless to say, Orion has no enjoyment in this. Also needless to say, he gets smacked. And the bom goes off in a loud explosion, which shakes the room itself.

With Belli’s update on what happened, the party get the time to prep. Thanks to Belli’s gift, Luctan throws in a smoke bomb. And using The Pass Without A Trace, by Mournimar, the six slink through the smoke, avoiding direct contact with the rusted guardians.

They then get to the 3rd floor.

Passing by a deadend, they go downward, to the west.

Scouting ahead, followed by his partner in crime, Mournimar enters a room with five pillars. Four ahead and one to the left. On P4, there’s a wire leading to the ceiling and a slight panel that would shift if the wiere was moved. Mournimar cuts the wire and it snaps up into the ceiling. Half a second later, the panel opens and Mournimar and Belli need to make Dex Saves.

1 and 18 respectively.

The two get sprayed with glass from above and mournimar gets the worst of it, as it embeds into his face, arms, legs, tail... It’s not a pretty sight. But through a combination of Cure wounds from himself and Malak, they recuperate as good as they can, given the circumstances.

“Please be careful!” Luctan says late in the situation. From around the corner. Covered in safety-wafety armor.

“I’ll try!” says Mournimar. In his leather armor. Offering barely enough protection. And inspects the remaining four pillars. 1, 2, 3, 5. With 1 being beside him, closest to the door to his left. Each, compared to the one he had just yoinked, were smooth.

Mournimar elects to use the one next to him and opens up a tunnel. A secret tunnel, which Mournimar leads the group through to a library.

The lights on this floor are a golden white color. An entrance ahead and a door to the side. He tries to open the door to the side and it opens. Empty as fuck!

While Mournimar and Belli explore ahead, Jun, Malak and Luck take a gander through the many tomes inside this place. Each finding a particular book that catches their fancy:

Luck finds a book called “To cheat a devil”. It’s a typography of a man, who cheated minor devils. It feels like this man should be much more well known.

Jun’s eyes go to one, named “Short and Stout”, a dwarven cookbook.

Belli, who had nabbed a book, before following Mournimar, had found " Personal Hygine” for Belli, about hygine on the road.

While Malak had gotten his hands on a heartwarming book about a baby dragon burning down a village. Fuck them peasants.

Up north, the walls are lined up with kegs. It looks like a drinking room.

And the other way is a corridor, through which Mournimar and Belli stealth. Down to the bottom, where they look through an opening and see...

A weird, huge monstrocity with rocks and metallic shields on each arm. And it doesn’t see them,because the orange light is turned to the library, where the rest of the party peruse. Sneaking back around, Mournimar warns the three, all hush-hush and they head upward.

The door ahead is locked, but Mournimar tries his luck at it, still. And he picks through the lock.

With a 19, the door swings open and on the back wall, it’s a portrait, in detail, of the king’s final battle. It seems older than any other piece. Original style on the edges. It’s like the original artist didn’t have the time to finish it, or something.

There are doors on the northeast and south-west. In the south-west, a corridor. And seeing as they are meant to head south-west, they head there, anyways.

Ahead, there’s a red rug and expensive looking furniture.

The walls in this room are covered in the famed mantra, all over in a lot of languages. All over. It’s just “His duty is done, may he rest proud and eternal.” All orderly and stuff.

Above the door is the word “King” in Infernal.

Walking ahead, there’s a small corridor. And a door, which, the stone work is smooth, completely. It would have taken a while to carve this. It’s quite probably the throne room.

A red carpet with golden silk detail leads ahead. The stone work is beyond intricate. Runes and patterns that would have taken years to make this room. In the back is a throne, and a coffin behind it. Gems litter it to the side as it’d littered the well. The lights turn red.

As they step in, one after the other, a ghostly image comes forth.

A pale purple spirit stands before them. Mournimar and Belli kneel. A tiefling man in much more humble clothing greets the lot of them, with his arms up.

And asks of our presense here.

Mournimar truthfully explains why they’re here and what our new intentions are.

They have questions, he has answers.

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