Ambience.

---

As the night, so went the day. Out here there was nothing. No small civilization, no Reghed camp, not even the sporadic wild animal, and it became increasingly likely the very last signs of life had been the diminished herd of Reindeer from yesterday. Only a light snow and the barren, frozen tundra remained. The grueling hours blended together in what took a turn for the monotonous. Rocks, snow, and more rocks. Sparse light could be enjoyed from Elsun to Thulsun, after which the lanterns had to light every foot ahead. Wifni pressed on stalwartly even as the winds picked up and it began to snow more fiercely.

Cresting Eventide, Rhydd could conclude their destination was but over the next hill — still out of view.

---

A couple of things as you approach:

1. Marching order? Disregard if you're all approaching in the sled.
   
2. I want Perception Checks at Advantage from at most two of you.

I am still working on a battlemap, so we'll keep it Theater of the Mind for the time being.

Khulekanik knew the value of keeping her eyes open in unfamiliar places, but the monotony and empty expanse was draining to everyone's spirit, she knew. And despite not being gifted in the arts of the minstrel, she tried to better the mood of all present by singing a cadence from her training days when they would march all the aspirants in parade-ground formation. Still, despite the music, she did not let her attentions slip too much.

"Hear the call for all and the chosen ones
Far away, but all like one
Come together, we've just begun
Chant till the House of the Triad
Chanting till the House of the Triad

Arise
Into the final battle
There's a fire in my blood
Let's fight
Trough the shadowland
There is light to lead us all

Charging into my destiny
Hear the thunder in my heart
Fight me well and I'll be free
Defenders heeding my call

Come with me, through the fire
Burning so real
And tonight, we rise higher
Sworn to the steel

See the light, break free
In the darkest of night
Just keep on
Fighting 'til the break of dawn
'Till the House of the Triad

We strike
Out on the battlefield
There's a fire in your eyes
Ignite
Burning for your life
And the will that never dies

Charging into my destiny
Hear a thunder in my heart
Fight me well and I'll be free
Defenders heeding my call

Come with me, through the fire
Burning so real
And tonight, we rise higher
Sworn to the steel

The light, breaks free
In the darkest of night
Just keep on
Fighting 'till the break of dawn

Come with me, through the fire
Burning so real
And tonight, we rise higher
Sworn to the steel

See the light, break free
In the darkest of night
Just keep on
Riding 'til the break of dawn, fighting on!"

OOC Mechanics
16:37, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 23 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only. Perception with Advantage.

In one sense, Rhydd had been impressed by Khulekani's singing, but in another, he wished that she had not done it. The archer was not blessed with a good singing voice. Nor even close to it. His was the sort that others meant when they said "I wish that one would shut up! in truth, he can't carry a tune in a bucket!" So he was always impressed by those who did have a talent in such things. Were they sitting near a roaring fire in the common room of some tavern, he would have enjoyed Khulekani's efforts immensely.

But here and now, out in the frozen Wastes, he much preferred silence. Unwarranted noise -- especially that which was not a sound common to Nature -- did naught but attract attention. Which was a thing that Rhydd preferred to avoid, given the present circumstances . . .

However, just now there was something of greater import that needed mentioning. The outdoorsman pointed to a snow-covered mound. "We are close, now. The spire should be visible just on the far side of yon hill."

---

OOC: I think that up to this point, the party would most likely have been traveling by sled. Now, however, I think that Rhydd would want to disembark and move up to the hill that he has pointed out, where he will drop down on his belly and  carefully peer over the crest to see what he can see.

12:50, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 24 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only.  Peekin' Over the Hill (w/ Advantage).

Comments: Yay (!) for Advantage. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 16:59, Fri 21 Oct 2022.

Idri wore a little smile all through Khulekani's song, briefly falling backwards into a memory from her long life. A young man who wore similar heraldry to Khulekani, brave and bold, just a dozen or so years before the worst conflict Idrianthe had ever been a part of. She had often wished she stayed in those warmer climes instead of heading north. No use in dwelling, though; that time was long since decided.

Disembarking the sled when Rhydd went up to scout, Idrianthe held her left hand out towards her pack and the mithril armor that she had rigged to its exterior, and made a pulling gesture. The plates leapt through the air, almost noiselessly binding to her body and unfolding in a complex dance of magic and artifice which quickly covered her first in flexible scales of silvery mithril. Then the plates rotated and slid into position and opened up their hidden panels, covering every inch of Idrianthe's body in solid armor except for essential points of articulation. When it settled into place, the armor was decorated in blue-glowing runes of jotun and elvish, which the learned might recognize as very bastardized from their original intent.

The last touch was the plates on the elf's right shoulder unfolding and descending, rapidly creating a mechanical facsimile of her lost arm. Idrianthe flexed her metal fingers experimentally, although they had never been anything but perfect. The furs of her collar had also been displaced into a sort of mantle around the gorget of her armor, and now Idri looked every bit the northern knight. The shield on her back even had heraldry, an alchemical sigil. She shouldered the shield and her pack of essentials from the sled.

"That was really lovely," Idri paid softly to Khulekani, before putting her hand to her face to signal a Y-visored full-helm to rise into place and clamshell around her head, leaving only the elf's lips, nose and eyes visible. "Would you, perhaps, teach me the tune? If there's time after all this, of course."

---

OOC:I agree with Rhydd's interpretation, most of us staying on the sled and only now moving up into a formation makes sense. Also, great rolls from Rhydd and Khule!

Climbing and peering over the hill, a singular jutting structure, distinct from the rest of the rocky terrain, could be seen standing proud in the distance. The terrain smoothed out, leaving it quite prominent. The apex, reaching twenty foot or so into the air, had accumulated snow, but the sharp vertical surface was left bare — it was one of utter blackness, with faint swirling patterns suffusing and climbing it.

---

Khulekani's Perception (w/ Advantage granted by Idri/FW) [23]: While any protruding terrain had been unmistakably gray and rocky, now, it was more blue. As if it had been first streaked by ice, then imperceptibly fully replaced. But now it was clear; the hill that greeted them comprised ice, not stone.

Rhydd's Perception (w/Advantage granted by Idri/FW) [24]: And the group was not alone. Though the recent snow had done its utmost to mask them, the tracks before him did not escape the huntsman. Several sets, just barely an indentation in the fresh snow. A few big ones larger than a Human's, and a singular set smaller than a Human's and reptilian in appearance. The large ones, all barefoot, seemed to travel in a collected pack of no less than three individuals. Regardless of size and shape, they all led toward the outcropping.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:09, Sat 22 Oct 2022.

“How ominously phallic.” Farwalker eyed the structure with amusement, having made her way up it herself. She wasn’t actually standing on top of it, instead having dropped down to peer over the top with just her head while she wasn’t exactly stealthy, that didn’t mean she had to stand on top of a hill and silhouette herself with her massive frame. “Is it occupied then? Hopefully we won’t have to fight anything. I hate fighting.” That hadn’t always been true. But that was another time.

Rhydd gave Farwalker a side-eyed glance when she spoke of the appearance of the spire. "Phallic" -- this was a word that he had never heard before, and he made a mental note to ask Mallory about it later. The wizardess knew lots of words.

The huntsman eased down the backslope of the hill that he had peered over, staying low until he returned to ground level. Then he walked back over to the group that waited by the sled and gave his report.

"The Spire is there, sure enough, just on the other side of that hill. It reaches some 20 feet above the ground, and is as black as an Orc raider's heart. It was difficult to see from this distance, but there seems to be some sort of swirls within the stone of the Spire."

"There is more. I spied some footprints in the snow. One set looks to be reptilian, and they are smaller than a Human's. There are also some three or more other sets, each of them larger than the size of a Human's -- and barefoot, for what that is worth. They all lead in the direction of the Spire."

Rhydd shrugged. "With the snow flurries coming and going, it is difficult to judge the age of the prints. Could be as old as six days, or as recent as one."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:02, Sun 23 Oct 2022.

At long last, Mallory had emerged from under her defensive fortress of blankets and furs, seemingly reborn anew to the bitter colds as she faced the wind without a bit of apparent discomfort.  She breathed the icy breeze in and found it only to be bracing rather than feeling like she'd just inhaled shards of broken glass, like before.  It had taken long, focused hours of hurried enchanting by both her own and Idri's different schools of work but it all paid off!  The young noble felt ready to take on the world as she stepped down from the sled, fortified by the protective magics woven into her stylish boots.  Part of her genuinely worried that it would just keep getting colder to the point that even defensive spellwork wouldn't be able to keep up with it, but that was a fear for later!

Even though her intent was on finding the lost mercenaries, Mallory couldn't help but feel a self-indulgent thrill in the pit of her stomach.  An intact Netherese ruin was a potential treasure trove of wonder far beyond the mere monetary value they often held.  There were many remnants of that lost empire scattered throughout the landscape that had long since been delved, scavenged, inhabited by wandering monsters and vagabonds alike who did untold damage to its historical worth.  But the Spire was so far removed from civilization that it was bound to be almost entirely untouched!  The scholar in her spirit was downright giddy, though her more pragmatic side more than quashed it down for the sake of keeping focused on the matter at hand.

"Reptilian?  In this climate?  If it's that small... surely it couldn't be a Kobold?  They're cold-blooded!" Mallory kept both her voice and her posture low as she scooted to rejoin the others.  She'd have to find somewhere to stow Wifni once they decided to enter the Spire but, for the moment, left the sturdy bird and sled still tethered.  "Madam Harpell mentioned Bugbears before, so perhaps the larger footprints are them?  Did you see any way into the Spire, somehow?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Sun 23 Oct 2022.

"Mayhap it had some good winter boots," Rhydd replied with a smile when Mallory expressed her doubts about a Kobold being able to tolerate the frigid northern weather.

"Bugbears? It's certainly possible," he said when the wizardess mentioned those monsters.

"No obvious way in that I saw from the line of sight that I had atop that hill," he replied.

Farwalker's comment made Idri sputter a little laugh on the way toward the scouting group, and she shook her head lightly. "Goodness, you don't appreciate how many ancient artifacts and dig sites evoke that imagery until someone says it aloud."

Joining Rhydd, Mallory, and the gang at their position scouting the spire, she tapped her chin through the base of her helmet. And immediately became annoyed with doing that, so the panels of the helmet quietly slid away from her face and disappeared into hidden recesses of the plate. "It would be deeply regrettable from the archaeological perspective, but we may need to make our own way in," Idri offered sadly, twisting idly at the artificial wrist composited from her armor. "If we can find any access above or below, though, I've enchanted a rope to assist everyone in safely navigating the vertical axis."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:11, Mon 24 Oct 2022.

The shifting nature of Idri's magical armor was one that drew Mallory's eye, though clearly with a gaze of intellectual curiosity rather than surprise over its existence.  Most folk would be agog at the very idea of armor being able to manifest and move so freely through unseen means.  But for her, it was more of a professional appreciation of technique and craftsmanship.

"I picked up extra rope, as well as climbing tools and a block-pulley system ahead of time as well.  No telling what sort of heights and depths we'll have to contend with, least of all stable ones." she added to the equipment list.  Between plenty of gear and gravity-defying spellcraft she had at her disposal, they were likely better equipped than most for such an endeavor.  "There surely must be a way in though, somewhere."

She cast her eyes skyward a moment where Astre slowly circled overhead.  A good thing too; the poor thing had grown quite bored of keeping an eye open over the bland, snow-laden landscape without any sort of event to break up the monotony for so long.  Silent communication bounced between the two before the Tressym shifted his angle and swooped down lower to fly about the peeking Spire to examine its area in greater detail.

"Astre's having a look now to see what he can confirm for us.  Madam Harpell had rather specific instructions for how we must approach the Spire, so best we keep to them.  We need to sweep around to the southwestern side." she rather didn't like how Velynne had both extremely precise information on the Spire yet presented herself as clueless in other aspects.  It wasn't as if a member of the Brotherhood keeping secrets was any surprise though...

---

Searching for sign of an entrance or any indication that others have forced their way inside.  Perception or Investigation?  If it's Investigation/requires active deduction, Astre would remain near enough for Mallory to be within vision-projection range so she can make the check.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Mon 24 Oct 2022.

There was a discrepancy in what Astre saw from overhead and what Mallory saw from over the hill — to him, the Spire wasn't there. In its place were more of the monotonous, blanketed rocky landscape they had traversed thus far. Telepathic communication confirmed they were looking at the same place, but seeing different things.

A sense of unease settled on any and all who approached. As if a deep, inaudible rumbling shook the very world. It built slowly, evoking a mounting dizziness, an imbalance, like a collapsing spiral.

Once some distance was closed the feeling subsided. A subtle hole in the ice near the Spire, partly obscured by the large, jutting obsidian structure, made its appearance. The larger tracks Rhydd could see led directly to it, while the smaller ended in what was a slight, almost imperceptible bump in snow just short of the Spire itself.

---

Battlemap. Which is more just a map, I suppose. Wholly unnecessary, but I wanted to give a sense of scale. :)

Each of you must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution Saving Throw or suffer a -2 penalty to your Dexterity Score. This effect lasts until your next Short Rest.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:28, Wed 26 Oct 2022.

"Whatever shortcomings the architects may be overcoming, it is hard to deny that a tower is a difficult structure to assault. Especially with so few and no siege equipment. Especially in this environment. No cover, good sight lines, more able to withstand a siege than those outside...phallic or not, it works..." Khulekani murmured, absentmindedly joining the conversation as her soldier training assessed the situation.

She was more than happy to let the other magic their way in, or whatever they chose, for she had nothing in her skills or faith to aid them at the moment. So commentary was enough. At least until the winged cat got back.

Though Mallory waited patiently as Astre circled about overhead, her brow soon furrowed in consternation as she quirked her head aside as if she heard something nobody else could.

"What do you mean it's--?  No, I understand but--" she spoke to the open air, albeit in clipped remarks as if she were being interrupted mid-sentence.  Ultimately she huffed and gave a flippant wave of her hand.  "Oh, for the love of Pelor's pectorals, just let me have a look myself already."

With that, the young noble's dark eyes suddenly went glassy and pale as if taken by blindness.  Her frustrated expression shifted to one of confusion and then intrigued curiosity as she seemingly stared out into nothingness.  "Fascinating... a defensive illusion?  No, no, that wouldn't be the case, surely.  Planar folding?  That would certainly explain the necessary angle of approach..." Despite her wonderment, Mallory blinked rapidly to clear her vision as her eyes returned to their normal hue and her wits returned to her.  High up in the air above, Astre gave a quietly annoyed hiss at the strange, deceptive nature of the terrain before he simply poofed away out of reality for a bit at Mallory's urging.  He'd been scouting constantly since they'd left town and deserved a bit of a rest.

"There's a most curious phenomenon happening here; it seems the Spire is masked in some manner unless approached specifically from the degree we were instructed.  From other angles it simply doesn't appear to exist at all.  Speaking from an academic standing, this is delightfully intriguing.  Is the Spire exerting a dissonance field somehow, or perhaps it's only partially on the Prime Material Plane, or maybe it's a combination of effects caused by the environment?" she was off in scholar mode again before she even knew it and quickly had to reset herself back on task.  "No, no; questions for later.  For now, let's find our way inside and hope those mercenaries have been able to sustain themselves within all this time."

---

DC 14 Con Save
Mallory Bonheur rolled 18 using 1d20+2

Mallory continues her trend of being the tankiest noodle-armed Wizard in Ten-Towns.

"Hunh," Rhydd grunted when Mallory began speaking of the "curious phenomenon" that she had observed -- given her posture and the odd way her eyes turned opaque, the huntsman supposed that she was seeing things from Astre's point of view. He would have had no idea what was going on if he had not seen it happen before.

It was not that he was disinterested in Mallory's comments about magicks, 'twas more that he had little understanding of such things and nothing to offer on the subject.

When the talk turned to things such as a dissonance field and the Prime Material plane, Rhydd's previous "Hunh" became an "Unh-hunh" as he turned and examined the spots where the two sets of tracks disappeared: the hole in the snow-covered ground for the set of larger tracks, and the bump in the snow for the smaller.

---

OOC:
11:59, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 20 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 18.  Constitution Saving Throw re: The Spire (DC 14). Success.

Bears, re: Rhydd's closer investigation of the hole in the ground and the bump in the snow, would you like a Perception Check or an Investigation Check?

---

Rhydd:

Bears, re: Rhydd's closer investigation of the hole in the ground and the bump in the snow, would you like a Perception Check or an Investigation Check?

You can give me an Investigation/Perception (your choice) for the hole. There is not much more glean from the bump through just observation. It's circular, about 3' across, and distends a couple of inches at its bulgiest.

In reply to DM Bears (msg # 16):

OOC:
13:55, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 9 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 4.  Perception Check re: Hole in the Ground.

Comments: Yep, it's a hole. In the ground.

Idri felt a brief rush of lightheadedness pass over and beyond her while taking in the Spire, but mercifully it passed as quickly as it came.

She then began to consider the tower, although any thought she might have had was beaten out by Mallory's own considerations on what effect or confluence thereof was giving it the defensive bubble of camouflage.

Ah well, onwards then! The answers some of them wanted would surely be inside, and if not then... Well... The answers to some question or other was. That was the beauty of a discovery like this.

"Does anyone have a shovel?"

---

12:42, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 17 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 12.  CON Save, DC 14.

OOC: May others of us try to investigate, as well? And since the Spire is ambiguously a stone structure, would this be an appropriate use of Mason's Tools?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:02, Thu 27 Oct 2022.

---

Idrianthe's History Check on the Spire's structure and composition [26]: This was unlike anything the High-Elf had ever laid eyes upon. It comprised seamless basalt, meaning the entire portion Idrianthe had access to must either have been hewn from a single, massive chunk or been metamorphosed by means alien to Idrianthe. In any case, none made buildings like that.

However, what was even more interesting was the pattern that suffused it. Sprawling spirals, as if imprinted by the tentacles of some monstrous being, permeated every inch. Those spirals had their own spirals branching out, and those yet had their own. On and on it went, until they were too small to be perceptible.

Rhydd's Perception on the hole in the ground (w/ Advantage granted by Idrianthe) [9 25]: It was indeed a hole, and one large enough to fit a Bugbear or two at that. The unmistakable blue shine of solid ice greeted him as he knelt to inspect it, and he could see that twisted downward parallel to the Spire's length. He couldn't see much past ten feet or so, for the tunnel sloped to obscure his view.

A shoddy delve could prove very dangerous very quickly.

Before anyone had time to actually declare shovel ownership, Idrianthe began to look closer at the exposed bulk of stone. Basalt, more exactly. She tapped the side of her head with her false right fingers and conjured a runic sigil of insight in the center of her forehead, a mark which illuminated her eyes in the same eerie blue of all her magic and delved deep into the recesses of her mind, where half-forgotten factoids and archives of knowledge dwelt. Placed firmly in her working memory, the half-elf approached and laid her gauntleted left hand on the surface.

"Breathtaking! Solid basalt, no tool marks. Expert sculpture work to hide them, maybe, but this is Netheril we're talking about; more likely a work of nigh-unthinkable transmutation on a scale that we could only dream to imitate. And these markings, mathematical spiralwork descending into the infinite as though the tentacles of a leviathan had reached out to wrap the Spire in her own endless coils of unmemory."

She turned to the group and nodded with utter gravity and confidence. "Someone was absolutely compensating for something, and history books shall thank them for expressing those insecurities in this way."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:50, Thu 27 Oct 2022.

Bears; Arcana or History check on Mallory's behalf to know if what we're seeing is demonstrative of Netherese structures as a common practice, or if it's somehow unique?

Mallory Bonheur rolled 20 using 1d20+7

Rhydd turned his head and gave Mistress Idrianthe a questioning glance when she spoke of insecurities and compensation.

After a moment he turned back to his study of the hole in the ground. Shortly thereafter he rose to his feet and dusted the loose snow from his knees and lower legs.

"It's big enough for Bugbears to fit," he said. "So we shouldn't need to enlarge it, unless it narrows considerably once it goes underground."

"It's tunneled through solid ice down there, and it slopes downward in a fashion that prevents me from seeing past the first ten feet or so."

---

OOC: Thanks for the assist, Idri! :)

---

Mallory's Arcana on Netherese architecture [20]: The most prominent enclaves housed some of the most esoteric architecture ever recorded in Faerûnian history owing to the great magical means at their disposal. Buildings transmuted in their entirety were commonplace.

The pattern suffusing this structure was decidedly not. It wasn't exactly very pleasant decoration.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:43, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

"Volcanic rock in an ice tundra." Mallory scoffed a bit through her nose at the irony of it all.  "Even with Nehtril's might, it would've taken an immense labor to transmute at this scale from one material to another... perhaps it was taken whole from the Elemental Plane of Fire and molded into shape?  No less daunting a task but certainly more efficient by comparison."

That strange sensation of... pressure? vertigo? something that passed across Mallory's senses as the group neared the structure didn't settle well at all.  At first she thought perhaps it was just an effect of passing into the Spire's proximity.  Whatever obscuring or warping field that hid it from view surely had a threshold they'd just crossed?  But Idri's more intense investigation of the fractal scrawlings that suffused the Spire's surface changed her suspicion of context on the feeling and left the young noble with a troubled expression.

"These patterns... they're not Netherese.  It's... I'm not sure, actually.  Something else entirely though." When any Arcanist worth their salt thought of strange phenomenon and grasping, tentacle-like swirls, only one thing naturally came to mind.  And it was a very, very bad thing indeed.  Whether the patterns were set to the Spire after its creation or its original crafters installed them for their own purposes was a mystery, but Mallory was uncertain either case was better than the other.

"It's tunneled through solid ice down there, and it slopes downward in a fashion that prevents me from seeing past the first ten feet or so."

Though she had only just brought him in for a rest, Mallory held her arms out and conjured Astre back into the curl of her embrace.  He looked a bit peeved for a moment where he rested tummy-up in her arms, but at least didn't bicker on the matter while she eased nearer to the opening.  "Have a look for us, will you, darling?  If it's safe, we'll be after shortly.  Just as soon as we plant some pitons and rope, I suppose."

---

Mallory would like to send Astre on ahead to do a bit of scouting beyond the area the Party can readily see, just to get a better idea of what they're going to be walking into.  So I'm guessing Perception and Stealth checks?

I'd rather this stretch of the adventure not be "everyone twiddles their thumbs while the Familiar explores", so I plan to use Astre sparingly if possible going forward.

Mallory has a Climber's Kit and a spare 50' of Rope, if we want to plant an anchor and climb down without risking slipping down the tunnel.

Also, assuming Wifni isn't going to be able to enter with us, Mallory would take some time setting her up with a little nest just beside the entrance.  Using "Mold Earth" to shape out a little semi-covered shelter for her, leaving food and water, etc.  Just making sure she can be as safe/comfortable as possible and unlikely to wander off in the meantime.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

Through sheer curiosity, Wifni joined Rhydd in the initial peek down the hole then promptly sat her butt down and lifted a wing to clean underneath it.

---

The tunnel rang hollow as Astre dove down. It was smooth like a slide and shaped like one as well — if someone lost their grip, they'd be sent hurtling down at staggering speeds with little recourse. But that wasn't a problem for Astre. He zipped down and made the turn, and was then greeted by torchlight emanating from what was a tall doorway into the spire, enclosed by ice. One that was upside down and missing its doors, but a doorway nonetheless. Shushed conversation bounced between the frigid walls.

"Shut it!" he heard a gravelly voice from within. "And snuff out the torch, you halfwit!"

The sound of a strong blow followed, and the tunnel and entrance both became dark.

---

To descend safely, make a DC 12 Athletics Check. On a fail, you slide uncontrollably to the bottom, land Prone, and take 2d6 Bludgeoning Damage. If you use a Climber's Kit the damage is reduced to 1d6 Bludgeoning Damage should you fail, and you may also forego the roll to take a 10 in this case.

If you set up the descent with Idrianthe's Rope of Climbing I'll grant those who choose to roll Advantage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:34, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

Astre laid belly-down along the slippery ice and tobogganed out of sight with all the absentminded delight one could imagine in such a ride.  It was easy enough for him to just slow himself with a flare of his wings and flutter up before he was at any risk of losing control, able to just glide to a gentle halt at the bottom.  The sound of a hurried voice and the glow of torchlight going out, however, put him into alert as he hunkered down in a prowl.

Careful as he could be in such a frosted, echoing place, the Tressym crept near to the upended doorway to see if he could sneak a peek into the gloom beyond.

---

Astre - Stealth
Mallory Bonheur rolled 14 using 1d20+4
Moderate roll, hopefully the darkness helps.

Astre - Perception w/Disadvantage
Mallory Bonheur rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Astre Perception

---

"Well, I'm certain it's perfectly safe in any case.  We can have a leisurely time of it getting inside and looking about." Mallory spoke idly on the matter, her tone flippant even as her expression and gestures were anything but.  She waved for her companions' attention and held her hands aloft, open-palmed and upward-facing before her as the air shimmered and swirled with a shift of arcane energy.  Illusory words manifested in the air as if being written by a phantom quill with remarkably fine penmanship.

~~There's multiple someones waiting just inside at the base of the tunnel.  They've heard us and are trying to hide.  Probably the Bugbears.  Be ready for an ambush.~~ The message read. ~~Astre is trying to get a better look and a headcount now.~~
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

---

Astre's Perception to get more information on the threat beyond (w/ Disadvantage due to Darkness) [12]: An upside-down doorway had the benefit of a large threshhold to take cover behind, which, to Astre's benefit, hadn't been swallowed entirely by the encroaching ice. Though he had to tuck his wings as close as he could, he managed to get a brief glimpse of a hairy, mace-wielding arm, but not much beyond. The Bugbears, however many there were, were stood with their backs against the wall. One was doing precisely as Astre; sneaking a peak out through the opening.

Astre's Stealth to avoid detection [14]: Fortunately for him, it didn't think to look down.

Eyes wide and posture tense, Astre froze like an ice sculpture in place as he realized what sort of position he was in.  A bothersome hawk or raven were bad enough, but a Bugbear with mace lifted at the ready?  All it would take was mere happenstance for a glance downward to be a precursor of a strike downward.

Thus, with a quick flicker of communication sent back up to Mallory, the Tressym simply vanished out of reality to the security of his personal pocket plane.

---

Back up topside, Mallory lingered for a moment before she shook her head.  The illusory text shifted once more as she added to its contents.

~~Astre couldn't get a good look.  Two or three, perhaps?  They're armed and laying in wait for us, so we should be ready to turn their ambush around on them.~~ the floating text read.

Idrianthe put her metal fingers to her chin and read Mallory's reconnaissance as it came in, her dark brows furrowed at the ambush. Although she couldn't conjure airborne writing in the way the wizard had, a trick she would have liked to compliment under different circumstances, she could come close with the help of her tinkering abilities. Idri withdrew from her belt pouches a folded piece of parchment, which she drew on with her armored fingertip. She turned it to face the group, showing them the glowing writing she had created.

~~I should be in first two down. Heavy armor, able to control their focus to protect others' descent, darkvision. Plus magic.~~

~~Shall we give them a chance to rethink their course and surrender?  They may be trapped and desperate down there if they can't get back up the ice channel.  And they may have more information about what lies beyond.~~  The air around Mallory had become rather cluttered as various messages floated about and lingered above until she was certain they'd been read by the others.

As Farwalker herself, Mallory was of the sort who'd rather not resort to violence.  The less bloodshed they could get away with, the better.  She could easily imagine the Bugbears having ended up stuck and starving, fearful that whoever was about to come down would spell their doom.  Of course, knowing Goblinoids, it wasn't as if they could just demand a surrender outright... they'd likely have to knock some sense into them first.

Idrianthe gave Mallory a shrugging nod, then added the four words unused to her existing bit of parchment before turning it back around:

~~Will offer help first.~~

Khulekani slowly drew Isiliva from it's scabbard. Once again the blade slowly ignited with a silvery light, like the moon on a lake. She was not about to be caught unawares if there were more foes lurking in the snow that their scouts had not been able to discern. Doubtful, given the empty fields of snow, but in this instance, paranoia was the order of the day.

Looking at Idri's glowing script, one arched eyebrow went up. Reaching into one of her belt pouches and withdrew a copper and held it up to the Elven woman. The look of curiosity on her face made it clear what the silent question was: "Flip for it?"

Though there was nothing agreed by the group, the aspiring Squire always did see it as her responsibility to face danger first, as it was her vocation and religion.

Upon Mallory's comment, Khulekani showed her an open hand, albeit one with a coin in it, before showing her the hand with the sword.

That message was very clear. Offer peace first, then the blade. Chivalric code to the core in this child of the south.

Just in case, once we have a course of action settled and get into setting up the rope, Mallory will stand aside during the work and ritual cast "Comprehend Languages" on herself.  Assuming there's enough time to do so.

Idrianthe gave Khule a big grin and a thumbs-up, then tapped twice on the top of her scalp to call heads. The squire took it seriously without losing her sense of humor; that was admirable. Very fitting for her order, at least as it existed decades before.

But after Khulekani confirmed she would offer aid before battle, Idrianthe held a hand up flat, pointed to Khule, held up one finger; pointed to herself, held up two fingers; and then pointed to Khule again, placed her fingers to her lips, and mimed speaking. It was difficult to communicate certain concepts with one-handed signals and no agreed-upon system already in place, but she hoped it came across as something like 'You go first, I go second, you talk.'

Khulekani gave Idri a curt nod of agreement when she silently offered to let the aspiring Paladin go first. Diplomacy had been one of the facets of training that the Auxiliary had instilled in her. While she always stood ready to defend the helpless, violence was to be a last resort, and redemption and peace should always be offered, if circumstances allowed.

"Very nice," Rhydd said when Mallory used magicked script to write out various bits of information from the Tressym's scouting efforts. "Having information on what one's foes are up to can make all the difference. My compliments to Astre."

The huntsman grunted and shook his head when the idea of playing nice with the Bugbears came under discussion. He offered no comment other than his sour expression.

He stood and listened quietly as Squire Khulekani and Mistress Idrianthe also discussed who would lead the way in dealing with what was waiting on the far side of the door down below.

With light armor and his most effective weapon being a bow, he well knew that he would not be at his most effective in what was shaping up to be a close-quarters, toe-to-toe slug-fest.

While the others were attempting some sort of stealthy charades, Farwalker had simply unshouldered her pack and moved to the entrance, though not actually making her way in. Ice was treacherous at the best of times. She had given a slight sigh before moving up, and even a little shake of her head. Along with a soft prayer, of course. “Oi. You there. Step on out. You don’t want me stepping in thinking you seek me harm. That and I would much prefer not having to kill you.” She had her shield on one arm, and was messing with one of the straps. Apparently using it as a focal point for the spell last night loosened it somehow. Strange. “I’m not very good at holding back, if violence starts.” Nice and straightforward. Just how she liked it.

For a decent while, Farwalker's response was only the echo of her own powerful voice.

"Alrighty then!" finally came the reverberating answer, followed by the loud KA-CHUNK! of a twin-bladed axe striking the tunnel in view of those above. "Truce!"

Idri's eyebrows went up, and she gently applauded Farwalker's success by patting her right shoulder with her left hand.

She took the enchanted rope from her shoulder and began to unwind it to hold one end, then gave it the command to begin knotting itself for easy use.

"Your diplomatic side seems to have appealed to their better nature, Lady Farwalker; well done. Will you tell them we're sending an enchanted rope down to help them climb back up, please? Lady Mallory, may I borrow one of your stakes to anchor it while you, Master Rhydd, and Squire Kumalo take any defensive measures you feel wise?"

---

Idri would like to anchor and then command down the Rope of Climbing so they can get back up to us more easily, but without risking them trying to use or damage Mallory's whole climbing kit in the process.

Things seemed well underway.  Recon had gone swimmingly, their pair of professional soldiers were in the midst of planning their approach, and they had all control of the situation.  Mallory drew in a breath to prepare herself as well and began to focus on channeling magics for the coming encounter.  A potential fight wasn't something she ever savored the idea of, but they were in the best position they could be as far as she could tell.

And then Farwalker did... well, what Farwalker does.

Mallory was so aghast at the Goliath's antics that it totally dropped her focus on her spell and left her to just gawp for a long moment.  The thud of an axe below made her flinch as well at the sharp impact within the tunnel, though it was enough to sort her thoughts back into alignment.  She drew in a long, self-controlled breath to heave out as a sigh, then gently moved in between both Khulekani and Rhydd to place a hand on each of their shoulders.

"As much as I would love for Farwalker's pattern of utter recklessness to actually favor us for once, I don't believe for a second that worked." she urged the two in a low voice that wouldn't carry far at all.  "One cannot bully a Bugbear.  Keep your guards up."

---

Pitons ahoy, as Idri needs to anchor her Rope.  If the Bugbears are climbing up to the surface rather than us going down to them, Mallory will take position beside Rhydd and be prepared for trouble.

Rhydd was not so certain as Mallory professed to be that Bugbears could not be bullied. ~~My hunch is that a Frost Giant could do it. Or a Dragon. But seeing as how we are neither one of those things . . . ~~

And so it was that the huntsman nodded and nocked an arrow when the wizardess warned them to keep their guards up.

A low hum was her initial response, her free hand digging into one of her belt pouches. “We’ll see.” She replied to Idrianthe, then tossed her ioun stone above her head, letting it start it’s slow circling. The tiny carved troll was still on it, one hand raised. “How do you want to talk? We can ded down a rope, or we could just yell at each other through the tunnel.” She called back down said tunnel, voice full of as much amiableness as she could fit in there. Which was less than she’d generally like, given her rumbling voice. But it was the thought that counted.

"Hrng, hold on," came the loud response, followed by half-a-minute of silence before they spoke again. "If you're coming down, you might as well come down. Just know — we were here first!"

With Mallory providing the anchor, and Idrianthe the enchanted rope, Khulekani decided to follow through with her offer and go down the icy pit first. Looping her leg through the magical rope, and keeping a hold of Isiliva in her free hand, she slid slowly down into the darkness. The silvery light from the blade shone like a torch, and she found it easy enough to see as she descended.

"I am coming down. Please allow me to arrive in peace," she said softly, keeping an eye out for treachery.

OOC Mechanics
16:41, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 24 using 2d20+10, dropping the lowest dice only. Athletics with Advantage.

It was an incandescent delve, with Isiliva at the forefront. The walls of the tunnel shone a brilliant blue as Khulekani rappelled the twenty or so feet to the entrance of the Spire. Along the way she could see the marks other climbers had left behind — holes from hacks and scratches from crampons. And the same spiraling pattern they'd observed on the Spire, though much fainter and less complex, almost as if the ice had melted and refrozen.

"Whoah!" Khulekani heard once she dropped down at the bottom of the tunnel next to the wedged battleaxe. "We had a deal!" Isiliva lit up a large, potbellied Bugbear clad in makeshift leather armor who screened himself with his arms, then pointed to the sword. Just behind him and to the side stood another Bugbear with a hefty, cast-iron pot raised above her head. A third Bugbear was nudging slightly out the inverted opening.

“Sword first. Yeah. That’s nice and peaceful.” The large woman added dryly, along with a slight shake of her head. “Pity she didn’t wait another few seconds.” With a shrug, she waggled her fingers at the hole. I’m a sort of esoteric way that heavily implied she wasn’t really trying all that had at it. “I am a Guide through the Night, at my side the Dark holds no fear, only Beauty.” The finger waggling did absolutely nothing of course, but the quick chop through the air she made after her chant did, as she quite literally cut through the shadows.

At least, to Mallory, Rhydd, and Idrianthe’s eyes.

“She’s a little too far away now. You wanted to be next, no?” She gestured at the rope, more than willing to let someone else head down before her. She’d done plenty of that in the past and wasn’t exactly keen on doing it more.

Rhydd, Mallory and Idrianthe all have Darkvision at 300’ for the next hour.

"Forgive me, I meant no offense or intended threat. My kind cannot see in the dark as your people can. But if it will put your mind at ease..." Khulekani began soothingly.

With an easy motion, the Squire reverved the magnificent sword, and drove it into the ice at the base of the tunnel. With her strength, and Isiliva's keen edge, it was not difficult. The young warrior then took a step back from the shining weapon, and held up both of her empty hands. Surprisingly, the blade did not dim, but continued to glow and flicker like a silver flame. But at least she was clearly unarmed, and still able to see in the darkness.

"My companions will now be descending the rope. I hope we can maintain this peace for the full duration of our face-to-face conversation, and hopefully beyond," she finished, trying to appear as earnest and open as possible.

“Sword first. Yeah. That’s nice and peaceful. Pity she didn’t wait another few seconds.”

"That's rich, coming from you." Mallory added in a deadpan of her own as she neared the entrance and peered down to keep a careful eye on Khulekani's descent.  Between the combined glow of that magicked blade and Mallory's own enchanted lantern, visibility was of little issue, though Farwalker's boon was bound to make for a pleasant surprise the moment their lights had to be extinguished.  "Lady Mar, after you, and Miss Farwalker next?  Rhydd and I can bring up the rear."

She shrugged at that. "There's a difference between yelling at someone's door, and jumping through it with a weapon drawn." Her own hand patted her old axe as she said that, partially to reassure herself that it was still there. "But mostly, I can't enhance her vision from that far away. At least I got the rest of you."

Idri's eyes fluttered as the ability to see a hugely greater expanse of snow blossomed in her eyes. She couldn't fully appreciate it in the illuminated environment, yet, but she clearly noticed as far more of the landscape around them came into view. "Thank you, Lady Farwalker," she touched her forehead in salute, then once more to put the rune of insight back above her eyes.

"I'll see you all at the bottom!"

It was a good thing Idri had used her magic, or else she likely would have taken quite a tumble down the ice flue. Fortunately, the memory of a climber's improvised method of digging the toes in filled her mind, and Idri caught herself before coming down in a cacophony of metal and boo-boos.

The elf, still unhelmeted, approached to Khulekani's shoulder and politely waved to the bugbears.

---

10:28, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 12 using 2d20,1d4 ((9,2,3)). Athletics with Guidance and Advantage.

Even with advantage, Idri still almost broke her butt on an ice floor. Blessed be divination magic!

"Very nice -- thank you for that, Mistress Farwalker," Rhydd said with a nod as the effects of the darkvision that the big Goliath had gifted to her companions became obvious.

The huntsman cocked his head and listed to what he could hear from down below. There was a general murmur of voices, but no clash of weapons or shouting.

"So far, so good," he announced.

Turning to Mallory, he said, "I may have to add paladins equipped with a glowing holy sword to the short list of things that can intimidate Bugbears -- right behind Frost Giants and Dragons."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:06, Mon 31 Oct 2022.

"Please, just don't grow complacent in that feeling." Mallory warned with a fretful look over her shoulder, then up across the clouded skies.  "Each time we've allowed ourselves a moment's comfort after the rise of danger, something else has swooped in to take our legs out from beneath us.  Be it a Dragon, a Wight, or an arsonist drunk on equal parts cheap booze and his own hatred."

Ultimately, Mallory's dark eyes fell on the jutting element of the Spire once more.  Its looming presence in the white tundra was one thing, but those patterns... their unnatural presence made her expression sour and she shook her head to try and keep her thoughts focused.  "Please, Rhydd.  I have a terrible feeling about this Spire.  Don't lower your guard or act rashly for anything."

In reply to Mallory Bonheur (msg # 52):

Rhydd nodded upon hearing Mallory's warning. "Noted," he replied.

"It is good to know that your instincts are trying to warn you about this place. I shall certainly keep that in mind."

"Over the years, I have come to trust my own instincts. They rarely play me false, and never intentionally."

The archer paused for a moment, and cleared his throat. "I had hopes that we could convince the Bugbears to come to us, but it seems that we are venturing down to where they are. Mayhap it does not matter -- I suspect that we would have had to go down there eventually in order to enter the Spire."

"That said, would you like to venture down next, or would you prefer that I do so?"

"I'll go last.  In all honesty, I may need someone to catch me..." Mallory grimaced as she peered back down the hole ahead of them once more.  Scurrying up the line of her Rope Trick spell was one thing when she hardly ever put the portal more than a short hop overhead.  But rappelling down an ice-slick vertical drop as long as that, with who knew what sort of danger ahead?  A more daunting demand of athleticism for a mildly-exercised noble, to be certain.

In reply to Mallory Bonheur (msg # 54):

Rhydd grinned a mischievous grin when Mallory spoke of the possibility of someone needing to catch her if she slipped on the way down. "Not wishing you any ill-luck," he muttered after a moment, "but at least insofar as I am concerned, I can think of much worse outcomes."

With that he winked at the wizardess and turned to begin his own descent . . .

---

OOC:
17:23, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 18 using 2d20+4, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 11,14.  Athletics Check (Climbing Down, w/Advantage): DC 12. Success.

"Hrunf," the foremost Bugbear grunted, placing his hands in his belt in what was a more relaxed posture once Isiliva was firmly planted in the ice. "So long as you don't try anything, your skull as well as those of your companions' shall remain intact, or I am not Brak, son of Buldre, sonson of Bronk." He banged his chest with a closed fist. "These are my compatriots, much to my dismay — Donk," he indicated to the Bugbear behind him with the pot raised over her head. She, also realizing there was no immediate threat, carefully lowered and it was set aside with a heavy thunk. It seemed to have belonged to an arrangement further near the back of the thirty foot wide chamber, where the ashes of a fire laid smoldered underneath a mounted spitrack. And close by, in the corner, laid the bare bones of a reindeer.

"-and Knerk." he gestured to the remaining Bugbear who by all accounts looked like he had a poor grasp on what was going on.

The interior of the Spire seemed much like the exterior, with the same swirling spirals suffusing its every nook and cranny. And of course, as the entrance had indicated, everything was upside down — the ceiling had become the floor and the floor had become the ceiling. A large double-doorway, surprisingly with the doors still attached though hanging in the air, was situated in the eastern wall, while a smaller doorway stood in the south. In corner opposite of the animal carcass was a hole that pierced straight through the ceiling.

---

Map! Note the doorways on both the eastern and western wall, as well as the hole in the southwestern corner.

I see there's some strange artifacting going on with the tokens, where they're chopped off. Oh well, such are the woes of working with very large photoshop files.

Edit: Added in Mallory's token, as she made the save.

Edit 2: And Farwalker's!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:39, Tue 01 Nov 2022.

After a quick couple of stretches, just to limber up a little, she shouldered her pack again, then grabbed the rope and took herself down the hole. Which was a little wobblier than expected. Once she was at the bottom, she stepped off to the side for the others to come down.

Today: Farwalker rolled 13 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 7,5.  Athletics!

It said much about Rhydd's ability to cut through Mallory's endless state of internal distraction that his tease of falling into his arms reached her.  As he headed down the rope, he surely had the satisfaction of seeing her with a faint blush that she tried to hide behind the tuck of her scarf.

When her turn came around, Mallory eyed the rope with a sense of building trepidation but knew she couldn't delay any longer.  Part of her was genuinely tempted to just leap down and Levitate herself gracefully to the floor in a dramatic manner befitting a Witch, but that was a trying spell and she knew better than to waste her energy needlessly.  "Me and my contemptible luck... I study the works of Yturn and Quantoul for years, and what do I not keep in my repertoire?  Oh, don't be silly Professor, I'm a merchant!  When would I ever need transmutations for climbing and falling?  No, I'll invest my time in Nalevac.  What a grand idea!  Surely their spells won't ever be completely gutted by a damned Spellplague." The others got a fair bit of under-the-breath and surely topically confusing grumbling that faintly echoed down from overhead as Mallory inched her way along.

Her form left much to be desired.  While her newly enchanted boots ensured a steady foothold even on ice as smooth as glass, she didn't actually know how to rappel and more... waddled... her way down the side of the channel.  Legs stiffly braced, barely able to scoot herself one arm's length at a time as she didn't trust her muscles to not give out.  Indeed, there were two or three times she nearly slipped entirely and had to cling for dear life to the rope until she stopped bobbing around enough to plant her feet again.  By the time the tail of her long red coat finally eased into view, she just gave up on climbing and simply slid down the rope with a very slow, very protracted descent until she finally touched down with a heaved sigh.

---

Athletics - DC 12, w/Advantage
13:57, Today: Mallory Bonheur rolled 13 using 1d20-1
13:57, Today: Mallory Bonheur rolled 11 using 1d20-1

---

At long last, a trio of Bugbears who frankly didn't seem the ambushing sort, despite first brush.  Proper introductions and manners - even after a hurled axe - were a pleasant surprise, indeed.  Though the surroundings ensured Mallory had no respite from her frayed nerves as she eyed the room beyond under the glow of her raised Lantern Rod.

"How strange... is it spatial bending or is the entire Spire just lodged ass-over-teakettle in the ice?" she couldn't help but muse before she brought her focus back to the waiting Bugbears.  "Apologies if we startled you three.  I assure you, we're no claim jumpers looking to snatch treasures from a ruin.  We're actually here on a rescue mission.  I'm Lady Mallory Bonheur of Neverwinter." she introduced herself with a gesture, then motioned to each of her companions in turn.  "This is Rhydd, Farwalker, Squire Kumalo, and Lady Mar.  I take it you three have... ah--" her gaze fell to the reindeer skeleton pitched in the corner "--been here for some time now?"

"Oh, I suspect ass-over-teakettle is the right of it. The Netherese were obsessed with flying structures, I'm sure you're familiar already; it only stands to reason that some of them tipped on the way down. Solid, enchanted basalt piercing the earth and ice alike? Sounds fantastic, like the last angry gasp of a dying people stabbing the world itself, but it's also the simplest explanation." Idri had turned to confer with Mallory, but pivoted back to the bugbears when she was so kind as to introduce them all.

"Dame, actually, if we're being formal. Dame Idrianthe, Dame Mar -- cultural choice, I've never had a preference -- but really Idri is fine. A pleasure to meet you all." Her close-lipped smile at the goblinoids was as genuine as it had been when she met the adventurers. They seemed decent, after all, if a bit snarly and hungry. Who could blame them?

"Hail and well met, Brak, son of Buldre, grandson of Bronk. Well met Donk. Well met Knerk. As my companion has just introduced me, I shall not repeat my name. However, I do wish to emphasize that we are not bandits, nor are we trying to evict you from this place if you call it home. While we do have business inside, it has nothing to do with your living arrangements. Think of us as neighbors just...sharing a stream, at the moment. Kindly neighbors, just passing through," Khulekani said with a polite bow of her head.

She continued to hold her hands up and away from the glowing sword, to let them know that even now, with her group all assembled, they still meant no harm.

OOC Mechanics
21:09, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 23 using 1d20+6. Persuasion.

"—been here for some time now?"
"Erhm . . ." Brak scratched his head. "A Tenday, more or less. It's hard keeping time as is with the sun always down, nevermind underground. Figured you as treasure hunters like the previous lot, but I have to say you're a lot more pleasant. I like that." He gestured wide into the room. "We've laid claim to the upper levels. Anything below is up for grabs."

"If you pay toll," Knerk, the Bugbear with the glazed over expression, interjected, stepping into the conversation. "We clear out top. We take compensation."

"Naturally," Brak nodded as he glanced over to the skeletal remains of the reindeer. "If you've any food, it'll do in place of coin. We're running a bit low ourselves."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:34, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

Once he reached the bottom of the descent -- after more than once silently thanking Idrianthe on the way down -- Rhydd stepped over to the side so as to give Mallory a spot to land. He smiled as he watched her make her way down after him, more than once thinking that she was about to lose her grip and that he was going to make good on his half-jesting pledge to catch her if she fell. ~~Well . . . at the very least I can offer her a soft landing spot if she slips,~~ he thought to himself.

But all's well that ends well, as some bard whose name Rhydd could not recall had writ once upon a time, and soon enough the wizardess had made it safely to the bottom of the steep descent.

"I had hoped that you would let go about a foot or two up," he told her with a wink. Was he flirting with her? Mayhap. He would never have imagined it of himself, not in a million years.

"I would have caught you," he assured her.

~~Pay attention, rocks-for-brains,~~ he chided himself. ~~'Tis yet to be determined whether these Bugbears are truly to be trusted, or whether they simply wished to have us close at hand, the better to stuff us into their cook-pots.~~

He leaned his bow (which had been strapped across his back for his descent) against an ice wall, close to where Squire Khulekano's magicked blade had been placed. Close to hand, but not in-hand. It would have to do.

His expression neutral, Rhydd nodded to the three Bugbears as Lady Mallory spoke his name, along with those of all the adventuring companions. Soon enough Squire Khulekani was building upon her good start  -- as well as that of Farwalker's, truth be told -- and continuing her efforts to calm the nerves of the three Bugbears.

~~Will wonders never cease? Me flirting with Mallory, and being within spitting distance of three Bugbears without any of us trying to kill each other, one within mere moments of the other. Still and all, we aren't done -- out of the woods, so to speak -- yet.~~

"I had hoped that you would let go about a foot or two up. I would have caught you."

"Of that, I've no doubt." Mallory afforded Rhydd a fond smile even after the discomfort of her less-than-graceful clamber down.

---

"Figured you as treasure hunters like the previous lot, but I have to say you're a lot more pleasant. I like that. We've laid claim to the upper levels. Anything below is up for grabs."

Mention of the "previous lot" raised a momentary gleam of hope in Mallory's expression, though she immediately quashed it for the sake of bracing herself for disappointment.  "We packed extra rations before we set out, so I'm certain we could spare some for your sake.  Especially if you would be so kind as to offer some information?"  A gloved hand raised out with a slow, intentional flourish - she could conjure her illusions with little more than a twitch of her fingers, but made a much more overt show of it so as to not startle the Bugbears.  The last thing any of them needed was for the trio to think she was about to hurl a blast of fire or the like.

As was so often the case, the air above Mallory's extended palm swirled and coalesced into the then-familiar images of the three missing adventurers, held out for the Bugbears to see.  "These mercenaries were sent here over a tenday ago and haven't been heard from since.  Were they the ones you encountered before?  Do you know what's become of them?" she chanced, even if she already feared she knew the answer.  "And who directed you three here?  This is hardly the sort of place one stumbles upon by mere chance..."

---

As usual, Mallory invokes "Silent Image" for her illusory demonstration.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:11, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

The Bugbears began trudging around their lodging as the discussion unfurled. Brak seemed especially pleased with the way things were going, bearing a smile of self-satisfaction once rations were actually being offered. It seemed he hadn't had much faith in the wager. "Those're the ones!" he said after studying the illusions. "We kept the Halfling as prisoner. That one snuck out as we came in," he pointed to Reghedman, then to the Shield Dwarf, "that one I dunno about, but the Halfling spoke of her. Dead, I'd bet. The Halfling escaped to the lower levels, though she was supposed to be supervised," he leveled a scowl and a grunt at Donk, who returned it in kind, "and took the key with her!"

"It was Knerk's turn to watch her!" Donk rebuted, pointing angrily toward the last Bugbear, who had ventured over to pick up a reindeer bone which he eloquently hurled in Knerk's direction.

"Hrnf," Brak sneered, sparing them one last chastising glance. "We traded for information on this place at Karkolohk. Didn't come cheap either."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Thu 01 Dec 2022.

Such an explanation was clearly not what the dark-eyed noble expected, much less wanted, to hear.  Her expression grew cloudy and her gaze flicked side-to-side across the icy floor with an immediate inward turn to her own thoughts.  One adventurer never reached the Spire, one fled out into the tundra and abandoned his final cohort.  The Spire itself was their only lead... with so little information and after so much time had passed, nothing short of mighty Divination spells well beyond her own reach could stand to find them.

That left only the Halfling - Apple, by name - for certain.

...alone, surely without supplies, into the depths of an ancient Netherese ruin as cold as the Stygian pits, over a week ago.

The illusions faded away to nothingness as Mallory instead gripped at her Lantern Rod, as if for an anchor, to still her stormy thoughts.  A tight breath pulled through her teeth as she fought to rally herself back up.  "There's still a chance.  Every Halfling I've ever known has Yondalla's own luck to them.  There's still a chance." she said, seemingly more to herself than the others.

Her troubled gaze lifted to each of her companions - to Rhydd especially, in a more lingering moment - uncertain of how they'd take to such news, before it returned to the Bugbears.  "What's this of a key then?  And... Karkolohk?  Who sold you this information?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:34, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

The Bugbears seemed genuinely baffled that Mallory didn't know Karkolohk. The Karkolohk! "Are you playing us for fools, Human? Karkolohk is the single greatest fortress this side of the Spine and the trading hub of most, if not all, beings in the Dale. Even Humans feel the need to bring their coin there on occasion, and Chief Yarb-Gnock is so gracious as to allow them," Brak went on to explain. "We got the information from the Redrust Ravagers. They've mapped the area." He then went to search through their belongings, which mostly consisted of a rumpled pile of pelts and leather, and produced a map which he dusted off.

Brak rolled it out on the floor for everyone to view. It was drawn on crude parchment and only displayed the most significant landmarks — the Ten-Towns wasn't provided much significance. Most just small points, with some, like Caer-Konig, even missing entirely. And while it was a far-cry from the map Vellynne had given the party, it seemed at least moderately accurate at a cursory glance, with the Reghed Glacier to the east, the Spine of the world to the south, and the Sea of Moving Ice to the north-west. "Here's us," he said, pointing at a red cross in the north-eastern part halfway to the Reghed Glacier. "Here's Karkolohk," he traced a path with his finger to the largest landmark in the southwestern corner.

---

Goblin map! It is written in Ghukliak, using Dwarvish runic script.

---

And then, as if to not allow anyone to view it for too long, Brak rolled it back up. "The key goes in the chest. But there's a problem," he said, then walked over to peek into the western passageway. At first, Mallory couldn't see a chest. Then it became obvious Brak was glancing upward, and the chest revelead itself. When the spire had fallen, the chest had not fallen with it, remaining suspended almost fifteen feet in the air. "Yeah . . ." Brak folded his arms and leaned against the wall to allow a better view in.

---

Updated Battlemap.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:38, Mon 22 Apr.

"Many of us are not locals, my freinds. I for instance, am from the south. Amn, if you know of it. Much of local lore and legend is unknown to us. Forgive us our ignorance, and I hope you will indulge us should we have any further questions..." the Squire said with a polite bow.

"Would it offend you greatly if I were to retrieve my sword from the ice? I will not harm you, I simply wish to return it to my scabbard," she asked, even as she glanced up at the floating chest.

"Indeed, this is my first time being so far north and I find myself terribly ill-informed.  I'm a merchant by trade, so clearly it would behoove me to acquaint myself with this hub post haste."  Though she'd certainly never heard of such a place, Mallory was left curious if Karkolohk was more exclusively favored by Goblinoids and thus a blind-spot for core trade routes from the south.  If that was the case, there would surely be considerable potential.  Of course, it just as easily could've been a pitiful backwater market that the locals merely perceived as being grand, much like how Bryn Shander was seemingly a civilized metropolis by their standards but no better than a shabby ghetto by hers.

Less consideration was given of the nature of Karkolohk and more focus placed on the briefly-presented map.  Mallory had an eye for detail and quickly put as much of it to memory as she could before it was tucked away, especially where certain highlights were concerned.

"The key goes in the chest. But there's a problem,"

Mallory did indeed follow by a few paces and lean to see what the matter was, and the sight of that suspended chest so high up was quite the novel view.  "Huh." she hummed eloquently with her tongue beneath her lip.  That was certainly unexpected.  "And you've no luck getting that open until now?  If you give me a boost and a few minutes, I could surely fix that.  Perhaps for a share of whatever rests inside?"

---

Is the chest magically floating in mid-air or is it anchored to the ceiling by mundane means?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:41, Thu 03 Nov 2022.

To Khulekani's request, Brak flipped his hand approvingly. "I permit it. Half-and-half?" he offered Mallory. In the room, which seemed to have once been a storage of sorts, contained debris that seemed shuffled — squarish slabs of basalt stacked haphazardly upon one another, none reaching high enough for a Bugbear to make up the distance to the ceiling.

---

The chest is bolted to the ceiling. It appears to be about 20 inches wide and made up of some type of steel or similar metal.

Standing on a Bugbear's shoulders isn't going to cut it; you'll have to stack two on top of each other, or add a Farwalker to reach high enough. And at that point we're doing Athletics checks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:18, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

A 50/50 split was perfectly fair and Mallory was frankly eager for something to focus on in the moment to help quell her troubled thoughts.  A small task to reorient her mind would do her well.  A brief word of planning was shared with Idri and the others to help arrange how to proceed before the young noble waved over Brak.

"Alright, I just need a quick lift up.  On three?  One, two--" It was something of a trust exercise for the two groups as Mallory took a quick dart forward and, with Brak prepared to hoist her, took an easy alley-oop up.  She stretched her arms out overhead and activated her Lantern Rod at the apex of her vault, then used the momentum to lift and tuck herself over its abruptly suspended length like sitting on a bench.  "That's all there is to it!  Scaling icy facades is hardly my forte, but I spent quite a lot of time climbing the endless walls and rooftops of Neverwinter as a child."  She called down to her companions from her magically-held perch before she scooted to address the locked chest.

A quick tuck into her boot was all she needed to withdraw a series of tools; simple hooks and leverage bars of various collapsing lengths, perfect for slipping into mechanisms.  "Now, let's see what we've got here..."

---

Athletics Check - DC 6
Mallory Bonheur rolled 17 using 1d20-1

Picking a Lock w/Guidance
Total: 18
Mallory Bonheur rolled 14 using 1d20+5
Mallory Bonheur rolled 4 using 1d4
This message was last edited by the player at 18:05, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

Brak wasn't sure how the Human was going to stay up in the air, but he followed instructions regardless. He didn't become any wiser to her methods when the rod locked in place and she swung atop it. "Magics . . ." was all he could conclude.

Up close, it was evident the chest was particularly beautiful, with intricate patterns of silver lining its edges, lid, and lock. There was a mix of strict geometry and symmetry, and the grotesque asymmetry of the pervasive spiraling pattern. The lock was further testament to the fine craftsmanship that had gone into the chest, providing Mallory a considerable challenge. Raking got her nowhere, so she had to resort to bumping, a maneuver that would prove quite risky when there was a thirteen foot fall on the line.

But after a quick few thuds it did click open, and Mallory had to quickly catch the lid so it didn't send the contents hurtling toward the ground. Peeking inside, she could see a smooth linen padding of a rich purple color, and four small diamond-shaped potions in different colors providing faint illumination.

---

Mallory's Dexterity (Thieves' Tools) check to pick open the chest (DC 15) [18]: Success!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:47, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

As much as she'd hoped for a distraction, the strange tentacle-like patterns that coated the exterior of the Spire appearing on the surface of the chest didn't afford her one.  It was like some foreign element infected the Spire's very architecture and spread like a rot throughout.  The familiar precision geometry of Netherese aesthetics was marred by its inclusion and made Mallory feel all the more disquieted at the sight of it.

"This was actually quite a charming piece, once upon a time.  The lock is very well-crafted to still function in these temperatures for this long... but..." she hummed as she worked before a stout click sounded out as she landed the final mechanism "...one of Ptack's best, it is not."

A lift of her knees was enough to keep the lid from its full swing and allow Mallory to gently hoist out the contents.  Potions?  A remarkable find, indeed!  Assuming the chest truly hadn't been opened since the Spire landed ages ago, they would be original concoctions!  Even the bottles themselves had a certain collector's value to them.  She quickly stowed them into her satchel and, just to be certain, tucked in nearer to pat around within the chest to see if she could extract the interior padding in search of any hidden elements.

---

Investigation to see if there's anything hidden, just in case?
Mallory Bonheur rolled 14 using 1d20+7

---

Mallory's Investigation to check for secret items [14]: Nothing else hid within the chest.

Rhydd hissed in alarm as Mallory blithely assumed that she could trust the Bugbear to hoist her up on high, so that she could reach the oddly-positioned chest that was both tantalizingly close, yet still out of reach.

Until Mallory and her magicks went to work, that is. Thankfully all went well with the Bugbear and the lift up, and Rhydd pursed his lips thoughtfully as he watched the wizardess employ thieves' tools with an obvious degree of familiarity to pick the lock on the upside-down chest.

It appeared that she had indeed found something inside, but from his angle down on the floor -- originally the ceiling, it seemed -- he was unable to see around her to catch a glimpse of the treasures that the chest had held.

~No matter. All shall be revealed, soon enough.~

The huntsman lifted up his arms towards where the wizardess had perched herself. "Whenever you are ready," he called out.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:05, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

The leap in cooperation with Brak was both a gesture of good faith to the Bugbears and an expression of just how much trust Mallory had decided to place in her companions.  She wouldn't have done it had she any doubt they'd not allow harm to befall her.  Rhydd's outreached arms especially bore that reassurance as Mallory adjusted her hold to hang down from the underside of the Lantern Rod as far as she was able to shorten the drop, then deactivated its lock.

Just as when Rhydd had swept her off her feet prior, so too would he have little trouble as she dropped down into his arms.  It was easy enough to catch her in a princess-carry - the heaviest part of her seemed to be the gear she had satcheled - and she landed with an easy 'oop!' out of her.  "No doubts, indeed." she echoed her earlier remark to the ranger as she leaned her head to his shoulder.  Though a moment of that was all it took for her to remember that they were the center of attention just then and she fidgeted to be let down with a gentle clearing of her throat.

---

If the padded lining comes out, Mallory will take it too.  Otherwise, regarding the Potions: would an Arcana check be enough to figure out what they are, or would "Identify" be necessary?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

Rhydd would have held on to Mallory longer  (it wasn't as if their audience was a gaggle of prune-faced old women who seemed to disapprove of everything and everybody, and who would soon bring forth a chorus of "tsk-tsks!"), but after a moment in his arms the wizardess had cleared her throat and -- it seemed to the huntsman -- began to wiggle and squirm a little, just as a cat does when she is ready to be put down.

At least her hood was pushed back, so he could take a moment to nuzzle her hair. "All right, all right," he fussed after a moment. "Down you go, the rest of the way."

With that, he made as if he were going to drop Mallory on her head, exclaiming "Oops!", as if he had lost his grip. Then, with a hearty laugh, he flipped her right-side up so that she landed lightly with her feet on the floor/ceiling of the Spire.

"There! Light as a feather!" He left it to Mallory's imagination as to whether he was speaking of her landing, or the wizardess herself. Or both.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:28, Fri 04 Nov 2022.

---

The linen is either glued or nailed to the inside of the chest and will not come out. As for Identifying Potions, here's what the DMG offers;

DMG, page 175:

The Identify spell is the fastest way to reveal an item's properties. Alternatively, a character can focus on one magic item during a short rest, while being in physical contact with the item. At the end of the rest, the character learns the item's properties, as well as how to use them. Potions are an exception; a little taste is enough to tell the taster what the potion does.

A little strange, as I for one would not wish to put my tongue to any foreign substance with potential magical properties. But it is an option. We'll follow the Short Rest rule for guaranteed Identification, and do Arcana checks for any less concrete insight into what they might potentially be. For certain potions a Medicine or Nature check would be appropriate instead of Arcana, but that is not the case here.

Brak rubbed his hands together, more than satisfied with Mallory's work. "Well, well, well, lookie here . . . potions? What'd they do?"

Outside the small room, Farwalker, Khulekani, and Idrianthe had better opportunity to survey their surroundings. The room to the east contained an arching stairway, albeit one with the smooth side up and boasting quite a few icicles suspended over the rubble. If it hadn't already been useless, it seemed only to lead to more rubble.

Someone had dug a hole in the ground near the corner of the main room. It was perhaps just barely large enough for a Bugbear to squeeze through, and, by the looks of it, no new renovation.

Rhydd and Mallory stood by a smaller door, which surprisingly still functioned. It was tall, but one still had a large threshold to climb since it was, well, upside down. It led into another room similar to the one with the chest, though its entire southern wall was missing, overtaking by another tunnel of ice.

---

Where were we? I might be retreading some known ground; forgive me, my memory is a bit flaky. Anyway, here's a slightly updated battlemap.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 19:18, Thu 01 Dec 2022.

The Bugbears lounged about lazily as the loot was brought out to be analyzed. Donk poked around  in the Reindeer skeleton. Knerk yawned, grumbled, moaned, then seemed to actively try to invent new sounds. They were clearly impatient, but with enough wits between them to know that interfering would only stall the process, not hasten it.

---

Mallory's and Idrianthe's Identify on the potions (Ritual cast): These are potions of Fire Resistance, Cold Resistance, Acid Resistance, and Force Resistance. Each flask holds one charge (in other words, the contents must be drunk in their entirety to take effect).

Rhydd's play had Mallory quickly swallow down a yelp as she latched onto his shoulders - very much indeed like a cat in such a reflexive grab - and gave a gently chiding, if flustered, pout once he set her back to her feet.  "You..." she huffed.  No harm done beyond a bit of red in her cheeks

"Well, well, well, lookie here... potions? What'd they do?"

"Hard to say at a glance.  Some Potions are easier to spot than others... healing potions endlessly bubble and glisten when you shake them, for example, or one that enables the drinker to breathe underwater contains jellyfish samples." Mallory remarked as she lifted one of the retrieved bottles to her lantern to see how the light played through it.  Even if much of the modern potion-brewing practices were founded in Netherese alchemy, there were still too many differences to make assumptions.  "Thankfully I've a spell for this sort of thing.  Dame Mar, could you--" she nearly asked the Elf to lend a hand but caught herself mid-sentence "--assist me, please?"

Thankfully such magically-driven investigation was a relatively easier affair.  As when she'd cast it on Dzaan's Simulacrum, a multi-layered sigil of rings emanated from the back of Mallory's outstretched hand as she quietly chanted through the duration.  Fruitful insight, sooner than later, at least when it came to the bottles themselves.  "These tonics fortify one's body against different forms of exposure; these two cover temperature extremes either hot or cold, this one prevents corrosion, and this one resists raw magic.  Given the nature of similar potions, the effects should last for an hour or so.  Not full invulnerability, mind you, but you'd certainly fare better with than without.  I wonder what sort of facility this once was, that such safety precautions were stored in a case like that?  A laboratory, perhaps?"

Given the Bugbears' general tendency to lounge about during the research and simply wait for results to be offered up, she doubted they'd be particularly interested in her own theorizing rather than the potential profits.  "In any case, these aren't especially rare or precious potions in terms of their effects alone; there are many alchemists about who can brew their equal.  Worth a few hundred gold on commission, perhaps.  They'd be of greater value as collector's items given they are untouched, original concoctions from before the fall of Netheril.  The glassware alone is likely worth more to the right buyer.  I'd certainly be more inclined to sell them to the archivists of Candlekeep than use them."

---

Given her preferences, Mallory doesn't especially care which two of the four Potions the Party keeps since she's not inclined to use them.  Does anybody else want a specific Potion?  Keep in mind that Resistances don't stack, so any of us who already have Cold Resistance don't get anything from that Potion.

---

If you don't choose, the Bugbears will do it for you. I'll post sometime later today.

The Bugbears didn't bicker much when it came to which potion went to whom, though Brak gave Mallory a scrutinizing look to see if they were somehow being had. He concluded they weren't and tucked the potions away in their stash. "Alright, hand over some of your rations and be on your way. We ain't too keen to keep company," the seven foot tall Goblinoid explained. "Though I should warn you — we've heard noises coming from further down. Rumblings and low growls. Something's down there, but we don't know what. We don't mean to find out, either."

---

The Bugbears take the Fire and Acid Resistance potions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:23, Mon 05 Dec 2022.

Though there was a part of her that loathed breaking up a set of potions, it wasn't as if Mallory had the money on hand to try and pay for their worth outright just for the sake of keeping the collection together.  She divvied the bottles up among the Bugbears, Idrianthe, and herself - the strange Potion of Force Resistance stowed safely away in her own satchel - before more supplies were sorted through to get the requested rations addressed.

"No surprise there, really.  Magical creatures and beasts of all sorts tend to be drawn to Netherese ruins... something about the ambient energies that linger within the stone is alluring." the young noble noted.  In part, to be truthful, so as to reassure herself against the unnerving patterns that seemed to infect the very walls.  She could only hope the usual array of "dungeon monsters" one always heard Adventuring types tell elaborate tales of was what awaited them, as the alternative she feared was far worse.

"So, what do you lot plan on doing now?  Heading back to civilization to resupply?  Continue to hold down the fort here?" she chatted as she glanced ahead to the way further in they were bound for.  "Or do you just plan to wait and see if we all die horribly, then scavenge up what remains in our wake?  Because if that's the case I'd at least appreciate it if you sent word of our demise to Bryn Shander afterward." There wasn't a bit of judgment or scorn in her tone despite the grim nature of that remark; it was frankly the most sensible thing the Bugbears could do in their position short of just leaving for nicer surroundings.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Mon 05 Dec 2022.

"We'll stick around for a couple of days before heading back to Karkolohk," Brak answered. By the way he was scratching his head it seemed they hadn't formed concrete proceedings. "If you don't emerge by then I suppose we can give word." A preceding sigh and his tone indicated it was a rather large hassle, one that they would prefer to do without — Bugbears within the city walls was an uncommon occurrence to put it mildly. It was unlikely they would bother.

Whoever once lived here enjoyed tall ceilings, for it was a twelve foot drop down to the next level. The landing was dark, but lit brilliantly by Isiliva as Khulekani descended. The trusty sword revealed a considerable amount of debris in the easternmost corner along with the remnants of the staircase that once led back to the floor the party had come from. In the center of the room was a spiral staircase fixed to a pillar, this one, too, broken. A quick glance could ascertain it led down into an icy cavern as opposed to more tower, as did another hole carved in the floor.

In the center of the room were two cages, one holding the carapace of some long deceased creature, while the other was swung open, its hinges busted.*

Leaning against the northernmost wall was a fallen cupboard. It was entirely empty, one could see through its shattered glass panes.

The westernmost wall held an eight foot tall closed door.

Each and every surface bore the swirling fractal pattern as vividly as they had up until then — even the carapace hadn't been spared.

---

*Not depicted on the map. I'd draw them in, but I only have access to a mouse right now and it's not going to look pretty. I might add them when I get back to my tablet.

Nature or Medicine (both DC 10) to identify which species the carapace belonged to.

Map.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:39, Fri 09 Dec 2022.

Ryhdd was admittedly pleased that the negotiations with the Bugbears did not end in shouting and blood-letting, although he kept his thoughts to himself. He did keep a close eye on the Bugbears until he followed his companions down to the next-lower level of the tower -- which would originally have been above the level from which the group of companions had just departed.

The archer landed lightly on his feet down on the lower level, and he found the light that was emanating from Squire Khulekani's blade most helpful in illuminating the gloom. Rhydd readied his bow and nocked an arrow, but as of yet did not see any obvious targets.

Curious, he glanced at the carapace of the long-dead creature that was contained in one of the cages that was located in the room . . .

---

OOC:

17:34, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 20 using 1d20.

17:36, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 11 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 9.  Medicine Check re: Carapace in Cage (DC 10).

Comments: Bears, it seems that the Dice-Roller "ghost-rolled" for Rhydd while I was in the process of setting up his Medicine Check. It looks like either roll would be successful, although the original, unintended roll actually gave a higher result.

"Honestly, one always hears the worst about Goblinoids and Kobolds and such.  They're perfectly reasonable folk, same as anyone else.  Just a bunch of bigoted nonsense from tavern-bound sellswords, if you ask me." Mallory observed while the group made their way down into the depths... or rather, technically ascended the heights... of the upended Spire.  She was quite happy with how things had turned out, all in all, and hoped to see the trio again at Karkolohk someday.  It would be wonderfully helpful if their chance encounter could turn into a fruitful business relationship.

Getting through the lofty doorways either way took a bit of doing but, with her Lantern Rod able to be placed as an easy foothold halfway up either side, it was at least manageable without having to risk breaking an ankle clambering around.  The following room and its scattered remains was a less than appealing sight to come upon though.  At least whatever had been in those cages - locked or ajar - had surely each been long dead by that point.

"Anyone see any Halfling tracks?" she asked as she swept her lantern about to help further illuminate the floor.  The increased volume of fractals did nothing to ease her discomfort in the whole scenario.

---

Investigation for finding traces of anyone having come through?  Or would it be Survival even if we're indoors?

Also, fractal patterns tend to come from a source point and spread outward from that origin.  What direction do the fractals covering the Spire and all its contents travel in?  Do they look like they came from an outside source and are spreading inward, or do they look like they're spreading outward from somewhere further inside the Spire?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:00, Fri 09 Dec 2022.

---

Rhydd's Medicine on the carapace [11]: Going by its six limbs, bulbous eyes, and curling antennae, this was once a live Thri-Kreen, or a 'Mantis Warrior' as they were sometimes known as. They were an intelligent species and rarely locked up in small cages like this.

Mallory's Investigation to find Halfling tracks [26]: Someone had been here. The frost did not make it easy to discern, as there was little dust to settle, but she could faintly spot outlines of boots on the ground. By how their quantity and intermingling, it was clear someone had rummaged around quite thoroughly. The door, too, was just barely not fully closed.

On fractals: The pattern seems to be at least somewhat self-similar, which means one cannot be sure what scale it is viewed at, and thus an origin would be hard to pinpoint. However, the spirals seem to have a slight preference to spring from the northwest. But given the aforementioned argument, this is hardly conclusive evidence to a source.

Rhydd stood and stared through the bars of the cage that held an occupant -- or more properly, the remains of one.

"Thri-Kreen," he announced after a moment. "I've not ever glimpsed a live one, but given what I am seeing here, it looks just like the descriptions that I have heard."

"Tough way to go," he muttered, shaking his head.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:13, Sun 11 Dec 2022.

"Miss Apple has most certainly come through here.  There's some leftover grime from her boots leaving markings, and it looks like she tossed the room pretty quickly on her way through for whatever she could find." Mallory summarized as she pointed her lantern in the direction of the awaiting door ahead.

The announcement of a Thri-Kreen - or rather, its corpse - snapped Mallory's head around from her search about the room in immediate surprise.  She stepped up alongside Rhydd to give the remains a closer inspection as well, though her gaze fell far more curious and analytical than pitying for the fate it came to.

"Truly?  They're a rarity, indeed, and certainly never seen anywhere near this far north under normal circumstances.  I've only ever heard of them in study as well... not exactly a sociable people, to say the very least.  Though their presence here paints an ill picture of what sort of work this Spire may have done in its own time, if it was indeed a laboratory."  the young noble hummed as she eyed the battered old lock on the cage.  "I'd like to take a sample, actually.  From what I do know of the Thri-Kreen, they'd not mind it one bit - living or dead."

---

Mallory would like to pick the lock on the cage - assuming it's not so old and busted as to just fall apart with a good whack - and take some pieces of the Thri-Kreen carapace.  Its "skull" in particular.  Assuming said carapace also isn't so old and busted as to just fall apart.  ^^;

If nothing else, the glacier had done well in preserving both spire and contents. Metal, however, was another matter, and how well it had fared depended entirely upon its composition. And both cage and lock was iron, not steel. A quick inspection found that they both had undergone a ductile-to-brittle transition and could easily be shattered with minimal effort. The head of the Thri-Kreen specimen proved more challenging, jointed to the neck as it was, and required no small amount of twisting and tugging to free. One compound eye inevitably crumbled in the process.

---

I originally rolled a Thieves' Tools check on Mallory's behalf which yielded a 7, but you're more than capable of getting this lock open through other means and I figured I'd save you the hassle.

Khulekani found herself baffled. She considered herself educated in worldly matters. Indeed, the education of those Squires laboring in the name of the Auxiliary were given a wide ranging education. From simple letters and arithmetic, to history, they were also taught much of the creatures that inhabited the world. For they would more than likely have to defend or slay members of their species over the course of their long careers.

But these strange insectoid things...

"What, by the Triad, is a Thri-Kreen?" she asked, voice involuntarily dropping low in reverence to the dead.

As with the Ice Trolls, Mallory had a fairly steady hand when it came to dissection.  A careful bit of pressure with the edge of her knife was enough to work between the segments along the corpse's neck, though some level of loss was to be expected.  Even with one of the hollow eye lenses collapsing, she made sure to carefully collect the fragments into a pouch for later use.

"That is a very good question scholars have been asking for centuries.  The Thri-kreen predate mankind yet we have little idea where they truly originate from." she remarked as she held up the removed head to the lantern light to see how its coloration clashed against the strange patterns that had seemingly infected everything in the Spire.  "They're not an especially talkative people, what with their language being impossible for other species to perform due to anatomical differences.  Luckily, they're also one of the precious few innately Psionic species to exist and are able to communicate via telepathy, but their thought processes are so alien to ours that they're quite inscrutable.  They hold no merit whatsoever in tradition, history, ethics, culture, creativity, emotion... neither in themselves nor anyone else.  Only base survival matters to them.  A fascinating, albeit terrifying, mannerism for an intelligent species to hold."

Mallory approached the matter from a purely scholarly standpoint by preference.  That level of academic compartmentalization was what helped her distance her feelings when it came to taking apart a once-living, once-feeling person into so many tidbits.  The fact that a Thri-kreen itself would have absolutely no care whatsoever for the treatment of a corpse helped somewhat.  The head was delicately wrapped and set into her satchel to she could ensure it wouldn't come to harm, with particular care for its delicate antennae, and she set about removing the Thri-Kreen's many hands with a careful slice along the segmented elbow joints as well.  "You'll still find quite a large population of them in the Shaar Desolation far to the south these days, albeit scattered as countless nomadic factions.  They're fickle neighbors to manage from what I hear... in no small part due to them seeing people like us as a very accessible food source." she glanced back briefly to Idri and offered a grim smile.  "They consider Elves to be a particular delicacy."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:16, Mon 12 Dec 2022.

"So...in your estimation, should I find one living, I should be wary at the very least? And do these wandering bands consist of large numbers, or could I spend an entire lifetime wandering and not encounter their people? And would you be so kind as to expand on what the term 'Psionic' means? I have heard it before in my studies, years ago. As far as I remember, it is a kind of magic exclusive to the mind. Despite that, it has many effects similar to traditional Arcane magic..." Khulekani asked in a series of rapid questions.

It was clear from the way she was shifting her feet, and holding Isiliva tightly by the hilt that there was something about this Thri-kreen was making her nervous, or at least uncomfortable.

"Oh, Psionics is an utterly fascinating mystery all its own.  Strictly speaking, it's not actually magic as we know it but a sort of adjacent form of--" Khulekani had triggered Mallory's scholarly lecture mode, or perhaps just tempted her desire to distract herself from the eerie environment they'd found themselves in.  But she stopped herself short mid-ramble as she caught note of the warrior's discomfort.

"Are... are you quite alright, Squire?  I'm sorry if I've said something to upset you." she made quick work to hastily bundle and stow the gathered arms to a strap atop her pack, in case the dissection itself was a matter of discomfort for Khulekani to watch.

"Oh no no, you haven't said anything to upset me..." Khulekani waved off with a weak smile.

"When I was nineteen winters, a Cleric of Sagawhen was taken prisoner and brought to High Hall of the Radiant Heart for trial. They broke out of their restraints and ran amok through the hall before being subdued again. The first I was aware of this, was when I woke up covered in a thick blanket of...inspects. Ever since...it's been a bit...distressing to be around certain bugs. Praying Mantis' are one of them. A Human-sized one is...concerning," she said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.

Such an admission earned a sympathetic grimace from Mallory and she was certain to pull the drape of her coat closer over her satchel, so as to better hide the chitinous limbs she had strapped to it.

"I can see why that would leave an impression." she offered a wan smile at the thought of it.  "I suppose being this far north is a blessing then; no bugs in this cold.

As for the Thri-kreen, you'll not see them in great abundance.  They're multitudes, certainly, but they're not some grand, unified swarm or hivemind as far as has been observed.  Their individual tribes never grow any larger than a handful of members.  Just stay away from Shaar if you can or give them a wide berth if you cannot." she tried to reassure without making Khulekani dwell overlong on the idea of giant bug people.  "The only time they've really been known to rile as a threat is when the environments they live in are endangered.  So long as they have food, resources, and space they're quite happy to completely ignore everyone else."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Fri 16 Dec 2022.

After opening the door and surmounting the inverted threshold, a library of sorts came into view. Or at the very least what had once upon a time been a library. A bookshelf rested diagonally against the northernmost wall, its contents having been strewn onto the floor below. There wasn't much remaining, only a few tomes amid blank sheets of paper, candelabras, and unremarkable rubble.

A rather elaborate upside-down table sat in the middle of the room. Another door, this one open, led further into another room which contained a smaller round table, this one, too, sprawled with its legs upward, and some cushioned chairs. Mallory, however, could notice something magical about it even before the room was entered. An illusion rested upon it, blanketing the walls and entrance. Little speculation was necessary to deem its effects, however, as those who entered could find that the fall of their boots produced no sound, nor did their breath or the rustle of their garments or armor. The room remained completely and utterly silent.

In the corner, accompanied by fallen debris, laid a skeleton clad in tattered robes.

---

Map.

These are the titles of the books, along with a brief description of their contents;

Mysteries of the Phaerimm: This book contains information on the Phaerimm, a telepathic, funnel-shaped monster of the Underdark.

Wizards in the Hallow: The birth of the Netherese empire is chronicled in this otherwise dull, plodding story about the lives of three Netherese wizards — Ioulam, Dace, and Decampus.

Ajamar's Guide to the Phantastic: This breezy, light-hearted treatise on illusion magic appears like a basic guide for apprentices.

The Unfettered Mind: The text within this tome discusses how one might exist solely as a disembodied brain, preserved for eons in a magical suspension fluid. Within are sketches of brains in jars.

Magical Wonders XII: This book is a collection of descriptions of magical artifacts and interviews with archmages provided as commentary.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:09, Fri 23 Dec 2022.

Oh, if only they hadn't come under such dire circumstances.  If only they had a few weeks to really burrow in and excavate!  Mallory had been inside Netherese ruins before, albeit entirely in an intellectual context; no wild dungeon delving but rather carefully examining remains of the past that were either entirely safe to begin with or had already been scoured by "adventurers".  But to enter one (mostly) untouched, to be the first to see its secrets!  Despite the ever-present air of danger, she began to see the appeal...

"Oh, poor Dannika is going to be absolutely furious with me for seeing this without her.  If only she were here to expl--" the young noble had begun to remark, only for her words to fall supernaturally silent when she crossed into the library.  It took her a moment of continuing to chatter uselessly before she even realized what the situation was, though she seemed more amused than anything.  Amusement turned to abject delight as the group sorted about in their passing search and recovered so many well-preserved tomes.  For all the amazing feats of the Neth that had survived the passage of time, Mallory was eternally grateful it had been their method of book binding and parchment treatment that stood out above the rest.

The sprawled skeleton among the debris was a point of particular interest for her though.  Mallory knelt down beside the remains in silent wonder of who it might have once been.  A scholar?  A student?  A researcher?  Had they once owned the Spire themselves as their private sanctum?  Were they simply some unaffiliated Neth who'd been in the wrong place at the wrong time?  So many questions about a life long past!  Mallory bowed her head and offered a solemn gesture of prayer to Kelemvor; the soul had long since passed into the currents of the Astral Sea, but it was only proper to show them kindly respect.

...before promptly sorting through their pockets in search of anything interesting.  Or, worse still perhaps, ending the whole affair by simply taking the corpse's skull and jawbone as well!

---

Yay books!  Frankly, that makes the whole trip worth it as far as Mallory's concerned.  :3  As for the skeleton, assuming it's not just going to collapse into bone dust or rise as an Undead as soon as she touches it, Mallory will check to see if it's got anything to loot and will also take the skull with her for research purposes.

The skeleton was mostly intact, save for one ring finger that was missing. The robe had pockets, but none contained much more than age-old lint.

---

The books should of course be unreadable by Mallory now that I think about it, as they are written in Netherese using the Draconic script. Oh well, not much to do about that it now. Let's say the information provided is what she can gather based on context clues and illustrations, and that she needs Comprehend Languages or some other means of translation to read them in their entirety.

Upon seeing the old skeleton, and upon making sure that it would not rise and attack them for their intrusion, Khulekani took hold of the triquetra around her neck and held it aloft. Then she gave the least deity-specific prayer for the dead that she knew.

"Greeting bring I to the mountains,
Greeting to the vales and uplands,
Greet ye, heights with forests covered,
Greet ye, ever-verdant fir-trees,
Greet ye, groves of whitened aspen,
Greetings bring to those that greet you,

Fields, and streams, and woods of green.
Bring me favor, mountain-woodlands,
Burning-deserts, show me kindness,
Mighty Tyr, be gracious,

Let me wander through thy forests,
Let me glide along thy rivers,
Let this hunter search thy snow-fields,

Where the wild-moose herds in numbers
Where the bounding reindeer lingers...
Rest now, ye unknown soul, and find peace."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:09, Mon 26 Dec 2022.

That a singular digit was missing from the skeleton's otherwise gathered remains struck Mallory as odd, but there was little to be done for it at the moment.  Apple had come that way ahead of them and seemed like she'd tossed the previous room for whatever she could grab, so it was likely she'd taken anything of use or obvious value from the study as well.  Though the young noble had to question Apple's judgment if she'd left behind precious tomes... some people just didn't understand the value of books.  Perhaps she just thought they'd be too cumbersome to carry deeper into the Spire.

"I wish there'd been a grimoire or two among this lot, but I suppose finding a genuine, intact Netherese spellbook would be asking too much of Tymora." Mallory observed once she'd left the silenced study.  "Let's continue on.  Based on the size of the rooms so far, the Spire itself can't be that expansive... hopefully we're close on Miss Apple's heels already."

---

Unless there's anything else to check or chat about, shall we move on to the next room?

Also, DM - do the books and skeleton show signs of the invasive fractal pattern like the Thri-kreen corpse did?  Or are they unmarred?

---

The robes and skull of the skeleton bear the fractal etchings, as do the covers of the books. Their contents are completely unscathed.

As for moving on, I want to reiterate that further down does not lead to more tower, but to what appears like an icy cavern. I'll require a Perception check from one of you.

Rhydd had stood by silently, enjoying watching the play of emotions across Mallory's face as she alternately discovered a new book -- and, of course, the dusty skeleton.

"I can carry any of those volumes in my backpack, if you don't want to hoard them all to yourself," he suggested with a smile.

"And you needn't worry about my attempting to hold onto one, since I have no need for a door-stop at the moment."

---

OOC: I don't mind rolling a Perception Check for Rhydd (he is at +5), but it seems to me that whoever is out in front of the party should probably be the one to make the roll.

Truth be told, I have forgotten our marching order (when exploring the Spire), and I do not remember who would be in the lead. :)

"Come now, Rhydd, these are precious things that connect us to those who came before, worthy of respect." Mallory chided gently; her tone made it clear she valued the contents within perhaps moreso than the actual rare books themselves.  She was also quite happy to take up his offer to carry the heavy tomes and would help to load up his bag, though only after making sure she securely wrapped the books in spare portions of packing cloth from her supply.

A gloved hand reached up to gently pluck against the bowstring of the magicked weapon Rhydd bore; a physical culmination of history given specific purpose.  "Surely you can appreciate the value of history and inherited knowledge?" she asked, head canted gently aside to let her hair fall charmingly over her shoulder.  "In that way we honor our past, strengthen ourselves in the present, and set a foundation for those in the future we'll never meet."

Rhydd patiently listened to Mallory's justification for treating the weighty tomes as if they were true loot. It occurred to him that they were worth much more to a person who loved books (and who had spent much of her life around them) than to someone whose interests ran to the practical.

"If there is something in these books that will bolster your magicks . . . or if, I suppose, they can be sold for a nice profit -- then I would agree that they are worth carrying around," he responded.

"Otherwise . . ." he shrugged what would, in a different place and time, mayhap be considered a Gallic shrug.

Mallory just as patiently smiled and shook her head.  "Ever the pragmatist.  If it helps ease the ache of your generously volunteered shoulders then, yes, these tomes may very well be of practical use.  But just you wait; I'll find a book you'll enjoy someday, else write it myself if I have to."

"Mrrrlp?" Astre broke his extended silence for a moment as he poked into the conversation.

"The Adventures of Camber Fosrick?  Astre, please, you're the only one who likes reading those farcical detective stories." Mallory dismissed the notion with a wave.  "No, I would think... hm... perhaps Ballads and Lore of One Dusty Road?  Or perhaps A Warrior's View?  That one is a collection of writings by a cantankerous old veteran Marshal who spends the whole duration scolding the foolishness of man and the folly of those who value adventure over common sense."

"Rrrm."

"No, no, The Adventures of Grin, Richard, and Wu-Wei is much too indulgent in its prose.  Even I struggle to swallow it at my age.  Perhaps Maritime Tales of Faerun?  Folklore is always interesting."

"Mrrl."

"My Dinner With Goblins?  Really?" Mallory just scoffed and flicked at one of her Familiar's sharp ears over such a suggestion.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Sun 01 Jan 2023.

"I'll confess that I am not much of a reader," Rhydd replied to Mallory's calling out numerous titles that she felt might possibly appeal to him.

"When I was younger, it seemed like there was always something that needed doing, something that demanded my time and attention. And growing up in the Wilds, I can't ever recall having any books close at hand, even if I had the spare time to spend with them."

"And now that I am a trifle older . . . well, not that much has changed, it seems to me," he admitted with a slight chuckle.

Leaning his head over to one side, he regarded Mallory in silence for a moment. "Never having had much practice at it, I am a rather slow reader. It would take me forever . . . well, quite a long time, any how -- to read through a real book."

"Mayhap . . . perhaps . . ." he began, looking a bit uncertain, "if we ever get sufficient downtime, you could pick out a book and read it to me. You know, in front of a toasty fire and with some wine for you and some ale for me."

"Or not  . ." he finished, seemingly unsure of whether he should have made such a suggestion.

The possibility of Rhydd being illiterate had crossed Mallory's mind.  She was glad to find he didn't seem particularly bothered by his limited reading capacity though; it was hardly anything to be ashamed of, but she realized a beat too late her antics might've been grating to his pride.  Limited reading skills were a rather common trait shared among laborers, soldiers, and the like; one rarely had the need to learn anything beyond the most basic of reading and arithmetic when most commonplace businesses didn't even use written signboards and relied on haggling.  Especially when having one person in an entire company of workers who could manage logistics sufficed.

"Mayhap... perhaps... if we ever get sufficient downtime, you could pick out a book and read it to me. You know, in front of a toasty fire and with some wine for you and some ale for me."

That hesitant suggestion perked Mallory's brows.  "Well, that hardly sounds likes it would be conducive to learning." she began, her tone coy but smile quite telling that his boldness hadn't missed its mark.  She leaned in nearer with a half-lidded gaze for Rhydd from beneath the drape of her hood.  "But it does sound like the start of a wonderful evening."

All flirtations aside, however; the young noble had to acknowledge their present reality as she let her eyes drift over to the icy cavern that awaited them.  Notions of comfort and fond company faded with a heavy sigh.  "Assuming we make it out of here alive first, of course.  It's been alright so far, all things considered, but I doubt our luck will hold out for long."

The cavern below was soundless, and the darkness made it difficult to glean anything except the landing illuminated by the hole directly above. It looked like a ten feet drop, if even that.

It appeared, by all observations, empty. Everything here was a blend of matte and vibrant, transparent ice, and the ground was uneven and in certain places entirely sleek. The cavern itself was angled sharply, stemming from a tunnel to the east and continuing on into a sloping, round hole that stretched into the darkness. Directly above was a naturally formed ledge on which a tiny piece of brass reflected back Isiliva's glowing light.

---

Map. Hopefully you can make sense of it. All tiles are Difficult Terrain, meaning your movement here is halved. (Save for Rhydd/Mallory who has Winterland Boots? I don't remember who has them anymore.)

"Well, that's terrifying." was Mallory curt appraisal of the gloomy, ominous sloped channel that went for who knew how long.  That just seemed like the sort of thing a soul could vanish into and never be heard from again... which boded ill considering Apple had yet to be found.

The faint gleam of something across that icy abyss caught more than just Mallory's eye.  Namely, Astre's.  He knew better than to go traipsing off in such dangerous terrain, however, and at least spared his companion an inquisitive mewl as both their attention was cast across the chasm.  The young noble raised her lantern rod a bit higher to cast its illumination further throughout the room in hopes of getting a better look.

"Something's there?  Go on then; it might be something Miss Apple dropped." she conceded even though, if that was the case, it meant the Halfling had surely gone downward somehow.  Had she tried to leap across and fallen?  Or perhaps it was just some lost bit of kit that had somehow scattered down across the ice?  Only one way to find out.  Astre gingerly trotted out across Mallory's extended arm and took an easy leap to glide across the gap to where the gleaming trinket awaited.

Correct; Mallory and Rhydd aren't hindered by Difficult Terrain caused by ice or snow thanks to their magick'd boots.  Nor is Astre, technically, but only because he can fly or stand on people rather than the terrain.

Question: Does the fractal pattern continue on into this icy area as well?

Also, does the round tunnel look natural or man-made?  Like, is it perfectly round like someone bored through the ice or is it a natural formation?
This message was last edited by the player at 05:31, Thu 05 Jan 2023.

As Astre was airborne across the chasm, a deep rumbling took a hold of the cavern. The ground shook noticably.

On the other side, he could identify the item for what it was — a rather large amulet, forged in brass and ringed in silver. It bore a rune upon its face, three crescent moons with lines streaking down. Half of its silver chain was frozen fast to the ice.

---

Updated map. As Astre should be able to spy, there's an entrance carved in the spire's exterior underneath where the characters currently stand (labeled A), and another hole directly to the south (labeled B).

Picture of the Amulet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:12, Thu 05 Jan 2023.

When the chamber rumbled Mallory instantly went tense on the spot, eyes wide with a jolt of fear.  A cave-in would be the worst possible turn of events just then!  But it seemed brief, though she remained quite on edge with a worried glance bounced to each of her companions.  "Do... do you think that was normal?  Shifting ice, perhaps?" she squeaked weakly.

Astre, meanwhile, was less concerned with the matter of potentially collapsing surroundings.  He had something shiny in front of him!  Feline instinct to bat around the half-stuck amulet on the end of its chain was restrained enough in the moment; he didn't want to risk knocking it away down the tunnel on accident.  A bit of sniffing and examination was all it took before the Tressym gathered the chain in his teeth to keep a firm hold, pulled it taut, and set kitty claws to scraping away at the ice to try and dig it free.

"Or something large moving about..." Khulekani said warily, drawing Isiliva.

Adding the silvery light to their surrounding, the Squire tried her best to look over the lip and let the light travel further down the hole. Something beneath them may have moved and shifted, after all.

Someone stronger would have been able to yank the amulet free, perhaps tear it off its chains, without much effort. Astre was not that someone. He had to resort to shaving away the ice to get it unstuck, a process that was slow even for his sharp feline claws, but eventually he would get it done.

Isiliva's light bounced down the winding tunnels as she was held past the ledge as silence fell. Though there were shelves here and there, small pockets, or shallow branches, it seemed to be one massive rift that had cracked in the glacier and cut through the tower. Like a subterranean ravine, with the walls smoothed out by the passage of time, and though it wound out of sight quite abruptly, it was like a maze of mirrors — dark, blue, and alluringly beautiful. It laid still, now that the rumbling had ceased, though after just a moment the cast light flickered in a way to sell out the shadow of Khulekani's hypothesis.

---

Khulekani's Perception [19]: Yeah, something's probably down there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:53, Mon 09 Jan 2023.

"You know, he does this to our herb garden back home, too." Mallory couldn't help but talk through her nervousness while Astre took his time scrp-scrp-scrp-scrp'ing away at the ice.  Oh, how many stalks of basil had she lost to the same digging mischief?

Though Astre was focused on his task, it didn't keep him from being useful in other regards.  Mallory's gaze narrowed briefly as her eyes clouded over in the same moment the Tressym glanced over his shoulder back their way.  His eyes reflected the same arcane light even as they bounced back the glow of Khulekani's blade, though it was only a momentary glance before he set back to work.  Mallory shook her head briefly and, with a few rapid blinks, her eyes returned to normal.

"Hm... there's an entrances that hews into the Spire partway down the channel below.  It looks terribly inaccessible though without a lot of anchoring and rope." she noted before she glanced over to their other more obvious option in the near floor space.  "If there may be something large and bothersome down there, perhaps that's how it got in?  I imagine Miss Apple would've taken the easier route down, herself.  Shall I have Astre scout ahead for us and see once he's done?"

---

Bears - I intended to have Mallory refreshing "Detect Magic" via Ritual consistently to keep it active as much as possible, but given the uncertain passage of time, I'll leave it up to you to decide if she's got it online at the moment.  If so, does the amulet ping as magical?  Does it have any other distinct features upon closer inspection?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:46, Tue 10 Jan 2023.

Another brief tremble interrupted the planning. Then sound of falling debris echoing through the chasm. Then silence. And then the impact.

The monster burst through the ice right at Khulekani's feet, knocking her into the air, and shards of ice flew with terrible speeds from the crater.¹ Purple tentacles wrapped tightly about her limbs and spittle few in her face as it let out a sharp, feral scream.

As it hung in the air, like a large whale leaping from the water, its appearance was laid bare to any spectators lucky enough to stand their ground. And it was one unlike anything any of them had seen before. Its thick, gray carapace was layered atop its back, culminating in a jutting, fin-like structure just past its shoulders. Strong, scaly front limbs ended in massive black claws, and fur jutted from behind its carapace and lined parts of its body. The creature had no hind legs. From its enormous maw sprouted purple, raw flesh stretched about a serrated beak, culminating in the tentacles which grasped at Khulekani.²

---

Battlemap.

Illustration of the Bulette in question.

^1: Each of you, except Khulekani, must succeed on a Dexterity DC 16 Saving Throw or take 14 Slashing Damage, half as much on a Save.

^2:
Aberrant Bulette Tentacle Attack against Khulekani [24]: Hit. No Damage. Khulekani must succeed on a DC 15 Athletics/Acrobatics Saving Throws or be Grappled.
Aberrant Bulette Tentacle Attack against Khulekani [20]: Hit. No Damage. Khulekani must succeed on a DC 15 Athletics/Acrobatics Saving Throws or be Grappled.

Yes, that is two separate rolls.

Aberrant Bulette Beak Attack against Khulekani (if she is Grappled it is made with Advantage) [10, 26]: On a hit she takes 19 Piercing Damage.

Initiative Order:
> Mallory and Astre [18]
> Rhydd [16]
> Khulekani[16]
> Farwalker [15]
> Idrianthe [7]
Aberrant Bulette [7]

Aberrant Bulette AC: 17
Aberrant Bulette HP: 94/94
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:48, Sat 14 Jan 2023.

Khulekani didn't even have time to shout out a warning as she was engulfed by a mass of freezing tentacles. The sinewy limbs had an iron strength, and she felt herself being slowly crushed by the foul things. But that pain was nothing compared to the sharp, piercing strike of the beak into her side.

"Mercy of the gods!" she cried in pain and rage.

With a combination of zeal and sheer muscle, she tore herself free from the tentacled monstrosity. It was good that he glowing blade was already in her grasp, for she found herself in the thick of a mad battle with creature that boggled the mind.

OOC Mechanics
Hit Points    : 6/39
Armor Class   : 18
Initiative    : 16
Active Effects: None

Action  : Escape Grapple

-Rolls-
21:04, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 20,14 using d20+10,d20+10. Athletics.
21:07, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Athletics.

Idri was thrown onto her back by the emerging monster, already feeling the places where ice had dug deep and found purchase through her armor. But there was no time to bleed.

Idri struck the ground with her elbows and a burst of telekinetic force propelled her back up onto her feet, already drawing her shield from her back and bringing it to bear on her left arm.

The right, constructed arm crackled with magic as Idri swung wild and punched the solid carapace with two quick jabs, both impacts yielding a loud crack as though she had snapped a bullwhip. The sound hung in the air, vibrating against the monster if it placed its focus anywhere but Idrianthe.

The knight pulled her magic back up from the mithril arm to charge the engravings of her armor with glowing, pale blue power as she silently, calmly prepared for the bulette's ire.

OOC Mechanics
Hit Points        : 24/38
Temp. Hit Points  : 5
Armor Class       : 21
Active Effects    : Thunder Gauntlet Taunt on Bulette

Idrianthe fails her Dex Save with an 8.

Movement: Half move to rise from prone.
Object Interaction: Draw shield.
Action: Attack with thunder Gauntlet, including Extra Attack.
Bonus Action: Gain 5 temporary HP using the special feature of Guardian Armor.

Thunder Gauntlet Attack against Bulette [22] Hit! Bulette takes 6 Thunder Damage. Until the beginning of Idrianthe's next turn, the Bulette suffers disadvantage to attack anyone except for her.

Thunder Gauntlet Extra Attack against Bulette [17] Hit! Bulette takes 8 Thunder Damage. Until the beginning of Idrianthe's next turn, the Bulette suffers disadvantage to attack anyone except for her.

Rolls:
10:07, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Dex Save.
10:11, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  Thunder Gauntlet Attack.
10:12, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 6 using 1d8+4.  Thunder Gauntlet Damage.
10:12, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Thunder Gauntlet Extra Attack.
10:13, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 8 using 1d8+4.  Thunder Gauntlet Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Sat 14 Jan 2023.

Admittedly, Rhydd had been daydreaming. He saw no harm in it at the moment, and he enjoyed imagining that he was out of this hole, the winds were mild, and that the sun was unseasonably warm on his face.

His quick reflexes saved him -- not entirely, but mayhap more than he deserved, given that he had been caught napping instead of standing Watch, as he should have been. Without conscious thought the archer twisted away from the huge monstrosity that had burst up from below the ice and which now held Khulekani in its grasp.

"Seven hells!" he growled.

Luckily Rhydd had his bow in hand, and he quickly loosed two arrows, hoping to distract the monster enough to give some of his companions an opportunity to move away from it.

"Mallory! Khulekani! Get away from that thing!" he yelled.

---

OOC:

11:16, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 24 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 20.  Dexterity Saving Throw  (DC 15). Success. Note: I incorrectly listed the Save DC as 15, when  it should have been 16. But Rhydd Saves, in either case (7 Damage).

Free Action: Speak.

Action: 11:28, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 11 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 3.  Ranged Attack #1 v. Bulette (AC 17); Longbow +1.

11:33, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 17 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 9.  Luck Die re-Roll; Attack #1. Hit.

11:36, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 13,5 using d8+5,d8 with rolls of 8,5.  Damage (Attack #1) Longbow +1, Superiority Die. Damage Dealt: 18. The Superiority Die will grant a Maneuvering Attack.

11:29, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 9 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 1.  Ranged Attack #2 v. Bulette (AC 17); Longbow +1.

11:32, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 27 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 19.  Luck Die re-Roll; Attack #2. Hit.

11:38, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 7,5 using d8+5,d8 with rolls of 2,5.  Damage (Attack #2) Longbow +1, Superiority Die. Damage Dealt: 12. The Superiority Die will grant a Maneuvering Attack.

Total Damage Dealt (Both Attacks): 30.

Comments: Rhydd will burn two Luck Dice and two Superiority Dice this Round (I very much wanted to get two Hits in order to give Khulekani and Mallory an opportunity to move away from the Bulette).

Maneuvering Attack: (see p. 74, PHB). "When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to maneuver one of your companions to a more advantageous position. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and you choose a friendly creature who can see and hear you. That creature can use its reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking opportunity attacks from the target of your attack."

Like Rhydd, Mallory's thoughts were elsewhere in the moments before disaster struck.  Where his mind had drifted to greener pastures, her own were cast into the figurative future to think several steps ahead.  To plan her next series of actions; what would be best, what would be most useful and efficient.  But all that went utterly to pot as the rumbling kicked in again first to upset her focus and then, with a scream that echoed off the icy walls, the young noble was thrown back from the eruption beneath their feet.

There was a moment as Mallory struggled to push herself back upright from where she'd ended up slumped to the cold, slick wall that the world spun in an entirely unfamiliar way.  Confusion rattled her thoughts about into disarray as her head pounded and a reflexive reach to her brow came away with her hand soaked in red.  Hot, seeping blood matted through her hair and down the side of her face... and the dawning realization of intense pain was quickly joined by a surge of adrenaline.  Dark eyes went wide as she struggled not to panic despite the pain, the screams and flailing of her companions, the slow recognition of what exactly the horrible monstrosity before them was.

She had to... had to do something... a spell?  The mere attempt to focus her thoughts on the incantations and parameters of magic made her head swim.  Her heartbeat thundering in her ears made it impossible to focus.  It was more reflex and strange instinct than anything else as she saw Khulekani wrench herself free from the monstrosity to avoid being dragged away and, with a sudden lunge, Mallory jammed the butt of her Lantern Rod at the beast.  Such a strike would do absolutely nothing against its dense armor, but she didn't aim to harm; rather, the shaft scraped along the edge and beneath some of the lifted plating, amid the clustered bulk and shifting, alien limbs.  Wholly tangled, stuck like the worst of brambles as she hit the rod's trigger and magically locked it where it stood in space.

"Mallory! Khulekani! Get away from that thing!"

Rhydd's shout cut through the adrenaline-fueled haze on Mallory's mind.  At least, just enough for her to jerk his way with a wild look in her eyes, wide and fearful.  Run?  Yes, running.  Running was a very good idea.  She gave a grunt of effort as she threw herself away from the monster with a hurried, inelegant scrabble across the ice to get out of either line of fire.

---

Action: Immovable Rod Grapple - trying to lock down the creature
Mallory Bonheur rolled 9 using 1d20+2

Mallory will use her 7 Portent on the Bulette's Saving Throw to ensure a failure.

Once the Immovable Rod is activated, it can resist up to 8,000 lbs of force.  A creature can move it by using its action to make a DC 30 Strength Check to try and push it away 10' per round.

Movement + Reaction: 15' to stand up, then 30' (half movement twice over, thank you Rhydd) to flee to D... 7/2?  The numbering on the map is a little wonky.  However far back up the way they came Mallory can get to put space between her and the Bulette.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:39, Sun 15 Jan 2023.

That had been unexpected. With a groan, Farwalker staggered to her feet, hand pawing at her belt for the loop that her axe rested in. There was a beast in front of her that hadn’t been there a moment ago. Which seemed like a pretty not great thing, at the moment. So, with a wordless shout, she slammed the back of her axe into her shield, letting out a nice, loud gonging clang. The flickering little bits of light that always seemed to follow her about sprang fully into life, flowing and swirling around her and mostly her shield.

“You are a stain upon the land. Run while you still can.” She bashed weapon and shield together again, this time leaving a glowing vision of her axe behind, which shot towards the monster to dig into it’s side.

---

Hit AC 19 for 10 Force Damage

HP: 31/38 (7) AC: 19

Movement: Stand Up
Action: Channel Divinity, Twilight Sanctuary
Bonus Action: Spiritual Weapon
Reaction: Stone’s Endurance (7 Damage Negated)

quote:

Twilight Sanctuary - You can use your Channel Divinity to refresh your allies with soothing twilight.
   As an action, you present your holy symbol, and a sphere of twilight emanates from you. The sphere is centered on you, has a 30-foot radius, and is filled with dim light. The sphere moves with you, and it lasts for 1 minute or until you are incapacitated or die. Whenever a creature (including you) ends its turn in the sphere, you can grant that creature one of these benefits:
 - You grant it temporary hit points equal to 1d6 plus your cleric level.
 - You end one effect on it causing it to be charmed or frightened.

quote:

You create a floating, spectral weapon within range that lasts for the duration or until you cast this spell again. When you cast the spell, you can make a melee spell attack against a creature within 5 feet of the weapon. On a hit, the target takes force damage equal to 1d8 + your spellcasting ability modifier. As a bonus action on your turn, you can move the weapon up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against a creature within 5 feet of it. The weapon can take whatever form you choose. Clerics of deities who are associated with a particular weapon (as St. Cuthbert is known for his mace and Thor for his hammer) make this spell’s effect resemble that weapon.

Today: Farwalker rolled 7 using 1d6+5.  Bonus HP.
Today: Farwalker rolled 10 using 1d8+3.  Damage.
Today: Farwalker rolled 19 using 1d20+6.  Spiritual Weapon Attack.

The massive creature hung in the air, beak and tentacles to the sky, though its sheer length had its end of its scaly tail still submerged in the hole it had burst from. When gravity pulled it down, the aberrant beast was stopped short by the rod lodged beneath its carapace. Mallory hadn't needed to excert force — the bulk of the Bulette had done the work for her. And so it was that it remained suspended, wiggling and wrangling to get loose.¹

The tentacles which wrapped about Khulekani's limbs slackened and the Squire tore herself free.

Suspended, it was ripe for a pummeling, and between Idrianthe's cracking gauntlet, Farwalker's radiant axe, and Rhydd's well-aimed arrows², chinks formed in its carapace and black, syrupy blood was drawn.

---

Battlemap.

Initiative Order:
> Mallory and Astre [18]
> Rhydd [16]
> Khulekani[16]
> Farwalker [15]
> Idrianthe [7]
Aberrant Bulette [7]

Aberrant Bulette AC: 17
Aberrant Bulette HP: 50/94

Notes
1: Since we're deviating faaar from the books here, I'm setting the Acrobatics DC to Mallory's initial roll, which is a 9. The Athletics DC remains at 30. I find that a fair compromise, as a Grapple that can never reasonable be escaped would be a tad on the overpowered side. Nor does it make sense to make it a contest, as Mallory is currently not doing anything to warrant rolls from her end. I rolled a 13, so it's getting free unless you burn another Portent.

2: Rhydd should have Disadvantage on his Attack rolls since he is within 5' of a hostile creature. Since I myself have technically cheated my previous turn, we'll let it slide and remember it for next time.

Khulekani has been placed in an appropriate square. The Bulette should not have been able to end its turn underneath her, unless I'm being uncharitable and retroactively justify it with a third dimension.

Fixed numbering on map.

Mallory pressed herself flush to the icy wall and struggled through her gasps to regather her wits.  No easy feat; the fear of the moment and the pain of her wound were both still fresh, even with Farwalker's fortifying presence there to at least guard against worsened wounds.  She had to do something though!  The young noble raised her hands even as they trembled, tried to focus herself as arcane force shimmered across her fingers.

But, all at once, another jolt of pain struck her as her head throbbed from her wound.  Mallory cried out and clasped at her temple on reflex as the magic went awry, shifted spontaneously from her intended conjuration to a raw spike of shared pain and vertigo.

---

Nah, not going to spend another Portent.  Locking the Bulette down for a turn and giving everyone the chance to lay into it again is more than enough for me to try pushing further.

Mallory casts Mind Sliver
Aberrant Bulette has to make a DC 15 INT saving throw or take 6 Psychic Damage and subtract 4 from its next saving throw made before the end of my next turn.

Temp HP from Farwalker's Aura
Mallory Bonheur rolled 8 using 1d6+5
This message was last edited by the player at 03:07, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

Rhydd was between a rock and a hard place, as the old saying went. He was too close to the huge monster to effectively hit it with his arrows, and he felt certain that if he moved away from it, it would strike at him -- and hit him with those big tentacles, most likely.

~I have to lengthen the range a bit. I can't just stand here and miss for the remainder of the fight,~ he decided.

With that thought in mind, he rushed away from the creature, trying to present as small a target as possible.

Once he had gained some distance, he stopped in front of Mallory -- not that he expected the monster to be able to force its way past the combined might of Farwalker, Idrianthe, and Khulekani -- turned, and loosed two more arrows at their foe.

After the briefest of pauses, he quickly shot twice more . . .

---

OOC:

Move: Rhydd will move to Square F-7, triggering an Opportunity Attack.

Action:

18:31, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 21 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 13.  Ranged Attack #1 v. Bulette (AC 17); Longbow +1. Hit.

18:35, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 6 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 1.  Damage, Attack #1 (Longbow +1).

18:32, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 14 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 6.  Ranged Attack #2 v. Bulette (AC 17); Longbow +1.

18:34, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 5 using 1d8 with rolls of 5.  Precision Attack (d8).

Total Attack Roll (Attack #2): 19. Hit.

18:36, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 8 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 3.  Damage, Attack #2 (Longbow +1).

Action Surge: 18:55, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 16 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 8.  Action Surge Attack (Longbow +1) v. Bulette (AC 17).

18:55, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 4 using 1d8 with rolls of 4.  Precision Attack (d8).

Total Attack Roll (Action Surge Attack): 20 Hit.

18:56, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 12 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 7.  Damage (Action Surge Attack).


19:12, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 15 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 7.  Action Surge Attack #2 (Longbow+1) v. Bulette (AC 17). Miss.

Total Damage Dealt This Round: 26.

19:05, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 10 using 1d6+5 with rolls of 5.  Temporary Hit Points, Courtesy of Farwalker.

Comments: Rhydd has now expended all four of his Superiority Dice.

Rules question: Under "Extra Attack" (PHB, p. 42) it states "Beginning at 5th Level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn." I think that means that Rhydd gets two Attacks when he takes the Attack action as his Action Surge Action. Do I have that right?

As it turns out, this is a question for academic purposes only, since the second Action Surge Attack missed. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

Idrianthe bounced back and forth on the balls of her feet like a pugilist, cocking her mithral fist back to throw it twice more against the squirming monstrosity's armored carapace -- though only once did she connect properly and produce the sonic crack of her thunder magic. There was a feeling of calm and euphoria when Idrianthe's own mystical wards were overtaken by the much more powerful magic of Farwalker, an entirely agreeable development to the elven knight as she once more demanded the monster's attention.

"Lady Bonheur, do you need aid?!" She shouted, able to hear the wizard's distress from what she certainly hoped was a safe distance from the bulette, but unsure what was causing it. Surely it couldn't be the shower of icy shards all of them had been riddled with, that was merely excruciatingly painful! Idri could feel them splintering where they found purchase near her joints every time she made a large motion, but that was life.

Well, her life, anyway.

---

OOC:

Hit Points    : 24/38
Temp. HP      : 10
Armor Class   : 21
Active Effect : Thunder Gauntlet Taunt (Bulette)

Action: Attack & Extra Attack vs the Bulette w/Advantage from Flanking

Attack #1, Thunder Gauntlet [19, 10] Hit! Bulette takes 8 Thunder Damage. Until the beginning of Idrianthe's next turn, the Bulette suffers disadvantage to attack targets other than her.

Attack #2, Thunder Gauntlet [15, 13] Miss!

Twilight Awesomeness: Idrianthe gains 10 Temporary Hit Points, which replaces her existing pool of 5.

21:29, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 19 using 1d20+7.  Attack #1, Thunder Gauntlet (AC 17).
07:31, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 10 using 1d20+7.  Attack #1, Thunder Gauntlet (AC 17) Advantage.
21:29, Idrianthe Mar rolled 15 using 1d20+7.  Attack #2, Thunder Gauntlet (AC 17).
07:31, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Attack #2, Thunder Gauntlet (AC 17) Advantage.
21:29, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 8 using 1d8+4.  Damage, Attack #1.
21:39, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 10 using 1d6+5.  Sweet, Snazzy Temp HP.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:34, Thu 19 Jan 2023.

Now that Khulekani was free of the crushing tentacles of the wretched beast, Isiliva was free to do her beautiful if deadly work. It was clear to all around that the dark-skinned woman was in pain. But instead of retreating like most would, she held aloft her sword that always glowed with a soft silvery light and prepared to attack.

"The time for Mercy is over! Let Righteousness and Justice fall upon you!" she cried, voice full of zealous fury.

Isiliva's soft silver light exploded into a searing white radiance that was difficult to look upon directly. Khulekani brought the brilliant blade down in two graceful, powerful arcs, looking to put this monster down for good, so that it would hurt no others.

OOC Mechanics
Hit Points    : (7) 6/39
Armor Class   : 18
Initiative    : 16
Active Effects: Divine Favor

Free    : Speak
Action  : Melee Attack Aberrant Bulette x2 - with level 2 Smite
Bonus   : Cast Divine Favor

Damage  : 42 Magic Slashing Radiant

-Rolls-
10:52, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 7 using 1d6+5. Temp HP.
10:54, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 17,24 using 2d20+7,2d20+7, dropping the lowest dice only. Attack Rolls with Advantage.
10:56, Today: Khulekani Kumalo rolled 25,17 using 1d8+3d8+1d4+6,1d8+1d4+6. Damage Rolls.

The monster was able to wriggle free from the inhibiting Rod, coming down with a heavy crash onto the icy floor.

Though a being of pure instinct, it surprisingly managed to resist Mallory's psychic intrusion through sheer dullness. Whatever enhancement this Bulette had seen, it had not extended to its brain, which remained like a smooth grapefruit.

It snapped at Rhydd as he attempted to duck away, though missed marvelously. Rhydd's ensuing shots and Idrianthe's thundering fists, however, did not. One arrow found purchase in its tentacle-riddled faced, drawing a pained screech from the creature, and though it turned quickly enough to absorb Idrianthe's punches with its carapace, the first was simply powerful enough to penetrate and reverberate through its entire being.

And so, when Isiliva came down, alight and seering, it was with enough might to cut deep across its head-protrusion, severing two of its tentacles in her arcs. The monster's shrieks fell silent, and so did its movement right thereafter.

---

Battlemap.

Aberrant Bulette DC 15 Int Saving Throw against Mallory's Mind Sliver [16!]: Success.

Aberrant Bulette Opportunity Attack against Rhydd [9]: Miss.

Aberrant Bulette HP: 0/95

Combat ends.

With the awful monstrosity being slain by an outright assault from all sides and seemingly no further emergence of another, Mallory finally had a moment to breathe.  The effort to calm herself in the moment, however, proved unwise as the moment the adrenaline began to ebb from her system, the pain and dizziness instead rushed in full force.  A weak, ragged groan was all she could utter as she slumped to her knees right there, curled over onto herself with head clutched in her hands.  Long, dark hair matted out across the ice below her, saturated with her own blood as she struggled to maintain lucidity in spite of her wound.

"...b-belly... split... split its belly..." she weakly tried to urge, if her words could even be heard over her own pained gasps.  Given that they were looking for a Halfling, the prospect of an ambush predator that had no qualm tackling the likes of Khulekani head-on raised the troubling prospect of what one might find in such a beast's stomach.

---

Ah, that friendly reminder that Mallory is by no means an Adventurer.  That was literally the most damage she's ever taken in her entire life and the first time she's ever been so badly injured.  ^^;
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Sat 21 Jan 2023.

"Well done, everyone," Rhydd murmured as he stared at the hulking monstrosity which now lay still and silent on the ice. He had not put his thoughts into words, but he had feared that he and his companions might not be able to defeat such a fearsome foe.

Just about then, he heard Mallory speaking from behind him, in a tone of voice that he had never heard from her before. When he turned, he saw that she had collapsed to her knees, bent over and clutching her head with her hands.

He rushed over to her and dropped to his knees in the snow, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Just a moment," he said gently, "and we'll have some help for you."

Looking back over his shoulder, he called to his other companions. "Lady Mallory is badly injured over here. Some help . . . healing . . . please!"

Rhydd's concern for Mallory perhaps made his voice a little more strident than he had intended, but in truth he hardly noticed . . .

Farwalker stayed quiet after the beast fell, tilting her head one way then the other as she listened carefully. If that wasn’t the only one, she would rather be ready for it. When it was clear a second one wasn’t going to show up, she sighed and slid her weapon back into it’s loop. “Poor beast. It doesn’t seem natural to this existence.” Which was about when Rhydd rushed over to Mallory. Farwalker didn’t quite roll her eyes, but it was a close thing.

“Her wounds will not kill her before I heal her. Especially not in my aurora. She is in shock.” She paused as a though came to her and she shrugged, the auroras shifting with her every movement. “I don’t recommend standing in front of her if she has nausea. Perhaps to the side.” With that, she flicked her hand through the lights surrounding her. “Mend their wounds, please?” Her voice echoed at the last, and the lights swirled around each person in the room.

Even though the combat had been brief, maybe a dozen seconds, Khulekani found herself starting to breath heavy despite the cold. It was the adrenaline. It had no place to go in the aftermath of the pain and the fight reflex. So the Squire took a steadying breath, and as she did so, the divine light in her blade faded until only the moon-light silver of it's natural state remained.

"We thank the Three who watch as One. For without Mercy, Justice, and Duty, we would have no love, no life, and no civilization..." she whispered, grasping the icon of the Triad she wore around her neck.

After the warmth and succor of Farwalker's healing magics washed over her, Khulekani sighed happily. It was like being caressed by a spring breeze for just a moment. However, when the light faded, she noticed she still had a deep bruising from where the beak had tried to snap through her armor.

"Please, let not a servant of the Triad be so marred by the unrighteous. There is much left to do before rest falls to this body," Khulekani prayed, holding one gloved hand over the lingering wound.

There was a slow, gentle glow of light that surrounded her palm and grew from there, like the sun breaking at the dawn. And when the light faded, only dark, unbruised flesh remained. With the creature now slain, and the wounds of those around finally tended, the aspiring knight sheathed her glowing sword, cutting off the reflected glare of the icy walls.

“I don’t recommend standing in front of her if she has nausea. Perhaps--"

Brusque as Farwalker's bedside manner was, it also proved precisely apt as Mallory heaved and splashed sick across the ice.  Thankfully a small amount which rapidly froze into a discolored slush, but still.  Rhydd's hurry to help her however he could gave him view of her wound; it seemed a fragment of sharp ice had caught Mallory across the side of the head as it flew past.  A bloody laceration split through her dark hair deep enough to show a glimpse of bone at its center.  A near thing too - had she been stood a little more to the left when the Bulette burst in, that shard might well have gone right between her eyes instead.  That it had only struck her in a relatively glancing blow was a matter of luck.

But healing magics were a wonderful thing indeed.  A concussed brain and sundered bodies were of no consequence to divine forces.  Mallory's flesh knit itself back together and hair grew in rapidly, far beyond natural recovery, thanks to their kindly Goliath's care.  Restored to normal and bolstered even further beyond thanks to those divine auras.  Physically, the young noble was better than ever... but the experience clearly left a less easily-treated wound of its own as she buried her face into Rhydd's chest and clung to him.  As her breathing slowly came back under control she had enough of her wits to not simply cry... even though she rather wanted to.

---

Back up to full HP plus 8 Temp HP, thanks to Farwalker.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:19, Sat 21 Jan 2023.

Idrianthe stretched both arms across her body to fully shatter the errant shards of ice that still stuck out of her soft parts, then let the divine salve do its work to expel the lodged fragments and rapidly accelerate most of the punctures' healing to raw, pink flesh. Her armor handled itself, closing the gaps where perforations struck with welds that rapidly became indistinguishable from the original appearance.

"First time getting something so deep?" She called over to the red-cloaked leader of these brave, capable mercenaries, a sympathetic smile furrowing her brow. "You're luckier than most that it happened in such fine company, both for the quality of their concern and the quality of their assistance." Fortunately, Idri was nowhere near the group when Mallory's stomach inverted its contents onto the ice. Good thing they ate so lightly on the trail.

"Auxilliary Kumalo, may I trouble your sword arm?" The elf asked, crouching down with several quiet clanks next to the dead monstrosity. "I don't have a blade sharp enough nor an arm strong enough to split this creature, but I'll do the dirty work of digging around inside if you'll be so kind as to make me an opening."

Rhydd could not help but worry about Mallory's wound. He could see the white skull-bone amongst her hair, and he found himself wondering if her skull was fractured. Soon enough, however, Farwalker's healing magicks took hold, and the wizardess' wound knitted itself together and closed up before the archer's eyes. He felt his own hurts fading away also, although he knew that he had not been injured as badly as some of his companions.

He did not know why Mallory had been sick, but put it down to the tension and stress of battle -- not the sort of thing that the noblewoman was accustomed to, to be sure. She continued to cling to him and buried her face in outer layer of his cold-weather jacket.

Rhydd was unsure how to comfort Mallory, so he patted her softly on the back. "There, there," he said.

"It was quite frightening for a moment, there, but it is all over with now, and you are safe as safe can be."

"As snug as a bug in a rug." He could not remember where he had heard that little ditty. It made little sense to him, but to his ear it sounded vaguely comforting -- assuming, of course, that bugs liked to be in rugs.

It took a few moments before Mallory withdrew from Rhydd to slowly lean back on her knees.  Though she still seemed shaken by the whole experience as she raised a tentative hand to where she'd once been wounded only moments prior, the look on her face was more ashamed than anything.  Farwalker and Idri's comments had struck a bit sharper than they surely intended and it set a dismal frown across the young noble's painted lips.

"I'm sorry... I must seem a pathetic sort to you all." she sighed as she almost habitually gestured a hand down across her blood-saturated hair to purge away the stickiness with a sweep of cleansing magic.

Rather than dwell on it any further, she promptly moved on with a look across to the felled monstrosity.  It was hard to think her expression could grow any more upset but, as she gazed on the creature's warped features, the brewing fear was obvious in her gaze.  "I was afraid something like this might happen, but I'd hoped to be wrong." she glanced briefly back to Rhydd in worry.  "That... thing... is a failed Ceremorph.  Which means there are Illithids nearby and we are all in far, far greater danger than I first feared."

---

Bears - how's Astre doing with that amulet?

Rhydd was glad to see Mallory up and moving again, even though to his eye she did not look all that steady on her feet.

Upon examining the hulking creature that had attacked them, she began speaking of some things that appeared to concern her, although they made absolutley no sense to the archer.

"What's a . . . a ceremorph, and what does it mean that it failed? And what are Illithids?"

Such a question was to be expected, Mallory supposed.  Exactly how well-known Illithids were varied so wildly there was no way to really tell; to some they were nothing more than legends and spooky stories, if ever heard of at all.  Gloved hands raised outward as she conjured an illusion into the air before herself - one that would perhaps ring familiar to Rhydd.  Back when they'd taken refuge from the Reghedmen Lyanthropes prior, hidden in the little pocket between worlds she'd drawn open for them.  A vision of a distant ship of some kind had floated in the Astral currents, sundered and broken, adrift without life in it; a strange shape, like a vast nautilus shell merged with a galley ship.

"They're more commonly known as 'Mind Flayers', which is a decidedly apt nickname." she began with an unsteady sigh.  "Nobody truly knows where they came from, but they're an Aberrant species from outside our world, crossing from beyond the stars and the Astral Sea itself on their Nautiloid ships.  Alien in every sense.  Cruel and hostile beyond measure.  Whatever they cannot enslave, they destroy.  They are... I mean no exaggeration: enemy to all living creatures."

The illusion faded away into nothingness once more as Mallory gingerly pushed herself to her feet and instead offered her hands to help pull Rhydd up as well.  "If you're lucky, an Illithid will simply use its Psionic powers to render you helpless, and then rip your brain out to be devoured while you are still alive, as they are so wont to do.  If you're unlucky: they subject you to Ceremorphosis.  As a species, they're parasites.  They reproduce by mutating other creatures into more of themselves.  Not all creatures are suitable hosts and results in failed mutations that inevitably die as their warped bodies cannot sustain life.  Bulettes among them, it seems." she shook her head pityingly at the very idea of even a dumb monster being subjected to such doom.  "It's not just a transformation, but the destruction of one's very being.  An Illithid spawn burrows into the brain, devours it while the host suffers, taking over their body and replacing them.  It only takes a matter of hours... irreversible, inevitable.  Once the process is complete, there's nothing of the original being left... just another Illithid to join the collective hive, ready to do the same to others.  I can think of no more horrific fate than Ceremorphosis."

---

Nautiloid Ship, with an entire damn city for scale - https://i.imgur.com/TEu3DSQ.jpg

Once things were calm, Astre could resume his excavation, and it was fortunately not long before he had shaved away enough ice to yank the amulet free.

While its back was a chitinous exoskeleton and nearly impenetrable, its skin was no laughing matter either, being of a particularly hard and scaly sort. Making the deep incision required a blade longer than your common knife, but a sword or rapier did the trick. But once it was made, blood, gunk, and innards sloshed free, joined by gastric acids once the stomach sac had been sliced open. And those acids were strong — strong enough to contain partly digested rock or basalt and what appeared to be iron that once made up armor. It was nearly unidentifiable, with only a helmet to have somewhat retained its shape.

---

Idrianthe's Medicine to slice open the Bulette's stomach [16]: Though a nasty affair and hardly with the precision of a surgeon, she's successful in the task.

In reply to Mallory Bonheur (msg # 138):

"That sounds . . . terrible," Rhydd said when Mallory had finished her explanation. To the outdoorsman's way of thinking, while there weren't exactly *good* ways to die, there were definitely bad ways and worse ways. And this sounded like a very, very bad way.

"Do we . . . should we leave this place?" he asked her.

"Yes!  ...n-no... ugh..." Mallory was left at war with herself as she ran her hands through her dark hair in frustration.

As the beast's guts were spilled and Astre fluttered back over to rejoin their company, amulet clutched in his jaws, Mallory tried to settle her troubled thoughts.  She welcomed her furred companion back with literally open arms, held in a fond embrace for a few moments before she even bothered to take the recovered trinket from him.  "We still haven't found Miss Apple so, in that sense, nothing about our task has truly changed.  But if there truly are Illithids here as well... we need to find out if it's a renegade operating on its own or if the Spire itself has somehow connected to an opening to the Underdark and allowed a larger Illithid colony access to the surface."

Despite being able to present a course of action so readily, she didn't feel as confident at all and it showed - both the tremble in her hands and voice alike made that apparent.  Almost everything in her was screaming to turn around and flee back the way they came right then and there.  But there was still a part of Mallory's spirit... meddlesome and apparently suicidal, given the situation... that simply couldn't turn away when someone was in trouble.  Be it Apple, who may very well have already been long dead, or those of Ten-Towns who might yet suffer.

"Normally Illithids are broadly restrained to the Underdark.  They cannot tolerate sunlight, but with the state of the Dale as it is lately... they would be able to move freely throughout Ten-Towns without fear.  We have to at least ascertain the size of the threat first, so that we can let others know, if it's too great for us to destroy ourselves."

A beat of doubt crossed her once more as she let her gaze drift across her assorted companions.  "That is... if you're each willing?  You've come this far at my request, but I can't simply expect you to go further with something like this waiting ahead."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:59, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

While a brief freak-out was had over the revelation of illithid involvement, Idrianthe took the slim silver hammer from her belt and used her thumb to draw long runes across its surface, which allowed the tesseracted planes of metal within to alter and morph until Idri could pull a full pair of enchanted tongs from the handle of the hammer with her other hand. Using those tongs, she clamped the digested helmet and held the dripping slab of pitted steel at arm's length to inspect it.

She was, however, admittedly shaken at the mention of the brain-eating aberrations. After all, Idri reasoned, her brain would probably be quite nourishing.

All the same, the elven knight kept a shaky calm to her tone when she approached the group with the helmet. "I'm here of my own accord but, of course, the many before the few, Lady Bonheur; I wouldn't have come to a Netherese ruin without accepting in my core that death is a possibility. Related, does this helm ring familiar for anyone?"

---

Idri attempts to use her extensive knowledge of metalwork to identify the size category, unique species accomodations, and cultural origins of the digested armor! It goes... Not great!

10:44, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Smithy Know-How.

---

Idrianthe's Investigation (proficiency through Smithing Tools) to analyze the digested armor [14]: The helmet was nasal, which typically meant it belonged to a Dwarf. There were also signs of small holes rounding the rim, some expanded through corrosion, which likely had once held chain links.

I don't recall there being any particular mention of armor or especially unique items among the Missing Adventurers from what Mallory gleaned from Dzaan.  Does any part of the armor strike a memory, Bears?

Also, if that doesn't track, maybe a History check on spotting any specific elements of the armor or helmet that may still linger?  Basically trying to figure out by the design whether or not it's of Duergar make.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

---

It very possibly could be the Shield Dwarf's armor, though its difficult to tell because 1: the memory Mallory siphoned from Dzaan were somewhat ambiguous; the visuals had a helmet, though not of specific detail (essentially semantics in a visual language; the objects of Dzaan's imagination are merely idealizations of their existing counterparts and necessitate ambiguity to varying extents), and 2: nearly all the details have been erased.

In essence; Firanna kept a helmet, though whether or not it was nasal is unclear.

I wish to limit the information given to just Idrianthe's roll, so that's a no to a History check.

"Related, does this helm ring familiar for anyone?"

Having been the only one to seize information from Dzaan, it was left up to Mallory to discern what she could of the helmet's remains.  Both strangely-fused recollections bore a helmet in the Dwarven adventurer's possession, but the details were too sparse beyond that.  Dzaan perhaps didn't care enough to retain such details in mind to begin with.  Nor could Mallory's own examination of the badly dissolved helmet yield any particular details of use as to its origins or how long it might've been in the Bulette's belly.

Ultimately, Mallory could only shake her head and offer a helpless shrug.  "I'm afraid not.  Based on what our Goblinoid associates upstairs said, Miss Firanna never made it here in the first place and may have died en route.  Whether she was snatched by this abomination outside the Spire or not, I've no way of knowing."

"Hm. Well, it's most likely dwarven in origin; they favor nasal designs like this. But, then again, so too do duergar, which we know are in the area as well, and I'm afraid I'm not seeing sufficient detail to tell you which.

"Come to think of it, their attack also sets a troubling precedent for beings of the dark making their way to the surface world in this region...

"Ah, but I digress. Whoever was inside this armor is most likely no longer among the living - unless they were very lucky or very clever and weren't occupying it at the time it was consumed. Oh, I've just an idea!"

Idrianthe placed the helm in the corner of the icy chamber and knelt down in front of it, then began to draw sigils on the metal with her finger while murmuring a spell.

---

If no one objects, Idrianthe will spend 1 minute to cast Mending on the helmet to find out if she can repair enough of it for us to glean more information.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Fri 27 Jan 2023.

"The fact that is so intact after where it has been is a testament to the smithwork of the Stout Folk, no doubt about that," Khulekani mused aloud.

It was all she could do at the moment to distract her from the horror of the thought that there might be Illithids down here. It was one thing to die in battle with some horror. It was quite another to become enslaved to the mind magics of some inhuman monstrosity. To become either food, or a willing slave to a mind that crushed her identity completely. A shiver passed down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

The helmet might have belonged to their lost mercenary, or perhaps whatever Illithid created the failed Ceremorph had fed it a Duergar slave, or some wholly unrelated Dwarf might've fallen prey elsewise.  Mallory felt a more potent Divination spell that she readily had at hand would be necessary to reveal the truth, though she chose not to spoil Idri's efforts while the Elven smith was so keenly at her work.

"And you three?  Nobody would blame you for walking away right now."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:10, Sat 28 Jan 2023.

"I...no, I will press on. If there are dangers here, it is best those of us able to remove them, rather than them going on and creating more victims," the Squire said after a steadying breath.

Unconsciously, she grabbed the Triquetra around her neck and gave a silent prayer to the Triad for strength and courage.

The goliath drummed her fingers along the blade of her axe. She'd been considering the act of crossing rather than not searching further. At Mallory's question, she turned and blinked. Then shrugged. "I would not go back even if the rest of you do. I seek those that are lost." That said, she went back to her thinking on the current problem. The monster was dead, she'd said her prayer and got everyone back up to mostly all put together.

"Could always just throw one of you across with the rope." She mused aloud.

"I'll stay," Rhydd replied to Mallory. That said, the danger posed by the mind-devouring Illithids troubled him like no other danger that he had ever faced before. Even the great White Dragon would have brought a quick death, had it come to that.

"We need to remember, however, that we are the only ones . . . well, who are still alive . . . who know about these . . . Mind Flayers. There may come a point when we need to decide whether to press on and to keep exploring, or to get this information back to the people who inhabit the Ten Towns."

The archer paused and pursed his lips thoughtfully, still glancing at the wizardess. "Do your magicks give you the ability to communicate with anyone in the Ten Towns over long distances?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:53, Sun 29 Jan 2023.

That all of them were in agreement was reassuring to Mallory's rattled nerves.  She afforded each in turn an appreciative look, though her smile lingered most on Rhydd.  His suggestion as to a means of magical communication, however, brought a look of consternation back to her expression.

"Hmn... I could prepare a suitable ritual, but it would take several hours that we may not necessarily have to spare.  Unless one of you has such a spell on hand, we'll have to rely on other measures." she shook her head over such a matter before her attention eased reluctantly to the Tressym in her arms.  Astre's brow promptly furrowed and he gave an immediate growl, as if already knowing what was to come.

"Astre, darling, please.  You know I'd never command anything of you, but this is a matter of terrible importance." Mallory insisted gently.  "If the worst comes to pass and we can't make it back out, it will fall on you to escape and carry word back to Miss Harpell.  She'll know what to do about this."

"Rrrl!" Astre's reply wasn't one others could understand as Mallory seemed to, but there was no mistaking a yowl of stubbornness as he fit his claws into her collar and buried his face against her.  The young noble simply sighed as she gathered him closer, nuzzled at the top of his fluffy head, and gently urged him back atop her shoulders where he took his usual resting drape.

"I know... but I trust you'll do the right thing." she tried to comfort her dearest of companions even as she asked him to make an impossible decision.

---

To be more specific about it, Mallory doesn't have "Sending" on her spell list.  Unless Farwalker has it prepared, we're out of luck on that front.  She could work it into her spellbook or Farwalker could prepare it going forward, but either way would require a Long Rest at the very least.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Sat 28 Jan 2023.

Idrianthe's small spell took . . . to an extent. After the runes had been drawn and iron began to suffuse, more extensive restorations were definitely needed to bring the helmet into any sort of wearable condition. But the deformed iron did right itself, and the more visible holes and spaces, from missing material, stretched to almost join back. The result was something far more shapely than what she had started with.

Great care had gone into this helmet, as it quickly became clear it was once heavily adorned. In fact, a stump on the top indicated a missing top-piece, likely a solid plume. The Elven smith could tell detail had once lined its rim and nose-piece, detail now lost to the acid, by the small, even ripples upon its surface. And on the inside was a small mark, almost, but not fully, smoothed out.

---

Yeah, Dwarven, not Deurgar. This is highly reminiscent of the style Idrianthe's kin used to forge.

There was a sad, quiet sigh from Idri before she presented the half-restored helmet for inspection by the group.

"Definitely dwarven. I'll take this back with me when we go, if none of you mind; I'd like to do some hand restoration on it and send it to her survivors, if she had any, or at least prepare her a traditional memorial."

That Idri had managed to restore the helmet to such an extent genuinely surprised Mallory.  She'd recognize the start of the spell the Elven smith had begun and dismissed it out of hand, but it seemed she should've paid more attention in the process.  "Goodness, that was much more effective than I thought it'd be... you'll have to show me that later." Mallory said as she took a second, closer look at the slightly-better off ruins.  "Hm... that does certainly look a lot more like what Miss Firanna was equipped with.  Poor dear..."

That such an awful fate had befallen one of the lost mercenaries left her feeling a little less sympathetic for Dzaan's ultimate downfall.  He'd sent them to their doom, in whatever way it manifested.  She could only hope the poor Dwarf had been slain in the beast's initial attack before being devoured to spare her the torment of a far worse death.

Idri's mention of planning further ahead to time beyond the Spire, however, brought the young noble's focus back to the moment.  Indeed, it was no good acting as if they were about to march headlong into their own demise.  Everyone was agreed on their course and there was nothing more to do than see it through!  Mallory managed to bolster her spirits a bit despite the whole situation as she reached to take her still-suspended Lantern Rod in hand and, with a little flick, twirled it briskly to her side once more.

"Well, no time like the present, then.  We've got a Halfling to find, Illithids to scout, and potentially some tunnels to collapse.  Let's be to it, shall we?"

---

Regarding where to go next; DM, the big hold opened in the side of the tunnel is on our side of the chasm, right?  So no need to try and cross the gap to get to it, rather than scaling the side of the tunnel?

And we still have the opening in the floor itself that's more easily accessible right next to us as well?  Does the Bulette tunnel it burst out of lead anywhere, or did it just collapse behind the monster as it moved?

The tunnel was long, longer than the ones carved from the floors overhead, and curved. It was fortunately large enough to fit your average humanoid while allowing some maneuvering, which meant a fast slide to the bottom was avoidable granted climbing equipment. For Farwalker it was a tighter squeeze.

The room below was different from the previous. While it too was inverted, with a winding staircase which flat pointed upward, it was a circular chamber with large, open windows tinted a brilliant green. Beyond laid a view of the glacier's solid interior. The hole Astre had seen from the shelf was in the north-eastern side of the spire, leaving a break in the window and the outside supporting pillars. Furthermore, here everything was angled sharply downward, making it a balancing act to even stand upright.¹

An entry to the next floor, once accessible from the stairs but now rather treacherous interior design given the lack of railing, was found on the northern section of the chamber.

In the middle was an ornate column bearing engravings of a female form holding aloft a rod. From its base, on the floor-turned-ceiling, burst a four-pointed star alongside an interlocking ring², and nearer the top was a two foot tall gap in the structure, dividing the column into two non-connecting pieces.

Perhaps more pressingly, a mass of black ooze about the width of your average crate lingered motionlessly overhead, nestled in a corner.

---

Map.

¹ Difficult terrain. No benefit from Boots of Winterlands.

² Religion or Arcana DC 14
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:49, Mon 24 Apr 2023.

---

Mallory's Arcana on the symbol [9]: It's reminiscent of Mystra's eight-pointed blue and white star.

Mallory's Nature on Oozes [11]: The dark of its form indicated this was a Black Pudding rather than an Ooze. It was, contrary to what Mallory knew of Black Puddings, slightly luminescent, with what appeared like a golden sheen just below its outer layer of slime.

Attracted to heat, these subterranean, mindless lifeforms lash out with pseudopods to pull in their pray and secrete highly corrosive acids to quickly dissolve weapons, clothing, and armor alike. Commonly, it is known to eat through two inch-thick layers of wood or metal in mere seconds. Furthermore, an Ooze is no singular being; if split, each part continue on as separate Oozes, which may or may not clump back and reform.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:34, Fri 03 Feb 2023.

To head down such a narrow channel was slow-going at the best of times, with or without suitable gear.  It was a great boon that they were well-equipped though.  But, even then, Mallory had to frequently rely on her Lantern Rod to lock in place and give her a good anchor to hold onto once the terrain underfoot turned to such a steep incline.  Her boots had a solid design for traction but there was only so much sole grip could do against such a sharply angled descent.

The room they found themselves in, however, drew a look of cautious wonder out of the young noble as she cast her eyes about.  Again, she found herself left to puzzle over what purpose the Spire had served in its time with the odd, varied elements of each room they'd crossed through thus far.  Though such speculations were interrupted when the thankfully heatless glow of her magical lantern light caught a particular sheen suspended up on the 'ceiling' of the room.

"Well, looks like I might well have a chance to use some of those one-hundred and fourteen applications after all." Mallory mentioned dryly as she drew attention toward the huddled, gelatinous monster clung in the corner.  Frankly, she was more concerned with the implications of its presence... such awful things were common in the Underdark.  "Mind yourselves and your blades.  Those creatures are terribly acidic and trying to cut them to pieces only makes matters worse.  Best we handle that thing with spells before moving along - I don't want it creeping up behind us."

---

Idrianthe's Arcana on the symbol [26]: Different societies had different ways of paying reverence to the god's, and this column and star seemed to be an effort toward the previous incarnation of Mystra, Mystryl. Though they were ultimately her downfall, the Netherese enclaves quite naturally held her in high regard.

In reply to Mallory Bonheur (msg # 159):

Rhydd cocked his head and stared at the dark mass that lurked in an overhead corner of the chamber. The archer had no idea what it was, but Mallory's description of the creature -- for such it apparently was -- made it sound distinctly unpleasant.

"Obviously, I have no magicks to fling at it," he remarked.

"Will arrows harm it?"

"Once.  I'm afraid your arrows wouldn't survive the endeavor though, if you hope to conserve your quiver." Mallory shrugged helplessly on that point, though she did give a brief nod in the direction of Rhydd's new bow.  "Though the enchantment on your bow does actually impart a small, brief surge of magic onto the arrows it looses.  Enough to wound the likes of a Lycanthrope despite their immunity to mundane arms, for instance."

Her dark gaze lifted once more to the strange gelatinous form overhead in a wary look. "This sort of monster is drawn to heat, but it doesn't seem to have noticed us yet... I'm not sure what sort of field of perception this one has, but Oozes are quite blind and deaf.  So long as we don't come too near, it shouldn't be able to retaliate." she mused aloud.  "I can use my magics to warm a spot nearby it to hold its attention while the rest of us pepper it with simple attack spells.  Oozes are quite mindless, so even the most obvious of tricks should work."

A careful peek down the hole where the upside-down stairway ended revealed the contents of the room below, which seemed to be more of a return to form compared to the tall glass cylinder that was the current chamber. It was dark, had stone walls, and contained several more masses of black Ooze.

"Damnation!" Rhydd muttered upon catching sight of more of the black pudding-like creatures.

"How does that work? Do the big ones get together and make lots of little ones?"

"Oozes can spontaneously reproduce much the same way algae in a swamp does.  It's called 'budding'... basically, once they absorb enough nourishment, they split apart naturally and the offshoot grows into another full-sized Ooze over time.  So long as there's more food, there's always more Ooze." Mallory advised even as she brought her Lantern Rod to bear in slow consideration of the best way to approach her experiment, such as it was.  "Though if you try to cut an Ooze, it will also split apart into progressively smaller Oozes, albeit each one weaker than the original.  No less deadly or acidic though, so it's best not to use blades at all."

The young noble canted her head over to follow Rhydd's gaze and grimaced a little at the writhing mass of further Black Puddings below.  "For there to be this many... they must have gone through quite a bit of food... which is to say, anything they could melt in their acids.  That, or they were being purposefully bred.  I do wish we had some better grasp of what this Spire's purpose was... it would make a lot more sense if we knew for certain the Neth were experimenting on monstrous entities or the like."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:41, Sat 18 Feb 2023.

Rhydd scowled as he observed the creatures which Mallory had labeled as "Oozes". They reminded him of the soupy black mud that would, well . . . ooze up between one's toes when, as a child, you were idling away a lazy summer afternoon by walking along the mud flats down by the river. Only these things were, by all accounts, much worse than a little mud whose worst offense was to give you dirty feet.

He had never had occasion to tangle with creatures that used acid as a weapon -- or a defense. But it sounded as if 'twere best avoided, when at all possible.

Sighing a sigh, he remarked to Mallory "So . . . like you just now said . . . magicks?"

"Magicks." Mallory agreed with a sigh.  She was already getting flashbacks to her time at academy and could hear the droning lecture of 'the many uses of the many Oozes', as her instructor always chortled.

---

Anything else folk want to add in before we kick things off, or if DM Bears does the narration sweep as mentioned?
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Sun 19 Feb 2023.

The Black Pudding in the glass chamber proved lethargic as it worked against the insufferable cold. But, though slowly, the magically heated patch nonetheless attracted it and, once close, it contracted and launched an inaccurate pseudopod in its general direction. Mallory's ensuing psychic assault appeared more ineffective than Idrianthe's arcane blasts and Rhydd's infused arrows, but through the combined efforts the writhing mass soon fell limp and drooped lifelessly off the ceiling.

Meanwhile, the spectacle roused the Oozes below from their slumber. One was clearly larger than the rest, situated by the staircase in the center of the room, and contained the skeletal remains of some unfortunate soul, the skull and bones surfacing at disparate points.

---

Battlemap. The entryway to the floor below is on K6, and it's about a 10' drop. No rolls necessary.

Initiative:
> Mallory and Astre [21]
> Farwalker [17, 17]
> Rhydd [16]
Oozes [9]
Idrianthe [8]
Khulekani [5]

The distant sight of bones amid one of the Black Puddings in the chamber below sank a feeling of dread into Mallory's gut.  It wasn't uncommon for the bones and items of past victims to linger suspended amid less-acidic Oozes, such as the renown Gelatinous Cube, for years after the fact.  But Black Pudding were far more corrosive.  Bones of some ages-gone victim would've long since dissolved, surely.

Which meant...

"Let's be quick about this." her voice fell uncharacteristically grim as she raised a hand to point down at a distant spot within the room below.  "Let me try and gather them into one spot.  They'll be easier to wipe out from here that way."

---

Action: Casting "Prestidigitation"
Same trick as before - Mallory will target the floor at I-20 with "Prestidigitation" to heat it up and hopefully keep the Black Puddings' attention focused there as the nearest/easiest-to-access source of heat.  Mallory has a bigger spell in waiting for her next turn, but the Black Puddings are too spread out at the moment to make it effective.

Movement: Mallory will also back away from the entryway by 15' after the casting to make room for anyone who wants to move in and shoot down into the hole.

Before any of the Oozes had time to react, Farwalker's searing flame of light, sprung from the sparks of her axe against her shield, struck the smallest one closest to the hole. Two of Rhydd's arrows followed thereafter, and for a moment the slime seemed to recoil in response to the attacks, albeit sluggishly.

The Ooze below were of two minds — the smaller ones, including the one struck by Rhydd and Farwalker and the farthest by the large green and round window were immediately attracted to the Mallory's conjured distraction. The most massive Ooze, however, slithered up and clung to the stairway, honed in on the real food-source up ahead. Its locomotion entailed continuously toppling over itself, not dissimilar to what kneading dough looked like, with surprising speed and soon occupied much of the hole between the floors, contracting and blocking the view beyond. Several ribs surfaced from the mass, before it launched an arm of goo at Farwalker. It was unexpectedly fast and packed power like a ballista, striking past Farwalker's shield and into her chest. It retracted just as fast, but left behind black, sizzling residue which ate away at cloth and chain mail.

---

Battlemap.

Ooze Saving Throw against Farwalker's Sacred Flame (DC 14) [2]: Fail. The Ooze takes 3 Radiant Damage.

Rhydd's Longbow Attack against Medium Ooze [17]: Hit. The Ooze takes 10 Piercing Damage (Magical).

Rhydd's Longbow Attack against Medium Ooze [15]: Hit. THe Ooze takes 10 Piercing Damage (Magical).

Large Ooze Pseudopod Attack against Farwalker [21]: Hit. Farwalker takes 8 Bludgeoning Damage and 22 Acid Damage. Her Chain Mail Armor permanently offers 1 less AC.

Initiative:
> Mallory and Astre [21]
> Farwalker [17, 17]
> Rhydd [16]
Oozes [9]
> Idrianthe [8]
> Khulekani [5]

Ooze AC: 7
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:01, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

As the Black Pudding lashed out at Farwalker, its reach was retaliated against by a flare of fire as Mallory thrust her Lantern Rod at it in hopes of driving it back from the impact.  A snarl curled across painted lips as she clutched a hand to her chest close and set to a baleful chant.

"Five-Headed Nemesis.  Harlot Queen anchored within damnation.  Speak avarice and calumny to my breast, that I may whisper your sweet nothings." Frustration seemed to tinged the steam of her breath with a foul green as she spoke words of enchantment and, with a curl past her cheek, Astre stepped across and breathed in those strange mists himself.  A bounding leap carried the Tressym into the air to wing past the gathered folk below, quick to swoop at the enormous sludgy monstrosity that laid below them.

With a flare of his wings to stall out mid-air, Astre gave a long yowl as a sudden, massive plume of noxious green fumes poured from his jaws.  Dense and roiling, heavier than air as the surging blast of virulent, clinging toxin cascaded down over the Black Pudding and around it to flow into the room below across the lesser Oozes that remained below.  Even those outside that plume could smell the overwhelming toxicity at range - a poison so pure and potent that many creatures would instantly die on contact alone without so much as needing to take a breath of it first.

---

Mallory
Bonus Action: Mallory casts "Dragon's Breath - Poison" on Astre.

Dragon's Breath:

Concentration for 1 minute - You touch one willing creature and imbue it with the power to spew magical energy from its mouth, provided it has one. Choose acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison. Until the spell ends, the creature can use an action to exhale energy of the chosen type in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw, taking 3d6 damage of the chosen type on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Action: Mallory casts "Fire Bolt" vs Big Black Pudding
Mallory Bonheur rolled 17 using 1d20+7

Damage: 12 Fire Damage
Mallory Bonheur rolled 12 using 2d10

Astre
Movement: 15' or 20' as necessary to get directly over the opening while staying 5' outside the Big Black Pudding's melee reach.

Action: Dragon's Breath straight down
The Black Puddings must make a DC 15 DEX save or take 13 Poison Damage, half as much on a success.

Given the placement and the spread of the 15' cone, Astre should presumably be able to catch the Big Black Pudding and the two directly next to it in the blast.  I'm not sure it can be angled to catch all the enemies without putting Astre within range of an Opportunity Attack.

Remaining Movement: 20' feet back toward Mallory
This message was last edited by the player at 20:11, Mon 06 Mar 2023.

Seeing the damage dealt by the ooze for the sheer destructive force it was, Idri held her enchanted hammer up and struck it twice against her shield, expelling two bursts of force into the rippling mass of terrible, corrosive muck. Only one connected, but that was immaterial as her protective instincts kicked in.

The armored knight barreled forward, attempting to interpose herself between the great nasty blob and as much of the group as possible and grant them time to withdraw from it. "Everyone, let me be our shield! My armor is bewitched; I'll hold up longer than most." She tried not to think about the fact that her actual shield was not magical, and would most likely be eaten away to nothing quite quickly if the pudding made contact.

But that was not the issue for the day. Idrianthe struck her tool hammer and shield again, creating a second telekinetic burst that she hoped would drive the monster back and give everyone a bit more breathing room.

---

Action: Cast Eldritch Blast, +1 to spell attack while Idri holds her All-Purpose Tool.
    Attack 1: 15:33, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 14 using 1d20+8.  Hit!
    Damage 1: 15:34, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled 8 using 1d10. Please ignore the +8 in
       my actual roll; I forgot to remove the modifier from the previous click. 8 Force Damage
    Attack 2: 15:34, Today: Idrianthe Mar rolled Nat 1 using 1d20+8. Miss!

Movement: I don't fully understand the map at present, but I want to interpose Idrianthe between the Large Ooze and the rest of the party as much as possible with 30' of movement. I don't have a way to make it target me this turn, but I'm hoping that proximity will do the trick.

Free Action: Speak.

Bonus Action: Telekinetic Shove vs Large Ooze. It needs to make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 5ft directly away from Idrianthe, and hopefully 5ft directly away from Farwalker and everyone else.

HP      : 38/38
Temp HP : 10
AC      : 21

"How can I possibly miss something that big and that slow?" Rhydd wondered to himself as he peered down at the black monstrosity that filled the stairwell.

As it turned out, he didn't. Taking extra care to inflict the maximum damage with his arrows, he shot two shafts in quick succession, hitting their foe each time.

---

Free Action: Speak.

Move: As necessary to give Rhydd a LOS and LOF on the Ooze.

Actions: 22:05, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Ranged Attack #1 (-5, +10 to Damage).

22:09, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 18 using 1d8+15.  Damage, Attack #1.

22:06, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 23 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 18.  Ranged Attack #2 (-5, +10 to Damage).

22:09, Today: Rhydd Maldhon rolled 22 using 1d8+15 with rolls of 7.  Damage, Attack #2.

Total Damage Dealt: 40 (Piercing, magical).

Comments: Rhydd will use the special "Sharpshooter" Attack: -5 to the Attack roll, +10 to Damage for any Attack that hits. It makes for nice Damage, if you can hit. :)
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 02:50, Tue 14 Mar 2023.

None of the Oozes were capable of dodging even the most unassuming attack, and so Mallory's and Astre's acid and fire and Idrianthe's blast and shove had their intended effects. Though the large Ooze tried to hold on to the stairway, billowing from Idrianthe's blast, the forthcoming arrows were enough to fell the thing. The glob fell amidst its kin, who paid the development little attention, fixated on the magically infused spot.

During his swoop into position, Astre could see a peculiarity emerge from the green-tinted window down the room — a hazy ball of violet light, drifting closer. It did not appear to Mallory, or any of the others, at all.

---

Ooze (Large) Dex Saving Throw against Astre's Dragon's Breath (DC 15) [3]: Fail. The Ooze takes 13 Poison Damage.

Ooze (Small #1) Dex Saving Throw against Astre's Dragon's Breath (DC 15) [1]: Fail. The Ooze takes 13 Poison Damage.

Ooze (Small #2) Dex Saving Throw against Astre's Dragon's Breath (DC 15) [6]: Fail. The Ooze takes 13 Poison Damage.

Ooze Strength Saving Throw against Idrianthe's Telekenetic Shove (DC 15) [6]: Fail. The Ooze is pushed 5' away from Idrianthe.

The Large Ooze dies. Since all the other Oozes fell for Mallory's distraction, we'll abstract the rest of the combat like we did last.

With the largest of the Black Puddings well and truly handled thanks to her hard-hitting companions, Mallory stood aside to watch as the others were cleaned up by Astre's sweeping dives to billow out magical toxin into the room below.  She dreaded what had to come next in sorting through the remains to verify those bones...  A passing mention through their shared minds, however, furrowed her brow and she reached to place her hand to the wall in order to steady herself as her eyes once more turned inky black.

"Don't go down there yet..." she warned the others softly.

---

Since Astre has more than enough movement and aerial range to strafe around and poison the Black Puddings to death without recourse, it's easiest to leave it to him.  Dragon's Breath has a duration of 1 minute via Concentration on Mallory's part, so it'll still be going for a little bit even after this spot of combat is over.

Mallory, meanwhile, will Share Senses with Astre to see what he sees.  Does she recognize what the violet light is, or is there a skill check to make?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Tue 14 Mar 2023.

In reply to Mallory Bonheur (msg # 175):

Rhydd grunted upon hearing Mallory's warning. He stood alert, with another arrow nocked on his bowstring. However, it appeared that Astre and whatever magicks the wizardess had imbued him with had the situation well in hand.

"If you insist," he replied drolly, "I shall refrain from rushing right down there."

"Now that you mention it, the oft-referenced ten-foot pole would not be long enough . . ."

DM Bears:

Arcana or Religion DC 14, alternatively Nature DC 16.

Arcana
Mallory Bonheur rolled 18 using 1d20+7

---

Mallory's Arcana check on the ball of light (DC 14) [18]: This is a Will-o'-Wisp, a malicious undead being whose sole purpose is to bewilder and lure travelers off safe paths. Though they appear to the naked eye as nothing but light, they are in truth made of an exceptionally light-but-tangible sponge-like substance. They can alter their luminescence at will, and even diminish it enough to essentially turn invisible.

When close to their victims, they can emit bursts of electricity.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:25, Thu 16 Mar 2023.

"A Will-o'-Wisp?  Why here, of all--? no, no, stupid question.  That actually makes sense." Mallory muttered as she cut herself off halfway through her own puzzlement.  The wind-blasted tundra of Icewind Dale must've been full of those malevolent little spirits eager to prey on travelers lost in snow storms.  To find one in the Spire, seemingly in the company of mindless predators such as Oozes... there was a scholarly, speculative part of Mallory's thoughts that immediately leaped to pondering the likelihood of a symbiotic relationship between the two monsters making up for the other's shortcomings.  One to lure, one to snare, and both to devour.

Such speculation, however, brought her no academic joy when it seemed all the more likely to have been the fate of their Halfling quarry.  The young noble sighed heavily as her vision remained clouded, yet she raised her staff to point at a particular spot in vacant space within the room below.  "There's an invisible foe floating, just there.  Let's see if I can expose it... be ready to fire where I do."  The fight wasn't over yet, it seemed.  She hoped there weren't more Wisps lingering just out of sight as well.

Astre - fur raised and wings flared - gave a low, warning hiss at the Undead only he and Mallory could see in the moment.  That hiss turned to a yowl as the Tressym blasted out another dense plume of toxic gas across the Wisp, then wheeled away to get some distance lest it give chase.  In the same moment he cleared out, Mallory's lantern-topped staff once more surged with a lance of fire that streaked out at the diminutive spirit.

---

Pretty sure the actual Poison damage isn't going to do anything since Undead are generally immune, but I'll leave it up to DM fiat whether or not the Wisp is revealed by occlusion of being a solid-yet-invisible thing within a passing billow of visible gas.  I'm hoping to give everyone who wants to take a shot at least one chance to do so without having to roll at Disadvantage for an unseen target.

Astre
Action: Dragon's Breath at the Will o'Wisp

Movement: Full 40' away, back up into the air above the Party

Mallory
Action: Fire Bolt
Mallory Bonheur rolled 20 using 1d20+7

Damage: 15 Fire Damage
Mallory Bonheur rolled 15 using 2d10

Shared Senses with Astre requires an Action to maintain during turn order, so it'll only last until the start of Mallory's next turn as-is.  Mallory will be relying on telepathic communication with Astre to track the Will-o'-Wisp after that, so Disadvantage on her attack rolls may apply.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:22, Thu 16 Mar 2023.

For a brief moment, the noxious gas appeared to hit a spherical object, billowing around it as the form of the Will-o'-Wisp was revealed to those without Astre's preternatural eyes. And though the gas was thin enough to peer through, spotting the hollow space was no easy feat.^* Though Mallory could bypass the need by tapping into Astre's own vision, and so was able to fire a precise attack which barely hit the mark.

Farwalker narrowed her eyes, picking it out before launched another spark of radiance, which was promptly sidestepped by the elusive thing.

And then, as the gas dissipated, it disappeared completely. To Astre, it seemed like it simply passed through the ceiling-turned-floor.

---

* Let's say DC 16 Perception.

Mallory's Fire Bolt against the Will-o'-Wisp [20]: Hit. The Will-o'-Wisp takes 7 Fire Damage.

Farwalker's Perception to spot the Will-o'-Wisp [16]: Success.

Will-o'-Wisp Dex Saving Throw against Farwalker's Sacred Flame [17]: Success.

Initiative:
Mallory and Astre [21]
Farwalker [17, 17]
Will-o'-Wisp [16]
> Rhydd [16]
> Idrianthe [8]
> Khulekani [5]

Since it's been a while since she last checked in, I went ahead and took Farwalker's turn. Combat ends unless you wish to extend it.

This message was last edited by the GM at 18:46, Sun 19 Mar 2023.

With no sign of the Wisp after a time, Mallory heaved a sigh and eased from her wary stance.  It wasn't as if such creatures were well-known for outright attacking people... just luring them away into danger for whatever base intent drove them.  So long as it didn't come back to haunt them, the young noble didn't particularly care that the Wisp had escaped.

"Seems we drove it off.  Let's press on... but, Astre, please keep an eye out." she urged as her Familiar alighted himself across her shoulders once more.  The last traces of her empowering magic faded from him as he gave a little cough that puffed out a lingering cloud of fumes, which Mallory scowled at and waved away with her hand.

Making one's way down into the lower chamber amid the remains of Black Oozes was prickly work.  Even dead, they were still highly acidic, so Mallory was very careful not to step into their spreading puddles or lingering clumps of gooey mass.  She'd be sure to collect a few samples but, for the moment, identifying the bones was a more pressing matter to attend to.

---

Medicine isn't remotely Mallory's strong suit, so someone with a positive skill modifier should handle that front.

Investigation w/Advantage + Guidance
Mallory Bonheur rolled 27 using 1d20+7 +1d4
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

Searching the Ooze for a clearer view of the skeleton was far from simple when you could use neither your hands nor your weapons as tools. Albeit disconnected, there seemed to be a complete set in there, though all Farwalker could do was poke and — very carefully — tug on the bones that were already protruding. But what she could see spun a very clear tale — this was hardly the bones of someone humanoid, let alone something Human. The spine, jutting out from the corrosive black mass, bore rather prominent spikes, and she spotted what could only be sharp, black claws at the end of some finger bones. And finally, a glimpse of the skull, which had knifelike teeth and a third eye socket in its forehead, large enough to partially bridge the gap to the two you would expect. "An Abberation — certainly not a Halfling," she concluded as she rose.

Meanwhile, Mallory's investigating, aided by Idrianthe's own keen eyes and a blessing of luck, cultivated in footprints. Fresh ones. The cold, crusty layer of frost had been disturbed by more than just the Oozes. They were small and lacked a clear imprint of a heel, and lead to the large, green window in the far west of the room. Upon a closer viewing the glass bore a shine, as if faintly luminescent, casting a soft, ambient light onto the room.

---

Farwalker Medicine on the skeleton in the Ooze [9]: The skeleton is monstrous, resembling nothing Farwalker is familiar with.

Mallory's Investigation (w/ Advantage granted by Working Together with Idrianthe) [27]: There are small tracks in the room leading to (and only to) the window.

The proclamation that the remains weren't of a Halfling was one that brought a surge of hope to Mallory's heart.  Though it was tempered a bit when she actually came over to examine the strange remains as well at Farwalker's side with the glow of her Lantern Rod cast over the bizarre leftovers.  "I daresay the Oozes did us a favor then.  An Ettercap, perhaps?  No... wrong shape.  Surely not a Malaugrym.  There's a few other possibilities, though I shudder to even consider them..." she remarked as she slowly circled her staff over the remains with waves of cleansing magic to try and purge away the lingering acidic goop.

---

If "Prestidigitation" can clean off the claws and skull enough for them to be taken safely, Mallory will do so.  I'll try for an Arcana check to see if she can identify the creature they belonged to, but that'll be later so as not to undermine the Nature check results.

---

A deeper search about the room gave more to the hope that their lost Halfling quarry had indeed survived the trek thus far.  A Halfling's luck was famous for a reason, and Mallory could only pray that it bore through.  She started forward a few steps when they concluded there was a shine near a distant window but stopped herself short almost immediately.  They'd just encountered a Will-o'-Wisp, after all... being lured toward a distant light on a false hope would be quite silly of her.  She nodded over the window's way and Astre once more took to the air to flap his way over for a better look.

---

Astre will go ahead and take a covert peek ahead.  Not sure if Perception is required, but he's definitely going to be sneaky about it.

Astre - Stealth
Mallory Bonheur rolled 20 using 1d20+4
This message was last edited by the player at 19:32, Thu 23 Mar 2023.

When Astre flew closer he noticed the window appeared both mottled and clear at the same time. Matted, yet shiny. It was as if the brain wasn't correctly processing what the eyes conveyed it. From a distance it had seemed an ordinary window, albeit one overlooking solid ice, but on closer inspection it became clear his reflection was missing. All reflections, in fact. Not him, not Mallory examining the bones, not anyone else, not anything.

The impression Astre took from the strange sight furrowed Mallory's brow as well when it was shared across their mental link.  An illusion, perhaps?  They were broadly unaware of what Apple was capable of, after all, and by that point she wouldn't put anything past the strangeness of the Spire's contents either.

Astre fluttered his way closer to land at the edge of the window and reach out to press a chilly paw to its apparent surface, in curious test to see if it was indeed even there at all or merely something to be passed through.

Sure enough, Astre's paw passed right through. It was like touching water, except without the wetness.

Can we make an INT check to try and bypass the illusion, or is this one of those cases where the magic doesn't go all translucent and shimmery through investigation alone?

---

No INT check. The magic doesn't go all translucent and shimmery because it's not an illusion.

Mallory watched from afar as Astre inspected the strange window, though their mentally shared discussion and findings perturbed the young witch.  Her brow furrowed in dismay as she tried to perceive reality beyond an illusion as she'd so often done in her training, yet found no purchase.  It wasn't that the nature of it eluded her, but rather that it was something else entirely...

"Not an illusion... a portal, perhaps?" she fretted a bit at the notion.  Astre just gave a careless shrug and shimmy in place, anxious to explore as ever.  Though Mallory grumbled at the prospect, there was little other choice.  "Alright, just... please, be careful."

With a nod, the Tressym moved to hug the corner of the window and sneakily crept his way through the threshold...

The window had substance, that much was clear as Astre's fur pushed past. It was also quite thick for a window, spanning nearly a third of his length. But most strangely of all, when he emerged, it was no longer the environment that was upside down, but he himself. Gravity pulled in the opposite direction, and had not the window in all its substance held him aloft, he would have fallen down. Or rather, anyone not a creature capable of flight. He had popped in at the very top of the window, which extended nearly to the floor, and as he remained, he stared up at a tall ceiling of a narrow room, its arcs twisting and culminating in a crystalline dome. Nothing here had been spared the spiraling fate of the ulterior spire. Below was an ornate bed, silken sheets creased in a whirpool, with a silver chest at its foot.

And in the corner, a Halfling, as dead as they come, gripping a small turquoise pearl.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:38, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

Perception check from Astre to try and detect any other creatures in the room, or anything that seems potentially dangerous?

Mallory Bonheur rolled 19 using 1d20+5
This message was last edited by the player at 18:43, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

---

Astre Perception to spot for danger [19]: Nothing seemed particularly threatening about the room. The pearl, however, had a certain pull. An allure, a presence, as it if was a vortex whence his attention could not escape.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:36, Fri 24 Mar 2023.

Thankfully a cat's twisty, nimble form was perfectly suited for defying gravity in precarious climbs.  The shift in directional perspective was jarring even for Astre but he managed to contort himself in a way that left him cling suitably to the window's frame and not fall, halfway between gravitational orientations as he scoped out the room.

The sight of the dead Halfling was something that bothered him on some level - more knowing how Mallory would feel about it rather than any concern for the corpse itself.  Just as in Targos, he was to be the bearer of bad news to his dear companion.  It was that same concern for her feelings that kept him from giving into the allure of that pearl.  Had they been anywhere else, in any other situation, he'd have happily pounced for the bauble without a second thought like he'd done in that delightfully crowded shop prior.  But he was on a task and Mallory waited with bated breath for his report...

In the room prior, Mallory clutched her Lantern Rod in anticipation, both hopeful and fearful of what laid ahead.  When Astre backed from the portal and met her gaze, she perked with the flow of telepathic information that fed through... only for her expression to fall into a look of sorrow on the spot.  Jaw clenched and gaze down-turned, she buried her face into her palm.  "Damn it!  Damn it all..." she cursed in bitter frustration.  "She... Miss Apple is in there.  She's not... we... we're too late."

"I'm sorry to hear it," Rhydd responded to the news.

"I suppose that it's not entirely unexpected, see as how dangerous this place is proving to be. But I -- all of us, I'm sure -- had hoped to be able to rescue her."

The archer cleared his throat and asked "Speaking of this place being dangerous, was Astre able to see what caused her . . . Mistress Apple . . . to meet her end?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:10, Sat 25 Mar 2023.

---

Aside from the crust, dirt, and minor scratches one would expect from spelunking in ancient buried ruins, Apple did not seem to bear any particularly grievous injuries.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:12, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

"I know... the worse things became as we went, the more I doubted we'd find her alive.  But... I'd still hoped..." Mallory lamented with a heavy sigh that billowed steam into the frigid air.  She'd thought Speaker Duvessa callous to not even consider a search party for the lost mercenaries, yet in light of all they'd experienced themselves, it would've been a suicide mission for a less-equipped team.  The young noble did not consider herself a fool for hanging onto hope or for her desire to help others, yet... the whole experience certainly had taken some of the shine off her idealism.

As Rhydd remained pragmatic in the moment, Mallory used his anchoring to refocus herself and shook her head.  "The room beyond the threshold there... I think it may be a pocket space, akin to the one I've conjured before.  Or perhaps an entirely different location apart from the Spire.  I couldn't tell at a glance, but its orientation is right-side-up.  I thought at first she might've fallen when she stepped through, but she's holding onto something as well." she explained as she curled her fingers to gather an illusory image in the palm of her hand to show a duplicate of the strange pearl-like bauble clutched in the Halfling's grasp.  "I'm not sure what it is, but Astre spoke of some vague allure when he laid eyes on it.  Clearly magical and potentially dangerous... but there are no other creatures beyond.

There didn't appear to be any other creatures or dangers in the room, as far as Astre could tell.  We should be fine to pass through, so long as we're cautious of what we touch and watch the first step.  Let's anchor a rope on this side to hold onto and head through?"

"Mayhap this place is getting on my nerves," Rhydd responded, "but I am bothered by the fact that we have a dead Halfling in an apparently empty room -- well, empty of any apparent threats, I mean -- with no indication of what might have slain her."

"However," the ranger said with a shrug, "if no one other than me sees any issue or concerns, I'll not be the one to drag my feet."

"Let me slip off my pack, and I can provide a rope."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:16, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

"A well-deserved sense of caution." Mallory agreed as she pondered the small illusory orb that floated above the palm of her hand.  "The pearl she's clutched is the most likely suspect.  The room appeared to be some sort of private bedchamber; a magical bauble that compels one's focus and might kill on contact would seem an excellent countermeasure to would-be thieves, I'd imagine."

She sighed once more and clenched her fist, which dispelled away the illusion into nothingness.  "The ancient Neth were brilliant in their mastery of the arcane, to be certain, but their upper societal echelons also grew brutal and callous.  Lethal enchantments to safeguard their spaces would be perfectly on theme for them.  Let's just be certain not to touch anything and to keep an eye on one another, in case a magical compulsion seizes the mind."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Sun 26 Mar 2023.

The window acted as a sort of liquid – when threading the rope through the rope stayed in place, but when force was exerted on either side, as it was when anyone tried to ascend/descend it, it became taut and formed a straight line. One that, from the Spire's perspective, went upward, and down from the bedchamber's. It was a challenge for the first person through¹, but the rope could be held fast on either end for the rest once they were.

Apple was a Halfling of dark complexion with big, poofy hair, and up close she appeared mostly like any conventionally dead individual, limp against the back wall and cold to the touch. She had blotches of stained blood on her leather armor, most noticably at her waist, where she seemed to have suffered a cut an inch or a half past superficial. Her eyes, still open, were the only thing out of the ordinary – she was crosseyed.

The chest at the foot of the bed was locked.²

---

¹ Though not enough to warrant a check!

² DC 25 Dexterity (Thieves' Tools)

If you desire, you can give me a Medicine check for a more thorough examination of the corpse.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:23, Fri 31 Mar 2023.

Once beyond that strange gateway and the shifting sense of vertigo that realigning one's perspective brought, Mallory lifted her gaze to look about the bedchamber in slow, passing examination.  The architecture, the furnishings... a private sanctum virtually untouched since the fall of Nethril.  In any other case, that moment would have been the highlight of her career and worthy of publication.  She was the first scholar to have a chance to examine such a remarkable find, yet there was no joy in her.  Nor did her dark-ringed eyes savor the mysterious surroundings.

Instead, Mallory stepped along quietly to stand before Apple's still body.  Troubled thoughts flickered through her mind.  Seeing what remained of the Halfling slumped there brought flashes of memory to the surface and Mallory could once more feel the chill of that horrible sight in Targos.  Gloved fingers lifted to touch the mismatched button sewn to her collar and clench at it briefly before she heaved out a long sigh of defeat.

There was a part of her that wanted to brush Apple's still-open eyelids shut in what little gesture of comfort she could offer.  But, even in her grief, the young noble knew better than to touch... well, anything.  Not when there were still too many questions about.  "I... allow me a few minutes, please.  I'll cast a ritual to sense magic.  It'll help us know what's safe to handle." she mentioned in a small voice.  She needed something to focus on... anything other than simply staring, helpless, at the poor, lost Halfling she'd failed.

---

Mallory will ritual cast "Detect Magic" and take a good, long look around to figure out what she can of any auras.

Astre, meanwhile, is keeping an eye out in case that Wisp comes back.

Under Mallory's magical scrutiny, the little pearl Apple held appeared affected by an overwhelming aura of Divination. Other than that, the window lit up with Conjuration and the lock on the chest was wreathed in a spell of Abjuration.

Rhydd was not happy to be in close proximity to the dead Halfling, but neither was he as sorrowful as Mallory appeared to be. As an outdoorsman, it could be that he was more accustomed to viewing death -- Nature could be a cruel taskmistress at times.

"I wonder about that wound to her midsection," he remarked aloud. "Could a blade have come out of that chest somehow and cut her?"

The archer grunted when Mallory spoke of casting magicks that would aid them in knowing what was safe to touch. "A fine idea," he remarked.

"I'll just stand here and umm . . . watch."

"Please do.  It's reassuring to know you're watching over me." she managed to pull her saddened gaze from Apple long enough to give Rhydd a grateful look.

With her Lantern Rod once more set as a floating bench seat, Mallory quietly turned her focus inward in extended incantation below her breath.  It gave the others in the group all the time they'd need to examine things as closely as they dared, though Mallory herself had no faith in her ability to diagnose a cause of death based on Apple's wounds.  Dissection was one thing, but she was no physician.  Had she been wounded in that very room?  Or had she taken a blow earlier, when the warped Bulette attacked the group or when she'd come into conflict with the Bugbears upstairs?

Once the spell completed, the young noble braced herself in expectation of an absolute wave of magical presence.  Thus she was left quite surprised, and mildly disappointed, to find the dweomers within the chamber were actually quite sparse.  Had whomever owned the room prior been of a minimalist style when it came to their personal space, or were tales of Netherese daily life being saturated in magic exaggerated?  Regardless, it made her task a bit easier to swallow.  "The chest is warded with a protective spell, though I'm uncertain of its nature.  It may be an arcane lock, or a preservation charm, or it may be a booby trap." she reported on Rhydd's theory as she stood from her seat and looked about the room at large.

"The window we passed through... we've certainly been transported elsewhere, though how far, I can't say.  We might be in a contained demiplane within the Spire or even somewhere else in the world entirely." Without any access beyond the chamber walls, there was no way to know.  Finally, the pearl Apple clutched in her last moments.  "The bauble Apple has... it's bears Divination, so it's unlikely to be physically harmful.  But... it's very powerful.  Still, nothing else in here seems to register as enchanted, so it should be safer to examine things more freely.  Just be wary of mundane traps, I suppose?"

---

Holding off on any further searches or checks for the moment so Mallory isn't just spearheading everything.  Anyone else want to chime in?

Also, DM, is there anything else in the room besides the bed, chest, and corpse?  Furnishings, books, etc?  Does it look like we're in someone's personal bedroom space or just a side-room someone put a bed into for convenience?

---

Mallory:

Also, DM, is there anything else in the room besides the bed, chest, and corpse?  Furnishings, books, etc?  Does it look like we're in someone's personal bedroom space or just a side-room someone put a bed into for convenience?

Nothing beside the bed and the chest except for a minor shelf in the bed itself by the headspace that could serve as a nightstand. Everything here sort of blends into everything else, with the bed made of the same opaque white stone as the walls. Everything looks fairly luxurious. The vertical grooves in the walls are twisted in the same manner as the dome ceiling.

"Well, then," Rhydd muttered, "if Divination magicks are not harmful, let us claim this bauble for ourselves."

"I shall bell the cat -- with apologies to Astre, of course."

With that, he reached for the pearl that the dead Halfling was clutching . . .

---

OOC: Unless Mallory acts to stop him, Rhydd will reach out to grasp the pearl that Apple is holding.

No objections.  Mallory will have to handle the pearl directly as well in order to cast "Identify" on it, so it's getting picked up one way or another.

---

Rhydd's Wisdom Saving Throw [8]: Touching the pearls was not as sinister as it beckoned, though a broader feeling of an encroaching . . . unity? Uniformity? A sameness within himself and his surrounding. It was a soothing feeling, almost, and it passed as quickly as it had come.

Farwalker's Medicine on Apple's corpse [14]: The slash near her waist was days old, going by the starched blood. It was a crude wound, albeit a shallow one, and a cloudy rim revealed itself once a bit of leather was lifted away. It was difficult to tell for certain, but the signs indicated sepsis.

Rhydd felt a sense of calmness wash over him as he took the pearl from the Halfling's hand.

He held it up to the light, and looked at it with an expression of curiosity on his face.

"Most pleasant," he murmured, somewhat enigmatically.

Given the teachings she'd had in regards to Divination magics, Mallory feared no harm from an item imbued with such as she stepped up alongside Rhydd to scrutinize the pearl he held aloft.  "I wonder if she found it here in the Spire or if it's a memento she'd brought with her?  As much as I'd rather leave the dead to their rest, I'm afraid we should search her pockets as well... who knows what she might've picked up?"

With that, Mallory extended her gloved hand in expectation.  "I'll begin identifying the pearl's enchantment, in the meantime.  If I may?"

Rhydd handed the pearl to Mallory with a nod.

"You'll feel a little . . . something . . . when you grap it," he remarked.

"Nothing bad. If anything, it is rather . . . calming to the touch, if that makes sense."

Even if it didn't, that was the best the archer could do in describing what he had felt.

---

Mallory's Wisdom Saving Throw [16]: Rhydd had been fairly correct, but there was no enchantment at play here, nothing that influenced ones mind to think a certain way. It was more so just new information about the environment that brought about the change in disposition. A new perspective, so to say. What exactly that entailed was more murky. This pearl was trying to mentally manipulate the wielder, fully and wholly. Its effects took hold in Mallory, too, but when one managed to recognize it for what it was, it was easier to suppress.

Mallory's Identify: The pearl was not created by a spell. It requires Attunement to use and grants the wielder +1 Wisdom. Using the pearl as a focus, the wielder can cast Arms of Hadar at 1st level without expending a Spell Slot once per Long Rest.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:44, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

More time passed to allow Mallory to cast her rituals . . .

---

Mallory's Identify on the chest: The lock was affected by an Arcane Lock spell.

Mallory's Arcana on Hadar [19]: Hadar is a star-like Elder Evil from the Far Realm. What one meant by 'star-like' could be anyone's guess, though it was theorized it was, or occupied, a dying star which was nearing the final stages of its life-cycle. It could occasionally be observed on the night sky as a faint, flickering cinder-red star.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:44, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

As Mallory held the odd bauble and went through her quiet incantations, the unseen pearl ring she wore beneath her glove channeled her magics into a faintly visible series of sigil loops that encircled her hand.  It was a similar series of shifting glyphs as when she'd cast the spell on Dzaan's Simulacrum prior yet, rather than fall into a tidy tier of recognizable order, the rings shifted and looped in strange ways.  Shifting and vanishing into each other like ripples on the surface of a pond... but, all the same, Mallory seemed to draw meaning from the strange display and nodded confidently.

"Hmn... well, that's abjectly terrifying." she piped in a strikingly blase manner.  "This makes the second horrific relic of evil from beyond our world to fall into my lap this week.  Madame Mar, Farwalker, do either of you happen to have a lead container of any sort?  Preferably something an inch or so thick, with a lock?  Or something you wouldn't mind being permanently fused shut?"

"None of the above, though I'm sure I could engineer us one when we return to civilization. In the meantime..." Going into her bag, Idrianthe opened and upturned the small tin box of her mess kit and dumped its cup and cutlery into the main pocket of her pack. She then sent the spectral ghost of her hand across the small space to Mallory and offered the empty, latched container, its only qualification that it was sturdy enough to use as a cooking pan.

"May this suffice? And is it Illithid again, or a new and flavorful variety of concerning?"

---

Mallory's Identify on the Amulet: It is affected by an Enchantment. It requires a Attunement and controls a Shield Guardian. Only Humanoids may Attune it. Once Attuned, the wearer knows the exact distance and direction to said Shield Guardian, provided the amulet and the Shield Guardian are on the same plane of existence. As an Action, the amulet's Attuned wearer can try to reactive the Shield Guardian, doing so with a successful DC20 Intelligence (Arcana) Check. Reactivation can only be attempted while the amulet and the Guardian are within 10 feet of each other.

Mallory's Identify on the window: This was a rectangle of Super Heavy Magic, a type of magical substance which retained its shape in mid air. It was permantently imbued with some kind of interplanar portal spell, linking to a pocket dimension. Nothing more specific could be gleaned.

Mallory's Identify on the chest: See msg #212

Mallory's Identify on the pearl: See msg #211

Searching Apple’s corpse, you find:
x1 empty Potion of Healing
x1 Snow Goggles
x2 Daggers
x1 Signet Ring depicting a Goose's head
x1 Waterskin
x1 Bag of Caltrops
x1 Moonstone
3 gp, 2 sp, 16 cp

Idrianthe's Tinkering on Farwalker's corroded Chain Mail: Uuuuh . . . there are no rules for this? Roll me a Tinker's Tools.

All except Mallory and Idrianthe benefit from a Short Rest.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:54, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

"Certainly better than nothing, thank you.  If we can't get this chest open to contain it, perhaps we can pry the potion box from earlier off the ceiling before we leave.  I wonder if there's a convenient volcano somewhere we could hurl it into...?" the proffered tin cup would have to suffice for the time being.  She shuffled a bag absolutely laden with tiny iron ball-bearings from her own belongings, filled the cup partially with them to nestle the pearl into, and then buried it under the rest before the lot of it got bundled up together once more.

---

Mallory will go ahead and keep the Pearl for the time being, stowed in a metal cup and a leather pouch of 1k ball-bearings, with hopes that's sufficient to block magical auras it may produce.

---

"I'm not quite certain what the magic at play specifically is because... well, it's not mortal spellcraft.  Rather, it's some form of raw magic innately tied to the bauble itself, not an enchantment imbued upon it, but it's rather similar to being heavily cursed.  There's certainly a compulsion to it that, if any of us synchronized our own energies to it, would most assuredly enslave our minds utterly over time.  I'd wager the orb is a conduit of sorts, which explains why it came up similarly to Divination magic.  Its resonance is quite recognizable though. " she explained as she securely cinched the bag shut and stowed it away it went into her pack where other awful arcane secrets lurked.  Had Apple already attuned herself to it and lost her mind to the pearl's control?  "It's energies are tied directly to those of the dying star, Hadar, which is a malevolent, extra-planar, pseudo-entity from beyond our known cosmos.  To be perfectly fair, I don't expect any of you to understand what that means; I barely do myself.  Information about the Elder Evils - Hadar especially - is notoriously obfuscated by cults that act in their name.  What little is known of Hadar by way of its heralds is that it's hungry."

Mallory gestured about the spiral-afflicted room they stood in broadly.  "The influence of any of the Elder Evils is that of utter corruption; of insanity and mutation.  It may well be what's responsible for the state of the place, of that Bulette earlier, and the obfuscating shroud that hides the Spire itself.  Illithids may not be involved at all... though this adjacent and similarly horrific force hardly makes that any relief." she could only speculate in that regard, but the fact that even the deepest recesses of the Spire, along with ancient corpses and long-sealed books had been afflicted by the aberrant fractals made it seem like it wasn't a recent effect.  Though the presence of such things in Icewind Dale immediately prompted Mallory's thoughts to return to the likes of that Arkemos fellow they'd known briefly - a Fiendish cultist himself, by her measure.  "Given what we've gathered from the Spire's original contents so far, it's possible that this place was once focused on studying these extra-planar forces.  They're dangerous to be certain, but also incredibly powerful.  Exactly the sort of thing the ancient Netherese or the modern Red Wizards would salivate to control for their own purposes."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Tue 04 Apr 2023.

---

Idri’s Intelligence (Tinker’s Tools) check to repair Farwalker’s armor [12]: Unfortunately, there wasn’t much anyone could do in these circumstances. The chainlinks that needed repair were corroded, almost entirely in certain parts, and left Farwalker’s left flank in a sorry state. In front of a forge, with the appropriate tools, it would be a couple of hour’s work to restore.

Idrianthe’s Arcana/History on Hadar [26]: According to the Revelations of Melech, Hadar was once the brightest stat in night sky and resides in the nebula of Ihbar. As with many Elder Evils, little is known about Hadar. However, a tome on the subject had found itself into the library in Witchholm after its transportation to the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Lightning, a tome which once belonged to a Neogi, spider-like creatures traveling the Sea of Night. Hadar was not a dying star, it was a dead star. A collapsed star. An inverted star, from which no light escaped. Whatever one could see on the night sky was merely an afterimage from the distant past.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Wed 05 Apr 2023.

Idrianthe nodded knowingly to Mallory's explanation, even whilst she looked on approvingly at the wizard's prudent packaging of the malevolent artifact. Truly, it was an unfamiliar pleasure to be in the company such a developed mind, in spite of their dire circumstances.

"An altogether dead star, if one believes a Neogi-authored tome I was once privileged to have access to; I still have the notes I made if anyone should like to read them in more pleasant circumstances. Inverted by its own desire, a void into which all things are drawn." Idrianthe's demeanor and tone rapidly drifted away from anything resembling grim respect and fell into the downright delighted patter of a researcher discussing a focus that, although it wasn't specifically hers, she had always enjoyed. "The dying form which can be seen by our mortal eyes is an afterimage traveling to us from the distant past, perhaps even a time when it wasn't as terribly bad as it's become. Fun to imagine, isn't it? An Elder... Neutral. Elder Curmudgeon, maybe. Either way, Hadar is a fascinating study in spite of -- maybe because of -- the 'eat everything and everyone' mien. I'd expect nothing less from a spire so dedicated to Mystryl. Do you suppose we could sever the connection to Hadar somehow, render it benign or even beneficial?"

She looked back down at her work on Farwalker's chainmail and frowned. "Forgive me; for all my chitter and chatter, I'm not going to be able to do much for this without a forge fire and new material to replace what's been corroded."

There hadn't been the slightest bit of judgment in Mallory's tone when she expected a lack of comprehension about the subject prior.  She was well-aware that her education into the mystical aspects of their world was by no means popularized and certainly didn't hold a sense of superiority about her knowledge like so many other highly-educated, overly-egotistical arcanists did.  That said, she was visibly pleased at Idri's follow up.  She'd underestimated the Elvish crafter once before and was proven wrong for it, so it was best she alter her expectations accordingly.

"A black hole and still-traveling light yet to reach us then?  A fascinating suggestion... though dead and dying take on questionable qualities where aberrations of the Far Realm are concerned.  Concepts we rely on to define our existence simply don't apply there, and trying to reconcile them together is literal madness.  Poor Melech learned that the hard way." the young noble shook her head pityingly.  The road to arcane knowledge was scattered with the remains of those who'd come before and paid the price for their curiosity.  "Your notions of what to make of the Spire's future are quite intriguing, but perhaps a bit ahead of our situation and capability.  For the moment we've yet to fully plumb this tower's figurative and literal depths."

There wasn't much that could be done about the Spire itself, on the broad scale.  That was simply beyond their scope and something better suited for the likes of their Harpell patron to mull on.  Doubly so when there was so little their group could achieve in the face of everything.  Mallory allowed her gaze to shift once more to where Apple had been laid out as a sense of helplessness welled within her once more, but she shook it away to refocus.  "For the moment, we should resolve what we can and leave loftier ideas for later.  What do you make of this chest?  It's clearly of value to have such an enduring lock placed on it, but I fear trying to open it manually with the enchantment still in place."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Wed 05 Apr 2023.

---

Right, I knew there something I had forgotten; yes, you may take the chest with you. It’s about two feet across and doesn’t weigh more than fifteen pounds. It’s made of fine dark wood.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Wed 05 Apr 2023.

Idrianthe couldn't argue Mallory's point that neither the pearl nor the greater spire could be meaningfully impacted by them at this point, save brute demolition which she was repulsed to even think of. "A project for a less eventful day, you're right. Still, if we could sever the pearl from Hadar, it might become a feat that gets both of our names inked to paper for generations to come. Imagine that, hey? Mallory Bonheur, Bester of an Elder Evil."

With a smile wearied only slightly by the awareness they were in over their heads, Idri shrugged at the issue of the ensorcelled chest. "My limited knowledge of this type of abjuration is that it makes for an exceptionally sturdy obstacle to the uninvited, but not an inherently punitive one. I'm not skilled enough to disenchant the lock and remove the risk, but I do believe that the two of us working together, buoyed by my guiding sigil and any tricks up your voluminous sleeves, have a modest chance to pop it. Otherwise, there's always heat, acid, disassembling the hinges or lid, and precision brute force." To punctuate that, Idri clonked her armored left fist against the artificial right one, producing a muted bwum with her thundering enchantments.

As she looked longer at the chest, Idrianthe's smile flagged. "Fifty years ago I would have been confident I could pick it myself, but time and neglect rust skill as surely as steel -- to say nothing of misplacing my dominant hand. We could always save it for the return journey, take it back to the surface where we can address the problem at leisure on your sled or back in town, with a minimum of risk to the contents."

"Best we simply take it with us then.  No need to take unnecessary chances or damage such a well-made antique." Mallory reasoned with a shrug.  Idri's brief dip into downtrodden recollection earned a sympathetic smile from the young noble.  "Come now, don't be so down on yourself.  I daresay you've a more bold and adventurous spirit than I.  Personally, I'd be content to publish a simple treatise on the development of efficient and practical enchantments.  Though I'm a Diviner by birth, I've always had quite a fondness for the study of magical properties and enchantments." Focus, compartmentalize, and move on.  The simple mantra of her tutor past was a valuable one when it came to coping with the difficulties of any troubling situation.  The more Mallory intentionally allocated her thoughts away from dwelling on poor Apple's fate, the more she could keep herself in the present moment.

"This portal we passed through, for instance." she began in a prim tone that echoed the lectures of prior lessons with a gesture raised to the window entrance.  "A wonderfully useful bit of mystical craftsmanship; an arcane suspension that maintains this pocket dimension space.

I've spoken before of Karsus, the pinnacle mage of the Netherese.  Magic such as this was of his creation.  He rose to his prestige through his development of 'Heavy Magic' - a volatile, physical distillation raw magical energy - which revolutionized how enchantments were handled throughout their empire.  It could permanently infuse magic into both objects and creatures with miraculous ease.  He then further refined it into an even more potent and enduring form - his so-called 'Super Heavy Magic' - which this portal is comprised of.  It was that same power which fueled the titular cataclysm 'Karsus' Folly' and the collapse of the entire Netherese empire.  That very event is what brought this Spire we now stand in plummeting to the earth... alas, the means by which to create this miraculous substance are no more, yet I daresay we are all the better for the loss.  There are simply some things best left alone by the meddling curiosity of mankind."

Such history lessons were rote to any arcanist worth their salt, as the terrible failure of Karsus was etched into the minds and memories of all spellcasters one way or another.  A warning against overreaching past one's capacity, and how even the most noble of intentions were not immune to corruption by man's own hubris.  Rather than be held by the morals of that historical tidbit, however, Mallory gave a curious hum and curled a finger beneath her chin in thought.  "Actually... hmm.  The method of production is long lost, but it is known that the distillation of Super Heavy Magic requires rare star metal.  I wonder... was this Spire perhaps involved in the practice?  Did they attempt to conjure dense cores from the distant stars of the Far Realm and unwittingly come into contact with Hadar?  Was there some mishap in the process or containment breach during the Folly that caused this aberrant corruption?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:57, Thu 06 Apr 2023.

While the others managed a brief respite, Idrianthe undertook the task of ascending the Spire to retrieve the half-dissolved set of armor which the Dwarven helmet was part of. Bringing it down was simpler than climbing up the back of slippery staircases and planted ropes, but between this undertaking and the conversation with Mallory, the remaining party had climbed out of the pocket bedchamber ready to continue onward once the High-Elf was returned.

The upside-down stairway in the Ooze-room led down to the final room of the spire, one of more Ooze. Far more Ooze. Except, this time it was all in one large, still pool covering the entirety of the ceiling-turned-floor. In the center, above it all, sat a silver disk suspended in mid air. It hovered askew, compensating for the slight tilt the lowermost part of the Spire suffered. The pillars, sloping downward in what must be an acute point beneath the Ooze pool, were etched with arcane glyphs.*

---

Map.

* DC 18 Arcana.

---

Mallory's Arcana on the arcane symbols (/w Advantage granted by Idrianthe + Help) [29]: The script was Iokharik and the language Draconic, so it was readable to those versed in arcane notation. The arrangement, however, was more esoteric and perhaps more reminiscent of Rune Magic. Though not unheard of, incorporating the structure and shape as part of the arcane circle was not common practice nowadays, nor in the golden age of Netheril; any flat surface typically sufficed. One such glyph, wrapped in geometry, was engraved on the ceiling-turned-floor and Mallory could quickly determine it was meant to keep the silver disc suspended. The silver disc itself was another instance of Super Heavy Magic, imbued with Transmutation energy.

The sigils on the pillars were ones that most often related to Illusion and Transmutation, though Mallory's adept eye, with the aid of Idrianthe's supplementary knowledge and blessing of luck, could spy the composition was complemented by Evocation. Horizontal rings ran along the wall on a rhythm.

There were no trigger words or passphrases to activate the magic. It instead triggered when a Cantrip was cast atop the silver disc; specifically Minor Illusion.

Exploring even the most simple and surface-tier Netherese ruins often yielded far more questions than one arrived in pursuit of answers for.  But the Spire was just one literally spiraling mystery after another.  So many seemingly unrelated elements... there had to be a connecting line between them, surely?  Life rarely tied itself up in so tidy a package, but there must have been some method behind the madness to begin with.

"What a fascinating structure... the arcane scripting is classical Neth form; a dialect of Iokharik, as one would expect.  But the formatting!  Is this Jotun-inspired rune structure?  What a scandalous approach..." Mallory mused as she examined the strange designs at length.  Breaking down the fundamental elements of the structure was one thing, but discerning its purpose was another.  One that seemed to elude as well.  She'd hoped there would've been some surviving materials that could've yielded information as to the mirror's purpose within that same chamber.  But, when the 'floor' had become a pool of highly acidic fluid, surely anything loose in the room had long since been dissolved away.  There might have been some especially sturdy or enchanted items that survived in the depths, but there was certainly no way to even check, let alone retrieve.

"Idrianthe?" the young noble spoke up as she gazed at the distant mirror suspended high overhead.  Such a sudden shift from her usual manner of polite address, along with her stern tone, spoke of seriousness that needed to be broached.  "Madame Harpell hired you for this matter before the rest of us.  She clearly knew far more of this than she cared to explain prior... what has she told you of her findings or intent for this Spire?  Why did she choose you, specifically, for this task?"

---

Idri's History/Investigation Check on the arcane engravings (Advantage granted by Proficiency in Mason's Tools) [25]: This was not just reminiscent of Rune Magic, this was Rune Magic, but with a different script. Warding Glyphs, a successor of the tradition written with Iokharic, was utilized exclusively by Clerics and Priests and only for the purposes of Evocation.

Every glyph here was expertly carved and likely allowed for repeated uses, a feat attributed to only the most skilled of Runecasters. This was exceptional craftsmanship. The multiple glyphs were strung together in a Chant, a casting variant scarcely ever seen in contexts outside Ostoria, the ancient Giant Kingdom predating Netheril.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:34, Sat 15 Apr 2023.

Idri, a sigil of memory and clarity still glowing on her forehead after fading from Mallory's, was examining one of the bands of script as closely as she could get without bodily interfering with the room or the runes. "Not just Jotun-inspired, Lady Bonheur, overtly Jotun! Almost unheard of with Iokharic outside of clerical warding glyphs, and those exclusively used with evocation, but certainly not outside the bounds of what the great minds of Netheril were capable of. Do you see here, this sequence?" Idri extended her mage hand, a ghostly blue specter of the real, and used it to carefully outline one of the chants. "This is a chant, a system of runic organization from Ostoria, the first kingdom of the Jotuns, older than the Netherese by thousands of years. The skill to create all this boggles the mind, my friends, and its utility is... Monumental. The spellcraft worked into these walls will function again, and again, and again, until the stone erodes flat and nothing of the carving remains. It's..."

Overcome with the weight of the discovery, Idrianthe had tears of joy and disbelief welling in her eyes when she heard Mallory's tone change, and turned to address the new line of questioning.

"Ah... I see. You expect duplicity may be involved, or perhaps malicious intent, on at least her part if not also mine. The logic is certainly there, I can't fault you. The full breadth of her findings were not available to me, but I doubt they were substantive; she was not willing to risk her own well-being by coming here and braving the depths, and there's precious little to learn from the outside, alone. Given she is a necromancer of the Arcane Brotherhood, however, it does not take a philosopher to draw conclusions: This is a place of power and knowledge, and the Brotherhood prize both as vigorously as they hoard it.

"To clarify a point, however, I have been promised no compensation from Madam Harpell. I learned of the Spire through her and another, who I shall preserve the anonymity of, and it was clear she had an interest. I had just helped drive duergar from Caer-Konig and must have struck her as competent enough and learned enough to confide in. I also hail from a defunct sect, the Witch Knights, who taught me a bastardized form of runecasting built on Jotun principles. While a true runecaster knows much more, it does give me a superior facility with the subject than most, and now I suspect that Madam Harpell might have known that would come in useful.

"However, she cautioned me from making this journey until opportunity and aid presented themselves." At this, Idrianthe gestured to the group. "But I wanted to find this place of my own accord, to rescue the ancient wisdoms and lost discoveries, put them to paper, and share it with all the libraries and the peoples I possibly can. Knowing that even one member of the Brotherhood was looking into it only made me want to hurry here first -- which we, together, have accomplished."

"Ah... I see. You expect duplicity may be involved, or perhaps malicious intent, on at least her part if not also mine. The logic is certainly there, I can't fault you."

Mallory shook her head in gentle interjection.  "At first, perhaps, but not for some time.  You've afforded us many reasons to trust you and, given your claim of being a historian, the passion for academia I've witnessed from you is more than enough.  Rest assured that you have my faith." the young noble rested a hand to her chest demurely.  "And, please, call me Mallory, if it would please you to do so.  I daresay we've all been through enough together to set aside formalities."

Both Idri and Vellynne had been forthcoming in their own ways, although Mallory's trust in their patron's affairs was far less certain.  At that point it was less that she felt Vellynne intended to deceive them so much as there was an entire other facet to their task that was kept intentionally concealed from them all.  Even from Idri.  Mallory was a noble and merchant alike; she knew full well the power that came from holding one's assets close and controlling information.  To lay out one's full intent was either a display of foolishness or a desperate last resort.

She listened with patient curiosity as Idri elaborated on her own scholarly upbringing as it was relevant.  A notion that had her gently nodding in understanding.  "Runecasting... hmn.  That certainly explains the unusual behavior of your spellcraft compared to my more conventional methods.  I had thought it a quirk of your reincarnations, but this makes much more sense. I would love to discuss the subject more later, if you're inclined to share." Mallory herself experimented in magical form plenty but her fundamental education was firmly rooted in the very same craft the Netherese had developed ages prior.

With all that said, Mallory felt a bit better in the moment.  There were still questions that rumbled about within her thoughts that would have to wait until another time but she was confident, as much as was possible given the circumstances, that things were as clear as they could be.  Her mind whirled as she went over and over the information she knew, the memories she'd stolen, and what she could glean of her own understanding.  As her dark eyes lifted to the distant mirror suspended high in the air, she felt a dull ache within her chest as the ragged desire of Dzaan's Simulacrum echoed in her own feelings.  Such a painful yearning...

"Madame Harpell expressed little direct interest in this place despite knowing full well what its function once was, and of the strange guise distorting the Spire's location.  I doubt she is simple enough to think that playing dumb would be of any use... likely she believes that, despite the immensity of these enchantments, they're no longer of any good." she raised her Lantern Rod to better shine its light along the unique arcane carvings worked into the stone, then down across the pool of dark, acidic liquid that gathered along the base of the room.  "That this device might render illusions into reality permanently is a wonder, to be sure, but I can't imagine it works any longer.  If I may offer a theory?  The Oozes we fought earlier were of an unusual type I've not encountered before.  If there's truly no access to the Underdark to be had, then I'm of a mind to think that they were somehow created here.  At first I thought they might be base matter from which an illusion was realized by way of transmutation, but I see no means by which they would be contained or fed to the device.  Perhaps... a byproduct of this device's function, such as a pollutant run-off or a failed manifestation?"

She shook her head and looked once more to her gathered companions.  "Regardless, as much as I'd love to activate this structure and test its alleged powers, to dare would be folly.  Upside down, severed from its foundation, and afflicted with this aberrant graffiti?  Were I handed a kettle so marred and seeping with Black Ooze, I'd hardly be tempted to pour myself a cup of tea."

Idrianthe didn't betray much at Mallory's vote of confidence. She felt the value of it, of course, but she was still wrapped up in the enigma of the moment as well and still felt her past lives' own lust for discovery bullying around in her psyche from the Guidance sigil. She did offer, however, with a calm but warm smile, "I appreciate it, Mallory. And I would be more than happy to share what I know about Runecasting, such as it is."

But then all attention and the gears of their minds returned to the matter of the mirrored disc and its ancient runework. "I agree with the conclusion you've drawn about those oozes being either a sort of industrial runoff or perhaps failed product, but it may be an overreach to assume that Vellyne, or indeed anyone, can be certain that the artifact no longer operates as intended at all. I posit that it's more likely there is either some level of damage or misalignment somewhere in the system, most likely a product of time or the trauma of the spire crashing down, that few would be able to identify. After all, the other strange entities we've encountered -- the bulette, the wisp -- might have been successful manifestations, made my someone who wished to deter the adventurers you came in search of.

"Another possibility, though this is more of a supposition, is that there is additional complexity to using the magic here correctly which we aren't seeing. A key or focus, I would guess; something the creator could have used to prevent misuse from anyone who happens to know the right cantrip.

"I... Hmmm..." Idri put her hands to her armored hips and scrunched her face to the side, considering the dangers. "As dangerous as it would be, I do confess that I'd very much like to try activating it at least once -- if only to witness the malfunction so it can be chronicled.

"But that's not a gamble lightly taken, and not at all if the majority rules against it. If we all agree to run the experiment, marvelous. If the majority rules that we do not, then I will wait until we've gotten everything we can from the spire and the four of you have safely vacated the area before activating it on my own. And if it works..." Idri's lips tightened, and she spoke with a painful stiltedness. Every word hurt as it left her lips. "If it works, then... it would behoove me, if not us all, to disable it before departing. It is far too great a power to leave unattended."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Tue 18 Apr 2023.

"Indeed, the Red Wizard Dzaan certainly believed this device was still functional.  I still have my doubts though.  It's simply been too long..." Mallory mused with a pitying shake of her head.  "The nature of the Weave has changed many times since this was created; spells and magics that once functioned one way no longer do so, or have simply ceased to be entirely.  Plus the scope of this design is immense... it can't possibly be powered by its own enchantment.  The Spire is severed from its home enclave, Ythryn, thus it no longer benefits from the city's Mythallar."

Though she felt at ease casually using such terminology with Idri, the young noble offered an apologetic glance to the others. "To clarify, Mythallar were a sort of power source by which the Netherese based their society around.  Immense engines of mystical force; they were the key by which Netherese enclaves soared the skies and by which all their magical devices drew power in order to function." she explained in extremely brief-and-broad shorthand for the others' sake.  "Nearly all were destroyed in Karsus' Folly.  What mere handful still exist are long lost, and the means by which to create them - be it knowledge or ability - have been censured by the gods themselves.  Without access to a Mythallar or some other incredible source of arcane energy, I can't imagine this device could dredge enough power to fully manifest its true potential."

Both Mallory and Idri shared a desire to see what could be done with the ancient relic but, thankfully, they also seemed to share a sense of caution.  The mere suggestion of disabling or destroying the Spire's iconic element was a nigh blasphemous notion that could gall to the core... indeed, considering it practically gave Mallory indigestion.  Carefully painted lips drew up into a pondering pout as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully.  "If we were to test it, we'd need to take quite a few precautions and have an immediate escape prepared.  Before any of that, however, we should at least document all we can.  Copy everything.  And if we do indeed need to destroy this..." she grimaced to even say it but lifted her Lantern Rod once more to indicate a particular set of glyphs engraved near the suspended mirror.  "... disabling those sigils would be our best bet.  They hold the mirror panel in place and alignment; removing them would free that particular key piece and surely render the entire structure inoperable.  Plus we could then at least save that piece and take it with us.  A stable, Super Heavy Magic device is a priceless relic impossible to recreate; we might be able to reverse-engineer these enchantments at a smaller scale, but that mirror is irreplaceable."

Hearing Mallory's concise breakdown of other hurdles got Idrianthe to nodding in mum agreement. All were valid points and she couldn't add to them, although thinking about how to somehow jury-rig a Mythallar-worthy sum of power was... Very tempting. If they got the Hammer from Witchholm, maybe...

Idrianthe went towards the indicated sigils to check them, studying their chant structure without knowing the true meaning. "Ah good, I'm not the only one of us who was wondering if I could recreate the magic. I have a blank book and plenty of ink, you know Iokharic and Netherese spellcraft, I understand the Chant format of the runework; sounds like a perfect recipe to record as much of it as we can as accurately as we can, time allowing. I'm not sure of everyone else's expertise in this regard, and I hope we aren't boring you all to tears with this rampant bout it academia."

Copying down the glyphs was meticulous, time-consuming work. The columns bearing sigils extended downward into the pool of black Ooze, rendering nearly half of the chant obfuscated, and the better part of an hour was spent noting down the parts were at all visible. Once done, Astre was able to effortlessly pick up the disc, its suspension nullified once it was moved from the effects of the glyphs overhead. Filling a vial with a sample of the black sludge was a trickier matter for a creature with no disposable thumbs, and someone had to be roped down in his stead. But by taking care, no mishaps were had and the sample was collected.

After Apple's body was recovered from the bedchamber, along with the former possessions of her Dwarf comapnion, a closer examination of the shrine to Mystryl revealed a button on the wand she held — a seamless, nearly imperceptible feature of the relief. Mallory, with her Detect Magic, revealed not the pillar nor anything in the room to be magical, but, perhaps to her surprise, a vial of twisted glass containing a swirling, clear liquid still manifested in the gap in the pillar when the button was pressed.

And promptly fell.^*

---

Mallory's History into the specific imagery of Mystryl holding a rod [26]: Mallory was almost positive it bore no particular significance, and was just one of many ways the dead deity was depicted.

Mallory's Trap Finding (I'm not sure what you're rolling here?) [25]: There appeared to be no traps about, magical or otherwise.

* Given the upside down thing we've got going on, I imagine accessing the button to be a bit of an inconvenience (perhaps only by utilizing the slick stairway). Hence why I will require a DC 14 Dexterity Saving Throw to catch the vial. Astre, Mage Hand; DC 10.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:32, Tue 25 Apr 2023.

---

Idrinthe's DC 10 Dexterity Saving Throw to catch the falling vial [10]: Success. Idrianthe's Mage Hand is able to move quickly enough from the button to the conjured flask to avoid it hitting the pillar.

"What fascinating line work in the relief... so much of Neth architecture was crafted entirely via transmutation magic, simply forming structures from imagination and arcane control rather than by manual dexterity.  There's a particular masterpiece on display in Waterdeep that features some remarkable optical illu--" Mallory mused amid her investigation of the carved column alongside Idri.  She had her Lantern Rod fixed in place so as to clamber atop it for the sake of either of them being able to reach around and examine in closer detail, or ease the range of Idri's magically-extended touch.

She trailed off mid-word, however.  In that very instant her eyes widened as her pupils dilated out unnaturally far, consuming the whole of her eyes beyond iris and scelera alike.  Though her eyes had become ink-black pools seemingly blind to all around her, she 'saw' something else entirely.  A glimmering flicker of potential - of different events played out a moment ahead of her.  A flare of light, a scattered outline of figures moving about in a half dozen different paths of motion.  In one path the figures watched on as a vial appeared, fell, and smashed to the ground.  In another, a clumsy effort to catch the vial failed and it smashed anyway.  In another, the bottle was caught in hand.  In another, an outline in the shape of a Tressym dove and caught the bottle in its mouth.  In another, a phantom hand swished through the air to catch it long before it reached the floor...

Click.  Idri's Mage Hand passed over a nigh imperceptible button molded into the relief in the same instant Mallory's eyes returned to normal and her perception returned from the slew of potential futures.

"Idrianthe!  Catch it!" the young noble cried out suddenly as - a moment later - the column flared with light and produced that foreseen vial...

---

Mallory uses her 8 Portent in place of Idri's roll to ensure a 10 result.  Just adding in this narrative fluff to explain the usage.

Idrianthe was hardly as accustomed to using the lantern rod as Mallory, and she straddled it with an awkward stiffness that kept her left hand firmly clamped for balance. She was, admittedly, completely lost in the stonework and appreciating it as a mason as much as a historian, and didn't realize that her mitten-like mage hand had caused some of it to shift until the instant after it had occurred.



Fortunately, Mallory's warning triggered her reflexes a fraction of a second before she even realized what had happened. Idri willed her spectral hand downwards where it grasped the falling vial before it made a messy introduction to the ceiling-cum-floor. The elf craned her neck to see what exactly she'd caught, and her mage hand slowly brought the vial back up and merged with the artifice of her right hand, leaving the vial laying snugly in a metal fist.

"...Caught it?" Idri offered with a sheepish grin, then held the vial up for them both to see. "We found some sort of alchemical compound, probably! It was inside the statue!" She added, calling down for the benefit of Farwalker, Khule, and Rhydd, fortunate enough to not be precariously perched on a magical staff.

A deep sigh of relief wheezed out of Mallory as their newest discovery was spared an untimely encounter with physics.  "Well, this is certainly a lesson for the future.  Should I ever someday build a tower, potion-securing measures in case of inversion are a must." she groaned.  It had nearly been the same thing with that first ceiling-bound chest they'd encountered prior.  She didn't think her heart could handle the idea of losing a precious artifact to gravity.

"But how did it get there?  Was it contained inside the column by some mechanism?  That's certainly a magical potion, but the column itself isn't producing any sort of aura... is the column a Quasimagical Device?" such mullings came alongside hands offered up to assist Idri, be it in climbing down herself or simply passing off the vial for further examination.

---

"Identify" time!  Let's find out what the vial's effects are before we go poking further.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Tue 25 Apr 2023.

Idri passed the vial to Mallory and then carefully dangled herself down from the lantern rod, clambering back to the "floor" where she could observe the relief from below and start to pen a description of it.

"Unclear! The Netherese are beyond us, Lady Bonheur, and we must make peace with not understanding everything. It's a difficult thing, I know, but it will calm your heart in the long run. Probably quasimagical, though, if I really had to make a guess." Every few words were puncutated by clanks and grunts as Idri made her way down, until she hit the deck with a heavy, metallic impact.

"I have alchemical tools if we require them to analyze that vial, by the way, but I suspect you've got it under control!" The Dame called up to Mallory, then thrust her palms forward and willed her armor and the limb it simulated to leap forth from her body and lay in a tidy bundle on the ground. Idrianthe laid down on her back across the armor bundle, letting her silver-white hair dangle, to look at the relief upside-down for a more accurate consideration of its quirks, beauties, and techniques. With her left hand on the quill and her journal held up with the now invisible grip of her mage hand, Idri began to write.

"There's always understanding to be gleaned from all things.  If this is Quasimagical, then it still functioning means one of two things." Mallory noted as she carefully handled the vial in a delicate grasp, as if afraid it might simply shatter if she pinched it.  "Either it still held a tiny vestige of magical power that was wholly expended in producing this vial, or it's still fully functional... which means we're within range of a Mythallar."

A heavy notion indeed, particularly given the severity of her tone.  Dark eyes lifted to that relief and its hidden activation button once more with an anxious gaze.  Pressing the button a few more times would be the confirmation: if it kept producing more vials of potion, then that meant it still had power.  That would make things... complicated.  Still, before that particular notion was to be tested, Mallory refocused herself on the vial presently and literally at hand.  Best to figure out what exactly it was before trying to make more.

---

Mallory will ritual cast "Identify" on the vial to figure it out.  And, heck, let's be extra thorough and "Identify" the column as well, just in case.  I'm not sure if/how a quasimagical device might register if the column is indeed one, so let's experiment!
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Tue 25 Apr 2023.

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Mallory's Identify on the potion: This grants the drinker the ability to cast Minor Illusion and Hypnotic Pattern at will using Intelligence for their spellcasting ability for the next hour. It also grants a +1 to their Wisdom Score.

Mallory’s Identify on the pillar and the gap: Both the pillar and the gap are under the effects of Nystul’s Magical Aura.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:17, Wed 26 Apr 2023.

A number of minutes were spent in arcane concentration as the back of Mallory's hand once more came alight with the shifting, interlocking glyphs that appeared whenever she was in the process of analyzing spellcraft.  She scrutinized them with a furrowed brow and confused pout as she completed her examination of the potion first.

"Interesting... and a bit concerning, given the lack of context.  This potion temporarily heightens the mind and grants access to simple spellcasting ability, even if one is otherwise unable to cast in the first place.  Certainly an example of Heavy Magic creation, as was commonplace in Neth society.  The spells it grants are odd though.  One is a primary illusion cantra necessary to operate the mirror in the next room, so that makes sense.  But the other... hmn." she scowled a bit as she held the vial up to her lantern's light to peer through it critically.  "One of old Hamring's specialities: a spell that befuddles and incapacitates entire crowds.  Back in the days of Netheril, it was both easier to cast and more powerful than its modern incarnation.  So why would it feature here?"

That there were cages that held the corpses of intelligent beings, long dead, and potions of protection against various harms was troublesome to begin with.  But when one paired that with a granted ability to stupefy entire groups of beings or creatures, it presented some very questionable implications as to just how such a spell would feature in the Spire's regular functions.  Given what she knew of the abusive and ego-driven nature of the Netherese's higher society from records, the idea of such potential abuses seemed likely and just as loathsome to Mallory's sensibilities.  Intent on trying to discern whatever she could, she turned her focus to the column and once more resumed her work...

A few minutes later, however, she gasped sharply with a sound that was practically a scoff of offense rather than concern.  "Wha-?!  Oh, you cheeky Dweomerkeepers!"  She balked at first but, all the same, felt a bit of relief as she shook her head.  "The column isn't quasimagical at all... it's magical, but its aura has been masked to prevent detection.  No Mythallar necessary."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:29, Tue 25 Apr 2023.

When the button was pressed again, by whomever it might be, nothing happened.

Had the Bulette been a nasty creature upon confrontation, nastier it revealed itself when dissected. The tentacles over its beak was sloppy and secreted a thick, viscous slime that was present in smaller parts in between its plating as well. And on top of being revolting, it was tough as nails — even cutting through its tongue was like slicing adamantine. By the time Mallory, and anyone who wanted to help her, had removed a single claw, Astre was well underway to scout out the crannies they had missed . . .

The tunnel from the icy chamber climbed rather steeply. It was entirely barren, with a few large holes that seemed to be the entrances or exits of tunnels and some empty natural chambers. There were several tracks of crampons in the ice, some strands of fur, and an extinguished torch. Continuing along, it became evident this path led back up to the first floor where the Bugbears resided. But as Astre approached, it wasn't the voices of Bugbears he heard.

"Bok, bok, BUC-AWW!"

Clucking. A rather animated chicken was bouncing around the room once Astre could peek over the ledge. Before that, however, he had smelled blood and . . . something slimy, not entirely unlike the odors of the Bulette his mistress was dissecting down below. In the corner, a mortally wounded Bugbear and their weapon.

---

Map.

Yes, Astre is withing Telepathy range.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:12, Sat 29 Apr 2023.

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Mallory's Nature on the chicken [14]: Yup, that's a chicken. A Rooster, more specifically. Going by the lack of blood on its beak or talons and the abundance on the fallen Knerk, it had no part in her felling.

And based on what Astre could hear and smell, whoever or whatever might have been the cause of this, they or it was in hid in the other end of the Floor, in the section with the collapsed staircase, and they were being quiet.

Work was something that Mallory had long since grown to enjoy.  The same could rarely be said of others in her social sphere, but simple labor - even in the form of methodical dissection - allowed her to focus her mind and feelings.  Compartmentalization, as she'd been taught.  Don't suppress or ignore those woes, but simply control them to process in time.  The partially-ceremorphized Bulette was a particularly twisted anatomical puzzle to try and unravel, so it yielded a considerable distraction from her troubled thoughts.

"Given how heavily mutated this poor beast has become, I'm reluctant to think its materials could be used for conventional enchanting.  There might be side-effects.  Still, best to take what we can to study for--" the young noble was elbow-deep in viscous ooze as she took vials of the stuff for later reference.  She stopped short, however, as her expression furrowed into a look of sudden confusion and then immediate shock.

"Astre?  Astre, slow down, you're not-- What do you mean Knerk's dead?!  A chicken?  Why would there be a chicken?  No, just show me..."  While the others had seen Mallory hold plenty of seemingly one-sided conversations with her Tressym companion, the current moment took things a little far.  She looked among the others in fearful concern.  "Something is very wrong upstairs.  The Bugbears have been attacked.  I'll look on ahead to see what I can, but prepare yourselves for another fight."

Once again, her dark eyes clouded as their irises bloomed out into a spreading black across her whole view.  The familiar, passing sensation of disorientation was no bother to her as her senses reallocated themselves, though the view of the awful mess in the room above through Astre's eyes made her flinch.  She could only hope poor Knerk was still holding on.  Bugbears were hardy, stubborn sorts, surely?  Mallory clutched her Lantern Rod in worry as Astre delicately pressed at the doorway; he didn't know if the chicken was friend, foe, or obstacle in some manner, so it was best to be safe about it.  The Tressym's body shimmered and faded out of view as bounded up into the air with a silent flap of his owl-like wings.

---

Mallory remotely casts "Invisibility" on Astre through the Familiar Link as he's still within range.  Astre, meanwhile, will continue to stealth around and investigate the supposed cause of the carnage.  He'll stay in flight or on elevated surfaces whenever he can; anything to keep from making noise or leaving paw prints on visible surfaces.