27th Rhaan, 999 YK
- We go through the recap, and at some points we interject comments that Bhaltair or Valaari may have had
- Bhaltair would've done a knowledge check before sending Warren into Ravener's Maw.
- Bhaltair casts True Speech when they were in the tunnels, allowing them to read the Giant runes.
- Valaari has heard of Taer Umbra before, as it's where Lailari Dzuka is from. They know that the darkness has a physical weight to it, blocking darkvision, and it is harmful to the living.
- Bhaltair tries to cast Safe Passage, to see if it can mitigate the harmful effect of the darkness. They proceed a little bit into the demiplane with Runmae, and observe the darkness doesn't recede past the light source. Bhaltair steps into it, and feels it press against them like a sticky syrup, but it doesn't hurt them. Good to know.
- They return to the others, and discuss. They can't see in there, so how do they navigate?
- They check the floor in the safe zone and it seems to be natural stone. Runmae's element.
- Dodging predators in the Maw may be easier than navigating through Taer Umbra, if they can't see ahead of them.
- Valaari does have a spell to help them navigate back, at least, if they get lost.
- Valaari thinks they should brave the dark.
- Warren wants to go back into Ravener's Maw. He thinks its safer. He seems a bit sus about it, a bit unhinged
- Bhaltair gently touches Warren on the shoulder and checks his status using magic.
- He's not being magically compelled, but this is weird.
- Valaari is very suspicious, Warren is usually actively hostile to doing things.
- Warren, speaking 1000 words a minute, tries to make his case for going back into the Maw. He even begs a bit?
- This does not convince Valaari, it actually solidifies their decision not to go into the Maw!
- Taer Umbra it is. They tied ropes to each other to make sure they don't lose each other in the dark.
- They have a bunch of ways to generate light, or find their way back to a place they've been, so the risk is mitigatable.
- Runmae wonders whether its worth using a shield to make noise, to scare anything away. Valaari argues the opposite, they want to make as little noise as possible as anything in there is going to be blind.
- They ask Naze for his opinion. He has nothing to deal with the dark, but he does think it is safer.
- Runmae lights her lantern, Valaari activates her spear to light it up, and Naze casts Light again.
- Runmae first, Bhaltair second, Naze third, Warren fourth, and Valaari fifth. So the whole group is in the light.
- They step in, and the darkness presses in on their light, like a living thing. Valaari makes a mark on the wall to mark their passage.
- They push through until they come to a fork, and they go left.
- They follow it until it opens up, and then their light merges with another and they come face to face with an Umbragen patrol. Two of the Umbragen Drow speak to them.
- They ask, in Elvish, if the group has news from Vralkast? The party is confused. "They must be, they have a dwarf"
- Bhaltair asks if they can speak any other languages? They speak Dwarven and Giant. They continue in Dwarven.
- Bhaltair asks what Vralkast is?
- The drow explain it's a vast city in Khyber, comprised of various demiplanar cultures.
- They ask how the drow are able to survive here? Or find their way around?
- Their ancestors made a pact with The Umbra, it allows them to manipulate the shadows but it comes at significant cost.
- The drow introduce themselves as Ihanna Nanzish and Faebzen Kograe. The other two also have names but are not plot relevant.
- The drow explain that their usual route to Vralkast is blocked by Belashyrra, the Lord of Eyes' forces. They have been besieging Taer Umbra for 2 years.
- Bhaltair asks if the drow had seen any gnomes? They don't know what a gnome is (based)
- They ask if the Carrion Tribes came through here? The Umbragen have not seen any other groups arriving via that portal.
- Yeah, the tribers would be unable to navigate here. They'd go the other way.
- Bhaltair asks if the drow have a way to counter the effects of the Maw? The drow don't know what they mean, what effect of the Maw?
- "The drive to hunt?"
- "The Umbra takes much, it may be protecting us from whatever you're referring to"
- Maybe the group could also make a pact with the Umbra.
- Bhaltair tries to Sense Motive on the drow, but can't get a read on them. They're so monotone and devoid of emotion. The Umbra takes much.
- Bhaltair asks if they can see where the siege is happening?
- Ihanna says it will be dangerous.
- They can handle danger!
- Bhaltair checks with the others first actually, as only them and Runmae can understand the conversation.
- Bhaltair also explains that they aren't sure the drow are telling the truth, they can't read them. They want to see if they are being besieged. (and also they really want to see a beholder)
- Valaari gets a flash of uncanny insight, as they do, and knows what a Beholder is and its capabilities. They do not want to engage a beholder, and says as much
- Bhaltair doesn't want to fight one either, just see it! They think there's something big going on down here
- Valaari asks how long the siege has been happening? 2 years
- Doesn't line up with their own troubles
- Oh right! Bhaltair remembers the drow mentioned dwarves mapping Khyber, from Vralkast. What if the beholderkin are deliberately blocking the tunnels to stop people reaching Vralkast
- Those dwarves are also the ones marking the tunnels!
- The drow mentioned another route to Vralkast, through Ravener's Maw, but it's dangerous.
- Bhaltair tells Valaari this in Dhakaani, so that Warren doesn't understand it
- They worry that Warren may be uniquely impacted by the Ravener's Maw, given he is a shifter.
- Bhaltair really wants to see a beholder though. Valaari asks how long of a detour it would be?
- Bhaltair asks the drow. "It is not far, the demiplane is small"
- It's not far!
- Valaari reiterates they do not engage a beholder, it will kill them
- Okay, a quick in and out!
- They would like to see a beholder!
- Ihanna asks them about the umbragen they know. They sent several groups out to find allies, as they cannot win the Blind War without aid.
- Lailari never mentioned a siege or gathering aid. But she's been with the Maruk for over two centuries
- But if they're looking for allies! :eyes:
- Very well. Ihanna tells them to follow, and starts walking
- They follow
- The party notice that Naze has not summoned Zaphkiel since leaving the Lagoons of Piety.
- They ask the drow if they mind if their friend summons his "angel guy"
- The drow look plussed. "His what?"
- They explain, briefly, what Zaphkiel is. They didn't want to summon them in the Lagoons. "We understand, we have lost people to the Lagoons"
- Bhaltair gives Naze a thumbs up
- Naze summons Zaphkiel and the Drow give them a quick look over and then keep walking
- A little while later, a shadowy figure emerges from the shadow and walks into Ihanna, merging with her. She then tells the group that a group of beholderkin have gotten through the blockade. Will the party help them deal with it?
- Bhaltair asks Valaari
- Valaari is not happy
- Bhaltair asks for the make up of the threat. Ihanna doesn't know, other than it's a small group.
- Valaari sighs. Fine, but if it looks like they're going to lose, they run
- Of course! Always
- Runmae is concerned they are not spec'd to fight a beholder
- Ihanna comments they will not be useful as allies if they can not fight
- Fair enough
- They agree to help
- Ihanna leads them to a tunnel, and they lay in ambush.
- They get into position, and wait for the group to get into position before they spring the ambush. The group consists of two Spectators, and four Nothics
- Warren springs the ambush, throwing his star knife at one of the Spectators and hitting it twice.
- A nothic then sprints forward and stares really hard at Warren, which makes him uncomfortable
- Bhaltair starts playing a courageous anthem, and doesn't seem to lose their magic. Didn't beholders have antimagic?
- Taking advantage of that, Bhaltair casts Moonlight Ray at the same spectator that Warren hit, critically hitting it!
- It's super pissed about that!
- A nothic runs forward and stares at Bhaltair, before going "huh"
- Faebzen teleports next to one of the spectators and attacks it with a scimitar made of shadow, also critically hitting
- Valaari exploits vulnerability, and their uncanny intuition tells them that is not a Beholder! It's a lesser beholderkin, a Spectator if you will
- They also know this one has no anti-magic field, but it can reflect spells if it's aware of them
- Valaari then throws their spear at it, worsening its day, and then does so again but misses
- Ihanna casts a Shadow Blast, damaging most of the beholderkin, but one of them reflects it and gets herself, Bhaltair and Valaari in it
- Fuck!
- A nothic rushes up to Runmae and menaces her with its claws. After doing so, it works its mouth some and speaks! "Run...mae"
- Ugh
- Zaphkiel moves to intercept one of the nothics. Naze then casts Divine Immolation, which sounds very scary
- It's not super effective, setting one of the nothics on fire, but one of the spectators reflects the spell back at Naze, catching himself and Bhaltair in the blast. Ihanna summons shadow to block it on herself
- One of the spectators begins firing off eye rays in all direction, catching Bhaltair with an Admonishing Ray
- The other one bites Runmae and then catches Faebzen and Bhaltair with a confusion ray
- A nothic attacks Faebzen, and then says his name
- Warren throws his star knife at one of the nothics three times. On the third, it says his name and unnerves him enough that he misses
- Then it stares at him real hard and begins mauling him. He becomes stunned and frightened.
- One of the nothics attacks Zaphkiel, then seems to realise something, and stares at Naze, frightening him and dealing mental damage
- Faebzen shakes off the confusion and attacks the nearest spectator. He cuts off two of its eye stalks and then stabs it in the center eye
- He then flanks the nothic that is on fire (from Naze), flanking it, and stabbing it in the back (with a sneak attack crit!)
- Valaari then throws their spear at a nothic, and Ihanna bolsters it by duplicating it, allowing Valaari to crit!
- That nothic is having a bad day
- Runmae takes a step back and then bonks that very same nothic, critically hitting it and ruining its day forevermore.
- Then she tells its corpse to "get my name out of your mouth"
- Then she spins round and hits the remaining spectator
- Ihanna shrouds herself in shadow, and then teleports behind the remaining spectator, and attacks it with a shadow scimitar
- Naze summons a healing servitor which flies between his allies and grants them temporary hp
- Zaphkiel then smacks a nothic across the face with their hammer, which is so effective
- The remaining spectator moves, paralyzes Runmae with an eye ray, and blasts Valaari with an admonishing ray
- A nothic attacks Valaari but they can't get through their shield
- Warren is stunned and frightened, so he attacks while screaming and hits the nearest nothic
- Which then mauls him
- Bhaltair casts enlarge on Valaari, and then blasts the spectator with a force barrage
- Another nothic rushes Naze and attacks him with its claws
- Faebzen goes to Warren's aid, stabbing the nothic in the back of the head, and then throws a shadow scimitar at the spectator, pinning an eye stalk to it and killing it.
- Valaari, now a certified Big Boi, demoralizes the nearest nothic and then stabs it in the torso, critting it
- Runmae is paralyzed lmao. She can only attempt to Recall Knowledge, and she knows jack shit
- Ihanna teleports behind the nothic fighting Valaari and attacks it twice with her shadow scimitar
- Naze casts Boost Eidolon on Zaphkiel, who moves up behind the nothic that's attacking Naze. Like a menacing avenging angel, Zaphkiel brushes it aside and it dies. At the end of his turn, the servitor departs, healing everyone
- Then Zaphkiel moves to assist Valaari
- The nothic tries to glare at Valaari, but they aren't affected by any mental twaddle and they shrug
- Warren runs away
- Bhaltair takes cover, wanting to avoid watching what is about to occur (as the nothic is surrounded by Valaari, Zaphkiel, and Ihanna, with Faebzen and Runmae on the way)
- Faebzen runs up behind it, and with everyone watching, manifests a shadow scimitar and slices its head off
- We end the session with the end of combat, we'll handle harvesting/looting next session