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Current Situation
- Dinosaurs
out of the way, the Maybesitters venture into the caves that are
holding the violent Couatl from wreaking havoc upon the Roaming Isle.
Will they be able to cure her of her ailment? Or is this something
beyond their capabilities to cure?
Session Summary
- Having
stayed behind for a bit with Clerics at the monastery, Tabitha is
deemed recovered and ready to join her companions. She is sent to the
opening of the cave, and finds the carcasses of the dinosaurs, and her
four friends picking themselves up out of the dirt, teeth, barf, and
bushes. She calls a greeting, and is cheerfully received by the rest of
the gang - the Witch looks back to her usual self and ready to set
forth.
- And now - the cave opening sits, dark and silent. The group decides to take a short rest, Dhann and Barrett distributing healing, while Tabitha sends Midnight to scout the cave opening and the beginning of the tunnel. Rae prestidigitates as much of the grime and filth off of herself and Dhann as possible, which is much appreciated. Z hops about, Mending clothing or gear that met the business ends of multiple sharp rex teeth.
- As Tabitha looks at the entrance to the cave, there's a carved, clean staircase leading down, and while the air is cooler, there doesn't seem to be any breeze or movement in the air. It's utterly still. The smell is of very fresh dirt, not stale or old at all. It's rich and bold. With no breeze, there's no sound coming from within the cave, either. Midnight doesn't seem to be able to go much further than Tabitha can see, as if he's reached the end of the tunnel, or something blocking the way. Venturing in a bit further, she comes across what's obviously a recent cave in, totally cutting off the way forward.
- Barrett gives Dhann the Pearl of Move Earth, so that the Cleric can use it to clear the way for the group. Moving to the tunnel, Dhann begins to move the earth and debris to either side of the tunnel, and as he begins to concentrate on the ball, the metal begins to grow slightly warm, and he realizes he can get a sense, in his mind, of almost an "image" of the earth in front and around him. He's better able to gauge what's soft earth, hard rock, and how and where to move it.
- The cavern is about 15' high and as Dhann is able to fully concentrate on the spell, he's able to get a sort of picture as to where the tunnel originally was, before the collapse of dirt. He begins to part the earth and stone, carving a good single file path forward. It's going to be a bit snug, but it's certainly passable. Sensing the path is accessible, Dhann starts to push forward, both Barrett and Z taking point, Tabitha and Rae following, leaving Dhann in the middle of the line to focus wholly on the spell.
- Barrett helps to keep an eye out for danger, which is good; as Dhann moves the earth to form a path, it begins to take most of his concentration to do so. It's not physical work, but it's clearly taking a strong effort to manipulate the spell. The path continues downward, and after about half an hour, the stairs begin to transition from large, flat steps, to narrower, steeper, inclines.
- Tabitha hears the sound of the earth change slightly; it sounds like there may be some echoes beginning, from the front of the group. It seems the damage from the cave in is reaching its end. Dhann is able to sense it, thanks to the pearl, rather than hear it. He alerts the group that the tunnel may open up suddenly, and while he knows that much, he's unable to tell what they're going to open up onto.
- It's assumed that Alectos, wherever she is, is most likely aware of someone entering or at least approaching her enclosure. Stealth is out of the question and it's safer to assume danger rather than nothing will meet the Maybesitters on their exit from the tunnel, and so everyone is on guard.
- Dhann feels that the earth is much easier to move, and looser overall. It's the end of the tunnel, or some sort of air pocket, but thankfully it's a reprieve from the intense work the spell was originally causing. Pushing through, there's a blast of fresh air that hits everyone's faces. Some larger tunnel or chamber is now entered, and the cramped tunnel is left behind.
- Entering a system of large tunnels, debris and rubble is everywhere, as it becomes clearer more cave ins, big ones, have happened throughout. It's difficult to gauge what's a proper, original tunnel, and what might be a new tunnel due to the shaking of the earth. Barrett, in the distance, can hear a slight breathing, but it's difficult to sense where it might be coming from, as it echoes slightly. Whatever is breathing, though, is quiet, with a labored quality to it.
- Sensing another thirty minutes or so in which he can use the spell, Dhann lets the group know that he's going to continue concentrating on the spell until it runs out, just in case more needs to be moved in the immediate vicinity. Thankfully, it's much easier to concentrate on both the spell, and his surroundings, when he's not moving massive amounts of dirt.
- Tabitha sends Midnight to the west, down one of the larger tunnels. The tunnels are quite dark, but Midnight is able to sense and see, giving Tabitha a clear picture of what's ahead. The breathing is a bit louder down here, as well as a bit more light glowing. There are, too, more tunnels. Tabitha lets everyone know, and it's agreed to head after the raven.
- As they move
deeper into the tunnel, the light grows, the breathing becomes louder,
and the flooring, from rough dirt, moved into handmade, massive tiles.
They're old, but of fine craftsmanship. Tabitha keeps Midnight moving
forward, switching to a telepathic connection. It's decided that
stealth, now, would probably be a good idea. The tunnel they are in ends
abruptly in a rough hewn doorway, looking to have been created in one
of the previous cave ins.
- What opens up before the Maybesitters is a massive, decorated chamber. Held up by columns, the ceiling seems to be a soaring 35' above the floor. In the center of the circular room, a collapsed, struggling Couatl lays gasping. The group, so far, has not been noticed. Blood smears the floor, walls, and as everyone looks about, the remnants of earlier adventurers, would-be rescuers, and their belongings are scattered absolutely everywhere.
- The Couatl is clearly in some sort of distress, as if overcome with aches from an illness. Its breathing marks it as in a good amount of discomfort.
- Barrett decides to move forward and attempt some sort of communication. As he makes his way into the room, he senses a very slightly pushing force, as he enters the chamber, and gets the idea that it's the ward keeping Alectos in the room. Everyone else sees a very slight shimmer as Barrett crosses through the magic. The Monk, as he looks about, sees that the carnage is worse than originally thought. There are no bones stuck together, nothing that looks like a whole carcass, it's an absolute mess. The violence that occurred in this space has been horrific.
- Speaking to the Couatl, in a soft voice, Barrett introduces himself and asks if she can hear him. There's no response or reaction, and he's not sure if the creature even noticed him. He continues to speak, saying he's come to offer assistance or help, whatever she might need. Using a small pearl of Greater Restoration given to him by Illu Stardust, Barrett tosses it to activate it and while it hits, and the magic bursts forth, no impact seems to have been made whatsoever on whatever is ailing Alectos, until for just a moment, a glimmer of clarity seems to spark, and she sits up, more graceful than before, less distressed, and she turns, slowly, to transform. It doesn't seem to go well, or easily, and all that changes is her face becomes more human, or elven, but she's lovely. She's clearly struggling to shift, and the rest of her form remains as a Couatl. Her expression is sorrowful, scared, and she says, "You must leave. You must leave, now." Her voice rolls between soft and gravelly. "There is very little time. Hurry." On the last word, her tone is feminine, almost pathetically sad.
- Barrett expresses that he understands they need to leave, but the group has questions, and wants to help her, and Alectos only replies that she'll kill all of them. Hearing only parts of the conversation, the rest of the group decides what they'll do. Barrett, still talking, mentions helping the Mythallar and at that word, Alectos' face shows fear, sadness, regret, sorrow, but lands on anger. Her voice begins to hiss, and she repeats, "I will kill. You. All."
- Dhann, seeing Barrett
beckon behind himself as the Monk mentions having friends that want to
help the Couatl, passes his musket behind him to the closest person -
Rae - and informs her that there are four charges left. He then moves
forward, obviously and non-threateningly, so that Alectos continues to
focus on himself and the Monk, while Z, Rae, and Tabitha remain
stealthing. Rae disappears behind a large boulder within the room,
Tabitha stays near the door, and Z stays just outside of it. Stopping by
Barrett, Dhann, on a gut feeling, looks Alectos over, on the lookout
for Shadow on the Couatl, but he's unable to see any. He asks, simply,
what ails Alectos.
- The Couatl rears up a bit more, her wings stretching out, slowly, and looks crookedly at Dhann, and approaches both him and Barrett. Her face flickers to a more birdlike structure, back to human, and she hisses, "I warned you."
- Casting Detect Evil and Good, Dhann gets an overwhelming sense of good from the Couatl in front of him. It's almost as if she emanates a glow or aura of goodness from her, almost visible to the Cleric. However, the sense of Good flickers, and it's obvious something evil is nearby. On her, near her, in her, it's not able to pinpoint, but Dhann is immediately made uncomfortable by that flickering.
- Rae, unseen behind the
boulder, prepares an Eldritch Blast, but decides to only throw it if
either Barrett or Dhann make a move to attack Alectos. Tabitha moves to
the side of a pillar, waiting to see if a fight breaks out. Barrett
Shields himself, and moves to prepare to flank, should things become
violent. Z comes out of stealth, tapping a beat on his drum, sending an
inspiring tempo in Dhann's direction.
- Alectos meets
Barrett's gaze, and her expression is nothing but fathomless sorrow,
even as she moves to attack. Her body splits into to Owlbears, but a
snap reaction from Rae dispels the Polymorph and the Couatl is forced
back into her original form. As she shifts back, Dhann scans her once
again for Shadow, and horribly confirming his suspicions, is certain he
sees tendrils writhing under her skin and feathers. Unbelting and
illuminating his mace, he alerts the group to what he's seen, and
focuses on using Radiant spells. Barrett continues to move into a
flanking position, imploring to Alectos to let them help her. Z
continues to drum out a calming tattoo, working to keep Alectos' mind
focused on something other than her current anguish, but she shifts
again, this time into two giant apes, and both Barrett and Dhann hear,
in the shifting, a terrified and pained scream in the humanoid voice of
Alectos as she polymorphs.
- The two apes are furious, roaring and pounding the ground as they eye out who in the group to attack first. Wanting to get Alectos back into Couatl form, Dhann punches one of the apes solidly in the head with Spiritual Weapon, and the ape doesn't seem to notice too much, as enraged as it is. Rae shoots Eldritch Blast, one at each ape, and hits one, misses another. Tabitha Chill Touches one of the apes, and Barrett pummels from right and left. Blows are exchanged, rocks are flung - Bardic insults are hurled by Z with stinging accuracy. At one point, Barrett gets hit, hard, but somehow doesn't take as much damage as he was expecting.
- Dhann, ducking under a swing from one of the apes, backs up to where Z is, and checks to see if the barrier that is supposed to hold Alectos in, is now trapping them inside, and finds that it is. "Well, Z, it looks like we're in it for the long run!" The Cleric remarks to the Bard next to him. Regardless of what happens, the Maybesitters won't be leaving this room the same way they came in. Rae sees and hears this, and uses the iBones to ask if the group is trying to leave, or are going to finish what has started. She then casts Suggestion on one of the apes. The ape hesitates, for a moment, but it doesn't seem the spell stuck.
- With a Stunning Strike, Barrett knocks one of the apes down and promptly steps away from the pissed off primate. Barrett then yells, "Everyone's doing great! Try to keep one of them alive!" The second ape makes a beeline for Tabitha, crashing his fists down on the Witch. Bizarrely, between thwacks, Tabitha doesn't take as much damage as she was preparing herself for as the blows hit left and right. Z jumps into action and hurls the Flying Sticky Poi at the ape attacking Tabitha and lands a brilliant hit. The ape's right arm is snagged by one Poi, his head, the other, and the ape is effectively restrained. The Tabaxi celebrates with a little giggle and cheer while he hops forward, out of range of the ape but close enough to assist Tabitha.
- As the ape becomes entangled in the Poi, Dhann, inspired by the earlier drum music, Z's accuracy with the Poi, and seeing Tabitha being attacked, sprints past the Tabaxi to body slam the ape to the ground, while shouting a Healing Word to the Witch. Z sees Dhann hit the ape, thankfully missing the sticky mess of strings. "Don't get caught in the Poi!" The Bard calls.
- Rae once again attempts to charm one of the apes, to try and get it to stop attacking. With Fey Presence, she happens to be close enough to have the effect hit both apes. And thank the Feys, both apes are successfully charmed. Rae calls, "These guys are ours, for a very short amount of time!" The Warlock then says to the charmed animals, "Us, friends? We good?" Gesturing to everyone in the immediate vicinity. The animals are still enraged by what's been happening, and incensed at the battle, but both turn and look at Rae, and there's a glimmer of recognition for just a moment.
- Tabitha, not completely convinced the charm is working, trusses up one of the apes, and this knocks the charm from his mind, but he's tied up enough to the point of not being able to immediately break free of the ropes. Barrett then steps forward towards the other ape and socks him upside the head multiple times in an attempt to knock him out. While not being able to bid the ape good night, the animal is looking significantly hurt, and has not regained its footing. The Poi-and-roped ape is unable to break free of the restraints, and lets loose a deafening roar in its frustration.
- When the ape does this, Dhann catches that the polymorph is beginning to flicker, as if the ape's form is losing integrity in the places it has taken damage. Under the Poi, where the Chill Touch hit, evidence of Couatl hide and feathers is beginning to break through. Z also sees this, and backs away slightly, just in case. The other ape stands, bleeding and battered, and approaches Rae. He doesn't move to attack, simply looks at Rae, then Barrett, then turns and bellows in Rae's face.
- Dhann moves to stand next to Tabitha, warns the group that it looks like Alectos is about to shift back, and expresses surprise when Rae, who has not been present in front of anyone in combat until now, is severely hurt and bloodied. He casts Healing Word on her to alleviate some of the damage.
- It's at this point Rae uses Prestidigitation to summon an image of the Mythal seed in her hand, and presents it to the ape in front of her, hoping to inspire a sense of honor, or duty, protection, anything that might resonate with Alectos. As the gorilla looks at the seed, and then back at Rae, that feminine face flashes, quickly, across the visage of the ape. Both the apes begin to transform, and the black fur, and muscular arms, then the wings and scales that merge and culminate begin to take on the form of a young green dragon.
- Holding her ground, Rae gets the sense that if the dragon were to attack, it already would have. For the moment, it's simply staring at the Warlock and the image of the seed. Rae begins to explain, hesitantly, that there is a seed, and an egg, too, that needs Alectos' protection. Tabitha slowly approaches from the side, asking Rae, "What the hell happened to you?!" Ely hisses, "Please be aware, you're in range of the dragon," to which Tabitha responds, "We're ALL in range of the dragon," while casting Cure Wounds on Rae. "So, now - what do we do?"
- Barrett, behind the dragon, notches an Arrow of Entanglement and prepares to fire if the dragon makes any sudden movements. The dragon takes no notice of this, intimately focused on the illusion of the seed in Rae's hands. She steps closer to Rae, and spreads her wings as wide as they will go, before wrapping them, slowly, around Rae. Spiritual Weapon is swept in as well, and Tabitha backs away to avoid being caught as well. Rae is lost from sight at this point, totally covered by the wings.
- Z floats the Poi, slowly and casually, towards the dragon's neck in a necklace shape. He gently lowers them around the dragon's head, and is extremely careful to do so quietly and gracefully so as not to disturb the dragon. He then hides back behind a boulder, safely in cover. At this time, the wings of the dragon, from reptilian green leather, begin to gain more of a feathery look to them as this form, too, begins to become a jumble of dragon and Couatl. Rearing back her head, the dragon lets loose a roar so loud that rocks fall from the ceiling and bounce across the force field, the room shaking.
- Approaching to be within range, Dhann prepares to cast Stone Shape to shield Rae from the dragon either attacking her, or trying to carry her off with the illusion of the seed. He doesn't move Spiritual Weapon, as it is within the wings of the dragon and he doesn't want to startle the dragon.
- Within the wings of the dragon, the feathers have muffled most outside sound. It's almost comforting, but the thought of being next to a dragon makes that sensation impossible to maintain. The sense from the creature is that it's conflicted, and something about Rae makes it want to be calm, and careful, but it's struggling. Rae can feel the heartbeat of the dragon - maybe hear even two of them? - and it is fast, and fierce, and loud. Taking on the face of the woman, Rae Disguises Self and tries to comfort the distressed creature. "You should protect this." Still holding the illusory seed.
- Tabitha moves slightly behind the nearest pillar, still watching the dragon and thinking about her next move. Barrett, still with his ready arrow, casts Command towards the dragon, saying, "Relax." Perhaps the dragon calmed slightly, but it's difficult to tell. The dragon then roars again, but it sounds more anguished than before. Then, turning, she gushes a blast of poison breath - in Z's direction. Disgustingly, he finds himself covered in green slime acid. His clothes smoke a bit, there's a slight smell of singed fur, but thankfully that Heroes' Feast from earlier keeps him from being poisoned.
- As the dragon coughs up the last bit, the dragon seems to melt around Rae and it shrinks and morphs into the collapsed and sickly form of the Couatl Alectos. She's barely breathing. Z runs to Alectos, shaking slime off his fur, saving, "Whatever we have to ask it, it's the best time right now. It's exhausted."
- Dhann moves closer, and sees now that Alectos is absolutely swarming with Shadow tendrils. He drops down to manifest the Radiant beam with the Glove, and touches Alectos' flank, and attempts to pull as much Shadow to one place as possible. Alectos screeches in pain, and unfortunately, while Dhann can move some of the Shadow, the infection is so rampant that the beam's impact is minimal, and painful. Alectos, he can tell, is near death.
- Tabitha asks, "Can we heal it?" and then, Rae, reaching forward, puts her hand over where the Couatl's heart would be, and pulls half of Alectos' torment onto herself. A shine of some sort of light comes from Rae's hand, looking like a strange Cure Wounds, and her eyes turn white. There's a brightness, and in the center of her forehead, blood begins to run down her face. A gem, then, white and shining like an opal, appears in the center of her forehead. It glows brightly, and the Couatl seems to heal somewhat. Shadow is still flailing all over Alectos' body, but her wounds seem to be fading. The continues, and continues, until Rae, unconscious, hits the ground.
- Alectos sits up, transforming into the woman, and looks down at Rae. "I'm very sorry for your friend...Why are you here?" Ignoring the woman, Dhann checks Rae while Barrett attempts a Ki healing. All they discover is that Rae isn't moving. Tabitha then checks - and they all realize that Rae is dead. The gem shines and glows.
- Dhann scrambles for a diamond from his belt, and as he moves to cast Revivify, Alectos reaches out and grabs his wrist, demanding, "We - We - I need to know why you're here." Dhann snaps, "I only have less than a minute! She's dead - she has to be brought back!" And as he rips his arm from her grasp, Barrett swoops in to knock Alectos' arm further away. "We were here to help you!" Dhann snarls at the woman. Tabitha, holding Rae's head, is crying, imploring Rae to get up.
- The diamond crumbles to dust, and the light from the spell is brighter than it's ever been, it seems. The gem in Rae's forehead fades, and strangely, the wound it leaves is not healed. A pause that's too, too long...and then Rae gasps back to life. Gazing around at everyone, Rae croaks, "Did you talk to the damn lady?" as Tabitha covers the wound and casts Cure Wounds on Rae.
- Alectos, meanwhile, holds up the gem from Rae's forehead. Somehow, it manifested in her hand. The group feels a searching, very painful reach into their minds, like being scanned, but it's extremely uncomfortable and hurts sharply. In the next instant, Rae is gone, and it's Elyana that is in front of everyone. The memories and experiences come rushing back in a massive flood and it is dumbfounding, bewildering, stunning, and overwhelming. They remember everything. Ely, the tomb, Rae, Ely again, all of it. Barrett grabs Elyana in a hug, and Tabitha, too snags Dhann. Z and Dhann are quiet are overall quiet, processing.
- The group, then, confronts Alectos to try and get some answers. Dhann looks over the Shadow infection and it's everywhere on Alectos. She seems to be healthy, aware, and in good form, but Shadow is all over her, constantly moving. Dhann asks how she came to be this way, and she simply doesn't remember.
- She surveys the group, saying that even the price of her mistake, her failing to protect the island, wouldn't have resulted in these tendrils on her person. Alectos looks to Ely for answers, seeming to trust her more than the others in the group. Ely then explains to her why the group was sent, what's been happening on the island, and why the group needs these answers. Alectos asks Ely if it's true, if she did kill all the people who came before, and Ely says that it wasn't her, not really. Alectos then tells the group to right her mistake, and hands Elyana the gem from her forehead. "You will need this. You must save the Mythallar in my place." Ely asks how to do that, and Alectos truly does not know.
- Alectos says then a man came to her, months ago, old, hooded and cloaked, saying he was doing research and gathering information. He already had a lot on Mythallar specifically. Somehow, he was able to Charm Alectos, and learn the location of the Roaming Isle's Mythallar. She looks at her hands again, and the Shadow is so thick the shade of her skin is almost impossible to see. Alectos pleads with the group that they must go to the Mythallar and save it in her stead. "Take this, and the seed, and they will lead you to the Mythallar." Find the wizard, and destroy him.
- Alectos says then the wizard's name is Drezdin, and he didn't seem to be a threat. He walked with a stick, and Dhann and Ely realize this sounds very much like the man seen at TrollSkull. Ely asks Alectos to polymorph into the man, if it won't hurt her, and Alectos says she will, but it will have to be the last thing she does, as it might take the last of her energy. A book of magic items, she remembers, is what the man said he was gathering information for.
- She pauses for a moment, and then gestures to the north, and Detect Evil and Good is still in the back of Dhann's mind, and as he looks, he sees a small ping of magic. The Cleric looks over, and then back at Alectos, silently asking if he should go, and she nods. Dhann finds a small, crystal box, and it has a significant crack through two of the sides. It's a consecrated item, and about the size of a deck of cards. Barrett recognizes it as a Box of Entrapment. Dhann gingerly picks it up, and brings it over. Dhann asks Alectos if she knows if anyone is in it, and she says that she thinks so, but she doesn't quite remember, and says to open it.
- Dhann backs up from the group, just in case, and Z remarks he'll be upset if it's a Mindflayer that jumps out. Dhann opens it, and with an aqua green flash, a fairly tall male Dwarf is standing, terrified, but ready for battle. No shield, his arm is wounded, and in his off hand is a fairly substantial hammer. Looking around, he then goes white as a ghost and passes out. Dhann immediately checks to make sure he's alive, and as he is, the Cleric casts Healing Word on the poor man. Alectos recognizes the Dwarf as Borrick and they were once good friends.
- The Couatl then asks if now would be a good time to transform into the wizard who brought her doom. It's not known how he got to the Isle, but he met Alectos here. They'd had a meeting place on the northern side of the Isle "because it was difficult for him to travel." He asked many questions and they shared many meals together. Then, her memory grows blurry, but she remembers fighting the other Couatls and them containing her in this chamber. Dhann reminds her, seriously, that she has laid an egg, and Alectos remarks she was afraid that had happened. She then gives the group a feather, and tells them to place it with the egg, and it will transfer her duty to the chick, ensuring the passing of responsibility.
- Alectos coughs, and blood and black ichor splatter over her chin. She's clearly dying. Barrett asks if she has any messages for the other two Couatl and she says only her apology, and she hopes they will understand. She needs the Maybesitters to save the Isle. "You will try, won't you?" And Elyana says, "One hundred percent."
- Wracking with pain at this point, Alectos is fading, and Tabitha thanks her for her help, and assures her they will see it done. Alectos then bows her head, and slowly, slowly, begins to transform. Her feet change first, and dark robes begin to manifest, and after several minutes, the form before the group is an elderly man, holding a cane, with dark brown robes, and no insignia to be seen. A light gold trim is the only embellishment. His face is wizened, perhaps in his sixties or seventy years old, and a large, deep hood. "I hope this helps," Alectos grinds out. Her form fades, back to a Couatl, and the Shadow runs rampant inside, outside, all over the body. Alectos is dead.
- Barrett yells to Dhann, "Burn it, burn it all, right now." Dhann begins scorching the body with Sacred Flame, Barrett then joining, and with all of the combined Radiant damage, they incinerate what they can of the Shadow, and the body of the Couatl, Celestial as it is, fades out of existence. Alectos, third guardian of the Roaming Isle, is gone.
- Borrick wakes up with a start, still ready to fight, but seeing none, "Can we go home?!" Barrett tells him to relax, just sit and give them a moment. "We'll get you home in a second." Borrick plunks down, and sucks the contents of a flask in one mighty swig. Dhann turns to Z and asks if he can cast Detect Magic to perhaps find a box of shadow, should one be here, and maybe Z is familiar enough for a new box to ping for him. He does so, and pokes about with the range of the spell, but no box makes itself known. Barrett casts Detect Magic as a Ritual, and Tabitha begins to search the detritus scattered about the room, hoping to find tokens or baubles from those lost, to bring back to the monastery.
- Tabitha finds a small silver dove on a necklace with a blue gem, and it looks sentimental. She also finds a small picture frame, silver, and inside the picture is damaged. The top is burned away with acid, but an image of a young girl is visible. Tabitha asks Borrick about the necklace and picture, and he immediately recognizes the girl in the portrait as the daughter of his friend, Lenla. She was sent to save him, but must have died while he was trapped in the box.
- The barrier is sensed to be falling, from Barrett's Detect Magic, and he also finds a longsword emanating some holy magic, and appears like it could deal some hefty Radiant damage. After looking around a bit more, he lets the group know he now feels that the barrier keeping them in this chamber is totally gone. The group plans to head back to the monastery and update them on all that's happened and been discovered. As they're finishing, Barrett hears what might be Nocab or Gemere in his head, asking, "Are you ready to return?" The Monk lets the Maybesitters know he's not sure if it's one of the other Couatl, it could be anyone messaging him in the guise of a Couatl, and after thinking on it, the voice sounded very much like Gemere. Dhann offers to Send to Gemere specifically, to ensure that they are indeed being contacted by the Couatl, not the wizard trying to trap them, and Barrett agrees.
- Dhann does, and after that odd falling feeling, the group, and Borrick, are back in the Couatls' lair, and the other two, in human form, are waiting. Gemere asks if they succeeded, and the group relays that they did, but not without loss. The other two Couatl felt when Alectos passed, but for a moment, felt her as herself, and they thank the group for that.
- Elyana notices that the egg is now here, instead of at the monastery. However, it's glowing from the inside, a highly bright fuchsia color. "Well, you've done something right," The Couatl comment. At this time, the group gives them the feather, and upon seeing it, Nocabi and Gemere light up and place the feather at the base of the egg. As soon as the feather makes contact, it replicates itself all around the egg in the shape of a nest. The egg glows even brighter, and the Couatl assure that the egg is, and will, be fine.
- It's decided that on the morrow, there will be a meeting with the heads of the monastery, Nocabi, Gemere, and anyone else of import for the Maybesitters to update on all that has happened. The Couatl thank the five adventurers and teleport them to just outside of their quarters in the monastery. It didn't feel like it, but the entire venture took an entire day. Everyone is utterly exhausted. Bidding each other good night, the Maybesitters retire to their beds, to greet what the next morning may bring.
Welcome back, Elyana.