Session 10: The Avariels Report

General Summary

After the warm, yet slightly awkward introduction with Guntho, the Party decides to head back to Simon's shop to collect Andry's ring. Once they get there, they find out that Simon has examined the ring, and that it's a puzzle with some kind of code required to allow the user to reap the benefits. Simon isn't sure what the code is, though, despite his best efforts. Vadania asks about a portable prestidigitation station. Simon asks if she wants to invest, and that there would be tiers of investment... but now they want royalties? "wtf, having your name engraved isn't good enough?" Andry asks Vadania why she even wants the station since she's never seen Vadania even wash her hands, and then the two of them get into an argument about how Vadania is supposedly gross because he wings are grey at the tips, but they're actually dyed...?   Anyways, the Party then heads back to the safehouse so that Andry can study the ring. As they leave Simon's, Rothgar looks around to see if there are any Avariels around. He doesn't see any, but see purple robes walking down the street in the other direction. They decide not to follow the purple robes and go back to the safe house. Because they agreed to meet Guntho at first light, the Party decides not to leave the university grounds again. Rothgar starts to play with the pin, turning the room into a safehouse or back to a half-destroyed building. Vadania tries to take the key from him, but fails epically. "What's got her feathers ruffled?" - Andry "My safety, bitch." - Vadania (facepalm)   As all of the shenanigans are happening, Andry ignores everyone and investigates her ring. Rothgar starts to sharpen his axe, and then they collectively realize they haven't actually eaten yet today. Rothgar decides to explore the university for food, giving the key to Andry, who stuffs it down her shirt. Vadania tries to take the key from Andry, but fails again. Rothgar leaves the safehouse, going into the administration tower, where he finds a baked dough with sauce and cheese parlor. After a LARGE inhale, he walks up and get a whole thing for 8BP. He gives a total of 12BP for the extra slices. Rothgar has to knock on the door to get back into the safehouse, but he hears a "password?" before finally being let in by Vadania. Andry decides to do the on/off thing to annoy Vadania, before Rothgar distracts them with food.    Vadania decides now is a good time to let Nox out for a while, giving him free reign of the house. Nox is a small colt and has silky black fur, with a mane and tail that are smoky, trailing behind him as he runs. He has red eyes and hooves that sometimes glow red like coals in a fire, and occasionally smoke comes out of his nose. Vadania tries to explain that he won't burn the house down unless he chooses to, which is oh so reassuring to the rest of the Party. Nox glares at Rothgar and Andry, with a "fuck around find out" look, just enough to intimidate them. They have questions about his lack of wings, he doesn't have them but can still fly. "So he's like a reindeer?" Maybe an angry one.   Rothgar starts to investigate the ring, tries putting the strength one on, and locked it, but nothing happened. Vadania convinces Andry to put the ring on and try to pick up Rothgar (strength check 10 - fail). He doesn't budge. As she spins the runes, Andry notices that when a certain 4 runes are in the slot, they glow slightly (the runes are deception, investigation, perception, sleight of hand). Andry continues to study the ring.    *INTERLUDE FOR LONG REST*   Everyone is still sleeping when they are awoken by a quaint, "RISE AND SHINE CUPCAKES." Rothgar immediately ends up on his feet with his axe. Guntho is standing outside the secure area with his arms crossed, waiting. It's still dark out, about 5AM. Everyone else begrudgingly wakes up, and there's a scorch mark on the carpet from Nox.    The Party asks where they are going, and Guntho points out the staircase, which has the school's crest (a pelican is on one section), which Guntho pulls out and rotates. Hearing clicks and a clang, the pelican moves back into place, and steps appear in the opening of the side of the staircase that head down.   Leading the way, Guntho beckons them, with lights illuminating every few steps as he walks. Vadania follows first, the Andry, and Rothgar last - as they follow, Guntho tells them that they are no longer protected by the divination magic because they have left the safehouse. After about 2 stories worth of stairs, the Party and Guntho end up in a stone corridor a out 12-15 feet wide. Guntho makes a vague statement about helping them if the Avariels go beyond the limits of cruel and unusual punishment, but he'll decide in the moment. They then arrive at a dead end, and set into the wall is one solid piece of round stone, with a t-shaped piece sticking out. Guntho turns that, and the stone wall settles slightly, then slowly rolls to the side, revealing an opening. Ahead of them is a wider, much larger corridor, running perpendicular to the area they came from. It's much more brightly lit, and looks to be made of the same stone as the university towers. Guntho admits that he shouldn't have them down in the towers, explaining that the tunnels are used by the security group for the university. Guntho says he will have to try to convince the security people they are students.    The Party comes to an intersection, making a left, but they still haven't seen anyone. As they head down the corridor, they notice that the walls are actually a series of large circular stones like the ones that rolled, with smaller stones making decorative arches. They make another left, when they hear, "What are y'all doing here?" It's a very small heavily armored gnome guard next to a construct dog that matches the gnome's armor. They try to convince the gnome that Rothgar is a lumberjack, which is most definitely not believed. The gnome asks how long they plan to be there, and Guntho says 30-90 minutes. The gnome says they have 15 and walks away.    Guntho all but runs down the hallway, Rothgar picking up Andry so they can run to keep up with him. Guntho starts looking for a certain part of the wall, seeing two discolored rocks and pushing them, opening another doorway. Everyone goes in, shutting the door behind them quickly. "Elcas owes me one..." Guntho says, before explaining, "The tunnels are very old, they were here before the founding of Kilead. This area used to be a secret base/paradise for pirates. They dug these tunnels and not many know they still exist." The Party comes upon another dead end, this one looking like a boulder sealed tightly. Guntho recommends that they take their weapons out. They see another relief carved in the wall - it's a pelican again - that Guntho reaches for, and gently pets (it's the school mascot). The rock rolls slightly, and they can see the outside world. It's now dawn.   Rothgar leads the way, Vadania second, Andry third. Guntho sees them getting ready and steps out first - "They're not trying to kill me." As they follow, they see a craggy, boulder strewn area, and can hear waves crashing. They can see about 20 feet in front of them a natural bridge going over the water, but from what the Party can tell, it's a sheer drop on either side of the bridge. There's a grinding noise, and the boulder comes into place again, becoming indistinguishable. Nothing appears suspicious so far. Rothgar asks if there is a pelican on this side, but Guntho says no because it's too obvious, but he can still get in. Vadania is going to fly to see if she can find a shelter/ambush place. She looks to see if she can see anyone, and as she clears the rocks, she sees 2 flying people coming right at her. "OH FUCK." Landing really quickly, Vadania's satchel deflates and all weapons are drawn. The Party decides to hold tight and see what the Avariels will do when they land. Rothgar holds an action - he'll attack if they act aggressively. Two fabulous flappy boys come around the rise, and the one who approached Vadania originally lands, while the other Avariel lands on a boulder about 10 feet in the air.    The main Avariel looks at Vadania, flapping his wings in a flourishing manner. "You've had two days." "Two days makes no difference to me." "Have you come to a decision?" "...do you really have to do this? As far as I'm concerned as soon as I left you may as well have forgotten us. I attempted to disappear off the map." "You tried, but you have violated our laws. You two with her again... do you stand with her?" Rothgar and Andry respond in the affirmative. Main Avariel responds, "Are your two lives worth what she's protecting? I'll give you one last chance to walk away." Vadania replies, "I made a large sacrifice to save his life, you won't be getting him." "Well I suppose we can just leave...."   INITIATIVE The second Avariel, an Initiate, starts moving his hands like he was casting a spell. Vadania starts by casting Hexblade's Curse at Initiate, then casts Eldritch's Blast at him. She misses as her blast goes wide and he casually dodges. She then flies on top of a boulder nearby. The main Avariel (A1) draws two longswords and crouches, flaps his wins and launches himself (think giant lunge), heading straight for Rothgar. He hits, but because of Rothgar's held action, he can attempt to block. Thankfully, he takes the brunt of the damage on his axe - 9 slashing damage. Rothgar rages, recklessly attacking the Main Avariel, and hits, slowing the main Avariel by 10 feet, and giving him 10 points damage. Andry tries to disarm the Main Avariel, and does so, relieving him of one of his longswords. She then moves through difficult terrain to better place herself. Initiate Avariel completes the spell he started casting earlier - it's Faerie Fire - everyone had to make a dex saving throw (V 20, A 22, R 3, G 10, Main Avariel 16). Rothgar and Guntho fail the saving throw and now attacks against them have advantage and they are unable to go invisible. The spell is a concentration spell, though!   Vadania casts Armor of Shadows - she's pissed about the Faerie Fire and casts Hex on Initiate, hitting him with a smoky substance. He now has disadvantage on strength checks/saving throws. She also casts Eldritch's Blast at him, and now Initiate is HURTING. The Main Avariel is pissed at Andry for disarming him. He flies away, so Rothgar takes an opportunity attack, doing 7 damage to one of his wings. The Main Avariel flies up 20 feet, swooping over right above Andry, attacking from above. He's using a maneuver, and Andry needs to pass a wisdom saving throw. She fails, so now she is frightened of him until the end of her next turn and takes 12 slashing damage. Rothgar draws his seax and throws it at the Initiate, hitting him and doing 11 damage. Rothgar calls his seax back and moves up against the boulder facing the Main Avariel. Andry casts Bless on herself, Vadania and Rothgar. She then climbs on the rock with Vadania. Vadania high fives Andry, then hops down, flying to an out of the way space and uses a lightning arrow at the Main Avariel. He needs to make a DC15 dex save, and fails, so he takes 8 lightning damage. The Main Avariel then swings at Rothgar, doing 9 slashing damaged, but it's halved because of some special barbarian stuff so he only takes 4 damage. Then, Main Avariel flies away and scoops up his other sword, flying towards Vadania and slashing at her, doing 11 damage. Vadania fails her saving throw and is now frightened of him.   Rothgar is pissed - he moves toward the Main Avariel, now flanking, and is looming over him. He attacks, but misses. Andry climbs down the rock and gets within range, slashing at Main Avariel, does 11 damage! Vadania casts Eldritch's Blast at Main Avariel, does 13 damage. Main Avariel (A1 steak sauce) is HURTING. He doesn't like getting an Eldritch's Blast to the chest though, so he attacks Vadania, hitting her once. But when he goes to attack, a small colt materializes in front of Vadania, attacking with his hooves, only doing 1 damage. Main Avariel's expression changes completely after looking at the angry colt. He disengages, flaps his wings, launching himself onto a boulder, and sheathes his sword.   "It came to protect you." "We have a bond," Vadania replies, snuggling Nox. Rothgar pulls his seax out, while still holding his axe, holding an action to throw the seax if there is any further aggression. Andry holds he rapier in case Main Avariel attacks again. The Main Avariel steps off the rock, holding his hands up and asks to see the creature. Vadania says he can from a distance. The Main Avariel pulls his swords and drops them. Vadania refuses to let go of Nox, but Main Avariel reaches out to touch him. Nox nips at him, and they do a nose boop. "His character seems pure. It defended you..." He turns around and walks away, picking up his swords slowly and re-sheathing them. "Tell me again, how did this happen...?"   Vadania explains that she was in charge of the colt's mom, and that he was stillborn when he was born. That broke Vadania's heart, so she made a deal with an unholy someone to save his life, but in doing so, it turned him into a nightmare.  "The one you made a deal with is the antithesis of everything we stand for. You understand the outrage."  "That's why I left swiftly without goodbyes." "I don't believe killing you or this creature is the right thing after seeing what you did today. What he did today...." Main Avariel is pacing, mulling things over, with his wings adjusting all the while. "What are your plans?" "Beyond fleeing, I don't have plans. I have no intention of returning." "Pegasi are holy creatures to us... *sigh* one being sent away is unacceptable. However, for it to return in this condition, it would be immediately killed." "His condition is irreversible. If he lives, he's a nightmare." "Well yes, however, it is possible for him to no longer be a nightmare. There are legends and tales of nightmares being freed of the corruption in their bodies. I don't know if this is true, but I have heard tales. If you are willing to attempt to seek out a person that could do such a thing, I will stand down." "Would his transformation back into a Pegasus kill him? Since it would technically alter the deal that I made..." "No idea." "But I would still be cast out since I have a pact?" "That isn't up to me. I believe an entity strong enough to remove your creature's corruption would most likely be stronger than the entity you made a deal with." Rothgar interrupts this intense back and forth, asking the Main Avariel if it has to be a diety. The Main Avariel replies that it is just speculation.    SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? WILL THEY FOLLOW THIS NEW LEAD?