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Sat 22nd Jun 2019 03:51

Wave Echo Cave II

by Nepheri

We've made it past a few more of the dangers of this cave. The Flameskull has been destroyed along with some animated dead. We found a drow who I, based on his attire, assume was The Spider. He was also assisted by a shapeshifter, making it two such creatures under his command.
 
The, presumed, "Spider" tried to bribe us to leave the cave to him. But someone who cares that little for life and who doesn't seem bothered by the undead haunting the area doesn't deserve trust. Some beings need to die so that others can reach their destiny. And if Ellywick is correct in that the Raven Queen trusts my judgement, then I have her blessing in vanquishing these bandits. In return, I will do my best to prevent them from returning to life.
 
We did find Gunnel's other brother, Nundro Rockseeker, locked in a small room. Of course, we were weary to open the door at first, fully prepared for danger. Instead, we found the somewhat worse for wear dwarf. The news of his brother's death at the entrance of the cave wasn't welcome, but he did accept that it was a natural end and that his brother had been able to give much in life that should be cherished. Death is always what most gives life meaning.
 
We did get some useful things from the drow, but maybe none more useful than a partial map of the cave. This allows us to be able to find a path to help our new dwarven friend out, even if the apparent shorter path is partially one we haven't travelled. But Suffrax seems to have figured out ways to make his magic more capable of fending off monsters, and with Rupert and Ellywick's fighting skills and some inspiration from Hurgh, we can probably handle most things... I hope.
 
We brought the brother we had rescued to the brother who no longer needed a rescue. It was a small ceremony, but I did what I could to honour both the living and the dead. The Raven Queen's blessing lies over the grave and I hope that will help his soul. I look forward to seeing the living members of the family once we get back to Phandalin and see to it that they are cared for.
 
As for the cave itself, we seem to have excavated most of it as we found mostly more of the victims of the conflict here dead, at rest or not. However, we did run into one... unforeseen obstacle. Seems the previous owners of the make had summoned an aberration, a floating eye with four more eyes on tentacle stalks, to guard it against others. One that is waiting for its dead patrons to return...
 
We have already dealt with the restless bodies of the dead in this mine and I guess it was time for us to face some spirits perverted by holding on to the material plane. Luckily we managed to dispatch them fairly quickly. And thus, the place seemed cleaned out with the exception of the room full of fungi that have to be burned and the Spectator in the Spellforge.
 
It was already clear that there was no way the Spectator would leave unless we could somehow convince it that it could no longer fulfil its obligation to guard the forge. But the others suggested that maybe we could trick it into thinking we had found someone to release it. Suffrax made an excellent disguise of a very, very old dwarf and we walked to the Spectator again. And it worked. Somehow. Suffrax the old dwarf told the aberration that it was freed from service and should leave. And so it did. The whole thing almost made me miss the old days when I could relish in a good con after really tricking someone out of something. I shouldn't, but there is a part of me that is just itching for a chance to dupe people. I wish I would at least feel more shame about those thoughts.
 
What I am feeling better about is my role as guardian at death's door. I will pray more to the Raven Queen and as her to guide me if I follow the wrong instincts, but until then I will try to follow Ellywick's advice and guide death to those who I feed need it and away from others.
 
I should find some way to repay her kindness. But repaying hasn't been part of either of my lives and I'm not sure what it would entail. Teasing her is easier.

Continue reading...

  1. Business...
    11th of Uktar, 1489
  2. I'm ready for you, Raven Queen
    2nd Uktar, 1489
  3. You killed my father, now prepare to die
    2nd Uktar, 1489
  4. Dust to Dust
    1st of Uktar, 1489 DR
  5. Redbrands I
  6. Arrival at Phandalin
  7. Daddy Dearest
    1st of Uktar
  8. Day after
    30 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  9. Lawful Stupid
    29 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  10. Saving private Rupert
    29 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  11. Dead to me
    29 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  12. Close to Harvest
    28 Marpenoth, 1489 DR
  13. Recovery
  14. Insane Plans
  15. By the Book
  16. Dead feelings
  17. Disposed
  18. Dead Necromancers are the Best Necromancers
  19. Catching up
  20. Shipping
  21. Friendly or Not
  22. Unexpected Meetings
  23. Worlds Collide
  24. A very different city
  25. Festive Thornhold
  26. Thank you, my Queen
  27. Friends. Right.
  28. This is awkward....
  29. Landslide
  30. Dangerous Gnoll-age (sorry... the puns are spreading...)
  31. Cenceptions
  32. Seduction
  33. Wave Echo Cave II
  34. Wave Echo Cave
  35. Return to Phandalin
  36. Rest in peace, Declan...
  37. Crisis of Faith
  38. Thundertree II
  39. Thundertree I
  40. Path to Thundertree
  41. Orc hunting
  42. Redbrands III
  43. Redbrands II
  44. Far From Home
    ?? ?? ???
  45. Cold
    Tal'dorei, day 2
  46. Life, interrupted
  47. Hot and Cold
  48. The Dragon's Lair
  49. In the afternoon, we plan!
  50. A Song of Ice and Fire
  51. Celebration
  52. Relief is one hell of a drug
  53. Flight and Flutter
  54. Freedom of Movement
  55. At dusk we... do something?
  56. Pray for a quick end to our deception
  57. Catching up
  58. Fall
  59. Lizards in a hole
  60. Not Today
  61. Released
  62. A broken soul
  63. Skyfall
  64. Acid Falls
  65. Roped in
  66. Faith in Friends
  67. Insight into Emon
  68. A Calling
  69. Hypothetical 1: Healer (Ginny Di video)
  70. Hypothetical 3: Matchmaker (Ginny Di video)
  71. Hypothetical 2: Villain (Ginny Di video)
  72. For my Beating Heart
  73. Hypothetical 4: Prison guard (Ginny Di video)
  74. Hypothetical 5: Bard (Ginny Di video)
  75. Plagued Possibilities
  76. Visits in the Cloudtops

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 16:05, Nov 7 2024