Session 16: Wave Echo Cave

General Summary

Waterwheel Room Battle (Completion)

(with flaming skull (dead) and regular zombies)
Most zombies were in a web, thanks to Rashid. Made for easy pickings.
We find a map to Kalistan the City of Magic!

Kalistan the City of Magic

We go back near Gormesh to rest and heal. After, Stormy checks on him and to see if he's enjoyed the stories so far. He did and Stormy gets her book back.
He seems "temporaly challenged" - not remember us until she mentions the book. She'll try to bring him more stories.

Battle Past the Waves of Wave Echo Cave

We investigate the room past the beholder building/Forge of Spells and go down the stairs. We hear water waves - WATER! This is THE WAVE of Wave Echo Cave. It's fresh mineral water.
Wandering on the R path, we go past that sea/pool. The dwarves originally diverted the water to the waterwheel room. Now it doesn't work that way.
Stormy gets a sample of the water from the rift. River has good flow, but not deep. We hear voices, "We have to find a way around that flame skull. That's those adventurerers."
We see around a campfire, a guy with a wide brimmed hat (Seran) and a Kenku [raven person] and minotaurs. A globe of darkness falls on us - our world went dark - even dark vision.
Thoradin tries to shoot a Seran and runs out of the globe. Cita drags Rashid out too, then climbs on a ledge to attack.
Cernan casts bless on Thoradin, Rashid and himself. Stormy casts hunter's mark on Seran and hits him - breaking his concentration making the globe of darkness disappear. Blah - wanted it as cover.
The beings don't look like zombies - but Cernan gets the sense of the mushrooms with all except Seran.
Thoradin does a spectacular jump and lands behind Seran to hit him hard. Seran punches him.
Kenku shoots at Cita. Minotaurs start to surround Cernan. Rashid casts grease and the red minotaur goes down. Cernan takes advantage of that and hits it hard. Stormy keeps hitting Seran. Thoradin ends him. Seran is "dead" - doppleganger. Hmm.
Cernan takes out "Ferdinand".
Stormy wants to take the Kenku alive and shouts to surrender. He just caws back. She shoots him and demands his surrender again. (She believes what Arabeth said about everyone deserving a chance.)
Thoradin uses his shield to slide and help Cernan with the minotaurs. Cita hits the minotaur and demands the Kenku's surrender too. But he says, "Death first!"
Rashid yells at the kenku "Yield or die!" - he aims his bow. Rashid takes him out.
Minotaur monk is taken out. Stormy tries to reason with the last one, he refuses and she shoots him. We're all attacking him now. Rashid also offers a chance. Cernan prays and lays on hands to try to remove the taint, Stormy joins him. The spell only washes over him. It wasn't a disease to be cured? This should have worked - we don't know why it didn't work.

Post Battle

Doppleganger was not infected. Everything else had a fungus growing out of their necks. They still had their own choices, but may be influenced.
Doppleganger had a doubled ring for two fingers with runes. Chaos magic - the runes shift and move. Would require attunement to understand it. Has a unique shape - Rashid knows what it is. A ring of spell storing. Wow! (with 5 level slots)
We search. Don't find anything special additional in the cave.
Cernan and Stormy pray for divine guidance on this subject. Arabeth is there. "Yes, my son." Ceran: "Why are they different? They chose. Those that don't choose are destroyed and become husks." Cernan: "Is there anything we can do for them?" Arabeth: "Perhaps someday, if they choose. I haven't seen them do that. You have done well."
Cernan shares what Arabeth said. These *submit* to be "renewed".
We are wondering how big of a group at the time? Lots of questions? Who is doing the conversions?

The RIGHT questions!

Stormy and Cernan investigate the bodies with the fungus. Rashid provides light. Fungus goes into their brains and growing. We assume it would continue to grow. Their brain is still 90% intact. But it would do more.

Seran Battle Part Twa

Stromy wishes we'd have made a map. Cita puts out the fire and volunteers to scout ahead. She finds a door and hears movement. She advances beyond it.
Another group of "Seran", minotaurs, and kenku near a BIG statue with GREEN eyes. (6 total). Cita reports. We think somone is locked in the room beyond the door.
We plan a sneak attack on the group - standard web to put them at disadvantage. Cita goes to the table and finds a map - but it's not as complete as what Thoradin understands - Plus a bag of coins. We took out Seran before he could act! Yay! He didn't change into a doppleganger.

Left off mid-battle

Contents

Report Date

08 Jul 2023

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