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Session 32: House Caverns Overlook Rushing Water Report

General Summary

Everyone awakens, and Virion immediately tries to recall his dream via trance. Uk-thin was moved to the side of the tavern, while Ciara is... Ciara today. Mystan checks in on the Chamrosh with Zyg. Speaking for the spirit, Zyg tells Mystan that he did a great service by saving the Chamrosh, and that had the Chamrosh died the woods would have been doomed. The Chamrosh is honored Mystan will help in the cleansing ritual.

Uk-thin immediately starts drinking again, and Mystan watches them carefully - just to make sure Uk-thin doesn't get drunk. He stops the stoneborn at one cup. Despite Uk-thin's protests, Mystan stands firm. Lumier butts in, pointing out that it isn't safe to be intoxitacted. He then segways.

After nearly four hours of travel through dark and twisting corridors, with innumerable exits and switchbacks echoing with the sounds of the river, Uk-thin becomes paranoid. They confront Ciara, asking her how they are to know she isn't leading them into a trap. Lumier tries to break it up, and Ciara defends herself and her home. She also points out that even if it was a trap, they're in too deep now. Uk-thin relents, and the lot continue through odd-smelling caves, with only the nearest hundred feet or so visible and nigh-impossible. After seven hours, the group comes to a more spacious cavern with a section of river to watch in. Bubbles and Mystan share a conversation about the underdark: it's claustrophobic, there's little wildlife (besides a few trogloraptors), and Bubbles is deeply afraid something could burrow from above.

Later, while Virion and Ciara are awake (and after Uk-thin wakes up), Sir Sylvenne and Ser Rolsar discuss the death of Dr. Cauce. Uk-thin fears they are responsible - and is hostile to Virion accidently implying it was them personally - while Virion blames Dr. Cauce solely. Uk-thin then blames Virion's guidance. Virion points out that Uk-thin followed his instructions just fine, while Dr. Cauce did not.

Ciara just listens, deeply concerned. Virion asks "you know, whenever something goes wrong, you always seem to blame someone else; usually the knife-ear of the party." While Uk-thin retorts that it's usually the knife ear's fault. Ciara tries to defuse the situation, pointing out that if they fight, more than just the Doctor's blood will be on Uk-thin's hand.

Virion tells Uk-thin to be quiet and calls him a petulant child, which causes Uk-thin to punch Virion in the face with his battlefist. Uk-thin tried to cast Thunderous Smite, but Virion Counterspelled it. Virion staggers, his nose bleeding and broken. Ciara casts Cure Wounds to repair Virion's sniffer, reprimanding Uk-thin's behavior. Virion then casts Hold Person on Uk-thin, who fails.

Mystan and Bubbles awake due to the noise. Mystan casts Silence, encompassing everybody. Bubbles, meanwhile, is freaking out and silently screaming. They realize what's going on, and lead a willing Virion away from Uk-thin.

Suddenly, something yellowish slams down and critically injures the paralyzed dwarf's head, leaving a Festering Wound. Above them is a mass of ochre ooze on the ceiling, clinging to the cave and attacking from above. Mystan responds by dropping Silence and casting Guardian of Faith - a ghostly image of Mystan appearing, warhammer in hand. This immediately deals 20 radiant damage to the mustard-colored mass. Uk-thin tries and fails to resist the spell, while Bubbles pulls a Dire Wolf out of their grey bag of tricks. The Dire Wolf can smell the monster, and attacks the ooze, biting it.

Ciara casts Poison Spray targeting the ooze, and follows it up with a Healing Word for Uk-thin, curing their festering wound. Virion runs up, cutting the ooze in half with a sword and blasting one half to death with Firebolt after both halves survive. The latter half tries to escape, but dies in the maws of the opportunistic dire wolf.

Virion ties Uk-thin up (10), and Uk-thin decides not to fight back. They scowl, staying silent except for stating "we'll finish this conversation on the surface." Uk-thin gets free from the ropes, and keeps them intact.

After further travels, the group comes upon an cavern with two entrances fourty-five feet apart. On the opposing wall is an eighty-foot cliff, with a rolled up rope ladder at the top. In the other entrance is a group of four Kuo-Toa, armed with spears and nets - except their leader, who has a pincer staff. Ciara tried negotiating with the clealry hostile fish people in undercommon, learning that the Kuo-Toa "already missed several strange Quaggoths" and "need to bring in captives for Blibdoolpoolp". Apparently, Kuo-Toa are insane and have different gods all the time.

Ciara holds an action to cast Poison Spray if they approach, while Virion waits for Uk-thin (who is agreeing to cooperate for now). Mystan casts Guardian of Faith, and tells the fishmen "let us pass and you will come to no harm. Attack us, and its your fault." Lumier translates to undercommon.

The Kuo-Toa are afraid, and one approaches - immeidately dying to the guardian. The others scream and begin to worship the large specter as a deity, drawing its visage on stone and fleeing back the way they came.

The Levitate and Misty Step plan goes off without a hitch, and after some traveling the group nears the drow village. As they approach the entrance, the sounds of rushing water can be heard echoing off the cave walls long before the actual entryway is in sight. The air here is almost cleaner, faintly smelling less of decay and more of strange plants. As the group crests an incline, a great pelt covers a natural archway, two drow flanking the entrance. The drow wield swords and shields, and they let the group pass.

Before them is a massive cavern, illuminated via floating Dancing Lights, all in soft blues, greens, and magentas. To the left is a cliff overlooking a churning underground river, and to the right is a large plateau, the vaulted ceiling supported by columns fashioned from stalactites and stalagmites. The rightmost wall, nearly a mile away, is faintly dotted with many entrances - some covered in pelts, others with wooden doors, and some standing open. The cavern stretches far enough before you to strain your eyes in the faint darkness. All about, small structures are built from woods both exotic and familiar, while a multitude of dark-skinned elves with pale hair and strangely colored eyes go about their daily business.


High Priestess Morgan, House Captain Bricriu
Campaign
Ghosts of Saltmarsh Dungeons & Dragons 5e Campaign
Protagonists
Uk-thin Rolsar
Lawful Good Gensai (Guild Artisan)
artificer 4
31 / 31 HP
STR
16
DEX
13
CON
14
INT
17
WIS
12
CHA
11
Bubbles
Virion Sylvenne
C/N Wood Elf (Noble)
Wizard 2
7 / 12 HP
STR
12
DEX
16
CON
13
INT
16
WIS
14
CHA
14
Co'oquilan Mystan
Bronze Dragonborn (Acolyte)
Cleric 3
10 / 24 HP
STR
14
DEX
11
CON
14
INT
13
WIS
16
CHA
13
Report Date
28 Nov 2022


Cover image: Brightfalls_14.06 by Krivio
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