Session 95: Mind Flayer Parley Report

General Summary

Session 95 – Wednesday January 19, 2022 – Mind Flayer Parley

4 Hour role Playing session 6:00 PM to 10:00PM

Party of 7 (The order of Heroes, Inc.):

It is the 23rd day of the month of Uktar (The Rotting) in the 3rd year of the Age of Enialis

Annalisa (Anna) – Human L8 Monk – L6 Wizard /L3Fighter – Ryan Armstrong (Remote)
Jaquette Mara – L17 Human Druid – Jackie Armstrong
Lucky Lightfoot – Leprechaun – L16 Bard/L1 Sorcerer – Jacob Munson
Luigi Risotto – Wood Elf L15 Monk/L2 Wizard – Dan King
Rolen – Human L17 Warlock – Josh Pozsonyi
Tyrena Rechs – Human L14 Ranger/L3 Fighter – Nathan Gioconda
Fergewon – L18 Firbolg Cleric – Spencer Armstrong (Remote)

Goals:

Take out the Mind Flayers
Locate the Amber Sarcophagi
Gather the other parts of the god Destroyer (Blade, Hilt and guard)
Destroy the Amber Sarcophagi with the god Destroyer
Take the sword to the Summer Queen and have her destroy it.
White Dragon at Purple Rocks

Morning in the mansion.

Anna began looking over Lucky’s historical notes for information on Rictavio. The rest of the party woke up and discussed what to do next. They had 2 of the Gauntlet and 1 Harper remaining and Rolen became acquainted with Fergewon. Luigi explained that there were a few other people in “tanks” in one of the rooms where he found Fergewon. Tyrena suggested that the party scout out the area to see what the enemy defensive status was. Rolen informed Fergewon that he should cast a spell to remove the tadpole from his brain and Fergewon did.

Lucky used his wish to recreate a replacement Al and they joined the others for breakfast. Lucky was sad that Cornelius was killed in the battle. Anna informed the group that Rictavio’s memories were in the Elder Brain and Tyrena explained that he’s part of the collective now. The party agreed they should kill the Elder Brain, the baby brains, the Mind Flayers and any other creatures. Anna suggested they find the Self Destruct button.

Lucky cast commune and asked: “Are the Amber Sarcophagi in the stronghold we just fought in.” The answer was, “Some.” “If I resurrect VanRichten will he be able to come back?” The answer was yes. “Is Cornelius beyond a resurrection spell’s capability?” The Answer was “no.” “Is there a self-destruct button in this facility?” The answer was “Sort-of.” “Does my Underwear make my butt look fat?” The response was, “The underwear does not make your butt look fat.”

The party asked Jaquette if she prepared True Resurrection and she began crying because she had it prepared yesterday, and they told her not to use it, so she didn’t prepare it today. The party consoled Jaquette. The party speculated on various things and possible ways forward. Eventually they all agreed that they should first see what the status of the Mind Flayers was. Tyrena allowed Lucky to put Cornelius’s body into the Portable hole before they left the mansion.

The Mind Flayers want to talk

Lucky opened the front door of the Mansion and Tyrena jumped out quickly. She saw over a dozen Mind Flayers in the area but standing against the walls. She heard, in her mind, a deep echoing voice saying,

“There you are! We invoke Parley! An ancient oath binds us to cease hostility whilst we attempt to work out our differences in our mutual best interest. There has been enough body lubricant spilled, let us settle our differences through Parley.”

Tyrena asked for the terms, and she heard,

“We promise you, as long as you do not attack or steal from us you shall be given safe passage into our domain where we shall parley. Afterwards, you shall be granted safe passage out of our domain. The law of the ancient will bind us to this oath. Breaking this oath on your part will result in your eradication."

Tyrena said, “Let me get back to you.” She went in and conferred with the party. Tyrena suggested they parley. Rolen asked, “What if we talked and then killed them?” Tyrena said, “We have a saying in the Rangers, if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.” Anna said, “We should go in and listen to what they have to offer.” Rolen was suspicious but willing to listen. Luigi suggested they form a plan. Tyrena suggested that they should consider an escape plan if they offer it. They agreed their primary goal is to get the Sarcophagi, but Jaquette pressed that they need to eliminate the threat to Neverwinter. Rolen said, “There are a lot of people in this world, it can afford to lose a few.”

Parley

The party prepared some defensive spells, Jaquette put on her Belt of Dwarven Kind and Luigi turned on his Lantern of Revealing. They exited the mansion and saw there were at least 30 Mind Flayers (plus a host of Intellect Devourer’s) lining the halls. The Mind flayers pointed the party in the direction of the Elder Brain. Some helped the party down the hall. The Mind Flayers (about 30 of them) stayed back from the Elder Brain and allowed the party to approach. They saw the Elder Brain pulsating and its protective shield was down.

The Elder Brain told them “You are very powerful; we wish to find a mutually beneficial arrangement with no further loss.” The Elder Brain told the party that the Mind Flayers would all leave for the Astral Plane. Tyrena telepathically told the party that letting them summon a more powerful being in the Astral Plane could be detrimental. The Elder Brain promised they would not return to this particular location and the Order of Heroes would be permitted to leave alive.

Rolen asked for the Amber Sarcophagi and told the Elder Brain that is non-negotiable. The Elder Brain explained that there is one that they don’t have. The Elder Brain explained that there is a rogue group of Mind Flayers who dabble in forbidden magic that they’ve been trying to kill for some time. This rogue group has a Sarcophagi that taught them the secrets of Lichdom. He explained further that his colony tried to wipe out the Alhoons with Slaadi, but it failed.

Rolen persuaded the Elder Brain to let the OoH secure the Sarcophagi from the Alhoon to prevent them from using it any further rather than destroying the Alhoon outright. The Elder Brain agreed that if the OoH did this and did not use the Sarcophagi for personal gain that they would be given the remaining Sarcophagi and the Mind Flayers would leave this plane. Jaquette asked them promise the Mind Flayers would leave the continent. The Elder Brain said they would be agreeable to not touch certain species. Rolen and the Elder Brain examined a map and agreed to not to return to the region on the Sword coast from Dragonford to Mirabar and from the coast to the High Forest. The negotiations continued for a while until the Elder Brain promised to not return for 200 Toril years. Anna wrote up a contract and it was signed.

To the Alhoon

The Elder Brain lent the OoH ten Mind Flayers to help them conquer the Alhoon and told the party that the Mind Flayers will lead them to the Alhoon. The iris in the floor opened and the 10 Mind Flayers offered to escort the OoH through the Lair. They went past the doors to the Amber Sarcophagi and the Brain Library, past the Vampiric Mind Flayer guards and then into the Caverns of Gauntlgrym. As they walked the party decided they should first try to negotiate with the Alhoon. Tyrena kept the ten Mind Flayers out of site as they others approached an Alhoon. Rolen lead the party once they began to see signs of Alhoon.

Rolen spotted an Alhoon and approached it, explaining that they need to speak with the Alhoon leaders. The Alhoon agreed to take them to Tenebrae. Rolen lead the team with Jaquette, Lucky and Fergewon. They eventually were brought to a room where Zyark was having a conversation with The Alhoon Tenebrae who looked very Lichy.

Zyark saw Lucky and gave him an ale. Zyark explained that the Alhoons have been helping the dwarves make great progress in re-mining Gauntlgrym. The Alhoons have been able to capture and control a Beholder and have been using its disintegration ray to help create tunnels. Rolen asked the Alhoon about the sarcophagi and told him the OoH is here to retrieve it. He explained that the OoH has been commanded by a deity to collect and destroy it. Seeing the determination in Rolen’s eyes Tenebrae invoked Parley.

Another Parley

Jaquette heard Zyark say to the other Alhoon in the room “I need to get a message to my men.” She suggested that he stay in the room but the party agreed to let him go. Rolen and Lucky intimidated Zyark as he went to get a message to his men. Meanwhile the OoH and the Alhoon discussed options regarding the Amber Sarcophagi. The Alhoon were very reluctant to let it go. Three more Alhoon came in and Zyark returned to the room looking very concerned.

Lucky began trying to intimidate the Alhoon making them more defensive. Tyrena successfully persuaded the Mind Flayers to not attack, and Luigi stood back with them ready for battle. Rolen asked Lucky to stand down for the moment and offered the Alhoon peace from Lord Vitiate. After a few persuasive comments, Rolen proved to the Alhoon (in writing) that the Order of Heroes had arranged for Lord Vitiate to leave Gauntlgrym. The Alhoon agreed to give up the Sarcophagi for their safety. Anna drew up another contract and all parties sighed it. Zyark was very relieved and had another drink with Lucky.

The Alhoon took the party to a secret room 10 feet behind a solid wall where the Amber Sarcophagi was stored. Lucky touched the sarcophagi and felt a very powerful and dark presence. Lucky cast levitate on the sarcophagi and lowered it into Anna’s Portable hole. As the party bid Zyark and the Alhoon farewell, Anna returned to Zyark his special +2 Mace.

The Amber Sarcophagi

The party returned to the Elder Brain and Anna showed it the Sarcophagi. The Elder Brain said they need 5 more minutes before they can leave and pointed the party towards the adjoining rooms where the other Sarcophagi were. Lucky showed a rare bit of self-restraint and left the room to go to the mansion to avoid any further temptation. Lucky warned Luigi that Al might not be able to restrain himself. Luigi asked Lucky that if Al got out of hand he could “quivering palm” and kill Al. Lucky agreed. The party went into the Southwestern door where they saw 2 large Sarcophagi.

Rolen opened his Demiplane for the storage of the Amber Sarcophagi. The party levitated the northern Sarcophagi. Jaquette summoned her 2 bears and Rolen, the bears, Al and Fergewon worked to push the sarcophagi into the plane. Rolen heard a dark voice offer him the Gift of Zhudun to raise the ancient dead. But Rolen refused. Al did not hear the voice and looked sad. The party then moved the other sarcophagi. They all felt a dark presence similar to a feeling they felt near Strahd, but no gift was offered. The moved the Sarcophagi to the Demiplane.

Al gets darker

The party went into the next room where there 3 sarcophagi. As they touched the first Sarcophagi, they were offered the dark gift of Great Taar Haak, the Five-Headed Destroyer. Taar Haak’s gift is great strength. Only Al accepted the dark gift and it granted him the benefit of a belt of fire giant strength. The benefit lasts for 10 days, after which the dark gift vanishes. Al also gained the flaws: I like to bully others and make them feel weak and inferior.” He must always use his strength for intimidation for all social interactions (intimidation rather than persuasion.) After 10 days the gift will be gone and original STR is reduced by 5 permanently and will no longer benefit from any magical increase to STR.

The party went to the next sarcophagi where they heard in their heads, the dark gift of Yog the Invincible. Yog’s gift is one of physical resilience. Al first cast disguise self on himself and then said yes and his hit point maximum was increased by 30. However, the benefit only lasts for 10 days, after which the dark gift vanishes but not the side effects. Oily black fur instantly grew and covered Al’s face and body. His Charisma was reduced by 4 and children all run away in fear if they see him. There is now a 10% chance that villagers will attack on sight.

They went to the next amber sarcophagi where they were offered the dark gift of Yrrga, the Eye of Shadows. Yrrga’s gift is the power of true seeing. They all refused. The party took a quick break so Anna could get the destruction codes from the elder brain and the Elder Brain bid the party goodbye. Rolen collected some brine from the pool.

Campaign

Rebuilding in the Age of Enialis

Protagonists