Ch 2: Part 5: Architects of Ruin: Session 28

[15:40] <Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:40] <Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 2: Children of the Void~~~
[15:40] <Kilarra> -Session 28-
[15:41] <Kilarra> Kjell took a few swings, but managed to break down the magically silencing barricade that, by their guess, was sealing in the siren of the island's legends. Their hopes of making the enemy of their enemy an ally rested on Tognik, who had thus far proved himself quite adept at spinning speech.
[15:42] <Kilarra> Kjell takes a step back, "Now, let's hope she's willing to be reasoned with. If not, well... get ready to run if you hear singing."
[15:42] <@Aluthyra> Tognik nods, stepping closer to the now-broken barrier.
[15:43] * Kilarra slips to the back again, stretching out her hooves. She was a good runner, as it happened.
[15:44] <Kilarra> Kjell steps in right behind the gnome in case he needed protecting.
[15:44] * Aluthyra still has her bow out, but has lowered its aim to the ground.
[15:45] <Kilarra> This large chamber rises to a height of roughly thirty feet near the center, where a very small hole acts as a natural skylight. Relatively quiet, with the constant crash of the ocean muffled by solid stone, this cave seems an ideal lair. Moisture-slicked mildewing tapestries and animal pelts cover nearly every inch of the walls, indicating that at one time this chamber did serve as home to some kind of creature.
[15:46] * Tognik quirks his head, looking for the inhabitant as he steps through into the chamber.
[15:49] <Kilarra> Tognik, being the first in, is the first to see her. She is not quite what one would expect, given the legends. The siren is akin to a large bird, with the head of a beautiful woman. She is also faintly aglow and obviously ethereal, a ghost, rather than a living being. She looks calm and serene though, despite being imprisoned, and turns to face the party as they enter.
[15:51] * Kilarra blinks as she lays eyes on the siren, her whip lowered, "Pretty birdy..."
[15:53] <Kilarra> Kjell raises an eyebrow at Kilarra. While the siren's face was beautiful, he would hardly consider this to be an appropriate situation for complimenting a dangerous creature.
[15:53] <@Aluthyra> Tognik blinks away his surprise, not expecting a... bird. He waves a hand in greeting to the siren, dipping his torso in a bow. "Greetings! I am Tognik," He points to each of his companions. "Aluthyra, Kilarra, Kjell." He nods, turning back to the siren. "We'd ask your assistance, if you'd be obliged, and if you're who we think you are."
[15:54] * Aluthyra rolls her eyes at Kilarra.
[15:55] <Kilarra> The siren nods, "I am pleased to meet you, the saviours of my beloved's soul."
[15:55] * Kilarra looks right back at Aluthyra, "I saw that. Seriously though, those feathers look really soft, and her face is gorgeous."
[15:56] * Aluthyra chuckles and hushes Kilarra. "I am sure."
[15:57] * Kilarra pouts a bit, but shuts up. Wait, what did that bird just say?
[15:57] <@Aluthyra> Tognik raises an eyebrow. "We to you as well," he replies, "but, your beloved?"
[15:58] <Kilarra> The siren nods and smiles radiantly, "I can sense the echos of Yaris' troubled soul upon you. His anger over my death bound him to this world as a vengeful spirit, and I in turn was bound by my grief. But now that you have released him, so too am I free to rejoin him in the hereafter."
[15:59] * Kilarra looks to ALuthyra, "I... think we're missing something here."
[15:59] <Kilarra> Kjell looks to Tognik, "SHe must mean the wraith Kilarra and I dispatched that night."
[16:00] <@Aluthyra> Tognik blinks. "Well... we are glad to be of assistance." He scratches his head. "Before you join him... could you tell us who did this to the both of you? Or if you know anything about the drow?"
[16:03] <Kilarra> The siren nods, "I would be happy to share our story, that the truth might be known. In truth, I was once the sort of vicious and spiteful creature most people know, and my beloved started off as just another enthralled victim who I sought to use. However, over time, as he brought me fineries and spent more and more time with me, I had a change of heart. I fell in love with him. I released him from my thrall, and he too fell in love w
[16:04] <Kilarra> and he too fell in love with me, seeing the beauty within."
[16:05] * Aluthyra smiles. The tale sounds quite beautiful.
[16:06] <@Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "I see." He frowns. "But what happened to end that?"
[16:07] <Kilarra> Virashi looks to Kilarra, "It seems your friend can also see beauty beneath the surface." She nods, "Ah, forgive me, you gave me your names, but i did not reciprocate. I am Virashi, and i have long dwelled on this island. Yaris was my beloved, and he sought to found the settlement here to continue providing me with gifts, as well as remaining close to me and providing his company. However, the other settlers found out, and thought him
[16:07] <Kilarra> -and thought him still enthralled."
[16:10] * Aluthyra smiles. "It is nice to meet you, Virashi." She frowns, curious of the story."And so did the settlers harm the two of you?"
[16:12] <Kilarra> Virashi nods, "The settlers took up arms against me, and it was on this very spot that I was slain all those years ago. Stricken with grief and rage, by beloved threw himself from the southern watchtower, which he went on to haunt as a vengeful wraith."
[16:13] * Kilarra tilts her head curiously, "We found that sword at the watchtower, but not the Wraith... oh because we went during the day. Wraiths have no power during the day, so he must have followed those zombies come nightfall."
[16:15] * Kilarra isn't any happier about the presence of undead, but is glad this one was just a one-off.
[16:15] <@Aluthyra> Tognik raises an eyebrow. "If you were slain all those years ago by settlers, who placed the ward, barring you here?" He frowns. "It is not a language I know of, nor one of the surface, I think."
[16:16] <Kilarra> Virashi nods, "It was those dark skinned elves, who took up these caves some months ago. I tried to force them out, but was rebuked, and then sealed behind that barricade, unable to call out or cry or sing."
[16:19] <@Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "Then would you be able to offer us any advice? We are trying to be rid of the dark elves."
[16:20] <Kilarra> Virashi adds, "I was never able to leave the site of my death, so all they needed to do to render me powerless was take away my voice."
[16:21] <Kilarra> Virashi shakes her head, "I imagine you know more of them than I do, and I do not wish to linger too much longer now that i have properly thanked you. HOwever, I do wish to leave you with a parting gift."
[16:23] <@Aluthyra> Tognik grins. "Any help would be appreciated."
[16:24] <Kilarra> Virashi vanishes with a sudden flare of brilliant white light. However, in the wake of her departure, the party feels a warmth pass over them, invigorating and refreshing
[16:28] * Kilarra feels good. "Oooh... I like her." She seems sort of conflicted saying that. She was a ghost, and ghosts are a form of undead, but... she was pretty and helpful and pretty. Bleh, stupid confusion.
[16:29] <Kilarra> Kjell feels equally invigorated, "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm feeling up to facing down a shadow monstrocity."
[16:29] * Aluthyra nods. "Not exactly what I was expecting from a siren." She nods to Kjell. "As am I."
[16:29] <@Aluthyra> Tognik looks around the room. While the invigoration is nice, he wants something that can be sold...
[16:29] * Kilarra nods, "If it's made of shadows, it'll be the same deal as the Wraith. raw magical energy and force are the best way to go."
[16:30] <Kilarra> Unfortunately for Tognik, anything of value in the Siren's nest has long since rotted away, as evidenced by the mouldy, tattered tapestries.
[16:30] * Aluthyra frowns. "Perhaps a different type of arrow will affect it better than the standard..." She nods, switching to her cold iron arrows.
[16:31] <@Aluthyra> Tognik sighs. "I guess we should move on to the other passage, then."
[16:32] <Kilarra> However, the invigoration makes Tognik feel up to dealing with the drow as well, as he remembers they were the ones who likely absconded with all the skymetal
[16:32] * Kilarra shrugs, "I'd have to get a better look at it. Thankfully, I can do just that." She smiles, her Daylight spell ready.
[16:33] <Kilarra> Kjell leads the group back through the main passage to the room bordering the shadows. He looks back to Kilarra, "I imagine it's still in there, probably thinks it scared us off."
[16:34] <@Aluthyra> Tognik grins, thinking of skymetal. /My precious/.
[16:34] <Kilarra> ALuthyra can see the shadowy figure amidst the darkness, laying in wait beyond the reach of the sunlight.
[16:35] * Aluthyra frowns, pointing a finger at the creature. "Any knowledge of it, Kilarra?"
[16:36] * Kilarra nods, "Shadow Demon, so not undead. Negative energy will work, positive would just heal it like normal. Kjell, this is probably gonna be your fight mainly."
[16:37] <Kilarra> Kjell nods and steps forward, casting a couple of enchantments on himself to bolster his strength and better protect himself
[16:39] <Kilarra> Kjell taps into his arcane pool to recharge his shield spell for later.
[16:41] <Kilarra> The shadow demon lays in wait, as though daring them to try and breach his darkness
[16:42] * Aluthyra smiles to herself, firing three arrows in rapid succession at the beast, the first with careful aim.
[16:47] <Kilarra> Although ALuthyra's arrows strike true, individually they do not do much, Cumulatively however, the effect becomes more noticeable
[16:48] <Kilarra> The shadow demon grows and curses gutterally in abyssal.
[16:49] * Kilarra snorts and responds with, "Yeah, so was your mother." She then steps up and hods out her holy symbol, "Calistria, let's light this beastie up." A burst of daylight explodes from her symbol, filling the chamber and dispelling the shadows.
[16:49] <Kilarra> The Demon shrieks as it is exposed to the brilliant light, but does not seem to immediately flee it like it did the natural light.
[16:51] <Kilarra> Kjell sees the demon thrown into sharp relief and nods, "It's a shadow demon alright, but only natural daylight will truly render it powerless. A spell like that would only stun it briefly."
[16:52] <Kilarra> Kjell then siezes the opportunity to run up to the temporarily stunned demon and take a swing on it, throwing a quartet of force projectiles at it with his off hand.
[16:54] <Kilarra> Kjell slips on his swing, his sword passing just short of the demon, however, his missiles of magic are as effective as normal.
[16:54] <Kilarra> The demon curses again and attempts to flee, having not expected a combination of both daylight and those who could, albeit not perfectly, harm him.
[16:56] <Kilarra> The creature shrouds itself with a new veil of darkness, countering Kilarra's daylight and dimming the area around itself substantially
[16:59] <@Aluthyra> Tognik smiles, grabbing the hair of a pugwampi from his components pouch. With it, he points his hand at the creature, mumbling in gnomish and casting a spell unluck.
[17:01] <Kilarra> Chmetugo seems unaffected
[17:02] <@Aluthyra> Tognik groans.
[17:02] * Aluthyra fires another trio of arrows at the creature.
[17:06] <Kilarra> Aluthyra's trio of arrows find their mark, and the creature shrieks as it dissolves into shadow, banished back to the lower planes as its material life force is expended.
[17:07] * Aluthyra looks around the room, now that the shade is gone, while asking Kilarra, "You speak that creature's language? What was it that it said?"
[17:10] * Kilarra looks to Aluthyra, "You probably don't want me to repeat it for the sake of decency."
[17:10] * Kilarra notes, "It was speaking abyssal, which is a rather vulgar language to begin with."
[17:11] <Kilarra> There are two more passages out of the shadowy demon's haunt, one to the north, and one to the south.
[17:12] * Aluthyra shrugs. "I am still curious, but if you think it better not to repeat." She looks towards the passages. "Shall Tognik and I attempt to scout forward again?"
[17:13] * Kilarra rolls her eyes, "I can say it, but considering you're sensative about getting dirty, I figured dirty language might be all the more offensive."
[17:16] * Aluthyra nods. "Then we will leave it at that, though again, shall we scout each passage?"
[17:17] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "I doubt any of us are any good at not getting noticed, so you'd be the best off."
[17:17] * Aluthyra nods, taking to the northern passage, proceeding carefully and quietly.
[17:18] <@Aluthyra> Tognik yawns before taking off to the southern passage.
[17:21] <Kilarra> In the southern chamber, Tognik can hear the sounds of the sea crashing against the exterior cliffs, smell a variety of rotten things, and spot the corpse of an akata, flayed open and partially dissected, surrounded by a number of vials and tools. He can also see a robed drow with a spear, facing away form the entrance and apparently taking notes on something. The drow has a sizeable white lizard at his feet.
[17:23] * Tognik exits the chamber before he is spotted, going back to inform his companions.
[17:25] <Kilarra> To the north, Aluthyra can see a makeshift barracks with six cots, two of them occupied by resting Drow, although, since they are elves, they don't sleep.
[17:27] * Aluthyra nods to herself, turning back to return to her companions. She informs them as she enters, "There are six cots in the room, along with two drow. Counting them, the other two that we killed, and the body we found at the crater," She looks to Tognik, "Would there be one more drow in the southern cavern?"
[17:27] <@Aluthyra> Tognik nods. "Yep, that and a big, white lizard. Looked like the drow was experimenting on one of those creatures that attacked the tower."
[17:36] <Kilarra> Kjell looks to Kilarra, "You brought us here, so what do you think we should pursue first?"
[17:36] * Kilarra ponders that a moment, "Well, one drow is certainly easier to deal with than two, and if he's been studing those... things, then, even if he's not feeling particularly talkative, we can snag whatever notes he's been taking."
[17:37] * Aluthyra nods. "Then I will follow your lead, Kjell."
[17:39] <Kilarra> Kjell nods and begins moving towards the southern chamber. He steps inside and takes a look around.
[17:39] <Kilarra> The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs echoes in this chamber through a narrow fissure in the eastern wall. A low table sits against the west wall, on which the remains of an unusual creature are splayed. The doglike beast’s body is partially dissected and surrounded by a variety of tools and half-filled bottles.
[17:39] * Aluthyra and Tognik follow behind.
[17:41] * Kilarra slips in the rear, whip out. This time her whip minght finally get some use.
[17:47] <Kilarra> The less than quiet Kjell and Kilarra finally catch the drow's attention. He rounds towards them and frowns, "How did you get in here? WHy wasn't I informed of intruders? Why... didn't the alarm go off?"
[17:48] <Kilarra> The drow looks a little tweaked, and the way he holds himself is a bit different from other drow. He is quite possibly not entirely sane.
[17:50] <Kilarra> His comanion, an albino giant gecko, hisses at them.
[17:57] * Aluthyra aims at the drow, firing a barrage of three arrows, the last with extra precision.
[17:59] <Kilarra> Before the drow can even do... anything, Aluthyra turns him into a pincushion.
[17:59] <Kilarra> He's deader than dead before he even realizes it
[18:00] <Kilarra> The gecko hisses some more, then scampters out through a gap in the wall and out towards the sea.
[18:00] * Kilarra just laughs, "Wasn't expecting company during the day, was he? Ha!"
[18:01] * Aluthyra blinks. "That was... surprisingly easy."
[18:03] <Kilarra> KJell chuckles, "Having the initiative always helps. Plus he seemed a bit... off."
[18:05] * Aluthyra nods, slinging her bow over her shoulder and looking around the room for any notes.
[18:05] <@Aluthyra> Tognik looks around for skymetal!
[18:14] <Kilarra> There isn't anything of particular value in this room beyond what the drow druid has on him. He does however have a journal of his research notes, but it's written in undercommon
[18:14] <Kilarra> No skymetal either
[18:14] <Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:15] <Kilarra> Rewards: 2 CR 7, 1 CR 5, 2000 experience each