Things are heating up on the planet Cregan, friends. Our brave party of slave-not-slave-but-princess-rescuers are about to face their toughest challenge yet: What *exactly* is their obligation to the Princess Natima?
Before all that, though, let’s remind the readers of our current party of players…
DM: Brent
Draeya: Half-Elf Ranger CG (Heather)
Brenna Badger: Forest Gnome Druid NG (Maddy)
Dallian Lorgo aka “Dealio”: Rock Gnome Rogue CN (Kurt)
Eldewyn: High Elf Fighter CN (Anderson)
Kit Kat: Half-Elf Bard NG (Jenny)
Chsaud: Wood Elf Paladin LG (Elliot)
As far as statuses go, both Draeya and Eldewyn suffer from a loss of hit points in the recent scuffle around Hrunchuk’s statue. Dallian is the proud thief-owner of two rubies and an emerald, and upon his dismount from the top of the Hrunchuk effigy, he heartily congratulates the team on their good work. To which there is a low-grade mumbling of “no thanks to you” in response. Who actually utters the words is unclear.
Brenna, though, speaks as clear as crystal when she suggests the rock gnome stay on the ground and cause no more trouble. Notes here do not elaborate on the rock gnome’s response. It is likely that he was not cordial. This is just a guess.
Draeya then suggests that Dallian do a Search around the statue – maybe a secret hidden entrance or trapdoor will turn up.
Because as the DM has reminded the group: Baron Campbell clearly stated that the princess was to be taken to Hrunchuk’s Gardens. Which are CLEARLY underneath the Temple Gardens.
Ah.
Dallian’s Investigate roll turns up nothing.
Most of the party then succeeds on a Perception check, at which they suddenly hear the sound of an anguished cry coming from the far west end of the jungle. A fast and furious debate commences about whether or not to “dump the girl” because Temple Gardens are close enough to Hrunchuk’s Gardens, really. And hasn’t the group fulfilled their obligation to Natima, etc.?
And then, out of nowhere, the emerald gem in Dallian’s hand explodes – causing 9 pts of caustic burn damage.
BOOBY TRAP!
Chsaud wryly responds with “I bet they heard that.” The party espies another statue at the far, far east end of the space they are in now. Urgency is the order of the day as the party quickly moves towards that end, where Draeya searches for an entrance. The area surrounding them seems to be one of peace and worshipfulness, and the unspoken thought occurs that while it might be a nice place to pass on to the afterlife, today certainly is not that day. Dallian, after having applied some serious burn ointment to his hand, finds a trapdoor of sorts. The sounds of approaching monk-men can definitely be heard in the distance, and in an Alice-in-Wonderland-type move, the party members all jump through the now-open escape hatch.
However, the new problem is soon evident. With the leap to safety below, nobody was able to close the trapdoor behind them. It won’t be long before the kung fu villains bent on our brave adventurers’ destruction will find the party. Until KitKat casts Illusion, at which a phantom trapdoor appears – buying a little time for the questers. A quick search indicates this room is presently used as a storeroom, as it is lined with shelves and other storage bric-a-brac. Dallian suggests exiting through a passage through the north, and just as the group moves that direction, a monk-hand is seen grasping through the illusional trapdoor. It appears the game is up…
So Brenna casts Thunderwave. Notes do not indicate that she consulted anybody on this decision.
Alas. While the spell certainly takes care of the pursuers above, everyone in the room with Brenna must now do a saving throw. Dallian rolls low (his hand still hurts, prob) and takes 24 points of thunder damage. Everyone else takes half damage and the monks above are simply “blown away” by the spell. The party staggers to their feet and proceed to the north entrance. There is some healing and door-barring in this next room before moving to the next chamber – an armory!
Disappointment! There is 1.) no gnome armor; 2.) no cool longbows.
But wait! There is also 1.) a dagger with a nice-looking hilt (Dallian); 2.) a rapier with a nice-looking hilt (Eldewyn); 3.) slippers with a stylized ‘H’ on them (KitKat); 3.) a Ring of Protection and 5 platinum pieces (Draeya); 4.) Chain mail (Chsaud)
Brenna inquires around the party about healing (Thunder damage hit the little forest gnome pretty hard, friends). She and Eldewyn soon feel a little better, thanks to the paladin.
Oh, did I forget to mention that NATIMA is still with the group? Yeah, she’s pretty much Chsaud’s groupie now and he feels mostly responsible for her well-being. Which is good, because nobody else feels the same compulsion for her safety.
KitKat has also picked up a few potions and when she looks them over, she discovers one is a Potion of Growth, and one is a Potion of Shrinking (ooooh, back to the Alice in Wonderland references). The weapons have some kind of magical properties she can’t quite discern at present, and the ring is a +1 Ring of Protection.
Nice!
The group is in an exitless room, until Dallian finds a secret door in the northwest corner. The group follow him along a corridor that is heading south. Eventually, the hallway opens into a chamber, in which a fountain stands, the sound and smell of gently trickling perfumed water greeting the party as they enter into the room. Brenna throws a coin, and Dallian and Eldewyn suggests throwing Natima in…to which we all can surmise what Chsaud will say to that.
No.
Dallian drinks from the fountain and finds it cold and refreshing. Nothing more, nothing less. But certainly chockful of electrolytes and the like.
Remember those slippers KitKat found earlier? Draeya asks about them and KitKat pulls them out. They don’t fit the bard, but they fit Natima (they look good on her, btw). KitKat, with a decent Persuasion check, gets Natima to click her heels together three times. Nothing happens. Meanwhile, Dallian is searching the fountain and finds something interesting – a little stylized ‘H’ carved into the fountain’s edge. And it matches the one on the sole of the slipper. The ‘H’ has cropped three separate times now during this adventure and seems important. Draeya inquires about KitKat’s dreams and upon further asking-telling, it is discovered that the entire group has an ‘H’ tattooed on their backs…and it matches the fountain and the slipper. Whaaaaaaaat?
KitKat presses the sole of the slipper to the fountain. Nothing. Brenna suggests touching the jewels to the letter. Nothing. The ‘H’ seems important, but nothing is happening and the frustration is reaching Threat Level Midnight. Suddenly, Natima, just making random small talk, I guess, mentions that she has seen the same symbol on the back of slave girl she knows back in Estercari – Arwin is her name (would Alice not have been more appropriate???). Draeya asks Natima then if the name Harbin Wester means anything to her; it does not. Natima can only present one fairly important piece of information per day, I guess?
At this point, the group decides to press forward. They have all of the questions and none of the answers, but bedtime is approaching. A quick search of any surrounding chambers nets nothing of interest and the night passes without incident. Brenna takes first watch.
Enter morning. Or, at least, the group assumes so since they are below ground and have no access to sunrises. The party wakens, feeling refreshed and healthy, when someone they kind-of waltzes in through the chamber entrance…
Someone dressed in the burgundy dress code of Campbell. Rando Henchman of Baron Campbell’s. Baron Campbell, hereby known as Baron Campbell The Not-So-Forthcoming. Well, la-di-da! And Hench has this message for our courageous crew:
Baron Campbell thanks you for keeping the princess safe. Now, you must bring her to the General Assembly.
Say what? Like, are they EVER going to NOT have to take Natima somewhere?
For the sake of our players’ sanity, let’s hope the General Assembly is the final drop-off point. Then, Natima can be someone else’s problem. Will Chsaud be sad or relieved, though? THAT remains to be seen, friends.
As always,
Your Faithful Servant in Scribing,
Heather