Return [To Madness]: Act 1, Scene 2

[Styrius]

Axid replies “Excellent! Any news about the ‘locals’ within? Are they riled up?”

[Nocturno]

When encouraged, Jack and Jag will enter.

[Lord Torath]

"To my knowledge, no living creatures were encountered. Which is not to say they don't know we're here, as evidenced by the scrying attempts upon us."

[BishGada]

"Teams are difficult." he turns to Allakhain, "Please lead the way." as they go he murmurs, "I thought they would like the surprise. It means less dying for them. Go figure!"

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(OOC: if opening the portal costs the same as keeping it open, and you realize Allakhain leads Ke'Sha into the cave entrance, you can join and open the portal once we get the minions.)

[TristenC]

Landro follows Jack and Jag through the portal. Allikhain shrugs and says to Ke'Sha, We may as well take the shortcut. before following through the portal.

The area inside the room with the scaled hands appears undisturbed since their last visit, though the bubble from before is gone.

[Nocturno]

"Curious" Jag backs up to the doorway, but not through.

Jack will grab a rock/pebble to drop in the hole.
"Shall I?"

[TristenC]

The pebble settles atop the invisible wall of force

[BishGada]

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Ke'Sha has some inner struggling figure where is he right now, but if you at least mentally show him the room he would comment that last time you cut the hand to make it bleed.

[Lord Torath]

Stephen waits just long enough to determine which way Ke'Sha is going, then steps through and lets the portal close, with Ke'Sha on whichever side he decided to end up on.

[TristenC]

[ooc] Ok, moving along to avoid a roadblock here[/ooc]

The party steps through the portal, Ke'Sha leaves to retrieve his minions. About 15 minutes later he returns. Lumbering behind him are three undead trolls, slack jawed and dragging their arms at their sides. Around the trolls are three more figures, man sized and gaunt beyond life but neither clumsy nor mindless. The three humanoids appear to have been Drow, in life, though now their eyes glow red with hatred for the living. Behind these a dark cloaked figure lurks, the shadows pulling in around him and pointed ears taller than any elf... As it moves, the 'cape' proves to be torn and pocked leathery wings... Behind all that an eerie glow emerges and the faint glimpse of some fell spirit can be seen.

[The 'minions have all acquired the 1st Sigil in the normal way from the room nearby. Otherwise they would not be able to follow]
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Troll zom


Jujus


Wight


'Cloaked Figure'

[Lord Torath]

Stephen looks on in growing alarm as Ke'Sha leads his parade of undead out of the wall. "These are your 'recruits'? I was expecting earth elementals. I suppose this explains why Masters Jack, Jagrinder, and Landro didn't find the trolls' bodies yesterday. Hold on, Master Ke'Sha, where did you find Drow? None of the auguries and divinations mentioned the drow or their goddesses in the region."

<Apologies for the interruption, Miss Gallus, but we may have another problem. Ke'Sha has come into command of three drow undead. Have any of our auguries mentioned drow? Have the natives mentioned drow at all?>

Stephen focuses again on the diminutive cleric. "Tell me more about these drow. What were they doing when you encountered them? How many were there? Did any escape? Did you manage to collect any of their fancy cloaks? Master Jagrinder might... Is that a literal demon? Hold on, this wouldn't have anything to do with the missing villagers, would it? 'Taken by the Gods to serve a higher purpose'? Have you been selling souls to the fiends for services?"
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How do you pronounce "drow"? My flippant response is always that it rhymes with bow, row, and sow. But more seriously, I have always pronounced it with a hard "oh" sound, so it rhymes with snow.

[TristenC]

Allikhain speaks up, The entire cavern above and around the snake-head entrance here opens to the underdark. They are not... paritcularly rare in my experience, in such regions. That does not mean they are necessarily involved in the dungeon complex. She finishes.

Drow?!.. Let me know what you find. Nothing changes, but this does not ease my mind. Lena sends back

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The open cavern before the dungeon has hints at having connections to the underdark, but was not explored

[Styrius]

Axid had followed the team with first opening. As the second arrival with the undead he becomes extremely alarmed. “What in Moradin’s cold forge are teleporting through?! To arms!”

[BishGada]

Ke'Sha looks at Stephen all through his long speech. Then he looks at Axid shouting "To Arms!" then he shrugs and sighs.
"As explained, they were found around. Exactly as you were found around. They will serve us well, especially when you keep me from praying for the spells which can save your lives. Now, let's move on and try to save Sorril."

[Lord Torath]

"I know how I got here. I focused my Will and used my knowledge of the Way. Are you suggesting this fellow did the same? Stephan says, pointing at the nearest troll zombie. Stephen sighs and rubs his forehead muttering a prayer for patience to Kyla under his breath.

"'You found them.' It’s not the attempt, but the quality of the lie that’s so offensive. My five-year-old niece could come up with a better story! Jack, Jag, and Landro were through here just yesterday and saw no sign of these monsters. And suddenly, you, who were, in theory, in your tent, praying for healing and protection spells all day yesterday, just happened to find them?"

"And yon demon agreed to help free a paladin out of the goodness of its heart? That fact that you expect me to believe this is nearly a mortal insult by itself. So what did you promise it? And does it have anything to do with the missing locals?"
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Truthear roll (Wis+1=19(21)):[1d20]=4