Post by hubertbartels on Feb 19, 2023 13:20:37 GMT -5
How Inga Lost her Hand
Having finished a long rest in the remains of the upside-down tower, we started out the next day to continue our exploration of the glacier above the long-lost Netherese city. We started with the chamber in which we slaughtered the kobold vampire spawn, venturing in the dark exits leading from the room. In the first cavern, we discovered and destroyed a wraith. Then nearby, we carved the body of a Netherese wizard out of the ice. The next cavern ended in a large chamber featuring a enormous sheet of cloudy ice. Behind the ice was something eldritch, unsettling with too many tentacles and eyes. Melandrian said it was from beyond our reality. We briefly discussed freeing it since it could easily dispatch Auriel but we were unsure if we could defeat it afterwards. The decision was to table the discussion for the moment.
Going down the third cavern, we came into a chamber filled with reflective surfaces. Suddenly, a gnoll vampire stepped out from a glittering wall – it was the creator of the kobold vampire spawns we had destroyed the day before. We attacked, driving it back until it was forced to take on a misty form and retreat. Following the misty form, we found the gnoll’s resting place and destroyed it.
Entering yet another cavern passage, we ended up in a room with only a large green cube in the center. While the others studied it, Inga took off her glove and put her hand against its side. She found herself unable to get away when the green cube grew a mouth and devoured her hand. Enraged, she destroyed the cube mimic.
Beatrix healed her injury but we need to talk to a high priest to restore her hand or the gnome artificer to give her a silver hand in the meanwhile. Nevertheless, Inga urged that we continue exploring – she would not bear a shield and hope for the best.
The sixth cavern passage ended in a large chamber in which a grove of trees grew. While we marveled at the frozen leaves and the ripe purple pears, Rinaldo and Singe spotted a dryad watching us. From talking to her, we discovered she was a survivor from the Netherese city. The dryad told us about the drow expedition that had recently come to the glacier and the nothics that had followed the drow from the city.
We found the nothics in a passage leading from the chamber with the frozen grove. Long maddened wizards from long ago, they had been changed by the collapse of Netherese magic into the horrific forms they now have. However, we found them pitiful and helpful, telling us about an artifact called the “Spindle” which was suppressing the powers of the Netherese city mythral. It was made by the goddess Auriel and could be found in the central building. We needed to remove it.
The dryad also gave us instructions on where the drow expedition was camping. We approached their area carefully but decided to talk with their sentries. After learning of their leader’s plans, we decided the best way to deal with the problem was simply to offer them a more rewarding job at higher wages and better living conditions. Only the drow wizard and his two elite bodyguards protested – so we fought and killed them.
Having reached the end of our resources and knowledge, we decided to retreat back to our Spelljammer and the city of Bryn Shander to learn more about the “Spindle” and get our new drow guards settled in. Perhaps, Inga could get a replacement for her missing hand?
Having finished a long rest in the remains of the upside-down tower, we started out the next day to continue our exploration of the glacier above the long-lost Netherese city. We started with the chamber in which we slaughtered the kobold vampire spawn, venturing in the dark exits leading from the room. In the first cavern, we discovered and destroyed a wraith. Then nearby, we carved the body of a Netherese wizard out of the ice. The next cavern ended in a large chamber featuring a enormous sheet of cloudy ice. Behind the ice was something eldritch, unsettling with too many tentacles and eyes. Melandrian said it was from beyond our reality. We briefly discussed freeing it since it could easily dispatch Auriel but we were unsure if we could defeat it afterwards. The decision was to table the discussion for the moment.
Going down the third cavern, we came into a chamber filled with reflective surfaces. Suddenly, a gnoll vampire stepped out from a glittering wall – it was the creator of the kobold vampire spawns we had destroyed the day before. We attacked, driving it back until it was forced to take on a misty form and retreat. Following the misty form, we found the gnoll’s resting place and destroyed it.
Entering yet another cavern passage, we ended up in a room with only a large green cube in the center. While the others studied it, Inga took off her glove and put her hand against its side. She found herself unable to get away when the green cube grew a mouth and devoured her hand. Enraged, she destroyed the cube mimic.
Beatrix healed her injury but we need to talk to a high priest to restore her hand or the gnome artificer to give her a silver hand in the meanwhile. Nevertheless, Inga urged that we continue exploring – she would not bear a shield and hope for the best.
The sixth cavern passage ended in a large chamber in which a grove of trees grew. While we marveled at the frozen leaves and the ripe purple pears, Rinaldo and Singe spotted a dryad watching us. From talking to her, we discovered she was a survivor from the Netherese city. The dryad told us about the drow expedition that had recently come to the glacier and the nothics that had followed the drow from the city.
We found the nothics in a passage leading from the chamber with the frozen grove. Long maddened wizards from long ago, they had been changed by the collapse of Netherese magic into the horrific forms they now have. However, we found them pitiful and helpful, telling us about an artifact called the “Spindle” which was suppressing the powers of the Netherese city mythral. It was made by the goddess Auriel and could be found in the central building. We needed to remove it.
The dryad also gave us instructions on where the drow expedition was camping. We approached their area carefully but decided to talk with their sentries. After learning of their leader’s plans, we decided the best way to deal with the problem was simply to offer them a more rewarding job at higher wages and better living conditions. Only the drow wizard and his two elite bodyguards protested – so we fought and killed them.
Having reached the end of our resources and knowledge, we decided to retreat back to our Spelljammer and the city of Bryn Shander to learn more about the “Spindle” and get our new drow guards settled in. Perhaps, Inga could get a replacement for her missing hand?