Session 71 – August 26, 2015
We dragged the bodies of Holliver and his lieutenant out of the hideout and down into the city, along with loot. We saved Holliver’s head for later.
We put the boxes back in place.
We managed to find the naga and worked out a plan to visit Marchmain and report back to her in a week, after training.
We left out ancient rescuee with the naga.We also left the information cubes and power armor with her, just in case.
Upon our return to the surface, we found the former temple entrance where the three naga sisters did their judging much repaired and cleaned up. the head of the dwarven guard was none too happy at our return, hoping it was his missing dwarves in power armor.
We were taken to the same building where we met with Marchmain before. Part of our brilliant plan was to have Chug be invisible and use the mind reading skullcap/helmet.
On the way to the building, we passed some humans standing around a wagon, that Thorfus has scouted with the face mask, that he used to check things out before we surfaced. As we passed, some of them said to each other, “Are those the Starchy Boyz?” We did not engage them to learn more.
We bartered our way through the gems and other non-magical things we found and made an impressive haul. We also arranged for training for those that need it to begin the next day. For our payment we requested gems, to lighten the load, and until a load of gems is obtained from Xenilum Khel, we have a letter of credit from Marchmain. Marchmain gave the “appearance” of believing us that our charmed Raptor was really a plant from us and he just found the last opening that Holliver said we already knew about.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the party, something happened to Chug, adn as we prepared to leave, Axel stumbled on his unconscious body, and said, “We have a spy here.” that ended any chance we had to coe up with an excuse that might let us get out of their with Chuq.
We left perplexed and worried about our companion.
“Kottar” was unable to get a reading on Chuq, but told us that Marchmain was a much deeper emptiness than he sensed with Brice.
What happened to Chuq we may never learn in game, but were privy to it after the information exchange, and trade was completed.
When Chuq tried to read Marchmain’s mind/motivations/feelings to learn if he was being honest about how much he would give us, Chuq felt vertigo and a sense of falling. He slammed into the grass, and was in the same place that Thorfus, Brice, and Kottar had encountered Brice’s deity before, on a grassy plain.
“Thorfus” appeared to Chuq and claimed to have been trapped their since he dreamed of this place when at the Sleeping Colossus. “Thorfus” knew a lot about this place and took Chuq by the hand and transported him to a library filled with information cubes. One he found had “Thorfus’s” uncle, who came out and moved, but was a mere automaton/apparition.
“Thorfus” knew someone was coming, and transported Chuq back to the grassy plain. This time “Brice” appeared and was obviously angry with Chuq. Chuq fought her and “won”, but is now “back” laying face down on the floor and unconscious.
Will Chuq be interrogated and give up our secrets, if he has not already? Can Chuq escape with his shadow shifting ability? Will the Starchy Boyz find a way to rescue their friend, or will they become trapped themselves, or worse dead?
Tune in for the next exciting episode of Fools Rush In….
Good summary, Larry. That’s worth 900XP for Thorfus.
As I was putting together that calendar this week, it became clear that the party’s experiences when trying to meddle with “politics” have varied wildly. However, in all cases, there have been equal parts slapstick and extraordinary (for good or ill) luck determining the outcomes. The meeting with Marchmain conforms to this pattern.
Just remembered! I still have a new year’s free re roll. Let’s decide first next session, if we should trust Roll 20 with a Wednesday night Roll 20. Would that be OK with you John?
Partly, I want Chuq to keep his failed save. We might have an invaluable lesson to learn about Marchmain and Xena Tel if Chuq survives his captivity. Or he might simply become another Mole in the party.
Hey – what if Thorfus is already coopted?
Perhaps Chuq should ask dream Thorfus & Brice to find the other Dwarves in the dream realm/library. Dwarves like Marchmain or Thorri Carrow or Father Thovo. What if Peter Thorrell, Rotho Waterman or Barnier are in the library? That would be something…
I think we already have too many dependent consequences stemming from last week’s roll (Axel’s reveal of Chuq’s body, the dwarves’ reactions, etc.) However, it is good you remembered this because you might have opportunity and cause to use it tomorrow night.
Can I re-roll my reaction?
Yeah, as much as it was in-character for Axel (he’s supposed to be naïve and reckless after all, he is only 50), it’s been making me facepalm all week.
Could not see any feasible escape though at the time that wouldn’t have Marchmain get all finger-pointy and killy, and even trying to bluff through with senile wizard shenanigans would be iffy to me.
Or maybe I over-reacted?
Hopefully we get the chance to enact an escape now. We’re safe until Chuq wakes up, and he does have his ninja skills and is still invisible. They’ll have a hard time keeping him locked up.
Planning/Training montage? 😀