Wardens of Heroes Gate

Rasi Gone Missing

] Yisi and Valea are currently in their room. Joloobo is laying unconscious in the grass of the Backyard behind the monastery. A couple of hours have passed. It is quite dark when you awake, you can barely move and everything is blurry. You slowly remember what happened.

Joloobo] “Rasi! Rasi are you there?” I try to look around.

] You think you see a figure lying on the ground near where you last remember seeing Rasi.

Joloobo] I try to stand and walk over to the figure. [Str check]

1d20 Strength 8 +0 = 8

] Your legs are too weak to actually stand up. You crawl over to the figure and see that it is the deep gnome that attacked you. There is no sign of the staff she was carrying and no sign of Rasi.

Joloobo] I start crawling towards the monastery buildings…  calling for help.

] You make it about halfway when some students and an aide soon hear you and come running. They help you to the temple of Dunea and wake Elder Ysthorn. He heals you with a blessing as much as he can (4d4)

Joloobo]

4d4 3 +3 +1 +4 = 11 HP restored (12 total)

] Elder Ysthorn “You have been severely hurt Joloobo. Can you tell me what happened?”

Joloobo] “Rasi is missing! We have to find her! Call for Yisi and Valea. We have to start searching.”

] Moments later, Elder Arrodon enters the temple and begins to question you Joloobo. “Start from the beginning… what happened?”

Joloobo] “Rasi was practicing her sword forms in the Backyard, not too far away from the storage shed along the northern cliff. We had just started to talk when she sensed someone coming. Actually she said she sensed danger… I turned and saw a deep gnome, a woman deep gnome, running towards us carrying a long staff. It was twice her height at least, if not more. She used it, I think… to blast me. The world spun away. When I woke up, Rasi was gone but the deep gnome was there. Oh! Hey! The deep gnome was still there unconscious! Be careful though. I don’t know where that staff is, she may still be very dangerous.”

] Elder Arrodon “You say this deep gnome had come from the storage shed?”

Joloobo] “Yes. I think there must be some kind of portal enterance there somewhere… Many days ago I watched three other gnomes walk into the shed and just disappear.”

] Elder Arrodon “You saw this and did not tell anyone?”

Joloobo] “Who am I going to tell? None of my business really… I thought at the time. Could be normal – what would I know different?”

] Elder Arrodon “Indeed. Well it is somewhat normal these recent days, and it is somewhat of a secret too. Tell me more about this staff?”

Joloobo] “It was big. Even for a human or an elf, I would think it very large. I never got a good look at it. The deep gnome was still a good distance away when she used it to kill me, or nearly. If it had markings or what I would not know. I don’t think it was made of wood though… it was sort of a colored white… alabastery if that makes sense.”

] Elder Arrodon “Maybe it does… I have to wonder if the gnomes uncovered the Staff of Shoon. If they did, the entire Sword Coast may be in danger.”

] Yisi and Valea – the two of you are awakened by an aide wearing the red and white robes of the monastery. He tells you that your gnome friend has been injured and is in the temple with Elder Ysthron.

Yisi] We hurry to the temple.

] You see Elder Arrodon and Elder Ysthorn there speaking with Joloobo. He does not appear badly injured, but both elders look overly concerned. Some students carry in an unconscious female gnome with dark skin.

Joloobo] “That is her! She is the one that blasted me! Keep watch on her!”

] Elder Ysthorn begins praying over the deep gnome. She begins to stir. Moments later her eyes open and she looks around in a panic. “Wha… what… where am I? what happened?” Elder Arrodon begins to question her. She calms down enough to explain that she was digging… “far away from the discovery of the dragon” she makes a point of saying, when she discovered what looked like a very large talon. Not certain what she was seeing, carved out a bit more rock and behind the giant claw she found a material she had never seen before, “like a colorful milk” she says. She tried to clear a little more of the rock and dirt away when her hands touched the mysterious material. That was the very last thing she remembers.

] “I must consult with the other elders” says Arrodon, then he turns and starts to leave and then turns back. “At first light we send out tracking parties to find Rasi… I hope our visitors will be willing to help in the search.” he says, looking at you three.

Valea] “Of course. Valea will certainly help.”

Yisi] “Indeed we will. Joloobo – are you fit to start tracking?

] Elder Arrodon says to one of the nearby aides. “Wake Guide Wildpath and Guide Dawndra. Inform them we need to build search parties before light arrives.” With that, he leaves the temple.

] A short while later, three search parties are fully formed. Guide Wildpath leading one, Fable leading the second and Joloobo – you are to lead Yisi and Valea along with Guide Dawndra. You are each given 3 healing potions (4d4) and blessed by Elder Ysthorn (2d8 Temporary HP) for the task ahead.

] The sky begins to light, though it will be some time before you see the sun creep over the edge of the cliff walls of the valley. Guide Wildpath has identified the tracks of Rasi leading into the Vale of Soxolone. They are easy to follow for a short while and then the suddenly disappear, as if Rasi took to wing or stepped into a portal.

] Joloobo “That staff she has is more powerful than a trolls uppercut… no tellin’ what magic it might be capable of. ”

] Guide Wildpath “We must assume something at this point… We can assume Rasi is somehow beyond following… or we can assume her trail might be picked up again. For her sake and for Elder Arrodon, I shall assume we can still find her.”

Valea] “This one agrees. Hope is to be held tightly for as long as ones fingers might have strength to hold.”

Yisi] “Remind me to write that one down… after we get Rasi safely home.”

Valea] “Valea will forget her words knife-ear. But let us not forget hope.”

] The three parties spread wide and enter deeper into the Vale of Soxolone. Hours go by without picking up any tracks. Your group is now in a thick pocket of large trees not far from the lake where Rrellette had nearly brought you to a watery end.

Yisi] “Is it possible the water wight has Rasi?”

] You all hear from above you a deep echoey voice say “Looking for someone? Someone who cannot look for themselves?”

Yisi] I startle and look up, hands to my weapons in case of ambush. “Who is there?”

] The voice questions “Who is always there? What would the elf do with the knowing of who is there?”

] Guide Dawndra says “Relax your stance Yisi. I believe this to be the master of this valley.” then she looks up. “We are honored to hear your voice Soxolone. ”

] The tree tops all seem to shuffle around, as if to get a better view of the scene below. Soxolone says “Why have we not spoken before my white giant? ”

] Guide Dawndra “I don’t have a good answer for you Soxolone. It has been assumed among us that only Elder Arrodon is ever granted an audience with you.”

] Soxolone “How is Arrodon these past moons?”

Yisi] “Today he is worried. The blind dragonborn girl is dear to him, and we are in your forest today to find her and bring her home to Arrodon.”

] Soxolone says “Why not hurry to it then? Why not, indeed, begin to look where you cannot see?” Several large branches above you shift and all point in a single direction towards the northern cliff.

Joloobo] “We should be looking where we cannot see? Is that… in the dark? Are you pointing to the valley edge? The caverns! Should we look within the caverns beyond the cliff wall crevasse?”

] Soxolone says “Why would I lead you to waste looking time anywhere you would not find?”

] Guide Dawndra says “Thank you for your guidance at this critical hour. You have our gratitude. We shall hurry to it.”

] Giving wide berth to the lake of Rrellette, you return to the crevasse where Joloobo unwillingly spent a night a while back. Joloobo, you easily spot fresh sign of Rasi leading into the crevasse in the wall.

Joloobo] “There… Rasi came through here and entered into the crevasse. Don’t go into the room on the right… and watch for spiders… this place was swarming with them before.” I slip into the caverns.

] Guide Dawndra says “This may be where I go find the others and alert them to our discovery. I am quite confident I will not fit into the entrance, and the other parties need to know we have picked up fresh tracks here.”

Yisi] “Understood. We have no idea how far into the mountain these tunnels go. Our last time here was, thankfully, very short.” I enter into the crevasse.

Valea] I bow to Guide Dawndra and enter behind Yisi.

] The three of you squeeze through the crack in the massive cliff wall until it opens into an old mining tunnel. To your right there is a long hallway which you all recall being a dead end and a trap. The your left, the tunnel turns deeper into the mountain.

Yisi] “Should we check the trap? Perhaps Rasi is there, just sitting and waiting for rescue like Joloobo was…”

Joloobo] I search the ground for fresh sign.

1d20 8 +4 = 12 [Success]

] You see footprints you recognize as Rasi’s on both sides of you, one set leading down towards the dead end and the other deeper into the tunnels.

Joloobo] “She went both ways. We can check the trap but my guess is she did not fall for it. I know she is blind… but she somehow sees more than the rest of us.”

Valea] “Wait here for Valea.” I run down the tunnel to the right.

Joloobo] “Remember not to cross the threshold into the room… it is one-way only!”

] You get down to the end of the tunnel and peer into the large chamber. You see no one.

Valea] “Rasi! Is dragon-girl there?”

] Your voice echoes around the chamber but you hear no other reply.

Valea] I run back to Yisi and Joloobo. “Short-pockets was correct… empty room.”

Yisi] We follow to the left.

] The mining tunnel to the left turns right and then follows a straight path for about 200 feet. Along the way you see more debris and a few aging bones. The tunnel is thick with webs except for a center path that has been recently cleared. At the end, the tunnel opens into another large chamber.

Joloobo] “Careful… It may be another trapped room.” I slowly look inside from the tunnel.

] The room is swarming throughout with small spiders. They either don’t notice you or don’t care about you. The chamber is similar in size to the first but it has years and years of webbing filling the upper spaces. There is another exit on the left side (Eastern) of the room. Up in the ceiling, you see a giant spider that appears caught in its own web except that it is not trying to get free… it is in fact motionless except for the thousands of smaller spiders which are swarming all over it.

Joloobo] Do I see any fresh humanoid corpses in the room?

] There are many ancient bones and cocoon shapes around the chamber, but none of which appear recent.

Joloobo] “It would seem that giant spider was no match for Rasi… or whatever has control of Rasi.”

Yisi] “Let me enter first.” I attempt to activate Shadow Shroud and then search the room for dangers.

[DM Note: I designed Shadow Shroud to work with a Stealth check. If there is another creature to hide from, a dice roll may be required but if there is no one to hide from… hiding is automatic. ]

] A cloud of magical darkness surrounds you as you enter the room. The swarm of spiders remains focused on the giant spider hanging dead in its own web 12 feet above. The smell of something like rot fills the dank air. You do not detect any traps or other dangers.

Yisi] I whisper to Valea and Joloobo… “I think it is ok to follow” and I cross the room slowly towards the exit on the right.

] Crossing under ancient wooden support beams, you enter a wide open area with low ceilings. Only Joloobo can stand fully upright. There are many small crates and barrels and other debris to indicate that this was once an active mine, once long ago. From where you are it is difficult to determine but it appears to open up in several directions .

Joloobo] I take a quick peek inside some of the crates and barrels.

] Most are completely empty but in one small crate you see several small uncut gems. [4 Green Spinels – approx 50gp each]

Joloobo] “Hey, there are still some gems laying around this place. ”

Valea] “Gems cannot help Rasi yes?”

Joloobo] “No… but it is an interesting fact. If these mines have been explored since they were active… I would not find a handful of loose gems just lying about.”

Yisi] “Worth noting Joloobo. However there very well could be explorers which care nothing for a few measely gems… like that giant spider behind us. And what of all the dead fellows you shared a room with for a night? ”

Joloobo] “Point taken.” I drop the gems in my pocket anyway.

] As you go deeper into the dank hollow you see the complex extends further to the right and you see a tiny tunnel directly ahead – one even Joloobo would have to crawl through.

Valea] “This one hopes the trail does not lead into the hole.”

Yisi] “Unlikely, but let us remember it is there yes?” We continue to the right.

[()] [an ochre jelly detects party and begins to follow behind them, oozing along in the corner where the wall meets the ceiling.]

] You are in a tunnel with low ceilings. Ahead you see several doorways with rotting wood beams branching to the left and right of the tunnel. As you pass and look inside each, they appear to be small exploratory dig sites leading nowhere. One of the rooms on the left appears to have been used as storage. You see more crates and barrels but these are somewhat neatly stacked and unbroken.

] As you are looking into the storage room, Valea you feel something drip down onto you and it begins to burn. You take 3 acid damage.

Valea] I yelp “Agh! What is it!? Look out!” I run several steps away and look back to see what fell on me.

] You see yellow blob moving thinly across the low ceiling. It is still above Yisi and Joloobo.

Valea] “Move quickly!”

Joloobo] “I listen to Valea and leap towards her while reading my psychic blades. I turn and attack, throwing my psychic blades at the blob on the ceiling

1d20 Attack 4 +6 = 10 [hit] Dmg (1d6) 4 +4 = 8

1d20 Attack 9 +6 = 15 [Hit] Dmg  (1d4) 4 +4 = 8

] Colorful blades flash from your hands and pierce the jelly, illuminating it briefly in the dark tunnel. It then drops down from the ceiling between where Yisi is, still in shadow and you two. With a large section of itself it attempt to mallet Joloobo [()] but you are able to step back out of the way.

Yisi] I attempt to spot any weakness in the blog and then I attack

1d20 Medical 14 [Fail DC 26]

2d20a Attack 10 +7 [Hit] Dmg (2d4) 4 + 5 = 9

] Your daggers plunge deeply into the ooze with little resistance. There is, however, no indication that the creature could even feel the attack.

Valea] “Ugh! Slime monster must die!” I yell as I attack with my Basto Sticks

1d20 Attack 14 +7 = 21 [Hit] Dmg (2d4) 6 +5 +2 = 13

1d20 Attack 8 +7 = 15 [Hit] Dmg (1d4) 3 +5 = 8

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