Soluun Xibrindas:
CHES 25th (The Claw of Sunsets)
18:45 pm
Estran Icehorn has found his Bounty Soluun Xibrindas and he. As ever, was intent on returning him to Luskan Dead or Alive, it made no difference to him.
Zarek feels that the hatch that he had been standing on was being moved, someone or something was attempting to open it quietly. Zarek gestures to Alley and makes it known that there were more enemies below and they were well aware of where they were.
Zarek holds his position and signals for Alley to do the same thing.
Estran Icehorn lets Alley know that he cannot see in the dark and will be of no use unless something is done to remedy the situation.
The Drow Mate, Mal’eth Oblodra, hears this and begins to quietly work on his bindings. Rather be killed by these weak humans than face the wrath of Soluun Xibrindas.
Mal’eth Oblodra: “These bonds are loose and I just need to find the opportunity to escape and join the fight with Soluun Xibrindas.” The Drow Mate plots.
Unexpectedly, the area is plunged into complete darkness, a Magical ‘Darkness’ that must have come from the Drow.
Zarek, at least, knows that the Bard has the ability to see through ‘Darkness’, the Rogue knows that ‘Darkness’ covers an area of around 15’ feet radius, and even see those that are ’Invisible’.
Zarek decides that, using the cover of the Darkness which Drow cannot see through, he would go and investigate the door leading Aft and that is at this end of the corridor.
The Rogue is unable to see the door or lock and feels for the keyhole. In doing so the Rogue feels that there is also a sign on the door. He can though, hear the sound of Machinery that hiss, whirr, and clatter constantly.
Zarek: “What the hell can that be?”
The Rogue attempts to pick the lock and fails to do so, given that he was in darkness and unable to judge what type of lock it was. As a result of the unsuccessful attempt, he makes a noise which alerts the Drow Crew and the Evil Soluun Xibrindas.
The ‘Darkness’ Spell is immediately cancelled revealing the Rogue and exposing him to the Hand Cross-Bows of the Drow Sailors and the Bullet from the Lantanese Pistol of Soluun Xibrindas.
Zarek is hit by Soluun Xibrindas’ Bullet and one of the Drow Sailor Bolts, which has Drow Poison spread upon it. The Rogue is gravely injured and he know that he must seek shelter and heal himself. Tymora is watching over the Tiefling as he was able to resist the Drow Poison that incapacitated him earlier on.
Zarek stands on the Hatch to the lower deck once more, takes out his Wine Skin and activates his ‘Amulet of the Drunkard’. The item imparts healing and revives the Rogue enough for him to realise that they were surrounded but that did not seem to alarm him for now.
Zarek decides to give Estran his ‘Potion of Water Breathing’ which he will need regardless of the way they chose to leave the Scarlet Marpenoth.
Zarek uses his Spell ‘Message’ to converse with Alley after throwing over the Potion to Estran.
He lets the Bard know that there are 2 Drow Sailors how have backed off and were now on the Observation Deck section of the Scarlet Marpenoth and that Soluun Xibrindas’ was also there. Though the door to his Cabin had been shut closed.
Alley: “Interesting, something to hide I would wager.”
Then he retells the sounds he had heard behind the Door to the Stern.
Zarek: “I think we need to go that way, even if it is to make sure we have no more foes behind us.”
Alley: “I would hazard a guess that it could be where the propulsion is.”
Zarek: “There is a sign but I cannot read it.”
Alley looks back at the door and sees a sign written in Gnomish and also spots it written underneath in common.
“ENGINE ROOM”
The Rogue and Bard are unsure as to what an Engine was.
As the Rogue and Bard did not make a move and stayed quiet, using the ‘Message’ Spell to chat, the ‘Darkness’ Spell had been cast again and the corridor was plunged into darkness and a Drow voice is heard to call out.
Alley moves over to join Zarek as he calls her over and she tells Estran Icehorn to keep hold of their Captured Drow Mate.
Estran Icehorn: “They’re regrouping and Soluun Xibrindas is telling them to advance up the ladder.” The captive whispers.
Zarek stands on the hatch and waits again to see what happens as he is in the ‘Darkness’ without being able to see and so he listens out.
Alley looks down the corridor and can only see the 2 Drow Sailors only standing on the Observation Deck which is an elevated, 10’ foot-high metal platform with a grilled floor, supported by two metal columns Alley remembers.
Alley: “Where has Soluun Xibrindas gone?”
The Rogue then remembers his ‘Deck of Illusions’ and draws it from his ‘Bag of Holding’ once more, pulls out a card, moves to the corner of the corridor and throws it 30’ down towards the Drow Crew.
Soluun Xibrindas chastises his men as they fall for the rouse that was instigated by the Rogue. The 2 Drow Sailor were about to engage with the Priest, and his 2 Acolytes, that suddenly appeared in front of them. The first of the 2 Acolytes appearing within the ‘Darkness’.
Soluun Xibrindas: “Fools, did you not see that card that flew out from the ‘Darkness’ and landed there on the floor. I will deal with you both afterwards.”
Soluun Xibrindas was able to see the card as it flew out of the dark and onto the metal floor of the Scarlet Marpenoth. Something that would have to be use scrumptiously to avoid this happening again.
Soluun Xibrindas cancels his ‘Darkness’ Spell and they wait for the stowaways to advance or be over run.
Alley: “We need to light this place up so we can use the sword skills of Estran but I have nothing to hand.”
Zarek: “Why didn’t I think of it before, ‘Dancing Lights’, that is perfect.”
The Rogue casts his Spell ‘Dancing Lights’ and spread them out 20’ feet apart all the way to the Bow. This will mean that now Estran Icehorn will be able to enter the fight.
Now that Estran Icehorn was visible to them both he was signalling up towards the Hatch into the Eyecatcher and pointing to his ear.
It was at this point that the Captured Drow Mate dashes towards Estran Icehorn and pushes him to the side as he moved off down the corridor.
Alley, being able to clearly see him attempt his escape knocks him to the ground with the hilt of her new ‘Magical Rapier’. The Captures Drow Mate falls to the ground.
Estran Icehorn, feeling that they were about to be surrounded thought it was best to take the fight to the Crew and he set off at a fast pace towards the Drow Sailors. Estran Icehorn was still unsure why the Human Sailors spoke with a Drowic accent.
Estran Icehorn made his way past the Illusionary Priest and his 2 Acolytes and was able to reach the Drow Sailors on the Observation Deck. It was at this point however, that he could see that Soluun Xibrindas was ‘Levitating’ some 10’ feet off the Deck and at the far end of the Prow of the Scarlet Marpenoth.
Alley: “We need to find way to get Estran Icehorn off this vessel Zarek, you could give him your Magical Stone and find another way off.”
Zarek: Let me think about it Alley, don’t pressure me.”
Little does Estran Icehorn know that the 2 Heroes have a failsafe way off, all they need is to be able to see the sea. Estran Icehorn however, is not so lucky.
Estran Icehorn: “Don’t go anywhere Drow, I will get to you in time.”
Soluun Xibrindas: “I wait with bated breath Human.”
Estran Icehorn makes short work of the 2 Drow Sailors, haven taken damage from the Lantanese Pistol of Soluun Xibrindas before he moved away and out of the sight of Estran Icehorn.
Zarek: “We need to find the Crystal Ball and leave, now. I fear that we will be assaulted from above and below.”
Alley: “I cannot use the ‘Detect Magic’ Spell through all this Metal; we will need to look inside the Cabins.”
Zarek thinks and uses his Rogue savvy to judge where to best look.
Alley: “I will look inside the Cabin of Soluun Xibrindas as I feel he took the time to close his door for a reason. A reason that we need to know of.”
The Rogue deduces that it would not be in Soluun Xibrindas’ Cabin as it did not belong to him. It was stolen by Jarlaxle Baenre and so it stands to reason it would be in his Cabin, or Stateroom, here upon the Scarlet Marpenoth as believed by Zelifarn the Young Bronze Dragon.
Zarek: “And who am I to argue with a Dragon. I must remember that.”
Zarek is fastest and moves to investigate the Cabin on the Starboard side of the vessel and finds the door locked. A good sign I hope thinks the Rogue. He efforts to pick the lock, using his Thieves Tools is unsuccessful, this however allows Alley to check the Cabin opposite and possibly belonging to Soluun Xibrindas, which indeed it was.
Alley enters the Cabin and begins to search it for anything that would help them either with their mission to find the Nimblewright that murdered Iomhar or information.
Alley knows that the more information you have the more power you have over those that do not.
Inside the Cabin Alley finds that the port alcove contains a net hammock and a Steel Foot locker. A Black Metal Shrine of Lolth covered in tiny spider statuettes stands against one wall. At its top is a sculpture of the Demon Goddess, with the head and upper body of a Female Drow and the lower body of a Giant Spider.
The Bard moves directly for the Steel Foot locker, hoping that it was neither trapped or locked, and bets that Soluun Xibrindas felt too feared for anyone to do so. Inside Alley finds some cloths, a bottle of wine and a letter which she takes and hides on her person.
Then she is able to search the door at the end of Soluun Xibrindas Cabin and unearths a closet. But what she finds inside said closet will have her pondering for a while, could this really be what she imagines it to be?
A full body suit of some kind is hung-up. The device consists of a pressure-resistant padded suit, made of canvas with iron fittings and iron gauntlets. A Fishbowl Helmet attaches to the suit’s collar.
Alley: “It must be magical I can sense it. I guess it could function similar to a ‘Cap of Water Breathing’ or a ‘Helmet of Underwater Action’ both of which I researched but did not have time to ask to borrow one if either Mirt or the Tower of Order had one in their possession, ingenious though and the markings look very similar to those about the Scarlet Marpenoth, could it be a Lantanese Diving Suit?”
Alley: “I have found all that I can in the time we have.” The Bard thinks as she exits Soluun Xibrindas Cabin.
Zarek is up next as he hears Estran Icehorn call out that more 2 Human Mates with Hand Cross-bows had arrived on the lower deck. Zarek knows that he has only seconds to find the ‘Crystal Ball’ and then exit the Scarlet Marpenoth, also having come-up with a plan to get Estran Icehorn off the Submersible.
Little knowing the Heroes plans, Estran Icehorn had his Gods boon and favour which meant that the, Random Pre-Generated Fighter Character I had, Bounty Hunter was able to use ‘Blessing of the Raven Queen’ to once per long rest as a bonus action, you can teleport up to 30′ foot. to an unoccupied space you can see. He also gained resistance to all damage when he teleports until the start of your next turn.
Which he would have with the head of Soluun Xibrindas if he wouldn’t have just gotten get Poisoned by one of the Drow Mates Bolts.
Estran Icehorn falls and neither Alley or Zarek are there to see it. Zarek is just opening the door to the Cabin and Alley was still in Soluun Xibrindas Cabin.
Inside the Cabin, Zarek is wasting no time as he can clearly hear both the sound of the Hatch into the Scarlet Marpenoth being slowly opened by the Crew of the Eyecatcher and also the Hatch to the Lower Deck squeaking as it too was slowly being opened.
Zarek is in the room and he looks about hoping his hunch pays off, big time and indeed it does. Praise Tymora, that or some logical thinking on the Rogues behalf.
The scent of lavender permeates this Cabin and Zarek is immediately happy he chose correctly. The Sent must Magically permeates the cabin, as it was exactly the same as in Jarlaxle Baenre’s Cabin.
A hammock is suspended in the starboard alcove.
Zarek: “A ‘Detect Magic’ in this room would have been an idea but time is not on our side.”
Other furnishings include a tall Harp with a stool nearby, a Harpsichord with a matching bench, a free standing Mirror, and a large Wooden Trunk. There is also a Closet.
The locked closet Aft of the cabin contains a wooden rack stocked with sixty bottles of wine. Each one is a Rare Vintage Worth many Gold Dragons.
Then the Rogue sees what he was looking for, a Crystal Ball sits upon a plush cushion of black velvet on a pedestal at the foot of the bed. This, which our Heroes will soon learn has become, is the Nimblewright Crystal Ball.
Zarek dashes over and pick-up the Crystal Ball hoping to slip it into his ‘Bag of Holding’ and then to leave as quickly as he could but is shocked as when he touches the Crystal Ball, he suddenly gets a glace of a vision, he sees through someone’s eyes as they move and weave as they are fighting, with practice Swords in a large courtyard. Zarek then sees its arms are made of both burnished copper and pale wood.
Zarek: “I know this place it’s the Armoury and these are the arms of the Nimblewright there.” Zarek thinks to himself
Zarek leaves the Crystal Ball, ignores the Wooden Trunk and choses to search the Closet instead. The Aft closet in the Cabin contains a wooden rack stocked with many bottles of wine. Each one is looks to be a Rare Vintage.
The Bard then hears the sound of what could be a body landing on the metal floor having fallen from around 10’ feet or so. Zarek also hear the noise and the footsteps that followed.
Zarek grabs the Crystal Ball, which was sitting upon a plush cushion of black velvet on a pedestal at the foot of the bed, and once again he gets a vision but this was a different location.
He sees a crowd of please all ducking and screaming as flames fill his vision, then he sees his arms as he dashes. This was another construct made of both burnished copper and pale wood. It wore a red robe and foppish red hat with a feather that flapped in his face.
Zarek: “The Nimblewright that killed Iomhar and that is Trollskull Manor.” No time to ponder we need to help Estran Icehorn and find a way to get him off the Scarlet Marpenoth Zarek realises.
Alley dashes out to the corridor just in time to see Zarek and they can both hear someone descending the metal ladder from the Eyecatcher and the hatch from the Deck below being opened.
Alley: “We need to leave now.”
Zarek: “What about Estran, we can’t just leave him here.”
Alley: “No choice or we will all be dead and no one will come and save us.”
Zarek swears to return for Estran, he never got his surname, to himself as he watches Alley run off towards the Bow of the Submersible, jumped off the Observation Deck and casts her Spell ‘Misty Step’ and disappears into the dark water of Waterdeep Harbour.
Zarek knows that Alley always has contingency plans and ‘Go Right’ was one of those, if you are ever unsure Go Right.
Zarek copies Alley and Casts his Misty Step’ Spell from his Amber Spell Gem, leaving it empty and free to add another Spell.
The two Heroes find each other and within a short time Zelifarn finds them. The Young Bronze Dragon takes them to the Neverluster where they can talk in peace without any prying eyes watching or shape ears listening.
Zelifarn is eternally grateful to Alley and Zarek and declares that he is at hand to help as best he can all they need do is contact him. Zelifarn takes the Crystal Ball and returns the Heroes back to the dockside, still maintaining underwater.
Alley and Zarek find the best opportunity to come out of the water, clean up by using Alley’s ‘Prestidigitation’ Cantrip and then they make their way through the crowds celebrating the Shipwrights Ball on the Festival of Fleetswake.
Things that need to be addresses:
- Research the documents from the Eyecatcher.
- CHES 26th – Iomhar’s Funeral.
- CHES 26th – Reply to the Cassalanters regarding working with them.
- Research the Gralhund family.
- Investigate/Stake out the Gralhund Villa.
- Investigate/Stake out Yellow Spire, location of Urstul Floxin and the Zhentarim.
- Follow-up on Dalakhar’s Rooms at the Dripping Dagger for more information.
- Talk to someone regarding the Nimblewrights and their possible true mission.
- Inform relevant Factions regarding the information gathered.
- Replenish Magical Equipment and improve any deficiencies.
Roll for Trollskull Manor Profits and Losses.