Future Whispers and Shadow Tentacles

30th of Coldeven

 Corrin looks into the swirling snow, “Should we go looking for Poet? We may need her help in battles to come. It also dangerous for her to be left alone.”

As the party stand there and discuss options, Poet appears out of the swirling mist and snow. "I was up near the statue or idol to the North.. it has a glimmer of magicks to it, although I don't recognize the god.. " 

Turning to Corrin, the woman shrugs, "do what you need to do to survive, I know not these 2 explorers and what they were doing down here. As you all say, it matters little, their spirits are long gone now.." The bard stands near the bridge waiting to move onwards.

Corrin says to Poet. “I apologize for upsetting you. I grew up on the streets as a child. I had to take whatever I could get my hands on in order to survive, even if it meant taking from the deceased. I assumed that these bodies could have something useful on them to help aid us in our missions. I do not believe in a deity but I’ll pay my respects to these men when I’m done.”

Poet nods, "my apologies this place is getting to me. I.." she pauses and frowns, "I am tired of this war amongst the kobolds, I think I may go back on the road after this, playing inns and taverns." Looking down at the 2 bodies, she ponders, "I wonder where the 3rd explorer is.." Pointing to the empty bedroll. Then the ice mephit appears.

As the party binds wounds and pulls jackets and cloaks tighter due to the cold, they see a puff of icy swirl and a single glow slowly moving towards them. An Ice maphit approaches wobbly in the air. Seems to only have one arm and part of face is melted away ice. It puffs out ice and sleet again.. a cough perhaps?

Its one glowing eye looks at the party and the creature nods, holding up its one arm a sign of peace..?

"Our thanks.." Another puff and spray of sleet and ice.. "or my thanks now."

Corrin looks around, “It is no problem. Do these territorial disputes happen often? I’m surprised you’re not fighting each other all the time.”

Vencer smiles at the Ice Mephit "would you regain strength if i blasted you with ice?" Vencer asks "We need allies."

Looking between Corrin and Vencer the mephit's single eye narrows and then opens wide as if understanding the wizard's and bard's remarks.

"The Boss.. He keeps all the mephits in line.. Yes! Normally we would never ally or work with dem' 'Lava boys' or the 'Smokers'.." The mephit's mouth goes into a sneer then softens,  "but da 'Misties', well.. They're OK.. they just need to get colder like us 'Icers'.

The mephit looks to Vencer a little fearfully at first..  "Maybe.... Ah... but you need to do it beside me.. not AT me, Wizard. One hit.." the mephit makes a "zkkkkkking" sound, "I'm a goner."

Vencer casts Frost Finger and intentionally misses the Mephit. The cone of cold and frost pours out of the outstretched fingers of the wizard. Zimblaa the ice mephit at 1st hesitates and then flies into the cold spray. As the adventurers watch, parts of the mephit's body grow back partially, his visage is no quite so melted away, while his chest and missing arm partially heal. The mephit's eye does not heal but the small creature cracks a smile and dives around through the air. "Ahh my thanks, human wizard! I have not felt so good for sometime.." He looks down at the missing arm with a sigh.. "Ahh seems somethings don't grow back, but I thank you! If I can help you I will against the... the Boss." He finishes with a whisper and look towards the area across the bridge.

At the silence.. Zimblaa looks about at the group all moving his arm around that ends just at the elbow "I say, you are an interesting lot.." The ice mephit's single eye ranging across all of the party. "Why exactly are you all down here? You allies with the rock lord.. but he is quite the loner.. Hah! Doesn't like the scaly runts, saw him tossing yer kin over a cliff!" with a motion to Skrit,  "or biggies like the rest of ye.."

“We are allies with him, we’re looking for his brother. We’d appreciate some help freeing him, that way we can deal with your boss.” Corrin says

Skrit shrugs a bit, keeping a level and calm gaze, even managing a bit of a smile, "All the more reason to show him that I am unlike...most of my kin"

Zimblaa looks down at Skrit curiously. "Indeed, you are different from the other scallies.. very interesting." the mephit then turns to Corrin. Zimblaa shudders and a shower of sleet and frost comes off him at Corrin's mention of giant and Boss. "The Boss uses the shady thing to keep the giant workin'.. wants that gate built!" The mephit shakes his still partially melted head. "He is crazy now.. all he thinks about is opening the gate to his.. home." the mephit shudders at the last word.

The party realize Zimblaa is the same name the smoke mephit used..

“The shady thing? What would that be?”, Corrin asks.

"Yes we are allied with the stone giant. And a Mephit with a similar name to you good sir." Vencer says

Zimblaa looks between Corrin and Vencer..

"Allied with giant.. curious and curiouser.." The mephit's single eye turns to the wizard, "Ye know Zimbla do ye? How is the old Smoker?"

Then realizing what Corrin asked he balls up into what looks like a malformed ball of ice and snow and falls to the ground with a whimper, "the shady thing eats us.. it took Zimblaaa last.. sucking the  steamer into the shadowy horror.. stay away from it! Only the Boss can control it!" The ball of ice and snow shakes, a puddle forming.. as the party realizes Zimblaa is crying..?

DM: Party roll insight or intelligence checks that wish too. Corrin rolled an 8 | Vencer got a 14

Corrin, still suffers from the effects of the rotgrubs does not notice, Whereas Vencer notices Zimblaa says each of the names slightly different.. drawing out the 'a' longer in some cases.

"Forgive my lack of knowledge of your customs. Are all Mephits a variation of Zimblaa or Zimblaaa?" Vencer asks and wraps a piece of cloth around a fresh burn

After a minute the puddle stops getting bigger. An eye appears in the snow-ice ball. Muffled voice, "Ahh certainly not! There is only one Zimblaa in all Icers. There is only one Zimbla and there is.. or was.. only one Zimblaaa. He's gone now.. probably not home.." With a sniffle the mephit snowball rocks a little. "Zimblaaaa was killed by the Stone Lord first. The Lavaboy cracked under the giant's boot!"

Pyra looks at the icy ball, "I wonder why and how all these mephits got here and where from?"

The party continues to search the area, Corrin continuing to use a torch to remove the ice from the two bodies - a dwarf and human. While Vencer investigates the dwarven idol/statue in the North area of the chamber. A dwarf in fine robes, with a broken stone staff. Vencer takes the broken staff - perhaps the

stone giant smith can fix.

The party persuades Zimblaa to try and ally Smokers and other Icers mephits to join in the battle against "the Boss". They will join the adventurers after they start their attack.

Further searching reveals: 

• Glistening orange feather quill. Cannot dull and can be used to write any spells -very useful to a wizard - from a Scintillating parrot. Which originates from the same area as the Scarlet Brotherhood - jungles to the southeast. Which brings a pause and looks back and forth amongst the party. Vencer looks for any information or tattoos and finds 2 large "XX" on his inner wrist. After some history checks, they realize this is a pirate guild that ranges off the Wild Coast near the city of Fax.
• 
  Dragonborn scale pale green female 60 years old - in a pocket worn down as if someone rubs it possibly a good luck charm
• Silver edged dirk (large dagger) seems to be able to hold a single spell for 24 hours. Vencer ponders on what spell could be cast on this
• Well made white leather armour

Vencer confronts Corrin and asks him to shrink down to a dwarf and wear the fine white armour.

Corrin, pauses, and then advises his shapechange is like the disguise spell. 

Pyra seems to not believe, Corrin, while Vencer is unsure. [DM: Party trust takes a hit.] Those that had seen Corrin change form - his face and hands -  due to the rot grub attacks seem unsure..

The party finishes a short rest. The party investigates the trail of blood that leads to the frozen river. Looks to be a dark skinned elf. A drow. Irakul pulls the body out of the while one hand gloved and holding a black walking cane.

• has a wide brimmed hat on, with an emblem of the Guild of Arcane Lore on side
• Aqua blue fingerless glove. Arcane focus - that will provide all nonmagical non expensive spell components (anything under 10gP) for 1st-5th level spells. Can be used by any arcane type caster (bard, wizard, sorcerer etc.)
• Sword cane made of black ironwood. Silver dragon's head. (equal to a shortsword for battle)

Heading further down the passage the passage warms up fortunately, the party starts to defrost. The passage no longer is covered in lava, mud or ice. Pyra is ahead flitting from shadow to shadow, keeping an eye out for traps as well as listening.. nothing. There is no longer the mining cart rail going along here as well. The Tiefling comes to a set of double doors, one hanging off its hinge. The other slightly ajar. 

The room is nothing like what they have explored so far. This must be - or was - part of the older dwarven/gnomish complex. The walls are finely chiseled and worked red stone of some type, while the

floor has an inlay black fine granite on white shiny flagstones creating a complex pattern. Arches along both sides with torch scones on each reach up into the dark. 

A heraldry in green and blue of a miner's pick and a craftsman's goggles is spaced along both walls. Arches lead to an upper balcony, that leads off into the dark.

It seems the mephits have not defiled, destroyed or changed this large hall..

The party hear a humming.. A child's hum, a lullaby..? They cannot quite make it out. From ahead in the darkness..

As the party crosses the room they here a girl’s voice from the dark..

“Hello… are you real..? Or the naggers back again..", a sigh "The flying pests.. they torment me..” It seems as if she is talking to herself.. A sigh again then a giggle if no response.

Pyra stealthily moves into further and then starts talking to the.. girl?

Vencer uses message spell to keep in touch with Pyra.

The girl's voice again.. “Aaa.. You.... You are seekers.. Fortune is your bread..  Danger.. Is your wine.. HEROES one and all.” Then a girl’s giggle..

“Would you like a fortune? Yes you want fortune, power .. Treasure.. Would you like.. Your fortune told to you..?” A pause, “Your future.. only a little price for that.. Only a small price.. A single memory shared.. A secret memory.. A special memory.. And you learn your fortune.. Tell me, who..“ A giggle again, “Who wishes to learn of their future…?”

The voice comes from the dark. The party tries dropping pebbles with a light spell into the large hole but it winks out.

The party moves up and they start a long conversation with the 'girl'. Corrin decides to name her Adrin. Which.. Adrin readily agree

The party decides one at a time to agree to the terms of the exchange. A special memory for a fortune told.

Vencer agrees then regrets right away. 

The memory.. A party before his graduation. Vencer's love - betrothed to another. A scuffle and Vencer killed him.- the wizard's friends taking away the body. Never found..

The party can hear the little girl croons in pleasure at this as if a thirsty person drinking a refreshing glass of water.. for a moment there is a glow in the dark in the hole, then a finely detailed card flits out of the darkness and floats right in front of the wizard.

The Fortune -- The Gambler

The card depicts a lanky old woman in a cave. The card has a small bloodstain. The back is pale brown with willow trees and a constellation designed with interlocking shapes.

"You will meet this woman in the cave. Do not do what she asks.. she is the Gambler and she will gamble with your life."

Pyra agrees.

The memory.. when she was 4 years old. Stealing bread from a chef, a guild member of the thieves guild in Wayberry. She had been with them ever since.. but no longer. 

A card flips up to be caught by the rogue.

The Fortune -- The Masked Wizard

The card depicts Gothi with a gloomy girl behind her - stalking her. It is bordered by embers. It has gilding on the picture. The back is green-brown with a mouth and a pair of eyes 

Skrit agrees

The memory.. Skrit wandering through a blizzard and finding a library dedicated to Istus and his exploration and investigation of the abandoned archive.

A sigh from down below as if in contentment and then a card flips up into Skrit's hand.

The Fortune -- The Juggler of Death

The card depicts a Cedric with a jagged scar standing in front of a Large burning tree. It is bordered by shadows. It is creased along the width. The back is olive with a castle and a chariot involving repeating design. 

Irakul agrees.

The memory.. Irakul describes early in his life when he left his tribe to seek out work, was deceived by a wizard or sorcerer into being forced to kill his own family. 

The Goliath reaches out as the card flips out of the dark.

The Fortune -- The Hanged Beggars

The card depicts 3 youths in nooses, wearing Black Rune armour with Irakul as executioner. It feels warm to the touch. The back is dark blue-violet with an open hand.

Corrin agrees.

The memory.. tried to sneak into a bard's house and steal some of his possessions except he caught me, The bard, Richardson Ashfield then good fortune or bad taught Corrin how to a bard.

Corrin catches the card deftly.

The Fortune -- The Nightmares

The card depicts a nightmare (burning horse from Hell) with many scars in an abandoned ruins. It has a beautiful silver gilded border. It is square-shaped. The back is dark green . Slight smell of brimstone.

Vencer casts detect magic (ritual) on the the area where Adrin speaks to the adventurers, a variety of magicks pulse in the area.. no set one more powerful than another. cards, they are all enchantment magic.

The party decides to move on.. as the humming begins again and child's lullaby. "Have fun.. but not too

much fun. heehee.. heeeheeeeheee." then more humming and another giggle. Then, "Don't die before your fortune comes true.." another giggle.

Vencer, a troubled look on his face, "and why is that?" 

The humming stops and another giggle. "You will join me if you die before your fortune comes true.." Then the giggling again, and then the humming of the child's lullaby continues.

At that troubling news, the party presses on. They come to a T intersection where the mining cart track heads into a passage no larger than the small carts.

Taking the larger passage it starts to ramp down as the lava and mud start to once again coat the walls, floors and ceiling,

Skrit, Corrin and Vencer feel a pressure on their minds. There is something.. ahead that is emanating an energy or something.. wrong.. opposite of what it should be. Irakul and Pyra don't seem to understand and are not affected it seems (DM: form of sanity check, where you don't want to understand)

The passage opens up into a large room, now the walls fully covered in lava and mud. A groan from a

large creature ahead in the darkness and shadows.

Irakul and Pyra move into the dark and shadowy room. and then a voice in the dark.. "You have arrived.." a gravelly guttural voice from the dark.

There is a giant about 12' tall covered in tattoos looks to be in a pit a pick in one hand, at 3 locations there are these black tentacles - shadowy - wrapped around his body. He is gaunt and looks to have gone without food or water for many days. He is the creature groaning. He looks to be working on something below him.

Vencer and Corrin cast mirror image. Skrit gets a bless spell off.

Initiative

Battle rages with groups of mud and lava mephits. The shadowy tentacles start to lash out at the party members, catching Corrin, and another wrapping up Avalanche.

The party hear battles going on further in the chamber, Zimblaa has brought friends and in engaging the mephits on the far side.

Then the Boss appears. A massive mephit darkness and shadow and inky blackness - any that look at

him just feel.. wrong. The Boss holds a lantern of silver and ebony. Inside is a black candle. Looking through the glass one can see swirling shadows and forms. The bottom of the lantern has shadowy tentacles dangling from it that move similar to the large tentacles attacking the giant and the party.

Skrit calls upon the power of Istus to do damage to mephits and heal party members, his bless spell being very helpful in key moments. Poet sings and the inspiration is helpful to each of the party.

The crafty Boss hides in shadow as Vencer uses his wizardry to teleport out of the tentacles range and then hits the shadowy form with his shadow blade -
does not seem to take psychic damage unfortunately, but DOES affect the Boss.. The stealthy attacks of Pyra cut down a tentacle with Avalanche, but the Boss shoots forth a new one the next moment.

Corrin casts reduce on the giant which gives the tired and gaunt figure a moment to break free from the shadowy tentacles. He now grapples with one.

Avalanche falls under the attack of the Boss as it breathes a cloud of black negative energy. Prya cries out in grief and anger!

The blade of Irakul cuts into a mephit cutting the dripping lava creature in half and it explodes doing damage to them all.

The party are back on their heels, injured and most spells and powers used. The mephits are reeling under the attacks of the heroes.. whom will win? 

Next week..