2nd of Reaping, High Summer
Out in the dark depths of the undead infested areas of former great elvish city of Enstad, the RedWater Fellowship come upon an theatre.
Up above, the Fellowship call back and forth to each other, questioning if they are going to help the living thespian. The undead audience seems to ignore this, focusing on the man. The man though seems to include the flyers IN the story and it seems adding the rescue as part of the ongoing play, seamlessly.
The story continues about a servant of great evil in the theatre, as the bard continues to walk around.The Fellowship's view from flight:
Appear to be two dwarf skeletons controlling lights on the storyteller. But upon closer examination are willow wisps.
As the party decide on strategy, a small figure child-size jumps up on to the platform with the 1/2 elf man and exclaims, "This is a strange story!"
A gazebo at each end where undead musicians appear to playing..
A ruined temple..
The Jester (?) holds up a scepter or rod and the undead immediately quiet. "Hello my friends!" Holding out both arms one towards the 1/2 elf and one pointing up above towards the circling flyers.
"I think we have new players in our theater!" All the undead IN unison look up at the heroes flying around.
"Are you going to join us?!" Calls out the strange figure that seems to be called Darling. It's eyes, empty sockets. "Join this great travelling circus! No.. this is a theatre company!.. or are you with a circus?" Darling looks at the 1/2 elf expectantly.
The ragged and hoarse man's strong voice, slightly ragged on the edges, but seems to know his craft. Now having performed near15 hours straight.
Doc - riding on Graxxuzaz - in wyvern form - jumps off as the wyvern comes in low and then flies off again.
The Thespian, not missing a beat, continues the story asking "Should the heroes fight or heroes flee", posting the question to the audience. As Doc lands, Darling sees the gunslinger/paladin. The jester appears to unfold birdlike legs and goes from 3 feet to to 8 feet tall.. his bones
Meanwhile, Kantif slow falls up on the back area near the dwarves controlling the 2 beams of light - willow wisps. Gothi circles on his griffon mount, bow nocked and ready while Graxxuzazz flies backup to continue circling, all ready to attack if needed.
We have a new player my friends!" With a flourish to Doc, "What is your name?"
"I'm Your Huckleberry", drawls the gunslinger.
"I'm-yourhuckleberry!" Darling calls out, the audience cheers and claps; and then the jester steps back out of the glimmering light of the willow wisps. Darling folds him self back down creaking and cracking to 3 feet tall and melds into the shadows. Both the 1/2 elf and Doc can feel life energy seep towards the willow wisps barely but still noticeable.
Doc and the orator - named Tibaltuous a bard/bounty hunter had moments to speak to each other as they continue to perform. Doc even does some trick shots to the "oohs" and "aahs" of the crowd. The bounty hunter seems to be tracking a bounty from Verbobonc in in the Kron hills to the North down to the area of the Temple of Elemental Evil, and the Moat house near Hommlet [DM: More Info]. The bounty a male drow elf by the name Crellinos B'Threersar.
Tibaltuou had tracked him from the Moat House near Hommlet. Not sure if he was trying to rebuild there or just looking for artifacts. Does know he appears to be a worshipper of Lolth. An abandoned grisly sacrificial scene in the complex to Her, the Queen of Spiders led South.. to Enstad..From tracking him, talking with passerby’s whom interacted with him, seeing his camp and the sacrificial scene at the Moat house was able deduce:
- Older male drow
- Walks with a limp (right leg)
- Clothing nondescript, blacks and greys.
- Carries no visible weapons other than a walking cane (fancy has a glass handle of some creature head?)
- Appears to be a necromancer but seems to worship heavily at all campsites to Lloth (these clues are minimal as he covers up but Tibaltuous' skills as a bounty hunter found)
- Scarred face, hair in tight braids down back normally. Stays hooded mostly. Tall at 6 & and 1/2 feet or so
The bounty hunter's current predicament is due to tracking the drow into the undead infested part of city. Is Crellinos looking for something.. someone.. or..?Client: Countess Selirra D'vorass. She or her agent can be reached in either Nulb (tavern: owner Gubinst) or Fax (Candlemaker in Sails district. Only one. Proprietor unknown). Little background search. The Countess has a fleet of merchant ships as well as caravan business.
The party notice after Tibaltuous advises a yellow glimmer - only noticeable at the corner of the eye on the party and bounty hunter.
Graxx flies down and lands, changing into his portly - but athletic - lizardfolk. Graxxuzazz bows low, takes off his hat and spouts off his long - very long - list of titles. This gives Tibaltuous and Doc a good minute or so to discuss options as the bounty hunter wants to follow the drow into a door at the right of
the platform rather than fly away. Doc agrees and with hand signals advises the party.
the platform rather than fly away. Doc agrees and with hand signals advises the party.
The group note as the play continues a bar and barkeep in the stands does steady business for the audience, all enjoying drinks except the skeletons whom drink and it unfortunately pours down over their bones onto the ground. The sorcerer casts prestidigitation to fire off sparks at the end of the titles.
Doc notes where Darling is leaning against.. nothing in the shadows? The jester seems to be quite happy as the audience is with the performance so far. Doc continues the story 'about taking the shot..'. Then Tibaltuous weaves it further about how he took the shot, using his bardic ability to allow the adventurers to move quickly as well as some temporary health. At this point, Doc pulls out his rifle - Blessed News and whirls around to shoot at Darling!
Battle is begun.
Gothi fires her bow and continues to take out multiple audience members, skeletons and zombies mainly.
Kantif sneak attacks one of the dwarves and the skeleton crumples under the attack. The second dwarf turns to face the rogue/monk, which takes their control off the two lantern beams off the willow wisps, one floating up and the other hovering nearby.
It appears the undead audience reacts to the battle as part of the performance. Clapping cheering and more comes from the shadowy stands.
Tibaltuous weaves a spell into his speaking faerie fire which lights up a good section.
Graxxuzazz lets off a fireball in the stands - the VIP section - which blasts most destroying many ,except one figure, hooded and cloaked, glowing with the faerie fire The stand now on fire gives some glimmering light for the heroes to continue battle.
Darling, crying and sniffs, "This wasn't part of the play!" breaths a black mist on Doc and Tibaltuous which is detrimental to them then leaps away OVER the stands and out of sight.
A strange spell hits Tibaltuous and Graxx which sucks 1/2 their health.
Battle continues until the hooded figure is destroyed. The audience even as they fall to attacks melee and missile continue to just clap and cheer as if all of this was part of the play! Jawbone - still in wyvern form - picks up skeletons and zombies from the stands dropping them from on high to crumple and explode on the ground.
Darling peaks around the corner "You're fired!" and then disappears into the gloom his tittering laughter heard fading away into the gloom.
"You're fired!" Yells Doc in reply.
The undead cloaked figure appearing to be a mummy or skeleton of some type is defeated finally - at least the ones battling, the rest of the undead see the play is over start to file and leave the stands, cheers and random clapping still once in a while.
The battle is complete and the Fellowship make formal introductions to the bard/bounty hunter - Tibaltuous.
Not taking too much time except to heal and rest - as well as search for some loot, the party decide to assist the bounty hunter in his hunt for the drow.
Heading through the door, there appear to be some old theatrical items, boxes, props and ragged poles and more. A purple glow emanates from the ramp heading downwards.
At the bottom of a ramp is a circular room where frescoes of what appear to be fallen angels in the Abyss.
This is quite strange.. for the back rooms of a theatre?? The area appears more to be a temple or other complex for these fallen angels?
The party moves forward, encountering traps, statues of what appear to be fallen angels and even a room with a pool with a strange black liquid creature[DM: which permanently (?) drains hit points]
Moving forward now some of the party have robes and what appear to be sacrificial daggers. A phrase "All hail the Fallen"
Moving forward they come upon a stairway down and at that moment, a drow - the BOUNTY - comes through a door a wild look on his face.
Before anyone can do anything, Tibaltuous whips out a scroll and casts Telekinesis on Crellinos!
Catching the his bounty by surprise, Tibaltuous starts to raise drow through the air. Crellinos cries out, appears wounded and tired. "No! You will destroy all of us! I cannot.. control.."
At that moment through the partially open door a PRESCENCE is felt not seen.. but felt.. coming closer.. by all.
Until next time..
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