1,926 XP
The group is in hot pursuit of the crawling mammoth lizard creature that is the Crawling Citadel. The adventurers are on their sand skiff and slowly closing in on the creature construct that towers above them over 30 feet and is itself over 50 feet long. On its back are several thri-kreen, the creatures who have stolen from the group, the seed from the Tree Of Life.
They are able to come up behind the Crawling Citadel only to have its tail smash into the skiff. Ninaki, Zaya and Fluffy are able to barely jump out of the way. Aelar positions the skiff. Sparrow transforms and flies up to get a look at the situation on the creatures back. There he sees several thri-kreen as well as bird like humanoid creatures, Aarakocra. It seems clear that one of the creatures is controlling the tail while the other, the head. Sparrow alights down beside the creature controlling the tail and destroys all but one of the controls in one swing of his sword.
Ninaki is able to jump the gap from the skiff to the tail now above the skiff and climbs aboard the creature. Zaya is able to easily follow. The are able to climb aboard but now face the enemies on board as they take substantial damage from attacks. Sparrow discovers that near the outer edge of the crawling construct are several unmanned crossbow turrets. Sparrow also discovers that they do not need to be manned as the turret nearest him turns and fires a poison bolt at him all on its own.
Fluffy seeing his friend in danger helps by casting Mountain's Might upon Sparrow to save him from further excessive damage. Thus Sparrow, in human form, gains a rocky outer protective skin. Zaya is repeatedly hit from both the jumping thri-kreen as well as wind and dust damage from the arcane Aarakocra Windcallers. At one point she is knocked unconscious and near death but is able to hold out until Fluffy casts healing upon her preventing her death.
Sparrow is still very close to death so he transforms into bird form and flies above the skiff in hopes he is out of danger. But he is wrong. He is hit by one of the magical crossbow turrets which have poisoned bolts. He is able to withstand the physical damage done by the bolt but the realization that the poison in the bolt will soon course through his veins dawns on him. He knows that within the next minute or two he will die. He will go unconscious 70 feet above the ground. Zaya seeing this happen and having the same realization, runs down the length of the creature while retrieving her rope and making a quick lasso. She throws it but comes just short of the bird. With a dying effort Sparrow is able to reach out with his clawed feet and grasp the rope but it is then the poison hits and he goes unconscious, letting go. He plummets 70 feet down to the ground and with a tiny thud is embedded into the sand as the crawling creature and skiff carry on leaving the tiny sparrow buried in his grave of sand.
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Ninaki moves up to one of the thri-kreen and is able to grab him and throw him into his compatriot, toppling both of them off of the Crawling Citadel, down 50 feet and landing upon the sand skiff pursuing below. They are incredibly damaged but able to get back up and face the fire mage, 'Boy' who is all by himself. 'Boy' is able to use his magic to both protect himself as well as overcome one of the thri-kreen. When one the the thri-kreen are dead, 'Boy' simply uses his magic to animate the corpse of the fallen thri-kreen to battle the remaining other thri-kreen. Thus the two hive mates battle until the remaining one perishes as well.
Finally, all the enemies are eliminated but the group has not yet found the seed. Knowing the vessel is large and has more space below, the group searches for ways into the creature. Fluffy finds a trap door and 'Boy' senses magic below the trap door. Casting 'Dispel Magic' to remove any possible traps and between Ninaki and Princess, the spirit companion of Fluffy, they are able to open the door.
Abandon Ship
500 XP
Below the door is the wraith who has been protected in the hold below. He is the source of the magical energy that holds the creature/construct together and animates it. He also currently holds the seed. He blathers something about the seed being his to use but the party cuts him short and within a few quick strikes the wraith is dead. With the wraith dead, so is the magic holding the creature together and it quickly begins to crumble as it continues to crawl along the desert, losing pieces and breaking as it goes.. The group runs as quickly as they can but Zaya surprisingly is the first to loose her footing and tumbles down a precarious slant as one of the creatures legs crumbles but is able to hold on before plummeting over the edge. Fluffy soon looses his footing and slide almost off of the back end of the creature. One by one though they are able to make it across the creature, which is now breaking into multiple pieces, and jump to the safety of their sand skiff or desert floor.
When the dust and sand settle, Ninaki is in possession of the seed and Fluffy is off crawling among the ruins of the Crawling Citadel looking for treasure. He soon finds a bounty with 'Boy' looking over his shoulder and telling the kobold if there is anything of value.
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Seed For Sale
1,000 XP
The seed now re-acquired, the group decides to head back to Altaruk to meet up with Arisphistaneles, the arcanist who didn't believe the seed and prophecy did not exist. After a bit of barely effective diplomacy, the group, minus Aelar who would not be well received back in Altaruk for the accidental killing of Kirvin, head into the small city. Once in the tent of Arisphistaneles, the group does some fast talking and finally shows the arcanist the seed. Finally convinced of the existence of the seed, Arisphistaneles also realizes the power and worth of the seed. He asks what the group wants in exchange for the seed.
It is then that the acolyte closes to the now deceased Kirvin, tells the group that he knows how Kirvin was to get them back to their home world and city of Diafthora. The group now simply wants to go home.
It is then that Ninaki shows his other nature. His more brutal nature. Life in the desert has hardened him and made him look out for the one person that matters the most, himself. He demands that everyone give over to him all their possessions and he will let them have the seed...and live. And by everyone, he means everyone. Including the members of the adventuring party.
'Boy' quickly gives over his meager amount of coins, but this does not sit well with Zaya. Before anyone can see it happening she has drawn her sword and struck two devastating blows to Ninaki easily blooding him in that one movement. She will not give up her hard earned treasure. Not to Ninaki. Not to anyone. Fluffy too is adamant that he will not part with his ale. It's ale.
Ninaki gives them a second chance but seeing the group will not take it he strikes back at Zaya inflicting massive damage but Fluffy intervenes and give Zaya the protection of Mountain's Might as her skin turns to stone. Ninaki downs a healing potion and is back to full health and ready to continue his negotiations by force.
It is then that one of the acolytes returns. It is the protege of Kirvin. He carries two chests. He humbly approaches Ninaki and places the chest at his feet. He opens it to reveal many gold coins. Real metal gold coins. Remaining bowed he backs away after presenting this ransom. He then turns to the remaining party members and presents the other chest. Once opened it reveals another portal key, exactly like the one that was responsible for transporting them to Sigil.
The stalemate continues and there are tense and intimidating words back and forth. Finally, Fluffy notices the acolyte mouth to him, "Touch the portal key all together at the same time,". Fluffy then uses his 'Shifty Maneuver' and transports Zaya, 'Boy' and himself to the portal key and as they all touch the portal key they are removed from Athas leaving Ninaki to go on a rage fueled killing spree which ends with him killing his way out of the tent and back to his skiff. There on the skiff still is Aelar who quickly finds that he has been left behind while the others departed back to Sigil and that Ninaki intends to enslave him until his death.
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| I never thought we'd be back here. But here we are. |
You Can Go Home Again.
Back in Sigil and safe from the mul's wrath, Zaya's priority is rest. So she seeks out the only inn she knows there. There at the inn is the hot male elf with whom she had a date not too long ago. He is still pining and talking about Zaya to anyone who will listen. The group sneaks past and finds room without making their presence known.
Osirian, one hundred years in the future finds directions to 'Boy''s home in Diathora. Arriving in the middle of the night, Osirian lets himself in and makes himself a sandwich. Soon an old man comes down the stairs and into the kitchen. It is 'Boy' looking more ancient than Osirian thought anyone could look. 'Boy' informs him that in this reality he was the only one to escape Athas alive. Ninaki was able to kill off the rest of the group but 'Boy' was able to escape. He has spent his entire life looking for Osirian throughout the Planes. He has scoured countless worlds and gained much knowledge but always returned back to Diafthora in hopes that he would eventually see the halfling again. Osirian asks if there is a way back to his world and time. 'Boy' says he will simply need until morning. The next morning Osirian asks if there is anything he can bring young 'Boy' from his older self. 'Boy' retrieves his spell book. His life's work. A collection of numerous spells which have been collected over decades. With that 'Boy' sends him back to Diafthora. Sitting in his chair, at his table in his own manor.
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| Instructions: Touch and Click Heels |
'Boy' runs into the house to look for Osirian.
Zaya heads to the tavern to retrieve Fluffy.
All is as is should be.
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