Lily's Wish and Mushroom Madness
Dramatis Personae:
Lady Claire Thundersword, the Human Wererat Swordcaptain of the Purple Dragon Knights
Hans, Claire's Basalt Wolf Figurine
Riddle, Claire's baby Basilisk
Mezzem, the Kobold Wererat Priestess of Bahamut who plots the murder of anyone who slights her
Lit, Mezzem's baby Basilisk
Natali, the Tiger Therinthrope Beastmaster
Osaw, Tali's baby Basilisk
Rosebud Goldenrod Petunia, the Halfling/Shetland Pony "Halftaur" Wererat Berserker; who sees magic where there is none
Lily Trillium Petunia, the Green Dragonborn Lore Bard, and Rosebud's "Momma"
Hans, Claire's Basalt Wolf Figurine
Riddle, Claire's baby Basilisk
Mezzem, the Kobold Wererat Priestess of Bahamut who plots the murder of anyone who slights her
Lit, Mezzem's baby Basilisk
Natali, the Tiger Therinthrope Beastmaster
Osaw, Tali's baby Basilisk
Rosebud Goldenrod Petunia, the Halfling/Shetland Pony "Halftaur" Wererat Berserker; who sees magic where there is none
Lily Trillium Petunia, the Green Dragonborn Lore Bard, and Rosebud's "Momma"
Seluna, the Moon Elf Drow Totem Warrior Circle of the Moon Druid and Silverstar of Selûne
Flimflam Pebblehead, the Deep Gnome Arcanist who really likes killing things, thinks he has powerful enemies out to get him that are telling him what to do, he has a voice giving him directions in his head, and is enamored with every beautiful voice he hears
Roswyn Darkshooter, the Deep Gnome Delver from the Miner's Guild
Medic Stonebandage, the Deep Gnome Priest of Smoothhands from the Stoneheart Enclave who can't take a joke, and often reacts violently, if not murderously, to them
Smoothpalm, the Deep Gnome Monk of Smoothhands
Terrik Stoneshot, the Deep Gnome Gunslinger from the Bounty Hunter's Guild
Niles Rubusthorn, the Moon Elf Shadow Dancer
Twyla Alderleaf, the Moon Elf Scout
Geophry Cherry Blossom Petunia, the chair that used to be a boy
Lily's Summoned Allies:
Gimli, the Gnome Scholar
Umund, the Dwarf Scholar
Elyn, the Halfling Artist
Galothel Nightbreeze, the Moon Elf Alchemist
Ukal of Citadel Adbar, the Dwarf Aristocrat
Boada, the Elf Scholar
Lith, the Bronze Dragonborn Scholar
Arwenel, the Elf Scholar
Amin of Citadel Adbar, the Shield Dwarf Alchemist
Mithrilye, the Sun Elf Entertainer
Sabel, the Halfling Servant
Blingdenstone Contacts Summoned:
Dorbo and Seni Diggermattock
Dwarvenforge
Tappy Foamstrap
Yornik Greenpaw
Glyphic Shroomlight
Thecker Powdercraft, the Deep Gnome Wererat Gunslinger and Inquisitor of Bahamut
Topsy and Turvy Goldwhiskers, the Deep Gnome Wererat Rogue Twins
Flimflam Pebblehead, the Deep Gnome Arcanist who really likes killing things, thinks he has powerful enemies out to get him that are telling him what to do, he has a voice giving him directions in his head, and is enamored with every beautiful voice he hears
Roswyn Darkshooter, the Deep Gnome Delver from the Miner's Guild
Medic Stonebandage, the Deep Gnome Priest of Smoothhands from the Stoneheart Enclave who can't take a joke, and often reacts violently, if not murderously, to them
Smoothpalm, the Deep Gnome Monk of Smoothhands
Terrik Stoneshot, the Deep Gnome Gunslinger from the Bounty Hunter's Guild
Niles Rubusthorn, the Moon Elf Shadow Dancer
Twyla Alderleaf, the Moon Elf Scout
Geophry Cherry Blossom Petunia, the chair that used to be a boy
Lily's Summoned Allies:
Gimli, the Gnome Scholar
Umund, the Dwarf Scholar
Elyn, the Halfling Artist
Galothel Nightbreeze, the Moon Elf Alchemist
Ukal of Citadel Adbar, the Dwarf Aristocrat
Boada, the Elf Scholar
Lith, the Bronze Dragonborn Scholar
Arwenel, the Elf Scholar
Amin of Citadel Adbar, the Shield Dwarf Alchemist
Mithrilye, the Sun Elf Entertainer
Sabel, the Halfling Servant
Blingdenstone Contacts Summoned:
Dorbo and Seni Diggermattock
Dwarvenforge
Tappy Foamstrap
Yornik Greenpaw
Glyphic Shroomlight
Thecker Powdercraft, the Deep Gnome Wererat Gunslinger and Inquisitor of Bahamut
Topsy and Turvy Goldwhiskers, the Deep Gnome Wererat Rogue Twins
Comrades we have lost:
Ront, the Orc Fighter- turned into hamburger by Pwent
Buppido, the Derro- smashed by Orvald
Eldeth Feldrun, the Shield Dwarf- killed during escape
Hera Adaar, the Abyssal Tiefling Wild Sorceress- swept away
Luna Trelawny, the Human Divination Wizard- skull caved in by rock thrown by Fidget, then finished off by black pudding
Sarith Zekarit, the Drow Scout- drowned
Phillip Johnson, the Human Cleric- in a seemingly irreversible coma, left in Hemeth's care
Jim Jar, the Deep Gnome- eaten by grell
Prince Derendil, the Quaggoth- killed by sea troll
Shuushar, the "Awakened" Kuo-toa- turned into shuushi by sea troll
Hemeth, the Duergar Arms Dealer- parted with group in Gracklstugh met group briefly on route to Mantol Derith to trade
Thimblepwent Battlehammer, the Dwarven Battlerager Barbarian- turned into dog food
Orvald Abershaw, the Mousefolk Barbarian-became a squeaky toy last seen in Bahamutsville under Zin-carla
Zenit 'Dracon, the Drow Fighter-abandoned the party because Orvald died last seen in Bahamutsville
Lythana Belmyr, the Half-Drow Blood Hunter of Eilistraee- sacrificed to Demogorgon
Codsworth, the polite Flumph- shredded by crossbow
Zarrus, the Tiefling Favored Soul Sorcerer of Mephisto- vanished during gnoll fight
Ol' Sparky, the Deep Dragon- last seen thrown into a portal to the Abyss by a glabrezu
Aura, the Air Genasi Storm Sorceress- accidental self-vaporization (bitch blew herself up)
Kyri, the Minotaur Scout- vaporized by a jackass
Thimblepwent Battlehammer, the Dwarven Battlerager Barbarian- turned into dog food
Orvald Abershaw, the Mousefolk Barbarian-
Zenit 'Dracon, the Drow Fighter-
Lythana Belmyr, the Half-Drow Blood Hunter of Eilistraee- sacrificed to Demogorgon
Codsworth, the polite Flumph- shredded by crossbow
Zarrus, the Tiefling Favored Soul Sorcerer of Mephisto- vanished during gnoll fight
Ol' Sparky, the Deep Dragon- last seen thrown into a portal to the Abyss by a glabrezu
Aura, the Air Genasi Storm Sorceress- accidental self-vaporization (bitch blew herself up)
Kyri, the Minotaur Scout- vaporized by a jackass
Fidget Stonegear, the Deep Gnome Inventor- big badda boom
Miarielle, the Lythari Priestess of Corellon- bigger badda boom
Kazul, the Copper Dragonborn Shadow Monk of Bahamut- skull caved in by another rock from Fidget
Glabbagool, the Gelatinous Cube- stayed with the kobolds
Kara Reginleif, the Half-Valkyrie Wererat Champion from the Zhentarim- vorpaled to pieces by demon Easter bunnies
Kazul, the Copper Dragonborn Shadow Monk of Bahamut- skull caved in by another rock from Fidget
Glabbagool, the Gelatinous Cube- stayed with the kobolds
Kara Reginleif, the Half-Valkyrie Wererat Champion from the Zhentarim- vorpaled to pieces by demon Easter bunnies
Stool, the Myconid Child- unwilling dance partner to drunk stone giant
Rumpadump, the Myconid Child- frozen by demon Easter bunny
Sajin Silvertongue, the Deep Gnome Wererat Assassin- got stoned and kissed a pretty Medusa
Thecker Powdercraft, the Deep Gnome Wererat Gunslinger and Inquisitor of Bahamut- retired in Blingdenstone
Topsy and Turvy Goldwhiskers, the Deep Gnome Wererat Rogue Twins- stayed in Blingdenstone
Yklwa, Tali's Deinonychus animal companion- devoured by corbies
Friendly fire overall: 166
Party members killed: 23
Overall party members lost: 32
NOTE: Things will be mostly from Claire's perspective, anything with italics is from a third party, since the knight can't be everywhere at once.
***** Marpenoth 1, 1489 DR (The Year of the Warrior Princess)
THE CARAVAN
As the group was looting the demons they'd slain, they heard a screech coming from the direction of the tower. They looked up to see a vrock circling the tower, and heard sounds of battle. Before they could process any of this, their ears began to ring in a high pitched whine, and suddenly they were in a room filled with books.
Confused, they began to look around, and a voice rang out "Narwall." They felt as if the ground had dropped out from under them, and suddenly they were sitting in an empty cavern, surrounded by the rest of the group and many strangers; the tower seemed to have vanished.
*****
In the blink of an eye, we went from standing in the circle in the tower to standing on a plateau. Lily was holding a chess piece in his hand, which I think is what the tower turned into. Our friends from Blingdenstone were there, looking confused, as were many strangers. I think Lily's wish may have backfired a little bit.
I heard the ear-piercing and all too familiar screech from above- the damn vrock was still there. Before any of us could do anything, three more of the damned things burst out of portals. Thecker was the first of us to respond, and she attempted to taunt one- which didn't work, as usual. Frustrated, my friend pulled out her gun and shot it.
Seluna drew her blade and turned into some feathered beast, she flew straight for one. Tali shot at one and her arrows hit true; I followed suit and drew my crossbow. Suddenly, a fucking door stood up and attacked one of the strangers- that damn mimic door apparently came back after the wish. Dwarvenforge swung his hammer at the door, and it got stuck to the damn thing. The twins killed the mimic quickly.
One of the beasts came into my range and I stabbed it with my spear. The damn thing grabbed my spear and took flight, then attacked me since I was still hanging on- the spear was a function on my Rod, and was chained to my wrist. Somehow I managed to hang on to the vrock and not plunge to my doom. In the heat of the moment, I didn't realize exactly how high up I was, and so I morphed my Rod so I could get out of the vrock's grasp. Once I began falling, I realized what a dumb idea that was, and quickly morphed the Rod into a ladder, hoping that would help when I hit the ground.
Below Claire, the fight continued with the other vrocks. Tali dropped one of the fiends, leaving only three more for them to contend with. Rosebud was pounding on one of the demons. Amin, one of Lily's accidentally summoned allies, saw Mezzem, screamed and ran away. Amin is a coward, and the sight of the kobold terrified him. Thecker and Terrik were both shooting a constant stream of bullets, and Tali was shooting arrow after arrow. With their combined efforts, Tali managed to polish another one off.
Before I was able to test my theory on if I'd survive the fall with my ladder hitting first, the damn vrock swooped to attack me- it missed, and decided to instead grab my ladder, then fly even higher. Shit. Suddenly two lightning bolts hit the vrock and I- I bet it was Flimflam- causing me to lose my grip on my ladder. Fortunately I was still attached to it, but I was now flailing limply in midair, in the clutches of the vrock. I managed to get my hands around my ladder again and morphed it back into a spear, then I attempted the life drain ability my Rod has- it didn't seem to do anything though. The fucker then flew even higher up, dropped me, and then swooped at me to attack.
Rosebud managed to finish off the last vrock within their reach, leaving only the one Claire was battling with midair. Amin, gripped in terror, tried to attack Mezzem and failed miserably; Turvy, being homicidally possessive, hit Amin for his attempt, and accidentally cracked his skull open, killing him. Medic was able to revive the dwarf before he died permanently. As one, the group began firing at the vrock Claire was locked in combat with, hoping to save their friend before she crashed to her doom.
I swiped at the vrock with my spear, and missed. The bastard responded with a hit of its own, and I felt myself lose consciousness. With Claire in hand, the vrock dived straight at Lily, hoping to kill both of them. Lily cast Feather Fall at the vrock, but it was able to avoid his spell. It landed on top of Lily, crushing Claire in the process. The vrock died, but Claire managed to just barely survive the landing.
I came to with Tali standing over me, and my entire body hurt. She told me we'd won, and at the news that we were done fighting for the day, I passed out.
Sabel, a halfing woman with a mop of red hair that looked exactly like Rosebud's, took one look at the halftaur, screamed, and passed out. She was the mother to the halfling half of Rosebud, and she sold him to Lily. Sabel had spent her life searching for her long lost boy, and finally found him as a halftaur. Her mind just couldn't take it.
Lily and Rosebud entertained his accidentally summoned allies, telling them his entire story, from the point he was revived by Mezzem up until the battle they'd just fought.
When I awoke a couple hours later, Rosebud was trying to convince Tali to help him shrink the vrock's armor down to a size one of us could actually wear. She did, and it fused to her flesh; Mezzem removed the curse that held it there, but we still had to literally peel it off of her. I gave her a bottle of Gresyl Wine to knock her out so Rosebud and I could do this without her being aware of the excruciating pain we were causing. After watching that, Twyla decided to stay in a similar set of armor that she'd gotten during their demon fight. I don't blame her.
***** Marpenoth 2
The next morning we decided to send the weapons crates back to Blingdenstone with the friends Lily had called. There was no need to tote them to Neverlight Grove since we now had the option not to. In addition to our Blingdenstone friends, we also sent back Terrik and Medic to help guard the weapons carts. Gimli, Umund, Elyn, Ukal of Citadel Adbar, Boada, Arwenel, and Sabel were also going back to Blingdenstone, since they didn't really want to be here anyways. Mithrilye, Lith, Amin, and Galothel decided to stay with us, this was an opportunity they didn't want to pass up.
***** Marpenoth 6
As we traveled, we heard a cry of surprise coming from up ahead in the tunnel. Roswyn saw darkness bloom in her path, a giant rocktopus. Both she and Flimflam moved into the darkness, and he used his fire breath at it.
I saw the darkness clear, there were seven small, charred figures, a very charred and dead giant rocktopus, and one small, charred figure who was still alive. Lily and Roswyn rushed to the side of the living creature- a svirfneblin, I think- and healed it. Before passing out it whispered "bandits." Lily decided to give it Gresyl Wine to keep it unconscious for longer.
When this was done, Lily, Tali, and Flimflam decided to eat the charred gnomes... disgusting! I permitted Riddle to eat them, Mezzem and Tali also let their babies do it. The sight of this made Roswyn, Smoothpalm, and Rosebud follow suit. The rest of us were completely horrified by this, it was just wrong! You'd never see a Cormyrean doing something like that, especially with a giant rocktopus to eat.
***** Marpenoth 7
Since we were only a couple of days away from Neverlight Grove, Mezzem decided it was time to try to bring Stool and Rumpadump back from the grave. Bringing them back was an ordeal, and both sprouts now saw visions all around them, viewed reality in an altered way, periodically slipped into catatonic states, and their intelligence was constantly slipping. For some reason, it didn't occur to her to fix those. But it took her forever to even consider bringing them back in the first place, so I suppose we shouldn't have been surprised. I really need to learn not to expect from Mezzem the same caliber of priestess that I would have in Cormyr.
***** Marpenoth 8
Today we reached the point on the map that marked the Grove as being somewhere near us. The exact location wasn't known, but we were getting closer. If the sprouts were sane, they could probably help us.
***** Marpenoth 9
We entered a cavern that was carpeted in brown fungus, and the temperature was noticeably colder, which was odd since there were a couple of steam vents in the room. I would have thought they'd make the room warmer. Lily said he'd heard stories about this fungus being bad for someone's health, and that this was really a brown mold.
Upon hearing that, Flimflam used an ice spell and the fungus blackened. Rosebud hit it with the fire mace, and it seemed to feed on the flames, it thickened and grew in the area he'd hit. Flimflam then used his dragon breath in ice form on the mold, blackening it enough for us to get through it; the spell temporarily blinded him.
***** Marpenoth 10
When we reached the area where we'd camp for the night, we found some torch stalks. Rosebud started throwing the damned things, then tried to hand Geophry one to throw... which resulted in him dropping it. This began a torch stalk fight, with Rosebud and Geophry throwing them at each other. Then Mezzem said she was immune to fire, so they both turned their torches on her. It was ridiculous, but hilarious.
***** Marpenoth 11
As we traveled, suddenly we heard in our heads that Lily stole the pony too, that I secretly had loved Kazul, and that Tali had tried to kill her sister. Then a claw slashed at Lily.
Another claw swiped at me and hit, as did one that targeted Mezzem. A fourth one slashed at Tali, but it missed her. Rosebud reared back, dropping Geophry- who had been on his back- and began pounding on one of our attackers. We learned they were nothics, creepy little monsters with one large eye, talons, and spikes on its torso- there were four of the little fuckers.
Lith unleashed her lightning breath on them, hitting the one that was attacking Mezzem. Twyla moved up and stabbed the one that was attacking me- she's learning quickly, she actually managed to hit him. Geophry got to his feet and rammed into the one attacking Lily, while Tali clawed at and bit the one on her- she announced it tasted like tainted magic.
The nothic on Lily missed a swipe at her, and tried to move away- Geophry and Rosebud pounced on it, and the little chair killed it. Apparently he isn't as helpless and innocent as we had thought. Lily and I were both hit again with new attacks. With a slash of her blade, Seluna cut the nothic that was attacking Mezzem in half. Smoothpalm and Rosebud went for the one Tali, and dropped it easily. An arrow from Niles sank into the final nothic- the one attacking me. Flimflam stood and began dragging Geophry- he'd been tied to the chair- and shot a bolt of fire at the nothic. Roswyn finished it off with a whirl of her scimitars.
Lily used a spell that brings someone back from the grave, if they've been gone for a minute or less. Rosebud held it for him, and Lily tried to compel it to give him its secrets. The beast was terrified and shat all over Rosebud... Rosebud then turned it around and rubbed its nose in the shit. This was the most ridiculous interrogation I've ever seen! The nothic retaliated by announcing that Rosebud had wet the bed until he was six. It then started saying something about Zuggtmoy, the Demon Queen of Fungus. At that, Lily gave Rosebud permission to hit it- which killed it again... and it shat on the halftaur a second time.
Shortly after that, Stool began talking to Fidget and someone named Orvald. The twins had mentioned that name before, they said he was a mousefolk they escaped the drow prison camp with.
Lily decided he needed time in the tower to go through all of the long dead wizard's books for information on Zuggtmoy. Rosebud quickly located a spot where we could set it up. Rosebud, Geophry, and Mezzem spent all night cataloging books for Lily to go through. Geophry spent much of the night complaining that he wanted to do something else.
Mezzem decided to start helping Stool, but she could only remove two of his insanities at a time, so she still didn't help much this night.
***** Marpenoth 12
Lily spent time the circle in the top floor, and learned there was a dungeon with occupants in it, there was a shield we could put over the roof, that the chasm we'd crossed was part off the tower's defenses, and that we could have spectral servants.
Seemingly on whim, Lily decided to adopt Geophry, naming him Geophry Cherry Blossom Petunia.
We went to check out this dungeon, and find out who our prisoners were. There were ten corbies in there total- we could only see five of them, but Lily knew there were five other invisible ones. The disgusting beasts were throwing bones at the cell doors- Yklwa's bones. We proceeded to kill all of the little fuckers, and collect Yklwa's remains. In the process, Flimflam set off a thunderwave, and managed to somehow set Geophry on fire. Lily kicked the insane gnome out of the room at that. Instead of leaving though, Flimflam used his dragon fire breath and killed two corbies- hitting Tali and I in the process. Tali and I finished off the remaining corbies, and gathered the rest of Yklwa's remains.
We took Yklwa outside and buried him. Tali said he was at peace, and with their God Ubtao. It was a sad ceremony, I wish we could have saved him. My heart is heavy with sorrow at the loss of him.
Since we learned that we could leave people in the dungeon, we decided to keep our lizards, Galothel, Amin, Mithrilye, Stool, Rumpadump, and Geophry in there to protect them. Lily shaped the cells into bedrooms for all of us who wished them. When I went upstairs to go get our poor, insane little myconids, Rumpadump was nowhere to be seen. Lily used the circle and learned that he never left the tower, somehow he vanished. None of us have any idea how that had happened. Someone suggested Stool ate him, but there's no way he would have eaten his best friend. Mezzem finished removing Stool's madnesses tonight, the poor boy was finally back to himself.
Sajin Silvertongue, the Deep Gnome Wererat Assassin- got stoned and kissed a pretty Medusa
Thecker Powdercraft, the Deep Gnome Wererat Gunslinger and Inquisitor of Bahamut- retired in Blingdenstone
Topsy and Turvy Goldwhiskers, the Deep Gnome Wererat Rogue Twins- stayed in Blingdenstone
Yklwa, Tali's Deinonychus animal companion- devoured by corbies
Friendly fire overall: 166
Party members killed: 23
Overall party members lost: 32
NOTE: Things will be mostly from Claire's perspective, anything with italics is from a third party, since the knight can't be everywhere at once.
***** Marpenoth 1, 1489 DR (The Year of the Warrior Princess)
THE CARAVAN
As the group was looting the demons they'd slain, they heard a screech coming from the direction of the tower. They looked up to see a vrock circling the tower, and heard sounds of battle. Before they could process any of this, their ears began to ring in a high pitched whine, and suddenly they were in a room filled with books.
Confused, they began to look around, and a voice rang out "Narwall." They felt as if the ground had dropped out from under them, and suddenly they were sitting in an empty cavern, surrounded by the rest of the group and many strangers; the tower seemed to have vanished.
*****
In the blink of an eye, we went from standing in the circle in the tower to standing on a plateau. Lily was holding a chess piece in his hand, which I think is what the tower turned into. Our friends from Blingdenstone were there, looking confused, as were many strangers. I think Lily's wish may have backfired a little bit.
I heard the ear-piercing and all too familiar screech from above- the damn vrock was still there. Before any of us could do anything, three more of the damned things burst out of portals. Thecker was the first of us to respond, and she attempted to taunt one- which didn't work, as usual. Frustrated, my friend pulled out her gun and shot it.
Seluna drew her blade and turned into some feathered beast, she flew straight for one. Tali shot at one and her arrows hit true; I followed suit and drew my crossbow. Suddenly, a fucking door stood up and attacked one of the strangers- that damn mimic door apparently came back after the wish. Dwarvenforge swung his hammer at the door, and it got stuck to the damn thing. The twins killed the mimic quickly.
One of the beasts came into my range and I stabbed it with my spear. The damn thing grabbed my spear and took flight, then attacked me since I was still hanging on- the spear was a function on my Rod, and was chained to my wrist. Somehow I managed to hang on to the vrock and not plunge to my doom. In the heat of the moment, I didn't realize exactly how high up I was, and so I morphed my Rod so I could get out of the vrock's grasp. Once I began falling, I realized what a dumb idea that was, and quickly morphed the Rod into a ladder, hoping that would help when I hit the ground.
Below Claire, the fight continued with the other vrocks. Tali dropped one of the fiends, leaving only three more for them to contend with. Rosebud was pounding on one of the demons. Amin, one of Lily's accidentally summoned allies, saw Mezzem, screamed and ran away. Amin is a coward, and the sight of the kobold terrified him. Thecker and Terrik were both shooting a constant stream of bullets, and Tali was shooting arrow after arrow. With their combined efforts, Tali managed to polish another one off.
Before I was able to test my theory on if I'd survive the fall with my ladder hitting first, the damn vrock swooped to attack me- it missed, and decided to instead grab my ladder, then fly even higher. Shit. Suddenly two lightning bolts hit the vrock and I- I bet it was Flimflam- causing me to lose my grip on my ladder. Fortunately I was still attached to it, but I was now flailing limply in midair, in the clutches of the vrock. I managed to get my hands around my ladder again and morphed it back into a spear, then I attempted the life drain ability my Rod has- it didn't seem to do anything though. The fucker then flew even higher up, dropped me, and then swooped at me to attack.
Rosebud managed to finish off the last vrock within their reach, leaving only the one Claire was battling with midair. Amin, gripped in terror, tried to attack Mezzem and failed miserably; Turvy, being homicidally possessive, hit Amin for his attempt, and accidentally cracked his skull open, killing him. Medic was able to revive the dwarf before he died permanently. As one, the group began firing at the vrock Claire was locked in combat with, hoping to save their friend before she crashed to her doom.
I swiped at the vrock with my spear, and missed. The bastard responded with a hit of its own, and I felt myself lose consciousness. With Claire in hand, the vrock dived straight at Lily, hoping to kill both of them. Lily cast Feather Fall at the vrock, but it was able to avoid his spell. It landed on top of Lily, crushing Claire in the process. The vrock died, but Claire managed to just barely survive the landing.
I came to with Tali standing over me, and my entire body hurt. She told me we'd won, and at the news that we were done fighting for the day, I passed out.
Sabel, a halfing woman with a mop of red hair that looked exactly like Rosebud's, took one look at the halftaur, screamed, and passed out. She was the mother to the halfling half of Rosebud, and she sold him to Lily. Sabel had spent her life searching for her long lost boy, and finally found him as a halftaur. Her mind just couldn't take it.
Lily and Rosebud entertained his accidentally summoned allies, telling them his entire story, from the point he was revived by Mezzem up until the battle they'd just fought.
When I awoke a couple hours later, Rosebud was trying to convince Tali to help him shrink the vrock's armor down to a size one of us could actually wear. She did, and it fused to her flesh; Mezzem removed the curse that held it there, but we still had to literally peel it off of her. I gave her a bottle of Gresyl Wine to knock her out so Rosebud and I could do this without her being aware of the excruciating pain we were causing. After watching that, Twyla decided to stay in a similar set of armor that she'd gotten during their demon fight. I don't blame her.
***** Marpenoth 2
The next morning we decided to send the weapons crates back to Blingdenstone with the friends Lily had called. There was no need to tote them to Neverlight Grove since we now had the option not to. In addition to our Blingdenstone friends, we also sent back Terrik and Medic to help guard the weapons carts. Gimli, Umund, Elyn, Ukal of Citadel Adbar, Boada, Arwenel, and Sabel were also going back to Blingdenstone, since they didn't really want to be here anyways. Mithrilye, Lith, Amin, and Galothel decided to stay with us, this was an opportunity they didn't want to pass up.
***** Marpenoth 6
As we traveled, we heard a cry of surprise coming from up ahead in the tunnel. Roswyn saw darkness bloom in her path, a giant rocktopus. Both she and Flimflam moved into the darkness, and he used his fire breath at it.
I saw the darkness clear, there were seven small, charred figures, a very charred and dead giant rocktopus, and one small, charred figure who was still alive. Lily and Roswyn rushed to the side of the living creature- a svirfneblin, I think- and healed it. Before passing out it whispered "bandits." Lily decided to give it Gresyl Wine to keep it unconscious for longer.
When this was done, Lily, Tali, and Flimflam decided to eat the charred gnomes... disgusting! I permitted Riddle to eat them, Mezzem and Tali also let their babies do it. The sight of this made Roswyn, Smoothpalm, and Rosebud follow suit. The rest of us were completely horrified by this, it was just wrong! You'd never see a Cormyrean doing something like that, especially with a giant rocktopus to eat.
***** Marpenoth 7
Since we were only a couple of days away from Neverlight Grove, Mezzem decided it was time to try to bring Stool and Rumpadump back from the grave. Bringing them back was an ordeal, and both sprouts now saw visions all around them, viewed reality in an altered way, periodically slipped into catatonic states, and their intelligence was constantly slipping. For some reason, it didn't occur to her to fix those. But it took her forever to even consider bringing them back in the first place, so I suppose we shouldn't have been surprised. I really need to learn not to expect from Mezzem the same caliber of priestess that I would have in Cormyr.
***** Marpenoth 8
Today we reached the point on the map that marked the Grove as being somewhere near us. The exact location wasn't known, but we were getting closer. If the sprouts were sane, they could probably help us.
***** Marpenoth 9
We entered a cavern that was carpeted in brown fungus, and the temperature was noticeably colder, which was odd since there were a couple of steam vents in the room. I would have thought they'd make the room warmer. Lily said he'd heard stories about this fungus being bad for someone's health, and that this was really a brown mold.
Upon hearing that, Flimflam used an ice spell and the fungus blackened. Rosebud hit it with the fire mace, and it seemed to feed on the flames, it thickened and grew in the area he'd hit. Flimflam then used his dragon breath in ice form on the mold, blackening it enough for us to get through it; the spell temporarily blinded him.
***** Marpenoth 10
When we reached the area where we'd camp for the night, we found some torch stalks. Rosebud started throwing the damned things, then tried to hand Geophry one to throw... which resulted in him dropping it. This began a torch stalk fight, with Rosebud and Geophry throwing them at each other. Then Mezzem said she was immune to fire, so they both turned their torches on her. It was ridiculous, but hilarious.
***** Marpenoth 11
As we traveled, suddenly we heard in our heads that Lily stole the pony too, that I secretly had loved Kazul, and that Tali had tried to kill her sister. Then a claw slashed at Lily.
Another claw swiped at me and hit, as did one that targeted Mezzem. A fourth one slashed at Tali, but it missed her. Rosebud reared back, dropping Geophry- who had been on his back- and began pounding on one of our attackers. We learned they were nothics, creepy little monsters with one large eye, talons, and spikes on its torso- there were four of the little fuckers.
Lith unleashed her lightning breath on them, hitting the one that was attacking Mezzem. Twyla moved up and stabbed the one that was attacking me- she's learning quickly, she actually managed to hit him. Geophry got to his feet and rammed into the one attacking Lily, while Tali clawed at and bit the one on her- she announced it tasted like tainted magic.
The nothic on Lily missed a swipe at her, and tried to move away- Geophry and Rosebud pounced on it, and the little chair killed it. Apparently he isn't as helpless and innocent as we had thought. Lily and I were both hit again with new attacks. With a slash of her blade, Seluna cut the nothic that was attacking Mezzem in half. Smoothpalm and Rosebud went for the one Tali, and dropped it easily. An arrow from Niles sank into the final nothic- the one attacking me. Flimflam stood and began dragging Geophry- he'd been tied to the chair- and shot a bolt of fire at the nothic. Roswyn finished it off with a whirl of her scimitars.
Lily used a spell that brings someone back from the grave, if they've been gone for a minute or less. Rosebud held it for him, and Lily tried to compel it to give him its secrets. The beast was terrified and shat all over Rosebud... Rosebud then turned it around and rubbed its nose in the shit. This was the most ridiculous interrogation I've ever seen! The nothic retaliated by announcing that Rosebud had wet the bed until he was six. It then started saying something about Zuggtmoy, the Demon Queen of Fungus. At that, Lily gave Rosebud permission to hit it- which killed it again... and it shat on the halftaur a second time.
Shortly after that, Stool began talking to Fidget and someone named Orvald. The twins had mentioned that name before, they said he was a mousefolk they escaped the drow prison camp with.
Lily decided he needed time in the tower to go through all of the long dead wizard's books for information on Zuggtmoy. Rosebud quickly located a spot where we could set it up. Rosebud, Geophry, and Mezzem spent all night cataloging books for Lily to go through. Geophry spent much of the night complaining that he wanted to do something else.
Mezzem decided to start helping Stool, but she could only remove two of his insanities at a time, so she still didn't help much this night.
***** Marpenoth 12
Lily spent time the circle in the top floor, and learned there was a dungeon with occupants in it, there was a shield we could put over the roof, that the chasm we'd crossed was part off the tower's defenses, and that we could have spectral servants.
Seemingly on whim, Lily decided to adopt Geophry, naming him Geophry Cherry Blossom Petunia.
We went to check out this dungeon, and find out who our prisoners were. There were ten corbies in there total- we could only see five of them, but Lily knew there were five other invisible ones. The disgusting beasts were throwing bones at the cell doors- Yklwa's bones. We proceeded to kill all of the little fuckers, and collect Yklwa's remains. In the process, Flimflam set off a thunderwave, and managed to somehow set Geophry on fire. Lily kicked the insane gnome out of the room at that. Instead of leaving though, Flimflam used his dragon fire breath and killed two corbies- hitting Tali and I in the process. Tali and I finished off the remaining corbies, and gathered the rest of Yklwa's remains.
We took Yklwa outside and buried him. Tali said he was at peace, and with their God Ubtao. It was a sad ceremony, I wish we could have saved him. My heart is heavy with sorrow at the loss of him.
Since we learned that we could leave people in the dungeon, we decided to keep our lizards, Galothel, Amin, Mithrilye, Stool, Rumpadump, and Geophry in there to protect them. Lily shaped the cells into bedrooms for all of us who wished them. When I went upstairs to go get our poor, insane little myconids, Rumpadump was nowhere to be seen. Lily used the circle and learned that he never left the tower, somehow he vanished. None of us have any idea how that had happened. Someone suggested Stool ate him, but there's no way he would have eaten his best friend. Mezzem finished removing Stool's madnesses tonight, the poor boy was finally back to himself.
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| The entire layout of the tower now known as Chateau Petunia |
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