Tag: grippli

Report 16: Sibyl of Sseth

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, SvalaLeave a comment

Through the Village

  • After securing the docks, we made our way to the Pond Mother’s hut, one of the largest structures in town.
  • Only to find it vacated of Yuan-ti and much destroyed.
  • Mr. Darkfoot and I freed 8 caged Grippli from cages on the second floor, who were quite worried about the brood pools.
  • Heading to the brooding grounds, we find it encircled by a high wall.
  • I want to send ROK up to look, but the rogue crew dissuades me, and send an invisible Tuppance instead of my glowing book.
  • He spots 8 of the Yuan-ti, all the various types we have encountered.
  • Two of them are holding containers above the pools and watching all about.
  • Mr. Darkfoot also spies two with symbols of the god Sseth.
  • We must be extremely careful, if the containers are holding poison, it could destroy every egg in the pools.
  • Mr. Darkfoot and Shohei slip into the grounds invisibly to steal the containers right out of their hands.
  • They complete their goal, but we must quickly enter and join the fight.
  • These serpents are fierce and dangerous fighters, but we prevail.
  • The Grippli we had released from the Pond Mother’s hut help remove the bodies and set to righting the pools and protecting their young.

Temple of the Scalemother

  • We make our way upriver to the ancient temple to the Scalemother.
  • Inside, upon a brightly lit altar, surrounded by six Yuan-ti, a sacrifice of Grippli is in progress.
  • It appears that other Yuan-ti have already been sacrificed, possibly to raise whatever is in the sarcophagus beyond the altar.
  • Two more Yuan-ti Abominations, are between us and that altar.
  • We rush in to save the Grippli and stop the ritual, but the fight is long and hard.
  • We are unable to save the three sacrifices, but Mr. Darkfoot repeatedly dispells the magics to keep the ritual from completing.

Sibyl of Sseth

  • The last one to die mentions a Lady Sibyl of Sseth.
  • I remember a story of one of the Scalemother’s champions who fell to temptation and became a warlock to Sseth.
  • She became an acolyte, very much and Avatar of his will in this world.
  • When she was killed, her body tried to reform itself, so she was cut apart and her body spread and buried around this world.
  • Mr. Darkfoot looks within the sarcophagus and sees it contains part of her torso, a bag, and a dagger.
  • They debate for some time whether they could teleport in, steal her things, and get back out again, but the magics are too strong for such simple trickery.

Victory Celebration

  • We return to the village where the Grippli are reclaiming their homes and removing the dead Yuan-ti.
  • The Pond Mother is grateful and assures us trade will resume as quickly as possible.
  • We return all the stolen property we had recovered and offer our sympathy for those who fell.
  • We tell them about Sibyl up in the temple, and ask us to send advisors from Candlekeep to decide what to do about it.
  • The next day is a Holy Day for the Grippli, and they invite us to stay and celebrate.
  • It is quite a time with a massive crab boil and the children even make clay statues of some of us.

Report 15: Missing Shipments

On By ravonlockeIn Journal, SvalaLeave a comment

Disappearing Darkfoot

  • Ms. Lendiel found a book with a single faded page and asked for my opinion.
  • I could find no magical cause, the ink seemed to have simply dried off the page.
  • We went looking for other records on the same investigator, in reports of items retrieved.
  • He is in these records, but his name seems to not be used as would be natural.
  • In one of these books, I see a strange, small wisp of divine magic that quickly disappears.
  • She find no record of him searching for the Manifold of Mask, even though she finished that mission for him, and her record exists – though with no mention of him.
  • I ask if I could see the manifold, but she discusses with Mr. Darkfoot and they decide that is not possible at this time.

Gift of the Grippli

  • Ms. Lendiel gathers us all together in The Room to look at another strange book.
  • It is more of a container than an actual book.
  • This book was given to the Library by the Grippli in exchange for trade agreements, but the trade has stopped suddenly, so we must open the book and find a solution.
  • Inside are 3 hollow cylinders and a linen bag with a water droplet embroidered on it.
  • The cylinders have dwarven markings on the and symbols. The bag holds clay.
  • Rolling out the clay and then the cylinders on top of them reveals a story
  • The Frogs and the Serpents: The first cylinder told of the start of trade. The second, of the serpents attacking the frogs. The third of a vacant ruined village with serpents in the temple.
  • The group decides we must go to the Grippli and save them from the serpents, whatever they are.

Voyage to the Grippli

  • Down at the docks, we meet Captain Miter Yans, of The Dog Ear, who last visited the Grippli and found no one to trade with. He offers to take us there in the morning.
  • Sailing is smooth until we get close, then the weather turns rainy and grey.
  • We get to the trading post, and Captain Yans disembarks with us to translate.
  • He calls out for the Pond Mother, and while we are greeted with spears, one runs off and gets us permission for us to come further ashore.
  • We are taken to see the Pond Mother through the refugee camp which has sprung up around a central building.
  • After Captain Yans explains why we are here, and Mr. Darkfoot offers her any assistance we can provide, she tells us of the attack.
  • A pack of Yuan-Ti approached with friendship and religious interests, but then drove them from their home, while keeping the warriors as prisoners.
  • She then tells us of the paths to the village, through the water, the cliffside, or the crab maze.
  • The Yuan-ti have taken her home, the temple, and the broodpools, they will not survive that loss.

The Crab Maze

  • After much discussion, we decide to go as far as possible on land and then cross the crab maze to approach the village.
  • Sending Tuppance and Darkwing ahead to scout, we count their numbers in the open: five guard the broodpools, and another nine patrol the rest of the village.
  • Utilizing the carpet and Ms. Lendiel’s ring of waterwalking, we make our way quickly and carefully all the way across the beach and the maze.
  • Unfortunately, the carpet is a little too noticeable in approaching the docks and I am spotted.
  • Combat is joined, but we hold the docks.