Encounter at Shadow Castle Keep Parts 1 and 2

[JPetherick]

“The black egg is evil,” states Worrel in a firm manner. “Or, rather, the things inside are evil. I think it is better to destroy the black egg than risk releasign whatever is inside.”

[smeltdm]

While everyone is discussing the merits of keeping or destroying the black egg Prost moves quietly to 1009 to see what’s around the corner to the north.

[patransom]

“The black egg is evil,” states Worrel in a firm manner. “Or, rather, the things inside are evil. I think it is better to destroy the black egg than risk releasign whatever is inside.”

“Hmm, yesss, probably” shrugs Hishka, “The black-ssscaled queen isss evil. Isss her nature, ssso isss no sssurprissse her egg isss evil, too. If you do asss your nature tellsss you, then, with the black egg. We ssshall not interfere, asss long asss you do not harm our eggsss.”

While everyone is discussing the merits of keeping or destroying the black egg Prost moves quietly to the edge of the sandy bank to see what’s around the corner to the north. The wide tunnel continues about 50 feet then quickly slopes downward and comes to an end. The water at the end is stagnant and covered with a layer of scum and tiny floating plants.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Treasure for me to add to big list: A large pile of coins (it will be 5,320 sp, 1,930 gp, and 21 pp once you have time to count it) Six potions A ring

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Lola: loaded crossbow readied, 45 bolts left, light cast on a bolt at 1108, 8 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: charged mind blade longsword and sunrod readied, 17 bolts left, 4 hp damage Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 0 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 1 smite evil left, wand of CLW 21 charges left, 6 hp damage Fluffy: 8 hp damage Evan Prost: loaded slingstaff readied, 3 +1 bullets and 49 normal bullets left, darkvision 176.0 minutes left, water breathing ~10 hours left, 14 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: longbow readied, 36 arrows left, 4 hp damage

[kabkal]

Lola agrees we should destroy the egg, but not in here. Just in case. Lets take it out of here and then we can smash it.

[CGM3]

Cyrius reminds Lola that Hishka doesn't want to destroy the black egg for fear of offending the Black-Scaled Queen, but agrees it should be removed from the other eggs -- perhaps to a small pool of its own -- lest it be a danger to those eggs.

[smeltdm]

“Egg! That big Black egg...how are we going to move it? It's as big as me” Prost comments as if he was listening to the conversation the whole time.

[kabkal]

Cyrius reminds Lola that Hishka doesn't want to destroy the black egg for fear of offending the Black-Scaled Queen, but agrees it should be removed from the other eggs -- perhaps to a small pool of its own -- lest it be a danger to those eggs.

Lola says to Cyrius, “Hishka says we can do what we feel is right with the egg. If it is evil, why would we want to leave it to hatch and bring more evil into this world?”

[ElectroZman]

Tex is sure to collect the coins, potions and the ring. Then he'll stow his bow and pull out his axe. “An unnatural black egg that our Paladin says is evil. Why discuss it further?” He moves toward the egg (careful of the other eggs).

[patransom]

Hishka watches as the party discusses the black egg and does not interfere as Tex moves toward it, since the dwarf is being careful of the other eggs.

[smeltdm]

Prost moves to flank the black egg, with Tex. He moves carefully so he doesn’t harm the other eggs.

[patransom]

OUT OF CHARACTER

Updated the map. The DM is eager to find out what happens next...

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Lola: loaded crossbow readied, 45 bolts left, light cast on a bolt at 1108, 8 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: charged mind blade longsword and sunrod readied, 17 bolts left, 4 hp damage Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 0 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 1 smite evil left, wand of CLW 21 charges left, 6 hp damage Fluffy: 8 hp damage Evan Prost: loaded slingstaff readied, 3 +1 bullets and 49 normal bullets left, darkvision 175.5 minutes left, water breathing ~10 hours left, 14 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: battleaxe readied, 36 arrows left, 4 hp damage

[ElectroZman]

Tex looks at Worrel.

[smeltdm]

Prost examines the Black eggshell...

OUT OF CHARACTER

can he determine if he can slice it open...is that a perception roll...Prost has a vile of acid he is thinking about dumping into the egg. Would that be a perception check...? or knowledge nature Tex?

 

Prost puts away his sling staff, grabs a vile of acid, and pokes the egg with his MW Short sword...

[CGM3]

Cyrius moves to 2606 and stands ready in case something happens.

[JPetherick]

Worrel listens to the conversation, nodding as his companions speak.

“"I will try to move it ... I am protected, somewhat, from evil. I agree that we should not risking the eggs of the lizard-men,"” says the paladin.

[“"Have we asked the lizard-men where servants of the Black-Scaled Queen came from?”

[kabkal]

Lola makes sure she is ready with her crossbow in case anything happens. She will also be ready to cast Bless if things go south from here, but will not cast it yet.

[patransom]

Prost puts away his sling staff, grabs a vial of acid, and pokes the egg with his masterwork short sword. The egg wobbles a bit more than he anticipated after his poke, like something inside is moving. But it seems the shell is rather sturdy and probably will require some effort to pierce... [I assumed on this first poke that you were experimenting. After this, if anyone wants to hit the egg hard, just roll damage; no attack roll is required]

Cyrius moves to the edge of the pool and stands ready in case something happens.

Lola makes sure she is ready with her crossbow in case anything happens. She's also ready to cast Bless if things go south from here, but doesn't cast it yet.

Worrel listens to the conversation, nodding as his companions speak. “I will try to move it ... I am protected, somewhat, from evil. I agree that we should not risking the eggs of the lizard-men,” says the paladin. “Have we asked the lizard-men where servants of the Black-Scaled Queen came from?”

Hiskha answers, “The Black-Ssscaled Queen usssed to live here, just sssomewhat deeper in the ssswamp. But we have not ssseen her for ssseveral moonsss. We heard her sssay to King Ssshukack ssshe had a new lair far away, but would return when the time isss right...”

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Lola: loaded crossbow readied, 45 bolts left, light cast on a bolt at 1108, 8 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: charged mind blade longsword and sunrod readied, 17 bolts left, 4 hp damage Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 0 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 1 smite evil left, wand of CLW 21 charges left, 6 hp damage Fluffy: 8 hp damage Evan Prost: short sword and acid flask readied, 3 +1 bullets and 49 normal bullets left, darkvision 175.0 minutes left, water breathing ~10 hours left, 14 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: battleaxe readied, 36 arrows left, 4 hp damage

[ElectroZman]

Tex will help Worrel move the egg if he needs it. “Over there on the sand?”

He indicates the way they came, from the east. (around 2906)

[JPetherick]

“"Yes, we will move it away from the lizard men eggs before we destroy whatever is inside,” says Worrel.

He sheathes his sword and moves his shield out of the way before bending to heft the egg. After he gets the load settled, he carries it to the east to the open area of sand.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Pausing here in case something happens during movement of the egg.

 

[smeltdm]

Prost helps move the egg...

[patransom]

Worrel sheathes his sword and moves his shield out of the way before bending to heft the egg. As he begins carefully wading through the egg pool, the egg begins wobbling in his grip, as if something inside is writhing or trying to escape. However, Prost and Tex are there to help stabilize the load, so the group of them manage to wrangle the black egg to the east to the open area of sand without damaging any of the other eggs.

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Lola: loaded crossbow readied, 45 bolts left, light cast on a bolt at 1108, 8 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: charged mind blade longsword and sunrod readied, 17 bolts left, 4 hp damage Worrel: longsword and shield stowed, 0 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 1 smite evil left, wand of CLW 21 charges left, 6 hp damage Fluffy: 8 hp damage Evan Prost: short sword and acid flask readied, 3 +1 bullets and 49 normal bullets left, darkvision 174.0 minutes left, water breathing ~10 hours left, 14 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: battleaxe readied, 36 arrows left, 4 hp damage

[kabkal]

Lola asks, “Do you think we can get it into an open area before we destroy it?”

[smeltdm]

Puzzled By Lola’s question, Prost says...“ What? It don’t get better than this. Let’s kill it!”

[JPetherick]

Worrel steps back, shrugging to settle his armor after carrying the egg.

“"Did anyone else feel the egg shift?,"” asks Worrel.

After a moment, the paladin continues, “"I think that we may have a fight on our hands when we try to destroy the egg.
Or, maybe, whatever is inside will simply try to escape. Are we prepared to prevent that?"”

[kabkal]

Worrel steps back, shrugging to settle his armor after carrying the egg.

“"Did anyone else feel the egg shift?,"” asks Worrel.

After a moment, the paladin continues, “"I think that we may have a fight on our hands when we try to destroy the egg.
Or, maybe, whatever is inside will simply try to escape. Are we prepared to prevent that?"”

Lola readies her crossbow, gets to a spot about 15' away, makes sure no one is standing between her and the egg and aims at the egg, and says “I am ready.”

[ElectroZman]

Tex will also switch to his bow and step back 15', allowing Worrel and Prost to flank the egg.

He nods that he's ready.

[CGM3]

Cyrius moves to 2905 and stands ready to act as necessary, indicating his readiness.

[smeltdm]

Prost backs away (to 2708) from the egg, calling Fluffy (to 2808) to his side and readies his sling staff, with +1 bullet. “I felt it move when we moved it, too.”

[patransom]

The party gets ready to see what's inside the egg...

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Lola: loaded crossbow readied, 45 bolts left, light cast on a bolt at 1108, 8 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: charged mind blade longsword and sunrod readied, 17 bolts left, 4 hp damage Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 0 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 1 smite evil left, wand of CLW 21 charges left, 6 hp damage Fluffy: 8 hp damage Evan Prost: loaded slingstaff readied, 3 +1 bullets and 49 normal bullets left, darkvision 173.8 minutes left, water breathing ~10 hours left, 14 hp damage Texudus TreeBender: bow readied, 36 arrows left, 4 hp damage

[CGM3]

OUT OF CHARACTER

It's... the Doctor!