Expedition: Ablesforth: The Demon Hole - 14 July 2021

[Zhym]

"Well, that was invigorating," says Pendleton, panting from the exertion of running from the half-heads. "Shall we return to the hole, now that Grindle is on his way to safety?"

[Mister-Kent]

Dare quite enjoys being invisible. "I'd be up for it," his voice emanates from seemingly empty space. "What's the plan then?"

[Spearmint]

Idriss

"It is getting into evening time. We should rest and delve again in the morning. I don't think these demoniacs will venture from the caverns."

Idriss suggests we camp in the spot above the cave where there was the niche that he and Foxy wriggled down before. The place is flat and gives some cover or we risk a campfire sheltered in the cave mouth but he knows large lizards lair in the other section.

[Marullus]

3. If Grimble is out of the adventure, could sirravd to up another character to join us from the guard unit? (Probably it would need to be a human fighter.) Does he have any interest in doing so?

I'm fine with that idea and will forward this to him via PM. Any class can be in the guard as a one-off; I won't restrict him to being a fighter.

No, you didn't stop to loot chests.

The guards are quite pleased to receive that much extra pay. They are glad to get Grimble, the mask, and a large sack of items back to the Infirmary on their horses. (Please specify what exactly is in the sack. It counts as recovered treasure at expedition-end.)

[Marullus]

(Override: Your group is beat to hell and are behind the timeline. Let's say you take Grimble back, you all cash out your XP (you have at least one PC who busts their XP cap), and then return in a week with Grimble well and all your it points back, on the current IC date (23 July). Good?

The Demon Hole: Part 1
Encounter: Giant Rat City
Encounter: Shriekers of the Mask and Mandala
Encounter: Goblins investigate the Mask and Mandala
Encounter: Rats investigate the Mask and Mandala
Encounter: Fire Beetles of the Mask and Mandala
Event: Blood for the Blood Room
Encounter: Shriekers of the Sea Goddess Chamber
Encounter: Goblins Bring the Fire
Event: Discover the Ritual of Sesselenia
Encounter: Fire Beetles Protest the Flood
Encounter: Goblins in the Sesselenia Standoff
Encounter: Demonspawn in the Sesselenia Standoff
Encounter: The "Helpful" Goblins
Event: The Waiting Room Statue
Encounter: The Half-Heads Return

Duration: 2 Days
New Rooms Explored: 3

Total:
673 character XP / 299 item XP for Dolph
1,347 character XP / 597 item XP per PC


Treasure:
- 200 sp (20lbs, one small sack)
- a brass brooch with the image of runes in Elvish, and an octopus within a triangle. (20gp sale value)
- a beautiful copper periapt with the image of a skull encased in flame and set with three Moonstones. (600gp object d'art)
- a golden pitcher, covered in a wave-like pattern of etched lines. It is of marvelous workmanship. (Magic Item - 4001xp.)
- 5 fire beetle glow-organs (10gp each to the potion-maker, 50gp)
- Silver demon mask with golden horns (70gp value in materials, weights 52lbs, 350gp as object d'art)

[Zhym]

Fine by me. Do we split loot and do in-town stuff, or continue on with a new delve?

[Dram]

I am good with splitting the loot. What is the total of loot taken?

[Marullus]

The loot taken is listed above, and also hard to divide. The original action taken was to stash the loot with Brother Mylo in the Infirmary until you can all return -- I suggest we move expediently back to Part 2 (per your original plan) and you can figure the dividing up at the actual expedition end. I am only overriding to give the XP and level-ups, since your lowest-level party members were already maxed out.

The group reconvenes on the goblin hillside, refreshed from their wounds and with Grimble healed of his illness by the skillful ministrations of the infirmary and Eruanna's grace. The cave lies before you, the path in and to the left to the stairs and down to the passages below now familiar. You noted on your way out that the thick brown miasma of magical nausea still lays heavy over the the caverns, particularly where the rats once nested, but you were able to move through quickly enough and on high ground so as to not be affected. You could return similarly to a known chamber, or choose a new path.

Plans?

Go ahead and state any new gear purchased here if you need to (lantern oil, for example).

Date: 23 July 2021, 10:00am
Light: Sunlight
Effects: None
Injuries: None

Edit: Since you're questing for the Templars, and I've enforced the break upon you, the Infirmary feeds you all Good Meals. You all have a +2 to savings throws until dawn on 24 July at no cost.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Is anyone so close to leveling up a second time that it makes sense to pay the bard for a song/XP? And/or making a tribute to themselves?
Are there any other PCs interested in joining us?

Able will make more holy water, filling the vials that folks already had. I believe that is 5 vials each.

[Marullus]

Low level thieves have the hardest time. It is only Dare that is in this situation... I am giving him 1xp credit in advance so you can expedite your return. Go ahead back to action.

[Zhym]

I assume we can also wait to allocate our item XP without losing it?

[Marullus]

Of course.

[Zhym]

"Well, then. Here we are again. Shall we proceed?" asks Pendleton. "Last chance for anyone who isn't already invisible to become so."

During the week, did we have time for Pendleton to make anyone and everyone invisible?

I don't suppose we had time for copying of spells, did we?

[Marullus]

You had a week - I am fine if you copy spells and/or make three people invisible last night before setting out today.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Able declines the offer, feeling that it is a form of hiding the truth. We'll need a light source anyhow. I'll hold the lantern fer us all. He stows Persuader on his pack and keeps his mallet handy.

[Mister-Kent]

Whoop! Level UP!

Also, I'm not buying anything new, just replenishing the arrows and rations

[Dram]

Did Neegan Level up?

[Dram]

Neegan will go invisible.


Neegan will replenish rations and bolts. Stock up on holy water.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Did Neegan Level up?

Check your private forum. Marullus seems to have updated all of my PCs current XPs. Check that against the book. And assign your Item XP before we get going again.

[Spearmint]

A rested and studied up Idriss is ready to continue with the infernal rout.

He has updated his and Dolph's inventory and noted his daily spell list.