B1E9 The Nautilus

From Dougan’s Hole, we headed north to Bryn Shander to buy discount armor from the dwarves before heading southeast to the Verbeeg cave to enlist their aid as guides to the site within the Spine of the World where they found the alien shards. Geared with tents and supplies loaded on an Axebeak (used as a mule), we trekked south.

2^nd day encounter: fortune the ancient white dragon (Arveiaturace) with its human wizard rider continued flying northwest, not seeing us. Maybe the 1,000-year-old dragon (known as The Terror of the North) saw us but was satisfied with the reindeer treat clasp in its claws. Maybe the 500-year-old wizard Meltharond had a scheduled appointment to keep.

3^rd day reunion: Mareshi met up with other members of her Wolf Tribe who invited all to participate in a vision-quest. Knott saw vision of an island shaped like a snowflake, while Thokk saw a flying city that had crashed into a glacier. Mareshi saw the same city but when she tried to peer into the city, she was driven out by a strong psychic power.

4^th day blizzard: At least Knott saw the inbound threat in time to cast Tiny Hut for all to hunker down to wait out the 3-hour storm. As for the Verbeeg: this was their natural element… they endured outside the hut.

5^th day arrival: it was huge, crashed into the snowbank at a 20-degree angle. 100ft long not counting the tentacles that still withered and twitched. A huge nautilus seashell that looked like a kraken had taken homestead: not enough room to pull in its tentacles. Their part done in showing the way, the Verbeeg left. And that’s when two carrion crawlers appeared on our flanks. Claws and poisonous bites that paralyzed Donobos and Draggo until Mareshi cast Lesser Restoration to free them of the poison.

No sooner did the paladin kill one crawler than a huge armored Bulette erupted from the icy ground knocking Mareshi prone. Donobos faced the new threat alone in melee and paid the price as he went down (0HP). Revived by Fabian’s healing aid (4) and just enough time to Lay-On-Hands (15) before the Bulette rampaged again. A killing blow (45) to the paladin had Fabian not administered aid! [19HP -45 damage = -26 with Donobos starting at 29HP max] Once the last crawler and Bulette were slain, we retreated a safe distance to camp and heal (long rest recovery of spells).

The Ship: Fabian climbed to the top of the ship first then threw down a rope for the others to gain access to the strange ship deck with huge ballista weaponry at the bow. Mareshi led the way, following the signal that still pinged in her mind. An interior door opened to reveal a large unmoving flesh golem (goblin, dwarf, reindeer construct) 

with 3 little squid-like things roaming about, bumping into things. Three sets of huge chains and manacles proved to be the restraints that once held the crawlers and bulette. Did someone sight us and release the creatures to attack?

Inside one toppled crate Draggo found the decaying remains of animals crushed on impact when the ship ran aground. Donobos found 6 strange sticks (each a hollow tube with a trigger device) in another crate. Curiosity unsolved and forgotten for the moment, we continued to explore the back of the area. Five small rooms: each held an empty [life support] pod. [incubation chambers for captured beings being converted into Mind Flayers]

We climbed to the next deck since Mareshi sensed more aberrations above. Mid-deck with rows on ballista on either side pointing out as if this a warship able to deliver a broadside attack. We entered a rear door: a gnome-size aberration fiddled with tools scattered about the floor. Mareshi understood its telepathic voice; once it activated a universal translator, all could hear its common dialect. “I am Dredvex Sinfiz from the astral plains. I can sense the crystal in your possession that will power my ship. 

If one of you is willing to pilot my vessel… all you need to do is allow me to put this tadpole in your eye. It will only hurt a little, but you will gain great knowledge of the worlds.”

Mareshi offered trade of the crystal for knowledge how to restore the sun to the realm, but Devrick only knew one of our gods was to blame. “Perhaps the god is afraid of something.” Devrick called his brother Vorryn from the upper deck… he did not have an answer either. In the end, Mareshi traded the crystal for knowledge of the long sticks (laser rifles) and a future aid. “Maybe we can find you a pilot (willing or not) and then call upon you for transport across our land. Do you have sails to catch the wind to race across the ice?” Devrick and Boron displayed a confused look, “Sails? At least with this crystal we can send a message to our race to send another ship from the astral plains. Perhaps that ship captain will have the answers you seek. He is wiser and more ancient than us.”

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

Sighting of the ancient white dragon, Arveiaturace, The Terror of the North and its wizard, Meltharond.

Parley with gnomish Mind Flayers who crashed the alien ship. And taught us how to use the laser rifles.

Rumor 13-14: Heading west to deal with the goblin scavengers raiding traffic along the Ten-Trails road that crosses the spine.

Next Episode: https://wjrrofm.blogspot.com/2024/07/b1e10-ten-trails.html