Recap From 8.22.2020 - What's in the Box!?

After taking out a Beholder Zombie and his minions, the party heard a commotion coming from the the

next chamber and notice the entrance has runes marking the doorway in both Elvish and Dwarvish - "Temple of the Sun".  Upon entering the room you see a large cut out that once allowed sun to shine this far down into the cave.  The now gloomy temple has two humans and a small demon - Algathr'oth.  

Upon seeing the demon, Shardon immediately fell victim to temporary madness - manifesting itself as an unceasing compulsion to berate the mistakes of others.  The two humans - Warlocks of the Fiend, began to beckon Zofia to join them in the service of the demon present.  While Zofia was able to resist the call, she found herself unable to attack the Warlocks.

The demon asked for the Infernal Puzzle Box, but the party decided to tell it to kick rocks.  

Forgotten by the crappy DM - The demon should have asked Elric in his harsh, metallic voice, "The Aasimar must not care!  Why would he allow others to touch the puzzle? He must not know what it contains!" 

A battle ensued that included Volok dealing some heavy damage.  At one point the demon felt threatened enough to summon a Manticore, but its was almost immediately charmed by Isabrix.  One by one our heroes fell, succumbing to fireball after fireball.  Finally when it looked like all was lost, Volok struck a deal for the lives of his friends, surrendering the puzzle box.  He witnessed the box open and saw the contract it contained.  The foes vanished and he slowly nursed the group back to help.

*Clarification - Volok's axe he flung into the fire was instantly melted by the infernal fire.  Anyone that might have been flung into the fire would have been badly hurt. 

Emerging from Wave Echo Cave, the group is met by a Sending Spell in the form of a fiery bird - 

"We need to talk,  Things are worse than I feared.  If you can, please return to my home.

The realm depends on it."

The message is spoken the the recognizable voice of Zarturian, your ally just northeast of Phandelin.  When you return to his house he hurriedly greets you and lets you know that he wasn't completely up front with his history.  You did indeed save him from the Oblex, but he wasn't merely a collector of magic, but one of 7 self-anointed guardians of the realm.  They made it their business to make sure the land is not interfered with by extra-planar threats.  The other six guardians are scattered throughout the land and are equally indebted to the party for saving Zarturian.  Their current view - evil is saturating the land - almost as if Avernus has been opened.  

The party learned of several allies - 

• A male dwarf - Vandeam Frostbeard - located 300 miles north - Vandeam has observed the wood elves to the west of him gearing up and acting even less friendly to strangers.  The yetis to the east are restless and seem to be moving south.  The Frost Giants are less and less visible on the tundras.
• Jesica Galpsi - a female halfing 300 miles southeast of Zarturian - she's noticed the wood elves (numbering 300-500) and the High Elves (maybe 50-60) forming an uneasy alliance.  Both constantly monitor the Kobold lands to the east.
• A male half-orc, Krirve - located 550 miles SE - he's noticed dragons grouping to the west - the are flying at night, so he's unsure of the coloring
• A female wood elf, 700 miles southeast - Keishara Chaexina - she's monitoring the dwarves to the east moving from their villages to the mines in the mountains (this is typically a defensive move)
• A friendly male Kobold - Cley Keenfang - he has seen what he describes as evil amassing in the wastelands known as Anaurach - the glow everyone is seeing seems to be coming from the Everwinter Woods

Finally, Marmag, a gith was last located 1000 miles east southeast of Zarturian.  Z had just visited Marmag right before the mindflayers planted the Oblex in his new home.  He is very concerned something has happened to him.  

He also alerts you to the fact of the existence of a natural wall, a plateau if you will directly east, about 1000 miles away.  It would block any travel directly to Everwinter Woods due to its immense height (500 feet) and length (600 miles).

Upon hearing this info - Isabrix - decided to take off for Frostbeard - hearing he would have weaponry for the fighters in the group.  She currently has the Bag of Holding and has taken the form of a wolf to speed toward her destination.  Travis is flying above her.  (Note - Elric doesn't have his telepathic connection due to distance, however Izzy does have a telepathic connection as long as Travis is within 100 feet.  Travis is always able to find Elric, no matter the distance and can fly 100 miles a day if he pushes it)

The rest of the party is getting ready to head to Neverwinter to prep for the long journey.

Coming up Thursday...

Sky as you entered Tresendar Manor

• How are you going to find Wave Echo Cave?

• Bloodstaff is dead but how about his apprentices?

• Anybody want to try that box?

• Sky sure does look weird...

Recap 7.31.2020 - Neverwinter? How about Never Fight?

After a short discussion with Reidart the party headed to Neverwinter where Kali and Zofia opened accounts at the Iron Bank (450 gp each) and the group visited a couple of taverns to learn a little bit about the weird warm weather a red hue to the sky.  Kali asked around about an Elvin Temple and learned that while there was no temple in town, the woods nearby were known to have elves.  Quite in the middle of a conversation, Travis returned with the formerly green, now black magically locked box.  Zartarian sent word that try as he might, he was unable to open it, he did know that it was an Infernal Puzzle Box.  After a quick web search Kali informed everyone:

An infernal puzzle box is a cube-shaped container 5 to 6 inches on a side, composed of airtight,

interlocking parts made from materials found in the Nine Hells. Most of these boxes are made of infernal iron, though some are carved from bone or horn. Infernal puzzle boxes are used to safeguard diabolical contracts signed between devils and mortals, even after the terms of these contracts are fulfilled. An empty infernal puzzle box weighs 3 pounds regardless of the materials used to fashion it.

When an object small enough to fit inside an infernal puzzle box is placed in it, the container magically seals shut around the object, and no magic can force the box open. The sealed box becomes immune to all damage as well. Every infernal puzzle box is constructed with a unique means of opening it. The trick to solving the puzzle is always mundane, never magical. Once a creature figures out the trick or sequence of steps needed to open a particular infernal puzzle box, that creature can open the box as an action, allowing access to the box's contents.

A creature that spends 1 hour holding an infernal puzzle box while trying to open it can make a DC 30 Intelligence (Investigation) check. If the check succeeds, the creature figures out the trick or sequence of steps needed to open the box. If the check fails by 5 or more, the creature must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

After a short shopping spree and time in the wizard shop, the crew went to the local House of Chance and won some gold and lost some gold. After a night's sleep, the crew took out for Reidart's place so he could show them to Wave Echo Cave completely forgot Reidart was going to show them where the entrance to Wave Echo Cave was and decided to exact some revenge on Bloodstaff.

After carefully crafting a plan to bind the vampires in a Magic Circle the party ran in, ready to bring the pain.  Hannahlore successfully cast the spell, but only captured Bloodstaff and one apprentice.  Apprentice number 2 foolishly ran in the middle of the group and quickly died.  Bloodstaff dominated Hannahlore and the Magic Circle dropped.  After Bloodstaff's second underling misted away, Bloodstaff cast Invisbility.  Folks slapped the crap out of Hannalore and Shardon's guardian jumped rope to discover the Vampire's location.  Bloodstaff tried to put the party to sleep which led to more slapping.  Finally Kali cast Sunbeam from a Chardalyn stone that caused Bloodstaff to not only die but he was utterly destroyed by the sunlight she cast.  

What happened to the apprentices?  How will they find Wave Echo Cave?  What's with the puzzle box?  Things are really heating up!