DnD Thu Ep#67(266) Played Feb 7, 2019 (Ches 8, 1490) Alter-deep Pt2

INTRODUCTION

When last we left team Deep Hammers,

and those who globe trot the universe smashing bugs with them,

the party had finished off the last of the GIANT SPIDERS and 

not only managed to locate but to retrieve their old friend EPIC SONG 

from the surrounding throng of CATFOLK.

As GILAM brings the TABAXI in for a gentle landing

atop the main gatehouse of COOZT, 

an important question remains unanswered ... 

SCENE 01 - EPIC!!

With the team gathered atop the main gate house of the Catfolk city of Coozt, EPIC SONG nearly bursts with joy to see her old friends once again.

• PERC CHECK - No immediate Giant Spider Threat 

EPIC'S UPDATE

>  The spider invasion appeared from a Magenta Energy Phenomenon located in the direction of the mountains to the north but beyond view of the city.
>  The number of spiders grew over several days until they eventually amassed for an attack on COOZT.
>  The catfolk have no idea how many of them are on their way or what are their eventual goals.
>  And about the Revivitor relic:  "NO ... I don't still have that relic ... I stored it back in the vault where we found it in our ship in the Alternate Universe"

• LLYRIN - we need the orb ... 
• HERBAK - USES zoom vision of his new mask/goggles to see what's going on in the hills 
• VERALT - :AGE OR REWIND PLANTS: - 600 SQ FT OF DRY GRASS - in between us and the closest grass fire - the grass nearby becomes lush

PYRACHNIDS!!!!

In the distant hills, Herbak sees ... 
Flames erupt on the distant plateau to the North as a wave of huge spiders emerges from beyond view, spewing flame over the giant spiders gathered before them.

Herbak relates seeing huge bellowing flames, and giant, flame spewing spiders appearing from over the horizon and spreading forward, flaming Giant Spiders's and Phase Spiders's left and right (Phase Spiders begin disappearing).

"Pyrachnids ... very dangerous ... YOU go first"

LLYRIN - WANTS to return to the ALTERNATE UNIVERSE to track down Revivitor

CLOVER - crawls into the bag of holding.

>  but EPIC has another egg, so he need not climb in the bag. 

>  but ... if the egg is with EPIC, she can't rejoin 

>  CLOVER diving in and out of the bag, playing, explore 

SCENE 02 - What's Next?

Do we stay and help with the bugs?

Do we head home without the Revivitor Stone?

Do we head back to the Alternate Reality and grab the stone?

FLORA - SUCCEEDS in convincing EPIC to come along back to ALT-U
HERBAK casts :PRAYER OF HEALING: - GIVES back 2d8+2 HP =16

SCENE 03 - Home2 Again

The party reappears in "The Cushion Room", far below Troll Skull Manor, the teams inn here. The party lets Clover out of the bag, and together, lead by VERALT, the team make their way up the trapped and tricky Mazeworks, eventually arriving in the basement of Troll Skull Manner, entering through the secret door below the toilet ... eeew.

• As the party make their way into the main room on the first floor, it's immediately obvious that TROLL SKULL MANOR - is operating nicely as a pub, with two women and a man working behind the bar
• Taking advantage of the service and their private rooms, the team takes a LONG REST - 8 hours. 
• CLOVER - doesn't need a rest, goes to the neighboring book shop - Asks for guide books on the general topic of "Tips and Tricks for Inter-dimensional Travel"
• The shop keeper (an imposing Dragonborn Wizard), flickers briefly and returns with a stack of books of varying quality.
• Clover buys - "Planes and Universes for Dummies" and "Anywhere but Here" (contains sketches of things encountered in other planes and such, with written insights on same) for 25gp (from the 83 gp he "borrowed" from Llyrin's bag of holding).
• HERBAK has a dream in which the ghostly innkeeper suggests that Herbak check out his alter-self as he's doing VERY well ... lying to his followers.
• CLOVER crashes in a small private room and notices a ghostly face pushing back and forth in and out of the door, "reading over her shoulder". The ghost seems friendly, so Clover sets out a second lunch for the ghost, who returns with two ales. 

SCENE 04 - The Dragon Ship

After an extended breakfast or two, the party EVENTUALLY heads down to the docks to see if they can retrieve the Revivitor stone from the vault hidden in the lower deck.

The Dragon Ship as it truly looks ... for now, at least. 

• As the group approaches the docks, Flora explains to Clover how the team "borrowed" the ship in "our world" Waterdeep while the city was being overrun with undead and found themselves upon escaping the city being transported to the alternate universe in which they now find themselves. Flora also explains that the ship can conceal it's true form from viewers at will, but Clover can see the ship for what it is and not the ordinary sailing vessel seen by most others. 
• Clover becomes curious based on what he's heard if the ship might not be sentient. 

• Once aboard the ship, LLYRIN moves quickly to the area where the hidden vault was located and deftly (rolled a Nat 20 +7) disarms the several traps that protect the vault and unlocks it.
• Inside, you find the Revivitor stone just where Epic left it. 
• EPIC ... "See ... I told you so!" 
• While this is going on, HERBAK makes it clear he'd like to make a visit to the obviously immoral "Alter Herbak", but the rest of the party convinces him they should head back to "our world" Mirabar and continue where they left off. 
• This would involve going back down below Trollskull Manor and activating the "Go Anywhere" device, which seems to allow the party some control over where they go, if not WHEN they arrive there (the when part is still up in the air).
• QUESTION - is the Revivitor Orb magical (arcane) or spiritual/religious (holy artifact). Herbak wagers it's a holy relic, but the party hasn't yet determined that for sure.