What Dreams May Come

After a long week of celebration with the Dawi, you each settle down for some much needed rest.  Sleep\Trance comes quickly for your weary bodies.  At first you see see a montage of Dawi faces, underground tunnels, the city of Grimhold, and scenes of celebration as your brains process all the new experiences of the past days.

Later in the night, you enter a vivid and lucid state of dreaming.  

I am describing this once, in the singular, but EACH of you are having effectively the same dream  

You find yourself walking somewhere familiar - it might be the woods where you grew up or a mountain pass with deep snow or a river bed or the gloom of the Shadowfell.  Your senses are very keen.  You notice vibrant colors, feel the hot sun or cold wind on your skin, hear the natural sounds of animals, smell the scents of nearby plants if they are present.  It feels familiar.  It feels like home.  

As you enjoy the dream, you become aware of something else.....  You feel like you are being watched in your own dream.  Your surroundings become foggy or blurry.  It is both familiar and strange at the same time.



You turn left, right, all around but you cannot find the source of your discomfort.  Is it a singular source or does it feel like many eyes?  



You decide to keep moving.  The presence moves with you, always just out of sight.  You spot a familiar bend up ahead in the path.  You follow it but instead of going somewhere new, you end up back where you began.  You take another path, then another and another.... every time you end up back where you started.  

Anxiety begins to take hold.  Your heart beats faster.  Your mind tries to refocus on something else....  a new path appears.  Perhaps it is a mountain cave or a grove of trees or an inlet stream.  It seems brighter.  You take that path, determined.   You soon find a tall staircase leading upwards.  You climb.  It seems to go on forever.  



Finally at the top, you find yourself back in Grimhold.  

You are back at a Dawi celebration.  There are tables full of Dawi drinking and singing.  There are beautiful women in exotic dresses dancing.  The King and his court are assembled.  Bards play music.  But they all look odd, in that mish-mash way of dreams....


EVERYONE - please make a Perception check and a flat CHA check (no prof)

Vasyli's checks

Perception:

Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 10, + 5, TOTAL: 15

Charisma:

Rolling line 1 : 1d20 - 1 to total : 8, - 1, TOTAL: 7

Marvin’s Perception:
Thu Sep 29 2022 08:58:40 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 10 to total : 18, + 10, TOTAL: 28

Charisma:
Thu Sep 29 2022 08:59:32 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 0 to total : 4, TOTAL: 4
Yikes.

Perception
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +9" :

11 + 9 = 20

Charisma
Result of the throw of dice "1d20" :

9

Based on the CHA checks all being less than the DC 10, nobody is able to become an active lucid dreamer this time

All of you (Perc DC 10, 15) notice the following odd things that seem.... wrong.... with the Dream:

Some of the Dawi's beards are fake.  They appear to be woven or crocheted about of some kind of fabric.



Some of the beards look almost like hair tentacles



Warhol and Marvin notice (DC20) that the exotic dancers have hideous faces.  Some have scars, some have decayed teeth, some have rotten breath...




Only Marvin notices (DC 25) that members of King Wilhelm's court melt like wax candles if he looks at them




Marvin, Vasyli, and Warhol also notice (DC 15)  each other in their Dream.  They spot Zax being led off to a champagne room by the exotic dancers.  

Since nobody is able to act, the scene continues for a few moments.  Then the ground begins to shake.  Black tentacles burst up through the floor.  Some of the tentacles have spikes, some have eyeballs, some have festering sores.  Everyone is screaming and running in panic.  The tentacles grab each of you.  They wind around your legs, your arms, and just as they twist around your necks.....







You wake up.  You are in your bed.  Your heart is beating very fast.  You are covered in sweat.  Your sheets are soaked.


Luckily, you are all well rested from a week of celebration.  You get the feeling that you would not have fully recovered from this long rest, if you had been in the field.


What do you do?

Warhol will privately perform a divination ritual. “Are the Dawi disingenuously presenting themselves to us?”

Just make sure 'Zax remembers that there is "no sex in the champagne room."  

as for an action... uh, would the Dawi allow Vasyli to research dreams in their archives? (seems like it might be innocuous enough to ask)

And Vasyli will don his armor and gather his gear... helmet under his arm for now

What time is it? Or maybe more specifically, how do the dwarves keep time?

Marvin will quickly and quietly don his gear. Where are his quarters in relation to Warhol’s, Zax’s, and Vasyli’s?

Marvin is spooked and wanting to run to ground. When he’s dressed and armed he’ll slip into the alcove of his room and survey the surroundings outside his doorway:
Stealth:
Thu Sep 29 2022 20:56:22 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 12 to total : 17, + 12, TOTAL: 29

Perception:
Thu Sep 29 2022 20:58:55 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 10 to total : 17, + 10, TOTAL: 27

By the by, read that dream sequence with I Still Believe from the Lost Boys soundtrack playing in the background. Absolutely perfect atmosphere. Well done Mr. DM.

Whitey wrote:By the by, read that dream sequence with I Still Believe from the Lost Boys soundtrack playing in the background. Absolutely perfect atmosphere. Well done Mr. DM.

whoa, very cool

navyik wrote:Warhol will privately perform a divination ritual. “Are the Dawi disingenuously presenting themselves to us?”

The Dawi are presenting themselves truthfully and honestly.

Whitey wrote:What time is it? Or maybe more specifically, how do the dwarves keep  time?

Marvin will quickly and quietly don his gear. Where are his quarters in relation to Warhol’s, Zax’s, and Vasyli’s?

Marvin is spooked and wanting to run to ground. When he’s dressed and armed he’ll slip into the alcove of his room and survey the surroundings outside his doorway

Timekeeping is generally the same as above ground.  It is the near dawn.  Light from the surface does reach into Grimhold.  Some crops are even grown with the aid of reflecting panels.

Marvin slips into the shadows outside his chambers.  He sees a fully armored Vasyli, helmet under his arm, exit and moving with some unknown purpose (heading to ask the Dawi about dream research).  He sees Zax stumble out of his room, looking more ashen than usual.  He can hear low chanting coming from Warhol's chamber.

Vasyli sees Zax but not Marvin (based on PP).

Depending on what the Dawi say to Vasyli, he will look for the Warhol

Marvin will let the others go about their business for now. Are any of the dwarves awake yet?

whit10 wrote:Depending on what the Dawi say to Vasyli, he will look for the Warhol

As noted above, its near dawn. Most of the Dawi are still sleeping. Grimhold is quiet. There are a few sentries and town watch on duty but that's about it right now.

Where do you go and who do you ask?

Marvin will keep to the shadows and approach the main hall where the celebrations occurred. He intends to remain unseen.

He will look for a place resembling where the tentacles came up out of the floor and anything that appears out of place.

Whitey wrote:Marvin will keep to the shadows and approach the main hall where the celebrations occurred. He intends to remain unseen.

He will look for a place resembling where the tentacles came up out of the floor and anything that appears out of place.

Marvin makes it to the main hall undetected. Between hangovers, the early hour and being deep inside Grimhold, the guards are barely attentive.

The main hall itself looks as familiar, from the Dream, as a bar the morning after a drunken bender. The general layout seems familiar, but the lighting is different, colors appear where before there were only shadows, blurry corners and lines are now clear, the tables and chairs are in different positions, it is quiet, it is empty, and the odors are stale. Marvin sees no signs of damage to the floor, or tentacles, or creepy dancing girls, or melted wax faces.

Is this room where breakfast will be served?

For now, Vasyli will eat, make some tea and wait for the Dawi to wake up... he will also keep an eye out for Warhol and Marvin

Whitey wrote:Is this room where breakfast will be served?

This is more like the Main or Royal Hall. Some of the big celebration was here, but generally it is more for business. Now that the feasting is over, most Dawi eat at home or in their respective Guild houses (Engineers, Lunkers, Resonators, etc).

There will certainly be a gathering here for court affairs, Guild business and other daily Grimhold matters in the morning and off\on all day.


Now that Marvin thinks of it.... he isn't really sure what his status is after the celebrations. Is he still a welcomed guest? Could he seek work with the Lunkers? Is it time for "farewells"? Marvin wonders if the others are having those same thoughts.

whit10 wrote:For now, Vasyli will eat, make some tea and wait for the Dawi to wake up... he will also keep an eye out for Warhol and Marvin

Marvin is gone. Vasyli can hear chanting coming from Warhol's chambers. Zax appears to have returned to bed and is snoring loudly.


Let's give Alan a chance to respond too. Then we can move on to the next scene when everyone is ready. The party will be summoned to court!

Marvin will settle in to a good hiding spot and wait for business to pick up in the main hall. He rummages quietly though his pack for some dry rations to settle his very upset stomach. As he chews carefully he keeps one eye out for any verification of the dream sequence and ponders what his next step should be…

Augury ritual.

Weal or woe if we tell the Dawi about the dream.

navyik wrote:Augury ritual.

Weal or woe if we tell the Dawi about the dream.

the bones show both weal and woe

Warhol will cast detect good and evil before roaming the halls while concentrating. Then he will look for the others.

navyik wrote:Warhol will cast detect good and evil before roaming the halls while concentrating. Then he will look for the others.

For the Duration, you know if there is an Aberration, Celestial, elemental, fey, fiend, or Undead within 30 feet of you, as well as where the creature is located. Similarly, you know if there is a place or object within 30 feet of you that has been magically consecrated or desecrated. The spell can penetrate most barriers, but it is blocked by 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of Common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt.


Warhol wanders the halls for 10 minutes, but doesn't detect anything.   Zax is asleep in his room.  Vasyli is having tea.  Marvin is nowhere to be found.


Let's move along to the next scene....

Business begins to pick up in the Main hall.   Guild members discuss local issues.  Court officials gather.  Generally the talk is about the celebration - how much fun they had, how much their heads hurt, what a weird dream they had last night, etc.  

Nobody is actively searching for Marvin, but he isn't invisible and won't remain hidden for much longer.  The room is simply filling up with too many people (each of them making passive perception checks every 6 seconds).   Marvin overhears that the overland guests are to be summoned this morning.  He sees a Longbeard (elder) exit the hall tasked with finding the party.  





The Longbeard makes his way to the party's chambers and invites you all to morning court.  (unless interrupted)

Marvin will casually make his way through the hall to the place of main audience as if just arriving. He will stand at an easy parade rest, resting one hand on a short sword hilt and the other lightly keeping his bow in place over his shoulder.

He’ll respond if spoken to, but otherwise remain silent and wait patiently for the others.

Vasyli will stay silent for now, pondering the dream from last night and trying to get more info. He will go with the Longbeard

The party assembles in the Main hall.  King Wilhelm presides over court.  He is flanked by generals and advisors.  Each Guild has representatives in attendance.  

The party is handed an open ornate scroll case that bears the marking of Merciana.  "This arrived during the celebration."




The scroll inside is written in the formal language of Merciana and bears the seal of King Arcadius III.  The King praises your bravery and service to Merciana.  (in much flowery language)  The King commands that you offer your services to the Mountain Dwarves of Koroth (Dawi) as a sign of friendship between the two nations.   Upon completion, or if the Dwarves do not desire any service, you are to return home to Merciana.    




King Wilhem studies the companions,  "We do need your help, but it would come at great personal risk to you."   There is a general murmur from among the other Dawi, some in support and some in opposition.





Wilhelm silences the crowd with a raised hand.  "Dawi do not share their secrets with outsiders.  It is.... difficult for some to trust you and accept what must be done.  But know this, it would involve a journey deep into the Underverse.  Few surface dwellers ever visit the world below, fewer still live to tell the tale.  The Underverse is an alien and dangerous world, even for Dawi.  Some of our outposts have been sacked.  This has disrupted both our mining operations and trade with the Capital of Gordrun.  We have also lost contact with my cousin, Osric, High Thegn of the Holy Mountain.    

Dawi have certain treaties with some of the other subterranean races.  Outsiders can move more freely through their regions, without it being considered an act of war.  However, if you are captured down there, we cannot come to your aid.  

Take a few moments to discuss this amongst yourselves.  Ask questions, if you have them. If you agree, you will be shown a map."




 

Warhol is reminded of what the elders told him

Chris wrote:
Politics -  The Dawi are in constant conflict with other subterranean races as they fight for control of tunnels and mining opportunities.

Vasyli heard about this from the Engineers

Chris wrote:
As for what else is going on with the Engineers.....   They grumble generally about a lack of materials to work their craft.  They blame the Mining Guild.  The Mining Guild blames the 'Lunkers for not keeping the tunnels clear.  The 'Lunkers blame the Ragers for losing forts which supported the tunnels.  The Ragers blame the Engineers for not providing enough advanced weaponry to defend the forts.  Many Grudge Stones have been hurled over this dispute.

Marvin is reminded of Martin's stories

Chris wrote:  He described their realm like a hive of ants, with so many passages and side tunnels that a surface warden could easily get lost down there in the dark.  Martin's stories include many likely exaggerations about talking rocks, crystals with magical powers and even mushrooms that walked like men!  

Marvin pipes up “we serve you as we serve our king your highness. Who or what has sacked your outposts, milord?”

"Vasyli will serve Great King Wilhelm... Vasyli does not fear anything, what is life without personal risk?!! And... anyone who can capture Vasyli better have strong cage"


"Where is King Osric's kingdom?"

General Kaelgran steps forward with a map.  He is a Longbeard with heavy armor and skull helmet.   He lays out the map and explains the features:

RED - enemy regions

YELLOW - sacked\lost outposts

GREEN - neutral, no trespass

GREY - Dawi held forts

CRYSTALS - crystals, mithril or adamantine mining sites

Capital of Gordrun - roughly North\Northwest off the map
Cousin Osric, High Thegn of the Holy Mountain - roughly East (right) off the map
each are many days journey away





General Kaelgran continues, "All of the outposts have fallen in the last week.  This is no coincidence."
Other guild leaders grumble in disagreement.  The General's basso voice fills the chamber, "This is a coordinated attack, whether you will see it or not!"  

Guild members on both sides pull softball sized rocks, the grudge stones you have heard about, and begin to line up.  Before any grudges are hurled, King Wilhelm raises a hand to silence his court.  He addresses the party,  "We don't yet know who has attacked us or why.  We need an... unbiased assessment.  We cannot fight the Illithid, Duergar, Beholder-kin and Drow all at once.  You may explore in any direction you choose or multiple directions or try to open a path to Gordrun or the Holy Mountain."



There are obviously many more tunnels to the West and South, but the Dawi are not having any troubles in those directions, so they are not included just to keep the scale of the map easier.  The Dawi will continue their normal operations in those areas and attempt to hold\fortify their positions on the map you see, awaiting your exploration.  This is a BIG map and it would take you more than a day in any direction to get off the map.  
Also - the map is 2d, but of course the tunnels and caverns are in 3d, like an ant hill.

This is an open-world map and sandbox style part of the adventure.  You can literally go any which way and in any order!  


Questions in character or to the GM?

Marvin turns to the general “General, sir, what is the status and condition of the forts? Would either be a better staging point for us to range from?

Vasyli will ask, politely after the General answers Marvin, "Do you know strength of forces that took your outposts to east? That seems good starting point.... easy choke points to work from and it's isolate from rest of tunnels."

General Kaelgran grunts in satisfaction that the outsiders are asking tactical questions and taking this as seriously as he does, "The Eastern Fort (Dawi fort, big grey square) is heavily fortified with ballistics, 3 companies of Dawi (60) and well stocked with engineering supplies (alchemist fire, acid flasks, tanglefoot sacks). The outpost north of Grim Forge has a single company, no artillery and a light stock. It is a smaller natural cavern and not suited to fortification."

He turns to Vasyli, "Opfor (opposing force) is unknown. (He glares at the Lunkers) That's why we need tunnel rats with eyes on to assess. It might be a large force of Drow (he spits on the floor) or merely a few Beholder-kin. Our Engineers can devise specific counter measures, if we know what we are up against."

“I like the East as well. Starting there and working north and then down will keep our friends at our backs without getting caught between enemies.”

“What research can you give us on these enemies? Knowing their strengths and weakness will make us more effective.”

Feel free to read the Monster Manual entries for Illithid (mindflayers), Duergar (deep dwarves), Drow (dark elves) and Beholders. Its too much to retype, lol. Player knowledge is also fine in this instance.

There are also Svirfneblin (deep gnomes) but they are generally an enslaved race by both the Drow and Duergar.

I will get the group to the Eastern Fort via cinematic.

The party is led to the central mining shaft of Grimhold.   There are a series of lifts, bridges and stairways down, down to....






Grim Forge is every bit as massive as Grimhold.  You wonder which is actually the primary city.  You wonder how many surface dwellers have ever seen this site.  




The party makes its way to the Eastern exit.  Gor'Zax says his farewell here and tells the party he is going to position himself at the Northern Outpost, where he expects to see heavy fighting.  "Glory to you and to your quest!"

Past the defensive bastion, there are more stairs down.... down....  




The Eastern Fort is heavily fortified and commanded by Thorgrim Grudgebearer





If the party is ready, the northern tunnel awaits....

Ready!

ready

Marching order?

What are each of you doing about light and vision?
I know you have some magic items, but please just post your distance and capability for me. Maybe add a line to your stat block?

ok, we have the Lantern of Revealing - can burn up to 6 hours with a pint of oil in it, shedding bright light in a 30-foot radius. While in this area, any invisible creatures or objects are rendered visible.

Vasyli also has his Goggles of night.

I believe that Warhol can cast Dark vision as a spell as well?

Vasyli would normally take a position behind Marvin.. as Marvin is sneaky and can scout ahead.  

Just to ask (since I don't think I saw it anywhere) - who took the Scroll with the Teleport on it that the witch had?

Just saw Alan's message... forgot that it has to be on your list. No, its not on Vasyli's list, nevermind.

Can vasily cast teleport? He can have the scroll.

goggles of night - While wearing these dark lenses, you have Darkvision out to a range of 60 feet. If you already have Darkvision. wearing the goggles increases its range by 60 feet.

lantern of revealing - While lit, this Hooded lantern burns for 6 hours on 1 pint of oil, shedding bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet.

darkvision spell - darkvision 60 ft


but what is darkvision anyways???  

Darkvision. You can see in dim light within (60 feet whatever range)  of yourself as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.


Darkness – Darkness creates a heavily obscured area. Night, even most moonlit nights, are considered to cast full darkness as do any areas with a lack of bright light sources.

Dim Light – Dim light creates a lightly obscured area. This is often used to describe the hazy area between bright light (as caused by a torch or other light source) and darkness. Twilight, dawn, and even the light of a full moon are all considered dim light.

Bright Light – Most creatures can see normally in bright light. This is a well-lit room, a sunny day, the area closest to a light source, etc.

Heavily Obscured – Darkness, as well as things such as thick fog or dense foliage, cause an area to be heavily obscured. In these areas, creatures suffer from the blinded condition.

Blinded – A blinded creature can’t see and automatically fails any ability check that requires sight. Attack rolls against the creature have advantage, and the creature’s Attack rolls have disadvantage.

Lightly Obscured – Areas that are lightly obscured cause a creature to have disadvantage on perception checks that require sight.

Passive Perception – If a creature has disadvantage on perception checks, that creature takes a -5 penalty to their passive perception score.

Magical Darkness – Magical darkness is any darkness created by a spell or other magical effect.




so....   if you just rely on Darkvision, you are basically always in Dim light, since the tunnels are complete darkness.  that means DIS on Perception checks that require sight.  If you use the lantern, you have 30 ft of bright light + 30ft of dim light that counts as bright light if you also have darkvision.  
past 60ft, it is complete darkness either way.  (because you are out of range of the darkvision effect)

are you burning the lantern full time?

Marvin would feel reassured to have Darkvision from Warhol’s spell and Big V’s Lantern at the ready.

“We should consider bright light as a weapon in our arsenal. Creatures accustomed to the dark may be frightened or harmed by it.”

“I can make bright light.”

Warhol will cast dark vision on Marvin and then turn into a black leopard.
Leopard
Medium beast, unaligned

Armor Class: 15
Hit Points 30 (5d8+10)
Speed: 40 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 3 (-4) 12 (+1) 8 (-1)
Skills: Athletics +5, Perception +3, Stealth +8
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14 (19 smell)
Languages: –
Challenge: 1 (200 XP)

Special Traits

Pounce: If the leopard moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the tiger can make one bite attack against it as a bonus action.
Keen Smell: The leopard has advantage on Wisdom checks that rely on smell.
Actions

Bite: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage.
Claw: Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage.

The party enters the cool dark tunnel.  There is no natural light.

tunnel with darkvision




tunnel with lantern





The ceiling, walls and floor feel alive.  Stalactites and stalagmites form naturally.  Some are covered with strange formations.






The party walks, climbs and at sometimes crawls through the tunnel.  Vasyli in particular feels like an adult in a children's area.  The party walks quietly for several hours.  


The party decides to take a quick break and rest their legs.  Marvin feels a light vibration in the rocks coming from one side of the tunnel.  Nobody else notices it until he mentions it.  

Another hour of walking passes when everyone again notices the vibration, stronger this time, more like a distant rumble of thunder.   It seems to come from ahead now.   The party isn't sure if the source moved or if they are disorientated by the ever-twisting tunnel.

Another hour passes.....  the sound is like a crack of thunder directly overhead!


Everyone needs to make an Athletics or Acrobatics check or be knocked prone.

And roll initiative

Vasyli's rolls...

and, just for clarification, can a Reaction be used out of combat? Flash of Genius says its for "ability checks and saving throws"

Athletics:

Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 6 to total : 9, + 6, TOTAL: 15

Initiative:

Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 1 to total : 6, + 1, TOTAL: 7

Warhol in Leapord form
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +5" :

2 + 5 = 7

Initiative
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +3”:

17 + 3 = 20

whit10 wrote:Vasyli's rolls...

and, just for clarification, can a Reaction be used out of combat?  Flash of Genius says its for "ability checks and saving throws"

Athletics:

Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 6 to total : 9, + 6, TOTAL: 15

Initiative:

Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 1 to total : 6, + 1, TOTAL: 7

I don't see why not, sure

cool!

If it's needed, Vasyli can add a +5 to anyone's Athletics/Acrobatics check... Hopefully Vasyli doesn't need it for his.

whit10 wrote:cool!

If it's needed, Vasyli can add a +5 to anyone's Athletics/Acrobatics check... Hopefully Vasyli doesn't need it for his.

DC is 16, so far V and Warhol are both down


Initiative (so far)

Warhol 20
? 14
V 7
? 7