Into the Gray

Session Summary

We ask Sylvia to join us and she agrees. We set out to search for Wash and move faster than usual, eventually spotting the Gem Eaters at a distance. Sylvia offers to take them to an abandoned mine with ore, and I communicate with them using Tongues. They ask about food, and I explain that we have so little. I ask about their home and they say they were stolen from it many years ago. Sylvia gives them directions, and we continue our journey. We encounter a herd of Umber Hulks and begin battle.

Log

I ask Sylvia if she still wants to join us. She seems down for it. I try to redeem my cooking with breakfast, and it’s at least adequate. #cooking

We discuss what we’ll do next. Which is to go off to search for Wash.

We walk in order of [Elzara], myself, Twinkletoes, Elzira, and then Arachne.

We decide to move a little faster (30% mechanically), which gives us -5 perception. In the distance, at about 8am, we see a group of familiar looking figures. It’s the metal munchers.

Sylvia advises us that she could take them to the ore deposits north. They’re mostly just hungry and sad.

We learn that this species is new to the area since around 50 years ago. 

Arachne tells me I should ask them about their home. 

We travel another 15 minutes before the creatures arrive. I cast Tongues.

“Hello, friends, greetings! We come in peace!” I say to them. #encounters/gemeaters

“Do you have food we can eat?”

I explain that we already gave our extra food away but our friend Sylvia can take them to the ores.

“it smells like you still have food on you”

You hear murmuring, mentions of you being able to communicate with them and also the idea of trusting you.

I explain we have so little here and we need it to survive. I ask Sylvia how much metal there is. She explains that it is an abandoned mine.

“How far away exactly?” 

I explain that it may be one or two days but with their sense of smell they should be able to start detecting it as they get closer.

It sounds like they're kind of pleased with the thought of knowing ahead of their destination that they'd be able to know they're on the right track.

I explain that I am from another place myself and I was gifted with magic and that is why I am able to speak in Tongues.

“In response to the magic explanation they seemed happy with that explanation.”

I then ask where they are from.

“The elders say we were stolen from our home many years ago, you'd have to talk to them if you want more information of what that was like, but frankly it seems like fairy tales to me.” #lore ^547915

I ask if there is anything I should communicate with Sylvia before they depart with her to look for the mines.

“Would that one be able to give directions if we were to just ask for them, some prefer to not follow a stranger.”

We translate directions between Sylvia and the creatures.

They thank you for this and hope they will be able to share this mine with others.

I give my name and let them know that I will be telling others to bring extra food (metal) when they travel to these parts. #characterlore

It sounds like if the Gem Eaters find the mine it's likely they'll talk very nicely about you. #relationships

Sylvia is able to give them extremely good directions. 

I explain their lore to Arachne and Elzira, who also seems interested in it. 

Sylvia will carry on with us now that she’s not parting ways to guide the creatures.

I say we should carry on because we’re losing time.

It’s 8:45am. We carry on for another two hours. Due to our fast travel, we disturb a round of enemies. It is a huge herd of Umber Hulks, actively sprinting at us. #encounters/umberhulk

INITIATIVE

Twinkletoes casts Shatter on the front line, dealing 13 damage to three Umber Hulks.

Arachne steps back and casts Beacon of Hope on all of us.  Each target has advantage on Wisdom saving throws and death saving throws, and regains the maximum number of hit points possible from any healing.

She then casts Spiritual Weapon and deals 9 force damage.

BEACON 1, SPIRITUAL 1

Elzara turns Giant and prepares to hit if anything comes in range. She moves to stand next to Elzira. GIANT 1

The Umber Hulks move forward to Elzara. She swings and deals 6 damage to the first Elzara. 

 The first claw attack knocks Elzara for 21 damage. The second is 10 damage. It bites and misses. Another successfully hits with its claw for 10 damage. The other two attacks miss. She takes 9 damage for one more hit. 

I fail my CHA saving throw and run through the field of Umber Hulk like a dumbass, spurring on a gajillion opportunity attacks. I take a total of 29 damage.