Tomb of Annihilation

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When it gets Dark, azaka slinks out of the forest and leads you all to the base of the spire. You can hear the Pterafolk calling out above but they don't seem to hear you. As you're walking, she puts a foot down at the base of the spire and hisses, yanking a leg away. "why did that feel like a dead body"
 
As Felicity enters the pit, you start to hear a clacking noise. Looking in, you can see four massive spiders making their ways out of small cracks in the side towards her.
 
Azakas reflexes are a second quicker then Bodens, but is right there behind her leaping into the pit.
Don't hesitate like before.

He chuckles to himself as the Yklwas pierces the spiders carapace.
Well I did strike like an eagle.
The distraction gives the spider an opening, pain races up his leg. He hears a yowl from Azakas.
Everyone is jumping into the pit now, attacking the spiders.

With a swift punt to the last spider and it's over. Climbing out of the pit Bodens leg is bothering him, but he makes no outward signs of distress.
 
Tabasco climbs across the wall without issue, turning back to face the rest of the party. When the spiders appear asking those in the pit, he takes a moment to decide house target before leaping down and crushing it against the rough stone.
 
Felicity sighed as she entered the pit. She was the only one that didn't have the strength to just jump over it, which felt like a failing on her part. When the spiders came out of the holes inside the pit Felicity drew her rapier, and as the others jumped into the pit and onto the spiders she skewered one right in it's face. The spiders were quickly dealt with and she climbed out of the pit with the help of someone else. "Let's hope the next fight is that easy."
 
Of course there had to be spiders in the dark scary pit. Well, at least they didn't give the party much trouble. Felix barely had time to jump into the fray and scratch one of them across its chitin before they all lay mangled before them. Azaka did seem to take a few solid bites, though more interestingly she was now a fearsome tiger-beast-thing. Not that there's anything wrong with that, he reminded himself. As long as she doesn't try to kill us.
 
Felicity rushes around the corner and whispers to one of the creatures, which causes him to run to the back of the room. As her friends rush into the room around her she whispers to another one, who tries to run away, but not before tiger Azaka claws him. Before Felicity could react again they had all been killed. She smirked at how quickly her group had cleaned up. She picked through the remains but didn't find anything of use. She then helped to untie the bird person.
 
Felix waits for the sound of melee, and uses that signal to charge in. "You will rue the d-" as he rounds the bend, he is quite startled to see four Pterafolk corpses strewn about the room. "Oh. Well, looks like you all have this well in hand..." He sheaths his Marking Stick and puts Shovelshield back on his back, and proceeds to poke about the room for knick-knacks, to no avail.
 
As Tovalt awaits the sounds of fighting he calms himself, stilling the waters in him, with his eyes closed. Clarity will get him through the day in the end. His eyes snap open at the signaling sounds and he's already in motion. Rite blood fresh on his blade he carves into the healthiest looking enemy. As the whirlwind of combat dies down, he and his comrades stand victorious and have even saved another's life in the process.
 
"Then let's use our strengths against them" Boden pulls up his hood, letting the shadows embrace him; moving silently to the next room with a demon woman and a tiger lady. They are around the corner in a flash Felicity hits one with a powerful spell, causing it to flee.
Azakas pounces on one giving Boden an opening to finish it. He drops another injured peterafolk before it has a chance to react.
Seeing that his companions have ended the others, he takes a second to centre himself. Drawing back to him that expended energy.
"The only easy day was yesterday, prepare yourself for the future." His old masters words ring in his ears, as he sits and mediates.
 
As the final Pterafolk flees, you all breathe a sigh of relief. Searching the top of the tower, you discover unlocked chests. Within them you find copper pieces, 2000 of them, 730 silver pieces, 4 gemstones, a scroll, and, in the last one, a wooden mask. When Azaka sees, having turned back into her human form, she immediately grabs it and kind of holds it close.
 
Clambering up to the top of the spire, Felix joins Boden, Felicity and Azaka behind some bushes. Pterafolk were swarming. This would undoubtedly be their greatest challenge yet! Felix's only regret was that it was just a measly natural spire, not a crumbling ancient tomb or long-forgotten fort. Ah well, there was still time.

When the signal was given, Felix rushed in with the forward team, joining Azaka near the edge while Boden handled what looked to be their leader. Adrenaline pumping, he got in a few good swipes in, but mostly held the line against their blows. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Boden go down not just once but twice, with emergency care delivered by Tabasco and Tovalt. "Teamwork! I like it!" he called out, before skewering one of the Pterafolk on his rapier. They took a brutal amount of clawing from the winged monstrosities, and Azaka looked like she was about to faint, but they somehow managed to pull through.

As the remaining Pterafolk fled off into the night, the group set about scavenging what they could. A scroll in particular caught Felix's eye. A map detailing a nearby ruin?! ...no such luck. The script revealed incantations and rites for a Commune with Nature spell. It was fascinating, like instructions for navigating a metaphysical maze. Felix stared at the scroll for an inordinate amount of time before passing it to Felicity, who might make better use of it. At least, for now. Perhaps ruins and tombs aren't the only mysteries worth exploring. Perhaps...
 
As Boden crested the top of the spire, he saw them
How hard could this be? Only four of them.
Signaling to his companions, they formulated a plan.
Where did those come from? More of the beast seemed to materialise from thin air. Looking up there were more circling above. This was going to hurt.
They burst from their hiding places, the first one fell before.
well this will be easy.
Then he showed up. A giant monstrosity among peterafolk.
Boden wasn't expecting it. He hit hard and fast; searing pain races through his body; the world went black.
He was awake again, Holly energy coursing through his veins.
Then more pain and it was back to the black.
Adrift in a sea of dark awaiting for his soul to embark.
Then she was there, his Raven Queen with her raven hair.
Now is not the time, watch for the signs.
At that time, you will have power of Shadow like mine.

Coming to once more, tovalt standing over him. He aimed his Yklwas and let fly. With the taste of copper in his mouth, he slumped down collapsing in exhaustion.
 
Camp righteous, more like camp righteous stupidity, no walls or fortifications in an undead invested jungle? To some extent Boden understood what it it had met whatever fate it had.
Investigating such a place seemed like a good idea, of it weren't for the darn snakes confusing him for dinner. Next time, he would remember to use his quarter staff to poke tents. Less and bits that way.
There stood a statue of a giant crocodile being carried by a man. It was interesting to say the least, Azaka and Felix recounted the ancient legend.
When azaka spoke of her family and playing as children, it took Boden to a lifetime ago. Growing up in a monestary had not been easy and they had little chance for play. What would his life have been if he want abandoned as a child? Did he have siblings out there still?
He felt protective of Azaka, she had been cursed and outcast her entire life. He knew those feelings all to well. So he got down on one knee and for the first time in a long time, he played. He played the game Azaka played as a child.

It was fun, then Tovalt fell in a hole. Turns out the game he was playing was more then that. At first no one believed it could be true, and they got the burns to prove it. Then came the debate over how to open the door, that lasted for quite a long time. Boden disagreeing with the plan decided he would take his "crocodile"and stand back while they attempted it.

Second time was the charm and they got a fantastic alchemy Jug on the other side. Glad everyone made it out alive, Boden went to find the latrine.
 
"Ah, now this is what I came here for!" mused Felix as they entered the ancient shrine. Long-abandoned from a dead civilization, with a strange myth and likely fabulous artifacts inside. "IThe Archaeological Association of Neverwinter will have a fit when they hear about this! They'll rue the day..." He was cut off as suddenly the floor gave way beneath him! Falling into the pit was, of course, painful, but Felix found it more instructive than anything else. Azaka and Boden, with their crocodile-game, did not fall in. It all made sense: the shrine honored the crocodile of the myth, so devotees must take the pose the man and crocodile to pay their proper respects. Felicity and Tovalt were not keen on the approach, though after a few cuts and burns from setting off traps they soon begrudgingly joined in.

Felix was quite embarrassed when his suggested solution to the door button conundrum resulted in an explosion of force and humiliation. The shrine was simpler than he conjectured - merely honoring the man-riding-crocodile pose, and with no specific rendition of the switch to crocodile-riding-man pose needed. A valuable lesson learned.

The prize in the central vault was well worth it: an intricate jug that would magically generate all manner of delightful liquids when poured. Never would they have to scrounge for clean water in the jungle again! They could also turn a tidy profit by generating vials of acid...might be useful for funding their future expeditions. He briefly debated whether it was problematic to remove the ceremonial artifact from its original place, but soon concluded that taking it was justified in light of how much knowledge could be gained by further study and examination of its properties while their travels continued.
 
As you walk out of the jungle, you look UP. An ancient monastery overlooks the jungle from its perch on the cliff of a tall plateau. Stone steps and rickety walkways connect the various buildings, the lowest of which is 500 feet above the ground. The main building has a circular mazelike symbol carved into its crumbling facade.

Every few minutes, bird folk either land at the monastery or launch themselves from its balconies and take to the sky.
 
Felix gazes up at the spectacle in wonder. I bet that monastary has a story behind it. Turning to Na, he smiles. "Looks like you're home! And a fine home it is, I must say. But, uh, how do non-bird folk like us get up?"
 
Felicity eyes the broken sections of the way up and sighs. She thinks for a moment before she casts thaumaturgy to make her voice boom out to the monastery. "Hey, if anyone is there can you please help us up? We have someone who says he lives here!"
 
There was something about the monestary that felt familiar to Boden, probably just his past.
The broken stairs could be a problem, although they did have climbing kits...
my god Felicity can be loud... Okay these warriors don't look too happy to see us.
His grip tightening on his weapon, if this peaceful interaction went south he had to be ready.
Luckily they listened to Prince Na, and flying seemed much easier then those stairs.
 
Felicity was pleased with herself after using thaumaturgy. It was one of the more successful times she had used it, and being flown up was certainly much better then having to scale her way up with her own strength. After talking with the teacher the group decided to not go for the orchid, at least not right away. Felicity agreed to the idea of feather falling down to the bottom, and it worked just as intended. "Alright guys, hopefully Omu will have what we're looking for."
 
Felix was quite interested in the strange monastary of the bird-people, though unable to place the exa t origins of its carvings. Something to investigate at a later date... For now, though, their patton's need kept them moving forward. The flight ritual unfortunately wouldn't speed them up, so land/ sea travel it was.

He was quite happy to have the opportunity to test his newfound magical abilities on the way down though, with the Feather Fall spell. Upon landing, he cheerfully informed his companions: "Well, it works after all! Good to know!"
 
Tovalt kept quiet and to himself. The flight up had unsettled him, not used to being airborne with his weight. When they decided to use feather fall to go back down he wanted to protest but everyone else seemed up for it so he swallowed his words and joined it. Took all of his self-control to keep his composure. Once on the solid ground, he let himself breath more easily. Turning to Felicity he gives a nod. "Yes, let's hope this isn't a wild chase that only leads to more battles."
 
There was no time to be running around the jungle after his own wants and needs. They would have to learn to fly later.
Having a great idea, and giving Felix a wink he dove off kir Sabal, head first.

That night the dreams came to him in his trance. Dreams of those that have him purpose and a gift.

An egg? An egg that taps back? What on earth is in here? Boden wrapped it in a blanket to stay warm and carefully set it in his backpack.

Days passed, the egg grew warmer and warmer, then crack! Scaled head emerged, and "holy shit a dragon!"
What was Boden going to do with a dragon? Even a small one?
i suppose a name would be appropriate. Remembering where this creature came from, he decided on Nox. What do pseudodragons eat anyway? He'd have to figure it out because this tiny creature depended on him now.
 
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Felix jolted awake, to find a glowing rapier in his palm. Interesting. So it was real. He tested its weight - well-balanced, with evidently some magical enhancements. Wary of its origin, he cast Identify - discovering it had strange wild properties, though technically was not cursed. Perhaps reflective of the anarchic tendencies of its generator...?

Looking around the boat, he noticed his companions also fiddling with newfound items. I wasn't alone... "I'm guessing you all had nightmares of our adversary too, huh? Surprisingly helpful, confirmed that the Soulmonger was being used to rip souls away from the living (and I presume the dead). And suggested it was a machine that could indeed be stopped!"
 
The days had begun to blur for Tabasco. The aarakocra of Kir Sabal had intrigued and annoyed him, flying around like they owned the place and separating him from Alphonse. Why anyone would want to live in the sky--the lack of air must do something to their brain--he thought. Trekking through the jungle had turned to bobbing slowly on the currents, more than a week to landfall. And now more walking, ever south. To Omu, in the hope that the city would hold the answer to the curse and not just be another jungle ruin slowly rotting away.

Even the dream was unimpressive, a man wrapped in shadows whispering into Tabasco's mind as he traipsed through a not-particularly-pleasant memory. Something was off about the intruder--a sound, a smell, the stream of invective hurled into Tabasco's mind. He sought the man out, leaving behind the grisly scene once again. And suddenly he awoke, holding a lustrous obsidian and emerald green stick. Without looking at his companions Tabasco rushes to strike the camp, falling back into the relative comfort of empty routine. It is only when this is done and taken care of that he lightens up again. He takes the stick and scratches Alphonse's back with it, listening happily to the contented growl. As the dinosaur suddenly shrinks to the size of a horse, Tabasco nods contentedly and hops on his steed's back. The days go on.
 
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