56 - The Minero's Hunt
Previous session: 55 - Home sweet home
Rite of "Passage"...
And we keep discussing a bit about going there, and taking or not the vaccine.
In the end, Loyal accepts the vaccine, and Paildreo stabs him with a needle and is (potentially) immune to the Minero Morphosis.
We're ready to go and Nesvalyn leads the way.
Even if Nesvalyn grew there, the places changed since the last time he was there.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Nesvalyn hear a faint crack, and it slowly grows to a rumbling, it's like something was borrowing.
[DEX Save] Everybody except Gemini dodges the borrowing from above, as this largest figure drops.
A new companion...
This massive creature centaur half-elf slams on the floor and lands on Gemini.
When inspecting him closer, he's wearing a buttoned shirt, long brown hair and green eyes.
Still under the Centaur, Gemini let go a muffled scuff.
Nesvalyn & Persy observe the hole above.
↪ [DEX Save - Fail ❌] When suddenly we hear many "bang bang bang" noises, but a bit too late, and a large copper kettle and bonks both companions dealing 17 dmg to each. But the hole is blocked now.
Hugh laughs and kicks the kettle, making some noise.
Gemini pulls out her assault rifle.
Hugh laughs loudly.
Gemini shoots to prove her point, but it deafens temporarily some party members. Hugh bends a shell to prove his strength.
And we resume our way.
The hunt...
Nesvalyn senses some energy coming from some of them, but there is none in sight.
We continue our way going down the cave, going further in the deeps, and it feels like they're moving away from us. But we see more and more crystals forming on the way.
[Perception - Pass ✔] We notice two smaller crystals of a different color, as the light shines and lits off, like it blinks.
[Insight] Nesvalyn is focusing on that crystal, when suddenly you feeling something pushing off, until hearing "Kobold".
And a little creature runs away from the group.
[Athletics] We gave chase in the direction of the creature, until finally we all turn a corner and find this thing back against the wall, trying to climb it.
This appears to be a Wonderran kobold, but made of crystals.
Persy tries to cut off his escape route and goes up where the kobold tries, and curls, scared. Persy looks at Nesvalyn and shrugs.
[Insight - Pass ✔] Nesvalyn realizes when getting closer is that it's not afraid. Like we were where we were supposed to be.
It uncurls and speaks mentally to Nesvalyn.
When turning around, we see a dozen of crystal pair of eyes lighting up.
Proving the point...
The guards open the gates for the group, and they're curious of our finding. Chieftess Ruxur comes out of her quarters.
Loyal pulls out the crystallized Kobold, who tries to bite him. The townsfolk gasps and lean back.
The Chieftess follows and we're going to the fighting Pits. The Chieftess takes her spot, and we're lowered down to the pit, and we're let alone with the kobold.
Hugh summons two fire spirits for a hog fight.
Nesvalyn tries to take control of the Kobold.
↪[Persuasion] Nesvalyn makes a link, and it's not a morphoid grunt, it appears that it's an hybrid, and a mental discussion happens between the two.
The kobold takes a breath, and he dances like a superstar. As he's about to jump on the ground, his body chimers and they're two now, standing side by side.
They're dancing perfectly in sync, and they chimer and they're now four. It's like this one has the ability to create duplicates at will, which takes an interest from Paildreo.
Persy casts [Hypnotic Pattern] on the kobolds, but they're 8 now, which enhances the performance somehow. And when the kobolds do their finale move, 7 of them melts, leaving only one remaining.
We shackle and muzzle the kobold, and we're all led back to the guest villa.
Debriefing and next steps...
And we banter about our next steps, and also we wonder about sending back Hugh to where he's from.
Nesvalyn senses a mental voice from the Kobold.
Nesvalyn approaches him.
[Insight - Pass ✔] You sense he wants to play it cool, but he wants to not be alone anymore.
He takes off the remaining shackles by himself, but keeps the muzzle. He keeps talking mentally, as by observing him closer, the mutation blocks his mouth.
Hugh focuses and channels into Nesvalyn's body some energy, and casts [Regenerate], and his original silver Dragonborn hand growing back.
Paildreo notices that, runs to him and looks up, kisses him and returns to his notes.
Paildreo mentions amputation and regeneration while writing his notes. Nesvalyn has cold sweats from this.
✒By the Great Mother, may the visions I had just be fever dreams...
He looks intensively at Nesvalyn.
Back to the Dome...
Just as we adjust, the door to the lab opens, and sliding down through tunnel holding a sword is an Otter in a plate mail.
Persy presents the Cat’s Claw Brooch.
Next Session: 57 - Unexpected guests