Ruby awoke with a start as Durge leaned over her open tent, a knife in hand. As she jumped back with a yell she saw the others as wyll held out his hand Sweat still dripping down his own face. "Sorry for the scare, you were thrashing and kicking in your tent, your skin was grey and lips cold. Seems outer dream visitor just managed to save you." Wyll waved off Durge and the others as Shadowheart handed his a bucket of water with a cloth.
Ruby breathed in heavily as she washed her face. "Yeah... visitor? What did they look like to you?" Ruby asked.
"Well... a id have to say a fair bit like you actually." Shadowheart said.
"When I talked to them... it was her... i thought... I barely ... it is my mother."
"I hate to rain on that thought, but were going to need more proof of that then that, their suggesting we use the tadpoles. That dangerous, not to mention their in our head. We need to see if helping us is their true intention." Wyll said. "But if it truly is your mother... then we'll do everything we can do to help her."
Chapter 21 Goblin Camp
Ruby sat in the wrecked windmill tower looking down past the village through her scope, from her elevated vantage point she tracked and tried to count how many goblins milled around the camp, as well as a few bugbears and a ogre stood out side the main entrance to the temple, then noticing a man in blue clothes. Her steady breath as she watched the wargs at the gate and the various guards. Lowering her weapon she slid down the ladder to the others. "It's packed... and I doubt their going to be all that kind given the amount of scouts they have sent out we have wiped out." Ruby said holstering her weapon on her back. "On top of that they have Captured Volo."
"Ahh... that complicates things, perhaps infiltration should be our concern so we can rescue Volo and Halsin." Gale advised.
Wyll nodded as he he scratched his chin, "With all eight of us... we should see if we can get into the camp in someway, get some info before heading into the depths."
"We should set up a system, each of us has a partner and we stick with that partner. At no point should any of us should be alone." Karlach said placing a hand on hip.
"Indeed... the vile filth of their hoard grows day by day... soon blood will flow in the rivers like water." Durge said leaning against the wall.
"Perhaps we should try whatever powers my mother said we have? If the tadpoles are really connected to the cult then it should let us have a edge in at least getting inside." Ruby suggested.
"I really don't think that's a good idea." Alfira said. "Unlike you, me and Thalia aren't infected."
"I agree... given the state you were in just you were just in before waking up, even thinking of using the tadpole is risky, even if your mother is watching over us. And we still know very little of her situation." Thalia advised.
"My mother is a huntress, she swore to protect the innocent lime me. I think we should at least try."
They suddenly a voice rang in their minds. "I agree with my daughter, learning to utilize the tadpoles will grant you the power you need to topple the Absolute." Summer's voice rang in their minds.
"You can speak with us?" Durge asked as his brow furrowed.
"For brief moments as i must concentrate on other matters." Summer explained before fading again
Shadowheart clicked her tongue. "I don't like it... but any advantage we have we must take."
Gale raised his hand, "I would prefer we practice caution." He said. "For now let's just restrain ourself to just using it for manipulation of our enemies minds."
The group sighed and headed down towards the camp, Wyll and Ruby at the lead. "I hope you know what your doing." He said
"I hope that as well." Crossing the bridge towards the goblins ramshackle gate.
The group was stopped by a goblin with his massive warg. "Look 'ere Klaw, some more sacks of meat. What's your purpose 'ere" Ruby looked down at the filthy little creature. As here silver eyes regarded him she saw the symbol of the Absolute glow.
As she spoke she reached out with the tadpoles power. "Move aside." She ordered.
The goblin took a step back as the psionic power washed over him. "Oh... um... Back Klaw!" He pushed the warg back. "Clear the way we have a true soul coming through, the others are inside!"
The party walked into the front part of the camp leaving the camps gate behind. "I can't believe that worked." Karlach said with a frown, still on edge.
"I agree... no more then what we need." Gale said as they walked towards the main camp, stepping onto a stone bridge when a wave of Psionic energy rolled over the entire camp. "What the..."
They all fell to their knees as shadows rolled in around them, Ruby driving her palms into the stones as sweat rolled down her face. "Obey me..." A thunderous female voice rolled in her mind. Looking up she saw three shadowed figures, a tall man in armor with a imposing presence, an younger man in fine robes and gold jewelry and a pale young woman wielding a curving blade. "These are my chosen... seek the weapon. And you shall be welcomed among the in my embrace." The voice spoke again as Shadowheart grunted pulling a small object from their pocket.
Ruby could barely keep her head up as suddenly the object in the clerics had flared to life as a surge of orange light encompassed them all. The prism glowing as it floated in front of them all. "Ugh... was that the Absolute? And... what is that thing... it pushed back their influence."
"I don't know..." Shadowheart said defensively as she held onto the prism as everyone stood up.
"Enough of the secrets Shadowheart, we need to know." Wyll put his foot down.
"Fine." Shadowheart said as she put the artifact away. "I am a worshipper of Shar, the Lady of Darkness. I was sent on a mission to reclaim the prism for my goddess."
"Shar? Not exactly the kindest goddess with my beloved Mystra." Gale said on edge.
"The night weaver? Silvanus has his own history with that darkness." Thaila said shocked.
"A Sharran, not my usual ally or my usual quarry." Wyll said on edge.
"Guys. Shadowheart is one of us. I don't know what... a Sharran is or means but we are so close right now." Ruby said the others looked at each other.
"We will need a proper discussion about any secrets we may have." Wyll said. "Seems we all have skeletons in our closets." Gale let out a chuckle as he pulled at the collar of his robe.
"It is strange times, a single Sharran is the least of our concerns." Gale said.
"Perhaps I'll remember that the next time I'm healing you. As for my past, I can't all I remember is that I'm to bring the Artifact to Baldur's gate. I was part of a team sent to steal it from the Githyanki."
"That's why you didn't want to work along side that gith warrior." Gale said.
The group looked around and turned back towards the camp. "Alright... we'll deal with that later." Wyll put up his hand. "We are hardly the group to point fingers at others. We have a job to do."
Heading into the central camp proper was a massive party as goblins ate and drank food and beer as Volo sang out. Slipping among the party they made their way towards the doors. And not one goblin bothered to stop them as they headed into the main temple.
"I'm surprised they didn't stop us." Ruby said as the entered the dark building, cracked statues of a goddess shattered on the ground.
"Selunite trash and filth. We should move quickly." Shadowheart said with a look of disgust.
Wyll looked at the ground while raising his hand before dropping it in defeat. "Let's just keep moving." At the far end of the chamber was a number of goblin guards.
"Halt! What are you lot doing! The party is out side!" A female goblin shouted. Wyll took the lead as he felt the pull of the Tadpole.
"Silence, is that how you speak to a True soul?" He demanded before he blinked and frowned. almost like that wasn't what he wanted to say.
"A t-true soul!?' She shouted.
"True Souls." Durge clarified.
"Ah yes of course! Of course! Ah are you here to see the others, to see Dror Ragzlin a prayer with priestess Gut or the drow women?" The guard asked her eyes turned towards the floor.
"All of them, and we're looking for a druid named Halsin, last we heard he had broken into this camp with a group of adventurers." Ruby said.
"Ah... best you see the torturers as they might be able to tell you about them my lords!"
As the guards opened the door to the central chamber. Wyll whispered to everyone. "Four objectives... I'll go with Karlach to see this Dror Ragzlin, Gale and Durge will deal with Priestess Gut Alfira and Thalia will find Halsin, Ruby and Shadowheart go find those drow."
"Right. Unless absolutely needed, wait till we free Halsin, He'll probably wont be in a great mood." Thalia said as the group split up.
Ruby and Shadowheart walked in silence as they approached a goblin. "Bring us to the Drow." Shadow heart said.
"Y-yes true soul." He bowed before leading them deeper into the temple, Ruby looked over to see Thalia and Alfira heading over to where the screams of a man could be heard. Gale and Durge stayed in this central chamber as Wyll and Karlach headed into the deepest chamber. The goblin guide brought them into a chamber with a pit with two massive spiders as they feed on a fresh body. "Right through here, You'll Find Minthara and her second." He pointed to a side chamber.
A purple glowing eye floated around the chamber as they headed towards the small wooden bridge that connected a small out outcrop platform of stone to the rest of the temple. There two drow women grilled a goblin warrior for his failures to find the druids grove. They had a almost ethereal and yet dark beauty to them, the taller of the two was a older woman, her stark white hair pulled back to expose her striking deer red eyes and dark purple skin, fine crafted leather armor with spider depictions and a pair of maces slung from her belt.
The younger Drow woman was more akin to Shadowheart, her shorter pointed ears barly stuck out from her red streaked white hair, her skin closer to a light ashen grey and she wore breast plate with the icon of the absolute emblazoned on it, a flail hung on her belt with a shield slung on her back, but most striking was her bright silver eyes much like Ruby's own.
"If you do not find the grove I will pluck you limb from limb." The older drow dismissed the goblin. As the goblin ran past to the rest of the temple. "Incompetent goblins... they should have given me proper drow warriors for this mission. Euol'gui Cryso, a Half drow like you is only as useful as the purity of your blood, yet you have proven yourself in the raid of that compound in the Capture of the Duke." The older drow woman ran a hand trough the younger drow girls hair yanking her head back as the red eyes met silver, "Continue to serve me well... and you'll be rewarded..." The drow woman shoved her head forward maikng the half drow stumble towards the edge. "Just remember what failure means."
"Yes... True soul Minthara." Euol'qui said as she stood straight as Ruby and Shadow heart approached. "Halt, what is the meaning for this intrusion... ugh" The half drow dipped her head as the tadpole in her head connected with Rubies head. Ruby got a flash of pain across her back as a sadistic woman laughed in her ear. "You are true souls..."
Chapter 21 is complete leave a review as to your thought on the story so far.
Ruby Rose stats, class, and racial abilities
Class Fighter lv 5
Subclass Champion
Great weapon fighting style (rerolls one's and twos on damage)
Hp: 45 (3 d12 plus 0)
Strength: 18 (base 17)
Dexterity: 16 (base 15)
Constitution: 10
Wisdom: 8
Intelligence:12
Charisma: 10
Race Human Variant (Remnant)
Feats:
Ability score improvement: plus 1 str plus 1 Dex
Savage Attacker : Reroll damage once take highest
Base Speed: 45 ft Total speed: 55 ft
Aura: 10 temp hit points per level (50 Thp) (resets on long rest)
Semblance: Petal Dash; Dash action is now a bonus action
Improved Critical: reduces critical requirements by 1 (18-20)
Action Surge: Gain an extra action
Extra attack x1
Gear:
Infernal Crescent Rose: plus 2 to damage and rolls to hit, 2 d 12 slashing an fire damage plus strength. 2 d 8 Piercing plus Dex when firing.
Infernal Critical, Reduces critical by 1, and on a critical hit target auto fails save against burn condition.
Searing Petal Smite: While Dashing from at least 60 ft away, auto cast searing smite at lv 2. 2d6 fire damage. Once per short rest.
All but Ruby Rose have disadvantage with this weapon.
Elemental bullets: 2d4 elemental damage added to ranged attacks.
Two-handed, heavy, extra reach
Cleave lacerate trip enemies, piercing shot
1 Half plate armor: Ac 18 (16 plus 2 dex) Medium armor. Reduces piercing damage by 1.
Haste Helm: Plus 10 ft to movement first three turns of combat (Effectively just 10 ft because I'm not drawing out combat for more then 3 rounds except for major bosses) plus one dex save
Speedy Light Feet: Gain three lightning charges when Dashing. Lightning charges deal additional damage on weapon and spell attacks.
Gale's coin of Language, Money Talks to all.
Ruby's Explosives bag:
7 Alchemist fire bottles
5 smoke powder bombs
2 smoke powder bags