Guardians of the Grove - Recap 06/15

 

Familial Troubles

The Guardians find themselves in a new and unique situation as an old acquaintance Nirru the sister of Nirruk, is captured inside the mysterious cage. She quips about the group being responsible for the death of Nirruk. After some coaxing, Nirru reluctantly revealed that an Illithid creature captured her. Within minutes the creature appeared as an Elder Brain and Dragon fused. The creature is also known to some Guardians as the brain released from the Master’s control less than two years ago. The Master has regained control over the brain and resides in another plane. The Brain reveals that Nirru is the token for which The Brain would trade for his freedom and control over the Hive. The Guardians quickly point out the folly of a trade with the Master as he would more likely kill anyone who would strip any form of power from him.  After some discussion, the group agreed 72 hours to devise a plan to stop the Master or Anthama once and for all or the brain would trade Niru instead. But first, the kitty problem.

Cleaning up the Past or Preventing a Disaster

The group returns to the playground to discuss the next steps. They agreed to help the brain but had another debt to pay. Edson Duvall would not simply leave the group alone, and having Atheya constantly hunted is no bueno. They decide to contact the Fiend the next morning to meet at a clearing and confront him. Now well-rested and mentally prepared, they arrive at the meeting and deliver a fake vial to the Merchant. However, Duvall perceives some deceitful behavior from the group and investigates the Vial. Disappointed, he launches an attack from his angelic-like bodyguards to “teach a lesson” to the Guardians. This time they were ready and used their tools, wits, and luck to stand up against the fiend capable of showering the group in a meteor storm at the beginning of the fight. Edson Duvall would represent himself as a high threat that the Guardian would have to put down now or face heavier consequences later.

The Sound of Bugbear
Wulf has been quiet through this venture and consistently complies with teaming up with Eltuire, but something is coming. A change and the true Wulf may suddenly reappear!! (Welcome Back, Anthony if you read this, haha)

Guardians of the Grove - Recap 06/01

 

Knife for Your Troubles 🗡️

Eltuire and Atheya find themselves trapped in a room with an Illthid Oival. They quickly eliminated him after he tried to take over their minds. Afterward, several more Illthid appears and engage the duo. Fighting them off the best they can until Corvus finally perceives a disturbance on the other side. He quickly grabs Wulf and Dimension Doors to the other side.  The fight is fair with 4v4, and the Guardians come out on top as the battle continues. Corvus and the others remember that the Master was on a completely different level with a sigh of relief. After further investigation, El is able to open a pathway to Blood, and the team regroups.  The group proceeds further into the Museum, realizing that something is truly amiss and there is more to this than they originally thought.

Stop, Drop, and Roll

Eltuire marches ahead into the next room and is immediately set ablaze, but to everyone else is simply screaming in pain. After amateurishly falling into a trap, El pushes forward with the group. Blood snickers to himself quietly.  But Eltuire quickly shows him up by making quick work of every locked door in the dungeons below before he can even find his pick set.  As the group explores further, they discover pools of blood, bones, and instruments of torture below. Disgusted, they press further to a back room and discover several weapons and books of possible magical origin. But there’s no time to sit and identify magic as El opens the door to several abominations. Unable to shut the door quickly, the group confronts the new foes. Afterward, they continue to push the Museum of Horrors and encounter more victims of the Illithid's mind control, leaving El feeling disturbed. Another Illthid reveals himself with a motley crew of abominations and mind-controlled soldiers. With Murderous intent Atheya and Eltuire do quick work of the Illtihid and, unfortunately, several innocent people.

Here We Go Again

Once the Illthid is defeated, the mind control wears off the remaining soldiers and civilians. Covered in blood, Corvus does his best to convince them we are the good guys, which they believe with some reluctance.  Determined to push on, the group rounds up the remaining survivors, brings them to the entrance, pushes further into the main corridor, and encounters an odd cage-like contraption suspended in the ceiling. Before the Guardians could plan or move, they noticed an eerie light from the cage and an unknown shape forming.