Meeting Xazax - S02E08 Report

General Summary

As day 6 winds to an end, the heroes bed down for the night.
Bug begins to dream:
He's walking trough the desert when suddenly, out of nowhere, his mother shows up, desperate to tell him something. As he listens, she begs me to wake up, telling him this is a dream. He does. Then drifts back to sleep in confusion.
Again, he is walking through the desert, but no mother to be seen. Then he remember what she told him: if in a dream desert, wake up, please, wake up. Openning his eyes, he finds that he is in prison guarded by some sort of monsters. The people in that prison were terrified. Telling him this wasn’t supposed to happen, and that he should please go back to sleep.
As he tries to go back to sleep, he sees a withered, blackened, mummified human hand reaching for him and is suddenly very cold.
In the morning a few see Ricther having a conversation with Dawnbringer, but that's not unusual.
Day 6 goes without incident.
Mr. Garrick, thinking more about JimJar messages his about his 'surprise' and learns that JimJar is getting married. He immediately sends another message asking what kind of gnome and JimJar replies that she is "not a gnome, she is a beautiful elf."
Mr. Garrick asks what kind of elf and if the party is invited. JimJar informs him that she is a high elf, and laughs at his other question saying that of course they are invited.
As the party awakes and prepares for the next days journey, they learn that Vincent - one of the Zhentarim thugs - has disappeared. Exploring, they find that most of his belongings are still at the camp. Mr. Garrick looks through his bag as bug investigates. Bug finds that there was no struggle, but notices that his sleeping bag is also missing.
Alan notes that he his MIA and rally everyone to prepare to move out.
Gunther spends a moment talking with the mushrooms who say that he, inside his bag, floated away.
As the party travels, several Buccas attempt to steal from Alan. Peebles says that the presence of these flying thieves means that they are close to his master's home.
With that, the party begins to ask Peebles about his master. Peebles attempts to dose most of the questions, but the party learns that they are on their way to meet Xazax, a beholder.
As they bed down for the night, Mr. Garrick once again contacts JimJar, asking if he his safe and following up on yesterdays questions. Believing that something might be affecting JimJar, Mr. Garrick attempts to ask questions that will ascertain if this loved one is real while not offending JimJar.
Over the course of 4 sending messages he learns:

• No one knows about the wedding yet, he's waiting to ask her.
• JimJar notes that the king's family is growing - their expecting their first child. That event has everyone in town excited and that's why he's been thinking about marriage.
• They have not experienced any demons.
• When Mr. Garrick asks him how long he has known his future wife, JimJar responds, "It seems like always and like not long enough...but to be clear, it's only been a few months.

That evening Joseph shares a campfire story about one of the criminals he brought down.
On day 8 of this leg of the travel, Peebles arrives home. Peebles tells everyone to wait, but Bug has Ghost follow Peebles. He's only able to hear one side of the conversation but it is clear that the other is a beholder - happy to have more eye stalks but cautious of the company that Peebles brought.
Others enter the cavern but Alan finds that he cannot. However, the two Grimlock guarding the entrance smell "one who seeks the knowledge" and invite him in. Asking what they mean, Alan learns that the Grimlock are followers of Shar. He then spends quite a bit of time conversing with them.
While the Grimlock are distracted, Bug sneaks in and sees the beholder getting operated on.
Confusing the party by his outburst, Richter declairs that they should attack it. There is treasure and it needs to be rescued. Bug talks him out of that plan, promising to come back after the beholder has helped them reach the library.
Bug then goes in to talk to Xazax. After a long conversation, Xazax agrees to sending 6 of them, plus Peeble and the watcher in exchange for information on how to make his extra eyes work.
Meanwhile, Gunther changes into a bat and explores the cavern below - where Xazax keeps his treasure. Seeing a spectator, he turns back.
Xazax's watcher transports them to within a days journey of Gravenhollow. When they arrive, the ring Joseph is wearing activates and the runes point the way. Before setting out, the decide to rest and Mr. Garrick uses the opportunity to talk more with JimJar.
Mr. Garrick begins by asking the name of his bride. JimJar responds, "What an odd question. Her name is Samantha, but remember to keep this conversation quiet." JimJar then asks Mr. Garrick if he remembers Chipgrin and if he would be a good leader for their clan. He says that they are thinking about making him leader but that he has weird ideas about Gods. He worships one named Alan and believes that he has spoken with him before.
That night Alan invades Richters dream and watches as he dreams of a group that vows death over capture. The agree to kill one another and the last remaining will kill themselves. Then he sees one begin to plot how to be the last to remain so that he can live.
The next day they reach an intersection where they see a basilisk, staring at the ground. As Joseph approaches, he speaks...many languages until he reaches the one that they understand: "About time you lot arrived! Come! The library bid me guide you to the gates and I've waited to long already."
The follow him and soon see two giant doors flanked by great statues. They approach the door and see the statues turn to look at them. The doors are unlocked and they enter.
Hourm, a galeb duhr, greats them telling them a little about the library, how to find rooms for themselves, and lets them know they are welcome for as long as needed.
Each member, eager to discover what secrets the library holds scatters.
Gunther meets Elminster, a wizard who is looking for a long-lost spell. It appears that he is an echo from the future and is reluctant to talk about much. He mentions that an Archmage of Menzoberranzan may be behind the demonic incursion. He also mentions that the library provides whatever foods may be desired and with that Gunther runs off to his room.

Rewards Granted

Garrick: Finds 20 copper in Vincent's bag

Character(s) interacted with

• Fra-Urb'Luu
• Peebles
• Xazax
• Elminster
• Hourm

Campaign

Out of the Abyss

Protagonists

Report Date

25 Oct 2019

• In Attendance
• Korey (Richter)
• Kevin ( Mr. Garrick)
• Christian (Bug)
• Nick (Alan Cardew)
• Carson (Gunther)
• Bethany (Joseph)