Mowenites Unite - Episode Eleven

## Summary:

Mowen had granted individuals the experience needed to hone their skills. In exchange, these people were called to begin their charge. Whether the agents attended the once secret but prestigious academy or were in service to the empire or owed them, six people were sought out and called into service to work the lines of diplomacy, sometimes within the shadows, getting done what needed to be done. Safety was not guaranteed. Mowen was working on a new defensive construction that the world had not seen since the Golden Age of Magic. The six were required to engage in skullduggery, cloak and dagger diplomacy, and questionable missions in service to the empire, all in an effort to build something important.

## Agents:

* Asher "Whiffle-Tongue" - Lizardfolk Wizard
* Gobin Glowstep - Halfling Druid
* Krixx Sharptooth - Kobold Artificer
* Merdaer - Drow Rogue
* Tar'ren r'Eehp r'Eehp - Frogfolk Warlock
* Xilon Harkus Starrati - Half-Elf Wizard

## Adventure:

Inside the volcano cave, the party continued to move deeper into the mountain. The goal was to trap the elemental in the gem and take it back to Pristina, the group's handler.

Krixx looked back and asked if whoever was performing the ritual had everything they needed. He gave Asher the red corundum and snuck forward. Tourmaline clanked through the room.

The others followed along behind, but they were loud enough that creatures came out to attack them. Large magma scorpions burst from the lava and charged at Tourmaline. The first spewed lava, though Tourmaline dodged it. The second scorpion went for Gobin and clawed at him, but critically missed.

Xilon turned to Asher and said, "We've got company." He poked his head around a corner and thrust three cold Magic Missiles at the scorpion attacking Gobin.

Asher whispered his verbal components and cast Chromatic Orb, but he critically missed. He warned Merdaer and Tar'ren that there were scorpions nearby and asked them to kill them as quietly as possible.

Merdaer cast Chromatic Orb at the closest scorpion, but missed.

Tar'ren found a corpse with a magic wand and pocketed it. Then he came around the corner, stood behind Asher, and kept an eye out down the way they had come.

Krixx ran over to the scorpion that attacked Tourmaline and swung his hammer down on it. It smashed into the creature. Tourmaline swiped at the scorpion as well and raked his force claws against it. The heat from the creature scorched Tourmaline and Krixx.

Gobin cast Primal Savagery, growing poisonous claws. He scratched at a scorpion's eyes but missed.

The battle went on, with Gobin and Tourmaline getting savaged by claws and grappled in the burning grips of the scorpions. Xilon and Asher sent out twin Ray of Frosts, with Xilon scoring a critical hit and Asher causing a scorpion to harden in death.

Merdaer moved closer to the other scorpion and threw a dagger but critically missed. Tar'ren moseyed his way into the room and said, "Oh goodness, look at the party you're all having." He sidled up to Asher and sent some Eldritch Blasts at the living scorpion, connecting once.

"Now you've made me angry," Krixx yelled, then smacked the scorpion twice. "I'm gonna crush you into lava goo!" Tourmaline thrashed in the grasp but was ineffective.

Gobin remained grappled by the crusty remains of the dead scorpion. He cast Magic Missile that blasted the other scorpion. He yelled out, "Covering fire!"

Asher yelled out, "Shhh!"

Gobin switched to a stage whisper.

The living scorpion continued to crunch Tourmaline, but Merdaer pulled out his rapier and pierced the scorpion. He got crisped as lava oozed out of it. The scorpion collapsed, dead, and Tourmaline was released. The battle done, Merdaer moved to help Gobin out of the other scorpion's grip. Tar'ren cast Acid Splash on the claw to loosen it up.

Krixx worked to mend Tourmaline while the others tried to get Gobin out. Gobin struggled and swiveled and pivoted, breaking free from the claw. He thanked his rescuers and moved deeper into the caverns.

Xilon cast a Ray of Frost at the dead scorpion's lava flow to freeze it. He and the rest of the group formed up behind Krixx to continue the trek.

Krixx continued to cast Mending on Tourmaline, then went on. He saw another open chamber with oozing magma. The metal of those wearing armor was uncomfortably hot and clanked as they moved.

Gobin prepared an Ice Knife in case something bad came around the corner. Xilon prepared a Ray of Frost.

As they moved through the next cavern, a magma brute burst through the lava and slammed at Tourmaline, but missed. Tourmaline slammed back and hit while Xilon blasted it with a critical Ray of Frost.

Gobin threw a powerful Ice Knife at the magma monster, piercing it. It dodged the ice, but Tourmaline got frosted.

Xilon and Asher thrust Ray of Frosts at the monster, Asher critically hitting it. Steam sizzled off the magma. Tar'ren cast two icy Eldritch Blasts, though only one hit.

Merdaer dashed back, grabbed the dagger that he threw earlier, and then entered the next cavern. He cast Magic Missile with all three missiles striking with full force.

Krixx said that giant was about to come down. He crushed into it with his warhammer, though he was burned by the strike. Tourmaline used Repair on himself to mend his wounds.

Gobin didn't want to move any closer so he shot at the creature with his bow. He critically missed and nearly shot himself in the foot.

The magma brute scooted away from Krixx and Tourmaline, reached his magma hand into the lava, and pulled it out, letting a drop cool. He then threw the drop at Merdaer, catching Xilon, Gobin, Tar'ren, and Merdaer in a balloon of lava. Most everyone critically failed and couldn't dodge the attack. Xilon lost his concentration on his Protection from Energy.

Xilon cast a final Ray of Frost, destroying the magma grunt. It oozed into the lava pool and disappeared.

The group recuperated in the center of the room, then continued on. They found a collapsed bridge that they needed to get across. Xilon flew the party across with his Broom of Flying, though they did see birds high above them that made them wary. They tried to be quiet as they moved on.

Asher cast Augury to determine how parleying with the elemental would turn out. He received a forecast of weal and woe. He asked the party if they wanted to parley. Xilon thought it would be good, though Gobin just wanted to beat it up. Tar'ren wasn't happy about it, but he was resigned to fight. Krixx wanted to try to negotiate, but he thought it might be better to go in blazing so it couldn't prepare. However, Krixx was willing to let them try one attempt at parley.

Tar'ren cast Comprehend Languages to understand the elemental.

Deep in the mountain, the party found the fire elemental. It was in an unninviting cave.

The elemental did not speak Common, but it yelled at them in fiery breath and picked up a threatening rock. Merdaer hid behind a rock and held his bow.

Tar'ren relayed that the elemental had said, "Inappropriate offering. I do not approve. Leave now."

Asher got down on his knees and held dirt, hoping to ask what the elemental preferred as an offering. He pulled out a pearl, Prestidigitated a trinket, hoping the elemental would tell him what it wanted.

Xilon manifested his Manifest Mind at the side of the cave. He cast Psychic Lance through his Manifest Mind to freeze the elemental's mind. It forced itself to resist the effect.

The elemental lobbed a huge lava balloon at the group, burning them with fire.

Tar'ren began to fly and cast Protection from Evil and Good on Krixx as he passed. He hovered about a foot above the hot cavern floor.

Krixx cracked his neck and cast Enlarge on himself. Tourmaline repaired himself. They pushed out of the lava. Krixx pounded his hammer on a rock hoping to get the elemental's attention. Gobin cast Healing Word on himself.

The elemental stomped forward and picked up Tourmaline. He looked at Tourmaline as if he was a worm under examination.

Merdaer moved behind another rock and critically hit with his shortbow.

Asher cast Greater Invisibility and started drawing the octagon for the ritual. Xilon started building the octagon as well, as did Tar'ren.

Krixx grabbed his Potion of Giant Strength and chugged it. He ran up to the elemental. Tourmaline blasted the elemental in the face.

Gobin cast Elemental Bane, but it failed.

The fire elemental dropped Tourmaline, causing him to take damage by falling. The elemental then created an igneous rock scimitar but missed Krixx.

Merdaer used his bow and struck the fire elemental. Asher tried to shoot a Chromatic Orb, but it missed. Tar'ren dashed to continue drawing the octagon.

Krixx slammed the hammer into the elemental, though Tourmaline missed. Krixx maneuvered around the elemental.

Gobin cast Conjure Woodland Beings to create eight pixies that hampered the elemental and drew the circles for the ritual.

The elemental threw a fireball on top of himself, burning pixies and the melee fighters.

Merdaer shot the elemental and Asher smashed into it with a Chromatic Orb. The elemental attacked Krixx, but missed.

Xilon cast Psychic Lance. The elemental failed, but used a Legendary Resistance. The creature attacked Krixx and hit him. Krixx said, "You're not allowed to move away from me" and smashed it with his warhammer.

Gobin had his pixies cast Phantasmal Force. They tried to make the elemental think the lines drawn were water so that it wouldn't try to leave the circle. The creature failed against one pixie's assault.

The elemental threw a fire clod at the pixie that affected him. The pixie popped, disappearing into the aether.

Merdaer came out from behind his rock and yelled at the elemental, "Hey hot-head, lights out!" Then he cast Darkness on the elemental.

Asher cast Psychic Lance on the elemental, though it forced itself to resist. Asher moved closer to the door of the cave and pulled out the red corundum.

Tar'ren launched some Eldritch Blasts and got a hit.

Krixx was bloodied, but he stayed in the fray. Gobin wildshaped into a pteranodon. He flew up into the sky. A roc descended.

The elemental moved to where it could see and threw a lava balloon at Xilon.

Merdaer said, "Alright, if you don't want the darkness, I'll help you glow!" He cast Faerie Fire, though it failed.

Asher cursed at the roc and cast Chromatic Orb at the elemental. He moved to rebuild the octagon line that the elemental destroyed.

The roc attacked Gobin, but critically missed.

Xilon cast Ray of Frost at the elemental but missed. He moved his Manifest Mind to the other side of the cave.

Tar'ren sent another refreshing Eldritch Blast, getting one hit. Krixx mustered his strength and kept swinging. He critically hit. It looked like the elemental was on the verge of death.

Asher chanted the ritual as the creature lashed out at them. Eventually Asher was able to touch the gem to the elemental and bound it to the gem.

The mission had been completed.

## Epilogue:

Buoyed by their success, the party set off for home. On the way, Tar'ren mentioned to Asher a respect for the power and knowledge that Asher had acquired. His time spent training gave him great capabilities. He thought Asher would reach a point where instead of being the one accepting orders, he'd be making the choices that affected the world. Asher said that was his goal, looking more resolute than ever before.

Xilon tapped Krixx's shoulder and asked if he should share the knowledge of the sky ship to Oldirin. Krixx said they had to go their own way, he his own and Xilon his.

Somewhere along the way, the group was approached by the Gilded River Syndicate, who gave them the option to join the rebellion or not. The Syndicate members were hired by Avicenna Herodoto.

Gobin was going to do whatever Giselle was doing. The Gilded River Syndicate recognized that and didn't pressure him.

Asher and Tar'ren refused to join the rebellion. Xilon said he had things to explore after being released from service to Mowen.

Krixx didn't know if the Syndicate members were legit, but he'd say to them what he said to the last people. If they knew the last people, then they'd know what he said. Then he walked off.

Merdaer was on his own side. At that time, the empire was best for him, so he refused.

The whole group returned together to Mowen to turn in the gem. Pristina was nonchalant about it. She led them to a warehouse where they saw the lightwood was being built into a sky ship. Their group had gotten the elemental that could power it.

All ending their service had a choice. They could re-enlist, they could retire, or they could do a third option.

Krixx re-enlisted and wanted to work on the building crew. Tar'ren chose option three. Asher, Merdaer, Gobin, and Xilon retired.

Krixx said to Tar'ren to never choose option three. Either go with him or retire with the others. He winked.

Tar'ren said he felt something drawing him to option three, so he took it. Pristina was disappointed.

Tar'ren was taken into a side room with a comfy chair and lots of food. The Mowen representatives briefed him, saying that they would give him one more chance to choose one of the first options. Otherwise, they encouraged him to eat, and enjoy himself. Then, they would never see him again.

Tar'ren thought about it, but he chose to enjoy the meal for a little bit.

The next memory he had was waking up in Oldirin. He didn't know who he was or where he was from. He simply had the clothes on his back and nothing else.

At least, that was what he was supposed to feel. He actually managed to maintain his memories, though he kept that to himself.

After being dismissed, Xilon flew back to Oldirin. He cast Sending to King Jeel Kin, saying he had information that he needed to show Kin.

Previous Episode