They team made their way back across Omu as the sun set behind the mountains in the west. They returned to their camp site in the gate house. Something was wrong.
They opened the gate and found carnage!
The mace-tail was dead and dismembered. Their equipment had been stolen.
Tony's body was strung up on a wooden post like a scarecrow. He had been tortured and eventually killed with a dozen nagini arrows. His flayed skin was stretched flat and nailed to a nearby wall. On it was scrawled the message.
FACE ME COWARD!
Apparently covered her mouth in horror. Xoc-Wik's mouth hung open in shock. Thazma beamed behind her gag and hopped up and down in excitement.
Argent bared his draconic teeth, "I'll take care of this. Don't wait for me."
He left the camp and returned towards the city.
DM Note- Full disclosure, the illustration above greatly overstates the emotional impact Tony's death had upon the player characters. I'm not sure the players even noticed.
CHAPTER 29, "THE FINAL CUBE"
THE EXPEDITION
- Bramble Wolf - a theran barbarian wise-man (Wildhunt Shifter Druid) searching for the legendary origin of his tribe.
- Apparently Jones - a blue-skinned demijin caravan guide and animal trainer (Air Genasi Ranger) from Akasa, the land of sky mountains. Having failed to find work in Port Nyanzaru as an animal handler, she has joined the expedition to the interior as a scout.
- Chak'sa - Apparently's honker (parasaurolophus) companion.
- Xoc-Wik - a b'alam warrior (Tabaxi Fighter) from the jungles of Bres, searching for those responsible for the destruction of his tribe.
- Zeynap Shiravadakar - a Eusebean smuggler (Human Warlock) bearing the spirit of a celestial unicorn.
- Argent Truth-Sayer - a golden azi knight errant of Bhamut (Dragonborn Paladin) in the service of Bhamut, sent on a holy mission to join the expedition to destroy the Soul Monger.
NPCs
- Eku - a mysterious shape-changing wise-woman from Chult, hired as a guide.
- Tony - rough and tumble dinosaur wrangler who wished to learn from Apparently, possibly from 19th century Boston on Earth. Killed by Sekelok the snake-man.
- Orvex Ocrammas - translator and guide for hire; rescued from the Fane of the Night Serpent.
- Thazma - a Crimson Necromancer in the service of Unglaub the Lich Queen, reportedly knows the location of the entrance to the Tomb of the Nine Gods.
Change of Plans
A few seconds later Argent returned to the camp, "Wait! Better!"
He asked Bramble if he could summon an animal to take a message to Sekelok. Bramble summoned a small flying reptile to deliver the message. The message was, "Minions who failed their master are beneath concern. I have greater evils to hunt but if we cross paths, we’ll duel." The reptile flew off into the night.
Fearing further reprisals from the Nagini, the party gathered what they could salvage and moved their camp. Apparently chose a spot in the south of the city, a place once known for its beautiful vista and marked with an ancient stone carved with the image of two lovers in an embrace. The mercenaries piled some rocks up into makeshift barriers which would hide the light from their camp fires.
With supplies running low Xoc-Wik left the new camp to go foraging for food and water. Zeynap decided to travel to the secondary camp at the Akasanal airship to warn them of possible Nagini attack. Eku flashed a grim smile and said she welcomed the attempt.
It grew late. The party and the mercenaries prepared to bed down. Zeynap came into camp, weary from the three-hour hike to the second camp and back.
A wave of odor washed over the camp - the putrid smell of decomposition! Gaunt figures came running up the hill, darting back and forth through the small trees. Ghouls were attacking the camp!
Xoc-Wik returned to the new campsite carrying a collection of small game and tubers. He saw the silhouettes of ghouls approaching the camp. He dropped the game and drew his bow and nocked an arrow.
A group of ghouls rounded some trees to the right. Another group approached up the middle and pounced upon Zeynap. Zeynap was paralyzed by their rending claws.
The mercenaries sprang up and grabbed their clubs. They moved to block the ghouls approaching from the right flank. Bramble summoned forth two spirit bears who raced forward with the honker named Chak'sa to defend Zeynap.
The leader, a more sophisticated ghoul known as a ghast, wore robes and was taller and stood more erect. It directed the two in the rear to turn around and charge Xoc-Wik.
Argent moved to the right and called upon Bhamut to banish these shambling anathema to true life! A flash of holy radiance caused several of the ghouls to cower and shield their faces. They turned to flee. With the mercenaries' help, Argent made short work of those who remained.
Meanwhile the bears ripped and tore the ghouls attacking Zeynap, rending them to tatters of putrid flesh. Zeynap in turn regained his senses and began zapping the remaining ghouls with eldritch bolts.
Xoc-Wik quickly eliminated the two ghouls attacking him and turned his arrows to the ghast. The ghast charged Xoc-Wik but was likewise soon destroyed.
The battle was ended. The campsite was secured and the entourage once more settled down to rest.
It began to rain.
Bag of Nails
The rain continued through the night, making for a miserable evening without tents or blankets. With the gray wet light of day the party gathered their equipment and set off once more into the ruined city of Omu. Fifty six nights had passed since they left Port Nyanzaru.
The party hiked east towards the lake of lava in the southeast quadrant of the city. They circled around the massive pit towards the waterfall where the flooded city drained into the lava. They made their way up to the fallen log that crossed the draining water.
Bramble warned everyone to be on guard for the senile old hunter named Bag-of-Nails.
Argent held his shield up and moved forward onto the log shouting, "I'm here, Bag-of-Nails! Come and get me! I'm right here!"
Xoc-Wik, who had heretofore not met Bag-of-Nails, kept an arrow nocked and drawn, ready to loose at any target that made itself visible. He scanned the roof-tops looking for the hunter.
An arrow flew out of the sky and thudded into the fallen log with a "THOP-P-P-P!"
Xoc-Wik looked frantically about but could see no attacker!
Another arrow splashed into the water. Another arrow hit the log. Xoc-Wik saw him! An elderly b'alam moving into hiding on a rooftop over three hundred feet away! Xoc-Wik loosed an arrow into the old hunter. The arrow struck Bag-of-Nails and magically sprouted vines, ivy, and thorns which grabbed into the surrounding stone.
Bag-of-Nails responded with an arrow into Xoc-Wik. The younger b'alam grit his sharp teeth against the poison. The elder b'alam strained against the vines, scratching and tearing at his flesh! Xoc-Wik lost his target again.
Xoc-Wik scanned the rooftop. He found his quarry. Bag-of-Nails had dropped his bow and was frantically pulling at the vines and thorns.
Xoc-Wik loosed an arrow.
The arrow flew straight at its target. Time slowed down. Bag-of-Nails looked up and, for a brief second made eye contact with Xoc-Wik. The look of confusion, frustration, and fear on Bag-of-Nails face disappeared when he saw the younger b'alam. He saw Xoc-Wik and his fear was replaced with recognition and pride. He silently mouthed the word, "Son?"
DM Note- Bag-of-Nails rolled a 1 and dropped his bow. He bent down to pick it up. Xoc-Wik aimed and took another shot. His player rolled to hit. 17- a hit!
Before he could roll damage, I said, "You loose your arrow. It flies straight and true. Before it hits, Bag-of-Nails looks up and, for a brief second, makes eye contact with you. He silently mouths the word - 'Son?'"
The player froze. The look on the player's face was PRICELESS! He said, "GODDAMMIT!"
I offered the player the option to spend an Inspiration for Disadvantage, re-roll and hope for a lower result.
The player hemmed and hawed and had a tough time making up his mind. He eventually cursed aloud, "GODDAMMIT! GODDAMMIT! GODDAMMIT!" Before he could change his mind, he picked up the d8, and rolled damage.
Bag-of-Nails had five hit points left.
The arrow struck Bag-of-Nails in the heart. The elderly hunter collapsed onto the roof, out of sight.
Xoc-Wik immediately regretted his action. He darted at full sprint across the log and towards the building. He threw himself up the sheer wall and dashed towards the rooftop where Bag-of-Nails fell.
Bag-of-Nails was gone.
In his place was a bowl of stew and a note- "Good shot, son! I'm proud of you! Have a bowl of stew, no poison! You've earned it!"
Xoc-Wik crumpled up the note and kicked over the bowl of stew, "Not a chance, old man."
DM Note- The player immediately regretted shooting Bag-of-Nails. He dashed at full speed to try to save him. While he did so, I rolled death saves in secret. I don't normally roll death saves for NPCs but I make an exception sometimes of the players request it. The difficulty is 15. I rolled 17, 18, and 20. Bag-of-Nails survived with 1 hit point and escaped.
The other players were holding their breath during the entire sniper duel. It was amazingly tense. When I told them about the note and the stew, there were cheers and high fives. It was a fantastic encounter!
Jaculis
The party continued to the edge of the lake of lava. A large island of rock stood like a spire in the lake. A squat shrine stood atop the island. The remains of what looked like a land bridge lay in huge collapsed chunks in the lava below. Many were close together and could be climbed. The widest gap, however, was sixty feet - a seemingly insurmountable chasm. After discussing several options, Bramble transformed himself into a massive flying reptile as large as a giraffe. He picked up each member of the party and ferried them across one by one, depositing them at the entrance to the shrine compound. As he carried across the final mercenary a flock of crystal gargoyles began to converge on their location. He landed and transformed back into his theran form as the gargoyles circled in the sky above. "Well, guess I'm not doing that again anytime soon."
DM Note- Yeah, I totally forgot about the gargoyles attacking anything that flies until after I let them get across. I later remembered and said that the sky was now full of gargoyles which would make getting back across tough.
The party continued to the edge of the lake of lava. A large island of rock stood like a spire in the lake. A squat shrine stood atop the island. The remains of what looked like a land bridge lay in huge collapsed chunks in the lava below. Many were close together and could be climbed. The widest gap, however, was sixty feet - a seemingly insurmountable chasm. After discussing several options, Bramble transformed himself into a massive flying reptile as large as a giraffe. He picked up each member of the party and ferried them across one by one, depositing them at the entrance to the shrine compound. As he carried across the final mercenary a flock of crystal gargoyles began to converge on their location. He landed and transformed back into his theran form as the gargoyles circled in the sky above. "Well, guess I'm not doing that again anytime soon."
DM Note- Yeah, I totally forgot about the gargoyles attacking anything that flies until after I let them get across. I later remembered and said that the sky was now full of gargoyles which would make getting back across tough.
Argent raised his shield and carefully advanced past the twin obelisks that formed the threshhold into the compound. There were dense trees and foliage flanking both sides of the overgrown paving stone that led to the shrine entrance. Argent signaled Zeynap to join him.
Suddenly a fifteen foot long snake shot out of the tree like an arrow! The snake slammed against Argent's shield and fell to the ground. The snake had metallic blue scales and a cobra-like hood made of several short spikes. The snake coiled up and quickly returned to the trees.
"WHAT - THE - HELL?" cried Zeynap!
More snakes launched themselves out of the trees at Argent. Apparently, and Xoc-Wik launched ranged attacks at the creatures from outside the threshold. Each time the snakes would retreat to the trees. Zeynap and Argent managed to kill a few of the snakes and eventually the attacks ceased. Zeynap and Argent advanced to the entrance.
The Shrine of Moa
Ancient Omuan cuneiform adorned the entrance. Zeynap called back, "Orvex, you're up!"
Orvex ran forward to provide translation, "Moa teaches us that secrets hide the truth."
Ahead of them was a corridor. The walls were carved with bas relief serpents. There were three narrow openings on each wall, each about a foot tall and a hands-width wide. The floor was covered in cobwebs. No one had entered this corridor in quite some time. There was a room behind with a mosaic on the floor and a pedestal illuminated by a single shaft of magical light. A hand-sized cube floated, suspended in the shaft of light.
Argent inhaled deeply and exhaled a blast of his draconic fire into the hallway, burning it clean of all cobwebs. He then got on his hands and knees and closely examined the floor. He gently pushed on the floor and saw that it moved ever so slightly but was stopped by a mechanical barrier. "It's trapped." was his assessment.
"You think?" was Bramble's sarcastic reply. "Can you disable it?"
Argent stood and shrugged, "I think it might already be disabled." He tested his theory by picking up a dead snake and tossing it into the corridor. It landed with a meaty thud. Nothing happened. He turned and looked at the others.
"Who's going first?" inquired Zeynap nervously.
Everyone looked at Xoc-Wik.
"Don't look at me!" said the jaguar-man.
"But you're the fighter! Isn't this your job?" asked Bramble.
Xoc-Wik held up his bow for emphasis, "Not that kind of fighter!" was his defensive retort.
After an awkward silence Argent took a deep breath, "I'll go."
Argent boldly strode down the corridor. Nothing happened.
The others soon joined him inside. The mercenaries, along with Chak'sa and Thazma, stayed outside the compound.
Aside from the mosaic and the pedestal, the room contained twelve statues of ancient Omuan archers with arrows nocked and drawn, ready to attack anyone who might take the hovering cube.
Argent, Orvex, Apparently, and Zeynap examined the mosaic on the floor. It depicted the serpentine god Moa in battle with the simian Wongo. Moss grew over some writing. Argent peeled away the moss and Orvex translated, "Death rewards a thief deceived. Truth comes from the serpent’s mouth."
Bramble examined the hovering cube, "Nobody take this. It's a trick!"
"Obviously," said Argent, "Everyone, look around for a 'serpent's mouth'.
None of the statues depicted anything like a serpent's mouth.
Argent borrowed a spear from one of the mercenaries. He used the spear to chip away the mosaic stones of the god Moa. He found nothing but concrete.
"Hey," said Apparently, "Maybe the corridor is the serpent and the entrance is the mouth!"
The party moved outside the shrine and closely examined the entrance but could find nothing.
Apparently looked in the corridor and remembered the openings. She looked into an opening and saw a hidden room on the other side of the wall. Within the room was a statue of a large serpent.
"Found it!"
She looked in the other windows just to be safe. It was the mirror image of the other room with a statue of a large serpent. However, its head had broken off and lay on the floor. A cube rested near the remnants of the head.
"Oh, wait!" she cautioned.
"Check both statues," said Bramble, "Look for a secret door."
Working in pairs, the party quickly found small hidden shafts concealed by false facades. Apparently entered one room while Zeynap entered the other. Apparently picked the cube up off the floor. Zeynap examined the serpent's mouth and found a second cube.
"Which is the real cube?" wondered Argent.
Apparently shrugged.
As they exited the shrine, Apparently's cube disappeared. Only Zeynap's cube remained. "I guess this one," he said.
Orvex ran forward to provide translation, "Moa teaches us that secrets hide the truth."
Ahead of them was a corridor. The walls were carved with bas relief serpents. There were three narrow openings on each wall, each about a foot tall and a hands-width wide. The floor was covered in cobwebs. No one had entered this corridor in quite some time. There was a room behind with a mosaic on the floor and a pedestal illuminated by a single shaft of magical light. A hand-sized cube floated, suspended in the shaft of light.
Argent inhaled deeply and exhaled a blast of his draconic fire into the hallway, burning it clean of all cobwebs. He then got on his hands and knees and closely examined the floor. He gently pushed on the floor and saw that it moved ever so slightly but was stopped by a mechanical barrier. "It's trapped." was his assessment.
"You think?" was Bramble's sarcastic reply. "Can you disable it?"
Argent stood and shrugged, "I think it might already be disabled." He tested his theory by picking up a dead snake and tossing it into the corridor. It landed with a meaty thud. Nothing happened. He turned and looked at the others.
"Who's going first?" inquired Zeynap nervously.
Everyone looked at Xoc-Wik.
"Don't look at me!" said the jaguar-man.
"But you're the fighter! Isn't this your job?" asked Bramble.
Xoc-Wik held up his bow for emphasis, "Not that kind of fighter!" was his defensive retort.
After an awkward silence Argent took a deep breath, "I'll go."
Argent boldly strode down the corridor. Nothing happened.
The others soon joined him inside. The mercenaries, along with Chak'sa and Thazma, stayed outside the compound.
Aside from the mosaic and the pedestal, the room contained twelve statues of ancient Omuan archers with arrows nocked and drawn, ready to attack anyone who might take the hovering cube.
Argent, Orvex, Apparently, and Zeynap examined the mosaic on the floor. It depicted the serpentine god Moa in battle with the simian Wongo. Moss grew over some writing. Argent peeled away the moss and Orvex translated, "Death rewards a thief deceived. Truth comes from the serpent’s mouth."
Bramble examined the hovering cube, "Nobody take this. It's a trick!"
"Obviously," said Argent, "Everyone, look around for a 'serpent's mouth'.
None of the statues depicted anything like a serpent's mouth.
Argent borrowed a spear from one of the mercenaries. He used the spear to chip away the mosaic stones of the god Moa. He found nothing but concrete.
"Hey," said Apparently, "Maybe the corridor is the serpent and the entrance is the mouth!"
The party moved outside the shrine and closely examined the entrance but could find nothing.
Apparently looked in the corridor and remembered the openings. She looked into an opening and saw a hidden room on the other side of the wall. Within the room was a statue of a large serpent.
"Found it!"
She looked in the other windows just to be safe. It was the mirror image of the other room with a statue of a large serpent. However, its head had broken off and lay on the floor. A cube rested near the remnants of the head.
"Oh, wait!" she cautioned.
"Check both statues," said Bramble, "Look for a secret door."
Working in pairs, the party quickly found small hidden shafts concealed by false facades. Apparently entered one room while Zeynap entered the other. Apparently picked the cube up off the floor. Zeynap examined the serpent's mouth and found a second cube.
"Which is the real cube?" wondered Argent.
Apparently shrugged.
As they exited the shrine, Apparently's cube disappeared. Only Zeynap's cube remained. "I guess this one," he said.
The Judgement of Thazma
The party gathered outside the shrine. They stood on an island of rock a hundred feet above a lake of lava. The rain was pouring.
Argent ordered the mercenaries to produce Thazma. Argent removed her gag. Her eyes open wide. Her teeth were apart in a disturbing open-mouthed smile.
"We have all nine puzzle cubes. Are you prepared to show us the entrance to the Tomb of Nine Gods?"
Thazma hesitated before enthusiastically answer, "Yes! Yes, absolutely!"
Argent's green draconic eyes narrowed in a mixture of distrust and revulsion. He closed his eyes and called upon the power of his god, Bhamut, "You will speak only the truth!"
DM Note- Argent cast Zone of Truth. Zeynap's player said, "Wait, let me, let me test it. Thazma, who was the better Sherlock Holmes - Nigel Rathbone or Benedict Cumberbatch?"
I answered, "Trick question- the correct answer is Jeremy Brett!"
Zeynap gave the thumbs up, "It's working!"
Thazma was overcome by the compulsion of Argent's holy command, "I- I am pretty sure I almost definitely know where I think it is- might be- probably."
Argent was overcome with rage, "YOU DON'T KNOW???"
Thazma recoiled, "Zagmira was the only one who knew for certain. You killed her! When Yamoch refused to cooperate, you killed him! I was next! What would you expect me to say? Besides! I really think I know where the entrance probably is!
Argent screamed, "You are useless!" The dragon-man brandished his axe, "We should have executed you on the spot!"
Thazma flinched.
Xoc-Wik said, "Now wait a minute!"
Argent glowered at Xoc-Wik. Xoc-Wik backed down. He looked at Bramble for guidance. Bramble put up his hands, "Don't look at me. I don't care what happens to her."
Argent spun back to Thazma. His eyes flashing green hatred. "While you are my prisoner, I am honor bound to let you live."
Thazma relaxed just a little.
Argent cut her bonds, "Therefore I release you. You are no longer my prisoner."
Thazma's eyes grew wide in panic. She backed away and prepared to cast a spell of flight in order to escape.
Argent cut her down in one strike.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolled across the valley of Omu.
Regrets
"Well," said Zeynap, "That escalated quickly."
The mercenaries shuffled uneasily and whispered among themselves. Argent leveled his bloody axe at them as a silent warning. "She was evil. She deserved to die."
One of the mercenaries replied, "No question, she was evil. But did she really deserve it? Was she really threatening you? You may have cut her bonds but she was unarmed and trying to run away. What does your order say about killing enemies in retreat?"
Argent stared down at his bloody axe. What had he done? He immediately began to regret his actions. He had murdered her. He had violated his oath as a knight of Bhamut.
Argent whispered to himself, "I have made a mistake."
The mercenary interrupted his reverie, "So, um, what's your plan now for finding the entrance to the Tomb of Nine Gods?"
Argent continued to stare at his axe, wet with rain and blood.
Bramble replied, "Well, I can't fly you all back across because of the gargoyles. So we're kind of stuck. Our first priority is food." He looked in the direction of the ruined royal palace. Black leather-winged reptiles continued to orbit the tower. "I can transform into a small flying beast and go forage enough food for a few of us. The gargoyles seem to ignore small creatures. In the meantime, the rest of you use these rain-catchers to collect some fresh water. And maybe butcher some of those snakes we killed."
Zeynap said, "I have a good idea that the entrance to the tomb is located inside that tower."
Bramble nodded, "Possibly. Lots of snake-men in there. That could be trouble. In the meantime, rest, collect water, and eat. We'll figure out a way to get off this island tomorrow."
Argent silently walked away from the group. He knelt down at a spot overlooking the lake of lava, placed his axe on the ground in front of him, and began to pray for forgiveness.
The mercenaries picked up their former employer and tossed her into the lava.
Argent ordered the mercenaries to produce Thazma. Argent removed her gag. Her eyes open wide. Her teeth were apart in a disturbing open-mouthed smile.
"We have all nine puzzle cubes. Are you prepared to show us the entrance to the Tomb of Nine Gods?"
Thazma hesitated before enthusiastically answer, "Yes! Yes, absolutely!"
Argent's green draconic eyes narrowed in a mixture of distrust and revulsion. He closed his eyes and called upon the power of his god, Bhamut, "You will speak only the truth!"
DM Note- Argent cast Zone of Truth. Zeynap's player said, "Wait, let me, let me test it. Thazma, who was the better Sherlock Holmes - Nigel Rathbone or Benedict Cumberbatch?"
I answered, "Trick question- the correct answer is Jeremy Brett!"
Zeynap gave the thumbs up, "It's working!"
Thazma was overcome by the compulsion of Argent's holy command, "I- I am pretty sure I almost definitely know where I think it is- might be- probably."
Argent was overcome with rage, "YOU DON'T KNOW???"
Thazma recoiled, "Zagmira was the only one who knew for certain. You killed her! When Yamoch refused to cooperate, you killed him! I was next! What would you expect me to say? Besides! I really think I know where the entrance probably is!
Argent screamed, "You are useless!" The dragon-man brandished his axe, "We should have executed you on the spot!"
Thazma flinched.
Xoc-Wik said, "Now wait a minute!"
Argent glowered at Xoc-Wik. Xoc-Wik backed down. He looked at Bramble for guidance. Bramble put up his hands, "Don't look at me. I don't care what happens to her."
Argent spun back to Thazma. His eyes flashing green hatred. "While you are my prisoner, I am honor bound to let you live."
Thazma relaxed just a little.
Argent cut her bonds, "Therefore I release you. You are no longer my prisoner."
Thazma's eyes grew wide in panic. She backed away and prepared to cast a spell of flight in order to escape.
Argent cut her down in one strike.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolled across the valley of Omu.
Regrets
"Well," said Zeynap, "That escalated quickly."
One of the mercenaries replied, "No question, she was evil. But did she really deserve it? Was she really threatening you? You may have cut her bonds but she was unarmed and trying to run away. What does your order say about killing enemies in retreat?"
Argent stared down at his bloody axe. What had he done? He immediately began to regret his actions. He had murdered her. He had violated his oath as a knight of Bhamut.
Argent whispered to himself, "I have made a mistake."
Argent continued to stare at his axe, wet with rain and blood.
Bramble replied, "Well, I can't fly you all back across because of the gargoyles. So we're kind of stuck. Our first priority is food." He looked in the direction of the ruined royal palace. Black leather-winged reptiles continued to orbit the tower. "I can transform into a small flying beast and go forage enough food for a few of us. The gargoyles seem to ignore small creatures. In the meantime, the rest of you use these rain-catchers to collect some fresh water. And maybe butcher some of those snakes we killed."
Zeynap said, "I have a good idea that the entrance to the tomb is located inside that tower."
Bramble nodded, "Possibly. Lots of snake-men in there. That could be trouble. In the meantime, rest, collect water, and eat. We'll figure out a way to get off this island tomorrow."
Argent silently walked away from the group. He knelt down at a spot overlooking the lake of lava, placed his axe on the ground in front of him, and began to pray for forgiveness.
The mercenaries picked up their former employer and tossed her into the lava.
To Be Continued...
DM Commentary- I have to admit, I did not see that coming.
Argent murdering Thazma came out of left field. I was all set to end the evening with Thazma leading them to the general area of the entrance to the tomb. She had become a plot device.
But her murder was an emotional ending to a great session of high drama. The sniper-duel with Bag-of-Nails was riveting. The solving of the Shrine of Moa then ramped up frustrations even more. I can see how Argent's player might have been keyed up by that point.
I also got a little angry with Argent's player when he did that. But I took a deep breath. I told Argent's player I was getting frustrated with that course of action and apologized up front. I tried to calm down and let the player do his thing. I did warn him, however, that this course of action would lead to a violation of his oath as a paladin.
At first he objected. He argued that slaying an evil person is within his mandate. We then read the paladin's oath together, out loud. I also pointed out that, to a good-aligned paladin, there are only a few circumstances that warrant killing someone -
1. They pose an imminent threat to your life.
2. They pose an imminent threat to someone else's life.
3. (optional, depending on order) Vengeance.
I pointed out that Thazma posed no imminent threat to his or anyone else's life.
He asked "Has she killed anyone?"
I said, "Not that you know of."
He agreed that he had violated his oath and agreed that his paladin should face some sort of repercussion for his rash action.
According to the player's handbook, there are two options.
1. If the paladin is unrepentant, then they can only take additional levels in Oathbreaker Paladin or another class.
2. If the paladin is repentant, then they can fast for a number of days to atone for their crime. That basically means taking on some levels of exhaustion. Now I need to decide how many levels is sufficient.
Also, they're stuck on an island with no food and they have no idea where the entrance to the Tomb of Nine Gods is located.
I told the players - I have given you three, THREE, NPCs who have offered to help you find it. You have killed or have allowed to be killed each one. I'M DONE! From this point forward THERE ARE NO MORE BACK-UPS! YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN!
They've just added one or two more sessions before entering the tomb, which is frustrating. I'm curious to see what they come up with. I'm curious to see what I come up with!!
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