#diderius

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: The tapestry depicts a beautiful woman, and reads ‘Humility offered in the manner of Mystral shelters those opening the way to seeking knowledge.’

Hamish (playing Sett): Religion check on the name Mystral.

DM: Mystral is the Lady of Mysteries, goddess of magic.

Tati (playing Cressida): Ooh, is that Laeral Silverhand’s mum?

DM: Who?

Tati: Laeral Silverhand, open lord of Waterdeep? Famous sage and explorer?

DM: I don’t know.

Hamish: Tati, how do you know actual canon lore? We’ve only ever played homebrew.

Tati: I did the reading on the campaign setting before we started! *blushes* ...Plus, wizards of the coast made a really cool dice set for her.

DM: Ah, that explains it.

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: The room contains some old furniture, and the ghost of a young woman. She says, “You’re not here to steal anything else, are you?”

Bri (half-elf cleric): Else? We haven’t stolen anything. Who are you?

DM: She sighs. “I’m Ida. I was one of Diderius’ apprentices. I loved him so much.”

Cressida (aasimar warlock): In what way?

DM: “He was so inspiring, he had so much to teach. But one of his tomes went missing and he blamed me. I was banished, and when I died I woke up here. I’ve been trapped in this room ever since.”

Aphil (half-elf druid): Can we help you?

DM: She shrugs. “I need to find the book so I can rest.”

Cressida: What if we found you another book in the meantime?

DM: She stares at you.

Cressida: So you have something to do other than just floating! I’m trying to be nice!

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: The bloodstains on the floor show drag marks leading to the doors opposite.

Bri (half-elf cleric): I investigate the arrows.

DM: The heads are made of stone and shaped like snakes.

Aphil (half-elf druid): Yuan-ti. Beware.

DM: Can someone make a Religion check?

Cressida (aasimar cleric): 19.

DM: The arrowheads bear the symbol of Mershok, the yuan-ti god.

Cressida: Oh yeah, I learned about this guy when I was travelling for two years.

Bri: Which you’ve never mentioned before.

Cressida: Listen, it was a long fucken way to walk.

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: You’ve just passed the sarcophagus of Diderius and passed into the rough-hewn space beyond his chamber. You’re in a small area with a tunnel leading away. There’s a hole where the wall slides back, and a lever on the yuan-ti side.

Ginquee (tortle monk): What does this lever do?

Aphil (half-elf paladin): I pull it without waiting.

Cressida (aasimar warlock): Oh!

DM: The wall slides back into place with a loud, echoing grinding sound.

Bri (half-elf cleric): *winces* Are we stuck in here, then?

Aphil: I pull it again.

DM: It opens, with the same loud, rumbling noise.

Aphil: I pull it one more time to close it.

Cressida: Stop doing that!!

[we-are-a-dragon]

Sett (human wizard): Ooh, now that the encounter is over, I’m going to spend a 4th-level spell slot to raise six zombies. *rubbing hands*

DM: You hear the voice of Diderius speak sharply in your mind. “I’d prefer if you didn’t do that.”

Sett: *frown* What if I drag the bodies into the yuan-ti tunnel so I’m not doing it in your temple?

DM: His tone becomes threatening. “Why don’t you try it and see?”

Sett: *sags* Never mind.

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: You find yourselves in a circular room with a well in the middle.

Lyra (playing Aphil): I wanna drink from it.

DM: Surrounded by bright red mushrooms that look like they’re coated in blood.

Lyra: No drinky.

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: As you approach, the two statues turn with a grinding sound that shakes the earth. A booming voice echoes, “Halt! Welcome to the tomb of Diderius, Conduit of Clairvoyants. Do you seek knowledge, or wisdom?”

Sett (human wizard): Knowledge.

Bri (half-elf cleric): Wisdom.

Ginquee (tortle monk): I thought we were seeking a dwarf.

Cressida (aasimar warlock): Guess we’re not sneaking up on him, then.

[we-are-a-dragon]

Bri (half-elf cleric): I call out. “Oh Great Diderius, we have cleared wraiths from your bedchamber, and were wondering if we could take this ring we found.”

DM: After a few seconds, you hear Diderius’ voice in your head. “So you destroyed my guardians?”

Bri: *stammers* “Th-they attacked first, how was I supposed to know they weren’t just another infestation?”

DM: “You said you sought wisdom, but now you want to take my things.”

Bri: “Hey, we cleared your tomb of yuan-ti, and you’re being really ungrateful.”