For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Monday January 22nd, 2024 11:29:06 PM
Bartomus gracefully concludes his conversation with Lady Yasume. He returns to Shield HQ with a cask of mead and shares it and what he learned with the Shields. He suggests the Shields visit the Lizardfolk and friend next. Armalad agrees with Bartomus and suggests the Tower of Boydos as the second stop. Stock shares what little he learned from Norella. Stohp wonders if Floatizens have been paying attention all these years. Zanderallen considers the Shadow Realms and the Emerald Kingdom, and completes his thought by suggesting the Shields get a good night’s rest before heading out in search of more information on the ‘morrow. Then he visits Pepper for a while, confiding in her some morsels on Karkasan. Delia listens thoughtfully to her friends.
Dawn comes, and there is no knock at Shields HQ.
The early morning arrives lackadaisically and still there is no knock.
Some of the Shields stir and begin their morning routine whether it be checking their gear… or immediately heading to the firepit to throw tasty morsels on the grill and setting a log to burning… or raiding the pantry for more immediate fare such as day-old pastries…
It is during this easy morning that the knock on the door comes.
First, a bit too quietly for all but a stray cat outside who yowls at being startled… and then the knocking is just loud enough for any Shields in the front room or kitchen to hear, and then it stops.
Who could it be?
The Shields murmur amongst themselves and speculate, “who is *so* polite and well-mannered to knock at the Shields’ doors in this way?!? Could it be… an ambush? From Karkasan already?”
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+25=42 ; d8=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d8=4 ; d6=1 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ; 4d6=11 ; Monday January 22nd, 2024 11:40:40 PM
Armalad grabs her newly upgraded bow, positions herself within 30 feet of the door and knocks 2 arrows(multishot) trained on the door. If whoever is knocking is intending harm to the party then they'll be met with 2 arrows that has firey burst, icey burst, shocking burst (from arcane archer), thundering and merciful and they'll also get sneak attacked.
(OOC: ready action to fire on person on other side of door if recognized hostile or goes to take a hostile action)
42 vs AC; (1d8+1d6 +1d6 fire +1d6 ice + 1d6 shock +5) x 2 on first of full attack +4d6
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 12:10:28 AM (so sorry - typed up a post for Monday and never hit submit I guess. Hilariously, it is perfectly summed up by "Delia listens thoughtfully to her friends.")
Delia looks around the room, sipping her mead happily. She listens to the information brought back through various research and contacts, grateful to be part of such a team.
Delia, on the roof practicing archery and putting Hawky through some paces, is unaware of the knock. If she heard the cat's yowling, she'd glance over the side of the roof to see what disturbed it.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 8:16:55 AM
Knocks on the door aren't that strange. Stohp idly wanders over to see who it is.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 4:40:29 PM
Bartomus had gotten up and done his morning meditations at the tree that was growing in the added niche on the outer side of the Float. He had wandered into their building and was putting together something to eat.
He saw Armalad coming down and setting up to shoot someone and realized that they're was someone at the door as Stohp headed that direction. With a bowl of granola in his hand, he wandered closer and stopped near Armalad.
"Usually, our enemies don't knock first," He said rather nonchalantly. "But, if they are going to be so polite, you got this for sure."
He gave a nod to Stohp supporting her opening the door.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 209/209 AC: 32 T: 13 FF: 31 CMD: 33 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 5:36:54 PM "For once it's not the force banging of the palace guard." He starts to get up but sees Stohp already ahead of him and sits back down. He calls out, "We're coming."
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 6:43:40 PM
Stock just looks at Armalad. "Feels like overkill. I mean I like the enthusiasm but even aiming a bow is a threat...so just make sure you're threatening the right type of person."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 9:50:55 PM
Armalad has Joker use the fog trick to hide her in an illusion of fake fog that way whoever is knocking isn't hostile they'll never know they were being aimed at and she can just lower the bow. (OOC: Checking In)
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 10:10:56 PM
Armalad lives the speculation, instantly ready to ambush any ambushers out there! *Delia only*: Highlight to display spoiler: {Looks like the Lakeview Lads down there, all of them, Triggan and Grysh in front. Having knocked, they’re patiently waiting for a Shield to open the doors.} Stohp walks over and opens the door, blocking Armalad’s line of fire and her sight of who’s at the door. *Stohp sees* Highlight to display spoiler: {Looks like the Lakeview Lads, all of them. Triggan and Grysh in front. Triggan smiles upon seeing you.} Bartomus stands near Armalad with a bowl of granola, encouraging Stohp to find out who’s at the doors. Zanderallen calls out to whoever’s at the door that the Shields will open the door. Stock admonishes Armalad for overreacting to a simple knock.
Once Stohp (still blocking everyone but Delia’s view) opens the doors, after a brief pause a familiar voice says, “Shields. So glad to see you again. We’ve traveled a long way. May we come in, rest, and speak with all of you inside?”
The Shields inside see glimpses past Stohp of a fairly large group outside… six to ten humanoids…
*Bartomus sees*: Highlight to display spoiler: {In the space between Stohp’s legs the bottom half of a familiar form can be seen. Legs that aren’t quite like any human or halfling, and the hands… it’s a ratfolk! … It’s Triggan Best! The Lakeview Lads are here!}
What do you do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 12:58:25 AM "Well, now here is a wonderful turn of events, Triggan Best, what a surprise. Come in, come in." Bartomus recognized the voice and the legs, or well the form of legs that a rat folk would have. "Are you all hungry, thirsty. Come, come, let's get you inside. Stohp, no need to block the door."
Bartomus glanced down at Armalad.
"No need for the pin cushion approach here. They are friends and a few of us know who he is well and if he comes with friends, well they are friends of the Shields."
Bartomus nods towards the way of the kitchen and the large table. He suspected that this was not going to be a pleasant, hi how are you, just visiting type of event. But, they could provide a degree of comfort and welcome the party that he suspected had travelled for a while.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday January 24th, 2024 8:20:58 AM "Of course, make yourself at home." Stohp says, moving aside for the group to come in.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 9:14:11 AM
Delia gives the Lads a friendly wave from the roof , whether they're looking or not, and heads down to join everyone on the main floor.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Wednesday January 24th, 2024 3:13:15 PM "Hello there! What brings you to our humble abode? It's been some time since we've seen you."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 209/209 AC: 32 T: 13 FF: 31 CMD: 33 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 4:22:31 PM
Zanderallen greets the Lads warmly and busies himself pulling out chairs around the main gathering area so all can sit down. He goes and gets some more refreshments and drinks of whatever they have sitting around, "Welcome, welcome. Good to see you. Have a seat and grab a drink. Rest yourselves and then tell us about your adventures."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 9:41:37 PM
Armalad puts her bow away and moves to get a better glimpse of their visitors.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Wednesday January 24th, 2024 11:14:39 PM
Bartomus’ keen eyes and fond memories of past discussions with Triggan on nature enable him to identify who is at the door and invite them in. Stohp moves aside and greets the Lakeview Lads pleasantly. Delia’s wave appears not to have been seen from the roof, but she is soon downstairs with the crowd. Stock greets the Lads with a question. Zanderallen is a gracious host, bringing chairs and drinks for all. Armalad’s adrenaline ceases pumping as she moves to see the visitors better, and it is indeed the Lads.
The Lads gracefully make their way inside Shields HQ, each thanking the Shields for their hospitality, with a nod to Zanderallen.
Soon everyone is seated with a drink in hand.
The Shields know Taran and Ceridan and Grysh and Triggan, Xera and Jerma and Duluth and Yerikah…
The Lads look at each other, one to another, and within a moment all are looking at Triggan Best.
Triggan begins, “So many questions! I’ll take Zanderallen’s question first.
Some time ago, Yerikah and Jerma wanted to visit It’lal, see family, check in with local leaders to see if any help was needed. We hired a turtle, got dropped off on the closest shore and made our way there,” and Triggan turns to Jerma.
Jerma says, “Our family was doing well, but reports of hostile encounters between It’lal border patrols and strange, somewhat large, lizardfolk were increasing in frequency, from a rarity to once a week. Still, nothing that our… the It’lal… patrols couldn’t handle. But then… Yerikah, how did the matron mother phrase her request to us?”
Yerikah replies, “She said ‘I know all the aberrant creatures in our mountains and caverns, but we’ve had to add new entries to our bestiary books. Something is stirring up creatures who shouldn’t even come near the light of day. Take your Floaty Friends and see what you can find out – I smell a spellcaster at work, or an unusually powerful being.’”
Triggan continues, “When Jerma and Yerikah asked the rest of us to join them, we could hardly say no – the matron mother offered to pay us well, and she did, but our ‘adventures’ were… difficult.”
Grysh punches Triggan in the arm, “You mean they were… STICKY!!!” and bellows out a hearty laugh!
Triggan chuckles slightly, saying, “Yes, but not in a good way,” Triggan sighs, and continues, looking at Zanderallen, “I suppose I have to finish the story now,” he finishes, sounding resigned to it.
He takes a long pause.
What do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday January 25th, 2024 8:32:11 AM
Stohp will prepare the Lad's tea or whatever other refreshment they'd like while they tell their story.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Thursday January 25th, 2024 8:57:19 AM
Stock mutters, ”…sounds like a sticky situation…” He then raises an eyebrow and looks around to see if anybody heard the bit of humor from the usually serious dwarf.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday January 25th, 2024 2:15:33 PM
Delia unsuccessfully attempts to hide a snort at Stock's quiet comment and ends up coughing up some tea. She quickly recovers and holds her questions about the things that have been going bump in the night until the story is complete.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 209/209 AC: 32 T: 13 FF: 31 CMD: 33 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday January 25th, 2024 2:32:42 PM
Powerful spellcaster setting new and unseen monsters into the over world. That sounded like the kind of thing they were looking for. He gives Triggan an expectant look, "Let me give you a piece of advice. If you're going give an opening like that you best be prepared to spill the rest."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday January 25th, 2024 3:57:33 PM "So, who got caught in a spider's nest or a giant slug slime?" Bartomus asked with a bit of a smile and leaned forward. "Sounds like you all have had a grand adventure just getting here. Want to hear more, but right now how about you give us a bit more on the giant lizardfolk and others that are showing up there? Oh, and has there been anyone new that might have come and sought an alliance with you all? Dragon born type?"
Bartomus wanted to know more about the Lad's adventures, but also there was an affirmation to their collective hunch that there was a problem brewing away from the Float in the lands of the Itilal.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday January 25th, 2024 10:24:23 PM
(OOC: I'm reminded of that one episode of southpark where they kept showing the same scene from different points of view and it ended with different characters having icecream and saying, "And that's what I call a sticky situation and everyone laughs)
Armalad joins in on the laughter and says to Bartomus, "I dunno about you but any of those scenarios definitely qualify as a sticky situation."
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Thursday January 25th, 2024 10:35:38 PM
Stohp makes the rounds, taking the Lads’ drink orders and then heading to the kitchen to fill them. Stock makes a small joke under his breath, and then looks to see if anyone heard him. Delia fails to keep her composure at Stock’s joke. Zanderallen recommends that Triggan be ready with the full story with an opening like that! Bartomus asks the Lads to focus more on the foes the dark elves were facing, and whether any lizardfolk or dragon-born were involved. Armalad joins in the laughter and makes a joke to Bartomus.
Triggan continues, “Spill… well, our guts were almost spilled, or eaten. (lightly chuckles)”
Grysh interrupts, “C’mon Triggan, at this speed we’ll never get to the good part! Shields, let ME tell you how it went down! (Grysh stands up, becoming animated, and mock-holding a greataxe (only air in his fists))
THERE we were in the Caves of It’lal! Oooh… you can just hear the capital letters can’t you?!? Anyways, we’d been traveling the caves quite a while, everyone taking six weeks’ iron rations with them and we were at half rations left, or at least I was… Duluth and me in the lead because we can see in the dark and the rest with hidden lightstones so we don’t get spotted a whole cavern away. Well, I must’ve been the only one looking UP from time to time and I saw this big creepy-crawlie, like a caterpillar with tentacles coming down from above towards Duluth! That’s right, Duluth here (jabs rib) was almost a meal for a very hungry caterpillar! Well, I got its attention right away with my greataxe and shoved Duluth out of the way so he wasn’t in danger, but of course that’s when the others climbed down from the ceiling too! I gave that thing better than I got – some kind of poison in its tentacles but I just kept chopping away until it was dead! And now Duluth owes me some… I think he calls it “white gold”… at the Giggling Ghost!” Grysh finishes his tale by flexing his impressive biceps, more than a few times.
Yerikah pipes up, “Actually, by the time of that battle we’d found a sort of dungeon that looked to everyone’s eyes like natural stone! You see, Jerma and I had been scouting ahead of the Lads before Grysh’s tale, and we’d found a concealed cave entrance in a dark corner of a larger cavern – just some piled rocks but enough to fool a casual passer-by.”
Jerma continues, “What Grysh left out in his battle is that the creatures are known as Carrion Crawlers – you’ve probably already fought some, but we hadn’t – Yerikah and I were the only ones who’d heard of them – drow school focuses on… different things than… in other nations. Agreed, Yerikah, that cave entrance was really well-concealed – it looked like the stones had naturally fallen there, but clearly they had been placed by someone.”
Triggan speaks up, “So, you might recall that following Gargul’s resurrection of us, some of us, including myself, got very good at worshiping him, so I had cast light on a stone I kept with me, and sensing danger, I used it to lead all of us into the concealed cave. It didn’t open into a chamber right away… oh no… it must have been about two miles of walking in a relatively narrow tunnel, only 10’ across or so, same height. It didn’t end after two miles, but we found something…” Triggan turns and looks at Duluth, expectantly. Duluth looks for all the world like a child with stage fright, unused to having the spotlight or speaking at length.
There is an uncomfortable pause, but it looks like Duluth is working up the willpower to continue the tale.
What do you do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday January 26th, 2024 12:21:55 AM "Alright, you have gone this far with this tale, keep going Duluth, seize the moment." Bartomus offered Duluth with encouragement. The Taur's eyes sparkled with interest and he leaned a bit further forward. "What was at then end of the long, long tunnel? More of the nasty Carrion Crawlers? Not a fan of those at all."
Bartomus' mind was racing about trying to understand the connections between their guests and their quest. It was starting to fall into place, he felt.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday January 26th, 2024 6:20:36 AM
Stohp stays quiet and politely listens to the story.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Friday January 26th, 2024 9:20:08 AM
Stock leans up next to Grysh and nabs the clear ioun stone floating around his head. "Pro-tip: Next time you go on safari, bring one of these...you won't have to stomach those iron rations any longer."
His attention returns to the story and he focuses on Duluth. "Well? What happened?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday January 26th, 2024 11:07:54 AM
Delia opens her mouth to tell them, "Hmm. Those sound like carrion crawlers. We fought some recently too," and then promptly shuts it when Jerma picks up the story.
She switches listening focus to Duluth, but doesn't look at him, feeling great sympathy for a fellow quiet soul.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Friday January 26th, 2024 3:05:25 PM
Grysh should have been a bard Zander thinks to himself as he sips his drink and listens attentively.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Saturday January 27th, 2024 11:38:55 PM
Bartomus encourages Duluth, thinking hard all the while about how the Lads’ adventure and their problems might connect somewhere. Stohp quietly listens. Stock advises Grysh on ration management and “encourages” Duluth, dwarf-style! Delia was ready to comment, but wisely held her tongue as the Lads, definitely now more seasoned than before, continue. She feels a distant kinship to Duluth. Zanderallen thinks Grysh should have been a bard, or at least moonlighted as a performer. Armalad almost bends over in muffled laughter as the truth hits the nail on the head – Carrion Crawlers, with their icky, sticky, paralyzing-poison-coated tentacles!!!
Duluth clears his throat several times, interspersed with “uh” and “ahem.” Finally, he begins, “So we were in that cave and, as the only dwarf in the Lads it felt like my nerves were on fire, watching for danger from the stone itself. Earth elementals, thoqquas, purple worms, and worse sometimes show up, and knowing that foul beasts from the deeper tunnels were coming near the surface just made it worse for me, inside. But, I kept at it, and then I suddenly saw a bit of artificial stonework in what should have been just another limestone tunnel. I hand-signaled the group to stop, looked closer, then brought over Taran, and had Triggan unshield his lightstone slightly so Taran could check with me to make sure it wasn’t trapped – nothing like that should have been there outside of a dwarven city or stronghold, and it was clear that if some powerful foe was stirring up the Underwold beasts then we had to investigate everything unusual,” Duluth finishes, sweating with the memories. Xera notices and gives him a ‘kerchief he uses to wipe his forehead. He thanks her.
Taran continues, “So, like Duluth said, it was weird. But, once I started looking, and feeling around, I found the hidden keystone in no time and there was a click and we slid what was a stone door, of a kind, to the side in a cavity built for it. Inside we found and explored a small three-room hideout – now, that’s a lot of stonework! Maybe it was done naturally, but I feel like a powerful spellcaster must have cast a bunch of spells to make it as nice as it was, that far beneath the mountains surrounding It’lal. The hallways and ceilings were all 10’ wide. That door… it looked almost seamless with the stone – we really lucked out with Duluth spotting it,” Taran finishes, patting Duluth on the back with an “atta’boy.”
There’s a pause of just three seconds and then Ceridan begins, “We expected combat, so we shifted to our new marching order, new since Triggan and Grysh added the spells of Gargul to their repertoire, and new since usually we weren’t in caves looking for unusual stonework. Grysh and Duluth took the lead, Jerma and Taran next, then Yerikah and Xera, then Triggan and me guarding the rear. Just as some of us were beginning to wonder why the ceiling wasn’t worked stone like the walls and floors, that’s when Grysh, around the corner from me, called out something I shouldn’t mention in polite company (Grysh… blushes?!?) and I just knew it was an attack and told everyone to look up, and good thing because more of them were coming out of dark recesses in the ceiling we hadn’t really noticed in the low light conditions we were using, and those who could see in the dark were worried about traps in the walls and floors and such since it was worked stone.” he finishes.
Xera jumps ahead in the story, “So, after we killed the Crawlers, we made sure they were dead and then took our time examining everything. One room had more nooks in the ceiling than would be expected, and there was a slight breeze, which explained why the firepit in the center of the room worked – from what Duluth tells me, you never ever use a firepit, even with coals, underground if you don’t have a way to vent the smoke and get more fresh air. The firepit was cold, but had been used some time in the past to burn a lot of papers. It all looked ashy, but sometimes fire doesn’t get everything so Yerikah used Mage Hand and sifted slowly. Nothing there, but perhaps the hot air from the fire blew a piece away, because in a corner of the room I found a scrap of paper with some writing in an esoteric script I didn’t recognize. I asked for help and Duluth obliged with Comprehend Languages. Once we knew what it said, we knew it was something big.”
Yerikah picks up the story again, “The nearest library we had was It’lal, so, almost halfway on our rations (smiles at Grysh) we agreed to head back to It’lal so we could ask the Matron Mother what our people knew of this… artifact.”
Jerma continues, “The Matron Mother put the scribes to work, but it turns out It’lal is pretty far from The Scab, so the drow archives didn’t have anything.”
Triggan concludes, pulling out a journal, and opening it to reveal a charred scrap of parchment alongside a translation in the journal, “Shields, it says, ‘…an artifact in the shape of a crown with twin metalwrought dragons around the bottom edges, reputed to be in the Scab, deep within the East Wind Tunnel Entrance…' with the text before and after lost to the firepit.”
Triggan offers the journal and the scrap to Armalad, “Armalad, last I heard you’re the Shield who knows all the languages – It’lal didn’t know what language this was written in, but at least Comprehend Languages worked.”
Triggan turns to the Shields as a whole, and says, “Shields, I don’t know if this is of any help, but every WLA member is taught the same – ‘if you ever encounter an artifact and you aren’t the greatest heroes of your region, go tell the greatest heroes of your region about the artifact and then get far far away!’,” Triggan finishes with a chuckle.
Triggan says, “So, Shields, you know anything about this crown with the dragons?”
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday January 28th, 2024 10:56:30 PM
Armalad asks, "What are the odds? We are looking for the crown with the dragons and lads show up with a lead as to where it could be located."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Sunday January 28th, 2024 11:24:12 PM "Exactly," Bartomus chimed in after Armalad. He shook his head and swallowed some more mead. "Looks like we have to learn more about this Scab and what creatures might inhabit it. Also, Jerma, you and I may need to make a visit to the Lady Yasume as she was going to do some of what you all apparently had done."
He looked about the walls of the room they were in. He sighed.
"You know, I want us to invest into a series of maps the size of these walls. We gotta have some visual ways to see where things are."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday January 29th, 2024 7:18:33 AM
The Lads shared their story, so Stohp will share the party's, sharing in great detail their recent adventures with the mad lizardfolk and the mind controlled druid. "So as you can see this is a very important find. Your troubles and ours sound similar and they seemed to be after another piece of the armor so it's likely there's another of these guys behind it."
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Monday January 29th, 2024 9:24:35 AM "All that said...we don't really know MUCH about the crown. We're looking for it. Maybe it can help bring an ancient evil back to the Wold. But we really don't know much more than that.
...and The Scab...It's been a while since I've been home..."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Monday January 29th, 2024 12:18:48 PM
As the story telling continues Zanderallen becomes increasingly focused on the tale. Gradually leaning farther and farther forward, on the edge of his seat as the Lad's finish the tale. As others begin discussed he can't help but fiddle with his day time gear, tugging and tightening sword strap and his minimal city armor. "This is the lead we were hoping for from all our sources. Well done Lads, this artifact mentioned is part of a plan to return a great evil to this land. We need to get our hands on it first. And whatever agent is looking for it has a head start. Pack your bags Shields, it's off to the Scab for us."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Monday January 29th, 2024 5:32:00 PM
As their story concluded, a very slight smile shows on Delia's face. Her time spent hunting horrible monsters underground sounds like it will come in handy now. She joins the other Shields in expressing gratitude to the Lads.
"My bags are always packed," she responds seriously to Zanderallen, a hand absently brushing her haversack.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday January 29th, 2024 11:25:30 PM
Armalad says to Delia, "Have bow will travel and well Joker too"
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Monday January 29th, 2024 11:56:30 PM Armalad comments on the nature of serendipity. Bartomus asserts the need to learn more about the Scab, check in again with Lady Yasume, and perhaps add some maps to the walls at Shields HQ. Stohp shares the Shields’ recent adventures regarding the ancient lizardfolk and the dominated druid. The Lads eyes go wide with the description of the ancient lizardfolk, apparently a description they’ve heard before. There are many oohs and aahs at the blow-by-blow description of the underground battle against the druid and the lizardfolk spellcaster. Triggan nods in agreement with Stohp’s conclusion first, and then the Lads one by one thereafter. Stock interjects that the Shields don’t know all that much about the crown, other than the description… and did… did Stock get wistful for a moment, speaking of home? Stock? Wistful? Zanderallen is all in to the Lads’ story, as though peeling an onion layer by layer until the center is found. He congratulates the Lads on bringing actionable intelligence to the Shields, and then calls for the Shields to head for the Scab! Delia’s long expeditions in the Underwold slaying OtherWoldy Aberrations and other fearsome foes come to mind, almost casting her into a daydream of perfectly-executed somersaults leading to volleys of archery enough to blot out the sun, were the sun in the Underwold! With practiced effort she comes out of her reverie and tells Zanderallen she’s ready to go.
The Lads talk amongst themselves for a moment or two, and then Triggan stands and turns to the Shields, “Shields, we don’t know exactly how valuable our experiences, and that parchment fragment, are to you, but it sounds like time is of the essence.
We had plans for where we might explore next, but the Scab is a good distance away and we don’t want you concerned with who’s defending the Float while you’re gone. If you’ll let the Overlord know we’ll stay until your return then we’ll say our goodbyes now and go get our headquarters shipshape, that is, unless the furniture guild has rented it out from under us again!” At Triggan’s final comment, all of the Lads erupt into laughter!
The Shields surmise that this might actually have happened before, at least once!
Triggan then adds, “Of course, we can still make short trips from the Float, so if you want us to courier messages to anyone no more than a few days’ round-trip I’m sure we can arrange for that.”
With that, the Lads all stand and spread out among the Shields, wishing them well on their adventure on a one to one basis: Triggan seeks out Bartomus, adding that he’s made some progress in his wood carving skill and should have something worth showing Bartomus on the Shields’ return. Grysh strides over to Stock and trades good-natured barbs with him. Yerikah and Xera ask Armalad if she recognizes the language on the parchment scrap. Taran and Jerma ask Stohp for more details on the Shields’ recent adventures. Duluth looked like he was going to walk over to Stock before Grysh zoomed over, and by chance Duluth ends up sitting next to Delia in silence, his mood seemingly lightening at being “alone together” with a fellow silent soul. It doesn’t last long, as Ceridan spots Delia and walks over, beginning to ask Delia for archery tips, talking a mile a minute!
Eventually the conversations die down, hugs are had, and the Lads leave, one by one, heading for their HQ.
The Shields start taking stock of whether they have enough supplies for the trip, and realize they just might need a plan…
[OOC - What do the Shields plan, what do the Shields do, and who do they talk to, if anyone, outside the Shields?]
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday January 30th, 2024 2:07:55 AM
Well the first step is research. They'll have to learn where the east wind tunnel even is and what is known about it. There's a good chance such information isn't known locally, so they might have to contact locals for that information. So in that spirit, once done entertaining their guests, she'll head to the Giggling Ghost. Happy meets adventurers from all over the Wold and is a good place to start for both types of information.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Tuesday January 30th, 2024 9:51:44 AM
Stock bids a fond farewell to the Lads, full of hugs, backslapping and hearty handshakes. He then starts thinking about the problem at hand - how easiest to get to the Scab and where to go once there to find the East Wind Tunnel.
He heads up to the WLA to ask some questions of his fellow adventurers around these two points.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday January 30th, 2024 2:44:12 PM
After some mutually encouraging talk about carving with Triggan that included some mental sizing up of the situation.
As the Lads departed, Bartomus noted that they would get the HQ together for their house sitting. He shared with his fellow Shields that "it just made sense."
Later he shared his thought of going to leave a message for Lady Yasume with her staff, buy a few maps, and start making a list of what they are going to need for a long haul.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday January 30th, 2024 2:44:17 PM
After some mutually encouraging talk about carving with Triggan that included some mental sizing up of the situation.
As the Lads departed, Bartomus noted that they would get the HQ together for their house sitting. He shared with his fellow Shields that "it just made sense."
Later he shared his thought of going to leave a message for Lady Yasume with her staff, buy a few maps, and start making a list of what they are going to need for a long haul.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=13 ; Tuesday January 30th, 2024 5:15:41 PM
Wishing the lads the best Zander joins in saying a hearty good bye. He then thinks on how to get to the Scab, if there were any local travel routes he knows of(Know: Local 13). If he comes up blank he decides to go up to the palace and talk to the Overlord and let him know that the Shields had discovered a lead to one of Karkasan's artifacts in the Scab and ask if they had any record of the East Wind Tunnel.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+16=25 ; Tuesday January 30th, 2024 5:51:26 PM
Delia joins in the goodbyes, giving Duluth a kindred spirit nod as she sees the Lads off.
She will consider what she knows about the Scab in particular and what routes there are or that she may have previously taken.
Know (Geo): 25 (+6 forest or +2 underground if applicable)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+27=45 ; Tuesday January 30th, 2024 9:41:53 PM
Armalad studies the scrap of paper to see if she is familiar with the language on it (Linguistics: 45)
As for supplies Armalad asks, "How long will this journey be and what kind of a route are we taking? Won't the answers to those questions impact our provisioning plan."
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Tuesday January 30th, 2024 10:10:18 PM Stohp enjoys the epilogue to the Lads’ visit, and as they file out already her mind is racing with ideas! With barely an “I’ll be at the Ghost” Stohp has left the building. With her Epic Knowledge of Float Shortcuts, Stohp is at the Ghost in no time. Happy is just drying off a glass and putting it away when he notices Stohp. “Miss Stohp, so good to see you! Would you like your usual drink this early in the day?”
Stock is more animated than usual, heavy on the camaraderie with the Lads! As the Lads leave, he begins thinking about the best routes to the Scab, and from there to the East Wind Tunnel… Stock’s eyes only Highlight to display spoiler: { the walk to the WLA jogs Stock’s memories of the Clan Mountainheart stronghold from… ten years ago… has it been that long? Of course! He was always busy with carpentry, but the real glory went to those of his clan assigned to guard the (somewhat) nearby Eastern Wind Tunnel entrance from drow invasions, aberrant horrors, and whatever else might wander from the Underwold up to the surface! Stock’s work had never taken him there, but, if starting the journey from Mountainheart stronghold he’s pretty sure he could lead the Shields there, though it could be a full day of walking. A small blessing contrasted with the curse of being the clan located closest to the Entrance and thus taking on all of the guard duty without asking the other clans for help, ever! The harder part of their journey will be getting the Shields to the Scab, and then to the particular mountains of the Scab most familiar to him. Yet… there are rivers throughout the mountains, and rivers make great landmarks, as do the skylines of particular mountain ridges… at least from a distance.} Stock arrives at the WLA and by coincidence Pip is at the front counter, poring over some dusty tome as thick as Stock’s right bicep! “Huh? What? Stock! So good to see you! How can I help you today? Please tell me it involves research,” he finishes with a bright smile!
Bartomus talked (wood) shop, literally, with Triggan for quite a bit before the Lads said their goodbyes and left one by one. He began to think of how best to prepare Shields HQ, so that the Lads could best keep an eye on it, and then his mind turned to a few key errands: leave a message with Lady Yasume with her staff (they graciously took his message and promised to timely deliver it to the Lady), buy a few maps (from whom/where? WLA, Catacombs, somewhere else?, and make a list of items for a long expedition (Bartomus scribbles in a journal as he goes)
Zanderallen considers just how much he knows of routes towards the Scab and swiftly realizes he’d best locate some maps to jog his memory! Hmm, he thinks, the Ov--Drezz probably has the best maps… Zanderallen is swiftly at the Palace, trading salutes with the only sergeant he has to look up to, in order to see his face! It seems Drezz has given orders to speed Zanderallen to Drezz’s presence anytime he comes to the Palace, for Zanderallen is soon met by guards who cheerily tell him they’ll have him to Drezz in no time without Zanderallen even getting to open his mouth! The longest delay is outside the throne room, as Drezz is “briefly indisposed.” About 15 minutes later Zanderallen is escorted into Drezz’s presence. Drezz says, “I suppose you’re wondering why I had your entry sped along so much. Since the attack of the carnivorous plants I’ve given orders to the guards to act like they’re on a war footing even though the war with these plants and their masters hasn’t really started beyond your skirmish with them. So, something is up. It’s written all over your face. What is the news, old friend?”
Delia and Duluth each exchange a brief nod, all the ‘emotional outburst’ they can manage. Duluth grunts approvingly and elbows Ceridan in the ribs when he goes on a bit too long about archery techniques. Soon the Lads are gone, and Delia considers her many travels…Highlight to display spoiler: {Delia, a trained explorer, can almost re-live any of her hundreds or thousands of travels in her head, and she has some good ideas on routes but realizes she hasn’t seen large-scale maps of the Wold in some time. She feels highly confident that given a selection of high-level, medium-level, and low-level maps she could quickly mark near-optimal routes on each for speed along the known roads, or avoiding notice off the beaten path… but she’s convinced speed is the better option – woe to any bandits or monsters who get in the Shields’ way on the roads to the Scab! She’s heard of the Eastern Wind Tunnel, but she didn’t grow up in the Scab, so would need to see a map to do more than get the Shields to the eastern half of the Scab. If only the Shields knew someone familiar with the Scab even more than her own impressive geographical knowledge! It’s then she realizes a gap in her knowledge: she knows the geography, but not the names of all of the dwarven clans in the area – but, once the Shields are in the Scab proper, perhaps the first clan they run into can point them towards the next, and so on, until they can find the Entrance. Hm, the locals probably have much more detailed maps than the Float, but, seeing some of her friends already running errands, it seems likely to Delia that one or more of them has gone to acquire whatever maps can be found here. It’s a start.}
Armalad studies the scrap of paper deeply, without magic, to ascertain if it’s in one of the many languages she knows. Highlight to display spoiler: {Truly, this is an Epic Challenge to analyze this small amount of writing, even knowing what it says. Armalad runs through half of the languages she knows before seeing similarities to Woldian Below, but… perhaps proto-Woldian Below… no wonder the Drow could not decipher it without magic – only one as trained in the linguistic arts as Armalad could make the necessary mental connections to come to this conclusion in just one full minute instead of one or more hours! Armalad scribbles furiously in a journal, putting together a crude partial cipher, translating first from archaic Woldian Below to modern Woldian Below, and then to Common for the benefit of the Shields and then to Elven for herself… because Elven! Not a full linguistic mapping of this archaic Woldian Below, but it will have to do for now. Perhaps if more samples could be found…} Armalad looks up from her work to see that only she and Delia remain in Shields HQ. Delia’s the survivalist, so Armalad asks her about the length of the journey, the route, and how those factor in to Shields’ provisioning.
What does each Shield do next?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday January 31st, 2024 8:14:37 AM
Given how much the party has been asking around Happy is probably familiar with the general situation so Stohp will just ask about the specifics. "There's an important artifact we just learned is in the Scab in someplace called the East Wind Tunnel Entrance. We have no idea where that is or how to get there, but you have contacts all over so I thought you'd either know the general direction we should go or know someone who can help."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday January 31st, 2024 1:24:26 PM
Delia looks after Stock and Zanderallen, realizing that she needs some more specific info and can likely get it from maps or a dwarf. "Always choose dwarf," she mutters to herself before jogging after Stock. She catches herself last minute and waves to Armalad before taking off. Hawky settles onto her shoulder as she heads out after her dwarf friend.
She asks Stock questions about the East Wind Tunnel and Scab in general to see if she can connect her knowledge with the actual names of places instead of whatever she named them in her head.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday January 31st, 2024 4:42:54 PM
Zanderallen salutes and thanks the guards as he is hurried through the palace. He smiles and greets Drezz warmly before turning somber as Drezz explains the new protocol, "I fear your precautions of war may turn all too real. Karkasan is a very real threat. But I do have some good news. The Lads found a lead on one of the artifacts Karkasan's agents are looking for, in the East Wind Tunnel in the Scab. We're looking for maps to figure out where that is. And it's a little bit of a rush because they have a head start."
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Wednesday January 31st, 2024 4:55:40 PM
He looks up when he gets to the counter and then turns to see Delia trailing him. "Oh hey, Delia, I didn't see you there following me; just have travel on the mind...and going home. It's been a while since I've been home. You ever been to the Scab?"
He then turns to Pip...
"OK Pip - we need to head out on a bit of a walkabout. I'd love your help - or the help of anybody else here whose done it recently - plotting a route from the Float to the East Wind Tunnel in the Scab. If possible, it can go through the Clan Mountainheart stronghold thereabouts - I'm should be welcome back - but it's not really necessary if there's another way. Maybe in a perfect world we have somebody able to teleport us there...that's how I got to the Float in the first place after all...
And please - no questions on WHY we're leaving. That's how rumors start."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday January 31st, 2024 9:18:09 PM
Armalad plans a treatise on Proto-Woldian Below for the Star Mages Guild in the future and is ready to share the partial Lexicon she made with anyone should they come back. She then hunts down Delia and asks about the journey to the Scab, the time it should take to get there and how they are planning to get there.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Wednesday January 31st, 2024 11:39:00 PM Stohp gets right to the point with Happy. He hmms a lot, chewing a fingernail as he does so. (Is that a new habit? Ewwww…) Happy then says, “Stohp, around here there’s a few ideas, and your fellow Shields are probably already checking on them – the Overlord has the Palace Archives which should have some general maps of the Wold, and the WLA probably has a lot of close-in maps from all over – a bit hit and miss, but they should both have some useful maps and Pip is sure to have useful info from all those reports WLA members file… but there’s a river that pretty much flows between Turtle Lake and the Scab, so if you had to, you could walk alongside the riverbanks for… probably hundreds of miles. I don’t recall if the river brings water to the Lake, or receives water from the Lake, but I’m certain the WLA or the Palace Archives will know – even the Druids might know, though it’s over a hundred miles to the southern shore of Turtle Lake. I’ll ask around, quiet-like about if the river’s an option. I don’t know the geography of the Scab all that well, but whispersonce in a blue moon travelers from Plateau City, heading for a new life in the far Eastern Wilderlands, bring rumors with them, and as I heard it, the dwarves who live near the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance keep guards there all the time, day and night, fearful of another drow invasion from the Underwold, or worse! Stohp, when you get out there, always keep a lookout – we may have to deal with undersea plant monsters here, but places that connect to the Underwold… [he visibly shudders] well, some suffer a fate worse than death! Oh! I just remembered - the river’s kind of in two parts – travelers said the Serpent’s Breath flows out of the Scab and towards us. Don’t you worry, I’ll get you anything new I learn, especially about the part of the river connecting to Turtle Lake. Just stop by again before you leave.
Delia saves vs. Armalad’s questions and is soon on the road after Stock, who’s rather speedy for a dwarf! She had delayed critical moments while Stock was zooming far enough ahead that she could not immediately catch up. Fortunately Stock let everyone know where he was going so Delia, straining to reach the prize with outstretched arm, arrives just as Pip is beginning his lecture! [OOC Stock is move 40’ vs. Delia’s move 45’ in the city, but Stock had a head start.]
Zanderallen salutes the guards, thanking them as they sped his way to Drezz. The Overlord listens intently to Zanderallen, and then claps his hands three times. Two unarmored guards appear, with the build of long-distance runners. Drezz orders, “Take Zanderallen to the Palace Archives and direct the Archivist to locate and lend to Zanderallen whatever maps, documents and scrolls he requests.” At once, the guard/runners escort Zanderallen through a dizzying number of secret passages he never knew existed, until Zanderallen is suddenly in a dusty library… an old library… and standing in front of an aged, wizened gnome woman who pushes her glasses up her nose at his arrival, and then sees the guards as well. The guards say, “Archivist Besh, the Overlord directs you to lend to Zanderallen of the Shields any and all maps, documents, and scrolls he requests.” And with that, the guard/runners are gone as quickly as they brought Zanderallen. Archivist Besh says, “Well… Zanderallen… how may I be of assistance?”
Stock was about to answer Pip when a rush of air and smell of a sprinter’s sweat announced Delia’s presence behind him, not that Stock’s nose registered the scent against the background Turtle Lake-humid air of the Float! He asks Delia whether she’s ever been to the Scab. Delia holds up one finger to request time for a deep breath or three, so Stock uses the time to direct Pip in locating a route from the Float to the East Wind Tunnel in the Scab. Stock also shuts down Pip’s first ‘but, why’.
Armalad double-takes as Delia waves and runs out the door as Armalad begins asking the first question, mutters under her breath, and stows the parchment in a handy scroll case and then takes off after Delia! Armalad arrives at the WLA as Pip is perhaps several sentences into his reply to Stock, Delia being faster than she in cities. Armalad too is breathing a little heavy after that sprint, so perhaps Pip can finish before Delia and Armalad can have their conversation.
Bartomus brings his list of scribbles to the Float’s general store, and a few specialty stores, using his expertise in surviving in many kinds of wilderness to the shopping task, estimating food, thinking if a wagon would be necessary, or if the Shields should make a Catacombs stop to purchase one or more bags of holding or similar… he and Delia could keep the Shields fed with foraging and hunting, but the more pre-made and salted food they could bring with them, the faster they could travel – and of course he could supply the Shields almost every day if they didn’t mind Goodberries and water from Create Water for every meal! Although with two Taurs in the Shields… he determined the Shields needed 12 goodberries per meal, or 36 per day, and at an average of 5 per spell, that’d be all of his first-rank spells and some of his second-rank spells every day they were on the road if they wanted to save the lengthy time foraging and hunting would consume… and they might get bored of the repetive meals so they’d probably have to split the difference – some goodberries, some pre-made salted meats and so on, and some foraging and hunting, but not nearly as much time as if they were only foraging and hunting.
Pip thinks hard a moment as Stock, Delia, and Armalad wait patiently. Then he gets up and says, “I’ll be in the back about 10 minutes – I know we have maps, but I want to grab a book or two so you or I can copy down some key information for you. However, I know the easiest landmark that goes straight from here to the Scab is the river that passes through Cutter at the southern shore of Turtle Lake, which eventually meets up with the Serpent’s Breath river that connects to the Scab, and I think you’re going to become *very* familiar with those rivers unless you have access to someone who can teleport all of you, and do so safely!” With that, Pip is gone in the back. The WLA HQ is otherwise empty at the moment, and job postings are few – a rare lull in an otherwise oddly-busy WLA post.
What does each Shield do next?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+26=28 ; Thursday February 1st, 2024 7:57:28 AM
Stohp considers. "We have a ship, but it might be to big to go upriver. I'll find out. Thanks for the help." Stohp heads out, reflecting that really it would be easiest to get magical teleportation there and back. Going upriver in a ship might take days or weeks. She'll reflect on her local knowledge about where to ask her questions about boats and the river, and if there's someone or group they could just pay to be a teleport taxi (28 knowledge local)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday February 1st, 2024 9:49:24 AM
Bartomus lost himself in his wanderings and in doing so had this overwhelming inspiration as to how to provide food and water to the Shields. He made his list and kept adding things to it ranging from the two bags of holding, trail rations, dwarven rations, while keeping in mind many of the Shields have their Ioun Stones from Lady Yasmine.
He also managed to leave a detailed message about the fact that the Mother Matron had done some research for the Lads with Lady Yasmine's staff.
Then he began his walking down to the catacombs to submit his list to buy.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday February 1st, 2024 9:51:48 AM
After Pip disappears, Delia will turn to Armalad as if there hasn't been a whole trek across the cities since her questions. "If we're going to be taking the rivers, that will be completely different from an oveland journey. Especially if we're feeding a crew." she'll estimate travel times to Armalad based on what she knows of those rivers.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday February 1st, 2024 5:47:59 PM
Fighting back a sneeze at all the dust Zanderallen greets the archivist, "Greetings, Ahhh, uphm, er, excuse me. Nice to meet you ma'am. I'm looking for maps of the Scab, in particular looking for a place known as the East Wind Tunnel. It's possible it's an old place, might not still be called that. And once we figure out where it is I need to figure out the best way to get from here to there. Think you can help?" He puts on his most charming smile, finally loses his battle against the dust, covers his mouth for a massive sneeze and then grins sheepishly.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Thursday February 1st, 2024 10:43:16 PM Stohp considers the Shields’ dragon boat, but resolves to find out how big it is compared to the river. Then she realizes that Happy had a point – if they knew of anyone who could teleport them there, and maybe wait around for them to finish their mission… but who knows how long they’ll be in the Underwold? Still, teleporting there just means they look for someone to teleport them back once they’re done… does anyone on the float offer these services? Could Lernitig’s gate be activated for this trip? Is there a compatible gate in the Scab? She remembers that on the Gold Level is Gordo’s Transport, but he oversees the transport ring, or way station, to Plateau City, and going there wouldn’t put the Shields any closer to the Eastern Scab! Gordo is reputed to be knowledgeable about transportation needs in the Float, so if such a teleport service exists, he might know of it. Of course, isn’t Armalad a powerful wizard now? Couldn’t she learn how to teleport the Shields? What about Armalad’s friends, the Star Mages Guild? Hm, does Drezz have his own pet wizards, or just the Palace staff from before he became Overlord? Many possibilities, but it’d be good to have a backup plan if none of them work out…
Bartomus’s message for Lady Yasmine was to let her know what the Lads found out from the Matron Mother in It’Lal. He tightened up his scribbles on trip supplies, remembering that more than one shield purchased a magic item so they wouldn’t need food while they were using it. He continued on his way to the Catacombs, purchase list in hand.
Delia nonchalantly turns to Armalad and notes the vast differences between an overland trip and a river trip, given a river trip would require a crew to keep the craft going 24/7. Delia does her best to provide an estimated travel time for each per 100 miles, knowing the final answer will depend on whatever Pip’s maps have, and if Zanderallen was fortunate with Drezz… and did Happy have anything useful to give Stohp?
Zanderallen saves vs. sneeze, at first, and requests maps of the Scab, with a focus on the East Wind Tunnel Entrance, and then help selecting one or more viable routes from the Float to the Entrance. He tries to finish with a smile but fails to save vs. sneeze the second time.
Archivist Besh squints and stares at Zanderallen a long moment, then, pushing her glasses up her nose again (even though she didn’t need to), says, “We have the kinds of maps you’re looking for, but I must warn you, they may be half a century out of date – it’ll be enough to point you in the right direction, following the rivers to the Scab, but you’ll want to consult with a merchant guild that plies that route – they would have the most up to date maps, reports on any bandits, and so on…”
Archivist Besh stood up while speaking, and then continued speaking even as she climbed a small stepladder contraption on wheels. Then she muttered something under her breath while squeezing each rail with her hands three times, and then said aloud, “Extend thirty feet,” and with that the (magical???) wheeled stepladder extended thirty feet up! She continued, “Shelf 876.543,” and with that the stepladder sped her around the archive – she held on with one hand with the other holding her purple hat in place! Within ten seconds she was across the spacious Archive, pulling three boxes off the tippy-top shelf onto the ladder, which seemed to move its rails slightly to clamp them tight. “Home!” she bellowed, as best a three-foot-tall ancient gnome woman could bellow, and the stepladder whisked her back to the front desk in front of a bemused Zanderallen. “Contract twenty-five feet,” she finished, and soon she was only a few steps from the ground, disembarked, said, “set them down, thanks!” and the boxes slid from the top of the ladder to the floor in a neat stack.
It seemed at first that she must have magical strength, moving boxes so easily, but after placing them on the front desk and opening them up, the boxes were merely filled with bulky scrolls and packing material. She selects a few scrolls and walks to a nearby table, unfurling the scrolls for Zanderallen’s benefit. “So, this first scroll is a good overview of the Elennian peninsula, from a bit west of Plateau City to the Scab to the Float. Here are a few magical quills and inkpots – they don’t do anything special, except that I have some magic stones that will enable me to erase any useless annotations you make while you’re on your journey. Next, the second scroll goes just from the Scab to Turtle Lake in fairly good detail – this is one you might mark your possible routes – now the rivers are already on here (points), but for all I know you’ll find out there’s a river dragon or something and need to plan an alternate route. Finally, this third scroll is just the Eastern half of the Scab – see, there’s the Serpent’s Breath river – it connects to this river here, coming from the southern shore of Turtle Lake and heading towards the sea.
Now, here’s the fun part – rivers don’t normally reverse their course when they’ve been flowing for years and years, but the Wold is a magical place. So (flips through various dusty books, pointing out detailed information on the rivers… from 100 years ago) I think you should expect the southern river to empty into the ocean from Turtle Lake, which is fed by snowmelt further north, and then likewise with the Serpent’s Breath, it’s coming from the mountains of the Scab and it’s always flowed to the ocean, too. The books don’t say it’s a whitewater river, so there’s probably various river barges for hire, but going upstream, even in a calm river, is quite a bit of work, and might be slower than walking, but of course the crew can paddle in shifts around the clock.
Oh, I almost forgot, you asked about the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance. (Blows dust off another book. -2 to Zanderallen’s sneeze save) Here, see there’s a small inset map here, showing that, at least 200 years ago, it was not too far from Clan Mountainheart. (Takes a magical quill, and dips it in magical ink) Let me mark the locations on the Scab map I’m lending you – it doesn’t have the details of the inset map in the book. (Marks location of the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance) One of my other books mentioned that Clan Mountainheart had their stronghold north of Fhorge Mountain, but that’s 200 years ago – it might even be closer to their current Stronghold – another scroll I read said that about 100 years ago they built a new stronghold (marks map) about here, plus or minus. Don’t put too much confidence in where I marked, just know that wherever they are, they’re not too many days’ travel from the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance. Apparently drow invasions of the surface are a thing out there, and Clan Mountainheart reputedly guards the Entrance at all times, watching for the next invasion! Of course, that rumor was from 50 years ago so… I wish you the best in getting current intelligence from the locals in the Scab once you get out there, and getting better maps from any merchant companies piloting boats on the rivers.
Questions?” Archivist Besh finishes.
Meanwhile, back at the WLA, Pip returns with maps and books.
[OOC – Pip’s printed material largely duplicates Archivist Besh’s, but as the Shields learn, his advice is his own…]
Pip thunks down books and maps with a loud “oof!”
Pip says, “Stock, and hello Delia and Armalad, as to your questions Stock, here’s a map covering Plateau City to here, with the Scab in the middle. This one goes from the eastern edge of the Scab to here, sorry, the adventurer who donated it said he lost a strip on the left edge of the map to a troll’s claw, but at least you can see the two rivers and where they connect. I expect they both empty into the ocean. Here’s a map of the whole Scab – I know it’s not focused solely on the Eastern Scab, but the clans are marked – thankfully this map is less than 25 years old – see, there’s the current location of Clan Mountainheart. Now, the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance isn’t on this map, but that’s why I have these books. If you don’t mind me marking the map (makes small circle with an “E” in the center) the text in this book says the Entrance is some days’ walk northeast of Clan Mountainheart’s new stronghold. Not sure exactly how the old one got destroyed, maybe a scribe at a bigger, older library knows, but one of the reasons that Clan Mountainheart picked that location for its stronghold was to take on the duty of guarding the Scab from any Underwold dangers. Our library isn’t too heavy on politics, so I don’t know why they were motivated to do so, but you can ask them when you get out there, if you like. I don’t know how large a contingent of guards they keep at the Entrance, or how often, but… Stock, you said you know Clan Mountainheart? Well, that should help, I hope! This will be a long journey by boat or land, well over 400 miles. If I can trust the legends on these maps, maybe 500? Well, call it 450 so I’m close,” Pip finishes with a smile. “Say, Armalad, you’re a wizard right? Have you thought about buying some teleport scrolls and just getting the Shields out there that way? It would be risky – if you can’t cast Greater Teleport then you all might materialize inside solid rock, or 500 feet in the air, but at least you’d get there quickly,” Pip finished with a sheepish grin.
Pip says, “You’re welcome to borrow the maps. The books you could take with you but books are heavy – you might be better off just taking notes on scrolls of whatever information you want from the books. Your journey seems simple though – follow the rivers until you get to the Scab, and then Stock can take you the rest of the way, right Stock?”
Armalad and Stock take in Pip’s lecture and consider it deeply.
What does each Shield do?
Picking the Scab
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday February 2nd, 2024 12:38:04 AM
Armalad says "I can buy 2 scrolls of Greater Teleport which would be enough to transport the person using the scroll plus 5 additional medium or smaller creatures. Large creatures count as 2 medium creatures. The thing is there would be a small chance with these scrolls that Joker or I fail to activate either and would have to wait 24 hours as their caster level is greater than my own but we both know how to use magic devices so Joker and I could transport up to 5 people with us each time. I'd ask the other member of the parties for funds to spring into 2 additional scrolls of greater teleport for the trip back."
She makes sure the other members of the party know this is an option and that she has 4,550 gold for 2 scrolls of greater teleport but that to get home she needs an additional 4,550 gold for the return trip; unless they want to return in a more mundane fashion.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Friday February 2nd, 2024 9:18:22 AM "Armalad - that sounds like the best plan. Greater Teleport is the one where you don't show up in the wrong place, right? I'd prefer that and I'm sure we can gather enough funds among the crew to buy the requisite 4 scrolls. Stohp's good at tricking a magical item as well...though she keeps that to herself most of the time except when she pulls out that staff of hers.
Pip - does the League have any scribes that could copy these notes out of the books for us? I'm not great with writing, except with Dwarven runes."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday February 2nd, 2024 1:10:21 PM
Delia scratches her head at Armalad's suggestion. Sometimes she forgets that she is among some of the most powerful people in the Wold and that magically appearing hundreds of miles away in an instant is an option for them. "Huh. Yeah that would be great. I have money to help." She vocalizes, still distracted by the prospect of magical teleportation. "And you can get us right to the entrance of the Tunnel?"
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Friday February 2nd, 2024 3:31:24 PM
Zanderallen makes mental note of Besh's rushed lecture, giving up entirely and sneezing repeatedly. Thanking her profusely he quickly but gently gathers up the lent maps and supplies and beats a hasty retreat from the library. He hurries back home to HQ to share his info. Finding they've learned much the same he adds on his additional info and backs the teleport plan. "I would amend I think it would be best to aim for the Mountainheart stronghold. If they are self appointed guardians of the area it would behoove us to introduce ourselves and they will have the best information on what we're getting into."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Saturday February 3rd, 2024 2:57:58 AM
Stohp decides she'll consult with the party before investigating further. She's pretty sure Armalad cannot cast teleport but she could be wrong.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Saturday February 3rd, 2024 5:30:02 PM
Bartomus wandered back from the catacombs. He got about half way back to the HQ and realized he hadn't placed his order. He blamed the discussion he was having with a muralist who he had looked up to commission the map painting. He suggested that the artist head on over to the HQ later that day so that they could agree on which wall and figure out where to get info for the source material. Surely, he thought to himself, one of the Guilds had an expert and sources that could be utilized?
Back down he went to the catacombs. Then eccentric back to the HQ.
"So what did I miss?" He asked sheepishly.
Szabo
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday February 4th, 2024 12:41:12 PM
Armalad says, "Just to confirm; I should go down to the catacombs and place the order for the scrolls of greater teleport?"
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Sunday February 4th, 2024 4:56:43 PM
Armalad suggests buying enough scrolls that she and Joker (who shares her skill) could Greater Teleport” the Shields to the Scab and back with just 4 scrolls, minimum 2 to get there quickly and then figure out return transportation.
Stock thinks, of all of Pip’s suggestions, that using magic to get to the Scab would be best – it would certainly minimize how long the Float was without the Shields – no offense to the Lads! Stock asks Pip for scribes to copy any info the Shields want from the books. Pip obliges himself, quickly copying down anything Stock, Armalad, and Delia requested be copied to aid in their planned journey to the Scab from the books and maps Pip brought out. The actual maps, with Pip’s mark-ups, are lent, and Pip also hands over the fresh journal he wrote in, so any scribe among the Shields can take additional notes, maps, etc. during their mission.
Delia had forgotten that Armalad had risen so high in magical power! Delia absent-mindedly fingers her longbow, reflecting on how she considers herself just an outdoorswoman with a bow… but then she, too, can cast spells. So hard to think of herself and the Shields having such a power differential from the average Floatizen, or even member of Drezz’s Palace Guard… Then, before she forgets, she volunteers to help with the cost of the scrolls.
Zanderallen focuses his efforts on memorizing what Besh explained, giving in to a few consecutive sneezing fits in doing so! He thanks Archivist Besh profusely, and then gathers the lent maps and supplies and rushes back to Shields HQ.
Stohp doesn’t recall Armalad ever speaking of knowing any of the teleport spells, but of course, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have them, or couldn’t use a scroll from the Catacombs or somewhere…
Bartomus sent a muralist to Shields HQ to determine the best location for a mural/map painting. Then he went on to the Catacombs, and afterwards, quickly back to Shields HQ.
All of the Shields present at Shields HQ, they confer, leaning on the Greater Teleport plan and Zanderallen concurs, but suggests picking the Clan Mountainheart stronghold as the destination.
Armalad asks for confirmation from the Shields that she should go buy the scrolls of Greater Teleport, subtly reminding all of the need for each of them to share in the cost of the scrolls.
All Shields have shared all that they have learned and thought about prior to returning to Shields HQ.
What does each Shield do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Monday February 5th, 2024 12:43:26 AM "Alright, sounds like Pip might be the one to work along with Happy to work with the artisit when they get here. But, with your note book, you got hints for when we are out there?"
Bartomus wanted to just make sure of what he had heard from the recap.
"We could take a turtle down to the river delta way down south. Then try to get some sense of teleporting from there?"
He was still processing everything. But, then looked over at Stock.
"Couldn't what he knows about the Clan Mountainheart serve as a talisman or something to help in the casting of a teleport spell?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday February 5th, 2024 7:52:57 AM
Stohp currently has 75k of cash she hasn't gotten around to spending so will foot the bill for all the scrolls for easier bookkeeping.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Monday February 5th, 2024 9:42:59 AM "I'm not sure we need to do that Bart. Armalad should be able to teleport us from here to Clan Mountainheart and from there it is not far to the Tunnel.
I know I don't talk a lot about home but you all know that I am Clan Mountainheart, right? We should be welcome there; after they get over the shock of us all just dropping in via teleportation. Now let's talk rations - Delia, Armalad: You'll need one of these or a bunch of food."
He grabs the clear spindle ioun stone hovering about his head and holds it up.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+16=26 ; Monday February 5th, 2024 11:50:04 AM
Delia spreads out one of the more detailed maps of the area around the Clan Mountainheart stronghold. She'll spend a few moments muttering to herself about terrain, distances, the size of Taur stomachs, and the like before looking up to answer Stock's question.
Know (Geo) 26 for precise prediction of travel times, including likelihood of delays, if needed
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Monday February 5th, 2024 3:05:53 PM
Zander is about to pull some coin when Stohp drops her gold on the table, he nods in thanks and moves to the next item. Recalling about food he reaches into a pouch on his belt and pulls out his own Ioun stone, holding it momentarily before releasing it to orbit his head. He kept it in a pouch most of the time as Pepper didn't like it floating around his head, but better get used to it being there for the trip.
He looks at Stock, desperately searching his memories, "I had forgotten that. You've been a Shield for so long, atleast by my human reckoning. Well that makes things much simpler. I was a little worried about just dropping in to a group of grumpy dwarves. So I think it's settled? Get the scrolls, teleport to Clan Mountainheart, get the lay of the land, and then travel to the East Wind Tunnel?"
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday February 5th, 2024 9:39:27 PM
Armalad says, "I don't have enough for an ioun stone or a spoon of sustanance so I guess I should plan to also get a bunch of rations in addition to the scrolls of teleportation. (OOC: I have enough for 2 of the 4 scrolls so if Bart wants to pay for the other 2 we are good)
Iconic Planning, Seated Around a Large Table (DM Wayne) Monday February 5th, 2024 10:54:26 PM
Bartomus notes Pip, with his map knowledge, would be the best one to work with the artist so the Shields have a wall-size map mural useful to them. Teleport is not in Bartomus’s wheelhouse, but he offers some suggestions, not realizing Greater Teleport takes all the guesswork out of Teleport.
Stohp informs everyone that she’ll pay for all the scrolls. Armalad is lost deep in thought and doesn’t hear Stohp’s generous offer.
Stock expresses confidence in Armalad’s ability to use the right spell to get the Shields to Clan Mountainheart, no muss, no fuss. Then he reminds the Shields that he is of Clan Mountainheart himself and expects to be able to easily introduce them to his clan. Finally he suggests the Shields either buy a lot of rations, or a handy-dandy “no-eat” ioun stone.
Delia selects and spreads out the close-in maps of the Eastern Scab. After she sets aside the other maps and Pip’s accompanying missives to make room on the table, she compares the two maps. Delia sees that while Pip’s map is more recent and has more detail, Pip’s map doesn’t have the markings Besh supplied, but a few judicious marks later and Pip’s map contains Besh’s marks too. After muttering through several mental calculations, she replies to Stock, “Maybe one or two weeks round-trip on the surface between the stronghold and the entrance, but then exploration of a large cave system could take weeks or months, depending. (looks around at Shields) That’s a bag of holding, or two, worth of salted meats, iron rations, and other stuff that doesn’t spoil too fast. Can anyone cast any spells to create food, water, anything,” she finishes with a hopeful look.
Zanderallen was reaching for his coinpurse when he heard Stohp, and graciously allows her offer. Like Stock, he too has a “no-eat” ioun stone. Zanderallen summarizes the Shields’ apparent plan and asks for confirmation of it.
Armalad comes out of deep thought and notes she’ll need to buy a lot of iron rations, agreeing with Delia. Armalad remains unaware that Stohp stated that she, Stohp, would buy all the scrolls.
What does each Shield do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday February 6th, 2024 8:51:44 AM
Stohp pokes Armalad and repeats herself. She also offers to cover the cost of any other party wide needs for the trip like food, as again she's rich and doesn't really need a fancy new sword or whatever so can afford to pay for such things.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Tuesday February 6th, 2024 9:21:36 AM "So that will be 4 scrolls and then maybe rations for 2 weeks for 2 people - Armalad and Delia?" Stock is ready to move when everybody else is.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday February 6th, 2024 2:31:53 PM
Delia nods to Stock, "Two weeks for everyone who doesn't have magic food is a good starting point. I can also hunt or scavenge for food if there's food to be found. If we had a way of contacting your clan, we could get food sent to us and meet them at the mouth of the tunnel if we're running low? Or, if we're incredibly desperate for food, some could teleport back home and bring food back. We'd need more teleport scrolls then."
Whenever they scatter to gather rations, Delia will also purchase rudimentary map making supplies to chart their path through the caves.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday February 6th, 2024 4:49:50 PM
Zanderallen offers space in his Bag of Holding Type IV for the carrying of rations and supplies, but is otherwise satisfied with the plan and ready to go.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday February 6th, 2024 8:53:08 PM
Armalad says, "If you want to be that generous Stohp, go ahead and make those purchases. Then after we have the scrolls I guess you guys can tell where Joker and I need to send us specifically."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday February 6th, 2024 8:53:11 PM
Armalad says, "If you want to be that generous Stohp, go ahead and make those purchases. Then after we have the scrolls I guess you guys can tell where Joker and I need to send us specifically."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday February 6th, 2024 8:53:13 PM
Armalad says, "If you want to be that generous Stohp, go ahead and make those purchases. Then after we have the scrolls I guess you guys can tell where Joker and I need to send us specifically."
Iconic Planning, Seated Around a Large Table (DM Wayne) Tuesday February 6th, 2024 10:38:49 PM
Stohp ensures that Armalad knows Stohp is paying for all of the scrolls, and adds that she’ll cover anything else like a pallet of iron rations for those who need to eat.
Stock tallies up supplies as the scrolls and rations for 2 weeks…
Delia clarifies to Stock that she said just the above-ground round-trip between the stronghold and the cave entrance could be up to two weeks. In addition to that, delving into a cave system of unknown size could consume weeks to months in addition to the overland food needs. Two weeks would be enough for a one-way walk to the entrance and then up to one week underground, teleporting out once they had the crown… but that would be extremely optimistic. Delia suggests food deliveries from Stock’s clan to the entrance, so that they wouldn’t need to get to the surface and then also travel a week to the stronghold. She also suggests more scrolls could help – Armalad alone could teleport to a food store/vault, load a bag of holding, and teleport back. Delia makes a mental note to buy mapmaking supplies, and to practice the rarely-used symbols for when a cave goes vertical instead of horizontal…
Zanderallen volunteers his maximum-size bag of holding for rations and supplies.
Armalad accepts Stohp’s generous offer and awaits purchasers to return so she and Joker can Greater Teleport the Shields forthwith.
Bartomus thinks about what magic spells he may have to aid in supplying food and water…
What does each Shield do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 122/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 3d8+15=25 ; Tuesday February 6th, 2024 11:46:50 PM "Hey folks," Bartomus pulled himself out of his day dreaming. "I got some rations coming and another big bag of holding. Plus, I can do the create water spell thing and cast the goodberries spell too."
"The rations are for when our Ioun stones or spells don't work, or we really, really just want to chew on something." Bartomus added with a shrug. He winced
"Before we go, though I gotta do some healing to be at my prime. So, there's that. A good night's sleep and solid rest then we teleport to visit Stock's kin?"
Bartomus can cast a CSW spell on himself today assuming there is a full rest before they teleport. CSW = 25
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday February 7th, 2024 8:35:37 AM "It's a bag of holding, we can store enough food to last us for months if needed, and it's not like we can't afford it." Stohp points out. She heads to the catacombs and gets the teleport scrolls and on her way back casually buys a months worth of trail rations just in case (15g I believe)
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Wednesday February 7th, 2024 9:16:33 AM
With the planning nearing completion and Stohp taking it on herself to get supplies, Stock takes our his rocks and lapidary set and works on polishing them.
[b]"Huh...it seems like I forgot to pick up a stone at a couple of our recent expeditions; I can't forget this time especially if we're in the Scab."[/b[
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday February 7th, 2024 11:08:27 AM "The two taur will eat more, won't they? If that's a concern, could Zander and Stock lend out the stones for the trip? Or we take a quick catacombs trip and buy more things that make us not have to eat like normal folks. A couple times I've considered getting a ring that does that. Caves can get real dangerous, so it might be smart to just remove that variable. With our rations count, are we including feeding Hawky and Joker? He doesn't love being underground, but he's used to it by now and I'm not leaving him behind for that long."
While she's thinking about rings and before they rest, she will ask Bart to load her ring of spell storing with 2 castings of cure light wounds, and 1 of cure moderate wounds, since they are lower level spells for him, and put delay poison as the last slot.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday February 7th, 2024 12:26:13 PM
Zanderallen gently reminds to two taurs they should figure out where they stored their ioun stone gift from Lady Yasume. He then helps Stohp load 300 days worth of rations into his bag of holding, never ceasing to be amazed at how much stuff it could fit. He double and triple checks all his gear one last time and excuses himself to say a teary good-bye to Pepper, explaining they will be gone for an extended period searching for an artifact.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday February 7th, 2024 8:31:27 PM
Armalad says, "Good point. As a being tied to the element of water, Joker can swim and breathe water while also healing quickly so if there are any rivers or lakes on our route Joker might be able to supplement his rations with fish."
Iconic Planning, Seated Around a Large Table (DM Wayne) Thursday February 8th, 2024 12:09:46 AM
Bartomus comes out of communing with nature to offer his primal abilities to create water and, if fresh berries are available, meals. He suggests a good night’s rest and then teleport in the morning.
Stohp notes that Zanderallen’s bag of holding can carry enough food that a long caving trip won’t be an issue. Then she makes her way to the Catacombs, placing an order for four scrolls of Greater Teleport.
Stock begins polishing rocks, musing that he should get more samples in the Scab.
Delia considers helpful ways to cover the Taurs’ appetites, not realizing that they too have the same type of Ioun Stone! She also notes Hawky will need to eat, and his food needs to be more… bird-centric… than iron rations. Delia wonders aloud whether Joker needs to eat. Then she asks Bart to fill her ring of spell storing with a particular set of spells before they leave the Float. Having done that, she too makes her way to the Catacombs to place an order.
Zanderallen lightly suggests that Stohp and Bartomus locate their Ioun Stones. Next he helps Stohp load nearly a year’s worth of rations (for one size-M person) into his bag of holding. Then he heads off to see Pepper one last time before the Shields leave on this somewhat-secret mission.
Armalad considers, and explains that while Joker does need to eat, Joker has certain advantages that may lessen the need for food and fresh water.
What do the Shields do before attempting to Greater Teleport early the next morning?
(OOC – I pinged Catacombs staff on the DM Board, but don’t expect any issues with the purchases requested.
Everyone please make one more post describing their “mission prep montage” the rest of the day, having one final breakfast in Shields HQ the next morning, etc.
I’ve asked Hugh to knock out all of Armalad and Joker’s dice rolls for using the scrolls in Armalad’s next post, and to include a brief OOC summary of how many days it takes Joker to activate a scroll.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+26=39 ; d20+24=29 ; Thursday February 8th, 2024 2:34:32 AM
Armalad makes sure she gets what she needs as a Wizard to be able prepare new spells the next morning. She also makes sure she has her shrunken barrel and wall of stone ready to go in case she needs to douse Joker in water in a hurry for fast healing quick, which has become a standard prep for her ever since she got the 2 spells.
The next morning Armalad prepares Read Magic as a Cantrip and 2 Eagle's Splendor as 2nd level spells as well as 2 heroism at 3rd level spells
Armalad eats a hearty breakfast.
She also reminds the others about the decanter of endless water she bought for Joker's quick healing so they technically have an endless water source.
When they go to activate the spells Armalad uses Joker's Shared Spells familiar ability to make read magic work on Joker.
She then casts Eagle's Splendor on Joker giving him +4 Charisma for 12 minutes
She then casts Heroism on Joker giving him + 2 to skills.
Joker knows the scroll is a spell of greater teleportation and has an effective Charisma of 18 so he can just roll to activate the scroll.
1d20 + 28 vs DC 33; fail on nat 1 through 4 = 41 = succeed on first attempt; So Joker can take 5 medium creatures; large creatures count as 2 with him.
Armalad has a high int and greater teleport on her spell list. She uses Eagle's Splendor and heroism to boost her Charisma/UMD. Her UMD is now effectively 26. She needs to meet or beat a 7 and she has 3 scrolls. If she rolls a nat 1 she has to wait 24 hours for that scroll. if she rolls a 2 through 6 she can retry immediately.
1d20 + 26 vs DC 33 fail on 1 through 6 can retry on 2 through 6 = 31 = fail on first attempt can retry.
Second attempt (see OOC) 1d20 + 26 vs 33 = success and can take 5 medium creatures with large counting for 2)
(OOC Total time elapsed for Joker read magic + eagle's splendor(Joker) + heroism (Joker) + standard action UMD = 4 rounds or 24 seconds)
(OOC Total time elapsed for Armalad = Joker's 4 rds + eagle's splendor(Armalad) + heroism (Armalad) + 2 standard action UMD = 8 rounds or 48 seconds)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday February 8th, 2024 7:18:31 AM
Stohp also has a pretty high UMD so can potentially be a backup scroll user. For now she gets things organized and makes sure everyone has a pack with at least a few days food and some water in case the party gets separated. She'll also buy a variety of climbing gear and extra ropes.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Thursday February 8th, 2024 10:13:54 AM
Stock works with Stohp to confirm everything is packed correctly. Then he goes back to his rocks, wistfully polishing as he thinks about home.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday February 8th, 2024 10:35:13 AM
Delia restocks on arrows while out and about from the catacombs trip, then carefully packs up any useful maps they're borrowing as well as her map supplies. She unpacks and repacks all her gear and supplies, as well as supplies for the whole group, while waiting for the catacomb's delivery to bring the scrolls. She spends additional down time on the roof top, running drills with Hawky.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+26=34 ; Thursday February 8th, 2024 10:57:29 AM
(OOC: Armalad's second UMD attempt)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday February 8th, 2024 3:08:51 PM
Zanderallen devotes himself fully to enjoying a quick date with Pepper before noting the agreed upon departure time is nearing. He bids her farewell promising to be safe and heads for home.
On his way back he catches runners and sends one off to the palace with a message for the Overlord, 'Travelling magically, off to the Scab. Will return as soon as able. Use the Ring Gate for emergency communication.', one runner to the Lads, 'We're off, thanks for the tip. Take care of the Float while we're gone.', and finally one to Happy, 'The Shields are going to be gone for at least a couple weeks, could you make sure HQ gets looked after? Thanks.
Once home he goes to his room and gathers up the last of his gear. Taking time to double and even triple check everything is stowed properly. Wouldn't want to lose anything during the teleport. As his magically inclined companions start their prep work he checks a couple straps one last time before stepping up to join hands with the first caster.
High and Low (DM Wayne) Friday February 9th, 2024 12:07:38 AM
Armalad got the necessary rest overnight to prepare different spells, and in the morning after a hearty breakfast the Shields are all gathered together, packed and ready to go.
Stock reminds Armalad and Joker again of key details of the location and appearance and relative altitude of the Mountainheart Stronghold, along with his favorite places to work on his carpentry skills there.
Armalad and Joker’s recollections refreshed, Armalad begins casting many spells and Joker readies for his part… As the seconds pass interminably, the Shields (but for Armalad and Joker) reflect on the events of the past day that drove them to plan their next expedition like with never-before-displayed precision, the result of working together as a team for so long, even including the newer members Armalad and Delia…
Scene fades to just 18 hours earlier…
Stohp and Stock spend a fair amount of the rest of the day packing and taking inventory, preparing for even the remote possibility that the Shields might get split up in the Wind Tunnels… ioun stones lost while squeezing through tight caves… but at least they’ll all have some food and water! Afterwards Stohp goes shopping for climbing gear and ropes, since Zanderallen’s bag of holding still has plenty of room. Stock stays at HQ, polishing rocks, reflecting on just how long it’s been since he’s been home… Soon enough night comes and they retire to their respective rooms, rest well-earned.
Delia buys more arrows while waiting for the Catacombs to fulfill her order. On her return to Shields HQ she carefully folds and packs the maps, map-making supplies, and then sets about optimizing how Stohp and Stock packed things. Eventually she is content with how things are packed, and an unnoticed nervous tic finally subsides once things are in order. After an evening of drills with Hawky she too heads for her room and gets a heroic sleep.
Zanderallen enjoys an afternoon date with Pepper until they both knew he had to shift his focus to the expedition. On his way back he dispatches runners with messages to the Overlord, to the Lads, and to Happy. Zanderallen spends his evening at Shields HQ going over his gear, making a list and checking it twice… finally he too gets a good night’s rest and is one of the first to awake in the morning and be ready.
Bartomus likewise ensures he has everything. Create Water is prepared, as it normally is. Guidance too. (Armalad and Joker might need help on those scrolls next time.)Goodberry as well, but will there be berry bushes in the mountains or caves?
Armalad’s decision to have breakfast means even the most impatient Shield has time to realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! The Shields eat in silence, focusing on strengthening themselves for the unusual trip. The travel is to be instantaneous, but the climate in the Scab will likely be very different – higher elevation, possibly colder or hotter, the possibilities seem endless to all.
As the Shields finish cleaning up breakfast, a Large Purple Ape in Catacombs Livery appears in a puff of white smoke which quickly dissipates. The Ape looks around, seemingly startled, and then he speaks! “Oh no! Where’s Beagly Beagly? He has the next set of orders for the Lads! I knew we should have taken the same teleport chamber!”
The Ape pulls a medium-size bag off of his back and begins talking to it, “Bartomus’s order.” and with that the top bag flap opens by itself and an impossibly large package comes out of it. “Don’t worry Bartomus. Astral Explosion Inhibitor kept your order safe.” The Ape slides a large box across the floor to Bartomus. He then speaks again to the bag, retrieving Stohp’s order and throwing it to a nonchalant Stohp who easily catches it with one hand. The Ape speaks a final time to the bag and a tiny bag comes out. He gracefully walks over to Delia and places it in your hand. He says, “Delia, I hope you like these. The cost was probably higher than you liked**, but at least we had them in Stock!” His job done, he pulls out a small black ball, hurls it to the ground and a large cloud of white smoke appears around him, is gone in a few seconds, and so too is the Ape!
Scene skips ahead, Armalad finishing up her first set of spells
Armalad was chanting quite a while as one spell seemed to give Joker a 50gp hair-do, and another caused him to strike an Epic Pose. Armalad directs Bartomus and Stohp to come in close to Joker. Joker then does the best impression of an archmage the Shields have ever seen and suddenly Joker and the two taurs are GONE!
Armalad resuming her magical opera, and likewise her hair becomes not out of place at a local play, in the rich people’s box! Next, she too strikes an Epic Pose. She begins reading the scroll, “Klaatu… Barada… Nikt-ee? Oo? Uh?” Armalad is not often at a loss for magical words, but the seconds drag on as she and the remaining Shields go nowhere fast!
She redoubles her efforts and this time enunciates the magical phrases properly, and the remaining Shields are GONE!
As the sun continues to rise upon the Float, who knows what vicious plans Karkasan has for the Float without the Shields there to protect it?
Joker, Bartomus, and Stohp are the first to arrive, and though it is well-lit, it is underground, and it must be a dwarven stronghold because Bartomus and Stohp immediately hit their heads on the ceiling! Pushing past the pain, the two taurs see from the startled expressions of the dwarves with hammers and axes and wood planks and wood shards around them that they must be in something akin to a Carpenters’ Guild Hall, or Trade School, or something.
The dwarves quickly speak amongst themselves in Dwarven (which Stohp knows). Highlight to display spoiler: {Brothers, who are these ‘Taurs’? Are they evil sorcerers, to just appear like that? She has shiny weapons and armor. He looks like he’s been sleeping in the forest for a week – ewwww! Do you think they can understand us? Should we call for help or hear them out? What if neither they or we speak each other’s language?} The dwarves raise their hammers and axes, but seem hesitant, unsure if this is the right thing to do.
Joker, Bartomus, and Stohp, what do you do?
Meanwhile…
As Armalad, Delia, Hawky, Stock, and Zanderallen reappear, they are startled to find themselves atop a mountain outcropping, some 300’ above a wide cavern entrance below, with what look like a pair of huge stone doors, closed, with perhaps four man or dwarf-sized humanoids with helmets and armor standing guard in front of them.
The wind is a bit nippy up here, the cold working its way slowly into the Shields’ clothing, but the view – the view of the sunrise from here is so amazing, so profound… Stock… has a moment, seeing this view again for the first time in over a decade. The rest of the Shields, unable to help admiring the view as well, also notice Stock’s moment. Clearly he had focused so hard on ensuring the Shields would make it to the Scab accurately that he may have unintentionally given very specific details of places in the Scab with great meaning to him.
Together, the Shields share Stock’s moment.
Then, the moment over, it seems that climbing gear will be needed – there’s no easy way up or down, except perhaps with pitons… or magic.
Armalad, Delia, Hawky, Stock, and Zanderallen, you’re 300’ feet above the ground with the mountain below you at about a 25-degree angle, but pockmarked with plenty of rough hand- and foot-holds – what do you do?
(OOC – 1) Jon, I hope I didn’t take too many liberties with Stock’s background. Feel free to post about the Moment, or not, as you see fit.
2) Catacombs update – Bartomus, Stohp, and Delia go see what Jon the Janitor said. Importantly, no issue on getting the scrolls, but um… read Jon the Janitor’s response to Stohp carefully… and **Delia, looks like Hawky will need an Ioun Stone, not a ring… otherwise, feeding Hawky could get interesting…)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 122/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday February 9th, 2024 1:18:40 AM
Before going to sleep, after the packing, Bartomus loaded the ring with the spells that had been requested. Then headed off to sleep.
He woke early and undertook his meditations. He ensured that spells like guidance, goodberries, create water were part of his morning meditations along with spells that he was used to throwing about when in the field.
Then he looked over at Stohp and Delia as they gathered together for the send off. He had with him his gear, the new bag of holding with the rations he had ordered, various rods, rope and things tucked inside. Then when Joker struck a pose, they flashed and suddenly he was in a low ceiling place with the smell of wood and woodchips filling his nostrils. A few dwarfs were staring at the threesome that had suddenly appeared in their wood shop.
"Friends" Bartomus said in Common while holding his left hand open and trying to balance his glave against his opened right hand. "Stock is our Friend."
Bartomus added the latter bit with a bit more strength to his voice. He glanced over at the others with a pleading look hoping someone could introduce them.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday February 9th, 2024 7:34:08 AM
You know, for some reason Stohp assumed they'd just appear a little ways outside of a town, or in a random spot in the mountains. Holding her head and hearing the dwarves talk Stohp responds in dwarvish. "Apologies, we seem to have poorly aimed our spell. We're adventurers from the Float and have business in the Scab. Could you tell us where we are at so we can figure out how badly off target we are?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+31=38 ; d20+16=19 ; Friday February 9th, 2024 10:45:59 AM (OOC - Catacombs order: whether it's with the ioun stone or a slotless ring, both Hawky and Delia are able to not eat)
In HQ, Delia thanks the delivery ape, opening the box and equipping herself and Hawky with their new shinies. As they gather for teleporting, she'll place a firm and comforting hand on Hawky and another on a shoulder of a teleporting companion and braces for movement.
Once at their destination, she will take a moment to assess their surroundings for hazards and try to identify where they are based on her studies of maps and available landmarks.
With slippers of spider climb, Delia is not concerned about the descent and could help stabilize the others as they climbed down. She sizes Armalad up, staring a little too intensely and wondering if she could just carry the other woman down safely.
================ Perception: 38 Know (Geo): 19
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Friday February 9th, 2024 12:29:53 PM "Well look at that. When I was a kid I'd call that Mount Stonegiant...now that's not the real name mind you and I've never bothered to learn it but the view here has always been great. I do think we just need to make our way down to those doors...
HO THERE! WE ARE COMING DOWN." This last bit he calls out to the four armored forms below.
He sees Delia begin walking down the slope with little difficulty and holds back the rest of the party. "Remember - she has those slippers. Unless you can do that too, you'll have to climb. There's handholds and I have my rope."
He takes his Rope of Climbing off his pack and tells it to loop around a nearby outcropping and then tells it to knot itself.
"It will take a few attempts but we should be able to make it down fairly easily without free-climbing."
========== Rope of Climbing: A 60-foot-long rope of climbing is no thicker than a wand, but it is strong enough to support 3,000 pounds. Upon command, the rope snakes forward, upward, downward, or in any other direction at 10 feet per round, attaching itself securely wherever its owner desires. It can unfasten itself and return in the same manner.
A rope of climbing can be commanded to knot or unknot itself. This causes large knots to appear at 1-foot intervals along the rope. Knotting shortens the rope to a 50-foot length until the knots are untied, but lowers the DC of Climb checks while using it by 10. A creature must hold one end of the rope when its magic is invoked.
Stock also has a +15 to climb but I'm thinking everybody can Take 10 on their climb down.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Friday February 9th, 2024 3:53:35 PM
Zander joins Stock in admiring the view, taking several minutes to get used to the open space. Having lived his whole life in the Float not having anything over his head was still a little unnerving, even with all the adventuring. He peers down the mountain, not overly sure in his ability to navigate it. Once he sees he'll have the assistance of Stock's climbing gear and expertise he starts his descent, relying on Stock for guidance and his natural athleticism to get down safely. ======== Even armored Zander has a +2 Climb with his shield stowed. Slowly and steadily taking 10 with the assistance of the Rope of Climbing I think should get him down.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+17=26 ; Saturday February 10th, 2024 12:18:40 PM
Joker arrives with the Taurs in tow and with the Dwarves speaking some language. Although Joker only speaks Common, and Aquan he is familiar with Linguistics and tries to study what the Taurs are saying.
Linguistics: 26
If he thinks he figures out enough from what they are saying to attempt the word peace in Dwarven he will otherwise he just says in Common "We come in peace. I am the familiar of the Master Mage and Arcane Archer Armalad of the Silver Shields."
Meanwhile Armalad looks down at the drop and sees her friends prepare to climb down. Armalad turns her ring finger towards her friends and says, "I've got a ring of feather falling so I don't think I'll be climbing down. I'll just let the ring do its work."
(OOC: From what I understand a Ring of Feather Falling should just negate any fall damage so she should just be able to float down the mountain at 60 feet per round and take no damage at the bottom)
High and Low (DM Wayne) Saturday February 10th, 2024 11:33:39 PM Last night… Bartomus charged Delia’s ring as requested, and then too got his rest. Waking before many of the others he entered into his meditations, preparing the spells that might be unusually helpful for this unusual expedition… Once he was at peace and his mind restored he double-checked his new bag of holding and all the supplies he’d filled it with. Now… As Bartomus appeared in the… woodshop (?) the smell was overpowering, yet comforting – all the inner scents of wood fully released into the air of this underground chamber! The stare of the dwarves was uncertain… but then the Shields had just appeared out of nowhere! Out of his comfort (and linguistic) zone, Bartomus did his best to convince the dwarves that the two taurs and the water mephit were friends.
Stohp was slightly taken aback by appearing within a dwarven dwelling, presumably within the Clan Stronghold, instead of outside. Then she remembered Stock had also given details of his favorite places to practice carpentry… Still, best to be certain – in fluent dwarven she introduced the three and asked where they’d arrived.
Shields HQ Delia thanked the delivery ape and she and Hawky donned their new shinies. Then she made sure to hold both Hawky and Armalad, bracing for the spell. Now… It was a beautiful moment, but only a moment! At once, Delia assesses the situation, the encroaching cold, the height up the mountain… Definitely the Scab – certain groups of mountain peaks, columns of steam in the distance (the Scab is known for its hot springs, some powered by fire elementals!). Her skill and slippers would get her down safely, but… Armalad?
Stock is gleeful in his Moment… for him. He recommends the Shields make their way down the mountain to the double doors, then mountain-shouts (a dwarven cultural thing) to get the attention of the guards who, as one, move slightly (so hard to read facial expressions at this distance) in response. He notices Delia take a step or two down the mountain before turning and considering Armalad. Stock wastes no time in alerting the Shields to the need for climbing safety! Stock pulls out his rope of climbing, activates it and then leads the way down the rope, using both it and the hand-size pockmarks he’s climbed so many times as a youth to safely get 60’ down the mountain, gesturing for the Shields to follow.
Zanderallen also enjoys the Moment. The dichotomy of the Float’s many roofs and the endless blue sky here in what must be the Scab touches him at his core. The obvious pockmarks in the mountain raise his confidence of the Shields making it safely down, but Stock’s magical rope sets his mind at ease – just have to be patient, and maybe not look down too much. Zanderallen stows his shield and then begins his descent, forcing himself to hear Stock well past the wind – it’s strong, but not dangerous, and it seems everyone has to shout a bit more than usual to be heard.
Joker, and the Taurs, appear suddenly, and surrounded by dwarves saying something, but what? If only his wizard was here – she knew all the words! Relying on Armalad’s many nights studying languages and their commonalities he tries to piece together even a part of what the dwarves and Stohp had said. He couldn’t parse what the dwarves said, but Stohp seemed to be calm and peaceful, so once she finishes speaking, he repeats what he thinks is the right word.
Armalad sees the Shields working with Stock to climb down safely. Good idea, for them. She points to her ring and shouts that she’ll get down with magic. The mountain is at about a 25 degree angle so from the outcropping she’s able to get a good headstart of empty space and then begins falling safely. The wind, it turns out, is varying between 10 and 20mph. It’s also subject to seemingly random sudden changes of direction. Armalad is not harmed, but the wind shoves her around a fair amount as she continues to fall! Still, she makes it to the ground safely ahead of the climbing Shields, though with a newfound appreciation for the behavior of the wind in a mountain range.
Two of the dwarven guards advance on Armalad. Hands on axe hilts, but axes not drawn. One is the epitome of a gruff dwarven male, a slight bit of grey tinging his otherwise all-brown hair and braided beard. The other has no grey, but is similar in gruffness and a bit more thickly muscled than the other. The older dwarven guard says, in perfect Elvish, “Miss, aren’t you a bit too far from home? These are our mountains.”
Behind Armalad, Zanderallen and Stock are still about 120’ up and Stock is sending the rope down below another 60’.
Delia has just reached the base of the mountain with Hawky gliding overhead, but is some 60’ behind Armalad and to one side. The dwarves don’t seem to be paying nearly as much attention to Delia as to Armalad.
Back in the woodshop…
The dwarves briefly look back and forth at each other after Stohp speaks in fluent dwarven. Then Joker says, or tries to say something in dwarven. The dwarves quickly look at each other again. Then their leader (?) replies in dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: {Adventurers? From the… Float? Was the city gifted to the taurs? It has been… a long time… since any of ours have been to the Float. You are in the Carpentry Guild Training Hall of course! Also, in the Clan Mountainheart Stronghold… or at least an arm of it. The Chief’s tunnels, at least, are protected against such transportation magic as you seem to have used… Are you a sorcerer???} The dwarves are still holding hammers and axes, but not in battle stance and not in a threatening way. With more time to observe, their axes are sharp, but seem more built for chopping wood than flesh…
What does each Shield do?
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+13=32 ; Sunday February 11th, 2024 8:58:36 AM
Delia adds her rope of climbing to Stock's rope of climbing and keeps underneath them in case of slippage. She has no experience with elf/dwarf rivalries and assumes safety for Armalad from the guards.
Hawky does a loop, keeping watch as we climb.
Hawky perception: 32
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 122/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=34 ; Sunday February 11th, 2024 8:20:55 PM
Bartomus looked over at Stohp who started speaking what he presumed to be Dwarvish. He looked back at the woodworking dwarves and the beards filled with wood chips, sawdust and beard beads of various metals. He took a deep breath and savored the scent of mountain ash, oak, and clear pine. He would love a tour of the shop and their work. He started to say something about that when Joker spoke.
As Joker talked, Bartomus kept a large smile on his face. He continued to watch the reactions and then one of the dwarves spoke in return. Bartomus glanced back over at Stohp hoping that things with their first contact were working their way out.
Perception 34
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Monday February 12th, 2024 9:01:32 AM
Stock does his best to catch up with Armalad. He starts to call down...then thinks better of it and trusts Armalad not to tick off the dwarves in the couple of minutes before he gets down.
When he does make it, he eyes the dwarves to see if he recognizes them. Either way he says, "I'm Stock, this is Armalad, Zanderallen and Delia. We seem to have lost the rest of our party - I'm sure they're here somewher...
Right, Armalad? Joker's here somewhere right?
Anyway we're the Silver Shields. What news of the Mountainhome and the Simpleshards?"
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday February 12th, 2024 9:53:39 AM
Armalad replies in Dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: {"I am indeed far from home, but I am where I intend to be. I am Armalad of the Silver Shields of The Float and those behind me still climbing down are Zanderallen, Stock, Delia and Hawkey also of the Silver Shields. We come in peace and are on a mission to locate a specific artifact that legend says is in the Scab"}
She focuses on her empathic link to Joker...theoretically if they are within 1 mile of Joker she should sense him and feel his emotions. She sends calmness over the bond.
If she can figure out where she feels Joker from she will reference the location in her next dialogue.
She then continues in Dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: {"Two Taurs and a Mephit came before us. Perhaps they are insert location reference from where she feels Joker's empathic link here}
==============================
Meanwhile Joker asks Stohp for a translation of what the Dwarves are saying in Common. If he gets one and gets the question about being a sorcerer he says, "Tell them I'm the familiar of a Wizard who is also an Arcane Trickster and an Arcane Archer and that the Wizard I'm bonded to is in the vicinity. (OOC: Assuming the empathic link is working)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday February 12th, 2024 9:59:30 AM
Stohp snorts and shakes her head. "If we were sorcerers we probably wouldn't have screwed it up and ended up here instead of outside the front gate like proper visitors. We had to buy a scroll and it's out first time trying something like this. Tell me, do you know the name Stock Simpleshard? He's a member of our group and we were relying on his recollections of the area to guide us, so my best guess is he used to spend a lot of time here and hopefully he arrived with the rest of our group outside the gate."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Monday February 12th, 2024 9:59:47 PM
Zanderallen is fully focused on not falling down the mountain and continues his slow but steady descent, glad of the rope that seems to move to meet his hand as he shuffles down. When he reaches the bottom he salutes the dwarven guard and gives a proper greeting in dwarven, heavily accented dwarven, but still dwarven.
Mountainhome (DM Wayne) Monday February 12th, 2024 11:01:02 PM
Delia added her rope of climbing to Stock’s, making for an easier trip down the mountain for the rest of the Shields. Hawky does a loop, easily noticing the dwarven guards advancing on Armalad.
Bartomus hoped for the best in Stohp and Joker’s conversation with the dwarves, in the meantime enjoying the unexpected delight of freshly-cut wood smells and metal beads.
Stock, helped along by Delia alternating ropes of climbing with him, makes it to the ground a bit quicker than expected (still has to wait for his own rope to recoil to him). He allows Armalad a couple of minutes to keep herself alive, and then rushes over at mighty speed to introduce himself and the Shields. At the right moment he also asks of news of Mountainhome and the Simpleshards (his clan).
Armalad replies in perfect Dwarven, to the astonishment of the guards, who clearly were not expecting to ever hear any elf master the guttural harshness of a language akin to that of grinding rocks! Armalad reaches out to Joker across the empathic link, projecting calmness. Then she continues speaking to the dwarves. She feels Joker’s bond, perhaps a tenth of a mile away, somewhere in the direction of the closed stone doors, but definitely beyond them.
Joker asks Stohp to translate the conversation. Then he feels calm across the empathic link. Armalad is… a good distance away, aboveground, a small fraction of a mile. Thataway. (OOC - INT 7) Stohp fails to offer a translation.
(OOC – though Stohp didn’t use the spoiler tag, I am presuming the conversation continues in Dwarven.)
Stohp gets straight to the point, just like Stock. Wait, is that the reason those Floatizens confused us for each other? She groans inwardly. Stohp explains their use of magic items to teleport to the Scab, and that they are allied with Stock Simpleshard who came with them and gave them the best information he had about his home for the spells.
Zanderallen is wire-focused on not falling down the mountain, though the ropes of climbing made the descent far easier than he expected. Then he makes his way towards the guards, Delia soon behind him after she recovers her rope of climbing.
The two guards stare at Armalad, then at each other, then at Armalad again. The older guard calmly replies in Dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: { “Well, I never thought I’d hear an elf master the (guttural rolling r that sounds like a rockslide)… isn’t that something! Silver Shields? Never heard of them – Floaters generally don’t come out this far, they take a ship on the ocean (turns head and spits to one side like just saying it was uttering a curse!)! Stock… that’s a dwarven name. Is that him coming up behind you? Well, let’s just stand right here and see what he has to say. Taurs and a Mephit? Ha! That’ll be the day.”}
Stock arrives and begins his introduction in Dwarven, having caught the tail end of Armalad’s words. As he finishes, he stares at each of them a few seconds and says Highlight to display spoiler: { “Don’t stone-face me Morgrym and Rogar! I remember 10 years ago Rogar, you had guard duty at the Carpentry Guild Training Hall, just in case one of us had a bit too much to drink the night before, and you could barely stay awake watching us practice our trade. I’m impressed you turned it around while I was away and made it to the Outer Guard, but lay off my friend here! Now tell me what news of Mountainhome and the Simpleshards?”
Rogar looks a bit sheepish, and turns to Morgrym who waves him off. Morgrym says, “Stock Simpleshard. You’ve been gone… well, not that long as we reckon it,” he finishes with a half-smile. With one eye on Armalad he continues, “As for news of here, life goes on. No new invasions from the dark elves, though of course there’s always the occasional UnderWoldian aberrant creature that finds its way near the surface at the Entrance and we have to put it down. The Simpleshards family continues, though you’ll have to check in with them, I think one of the oldest of the family elders passed on recently. Your… friend… here says your group is here to find a particular artifact,”} and then Zanderallen arrives, giving a greeting in accented dwarven, with Delia right behind him. The older guard continues at one point staring deeply and uncomfortably at each of the Shields and even Hawky, in turn.
Zanderallen only Highlight to display spoiler: { – You know that stare – this being a dwarven clanhome, you presume he is a Paladin, and not… the opposite… but clearly he is not relying on his eyes to evaluate all of you!}
The older guard says Highlight to display spoiler: { “Come, Stock, you’ve been gone too long. Inside, the guards will be for your ‘friends’, not you, as much to keep some of them (looks at Armalad) safe as much as to assuage the usual fears of non-dwarves inside the Clanhome instead of in the Trading Cave. Tell us about these… Silver Shields… as we walk.”}
The older guard begins speaking in Common, Plateau City-dialect, “I am Morgrym, Chief of the Outer Guards. Yes, we know Stock Simpleshard. He says you Silver Shields are his friends. We’ve never heard of the Silver Shields, so don’t mind our security measures. Come on – Rogar here will lead you to the stone doors ahead and I’ll bring up the rear. Your elf… Armalad (with perfect Elven enunciation)… says your group includes two Taurs and a Mephit, who teleported inside Mountainhome – well, hopefully they haven’t caused too much of a ruckus… or been killed!” Morgrym finishes with a loud, repeating, belly-laugh that seems to echo amongst the mountains despite the winds that are beginning to howl, having increased from perhaps 15 miles per hour to 25!
Rogar nods at the Shields and then turns on one heel and begins walking towards the stone doors, his arms indicating that he’s making some hidden hand signal, and then the two other guards at the doors move in a curious way and then the doors slowly begin to slide apart from each other. “Well, coming?” Rogar calls back.
Meanwhile, in the Carpentry Guild Training Hall…
The dwarves listen carefully to Stohp’s staccato speech, and then the leader replies in dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: { “Stock Simpleshard! There’s a name I haven’t heard in 10 years! Yes, indeed, he used to spend a lot of time here! Hmmm… Morgrym and Rogar are on Outer Guard duty today, so they may give him a bit of a rough time, but I expect they’ll let him and his friends in. Say, your friends there don’t seem to be understanding us, but none of us speak Taur, or whatever his (points at Joker) language is. I don’t suppose they speak the trade tongue (Common), do they? (turns to another dwarf) Kazmuk, go call a runner to let the Outer Guards know friends of Stock Simpleshard are here! (turns back to Stohp) I know our ceilings aren’t meant for you Taurs, but our benches are dwarven-sturdy! Please, take a seat, and if your friends don’t speak the trade tongue, just let them know we’re waiting for communication back from the Outer Guard confirming Stock’s arrival. (turns to crowd) Hey everyone, it looks like Stock is back! (half cheer, half go “who?”)”}
What does each Shield do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday February 12th, 2024 11:32:37 PM
Armalad says in Dwarven Highlight to display spoiler: { I think I would know if my familiar had been harmed. I think I'm getting more confusion than anything as sadly he doesn't speak Dwarven only Common and Aquan." }
She follows the others in the least threatening manner she can accomplish.
Meanwhile back at the craft hall. Joker tells Stohp he can sense Armalad nearby which would mean Stock is nearby. If anyone told him there was an ask if they speak Common. Joker will reply in Common, "I know Common."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=29 ; Tuesday February 13th, 2024 8:01:46 AM
Now that she's sure violence isn't going to erupt of she starts saying something in an unknown language she'll switch to common and explain the situation to the other two. "I don't see any problem with sitting and waiting. Your shop here is very nice. I do some carpentry myself you know.": If anyone is willing she'll talk shop while they wait (29 carpentry to hold an interesting conversation about it)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday February 13th, 2024 8:59:10 AM
Delia whistles for Hawky and follows their guides. Despite having zero knowledge of dwarven, she is calm and confident that her dwarven speaking friends have it under control. Hawky lands on her shoulder, then stares back at the older, dwarven guard, head tilted.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Tuesday February 13th, 2024 9:16:47 AM "Morgrym - I'll be happy if you don't call Armalad MY ELF. You and I both know your dad spent a few years living among the elves. There's no help in trying to elevate us above the fair folk.
Anyway Rogar, lead the way."
Stock gives each of the guards a measuring look before heading into the doors.
========== Take 10 on Knowledge Local for 13 - Stock can't help measure himself up against these guys as a warrior; the last time he was here he was just a carpenter.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday February 13th, 2024 4:56:30 PM
Zanderallen smiles as he recognizes the stare of the older dwarf, holding his arms slightly out with his palms forward to sign open acceptance of the scrutiny. He follows as instructed, guessing the hand signal to share that the dwarf's divine sense revealed no ill intent. He replies in common, "We apologize for the chaos of our arrival. I am Zanderallen of the Silver Shields. We have business in the area and figured it best manners to check in first. We relied on Stock's memories to guide us and it seems he led us to his favorite places rather than a convenient place. I guess we should consider ourselves fortunate we did not find ourselves in some lady's chamber."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 122/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+9=27 ; Wednesday February 14th, 2024 1:50:25 AM
Bartomus watched the exchange and then began looking at the work that was being done trying to find anything of interest to occupy his attention. Although, as he listened to Stohp speak something, it had to be dwarvish, he thought he might have heard something about Stock. He smiled and took a moment to raise his hands above his head and stretch. His arms had started to cramp.
"A good stretch is so underrated, wouldn't you agree Joker?" Bartomus asked aloud and peered over at one of the projects underway. "Carving that, I see. How exactly does that wood compare when carving to the oak over there? Wood isn't my specialty, tend to like the work of bone and shell. Like this here."
He brought one hand down to his side, leaned slightly forward, and tilted his head to where the carved acorn was hanging outward towards the woodworkers. He tapped it and sent it swaying a bit.
"But, if you were to visit us at the Float, well, some fine things indeed I might be able to show you that are sitting on my bench."
He shrugged and smiled back at the dwarves and then gave Stohp a smile that clearly did not indicate his contentment in waiting to have some idea of what was going on. But, to others he was quite certain his bluff would be perceived as since.
Bluff the dwarves as he implies the need for some status update on their situation with Stohp. Bluff = 27
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday February 14th, 2024 7:35:50 AM
Stohp explains the situation to the other two again. Namely that they seem to have teleported inside the town they were aiming for and the others should be coming in to fetch them shortly.
Mountainhome (DM Wayne) Wednesday February 14th, 2024 8:27:23 AM
Armalad allows a little bit of perturbed to show when she says replies in Dwarven.
Stohp switches to Common and seeks rapport via carpentry. Wait, Stock is a carpenter also… no wonder people confuse us!
Joker can finally understand something and says he speaks Common, too!
Delia calls Hawky to her as she follows Rogar, with Morgrym bringing up the rear. Hawky eyes Morgrym curiously. Morgrym chuckles.
Stock undercuts Morgrym’s dwarf-centric hypocrisy, eying both Rogar and Morgrym as the group delves into Mountainhome.
Zanderallen smiles warmly with arms and palms open in response to Morgrym’s Stare. He asks for forbearance for the Shields’ abrupt arrival, introducing himself, the Shields, and that they have business in the Scab. Zanderallen’s sly humor causes the seasoned Morgrym to reveal a half-smile for a half-second and the younger Rogar to blush visibly!
Bartomus made small talk with Joker while waiting for someone to start speaking in Common. The dwarves hear Bartomus speak in Common about the time Stohp and the dwarves switch from Dwarvish to Common – coincidence?
Bartomus watches as first Stohp and then the dwarven carpenters begin talking animatedly about carpentry, the dwarves falling into a kind of “dwarv-mon,” speaking in Common, but falling back on dwarven for technical carpentry terms. Stohp clearly has no problem following along and adapting, demonstrating linguistic skill and adaptability equal to Armalad’s!
Bartomus strikes up a conversation with other dwarves nearby since it appears a number of them know Common, discussing the merits of bone and shell vs. wood carvings. He then slyly tries to get Stohp’s attention to gain a translation of what was said before they switched to Common.
Morgrym replies in Common to Armalad, “Now Miss Armalad, you didn’t say the mephit was your familiar, just part of your group along with two Taurs.” Morgrym finishes with a snide smile.
Inside the Carpentry Hall, Stohp gives the other two the ‘Stohp’s Notes’ version of the situation and conversation.
Then the dwarves ask Stohp, “So, while we’re waiting, if you’re a fellow carpenter with Stock, what’s your opinion of his carpentry skill these days?”
Other dwarves speaking with Bartomus, “We don’t see too many shells here, except when digging sometimes, as though this area were under water millenia ago, or even earlier! Bone we have some experience with – take a look over here. Alternating struts of the back of this oaken chair are made of rothe (OOC cave cattle) bones, with an ash strut between each pair of bone struts – quite the artistic look, eh?”
Meanwhile, the stone ‘sea’ having parted for the Shields, they follow Rogar into the entrance tunnel where the group picks up four more escorts. Armalad senses she is getting closer to Joker, step by step. Though Mountainhome was natural and rugged mountain stone on the outside, on the inside it is clear that though the original caves may remain, they have been greatly expanded, worked stone added to walls and ceilings apparently as décor, if not for function. As Rogar and his team lead the Shields around this corner and that, the Shields see countless dwarves going about their lives, doing normal jobs and cave-specific jobs (one side tunnel not taken had the smell of cattle and several dwarves were taking animal husbandry tools with them down that tunnel), some dawning realization tickles the back of everyone’s mind except Stock, who is both at ease, but maybe a bit anxious – clear to the Shields who have known and worked with him for so long.
Stock (automatic), and any of Armalad, Delia, or Zanderallen who make a DC 10 Knowledge: Local check (ok to roll untrained). Highlight to display spoiler: { There are no co-ed work teams. Guards and Animal Workers, Masons, Carpenters, etc. are only dwarven men. Food Preparation and Pottery and Textile-Making workers are only dwarven women, and so on. There is not even one exception to ‘prove the rule.’ This is different than both Float culture and each of your own home cultures. (to the DM’s knowledge)}
Rogar leads the Shields to a large rectangular chamber with a massive oaken table, covered with a variety of tablecloths in various patterns that are common only among dwarves, that can seat perhaps 20 regular humanoids on each side via several long and sturdy-looking stone benches.
Rogar calls out for hospitality for the guests of Mountainhome, and while everyone is being seated, from other archways flow half a dozen dwarven women bringing out a variety of appetizers – apparently various types of (cave?) mushrooms, green growths with the sparkle of sprinkled sugar (?) crystals, and other traditional dwarven fare. One of the women plays hostess, explaining (only to the non-dwarves) what each plate is, what it pairs best with and so on, and then another woman begins explaining the dwarven ale options, along with water for those whose constitutions aren’t up to dwarven ale! (At this, all the dwarves, not including Stock, erupt in laughter. (OOC - Stock decides whether Stock erupts in laughter too.)
Rogar turns to face a male dwarf in workshop outfit who has just arrived at the archway the Shields came through, “Yes, Kazmuk?”
Kazmuk replies, “Rogar, we have some… visitors in the Carpentry Hall. Two Taurs and a Mephit! They say they know… (looks around room) STOCK SIMPLESHARD! YOU ARE HERE!” And with that, Kazmuk rushes over to Stock and gives him a big dwarven-bro hug!
Stock: Highlight to display spoiler: { Kazmuk, of course, is your second cousin on your mother’s side, and fellow carpenter. Once when you were but a fresh apprentice carpenter, certain technical aspects of the work didn’t want to cooperate with how you wanted your hands and arms to execute them and Kazmuk alone noticed your distress and demonstrated efficient mechanical muscle techniques that you adopted and quickly improved your skill with, enough so that you didn’t get dismissed from the Carpentry guild! Kazmuk is about 10 years your senior, and when you left Mountainhome he had been grieving the death of his father, also a carpenter, who died shoring up wooden supports in a cave-in that no one could stop. His father saved four other dwarves, but that only slightly lessened the pain of loss for Kazmuk. }
Morgrym takes this opportunity, within earshot of the other Shields, to speak to two guards, “ Bring the Taurs and Mephit here. They’re part of Stock’s team.”
The two guards step outside and around the corner, and then a distinct, loud, tapping… code? echoes through nearby tunnels.
Back at the Carpentry Hall, a dwarf pauses at the exit arch and then comes over to interrupt the carpentry master class Stohp and the dwarves were having, “Let’s go – we’re called to the smaller feast hall. You’ll… need to duck in pretty much all of our corridors, but you can make it.” He stands at the exit arch, waiting for Stohp, Bartomus, and Joker to follow.
What does each Shield do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 122/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday February 14th, 2024 8:52:02 AM
Bartomus looked at the well crafted chair with the rothe bone insert and ran a hand carefully over the work. He turned to give a very genuine nod of approval.
"It really plays well in the design and accents the wood as well. incredible." Bartomus said. He continued to look around and listen to explanations of projects and tools. He was already hunched over and realizing that he would have to keep that position for a while. Hopefully, he could stretch out at some point.
When the call came to join the others in a smaller feast hall, he felt a bit of relief knowing that the others had to have arrived safely. He smiled and followed along with the dwarves leading the way. He tried to make sure he didn't scrape his horns, or head, across the top of the chiseled stone ceiling.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+2=10 ; Wednesday February 14th, 2024 11:36:09 AM
Delia notes the distinct gender division with relative neutrality. It's weird and foreign, but many social structures are weird and foreign to her so she shrugs it off as long as no one looks at her giant longbow with judgement.
She accepts the water instead of the ale and tries the other food curiously as she listens to the dwarven woman describing the food.
============== Know Local: 10
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Wednesday February 14th, 2024 11:54:58 AM
Stock embrace Kazmuk with a single tear showing on his face. "Cousin...it's good to see you healthy. How is your mom? Did you ever finish the design on that hand plane you were working on? And what of my family? Are they here?
Rogar - you beautiful man. I love this service. I'm not particularly hungry but it has been so long I will definitely eat!"
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+13=31 ; Wednesday February 14th, 2024 12:54:50 PM
Armalad says in common back, "Have you ever heard of a normal mephit activating a scroll of greater teleport? Joker has had special training as well as a magical item that allows him to activate wands and scrolls."
Know - Local = 31
(OOC: Do the dwarfish women have beards or no beards?)
Armalad observes neutrally "Your mountain hold seems to have rigidly defined gender roles."
When seated at the table she orders the Dwarven Ale in Dwarven figuring whatever the Woldian equivalent of when in Rome... is as she does so
==========
Meanwhile Joker follows along to dining hall, flying of course
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=17 ; Wednesday February 14th, 2024 4:37:51 PM
Zanderallen follows the dwarves into the hold, glad once again to have a roof over his head. Even if it was a closer roof than the more spacious levels of the Float. His manners prevent him from openly gawking as he takes in the surroundings and aspects of dwarf culture. He listens attentively to the women explaining the food, thanking them in dwarven. He follows their suggestions for pairing, savoring the down to earth food. He does pace himself on the ale, for even being a hearty fellow he had no desire to get into a drinking match with a dwarf hold. He bristles a little upon hearing the Shields referred to as Stock's team but quickly thinks better of it. The dwarves were going to assume the dwarf was in charge no matter what he said, they didn't mean any harm by it and their was no reason to ruffle feathers over a non-issue. ======== Know (local) 17
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday February 15th, 2024 7:17:20 AM
It is well established since basicly when he showed up that Stohp and Stock have similar names and identical side professions. Stohp will talk about the various projects they have worked on together such as the decorative carvings they've added over time to their HQ.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday February 16th, 2024 6:29:21 AM
Stohp will hold above mentioned conversation while they walk to meet the rest of the group.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Friday February 16th, 2024 8:59:32 AM
Stock gets up to welcome Stohp and gang when they arrive in the hall. "Friends - my kinsfolk have welcomed us with a traditional dwarven snack. Come, eat."
He then turns toward Kazmuk and gives him the 60 second version of his last 10 years. He finishes by saying, "It is good to be here and I wish we could stay longer but we're on a bit of an expedition. We will be traveling to the East Wind Tunnel..."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 122/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday February 16th, 2024 1:45:08 PM "You all did make it!" Bartomus responded to Stock's greeting. He forgot he needed to duck and tried raising up his hand and head. Both tapped the top of the doorway as he stepped through. He exaggerated the level of the jostling he undertook and then worked on finding a place at the table.
He took time to savor the mead and foods offered. He took notice of the fact that the dwarven women, and those of the Shields, were sitting off to one side. He smiled and gave a nod to Delia. Then he listened to what was being said, if it was in dwarven he gave a simple shrug until someone used common.
Mountainhome (DM Wayne) Friday February 16th, 2024 2:22:38 PM
Bartomus appreciates the wood/bone craftsdwarfship and artistic taste of the chair. He continues to talk (wood)shop with the dwarves until this half of the Shields were summoned to the smaller feast hall, mindful of the (low) ceiling.
Delia inwardly arches an eyebrow or two at this particular dwarven society, but it’s no skin off her nose. She accepts the water and experiments with the food while being attentive to the foodservants’ explanations of each item.
Stock returns the dwarven-bro hug! Is that… light… reflecting off one of Stock’s eyes? No, couldn’t be! Trick of the caves! Stock peppers Kazmuk with questions, excited and enthused to see him, in particular. Then Stock thanks Rogar for leading them to the exquisite meal!
Stock welcomes Stohp, Bartomus, and Joker when they arrive in the feast hall. Then he explains to Kazmuk the Stock’s Notes version of the last ten years on the Float, and that the Shields will soon be traveling to the East Wind Tunnel.
Armalad brags on Joker to Morgrym, and then casually remarks on the division of work amongst the genders, to which Morgrym chuckles lightly. Armalad then joins the guests at the table, ordering the Dwarven Ale in dwarven. There is perhaps the briefest pause of dwarven conversations (amongst the natives) at the table as Armalad nails the particular gravelly phonemes in doing so, and then the dwarves nonchalantly continue their conversations as if nothing had happened. A dwarven server brings a mug of dwarven ale over to Armalad from the tray of already-filled mugs.
(OOC – A subject of much contention, but for so long as I am DMing Mountainhome, the dwarven women in *this location* do not have obvious beards, but that’s because of effort – it seems they all have a perpetual ‘five-o’clock-shadow’ as modern shaving cream does not exist to pair with sharpened blades for cutting hair.)
Zanderallen feels oddly at ease, Descending into the Depths of the Wold, the constant ceiling unusually reminding him of the Float, of all places! No stranger to gallivanting around the Wold, and fluent in Dwarven, he soon makes himself at ease at the table, repressing any stomach gurgles at the sight of unusual foods, and successfully aligning with the unspoken cultural undercurrents in the room. The food is different, but enjoyable in its own way, and following the dwarven foodservants’ advice on pairings reaps many blessings, a mushroom ‘bread’ negating the hot spices of ‘cave jalapenos’ while preserving and enhancing the flavors! Stock’s team? Well, if it makes them happy to be so provincial… Zanderallen then chuckled inwardly at it – it was possible the Shields needed to ‘ride Stock’s coattails’ to the maximum here!
Stohp successfully ingratiates herself with the dwarves sitting and standing around her by discussing the many carpentry projects she and Stock have worked on together. Stohp only: Highlight to display spoiler: {Why am I getting stares from some of them when I talk carpentry? Oh, right, every carpenter here is a male… and come to think of it I thought those in the Carpentry Hall were staring at me because I’m eight feet tall, but in hindsight that clearly wasn’t why! At least they respect my work because it’s clear I know what I’m talking about!}
Morgrym stares intently at least of Bartomus, Stohp, and Joker as they enter and join the festivities and then, seemingly untroubled, continues participating in the feast and conversations thereof.
The conversations were going as one might expect until Stock casually mentions the Shields want to go to the East Wind Tunnel.
A hushed silence falls over the room, at least for the Mountainhome dwarves.
Morgrym soon breaks the silence, “Stock… you’ve never been in the guards, but we have, and every guard does tours of duty guarding that East Wind Tunnel Entrance against the aberrant horrors of the UnderWold, and the local clans of dark elves therein who have given themselves over wholly to evil Powers.
None are permitted to go the Entrance, nor even enter, without permission from the Clan Chief as you well know.
Do you and your team now ask for an audience with Chief Sternbough?”
In the wake of Morgrym’s statements and hanging question, it is suddenly so quiet, but for the distant clanking of dish-cleaning, that one might hear a pin drop.
What does each Shield do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday February 16th, 2024 5:04:04 PM
Armalad says, in Dwarvish Highlight to display spoiler: {"As I stated we are seeking an artifact of great import and it just so happens to be located in the East Wind Tunnel. If we need an audience with your chieftan to get permission to go there then may we respectfully have an audience? }
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday February 16th, 2024 10:12:39 PM
Delia pauses mid-chew at the awkward silence, looking between the rest of the Shields and Morgrym. She looks at Armalad as she speaks, registering a little late she can't understand what her friend is saying, then shrugs. She carries on eating while they have the chance, figuring the dwarven-speaking Shields can and shall handle the debating and convincing into letting them travel into horrible, dangerous tunnels. She picks through her food, taking morsels out that are good for hawk tummies and offering them to Hawky.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday February 19th, 2024 6:26:21 AM
Stohp isn't going to get involved in the gender politics here, or politics in general here as much as she can help it. She'll be herself, openly and without compromise, and if it bothers some people or gives some of them ideas then that's their problem not hers. She'll chat amiably with whomever wants to chat and at the question and sudden silence simply waits for Stock to give his answer.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Monday February 19th, 2024 9:30:31 AM "Yes of course I knew this. We will need an audience with the Chief. We can certainly finish our snack here first but I'd appreciate it if you could send a runner to inquire with the Chief on their availability to meet with us. As a resident, I don't expect special treatment although due to deteriorating security around The Float, we are pressed for time."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 122/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Monday February 19th, 2024 1:13:05 PM
For Bartomus, it was an incredible experience just sitting in a dwarven hall far away from the Float and the Plains that he had called home. His eyes examined the details of the carvings, the tankards used for the drinks, the dress of their hosts, and of course the food. While doing so, he would nod politely at someone who might have caught his inquisitive look and then send his eyes onward to the next detail that caught his attention. He could hear the exchange between their host, a relative of Stock's he presumed based upon the friendly manner in which the two seemed to be talking.
However, something changed in that discussion with Morgrym and Stock. A seriousness settled over the hall that was accompanied by silence from their hosts. Bartomus turned his attention to where nearly every dwarf was looking. Stock seemed determined, but polite about what he was saying to Morgrym. Bartomus waited for a translation.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Monday February 19th, 2024 5:46:28 PM
Doubly glad that they made the decision to stop at Mountainhold Zanderallen wonders what horrors the East Wind Tunnel has seen to make the whole room go silent. He leaves the chief requesting to Stock, either he would follow the appropriate procedures or his gruffness would be well known at home. He debates talking to Morgrym privately but decides against it, it could wait till the chief.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday February 19th, 2024 10:19:52 PM
Armalad sips her ale and waits to hear what the Dwarves have to say about this audience request.
Mountainhome (DM Wayne) Monday February 19th, 2024 11:56:26 PM
Armalad says something in Dwarvish, but perhaps adopting a tiny bit of Elvish haughtiness in doing so. Then she sips her ale and waits to see what happens.
Delia ducks the brief awkward silence by focusing on her meal and giving choice bits to Hawky.
Stohp deftly navigates the tips of massive conversation icebergs, keeping her conversations down-to-Wold. She leaves ample room for Stock to answer Morgrym.
Stock is not flapped. He confidently asks for an audience with the Chief at the Chief’s next convenience, also noting that his team’s mission is of some urgency.
Bartomus felt like a tourist on a fantastic and exciting trip. He noted the quite-familiar conversations Stock was having with certain dwarves and then returned to admiring bits and pieces of craftsdwarfship and dwarfculture. Then a hush fell over the room and Bartomus turned to see and hear what he’d missed.
(OOC – Morgrym’s speech was not spoilered – no translation necessary – Bartomus simply was focused elsewhere.)
Zanderallen breathed an inner sigh of relief that the Shields had gone to Mountainhome first instead of the Entrance. It is a tough decision, but Zanderallen remains silent to allow Stock to handle Morgrym’s query.
Morgrym gives a brief nod to Armalad to acknowledge he heard her. Stock then confirms that he and his team request an audience with the Chief regarding the Entrance.
Morgrym’s brow furrows, in just the thinking sense. He glances over the assembled Shields, eyes alighting on every shiny rust-free weapon, armor, shield, and bit of equipment. Morgrym says, “Very well, I will send the inquiry.
(Turns head) Rogar, make it so.
(Rogar barely nods and is at once up from his seat and out of the feast hall)
Now, then, Stock and Stock-friends, let us make merry, for tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone who delves the Underwold!” With that, Morgrym lets out a hearty belly-laugh and the Mountainheart dwarves laugh with him. The room is full of the noise of toasts, clinking mugs, and well-wishes for Stock and his team.
Stock Highlight to display spoiler: { you join in the laughter, but you know solemnly in your heart of hearts that from all you have ever learned growing up in Mountainhome Morgrym is right – even being a guard at the Entrance is risky. Still, you find it easy to summon your dwarven stoicness power so that no Shield thinks you brought down to Wold by the mere mention of delving the Underwold.}
All other Shields Highlight to display spoiler: { Stock is among the dwarves laughing with Morgrym, seemingly unperturbed. Still, though all know that some like Delia have faced certain horrors of the Underwold, what un-Woldy horrors await the Shields beyond the Entrance? Morgrym’s phrasing would be enough to send shivers up the spine of lesser heroes but not the Silver Shields – no, they dare not feel even the faintest shiver of fear lest the Float, and perhaps more, be lost!}
After several minutes the room is back to regular conversations.
It is in the midst of this that Rogar returns. He is immediately at Morgrym’s side and whispers guardedly into Morgrym’s ear.
Morgrym nods and then leans over the table towards Stock and says in a low voice, (Stock only) Highlight to display spoiler: { “Chief Sternbough has granted your request. The meeting will be tomorrow morning. We will wake all of you at dawn, you’ll eat here in the feast hall, and then the Chief will see you and your team in the throne room. Finish your feast tonight and get a good sleep – you will all need it for the audience.”}
Eventually the feasting and drinking die down and the foodservants are clearing the dirty dishes and the table.
A group of dwarven women appear at the entrance to the feasthall and the eldest steps forward and says, “Master Stock, and your… Shields… please come this way (gestures) so we can show you to your rooms for the night.”
What does each Shield do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 2:18:04 AM
Before leaving Armalad asks the others of her party, "What are the odds that we'll need to teleport away from where we are headed tomorrow? I am trying to figure out if I should prepare my same spell load out in case we need to teleport back to the Float or as near as we can get to the Float from there or if you expect us to come back to the Dwarven gate" Armalad and Joker head to the room prepared for them. If the party doesn't expect them to need the teleportation she may alter her spell loadout in the morning.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday February 20th, 2024 9:09:30 AM
Stohp enjoys the festivities and gets a good nights sleep for the dangerous trip ahead.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 9:33:24 AM "Good food and good wishes," Bartomus said with a smile. "Let us make memories that will be the source of laughter for years to come."
The taur joins in with the celebrants in the room and enjoys the conversation about things in the stronghold, the Float, and various topics in between. When the evening began to slow, he was grateful for the offer of places to sleep. On the way following their hosts, he cast upon himself a few minor cure spells putting an end to the remaining aches he had been nursing the past few days.
He stretched out best he could on the double beds that had been put end to end to accommodate his length. It may have been the healing spells, or the consumption of mead, but regardless he slept solidly.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 10:48:11 AM
Stock announces to the other Shields, "We will meet with Chief Sternbough first thing tomorrow. Get some rest..."
He genuinely enjoys the fellowship with the other dwarves and savors the sights, sounds and smells of home. Still though, he keeps an eye out for the rest of his family.
That night he sleeps little, not so much out of anxiety but out of a desire to experience Home for just a few more moments.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday February 20th, 2024 11:43:25 AM
Delia thanks the nearby dwarves for the meal and then curls her tall self onto a dwarven bed. Despite some of the creatures she's seen in the Underwold, she sleeps soundly, knowing the Shields will face whatever comes with the same tenacity they face everything else.
Hawky perches on his human, tucking his head into his wing.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday February 21st, 2024 8:35:06 AM
Given her size there might be some shenanigans getting her a decent place to rest. Stohp will just sleep on a palet on the floor if needed.
Mountainhome (DM Wayne) Wednesday February 21st, 2024 10:17:26 AM
Armalad asks the Shields whether the group will need to teleport on the ‘morrow. She runs through various spell packages in her mind in anticipation of their answers.
Stohp thoroughly enjoys the rest of the feast and the conversations, and then turns her focus to a good night’s sleep for the unknowable expedition ahead. Their dwarven hosts, thankfully, pushed together multiple dwarven beds in larger ‘dorm’ rooms sufficient to accommodate Stohp and Bartomus each in their own rooms. This is likely to be far better than however many weeks she and the Shields spend sleeping in caves on bedrolls…
Bartomus likewise is enthusiastic about the festivities, participating wholeheartedly. After healing up a bit he enjoyed the sleep of the righteous!
Stock informs the Shields that they’ll meet with the Chief first thing in the morning, advising good rest to all! Home again, he falls fully into dwarven camaraderie, something of a subdued spectacle to non-dwarves, yet wide-ranging in visual flair and jokes that often fall out of Common and straight into Dwarven jargon for which there is no Common equivalent, the gravelly syllables at times making conversations sound like rockslides! Stock keeps an eye out for his family, but noting names and faces and professions, realizes that though Kazmuk is here, the commonality among all the dwarves present must be just those who have risen to great trust by the Chief – understandable given the unusual nature of the Shields’ arrival and the allowance of so many non-dwarves into Mountainhome proper, away from the trading caves. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to meet his extended family once the Chief has seen the nature of the Shields personally? Stock rests, but sleeps in snatches, holding onto these new memories of Home tightly.
Delia thanks their hosts for the hospitality and then adjusts to sleeping on a dwarven bed plus two footrests linked with the bed in a column. She rests peacefully, confident that the Shields are more than capable of facing anything she’s seen in the Underwold.
Hawky, too, gets a good night’s rest.
Zanderallen likewise enjoys the rest of the festivities and is agreeable to a night’s rest before meeting with the Chief first thing in the morning.
The night passes uneventfully, though some Shields work harder than others to get to sleep.
Does morning arrive, without even an opening in any bedroom to show it?
Each Shield is individually woken by the gravelly voice of a dwarven guard who then switches to Common, “wake, friend, for the Dawnhole is alight!”
All Shields, that is, but for Stock: Highlight to display spoiler: { You are woken by your close family members. Your post is your opportunity to select their names and describe how they awake you, tearful reunion stuff, and all that. If you like, up to ten of them will crowd into your room to greet you before breakfast in the feast hall. I’ll handle their roleplaying after your initial introduction of the Simpleshards, other than below, I’m noting ‘many dwarves of similar appearance to Stock accompany him to the feasthall and eat breakfast with the Shields’ and clearly identifying them as ‘Stock’s close family.’}
After waking the Shields, each guard then exits their respective rooms and closes the door softly. The Shields have a gut instinct that their guard remains on duty outside their bedroom, to later guide them to the feasthall for breakfast.
Once each Shield has performed their morning routine and readied themselves, they are all led to the feasthall where once more the foodservants have arranged everything, with subtle changes to the provisions – what must constitute ‘dwarven breakfast.’ Less rothe-steaks and more unfamiliar cooked meats, all of which smell delicious even to non-dwarven noses.
Stock is uncharacteristically last to arrive, but arrives in a loud cacophony of (to those who understand Dwarven) familial jokes and stories (even those who don’t understand Dwarven recognize the emotions) as several, perhaps more than several, dwarves arrive with him – each of these dwarves remarkably similar in appearance to Stock! Of course – Stock’s close family! But… why weren’t they here last night? A question for Stock at a convenient time, perhaps…
The Shields and Stock’s family are all soon tearing in to their delicious dwarven breakfast, ‘breakfast mushrooms’ with very different seasonings and spices from last night, lighter-weight meats that taste and satisfy similarly to the eggs and bacon of the Float and other humanocentric cities, and small helpings of sweet fruits none but Stock have seen before, perhaps reflecting the lack of arable land and fruit trees in the mountains compared to the plains.
Morgrym, Rogar, and other guards stand at attention. As the Shields appear to be finishing their meal, the guards alter their positioning in a way to the Shields’ knowledgeable eyes indicate that it is nearly time to meet with the Chief. Yet, Morgrym is clearly not at ‘Now!’. (The Shields may linger a few moments to speak with Stock and his family, if they wish.)
What does each Shield do?
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday February 21st, 2024 3:34:15 PM
Zanderallen thanks the guard for the wake-up call and quickly makes himself ready. He refrains from strapping on his full plate, instead merely wearing his back-up chain for a less war-like appearance. He follows his guard to the breakfast hall and greets everyone warmly. When Stock and family make an appearance he beams at the scene of familial bliss. He listens joyfully to all the story-telling, struggling somewhat with the familiar short hands in a language not his own, but making sure to throw out little embellishments or details, "You should make sure and ask Stock about the time he was almost eaten by a giant plant."
As he notices the body language of the guards shift he pushes back from the table and thanks the hosts for breakfast, ready to leave.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Wednesday February 21st, 2024 5:00:52 PM
Stock is dreaming. It is his Mother's voice and she is none to happy. "And here you are, asleep in your bed and the Dawnhole is nearly lit. Too much time aboveground I say."
If anything it was the other voices in the room that woke Stock from his slumber.
"There he goes. Give the boy one night of celebration and he thinks he can sleep in. Get yourself out of that stone cot, Stock Simpleshard."
He moves quickly then, jumping to his feet in his small clothes, becoming aware of a small crowd in his small room. He sees his mother, Fiona, the matriarch of all Simpleshards...and his sister Enola...and there is his dad, also known as Stock, standing silently in the back as usual...Cousins, Aunts, Uncles...they were all there. Tears are shed, hugs are shared, and the stories begin.
He is led to the hall and hears Zanderallen's reminder of one of the dicier moments in his adventuring past. He holds up his hands in his mother's direction before she can say anything, looking guilty all of a sudden. "Ah Ma - don't listen to big Z, he exaggerates. It wasn't hardly a thing. Not once...NOT ONE TIME have I died since I started adventuring."
He then gives Zanderallen an imploring look, willing the man to not share the more dangerous of his exploits.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday February 21st, 2024 5:41:24 PM
Delia, after her regular morning routine, enjoys watching Stock and his family reunite and rib each other.
At Zander's comment and Stock's reaction, she looks serious for a moment and addresses his mother politely, "Don't worry, ma'am. It was only one of the giant plants that almost ate him. Or maybe two... Anyway, nothing else has come close to eating any of us. Except maybe those animated sea-plants... Huh. Lots of carnivorous plants around. Fortunately, there won't be enough light in the Tunnels for carnivorous plants!"
She finishes brightly and returns to her breakfast, thinking her words to be comforting.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday February 21st, 2024 8:33:12 PM
Armalad does whatever elven casters do at night (I thought we covered this before that they might trance) and gets up early to prepare her spells for the next day such that she is studying her spellbook when the Dwarf Guard appears. She chooses to prepare the spells needed to support the greater teleport in case they need to escape from the tunnel directly.
To the Dwarf guard she replies in Dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: {"No need to use the trade tongue on my behalf. I am known as quite a cunning linguist after all."}
Armalad says to Stock, "Wow you have quite the amount of kin. I never knew."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday February 21st, 2024 11:16:29 PM
Bartomus had awaken and in the quietness of the room he was provided, spent time in contemplation of the day ahead. He wove in his mind the various things that had been learned and that experience told him should be of concern. When he was finished, he gathered his belongings. He was in the process of tightening the knots on his kit when the door opened.
A somewhat thinner dwarf stood at the door, Bartomus turned.
"I have been asked to bring you to the feast hall, Bartomus." There was a hesitancy in the way the words were delivered in common. Bartomus smiled.
"Well, I would appreciate that. As you know my name, you have the advantage of the situation." Bartomus replied. He extended his hand outward to the dwarf who seemed to be a bit uncertain as to Bartomus' meaning. Within seconds, though, the bushy black brows that provided some refuge for the greenish-brown eyes to hide underwent wide.
"My apologies," the guard responded. "I am Barrick Strongspear, a cousin twice removed to Stock. Same in relation to Our Chief."
Bartomus grinned and shook the hesitant hand that was put forward.
"Well, cousin to the Chief no less, I am honored to have your assistance Barrick Strongspear. You lead and I will follow, and try not to bump my head and horns into as we walk."
Worry crossed over Barrick's face. Bartomus noticed that the number beard beads that Barric was wearing was fewer than he had seen others the night before wearing. He surmised that Barrick might be a bit younger as a result.
"I am joking, young master Barrick. I will try to be a few of my steps behind you so if I do have to duck down, I don't catch your tunic or your beard." Bartomus winked and then started laughing.
Barrick processed the information, rolled his eyes slightly, and then joined in the joke. A twinkle sparked in the young dwarf's eyes.
"Well, don't be too far behind, I would hate to have one of the others mistake you for a wild beast and think you should be shuffled off to the stockade." He waited just a moment and winked back at Bartomus. Then turned on his heel and started off down the hallway.
Bartomus burst out laughing. He was snickering about that remark for a few hallways.
"Here we are," Barrick turned at the door. He gave Bartomus a once over. "I see we were both successful in our objective. You didn't tangle yourself in my tunic, and I see none of my kin tried trapping you along the way."
Bartomus laughed again and took a bit of satisfaction in the young dwarf's amusement. He then worked himself into a position in the hall that would be more comfortable and not require him to stand repeatedly.
He ate and looked over when the fanfare outside the hall grew closer. He glanced about and then realized that Stock had not joined them and was not surprised that Stock was the reason for the growing noise. When Stock and the family came into the hall, Bartomus noticed that young Barrick was at the back of the gathering.
He continued to eat and watch Stock interact with what appeared to be members of his family. Bartomus felt a bit jealous of the dwarf. He smiled at the scene and watched the others in the room.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday February 22nd, 2024 8:07:55 AM
Stohp doesn't take long to be ready and she tries a little bit of everything, enjoying the chance to try new foods.
Mountainhome (DM Wayne) Thursday February 22nd, 2024 11:49:37 AM
Zanderallen politely and matter-of-factly readies himself as he always does, this time pausing and setting his full plate back down in order to present a more conciliatory look to the Chief. Not long after he tucks into his breakfast, Stock and his family (!) arrive in a cloud of camaraderie, are seated, and are soon laughing, talking, and joking in Dwarven. Zanderallen follows along fairly well, but the vast distance between any two settlements often leads to linguistic drift, and so he continues to learn and adapt to ‘Mountainhome-dialect’ Dwarvish.
Stock woke to his night’s dream come true – surrounded by his family, the Simpleshards, who were happy to see him, and mock-scolded him for being gone ‘so long’ even by dwarven standards! The hugging and joking continued to the feasthall, briefly interrupted by Zanderallen referencing a recent adventure’s peril to Stock who shrugged it off playfully, with a secretly pleading look towards Zanderallen to stop while he was behind…
Armalad has a restful trance-night and finishes her spell preparation as the guard arrives to take her to the feasthall, offering an… unusual… comment in Dwarvish. Once Stock and his family arrive, she expresses her surprise at the size of his family.
Bartomus woke early and meditated on the primal nature of the Wold, refreshing his spell selection for the day, and was ready to go when the guard arrived. He and the young Barrick hit it off well, apparently sharing a sense of humor! Once eating in the feasthall, he was pleasantly surprised that Stock arrived with his family, causing simultaneous feelings of happiness for Stock and wishing that he himself were surrounded by his own Taur family.
Stohp, once woken, is all about the mission and is soon chowing down in the feasthall, relishing every new food's taste, like a soldier waiting for the call to war!
Delia swiftly and deftly resolved her morning routine and was soon in the feasthall, smiling at Stock’s family dynamics. Delia tries to ‘help’ Stock, but is rewarded with a slowly growing look of concern on his mother’s face as she turns to face Stock with a stereotypically-Dwarvish-mother Highlight to display spoiler: {“Well?!? Start the avalanche, let’s hear it!”}.
Morgrym clears his throat loudly, like a hammer forging an axe, in Common, “All right everyone, finish those last few bites and let’s not keep the Chief waiting any longer.
(addressing Mrs. Simpleshard, in Dwarvish) Highlight to display spoiler: {Matriarch Simpleshard, any war stories will have to wait until after the Chief has spoken with Stock’s team.},” he finishes with a wide smile. Mrs. Simpleshard briefly looks downcast, but then turns to Stock with resolve in her eyes.
The last few bites of mushroom are soon swallowed, if not also chewed, and washed down with choice beverages. Much Simpleshard hugging ensues, and those who know Dwarvish hear Mrs. Simpleshard exact promises from Stock to tell her everything later! For those who don’t know Dwarvish, all they needed to see was Stock’s Ma wagging her pointer finger at him while talking nonstop for about 30 seconds…
Morgrym, smiling and winking at Stock with a ‘you owe me’ look, Rogar, and their fellow top guards then lead the Shields through a different set of hallways until finally a set of double-doors open up into what must be the throne room.
Stock: Highlight to display spoiler: {My thoughts are that Stock was unlikely, when he lived here, to ever come to the throne room but your next post is your opportunity to insert any familiarity, or awe, or other emotions Stock would feel upon being granted an audience with the Mountainheart Clan Chief…}.
All but Stock: the throne room is extremely spacious, clearly hollowed out by expert dwarven masons, decorated by unparalleled dwarven artisans in silver (most) and gold (accents) with long story-murals wrapping around the room, each wall perhaps 100’ long or more and magical lights throughout so that even dwarves may appreciate the colors of the murals and not just their outlines! Thick carpets woven from rothe-hair and dyed the shades of the most delectable mushrooms you’ve eaten cover the vast floor. From the rafters hang Battle Pennants alternating with Pennants honoring Domi, though this is not itself a temple to Domi.
Many dwarves, guards, servants, and priests (or academics?) stand along the other three walls from where the Shields entered. There are several rows of long benches akin to pews.
Morgrym leads the Shields to their seats in the front left pew as the Shields walk forward, the pew that will be at the right hand of the Chief, who is not yet present. Morgrym reminds the Shields to mentally prepare for the Chief’s arrival, and in Common, “It need not be said, to dwarves at least, that you wait for Chief Sternbough to speak first. Do not be surprised if he speaks to Stock alone first.”
Morgrym then takes his post along the left-side wall as you came in, but is still a good forty feet from the throne – it seems though he is a head of the Outer Guards, he is not in the Chief’s Personal Guard proper.
Three minutes pass with the Shields patiently waiting.
How does each Shield pass the time until the Chief arrives?
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday February 22nd, 2024 5:18:33 PM
Zanderallen meets Stock's imploring look with an evil grin, but makes a sign of locking his lips and throwing away the key. It takes all his will to hold back hearty chuckling at seeing so mighty a warrior as he has come to see Stock brought to such terror by the threat of motherly worry. But he soon brings his mischief under control, especially at the pointed remember of which one of them has actually passed out of the land of the living. He shudders slightly as the wound in his chest twinges.
As they enter the throne room Zanderallen visibly seems to relax as he spots Domi's pennant displayed so prominently. With his knowledge of history and nobility he has a passing knowledge of dwarven customs, if not the specifics of how this clan hall works. As they are left in their spot he passes on a piece of advice to the rest of the Shields, "Take no offense if the chief takes primary interest in Stock, we are in their home. Stay quiet until he addresses us all, and offer salute when he enters. A little grace goes a long way." He waits patiently for the chief to arrive gazing at the beautiful murals around the room.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday February 22nd, 2024 9:40:42 PM
Delia lapses into silence, finishing her breakfast and feeling vaguely like she didn't help matters. She shrugs to herself.
When they move settles onto the low bench, doing her best to stretch out without looking disrespectfully casual. She nods to Hawky and he does a few fast loops around the large room to stretch his wings before settling on one of her legs to wait. She rarely speaks in the presence of high ranking fancy people, so she is perfectly content to let Stock and any others speak to the Chief.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday February 23rd, 2024 2:16:37 AM
Armalad and Joker try to keep a low profile as it seems like some of the Dwarves didn't like her being an elf when they first arrived.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday February 23rd, 2024 7:33:06 AM
The party has dealt with officials a lot recently so Stohp expects there to be no problem with the meeting. She spends the time waiting admiring the excellent craftsmanship of the room and murals.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday February 23rd, 2024 9:53:29 AM
Morgrym's call to order had Bartomus swallowing the last bit of the breakfast mushroom he had tried. It was a tasty, filling affair that paired well with the sweetness of tea. He had been talking with some of the folk near his seat about the Float as they shared things about their mountain home.
As they left, he smiled at the exchange between Stock and Mrs. Simpleshard. In no short time the realization that someone was getting the "you stay safe and be sure to visit me when you are done" lecture from his mother. Then they began walking through various halls coming to a large set of double doors that opened to a different world.
The throne room was incredible in Bartomus' opinion. It was of the same caliber, if not grandier, than the great Diamond Cathedral atop the Float. Bartomus slowed and took in the room where he did not have to duck or hunch down. The carvings with the interwoven lighting, the exquisite use of silver and gold, and even the banners, all told a story of struggle, victory, and community.
Bartomus took his seat and nodded when the advice of not speaking was spoken to as the rule of the day. He then let his eyes wander about the carvings and whispered to himself.
"Is that a dragon there? What is the story behind that panel? And that one over there, what creature is that they are holding at bay?"
He started wondering about the history and stories that were being shared. He continued his study whispering in marvel at what he was seeing.
Audience with Chief Sternbough (DM Wayne) Saturday February 24th, 2024 12:02:16 AM
Zanderallen exercises mighty self-discipline, against which there is no law. He is helped along by a brief twinge of ‘phantom pain’. Taking in the expansive throne room, Zanderallen is suddenly at ease, especially after panning his view across the pennant-filled rafters! He then whispers directions to the Shields, after which he returns to admiring the dwarven art surrounding the Shields.
Delia realizes she might have overspoke, but shrugs – nothing to do about it now. She appreciates the wide pews enabling her to feel relaxed – the room, so open! How high are the rafters, anyway? No matter – what a view as Hawky loops the room, flying high and then gliding and then repeating more than a few times before alighting on Delia’s right leg, exercised and happy.
Armalad and Joker play wallflower – the dwarves have been generally polite and welcoming, but some seem to have a chip on their shoulder against elves, only dwarven traditions of hospitality to guests holding them back from yet more snide remarks. Thus Armalad is content to let Stock take the lead even though she knows in her mind and heart that she could make a far more effective argument than he, arrowpoint by arrowpoint taking her through her imagined speech of reasoning – the dwarves could do naught but agree with her cold emotionless logic!
Stohp is relaxed, anticipating another formulaic meeting with a leader, convincing them of the important of the Shields’ cause, so she nonchalantly admires all the work, especially the woodwork of the rafters, that has gone into this marriage of wood entwined amidst rock that is Mountainhome’s throne room and its murals and pennants.
Bartomus was caught slightly off guard by Morgrym’s announced transition from feasthall to throne room, but savored the last remnants of breakfast mushroom and the ever-so-slightly sweet tea of dwarven make…was the sweetness from a cooked lichen of unusual source, or did they find some berries? The conversations he had with the dwarves, many of them Stock’s family or friends, in one way or another, swirled within his mind as his body got up and walked him in line behind Morgrym and the Shields, still smiling over the mighty Stock, slayer of countless evils, hanging on every command of his mother! Like his fellow Taur, Bartomus too was drawn in by the uncountable hours of artisanry that went into this dance of wood around stone and murals drawing from a wide variety of shades yet perhaps less than half the palette to be found in nature – fewer greens and blues available in the mountains of the Scab though… where did the dwarves find enough trees to cut down, or claim, for the amount of wood he’d seen in the Carpentry Hall and the Throne Room combined, not to mention the wooden doors… those trading caves must be busy indeed! And then there was the decoration and plating of silver and gold to accentuate, to surround, and sometimes even to draw the eye to an important scene among many in the oh-so-limited palette of faded reds, a large and lush variety of browns, pure whites (certain mushrooms???), dark blacks, and dull yellows and greens… so little in purple, blue, and any bright color other than white! He dutifully listened to Zanderallen’s directions and then mused aloud at the meanings behind those murals and scenes which caught his eyes.
Stock enjoyed some final moments with his family and friends, made a thousand promises to his mother that he was not sure he could keep, and bid them farewell as he and the Shields marched to their destiny. Once in the pews, Stock’s face was granite. He barely nodded as Zanderallen instructed the others. Stock seemed to be staring straight through the throne, his face angled up to meet the throne which stood on three layers of concentric granite hexagons.
Those Shields glancing at Stock may wonder… is Stock up to this challenge, of making the case for the Shields’ mission with his words and not his flail? Only time would tell.
As the Shields, perhaps drawn in by Stock’s unceasing gaze, took in the throne itself, first its artistry impressed those with a craftsperson’s eye and then… beyond all the decoration it was black as night… pure obsidian… so large… how is it still intact… why didn’t it chip when it was shaped and cut… oooohhhhh…. magic! The obsidian throne looked big enough to hold a Taur, so when a dwarf sits upon it the message of pre-eminent power, wealth, and authority must be unmistakable to all within the Clan!
At once (at once!), there is the loud grinding sound of stone upon stone as twenty-foot tall double-doors of rock (How, how did we miss seeing those! So large! The throne was obscuring the bottom of where they met, that’s it!) slide open behind the throne over the course of one full minute. As the noise dies down, and the gap is an astounding forty feet wide, four dwarves in (stone!!!) full plate armor walk around each side of the throne, eight in all, taking flanking positions in a straight line with the throne in the middle. Then from the Shields’ right side two dwarves in robes enter from a side archway and likewise two dwarves in robes enter from another archway on the left side, each joining the line of guards and extending the straight line.
The eight dwarves in (stone!) full plate armor scan quickly and thoroughly around the room, some of them alighting their gaze on each Shield for a full minute at a time, as if making certain the Shields were not a threat. The one closest to the left side of the throne barks something in Dwarven Highlight to display spoiler: {All clear Chief! Your highness may enter at your convenience!}
As the Shields scan from left to right, wondering where the Chief will enter the throne room, they are caught off guard when a dwarf emerges from the very throne itself, walking through it as if it weren’t there! This must be Chief Sternbough – an aged dwarf with equal numbers of streaks of white hair as well as red, and an ornately knotted beard with the same, though the red is wound over the white so as to be most of the color in his beard. He wears a chain shirt of an unusual greyish color that fits him well yet does not flex even as much as one might expect of steel. His clothing is not only of high quality, but of colors and dyes that no other native dwarf in your sight has had! Stock’s garb may have colors and dyes available on the float but here it’s clear that the natives dress like their surroundings, perhaps better to blend in if invaded, but the Chief… the Chief stands out on purpose, like a general on a battlefield, attracting the attention of all as though he were a peacock of the brightest plumage!
The armored dwarf to the left side of the throne (the Chief’s right hand side!!!) commands in Common, “all rise, Chief Sternbough has the dominion!”
Prepared by Morgrym and Zanderallen, the Shields rise as one, even the granite-faced Stock, whose face has lost none of its immutable neutral expression.
Time seems to slow and freeze as Chief Sternbough surveys his throne room, filled nearly to capacity (when did all those other dwarves arrive, and so silently!). His gaze stops on Stock for perhaps one second longer than any of the others, and then looking at the crowd overall, nods.
The armored dwarf barks, in Common, “You may all be seated now, except for Stock and his Silver Shields. Please remain standing.”
The rest of the crowd seats themselves, and there is murmuring among some behind the Shields in Dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: { “The Silver Shields? Who are they? Why is Stock the only dwarf among their number? Couldn’t Stock have found other dwarves to befriend instead?”.}
(Stock only) Highlight to display spoiler: {The insular and provincial nature of some of the comments of those with the least stature in the Royal Court perhaps grate on the Shields, but no one feels their barbs more than you, Stock. You’ve given years of service to protecting the Float and slaying Evil so that Evil would not move on to the Scab after defeating the Float, and these political ministers and servants eye only their own upward mobility, not even knowing the dangers the Shields have saved them from? You hope that no one, especially not the Shields, see the slightest softening of your serious-granite dwarven face summoned for this make-or-break attempt to prevent Karkasan from ruling or destroying the Float, and then the Scab, and then… could even the Wold itself be in danger? No matter, Chief Sternbough is here and soon it will be your turn to speak. Best to be axe-focused on your words!}
Chief Sternbough speaks, first in Dwarven, turning his head to address each pair of robed dwarves in turn, Highlight to display spoiler: { “Scribes, I will address these ‘Silver Shields’ in Common, as at least one or two of them do not know our tongue. When I do so, scribe my words and theirs in Common as well for the Royal Record and the Archives.” }
Chief Sternbough then faces the Shields fully and finally alights upon his throne. He stares long and hard at Stock. A dozen seconds pass, and then he says, firmly, “Apprentice Carpenter Stock Simpleshard… ten years… what have you accomplished,” he finishes with a slight grin.
Stock, how do you answer your Chief???
Shields, how do you comport yourselves while Stock has the floor, and what thoughts race through your minds???
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Saturday February 24th, 2024 1:55:50 AM
Stohp stands calmly at ease, confident in Stock's ability to convince his kin of their mission.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Saturday February 24th, 2024 9:43:57 AM
Armalad and Joker stand. Well Armalad is standing, Joker is kind of hovering, considering he has wings and prefers to fly around. Armalad hunches considering she is an elf amongst the Dwarves but if Chief Sternbough ever deems to address her, she will reply to him in Dwarven as she had been doing with the Dwarves here since she arrived.
She gets how there can be animosity between these rough folk who dwell amongst the stone and her people who prefer the forests but just because there is that stereotypical rivalry doesn't mean that she herself couldn't be an ambassador between her kind and the Dwarves.
Afterall the Shields have had a Dwarf and an Elf on the team for a while now and they've managed to work together and coexist why then not their people?
She does pick up how the crowd seems sad that Stock is the only Dwarf amongst the Shields and wonders if maybe the Dwarves are just xenophobic in general.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Saturday February 24th, 2024 6:45:53 PM
Stock cocks his head, "Let's see...what have I done. Well, your Chief-ness, I've been busy...so busy. As some remember, I left here in search of myself. I teleported to the Float of my own free will to aid in the construction and decoration of a villa on the Open Air Level, up top. For three years I poured every ounce of my creativity and sweat into that place. During this time the wealth of the owners rose and fell and at some point in the second year, my payments from the owners stopped completely. Despite this, I finished what I call my masterpiece...It is a display of architectural woodworking that won't make me famous but of which I will forever be proud.
I knew however that my time as a carpenter was over. I had reached the highest level my skill would take me and so I fell into these Silver Shields. Of this current group, only Zanderallen, Stohp and Bartomus remain from those Shields.
We have spent the last several years defending the Float on all sides. We have traveled planes and we have traveled to the bottom of a lake. One of us died...Not me, Mom...and so we were able to plead for his life among the immortals. We have visited with beastfolk and with surface drow as ambassadors of a sort. We have saved lives. So many lives. And so I...we...stand as the defenders of a town, floating upon the waves of a lake, far from much of civilization. We are here chasing a threat that has made our home its target.
We were given a tip to check the East Wind Tunnel for an artifact that is one of several keys to our success and so we need your help in accessing the tunnel."
He stops suddenly and out of breath...as if he were sprinting and stopped before falling into a chasm. He clamps his mouth shut though and stares down the Chief.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Saturday February 24th, 2024 9:50:39 PM
Bartomus' head snapped to the entrance and the parade of the guards that stepped into the room from the wall that suddenly opened. Bartomus gasped when the Chief came stepping out of the obsidian throne. It was surprising and awe-inspiring as well. He stood and when he realized it, he slowly closed his mouth as he was certain he looked a bit foolish.
When the Chief and stock had started their exchange he focused his attention on the Chief. He wanted to replicate this event in a carving someday and he worked to commit the details to memory.
When Stock started talking, in Common, Bartomus looked over at him. During his explanation of his past endeavors, Bartomus smiled on in pride remembering their adventures together. He found himself nodding slowly in agrement with what Stock was saying, what he was asking, and why he was asking it.
Audience with Chief Sternbough (DM Wayne) Saturday February 24th, 2024 10:10:08 PM
Stohp stands relaxed, presuming Stock’s tongue is as valiant as his flail!
Armalad stands, Joker hover/stands if there is such a thing! Armalad readies herself to speak if called upon by the Chief of these “rough folk.” She notes the mumblings among the crowd and wonders whether these Mountainhome Dwarves are particularly xenophobic… or elf-phobic… or have dwarfocentric cultural views…
Bartomus had not ceased to be amazed at the ways of the dwarves since arrival in Mountainhome and the throne room was no exception! How did the Chief walk through the Obsidian Throne and then sit upon it?!? His attention soon turned to memorizing Stock’s mannerisms as Stock answered the Chief’s question in perhaps the longest amount of time Bartomus had ever heard Stock speak at once! He was proud of Stock, never a diplomat, for rising to the occasion!
Delia and Zanderallen each hold their breath as Stock begins, releasing later as Stock’s speech proves concise and to the point. Hopefully the Chief isn’t a leader who expects formal flowery speech out of everyone!
Stock… is Stock. The Shields expected nothing less of their long-time friend and teammate.
As Stock began his speech Chief Sternbough stroked his lengthy, well-knotted, and well-kept beard… thusly… with the facial expression of one deep in thought. The Chief’s right hand moves to tend loose hairs at the end of his beard as Stock describes his masterpiece. There is no flicker of great recognition of the phrase ‘Silver Shields’ in his eyes, just the slight nod of one whose servants have mentioned the words to him in passing, once.
The Chief’s interest seemed mildly piqued when Stock’s story moved on to immortals, and his eyes grew wide at the mention of surface drow, and then perhaps the slight smile the Chief began with grew more noticeable as Stock concluded with the saving of lives and defense of a town ‘floating on a lake’. The Chief’s face flickered with what some Shields saw as the dual emotions of fascination with the architecture of such an unusual place and (was that revulsion?) a slight flinch at the thought of anyone living on… water!
Chief Sternbough narrowed his eyes at the mention of the East Wind Tunnel, and an artifact. He had no immediate reaction to the request for help, as though his servants had already passed that part along.
Stock finally, if it were possible, runs out of steam, ceasing his speech and facing the Chief unflinchingly.
Chief Sternbough matches Stock’s stare for a full minute, as if taking his measure in more ways than one.
Chief Sternbough stands, still facing Stock, and then turns his gaze to all in attendance, in Dwarven, Highlight to display spoiler: {“Stock and his Shields seek help in a way that affects Clan security, even the security of all clans within the Scab. Only those with a need to know shall remain for this Royal Discussion.”}.
Without a further spoken word the dwarves in all of the pews, but for the one the Shields are seated in, at once get up and begin departing. Other dwarven servants along the walls also leave, even Morgrym and his retinue.
Soon only the Chief, his eight stone-plated guards, the Shields, and the four dwarves in robes remain. Doors in the walls are closed and the thunk of boots outside indicate guards (perhaps Morgrym’s team) are keeping the throne room secure against other listeners though the doors themselves were so thick it is doubtful even one adjacent to a door would be able to hear anyone deep inside such as the Chief, his attendants, and the Shields.
Chief Sternbough speaks again, this time in Common, “Silver Shields… you may presume I have many questions for you. I will start with one question and this time, I want all six of you to take turns explaining, each in your own way.
One caveat: do not give the presence of Stock as part of your answer – your mission justification must stand on its own.
Now then:
What are the best reasons that Clan Mountainheart should allow the Silver Shields to enter the Eastern Wind Tunnel, though Underwold Horrors and the Accursed Drow Invaders lurk within, our death on their lips?”
(OOC – Each Shield is given an uninterrupted chance to answer the above question, and it is clear Chief Sternbough desires no wallflowers who choke up at the thought of answering this question. Each Shield is to dig deep into their own unique understanding of their mission so that, though all may choose to mention facts in common, it is clear to all, especially Chief Sternbough, that (for example), Delia’s answer could only have come from Delia, and Armalad’s answer only from Armalad, etc.)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Saturday February 24th, 2024 11:43:58 PM
Delia shuffles Hawky from knee to shoulder to stand at relaxed attention as the dwarf chief enters and he and Stock exchange formalities.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday February 25th, 2024 9:50:02 AM
Armalad says in Dwarven Highlight to display spoiler: {"As a guest who is honored by your gracious hospitality I would show Chief Sternbough and His people respect by answering your question in your own tongue, however not all of my group speak the Dwarven language so I will do them the courtesy of continuing my answer in the common tongue and though you obviously have problems with the dark elf invaders who dwell beyond your Eastern Wind Tunnel this particular elf wouldst be a stalwart friend an ally to The Dwarven People and ambassador of her kind if they'd allow it."}
She then says in Common, "Now that my preamble is done let me get to the point. There is a dark entity named Karkasan bound to the Crying Wood. It is the Dark Presence one always feels while visiting there. We recently dealt with a threat to the Float involving a kind of plant golem and rare sea plant that could do terrible things. We fought and defeated or captured those responsible and learned through a Druidess who was overwhelmed by some magical power and press ganged into the cause that this group were followers of Karkasan recently freed from their own entrapment. We also learned that they need to find artifacts in order to free Karkasan as well via a ritual. One of the artifacts in question is Largon's Dragon Crown which we received a tip on where it was located by a lesser adventuring company based out of the Float we mentored / petitioned Gargul to restore some of their number as they were amongst the victims of the attack involving the plant golem and that rare sea plant. They found on one of their recent adventures a bit of text in a strange tongue that when deciphered described the description of Largon's Dragon Crown to a tee. It said 'an artifact in the shape of a crown with twin metalwrought dragons around the bottom edges, reputed to be in the Scab, deep within the East Wind Tunnel Entrance…' We then set off to your Mountain Hold in hopes of getting permission to go into the East Wind Tunnel and retrieve this Largon Dragon Crown before Karkasan 's followers do and keep it safe from them. We hope to eventually devise our own way to separate Karkasan from the Crying Wood while preventing him from going free, ideally transferring his soul to some inert vessel we could store someplace safe or get rid of without releasing him so that his evil is never free again nor would it bother those who venture into the Crying Wood. Thank you for your consideration." Armalad gives a courtesy
Joker adds, "What she said."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday February 26th, 2024 7:01:02 AM
Stohp considers the question. From the phrasing he wants context, but more then that he wants each persons reasoning for pursuing this goal and why the Dwarves should trust these strangers over dealing with the problem themselves. So Stohp addresses that more then the details of what their after. "The best reason? It will save lives. These people are madmen Chief. They sank ships and murdered dozens simply to get a letter delivered when someone investigated the disappearances. Upon confronting them, they seemed amused by it like it was a prank being played. We killed the one there to stop their insanity, but have learned there are more. We know what they seek is in the area, and I fear what they might do to those living nearby while hunting the item. We've proven able to beat one of their number, and are the best option to defeat whomever they sent here as quickly as possible, before they can kill again."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Monday February 26th, 2024 10:49:02 AM (Oops, Saturday's post I forgot to refresh the page and thought I was between DM posts)
Delia stares at the dwarf chief as he requires speech from all of them. She takes a breath, then Armalad speaks, takes another and Stohp steps in next. She takes a third breath, looks side to side at the other Shields, touches Hawky nervously, then answers. Her voice is quiet, but serious.
"We are taking this path because it is right. Because I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do my best to protect my city. My home. I, and we, have hunted many horrors before and will do it as long as we need to. Whatever dark places they hide." She shifts back to her normal pragmatism, adding, "And, if we go in, we'll thin out the numbers of things in there that y'all have to worry about without any of your resources being used up."
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Monday February 26th, 2024 2:29:29 PM To be clear, Chief, we do not know the scale and scope of evil represented by the entity know as Karkasan. My sense is that this may evolve into something akin to the Sargrsss incident of a few years ago…and that it puts us all in jeopardy. I fight today to limit what it can become tomorrow. Today the danger affects my adopted home. This latest rumor we chase down has potential to impact my Home, too due to simple proximity. As a warrior of some regard, I will do everything possible within my power to protect these two places.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Monday February 26th, 2024 3:32:11 PM
Zanderallen waits his turn to speak before beginning. He refrains from some of the flowery speech or honeyed words he might use on Float officials, Chief Sternbough was looking for plain truth. "Your hall is decorated with the symbols of Domi, so I assume we share similar values. Karkasan stands against Domi's teachings and seeks to dominate and oppress. And he is an evil that will not go away with time, having extended his life indefinitely with foul necromancy. We have stood against him and his minions before we even knew who he was. If he is not stopped he will spread over this whole land like a plague, it may take years but he will come to the very doors of Clan Mountainheart. By aiding us you help us stop Karkasan before he can even leave his prison, preventing thousands of lives from ever being put in danger."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Monday February 26th, 2024 4:01:06 PM "Chief Sternbough," Bartomus said after a brief bow of his head. "First, it is an honor to be here in this hall and keep. I am in awe at the wonderous carvings and the artistry that we have seen in the past day or so. In addition, the hospitality has been just as incredible. I truly wish it was to celebrate all that Stock has done or to watch him get lectured by his mother more."
The Taur paused and gave the Chief a broad, genuine smile. Then he took a deep breath and as he let it slowly out, his face took on a very serious look.
"My colleagues have given you their reasons that this should be a concern to the Mountain Hold here." Bartomus looked over at his fellow Shields and then back up at the Chief.
"I came to the Float a few years back now. I was originally taken in by members of the clan of taurs that lived on the wild grasslands north of the Float. My mother died when I was born and I was raised as a servant who was called to join Eberyon's dance." Bartomus smiled at the memories flashing in his mind. "I visited a set of hills that, like the Float itself, were unmoving in the waves the wind caused on the high grasses. There I got guidance to seek out a future in the Float and did so. I am an artisan of some measure, nothing like what I have seen displayed here, and was making a living the best I could. Then I got into helping Stock, Zander there, my fellow Taur Stohp, and others."
"Sir, why should you and yours care about this matter we bring to you? The Float is far away and the interactions bet Bartomus paused and took another breath. Then he set his eyes on the Chief. "But, if you are already seeing challenges in the Scar, and if the evil that we are dealing with is coming after that crown, then then the Scar is going to be the new front lines. Front lines to what could become a massive war where those aligned with the evil that Karkasan represents, and Karkasan himself, may cause great damage to you and yours. The Float is my home, and I am committed to doing what is necessary to protect it, but I think all of us want to protect anyone in the Wold from the nightmares that Karkasan's followers want to unleash."
Bartomus ran out of words. He simply held his eyes with the Chief's for a bit, then he nodded and looked down at the carpet. He had said what he could the best that he could.
Audience with Chief Sternbough (DM Wayne) Monday February 26th, 2024 10:19:05 PM
Delia had shuffled Hawky back and forth as Chief Sternbough entered the room through the throne and then spoke with Stock.
Armalad offers a preamble in Dwarven, and then gets to the point in Common, as much as is possible with the complex situation the Shields find themselves in. Joker agrees. Chief Sternbough maintains a face like granite during Armalad’s answer, but…
Sense Motive DC 30 Highlight to display spoiler: {There seemed to have been a flicker of recognition in his eyes at each mention of Largon’s Dragon Crown.}
Stohp focuses on ‘best reasons’ and, Armalad having given the “big picture,” focuses on two things: the nature of their implacable foes and the Silver Shields as the One Hope to stop them.
Delia takes a breath while Armalad expends hers, and then ready to speak, waits a bit longer as Stohp had begun, but Stohp does not belabor the point, as is her way. Delia unconsciously displays a few nervous tics and tells, and then describes the peril her home faces, the duty she feels to protect her home, and finishes with the benefit to Clan Mountainheart’s safety.
Stock relates the scope of Karkasan’s plots to the Sargrass incident. He also expresses the need to protect all, not just in his Home but in his adopted home as well.
Zanderallen takes the pulse of the room, and considers all the exercise in his Dwarven language skills he’s gotten since arriving and realizes that while humans tend to use whichever verbal strategy seems best to them, the Mountainheart dwarves in particular seem to value clarity in speech, like counting all the rocks after a landslide, though individual dwarves may be verbose or laconic (like Stock) at times. He begins by speaking about Domi, and all can see a slight and brief smile on the Chief’s face at each mention of Domi. Zanderallen paints Karkasan as a kind of anti-Domi. Zanderallen stresses the unending nature of Karkasan’s threat, even to Mountainhome, if not stopped!
Bartomus does not share Zanderallen’s aversion to flowery speech, but focuses it on honest compliments that are also targeted to curry favor with the Chief and his retinue, adding a bit of humor though perhaps only one guard (the youngest?) chuckles almost inaudibly. An adjacent foot taps his boot and the chuckle stops! Bartomus moves on to how he came to the Float, and to care about it greatly. He moves on to the danger to the Scab and Mountainhome as the new front lines if the Float falls.
Chief Sternbough says, a moment after Bartomus concludes, “I see.” He then glances at one robed dwarf in particular and when he does so all can see the faintest shaking of the robed dwarf’s head between left and right.
The Chief faces the Silver Shields and speaks once more, “The Wind Tunnels are a dangerous place. There are many caverns within them, often limestone, containing Aberrant Horrors, but those surface infrequently. Always on our minds as a people… on the minds of all in the Scab… is the threat from the Drow, who previously invaded the Scab from the Wind Tunnels, making magical use of lava-filled tubes for moving their army around quickly to attack unpredictably. Heroes of an older time collapsed the West Wind Tunnel Entrance in a daring and risky battle no one wants repeated ever again, as failure means a Drow army bursting forth and threatening all of us again. We, Clan Mountainheart, have guarded the East Wind Tunnel Entrance ever since, ready to do what it takes to ensure the Accursed Drow are never seen in the Scab again! The Chief pauses briefly, and how animated and angry he has become sinks into the Shields – he is clearly not in a mood to favorably consider any mention of Surface Drow of It’lal, though they are not like the Drow living in the Underwold beneath the Scab, nor should all Drow be painted with such a broad brush as the Chief has just done.
Each Shield mentally asks themselves, What horrors did the Dwarves of the Scab, especially Clan Mountainheart, face in that Drow invasion that still scars their minds, and mayhap even the minds of their children and grandchildren years and years and years after the war was ended? How was Stock’s mind not likewise polluted by this rage, this pain that afflicts even the Chief of Clan Mountainheart while pennants of Domi fly overhead throughout the Throne Room? Those answers, if they come, will have to wait for another day… presuming the Wold does not fall under Karkasan’s heel this day…
The Chief continues, “I have another question, and again I want each of you to give your own answer, as best as you understand the combat and other capabilities of your… special group:
What abilities does your group possess that gives your group a good chance of not only surviving, but of slaying all the Underwold Horrors you encounter, obtaining the Crown, and returning here to tell the tale?”
(OOC – Each Shield is given an uninterrupted chance to answer the above question, and it is clear Chief Sternbough desires no wallflowers who choke up at the thought of answering this question. Each Shield is to dig deep into their own unique understanding of the “Combat And Other Capabilities” of the Silver Shields **As A Team** so that, though all may choose to mention facts in common, it is clear to all, especially Chief Sternbough, that (for example), Delia’s answer could only have come from Delia, and Armalad’s answer only from Armalad, etc.)
[OOC – IMPORTANT
**Everyone** roll a Diplomacy Skill Check. Include your own Diplomacy Bonus in an ‘OOC’ in your post. The best bonus-holder is the Lead, and everyone else is rolling for DC 10 to Assist. This is tough – Chief Sternbough has a solid granite ‘poker face’ – roll high!]
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20=3 ; d20+22=38 ; d20+19=24 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2024 1:10:50 AM
(OOC: Sense Motive - 3, Diplomacy - 38 from Armalad; Diplomacy - 24 from Joker)
Armalad says, "Well Delia and myself are both ranged specialists though our specialties complement each other rather than compete. I have trained a little as a Wizard, a little as a Rogue, a little bit more as an Arcane Trickster but the bulk of my training has been as an Arcane Archer. Therefore I tend to prefer to either imbue my arrows with spells that will effect multiple enemies and/or get within 30 feet and have the ability to sneak attack whether through an assist from my familiar creating an illusion with a wand or using some of the trircks I've learned as an Arcane Trickster. Being a Rogue and Arcane Trickster gives me the ability to attempt to disarm traps from afar as well. Going back to Delia well she is a Ranger trained in the classical art of ranged combat. Her bond is her animal companion hawky and she has some spells and favored enemies that give her certain advantages. She has both Undead and Aberrations as favored enemies. Speaking of Rogues, Stohp is a straight-up Rogue and probably the most dextrous member of our party, so her sneak attack does a lot more damage than mine does however she also has other options in combat including Grappling, Tripping and Disarming giving our group an upper hand in certain combat situations. Stock is our Barbarian and I do not mean it as an insult. He is brave and he throws himself into the thick of battle. He is probably the hardest to kill amongst our group having the ability to just shrug off a certain amount of every attack against him. His attacks also pack a punch. Zanderallen is a noble Paladin. He too is a frontline fighter and armored to boot with his paladin abilities giving him the ability to shrug off damage from any attack save from an evil aligned weapon. He's probably also up there in the hard to kill category as well. He can smite evil, heal with his lay upon hands ability has some spells in his repetoire and is a competent fighter. Bartomus is our druid. He is wise and has the ability to cast a variety of spells and assume a variety of forms using wild shape as well as using spells to summon things like elementals to aid us in combat. We may seem like an eclectic bunch but we get the job done. We've dealt with every challenge we've come across so far whether it was invisible assassins sneaking into our home base or retrieving a tome from a garbage pocket realm containing carrion crawlers to stopping those who'd attack the float from the waters of turtle lake and beyond. While it sounds like horrors await us beyond the East Wind Tunnel we have faced our own horrors on our adventures and have won thus far. This is not to make us sound cocky but experienced. We do not take your Wind Tunnels lightly but if that is where Largon's Dragon Crown is then that is where we must venture to retrieve it."
Joker adds, "The boss is being modest. She's really smart. She has a lot of spells, some of which she fires from her bow and some of which are more situational but still she has antimagic field and she intended to fire it from an arrow and have it stick with her enemy but when we were fighting Karkasan's followers she took a chance and cast it on herself as it was intended to be cast and because of which we were able to get the Druidess to surrender and learn that she was mind-controlled into going along with the attack. Also when we were fighting those Karkasan guys they were trying to use the cave we were fighting in to their advantage by flooding it and the boss used some of her spells in an unconventional way to form ice to try to plug up some of the gaps and buy us more time before we were waterlogged which I don't mind being water logged as a water mephit as I have fast healing when underwater in fact the boss is aware of this and has a shrunken barrel or the ability to create a sort of mini well and I have my decanter of endless water and we can set up a dunk tank for me in case of emergencies as I'm not as hardy as the rest of the members of the team but I help out where I can. The boss even figured out using multiple spells ways for her and me to cast scrolls of greater teleport so that we could get here quicker than the normal way of navigating from the Float to the Scab. WIth her brains, Bart's Wisdom, Stock's indomitable spirit, Zander's bravery and will, Delia's bushcraft and Ranger skills, Stohp's mixed bag of capabilities, and hawky and my ability to help out where needed and as we can the Silver Shields will see this through Chief, or my name isn't Joker."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+24=25 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2024 4:58:47 AM "Honestly I'm not the greatest warrior, but once I do get my hands on something I can usually pin it and tie it up. I've rendered many a spellcaster helpless that way, even the last of these foes we expect to confront here. So more of a support role." (Diplomacy 25, nat 1 with +24 bonus)
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 d20+16=17 ; d20+4=8 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2024 8:55:54 AM
Stock knows the horrors that haunt the dwarves minds yet he is still annoyed by his Chief’s challenge. He is just not used to this. Still he gives it a shot.
”Stohp is the glue that keeps us together. While not powerful in the traditional sense, she is an implacable foe. Big Z is the shield of the Silver Shields. He protects us and leads us. Bart is our wise councilor. Nature bends to his very whim. Delia’s bow is the silent murderer among us. Armalad lis equal parts genius and nimble footed. She has forgotten more facts than I will ever learn. And I am the hammer…well make that a flail…of the Silver Shields. Point me in a direction and get out of the way.”
——- sense motive 17, Stock is distracted Diplomacy 8
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+2=19 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2024 9:36:53 AM "Chief Sternbough," Bartomus started. "I will stand with what was said by Armalad and Stock. I, like the rest of the Shields, try to find a solution first that doesn't require a blade or hammer first. But, when that is not the option, we fight. We have fought together in other planes where the very nature of where we were was in question. We fought when the sky broke open and the very grass turned into an attacking beast. We may not be the most ideal of all those responding to the constant threats to the Wold to take this threat on, scholars may have their favorite heros of days long past. But, sir, we are the ones that are here and now responding to a threat that is growing in the shadows."
OCC - Diplomacy - gulp - oh hey, 19!
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 d20+30=40 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2024 4:15:21 PM
Zanderallen reads the grim hatred of the drow in the chief's demeanor and shudders at the rage contained within. He stands up straight as iron, WLA badge clearly visible clasping his cloak. While his words would seem like bravado in most, Zanderallen delivers his speech in assured confidence, [b]"You ask, why us? Who are the Silver Shields to entrust the safety of your clan holds to? Others have spoken to our specific strengths, I share what horrors we have already faced down with the tales we already have to tell. We started taking on street thugs and gangs on the lower levels of the Float, winning the trust and support of the Fence level. Our deeds went ahead of us and the city council started commissioning us for operations into the Crying Woods. When the Blood Grass rained down upon the Float we protected the people, holding our part of the line. When the Crying Wood retreated we were among the first to venture into the unknown, making first contact with new friends and ancient enemies. We travelled into the depths of the float to protect the merfolk kingdom, where I fell slain protecting the princess from dark rituals of the Deep Ones. But Domi backed our pleading with Gargul that he still had tasks for me, and I was returned. We continued to protect the Float, navigating coup attempts, political plotting and assassination attempts, securing the complete trust of the past and current Overlord in revealing and driving out a cabal of nobles set on ruling the Float for their own gain. We travelled to pocket planes and the Lands of Rest, fighting their denizens and securing the safety of the city and those we love. We have delved into the depths of the Crying Wood center and back to the lake floor putting a stop to agents of Karkasan and his will. To prove our accolades I present the backing of the Woldian League of Adventures, recognizing several of us as Champions and Heroes, of the Star Mage Guild, and the Float Druid Grove. When we originally decided upon our name it was because our motivation was to be a shield to those weaker than us, and silver because we preferred to use our words when possible to solve problems, but we can and have been the hammer when it is needed. I am a holy warrior of Domi, vessel of his divine power. Stohp is a taur of many talents, bringing tactical options to any situation. Stock is a mighty warrior, capable of taking down foes and obstacles many times his size. Bartomus is a druid of the circle, the very elements answer his will. Delia is an archer of no equal and a survivalist, able to track a fly across the plains and shoot it's wings off at 100 paces. Armalad brings her own brand of archery, adding in arcane trickery to confound and obliterate our foes. To complement our strength we have amassed vast quantities of magical gear to augment our personal prowess. Holding all that together is an unconquerable will to protect our friends from those who would harm them, letting nothing stand in our way. So maybe the question that should be asked is, do you dare try and stop us? Zanderallen delivers his closing line without the slightest hint of threat or malice. Just the deadly seriousness of a man driven by the conviction he is doing what's right. ====== Diplomacy Roll: 40 Diplomacy Bonus: 30 (including WLA Prestige bonus)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20-1=17 ; Tuesday February 27th, 2024 4:50:14 PM
Delia lets out a tiny sigh of relief after she finishes answering the first question, taking a few of the other Shields responses to realize that she has to answer another one. She starts thinking through her answer, smiling shyly at the praise of the other Shields as she does so.
Inspired by Zanderallen's candor, she steps up, shoulder to shoulder with him, "Sir. I am a latecomer to the Silver Shields. I can only claim a fraction of the heroism that they shoulder. But I spent years before joining them hunting creatures that had escaped from the UnderWold to wreak havoc on the surface and sometimes had to chase them all the way to their lairs. Each other Shield has, either as part of the group, or as an individual, proven themselves - ourselves - in countless and wildly varied dangerous situations. Even when unprepared, we've come out ahead. And we are not unprepared for the UnderWold." She ducks her head, stepping back and slightly behind Zanderallen as she finishes speaking. She hopes their answers are enough because if the Chief asks a third question she's shrinking into the floor.
Audience with Chief Sternbough (DM Wayne) Tuesday February 27th, 2024 10:54:32 PM
Armalad provides a meticulous, detailed, and thorough strategic and tactical overview of the capabilities of the Silver Shields as a team and individually. Joker may not be the brain trust of the Shields, but he tells what he knows in an effective way, supplementing Armalad with specific examples.
Stohp focuses on what she considers her own strengths in helping the Shields win battles and wars.
Stock just wants to get to the slaying of Underwold Horrors and recover the Crown, but it feels to him as though convincing the Chief to let the Shields get on with it is a tougher challenge than the Wind Tunnels themselves! He gives a concise and to the point rundown of each Shield’s team role, and perhaps wonders if he was too light on details, even given Armalad’s long-winded blathering.
Stohp emphasizes that the Shields are not battle-crazed killers, but are no slouch when war comes to their doorstep, agreeing with other Shields’ rendering of the Shields’ capabilities.
Zanderallen had not seen such barely-contained rage in a leader before who was also being polite, if kingly-polite, at the same time! Still, Zanderallen of Domi remained unfazed and launched into not just an analysis of the Shields, but an oration. His reward is the faintest, most barely-visible cracking of the Chief’s granite face.
Delia too puts her own courage on display, for who dares follow a masterpiece of the oratorical arts like that?!? She goes straight in to her personal adventures fighting Underwold Horrors, giving chapter, verse, spleen, and blood of each one! Her answer complete, she wallflowers upon Zanderallen’s “dress” Chain Mail.
Each pair of robed dwarves murmurs amongst themselves. The Chief raises his right hand to scratch his chin, and scratches it for one full minute. He turns his face towards the pair on the far right, in particular the closer one, and says, “Chief Scribe, I have heard their capabilities, their achievements, their foes defeated… but what say you and the scribes as to the specifics of their smallest details?”
The robed dwarf steps forward, and a dwarven woman’s voice answers from within her cowl, “Chief Sternbough, their magical auras lend truth to their words. They do not appear to have spoken falsehoods that magic may detect. We do not know the rest of these Silver Shields, but how they comport themselves lends credibility to their professed abilities. As for Stock, his physique has definitely changed from carpenter to warrior in the decade since he found another path. His attitude most certainly has not changed, though he has the wisdom of that additional decade,” she concludes.
Chief Sternbough nods and faces the Shields once more, commanding, “Stock… no, Silver Shields… Your mission is necessary. It will be very dangerous, but I think at least some of you, and I hope all of you, will return, with or without the Crown. The Crown is not unknown to us, but has been thought lost for a very long time. ” Was that… sadness… in the King’s impregnable granite face?!?
The Chief pauses a moment and then continues, “These are the conditions: one, do not leave an easy path for Horrors or Drow to reach the surface. Yes you can use magic to widen small tunnels to Taur size, but no more than that, and no more than necessary; two, you will take one of my scribes with you to map and document the journey, and I hope that scribe will be of some help in navigating the maze of twisty tunnels, seemingly all alike, and in locating the Crown given its prominence in our written archives.
Each of you – do you accept these terms individually, not just because your leader may agree to them?”
What does each Shield say?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday February 27th, 2024 11:21:43 PM
Armalad says, "Respectfully I have a few questions concerning your conditions. As to the first condition, let's say we go spelunking and we find the crown and we are on our way back to the East Wind Tunnel Gate. If we have the time and are not actively engaged in combat or in some condition that prevents us from doing so are we expected to take measures like collapsing the way behind us or booby trapping the way behind us to make it more difficult for any potential Dark Elves to follow? With respect to the second condition do your scribes belong to some warrior sect in addition to being scribes? I ask because you yourself indicate how perilous this journey may be as you raise the possibility some or all of us might not make it back here and we are seasoned adventurers while I have no intention of belittling the noble profession of scribe nor impugning the honor of any individual scribe of yours seeing as how I'm technically a fellow academic as being a Master Mage in good standing with the Star Mages Guild is one of my credentials and I can look after myself if it is hard enough just venturing into the tunnels, locating Largon's Dragon Crown, retrieving it and coming back alive as a group how much harder will that task be if we are to insure the safety of a third party? Make no mistake we will do everything in our power to keep your scribe alive but if it is this undertaking is as perilous as you say it is are any of your scribes up to the task? and even if they are as you indicate it is possible members of our own party might not make it back alive, if your scribe doesn't make it back alive will their death be held against us? I do not seek to complicate things Chief. I merely wish to clarify the terms of our agreement so everyone can know just what we are agreeing to and what our responsibilities are under the terms of your agreement."
Joker adds, "See. I told you she was a smart one. She asks for clarification with respect to points of a contract before she sees herself bound to it."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday February 28th, 2024 7:32:55 AM
Zander lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He had spoken openly and said what he felt needed to be said but always worried how his words would be taken. Thankfully the chief seemed to have taken them at face value as given.
He ponders upon the crown, was it a dwarven artifact in origin?
He then answers the Chief, "Your terms seem reasonable but I have a few questions on the second, similar to my companion. For the first the only path we will cut, outside of pure size necessity, will be through the horrors of the UnderWold.
But for the second I ask the same question you asked us. What are the capabilities of your scribe to journey with us into the UnderWold? Whether they are looking for it or not they will be under our protection and we need to know if we have to be preserving a librarian or being accompanied by someone capable of defending themselves."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday February 28th, 2024 8:05:10 AM
Stohp has no questions or concerns about the conditions. Indeed a local that knows better the dangers they will face would be a great help.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 d20+16=17 ; d20+4=8 ; Wednesday February 28th, 2024 8:38:58 AM
Stock knows the horrors that haunt the dwarves minds yet he is still annoyed by his Chief’s challenge. He is just not used to this. Still he gives it a shot.
”Stohp is the glue that keeps us together. While not powerful in the traditional sense, she is an implacable foe. Big Z is the shield of the Silver Shields. He protects us and leads us. Bart is our wise councilor. Nature bends to his very whim. Delia’s bow is the silent murderer among us. Armalad lis equal parts genius and nimble footed. She has forgotten more facts than I will ever learn. And I am the hammer…well make that a flail…of the Silver Shields. Point me in a direction and get out of the way.”
——- sense motive 17, Stock is distracted Diplomacy 8
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday February 28th, 2024 9:36:41 AM
Delia nods at the Chief's conditions and then her allies' followup questions. Now that she is not being forced to speak, she subsides into comfortable silence and listens, absently stroking Hawky's feathers.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday February 28th, 2024 4:08:42 PM "We can do this, Chief," Bartomus added. "We will try our very best. Making any promise beyond that is not realistic or worthy of sharing with you."
Bartomus paused for a moment.
"But," Bartomus started with a bit of hesitancy. [b]"I gotta think that anyone you are sending with us would be able to swing a hammer or break rock just as well as Stock here. Otherwise, that person realizes just what this might be like in joining us?"[/i]
Bartomus looked over at the Shields and the various members of the retinue that remained in the hall.
Audience with Chief Sternbough (DM Wayne) Wednesday February 28th, 2024 10:53:48 PM
Armalad does her best to clarify the deal in order to protect the Shields. Joker pre-empts any conclusion that Armalad is other than analytical in her approach.
Zanderallen enjoyed an inward sigh of relief. The dwarves know of the Crown? Curiouser and curiouser. He joins Armalad in querying the survival capabilities of the scribe.
Stohp agrees to the conditions, as regards herself.
Stock indicates he wants to hear the Chief’s response to the Shields’ questions before giving his answer.
Delia agrees to the conditions, as regards herself.
Bartomus also expresses concerns as to whether a scribe could survive the dangers of the Underwold alongside the Shields.
Chief Sternbough listens to each Shield in turn, and once all have spoken, begins his replies, “The scribe will be equipped with defensive and concealing magics, including the ability to temporarily shelter within rock, in some ways similar to how you saw me enter the throne room,” he finishes with a smug smile. Continuing, the Chief says, “While the scribe won’t be able to contribute to the deaths of the Horrors, I think you need not worry about needing to protect the scribe. Plan your tactics and prepared spells as though the scribe were not with you, but take advantage of the knowledge of one steeped in Clan Mountainheart Archives. So long as your noisy armor and other ‘tells’ distract the Horrors then the scribe will be able to react and stay safe, and likely undetected, until the battle is over.
Armalad, unless you need to collapse tunnels to win a battle, or to survive, don’t – the rockfall can echo for miles. I am requiring the Silver Shields to avoid, for example, using Rock to Mud on a cavern ceiling and perhaps connecting a deep chamber to the surface – natural woldquakes cause enough of those openings as it is, and force all the clans to assign sentinels to each new opening. Likewise, if you don’t need to Stone Shape a narrow tunnel to more than a Taur’s width, then don’t – some Horrors are of colossal size and presently don’t have a path to reach the surface, or the tunnels of any clan, but any wider than a Taur and that could be a new path for some Horror to reach our tunnels. Clear as quartz?
As for your responsibility towards my scribe, I ask only that you communicate with my scribe throughout your journey so that my scribe can direct you towards tunnels and landmarks useful in drawing closer to the Crown. As you must know, any large cavern system can go for miles and miles, even tens of miles, in many directions. You’ve already indicated that time is of the essence. If you went alone you could be down there for months or years, however long your rations and magic hold out. If my scribe dies and some of you make it back, bring my scribe’s body back with you. You probably have a bag of holding or portable hole by now. If some Gigantic Horror swallowed my scribe whole, then come back and report that fact to me.
If it were as simple as telling you, ‘enter the East Wind Tunnel entrance, take the main tunnel five miles ahead, then five hundred feet straight down, and make a left at the stalagmite carpet’ we would have the Crown already in our possession! I understand it is reputed to be a powerful artifact, powerful enough that we do not want the Drow or some Horror with OtherWoldly Intelligence to have it instead… as you describe your current foe, Karkasan. No, we can easily provide you with summaries of the writings we do have on the Crown, but our scribes are not just scribes, but explorers and mappers of caverns and tunnels, experienced cavers who know how to travel in all six directions through the seemingly unending switchbacks in the Wind Tunnels, and to keep you away from tunnels that would take you into the Lava Tubes where a sudden magma eruption might spell the end of you all. There are a few deep, deep, caves where the Crown is reputed to lie within, but mayhap none of those reports are accurate and you’ll need one experienced in those very tunnels to make a good guess while a mile below the surface lest your war for the Crown come to an end with no further clues.
Finally, if Karkasan attacks your Float while you’re in the Wind Tunnels alone for weeks, months, or years, of what use was your mission? No, you must take my scribe, and in turn your prowess at slaying Horrors will enable my scribe to see new tunnels and expand the maps in our archives… and better protect my people from Horrors and… the Accursed Drow.
Do you have more questions whose asking delays the completion of your mission?”
What does each Shield do?
(OOC – scorecard: Delia, Stohp: yes. All others: no answer yet.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday February 28th, 2024 11:56:51 PM
Armalad says, "Thank you for clarifying Chief. Joker and I do accept the terms of your deal. However I do have a few further questions."
"You ask us not to use Rock to Mud on a ceiling or Stoneshape a passageway wider than a Taur and those are easy enough things to agree to. However, I possess the ability to cast the spell Wall of Stone. Would it make sense to potentially block off certain passageways on our way back if it meant it would be more difficult for horrors or dark elves to follow without risking making a lot of noise? Additionally I know Shadow Evocation and it can mimic explosive runes and if you have a passage way to the catacombs and I have enough time I may just be able to scribe Explosive Runes into my spellbook. Would it make sense to leave some explosive runes behind? With respect to the Shadow Invocation version objects take no damage and with respect to the actual version should I learn it as long as we didn't put the explosive runes on a wall, ceiling, load bearing column or the like it shouldn't damage the tunnels any just any would be pursuer that happened to read them."
(OOC: Do we have the spellbook from the Red Fountain encounter with us?)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday February 29th, 2024 3:21:13 AM
Stohp is glad to hear the scribe will be capable of protecting himself and has no questions.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday February 29th, 2024 9:51:08 AM
Bartomus nods in understanding to the Chief's clarifications. He looked over at Armalad and listened to the questions being asked as he started to form approaches to the challenges ahead.
"We can do this," Bartomus said softly to himself. He nodded, "we can do this."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday February 29th, 2024 3:33:33 PM
Zanderallen dips his head in thanks for the clear answer, "Thank you Chief Sternbough for that clarification. I had figured as much but better to know for certain than risk uncertainty in a crucial moment when some horror jumps us. I thank you for lending us this aid and promise to do everything in my power to bring your scribe back, even should the un-thinkable happen. I am satisfied with everything discussed and ready to go. We have a lot of ground to cover."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday February 29th, 2024 6:37:27 PM
Delia is also ready to get started and has no questions.
Audience with Chief Sternbough (DM Wayne) Thursday February 29th, 2024 11:05:49 PM
Armalad thanks the Chief and accepts the terms, but, being Armalad, she has just a “few” more questions…
Stohp continues listening, at ease knowing the scribe will be well-defended.
Bartomus nods and accepts the terms, mentally girding himself for the perils ahead.
Zanderallen also accepts the terms and thanks the Chief for his explanations.
Delia continues listening.
Stock nods, with a slight grunt. His mind races, wow (!) this talky-talk thing is going on much longer than I expected!
The Chief considers the Shields’ responses and questions, and then, “Then it is agreed!
First… Armalad, if you’re forced to greatly reshape a cavern to win a battle, use Wall of Stone to restore it as best you can so that no new colossal horrors have a new path. Otherwise, you never know which tunnel you might need as an escape route, so don’t block off a tunnel except to win a battle or unless my scribe asks you to do so, which probably won’t happen. Explosive Runes may harm the Drow, but most of the Horrors are lucky to be able to speak, let alone read. As for the Catacombs, the closest teleporter is in Thistleport, at the Woldian League of Adventurers branch office there. That’s many days away by foot, faster if you can teleport back and forth but…
Shields, you were fortunate to arrive here safely. Occasionally teleport magics within the Scab are… unpredictable. We do not know precisely why, only that my scribes’ studies recommend keeping the teleporting start and end locations above-ground – then, if the Scab “acts up” you may, rarely, find yourselves diverted to one of the edges of the Scab, or even a further-off city. If you need to teleport while underground, your endpoint should always be aboveground. Dimension Door is a bit more reliable, but sometimes your endpoint scatters, so its safest to target the center of a large cavern and riskiest to target a narrow tunnel. Perhaps it’s the constant lava flows, or magical remnants of some long-forgotten war in the Underwold, or the creation of one or more Powers, but one of the reasons we focus more on magics that enable the recipient to pass through rock and stone is the off chance that, underground, even the simplest teleport spell could scatter within a cavern… or into solid rock and instant death. Some of your group was very fortunate indeed to appear safely in the Carpentry Hall, well within our mountain! Presuming you are successful in your mission, and teleport home from outside our mountain’s doors, you should be fine. It’s, again, much more of a rare nuisance from surface start to surface end, yet sometimes risks death in the Tunnels. You could take a barge down the Serpent’s Breath River for a day or two in order to be outside the Scab proper when you teleport, to be certain, but I expect you’ll find time is of the essence then.
(turns slightly) Chief Scribe, read them in.”
She steps forward, doffing her cowl. The other three scribes do likewise.
A robed dwarven woman with hair the color of amethyst says, “I am Chief Scribe Bodill, with a flourish of her immaculately knotted beehive hair, “and standing next to me is Dolgrin (male), and over there are Agna (female) and Grunyar (male).” With each introduction, the named scribe doffs their cowl.
Dolgrin speaks first, his stance flowing in the manner of limestone, “Our expeditions rarely progress beyond a certain point, since we don’t want to lose even one of us. We call this point The Fork. The primary Windtunnel has many branches, but if you take the main path… 5? 10? 7 miles? Hard to measure distance without footprints, but when the main Windtunnel splits into The Fork, both the left and right paths continue several miles more each. Some key stalactite formations to help you identify where you are along the path are… [provides scrolls to the Shields] Stock should have no trouble identifying these formations.” Dolgrin smirks in the direction of Armalad.
Agna speaks second, her face as clear and beautiful as quartz, “The left passage at The Fork is largely barren rock – it’s a wonder even the cave insects find things to eat – we suspect the monsters here feed on each other, but perhaps they have hidden food sources. Strange and terrible monsters lurk here – not cave scorpions, not dwarfoid, but some kind of hybrid, maybe? Definitely not Driders though – those are hybrids of Dark Elves and spiders. Our scouts have only caught glimpses of these creatures occasionally fighting or feeding on other creatures… and what’s strange is that their appearance always seems to coincide with minor groundquakes – the quakes seem more of a concern than the creatures – harder to fight one million pounds of rock than some strange crossing of dwarfoid and scorpion! Some of our older scrolls merely mention a wondrous crown of unknown power, but importantly about half of those scribe-authors were all lost on an expedition to this area.”
Grunyar speaks third, his face set like granite, “The right passage at The Fork is largely filled with glowing moss and… sometimes zombies or skeletons are spotted not half a mile down this passage. Our teams haven’t explored this route deeper because whenever we get within a few hundred feet of the undead, some of us start acting strangely, almost like zombies themselves, and begin walking towards the real zombies. Those not affected have managed to pull the others out of range of the effect each time, but the effect seems stronger the closer you get to the… wandering… patrolling… undead. I suggest you be very cautious here Shields – and if you have significant magical defenses, use them all before engaging these undead! I agree with Agna, some of our older scrolls merely mention a wondrous crown of unknown power, but importantly the other half of those scribe-authors were all lost on an expedition to this area.”
Chief Scribe Bodill concludes, “Shields, first, all of us want you to survive because you are Stock-friends, but if I may be selfish for a moment, we scribes also want you to survive, and return with a full report, because we would know what happened to our kin and most especially we want any surviving writings they made of their explorations. Finally, it is conjecture, but we believe that the mentions of ‘a crown of wondrous power’ must be your Largon’s Dragon Crown. Great artifacts tend to attract those both greedy and powerful, and we have lost too many dwarves in past efforts merely to fully map certain tunnel networks, so expect great opposition, both at the Crown’s actual location and whatever Horrors killed the scribes of the past and kept their irreplaceable scrolls which I’m certain must have much more precise information on the Crown! … The only good to come from those losses is that we scribes stopped being so possessive of our scrolls and worked with prior Chiefs to establish the Royal Archives and make many copies of each scroll so that such a catastrophic loss of knowledge would not happen again…”
Chief Sternbough nods and looks at the Shields. “The scribe Dolgrin is the one who will accompany you on your mission. Dolgrin, give them a small demonstration and then see if they can follow your footsteps to the provisioners,” Chief Sternbough finishes with a big grin.
Dolgrin nods, and his right hand slightly rotates a ring on his left middle finger and he is gone!
From the nothingness before you, Dolgrin speaks, “This is the least of the defenses the Chief has graced me with. Stock already knows the way to the provisioners, but as for the rest of you, let’s see how well you can follow me as I zig-zag towards one of the exits.”
[Perception DC 20 to follow Dolgrin’s footsteps by hearing. Those who fail should probably just follow those who succeeded. Stock alone may choose to ignore the footsteps and just head for the correct exit! If you can naturally see invisible or scent, note that in your OOC.]
Which Shields can easily follow Dolgrin? Practice for the Tunnels!
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+22=35 ; d20+20=35 ; Friday March 1st, 2024 12:33:20 AM
Armalad and Joker close their eyes and take a deep breath listening for Dolgrim's footsteps. After a moment they both hear the footfalls of the Dwarf and much more.
As a highly intelligent elf with both classes under her belt that find noticing things important, racial bonuses towards noticing things and maximum effort spent mastering how to notice things which she passed unto her familiar the pair have no trouble following the footfalls and if this is the difficulty following Dolgrim will always be neither of the them can fail. (OOC: both Armalad and Joker have >= 20 in their Perception skills so they auto succeed a DC 20 perception check)
Armalad - Perception :35 Joker - Perception : 35
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday March 1st, 2024 6:47:31 AM
With her perception of 23 Stohp is also easily able to track the invisible dwarf. It's an odd experience, she knows she's been getting really good at stuff over the years but following someone invisible just as easily as if they were visible is a new experience and really shows how keen her senses have gotten over time;
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+14=32 ; d20+33=44 ; Friday March 1st, 2024 10:46:48 AM
Both Delia and Hawky instantly track onto Dolgrim and she strides after him. Taking him literally, she follows his exact zigzagging path, likely right on his heels as they are in an urban environment (and/or underground?). And he is a dwarf.
OOC (Delia also cannot fail a DC 20 perception. Underground and urban are both +2 favored terrain, so she has +5 movement bringing her to 35 due to Wold house rules on FT)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=28 ; Friday March 1st, 2024 4:14:54 PM
Zanderallen listens to the Chief and the Scribes diligently as they explain the situation. Sounded like they'd have to make a choice of which branch of the Fork they'd have to go down, but that was a choice for later. Zanderallen returns the Chief Sternbough's grin at his challenge, he did warn him that Delia could track a fly across a meadow, but he salutes the Chief thanking him, "Thank you Chief Sternbough, Domi's courage strengthen your heart."
He then turns to Scribe Dolgrin, and while he's able to follow the dwarf it is a strain on his sense and before they leave the hall he just shifts to following Delia, chuckling silently at her antics. ================ Perception 28
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=20 ; Friday March 1st, 2024 7:37:40 PM
Bartomus took a moment and then realized that others were moving. He could hear various footsteps, but really wanted one last look at the hall, the carvings, and the people. Reluctantly, he turned and followed the others ducking as needed. He made a note to try to learn more about the carvings from Stock in hopes that maybe Stock's recollection of folk tales and legends might be of help in their new adventures.
Perception 20
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 d20+16=17 ; d20+4=8 ; Saturday March 2nd, 2024 6:14:35 PM
Stock knows the horrors that haunt the dwarves minds yet he is still annoyed by his Chief’s challenge. He is just not used to this. Still he gives it a shot.
”Stohp is the glue that keeps us together. While not powerful in the traditional sense, she is an implacable foe. Big Z is the shield of the Silver Shields. He protects us and leads us. Bart is our wise councilor. Nature bends to his very whim. Delia’s bow is the silent murderer among us. Armalad lis equal parts genius and nimble footed. She has forgotten more facts than I will ever learn. And I am the hammer…well make that a flail…of the Silver Shields. Point me in a direction and get out of the way.”
——- sense motive 17, Stock is distracted Diplomacy 8
Audience with Chief Sternbough (DM Wayne) Sunday March 3rd, 2024 12:26:57 AM
Armalad and Joker summon their concentration and listen. They are soon able to pick out Dolgrin’s footsteps on the cobblestone floor of the throne room, easy enough. Will it be harder on the featureless rock floors of Mountainhome? They will soon find out, but for now they head for the exit the phantom steps zig-zag towards…
Stohp likewise hears the robed dwarf’s footsteps in the throne room, and is amazed at how easy it is.
Delia and Hawky likewise are able to follow the footsteps.
Zanderallen considered the deep details their hosts provided on their mission. Thanking the Chief properly, Zanderallen too is soon following Dolgrin though with some effort… easier to follow Delia.
Bartomus took one last visual tour of the astonishing artistry on display in the throne room even as his mind and ears worked to locate Dolgrin, which they did… barely! As he followed the others he resolved to ask Stock more questions about the carvings.
Stock listens for Dolgrin and is able to follow him with his ears though as the Chief noted, there was only one exit to get to the provisioners quickly!
Four or five tunnels later Dolgrin becomes visible again and he and Stock lead the Shields to double-doors that Dolgrin opens and then into a larger cavern with the feel of a light breeze from the archway opposite the entrance. A fresh breeze – this connects outside! The cavern ceiling rises high, farther than darkvision can see, and even with the heatless everburning torches on the cavern walls low-light vision cannot even see that sixty feet.
Ahead of the Shields lie a couple-dozen open-air stalls with some vendors offering fresh foods and drinks and some offering packaged provisions like the so-called ‘iron rations’ but also many dry goods are here – clothing for a variety of climes, climbing gear, artisan’s tools, and so forth.
Dolgrin turns to the Shields, “Shields, you seem very well-provisioned, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you had magical bags capable of carrying more than you appear to have, but it’s possible that the information we just provided might cause you to realize you’d forgotten something, whether it’s another one hundred, or one thousand, feet of rope, more rations, and so on. You won’t find any enchanted items here, but as the old dwarven poet once wrote, ‘for want of a nail the pony was lost; for want of a pony the paladin was lost; for want of a paladin the battle was lost; for want of a victory the kingdom was lost.’ If there’s any ‘nail’ you forgot to buy at the Float, this is your… our last opportunity to do so before taking rothe-drawn wagons to the Entrance. No, we don’t have horses here – flat land without the rocky debris of past avalanches is few and far between – even with horseshoes the terrain would be too difficult. Other areas of the scab have enough of that terrain, but here instead of war ponies we have some war goats but (looks at Bartomus, Stohp, and Zanderallen and his full plate) they just can’t take some of you so wagons it is – we’ll be walking miles or tens of miles underground so don’t get proud about walking now because that’s all we’ll be doing for possibly a very long time.
Now, on with any shopping you want to do, and then we’ll head out the far entrance to the Trading Caves and the wagons.”
(OOC – at the Provisioners, the Shields can buy anything in the Equipment Chapter (non-magical weapons, armor, dry goods, food, etc.) in the Corebook, food adjusted for the local ‘cattle’ (rothe) and different vegetables, etc. Yes, alchemical items are all available.)
The dwarven merchants are generally matter-of-fact and easy to deal with.
Shields, indicate what, if anything, you purchase here and then finish your post by following Dolgrin out the far exit.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Sunday March 3rd, 2024 3:11:25 PM
Stock shakes the cobwebs out of his head. "...this whole thing has been a weird experience..." He checks his ioun stone and assured it is still floating up there somewhere, he passes on more provisions.
"I'm ready, Dolgrin...and I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the Shields were too. We tried to prepare before leaving the Float."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Sunday March 3rd, 2024 9:12:20 PM
Stohp already has 250 feet of rope, but you know what it's cheap she she'll buy another 750 cause why not.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday March 4th, 2024 5:12:28 AM
Armalad has 10 days of trail rations but wonders if that is enough. "Do you think I should get a month's worth of trail rations just in case?"
If the party seems to be in agreement she will buy the extra rations.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 d20+16=17 ; d20+4=8 ; Monday March 4th, 2024 7:39:43 AM
Stock knows the horrors that haunt the dwarves minds yet he is still annoyed by his Chief’s challenge. He is just not used to this. Still he gives it a shot.
”Stohp is the glue that keeps us together. While not powerful in the traditional sense, she is an implacable foe. Big Z is the shield of the Silver Shields. He protects us and leads us. Bart is our wise councilor. Nature bends to his very whim. Delia’s bow is the silent murderer among us. Armalad lis equal parts genius and nimble footed. She has forgotten more facts than I will ever learn. And I am the hammer…well make that a flail…of the Silver Shields. Point me in a direction and get out of the way.”
——- sense motive 17, Stock is distracted Diplomacy 8
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Monday March 4th, 2024 1:56:03 PM
Bartomus pulled out the rolled-up bag of holding and offered to have the extra provisions stored in it if needed. He gave Armalad a nod in agreement to the question about rations.
"Yea, I am going to grab more as well. He walked about the stalls and picked up ten of the dwarven rations, ten trail rations, some cheeses (three 2# wheels), potatoes, turnips, and a bag of nuts. He paid fifteen gold for the lot of things and arranged them in the bag of holding based upon what the others might want to store.
Sheet updated to reflect purchases in the Catacombs and these here.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Monday March 4th, 2024 2:36:30 PM
Delia will buy a ton more arrows and supplies to repair arrows, just to ensure that she (and Armalad if needed) never run out of ammo.
(OOC: I know there are crafting rules somewhere. I'll look them up after work for crafting material costs)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Monday March 4th, 2024 6:04:42 PM
Zanderallen stops in to grab a few small supplies. Being surrounding by dwarven speakers has been an excellent crash course on solidifying his handle on the language. As he haggles with the merchants he wonders if he'll have a scab accent to his dwarven, or if it's still so egregiously human that no other accent will come through.
Having finished his shopping he joins back up at the wagons, "I'm ready to get trekking." ======================= Purchases - 7 pints of oil - Bullseye Lantern - 450 ft of rope - Climber's Kit - Miner's Pick x3 - Shovel x3
Total cost: 116 gp 7 sp All goes in the bag of holding type 4 with all the iron rations
The Entrance (DM Wayne) Monday March 4th, 2024 11:23:17 PM
Stock clears his mind and informs Dolgrin that he needs no more than what the Shields already prepared for.
Stohp increases her rope supply to a full one thousand feet.
Armalad wonders aloud whether she should buy extra rations, given the Chief and scribes mentioning the Shields’ mission could take weeks or even months, and then she recalls that Stohp and others bought several months worth. Still, one more month couldn’t hurt with all the magical bags amongst the Shields…
Bartomus offered magical bag storage for the extra goods some Shields were purchasing. Next he selected some dwarf-style food and rations similar to those he’d had in the banquet hall. Variety is the spice of life!
Delia loads up on arrows and crafting/repair supplies, offloading much amongst the Shields’ magic bags.
Zanderallen too considers and then selects a variety of equipment, focusing more on light sources, rope, and digging and climbing gear, exercising his Dwarven much more than he’d expected but it was exhilarating and helped him see the world with more empathy, considering two cultures instead of one before acting… He reflected on his purchases – two ropes of climbing are nice, but the Shields might need more than two ropes at the same time to hear the dwarves describe caves that twist and loop in all three dimensions! As with the rest, he informs Dolgrin that the Shields are ready to embark upon the wagon train!
Dolgrin leads the abundantly-supplied Shields into the opposite tunnel, some fifteen feet wide and just seven feet tall – no easy journey for giants or ogres… or Taurs, but Stohp and Bartomus only have to stoop a little. This tunnel’s stone has been polished and treated but is otherwise natural. Every several feet there’s some inscribed writing in Dwarven and apparently translations in Common – advertisements for particular vendors in the Provisioners’ room. After a five-minute brisk walk (at average dwarf-speed) the tunnel exits into a cave some twenty feet in height and perhaps two hundred feet in width, with daylight coming in the entrance which is about twenty feet wide and eight feet high – just enough for a Taur without bumping their head.
The cave floor is subdivided into large square lots, marked by boundary stones with thick chalk marks of a variety of colors – the dwarves, or someone, must have a master alchemist to get chalk to be some of those colors! But for its location in a cavern, these Trading Caves appear to be akin to an open-air market where the owner rents stall space to vendors by the day. Today looks to be a light day, with maybe twenty percent of the marked squares being occupied by traders, and in some locations several squares have been bundled together for a trade caravan or three of rothe-drawn wagons. All but one of the trade caravans’ workers wear clan vests with different colors and symbols than those you’ve seen constantly here in Clan Mountainheart.
Dolgrin leads the Shields to the Mountainheart caravan of wagons. “Alright Shields, the Chief had three more wagons added to this caravan to carry the six… seven… eight… however many of you there are,” he pauses, having eyed Joker and Hawky, and continues, “These passenger wagons could take two Taurs each but best not to make just one pair of rothe work too hard. Perhaps if Stohp and a smaller Shield took the first passenger wagon, Bartomus and a smaller Shield the second wagon, and I and two other Shields take the third wagon… that would spread the work amongst the rothe. Naturally, if you have some tactical wagon-riding order then split up as you like – I only ask that Stohp and Bartomus are not together on the same wagon.”
Perhaps slight smiles spread among the Shields at the thought of “wagon-riding order” but none would know as Dolgrin was already aboard the third passenger wagon, having signaled the caravan leaders that departure was as soon as everyone embarked. The Shields were at once aboard the wagons, Dolgrin gave a sharp whistle, and the steady pace of the rothe began, the big wagon wheels giving them needed traction to pull their loads.
As the hours go by, the Shields reflect on what Dolgrin has told them about the trip – only twelve miles as the crow flies, but the constant hills and valleys, steep ascents and descents, wear on the rothe. Perhaps once every four hours one of the rothe suffers a minor leg or foot injury which a dwarven priest of Domi is quick to heal. A minor inconvenience with magic at hand but Dolgrin was not kidding about the rough terrain – it takes essentially the whole day, about ten hours, to cross eight miles of this unforgiving terrain. In the distance to the left or right, clearer areas can be seen just a few miles away but the Shields are clearly on the shortest path to the East Wind Tunnel Entrance, so says Delia, looking at certain key maps in the Shields’ collection from time to time.
The caravan arrives at a cave, but Dolgrin informs the Shields that it’s merely a large cavern with the entrance expanded to accommodate a wagon’s width so that a caravan can safely rest for the night, not because the Dwarves care, but because the rothe can only work so many hours a day. As Dolgrin finishes explaining, the dwarven priest is seen again, this time creating water into a dozen buckets or so which the rothe happily lap from. Rothe workers then tend to any remaining injuries, provide food, clean some of the dirt that coated their hairy bodies along the route. Dolgrin informs the Shields that they’ll be at the Entrance the next day by early afternoon and if they want to get started caving then spellcasters should be ready to kill on sight any Aberrant Horror that shows itself.
The cave has plenty of room for the Shields’ bedrolls and so the night passes uneventfully, though the Shields’ minds race with anticipation.
Morning brings a light trail meal to break the fast of night, and the caravan is once more outside and assembled within about an hour of the dawn’s early light. The bumpy ride resumes and at times the Shields might think this wagon trip more dangerous than the Wind Tunnels themselves but if they do, they do not show it on their faces, stalwart and experienced warriors that they have become.
Indeed, by perhaps an hour after high noon the caravan approaches closely to an impressive mountain. Keen eyes amongst the Shields are the first to spot the rock outcropping apparently hiding a cave entrance underneath it. Soon the caravan comes to a stop and the caravan leaders alone disembark and head under the outcropping. Dolgrin asks the Shields to wait several minutes.
Patience is rewarded as the leaders return along with a few other dwarves armed and armored for war. The leaders direct their workers to begin taking supplies in to the Entrance and then call Dolgrin to bring his group inside. This is it!
Soon the Shields are inside a large cave some one hundred feet wide by eighty feet deep and sixty feet high or more (magical light sconces radiate up only thirty feet and those with elven or dwarven vision hit their limit before they see any ceiling. At the back wall, a large arrangement of boulders formed into a standalone wall blocks the Shields’ view of something, though those with enhanced vision think Highlight to display spoiler: {that’s a metal gate, I can just barely notice the reflection of the stray light that makes it through the thin gaps between the boulders! The slight glow… magical runes?!?}.
Dolgrin and one of the armored dwarves step away for a private conversation, which remains private because the other armored dwarves appear to make a point of having loud ‘small talk’ with the caravan leaders about the shipment, counting the food crates, and so forth. The keener Shield eyes note Dolgrin’s flash of a shiny ring signet ring??? to the armored dwarf during an apparent heated point in their conversation. After a few minutes the armored dwarf appears to concede the point and their conversation concludes. Dolgrin and the armored dwarf walk back over to the Shields.
The armored dwarf, older, salt and pepper hair, beard, braids, etc., skips any introduction entirely and, looking over the motley crew comprising the Shields, says, “I didn’t know so many outsiders had a death wish! (pauses on looking at Stock, then shakes his head) Well, no matter. Dolgrin proved you have clearance from the Chief to my satisfaction and that’s good enough for our brigade. We’ll need about twenty minutes to unlock the gate. Dolgrin, have them wait over there. You too.” The armored dwarf then walked straight into no, through! a cave wall without mussing his beard at all.
Dolgrin says, “Shields, ‘rocks are about to get real’ as some of us say, he glances at the wall the dwarf walked through so if you have any last-minute strategizing, or just want to ask me questions now that we’re here, you’ve got a bit of time.”
Back against the far wall, a few armored dwarves (did ‘Pepper’ say they had a brigade? Just how many dwarves are stationed here?!?) point some sort of wands or rods or sticks or something at the top left boulder in the arrangement and it begins slowly floating through the air and coming down to the floor safely over the course of about two minutes. Right, three-by-three arrangement, 2 minutes each, 2 minutes to set up, 20 minutes… Part of what must be a massive gate, some fifty feet tall, is now visible to all.
[OOC - Shields, your posts, at a minimum, should have your comments with Dolgrin while you wait for the gate to be reached, but please feel free to cover anything you did during the day-and-a-half wagon journey as well through rough, rocky, steep terrain with the wagons often bouncing off of ‘small’ rocks…]
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday March 5th, 2024 2:46:04 AM
Armalad and Joker make small talk as the Rothe Wagons slowly cover the distance to the gate. Armalad asks if the journey is so difficult on the Rothe why there was no effort to create a sort of mechanized land barge the Rothe's could like stay in a single place either near the gate or the opposite terminus and essentially walk in a circle turning a large wheel or crank that had a chain attached to the mechanized land barge that would pull the barges one way or another based on the direction the Rothe walked.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday March 5th, 2024 8:09:18 AM
Stohp will ride with Stock on the trip if possible. She's curious about the local carpentry and his experiences growing up. The dwarves are clearly extremely skilled.
Once at their destination she waits in the designated area calmly. For all of the dangers and uncertainties of their journey it lacks the sheer malovolence and dread the woods near their home project at any and all who dare approach so she finds it surprisingly easy to keep calm and wait to see what comes.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday March 5th, 2024 9:29:03 AM
Delia will climb into the wagon with Bart. She lets Hawky range about in the air as much as he wishes while they're still on the surface. As for herself, she'd triple check and repack her equipment, not that much mundane packing is needed for a Handy Haversack, but old habits die hard. She also checks each arrow she currently has and purchased, making any adjustments or repairs.
When they stop for the night, she would assist in rubbing down the Rothe. As they rest, she'll cast Speak With Animals and have a nice chat with them too. As they prepare to enter the caves, she'll cast Darkvision and Longstrider on herself, waiting patiently for the way to be clear.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Tuesday March 5th, 2024 9:31:14 AM
Stock spends the ride talking with Stohp about dwarves carpentry and in particular usage of some of the tougher giant mushroom stalks found underground as a wood replacement as well as discussing alternate wagon suspension designs that would make the ride through the mountains a bit easier on his backside.
At the cave he lets out a low grunt at the presumption that he’s an “outsider” but lets it go for now. His kin are a bit more xenophobic than he remembered. He then says to Dolgrin, ”Have you been through this gate before?”
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday March 5th, 2024 4:20:10 PM
Zanderallen gets in the rear wagon. He spends time chatting with Dolgrin and trying to strike up a conversation with the dwarven priests of Domi, curious about how they practice their devotion. When the first animal is injured he expresses concern and offers to share the burden of healing the animals with the power Domi grants him.
Up early the next morning he asks for aid in getting his plate armor on. He takes extra care in arming himself, he planned on being inside this armor for quite some time. He had a plan for sleeping. Fully armed and equipped he completes his morning ritual and loads back into the wagon.
Arriving at the entry gate he whistles at the sheer scale of the gateway. As Grumpy stares them down he stares right back, completely unbowed by the dwarf's hostility. He thinks about confronting the rude fellow but writes him off as a soldier just trying to do his job. When rocks starts flying around he makes sure he's got room to back up if needed. "This is quite the gate Dolgrin. Has anything ever made it through?"
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday March 5th, 2024 8:18:58 PM
Bartomus bounced about with Delia and her hawk. He shared with her things about the Shields and his past, hoping to learn a bit more about her now that they were sharing a wagon together. It was a rough ride. No other way to describe it. Bouncing off of small rocks, which were anything but small, only added to the experience.
When they camped for the night, Bartomus curled up and didn't worry about rations as he had his Ioun stone on for the campaign. Morning meditations focused on spells dealing with stone, damage, and healing. Then they got back into the wagons and rode the last bit to the keep with its massive gate. He shared Zander's impressions adding a whistle of his own.
"Dolgrin, what are the type of creatures that have you the most concerned beyond that gate?" Bartomus asked. He figured a bit of additional information might be advantageous.
The Entrance (DM Wayne) Wednesday March 6th, 2024 12:14:16 AM
Armalad and Joker pass the wagon ride with idle chatter. She suggests a large rothe-powered machine could move people and cargo faster.
Stohp and Stock ride together, as Stohp sneak attacks him with a barrage of questions on dwarven carpentry and his pre-Shields life in Mountainhome. At the Entrance, she finds it easy to calmly wait for the uncovering of the Gate. There may be uncountable Aberrant Horrors beyond the Gate, but unlike the Crying Wood, the Tunnels themselves aren’t out to get the Shields… she hopes…
Delia rides with Bartomus. She busies herself with tending to her gear and Hawky, and also spends time helping the animal workers with the rothe. Delia casts Speak with Animals and checks on how they’re feeling. The rothe are no smarter than cattle, but as the priest of Domi heals various bruises, cuts, and scrapes from the journey, and they eat their dinner and drink their water, they have no complaints, though it’s also clear that this is the only life they know, pulling wagons, being fed and watered, and healed of the wounds of the road.
Stock falls into answering all of Stohp’s questions, at ease in the ‘shop talk.’ Like Armalad, he too muses about his own ideas to improve the wagon transport. At the Entrance he thinks at first ‘Pepper’ has lumped him in with the ‘outsider’ tag, and then wonders whether ‘Pepper’ merely thinks Stock, too, has a death wish. Do I? Nahhh… The xenophobia barely concealed beneath the surface felt new… but then, he’d never been to the Entrance, and maybe even back in Mountainheart he hadn’t noticed it because he was rarely around non-dwarves… which had led him to find his own path on the Float and… were they always this way? Did I ever think that way? No, I always wanted more than Mountainhome was giving me… and they… so much to look back on with eyes ten years older… Stock turns to Dolgrin, asking if Dolgrin has been through this Gate before. Dolgrin nods, knowingly, closing his eyes as he does so as if to relive the memories better… after a moment he opens his eyes, a distant look in them.
Zanderallen gets in the rear wagon with Dolgrin, talking with Dolgrin and also the priest of Domi stationed at the reins ahead of him. Dolgrin is not laconic, but neither is he verbose. For one so learned, he seems balanced in conversation. The priest is happy to share with Zanderallen, who learns that living in a natural desert (as all caves are) and making it into not just a home, but a place a clan can thrive, seems to have given these dwarves, including the priest, a sharper readiness to dispatch threats to their survival yet also equally ready to be hospitable to… most guests. Clan Mountainheart appears rule-bound and tradition-bound, from the tying of certain professions to certain sexes to never forgetting, or forgiving, the atrocities of the Drow beneath the Scab lest the edge that enables Clan Mountainheart to survive in these rugged caves be lost! Domi doesn’t want you to be so consumed with fear and hatred… it’s a wonder you still receive spells… perhaps forgiveness from Domi as you take good care of your clan and build a more balanced society. Will there one day be the right opportunity to broach the subject that worship of Domi can include empathy? Zanderallen decides to demonstrate empathy by doing, offering to help the priest with healing the rothe, an offer accepted with a wide smile by the priest! The rest in the travel cave was welcome, and the next day, with some assistance from the priest, he was armored up and in the wagon again. At the Entrance, the size of the Gate impresses him, and its craftsdwarfship too! He stares back at the uncaring ‘Pepper’s’ words, restraining himself from eye-rolling. Once other dwarves begin moving the boulders he makes sure to be out of the way! Zanderallen inquires of Dolgrin whether anything has ever made it through. Dolgrin replies, with a wince, “We… learned ways to improve this Gate after the Drow invasion of the West Gate. More and better magical protections, the stack of boulders just in case the Drow invested in Anti-Magic Shell or brought disenchanter beasts or rust monsters or the like.”
Bartomus inwardly chuckled at the wagon bounces keeping he and Delia in sync as though choreographed! She was her usual quiet self so he kept up the conversation for both of them. Whatever she may have said in reply must have been kept from the rest of the Shields by the routine ‘music’ of wagon wheels and rocks. At the travel cave, Bartomus went straight to sleep, relying on his Ioun Stone for sustenance. In the morning he considered their destination and adjusted his spells. On arriving at the Entrance, he echoed Zanderallen in response to the sight of the 50’ tall Gate, going above the 30’ of bright light, but even in the dimness above the shadowy height of it still gave pause. Bartomus turned to Dolgrin and asked for more specifics on these ‘Aberrant Horrors’ Dolgrin, the Chief, and others frequently spoke of.
As the boulders continue to be moved out of the way, Dolgrin replies to Bartomus, opening with a loud exhale and then inhale of breath, “There are so many we know of, yet it seems any time we send an expedition we find yet more unknown-to-us. You Shields seem to have strong enough weapons and magical accoutrements to be ready for the stupid or the non-intelligent Horrors. What we fear most is when the intelligent horrors show up. Any dwarven explorer trained in Clan Mountainheart knows the seismic signature of a purple worm or is ready with a magic or adamantine axe against a xorn phasing through the cave wall to eat all of your metallic gear… it’s when something with that level of power has the cunning of a sociopath and the infinite patience of being ageless that worries even the toughest dwarf warrior… and more than one such has been lost on “honor” expeditions taken alone, thinking that might and enchanted gear alone could conquer all threats… If you want to prepare then think about how to fight purple worms and carrion crawlers and thoqqua and the rest, but then imagine a pod of any of them, eight or sixteen of them, lying in ambush in a specially-modified tunnel…”
As Dolgrin finishes his monologue, the last few boulders are rolled away from the Gate. Indeed, it is even more impressive now, with all its glowing runes showing, than when just the hint of glowing runes was obscured by countless tons of boulders in front of it.
‘Pepper,’ standing alongside the Shields, perhaps even has a tiny look of admiration in his eyes for the Gate, though he has seen it far more than they. A thick and opaque curtain falls into place from beyond the 60’ sight limit above. Dwarves stand guard while occasional flashes of light come out of the space between the curtain and the Gate. Security precautions for the magical protections are serious, it seems, especially if command words or other easy tools can be used to temporarily disable them. An ominous and lengthy rumbling, with concurrent screeches of stone on metal, is heard!
Dolgrin says, “Start casting your Darkvision and other hours-long spells you use for exploration now. Once the Gate opens, we’ll have to move fast!”
After a few minutes the curtain rises once more, and darkness lies beyond, the East Wind Tunnel Entrance now open to all, Shields, dwarves… and any nearby Aberrant Horrors!
‘Pepper’ says, “All right you lot, get on with it! We aren’t to keep it open any longer than absolutely necessary! Dolgrin will tell you how to signal us from the other side once the Gate is back in place, but our brigade could die for nothing if you don’t go through NOW so we can close the Gate!”
Dolgrin turns to the Shields and says, “Come on! Start running in your two-abreast marching order with me in the center! We’ll adjust once we’re inside!”
[OOC – Shields, in your post, describe any hours-long buff spells you’d throw up, such as Darkvision, and then move on to your portion of the Heroic Montage that is the Shields fearlessly running and leaping into the Unknown of the Tunnels so the dwarves can close the Gate behind you!]
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday March 6th, 2024 1:48:25 AM
Armalad casts Mage Armor on her and Joker and light on an arrow she carries. Since Shrunken item lasts for days and she hasn't had a need to unshrink her barrel presumably a previous casting of Shrunken item is still in effect.
Once the spells are out of the way Armalad and Joker sprint with the others taking positions between the middle and the rear so that they are towards the back but not in the vanguard.
Joker flies as nimbly as his mephit wings will take him while Armalad gracefully runs elf she is, her blonde hair flowing behind her as she does so
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday March 6th, 2024 8:45:50 AM
Stohp had expected to have to rush in after all the talk of underground horrors so she's ready when the time comes. The problem is not outrunning her shorter legged comrades really, she's pretty fast on her feet.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday March 6th, 2024 9:40:47 AM
Bartomus follows behind Dolgrin and makes it clear that his vision is limited to that of an elf in the dark. The light from the arrow Armalad should be adequate for the 60' of vision needed. If not, then Bartomus would ask Dolgrin if a sunstone would be wise to use once on the other side of the gate.
He moves behind the dwarf guide in the order and proceeds through the gate into the cavern beyond.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Wednesday March 6th, 2024 10:54:30 AM
Stock shares a traditional Dwarven goodbye with the guards, silently holding up a single fist as he jogs to the front of the Shields’ procession.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+45=50 ; d20+33=48 ; Wednesday March 6th, 2024 11:34:30 AM
Delia chatted openly with Bart about her time spent as a town guard, then bouncing around as a scout/hunter/mercenary outside of the Float before Happy connected her with the Shields. As she spent most of the time the Shields were active outside of the Float, she's very interested to hear about their adventures straight from the source, instead of 7 steps down the gossip grapevine.
She casts Darkvision and Longstrider on herself and is waiting calmly for the call to head into the deep. When it comes, she takes the lead before fading into the shadows beyond the gate. She holds position inside, listening for any signs of danger. Hawky takes off to fly above the rest of the Shields as they head inside.
Stealth: 50 (hide in plain sight underground) Perception: 48 (50 v aberrations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday March 6th, 2024 3:42:47 PM
Zander may be naive but he has gained enough wisdom over the years to know better than to think he could "fix" the hatred. Maybe someday when the Wold was a quieter place he could return and share a better way to live. After coming to that conclusion he pushes such worries to the back of his mind, the tunnels were enough to focus on right now. At Dolgrin's words he intones a few words and blesses Stohp with Delay poison, "Since you're liable to try and wrangle something down here this will keep their venom from harming you, well for as long as the magic lasts."
As the final preparations are being made Zander takes a last minute check of his gear, adjusting straps, making sure his bull's eye lantern is readily accessible, and generally adjusting the weight to be comfortable. He hangs back to take the rear, motioning everyone forward, "Eyes up, feet forward, let's show these dwarves how the Float handles business." =================== Delay Poison on Stohp - 14 hours Stohp is immune to all effects of poison, which will all be suffered when the spell ends
The Entrance (DM Wayne) Thursday March 7th, 2024 12:00:02 AM
Armalad pauses only to cast Mage Armor on herself and Joker, and Light on an arrow, and then she and Joker take positions towards the rear guard in formation.
Stohp impatiently taps a hoof for a dozen seconds as the casters prepare and then all are sprinting as Stohp takes her position near the front.
Bartomus notes that, in Taur form, he still needs light to see, as he too dashes into position near Dolgrin who says “a sunrod is too inflexible – you’re a Druid, can’t you shift into a form that has Darkvision? If not then you should cast a Light orison, or use a torch or lantern you can extinguish – those are the most we should risk outside of a pitched battle.”
Stock respectfully bids the guards adieu in the most dwarven way and then is at the head of the Shields’ formation, like lightning, though Delia was with him all the way before vanishing into the shadows! Wait… is that new? She can turn invisible now???
As the Gate opened, Delia reflected on how Bartomus’ openness and easy conversational style got her to open up about her past careers from town guard to mercenary before Happy introduced her to the Shields. In a pure Delia move, she reversed the conversation ‘grip’ and had gotten Bartomus to take the lion’s share of the discussion, relating the Shields’ adventures before she joined. Already she was both being educated, and also able to rest – this talky talky stuff is harder than slaying Aberrant Horrors in the Underwold! She immediately began casting Darkvision and Longstrider on herself before Dolgrin was halfway done explaining… this was it! And then she was alongside the deceptively fast Stock… and then she was One With The Shadows despite Stock looking straight at her when she did it! This is going to be fun! At once her adrenaline filled her and her senses were on high alert for Aberrant Horrors! Hawky repeated a relatively small circle above the Shields, his sharp eyes doing what they could when the “horizon” was the pure black of the Night Below…
Zanderallen daydreamed of a more peaceful future where he could help Clan Mountainheart disentangle their past from the greater present he knew Domi desired to share with them. Then the Gate, in all its awe-inspiring craftsdwarfship, opened, Dolgrin gave his sage advice, and cast Delay Poison on Stohp, explaining what he’d done. Several seconds later Armalad’s spells were done and the Shields raced forward as one! He took the rear guard, as usual, the better to defend the spellcasters and Dolgrin from ambushes, and gave a brief Heroic Speech spurring the Shields onward!
The rumbling and screeching of the closing Gate is impossible to ignore just tens of feet away, but soon enough it ceases. The only light, at the moment, is Armalad’s arrow. Though the Gate has fully closed, and is no doubt being magically re-sealed, still… the faintest of breezes comes from ahead. Those of elven or dwarven eyes can see that soon after the fifty-foot height of the Gate the ceiling begins sloping downward. As the group gets underway, within one hundred feet or so the ceiling is soon down to about twenty feet high and the tunnel width, staying at thirty feet wide for another hundred feet beyond that, slims quickly down to fifteen feet wide at which time the ceiling angles down again to just ten feet wide. Limestone surrounds, nothing treated, painted, or worked. The Tunnel frequently varies in height and width over the next several hours but never too small for a ‘Taur.
Several hours… and we still haven’t seen a full-size branching tunnel? How many miles have we walked already, slowed by the tunnel twisting down at an angle, and then up, to one side and then to the other? So lifeless, or is it? Was that a tiny white scorpion that crawled into a slight crack in the cave? Are we stomping its food so now it’ll starve to death? Such an alien place… and Dolgrin just tells us to make the best of it, even though the twists and turns mean we’re walking at a child’s pace! How long to The Fork anyways, Dolgrin? And what if we get ambushed by something crawling out of the occasional two-foot wide holes we see in the ceiling? And how did lava form all these unusual wind tunnel shapes and patterns anyways?
In the trackless night below, Dolgrin maintains his answer, “as long as it takes…” and then Dolgrin suddenly whispers to Stohp and Bartomus, both adjacent to him, “we’re about to be attacked. Whisper to the others and ready your weapons!” Dolgrin’s words spread quickly among the Shields, though Delia is in the shadows as scout and does not hear, but then, she does not need to.
The Silver Shields’ noses become instantly aware of a familiar smell, a recent smell, varied though it is with the slight smell of rock and dirt. Carrion Crawlers!
A pitched battle ensues, but the eight near-mindless Carrion Crawlers face the Silver Shields! Dolgrin twists another magic ring and falls into the rock below, but not too far, his eyes and a portion of his face peering up at the battle. Still, instinctively the Shields shift formation to protect Dolgrin and set about vanquishing these Aberrant Horrors who are neither strong enough nor smart enough to present any real challenge to stalwart warriors like the Silver Shields!
After the battle, Dolgrin “walks” up out of the rock as though stairs were available to him. “Well done, Shields. You’ll have many more combats like this before we’re even close to completing our mission so clean up, step over the corpses, and leave them for the occasional wandering Gelatinous Cube… I don’t know if Armalad prepared Prestidigitation, but I did.”
Dolgrin casts the cantrip and sets about thoroughly getting Crawler Slime off the Shields, even Hawky and Joker, splattered a little as the Shields went about their work.
Then the group resumes formation and presses onward, yawns starting among a Shield or two… Oh, right, a half-day’s wagon ride, maybe more than a half-day walking, a battle… time flies so fast when you can’t even notice it passing!
The group then arrives at a spacious cavern with several exits around the walls, many cave formations of the stalagmite/stalactite variety, the constant drip of water from somewhere above vision’s limit then hitting stalactites on the way down and then the stalactites “reaching down” to stalagmites “reaching up,” drips of water carrying bits of limestone from above to below, creating fragile but beautiful limestone ‘pillars’ where they meet. The number of visible exits, and presumably the number of exits beyond sight, threaten to give the Shields pause. This is what the Chief meant about spending weeks, months, or years trying to find the path without help – who knows how many miles each tunnel goes, or if it slims to just one foot wide for a mile and then opens up again to the chamber of the Crown!
Dolgrin says, “This isn’t the Fork, but we’re not far from it. It’s time to rest, though, and our Clan set up one, just one, travel cave as a protected base for our expeditions. Look down at our entrance. See this rock? (pushes hand-size rock to the side) That’s dwarven carved in the floor for ‘exit.’ (replaces rock) See the tunnel straight ahead of our entrance? Count three more tunnels to the right. We’re taking that one about five minutes at my walking speed and then you stronger Shields help me move some big rubble to expose the entrance to where we’ll sleep. Whoever your map-maker is, our ‘safe house’ is a great place to finish up today’s map without getting ambushed!”
The group heads down the selected tunnel, and five minutes later big Shield muscles move a number of sizable rocks and the group enters the ‘travel cave,’ replacing almost all the heavy rocks but leaving a crack or two for air, fresh or not.
Dolgrin finishes with, “As you nod off, be thinking about whether you want to take the barren path or the mossy path at the Fork. That’s where our knowledge ends because of the lost expeditions. Whatever killed our kin must like that kind of environment, whether barren or mossy. Either path could take us to their corpses within half a day, several days, or weeks. We don’t know how far each path goes, so prepare for some wild caving and maybe having to use magic or druid shapes or something to fit Taurs through the tight spots! Safe sleep, Shields.” And with that, Dolgrin nods off to sleep.
[OOC – for each Shield, at a minimum include in your post your most Heroic Moment during the carrion crawler battle as the Shields trivially slay all eight of them, and otherwise post as normal your reactions to the lengthy caving thus far, Dolgrin, and the wild caving coming soon!]
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+13=32 ; Thursday March 7th, 2024 3:44:40 AM
Armalad has no trouble contributing to the one sided carrion crawler battle sneak attacking the second creature in a line of 4 of them with an arrow imbued with a lightning bolt that caused the line of electricity to arc between all 4 creatures.
Armalad wonders how long it will take them to find Larrion's Crown and what might await them in the future.
Hearing that whatever killed the Dwarven expedition likes Barren or Mossy cave regions she wonders if she knows of anything like that. (knowledge - dungeoneering 32) and shares with the others what might be out there.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday March 7th, 2024 7:33:56 AM
Once underground Stohp is fairly careful of where she's stepping. You don't want to fall through the floor because it can't carry your 800 lbs. In the attack she does what she usually does - trip up enemies and grapple key targets to support the rest of the party. Travel through the caves quickly becomes tiring for her, not used to traveling with so few ways to track the time and distance.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday March 7th, 2024 9:49:11 AM
He started to process the day when they settled in for the night, which was ever present and always right there beyond the light of the arrow or the cantrip he would touch off casting it to the tip of his glave.
The sudden attack of the carrion crawlers had been a battle royal with the Shields. Dolgrin's warning mere seconds before the vile creatures attached was the thing that gave them the upper hand. For Bartomus, he traded his glave for the large stone hands of a stone elemental and smashing one of the creatures that had been peppered with arrows. The team had worked together as well as they always had. He smiled as he realized that.
He drifted off to sleep having munched on part of a cheese wheel, nuts, and a part of one of the mushroom rounds he picked up in the dwarven market. Sleep found him quickly.
"Dolgrin, what are the type of creatures that have you the most concerned beyond that gate?" Bartomus asked. He figured a bit of additional information might be advantageous.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday March 7th, 2024 9:58:55 AM ignore last paragraph apparently it didn't get written over in the text screen I was using.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday March 7th, 2024 12:31:08 PM
Zanderallen trudges along, sometimes having to strain to see in the gloom on the edge of the light provided from Armalad's arrow but never enough to risk expanding their visibility. He thinks back to his early years on the Float. These tunnels reminded him of the alleyways he grew up in. Except here there was no edge, no opening you could get to where you could look out and see the lake. Just darkness and stone.
As the warning passes down the ranks he snaps the fingers of his right hand, suddenly gripping his sword as it pops out of his new glove. He turns to face the two crawlers that emerge behind the party, willing the flames of his blade to ignite as he cuts them down.
When they arrive at the resting spot he moves to the front to help move stones. Once everyone is in he helps pull them back into place.
"I'm glad Dolgrin and Stock are here to tell time. Do dwarves just have a strong internal clock? How do you keep track of the passing of days? Also, we need to figure out watches. This cave may be safe but soon we'll be camping exposed. My vote would be the mossy path. I believe that was path where scribes had seen undead. That reeks of ancient places and artifacts to me"
As Zanderallen beds down he taps at the ioun stone floating around his head. It seemed to be working, he hadn't eaten anything since that morning and felt none of the weakness of hunger. But his stomach still felt empty. He sighs and resigns himself to the feeling before adjusting his plate armor as much as able for a night's sleep.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday March 7th, 2024 2:20:50 PM
Delia stalks through the tunnels ahead of the Shields, flitting from shadow to shadow by pure habit at this point. In larger tunnels, Hawky will fly for a short distance, otherwise, he will perch on various other Shields, letting his human range ahead.
As the Crawlers emerge from the tunnels, she slams arrow after arrow into them, slicing off tentacles, eye stalks, and going down the gullet with arrows expertly placed in weak spots. She recovers as many as she is able, broken or otherwise.
When they were setting watches, she holds up her hand, "With this new ring (of sustenance), I only need a couple hours of sleep. So as long as I get that little bit of rest, I can stand watch the rest of the night."
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Thursday March 7th, 2024 9:24:29 PM
Stock feels at ease in the cave despite the sense of impending conflict. He relishes the short, sweet fight with the carrion crawlers, at one point bodily picking up a beast and throwing it toward Zanderallen, timed just right so that the paladin followed through the beast with his sword splitting the crawler in 2.
At the stopping point, he exercises his strength at moving heavy objects and has the cave cleared in no time.
The Entrance (DM Wayne) Thursday March 7th, 2024 10:44:54 PM
Armalad’s Lightning Arrow made the Crawlers flicker between looking normal-colored and reverse-colored, back and forth until serious amounts of Crawler flesh are charred! Afterwards she muses about just how long it may take to find Largon’s Dragon Crown and what Horrors they will have to face. As the group is settling down for the night, her mind latches onto the extra details Dolgrin suggests about the two paths… but there are so many Horrors out there that the barren path might host demons, earth elementals, or something else that simply doesn’t care about lack of a regular ecosystem… and the mossy path… well, there are far worse plant monsters out there than a Woldian Flytrap! The Shields’ recent plant battles were underwater so, barring an underwater lake (and Armalad knew such a lake could be gigantic… or tiny…) perhaps… Fey, hostile land plants, yellow musk creeper, olive slime… endless options there too. She muses aloud on some possibilities for each path but has to admit that an environment alone doesn’t narrow it down enough… though maybe if the Shields go Mossy then Bartomus should load up on plant control spells and she should load up on fire spells… and if the Shields go Barren… probably a wide variety of damaging spells to be ready for anything since Aberrant Horrors are so wildly different from each other… although earth elementals tend to hate Air Spells like Lightning Bolt… and how would the Shields defend against Rock to Mud or similar spells… similarly to fighting the druidess, she supposes… Armalad goes through the list of demon and devil immunities and resistances again as she blathers on about what spells she might prepare after trancing…
Stohp is cautious about selecting places for her hooves to fall, well aware that a solid-looking layer of rock, especially obsidian, could be thin and shatter under her hoof mid-battle! Thankful for Zanderallen’s Delay Poison, Stohp wades in without fear, holding back Crawlers that might otherwise reach for Armalad or Bartomus, or any Shield unaware. Arrival at the ‘travel cave’ is welcome news for her – no sun, no moon, no stars, how do the dwarves live like this?
Bartomus, laying down to rest, reflected on the first day… half-day… in the Tunnels. The significance of the increasing stench of the Crawlers had escaped his notice so he was thankful for Dolgrin whispering the alarm! A spinning glaive, even with a Light orison, didn’t seem the best choice when Crawlers descended from above, likely from Crawler-wide holes in the ceiling beyond their sight, so he immediately shifted into earth elemental form, shifting his hands to stone and simply crushed a Crawler to death that had been half-fried by Armalad’s arrow-bolt! Soon the crawlers were down, and then he waited for the prestidigitation from Dolgrin so none of the Crawler slime would affect his flesh when he shifted back. Hmm… side benefit of being an earth elemental – no blood, no flesh, don’t care about Crawler paralysis slime! He was proud of his friends… his team – they all had done what was necessary with no more than a shout from Dolgrin, and truth be told, he thought he might have heard Delia’s bowstring loose before Dolgrin warned them, wherever Delia had been hiding! Drifting back to the present, Bartomus munched on some snacks. His Ioun Stone technically made it unnecessary, but after such a slimy battle he felt the need for some comfort food. After he finished and began drifting off to sleep he realized, suddenly, that when he’d shifted to elemental form his glaive had merged with his new form as usual… and his Light was no longer visible! The battle had been fought solely from Armalad’s arrow-light and the dimness beyond… and Zanderallen’s flaming sword of course!
Zanderallen trudged along, reflecting on how similar, and yet so different, the Tunnels were from the Float – no risk of sunburn… but no Turtle Lake… the air was not as fresh… what if they went so deep there was no air, and they all died, gasping for breath? (Shakes head to rid himself of the sudden doom-thought!). The travel was so monotonous… except when it wasn’t! As the whispered warning spread through the Shields at once Zanderallen was in command, moving to occupy space and deny Crawlers, as many as he could, access to the Shields’ spellcasters! Out of the corner of his eye he caught Dolgrin ‘falling’ into the stone – good, one less to worry about for the battle! His sword was chopping and burning this way and that, having instinctively summoned it from his new glove! Soon Crawlers lay scorched and split at his feet! Later, at the ‘travel cave,’ he is first to move up to help Dolgrin with uncovering their refuge. As everyone settles in for the Night Below, he asks Dolgrin and Stock how one tracks time down here – an internal clock, something else? He also asks about setting watches. When the discussion turns to which path to take, Zanderallen votes for the mossy path. As the Shields begin to rest, Zanderallen falls asleep to thoughts of how weird it was to have an empty stomach and yet not be hungry…
Delia was One With The Night Below, flitting from darkness to darkness for there were few shadows beyond the reach of Armalad’s light-arrow. Hawky occasionally flew, but, his vision restricted, he spent the bulk of the time perched on a Shield’s shoulder. The increasingly familiar stench put her on alert, and as she was armed with Darkvision she’d seen the threat when Dolgrin did and was moving to deliver a warning (not wanting her shout to echo down the Tunnels and announce their presence to even more Horrors!) when Dolgrin moved slightly and suddenly the Shields had adopted combat readiness! Good! The Crawlers may have had excellent ‘noses’ but they missed her and would pay for it! Volleys of arrows struck home again and again and by the time there was quiet… Crawler parts lay strewn across the tunnel, one arrow having gone in the back of a Crawler’s head and come out its slimy tentacled mouth and others looked like they’d asked for acupuncture! Later, in the ‘travel cave,’ regarding watches she informed the rest that her new purchase enabled her to sleep for only two hours per night.
Stock felt as relaxed in the Tunnels as Zanderallen did in the Float. During the battle, his raging muscles pounding, he grapples, lifts, and hurls a Crawler at Zanderallen, saying “catch” in a low voice designed not to echo, honed from decades of growing up in Mountainhome. Zanderallen caught the hint, formed blazing sword, and cut the final Crawler in half mid-air, posing as it fell to the ground in pieces. Too bad it didn’t explode after all that… Later, at the ‘travel cave,’ he is right there with Zanderallen and Dolgrin, a big reason the Shields were quickly ensconced in their refuge.
Before the Shields fall asleep, Dolgrin addresses Zanderallen’s questions, “The Tunnels… are timeless. Well, not really, but the only thing we can track is how often we sleep… and how long a lantern burns. Conveniently, one pint of oil lasts six hours. Also, if one knows precisely how long one’s Light cantrip or orison lasts, that’s another good measure. Now, I can’t say for certain, but I think Armalad’s Light cantrip lasts about two hours, plus or minus 10 or 20 minutes, and that’s a convenient amount of time to measure watches in without burning lantern fuel. Bartomus’s Light orison wasn’t synchronized with Armalad’s, but it seemed to last around three hours, plus or minus, again. That’s also a useful amount of time to set watches. Armalad is an elf, and probably doesn’t need as much sleep as the rest of us, so… Bartomus could cast Light before falling asleep and when his spell runs out then Armalad could cast hers three times more and when her third spell ends, everyone should be awake, have eaten, and be ready to go. In past dwarven expeditions we’d rely on lamps and six hours per pint of oil to count the watches. If your spellcasters would all prefer to wake up in the ‘morning’ then others can do the pint of oil trick, though I don’t know if you brought enough oil in your magic bags. Pick a strategy and stick to it. So long as no one tries to catnap in the middle of the ‘day’ then we count ‘days’ by number of sleeps since the expedition started. Today is day zero. Tomorrow ‘morning’ we’ve been traveling for ‘one sleep.’ The next ‘morning’ it’ll be ‘two sleeps’ and so on. I suggest adding a hash mark to a journal page marked ‘time log’ every time we ‘get ready in the morning’ for the ‘day’s travel.’
Finally – always have a plan ready before you reach the decision tree. I heard Zanderallen’s vote, but I suggest you all sleep on it and then while we’re getting ready here tomorrow, eating or not, choose the path unanimously and then when we’re at the Fork we’ll simply take the path you selected without stopping.”
With that, everyone gets as much rest as they need – perhaps the ‘travel cave’ is just off the beaten path, perhaps the group is merely fortunate, but though Delia and other light sleepers stand watch much of the night, nothing makes its presence known. Bartomus is able to make his morning meditations, adjusting his spells as he sees fit, as are the other spellcasters.
As the ‘morning’ finishes up, the Shields deeply consider the choice of which path to take.
Dolgrin waits patiently for the Shields to come to a decision.
[OOC – feel free to negotiate the choice in posts, or if the Shields are antsy for action, come to an agreement in email and then have a Shield announce the choice to Dolgrin in the next post. Next DM post is Saturday night, so you have a bit of time.
TIME - 1 Sleep.]
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday March 8th, 2024 4:48:18 AM
Joker says, "I don't need to sleep and have darkvision also I can cast acid arrow once an hour so my suggestion is to not bother the casters unless we are under attack. I'll cast acid arrow and then when it comes back I know an hour has passed. Once I cast 8 acid arrows we will know it has been 8 hours. Is there somewhere I can use this acid without damaging something important?"
Armalad says, "After those encounters with the plant creatures I'm rather plant creatured out. Let's say we take the dry path as there is more variability as to what could be lurking there plus if we go the mossy path wouldn't the moss provide easier cover for ambushes? Just in case I'm keeping the spells ready to cast Greater Teleport. Worst case scenario perhaps we can figure a way to hole up somewhere and buy time for Joker and I to be ready and we aim for the surface outside of your mountain hold but not on the mountain itself like last time now that we've been here. I honestly hope we don't need it but it probably isn't a bad idea to have this in mind as a contingency in case everything goes sideways"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday March 8th, 2024 6:48:36 AM
As far as Stohp can tell there's no guarantee either path will lead where they need to go, so she has no real opinion on which they should take. Now that they're down here she's a bit worried they have no real way to narrow down the location of their goal at all and they might just end up wandering here accomplishing nothing. Hopefully they can find the previous expedition and they'll have more details.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday March 8th, 2024 10:01:47 AM
Bartomus woke and looked over at the moonrod that he had left near his kit. It gave him a bit of light that worked with regular vision. Yep, he thought to himself, still in the cave and will be for a long while.
He took a moment and then found a portion of the carved-out cave that served as a resting stop where he could undertake his morning meditations. He made note of the advice that Dolgrin had given about starting the light the party would need in coordination with Armalad. When he was done thoughts and guidance of healing, light, water, and spells that would be needed in the next marching session they were about to get underway.
When the others were packing up, he found himself staring at the two options they had.
"Moss means water and probably slick walls and such." Bartomus said and then thought a bit more. "Willing to go with Armalad's choice. Either way we are moving forward at least for now. As to using the acid, any chance you could use it to make a mark on the wall as to which way we are traveling?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday March 8th, 2024 10:54:08 AM
Delia recasts Longstrider on herself just before they set out and Darkvision on herself whenever it ran out in the night. She spends her extra 6 hours of wakefulness filling out her rough map and repairing the arrows she used against the crawlers, relying on her ears more than her eyes to alert her to the things that go bump in the night here.
She thinks on their options as she feeds Hawky scraps of jerky, he has an ioun stone and doesn't need to eat, but once he started snapping at it she took the hint that he would not tolerate the empty belly feeling as well as the rest of them. "So, our options were barren with dwarf-driders and earthquakes, or glowing moss and undead and weird mind magic. Wandering undead and a call to join make me think ancient relic more than miscellaneous monsters. So I vote mossy path."
She pulls out a piece of writing charcoal and looks at Bartomus, "I could mark the walls, but I don't know if that could lead something else to us or the surface."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Friday March 8th, 2024 5:25:02 PM
Zanderallen rests and rises feeling a little sore in the joints from sleeping in his plate armor. He summons his healing power and feels the aches drop away with a gentle warmth. Doing some quick exercises to shake the rest of the feeling he awaits the vote of the group, "Maybe we should be asking which way the expedition likely took. Would they risk their own twisted kin, or the mind magic of the undead? I feel scribes would feel better equipped to deal with undead and keep my vote on the mossy path." ================= Penalty for Sleeping in Heavy armor: Fatigued Lay on Hands used with Mercy (Fatigued) 13 out of 14 Lay on Hands remaining (marked on header)
The Fork (DM Wayne) Saturday March 9th, 2024 11:54:22 PM
Armalad offers her own solution to watches and timekeeping. She votes in favor of the barren path, and then details a ‘plan B.’ Armalad then sets about her watches.
Stohp observes neither path has a guarantee, only a hint that they, of thousands and thousands of tunnels, may hold the Crown… or just the next clue… She hopes that the previous expedition, or at least their remains and notes, can be found so the expedition is not a wild turtle hunt!
Bartomus woke to the reality of still being in a cave, who knows how far beneath the surface? Was a mountain above them, or just ground-level? He made his way to a suitable spot to meditate. Even these caves are part of Nature… Listening to the debate on which path to take, he too settled on the barren path.
Delia fills out her rough map before the thief known as Sleep steals away any memories – thankfully she’d done this kind of mapping before, though long ago, and had written the map legend first thing as to what symbols indicated vertical climbs and descents. Then she moves on to repairing arrows, those that weren’t too damaged by the Crawlers’ slime or saliva! Finally she gets in her 2 hours of rest and upon waking and meditating recasts her usual spells. She thought about the path choice while ‘feeding’ Hawky and then made her thoughts known – she voted for mossy path.
Zanderallen rose with the knowledge that he’d made a bad choice, and would be making it night after night for a long time. He sat up and laid hands on himself, dispelling the fatigue from poor sleep. Zanderallen reiterates that he thinks better clues from the expedition will be found on the mossy path.
Stock got up silently and readied himself for the day. He hadn’t spoken a word.
Dolgrin said, “Stock, your team so far has 2 votes for the mossy path, and 2 votes for the barren path. What say you?”
Stock seems deep in thought, then looks back and forth between the two camps of Shields. “Let’s get to the Fork so we can see some of each path for ourselves. I’ll know rightaway then, no delay. Let’s get moving.” And with that Stock quickly works to pull away the rocks from the entrance.
Dolgrin shrugs, and then helps Stock. Zanderallen shakes his head and then helps with the rocks too.
Soon the group is on their way. The tunnels definitely get wilder – in just the next two hours or so, the Shields break out the ropes of climbing for some vertical traverses multiple times, sometimes one right after the other! The group knows it was two hours because Armalad renewed her Light arrow just a few minutes ago.
Something new – small patches of bioluminescent mushrooms appear from time to time. A patch is no more illumination than a candle’s brightness, but it’s a welcome reminder that though it be strange, life still finds a way to go on, even deep in the Night Below…
Perhaps fifteen or twenty-five minutes later, Dolgrin notes in a low voice “We’ve made it to The Fork. It looks like our tunnel just widened to cavern-size, now some one hundred feet across with us in the center and a dividing wall ahead, but this is the split. Each smaller tunnel will, soon enough, start going its own direction. If the divider is ‘North’ then each tunnel turns to the ‘Northwest’ and ‘Northeast’ but shimmies like a snake. You can see from here that there’s some of those ‘Crawler ‘ambush tunnels’ up in the ceiling, just one foot by two feet – maybe there’s no Crawlers there but keep your nose sniffing!
We’ve been able to skip searching side tunnels thus far because we had to reach this point, but now comes the ‘weeks or months’ part of the expedition – every time there’s a side tunnel that dwarves or larger can fit through, then we have to check it out, map it in full, and then retrace our path back to the original path we chose, whether barren or mossy.
My knowledge is about to end. On either path I know enough from the Archives to cover perhaps the next two or three hours along the that path, but in my experience tunnels like these probably will take several days just to reach the end of that path, not counting exploring the side tunnels. We won’t know until we get going. Speaking of which…
Stock – do you vote mossy path and send us that way, or do you vote barren path and tie the vote? If you can’t decide then I have a gold piece here, ready to flip to decide the path so we don’t dilly-dally.”
(OOC – In anticipation of path exploration beginning, let’s get some Survival die rolls out of the way for how well the group maps and explores the seemingly uncountable number of side tunnels a dwarf could fit through!
I checked – Delia, in her Favored Terrain, is clearly the main roller.
Delia – please roll five (5) Survival checks and note all sums in an OOC line in your post. Everyone else – Aid Another action. IF you can Take 10 and get a 10 or higher, note ‘Aid Another – Take 10 = 15 (or whatever)’ in an OOC line. ELSE IF you’ve got a -1 or worse Survival bonus, then roll 1d20+Survival 5 times and report your totals in an OOC line.
This represents up to five (5) days of exploring and mapping, should the DM need to use that many – each path is of unknown length after all!
After you’ve all posted and we know where we’re going then Monday night’s DM post will send you on your way!
Elapsed Time - 1 sleep)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+22=35 ; d20+20=38 ; Monday March 11th, 2024 2:17:54 AM
(OOC: Aid Another + Take 10 - Armalad: 10, 10, 10, 10, 10) (OOC: Aid Another + Take 10 - Joker: 10,10,10,10,10)
Although Joker and Armalad only know the basics of Survival it is still enough to help Delia out where they can.
They also continue to keep an eye out for any threats.
Perception - Armalad - 35 Perception - Joker - 38
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20=15 ; d20+23=38 ; d20+23=42 ; d20+23=33 ; d20+23=31 ; Monday March 11th, 2024 9:35:51 AM
Stohp has a +0 so can take ten. From her position near the front of the party she can keep an eye out, or more likely an ear since she has no darkvision and can't see past the range of our lights. Perception for each day is 38, 38, 42, 33, 31.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Monday March 11th, 2024 9:53:32 AM
Stock gestures to follow the mossy path. The dwarf in him is comfortable here…but he knows the dangers as well.
Take 10 on survival for 24
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Monday March 11th, 2024 2:07:24 PM
Zanderallen nods as Stock breaks the tie and sends them on their route. He follows along in the back, just on the edge of the light. He may be out of his element but he always had a knack for mapping back alleys in the Fence and uses that skill to aid in charting the tunnels. He offers his bullseye lantern if they ever need to look ahead as it dimly lights much further than dark vision (120ft) if the information is worth the risk. ====================== Survival with Take 10: 11 successful aid another
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=28 ; d20+16=21 ; Monday March 11th, 2024 5:24:28 PM Survival, which Bart has an +11 and will take a 10+11 for a total of 21,21, 21, 21 and 21
Bartomus would utilize his light orison when the light went out from Armalad's arrow. He continued down the moss covered path with the others once Stock registered his choice and breaking the tie that had existed up to that point.
He tried to highlight things he caught sight of while also keeping a lookout for changes in the tunnel they were traversing.
Perception 28 and 21
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+27=46 ; d20+27=36 ; d20+27=35 ; d20+27=43 ; d20+27=29 ; Monday March 11th, 2024 6:36:54 PM
While normally relatively quiet, the rest of the Shields see Delia shift into a state of intensity they haven't seen before as they look to her skills to keep them as safe as she can. She relaxes momentarily each evening while all of them are awake, but lapses but into heightened focused during the times she is the only one awake.
Hawky returns to his perch on her shoulder, falling into their normal scouting rhythms and practices.
=========== Anything aberration or undead bonuses apply to: +4
Hawky Take 10 succeeds on Aid Another for 14. Delia Survival Day 1: 46 Day 2: 36 Day 3: 35 Day 4: 43 Day 5: 29
The Fork (DM Wayne) Monday March 11th, 2024 10:31:42 PM
Stock raises his right hand, thumb upraised. Everyone holds their breath for a moment… and then Stock thumbs towards the mossy path! All nod in assent, and at once Delia is ahead, in the shadows, and the rest move into the two-abreast formation automatically. Stock’s mind ponders over how he feels so at ease in the Tunnels, with their rocky ‘home-ness,’ yet is also on high alert as if a monster lurked in every dark room, in his closet, and under his bed itself!
The group as a whole contributes to Delia’s efforts and watches out for ‘the forest’ while Delia investigates individual ‘trees’ to ensure both that her ‘relational map’ of the tunnels’ directions and distances is accurate, and that no one sets off a cave-in, falls into a two-hundred-foot-deep pit, or worse!
Armalad and Joker also watch out for more mobile dangers.
Stohp does likewise.
Zanderallen nodded when Stock thumbed towards the mossy path, taking his rear-guard position at the edge of Armalad’s light arrow, whether it glowed from Armalad’s spell or Bartomus’s! He began to mentally treat the side tunnels akin to the Float’s alleys, though what alley ever went straight up or straight down!?! Zanderallen reminded the group of his bullseye lantern’s range in case gaining intelligence was worth the trade-off in risk…
Bartomus traded off with Armalad on keeping the arrow lit. He too assumed his formation position once the path was declared. While not a caving professional like Delia or Stock, he was no slouch, and when he saw distinctive landmarks he pointed them out, to aid in Delia’s mapping.
Delia was already in the Night Ahead as the group behind her resumed their formation. She was silently thankful for her connection with nature enabling her to see in the dark like a dwarf and to swiftly traverse rocky floors and walls as though she were Stock running the city streets! In the dark, Delia felt more comfortable openly assuming an aspect of herself that she did not often display: the animal. She moved through the Tunnels like a tiger in the jungle, or a lion in the veldt, starlight shining down from clear skies illuminating their prey… And if she could do this… could the Drow be rangers? Could there be one Drow ranger who could equal or best her, spotting her in the dark from outside her vision range? She mentally throttled down the what ifs that tried to break her focus, and continued on – she had to be the best – everyone was depending on her!
Dolgrin spoke little, but deftly guided the Shields to map the first three side tunnels, and then shook his head, speaking in a whisper, “That’s it. It’s everyone’s job to map and guide now, following Delia and Stock’s leads. I’ll speak only as necessary, for ambushes, or anything I think is a key landmark to map.” Dolgrin continued to make notes in his own journal, and when Delia would stop in from time to time they’d compare notes, silently writing in each other’s journal necessary annotations, and quickly and silently checking with the rest for anything they’d spotted. The two journals, detailing tunnels’ twists and turns in any of six or more directions, started to become incomprehensible to the untrained eye – Delia and Dolgrin were trained, Stock was taught for decades as a child and an adult, the linguistics training of Armalad and Stohp enabled them to keep up, and Bartomus and Zanderallen each think they follow the increasingly complex map legend from knowledge of nature or of the Float’s back alleys, but it is clear to the Taur and human that the journals will make a great contribution to the Clan’s Royal Archives… but will need some translation aids for those without the necessary background!
The first day of mapping was a breeze – relatively few side tunnels, occasional small patches of bioluminescent mushrooms, and lots of the strange moss that didn’t seem to need sunlight to grow… was it using the mushrooms’ light for sustenance? No, there’s not enough mushroom light! Hmm…. The path got rougher, however, and the group guessed they’d advanced perhaps one mile of zig-zag tunnel. At least the side tunnels this first day tended not to shrink to below-dwarf-size until their endpoint. Had they maybe walked another two miles just following side tunnels and coming back out? How long had it taken to make all the journal notes and ensure they weren’t checking the same side tunnel twice? A grudging respect for cave-mapping expeditions began to grow upon the those Shields unfamiliar with the process…
The second day was mind-numbing – the group had advanced only one half of a mile because of the high number of Tunnels! Delia and Dolgrin talked about lava flows and leaks at the bottom of mountain lakes fed by snowmelt and… blah blah blah it’s taking so long! Can’t we just map the next one? Karkasan might own the Float by now! Delia and Dolgrin’s journals began to have pages that referenced other pages for ahead-back and left-right tunnels, and yet more pages for up-down tunnels… Dear Domi, can anyone read what they’re writing??? It was then that everyone pitching in paid off – Delia and Dolgrin were puzzling over how best to note a complex five-directional nexus when Joker said, “Hey… I thought I counted six tunnels there – do you have the ceiling one?” Candles went on behind Delia and Dolgrin’s eyes and they quickly came to an agreement on marking a six-directional nexus with both up and down tunnels. Delia was lost in focus, but Dolgrin muttered, “Thanks!” in a low voice.
The third day was like the second, but the group made three-quarters of a mile of progress. This time it was Zanderallen who gave Delia and Dolgrin a mapping idea based on his experience with switchback alleys on the Float – one of the side tunnels had an unusual configuration of switchbacks and three- or four- tunnel intersections and thus the tunnel map legend got a new symbol. For doing ‘nothing’ but walking and observing, this cave-mapping was mentally and physically exhausting in a way that most of the Shields had never experienced – when the yawns started, everyone was relieved! As she had done the other nights, Delia found two or three ‘rest cave’ candidates, ones that dead-ended quickly, preferably around a curve, with no exit caves! The bedrolls made sleeping on rocky floors just bearable, but Zanderallen, for one, was very happy he was dispelling his fatigue each morning!
As the group made preparations for their watches, Dolgrin quipped, “Well, you’re all doing better than I hoped for on this mapping thing. After you make sure the Float’s safe, you’re all welcome to come back and hire on for future mapping expeditions!”
(OOC – a brief respite for the Shields – a chance to muse aloud, talk to Dolgrin if you want, change spells, etc. but otherwise next DM post will move through more mapping days.
Delia two (2) more Survival rolls please. (Everyone else is fine – I know all of you can auto-assist.)
Mossy Path
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+20=37 ; d20+22=26 ; Tuesday March 12th, 2024 1:46:14 AM
Armalad asks Dolgrim, "Just how often do you run these expeditions? Do you often hire outside contractors to participate or have our Silver Shields become a special case. Given the fact that pne of our goals of this expedition is to recover the journals of previous expeditions just exactly what is the success rate of these expeditions?"
Armalad and Joker continue to keep their eyes open
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=29 ; d20+22=32 ; Tuesday March 12th, 2024 10:09:38 AM
Stohp has always prided herself on her writing, drawing, and administrative skills. She may not know much about exploring dungeons and tunnels, but with a little guidance from the experienced Dolgrin she's soon expertly documenting the route, the various offshoots, and all the important details of their exploration. (Perception 29 to notice key details and Linguistics 32 to keep precise and copious notes.)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday March 12th, 2024 4:50:18 PM
Zander is glad he's not the one in charge of leading this expedition. Switchbacks and turns he can keep straight but the verticals, dead ends, holes in the ceiling and floor, and the fact that all the rock starts to look the same would leave him wandering down in this hole forever. But he has complete trust in Delia and a growing trust in Dolgrin that they are making progress. "I don't suppose there's really anyway to tell if anyone else has passed this way recently? It would just be nice to know we're going the right way."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=33 ; Tuesday March 12th, 2024 5:09:56 PM
Bartomus trudged along with the others working. Their way through the caverns that were associated with the path that they took. He tried keeping aware of the changes n rock and atmosphere within the different caverns.
When they stopped for a rest, he smiled at Armalad's list of questions and apprecited that they were being asked. He also nodded in agreement with Zander's.
"Was thinking the same thing Zander," Bartomus added. "Are the explorers just sent out every so often and not expected to leave any trace of their travel?"
General perception check for 33
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+27=35 ; d20+27=43 ; Tuesday March 12th, 2024 5:39:55 PM Longstrider, Darkvision
Delia smiles at Dolgrim's praise, in a moment of relaxation as they settle down for the evening, "I'll save my answer for if we all get out of this alive." Seeing Stohp's much neater map recording, she happily lets the other woman take over official cartography from her, giving input as needed.
At Zander's question, she looks to Dolgrim, "How long ago did the lost expeditions come this way? I'm no expert at tracking dwarves, but if they left a trail I might be able to find signs of it."
====== Survival 1: 35 Survival 2: 43
Potential modifiers: Aberration or undead +4, tracking +8
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Tuesday March 12th, 2024 11:52:21 PM ”I’ve never been quite this deep underground before. Believe it or not, there just wasn’t much call for it. How about you Dolgrin? Ever been this deep before?
Delia - really impressive 3 dimensional mapping…”
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday March 13th, 2024 1:52:04 AM
Armalad says, "interesting with the 3 dimensional mapping. Hey Dolgrim have your people ever thought of getting some permanent images made of these 3 dimensional mappings in a map room or something?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+45=53 ; d20+33=43 ; Wednesday March 13th, 2024 3:24:23 PM
Delia settles into the rhythms of high risk spelunking again, fading in and out of the shadows playing against the cave walls. Though she feels the weight of their responsibility, she doesn't feel burdened. Though danger could lurk in any cavern, there is a peace to the darkness. The ambient echos, drips, and scuffles have settled into the background. The musty air familiar. Though sharp, sight is the least useful here, maybe second to sense of taste... She trails a hand along the wall, awaiting a change in any sense could alert her to danger.
=========== Stealth with hide in plain sight (forgot -5 for moving): 48 Perception: 43 (+4 v aberrations or undead) (From last post: Survival 1: 35 Survival 2: 43
Potential modifiers: Aberration or undead +4, tracking +8)
The Fork (DM Wayne) Wednesday March 13th, 2024 10:24:49 PM
Armalad asks Dolgrin how often these mapping expeditions are run, and what their success rate is. Joker and Armalad remain on edge, expecting an ambush.
Stohp contributes her skillful scribing hand to the mapping tasks, enabling Delia and Dolgrin to focus more on mapping accuracy and less on pen-person-ship. As Delia and Dolgrin need more mapping symbols for the occasional ‘new’ landmark or cave shape, Stohp is ready with a some rare scripts from little-used languages so that a ‘cave type 8’ is distinct in symbol from ‘8 dead carrion crawlers’ and so forth.
Zanderallen marvels at the precise bucket of skills it takes to lead the mapping part of this expedition – much like merfolk in Turtle Lake, cavers must always think in three dimensions! He asks aloud, hoping someone knows, maybe Delia, “How can we tell if anyone has passed this way recently? Can tracks be spotted on stone in some way?”
Bartomus found that while he was not the most precise cave mapper, keeping mental track of limestone patterns, stalactite and stalagmite formations, the freshness and humidity of the air, when a breeze was at all noticeable, these were things that jumped out and shook hands with him as seemingly the walls, floors, and ceilings did for Delia and Dolgrin! He relaxed as Armalad and Zanderallen asked their questions, and added, “how often are the expeditions sent, and are they expected to leave no trace of their travel?”
Delia needed about two minutes to come out of focus and then it dawned upon her – Dolgrin… Dolgrin(!) of Clan Mountainheart, the clan with seemingly the most tradition up their… he had thanked her, a non-dwarf! And a woman! Perhaps there was hope for them after all, even though they appeared to prohibit their women from combat jobs like Delia’s! She knew Stohp was copying their work, never hurts to have a third copy, but then she really looked at Stohp’s drafting, and it was so effortlessly clear and without smudges! She shifted her own note-taking in the dark to a higher-level, and when she compared notes with Dolgrin, she explained all the nuances to Stohp who needed no second try to record them in her trademark ‘clean’ style. At Zanderallen’s question, she looked around, and then considered – this wasn’t snow – even skin oils would spread and decompose with time and, seeing nothing, asked, “Dolgrin, exactly how long ago did these missing expeditions come out this way?”
Stock finally began to be impressed by just how far they’d traveled undergound, musing aloud about not having needed to do more than the minimum training given his profession, and asked Dolgrin about his experiences. He complimented Delia on being able to track the tunnel network in full on just paper!
Armalad agreed with Stock – Delia and Dolgrin had ingenious solutions to the matter of preserving spatial relationships on paper! She asked Dolgrin whether Clan Mountainheart had considered creating larger versions of these maps on walls in a special map room.
With that, Delia’s mind doesn’t stop racing as she and Dolgrin and Stock work to locate ‘shelter’ for the fourth sleep, yet it’s Bartomus who provides the key clue with observations about the local air currents that lead to a makeshift ‘travel cave’! Hooray, sleeping in open tunnels the last two nights had put us all on edge!
Over the last few hours, Dolgrin addressed each Shield’s questions in turn at the time they were asked, “Armalad and Bartomus, we used to send out groups regularly, maybe every few months, but it takes years to put together a group with the right mix of stealth, mapping, combat expertise and magic. A bit over ten years ago we had four such groups. About eight years ago, long after Stock left, we began to think it was a good idea to send two groups out to find out whatever had happened to one of our heroes of old, Klink Barrelchest. Klink had fought the good fight and done his part when all the dwarves collapsed the Western Wind Tunnel Entrance to defeat the Drow invasion. After that war, we wanted to gain enough power to ensure the Drow could never again come so close to defeating us. We turned to our ancestral knowledge and oral traditions and soon determined, and began writing down, as much as we knew about what we could only call the Crown, which of course we now believe to be one and the same as the Largon’s Dragon Crown that you speak of. We were still working on the teams to send when one day we found only a note in Klink’s room stating that we were taking too long and that he was going to find the Crown himself, and that with his mighty weapons and armor no Drow or Aberrant Horror could long stand between him and bringing the Crown home. Needless to say, Klink never returned, and he left no clue as to which path he had taken among the thousands and thousands of paths in the Underwold, just here alone in the Scab! Klink was unparalleled among our warriors at the time and we feared for our chances against Aberrant Horrors without him, our ranks depleted by the Drow invasion. So, we spent the next many, many years training replacements, and improving our spellcasters and scouts, all trained in scribing and map-making. So, eight years ago we sent out two groups, each following clues that led to either the mossy path or the barren path, and as we said earlier, they took many of our key scrolls with them, no time spent copying them because they were so well trained and equipped and the scrolls had been filled with annotations in shorthand known only amongst the groups. As you know, neither group ever returned, and with only two groups in reserve we could only wonder what Horrors had befallen them. So we began training replacements again, and we’re still in that training, with our remaining teams a key part of our home’s defense in case the Drow invade from the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance. So, long answer, but while I cannot speak for the Chief, I suspect he and others saw an opportunity here – we could spare one trained person, me, and it might be as though we suddenly had a third team and need not wait many years more to send out another two expeditions.
Delia, I believe I answered your question earlier, but if you’re looking for tracks… it’s been years, and our groups are trained in ways to hide our tracks, in large measure. That said, if we spot any limestone formations that appear broken in a way that a quake could not cause… well, that’s kind of a ‘footprint.’
Stock, yes, but in other tunnels. This being the more dangerous general route, based on the lost expeditions, we took different paths to practice survival, and to ‘take nothing but memories, and leave nothing if you can help it!’”
The group settles into its new routines ‘for the night’ and their fourth sleep passes, the third since The Fork.
The fourth and fifth ‘days’ of mapping proceed much like the first, slightly difficult but nothing Delia can’t handle alone. Stohp and Dolgrin are much busier on mapping than usual given the increased pace, and the group advances another mile for each day.
The sixth day is as unreal as the second day, only worse! How many six-tunnel nexii with both up and down tunnels can there be!!! It is only by the concerted efforts of the whole group that they don’t get lost, and still, despite the three-dimensional looping side tunnels, the group manages to push ahead one half mile on the main mossy path.
As the Shields begin to settle in a side dead-end tunnel for the ‘night,’ Dolgrin speaks up, “Curious… recall when Grunyar, in the throne room, mentioned that sometimes we spot zombies or skeletons even a half-mile down the mossy path, and we’ve not only traveled nearly five miles on the main mossy path, but we haven’t seen any undead. Not that I mind, but I wonder, all the way down here, what creates them, and what, if anything or anyone, commands them. Tracks fade with time, but since we haven’t seen any tracks… what could that mean?”
Dolgrin awaits replies.
What does each Shield do?
(OOC – ‘Tonight’ is the seventh sleep, sixth since The Fork. Distance traveled along the main path – four and three quarter miles, plus or minus, and also plus all the side tunnels – the Shields’ legs feel like they’ve been hiking five to ten miles per day in rough terrain, and Dolgrin’s prestidigitation gets a workout keeping people’s boots sweat-free.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+13=16 ; d20+27=44 ; d20+1=5 ; d20+15=33 ; Thursday March 14th, 2024 4:40:06 AM
Armalad - Know Religion - 16 Armalad - Know Arcane - 44
Joker - Religion - 5 Joker - Arcane - 33
Armalad recalls what she knows about zombies then relates that information which may be relevant to Dolgrim. She also recalls what she knows about arcane spells and the undead and if any of that information could influence the behavior of undead. Joker also tries to help but his knowledge isn't as vast as his masters in either category.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday March 14th, 2024 8:47:44 AM
Stohp just shrugs at the question. "It means the undead are gone. With no knowledge of what caused them to be here in the first place it could be anything whatsoever. We could speculate all day but being careful and keeping our eyes open is the only real response we can give."
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 Thursday March 14th, 2024 11:15:09 AM
[b]”Dolgrin - didn’t your mother ever tell you not to question your good fortune? We all are quite surprised not to have to wear out more than our boots so far but whether undead or some other unspeakable horror, I’m sure our luck will catch up to us soon. And the Silver Shields are always ready to deal with that kind of trouble.”[b]
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+45=58 ; d20+33=47 ; Thursday March 14th, 2024 2:12:54 PM
Delia nods along with Stohp & Stock's responses, equally as unwilling to allow the lack of danger to make her complacent. She settles in to take a long watch, melding into the shadows around the entrance to their cave.
She leans her head back against the cave wall as the night stretches on, filling the hours of wakefulness by telling herself stories in her mind like she used to do as a child. She decides to prepare a new spell tomorrow to assist their journey.
=================================== Stealth: 58 Perception: 47 (+4 v undead, aberrations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Thursday March 14th, 2024 4:29:09 PM
Time had lost most meaning at this point for Zanderallen. While he didn't hold back in lending aid, other than acting as the occasional anchor to lower something down a drop or haul it back up he was outside he general skill set. His mind wandered even as he tried to stay focused on keeping watch. If it weren't for the steady time keeping of Dolgrin and Stock he would have lost all track of days. He almost wished for some undead to smite to break the monotony of mapping these infernal tunnels, but he bites his tongue before saying anything out loud. "We'll find what we find. And if it's nothing we follow our maps back to the barren tunnels and start again."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday March 14th, 2024 7:54:34 PM
"I can see some aspects of your man Kilink's approach, but that sounds like a huge risk. " Bartomus then listened to all that was shared and thought about it as they continued onward.
Durinh the six days of grueling travel, Bartomus sometimes changing into a small earth elemental to let Dolgrin have at least one pair less of feet to worry about. When they decided to rest, Bartomus tried stretching just by laying down. Yet, Dolgrin's question snapped his head around and sat up.
"Where the undead a common occurrence? Cause if they were, might not your man Klink discovered their source and took care of that problem?"
sorry, posted this as private. Sigh.
Mossy Path (DM Wayne) Thursday March 14th, 2024 11:50:42 PM
Armalad shares her knowledge of the undead with Dolgrin, as well as the intersection with arcane spells.
Stohp suggests speculation is less useful than simply being ready when the undead do come.
Stock jokes with Dolgrin.
Delia agrees with Stohp and Stock and is soon lost in thought… and resolves to prepare a new spell.
Zanderallen mused on how time had become like a greased pig to him. Had they really been underground nearly a week, presuming their sleeps were at the same intervals as on the surface? He longed for battle, but not for threats to his fellow Shields… or Dolgrin. He urged the group to embrace the drudgery so that they would reach their reward.
Bartomus considered Klink’s desire for action both admirable… and foolhardy in the Night Below. He occasionally spent hours as a small earth elemental, finding it easier to reach nooks and crannies, and to enjoy the benefits of Darkvision… and Tremorsense! Hmmm… this feels useful… Bartomus asked Dolgrin whether Klink might have cleared out the undead.
Dolgrin listens intently to Armalad’s wisdom, but still drifts between explanations for the lack of undead. He nodded at Zanderallen’s summary. Dolgrin listened to Bartomus and replied, “Perhaps. Perhaps not. I hope we run into him, and he can tell us himself!”
With that, the group falls into its nightly routine.
The seventh day brings a much-needed rest after the sixth day, with far fewer tunnels, and the group finally finds something of interest to anyone other than cave-mappers!?!
The group has traveled about a quarter of a mile and has begun investigating a side tunnel about ten feet wide and as tall, where if the main tunnel were a man walking forward this side tunnel is the man’s arm reaching backwards at an angle away from the man.
You’ve been traveling this tunnel for about forty-five minutes when it makes a sharp 135-degree bend to your left about sixty feet ahead of Stock and perhaps ten feet ahead of Delia, were she to allow herself to be seen. The tunnel is now lined to either side by small groups of bioluminescent mushrooms along the floor/wall edges, granting dim light ahead.
Your nerves glow with red-hot anticipation once more, expecting an ambush, but as you creep forward second-by-second Stock and Delia charge around the corner and find… more empty lava tube. They see the passage goes just twenty feet before it opens up into a chamber. The smell of death awaits you…
Knowledge: Religion DC 15: Highlight to display spoiler: {The smell of bones is ahead… though not so much as to rotting flesh… corpses decomposed to bones? Could there be Skeletons ahead?}
[OOC – You don’t see any foes, but your gut has a hunch, your noses notice something, and your adrenaline has put you in Combat Time.
0) The map is big. **Scroll around** because it starts in the Top Right, columns AL to AZ. 1) Keep talking/whisper actions short – what could your Shield say in six seconds? 2) If you move, state your starting and ending cell numbers (“Stock moves from AN5 to AV9, and if he sees no foes he advances up to forty feet more”). 3) The Shields are experienced heroes – I will give them the benefit of the doubt in stated actions even as this “maze of twisty little passages, all alike” communicates the Shields’ claustrophobic experience in the Night Below, right now. /OOC]
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d12=2 ; d20+13=20 ; d20+1=17 ; Friday March 15th, 2024 5:02:42 AM
Know - Religion : 20 - Armalad Know - Religion : 17 - Joker
Joker says to Armalad. "Smells like Skellingtons"
Armalad sniffs and says "Aye smells like bones ahead"
She isn't going to be the first to stumble into whatever undead horror lies in wait nor will she be left behind so she plans to advance with the group keeping some of the more melee oriented Shields in front. (OOC: Advance with group up to 60 feet but prefers 40 however if party is getting too far ahead go 60)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday March 15th, 2024 9:26:32 AM "Undead might mean a mage. Spread out.' Stohp comments. She'll try to walk 5 feet farther back from the front line so that a fireball or similar spell will hit fewer of them.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20=2 ; Friday March 15th, 2024 9:43:06 AM
Bartomus found some benefit from the shifting between his taur form and that of an creature of stone and earth. It was fun, not as fun as being a wind elemental, but fun none the less in reference to the constant dark. He also realized he could sense if the rock was moving or shifting.
Interesting, he thought to himself.
He started to get a bit worried as they were moving forward with a good deal of ease, which was a bit more unusual than the days, were they days down here, before. Then as they discovered a sharp bend in the cavern they were working, there was a whiff of something. Not the usual sweat of the Shields, or the occasional odd damp smell, but when Armalad and Joker identified it as bones, he realized that that was it.
He continued walking along with the Shields and began preparing to cast a spell.
(move and begin casting stoneskin)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+5=21 ; d20+40=43 ; d20+33=44 ; Friday March 15th, 2024 12:49:45 PM
Delia continues creeping along, the chalky, musty bone smell sending her into high alert. She brushes a hand across her arrow fletching, ready to fire at a moment's notice.
==== Know (Religion): 21 Stealth+Hide in plain sight move from AM5 to AQ11: 43 Perception: 44 (48 v undead)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+15=31 ; Friday March 15th, 2024 5:01:55 PM
Zanderallen recognized the smell. His hand instinctually goes for the hilt of his sword only to find nothing. He does a quick double take before remembering his sword was now stored in his glove. But for skeletons he had a different tool. Reaching slightly past where his hilt used to lie he grasps the solid haft of his war hammer, slipping his arm through the strap and drawing it. As he strides to the front he holds it out to the casters, "Light please"
Taking point unless someone beats him too it he squeezes through the twisting tunnel to AR9 ==================== Know (Rel): 31
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 31/28/17; Per: +27; Surv: +16; SM: +16 d20+1=12 ; d20+27=38 ; Friday March 15th, 2024 5:37:28 PM Delia- Want to sneak up ahead and see what you see?
Stock spreads out by moving forward to the opening.
========= Religion 12 Perception 38 or 40 with stonecunning
Mossy Path (DM Wayne) Saturday March 16th, 2024 12:38:17 AM
Joker and Armalad appear to identify a smell… Armalad delays for the vanguard to advance, when she’ll follow them.
Stohp warns the group not to be in ‘fireball formation.’ She allows the vanguard to go slightly faster than her to begin the spread-out.
Bartomus pondered the advantages of earth elemental form. He reacted to Armalad’s identification of the smell by casting Stoneskin.
Delia advances from shadow to shadow, the faint glow of the bioluminescent mushrooms providing plenty of shadows, looking for a foe to pin to the cave!
Zanderallen reaches for his sword, pauses on recognizing the smell, and pulls his warhammer instead. He advances to join Stock, requesting a Light spell as he goes.
Stock, in a low voice, asks Delia to go scout and then he advances to the opening, soon joined by Zanderallen nearby.
Dolgrin obliges Zanderallen with a Light spell on his warhammer.
Cautiously advancing to the entrance the Shields see… the tube widen to 15’ and likewise the ceiling rises to 15’. Seven stalagmites dot the floor on your left, each with active drips slowly building them taller and taller by mineral transference. The far wall is 50’ ahead but the tube then curves to the right, still 15’ wide. Then, rising from the piles of bone shards in the center of the chamber over several seconds, two giant-size humanoid skeletons stand before you, claws out!
What do you do?
(OOC – They are flat-footed, having just formed out of piles of bone, and have not taken an action of their own yet)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+25=39 ; Saturday March 16th, 2024 10:18:17 AM
Stohp will advance so that those around the corner can move up and get line of sight. She'd like to get in AR/AS 10/11 but will can only do so if K (Stock I'm guessing?) moves up. If he does that will let her move there and grapple, otherwise she'll just fill whatever space is open after the front line moves. Her grapple check is 39.
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used d20+27=38 ; d10+32=36 ; d6=5 ; Saturday March 16th, 2024 2:12:54 PM Status Effects: Raging Stock glances back at Dolgrin and says, "Ready to see the mighty Silver Shields go to work, cousin?" He smiles and then charges ahead, swinging his flail.
========= Rage Charge to AT10 Power Charge with flail hits AC38, 36 bludgeoning+5 electricity AC is 2 less from charge Delia is protected by Bodyguard feat: When an adjacent ally is attacked, you may use an attack of opportunity to attempt the aid another action to improve your ally’s AC. You may not use the aid another action to improve your ally’s attack roll with this attack.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+25=27 ; d8=5 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; d8=7 ; d6=3 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; 4d6=10 ; 10d6=33 ; Sunday March 17th, 2024 6:47:34 PM
Armalad and Joker adavance to AG8 and then peering around the corner fires an arrow imbued AU 10 which is within 30 feet and qualifies as a sneak attack if it hits. She remembers to whisper the command word to turn off merciful
27 vs FF AC on G1 at AU 10 - 10 Magic Piercing + 5 fire + 4ice + 6 shock + 12 Magic Piercing + 3 fire + 4 ice + 6 shock from multishot + 10 sneak attack + DC 19 Reflex save or take 33 shock damage from lighting bolt with 16 on successful save and G2 will have to make the DC 19 reflex save or take 33 shock with only 16 on half.
If the arrow misses the spell fizzles
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=35 ; Monday March 18th, 2024 12:07:54 AM
Bartomus shifted into the corner and let Armalad and Joker pass. He then quickly, as quickly as he could in the tight passage, to get to the opening of the hall.
He looked about and tried to find the source for the creature's creation from the bits about the cavern.
Perception 35
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday March 18th, 2024 8:08:55 AM
Stohp realizes that the tightness of the corridor will make grappling hard and switches her action to a trip (grappling would pull the monster to her which can't be done if someone is in front of her attacking it)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+29=34 ; d20+29=33 ; d20+24=40 ; d20+19=39 ; d20+19=20 ; d20+14=23 ; d8+24=29 ; d6=2 ; d8+24=26 ; d6=4 ; d8+24=26 ; d6=2 ; d8+24=30 ; d6=3 ; d8+24=32 ; d6=3 ; d8+24=31 ; d6=2 ; d8+17=18 ; d20+17=23 ; d6+7=11 ; Monday March 18th, 2024 10:33:43 AM (Delia is at AQ11, in the corner, so no bodyguard feat for her)
Seeing her allies charge in, she fires at volley at G2.
Hawky will swoop down and spring attack at G1, ending his move at AQ10.
====== Undead +4, point blank shot +1 Attack 1: 34 to hit { 29 piercing, 2 cold + 26 piercing, 4 cold Attack 2: 33 to hit { 26 p, 2 c Attack 3: 40 to hit { 30 p, 3 c Attack 4: 39, not confirmed { 32 p, 3c Attack 5: 23 to hit { 31 p, 2 c
(accidentally rolled a d8) Hawky attack: 23 to hit { 11 piercing
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34(32 Cleave) T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+27=47 ; d20+31=41 ; 3d8=16 ; 2d6=12 ; d20+22=27 ; d8+20=25 ; 2d6=5 ; Monday March 18th, 2024 3:00:32 PM
Zanderallen takes the opportunity to slip past the closer skeleton while it's unable to react moving next to both. He then cleaves through both. ==================== Move to AV11 Standard Action Cleave G1 into G2 with Undead bane warhammer -2 to AC
G1 (should be 3 lower forgot to subtract PA) Nat 20, 38 to confirm, 88 damage (3d8+2d6+60)
G2 27 to hit, 30 damage
Mossy Path (DM Wayne) d20+5=8 ; d20+5=11 ; Monday March 18th, 2024 11:23:41 PM
Stock summons a torrent of strength and then with but a few words to Dolgrin, Stock charges into battle! His flail strikes the skeleton like lightning from above, denting the shabby metal armor that rose from the ground with the skeleton, cracking several bones! Yet, the skeleton still stands after the heroic impact.
Stohp hesitates a heartbeat for Stock to charge into battle, and then she advances to his ‘right wing’ and leg-sweeps the skeleton with her own leg, but Stohp is suddenly… visibly woozy on her hooves!
Stohp Highlight to display spoiler: {Something doesn’t ‘feel’ right here. ‘Woozy’ is not a condition with any penalties, but it seems like touching this skeleton for even a second longer than she had just done might be… unwise.}
Armalad advances, Joker close behind, until she is able to peer around the corner and, seeing giant skeletons in combat posture, launches an imbued arrow which just hits the skeleton solidly at an angle, avoiding Stohp’s leg as it returns, and piercing one of the armor dents Stock’s flail left, front and back, and continues on as a Lightning Bolt into the second skeleton! The front skeleton’s bones are ashen dust falling to the ground before it could collapse! The other skeleton likewise takes the full brunt of the Lightning Bolt but remains standing.
Bartomus looked for a way to move forward some distance, but it wasn’t happening in Taur form just yet, so he bided his time.
Delia began firing through the gap between Stohp’s right side and the cave, and though her third arrow was drawn back as her initial double-shot hit the skeleton, she instantly relaxed as the two arrows each struck and shattered a rib to either side with such violent impact that the shockwaves shattered the skeleton entirely, its haphazard metal armor falling to the ground on top of the inanimate bone shards!
As silence descended upon the cave Bartomus quickly advanced past his compatriots and began examining the ashes and shattered bones of the two giant skeletons as well as the now-not-so-large pile of bones in the center of the chamber. Perhaps magic was involved, but what kind? He also took a gander around the corner, the dim light beyond the chamber showing the 15’-wide exit was a switchback, shrinking to just 10’ wide.
Zanderallen had begun moving, but the arrows had outpaced him and the battle was over before he’d taken two steps!
Sensing safety, and wanting some light to be in, Hawky flew ahead and perched on Delia’s shoulder.
Likewise sensing the battle was over, Dolgrin advanced around the corner, his eyes confirming his suspicion, and was soon adjacent to the Shields, “I heard the lightning bolt but…” Dolgrin looks around at the ash and the bone shards, “Skeletons. Giant ones at that. Hm, I think that metal armor remnant… notice the burn marks. Half-Plate, originally, blackened steel… Fire Giants! Who… or what… is powerful enough to first kill and then animate Fire Giants as Giant Skeletons?!?”
The Shields’ nerves are still aflame with adrenaline. (OOC – with the battle over, your posts can be more talky than ‘six seconds,’ but we remain in round-by-round as far as movement/exploration.)
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+27=46 ; d20+13=18 ; d20+27=35 ; d20+15=16 ; d20+1=3 ; d20+15=34 ; Tuesday March 19th, 2024 2:48:45 AM
Armalad and Joker move forward and join the rest of the group in investigating the skeletal remains. At Dolgrim's question Armalad tries to apply her knowledge of religion and the arcane to answering it.
She'll also study the skeletons themselves from a spellcraft perspective to see if they were perhaps created by some variant of an animate dead spell.
If she can at least tell the spell if one was used she could tell Dolgrim how powerful a caster would have to be to animate the fallen giants.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday March 19th, 2024 8:55:52 AM "They were just coming together as we rounded the corner. Whoever or whatever is making them is probably near, and there may be more further in. We should advance before the enemy realizes we're here."
She starts to move, then stops to add. "Also, touching them felt strange while they were animate so try to only hit them with weapons."
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Tuesday March 19th, 2024 9:07:53 AM
Stock’s rage leaves him and for once is not exhausted. ”Too slow, Big Z!” Hearing Stohp and agreeing with the need for swift action, Stock moves ahead down the path, trying to keep a wall on his right and stopping at the first sign of trouble.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday March 19th, 2024 11:30:19 AM "Well done with the arrows!" Bartomus exclaimed as he hurried as best he could through the narrow passage and began his investigation.
" Could be Stohp, or could we have tripped something like a ward that started their coming together?" He asked. The he followed it up with a couple of questions to Dolgrin.
[B]" Any other creatures that you recognize the skulls of that seem odd here? Oh, and I'm assuming burying these in a wave of mud is out of the question as we were told don't soften the stone and such. "[B]
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34(32 Cleave) T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday March 19th, 2024 1:45:17 PM
Zanderallen considers investigating the skeletons further but agrees with the assessment that if they triggered something they best keep moving before more things have time to prepare for them. "Too slow, humph." He's about to make an asthma joke but then stops himself short when he realizes Stock doesn't seem winded coming out of his battle rage. Seem you can teach an old dog new tricks. Instead he keeps his mouth shut and matches Stock, staying on his left side alert for more danger.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+40=47 ; d20+33=47 ; Tuesday March 19th, 2024 4:23:16 PM
Delia switches back into stealth mode, whispering “Fetch" to Hawky about her two arrows (if salvageable). Hawky will then alight on Zander's shoulder.
Delia slips past everyone to resume her scouting position, about 15ft ahead of their frontline.
Stealth: 47 Perception: 47 (51 v undead/aberrations)
Mossy Path (DM Wayne) Tuesday March 19th, 2024 11:34:07 PM
Dolgrin belatedly casts a Light spell on ZanderallenÕs shield.
Armalad and Joker move further into the chamber, looking over the bones, shards, and ash, ArmaladÕs arrow-Light overtaking the dim light of mushroom patchesÉ taking note of the pieces of worn half-plate armorÉ and with the bone pile minus some of the bones that became ash, she also sees many bits of giant-size clothes, rotted. Exposure to the mushrooms? Tiny cave insects? Necromancy? HmmmÉ. Armalad pondersÉ Highlight to display spoiler: {arcane formulas tell you with sufficient material components a powerful cleric could have done this in but a single casting, but thereÕs no visible spellcasters nearby, and none of the group has reported having heard spellcasting. Where even to begin Ð mortal spellcastersÉ donÕt some demons and devils summon undead? Too many possibilities without more cluesÉ[/b] } She tells Dolgrin, ÒWe might be dealing with a wizard or cleric of the fifteenth circle at the minimum, but I think itÕs someone or something more powerful than thatÉ if not a mortal spellcaster, maybe an extraplanar being?Ó
Stohp observes that who/whatever empowered the skeletons, they must be somewhat nearby. She relates the strange effect just physically touching one had on her and warns the group to rely on weapons instead.
Stock jokes with Zanderallen and then moves ahead on StohpÕs conclusion.
Bartomus congratulates the archers. He muses whether the group had tripped a magical trap of some sort. Bartomus asks whether Dolgrin recognizes the bones of any other creatures amidst the pile.
Zanderallen considers spending more time investigating, but nods in agreement with Stohp and Stock about moving forward. He tilts his head slightly in curiosity, realizing that StockÕs battle-rage did not leave Stock winded for once! Zanderallen moved full speed ahead to keep pace with Stock.
Delia is far more surefooted in the Tunnels than Zanderallen, or even Stock at times, and is soon ahead of them and ZanderallenÕs new Light-shield. A brief whisper and Hawky flits near where the arrows hit and grabs what he can. A quick glance from Delia and she tosses them into one of the bags of holding to avoid leaving any more evidence of the groupÕs presence than necessary.
Dolgrin listens to Armalad and nods, ÒAny of those, or maybe something else entirelyÉ two Fire Giants takes a lot of power to animate at once, I like your thinkingÉÓ he trails off, his gaze hanging for a moment on the floorÉ or maybe on a patch of the mushroomsÉ before he turns and looks to resume his place in the middle of the marching order.
The remainder of the group then move to follow Delia, Stock, and Zanderallen in case thereÕs a spellcaster to stomp and question!
The skeletons and their prey (?) behind you, the tube does a somewhat-quick 180-degree turn to the right and shrinks back to 10Õ wide for the next 50Õ when it turns slightly to the right and a 5Õ-wide, 2Õ-deep stream blocks your path, flowing fast, but no rapids. Occasionally Stock spots a blind cave fish or three, but none of the Shields knowledgeable about fish notice anything unusual. The ingress and egress of the stream are filled to the top with water, and likely nothing is there but cave fish.
Ropes of Climbing are soon brought to bear, with Delia, Stock, and Stohp simply taking running leaps across and safely landing on the other side. It barely takes a minute for the group to move on, if that.
Having forded the stream, the Shields make another slight turn to the right followed by a sharp turn to the left, and then a second such turn. You reach an intersection. To your right the tube goes 45Õ and hits a wall, with a 15Õ-wide opening at the end-right, nothing but a few stalagmites in sight. To your left the tube goes 10Õ and then opens up into a medium-size chamber, with the far wall only 30Õ away and a 20Õ-wide opening on the right Ð more interesting is that Stock points out the remnants of a dwarven ÔcampsiteÕ Ð scraps of rotting leather, spoiled food with the stink of years, but no bodies, bones, and so forth.
Stock Perception DC 15 Highlight to display spoiler: {The rotted remnants of the dwarven campsite must be eight years old or more.} Other Shields Knowledge: Nature DC 15 Highlight to display spoiler: {The rotted remnants of the dwarven campsite must be eight years old or more.}
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+27=43 ; d20+25=28 ; d20+22=28 ; d20+20=37 ; Wednesday March 20th, 2024 3:28:17 AM
Armalad and Joker survey the campsite.
Joker says, "This campsite aged like milk."
Armalad says, "I'd say its at least 8 years old."
To Dolgrim she asks, "On the off chance the giant corpse animater wasn't other-wordly, did any of the previous expeditions include a high powered cleric? I'd hate to think that one of your own went evil but if there are undead horrors down here I have to wonder if it is possible if a hypothetical cleric was slain by and came back as a powerful intellligent undead if it still might be able to tap into some of the power said cleric possessed in life only perverted in undeath or perhaps a hypothetical high level cleric could be possessed or mind controlled by something else?"
Both the elf and her familiar keep an eye out for potential threats
Perception - 28 - Armalad Perception - 37 - Joker
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+22=40 ; Wednesday March 20th, 2024 8:27:58 AM
Stohp hrms to herself as she thinks. No sign of a caster nearby, but fire giants aren't exactly known to be an underdark species and even if it was some weird confluence of magical nonsense that made the skeletons animate someone had to bring the skeletons down here. She files it away as weird but currently unanswerable. The campsite is promising and may have answers so she helps search it for clues. (Perception 40)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+8=21 ; d20+16=31 ; Wednesday March 20th, 2024 9:48:49 AM
Bartomus looked into the camp site and took some time to see what the others had described. He joined Stohp in the investigation of the site pulling out a moonrod to better see if necessary.
"So, they were eating, maybe repairing something?"Bartomus asked aloud as he looked at the few remnants of the camp. "Or, could something have gotten their attention and a food storage bag was left and other things over time pulled it apart? I mean, I don't think that a group of dwarves are going to run off without finishing their breakfast unless there was a sudden emergency."
He snickered and winked as he thought of a dwarf missing a meal and glanced over at Stock.
Knowledge natured 21 and perception helping Stohp 31
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used d20+27=44 ; d20+27=38 ; Wednesday March 20th, 2024 9:53:15 AM
Stock nods at Armalad’s and Joker’s observations. He moves among the camp detritus and does his own search.
======= Perception vs dc15: 44 Perception searching the campsite: 38
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=50 ; d20+45=53 ; d20+16=18 ; Wednesday March 20th, 2024 10:25:24 AM
Seeing the others begin a thorough examination of the campsite, Delia will stand guard at the new opening.
Hawky hops to Stohp's shoulder, peering around with her for anything of interest at the campsite.
======== Perception to stand watch: 50 (54 v undead/aberrations) Stealth: 53 Hawky aid for Stohp: 18
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday March 20th, 2024 10:55:10 AM "Well, looks like we chose the correct path. But I still don't like what I'm seeing. I wouldn't expect the scribes to purposefully leave behind a camp site like this. They would have cleaned up behind themselves. So they were either attacked or felt the need to leave in a hurry. How long would blood stains last down here?"
He answers Armalad's question, "If they were followers of Domi, they would no longer be getting power from him. But there are plenty of less honorable powers that love to tempt mortals away from the path of good with promises of power."
He moves to the mouth of the stalagmite filled tunnel ready to continue on once they're done investigating the campsite.
Mossy Path (DM Wayne) Wednesday March 20th, 2024 10:10:20 PM
Armalad and Joker review the campsite, with Armalad concluding there’s at least 8 years of deterioration of leather and other bits and bobs. She discusses with Dolgrin the possibility that a past expedition had a powerful dwarven cleric who was desecrated into undead, or worse.
Stohp ponders. The Fire Giants’ presence this far in the Underwold without nearby lava didn’t make sense to her. She too looked over the campsite for clues.
Bartomus joined Stohp. He suggested there was something unusual about dwarves leaving remnants of food behind, given the need to carry everything with them to avoid being tracked by foes. Bartomus returned to helping Stohp.
Stock nods with Armalad and then does his own search of the campsite.
Delia stands guard at the tunnel not yet traveled. Hawky joins Stock.
Zanderallen was simultaneously pleased at finding clues and melancholy about the implications. He replies to Armalad regarding a cleric amongst the scribes. Then he stands with Delia, waiting for the others to complete their search.
Dolgrin, too, takes a turn reviewing the campsite. In the middle of that task, he replies to Armalad, “Possibly. I agree with Bartomus, the food remnants are a clear sign they faced imminent danger, or perhaps were slain or captured before they could react. Yes, each team had a cleric, but other than Klink, who went his own way, barely a few are at the Shields’ power level amongst all four teams we trained. Though we’ve traveled a good distance to get here, if the servants of some dark power traveled this route, that’s close enough to be troublesome for the Clan. As for mind control… I shudder to think of the power required to bend the mind of a trained cleric, or druid for that matter.”
The camp-searchers spend more than a few minutes sifting through the detritus – no weapons, armor, or similar gear – a crushed lantern whose oil has long-since evaporated, a few blackened backpack straps and a few untouched backpack straps… broken sticks of chalk…
Stock reaches into a thick pile of torn clothing bits and pulls out a signet ring with a partial finger inside, the dried skin shredding at Stock’s lightest touch, leaving just a finger knucklebone piercing the ring-shaped void within. He says, “Dolgrin, what do we have here? I don’t recognize the family crest.” Dolgrin reaches out and Stock drops the ring into his right hand. Dolgrin pulls out a cloth from his belt pouch and cleans off the ring. He stares intently at it. “That’s the Mountainmane crest. Dalognan was in the group of scribes that came this way, a fine tracker and decent combatant… but something strong must have ripped off or cut off at least one finger to leave this behind… this was our first expedition not to return from this general area, far along the mossy path. Presuming we survive whatever killed them I’ll have a sad report to make if… when… we return.”
The others find more of the same detritus. Whatever fate befell the scribes, it took them bodily with virtually all of their possessions. The searchers conclude their work and the Shields reform into standard marching order.
The Shields having learned an unfortunate truth, you press on to the other tube which stays 15’ wide at the sharp right turn, but it’ll be a bit of slow going as a large number of stalagmites will slow the Taurs as they walk. Some 40’ ahead on the left corner the tube continues to the left. Dolgrin comments, “I should name this chamber Taurs’ Misery! Heh heh heh… sorry… no, I was lying, I’m not sorry.” Dolgrin finishes with a smirk. (OOC – Taurs have to squeeze through this room, as the openings between the many stalagmite columns are no more than 5’ wide, at most, and not often that wide.)
Having squeezed by the small maze of stalagmites, the Shields take the slight left about 15’ and then take another slight left, entering a T-intersection from the side. The tube continues straight 30’ when it thins to just 5’ wide by 5’ tall, yet also there’s a 20’-wide opening on your left which doesn’t have a far wall in view yet you hear the low roar of a stream with not-quite-rapids… waterfall?
Delia and Stock whisper to the group that there’s a big hole in the ground ahead, 20’ wide, and longer than they can see with Darkvision from where they’re standing.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday March 20th, 2024 10:55:12 PM
Armalad asks, "Can the taurs squeeze through the tighter passage or is the risk too great? Should we investigate the watery abyss ahead but be weary lest we potentially accidentally lose footing and slip?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday March 21st, 2024 5:12:27 AM "I'm good for anything that doesn't require you guys to squeeze through." Stohp says. She's quite agile, and though it's slow she's able to weave through the stalagmites without to much trouble.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+40=52 ; d20+33=45 ; Thursday March 21st, 2024 9:01:04 AM "Be right back," Delia creeps towards the edge of the hole, stopping before she reaches it. Even if she can't see anything, she will listen for any sounds other than water.
===== Stealth move to M12
Stealth: 52 Perception: 45 (49 v undead/aberrations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Thursday March 21st, 2024 12:22:44 PM
When the size of the chamber in front of them is revealed Zanderallen pulls out the bull's eye lantern he acquired and preps it to be lit. "If we want to risk the light this lantern will illuminate much further than I believe your dwarves can see." He awaits the decisions of the scouts to light the lantern. ================ Bull's eye lantern - 60ft cone bright light, 120 cone dim light
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Thursday March 21st, 2024 3:46:32 PM
[b]”I’m fine with more light here. Let’s keep moving. Let Delia scout ahead…wait where did Delia go? Oh I see or don’t see that is…”[b]
Stock pushes forward, once they have light at a pace that he assumes wouldn’t allow the party to catch up with Delia.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=35 ; Thursday March 21st, 2024 7:11:41 PM "Going to change into a rock hound to start getting around here," Bartomus said after struggling with the squeezing and the twisting. He then came up to where the others had stopped.
"Light it up Zman." Bartomus said as he closed his eyes wanting to avoid being flash blinded by the sudden sharing of light.
Perception - 35 - listen and look before the lights come on.
Mossy Path (DM Wayne) Thursday March 21st, 2024 10:04:17 PM
Armalad wonders whether the Taurs will make it through the stalagmite columns (all the Ms on the map) but with great effort and patience each of them does so, helped by torso-twisting and other tactics that might not have worked so well in full plate! She then asks whether the sound of water ahead, combined with the gaping hole in the floor, is worth investigating.
Stohp, perhaps the limberest Taur ever, still has to sweat her way through the stalagmites but she makes it look easy!
Delia asks the group to wait while she investigates the low roar of water.
Zanderallen readies his lantern, reminding the group of the risk of lighting it.
Stock tells Zanderallen to Ôlight that candle.Õ
Bartomus had a bit harder time than Stohp though he was making progress. Once done, he promised to wildshape the next time ÔTaurs MiseryÕ showed up! He too asked Zanderallen to light the lantern.
Delia advanced into the Night Below, and her Darkvision rewarded her sooner than she expected. The hole is both twenty feet wide and long, and who knows how deep! Ahead on DeliaÕs right she sees vast quantities of water rushing at herÉ but falling harmlessly into the hole! ItÕs a leap of some twenty feet to reach the stream flowing swiftly towards you and then thereÕll be some resistance from the fast-moving stream Ð could be five feet deep the whole way ahead towards its source, and itÕs ten feet wide with ten feet of open air above it before the cave ceiling. It goes back farther than Delia can see, standing at the lip of the pit.
Then DeliaÕs Darkvision is colorized as ZanderallenÕs lantern flickers on and the group advances some twenty feet towards Delia and the hole, the group now seeing in color everything Delia saw in monochrome. The Shields look at each other, considering whether to wade through the shoulder-high stream, use tools to side-climb along the walls, or perhaps use magic? Dolgrin squints and spots something, ÒScratches. Giant-hand-size scratches Ð looks like the giant skeletons came from beyond the water and just side-climbed because they have skinny fingers, or claws, or whatever.Ó
Delia looks down, her Darkvision taking her farther down the pit than the lantern shows, the pit going some forty feet to a large pool of water, and the water too murky to see how deep it goes. The pitÕs water level is not rising, but neither is it sinking, so the water is going somewhere. She looks up at the giant hand scratches on the river walls, above the water, and agrees with DolgrinÕs assessment that the giant skeletons travel that way, crawling along the walls, and somewhat often, often enough that even she, the best tracker in the Float, if not all of the Elennian Peninsula, canÕt tell exactly how many unique skeleton claw marks there are Ð too heavily travelled, too recently Ð as in the last few months, or less.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday March 22nd, 2024 12:21:00 AM
Armalad says, "I guess the question is do we risk the unknown of the water or the heavily traveled side path the Giants take. I have a single Fly spell I can cast and Joker can always fly being a Mephit otherwise I'll have to share in the climbing gear if we are taking the side climb approach. I don't think it is a good idea to chance the water personally being that it has to go empty somewhere to keep the water level consistent and who knows if there is an undertow that could drag us down there?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday March 22nd, 2024 11:13:08 AM "I agree, Armalad. Unknown cave water is bad news, I wouldn't want to risk it either. "I have spider climb boots and could ferry all but the Taur across - if piggybacking isn't too undignified for y'all - without use of spells. And if we have pitons, I could help place them so that Stohp and Bart could climb across with secure hand and footholds."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Friday March 22nd, 2024 3:59:54 PM
Zanderallen sighs as he looks the pit, waterfall, and scratch marks. There really wasn't any option other than to climb across and find out where those fire giants had come from. "Let's be smart about how we cross, if we run into trouble on the other side whoever is over there needs to be able to defend themselves while everyone else gets across. Stock, do you want to go first? Delia can bring me over right after."
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used d20+15=27 ; Friday March 22nd, 2024 4:35:43 PM ”i have two potions of fly as well. For now let’s proceed with caution. Maybe tether together with a rope.” He makes his way to the wall, ties his rope around his waist and starts free climbing.
Climb 27
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday March 22nd, 2024 6:46:08 PM
Stohp eyes the distance. "I could jump that with no problem as long as there's space for me on the other side. There's also a tunnel back that way we could try."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=30 ; Friday March 22nd, 2024 9:35:50 PM "Would be interesting to see where that water goes. But, can also find away to cross over to the other side if that is our goal - always fun to try out a new form - air elemental for example." Bartomus said as he looked over the revealed portion of the cavern.
Perception 30
Mossy Path (DM Wayne) Saturday March 23rd, 2024 7:32:05 PM
Armalad muses about strategic tunnel choices.
Delia agrees on the danger of chancing the water, and suggests how she could help create a climbing route for the group.
Zanderallen declared the need to track the giant skeletons was imperative, and involved all in the tactical decisions.
Stock noted he had two potions of Fly to contribute to the mission, if needed. Then he gathered some rope around himself and with his prodigious muscles began climbing to assist Delia with getting the group over and past the underground stream.
Stohp considers jumping the twenty-foot pit to speed things up, then reminds the group of the unexplored tunnel.
Bartomus is curious about where the water drains to, and suggests he Wildshape into an air elemental to bypass the stream.
Dolgrin listens silently, nodding at the ideas of each Shield in turn.
(OOC Ð DM Mike takes the chair on Monday. IÕll be back for the April 6 post in exactly two weeks!)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=21 ; Sunday March 24th, 2024 11:20:40 AM
Bartomus shrugs and then wanders back to the small tunnel that was behind him. He wildshaped into a small earth elemental and wanders down that passage peaking about as he proceeded. He stopped at the opening and peaked into the larger chamber.
Wildshape; move to G3; then perception 21, not sure how tremor sense would work but would wave that into this effort to get a sense of the next chamber - specifically if there is any movement in that chamber and if possible is water associated with it as well.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday March 24th, 2024 3:29:21 PM
Armalad says, "Let's wait for Bartomus's scouting report to get an idea of how we should play this. He turned into an earth elemental yes? Perhaps his tremor sense can tell us something about what might be in the next chamber."
(OOC: A creature with tremorsense is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground. Aquatic creatures with tremorsense can also sense the location of creatures moving through water. The ability's range is specified in the creature's descriptive text. - I think he should just know if there is anything within 60 feet of him as he scouts)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday March 25th, 2024 6:49:55 AM
Stohp comments, "For all we know the path in the back meets up with this river further down so lets just go that way instead of spending time getting past this hole for now."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Monday March 25th, 2024 2:25:22 PM
Delia looks between the two paths. If Stock is continuing to climb she'll go with him, walking on the wall underneath where he's climbing.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Monday March 25th, 2024 2:26:30 PM
Zanderallen waits to hear back from the scouting effort. He thinks it unlikely the caves join together with all the evidence of passage seen on the rocks, but he's open to suggestions.
Checking with the tremorsense (DM MikeK) Monday March 25th, 2024 7:58:03 PM
Bartomus wildshapes into a small earth elemental and wanders down the path behind him.
Armalad, Zanderallen and Stohp hold positions, waiting for his report.
Stock hesitates. Delia waits with him.
From his position at the mouth of the chamber, Bartomus notes it is quite spacious – you’ve entered through a mere 5’ by 5’ tube that goes 10’ before opening into a 25’ by 55’ chamber with no visible exits. A beautiful selection of stalactites slowly grow from the 25’ high ceiling with none of them extending more than 10’ in length. The chamber appears to be empty.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday March 25th, 2024 11:42:57 PM
Armalad says, "if the chamber is empty and there are no exits I guess we have to go other way, unless it is possible there is some sort of hidden exit in the next chamber."
This is assuming Bart came back and told the team what he figured out.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday March 26th, 2024 8:39:20 AM
Stohp shrugs. "If the other way is a dead end then lets get moving past this hole. Looks like it's time to get wet." She'll let the others figure their own way past as if she jumps across first she'll block people from crossing (and is not the best front line).
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=29 ; Tuesday March 26th, 2024 9:45:10 AM
Bartomus took in what he could about the open chamber. He paused for a moment and then walked into chamber. He stood in his elemental form for a moment, took a sense of the space, and then returned to the small tube that he had come through.
a. If empty - Bartomus returned and made it known that the adjacent cavern was empty, but had some interesting geological features.
b. If not empty, Bartomus will react when he learns more.
Move to F7 pause and then return if in fact it continues to appear to be empty. When he returns, he will communicate the fact that the chamber was empty.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday March 26th, 2024 9:46:50 AM Perception check was 29 - sorry forgot to include it.
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Tuesday March 26th, 2024 11:14:59 AM ”If that spot is truly empty of hostile, it is basically another travel cave…we should note it on the map and move on. I agree though, it’s probably time to get wet. Let’s see if Bart spots anything first.”
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday March 26th, 2024 4:27:29 PM
Zanderallen prepares himself to climb or be carried, securing his pack and gear so they don't wash away.
Preparing for the descent (DM MikeK) Tuesday March 26th, 2024 6:51:34 PM
Bartomus moves into the chamber. In his earth elemental form he pauses, allowing his senses to take in the room. He sees nothing and senses no movement. The taur returns to report that the adjacent cavern was empty but had some interesting geological features.
The rest of the party continued preparations, but no one has started climbing or otherwise attempting to traverse the waterfall.
OOC - If attempting to climb please make three climbing checks vs DC 20
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday March 26th, 2024 11:21:01 PM
Armalad says, "If the next room has a hidden exit might Stock or Dolgrin notice being Dwarves and all? Don't they tend to have a natural sense for out of place stone work? Is it worth entering that room together save maybe the Taurs and just seeing if our Dwarven friends notice anything and then if they do and there is a secret exit we squeeze the Taurs through"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20=16 ; Wednesday March 27th, 2024 6:59:30 AM
Once a couple people are across Stohp will make the jump easily (35 acrobatics to jump the gap vs DC 20 for a 20 foot jump)
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Wednesday March 27th, 2024 9:02:28 AM ”It sounded like Bart had a good look up there. It seems like we either go upstream or down the falls. .
Stock ties his rope around his waste and begins climbing the wall, taking his time and leaving the end of his rope behind for anyone else who wants to climb. ===========
Take 10 on climb for 25
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday March 27th, 2024 12:52:06 PM
Delia will get Zanderallen situated on her back and very slowly make her way across the gap with slippers of spider climbing. She takes a moment to recover once he is dropped off, muttering something about not letting him eat dwarf food anymore, then runs back over to get Armalad as well.
==========
ooc Heavy load up to 400lb, her own gear takes up ~35lbs of that. Zander in full plate cuts it close, but if my math is right he's between 250-300lb total. Slippers of Spider Climb only give 10 minutes of being sticky a day, so Delia is sticky for a full minute
Geronimo! (DM MikeK) Wednesday March 27th, 2024 7:01:18 PM
Armalad suggests investigating the eastern chamber further, but the rest of the Shields determine to press on.
Stock patiently works his down one wall beside the waterfall, rope dangling below him.
Delia carries Zanderallen down the other wall, relying on her sticky slippers to stay attached.
Hawky, naturally, flies down.
Dolgrin winks at Bartomus, and glides into the rock.
Stohp takes a jump. She clears the deep reservoir beneath the waterfall with ease, landing in the middle of the flowing stream beyond. She finds the water is about waist high to a taur and not fast enough to cause concern. She and a taur sized Bart should be able to wade to the end without issues. She notes medium sized folk might have a bit more trouble.
Regular claw marks in the walls leave tell tale signs that the giant skeletons avoided the water and climbed through this tunnel.
Up ahead, the water continues under a ledge, while a dry tunnel leads up and to the left.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday March 27th, 2024 11:24:21 PM
Armalad will let Delia climb her across the gap seeing as it would save her a Fly spell. Joker will fly and keep pace with Armalad and Delia
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday March 28th, 2024 7:09:38 AM "The water's kind of deep, watch yourselves" Stohp calls back to the others.
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Thursday March 28th, 2024 8:04:11 AM
[b]”You have a few options here Bart-and almost all involve you transforming into something else to get over here. As for me, I will keep climbing and moving forward. Wouldn’t want to get trench foot from wet boots if I can avoid it.”[ b]
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=22 ; Thursday March 28th, 2024 11:13:49 AM
Bartomus watched in alwonder as Dolgrin disappeared into the rock yet could sense his movement. The Taur turned elemental followed suit in a burrowing glide downward.
It took him a bit longer having gotten fascinated with the feeling and a quartz crystal he passed along the way down. When he found a good place to pop up in the pool filled chamber, he rose up out of the earth. He shook himself and returned to his taur form.
sorry for missing yesterday's post. Earth glide to BC 29, perception 22. Now in Taur form
Another chamber (DM MikeK) Thursday March 28th, 2024 7:21:50 PM
Delia is already carrying Zanderallen. Thus, to conserve her spells, Armalad must hitch a ride tied to the rope below Stock.
Bartomus elects to follow DolgrinÕs lead and earth glides to the open chamber.
He arrives last and moves into the next chamber behind the others.
Thankful to leave the stream behind, the Shields walk just 20Õ into a medium-sized chamber, about 40Õ long to the far wall and 20Õ wide. ThereÕs a 10Õ-wide opening in the far left corner, marking a hard left.
Once more itÕll be a bit of slow going as a large number of stalagmites will slow the Taurs as they walk. The floor is reasonably clean here, only two or three small bone scraps.
Perception DC 15 Highlight to display spoiler: {thereÕs some whiff of some kind of stinky scent coming from the opening in the far left corner, but itÕs too faint to try to identify, yet.}
Armalad says,"That's not a fart, but it does stink and it is coming from that opening in the far left corner."
Armalad warily stays with the rest of the group as they get nearer to the stinking corner staying towards the mid rear of the group.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday March 29th, 2024 7:27:54 AM
Stohp is cautious in her advance as the party approaches the stench. Something that smells like that down here is likely either a powerful monster's musk to scare away lessers or something dead that would draw scavengers.
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Friday March 29th, 2024 8:18:00 AM
[b]”I think this is one of those ‘Yes, and’ type situations, Joker. I broke wind back there but this is something else. And probably nothing good. Prepare yourselves. Dolgrin Cousin…is that some kind of cave smell I don’t recognize?”[b]
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=46 ; d20+45=55 ; Friday March 29th, 2024 3:19:07 PM (sorry for spotty posting this week. I'll be back on track next week) Longstrider, Darkvision, Favored Terrain +2
Delia takes one breath in and her eyebrows draw together. "Climbing can do that to you," she absently responds to Stock as she tries to identify the smell.
She creeps forward slowly towards the opening to get a better whiff.
Perception: 46 (+4 v undead/aberrations) Stealth: 55
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=30 ; Friday March 29th, 2024 3:59:06 PM
Zanderallen thanks Delia for the lift and catches his bearings in the new room. Catching the same whiff of something as everyone else he readies himself. He keeps his right hand free, knowing he can summon his sword with a thought. He moves towards the opening, shield raised to illuminate the space with the light cast upon it. ================ Move to H30
Perception 30
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=18 ; Friday March 29th, 2024 9:01:19 PM
Bartomus sighed when he saw the thin passages that now stood before them.
He changed back into a creature of stone and glided first to where he could see into the chamber keeping himself a part of the rock wall.
perception 18/ wildshape 2nd time into large stone elemental. Erth glide to E27 & 28
Trouble (DM MikeK) Sunday March 31st, 2024 7:36:49 PM
With heightened senses on full alert, the Shields cautiously move forward. Zanderallen raises his light enspelled shield to illuminate the space before them.
By the light of his shield, the party quickly confirms the 15’ by 25’ chamber with a 10’ wide opening in the far right corner, sharp right, has nothing but cave…but all of the Shields’ nerves are on fire.
Maybe he’s not paying attention or maybe his senses aren’t as attuned to potential dangers as the experienced adventurers. For whatever reason, Dolgrin moves past the group into the chamber and peeks around the corner.
He doesn’t say a word, but you notice a lengthening trickle of drool leaving his lip, and then he walks slowly ahead, only covering another 5’.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday April 1st, 2024 2:00:23 AM
Armalad and Joker move to I29 and cast Resilient Sphere on Dolgrim attempting to protect and trap the Dwarf. Dolgrim gets a DC 21 Reflex save to avoid being trapped in the sphere.
"I'm trying to protect Dolgrim while immobilizing him. In this way we can take out whatever is drawing him forward and then dismiss the protective sphere once the threat is gone." She explains to the others
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+25=32 ; d20+23=35 ; Monday April 1st, 2024 7:51:27 AM
Something's wrong here, Dolgrim wouldn't advance ahead of the party without cause and the drool is a huge warning flag. If he somehow avoids Armalad's sphere Stohp will grab him (Grapple 32), otherwise shell advance ahead of him looking about for what could be causing him to act strangely.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+13=14 ; Monday April 1st, 2024 9:41:34 AM
The crystals were distracting and slowed the Taur turned elemental's movement. He shrugged as he sensed that someone who was short and stout was moving faster than the rest of the party.
He emerged from the wall and sawy their guide, cave mentor moving forward and hearing the party talking about capturing him. He watched Stohp go by reaching for Dolgrin. He reached out and tried to help in the grapple. But things went wrong.
Sorry wrongly typed where I wanted to be. Finish earth glide out of the wall and come to I/J 26. Grapple attempt - fumble with a 1 plus modifier. SIGH, I am blaming the crystals.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Monday April 1st, 2024 11:30:34 AM
Delia curses as Dolgrin meanders forward. She grabs onto Hawky and moves up to H28. She'll wait to see if Stohp or Bartomus are affected by this call before advancing further.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Monday April 1st, 2024 2:11:21 PM
Zanderallen starts to reach out for Dolgrin as the dwarf starts to move past, concerned about his apparent lack of focus. When he hears Armalad magically containing the dwarf he switches focus to what might be causing the compulsion. "Good thinking Armalad. Everyone take care, something seems to be messing with his mind. Stay near me and Domi's power will aid you." He then moves forward to the front, his sword seemingly appearing his hand as it wills it to full size and to flame up. ===================== Move to I27 Aura of Resolve (Z immune to charm spells and spell-like, +4 for allies within 10 ft) Aura of Righteousness (Z immune to compulsion spells and spell-like, +4 for allies within 10 ft)
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Monday April 1st, 2024 4:11:10 PM ”I was about to say we should let Dolgrin lead us to the threat before restraining him…but this works too.”
He keeps close to Zanderallen albeit ahead of the paladin not wanting to take additional chances getting clear of the auras.
Snaring Dolgrin (DM MikeK) d20+5=7 ; Monday April 1st, 2024 7:40:12 PM
Armalad moves up and casts resilient sphere over Dolgrin. The spell easily encases the dwarf, who is now contained.
Stohp advances ahead of Dolgrin. Stohp - Roll 2 Will Saves.
Bart glides out of the rock behind Dolgrin. Bart - Roll 2 Will Saves. Include +4 morale bonus from Zanderallen.
Delia moves up, followed by Zanderallen and Stock. The ranger intentionally keeps back a bit. The paladin and dwarf are forced to do the same by the presence of Bartomus.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday April 1st, 2024 9:00:43 PM
Armalad says, "A resilient sphere is not without its weaknesses so ideally we shouldn't let Dolgrim out of our sight on the off chance a caster appears however that possibility is probably low considering we've cleared the area behind us so theoretically he should be safe enough until we deal with the threat unless you want Joker to stay behind and use an illusion to hide Dolgrim's sphere"
Depending on what the team suggests either Joker hangs back and stand next to Dolgrim creating a silent image of a rock formation with his wand or Joker advances with Armalad who stays toward the middle of the group
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+21=24 ; d20+21=38 ; Monday April 1st, 2024 10:47:33 PM
Bartomus moved forward and slid back into the corner of the wall. He had just emerged next to Stohp after failing his attempt to grapple the drooling dwarf.
Will saves with Z's added bonus - 24, 38 - Move to J/K 24
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+12=13 ; d20+12=20 ; Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 7:57:03 AM
Stohp makes two will saves to an unknown result (13 and 20)
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 2/44 used d20+27=46 ; Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 10:03:50 AM
Annoyed at the slow pace, Stock enters a rage and pushes ahead, looking for threats.
———- Rage. Perception looking for threats 46 Move to any threats Stock spots
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 4:31:00 PM
Zanderallen blinks as he realizes how far ahead some of the party has gotten. He pushes around the taurs to keep pace with Stock, deciding his best bet is to keep the angry dwarf in as sound a mind as possible. Or at least as sound as Stock ever got. ================ (OOC: This is what I get for not checking the legend close enough, got Dolgrin and Delia confused on the map last round.)
Moving with Stock to at least O24
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+16=35 ; Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 6:41:59 PM
Delia frowns in concern as everyone moves forward, she will however advance with Zander and Stock, weapons out, staying right behind her paladin friend.
She tells Hawky to Stay and Guard their backs. He will alert if he sees anything.
Hawky Perception: 35 (39 v undead/aberrations)
Rest (DM MikeK) Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 7:29:51 PM
Bartomus Only Highlight to display spoiler: { All Bart can hear in his mind is “You’ve won. You can rest now. Rest.” Please make another Will Save vs DC 29. Zanderallen’s +4 bonus is still in effect. }
Stohp Only Highlight to display spoiler: { Several more Fire Giant Skeletons fill the front end of a large cavern that stretches out into the darkness beyond. One dies under a fusilade from Delia and another is shredded by Armalad’s arrow borne lightning bolt. Zanderallen move forward to meet the remainders.}
Everyone except Bartomus and Stohp Highlight to display spoiler: { Bartomus stops. His arms hang limply at his side and drool drips from a lip. Stohp is similarly affected. But unlike Bart, Stohp slowly moves forward, walking another 5’ into the cavern before you.
Annoyed at the slow pace, Stock enters a rage, works his way through Bart’s unmoving legs and cuts around Stohp. Zanderallen and Delia follow the raging dwarf.
Armalad and Joker keep pace behind.
Hawky stays where Delia told him to guard.
As you delve deeper into this unknowable chamber, apparently devoid of stalagmites, with a ceiling out of your sight, all your mind (your mind!!) can hear is, “You’ve won. You can rest now.”
Everyone make two Will Saves. First vs DC 36 and Second vs DC 29. Stock, Zanderallen, and Delia gain +4 morale bonus from Zanderallen’s aura. This is a charm effect, but not a spell. Zanderallen is not immune.
}
Bart and Stohp - please do not look at the map. Mossy Path
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+21=25 ; Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 7:33:39 PM
Bartomus smiled and then sat down with a feeling of accomplishment.
Will save for 25
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+18=27 ; d20+8=12 ; d20+10=25 ; d20+8=28 ; Tuesday April 2nd, 2024 9:07:42 PM
Will Save 27 - Armalad (with Hero point) - fail Will Save 12 - Joker - fail Will Save2 - Armalad - fail Will Save2 - Joker - succeed (nat 20)
Arnalad fails both saves despite making a heroic effort on the first. Joker fails the first. Both take a seat.
(OOC: Will DC 36 really? Does anyone in the party have a chance at making that w/o rolling a nat 20? And so the shields get setup for a TPK off an unbeatable will save; hope I'm joking)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday April 3rd, 2024 8:20:40 AM
Stohp will take up position behind Zander and reach over him to trip the enemy.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+21=41 ; Wednesday April 3rd, 2024 9:47:17 AM Ohhh ohhh hero point - roll - oh wait, NVM - have to use the hero point before the roll - shucks!
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 2/44 used d20+8=18 ; d20+20=23 ; d20+20=22 ; Wednesday April 3rd, 2024 10:38:54 AM
Stock hears a buzzing in his head trying to break through his rage that grows into a voice. He swats at his head and looks around…
========== Save 1with hero point- I screwed up the modifiers but that should have been +28 to the roll for a total of 38 Save 2 - 23 for the love of…a natural 3? Clear Mind ability to re-roll: 22 you know…
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+26=29 ; d20+26=45 ; d20+26=30 ; d20+10=25 ; Wednesday April 3rd, 2024 2:46:41 PM
Zanderallen starts to relax and slow his pace, almost willing his sword away. But with a heroic effort his sense of danger comes roaring to life and he yells out at the top of his lungs to counter the voice in his head, "THIS IS NOT OVER! DO NOT ENTER THE CAVERN! He then spins around looking around him as he calls for the aid of Domi's power to empower his blade "Show yourself!" ================= Will(1): 29 Fails HERO POINT REROLL Will(1): 45 Passes Will(2) 30 Passes
Perception 25
Divine Bond - Holyand Speed to Longsword for 17 minutes
Delia gives her head a sharp shake, thinking "Shut up" back at the voice. She glances around at the glazed looks and slowed paces of her allies. Her grip tightens on her bow. Am I alone?, she starts to ask herself, before Zander's bellow and suddenly glowing sword startle her out of that line of thinking. She nods to him, advancing cautiously. She stays within 10 ft of Zander for now, and looks into the cavern.
Hawky holds position.
================= 44 heroic will save 1 33 will save 2
Perception: 37 (41 v undead/aberrations)
Cavern Battle (DM MikeK) Wednesday April 3rd, 2024 7:27:11 PM
Stohp, Armlad and Stock Highlight to display spoiler: { Several Fire Giant Skeletons fill the immense cavern before you, but you mow them down without effort. Across the cavern, the true enemy becomes visible in a violet light - a gigantic purple fungus, spheroid shaped and 50’ high, dominates the far side of the cavern. Armalad identifies it as a zygomind. The creature must be destroyed quickly before its supernatural charming effect takes hold.
Please post PC actions and also make another Will save. }
Bartomus, Zanderallen, and Delia Highlight to display spoiler: { Stohp, Stock, Aramalad and Joker, all drooling at the mouth, shuffle slowly eastward into an immense, stalactite free cavern.
At the edge of Zanderallen’s light, he and Delia can make out a line of stationary Fire Giant Skeletons. The cavern continues on behind them, but darkness obscures any details.
Bartomus is pulled from his reverie by the sound of a hawk screaming in his ear and the shock of a set of talons digging into his arm. Hawky has dug in to the taur and flapping for all he is worth, apparently trying to pull Bart back behind the K 27 - K29 wall.
The voice in the trio’s minds continues on - “No, rest. Rest now.” Hawky’s piercing screeching demands otherwise.
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. Zanderallen and Delia gain +4 morale bonus from Zanderallen’s aura. All three PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
}
Map for Zanderallen, Delia and Bart only. Mossy Path
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+18=27 ; d20+8=22 ; d20+24=33 ; d8=2 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=1 ; d8=1 ; d6=2 ; d6=6 ; d6=4 ; Wednesday April 3rd, 2024 9:20:54 PM
(OOC : What is the DC of the save?)
Armalad = 27 Joker = 22
Armalad explains to the others that the zygomind must be stopped quickly and then imbues her arrow with antimagic field supressing the merciful ability against the plant creature.
33 vs AC; 6 + 2 fire + 4 ice + 1 electirc and 5 + 2 fire + 6 ice + 4 electric and 10 foot antimagic field centered on where the arrow hit
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+12=20 ; Thursday April 4th, 2024 5:38:27 AM
Stohp will wait for the front line to charge the enemy and advance behind them. She can't really trip or disarm a fungus. (Will 20, 24 if close to Z's aura)
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 4:44 used d20+20=39 ; d20+25=42 ; d20+29=40 ; d10+32=42 ; d10+32=36 ; d6=6 ; d8=7 ; Thursday April 4th, 2024 9:21:54 AM
Stock bellows in rage and then moves past the shattered remains of the giants to get to the fungus to “kill” it…
==== Raging Will Save: 39 Power attack hits ac42, critical threat confirms vs ac40 If not a crit: 42 bludgeoning damage + 6 electricity If it is a crit: 78 bludgeoning damage + 6 electricity + 7 sonic + the target is sickened for 1 minute
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+19=39 ; d20+19=38 ; Thursday April 4th, 2024 9:53:01 AM
He was comfortable sitting there relishing the fact that they had done rather well. That they could rest. WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A SCREECH IN HIS EAR! Followed by three sharp pinches into his arm and with feathers all about.
Bartomus shook it off and realized that others are following along with their dwarven guide in a weird shuffle towards the darkeness further on the cavern. Someone was telling him to res, but Hawky's screeching and fluttering flaps were trying to bat that away.
"Alright, alright," Bartomus shouts at the screeching hawk. He moves quickly forward while the other voice echoed in his head.
He began preparing a spell as he saw what was coming at the edge of Zander's shields.
"Folks, It might get a bit brighter in here."
Move to KL 22; Will Save one - Critical at 39; followed by a 38; cast Sunbeam and hold first strike to next round. - just putting this here so I remember tomorrow! [0/5 used at 17d6 reflex save reduces damage by half, removes blindness]
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+26=40 ; d20+26=46 ; Thursday April 4th, 2024 12:17:55 PM
Confused and worried Zanderallen defaults to decisive action. He motions for Delia to follow, "Have Hawky try and wake the others, we've got to try and find the source. Let's go." Waiting just long enough to give Delia the chance to start moving Zanderallen sprints into the cavern, flaming sword held out to provide illumination. He'll run past the fire giants unless they move to block him. =============== Run 120 ft to AK 23 unless blocked by fire giants or something else. Will Saves 40 and 46
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+23=43 ; d20+23=35 ; Thursday April 4th, 2024 2:10:22 PM "Get eyes on something and I've got your back from here," She calls after Zander, running over to Stock. "No rest until we're dead. And that might not even stick," she tells the dwarf, slapping him sharply.
"BART! There might be something behind us! Hawky was on guard mode. Hawky, Alert! Stay behind the corner and keep us grounded, buddy," she shouts, continuing to shake Stock until his eyes come back into focus.
Hawky will turn and prepare to fight if there is something to fight. If not, he finds something to perch on (not Bart, he might move). Either way, he continues his ear piercing screech as requested.
======================= Will save 1 nat 20 for 43 Will save 2 35
Move to P26 and attempt to wake Stock
Cavern Battle rd2 (DM MikeK) d20+15=27 ; d20+15=35 ; d20+15=26 ; d8+5=7 ; d20+15=31 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+15=22 ; d20+15=34 ; d20+15=19 ; d8+5=8 ; Thursday April 4th, 2024 9:17:31 PM
Stohp, Armlad Highlight to display spoiler: { Armalad encases the zygomind in an anti magic field, effectively reducing the dangerous creature to a big fungus. Stohp is unable to grapple, but the rest of the Shields, led by Stock, batter and slice until there is nothing left.
As the Shields clear away the debris, Stohp notices a shiny box at the base of the former zygomind’s perch.
Please post PC actions and also make another Will save - DC29 Stohp gets +2 bonus. }
Bartomus, Zanderallen, Stock, and Delia Highlight to display spoiler: { Stohp and Aramalad and Joker, all drooling at the mouth, continue to shuffle slowly eastward into the immense, stalactite free cavern.
Stock’s raging mind refuses to accept what he sees. Suddenly, the dwarf finds himself in a completely different reality. Now he’s back at the start of the cavern with Zanderallen and Delia. A line of fire giants stand to his front.
And Hawky is being awfully loud.
Zanderallen races into the darkness, his shield casting light throughout the immense cavern. The fire giant skeletons react slowly. Two swing at the paladin as he runs past. One hits. Zanderallen takes 7 hp damage
By Zanderallen’s light, all can see the chamber is very big, is filled up with quite a few fire giant skeletons, and is occupied at the far end by an enormous cage shaped plant of some kind. A strange glowing emanates from within it.
Delia sees Stock has snapped out of it. She instead shakes Stohp frantically.
Bartomus moves up and casts a spell.
– Fire Giant Skeletons close in and attack Zanderallen. One hits. Zanderallen takes 8 hp damage.
The rest move to cut off the rest of the party.
The voice in each of your minds continues on - “Rest Rest. Rest now.” Hawky’s piercing screeching continues unabated.
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. If you save vs the first (DC 36), there is no need to roll a second time. If you fail the first, roll a second (DC 29)
Zanderallen gains +4 morale bonus from his aura. All PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
}
Map for Zanderallen, Delia, Stock and Bart only. Mossy Path
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+27=40 ; d20+29=38 ; Friday April 5th, 2024 1:59:34 AM
Assuming Stohp tells Armalad about the shiny box she casts detect magic and attempts to identify if magical.
Know - Arcana = 40 Spellcraft - 38
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+18=28 ; d20+8=24 ; Friday April 5th, 2024 2:04:03 AM
Saves - 28 = Armalad (Heroic still failed) 24 - Joker
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20=14 ; Friday April 5th, 2024 7:11:04 AM
Hrm. That felt to easy and do fast. Doesn't combat usually take what feels like at least a week even though it's only 30 seconds? Something niggles in the back of Stohps mind but she can't quite resolve it so shrugs and picks up the box (28 will)
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 4:44 used d20+25=45 ; d20+29=39 ; d20+20=23 ; d20+15=23 ; d20+10=11 ; d10+32=39 ; d10+32=40 ; d6=1 ; d8=2 ; d20+18=22 ; d20+18=29 ; Friday April 5th, 2024 11:55:23 AM
Stock shakes his head and growls at Delia trying to wake him. He steps forward now that he has a different target and tries to cut a path to big Z.
He yells, [b]”Get out of my head!”[b] ====== 5 ft step east Full attack vs F8 and then F9 PA hits AC45, critical threat probably confirms vs AC39, 79 bludgeoning + 1 electrical + 2 sonic + sickened although that probably is not relevant PA2, 3 and 4 probably miss vs AC23, 23 and 11 Will save 1 fails with 22 Will save 2 passes with 29
+4AC vs giant subtype
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 144/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 17d6=56 ; Friday April 5th, 2024 4:04:19 PM
Bartomus sends a beam of bright reddish light at the skeleton in front of him (F7) and yells.
"Those are not friendlies folks."
Sunbeam at F7 - 1/5 used at 17d6 reflex save reduces damage by half, removes blindness.
56 points of damage from 17d6 as the creature is undead. Reflex save - to take 1/2 and if fails, undead creature dies. Reflex save I believe is 21 - 8+ 8 (1/2 of 17) + 5 from Wisdom Bonus with the headband.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 221/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+26=38 ; Friday April 5th, 2024 9:33:57 PM
Zander sprints through the skeleton horde his mind screaming against the voice inside his head, barely noticing the claws tearing his flesh. As the light from his sword illuminates the tree he gasps, but he had no doubt this thing was responsible for the voice. It must have lured an entire tribe of fire giants to be enthralled and then devoured them. Pointing his sword at the tree he roared out to his friends, "BRING IT DOWN!!" Then brandishing his blade above his head he spoke with authority as a flash of white light emanated from the holy symbol of Domi inscribed on the hilt, "Turn aside, creatures of undeath." Slowing his mad dash to a walk he awaited the results of his turning, hoping to clear a path to the tree. ================= Damage taken after DR/5: 5
Will Save 38 passes
Standard Action: 2 use of Lay on Hands to Turn Undead (feat) All undead with 30 ft (1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14 I think) must make a DC 26 Will Save or flee as if Panicked for 1 minute (intelligent undead can make a new save every round)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+19=26 ; d20+19=21 ; d20+19=36 ; d20+28=48 ; d20+28=38 ; d20+28=44 ; d20+23=37 ; d20+18=38 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+13=17 ; d8+19=20 ; d8+19=25 ; d8+19=23 ; d8+19=26 ; d8+19=22 ; 2d8+38=42 ; 2d8+38=42 ; 2d10=13 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d4=3 ; d6=5 ; d6=5 ; d6=1 ; 2d10=9 ; d6=5 ; Saturday April 6th, 2024 2:27:49 PM Longstrider, Darkvision, Underground +2 ooc(sorry for any formatting issues or mistakes, I had to post from my phone today)
Delia let's go of Stohp's arm, turning at Zander's call and, if able, will take her full turn to light the tree/fungus/thing up.
============= save 1 w/ improved iron will reroll: 21 save 2: 36 ============= Range penalty -1 for ~150 feet, looked at the wrong line in my character sheet for modifier in roller, but I always use Deadly Aim so subtracted below, if undead +4 attack and damage, 6 flaming arrows used
Nat 20, 33 to confirm | 20 + 5 cold + 4 fire damage (if crit, 62+18+4 damage instead) & 25+6+6 damage 39 to hit | 23 + 4 c + 4 f damage 32 to hit | 26 + 5 c + 5 f damage Nat 20, 22 to confirm | 22 + 1 c + 5 f damage (if crit, 64 + 10 + 5 instead) 12 to hit
Cavern Battle Rd3 (DM Wayne) d20+19=27 ; d20+19=30 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+9=18 ; d20+9=29 ; d20+9=12 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=27 ; d20+9=26 ; d3=2 ; d20+9=27 ; d20+15=30 ; d8+5=8 ; d20+15=16 ; d20+15=26 ; d20+15=33 ; d8+5=9 ; d20+15=35 ; d20+15=24 ; d20+15=27 ; d20+15=19 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+15=24 ; d20+15=19 ; d20+15=17 ; d8+5=8 ; d20+5=22 ; d20+5=21 ; Sunday April 7th, 2024 10:52:33 PM
Armalad, Joker, Stohp Highlight to display spoiler: { Armalad casts Detect Magic, and magic comes from the box, but truly from within! Stohp effortlessly picks the lock on the box and opens it. Inside is a magnificent crown with twin dragons. Armalad nonchalantly notes, “That’s it Stohp, we’ve found Largon’s Dragon Crown. We can go home now.”
A voice calls out from behind them, in Dwarven, “Oh no, ya lousy elf witch! I’ve been searching for that Crown for years and I’ll be taking it, or my name’s not Klink Barrelchest, greatest hero of Clan Mountainheart!”
The Shields seem stunned for a moment. Then Stock says, “Klink Barrelchest, it is you, just like the legends said! Of course we’ll bring the Crown back to Clan Mountainheart together, and leave this elf witch buried under a cave-in!” Stock uncharacteristically draws his flail and begins menacingly advancing on Armalad along with Klink Barrelchest. No surprise to Armalad that the dwarves always had it out for her… or did they? This is all so confusing… maybe that mental voice telling her to Rest has the right idea…
Stohp is elated that the Shields have found the Crown and can return home… but all this talk about killing Armalad is so confusing… maybe that mental voice telling her to Rest has the right idea… Please post PC actions and also make another Will save.
}
Stock, Bartomus, Zanderallen, Delia Highlight to display spoiler: { Armalad, Joker, and Stohp each advance another five feet towards the cavern. Dolgrin is still in his Resilient Sphere.
(OOC – Stock, these Skeletons are Undead only, so +4 AC does not apply, sorry.)
Stock’s first blow completely shatters (F8) into thousands of pieces, but (F9) slides back a foot, narrowly avoiding Stock’s next three attacks.
Stock is fascinated by the soothing voice in his mind telling him to rest, but with Bartomus’s and Zanderallen’s light sources illuminating the cavern, the source of the mental voice sits revealed, the same Colossal purple fungus spheroid in the shape of a cage as Stock saw when he was… elsewhere… and with this knowledge he heroically throws off the fascination, and then resists re-entering that other place through sheer dwarven stubbornness!
(OOC – Spell DC formula: 10 + spell level (7) + WIS bonus (5) = 22. Skeletons are not “specifically harmed by bright light” and so only take the increased damage (17d6) of the Sunbeam.)
Bartomus evokes a Sunbeam at (F7), extending sixty feet from his earthen hand, and (F7) is fully caught in it, is blackened and scorched, but somehow still standing (though heavily damaged).
(OOC – Bartomus, you didn’t roll the two Will saves at +2 per the last DM post, so I hope you’ll forgive me for rolling them for you in order to not delay things. I see Will Save +17, +2 for Hawky’s Aiding, total +19. Results of 27 (DC 36, fail, but see below) and 30 (DC 29 success).
Bartomus likewise is fascinated, and like Stock because he can now see the source of the mental voice he also heroically throws off the fascination, and then resists entering that other place through sheer druidic stubbornness!
(OOC – two skeletons did damage to Zanderallen, and as hinted by the time Stohp touched one earlier and “felt weird,” caused two DC 29 Will Saves for Zanderallen, who presently has a +26 Will Save vs. this effect. I presume Zanderallen would have saved on both and continued on, but will be requiring that DC 29 Will Save going forward, each time a Skeleton does melee damage.)
(OOC – STENCH – the Fungus STINKS! Everyone within 20 squares, Fort Save DC 29 or Sickened 2d4 Rounds. Once you save, you’re immune. Poison Save Bonuses/Immunities Count!)
Zanderallen make that DC 29 Fort/Poison save above at start of your next post, and apply this condition if failed: Sickened: The character takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.
Everyone else: when you enter/cross the green line, make the same save as above.)[/i]
Zanderallen points out the Colossal Purple Fungus in Cage-Shape, shouting for the Shields to destroy it, and then he summons Domi’s Might and Turns Undead.
(OOC – 10 + CHA Bonus (6) + half-paladin-level (17/8 = 8.5, which rounds down to 8) = DC 24. Website threw in a d3 for some reason; please ignore.)
F1 – Runs away from Zanderallen and towards the rest of the Shields. F2 – unaffected. F3 - Runs away from Zanderallen and towards the rest of the Shields. F11 - Runs away from Zanderallen and cowers in the corner to the left of the Colossal Fungus. F12 – unaffected. F13 – unaffected. F14 – unaffected.
Zanderallen’s mind is one with Domi and he continues to ignore the soothing voice telling him to Rest.
Delia takes advantage, her line of sight lit up by Zanderallen’s Shield, and unleashes a torrent of arrows, all of which hit the Colossal Purple Fungus!
Multishot - Arrow 1 – sinks in, but Delia expected more; Arrow 2 – doesn’t go in very far at all. Flames and Ice crystals are seen and appear to be having normal effects. Arrow 3 – like arrow 2, doesn’t go very deep. Arrow 4 – same. Arrow 5 – like Arrow 1. Arrow 6 – goes through a space between the “bars” of the Colossal Fungus Cage and breaks against the far cavern wall.
Large patches on the Fungus quickly grow to repair some of the wounds.
Delia suspects Damage Resistance of some form or another, but of what type? She also suspects unnaturally quick self-healing.
Delia likewise is fascinated, and like Stock because she can now see the source of the mental voice she also heroically throws off the fascination, and then resists entering that other place through sheer ranger stubbornness!
F7 – 56 damage. Fungus – 147 damage
F7 moves to attack Bartomus (hit AC 30 for 8 damage. DC 29 Will Save or Fall Asleep), striking a telling blow.
F9 claws at Stock twice, missing twice.
F10 unintelligently moves to R24, granting Stock an AoO. If it’s not destroyed, it claws at Stock, (hit AC 33, for 9 damage. DC 29 Will Save or Fall Asleep) scoring a bloody hit!
Moving by some unknown direction, F4, F5, and F6 move in formation closer to the front of the cavern.
F2, F12, F13, and F14 all swipe twice at Zanderallen, but only F2 hits once (8 damage; DC 29 Will Save or Fall Asleep)
F15 and F16 move to the side of F14, and each pulls a big rock from within their ribcages, each rock heating up until it’s on fire (!), and then each throws a heated rock at Zanderallen, but their aim is poor and the rocks harmlessly hit the far wall beyond.
F17 retreats back slightly and F18 maintains position.
The Shields think to themselves, so eerie, as if the skeletons had some semblance of tactics, but not the common sense to avoid walking within Stock’s flail range… could they all be directed by the Colossal Purple Fungus?
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. If you save vs the first (DC 36), there is no need to roll a second time. If you fail the first, roll a second (DC 29)
Zanderallen gains +4 morale bonus from his aura. All PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+17=28 ; 2d20+12=50 ; d20+12=19 ; d20+12=17 ; Sunday April 7th, 2024 11:24:18 PM
Bartomus heard the voice again in his head, and managed to shake it off just in time to be slashed by the skeleton he had hoped he was going to melt. He tried smashing it by slamming both fists into the creature, but neither seemed to strike the charred bones.
TY GM for rolling the will saves. Stench - Bartomus is immune to poisons so no roll needed for the Fungus funk. Will save - 28, will spend a hero point after the fact for a +4 to that roll and it is a pass. Attack - two slams against F7 - for 19 and 17 - ugh - miss
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+18=25 ; d20+8=18 ; Monday April 8th, 2024 3:32:32 AM
Armalad: 25 - Heroic (almost out of hero points not that they are helping here really Joker - 18
Armalad uses wall of stone to create a barrier cutting the Dwarves that would see them harmed off from the rest of the Shields. She says to Stohp "Start breaking out the scrolls of greater teleport and we'll aim for a spot just outside the float. It will take a bit to buff Joker and me but hopefully the wall of stone holds. I know Stock, Klink and Dolgrim will be sore at us but Klink's a legendary hero, and Stock can look after himself so they'll see Dolgrim back to the gate. Once they've had time to cool off we can send some of you back here to apologize to the Dwarves for what happened, but they turned on me first so we might as well get out of here while we can since we've found what we came for."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+8=28 ; d20+20=40 ; Monday April 8th, 2024 9:33:56 AM
(Rolled with +8 from hero point without remembering to include her actual bonus XD. Rerolled in case you asked for it... and got another 20, Stohp is done with this nonsense).
Ok, this is just absurd. None of this chain of events makes any sense and her party members are acting like nuts. With the clear evidence of what she sees being a lie and a heroic effort she tries to wrest herself free from whatever is influencing her (40 will save)
Stock (JonM) HP: 316/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 6/44 used d20+25=38 ; d10+32=38 ; d6=5 ; d10+18=26 ; d20+25=44 ; d20+29=46 ; d20+20=37 ; d20+24=39 ; d20+15=28 ; d20+10=29 ; d20+14=18 ; d10+32=42 ; d10+32=33 ; d6=6 ; d8=7 ; d10+32=42 ; d10+32=38 ; d6=1 ; d8=4 ; d10+32=40 ; d6=6 ; d10+32=41 ; d6=2 ; d20+18=34 ; d20+18=20 ; Monday April 8th, 2024 9:52:05 AM
Stock reacts quickly to the passing skeleton, lashing out with his flail. He adjusts to the skeleton too slowly though and takes a glancing blow. He feels a growing torpor in his mind but heroically shrugs it off and goes back to smashing skeletons for now.
============= AOO vs F10 hits AC38, 38 bludgeoning and 5 electric damage I’m assuming this does not kill it Will save 26, unless my +4 bonus from Indomitable Will vs enchantment Spells, then I will use a hero point to add +4 and pass Power attacks vs 10 and then 9 hit AC44, crit confirms vs AC46, 75 damage +6 electrical +7 sonic Vs AC 37 crit confirms vs AC39, 80 damage + 1 electrical +4 sonic if 10 and 9 are destroyed, 5 ft step to R24 Vs AC28, 40 damage +6 electrical Vs AC29, crit doesn’t confirm vs AC18, 41 damage + 2 electrical Will save 1: 34 Will save 2: 20
Delia curses, then narrows her eyes at the fungus' regenerative powers, racking her brain for any knowledge of such creatures and using that assessment to force it out of her brain.
Hawky continues his raucous cries as Delia switches targets to clear a path to the fungus. When F10 and F9 are dead, she will edge forward.
============ Know (Nature): 31 Know (Dungeoneering): 19 ============ Will save 1: 38 ============ Target order F10->F9->F5->F13->F14, F13 & F14 out of point blank range so -1 to hit and damage on them 46 to hit | 67 damage (29 + 4 cold & 30 + 4 cold) 33 to hit | 29 damage (25 + 4 cold) 42 to hit | 35 damage (32 + 3 cold) 39 crit, 34 to confirm | 26 + 2 cold, if crit 82 + 9 cold 23 to hit | 35 damage (32 + 3 cold)
if F10 and F9 die, 5 ft step to Q26
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 221/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+26=30 ; d20+22=28 ; d20+28=40 ; d20+25=44 ; d20+29=30 ; d8+22=29 ; d6=6 ; 2d6=7 ; d8+22=23 ; d20+25=31 ; d8+22=27 ; d6=5 ; 2d6=10 ; d20+20=22 ; d8+22=29 ; d6=6 ; 2d6=6 ; d20+15=23 ; d8+22=28 ; d6=4 ; 2d6=4 ; d20+10=22 ; d8+22=28 ; d6=4 ; 2d6=5 ; Monday April 8th, 2024 10:57:35 PM
Zander is barely phased by the stench as he hits it almost like a wall during his mad dash. Coughing once he shrugs off any further ill effect. As one of the skeletons scores a hit through his armor he begins to feel drowsy but shoves through it, his blood roaring in his ears. He had hoped to drive off more of the skeletons with his flash of Domi's power, but it looked like it was back to the old fashioned way. Almost wishing he'd kept his hammer out Zander slipped under the guard of the line of skeletons and lashed out with his blade, moving in a blur due to the spirit of Domi empowering it. "IT IS TIME FOR YOU THE REST!" he roared back at the voice in his head. ======================== (OOC: 6+8 equals 14 not 16, thank you for correcting that Wayne, don't know what happened to my math there)
Fort Save vs Stench: 30 passes Will save vs Sleep: 28 (+4 hero point after roll bonus) passes Will save vs Voice(been forgetting my +2 from Hawky): 40 passes
Damage taken after DR:5/Evil: 3
Divine Bond - Holy and Speed to Longsword - 166 rounds remaining
5 ft step to AL23
Full Attack F12 into F13 44 crit threat, 30 to confirm - 42 normal damage (29 weapon, 6 fire, 7 holy) or 65 crit damage (52 weapon, 6 fire, 7 holy) 31 to hit - 42 damage (27 weapon, 5 fire, 10 holy) 22 to hit - 41 damage (29 weapon, 6 fire, 6 holy) 23 to hit - 36 damage (28 weapon, 4 fire, 4 holy) 22 to hit - 37 damage (28 weapon, 4 fire, 5 holy)
Cavern Battle Rd4 (DM Wayne) d20+19=34 ; d20+19=31 ; d20+14=25 ; d20+15=18 ; d20+15=19 ; d20+15=26 ; d8+5=10 ; d20+15=26 ; d20+15=21 ; d20+15=30 ; d20+15=19 ; d20+15=22 ; d20+15=16 ; d20+15=35 ; d8+5=11 ; Monday April 8th, 2024 11:34:02 PM
Armalad, JokerHighlight to display spoiler: { Armalad walls off the Dwarves via Wall of Stone, and hatches an escape plan with Stohp. Stohp agrees and tells Armalad and Joker to stop wasting time!
There is a loud chonk and Armalad sees Stock’s seldom-used magical Adamantine Dwarven Waraxe slowly carving a doorway in the Wall of Stone. Time to get us out of here, she thinks … So you can Rest … the soothing mental voice adds…
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Bartomus, Stohp, Stock, Zanderallen, Delia Highlight to display spoiler: {
Armalad and Joker advance five feet deeper.
(OOC – I’d forgotten to add the “DC 36 and DC 29 Will Saves” line to my first post back, and Bartomus had already posted before I made the edit, so here are those saves for Bartomus, again at Will +19 including Hawky: 34 and 31)
Bartomus is fascinated, and because he can now see the source of the mental voice he also heroically throws off the fascination, and then resists entering that other place through sheer druidic stubbornness!
Bartomus is startled by the skeleton’s strike, and not wanting his Sunbeam, which could hit three skeletons in a line, to damage the sleepwalking Armalad and Joker, instead punches at (F7) with earthen fists twice, missing both times. Then he realizes too late that he could have aimed above Armalad’s head and still hit the skeletons…
Stohp’s keen mind unravels the inconsistencies of her eyes and ears and suddenly she is jolted back to reality, back to the very cave entrance she thought she’d ran ahead of. Stock was fighting Giant Skeletons at his raging best, but Bartomus was failing to connect with the blackened Skeleton in front of him, so she shrugged and recalling the weird feeling from her leg touching a skeleton earlier, drew her magical Flail, stepped into position to flank (F7), and swung for its spine with gusto, narrowly missing it as its spine flexed out of the way from dodging Bartomus’s fists.
(OOC – Stock, the effect is not an Enchantment Spell; please note the hero point spent. Stock, you alone are now immune to the save caused by melee damage from the skeletons.)
Stock continues his raging fury, damaging (F10) on its approach, and then destroying it outright with his follow-up strike! He cleaves into F9, likewise shattering it utterly and taking a step towards (F1). Stock needs his final two blows to likewise disassemble (F1).
Stock is fascinated, and because he can now see the source of the mental voice he also heroically throws off the fascination, and but then begins to drool in place…
(OOC – Knowledge: Nature is the correct skill for the Fungus)
Delia’s brow furrows, but the Colossal Purple Fungus is too obscure for her to identify at this time. She advances five feet and, switching targets, unleashes a storm of arrows at the skeletons before her. (F5) is hit in the sternum by the double-shot, vibrating madly, and the next arrow finishes it off. Her next shot hits (F13), though not in a weak spot, as does her final shot. The skeletons seem impervious to frost damage.
Zanderallen grits his teeth and bears the Fungus’s stench, also ignoring a hit by a skeleton, and steps forward into a flurry of sword slices, barely taking two blows to drop (F12), then missing (F13) with his final three attacks.
(OOC – Zanderallen, now both you and Stock are immune to the save caused by melee damage from the skeletons.)
F4 steps five feet and punches at Stohp twice, missing. F3 walks forward and narrowly hits Stohp (10 damage) because she was focused on F7.
Stohp, DC 29 Will or fall Asleep.
F6 steps five feet and punches at Delia twice, missing.
F2 advances to reinforce the cavern entrance.
F17 advances into a defensive position, apparently ready to block any attack.
F11 still cowers in the corner (round 2 of 10).
F18 holds position.
F13 and F14 each strike twice, missing. F15 moves up and strikes once, hitting (11 damage), but Zanderallen is now immune to the strange effect from being struck by it. F16 moves into position to shore up a gap between the Zanderallen and the Fungus.
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. If you save vs the first (DC 36), there is no need to roll a second time. If you fail the first, roll a second (DC 29)
Zanderallen gains +4 morale bonus from his aura. All PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
}
Stock alone Highlight to display spoiler: { Stock and the Shields quickly vanquish the skeletons and the fungus, but then Armalad, closer to the fungus, throws up a Wall of Stone separating herself, Joker, and Stohp from the dead fungus and what must be Largon’s Dragon Crown that Stohp just pulled out of an opened box in the fungus’s loot hoard!
The great dwarven hero Klink Barrelchest, looking just like he does in the paintings back in Clan Mountainhome, arrives and says, “Stock, we need to break that Wall down quickly to get the Crown back from that witch, Armalad! Draw your Adamantine Waraxe and cut a door in the Wall!” and then a soothing voice adds, ‘yes, and afterwards, you can Rest, your Crown quest complete…’
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+10=26 ; d20+8=18 ; d20+12=16 ; Monday April 8th, 2024 11:42:47 PM
(OOC: Oh I'll never make these saves these saves...I'll never make these saves. How in the heck will I contribute again if I'll never make these saves)
Armalad - 26 vs Will Joker - 18 vs Will
Armalad grabs the scroll from Stohp and since it is just the 3 of them and that Stock is chopping through rock with his axe decides to just try the straight up CL roll taking her Joker and Stohp to the nearest location to the Float it is safe to teleport to.
1d20 + 12 vs Scrolls CL of 13 + 1 = 16 = success
Armalad successfully activates the scroll and her, Joker, Stohp and the crown should be unerringly teleported to where she designated outside the Float.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+12=27 ; d20+12=26 ; d20+12=13 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 4:11:12 AM
Stohp's trip back to the land of the aware proves very brief for she falls asleep (27 will) and potentially falls victim to the illusion again (will 26 and 13)
Stock (JonM) HP: 312/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 7/44 used d20+18=31 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 9:39:28 AM ”Klink! I…don’t entirely understand but I do appreciate a little impromptu mining. I’ll have it down in an instant.”
——— Move action- stow flail While moving toward the “wall” Stock will draw his axe Will save 31 vs dc 29
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+19=39 ; 17d6=54 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 4:46:13 PM
Bartomus took his shot. He let loose another sunbeam at the line of giant skeletons that stood between him and the weirdness that was occurring.
Will save = 39; sunbeam 54 pts damage reflex save of 21 prevents blindness and reduces damage by half.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 212/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+25=37 ; d20+25=42 ; d20+29=42 ; d20+20=29 ; d20+15=34 ; d20+19=33 ; d20+10=22 ; d8+22=24 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; 2d8+44=54 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d8+22=26 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; 2d8+44=48 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d20+28=32 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 5:19:30 PM
Zanderallen yells back at the rest of the Shields, "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING BACK THERE!? KILL THE FUNGUS!" He then continues madly hacking at the wall of skeletons in front of him, desperately trying to fight his way through. His eyes lock on the fungus just out of his reach and everything else starts to lose focus in his mind. His grip starts to loosen before he pulls himself back from the brink. ================ Divine Bond - Holy and Speed to Longsword - 165 rounds remaining
Damage taken: 6 Will Save: 32 +4(after roll hero point) 36: passes (Last hero point used)
5 ft step to AL24
Full attack F13 into F14 37 to hit - 37 damage (24 weapon, 6 fire, 7 holy) 42 crit threat, 42 to confirm - 69 damage (54 weapon, 6 fire, 9 holy) 29 to hit - 36 damage (26 weapon, 1 fire, 9 holy) 34 crit threat, 33 to confirm - 53 damage (48 weapon, 4 fire, 3 holy) 22 misses
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+19=28 ; d20+19=27 ; d20+28=47 ; d20+28=31 ; d20+28=38 ; d20+23=32 ; d20+18=33 ; d20+13=23 ; d8+23=24 ; d8+23=27 ; d8+23=26 ; d8+23=29 ; d8+23=28 ; d8+23=24 ; 2d8+46=49 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 8:32:45 PM
Delia dodges back from the giant in her face, yelling back at Zander, "There's a lot of skeletons IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED and I was TRYING to get you a dwarf." She will fire at the skeletons in front of Z, letting the frost crackle harmlessly over their bones.
She puts a hand against the wall, shaking her head as her brain starts to fuzz out. =========== Will save 28 Will save 27 =========== 5 ft step to P26, full round attack at targets F13-16-17 potential crit 47, 31 to confirm | 73 & 27 damage (first shot 24 non-crit) 38 to hit | 26 damage 32 to hit | 29 damage 33 to hit | 28 damage 23 to hit | 24 damage
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday April 10th, 2024 5:09:22 AM
Stohp regrets all the things. Especially failing her saves, but all the other things to.
Armalad and Joker race against time to Teleport themselves and Stohp to the Float with the Crown, and succeed in doing so just as a final ‘Chonk’ from Stock’s axe causes a dwarf-sized section of the Wall of Stone to fall towards Armalad and the rest.
Instantly, Armalad, Joker, and Stohp appear inside the Guild of the Star Mages’ leadership chamber, with the heads of the Guild assembled around the star-shaped meeting table!
Upon seeing the partial group of Shields and the unique and astounding Crown, the Guild Leader says, “Armalad! Most amazing! You’ve found Largon’s Dragon Crown! We’ll defeat Karkasan for sure now!”
With that, the Guild leadership all stands, chanting, “Three cheers for Armalad! Three cheers for Armalad! Three Rests for Armalad! Rest… Rest… Rest… you’ve won![/b]”
The Guild Leader shouts, “All in favor of making Armalad Guild Leader, say Aye!”
All shout in response, “Aye! … Rest… you have won… all of your goals are accomplished…”
A Taur member of Guild leadership turns to Stohp and says, “Rest… great Shield, you can finally open your carpentry shop. Your days of battling threats are over! Rest…”
Stohp, yes, you are here again.
1) Also, the failed save means you are asleep for 4 days, but you can be woken up as per what works for a 1st level Sleep spell: “Slapping or wounding a sleeping creature awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action).” 2) When thrown into the ‘illusion’ in this way, Stohp now has a -5 to her DC 29 Will Save to realize that she’s in the ‘illusion’.
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Stock, Bartomus, Zanderallen, Delia Highlight to display spoiler: {
Armalad and Joker advance five feet, continuing to drool.
Stohp falls asleep where she stood, snoring loudly, apparently caused by the skeleton’s strike on her.
Stock walked forward five feet, then shook his head as though in a daydream and found himself back at the cavern entrance, the Shields blasting apart several more skeletons before him!
Bartomus emits a Sunbeam above the jaywalking Armalad and Joker, which blasts apart the damaged (F7) and greatly blackens (F4) and (F2).
Zanderallen summons a heroic effort and continues battling, yelling at the Shields to prioritize killing the Fungus. He steps into the thick of it, and swings mightily at (F13), shattering it on the first strike, then continuing the swing into (F14), knocking out ribs on the way in and disassembling its spine on the way back with the third strike! Zanderallen aims his final blows on (F15), one damaging it severely.
Delia steps back five feet, refusing to be fascinated by a Colossal Purple Fungus at her vision’s limit, and launches more arrows to clear Zanderallen’s path of skeletons. Her multi-shot hits a couple of weak points in (F16) which promptly collapses into a heap! Delia’s next three arrows likewise take apart (F17) and her last arrow misses the Fungus.
Her last shot fired, Delia suddenly begins drooling.
Somehow instantly aware that Stock is not drooling, F3 and F6 take advantage of their flank and Stock’s confusion to claw desperately at him, hit, crit with confirm, and two misses (hits are for 7 and 15, respectively for DR purposes, total 22; Stock is still immune to the saves for skeleton melee damage.)
F2 moves a bit, pulling a rock out of its ribcage along the way which then glows with fire, and hurls it at Stock, the poorly-aimed rock hitting Stock on a lucky shot! (OOC – natural 20, confirming the crit on a second natural 20, as the nigh-molten rock burns Stock for 26 blunt and 2 fire damage, sum of 28!)
The damaged F4 squeezes a bit, but makes it in behind Stock (OOC – Stock, take an AoO!), and if it survives, it claws at Stock once, scraping along but bouncing off Stock’s armor!
F18 moves in front of the Fungus as though defending it, and then pulls a rock from its ribcage, hurling the fiery meteor with great force at Zanderallen, but too high, missing widely.
F11 continues to panic in the corner (round 3 of 10).
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. If you save vs the first (DC 36), there is no need to roll a second time. If you fail the first, roll a second (DC 29)
Zanderallen gains +4 morale bonus from his aura. All PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
At the moment, of the Shields, only Bartomus, Stock, and Zanderallen are not drooling.
}
Delia Highlight to display spoiler: {
Delia trivially shatters the remaining skeletal opposition at one arrow per skeleton, and then the traitorous Armalad throws up a Wall of Stone blocking the other Shields from herself, Joker, and Stohp, who has Largon’s Dragon Crown in hand!
Famous dwarven hero (from the art and reliefs in Clan Mountainheart throneroom) Klink Barrelchest arrives and orders Stock to “use your Adamantine Dwarven Waraxe to chop down the Wall of Stone so we can pry Largon’s Dragon Crown from the traitorous Elven witch Armalad!” With a sinister smile and outrageously bushy eyebrows and Colossal twirling mustache, Stock agrees and begins chopping a dwarf-sized hole in the Wall of Stone, an outline of stone soon falling forward, but the witch Armalad, her fiendish Joker, and Stohp all Teleport out!
Klink says, “No problem Shields, we’ll get that wascally witch Armalad next time! Now, I know you’re all exhausted, so it’s definitely time to sit down and Rest…”
Delia briefly wonders how Klink arrived and how he knows so much about the Shields and their mission, but it’s all so complicated… and she should really just Relax…
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+17=34 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 10:57:55 AM
Delia looks at the situation around her, terribly confused. How did Armalad get over there? And with the crown? Since when did Stock have a mustache like that? Where was Zander? Wait. She can't hear Hawky. She looks around, worried. Where is he? He was just there... she could almost... hear him. His calls bring her back to herself. To reality. She half-startles at the skeleton suddenly looming over her, but peers through his bones to survey the battlefield and pick her next targets.
======= Will: 34
Stock (JonM) HP: 276/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 8/44 used d20+23=25 ; d10+31=32 ; d20+23=31 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+13=27 ; d20+13=33 ; d20+12=20 ; d10+31=36 ; d10+31=40 ; d10+31=35 ; d10+31=34 ; d20+18=24 ; d20+18=19 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 5:48:47 PM
Stock is getting pummeled again but is able to ignore most of the pain. Finding himself with his axe in hand, he starts swinging it wildly at the skeletons around him.
========= Raging Stock has resist fire 20 so ignores that part of the damage AOO hits AC 25, 32 slashing damage Target order F4-F3-F6 PA1 hits AC 31, 36 slashing PA2 hits AC 27, 40 damage PA3 hits AC27, 35 damage PA4 hits AC28 with Nat 20(should have been +8 to hit), critical threat probably does not confirm vs AC 20, 34 damage Will save 1 24 Will save 2 19…ugh bring on the drool
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 212/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+27=45 ; d20+31=33 ; d8+22=30 ; d6=6 ; d8+22=28 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d20+28=34 ; d20+28=33 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 6:02:11 PM
Bone fragments raining down around him Zanderallen spots his opening. Ignoring the skeleton behind him and the one blocking his path he charges forward with only one target in mind. He calls down Domi's wrath upon the fungus, leaving Domi to sort out whether the creature was hungry or some malevolent force. Either way his blade strikes true. But then his mind betrays him as he finally succumbs to the fungal song. ================ Divine Bond - Holy and Speed to Longsword - 164 rounds remaining
Smite Evil declared against Fungus
Charge to AS23 (this will provoke from F15 and F18 at AC32)
Attack on Fungus (since Holy and Smite only trigger on Evil I'll post separately for this attack) Not Evil 45 crit threat, 33 to confirm - Normal Damage 36 (30 weapon, 6 fire) Critical Damage 64 (58 weapon, 6 fire)
Armalad (Hannah subbing) d20+10=28 ; d20+8=9 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 10:15:30 PM
Armalad breathes a sigh of relief at their close escape - those dwarves had gone crazy! She smiles at the praises of her guild, graciously accepting their instant promotion.
Joker hovers just behind her, "Glad someone else sees that you're the best, boss!"
================ Armalad Will: 28 Joker Will: 9
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+8=12 ; Friday April 12th, 2024 3:40:49 AM
At this point Stohp is well aware that this is all some sort of illusion or mental trap, but that helps her not at all as she finds herself again in the dream space playing along even as the rational parts of her mind rage in a prison in the back of her mind (will 12)
"Nah, if I'm going to retire I'm going to become a WLA administrator or something. Pushing paper for the rest of my life sounds great!" She accepts her rewards and accolades with dignity and respect looking forward to an eternity of bureaucratic excellence.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 17d6=50 ; d20+19=37 ; Friday April 12th, 2024 10:34:34 AM "Hating this cavern crap," he said aloud as he moved forward and came up behind Armalad and Joker. He reached over Armalad and let loose another beam of light at the giant skeleton off to his right and tried to make the emitting beam hit the creature further behind it.
Move to O22/23 and sunbeam against F3 and if the line is also seen the same by the GM - F2. 50 pts damage reflex save prevents blindness, as undead if they fail, I believe it kills them, otherwise reduces damage by 1/2. Will save - 37, no second one needed.
Armalad (Hannah subbing) Friday April 12th, 2024 11:50:29 PM
Armalad continues to accept the accolades of the Starmages.
Delia Friday April 12th, 2024 11:54:06 PM
Delia double checks that Stock's facial hair has returned to normal before drawing back her first shot.
Armalad graciously accepts the leadership of the Star Mages Guild, noting in the back of her mind that they should have made her Guild Leader years ago!
Merfolk arrive and report that Karkasan slipped in his own bathtub and died. The Float is safe forever! The Merfolk Princess finishes with, “You Shields can Rest now, especially you, powerful and mighty Armalad…”
The Float being saved, Stohp heads over to the WLA where Pip says, “So glad you’re here, WLA Office Leader Stohp! Look at that line of novice adventurers going out the door! I’ll stay on them if you’d be so kind as to ink-stamp this pile of requests as ‘received.’” The pile of requests is impossibly high, but Stohp’s work is routine and easy… even Restful…
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save; for Stohp that’s still at a -5 penalty.
}
Delia, Stock, Zanderallen, Bartomus Highlight to display spoiler: {
Delia ceases drooling.
Stock takes advantage of the mindless (F4) as it tries to maneuver into position, and swings at it in a slicing manner, forgetting that he never stopped holding his flail in the real world, still connecting and totally destroying F4! Next he begins his regular attack routine, his first strike and swingback second strike demolishing F3! Stock pivots quickly to (F6), his third and fourth strikes likewise making bone bits out of F6!
Pleased with himself, Stock agrees with the soothing mental voice that his work is done and he can Rest… and begins drooling.
(OOC – I adjusted Z’s endpoint to AS22; per charge rules, a straight line from any part of Z’s square to any part of the target square cannot intersect with an obstacle, including a foe.)
Zanderallen spares a fraction of a second to raise his sword to Delia in thanks and charges forth in the same motion, trusty sword already slicing at the Colossal Purple Fungus! His sword seems to be the key to easily harming the Fungus, facing none of the resistance that Delia’s arrows faced, effective though they were! The Fungus is hurt significantly by Zanderallen’s slice, but its uncanny healing factor restores some of the cut ‘cage bars’ before Zanderallen’s very eyes! Of note is that the glow of Domi’s power, visible when an Evil opponent is struck… does not appear. Whatever this foul Fungus is, it’s not Evil…
Zanderallen then becomes fascinated with the Fungus, but seeing it lit up by his shield and sword before his very eyes, shakes off the fascination, and then steels himself, throwing off its repeated mental commands to “Rest…”
Bartomus’s fine Tauric mind once more ignores the mental entreaties to “Rest…” as he moves forward , his main targets having vanished, achieving a clear line of sight between over the snoring Stohp and then emits another Sunbeam at (F2), blasting it out of existence despite it moving to the side and only being half-hit!
F15 and F18 smash at Zanderallen as he leaves their vicinity, missing! F18 is still in reach, and so tries to slam Zanderallen into the ground twice, still missing. F15 moves to just outside of its reach, pulling a rock out of its ribcage along the way, and hurling it at Zanderallen, missing wide!
The Colossal Purple Fungus, it turns out, has four tentacles and a fantastic reach, and takes the Opportunity to reach for the charging Zanderallen… and grabs him, (hit CMD 50!) pulling him in close (which is when Zanderallen slashes the Fungus) and then Constricting him (16 damage)!
There is no face or other part of the Fungus wherein a man like Zanderallen might try to read body language or facial expressions, there is only the flurry of action as it continues to hold Zanderallen in place (OOC - taking the -20 penalty for doing so, with a CMD roll of 29 that Zanderallen may try to beat on his turn, if he chooses to do so.), constricting him again (16 damage), and then its other three tentacles each slap at Zanderallen, one of them hitting (23 damage).
(OOC – per grapple rules, Zanderallen can continue using his one-handed weapon (longsword) to attack the Fungus, or to try to escape from the grapple.)
F11 continues to panic in the corner (round 3 of 10).
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. If you save vs the first (DC 36), there is no need to roll a second time. If you fail the first, roll a second (DC 29)
Zanderallen gains +4 morale bonus from his aura. All PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
At the moment, of the Shields, only Bartomus, Delia, and Zanderallen are not drooling.
}
Stock Highlight to display spoiler: { So strange, one moment you were cutting a wall of stone with your axe, and then your flail in hand you were smashing giant skeletons, and now once more your axe is in hand, the traitorous Armalad and Stohp have escaped, and Klink says, “Yes, we’re all done here Stock. How about we sit down and I tell you about some of my adventures, help you get ready for sleep, so you can Rest…”
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+19=33 ; d20+27=40 ; Sunday April 14th, 2024 11:17:53 PM
With the evaporation of the giant skeletons, Bartomus continued to hear something. Something trying to lure him to rest, but also something like battle, and in the distance Zander's shield seemed to be a glow. Bartomus ran as fast as he could straight ahead.
"Save the Zman, Shields, save the Z!"
Running - 30x3 = 90 to Ag 22/23; Bartomus is immune to the poison's affect past the green line. Failed first will save with a 33; Using a hero point before rolling the next one so 19+8= +27 --> 40. Also, 3/5 sunbeams used.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20=4 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 6:13:55 AM
Stohp starts to do that whole sequence from Control with the endless office tasks and things getting more and more off but unlike the game she fails to question it and break free (will 11)
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used d20+18=28 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 10:41:42 AM "Klink - What is happening? It's like I'm in two places at once! I don't like it! I need to help the Shields...and I'm not even tired. How can I sleep?"
=== Raging at the start of the turn Will Save 28 vs DC29; Hero Point used to add 4 and pass the check, 1 point remaining! End Rage; tireless rage means he is not fatigued
Delia (Hannah) HP 124/124 AC: 29/21/23 d20+19=32 ; d20+19=25 ; d20+23=37 ; d20+23=36 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+12=31 ; d20+12=31 ; d8+19=20 ; d8+19=20 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; d8+19=21 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d8+19=20 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; 3d8=15 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 11:53:32 AM
Delia zeroes in on the fungus. Her arrows may not be the most effective, but they still did something and it needs to die before the Shields succumb to its magic completely.
Hawky's cries fade as her mind wavers again.
============= Will 32 v 36 Will 25 v 29 ============= 5 ft step to Q26, full attack at fungus with flame arrows, last attack w/ normal arrow at F15 37 to hit | 20 +12 fire/cold & 20 + 9 fire/cold damage 36 to hit | 21 +11 fire/cold 27 to hit | 20 +8 fire/cold 16 to miss 31 to hit, 31 to confirm crit at F15 | 72 crit damage (frost has no effect)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+25=35 ; d20+25=45 ; d20+29=44 ; d20+20=36 ; d20+15=21 ; d20+10=24 ; d8+22=25 ; d6=5 ; 2d8+44=53 ; d6=4 ; d8+22=28 ; d6=4 ; d8+22=27 ; d6=2 ; d8+22=29 ; d6=1 ; d20+28=34 ; d20+28=32 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 4:45:14 PM
Zander roar of exhilaration is cut short with the creaking of crushing metal as the fungus crushes the air from his lungs. But to hold him it had to be within reach of his blade, and that's all he cared about at the moment. His blood was up, his friends were in danger, he'd worried about his ribs later. This creature might not be worthy of being sent screaming back to the abyss but it sliced up just fine. He then blinks and fades slightly before refocused on the fungal mass squeezing the life from him. ============ Divine Bond - Holy and Speed to Longsword - 163 rounds remaining
Full attack on the fungus
35 to hit - 30 damage (25 weapon, 5 fire) 45 crit threat, 44 confirms - 57 damage (53 weapon, 4 fire) 36 to hit - 32 damage (28 weapon, 4 fire) 21 to hit - 29 damage (27 weapon, 2 fire) 24 to hit - 30 damage (29 weapon, 1 fire)
1st Will 34 fails 2nd Will 32 passes
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+10=26 ; d20+8=26 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 5:26:35 PM
(OOC: rolling rolling rolling against impossible saves ) Armalad - 26 Joker - 26
Armalad asks the mermaids how it is possible that Karkasan slipped in his bathtub when he is bound to the wood and how they would know being water creatures who do not venture into the wood and if Karkasan somehow made it to the sea how is it possible to slip in an underwater bathtub.
Stohp enjoys her ‘retirement,’ no matter how busy it is!
The Princess replies, “Armalad, if you’re wondering how Karkasan slips in the bathtub, and other logical facts, just repeat to yourself, ‘it’s magic, I should really just Relax…’”
Please see the non-spoiler text below.
}
Delia, Stock, Zanderallen, Bartomus Highlight to display spoiler: {
The drooling Armalad advances another five feet, as does Joker.
Stohp snores.
Bartomus races to help Zanderallen, and also Heroically resists the mental voice once more!
Stock ceases drooling.
Delia wonders how tough the Fungus really is as she unleashes another stream of arrows at its now-well-lit self! Four arrows hit it, but none critically, and it seemed to be primarily wounded by the fire and cold enchantments this time… Delia briefly ponders whether she just had relatively poorer aim this time than last time, as her final arrow causes a chain reaction in (F15) making it fall into a pile on the ground!
Delia begins drooling.
Zanderallen is taken aback by the Fungus-tentacle whipping out and squeezing him harder than Giant Constrictor, but the power of Domi drives him to continue slashing the Fungus, missing only his fourth of five slashes! Finally, the strange Fungal Cage falls apart, and the mental voice with it!
Zanderallen was fascinated by the soothing mental voice, but as the voice trailed off into silence, his Light shows him only a torn-apart Colossal Purple Fungus, with piles and piles of coins and glowing weapons and armor and not-glowing weapons and armor, and many other trinkets and objects in excellent condition.
F11 continues to panic in the corner (round 5 of 10).
F18 swipes twice at Zanderallen, both missing. }
With the destruction of the Colossal Purple Fungus, at once (!) the Shields snap back to reality!
Zanderallen stands before the wreckage of the Colossal Purple Fungal Cage, Domi’s Light illuminating it well, a vast mountain of treasure within shining brightly!
Delia had just begun to drool again, with dreams of retiring as Captain of the Guard of the Float, when she sprang back into the reality of this stinky cave!
Bartomus, readying a Sunbeam to blast more skeletons, likewise heard the cries of confusion as the Shields returned to normal.
Stohp continues to snore.
Armalad and Joker, as one, say, “I knew it was all an illusion” as they respectively wipe away their own drool.
Stock stares long and hard at the flail in his hand, testing it, as if expecting it to be something else. Then, the pile of shiny treasure across the cavern catches his eye. Weapons and armor on top… something familiar about them, even from over a hundred feet away.
Dolgrin is still encased in the Sphere Armalad created.
At Delia’s sigh of relief, Hawky comes swooping around the corner to rejoin her, oddly silent after over half a minute of continuous squawking at peak volume.
Zanderallen notices the stench slowly lessening, but still there.
(OOC – no more Fort saves, but this would still be a very unpleasant room to spend time in)
Bartomus and Zanderallen finish off the last two skeletons with ease.
No foes remain.
Dolgrin is still Bubbled, and Stohp is still Sleeping, and a pile of treasure awaits!
What do the Shields do?
(OOC – The DM has not been generous enough with Hero Points, and this was quite the battle!
No one tell Jerry, but… two (2) Hero Points for everyone!)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29 Tuesday April 16th, 2024 1:28:29 AM (sorry will fix my header next post
Delia silences and calls Hawky with a short command. He lands on her shoulder, preening himself and seemingly unconcerned with the damage he may have done to their ears and the fact that everyone in this cave system now knows there is a hawk about somewhere.
She steps over to Stohp, shaking her awake and offering her a hand to stand up. Then she takes a long, hard look at Stock, "Your mustache. Keep it like that. It's better for everyone."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday April 16th, 2024 5:21:27 AM
Stohp wakes up on the cave floor wondering why on earth she was sleeping there. Vague memories of battle mix with insane ramblings and events from the illusion. It's not that hard to figure out she fell under some sort of spell, and the dead fungus and other monsters indicate clearly what was affecting her. "Good thing there's so many of us so a few could resist the monster." she comments while rubbing her temples.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=28 ; Tuesday April 16th, 2024 9:49:40 AM
They had done it. The skeletons were destroyed and then the purplish mushroom like thing was destroyed by stroke after stroke from the Zman. With it, things seemed to return to normal, or at least the voice constantly trying to encourage Bartomus to rest was gone. But now, the Taur really needed a moment to catch his breath. In doing so, he realized how terrible the room smelled. Like the fish market on the Float on a hot day. It wasn't all that welcoming.
"Well that was a challenge," Bartomus finally said has he looked about. "Suspect that that played a role in killing the various creatures that were then turned into the attack squad that welcomed us here."
Bartomus nodded over towards the remains of the purple mass hacked to bits with the slice and dice maneuvers of Zander. He then began studying the cave and particularly looking for any signs of the party of dwarves they were sent to find. He cast a light spell on his glave and used it as he walked about the larger cavern.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 16th, 2024 12:31:56 PM
(OOC: I didn't do anything that battle except fail will save after will save. But I burned a bunch of hero points doing so so I'll take the re-up)
Armalad and Joker head back to Dolgrim and verify he is back to normal. If so she will dismiss the protective sphere
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday April 16th, 2024 12:41:11 PM
Zander barely keeps his feet as the fungus collapses, not longer entangling him. The weight of it's psychic presence lifting from his mind feels like a giant hand finally letting him off the floor. He blinks several times and takes a few deep breathes to steady himself. After dispatching the skeleton in the corner he goes back to check on the others. "That was extremely unpleasant, but I'm guessing we may have found what caused the disappearance of the dwarven scribes. If that thing got into their heads, I fear we'll find their remains in that pile. Is everyone OK?"
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Tuesday April 16th, 2024 5:58:59 PM
Stock gives Delia a look and says, “mustache?” He then walks over to Dolgrin and tries to get the dwarf’s attention. “You in there, Cousin?
What a weird experience that fight was!”
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 16th, 2024 9:48:26 PM
Delia brings Hawky to her, then begins shaking Stohp, trying to wake her. It doesn’t work. In desperation Delia tries a light slap to Stohp’s left cheek which finally awakens Stohp from the Extraordinary Sleep Stohp was in!
Stohp wakes up, surprised to find herself on the cavern floor, her left cheek oddly warm to the touch. Confusing memories mix with her present perceptions. She notes how fortunate the Shields were that not all of them fell to the Fungus’ mental entreaties.
Bartomus took in the Shields’ hard-fought victory, marred by the lessening, but still awful, stench of the destroyed Fungus. He reasons that the Fungus must have killed other creatures and turned them into its skeletal defenders. Bartomus casts a Light spell on his Glaive and begins exploring and examining the cavern. He finds nothing remains but piles of bones, giant-sized armor that the bones were wearing, and the Fungus-cage full of shiny treasure.
Armalad and Joker confirm Dolgrin is no longer drooling. Armalad dismisses the sphere.
Dolgrin says, “Armalad, thank you! I was in a waking dream, I think, all of the… battle? Are those piles of giant bones and… in the distance, is that some sort of colossal fungus?
What did I miss, and (wipes face)… why is there so much drool on me?”
Zanderallen narrowly avoided falling as the Fungus dies, its tentacle still wrapped around him. He took a moment to clear his mind before felling the giant skeleton in the corner. Zanderallen turns his attention to the Shields, and also the once more free Dolgrin. He expresses his concern that the dwarven scribes were lost to this… Fungus.
Stock is puzzled by the mustache reference from Delia, and then moves over to Dolgrin, who is now appears to be acting normally.
Dolgrin says, “Thank you Stock… all of the Shields. I fear Zanderallen is probably right. Judging by the shining pile of treasure in the Fungus’s cage-like body I think our research needs to begin there.
Shall we?”
What do the Shields do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday April 17th, 2024 5:38:16 AM
Armalad tells Dolgrim, "Well ironically enough shortly after we stashed you here for safe keeping Joker and I were in a waking dream for all of the battle which was ashame because I guess it started out mirroring the layout here and I identified the creature as a Zygomind and pretty much neutralized it with an arrow imbued with an anti magic field so that we made short work of it. I guess the lesson of this battle is maybe sometimes I should hang back because maybe I could have gotten a line of sight to it without being impacted had I been more careful in my movements? Oh but if this is anything like my dream in that treasure pile they'll be a box containing Largon's Dragon Crown but I think I'll let other folks dig through that first and then help identify stuff after if it's all the same."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+28=47 ; Wednesday April 17th, 2024 7:22:34 AM
Before anyone touches the corpse or treasure Stohp will look it over for traps. Maybe not mechanical ones, but they don't need some organ in the thing to rupture and poison the party or send them to lala land again when they try to access the treasure (47 to find traps)
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Wednesday April 17th, 2024 9:23:39 AM
After helping to get everybody to their feet, Stock heads over and helps cut away the fungus cage and dig through the pile of treasure.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=41 ; d20+16=17 ; Wednesday April 17th, 2024 12:55:05 PM
Delia pats Stohp's shoulder apologetically for the wake up, then sets herself at the tunnel they came in to keep watch with Hawky on her shoulder while her party investigates the loot pile.
================ Perception: 41 (45 v undead or aberrations) Hawky perception: 17
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday April 17th, 2024 1:18:58 PM "Care for the stench. Old fungal apparently figured his wit would cover his scent." Satisfied everyone is physically well Zanderallen heads back over to the pile of treasure and starts dragging it out of the fungal mass, piling it for the others to sort and identify.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=26 ; Wednesday April 17th, 2024 6:50:18 PM
Bartomus looked over at Armalad and nodded.
"Can't say that I've ever seen, let alone heard of a Zygamogamoniama before,["/B] He said and turned his attention to the pile of shiny baubles. He waited for an all clear sign from Stohp before he started poking at things in the pile.
[B]"Dolgrin, so I hate to ask this this way, but I don't see or recall any dwarvish spelling. So, could they have gotten away from this Zygomorphianika and hidden themselves somewhere?"
Perception 26 treasure pile
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Wednesday April 17th, 2024 10:54:14 PM
Stock helps anyone get to their feet who needs it.
Armalad relates her “battle” experience to Dolgrin.
Stohp looks very carefully for traps amidst the Fungal Wreckage and all that glitters within. She pronounces the whole thing, “trap-free!”
At those words, Stock is at once arriving at the treasure pile and sorting things before anyone can stop him, which is briefly dangerous as he’s stacking fire-giant-size longswords and greatswords quickly into separate piles of about nine each, with each sword removed revealing more and more of a brighter glow beneath!
Soon, all within sixty feet or so can see that amidst the pile of weapons, armor, other stainless gear that’s probably magical, tattered-but-still-full backpacks and the like, Stock has separated out, with some care, items with intricate carvings and symbols that everyone suddenly realizes they last saw on some of the battle murals in the Clan Mountainheart Throne Room:
A set of dwarf-sized black-matte-painted full-plate armor that seems to absorb all light.
A rustless heavy steel shield of such quality even Zanderallen’s magical shield pales in comparison.
A warhammer filled completely with dwarven runes, some of which lightly glow blue from time to time.
A dwarf-height composite longbow with not a hint of wood rot, and a bowstring that might just be made out of metal!
Stock is uncharacteristically silent longer than usual.
Dolgrin has been looking over these items as Stock assembled them. After a moment, he falls to his knees and weeps softly, in an odd, gravelly, kind of way, as if dwarves can do nothing without reminding others of the rocks of the Wold.
Delia pats Stohp’s shoulder in apology and then sets herself to guard the only exit as Stohp goes to search for traps. She realizes, as she takes in her surroundings, that she still cannot see the ceiling. From the sounds of combat echoing much less harshly than she would have expected she guesses the cavern height here must be over one hundred feet. She thinks to herself, Great, there could be ambush tunnels above, full of carrion crawlers, and we wouldn’t know until we smelled their stench, if we even could smell their stench over the fungus stench!
Zanderallen warns the others of the Fungus’ stench, but with its death the stench has lessened enough to just be a big annoyance instead of a danger. He helps Stock by better sorting the items Stock throws away from the center, and then, like the rest, he stops for a moment when Stock stops and Dolgrin weeps.
Bartomus nods with Armalad. A rare fungus indeed, that he had not heard of before! He pauses when Dolgrin is weeping.
Dolgrin does not weep for long, wiping away tears and summoning dwarven stoicness, he says, “Keep going Stock. If any scribes’ journals are here, we must have them and decipher them right away! These… his… artifacts can wait a few more moments for proper Identification.”
Stock nods and begins pulling backpacks from the pile, the first few of which fall apart in his hands due to leather rot and the papers inside becoming soggy dust as they are removed! Dolgrin says, “Keep going Stock, the Fungus’s stench probably came from musk, and we all know what too much moisture does to paper.”
Bartomus takes the opportunity to ask Dolgrin whether the scribes they’re looking for could have escaped somewhere else.
Dolgrin is lost in thought, not hearing Bartomus’ question, or ignoring him, his eyes continuously following Stock’s hands.
Stock removes the final rotted backpack, and inside is a journal, not all of which has become soggy dust. More Shields gather around as Dolgrin shines a Light spell on the partially-intact single page, written in Dwarven.
Dolgrin reads it aloud in Dwarven, pausing as he skips past damaged parts of the page to move on to the next legible part: Highlight to display spoiler: { …-sk’s Guide to Caverns of the Scab said the cavern ceiling couldn’t be seen with dwarven eyes in the dark, and even when a lightstone was slung as high as it could go, some 500 feet, no ceiling could be seen… though as the lightstone hit its zenith alongside one wall, its light caught in full above the lightstone one of many flowing limestone formations fit for a monarch… …-spair we will never find the crown so we can break the curse and free K-… }
Stock ONLY Highlight to display spoiler: {Although every fiber of your being wants to make the ‘K’ for Karkasan, a legend, a myth, the truth (?), you grew up with was that centuries ago a great dwarven hero had gone looking for a crown, an artifact, that was said to be able to break any enchantment. Chief Sternbough’s distant ancestor, King Sternbough, so the story goes, had fallen under a bloodwitch’s curse of sleep, never to awaken again. The hero, the dwarven knight Klink Barrelchest, one of the greatest dwarven warriors ever, a dwarf, it is said, without fear… had set out into the Underwold alone to find the crown. All were too scared to accompany him, but dwarves enchanted his armor to enable him to escape any beast that might swallow him whole, and sneak around caverns almost as well as a trained trapfinder. Traveling alone, stronger in body than brain, he must have been no match for this great fungus and sleepwalked to his doom, just like the fire giants must have. At least now, presuming the Shields survive, you’ll be able to complete his quest to obtain the crown, you hope, although old King Sternbough’s body eventually faded away into death and old age when Klink never returned… Dare you wield the legendary Warhammer of Klink Barrelchest himself?!? If it would help you get the Crown, perhaps he wouldn’t mind at all…}
As Dolgrin finishes, Stock’s gaze turns, ever so briefly, to the runed warhammer.
What do you do?
(OOC – Items from the treasure pile:
9 fire-giant-size greatswords 9 fire-giant-size longswords heavy steel shield Breastplate Dwarf-sized Full Plate Two (2) rings Ten (10) potion vials Wand Composite Longbow Warhammer
20,000gp in assorted coins from copper to platinum, and a variety of gems, jewelry, and other non-magical baubles.
Rotted backpacks, rotted clothing, soggy paper dust. One surviving, and damaged, journal page.)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday April 18th, 2024 7:22:20 AM
Stohp considers. "Sounds like some sort of magical darkness may await us. Hopefully we can dispel it."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+16=35 ; d20+33=38 ; Thursday April 18th, 2024 10:56:40 AM "Can someone read the journal out in not-dwarven when you get a chance?" Delia calls over.
She pulls her everburning torch out of her pack, helps Hawky get a grip on it with his talons, and then sends him up to find the ceiling. She watches him, ready to call out a warning if she spots something he doesn't.
============ Hawky: fly speed 85ft, HP: 90/90, AC 26/17/20 Hawky Perception: 35 (39 v undead/aberrations) Delia Perception: 38 (42 v undead/aberrations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Thursday April 18th, 2024 11:59:58 AM
Zanderallen pauses as the dwarven equipment is found and sorted out. He shares the loss even if he doesn't know the people. He stands next to the weeping dwarves, wishing he knew the words in dwarven, chants a warrior death dirge of Domi over the fallen. Short and bitter he wipes away a tear as he finishes and goes back to sorting the rest of the gear, leaving the dwarves to mourn as they need. He holds silent as he ponders the fragmented journal.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=36 ; Thursday April 18th, 2024 5:20:13 PM
Bartomus felt a bittersweet sense of relief in at least knowing that the lost party was not trapped somewhere. Yet, the response by Dolgrin made it clear that the remarkable items that were in the pile were the personal goods of the Keeps beloved heroes. He fished out the bag of holding he had purchased to bring along on this journey.
He examined the piles looking for something that might be holding the crown they were in search of as part of their quest.
Perception 36...natural 20
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+29=47 ; d20+29=43 ; d20+29=35 ; d20+29=36 ; d20+29=38 ; d20+29=41 ; d20+29=33 ; d20+29=44 ; d20+29=44 ; d20+29=36 ; d20+29=42 ; d20+29=38 ; d20+29=48 ; Thursday April 18th, 2024 5:59:34 PM
Armalad gives the Dwarves a wide berth concerning the recent dream she had and the fact that these magic items might be culturally important to them and says, "Is it okay if I attempt to identify the rings, potions, and wand?"
Assuming people are okay with this she casts detect magic and takes a look: Spellcraft to identify: 47, 43, 35, 36, 38, 41, 33, 44, 44, 36 -> potions Spellcraft to identify: 42, 38 -> rings Spellcraft to Identify: 48 -> wand
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Thursday April 18th, 2024 11:02:42 PM
Stohp considers the words from the journal page.
Delia asks for a translation into Common. Then she sends Hawky, everburning torch in talons, to find the ceiling.
Hawky spirals upward until it seems the ceiling is one hundred and fifty feet up, plus or minus. His spiral flight reveals to all that there’s no carrion crawler-size set of tunnels up there, though there are cracks on the ceiling and the highest parts of the walls large enough to be seen 150 feet away, but not so large as to be ‘tunnels’ in any true sense of the word.
Zanderallen notes the loss felt deeply by Dolgrin, wondering if Stock feels the same, though it seems Stock never weeps, over anything. He stands with the dwarves, respectful, and then moves on to sorting the rest of the gear, pondering the words in the journal.
Bartomus hoped the lost scribes’ fate was painless. He pulled out his bag of holding, and looked for the crown, but despite Armalad’s report from the ‘illusion’ there was no crown to be seen. Had the Fungus simply reflected their own memories and desires as part of the ‘illusion’?
Bartomus’ attention is drawn more closely to the four items Dolgrin knelt in front of. Bartomus had seen the runed hammer before… on the murals in the Throne Room… was this the hammer of some dwarven hero of the distant past, mythic heroics forever captured on royal murals, and not the more recent missing scribes?
Armalad, though often cold and analytical, gives the dwarves room to grieve. She asks if it’s alright to identify the other items. Stock gives a thumbs up. Dolgrin might not be listening.
Armalad proceeds with identification.
Stock continues to stare deeply at the runed hammer. Did his right hand flex in empty ‘hammer grip’, even a little?
What do you do?
(OOC – Two (2) rings of swimming Ten (10) potions of cure serious wounds Wand of cure critical wounds (30 charges))
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday April 19th, 2024 6:43:04 AM
Stohp is ready to continue on but will wait of the others aren't done.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday April 19th, 2024 10:32:28 AM "We probably need to get moving, folks." Bartomus said as he watched Hawky spiral upwards with the light. "These sacred relics need to be taken to their rightful home and we still have a special crown to find to stop the world coming apart."
He moves closer to the items that have captivated the two dwarves and stepped, if possible to where he was now standing behind the four items looking at Stock and Dolgrin.
"Is there something we should say or do before we remove them from this chamber? An homage or blessing or something."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday April 19th, 2024 11:02:30 AM
Delia calls Hawky back, tucking the torch back in her pouch and offering him bits of jerky. Despite the Ioun stone circling his head sustaining him, he was less tolerate of the lack of eating than the rest of them.
She waits patiently for everyone to be ready to leave, maintaining her watch on the tunnel.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Friday April 19th, 2024 2:30:21 PM
Zanderallen pauses as the information about the gear is processed, "Wait so is this the scribes or did we find something older?"
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday April 19th, 2024 8:47:02 PM
Armalad says, "Wow we have quite the haul of potions. I think we should probably each take one considering they are cure serious wounds. As for the wand of cure critical wounds I'm assuming we are giving that to either Zander or Bart."
"As for getting moving does this mean we have to go back the way we came and investigate the dry path afterall? I mean yay we found the plant thing that can turn people into unwitting zombies but does that mean there are worse actual undead along the dry path?"
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Saturday April 20th, 2024 12:46:35 AM ”Yes Armalaf, that is indeed what it means. “
Stock walks over to the hammer and grasps it by the handle. [b]”Anybody know what kind of magic this thing has?[b]
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Sunday April 21st, 2024 12:07:26 AM
Stohp waits impatiently for the others to simply gather the loot and move on to more exploration.
Bartomus voices what Stohp was thinking.
Delia calls Hawky back, then resumes her watch, waiting for the treasure collection to finish.
Zanderallen asks whether the pile of treasure was from the scribes, or something older.
Armalad remarks on the identified magic items. Dreading the answer, she asks whether they still need to investigate the barren path.
Stock gives the answer Armalad dreaded, the barren path awaits. But first… Stock walks over to the runed warhammer, grasping it, wielding it, and asks what kind of magic it has.
…
As Stock’s dwarven fingers surround the warhammer’s shaft, and is lifted upward, readied for war, the runes shift from glowing a faint blue into a steady and somewhat bright blue, like the runes of a scroll dancing across the page before the fire of the scroll’s spell consumes it! The blue radiance that lights up the runes does not consume the warhammer, nay, the warhammer suddenly speeds up Stock’s arm, enabling him to flick the warhammer back and forth quickly, not quite hypnotically, but at supernatural Speed!
…
Dolgrin comes out of his weeping at the sight of Stock’s tree-thick thews hefting the runed hammer aloft! His eyes go wide as Stock lightly flicks the hammer back and forth, considering its weight and balance and the hammer glows somewhat brighter!
He says, “Stock… the hammer has chosen you! If only Klink Barrelchest were here to see a worthy successor to wield his warhammer and finally find the crown! Ahem… The hammer is a Dwarven Thrower, magically enhanced when wielded by a worthy dwarf! The runes translate as, “Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Speed.” The warhammer is, in your hands, enhanced to the third degree and enchanted with magics similar to a Haste spell, though only your arm moves faster when attacking at length, and not your legs. It also can be hurled with great accuracy and strikes giants for extra damage. This was Klink’s warhammer, and sadly it was of no help to him against this fungus, as I was no help to you in this battle… his head droops a moment, then he lifts it again…
These others were his as well, and I am sure Chief Sternbough would not object to you, or even the Shields, using any or all of them on this mission.
Here was his longbow, enchanted to the fifth degree for exceptional accuracy and penetration, but no other enchantments. The bowstring is a special alloy, and so the user must have exceptional, even legendary, strength to pull it and still be able to aim properly.
The shield was also his, likewise enchanted to the fifth degree for maximum protection.
The Mithral full plate armor was enchanted to the fourth degree, plus… do you see the shadows constantly playing on its surface beyond what our spells should cause? When worn, the armor makes its wearer one with the night, and nearly as silent as a trapfinder. Also, see how my hand just glides across its surface and won’t stop? The armor is also enchanted to help the wearer escape the maws of giant beasts, entangling nets, and the like, the slightest body twist enough for the wearer to slide out of the entrapment!
The others can be wielded by anyone trained… the armor, Stock, is only of use to you. First, it is dwarf-sized, and second, I am not trained in even mid-range armor, which the Mithral Full-Plate is, so that leaves you, unless your present armor, which also seems to be Mithral Full-Plate, is better?
As for the Shields’ other questions, who knows where the scribes’ bodies are, or Klink’s… enough time has passed that I’m thankful that even rotted backpacks, perhaps that stand-alone breastplate, and a partial journal was found. It’s not yet enough clues to point us to the crown’s resting place, but it is a start, if we can find more journal pages…
Yes, just gather up the treasures, and remember – these four items that belonged to Klink Barrelchest… when we return to Chief Sternbough with the crown, they must be turned over to him. But until then… no dwarf will shed tears over the Shields slaying more monsters that have slain our scribes and Klink! Onward!”
Dolgrin watches to see the choices of Stock and the other Shields with regard to the treasures, and then asks, “Do you have enough bags of holding to quickly gather everything and then head back to The Fork, so the Barren Path can be pursued to its end?”
What do you do?
(OOC – if a Shield selects one of Klink’s items to carry for the meantime, note it in your post. Any items that no one claims I will presume to be in a bag of holding, which the Shields can specify in their posts.
Your next post should include “and then s/he races out of the cavern and back to The Fork” or similar transition language.
Since the Shields will be on the road for a bit and therefore Armalad will have time…
Klink Barrelchest’s items:
Dwarven Thrower +2 (Corebook p.473), of Speed (when wielded by a Worthy Dwarf).
(This weapon functions as a +2 warhammer in the hands of most users. Yet in the hands of a dwarf, the warhammer gains an additional +1 enhancement bonus (for a total enhancement bonus of +3) and gains the returning special ability. It can be hurled with a 30-foot range increment. When hurled, a dwarven thrower deals an extra 2d8 points of damage against creatures of the giant subtype or an extra 1d8 points of damage against any other target.)
(Speed is accessible only to Stock, activating only when a Worthy Dwarf is the wielder, “Worthy” is defined by the DM. Speed does not stack with Haste. Corebook p.472)
(One-handed weapons can be wielded in two hands, so Stock can fully Power Attack to his heart’s content.)
Composite Longbow +5, built for +6 STR bonus (22 STR minimum to use without penalties).
Heavy Steel Shield +5
+4 Greater Slick (+15 escape artist), Greater Shadow (+15 stealth) Mithral Full Plate (sized for Dwarf)
Other items:
+4 Breastplate (Whoever takes it can wear it, as with normal loot; Dolgrin intimated it belonged to a scribe, but he spent no time discussing it compared to Klink’s legacy.)
Armalad identified all the other items.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+22=36 ; Sunday April 21st, 2024 5:51:20 PM
Armalad says, "That bow is beyond my strength, plus I like how I have mine enchanted up the ying yang with all sorts of goodies, merciful, icy burst, flaming burst and thundering and then my arcane archer ability allows me to make my arrows shocking burst so my bow is my preferred weapon. I guess we head back the way we came."
Perception: 36
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Sunday April 21st, 2024 11:03:38 PM "Well now, that's rather fetching for you Stock! I think I saw that hammer in one of the murals in the Great Hall." Bartomus said with an approving nod. Then Bartomus listened to Dolgrin and as he explained each weapon, he got a bit puzzled.
"Dolgrin," Bartomus said as he held open his bag of holding for the others to help load things into it. "Were there more of the heroes along with the scribes?"
He helped load things into the bag and then slung it into place.
He then worked his way back the way they came. Where necessary, he changed into a stone elemental to make the effort well, effortless as he stoneslid through the various chambers.
Bag of Holding Type IV
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday April 22nd, 2024 8:24:07 AM
Stohp has no interest in the fancy magic items. The history is cool to hear but she does not have the reverence for the ancient dead the Dwarf does. She'll help load everything up and head back with the group.
Delia curiously begins to draw the metal bow string, then shakes her head, "A little too legendary for me as well. Zander or Stock I'm sure could manage it if they ever decide to execute a plan other than 'run up and hit it'.
As they begin their trek back to the Fork, she comments to Armalad, "The barren path was infested with dwarf/scorpions and other aberrations, not undead. So at least this time we probably won't have to deal with mind control. Probably."
She resumes her place at the front, not lowering her guard despite the fact that they've already traveled this way. Hawky perches on whoever is in the front behind her that is willing to have a ridealong bird.
========= Stealth: 52 Perception: 47 (51 v undead or aberrations)
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Monday April 22nd, 2024 3:08:31 PM "Yeah. I'll use this hammer and also this armor for now and honor Klink's memory. I have no use for that shield, however nice it is. And while I could use the bow, I can't see myself putting down the hammer to pull it out. Z? Would you wield those in Klink's honor?
Dolgrin...Cousin...I am humbled by this moment. I will dedicate my life to returning these items to our people.
Did anybody see where Delia went?...oh she's already off. Not one to mince words, that woman."
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 35/31/18; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 9/44 used Monday April 22nd, 2024 3:10:08 PM Header updated I've also added the treasure to the party tracker...
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 5/6 Monday April 22nd, 2024 4:53:54 PM
Zanderallen watches Stock wield the hammer, some of the dwarf's awe spilling over as he watches the weapon respond to its wielder. When Stock offers the bow and shield he salutes, "It would be an honor to carry on Klink's legacy. I will do my best to honor him as we work to restore the knowledge of the clan.' Moving his own bow and shield to his bag of holding (and offering space for any other items needing to be stored) he takes Klink's bow and shield. He first gives the bow a few experimental draws, it had a hefty draw but well within his capability. Satisfied it would serve him well if needed he stows it on his back. He then straps the shield to his arm, stepping through a quick guarding exercise. The balance and coverage was a little off from what he was used to it being sized to protect a dwarf but with a little bit of practice he could adjust. Both items were works of art and he would be happy when he could return them to their proper place.
"Off to the barren path then, we've exhausted the possibilities here. Hopefully another journal fragment, combined with what we found here will lead us to the crown." Once everyone is resumes his position as rearguard. ================= Wielding Klink's Bow and Shield
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Monday April 22nd, 2024 8:53:03 PM
Armalad declines Klink’s longbow and gets ready to move with the group.
Bartomus comments on Klink’s warhammer that Stock is wielding. He then asks Dolgrin whether there were additional heroes with the scribes. Then Bartomus set about helping the group return to The Fork.
Stohp declines any of Klink’s items. Like Bartomus, she helps the group pack and ready to head back to The Fork.
Delia tests Klink’s bow, but finds it just a tad too difficult to pull the bowstring properly. As the group heads back to The Fork she points out to Armalad that the foes down the Barren Path are probably not undead… Delia returns to leading the way in the Night Below.
Stock takes Klink’s hammer and armor, to honor his memory. He asks Zanderallen to wield the shield and also the longbow. Stock swears an oath to his clan before Dolgrin. He then fails to locate Delia, but deduces she must be scouting ahead!
Zanderallen stands rapt, watching Stock wield and test Klink’s warhammer. He agrees to carry the shield and the bow. Zanderallen tests each, marveling at their craftsdwarfship! He calls the group to head on back to The Fork!
The journey back goes much quicker than the journey here – Ropes of Climbing, dwarven muscles, and Taur height make quick work of the watery path out!
As Dolgrin passes by first the Dwarven ‘Campsite’ and then the Bone Pile, he muses aloud in Common, “I wonder whether this group of scribes became local guardians of the Fungus, giving it time to mind control various aberrations, or whether the Fungus sent them further afield as guards? Did the scribes have to destroy a skeletal Klink, who had gone adventuring long before them, only to become skeletons themselves? Sadly, we may never know!”
Delia quickly finds each hidden mark she left on the way in, and though getting back to the Fungus might be more difficult, they shouldn’t need to do so. Still, she adds additional marks to indicate the path to the Fungus just in case!
The Fork
At The Fork, Dolgrin wastes no time leading the Shields down the two or three hours of the Barren Path that he knows, and then calls for Delia to lead once more.
Delia continues to lead the group, Stock and Stohp watching for attacks from the front, Stock much more shadowy than before, and quieter too! Then Bartomus in his elemental form, then Dolgrin, Armalad and Joker, and finally Zanderallen guarding the rear.
What do the Shields discuss during the first five (5) sleeps down the Barren Path?
(OOC – In anticipation of path exploration beginning, let’s get some Survival die rolls out of the way for how well the group maps and explores the seemingly uncountable number of side tunnels a dwarf could fit through!
I checked – Delia, in her Favored Terrain, is clearly the main roller.
Delia – please roll five (5) Survival checks and note all sums in an OOC line in your post. Everyone else – I recall all of you can Aid Another DC 10 easily, so Delia, please just take the +12 bonus from six assists (including Dolgrin).
This represents up to five (5) days of exploring and mapping, should the DM need to use that many – each path is of unknown length after all!
After you’ve all posted and we know where we’re going then Tuesday night’s DM post will send you on your way!
Elapsed Time: It was seven sleeps, six since The Fork, to reach the Fungus. The trip back is almost twice as fast, so four more sleeps, total of ten (10) since The Fork and the Mossy Path, and eleven (11) since entering Wind Tunnels.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday April 22nd, 2024 11:02:05 PM
Armalad says, "So we are sure the crown has to be down the barren path? I really don't want to get to a dead-end on the Barren Path only to find some heartbreaking story of what became of the other Dwarven scribe expedition and no dragon crown of Largon. Also while we were investigating the moldy path could it be possible that Karkasan's people somehow got down here too and when we get to the end of the barren path we'll end up having to fight them to secure the crown?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 1:05:49 AM "These tunnels connect up to the greater underdark so I doubt we'd hit a second dead end. How else would Drow and other dangers find their way up here if this cave system ended? I'm sure we'll end up fighting something along the way one way or another."
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 35/31/18; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 0/44 used Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 11:22:57 AM
Before he leaves the cave with the fungus, Stock pockets a small dull blue stone to commemorate the spot.
Stock reacts to Dolgrin’s grim thoughts on what became of Klink with his typical brusqueness. ”Both Klink and the scribes died down here. That’s all we need to know. It’s fortunate that none of their minds would remain attached to a skeletal form and so after that, their skeletons are just a mindless bunch of bones. It is sad but true”
To Armalad he says, ”that feels unknowable. This is a lost artifact we are talking about. We don’t even know if this new path is hours or days or weeks long…”
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 5/6 Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 4:48:20 PM
Zanderallen had to fight to remain alert, while the closeness of the cave walls had felt like the Float back home at first after more than a fortnight down here they took on a completely different feeling. The lack of any light beyond their own, the oppressive silence, and the constant feeling that something was down there with them slowly took their toll. But his mental fortitude was every match for his physical fortitude and Zanderallen found ways to keep pushing on. He enjoyed the quickened pace of the return journey before settling back into the drudgery of tunnel mapping.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+39=53 ; d20+39=45 ; d20+39=45 ; d20+39=57 ; d20+39=47 ; d20+45=55 ; Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 5:25:41 PM
Delia settles into her guide role again, spending the days quiet, focused, and marking their path and the nights keeping watch and double checking her maps.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 7:04:25 PM
Bartomus joined in the conversations about the Crown and where it might have gotten to. Yet, what intrigued him more was the fact that they had found a dwarvish legends last battle site.
After the second full test, Bartomus asked Dolgrin if he could share a tale or two about Klink and what he had accomplished to earn a spot on the walls of the Great Keep's royal hall.
Barren Path
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 11:12:38 PM
Armalad wonders whether the crown will be down the Barren Path.
Stohp plays defense barrister.
Stock takes a memento of the fungus cavern. He tries to distract Dolgrin from Grim Thoughts. Stock takes second chair with Stohp.
Zanderallen noticed that having spent nearly a fortnight in the UnderWold, the similarities with the close streets of the Float had faded. As the tunnel mapping resumed, he suddenly categorized the backtracking as a kind of mental vacation.
Delia resumed her mapping role as though she had done it all her life.
Bartomus too speculated upon the Crown’s location, but pondered deeply the recovery of Klink Barrelchest’s legacy. He asked Dolgrin for the tale of how Klink came to be included in the murals in the throne room.
Dolgrin nods at Stock’s encouragement to think positive thoughts.
Dolgrin replies to Bartomus, “Klink was one of the most adept warriors in Clan Mountainheart’s history. His greatest strength and weakness was his overconfidence. Many discounted our army’s chances in certain key battles, but it was Klink’s keen tactical mind, but moreso his sheer physical prowess, that enabled him to lead small teams to claim victory again and again, including many battles against the Drow. I believe the mural you’re referring to was one where even the establishment of our defenses, which would later prove critical in defending against the first Drow invasion via the Wind Tunnels, was in doubt until Klink and his team of warriors held out longer than any thought possible, enabling our reinforcements to arrive and finish the work. Without Klink, in hindsight, we’d all be dead or speaking Drow as our native language by now… He was an incomparable warrior, but his greatest successes came with teamwork, not solo heroics…[/b]”
With that, the group descends into the meticulous but necessary routine of scouting and mapping, once more Delia and Dolgrin bearing the brunt of the mapping, Stohp’s pentaurship clarifying key details by making them explain nuances, Stock and the others contributing tidbits here and there as they notice them.
All notice that in these first five days of caving that past water-sculpting and lava-sculpting of the Barren Path’s limestone and obsidian caverns did not create nearly as many side passages as found in the Mossy Path.
The first day would have been difficult for anyone but Delia, but many hands makes light work, and so little time was lost to confirming details. The second day was a bit more difficult and Delia was glad for the help of her friends, especially the tall Taurs, whose height allowed them quicker scrutiny of details higher on Wind Tunnel walls. The third and fourth days were yawners – even Zanderallen thought he could have solo-mapped, with help from his friends, and he was probably right! The fifth day went like the first. Two nights were spent in makeshift ‘travel caves’ relying on natural landmarks and other tricks to conceal the group’s presence as best the group could. The fifth night was thankfully a ‘desirable’ conversion into a ‘travel cave.’ Perhaps four (4) full miles mapped in five (5) days, a record? The sixth day begins…
You’ve been traveling this 10’ by 10’ lava tube, or tunnel, for about half an hour when it opens up into a 10’ wide by 40’ long and 20’ high chamber at a 45 degree angle to your tunnel. Also, as soon as you step in you see there’s a 5’ wide entrance to another chamber about 10’ wide and 50’ long with a 2’-wide section of an underground stream visible against the back wall. There seems to be a 10’ wide exit along the right-hand side of this chamber.
(OOC Elapsed Time: Total of fifteen (15) sleeps since The Fork and the Mossy Path, and sixteen (16) sleeps since entering Wind Tunnels.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+22=33 ; d20+20=23 ; Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 11:44:06 PM
Armalad and Joker hang back waiting for someone either stealthier or hardier to take the lead. She plans to keep pace with the group though to avoid being left behind but having been enchanted by the Phycomid she is wary and decides to stay towards the back while keeping eyes out for danger.
Armalad - Perception 33 Joker - Perception 23
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=27 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 6:44:29 AM
Stohp will be in her position just behind the front person keeping her eyes peeled for signs of trouble (27 perception)
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used d20+37=50 ; d20+27=40 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 9:44:09 AM ”I will be back after I check out this side tunnel.”
Stock drinks a potion and disappears. He makes his way up to the 5 ft opening and cautiously examines the area for signs of trouble or treasure.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=39 ; d20+45=62 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 12:50:57 PM
Delia pauses as Stock disappears from even her sight. That new armor was making quite a difference. No more telltale creaks, clanks, and rustles.
She will creep into the main tunnel that isn't the one Stock said he was checking out, stopping at the first signs of danger.
======== Perception: 39 (43 v undead or aberration) Stealth: 57 (-5 from movement I forgot to put in roller and hide in plain sight)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=11 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 2:29:43 PM
Zanderallen holds his position in the rear waiting for the call of trouble or all clear. He keep looking behind them for anything flanking the party. ======= Perception:11
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=29 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 7:08:32 PM
With Stock heading off in one direction, and Delia heading in the other, Bartomus just stood where he was leaving him ahead of Zander. He took in the entire space looking for things that might be out of sorts.
Perception 29
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Wednesday April 24th, 2024 10:00:17 PM
Armalad and Joker keep pace with the group, studiously avoiding losing their middle positions, yet mindful that horrors similar to the Fungus might warp their minds once more!
Stohp is alert, noticing
Stock drinks a potion of Invisibility (30 rounds) and scouts the left tunnel opening.
Delia blinks as Stock vanishes and yet there was only the faintest sound, if that, of plates scratching and straps flexing where he’d stood. She shifts to the right-hand tunnel and goes ahead a bit, unseen and unheard.
Zanderallen keeps pace with the group, watching the rear, or at least the twenty lit feet he can see, and the shadows beyond…
Bartomus keeps pace with the group, but with Stohp and the rest waiting for scouting news, he too was watchful over the immediate vicinity.
Dolgrin likewise is watchful, waiting for scouting reports.
Stock sneaks into the left tunnel and turning to the right just before the slow-flowing stream, finds two stalac/gmite columns, growing at a glacial pace. He quickly determines there’s nothing important here, but could be a good ‘travel cave’ – the stream is slow, but not stagnant, and the water smells fresh enough. He tells the Shields to follow Delia and immediately continues down the other tunnel Delia took, potion duration burning away.
Delia finds that a somewhat curvy 10’-wide passage leads her to a 20’-wide by 10’-across chamber with a 5’-wide exit on the opposite side. Also, as she stands just outside the chamber, she easily sees that there’s a sheer drop of 20’ to the ‘ground’ and the ceiling is 20’ high. Delia concludes the only thing of note here was the drop, which the Shields have dealt with easily before.
The group soon rejoins Delia, who has already set up a Rope of Climbing, and she hurries them along, reminding them Stock’s potion won’t last forever.
The group travels another 150 feet in an ‘S’ curve tunnel length and comes to a… tall… chamber.
This is not the largest chamber you’ve seen but at 25’ by 50’ it’s easy to spread out. As you watch for danger it seems the biggest danger is the unknown – the ceiling is not visible to anyone! All of you feel a slight breeze… and perhaps a slight stink you can’t quite place. There’s a 10’ wide exit comprising the corner of the chamber that is catty-corner to you.
The bulk of the group fully enters the chamber at the edge, preparing to traverse it without knowing what lurks in the Night Above, though it might be worth coming back to check… While they ponder, Delia and Stock trudge on through the exit and then around the corner into another chamber, passing through a “spacious” 15’-wide “hallway,” and find themselves facing a 15’ wide by 50’ long chamber with what seems to be a large pile of white bones, humanoid-shape and size, in the far right corner. There is a 15’-wide opening in the middle of the left wall.
Delia and Stock take a closer look.
The bones appear to have been picked-clean and gnawed thoroughly in the process – the teeth type seems unrecognizable – could the teeth have been not-of-this-Wold?
MAP NOTE – Legend at cell AN37; ‘B’ is the pile of bones Delia and Stock see.
MAP NOTE – most of the group is thinking about whether to scale the room whose ceiling cannot be seen, and Delia and Stock are just around the corner.
Stock’s Potion – 23 rounds remaining.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday April 24th, 2024 10:40:30 PM
Armalad says, "Perhaps we call Delia and Stock back and send Joker and Hawky to investigate to fly up and investigate the larger room Armalad suggests."
Joker says, "Thanks boss, you know just what to say to make a guy feel all warm inside, but instead of sending me and the hawk, why not just send the hawk? It is probably harder to target than I am and hardier too. Why can't I say here with you?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday April 25th, 2024 6:41:09 AM
Stohp advances cautiously, making notes of the terrain in her head to add to the map shortly.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used d20+27=33 ; Thursday April 25th, 2024 9:38:56 AM ”I could fly up there and take a look but it doesn’t seem like a great use of one of my two potions.”
He looks at Joker and says, ”Actually, other than the feathers, I’d say the biggest difference between you and Hawky is that Hawks doesn’t talk back to Delia.”
He hides a smile and moves up to the bones to investigate.
========== Perception 33
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=35 ; Thursday April 25th, 2024 1:53:29 PM
Bartomus followed after Stohp squeezing through the narrow gap. He stopped before the next opening and made sure to leave enough room for the rest of the Shields to funnel past him if the need arose.
Move to K22/23; Perception 35
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Thursday April 25th, 2024 2:11:27 PM "Before anyone goes flying up into the darkness let me see if my lantern will show anything." Zanderallen gets out his bulleyes lantern, lights the wick, and after giving it a moment for the flame to steady he adjusts the lens and shines the lantern up at the ceiling, illuminating out to 120 feet. "This wouldn't be the room Klink mentioned as being higher than they could see, could it?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday April 25th, 2024 8:04:48 PM
Delia looks at where Stock's voice is coming from and says seriously, "Oh, Hawky talks back. He just doesn't speak Common like Joker. The feathers though. Dead giveaway. The accent too..."
She pulls out her everburning torch again and preps Hawky to go up exploring.
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Thursday April 25th, 2024 11:42:52 PM
Armalad and Joker discuss locating the ceiling.
Stohp is still in full mapping mode.
An invisible Stock tells Joker that Joker is the best scouting choice because he can intelligently report back. Then Delia thinks she hears Stock move towards the pile of bones.
Bartomus keeps pace, ensuring smaller Shields can walk around him if need be.
Zanderallen pulls out his bullseye lantern, lights it, aims it towards the ceiling, and wonders aloud if this is the room the journal page spoke of.
Delia stares at empty space and corrects Stock. Then she prepares her everburning torch for Hawky to explore the tall room they just came from.
Zanderallen’s lantern follows the wall up its full 120’ and then shadows play on the walls above that, and then darkness. Still no ceiling. Zanderallen whistles quietly.
Hawky begins his flight up with the Everburning Torch (20’ radius).
Stock looks at the pile of bones up close, Highlight to display spoiler: {and sees, with no particular challenge to his trained eyes, that these are largely dwarven bones, but a small amount seem to be human, gnomish, and halfling as well. If some of these were the scribes, and not another dwarven expedition, how would we know?
To Stock’s left, the side passage goes some 35’ feet ahead to a wall with a 10’ wide exit on the left side.}
While Joker wheedles, Hawky, a much faster flier, begins spiraling upward, rising 10’ every second, and it is an astonishingly long time, 48 seconds, before the torch’s light clearly shows the ceiling! Hawky’s highest arc also reveals a wide exit, between 10 and 20 feet wide, so hard to be precise from around 500’ away! The high tunnel is probably the source of the slight breeze, combined with the exit Stock and Delia used to enter the next room.
By the time Hawky’s expedition is completed, Stock and Delia have cleared the next room. With Stock’s potion perhaps half-gone, Stohp, Delia, and Dolgrin make careful note of the tunnel’s location and mark it to check later.
Hawky, with a gravity assist, is quickly back with the Shields in the time they gather in the next room.
As the group passes the bones, Stock asks Dolgrin about them.
Dolgrin admits he’s not a bones expert, but agrees it’s a fair number of dwarven bones compared to the human, halfling, and gnome bones.
Leaving behind the bones, a 15’-wide exit takes you 25’ further and then the tunnel ends in front of you but not on the left corner, as a 10’wide exit takes you into a 25’-wide by 65’ long chamber with four stalagmites each receiving a slow drip from the stalactites above them, and at the end of the left wall a 15’-wide exit.
Carefully hung around the ‘necks’ of the stalagmites, apparently so as to not inhibit their slow growth, are the remains of rusted and/or sodden adventuring gear – two halves of a chain shirt broken by rust, and perhaps claws, on one stalagmite. On the others an assortment of rotted and sodden leather armor… and a breastplate with a six-inch-wide puncture through the “heart” and out the back…
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+27=43 ; d20+13=17 ; d20+27=36 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 4:58:44 AM
Know[Nature]: 43 Know[Dungeonerring]: 17 Linguistics: 36
Armalad looks at the bones and at the armor pieces on the stalagmite formations and thinks to herself what she might know.
As they pass the armor pieces she casts detect magic and scans each piece of armor individually for any magic auras
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=29 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 7:38:08 AM
Stohp is expecting trouble and does her best to keep an eye out for it (perception 29)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=32 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 12:52:41 PM
Bartomus followed behind Zander and took in the obvious trophy display. A very telling and gruesome trophy display, he thought to himself. He took a moment to look at the breastplate piece of armor with a puncture hole and tried to determine whether it was a weapon or a claw that did that damage.
Perception 32; move to where the breast plate piece is on display.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=40 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 2:43:57 PM Longstrider, Darkvision, Underground +2
Delia grimaces, "Could be something marking its territory. We were warned of scorpion/dwarves - could that puncture be the scorpion tail?"
She wonders what sort of creatures might use the tunnel in the ceiling of the previous room and keeps an eye out with everyone else.
Perception: 40 (44 v undead/aberrations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=19 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 3:35:44 PM
Leaned way back to watch Hawky map the ceiling Zander lets out another whistle as the bird's torch finally hits the top. He briefly hopes they don't have to explore the tunnel up there before having his attention drawn to the stalagmites. "I agree with you Delia. That looks like territory markers, or warning markers to keep out. Eyes up and weapons ready everyone." Zanderallen does just that, hand held ready to receive his blade as he douses and stashes his lantern. ======== Perception: 19
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Saturday April 27th, 2024 11:40:13 PM
Armalad considers the bones and armor pieces, casts Detect Magic, and scans the armor pieces. She Highlight to display spoiler: {Determines that if the broken gear was ever magical, some kind of large claws seem to have sundered the chain shirt in two, and the magic gone, rust came in quantity from the slow drips that grow the stalagmites here. The relatively few former armors all seem to have been rent in two or in the case of the breastplate, punctured so thoroughly front and back (through the heart!) that again, if any were magical, the enchantments were broken by the sundering and the elements, what little there are here in the Deep, took over from there, rotting leather and rusting metal. That puncture hole though… giant cave scorpion stinger??? As to the bones, Dolgrin seems to have covered the key parts without sitting down with a magnifying glass and a library of books on bones…}
Stohp is alert.
Bartomus reviews the wrecked armor… trophy display…, thinking perhaps either one claw coming to a sharp point when closed, or… Highlight to display spoiler: {a stinger… ? Do the Shields face cave scorpions?}
Delia verbalizes what some could be thinking – scorpion stinger? Unnerved by a possibility, she returns to guard duty.
Zanderallen marveled at Hawky’s mapping spiral. He suggests the armors aren’t just detritus from past victims of some aberration, but a kind of warning, of marking one’s territory. After warning the others to ready for battle, he douses and stashes his lantern, anticipating battle soon.
Stock says some of the armors seem to be dwarf-sized, but so battle-damaged and rusted or rotting that he’s not ready to call it true.
Dolgrin agrees with Stock, “The armors are too weathered and damaged for me to attribute any of them to the scribes, but it’s possible.” He winces when he stares at the breastplate with the six-inch hole front and back.
The group reassembles into marching order and enters the next room.
This next chamber is quite spacious – you’ve entered on the “long side,” more than 60’ of Darkvision can see, but your footsteps echo closely so perhaps 100’ long? Directly ahead of you is the short side, about 30’ deep. The ceiling is once more unseeable and you once more feel a slight breeze with the same subtle stink. As you round the corner and advance, indeed you find the other end of the ‘long’ wall about 95’ from its opposite. As well, there’s a 25’-wide opening at the back of the ‘long’ wall.
Each one ponders the horrors of the Night Above them, tensing for battle, but no foes appear… yet…
The room is otherwise “just” another chamber with unseeable ceiling, so the group moves ahead enough that Delia and Stock are…
Rounding the very-wide corner, this chamber is empty of stalagmites and stalactites, but not empty of… scrawls… writing (?)… on the walls. There is a fairly substantial amount of it… perhaps equivalent to one scroll’s worth of writing, though poorly scrawled and in large symbols/characters/something.
The chamber is 25’ wide and starting from the prior chamber goes forth some 55’ before ending though there is a 10’-wide exit on the right.
Armalad says that in the time she needs to translate the writing, Hawky has enough time to take the torch up again in the prior room.
Zanderallen lights his lantern again, and again it cannot reach the ceiling so he douses it and lets Hawky do his thing.
Once more Hawky takes some 48 seconds to reach the ceiling – another 500’ ceiling, with one 15’-wide tunnel at the top, in the bottom-left corner pointing in the direction of the other chamber with a 500’ ceiling.
Delia wonders aloud whether the two chambers connect at that height; and given the ground-level tunnels, maybe that’s why there’s a slight breeze.
Stohp works with Armalad to translate the Aklo, and their translation is, “The writing is in Aklo… bad Aklo, but Aklo nonetheless. It is the most primitive known form of writing – an accounting of food, apparently always shared in 4 parts. All of it is of the type, ‘six humanoids. One and one-half share.’ There is no narrative or explanation – just the extensive accounting.”
Hawky’s ascent and descent takes a total of 10 rounds, likewise the translation with two Shields working on it, as it was a scroll’s worth of text.)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=20 ; Sunday April 28th, 2024 1:21:34 PM
Bartomus followed along and listened as Stohp and Armalad worked through the accounting records apparently writ large, and poorly, along the giant wall.
"A creature that can figure and write. We need to keep that in mind. They set up their out parameter." Bartomus said cloud. He took it all in.
"Dolgrin, any legends about a warlord or ruler here in these caverns? Not Drow but someone else??" Bartomus nodded toward the ledger. Then he looked about again for any other signs.
Perception 20
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday April 28th, 2024 11:30:16 PM
Armalad says to Bartomus, "Well potentially multiple somethings considering the figuring in Aklo such as it is is dividing each line item in shares of four, so perhaps whatever is down here is at least four different groups or entities? Though that doesn't necessarily mean all groups or entities can read or write or figure, just the lead group or entity perhaps?"
"Also that armor back there looked to be pierced by giant cave scorpion stingers and if any of it was magic it was rendered too damaged to continue to function as a magic armor. Between the armor pieces and the writing I'd say it is safe to say at least one group can read, write and figure in a form of primitive Aklo and one group contains one or more giant cave scorpions, I do not know if we come across anything if we should potentially try to communicate in Aklo before hostilities arise or given the broken armor on stalagmites if that is meant to be a warning and since we ignored it they won't listen to anything we potentially have to say."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday April 29th, 2024 8:23:35 AM
Stohp shrugs. "There's no real way to know except by continuing on."
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used Monday April 29th, 2024 2:39:51 PM "Yeah Stohp. I suspect you're right. Still though, it takes a funny set of circumstances for a being to understand accounting, let alone need accounting. And then the fact that it decided to keep its accounts on the wall...strange. Of course when the strangest thing you are encountering is unexpected accounting, you're probably in good shape."
Stock continues ahead, occasionally squinting up to where he expects the ceiling to be overhead.
"I'm not sure that many things that speak Aklo are willing to negotiate... I picked it up to understand how to hunt them better, not to have a nice chat." Delia tosses over her shoulder as she keeps an eye on Hawky, grateful that she wasn't tasked with translating the Aklo, despite her level of Aklo grammar probably being closer to the wall-scrawl than the more academically trained Arlamad and Stohp.
She retakes her place ahead of the group and continues their forward march.
Perception: 38 (42 v undead/aberrations) Stealth: 53
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday April 29th, 2024 8:48:06 PM
Armalad says, "You never know till you try and I wasn't necessarily recommending we be all diplomatic like we will part with x amount of rations in order to continue to investigate your territory I was thinking more along the lines of trying to intimidate them from even bothering to mess with us, kind of a you don't want to fool around and find out in Aklo and then if that doesn't work well perhaps if any survivors speak Aklo they'll tell whatever else is down here not to mess with us."
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Monday April 29th, 2024 11:05:40 PM
Bartomus asks Dolgrin for any tales of some leader down here.
Armalad speculates as to the number of groups of denizens.
Stohp says the group should just keep moving.
Stock agrees with Stohp, but noting that accounting tends to require specific circumstances. He moves on, invisibly.
Delia notes Aklo speakers tend not to be the most intelligent, and then like Stock, moves on into the Night Below, scouting.
Armalad offers her own take on ‘Aklo diplomacy.’
Zanderallen brings up the rear once the group begins moving again.
Dolgrin ponders the Aklo and the Shields’ speculations, and likewise moves on with the group. “Writing carved into stone isn’t unusual… but that’s significant effort, to write, even crudely, in limestone…”
(OOC – sorry I didn’t advance the group on the map after the prior post. I’ve added ‘Aklo Writing’ so you can see where the group found it.)
The 10’-wide tunnel takes you over 100’ before coming to an end, with a 10’-wide exit on the right and a 15’-wide exit on the left. This tunnel has a ceiling about 10’ high. (OOC this is from the perspective of walking “down” from the top of the map.)
On the right, you see a lot of stalagmites and stalactites through this 10’-wide chamber that dead-ends after 60’. Nothing of interest, but Taurs would find it very difficult to navigate through here compared to humans and smaller.
On the left, the exit goes but 10’ and then opens up into a vast unknown where you cannot see the end of any sides of the massive chamber before you!
Stock, Delia, and Stohp comment on a noticeable stink.
Stock and Delia only Highlight to display spoiler: {Standing in the entranceway to the unknowably-vast chamber, many stalagmites are Darkvision-visible on the left and on the right, but only darkness lies ahead. There is a more-noticeable breeze here. The stink is more noticeable too. The ceiling cannot be seen at all.}
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 12:04:39 AM
Armalad says."I suppose I could send a flaming sphere out into the darkness, and it can get 220 feet ahead of me before winking out of existence."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=33 ; Tuesday April 30th, 2024 6:26:53 AM
Stohp looks down the stalagmite filled passage to see if there's any point in exploring it before turning her attention to the bigger room (perception 33)
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used Tuesday April 30th, 2024 8:45:57 AM ”It is so so dark ahead. That doesn’t look natural. And that smell…it comes from the darkness I think…does anybody have any way to Detect anything besides using my old eyes?”
Stock hugs the wall on the left as he enters the room.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 5:00:51 PM
She'll look at Bart and Armalad, "If anyone can make magical light we could put it on an arrow and see how far it goes. As long as we don't mind everything knowing we're here."
She nocks an arrow in preparation.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 5:39:55 PM
Armalad agrees to Delia's request to light up her arrow should the rest of the group agree the risk is worth taking.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 5:52:50 PM
Zanderallen complies with the hidden request in Stock's words and moves to the entrance of the cavern. He can't see anything with his eyes but will focus his divine sense outward. =========== Detect Evil 1st round 60ft cone presence of evil.
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 30th, 2024 9:35:09 PM
Armalad suggests a Flaming Sphere to search ahead.
Stohp considers the “Taur’s Misery” passage – nothing visible within the range of the nearest light source (Light spell on Armalad’s arrow?). Those with Darkvision report to Stohp they see nothing out of the ordinary even to the back wall. That said, something small, or thin and tall, could be behind a stalagmite.
Stock comments on the Night Below, asking for magical aid in noticing things. He follows the left wall about twenty feet, ready to respond to any danger, and for his troubles only spots a few more stalagmite columns at the edge of his Darkvision.
Delia suggests Light on an arrow, then shoot the arrow.
Armalad agrees with Delia’s idea, if the group votes for it.
Zanderallen moves up, hoping not to bump into the Invisible dwarf, and begins Detecting Evil. (OOC – Round 1 – no evil within the cone ahead. (Moved Z to AD32))
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=17 ; Tuesday April 30th, 2024 11:32:44 PM
Bartomus looked at the cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites and shivered. The darkness in the other room seemed equally problematic.
"I have an idea that might help a bit." Bartomus said and shifted into the form of a large earth elemental and glided forward through the wall to where he had a sense that Stock was standing nearby.
He paused a bit past Stock and then stood trying to get a sense of any movement from that point.
Move to AF 29/30 with earth glide through the wall. Pause there to get a sense of tremors or movement 60' outward via tremorsense. Perception natural one for a total of 17
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday May 1st, 2024 12:37:03 AM
Armalad asks in a whisper, "Is Delia firing her arrow or not or are we waiting to see if our earth elemental detects something first?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday May 1st, 2024 6:08:12 AM
With a shrug Stohp follows Stock into the room.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used Wednesday May 1st, 2024 9:31:59 AM ”Shoot Delia”
Stock continues ahead to the point he can see around the larger stalactites, walking ahead another 30 ft
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+31=32 ; Wednesday May 1st, 2024 1:22:38 PM
Delia will fire the Light arrow in an arc across the chamber.
====== facing AE33, fire across the room. If you need a roll I did roll a 1... for a 32 with farshot feat, -1 for every 110 ft traveled
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday May 1st, 2024 5:32:13 PM
Zander gives the all clear signal and waits to see what the arrow illuminates.
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) d100=92 ; d100=78 ; d100=67 ; d100=22 ; d100=43 ; d100=72 ; d100=66 ; d100=80 ; d100=71 ; 8d6=22 ; 8d6=27 ; 8d6=35 ; 8d6=25 ; 8d6=21 ; 8d6=28 ; 8d6=31 ; 8d6=26 ; 8d6=32 ; 4d6=12 ; Wednesday May 1st, 2024 11:25:45 PM
Bartomus shifted into a large earth elemental and moved through the wall straight for Stock and a bit beyond.
Armalad asks which strategy the group is following.
Stohp had noted the faint sound of Stock moving further into the room. His new armor makes hearing him a lot harder! She decides she’ll know if she’s gone too far if she bumps into Stock and moves in a bit, pausing at Bartomus’ elemental form, as that was around the limit of Zanderallen’s Light.
Stock directs Delia to shoot the Light Arrow Armalad’s been carrying around, and then moves further ahead.
Armalad takes Stock’s cue and walks up to the entrance to pass the Light arrow to Delia so she can fire it right away.
Delia fires the arrow!
Zanderallen notes no ambush thus far and watches the Light arrow take flight.
Delia’s bowstring wobbled – bad pull, it happens, so the arrow went ten degrees off to the left compared to Delia’s aim, but it still goes across the room, arc not as high as Delia wanted as the ceiling is not lit up.
Dolgrin moves up to just behind Armalad so he can see the show.
Armalad only Highlight to display spoiler: {your low-light vision comes in handy, as the extension of the 20’ radius of the Light arrow allows you to see the ceiling and guess it’s about 100’ up.}
There is a distant shout, very brief, in a language unfamiliar to all but Armalad, Stohp, and Delia: Highlight to display spoiler: {In Aklo, “NOW!” }
As you delved deeper into this unknowable chamber, admired the pristine stalagmites, worked hard to ignore the increasing stench, a split-second after the shout there is suddenly an uncomfortable feeling – a sharp abrupt feeling riding a wave of loud rumbling sounds – CAVE-IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(OOC – the area of effect is LARGE. The entire group is in it. No one is near the edge of the quake.)
Though the group was ready for foes of myriad types, the very ground and ceiling, all the rock and stone of the Underwold catches you by Surprise!
An intense tremor rips the very ground asunder in far more than one place, in the large chamber, its entrance, and the tunnel that led you here, and rends the ceiling above, raining rocks and boulders down upon all of you!
(OOC – There’s a lot going on here, but in order:
1) The effect is the same as an Earthquake spell; was it a spell? Not saying – no one saw a spellcaster, and The Scab has a lot of lava action and accompanying earthquakes, so could be either spell or natural. Dolgrin apparently wasn’t expecting an earthquake now, and he’s been good about warning the Shields on UnderWold dangers, so take that for what it’s worth.
2) “When you cast earthquake, an intense but highly localized tremor rips the ground. The powerful shockwave created by this spell knocks creatures down, collapses structures, opens cracks in the ground, and more. The effect lasts for 1 round, during which time creatures on the ground can't move or attack. A spellcaster on the ground must make a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level) or lose any spell he or she tries to cast. The earthquake affects all terrain, vegetation, structures, and creatures in the area.”
If it’s the spell version, your next post is most definitely subject to the spellcasting Concentration check above. If it’s a natural earthquake, those things can go on much longer than 6 seconds, (from personal experience) so it’d be a good sign for Shields’ spellcasters if you only have to make a spellcasting check in the next post instead of… longer.
NOTE – AS ABOVE, YOU CANNOT MOVE OR ATTACK IN YOUR VERY NEXT POST, BUT YOU COULD TRY TO CAST A SPELL.
3) Cave-Ins, from the Core Rulebook:
“Cave, Cavern, or Tunnel: The roof collapses, dealing 8d6 points of damage to any creature caught under the cave-in (Reflex DC 15 half) and pinning that creature beneath the rubble (see below). An earthquake cast on the roof of a very large cavern could also endanger those outside the actual area but below the falling debris and rubble.”
“Open Ground: Each creature standing in the area must make a DC 15 Reflex save or fall down. Fissures open in the earth, and every creature on the ground has a 25% chance to fall into one (Reflex DC 20 to avoid a fissure). The fissures are 40 feet deep. At the end of the spell, all fissures grind shut. Treat all trapped creatures as if they were in the bury zone of an avalanche, trapped without air (see Environment, Core Rulebook p.429, for more details).”
NOTE – Bartomus is in Earth elemental form – he’s surprised, so he can still be battered for damage, but on his post can earth glide past/through any rocks, etc.
NOTE – Hawky was in the air, but the rockfall of A) PINS him to the ground like the rest of you, and then he might fall into a Fissure.
THIS IS THE PART WHERE YOU FIND OUT WHAT SAVING THROWS TO ROLL.
A) Everyone Reflex Save DC 15, 8d6 damage, save for half, and no matter what, PINNED beneath the rubble, and will need to escape, as detailed below. (I googled; yes, you’re PINNED regardless of your saving throw result.)
8D6 ROCKFALL DAMAGE ROLLS - Going in the following order: Armalad 22, Joker 27, Bartomus 35, Delia 25, Hawky 21, Dolgrin 28, Stock 31, Stohp 26, Zanderallen 32.
B) Everyone 25% chance to fall into a Fissure, in which case you need a DC 20 Reflex Save. 01-25 on d100 in DM post is what I’m using to see who needs to make this saving throw. Going in the following order: Armalad, Joker, Bartomus, Delia, Hawky, Dolgrin, Stock, Stohp, Zanderallen.
These characters must make a DC 20 Reflex Save or fall in Fissure: Delia, alone.
Delia’s fissure is 40 feet deep. (It is YELLOW on the map – 5’ wide, 55’ long, 40’ deep.)
Delia if you make your DC 20 Reflex Save I will place you at AE 33, otherwise 4d6 falling damage – result of 12 base damage. (If you have any ability/item that affects falling damage, use it, of course)
C) HELP, I’M PINNED!
“Pinned Beneath Rubble: Any creature pinned beneath rubble takes 1d6 points of nonlethal damage per minute while pinned. If a pinned character falls unconscious, he or she must make a DC 15 Constitution check or take 1d6 points of lethal damage each minute thereafter until freed or dead.”
Yes, there is a time limit to avoid everyone dying of suffocation.
Should Bartomus survive the rockfall, he may free one person within his Reach with a standard action (earth glide), representing using his body to shape/create a temporary 5’-wide tunnel the victim may use to exit from under many hundreds or thousands of pounds of rock (Stohp can Squeeze to escape in this way). Additionally, on his turn, his earth glide ability enables him to free himself from being PINNED so long as he moves from his starting location.
If Bartomus hasn’t come to your rescue just yet:
“Cave-Ins and Collapses… (Core Rulebook p.415): Characters who aren’t buried can dig out their friends. In 1 minute, using only her hands, a character can clear rocks and debris equal to five times her heavy load limit. The amount of loose stone that fills a 5-foot-by-5-foot area weighs 1 ton (2,000 pounds). Armed with an appropriate tool, such as a pick, crowbar, or shovel, a digger can clear loose stone twice as quickly as by hand. A buried character can attempt to free himself with a DC 25 Strength check.”
Yes, some of you will be wholly unable to free yourself at DC 25. That’s why you have friends. The DC 25 Strength check is a full-round action. (DM ruling; Corebook doesn’t state.)
REMEMBER – NO MOVING OR ATTACKING NEXT POST; SPELLCASTING REQUIRES A CONCENTRATION CHECK, DC 20 + SPELL LEVEL;
EXCEPTION – BARTOMUS MAY EARTH GLIDE.
EXCEPTION – YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DC 25 STRENGTH CHECK TO BE UNPINNED (FULL-ROUND ACTION))
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+20=33 ; d20+19=32 ; d20+12=31 ; Wednesday May 1st, 2024 11:55:34 PM
Concentration = 33
Armalad attempts to protect herself and Joker in her 12 foot diameter Resilient Sphere centered on herself and succeeds at getting the protection up in a single standard action.
(OOC1: functions like wall of force so sphere has hardness 30 and 240 hp) (OOC2: being that Joker and Armalad are protected by the sphere are they still damaged/buried or are they unharmed and unburried with the sphere causing the rubble to divert around it?)
Armalad Reflex if needed: 32 + evasion = no damage Joker Reflex if needed: 31 + improved evasion = no damage
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 101/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+11=14 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 1:41:32 AM
Something wasn't right and as it became obvious to Bartomus what it was, the ground gave way underneath him and he fell. As he did so, everything above him started falling as well. He slammed down and had rock slam down on him. He failed in dodging the falling things onto him and took a moment to catch his breath. Then he slipped through the rock that pinned him and as he did so, he sensed that Stohp was nearby.
He shifted towards his fellow Taur and then created an opening using himself as a support for the other rock.
"Stohp, this way, quickly." Bartomus shouted. He took the time to let Stohp climb out and then stood up.
[i]Reflex save of 14/15 - fail - take 35 points
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday May 2nd, 2024 7:42:35 AM
Stohp is surprised by the quake and even her reflexes can't keep her from being buried, though she avoids most the damage (with +23 reflex she can't fail, but I"m a little uncertain if Evasion applies here so that she takes no damage). She's fairly grim once Bart digs her out. "Get the other's out. I'll see if I can find who caused the cave in before they hit us with another."
Stock (JonM) HP: 305/316; AC: 32/30/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used d20+11=19 ; d20+10=19 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 9:53:31 AM
====Status - Raging====
Something about his innate subterranean heritage allows Stock to sense the impending earthquake before it buries him. His chest feels tight and the rocks press down tightly. He channels his inner rage but is only able to move the rubble a fraction of an inch.
====== Reflex 19 11 damage - I’m assuming DR applies Pinned! Rage Stock has 30 strength while raging…Can I petition to use his strength surge rage power? It is outside the rules as written but thematically fits. It is not included in my roll on this turn Strength check 19
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday May 2nd, 2024 2:59:01 PM
(OOC: Evasion - If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Is this is indeed an attack since someone yelled "NOW!" in Aklo and then the next thing we knew earthquake and these saves normally deal half damage on success)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+17=20 ; d20+7=25 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 6:51:03 PM
As the floor begins to rumble, Zander yells out for everyone to watch out. He manages to get his shield raised to absorb the brunt of the impact of the rocks falling but still finds himself buried. Taking barely a moment to grasp the seriousness of his situation his brain switch to survival mode. Working his arms and legs up and out with a mighty surge of strength Zanderallen manages to pull himself from the debris! He immediately starts reaching into his Bag of Holding for the shovels and picks he threw in their before leaving the dwarven hold. "Is everyone OK? We'll get you out. Bart, free Stock next. Strongest first to help move rocks. Stohp if you find someone yell." =========== Reflex 20 saves, 11 damage taken after DR Str 25 to pull himself free
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+23=30 ; d20+13=19 ; d20+23=36 ; d20+5=15 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 9:29:54 PM
At the shout in Aklo, Delia whistles sharply and Hawky attempts to dive to her before the cave in occurs. They both dodge the brunt of the falling rocks, Delia hoping to tuck Hawky safely underneath her body before they are pinned. In her rock dodging, Delia neatly steps onto stable ground before getting pinned beneath the rocks.
She heaves against the rocks, but to no avail. If Hawky made it to her, she is calm and composed, trying to dig herself out but waiting for rescue. If Hawky is buried on his own, she yells, "Someone free Hawky! Help him, please!"
============= Delia Reflex: 30 (with evasion if applicable, if not 12 damage) Hawky Reflex: 19 (with evasion if applicable, if not 10 damage) Delia Reflex v fissure: 36 Delia Strength check: 15 v DC 25
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) d20=14 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 11:45:20 PM
(OOC – The Rockfall Surprised everyone, so all were subject to it prior to any spells being cast. Armalad and Joker successfully evade the Rockfall damage, but are still pinned. (Evasion works because it is a Reflex Save, same as with a Fireball.) Then Armalad casts Resilient Sphere which this DM rules will push the thousands of pounds of rock up to the ceiling of the sphere, granting some breathing room as those rocks tumble a little towards the ground. (This happens because 1) the spell should still work, and 2) if the sphere carved a crater in the ground than merely shoving ‘loose boulders’ out of the way then it would become too powerful for a 4th level spell, in my opinion.)
The ground is still shaking, but the Sphere functions ‘as a Wall of Force’ so Armalad and Joker are no longer subject to quake effects involving the ceiling or ground.
The top of the sphere is not fully clear of boulders, but it is just dust up there, with a ring of boulders partially burying the sides of the sphere, threatening to re-bury Armalad and Joker if the Sphere is Dismissed.
Armalad estimates she and Joker could, on Dismissal of the Sphere, likely leap up fast enough to avoid being pinned again (another DC 20 Reflex Save).)
Armalad and Joker avoid any internal injuries, but are pinned by the Rockfall for a moment, and then some rocks are pushed away by the sudden emergence of some invisible field of force.
Bartomus wondered what was wrong with the Wold, and then Rockfall happened! Skin bruises and perhaps a bone somewhere gets close to fracturing, but he survives, though Pinned. Remembering his form, he simply glides through the thousands of pounds of rock formerly Pinning him, and remembering Stohp was adjacent, quickly locates her and forms a tunnel barely big enough for her to get out from under the boulders.
(OOC – Stohp, Saving Throws, like Attacks, always fail on a ‘1’ regardless of the bonus or DC set. I rolled a 14 for you, so Stohp did not automatically fail.)
Stohp didn’t think anything was left to surprise her, but the simultaneous violent shaking of the stone beneath her feet and boulders as large or larger than her falling from 100’ above made a good attempt! She deftly shifted her vital organs out of the way, but there were just too many of them to avoid being Pinned! The ground is still shaking too much for her to move herself, but she’s able to grab an ‘arm’ of Bartomus’ earth elemental form and he pulls her fully out, though she is still Prone due to the violent quake!
(OOC – yes, DR applies to rocks, same as if a Giant threw them.
Strength Surge: “Strength Surge (Ex) (PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 33): The barbarian adds her barbarian level on one Strength check or combat maneuver check, or to her Combat Maneuver Defense when an opponent attempts a maneuver against her. This power is used as an immediate action. This power can only be used once per rage.”
I read this as applying to any one of: you make a strength check; you make a combat maneuver check; or opponent makes a combat maneuver check against you.
The rules allow this; note that it’s only once per rage. Mark it used!)
Stock is buried alive! He struggles at first, the thousands of pounds of rock seemingly victorious over the brave dwarf… Then, his life flashing before his eyes he finds a reservoir of strength he hadn’t known he’d had and with a Surge of Strength shoves(!) the largest boulder about three feet to one side! No longer in danger of suffocation, he fights a losing battle against the vibrating cave floor which keeps him Prone… for now.
(OOC – Zanderallen, the DC 25 Strength check was a full-round action. The other actions can go in your next post if you want. Speaking/Shouting is ‘free’ when not a lengthy monologue.)
Zanderallen’s yelled warning is lost amidst the noise of Rocks Falling on Everyone. Klink’s shield ‘deflects’ some ‘smaller’ rocks and then a big boulder Pins Zanderallen to the ground! The pre-historic part of his brain kicks his muscles into action, his adrenaline spikes, the Power of Domi infuses his arms and… he… will… be… free! Like Stock, the rumbling floor keeps him Prone, but he will not suffocate! He calls out to the others to see if they’re ok. The quake vibrations keep him from reaching for his Bag, with the excavation tools, for now.
Delia reflexively whistled for Hawky at the strange shout, not having any idea what to expect, and then Rocks Fell! Delia and Hawky both managed to rotate so their vital organs weren’t squashed, but thousands of pounds of rocks really put a crimp in their plans! Not as bad though, if she hadn’t rolled herself and Hawky away from a Fissure that the Rocks were about to Pin her within! The shaking ground separated her and Hawky as the Rocks Pinned them both, her hand perhaps a full foot away from Hawky’s wings! Hawky! Oh no! He can’t possibly escape without help! Delia struggled mightily, but her body was honed by years of a mix of agility and strength training, not pure strength like Stock! Were all of them trapped? Would this be the End for the Shields???
Armalad looks around – Dolgrin was right behind her but… Oh no! Dolgrin must have been just outside the sphere’s radius! Where is he? I hope he’s conscious enough to do that walk-through-stone thing!
Thankfully, suddenly, after six seconds the ground ceases rumbling! A spell, or something very much like it! Or… a coincidence? Delia hears the Fissure snap shut a second later! That was close…
What do you do? (STILL IN ROUND-BY-ROUND ACTION)
(OOC –
1) Most of the free Shields are Prone – check above, and also check the Legend in the bottom right of the map, starting in cell AN37 with Armalad.
2) No one can see: Delia, Hawky, Dolgrin. Also, no one can see Armalad or Joker, but there is a peculiar bit of empty space covered by a thin layer of dust where they were standing…
3) Zanderallen’s escape means the Light on his Shield/Weapon/Whatever is now visible, and is the only nearby Light source – the Light arrow is a long distance away and may be buried under rocks for all the Shields know. If you want more light, then cast more Light spells or wait for the vibrations to stop so you can reach for a light source in your pack/bag.
Here’s what you can see for your next post:
Armalad & Joker – boulders block your vision on all sides. The top of the Sphere is covered in a thin layer of dust, and it is up here that you can see a diffuse light – not that you can see outside, but Zanderallen’s Light, or another source, must be nearby, but just can’t illuminate much for you. Low-Light Vision helps a little – enough to rummage through bags or packs if desired. Bartomus – Darkvision & Tremorsense, each 60’. (due to earth elemental form) Delia – Darkvision, but sight completely obscured by thousands of pounds of rock slowly suffocating her. Hawky – Blind in Dark, but sight completely obscured by thousands of pounds of rock slowly suffocating him. Stock – Darkvision 60’. Stohp – 20’ Light emanates from Zanderallen. The rest is Dark, and now there are boulders of varying size everywhere in sight, too, doing a good job of blocking much of the floor from Light. Zanderallen – 20’ Light emanates from something you have; I just forget if it was weapon, shield, or something else, but he was the backup Light after Armalad’s Light arrow.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday May 3rd, 2024 12:41:29 AM
Armalad says to Joker, "Time to earn your keep. I want you to take out that wand of silent image I gave you and in large glowing yellow letters spell out in common say 20 feet outside the top of the sphere give or take 'Armalad and Joker are here in resilient sphere for 12 minutes. Dolgrin was behind us, lost sight of him. Help him first. We are okay. Can possibly leap free if A dismisses. Then add a glowing yellow arrow pointed in our direction at the bottom" Armalad pulls out an arrow and casts a light cantrip on it and holds it above her head, hopefully illuminating enough of the darkness beyond the top of the sphere that Joker can see to target and create the illusion
Joker does as directed taking out the wand and targeting the air space 20 feet beyond the top of the sphere in bright glowing yellow letters in Common in the largest font that can fit inside 5 10 foot cubes with enough room for a decent sized arrow below: "A and J are in 12 min. resilient sphere. Dolgrin behind us, lost sight of him. Help him first. We are ok. Can possibly leap free if A dismisses." He then adds a glowing yellow arrow pointed in their direction
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+24=36 ; d20+23=30 ; Friday May 3rd, 2024 7:19:46 AM
Stohp draws her staff and casts True Seeing on herself (Use Magic Device 36). Now able to see she tries to spot the enemy (perception 30)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 101/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=22 ; Friday May 3rd, 2024 11:10:49 AM
Bartomus used the end of the shaking to get a sense by vibration where the others might be. Then words in bright light appear on a cave wall. Bartomus starts to giggle at the message and moves towards the others.
"Need to start digging," he says in a gravely voice as he nods to Zander and begins the effort to try to find Delia and her bird.
Move to AE/AF 34 and try to create a passage through which Delia and Hawkey can get out of the rubble. Perception 22
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 215/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Friday May 3rd, 2024 1:31:33 PM
Zanderallen stands to let the light from his shield illuminate the space around him, as far as the dust allows. Fighting back a coughing fit he finishes pulling tools out of his bag of holding as he moves over to where he last saw Dolgrin. "I'll start on Dolgrin." =================== Move action to stand and move to AC33 Standard Action to remove a pick and shovel from the bag of holding
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=45 ; Saturday May 4th, 2024 12:03:46 AM
Delia will crawl her way out of the elemental tunnel, picking up Hawky along the way if the tunnel gets them both. If not, she helps direct Bart to where he is, "Thanks, Bart. Cave ins are much easier when one of you is the cave."
Once Hawky is safe, she joins Stohp in trying to pinpoint any enemies mostly by hearing.
Perception: 45 (49 v abberations)
Stock (JonM) HP: 305/316; AC: 32/30/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Saturday May 4th, 2024 1:48:40 AM
Stock lets his rage pass and then stands and heads back to help dig. He gets to Armalad and reaches to grab a boulder from the side of the sphere.
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