GM Jiggy |
Teo sends another spell into the water!
Fin stabs his opponent in the chest! The luminescent form of the creature falls like water from a bucket, and the near-skeletal interior collapses like an armful of firewood!
Wraith, Naia, and Gwen still have turns coming, with a single creature remaining, with 28 damage on it, in the water with Naia.
Wraith/Alexis |
Seeing her target fall, Wraith sheaths her sword and scoops up her bow, nocking an arrow, ready to fire. Used up my action for the turn retrieving my bow, otherwise I'd shoot the remaining target.
GM Jiggy |
Gwen swats the creature, though the glowy water covering it absorbs some of the blow as it splashes everywhere! Resistant to bludgeoning.
Wraith, as per the houserules for this campaign, you can switch weapons like that without having to spend an action, so go ahead and make an attack if you'd like. Also, Naia, you've got a turn to take still. Monster's up to 32 damage.
Naia Tam |
Naia blows errant strands out of her face, She watches in mute horror as the abomination leaps back to her position, gripping her head - she grunts in pain as the unwholesome energy fills her...
The elf produces her scimitar, and slices at the creature....
Swish...: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Krissht!!!: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Can someone remind this fool why I am +5 with my Scimitar, but only +1 with my Spear. Is the scimitar +2 Prof and +3 Dex, and the Spear +2 Prof and -1 Str? Is the Scimitar "finesse"? Should I be taking the -1 Str penalty off my damage with the Scimitar or adidng my Dex?
GM Jiggy |
Scimitars are finesse weapons, so you can use your DEX instead of STR for both attack and damage rolls.
The second creature falls, and at last, all is still.
So! You haven't quite found your destination yet, but from the indications you've gotten, you're probably very close. It's early evening, heavily overcast, and you're on a broad, rocky area in the swamp. Resting? Continuing? Something else?
Teo Brissett |
"There's no telling what we might find in this swamp. It's getting late. And we are actually at a pretty dry spot. It's not the most comfortable rest in the world, but making camp is probably the best plan we could manage."
Finlogan |
"Yes, I concur. I'd like to get somewhat drier before continuing."
Naia Tam |
Her confidence restored after destroying the dread unliving, Naia washes her blade in the swampwater. She checks the body for anything she might find interesting or that her fellows might find useful.
"These rocks will keep us dry, but not safe from more of these..things. We must be careful and keep good watch."
Naia is happy to take first watch///
GM Jiggy |
Taking advantage of the relative dryness of this rocky area, you set up camp for the night. I'm assuming someone brought tents, yes?
1d20 ⇒ 18
1d12 ⇒ 8
The night is completely black, thanks to the thick, rain-filled clouds gathering overhead and blocking out the dim light of the moon and stars. A bit of a sprinkle comes down now and then, but the rain doesn't start to really get going until about the time you're waking up, and your spell preparations and other morning rituals must be done under a steady rain.
Long rest completed!
Survival (ADV+5): 2d20 ⇒ (19, 15) = 34=24
1d20 ⇒ 7
You set out in the morning in your usual manner, and despite the rain making things difficult, you are able to make your way through the swamp safely (if not dryly). Over the course of an hour or two, the rain starts to be accompanied by distant thunder, then by the occasional lightning flash, and the rain intensifies to a downpour. Even so, you soon find a place matching Mossnap's description.
The swamp here is muddy and reed-filled, and the rain is beginning to accumulate atop the already-saturated ground, adding about an inch of water over the thick, shin-high muck. Towering up into the dark sky is the "funny-looking tree", some 50 feet high with a twisting, gnarled shape to its trunk below its broad, flat branches near the top. Its base splits into a tangled spread of roots some ten feet above the surface of the swamp and reaches a width of about 15 feet at the bottom.
Meanwhile, about 20 feet away from the tree in each direction, four upright structures stand about 10 feet tall in the swamp. They look to be stones that have been stood in place and then dressed with wooden frames to hold assortments of baubles and shamanic doodads, though everything has long since become the home of the same moss that covers everything else in this swamp.
As you squint against the heavy rain to take in these sights, a flash of lightning briefly reveals a dark, unmoving shape underneath the tree, surrounded by its sprawling root structure.
How would you like to proceed?
Finlogan |
HD healing: 3d10 ⇒ (8, 2, 9) = 19
Finlogan rolled and stowed his bedroll. He remembered his father's royal tent when he traveled. It was as big as the withdrawing room and contained traveling furniture, rugs, and fireplaces. It was almost as comfortable as his palace rooms. Out here, there was no point to a tent. Couldn't carry one big enough to make a difference. If it rained, he was wet anyway. It couldn't keep out the bugs and only inhibited his senses. At least his bedroll made the rock comfortable to facilitate sleep and relax his muscles for a time.
Like every morning after breaking his fast, he performed his Elven kata to remind his muscles and sharpen his focus until everyone was ready to travel. Then, he took his place in the lead.
========================================================================
When they arrived at the site, the wood elf prince says, "Remember; don't go knocking those down or anything. If whatever it was is still in the swamp, you might let it out or something, or at least start the critter-scaring all over again. And if you go inside the contained area, there's no telling what you might find, so take care of yourselves."
He surveys the scene for any obfuscated dangers, interesting opportunities, or animals to befriend.
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Wraith/Alexis |
Wraith keeps an eye (and ear) out for danger, walking around the area to get an overview of the entire setup.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Teo Brissett |
"What is that shape over there? Is that who we are looking for?". Teo tests her luck and call out. "Yes, we'd like to talk to the shaman, please. We are here in peace."
Naia Tam |
On waking
Naia rose in the dim of the morning, sniffed the swamp air and stretched like a feline before checking on her friends.
Cold stone makes a poor nest...
She completed an elaborate-looking though rather simple to accomplish braid in her hair and checked her gear, before stowing everything carefully on her person. She hoped they would find answers soon - the wrongness felt like it was growing, though whether that was just her anticipation she was unsure...
[ooc]Now[/ooc[/i]
Naia peered at the tree, and stared up at its flat branches reaching out to catch the light in such a strange manner. She noticed the still shape enveloped in the roots of the tree and put out a cautioning hand, nodding after Fin's comments, then her eyes brightened as she heard the small one call to it.
"That shape may be what was contained here, Teo. Let us see what happens. [to everyone] [/b]Best not to go within the boundary just yet, lest we disturb what magicks are here. Whatever rituals were run and objects left here are long abandoned - that which lies here may not in truth still be held, and merely waits for foolish creatures such as ourselves to disturb it.[/b]"
GM Jiggy |
Wraith begins slogging through the water-topped sludge to try and secure the perimeter. It's slow going, as it takes effort to raise a foot out of the muck and put it back down again, but she faces the task with a solemn focus nonetheless.
Meanwhile, Gwen gets as close to the border as she can (heeding Naia's caution not to enter yet), similarly taking labored steps through the muck, but the rain is putting her bangs in her eyes and making her makeup run, so she can hardly see a damn thing. Apparently. ;)
Finlogan holds up a hand to shield his eyes from the rain as he strains to see any signs of life or movement, but finds nobody here but himself and his companions.
Teo calls out to the shape beneath the roots of the tree, but receives no response.
Several long moments pass as Wraith slowly finishes her circuit around the area while you all strain your eyes against the rain and (for some of you, at least) the poor light. By the time Wraith returns to the group, the consensus seems to be that you are quite alone, and the shape beneath the roots of the tree looks to be inanimate; something with a stony texture.
Meanwhile, the rain keeps pouring, and the freshly-wetted muck begins to reek with the smell of swamp gas. The clouds are as thick and dark as could be imagined, and flashes of lightning gradually grow more frequent. The wind picks up, carrying the sounds of thunder all around you while the rain is whipped into your faces.
What next?
Finlogan |
"What now, Naia?" Finlogan asks the reason that they're in the swamp.
"We might want to consider heading back to that pile of rocks we spent the night on, in order to ride out this storm?" He asks the group.
Naia Tam |
Naia nods, listening to the other's with half an ear. She peers more, and sniffs - then sighs.
"I hear you, but I do not think the weather is our enemy. For truth, I know not what we are dealing with, nor how best to proceed."
Naia looks at the bedraggled Gwen.
"I am so sorry Gwen to drag you here. But this is importsnt to all of us, though we may not know it."
Naia looks again at the inanimate object.
"But someone must go in, and I led you all here!"
With that, the water elf crosses the boundary, heading for the roots of the trees where they encapsulate the unmoving object.
Dunh - dunh - duuuun!
Teo Brissett |
"We shouldn't let that elf go in alone. We have to follow him. There might be all kinds of gold in there, and it needs rescuing!". Teo begins to follow the female.
Wraith/Alexis |
Wraith takes up a position on the perimeter, trying to keep alert for threats from both inside and outside the restricted area. Someone should keep watch out here.
Finlogan |
Finlogan slightly shakes his head and follows Naia inside the contained area.
GM Jiggy |
Huh.
Braving sludge, rain and magic, Naia ventures forth to investigate, followed hesitantly by some of her companions.
As Naia, Teo and Fin draw close to the tree's sprawling root structure, they discover that there is actually quite a bit of space beneath the tree: its roots span out in the circle with nothing in the middle, forming a space large enough for a few people to stand together. Within that space, however, is the object you saw from afar. Upon closer inspection, it seems to be stone-like, and juts up from the swamp about four feet. It's some five or six feet wide at the base, but terminates in a tip about three or four feet wide. Its surface is gnarled and uneven, but oddly, its lumps and gnarls are rather geometrically-shaped, squared-off rather than round or lumpy. The top of this strange stone structure appears to bear an open hole, gaping nearly the full width of the structure.
Gwen and Wraith watch from afar as their friends lean under the tree roots to get a better look at the strange object. As you call back and forth to each other across the din of rain and thunder to discuss your findings, a bolt of lightning strikes the bog less than 100 feet away. The strike must have ignited some swamp gas, as the area struck bursts with flames!
There must be something oily in the rain-churned swamp sludge, as flames begin to spread like liquid heat across the surface of the swamp. The torrential rain fails to squelch it, instead only adding steam and making the fires "pop" every now and then, like dumping water into a hot, grease-filled skillet. The flames spread rapidly across the area, and before you know it you find yourself surrounded by fire and rain! The floating flames keep encroaching further toward you, threatening to engulf you all.
What would you all like to do?
Gwenifer White |
"This is just like in our dreams! I deny this predefined destiny! No one determines my future except me!" Gwenifer shouts into the air and swings her sword at no one in particular. She stands her ground outside of the circle. "I have the blood of dragons in my veins! (She doesn't actually) I do not fear fire!"
She'll stay where she is even if the flames reach her but if she takes a lot of damage will be forced to retreat to avoid dying.
Finlogan |
Finlogan calls to Wraith and Gwen to join them in the contained area. "Gwen, Wraith, get out of the fire, and join us in the frying pan!"
He looks around for options wondering if this weird tree will protect them from the conflagration. He moves close to the strange stone structure and examines the open hole. Are there hand holds? Are there any signs that creatures have used it as a lair?
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
If we go into it, could we get back out? Was the solution in his dream? Similar thoughts rifled through his thoughts as he looked for any other option.
GM Jiggy |
He looks around for options wondering if this weird tree will protect them from the conflagration. He moves close to the strange stone structure and examines the open hole. Are there hand holds? Are there any signs that creatures have used it as a lair?
The tree seems to be live, and therefore will be somewhat resistant to burning. In addition, you see that the ground in the space beneath the roots is somewhat raised and less muck-ish. You conclude that you might be marginally protected from the fire there, though space is limited.
Moving closer and inspecting the hole in the stone structure, you see that it goes deep, forming a tunnel that goes beneath the swamp. Several feet down, it turns to a less vertical angle, so it's not simply a sheer drop. The inner surface of the tunnel has the same bizarre geometric mish-mash texture as the outside, which you would estimate makes it climbable.
Wraith/Alexis |
Wraith watches the fire warily, not wanting to get burned. She hesitates to enter the proscribed area, but eventually steps in. Backing away from the fire, she joins Finlogan, Teo, and Naia at the strange tree. What have you found? she asks, still keeping an eye on the fire.
How fast is it spreading?
Finlogan |
Finlogan replies to Wraith, "there's a stone structure under the tree with an opening that looks climbable. If the tree cannot protect us from the fire, then we can always try our luck down the hole. Whatever's down there would probably be better than burning alive, hopefully..."
Teo Brissett |
Teo didn't waste time. She noticed the tunnel, she noticed the fire and rain. The tunnel seemed better. "Screw this, I'm going in!". She headed for the tunnel, suspecting wherever it took her was better than the fire.
Naia Tam |
Naia closes her eyes in consternation, and her dream returns to her wih some power. She nods to herself, water dripping down her face, nose, chin. Then, gulping, she drops down into the tunnel.
GM Jiggy |
The fire ebbs and flows erratically, sometimes moving quickly, sometimes slowly, and sometimes stopping or starting as the oily muck and the swamp gas get shifted this way and that. Wraith and Gwen both head toward the tree, doing their best to watch and anticipate the movement of the flames and avoid getting burned.
Wraith INT: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Gwen INT: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9
Unfortunately, they have some trouble and keep running into the fire on their way to the tree.
Fire Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9
Oof.
By the time they arrive, their companions have already begun climbing through the bizarrely-textured stone tunnel into the depths of the land.
The eager Teo is in front (presumably with a light source of some kind?), and by virtue of the diameter of the tunnel, she remains that way, pressing forward into the dark depths. The tunnel winds this way and that, but maintains a general downward progress. Eventually, you reach an opening, seemingly in the ceiling of a cavern whose floor rests some 20 feet below you.
How would you like to proceed? Simply dropping down would hurt, but would be simple. You're arranged single-file in the order you went in, and although Teo's size might make it possible to change her order, it would be difficult, and messing up might result in a fall into the cavern.
Finlogan |
Finlogan cannot believe it when Naia follows the halfling down the hole. He expects reckless behavior from the halfling and Gwen but not from an elf. It appears this site has made her throw caution to the wind.
The wood elf prince says to Wraith, "I'll follow you in." He helps the other elf into the hole and then climbs inside himself. He takes a last look at the tree and fire hoping for any additional clue before doing the unbelievable.
Into the breach: 1-Teo 2-Naia 3-Gwen 4-Wraith 5-Finlogan
Naia Tam |
Naia tries to remain calm in the claustrophobic and alien environment. She breathes deeply, and then smiles as Gwen offers suitable aid.
"Perhaps if you move up a little, and I down a little, you might have room to attach said rope Gwen> That way it will be in firmer rock, and not so close to the...ceiling, and still have rope to spare? I freely admit to being somewhat naive in the manner or stonework or tools related to them, but trees, earth and roots function in much the same manner..."
Teo Brissett |
Teo uses her Dancing Lights cantrip to light the way down the tunnel for the whole group. She hadn't planned on such a tight squeeze, and she wasn't feeling great about being caught in the front line.
She looks for anything out of the ordinary wi the door.
Perception 1d20 ⇒ 18
GM Jiggy |
She looks for anything out of the ordinary wi the door.
Not a "door" so much as simply a hole.
Teo scopes out the area as best she can, and finds no danger beyond what someone would expect from climbing out of a hole in the ceiling. With a bit of work, Gwen manages to secure a piton and attach a rope to it. Passing the coil down the line, there's plenty left to dangle to the floor, and you are all able to climb down into the chamber.
Looking around, you find that this is not a natural cavern. Rather, it is some sort of man-made stone structure, not unlike a temple or cellar or castle or something. This room is rather large, some 50ft by 40ft. There are three clear exits (east, north and west), though the west exit (which is the closest to you) seems to have long since collapsed and been filled with earth and rubble. About 15-20ft ahead of you, the north exit is a doorless opening into what you would guess is a hallway. The eastern exit is a doorway with a stone door, though the door is broken, with the biggest slab leaning crooked in the doorway while smaller fragments lie on the floor.
The room itself also seems to be "broken": a large crack runs across the ceiling, down the southern wall, back across the floor, up the northern wall, and back to the ceiling. The room is not level, and the two sides of the room (that is, on either side of the crack) are situated at slightly different angles. The hole through which you entered is aligned with the crack in the ceiling. Additionally, in some parts of the ceiling crack you can see the tips of tree roots.
Finally, you notice that the "cubic-ness" of the tunnel is not ubiquitous here. Rather, the room you're in seems to be ordinary masonry, but there are patches and trails of the "cubic-ness" scattered around the room, mostly on the floor but also sometimes on the walls or even ceiling.
Though you don't know whether this structure was designed to be subterranean from the beginning, it's clear that it has been underground for a very long time: breaking the room in two seems to be the natural result of the land's refusal to remain static over the ages. Nature always shifts, and worked stone can't resist forever.
Which way would you like to go, and is there anything you want to do/see before moving on?
Wraith/Alexis |
nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Wraith scouts the room, searching for hidden dangers both environmental and from creatures. perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 investigation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 She also checks down the hallway to the north, venturing in about 20 feet (assuming she believes it to be relatively safe - no traps or creatures found, and no imminent cave-ins) and returning, as well as carefully peering through the doorway to the east.
Teo Brissett |
Teo waits for the more swords-y types to take the lead. She wasn't sure exactly what was down here, but she didn't want it to close in kn her without one of the others close by.
GM Jiggy |
When Wraith scouts the northern passage, she finds something interesting. The passageway itself is only about 15ft long, then opens into a chamber about 20ft square. Another structural crack, like the one in the first chamber but thinner, splits the room in two, diagonally from corner to corner. Just like the first chamber, the stone surfaces of this room have areas of that strange cubed stone scattered here and there.
At the back of the room, the floor bears an elaborately-detailed circular pattern that marks off an area ten feet across. The circle is carved into the stone floor and then inlaid with silver. The crack running through the room also catches the edge of the circle, separating a small arc of about a foot or two in length from the rest of the circle.
This is obviously some kind of magic circle, which means it was probably used for teleportation, summoning, or confinement.
This magic circle bears runes which suggest that it functioned both to summon and to confine. However, due to being disrupted by that crack, it no longer has any magical power whatsoever.
Teo Brissett |
Arcana 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
"Ooo, look at that circle. These runes show that the magic circle was to summon and contain creatures that were summoned. I don't think there is any magic left because that crack there has knocked it all off kilter. I bet whoever used this was a strong Mage!"
Wraith/Alexis |
arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
I wonder when this fractured. Wraith muses. If the circle was confining something here when the fracture occurred, perhaps whatever was being held got loose. Depending on the timing, it may help explain the disappearance of the animals.
Finlogan |
Nature: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Arcana: 1d20 ⇒ 4
"I don't know whether this structure was designed to be subterranean from the beginning, it's clear that it has been underground for a very long time: breaking the room in two seems to be the natural result of the land's refusal to remain static over the ages. Nature always shifts, and worked stone can't resist forever." Finlogan offers as he tours the chambers staying wary.
Naia Tam |
Naia smiles as she see the faults caused by time, weight and pressure, water, roots. Turning to smaller details, she examines the cubed-pattern areas, and the germ of an idea plants itself in her head. Her delicate hands follow the contours of the strange pattern...
"Perhaps the disrupted patterning is the trail of an earth-spirit, much like a snail leaves slime?"
Naia Tam |
"Or perhaps, as Finlogan suggests, this .... structure may not have been originally constructed underground. Perhaps a great magic brought it here. Or....a great deal of time passed and the place was....grown over. I am not sure it matters anymore. Whatever was kept....is loose. Be wary."