Old Guy GM |
The transition is difficult with the blind elf, and Anevia's injury, but after several hours of hard work, you manage to get everyone across. Horgus is silent through it all, and makes no direct eye contact with anyone throughout the process.
You set off again, Lann's group ranging a bit ahead, to scout the tunnels. Soon it's apparent that without Lann, you would have quickly become hopelessly lost in the maze of crisscrossing passages.
You travel through this maze for some time before Lann brings you all to halt in front of an opening to another cave. Motioning for his companions to stay put, he comes back to the group.
"We do not use this route very often. This cave is the lair of the spore-cougher. Very dangerous fungus creature. With your help, we should be able to defeat it and move on to Neathholm."
Make Kn: Dungeoneering or Nature checks to see if you know what he's talking about. And state what you are doing.
The cave itself is circular in shape, about 40' in diameter. Several tunnels lead off from the sides, all but but one lead downward. Thick sheets of fungus line the walls. There are two bodies lying in the middle of the cave, barely visible at the edge of the light. Next to them is a strange pile of ropy fungus.
Old Guy GM |
"Be wary, this the spore-cougher hunting ground. Very dangerous."
Just as he says this to you, he grabs you and throws you against the wall of the cave. The entire patrol is crouched against it, hiding as best they can. Up ahead, you can just see the flickering of a faint light. It's coming from the far end of a cave opening in the passage.
Kazul the Bear |
Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
All these cavern walls look the same! Good thing we found these subterranean people! Kazul is looking at the cave, ceilings, and walls with his darkvision to see if there other hidden predators other than the fungus.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Sweet Lucille |
Lucille racks her brain for what she might remember about a spore-coughing fungus. Her musket is in her hand as she does so, and focuses in on the bodies lying in the center of the cave.
Kn: Nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Farasha Aeval |
Old Guy GM |
Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20+5
All these cavern walls look the same! Good thing we found these subterranean people! Kazul is looking at the cave, ceilings, and walls with his darkvision to see if there other hidden predators other than the fungus.
Perception: 1d20+7
Bollwerk |
Pulling a piece of cloth, Bollwerk pours some water on it and ties it around his mouth. Then... he walks carefully into the cavern.
Old Guy GM |
Bollwerk and Kazul enter the cave, approaching the bodies and the pile of fungus. Nothing moves. Getting closer, you can see that the bodies wear the armor and heraldry of crusaders. Warriors of Iomedae, to be specific.
Everyone, please make sure your character header has the following: ACs (ac/touch/ff), Perception, Init, and saves. Speeds up my rolling immensely.
Bollwerk |
Suddenly very suspicious Bollwerk will check their arms. If you use a sword and shield you get diffrent muscles and calluses than a glaive.
And checking for a holy symbol.
Sweet Lucille |
Lucille nods at Dieter's words, and briefly considers the amount of black powder she has, versus what would be necessary to start a proper fire. Then she slings her musket and pulls out one of her torches along with some flint and steel.
Once the torch is lit, she holds it in one hand, drawing her whip in the other, and pauses to decide on the best way to begin burning the fungus.
Dieter Stolzdorf |
Dieter notices Lucille's efforts and nods approvingly. He calls out to the paladin. "Bollwerk! Bring us back one of those glaives, if you would. We can use it to light this fungus aflame from a safe distance."
Kazul the Bear |
Kazul kneels down next to Bollwerk to his left, and says loudly so all can hear, "What are you looking for on the bodies?"
Farasha Aeval |
Old Guy GM |
Several things happen at once. Lucille's torch flares, adding to the lights and causing shadows to flicker and dance along the cave walls. As Bollwerk stands up and speaks, Lann jumps out into the cave.
"Don't shoot! Don't shoot! ahk Mehta con ryentha!" He strides forward, waving his arms frantically.
On the other side, Farasha can see several others, now better exposed in the lights. They are definitely NOT First Children. And one, the tiefling, even invokes Iomedae and speaks of returning to the surface. The patrol leader quickly issues an order and the patrol fans out into the cave.
From the group's standpoint, seven folk, with varied mutations, enter the cave in a defensive posture. The eighth is a human female.
Quickly Lann rushes to the leader of the new group, and they speak in hushed tones.
Forgotten(?) are the two bodies and the pile of fungus. You can tell now that the fungal pile was indeed the basidirond, slain by a strike from a glaive.
Farasha Aeval |
The human female moves out in to the cave, holding a bow and nocked arrow, but not pointing it at anyone, she seems to be taking direction from the patrol.
How do you find yourselves down here?
she questions the tiefling in a gentle but firm tone.
Bollwerk |
"When the archfiend attacked, and the earth was broken, we were there and we fell. The dragon saved us and we found us here and we search a way up. It was not always so simple, but we managed."
Sweet Lucille |
We've got a cave full of hallucinogenic fungus and two armed groups. What could possibly go wrong?
Lucille raises her torch so that she can better see the situation. Her whip is still ready, and she prepares herself so that if anyone -- on either side -- begins a fight, she will strike to disarm them.
Bollwerk |
"As soon as Kazul is done, I think we should move on to represent us to your leaders of your community. We wish to ask for the rite of passage and the guestright."
Dieter Stolzdorf |
"We come in peace. If we are a bit skittish, well, we've been fighting one thing or another since we fell through the earth into these caverns. We're just a bit on edge."
Old Guy GM |
Kazul searches the bodies and finds that they are wearing chain shirts of masterwork quality. They also have 229 gp between them. One crusader has a potion of Cure Light Wounds, while the other has a scroll of Cause Fear. The crusader with the scroll clutches something tightly in his fist. It is a small brass bull's head with tiny green gems for eyes.
Strangely, these crusaders do not wield the standard arms of the warriors of Iomedae. Instead of a longsword and shield, they each have a glaive and a spiked gauntlet.
One of the patrol members walks over to one of the bodies and spits on it, muttering something under his breath.
The leader addresses Bollwerk in stilted Common:
"You will come with us to Neatholm. This not your world surface dweller, you not claim any rights that you cannot take with strength of your swordarm."
Bollwerk |
Seeing the medallion Bollwerk frowns.
KnowRel: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 This doesn´t seem like some Iomedean symbol.
Upon hearing about the scroll of cause fear, Bollwerk growls."No Iomedean would use magic of the kind. It is anathema!"
Sweet Lucille |
After so long underground, even a simple conversation was beyond Lucille. She finally answered the strange woman's question.
"How do we find ourselves? Tired. Thirsty. We've been down here for days, lost, and we have wounded with us. I think the sooner we can get back to Kenabres, the better."
Then at the words of the leader of the First Children, Lucille sighed heavily.
"Lann," she says at last. "I don't know Neatholm, and I don't know these people. But I trust you. Is that where we should go? Should we be concerned about our 'rights'?"
Farasha Aeval |
The human woman watches the group closely, before lowering her bow and stepping forward.
I am from above as well, trapped here in the same tumult of moving earth that dropped you down here. I was fortunate enough to be found by these kind folk she gestures at the patrol.
You have nothing to fear, they are good people, true crusaders against evil. she continues, attempting to reassure the newcomers.
As it looks like you have already seen, this is a harsh environmet down here, we should work together, more chance of us all surviving that way
She smiles genuinely.
Dieter Stolzdorf |
"Fair enough. I am Dieter Stolzdorf, of Kenabres. I think I speak for our group when I say that we would be happy for any assistance, and to assist however we are capable."
Bollwerk |
"I am called Bollwerk. A devot follower of the Lady of Valor. A true one. I fear those, were fake. Maybe we should move on. If those imposters infest this area, I think there is some roach exterminating called for."
Kazul the Bear |
If no one objects, Kazul puts on the MW chain shirt. If there is objection, he leaves it and pockets the potion, scroll, and gold. he hands the bull's head to the paladin to keep as evidence.
"All right, Lann, we've trusted you so far. Lead the way to Neatholm. I hear it's lovely this time of year." Kazul smiles at the mongrel-folk.
Let me know if I can add the armor to my sheet.
Old Guy GM |
Lann says: "We have seen these types before. They are aligned with another tribe closer to the surface, and are enemies of ours. Lately, there have been many more sightings of them in the tunnels."
He looks at Bollwerk. "Fakes you say? It may be. That is why we reacted to you as we have. Your symbols put you in league with them, though your actions do not. But they are devious, when they want to be. Many of my people have died believing the words of these "fake" followers of the Lady of Valor."
Bollwerk |
With a furious face Bollwerk undoes his gauntlet, draws his sword a quarter from the sheath and cuts his palm. "By the sword of truth I swear a solem oath, that I will hunt them and judge them upon sight! I hope their false gods will have mercy, but I am certain this Baphomet will despise them for their failure to face a true Sword of Valor!"
With a sigh he cleans his blade and continues."Normally, I would not let them rot her for the scavengers, because even a fallen foe deserves respect, but by disguising them as true believers to fool and cheat, I will not soil my body by burying them, or speak a word for them. If someone else wants to, I will not think lesser of you, but praise you, but I will not!"
Sweet Lucille |
Kn: Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
"Thanks, Lann," Lucille replied sheepishly. "I must have missed that. It's been a long day and I'm not thinking straight. Lead away."
Lucille turned back to the others waiting in the cave mouth with her -- Horgus, Anevia, and the blind elf whose name she could never remember -- ready to help them back along onto the trail.
Farasha Aeval |
If everyone is ready, we should move on
She turns to the patrol leader
I understand you have a duty to continue patrolling, with your leave I would like to escort these newly met ones alongside those of your own people they are already journeying with. That way they get back to Neatholm and you are able to continue your patrol
Old Guy GM |
Anevia and Aravashnial limp forward to look at the bodies, whispering to each other. The woman crouches next to one them at a request from the elf, searches for a moment, then nods to him.
"Friends, if these are indeed members of the Temple of the Ivory Labyrinth, then we are in grave danger here. It is known that Ivory Templars are masters at infiltration, and deception. It was this very cult that caused the dissension and chaos that led to the witch hunts of the Second and Third Crusades. The fact that they are here, and in greater numbers according to our...friends," he nods at Lann and his folk, "may give us a clue as to how the Kite was destroyed. We should take them with us to see if we can establish who they were and what positions they may have held."
Next to him, Anevia stands with tears in her eyes, and her knuckles white where they grip her makeshift crutches. "Irabeth..." she whispers.
Horgus shifts uncomfortably, but says nothing.