Joan picks up the axe.
"Enough of this."
The small ranger slams the axe down on the altar and calls out.
"Take the damned axe. It seems to fit in more with your worshipers."
Joan quickly slams the axe down, and before Gralk can bleed out, he is restored as the axe disappears in a flash.
The screams of Durnak echo hauntingly after the axe is consumed.
Gallak stumbles over, a laugh turning into a cough that splatters blood on the stone floor.
Serves you right, old man.
As the axe leaves, Durgen notices the heavy curse is lifted. A powerful magic infuses the throne again as the cracks disappear.
The massive throne is once again open for business.
The dwarvish looking ranger says "I survived on the streets. I am sitting down."
Nothing happens. After he rises and hears the history.
"I am not pushing my luck."
Turning to Joan, Are you planning on paying in gp or gems? Either is fine with me.
Once Joan has settled up Kragg asks, So follow after Hon or go down the path that Boog-Boog indicated to get to ie ships? In all honesty, we may never find Hon so I think our best path is to continue on to the ice ships. Plus those ships wil give us a method of returning without having to go through the gnoll's territory. They may not be too keen on us at the moment.
Once it is decided, Kragg prepares to head out again for whichever direction they are going. Either way, he takes care to look for tracks and traps as they continue on wary of the environs and possible creatures.
Perception
Any other checks needed?
"I know I broke it, but we gave him that axe and this curse is off, maybe Gorum likes me again!"
Sitting down
Gralk approaches joan.
Gralk thanks you, Joan. Gralk is in your debt. Gralk needs a new axe.
The throne rumbles!!!!
"You unbelievers are testing me!!!" a voice booms.
Magnum hides the hammer,
"No you don't, Whelm behaves."
"I-- *sigh* You're welcome Gralk. If you need a weapon, I think the giants left something behind. If not, I've got a sword you can borrow."
Turning to Kragg, the petite ranger grins from ear to ear.
"The axe didn't win, I did. I think you owe me oh fearless leader."
"Hmmm...I guess that means he doesn't like me? What if i convert?"
the dwarf stares at nothing contemplating the various possibilities
Joan: I believe the axe did win with Gralk. Neither of us indicated that you would get involved thus affecting the outcome. So either you pay on the outcome of Gralk or everyone knows the bet is off due to your interference.
Everyone: Alright enough with this throne, we have work to do and can't sit around all day. Get a move on now.
Kragg: "Oh alright, fine, but all I have on me is silver. Would you take a favor instead?"
Joan, annoyed that they went through this once, walks up to Durgen and grabs him by the collar.
"You do, and I start using you for target practice."
Durgen jumps when Joan grabs him, clearly lost in some stray thought, "Uh, do what now?"
|
If you could see Kip's face, surprise evident as the mortally wounded gnoll heals simultaneously as the axe screams into nothingness. Hefting the haversack, on her back (under her cloak), she drags Gralk's backpack to him. Observing closely the bloody evidence of lethal damage, "Looks like you'll be wanting the falchion back. I'll take the battleaxe. Not picky. No hard feelings neither. I'd like to leave this place now."
Observing Durgen playing with the throne again, a stage whisper escapes her, "He was next for the stewpot. Sure ya couldn't have waited one more day?"
Gallak chuckles softly at Kip's logic.
Gralk thanks Kip, but Gralk likes axe better. Ready to go with Dwarves.
Gralk picks up the battleaxe and waives it in front of his face to get the feel. he checks his armor, and bangs his chest with the axe, signifying that he is prepared to proceed.
Silver is fine as well Joan although it weighs a bit more. Thanks for the bet, I will let you make the bet next time.
Kragg shoulders his pack and seeing the gnoll ready assumes that everyone else is ready as well. If there is no problems, Kragg starts moving out.
"Okay, here ya go."
Kragg finds ten silver coins in his hand. If he turns to say something to Joan, he sees her holding her coin purse upside down and open, and another four silver help between her fingers.
Seeing the empty pouch and the fact that Joan is short 9gp Kragg, walks over, Don't worry about the bet for now. I will take the favor instead.
Realizing that the gnolls will be very upset, you prepare to depart.
Gralk informs you that Boog-Boog was the only clear choice to lead as his lineage was clearly superior to all others. Now the gnolls will be fighting to control the throne and rule. The anarchy will not be pretty.
The party escapes through the other side of the mountain, saving weeks of travel time and is headed towards the sea. Nar decides to leave to report to Rock, and leaves his items behind.
[ooc]
Character updated...
Kragg uses the wand to top himself off and them proceeds onward.
The dwarves divide up the loot and rush out of the cavern. A mob of angry gnolls storms the passage from the other side.
The dwarves (and allies) form up in the biting cold and proceed down sloping foothills to the frozen coast. The desolate landscape is broken up by the occasional scrub pine and bits of frozen tundra.
The first full day of travel is through biting cold (a charge from Kragg's wand protects anyone from exposure damage).
The second day the warm clothes make magical protection unnecessary. A towering peak near the coast is visible with a large tower of amazing height rising above the already distinctive promontory.
As you move closer, you notice that the tower is on an island. In the icy weather with occasional sunlight you see a series of disks laid out at irregular intervals spanning the 600' span from adjacent tall hill to the island promontory with the tower.
Gralk informs you that this is where the monks of Irori, the keepers of the ice ships, have their stronghold and sanctuary. A bell with a pull is near the irregularly spaced disks that are held together by two strands of a metallic cable. The metallic cables are secured to the sides of the disks, and although the cables are quite taut, using this bridge to traverse would be quite a challenge. The three hundred foot plunge to the icy depths below a dramatic penalty for failure. The disks begin spaced 10 feet apart, but in places toward the center they are more than 20 feet apart.
Gralk informs you the monks are summoned by pulling on the bell. Boog-Boog dealt with the monks in the past, and was quite favored by them. Gralk's boots of striding and springing were a gift from Boog-Boog after he became an acrobatic master on his own.
Figuring the best way to find out what's going is to ring the bell, Kragg walks over searches it.
Perception
after ringing the bell if this is no traps found he then steps back and waits for a response.
Gralk jumps well. I can get there on disks, if needed.
He crosses his arms and waits patiently for the monks.
If that is what is needed then you shall have your opportunity. However, I wish to see what the monks want first and their requirements. We can always do it ourselves if necessary, but getting them to help us is easier. That is where Gallak comes in. We also need to know the abilities of these ships and how to control them.
After the bell is rung, ten minutes later there is activity on the other side. A lone figure begins to balance and hop from disk to disk. The disks sway under the weight of the human figure as it moves across the span at a careful pace. The human wearing a hooded gray robe reaches the last span and leaps to the solid rock of the hillside you are on after about five minutes.
He pulls his hood aside revealing a youthful face with a blonde ponytail and a blonde, bristly handlebar mustache.
"Brother Johansen at your service. It seems we are in much demand of late. You are the fourth delegation to arrive and take the challenge. I assume you feel worthy of the ancient ships buried in the ice too? Well, if you pass the trials, I guess you will be deemed worthy."
Noticing Gralk, who has never been here before, the human asks: "Where is my good friend Boog-Boog? He has already passed the physical challenge. Only the mental challenge remains for him. He wished to prove the worthiness of the gnoll race. I did not think a gnoll could cross the gap and fight the creatures of mist, but he did."
It is explained to you that there are two challenges, to hop across the gap and to solve the complex riddle of multiple languages.
As soon as you accept the mental challenge, you are given 16 scrolls. The are in common, undercommon, ignan, aklo, goblin, abyssal, draconic, celestial, auran, gnoll, sylvan, terran, orc, infernal and two ancient languages.
Anyone speaking the languages can decipher them. A linguistics DC20 will also decipher the first 14, a linguistics DC25 will only decipher the last two.
The monk informs you: "Although you have arrived after the three previous delegations, we have prepared a camping spot for you nearby. Do not antagonize the other groups as this is neutral ground. We do not allow conflict on our land."
The monk conspiratorially informs Gralk: "The duergar, Society of Secrets, and the winter witch teams have had a head start, but none of them have passed the mental challenge yet. Since Boog-Boog is working with the witch faction, they are the farthest along. Two duergar have already plummeted to their deaths attempting to imitate Boog-Boog's feat of traversing the chasm."
There are comfortable cabins set up for you to stay in. Hundreds of feet from your camp outlined with stone markers are two other camps. They house a group of gnolls and female humans and a group of humans wearing the insignia Hon used to wear, the O with two snakes entwined in the left and right side of the O.
Once they are alone in the cabin, and Joan has managed to keep Luilfr outside, the ranger puts her head to the wall and groans.
"Why is nothing ever simple? I don't recognize any of these!"
The monk warns, "The scrolls were created to avoid magical tampering, but I am told a strong magic-user can read the scrolls magically without any ill effect."
He adds, "The witches learned if you fail magically, you find your intellect drained for a long period of time. The best witch tried and failed. The duergar have paid other human wizards--they failed too."
What do you means by magical tampering?
These tasks can be completed in any order by any of our party then?
Durgen looks over the scrolls and reads the common, undercommon, aklo, goblin, gnoll, orc and terran scolls.
"Well I know these 7, but the other 9 may take some work to figure out!"
Durgen begins to pour through the other scrolls
Linguistics Ignan DC 20
Linguistics Abyssal DC 20
Linguistics Draconic DC 20
Linguistics Celestial DC 20
Linguistics Auran DC 20
Linguistics Sylvan DC 20
Linguistics Infernal DC 20
Linguistics Ancient Language #1 DC 25
Linguistics Ancient Language #2 DC 25
After spending some time on them, Durgen calls over to the others, "I have these three scrolls I cannot quite figure out, but am close if anyone else with a knowledge of language can help me figure out this last bit, I think we will have them!"
"Let me help ye out Durgen. Ah, well you see this means....I think..no..wait..bah!" Ghanrik says.
Joan throws her hands up in frustration after being convinced to help and trying for several hours.
"I don't understand any of this! For all I know it's telling us where the nearest all-you-can-eat buffet is!"
Durgen turns out to be a whiz at the languages.
He translates all but three scrolls. A few gnolls wander over from their camp and speak to Gralk.
"How is it coming? We were hoping to see Boog-Boog here. It was his hope that we could show up the other groups and triumph here. The monks already speak of his feat of agility with awe. Unfortunately we are concerned the riddle will be our downfall. We do not like riddles. Maybe the witches Boog-Boog picked will be of help."
The gnoll adds: "We have 10 scrolls of 16 done. Rumor has it the duergar have 14 done. The Society of Secrets is done translating, but they are having trouble with the riddle. They do not think the physical challenge is anything but dangerous, so they want to do the riddle portion first."
Not one for languages Kragg goes to inspect the tightrope lines trying to determine how difficult it would be to cross over. He is debating wether a slows and steady approach would work for him if he took his armor off and carried it with him.
Wind can be a factor, and will add to the difficulty. Taking 10 will be possible until you are threatened.
As the buffeting winds make the crossing perilous, it is obvious Boob-Boog probably crossed in more favorable conditions.
It is somewhat amazing the monk has crossed, but then he seems to have a talent that makes the winds not touch him. It as if he is immune to the effects as a creature of air would be.
With the wind gusting as it is, No hurry everyone, we will have to wait till tomorrow for the wind to die down before we can try crossing anyways. May as well make yourselves comfortable and work on those scrolls at your leisure. Tomorrow will bring another day and a new perspective that may enlighten you as to their meaning.
With that Kragg takes stock of the encampment and prepares to rest eventually for the night.
Gralk speaks to the Gnolls in their barking tongue.
Boog-Book died with dishonor at the throne. My new Dwarf friends translate fast. I am ready for the journey across.
He steps away and approaches Kragg and the others. he quietly conveys.
Gnolls tell Gralk of others progress. Society has scrolls translated, and Duergar are close. Both working on riddle. What is the riddle? None are ready to try crossing like Gralk is.
No idea what this riddle is nor am I any help to those that can work on revealing the meassage. I examined the lines and with this wind there is no chance we can cross today, perhaps tomorrow. Best we wait and let the wind die down and then I will accompany you as well.
"Allow me to put this scroll into my spellbook tonight and ready it tomorrow. It will make you move faster and will greatly aid you in your ability to jump farther."
Spellcraft