GM Olmek |
The skis'raal scuttles into a small cavern almost directly across the Deep Road from the chamber that hid its lair. Inside the cavern is... nothing. The spider pokes around the far wall with one of its remaining legs.
"It's here. Somewhere. I cannot find the door. It is hidden." The skis'raal looks back to the dwarves. "We did not see them open it. We only heard."
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
Grimdahl is not at all happy with the concept of prisoners - especially one that can web them. Still, if it cooperates then he'll abide by the agreement made by the others.
He follows the thing into the cavern and looks around, trying to find the door it mentions.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Pravic Stoneblood |
Are ye sure we are in the right one? If this is a trap, ye better believe yer gonna regret it...
The hairs on the back of Pravics neck stand up, This doesn't feel right...
As Grimdahl searches, Pravic also begins to look around. His search is visually quite different from his druidic brother as Pravic simply pushes on different areas of the walls, grabbing protrusions, picking mushrooms, anything that might potentially trigger a secret door to open.
Bali Tharnhammer |
Once again, Bali swings her hammer menacingly at the skis'raal. You'd better be gettin' on with it, or I'll be gettin' on with you! No doubt this is a trick and we'd be better off without you if you can't find what we came here for!
Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Then Bali lets out a squeak of a giggle, telling the skis'raal it's an empty threat.
GM Olmek |
The secret door is cunningly made and hidden, crafted to appear as natural stone, but when Grimdahl presses the correct stone, it swings open easily. Unfortunately, the cache is seemingly empty.
I know Grimdahl was looking for a door and not electing to try and open it, but it wasn't trapped and I'm just moving it a long. :)
Pravic Stoneblood |
I am always in favor of making assumptions that move the story along!
"well this doesn't do us much good ye 8 legged vermin. Ye better cough up something worthwhile or I'm going to just assume yer lying to save yer hide."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ingrid the Tarnished |
"You're trying our patience, creature." Ingrid turns her axe over in her hand. "Grimdahl, keep looking. It might be hidden more cunningly than we thought."
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
Grimdahl waits for any explanation to be translated, hefting his scimitar meaningfully as he does so. Some things need no translation..
GM Olmek |
The secret cache is another small cavern. Despite appearing empty, Ivy is able to find a small vial of dark liquid in a far corner.
Knivey Ivy |
Ivy's face twisted in revulsion as she took a wiff of the vial. Gnome's bane, one of the drow's wonderful gifts to the world. In anyone besides a svirfneblin drinks it they become resistant to our magic. If one of our kind drinks it we die a slow and painful death.
She looked down at the vial in her hand and rolled it over, eyes glazed over in anger. Vile creatures. A poison tailored to murder another race alone.
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
"Revolting," Grimdahl readily agrees.
"So, what now? Has our captive outlived its usefulness, or do we keep it for evidence?" He is keen to get moving, before the smell of spilled blood and carrion brings more creatures of the Underdark to investigate.
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
Grimdahl shrugs, laconically. Tracking drow strikes him as trying to catch the darkness in a bucket; they are a most elusive race. Still, he wants to show willing to his new-found ally.
Survival, tracking: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 Bah
Pravic Stoneblood |
"Considering yer crimes and the justice ye deserve, I don't think ye've earned the right to live with the petty stuff ye've shown us. "
Pravic hoists his hammer above his head and pauses.
"hold still, I'll make it quick"
-Posted with Wayfinder
GM Olmek |
The skis'raal cowers before Pravic's raised hammer. "Please! Mercy!"
Reginald T'jener |
Hold, my Lord Stoneblood! His witness may still be useful to the Gnome King!
Nurin Jarnthane |
"We still may need him to testify to the Drow's treachery." Nurin looks at the skis'raal with contempt even though he was advocating to keep him alive.
Pravic Stoneblood |
Pravic freezes in mid swing, hammer held high in the air.
"in my eyes ye haven't earned the mercy ye beg for. A good gnome is dead fer yer treachery, and we are no closer to finding the drow responsible. I suppose it would be better fer ye to answer fer yer crimes to those who ye've committed them against."
Pravic slowly lowers his hammer.
"If there is nothing left to find here, we should move forward to Festervault, and bring these charges to the proper authorities."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
Grimdahl frowns. "Many individuals have come through here recently, likely a few days ago. They unloaded something from the cache and left. If I had to guess, I'd say that there was once a large amount of gnome's bane stored here." The druid looks meaningfully at Ivy. "I think I can guess where they're taking it, can't you? We should hustle. Pravic, if it gives you any trouble, brain it. Let's move."
Moving to the front, he resumes his scouting duties once the group moves on.
Perception for ambush or further trouble: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Reginald T'jener |
Reginald clicks his tongue and snaps the reins. Onward and downward!
Pravic Stoneblood |
Pravic grunts in confirmation of Grimdahl's command, slinging his shield behind him and hefting his hammer with both hands.
Don't ye give me an excuse now, unless ye don't want to face the kin of the gnome ye killed. He mutters to the spider.
Ready an action to attack if the spider does anything hostile, or attempts to escape.
GM Olmek |
A few days pass by without incident as the explorers travel west along the Gnome King's Highway. Every day sees the svirfneblin a little stronger as the skis'raal venom works its way out of their bodies. For the most part, the deep gnomes keep to themselves, talking only through their de facto leader, Harvald. Azraak, the captive skis'raal, kept silent as well, limping on his six good legs.
On the fifth day of travel, a passage branches off from the Gnome King's Highway, almost directly north. A stone marker, written in Undercommon, Gnomish, Elven, Dwarven, and Skis'raal, reads "Fasturvalt ahead, domain of the great Lord Geirni, son of Geiri. All who come in peace are welcome." The sign is cut from fresh marble. It couldn't be more than a few months old.
After seeing the sign, Harvald speaks up. "This is the Needle's Eye, Fasturvalt's most defensible entrance. Ahead, it narrows to corridor only five feet wide that sits right underneath a natural firing gallery. We'll need to unload the wagon and remove the wagon's wheels to fit. That should take about an hour, but it's better than going the long way around."
Pravic Stoneblood |
Aye, the sooner we get into town to report the treachery of the drow, the better. I hope in my heart this is just the olive branch we need to strike an alliance with yer people. Ingrid, would you please keep yer eye on our prisoner? Lothar and I can have these wheels off in record time, methinks.
Pravic lays his hammer and shield down once he knows for sure the spider is being watched. Then he rubs his hands together, looking over the cart, and gets to work disassembling the wheels in order to fit it through the needle's eye.
Reginald T'jener |
The elderly Reginald climbs down off the wagon as it is disassembled and waits patiently as the young'uns do their thing.
Pravic Stoneblood |
Aye! Pravic puts an emphasis on Bali's declaration. With our overgrown fly catcher here, we outta be able to set the record straight, and turn the tide of public opinion against the scheming drow...
Getting up and brushing off his hands and breeches, he says to the monk beside him, That should just about do it Lothar, nice work. Yer almost as strong as me, impressive. Pravic says that last bit with a mischievous smile.
Ahhh, what dwarf couldn't resist a bit of friendly competition eh? I'll see if he takes the bait...
GM Olmek |
If you'd like to continue the scene, feel free to do so, but I'm moving forward.
Any place near the surface, the cavern that houses Fasturvalt would surely rank amongst the largest caverns in the world. The cavern ceiling rises more than a hundred yards high at its central apex and is adorned with countless natural hanging formations.
Fasturvalt’s natural floor is not flat. The whole cavern is a gentle slope, with the highest elevation at the northwest and the lowest at the southwest corner.
Near the northwestern corner the slope becomes more pronounced and the cave has two enbankments that each rise about thirty feet. The first rise has a broad natural stairway that the gnomes have broadened and widened, while still preserving its natural beauty.
Originating from a tumultuous waterfall on the northwest wall, a black river slices through the town at a breakneck speed creating a low-roar that echoes through the Azathyr for miles. All of this moving water makes the cavern misty, cool, and damp. Condensation from the river and ground water from above combine to make an almost constant drizzle. This cool weather, combined with the noise of the river and a persistent rotten odor, make Fasturvalt seem like a truly miserable place to live.
Despite this, Harvald breathes a deep sigh of relief upon arrival. "Ah, the song of the Snabbinflod. When the spiders took us, I feared I might never hear it again."
The dwarf caravan approaches from the south-east entrance, next to where the river disappears underneath the cavern wall, presumably to someplace deeper in the Azathyr. The trail leads north towards the town, flanked by a pair of large fields, covered in mushrooms growing as tall as cornstalks.
A new map of Fasturvalt is available in my alias preview. I have numbered all the points of interest so that you will more easily be able to tell me where you want to go.
Topography: Fasturvalt’s natural floor is not flat. The whole cavern is a gentle slope, with the highest elevation at the northwest and the lowest at the southwest corner.
Near the northwestern corner the slope becomes more pronounced and the cave has two enbankments that each rise about thirty feet. The first rise has a broad natural stairway that the gnomes have broadened and widened, while still preserving its natural beauty.
1. Gallery of the Gods
2. Quarry
3. Stonecutter's Row
4. The Broken Chisel
5. Town Square
6. Stock Lake
7. Pier
8. Mushroom Fields
9. Bridges
10. Natural Staircase
11. The Blue Bat
12. Armory
13. Spore Mill
14. Hall of Lord Geirni
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
Grimdahl wrinkles his nose at the smell of rot and damp, but sensibly opts to say nothing. Instead, he makes the most of the opportunity to light a cigar; not something he has been able to do while scouting.
Blowing a cheerful, bluish smoke ring, he looks to Ivy and Reginald. "So, what's the protocol when entering a city where the leader is weak and you have a hostile captive and all sorts of bad news?" His own plan is to lurk in the background and watch carefully.
Reginald T'jener |
Reginald instructs the rest on the proper procedures.
Know:nobility: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Nurin Jarnthane |
Nurin sniffs and sneezes at the dampness in the air. "Well, I assume we'll need our friends to make the introductions. Ivy, can you lead us to the Lord's hall?"
Pravic Stoneblood |
Pravic marvels at the cavern and the stonework of the city as they enter and begin to walk through.
I guess ye probably get used to the smell no? He says with a smile and a playful elbow to the shoulder of Ivy. What do you say we go give your illustrious Geirni a little courage to stand up to the drow. He says to the gnomes, sarcasm dripping all over the word "illustrious".
Knivey Ivy |
Ivy scoffs at Pravic's suggestion. “Geirni is an idiot. A mythic moron. An emperor of imbeciles. A champion of chumps. Now that his dad is dead and the only decent soldier he had is slain, the drow are going to eat that fool alive. You want my advice? We should get ours while the getting’s good. Resupply. Have a beer. Ditch this dump. Fasturvalt is doomed.”
GM Olmek |
Reginald explains that in times of crisis, many rules of decorum could be ignored. It would likely be best to bring the skis'raal before Lord Geirni and try to warn him about the imminent danger as quickly as possible. Of course, it never hurts to grease those proceedings with a gift first, a gesture for "barging in," so to speak.
Harvald shoots a glare at Ivy's impertinence. "Watch your tongue, thief. You owe Lord Geirni much and more."
Reginald T'jener |
Reginald doesn't have much of a reaction to the environment. Smelled like a huge storehouse to him.
We should probably get this done sooner than later. One of you Tarnhammers should take the gift and present it to his Lordship, then gently broach the issue of defence. Offer aid or do not, your choice, but remember what we will need moving forward. Perhaps we can get a 1 to 1 trade for the wagon, or at least the oxen.
Know:Nobility for proper decorum and procedure for such a presentation and requesting an audience, etc. take 10 is a 21: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Reginald stays close by the Tarnhammer that chooses to take the lead and takes 10 on any necessary Know checks to prevent the dwarves from dealing with too much of a information deficiency. He will also be on the lookout for tricks. The Drow might have already infiltrated the gnomish nobility.
Sence motive, take 10 is a 11: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Grimdahl exchanges a look with Reginald: not much gets past the elder dwarf. He will leave matters of protocol and etiquette to those who are skilled in such things. The druid's own talents lie in observation and work behind the scenes.
Dropping back a ways, as the others move forwards, he whispers quietly - if somewhat brusquely - to Ivy. "Alright, Miss Iverna Already-has-your-knife, time for some honesty, don't you think? We've been straight with you, time for you to repay the compliment. What are you hiding? What's your grievance against Fasturvalt? Why doesn't Harvald like you?"
The leather-clad dwarf sighs inwardly. He likes Ivy, her toughness and resourcefulness were obvious from when they first met. He wants to trust the svirfneblin girl, but doesn't dare, just yet.
Nurin Jarnthane |
Nurin considers Ivy's words and Harvald's. "Well, we had best hear what the Lord has to say, but if he even thought to make a pact with the Drow, he's foolhardy at best. The words of the Skis'raal make that plain. Hopefully he will see reason when presented with this evidence."
Bali Tharnhammer |
Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
I don't know what you are going on about Harvald, Ivy has earned my trust. Ivy might be a bit Dwarvish if I'm not mistaken. Bali says with a wink to Ivy.
Ingrid the Tarnished |
"I guess we know where the mushrooms came from now," Ingrid mutters to herself, still staying close to Reginald. Something in the old dwarf's words was needling at the back of her mind, pleading with her to pay attention. For her part, she keeps an eye on the captive Skis'raal, occasionally patting the haft of her axe to remind it of the pain.
Lothar Graelson |
Lothar had been troubled since the vial of liquid had been found; and once an opportune moment presented itself he voiced his concerns, speaking quietly and gravely.
My companions... Ivy... I believe I may have divined the Dark Elf's plans. Where the Drow had one such potion, they will surely have more. With the tradition of bringing gifts, your leaders are in for a horrible fate. No fools, your leaders will likely want to see the Drow partake of their own liquid gifts; as a gesture of faith no poison is involved. I suspect this drink will be laced with the same substance we found. The Gnomes that drink it will be killed or debilitated... while the Drow bolstered for their treachery and resistant to your innate magic. We have little time to stand on etiquette; we must thwart their plot! At least we have Bali Drow and Spider-Slayer with us...
Reginald T'jener |
Lothar makes sense, my lords. This may well be the case. We must act quickly. Come!
He sets off in a surprisingly strong gait toward the chambers of the king.
Grimdahl Tharnhammer |
Grimdahl smiles and blows an impudent smoke ring. "Glare away, but I've faced down angry fey; you just look sulky. So you were exiled? That means we 7 are possibly the only people within 100 miles in any direction who are prepared to be on your side. So take a deep breath, count to 10 and tell me the rest of the story. What did you steal that was important enough for them to exile you? And where were you planning to go if we hadn't found you?" And replenished your water supplies, he doesn't add. He has a little tact.
The dwarf is a strong believer in good sense (if not interpersonal skills). He devoutly hopes that Ivy will see the sense in being friends.
Pravic Stoneblood |
Pravic's face goes dark at Lothar's suggestion.
I like ye Ivy, ye've got spunk. But my brother's got a point here. We can't help ye if ye don't let us help ye. Tell us about it on the way, we might have a bigger problem on our hands, if Lothar is right. Lets get up to Geirni as quickly as we can.