Answering the call of the Cleftwood elders for brave heroes, the six of you are the only ones who responded and came to their aid. You spent the week prior to your grand adventure preparing, crafting, and drinking; and now, it is time for your journey to begin. Gathered around the town square, the elder council is standing in front of the Great Hall to address you and and your concerns.
"The cave that Longtail retreated to, it is no ordinary cave. Within lies a fortress of legend - a dungeon of Celestial creation. No one is sure how much time passed since its creation; history has forgotten the quest of the celestial heroes. One thing is certain: the earth is an unforgiving mistress and her power cannot be held back.
An earthquake cracked the foundation of the dungeon. The rift spread for miles, nearly ripping the dungeon in two. Into the rift flowed magma, but it did not boil the occupants of the dungeon. The temperature rose beneath the earth, and the cold home of the unliving became capable of sustaining life. No one knows what lies in waiting, but you may be unfortunate enough to find out. Before you set out, we will do our best to offer any knowledge you seek."
Sounds like alot stuff to break.. My bags are packed and my sword is sharpened.. Let us get on with the killing May Gorum guide my hand!
A series of popping sounds is heard across the square, drawing everyone's attention to the barely-noticed gnome cracking his knuckles off to the side.
"A Celestial dungeon means Celestial traps. Ancient stuff like nothing we've seen before, waiting for someone to trip them. If we're not careful, it'll be the killing of US we're getting on with."
As the gnome continues to speak, his hand reaches into one of the many pockets of his vest and pulls out what appears to be small bits of wire. He never looks down as he begins to bend and twist the wire with no apparent purpose. He faces the elder council. "Like my tall anxious friend, my bags are packed as well....but wth a few coins left to spend if you know of any special gear we need to take with us?"
His chest criss-crossed with bandoliers of daggers, darts and mysterious vials, Nimh squats near the center of the group, his nose and tail twitching with interest. Spotting the fiery-haired Gnome, he speaks a short greeting in Gnomish.
Agromite
To the Elders:
" When did the villain enter the Dungeon, good Sir? We must make haste to...bring him to justice."
As he speaks, Nimh fingers the edge of the dagger in his hand,his eyes intent on the distant destination of the group.
Never a big talker, Ive never been to good with words, Ingred stands quietly and listens to the two short ones ask questions.. She eyes their tiny weapons and a has an unconstrained giggle.. I think they'd be better off with a greatsword.. Yes, yes how long ago and how many puny followers did he have?
Thinking a moment and counting the days, one of the elders chimes in, "I would say just under a month. We have sent scouts to check on the cave entrance, but there is no activity. Whatever they are doing, it is time consuming. There numbers...were 'frightening' as the elf put it."
From the crowd you hear another voice shout, "At least a hundred. I couldn't count them all, but I've never seen so many monsters together." You notice the voice coming from a dirty elf. He must be the scout.
An almost sadistic grin splits Ingred's face from ear to ear. Over a Hundred you say? Not sure exactly how much that is, but anything more than 10 sounds like a good time.. Even more cleaving than i would of imagined, may praise be made to The Lord of Iron for such a fine bounty of souls to take.. Almost immediately the raging warrior looks tired of being here..
Moving with purpose towards the Elf, Nimh chitters excitedly, sniffing people far to closely as he does. Somehow he ends up uncomfortably close to Ingrid, his snout sniffing her great blade from tip to pommel. Whispering 'There is a great power in your weapon, Battle-Mistress. I am keen to see how this thing works when faced with a horde of Orcs. It will be a fun show, I should think,'
Then, without waiting for Ingrid's answer, Nimh moves almost face-to-face with the Elf scout, sniffing him up and down, peering into pockets, fingering his cloak, almost touching his pointed ears (But withdrawing his fingers at the last moment). 'So, friend, shall we leave,then? Destiny awaits...
Eyeing the Ratfolk, Ingred doesnt seem to take offense to the inspection of her weapon. Careful small one, or ull loose some wiskers. Soon you'll see that this blesses weapon of Gorum does great damage to any flesh it touches, just try no to get in the way.. Looking around she waits for the rest to be ready before departing.
At the elder's words, the gnome bows his head in a gesture that walks the line between respect and condescension. "I have heard this advice before, elder." A smirk crosses his face. "But I prefer to be up close."
"What I meant was, you mentioned cold and magma." He turns toward the elf who spoke up. "Will normal gear be enough?"
"Well, there is not a whole lot that will aid against magma," the middle elder teased. "But the cold is a bone chilling freeze, brought from the subterranean absence of sun. Thick layers are going to aid you there, but the temperatures of the whole dungeon are unknown."
Erikan listens attentively to the Elders' words. So this is what my life has come to - a suicide mission in a forgotten hole in the ground.
The pensive young woman who sits listening intently is well equipped, a look of intense focus in her eyes. Aurora had been the first to volunteer, an opportunity to give something back to the only community she knew, the people who had saved her by taking her in.
Perhaps in this she could find purpose.
"I am as ready as I think anyone can be Elder." she says solemnly.
Ingred waits patiently for the Cleric of Desna to arrive. She must have ate something bad last night or something.. Hope she hasn't woosied out..
After meeting with the town elders, you are ready to head off towards the Stony Mountain caves and begin your adventure. As you are leaving the square, a crooked, old man calls out from within the Great Hall. He is cloaked in ragged robed and holding a wrapped parcel. "When I heard that aid was coming, I spent the night crafting this. You may need it in there..." his thin raspy voice letting on a feeling of doubt. He unwraps the parcel to reveal a wand of sorts. "A wand to cure whatever ailments come your way. It is the least we could do for your services." He approaches Ingred to hand it to her, but realizes she may not appreciate a "stick" and turns to Nimh, handing it off.
The trek to the cave entrance is as easy and comfortable as you could ask for. A cool breeze, bright sun, and straight path leading to the entrance make it a simple task. As you climb the mountain, rocks and debris slow your ascent. Numerous tracks of different creatures ascend the hillside. The climb levels off as you get closer to the cave mouth. You see a man the size of a galleon lying on the ground at the cave opening. As you get closer, you can see that death has taken him. Despite his obviously decomposed state, the man does not exude the odor of decay. There are no signs of a struggle. The cave entrance is dark and narrow. You are only able to see in 20 feet before it the shadow is all consuming.
Ingred draws her great sword and takes the lead.. Mighty dark in there, anyone see better or make it less dark? She narrows her sight to get a better look..
HP 14/14
Raging 17/17
AC 16/14
CMD 17/19
Fort +4/+7
Reflex +2
Will +1/+3
Rage Rounds 9/9
Nimh takes the parcel with an appreciative nod to the man.
As the group treks to the cave, Nimh will cast Detect Magic upon it, just to make sure that it is indeed a Curative wand. One can never be too careful with 'gifts'.
At the cave entrance, Nimh sniffs the air, trying to detect enemies. Then, with a quick smile, he draws his blade and enters, his Darkvision allowing him to scout ahead.
Perception
Stealth
(+1 if this counts as rocky or hilly terrain)
After arriving at the cave, the gnome draws his shortsword and prepares to enterd the cave.....as the ratfolk darts in ahead of him. With a shrug, Agromite moves over to inspect the corpse.
"I can help with the light, but you wanna bring that oversized chopper over here first? They mentioned undead. We don't want this fella getting up and following us, right?"
Without waiting, he starts searching the body.
Ingred approaches the body with Agromite and prepares to strike if it moves.. Im gonna have fun slaying this scum..
Nimh: The wand is indeed a Wand of Cure Light Wounds.
The body doesn't appear to move as you approach.
The diminutive sorcerer keeps his distance from the body, and watches Agromite rifle through its possessions. "Anything there of interest?" he asks.
As the group approaches the cave entrance Aurora comes to a halt, staring at the Titan's corpse with open amazement.
"Is anyone else wondering who or what killed him?"
"Sorry, but I don't concern myself with how things died, only how to make them dead, but I'm sure our dear cleric could decipher something"
Ingred walks away from the corpse back towards the cave entrance. "When yall are done reading notes and studying the dead let me know" She leans on her greatsword and eyes the darkness, almost daring it to do something..
Nimh moves to the mouth of the tunnel, whiskers twitching, his fingers flipping a throwing dagger in the air slowly. Pausing to look about for any of his distant kin ( rats), he briefly looks back towards the others, discussing the gisnt's body, then puts his keen eyes back to the task of keeping alert for danger.
"Maybe it's just me, but walking blind into something that could kill someone that big, or turning my back to it for that matter, doesn't seem like the smartest idea. But by all means, charge on in and let us know how it turns out." Aurora replies, her expression calm, yet her body inicating the taut energy of a drawn bowstring.
"You'll have to forgive me, I should have said I'm no good at figuring things out, so i let others do it and focus on the things im good at"
Ingred kicks some dirt around, obviously unfamiliar and not to good at apologies.. "I may like to kill stuff, but ill not be charging off alone into that dark hole"
Once it seems obvious that the corpse will not spring to life and start attacking randomly, Erikan moves forward to inspect it also. "Handsome looking devil," he murmurs, searching for some hint of what may have caused its demise.
The white haired young woman smiles slightly
"Well that definitely makes sense, sorry if I came off a bit sarcastic. It's just a little....tense going into this."Aurora says, rolling her shoulders to relese a bit of tension.
The gnome finishes his quick but thorough search of the giant's body.
"Anybody good with languages? This guy's got more papers than I've ever seen but nothing in a language I recognize."
He peers into the dark cave opening again. "The trouble with light in a dark tunnel is that stuff can see you long before you see it."
Agromite reaches into a belt pouch and pulls out a small metal box. He flips it open and for a moment it appears as if the box is on fire. Turning the box over the flame seems to fall into his hand, but if it is hurting him he certainly is not reacting.
"Nimh and I can range ahead a ways while the rest of you follow with this. Its only as bright as a torch....." Pausing for dramatic affect, the gnome opens his hand. A greyish stone, prism in shape, can be seen at the center of the flame. The stone floats out of his hand and begins slowly circling his head. "But it's pretty convenient to have light AND free hands."
He reaches up and deftly catches the floating stone. "I use it to see better when Im working a lock, but makes sense if one of you take it as we start inside."
The papers seem to be strewn about as if his body was scavenged by others and the papers tossed aside in frustration, spread around by the wind. It seems pretty evident that this colossal being has been dead for centuries, dirt starting to blow up along his sides, the gargantuan halberd visibly being worn away.
Ingred looks at the pile of papers.. "Might as well be fire starter, i cant read it, but now that light stone is pretty niffty, i have some sunrods but was kinda hopin to at least make inside before i start burning them up" She chuckles at her almost humor..
Erikan looks over to Ingred. "They are old - indescribably old. It is due only to magic that they have not crumbled to dust centuries ago." He smiles crookedly at the massive woman. "If you could resist your pyrophilic urges, my dear, I'd rather hold on to these." The sorcerer begins gathering up the ancient sheaves.
Ingred smiles and pulls a bottle from her pack, uncorking it she takes a big swig and looks for a place to set down. "By all means take them if they seem useful. I have some extra room in my pack if you need me carry some even. Would you like a swig?" She offers the bottle to the pretty man, smiling..
Erikan looks warily at the bottle Ingred drinks from. "Er... Maybe later. But thank you," he adds, picking up the last of the papers.
Ingred corks the bottle and tucks it back into her pack.. Just helps take the edge off is all.. She gets up and walks over to the huge weapon, taking a better look at it.. Man i bet this sucker would do some damage. If only i could pick it up! She tests the weight of the weapon and attempts to move it.
You are able to lift the halberd with ease, not surprised at your own strength. You imagine the weapon weighs nearly 100 pounds.
The colossal creature has pockets, pouches and bags filled with these notes,and just from the handfull you've grabbed, you could imagine them weighing a few hundred pounds to carry them all.
"Well if I ever need a boat anchor I'll know where to come" Ingred sets the enormous weapon down and looks to the sorcerer.. "Perhaps you could select some of the more interesting notes?"
"See anything up there?" Aurora calls to the two scouts as she scans the area.
Sitting at the edge of the cave, Ingred looks bored..
"I see darkness.. But we cant go any farther without our cleric. Apparently she has mudbut.." She once again pulls the bottle from her pack and takes a swig. "Want some?"
Erikan takes his best educated guess at which papers might be more interesting, informative, or arcane, and gathers a pile weighing about 30 lbs. He looks towards the towering barbarian, offering her a friendly smile. "I might take you up on your offer, if it still stands..? To carry some of this, I mean. My pack is rather full..."
Aurora looks at the flask for a moment.
"Why the hell not?" she mutters before taking a swig.
Ingred hands the flask to Aurora, then takes off her pack to make some room for papers.. "I can fit 20lbs pretty easily i think"
Erikan bows in gratitude. "Thank you, dear lady, I am indebted to you." He shoulders his pack, bending slightly under its weight. "Well, if there's no more to see here..?"
Ingred looks around for the cleric. "I think were still waiting on her"
From a completely different direction comes a woman wearing a hooded cloak. She makes no attempt to hide herself, though her approach is wary as she notices several people standing around the place she was headed to. She hobbles towards you all, using a spear as a sort of walking staff, and resting heavily on it once she is a reasonable distance for speaking. "I didn't expect to see so many people here. Did the earth draw you here as well?"
Ingred takes a defensive stance, drawing her large weapon, at the introduction of this new person. "We walked to get here if thats what u mean.. We were sent here by the Cleftwood Village Elders. We seek to track the notorious wererat sorcerer scum who calls himself Longtail. What are you doing here? And why is your skin black?
As Ingred talks and asks questions she doesn't lower her blade..
Quickly catching the 'torch' and shoving it back in his pouch, Agromite takes a few slow steps away from the others - no more than a few feet, not taking his eyes off the new comer.
"Did the village send you as well, palikt paslēptas?"