City of Ashes (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

"This place is...evil" snarls Urrnir once she climbs down. Her lips peel back as the the putrid air assaults her nostrils.

Kn: Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Her look of displeasure only grows when she eyes the statues. "Disgusting..." she mutters.

How far away from our position is the island?

If you went straight down the rope to the surface of the lake where the landing was supposed to be, you would be looking at about an 18' rope bridge to the little rocky island with the three giant bones sticking up out of it.

But the landing and the bridge are under water now.

As the others head down, Lilia does so as well. Hopefully nothing messes with our rope, or we will never get back up to the surface, Lilia thinks as she descends the rope.

Take ten for a 9 on my Climb check.

K Dungeonering, dc 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

K Planes, dc 20: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
K Religion, dc 20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"I don't think this is all natural stone," Cairenn observes as he starts his careful climb as well. "A natural sinkhole, but one that was expanded by hands and tools..."

Cairenn will take 10 on the climb as well, for a 10

When he reaches the bottom after a slow, cautious descent, Cairenn stares at the blood lake appreciatively. This.... is going to make a really good story, he thinks.

Will cast detect magic once at the bottom, see if anything within 60' pings

"Indeed Mistress Drahaenn, I don't care much for the look of this at all." Ares replies back in a focused tone. After looking at the creatures the Aasimar chants a minor prayer on the water.

Knowledge(Religion):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Casting detect poison on the water.

There is a faint aura of abjuration just at the edge of Cairenn's detect magic range.

If you picture the 120' diameter cavern as a clock face, the ping is at roughly 2 o'clock.

The cavern is dark. Ronen's dropped sun-rod glows like an ember under the surface of the red-hued lake.

Did I mess up describing the cavern in so much detail? Oh no, Ares has a light spell going, right? That is enough light to see the stone island with the three big bones jutting out, if Ares rappels down the rope a bit lower then the ceiling.

Because of the stream tumbling into the lake, the water is rough (DC 15 Swim check). Under and around the tumbling stream, the water looks even more choppy.

The little rocky island is about 15'x15'. It is mostly flat and raised 5' above the lakes surface.

The three large bones resemble levers. They look like femurs, thigh bones, of some enormous creature. They seem to have carvings at the end, but you need to get closer to get a good look.

Here is a little map, I haven't scrubbed out the GM only details to make it a player version, but it doesn't give away much that you don't already have a sense of IC.

Lake of Blood

Know. Arcana 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Can any of you help me get to those levers? Swimming isn't my greatest talent either.". Once Lilia gets close enough to inspect them, she announces to the others what she had found, "Those levers are green dragon bones! Whatever has enough power to kill a green dragon is scary."

Once able to get down Priscilla scurries down the rope

climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

She gets down to where she is needed and looks about.

" I would say we could go for a swim,but that looks a little too much like blood for me to consider it any further. Well....I did hear a tale that bathing in blood can help keep you young so maybe....nah to gross"She says with a bit of an excited chuckle. I mean she had never really seen any sort of water like this before.

If I'm understanding this correctly there is an 18' gap between our current position and the rocky island, but that requires a short climb down to where a landing would normally be.

"Can any of you help me get to those levers?"

Urrnir approaches the ledge and looks out silently over the water. "I can make that jump I think, maybe even with Lilia in tow." she turns back to the group and continues "If we have another length of rope then I can tie it off at the other end and we can climb across."

Urrnir you're hanging from a rope. There's no ledge or anything like that. Just water below you.

So, there is no place we can land from climbing down the rope, other than dropping in the water? Ugh. I don't like the sound of that, lol.

The water's current was more on his mind then it's unnatural blood red hue.

"Priscilla we need your rope please", he shouted up towards the shaft opening. "Once we get the rope we need to secure it amongst the three of us. It will be difficult hanging from the rope but should work. Once that is done I will make for the inlet and tie a taut line to make it easier for the others to access it."

So Ronen will swim to the island with one end of the second rope, and make a zip-line from the shaft to the island?

Ooo, that sounds fun! Lilia will wait to see if he can rig that up, not trusting whatever might be in the water. But, I doubt we are going to be able to get back out the same way.

Was there anything up at surface level that might have been, idk, floatable? Like a wooden cart would sort of float, but those are all the way back at the cemetery proper. Was there anything close by?

That wooden cart is not far at all, this barrow is just beyond the edge of the cemetery grounds. It would need to be smashed down a bit to fit down the shaft. Wheels and sides removed.

Ronen could try swinging over rather than swimming.

be a tough call no running start doubles the DC. 18ft jump = 18 DC. Swinging route we still at most are swinging the 5 ft closer to the island. Have to remember at the center point where we are now we go 5 ft way have to go 5ft other to build momentum and we have nothing to push off to create a bigger momentum. DM Grimmy what do you think the DC would be?
Lowering down sounds crazy but we won't know if something is deadly unless someone tests it. Lowering me in at least gives us a chance to see what effect it might have. I have good saves all around and plus we have Ares and me who can channel energy to heal if necessary.

"There is some abjuration magic over... yonder," Cairenn says with a waving of one hand. He frowns at the apparent discussion of going for a swim. In what looks like blood (even if his mind tells him it's likely not, for surely real blood would congeal--)? No thank you.

Frowning, Cairenn climbs back up, and brushes off his hands.

"Lueck, let's go about this intelligently," he says crisply.

Cairenn's going to go for the cart, since apparently it's closer than I was thinking. This, of course, is under the assumption he's not passing through a pocket of shadow wolves or there's any other painfully obvious reason it would be dangerous to go get the wagon. Lueck does not, of course, have to go with him. ;) Nor do others have to wait for their return if you don't want. But I really don't like the thought of making constant swim checks in opaque liquid, and if the cart can help by merit of being a quasi-floating thing to hold onto, that's what Cairenn's going to try for.

"Agreed." Lueck will go with Cairenn to get the cart, with his spear ready in case they are set upon. But if there are clear signs of danger, he won't push it either.

Lilia waits, quite uncomfortable, as the others go scattering here and there. "Gotta be quick, boys. This is precarious. Let alone, trying to get out of here later this evening..."

be a tough call no running start doubles the DC. 18ft jump = 18 DC. Swinging route we still at most are swinging the 5 ft closer to the island. Have to remember at the center point where we are now we go 5 ft way have to go 5ft other to build momentum and we have nothing to push off to create a bigger momentum. DM Grimmy what do you think the DC would be?

Lowering down sounds crazy but we won't know if something is deadly unless someone tests it. Lowering me in at least gives us a chance to see what effect it might have. I have good saves all around and plus we have Ares and me who can channel energy to heal if necessary.

The rope goes straight down the shaft 70' from the barrow and another 20' to the surface of the lake, with multiple PC's at different intervals on the rope keeping it taught, so there's no practical means of swinging on the rope or jumping from the rope more than a few feet.

Cairenn's going to go for the cart, since apparently it's closer than I was thinking. This, of course, is under the assumption he's not passing through a pocket of shadow wolves or there's any other painfully obvious reason it would be dangerous to go get the wagon. Lueck does not, of course, have to go with him. ;) Nor do others have to wait for their return if you don't want. But I really don't like the thought of making constant swim checks in opaque liquid, and if the cart can help by merit of being a quasi-floating thing to hold onto, that's what Cairenn's going to try for.

It's really pretty close, the barrow and the hand of fate are both just outside the cemetery grounds but in different directions. The cart is on the grounds, back where you fought the gravekeeper, which is also where you met the bard, and you were able to see the barrow from there. You'll be there and back in ten minutes, and it doesn't bring you anywhere near the shadow wolves.

Ares' detect poison spell reveals that the red substance is poisonous if drunk in large quantities.

When Ronen gets to the surface of the lake of blood he finds the water choppy (Swim DC 15).

TO THE GOTH-MOBILE, ROBIN!

Flashing a conspiratorial grin at Lueck, Cairenn jogs off back into the cemetery grounds. "Bet you they're still trying to figure out how to descend from the rope by the time we get back," he says over his shoulder as he and the other half-elf make their way back to the wagon.

"This cart is being claimed in the name of science," Cairenn loudly informs anybody who may be near enough to hear when the get to the cart. Barring no interruptions, they make their way back, dragging the thing along on its creaky wheels. Cairenn throws dubious looks at it as they go.

"....it's not exactly Her Majesty's Ship The Tidesplitter, is it," he says aloud. "But if we pry off the wheels and the axle, the basic floor of the thing should serve as raft... shouldn't it?"

Seafaring is not something Cairenn has any experience of, and for once he's even willing to admit that. At least to Lueck, with nobody else around.

Kn Engineering, maybe, to see what he might need to do to the SS Minnow?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Not sure if the kn geo/dung check above is only for people like Ronen who are down at the choppy water, or if Cairenn could have made that check before he went raft-fishing, but if the latter, here's a roll for it:

Kn Geo: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Kn Dung: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Failed both, so it's a moot point

Ares shouts up to his fellow rope danglers, "Be careful not to swallow large amounts of this bloody water if we do swim, its poisonous in large consumption. We better move soon, before our arms won't let us swim or go back up." The aasimar then tries to recall any bits of knowledge he can think of about the worshipers of these 3 lesser devils that might help.

Knowledge(religion):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"thanks for the tip, but i think someone is gonna try to make a boat, or raft, or thingy"

"I certainly don't plan on swallowing any of that disgusting water, but thanks for the heads up anyway! How's it coming up top, boys? We could use that raft lickety split, you know," Lilia yells up to the construction crew.

oops missed that I was in water slready sry editing post

"A boat? Tell them to include buckets and oars! The water below is not a still pool." His attention now completely focused on keeping his head above the poisonous waters he finds himself in. Pushing against the swirling waters he makes for the inlet and the salvation it represents.
Swim: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

"Fine. Let's head back to the surface for now."

"A moment warrior of Freya, the tainted waters have not claimed me yet."

As if blessed by Muir herself you watch as Ronen wills his way to the inlet. The waters push back at Ronen but he keeps his course.

"As long as it is watertight. Let's just see."

Are the boards obviously separated and not water tight? If they look like they may be, Lueck will pull out his waterskin, pour some water in the back and see if it leaks out the bottom.

[dice=Kn Engineering, maybe, to see what he might need to do to the SS Minnow?]d20+2

Not sure if the kn geo/dung check above is only for people like Ronen who are down at the choppy water, or if Cairenn could have made that check before he went raft-fishing, but if the latter, here's a roll for it:

[dice=Kn Geo]d20+2
[dice=Kn Dung]d20+6 Failed both, so it's a moot point

It seems that by just bashing off the wheels and two sides of the cart it will make a serviceable raft that can fit down the ten foot shaft.

The geo/dungeoneering was for whoever gets up close to the "blood", Ronen at the time, or Ares because he has a scan on it's aura from his detect poison.

"As long as it is watertight. Let's just see."

Are the boards obviously separated and not water tight? If they look like they may be, Lueck will pull out his waterskin, pour some water in the back and see if it leaks out the bottom.

SO OLD SCHOOL!!!

Cairenn looks skeptically at Lueck's waterskin trick-- mostly because he seriously doubts the wagon will be at all watertight. He wants buoyant wood to cling to in order to not drown, not necessarily a real raft... still, the more boat-like it can be made, the better!

He busies himself with prying out the crude nails that hold the axle shaft housing to the cart's underbelly, using the edge of his dagger for leverage.

I suggest people stronger than Cairenn be the ones to actually lower our 'beautiful watercaft' by rope.

As Ronen swims for the islet, he sees a wave of the choppy blood red water seem to take on a life of it's own, veering towards him in an unnatural way that defies the currents. This aqueous entity then plunges beneath the surface, but he can just make out it's course... directly towards him! Before it can reach him, Ronen reaches the rocky inlet, with the length of rope to form the zip-line in tow.

Holy cow Ronen, that was bold, I didn't know you had only +2 swim when you volunteered to dive in 0_0 Barely made it!

The inlet is dimly illuminated by the edge of the magical light emanating from Ares Valorn, where he hangs above at the opening of the shaft from the barrow. Ronen clambers up onto the islet, and finds himself faced with three massive levers carved from the thigh bones of a dragon.

There isn't much on the islet to secure the zip tie to other than the levers themselves.

His voice barely more than a whisper, "Lady you have seen me safely here and now I ask you to aid me in helping the others find safe passage as well."

He looks back at Brother Valorn and the warrior of Freya and points at water."Something with ill intent lurks in the waters. Tell the other's above. Brother Valorn if the boat is set in that water I do not know if that will draw the attention of whatever calls these waters it's home. These things appear to be levers. If one were to operate the bridge we might find a way to get everyone down here without needing to worry about the water."

Grabbing hold of his symbol of Muir he begins to chant a prayer.

cast light on my holy symbol and inspect the levers and area around them. Looking for any sign of wear and tear or recent use

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"Give it a try, Ronen! I'm sure nothing bad could happen! But, seriously, be careful...if you think one of those levers might get us down there, go for it.". Lilia couldn't see very well what was happening, but if the group was going to get down there, she'd rather not have something in the water trying to eat her as she did so!

"How's that raft coming along? You ready to give it a test run?"

"I believe so!" Cairenn answers. "....good as it's going to get, anyway..."

He starts preparing to help lower the wagon/raft down the hole, not by himself of course, but with other hands, to help manage the ropes.

OOCly, I'm happy to wait for the result of Ronen to try and fiddle with the levers before we lower the boat. Either way, we may need people to come up the rope first, because that rope may be our only way of lowering it-- Cairenn himself doesn't carry any rope, and I don't know how much else is left among the party.

Cairenn 'summons Abraxes' again, since apparently the cursed spirit won't spend more than a single minute on this plane of existence, and has him down at the water's level when they are ready to proceed.

I believe after Ronen got to the inlet safe we were going to come back up to help the lowering of the boat.

Ares gives out a sigh of relief as he sees his new friend make it to the inlet safe, and wondering if he could manage such a difficult swim. "Glad your safe, must be a servant of felclugh roaming those waters then." The aasimar shouts back to the master swimmer.

He peers down at the water trying to see any unnatural currents, and thinks back in his memory to find the creatures name.

Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Knowledge(Religion):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Ares can't seem to make out any water creatures. He sees what could be one, but it could just be a natural wave, he isn't sure.

On the islet, Ronen determines that the levers haven't been operated in recent times, possibly not for hundreds of years.

The levers are carved with the face of one of the same demons depicted in the shaft from the barrow... the one Ares had identified as "Felclugh".

In the light from his holy symbol, Ronen sees a small bank abutting the face of the cavern wall to the northeast. Here, an archway topped by a snarling demonic face at its apex pierces the natural cavern wall. On either side of the face, small but intricately detailed figures carved in the act of fleeing decorate the stone.

There is 30' of open water between the rocky islet where Ronen stands and the cavern wall with the archway. From where Ronen stands, it looks as if the archway has a portcullis inside, constructed of fused bone.

Ronen can attach the zip-line to one of the levers, but he isn't sure which way they pull and what effects are produced. Knowledge Engineering or Disable Device checks are required to fasten the zip line in a secure way that won't trip a lever when someone slides down.

Ok guys does anyone stay down with Ronen, or do you all go up to lower the raft? I figure you all have to get off the rope in order to use it to lower the raft, one way or another, either climbing up or swimming to Ronen.

I'm climbing back up

Lilia let them pull her back up. "There's no way I'm jumping into the murk and trying to swim over to that little island. Especially with something hidden down in that water."

Know Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

He ponders at the three levers and decides to wait for the group to come down. Muir had seen him this far safely. The only thing was the demon in the water. He draws his blade and prepares for any unexpected surprises.

As Ronen waits he sees the menacing wave occasionally crest the surface as it circles him. Soon he hears wood creaking in the shaft and observes the raft being lowered by his companions, overseen by the shade Abraxes.

Turning his head he does best to project ithis voice to the opening above. "Careful there is some demon spawn within the water! Do not fully lower it in the water until the majority of you are down here! I will see if I can get it's attention from you! But be prepared!"

"Go for it, Ronen! If you can distract it, do it. The less demons wanting to eat me, the better," Lilia calls down the hole. "We are just about ready, right, everyone?". She waits for the go ahead before climbing back down and trying to get to the raft.