City of Ashes (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

"T'Salix I would assume you have no idea what this structure is?"

Moving closer to the monolith you watch as Ronen stops about thirty feet and then touching his symbol of Muir begins to chant softly.

cast detect magic and concentrate for the full 3 rds

Cairenn looks back down when they reach the top, noting the sunlit path they took to get here and trying to judge which parts will become shadowed most quickly. He keeps a wary eye on the remaining two hours of daylight...

The sight of the monolith and door with all their strange symbols makes him gasp in interest and excitement. Hurriedly, Cairenn starts looking things over, and thinking of every legend and poem he has heard-- trying to ascertain the nature or purpose of this site. And if there are any clues as to the blond woman's presence...

Lilia pulls out the evil pendant she took from the gravekeeper and compared the imagery on it to the images on the strange door. "I wonder if any of these match? IF so, that might be a clue that there is pure evil behind those doors."

Just below the top of the bluff, Lueck thunks his spear into the ground and strings his bow. He keeps a watch while the others examine the monolith. As time ticks by, he'll call out rough half hour increments before dark, starting with "Looks like two hours to dark."

As he keeps watch, he keeps himself focused with reminders of his elven blood. An elf wouldn't loose focus while keeping watch. and An elf wouldn't miss any movement while keeping watch.

Ronen detects strong necromantic magic.

Lilia can quickly see that even to a layperson the resemblance between the amulet and the door and also the monolith are very strong.

Cairenn is reminded of much bardic lore. The type of evil door before him has been depicted in many frescoes. It has an unmistakable stylistic resemblance to the gates of Kirash Dergault, the Tower of Weeping Sores, gateway to the slumbering city of Tsar. The legend goes that Tsar was a stronghold of orcus worship in the last age. An army of light was raised and a massive war was fought. The followers of orcus were driven out and fled to a forest on the coast, where they disappeared. Unfortunately, the pursuing army of light never returned either. The cult was rumored to have drawn them into a trap in the depths of their new stronghold, Rappan Athuk, the dungeon of graves. For decades it was feared that the cult was regrouping there to bolster it's strength and continue it's nefarious campaign, but over time the memory of them and their evil deeds faded.

If told about the history of Orcus, the Tsar, etc., Lilia whistles. "We might be getting in over our heads here. Look how similar this amulet is to the carvings on the door and the monolith! We need to be very cautious here.maybe we should take a quick look around this room, and make for home after that. We can return in the daylight tomorrow and explore the entirety of this place..."

" Quick look, pffft, You have to be cautious never know what surprises are in store if you do not proceed with caution." Priscilla says looking about for any signs of traps.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

Cairenn glances briefly around, trying to find the best spot from which to make his pronouncements. One must have the best light, and stand so that the wind doesn't blow one's hair in one's face...

"This door is like the gates to the dread Tower of Weeping Sores," he says in an ominous whisper. "Which led in turn to the city Tsar, a bastion of Orcus's foul worship. A great army of heroes drove out the cult, but the cult gathered in Rappan Athuk... the dungeon of graves."

Cairenn's eyes sweep the cemetery below them with a frown.

"Aye. I think we should not tarry long here: perhaps with tomorrow's dawn to guide us, but for now.... the risk is great. We should come back with a good deal of holy water."

"What of the caravan that comes tomorrow? Surely they will need to be dealt with"

"There are still a couple hours before night falls. Let us return to the barrow where the excavation is to occur. The warrior of Freya is right if the digging team arrives at dawn we must be in there tonight.

We will need to report our discovery of this place to Lord Seneschal Barahil once the first task is complete. To go any further without proper supplies would be suicidal and would stop us from completing that task. Still this discovery is truly a blessing by The Lady. If it had went undiscovered who knows what it could mean for the people of Bard's Gate."

"So A sleepover than, I love it we can cook under the stars, braid each others hair, it will be fun."Priscilla says as she smiles and looks about ready to strike if need be.

"Indeed Ronen, let us not get careless. Let us hurry back and warn the local militia of what is around, as well as to offer them what protection we can." The cleric grips his holy symbol and murmurs, "May my eyes be as sharp as yours brother." He then returns his focus back on the group, "Remember I can buy us an additional half hour of day light incase we need it." The Aasmiar states with confidence.

Priscilla's examination of the door reveals that it surprisingly does not appear to be equipped with any mechanical traps or magical glyphs. It appears that a simply turning the great iron wheel will cause the doorway to part.

The monolith seems to be a sort of elevator that delivered the gravekeeper up to the ground.

To use an anachronistic comparison, this thing looks kind of like a phone booth that telescoped up out of the ground.

The monolith has a hinged door that is not locked or secured in any way.

If Priscilla opens it...

It swings right open. The interior is big enough to fit two medium sized humanoids or one large sized humanoid. Surprisingly it doesn't have the lingering stench of decay you would expect from a conveyance that had recently transported the undead gravekeeper. Instead it has an overwhelmingly astringent smell. There is absolutely no clue as to how to operate this thing in order to make it ascend or descend. No mechanical apparatus or magical glyphs whatsoever. The interior is just smooth tarnished green copper.

Again to use a modern example for the smell, it is like mothballs and formaldehyde, but very strong.

"This would be a good place to begin our explorations on the morrow. I have to admit I've never seen anything quite like this, however. Do you think we have time to check out the exploration sight tonight," Lilia asks, looking at the lowering sun and hearing the howls of the shadow wolves.

The Caretakers leave at three to avoid even being on the road at dark, but Cairenn has hung around until dusk before and made it home safe to Bard's Gate. It looks like six o'clock would be the hour that there's nothing stopping the shadow wolves from coming down into the cemetery.

That leaves just under two hours to check out the barrow mound if you want to get out of the cemetery before the wolves come down.

"I've stayed in the cemetery until the shadows lengthen... I would say we have about two hours, if we wish to go on to the mound and leave this place for daylight. But we must not dally further," Cairenn says with another sharp glance at the horizon. "The wolves hunger."

"Is everyone okay with making a quick check of the barrow mound? We already have an interesting lead for tomorrow. This might give us another one, especially since if we don't go tonight, then we probably won't get another chance when the crew arrives..."

Seeing a discussion ongoing below, Lueck comes down from his watch on the bluff.

"If we needed to, could we close off the barrow and shelter from the wolves there? As a last resort, I mean."

"Interesting thought Lueck, but if the creatures are made of shadow or mist they could probably just as easily pass through the stone. And if it is only the light that keeps them from tearing into us I agree we must press towards the barrow as quickly as possible and be back on the road to Bard's Gate."

"Well, let's go now then. Standing around here looking at those strange objects isn't doing us any good. We'll have plenty of time to dicker around here tomorrow."

The beying of the wolves reaches a fever pitch as the group passes them by again coming down out of the hand of fate.

Behind the cemetery the barrow mound lies sleepily in a clearing, surrounded by leaning menhir stones, each at least ten feet tall. The mouth of the barrow is barely concealed beneath vines and moss but otherwise gapes open.

If the vines and moss are partially cleared away,

A mud floor and a partially collapsed ceiling frame the entrance to this small, dank barrow. A chill breeze issues from a 10 ft. wide, roughly circular hole in the barrow’s floor.

Lilia detects magic, looking for any auras coming from the strange area. "Anyone feel like hopping down there and checking it out? That collapsed roof is a bit scary."

"We'll need rope right away. T'Salix do you have rope nearby?" he rummages through his backpack and you see him produce a small rod. In one motion he takes it out and strikes the tip against a rock near to him. As you hear metal ringing through the small cave you watch as the tip of the rod begins to radiate a bright light. He drops the rod through the hole and watches it fall counting until he hears - or sees it - hit the ground below.

"There's no need T'salix, I have some right here" says Urrnir. She rummages through her pack for a moment before producing a 50ft length of rope. "I can enter first if need be." she adds without a hint of hesitation.

"Alright but I shall be right behind you. Let's secure the rope and see what we find down there." Ronen peers down the hole looking to see what his sunrod has revealed.

Sorry I should have noted in my last post that I activated a sunrod and threw it down the hole. Do I know how long it took to reach bottom? I'm averaging one sec to equal roughly ten feet. Also when it hits bottom do I see or hear anything?

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Ares shield gives a faint warming glow of silver light, "You know Ronen, for future reference you don't have to waste your glow stick. A minor blessing of muir and we have light." He gives his new friend a warm smile. "As we get deeper let me know who needs light, I tend to forget others can't peer into darkness like myself."

Ceiling: The sagging ceiling is 6 ft. high at its apex. Where it
slopes down to meet the floor, it is 2 ft. high.

Floor: The barrow’s floor is a muddy mess. This mud is not deep enough, however, to hinder movement.

Walls: The walls are of roughly carved stone blocks. Water and mud oozes from gaps between the stones.

Sinkhole: This 10 ft. wide natural shaft plummets downwards into darkness.

The sun rod plummets for roughly 10 seconds, and then a splash is heard. The sun rod sinks until it's glow has disappeared, but Ronen thinks, but is not sure, that he can just make it out as a speck of light underwater below.

So probably 100' down to the surface of the water, and fairly shallow water, maybe 15' deep.

Lilia doesn't detect any magic aura in the barrow mound.

"Let's secure another rope and climb down. If a draft can be felt there may be another exit down below. It may better if Brother Valorn goes first since he is able to see through the darkness."

Cairenn side-eyes the wolves unhappily as they pass, a shiver racing down his spine despite himself. Blasted shades...

At the barrow, he looks down ruefully into the depths of the hole, elbowing Lueck in the ribs. "Haven't we done this before? Climbed down into a pit of certain death? I think it's time for our old friend Abraxes to be called back to the land of the living...."

Raising his hands, Cairenn gestures dramatically and shouts in a tongue likely unspoken by any else in the group (Necril).

"Abraxes! Siadh gahn kath var! Malgh! Arise and walk!"

The glowing silhouette of a man's form appears suddenly before him, outlined with a pale green foxfire.

"Abraxes can precede us, and shed light," Cairenn says, gesturing; the dim outline of a man rises into the air, floating gently down inside the mouth. "I can send him down a hundred and thirty feet below us, but he is bound to me, and should he go further, he will disappear into the ether once more."

Abraxes floats idly down the shaft, the eerie green glow illumining the walls of the shaft.

Cairenn takes a moment to appreciate his own showmanship, then tries to recall any rumors he has heard about the barrow. He's shocked that there's a hole of such depth beneath it... or is he?

As a general rule of thumb, Cairenn will share things with the party as a default. Obviously, it's more fun if I RP out his stating something he knows, but I'm not the fastest poster these days, and I don't want to deprive someone else of the chance to react to info Cairenn would share. So, I'll try and be quick about expressing things IC-ly, but ultimately it is safe to assume Cairenn will share any data he gets as the result of an KN check, so people can proceed accordingly.

"Indeed it is. Very familiar." At first he is in awe of Abraxes's return, then smiles at the familiar sight.

He looks for a way to get the awkward longspear down before him, since he can't really just strap it to himself. He unties the leather cord from his wrist and bow, then slings his bow back over his shoulder. He ties the leather strap from his belt to the spearhead. He tests it carefully to make sure it will not pull free or cut free. Only then will he let himself get into line to climb down with the others.

"Who in the world, or what in the world is that Abraxis thing? That's a pretty decent Magic trick right there, Cairenn. Might have to get you to teach me that someday!"

Seeing the style of the barrow, Cairenn recalls a bit about the culture who buried their dead this way in ancient times in this region. They were in fact said to be a race of half-giants, who abhorred undeath and had no wish even to see an afterlife in any outer plane. Rather than gods, they trafficked with lesser demons, totem spirits.. but their shamans prepared a private afterlife for them to enjoy with their loved ones, after their bodies perished. When they were interred to a barrow such as this one, their spirits were committed to an amber crystal, to be reunited with everyone buried with them, in a private demi-plane. This practice made them ineligible for entry into the celestial planes that some other cultures strived for, but also protected them from the curse of undeath, a fate they reviled more than any other.

"He is the shade of a powerful wizard, whose ghost is trapped near to the living so that he may atone for his crimes in life. As his penance, he is bound to serve me as I call," Cairenn intones solemnly. "I could not teach another to bid him rise."

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 lol

Spellcraft 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"Ah, I see Cairenn! Powerful magic indeed," Lilia nods with a wink.

"Does anyone see a statue's head down there?"

Cairenn looks slightly peeved at Lilia's wink, shooting her a sidelong glance, but... he decides to keep his mouth shut. Since she is hers.

Instead, he peers down the hole, with Abraxes's light illuminating the depths.

Perception?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Ares straps his shield to his back as he prepares for the climb down with the others. He looks Cairenn as he tells Lilia about his shade friend he then turns to the half-elf with a noble look in his eye, "That is a noble deed you carry, helping a lost in redemption for his crimes during his life is truly a grand thing." The Aasimar peers down the hole as well, then asks [b]"Does he see anything?"

Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Brother Valorn attach your rope to the end I had estimated about a hundred foot drop here. Once that is done let us see what is at the bottom of this barrow. I will climb down after the warrior of Freya."

Ares nods to the other cleric, and pulls out his rope then secures it per Ronen's instructions. "So I will go down first and assist the others who come next then. You all be careful, but don't worry I will we down there to catch you if you fall." He says with a warm smile to the group. The aasimar then takes out a few items from his backpack, then wraps them up in a heavy cloak and places the bundle along the wall.

Ares moves to the rope and before he descends he gives the others a quick salute and then begins his decent into the sinkhole.

"Be careful, boys. I doubt I'll be able to carry any of you out, with a pack of wolves nipping at my heels."

Urrnir heads to the rope immediately and follows close behind Ares. There is a hint of displeasure on her face as her charge escapes her view momentarily, though it really only makes her more eager to climb down after him.

As Urrnir disappears down the shaft Ronen takes a tight grip of the rope and looks over at Lilia, "You should go next. It's a hundred foot drop. Use your legs and arms to climb down. If you need to catch your breath do so I will be below." Then turning to the Caretaker, "T'Salix after Lilia goes you go next. I do not think you would want to be in this barrow by yourself especially if we do not make it back by night fall." With that he disappears down the shaft after the others.

will post tonight been hectic

"Is there anyway I acn tie off that rope around me, to give me a bit of support? The chances on me making it all the way down without falling are pretty slim."

Only 9 Str here!

Ok so we have Ares, Urrnir and Ronen down in the shaft. T'Salix is trying to look tough and getting ready to go next. Priscilla & Lueck and Cairenn are still up top to help Lilia figure out what she wants to do.

Since the shaft is relatively narrow, the climb check is very easy... DC 7. You can reach out and put your feet against the edge of the shaft if you need to, but that surface is a bit damp and slick.

So for most characters, they can make this decent taking 10 on the climb check with no trouble.

If something distracting happens while defending, and you have to roll, that's another story, you could botch that and fall with a low roll.

" A big hole, and so we are gonna go down it, so...yeah okay sure" Priscilla says as she looks at the others and shakes her head. Granted Ares could see in the dark but he wasn't the best at traps or defending himself.

Worries aside She would follow in the end and hope she could get down there, where she can search for traps. Once secure she would try to keep hidden so she wouldn't die.

Sinkhole:

Soon after entering the shaft, Ares and Urrnir and Ronen hear a sound of churning water below. After descending 30' down the shaft, Ares comes to a slight overhang in the shaft where three large carvings of demon heads decorate the rock. Fungus and small mushrooms cover the faces.

After descending 70' the shaft opens up into a cavern and it becomes clear that the surface of an underwater lake is another 20' below.

Demon Faces

Each demon has its tooth‐filled mouth open in a hideous snarl, but you cannot see all the way down its throat. Each mouth is big enough for a Medium or smaller character to put a hand inside.

When you descend down the rope past the sinkhole to the cavern below...

The thunderous sound of falling water fills the cavern as a crimson stream tumbles from a wall into the choppy waters of a Blood Lake.

Slightly off to one side, a small rocky island juts above the lake’s turbulent surface while below you the rotting remains of several wooden posts yet thrust drunkenly upwards. On the island, three long bones set into its surface stand erect.

It sounds like this cavern containing the lake is over 100' in diameter, roughly circular.

The rotting posts look like they were once part of a bridge that connect to the island from a landing beneath the sinkhole, but it is all submerged now.

It is 20' down from the cavern ceiling and the sinkhole entrance to the surface of the blood lake.

Lueck bites his lip at Lilia's question, then says "I suppose if Cairenn goes next and let's them know I'm going to pull the rope up, I can bring it up and knot it every yard or so. That should make it easier for you."