DM Papa.DRB - Moru Country (Inactive)

Game Master Papa-DRB

At the moment we are pulling the aboleth out of the water and making sure he's dead; could please we get a confirm on that?

Then I think it would be search the area followed by checking in with Ground.

Misha replies to Bromen, "If you've got the tools to try to harvest it, you could try I guess, but as far as my curiosity takes me, it doesn't take me as far as keeping around flesh warping slime to see what it does. It's possible it also only remains potent when the creature itself is alive, given its aberrant supernatural nature, but that's just a guess."

And we can't skip my favorite step, Looting the Dead Monster's Treasure Hoard!

"If it's a nasty as it looked, Bromen," Rikar concurs, "I'd rather leave it where it is, rather than carry it around and inflict it on someone."

"I'd much prefer to simply ensure it is dead-dead, and not going to hatch a million little fish monsters or revive box we turn our backs. After that, why dont we speak to Mr. Ground, perhaps he'd like to share more information now that the aboleth and Gorge are both eliminated. Plus, there's those mephit creatures to deal with."

"I'm with Josef. Make sure it's truly dead, then perhaps looks around to see if it had amassed anything of value, or clues as to why such a creature would want to possess these rather gloomy caves."

And we can't skip my favorite step, Looting the Dead Monster's Treasure Hoard!

That's what I meant by "search the area." :) Also, making an executive declaration here since this is taking so long.

Misha and the others finish pulling the aboleth to where they can reach it and poke it with sticks. Or spears, rather.

Knowing that his stature makes it harder for him to assist with dredging the creature's lair for potential spoils, Bromen moves back toward the passageway to make sure the sounds of battle have not attracted any unwanted visitors.

Move back to U40 or so and guard the perimeter
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 to keep watch

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Once they finish poking the aboleth, Therena starts poking around its lair.

Josef casts detect magic and scans the area, lighting it up with dancing lights if necessary.

1d20 ⇒ 17 perception

"Ugh, this thing smells like it made nice with a midden heap..." Kreig spits off to the side and continues pulling on the rope with the others until the dead beast is brought ashore. He reaches into a hip pouch and pulls a handkerchief and ties it around his mouth and nose. "...Abby better have somethin' useful if we gotta go pokin' 'round it's ancient nethers..."

He gives the harpoon nearest to hand a few twists and yanks it clean of the body. Then he gives the carcass some more stabs to make sure it's dead, being cautious of the nasty mucus covering it's skin. Once done, he begins lining up the spears in a row of parallel lines. That done, he uses the ropes to fashion a dredge so they don't have to go to far into the water.

"C'mon, Longshanks, grab tha other end here..." He motions towards the edge of the water. "Once had ta do this in an old cistern in Kaer Maga...lookin' fer some old jars. Seemed ta work nice then."

Craft (traps): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 ...fashion the dredge
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 ...Searching about
Appraise: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 ...appraise items found

Rikar watches curiously as Kreig puts together his makeshift dredge, saying, "Kreig, I never know what you're going to come up with, but this has a couple of things to recommend it. First, it means we don't have to go into the aboleth's pool, which is okay with me. And, it doesn't look like it'll explode, which I always appreciate."

He picks up the end of the contraption and helps lower it into the water, keeping a hold on the tow-rope as it sinks into the pool.

Using the ropes attached to the spears, you pull the creature ashore. Several take out the spears and poke at it, just to make sure that it is really dead, and with no reaction to the spears being pulled out or being poked back in, you can safely assume that this aboleth has seen its last.

Bromen goes back to the entrance to this cave, and keeps on guard in case something else decides to investigate all the noise, and in a few minutes, Ground comes rumbling up with two dead skum under his arms, and seeing Bromen tells him "Hauek ere ergelak ihes."

Meanwhile, Kreig creates a dredge out of the spears and rope to see what is in the aboleth's lair. Josef casts detect magic and tells them to be careful as there is a magical aura about fifteen feet from the shore, at the bottom. Meanwhile, Misha and Therena, are looking around and see coins and gems under the surface also.

Using the dredge, you pull ashore a scroll tube with an arcane scroll of spider climb (CL 3) and a divine scroll of divine favor (CL 1) inside. Also, two wands, a magical buckler, a suit of masterwork chainmail, and two pouches with gems in them. The dredge also pulls in 500 gp worth of various coins.

Looking down, Josef does not see any additional magic auras and there does not appear to be any other mundane treasure.

Therena casts detect magic and sets to identify things as they are brought up.

Wand 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Wand 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Buckler: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

That's weird. I swear I posted to this yesterday--in fact made a couple attempts. The site's been wonky lately (whatever huge upgrade they did awhile back seems to have had no effect, IMO).

Aid Another Therena with her spellcraft -- she got awesome results, but in case something is especially potent...

Wand 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Wand 2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Buckler: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"Josef if you don't mind putting the coin and gems in your bag, we can divvy it all out when we get back to civilization. The mail suit as well... I think all of us have magical armor at this point, but it would probably be valuable to sell. Unless someone wants to claim it. It's a bit too heavy for my liking."

"I wonder where Abby, as Kreig called him, got these wands and scrolls. It would suggest some spellcasters tried to take him on at some point."

When Ground delivers the fallen skum, Misha says to the Elemental, "Thank you for your help. Is there anything else we can do to help with the mine? I expect the dwarves will want to come in and resume operations at some point--is that alright? Would you like to meet them?"

Bromen goes back to the entrance to this cave, and keeps on guard in case something else decides to investigate all the noise, and in a few minutes, Ground comes rumbling up with two dead skum under his arms, and seeing Bromen tells him "Hauek ere ergelak ihes."

"Haitzartea garaitu da, eta aboleth baita. Dira arrain-gizonak, azken horiek edo gehiago daude?"

When Misha asks her questions Bromen watches Ground for a reaction, knowing that the elemental can understand Common well enough but ready to translate if needed.

Ground looks at Misha, and replies in his bad common. "Yes. Meet Dwarves" then he turns towards Bromen and says "Bai. Arrain gizonen azken. Zure lagunak beste guztiak hilda edo desagertu."

"It would seem we're in agreement. Back to the dwarves?"

Rikar is pleasantly surprised by how well Kreig's dredge has performed and tells the dwarf so, "Well, as I said, you never fail to surprise me - and this time it's quite a nice surprise. Nice work."

Turning to Misha, he adds, "That's an interesting question, where this stuff came from. I'd guess there's been all kinds of things that have happened in the tunnels over the years - or centuries - they've been used. Maybe that stuff Kreig fished out was here long before the aboleth, and the thing just didn't care about it. Knowing you, Mishinika, it probably drives you a bit crazy that we'll never know those histories, eh?" He says this last with a sympathetic grin and a little shrug, then adds, "But at least you're getting a taste of their stories, right?"

As Bromen and Ground begin speaking in the strange, rumbling tongue of the Plane of Earth, Rikar asks, "What's he got to say? Now that we've taken care of Gorge and Abby, is he going to make this place a bit more welcoming?"

Bromen bows to the elemental. "Eskerrik asko zure laguntzagatik. Nanoen oso pozik hemen itzultzeko, eta pozik bazkide eta zaindari zu bezalako izatea izango da."

He turns his attention back to Rikar. "He says those are the last o' the skum, so that's done then. And yer right, he's willin' t'meet the dwarves and start getting things back to normal around here."

Bromen gives a look of disdain at the two wands being examined, thinking back to Misha's theory about spellcasters and the aboleth. "Or the finger-wagglers brought the creature here and caused all this trouble themselves. 'N paid the price fer it maybe?"

"It is a possibility, although the how and why of the aboleth's presence is less important than its absence. Thankfully, we have ensured that in a rather, final, manner."

Kreig starts dismantling the dredge and smiles at Rikar's compliment. "Gimme a few minutes n' the right tools n' I'm more dangerous than a gnome in a clockwork shop."

He finishes with the rope and harpoons, gathering them into a manageable bundle before stepping over to stand with the group. "Let's get back to the boys n' give 'me the good news. They'll wanna start gettin' this place ready fer mining, I reckon. "

"Course if we get a chance, we should check the faces o' these coins, eh Legs?" Kreig runs a hand through the assorted pile of money. "I once...uhm...run across a merchant south o' Kaer Maga, he had a right nice collection o' differnt gold n' silvers. Face o' Prince Stavan from Taldor...fish n' scales from Absalom...even some hellspawn stamps outta Cheliax. Told me he wanted ta have a coin fer every occassion." Kreig shrugs out of his quiver so he can count his remaining arrows. Lucky, ol' son...only 6 left... The rogue dismisses the observation and continues. "Guess I'm sayin' ifn we identify these here coins by their stamp, might have an idea o' who's been down here."

Therena relates what she and Misha discover about the magic items. "One of the wands is typically a divine or bardic wand, while the other is definitely a wizard spell. Many arcane casters or archers like magical bucklers, since they provide a bit of protection without getting in the way much."

Ground looks around at the group, especially the two dwarves, and says in common "Send dwarves. Me help. Take time water go away, but me help." He then sinks into the bedrock and is gone.

Next?
On the way to Tanglewood in 40 minutes or so. Not getting home till after midnight, so next post tomorrow morning at the earliest.

Back to the dwarves?
Down to next level?
Other?

To the dwarves. Then maybe kill some mephits.

Kreig stretches his back and nods back the way they arrived. "Let's spread the good news, eh? Bet Jasper n' the boys will like hearin' Abby's dead."

Therena, still having lots of daily resources left, wouldn't object to more exploring, but also won't complain about heading back up.

"Sounds good to me, Kreig," Rikar says, nodding. "Rare enough I get to deliver good news. It'll be a fine thing to tell 'em we killed their monster and the mine'll be theirs again, so they can do what they're made to do."

After identifying everything, and distributing the goods, you head back to the entrance to mine entrance, where you left Kreig's Uncle Jasper. As you arrive, Jasper looks around, counting noses, "well ye are all back. How did it go?"

As the group of adventurers makes their way back out of the mine, Bromen stands toward the back and lets the others report their success to the dwarves. He manages to keep silent but cannot contain his grin nor his satisfaction of a job well done....a job not overly complicated by the prophesy or his supposed destiny, just clean honest work that needed to be done and almost instantly benefited a clan.

It was a good feeling. Bromen looks back and forth to take in each member of the company he know finds himself a part of. And a good omen.....

"Better than expected, actually. We managed to slay the water creatures, and made an ally of an earth creature, called Ground. He said the water level in the mine should begin to subside now that the aquatic monsters have been eliminated."

"Gave ol' Abby the dirt nap." Kreig plops himself down on a nearby boulder and withdraws his pipe and pinches a clump of tobacco. "Nothin' to it, the fishy beastie got all tha years under its skin, but it just took the right bunch o' tail-kickers to put her down." Kreig uses a flint and steel to spark his pipe to life. The light glints off his eyes adding to the growing mischief behind them.

"What's on yer mind, boyo?" Jasper grins, knowing the look in his nephew's eyes.

"Wonderin' what sorta gear ya got with ya. I've gotta hankerin' fer some tinkerin'..." He puffs at the pipe, wisps of cherry aroma wafting through the group. "Ya got any to get interestin' to work with? Maybe some flasks of fire?"

"Don't I always have fire flasks, and the occasional acid flask on me" chuckles Jasper.

Jasper, roots around in his pack, and pulls out two flasks of alchemist fire and hands them to Kreig. "Told ye that I always carry a few. Me and the rest of the folks will head down into the mines now and take a look around. Is there anything left down their for us to beware of, or did ye clear the whole place out?" he chuckles.

"And what are ye doing next?" he finishes.

Responses?

Kreig's grin would look maniacal on any other, as he handles the jars of fire and carefully stows them in his back. "Much obliged, Uncle..." Thoughts of a smaller spring device comes to mind... I could cannibalize a couple o' harpoon tips...mebbe use the springs from my other wolf trap...the hinges...but how ta fix it to the jar without settin' it off...?

Jasper has to reiterate the question to bring his nephew out of his cogitations. Kreig chuckles and scratches at his fire-red beard. "Reckon ya got the earth elemental, goes by Ground. He's particularly fond o' dwarves, but I'd go outta my way to be neighborly if ya know what I mean." He thinks on it some more and holds up two fingers. "He's got two rascally mephits workin' for him too. Theyre administrative types...like the clerks that worked fer Rasmussen back in Maga. They're may be a dog-humpin' gobbers or orcs roaming the tunnels cryin' fer momma...then there's whatevers deep down where we ain't gone yet."

He glances to the others to see if he's issued anything. "Whadya think? We headin' back in now?"

"Reckon ya got the earth elemental, goes by Ground. He's particularly fond o' dwarves, but I'd go outta my way to be neighborly if ya know what I mean."

"He's expecting ye, sounds like he wants t'return the place back to a mine again. He speaks Common but if ye have someone that speaks Terran ye'll find it a bit easier."

Bromen nods back at Kreig. "Seems like ye've only scratched the surface, so t'speak, and I'm game to start delving deeper if ye are."

"I am apt to agree, but would certainly like to take delivery of my composite longbow, and acquire some new scrolls and scribing materials. I suppose they are not truly necessary, but greater offense capabilities and more magic would make me feel much better."

"Is there any huge rush? I'm pretty new to this company myself, but do we have a pressing timeline for exploring this mountain? Princess to rescue? Evil overlord to thwart?"

"Only that it seems like the mountain is drawing hostile forces to it. The storm company, the elementals, the aboleth... all I would reckon have come here relatively recently--relatively being a relative term, mind. We have no specific deadline, but it would be better to complete the mission sooner rather than later. And Fiall's notes if I recall correctly show he was generally concerned about something developing here.

[b]"Personally, I would like to be doubly sure we've cleared the mines area out, and that the dwarves and Ground are mutually settled--and don't forget those mephits who are probably up to something--and THEN head back to civilization to check in, get what we need to get, like Josef's gear, before returning to delve deeper."

Bromen again stays silent, remembering his place in this group is barely a day old. It is that deeper delve he is most interested in, and the idea of slogging through already covered territory seems unnecessary based on the obvious prowess of this group.

But his path has led him here, to this place with this group, and he has never been one to believe in coincidence. If this is where he is supposed to be, a slight delay to do the job right is a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

Ease down, ye fool, runnin' off without lookin' first is no way to get the job done.

"Well, as you can see, Jasper, we haven't really decided what we're doing next," Rikar replies, gesturing at his companions as they discuss options. "But I'm in favor of heading back in, making certain there aren't any other surprises waiting for your folk as they return the mine to operation. And, to tell you the truth, I just want to see what's next, what else is in there. It's kind of caught me that way."

Looking to his companions, he asks, "What do you all say? Dig a little deeper, explore a bit more? Seems like there's some interest in it, as Kreig and Bromen see it, and reason for it, as Misha says. I'm for heading back in, maybe after a meal and a night's rest under the stars."

Kreig nods agreement. "Little camp out might be good instead of hoofin' it back down the mountain. Then we can get back ta breakin' up this little tea party they goin' on down there."

If we're stayin' the night, Kreig will look for a good place to set up his gear and set to work on some traps.

Josef is perfectly capable of further adventuring. He would like to get his bow (mostly because he already paid for it) and get some new magic, but is totally able to provide arcane support even still today.

Back in, or camp, or ?

If back in, down to next level, or mephits, or ?

Camp near the cave entrance? That's a secure location that's close by, right? Although Kreig - and I'm sure Bromen - won't mind of we camp out in a secure zone in the caverns.

I'm working on some trap concepts that I'll have posted this weekend. I've just got to go through what materials we have on hand.

agree, camping with solid stone above our heads appeals to Bromen. The aboleth was obviously a major victory, but what time of day is it and how are we on resources? If the idea is to move room by room through areas we think are already clear just to make absolutely sure, is there enough time today to get that started before we need to rest?

Cave or just outside, either is fine. Then how about we pay the mephits a quick vist, then head down to the next level? I don't recall where the way down is - anyone?

To F19 (middle right side) is the way down.

I keep all the level maps + other information on the "Campaign Info" tab

Edit: Ah, forgot folks posting from phones. The way down is essentially due east from where your are now when you enter the mines, and a very short distance.

Thx, DRB - I'm still posting on my phone, so can't see the maps. Hope to return to civilization this weekend.

"Camping out there sounds good to me. Don't forget we've left those mephits in there."

"I am still able to continue, if we like."

GM, here's where I mentioned buying the bow. Not too concerned about it if we're unable to take delivery.