Drow War Team 2

Game Master Tarlane

fred having scent will search around to see if he can find any leads

Fred is able to search around, but with all the water it proves rather hard to find any sort of identifiable scent.

Right now the consensus looks to be to get Morton and have him call around for the boy, with the backup plan being to swim through the tunnel. Is that a go at this point? And what is your plan for the first boy? Just have him held on Morton's shoulders or something? The water you are wading in is deep enough he would need be swimming otherwise.

my plan is the following: with scent fred can search around the current caves and path. If he doesn't find anything then that means that the boy isn't hiding around here nor did he slip trough one of the small crack that sumak being small himself could follow. It leave the only obvious place since fred can't smell him => The water. If that is the case then both of them will go for a swim

Ahh, I thought you were trying to track him(which starts easier by scent but quickly gets harder over time, especially with water). If you are going to let Fred take some time to explore the tunnel since he would notice when he came within a short distance of the boy, he won't pick up anything. However, he will hurry over to where the mine shaft ended mid dig and get on his guard. I don't think he has a way to actually share with you what he is thinking, but he's certainly intelligent enough to be indicating that there is something wrong at that wall. His body language would indicate something frightening rather than the child.

He doesn't talk indeed but he is as intelligent as you average optimized STR Barbarian :) So he can bark, point his paw, use his tail and take a posture of direction like in cartoon etc....

lowering his gaze to the point signaled by fred (he is still mounted) Ok so my theory was correct. The boy probably went under the water. Bu over there we might have something we need to deal right now before we are caught unprepared. Sumak weapon in hand will get a closer look.

Grrrrr, Wouf! Wouf ! Grrrrr

I am a wolf a natural Predator, Born of the Great Wolf ! Hear me Roar..

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. As soon as the possibility of a rope exists, Tenoch will be going through the tunnel. We were so worried about time and such from before, I don't see why we'd set that worry aside. Didn't Morton head back to town with the other boy and the corpse? I doubt he'd want to hang near the entrance where the hobgoblins would be coming out.

"Give me the rope," Tenoch says. "I'll tie it about my waist and go through the submerged tunnel. Assuming it ends some time after the 20', it will likely be dark, which will offer no hindrance to me. At least one person can remain behind on the other end of the rope, in case I need assistance, while one or more others fetch Morton, although he may already be close to town by now. And it seems like Fred can sniff around for his presence out here."

Well, the thing is, just rushing ahead through the water when there's 100 other places he could be could be a bigger time waster than searching those places first. It's logical to assume that there's more than a single small area through that water.

That may be the wisest course, but Tenoch was only going to the end to see what he could see (and others, like Fred, could do a good search in the main area). If it was a much larger complex, he could return and inform. If it was something small without hostiles, he could take a more thorough look. Also, fetching Morton would take much longer long than anything else. Tenoch is not going to wait for that.

as Sumak pointed out with fred's search turning nothing about the boy if he did go past the Hobgoblin then the only place he could have gone is under the water or Fred would have found him. Also Currently Sumak is trying to get your attention as he might have found something that might hold a potential danger should we leave it behind us (or 50% of the party swimming)

It was mentioned that "If you are going to let Fred take some time to explore the tunnel...", so there would be a certain amount of time that would need to pass before that happens. As I've alluded to in earlier posts, Tenoch wouldn't have waited. He could go through the water to check things out on the other side while Fred does his sniffing around.

works for me Tenoch :)

Going to try and put the timing together so it makes sense if Tenoch had gone in right away.

As Tenoch drops down into the water and starts to swim off attached to the rope, Sumak and Fred make their way around the tunnel, sniffing away for the boy.

Fred takes his defensive posture growling at the end of the side branched tunnel just a few seconds before you feel the rope go taunt, showing Tenoch is at the end of it.

This kid is either the bravest kid ever or he's not the sharpest crayon in the toolbox. Or both.

Probably both. Though the two kids were known for being really reckless and always running off and trying to find adventure, so there is certainly some bravery to it. The whole fact that the village has never had to deal with attacks or monsters does a lot to embolden and not realize real danger. Toss in being the older brother and wanting to find help for the little one still with the hobs, and you get a pretty good mix of foolishness.

Tenoch listens to the voices for a moment before turning and calling out to the boy in the darkness. "Jed? It is safe now. The monsters, hobgoblins, are gone and Callum is safe with Morton, heading back to town. Come to me and we can get you out of this place and get you home to your family."

The boys voice comes out softly, a little weak with exhaustion and tears. "Who... Whose there?" He slowly starts to crawl over towards Tenoch, feeling his way along the floor. When he finally reaches the paladin, he grabs on firmly.

"My name is Tenoch. I'll help you get out of here and back to Callum and family." Tenoch pulls the boy to him, cradling his body. He waits for the boy to settle before continuing. "Now we're going to have to go out the way you came in. So that means you'll have to take a few deep breaths and then hold it. On three... one... two... three!" Tenoch counts down and takes a breath, but waits for the boy to take a full breath and begin to hold it before heading back under the water, tugging the rope twice and dragging the both of them back to the other side.

Rusigari helps pull on the rope slowly but steadily.

When Tenoch reaches the other side he exclaims "Man you're heavy!", before noticing the kid.

"He actually WAS over there?" Rusigari looks at Jeb and smiles "You've got some stones, Jeb, that's for sure."

see fred was right smiled Sumak

Wouf !

I usually am, you know...

"Well now that was easy! Comone lets get outta here.. Place gives me the creeps.."

The boy nods his head a bit at the paladin, not actually able to make out what he is in the dark so probably is not as panicked about accompanying a half-orc out of there as he otherwise would be. He paddles along with him, a surprisingly strong swimmer for his age so able to hold his own.

Rusigari's statement makes the boy turn towards him, eyes widening as he takes in the view of the creature and realizes what is beside him, turning to start to run though that only brings the blue skinned girl and rather large wolf into view. Morton steps out though, lowering to a knee and showing him Callum, hugging the boy and murmuring "Its ok, Jeb. They are friends. We are going to get you out of here."

As Morton tries to calm the boy, Fred gives a little yip of alarm, some sort of warning though he's still just facing the dead end wall.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15 Bingo!

Tenoch turns to look at Fred. What is he barking about? Maybe Sumak will understand... Wait... "What's that?" he asks rhetorically as he sees the wall at the dead end... "It's beginning to crumble..." He steps forwards, protectively putting himself in front of Morton and Jeb, in case the smaller cascade of rocks were to reveal something dangerous.

"Id say thats our que to exit this place.." She moves to leave..

probably Fred and sumak will bolt at full speed toward the exit

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

"Hey, what's going on guys? What's the panic?"

He sees Selene and Sumak tear off as fast as they can go and gulps.

Grabbing Jeb by the hand, he says "Okayyy, looks like it's time to get out of this place IMMEDIATELY. I don't know exactly what's up but I need you to run as fast as you can for me, okay?" and he tears off as fast as the kid can keep up with him.

I keep forgetting my character is a scary looking tiger man for some reason. Thanks for reminding me, seriously. =)

As everyone starts to try and retreat back into the tunnel, you find yourselves struggling against a current that is rapidly growing up, rather than being mostly still water like you approached in, as that wall begins to crack the water is starting to rush into the space beyond it. Suddenly there is a loud crash as the rocks fully give way and the water drags everyone forward in a surge.

Fred manages to lock up his legs and wedge against a rock with sumak clinging tightly to him, while Tenoch and Morton get a grip in one of the cracks of the tunnel wall, though Morton loses his hold on the children.

The water rushes past, dragging everyone else towards the newly open tunnel, sending them toppling back through the break in the wall and head over heels onto a flight of perfectly carved stairs that are clearly unnatural. After the initial surge of water which lowers the depth in the tunnels down to perhaps a foot, there is just a steady trickle flowing down the steps.

The stairs extend downwards into the darkness well beyond that of darkvision in a neat chute.

From an OOC point of view, the wall on that side passage finally gave way. The rush of water was effectively a bull rush effect, no damage just tossed about. The stairs which extend down from behind that broken wall are obviously man made and look to be much more expertly crafted than what you have seen in the mine itself. The stairs continue down further than the 60ft of dark vision.

"Is everyone okay?" Rusigari says, looking around at everyone in the side tunnel with him.

Realizing the children are probably very frightened in the dark, he picks up a couple of chunks of rock and makes them glow, handing each one of them a piece as he checks to see if they're injured.

"Here, hold these, they won't burn. That should last us a while and I can just hit them again when it wears off. Give me one moment while I pop back and check on Sumak, Tenoch, and Morton"

With that, he leaves the kids with Selene while he pokes his head back in the main tunnel to see if they're injured.

Laughing with glee after the rush of adrenaline Before you Would at me , Yes i will let this count as your bath for the month. Now lets see where we are and what we got. he says casting a light spell

fred wigle all around in order to get rid of the water trough his fur, the process take a bit longer than normal as there is an encounbrant halfling sitting accross his back

Yea, you bet it counts. Wolf, Not a sheep.

Standing up soaked Selene is glad she purcahsed that waterproof spellbook/scroll bag.. "Drats! My clothes are soaked now.. Can we still get out the way we came in?"

Tenoch stands and looks back up the stairs to see if the way out still exists and then downwards, looking to find the children to be sure they are safe. "I am unharmed. This place does not look like part of a mine. Now that the way has opened, I wonder what dangers may have been unleashed."

The way back out up through the mine is still clear. If anything it looks like it will be a slightly easier trip since a lot of the water from within the mine is draining down into the stairway, lowering the overall water level. There obviously is a fair bit of room down there to be holding that much water without you seeing it yet.

The two boys are uninjured, though Morton hurries over with Tenoch to make sure that they are safe. At this point he scoops Callum up to hold in one arm, keeping Jeb's hand gripped in the other. "What is the plan? We can try and go back and hope that the hobs have cleared out. I don't so much like not knowing what is at our back, but scouting down there could leave the same trouble I suppose."

"I say we go back the way we came in.. We shouldn't put these boys lives in any more danger scouting unknown places.. WE can come back and look around if yall wish.. The priority should be getting them home safely atm.."

"Yes...let's head back to town for a bit. Then come back here. I'm very curious as to what may be down there."

and if there is something down here that does escape while we are gone? I say Morton can wait here with the boys while we head down and explore. After all the hobgoblin think we are all together and aren't coming this way.

Rusigari looks back and forth between the tunnel and the children, torn between his own burning curiosity and making absolutely certain the kids are safe.

Well...Morton can get them out just fine I think.

"Agreed. Now let's get started then." he says with barely constrained excitement.

Morton looks back and forth between those discussing and the way they came in. "You want me to wait here with the boys? We should probably take refuge in the hobgoblin camp where it is dryer at least... I will get them ready." He frowns a bit, thinking as he speaks "I would need to give the hobs some time before I took the boys back anyway, wouldn't want to walk into them on the way out. How much time should I wait? You want me to come looking once the little ones are safe?"

Not going to advance things until I hear from a few others, but in case that plan gets agreement wanted questions out there.

"As long as the boys are safe"

"Yes, that would probably be the best course of action."

"If by safe, you mean safe back in their home, then by all means, you may do so. Until then, keep hidden in the camp and keep your ears open in case the hobgoblins decide to return. If they do, send the boys through the water again and come and call for us."

Well splendid then, shall we ? says sumak moving forward

Morton nods and moves off, leading the two kids back towards where the goblin's camp was based.

As all of you begin to make your way down the stairs, they run for a long distance, several hundred feet before they open into a massive chamber. Its clearly not natural, the walls smooth well carved stone. The room is big enough that you can't even see the opposite wall.

From where you stand, you can see where the wall you can come out of ends at a wall to the left and right about fifty feet. On one side there is a massive stone door that appears to be covered in some sort of intricate carvings. The other direction raises up several stairs to some sort of dias that holds a lectern. Behind the lectern a large hole opens in the wall, revealing a tunnel that appears to climb upwards.

"Some sorta ceremonial chamber perhaps?"

Any Religious symbols/arcane writings?

Perc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Might be says sumak moving on riding on fred

Looking around the chamber itself, it is flawlessly carved, though there aren't any clear symbols or writings other than notches on the ground in places that seem to mark out distance.

Making your way to the large door is an arch 20 feet high, closed off with two immense doors of worked stone. These are engraved with ornamental scenes of battle. The craftsmanship is amazing, depicting rank upon rank of bald-headed warriors storming up from the bottom of the doors towards castles and other buildings at the top. You realize that this is meant to represent an army rising from below the earth to attack the surface world.

On the opposite side of the chamber, when you look to the lectern on the dais, you can see some sort of rolled up scroll sitting atop it. Behind that the tunnel that runs upwards seems much less smoothly carved than the rest of the chamber, it appears to be much more rushed.

So there is a threat coming from under grown , or at least there was one. Does this story tells us things from the past or a warning for the future? sumak will make his way toward the desk and very carefully inspect the scroll. He is taking extra care when he unfolds it as it might crumble under his fingers.

The scroll is actually in surprisingly good shape, though it is written in a language none of you understand.

Linguistics will give you the gist of the scroll at least.

passing the scroll around i can't understand a word of that language, if any of you do, here is the scroll