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As the band of adventurers sojourns its way in to the bowls of the mountain, Dieb pulls forth his hip flask and fortifies his courage with a small sip, grimacing slightly as the strong drink burns a fiery path down his throat. He offers the flask to the others, should anyone else wish to partake.
At espying the bundle, Dieb frowns in concentration, and after a moment's thought discerns the pit's true nature.
"Though one's natural avarice might covet yon bundle, you can tell by the slope at the edge that this pit is not natural. Methinks it a trap or living-pen of some sort. You gents are welcome to try fishing for it, and I've rope to contribute to the effort, but I'd not make the attempt unless we were all in agreement."
He gazes longingly at the other side, scanning it to see if there is aught that was missed.
"As far as getting to the other side, 'tis possible we could all jump across. I propose the most nimble of us go first, then the next to jump could have a rope tied around them, to prevent misfortune should they not make it."
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Dieb retrieves his flask from Digger and resets it in its holster.
"Friend Fuzzfoot, I do not recall seeing any branches or other trails that we might take. Indeed, this path twisted and turned enough times, but it seems to be the only option available to us."
"Good Ragnar, indeed you are the most nimble among us. Take pause and shirk off thy armor then leap mightily to the other side. Here, as you leap, I'll tie my rope to thy wrist, so that even should misfortune fall, you'll not be wholly without recourse."
Dieb glances again at the floating bundle.
"Mind you, while your wrist was secured, if you borrowed good Digger's naginata, we three could lower you a mere 10 feet and you could snag yon package. This being a feat of some daring, I'd let you keep whatever it held. But if you like the idea not, we'll leave it to its slumber."
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"Well, I suppose if we want to try to grab it, I am light and fairly nimble, so we could lower me down. We could maybe find a tree branch or something nearby as well. I am starting to wonder if maybe this was a trap, and that is the remains of someone who sprung it."
Fuzzfoot examines the area for clues.
"What else was in that pack, anyway? I am afraid my usefulness in a fight is limited to my crossbow, but if there is something useful..."
Fuzzfoot makes a variety of sounds and facial expressions showing interest, intrigue, or shrugging of shoulders as he looks at each item. "She was well prepared, it seems. Mind if I hold on to these?" he asks, as he holds up the tanglefoot bag and thunderstone. "Never know when these might come in handy."
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Dieb nods as Fuzzfoot pockets the bag and stone.
"You have the right of it. If that is remains, that too might come in handy. Ready when you are."
Dieb ties the rope fast around Fuzzfoot's ankle. Dieb looks for an appropriately thick stalagmite to anchor it to, and then asks the others to help lower him down.
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Ragnar removes his armour and places it in his pack.
If someone has a rope and is willing to offer it's use, Ragnar takes the rope around his waist and takes a running leap to leap over the opening.
Ragnar will then hold the rope and stay close enough to the edge to help if they fail in the leap/climb.
As Dieb begins to tie the rope to Fuzzfoot's foot, Ragnar takes a mighty leap across the ten foot pit, landing on the other side safely.
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Dieb looks up to see Ragnar land gracefully on the other side.
"Okay, then we'll just need two ropes. , alright, here, I'll just untie my rope from Fuzzfoot. If you could tie it tight on that other side, then when we cross, we can just hold it for safety."
"Now, if you could lend me your rope, I'll tie it to another stalagmite, and we'll tie that to your ankle. Okay, that should do it."
"Friend if you could grab this rope and help me lower Fuzzfoot down, we should be able to get that package, alright?"
As Dieb and Fuzzfoot reach the bottom, they see a rotted wooden plank under the mud which has either fallen in or had been thrown in. Fetching the cloak, Dieb sees that it is a high quality cloak and with arcane inspection, learn that it is a Cloak of Resistance (+1). Digger stands about, appreciating the hole, eventually crosses it to join the others. Arcen was left behind at some point, either in the woods, even perhaps back in Absalom.
The tunnels lead deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls. The carvings here are different in style from the petroglyphs found elsewhere in the caves.
[Move your tokens]
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Dieb gathers the ropes together and replaces his rope in his backpack, and hands Fuzzfoot's rope back to him, saying, "Friend Fuzzfoot, I am quite feeble, and would greatly appreciate it if you would allow me to hold this cloak for a while. But to augment your combat tactics, I have hear a flask of acid and a potion of cure light wounds for you. Please bear them for me and use them well."
Dieb moves along. This wide, sprawling cave unsettles him greatly, with it's many side caves, flickering in the faint light and sprawling like the arms of terrible sea-thing. And there the main entrance gapes like some over-fed maw, waiting to belch out who knows what.
He notices gazing deeply at the scratchings along the wall. "Do they teach you your letters in sword-school? I thought they told you to kill anything you couldn't drink or spend."
As a smirk grows along his lips, Dieb awaits not on a retort and allows his gaze to slide along the wall, seeing if any of the primitive scribbles can make any sense at all.
Ragnar and Dieb finds that the inscriptions tell stories and parables from the History and Future of Humanity, the principle holy text of Aroden that refers to "12 guises of Aroden" meant to illustrate his hopes for humanity: the artist, beggar, craftsman, farmer, fisherman, hunter, merchant, scholar, shepherd, soldier, tailor, and thief. Most of the carvings here are weathered beyond recognition, but you are able to decipher only three of the parables - the parables depicted here are slightly different than those that appear in the known version of the History and Future of Humanity, suggesting that these might represent an earlier version of the work.
The Farmer is depicted plowing four lines in a field, retelling Aroden’s prophecy that humankind would prepare the rocky earth for planting and over generations wear the pebbles down into fertile soil.
The Scholar is depicted writing on a piece of parchment and then reading from it to passersby, just as Aroden was said to smile on those who recorded history and other knowledge to share it with others.
The Shepherd is depicted herding animals out of a crowded city to the pastures beyond, just as Aroden blessed leaders with the foresight to direct people to the tasks and places that best suit them.
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Fuzzfoot looks over the pictographs, interested in the historical differences.
"Thank you, frail Dieb. I am, of course, happy to reduce your load - even more so, as these items can assist me as well!"
Fuzzfoot puts on the cloak, and pockets the potion. He carefully wraps the acid and puts it in his bag for future use.
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"Sword school? If you mean my father and his bushido, yeah. How else would a Tian Min man seduce a Galtan lady? Language is fascinating, and you never know which one you'll need. Per eżempju , I jista 'jkollhom bżonn biex jitkellmu Elvish. Είσαι ένα μαγικό χρήστη , προτιμάτε Δρακωνική? La langue de ma mère fait pour la belle poésie. 父の言語は、直接が、賢いですが. Og ingen forbander bedre end de skide dværge."
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A grin of honest appreciation paints Dieb's face."Obwohl ich die Sprache der Macht."
Dieb commits the three lines to memory, taking note that the farmer is first, and is plowing 4 lines. In fact, he takes pause and gets out a pen and parchment to write the whole thing down. Such might be a trivial detail, but Master Shaine did ask for information, so information he shall have! Besides, if there are historians that would be interested in such as this, they aught be alerted to its presence.
That done, he addresses the small group. "Friends, this cave strikes me ill. Warriors, keep thyselves ready, and Fuzzfoot and I will scout about these nooks and crannies to ensure no danger stalks our rear as we advance."
Dieb uses his keen elven senses to pierce the dim light and investigates that cave's entirety.
If there is nothing of interest, the party presses on.
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Ragnar watches the exchange of languages "I thought it was us warriors that were supposed to swagger and brag" he thinks to himself and rolls his eyes.
Well good Dieb you've got to it before I could, yes this needs to be noted down for later.
Ragnar moves to near the exit tunnel with his bow ready so he can be ready for anything that approaches from that direction, and cover anyone who wishes to lead the way out.
allow me to hold this cloak for a while
Fuzzfoot puts on the cloak
Fuzzfoot is able to determine another translation:
The Tailor is depicted sewing together a long cloth of featuring many patterns that wraps around a city like a moat, referencing Aroden’s proclamation that when the fate of all peoples is woven together, it shall be humanity’s greatest strength.
After studying the walls and taking notes, your group heads further into the cave.
The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.
Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
Kneeling in the water is a lone gillman, his back to the party...
[Map updated]
The gillman is startled to your presence by Fuzzfoot's magic, which seem to have no effect. He begins to stand up and turn around.
[All PCs up]
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Dieb frowns as the carefully laid plan goes awry. No matter. There are contingencies. There are always contingencies.
"Digger", he says, as his hands begin to glow with luminescent green power and drip arcanist's fire, "it would make our mission much easier if yon creature could be taken alive for questioning. Do you think you can handle subduing a single gillman?" He finishes with a grin.
"Benommen machen!" A sickening green column of light beams from Dieb's gleaming hand straight to the gillman's scaly head.
Casting Daze. Burning 1 AP for +2 DC(powerful magic). DC 17.
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"So, gillman. You're obviously outnumbered. My pale friend here wants you alive. But to be fair, I only just met him. So I'm not so sure how much I care about his wants. Stand down and be treated with honor and respect. Fight," Digger continues, grasping the hilt of his katana, "and I do what I do best."
The gillman winces at the dazzling light but seems otherwise unaffected. However, Digger's threat seems to work because the gillman begins to cast a spell that brings up a mist from the cavern floor. "Who are you?! I am Uori! Leave this sacred place now!
[Map updated]
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Dieb's brow furrows at the ineffectiveness of his magic, and the gillman's mental fortitude.
"Good Digger, we seem to have encountered a High Priest at prayer. Armed conflict is a foregone conclusion. If you wish, you can try to lay him low with the flat of thy blade. But such kid gloves are not the only option available to us."
Dieb begins preparation for his next spell, arcing runes of Death and Acid writhe in the air before him.
Ragnar," says Dieb, his voice cold as the tomb, "slay him."
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In a tone loud enough to hopefully be heard by the Gillman
While stepping between Dieb and the Gillman and putting away his bow.
"Nay friend Dieb, I shall not attack this man Uori again, without good reason."
"Uori please forgive our initial attempts to bespell you, we had been attacked by the minotaur and escaped it. We figured that any who seem to have an understanding with that beast are not going to be helpful"
The mist engulfs the entire area and you hear another completed incantation. He calls out from the mist, "You must be reason why my kinsmen are missing. I will not let you defile or desecrate this sanctuary. Leave now and do not tarry back here."
[See Discussion Thread, All PCs up, there are two other passages to the left and right, MAP updated]
The cave’s damp air becomes increasingly stale as the you continue down through this tunnel, and as you approach this area, the stench of decay grows increasingly evident. The passage turns to the east and opens into a small cavern littered with bits of broken glass, rotting pieces of paper, and other unusable detritus.
MAP updated
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Dieb refreshes his Light and says, "I concur, friend Fuzzfoot. The phraseology seemed to convey that the Gillmen were 'up to something' and that something needed to be found out, perhaps even stopped. Well, let us press on, and perhaps events shall make themselves more clear."
Dieb takes his place a bit behind Ragnar.
The body of a male dhampir lies facedown toward the back of the cavern. Ragnar suddenly notices two gillman zombies lurking in the corners lumbering towards you!
Ragnar : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Dieb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
zombies: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15
Digger: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13
Fuzzfoot: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
[Ragnar, Dieb UP!]
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