The others follow you down the tunnel. A dark pool of water lies in the center of the next area, a silo-shaped cavern. A five foot wide ledge of stone winds down (clockwise) to the pool below, passing several cave entrances along the way.
There are exits from this space to the east, south, southwest, and northwest. The first three slope out downwards, the final slopes upwards.
You each listen for a moment...
Sasha raises a hand to pause, then whispers "Something scratching that way," as she points to the southwest exit.
I nod to Sasha. "We'll check there first. I prefer to confront everything these caves have before it sneaks up on us." I take point and head down the southwest exit keeping my eyes peeled for any monstrosity.
You manage to get the drop on the ghoul that is in this side cavern!
Aerys charges forward to punch the ghoul , , striking hard!
Sasha likewise charges, stabbing with her rapier, , . The ghoul is hurt bad, but not down. You are close enough to charge and strike, but only just.
Following the other's lead I make a partial charge also. Attack: For: vs. it's flatfooted AC
The ghoul goes down with little more than a whimper, and Jask steps up to join you. Bones lie strewn about the floor of this cavern. The grisly remains appear to have been gnawed upon so that they are cracked and jagged.
There is a passage leading east, though no sounds come from that passage.
To the northwest, you hear water lapping against stone.
I will start by heading down the east passage. I lead the way.
You enter a small cavern, and see that it has a north exit leading back to the silo-shaped cavern. Faint carvings are just visible on the eastern wall of this cavern. They have faded, but as you look them over you recognize that they are in Aklo, the language of inhuman and otherworldly monsters. It has been some time since you have had cause to use it, however, and so it takes a moment to find a sentence that you can clearly make out. It reads, “All glory to Great Ydersius.”
I inspect the carvings and examine the words and search my knowledge of this "Great Ydersius"
Knowledge History:
Knowledge Religion:
You cannot recall that you have heard of Ydersius before.
Jask thinks back...
...but ultimately shakes his head. "Nothing that I can recall, friend. Which way now?"
Sorry for the delay.
I decide to return to the circular room and explore the eastern route before returning to this northwest exit.
I search the eastern route carefully.
No worries. I'm away this weekend, so just a short post here:
The short passage opens into a curious area that has clearly been worked by hand, not natural formation. This long chamber evokes the feel of an ancient, hideous cathedral. The walls are carved with images of serpents walking upright like humans, snakes coiling around and eating hapless women and children, and stranger scenes. Four stone pillars carved like coiling snakes support the vaulted ceiling 30 feet above. Four small cells blocked by rusted bars sit in the walls to the east and west. To the north, an immense carving of a snake's head looms, an ash-caked door clenched in its jaws, while to the south rises a horrific mound of bones and partially decayed bodies in an eight-foot-tall heap arranged almost as if to evoke the imagery of a coiled snake made of corpses.
Is there more or are you waiting on me?
The others are repulsed by the pile of corpses, and move past them to examine the wall carvings.
You recognize that the carvings themselves are ancient, though only recently uncovered and cleaned. It is quite possible that they date back to ancient Azlant, several thousand years ago.
Smaller carvings nearby depict serpentfolk splashing blood on curved runes carved on upright stones before a red mountain, and then holding venomous snakes against the blood that they might lick the stones, pouring water onto a pyramid-shaped block of red stone from a bowl, and standing before the pyramid of stone with arms upraised and mouths agape as if shouting to the heavens as a bolt of lightning arcs up from the stones into the sky. Sasha, taking point, recognizes in the carvings the outline of the mountain that is due east of here - a lone silent volcano rising out of the trees.
There is a set of characters carved into the wall. You quickly recognize them as Aklo, and read the following:
To Command the Very Tides to Rise Up and Eschew What Lies Below:
Empower the Four Sentinel Runes with the Blood of a Thinking
Creature Tempered by the Kiss of a Serpent’s Tongue.
Anoint the Tide Stone with Waters Brought from the Sea in a Vessel of
Purest Metal.
Invoke the Lord’s Sacred Name to Wrap His Coils around the Sea Itself
that He Might Lay Bare What Lies Below and Cast Down Your Enemies
on the Waves above.
I narrow my eyes at the script as I read it. Looking to the others I point to it. "From what I can make out here, there is some kind of ritual that can be performed here that will open some kind of passage. It is a bit of a twisted ritual but I believe it may be how we can find the one responsible for our shipwreck. If there are no objections, I am going to try and perform the ritual. Stand back."
Before I begin my search I look to the others. "Does any of you have a container made of metal? If so can you go and fetch some sea water from that creek in the other room?"
Cautiously I look over at the corpses looking for any with blood still and serpent bite marks. I keep a cloth over my nose to filter the god awful stench of dead bodies.
Are we able to acquire these things?
You search out the room thoroughly, but are not able to find a stone like the one depicted in the carvings. It appears to be a monolith of sorts, and is among neither the bodies (many of which are cannibals or other humanoids that have been here a tremendously long time) nor in the niches of the wall.
As you describe your findings to the others, Sasha says, "Perhaps the mountain in the carvings is the key - if it is the same as the mountain east of here, the secret may be there. Perhaps also Iaena is there as well! We should destroy whatever else is in these caves, for the sake of the others, before going that way." The others look at you expectantly.
I nod to Sasha. "I see, it just appeared as though whatever happened happened here. But let's try your plan."
I would like to go wherever I haven't been in these tunnels first. "Let's follow Sasha's advice and finish securing these caves. Then we can return to the surface and prepare an expedition to the mountain. I have a little score to settle with Iaena and any of you who feel the same are welcome to join me."
When I get their approval, I will finish the sweep of the cave.
You proceed through the tunnels to return to an earlier fork in the tunnels, emerging into a sea cave. A cavern ledge leads down to a small sandy beach in this large cave, the majority of which is taken up by a sloshing pool of seawater. There is little to find here, so you proceed more slowly up to the next area.
This long cavern is scattered with bones, body parts, and bits of seaweed. A hole in the floor to the west echoes with the sloshing of waves, clearly leading back down to the sea cave.
You also appear to get the drop on three ghouls inhabiting this chamber!
Surprise Round first, then as normal:
Aerys
Sasha
Aaron
then
Aerys
Sasha
Jask
Enemy
Aaron
SURPRISE ROUND
Aerys and Sasha rush past you into the next room, surprising the Lacedons and preparing to strike.
ROUND ONE
Aerys lays into the closest lacedon with the magical scimitar, capitalizing on it being caught off guard.
Aerys easily connects, and cuts deeply into the undead creature.
Sasha also jumps forward to attack the next lacedon.
Her attack hits true, but cannot pierce the creature's thick hide.
Jask follows all into the room, holding his holy symbol high, and channels energy against the three undead.
All seem incredibly shaken by this power, if not destroyed outright!
Move to attack the undead Aerys struck in hopes of finishing at least one of them off before they can make a counter attack.
Attack: For:
The two remaining ghouls rush the closest attackers, you and Sasha.
Vs Sasha
,
,
,
Vs Aaron
,
You retaliate with a slash that cuts through the weakened Ghoul and unravels it.
The two remaining ghouls rush the closest attackers, you and Sasha.
Vs Sasha
,
,
,
Vs Aaron
,
You retaliate with a slash that cuts through the weakened Ghoul and unravels it.
After the ghoul falls, a raspy voice precedes a hideous form coming around he corner. "What'ssssss all thissss ruckusss? New worsssshiperssss for Mother Thrunefang?"
What may have once been a human woman, now ancient and withered by the ravages of time and undeath, steps out clad in rags. She hisses when she sees what your weapons and magic have done to the others, and spits a word of power of her own, as your torch is enveloped in a blanket of darkness that it barely penetrates.
Aerys rushes forward to slash powerfully with her scimitar
,
Sasha stabs and slashes at the ghoul that continues to threaten her
,
,
Aerys hits hard, nearly getting her scimitar completely stuck into the wretched creature.
Sasha stabs and slashes, taking down the ghoul.
Jask steps forward cautiously, preparing to send divine force at this monstrosity.
I five foot to one side and attack the foe on Sasha.
Attack: For:
The ghouls goes down, and the newly arrived monstrosity wails at the loss of her minions. She raises a crude bone talisman, and a wave of negative energy washes over you all.
You and Jask manage to shake off the worst of the effect, but Aerys and Sasha bear the full brunt of the attack.
Aerys launches a strong attack with her scimitar to retaliate
,
She misses, curses, and tries to take a defensive stance.
Sasha moves gingerly, clearly hurt by the wave of energy, and tries to throw a javelin in to aid the next person to attack.
The javelin sufficiently distracts the ghoul, giving you an opening to strike.
Jask channels a pulse of healing energy over the group [ooc](3 remaining):
I step forward and thrust with Sahsa's aid. For:
Your sword pierces the creature' side, and black fluid oozes out.
I am Central time zone central America. I believe we should be fine.
The creature hisses, spitting a curse at you and Aerys, and raises her bone talisman again.
You all reel from the negative energy that washes over you, but Aerys and Jask appear to resist it somewhat better. The creature retreats a bit down the hall.
Sasha lashes out again with her Scimitar.
Unfortunately she misses, and is now blocking your way!
Sasha pants audibly, clearly hurting from the negative energy beating that she is taking.
Jask steps closer to catch you all in a healing burst, but is starting to show the strain of so much healing passing through his relatively frail body.
I grimace at the attack and attempt to pursue the creature.