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As day 4 dawns you turn your horses southwest and begin to explore the hex there.
It doesn't take long before you discover a massive looming sycamore, 100 feet tall, in the area. This greying hulk seems to be clinging tenously to the last years of it's life. The massive tree is visible for miles around and serves as a clear landmark.
Lorald looks around for tracks, signs, and anything out of place or of note.
Valkus looks up at the tree, craning his neck as far as he can. Is it natural for a tree to grow this way?
He looks over the scene, not bothering to dismount.
"I am no expert but those do not look like kobolds to me. By the looks of it, I would wager that kobolds killed these fellows. Sadly I can't tell from which direction ether came from."
"Good tall tree with plenty of visibility. We should remember this as a good place to leave a hung body if we want to provide warning."
Valkus turns his head slowly to Josef, his face contorted in horror. Then, his face relaxes, and an evil grin spreads across his face. "I like the way you think."
"Well, back at Gronzi forest we sure did have trees almost as tall as this one. Howevr, this one really seem a bit Different, standing all alone in the middle of nowhere..."
Following the lead from Lorald, Aran gets down and tries to see if he can find and perhaps follow the tracks of the creautures who made them.
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Sycamores do sometimes grow to this size, and they are quite hardy, often surviving where other trees cannot take root. Despite it's obvious age, it seems like something is wrong with the tree, perhaps something is choking the roots from below.
The tracks are a muddle and nearly impossible to follow. Aran has some luck and finds that there is a path that seems to lead between a knot in some roots. He moves some brush aside and finds an opening. There is a root lined shaft that drops down 10 feet. It might be a bit tight, but it is large enough for you to climb down into.
"Tight spots like this unnerve me. But, I suppose this is part of what we volunteered for."
Gareth checks his gear and makes ready for a descent into the tunnel.
Marlani would like to examine/read the book we found, and attempt to appraise the silver ring.
"This reminds me of a den. Maybe we should try and rouse whatever is in there into coming out? I can send some lights down the tunnel, or maybe we try to make some noises?"
Lorald remembers the bodies and the kobolds.
"How big is the space. We are after kobolds and have found other small bodies. It may be a nest of some sort for ether. Or it could be full of large insects. Best not to disturb any such instances. Anyone willing to go in an have a look around?"
He dismounts and brings his crossbow to bare.
"Not really the environment I've trained to fit in, but I can go in. If it is as tight as it looks, though, I'll want to borrow a knife."
Lorald takes one of the daggers from his belt and throws it at Josef's feet. Burying itself half way into the ground.
"Have at it cousin."
He takes the time to affix his bayonet on his crossbow while he is at it.
Marlani looks concerned.
Marlani steps aside and considers the footprints Valkus found. Does she know what manner of creature may have left them?
or
Valkus's eyes light up at the discovery of the tunnel. "Oh ho! A secret passage beneath the Tree of Ages. Where might it lead? A nest of spiders the size of men? An underground druid temple, never seen before by the likes of those such as us? Or perhaps even a portal to the First World itself!" He pulls out his lyre and plays a woodsy melody.
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The book is not a mystery, upon inspection it is clearly a spellbook. Although damaged by rainwater seeping into the cloak there are still some pages intact. Still legible are: identify, mage armour, reduce person, silent image, and unseen servant.
Marlani also takes a look at the tracks and is quite quite certain they belong to mites. The creatures, which Lorald found two corpses of not too far from here, were once from the first world. Time in this world has made them larger and stockier but they are still at the bottom of the food chain in the underground, where they usually live. They also have the ability to curse their enemies and are fond of vermin and deadly pranks.
Climbing down into the hole is not hard, due to the many roots. I would feel embarassed asking you to make the DC 5 climb check to get down there. Once in the hole you find yourself in a tunnel that runs east-west for 40 feet. The only light comes from above, so this area has dim-light, but the rest of the tunnel is in darkness.
The tunnel is also quite small, it has clearly been dug for small sized creatures. In some places the ceilling is 5ft high, but much of the upper foot is a tangle of roots and thin stalactites. As medium creatures you can hunch your way around (thankfully without squeezing) But the tight quarters force you to change how you use your weapons, forcing a penalty of -2 on all attacks whilst you navigate this area.
As I said the tunnel you drop into goes east-west and also drops off in both directions, hampering your view of what can be found in either direction, but you are nonetheless free to proceed either way.
Marlani will tell the party she thinks mites live down there. It's likely to be a tight fit.
She turns to Lorald; "Are you able to help Josef with some light? Unfortunately I can't"
She also asks Gareth if he needs any of the spells in the book.
Lorald takes a stone from his belt.
"He can use this, it's called an ioun torch. A stone with magical light that floats. He can use it."
Looking left and right and noticing that no one is going after Josef, Aragorn simply shrugs his shoulders and discards his heavy crossbow aside. Taking the shortbow and some arrows, he weighs them once or twice, before slowly and carefully following young Orlovsky into the fox hole. "He'll need some backup for sure. What are you waiting, the rest of you?"
Lorald gives a whistle to his dogs, who seem to start watching Eusebius. He then is the last to jump down.
"I say we go left."
Marlani will follow the others.
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Eusebius whistles and mutters "winter always follows spring" He strings his longbow and takes a spot a little higher in the roots so he can keep an eye out. He nods to Lorald.
So, assuming everyone gets down in that hole, you find a chamber about 15 feet on a side. Looking down into it you see three crude, wooden workbenches occupying the center of the room, their tops strewn with various tiny tools, metal and wooden hardware, and blocks of wood.
There are two mites scurrying about the workshop. They seem to be using a miniature catapult made of bone and twigs to fire caltrops at one another's open mouths, trying to catch and swallow them.
Since the room is dark and you are carrying light with you they quickly notice you. One shrieks and charges forth to attack. The other redies the tiny catapult for an attack.
Initiative in a few minutes.
The cramped space instills a sense of claustrophobia in Gareth and the darting speed of the mites exacerbates it. He pulls a kukri from his belt in order to work in the tight quarters.
Raising his weapon to defend, Valkus tries to calm the mites in their own tongue.
Aran raises his bow just over Valkus's shoulder ready to release the arrow at the creature which stayed behind. Hearing Valkus trying to reason with them, he holds his hand for just a moment longer, gauging their reaction.
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Unfortunately for Valkus the mites do not speak sylvan, nor does he speak their language as they jabber what can only be cruel threats at him. He puts himself out in front to try and get their attention.
Aran prepares to attack and does so almost immediately as the mites proceed to attack. His arrow hits the mite without issue, but the arrow head seems unable to damage the creature's hide, almost as though he resisted it.
The first mite comes at Valkus with a suicidal bravery, a teeny, tiny dagger in his fist. He misses miserably, the light in his eyes rendering him nearly blind.
The second mite fires his miniature catapult, it hits Aran for 1 damage. The mite realizes how ineffectual this device is against him and breaks and runs to the west and jumps down a hole into a tunnel below.
Group B
Lorald fires at the sole mite.
Lorald reloads his crossbow keeping it ready.
"Well then shall we move downward. Less we find ourselves being swarmed by more of the little blue monsters. One did run away after all."
"Yes, it is best not to let them gain the initiative." Gareth swallows hard and falls in with the others.
Marlani will draw her shortbow and have it ready.
"Surprising amount of room in here. Take the dagger. I'll use a sword."
Valkus sheepishly scratches his head. "Perhaps I need to work on my accent?" He sticks to the back of the group, deciding that he has no real place at the front if he can't communicate with the locals.
"Maybe we should secure a rope? It's likely we'll have to come up as well."
"We can do that when we don't have a bunch of mites to worry about. More then one tunnel lead from the entrance, they may be able to double back around us. Setting up a rope will only give them time and do us no good right now. More so if they cut it up."
When it's his turn to climb down.
"If not for the possible captive down there, we would be better off burning this place." Gareth then wonders how they would go about setting fire to subterranean tunnels.
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So far we've got Lorald, Vaklus and Gareth in the hole, but I don't want to send them down there alone. So rather than wait for everyone to say they go down and then make a very easy DC 5 climb check I'm going to assume everyone does it, and if you feel differently we'll rectify it in media res.
As you drop down into the hole you find a long egg shaped cavern, the walls of which are obscured by thick tangles of roots. To the east, the chamber opens into a wide, root-filled chasm.
The mite who fled from you above is standing amidst a group of six other mites, excitedly arguing with them. As you come into the chamber he points towards you and the other mites drop pointed sticks they were all holding and draw their tiny daggers.
Along the walls there are 4 black scaled kobolds which have been secured in place with the roots which are everywhere. The three closest to you hang limply, obviously tortured to death. The one closest to the mites is still alive, whimpering and begging in an inhuman language.
The mites rush forward to attack. Midget rumble!
Initiative
- Group A Gareth, Josef, Marlani and Aran
- 7 mites
- Group B Lorald and Valkus
The irony of this initiative order delights me.
-2 to all attacks is still in play.
I just placed you randomly on the back half of the room. Shuffle yourselves as you feel appropriate.
For anyone who plans on moving remember that with ditzie you have to drag and drop your character and then press enter to update the url. Then you have to post the new url so others can access the updated map.
Gareth gestures subtly while muttering something in an incomprehensible tongue.
Concentration
On Marlani's turn she will offer some inspiring words and instill courage in her allies for +1 for 1 round.