I think lucille has them. She got the bag and no one claimed the contents.
Then Bollwerk will drink one.
Then Bollwerk will drink one.
1d8+1
The dwarf looks amazed as the half-orc appears out of nowhere and slices his abdomen open. Looking down at his spilling entrails, then back at Kazul, he manages to mumble through blood-flecked lips, "Millorn hates you. Millorn...will...kill.....you..." Then he collapses onto the cave floor in a bloody heap.
"What in the name of the Spiral was that?" whispers Aravashnial.
Fabian shakes his head. "I do not know the name Millorn. I have done some study of religion; is this the dwarf's deity? Or perhaps the dwarf's lord? He was quite dedicated to him. Also, what is he doing down here?"
"There's a campsite ahead. I will have a look. In the meantime, Fabian, search this dwarf wizard for treasure, of the arcane nature." Kazul wipes the blood from his blade and takes a look at the campsite and then the shaft.
Fabian nods. He will search the dwarf, scanning anything he finds on the body for magic.
Spend time doing this; take 20 on Perception for a result of 26. If he finds anything interesting, cast Detect Magic to see if it's magic. Wait three rounds, and try to analyze the dweomer to determine its properties.
...that's not going to do much....
@Kazul: The campsite is meager: a ratty bedroll, and a small, tattered pack. In the pack you find dried meat and some moldy cheese (6 days rations), a chipped 6-inch marble statue of a humanoid with a spear (75gp), and a worn spellbook with the name "Millorn" on the cover.
The shaft is approximately 5' wide, and is at a steep incline. You can see that crude handholds, old pitons, and hooks occur up through the length of the shaft. The top of it appears to be just at the edge of your darkvision.
@Fabian: On the dwarf, you find a potion of cure light wounds, a scroll of shocking grasp, a scroll of resist energy, a dagger, a light crossbow with 10 bolts, a cloak of resistance +1, 12 pp and 11 gp
Looking around for the campsite, Bollwerk prays to Iomedea and asks for guidance and strenght in those dark hours. Suddenly he steps up, and his face, a mask of worry before shines in determination. "We are getting closer to civilization, even if the poor dwarf was ailing in his head. Let us move up. Fabian, I assume you can use the fellows book. I think it´s lucilles turn for a potion. As for the cloak I can feel Iomedeas blessing and I think it would be wasted on me. We will all climb up, a good sign. Leave nothing behind, we might need it. If you want I can carry the provisions. Fabian, I think we can entrust you with our funds, you could be our companys treasurer! Kazul, do you want to check ahead?"
Fabian nods, grimly. "I wish I did not have to take this from the body of a deranged man, but I can definitely use the book. I can read these scrolls as well. And, yes, I will be the party's treasurer. When we get time and space, and I am able to purchase the necessary materials, I will scribe these spells into my own spellbook."
Dieter looks over the loot with sparkling eyes. "Now what do we have here?"
Kazul examines the shaft and tries to assess how difficult it will be climb it.
Kazul gets the sense that the shaft will not be difficult to climb if you take your time. As long as you, say, aren't missing your sight, or the use of both legs, you should be fine.
After some time you are taken to the chief of the "mongrelmen". At least that is what you believe they call themselves.
Seated in a large room in one of central buildings in the cavern, this creature introduces himself.
"I am Chief S-sull, child. Welc-come to Neatholme. C-can I ask your name, and w-what are your int-tentions here?"
Dieter clasps his spiffy new cloak and gives it a dramatic twirl. "Yes, yes... this will do nicely. Shall we give that shaft a climb? Said the maid to the soldier..."
Fabian describes the shaft to Aravashnial. "Aravashnial, it's a five-foot wide shaft, going up at a steep angle. There are a lot of things to serve as handholds-- hold pitons, hooks, that sort of thing. It looks like people have climbed this shaft many times in the past. It won't be too hard for most of us to climb it, but we should do something to support you while you don't have your sight."
He looks over at Anevia. "It will probably be challenging for you with your broken leg as well."
To his companions, he says, "Is anybody a particularly good climber? We might be able to make some headway with a rope and careful climbing, with good climbers before and behind the people who need help. Alternatively, I think I've just figured out a spell that I've been working on. It can summon a small disk, depressed in the center, designed for carrying extra equipment or other items. It can support up to 200 pounds, so we may be able to use it to ferry people up and down the shaft. It has to stay close to me, so I'd need to make the trip myself a couple of times."
Interrupting himself, Fabian suddenly snaps his fingers. "Terendelev! I am foolish for forgetting. Terendelev came to our aid, before we even knew we needed it."
He pulls the silver dragon scale out of his pocket. "I can use this to cast levitation three times each day. It won't allow them to move horizontally, but they can move vertically. If we tie a rope to them, and somebody who climbs well carries it, between the levitation and the rope to move them horizontally we should be able to get them up the shaft without too much trouble."
Interrupting himself, Fabian suddenly snaps his fingers. "Terendelev! I am foolish for forgetting. Terendelev came to our aid, before we even knew we needed it."
He pulls the silver dragon scale out of his pocket. "I can use this to cast levitation three times each day. It won't allow them to move horizontally, but they can move vertically. If we tie a rope to them, and somebody who climbs well carries it, between the levitation and the rope to move them horizontally we should be able to get them up the shaft without too much trouble."
Kazul offers to carry the rope and makes the climb up ().
Kazul makes it to the top without issue. The various handholds are crude, but effective.
He steadies the rope, to help the others climb/levitate up, while keeping an eye on the surroundings to make sure he is not ambushed, his falchion at his hip.
He steadies the rope, to help the others climb/levitate up, while keeping an eye on the surroundings to make sure he is not ambushed, his falchion at his hip.
Nearly impossible to do both. There are places to tie off the rope...
Kazul ties off rope and stands guard over it, looking 60' in every direction, including up, with his darkvision.
Bollwerk will stand guard and asks Dieter to go up next, so that we have already two strong fighter upstairs.
Dieter clambers up the rope.
Lucille shrugs. "Can't say I'm either good or bad at climbing. I just do it when I need to. I can go last, if you like. Keep the poor climbers from falling too far."
Fabian will use the scale twice to cast Levitation on Anevia and Aravashnial, so that they are able to get up the shaft. He'll wait until they're up, and then climb himself, slowly and carefully.
She looks around,gesturing
I am newly come to the city, I did not realize there were such caverns underneath. Above ground there was an attack by the forces of evil, which rent the ground asunder. I fell in to the depths of the earth and was rescued by your people, and now you know as much as I.
She looks thoughtful a moment.
I believe I should likely return to the surface to see what aid I can provide to the forces of light, would you please be able to assist me in this? I do not have much aside from the blessings of my faith, but you are welcome to any healing I can provide, it is the least I can do after your kind assistance
Waiting that everyone is up bollwerk will slowly climb up and prepares for the next part of their trek to the survace.
Finally Bollwerk uncovers his pure white shield. Under it is the Symbol of Iomedea painted in gold and red on a black Shield. The sword is crowned by 4 stars!
Finally Bollwerk uncovers his pure white shield. Under it is the Symbol of Iomedea painted in gold and red on a black Shield. The sword is crowned by 4 stars!
Finally Bollwerk uncovers his pure white shield. Under it is the Symbol of Iomedea painted in gold and red on a black Shield. The sword is crowned by 4 stars!
Horgus pauses at the bottom of the shaft, looking at Fabian, then up the shaft, then back at Fabian.
"Hrm. Certainly you do not expect me to climb that ramshackle ladder? You can cast another levitate. Do so, so that I can get up there."
He pauses a moment, then in a whisper: "Please."
"We have b-been here for generations, child of the s-sun. We are the descendants of th-the first crusaders. We are the children of those wh-who were exposed to the Worldwound, mutants of the evil energies. Despised and hunted by those ignorant of the t-truth, our p-parents were driven underground to protect their children. We h-have been here since."
He turns to look at you, his good eye focused on you intently. "We are warriors of the crusade, ch-child. We fight the fight that n-no one sees."
Turning away, he adds, "I w-would like to help you back to the surface, child. B-but we do not know the way is safe. Our normal r-routes are blocked. The one remaining t-tunnel is controlled by an enemy tribe, under the influence of evil c-cultists. We cannot go that way. You of course, are welcome to stay, and w-we can use your h-help. I will m-make arrangements. Something m-may turn up that will allow you to return."
Kazul and Dieter reach the top without incident. There is nothing of note in the cavern, and you can see a tunnel leads away into the darkness from the far end. With difficulty, Anevia and Aravashnial struggle to the top of the shaft, Fabian's silver dragon scale providing the critical assistance to the injured people.
Just Horgus remains, with Fabian, Lucille, and Bollwerk at the bottom of the shaft.
Taking off his armor bollwerk smiles at hoegus. "You do not need magic, You have enough strength to climb it. I know it, even if you doubt. But I will climb behind you and easely catch you if you fall. But you won't. I know it. Following Horgus up like a father his baby child during its first steps, bollwerk guides encourages the man and lets him hug him after safely reaching the top. Taking 10 in aiding horgus, who will be even fastened to a rope for safety they reach the top.
Thank you for explaining Chief Sull, I understand your position. It is a shame that your efforts are not recognised for the just and true actions they are, it is unfortunate that those above do not understand the good work you and your people have been doing here
She places a hand gently on his arm in a small gesture of confort.
Whilst I would normally balk at being trapped in one location for an unknown amount of time, wanderlust you understand, I believe Desna likely has plans for me, how else would we be talking in such circumstances!?
she smiles
I will make myself useful to you and your people until the circumstances change, I would like to offer my skills as healer and, if you will allow it, teacher. I presume your folk will not have seen the wonder of the night sky, and I would like to spin some tales for them. You fight for your own people and way of life against the demons, but you also aid those above in their crusade. I'd like to be able to tell you about the world you are helping protect, it is the least someone from above can do in recognition of the invisible aid you render.
"Time's a'wasting, Cupcake." Dieter waves for them to come up.
Horgus makes the climb with much grumbling, and some trepidation. He does refuse to hug Bollwerk, though, and dusts himself of at the top.
"Hrm. Not so much trouble for one as skilled as I, after all. Natural abilities of the noble-born, you see." He says.
Setting out again, the tunnel leads on, twisting and turning, but ever so imperceptibly, upward. You walk in silence for some time, and the thought that you may never see the day at this rate cross your minds.
Suddenly the tunnel opens up into a large cavern, maybe 70' across. Cylindrical rock formations along the walls arch up to make a domelike chamber, but the walls and floors are riddled with cracks. At the center of the cave, a stone tower that may have once reached the fifty-foot high ceiling has collapsed on its side.
Fabian nods to Horgus at the top of the shaft. "Nicely done. I knew you could do it."
He will check on the other two injured companions to make sure they are OK following the levitation and climb.
When the reach the room with the stone tower, Fabian makes a noise of surprise. "Huh. Interesting. There are often passageways underneath cities, I'm led to believe, but this room is quite a construction! I'm surprised to find it down here under Kenbares."
He searches his mind to see if he's hear anything about the history of the city that might relate to this room and this collapsed tower.
Kazul moves ahead and calls out to the "diggers" in Common, "We're lost, maybe we can help each other out?" He keeps his falchion in hand, in case they turn out to be undead. :)
Again in his armor Bollwerk keeps his sword sheathed and whispers what he can see to those that can´t see in the dark.
The two figures recoil from what they were doing and draw weapons, but do not attack. They drop into defensive postures, watching you carefully. One of the figures in a hunch-backed woman, whose face is a mass of tumors. The other is a man; a tall, thin, creature with a face that blends the features of an attractive elven man, a goat, and a lizardfolk. He starts to take a step forward when a muffled voice sounds from under the rubble. He looks down at the wreckage, back to you, then down again. Reaching a decision, he approaches you, weapon ready, but not aggressively.
"I am Lann," the man says in a raspy voice,"If you intentions are ill, we ask you move and leave us in peace. If you indeed seek help, then we may help each other. As you can see, misfortune has befallen us."
"I will help you if your intentions are peacefully! But if they are I will do so gladly!"
Fabian says, "Is there somebody trapped in the rubble of the tower? Or is it items you have lost? If somebody is trapped, let's help you straightaway, and we can talk later!"
Fabian is not very strong, but he will use the last casting of Levitation from his scale of Terendelev to lift away the heaviest stone he is able to lift.
"Sir Bollwerk, do you sense anything amiss with them?
Kazul is a little wary of the humanoid given his appearance but waits to see how he can help.