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Owyn draws blood from the armored captain, but not much. But he counter attacks.
Bryn and pet Flurry of misses once again.
ROUND 3
Owyn & Grundle
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Captain Calgredine (-3/-3)
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Brynjolfsen/Keshra (-0/-5) & Daeven (-3)
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Archer 1() and Archer 2()
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Daeven finishes off the fallen archer then moves to the next, drawing the fire of the other two as he becomes the most active threat they see.
ROUND 4
Owyn & Grundle
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Captain Calgredine (-3/-3)
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Brynjolfsen/Keshra (-0/-5) & Daeven (-3)
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Archer 1() and Archer 2()
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Kesh swipes at the captain with her claws.
Bryn fires an arrow at the captain.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Grundle flurry's with his flails at the mounted knight.
Not liking not being able to move or charge, you continues to try to attack Owyn.
Bryn and Keshra press the attack, but just cant seem to get past his medium armor.
ROUND 4
Owyn (-7) & Grundle
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Captain Calgredine (-13/-3)
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Brynjolfsen/Keshra (-0/-5) & Daeven (-3)
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Archer 1() and Archer 2()
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Daeven disarms the closest archer with his whip. The archer responds by drawing his spear and charging.
Archer 1 launches an arrow at Keshra.
ROUND 5
Owyn (-7) & Grundle
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Captain Calgredine (-13/-3)
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Brynjolfsen/Keshra (-0/-5) & Daeven (-6)
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Archer 1() and Disarmed Archer 2()
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Grundle's screams become incoherent, even curses can't be made out in the string of guttural effusions leaving his mouth. His eyes roll up in his head and his chest seems to swell, causing the spiked chains around his torso to bite into his skin.
He lifts his flails and swings them in a blindingly furious attack.
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Captain Calgredine drops from his horse like a box of rocks, causing his horse to flee. His two men look around, and are obviously thinking of fleeing, too.
ROUND 5
Owyn (-7) & Grundle
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Brynjolfsen/Keshra (-0/-5) & Daeven (-6)
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Archer 1() and Disarmed Archer 2()
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Daeven inflicts a solid punch to one as he flees, but otherwise, at this point, they are only interested in getting out of here alive while they can. Searching the bodies, you find: a +1 chain shirt, masterwork heavy steel shield, masterwork lance, shortbow with 20 arrows, shortsword, scroll tube (with scrolls of Cure Moderate Wounds, Magic Missile, and Shield), a signal whistle, and a purse of coin. You also find a wanted poster of sorts bearing all of your likenesses , with a note on the back indicating someone wants you, or more precisely the key you have, found, and that all agents on the chase are to split up to find you.
Reconnecting with the caravan, you find that they had likewise been ambushed, but it seems you received the brunt of it, but in general, no worse for wear. Continuing onwards, you climb ever higher out of the jungle, the series of thin switchback trails just large enough for Raimondo’s caravan wagons. Suddenly, from the canopy below comes an unearthly bellowing roar. Thousands of colorful birds take flight and wing off away from the noise, and a cacophony of screeching, chittering, and screaming follows the roar.
As you approach the top of the ridge, a dilapidated camp comes into view. The camp is surrounded by a hastily constructed palisade wall forming a semi-circle that both starts and ends at an imposing cliff face stretching hundreds feet up from the palisade. The bodies of hundreds of ape-like creatures lie outside the walls in various states of decay. The stench is overpowering, and a cloud of flies is thick above the carnage.
A cry goes up from the tower built over the palisade’s gate as the lookouts spot you, and the gate itself rumbles aside on rickety wooden wheels. A tall woman with black hair pulled back against her head and a shortsword on her hip strides out from the camp to meet you. At that moment, a horn sounds from down in the valley, closely followed by the screams of men and horses. Looking below, you see another group of Aspis Mercenaries, riding fast up the switchback trails, with hundreds—maybe even thousands—of ape-men hurling stones at them and running hard on their heels.
She seems to recognize Raimondo, but speaks to you, Welcome to Azlant Ridge. I see you’ve met the locals.” She gestures back at the ape-men chasing the Aspis mercenaries up the trail. "My name is Juliet." pulling her long shirt up to reveal a Wayfinder at her belt. "Come inside quickly. Before they arrive. Trust me, you don’t want to be out here when they get here."
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Owyn will take his healing wand and cast once on himself and once on Daeven.
Owyn greets Juliet with a strong handshake as he says "Greetings to you as well, m'lady. I'd say it's a pleasure to finally arrive, but it looks as though we've jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire."
As he looks to the hills, he responds to her last statement "Agreed, but we should allow those men in before we close the gate. They may be Aspis, but I wouldn't wish such a death on even a preist of Norgorber."
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Grundle snickers at the wanted posters. "Looks like yeh done good, lads. Maybe there's something ta like about yeh after all!"
Grundle stays on foot next to his camel for a while, his eyes hungrily darting around looking for something to eat so he doesn't have to break into his travel food. Get the worst bubble gut from them eats. he thinks to himself.
Grundle looks the lady up and down for a moment. "The hell are them monkeys?" he says. He absentmindedly picks a section of spiked chain out of his pectoral areas. The small drop of blood quickly coagulates into a bubble of pre-scab.
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Ushering in the caravan take little time. Once everyone is in, they close the gate, using those two large wooden gear contraptions to drop it back into place. Once inside, Juliet thanks you for bringing the life-saving supplies, and begins to issue orders to get them secured, opened, and to those most in need. Once that is done, she offers to give you a quick tour, though the compound is not large.
On the outer wall on all sides (except the south of the camp) is the Fortified Outer Wall and Gate, (you just came through). The fortified gate of the palisade wall is constructed from thick logs, lashed tightly together and sealed with pitch. A sturdy log stands above the gate, serving as both a lookout post and a brace to lash the gate to when it’s closed. To open the gate, the guards have to untie the ropes holding the gate in place, and then push it aside on two sets of enormous wooden wheels. The gate is covered in dents, scrapes, chips, and blood.
The Ivory Sphere is a precise and professional terraced dig site surrounds a half-sphere of a smooth, almost mirror-like white material. While it looks almost exactly like polished ivory, it’s slightly warm to the touch and glows with a soft, white light.
In the middle of the camp rests two large, but dirty and sagging tents—one is used for cooking, and the other as a mess hall. The is their Excavation Camp. Between them are 10 canvas tents lined up in two neat rows, but suffering from rips and tears that seem to have been made by claws. Inside several of the tents rest camp workers, all tired, hungry, and sick.
To the east is a dig site that seems to have been abandon. It drops down in 5ft increments, creating a 15ft deep pit. "It was a test dig, nothing more." she comments before moving along.
Finally she points to another dig site at the south. It too drops in 5ft increments, forming a pit 15ft deep. Unlike the first though, stands a sealed door made of an odd and rare glowing green metal. At fifteen feet high and ten feet wide, this door is an impressive structure. Carved from a dull yet shimmering metal, every inch of its surface is covered in runes, glyphs, pictographs, and intricate patterns. A single rift, about an inch deep, splits the door in half from top to bottom, giving you the impression that it might open were it only to have handles. The door sits recessed several feet into the jagged rock of the ridge’s impressive cliff face, which stretches a hundred feet or more above the camp.
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Map updated.
"The hell are them monkeys?"
“They’re known as the charau-ka—my camp workers call them ape-men. They’re minions of the demon lord Angazhan, and this lot serve the Gorilla King of Usaro, though why the Gorilla King has any interest in this expedition is beyond me.”
"Agreed, but we should allow those men in before we close the gate. They may be Aspis, but I wouldn't wish such a death on even a preist of Norgorber."
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"If there is time for them to drop their weapons and strip to their soiled skivvies then maybe we should let those scum in, otherwise we should let them die. Consider it research on the monkey men. We could learn their nature."
"Has anyone had any luck opening that door, or at least deciphering the runes?"
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Grundle stops dead in his tracks as he thinks back on the green glowing metal. He points to it, breathes hard for a few breaths and says, "What in Iomedae's breasts is that?!?!"
He closes his eyes briefly, remembering something. You notice his left hand grips the spiked chain wrapped around his body, blood starting to drip from the clenched fist.
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Grundle shakes his head at Owyn's words. He opens his eyes and starts to open his mouth, then closes it. After letting go of the spiked chain, he scratches himself and says, "Well...I'd only meant it as an expression, but now that yer askin'...what wouldn't be my interest in her glorious proportions?"
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Grundle shakes his head."Jes'...reminded me of another time. Someone..." He stops reminiscing and looks sharply at Owyn. "Why're you so easy to talk to? I ain't one to moon on about the past, 'ceptin a'course the one thing, but this ain't that. I don't trust anyone I feel like I should trust after just meetin' 'em."
He walks quickly to catch up with the others. "So what's this door?" he asks.
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"Hey Owyn, you think that key you've got might fit this door? Didn't that fella who sent us here say something about a matching design or symbol?" Bryn point to the symbols, and runes upon the face of the doors. "Do you think there's a key hole some where?" Bryn says as he looks over the door searching for a key hole of sorts.
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Owyn gives Grundle a quizzical look as he walks away towards the group.
"There's a story there somewhere." he thinks to himself as he also begins walking to catch up with the group. Once there, he responds to Bryn's question with "I'm not sure, but I suppose it's worth a try." as he reaches underneath his full plate for the key in his shirt pocket.
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Juliet looks at you quizzically at the mention of a key, but as Owyn pulls it out, she rushes to him, astonished. "Please, may I see that?"
Suddenly atop the tower, one of the guards calls down, "There is another one coming!" Within seconds, there is a thundering knocking outside the door, and a human voice calls out, pleading for entry. You can hear the sounds of battle outside, and it seems to be a slaughter. What warriors the camp has rush to the walls, and begin to fire arrows outside, but you can tell they seem to be made from what little supplies the camp still has and are not very effective. "Please. We beg you. Let us in or we will die out here. You have my word that we will not attack you and will help to fight off these, these, things. I swear by Abadar."
With the new threat, Juliet stops inspecting the key, and looks to you. "It's your choice. These Aspis have hounded us the same as you, but we could also really use the help right now. Your call."
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You approach the wall to see a handful of warriors outside fighting for their lives. With what little help the camps guards can offer, they put down the immediate threat, with the Aspis outside loosing many of their numbers. Juliet calls for the gates to open quickly, letting the survivors inside before another wave of the ape-men can reach the wall. Standing upon the tower, you can see something massive coming your way. Directly your way. Trees are being pushed aside it seems with ease, as something large seems to be walking through the forest heading directly towards you. You estimate at it's current speed it will be here in less that 20 mins, and if it can push aside 15 to 20ft tall trees in a thick jungle, the camps walls will crumble with ease. In the distance, you can hear a growing clamoring sound. Whatever it is seems to have an army of frenzied ape-men with it, and you can hear their excitement from here.
The surviving Aspis agents, a male human, a female human, a female half-elf, and a male dwarf come in. The male human order the others to drop their weapons, with instructions to not attack or act poorly unless that person gets them all thrown out to die. He looks at Juliet and the party, not sure who is in charge, but recognizing you from the wanted flyers. "We could really use some water and something to patch up our wounds, if that's possible. As I said, we will help. Where do you need us?"
she directs them to an area where what supplies they have left to patch up, then returns to you. "Can I see the key. Where did you come by it. I think, I think it will open that door. We have tried in the past, we have studied the runes and glyphs, and attempted magic when we had a mage, but could not get through the door. I think with this I can open it."
Either with the key, or with Owyn holding the key, she descends into the pit. Rubbing her hands on certain areas trying to find something, caressing runes and pictographs, she finally stops, and touches the key to the door. There is a loud rumbling for about 3 seconds, and the door cracks open. Only partially, but it is massive, and allows you to enter the darkness beyond one by one.
"Please, enter and see if you can find anything. Anything at all that might help save us. We had heard rumors of some sort of primal deity that the ape-men seem to worship as a protector of the land and their people. Whatever that thing out there is, we have never seen it. Hurry. You are our last hope.
From what you can see standing outside, the door opens to a large set of stairs going even further downwards.
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Bryn notices something, but isn't quiet sure of its relevance.
Bryn digs out his hooded lantern from his pack, lighting the wick, and turns it down low. "Kesh,... Seeeeek." Bryn says as he motions towards the stairway.
"She'll let us know if there's any immediate threat in the stairway and proceeding room."
Bryn steps into the doorway after Kesh begins to head down the stairs stopping just a few steps in and listening very closely as Kesh heads into the Darkness.
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Owyn addresses the survivors as the door closes, calling out "Greetings to you all. Your help would indeed be quite welcome for the coming conflict."
Then, in a quieter tone, he says to the leader "Just know this; I voted for your rescue and, as such, take full responsibility for you. So if any of you betray us in any way, I will personally kill you myself."
Owyn activates the light spell in his wayfinder and draws his sword, awaiting a response from the bear.
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Grundle sneers at the Aspis men. "I've killed yer lot before. Thinkin' 'bout bindin' me? You'll answer to my flails. That bit of scalp right there...that was some magic usin' Aspis dog. And like a dog...I put him down."
He shoulders his way to the front of the group and looks into the darkness.
He shrugs and walks inside.
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A wide set of stairs descends into an enormous room, measuring thirty-five feet wide by forty feet long, and more than thirty feet tall. The entire room smells sickly sweet, but the floors, wall, and ceiling are all smooth and clean—rather similar to the sphere in the ground outside. Four enormous monoliths, fifteen-foot-tall human-shaped metal statues, rest in the four corners of the room. They’re made of white metal, almost like a suit of full plate sized quite large, but without anything discernible as a face. While there is a thick layer of dust throughout the room, each of the four monoliths is free of it, as if somehow repelling it. There is a single hallway leading of to the west.