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Hold on, friends. I have rope and can get across. Kahwen says, pulling out his length of rope. He leaves it with the rest, explains his plan, then takes a running jump across the gap almost seeming to fly in the process..
They can knot the rope and climb down, either anchoring it if there's a place or someone holding the rope then dropping it down and climbing down without it.
Once on the other side, they can throw the rope up to him. He'll try to find someplace to anchor the rope. If he can't he'll brace and hold while the lightest person climbs up, then they can brace together.
Along the way, they can check the bag.
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Sounds like a plan. For each roll the party members make, to the extent that he can, Farket will use his Strength +4 mod to 'Aid Another'. eg by boosting poor jumpers, or lowering poor climbers.
As for himself, as long as we have people on the other side as a bridgehead in case of attack, Farket will doff his scale mail, hurl it across the pit, then climb down and up the rope (climb take 10 +4).
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Given Kimberley's low climb skill, Farket offers to lower her down (str take 10 =14) before climbing down then up himself (climb 14) then lifting her up on the far side (str 14 again).
Then he puts his armour back on, hurriedly - noone welcomes the sight of a dwarf in his underclothes - especially one as hairy as this.
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you all make it safely to the other side.
the cloth from the bottom of the whole is magic.
The tunnels continue on, leading 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, and they date back to long before the gillmen explored this area. Scattered throughout the cave are inscriptions from the History and Future of Humanity, the principle holy text of Aroden, and images that depict these passages. The carvings focus on parables that feature Aroden’s 12 guises, meant to illustrate his hopes for humanity: the artist, beggar, craftsman, farmer, fisherman, hunter, merchant, scholar, shepherd, soldier, tailor, and thief. The ones on that are still visible on the wall are the fisherman, scholar, shepher, and soldier. You also know the story is a little off
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Kahwen is not sure which is more disturbing, the possibility that Farket might throw a frightened, Halfling sized dinosaur that seems to be mostly teeth and claws or the actuality of him stripped down to his under things.
In either case, he is very pleased when everyone makes it across and curious about what's in the bag and the inscriptions, though he has no ability to help identify either.
Instead, he goes to the entrance of the passageway leading out, watching for trouble and waiting for the others to share what they've learned.
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Kimberly helps examine the inscriptions but the damage seems to prevent her from offering much assistance.
I do remember about the gillmen being an ancient race from the days of the Azlanti, they were considered Low azlanti. this place must be of some historical significance.
perhaps we should write these down, maybe we can find some significance back at the lodge.
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"I have spent many years working, exploring, fighting in the dark spaces underground," rumbles the dwarf, hand straying to a deep scar on the right side of his neck, "and I can tell you that finding carvings, writings, remains of ancient peoples in the darkness is rarely directly relevant to that days business. However," Here he points with his glaive to the torch-lit tunnel on the opposite side of the cavern, "Dwarven common sense tells me that is more significant. Torches gutter without regular tending. Torches imply people, and more, people who are not natives of the underdark - they need light. Further, they imply a people secure enough to not consider the need for concealment." He pauses, and the low echoes of his voice reverberate in the arching cavern roof above. "Let's go cautiously from here."
"Friend Kahwen, friend Koani - you have low light vision I believe. Do your skills extend to stealth?" here he looks down at his robust scalemail-claddings "My skills lie elsewhere. Do either or both of you care to scout ahead, to give us warning of what lies ahead?
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Sometimes the past informs the future, Friend Farket, but I think you are right, now. Of more entrance is whoever needs these torches. Though, given their color, I question if they need ordinary tending, Kahwen answers.
He cannot smile but he is unmistakably confidently amused by Farket's question.
He holds his sword out to the side with one hand and tucks the other against his stomach as he bows. It will be my honor and privilege to scout the way he confirms.
He moves down the tunnel with obvious care to remain undetected while on the lookout for danger.
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As Kahwen moves up,
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.
Cathedral. This representation of the City at the Center
of the World and the Inner Sea also acts as an altar to the
dead god Aroden that retains enough power to bless a few
more pilgrims.
world to banish the shadows.
There is also a Gillman kneeling by the water who hasnt seemed to notice you
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Having taken in the lay of the land, Kahwen creeps back down the hall to report to his companions.
There's a large cavern ahead with a pool in the middle. In the middle of the pool is some sort of...shrine with a tiny city carved in it. There's a gillman there. I think he's praying to it. I don't think he saw me.
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"Good work Karwen" says the dwarf as he clanks forward after hearing the scouts' news.
Assuming that the party wishes to try a non-hostile approach, Farket moves forward with only minimal regard for stealth. As communications are opened, he stand to one side of, and slightly behind, the group's interlocutor, with his glaive to hand.
He will attempt an aid another action to help things along:
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Shabah will walk up towards the gillman. They don't walk up loudly, but certainly with no attempt at stealth, scuffing their boots along the stone, not trying to shade the light of the torches - allowing the gillman to become aware of them and the pathfinders, but without overtly disturbing his prayers.
Speaking quietly, so as to not disturb the gillman before he wishes to speak with them, Shabah explains, The diorama is of Absalom. See? You can see the Starstone Cathedral. Perhaps some of the carvings we have seen may carry greater meaning at this representation of Aroden's holy city.
Suiting action to words, they take a moment to usher the frogs forth from the city.
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Kahwen hangs back and does not sheath his blade since there is a chance the Gillman won't take kindly to being interrupted and might have friends. This way, he is less of a threat but still ready.
Oh yes, I see it now, he says after Shabah explains.
Does anyone feel comfortable talking to him? I fear my tongue is not as quick as my blade and I might offend him.
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Kimberly confirms the assumptions of the others about the carving. and she approaches the gillman.
She kneels beside the gillman.
Pulling out her prayer book she slowly recites some prophesy of the days of Aroden. these are the visions of prophets past
mixed with her readings she weaves an enchantment on herself enhancing her voice to be more soothing.
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Kahwen remains quiet, respectful and keeps his distance from both the Gillman and his shrine. Best to do his best not to offend the man and let his companions with a more friendly demeanor deal with him.
He keeps one golden eye out for trouble, though. There's always the chance this is an ambush and caves are notoriously dangerous places, in general.
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Uori informs you that you have entered a site sacred to the gillmen. It was once sacred to Aroden, the dead god of humanity, as well, but over the past century, the carvings in the nearby room have weathered and melted, and he speculates that soon Aroden’s influence will have faded completely. However, other creatures have invaded the caves and are not so polite as the you have been. He points down one of the other caves toward the creatures
Koani you and blarg see some tracks leading that way but cant make them out
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Kahwen again tucks one hand against his stomach and holds his sword out to the side with the other as he bows to Uori.
He nods to his fellow Pathfinders then points his sword down the passageway. On silent feet he makes his way toward it.
If he sees the tracks he will pause long enough to study and try to identify them.
Then, he'll sneak down the hallway seeing what he can see.
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It seems that today is to be a mission of battle rather than infiltration.
To that end, Shabah withdraws a nearly congealed potion and drinks it down, their muscles straining and twisting, and once that transformation is finished, they begin another one, layering on more mass, more muscle, and more... scales.
