"Time for us to move on," says Isabella after she bandages her arm.
"The line of my blood will hopefully act as an additional deterrent."
"Agreed." Runt heads over to the west door, with Forest in front.
"Hey Forest, how come it is always you getting all bashed about?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Uhh, is it safe to just leave it here?"
"Probably not, but it is even less safe to not leave it here."
The team leaves the room closing the door behind them. Zherxikas moves his eye behind the western door and confirms that there are no creatures on the far side, at least not that he can see. Moving to the western door, Forest opens it to find a bare stone room with another pool of water. This one does not have steps down into it.
(Z should be able to move the eye. If not, let me know. Map updated)
Player status
Abadius 10th, Mid winter
1230, temperature 60
Group Effects:
Zherxikas 54/54;
Runt 87/87; magic vestment, heroism 680rds, clayskin 30/45, heightened awareness 679rds
Kizzy 62/62;
Forest 104/104; heroism 685rds (+2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks)
Isabella 69/69;
Sharks 36/36, 36/36
Kizzy gives a shrug and follows Runt and Forest towards the western room.
After exploring the rooms and finding little else Zherxikas sends his eye under the water once again. This time he checks the western pool and finds a tunnel leading north. All of the pools are connected of tunnels but this northern tunnel is much longer than the ones connecting the visible pools. He also spots the military fork the troll was initially using on the bottom of the central pool.
Runt summons Dretches and gives them jobs. The first is to get the pick and bring it back. The second and third are to go through the new tunnel leading north and explore (assumedly the arcane eye is doing the same), and report back findings telepathically so that Runt can make a map.
Kizzy waits and watches the magical goings on, although tempted to sign a soft time, she lets the spellcasters focus in quiet.
Forest is decidedly uncomfortable with leaving the devil behind, but if Isa says it's safe...
Zherxikas looking through his floating eye and the dretches can confirm that the tunnel running north is a long straight shot into a large body of water. It seems likely it is a tunnel into the Storval Deep itself. The dretches also retrieve the military fork which is magical (+1 vicious). While exploring there is a shudder through the dam and a loud crack.
Isabella mentioned earlier she thought the runes were a connection to the motive force for the dam release valves. You believe the holding cells in the room with the pit fiend are the motive force. The runes will likely siphon life energy away from those standing in either alcove and power up the dam's release valves.
"That sounded ominous. We need to hurry."
Isabella pauses to get her balance.
"Dam's overloaded. We need to figure out how to trigger the sluiceway releases."
Runt tries to figure out where the sluiceways would be and how to open them.
Kizzy is focused on the sudeen shifting of the floors... walls... room itself.
Ummm... in no performance is the shaking a good thing for the heroes...
Forest doesn't know a lot about dams.
Zorlen is able to share the following:
"Isabella mentioned earlier she thought the runes were a connection to the motive force for the dam release valves. I believe the holding cells in the room with the pit fiend are the motive force. The runes will likely siphon life energy away from those standing in either alcove and power up the dam's release valves."
"So we capture a troll or ogre and stick 'em in an alcove? Sounds perfect to me."
Where is a troll when you actually need one!! Kizzy says with a grin towards Runt. Anyone able to guess how long the dam will hold without a motive force?
"What?" Forest asks, perplexed. "The dam runs on living... persons? How does that even work? Are dams not largely passive structures? And who would design something so important to use exotic energies?"
You can't hear it from here but you know it continues to rain outside. With every minute the supernaturally induced storm adds to the pressure on the damaged dam. The accidental spillway, since it is not engineered as such, will slowly pull at the edges around it and will eventually tear the dam apart from there. All can see that possibility and those with engineering know it is true. In order to save the dam and the valley below you will need to release pressure which will cause more flooding down river but will at least keep everything downriver from getting washed away by the great waters pent up in the Storval Deep.
"Could one of Runt's summoned monsters provide motive force?"
"Well, they only last several minutes. It might stave off disaster for a bit, but not for long. I'll give it a try."
Do we need to seal the victims in?
"I'm not sure, but maybe we just need enough to open the sluiceway. If it doesn't automatically close afterward, that should do a controlled release of the overflow, right?"
As far as the mage and cleric can tell the creatures only need go into the siphoning circles so the portcullis blocking each alcove could be opened. Runt summons a beast (a dretch perhaps) and once the creature walks into the circle the runes around them burst into light as do all the runes running back to the replica of the dam. There is a grinding sound and feel as something happens in the dam and then a great roaring noise can be heard, the sound of it so loud it makes it hard to speak to one another.
Runt actually summons a bearded devil (directly inside the circle) since she hates the vile things. Though I suspect the results are the same.
The bearded devil screams when the circle lights up but the pit fiend simply turns to ash and falls apart.
It seems to have worked. Or at the very least, you assume the roaring sound is that of water rushing through the dam. Each alcove seems to have drained its occupant, just the bearded devil may have been healthy enough to survive the process. When asked it does say it felt its life force being pulled away and that it could see the dam as if hovering above it. After it took part of his energy and drained away the last of the pit fiend water began to spill from the skulls on the face of the dam.
Forest shakes his head. "I don't like any of this at all."
Runt, on the other hand, sports a grin as she replies "Can't argue with the results though! Can't say I'll be missing a devil or two from our world, and it seems somehow fitting that they should die this way."
Looking around, she adds, "We should finish exploring the area. Maybe we could find a troll or ogre or two to stick in there."
Looks like her animosity is not restricted to devils. She roots out a hard candy and pops it in her mouth with another smile.
"Sending devils back where they belong makes it a good day," says Isabella in agreement.
"Should we see if we can find a spot from which to view our handiwork? Like up atop the spillway? It would be good to confirm that we've diverted what could be a catastrophic flood of the town."
"I like the idea. With all the damage we will need to speak with someone who can fix it. How does that work?"
"I don't think we even know who built it in the first place. This level of engineering is either magic or dwarves, I guess. Um... I guess we have to do some history research, find out how the dam was made, who might be able to oversee repairs if necessary."
"I can do a little with make whole spells if we stay here for a few days, but in the long run it's going to need more maintenance."
The team makes its way out to the top and looks over the valley below. The water spills in a steady stream from each of the large skulls on the front of the dam.
Head back and check on engineering work? The mayor was going to send up a team and asked if you would ensure it was safe. Perhaps he thinks he has someone who can do the job.
"With all that water headed downstream, maybe we should help the town. Looks like the dam will keep as is, as long as no other saboteurs show up."
"Yes. Let's get back to the mayor and report. If I need to use magic to help control the water around the town, I'll do what I can."
The team packs up gathering anything of value and begins the long journey back. Two miserable days later in the early afternoon the group walks up on Fort Rannick. The repairs are still solid, and you can see new work even though the rain, now mixed with sleet, has not stopped. There is even a guard at the gate, but he quickly recognizes who you are and with the aid of another he gets the gates opened wide.
Vale is glad to see everyone still in one piece. It is good news about the giant being vanquished though the ogres on the dam and the damage done does not bode well. They've managed to clean up all the mess in the fort so there are plenty of bedrooms for everyone. The bad thing is they need more wood to make bedframes, and they are yet to materials for mattresses, so you will need to sleep in your bedrolls. The good news is, it's dry and it's warm.
The next morning there is a hardy breakfast even if the selection is a little limited. Still, all you can eat flapjacks and roasted ham is much better than trail rations. The team heads out soon after breakfast. Winter has definitely decided to come on. It is snowing and a crust of ice had formed overnight. The trees are weighed down with ice and you can hear the crack and pop of limbs as you travel. The second day out of the fort, Forest is hit with a snowball and from the trees you hear someone say, "Hey you, big guy."
Kizzy would provide music and song for those at the Fort after the evening meal, a little entertainment to brighten spirits.
As Forest gets hit by a snow ball Kizzy wishes she had thought of it as she scans for the source.
Runt looks wildly about, wondering if they have been assaulted by mischievous fey, or something more dangerous.
"Who is it out there. You have a name?"
A small man with large gossamer wings appears on a branch nearby (20' high, 30' away). He is dressed in breeches and a vest but seems unbothered by the weather. He waves, "It's me. In retrospect, probably not the best way to introduce myself. I'm Yap, and if you are the ones who freed the fort, I need your help."
Runt looks at the other wonderingly. "Are we famous?"
squinting at the creature...
to identify the creature
She responds with "Maybe. Probably, though I guess it depends on what kind of help you need. How long will it take?"
Pixie, a small fey, usually armed with a bow, sword or both, agile and hard to hit. Flies as fast as a bird.
Special pixie dust arrows which can charm targets, casts illusions, dispel magic, lesser confusion, and entangle. Improved Invisibility at will.
Medium damage reduction overcome by cold iron, Weak spell resistance, can cast shield, detect alignments, and detect thoughts.
What is this? A fey of some kind... Supposedly a kindred spirit to Forest... The ranger returns the snowball...
Kizzy eyes the creature.
A pixie, probably not a threat beyond a snowball… unless it turns invisible. And whatever we plan, it can read our thoughts.
So, what is it my dear Yap, we are the ones who freed the fort, and are currently working to repair the dam that is flooding the town. So, these fine heroes would be the ones, what can we help you with?
Yap steps aside and lets the snowball go by, "Nice try big guy. Maybe another time but we need to talk. My mistress, she is… ill. Very ill. Death would have been a kindness. The land sickens with her heart, and it cannot be cleansed until her misery is purged. I cannot do this myself. Please, you must help her! You are friends with her human lover, yes? He wouldn’t leave her like this! I can take you to her—maybe you can do something. I have tried everything to cure her forlorn heart, but to no avail. She wails and moans in Whitewillow, and the trees and plants and nixies and frogs and everything are dying or worse! I can take you there! Please!”
Runt gets all dopey eyed, and a quiet "Oooooohhhh!" slips from her lips
"A romance adventure?! How novel. Please can we help, guys, please?"
Who is your mistress, and who is her human lover that we would know?