With a quick move Tonny lashes out at the new dino, his whip coiling around one of its legs. A strong pull and the velociraptor lands to the ground tripped!
Ingolf moved up and attacked the tripped dinosaur, before it had the chance to get back up.
"Ebba, defend Adriana!"
Ebba trotted over to attack the reptile attacking the Inquisitor.
Seeing the situation under control and the plant matter receding, he prays for animal growth and sends Lightfoot to the nearest target.
Teeth grit as she grunts in pain from being unexpectedly stabbed in her foot, Adriana stumbles a little as she continues slashing at the dinosaur attacking her.
With the dinosaur on the ground it is pretty easy for Ingolf to strike it with his long hammer. Still, his fatigue makes the swing a bit weak.
Following Ingolf's lead, Ebba charges on the green dinosaur stabbing at it while Adriana fails to cut through.
Splits commands Lightfoot to transform itself, and the small dinosaur becomes larger and larger looking at the attackers aggressively while the druid puts some guidance on.
Jonah does something heroic.
The remaining velociraptor stands up and steps forward to attack the gnome.
The dinosaur's talon leaves an ugly cut on the gnome's right arm.
Ingolf struck at the dinosaur as it stood up. Smarting from the fresh bite on his arm, he stepped back and swung again.
"Ebba, defend me!" he called out as he felt his strength fading.
After dealing with the reptile threatening Adriana, Ebba rushed to defend her master, savagely goring the beast with her tusks. You don't hurt Ingolf!
Ingolf strikes at the velociraptor as it attempts to stand up.
His next attack though is less precise, brought down by the fatigue of his recent raging effort, but Ebba charges in with her powerful tusks and skews the small dinosaur with them, tossing up her head to open the velociraptor's belly from down to up.
The creature lays down lifeless, unable to stand up and quickly dying from the bleeding of its organs pulled down by the boar's attack.
With the ruins calmer, Ingolf can better show the others the lizardfolk paintings depicting an old structure in semi ruins nearby a small river, a lake and a wide jungle. Something in the structure depicted is particularly outstanding. It has no ceiling.
You know that She Who Guides the Wind and Waved demands of her faithful that her temples have no roof, for their ceiling should only be the Sky, and while walls should shelter those inside from aggressors, wind and rain should be always admitted at Gozreh's home.
Also, now that it is calmer, you can better examine the staircase found by the gnome. The staircase leads down, but it is beneath considerable rubble along the northern wall. On its actual condition the passage is sealed and will require a considerable amount of work, but you think it can be cleared out with enough time and effort.
You know the wall shall have collapsed about a decade ago, and it seems someone tried to clear it up before the thing collapsed even further and they let it be.
You also discern how difficult it will be and how to do it safely .
After some search, you find a couple of dead bodies within the rubble. Only their bones remain, but they definitely seem lizard humanoids.
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Tonny pants a bit before stowing his whip and following Ingolf into the ruins. "Are we sure there's nothing else here?" he asks warily before his attention is caught by his surroundings.
"Oh, could this have been a temple to Gozreh once?" the half-elf asks in awe. "Look, these columns weren't built to support a ceiling at all. And that's a tenet of the faith, right - the only ceiling should be the sky?" He looks to Splits-the-Leaves for confirmation before spotting the stairway on the other side of the human and rushing over to explore, all thoughts of temple architecture pushed aside.
"Well, it's very dark down here," Tonny's voice echoes from the stairwell. "But it looks like there was a collapse once, and then someone tried to get in and made it worse. Oh, maybe it was these folks here who left their bones behind? But anyway, we should be able to get through if we're careful and lift with our legs rather than our backs!" Professor Lictenstan used that phrase so much - I still can't believe I signed up for her elective on weightlifting at pre-dawn. If I ever have to make that decision again, it'll be the extra semester of tuition instead. No question, not worth it even to graduate on schedule.
Happy that there were few injuries, the druid looked at Ingolf who seemed to have again eaten the brunt of it. "Are you well? Do you require assistance?" The druid offered his help, there was a lot of danger in this wilderness.
"Lightfoot, stay as so, we may need the power you hold inside." The now larger dinosaur gives a hop and a nod of acknowledgement. The link said that danger was probably still coming, he knew he couldn't talk directly but the feeling was enough.
"Tonny, perhaps we should regroup and aid each other before marching toward the unknown, I understand you thirst for knowledge as I thirst for the truth of these storms but it will do you no good if we were to fall to yet another ambush." His tone isn't upset, but matter of fact. "Yes it seems like this painting was a home for Gozreh."
Now that the fighting was over, Ingolf took a breather and prayed to Gozreh for healing.
He replied to Splits the Leaves, "I'm quite a bit better now; I should be OK for the moment."
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after the battle is over, Jonah inspects his wounds
those beatss sure do leave a mark! fierce creatures, but what a fight! they were magnificient!
there is blood running from several wounds on Jonah, but he looks very happy and energized by the battle. he takes the time to take a few talons and teeth from the dino that he shot down before looking to the others for some healing.
Jonah looks at the ruin skeptically. Do we want to go in there, after the last batch of creatures got smashed in a collapse? you think we could do it safely?
Splits sees the paintings depict a completely different place. While here you are in the ruins of what was a cyclops ancient lighthouse over a cliff near the coast, the paintings depict an old temple, yet much newer and smaller at scale, almost complete in comparison to this ruins you are in now, and nearby a small river surrounded by a lake and a jungle instead of the open sea.
You also remember this area was one of the hunting locations where the lizardfolk also hatched eggs, along with the Tar Pits for what Count Narsus father's explorations uncovered about the region according to what Banker Baldra Sifreh explained during the Town Cuncil meeting.
The druid leaves the paintings, it wasn't the same spot they were at... Where could it be?
He figured now wasn't really the time to look into it when he saw Jonah staggering along, "Here, I can help you." Taking out the wand, he removes some energy from it, transferring it to the hunter.
"Now, what is our next course of action? I have no desire to get crushed, but I also need to solve this mystery. I wonder about that painting and that temple though... Can we find a high point and possibly find it? Something tells me there is much to be found should we find that place... I worry it may have been desecrated or worse by those who follow the Elemental Lord."
It was unfounded, but he had a suspicion. He said nothing more.
"I don't know about specifics, but the ruins I think we should shelter in - everywhere else leaves us exposed in some way. At least the walls provide some protection." Adriana offers as she looks about, knowing little about ruins or those that had come before them, or even the lands she now lived in. A scholar she was not.
But another thought came to her. "We may need something like a base camp if we're to stay and explore, unless we're to brave returning to Pridon's in the dark." It's clear from her tone she'd prefer not to do that, but she doesn't say it outright.
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We just got here, and there is much to explore. if we travel back to the town every night it will waste too much time. we can build camp here in the ruins. I am interested in trying to dig into this ruin, either today or in the morning.
Jonah thanks Splits for the healing, and still has a bit of the excitement of battle in his blood. he walks a circuit of the courtyard looking for signs of more dinos or other dangers, playing with a velociraptor talon in his hand as he walks.
Ingolf didn't know much about excavation. He asked his comrades, "Can we dig the passage out safely, or is it likely to collapse?"
The druid looks around, and nods. "I agree with Jonah, it would be foolish to be traveling back and forth when Gozreh has given us a mostly clear path here. I wouldn't wish to squander it."
He picks up his staff and shrinks Lightfoot back down, "I can help set up camp. This place is protected on more sides than most, and besides we know that right now it is fairly safe. Would anyone like to do a quick survey with me for any further danger?"
Splits and Jonah go around the lower parts of the cliff to check if the place is safe. They find a shallow bog but fortunately they both are expert explorers and manage to get through. They found no trace of predators, but Jonah manages to hunt a small lizard and a marsh duck, while Jonah collects red berries and other small fruits. The two return with their feet all filled with mud but bringing food for seven people and no news of other dangers.
When they make it back, the others have already made a comfortable camp at the shadow of the rocky ruins. The group makes usual watches and enjoys the roasted duck and lizard garnished with berries and fruits.
The night goes uneventful and the next day you wake up and have breakfast and your daily preparations.
With Tonny's understanding of engineering, you are properly guided and organized to remove in a safe way the rocks blocking the stairs. After half an hour of work Ingolf and the animals are already able to squeeze through, but you work for another more hour clearing completely the stairs and securing them as Tonny directs.
Below the basement is absolutely dark and you hear the rhythmic wash of the waves as they hit the rocks from a hole somewhere.
With the setting of camp and a safe quiet night with an exotic meal to compliment their rations, Adriana feels refreshed and finds an enjoyable rhythm as they all carefully but expertly excavate a safe way into the ruins.
It's far darker than she thought (although she doesn't know why she thought she'd see) and keeping as close to the entrance as she safely can she draws her scimitar, mutters a prayer to the Dawnflower and holds it like a torch as it begins to shed light in the umbral chamber.
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Ingolf explored some of the area near the camp, pointing out different plants to Ebba, and telling her a bit about them. Part of his goal was to help her understand more words in Common, but he also enjoyed her company.
After a refreshing night's sleep, and a good breakfast, he was ready to clear out the passage into the basement. He prayed for light, causing the end of his polearm to glow, providing enough illumination to see. Calling Ebba to his side, he descended the stairs to the cavern below.
1st (3 slots, 1 domain, 2 pearls) - Entangle, Faerie Fire, Shield Companion, [Whispering Wind]
2nd (2 slots, 1 domain) - Bull's Strength, Gust of Wind, [Wind Wall]
The druid wakes up the morning, ready for his morning ritual. Getting his magic ready, he find Lightfoot gnawing at some leftovers from the other day. Many other would find it intolerable that their companion would feast on others like its kind, but in this case it was just the circle of life.
Doing his best to help excavate, the druid mainly relegates himself to mostly shifting dirt out of the way and keeping them well fed and hydrated.
Eventually the darkness opens up and he looks toward the others, "I wonder if this place was caved in... or sealed..."
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"Well, it looks like there was at least one cave in caused by someone trying to excavate it," Tonny answers helpfully. "I'd guess they weren't quite as careful as we were. And it certainly wouldn't be out of the question for something to collapse due to natural erosion and whatnot. Maybe the collapse of the tower above sent some shockwaves down here when it fell and that caused the blockage?" The half-elf continues thinking out loud as he follows Adriana and Ingolf down the steps. "Oh, and watch out for weak spots that could collapse if we don't continue to be careful!"
Adriana and Ingolf make their weapons alight as they set feet into the lower grounds.
Black stone lines the walls of this rubble-strewn chamber. Bundles of fishing supplies, faded and dusty, rest near the base of the stairs, while the broken remains of far older pottery line the walls. Two clay urns, each the size of a person, still stand to the east near a natural opening in the stone wall, and a dusty chest lies near the southern wall. To the north, some sort of animal-dug burrow descends into brackish water.
Once the storeroom for the now-destroyed lighthouse, the chamber is carved from the rock of the cliff face and lined with basalt. It extends southward, eventually opening up to a smaller room beyond. The shattered urns were probably used to store food, wine and lamp oil. The two remaining urns cracked centuries ago, spilling their rancid wine across the floor.
Tonny finds no traps as the group advances to the middle of the room.
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The druid looks at and smells the rancid wine, hoping it might lead to a clue about what happened here. He gives a signal to Lightfoot, the feeling of curiosity and sees the young dinosaur's reaction.
Jonah follows slowly, bow drawn, expecting danger even though they had to dig their way in. he watches curiously as Splits and his dino examine the spilled wine.
Ingolf wondered what was in the large clay urns, but he was too short to look inside them. So instead, he and Ebba advanced along the west side of the cavern, towards the shattered urns.
Ingolf finds out whatever food and goods where in these urns, they were spoiled and ruined centuries, or perhaps even millennia, ago.
Lightfoot catches the smell Splits' is offering, it looks at the druid then starts to sniff at the air, then at the ground. The little dinosaur turns around going towards the tunnel to the east, but as she is about to enter, she turns and starts walking south and south sniffing the ground.
Adriana approaches Splits to offer him the light of her scimitar for the druid to see what his dinosaur is doing.
Lightfoot directs herself invariably to the chest at the south, just at the edge of your light sources.
"Erosion and I would guess storms too. And once there were no more cyclopses, it would only be a matter of time - like an abandoned house on a waterfront." Adriana muses as she slowly provides light and a little speculation; as sturdy as it seemed below, the lighthouse was still a ruin.
"Anything salvageable will probably be worth good coin to the Count. I can't imagine drinking it though, smells like it's soured at best..." She says as she watches, then follows Lightfoot while attempting to provide light to most of her fellows and watching for...well, something.
Ingolf moved towards the chest that the dinosaur seemed to be taking an interest in. He raised his glowing Lucern Hammer to provide better illumination.
Splits sends a pulse of worry toward the dinosaur, "That chest. She seems to have smelled something over there."
"I can't imagine drinking this, yet alone taking anything out of here." Taking his staff out, he thanks Adriana for the light.
When Ingolf and Lightfoot approach, the chest suddenly comes to life as it grows long, glistening tentacles and a number of sharp teeth it uses to pounce over the small dinosaur!
Unaware of the true nature of the chest everyone is surprised.
The jaws inside the chest crush Lightfoot who gets stuck in the adhesive layer that covers the creature, and falls unconscious due to the damage.
This is a mimic, a shapechanging aberration.
Mimics are thought to be the result of an alchemist’s attempt to grant life to an inanimate object through the application of an eldritch reagent, the recipe for which is long lost. Over time, these strange but clever creatures have learned the ability to transform themselves into simulacra of man-made objects, particularly in locations that have infrequent traffic by small numbers of creatures, thus increasing their odds of successfully attacking their victims.
They have an adhesive coat that leaves all weapons stuck (unless success in a Ref save), and grabs automatically creatures they hit. Those creatures are subject to constrict.
Most interestingly, they are able to change into the shape of any object of their approximate size.
"what is that?! Jonah yells. but he quickly fires two arrows at whatever it is after it bites the little dino
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”Aah! A mimic!” Tonny’s whip is in his hand before he realizes it might not be the best idea. ”They’re really really really sticky, so be careful when you hit it or your weapon will stick to it! Nobody knows why they’re so sticky, but they’re admittedly a difficult subject to study when they grab you and squeeze you so hard your ribs break - I can attest to that creating non-optimal research conditions. And there’s always the question of how they know what to mimic to get creatures to investigate them. Do you think they’d know what a chest was if they’d never seen one before, or do they just instinctively know about wood and hinges and locks?” As his mouth runs, so do his feet until he stands next to the small dinosaur and tries to pull them out of their sticky situation.
Ingolf cried, "Ebba, attack!", as the "chest" suddenly tried to eat Lightfoot! He stepped back and swung his polearm at the false storage container.
Ebba moved around the creature's side and tried to gore whatever it was.
Scimitar held high to keep the chamber lit, the confusion caused as the chest suddenly springs to life and attacks puts pause on her reaction, and Tonny's explanation only confuses her further, but it doesn't stop her stepping forward and helping the half-elf pull Lightfoot to safety.
Finding a shot clean of cover, and properly illuminated by Ingolf's light, both of Jonah's arrows fly and strike true on the fake chest!
Identifying the creature as a mimic, Tonny rushes to unstick Lightfoot and drag him to safety, which helped with Adriana, they succeed.
Ingolf and Ebba team up to strike powerfully at the aberration, leaving terrible wounds behind. They are surprised with the stickiness of the mimic's surface!
Ebba finds out her gore is stuck at the adhesive slime and fails to pull back from the chest!
The mimic responds by crushing her with his jaws.
The fake chest crushes and constricts with his terrible jaws at the stuck Ebba, who falls unconscious from the terrible wounds.
Ingolf deftly avoided getting his weapon stuck. When the thing savaged Ebba, his anger overcame him as he cried, "Ebba! You'll pay for that!"
He furiously chopped the monster with his poleaxe. Energized by his rage, the invisible spirits surrounding him joined in the attack.
Seeing the animals that had faith in them get crushed by the monster, the druid moves up as fast as he can to protect the boar that is currently being gnawed on.
He summons up his restorative magic then moves into the melee.
Tonny drags Ebba out of danger, enough for Splits to come and use a healing on her that help the boar wake up although still a bit confused.
Quickly recovering the long hammer from the adhesive, Ingolf looks for all his fury to deliver the strongest he can over the fake chest. The gnome crushes the strange beast that emits a shriek of pain. A group of spirits emerge as he rages surrounding the mimic but not damaging it.
not entirely sure if his arrows are doing much against a chest, jonah has nothing else to try so he shoots it a few more times
With the chest-creature now attacking and constricting Ebba and Tonny having Lightfoot in safety, Adriana rushes forward to support Ingolf, hacking at the creature as if it was flesh instead of wood and praying it would be helpful.
Jonah's arrows are definetely being effective, it seems this is no real chest but an aberration, and whether his first arrow and Adriana's scimitar fail to hit, the hunter's second arrow lodges deep into the fake chest body and sends it to the floor motionless.
You perceive a secret door at the southern wall, just behind the spot the mimic was posing like a chest.