ok, just getting this set up right now for people to ghost
Sydrone is the DM.
if he stops, then we will turn this into a round table, where we each take turns DMing a short adventure.
just have fun and everything might go smoothly.
here you go.
I shall allow anyone to step up and take the mantel of the DM.
Otherwise, I'll try to have something ready in a few weeks
I have never Gm'ed on a PBP before , but have done it live on a table top for years (mostly D&D 3.5/ pathfinder). I am happy to do it if I can quickly learn how to do google maps. I could have something up and going by the end of the week if you want.
If you want to, and that is your plan, have at it.
Ok, we just need to have everyone doted in. And give me a few days to have everything ready.
no problem
The PCs have arrived at Duvik’s Pass and are hired by Arianna Tungstan (chief miner's wife), who’s husband and other miners is infected with a Plague and is dying.
She believes that only by venturing into the mines and finding the source of the Plague and perhaps it’s cure can the she hope to save her husband and the other miners.
”Thank you all for coming. I do not have that much information I can pass on to you. But what I do know is this. Hope and industry has turned to despair and potential ruin about four months ago with the advent of the Burning Plague, that is what it has been named. It began quietly enough, with the miners returning home from their work at nightfall complaining of blistering sores and an unbearable thirst.
Shortly thereafter, the town’s livestock was decimated by an unknown illness and her crops began to wither. The elders of Duvik’s Pass declared that the well water had been soured by an unknown disease, but by then the Burning Plague had already begun claiming the young and the sickly. To make matters worse, the last few men still strong enough to plumb the wealth of the mine have not been heard of just over half a month past. The townspeople, continue to hope and await the return of their missing sons and husbands, while praying for an end to the sickness that continues to spread within their home. I fear that you few are our only hope in saving my town and it’s people.”
"We will look into it," Ourias says, the seriousness in his tone and demeanor belying his youth, "I cannot promise results, but I can promise that we will do what we can to get to the bottom of this plague and bringing any behind it to justice." The blond knight clad in scale armor turned to his tiefling companion, "you have questions or comments?"
Arianna tells you
"The very old and very young seem to be the most effected. But almost all the miners have come down with it and it's their families that are also mostly affected. Once we found the well water tainted it helped slow the spread, but never stopped it. It seems those that are known to be able to fight off colds seem to do OK. They may get sick at first but, slowly recover. But many of them would catch it again from a family member or friend and get sick all over again.
My husband Jacen, told me that the miners found rats that seemed sick with sores on their bodies. Those same miners who got rid of the rats were the same ones who first became sick four months ago. My husband came down with the sickness, but I guess since he is as healthy as a ox. He was able to recover from it. So he lead the few miners that were left back into the mine a few weeks ago. Most of the time the miners would stay there for a few days maybe a week. But never this long and I fear for his safety."
Arianna tells you "I have someone how might be of help. His name is Quonx. He's a dwarf miner that arrive a day ago looking for work. I was thinking that an experienced miner might be of some use to you.
Ah here he comes now."
As a heavy muscled dwarf walks in.
A very strong dwarf wearing scale mail walks in and looks you both up and down. His eyes seem to linger on Tiefling.
"Well ye two ready ta walk in the belly of the mountain? Make sure ye bring light."
When the party is ready to move out Arianna hands you a small pouch.
"These supplies are to help you on you search. And if you see my husband please let him know that I am worried for his safety."
In the pouch there are 3 healing potions and 3 vials of Antitoxin.
Ourias smiles softly before returning to his hyper-serious demeanor, "let's be on our way, time is a luxury we do not have."
It takes the party 3 hours to makes it's way from the valley floor where the town is, up a long graveled road that winds up to the snow covered mountain.
A cool breeze drifts down from the towering peaks of the Serpentcoil Mountains as you behold the entrance to the caverns. The frost-rimed
ground is littered with tools, picks and shovels, some of which protrude from soft banks of snow.
A single darkened shaft leads into the depths of the mine ahead. The dirt path beneath its wooden support structure is covered with stone debris, a few pieces of which occasionally glint with the slightest hint of ore. No light issues forth from the tunnel. Burnt-out torches are strewn across the floor, their brackets torn from the shaft walls.
Behind you, the worn road leads back through the crags to the valley below. Aside from the quiet whistling of the wind, complete silence fills the small clearing within the mountains.
As you start your way in to the mine, Everyone notices that the wooden supports to the tunnel are chipped and torn, as if having been damaged in recent battle.
And Quonix points out that they are also stained with blood.
The mine shaft goes further than Quonix's dark vision.
The tunnel opens into a small, roughly rectangular chamber. Scattered chunks of silver ore surround an overturned pair of wooden carts. The
lower half of what appears to be a human body juts out from beneath one of the cart’s edges. It shows no signs of movement. Dried blood is
smeared across the western wall in several places. Exits lead to the North and the South.
The north exit is a tunnel 30 feet long that leads to a closed wooden door.
The south exit is a gradually sloping ramp that leads downward for at least 60 feet.
The chunks of silver ore can be salvaged and are worth 200 gp
All you can see are the legs and the body is pinned beneath the cart.
Quonix wanders around looking at all the silver ore.
"There be quite a bit of silver laying around here, might be more trouble than it's worth to get it though."
Quonix walks over to see what Livia might have found.
Quonx grabs hold of Livia's arm and point out the cart the body is pinned beneath is rigged with a line attached to a thunderstone concealed in the ceiling above. Anyone disturbing the cart, either by turning it over or by seeking to drag the body out from beneath it, will snap the line and send the thunderstone crashing to the ground.
You were able to disarm the trap and retrieve the Thunderstone.
With a little work the group was able to roll the mining cart off the body.
The corpse is a miner with the name tag, Jacen Tungstan. He is obviously the victim of foul play, having suffered several puncture wounds to the chest and neck area.
Tungstan had symptoms resembling those of the Plague and that he has been dead for about two weeks. The check also reveals that there are a number of crude broken crossbow bolts within the puncture wounds that Jacen apparently died from.
Bending down Quonx checks the body.
"Poor bugger is dead, not sure for how long ago it happened. Ourias ye want to take a look?"
From beyond the door you hear the doglike yapping of the kobolds on the other side of the door as they eat and talk with one another.
With Quonix understanding Draconic he whispers to the rest of the party what is being talked about.
• The kobolds are very nervous and would like to leave the mines as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, their commander has determined that they must stay for the time being.
• Some manner of creature has been stealing the dead from their camp while they sleep. Most of the humans have already been stolen and even a few kobold corpses have gone missing.
• There must be a curse to this mine. Half of their band has already died from strange fevers or horrible coughs.
Quonix gives a chuckle.
"Ah do all me negotiating with me sword. But I can try me best in making them understand."
"Oh no, if the yipping little nuisances speak Infernal I will just kill them," Ourias says half heartedly but still with enough seriousness to lead you to believe he just might, "however, the could be cause of the plague or just more victims of it."
This large, square room houses four long wooden tables, each with a bench on either side. On top of the tables lie a number of wooden bowls and eating utensils. In the southeast corner of the room, a small stewpot steams over a fireplace carved into the floor. A pungent odor hangs in the air.
Eight Kobolds are in the room startled by the door opening and seeing the adventures there. They all start to scramble for their weapons barking out to kill the intruders that Quonix quickly tells the party.
Livia knocks on the door. The talking stops, There is some shuffling noises and you hear in Draconic "The door is open, just come in. Soup is hot and ready.
"kill them!" A Koblod barks out. And you hear tables being over turned.
2 crossbow bolts slam in to the door jam preventing the door to be closed.
And starts the fight.
The two front tables are flipped over and are providing cover to those on the north side of them.
Init order, bold is up
Kobolds #1 and #5
The party
Kobolds (the rest of them)
Ourias rushes into to the room in an attempt to subdue the kobolds. As he pass Livia he quickly shouts, "CartStilltTrappedDontMoveIt." Ourias bursts into the room attacking the first kobold he can reach.
You were able to disarm the trap and retrieve the Thunderstone.