(#Q-06) "Archaeology in Aspenthar" (Inactive)

Game Master rainzax

Bikpek watches with mild concern as the party one by one tumbles into the water. He knew it wouldn't hurt too-too much. And them all falling in was good for moral. Probably. Despite his earlier insistence of keeping up appearances, he accepts the kind healers efforts gratefully.

"Hmm is okay if me-no learn Arazani god-magic, maybe when Bikpek is bigger he will learn. Or maybe learn not-god-magic instead Hmmm Hmmmmm."

As the others are getting patched up Bikpek looks for a comfy nook in the cliff where he can rest.

"Rests are important!" he asserts to no one in particular as he sits against the cliffside and begins absently scratching pictures in the dirt.

Seaside Archaeology (Part Three)

The party rests an hour to treat their rock-climbing wounds, and Sefu yells down "You all alright? Didn't sound too good from up here!" and whether that humor in his voice is "with" or "at", it remains difficult to tell "I'll be here awhile longer" he announces, the sound of his voice barely audible over the wind.

Eventually, the party is invited into an opening that spirals deep into the cavern, where the sun's mid-afternoon light shines not 20 feet inside, whereupon venturing further would immediately plunge one soon into darkness. The tide seems to be rising, but slowly, as maybe once or twice the hour a single wave crashes over into the cavern, spilling it's salty water inside.

...

1) What will you be Holding as you enter the Cavern?
2) Any changes to Exploration before we transition inside?
3) Please place your Tokens onto the Map in my QM Bar or Campaign Tabs!

As they advance into the cavern's opening, Erryn draws her rapier and keeps it at the ready, as she watches and listens carefully for any dangers.

Still using Search!

Bikpek redraws his Oversized Horsechopper, holding it out unsteadily in front of him, following close behind Erryn. His Red goblin eyes peer into the darkness
still searching too

Endra smiles warmly and thanks Erryn for looking at her wounds. They're not the worst, I know, but better for us to be as fresh as possible proceeding into these depths.

She gets her longbow in hand. The quiver remains snuggly secured, sideway at her hip such that it's lightning fast to draw arrows. Her head swivels back and forth as they proceed into the cavern. Keeping the Search activity.

Landitho stands behind Aktuh. "Oh noble orc, will you save me from whatever lies ahead?". She looks at the big orc expectantly.

With her (wet) violin in hand, Landitho starts playing some music. Hopefully the music will *ping* with magic.

Detect Magic

Just so everyone knows, Aktuh has Assurance (Medicine) and van auto-hit a DC 15 Treat Wounds (and Battle Medicine). I am on my phone but I will put myself on the map tomoreow morning.

Aktuh shields anyone who is afraid, but is quite frank in admitting he is not a warrior.

"I'm a lover, not a fighter," he explains.

I'm counting Zero Light Sources so far...

Endra has low-light vision but could also light a torch.

Sorry yesterday internet was offline, I'll try to get updated since a lot seems to have happened

Elize is holding nothing at the moment and is searching for anything suspicious or noteworthy, she is a bit nervous due to the darkness.

"Hey guys I can't see too much, human's eyes you know... Mind if I turn on a torch before continuing?" Asked the swashbuckler who is in a rather awkward position.

Adventurer pack has 5 torches and flint so... I can hold it and all, just hope it doesn't make or position too obvious.

"My ancestry allows me to see in the dark," Aktuh points out, "But I don't mind if people light torches. It'd be unusual for us to be attacked on a simple archaeology expedition."

"I know but... Is just that all this Prince Zinlo business gives me a bad vibe, I didn't wanted to sour the mood of his representatives but is kinda suspicious, perhaps is just my imagination but is anything happens I bring my weapon just in case." commented the human and she starts to kindle one torch.

Now holding the torch with my offhand (the left one) so I can use the right one to draw my rapier if needed

"MMhmm Bikpek want to trust.... But best be cautious me-thinks. And Light is good either way. Anything that lives in this dark will be big-used-to it. If we bring hand-sun with us, Perhaps they will be offkilter."

He nods his head in firm agreement of himself, and readjusts his grip on his Horsechopper.

Seaside Archaeology (Part Four)

While Elize alone lights the way, the party hikes deeper into the dark caverns. Up ahead, Aktuh, Bikpek and Landitho spot the beginning of an underground structure, and as Eliza approaches to within the radius of the Torchlight, it slowly becomes visible to the rest of the party as well - first to Endra at 40-feet out, then to Elize and Erryn at 20 feet out. Landitho plays the faintest eerie tune on his violin.

A room with what may have once been three doors - two of them seemingly blocked by a massive Cave-In - the third door somewhat in tact. The party decides how to enter this room...

I preserved Marching Order to advance you - please move your Token into this First Room!

...

...

So?

Detect Magic has a range of 30 ft. Will add that to header.

"No magic here guys. Just rock ... and more rock."

Aktuh moves into the room. "It seems like it would take several hours - maybe even days - to remove the rock. I suggest we go around."

He looks around for signs that anyone else has been here recently, and will Pursue a Lead designating the room as the target of his investigation.

Aktuh has Terrain Expertise (underground) and should get a +1 to Survival checks in this area. If he finds any tracks, he will additionally designate them as the target of his investigations (he'll stop investigating Melota for the time being).

"Not even magic? Nothing interesting here as far as I can tell, any idea guys? I don't think we're going to get anything from these pikes of rocks." commented a bored Elize upon hearing Landitho said that there's no magic.

"Perhaps we miss something on our way here, what do you think Aktuh?"

Elize moves slowly towards the northern pile of rocks trying to get a clearer view with the light of her torch or to see if anything actually happens

"Hmm, maybe come back for blocked doors. Me-agree with Aktuh. In meantime, this way?"
Bikpek scampers up to the intact door and tries to open it, releasing a hand from his Horsechopper to do so.

Erryn frowns into the dim light around her. "An inauspicious beginning."

Endra holds her bow a little more closely as Bikpek opens gets ready to open the door. Now that it matters she's a little less on about her theory of the site being pre-cleared.

Bikpek! Are you sure there aren't traps there, before you open that door?

Search (Perception): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Landitho hangs behind the orc. "So tell me, Aktuh, what do you think we'll find here?"

All the time, she softly plays her violin, hoping something will *ping*

"Elize," Erryn says, as Bikpek runs up to the door, "would you be able to bring the light over here so we can see what we're working with?"

"Oh..! Sure, sure, let me help you." Said Elize before going to Erryn but not without noticing Bikpek.

"Hey wait for us! Commented the swashbuckler not wanting to be left behind yet stayed at Erryn's side.

Aktuh will follow Bikpek in, unless he found something else of interest.

Seaside Archaeology (Part Five)

Scattered bits of ancient armor lie discarded haphazardly around this room. Ancient tools, some plainly built for alchemy or armor maintenance and others much less clear in origin, are stored on shelves along the walls, which are adorned with carvings of figures in ornate plate armor.

Two of the three doorways appear to have Cave Ins - a single door leads eastward.

...

...

So?

"Fortune favors the bold, let's go through that door! is the only possible way." suggested Elize but didn't move yet waiting for the whole party to agree on a course of action but if Bikpek takes the lead she'll be more than happy of following him.

Society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Hmmm.. I say we move on. This stuff here looks useless.". Landitho nods at Elize. "Agreed. Fortune does lie ahead."

"I found a ping! A ping I found!". She heads over to the pile of mismatched armor. "Lookie here guys. An oil. Not sure what it does though. Magic for sure.". Her voice becomes quick as she's excited. She's never actually detected anything magic before.

Society: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"Plate armor?! Ancient Osirian armor tended to be light, both stylistically and for enhanced mobility. Something isn't right ..."

GM, just a quick correction, I am holding a rapier.

"An oil of potency," Erryn says, examining the vial. "A good find, Landitho! Very handy if we get into a fight. Not sure how interesting it would be to archaeologists, though."

Endra turns to Landitho to confirm what he's sensing, adding onto Erryn.

Yes, it strengthens the effectiveness of a weapon or piece of armor for a minute.

Turning towards the next door indicated by Elize, Endra checks it for traps.

Search (Perception): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Bikpek enthusiastically scampers over to an engraved wall and brushes a hand against the carving...

Society: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"no no no Aktuk be-right. To big-hot here for plate like that, like being in a Witches oven..."

He stares at the carved figures and grips his Horsechopper tightly.

"if this carving not-big-fake, then we must have made a wrong assumption. Maybe the people in plate not in plate at all and our eyes are funny. or maybe the people in plate not people. Big-many..." He struggles for the word in Taldain..."...Bad spirit monsters look like armor. Or maybe armor worn by spirits, or magic special men who don't feel the heat. Or maybe the Ruin isn't Orisani at all. HMMMmm Hmm. He puffs, out of breath after talking so quickly.

He perks up, his ears twitching with trepidation. "Big armor monsters live big-longer than Bikpek or even Elvses maybe? We should be careful."

As the party try to make sense of the items strewn about this room, they prepare to enter through the only non-Caved-In door...

...

...

We are 2/6 on the Map - waiting to Progress!

Landitho sets the mood with some exquisite violin music as they walk along.

Craft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Crafting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 +1 from investigating the room?

Opened the spoiler but it was the same text as the Society check before. Is that intentional?

"Magical oil, huh? Perhaps it's some kind of enhancer for sure, those ancient Osiriani surely like that sor of things." commented a happy Elize before starting to look for any other possible treasure or trap... Anything on the floor/ground.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Rolling Perception to search, gotta roll for something I guess

Seaside Archaeology (Part Six)

Several doorways line this long hall - about a dozen on either side, one at it's terminus - and a strong stale smell fills the air. Further down (Aktuh, Bikpek, Landitho), it seems to wind north.

1) Who is taking the Oil? Please post if you are doing so.
2) How to proceed down this Hallway? Please place your Token within.

"Just look at those, there gotta be a dozen or so, hey Bikpek what do you think? Shall we..? Explore them? I bet there are more treasures inside these rooms, come to think about it what this whole place was supposed to be? It's smelly..."

A hall with a dozen doors... Elize can't help but wonder about the whole place, was it a tomb, an armory or something else? She isn't trained in any relevant skill so I'd appreciate if someone can try to recall knowledge about it, maybe architecture or similar.

Craft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Landitho slowly plays her violin, softly. "Perhaps this was a barracks of some sorts.". She hangs back while she waits for someone with a bit more oomph goes in.

Landitho will wait until at least one or two other people go in first.

Crafting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"The smell is a strong alchemical one, untouched for a long time, and now stale to the nose."

Aktuh will hold it unless someone can identify it.

Aktuh will go down the corridor second, and he'll draw his shortbow.

"This place is starting to give me the creeps."

Occultism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"Ancient Osirion was not known for its alchemical or mechanical inventions. Someone else has been here."

Bikpek sniffs deeply.

Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"Bikpek agree with Aktuh, the ancient Orisani were clever, but not clever in a way that smelt like this. Perhaps this place was an... Embassy? A different Longshank tribe being based here would explain the misplaced iconography me-thinks. This ruin is a big-happy find."

He turns to Elize.

"Bikpek thinks we wont know until we checks. You pocket the oil for now, it will helps with the Braveheart-Stabbing. Horsechopper too big to apply oil in a pinch" he says, smiling at Elize.

Bikpek will move down the corridor, opening and peering into each door he comes across.

Bikpek inches into the hallway while his party stays back...

So?

Aktuh will follow Bikpek in. He listens at the first door, and then opens it.

Endra follows Bikpek as well, and check doors always to see if she should stop a teammate from opening it!

Be careful! Remember: traps! I'll take a look if you don't mind...

Perception (traps): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

If she finds nothing, Endra gives Bikpek the all-clear.

Landitho follows Endra, Aktuh, and Bikpek, playing the violin as she walks.

Aktuh walks up to a door and listens...

Which door?

Aktuh walks up to a door and listens...

Which door?

Marked with a yellow arrow.