The situation continues to sink into Joras further beating on his spirit.
Numbly he asks, "I suppose looking for a way to lift the gate is best, but still how much more can we fight before being overwhelmed? Can you heal more Roya or have you drawn on Ol' Deadeye's favor to his limit?" Turning to Brandark, "Brandark, you have the most skill in crafting, can you make a guess as to how and where the wheel of the gate would be? I would guess close for practical reasons but I know little of such matters."
"Almost doesn't matter how much more fight we have in us. If we can't take more than one scuffle like this a day, we'll run out of food before we figure out what's going on."
We will not be running out of food. i got enough on me to last us one more day. With the gate, i cant be sure where the ancestors put the opening mechanism
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Retracing your steps back, you find no doors or chambers until you get back to the beginning platform from this level. As you return, the writing that Miron spoke of is there for all to see.
To the south you might take your east, to rest and reflect on Kassen’s deeds. To the east lies the wheel, to open the gate. To the west is the resting place of Kassen, hero of the Fangwood.
Looking and listening to the other two directions from this chamber, you hear nothing coming from the south.
To the east you see that the hallway splits in two directions, both are flooded with water as the path descends gradually. The north path leads to a door that looks waterlogged. To the south, it looks like it opens to a larger chamber.
"I can heal a few more times, both via Erastils blessing, and the wand has some charges left, as well. No idea how many it started with but it's not empty, yet."
She looks at Conrad, then back to Joras: "I know he's still hurt. But I'm not sure if I should heal him NOW, someone else may get hit, be about to bleed out, and there may be no magic left to safe them...the more healing we spend, the more cautious we need to move forward. I am not too worried on the food, we won't starve after a day or two of fasting, but if there's a chance someone might still be alive, captured, or hiding deeper in the tomb, like Roldare did, ...we should aim to push as far as we safely can-", she sighs, knowing full well that her decision to heal or not heal could cost someone their life, either way. She had not thought it would be this hard.
She only had wanted to HELP people. Was this why the Father had decided to leave the military? So he would not need to watch people die because of decisions he made?
Conrad carefully makes his way towards the door. As he does so, he realizes the floor continues to slop and by the time he is at the door he is standing in 2-ft of water. But, he does not see any traps along the way. As he continues to examine the area he discovers that the door is waterlogged and swollen.
Listening at the door he can hear the faint croaking of frogs on the other side.
The door looks wedged because it is swollen, but you also believe that because it is swollen it might be easier to break down.
Joras looks even more glum at Perri's words of less than cheer in a cheerless situation. He watches Conrad's bold foray with deeping concern, as he listens to the others, as it becomes clear the water may raise close to or over Joras's head.
He brightens with Roya's good news about her healing but while her words of caution are reasonable he begins to sense some weight upon her spirit. As to be expected she wishes to push on to their limits and purhaps beyond. Joras moves up to Roya and says quietly to her, "All you can do is your best, we trust you, and I too worry about when to use my little magics."
Joras remarks, "It looks like the water is very deep, could be a problem for me. If I'm up to my neck in water, moving or dodging might not be possible."
"Break the door, or try the open path first?"
Lets push on this way. once we break down the door, lets see if anything can float for our shorter members
Joras cautions, "Maybe leave the food you are carrying in a dry area. If you fall or the water goes much higher it could be ruined." Nodding at Brandark Joras replies, "That's a good idea, thanks Brandark."
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With a mighty swing Conrad breaks down the door with two swings. The waterlogged wood easily comes apart where the planks were originally held together. There are some planks that stay together and float in the water.
The room is filled with water, probably as deep as the outside corridor. The chamber is in an advanced state of decay, with a gaping hole in the ceiling admitting a constant trickle of water. Three stone sarcophagi in this room are almost completely covered in a thick carpet of moss and fungus.
On the south side of the wall near the furthest sarcophagi is another wooden door.
You aren’t fully sure, but it when you broke the door down it looked as if something moved or fell off of the furthest sarcophagi.
This is stuff that your characters would not know, but impacts how you move forward so RP accordingly.
The floor in here continues to slope and the water gets deeper. In this chamber the water is 3-ft deep. Medium sized creatures/PCs count the area as difficult terrain, no 5-ft steps & half speed. Small sized creatures/PCs must make swim checks to move around the chamber.
Hey guys and gals, it looks to be getting deeper, so lets go get some wood from outside, or another door, and put together a raft for our shorter people. Myself included.
I just don't feel like jumping up and down to move forward to keep my head above water.
He then puts actions to words, and heads back to where the tower shields were, and drags them back to where we are.
One each, should do for a raft, that should hold both of you and our packs
Miron shudders at the thought of more water, but grundingly sloshes through after the others.
"You reckon there's any way to plug that up?" he asks, looking up at the hole in the ceiling. "Maybe the water'll drain away eventually?
Probably not for at least a week." he adds glumly.
Brandark goes and retrieves the discarded tower shields. It takes a few minutes, but the dwarf returns with the bulky load. Placing them in the water reveals that they will help those who are smaller sized stay above water. They are not designed for what is being attempted and are clunky and difficult to get around. But, they will do.
As you move in and Miron brings up the idea to plug the hole, a Giant Frog leaps onto the middle sarcophagi splashing the murky water everywhere. From where it stands it opens its mouth and a massive tongue flies towards Brandark. Like catching a fly, Brandark is stuck to this massive sticky tongue. The frog tugs and even pulls Barndark 5-ft towards it onto the sarcophagi.
This is a Giant Frog. Like its counterpart that you would have seen in the woods and around the village, it catches it pray with its tongue and pulls it in to swallow it whole.
They are territorial and protect their nest and mate.
Initiative: Round 1
Frog
All of You
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"I think I've seen s-something," Conrad tells the group before they go fetch the tower shields. Unfortunately, no one can make out anything in the darkness of the room, and by the time the giant frog attacks Brandark, it's too late to react swiftly.
Alarmed, the barbarian calls out for the dwarf, and trudges through the water to reach him. However, he can't move as fast as he would like to.
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Our little minstrel says, his voice wavering, "This might not be a good idea can the room be checked?", a bit too late to matter.
Joras hangs back with everyone else filing past as he becomes lost in memories.
Flashback - years ago in the time of the tragic flood.
The harsh winter breaks with a freak heatwave and pouring rains. The land is swiftly flooded. Joras' grandparents, Jipp and Kofeza, both strong, lift the sandbag atop the improvised levee while Jorah and his sons help fill the bags with sand swiftly getting soaked. Sudden lighting shows a leak. Jipp shouts "The end may fall it would flood the neighboring hallow." Jipp and Kofeza run to the end bags in hand weighting it down but it tilts just enough, they fall over and the torrent sends them down the river as Joras stands transfixed with terror.
Days later the woodsmen bring in the bodies embraced in death, found downriver on the banks. The funeral was bleak and the day cold and clammy. Young Joras huddles in misery feeling that somehow he failed them.
Now
Joras hears the cries of battle coming from around the corner while gripped in his waking nightmare.
Weakly his tuneless voice croaks out, "What's .. What's happening?" Joras begins shaking while the little food he had in him considers making a break for exiting.
It's just one room. Do we REALLY all have to go into that stale water?", Roya wonders. She was not too keen on getting drenched searching a flooded room for some hidden mechanism that may or may not still work considering the damage the water might have done.
At least, she didn't want to have all her clothes be wet for the rest of the day - there was too little warmth and too little air circulation in this tomb for fabric to dry swiftly.
So Roya remained just outside the water, starting to take off her Gambeson, when suddenly an oversized Frog snatched Brandark.
Standing in her Undergarments, she quickly fetches the bow from her pack, and an arrow from the quiver, firing a single arrow at the creature.
The intent was there, but the action was hasty, and the arrow harmlessly clanks against the back-wall of the room with not even enough force to break the arrow, before falling into the water.
Conrad wades deep in the murky water that hides even his thighs just below the water’s edge. He gets face to face with the Frog that has Brandark grappled.
Joras snaps out of the past nightmare of floods before.
Initiative: Round 1
Frog
All of You
Miron cries out in surprise as Brandark is suddenly jerked forward in fron of him. He pushes his way through the water into the room to get a clear view of the frog, then murmurs a spell and launches an aurora of blue and green over the frog.
– Roya move around the bend seeing the massive tongue stretching from Brandark to the oversized frog. Loosening an arrow, it flies wide from the creature. Barely missing
Moving forward Miron spreads out his hands as a vivid cone of colors springs from them.
To frog’s tongue loosens, freeing Brandark, and falls lifelessly on the table
Initiative: Round 1
Frog
All of You
Brandark stands up being freed from the grip of the tongue and draws his Urgosh ready to finish off the giant frog.
Perri moves up, Bill in hand, and moves forward to attack the giant frog in case it moves away from Conrad.
The frog on the sarcophagi continues to slumber, but with a splash of water two more frogs reveal themselves. One just east of Conrad, and one leaping upon the furthest sarcophagi. Their large tongues fly from their mouths, attempting to catch their pray. Perri fends off the attack with his Bill, but Conrad’s attention was focused on the frog in front of him and he is Grappled by this giant frogs tongue. It pulls him 5-ft closer; mouth open ready for a meal.
Initiative: Round 2
Frog 1
Frog 2 & 3
All of You
.
Splashing further into the room, Miron concentrates his magic into a swift ray of ice towards the frog that has Conrad in its grasp.
Conrad tried to break through the grapple but is unsuccessful. Miron lets free a Ray of Frost that damages the frog.
Initiative: Round 2
Frog 1
Frog 2 & 3
All of You
Joras regains control of himself and peeks around the corner. As usual, all hell is breaking loose like at almost every other room in this stygian disaster. Evaluating the size, shape, and quality of the hall and what he can see of the flooded room he forsakes his mandolin for a louder instrument. Summoning a violin, he tucks the comicaly oversized piece between his shoulder and chin preparing to play.
Move up and summon instrument.
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"More of them?", Roya comments with her voice hovering somewhere between disbelief and slight panic.
She drops her bow and wades into the water in her undergarments, just far enough that she is confident her patrons energy would reach Conrad.
She had previously taked with Joras about this, but seeing what was probably the closest thing to a big brother she had get dragged away by a frog made the decision really easy, all of a sudden.
Perry, can you work around to get to Conrad, don't worry about this one.
Brandark comments as moves up, and winds up the bladed edge of his Urgosh for a decapitating's strike on the frog in front of him.
One way to be sure that I can get to him, is kill everything between us.
Joras moves forward and summons a violin. Roya channels energy that floods the room. Brandark moves forward and kills the unconscious frog. Perri moves forward and attacks out with his Bill.
Opening its mouth, the frog’s tongue launches and hits Perri, but is unsuccessful in grappling the fighter, but the frog grappling Conrad pulls him 5-ft closer with the looks of predator that will Swallow Hole its prey.
Initiative: Round 3
Frog 1
Frog 2 & 3
All of You
.
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Conrad makes a second, even more desperate attempt to evade the frog's grapple. Frenzy gives way to panic, and though he can sense his strength leaving him (as always when he exerts himself too much), he can still feel the effects of adrenaline.
As soon as he's free, Conrad rushes away from the frog's maw, and closer to Perri.
Brandark steps around the crypt, and tries to put himself between the frog in the corner and conrad.
HP:8/8 AC:16
Conditions:
Level 1 Spells 1/2 left.
Bardic Performance:3/7
As Roya goes wades forward, Joras follows to the door, stopping there to aid once again the group that has sustained so many challenges. He plays a violin solo with a loud fast tune to energize everyone to help sustain there undoubted courage.
As he plays Joras sends even more prayers to Shelyn for all the aid her blessings can provide.
HP:8/8 AC:16
Conditions:
Level 1 Spells 1/2 left.
Bardic Performance:2/7
Conrad easily breaks free of the giant frog’s tongue. With its gaping maw open ready for its meal, Conrad moves through the water rounding the sarcophagi closer to the one Perri has damaged.
Finishing off the unconscious frog, Brandark moves closer to the furthest from with his Urgosh at the ready. While Joras plays a tune that Inspires everyone’s courage.
Initiative: Round 3
Frog 1
Frog 2 & 3
All of You
Miron wades forward through the water past Perri. He channels his power into his recently acquired dagger and plunges it into the side of the frog.
Miron moves up and drives the dagger into the fleshy side of the frog. It easily sinks in and as he pulls the dagger free the frog drops lifelessly from the sarcophagi.
Initiative: Round 3
Frog 1 & 2
Frog 3
All of You
Brandark wades forward and brings his Urgosh axe blade down in a slash.
Finding herself wearing only undergarments, without a weapon, and standing to the waist in brackish, cold water, Roya is slightly panicked - seeing her allies take out 2 of the 3 frogs is good but does little to calm her agitated mental state.
After a moment of indecision, she starts wading back towards the entrance, to retrieve her bow and store her clothing in a dry spot, trusting her allies to take out the last frog - or, if not, knowing that she'd want to be near her bow anyway.
Roya move to retrieve her bow and Perri moves up and attacks with his Bill, but swings wide. The deep water has thrown off his balance a little.
The final frog attacks out with a bite wanting to eat the dwarf in-front of him. His attack misses.
Brandark wades forward and swings with his Urgosh in response and lands a deadly blow.
Initiative: Round 4
Frog 1 & 2
Frog 3
All of You
.
Seeing the remaining frog cornered, Miron switches back to magic. Stretching out his free hand, he forms another bolt of ice and launches it towards the amphibian. But the water and battle throws off his aim and the missile strikes harmlessly into the wall.
HP:8/8 AC:16
Conditions:
Level 1 Spells 1/2 left.
Bardic Performance:2/7
Seeing no other reasonable options Joras continues playing. He winces as the group continues to flailing about hampered by the watery environment.
HP:8/8 AC:16
Conditions:
Level 1 Spells 1/2 left.
Bardic Performance:1/7
Conrad climbs upon the table to get the High Ground. Miron launches a Ray of Frost that goes wide.
Perri swings out with his Bill slicing the Frog wide open as its inners float in the water.
Looking around, the group of you made it out mostly free from harm. Potential threat of being eaten, but that’s about it. Looking around the chamber you see that this last from was on a nest. Looking at the nest you see the remains of a mostly devoured corpse.
As you pull the body free, you see that these gnawed upon corpse is of a human male. This clothing is shredded beyond recognition. Though, he still has a gold ring on his finger with a single blusish green stone set in the middle of it. You also find a coin pouch in his pants.
It looks as if this man was killed roughly 3 months ago.
"Another of the villagers?", Roya asks when a body is discovered. Going back into the brackish water, she asks whoever is closest to help by pulling the remains free.
"No...not this one. He's been dead for a few months already."
She looks at the others :"So his group was the one which disturbed the dead in this tomb."
Roya, you might want to get dressed, when we find a spot thats not so wet, you can dry off
He then pulls the body out.
"I will, Brandark, I took off my clothes so that I can dry off, and not run around in wet clothes afterwards.", she offers a smile, while checking that her undergarments are still hiding what little there is to hide, then continues: "But with how stale this water is, I'll first clean off, proper. You should do the same when you get out, all of you. There's been a corpse in here, doesn't take drinking the water for it to be unhealthy."
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Conrad picks up his weapons sheepishly, ashamed that the fight got resolved without him. He can't even help with pulling the body from the nest, as Brandark gets him before he does. Upon close inspection, it's pretty clear that the corpse can't be the one of Roldare's sister.
"Maybe this c-can help identifying him," he's ready to tear off a bit of his shirt to retrieve the ring without touching it directly, but pauses as Roya mentions diseases. "Are you sure we can't clean the r-ring?"
"We can move to the safe r-room afterwards." Conrad hadn't expected how big the crypt would be. He had to resign himself that Perri was right -they had no chance of finding Roldare's sister in one day, and come out alive.
Miron wipes off his dagger and goes to inspect the body. "The ring's held up pretty well, considering the rest of him." he remarks. The pale glow shimmers over his eyes as he inspects it for magic.
"Could just be metal lasts longer though." he adds. "Maybe his coins are still good too?" He takes the coin pouch and has a look inside.