Tier 1, Success
The cart lands level on the tracks and once Sturdy stands on it, the cart rolls a tiny bit as if to let you know that travel is now possible. In fact as soon as it is firmly in place you can feel the presence of energy in the room. With a little elbow grease and some magic you might be able to get this cart moving.
Tier 2: Getting the Carts Moving;
Aldric attempts to figure out the mechanism behind the cart.
Quinn aids Aldric in figuring out the mechanisms.
Aglaeca uses his knowledge of demonology and evil magic in an attempt to make the infernal mechanism go.
Arcana Check 16
Tier 2: Getting the Carts Moving;
Aldric and Quinn look over the tracks above and below them that are faintly glowing with magic and begin to try to tap into it, together they are able to make some progress as Aglaeca steps onto the cart alongside them and has a much easier time himself channeling the arcane energy that fuels this mechanism.
2 Successes, 0 Failures
Verjack ponders this type of mechanism trying to remember how they were built.
Sturdy lifts the rear of the cart off the track and holds it while others inspect the magical effects of the track beneath the wheels.
As the Adventurers try to get their cart moving, Verjack has a spark of memory. These carts seem to be modeled off of magical train system you have heard of, and sure enough you find a small stone underneath the chassis as Sturdy lifts it up. What you know about this stone is that it is a means of defining the direction of a cart such as this, and all you need to make it work is an able magic user.
Karn helps secure the loose stone in its place, the rest of the adventurers get into the cart and Aglaeca focuses his magic on the stone. Slowly the wheels begin to turn and with the help of Aldric, The cart begins to speed up down the tracks.
Tier 2, Success
Aldric searches his knowledge of tunnels and natural formations to see if he can gather any clues as to how to navigate.
Quinn advises the party on the safest path possible, which probably leads to where we intend to go. ("Don't go left, the rock looks unstable", etc.)
Tier 3: Navigating the Tunnels;
2 Successes, 0 Failures
The cart moves briskly down the track as it splits off into about eight different tracks, all of them moving parallel to each other in a large room. Each track is separated by beams and you can see that some areas of the adjacent tracks are coming apart and being bombarded by falling rocks. Suddenly Your cart comes off the track and begins to move out of control but Aglaeca's quick magical ability keeps the cart floating above the ground and weaving between the beams and falling debris. Now more than ever the direction and instincts of your party is crucial.
Well, I have seriously looked at the time I might have available in the future and with the lack of posting recently on my end, I think I am gonna have to drop out of this game. I just won't have the time with my other games on top of real life to continue giving occasional posts to a game that truthfully deserves more attention. You are all doing a great job at bringing the game to life thus far and I hope that the game goes well for you.
Not trusting his own eyes, Verjack tries to assist someone else.
Dathom
Sturdy uses his massive frame to lean into turns as directed by the others, ensuring the cart takes the directed path. He spots a rather large piece of unstable ceiling rock and yells, "Duck!, Get Down!", the boulder sized piece of rubble nearly decapitates the whole party as it falls behind the cart with a thunderous crash.
Aglaeca attempts to steer the cart back onto a safe track before his magical prowess starts consuming his life force. The Smell of burning hair and flesh begins to fill the car as the fires of hell lift the cart higher, Aglaeca, using his knowledge of streets and bypasses , lands the car as best he can.
Invisible castle is down again aparently, that's +9 streetwise gm, please roll. Can i spend a healing surge for kewl magical effects of awesomeness?
Tier 3 Success
The adventurers do a fine job of navigating the crudely hallowed out tunnels, it is clear that most if not all besides the current track you've found are not complete by a long shot. It is also hard to say why or how this tunnel system exists at this time.
After a short time of travel the cart lands back onto a track seamlessly and it glides out into a glade, to the right of you is a small wooden shack that looks more like a check in station for the carts but. The real sight is what is directly in front of you.
Great piles of shattered stone blocks and scorched timbers dominate the clearing, sprawling out from its center to the edge of the woods. No
plants grow among the ruins or within the clearing. The ground is bare dirt, and although the forest has begun to reclaim the path leading here, it has not intruded into the ruins of Shadowfell
Keep.
Yet clearly someone has tampered with the ruins. In the center of the debris, stone blocks and timbers have been gathered into a pile. Someone has cleared a path through the rubble and pulled aside the wreckage to reveal a stone staircase. The staircase descends into darkness.
Aldric looks and listens warily to discern if the party's arrival has been noticed.
( I wanted a first class light show, but its was more of a , of the moment, thing retroactively adding facts is not nearly so cool).
Aglaeca slumps getting off the cart, steam from the sweat of his last escapade, still rolling off him gently. Lurching in a somewhat alarming manner, Aglaeca grabs a light and point, leading towards the door in the ground.
Speaking back bittersweetly as he leads Aglaeca says, "Don't worry folks, I've done this before. Just follow me and kill everything that moves" .
Aglaeca pulls open the door/hatch if appropriate and enters the hole. Walking with a strong but lurching pace.
Aldric looks and listens warily to discern if the party's arrival has been noticed.
You cannot tell if someone knows you are here now but, it is apparent from tracks on the ground that someone has been here recently and has since retreated into the keep.
( I wanted a first class light show, but its was more of a , of the moment, thing retroactively adding facts is not nearly so cool).
Aglaeca slumps getting off the cart, steam from the sweat of his last escapade, still rolling off him gently. Lurching in a somewhat alarming manner, Aglaeca grabs a light and point, leading towards the door in the ground.
Speaking back bittersweetly as he leads Aglaeca says, "Don't worry folks, I've done this before. Just follow me and kill everything that moves" .
Aglaeca pulls open the door/hatch if appropriate and enters the hole. Walking with a strong but lurching pace.
The stairway leading down consists of finely crafted stone, perhaps
the work of dwarves. A breeze chills you to the bones as youtake each step down. The flicker of torchlight spills from a room
at the bottom of the stairs.
"Perhaps we have found the coven of the Sharrens." Verjack falls in line with his companions as they move down into the ruins. He grips his staff with a smile on his face.
Right behind Aglaeca, D5.
As you come to the bottom of the stairs you can see a goblin across the room, he is leaning against the wall and seemingly dozing off. It is unclear whether he is the only one here as the room breaks off to the right, left and directly in front of you.
Aldric is a little more quiet than usual, coming down the stairs in his armor.
The blast hits the wall beside the Goblin and it is clear that he was only pretending to sleep as he jumps away right before the blast hits.
The lone goblin now stands in front of you with a spear drawn. "gaa'taat!" He calls out and probes his spear towards you all.
For those with an understanding of goblin language
aglaeca curses his goblinoid foe and trys again
Verjack sends a ray of light at the goblin.
The goblin rears back from the wound inflicted on him by Verjack, and he looks very much in pain.
Even still he continues to taunt you all with his spear. "Itaa!" the goblin cries out, you can hear his word echoing through the hallway.
In Goblin tongue
"Itaa!"; a cry meaning "Attack!"
"You pitiable escuse for a goblin, you dare think you can challenge us?"
"Dec druuc'd o shuulkaan tuul dar duun ghec dhalaan?" The goblin grunts out as he breaks off the end of the arrow that sticks into him. The goblin then pokes his spear out again and backs away down the hall fading into darkness.
In Goblin tongue:
Why don't you come say that to my face?
Sturdy moves towards where the goblin vanished to. If he regains sight of the goblin then he'll charge.
Aldric will also advance into the room to have a look around.
As the goliath marches forward into the room, suddenly he vanishes from sight as a dust plume fills the room and a large crash is heard.
Sturdy lay at the bottom of a pit trap wrapped up in stone covered canvas when suddenly the sound of squeaking rats can be heard.
In addition to that, the goblin from down the hall can be heard cackling with more friends incoming.