Eltariel complies with the request, casting light on the cloth and then taking a close look at the 'door' ...
The 'door' is merely a curtain of roots covering the entrance to a mighty but hollowed out tree..a sloping passage descends into the earth.
You are in a hollow tree, the tunnel only extends some 7 feet
As you peer through the narrow hole at the end of the tunnel, you find yourself looking into a huge cavern. The entire area is infused with a dull purple light from an unknown source.
The air has a spicy, pungent odor. From your position in the ceiling you can see the floor seventy feet below you. The network of roots looks simple enough to climb down to the floor. The cavern is huge, and from your angle you can see what appears to be a patch of lush trees growing underground about two hundred feet ahead of you.
Layjiani looks carfefully through the hole for sigbs of life or movement. If she sees none she heads back to report her findings to the others. Continuing she says "This one has the idea that perhaps it do be best if those two" pointing to Friedrich and Kegmar "do desend first and secure the way while this one do cover them with her bow. Then the rest may follow and this one will descend last"
"I can go with that," Eltariel nods. "Are you two in agreement?"
"I'd be happy to". "Any suggestions of how to get down". "I've got 50' of rope".
The roots form a ladder of sorts and look strong enough to support an armoured man (or dwarf)taking 10 on climb would be sufficient
Eltariel readies her entangle spell to counterspell the effect is anyone employs it.
Moving back to the hole Layjiani covers her commrades with her bow as they make their way down. She has a thundering arrow knocked so that if she does need to shoot at something they will know exactly where it is when she hits it, or even if she doesn't.
She keeps a very sharp eye out for danger but at the same time she can't help wondering about this very interesting cavern
Perception:
Knowledge(dungeoneering):
Knowlewdge:(geography):(+2 I believe for underground)
Knowlwedge(nature):
Just to move things along
Fredrich and Kegmar make it down to the bottom without any incident. They wait tensly in the darkness as the rest off you descend into the cavern. Finally Layjiani joins you and you can take stock.
(More details once I get home from work)
The area where the tree root network touches down is heavily traveled. Dozens of tracks are visible in the floor around the roots. In the purple light of the cavern, you see what appears to be an improbable
underground garden southwest of your position.
Directly south you see what appears to be a small shack built into the earthen floor of the cavern. The weird purple glow makes strange shadows on the cavern floor. The aroma of this place is even stronger here – a strange combination of peat moss, guano, and unnaturally sharp cinnamon.
Eltariel makes her own careful descent, looking around concerned.
"Stay clear of any fungus - we've encountered shriekers before and we do not want to set any off here."
Layjiani...
The cavern seems to be natural however the glowing purple stalagtites in the roof, which cast a low light across the entire area, are outside your experience..Your perception rolls reveal the items mentioned above.
Once everyone is gathered, if their are no objections, Layjiani will stealthily approach the shack and check it out
William will stare at these strange stalictites.
"Does anyone know if this is natural or magical in any way?" he asked curiously as he looked about the group.
Detecting magic ...
Thhe Stalagites are not magical in nature as far as you can determine.
Layjiani moves carefully across the cavern floor towards the structure
Fredrich follows 20 yards or so behind.
The dwarven alchemist squints his eyes, trying to identify any subterranean growths he spots. Spotting one particularly prized fungus noted for it's uses as a growth catalyst, he pulls out a small scraping device before realizing several of the others are observing him with fear and concern. Sheepishly, he returns the implement to his pouches, and resumes his grip on his dwarvish weapon, plodding along as silently as he can near Fredrich.
the structure is a 40-foot by 30-foot wooden shack . The exterior of the building is simple and utilitarian, with no windows and only a front and back door.Both doors are locked with a padlock
Eltariel examines the ground for signs of what may dwell in this structure.
Survival:
There seems to be a lot of movement in and out of this building but you cant becartain of twho or what made the tracks there are just too many.
Layjiani helps look for tracks or sign of the inhabitants and then takes care of the locks, making sure to first check for and remove any traps.
Layjiani is also unable to make any sense of the myriad tracks in and out of this place.
She checks the doors for traps finding nothing of any import and then sets about disabling the padlocks which is a comparatively easy task for her.
"All right, let's see what we have in here," Eltariel nods to Layjiani, standing well back.
Layjiani opens the door
As Layjiani opens the door a set of tiny bells attached to the back of it jingle shrilly(no way you could have disabled them as you couldn't see them there.
The interior of the shed is dark..but the ranger can hear something moving inside..something large
"Be ready," Eltariel casts light on a copper and tosses it into the darkened interior of the building.
Layjiani steps back to allow the fighters access to the building should they need it. Readying her bow at the same time she says
"Something large do bstir within. Though it be friend or foe this one do no know"
With a not Fredrich steps in a step, and braces his hammer against any possible charge.
perception
Eltariel pitches the glowing coin into the building it's light revealing two large ambulatory mounds of Vegetation.
Eltariel
Knowledge Nature
The Druid immediately identifies the creatures as Shambling Mounds however there seems to be something odd about them which she can't quite pin down.
"Shambling mounds," Eltariel mutters. "They're strong as oxs and can engulf you alive. What's up with them? They normally attack anything animal."
Kegmar shoots the elf a questioning glance.
"And who ye calling an animal, now?" he grumbles, before realizing the elf wasn't necessarily singling anyone out.
Cautiously, the alchemist approaches one of the creatures to get a closer look, his dwarven weapon ready if the thorny pile becomes hostile.
Perception:
Map of the shed..some Map Magic required Dabbler please Mounds on the Xs.
I should have made it clearer..The mounds are hostile.
Kegmar realises they are studded with glowing puirple crystals much like the stalagtites.
Round 1
Frederich 20
Aude 18
William 14
Layjiani 14-
Eltariel 9
Shambling mounds 6
Kegmar 2
Eltariel is in A7.
"Try and hold them at the door!" she cautions.
Knowledge (nature): What does she know about shambling mounds?
Edit: Just about everything it would seem.
"Whatever you do, don't hit them with electricity - fire isn't much help either. Don't let them grab you."
On her turn, Eltariel will cast creeping cold on one.
Damage (cold): Fort save DC15 for half.
Hearing Eltariel's command, Fredrich springs forward to E8, slashes at the beast and retreats back to the door.
Lucern Hammer Attack
Damage
Damage
C8
Holding my action for the moment
"Damn and I was hoping some fire was in order..." he mutters under his breath.
Dodging below the thrashing pseudopods, Kegmar works his way forward, attempting to coordinate his attack against the same creature as Fredrich, cautiously striking from a distance with his dwarven weapon.
His swing goes wide, chipping the floor amid a flurry of dwarven curses.
Making sure the others have room Layjiani launches two rapid arrows into the already damahed creature (or the next if it's down)
Rapid Shot;
Attack:
Damage:
Waiting for William
William will assist Fredrich in combat and try to either get into flanking with the creature if he has enough movement or get as far as he can around the creature and enter combat to 5ft step every round to get flanking.
Frederich springs in and slashes at the left hand mound which roars as he slices deeply into its greenery.Aude waits to see what is occuring as William moves around the injured mound to (I3) and delivers a crushing blow against it.
Damage
Layjiani then proceeds to plant two arrows in its form and a ray of cold spatters it with frost.
Total Damage 53 this round
The mounds close in on Kegmar who swings his Dorn Dergar manfully but fails to achieve a hit..then they flail at him with their tentacles but miraculously the dwarf avoids all of the blows.
[needing to roll 7's to hit I rolled 5,6(twice) and a natural 1..inconcievable]
Dabbler please move the mounds 5 feet forwards on the next rounds map.
"Start working down the other one, the cold should finish off the first," Eltariel calls out.
She gestures and speaks words of the strange druidic tongue, and Kegmar feels his connection with the earth deepen.