Difference between pages "Morning of July 18th, in Camp" and "Restarting on the 19th of July"

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Continued from '''[[Morning of July 18th, in Camp]]'''
Continued from '''[[Chieftain's Room]]'''
 
  
'''The DM:''' Waking up at your camp on the 18th, you find the weather is not bad for Norway: a thin mist with plenty of visibility, no more than light airs that can just be felt and a pleasant temperature.
+
== July 19 of 1650, morning ==
: However, before committing ourselves to a furtherance of adventuring, let me first explain I'm slightly under the weatherI have a little to do this morning, so I'll be checking less rarelyAnd I'd like to be absolutely sure that everyone is up to speed on changes in character — and that includes Lexent, who also went up to 3rd just recently.  This is '''the right time''' to ask questions about any new abilities you've acquired.  I didn't have time to work them up, but I can get some details sorted right here, and work them up later.
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'''The DM:''' Not long after Dilhak leaves, it begins to rain.  Laying in the tent, listening to it fall, you can’t help think about how Dilhak is walking in itThe rain is light, becoming a drizzle by daylight and still going by 9 amThe temperature is cool and there’s just the lightest air movement.
  
'''The DM:''' Pandred, when you get back to your camp late on the 17th, you'll find Anduin thereHe'd come into Treborg, heard some stories about your party, followed you out and found your camp, spoke to your followers there and has been waiting to meet youHe and Pandred get along very well from the start and though the relationship realistically builds over time, you may accept that he's your henchfolk and you're running him.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' When I awaken I spend the hour and 15 minutes to prepare my spells.
 +
: '''The DM:''' Accepted.  But I did assume that; I won't police your spell memorizing nor claim you couldn't have done itIt's the sort of thing I'd rather retcon if there's an issue with itAfter all, you wouldn't forget; you were trained at a seminary for years to get up every morning and pray.  You'd have to will yourself not to do it.
  
'''The DM:''' I've been thinking about '''Set Injury''' Lexent, and I think it should probably work, initially, that when you set the injury, three effects take place.  One injury point is removed.  You improve the character's mobility (which will depend on making up individual rules for each kind of injury eventually).  And finally, you can aid the hit points gained the same way as aid rest works, with Pandred restoring 7 sup-points of injury per day, as opposed to 5.  The injury page will need to be updated at little, to make the healing section there clearer, and the Set Injury page will need to be made, but for now consider this canon.
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'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Do we want to head back down today? There are probably a handful more ghouls and ghasts about, as well as that tomb - which we're not sure how to enter yet.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Can we retcon to the night of the 17th? There were some things we wanted to accomplish prior to resting.
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'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' How are the sappers faring?
  
'''Pandred''': I've changed Arduin's fourth spell from Purify Water to Shillelagh if you don't object, as his background allowed him to get proficiency in club.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Everyone is fully healed.
: For other questions I think I would most like to be clued in to what advantages Pandred gets from her new amateur Motivation sage ability, and what Natural Astronomy would provide for Arduin. Will it grant us some ability to avoid getting lost, or is that mainly a benefit while sailing? Should I add a sextant or anything similar to my starting equipment to allow use of the skill?
 
  
'''The DM:''' '''Motivation (sage study)'''.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Nadia's wages accounted for.
: 1. '''Improve Morale (sage ability) ''': All hirelings gain a +1 morale when within 60 feet of Pandred’s person or voice.
 
  
: 2. '''Recruit (sage ability) ''': the character has excellent skills at recruiting new hirelings for duty, with skills at finding new peopleThe character adds +1 ability stat to the hireling’s totals, per 5,000 city population, to stat desired, provided no single stat is increased 3 more than the least unincreased statLet me know if that needs an example.
+
'''The DM:''' If the sappers have the hit points, they’d rather come along than stay behindIt occurs to me, I need 2d6 rolled for HelgaCan someone roll it please?
  
: 3. '''Raise Group (sage ability) ''': essentially it allows you to raise a posse in cases where the enforcement of law and order is needed.  I’ll put this into more medieval-speak when I write the page but that’s the short hand.
+
'''Pandred''': '''9'''.
  
'''The DM:''' Yes Lexent, go ahead and run the night before, though remember you're too tired to do anything seriously work-like until you rest.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I would like someone to stay behind with Ole again. Arvid did last time. Let's see what this roll for Helge yields.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Once things have settled down back at camp, I ask for a moment of Marit's time. I apologise to her for aksing her to open the door in the dungeon earlier, and thank her for her efforts of the day.
+
'''The DM:''' Helga was stunned in the fight with the ghasts, and also in the earlier fight with the ghouls; I never had her roll a morale check, though she never did rejoin the fight after the ghasts. But, I should have checked her morale anyway.  I’ll lump them together and since her original morale was 9, and Pandred cleared, that, please lower her base morale to 8.  This is her morale when Pandred isn’t around to influence it further.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' How many hit points does everybody need, including hirelings? I show Marit as needing 1, and I'm down by 17.
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'''Pandred''': I'm not against Helga staying behind, her hit was substantial. I'm sure she's champing at the bit to get down again though.
  
'''The DM:''' Natural Astronomy has a good write up on the old wiki: '''http://tao-dndwiki.blogspot.com/2018/03/natural-astronomy-sage-study.html'''
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'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' It might be better to have her with us and thus around you. Would Marit be willing to stay?
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' When I add my new HP, do I add it to my current as well as my max?
+
'''Marit''': "If it pleases you sir – might we draw lots?"
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Pandred, Don't forget to use your bottle on the 17th.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' "I think that's a good and fair idea. I know you all wish to go."
  
'''The DM:''' Lexent, casting a spell is hard work.  When you’ve been staggering around doing heavy stress activities for 12 hours, you’re hardly in a condition to pray effectivelyWhy not just let it wait for the morning?  I know, I know, you want the benefit of doing it twice, tonight and the next dayBut I’m afraid not; you’ve spent your wad for the 17th.  You’re pooped.
+
'''The DM:''' Leaving Arvid out, the other four agree to draw lots with stones, holding none or one in their hands, then guessing if the sum is odd or evenThere are two, and everyone guesses even except AsgerHe agrees to stay behind.
  
: As regards Marit, she waves it off.  “I’ve forgotten already,” she’ll tell you.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' That settled, assuming the weather is still fit (enough) for travel, we head up to the dungeon.
  
'''The DM:''' Vafrandir, yes. If your current is 10, and your max is 24, and you added 7 h.p., your current would be 17 and your max would be 31.
+
'''Pandred''': Passing Arduin the +1 Spear, readying myself with Battleaxe. "Let's crack this tomb lads."
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Very well.
+
'''The DM:''' If you’ll permit, you re-enter the main hall together, without any trouble.  Marit will beg your pardon again and ask if anyone’s wondered yet where all the furniture came from, between the hall and the chieftain’s room.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Has my ''Olfactory Acuity'' added any types of potions or substances I can recognise?
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "I had assumed from other parts of the complex, but the way it was stacked toward the door seems odd for that. Maybe some means of magical conveyance? We should take a look at the markings on the floor of that room again."
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Other than using my spells and having Pandred use a healing salve from her bottle, I don't know of anything else we were planning to do on the 17th.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' We should endeavor to keep better track of the time this go around. What time is it when we enter the dungeon?
  
Pandred: Salve gives 2 to whomever is most needful.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Yes, I need to reread the previous pages to remind myself what we examined.
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Understood.
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'''[[Lexent]]:''' I strap on my shield and head for the chieftan's room.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Are we going to head back up today, or would we like to rest a day? Helga is in the negatives and Asger is below half hit points.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I do the same.
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Let's rest up. We're not terribly bad off but we've had a good beating.
+
'''The DM:''' About 10:30. You started last time after having travelled there that same day.
  
'''The DM:''' Lexent, yes.  “Some potions” would include the most common: healing, heroism, sweet water, protection potions.  Since this is an amateur ability, I should have covered this earlier.  Marcule took a heroism potion; it lasted until he woke up the next day.  You would have had time to sniff it so yes, the OTHER potion is also heroism.
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'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I do not believe we examined the circle on the floor.
  
== Breakfast ==
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Is the room as we left it?
'''The DM:''' Assuming you still want to cast that augury spell, Lexent.  You removed the questions, so you’ll  have to write them again.
 
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Out for a bit.
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'''The DM:''' No one’s been here.  Vafrandir, Lexent checked it for magical emanation, but no one has actually looked over it.  You see a notch in the wall above it out of the corner of your eye.
  
'''The DM:''' Remember that '''Aid''' can add more hit points than a player character’s maximum, so you may want to do that last after other healing takes place.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' One of the other may be better suited to examine the symbols. I'll look it over in case I recognize anything. What shape is the notch?
  
'''Marcule:''' In
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'''[[Lexent]]:''' I start inspecting the circle on the floor. "Marcule, take a look at this with me, would you?"
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In.
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'''The DM:''' the notch seems designed for some kind of hook
  
'''The DM:''' Vafrandir, do you have any questions about the increased puissance list?
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'''Pandred''': A large hook, or a small one? I try to give the notch a little tug with a finger or two.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' We rest for the day. I use my ''Aid Rest'' to assist Vafrandir, Marcule, Helga, Asger, and Bjarni. Before sleeping I would like to cast my spells and encourage Pandred to use her bottle. The most injured was Helga, so I assume that those '''2''' points from the 17th went to her.
+
'''The DM:''' Something gives, but your finger isn’t strong enough to put enough pressure on it.
  
'''Pandred''': Oh! Before I forget, I'm so sorry. Alexis, could you drum up Arduin's encumbrance? For some reason I can't use the excel sheet from your wiki: it saves as "read only" and I can't access the hidden sheets to copy the formulas.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' We've got hooks. I'll ask the sappers for one and hand it to Pandred.
  
'''The DM:''' What were the questions for augury, Lexent?
+
'''The DM:''' As Pandred pulls, a seam forms in the middle of the wall and a secret door opens that’s 5 feet wide and ceiling high.  The doors, now revealed to be made of wood and not stone, slide to the left and right and disappear into the walls.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I cast ''Augury'' and ask the following questions:
+
== Behind the Secret Door ==
: "Can Grond be reasoned with?"
+
[[File:Behind the Secret Door.jpg|center|770px]]
: "Will Grond retaliate against us tonight?"
 
: "Is Grond bound to the dungeon?"
 
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I am curious about the details of Draw Speed.
+
'''The DM:''' Looking through the rooms, with all due care, it’s about 10:50 by the time you’ve finished a good search.  The furniture seems to have mostly come from the upper room shown, where there is additional debris over the floor.  The bed hasn’t been touched in months and is covered in dust.  The doors leading out are heavy, reinforced doors, about 2¾ ft. wide and 5½ ft. high.
  
[[File:Arduin Encumbrance.jpg|center|630px]]
+
There are six fly carcasses as big as watermelons scattered about, one in the hall and five in the “bedroom.”  They’re dead and desiccated, looking like flies that have died near a window, except that they’re enormous for flies.  They have a distinct dark green colour, large glass-like wings and large black orbs for eyes.  Anduin hasn’t the experience with bugs and spiders he needs to identify what they are, beyond them being a kind of fly.
  
'''Pandred''': Thank you.
+
'''The DM:''' With this, I’m going to bow out for the day.  I need to make a character shape for Anduin before Friday and pick something for Arvid as well.
  
'''The DM:''' Vafrandir, it drops the number of AP to draw a weapon by 1.  So something with 1 AP counts as zero, 2 AP as 1 and 3 AP as 2.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "What do you think? Shall we try the door at the end of the hall?" (1519/1520)
  
'''The DM:''' Lexent, in order, your answers are:
+
'''Arduin''': "That leads toward the unusual skeleton, I think. Just a little north and east of the blinding fellow."
: No.
 
: No.
 
: No.
 
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Thank you.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Fascinating. I'm game for a little blinding today. [Sorry for being in and out - this is proving to be an odd month so far]
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' All weapons, or just bows?
+
'''The DM:''' Damn it.  I'm going to have to cancel today, Friday May 14th; we have to go look at a property to rent and this morning is our only opportunity; then I've got to arrange for some boxes and pick up medicine; it just isn't going to work out.  My apologies.  Out.
  
'''The DM:''' Oh, it means getting your weapon ready. Not drawing an arrow.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' No problem. I'll face the same thing in a week or two.
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Understood. Very helpful!
+
== New Thread ==
 
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' In.
'''The DM:''' Out.  'Bout 45 min.
 
 
 
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I've created a '''[[Hirelings|hirelings]]''' page, (linked from the main page as well) to keep track of our hirelings.
 
: I wasn't sure if we were each keeping track of our 'own' hireling's XP or not.
 
: If any of the XP or HP totals are incorrect, please update them.
 
: I did not include Odds, since he has his own page already that it looks like Pandred manages
 
: I have also deducted wages for Valda for this month as today is the 18th
 
 
 
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Looks good, Lexent
 
 
 
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' At this time, I'd like to take account of all the gems and who's got what.
 
 
 
'''[[Lexent]]:''' What details there are exist on [[The Search Continues]]. I think the only thing we specified is that we apportioned some of them out in shares to all of our hirelings.
 
 
 
: '''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Yea, I'd like to be more specific (if possible).
 
  
 
'''The DM:''' In.
 
'''The DM:''' In.
  
'''The DM:''' Is there anything else.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'll be In in about an hour.
 +
: '''The DM:''' I can only be here until noon my time anyway.  We found our property, put money on it and hired the movers.  Today I get to see a dentist again.
  
'''[[Pandred]]''': We going for another dive today? Who is coming? Can we get Helga in fighting shape?
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' It looks like there should be at least some space between this hallway and the blinding skeleton, and I figured that taking it on when we're fresh gives us the best chance for success. I'm ammenable for trying the door in the bedroom if we'd prefer, though.
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' How much did we get from Aid?
+
'''Pandred''': It'd be reasonable to assume such a door was a closet. It would be weird to have a bedroom doorway be a main thoroughfare. So we should give it a look before heading down the hall. In fact I'll just open it: the bedroom door.
  
'''The DM:''' It’s been established you’re going to take the 18th to restYou heal as 2 levels higher than ordinary; so for Vafrandir, 6 a day of rest.  Doesn't count until the 19th.
+
'''The DM:''' There are two bedroom doorsOne at the top and one on the right.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' If no one has anything else for the 18th, I'll effect that healing.
+
[[File:Bedroom Doors.jpg|right|420px|thumb]]
  
'''[[Pandred]]''': If we're resting, I'm good. Nothing further to add from me.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Sorry, I didn't even see the one on the right.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I cast ''Aid'' on myself for '''1+6+8=15'''
+
'''Pandred''' And I missed the one on top! Ha, I'll take the right handed one.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I use the healing staff on Helga for '''4+4+3=11'''
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Sounds good to me. I move to 2318.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "Pandred, would you let Vafrandir have a dose from your bottle, please?"
+
'''The DM:''' I can put up a map if you like, but it is a stairwell down, like '''c.'''
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I cast ''Cure Light Wounds'' for '''3+4=7''' and distribute 2 to myself, 2 to Asger, and 3 to Vafrandir
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "Hmm. Deeper in. Shall we close this door and try the other?"
  
== Night of the 18th ==
+
Pandred: Yes. I do so. North door it is!
'''The DM:''' The weather actually cools a little towards mid-day, though the wind doesn’t pick up; the sky clears until there is one puffy cloud.  Then, from out of nowhere, the temperature plunges, straight through cool until it is brisk.  Out to the west, you see an enormous storm moving from south to north ... but you’re untouched by it.  The wind doesn’t change at all. By the time the sun goes down, it has warmed a little so that it’s cool again, with a gentle breeze blowing out of the southeast ... though the sky is completely overcast.
 
  
'''The DM:''' Marcule is on watch and gives a start.  It’s 2 AM and there is something very large approaching.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' In.
 
 
'''[[Lexent]]:''' May we finish healing before going to sleep?
 
 
 
'''The DM:''' This happens after you heal.  It is technically the 19th.
 
  
'''Marcule:''' can i see anything with my infravision
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Sounds good to me. I move to 2215.
  
'''The DM:''' Something about 9 to 11 feet tall and vaguely humanoid is moving across the landscape about 125 yards away.  It is hunched forward and moving in an irregular fashion, but still seems humanoid.
+
'''The DM:''' The upper door leads to a natural tunnel that turns to the left.
  
'''Marcule:''' i cast thinamagig and produce a telescope, what do i see?
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I head into the tunnel.
: '''The DM:''' That [https://wiki.alexissmolensk.com/index.php/Thingamajig_(cantrip) cantrip] doesn't allow a telescope.
 
  
'''Marcule:''' sorry my error, i would wake lexent and pandred quietly
+
'''The DM:''' At the corner, the tunnel continues, wavering between five and ten feet wide.  Seeing nothing of danger, no footprints or signs of life, you safely wander up it for about forty yards, with corner after corner appearing every six or seven yards.
  
'''The DM:''' Count yourselves awake.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Generally heading toward the top left of the map?
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I begin strapping on my shield.
+
'''The DM:''' Snakes back and forth, but yes. Do you wish to continue?
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I also awaken Vafrandir
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "Should we keep following this tunnel? It looks like maybe an escape tunnel that hasn't been used in quite a while."
  
'''The DM:''' Takes five rounds.  The humanoid approaches slowly, not rushing, about five yards a round; so, a hundred yards away now.
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' I'll follow a few yards back. I say continue.
  
'''The DM:''' Vafrandir is awake.  There's something familiar about the way the shape is moving.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I continue.
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Does Vafrandir recognise it as Dilhak? (hope, hope, hope)
+
'''The DM:''' Not much farther, after rounding the near corner, your eyes detect a sliver of natural light reflecting on some rocks ahead; the light is coming from beyond the next corner.
  
'''The DM:''' Saying the name, everyone recognizes the giant immediately.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I take a look.
  
'''The DM:''' And as soon as the giant comes within 50 years, and sees your low fire, he recognizes you also and raises his hand in greeting.
+
'''The DM:''' The natural tunnel ends in a cave-in, about 30 yards ahead on a straight line.  Your gnomish experience tells you the tunnel was deliberately collapsed.  You can see also that the tunnel had sloped up towards the place where it was felled.  The light is emerging from a human fist-sized hole in the ceiling, letting in the outdoor light.
  
== Dilhak ==
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "Marit, what do you think it would take to open up this tunnel again?"
'''Dilhak''': "Didn’t expect to find you out here."
 
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "My goodness, you're every bit as tall as Vafrandir described."
+
'''Marit''': "I’d want to shore it up first.  See up there at the top: I doubt there’s more than three feet of dirt above it; if the stuff at the bottom is loose, the whole pile could come down like big scree."
  
[[Pandred]]: Vafrandir gets '''4''' from my salve. "Aye, he is. What brings you this way Dilhak?"
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "Pandred, Vafrandir, what do you think, is it worth our time and effort to do so, or should we just head back and keep exploring?"
  
'''Dilhak''': "On my way to Ioglefeld."
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Let's keep exploring. This might be a good project if we have a little daylight left.
  
'''The DM:''' He’ll start to unload some food and a keg of drink from his backpack, and starts sharing the latter around.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Okay. So back to the door at the end of the hallway? (1519/1520)
 
'''Pandred''': "Oh? What awaits you there?" I'll accept his offer gratefully, and offer what little the camp provides.
 
  
'''Dilhak''': “Moving off to see family I have in Opland; I’ll be back before winter sets in. What have you been up to?”
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Yep. We know what awaits there.
  
'''The DM:''' Until tomorrow.  Out.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I head back to the door at the end of the hall and see what's inside.
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' [Apologies, something came up suddenly, as things do]
+
== Green Pool ==
 +
[[File:Green Pool.jpg|right|630px|thumb]]
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Pandred, I'm up full actually.
+
'''The DM:''' This seems to be the natural top of an aquifer; the sappers will confirm the water has been polluted somehow (sorry, Pandred), which cannot be a natural occurrence; they would guess it would seem to be some sort of cupric material, judging by the colour ... but it shouldn’t be harmful to the skin or dangerous unless drunk.  The sappers will also draw a connection between this pool and the running water at the bottom of the well, also shown in the image here.  It must fall underground, running through the well, then plummeting below the level of the cavern where you found the bodies of so many goblins, below where you killed the jelly.
  
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' "Dilhak! Good to see you. We've been cleaning out a goblin cultic temple...or something. Have you heard of Grond before?" I also inquire about Kullander. "Did you find your bear?"
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Not natural, interesting. I am wondering if the goblins have a blacksmithing or other industrial process down below somewhere.
 
 
'''[[Lexent]]:''' In.
 
 
 
'''The DM:''' In.
 
  
'''Dilhak''': "I did not.  I tracked Kullander north into Hordaland, into the north Dovrefjell mountains, and there lost its trail.  I wounded it, however, so it will undoubtedly remain there, sleeping through the winter until next spring. I will fetch my cousin from Opland and together we will find the beast when it re-emerges."
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' I carefully probe the pool with a broken piece of furniture. How deep does it seem?
  
'''The DM:''' He sees the back side of the decorative shield, leaning against your cart.
+
'''The DM:''' Too deep for a piece of furniture.
  
'''Dilhak''': "What is that? It looks like a shield large enough for me."
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Well, what would we like to do now? Shall we give the tunnels below where we fought the jelly a more thourough exploration or try one of the other stairways down?
  
'''[[Lexent]]:''' "Why, yes, It looks like it would be. What do you make of the images on it?"
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Or does someone want to go swimming?
  
'''The DM:''' He hasn’t seen the images yet, so we’ll take it you show him.  He handles the shield easily, though you can remember that it took three of you to bring it up and out of the dungeon.  
+
'''[[Vafrandir]]:''' Didn't we examine those tunnels pretty well? Not sure.
  
'''Dilhak''': "This is very valuable; three or four thousand gold at least.  But look at this."
+
'''The DM:''' I assigned the time for your exploring them; they were natural and seemed to come to dead ends.
  
'''The DM:''' He points at the image, where there is a shining light atop a mountain.
+
'''[[Lexent]]:''' Ah. Okay. Door 'c'?
  
'''Dilhak''': "Do you know what that is? It is the Kodar Gate, many thousands of miles to the east of here. They say that every goblin in the world descends from a people that came through that gate tens of thousands of years ago."
+
'''The DM:''' Take your time. I’ve got to let a dentist rip stuff off the tops of my teeth. Out.

Revision as of 12:06, 18 May 2021

Continued from Morning of July 18th, in Camp

July 19 of 1650, morning

The DM: Not long after Dilhak leaves, it begins to rain. Laying in the tent, listening to it fall, you can’t help think about how Dilhak is walking in it. The rain is light, becoming a drizzle by daylight and still going by 9 am. The temperature is cool and there’s just the lightest air movement.

Lexent: When I awaken I spend the hour and 15 minutes to prepare my spells.

The DM: Accepted. But I did assume that; I won't police your spell memorizing nor claim you couldn't have done it. It's the sort of thing I'd rather retcon if there's an issue with it. After all, you wouldn't forget; you were trained at a seminary for years to get up every morning and pray. You'd have to will yourself not to do it.

Vafrandir: Do we want to head back down today? There are probably a handful more ghouls and ghasts about, as well as that tomb - which we're not sure how to enter yet.

Vafrandir: How are the sappers faring?

Lexent: Everyone is fully healed.

Lexent: Nadia's wages accounted for.

The DM: If the sappers have the hit points, they’d rather come along than stay behind. It occurs to me, I need 2d6 rolled for Helga. Can someone roll it please?

Pandred: 9.

Vafrandir: I would like someone to stay behind with Ole again. Arvid did last time. Let's see what this roll for Helge yields.

The DM: Helga was stunned in the fight with the ghasts, and also in the earlier fight with the ghouls; I never had her roll a morale check, though she never did rejoin the fight after the ghasts. But, I should have checked her morale anyway. I’ll lump them together and since her original morale was 9, and Pandred cleared, that, please lower her base morale to 8. This is her morale when Pandred isn’t around to influence it further.

Pandred: I'm not against Helga staying behind, her hit was substantial. I'm sure she's champing at the bit to get down again though.

Vafrandir: It might be better to have her with us and thus around you. Would Marit be willing to stay?

Marit: "If it pleases you sir – might we draw lots?"

Vafrandir: "I think that's a good and fair idea. I know you all wish to go."

The DM: Leaving Arvid out, the other four agree to draw lots with stones, holding none or one in their hands, then guessing if the sum is odd or even. There are two, and everyone guesses even except Asger. He agrees to stay behind.

Lexent: That settled, assuming the weather is still fit (enough) for travel, we head up to the dungeon.

Pandred: Passing Arduin the +1 Spear, readying myself with Battleaxe. "Let's crack this tomb lads."

The DM: If you’ll permit, you re-enter the main hall together, without any trouble. Marit will beg your pardon again and ask if anyone’s wondered yet where all the furniture came from, between the hall and the chieftain’s room.

Lexent: "I had assumed from other parts of the complex, but the way it was stacked toward the door seems odd for that. Maybe some means of magical conveyance? We should take a look at the markings on the floor of that room again."

Lexent: We should endeavor to keep better track of the time this go around. What time is it when we enter the dungeon?

Vafrandir: Yes, I need to reread the previous pages to remind myself what we examined.

Lexent: I strap on my shield and head for the chieftan's room.

Vafrandir: I do the same.

The DM: About 10:30. You started last time after having travelled there that same day.

Vafrandir: I do not believe we examined the circle on the floor.

Lexent: Is the room as we left it?

The DM: No one’s been here. Vafrandir, Lexent checked it for magical emanation, but no one has actually looked over it. You see a notch in the wall above it out of the corner of your eye.

Vafrandir: One of the other may be better suited to examine the symbols. I'll look it over in case I recognize anything. What shape is the notch?

Lexent: I start inspecting the circle on the floor. "Marcule, take a look at this with me, would you?"

The DM: the notch seems designed for some kind of hook

Pandred: A large hook, or a small one? I try to give the notch a little tug with a finger or two.

The DM: Something gives, but your finger isn’t strong enough to put enough pressure on it.

Vafrandir: We've got hooks. I'll ask the sappers for one and hand it to Pandred.

The DM: As Pandred pulls, a seam forms in the middle of the wall and a secret door opens that’s 5 feet wide and ceiling high. The doors, now revealed to be made of wood and not stone, slide to the left and right and disappear into the walls.

Behind the Secret Door

Behind the Secret Door.jpg

The DM: Looking through the rooms, with all due care, it’s about 10:50 by the time you’ve finished a good search. The furniture seems to have mostly come from the upper room shown, where there is additional debris over the floor. The bed hasn’t been touched in months and is covered in dust. The doors leading out are heavy, reinforced doors, about 2¾ ft. wide and 5½ ft. high.

There are six fly carcasses as big as watermelons scattered about, one in the hall and five in the “bedroom.” They’re dead and desiccated, looking like flies that have died near a window, except that they’re enormous for flies. They have a distinct dark green colour, large glass-like wings and large black orbs for eyes. Anduin hasn’t the experience with bugs and spiders he needs to identify what they are, beyond them being a kind of fly.

The DM: With this, I’m going to bow out for the day. I need to make a character shape for Anduin before Friday and pick something for Arvid as well.

Lexent: "What do you think? Shall we try the door at the end of the hall?" (1519/1520)

Arduin: "That leads toward the unusual skeleton, I think. Just a little north and east of the blinding fellow."

Vafrandir: Fascinating. I'm game for a little blinding today. [Sorry for being in and out - this is proving to be an odd month so far]

The DM: Damn it. I'm going to have to cancel today, Friday May 14th; we have to go look at a property to rent and this morning is our only opportunity; then I've got to arrange for some boxes and pick up medicine; it just isn't going to work out. My apologies. Out.

Vafrandir: No problem. I'll face the same thing in a week or two.

New Thread

Lexent: In.

The DM: In.

Vafrandir: I'll be In in about an hour.

The DM: I can only be here until noon my time anyway. We found our property, put money on it and hired the movers. Today I get to see a dentist again.

Lexent: It looks like there should be at least some space between this hallway and the blinding skeleton, and I figured that taking it on when we're fresh gives us the best chance for success. I'm ammenable for trying the door in the bedroom if we'd prefer, though.

Pandred: It'd be reasonable to assume such a door was a closet. It would be weird to have a bedroom doorway be a main thoroughfare. So we should give it a look before heading down the hall. In fact I'll just open it: the bedroom door.

The DM: There are two bedroom doors. One at the top and one on the right.

Bedroom Doors.jpg

Lexent: Sorry, I didn't even see the one on the right.

Pandred And I missed the one on top! Ha, I'll take the right handed one.

Lexent: Sounds good to me. I move to 2318.

The DM: I can put up a map if you like, but it is a stairwell down, like c.

Lexent: "Hmm. Deeper in. Shall we close this door and try the other?"

Pandred: Yes. I do so. North door it is!

Vafrandir: In.

Lexent: Sounds good to me. I move to 2215.

The DM: The upper door leads to a natural tunnel that turns to the left.

Lexent: I head into the tunnel.

The DM: At the corner, the tunnel continues, wavering between five and ten feet wide. Seeing nothing of danger, no footprints or signs of life, you safely wander up it for about forty yards, with corner after corner appearing every six or seven yards.

Lexent: Generally heading toward the top left of the map?

The DM: Snakes back and forth, but yes. Do you wish to continue?

Lexent: "Should we keep following this tunnel? It looks like maybe an escape tunnel that hasn't been used in quite a while."

Vafrandir: I'll follow a few yards back. I say continue.

Lexent: I continue.

The DM: Not much farther, after rounding the near corner, your eyes detect a sliver of natural light reflecting on some rocks ahead; the light is coming from beyond the next corner.

Lexent: I take a look.

The DM: The natural tunnel ends in a cave-in, about 30 yards ahead on a straight line. Your gnomish experience tells you the tunnel was deliberately collapsed. You can see also that the tunnel had sloped up towards the place where it was felled. The light is emerging from a human fist-sized hole in the ceiling, letting in the outdoor light.

Lexent: "Marit, what do you think it would take to open up this tunnel again?"

Marit: "I’d want to shore it up first. See up there at the top: I doubt there’s more than three feet of dirt above it; if the stuff at the bottom is loose, the whole pile could come down like big scree."

Lexent: "Pandred, Vafrandir, what do you think, is it worth our time and effort to do so, or should we just head back and keep exploring?"

Vafrandir: Let's keep exploring. This might be a good project if we have a little daylight left.

Lexent: Okay. So back to the door at the end of the hallway? (1519/1520)

Vafrandir: Yep. We know what awaits there.

Lexent: I head back to the door at the end of the hall and see what's inside.

Green Pool

Green Pool.jpg

The DM: This seems to be the natural top of an aquifer; the sappers will confirm the water has been polluted somehow (sorry, Pandred), which cannot be a natural occurrence; they would guess it would seem to be some sort of cupric material, judging by the colour ... but it shouldn’t be harmful to the skin or dangerous unless drunk. The sappers will also draw a connection between this pool and the running water at the bottom of the well, also shown in the image here. It must fall underground, running through the well, then plummeting below the level of the cavern where you found the bodies of so many goblins, below where you killed the jelly.

Vafrandir: Not natural, interesting. I am wondering if the goblins have a blacksmithing or other industrial process down below somewhere.

Lexent: I carefully probe the pool with a broken piece of furniture. How deep does it seem?

The DM: Too deep for a piece of furniture.

Lexent: Well, what would we like to do now? Shall we give the tunnels below where we fought the jelly a more thourough exploration or try one of the other stairways down?

Lexent: Or does someone want to go swimming?

Vafrandir: Didn't we examine those tunnels pretty well? Not sure.

The DM: I assigned the time for your exploring them; they were natural and seemed to come to dead ends.

Lexent: Ah. Okay. Door 'c'?

The DM: Take your time. I’ve got to let a dentist rip stuff off the tops of my teeth. Out.