"What I'd give for some roast mutton, fresh bread, strong dwarven ale..." Drogen mutters as he helps gather the fungus before they carry on with their journey.
The group keeps going, making steady progress in the dark tunnels. Most are not in the mood to speak. Stool releases his spores looking to communicate with other people, specially Tanis, a couple times per day and slowly follows along. Near the back of the group, Arokas and Derendil keep exchanging words and phrases, breaking the oppressive underground silence.
The spore rations you gathered from the zurkhwood last for two full days before running out. Waking up after making camp three times you find yourselves short on supplies. Sarith still leads on, exiting from the narrow tunnels into an enormous cavern.
A wide ledge extends for 50 feet in front of the cavern you just exited, ending in a chasm so large, deep, and wide that you can't see it's bottom, the other side or how far it ends. What seem to be large ropes or vines are anchored into stagmites and outcroppings on your end, providing a crisscrossing network over the gap. Derendil looks at the deeps below and turns to Sarith with anger in his voice (undercommon) "what treachery is this, drow? Have you brought us to a dead end just so your kin can capture us again?"
"Hold, my prince," Tanis murmurs to Derendil (elvish) as he stares deeply into the gloom, the vast darkness mirroring the darkness blooming in his soul.
He attempts to make sense of what the ropes and vines are, whether there is anything moving out there in the void, and if they can be traversed.
"Sarith, must we cross this vast chasm to reach Darklake?" (undercommon but repeated in dwarvish and elvish). "If possible to cross, it may throw off the dark elves' pursuit. I suspect it is not so easy to track a quarry through... whatever that is."
Thunk being in or near the front and not having been told to halt would attempt to cross the crisscrossing network if it seems like a pathway at all. Thunk isn't bright but he isn't walk off a cliff stupid so it would entirely depend on if the vines looked like a path and capable of supporting him. He may be a bit hesitant but if nothing else he wouldn't want to look scared in front of the little people. Which, to Thunk, is pretty much everyone else.
From the ledge you stand you can see the tunnel that you arrived from and another tunnel going southeast. Getting closer to the edge you see that the ropes are organic in nature, some are covered in a thick layer of dust, others seem to be in a pristine condition. Thunk approaches a large rock were multiple strands are anchored and notices that some of them are sticky. It does not take long to discover that they are enormous spiderwebs.
Sarith ignores Derendil's words and replies to Tanis, still a vacant expression in his face (undercommon) "this is the best way to reach the Darklake, The webs are always changing and that is why my people avoid it. We can always backtrack, but it would add days to our journey."
He is still speaking when two small humanoids slide across a strand and make a stop ten feet away from the ledge, hanging over the chasm. The smallest of the two calls out to your group (common) "greetings, travellers. You should count yourselves lucky that we were close to this spot, no one knows the Silken Paths better than Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait. If what you need is safe passage you can't go wrong following us." He nods with a smile on his face "provided that you can pay for our services, that is."
OOC: image of the newcomers in the spoiler block below.
"The spiderwebs... the Silken Paths?" Tanis' sounds hollow as stares off once more into the deep gloom of the vast, webbed chasm.
Tanis'Insight on the two new arrivals to gauge their intentions: 16
He listens carefully to the more talkative of the small humanoids who had come sliding along the strands from the void. Is this a trick or trap? Or are these actually legitimate businessmen? Or rather, business-humanoids? And for that matter, do we have anything to pay them with?
Tanis turns to his companions. (Undercommon and Dwarvish) "I believe some of you took things from the cave where those monstrosities attacked us. Perhaps we can use that to compensate these guides?" He checks his own inventory, finding nothing except weapons, armor and basic equipment.
"Some of these strands are old and dusty, but some are fresh and new..." Tanis glances back at webbed chasm and then at the small humanoids. (Back to Common) "Are these webs still infested with huge spiders and... wait, did you actually say the larger one's name is Spiderbait??"
“Don’t worry,” Arokas whispers to Drogen in Dwarvish, “I can speak their language, though they don’t know that. If they try to plot against us, I’ll likely know it.” He turns back to the goblins, and in Common says, “We can compensate you for your guidance, but only after we get to our destination. To be frank, we’ve had trouble on our journey and aren’t very trusting of strangers lately,” trying to persuade them to accept this condition.
At the appearance of the two Think draws his weapons and growls but mostly waits to see what happens next. Maybe he’ll be able to toss one of these new ones onto the bridge and see that it’s safe?
Tanis'Insight on the two new arrivals to gauge their intentions: 16
He listens carefully to the more talkative of the small humanoids who had come sliding along the strands from the void. Is this a trick or trap? Or are these actually legitimate businessmen? Or rather, business-humanoids? And for that matter, do we have anything to pay them with?
Tanis turns to his companions. (Undercommon and Dwarvish) "I believe some of you took things from the cave where those monstrosities attacked us. Perhaps we can use that to compensate these guides?" He checks his own inventory, finding nothing except weapons, armor and basic equipment.
The two goblins seems sincere at a first glance. They balance easily in the spiderweb strands, each carrying a satchel with a few possesions. Given the things that you have seen in the Underdark so far they fit right in.
Jimjar pats his pockets and replies at the empty air (undercommon) "I still carry the gems that were scattered among the skeletons we fought a few days ago."
"Some of these strands are old and dusty, but some are fresh and new..." Tanis glances back at webbed chasm and then at the small humanoids. (Back to Common) "Are these webs still infested with huge spiders and... wait, did you actually say the larger one's name is Spiderbait??"
The one who called himself Yuk Yuk looks at the group, unable to see who spoke (common) "funny that you mention that, my cousin here almost got himself eaten by a pack of huge spiders. Our friends at the time said that his smell must have attracted them." Spiderbair lowers his gaze in shame and replies to his partner (common) "that was years ago, no spider can get to me now."
(Dwarven) "Goblins? We really gonna trust goblins?" Drogen utters with displeasure.
Eldeth shakes her head in frustration (dwarvish) "only my devotion to king Bruenor would make me suffer goblins as guides without fuss. Still, better then than drow."
“Don’t worry,” Arokas whispers to Drogen in Dwarvish, “I can speak their language, though they don’t know that. If they try to plot against us, I’ll likely know it.” He turns back to the goblins, and in Common says, “We can compensate you for your guidance, but only after we get to our destination. To be frank, we’ve had trouble on our journey and aren’t very trusting of strangers lately,” trying to persuade them to accept this condition.
Yuk Yuk nods while stroking his chin (common) "and what would that destination be? Many tunnels join the Silken Paths, some are easier to reach than others." He takes a strip of jerky from his satchel and starts nibbling before continuing (common) "trusting strangers is what you'll need to do to cross safely. We know where all the best crossings are and shich ones to avoid. You trust us with the navigation and we can trust that you will pay after we cross. Our price is 4 gold pieces per day, do you have enough?"
"Can you get us to the outside?" Thunk asks sullenly. He misses the sun without even realizing it.
Yuk Yuk finishes his snack and answers (common) "the surface is too far for us. We like living in this area and can guide you to any tunnel that connects here, or to the tunnel that will get you closer to your destination. We have a nice way of life were, without a lot of people trying to kill us."
“Unfortunately we don’t have gold,” Arokas calls to the pair in Common. “We were robbed of our money while we were traveling.” (Will do a deception check for this if need be) “However, I am willing to give you something of extreme value in place of the gold,” he says as he brings out the Mithral Scale Mail. “This armor is magically light, so that the wearer can sneak around without hinderance. It is easily worth the price that you speak of. If you get us to the Darklake safely, this can be yours.”
If anyone could see his face, which they can't in the darkness, Tanis would look a little stunned that Arokas is offering up the Mithral armor. Or perhaps he is simply tempting them with it but has no plans to give it to them? It seems far more than the 4 gold a day these guides demand...
From the darkness, Tanis whispers to Jimjar (gnomish) "I think we should give them one or two of the gems instead you took from the cave where we fought those monsters. Much closer to four gold a day (so four/eight/twelve total?), than the magic armor. I hope it does not take more than that."
Louder to the guides, he suggests, "Our chosen destination would be to wherever on the far side of the webbed chasm would be the closest journey to Darklake, as my half-elven friend suggested. And if after that, you want to continue to help guide us all the way to Darklake, then as you can see, we may not have gold, but we can offer other valuable items."
As he says this, he muses: All the better if these guides are kept occupied and do not reveal our destination if they later encounter any of our drow pursuers. And however little I trust them, I feel strangely less uneasy about them than I do aboutSarith and his vacant stares.
“Unfortunately we don’t have gold,” Arokas calls to the pair in Common. “We were robbed of our money while we were traveling.” (Will do a deception check for this if need be) “However, I am willing to give you something of extreme value in place of the gold,” he says as he brings out the Mithral Scale Mail. “This armor is magically light, so that the wearer can sneak around without hinderance. It is easily worth the price that you speak of. If you get us to the Darklake safely, this can be yours.”
Yuk Yuk opens his eyes wide at the mention of magical armor. He quickly reaches into his satchel and produces a tinderbox, which he uses to light up a torch. He smiles at the glimmer of the scale mail in Arokas' hands. (common) "Well, that is a shiny shirt. We may take you to the Darklake for such a prize" the goblin adds with a wide smile "we can get you to a tunnel that is only a day's march away from it, as long as none of you is afraid of heights."
Louder to the guides, he suggests, "Our chosen destination would be to wherever on the far side of the webbed chasm would be the closest journey to Darklake, as my half-elven friend suggested. And if after that, you want to continue to help guide us all the way to Darklake, then as you can see, we may not have gold, but we can offer other valuable items."
Both goblins turn to the ranger, who seemingly appeared from nowhere. Spiderbait rubs his eyes and starts pointing at each person in turn, muttering to himself as he counts how many are in your group.
Careful not to touch the torch to the webs, Yuk Yuk slides the few feet that separated him from the ledge and lands in front of the group (common) "are you ready to start the trip right now or do you need to rest first? In any case we will need to make a long stop in the middle before we reach the other tunnel." The goblin goes on telling you how to tell the sticky webs apart from the ones you can use to cross, and reminds you not to light any fire, as the strands burn easily. He stops as he gets closer to Stool (common) "one of you will have to help this little one, the paths can swing at a moment's notice."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
"What I'd give for some roast mutton, fresh bread, strong dwarven ale..." Drogen mutters as he helps gather the fungus before they carry on with their journey.
Immediately concerned at the words "cave-in," Tanis looks around nervously for signs of instability in the tunnels, feeling suddenly claustrophobic.
Tanis Perception: 10
Being unsure of exactly what to look for, he turns to the group. (Dwarvish and Undercommon) "We should keep moving."
His voice sounds hollow, coming out of the darkness.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
“Keep moving,” Thunk repeats as if it’s the best idea he’s ever heard.
“Head towards sunlight,” he adds before pausing and looking around. “Which way to sunlight?”
“Let’s get going then,” Arokas says in Elvish, moving towards the group. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and it collapses behind us, killing our pursuers.”
░▄▀▄▀▀▀▀▄▀▄░░░░░░░░░
░█░░░░░░░░▀▄░░░░░░▄░
█░░▀░░▀░░░░░▀▄▄░░█░█
█░▄░█▀░▄░░░░░░░▀▀░░█
█░░▀▀▀▀░░░░░░░░░░░░█
█░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█
█░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█
░█░░▄▄░░▄▄▄▄░░▄▄░░█░
░█░▄▀█░▄▀░░█░▄▀█░▄▀░
░░▀░░░▀░░░░░▀░░░▀░░░
[A]
The group keeps going, making steady progress in the dark tunnels. Most are not in the mood to speak. Stool releases his spores looking to communicate with other people, specially Tanis, a couple times per day and slowly follows along. Near the back of the group, Arokas and Derendil keep exchanging words and phrases, breaking the oppressive underground silence.
The spore rations you gathered from the zurkhwood last for two full days before running out. Waking up after making camp three times you find yourselves short on supplies. Sarith still leads on, exiting from the narrow tunnels into an enormous cavern.
A wide ledge extends for 50 feet in front of the cavern you just exited, ending in a chasm so large, deep, and wide that you can't see it's bottom, the other side or how far it ends. What seem to be large ropes or vines are anchored into stagmites and outcroppings on your end, providing a crisscrossing network over the gap. Derendil looks at the deeps below and turns to Sarith with anger in his voice (undercommon) "what treachery is this, drow? Have you brought us to a dead end just so your kin can capture us again?"
"Hold, my prince," Tanis murmurs to Derendil (elvish) as he stares deeply into the gloom, the vast darkness mirroring the darkness blooming in his soul.
He attempts to make sense of what the ropes and vines are, whether there is anything moving out there in the void, and if they can be traversed.
Tanis Perception (with 90' darkvision): 22
"Sarith, must we cross this vast chasm to reach Darklake?" (undercommon but repeated in dwarvish and elvish). "If possible to cross, it may throw off the dark elves' pursuit. I suspect it is not so easy to track a quarry through... whatever that is."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Thunk being in or near the front and not having been told to halt would attempt to cross the crisscrossing network if it seems like a pathway at all. Thunk isn't bright but he isn't walk off a cliff stupid so it would entirely depend on if the vines looked like a path and capable of supporting him. He may be a bit hesitant but if nothing else he wouldn't want to look scared in front of the little people. Which, to Thunk, is pretty much everyone else.
(common) "Is there no other way round? I have no interest in falling to my death" Drogen remarks as he peers into the chasm.
From the ledge you stand you can see the tunnel that you arrived from and another tunnel going southeast. Getting closer to the edge you see that the ropes are organic in nature, some are covered in a thick layer of dust, others seem to be in a pristine condition. Thunk approaches a large rock were multiple strands are anchored and notices that some of them are sticky. It does not take long to discover that they are enormous spiderwebs.
Sarith ignores Derendil's words and replies to Tanis, still a vacant expression in his face (undercommon) "this is the best way to reach the Darklake, The webs are always changing and that is why my people avoid it. We can always backtrack, but it would add days to our journey."
He is still speaking when two small humanoids slide across a strand and make a stop ten feet away from the ledge, hanging over the chasm. The smallest of the two calls out to your group (common) "greetings, travellers. You should count yourselves lucky that we were close to this spot, no one knows the Silken Paths better than Yuk Yuk and Spiderbait. If what you need is safe passage you can't go wrong following us." He nods with a smile on his face "provided that you can pay for our services, that is."
OOC: image of the newcomers in the spoiler block below.
"The spiderwebs... the Silken Paths?" Tanis' sounds hollow as stares off once more into the deep gloom of the vast, webbed chasm.
Tanis' Insight on the two new arrivals to gauge their intentions: 16
He listens carefully to the more talkative of the small humanoids who had come sliding along the strands from the void. Is this a trick or trap? Or are these actually legitimate businessmen? Or rather, business-humanoids? And for that matter, do we have anything to pay them with?
Tanis turns to his companions. (Undercommon and Dwarvish) "I believe some of you took things from the cave where those monstrosities attacked us. Perhaps we can use that to compensate these guides?" He checks his own inventory, finding nothing except weapons, armor and basic equipment.
"Some of these strands are old and dusty, but some are fresh and new..." Tanis glances back at webbed chasm and then at the small humanoids. (Back to Common) "Are these webs still infested with huge spiders and... wait, did you actually say the larger one's name is Spiderbait??"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
(Dwarven) "Goblins? We really gonna trust goblins?" Drogen utters with displeasure.
“Don’t worry,” Arokas whispers to Drogen in Dwarvish, “I can speak their language, though they don’t know that. If they try to plot against us, I’ll likely know it.” He turns back to the goblins, and in Common says, “We can compensate you for your guidance, but only after we get to our destination. To be frank, we’ve had trouble on our journey and aren’t very trusting of strangers lately,” trying to persuade them to accept this condition.
Persuasion: 9
░▄▀▄▀▀▀▀▄▀▄░░░░░░░░░
░█░░░░░░░░▀▄░░░░░░▄░
█░░▀░░▀░░░░░▀▄▄░░█░█
█░▄░█▀░▄░░░░░░░▀▀░░█
█░░▀▀▀▀░░░░░░░░░░░░█
█░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█
█░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█
░█░░▄▄░░▄▄▄▄░░▄▄░░█░
░█░▄▀█░▄▀░░█░▄▀█░▄▀░
░░▀░░░▀░░░░░▀░░░▀░░░
[A]
At the appearance of the two Think draws his weapons and growls but mostly waits to see what happens next. Maybe he’ll be able to toss one of these new ones onto the bridge and see that it’s safe?
The two goblins seems sincere at a first glance. They balance easily in the spiderweb strands, each carrying a satchel with a few possesions. Given the things that you have seen in the Underdark so far they fit right in.
Jimjar pats his pockets and replies at the empty air (undercommon) "I still carry the gems that were scattered among the skeletons we fought a few days ago."
The one who called himself Yuk Yuk looks at the group, unable to see who spoke (common) "funny that you mention that, my cousin here almost got himself eaten by a pack of huge spiders. Our friends at the time said that his smell must have attracted them." Spiderbair lowers his gaze in shame and replies to his partner (common) "that was years ago, no spider can get to me now."
Eldeth shakes her head in frustration (dwarvish) "only my devotion to king Bruenor would make me suffer goblins as guides without fuss. Still, better then than drow."
Yuk Yuk nods while stroking his chin (common) "and what would that destination be? Many tunnels join the Silken Paths, some are easier to reach than others." He takes a strip of jerky from his satchel and starts nibbling before continuing (common) "trusting strangers is what you'll need to do to cross safely. We know where all the best crossings are and shich ones to avoid. You trust us with the navigation and we can trust that you will pay after we cross. Our price is 4 gold pieces per day, do you have enough?"
"Can you get us to the outside?" Thunk asks sullenly. He misses the sun without even realizing it.
Yuk Yuk finishes his snack and answers (common) "the surface is too far for us. We like living in this area and can guide you to any tunnel that connects here, or to the tunnel that will get you closer to your destination. We have a nice way of life were, without a lot of people trying to kill us."
“Unfortunately we don’t have gold,” Arokas calls to the pair in Common. “We were robbed of our money while we were traveling.” (Will do a deception check for this if need be) “However, I am willing to give you something of extreme value in place of the gold,” he says as he brings out the Mithral Scale Mail. “This armor is magically light, so that the wearer can sneak around without hinderance. It is easily worth the price that you speak of. If you get us to the Darklake safely, this can be yours.”
░▄▀▄▀▀▀▀▄▀▄░░░░░░░░░
░█░░░░░░░░▀▄░░░░░░▄░
█░░▀░░▀░░░░░▀▄▄░░█░█
█░▄░█▀░▄░░░░░░░▀▀░░█
█░░▀▀▀▀░░░░░░░░░░░░█
█░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█
█░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█
░█░░▄▄░░▄▄▄▄░░▄▄░░█░
░█░▄▀█░▄▀░░█░▄▀█░▄▀░
░░▀░░░▀░░░░░▀░░░▀░░░
[A]
If anyone could see his face, which they can't in the darkness, Tanis would look a little stunned that Arokas is offering up the Mithral armor. Or perhaps he is simply tempting them with it but has no plans to give it to them? It seems far more than the 4 gold a day these guides demand...
From the darkness, Tanis whispers to Jimjar (gnomish) "I think we should give them one or two of the gems instead you took from the cave where we fought those monsters. Much closer to four gold a day (so four/eight/twelve total?), than the magic armor. I hope it does not take more than that."
Louder to the guides, he suggests, "Our chosen destination would be to wherever on the far side of the webbed chasm would be the closest journey to Darklake, as my half-elven friend suggested. And if after that, you want to continue to help guide us all the way to Darklake, then as you can see, we may not have gold, but we can offer other valuable items."
As he says this, he muses: All the better if these guides are kept occupied and do not reveal our destination if they later encounter any of our drow pursuers. And however little I trust them, I feel strangely less uneasy about them than I do about Sarith and his vacant stares.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"I don't like this idea, but we may as well get on with it."
Yuk Yuk opens his eyes wide at the mention of magical armor. He quickly reaches into his satchel and produces a tinderbox, which he uses to light up a torch. He smiles at the glimmer of the scale mail in Arokas' hands. (common) "Well, that is a shiny shirt. We may take you to the Darklake for such a prize" the goblin adds with a wide smile "we can get you to a tunnel that is only a day's march away from it, as long as none of you is afraid of heights."
Both goblins turn to the ranger, who seemingly appeared from nowhere. Spiderbait rubs his eyes and starts pointing at each person in turn, muttering to himself as he counts how many are in your group.
Careful not to touch the torch to the webs, Yuk Yuk slides the few feet that separated him from the ledge and lands in front of the group (common) "are you ready to start the trip right now or do you need to rest first? In any case we will need to make a long stop in the middle before we reach the other tunnel." The goblin goes on telling you how to tell the sticky webs apart from the ones you can use to cross, and reminds you not to light any fire, as the strands burn easily. He stops as he gets closer to Stool (common) "one of you will have to help this little one, the paths can swing at a moment's notice."