"Hainard's hairy toes," Hildigrim says slowly, softly, and with a tone of unbelief in his voice. He more quickly moves about the room, seeming to size up the area before stopping in front of the group to address them. "One time, I had a long conversation with a ranger who was on the run from some former business partners of his. He was from somewhere up north near the Evermoors. I think he said they had accused him of stealing a ring they had discovered in a temple of Vecna—" The halfling grins. "Vecna. Interesting. That's the second time he's come to mind in this catacomb. First, the hand, and now ... Anyway, we got to conversing about Vecna, who I'm sure most of you all know was a lich." Hildigrim turns his eyes on Jorin and continues in more of a lecture-y tone, "A lich is an undead spellcaster of great power — usually a wizard, but also possibly a sorcerer or cleric. They are feared by mortal beings for their malign magic, intelligence, and willingness to embrace undeath for a chance to exist forever. Basically," he says more lightly, "they're an incredibly powerful magic user who is undead." He looks back at the group as a whole. "After hearing this ranger's story, I decided to expound upon my knowledge of liches. One of the pieces of literature I read was a treatise called Minor Lich Deities and How to Become One." He scoffs. "It was so ridiculous, I thought it had been some sort of made up quackery sold to some gullible noble. It was full of enticing pictures of life after death." His grin disappears as he looks around the room again. "This room is an exact physical configuration of what was detailed in the treatise." Looking back at the others, the halfling concludes, "Either Carrion had a copy of the treatise, or there was more to it than I'd thought. I am sure Carrion was trying to become a lich. I have no doubt."
Drusk to Hildigrim: "Do you remember the significance of this sarcophagus? Should we suspect something sinister slithering from it?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Hildigrim turns to look at the stone coffin. "According to the treatise, the sarcophagus is where the final step takes place in going from ambitious mage to undead lich." The halfling twists to look back over his shoulder at Drusk. "The book had no details on just how long that final step would take. But Mortimer's keen interest is intriguing." Hildi takes a couple steps forward. "Shall we open her up?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The light of Jorin's glowing battleaxe shines off Hildigrim's eyes as he explains these things to the group. Jorin listens intently, but his eyes begin to glaze over until the mention of opening the sarcophagus jolts him back to the present.
"Aye, let's see what's the box, yes?"
He spits on one hand before putting it on the lid, then gives it a couple nudges to test the weight. Athletics: 15
Everyone gathers near the sarcophagus, ready for anything. Vanja is in the back, holding her ball of fire. Drusk is ready to bring Lliira's joyous wrath down. Pascal is prepared to burp up a blast of freezing cold. Hildigrim has judiciously stepped back, but against his better curiosity. Jorin spits on his hands, puts them to the lid, and pushes gingerly, not wanting to send it crashing to the ground...
and it shifts, revealing a small crack into darkness...
out of which...
nothing comes.
Mortimer puts his nose to the hole. "Mrrr?"
After some much understandable caution, during which nobody expends any spell slots, you determine the sarcophagus to be empty. Looks like Carrion is not in there.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Drusk thoroughly searches the sarcophagus, and finds nothing. It's not unnaturally clean, but it has been closed a while, so it's not as dirty as the rest of the place. No signs of previous habitation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
No amount of pushing and shoving manages to move the sarcophagus. Hildigrim finds no hidden catches or springs that might reveal a hidden door. Just a big stone box.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Jorin starts to head out but sees Drusk struggling with pushing the sarcophagus itself and, ignoring the DM's insistence that there's nothing to see here, lays into it himself. Athletics: 22
OOC > LOL. Okay, if you really want to, I’ll set a DC in my head for uprooting the sarcophagus. 22 did not hit it. Anyone who wants to can have two tries, and you can give up a try to Help someone else and give them advantage. Drusk has had two attempts (one a help) and Jorin one. Someone could help Jorin for his last attempt... I’ll move us back to the north corridor in the morning, barring any objections.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
The group finishes grunting over the immovable sarcophagus, and with a convivial chuckle, you all make your way northward, once again leaving the secret door behind. Vanja conjures a ball of flame to assist Jorin's magically lit battle axe, and once again, the dank dungeon feels less oppressive. Perhaps familiarity breeds comfort?
You pass through the long hallway, careful not to dislodge Hildigrim's disabled traps. You move through the blood room and into the north hall, where you find the burned out torch and Jorin's pitted hand axe. Then you proceed further north to the threshold of the room ahead.
Hildigrim peers all around, and declares the entry safe, but notes with a gesture, a patch of green slime on the ceiling further in the room. Drusk calls on Lliira's powers and burns it away with her sacred fire.
The room itself is bare, most likely scoured by the two oozes that lived here. But in the far northwest corner, there is a small neat stack of items, though you can barely make them out in the dark. Drusk, with his dark vision, notes it appears to be a small pile of items, perhaps bottles among them, and a book. Mortimer peers into the corner from safety between Drusk's feet.
Notes: With your passive perceptions, abundant time, and the amount of caution you have so far displayed, I sped through the "discovery" part of this room. You've already handled the obvious monsters (they came out to get you after you made a ruckus in the Spectator's room). So here we are.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
And Guidance on the cat giving the advantage. Add 4
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
"Hainard's hairy toes," Hildigrim says slowly, softly, and with a tone of unbelief in his voice. He more quickly moves about the room, seeming to size up the area before stopping in front of the group to address them. "One time, I had a long conversation with a ranger who was on the run from some former business partners of his. He was from somewhere up north near the Evermoors. I think he said they had accused him of stealing a ring they had discovered in a temple of Vecna—" The halfling grins. "Vecna. Interesting. That's the second time he's come to mind in this catacomb. First, the hand, and now ... Anyway, we got to conversing about Vecna, who I'm sure most of you all know was a lich." Hildigrim turns his eyes on Jorin and continues in more of a lecture-y tone, "A lich is an undead spellcaster of great power — usually a wizard, but also possibly a sorcerer or cleric. They are feared by mortal beings for their malign magic, intelligence, and willingness to embrace undeath for a chance to exist forever. Basically," he says more lightly, "they're an incredibly powerful magic user who is undead." He looks back at the group as a whole. "After hearing this ranger's story, I decided to expound upon my knowledge of liches. One of the pieces of literature I read was a treatise called Minor Lich Deities and How to Become One." He scoffs. "It was so ridiculous, I thought it had been some sort of made up quackery sold to some gullible noble. It was full of enticing pictures of life after death." His grin disappears as he looks around the room again. "This room is an exact physical configuration of what was detailed in the treatise." Looking back at the others, the halfling concludes, "Either Carrion had a copy of the treatise, or there was more to it than I'd thought. I am sure Carrion was trying to become a lich. I have no doubt."
Mortimer (the cat) meows loudly and rubs his cheeks on the top of the sarcophagus. "Pfft!"
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Drusk to Hildigrim: "Do you remember the significance of this sarcophagus? Should we suspect something sinister slithering from it?"
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Pascal interjects, “I feel like the words ‘sinister’ and ‘sarcophagus’ are pretty much mutually exclusive, my friend.”
DM - Elustran Days ~ Fate/False Revelation
Rex'aliha - Hoard of the Dragon Queen ~ Mozu of Worms - The Stormpoint Mountains ~ Muireach Maon - Shepherd’s Crossing ~ Crownsguard - Storm King’s Thunder ~ Gunnar Wayland - Boats, Rocks, and Ruffians ~ POUF! - Ex-Ravens ~ Pascal LaRoux - Long Road Dragon Heist
Hildigrim turns to look at the stone coffin. "According to the treatise, the sarcophagus is where the final step takes place in going from ambitious mage to undead lich." The halfling twists to look back over his shoulder at Drusk. "The book had no details on just how long that final step would take. But Mortimer's keen interest is intriguing." Hildi takes a couple steps forward. "Shall we open her up?"
The light of Jorin's glowing battleaxe shines off Hildigrim's eyes as he explains these things to the group. Jorin listens intently, but his eyes begin to glaze over until the mention of opening the sarcophagus jolts him back to the present.
"Aye, let's see what's the box, yes?"
He spits on one hand before putting it on the lid, then gives it a couple nudges to test the weight. Athletics: 15
Everyone gathers near the sarcophagus, ready for anything. Vanja is in the back, holding her ball of fire. Drusk is ready to bring Lliira's joyous wrath down. Pascal is prepared to burp up a blast of freezing cold. Hildigrim has judiciously stepped back, but against his better curiosity. Jorin spits on his hands, puts them to the lid, and pushes gingerly, not wanting to send it crashing to the ground...
and it shifts, revealing a small crack into darkness...
out of which...
nothing comes.
Mortimer puts his nose to the hole. "Mrrr?"
After some much understandable caution, during which nobody expends any spell slots, you determine the sarcophagus to be empty. Looks like Carrion is not in there.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Jorin let's out a hearty laugh and shakes his head saying, "Liches, see? You cannot trust them. Come, let us head back to the northern section."
Search the inside for any hidden compartments or panels. Any residue? (Was it always empty and immaculately clean?)
Investigation with self-guidance: 15 + 3 = 18
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Drusk thoroughly searches the sarcophagus, and finds nothing. It's not unnaturally clean, but it has been closed a while, so it's not as dirty as the rest of the place. No signs of previous habitation.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Can the sarcophagus itself be pushed any distance? (It may be covering a passageway.) Athletics (STR): 17 + 3
(Edit: That didn't work. If Jorin wants to give a try, Drusk will help him.)
Seems like there is nothing to see here. Guess we should head north, to get Jorin's other hand axe and continue the exploration?
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
No amount of pushing and shoving manages to move the sarcophagus. Hildigrim finds no hidden catches or springs that might reveal a hidden door. Just a big stone box.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Jorin starts to head out but sees Drusk struggling with pushing the sarcophagus itself and, ignoring the DM's insistence that there's nothing to see here, lays into it himself. Athletics: 22
OOC > LOL. Okay, if you really want to, I’ll set a DC in my head for uprooting the sarcophagus. 22 did not hit it. Anyone who wants to can have two tries, and you can give up a try to Help someone else and give them advantage. Drusk has had two attempts (one a help) and Jorin one. Someone could help Jorin for his last attempt... I’ll move us back to the north corridor in the morning, barring any objections.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Disappointed in finding a seeming dead end, Hildigrim watches Mortimer to see what the cat is doing now.
The group finishes grunting over the immovable sarcophagus, and with a convivial chuckle, you all make your way northward, once again leaving the secret door behind. Vanja conjures a ball of flame to assist Jorin's magically lit battle axe, and once again, the dank dungeon feels less oppressive. Perhaps familiarity breeds comfort?
You pass through the long hallway, careful not to dislodge Hildigrim's disabled traps. You move through the blood room and into the north hall, where you find the burned out torch and Jorin's pitted hand axe. Then you proceed further north to the threshold of the room ahead.
Hildigrim peers all around, and declares the entry safe, but notes with a gesture, a patch of green slime on the ceiling further in the room. Drusk calls on Lliira's powers and burns it away with her sacred fire.
The room itself is bare, most likely scoured by the two oozes that lived here. But in the far northwest corner, there is a small neat stack of items, though you can barely make them out in the dark. Drusk, with his dark vision, notes it appears to be a small pile of items, perhaps bottles among them, and a book. Mortimer peers into the corner from safety between Drusk's feet.
Notes: With your passive perceptions, abundant time, and the amount of caution you have so far displayed, I sped through the "discovery" part of this room. You've already handled the obvious monsters (they came out to get you after you made a ruckus in the Spectator's room). So here we are.
Map:
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
"I'd like to investigate those items," Hildigrim says. "Would you accompany me, good sir?" he says to Jorin.
Investigation: 7
Mortimer will Help Hildigrim with his investigation. Familiars ftw! Go ahead and make another roll (the Advantage roll).
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
And Guidance on the cat giving the advantage. Add 4
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
I think what you mean is guidance on Hildigrim, who the cat is helping. :)
7 + 3