You were gathered from various corners of the realms at the request of three powerful noble houses to go and finally solve a theft. All the houses received the following note. The note was signed with the symbol of Keraptis, an extremely ancient wizard thought to be dead for over a thousand years.
Search ye far or search ye near You’ll find no trace of the three Unless you follow instructions clear For the weapons abide with me. North past forest, farm and furrow You must go to the feathered mound Then down away from the sun you’ll burrow Forget life, forget light, forget sound. To rescue Wave, you must do battle With the Beast in the Boiling Bubble Crost cavern vast, where chain-links rattle Lies Whelm, past water-spouts double. Blackrazor yet remains to be won Underneath inverted ziggurat. That garnered, think not that you’re done For now you’ll find you are caught I care not, former owners brave What heroes you seek to hire. Though mighty, I’ll make each one my slave Or send him to the fire.
It was figured out by the scolars that the feathered mound mentioned in the note is a volcanic hill that always has a white whisp or plume coming out of the top. A scouting party with the help from nearby village determined that the only entrance is about halfway up the hill. As you were led towards the entrance you can see steam vents and accompanying streams here and there. From time to time you can hear a long whistling sound from up ahead as well.
It's late morning by the time you have criss-crossed your way through thick brush up to a tiny campsite from where you can see a cave entrance some 50 feet away. The guides nod, wish you well and start heading back to their daily duties. The one who was at the campsite turns and says, "Oh yeah, it breathes.. you'll see." And just as he disappears down the trail you hear a low whistling sound and a cloud of steam pours out from the cave. It lasts about half a minute after which there is a brief lull and then you can see by the bend of the nearby grass and roots that air seems to flow back into the cave. The cycle then repeats.
Welcome to the White Plume Mountain! What do you do?
A brown-skinned halfling clad in a dull, dented breastplate with green and brown robes underneath runs up near the mouth of the cave and begins to whistle back trying to mimic the sound. "Oh, neat! I've never been to a breathing mountain before." She pulls down an owl-like pair of goggles and peers into the cave. "What are we waiting for?!"
A scrawny kenku walks up wearing what seems to be children's clothing. His pristine black feathers shine and his beady eyes stare into the darkness. He has two greatswords crossed on his back, four handaxes and a morningstar on his belt, and a longbow strung over his shoulder. In the halfling's voice, he calls out. "What are we waiting for?!" and then in Padder's, "Come, my team! Let's go!".
He then speaks in the voice of a little girl, "Marcus stole my toys!"
A lanky elf wearing studded leather armor and carrying a longbow made of beautiful dark wood stands at the back of the group. They'll raise an eyebrow at the mountain and just say, "Huh."
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Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
In the half cycle where the mountain breathes in the cave is somewhat visible in the outside light. It is wet and slick with mud. Tall enough to stand in and possibly walk two abreast, it seems to go straight and then kind of just end.
After peering in for a bit, the other half of the cycle hits - WSHEEEEEE - comes out hot steam that goes right above the head of the halfling who can now see that the steam erupts from a small opening at the very back of the cave near the ceiling. Others close by will duck out of the wave or end up with a quick and foul-smelling face-sauna.
SST, make a dexterity saving throw, the mud is thick and the cave floor uneven - running there 40 feet without without falling over is certainly a feat of great dexterity if successful.
SST goes *step* *step* *splash.. splash..splash..thud* as he reaches the end of the cave and shoves a round rock into what appears to be a mostly horizontal slit. It sticks.
The cycle starts over, steam starts to pour out from both sides of the rock and after a few seconds it slips out and plops down into the mud *THUNK*
Yuta in his black and red circus-themed attire had watched as the mountain 'breathed', yawning since he did not find that to be real interesting or amusing. Then he heard the human, glaring and shaking his head. "Your team? Since when did we make you the leader? No one but Rakdos and those who follow him can tell me what to do. I'm only here because it seems like fun." he said back, before watching the kenku go into the cave. He sighed, thinking of the letter and how that was their only clue to figuring out where these items are at. "Yes, dig under there. The letter mentioned burrowing, so this may be what they had meant." Yuta then called out to the Kenku as well, wanting to hurry up and get to the fun part of this.
SST straightens, looking back at the team. In Yuta's voice, "No one-tell me what to do." He then begins to use the flat of one of his greatswords to push away the mud.
Between SST and hopefully some others helping you manage to clear away enough mud to reveal a rusted iron trapdoor with a handle. After quite a struggle you manage to pull it open to reveal a rusted staircase. The air smells bad...
The halfling following in behind the bird reaches out a hand and touches SST on the wing. "Let Nana Charley help us."(Guidance) She leans in close to the kenku and side-whispers, "I don't like my veggies either."
SST will toss aside his dirty greatsword and light a torch before proceeding down the staircase. "Nana Charley Rakdos help us. Let's go! You can do it!"
"Whew! That sure is a smelly hole to be crawling in." Necey gives a nod to SST. "I'm right behind you, Thuddy... You don't mind if I call you that do you? You know rhymes with buddy." The halfling slings her shield around off her back and secured to her right hand. In her left, she holds an ebonwood staff with spider webs carved down it.
(I assume that we've been on the road a day or two, so I think introductions would have taken place.)
The spiral staircase descends about 100 feet before ending with a splash — the floor is submerged beneath a foot of scummy, opaque water! And sure enough the floor under the water is slippery with mud as well, making every step an effort (movement speed is reduced by a third).
Floating on the water are splotches of green and white subterranean algae. This algae or algae-like fungus also clings in patches to walls and ceilings. It is harmless, and can be found almost everywhere in the dungeon where there is water.
The corridor that heads east from the landing is about 10 feet high and 10 feet wide and seems to turn sharply left just at the furthest range of darkvision, at about 60 feet.
You are all now gathered at the foot of the stairs, SST standing in the water and the shorter folk eyeing this situation suspiciously. The only way ahead is along the corridor, but you can't see the floor or even if there is a floor as the water level is obviously equal along it.
How do you proceed and what's the marching order?
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You were gathered from various corners of the realms at the request of three powerful noble houses to go and finally solve a theft. All the houses received the following note. The note was signed with the symbol of Keraptis, an extremely ancient wizard thought to be dead for over a thousand years.
Search ye far or search ye near
You’ll find no trace of the three
Unless you follow instructions clear
For the weapons abide with me.
North past forest, farm and furrow
You must go to the feathered mound
Then down away from the sun you’ll burrow
Forget life, forget light, forget sound.
To rescue Wave, you must do battle
With the Beast in the Boiling Bubble
Crost cavern vast, where chain-links rattle
Lies Whelm, past water-spouts double.
Blackrazor yet remains to be won
Underneath inverted ziggurat.
That garnered, think not that you’re done
For now you’ll find you are caught
I care not, former owners brave
What heroes you seek to hire.
Though mighty, I’ll make each one my slave
Or send him to the fire.
It was figured out by the scolars that the feathered mound mentioned in the note is a volcanic hill that always has a white whisp or plume coming out of the top. A scouting party with the help from nearby village determined that the only entrance is about halfway up the hill. As you were led towards the entrance you can see steam vents and accompanying streams here and there. From time to time you can hear a long whistling sound from up ahead as well.
It's late morning by the time you have criss-crossed your way through thick brush up to a tiny campsite from where you can see a cave entrance some 50 feet away. The guides nod, wish you well and start heading back to their daily duties. The one who was at the campsite turns and says, "Oh yeah, it breathes.. you'll see." And just as he disappears down the trail you hear a low whistling sound and a cloud of steam pours out from the cave. It lasts about half a minute after which there is a brief lull and then you can see by the bend of the nearby grass and roots that air seems to flow back into the cave. The cycle then repeats.
Welcome to the White Plume Mountain! What do you do?
Padder smirks. The mountain breathes. That’s fun. So. Some fake Keraptis has stolen some items. Huh. Come, my team! Let’s go!
A brown-skinned halfling clad in a dull, dented breastplate with green and brown robes underneath runs up near the mouth of the cave and begins to whistle back trying to mimic the sound. "Oh, neat! I've never been to a breathing mountain before." She pulls down an owl-like pair of goggles and peers into the cave. "What are we waiting for?!"
A scrawny kenku walks up wearing what seems to be children's clothing. His pristine black feathers shine and his beady eyes stare into the darkness. He has two greatswords crossed on his back, four handaxes and a morningstar on his belt, and a longbow strung over his shoulder. In the halfling's voice, he calls out. "What are we waiting for?!" and then in Padder's, "Come, my team! Let's go!".
He then speaks in the voice of a little girl, "Marcus stole my toys!"
A lanky elf wearing studded leather armor and carrying a longbow made of beautiful dark wood stands at the back of the group. They'll raise an eyebrow at the mountain and just say, "Huh."
Current Characters: Tailine, Tiefling Rogue 2 - Zanoliv
In the half cycle where the mountain breathes in the cave is somewhat visible in the outside light. It is wet and slick with mud. Tall enough to stand in and possibly walk two abreast, it seems to go straight and then kind of just end.
After peering in for a bit, the other half of the cycle hits - WSHEEEEEE - comes out hot steam that goes right above the head of the halfling who can now see that the steam erupts from a small opening at the very back of the cave near the ceiling. Others close by will duck out of the wave or end up with a quick and foul-smelling face-sauna.
Step Step Thud (SST) walks to the mouth of the cave, and in a young boy's voice, "Yuck, I don't like vegetables."
Then he will dash to the back of the cave and attempt to plug the opening with a rock or one of his greatswords.
I don’t think that’s a good idea! Padder, with both shields ready, looks inside of the cave. What do vegetables have to do with this?
SST, make a dexterity saving throw, the mud is thick and the cave floor uneven - running there 40 feet without without falling over is certainly a feat of great dexterity if successful.
SST’s Dex save to avoid Step Step Thudding: 13
(also, because of his winged boots, he can just fly if the terrain is too difficult to run on)
SST goes *step* *step* *splash.. splash..splash..thud* as he reaches the end of the cave and shoves a round rock into what appears to be a mostly horizontal slit. It sticks.
The cycle starts over, steam starts to pour out from both sides of the rock and after a few seconds it slips out and plops down into the mud *THUNK*
Sounded like something hollow is under the mud.
Hello down there! If you wouldn’t mind getting whatever’s under the mud! Let’s go! You can do it!
Yuta in his black and red circus-themed attire had watched as the mountain 'breathed', yawning since he did not find that to be real interesting or amusing. Then he heard the human, glaring and shaking his head. "Your team? Since when did we make you the leader? No one but Rakdos and those who follow him can tell me what to do. I'm only here because it seems like fun." he said back, before watching the kenku go into the cave. He sighed, thinking of the letter and how that was their only clue to figuring out where these items are at. "Yes, dig under there. The letter mentioned burrowing, so this may be what they had meant." Yuta then called out to the Kenku as well, wanting to hurry up and get to the fun part of this.
SST straightens, looking back at the team. In Yuta's voice, "No one-tell me what to do." He then begins to use the flat of one of his greatswords to push away the mud.
Between SST and hopefully some others helping you manage to clear away enough mud to reveal a rusted iron trapdoor with a handle. After quite a struggle you manage to pull it open to reveal a rusted staircase. The air smells bad...
(Had this typed up and forgot to hit post)
The halfling following in behind the bird reaches out a hand and touches SST on the wing. "Let Nana Charley help us." (Guidance) She leans in close to the kenku and side-whispers, "I don't like my veggies either."
SST will toss aside his dirty greatsword and light a torch before proceeding down the staircase. "Nana Charley Rakdos help us. Let's go! You can do it!"
(Hmm.... how do I get down?)
I’m coming, half of my team! Just wait a second! Padder carefully moves down.
"Whew! That sure is a smelly hole to be crawling in." Necey gives a nod to SST. "I'm right behind you, Thuddy... You don't mind if I call you that do you? You know rhymes with buddy." The halfling slings her shield around off her back and secured to her right hand. In her left, she holds an ebonwood staff with spider webs carved down it.
(I assume that we've been on the road a day or two, so I think introductions would have taken place.)
The spiral staircase descends about 100 feet before ending with a splash — the floor is submerged beneath a foot of scummy, opaque water! And sure enough the floor under the water is slippery with mud as well, making every step an effort (movement speed is reduced by a third).
Floating on the water are splotches of green and white subterranean algae. This algae or algae-like fungus also clings in patches to walls and ceilings. It is harmless, and can be found almost everywhere in the dungeon where there is water.
The corridor that heads east from the landing is about 10 feet high and 10 feet wide and seems to turn sharply left just at the furthest range of darkvision, at about 60 feet.
You are all now gathered at the foot of the stairs, SST standing in the water and the shorter folk eyeing this situation suspiciously. The only way ahead is along the corridor, but you can't see the floor or even if there is a floor as the water level is obviously equal along it.
How do you proceed and what's the marching order?