"Though hiding tracks from skilled hunters is difficult, this is good thinking"Shishakli says to El, as he helps to hide their tracks behind the group for the first bit after they take their path, before running ahead back towards the front of the group.
Spending as little time as possible but as much time as required, El and Shishakli start brushing the path to the left and El will add the bloodied dagger, oil and sensory effects around the tunnel that had continued straight on.
“Sloobludop offers shelter it does. Boats for taking the Darklake. Food and hospitality my people should offer” Shuushar says using Stool’s spores.
As the groups pace quickens once more, El gets to the front with Tobias, the two of them move forwards, inspect the area and then get the group to move forwards. Shishakli pushes his way near the front to join Cyndral in navigating. Shishakli thinks he knows what to follow as the ground around them seems to get slightly more damp, Cyndral suggests a few different routes to follow but they just don’t feel right to Shishakli. Verim who is lighting part of the way with his glowing shield stays slightly further back. He tries to take in some of his surroundings to map their journey but his concentration slips to group chasing them and to thinking about Mystra. Gnarls remains towards the back, keeping his eyes out for anything edible along the way. He spots a small collection of plain looking white mushrooms that are growing at the side of one of the tunnels, he stops for seconds, managing to pick up 2 days worth of rations for one person. The sound of voices behind you can no longer be heard.
After not long, the 10ft wide tunnel begins to open up into a huge cavern with no natural light, Verim’s Shield is the only thing leading the way. Although huge, the cavern seems fairly plain and boring, you walk on a natural bridge, 15ft wide made of a number of fallen rocks, a drop that leads further than the eye can see lies on either side, the smell of damp and stagnant water hits you, it’s not the most pleasant of places to be but is better than being captured. A faint drip of water can be heard somewhere echoing through the space, a while later, another drip can be heard in the same area.
Cyndral takes in the change, clearly apprehensive about the natural bridge. He flinches visibly at each drop of water echoing through the space, trying his best to keep his composure but likely failing. After some time, he turns to Shuushar, asking quietly "Does this bridge span part of your Darklake?"
The rest of the group stays a bit behind with Sarith and JimJar remaining at the back.
Through the spores you hear Shuushar reply “Misleading The Darklakes Name is. Less of a lake and more of a network of rivers, pools and lakes it is. Know the Darklake well I do and this area I don’t recognise. A river that flows to the Darklake it could be but the flow of water I cannot hear”
Ront replies to Shishakli “Beautiful? Ha! Ront thinks it’s dark, wet and too big!”
Cyndral, half mumbling to himself, looks around, his dark vision trying in vain to see down to the water he can hear below. "Somehow unknown waters seem even less comforting. Never know what could be down there."
Doing his best to take his mind off of the waterway, he thinks of a follow up, anything else to steer the conversation away. "Shuushar, my friend. Are the rest of your people of a similar mannerism to yourself? Pacifistic and calm? If so, that's a rather admirable society down here. Not many could pull such a thing off."
El glances at the orc with his brazen words, thinking He's gonna last with that attitude... instead of voicing their thoughts though, El continues to walk beside Tobias. Curious about the half-orc and appreciating his company much more when compared to his full-blooded brethren. Unsure of how to make original conversation, El opts for the simple and obvious question, though the execution? Not so simple; "How did a ha- a Cleric such as yourself end up in a place like this? I mean, if you don't mind me asking that is. Just trying to make conversation yaknow? I don't mean to be... I– Just– Forget I asked." They look at their feet and mentally kick themself for their awkwardness but glad for the spore's ability to focus conversation as had the rest of the group overheard their feeble attempt at conversation, they might as well jump over the side into the dark abyss below.
OoC: if Tobias is responding feel free to interrupt El at any time, I just wrote out the extent of what they were going to say.
"I don't mind," Tobias grunts and glances to the side toward the human as they travel. "There are a number of abandoned mines around the town where I'm from - Mirabar,"he sighs as he begins his story, and shifts uncomfortably with some embarrassment. "I was asked to assist the city wardens with the investigation of one of these mines where some strange disturbances had occurred. Not too far in we were ambushed by the drow... Though I don't believe the drow to be the cause of the town's problem. No one had gone missing before our group had entered." He glances to their path behind, as if he may have left something behind. "Wrong time at the right place, I suppose."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Verim closes his eyes, feeling comfortable to do this as he walk, almost a second nature to him, Verim listens out to hear if he can sense any sign of water rushing or even the odd drip, he will try and remember his home by the lake and try and give himself some comfort in this time. The snake stops working away at his poisonous veins in his neck and settles back down beneath his skin. Verim will try and pick up on the conversations ahead, if inaudible he will simply smile in reflection and for his new allies, gripping hard with one hand his shield and the other his pendant.
Shuushar sighs, thinking about Cyndral's question, the sound of bubbles rising seems to fill your heads before he speaks "The people of Sloobludop are like people from everywhere. Some are good, some are bad, some are happy, some are sad. Angry and upset I once was, left the city a few months ago I did after some people told me I was too quick with my actions with not enough thought. Walked through the Underdark for a long time without any real thought until I saw her, Blibdoolpoolp, the sea mother. Told me to change my perspective on life, to rejoin my people she did, told me to guide them through dark times she did. So I changed my view on life, slowed things down and figured that whatever happens, happens, she will guide me to the right place. To be in the right place at the right time. I started walking back the way I had came until the Dark elves caught me"
Although everyone is listening out for running water below, you can't seem to hear it. It's either not there or just so far down that the sound isn't traveling this far up. There is just the sound of the occasional drip of water coming from somewhere and dripping onto something else within the space.
El listens then takes a breath before replying, despite not needing the air to speak in their mind. "Ah, yeah sounds like what happened to me... Well, kinda." They seem a little more confident now that Tobias has reciprocated the conversation. Out loud, El repeats the name of the city, "Mirabar," they roll the name around on their tongue. "I'm sure I've heard the name before but I don't think I could put a face to it, probably haven't been there, or have but only in passing. You say you were asked to help by the wardens, so what did you do for work?" As they walk El pulls out a small piece of wood from their pack. They draw a small knife with a well kept blade and a wooden handle wrapped in leather, that's seen better days, and begin to carve.
Catching up with the group, Gnarls catches Tobias/El mid conversation. "Mirabar." he says with some contempt. "As far as cities go, it could be more unpleasant. Tobias, I suspect the source of the town's problems were the town itself. Wealth, greed, ambition, lack of freedom."Realizing, now is not the time to be chastizing, Gnarls adds. "To each their own I suppose."
Holding out his hands, he thinks to the group "I found a bunch of mushrooms that seem edible. At least we won't starve." With the recklessness he promised to quell, he pops one in his mouth and starts chewing, approaching the bridge. "Why have we stopped? Is there danger here?"
"Ah," El says, nodding as though Gnarls' brief description has painted a clear picture of the place. They eye the mushrooms and pause their carving to watch the halfling as he eats one, waiting with an amused smile, curious to see if the sturdy barbarian grows spots or turns blue.
Tobias looks down to the halfling and just shrugs before turning back to El. "Work? I'm a member of the temple of Torm. I have no job other than my service there. We are sometimes asked to assist should the wardens be doing something potentially dangerous outside the city walls."
El assumes they should know what Tobias is referring too but clearly has no clue, "The Torm... Yes. And you Torms do... Torm... stuff... In the... Torm Temple." El stops themself before they cross a line with their humour but let's the question hang in the air.
Gnarls pops the mushroom into his mouth. Chews and swallows. Nothing appears to happen to him after doing so. After walking quickly in this huge cavern for the best part of an hour, Tobias sees it first but El sees it shortly after, a passage at the end of the bridge, about 100ft away with a slight green glow.
Cyndral screws up his face, trying not to fumble with the strange Kuo-Toa tongue but failing miserably. "Blido... Blip... This sea mother. She sounds like a wonderful influence, my friend. I hope more of your people can turn to her light, she certainly seems to have brought you serenity. Although I can't say it seems particularly comforting that we'll be walking into just as unpredictable of a city as any other. And, to be frank, I'm not looking forward to sailing across your Darklake. Have you ever heard of... Aboleths?"
The word weighs heavy on Cyndral's tongue, a thousand horrible childhood stories swirling on his mind as it does so. It becomes clear very quickly that Cyndral's discomfort has nothing to do with the water itself, and more and more with the nameless wretched things living in those ink-black depths.
Shuushar replies ”Blibdoolpoolp, Yes, an inspiring woman she is. Meet her one day you might. Heard of Aboleths I have. Seen one though? Never. The lake is safe when you know where to go”
Buppido butts in
”If you don’t want to cross the lake then it’s simple, we can go around. It will be easy to get to Gracklstugh from the Kou-Toa village”
Tobias just gives the human a curious look at their comments. "No different than other churches. Well at least that those of the more benevolent gods... And what is it that you do?"
As they come to the end of the bridge, the half-orc points towards the glowing passage. He relays to the others in the group, "Be careful ahead. We don't know what is in store for us."He readies his shield and mace and cautiously approaches.
(DM: Is it a steady glow, or flickering? Also, is this passage another fork in the road or just continuing along our current path?)
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"Though hiding tracks from skilled hunters is difficult, this is good thinking" Shishakli says to El, as he helps to hide their tracks behind the group for the first bit after they take their path, before running ahead back towards the front of the group.
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Tobias turns to the kuo toa and projects his thoughts to the creature's mind, "What exactly might we find at your homeland?"
Spending as little time as possible but as much time as required, El and Shishakli start brushing the path to the left and El will add the bloodied dagger, oil and sensory effects around the tunnel that had continued straight on.
“Sloobludop offers shelter it does. Boats for taking the Darklake. Food and hospitality my people should offer” Shuushar says using Stool’s spores.
As the groups pace quickens once more, El gets to the front with Tobias, the two of them move forwards, inspect the area and then get the group to move forwards. Shishakli pushes his way near the front to join Cyndral in navigating. Shishakli thinks he knows what to follow as the ground around them seems to get slightly more damp, Cyndral suggests a few different routes to follow but they just don’t feel right to Shishakli. Verim who is lighting part of the way with his glowing shield stays slightly further back. He tries to take in some of his surroundings to map their journey but his concentration slips to group chasing them and to thinking about Mystra. Gnarls remains towards the back, keeping his eyes out for anything edible along the way. He spots a small collection of plain looking white mushrooms that are growing at the side of one of the tunnels, he stops for seconds, managing to pick up 2 days worth of rations for one person. The sound of voices behind you can no longer be heard.
After not long, the 10ft wide tunnel begins to open up into a huge cavern with no natural light, Verim’s Shield is the only thing leading the way. Although huge, the cavern seems fairly plain and boring, you walk on a natural bridge, 15ft wide made of a number of fallen rocks, a drop that leads further than the eye can see lies on either side, the smell of damp and stagnant water hits you, it’s not the most pleasant of places to be but is better than being captured. A faint drip of water can be heard somewhere echoing through the space, a while later, another drip can be heard in the same area.
Dungeon Master - PBP Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Closed)
Dungeon Master - PBP Out Of The Abyss (Closed)
Dungeon Master - The Chronicles Of Dantia (Home Game)
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Vosdred Ironeye - Hill Dwarf - Fighter/Wizard - PBP Game of the Last Chance
Cyndral takes in the change, clearly apprehensive about the natural bridge. He flinches visibly at each drop of water echoing through the space, trying his best to keep his composure but likely failing. After some time, he turns to Shuushar, asking quietly "Does this bridge span part of your Darklake?"
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Shishakli is just amazed at this bridge and cavern, saying "Isn't the underdark beautiful? Such vast spaces of nature and peace."
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The rest of the group stays a bit behind with Sarith and JimJar remaining at the back.
Through the spores you hear Shuushar reply “Misleading The Darklakes Name is. Less of a lake and more of a network of rivers, pools and lakes it is. Know the Darklake well I do and this area I don’t recognise. A river that flows to the Darklake it could be but the flow of water I cannot hear”
Ront replies to Shishakli “Beautiful? Ha! Ront thinks it’s dark, wet and too big!”
Dungeon Master - PBP Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Closed)
Dungeon Master - PBP Out Of The Abyss (Closed)
Dungeon Master - The Chronicles Of Dantia (Home Game)
Forbi & Dorbi - Deep Gnome - Fighter/Rogue - PBP Into The Fire
Vosdred Ironeye - Hill Dwarf - Fighter/Wizard - PBP Game of the Last Chance
Cyndral, half mumbling to himself, looks around, his dark vision trying in vain to see down to the water he can hear below. "Somehow unknown waters seem even less comforting. Never know what could be down there."
Doing his best to take his mind off of the waterway, he thinks of a follow up, anything else to steer the conversation away. "Shuushar, my friend. Are the rest of your people of a similar mannerism to yourself? Pacifistic and calm? If so, that's a rather admirable society down here. Not many could pull such a thing off."
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El glances at the orc with his brazen words, thinking He's gonna last with that attitude... instead of voicing their thoughts though, El continues to walk beside Tobias. Curious about the half-orc and appreciating his company much more when compared to his full-blooded brethren. Unsure of how to make original conversation, El opts for the simple and obvious question, though the execution? Not so simple; "How did a ha- a Cleric such as yourself end up in a place like this? I mean, if you don't mind me asking that is. Just trying to make conversation yaknow? I don't mean to be... I– Just– Forget I asked." They look at their feet and mentally kick themself for their awkwardness but glad for the spore's ability to focus conversation as had the rest of the group overheard their feeble attempt at conversation, they might as well jump over the side into the dark abyss below.
OoC: if Tobias is responding feel free to interrupt El at any time, I just wrote out the extent of what they were going to say.
"I don't mind," Tobias grunts and glances to the side toward the human as they travel. "There are a number of abandoned mines around the town where I'm from - Mirabar," he sighs as he begins his story, and shifts uncomfortably with some embarrassment. "I was asked to assist the city wardens with the investigation of one of these mines where some strange disturbances had occurred. Not too far in we were ambushed by the drow... Though I don't believe the drow to be the cause of the town's problem. No one had gone missing before our group had entered." He glances to their path behind, as if he may have left something behind. "Wrong time at the right place, I suppose."
Verim closes his eyes, feeling comfortable to do this as he walk, almost a second nature to him, Verim listens out to hear if he can sense any sign of water rushing or even the odd drip, he will try and remember his home by the lake and try and give himself some comfort in this time. The snake stops working away at his poisonous veins in his neck and settles back down beneath his skin. Verim will try and pick up on the conversations ahead, if inaudible he will simply smile in reflection and for his new allies, gripping hard with one hand his shield and the other his pendant.
Perception Check
10
Shuushar sighs, thinking about Cyndral's question, the sound of bubbles rising seems to fill your heads before he speaks "The people of Sloobludop are like people from everywhere. Some are good, some are bad, some are happy, some are sad. Angry and upset I once was, left the city a few months ago I did after some people told me I was too quick with my actions with not enough thought. Walked through the Underdark for a long time without any real thought until I saw her, Blibdoolpoolp, the sea mother. Told me to change my perspective on life, to rejoin my people she did, told me to guide them through dark times she did. So I changed my view on life, slowed things down and figured that whatever happens, happens, she will guide me to the right place. To be in the right place at the right time. I started walking back the way I had came until the Dark elves caught me"
Although everyone is listening out for running water below, you can't seem to hear it. It's either not there or just so far down that the sound isn't traveling this far up. There is just the sound of the occasional drip of water coming from somewhere and dripping onto something else within the space.
Dungeon Master - PBP Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Closed)
Dungeon Master - PBP Out Of The Abyss (Closed)
Dungeon Master - The Chronicles Of Dantia (Home Game)
Forbi & Dorbi - Deep Gnome - Fighter/Rogue - PBP Into The Fire
Vosdred Ironeye - Hill Dwarf - Fighter/Wizard - PBP Game of the Last Chance
Catching up with the group, Gnarls catches Tobias/El mid conversation. "Mirabar." he says with some contempt. "As far as cities go, it could be more unpleasant. Tobias, I suspect the source of the town's problems were the town itself. Wealth, greed, ambition, lack of freedom." Realizing, now is not the time to be chastizing, Gnarls adds. "To each their own I suppose."
Holding out his hands, he thinks to the group "I found a bunch of mushrooms that seem edible. At least we won't starve." With the recklessness he promised to quell, he pops one in his mouth and starts chewing, approaching the bridge. "Why have we stopped? Is there danger here?"
"Ah," El says, nodding as though Gnarls' brief description has painted a clear picture of the place. They eye the mushrooms and pause their carving to watch the halfling as he eats one, waiting with an amused smile, curious to see if the sturdy barbarian grows spots or turns blue.
Tobias looks down to the halfling and just shrugs before turning back to El. "Work? I'm a member of the temple of Torm. I have no job other than my service there. We are sometimes asked to assist should the wardens be doing something potentially dangerous outside the city walls."
El assumes they should know what Tobias is referring too but clearly has no clue, "The Torm... Yes. And you Torms do... Torm... stuff... In the... Torm Temple." El stops themself before they cross a line with their humour but let's the question hang in the air.
Gnarls pops the mushroom into his mouth. Chews and swallows. Nothing appears to happen to him after doing so. After walking quickly in this huge cavern for the best part of an hour, Tobias sees it first but El sees it shortly after, a passage at the end of the bridge, about 100ft away with a slight green glow.
Dungeon Master - PBP Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Closed)
Dungeon Master - PBP Out Of The Abyss (Closed)
Dungeon Master - The Chronicles Of Dantia (Home Game)
Forbi & Dorbi - Deep Gnome - Fighter/Rogue - PBP Into The Fire
Vosdred Ironeye - Hill Dwarf - Fighter/Wizard - PBP Game of the Last Chance
Cyndral screws up his face, trying not to fumble with the strange Kuo-Toa tongue but failing miserably. "Blido... Blip... This sea mother. She sounds like a wonderful influence, my friend. I hope more of your people can turn to her light, she certainly seems to have brought you serenity. Although I can't say it seems particularly comforting that we'll be walking into just as unpredictable of a city as any other. And, to be frank, I'm not looking forward to sailing across your Darklake. Have you ever heard of... Aboleths?"
The word weighs heavy on Cyndral's tongue, a thousand horrible childhood stories swirling on his mind as it does so. It becomes clear very quickly that Cyndral's discomfort has nothing to do with the water itself, and more and more with the nameless wretched things living in those ink-black depths.
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Shuushar replies ”Blibdoolpoolp, Yes, an inspiring woman she is. Meet her one day you might. Heard of Aboleths I have. Seen one though? Never. The lake is safe when you know where to go”
Buppido butts in
”If you don’t want to cross the lake then it’s simple, we can go around. It will be easy to get to Gracklstugh from the Kou-Toa village”
Dungeon Master - PBP Lost Mine Of Phandelver (Closed)
Dungeon Master - PBP Out Of The Abyss (Closed)
Dungeon Master - The Chronicles Of Dantia (Home Game)
Forbi & Dorbi - Deep Gnome - Fighter/Rogue - PBP Into The Fire
Vosdred Ironeye - Hill Dwarf - Fighter/Wizard - PBP Game of the Last Chance
Tobias just gives the human a curious look at their comments. "No different than other churches. Well at least that those of the more benevolent gods... And what is it that you do?"
As they come to the end of the bridge, the half-orc points towards the glowing passage. He relays to the others in the group, "Be careful ahead. We don't know what is in store for us." He readies his shield and mace and cautiously approaches.
(DM: Is it a steady glow, or flickering? Also, is this passage another fork in the road or just continuing along our current path?)