Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

Peering through the entrance, Connak can see that the passage straight ahead continues for about 25 feet before terminating into an intersecting tunnel. Another path leads to the north just inside the entrance. Residual light spills forth from this tunnel, the source of which is somewhere deeper inside the complex.

Ando will call out to the group, "I know this type of mushroom, but they never grow this big. Something unnatural is causing their extra growth."

Seeing the group gathering up the ramp, Ando will ford the stream over to the eastern shore and makes his way up to join Connak and Barric.

Athletics: 10

Barric chuckles at Connak's confusion.

"She magicked herself up there. Seems a waste when a quick climb and a rope will do, but who am I to question a wizard.

As Ando joins the group, Barric glances back at the mushrooms.

"The gnomes might be growing them for some purpose. We can ask them when we find them. Speaking of..."

Barric will take the lead and begin to walk into the tunnel. 

Vaxis seems to have been oblivious to everything around him, deep in thought. At Tabesha'l's message he nods in agreement...Then hears the half-elf calling out about some fungi.

He rushes over to Ando and shushes him, pointing to Tabesha'l's location. He motions for everyone else to be silent, then pantomimes sleeping and motions as if it's something big.

Barric detects the faint odor of food cooking as the aromas waft down the hall from the north. 

Barric calls down the north hallway.

"Hello? Is anyone home?"

Connak is a bit alarmed by Barric's initiative and catches up to him, staying just behind and watching for dangers and traps...

Perception: 16

Vaxis hears Barric's call. Frustrated, he moves to follow Connak after Barric, motioning Tabesha'l and Ando to follow.

(I'm sure there's a check or two I need to make to do this, I can't pull up stuff on my computer at work for some reason, go ahead and make the rolls for me if necessary)

Quote from Aradona >>

Vaxis hears Barric's call. Frustrated, he moves to follow Connak after Barric, motioning Tabesha'l and Ando to follow.

(I'm sure there's a check or two I need to make to do this, I can't pull up stuff on my computer at work for some reason, go ahead and make the rolls for me if necessary)

Vaxis attempts to wade across the swirling pool, STR (Athletics) 13 vs DC 11

• SUCCESS - he emerges on the other side, wet but otherwise unhindered
• FAILURE - his feet sink into the mud and he becomes restrained

Vaxis is now standing at the base of the narrow ramp. Looking up, he can see Ando on the ledge. Connak and Barric have entered the tunnel. Connak’s rope swings limply in the breeze.

Vaxis takes off after them, bringing up the rear.

Seeing Vaxis down below, Ando will secure Connak's rope to help Vaxis climb up the ramp. First choice, he'll tie it off to a rock formation, but if there's not he'll wrap it around and secure it himself. "Do we need to wait on the lady or will she be joining us later?"

As Barric moves down the hall, he finds a small dining room with a table set for six. A candelabra sits atop the table, seemingly made from pieces of old scrap metal. No candles occupy its holdings, but the device emits soft light, nonetheless. Barric sees a passageway continuing out of the room further north, which seems to be the source of the cooking smells. He faintly hears voices over the echo of the waterfall plunging into the pool below.

With the rope securely fastened around him, Ando assists Vaxis up the ramp: (need DC 10 Acrobatics check)

Tabesha’l watches as her traveling companions file towards the entrance across the chasm. (Levitate spell still active.)

Connak begins to be concerned, to arrive at a dining hall with the smells of cooking nearby, without meeting some form of lookout or watch.  He shouts, echoing Barric's earlier call, "Hello!?  Anyone home?"

(Acrobatics: 13)

Vaxis clumsily makes his way up the rope, his girth not well suited to climbing.

Vaxis prays for guidance, hoping his next attempt won't be so dismal.

(Casting guidance on myself...because 4 is completely unaccaptable.)

Ando lurches forward as the towering dragonborn draped in chain mail armor (and soaking wet) at the other end of Connak’s rope heaves himself up the narrow access ramp.

Barric and Connak’s salutations are met with the face of a curious gnome peeking around the corner of the end of the hallway north of the dining room. He casts an emotionless stare back at the unexpected visitors as if studying their posture and facial expressions searching for some hint at their intent. Several moments of awkward silence elapse...

Connak sighs with relief to see a gnome.  Noticing the gnome is sizing up the situation, Connak takes the initiative seeing as Tabesha'l decided to wander away... "We're here to help the town of Phandalin against the white dragon.  They think we can obtain something from here that will help kill it or at least drive it away?"

While the gnome ponders his response to the question posed by Connak.  A small blue jay lands on the shoulder of Connak.  It’s high pitched but quiet chirps break the silence.  

The party hears the grunts emerge from behind where they entered as the half giant hands crest over the edge pushing himself up.  The green hair that was once a mess at his shoulders, not waist long and in a neat braid.  His tattered leather scraps for clothes, now replaced with black fur poncho like apparel.  “This one speaks earnestly, we only seek to help.”

The blue jay flies over the the half giant and lands on his finger.  The Firbolg smiles and speaks to the bird “Thank you, friend.”  With that he puts his hand over the blue jay and like a magician’s slight of hand, the bird disappears.  He sits down to ease fitting in the hallway and smiles.

Vaxis seems pleased. His friend Brutus has returned!

"Welcome back, friend!" He says happily.

Turning to the gnome, he says, "Hail, I am Vaxis, vassal of Bahamut. And who might you be?"

As the small group gathers around the gnome, they can hear the familiar rustle of Tabesha'l robes as she floats down to join them. The elf remains silent, taking in the scene unfolding ahead.

** OOC: sorry about the late post. I'm still traveling until dec 13th and unable to access Discord, so things on my end may be spotty until then. **