FOG will hopefully prove to be at least of somewhat use here. While his main focus remains within the boat, funneling out the water, he could help shift the current of the water at key points in order to help get the boat dislodged.
After her angelic burst of activity, during the fight against the head-sucking shadow-creatures, Lia has still been reeling. Gratefully sucking in gasps of air, she stumbles around the boat mindlessly helping where she can…
She blankly nods at Galingal when he asks if she can clear the way with light or sound if the head-suckers come back. Her nod suggests she’s not 100% sure if she even has any magical reserves left to even cast a spell. She nods anyway…
She lights a ‘something-or-other’ trinket-shell for the old wizard again. Settling him in under a blanket to study, or cast, or smoke, or something…
She’s only vaguely aware the angle the deck is at and the sounds of rushing water… Are they sinking? Are they stuck? Going back? Heading onward…
The riot of sounds is too much, and she kneels on the deck cradling her head in her hands trying to quiet her mind. Trying to hear for her celestial guide. Nothing…
((Sorry for my abscence while I was unwell. Ready to dive back in when @Spider is back on top of work. Thanks for your patience :-) )).
The party is able to get the boat unstuck and it is swept by the current down the twisting passage, but proper application of poles keeps it well away from the walls. Much of the group is lost in their own thoughts, while they might flit from topic to topic, for Jimjar, Galingal, Stena and Lia, they can't help but reflect back to their trials in escaping the drow, and those fellow slaves and traveling companions they lost along the way... Io and Ront, who never made it out of the drow outpost... Topsy and Turvy, who seemingly struck out on their own, after some minor theft... Eldeth, brutally murdered... Thom, Sarith, Lex, Stool, PrinceDerendil and Shuushar, all separated from your company when things in Sloobludop went utterly sideways with the rising of... even now your mind veers sharply away from recollections too horrific to endure with the rising of what the KTs worshipped as the Deep Father.
While you certainly wouldn't characterize many of them as true friends, there was at least some familiarity bred out of shared trials, and a goal of escaping drow capture... but you have also gained companions as well, Neth and the ForgetfulOldGuy that are still on the boat with you, and Ranador, the drow child who exhibited not the callous cruelty of his cultural bloodright, but an anger and fear born from a life of slavery. His distrust having started to fall under Stena's care in particular, but both he and Buppido are now also gone from your company. So many who have intersected with your lives down here, and for the majority, it was for all too brief a time. As distressing as the deaths of your companions were, you know the fate of only three of them, and you can't help but wonder who else is out there and still alive... and who has since fallen.
For Neth and F.O.G., your recollections intersect less with the others on your boat, but you similarly wonder what else lies before you in the dark, wet reaches of the Underdark.
It's a rather morose trip through the tunnels, but fortunately, no additional dangers crop up to jar you from your reverie.
((Two of you please each roll me a d20 for Luck.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Eventually it becomes time to rest, as you're now down a pair of hands that were otherwise allowing you to guide the boat in shifts. Alert for such things, Galingal and Stena spot a bit of an eddy where the boat can be softly grounded to check and make sure that no extensive damage was taken on when wedged in the narrow passage, and the glow of a fungal forest beyond promising the potential for foraging.
The boat secured, those more inclined to such duties scout the edges, and soon spot signs of past activity.
((Perception or Survival checks from presumably Stena, but also anyone else getting involved.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Stena quickly finds some edible fungi (3lbs) as she moves into the fungal grove, before shortly coming across some clawed footprints moving alongside a shiny trail on the surface of the ground, ten feet wide. Neither seemed to come from the water, so she'd wager that this shoreline is adjacent to a section of dry tunnel that emerges out to meet with the water.
The shiny trail extends up a bit of a rise, where the footprints disappear against hard stone, but something at the crest of the rise is softly reflecting the glowing light of the fungi in a way that makes her think it's metal.
"Not as well as I'd like.", Jimjar sighs, with a rare lack of offered odds.
"There's a chance this takes us straight to Gracklstugh, by water, and I'm hoping that's still the case."
The boat is battered from its encounter, but you're not sure what repairs the group would be able to enact that would improve the beating it's taken.
F.O.G. stumbles around a bit awkwardly, taking glances at the boat, but ultimately finds himself useless there. He could freeze part of the water and maybe block some leaks that way, but that was a very, very temporary fix. After a few moments of that, he's back to his book, tiny little quill in his hand writing down arcane glyphs on the page that he knows he should write, although he's not sure as to the "why" until it's done. If anyone could be bothered to watch him during this, one might wonder where the pen had even appeared from.
As Stena gets closer, she sees it is a dagger, still clutched in a clawed hand of what looks to have been a kobold. It's a bit hard to say as the head is a mangled ruin of flesh, but the small scaled body and tail fit. Cresting the ridge from behind some rocks, she sees the shining, flat trail extending onward, but the dead kobold is not alone, a dozen more strewn across the cavern floor. The shining trail stops where the largest group of bodies are, before turning to the right and looping around them before continuing on. From her closer position, she can see the spilled blood is still bright and not fully dried.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Galingal keeps an eye on Stena as much as he can. He doesn't want to risk making noise that would attract attention her way but with Buppido out there somewhere, Galingal still keep watch.
"Find anything?" Galingal asks when Stena returns. His common has been getting better in the weeks since the prison, but the sentences still come out choppy and abrupt.
The wound seems to be a crushing blow, from something approximately fist sized, that stove in the skull of the kobold. There is a splatter of a mucous-y substance on the ground and coating the dagger of the nearest kobold. From her reading of the aftermath, the kobolds attacked some sort of creature and were repelled, other kobold bodies are similarly battered and crushed. Looking about, there is assorted gear still on the bodies of the kobolds, so it seems whatever defeated them was interested neither in looting the bodies or consuming the corpses. She spots a something about the size and shape of a forearm with a clenched fist, except it is a bright pink color, and instead of a fist is a spiked knob.
((Survival got her a lay of the area and what transpired, if she wants to consider what it may have been, give me an INT based check.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Stena gets closer and investigates, and notices that while the shiny trail has gone around the kobold bodies, it has passed over the tip of a dropped spear, which is still visible through the shining surface. She surmises the ten foot wide trail was left either by what they fought, or something that came along later.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
FOG will hopefully prove to be at least of somewhat use here. While his main focus remains within the boat, funneling out the water, he could help shift the current of the water at key points in order to help get the boat dislodged.
After her angelic burst of activity, during the fight against the head-sucking shadow-creatures, Lia has still been reeling. Gratefully sucking in gasps of air, she stumbles around the boat mindlessly helping where she can…
She blankly nods at Galingal when he asks if she can clear the way with light or sound if the head-suckers come back. Her nod suggests she’s not 100% sure if she even has any magical reserves left to even cast a spell. She nods anyway…
She lights a ‘something-or-other’ trinket-shell for the old wizard again. Settling him in under a blanket to study, or cast, or smoke, or something…
She’s only vaguely aware the angle the deck is at and the sounds of rushing water… Are they sinking? Are they stuck? Going back? Heading onward…
The riot of sounds is too much, and she kneels on the deck cradling her head in her hands trying to quiet her mind. Trying to hear for her celestial guide. Nothing…
((Sorry for my abscence while I was unwell. Ready to dive back in when @Spider is back on top of work. Thanks for your patience :-) )).
GILLAIN OF ATHKATLA - Human Paladin - Into the Mists PHILLIP THE GRUNG - Grung Eldritch Knight - Tomb of Annihilation
ROBWIN WINDROBE - High Elf Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak EVE DARKSHORE - Tiefling Warlock - Rime of the Frost Maiden
ASH OF THE FIRE - Tabaxi Rogue - Ghosts of Marshswamp LIA STARBORN - Aasimar Bard - Out of the Abyss
Galingal takes a breath and starts to work with Stena to 'unstick' the boat so they can at least keep moving forward.
He nods at Stena "Finding hidden trail would likely take too long."
Athletics if Needed: 18
((Just posting to keep this one on my list))
The party is able to get the boat unstuck and it is swept by the current down the twisting passage, but proper application of poles keeps it well away from the walls. Much of the group is lost in their own thoughts, while they might flit from topic to topic, for Jimjar, Galingal, Stena and Lia, they can't help but reflect back to their trials in escaping the drow, and those fellow slaves and traveling companions they lost along the way... Io and Ront, who never made it out of the drow outpost... Topsy and Turvy, who seemingly struck out on their own, after some minor theft... Eldeth, brutally murdered... Thom, Sarith, Lex, Stool, Prince Derendil and Shuushar, all separated from your company when things in Sloobludop went utterly sideways with the rising of... even now your mind veers sharply away from recollections too horrific to endure with the rising of what the KTs worshipped as the Deep Father.
While you certainly wouldn't characterize many of them as true friends, there was at least some familiarity bred out of shared trials, and a goal of escaping drow capture... but you have also gained companions as well, Neth and the Forgetful Old Guy that are still on the boat with you, and Ranador, the drow child who exhibited not the callous cruelty of his cultural bloodright, but an anger and fear born from a life of slavery. His distrust having started to fall under Stena's care in particular, but both he and Buppido are now also gone from your company. So many who have intersected with your lives down here, and for the majority, it was for all too brief a time. As distressing as the deaths of your companions were, you know the fate of only three of them, and you can't help but wonder who else is out there and still alive... and who has since fallen.
For Neth and F.O.G., your recollections intersect less with the others on your boat, but you similarly wonder what else lies before you in the dark, wet reaches of the Underdark.
It's a rather morose trip through the tunnels, but fortunately, no additional dangers crop up to jar you from your reverie.
((Two of you please each roll me a d20 for Luck.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
9
20
Eventually it becomes time to rest, as you're now down a pair of hands that were otherwise allowing you to guide the boat in shifts. Alert for such things, Galingal and Stena spot a bit of an eddy where the boat can be softly grounded to check and make sure that no extensive damage was taken on when wedged in the narrow passage, and the glow of a fungal forest beyond promising the potential for foraging.
The boat secured, those more inclined to such duties scout the edges, and soon spot signs of past activity.
((Perception or Survival checks from presumably Stena, but also anyone else getting involved.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Stena leaves the boat to the others and says,
"Aye'll look for some food."
Her tone flat, her face looked into an angry grimace.
Survival: 18
She stick to the shadows as best she can as she forages as well.
Galingal hops out of the 'boat' and takes a look at any visible damage, trying to determine if it's repairable or not.
Survival? Investigation? Straight Roll = 13 (+4 if Survival or +2 if Investigation)
"Know where we are, Jimjar?" Galingal asks as he looks at the boat.
Stena quickly finds some edible fungi (3lbs) as she moves into the fungal grove, before shortly coming across some clawed footprints moving alongside a shiny trail on the surface of the ground, ten feet wide. Neither seemed to come from the water, so she'd wager that this shoreline is adjacent to a section of dry tunnel that emerges out to meet with the water.
The shiny trail extends up a bit of a rise, where the footprints disappear against hard stone, but something at the crest of the rise is softly reflecting the glowing light of the fungi in a way that makes her think it's metal.
"Not as well as I'd like.", Jimjar sighs, with a rare lack of offered odds.
"There's a chance this takes us straight to Gracklstugh, by water, and I'm hoping that's still the case."
The boat is battered from its encounter, but you're not sure what repairs the group would be able to enact that would improve the beating it's taken.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
F.O.G. stumbles around a bit awkwardly, taking glances at the boat, but ultimately finds himself useless there. He could freeze part of the water and maybe block some leaks that way, but that was a very, very temporary fix. After a few moments of that, he's back to his book, tiny little quill in his hand writing down arcane glyphs on the page that he knows he should write, although he's not sure as to the "why" until it's done. If anyone could be bothered to watch him during this, one might wonder where the pen had even appeared from.
Setting the fungi in her bags she moves forward, stealthily, to get a better look at the metal.
Perception: 22
Stealth: 8
((If it's dark enough that she'd be invisible and have advantage on stealth: Stealth: 22))
As Stena gets closer, she sees it is a dagger, still clutched in a clawed hand of what looks to have been a kobold. It's a bit hard to say as the head is a mangled ruin of flesh, but the small scaled body and tail fit. Cresting the ridge from behind some rocks, she sees the shining, flat trail extending onward, but the dead kobold is not alone, a dozen more strewn across the cavern floor. The shining trail stops where the largest group of bodies are, before turning to the right and looping around them before continuing on. From her closer position, she can see the spilled blood is still bright and not fully dried.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Survival on what could do this: 22
Then back to the boat.
Galingal keeps an eye on Stena as much as he can. He doesn't want to risk making noise that would attract attention her way but with Buppido out there somewhere, Galingal still keep watch.
"Find anything?" Galingal asks when Stena returns. His common has been getting better in the weeks since the prison, but the sentences still come out choppy and abrupt.
The wound seems to be a crushing blow, from something approximately fist sized, that stove in the skull of the kobold. There is a splatter of a mucous-y substance on the ground and coating the dagger of the nearest kobold. From her reading of the aftermath, the kobolds attacked some sort of creature and were repelled, other kobold bodies are similarly battered and crushed. Looking about, there is assorted gear still on the bodies of the kobolds, so it seems whatever defeated them was interested neither in looting the bodies or consuming the corpses. She spots a something about the size and shape of a forearm with a clenched fist, except it is a bright pink color, and instead of a fist is a spiked knob.
((Survival got her a lay of the area and what transpired, if she wants to consider what it may have been, give me an INT based check.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Investigation of the scene: 15
((Answer for Gal pending the findings of the above roll!))
Stena gets closer and investigates, and notices that while the shiny trail has gone around the kobold bodies, it has passed over the tip of a dropped spear, which is still visible through the shining surface. She surmises the ten foot wide trail was left either by what they fought, or something that came along later.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Stena returns and explains to Gal what she saw.
"Aye don't think we want to go that way unless we have to. How is the boat? Have we figured out we are?"
She looks over the 'crew' waiting impatiently for an answer.