Ruby listens to Riv’s story and wonders if the troglodytes had anything to do with what happened to her clan members in the crypt. Sounds likely. “I’m sorry Riv, we thought we were by ourselves checking out this area, and we ran into the group that held you. We have not seen another of your clan since we left you several days ago.” Ruby thinks for a bit as she looks over Riv, wondering how much of his story is true.
Deception: 12
”About how many troglodytes do you recall? I’m wondering if there are more than we ran into”
"Not sure," responds Riv. "There could have been eleven or twelve of them."
He falls silent for a few seconds as he looks over his wounds. He then adds, "Invisible*. Miznak could have been invisible and passed through here during your battle."
*Each of you is aware that duergars possess the innate ability to make themselves invisible.
Copper is quiet for a moment, letting everything Riv has said sink in. His heart is still beating fast from the battle but he doesn't feel tired. Instead he feels energized by the fight. Fighting with clan members against a common foe, that's the way of the watch. He feels more connected than ever to the clan.
"How well did you know Miznak?" Copper asks. "If what I've heard of Trogs is true, they're as sharp as a sandstone hammer. Could Miznak have been directing them?"
He then looks back over his shoulder at the tunnel.
"Do you recognize the tunnel you're in now? Could you find where you found Miznak from here?"
He helps Riv to his feet.
"And the rest of you, do you need a breather? We need to find this Miznak but if we run into more trogs, you need to be in fighting shape."
"Miznak's a warrior. Fierce. Ambitious. Proud. I cannot grasp what any of this means. The lizard filth are violent and treacherous but stupid, yes. And it certainly seemed that Miznak was leading them."
Riv stands and takes in his surroundings. "I've no knowledge of this place, and I can only guess at how long I've been unconscious."
He then nods at Friar. "I agree. Let's see where this horde intended to go."
"Well, water will find its way through the rock," Copper says. "Let's get going."
With a few minutes still left in the magical energy helping to shield him from harm, Copper turns, hitches up his shield, adjusts the grip on his axe and starts back the way the remaining trogs went.
“This is crazy, but it does feel like we have a common enemy with these creatures, whether Miznak is with them or not. Let me scout ahead a bit and see what I can”
Ruby slinks along the passageway for at least a hundred yards before coming to a yawning chasm in the rock. She looks across the massive opening to see if the passageway continues on the other side. It does not appear to do so; therefore, it seems the troglodytes descended into the darkness below.
Ruby studies the steep drop below her. She sees no visible signs of the troglodytes or their escape, but she is able to ascertain that a descent is possible. The shallow stream of water that has been traveling down the tunnel now becomes a small waterfall that, of course, has made the rocky surfaces below very slippery.
Copper watches from a distance as Ruby looks down what he presumes is some sort of drop off.
While he waits for some sort of signal from her, he examines the cave walls and tunnels they're in now checking to see if they appear completely natural or there's any sign work has been done to them.
When the others join her, Ruby kneels down and inspects their way down, “If we tied off some rope, I think that would make the way less treacherous.” And she looks around for something to tie the rope to. She doesn’t really want to drive in a piton, worried that would echo through the cave.
Copper concludes this underground tunnel is purely the result of natural forces, but he is mildly perplexed at how much slimy moisture there is within this place. As the four of you and Riv stand at the edge of this steep drop, the only sound of note is the gentle, rhythmic noise of the water tumbling down the rocks and into the unseen darkness below.
In looking for a place to tie off a rope, Ruby finds a crevice in the rocks that seems suitable for an anchor point.
Copper looks back the way they had come and then down the drop.
"There's a lot more water down here than I'd expected," Copper says. "Do you think a river is finding it's way in? Or this is how the trogs snuck in behind us? There could be another hidden entrance behind us."
He helps anchor the rope and adds his own strength to it if Ruby is ready to climb down.
"Once we follow these trogs, we should double back and see what slimy rock they crawled out from under."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“Thanks Cop!” As Ruby anchors the rope with Copper. She looks around at their surroundings, a little unsure with the amount of water they are hearing from below. “I’ll head down, but if I don’t see anywhere to stand for our group down there, or any at all for that matter, I’ll pull on the rope three times. Please help me back up if that’s the case. Once I’m on sure footing, I’ll whip the rope so you know it’s time for the next to come down.”
Ruby listens to Riv’s story and wonders if the troglodytes had anything to do with what happened to her clan members in the crypt. Sounds likely. “I’m sorry Riv, we thought we were by ourselves checking out this area, and we ran into the group that held you. We have not seen another of your clan since we left you several days ago.” Ruby thinks for a bit as she looks over Riv, wondering how much of his story is true.
Deception: 12
”About how many troglodytes do you recall? I’m wondering if there are more than we ran into”
"Not sure," responds Riv. "There could have been eleven or twelve of them."
He falls silent for a few seconds as he looks over his wounds. He then adds, "Invisible*. Miznak could have been invisible and passed through here during your battle."
*Each of you is aware that duergars possess the innate ability to make themselves invisible.
Copper is quiet for a moment, letting everything Riv has said sink in. His heart is still beating fast from the battle but he doesn't feel tired. Instead he feels energized by the fight. Fighting with clan members against a common foe, that's the way of the watch. He feels more connected than ever to the clan.
"How well did you know Miznak?" Copper asks. "If what I've heard of Trogs is true, they're as sharp as a sandstone hammer. Could Miznak have been directing them?"
He then looks back over his shoulder at the tunnel.
"Do you recognize the tunnel you're in now? Could you find where you found Miznak from here?"
He helps Riv to his feet.
"And the rest of you, do you need a breather? We need to find this Miznak but if we run into more trogs, you need to be in fighting shape."
"I'm good," comments Friar. "We could track these Trogs by their bloody smell, they stain the stone with it."
"Miznak's a warrior. Fierce. Ambitious. Proud. I cannot grasp what any of this means. The lizard filth are violent and treacherous but stupid, yes. And it certainly seemed that Miznak was leading them."
Riv stands and takes in his surroundings. "I've no knowledge of this place, and I can only guess at how long I've been unconscious."
He then nods at Friar. "I agree. Let's see where this horde intended to go."
Copper nods.
"Well, water will find its way through the rock," Copper says. "Let's get going."
With a few minutes still left in the magical energy helping to shield him from harm, Copper turns, hitches up his shield, adjusts the grip on his axe and starts back the way the remaining trogs went.
“This is crazy, but it does feel like we have a common enemy with these creatures, whether Miznak is with them or not. Let me scout ahead a bit and see what I can”
Stealth: 27
Perception: 12
Copper waits until Ruby is far enough ahead that the likely clinking of his armor won't give her position away before following.
Ruby slinks along the passageway for at least a hundred yards before coming to a yawning chasm in the rock. She looks across the massive opening to see if the passageway continues on the other side. It does not appear to do so; therefore, it seems the troglodytes descended into the darkness below.
Ruby looks down into the chasm to see if there are any marks along the wall on the side she is standing, any indication of their travel downwards.
Investigation: 12
Ruby studies the steep drop below her. She sees no visible signs of the troglodytes or their escape, but she is able to ascertain that a descent is possible. The shallow stream of water that has been traveling down the tunnel now becomes a small waterfall that, of course, has made the rocky surfaces below very slippery.
Copper watches from a distance as Ruby looks down what he presumes is some sort of drop off.
While he waits for some sort of signal from her, he examines the cave walls and tunnels they're in now checking to see if they appear completely natural or there's any sign work has been done to them.
(History - Stonecunning - 17 )
Ruby doesn't see any immediate threat and waves the rest of the group up to join her.
When the others join her, Ruby kneels down and inspects their way down, “If we tied off some rope, I think that would make the way less treacherous.” And she looks around for something to tie the rope to. She doesn’t really want to drive in a piton, worried that would echo through the cave.
Perception: 9
Copper concludes this underground tunnel is purely the result of natural forces, but he is mildly perplexed at how much slimy moisture there is within this place. As the four of you and Riv stand at the edge of this steep drop, the only sound of note is the gentle, rhythmic noise of the water tumbling down the rocks and into the unseen darkness below.
In looking for a place to tie off a rope, Ruby finds a crevice in the rocks that seems suitable for an anchor point.
Copper looks back the way they had come and then down the drop.
"There's a lot more water down here than I'd expected," Copper says. "Do you think a river is finding it's way in? Or this is how the trogs snuck in behind us? There could be another hidden entrance behind us."
He helps anchor the rope and adds his own strength to it if Ruby is ready to climb down.
"Once we follow these trogs, we should double back and see what slimy rock they crawled out from under."
“Thanks Cop!” As Ruby anchors the rope with Copper. She looks around at their surroundings, a little unsure with the amount of water they are hearing from below. “I’ll head down, but if I don’t see anywhere to stand for our group down there, or any at all for that matter, I’ll pull on the rope three times. Please help me back up if that’s the case. Once I’m on sure footing, I’ll whip the rope so you know it’s time for the next to come down.”
Acrobatics: 17