One of the perks to Joren's training and discipline is that he has developed a fairly reliable internal clock when it comes to his body's exhaustion cues. And from how he is feeling now, he is fairly confident that above ground it would be just past sunset right now.
Vilus's Survival:
A fact trickles through Vilus's weary mind as he regards the waxy, glowing spire jutting up from the depths of the chasm: Insects, spiders and worms all have circadian cycles which include periods of rest, just like humans, and it usually corresponds to environmental factors. That could explain why all of the grubs before them seem to be sleeping or in a state of torpor at the same time. But what would cue them in to when it's time to sleep or wake up if there's no sun?
And why was the one in the tunnel active and hunting. Vilus notices then a slight updraft of warm air rising from the darkness below. In fact, the temperature in here is rather pleasant, in contrast with the clammy chill of the tunnels. It might mean something.
A crumbling sound comes from the tunnel, accompanied by a cloud of dust and some tumbling stones, and then the rumbling abates. All is still and quiet. Samir thinks he catches movement again, but perhaps he is just jumpy.
The ledge itself is not a particularly wide affair, though it's certainly walkable. The broader of the travelers do find themselves needing to angle their shoulders in order to not scrape against the wall, even standing single file, however, and Vilus needs to hunch to avoid the the slight overhang of the wall beside them.
Joren Nat 20 perception:
Joren, however, does not miss the movement. Peering at the luminescent mound, he at first sees nothing. But then there is another twitch, and realizes there is something else perched on the side of the waxy structure in the center of the vast space. It is camouflaged against the pale green surface, but Joren begins to pick out legs. Like insect legs. 2, 4, 6... 12 legs.
12 legs attached to a spindly, translucent body, like a stick insect with too many parts that is made of glass. And that is perhaps 20 meters long and 5 meters high.
Now that Joren sees it, he starts to recognize more of them hidden against the glowing surface of that spire, and it dawns on him that whatever that thing was that chased them down the tunnel, it was just a larva. He isn't sure he could even begin to count their number though, for every time he looks to a new one, he loses track of the first, so well they blend with their background.
Thankfully, the insects all seem to be in that same dormant state as the larvae, having just been slightly agitated by the commotion rather than fully aroused.
Vilus tightens the rope around his waist, "if we're continuing on this ledge, we should tie ourselves to one another, one on one, similar builds, and weights, then if anyone falls the other has got them, right? With the weight of Marion's armour I should probably be attached to her, Mal with Ashley, Joren with Samir." Vilus ponders for a moment as he looks at the pillar, "hibernating.. they must be in a sleep cycle but without the sunlight it might be the warmth in here that is keeping them asleep... Samir why is it so warm in here? Do we know how long that might last?"
Joren whispers urgently: "There are more than the larvae like that Crawler here on that mound, which are bad enough. Full-grown hatchlings like immense camouflaged insects... there... and there. More than I can be counting, bodies translucent and well over half a hundred feet long and nearly twenty feet tall. Having 12 legs like glassy sticks. Being far beyond our ability to handle when active, both the larvae and the hatchlings, I suspect. And I am sensing it is sunset above ground, so both may be awakening if nocturnal, unless the heat is keeping them dormant."
"Perhaps some evil force is holding them in check with the warmth until unleashing them on command by changing the temperature? We could be investigating, but I think we should consider retreating, back where we are coming from, then taking the alternate path. Warning Talmouth. These creatures would be wreaking untold havoc and death across Cambria once awake. Perhaps it is part of Razmus' plot."
Samir nervously adjusts his glasses, creeping slightly closer to the edge as Joren speaks. Seeing nothing but darkness below he moves back towards the wall, casting flickering glances here and there throughout the cavern, unnerved by the debacle. "I could assume that perhaps there is a source of geothermal heat down below... a magma pool deep underground, perhaps. Maybe even a dormant volcano or some such whose heat filters up through cracks and small passages in the stone. I suppose there could also be less... natural... causes as well." Samir falls silent with a nervous glance around the group. "Is the tunnel behind us still passable?"
Ashley now hates being underground. This is almost more than she can bear. As part of what Joren is saying registers with her, she asks, "But Talmouth? Weren't we trying to get to Tensmith? Should we see where this ledge goes or is that a dangerous path with these things!!" Her voice raises a bit in hysteria as she finishes the sentence and with wide eyes, clasps her hand over her mouth, frightened she's made things worse.
"Trying to get to Tensmith, yes I was hoping so, Ashley. We all were hoping. But we are then having to get past... this. Shimmying all the way around on this ledge without waking up any of those hundreds of crawler larvae or huge hatchlings. And hoping they are not waking up on their own if nocturnal. If they are attacking, we are done. So I am wondering if we should be backtracking, clearing the rubble if we are able, and taking the other fork that the Crawler itself originally had been taking west instead of north, likely towards Talmouth. If we cannot clear the rubble, then yes continuing around the ledge we must." He stops for a moment, musing.
"Did one of us read something in the Razmus supporters' letters plotting to keep the Tensmith mines closed for longer instead of reopening? Maybe because they were setting all this up and were not wanting it to be discovered. Either way, it is not changing the decision before us."
"Umm, Joren..." Samir's voice is barely above a whisper at this point, his eyes flicking nervous glances at the mound of monstrous creatures. "If you're worried about loud noises waking up the monsters... well, it seems that trying to clear the rubble is a much louder undertaking than skirting around the ledge..."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Malachi lets out a gasp as he realizes what Joren is saying “Those things are the young? They hatch into something worse? Oh, why did I ever leave Mardurst? I could have paid them back” He cranes his neck from his position on the ledge and tries to get a good look down the tunnel they came to see how badly the passage is blocked and also looks to see where the ledge goes in the other direction. Perception: 9.
“Samir is right, it may be best to continue forward on the ledge and get away from this place as quickly as we can. If these things are part of the cultists' plans, they must have some way of controlling them. I just don't see how right now.”
Peering down the tunnel, Malachi sees significant damage, and much of the way is collapsed. There may be a way through, but it would at the very least take time to excavate a path forward, assuming the tunnel held.
He notices something else that had been missed in the heat of the chase. While the walls of the tunnel had mostly been natural and smooth, the last foot of wall leading to the opening appears to have been worked by a pick. It looks like the tunnel was once a dead end, stopping just short of this cavern, but then someone tunnelled through, connecting the two spaces.
What’s more, the ledge on which they currently stand also appears to have been carved out with a pick axe.
Malachi continues to edge forward on the ledge, pointing out the pick marks to the others “Look, this whole ledge is man made, as well as the entrance to the cavern. Someone wanted to get to these creatures. But why?” Malachi takes Vilus’ advice and ties himself off and moves with the group trying to get off the ledge and away from the cavern as quickly and quietly as possible.
With the wall leaning in on one side, and a vast drop into the unknown on the other, the path forward proves more than a little stressful, though not particularly difficult. As the group slowly and quietly works their way further around the pit, the path begins to descend lightly and they are indeed able to make out what appears to be a natural opening in the wall ahead. Despite the occasional clatter of disturbed stone crumbling away from the ledge, no one sees more than a slight twitch in response from the creatures on the spire. The opening is getting closer. Closer.
Then the ledge abruptly ends. A discarded pick axe lies on the ledge, right next to grubby shoe and a large, dried bloodstain that smears up the wall. The natural opening is only about ten feet away, but would require either a bit of climbing or a rather tricky jump to reach.
If you want to just go straight for the opening, you can do either an athletics (strength) or an athletics (dexterity) to try to get across. You are free to do or try other things as well here, including you investigations checks and what-not, obviously.
Vilus looks at the gap and looks at how much slack there is between himself and Marion, whom he tied himself to. with 5ft length around both his and Marion's waist, there is an ample amount of slack for one to jump and one to brace if needed.
He whispers to the group, "this'll come in handy, if no one has anything magic we can use to cross here, if one jumps the others can hold on if anyone falls right? And I've got extra failsafes here" He searches through his pack and pulls out a hammer and a hand full of pitons.
Concentrating hard, and if no one stops him, he attempts to mage hand a piton into any available crack above the ledge on the opposite side of the gap, he then hammers a piton in above the ledge at their side. "We can use this, we can do this, just a little further"
It takes no amount of insight to see that Vilus looks more haggard than usual
Joren whispers: "Well as you are knowing by now, I can be putting my echo on the far side and swapping. Then hammering in any pitons and ropes, though you'll be needing to supply me the required equipment. I was losing my pack when Jon Shep was exploding."
"The thing I am wanting to make sure of first is that we are not falling victim to whatever was happening to the pick axe wielder, with the bloodstain smearing upwards. Taking a moment to look for hazards first, please? Then I will echo-swap across and be setting up the rope."
Joren himself tries to look, but up at any hazard or enemy that could have dragged the pick axe wielder upwards, or some kind of hazard below that could have pushed upwards. And of course any apparent dangers on the far ledge.
Before attempting anything himself Vilus hands Joren five pitons and the hammer, "I'm spent. not that any of my cursed magic could help here. Take these, do what you can, thank you Joren." with that Vilus gives Joren an affirming clap on the shoulder
Joren nods but looks at Vilus briefly, concerned at (though sympathetic with) the goliath's tired appearance. Am I beginning to care for this one too?
"Before I am echo-swapping over and tying off the rope, anyone else see any hazards? What was killing the pick axe wielder and pulling the blood-smear up? I am not seeing anything but I may not be at my best right now."
From what Joren can see, the blood looks old. From the way the insects on the spire stand on its slanted surface, he would place one of them as his first suspect, clinging to the wall above its victim before striking.
The scene looks like someone had been carving away a path, completely oblivious to the hazard, when they were taken without warning.
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6 luck!
Joren's Survival:
One of the perks to Joren's training and discipline is that he has developed a fairly reliable internal clock when it comes to his body's exhaustion cues. And from how he is feeling now, he is fairly confident that above ground it would be just past sunset right now.
Vilus's Survival:
A fact trickles through Vilus's weary mind as he regards the waxy, glowing spire jutting up from the depths of the chasm: Insects, spiders and worms all have circadian cycles which include periods of rest, just like humans, and it usually corresponds to environmental factors. That could explain why all of the grubs before them seem to be sleeping or in a state of torpor at the same time. But what would cue them in to when it's time to sleep or wake up if there's no sun?
And why was the one in the tunnel active and hunting. Vilus notices then a slight updraft of warm air rising from the darkness below. In fact, the temperature in here is rather pleasant, in contrast with the clammy chill of the tunnels. It might mean something.
A crumbling sound comes from the tunnel, accompanied by a cloud of dust and some tumbling stones, and then the rumbling abates. All is still and quiet. Samir thinks he catches movement again, but perhaps he is just jumpy.
The ledge itself is not a particularly wide affair, though it's certainly walkable. The broader of the travelers do find themselves needing to angle their shoulders in order to not scrape against the wall, even standing single file, however, and Vilus needs to hunch to avoid the the slight overhang of the wall beside them.
Joren Nat 20 perception:
Joren, however, does not miss the movement. Peering at the luminescent mound, he at first sees nothing. But then there is another twitch, and realizes there is something else perched on the side of the waxy structure in the center of the vast space. It is camouflaged against the pale green surface, but Joren begins to pick out legs. Like insect legs. 2, 4, 6... 12 legs.
12 legs attached to a spindly, translucent body, like a stick insect with too many parts that is made of glass. And that is perhaps 20 meters long and 5 meters high.
Now that Joren sees it, he starts to recognize more of them hidden against the glowing surface of that spire, and it dawns on him that whatever that thing was that chased them down the tunnel, it was just a larva. He isn't sure he could even begin to count their number though, for every time he looks to a new one, he loses track of the first, so well they blend with their background.
Thankfully, the insects all seem to be in that same dormant state as the larvae, having just been slightly agitated by the commotion rather than fully aroused.
Vilus tightens the rope around his waist, "if we're continuing on this ledge, we should tie ourselves to one another, one on one, similar builds, and weights, then if anyone falls the other has got them, right? With the weight of Marion's armour I should probably be attached to her, Mal with Ashley, Joren with Samir." Vilus ponders for a moment as he looks at the pillar, "hibernating.. they must be in a sleep cycle but without the sunlight it might be the warmth in here that is keeping them asleep... Samir why is it so warm in here? Do we know how long that might last?"
Joren whispers urgently: "There are more than the larvae like that Crawler here on that mound, which are bad enough. Full-grown hatchlings like immense camouflaged insects... there... and there. More than I can be counting, bodies translucent and well over half a hundred feet long and nearly twenty feet tall. Having 12 legs like glassy sticks. Being far beyond our ability to handle when active, both the larvae and the hatchlings, I suspect. And I am sensing it is sunset above ground, so both may be awakening if nocturnal, unless the heat is keeping them dormant."
"Perhaps some evil force is holding them in check with the warmth until unleashing them on command by changing the temperature? We could be investigating, but I think we should consider retreating, back where we are coming from, then taking the alternate path. Warning Talmouth. These creatures would be wreaking untold havoc and death across Cambria once awake. Perhaps it is part of Razmus' plot."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Samir nervously adjusts his glasses, creeping slightly closer to the edge as Joren speaks. Seeing nothing but darkness below he moves back towards the wall, casting flickering glances here and there throughout the cavern, unnerved by the debacle. "I could assume that perhaps there is a source of geothermal heat down below... a magma pool deep underground, perhaps. Maybe even a dormant volcano or some such whose heat filters up through cracks and small passages in the stone. I suppose there could also be less... natural... causes as well." Samir falls silent with a nervous glance around the group. "Is the tunnel behind us still passable?"
Ashley now hates being underground. This is almost more than she can bear. As part of what Joren is saying registers with her, she asks, "But Talmouth? Weren't we trying to get to Tensmith? Should we see where this ledge goes or is that a dangerous path with these things!!" Her voice raises a bit in hysteria as she finishes the sentence and with wide eyes, clasps her hand over her mouth, frightened she's made things worse.
Joren looks pained. He keeps his voice low.
"Trying to get to Tensmith, yes I was hoping so, Ashley. We all were hoping. But we are then having to get past... this. Shimmying all the way around on this ledge without waking up any of those hundreds of crawler larvae or huge hatchlings. And hoping they are not waking up on their own if nocturnal. If they are attacking, we are done. So I am wondering if we should be backtracking, clearing the rubble if we are able, and taking the other fork that the Crawler itself originally had been taking west instead of north, likely towards Talmouth. If we cannot clear the rubble, then yes continuing around the ledge we must." He stops for a moment, musing.
"Did one of us read something in the Razmus supporters' letters plotting to keep the Tensmith mines closed for longer instead of reopening? Maybe because they were setting all this up and were not wanting it to be discovered. Either way, it is not changing the decision before us."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
"Umm, Joren..." Samir's voice is barely above a whisper at this point, his eyes flicking nervous glances at the mound of monstrous creatures. "If you're worried about loud noises waking up the monsters... well, it seems that trying to clear the rubble is a much louder undertaking than skirting around the ledge..."
Malachi lets out a gasp as he realizes what Joren is saying “Those things are the young? They hatch into something worse? Oh, why did I ever leave Mardurst? I could have paid them back” He cranes his neck from his position on the ledge and tries to get a good look down the tunnel they came to see how badly the passage is blocked and also looks to see where the ledge goes in the other direction. Perception: 9.
“Samir is right, it may be best to continue forward on the ledge and get away from this place as quickly as we can. If these things are part of the cultists' plans, they must have some way of controlling them. I just don't see how right now.”
"tie yourselves off" Vilus insists as the decision to continue forward is made.
Peering down the tunnel, Malachi sees significant damage, and much of the way is collapsed. There may be a way through, but it would at the very least take time to excavate a path forward, assuming the tunnel held.
He notices something else that had been missed in the heat of the chase. While the walls of the tunnel had mostly been natural and smooth, the last foot of wall leading to the opening appears to have been worked by a pick. It looks like the tunnel was once a dead end, stopping just short of this cavern, but then someone tunnelled through, connecting the two spaces.
What’s more, the ledge on which they currently stand also appears to have been carved out with a pick axe.
"Agreeing, then, forward."
Joren ties off as Vilus suggests, but he keeps his echo 30' ahead on the ledge so that in case he himself falls, he can switch places with his echo.
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Samir follows suit, before continuing on carefully - and as quietly as he can - around the ledge.
Malachi continues to edge forward on the ledge, pointing out the pick marks to the others “Look, this whole ledge is man made, as well as the entrance to the cavern. Someone wanted to get to these creatures. But why?” Malachi takes Vilus’ advice and ties himself off and moves with the group trying to get off the ledge and away from the cavern as quickly and quietly as possible.
With the wall leaning in on one side, and a vast drop into the unknown on the other, the path forward proves more than a little stressful, though not particularly difficult. As the group slowly and quietly works their way further around the pit, the path begins to descend lightly and they are indeed able to make out what appears to be a natural opening in the wall ahead. Despite the occasional clatter of disturbed stone crumbling away from the ledge, no one sees more than a slight twitch in response from the creatures on the spire. The opening is getting closer. Closer.
Then the ledge abruptly ends. A discarded pick axe lies on the ledge, right next to grubby shoe and a large, dried bloodstain that smears up the wall. The natural opening is only about ten feet away, but would require either a bit of climbing or a rather tricky jump to reach.
If you want to just go straight for the opening, you can do either an athletics (strength) or an athletics (dexterity) to try to get across. You are free to do or try other things as well here, including you investigations checks and what-not, obviously.
Vilus looks at the gap and looks at how much slack there is between himself and Marion, whom he tied himself to. with 5ft length around both his and Marion's waist, there is an ample amount of slack for one to jump and one to brace if needed.
He whispers to the group, "this'll come in handy, if no one has anything magic we can use to cross here, if one jumps the others can hold on if anyone falls right? And I've got extra failsafes here" He searches through his pack and pulls out a hammer and a hand full of pitons.
Concentrating hard, and if no one stops him, he attempts to mage hand a piton into any available crack above the ledge on the opposite side of the gap, he then hammers a piton in above the ledge at their side. "We can use this, we can do this, just a little further"
It takes no amount of insight to see that Vilus looks more haggard than usual
Joren whispers: "Well as you are knowing by now, I can be putting my echo on the far side and swapping. Then hammering in any pitons and ropes, though you'll be needing to supply me the required equipment. I was losing my pack when Jon Shep was exploding."
"The thing I am wanting to make sure of first is that we are not falling victim to whatever was happening to the pick axe wielder, with the bloodstain smearing upwards. Taking a moment to look for hazards first, please? Then I will echo-swap across and be setting up the rope."
Joren himself tries to look, but up at any hazard or enemy that could have dragged the pick axe wielder upwards, or some kind of hazard below that could have pushed upwards. And of course any apparent dangers on the far ledge.
Perception: 10 (rolled in character sheet)
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
Before attempting anything himself Vilus hands Joren five pitons and the hammer, "I'm spent. not that any of my cursed magic could help here. Take these, do what you can, thank you Joren." with that Vilus gives Joren an affirming clap on the shoulder
Joren nods but looks at Vilus briefly, concerned at (though sympathetic with) the goliath's tired appearance. Am I beginning to care for this one too?
"Before I am echo-swapping over and tying off the rope, anyone else see any hazards? What was killing the pick axe wielder and pulling the blood-smear up? I am not seeing anything but I may not be at my best right now."
Barn(Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra(Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest | Nivi(Rogue5): Erik_Soong's Netherdeep
Joren(Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Quyen(Adept1, ba5ic): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord) | Seri(Druid1): Hunter_Orien's Saltmarsh
Xarian(Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map | Ophelia(Sorcerer2): BillM's Icewind Dale | Shin(Wizard1): Culuril's Strixhaven
From what Joren can see, the blood looks old. From the way the insects on the spire stand on its slanted surface, he would place one of them as his first suspect, clinging to the wall above its victim before striking.
The scene looks like someone had been carving away a path, completely oblivious to the hazard, when they were taken without warning.