Jane gives one regretful glance between the long dark tunnel and the torch wedged in the lever, then dashes 60 feet down the tunnel keeping one hand on the wall and trying to see the pit in the dark.
As the party scrambles down the tunnel, Jane's torch holds the spike trap at bay and provides a visual anchor for anyone looking over the shoulders. You all clear the pit with ease, the adrenaline coursing through your veins making the leap feel like child's play.
Those of you who glance back can't see much beyond the burning light of the torch, but what you do see - and worse, what you hear - is ominous. Shadows darting about, blasts of arcane energy, and finally the bulky armored form flying down the hallway, facing backward and firing off shots of magical fire as he brings up the rear.
You all emerge back into the Well Mouth from the northern tunnel entrance, the walls curving out in both directions on either side of the arched stone. The Well Mouth seemed somehow larger than when you entered mere moments ago. Or maybe it was darker? Or the angle was different? The path from the tunnel to the center of the room was as you remembered, the shattered and scattered remains of spiders, singed remnants of webbing clinging to the stonework and the flooring, and three broken bodies of humanoids scattered along the path - the last a small frame elven figure nearest where the elevator-cage would have landed.
The center of the room, where the cage deposited you, is empty now save for the crushed bodies of several spiders. These spiders are larger than the small ones but smaller than the giant you slew in the cavern. A column of light in the center of the room seems to simultaneously illuminate the center and darken the edges of the room - as if it was drinking in all the light and focusing it on the slightly raised clump of stone where the cage came to rest. In fact, if you glance up, you see the light begins to fade about 80 feet in the air before the darkness swallows everything but a tiny coin-sized light that must be the top of the well.
SUMMARY AND ACTION
Out of initiative and free to act as you see fit. No threats are immediately visible. All party members are somewhere south of the pit in the tunnel or just inside the Well Mouth on the Northern Edge of a large room. Those of you with darkvision have no more luck seeing into the darkness that extends around the room - you sense you need to be closer to see what lies beyond the column of light in the center of the room. 3 bodies of adventurers are on the floor Many, many spider parts are scattered about
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Well, that was unusual,"Rantel says, catching his breath. He looks back down the tunnel they'd just fled down, and recasts his bonfire to appear at the farthest range, trying to see if anything is considering pursuit. "Everyone okay?"
Pursued or not, he looks to the place where the elevator cage would be. "We need to get them to send that back down, don't we. Just shout, right? Or is there another way this should work?" He turns to the armored figure. "Name's Rantel -- I didn't catch yours. I'd guess you've spent some time down here. It is normally like this? You're pretty capable in that suit. I'd love to learn more about it, over a pint back up there. Speaking of, he's right, we should gather the bodies we can, these here, to send back up with whatever coin we've found. Anyone find any coin? It's too bad we couldn't grab the dried up ones in the other chamber before that big one showed up."
He kneels down next to each body, respectfully taking in the details of how they fell, and then patting each down to see if he can find their return fare on them. Investigation: 14
(Armored Figure has yet to emerge from the Tunnel - it's just you all in the Well Mouth)
Rantel's examinations prove fruitful. The bodies here are fresh, their skin nearly warm, their wounds still leaking blood and other fluids onto the stone beneath them. You also notice that these three appear, well, underprepared. They have nothing of any real interest on them - standard dungeon exploring kits with rope and pinions, some dried rations and simple weapons. Their armor and clothing has been shredded or ruined from the attacks or from the aftermath.
By contrast the bodies you all found in the cavern were desiccated and masticated and had been dead for quite some time. They also appeared to be loaded with magical gear - as opposed to the small party here in front of you who seems much less equipped and prepared.
As for how to summon the cage - well, you're not sure and no one thought to ask before heading down.
"Just before we came down, that guy was yelling to send the cage for him and they didn't. There must be another way. Imma yell anyway in case they didn't send it because there were spiders near."
Hoghead shouts up the well to send the cage. He says that they all have coin and there is no immediate danger around.
If that doesn't work, he will walk towards the column of light and place a GP in the center of where the cage would come down.
Oh, in that case, my apologies, Rantel will focus on the passage -- the bonfire cast and placed in such a way to help with the rearguard, and shouting down the tunnel with a query of if they need help.
Shouting doesn't seem to do much, but once Hogshead approaches the column of light with a gold piece outstretched, the sounds of chain unraveling can be heard from above.
The cage can be seen far above as it begins its long journey towards the Well Mouth floor.
As the rest of you stare up the long dark shaft, the Armored Figure comes blowing in and across the threshold of the Northern tunnel, boots glowing with a light blue arcane energy, gauntlets glowing with the remnants of fiery fury.
Landing in a cloud of dust, he calls out to Hogshead 'You there, where's the Olem Shard? Have ye touched it yet?"
Jane takes a moment to catch her breath, then walks over to the bodies of the former adventurers. She takes a moment to say a prayer over each one then stands and looks around for Hogshead. "Hogshead, don't stand right under the cage, I don't think a goodberry would help much if you're crushed." She takes a moment to observe her new acquaintance for any glowing changes like what happened to the spider.
The Armored Figure lowers himself to the ground and his helmet splits in the middle before pulling back and retracting like a clamshell. Encased inside the armor - more like piloting the armor - is the small Gnome you met in the Yawning Portal above. He blinks his eyes in surprise at Rantel's question 'The shard? Surely you've heard of the Olem Shard? The Shard of Possibilities? The Sliver of Potential?'
He looks from face to face at each of you and then shakes his head in disbelief 'I knew ya were green, but didn't know how lost ya were.'
Glancing back over his shoulder. he sighs and then presses on 'Oi. Ok, we've got a moment here, and ya's can't go up there with that without knowing what ya've got. I'm Ronkur and I've done this dance a time or two - which is about all the introduction we've got time for now. The Olem Shard' he nods at the webbed mess that Hogshead is holding 'is what drives the constant change down here. Pieces of them are found every so often - less and less recently - but regularly enough. They're incredibly valuable - valuable in terms of coin and valuable in terms of what they can do.'
Pointing at the webby mess he continues 'You there, clean it off, yer gonna wanna get your hands on it. Won't take but a moment, but each of ya is gonna wanna hold if for a moment before ya get in the cage.'
SUMMARY AND ACTION
No rolls are needed - simply indicate if you are willing to lay hands on the stone or not.
Hoghead looks at the bundle in his hands and back to Ronkur. He shrugs his shoulders and cleans off the shard. After getting all of the webbing off, he removes his gauntlets and holds the shard out to the group. "I don't think our new friend would save us just to have us die now. Either way, I'm ready."
"You... know what they can do? Have you touched one?"Rantel says reaching out for the shard, and pausing, looking at his new companions to see how they react to touching the shard.
As each of you touches the shard, you find yourself momentarily disoriented - both deep inside yourself and floating above, but neither of those - all at once. Anyone looking closely might see wisps of greenish smoke gather in your hands and fade away as they get to your elbows, or perhaps they drift up and into your nose and mouth, flaring your eyes briefly before disappearing, still others would see an energy field briefly surround you from head to toe before seeming to be absorbed into your flesh.
It's over in a moment and you come crashing back into yourself with a start, the darkness a little darker, the column of light a little brighter, the smell of fear and death and blood sharper.
Ronkur smiles as he sees the familiar look in each of your eyes and chuckles a bit in response to Rantel's question 'Aye boyyo, I've done the dance many a time, it's what's made me who I am.' Glancing briefly at those who held back and then up at the rapidly descending cage he urges them once more 'You've only got a few moments before the cage is here - and you all have earned the right to delve in the sea of potential before it passes from ya'
SUMMARY AND ACTION
I'll shoot PM's to those who touched the stone. Please hold off on sharing any further details until Drax and Bree have made a decision on what to do.
Bree takes a moment to catch her breath after making it back into the cavern.
She watches as the Armored Figure comes speeding in, asking about a shard. They go on to explain about it a bit and claim that it has some sort of special abilities. In order to access them, though, one must touch the shard.
Most of her companions touch it, leaving only herself and the Dwarf that hadn’t yet. After a moment, she sighs and slowly reaches out a hand to touch the shard before the cage arrives.
As Drax and Bree retract their hands from the Shard, Ronkur swiftly reaches out with his massive gauntlet and takes it from Hogshead's outstretched hand. As he does, a piece of his armor slides open to reveal a large chamber where he carefully deposits the glowing stone.
Nodding his head decisively, he looks at each of you 'Good, good, good, glad that's done before the cage landed. Yes, yes, Durnan gets prickly about these things. He knows the ancient custom - he does. He knows that those who find them get first access to the power of possibility - but he thinks of this as his dungeon and these are his stones. Aye, he'd be less likely to let you swim in the seas of the Shard up in full view of everyone in Yawning Portal, you can be sure of that.'
As he finishes, the Cage lands with a resounding crash. It's different than what you remember - although maybe you just weren't paying attention before with the promise of adventure and treasure before you. You see now that the bottom of the cage is a two-foot-tall storage space with access panels that fold down flat and have clever rollers on them to make sliding heavy things easy. You also see tie-down points and straps inside the storage area - as if they were specifically made to hold a humanoid body in place.
The cage above that - the passenger elevator portion - is as you remembered except for a single small, locked chest in the center. The lid of the chest has a slot cut into it - roughly the size and shape of a standard gold coin.
SUMMARY AND ACTION All of you chose to touch the Shard - so posting the effects here for reference in the future. 'The Olem Shard is a piece of raw potentiality. The first time a PC touches a shard it unlocks a sliver of who they might become - granting either one Feat or two Attribute points of their choice. You don't know what happens if you touch it more than once or if you touch a different Shard at some future point.'
Shoot me a note on your choice and update your character sheets accordingly.
Three bodies remain in the chamber and Ronkur has the Shard tucked into a storage pouch built into his armor.
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Jane gives one regretful glance between the long dark tunnel and the torch wedged in the lever, then dashes 60 feet down the tunnel keeping one hand on the wall and trying to see the pit in the dark.
Zerxius will follow Jane
Laissez les bons temps rouler
As the party scrambles down the tunnel, Jane's torch holds the spike trap at bay and provides a visual anchor for anyone looking over the shoulders. You all clear the pit with ease, the adrenaline coursing through your veins making the leap feel like child's play.
Those of you who glance back can't see much beyond the burning light of the torch, but what you do see - and worse, what you hear - is ominous. Shadows darting about, blasts of arcane energy, and finally the bulky armored form flying down the hallway, facing backward and firing off shots of magical fire as he brings up the rear.
You all emerge back into the Well Mouth from the northern tunnel entrance, the walls curving out in both directions on either side of the arched stone. The Well Mouth seemed somehow larger than when you entered mere moments ago. Or maybe it was darker? Or the angle was different? The path from the tunnel to the center of the room was as you remembered, the shattered and scattered remains of spiders, singed remnants of webbing clinging to the stonework and the flooring, and three broken bodies of humanoids scattered along the path - the last a small frame elven figure nearest where the elevator-cage would have landed.
The center of the room, where the cage deposited you, is empty now save for the crushed bodies of several spiders. These spiders are larger than the small ones but smaller than the giant you slew in the cavern. A column of light in the center of the room seems to simultaneously illuminate the center and darken the edges of the room - as if it was drinking in all the light and focusing it on the slightly raised clump of stone where the cage came to rest. In fact, if you glance up, you see the light begins to fade about 80 feet in the air before the darkness swallows everything but a tiny coin-sized light that must be the top of the well.
SUMMARY AND ACTION
Out of initiative and free to act as you see fit.
No threats are immediately visible.
All party members are somewhere south of the pit in the tunnel or just inside the Well Mouth on the Northern Edge of a large room.
Those of you with darkvision have no more luck seeing into the darkness that extends around the room - you sense you need to be closer to see what lies beyond the column of light in the center of the room.
3 bodies of adventurers are on the floor
Many, many spider parts are scattered about
"Guess we should send them up first?" Motioning to the bodies
Laissez les bons temps rouler
"Well, that was unusual," Rantel says, catching his breath. He looks back down the tunnel they'd just fled down, and recasts his bonfire to appear at the farthest range, trying to see if anything is considering pursuit. "Everyone okay?"
Pursued or not, he looks to the place where the elevator cage would be. "We need to get them to send that back down, don't we. Just shout, right? Or is there another way this should work?" He turns to the armored figure. "Name's Rantel -- I didn't catch yours. I'd guess you've spent some time down here. It is normally like this? You're pretty capable in that suit. I'd love to learn more about it, over a pint back up there. Speaking of, he's right, we should gather the bodies we can, these here, to send back up with whatever coin we've found. Anyone find any coin? It's too bad we couldn't grab the dried up ones in the other chamber before that big one showed up."
He kneels down next to each body, respectfully taking in the details of how they fell, and then patting each down to see if he can find their return fare on them. Investigation: 14
(Armored Figure has yet to emerge from the Tunnel - it's just you all in the Well Mouth)
Rantel's examinations prove fruitful. The bodies here are fresh, their skin nearly warm, their wounds still leaking blood and other fluids onto the stone beneath them. You also notice that these three appear, well, underprepared. They have nothing of any real interest on them - standard dungeon exploring kits with rope and pinions, some dried rations and simple weapons. Their armor and clothing has been shredded or ruined from the attacks or from the aftermath.
By contrast the bodies you all found in the cavern were desiccated and masticated and had been dead for quite some time. They also appeared to be loaded with magical gear - as opposed to the small party here in front of you who seems much less equipped and prepared.
As for how to summon the cage - well, you're not sure and no one thought to ask before heading down.
"Just before we came down, that guy was yelling to send the cage for him and they didn't. There must be another way. Imma yell anyway in case they didn't send it because there were spiders near."
Hoghead shouts up the well to send the cage. He says that they all have coin and there is no immediate danger around.
If that doesn't work, he will walk towards the column of light and place a GP in the center of where the cage would come down.
Oh, in that case, my apologies, Rantel will focus on the passage -- the bonfire cast and placed in such a way to help with the rearguard, and shouting down the tunnel with a query of if they need help.
Shouting doesn't seem to do much, but once Hogshead approaches the column of light with a gold piece outstretched, the sounds of chain unraveling can be heard from above.
The cage can be seen far above as it begins its long journey towards the Well Mouth floor.
As the rest of you stare up the long dark shaft, the Armored Figure comes blowing in and across the threshold of the Northern tunnel, boots glowing with a light blue arcane energy, gauntlets glowing with the remnants of fiery fury.
Landing in a cloud of dust, he calls out to Hogshead 'You there, where's the Olem Shard? Have ye touched it yet?"
"What is the shard, and what's your name, neighbor?" Rantel says
Jane takes a moment to catch her breath, then walks over to the bodies of the former adventurers. She takes a moment to say a prayer over each one then stands and looks around for Hogshead. "Hogshead, don't stand right under the cage, I don't think a goodberry would help much if you're crushed." She takes a moment to observe her new acquaintance for any glowing changes like what happened to the spider.
The Armored Figure lowers himself to the ground and his helmet splits in the middle before pulling back and retracting like a clamshell. Encased inside the armor - more like piloting the armor - is the small Gnome you met in the Yawning Portal above. He blinks his eyes in surprise at Rantel's question 'The shard? Surely you've heard of the Olem Shard? The Shard of Possibilities? The Sliver of Potential?'
He looks from face to face at each of you and then shakes his head in disbelief 'I knew ya were green, but didn't know how lost ya were.'
Glancing back over his shoulder. he sighs and then presses on 'Oi. Ok, we've got a moment here, and ya's can't go up there with that without knowing what ya've got. I'm Ronkur and I've done this dance a time or two - which is about all the introduction we've got time for now. The Olem Shard' he nods at the webbed mess that Hogshead is holding 'is what drives the constant change down here. Pieces of them are found every so often - less and less recently - but regularly enough. They're incredibly valuable - valuable in terms of coin and valuable in terms of what they can do.'
Pointing at the webby mess he continues 'You there, clean it off, yer gonna wanna get your hands on it. Won't take but a moment, but each of ya is gonna wanna hold if for a moment before ya get in the cage.'
SUMMARY AND ACTION
No rolls are needed - simply indicate if you are willing to lay hands on the stone or not.
Hoghead looks at the bundle in his hands and back to Ronkur. He shrugs his shoulders and cleans off the shard. After getting all of the webbing off, he removes his gauntlets and holds the shard out to the group. "I don't think our new friend would save us just to have us die now. Either way, I'm ready."
Zerxius shrugs. "To gain knowledge is to gain power" he says softly
(He will touch the stone)
Laissez les bons temps rouler
Jane hesitates, then reaches out her own bare hand when there's room for her to touch it.
"You... know what they can do? Have you touched one?" Rantel says reaching out for the shard, and pausing, looking at his new companions to see how they react to touching the shard.
As each of you touches the shard, you find yourself momentarily disoriented - both deep inside yourself and floating above, but neither of those - all at once. Anyone looking closely might see wisps of greenish smoke gather in your hands and fade away as they get to your elbows, or perhaps they drift up and into your nose and mouth, flaring your eyes briefly before disappearing, still others would see an energy field briefly surround you from head to toe before seeming to be absorbed into your flesh.
It's over in a moment and you come crashing back into yourself with a start, the darkness a little darker, the column of light a little brighter, the smell of fear and death and blood sharper.
Ronkur smiles as he sees the familiar look in each of your eyes and chuckles a bit in response to Rantel's question 'Aye boyyo, I've done the dance many a time, it's what's made me who I am.' Glancing briefly at those who held back and then up at the rapidly descending cage he urges them once more 'You've only got a few moments before the cage is here - and you all have earned the right to delve in the sea of potential before it passes from ya'
SUMMARY AND ACTION
I'll shoot PM's to those who touched the stone. Please hold off on sharing any further details until Drax and Bree have made a decision on what to do.
Bree takes a moment to catch her breath after making it back into the cavern.
She watches as the Armored Figure comes speeding in, asking about a shard. They go on to explain about it a bit and claim that it has some sort of special abilities. In order to access them, though, one must touch the shard.
Most of her companions touch it, leaving only herself and the Dwarf that hadn’t yet. After a moment, she sighs and slowly reaches out a hand to touch the shard before the cage arrives.
“Well I guess if everyone else is willing to risk touching this thing…” Drax holds his breath as he touches the shard.
As Drax and Bree retract their hands from the Shard, Ronkur swiftly reaches out with his massive gauntlet and takes it from Hogshead's outstretched hand. As he does, a piece of his armor slides open to reveal a large chamber where he carefully deposits the glowing stone.
Nodding his head decisively, he looks at each of you 'Good, good, good, glad that's done before the cage landed. Yes, yes, Durnan gets prickly about these things. He knows the ancient custom - he does. He knows that those who find them get first access to the power of possibility - but he thinks of this as his dungeon and these are his stones. Aye, he'd be less likely to let you swim in the seas of the Shard up in full view of everyone in Yawning Portal, you can be sure of that.'
As he finishes, the Cage lands with a resounding crash. It's different than what you remember - although maybe you just weren't paying attention before with the promise of adventure and treasure before you. You see now that the bottom of the cage is a two-foot-tall storage space with access panels that fold down flat and have clever rollers on them to make sliding heavy things easy. You also see tie-down points and straps inside the storage area - as if they were specifically made to hold a humanoid body in place.
The cage above that - the passenger elevator portion - is as you remembered except for a single small, locked chest in the center. The lid of the chest has a slot cut into it - roughly the size and shape of a standard gold coin.
SUMMARY AND ACTION
All of you chose to touch the Shard - so posting the effects here for reference in the future.
'The Olem Shard is a piece of raw potentiality. The first time a PC touches a shard it unlocks a sliver of who they might become - granting either one Feat or two Attribute points of their choice. You don't know what happens if you touch it more than once or if you touch a different Shard at some future point.'
Shoot me a note on your choice and update your character sheets accordingly.
Three bodies remain in the chamber and Ronkur has the Shard tucked into a storage pouch built into his armor.