"Well, somehow this seemed to work," Mala muses. She looks to Faera to see what she might learn from her magic. "I guess we're going to check out this place first? I suppose it might point us to the tower."
Ghurr looks over to where Faera is pointing and the tallest stones.
"Divination?" Ghurr says, searching through his memories to see if either of his parents ever used that word with him. It sounds familiar but he finally just shakes his head, the meaning of the word eluding him for now.
"Is it dangerous?" Ghurr says as he moves to hold his glaive out and approaches the stones.
Moving around to the north end of the Grave, Faera can see that the glow seems to come from a gap, a horizontal slot like a letterbox, left between the stones that form this end of the structure. From this angle it is clear that the actual source is inside - one would have to approach it from the other end of the Grave, and move down the length of it.
Apparently finding no traces of the peryton having a nest around here, or spotting an animal to ask about this place, Thurodim sighs and joins the others by the grave, checking the entance for tracks and other things of note.
Apparently finding no traces of the peryton having a nest around here, or spotting an animal to ask about this place, Thurodim sighs and joins the others by the grave, checking the entance for tracks and other things of note.
Survival: 19 Perception: 16
Sorry, yes indeed, Thurodim initially finds no sign of the peryton having been here. The area is quiet, he cannot hear or see any animals, it's almost like they're avoiding the area.
As he returns to the others at the Grave, he does spot something on the ground, a large white feather, mottled red at the tip.
At the entrance to the Grave he can see that the structure is very overgrown. It is clearly very old, and no one has made an effort to take care of it for a long, long time. There are no tracks to note. To get into the structure itself, one would have to push past a shrub which is growing out of the earth wall of the downward slope.
"Looks like peryton was here."The massive half-orc says, turning and holding up the large feather for the others to see. "Are we going inside to look for answers?" He asks, looking around at the others, readying his geataxe to hack a way through the shrub if necessary.
He left the tavern still eating a piece of bread, mind considering what they could find. Another flying horror? An egg of the one slayed the night before? A unscrupulous spellcaster ordered by the seneschal and his master? Instead, the elf found himself surprised by absolutely nothing. The structure the entire group saw the night before had disappeared. Maybe an Illusion? Ilithir considered as Faera had her familiar scout from the skies. What other alternative could be there? He heard of invisibility and teleportation spells but only a powerful mage would be able to use that kind of magic in a large area and if the enemy was a powerful mage they would have been defeated.
Thordim words brough the silver haired man back to reality. The half-orc had found something. Good enough of a proverbial north, as far as the sorcerer was concerned.
“I believe we must.”That was the reason they were sent there, after all. “Can anyone look for traps or magic in the area, before we get in?” He asked the party as a whole. “I offer guidance to anyone trying either.”
It was the best Ilithir could do at that point. That and hope for a reasonably easy way going forward. As far as he knew, at that point a new battle was almost certain.
Notes: Ilithir casts Guidance on the first person that tries to look for traps around the bush.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Ghurr takes a look at the bush, not so much looking for traps but to see if he can recognize the plant. His mother would try to teach him about the plants she worked with but Ghurr usually couldn't remember much about them.
Mala steps forward towards the entrance and the bush blocking the entrance. "I won't need your aid Illithir." She tries to stand where she can get a good look at the entrance as well as the surroundings of the Grave. She then chants in a gravely voice, casting Find Traps.
The structure the entire group saw the night before had disappeared. Maybe an Illusion? Ilithir considered as Faera had her familiar scout from the skies.
((I can't find anywhere that I said you all saw the tower. If I did, I certainly didn't mean to. Looking back at the encounters in the woods, I can't see the tower being mentioned, but if it is there then I officially retcon it with my apologies.))
Mala feels the earth around them, and the stones of the Grave, reaching out for anything that shouldn't be there, not part of the natural order. At the far end of the Grave, the taller end, you sense a Glyph of some sort. However, you cannot sense what effect it will have, or what kind of spell it might carry. Strangely though, you get the sense that it isn't malicious.
((Trying to balance the fact that Find Traps specifies harmful effects, but also specifies Glyphs, and Glyphs don't necessarily have to hold harmful spells.))
Ghurr thinks hard, wracking his memory for this plant. His brow furrows in concentration... Nothing. It's not there. If it was ever there it's nevertheless gone now.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Thurodim grunts and nods to Ilithir and the others and with no indication from Mala there are any traps present, the massive half-orc tries to push through the shrub, and if that seems too hard he swings Skullcleaver to cut a path for the team to enter the grave, taking point himself, being wary of threats.
Atletics if needed to push through shrubs: 14 Skull cleaver: 17 Slashing: 13 if needed Perception: 6
The shrub creates a tight route down into the Grave, not too bad for most of you, but Thurodim finds himself pressed close between the wall and the plant. To make more room for himself he grabs hold and heaves the plant upwards to pass beneath it. Perhaps he heaves too hard as, with a shower of dirt, the shrub's roots rip free from the earth. Just one or two remain, by which it hangs limply after Thurodim passes.
Faera reaches up and pats Ghurr's arm as she passes by him and heads into the grave now that the shrub is out of the way, following close behind Thurodim.
"Don't mind plants Ghurr, but shrub was in the way. Just wanted to move it aside but sometimes I'm too strong." The massive half-orc stops and says with a lowered head and an apologetic tone before continuing deeper into the giant's grave with a firm grip of his axe.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Mala makes her way inside past the uprooted bush as well. "There is a Glyph at far end. Not harmful, but I'm not sure what it will do when triggered." She glances around the place for anything that might indicate more about the place or how it could be connected to the tower they're looking for. (Perception: 24)
Order into the Grave: Thurodim, Faera, Ghurr, Mala, Illithir
Mala: This structure is ancient, thousands of years old, clearly much older than any tower that may or may not be in the area. It is orientated north-south, and you were expecting the tower to be just north of here - Ghurr relating his conversation with this Shaun character seems to confirm it should be nearby.
You walk downwards briefly but the tunnel quickly levels out - you all have to duck at the stony entrance to the Grave, but as the roof angles upward eventually only Thurodim and Ghurr are left hunched, and then not even them. Flat, narrow stones are placed along the walls of the structure, creating a gallery of three small, open "rooms". Is this an actual ancient tomb? Who could be buried here? It's called the Giant's Grave, but is that just a name, or is there truth to it? Impossible to say just from looking.
An even smaller fourth and final room ends with an earthen wall. Stones are embedded in this wall, staggered, looking very much like hand and footholds. They look as ancient as the rest of the structure. Above them daylight shines through the slot in the stones you have already viewed from the outside.
As you approach the end Mala, looking past the first three, does indeed notice a brief shimmer in the centre of the far wall - the Glyph. By the time you see it, however, it has already started to activate. A pulse travels through the air of the tunnel that ruffles your hair as it passes. In front of you a figure shimmers into existence - very short, blonde hair tied in a braid, wearing faded leathers and an exquisite dagger at her hip. You have seen this figure before, carved in stone in the town square of Soft's Rest. It is Tarwen Soft herself.
At first you think she is looking at you, but then you realise her gaze is slightly off, as if she is looking through you. She speaks...
"Uh, woe betide thosewho seek the tower of Valleron, and all that. Ah I should have practised this." She runs a hand over her hair. "Basically don't go there, I've hidden it for a very good reason. That freaky hypnotist can't be allowed to escape. He should be trapped while I have his heart, but... Don't risk it. It's not worth it, no treasure in the world is worth him getting out. He's worse than anyone thinks, the things he's done, what he became... But, I know that sometimes things happen. If you really have to, if the situation is desperate, and you're good of heart, climb the stones, and have your eyes opened. Just... be very sure that what you're doing is right."
The figure flickers, and as it fades it mutters "I'm going to kill Shaun for getting me wrapped up in all this..." Then she's gone.
"Well, somehow this seemed to work," Mala muses. She looks to Faera to see what she might learn from her magic. "I guess we're going to check out this place first? I suppose it might point us to the tower."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
“Yes… appears to be some divination magic over there. I definitely want to check that out.” And Faera points to the tallest stones area.
Ghurr looks over to where Faera is pointing and the tallest stones.
"Divination?" Ghurr says, searching through his memories to see if either of his parents ever used that word with him. It sounds familiar but he finally just shakes his head, the meaning of the word eluding him for now.
"Is it dangerous?" Ghurr says as he moves to hold his glaive out and approaches the stones.
Moving around to the north end of the Grave, Faera can see that the glow seems to come from a gap, a horizontal slot like a letterbox, left between the stones that form this end of the structure. From this angle it is clear that the actual source is inside - one would have to approach it from the other end of the Grave, and move down the length of it.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Apparently finding no traces of the peryton having a nest around here, or spotting an animal to ask about this place, Thurodim sighs and joins the others by the grave, checking the entance for tracks and other things of note.
Survival: 19
Perception: 16
Sorry, yes indeed, Thurodim initially finds no sign of the peryton having been here. The area is quiet, he cannot hear or see any animals, it's almost like they're avoiding the area.
As he returns to the others at the Grave, he does spot something on the ground, a large white feather, mottled red at the tip.
At the entrance to the Grave he can see that the structure is very overgrown. It is clearly very old, and no one has made an effort to take care of it for a long, long time. There are no tracks to note. To get into the structure itself, one would have to push past a shrub which is growing out of the earth wall of the downward slope.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
"Looks like peryton was here." The massive half-orc says, turning and holding up the large feather for the others to see. "Are we going inside to look for answers?" He asks, looking around at the others, readying his geataxe to hack a way through the shrub if necessary.
He left the tavern still eating a piece of bread, mind considering what they could find. Another flying horror? An egg of the one slayed the night before? A unscrupulous spellcaster ordered by the seneschal and his master? Instead, the elf found himself surprised by absolutely nothing. The structure the entire group saw the night before had disappeared. Maybe an Illusion? Ilithir considered as Faera had her familiar scout from the skies. What other alternative could be there? He heard of invisibility and teleportation spells but only a powerful mage would be able to use that kind of magic in a large area and if the enemy was a powerful mage they would have been defeated.
Thordim words brough the silver haired man back to reality. The half-orc had found something. Good enough of a proverbial north, as far as the sorcerer was concerned.
“I believe we must.” That was the reason they were sent there, after all. “Can anyone look for traps or magic in the area, before we get in?” He asked the party as a whole. “I offer guidance to anyone trying either.”
It was the best Ilithir could do at that point. That and hope for a reasonably easy way going forward. As far as he knew, at that point a new battle was almost certain.
Notes: Ilithir casts Guidance on the first person that tries to look for traps around the bush.
Ghurr takes a look at the bush, not so much looking for traps but to see if he can recognize the plant. His mother would try to teach him about the plants she worked with but Ghurr usually couldn't remember much about them.
Nature: 4
Mala steps forward towards the entrance and the bush blocking the entrance. "I won't need your aid Illithir." She tries to stand where she can get a good look at the entrance as well as the surroundings of the Grave. She then chants in a gravely voice, casting Find Traps.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
((I can't find anywhere that I said you all saw the tower. If I did, I certainly didn't mean to. Looking back at the encounters in the woods, I can't see the tower being mentioned, but if it is there then I officially retcon it with my apologies.))
Mala feels the earth around them, and the stones of the Grave, reaching out for anything that shouldn't be there, not part of the natural order. At the far end of the Grave, the taller end, you sense a Glyph of some sort. However, you cannot sense what effect it will have, or what kind of spell it might carry. Strangely though, you get the sense that it isn't malicious.
((Trying to balance the fact that Find Traps specifies harmful effects, but also specifies Glyphs, and Glyphs don't necessarily have to hold harmful spells.))
Ghurr thinks hard, wracking his memory for this plant. His brow furrows in concentration... Nothing. It's not there. If it was ever there it's nevertheless gone now.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Thurodim grunts and nods to Ilithir and the others and with no indication from Mala there are any traps present, the massive half-orc tries to push through the shrub, and if that seems too hard he swings Skullcleaver to cut a path for the team to enter the grave, taking point himself, being wary of threats.
Atletics if needed to push through shrubs: 14
Skull cleaver: 17 Slashing: 13 if needed
Perception: 6
The shrub creates a tight route down into the Grave, not too bad for most of you, but Thurodim finds himself pressed close between the wall and the plant. To make more room for himself he grabs hold and heaves the plant upwards to pass beneath it. Perhaps he heaves too hard as, with a shower of dirt, the shrub's roots rip free from the earth. Just one or two remain, by which it hangs limply after Thurodim passes.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Thurodim briefly glances back at the others, blushing under his black beard over his excessive use of force, before cautiously moving into the grave.
Ghurr looks from the shrub to Thurodim.
”Do you not like plants, friend?”
(ha ha Ghurr that made me laugh)
Faera reaches up and pats Ghurr's arm as she passes by him and heads into the grave now that the shrub is out of the way, following close behind Thurodim.
"Don't mind plants Ghurr, but shrub was in the way. Just wanted to move it aside but sometimes I'm too strong." The massive half-orc stops and says with a lowered head and an apologetic tone before continuing deeper into the giant's grave with a firm grip of his axe.
Ghurr raises an eyebrow and pats the uprooted shrub as they pass by. He'd have to remember to replant it on their way out.
Mala makes her way inside past the uprooted bush as well. "There is a Glyph at far end. Not harmful, but I'm not sure what it will do when triggered." She glances around the place for anything that might indicate more about the place or how it could be connected to the tower they're looking for. (Perception: 24)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard ||
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Order into the Grave: Thurodim, Faera, Ghurr, Mala, Illithir
Mala: This structure is ancient, thousands of years old, clearly much older than any tower that may or may not be in the area. It is orientated north-south, and you were expecting the tower to be just north of here - Ghurr relating his conversation with this Shaun character seems to confirm it should be nearby.
You walk downwards briefly but the tunnel quickly levels out - you all have to duck at the stony entrance to the Grave, but as the roof angles upward eventually only Thurodim and Ghurr are left hunched, and then not even them. Flat, narrow stones are placed along the walls of the structure, creating a gallery of three small, open "rooms". Is this an actual ancient tomb? Who could be buried here? It's called the Giant's Grave, but is that just a name, or is there truth to it? Impossible to say just from looking.
An even smaller fourth and final room ends with an earthen wall. Stones are embedded in this wall, staggered, looking very much like hand and footholds. They look as ancient as the rest of the structure. Above them daylight shines through the slot in the stones you have already viewed from the outside.
As you approach the end Mala, looking past the first three, does indeed notice a brief shimmer in the centre of the far wall - the Glyph. By the time you see it, however, it has already started to activate. A pulse travels through the air of the tunnel that ruffles your hair as it passes. In front of you a figure shimmers into existence - very short, blonde hair tied in a braid, wearing faded leathers and an exquisite dagger at her hip. You have seen this figure before, carved in stone in the town square of Soft's Rest. It is Tarwen Soft herself.
At first you think she is looking at you, but then you realise her gaze is slightly off, as if she is looking through you. She speaks...
"Uh, woe betide those who seek the tower of Valleron, and all that. Ah I should have practised this." She runs a hand over her hair. "Basically don't go there, I've hidden it for a very good reason. That freaky hypnotist can't be allowed to escape. He should be trapped while I have his heart, but... Don't risk it. It's not worth it, no treasure in the world is worth him getting out. He's worse than anyone thinks, the things he's done, what he became... But, I know that sometimes things happen. If you really have to, if the situation is desperate, and you're good of heart, climb the stones, and have your eyes opened. Just... be very sure that what you're doing is right."
The figure flickers, and as it fades it mutters "I'm going to kill Shaun for getting me wrapped up in all this..." Then she's gone.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos