After having taken hits from several sides, the last remaining ghoul is staggering but still standing… We’re back to Krumar, Dabbert and Nefire to try to put it down before it gets another turn.
((and if it gets another turn I may just need get creative!)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Krumar takes out his journal and writes about how "adept" this group is at killing ghouls. He then jots down that Dabbert likes to be bitten. Krumar may have written something about Dabbert's mother in the same line....He puts his journal away after taking notes on the fight and decides to help Dabbert "Ah you brainless ghoul, no not you Dabbert, the fool that bites. You had better run before you face my might!"
Wisdom save 13 or take 3 plus advantage on the next attack for Nefire on failed save
The ghoul does not pass it's wisdom test (with or without the minus) and grunts mindlessly as it takes a bit of mental damage it doesn't even understand. The next attacker would indeed have advantage except the next attacker is Dabbert and Dabbert, liking a bit of biting or not, doesn't need no advantage! With a mighty swing of his short sword the last Ghoul's head becomes... Mostly dislodged. It appears to be lopped off and about to fly away but a little bit of spine and sinew hold it connected and instead of flying away it just knocks the ghoul off balance and down to the ground. Dead forevermore.
Unless you wish to fight amongst yourselves, combat is done... I'll get a bit more up after I am home and can more readily access my resources. :)
Hours are spent exploring the mines after your encounter with the ghouls. You are exceptionally wary at first, which makes for slow going, but the more you explore with no more undead stumbling after you the bolder you get and the quicker it goes. Several of you are likely entirely turned around and lost exploring the dark twisting and turning caves and tunnels but luckily for you all Nefire is never once in doubt of where you have been and where you haven't - Her unerring sense of direction prevents you from re-exploring tunnels and sections multiples times.
Having travelled through the night and pressing on and on into the caves you are all starting to feel exhaustion claw at you. You can choose to take a long rest in the mines (Nefire can easily enough find you all a dead end tunnel with a minimum of the green glowing rock shards in the walls in which to do so) or you can all press onwards despite your weariness. If you decide to press on then I'll need you all do make a DC 12 Con save to avoid gaining a level of exhaustion. ((Reminder, we're using the OneD&D exhaustion rules where each level is a -1 to any D20 roll & to your Spell Save DCs)) If you do rest I'll need a watch order, if you set one... And either way a marching order would be appropriate...
---
As you do travel and search the mines, however, you all feel a growing weight upon you. It's not a physical weight but you feel it in your thoughts, in your energy levels, in your mood. The mix of darkness and the mild, continual glow of the Greenstone flakes in the walls has a cumulative oppressive effect on each of you. You find yourselves grouchier, angrier than normal... The area behind your skin itches... The most annoying tune you ever heard is stuck in your head. ((No... It was NOT written by Krumar. Probably.)) If you do rest then this is largely abated but not entirely... If you don't rest, OMG you just want out of these mines already! Can't you find what you need and just get out of here??
The mines twist and turn and rise and fall. Some seem to loop in and over and then back under themselves before putting you right back where you started. Nefire insists that she knows which corridors you have explored and which you haven't... And you believe her, mostly. But you also find her certainty kind of annoying. If she wasn't the barbarian of the group the barbarian of the group would probably be ready to drop kick her. But you know it's the mines... And the Greenstone... Probably. And if any think to drop breadcrumbs or mark the walls you indeed never do pass them again except the times you hit a dead end and have to backtrack. Nefire is good but she's never been in the mines before so even she can't prevent that. But mostly the mines are repetitive and aggravating and seem to go on forever and ever and ever...
---
All: Group decision - Long rest or everyone roll a Con Save?
Nefire: Roll 1d6 to see how long you all explore the mines before finding the next point of interest. ((this doesn't count possible long rest...))
Krumar: Performance check to see if you can rid the group of the annoying earworm each develops during the search! (DC 13 or it's your tune stuck in their head and annoying them!) :)
"Hey-a... what say we press on, alright? This place, it's prolly too cold to rest in properly. Yeah. Best we get in, get out, job done. No sense lingerin' about."
Syl advocates strongly that they keep going. And for the record, it is totally not because he is terrified of sleeping in this frozen tunnel of madness and death.
[Will hold the CON save to see if we all agree or not.]
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Nefire gets agitated as she is constantly questioned about her directions, "You know, I'd be going so much faster if I didn't have you all holding me back." she bites back at anyone who keeps at her after turning around in another deadend. She always knew she was good at navigating, but this feeling in a mine that she had never been in was uncanny. She wonders if it has anything to do with that ring she received in the Tower....
She looks to her friend Rae, a bit concerned. "I am good with pressing on if she is. This mine can't go on forever. Question, what were we looking for? The orc's friends and this greenstone that is everywhere? Should we be collecting it or am I missing something?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
There was no specific direction, so Raevyn had no reason for doubt when others would take the lead. In the short time that she's known Nefire, the halfling's confidence never wavered, nor lead her astray. She presented more like a wildling, not bound by the mask of ignorance that privilege and luxuries provide. Rae found assurance in Nefire's instincts and specifically had no reason to question her navigation, but would be guilty of becoming amused when any of the boys would vocalize their concerns or make suggestions.
Raevyn would fall to the back of the group as they explored the mines. There were many reasons for this. Naturally, from her earlier exertion, she's trying to preserve her energy to not hold anyone back, or slow down their mission. But of course habits of a student never falter, Rae's always observing things thoroughly to study the environment and record them her notes. However, there's the unexpected addition of the young wolf to their pack. Over the years, the doctor found herself disassociating from relations, distancing herself from the living. Bonds were heavy, scary... created vulnerability. Yet, as the doctor walked, losing herself in her thoughts, busy with documentation, she's grounded back to the present by the wet snout nuzzling into her palm.
Warmth. In a cave so cold, Raevyn felt warmth blossom in her chest. Her eyes meet those of the wolf staring up at her, then they flick to the others around her. The warmth rises to her cheeks. The doctor wasn't accustomed to her 'patients' (companions) showing concern for, or considering, her well being. Looking her over, she was presentable. Anyone could see that she was covered in dirt just like the rest, though those looking closer, the black fabric of her cloak would show evidence of blood stains pooled in various areas. Some of it hers, some of it not. While rips and tears from the impact were mended, underneath it all, Rae was still battered and bruised from the roof collapse.
Raevyn clears her throat and corrects her posture. "It is no secret that I'm not at my best," She admits. "However, I'm not at my worst." She adds with confidence, or is it her pride? "While fatigue has sowed it's seed, my mind is sound. I still have plenty of reserves and the will to continue." She shares her self-assessment. "With that said, this means that while we continue I will lean on some of you for support where my exhaustion could set me/us at a disadvantage, as the reality is, I may be a liability." The doctor states clearly as her fingers find their way through the wolf's fur in pets.
Should there be no objections, Raevyn would then open her notebook and begin flipping through the pages of her notes to verify the answers to Nefire's question, as perceptions of the goal may have changed with time and interactions. Her interpretation of the mission was to locate one specific large green gem which may be the source of all this 'madness' within the depths of the mine, not just a sample of what exists here. [Insert the King's quoted request here.] As for the orc's friends, well, the doctor genuinely questioned the true success of being able to recover miners in their original state. While she admittedly wouldn't hold her breath for them to survive in a way their friends and family would hope, she did keep her mind open to possibilities. Specifically, discovering the truths of what occurred; recovering lost souls, preserving their memories, setting them free for their ultimate rest etc.
Once her 'duty' to report to the group is completed, Raevyn would set herself at ease and lower herself down to one knee to address the young wolf. She'd take their face in her hands. They'd stare at each other for some time, her thumbs petting along the side of their face. Her praise was gentle and subtle, but focused. They needed a name. Then just as they'd both relax in each other's presence, the doctor would start to inspect them like a vet would, humming cassually to herself all the while (could be the annoying song stuck in her head). Eyes, ears and teeth. The wolf would groan, whine and chuff, shaking it's head as if trying to get away from the fussing before finally relenting and accepting it. They'd deflate, going limp and flopping over dramatically when she'd start checking their torso, legs and paws.
Finally, when Raevyn was done, she'd stand back upright. She clicks her tongue, then speaks firmly. "Little Pauwau." The wolf's ears perk. She pulls herself together, snapping to attention, sitting at the doctors feet. "Pauwau." The wolf's ears twitch and she shifts in anticipation. Rae rewards her with a show of praise, then gives a 'release' command to set the wolf at ease. She's rewarded with a piece of jerky from Raevyn's pack.
"Pauwau and I are ready to proceed."
Raevyn: [Con ST VS DC12: 19 + Guidance if I may: 2 ] [Con ST Mod of (+2) - 1 exhaustion = (+1) reflected in roll above]
Pauwau (wolf): [Con ST?: 10 ] [Rolling in case needed, not sure if it's tied to Rae or not.]
Syl is still feeling pretty good, at least physically. This place is not doing his mental wellbeing any favors. He has lost track of how deep underground they are, and he is painfully aware that he won't be able to find his way back to the surface without a guide. And this cold....
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM -(Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown *Red Dead Annihilation: ToA *Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Krumar hums the multiple ballads he’s created continuing to fine tune them (performance roll 20 in log) mostly ignoring the others searching about and what looks like frolicking through the mine
Dabbert rolls his shoulders as the fight ends, and then examines the bite mark on his arm.
"Well uh...I've had worse." He said, flexing his arm as they stepped off, taking one last look at the ghoul he'd come close to decapitating as they stepped away.
He followed Nefire's unwavering confidence with mirrored unwavering confidence in her navigation.
"You're uh...doing just fine." He said, encouraging her when she made her comment about going faster. He reached out and patted her shoulder for emphasis...though assumed he'd probably lose his hand for it at some point. "Jaylan, you alright? Are your uh...teeth chattering? Pauwau? I like it, Doc. Nice touch. Looks like a uh...Pauwau. We can do this. Easy as a walk in the uh...park."
He keeps flexing his arm, rotating it as they go, working the feeling back into it after wrapping a tight bandage around it.
"We can stop whenever you're all ready. No need to wear yourselves uh... down too far. Weariness often decides battles."
((Pauwau indeed should generally make their own saves and such. While your familiar they are independent enough to be independent :) Did Krumar make a Con save? He rolled good on performance but I didn't notice a Con save... So far Nefire is only one who failed this one so she joins Raevyn at one level of exhaustion - Basically -1 to most D20 rolls.))
The caves are cold and silent except for the sounds the part itself makes and the odd drop of moisture which always seems to come from everywhere and nowhere when it does drop. You cannot help but wonder how far you have to traverse these frozen corridors before you find what you are looking for... Whatever that may even be. But with Nefire's accurate guidance you stumble upon something interesting before you can really even regret not taking a rest.
The tunnel you are in opens wide unto a large chamber or cavern once again. Roughly forty by forty and mostly circular there is another tunnel going out from is about twenty feet or so along the same wall (Western) that you are currently on. (You have been heading southerly into this chamber.)
As you enter, an eerie, rhythmic echo breaks the haunting silence. A spectral miner appears, tirelessly working at a wall of complex carvings. The ancient symbols etched into the stone seem to shift and move in your torchlight, casting long, dancing shadows. As you approach, the figure turns, revealing a face absent of features before fading into nothingness, leaving behind a newly carved symbol.
"Goodness " whispers Jaylan " What... what is the meaning of this? are these miners dammed to work here even if they are dead?" he says looking at the carved symbol
“Ah yes,” The Doctor finally finishes sifting through her notes. “Miss Nefire, you are correct. As per the Maestro, it appears only samples are required.” She nods.
“Little Pauwau.” Raevyn’s lips lift in a hint of a smirk. “Little Witch.” She translates in response to Dabbert, giving their young wolf some scritches.
Hmm… Intrigued, Rae pauses alongside Jaylen as he asks the curious questions out loud. She was interested in the assessment of the rune(s).
"If you're uh...a good boy, Nefire might give you a piggyback ride." Dabbert quips to Krumar. He steps up next to Jaylan as the warrior's eyes fall on the ghost miners, and he just looks...sad. "Uh...wow. I hope not. That's terrible."
He holds his place there, watching the digging ghost as he hears Raevyn's reply. He nods, though barely.
"I like it. Very fitting. I'm sure Little Pauwau will be a very loyal friend to you, Doc. It's deserving."
After the ghost disappears, Nefire looks around for anymore. "Man, we should have brought that orc down with us, maybe help us identify these things we are coming across.. you think that faceless thing was one of the miners?" she shudders.
Overhearing Dabbert's quip, she glares at him. "Piggyback ride? Seriously? That what I'm good for? Going to leave you here to find your own way out of this maze if you don't watch it, Dabb."
She walks over to the wolf, "Little Pauwau, little witch... hmmm" she smiles as she looks up to Raevyn, "May I pet him?"
Nodding to Rae's confirmation of a sample, but only seeing pebbles and nothing really of note, "Well, we probably need to go deeper to get a real sample. Make anything of that rune, Jaylan?"
Jaylan studies the newly made symbol and Raevyn soon comes over inquiring and expanding their study to the other similarly carved symbols in the chamber walls. The idea that this is similar to The Tower entrance is discussed but doesn't quite fit - These symbols are all roughly etched into the walls but these symbols seem more varied, more like language. It is not a language either of the two know but Krumar is able to identify it as an Orcish variant. Emoji-Orcish, if you will...
Krumar - DC 12 History check? Or I believe Raevyn may have a spell that could help...
To clarify, these walls do indeed still contain flecks and pebble sized bits of Greenstone in the walls and the wan green illumination does indeed persist. If anything, the amount of Greenstone is increasing the deeper you go into the mines though you have seen no large hunks or veins of the ore. The faceless apparition did appear to be an Orc miner, their clothes perhaps a bit out of date but perhaps by decades not centuries. It is unlikely it was one of Hrolf's friends but ghostly miners aren't likely things in the first place so who can know for sure?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Jaylan renews his assault on the ghoul, trying to finish the creature off.
(( Att: 16 Damage: 5 rolled on log ))
PbP Character: A few ;)
After having taken hits from several sides, the last remaining ghoul is staggering but still standing… We’re back to Krumar, Dabbert and Nefire to try to put it down before it gets another turn.
((and if it gets another turn I may just need get creative!)
"Holy Tetrea be damned!" Dabbert says, wincing as Ghoul bites down on his arm. "What is it with getting bit all the time!?"
He tries to lop the things head off as it releases its bite...
Shortsword Attack: 24 to hit, 7 damage
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Krumar takes out his journal and writes about how "adept" this group is at killing ghouls. He then jots down that Dabbert likes to be bitten. Krumar may have written something about Dabbert's mother in the same line....He puts his journal away after taking notes on the fight and decides to help Dabbert "Ah you brainless ghoul, no not you Dabbert, the fool that bites. You had better run before you face my might!"
Wisdom save 13 or take 3 plus advantage on the next attack for Nefire on failed save
The ghoul does not pass it's wisdom test (with or without the minus) and grunts mindlessly as it takes a bit of mental damage it doesn't even understand. The next attacker would indeed have advantage except the next attacker is Dabbert and Dabbert, liking a bit of biting or not, doesn't need no advantage! With a mighty swing of his short sword the last Ghoul's head becomes... Mostly dislodged. It appears to be lopped off and about to fly away but a little bit of spine and sinew hold it connected and instead of flying away it just knocks the ghoul off balance and down to the ground. Dead forevermore.
Unless you wish to fight amongst yourselves, combat is done... I'll get a bit more up after I am home and can more readily access my resources. :)
Hours are spent exploring the mines after your encounter with the ghouls. You are exceptionally wary at first, which makes for slow going, but the more you explore with no more undead stumbling after you the bolder you get and the quicker it goes. Several of you are likely entirely turned around and lost exploring the dark twisting and turning caves and tunnels but luckily for you all Nefire is never once in doubt of where you have been and where you haven't - Her unerring sense of direction prevents you from re-exploring tunnels and sections multiples times.
Having travelled through the night and pressing on and on into the caves you are all starting to feel exhaustion claw at you. You can choose to take a long rest in the mines (Nefire can easily enough find you all a dead end tunnel with a minimum of the green glowing rock shards in the walls in which to do so) or you can all press onwards despite your weariness. If you decide to press on then I'll need you all do make a DC 12 Con save to avoid gaining a level of exhaustion. ((Reminder, we're using the OneD&D exhaustion rules where each level is a -1 to any D20 roll & to your Spell Save DCs)) If you do rest I'll need a watch order, if you set one... And either way a marching order would be appropriate...
---
As you do travel and search the mines, however, you all feel a growing weight upon you. It's not a physical weight but you feel it in your thoughts, in your energy levels, in your mood. The mix of darkness and the mild, continual glow of the Greenstone flakes in the walls has a cumulative oppressive effect on each of you. You find yourselves grouchier, angrier than normal... The area behind your skin itches... The most annoying tune you ever heard is stuck in your head. ((No... It was NOT written by Krumar. Probably.)) If you do rest then this is largely abated but not entirely... If you don't rest, OMG you just want out of these mines already! Can't you find what you need and just get out of here??
The mines twist and turn and rise and fall. Some seem to loop in and over and then back under themselves before putting you right back where you started. Nefire insists that she knows which corridors you have explored and which you haven't... And you believe her, mostly. But you also find her certainty kind of annoying. If she wasn't the barbarian of the group the barbarian of the group would probably be ready to drop kick her. But you know it's the mines... And the Greenstone... Probably. And if any think to drop breadcrumbs or mark the walls you indeed never do pass them again except the times you hit a dead end and have to backtrack. Nefire is good but she's never been in the mines before so even she can't prevent that. But mostly the mines are repetitive and aggravating and seem to go on forever and ever and ever...
---
All: Group decision - Long rest or everyone roll a Con Save?
Nefire: Roll 1d6 to see how long you all explore the mines before finding the next point of interest. ((this doesn't count possible long rest...))
Krumar: Performance check to see if you can rid the group of the annoying earworm each develops during the search! (DC 13 or it's your tune stuck in their head and annoying them!) :)
"Hey-a... what say we press on, alright? This place, it's prolly too cold to rest in properly. Yeah. Best we get in, get out, job done. No sense lingerin' about."
Syl advocates strongly that they keep going. And for the record, it is totally not because he is terrified of sleeping in this frozen tunnel of madness and death.
[Will hold the CON save to see if we all agree or not.]
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
"I... I agree... the sooner we get out of here the better..." says Jaylan with chattering teeth
PbP Character: A few ;)
Nefire gets agitated as she is constantly questioned about her directions, "You know, I'd be going so much faster if I didn't have you all holding me back." she bites back at anyone who keeps at her after turning around in another deadend. She always knew she was good at navigating, but this feeling in a mine that she had never been in was uncanny. She wonders if it has anything to do with that ring she received in the Tower....
She looks to her friend Rae, a bit concerned. "I am good with pressing on if she is. This mine can't go on forever. Question, what were we looking for? The orc's friends and this greenstone that is everywhere? Should we be collecting it or am I missing something?"
There was no specific direction, so Raevyn had no reason for doubt when others would take the lead. In the short time that she's known Nefire, the halfling's confidence never wavered, nor lead her astray. She presented more like a wildling, not bound by the mask of ignorance that privilege and luxuries provide. Rae found assurance in Nefire's instincts and specifically had no reason to question her navigation, but would be guilty of becoming amused when any of the boys would vocalize their concerns or make suggestions.
Raevyn would fall to the back of the group as they explored the mines. There were many reasons for this. Naturally, from her earlier exertion, she's trying to preserve her energy to not hold anyone back, or slow down their mission. But of course habits of a student never falter, Rae's always observing things thoroughly to study the environment and record them her notes. However, there's the unexpected addition of the young wolf to their pack. Over the years, the doctor found herself disassociating from relations, distancing herself from the living. Bonds were heavy, scary... created vulnerability. Yet, as the doctor walked, losing herself in her thoughts, busy with documentation, she's grounded back to the present by the wet snout nuzzling into her palm.
Warmth. In a cave so cold, Raevyn felt warmth blossom in her chest. Her eyes meet those of the wolf staring up at her, then they flick to the others around her. The warmth rises to her cheeks. The doctor wasn't accustomed to her 'patients' (companions) showing concern for, or considering, her well being. Looking her over, she was presentable. Anyone could see that she was covered in dirt just like the rest, though those looking closer, the black fabric of her cloak would show evidence of blood stains pooled in various areas. Some of it hers, some of it not. While rips and tears from the impact were mended, underneath it all, Rae was still battered and bruised from the roof collapse.
Raevyn clears her throat and corrects her posture. "It is no secret that I'm not at my best," She admits. "However, I'm not at my worst." She adds with confidence, or is it her pride? "While fatigue has sowed it's seed, my mind is sound. I still have plenty of reserves and the will to continue." She shares her self-assessment. "With that said, this means that while we continue I will lean on some of you for support where my exhaustion could set me/us at a disadvantage, as the reality is, I may be a liability." The doctor states clearly as her fingers find their way through the wolf's fur in pets.
Should there be no objections, Raevyn would then open her notebook and begin flipping through the pages of her notes to verify the answers to Nefire's question, as perceptions of the goal may have changed with time and interactions. Her interpretation of the mission was to locate one specific large green gem which may be the source of all this 'madness' within the depths of the mine, not just a sample of what exists here. [Insert the King's quoted request here.] As for the orc's friends, well, the doctor genuinely questioned the true success of being able to recover miners in their original state. While she admittedly wouldn't hold her breath for them to survive in a way their friends and family would hope, she did keep her mind open to possibilities. Specifically, discovering the truths of what occurred; recovering lost souls, preserving their memories, setting them free for their ultimate rest etc.
Once her 'duty' to report to the group is completed, Raevyn would set herself at ease and lower herself down to one knee to address the young wolf. She'd take their face in her hands. They'd stare at each other for some time, her thumbs petting along the side of their face. Her praise was gentle and subtle, but focused. They needed a name. Then just as they'd both relax in each other's presence, the doctor would start to inspect them like a vet would, humming cassually to herself all the while (could be the annoying song stuck in her head). Eyes, ears and teeth. The wolf would groan, whine and chuff, shaking it's head as if trying to get away from the fussing before finally relenting and accepting it. They'd deflate, going limp and flopping over dramatically when she'd start checking their torso, legs and paws.
Finally, when Raevyn was done, she'd stand back upright. She clicks her tongue, then speaks firmly. "Little Pauwau." The wolf's ears perk. She pulls herself together, snapping to attention, sitting at the doctors feet. "Pauwau." The wolf's ears twitch and she shifts in anticipation. Rae rewards her with a show of praise, then gives a 'release' command to set the wolf at ease. She's rewarded with a piece of jerky from Raevyn's pack.
"Pauwau and I are ready to proceed."
Raevyn:
[Con ST VS DC12: 19 + Guidance if I may: 2 ]
[Con ST Mod of (+2) - 1 exhaustion = (+1) reflected in roll above]
Pauwau (wolf):
[Con ST?: 10 ]
[Rolling in case needed, not sure if it's tied to Rae or not.]
just an unstable unicorn.
Syl CON save: 13 (rolled in game log)
Syl is still feeling pretty good, at least physically. This place is not doing his mental wellbeing any favors. He has lost track of how deep underground they are, and he is painfully aware that he won't be able to find his way back to the surface without a guide. And this cold....
PC - Ethel - Human - Lvl 4 Necromancer - Undying Dragons * Serge Marshblade - Human - Lvl 5 Eldritch Knight - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
DM - (Homebrew) Heroes of Bardstown * Red Dead Annihilation: ToA * Where the Cold Winds Blow : DoIP * Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts: HotDQ * Red Wine, Black Rose: CoS * Greyhawk: Tides of War
Krumar hums the multiple ballads he’s created continuing to fine tune them (performance roll 20 in log) mostly ignoring the others searching about and what looks like frolicking through the mine
Dabbert rolls his shoulders as the fight ends, and then examines the bite mark on his arm.
"Well uh...I've had worse." He said, flexing his arm as they stepped off, taking one last look at the ghoul he'd come close to decapitating as they stepped away.
He followed Nefire's unwavering confidence with mirrored unwavering confidence in her navigation.
"You're uh...doing just fine." He said, encouraging her when she made her comment about going faster. He reached out and patted her shoulder for emphasis...though assumed he'd probably lose his hand for it at some point. "Jaylan, you alright? Are your uh...teeth chattering? Pauwau? I like it, Doc. Nice touch. Looks like a uh...Pauwau. We can do this. Easy as a walk in the uh...park."
He keeps flexing his arm, rotating it as they go, working the feeling back into it after wrapping a tight bandage around it.
"We can stop whenever you're all ready. No need to wear yourselves uh... down too far. Weariness often decides battles."
Con Save: 23, rolled on Discord
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
((Pauwau indeed should generally make their own saves and such. While your familiar they are independent enough to be independent :) Did Krumar make a Con save? He rolled good on performance but I didn't notice a Con save... So far Nefire is only one who failed this one so she joins Raevyn at one level of exhaustion - Basically -1 to most D20 rolls.))
The caves are cold and silent except for the sounds the part itself makes and the odd drop of moisture which always seems to come from everywhere and nowhere when it does drop. You cannot help but wonder how far you have to traverse these frozen corridors before you find what you are looking for... Whatever that may even be. But with Nefire's accurate guidance you stumble upon something interesting before you can really even regret not taking a rest.
The tunnel you are in opens wide unto a large chamber or cavern once again. Roughly forty by forty and mostly circular there is another tunnel going out from is about twenty feet or so along the same wall (Western) that you are currently on. (You have been heading southerly into this chamber.)
As you enter, an eerie, rhythmic echo breaks the haunting silence. A spectral miner appears, tirelessly working at a wall of complex carvings. The ancient symbols etched into the stone seem to shift and move in your torchlight, casting long, dancing shadows. As you approach, the figure turns, revealing a face absent of features before fading into nothingness, leaving behind a newly carved symbol.
Krumar begins to whine "I am tired....My feet hurt....Why are we still walking? Are we there yet?"
"Goodness " whispers Jaylan " What... what is the meaning of this? are these miners dammed to work here even if they are dead?" he says looking at the carved symbol
( Arcana on Discord 17)
PbP Character: A few ;)
“Ah yes,” The Doctor finally finishes sifting through her notes. “Miss Nefire, you are correct. As per the Maestro, it appears only samples are required.” She nods.
“Little Pauwau.” Raevyn’s lips lift in a hint of a smirk. “Little Witch.” She translates in response to Dabbert, giving their young wolf some scritches.
Hmm… Intrigued, Rae pauses alongside Jaylen as he asks the curious questions out loud. She was interested in the assessment of the rune(s).
just an unstable unicorn.
"If you're uh...a good boy, Nefire might give you a piggyback ride." Dabbert quips to Krumar. He steps up next to Jaylan as the warrior's eyes fall on the ghost miners, and he just looks...sad. "Uh...wow. I hope not. That's terrible."
He holds his place there, watching the digging ghost as he hears Raevyn's reply. He nods, though barely.
"I like it. Very fitting. I'm sure Little Pauwau will be a very loyal friend to you, Doc. It's deserving."
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
After the ghost disappears, Nefire looks around for anymore. "Man, we should have brought that orc down with us, maybe help us identify these things we are coming across.. you think that faceless thing was one of the miners?" she shudders.
Overhearing Dabbert's quip, she glares at him. "Piggyback ride? Seriously? That what I'm good for? Going to leave you here to find your own way out of this maze if you don't watch it, Dabb."
She walks over to the wolf, "Little Pauwau, little witch... hmmm" she smiles as she looks up to Raevyn, "May I pet him?"
Nodding to Rae's confirmation of a sample, but only seeing pebbles and nothing really of note, "Well, we probably need to go deeper to get a real sample. Make anything of that rune, Jaylan?"
Jaylan studies the newly made symbol and Raevyn soon comes over inquiring and expanding their study to the other similarly carved symbols in the chamber walls. The idea that this is similar to The Tower entrance is discussed but doesn't quite fit - These symbols are all roughly etched into the walls but these symbols seem more varied, more like language. It is not a language either of the two know but Krumar is able to identify it as an Orcish variant. Emoji-Orcish, if you will...
Krumar - DC 12 History check? Or I believe Raevyn may have a spell that could help...
To clarify, these walls do indeed still contain flecks and pebble sized bits of Greenstone in the walls and the wan green illumination does indeed persist. If anything, the amount of Greenstone is increasing the deeper you go into the mines though you have seen no large hunks or veins of the ore. The faceless apparition did appear to be an Orc miner, their clothes perhaps a bit out of date but perhaps by decades not centuries. It is unlikely it was one of Hrolf's friends but ghostly miners aren't likely things in the first place so who can know for sure?