"If our followers do manage to gain out scent again, that is another reason why we should clean up as much of this gunk as we should. If our followers manage to learn of this place and the power of the black liquid they might side with it and reopen the gate, making our lives that much more difficult. I would rather waste the day here cleaning up as much as we can so hopefully no other "evil" entity is birthed into the world. At least before we can tell some proper authority of the realm who can better handle this situation." Magnus says between his back breaking work of cleaning up as best they can.
Then nodding to the rest, "I do like the idea of moving on from here before we rest for the night though, get as close to the river as we can before night falls."
”If we don’t want anyone to re-open the portal, then maybe… maybe I can seal it off,” Dev offers. “If I make my music loud. Very loud… so the tunnel… crumbles. Like I did with them,” he continues, his eyes on the dead mutant chamois.
”It will still be there, just, maybe hidden better. You’ll know where it is, and you can lead others back here who know how to get rid of the goo.”
The tiefling frowns. “Until then… there’s no way to completely stop other creatures from drinking from the pool without fencing it all around and with a roof too. I mean it’s a nice idea but…,” Dev’s voice lowers to a shy mumble before tapering off entirely.
The companions do the best they can to seal off entrances with stone, construct cairns to conceal dead bodies and make dams and try to cover as much of the pool as they can in scree and stone.
Dev offers a suggestion for collapsing the overhang to seal off the crack and cover the pool at the top of the escarpment and others consider descending and working there before departing.....
Lokilia listens to what everyone has to say. "Dev, you have some great ideas! Good thinking! As for our situation, perhaps Normont is right that there's not a lot we can do. We've cleaned up things best as we can, I think we should get moving and make some progress towards the river before nightfall."
"Give it a go Dev. Just make sure you aren't at the spot that collapses", Normont adds a little concerned for his Tiefling companion. "I agree, after that we should press on. There is not much more we can achieve here. If we are being followed and they find this place, we will just have to hope they are too focussed on catching us to investigate".
"I will get a message to the Chamber of Whitestone as soon as I can. I am sure they will want to ensure this whole area is made safe", he adds.
He makes sure to note down as much detail of where they are as possible, using the orb he was given to get accurate direction to landmarks.
Lokilia listens to what everyone has to say. "Dev, you have some great ideas! Good thinking!
A huge smile momentarily breaks across the teenager’s face, beaming gratefully at Lokilia before he catches himself and tries to resume a more somber expression.
"Give it a go Dev. Just make sure you aren't at the spot that collapses", Normont adds a little concerned for his Tiefling companion.
Dev nods to Normont, and will follow the gnome’s advice to the letter if he, Normont, should offer any help regarding positioning.
Taking a deep breath, then slowly exhaling, Dev blows several sharp notes on his pan pipes which sound low and visceral as a fog horn. He grits his teeth, and a deep, throbbing rhythm begins to pulse. As Dev’s horns crackle with red lightning, every seventh beat explodes like a crack of thunder rattling the ground underfoot.
Dev has to stand just beyond the entrances to have any effect at all. At first it seems that the pounding will do nothing to the solid rock. But then pebbles begin to sprinkle down from the overhang and loose brittle flakes dance on the stone floor…
(OOC: although it’s not in character/on Dev’s “playlist,” I can’t help but picture Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive” as the most suitable sounding of this magic.)
Normont will do whatever he can to direct Dev towards any structural weak points he notices in the cave system, whilst keeping his friend in an area of safety, if not outside the entrance.
"Great job Dev." Magnus says as he also casts a spell and a purple glowing mage hand appears in front of Dev. "This might not work on my end, hopefully my reactions are good enough, but if any errant stone or boulder comes your way, I will trey and deflect it so it does not slam into you. Might not work, but will never know until I try."
Dev brings down the overhang effectively sealing off the pool and collapsing the lower entry into the portal chamber. There are a few stray bits of shale and a lot of dust but no injuries to speak of as the companions are now free to make their way carefully to the base of the cliff.
Just need a single Survival check ( at Advantage as Help is assumed).
The companions manage to descend the escarpment without incident and find themselves among a jumble of black soaked fallen stone and a scattering of dead animals, up against the cliff behind a scattered 'wall' of fallen stone is another pool of the black liquid, though mixed with a lot of dust and scree from above.
Small rivulets of black flow through the underbrush into the trees and the plants near it are strangely discoloured and some seem to....twitch....slightly.
Looking through the trees towards the river the conifers begin to mix with alder and poplar trees and the undergrowth was thick and lush compared to the woods upslope on the other side of the bridge.
Amber returns and reports that she saw no one on their trail or at the bridge, from her vantage point she does not believe you will reach the river before dark..
"Well, at least we are not being followed", Normont says as Amber reports back.
He looks with concern at the surrounding vegetation, so obviously affected by the black goo. "I am not sure what we can do to sort this out, but I think we should at least not get too close to the twitching plants and trees. Maybe be we should loop around just in case?".
"I certainly don't want to be camping anywhere near here".
"I agree, we can give it width berth and continue on." Magnus comments. "I am sure once we report this area to Whitestone they will be able to take care of this problem, for now we have another destination to get to."
The day's exertions show in Dev's face, and the teenager nods assent, pulls up his cowl to hide the glassy fatigue evident in his eyes, and follows the others. He forces himself to heed his mother's voice as it sounds as if at a distance in his mind, 'watch your feet, sweetie,' so as not to accidentally track the frightening substance through the woods, and even more importantly, ruin his magic shoes. 'Not more importantly,' he tries to tell himself. Whatever the reason, Dev watches where he is going, and especially, watches where he steps.
Lokilia had agreed that the group should put some distance between them and the black substance. Still, she can't help but occasionally glance off to see where it mars the landscape. Or even if no longer in sight, to look at where she imagines it must be. 'If only there were a way to stop that stuff or purify it,' she thinks. She keeps quiet however, knowing there's not likely much to do right now.
Storm clouds begin to gather overhead as the companions head into the trees, the wind picking up and dropping leaves and small branches as it intensifies. Lightning and thunder begin to crash overhead and the companions are looking at a very wet and uncomfortable night ahead when just as suddenly the storm blows itself out and the skys clear again....
The trees grow close together and scrubby bushes intersperse with the trunks as the companions push onwards, the underbrush teems with small game most of which seems untainted by the black liquid which is still seen occasionally gathered in hollows or low lying areas...though only in small amounts. The valley continues downward in a slope towards the river to the east. The companions are mostly following game trails but occasionally the path here is interspersed with strange, barkless segments of tree limbs hammered into the earth and topped with red rags.
Normont stops by one of the strange barkless tree limbs with the red rag on top and stares at it for a few moments.
"Well, if ever there was a red flag, then this would be it", he says with a little chuckle. "What do we think, some kind of tribal marking denoting a territory boundary?", he asks more seriously as he turns to look at the others.
Lokilia was more interesting in the sudden storm which suddenly left. "That seemed so strange the storm came and went like that." She tries to get an idea of where that storm had been centered - primarily if it might have been connected with the portal they closed or the black goo. She's also curious though if that could have just been a natural passing storm here. (Survival for location: 16, Nature for if the storm was natural: 16)
She's also interested as Normont studies the red flags. "Has someone marked a path here? Or yea, maybe it's a boundary."
"If our followers do manage to gain out scent again, that is another reason why we should clean up as much of this gunk as we should. If our followers manage to learn of this place and the power of the black liquid they might side with it and reopen the gate, making our lives that much more difficult. I would rather waste the day here cleaning up as much as we can so hopefully no other "evil" entity is birthed into the world. At least before we can tell some proper authority of the realm who can better handle this situation." Magnus says between his back breaking work of cleaning up as best they can.
Then nodding to the rest, "I do like the idea of moving on from here before we rest for the night though, get as close to the river as we can before night falls."
”If we don’t want anyone to re-open the portal, then maybe… maybe I can seal it off,” Dev offers. “If I make my music loud. Very loud… so the tunnel… crumbles. Like I did with them,” he continues, his eyes on the dead mutant chamois.
”It will still be there, just, maybe hidden better. You’ll know where it is, and you can lead others back here who know how to get rid of the goo.”
The tiefling frowns. “Until then… there’s no way to completely stop other creatures from drinking from the pool without fencing it all around and with a roof too. I mean it’s a nice idea but…,” Dev’s voice lowers to a shy mumble before tapering off entirely.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
The companions do the best they can to seal off entrances with stone, construct cairns to conceal dead bodies and make dams and try to cover as much of the pool as they can in scree and stone.
Dev offers a suggestion for collapsing the overhang to seal off the crack and cover the pool at the top of the escarpment and others consider descending and working there before departing.....
Lokilia listens to what everyone has to say. "Dev, you have some great ideas! Good thinking! As for our situation, perhaps Normont is right that there's not a lot we can do. We've cleaned up things best as we can, I think we should get moving and make some progress towards the river before nightfall."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Give it a go Dev. Just make sure you aren't at the spot that collapses", Normont adds a little concerned for his Tiefling companion. "I agree, after that we should press on. There is not much more we can achieve here. If we are being followed and they find this place, we will just have to hope they are too focussed on catching us to investigate".
"I will get a message to the Chamber of Whitestone as soon as I can. I am sure they will want to ensure this whole area is made safe", he adds.
He makes sure to note down as much detail of where they are as possible, using the orb he was given to get accurate direction to landmarks.
A huge smile momentarily breaks across the teenager’s face, beaming gratefully at Lokilia before he catches himself and tries to resume a more somber expression.
Dev nods to Normont, and will follow the gnome’s advice to the letter if he, Normont, should offer any help regarding positioning.
Taking a deep breath, then slowly exhaling, Dev blows several sharp notes on his pan pipes which sound low and visceral as a fog horn. He grits his teeth, and a deep, throbbing rhythm begins to pulse. As Dev’s horns crackle with red lightning, every seventh beat explodes like a crack of thunder rattling the ground underfoot.
Dev has to stand just beyond the entrances to have any effect at all. At first it seems that the pounding will do nothing to the solid rock. But then pebbles begin to sprinkle down from the overhang and loose brittle flakes dance on the stone floor…
(OOC: although it’s not in character/on Dev’s “playlist,” I can’t help but picture Imagine Dragon’s “Radioactive” as the most suitable sounding of this magic.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Normont will do whatever he can to direct Dev towards any structural weak points he notices in the cave system, whilst keeping his friend in an area of safety, if not outside the entrance.
"Great job Dev." Magnus says as he also casts a spell and a purple glowing mage hand appears in front of Dev. "This might not work on my end, hopefully my reactions are good enough, but if any errant stone or boulder comes your way, I will trey and deflect it so it does not slam into you. Might not work, but will never know until I try."
Dev brings down the overhang effectively sealing off the pool and collapsing the lower entry into the portal chamber. There are a few stray bits of shale and a lot of dust but no injuries to speak of as the companions are now free to make their way carefully to the base of the cliff.
Just need a single Survival check ( at Advantage as Help is assumed).
(Dev Survival w advantage: 14)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Normont congratulates Dev on a job well done, and then carefully climbs down, accepting any and all help on the way.
Survival (with advantage): (
11, 19)+2=21(OOC: Any sign of Amber returning @DM?)
( Will do so when you reach the base of the escarpment. IC post up after dog walking.)
The companions manage to descend the escarpment without incident and find themselves among a jumble of black soaked fallen stone and a scattering of dead animals, up against the cliff behind a scattered 'wall' of fallen stone is another pool of the black liquid, though mixed with a lot of dust and scree from above.
Small rivulets of black flow through the underbrush into the trees and the plants near it are strangely discoloured and some seem to....twitch....slightly.
Looking through the trees towards the river the conifers begin to mix with alder and poplar trees and the undergrowth was thick and lush compared to the woods upslope on the other side of the bridge.
Amber returns and reports that she saw no one on their trail or at the bridge, from her vantage point she does not believe you will reach the river before dark..
"Well, at least we are not being followed", Normont says as Amber reports back.
He looks with concern at the surrounding vegetation, so obviously affected by the black goo. "I am not sure what we can do to sort this out, but I think we should at least not get too close to the twitching plants and trees. Maybe be we should loop around just in case?".
"I certainly don't want to be camping anywhere near here".
"I agree, we can give it width berth and continue on." Magnus comments. "I am sure once we report this area to Whitestone they will be able to take care of this problem, for now we have another destination to get to."
The day's exertions show in Dev's face, and the teenager nods assent, pulls up his cowl to hide the glassy fatigue evident in his eyes, and follows the others. He forces himself to heed his mother's voice as it sounds as if at a distance in his mind, 'watch your feet, sweetie,' so as not to accidentally track the frightening substance through the woods, and even more importantly, ruin his magic shoes. 'Not more importantly,' he tries to tell himself. Whatever the reason, Dev watches where he is going, and especially, watches where he steps.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia had agreed that the group should put some distance between them and the black substance. Still, she can't help but occasionally glance off to see where it mars the landscape. Or even if no longer in sight, to look at where she imagines it must be. 'If only there were a way to stop that stuff or purify it,' she thinks. She keeps quiet however, knowing there's not likely much to do right now.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Storm clouds begin to gather overhead as the companions head into the trees, the wind picking up and dropping leaves and small branches as it intensifies. Lightning and thunder begin to crash overhead and the companions are looking at a very wet and uncomfortable night ahead when just as suddenly the storm blows itself out and the skys clear again....
The trees grow close together and scrubby bushes intersperse with the trunks as the companions push onwards, the underbrush teems with small game most of which seems untainted by the black liquid which is still seen occasionally gathered in hollows or low lying areas...though only in small amounts. The valley continues downward in a slope towards the river to the east. The companions are mostly following game trails but occasionally the path here is interspersed with strange, barkless segments of tree limbs hammered into the earth and topped with red rags.
Normont stops by one of the strange barkless tree limbs with the red rag on top and stares at it for a few moments.
"Well, if ever there was a red flag, then this would be it", he says with a little chuckle. "What do we think, some kind of tribal marking denoting a territory boundary?", he asks more seriously as he turns to look at the others.
Lokilia was more interesting in the sudden storm which suddenly left. "That seemed so strange the storm came and went like that." She tries to get an idea of where that storm had been centered - primarily if it might have been connected with the portal they closed or the black goo. She's also curious though if that could have just been a natural passing storm here. (Survival for location: 16, Nature for if the storm was natural: 16)
She's also interested as Normont studies the red flags. "Has someone marked a path here? Or yea, maybe it's a boundary."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer