As the group cautiously approaches the door where the carrion crawler had been waiting to ambush its prey, they can see a dark tunnel that stretches deeper into the mountain.
The tunnel is a grotesque sight, filled with the carrion crawler's refuse and the stench of decay. Decomposing corpses, both wererat and dwarven alike, litter the floor.
The walls of the tunnel are slick with moisture and covered in a thin layer of the crawler's mucous, giving them a sickly sheen.
At the northern end of this tunnel is a 20-foot high rocky slope. You can all see
M16:
Standing on the 20-foot high slope, the group peers out over the grisly tunnel below and catches sight of an open field faintly illuminated by moonlight.
In this field, arranged in a rough ring, are numerous earthen graves. Each grave is marked not by a traditional headstone, but by a pickaxe thrust into the ground, its handle sticking upright like a solemn, makeshift marker.
Don-Jon:
Don-Jon stands at the edge of the slope, his gaze fixed on the ring of graves below, each marked by a rusted pickaxe. A deep sadness washes over him as he takes in the somber sight. The reality of what it means settles heavily in his heart—there are no survivors.
With a heavy sigh, he reaches into his pouch and pulls out a smooth, polished sending stone. Holding it in his calloused hand, he concentrates intently, his eyes closing as he channels his thoughts into the magical device. After a few moments, he opens his eyes and looks to the group, his expression grave.
"I sent a message to the consortium," he says quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Told 'em what we found here. No survivors... just these poor souls who gave their all to defend this mine."
He pockets the stone and turns back towards the ransacked overseer's office, his steps purposeful. "I'm gonna dig through what's left in that office," he declares, determination in his voice. "See if I can find any paperwork, anything that might tell us who these miners were. Their families deserve to know what happened. They fought bravely, and we owe 'em that much."
With that, Don-Jon strides away, his resolve clear. The sorrow in his eyes is tempered by a sense of duty, a need to honor the fallen by ensuring their stories are told and their sacrifice remembered.
"Maybe we camp outside? Give Don-Jon some space to grieve and get some fresh air for ourselves. I don't love being cooped up like this," Darien says, fidgeting with his shield straps and the bandages underneath.
“A rest would be good,” Pinja agrees, watching Darien fidget. “I’m amenable to outside. I don’t imagine the stench of those dead creatures will clear from the tunnels anytime soon. We should start early tomorrow if we’re going to bury those miners before heading out. Nigel, you think you still have a spell that could help?”
Drako looks on the graves solemnly. "A rest makes sense. At this time of day I don't think we'd have much luck pursuing those wererats that fled. Though I do worry if they'll come back. I can take a first watch."
"Yes Pinja. By tomorrow I should be able to move large amounts of dirt. I best get started." Nigel replies. The scribe produces his spell book, the glowing quill still illuminating the surroundings, and proceeds start scribbling away.
[ You may all keep role-playing, obviously. But i will need to know what everyone does during the long rest. There are areas you can sleep in inside the mine, and the outdoors is also an option. I won't be rolling any random encounters if you wish to sleep outside, but you may rp taking shifts if you wish. Don-Jon Raskin will be in M10 rummaging through the office documents and then he will take a long rest at the desk. ]
[[ Long rest taken on sheet. Swapped out Guiding Bolt and Sanctuary for Gentle Repose and Purify Food and Drink. ]]
Drako takes first watch, standing by the graves and praying for Bahamut's graces on them. Asking for a blessing of the sites they'll dig the new ones in the morning, thankful that Nigel's magical prowress can aid them in the grim task.
As his watch ends he rests near Pinja and Darien outside. When he gets up he checks in on Don Jon to see how the man is doing with all the news.
Pinja finds a comfortable area of mossy ground and rests for four hours. Then she gets up and takes the third shift of watch. When the watch is over, she’ll rest for the final two hours. When she gets up, she’ll check in with Don-John and the rest of the team, resolved to bury some bodies.
Nigel sends Archimedes to help each shift keep watch. He then goes back to scribbling notes while mumbling to himself. After a couple hours of study he announces himself ready. (He has replaced a cantrip with mold earth) He picks out a place near the others and stretches out on his bed roll for the final 6 hours of rest.
The night is quiet as Drako gently shakes Darien awake, signaling the end of his two-hour shift. Darien nods groggily and sits up, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stuffy atmosphere within the mine. As Drako settles down to rest, Darien takes his place by the campfire, the warm glow casting long shadows around the campsite.
The sounds of the night envelop him: the soft chirping of insects, the occasional rustle of leaves, and the comforting crackle of the campfire. Despite the gruesome experiences within the mine, these simple, natural sounds bring an unexpected sense of peace and normalcy. The firelight flickers gently, dancing over the sleeping forms of his companions, casting them in a warm, reassuring glow.
The two hours pass in relative tranquility. Darien keeps his senses alert, eyes scanning the darkness beyond the firelight, but nothing stirs to break the night’s stillness. As his shift nears its end, the silence is broken only by the steady rhythm of the night and the quiet breathing of his friends.
It’s then that Darien begins to hear a faint disturbance. Turning his attention toward the sound, he sees Pinja, her form restless beneath her blanket. She tosses and turns, her movements agitated. The peaceful night contrasts sharply with her apparent distress, and the tranquility that had settled over the camp is now tinged with unease.
Darien watches for a moment longer, concerned for his friend, as the night continues to unfold around them.
Pinja:
In the depths of her restless sleep, Pinja finds herself in a nightmarish world where she is small and helpless. She stands in the middle of an immense room, surrounded by towering figures dressed in fine clothing. Their faces are twisted with disdain, eyes filled with contempt as they look down upon her. Their expressions are cruel, and their intentions are clear as they lift their feet to stomp her into oblivion.
With a burst of speed and agility, Pinja nimbly escapes their crushing blows, darting through the narrow cracks and crevices of what appears to be a giant manor. The grand hallways stretch endlessly, the walls adorned with luxurious tapestries and ornate decorations that seem oppressive in their grandeur. The towering figures' laughter echoes down the halls, a haunting chorus of derision and malice.
As Pinja scurries through the manor, the oppressive atmosphere grows heavier. She senses a presence lurking in the shadows, and soon, a silhouette materializes before her. It's a shadowy rodent, its eyes glowing with a sickly green light. The creature's gaze pierces through her, and in a flash, images flood her mind.
She sees a vast field with a ruin standing solitary in its center. The structure is an old stone temple with a belfry jutting from its peaked roof, enclosed by crumbling stone walls. The gates are shattered, the trail leading to a dilapidated gatehouse. Three of the four towers that once stood proud at the corners of the outer walls have collapsed, leaving only the northeast tower standing. Atop this tower, a lone guard stands watch, their figure outlined against the darkening sky.
The vision shifts abruptly, and Pinja feels a sinking dread as she looks down at herself. Her once familiar form is gone, replaced by that of a rat. Her hands and feet are now small, clawed paws, and her body is covered in coarse fur. Panic and horror grip her as she realizes she has become the very creature that she had slain earlier.
The nightmare ends as she wakes up in pain during her transformation.
Darien:
As the night wears on, the campfire's soft glow continues to cast flickering shadows over the campsite. Darien's concern for Pinja grows as her tossing and turning become more frantic. Her murmurs of distress gradually escalate into low, guttural groans, causing Darien to rise and move closer.
Pinja's body begins to convulse, her movements growing more erratic and violent. Her wild mane of black hair seems to turn a ghostly grey. Her skin begins to darken and sprout patches of coarse grey fur.
Her curved horns remain, but they elongate slightly, twisting into a more menacing shape. Pinja's face contorts in agony as it starts to elongate, her nose and mouth pushing forward into a snout. Her teeth grow sharper and more pronounced, becoming vicious, rat-like fangs.
The transformation continues down her body. Her arms and legs are now covered entirely in dense grey fur. Her hooves remain, but they become more rugged and bestial.
The horrifying process climaxes as her eyes snap open, revealing glowing red irises filled with a feral, predatory hunger. Her face, now unmistakably that of a rat, twists into a snarl. The night air is pierced by a high-pitched, animalistic screech, filled with pain and rage.
Pinja's transformation into a wererat hybrid is complete.
OOC:
I will say that this event wakes everyone up from their sleep.
Pinja feels famished, but her body is still her own. Mechanically speaking, she needs to consume either humanoid meat (and she knows that's what she is craving), or three (3) times the normal amount of food (rations) to satisfy her hunger daily.
I will tell Pinja in private the benefits oh her Hybrid transformation.
What do you all say or do (starting with Darien and Pinja, as the rest are just now waking up).
As Darien keeps watch, he absentmindedly tosses a small globe of fire from one hand to the other, occasionally adding it to the campfire whenever it seems to dim.
At the sound of Pinja’s restlessness, he stands and moves closer, willing the flame in his hand to grow and cast light on her. “Pinja? Are you alright?” He watches in horror as she twists and convulses, yelling for the others to wake as he realizes what is happening, and as her transformation completes, he backs away once again. “Pinja? Is that still you?”
"That's a good point, we now know there are more then just rats in this place. We shoukd probably be a tad more cautious moving forward." - Grikiltha
M11:
As the group cautiously approaches the door where the carrion crawler had been waiting to ambush its prey, they can see a dark tunnel that stretches deeper into the mountain.
The tunnel is a grotesque sight, filled with the carrion crawler's refuse and the stench of decay. Decomposing corpses, both wererat and dwarven alike, litter the floor.
The walls of the tunnel are slick with moisture and covered in a thin layer of the crawler's mucous, giving them a sickly sheen.
At the northern end of this tunnel is a 20-foot high rocky slope. You can all see
M16:
Standing on the 20-foot high slope, the group peers out over the grisly tunnel below and catches sight of an open field faintly illuminated by moonlight.
In this field, arranged in a rough ring, are numerous earthen graves. Each grave is marked not by a traditional headstone, but by a pickaxe thrust into the ground, its handle sticking upright like a solemn, makeshift marker.
Don-Jon:
Don-Jon stands at the edge of the slope, his gaze fixed on the ring of graves below, each marked by a rusted pickaxe. A deep sadness washes over him as he takes in the somber sight. The reality of what it means settles heavily in his heart—there are no survivors.
With a heavy sigh, he reaches into his pouch and pulls out a smooth, polished sending stone. Holding it in his calloused hand, he concentrates intently, his eyes closing as he channels his thoughts into the magical device. After a few moments, he opens his eyes and looks to the group, his expression grave.
"I sent a message to the consortium," he says quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Told 'em what we found here. No survivors... just these poor souls who gave their all to defend this mine."
He pockets the stone and turns back towards the ransacked overseer's office, his steps purposeful. "I'm gonna dig through what's left in that office," he declares, determination in his voice. "See if I can find any paperwork, anything that might tell us who these miners were. Their families deserve to know what happened. They fought bravely, and we owe 'em that much."
With that, Don-Jon strides away, his resolve clear. The sorrow in his eyes is tempered by a sense of duty, a need to honor the fallen by ensuring their stories are told and their sacrifice remembered.
[ What do you all do now? ]
Map:
Currently DMing:
As the adrenaline generated by the recent excitement fades, Nigel begins to feel the drain of magic use.
"Perhaps we should rest here at the mine and refresh our energies. " Nigel suggests.
**This Space for Rent**
"Maybe we camp outside? Give Don-Jon some space to grieve and get some fresh air for ourselves. I don't love being cooped up like this," Darien says, fidgeting with his shield straps and the bandages underneath.
“A rest would be good,” Pinja agrees, watching Darien fidget. “I’m amenable to outside. I don’t imagine the stench of those dead creatures will clear from the tunnels anytime soon. We should start early tomorrow if we’re going to bury those miners before heading out. Nigel, you think you still have a spell that could help?”
Drako looks on the graves solemnly. "A rest makes sense. At this time of day I don't think we'd have much luck pursuing those wererats that fled. Though I do worry if they'll come back. I can take a first watch."
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
"Yes Pinja. By tomorrow I should be able to move large amounts of dirt. I best get started." Nigel replies. The scribe produces his spell book, the glowing quill still illuminating the surroundings, and proceeds start scribbling away.
**This Space for Rent**
[ You may all keep role-playing, obviously. But i will need to know what everyone does during the long rest. There are areas you can sleep in inside the mine, and the outdoors is also an option. I won't be rolling any random encounters if you wish to sleep outside, but you may rp taking shifts if you wish. Don-Jon Raskin will be in M10 rummaging through the office documents and then he will take a long rest at the desk. ]
Currently DMing:
[[ Long rest taken on sheet. Swapped out Guiding Bolt and Sanctuary for Gentle Repose and Purify Food and Drink. ]]
Drako takes first watch, standing by the graves and praying for Bahamut's graces on them. Asking for a blessing of the sites they'll dig the new ones in the morning, thankful that Nigel's magical prowress can aid them in the grim task.
As his watch ends he rests near Pinja and Darien outside. When he gets up he checks in on Don Jon to see how the man is doing with all the news.
This is a signature. It was a simple signature. But it has been upgraded.
Belolonandalogalo, Sunny | Draíocht, Kholias | Eggo Lass, 100 Dungeons
Talorin Tebedi, Vecna: Eve | Cherry, Stormwreck | Chipper, Strahd
We Are Modron
Get rickrolled here. Awesome music here. Track 48, 5/23/25, Immaculate Mary
[ I need to know who is sleeping while Drako takes his 2-hour watch shift. You all need to sleep 6 hours during the 8 hour long rest. ]
Currently DMing:
(Grikiltha will sleep to begin with she can take a shift to cover over night.)
Pinja finds a comfortable area of mossy ground and rests for four hours. Then she gets up and takes the third shift of watch. When the watch is over, she’ll rest for the final two hours. When she gets up, she’ll check in with Don-John and the rest of the team, resolved to bury some bodies.
[ Drako takes the 1st shift, Pinja takes the 3rd, and Grikiltha takes the last shift. Then I need to know if Darien and/or Nigel take the 2nd shift. ]
Currently DMing:
[[ Darien will take second. ]]
[ Then tomorrow I'll post what happens during Darien's watch. I need some sleep. ]
Currently DMing:
Nigel sends Archimedes to help each shift keep watch. He then goes back to scribbling notes while mumbling to himself. After a couple hours of study he announces himself ready. (He has replaced a cantrip with mold earth) He picks out a place near the others and stretches out on his bed roll for the final 6 hours of rest.
**This Space for Rent**
Darien:
The night is quiet as Drako gently shakes Darien awake, signaling the end of his two-hour shift. Darien nods groggily and sits up, the cool night air a stark contrast to the stuffy atmosphere within the mine. As Drako settles down to rest, Darien takes his place by the campfire, the warm glow casting long shadows around the campsite.
The sounds of the night envelop him: the soft chirping of insects, the occasional rustle of leaves, and the comforting crackle of the campfire. Despite the gruesome experiences within the mine, these simple, natural sounds bring an unexpected sense of peace and normalcy. The firelight flickers gently, dancing over the sleeping forms of his companions, casting them in a warm, reassuring glow.
The two hours pass in relative tranquility. Darien keeps his senses alert, eyes scanning the darkness beyond the firelight, but nothing stirs to break the night’s stillness. As his shift nears its end, the silence is broken only by the steady rhythm of the night and the quiet breathing of his friends.
It’s then that Darien begins to hear a faint disturbance. Turning his attention toward the sound, he sees Pinja, her form restless beneath her blanket. She tosses and turns, her movements agitated. The peaceful night contrasts sharply with her apparent distress, and the tranquility that had settled over the camp is now tinged with unease.
Darien watches for a moment longer, concerned for his friend, as the night continues to unfold around them.
Pinja:
In the depths of her restless sleep, Pinja finds herself in a nightmarish world where she is small and helpless. She stands in the middle of an immense room, surrounded by towering figures dressed in fine clothing. Their faces are twisted with disdain, eyes filled with contempt as they look down upon her. Their expressions are cruel, and their intentions are clear as they lift their feet to stomp her into oblivion.
With a burst of speed and agility, Pinja nimbly escapes their crushing blows, darting through the narrow cracks and crevices of what appears to be a giant manor. The grand hallways stretch endlessly, the walls adorned with luxurious tapestries and ornate decorations that seem oppressive in their grandeur. The towering figures' laughter echoes down the halls, a haunting chorus of derision and malice.
As Pinja scurries through the manor, the oppressive atmosphere grows heavier. She senses a presence lurking in the shadows, and soon, a silhouette materializes before her. It's a shadowy rodent, its eyes glowing with a sickly green light. The creature's gaze pierces through her, and in a flash, images flood her mind.
She sees a vast field with a ruin standing solitary in its center. The structure is an old stone temple with a belfry jutting from its peaked roof, enclosed by crumbling stone walls. The gates are shattered, the trail leading to a dilapidated gatehouse. Three of the four towers that once stood proud at the corners of the outer walls have collapsed, leaving only the northeast tower standing. Atop this tower, a lone guard stands watch, their figure outlined against the darkening sky.
The vision shifts abruptly, and Pinja feels a sinking dread as she looks down at herself. Her once familiar form is gone, replaced by that of a rat. Her hands and feet are now small, clawed paws, and her body is covered in coarse fur. Panic and horror grip her as she realizes she has become the very creature that she had slain earlier.
The nightmare ends as she wakes up in pain during her transformation.
Darien:
As the night wears on, the campfire's soft glow continues to cast flickering shadows over the campsite. Darien's concern for Pinja grows as her tossing and turning become more frantic. Her murmurs of distress gradually escalate into low, guttural groans, causing Darien to rise and move closer.
Pinja's body begins to convulse, her movements growing more erratic and violent. Her wild mane of black hair seems to turn a ghostly grey. Her skin begins to darken and sprout patches of coarse grey fur.
Her curved horns remain, but they elongate slightly, twisting into a more menacing shape. Pinja's face contorts in agony as it starts to elongate, her nose and mouth pushing forward into a snout. Her teeth grow sharper and more pronounced, becoming vicious, rat-like fangs.
The transformation continues down her body. Her arms and legs are now covered entirely in dense grey fur. Her hooves remain, but they become more rugged and bestial.
The horrifying process climaxes as her eyes snap open, revealing glowing red irises filled with a feral, predatory hunger. Her face, now unmistakably that of a rat, twists into a snarl. The night air is pierced by a high-pitched, animalistic screech, filled with pain and rage.
Pinja's transformation into a wererat hybrid is complete.
OOC:
Currently DMing:
As Darien keeps watch, he absentmindedly tosses a small globe of fire from one hand to the other, occasionally adding it to the campfire whenever it seems to dim.
At the sound of Pinja’s restlessness, he stands and moves closer, willing the flame in his hand to grow and cast light on her. “Pinja? Are you alright?” He watches in horror as she twists and convulses, yelling for the others to wake as he realizes what is happening, and as her transformation completes, he backs away once again. “Pinja? Is that still you?”
(So this happens during the night, before we get long rest benefits in yet correct?)
[ Correct. Only 4 hours have passed out of 8. ]
Currently DMing: