Sildar meets you in the morning and leads your trek east. He has had a crude copy of the map made; it would be difficult to read if you didn't have the original next to it to get your bearings. When you split, he gives you the copy and wishes you luck. He heads north as you continue east into the Sword Mountains in search of Wave Echo Cave.
You lose your way twice, but eventually spot landmarks Sildar emphasized on his map and, after what felt like a much longer trek than you anticipated, you reach the mouth of the cave and enter.
The entrance tunnel leads into a large cavern supported by a natural pillar of rock and containing three stalagmites. In the western part of the cave, behind the column of rock, are three bedrolls and a heap of ordinary supplies—sacks of flour, bags of salt, casks of salted meat, lanterns, flasks of lamp oil, pickaxes, shovels, and other gear.
The northeastern section of the cavern has collapsed, forming a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-deep pit. A sturdy hemp rope is tied off around a nearby stalagmite and dangles down the side of the pit, at the bottom of which is a rough-hewn tunnel heading northwest and east.
Ash: "You don't suppose these three bedrolls belonged to the three Rockseeker brothers? Maybe the other two ventured further in without their supplies? Or...?"
Kristofferson: "It's plausible. Let's push forward in case they're nearby or need help."
Badger: "Which way shall we head? Looks like we can go east or north."
Kristofferson: "The supplies are nearer the north passage, if that's enough reason to decide."
Badger: "Sure. North it is. Ash, you lead the way, and I'll take middle, if that sounds okay."
This area consists of numerous intersecting passages. It feels cramped; the ceilings here are only six feet high, and several of the passages end in partially excavated rock faces. Still an occasional cool breeze feels nice and the constant crashing sound of far-off waves echoes through the caverns.
Kristofferson: "Seems to be the old mining tunnels. Are they bringing back memories from home, Badger?" Does K notice any tracks or signs of recent activity? Perception: 22 (crit!)
Badger: "I haven't spent time in the flint mines in a long while, and they're quite different from this. Shall we continue north?"
Ash waits for approval to continue up the more rugged passage north.
Does Kristofferson recognize anything about the yellow marks? Nature: 7
Ash holds up a finger. "Let me just scout this passage. What? We don't want to get flanked. Oh okay. Don't want to miss any magic items just lying around." He winks and stealths up the western passage. Stealth: 18
Badger steps into the passage going west but not enough to be seen by anything in the passage then bending north.
Ash: you turn the corner and creep forward only to find another dead end and abandoned mined stone.
K: you inspect the yellow streaks, but make no connections as to what it might be. While you look, you see a drip hit the floor just past your shoulder. You turn to find and ochre jelly clinging to the 6' high ceiling. It lashes out at you!
Initiative:
Ochre Jelly - 18 (crit!)
Ash - 16
Kristofferson - 10
Badger - 4
Map:
The ochre jelly gets a surprise round, so it lashes out at K twice. (15 & 18 to hit; 24 bludgeoning and 10 acid)
Ash hears the sounds of slapping and a body falling, and rushes back to K. He runs up to it and attacks with his shortswords (10 & 26 (crit!) to hit; 16 piercing)
K death save: 19 (success)
Badger follows Ash. He lays a hand on K and let's the energy from Tyr flow through his hand onto K, casting cure wounds (healing him for 11 HP)
The ochre jelly turns it's attention to the one who stabbed it, attacking Ash (7 to hit). It misses and starts to retreat, giving Ash and K (at disadvantage because you are still prone) opportunity attacks. It moves south 10'.
Ash: "Gods that came out of nowhere. You okay, Kristofferson?"
K: "I'll be okay. It's pretty disappointing to go down so quick after all the effort I put in to bulking up, but it is what it is. Let's keep moving and find the Rockseekers."
Badger pats K on the back and motions to Ash to lead the way north.
You head north into a cavern. A still pool fills much of this cavern. The water is dark, revealing little of what might lie within. The shore of the pool consists of a thin layer of broken shells from strange, pale mussels, and a fishy odor hangs in the air. A set of steps climbs up to the east. A sluggish stream flows out of the cave to the northeast.
K: You see the steps lead to a perpendicular hall running north-south and beyond that an alcove with a door to the east.
Ash: The water has no unusual reaction and feels cool to the touch. You wade in to move north. It gets deep quickly, but a long the shore and the stream is 2' deep. You see that the stream continues north then bends east. The ceiling above the stream leaves 3' of space. Do you venture further into the pool or remain at the shore and stream?
Ash splashes into the water and paddles to the rock formation. Is there anything interesting on it? Investigation: 11
K: "Ash, come on. This hallway leads north."
Badger waits patiently near the steps, but rests a hand on his battleaxe in case something unexpected happens. He listens for any incoming danger. Perception: 19
Badger: You hear no incoming dangers. You only hear the persistent but inconstant crashing of far-off waves echoing off the cavern walls and the cool rushing breezes the ebb and flow throughout this mine.
Ash: You find nothing of interest on the rock, but you do notice an unnatural thing at the bottom of the pool, about 20' down. You dive a short way down to get a better look at the skeleton of a long-deceased humanoid with arrows still lodged in its ribcage. Its hand still clutches a wand and two shiny rings adorn the bony fingers. Would you like to dive further to fetch the items?
Ash dives down to fetch the items, yes, but first he surfaces to say, "There's some treasure down here. Give me a second." He then dives down with one shortsword at the ready.
Ash: It's a lot to manage: diving down, holding a shortsword, retrieving three items from a bony hand, and swimming back up holding everything. Make a Constitution check and a Sleight of Hand check.
Sildar meets you in the morning and leads your trek east. He has had a crude copy of the map made; it would be difficult to read if you didn't have the original next to it to get your bearings. When you split, he gives you the copy and wishes you luck. He heads north as you continue east into the Sword Mountains in search of Wave Echo Cave.
You lose your way twice, but eventually spot landmarks Sildar emphasized on his map and, after what felt like a much longer trek than you anticipated, you reach the mouth of the cave and enter.
The entrance tunnel leads into a large cavern supported by a natural pillar of rock and containing three stalagmites. In the western part of the cave, behind the column of rock, are three bedrolls and a heap of ordinary supplies—sacks of flour, bags of salt, casks of salted meat, lanterns, flasks of lamp oil, pickaxes, shovels, and other gear.
The northeastern section of the cavern has collapsed, forming a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-deep pit. A sturdy hemp rope is tied off around a nearby stalagmite and dangles down the side of the pit, at the bottom of which is a rough-hewn tunnel heading northwest and east.
The mine is cold, damp, and surprisingly drafty.
Map:
Ash: "You don't suppose these three bedrolls belonged to the three Rockseeker brothers? Maybe the other two ventured further in without their supplies? Or...?"
Kristofferson: "It's plausible. Let's push forward in case they're nearby or need help."
Badger: "Which way shall we head? Looks like we can go east or north."
Kristofferson: "The supplies are nearer the north passage, if that's enough reason to decide."
Badger: "Sure. North it is. Ash, you lead the way, and I'll take middle, if that sounds okay."
This area consists of numerous intersecting passages. It feels cramped; the ceilings here are only six feet high, and several of the passages end in partially excavated rock faces. Still an occasional cool breeze feels nice and the constant crashing sound of far-off waves echoes through the caverns.
Map:
Kristofferson: "Seems to be the old mining tunnels. Are they bringing back memories from home, Badger?" Does K notice any tracks or signs of recent activity? Perception: 22 (crit!)
Badger: "I haven't spent time in the flint mines in a long while, and they're quite different from this. Shall we continue north?"
Ash waits for approval to continue up the more rugged passage north.
K: you notice nothing at first, but as you move north, you notice faint yellow streaks here and there along the path.
Ash: You come to a junction. How would you like to proceed?
Map:
Does Kristofferson recognize anything about the yellow marks? Nature: 7
Ash holds up a finger. "Let me just scout this passage. What? We don't want to get flanked. Oh okay. Don't want to miss any magic items just lying around." He winks and stealths up the western passage. Stealth: 18
Badger steps into the passage going west but not enough to be seen by anything in the passage then bending north.
Ash: you turn the corner and creep forward only to find another dead end and abandoned mined stone.
K: you inspect the yellow streaks, but make no connections as to what it might be. While you look, you see a drip hit the floor just past your shoulder. You turn to find and ochre jelly clinging to the 6' high ceiling. It lashes out at you!
Initiative:
Map:
The ochre jelly gets a surprise round, so it lashes out at K twice. (15 & 18 to hit; 24 bludgeoning and 10 acid)
Kristofferson is Unconscious!
Ash hears the sounds of slapping and a body falling, and rushes back to K. He runs up to it and attacks with his shortswords (10 & 26 (crit!) to hit; 16 piercing)
K death save: 19 (success)
Badger follows Ash. He lays a hand on K and let's the energy from Tyr flow through his hand onto K, casting cure wounds (healing him for 11 HP)
The ochre jelly turns it's attention to the one who stabbed it, attacking Ash (7 to hit). It misses and starts to retreat, giving Ash and K (at disadvantage because you are still prone) opportunity attacks. It moves south 10'.
Ash opportunity attack: 18 to hit; 11 piercing (+sneak); he then follows it, attacking twice with his shortswords (9 & 6 (nat 1!) to hit; 7 piercing)
K opportunity attack (disadvantage) 10 to hit; 8 bludgeoning. He stands and follows Ash to keep up the attack (13 & 23 to hit; 11 bludgeoning)
The ochre jelly sloughs off the ceiling and puddles on the floor, yellow streaks similar to those K saw, but wetter, remain on the ceiling.
Combat is over.
Ash: "Gods that came out of nowhere. You okay, Kristofferson?"
K: "I'll be okay. It's pretty disappointing to go down so quick after all the effort I put in to bulking up, but it is what it is. Let's keep moving and find the Rockseekers."
Badger pats K on the back and motions to Ash to lead the way north.
You head north into a cavern. A still pool fills much of this cavern. The water is dark, revealing little of what might lie within. The shore of the pool consists of a thin layer of broken shells from strange, pale mussels, and a fishy odor hangs in the air. A set of steps climbs up to the east. A sluggish stream flows out of the cave to the northeast.
Map:
Ash walks up to the water and touches it. How does it feel?
Kristofferson walks to the steps and peaks around to see if they are safe here.
Badger follows K and whispers to Ash, "Careful. Come, let's continue north."
Ash: "Maybe following this stream is the best route."
K looks hesitant. "Can you see where it leads?"
If the water has no odd or magical reaction to his touch, Ash will wade in to look where the stream leads.
K: You see the steps lead to a perpendicular hall running north-south and beyond that an alcove with a door to the east.
Ash: The water has no unusual reaction and feels cool to the touch. You wade in to move north. It gets deep quickly, but a long the shore and the stream is 2' deep. You see that the stream continues north then bends east. The ceiling above the stream leaves 3' of space. Do you venture further into the pool or remain at the shore and stream?
Ash splashes into the water and paddles to the rock formation. Is there anything interesting on it? Investigation: 11
K: "Ash, come on. This hallway leads north."
Badger waits patiently near the steps, but rests a hand on his battleaxe in case something unexpected happens. He listens for any incoming danger. Perception: 19
Badger: You hear no incoming dangers. You only hear the persistent but inconstant crashing of far-off waves echoing off the cavern walls and the cool rushing breezes the ebb and flow throughout this mine.
Ash: You find nothing of interest on the rock, but you do notice an unnatural thing at the bottom of the pool, about 20' down. You dive a short way down to get a better look at the skeleton of a long-deceased humanoid with arrows still lodged in its ribcage. Its hand still clutches a wand and two shiny rings adorn the bony fingers. Would you like to dive further to fetch the items?
Ash dives down to fetch the items, yes, but first he surfaces to say, "There's some treasure down here. Give me a second." He then dives down with one shortsword at the ready.
Ash: It's a lot to manage: diving down, holding a shortsword, retrieving three items from a bony hand, and swimming back up holding everything. Make a Constitution check and a Sleight of Hand check.
Ash constitution check: 8; sleight of hand check: 20