The Eladrin Huntress's boots seem almost not in contact with the slippery surface, so natural and confident is she as she traverses the problematic passage.
The campsite has the old remains of a fire, long cold. And a single bedroll that was left behind.
Characters who search the charred remains of the campfire can find three torn-out pages, only partially burned, from a journal written in Dwarvish.
Written on the loose pages are an anonymous dwarf’s musings about the cave complex. Characters who examine the pages find a couple of noteworthy passages (if they speak Dwarvish):
“These caves are sacred to the frost giants. The carvings on the wall suggest that the giants came here to drown themselves. Did they use the hot spring as a sacrificial pool?”
“The wind truly sounds like a wailing woman. One could easily go mad in this place.”
“I think there’s someone living in these caves. Shortly after discovering the hot spring, I heard what sounded like a granny singing. When the song ended with a shrill laugh, dread sunk its teeth in me. Ye gods, that horrible cackle! I shall leave these caves in the morning and never return.”
"Yeah, it doesn't sound like it. Let me do a bit of scouting on the that passage near the frozen water fall."
She'll send spark to scout it out, at least go to the entrance and she'll look through his eyes, if it looks safe she'll have him enter, if not, come back and Cirim can report what she sees.
Etirel Darastrix listens attentively to the reading, then nods: "Thank you, Lord Neldak. Yes, I agree, it is certainly not the fishermen. But the disturbing creature that lives here and that the author of the text is supposed to have escaped, could have charmed and captured them. The idea of Spark's new reconnaissance is certainly a good one, Cirim. You are always precious."
And with that, the foreign traveler waits... all the while pondering the new information. Giants that come 'to drown themselves'? And why would they? Maybe because they were driven mad by the wind? Maybe they came here to seek shelter... then they went mad by the wind - and decided to drown themselves. And the sometimes granny-singing, sometimes shrill-laughing creature that inhabits this place? Is it mad too? And if so, why didn't it drown itself? Is it instead unaffected by madness? Is it perhaps the cause of madness itself?
"It is certain," the Eldarin huntress concludes, murmuring perhaps more to herself than to the others, "that everything suggests that it is not wise to linger in this place for long. We will have to act decisively."
Sparks flies to some steps, stopping at the top of the steps, not going inside the room due to what is seen. Fresh blood paints the icy floor. More obvious than the blood are all the bones: knucklehead trout spines, humanoid skeletons in pieces, and bones of small animals and birds, along with scraps of clothing and armour and a few rusty weapons. Sitting among the bones in the middle of the cave is a frost giant skeleton partially encased in ice.
Hearing the report of what Spark saw, Etriel Darastrix sighs: "From the description of the scene, it is likely that the frost giant skeleton is an undead that kills intruders when they enter... If the fishers had gone that way, they would probably be alarmed by the obvious signs of violence. And if they had entered anyway, they would have already been slaughtered by the undead. It is more plausible that they have headed elsewhere".
"Perhaps we could explore that branch anyway, later, to unravel the mystery of what the giardian protects" the foreign traveler is clearly intrigued. "I know spells that would make it very difficult for an undead to hit me. But for now we would do well to focus on the fishers".
"Fresh blood is not a good sign. We didn't notice any other tracks leading in to the cave, right? Which way should we go to look for the fishermen?" Neldak looks ready to keep moving.
"But what if the fresh blood is from the fishers?" the half-orc wonders? "The chamber does go on, perhaps it curves around to another entrance to the north? OK Sparks..."
I'll send sparks up to the north along the ice, north of U5.
He moves slowly across the bridge, careful with his footing…
"Perhaps it is connected from the north. I do think we need to investigate the fresh blood, we must be careful how we approach, maybe there is another way.."
"How do we want to approach? That slick bridge is about 20 feet above the frozen river. I think I've got some rope. We wouldn't want to rush breaking through the ice."
"Yes, I say we lower ourselves slowly with your rope, Lord Neldak" Etriel Darastrix agrees. "Carefully and slowly. I can go down first... I believe the ice is thick and strong - but if it gives way, I should be able to grab onto the rope without difficulty. If it can support my weight without any problems, you could go down as well".
The foreign traveler, waiting for the strategy to be approved, takes out a new sheet of parchment, ink, inkwell, quill... and with confidence and experience quickly sketches a map of this strange complex, adding notes on the newly discovered lore.
"The Mystic Seer" the eladrin huntress murmurs to herself "has once again led my steps to a curious and interesting travel destination... How many mysteries in these frozen ravines... and who knows how many of these I and my worthy traveling companions will be able to unravel".
For sparks (map update on Monday) the frozen stream snakes around and then opens into a frozen pool. It seems to have come from a frozen spring to the north. There are also two tunnels to the south, one seeming to match with the other side of the blood room. Entombed in the ice are the remains of four frost giants, the faint outlines of their forms barely visible.
Etriel the ice is solid. A few feet thick so no worries there
Dex check of 18 for Neldak. "Thanks Cirim." He says as he passes her and gets guidance.
"Lady Cirim, your concern for us is precious and appreciated" Etriel Darastrix thanks her, accepting the magical aid and proceeding onto the bridge.
Etriel's Dex check: 18
The Eladrin Huntress's boots seem almost not in contact with the slippery surface, so natural and confident is she as she traverses the problematic passage.
Cirim goes last with Sparks on her shoulder:
Dex: 24 (nat 20!)
The campsite has the old remains of a fire, long cold. And a single bedroll that was left behind.
Characters who search the charred remains of the campfire can find three torn-out pages, only partially burned, from a journal written in Dwarvish.
Written on the loose pages are an anonymous dwarf’s musings about the cave complex. Characters who examine the pages find a couple of noteworthy passages (if they speak Dwarvish):
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Neldak will read the pages outload to everyone. "I'm not sure this belonged to the fishermen. But this doesn't bode well."
"Yeah, it doesn't sound like it. Let me do a bit of scouting on the that passage near the frozen water fall."
She'll send spark to scout it out, at least go to the entrance and she'll look through his eyes, if it looks safe she'll have him enter, if not, come back and Cirim can report what she sees.
Etirel Darastrix listens attentively to the reading, then nods: "Thank you, Lord Neldak. Yes, I agree, it is certainly not the fishermen. But the disturbing creature that lives here and that the author of the text is supposed to have escaped, could have charmed and captured them. The idea of Spark's new reconnaissance is certainly a good one, Cirim. You are always precious."
And with that, the foreign traveler waits... all the while pondering the new information. Giants that come 'to drown themselves'? And why would they? Maybe because they were driven mad by the wind? Maybe they came here to seek shelter... then they went mad by the wind - and decided to drown themselves. And the sometimes granny-singing, sometimes shrill-laughing creature that inhabits this place? Is it mad too? And if so, why didn't it drown itself? Is it instead unaffected by madness? Is it perhaps the cause of madness itself?
"It is certain," the Eldarin huntress concludes, murmuring perhaps more to herself than to the others, "that everything suggests that it is not wise to linger in this place for long. We will have to act decisively."
Map above (spoilered for space).
Sparks flies to some steps, stopping at the top of the steps, not going inside the room due to what is seen. Fresh blood paints the icy floor. More obvious than the blood are all the bones: knucklehead trout spines, humanoid skeletons in pieces, and bones of small animals and birds, along with scraps of clothing and armour and a few rusty weapons. Sitting among the bones in the middle of the cave is a frost giant skeleton partially encased in ice.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Hearing the report of what Spark saw, Etriel Darastrix sighs: "From the description of the scene, it is likely that the frost giant skeleton is an undead that kills intruders when they enter... If the fishers had gone that way, they would probably be alarmed by the obvious signs of violence. And if they had entered anyway, they would have already been slaughtered by the undead. It is more plausible that they have headed elsewhere".
"Perhaps we could explore that branch anyway, later, to unravel the mystery of what the giardian protects" the foreign traveler is clearly intrigued. "I know spells that would make it very difficult for an undead to hit me. But for now we would do well to focus on the fishers".
"Fresh blood is not a good sign. We didn't notice any other tracks leading in to the cave, right? Which way should we go to look for the fishermen?" Neldak looks ready to keep moving.
"They may have continued beyond the waterfall, along the ice, without going into the place guarded by the skeleton" Etriel Darastrix hypothesizes.
"But what if the fresh blood is from the fishers?" the half-orc wonders? "The chamber does go on, perhaps it curves around to another entrance to the north? OK Sparks..."
I'll send sparks up to the north along the ice, north of U5.
(Sorry for my delay!)
Danon’s Dex check : 21
He moves slowly across the bridge, careful with his footing…
"Perhaps it is connected from the north. I do think we need to investigate the fresh blood, we must be careful how we approach, maybe there is another way.."
"Ok, the fishers might have been more careless than I think" Etriel Darastrix admits. "Let's investigate the fresh blood".
"How do we want to approach? That slick bridge is about 20 feet above the frozen river. I think I've got some rope. We wouldn't want to rush breaking through the ice."
"Yes, I say we lower ourselves slowly with your rope, Lord Neldak" Etriel Darastrix agrees. "Carefully and slowly. I can go down first... I believe the ice is thick and strong - but if it gives way, I should be able to grab onto the rope without difficulty. If it can support my weight without any problems, you could go down as well".
The foreign traveler, waiting for the strategy to be approved, takes out a new sheet of parchment, ink, inkwell, quill... and with confidence and experience quickly sketches a map of this strange complex, adding notes on the newly discovered lore.
"The Mystic Seer" the eladrin huntress murmurs to herself "has once again led my steps to a curious and interesting travel destination... How many mysteries in these frozen ravines... and who knows how many of these I and my worthy traveling companions will be able to unravel".
For sparks (map update on Monday) the frozen stream snakes around and then opens into a frozen pool. It seems to have come from a frozen spring to the north. There are also two tunnels to the south, one seeming to match with the other side of the blood room. Entombed in the ice are the remains of four frost giants, the faint outlines of their forms barely visible.
Etriel the ice is solid. A few feet thick so no worries there
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
"Well, shall we proceed then? I'm curious about all of these frost giants in the ice.". Neldak will secure a rope and start climbing down.