Me as a player am theorizing that maybe the distorting crystals are a way to .. not look at the medusa, but still be able to function. Would that be something that Rodolfo could think of?
If any of you want to break off some pieces of crystal, it can be done easily enough if you don't care to be stealthy. However, if you want to do it quietly, then you will have to make some Stealth rolls, but with unique modifiers:
If you want to pry pieces off quietly, you roll Stealth with STR modifier.
If you want to try to tap at a crystal's weak points quietly to break off pieces, roll Stealth with INT modifier.
etc...justify any other skill or proficiency you wish to use.
Right. I did study the map when you posted it and the only thing I think I got from it was the waterfall, but neither our current location nor anything else was clear from it. Did we come from the bottom left on the map? It added to the confusion.
You entered into the Rockblight from the top left, where the double doors are. You took a right and went around the body of water at the top. Skameros and Beegred poked around the large cavern, heading generally eastward (which is down because North is to the right on the map... why!!?). Skameros stuck to the wall and saw one of the huge sealed doors before rejoining the group.
After the encounter with the ghost, you went into a burrow (undetermined location, but in the large cavern.) After the burrow, you continued east (down) until you found the pond with the waterfall. You went up the stairs and found another cave with some winged statues. Seeing no menhir, you turned around and returned to the pond at the top where you entered the Rockblight. Then you went down the stairs/tunnel going north (to the right) and found the statue of the gnome. The two tunnels on the map represent the near (going deeper) and far (going upward) burrows. Between them is the path east (down) which you explored to return to the pond with the waterfall.
This is where you currently are. (The pond with the waterfall).
So what is left unexplored?
The grotto going up (near the statue of the gnome)
The grotto going down (near the statue of the gnome)
The stairs going down along the cliff face (top right corner of map)
Beegred starts up the closest stairs (north of the pool).
He gestures for the others to wait at the base, and tip-toes up the stairs. The plan is to get just high enough to peak over the top step, see what there is to see (darkvision), then go back down to inform the others. (He is invisible, if the creature is using darkvision.) Stealth check: 21
And now everyone is confused! Sorry guys.
@Beegred: Where do you think you are? What stairs are you going up?
This is what I was thinking. Correct me if I'm wrong.
From the map (post 3183 of main thread), I thought we were in the cavern just to the right of the red "N ->". I also thought this was the cavern mentioned in post 3162, with the 2 winged statues on a shelf 30' higher.
We stayed away from that higher ledge and the 2 statues, which were 30' up and 90' away. Since we are back in that location, I thought Beegred would (a) check on that higher shelf, and (b) check on those statues.
But cautiously, since he doesn't want to get into combat by himself, with the others still on the ground level.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Ok, I wasn't aware you wanted to check the cavern with the winged statues again. So you want to get closer to the statues and that top shelf to check it out...sure thing.
He also sees if he can maybe tie some bit of leather together with his crystal piece to wear over his eyes without having to hold it
My RL group wanted to do the same thing, but it would invalidate the mechanics as outlined in the module, so I didn't let them. I ruled it had to be held with a hand, ie:need a free hand to use it as such.
BUT! I've had time to think of better options... too little too late for my RL group, but good for you!
Here's what I propose: You make a skill check to jerry-rig the crystal to one eye, like a pirate eye patch. In combat, at the start of your turns, after you decide if you look at a creature or not, you roll to see if your impromptu setup holds. If it doesn't, then it shifts and blocks your vision and you attack with disadvantage (same outcome as if you didn't look). If you fail by 5 or more, the whole thing falls off and you'll need a free hand to use it in combat.
Of course, you're free to metagame a bit. If you roll bad when you tie the crystal, you can definitely choose not to make the check.
Rodolfo explains, "No, the secret room idea is good, but it's a fairly central location here with at least two paths. You're a great fighter - would you rather fight where someone could sneak up on you or not? I would prefer a place where there is less surprises."
He leads back to where the first unexplored area is and whispers, "I think it's best you do the sneaking part, Beegred."
Not 100% sure, but are you talking about the room with the petrified gnome, he two burrow entrances and the stairs down the cliff face?
Sure. I'm still confused about the map, but if I recall correctly then from the petrified gnome we went to the right, which split in two and we went up. Rodolfo would come back down to the split and then follow the other fork.
Kind of. There was one path the was in between two burrow entrances (top right corner of the map). I think that's where the 'split' comes from; I narratively used the path east (downward) to describe it splitting the room in two sides, a burrow entrance on each side.
So there's no second path. In the room with the petrified gnome, there are:
A burrow entrance that is higher up in the cavern
A burrow entrance that sinks into the floor of the cavern
Stairs going down a cliff face.
To be frank, the elevation differences between the two burrows is irrelevant. Just narrative descriptions from the book that I parroted that help to distinguish the two: The Up Burrow, or the Down Burrow. It could have been the Brown Burrow and the Black Burrow.
Me as a player am theorizing that maybe the distorting crystals are a way to .. not look at the medusa, but still be able to function. Would that be something that Rodolfo could think of?
Roll an investigation AND Arcana check. (in the main thread, and explain why you are rolling).
If any of you want to break off some pieces of crystal, it can be done easily enough if you don't care to be stealthy. However, if you want to do it quietly, then you will have to make some Stealth rolls, but with unique modifiers:
That train has gone now.. :D
I'm still around. Waiting on you.
Right. I did study the map when you posted it and the only thing I think I got from it was the waterfall, but neither our current location nor anything else was clear from it. Did we come from the bottom left on the map? It added to the confusion.
Ok. Sorry, I tried my best to describe the map.
You entered into the Rockblight from the top left, where the double doors are. You took a right and went around the body of water at the top. Skameros and Beegred poked around the large cavern, heading generally eastward (which is down because North is to the right on the map... why!!?). Skameros stuck to the wall and saw one of the huge sealed doors before rejoining the group.
After the encounter with the ghost, you went into a burrow (undetermined location, but in the large cavern.) After the burrow, you continued east (down) until you found the pond with the waterfall. You went up the stairs and found another cave with some winged statues. Seeing no menhir, you turned around and returned to the pond at the top where you entered the Rockblight. Then you went down the stairs/tunnel going north (to the right) and found the statue of the gnome. The two tunnels on the map represent the near (going deeper) and far (going upward) burrows. Between them is the path east (down) which you explored to return to the pond with the waterfall.
This is where you currently are. (The pond with the waterfall).
So what is left unexplored?
And now everyone is confused! Sorry guys.
@Beegred: Where do you think you are? What stairs are you going up?
This is what I was thinking. Correct me if I'm wrong.
From the map (post 3183 of main thread), I thought we were in the cavern just to the right of the red "N ->". I also thought this was the cavern mentioned in post 3162, with the 2 winged statues on a shelf 30' higher.
We stayed away from that higher ledge and the 2 statues, which were 30' up and 90' away. Since we are back in that location, I thought Beegred would (a) check on that higher shelf, and (b) check on those statues.
But cautiously, since he doesn't want to get into combat by himself, with the others still on the ground level.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Ok, I wasn't aware you wanted to check the cavern with the winged statues again. So you want to get closer to the statues and that top shelf to check it out...sure thing.
My RL group wanted to do the same thing, but it would invalidate the mechanics as outlined in the module, so I didn't let them. I ruled it had to be held with a hand, ie:need a free hand to use it as such.
BUT! I've had time to think of better options... too little too late for my RL group, but good for you!
Here's what I propose: You make a skill check to jerry-rig the crystal to one eye, like a pirate eye patch. In combat, at the start of your turns, after you decide if you look at a creature or not, you roll to see if your impromptu setup holds. If it doesn't, then it shifts and blocks your vision and you attack with disadvantage (same outcome as if you didn't look). If you fail by 5 or more, the whole thing falls off and you'll need a free hand to use it in combat.
Of course, you're free to metagame a bit. If you roll bad when you tie the crystal, you can definitely choose not to make the check.
Oh you know I'll roll bad - we're gonna end up with a Skameros statue soon enough :P
Tabaxi with a penchant for shenans. He will....shenan again...
And a great side quest to restore Skameros. It will only take 6 months of PBP for the side quest... so what's the harm? :P
cause I can see all the little folk trying to drag a 500 pound statue around haha
Tabaxi with a penchant for shenans. He will....shenan again...
Rodolfo was a skilled jeweler in past life for over 100 years, that might come in handy trying to fashion an eyepatch with a crystal.
Sure. I'm still confused about the map, but if I recall correctly then from the petrified gnome we went to the right, which split in two and we went up. Rodolfo would come back down to the split and then follow the other fork.
Kind of. There was one path the was in between two burrow entrances (top right corner of the map). I think that's where the 'split' comes from; I narratively used the path east (downward) to describe it splitting the room in two sides, a burrow entrance on each side.
So there's no second path. In the room with the petrified gnome, there are:
To be frank, the elevation differences between the two burrows is irrelevant. Just narrative descriptions from the book that I parroted that help to distinguish the two: The Up Burrow, or the Down Burrow. It could have been the Brown Burrow and the Black Burrow.
Have we been to that largish cavern to the northeast of the waterfall as the map is oriented with what look like two fried eggs?
(or I believe that's northwest of the waterfall with north being to the right side)
Tabaxi with a penchant for shenans. He will....shenan again...
Yes, the two fried eggs are the tunnel entrances and burrows. That cavern is where the petrified gnome can be found.
Ahhh ok gotcha - but we didn't go in those burrows?
Tabaxi with a penchant for shenans. He will....shenan again...