Falaine has heard of ways to transfer text through arcane energy but hasn't trained in the methods. The process is rather rare and only don't by highly skilled wizards so that the original text isn't destroyed in the process.
Falaine thinks on the colors that would be prevalent in Thornwood. The city itself sits against the red cliffs but surely two locations wouldn't use the same color. The flowers and crops are all tended to by farmers and its hard to tell if any of them were natural to the area when the circles were created. The forest near Thornwood is full of green plants so it would make sense for green to be the color used to describe it. There's also plenty of brown dirt.
"I say green, it's named after a forest, and that forest is over if the lushest places I've been." Falaine also asks Tyler for an escort to the floor above the chamber with the circle.
She also just remembered something. (She sent a message to the druids about traveling to the Grove.)
The Circle - Research the runic circle and see if there is an obelisk above it in Thousand Steps.
The Murder - Investigate who killed the wizards and guards
The Elf - Find the elder elf in Thornwood
The Warden - Find the elder Warden
The Uprising - Investigate rumors of hostile forces within the castle
The Journey - Escort the expedition to the Northern Settlements
The Godsbanes - Find the artifacts stolen by Gunthar thought to be able to kill a god it is tied to.
The Shards - Return Merveille shards to resting place
The Info - Investigate the monastery
The Fires - Stop the fires in Thornwood
The Direction - Speak to the druids [Falaine]
The Message - Talk to the gardener [Falaine]
The Connection - reestablish godly communication [Paren]
The Smithy - Obtain funds to buy back the BRS. [Tanni]
The Ore - Find what makes the material so valuable [Tanni]
The Gift - Find the source of power [Jay]
[PM me if you have questions regarding the quest log. Some of it is rather vague to avoid spoilers. Also added this to the first post in the thread so it's easier to track]
"I'd like to check upstairs if I would. If there is actually an obelisk I would very much like to see it. And I think green might be a good guess. I'm willing to try it but I cannot guarentee what will happen if I do, if that circle no longer exists I don't know what it will do to the magic or the people trying to transport there."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
[I'll give Jay a chance to post his reactions to the circle today before moving to the search for the room above tomorrow. Sorry for my absence. It's been crazy around here]
(Hey, sorry for lack of posts. Back now, so should be able to post more regularly again.)
He'd opt to not make a save against the Zone of Truth, given he isn't intending to hide anything.
Jay will have been waiting for the whole court case to finish. It is wasting his time and probably the time of others also. The dead are dead, and if they are to be restored to life they would have done so by now. The politics behind this death mean very little to him, as does this whim of the gods side of things. For now, he is still wanting to return and analyse the circles to work out their secrets, and hopefully get back to his task at hand. He has no questions to raise whilst there, just waiting on the sidelines for everything to move on.
(Made prior check for when we got to this point, so ready to move on now.)
With the group gathered around the circle, Jay beings to investigate the runes that surround the area. It doesn't take long for him to realize the runes look very similar to the circle that he had used to arrive here. All of the circles seemed to be connected in some way like the runes were allowed to shift to meet the demands of the circle.
Jay would see that...
The runes here are showing patterns of waves and other symbols that seem to reveal that the destination for the portal is this location. He begins to wonder if all of the circles are currently showing similar runes and if they'd transport to this location if they were used in that setting. He began to wonder how he could change the runes until his new companion mentioned the ability to set the circle based on grove colors. If he could just figure out what color was associated with the chamber he saw for those few precious moments, he could return there and complete his task. This group of strangers seemed to have information that could further help his studies, but he'd need to be careful not to draw the ire of their gods if they were killing people this actively.
He continues looking at this pattern of runes. It's clear that it is some sort of holy site and most likely one dedicated to the old god Lugh. These circles would most likely allow his followers to move between the sites as needed. If he were able to decipher how all of this worked, it could prove very valuable to his master's plans.
Tyler nods as the group requests the escort to the high level. "If you're ready to proceed, follow me."
Jay quietly looks over the circle, mostly ignoring the rest of the group as he deduces what logically would be involved in activating and attuning the correct locations. "Interesting..." Is the only thing he says aloud during this. He does not want to reveal everything yet, not at least until he has a proper chance to go over the runes and have something more concrete to speak about, unless someone presses him for the information.
The Duke bids you all farewell and says, "I will keep this chamber as it is until you've completed your research. Once you're done, I need to know if it is safe to keep this circle operational or if it needs to be closed off. My people's safety is the utmost importance to me. Also, if you're able to control where the circle leads, I would reward you most handsomely so long as I can get my traders through it without issue."The Duke leaves the room with his group of guards heading back to deal with his duties as a ruler of this castle.
Tyler leads the group out of the chamber and back up the stairs passing by the servant chambers allowing anyone to grab anything they may have left behind.
He then leads the group out of the service passageways and into the main halls of the castle. "This castle was built a very long time ago. The stories say that this land started as a small fishing village high on the cliffs. Most people think that it was the gift from the Mother that brought people here but it was actually the iron ore and precious stones within the nearby hills. The miners were a secretive group so they'd always tell outsiders that fishing brought them here."
"When the bountiful gift was provided by The Mother, other castles started being built along the coast to harbor all the townsfolk that came to prosper from the fishing trade. The growth of the region was rapid to say the least. This castle has grown similarly as the towns surrounding it have grown. This has caused there to be many layers within the castle that are no longer used and have grown dormant."
He continues navigating the group through the extremely well decorated halls that are meant to show the power and wealth of the Duke.
"Over time, these areas have been inhabited by refugees that don't mind the isolation offered. If there's anyone that knows the inner portions of the castle, it's a kobold by the of Xinq. I don't exactly trust the creature, but the Duke has found a liking to him for some reason. With information provided by Xinq, the guards squashed an uprising before it could take hold within the kobold society. This success led the Duke to bringing the kobold onto his council." The tabaxi pauses for a moment. "Not the council you witnessed at the trial. That's more of a political farce if you ask me. This council is among his most trusted advisers. I'm afraid that Xinq has been sent on a sort of ambassador mission and is away from the castle. We'll have to find someone else down here that can help."
After quite some time navigating the halls, the group finally comes to a hallway that looks to be less used. A door at the end looks to be rather weak in terms of quality and strength, but there are two kobolds standing outside that don't look any bit royal or noble.
"We're paid up,"one of the kobolds says to Tyler. "What else do you want?"
"I'm not here for money this time, Vok. We've got some problems that we need to deal with and I'm thinking we need to pass through your tunnels to ge there."
"Well, well, well,"says the rough looking kobold. "So you finally need me? What's in it for me? Nothing in life is free, you know."
Tyler seems to get a bit agitated. "I could have you removed from this castle. How's that sound for a reward?"
Vok only laughs at the threat. "Can't remove us when you don't even know how many there are? You'd get lost in here without us anyhow." He leans against the door. "Where you trying to go anyway? Ain't nothing special down here or you wouldn't have left it."
Tyler seems to slightly growl as only a tabaxi can but contains his resentment. "I'll give you some coin. Just escort us through. They won't cause you any trouble."
The kobold holds out his hand and Tyler tosses him several gold coins. Vok grins and says, "Right this way."
On the other side of the door, things are quite different. The walls have no decorations and there's clearly not been anyone trying to keep up with the dust and dirt that's covering most the walls and floor. Tyler does his best to point Vok in the directions that the group needs to go.
Along the way, you seem small clusters of kobolds going about their lives in rather bare rooms lining the passage ways. The lack of torches here is keenly apparent and it makes it rather clear the kobolds are able to see just fine without them. Tyler, out of habit lights a small lantern so that there is some light here. The group continues walking the twisting tunnels and old hallways that formally made up the core of the old castle. You're able to tell that it was once a rather grand construction. Tanni would almost feel like him deep within the cliffs as it would remind her of the Sunforge though it was much cooler here without the magma providing its warmth.
Eventually, the castle walls gave way to areas looking more of mine shafts. The number of kobolds within this area were far greater than any in the group had imagined. It was an entire society with their own responsibilities for sustaining the lives of their own. The kobolds cast leery glances at the group with a heavy sense of distrust from the outsiders. It was clear that non-kobolds rarely visited these areas and many of the families quickly attempted to hide what little they had in fear that the group would attempt to steal their belongings. When they spot Vok leading the group, they seem to relax a little, but not enough to trust the group. They're especially protective when they spot Tyler as if he'd done terrible things to them in the past.
Falaine gets the feeling that the kobolds don't like Tyler because he is in charge of the guards that keeps things orderly in the castle. She's able to get a rather decent understanding of the layout in here until the group gets closer to the mines which have shafts leading in sporadic directions seeming to try and follow the veins that were once there.
All, you may roll a survival check to see if you can get your bearings to head to the right area.
Jay follows the group, lugging the heavy chest on his back still. He doesn't complain or interject about wandering in the dark, nor does he make note about anything as they travel. He keeps his thoughts internal for the time being, wondering whether these critters they are being accompanied by can truly be trusted if they have such a tenuous relationship with this guard master.
Out of old habit Paren begins to look around for valuables once the kobolds start trying to hide them. He quickly scolds himself for the action but his eyes still flicker back and forth as the group walks.
Paren is able to spot a few things here and there that might have a bit of value on the market but most of the items being tucked away most likely have some sort of sentimental value to the possessor. Looking at the belongings of these people quickly reveals that their lives are mostly in poverty and they don't seem to be eating enough to maintain their nutrition. It's a rather state, but the kobolds don't seem to mind it. Paren would wonder where the kobolds came from to feel comfortable in their current state.
Paren feels rather lost in the twisting tunnels and quickly loses his sense of direction. He's not quite sure if the group is still within the castle walls at this point. He'd been distracted by the possessions of the kobolds and it was clear he had lost his sense of direction. Was this Vok leading them somewhere to be ambushed?
Jay continues following the group hoping to get more answers to his troubles. Seeing the kobolds, he has a sense of understanding for their struggles and would wonder who their master is. He'd wonder what sort of tasks they were trying to accomplish and what goals they'd have here. There's a clear absence of magical essence around here which feels like a void. He can tell that they're still most likely within the original castle area, but isn't quite sure what direction they need to go in order to get to the room above the circle.
The group continues following Vok for quite some time. The number of kobolds here is vast and they seem to be multiplying at a rather quick rate proving they have no trouble producing offspring down here. Every room seems to have been taken over by a family or two. Had the group not been escorted through, they might think they were in some sort of dungeon with enemies around every corner. There was truth in that, but the kobolds remained reluctantly peaceful at the moment.
"Where are you trying to get to anyway?,"Vok asks Tyler.
"Well. I'm not quite sure. My companions here seem to think there's something above the wine cellar. Some sort of monument."
Vok seems to continue walking without much regard to the statement.. "Nothing down here except the old mine shafts and the rooms you've left to us."
[All, you may ROLL INSIGHT]
"Well, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see the area. It should be in that direction if my senses are still true."
[Paren, you may roll a religion check if you'd like]
Falaine has similar difficulty understanding where they were in relation to the chambers and the cellar. It was like an entirely different wold down in the kobold town that they had made. The walls and floor all started to look the same after some time and the turns and twists didn't help the situation either. It had felt like hours in the darkness but it had surely only been half that.
The group was slowly wondering if coming here was a bad decision, but they needed to know the answer to their question. Was there an obelisk here and why had it gone unnoticed? Did the Duke's father really have all of this area restricted from his servants and guests of the castle? Why would he want to keep it private? Surely the Duke's father knew of the circle and the potential obelisk that had been here for hundreds of years. Was the Duke's father trying to keep it secret or was he trying to protect it? What side of this war of the gods was the Duke's father on before he passed away. How much of this did the current Duke know and why had he let the kobolds take control over the inner parts of the castle if he didn't even know what was down here?
There were so many questions to be had and it was time for answers.
Tanni thinks on what she knows of Thornwood...
It's mostly a farming community and there's a lot of dirt in farms. Could the color be brown?
The Duke says to the group, "Tyler can help navigate you through the castle whenever you're ready."
Falaine has heard of ways to transfer text through arcane energy but hasn't trained in the methods. The process is rather rare and only don't by highly skilled wizards so that the original text isn't destroyed in the process.
Falaine thinks on the colors that would be prevalent in Thornwood. The city itself sits against the red cliffs but surely two locations wouldn't use the same color. The flowers and crops are all tended to by farmers and its hard to tell if any of them were natural to the area when the circles were created. The forest near Thornwood is full of green plants so it would make sense for green to be the color used to describe it. There's also plenty of brown dirt.
"I say green, it's named after a forest, and that forest is over if the lushest places I've been." Falaine also asks Tyler for an escort to the floor above the chamber with the circle.
She also just remembered something. (She sent a message to the druids about traveling to the Grove.)
Quest Log in no particular order
[PM me if you have questions regarding the quest log. Some of it is rather vague to avoid spoilers. Also added this to the first post in the thread so it's easier to track]
"I'd like to check upstairs if I would. If there is actually an obelisk I would very much like to see it. And I think green might be a good guess. I'm willing to try it but I cannot guarentee what will happen if I do, if that circle no longer exists I don't know what it will do to the magic or the people trying to transport there."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
[I'll give Jay a chance to post his reactions to the circle today before moving to the search for the room above tomorrow. Sorry for my absence. It's been crazy around here]
[don't worry about it. Life happens]
(Hey, sorry for lack of posts. Back now, so should be able to post more regularly again.)
He'd opt to not make a save against the Zone of Truth, given he isn't intending to hide anything.
Jay will have been waiting for the whole court case to finish. It is wasting his time and probably the time of others also. The dead are dead, and if they are to be restored to life they would have done so by now. The politics behind this death mean very little to him, as does this whim of the gods side of things. For now, he is still wanting to return and analyse the circles to work out their secrets, and hopefully get back to his task at hand. He has no questions to raise whilst there, just waiting on the sidelines for everything to move on.
(Made prior check for when we got to this point, so ready to move on now.)
With the group gathered around the circle, Jay beings to investigate the runes that surround the area. It doesn't take long for him to realize the runes look very similar to the circle that he had used to arrive here. All of the circles seemed to be connected in some way like the runes were allowed to shift to meet the demands of the circle.
Jay would see that...
The runes here are showing patterns of waves and other symbols that seem to reveal that the destination for the portal is this location. He begins to wonder if all of the circles are currently showing similar runes and if they'd transport to this location if they were used in that setting. He began to wonder how he could change the runes until his new companion mentioned the ability to set the circle based on grove colors. If he could just figure out what color was associated with the chamber he saw for those few precious moments, he could return there and complete his task. This group of strangers seemed to have information that could further help his studies, but he'd need to be careful not to draw the ire of their gods if they were killing people this actively.
He continues looking at this pattern of runes. It's clear that it is some sort of holy site and most likely one dedicated to the old god Lugh. These circles would most likely allow his followers to move between the sites as needed. If he were able to decipher how all of this worked, it could prove very valuable to his master's plans.
Tyler nods as the group requests the escort to the high level. "If you're ready to proceed, follow me."
Jay quietly looks over the circle, mostly ignoring the rest of the group as he deduces what logically would be involved in activating and attuning the correct locations. "Interesting..." Is the only thing he says aloud during this. He does not want to reveal everything yet, not at least until he has a proper chance to go over the runes and have something more concrete to speak about, unless someone presses him for the information.
Paren stands up and makes his way to the door. "Ready to go upstairs Jay? Or do you need more time?"
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
The Duke bids you all farewell and says, "I will keep this chamber as it is until you've completed your research. Once you're done, I need to know if it is safe to keep this circle operational or if it needs to be closed off. My people's safety is the utmost importance to me. Also, if you're able to control where the circle leads, I would reward you most handsomely so long as I can get my traders through it without issue." The Duke leaves the room with his group of guards heading back to deal with his duties as a ruler of this castle.
Tyler leads the group out of the chamber and back up the stairs passing by the servant chambers allowing anyone to grab anything they may have left behind.
He then leads the group out of the service passageways and into the main halls of the castle. "This castle was built a very long time ago. The stories say that this land started as a small fishing village high on the cliffs. Most people think that it was the gift from the Mother that brought people here but it was actually the iron ore and precious stones within the nearby hills. The miners were a secretive group so they'd always tell outsiders that fishing brought them here."
"When the bountiful gift was provided by The Mother, other castles started being built along the coast to harbor all the townsfolk that came to prosper from the fishing trade. The growth of the region was rapid to say the least. This castle has grown similarly as the towns surrounding it have grown. This has caused there to be many layers within the castle that are no longer used and have grown dormant."
He continues navigating the group through the extremely well decorated halls that are meant to show the power and wealth of the Duke.
"Over time, these areas have been inhabited by refugees that don't mind the isolation offered. If there's anyone that knows the inner portions of the castle, it's a kobold by the of Xinq. I don't exactly trust the creature, but the Duke has found a liking to him for some reason. With information provided by Xinq, the guards squashed an uprising before it could take hold within the kobold society. This success led the Duke to bringing the kobold onto his council." The tabaxi pauses for a moment. "Not the council you witnessed at the trial. That's more of a political farce if you ask me. This council is among his most trusted advisers. I'm afraid that Xinq has been sent on a sort of ambassador mission and is away from the castle. We'll have to find someone else down here that can help."
After quite some time navigating the halls, the group finally comes to a hallway that looks to be less used. A door at the end looks to be rather weak in terms of quality and strength, but there are two kobolds standing outside that don't look any bit royal or noble.
"We're paid up," one of the kobolds says to Tyler. "What else do you want?"
"I'm not here for money this time, Vok. We've got some problems that we need to deal with and I'm thinking we need to pass through your tunnels to ge there."
"Well, well, well," says the rough looking kobold. "So you finally need me? What's in it for me? Nothing in life is free, you know."
Tyler seems to get a bit agitated. "I could have you removed from this castle. How's that sound for a reward?"
Vok only laughs at the threat. "Can't remove us when you don't even know how many there are? You'd get lost in here without us anyhow." He leans against the door. "Where you trying to go anyway? Ain't nothing special down here or you wouldn't have left it."
Tyler seems to slightly growl as only a tabaxi can but contains his resentment. "I'll give you some coin. Just escort us through. They won't cause you any trouble."
The kobold holds out his hand and Tyler tosses him several gold coins. Vok grins and says, "Right this way."
On the other side of the door, things are quite different. The walls have no decorations and there's clearly not been anyone trying to keep up with the dust and dirt that's covering most the walls and floor. Tyler does his best to point Vok in the directions that the group needs to go.
Along the way, you seem small clusters of kobolds going about their lives in rather bare rooms lining the passage ways. The lack of torches here is keenly apparent and it makes it rather clear the kobolds are able to see just fine without them. Tyler, out of habit lights a small lantern so that there is some light here. The group continues walking the twisting tunnels and old hallways that formally made up the core of the old castle. You're able to tell that it was once a rather grand construction. Tanni would almost feel like him deep within the cliffs as it would remind her of the Sunforge though it was much cooler here without the magma providing its warmth.
Eventually, the castle walls gave way to areas looking more of mine shafts. The number of kobolds within this area were far greater than any in the group had imagined. It was an entire society with their own responsibilities for sustaining the lives of their own. The kobolds cast leery glances at the group with a heavy sense of distrust from the outsiders. It was clear that non-kobolds rarely visited these areas and many of the families quickly attempted to hide what little they had in fear that the group would attempt to steal their belongings. When they spot Vok leading the group, they seem to relax a little, but not enough to trust the group. They're especially protective when they spot Tyler as if he'd done terrible things to them in the past.
Falaine insight into Tyler and the Kobolds... Did Tyler do terrible things?
4
Also she's going to take note of common markings and such, in case she has to infiltrate them.
Falaine gets the feeling that the kobolds don't like Tyler because he is in charge of the guards that keeps things orderly in the castle. She's able to get a rather decent understanding of the layout in here until the group gets closer to the mines which have shafts leading in sporadic directions seeming to try and follow the veins that were once there.
All, you may roll a survival check to see if you can get your bearings to head to the right area.
Jay follows the group, lugging the heavy chest on his back still. He doesn't complain or interject about wandering in the dark, nor does he make note about anything as they travel. He keeps his thoughts internal for the time being, wondering whether these critters they are being accompanied by can truly be trusted if they have such a tenuous relationship with this guard master.
Survival: 7
(Gonna guide myself after this.)
Survival: 6
Out of old habit Paren begins to look around for valuables once the kobolds start trying to hide them. He quickly scolds himself for the action but his eyes still flicker back and forth as the group walks.
((Paren's not even sure they're in a tunnel.))
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Survival 20
Paren is able to spot a few things here and there that might have a bit of value on the market but most of the items being tucked away most likely have some sort of sentimental value to the possessor. Looking at the belongings of these people quickly reveals that their lives are mostly in poverty and they don't seem to be eating enough to maintain their nutrition. It's a rather state, but the kobolds don't seem to mind it. Paren would wonder where the kobolds came from to feel comfortable in their current state.
Paren feels rather lost in the twisting tunnels and quickly loses his sense of direction. He's not quite sure if the group is still within the castle walls at this point. He'd been distracted by the possessions of the kobolds and it was clear he had lost his sense of direction. Was this Vok leading them somewhere to be ambushed?
Jay continues following the group hoping to get more answers to his troubles. Seeing the kobolds, he has a sense of understanding for their struggles and would wonder who their master is. He'd wonder what sort of tasks they were trying to accomplish and what goals they'd have here. There's a clear absence of magical essence around here which feels like a void. He can tell that they're still most likely within the original castle area, but isn't quite sure what direction they need to go in order to get to the room above the circle.
The group continues following Vok for quite some time. The number of kobolds here is vast and they seem to be multiplying at a rather quick rate proving they have no trouble producing offspring down here. Every room seems to have been taken over by a family or two. Had the group not been escorted through, they might think they were in some sort of dungeon with enemies around every corner. There was truth in that, but the kobolds remained reluctantly peaceful at the moment.
"Where are you trying to get to anyway?," Vok asks Tyler.
"Well. I'm not quite sure. My companions here seem to think there's something above the wine cellar. Some sort of monument."
Vok seems to continue walking without much regard to the statement.. "Nothing down here except the old mine shafts and the rooms you've left to us."
[All, you may ROLL INSIGHT]
"Well, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see the area. It should be in that direction if my senses are still true."
[Paren, you may roll a religion check if you'd like]
Falaine has similar difficulty understanding where they were in relation to the chambers and the cellar. It was like an entirely different wold down in the kobold town that they had made. The walls and floor all started to look the same after some time and the turns and twists didn't help the situation either. It had felt like hours in the darkness but it had surely only been half that.
The group was slowly wondering if coming here was a bad decision, but they needed to know the answer to their question. Was there an obelisk here and why had it gone unnoticed? Did the Duke's father really have all of this area restricted from his servants and guests of the castle? Why would he want to keep it private? Surely the Duke's father knew of the circle and the potential obelisk that had been here for hundreds of years. Was the Duke's father trying to keep it secret or was he trying to protect it? What side of this war of the gods was the Duke's father on before he passed away. How much of this did the current Duke know and why had he let the kobolds take control over the inner parts of the castle if he didn't even know what was down here?
There were so many questions to be had and it was time for answers.