Badger sighs extra loudly and throws up his hands: Well, that's what I said in the first place! That's what my augury recommended anyway. What about you, Sickle? It was your idea to come back up...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Sickle ponders a long while. “I still believe we may find that there are keys above to doors below. Just like we found with the door with the cubes to enter this tomb. But, since we haven’t found that yet, and there does seem to be some advantage to using the back halls as we may avoid some of the traps, I am okay to return. However, may I suggest that we at least explore this curved hallway phenomenon further before we return? I’m incredibly curious as to its purpose. It reminds me somewhat of the sun and moon temple with the water pool.”
Everyone looks around at each other at Sickles curiosity about the strange ring. With no one else volunteering, Sickle turns and walks up the path alone. He gets out of site as he walks up the path and soon the sound of his walking fades away. A minute or two later he comes back. "I went all the way around, and none of you were there."
Anything else?
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
So it must be an alternative dungeon, perhaps in another dimension, Badger concludes. The question is what purpose does it serve? Is the alternative one the true one, or just another distraction?
Everyone stares silently at Badger, no one has any answers in this place. Unless you prefer to go through the ring and explore more there, I believe the group has decided to return to the gears. Yes?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
(Gears it is. Let's go as deep as we can and then perhaps we'll know what we are in for)
The conflict in Badger's psyche continues... One part of him, the most familiar part, wants to follow his curiosity and seer-instinct to go deeper. The newer and less familiar part wants to exercise caution and work methodically through the layers of the dungeon. Finally Badger resolves that danger is present everywhere anyway, and that knowledge of the requirements for success should dictate future actions and inform a more planned approach.
Let us return to the rotating rooms and solve that riddle first, he suggests. Perhaps then we can work our way from the bottom up if necessary.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Grenk's tight muscles relaxed slightly as an agreement seemed to be made. "Yes, lets press further. If we get to the end and it's lock, we at least know where the end is."
"What riddle? We had figured out to move pass the gears but the mounds of earth that attack us seem to cause some of us to question ourselves and if our might was enough to continue forward," Silas states as he moves the configuration to the right one now for Badger's familiar to trigger when we're ready.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls - Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against Demogorgon Silas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of Annihilation Done
The group returns to the center, passes the door with three undead heads chomping in it (which Grenk seems to look at someone longingly), back through two secret doors, and to the spiral staircase. Down you go, passing by two levels and a long stretch before getting to the bottom which reaks of that 'dank water' smell and has a damp in the air that won't quit. You leave the door there, and follow the other passage, using the disc to get past some slime a few times, avoiding that other lit hallway, and then arriving back in the gear room. The plants appear still to be inert. The gears are in their original configuration. Badger, you are sending your familiar to adjust the gears then? Which buttons / levers do you get your familiar to push, and which of the two available gear rooms do you all stand in?
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
I think the plan is to go to the control room and set the crystal to option 1, leave the familiar there and go stand in the room with the killer plants, have the familiar activate the button. The only addition to the plan that Badger will suggest is to ritual-cast Leomund's Tiny Hut in case the gas comes out again and/or the plants reawaken. The group can shelter in the hut when Yertle hits the button (yes, the familiar has a name) and come out when they determine the coast is clear.
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Alright. You go back to the control room. Badger adroitly turns the blue button to the left twice to have the green crystal under position 1 light up. Then you head back to the plant room. Ten minutes pass as Badger casts his magical protective hemi-sphere, which you all clamber into. Then, he mentally requests his familiar to press the blue button. The entire room begins to shake. Dust settles down from the ceiling as you see the square tunnel at the top moving and misaligning with the square tunnel above it that it connects to. Meanwhile, the two passages out of here both mis-align and seem to open up into a large open area. You see water below the edge about twenty feet and it appears to be a large cave. The cave that led back to the other gear is moving clockwise and lines up with another passage to the north. Green gas pours out of the room into this room, but the entire place continues to rotate, rumbling and shaking everything. Soon the door that led out of here passes by the door to the control room and continues rotating. Finally the two doors line up and the entire rumbling stops. One lines up to the room to the north, which green gas now, once again, begins pouring out of and spreading into the room. Meanwhile the other is lined up with another passage that must lead to the third massive gear room.
The gas is still spreading across the room and you can get to the other gear before it reaches and surrounds the hut. It seems to have no effect on one of the lumps of vegetation, unlike last time when it 'awoke' it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
"Let us proceed then," Silas states as he gestures to the third gear.
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Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls - Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against Demogorgon Silas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of Annihilation Done
Mal creeps forward, the rest of the group following quickly behind as the strange green gas fills the cog room behind them. As Mal sneaks forward down the connecting hallway she peers into the next large cog room. Five teak wardrobes stand against the ironclad walls of this chamber, each with a door bearing a carved image or scene. Puddles of gray slime cover parts of the floor. The room has two exits, including an portcullis blocking a passage to the north made of a strange grey metal. Set into a metal plate above the portcullis is a row of five red crystals shaped like drops of blood. The group moves into the room, leaving the vegetation room, settling with gas, behind them.
In order around the room, each wardrobe has different scenes painted on them. The first has a scene on this door depicting an army of orcs clashing with an army of hobgoblins. The next wardrobe door depicts a grinning night hag with a swaddled human infant in her arms. The next wardrobe door is carved to depict the face of an ornate clock. The second to last wardrobe has a scene on its door depicting twisted, screaming humanoid faces wrapped in chains. The final one depicts ghouls gnawing on bones.
It seems quiet here aside from the hissing of gas from the last room, but the green gas doesn't seem to get into this cog, as the other room is large enough for the gas to settle in.
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
"We move forward but with caution. Not too much to waste our time but not too little to leave us defenseless against surprises," Silas states as he follows Mal into the room.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls - Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against Demogorgon Silas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of Annihilation Done
Grenk looks at the wardrobes and counts 5, he looks at the portcullus and sees 5 gems. "I bet those chests and gems up there go together. Maybe there is something in them?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Let fate decide, suggests Badger, and he kneels down to roll the dice, assigned an outcome to each wardrobe:
1-4: army of orcs clashing with an army of hobgoblins 5-8: grinning night hag with a swaddled human infant in her arms 9-12: the face of an ornate clock 13-16: twisted, screaming humanoid faces wrapped in chains 17-20: ghouls gnawing on bones
Roll: 10
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How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Peering at each of the wardrobe and Mal to finish up his investigation, "I believe I once read a story about a wardrobe holding a world within. I do not believe opening one up will end as well as for the children of the story. I would like to open the clock one first if needed. It is the least horrifying,"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls - Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against Demogorgon Silas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of Annihilation Done
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Badger sighs extra loudly and throws up his hands: Well, that's what I said in the first place! That's what my augury recommended anyway. What about you, Sickle? It was your idea to come back up...
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Sickle ponders a long while. “I still believe we may find that there are keys above to doors below. Just like we found with the door with the cubes to enter this tomb. But, since we haven’t found that yet, and there does seem to be some advantage to using the back halls as we may avoid some of the traps, I am okay to return. However, may I suggest that we at least explore this curved hallway phenomenon further before we return? I’m incredibly curious as to its purpose. It reminds me somewhat of the sun and moon temple with the water pool.”
Everyone looks around at each other at Sickles curiosity about the strange ring. With no one else volunteering, Sickle turns and walks up the path alone. He gets out of site as he walks up the path and soon the sound of his walking fades away. A minute or two later he comes back. "I went all the way around, and none of you were there."
Anything else?
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
So it must be an alternative dungeon, perhaps in another dimension, Badger concludes. The question is what purpose does it serve? Is the alternative one the true one, or just another distraction?
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Everyone stares silently at Badger, no one has any answers in this place. Unless you prefer to go through the ring and explore more there, I believe the group has decided to return to the gears. Yes?
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
(Gears it is. Let's go as deep as we can and then perhaps we'll know what we are in for)
The conflict in Badger's psyche continues... One part of him, the most familiar part, wants to follow his curiosity and seer-instinct to go deeper. The newer and less familiar part wants to exercise caution and work methodically through the layers of the dungeon. Finally Badger resolves that danger is present everywhere anyway, and that knowledge of the requirements for success should dictate future actions and inform a more planned approach.
Let us return to the rotating rooms and solve that riddle first, he suggests. Perhaps then we can work our way from the bottom up if necessary.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Grenk's tight muscles relaxed slightly as an agreement seemed to be made. "Yes, lets press further. If we get to the end and it's lock, we at least know where the end is."
"What riddle? We had figured out to move pass the gears but the mounds of earth that attack us seem to cause some of us to question ourselves and if our might was enough to continue forward," Silas states as he moves the configuration to the right one now for Badger's familiar to trigger when we're ready.
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls- Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against DemogorgonSilas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of AnnihilationDoneThe group returns to the center, passes the door with three undead heads chomping in it (which Grenk seems to look at someone longingly), back through two secret doors, and to the spiral staircase. Down you go, passing by two levels and a long stretch before getting to the bottom which reaks of that 'dank water' smell and has a damp in the air that won't quit. You leave the door there, and follow the other passage, using the disc to get past some slime a few times, avoiding that other lit hallway, and then arriving back in the gear room. The plants appear still to be inert. The gears are in their original configuration. Badger, you are sending your familiar to adjust the gears then? Which buttons / levers do you get your familiar to push, and which of the two available gear rooms do you all stand in?
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
I think the plan is to go to the control room and set the crystal to option 1, leave the familiar there and go stand in the room with the killer plants, have the familiar activate the button. The only addition to the plan that Badger will suggest is to ritual-cast Leomund's Tiny Hut in case the gas comes out again and/or the plants reawaken. The group can shelter in the hut when Yertle hits the button (yes, the familiar has a name) and come out when they determine the coast is clear.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Alright. You go back to the control room. Badger adroitly turns the blue button to the left twice to have the green crystal under position 1 light up. Then you head back to the plant room. Ten minutes pass as Badger casts his magical protective hemi-sphere, which you all clamber into. Then, he mentally requests his familiar to press the blue button. The entire room begins to shake. Dust settles down from the ceiling as you see the square tunnel at the top moving and misaligning with the square tunnel above it that it connects to. Meanwhile, the two passages out of here both mis-align and seem to open up into a large open area. You see water below the edge about twenty feet and it appears to be a large cave. The cave that led back to the other gear is moving clockwise and lines up with another passage to the north. Green gas pours out of the room into this room, but the entire place continues to rotate, rumbling and shaking everything. Soon the door that led out of here passes by the door to the control room and continues rotating. Finally the two doors line up and the entire rumbling stops. One lines up to the room to the north, which green gas now, once again, begins pouring out of and spreading into the room. Meanwhile the other is lined up with another passage that must lead to the third massive gear room.
The gas is still spreading across the room and you can get to the other gear before it reaches and surrounds the hut. It seems to have no effect on one of the lumps of vegetation, unlike last time when it 'awoke' it.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
"Let us proceed then," Silas states as he gestures to the third gear.
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls- Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against DemogorgonSilas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of AnnihilationDone"Sounds good, want me to lead?" Mal asks.
Stealth: 20
Perception: 20
Mal creeps forward, the rest of the group following quickly behind as the strange green gas fills the cog room behind them. As Mal sneaks forward down the connecting hallway she peers into the next large cog room. Five teak wardrobes stand against the ironclad walls of this chamber, each with a door bearing a carved image or scene. Puddles of gray slime cover parts of the floor. The room has two exits, including an portcullis blocking a passage to the north made of a strange grey metal. Set into a metal plate above the portcullis is a row of five red crystals shaped like drops of blood. The group moves into the room, leaving the vegetation room, settling with gas, behind them.
In order around the room, each wardrobe has different scenes painted on them. The first has a scene on this door depicting an army of orcs clashing with an army of hobgoblins. The next wardrobe door depicts a grinning night hag with a swaddled human infant in her arms. The next wardrobe door is carved to depict the face of an ornate clock. The second to last wardrobe has a scene on its door depicting twisted, screaming humanoid faces wrapped in chains. The final one depicts ghouls gnawing on bones.
It seems quiet here aside from the hissing of gas from the last room, but the green gas doesn't seem to get into this cog, as the other room is large enough for the gas to settle in.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Mal signals the party to come into the room, "Well now what?"
"We move forward but with caution. Not too much to waste our time but not too little to leave us defenseless against surprises," Silas states as he follows Mal into the room.
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls- Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against DemogorgonSilas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of AnnihilationDoneGrenk looks at the wardrobes and counts 5, he looks at the portcullus and sees 5 gems. "I bet those chests and gems up there go together. Maybe there is something in them?"
Mal will go over to the first wardrobe and check to see if it is trapped or locked and also investigate the gem that goes with it.
Mal Investigation: 15
Let fate decide, suggests Badger, and he kneels down to roll the dice, assigned an outcome to each wardrobe:
1-4: army of orcs clashing with an army of hobgoblins
5-8: grinning night hag with a swaddled human infant in her arms
9-12: the face of an ornate clock
13-16: twisted, screaming humanoid faces wrapped in chains
17-20: ghouls gnawing on bones
Roll: 10
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Peering at each of the wardrobe and Mal to finish up his investigation, "I believe I once read a story about a wardrobe holding a world within. I do not believe opening one up will end as well as for the children of the story. I would like to open the clock one first if needed. It is the least horrifying,"
Kirin - Level 15 High Elf Wizard (Evocation) - Zorg's Lost Souls- Overchannel Steel Wind Strike for the Win against DemogorgonSilas - Level 11 Human Cleric (War Domain) - Tomb of AnnihilationDone