While everyone else is being lowered down the shaft, Rixtonwill investigate the fork for clues as to which direction their quarry may have gone.
Investigation: 25
Rixton narrows his gaze, staring down both tunnels, looking for any hint that might guide the party's route of travel. The only difference he can find between the two passageways is that the northern one has a bit of rock debris on the floor. The southern tunnel does not.
(I'm assuming Rixton is not ranging so far ahead of the party that he is beyond Gwin's arcane eye).
Once Gwin's feet are on solid ground again she stands beside Rixton peering down each tunnel. I see nothing, she says to no one in particular. I will send the eye to scout ahead of us. Let's start with southern tunnel. Gwin settles herself on the ground, crosses her stumpy dwarf legs as best as possible and closes her eyes, all the while repeating the previous incantation. She'll use the eye to explore the southern tunnel and if in 15 minutes it doesn't see anything, she'll bring it back and repeat the process in the northern tunnel.
The party watches as a tiny tuft of bat fur goes floating away down the southern tunnel...
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‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
The cleric's magic eye follows the southern tunnel, and after a few minutes the passageway grows wider; it simultaneously grows steeper and harder to navigate, however. Traversing a series of steep slopes, rocky ledges, and outcroppings, the eye (to the best of Gwin's ability to estimate) has descended two or three hundred feet into the earth. As the tunnel begins to level out, the invisible eye enters a large open area. After spending a few minutes of sending the eye up and down, left and right, then up and down again and left and right again, Gwinsurmises the underground cavern measures fifty or sixty feet from floor to ceiling and hundreds of feet in length. Approximately one-fourth of the cavern floor is covered by water.
The tunnel by which the eye entered the cavern is approximately 30' from the floor and 30' from the ceiling. Diagonally across the cavern, approximately 10' above the water is another tunnel, seemingly the only other way to access or exit the cavern.
After Gwin informs the others of what the eye showed her, she nods in agreement with Rixton and sends the eye down the northern tunnel (with the same parameters as the southern tunnel).
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‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Rawley says, "It would be pretty interesting to map out both parts."
In the lull during the eyeing of both tunnels he takes out his notebook and does rough sketches of the tunnels traveled so far and what Gwin reports the eye is seeing up ahead on both sides. He adds notes about the elevation changes, water levels, entrances and exits, etc.
The northern tunnel descends as well, although not quite so abruptly as the southern route. After a few minutes of twisting and winding, the arcane eye enters another cavern. Again, Gwin uses the invisible eye to map the large, open room. She estimates it is less than 100' long and approximately 30' high. No less than eight small tunnels exit this cavern.
Despite her occasional perturbation at Rixton's manner, Gwin trusts his instincts wholly and agrees with his suggestion. South it is, the cleric says, as she senses the last of the Arcane Eye's power fizzle out. Looking toward Mola, she responds to his query about Pass Without Trace. My third eye has gone blind once again, so it might be helpful to proceed with some magical camouflage.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
G: 14
M: 6
Ra: 17
Ri: 3
As Gwin warned, the descent of the southbound tunnel is rapid and treacherous in a few places. Using patience, caution, teamwork, and the climbing equipment in the party's possession, all four adventurers successfully navigate the slopes, ledges, and outcroppings. Approximately an hour after choosing this path, they reach the cavern and stare into its unwelcoming darkness. The place is cold and silent.
(Let me know if you need clarification on the map):
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rixtonwill scan the cavern in a 60' radius around him for signs of something living here, such as discarded bones, footprints, unnatural scratches in the rock, etc.
Investigation: 12
Then he will either...
If he sees no sign, he will creep forward 50' and continue to investigate,
Otherwise he hill draw his shortsword and motion for the others to do the same. Then he will head south along the wall for 50'.
(Assuming there is torchlight present for Rawley's and Mola's sake)
The combination of the flickering torchlight and the sharpness of his half-elf eyes reveal to Rixton that the cavern below is rather wet and slimy, significantly more so than the tunnel that lead the party to this location.
(Not sure if that induces option 1 or 2 as stated above...)
Rawley climbs down one level eastward and then another level. He'll take a look at the higher area east of it (30 feet east and 10 feet north of his current position on the map). If it looks OK, he'll back off a bit and take a running jump. He'll then climb on top of that thing and take a thorough look around.
Rixton and Gwin make their way south, staying close to the cavern wall as they do so. Rawley, with torch in hand, advances eastward and stands upon a large boulder. For everyone, each step requires caution because every inch of the rocky floor is coated with a slippery layer of mucous-like material.
(The cavern floor and walls are difficult terrain)
(Mola's also casting guidance whenever he can. Any wild magic effects cropping up?)
"Do we want to pass without trace here?" Mola whispers. If the party assents, he'll cast it.
Rixton narrows his gaze, staring down both tunnels, looking for any hint that might guide the party's route of travel. The only difference he can find between the two passageways is that the northern one has a bit of rock debris on the floor. The southern tunnel does not.
(I'm assuming Rixton is not ranging so far ahead of the party that he is beyond Gwin's arcane eye).
The guidance spell seems to behave as expected so far.
Once Gwin's feet are on solid ground again she stands beside Rixton peering down each tunnel. I see nothing, she says to no one in particular. I will send the eye to scout ahead of us. Let's start with southern tunnel. Gwin settles herself on the ground, crosses her stumpy dwarf legs as best as possible and closes her eyes, all the while repeating the previous incantation. She'll use the eye to explore the southern tunnel and if in 15 minutes it doesn't see anything, she'll bring it back and repeat the process in the northern tunnel.
The party watches as a tiny tuft of bat fur goes floating away down the southern tunnel...
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
The cleric's magic eye follows the southern tunnel, and after a few minutes the passageway grows wider; it simultaneously grows steeper and harder to navigate, however. Traversing a series of steep slopes, rocky ledges, and outcroppings, the eye (to the best of Gwin's ability to estimate) has descended two or three hundred feet into the earth. As the tunnel begins to level out, the invisible eye enters a large open area. After spending a few minutes of sending the eye up and down, left and right, then up and down again and left and right again, Gwin surmises the underground cavern measures fifty or sixty feet from floor to ceiling and hundreds of feet in length. Approximately one-fourth of the cavern floor is covered by water.
The tunnel by which the eye entered the cavern is approximately 30' from the floor and 30' from the ceiling. Diagonally across the cavern, approximately 10' above the water is another tunnel, seemingly the only other way to access or exit the cavern.
"I'll wager 2 coppers that is our path," Rixton says with a frown. "But lets take a look at the northern passage before we commit to it."
After Gwin informs the others of what the eye showed her, she nods in agreement with Rixton and sends the eye down the northern tunnel (with the same parameters as the southern tunnel).
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Rawley says, "It would be pretty interesting to map out both parts."
In the lull during the eyeing of both tunnels he takes out his notebook and does rough sketches of the tunnels traveled so far and what Gwin reports the eye is seeing up ahead on both sides. He adds notes about the elevation changes, water levels, entrances and exits, etc.
The northern tunnel descends as well, although not quite so abruptly as the southern route. After a few minutes of twisting and winding, the arcane eye enters another cavern. Again, Gwin uses the invisible eye to map the large, open room. She estimates it is less than 100' long and approximately 30' high. No less than eight small tunnels exit this cavern.
Rixton sighs. "Well, let's try south, then."
Despite her occasional perturbation at Rixton's manner, Gwin trusts his instincts wholly and agrees with his suggestion. South it is, the cleric says, as she senses the last of the Arcane Eye's power fizzle out. Looking toward Mola, she responds to his query about Pass Without Trace. My third eye has gone blind once again, so it might be helpful to proceed with some magical camouflage.
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Rawley, drawing the map by descriptions of Gwin, would it appear that the northern and southern route may overlap at one point?
As Gwin warned, the descent of the southbound tunnel is rapid and treacherous in a few places. Using patience, caution, teamwork, and the climbing equipment in the party's possession, all four adventurers successfully navigate the slopes, ledges, and outcroppings. Approximately an hour after choosing this path, they reach the cavern and stare into its unwelcoming darkness. The place is cold and silent.
(Let me know if you need clarification on the map):
It seems possible, but not entirely certain. The southern tunnel and cavern would be below the northern tunnel if there were an overlap of any sort.
Rixton will scan the cavern in a 60' radius around him for signs of something living here, such as discarded bones, footprints, unnatural scratches in the rock, etc.
Investigation: 12
Then he will either...
(Assuming there is torchlight present for Rawley's and Mola's sake)
The combination of the flickering torchlight and the sharpness of his half-elf eyes reveal to Rixton that the cavern below is rather wet and slimy, significantly more so than the tunnel that lead the party to this location.
(Not sure if that induces option 1 or 2 as stated above...)
Let's go with 2. He creeps south, drawing his short sword in expectation of something...slimy.
Rawley climbs down one level eastward and then another level. He'll take a look at the higher area east of it (30 feet east and 10 feet north of his current position on the map). If it looks OK, he'll back off a bit and take a running jump. He'll then climb on top of that thing and take a thorough look around.
Gwin will stay close to Rixton, continuously casting Thaumaturgy to brighten the torch light.
‘The hardest thing in this world is to live in it.’ - Buffy Summers
Rixton and Gwin make their way south, staying close to the cavern wall as they do so. Rawley, with torch in hand, advances eastward and stands upon a large boulder. For everyone, each step requires caution because every inch of the rocky floor is coated with a slippery layer of mucous-like material.
(The cavern floor and walls are difficult terrain)