Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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As Brock and hatch call out the figure turns and lumbers slowly towards them....not a dwarf but a metal facsimile of such. It halts a few metres away and speaks:
Forge Access Pass?
Brocc waves the others back. "Seems there is some sort of pass we need to access the forge." He tells the group once they have backed away a bit. "Not sure we want to tangle with that construct if we don't have to..." He glances to the group. "Do we want to look around elsewhere to see if we can find a pass, or do we want to see if we can get around, or through, the construct to look in here now?"
Rufus says, "I suggest we look elsewhere. After the trap, I don't wish to tangle with a moving statue as a defender.
Rufus suggests we take the descending path moving deeper into the earth.
With Tom leading again, guided by mysterious forces, the group descended deep into the earth. Occasionally small side gallerys would open up where veins of ore had been followed but they all ended after a few metres. The tunnel plunged...driving down and then suddenly levelled out....an immense cavern opened up around them their light only illuminating a few enormous quartz outcroppings and other mineral deposits.
https://thatoregonlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/crystalcave.jpg
Tom would've agrees with the others about heading down to find a pass. "Agreed Rufus, who knows what kind of trap that statue could be. And we were expecting to dive into some mines anyhow so.... shall we?"
Tom leads the party down deep into the tunnel and into the massive cavern. He is in awe of the quartz and just takes it all in for a moment.
"So... do we know what truestone looks like lads? And I wonder what this 'pass' is all about?"
"Expecting it is different from most normal stone." Brocc says with a shrug. "We'll probably know it when we see it I would guess." He glances around for a path to continue along.
Rufus looks on in amazement as the large crystals reflect the torch light about the cavern. Rufus is awed by what he is observing. He notes if there are any pieces lying about that would fit within his pouch. If so, he grabs a small piece as a souvenir of this see inspiring spectacle of nature and the earth.
He does indeed find a small piece.
Tom manages to located a trail through the crystals where many dwarven boots have passed and begins to follow it carefully....
"Guys... this way...."
Perception 20
Stealth 24
As Tom moved forward silently he was about 50m into the huge cavern when he smelt an acrid coppery scent, ahead around a titannic fallen column of crystal was a huge rupture in the cavern wall, half projecting from it was an enormous grey grub like creature with an armoured beetle-like head.....it was very dead. Feeding on it were half a dozen mole-like creatures, each the size of a large dog, their bodies protected by heavy scaly plates like those of an armadillo. Their pointed teeth and powerful claws were tearing into the dead creature, and feasting on its flesh.
With Toms silent approach and keen eyes they had not noticed the party yet...
As Tom brings the party to a stop upon discovering the scavengers, Rufus steps back and signals to the others to withdraw so they can plan their course. He whispers to the group,
"Do we attempt to fight our way past or look for an alternate route?"
"What alternate route are you talking about?" Brocc asks in a whisper. "Up is the construct at the forge, down is here..." (Unless some other passage was available, Brocc doesn't see any other path forward.)
Rufus says, "Perhaps there is an alternate, though not as used, path around the edges of the cavern that would allow us to slip past the scavengers?"
(We went right, maybe we should go back and head left?)
Tom whispers "Yikes... not sure we want to disturb that disgusting mess."
Tom would definitely be up for going a different way, if there is one?
"Let's try the other direction then." Brocc agrees, and would head back in that direction.
Turning and heading back Tom does note another option that wasn't apparent from other perspectives, the Truestone was only recently discovered so is likely to be in the deepest parts of the mine........he notes the crystals branch from different parts of the walls...and it should be possible...perhaps... to climb along one of the quartz crystal spires at a 45 degree angle then move to one emerging from the other side of the chamber.....crossing well above the feeding creatures.
Tom would look warily at the others "Think you guys can make it across?"
Tom will attempt to climb along over the quartz to avoid the creatures. Athletics 8
Rufus attampts to navigate the treacherous tangled pathway of crystalline branches.
Athletics: 21
As Tom starts to slip, Rufus is there in an attempt to catch him before he plummets to the cavern floor below.
Athletics: 11