Flux lets out a long, exasperated sigh of relief before whipping away at his forehead. "I'd be one to ask which one of ya's decided today would be the day to double down on FAAFO. But see'n as we still got enough else on our plate, best be saving that one for a campfire tale later on, eh?"He says, giving Xalkas a sarcastic 'ain't that right?' sort of look, blissfully unaware of any others at fault. "Right! Onwards then, and may more fortunate winds fill our sails going forward. Any boobos 'n such we can sort out along the way."He asserts, and though it went against his 'character a bit', Flux turned about to continue on their original course taking point until Kerric or another stepped up to take the lead.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Ebele flicks her arms to whisk blood off them, letting it spatter to the ground over the lifeless blades. It probably looked worse then it was at this point thanks to Lewin’s healing. “Good to go.” She wipes her palms on her pants, drying them to ensure a secure grip on her staff should she need it again. Having been burned then sliced and diced so early in the morning, the half-elf was feeling like she was being prepared for breakfast rather than having the luxury of enjoying a decent one. She’d exhale a deep breath then dip to make an ‘and after you’ gesture to encourage Xalkas and Lewin to go ahead of her. “I’ll keep an eye at the back.” The blind monk says taking the rear of the group.
The group moves into the cavern hall. It juts out in some places, causing the group to wind a little bit as they pass through. After moving through the narrowing crevace for about 30ft, the group then reaches an area that widens. The skeleton of a giant worm is fused to the sides of this long tunnel, disappearing into a nearly vertical tunnel fifty feet above the floor. Wooden steps have been lashed to the bones, creating a makeshift staircase. Several odd backpacks lie in a pile on the floor at the foot of the stairs.
Whomever inspects the backpacks would discover that they are balloon packs.
Lewin watches the melee erupt and settle around him. He looks down. He starts to reply or apologize to Flux, "I..." but stops and looks down again. He asks if anyone else needs healing. If not, he moves along into the cavern hall, quiet. He offers, at the bottom of the vertical tunnel, guidance to any and everyone who thinks to try something difficult.
If Flux heard the beginnings of an apology, it never shows on his face prior to or during the departure. But he would absent-mindedly wave off the offer of both healing and magical empowerment in want of staying focused on the path ahead of the group. So half-listening as he was, it took a minute or so for him really register Ebele's words. But when it finally clicks, the half-dwarf couldn't resist a chortle that nearly evoles into a full blown guffaw.... were it not for the skeleton startling him so bad as to nearly fall back into whoever happened to be immediately be behind him!
"...W-wait... ah! Hahah! 'ad me going there for a second they did!"Flux said as he straightened his posture and adjusted his armor. "Oh? And what do we have here?"Unless bid by others to stop, the genasi made his way promptly over to the backpacks to examine them for a second, before lookin gtaken aback by the discovery. "I be thinking I've heard of these, though they were a bit on the rare side back where I'm from. But baloon packs will definitely be useful, a bit cumbersome to wear while loaded down." He confesses. "If ya can manage it, I'd suggest strapping one on ya, seeing as we be bound to deal with those blowhards 'fore long. 'n known'em, I wouldn't be surprise if the bastards haven't laden their hideaway with plenty of dead drops 'n the like!" The genasi further attested while trying to fit at least one of the packs to his front, seeing as he already had a backpack of sorts.
Lewin feels the gentle, but firm, hand of Ebele on his shoulder providing him reassurance. It was okay. Then a soft smirk tugged at the corner of the monk's mouth as Flux broke the silence with his laughter, brightening the mood in the cavern.
Xalkas bumps into the rear of the half-dwarf when Flux would startle and nearly fall back onto the gnome.
As the genasi and elven warrior equip themselves with a balloon pack, Ebele finds her own. It takes her a few moments longer to rearrange her equipment to where she's comfortable, familiar and balanced with the addition, and for it to be accessible, but she gets it.
The vertical tunnel ahead disappears into darkness, and the sound of whistling winds could be heard echoing in the distance. Committed, the first steps are taken up the steep wooden staircase lashed to bones. They creak under the imposed weight against them. On by one, step by step, bone by bone, into the darkness they go. Then, they end.
Fifty feet in, there's still another hundred to go. There are only the ribs. Now, climb.
One by one, hand by hand, step by step, bone by bone, further in the darkness one must go...
Torn as he was between worry the wind carrying his words to enemies or swallowing up complaints with no above the wiser, Flux errs on the side of caution in remaining uncharacteristically quiet during the ascent. Though granted, so taxing was it anyhow that scarcely a straight thought could form, before then being covered up by a different complaint. And he hadn't even reached the halfway point when that happened!
Eventually, enough was enough. The genasi would wrap an arm as much as possible about a rib hold himself in place and to catch his breath. Yet be it the prods or complaints of others, he'd just as soon find himself licking chapped chops, before again setting limbs into motions in the climb to the mental sound of a new mantra:
'Brothers of the mine rejoice! Swing, swing, swing with me Raise your pick and raise your voice! Sing, sing, sing with me Down and down into the deep Who knows what we'll find beneath? Diamonds, rubies, gold and more Hidden in the mountain store
Born underground, suckled from a teat of stone Raised in the dark, the safety of our mountain home Skin made of iron, steel in our bones To dig and dig makes us free Come on brothers sing with me!'
Even to the beat, progress is slow. But with a renewed sense of determination, Flux would not falter again!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The harrowing wind and the silence of the group felt deafening, making the darkness even darker for Ebele. The depths, or more accurately, the heights, of this tunnel seemed endless, yet as though the walls were closing in on her all at the same time. She'd feel her heart begin to race involuntarily in a creeping sense of panic. Taking deep breaths only welcomed the taste and smell of the earth, death and decay in her immediate surroundings. That very dirt caking onto her hands, spreading between her toes and digging beneath all her nail beds as she carried herself forward... it felt reminiscent of pulling one's self out of their grave... the thought dizzying...
Then comes Flux's beat, breaking the silence. The words of his song carries through, like a light guiding her forward. Ebele steadies, and presses forward.
One by one, hand by hand, step by step, bone by bone, further through the darkness they go.
Until he finally sees the light. Flux would emerge from the depths into... A large, incredibly spacious all things considering, unlit room that is empty save for the one feature. Turning around, facing back from whence he came, sticking up out of the large hole in the floor is the skeletal head of a great worm, its mouth agape. The dead worm is all that remains of a massive worm that was slain. The bones of several dead dwarves lie where the worm’s gullet used to be.
One by one, hand by hand, his companions would start to emerge from the jaws.
Despite himself, Flux breaks his own rule in approaching the dead dwarves to look over their bones, before then bowing his head slightly and uttering a few words in dwarvish. "I... Be not knowing what ya part be in all dis in the past. But may you by now have found your way to his halls in the end, and the peace of righteous toil there."He says in common, beats his chest a couple of times, and then with a grunt, turns about to face the group again.
"Enough of that." He starts, sniffling a bit , before trying to put back on a devil may care vaneer. "These one's don't be the one's we be after. So let's be off! Uhm... I-I'll bring up the rear. You know, on the, uh, off chance those scaley folks be following after 'n all that."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lewin, applying touches of guidance where he can, makes the climb in silence, in awe of the nature of this tunnel. He gets to the top and crouches on the ground, listening for any sign of life on this level.
Flux finds that he is joined by Ebele as he utters his words to the dead. While she was facing the wrong way, she understood the words spoken and paused to pay respects alongside him.
Lewin crouches, his ears low to the ground. He hears ghostly windy sounds from the gloom of the hallway.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kerric:
When the memorial is complete, Kerric bows his head briefly and then grimly draws his Elven Curved Blade. He follows behind Lewin, trying to be quiet and attentive at the same time.
Stealth: 12
Perception: 19
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
If Flux pays any mind to Ebele's slip, he at least has the decency (or perhaps lackthereof?) to keep from pointing it out before moving on to more pressing matters. But for a brief moment during the change in gears, he looked almost touched for totally unrelated reasons, before returning to his usual blustering self in trying to mirror Kerric's approach in treading softly... to likely little avail or need for that matter.
Even with the disadvantage of his armour, Kerric manages to stifle the jingling and blend in with the environments sounds. Or were they? There was something about the ghostly wind sounds. Kerric’s ears would twitch, swearing that some of the sounds were repeating, almost like on a loop? However, not incredibly far behind him, there was no masking the jingling, ring ting tingling tune of Flux’s gear paired with the sound of muddy, squeaky wet foot prints following.
Kerric creeps up to the end of the hallway where there's a fork in the 'road' ahead. It appears to be like a laneway behind a large plaza. The worn image of a smiling dwarf on the face of a coin is stamped into the flagstones that pave this area. The elven warrior can see three single doors made from stone slabs, balanced on central pivots on the east side of the lane, while there are open passages to the east.
Ebele falls in line when she hears the boys move forward. Her bare feet move about the stone floor with ease and silent grace, especially when she's masked by Flux and others. One would even wonder if the monk was actually amongst the group if they literally didn't see her next to them. Sensitive and aware, her pointed ears twitch. (Ebele Stealth in Game log: 21) (Ebele Perception in Game log: 19)
Map Update
DM Owes You (I legit have not awarded xp in literally over a year. Last time was Oct 13 2022. This is the XP which I would have owed the group from the long rest in the pit Jul 21 2023. I've included the post rest dead cultists in this bunch for ease of calculation for the future, I hope. Thank you for sticking with me and the slower pace campaign.)
(As always, if the players out there that have been away for some time wish to jump in, please feel free to crawl out of the dead worm's mouth and join us.)
XP Granted (If I maths right) Each player receives: 2050xp Total player XP should be: 12627xp
Flux lingers at the intersection as the procession continues, if but to squint at the stamp in the ground. But knowing to linger might mean being left behind by accident, he'd try to quickly memorize the details to think back on in a more appropriate time. "Be feel'n a might worried about what lies beyond those doors we be passing. And... I don't suppose any of you lot happen to have some super glue on hand would'ja?"He whispers ahead to the others.
(OOC: Huzzah! Xp for all and to all welcome xp!)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Flux lets out a long, exasperated sigh of relief before whipping away at his forehead. "I'd be one to ask which one of ya's decided today would be the day to double down on FAAFO. But see'n as we still got enough else on our plate, best be saving that one for a campfire tale later on, eh?" He says, giving Xalkas a sarcastic 'ain't that right?' sort of look, blissfully unaware of any others at fault. "Right! Onwards then, and may more fortunate winds fill our sails going forward. Any boobos 'n such we can sort out along the way." He asserts, and though it went against his 'character a bit', Flux turned about to continue on their original course taking point until Kerric or another stepped up to take the lead.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Kerric:
Catching his breath, Kerric says, “Yes, it is past time to move on. Let’s go.”
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Ebele flicks her arms to whisk blood off them, letting it spatter to the ground over the lifeless blades. It probably looked worse then it was at this point thanks to Lewin’s healing. “Good to go.” She wipes her palms on her pants, drying them to ensure a secure grip on her staff should she need it again. Having been burned then sliced and diced so early in the morning, the half-elf was feeling like she was being prepared for breakfast rather than having the luxury of enjoying a decent one. She’d exhale a deep breath then dip to make an ‘and after you’ gesture to encourage Xalkas and Lewin to go ahead of her. “I’ll keep an eye at the back.” The blind monk says taking the rear of the group.
The group moves into the cavern hall. It juts out in some places, causing the group to wind a little bit as they pass through. After moving through the narrowing crevace for about 30ft, the group then reaches an area that widens. The skeleton of a giant worm is fused to the sides of this long tunnel, disappearing into a nearly vertical tunnel fifty feet above the floor. Wooden steps have been lashed to the bones, creating a makeshift staircase. Several odd backpacks lie in a pile on the floor at the foot of the stairs.
Whomever inspects the backpacks would discover that they are balloon packs.
just an unstable unicorn.
Lewin watches the melee erupt and settle around him. He looks down. He starts to reply or apologize to Flux, "I..." but stops and looks down again. He asks if anyone else needs healing. If not, he moves along into the cavern hall, quiet. He offers, at the bottom of the vertical tunnel, guidance to any and everyone who thinks to try something difficult.
If Flux heard the beginnings of an apology, it never shows on his face prior to or during the departure. But he would absent-mindedly wave off the offer of both healing and magical empowerment in want of staying focused on the path ahead of the group. So half-listening as he was, it took a minute or so for him really register Ebele's words. But when it finally clicks, the half-dwarf couldn't resist a chortle that nearly evoles into a full blown guffaw.... were it not for the skeleton startling him so bad as to nearly fall back into whoever happened to be immediately be behind him!
"...W-wait... ah! Hahah! 'ad me going there for a second they did!" Flux said as he straightened his posture and adjusted his armor. "Oh? And what do we have here?" Unless bid by others to stop, the genasi made his way promptly over to the backpacks to examine them for a second, before lookin gtaken aback by the discovery. "I be thinking I've heard of these, though they were a bit on the rare side back where I'm from. But baloon packs will definitely be useful, a bit cumbersome to wear while loaded down." He confesses. "If ya can manage it, I'd suggest strapping one on ya, seeing as we be bound to deal with those blowhards 'fore long. 'n known'em, I wouldn't be surprise if the bastards haven't laden their hideaway with plenty of dead drops 'n the like!" The genasi further attested while trying to fit at least one of the packs to his front, seeing as he already had a backpack of sorts.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Kerric:
”Excellent,” agrees Kerric, puttting on one of the items as well. “Let’s get equipped and keep moving,” he adds.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Lewin feels the gentle, but firm, hand of Ebele on his shoulder providing him reassurance. It was okay. Then a soft smirk tugged at the corner of the monk's mouth as Flux broke the silence with his laughter, brightening the mood in the cavern.
Xalkas bumps into the rear of the half-dwarf when Flux would startle and nearly fall back onto the gnome.
As the genasi and elven warrior equip themselves with a balloon pack, Ebele finds her own. It takes her a few moments longer to rearrange her equipment to where she's comfortable, familiar and balanced with the addition, and for it to be accessible, but she gets it.
The vertical tunnel ahead disappears into darkness, and the sound of whistling winds could be heard echoing in the distance. Committed, the first steps are taken up the steep wooden staircase lashed to bones. They creak under the imposed weight against them. On by one, step by step, bone by bone, into the darkness they go. Then, they end.
Fifty feet in, there's still another hundred to go. There are only the ribs. Now, climb.
One by one, hand by hand, step by step, bone by bone, further in the darkness one must go...
just an unstable unicorn.
Torn as he was between worry the wind carrying his words to enemies or swallowing up complaints with no above the wiser, Flux errs on the side of caution in remaining uncharacteristically quiet during the ascent. Though granted, so taxing was it anyhow that scarcely a straight thought could form, before then being covered up by a different complaint. And he hadn't even reached the halfway point when that happened!
Eventually, enough was enough. The genasi would wrap an arm as much as possible about a rib hold himself in place and to catch his breath. Yet be it the prods or complaints of others, he'd just as soon find himself licking chapped chops, before again setting limbs into motions in the climb to the mental sound of a new mantra:
'Brothers of the mine rejoice!
Swing, swing, swing with me
Raise your pick and raise your voice!
Sing, sing, sing with me
Down and down into the deep
Who knows what we'll find beneath?
Diamonds, rubies, gold and more
Hidden in the mountain store
Born underground, suckled from a teat of stone
Raised in the dark, the safety of our mountain home
Skin made of iron, steel in our bones
To dig and dig makes us free
Come on brothers sing with me!'
Even to the beat, progress is slow. But with a renewed sense of determination, Flux would not falter again!
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
The harrowing wind and the silence of the group felt deafening, making the darkness even darker for Ebele. The depths, or more accurately, the heights, of this tunnel seemed endless, yet as though the walls were closing in on her all at the same time. She'd feel her heart begin to race involuntarily in a creeping sense of panic. Taking deep breaths only welcomed the taste and smell of the earth, death and decay in her immediate surroundings. That very dirt caking onto her hands, spreading between her toes and digging beneath all her nail beds as she carried herself forward... it felt reminiscent of pulling one's self out of their grave... the thought dizzying...
Then comes Flux's beat, breaking the silence. The words of his song carries through, like a light guiding her forward. Ebele steadies, and presses forward.
One by one, hand by hand, step by step, bone by bone, further through the darkness they go.
Until he finally sees the light. Flux would emerge from the depths into... A large, incredibly spacious all things considering, unlit room that is empty save for the one feature. Turning around, facing back from whence he came, sticking up out of the large hole in the floor is the skeletal head of a great worm, its mouth agape. The dead worm is all that remains of a massive worm that was slain. The bones of several dead dwarves lie where the worm’s gullet used to be.
One by one, hand by hand, his companions would start to emerge from the jaws.
just an unstable unicorn.
Despite himself, Flux breaks his own rule in approaching the dead dwarves to look over their bones, before then bowing his head slightly and uttering a few words in dwarvish. "I... Be not knowing what ya part be in all dis in the past. But may you by now have found your way to his halls in the end, and the peace of righteous toil there." He says in common, beats his chest a couple of times, and then with a grunt, turns about to face the group again.
"Enough of that." He starts, sniffling a bit , before trying to put back on a devil may care vaneer. "These one's don't be the one's we be after. So let's be off! Uhm... I-I'll bring up the rear. You know, on the, uh, off chance those scaley folks be following after 'n all that."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Lewin, applying touches of guidance where he can, makes the climb in silence, in awe of the nature of this tunnel. He gets to the top and crouches on the ground, listening for any sign of life on this level.
Perception: 21
Flux finds that he is joined by Ebele as he utters his words to the dead. While she was facing the wrong way, she understood the words spoken and paused to pay respects alongside him.
Lewin crouches, his ears low to the ground. He hears ghostly windy sounds from the gloom of the hallway.
just an unstable unicorn.
Kerric:
When the memorial is complete, Kerric bows his head briefly and then grimly draws his Elven Curved Blade. He follows behind Lewin, trying to be quiet and attentive at the same time.
Stealth: 12
Perception: 19
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
If Flux pays any mind to Ebele's slip, he at least has the decency (or perhaps lackthereof?) to keep from pointing it out before moving on to more pressing matters. But for a brief moment during the change in gears, he looked almost touched for totally unrelated reasons, before returning to his usual blustering self in trying to mirror Kerric's approach in treading softly... to likely little avail or need for that matter.
-Stealth: 7.
(@Scott: I could be mistaken, but I don't think Lewin/rkombius intention was to take point.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(Sorry, mistook listening down the hallway for moving that way. Kerric is fine taking point)
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Even with the disadvantage of his armour, Kerric manages to stifle the jingling and blend in with the environments sounds. Or were they? There was something about the ghostly wind sounds. Kerric’s ears would twitch, swearing that some of the sounds were repeating, almost like on a loop? However, not incredibly far behind him, there was no masking the jingling, ring ting tingling tune of Flux’s gear paired with the sound of muddy, squeaky wet foot prints following.
just an unstable unicorn.
Kerric creeps up to the end of the hallway where there's a fork in the 'road' ahead. It appears to be like a laneway behind a large plaza. The worn image of a smiling dwarf on the face of a coin is stamped into the flagstones that pave this area. The elven warrior can see three single doors made from stone slabs, balanced on central pivots on the east side of the lane, while there are open passages to the east.
Ebele falls in line when she hears the boys move forward. Her bare feet move about the stone floor with ease and silent grace, especially when she's masked by Flux and others. One would even wonder if the monk was actually amongst the group if they literally didn't see her next to them. Sensitive and aware, her pointed ears twitch.
(Ebele Stealth in Game log: 21)
(Ebele Perception in Game log: 19)
Map Update
DM Owes You
(I legit have not awarded xp in literally over a year. Last time was Oct 13 2022. This is the XP which I would have owed the group from the long rest in the pit Jul 21 2023. I've included the post rest dead cultists in this bunch for ease of calculation for the future, I hope. Thank you for sticking with me and the slower pace campaign.)
(As always, if the players out there that have been away for some time wish to jump in, please feel free to crawl out of the dead worm's mouth and join us.)
XP Granted
(If I maths right)
Each player receives: 2050xp
Total player XP should be: 12627xp
just an unstable unicorn.
Kerric:
Continuing to move forward, Kerric chooses to turn right and follow the right wall, peering into the room on the right wall as he moves forward.
Gerrard Feldren - Human Noble in Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Kerric Brightblade - Elven Warrior in "Apocalypse"
Flux lingers at the intersection as the procession continues, if but to squint at the stamp in the ground. But knowing to linger might mean being left behind by accident, he'd try to quickly memorize the details to think back on in a more appropriate time. "Be feel'n a might worried about what lies beyond those doors we be passing. And... I don't suppose any of you lot happen to have some super glue on hand would'ja?" He whispers ahead to the others.
(OOC: Huzzah! Xp for all and to all welcome xp!)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Lewin steps as quietly as he can to the left just to barely peek down around the corner.
Stealth: 13