Gundren Rockseeker nods, he draws you two maps. One directing you to the entrance of the Wave Echo Cavern the other the map of the cavern itself.
As he is drawing, he says, "Tharden, Nundro, and I have been searching for a long while, see ...
More than five hundred years ago, clans of dwarves and gnomes made an agreement known as the Phandelver’s Pact, by which they would share a rich mine in a wondrous cavern known as Wave Echo Cave. In addition to its mineral wealth, the mine contained great magical power. Human spellcasters allied themselves with the dwarves and gnomes to channel and bind that energy into a great forge (called the Forge of Spells), where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby human town of Phandalin (pronounced fan-duh-lin) prospered as well. But then disaster struck when orcs swept through the North and laid waste to all in their path.
A powerful force of orcs reinforced by evil mercenary wizards attacked Wave Echo Cave to seize its riches and magic treasures. Human wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost.
... At least that's the story. Anyway, my brothers and I found it. We found this old map of the inside of the cavern not but a bit in and knew this this was it. I headed to Neverwinter to gather protection. Tharden and Nundro were supposed to wait at the cave. I don't know how Tharden ended up in that gold mine scuffle nor if he and Nundro are well.
Honestly, I'm not sure what you're walking into but the Lord's Alliance turned out to be less prepared than I thought they'd be. The Goblinkin and the new constabulary here seem to be my best bet.
You might find that Cleric out there with reinforcements, but I think they were going for the goldmine first."
Silenus wanders back over to Rinn and the others and shows them the maps.
"Totally wild place," Silenus says when he relays what Gundren Rockseeker said about the caves. "Something about this cave gets everyone totally stoked."
He gathers his equipment. Then waves at the mob of inexperienced people signing up for adventure.
"This lot has got lots of courage, but they're going to get themselves killed. We should go before them."
(( Who are you taking? Jasmine, Olsihla, Eli, Ikki, or a few former Redbrand... up to three, but you don't need to take anyone... just a higher challenge... ))
I know Silenus is fleet footed.
Are Rinn (and others) taking horse and mule(s) or the Ox or Mule cart? ))
With horses saddled up and prepared for travel, the map being revealed, and a feeling that time is of the essence, Rinn, Jasmine, Olsihla, and Silenus head out to find Wave Echo Cave and what lay within.
Silenus quick stride sets a steady fast pace for the trotting steeds.
It was for both... you (plural) are able to maintain your pace and navigate the terrain following the map through the scrublands east of Phandalin, slightly north toward the Giant's Toes, the Sword Mountain foothills, to what you are confident is the entrance to Wave Echo Cave.
"Whoa, surfs up, dude," Silenus says at the sound of the pounding echoing waves. "We're not near the ocean, right dude?"
Silenus unhitches the mule and makes sure it finds some grass and water. He then takes a few steps into the cave entrance to get a better look at what awaits them.
The light of the sun low in the west does little to brighten the inside of the cave. Thankfully, your dark vision makes excellent use of this dim light. The entrance continues into a natural cave tunnel some ten feet (3 m) wide and ten feet high. It bends toward the northeast until you cannot see beyond the bend.
The gradual bend feels natural in this space and as you continue about one hundred feet (30.5 m), you find yourselves at the southeastern end of a large open cavern. There are stalagmites and stalactites and the ceiling is roughly twenty feet (6 m) from the ground. The ground is about three inches below the cave exit.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rinn keeps quiet and to the side, finding shadows and nooks as best he can to keep out of sight from anything that may lurk in the cavern all the while keeping an eye out for trouble (Stealth: 26; Perception: 26).
Seeing Rinn slips off into the shadows, Silenus does his best to keep the bullseye lantern focused forward. He enters the cavern, looking around for any other tunnels or caves.
The entrance tunnel lead into a large natural cavern supported by a pillar of rock. In the western part of the cave, behind the pillar, are three bedrolls and a heap of ordinary supplies: sacks of flour, bags of salt, casks of salted meat, lanterns, flasks of lamp oil, pickaxes, shovels, and other gear. Amid the supplies, you see a body.
The northeastern section of the cavern has collapsed, forming a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-deep pit. A sturdy hemp rope is tied around one of three stalagmites in the cavern and dangles into the pit.
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Silenus Persuasion: 23
Gundren Rockseeker nods, he draws you two maps. One directing you to the entrance of the Wave Echo Cavern the other the map of the cavern itself.
As he is drawing, he says, "Tharden, Nundro, and I have been searching for a long while, see ...
More than five hundred years ago, clans of dwarves and gnomes made an agreement known as the Phandelver’s Pact, by which they would share a rich mine in a wondrous cavern known as Wave Echo Cave. In addition to its mineral wealth, the mine contained great magical power. Human spellcasters allied themselves with the dwarves and gnomes to channel and bind that energy into a great forge (called the Forge of Spells), where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby human town of Phandalin (pronounced fan-duh-lin) prospered as well. But then disaster struck when orcs swept through the North and laid waste to all in their path.
A powerful force of orcs reinforced by evil mercenary wizards attacked Wave Echo Cave to seize its riches and magic treasures. Human wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of Wave Echo Cave was lost.
... At least that's the story. Anyway, my brothers and I found it. We found this old map of the inside of the cavern not but a bit in and knew this this was it. I headed to Neverwinter to gather protection. Tharden and Nundro were supposed to wait at the cave. I don't know how Tharden ended up in that gold mine scuffle nor if he and Nundro are well.
Honestly, I'm not sure what you're walking into but the Lord's Alliance turned out to be less prepared than I thought they'd be. The Goblinkin and the new constabulary here seem to be my best bet.
You might find that Cleric out there with reinforcements, but I think they were going for the goldmine first."
You have a map to Wave Echo Cavern and an estimated map of the cavern itself.
Silenus wanders back over to Rinn and the others and shows them the maps.
"Totally wild place," Silenus says when he relays what Gundren Rockseeker said about the caves. "Something about this cave gets everyone totally stoked."
He gathers his equipment. Then waves at the mob of inexperienced people signing up for adventure.
"This lot has got lots of courage, but they're going to get themselves killed. We should go before them."
Rinn hops down from his perch and nods, "Agreed. But then it wasn't so long ago that I would have looked so green to someone like us."
(( Who are you taking? Jasmine, Olsihla, Eli, Ikki, or a few former Redbrand... up to three, but you don't need to take anyone... just a higher challenge... ))
I know Silenus is fleet footed.
Are Rinn (and others) taking horse and mule(s) or the Ox or Mule cart? ))
(( I'd say horses as the cart might be a bit slower and harder to maneuver. And I guess just Jasmine and Olsihla for the time being? ))
With horses saddled up and prepared for travel, the map being revealed, and a feeling that time is of the essence, Rinn, Jasmine, Olsihla, and Silenus head out to find Wave Echo Cave and what lay within.
Silenus quick stride sets a steady fast pace for the trotting steeds.
(( Role Survival or Nature ))
Silenus Survival: 20
( Not sure if that was just a Silenus roll, but just in case. )
Rinn's Nature check: 23
It was for both... you (plural) are able to maintain your pace and navigate the terrain following the map through the scrublands east of Phandalin, slightly north toward the Giant's Toes, the Sword Mountain foothills, to what you are confident is the entrance to Wave Echo Cave.
At the cave entrance you hear the rhythmic thunder of pounding waves for about twenty seconds every two minutes.
"Whoa, surfs up, dude," Silenus says at the sound of the pounding echoing waves. "We're not near the ocean, right dude?"
Silenus unhitches the mule and makes sure it finds some grass and water. He then takes a few steps into the cave entrance to get a better look at what awaits them.
The light of the sun low in the west does little to brighten the inside of the cave. Thankfully, your dark vision makes excellent use of this dim light. The entrance continues into a natural cave tunnel some ten feet (3 m) wide and ten feet high. It bends toward the northeast until you cannot see beyond the bend.
Olsihla in a very serious tone says in Sylvan, "I do not believe the Ocean would reach this far inland."
Jasmine giggles while quietly pulling her blades.
Silenus nods.
"Right, just making sure," Silenus says.
Silenus blinks a few times, and not having darkvision, he unhooks his bullseye lantern and lights the oil inside to let him see what's coming ahead.
He continues on to the bend and takes a look around it.
The gradual bend feels natural in this space and as you continue about one hundred feet (30.5 m), you find yourselves at the southeastern end of a large open cavern. There are stalagmites and stalactites and the ceiling is roughly twenty feet (6 m) from the ground. The ground is about three inches below the cave exit.
Rinn keeps quiet and to the side, finding shadows and nooks as best he can to keep out of sight from anything that may lurk in the cavern all the while keeping an eye out for trouble (Stealth: 26; Perception: 26).
Seeing Rinn slips off into the shadows, Silenus does his best to keep the bullseye lantern focused forward. He enters the cavern, looking around for any other tunnels or caves.
The entrance tunnel lead into a large natural cavern supported by a pillar of rock. In the western part of the cave, behind the pillar, are three bedrolls and a heap of ordinary supplies: sacks of flour, bags of salt, casks of salted meat, lanterns, flasks of lamp oil, pickaxes, shovels, and other gear. Amid the supplies, you see a body.
The northeastern section of the cavern has collapsed, forming a ten-foot-wide, twenty-foot-deep pit. A sturdy hemp rope is tied around one of three stalagmites in the cavern and dangles into the pit.