With all the twigs and roots covering the ground you easily find kindling and burn the last vegepygmy. The fire finishes it up for good, leaving only a pile of ashes where it fell. The vines around the dead foe start to smoke and burn, unless you do something, the fire is lekely to spread to the city.
Looking at the top of the tower you don't see more light pulses.
Ufeza looks for any smoldering bits missed by the druid's spell and stamps them out. "Good job, Z. And everyone, really! Looks like our ambush worked. Who's ready to see what horrifying things were being done in that temple?"
With the flames extinguished and certainty that the last vegepygmy is not getting up again you go back to the temple and enter through its main door. It becomes clear to you that the source of corruption comes from the altar. The vines coming from under it are blackened with the same fungus you saw near the entrance.
So many roots are growing from under the altar that the floor around it has receded into a depression. Nearing the back of the temple Luther notices a small coffer that was exposed by the damage of the roots destroying the stone. The coffer contains 100gp, a pair of valuable pearls that Thariv appraises at nearly 100gp each, and a small silver broach in the shape of a Tree of Life.
The depression in the center of the floor reveals itself to be a pit of great depth. The vines and ropes on either side of the pit can easily be navigated to allow for a slow and safe passage down into the darkness. The smell of deep earth wafts up from the pit, reminding you of rotten peat and musty swamp. The origins of that massive black root that destroyed the altar are coming from down there. The path is open before you.
OOC: each of you goes up a level, congratulations!
Ufeza unstraps the bag of holding from his gear and holds it out to Luther with the top open, "We can add it all here with our earlier findings and split it up when we are in safety."
He then responds to Zephyra, "While that sounds incredible, my claws should have enough purchase on those roots to give me a simple climb down. Giant Lizard might be handy when we find whatever is causing this corruption."
Zephyra glances over at Ufeza nodding, "That might be a better thought. Save it for later. I do have some rope." As she reaches into her pack for the hemp rope she has, her shoulder starts to bleed again and she stops opting to wrap it up quickly before doing anything else. Healer Feat 15
Looking again down the hole, she hmmms, "I will be at a disadvantage in the darkness though. I have Torches, but they are little use while climbing. Anyone have a light ?"
Thariv casually tosses the pearls into Ufeza's bag of holding, wondering for just a moment where the stuff goes when it goes into the bag, and how it comes back. Then, he turns his attention to the pit.
"I've got plenty of rope and torches, too,"he says in response to Zephyra. He looks down. "Should be manageable. No different than climbing amidst a ship's rigging, except for the lack of sunlight and invigorating sea air. And light."
He starts getting his rope out, working in skillfully tied knots as needed, so that the group can use it to assist in their descent.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Luther puts the loot into the bag of holding, nodding a thanks to Ufeza.
"I can see in the dark better than some people; I'll take the lead and warn you of danger. I think lit torches might be dangerous among these vines, let's see if it opens up further down"
Resting a vine for its weight, the half orc clambers over and into the hole, lowering himself down and looking for danger as he goes.
Perception 12 or second roll 10 if at disadvantage
Thariv follows Luther, carefully making his way past the spores and other obstacles to close in on the last creature and to watch it burn.
@DM druidcraft can be used to light small campfire so should be sufficient, but if not?
With all the twigs and roots covering the ground you easily find kindling and burn the last vegepygmy. The fire finishes it up for good, leaving only a pile of ashes where it fell. The vines around the dead foe start to smoke and burn, unless you do something, the fire is lekely to spread to the city.
Looking at the top of the tower you don't see more light pulses.
Zephyra quickly notices that the fire is spreading beyond the 'campfire' and quickly recasts druidcraft to put it out.
Ufeza looks for any smoldering bits missed by the druid's spell and stamps them out. "Good job, Z. And everyone, really! Looks like our ambush worked. Who's ready to see what horrifying things were being done in that temple?"
Zephyra nods and smiles to Ufeza then looks around her at the temple they are in. "Do you suppose that's it? What is this place?"
Luther looks at the smouldering pile of debris for a while, checking that it's not going to do another resurrection act.
Satisfied that it's staying down, he looks at Ufeza and nods "Yes, let's check this temple and see what we can find"
When they move inside, he looks for any sign that the corruption is finished, or where it might be coming from.
Investigation 17
Ufeza gives the interior room a spot check before moving into a more thorough search, beginning in the area of the altar.
Perception: 19
Investigation: 10
With the flames extinguished and certainty that the last vegepygmy is not getting up again you go back to the temple and enter through its main door. It becomes clear to you that the source of corruption comes from the altar. The vines coming from under it are blackened with the same fungus you saw near the entrance.
So many roots are growing from under the altar that the floor around it has receded into a depression. Nearing the back of the temple Luther notices a small coffer that was exposed by the damage of the roots destroying the stone. The coffer contains 100gp, a pair of valuable pearls that Thariv appraises at nearly 100gp each, and a small silver broach in the shape of a Tree of Life.
The depression in the center of the floor reveals itself to be a pit of great depth. The vines and ropes on either side of the pit can easily be navigated to allow for a slow and safe passage down into the darkness. The smell of deep earth wafts up from the pit, reminding you of rotten peat and musty swamp. The origins of that massive black root that destroyed the altar are coming from down there. The path is open before you.
OOC: each of you goes up a level, congratulations!
Zephyra peers over the side of the depression and into the darkness then picks up the Tree of Life and examines it being careful of the root growth.
"I can change to a Giant Lizard that may be capable of climbing down this more easily in case anyone wishes to ride?" Zephyra offers.
"Really? That's a great ability to have, Zeph" says Luther, checking through his findings.
"Oh wow, must be about 75 gold pieces worth of loot here" (if DM is happy for us to abstract & divide it for simplicity?)
"I'll be right here listening for your call if you need us; I'll be right on your tail if you find trouble"
Ufeza unstraps the bag of holding from his gear and holds it out to Luther with the top open, "We can add it all here with our earlier findings and split it up when we are in safety."
He then responds to Zephyra, "While that sounds incredible, my claws should have enough purchase on those roots to give me a simple climb down. Giant Lizard might be handy when we find whatever is causing this corruption."
Zephyra glances over at Ufeza nodding, "That might be a better thought. Save it for later. I do have some rope." As she reaches into her pack for the hemp rope she has, her shoulder starts to bleed again and she stops opting to wrap it up quickly before doing anything else. Healer Feat 15
Looking again down the hole, she hmmms, "I will be at a disadvantage in the darkness though. I have Torches, but they are little use while climbing. Anyone have a light ?"
Thariv casually tosses the pearls into Ufeza's bag of holding, wondering for just a moment where the stuff goes when it goes into the bag, and how it comes back. Then, he turns his attention to the pit.
"I've got plenty of rope and torches, too," he says in response to Zephyra. He looks down. "Should be manageable. No different than climbing amidst a ship's rigging, except for the lack of sunlight and invigorating sea air. And light."
He starts getting his rope out, working in skillfully tied knots as needed, so that the group can use it to assist in their descent.
Luther puts the loot into the bag of holding, nodding a thanks to Ufeza.
"I can see in the dark better than some people; I'll take the lead and warn you of danger. I think lit torches might be dangerous among these vines, let's see if it opens up further down"
Resting a vine for its weight, the half orc clambers over and into the hole, lowering himself down and looking for danger as he goes.
Perception 12 or second roll 10 if at disadvantage
Zephyra studies the vines to determine how likely a torch would catch them on fire. nature 18 if needed
Ufeza is ready to follow the others down the tunnel.
Zephyra starts her descent into the darkness, hoping the torch will shed some light on what's to come.