"Well, it's kind of hard to tell, let me get closer."
The ranger approaches a little to the entrance of the caverns, and tries to discern which one leads downstairs, however his inspection of the whole area distracts him a little so.
Dungeoneering and perception: (22, 32) http://orokos.com/roll/189784

Last edited at 14/05/05(Mon)23:09:39

Another one? It can't be another combat trial.

Dungeoneering 28, Perception 30
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4492427/

Dungeoneering: From his current vantage point on the ledge, Sureiya can't discern much about the tunnels, but by Bernkastel's reckoning, the second tunnel from the west and the far east tunnel both lead downward to varying degrees. A closer inspection might reveal more about them, though you'll need to get closer, obviously.

Perception: Aside from the glowing circle and the tunnels, the room appears more or less unremarkable from where you stand. There is some moss here and there, a spiderweb bridging two stalactites, and no light sources other than Sureiya's miner's helmet sunrod and Torinn's glowing sword. The room is about 80 feet in diameter and is roughly circular, though the ceiling alternates height from about 30 feet high to 50 feet high. The ground is rough stone, though there's no sign that any creatures have been here recently.

I'll hammer in a Climber's Kit piton near the edge, and tie some rope to it. For the possible return trip.

Will follow Sureiya if nothing happens.

Last edited at 14/05/06(Tue)00:37:01

Torinn is the first down the drop, illuminating things further on.

Sureiya goes down and inspects the area
Take ten

Last edited at 14/05/06(Tue)17:54:54

As the adventurers, one by one, descend the ten foot drop, they are confronted by the tunnels. Both are pretty sure of the two tunnels that lead downwards--the second tunnel from the west, and the far eastern tunnel, and both are also quite certain from closer inspection that the runes that comprise this glowing, orange magic circle are the same as the runes that comprised the previous orange, glowing magic circle they encountered.

It's eerily still and quiet here.

Seeing nothing else of interest around, Sureiya moves straight to the magic circle, expecting to talk with the Lich once again.

When Sureiya approaches the glowing circle, the image of the lich appears once again, and it speaks to him (and anyone else who steps within 10 feet of the circle), "Impressive, overdwellers... you overcame a difficult trial. Perhaps you are worthy to face my mad master after all... but first, you must navigate the treacherous Underdark, and find you way to my inner sanctum..."

"Don't sweat it, we're good at this" the ranger asserts. Then, after thinking about it carefully, Sureiya decides to tell the Lich something interesting.

"So, you wanted to know why we're here? We have come here to find someone. I'd usually keep my trap shut about this, but you claimed to be a man of honor, so I'll ask you.

Is she still alive?"

Last edited at 14/05/06(Tue)21:52:11

"She...? Are you referring to that foolish eladrin who sought the leyline alone?" the lich replies psychically. In a slow, patient tone, he replies, "I serve as a warden, of sorts. I have imprisoned that one, as I do many of the other intruders that get too close to my sanctum... She is here, with me. I am to give her to my master, so should you wish to see her again... you should seek to engage me soon."

The undead orc gestures, and you are treated briefly to the image of a granite gaol embedded in a ceiling. With a sound that almost resembles a cackle, Gallard resumes speaking and the image shifts back to the skeletal orc, "Yes, I believe it would be far better to raise the stakes of our engagement than to give her and the scroll she carries to my master... He is deranged, you see. Who knows what the Fell King would do with her...?"

"She might be hurt, but she will be fine if we can bring her back..."
"You're different from the others. You know, I might even enjoy fighting you."

Last edited at 14/05/06(Tue)22:34:39

>>74928
"You didn't need a hostage. You could have just asked nicely for us to drive you back into the dirt."

Regarding the two adventurers addressing him, the lich replies, "The others? ...Oh, yes. I am given to understand that you defeated Sankis, Hemah, and Val'akir." Gesturing dramatically, he goes on to say, "They sought personal power... they served my master for their own ends. I serve him as a matter of honor. While I lived, I served, and I remain faithful in death... so naturally, we differ. Nevertheless, the eladrin was attempting to reach the leyline, and my duty demands that I cannot allow that to happen."

>>74934
"And our duty demands that we stop you and your master. Who do you think will succeed?"

The lich turns his skull towards Torinn, and though it's difficult to read emotions in a skeletal face, the dragonborn almost feels regarded with amusement. "I welcome the challenge, overdweller... Indeed, I have been anxious for such a challenge for some time."

>>74928
"Is your duty to capture people?" For someone you think is crazy?

The lich seems a bit miffed at this, and he corrects, "My duty, disrespectful overdweller, is to protect the leyline... to imprison and judge the undesirables that venture too close."

>>74939
And he thought this was worth keeping to himself?

"Undesirables, right. Well, Mr. Gallard, to us, it looks as though neither you nor the Fell Thing have authority to judge and imprison anybody, let alone force upon them these one-sided 'trials,'" complains the shaman as her spirits nod in agreement. "Are you even risking anything in this game of yours? At least the other three were honest about fighting us."

Gallard shakes his skeletal head and replies, "You stand upon an ancient battleground of the orcs of the Dragonsworn, overdweller.... as one of the last Dragonsworn, I have laid claim to this area as my domain. Should you wish to pass through, I will subject you to my trials, as is my right..." Gesturing, he says, "Should you not wish to face my trials and judgement, you are free to turn back now."

Torinn makes no such motion to turn back.

"We can't be sure he's telling the truth, but if there's a chance Elayne's alive I think it's better to play it safe, even if we don't feel very eager to challenge him" Sureiya adds, looking at the Shaman.

"Well, so, which way should we go?" the ranger asks to the group.

>>74941
"Doesn't battleground just mean someone fought here? ... But regardless of what we want, Mr. Gallard, we also happen to be following orders, and these unfair challenges masked as duty do not help, so I felt justified in voicing some complaints."

>>74942
>>74943
"... It doesn't look like the others mind very much, either."

Myn wakes up from his nap just in time to also not turn back.

"...this girl really wouldn't mind if we return to Mithral Hall with Elayne's spirit following us."
Sureiya moves away from the circle and makes a closer inspection of the tunnels.[/i]

"A child's complaint does little to change my duty..." the lich scoffs. "The fallen Dragonsworn here cry out for justice... and I will deliver it unto them. My master guides us as chieftain, and until such a time when he is cast down, I fulfill my duty to him... no matter his madness."

With that, the image of the skeletal orc fades, as well as the magic circle. Sureiya's closer inspection of the tunnels reveals that the far eastern tunnel slopes much more sharply than the second tunnel from the west, meaning it will carry you further downwards faster and yet be more difficult to traverse.

>>74947

"So she was a child after all?"

"I suggest the steeper route. A longer path would provide more opportunities for danger, and we have little time to spare."

"And it provides a chance to test this flying creature."

"Alright, let's move then."
Sureiya leads the way

>>74947
They shouldn't cry out as long as you haven't done something like raise them as zombies.

Follow others, since no one seems to object to the shortcut.

Last edited at 14/05/12(Mon)01:04:55

>>74949
Take vanguard position

As the five wind their way down the tunnel, it steadily becomes larger, and it would appear that it will open into a larger cavern soon. However, Sureiya has the group halt as he finds something interesting--it would appear that there is a narrow hole leading downwards, like a drop-off. You can see the base some fifty-ish feet down, so it's not a terribly dangerous or bottomless pit, but it would require you to squeeze through the hole to fit. Leading straight down, it does seem like a viable alternative to continuing through this passage.

>>74952
Torinn eyes the small cramped passage down, then turns to the others and shakes his head. "Let's not go down there."

"We're not taking this shortcut, too, are we?"

Hole lore (DUngeoneering, 13+9=22) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4499481/

Sid regards the passage with suspicion as the shaman examines it.

Bernkastel: (Dungeoneering) By all accounts, the tunnel looks naturally formed. It does not appear dangerous.

>>74955
Also perception (34) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4499491/

The shaman examines the hole rather thoroughly, and finds absolutely nothing suspicious. There is a light dusting of mud at the base of the "tunnel" that leads downwards, which doesn't very much in width but is very rough and clearly naturally-formed. There's some signs of dampness but not overly so. There's a bit of mildew that's grown inside the passage leading down, but it would appear that it opens up into a larger area after about 20 feet, which would be roughly 30 feet above the ground. There's not much of interest down there except for some very, very small natural rock formations.

>>74957
relay

Before deciding where to go, Sureiya scouts the path ahead.
Perception: 34 http://orokos.com/roll/192081

From his current position, Sureiya is at least able to determine that the tunnel, now about fifty feet wide, continues at least to the edge of your light source (about a hundred feet), continuing to slope downwards and onwards. The tunnel is of little note in and of itself, being naturally-formed rock with the occasional fungus or back of algae.

"I've found few good things at the bottom of pits."

"The way ahead must be filled with traps and monsters, let's check this out."
Sureiya hammers a piton in the top of the edge and ties a rope to it, then he carefully climbs down, trying to look what's at the bottom.
Rin please make a perception check when you update, orokos is dead

As Sureiya climbs down the rope, he's too distracted by the climbing to notice much suspicious, though once he reaches the bottom he thinks he hears something in the distance. From what he can immediately see, he is standing in a open area that goes about fifteen feet south before ending in a wall, and the area is about thirty feet across until the area opens up sixty feet ahead, into a much wider, open area that Sureiya cannot make out the edges of from his current vantage point. It is in this wider, open area to the north that Sureiya pinpoints the source of the sound he's hearing--it almost sounds like a clanging noise and perhaps one or more voices.

Sureiya's Perception: 12 http://orokos.com/roll/192480

Sureiya climbs up just enough for the rest of the party to be able to hear him without shouting and tells them what he can see.
"There's some noise ahead, it might be more than one creature."

>>74964
I didn't want to go down the hole, though.

"I guess we'll have to investigate."

"We always take the obvious way, but this time, this tunnel's really asking to be explored.
I'll take the lead, everyone, try to climb down."
Then, he goes down again and stays alert.

Myn grabs the book imp off its shoulder perch and tosses it into the hole.

Impspeak: "Go clandestinely figure out what's making the sounds down there."

"Perhaps this creature can be of use for once."

Familiar to active mode.
Keep invisibility on.
Move to end of range towards noise in the pit.


Last edited at 14/05/13(Tue)23:19:40

>>74966
"We're heading for these creatures?" the shaman asks, incredulous, but follows anyway.

Going last on account of slow climbing, unless someone else really wants to go last.

Myn's imp catches itself mid-flight and lazily drifts down the hole and flies into the chamber that Sureiya began exploring, but due to the limited light radius isn't able to see anything that Sureiya didn't already examine. It comes back to report to Myn that it looked around a slightly damp, empty stone cavern.

Torinn dismounts and orders Rutger to stay behind as a rear guard, giving it a reassuring pat on the head. Before climbing down, he looks to "Bernkastel" and asks, "Are you going to be okay?"

Once everyone has climbed down and is following him, Sureiya moves to the corner, to light the way ahead.
Perception: lol nat 2 (16) http://orokos.com/roll/192915

>>74970
"It's hard to say. We could be climbing to our deaths," replies the shaman, staring into the hole.

As the group climbs down the rope one by one, leaving Rutger in reserve, Sureiya leads them north across a large, empty cavern. After traversing the cavern, the noises become a bit more obvious briefly, but even as you head further to the north, the sounds of clanging and shouting become less and less regular. Eventually, the cavern narrows to a passageway that is about fifty feet wide that twists sharply to the east, and the noise has almost completely ceased. The strange thing is that you can see a different light source illuminating whatever is beyond the bend, and the quality of the light suggests another sunrod or lantern. You're still quite a ways from the passage ahead, which makes it easy to distinguish your light from the strange, foreign light source that's filling the passage beyond the corner.

"They're close."
Sureiya scouts the immediate area and leads the way. "Would you send your familiar to check around the corner?" says the ranger while facing Myn.
Perception: 24 http://orokos.com/roll/193230

Last edited at 14/05/15(Thu)01:16:54

>>74974
Climbs down really slowly etc.

Once done climbing, I'll follow the expedition leader, probably in whatever marching order we last used. Also, Sureiya can borrow the low-light candle if he wants.

Perception (26) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4502363/


Last edited at 14/05/15(Thu)03:26:39

Myn tosses his imp, repeating the previous instructions.

Fluttering invisibly around the corner, the imp is only absent a few moments before it returns to Myn, gesturing open-handed as it says to him, "Looks like orcs, boss. Five of 'em, and one looked kinda familiar. I'd guess they were fightin' somethin', there were some dead beasties in there too. They'se in this cavern wit' multiple, branching paths, looks like."

>>74977

"There seem to be five orcs, and a number of dead creatures of some sort. This thing recognized one of them."

>>74978
"Recognized? Who was it?"

>>74979

"Unless it has friends down here I don't know about, presumably an orc we've come across recently. I wouldn't expect it to be capable of offering a name."

Myn shrugs.

>>74980
"Could it be somebody from Many-Arrows?"

"Is it that behemoth-riding Bloodspire orc? I think I still have his weapon and armor," the shaman asks the imp, rummaging through her bag and pulling out his axe.

After Myn relays the information the imp comments, "I don't even remember THAT guy,"

"It was the one with the big sword," the imp offers helpfully.

"Apparently it had a large sword."

>>74984
"Sword, huh."

>>74981
"Maybe it's Kraag Bloodspire, then?" suggests the shaman back, putting the axe away.

"In any case, we may as well introduce ourselves. I doubt five weary orcs would pose an insurmountable threat, in the worst case."

>>74986
"Okay, why not."

Lead the party forward

Torinn leads the group forward, and you've nearly rounded the corner into the room before you hear a gruff voice call out, "Halt! Who goes there?!"

>>74989
"If you'll let us turn the corner, you'll see us for yourself," replies the shaman evenly, still halting.

Last edited at 14/05/16(Fri)10:24:38

"...At least you sound friendlier than the last lot," replies whoever was speaking to you before. "Come forward slowly, and show yourselves then."

>>74991
Torinn puts away his weapon, but not his shield, and cautiously proceeds.

Sureiya moves ahead, disarmed.
"It looks like you were busy a while ago."
Perception: 29 http://orokos.com/roll/193879

As Sureiya and Torinn lead the group into the room (with Sid looking a bit nervous), you approach a group of five orcs--two in leather war-armor wielding huge weapons (one a sword, and one a big axe), one wearing an bearskin mantle over a loincloth and fur mufflers, and two wearing leathers and wielding lighter weapons (one equipped with daggers, and one with a longbow). The fur-wearing one points at the group and announces, "You. You're not native from the Underdark. You must've been sent by the dwarves." You recognize his voice as the one speaking before.

The five orcs stand in the middle of an oval-shaped room about a hundred feet in diameter with several visible passages, with natural stone formations forming pillar-like protrusions here and there. Littered across the ground are the corpses of what appear to be goblin zombies similar to those you battled before, as well as the corpses of three ropers. Several of the orcs are still wounded, and the blood on their weapons appears fresh. The orc with the big sword lazily waves at you, and the perceptive amongst you may recognize him as Kraag Bloodspire.

>>74994
"We were 'sent' by Baldur's Gate. We're here to find a friend of ours and deal with a troublesome person."

take ten diplomacy

The orc's eyes narrow. "Baldur's Gate...? This is a long way from areas of their concern. Why--"

Pushing his way forward, Kraag interrupts the shaman, saying, "They're working with the grand duke. You could've just asked me about them; I've been recently."

The fur-wearing orc shaman regards the sword-wielding warrior with annoyance, though Kraag's expression shines with mild amusement. (Giant) "Shut up and fall in line, Bloodspire dog!" the orc shaman snaps, before returning his attention to the party. As he speaks, a snake-like apparition phases into view and begins to coil around the shaman's arm, which you now notice ends in a metallic claw which covers the back of his hand. "So you're on a rescue assignment. We are on your side. We are also looking for something."

Bernkastel: The snake apparition is clearly a spirit companion, probably an animist spirit.

"Who are you looking for?"
Sureiya asks, while pondering in silence why the shaman orc was so hostile to Kraag.
Insight fail: http://orokos.com/roll/194007

Last edited at 14/05/18(Sun)11:12:34

Sureiya: You're unable to get much of a read, other than the fact that Kraag seems to be enjoying himself.

"Are you from Many-Arrows, then?" And Mr. Bloodspire is with them? I thought Many-Arrows weren't keeping in touch with our side. Maybe under secret orders?

Nature (16) and Insight (21) http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4505312/

"Yes, of course," the orc shaman replies to "Bernkastel," brusquely ignoring Sureiya's question. "We won't get in your way. Now if you don't mind--"

"Don't you have something for them, Mo'Grash?" Kraag interjects, his sword now strapped to his back and his arms crossed. The shaman that Kraag called Mo'Grash turns again to the warrior, his face twisted in anger, and is given only a smirk in return. The other orcs shift uncomfortably and seem to step away from the two, as if expecting there might be a confrontation.

Bernkastel: (Insight) You're unable to grasp much about the relationship between the other shaman and his spirit companion, but the emotional read you get is that the shaman is the leader of the group, and he's getting rather fed up with Kraag overstepping his bounds as a subordinate by speaking out.

>>75000
With a glance from the shaman, her smaller spirit floats over to Torinn. It proceeds to jab him in the side to direct his attention to the deteriorating developments, and looks at him expectantly.

Snapping out of his reverie with the aid of the spirit, Torinn clears his throat and asks, "You have something for us?"

take ten diplomacy

Reluctantly taking his gaze away from Kraag, Mo'Grash the shaman directs a fierce look at Torinn and replies, "This... whelp, was to deliver something to you."

"Yeah, that was my duty. Assisting Mardoc. He gave me the scroll to deliver to them. The one you took from me, Mo'Grash," Kraag says smugly. "You should give it to them."

Mo'Grash doesn't look too happy about it, but he pulls a satchel from beneath his fur cloak and draws from it a leather-bound scroll tube, and holds it out in offering.

Torinn accepts the scroll graciously.

"Thank you."

"That must be what we requested before, but how exactly you got ahead of us, was that scroll crafted that soon after we left?" Sureiya questions.

>>75003
"We're sorry about the hassle, Mr. Mo'Grash. But are you looking for something, too? We're on the same side, right?"

Meanwhile, the larger spirit points Myn to the scroll tube.

Last edited at 14/05/18(Sun)15:57:54

As Torinn takes the scroll, the orc shaman regards his own troops with a bit of suspicion. None look too keen on the idea of approaching the party, and in fact seem more than a bit apprehensive of the lot of you.

"We are," Mo'Grash says hesitantly. "We are searching for more portals to the Shadowfell. That is vital information for what is to come. You understand that it is better if we go separate ways from here."

When it becomes clear that the shaman isn't going to respond to the half-orc, Kraag volunteers, "I don't know if I got ahead of you. Maybe I just took a different route. Hells, this place is a giant maze, maybe one of us ended up going the wrong way?"

Myn shakes his head at the spirit. What kind of classism is it to assume that everyone experienced in magic is also knowledgeable about rituals?

>>75007
"I see, we understand. Still, this seems to be the quickest path for us, too, so maybe we could part at the next fork, instead?"

>>75008
The spirit kicks him.

>>75009

Myn refuses to react. Ghosts aren't even real.

"Well, there was another way. We didn't bother to investigate because we heard you fighting" Sureiya adds. "Did you come from that way?" the ranger asks to Kraag, pointing the direction the party hasn't explored.

Last edited at 14/05/18(Sun)21:53:23

Sid has taken notice of the ritual scroll, but seems disinclined to retrieve it at the moment. Instead, Mo'Grash grunts and gestures towards the passages behind the orcs, saying, "There are many paths here. If you wish to head this way, I suggest we split up. If nothing else, more ground will be covered in this manner."

>>75010
Garnering no response from Myn, the spirit glares at him before walking over to the smaller spirit (who had been suggesting the same thing to Sid), and communicates something, pointing to the warlock, and all behind the shaman's back.

>>75012
"As you say, then," relents the shaman.

To Sid: "Can you point us to a passage?"

Last edited at 14/05/19(Mon)19:13:22

>>75013
Torinn watches the spectacle unfold and remains stoically silent about it.
>>75012
Returning to more important matters at hand, the dragonborn says, "It sounds like you have things covered here. We should head back the way we came instead; there was another path back that way."

"One moment!" Sid says to the shaman, taking the spirit's advice and grasping the scroll tube. Popping it open, he withdraws the rolled-up paper inside and gives it a look-over. As he reads it, his brow furrows in thought, and he says quietly, "It appears to be a sort of binding ritual targeted at a skeletal humanoid."

Meanwhile, Kraag replies to Sureiya, pointing to one of the passages behind them and saying, "We came from over there. Big network of tunnels just up the ridge."

"...well, should we go back then?" the ranger mutters.

>>75014
>>75018
"... Go back? This way is supposed to be quicker, right?"

>>75019
"The tiger can't fit down this passage."

Last edited at 14/05/20(Tue)11:43:07

>>75020
"We're basing our decision solely on your tiger??"

Last edited at 14/05/20(Tue)11:47:47

>>75021
"Rutger is a comrade that I'd prefer not to leave behind."