Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

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Zhym
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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#21 Post by Zhym »

"Aye," agrees Olaf quietly.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#22 Post by Spearmint »

Amistad agrees with the plan to turn tail giving one last look at the creatures nesting in the ceiling and thinking of fried bat wings and southern fried drumsticks. Okay, Amistad will bring up the rear if we about turn and go single file down another tunnel.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#23 Post by Marullus »

I didn't forget about you. You back out successfully and take an alternate route until the next thing happens. I just need some time where I can sit down and do rolls for your next encounter.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#24 Post by Marullus »

Thanks for your patience. I'm re-organized.

You back carefully away from the sleeping avians, Amistad dreaming of fried drumsticks as he examined their legs and Achaedany looking wide-eyed and a bit skittish contemplating their proboscis beaks. Backtracking with your map, you take a different fork in the interstitial area between the avians' cavern and the up-tunnel where you descended - you can almost see both chambers from that point in the hallway.

The honeycombed tunnels branch and converge, branch and converge, as you proceed down your new route. You move slowly and methodically, Olaf mapping with great care while Achaedany and Akkara check carefully along the walls and floors. You choose the most westward branch at each intersection, peering down each side-branch to ensure that there is nothing within your range of vision besides "more tunnel" at each bend. You inch along without interruption for a considerable time before a tunnel branch before you opens into another chamber of interest. It is a rounded chamber with a domed ceiling about 80' diameter which appears to be empty. In the center of the room is an artfully-carved fountain of white marble - standing out from the surrounding gray bedrock. It is covered in ornate curls and whorls, rising with a central stem of a flower, water filling a petal-like basin at the top and running in rivulets off of each of its sides into a small 4' pool at the fountain's base. The water is clear and clean and runs perpetually. There are wooden benches, well oiled and in good repair, sitting in clusters around the fountain. Three tunnels intersect with this chamber, each heading out in a different direction. You see two sets of alcoves along each wall: the alcoves are five feet wide and about three feet deep and high. There are three alcoves arrayed vertically above each other in each set, making six alcoves total on each section of wall. Each alcove has items in it, most looking to be fabric.

Date/Time: 3:00pm, 09 July 2021
Light: Continual Light spells
Injuries: Blackjack (majorly injured), Achaedany (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured)

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#25 Post by Alethan »

Earc of Toll's Tower

Earc moves to the nearest set of alcoves and begins examining the contents to see what they are.
Dragon foot. Bamboo pole. Little mouse. Tiny boy.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#26 Post by Marullus »

Earc moves over to the alcoves and examines the contents. They appear to be bunk beds - a little short for a human, but appropriately sized for a Morlock. There is a padded matress and some blankets on each one, as well as some small wooden boxes which hold other materials. Some are empty but once held spices or food. Others hold silver utensils, plates, cups.

Date/Time: 3:10pm, 09 July 2021
Light: Continual Light spells
Injuries: Blackjack (majorly injured), Achaedany (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured)

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#27 Post by Alethan »

Earc of Toll's Tower

Earc whispers, "This must be where the morlocks sleep."

He checks the mattresses for anything of value and directs the hirelings to pack up the silver into their packs, adding, "We will distribute that later..."
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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#28 Post by Spearmint »

Amistad

"My tribal sags' remind me of magic fountains. Some sprang waters of youth, others were ordained for divine or arcane purposes. We should even approach this with care." he says before checking out the water, stirring it with the blade of his axe. Any coins at the fountain bottom or precious stones set in place. Any runes about for Earc to translate?

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#29 Post by Marullus »

Akkara and Achaedany help Earc efficiently loot the beds of their silver contents, stealing all the bowls, utensils, etc which the owners had left behind. They almost fill one large sack (50lbs/500sp).

Amistad pokes the water with his axe and inspects the fountain, but finds no gems, coins, or runes; just artfully carved whorls and petal-like flourishes.

Date/Time: 3:20pm, 09 July 2021
Light: Continual Light spells
Injuries: Blackjack (majorly injured), Achaedany (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured)

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#30 Post by Alethan »

Earc of Toll's Tower

"Which way do we go now? Do we continue on through one of the two passages? Or do we go back to the main chamber and try a new way?"
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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#31 Post by Spearmint »

Amistad

"lets try this left hand tunnel." he says and ventures forward.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#32 Post by Alethan »

Earc

Earc nods in agreement and prepares to follow the dark-skinned logger.
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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#33 Post by Marullus »

Finishing up in the chamber and having looted all the silver utensils, Blackjack chooses the westmost exit and leads the group onward, followed by Earc, then Olaf and the ladies. Holding his bracelet of glowing crystals aloft, Blackjack heads out.

As Olaf follows Balckjack and Earc out of the room, his perceptive dwarven senses note the slight tilt of the stone under his footfall. Thus alerted, he leaps to the side just as a square section of the stone flooring swings open beneath his feet, narrowly avoiding a steep fall. The party has a moment to look down into the hole with their glowing magical lights - they see a round-sided chamber 20' below with no exits. A concave bowl on the floor is full of water, which overflows the lip and departs through a tiny drain. Smears of blood clearly mar the flooring.

Date/Time: 3:30pm, 09 July 2021
Light: Continual Light spells
Injuries: Blackjack (majorly injured), Achaedany (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured)


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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#34 Post by Spearmint »

Amistad, stares at the bowl, what is causing it to be filled? A tap, some water dripping from above? Looks like an animal den of some kind. mark the wall above so we know a shifting floor lies beneath and if no creature appears, carry on down the passage.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#35 Post by Marullus »

Okay, moving on...

Considering the pit astutely, Amistad ascertains that the water is bubbling up within the bowl as it does in the adjacent fountain, thus an artisian tap. It overflows the bowl's lip on one side to cascade down a drain, ensuring perpetual clean water supply for whatever is within.

Amistad marks the wall above with the stub of a wax candle again; it doesn't show well, but is better than nothing. Done with this chamber and its contents, the group continues on. More hours pass as you move meticulously, carefully measuring and mapping the hallways accurately as the tunnels honeycomb their way through the bedrock. The smooth, rounded tunnels seem endless. Olaf seems bothered by this at one point and shares his observations - excavation is a lot of work and this is more tunnels than would be needed. They aren't following veins in the stone, they aren't getting you to a specific destination; some criss-cross haphazardly. Beyond that, there is no sign of removed stone, either at the entrance above or down here below. There's no gravel, no waste dumps so far. It would be a long way to haul waste-rock to somewhere especially if that rock didn't really need to be dug. The dwarf can't help but puzzle about its oddness.

The group continues branching in the most westwardly manner until another chamber opens up before them, then a gaping chasm beyond, the glowing stones unable to illuminate the far end of the recess. The chamber is about 40' square with normal mitered walls on three of the four sides. The fourth wall, which is opposite your entrance point, is missing, the floor ending in a jagged cliff edge. You see you're halfway up a natural cavern wall, the stalagmites 30' below and the stalactites 30' above, the cavern stretching beyond your light onward (more than 100'). In the chamber, you discern hewn-stone work tables, wooden chairs of the same high quality as before, and messy piles of discarded trash. On the walls are several waxy protuberances; yellowish and solid.

Date/Time: 5:30pm, 09 July 2021
Light: Continual Light spells
Injuries: Blackjack (majorly injured), Achaedany (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured)


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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#36 Post by Spearmint »

'Blackjack' Amistad

I think we should stay away from the underground chasm. We know of dragons and other such critters too. No telling what is beyond our sight and I think this might be the western limit of the Morlock territory. Not so knowledgeable about mushrooms and funghi, most seem to either be poisonous or sentient stalks ready to shriek out. Also concerned that in the hours we have explored we have met no Morlock, seen no one, heard no one.

He will ask Akaraa her thoughts and suggest too, though it is early evening to find a secluded place we can defend and camp up. Everybody to get a tracing of any maps produced so far so if separated we can at least get out and not wander in a labyrinth.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#37 Post by Alethan »

Earc moves over to examine the trash, mumbling, "One man's trash is another man's treasure..."
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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#38 Post by Marullus »

Olaf's reaction?

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#39 Post by Zhym »

"Natural cave be better'n what we be seeing," says Olaf. He creeps forward toward the ledge, wondering what's beyond.

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Re: Expedition - Amistad: Down the Morlock Hole II - 06 July

#40 Post by Marullus »

Earc begins poking through the piles as Amistad contemplates a campsite. Achaedany and Akkara join Amistad in examining the surrounding site for security purposes. Their rummaging uncovers glinting metal - they find blocks of untarnished gold amidst the rubbish. Olaf moves off from the group to the edge and peers into the caverns.

The abrupt bear-like roars and thrumming of beetle wings catches the group by surprise as a family of creatures drops from their concealment above on the cavern's wall and attacks you. You see a dull-glint in their goblinoid eyes, staring out of a flat, noseless face with giant mandibles and serrated teeth in its mouth. Stout bear-like legs and muscular forearms flank two pairs of slender insectoid limbs which extend out of each of the creature's sides. A hard carapace covers its back, like natural armor with thrumming, beetle-like wings. Two are larger - clearly parents - while five juveniles accompany them. They curve inward as they drop, using their momentum to try and overbear the party members.

The largest comes straight at Earc, who manages to fend off its mandibles. The second largest and three of its spawn group on Achaedany, who curses a string of obscenities. Her crossbow, already loaded and ever-ready, fires reflexively, hitting the large one, who careens off-course and crunches one of the juveniles against the wall, both severely injured as their attacks go awry (-8, -8). The other two manage to tackle Achaedany with their bulk, however, carrying her to the ground and biting savagely into her torso (-6, -6). Amistad fends off the last two juvenile bug-bear creatures, parrying their initial attacks while gathering his wits.

Date/Time: 5:31pm, 09 July 2021
Light: Continual Light spells
Injuries: Achaedany (dying), Blackjack (majorly injured), Akkara (minorly injured)


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