Chapter 02: Aquifers & anaglyphs

[Nordbo]

Grateful for a breath of fresh(ish) air, the group breaks out into the (relative) open of a vast cavernous area. The four adventurers find themselves standing on a paved esplanade or promenade, going from left and right as far as their torch light reaches. Its width (across from the open hatch to the edge of the water) is roughly 10-15'.
To the left - darkness. To the right - a faint glimmer from an opening set in a wall maybe 70'-80' away.

Three watchtowers 15' high can be seen placed out along the edge of the promenade, protruding another 15-20' towards a large body of water, the far edge of which is not visible. Each tower has stairs going up: between the towers are descending stairs, leading down to the water. A lot of rubble has crashed down on the stair sections from somewhere - stones, brick and rocks lie here and there.

When looking back at the hatch the adventurers crawled out of, it becomes apparent that it was actually a small section of a larger portal, which is decorated with reliefs of skeletons circling a flame (see image):

Oath_Ch02_01.jpg (158.53 KiB) Viewed 1347 times

The large portal is barred with sturdy metal girders set in the rock, secured with locks and chains. It looks like it hasn't been opened for a long time. The size of it corresponds to the portal outline Tiny tried to push in, in the narrow passage. The two may have made up a through passage at some point.

Korin ascends the tower straight ahead without problems. He can see out over the vast body of water which lies fairly still - but it extends further than his torch light and vision. Looking up, the light from his torch flickers against the cave's ceiling, about 50' above him.
By the 'quayside' between this tower and the next one on the right, the remnants of a wooden vessel lies half submerged in the water. It is from this that the faint splashing sounds came.

Actions!

[sastaz]

Map section A as we left it in Chapter 01, for reference.

[Rex]

Tiny

"What do you see up there Korin?"

[sastaz]

Thorelf walks another 20' or so towards the opening with the faint light to see if he can make out anything more.

[Gebex]

Eaton

Looks back at the gate.

Hmmm, this look to be a religious drawing of human sacrifice. It is strange that the symbol of sacrifice is fire and not water. The unholy cultist seemed to have water as a mean for their sacrifices. Very strange....

[Nordbo]

Tiny

eager to get his bearings, calls out to Korin to describe the view from above.

Eaton

carefully studies the portal they just came out of, and suddenly remembers tales of a renegade priest who manically preached obedience to something called 'The perpetual flame', only to disappear from public life with a small band of followers, a few years ago....

Thorelf

turns to the right ("east" on the map), passes the half-sunk vessel, then the last watch tower near the wall (which turns out to be half-circular only, set against the wall) and tiptoes closer to the lit up opening. In his torch light it shows itself to be another set of double doors opening inwards (see image).

Oath_Ch02_03.jpg (90.45 KiB) Viewed 1306 times

This large portal is also framed by skeletal decorations: but here, they encircle a stylized spout of water instead of fire.
Inside, a floor decorated with strange symbols can be seen.

Actions!

[Rex]

Tiny

Tiny stands watch until Korin comes down or something happens to draw his attention.

[Gebex]

Eaton

Guys, we are all hungry, hangover and tired. We need some food and some rest.

I have 3 HP dam of 10. How about you?

[sastaz]

Thorelf walks back to his companions and discovers Eaton discussing with Tiny.

"We need to rest, but the guards are surely on our tail?"

He looks around and then back.

"In Franken we have a saying: 'rest behind a locked door, but not without leaving the window open'. We can fortify ourselves in a tower, but if the guards show up, how do we escape?"

"Korin, how are you doing in there?!"

Unharmed, but with a mere 6 hp to begin with...

[sastaz]

The harbour. Ugliest fog of war ever, but you get the point

[Gebex]

Eaton

If we need a second way down we could use my rope. If we put traps or things that makes noise at the doors into this place we will hear if the guards come here.

[sastaz]

Thorelf walks over to the tower and looks if Korin is visible.

"Korin, you alright?"

[Rex]

Tiny

Looking at Thorelf, "Do you think I should go up after him?"

[sastaz]

Thorelf

"Yes. I'll go with you."

Thorelf gestures for Tiny to go first.

"Eaton, keep a lookout for anyone approaching."

GM is there any sound/sight of Korin up there?

[Rex]

Tiny

Tiny leads the way, sword at the ready.

[Gebex]

Eaton

Sure I can look. Maybe you should tie the rope around you so I can pull you out if needed.

Eaton hands over the end of his trusted rope.

Then thinks out loud. It is a very interesting coincident that we are four of us and there are four towers. It could be a sign.....

[sastaz]

Thorelf

"Yes Eaton, absolutely, very interesting. Hold that thought."

Follows Tiny.

[Nordbo]

Eaton

takes stock of the situation and suggests some rest, but

Thorelf

coming back from taking a peek at the eastern wall, is wary about relaxing with hostile forces potentially nearby.

Both discuss how to secure the (by all appearances, calm) area they are in.

Thorelf now also joins

Tiny

in calling out after Korin.

But actually, everyone can clearly see the dwarf standing on the upper ledge of the middle tower, holding his torch up high. He seems fine - maybe he's just transfixed by the cavernous enormity of this place. Or tired after all this morning's crazy action.

In the still environment, all three below continue picking up faint <plip-plop> splashing sounds over the ramp edge near the sunken vessel.

And, only

Three watchtowers 15' high can be seen placed out along the edge of the promenade

, not four

[GreyWolfVT]

Korin comes back down having apparently been guilty of napping above gets all bristled and gruff "Bah what yer legs broken? Can't ya climb stairs yerself and see tha view from up there yerselves eh? I am fine but I ain't no parrot yah wanna see what be up there go an look plenty a towers fer everyone ta look from." the dwarves face gets a little rosy then he begins chuckling "Heh heh I took a wee nap an decided ta mess with ya. Sunken ship is makin all that splashin'."

honestly since the new topic was made I was getting zero notifications for any posts as apparently each time a new topic is made we have to manually subscribe to each one now unlike the old forums where you could subscribe to the entire game and get notifications for every new and old topic.

[Nordbo]

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DM open roll [1d6]=4