In Gods We Trust

[GreyWolfVT]

Kel "Works for me though Lyeara tends to stick by me so she may end up hiding behind me despite your plan sir Gavin."

[MonkeyWrench]

Rakjak

Rakjak cackles at Caidens remark, "Bone soup taste good, not make soup. Rakjak use bone make jello! Rakjak have sugars to add wit ta bones, den make dem in jello." He jabs Caidens sides lightly, but still harder than necessary, "Sweet food, good for bitches in heat." He winks at the young human, content that his advice for using jello to pick up ladies is safely locked away in the mans head for future use.

As Gavin gives out his suggestion for the party formation Rakjak simply nods and walks back into the room, "Rakjak find way, follow behind and no touch dead tings or touching you back." he keeps low and sniffs through the stale air, waiting for the others before progressing further down. While the part mills about he glances off to the gathered arms and armaments that are situated along the walls, "No touch dead, but dead no use stuff, so touch all want."

[Dram]

Lyaera- Takes the flanking side as suggested. She will not touch anything till someone else does. She will try to stay in the shadows.

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden - Caiden laughs awkwardly at Rakjak suggestion and follows the two discretely and simply sighs at Rakjak stealing the skeletons's things heading to the stairs

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Esilia Willow – Pixie

Esilia flies into the room with a swoosh and hovers high, near the 15’ high ceiling, with light rod in one hand, and spatha with bronze hilt in the other. She keeps an eye on the dead things, hoping they stay dead.

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Zirus – Lizard Man

Zirus watches the group, silently flicking his tongue in and out. Though he is certain the dark goddess will awaken the dead or let them slumber. His scaly eyelids blink casually, the eyes moving from one talking creature to the next.

He treads slowly toward the doorway, serpent staff in hand, but stops momentarily to watch the inferior Kobolds shuffle in behind him. He flicks his tongue in and out tasting the air before entering the half-lit room. The sight of the giant warrior on the throne chair brings a rush of memories from a recent encounter near the Belfry Tower inn and pub. He recognizes the armor, helm, and markings and thinks perhaps the dark goddess is trying to tell him something. Slowly shifting his head, Zirus looks toward Caiden to see if he has a similar recognition. The moment passes in silence as the Kobolds shuffle in behind him. He calls to Tobias, “Come Tobias-s-s. Our journey into darkness begins,” then descends the spiral stairs behind Rakjack.

[Antman9]

Summary: The Bottom
Calendar: 11:00 am - July 10th, 9001
Location: Bottom Subfloor of Netheril’s Tower

The party falls into formation, and passes the dead things without them giving so much as a twitch. Gavin pushes the group for three and a half hours, straight down the winding stairs in to the bowels of Dragons Belch. Each floor along the way has a quarter round landing and large wooden door. The doorframes, simple and thick, yet sturdy as the day they were build, reveal nothing within. Gavin lets no one linger to find out though. The dark-grey dust of the 2nd Subfloor room slowly dissipates until the steps are nearly polished clean grey stone. Not hide nor hair can be seen of recent or recent past activity in the stairwell. Not a single twig, stitch of cloth, broken weapon, or bone fragment can be found.

At the bottom of the tower the central stairwell opens out into the bottom floor with a simple stone archway. The room, with 15’ high ceilings, is roughly 60’ in diameter. Large grey stone blocks, curved and fitted perfectly make up the walls. There are three arched stone double-doors on the West, North, and Southeast walls, closed tight. They have no discernible handles but there are wear marks, around 7' high, on either side of where the two doors meet, like push points where many hands over many years have opened the doors. Lined up on the Southwest and Northeast walls are large stone statues, 9’ tall, two human-like statues to each wall, carved with ornate armor (similar to that of the skeleton on the 2nd Subfloor but more ornate/extravagant), flowing capes and robes, bald heads, strong jawbones, and stern expressions.

Bottom Floor

Bottom_Subfloor.jpg (42.71 KiB) Viewed 835 times

Statues

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Fixed to the wall every 9’ are simple stone sconces with 2” circular holes drilled vertically through the bottom of each one. They may have once held light sources, though it does not seem as though a standard torch would fit.

Spaced evenly around the room, between each sconce, are 5’ diameter circular openings, centered between floor and ceiling, and filled with a dark bluish-grey glasslike substance. The seam between stone and glass-like material of each circular opening is precisely fitted leaving virtually no visible seam at all.

On the Northwest wall hangs a large tapestry, 9’ tall and 12’ wide, depicting an alien looking city with bluish-grey domed structures and strange vivid colored plants, all perched on a cliff overlooking the sea.

Tapestry

Tapestry.jpg (80.21 KiB) Viewed 835 times

Actions!


What you know so far

• Strange events and creatures about the town of Hommlet.
• Netheril has lost contact with a fellow Wizard in the Hommlet of Gillian.
• Trees sprung up suddenly on the Seamyst Prairie following a loud horn blow on June 29th.
• The prairie seems to be filled with giant insects and other enlarged creatures.
• Giant Rock Spiders and other strange rock-like creatures encountered in the vicinity of Gillian.
• Brother Smith (Druid of sorts), in the Village of Hommlet, may be the cause of the strange events on the Seamyst Prarie.
• Gaea, Deathless God, mother of the earth and everything therein, may be awakening and threatening the destroy life as everyone knows it.
• Netheril is searching for the Immortals.
• Adventurers have begun to disappear in strange events.
• Strange giant men, possible Moon Men, are appearing and kidnapping people.
• Strange horned demonic beasts have been spotted dispersing dark clouds of black smoky mist that warps the very fiber of living creatures, turning them into slobbering ghoulish terrors.
• Winged, reptilian-like creatures have been spotted flying over the Seamyst Plains.
• Strangly armored Kobolds appear at Netheril’s tower, apparently in the employ the High Wizard Netheril.
• An Elf, possibly Gruagach or Wild arrives, nearly dead, showing signs of some strange transformation with leafy, bark covered skin, and viscous green blood.

Rate of Travel: Slow!

The Party:

• Kel Axelrod – Half Giant (HP: 10/10) (AC: 12)
• Rakjak – Gnoll (HP: 10/10 (AC: 11)
• Lyaera Arabana – Dark Elf (HP: 10/10) (AC: 12)
• Caiden Cross – Human (HP: 10/10) (AC: 13)
• Tafari Baako – Nemed, Honey Badger (HP: 10/10) (AC: 14)

NPC's

• Bartholomew Bumblewoodtooth Grumblefoot III – Gnome Extraordinaire, Retired Adventurer (HP: 40/40) (AC: ??)
• Babak – Small Gargoyle
• Esilia Willow – Pixie (HP: 18/18) (AC: 15/15 fly)
• Gavin Moorehouse – Human (HP: 109/109) (AC: 17)
• Tobias – Grimalkin (HP: 26/26) (AC: 10)
• Zirus – Lizard Man (HP: 10/10) (AC: 19)/

The Bad Guys

• n/a

Calendar:
11:00 am
July 10th, 9001
Sun Rise/Set: 6:41/8:23
Temp: 73.9 °F
Visibility: 10.0 Miles
Wind: 3.5 mph ESE
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Humidity: 97%
Moon Rise/Set: 6:40 pm/4:46 am
Moonlight: Waxing Gibbous, 95% visible
(2014-KFMY)

Translations
n/a

[MonkeyWrench]

Rakjak

Rakjak paces down the stairs and into the large circular open room. He raises his snout to the air and begins sniffing for the stale air of the dead, or something new that could lead them in another direction. He searches around the room, eyeing the statues up close but not touching them. He looks back to the group with a curious expression, "Big room, we go now? No fun for here." As he waits for an answer and decision from the other members of the group Rakjak goes over to the tapestry and sniffs it, inspecting it in greater detail and looking over the whole picture, attempting to see if this can be made as in impromptu map of the area they are not delving into.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kel "I agree with the little one for once. Can we move on out of this place soon? I don't care to dwell here for long best to reach our destination with haste."

[Dram]

Lyaera nods in agreement and follows in behind Kel. She looks over the tapestry closely as she walks towards the exit.

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden looks at the statues with the peculiar armor that he has encountered far too many times by now, he stares at the tapestry in curiosity but doesn't linger on it for too much, "Yes, the faster we reach our destination the better, but which way?"

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Gavin Moorehouse – Human

Gavin stows his heavy mace and takes a quick look around the room. "This place gets stranger by the minute." He eyes the tapestry and rubs a hand over the cloth feeling it's texture, "Strange," then inspects the stone doors of the west exit. "These doors have no handles, yet there are wear marks at 7', see them there?" he asks of the party while pointing up to where the two doors meet. "I agree, we should keep moving. West by south is the general direction we need to travel, though we do not know what lies ahead. Hmmm." Gavin takes another look around the room then approaches Kel, "Would you assist me in seeing if those west doors will open Kel? I think they may be double hinged. Do you see those wear marks? Let us give one of those doors a gentle push to see if they will open of their own free will. The rest of you ready your weapons. Esilia, hover above us to provide light if the doors open."

Gavin will hand his light rod to a Kobold and head to the west doors to give them a push if Kel agrees to help.

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Esilia Willow – Pixie

Esilia, excited as she ever is, flies around the room looking at everything. Flying up close to the head of one statue, its face looming in front of her like a giant stone orb, she peers into its stoney eyes. "They are soooo big. Who do you think they where," she says to no one in particular. She touches its faces tentatively, jerks her hand back like it might try to bite, then flies off to inspect the tapestry. The tapestry's size and vibrant nature overwhelm her. "It looks so...beautiful. Like a u...u...utopia. Wow! It's so wonderful and big, its so big!. This place is strange." She delicately touches the tapestry, inspecting the structures and plant life depicted on it.

Hearing Gavin call her name, she instantly flies over to assist, a serious look of determination and focus on her face, "Ok, I'm ready," she says once she's in position. She pulls out her spatha with bronze hilt in readiness for whatever lies on the other side of the door, even though it is unlikely she will be able to do anything about it herself. Everything is so big in this place it nearly overwhelms her.

[Dram]

Lyreara- Pulls out her 2 hand axes and readies herself for whatever is beyond the doors. She moves herself into the darkest shadow. I am ready.

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden takes out his bow and nods to Gavin and Kel.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kel axe out and tucking one of the light rods away in his pack nods back.

[Antman9]

Summary: Striking Out
Calendar: 11:05 am - July 10th, 9001
Location: Bottom Subfloor of Netheril’s Tower

As various party members take in the strange setting at the bottom of Netheril’s tower, some feel an urgency to keep moving, away from the alien setting.

Gavin suggests the party head west, toward their destination. The party in agreement, Kel assists Gavin in giving the massive stone door at the east entrance a hearty push. At first the door doesn’t even budge. Gavin urges Kel and calls Rackjack and Caiden to help. After a moment of shouldering, the door opens a few inches revealing a mild bluish-green glow, and the realization that the outer chamber is filled with fluorescing plant life. Occasional wisps of blue, green, and yellow light, drift, flutter, and flap past the crack in the door; all ranging in size from firefly to small bird. Some look like birds, other butterflies, others not so much like anything the party has ever seen.

Gavin calls for another shove of the door, and after another few moments the party manages to open the door a few feet; just enough for everyone, including the Half-Giant, to squeeze through.

Plants of varying sizes, shapes, and colors crowd the door opening. The next chamber is filled with plant life: opaque, nearly colorless fungus cleaning to everything like old-man’s beard; strange leafless trees (3’ to 9’ tall) with dark black bark and glowing blue, red, and green berries; Giant toadstools, varying in size from 2’ to 15’ tall; Vines of every shape, size and color, many with glowing fruits, leaves, and tendrils. The plants seem to be flourishing in the darkness. The chamber is near to overflowing, like a rainforest. Points of light, varying in color and size, flit, fly, dart, and waft on the plants and through the air.

The ceiling of the first visible chamber is curved in an organic shape, growing wider and higher from the east doorway where the party is), then curves slightly back down to meet the roof of an adjoining room to the west, at a height of nearly 30’. A large open archway separates the two chambers. The curved roof and walls appear to be made of the same grey stone of the tower with the same 5’ diameter circular openings filled with the dark bluish-grey glass-like substance spaced evenly with only a foot between each. The light given off by the plants and wildlife is bright enough that it is reflecting off the circular glass openings, virtually eliminating the need for artificial light sources.

A well used path is partially visible running from another large arched double doorway directly north of the party's location (similar to the one the party now stands peering from) and runs off into the glowing darkness to the west, meandering through the middle of the chamber with several side paths forking off in various directions. Strange animal and insect sounds fill the air with noise, along with the occasional rustling sound off in the distant forest of plants.


Map

Bottom_Floor_2.jpg (73 KiB) Viewed 822 times

Actions!


What you know so far

• Strange events and creatures about the town of Hommlet.
• Netheril has lost contact with a fellow Wizard in the Hommlet of Gillian.
• Trees sprung up suddenly on the Seamyst Prairie following a loud horn blow on June 29th.
• The prairie seems to be filled with giant insects and other enlarged creatures.
• Giant Rock Spiders and other strange rock-like creatures encountered in the vicinity of Gillian.
• Brother Smith (Druid of sorts), in the Village of Hommlet, may be the cause of the strange events on the Seamyst Prarie.
• Gaea, Deathless God, mother of the earth and everything therein, may be awakening and threatening the destroy life as everyone knows it.
• Netheril is searching for the Immortals.
• Adventurers have begun to disappear in strange events.
• Strange giant men, possible Moon Men, are appearing and kidnapping people.
• Strange horned demonic beasts have been spotted dispersing dark clouds of black smoky mist that warps the very fiber of living creatures, turning them into slobbering ghoulish terrors.
• Winged, reptilian-like creatures have been spotted flying over the Seamyst Plains.
• Strangly armored Kobolds appear at Netheril’s tower, apparently in the employ the High Wizard Netheril.
• An Elf, possibly Gruagach or Wild arrives, nearly dead, showing signs of some strange transformation with leafy, bark covered skin, and viscous green blood.

Rate of Travel: Slow!

The Party:

• Kel Axelrod – Half Giant (HP: 10/10) (AC: 12)
• Rakjak – Gnoll (HP: 10/10 (AC: 11)
• Lyaera Arabana – Dark Elf (HP: 10/10) (AC: 12)
• Caiden Cross – Human (HP: 10/10) (AC: 13)
• Tafari Baako – Nemed, Honey Badger (HP: 10/10) (AC: 14)

NPC's

• Bartholomew Bumblewoodtooth Grumblefoot III – Gnome Extraordinaire, Retired Adventurer (HP: 40/40) (AC: ??)
• Babak – Small Gargoyle
• Esilia Willow – Pixie (HP: 18/18) (AC: 15/15 fly)
• Gavin Moorehouse – Human (HP: 109/109) (AC: 17)
• Tobias – Grimalkin (HP: 26/26) (AC: 10)
• Zirus – Lizard Man (HP: 10/10) (AC: 19)/

The Bad Guys

• n/a

Calendar:
11:05 am
July 10th, 9001
Sun Rise/Set: 6:41/8:23
Temp: 73.9 °F
Visibility: 10.0 Miles
Wind: 3.5 mph ESE
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Humidity: 97%
Moon Rise/Set: 6:40 pm/4:46 am
Moonlight: Waxing Gibbous, 95% visible
(2014-KFMY)

Translations
n/a

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Gavin Moorehouse – Human

Gavin takes a long hard look through the door opening. “This place is very strange. I think it would be best, considering the well-used path out there, that we cover and stow our light rods. Perhaps we need to send a scout? Caiden, Lyreara, would one of you feel comfortable performing a quick scout of the area? You can take Tobias, if he's willing. His keen senses might be useful.”

[MonkeyWrench]

Rakjak

Rakjak stays low, sniffing the air and keening his ears to the sounds of animals and insects as they move in the distance. He gaze darts to each direction that a noise comes from in rapid movements, a whine coming from him. "What is animals doing here, yes?" He stalks over to some of the glowing plants, eyeing them as he sniffs the air around them in an attempt to gain some more understanding of what they are.

Rakjak grabs his hand axe and begins chopping through the different plant life, collecting a good amount of every type of berry, chopped up toadstool caps and stems, samples of the vines, a good amount of the different types of glowing fruit. He will smell the translucent fungi and the tendrils but after a shake of his head and a verbal grumble of, "Yeck, no good dis. Not eating." will leave them alone.

As he collects the necessary ingredients he will speak up to the group, "Rakjak smell dem, collect for later on eating." When the scouting issue is addressed and Rakjak is finished gathering he will rejoin the group, "We go find animals, see meat for eating in darkness, yes?"

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden is taken back and almost mesmerized in the beauty of nature surviving in the darkest of places with no sun rays to help it grow and flourish, but he remains cautious, he heard that the plants started attacking people recently.

He listens to Gavin's request and nods, "I can go ahead and scout the area to make sur-", he spots a figure going around chopping plants and collecting fruits, "is that....Rakjak?....well, I guess there is no need for scouting huh? If there is an enemy then they already know we are here", he scuffs and laughs heading to Rakjak, "Hey, what you got there? Anything worth tasting?"