Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Should of let 'im try an whack der amulet den", grunts Maag, propping the paladin against the wall as he takes a breather. "We wouldn't be in dis mess now".

Maag takes out his charcoal and makes another small mark in Thieves Cant at the base of the wall.

"What der yer reckon den Saracen? Right? More tunnels, more choices."

He picks up Crestbrook again and looks to follow Saracen's lead.

[Storm11]

Saracen motions the others to wait at the junction whilst he checks out the tunnels ahead a little ways. He will take the pole and check the floor and ceiling ahead of him down the tunnel heading off to the right, and about ten feet up the two side tunnels leading north and south off this one, leading with the pole, to see what they are like and if there are any smells, tracks, noises, breezes coming from each before heading back and exploring the left in the same way.

Once he has all the information he will report back to the others for some suggestions on direction.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Search For The Way Out
Freeday, 12th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid, Damp

Leaving the dead behind once again, Gramble and Lerrick start looking for a place to rest.

Alordan searches the ground for more disturbances in the dirt and dust, finding the foot traffic to be fairly widespread, though the north south passages seem to be getting a bit more action. Some of the passages have no tracks leading into them at all.

Feeling the slightest hint of fresh air coming from the northern tunnels, Saracen concentrates his search in that direction. The grisly looking and rather unpleasant half-orc finds only more minotaur statues, and even more tunnels to check.

Actions?

map:

IMG_2705.JPG (671.39 KiB) Viewed 619 times

Maag 6/12
Sir Crestbrook 0/11
Saracen 26/30 0/4 1st 1/1 2nd
Gramble 1/16
Jeevus -9/3 (Deceased)
Lerrick 2/11 0/4 1st
Alordan 2/18 (torch: 40'r/5.2T)

[Storm11]

Saracen returns to the others suggesting that the northern tunnel seems to lead in the direction they wish to follow, mentioning the slight breeze felt in that direction.

Once at the crossroads he will repeat his earlier inspections of the tunnels with the pole along each option, lingering in the cave with the many Minotaur statues. Here he will look carefully at each ones pose and demeanour. Are there anything in the statues hands? What are they wearing? He thinks on who might be the god of minotaurs, thinking back to his religious studies about heathen religions that aren’t worshippers of Pholtus, the blinding light, Hallelu!

[ravenn4544]

Alordan continues to also examine the statues and the ground as they pass. "It is still mid-day I think. Hard to tell here. Let's move a bit further before resting? I'd sure prefer to be out of this cavern..."

[Storm11]

Saracen’s eyes go wide as the ranger speaks! But he takes some deep breaths and gnaws on his snaggle tooth quietly.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Keep goin' to der fresh air, wherever dat is", agrees Maag, bent under the weight of Crestbrook's unconscious form. "All I can smell right now is whatever Cresty uses to wash 'is 'air." He sniffs. "It's nice though. Sorta lilac-y".

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric, while moving on with the group, smiles and laughs under her breath at Maag's comment.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Search For The Way Out
Freeday, 12th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid, Damp

Saracen looks closely at the group of 5 minotaur statues grouped together in the one chamber. None of them are holding anything in their hands. Each one is posed in a different position. Ones hands and arms are stretched out, another is standing on one leg, etc. At first glance it doesn't look like they are doing anything discernible, as if they were all frozen in a random act of moving or walking. But when observed from a distance, like in the opening of the tunnel, the half-orc is surprised to discover that they all appear to be engaged in some kind of strange minotaur dance. Or, more likely, they were all positioned in here to look that way. His memory doesn't turn up any recollection of the god of these creatures.

Alordan continues searching the floor, torch in hand. He confirms that the majority of the tracks in the dust seem to be running north/south, the same direction as Saracens hint of fresh air. Maag urges him to press on further, sniffing around Crestbrooks head a lot more lately.

Continuing towards the fresh air, the group starts to see a bit of natural light in the long dark tunnel, coming from somewhere up ahead.

Stopping in the entryway of another small chamber, the group can see more graffiti scribbled in soot on the walls here, like they found in the entrance chamber. The phrase repeated over and over in this room is: The Wizard Will Pay!!! Otherwise, the chamber appears to be empty.

Actions?

map:

IMG_2709.JPG (436.33 KiB) Viewed 584 times

Maag 6/12
Sir Crestbrook 0/11
Saracen 26/30 0/4 1st 1/1 2nd
Gramble 1/16
Jeevus -9/3 (Deceased)
Lerrick 2/11 0/4 1st
Alordan 2/18 (torch: 40'r/5.0T)

[Storm11]

Saracen raises his eyebrows at that. I wonder what wizard this is talking about? Perhaps the one that turned these minotaurs to stone maybe? Or carved them so intricately. Whatever it is we need to get out of here ASAP. I will continue to scout ahead. Leave ten feet before following in case I encounter a pit or something!” with that said Saracen moves along the corridor with the tracks in, tapping with his pole carefully as he moves towards the light and the breeze and keeping his eyes open above and below

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric looks at the floor of the room containing the graffiti for foot traffic (other than the prints causes by the members of the party) She shakes her head and states. This room would be a perfect place to rest for a while. if we keep pressing on and we are attacked there is only two of us here who has the ability to survive a melee or spell attack. Looking around at the others: Three of would die under such an attack and one of us is already unconscious. We can't defend ourselves. I think it is worth the risk to rest here so that I, as well as Sarcaen , can gain our much needed power to heal. This room only has one exit. We can only be attacked from the front. The paladin is unconscious so he can't say anything to give our position away. If we are quiet anything lurking about may move on by. . She looks at the others to see if they are in agreement with her plan.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Yer, but if sumfin' did come along, it would definitely see us in der", points out Maag. "Der would be no way to 'ide or run away".

"An' if we don't get back to der beach, der fellas in der boat will leave before it gets dark. Den we'll be stuck 'ere, at least over night. An' who knows if dey will come back tomorrow?"

[ravenn4544]

Alordan agrees with the wisdom of Maag. "He's right - if we stay and rest and get trapped - we're dead. If we keep going and get to the boat - we may have a better chance. We can rest up and come back and figure out what the hell is going on here. Maybe that note there is aimed at some crazy wizard who froze these poor creatures. They may be an aggressive creature- but's it not natural. Not natural at all... I'm inclined to try and help. I imagine it was like this before the poor girl got here? Did that journal say anything about that?"

[kruk]

Lerrick

Very well. Is there anything I could do to help out. Perhaps I can carry the touch the rest of the way Alordan so that you are free to use both hands to fight if need be? I'm afraid that I'm not much use for anything else. She smiles. It is clear that the cleric wants to be of help to the party during this perilous time.

[OGRE MAGE]

The Search For The Way Out
Freeday, 12th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid, Damp

With the majority of the group wishing to press on, Saracen moves forward up the filthy narrow tunnel. After a few more steps, he sees some familiar graffiti scrawled upon the tunnel wall. I Will Have My Revenge!

Always willing to help, Lerrick takes the torch from Alordan so both of his hands can be freed for fighting. A few more steps brings the tapping holy warrior into the entrance cave where that same disturbing message is scattered all over the walls. They see the sleeping mat and the low raised round magical platform with the minotaur image etched into the top of it.

The noontime sunshine coming through the cave opening is a comfortable sight for the weary adventurers. Fortunately, everything looks pretty much exactly the same as it did before.

Actions?

map:

IMG_2713.JPG (435.19 KiB) Viewed 555 times

Maag 6/12
Sir Crestbrook 0/11
Saracen 26/30 0/4 1st 1/1 2nd
Gramble 1/16
Jeevus -9/3 (Deceased)
Lerrick 2/11 0/4 1st (torch: 40'r/4.9T)
Alordan 2/18

[Storm11]

Saracen, sighing in relief at seeing the entrance cavern once more, edges towards the actual exit and peers outside, looking and listening for any signs of danger.

I wonder if the magical Dias there activates the Minotaur statues.. he muses aloud.

If the coast seems clear he will exit the cavern and check the clearing for new tracks.

Are we resting here or heading for the beach and the boats?

[ravenn4544]

Alordan is visibly relieved to see the entrance. "Let's leave the dais for another day. Let's make our way to the boats under the mid-day sun"

He will approach the entrance and listen carefully for any thing outside or take note of any tracks that would have covered their own since they entered a few hours ago.

[kruk]

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

zzzz zzzzz zzzzz

Lerrick

Lerrick nods her head in agreement with the ranger while going through the process of extinguishing the torch, making sure not to set anything on fire in the process. She then finds the highest tree around and climbs it in order to scout from above, scanning all areas, but more so in the direction of the drop off point from the boat. While doing so she can't help but feel relieved that the party had made it out of the cave without anymore casualties.

[wolfpack]

Gramble ready to get out of the caves moves forward behind Alordan

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag is as relieved as everybody else to see the exit appear before them. Once outside he takes in a deep breath of fresh, non-lilac scented air.

"Watch out for der movin' trees", he cautions. "Let's jus' try to walk back to der beach, all casual, like".

"By der way, I was thinkin' about all dat writin' about der wizard back der. Wasn't dat spider maze we jus' got back from, der old lair of some old powerful wizard?"

"Der yer reckon 'e could be der same wizard?"