Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche watches both torch bearers move east followed by Alordan and Saracen. He glances at Maag, then back at the east tunnel, uncertain as to exactly what had just transpired. He looks back again at Maag, "Apparently we are all scouting east. Come, as we walk you can relate to me your last will and testament."

Andronichishche then turns about and follows the others.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag watches the party snake eastwards. "Dis must be some new meaning of der word 'scout', of which I was previously unaware".

The half-orc shrugs, and proceeds to tell Andronichishche of his plans to die of heart failure, whilst in bed with voluptuous blond triplets, when aged 98.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan shakes his head sadly that the group just doesn't heed the danger they are in. How seemingly they have forgotten the unexpected teleport trap - what if the scout ahead got caught in that by himself? Then blindsided by a ferocious Minotaur - or something worse we haven't encountered?

He'll add the sarcastic comments and glares from the group to his already growing list of questionable conclusions.

[OGRE MAGE]

Back In The Cave
Moonday, 15th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Rainy, Misty, Humid

Lerrick takes the torch from Andron as more theories about minotaur's and medusa are tossed around. She appears to be willing to move ahead to scout with the paladin when she is stopped by Saracen, who warns her of her place. She reminds the half-orc that neither he nor any of the others have volunteered, so she moves ahead all the same. Gramble eventually steps up to join the leaders, right in front of Tlachtga and her dog, who also agree to scout ahead, bringing both torches into the front ranks now.

Possibly confused as to what "scouting" actually means, the entire group decides to follow behind the pack so there is no separation from the light of the torches. Not much further ahead, they reach another dead end in the tunnel. The disturbing voice in Sir Crestbrook's head continues calling to him from beyond the rock walls of the passageway's termination. "Yesssss, yessssss. You've found me again, Sssssir Cresssssstbrook. Now come insssssside and sssssssay hi!"

Actions?

map:

8CBB353F-7307-4BBB-BCC8-0FBEE1144C11.jpeg (433.75 KiB) Viewed 654 times

Sir Crestbrook 11/11 LoH
Gramble 13/16
Lerrick 11/11 2/4 1st (torch: 40'r/4.3T)
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st (torch: 40'r/5.1T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Saracen 28/33 4/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Rex]

Tlachtga


Tlachtga will search for secret doors etc. and once done will get set with Scimitar ready and her shield up to block her view. Blinders down on Cu with him sitting.

Whispers "Ready."

[wolfpack]

Gramble shines up Labrys again planning to use it for reflection.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan will help search for doors also if needed.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche attentively listens to Maag's retirement plan while they walk and offers some advice of his own, "Ninety eight years of age would leave you with many years of post adventuring time. I would suggest investing in a diversified portfolio of assets; gems, jewelry, even magic items to help you maintain the kind of lifestyle you'd need for three wives, also ...", he stops mid-sentence when the group's progress is stopped by a sudden dead end in the tunnel.

"Most unusual", he says eyeing the apparent rock wall terminating the path northward. Andronichishche rubs his chin while switching his view frequently from the wall back to the passage west from whence they came. Things are not as they first appear in these caves. This was one of the tunnels we detected the foul odor ... yet, there is no apparent source nor means for such to emanate from the wall. Unless ..."

Andron picks up a loose rock on the floor and tosses it against the wall to the north.

[kruk]

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

The paladin looks at the wall in front of him. He then closes his eyes and thinks outloud, wondering if the communication is a two ways: You want me to come to you by going through the wall in front of me. How do I do oh voice in my head?


Lerrick

The cleric holds the torch up high so that the paladin can see. She diverts her eyes as well. She grips her mace with her other hand.

[OGRE MAGE]

Back In The Cave
Moonday, 15th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Damp, Dim, Humid

Weapons are readied as hidden doors are searched for in the passage, but nothing is found along its walls. Crestbrook concentrates on the voice, attempting to further communicate with whoever it is. There is no longer any reply.

Andron wonders why the horrid smell persists in a dead end passage, so he gets an idea. He somehow manages to throw a chunk of rock over the heads of seven others in front of him that somehow crashes against the northernmost portion of the passage. The spellcaster doesn't hear it from his position at the rear of the line, but Crestbrook definitely notices that the rock wall in front of him sounded rather hollow once struck. Reaching out to push on it, the rock wall starts to give slightly, revealing that it isn't a wall at all but a secret door that is now slightly ajar. The sound of distant snakes hissing can be heard beyond the crack, along with a familiar rhythmic dripping of water. Cu starts to growl softly.

Actions?

Try to keep in mind that you are all in a very narrow passageway at the moment, so normal movement and actions will be hindered by that somewhat. Thanks!

map:

33429BFC-3C7C-4CAF-800E-A3415230530C.jpeg (433.75 KiB) Viewed 615 times

Sir Crestbrook 11/11 LoH
Gramble 13/16
Lerrick 11/11 2/4 1st (torch: 40'r/4.2T)
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st (torch: 40'r/5.0T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Saracen 28/33 4/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga remains ready in her spot in case they are attacked from behind.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche immediately winces after throwing the rock at the north wall, realizing in his haste the close confines of the tunnel. Fortunately, it misses any head and strikes true against the distant wall, and as the island cats were left on the beach none were killed by this act of curiosity. Andron frowns a bit when the stone apparently bounces off as would normally be expected, and not the revealment of an illusion, however. Unaware of what Sir Crestbrook heard he calls out, "Sorry for almost hitting anyone, I acted on a whim that the wall is an illusion." Noting that from his position in the crowded tunnel he's unable to assist further in a search, Andron reviews his mental map and attempts to calculate their position. "By my estimation, this tunnel ends very close to the complex of caves Cora was discovered."

[OGRE MAGE]

I very badly want to take that as Andron saying that he was physically mapping along the way, since I don't believe anyone else has mentioned they were doing that.

Should I take it that way?

Please?

[wolfpack]

Gramble says to whoever is in front of him.

Light some oil and throw it in the room

[Quonundrum]

I very badly want to take that as Andron saying that he was physically mapping along the way, since I don't believe anyone else has mentioned they were doing that.

Should I take it that way?

Please?

Partly, yes. Assuming nobody was physically mapping the first time on the island, the upper half of the map he's calculating from their recollections.

[Jernau35]

Though it was never specifically mentioned as one of the reasons he brought it, Maag does have a pouch full of charcoal that could be used to map. And he does have a history of sketching things on palm leaves and such. So it's possible he's been scribbling as they went along....

[OGRE MAGE]

It’s possible?



Thats a big help!

[ravenn4544]

On page 241 of the 1e DMG it CLEARLY states that the mapping is solely the responsibility of the DM in cases where responsibility is ambiguous or without prior arrangement.

[kruk]

Gramble says to whoever is in front of him.

Light some oil and throw it in the room

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

Good idea. Does anyone have any oil? I do not. Sir Crestbrook drops the 10 foot pole and places the sword in his left hand, freeing up his right hand to receive the oil. Gramble, do you have any oil? If so, when you ready, have Lerrick light the oil and place the oil in my right hand. I'll push the door open until I have enough space to throw the oil inside. I will throw it in there as soon as you have handed the oil over to me.


Lerrick

Sounds like good plan to me. However, I too don't have any oil. Also, I am concerned that the secret door may spring a trap if the door is opened too far Perhaps we should all move back so that Cresty can push the door up with the pole before throwing the oil inside. Or, Maag can come forward and check the door for traps first, then carry out the plan. Thoughts anyone?

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche glances up from amending his map ( ), curious as to the nature of the discussion. He blinks in surprise when he notices the slightly ajar secret door ... "Considering the summoning dais, the teleport trap, and the mysterious amulet, a secret door seems rather ... mundane."

Shrugging off his disappointment in the lack of an illusion, Andron weighs in on the actions proposed. "Although it would appear this door is intended to be secret, it's a bit obvious given the abrupt termination of the tunnel. I concur in a search for traps, and also moving anyone not immediately involved further back where we have some distance and maneuverability."

Andronichishche prepares to follow others back along the tunnel, but adds before doing so, "I would also be cautious in blindly tossing flaming oil, consider what happened with Cora and the amulet before both were better understood."