Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[OGRE MAGE]

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

Crestbrook leads the way into the side passage, quickly finding a dead end in the tunnel where another minotaur statue stands all alone. The passage here is still clean and this statue has a serious look of concern on its face.

Andronichishche examines the look on the statues face before everyone turns around again to leave the narrow passage. The priest of Rao comments on the fact that, if these monsters were all turned to stone by a hideous medusa, why don't they all share the same horrific expression.

Saracen and Maag mark the walls again while a few of the others search for signs of secret doors along the walls in this entire area. None are found. Saracen isn't able to pick up any new scents with his pug nose, either. Cu remains silent.

Once back in the main chamber again, the group is forced to try another direction. Should they proceed to backtrack the way they entered the complex initially, or will they continue trying passages they haven't searched yet?

Actions?

map:

B571490C-3A96-430D-8571-58270658BB3A.jpeg (558.98 KiB) Viewed 401 times

Sir Crestbrook 10/11 LoH
Gramble 13/16
Tlachtga 8/8 0/4 1st (torch: 40'r/3.8T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 2/4 1st (torch: 40'r/3.0T)
Saracen 28/33 3/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 0/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche stands in the center of the chamber with hands resting on his hips, an expression of intense concentration on his face as he slowly turns around surveying the walls and floor. "The stone circle from which we entered; that is situated on an elevated part of the island. That suggests then the snake pit should be rather close to sea level outside, and the tunnels themselves slope down away from the entrance."

He next retrieves his map of the complex from his backpack and lays it flat on the floor, indicating different areas with the point of his dagger. "Given that we have a limited supply of torches and we have seen no evidence of live minotaur further inside than the entry cave, I suggest we split into three groups to scout several of the remaining tunnels. He indicates three groups of three tunnels on the map, numbered between one and three. "Each group will check their assigned tunnels, but only as far as the next intersection, room entry, or dead end. No further."

Andron now indicates the southeastern unexplored tunnel, directly south of Cora's chambers."We'll meet up at the end of that tunnel. Group one I suggest comprise Sir Crestbrook, Lerrick, and Maag. Group two, Alordan and myself. Group three, Gramble, Tlachtga, and Saracen. Absolutely avoid passing through the entrance chamber."

"Any objections or other suggestions?"

Assuming this wouldn't be an undue burden on OM with the map, that is.

Map.jpg

[ravenn4544]

Alordan disagrees. “We can’t split the party. We know if we split up and encounter a Minotaur were in trouble. We don’t know what Brutus is yet. So it’s a bad idea”

[wolfpack]

agreed splitting up would be bad

[Jernau35]

Maag

"An' wot if one group finds sumfin valuable an' doesn't wanna share it wiv everybody? Dat," Maag declares, "would not be fair to der rest of us".

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Agreed, no splitting up."

[Storm11]

Saracen muses the splitting up and finally agrees with the others. It would be quicker indeed, but ultimately more dangerous. Never split the party! he says chuckling.

Pholtus can provide us with light should we run out of torches. I have candles also if necessary. What intrigues me more than anything here is how clean it is. It’s a cave, with snakes and undead creatures residing inside, and yet the floors and walls are immaculate. What’s cleaning the place I wonder. Hopefully not some slime monster. Let us continue. This could be a good spot to rest eventually if it truly is a dead end. Come, let us continue to the next nearest tunnel on your map.

[kruk]

Quick post: late for work Lerrick and Sir Cresty will go with which direction the party wants to go next

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche patiently listens to the objections and nods, raising his palms in a gesture of acquiescence. "Those are cogent and reasonable arguments, we shall proceed together as a group." He then turns to Saracen and bows slightly at the hip. "Thank you, Brother of the Blinding Light. I am indeed grateful to have the blessings of Pholtus available, but would certainly prefer to use them for a greater purpose than a torch could provide", he says, smiling broadly.

Andron pauses for a moment, obviously pondering something in his mind. "I was also considering the cleanliness of these tunnels, but weren't they so on your first foray here? Given the plethora of rags hanging in Cora's chamber, I suspect she was cleaning them herself. The tunnels on the other side of the complex are far dirtier, suggesting she wasn't aware of the secret door and avoided the entry chamber with the minotaur dais."

He gestures now to the north passage, "... and thank you for the suggestion, I concur. Let us proceed investigating the nearest tunnel, and in that fashion work our way back west, whereupon we can conclude with searching the tunnels on the southern side."

[Storm11]

Saracen smiles that grim toothed smile at the posh half-elf.

I must confess I know little of Rao, what is his area of specialty? he asks in all seriousness.

Perhaps once we have cleansed these tunnels completely you can use your witchcraft to discover what powers of the Dias actually possesses. Is that within your power to do?

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag makes the deep-furrowed brow expression that shows he is thinking hard. "So...if it woz Cora doin' all der cleanin', den if we make a mess on der floor now, it'll stay der. But if it disappears, den we know it's sumfin else doin' der cleanin'..."

"Right den".

Maag dumps some of his charcoal into a pile in the middle of the floor. Then he takes out his dagger and scrapes the crud off the soles of his boots. Finally, he starts scratching his head to produce a large shower of dandruff that rains down onto the floor.

"Come on lads! Join in!"

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche raises a hand with his head bowed to indicate no offense was taken. "There are only a few temples to Rao in Keoland. It is much more common to the north, in Veluna. Even still, Rao is not as well known among the common folk, his worshippers are typically erudite ... sages, philosophers, diplomats, and the like. He is known as The Mediator, or The Calm god. His sphere of influence is peace, reason, and serenity. Rao teaches us that the greatest gift is reason, which leads to discourse, which leads to peace, which leads to serenity. As for the dais and learning its precise functions, that may be possible, but it would be costly and time consuming. I can copy the sigils and send a letter to the temple of Rao in Niola Dra. There may be a resident sage who has more knowledge of their meaning and can tell us more."

He turns to address Maag in response to his hypothesis, "Yes ... that would certainly be a valid experiment to rule out ...". He stops in mid sentence after Maag finishes scraping his boots and begins dusting the floor with dandruff, his lack of appetite from the recent display of expectorate extending now to a general disregard for any food in the forseeable future. "I … uh … hmm …", he struggles to elocute his opinion. "I think what you have produced already should be quite sufficient for the test, thank you", his mien decidedly disconcerted at the display.

[wolfpack]

Rao sounds like someone I would punch in the face

Gramble gets ready to follow behind crestwood.

[Quonundrum]

Rao sounds like someone I would punch in the face

Andronichishche assumes a more reflective countenance as he considers Gramble's words. "Yes, as I'm learning recently it would seem Rao's teachings do tend to engender that response. Do understand though, a Raoan prefers discourse and reason over violence, but if presented with no other alternative, you will be hard pressed to find a more determined and resolute ally ... or foe ... as a Raoan who by reason has determined conflict is the only path to peace."

[OGRE MAGE]

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

Andron suggests splitting the party. Not in two even cells, but into three separate splinter groups. That idea is shot down immediately by the rest of the members who have been around these parts for a while now and simply know better.

Instead, the party decides to keep moving north, but not before Maag leaves a little something of himself behind as a test.

Crestbrook takes the lead again, tapping his long pole ahead of them as they walk in a single file line through these cramped passages. He gets as far north as the group traveled initially before finding another dead end, and then another, both complete with a stone minotaur statue.

Pressing on, the paladin finds that the main tunnel continues on towards the west. He then locates a very narrow passage that leads south again, all is still quiet and dark ahead.

Actions?

map:

8B48D3F5-F95A-49F4-A7DD-F691306BCA6C.jpeg (819.46 KiB) Viewed 346 times

Sir Crestbrook 10/11 LoH
Gramble 13/16
Tlachtga 8/8 0/4 1st (torch: 40'r/3.5T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 2/4 1st (torch: 40'r/2.7T)
Saracen 28/33 3/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 0/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[kruk]

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

The paladin stops at the sight of the small passage to the left in front of him. Be on guard everyone. There is a small passageway ahead to the left. Looks like a perfect place for an ambush. He then moves slowly tapping the pole in front of him until he arrives at the passage He moves with his back against the northern wall turning the pole towards the open passages He waits as the rest of the party moves closer so that more torch light can flood the small passageway.

If nothing jumps out the paladin will detect evil in the direction of the small passageway.


Lerrick

The cleric continues to follow the others in front of her. She carries the torch in her left hand and the mace in the right hand.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga and Cu follow along after Gramble. Shield and torch at the ready.

[Storm11]

Saracen moves up as well, sword and shield in hand. He will keep his eyes on the main passages in case something approaches whilst the others are distracted. Including the ceilings.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche cranes forward trying to see what caught Sir Crestbrook's attention, but finds it difficult due to the bend in the tunnel. "What did he say? He found a small passageway?" He quickly reviews their position on the map. "Assuming the degree of elevation is roughly circular to the entrance, that passage may have a route back to the surface like the snake pit; be careful of the floor."

[Jernau35]

Maag

With sword and mirror, Maag guards the rear.