Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Storm11]

Saracenremains in the entrance chamber as illustrated, watching the exit and the other tunnels for signs of intrusion.

[kruk]

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

The paladin moves back towards the main room with the rest of the group, but keeps an eye on the passage from where he came in order to make sure nothing sneaks up on the group.

Lerrick

The cleric moves closer to the fighter with the huge axe as she feels Gramble can do a better job of protecting the group than the paladin.

[OGRE MAGE]

Back In The Cave
Moonday, 15th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Humid

Regrouping in the entrance chamber, Gramble suggests tying a rope around the statue to pull it forward from a distance. The others seem content to let it be for now and make another attempt once they return.

Andronichishche seems obsessed with the strangeness of these tunnels, unable to shake the thought of a massive rock eating worm named Brutus from his learned mind. He suggests that the group move to the southern tunnels again, to finish their search there before heading back to the much larger island.

Actions?

map:

Everyone is in the entrance chamber again.

Sir Crestbrook 7/11 LoH (torch: 40'r/.6T)
Gramble 13/16
Tlachtga 8/8 0/4 1st (torch: 40'r/1.3T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 5/11 0/4 1st
Saracen 28/33 0/5 1st 1/2 2nd
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 0/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche steps over to the threshold of the eastern tunnel and peers into the darkness.

"In the tunnels themselves we haven't encountered any creatures or traps. We could complete our survey of the southern tunnels before we leave. Although we are short on resources and injured, so if the majority decides to head back to town with fruit first, I would not object ..." His last few words trail off as if he was suddenly preoccupied with a thought. He abruptly cocks his head towards the tunnel to the west, his eyes narrowing, gazing intently at something in the passage.

Andron slowly walks a few paces into the western tunnel, each step measured as his attention is fixed in examining what he saw. He runs one hand along both sides of the tunnel walls again, but this time analyzing the texture much more closely as he does so. "I almost didn't notice ... these walls and the ceiling are quite smooth. Similar to the other tunnels but without the periodic segmentation that would indicate a rock burrowing worm of some kind. The walls appear ... melted, or molded ... as if shaped by some force. I've read descriptions of a spell druids can use to such effect, but the sheer volume of rock would have required considerable time using magic alone."

He kneels to examine the floor and glances up at the ceiling while also using his hands to focus his view down the length of the tunnel itself. Standing again after several moments, he rejoins the others in the entrance cave. "The entire tunnel itself is smooth and shaped ..."; he glances at the bamboo pole he's carrying and turns it to show one end to the group. "... shaped like the inside of this bamboo, but level enough on the floor to allow ease of movement. I wonder if whatever shaped this tunnel also placed that statue there. Perhaps to trigger a warning, alerting of intruders?"

Updated map.

Cave Map.jpg

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"I think it best we head back."

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Maybe it's shaped like dat to let a big giant stone ball roll down an' crush us", suggests Maag."Some people can get unnecessarily complicated wiv der security precautions. It's almost like dey fink its fun for a group of people to get together an' try an' solve der problem".

"An' I fink we should 'ead back too. Las' time we were in good nick until der amulet exploded. We were all knackered an' we 'ad to find der way out wiv a minotaur lurkin' around somewhere".

[ravenn4544]

Alordan "So head out, heal up, and return? I'd like to come back and figure out what's going on here..."

[Quonundrum]

"Maybe it's shaped like dat to let a big giant stone ball roll down an' crush us"

Andronichishche raises an eyebrow at this suggestion. "That would be unnecessarily … theatrical … indeed. I also agree with the consensus. Head back to town with fruit, recuperate, and return to complete our mission."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Yes, return for sure, once we are in better shape."

[Storm11]

Saracen nods as the others talk. Yes, let us gather as much fruit as we can, and head for the boat! Hopefully without the tree stalkers or the grumpy cows in tow. I am tired and in need of some spiritual rejuvenation before we continue to explore this maze any more. To the fruit! he says jovially.

He will gather as much fruit as he can in his cloak, and lug it back to the beach. When the others aren’t looking he will try and feed one of the cats with one, preferably one that’s not near any of the others.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche will likewise gather fruit in his backpack and use his overcoat as a makeshift sack to carry even more.

Subject to his strength limit, of course.

[OGRE MAGE]

How did we get from the cave all the way to the beach already?

Or is that wishful thinking?

[Quonundrum]

I read it as efficient command queuing to save time.



Assuming we're not ambushed and ruthlessly murdered by a gang of minotaur ...

[kruk]

Lerrick and Sir Crestbrook brace for the ambush

[Rex]

Tlachtga is looking forward to the ambush.

[Storm11]

Saracen will attach a couple of bananas to his helmet to fool the Minotaurs I to thinking he is one of them

[OGRE MAGE]

Back Outside The Cave
Moonday, 15th of Goodmonth
Early Afternoon, Sunny, Hot, Humid

The party decides to forgo the exploration of the southern tunnels and the mysterious blocking statue for today, wishing instead to spend some time gathering fruit to bring back to town with them. They carry their now unneeded torches outside into the light of day, taking a few seconds to let their eyes adjust to the natural light again. The many minotaur statues inside the stone ring stare at them blankly as they exit.

Much to their delight, there is no live minotaur or any other monsters to deal with inside the ring of massive standing stones that protects this area. A quick search of the inner circle reveals nothing new, but something has definitely changed just outside the opening lintel.

Several thick trunked trees of unknown origin have somehow assembled themselves at or near the entrance to the stone ring. Passing through the way you came in will lead you right into the group of them. Maag has seen this strange trick before, so he nods his perfectly round head and hops up on the stone ring to the area where they climbed over and out the day before. He is surprised to see a few of the trees now standing there as well.

Actions?

map:

2B5F0175-8670-44DC-B4FE-E9197D61A8DD.jpeg (112.68 KiB) Viewed 360 times

Sir Crestbrook 7/11 LoH (torch: 40'r/.5T)
Gramble 13/16
Tlachtga 8/8 0/4 1st (torch: 40'r/1.2T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 5/11 0/4 1st
Saracen 28/33 0/5 1st 1/2 2nd
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 0/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Interesting, Guardian Trees."

Standing on a stone to gain some height and speaking at the top of her voice.

"I am Tlachtga Macha, Druidess of Sheldomar Valley! The Oerth Mother Beory has guided me here for some reason and I seek the wisdom to discover why! Can you aid me in my quest for that wisdom!"

She will then repeat what she just said in Druidic.

[kruk]

We all just new it wouldn't be so easy to leave the island

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

The paladin blinks his eyes to adjust to the light. Once, focused he can see the trees blocking the pathway. it was his intent to drop his torch and stamp out the flames with is boot, but now he decides to hold onto the torch. He slings his sword over his shoulders and looks intently at the trees and slowly shakes his head Those are some smart trees


Lerrick

The cleric resists the urge to try to run up and climb one of the trees

[ravenn4544]

"This ain't good," Alordan cleverly concludes.