Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

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OGRE MAGE
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1601 Post by OGRE MAGE »

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Freeday, 19th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Partly Cloudy, Warm, Humid


Before leaving to follow the others again, Andron wonders out loud about a crazed lover that has been pushed beyond his own sanity. Then he remembers the disturbing laughter he heard coming from the stony figure he and Maag encountered in the other tunnel. When he thinks back to the bite mark out of one of the statues elsewhere, Andron suggests that its possible that Brutus is eating the minotaurs. :?

Saracen, Cresty, and Tlachtga continue searching the mushroom chamber, the half-orc finding no source that fills the pond. So, he assumes it must be fed by an underground spring of some kind. Alordan continues keeping watch at the intersection, still unsure why the party would want to be split up right after they just encountered a clearly dangerous monster.

Near the newest blockage in the tunnel, Maag pulls the old "nudge nudge, wink wink, but the others don't quite pick up on the thiefs attempt to confuse anyone who might be listening. Wishing to pound his way through the blockage with sheer force, Gramble takes Lerrick's new mace in his strong hands and tells the others to stand back. He takes a heavy swing with the bludgeoning weapon, smashing a good portion of the thin blockage into smaller bits. He is about to swing again when something near the ceiling of the tunnel suddenly catches his eye. A large, oval head and face begins to form, right out of the stone there. As it appears and takes shape, the low gurgling sound of eroding gravel becomes evident inside the passageway.

Actions?

According to my records below, nobody in the tunnel is carrying a light source. I wonder how they are able to see anything over there? ;)

map:
422D43C6-6301-49FC-B1E6-D8337D2F8981.jpeg
422D43C6-6301-49FC-B1E6-D8337D2F8981.jpeg (104.25 KiB) Viewed 931 times
Sir Crestbrook 9/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:3.5(40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 1/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 2/5 1st 1/2 2nd Find Traps:19
Alordan 16/18 Torch:4.3(40'r)
Andronichishche 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12
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Quonundrum
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1602 Post by Quonundrum »

Andron has infravision but ... sonofabitch ... mirrors need a light source for reflection!

:oops:
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1603 Post by Storm11 »

Saracen Shrugs his shoulders as the group continues to search.

Well I confess I am stumped. There doesn’t appear to be anything in the water, thanks to Cresty’s hasty earth toss. The garden seems to be unloved now, but once was, which suggests it was usable and didn’t have anything sinister within it. It’s seems we have struck a dead end no less. Though one we could survive from for a while.
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1604 Post by kruk »

Lerrick:

Lerrick complements the mighty blow by Gramble as she hears the pieces of rock ricochet against the wall. Nice job Gramble!


Cresty

The paladin opens his mouth to say something but then doesn't as the sound of Lerrick's voice echoes through out the large room. The paladin moves quickly towards Lerrick's location.
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1605 Post by wolfpack »

tunnel is going to collapse fall back

hearing the collapsing stone gramble retreats back to the cave
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Quonundrum
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1606 Post by Quonundrum »

Andronichishche immediately averts his eyes when he notices the head and face forming from the solid rock of the tunnel ceiling. He focuses his gaze upon the floor immediately below the disturbance and moves back just far enough to still see the area but with enough time to cast a spell. Presenting his holy symbol above in the direction of the stone face, eyes still averted, he invokes the Voice of Rao spell. "Brutus! In the name of Rao, we come in peace!" Thinking quickly he adds, "The wizard must pay! You must have your revenge!"
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1607 Post by Jernau35 »

According to my records below, nobody in the tunnel is carrying a light source. I wonder how they are able to see anything over there? ;)

So are we stuck with out a torch or do we have a chance for someone to suddenly "remember" they are carrying one? Since we wouldn't really all be standing in the dark...
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1608 Post by kruk »

Lerrick

The cleric, narrowly escapes from being trampled by the fighter, turns to run as well.
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Rex
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1609 Post by Rex »

Tlachtga

Upon hearing Gramble and the cave in Tlachtga moves towards the tunnel to see if she can help.
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1610 Post by Jernau35 »

Maag

The half-orc takes off back down the tunnel along with the others.
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1611 Post by ravenn4544 »

Seeing the others in the cavern with light he’ll move to the others to shed light on their investigation.
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1612 Post by OGRE MAGE »

Jernau35 wrote:So are we stuck with out a torch or do we have a chance for someone to suddenly "remember" they are carrying one? Since we wouldn't really all be standing in the dark...
Alordan saves the day again. :mrgreen:
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1613 Post by OGRE MAGE »

Back To Work
Freeday, 19th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Partly Cloudy, Warm, Humid


When Alordan arrives with his torch to illuminate the tunnel enough for the others to see, he is nearly stampeded by the group as they flee that area for a second time. Gramble was able to take a good sized chunk out of the thin stone blockage, but he believes the rumbling noise to be a cave in, so he turns to flee, urging everyone in front of him to run away as well.

Gramble, Maag, and Lerrick all spin around to flee the tunnel when Andron decides its time for a spell. He averts his gaze and is nearly run over, long before he has time to address the so called Brutus. The priest of a Rao has a choice of turning to flee behind Alordan, or being trampled by his friends. (I’ll assume you chose the former.)

The rumbling sound of grinding gravel continues to ring through the tunnel, slowly turning into a maniacal, screaming laughter that causes Cu to begin his barking again. The noise draws the attention of the others who come to the rubble strewn intersection to find out what has happened. The crazed gravelly laughter eventually abates, as does the barking, allowing the others to discuss what they saw.

Can I get a normal Wis check from everyone in your next action posts, please!

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map:
stand by for new map
Sir Crestbrook 9/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:3.4(40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 1/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 2/5 1st 1/2 2nd Find Traps:18
Alordan 16/18 Torch:4.2(40'r)
Andronichishche 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1614 Post by Quonundrum »

Andronichishche, focused as he was on the floor immediately under the forming stone face didn't quite register the stampede about to fall upon him. He had backed away a few paces and was formulating in his mind a plan, a desperate plan, to make contact with Brutus. The adrenaline dump coursing through his body sharpened his thoughts, allowing him to instantly recall the blood scrawled epithets about the wizard. Maybe those might help pierce the insanity gripping Brutus?

Andron reaches for his holy symbol of Rao, preparing to cast an epynomous spell. His hand had barely touched the wooden icon when he finally noticed the three sets of boots, legs, and he quickly assumed the entire frames of Maag, Lerrick, and Gramble barreling down upon on him. He attempts to turn and follow suit but the mass of panic swept him up as a wave would carry driftwood. He was far too slender to suggest he was jostled or even pushed, as he frantically grasped at Maag's arms. Only by divine providence was he able to grip with two hands a leather vambrace attached to a trunk sized arm and held on as he was unceremoniously hauled back to the rubble strewn intersection ...

Normal wisdom check: [3d6] = 7 (18)
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1615 Post by Rex »

Tlachtga

"Did anyone see him, I heard him laugh."

Wis check (17) [3d6] = 6
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1616 Post by Quonundrum »

Andronichishche releases his death grip on Maag as the mass of reluctant heroes tumble into the intersection; he hops into the threshold of the south tunnel to make way for the others. After a few tense moments while the entire party gathers and gazes at each other, wondering how to broach this new surprise, Andron regains his composure and attempts to relay what he was able to see and hear.

"Mr. Gramble had struck the stone wall with the mace, and as we hoped it was indeed thin enough to break off a piece. Before he could swing again though, a face began to emerge from the stone near the ceiling, very much like Mr. Maag and I saw the first time. It was not fully formed before we fled however, so I can't confirm it was the same face. The stone sealing the secret door was less extensive than before. There were gaps this time, almost like it was ... melting."

He looks askance at Gramble before continuing, knowing what he wanted to say next, but was fairly sure the stoic fighter would certainly have disagreed with what he attempted to do back in the tunnel. "I had tried to cast a spell and communicate with him, get him to say ... something! Anything. That laugh, though. It was almost the embodiment of insanity itself. If that is Brutus, and if he was ever sane, I think he's but a shattered parody of any reasoning creature now. His voice is the sound of loose rock, and I think Mr. Gramble, wisely so, assumed it was the tunnel collapsing. The thought may have saved his life. Brutus had not opened his eyes, but if he shares the power of a medusa ..."
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1617 Post by Jernau35 »

Maag

Normal WIS Check (Wis 8) [3d6] = 17

"Yer know," says the half-orc eventually, "Dat's der only spot we 'ave seen Brutus".

"We 'ave bin all over dese tunnels. 'E could have trapped us anywhere. Could 'ave kept doin' 'it an' run attacks to wear us down. But nuffin' 'as appened. An' der two times we 'ave seen 'im, 'e's let us run away".

" 'e want's us in 'ere. An der only reason I can fink of is dat mushroom cave".


Maag stops, having seriously overworked his brain for a while.
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1618 Post by Quonundrum »

Andronichishche carefully peers around the corner of the tunnel to east ... just to ensure Brutus is indeed still not chasing them, of course. "I agree, Mr. Maag. That has been my working theory as well. Except, aside from the water and fungal farm, there is nothing else ..." He stops in mid sentence as another epiphany tugs at his mind. "The soil ... maybe something ... or someone, is buried there. That writing on the cavern wall ... an epitaph?"
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1619 Post by Storm11 »

Saracen will rush towards the tunnel when he hears the yelling and laughter, and watches as the others flee back to the overgrown garden.

So now what? Should I try and approach him
Under a sanctuary spell? Perhaps if he is not inclined to attack more can be gleaned from him. Or I might just get turned to stone. Of course.


[3d6] = 14 (Wis: 14)
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Re: Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

#1620 Post by Quonundrum »

Andronichishche again looks askance at a party member, but this time it's directed at Alordan, whom he's quite sure will disagree with Saracen's proposal to split the group as fervently as Gramble's insistence to negotiate with an ax. Seeking to preempt this, Andron suggests an alternative course of action. "I agree with your intent, Brother Saracen, but we can ill afford to lose your abilities at the moment. Brutus doesn't appear to be inclined to chase us past the secret door, but we still haven't confirmed how he turns his victims to stone, which makes him even more dangerous. Besides ... you'd be a rather heavy statue to move due to your size and strength." If Andron intended this last remark to be an attempt at humor or simply statement of fact, his face betrays no evidence. "The stone sealing the portal appears to be deteriorating due to the gaps that emerged. If we wait some time, we may not need to break through to escape. In the meantime, I suggest we dig into the soil of the cavern's antechamber. I suspect it's not natural to the area."
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