Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag leaps his feet and draws his sword when he hears the scream. When Andron asks him for his opinion he replies "Well, either Cresty 'as just bin brutally murdered, or someone 'as told 'im dat it is 'is turn to pay for der beers".

After Lerrick explains that Cresty has been risking his life for the good of the party, Maag nods approvingly. "Good man. Dat sounds like sumfin' I would do myself".

Maag waits for a moment, unsure if he should return to probing the soil in the cave. He looks over at the tunnel wondering if Brutus will come after them this time. He sheathes the dagger he was using and takes out his silver mirror once more.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga will leave Cu when she hears the scream and move to offer aid if necessary.

[Storm11]

Saracen will jump at the sound of the scream. He will rush towards the tunnel, rummaging in his pouch for his silver mirror. Once inside he will hold the mirror in front of him facing away from him, hoping to reflect the creature’s gaze back upon itself.

It sounds like our paladin is in danger. Mayhap he found Brutus, or whatever the rock ghost is called.

[OGRE MAGE]

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

As Cresty comes to his senses, realizing that this large head isnt exactly interested in chatting, he turns and takes off back down the tunnel, eventually running directly into Gramble, who was just rushing back inside to find out what all the fuss was about. The pair of large fighters suddenly realize how difficult fighting in these tunnels would be when they can barely pass each other by.

Lerrick seems to be in two places at once, somehow talking to her friends in the intersection, while also chatting with the likes of Maag and Andron, who are still digging around in the dirt of the mushroom chamber. Just after hearing the scream from the paladin, the half-elf's dagger hits something hard and clunky buried in the soft black dirt on the floor next to Maag's foot in the very center of the softly glowing chamber.

Tlachtga inspects her dazed dog, finding his pupils to be huge. Cu doesn't look sick or ready to vomit anything up, he just looks a little confused is all. He licks the druids face for as long as she lets him and then goes back to bumping into rocks and walls. Tlachtga warns the others not to try any of the mushrooms for a while yet.

Saracen uses his mirror to look around the corner, but doesn't see the creature that scared Cresty enough to come back to them.

Actions?

map:

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Sir Crestbrook 9/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:3.2(40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 1/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 2/5 1st 1/2 2nd Find Traps:16
Alordan 16/18 Torch:4.0(40'r)
Andronichishche 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche visibly relaxes when Lerrick relays what Crestbrook encountered. I should have tried to stop him. "That was very unwise of him to get so close ... but very brave as well, and provided us with invaluable information. He confirmed that Brutus does indeed share a medusa's petrifying gaze. The remaining question ... is Brutus also susceptible to his own reflection? Considering his supernatural abilities over rock and stone, however ..." He allows this thought to linger as he turns back to the upturned soil and indicates a spot next to Maag. "Just before Crestbrook screamed, I detected something buried in the soil here. Mr. Maag, would you assist me in uncovering it?" He looks over his shoulder at the cleric of Pholtus. "Sister Lerrick, please kindly ask the others to join us. We may have found the aforementioned secret."

[kruk]

Lerrick seems to be in two places at once, somehow talking to her friends in the intersection, while also chatting with the likes of Maag and Andron, who are still digging around in the dirt of the mushroom chamber.

my bad everyone

Cresty

The paladin shakes his head, still shaken from the near death experience. He looks up to the others. I promise...from here on out...that I will take into account other's opinions before making decisions of my own that may put the party at risk. He then stands tall and grips his sword. Let's take down this Brutus.

Lerrick

Andronichishche[/b"Sister Lerrick, please kindly ask the others to join us. We may have found the aforementioned secret."

Absolutely. The cleric moves at a quick pace and calls everyone back to Maag and Andron's location

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag nods at Andron's request to help uncover whatever is buried. "Right". Before he just starts scooping the soil away, Maag takes his dagger and tries to run it around the outline of the buried object. He wants to get a sense of the size and shape of the thing.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga leads Cu back to Lerrick after he calls for everyone. "What do we do now?"

[Storm11]

Saracen stands on guard at the tunnel entrance, using his mirror to keep an eye up the tunnel behind him.

[wolfpack]

If we could lure him out of the tunnel so we could surround him we could kill him. If not maybe I take one of those mirrors and see if he can turn himself to stone

[Storm11]

saracen nods. That’s my thinking too. If not then perhaps we could ascertain if he speaks common perhaps Lerrick or I could command him to die and once he is unconscious you could hack him to pieces. It might be worth a try.

[OGRE MAGE]

Alordan? Are you still out there?

[ravenn4544]

Alordan follows along where needed.

Ooc. Sorry been out of it with the flu

[OGRE MAGE]

No problem Rav! Get well soon, bud!

I just didnt want to skip you twice without asking.

Writing the new update right now.....

[OGRE MAGE]

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

Lerrick gathers the others together inside the mushroom chamber where Maag and Andron have made something of a discovery. Cresty makes another heartfelt proclamation to the others as the half-orc thug slides his dagger around through the soft soil a bit more, attempting to ascertain the size and shape of their find.

Saracen stays near the tunnel entrance, watching through his mirror. Gramble suggests luring the monster out into the open where it can be surrounded, going so far as to offer to use a mirror on it himself next. Cu looks like he wants to eat some more mushrooms.

Maag finds the buried item to be the size of a small coffer, which he adeptly plucks from the dirt with great skill for someone of his meaty girth. The vessel is ornate, possibly made of silver, and doesn't appear to have a lock or any other opening mechanism. Looking it over again, he snaps the lid open to find three strange items inside.

The first is a small clear glass tube with a rubber stopper containing a tiny amount of what looks like a fine pink powder.

The second item appears to be an ivory scroll tube with an ornate metal screw-on top.

The last item is a small, ornately carved, rectangular metal box with a locking clasp and an obvious rubber seal of some kind around the bottom of the lid. There is a fancy script of some unknown language on the top of this box, but nobody in the group has any idea what it might say.

The whistling mushrooms near the entrance to this chamber have so far not caused a concern of any kind, their soft tones actually giving off a soothing melody. But once the soil is dug into and disturbed, their whistles becomes much louder and higher pitched, becoming much more annoying to the ear.

Actions?

map:

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Sir Crestbrook 9/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:3.1(40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 1/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 2/5 1st 1/2 2nd Find Traps:15
Alordan 16/18 Torch:3.9(40'r)
Andronichishche 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga will keep Cu from eating anymore mushrooms. "Maybe the mushrooms are of the special variety used for trances and what not."

"I wonder what the powder is and whats in the tube and box. Hopefully something useful."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche clasps Crestbrook on the shoulder with a relieved expression on his face. "I am glad to see you in the flesh, as it were. I did not think you would confront him directly, but it would seem your divine grace has protected you this day." He glances at Gramble and gestures to him with one hand. "You have also validated Mr. Gramble's suggestion to use a mirror against Brutus. Considering all three times only the head and neck emerged, I think it likely Brutus will use the same tactic. Therefore, if he stops laughing ... then the plan likely worked."

While Maag works to unearth the object buried in the soil, Andron collects several (10) of the mushrooms Cu has eaten. "Thank you, Miss Tlachtga. If Brutus also has a taste for mushrooms, these may prove useful."

After Maag opens the vessel and retrieves the objects inside, Andron peers at them quizzically, definitely not expecting such an assortment of artifacts. "I can attempt to read the inscription on the box and the contents of the scroll tube. The rubber seals concern me on the vial and box lid, though. It suggests the powder is volatile, and based on what we've encountered to this point, a gas trap on the box."

He pauses for a moment when he realizes the shift in the whistling mushrooms melody. "I wonder if they were keeping Brutus away? Or is this an alarm of some kind? If so, for whom?"

Andron will cast magic-user Detect Magic and examine each object for magical emanations. If the box and scroll tube themselves don't radiate magic, he will then cast Comprehend Languages and attempt to read the inscription on the lid, and the contents of the tube; assuming it's a scroll.

[OGRE MAGE]

Here is a little more information for you. 3 rounds have passed during this period, so feel free to retcon any or all of that time to do what you will.

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

Andron collects 10 of the same kind of mushrooms that Cu ate earlier, putting them in his pack for later study.

The larger mushrooms near the entrance continue to whistle loudly.

The priest of Rao then casts a series of spells that should help him to identify the contents of the silver coffer.

The pink powder inside the glass tube glows brightly with magical emanations. The scroll tube and the small rectangular box do not.

After the priest casts his spell to help him determine what the words on the outside of the small box say, he is surprised to learn their meaning as well.

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Actions?

map:

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Sir Crestbrook 9/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:2.8(40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 1/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 2/5 1st 1/2 2nd Find Traps:12
Alordan 16/18 Torch:3.6(40'r)
Andronichishche 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st DM:1 CL:5
Maag 12/12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche traces a series of geometric sigils and incants strange arcane words before carefully gazing upon each of the unearthed objects. "The scroll tube and box show no signs of magic, although they may be constructed with material to shield their contents." He then points decidely at the glass tube. "That, however, radiates strongly of magic. I suspect some kind of magical dust? I doubt the contents are harmful, bundled as it was with these other two items. We could try tossing a pinch of the dust on a small object and observe the result."

Andron again intones arcane words and scribes additional sigils before him. Carefully, he picks up the box and examines the script etched into the top. He slowly traces each word with an index finger and recites the translation. "Marquees? Assuming this is the love of Brutus, whom he lost and which subsequently drove him insane with revenge, it would appear the intended never received the gift." He hands the box to Maag. "I am beginning to suspect this wizard is not of the friendly kind that we thought. That message was written by someone obviously well educated and with a distinct sentimentality. It's not what I would expect from an inherently evil creature living in a remote island cave."

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Well, if it is der same bloke dat 'ad sumfin to do wiv dat spider maze, nuffin would surprise me," grunts Maag. " 'e might not 'ave put der spiders in it, but 'e still built der maze!"

He holds out his hand. " 'ere, let me 'ave a look at box". Maag does his best to see if there's any indication that the box might be trapped. "Der might be a secret switch or sumfin. Or dat could be a fake keyhole".