Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Storm11]

Saracen will scan the items with his divinely heightened senses to see if there are any traps upon them, calling the others over from his station at the tunnel exit. Once he has done so he will go back to watching the tunnel through the mirror.

[kruk]

Cresty

Andronichishche "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."

Why do I get the feeling that a small pinch of the dust may result in something big. Be careful. Perhaps it interacts with fire.


Lerrick

The cleric listens to the conversations but has nothing else to add at the moment.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche raises an eyebrow, stroking his chin in thought when Maag mentions the spider maze in relation to the wizard. "It is curious. In both cases we have secrets hidden and guarded ... however, not so well guarded as to be impenetrable. It is as if these were intended to be discovered, but only by those capable of the feat."

Andron then nods in agreement with Sir Crestbrook. "Agreed. We have no driving need to identify the purpose of the dust at the moment. Cora underestimated the amulet with likely the same kind of reasoning I just proposed myself. We can afford ourselves some caution."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Agreed, we can look at the dust latter. Perhaps once our expert trap locator is done we will open the tube and box. The tube may contain valuable information or a useful scroll."

[Storm11]

Saracen nods at all that is said.

Once we are safely back in town I have a divination that can tell us if it is safe to use or not. It could be some kind of depetrifying magic perhaps, or it could end up killing us all. If your magic sensing spell is still active, would you mind checking the rest of the garden to see if there is anything else magical we have missed? What are we to do about this phasing man with the stony gaze?

[ravenn4544]

Alordan considers the contents and the note, "Of course, it could be some twisted play on words. Like some ritual and the needed components to do some strange magical that would literally make the two become one?"

[wolfpack]

maybe the dust is what drove brutus mad, that or the mushrooms

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche nods at both Alordan and Gramble, obviously impressed with the logic behind their proposed theories. "I agree, Mr. Alordan. Does the word unique refer to Marquees in the poetic or literal sense? If Brutus is the author and Marquees is a medusa, a ritual to make him more like her may result in what we see now."

He addresses Gramble's theory now. "Assuming Brutus was transformed by some kind of ritual, the process may be responsible for his current insanity. Considering the effect of the mushrooms on Mr. Cu I could also see how prolonged consumption would be mind altering.

[OGRE MAGE]

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

After finding the strange and wonderful items in the decorative box, more speculation and suggestions are made, some of them good, and others that are great. The groups resident trap finder sees nothing wrong with any of the items, though he appears to have some suspicions about the screw on cap on the scroll tube. Saracen joins the others long enough to look them over with his magical vision, also finding that the scroll tube gives him an indication of a trap, though he cant actually see any of its mechanisms from the outside of the tube.

Andronichishche runs through a few possible scenarios out loud so the others can offer their opinions as well, stating that there must be more than a crazed monster behind all of this. When Maag brings up the wizard who built the maze structure elsewhere on this island, he is then compared to the wizard mentioned in the wall scrawlings in this cave. It seems likely that they are indeed one in the same. But where is he now, and what has happened to have an island this size suddenly appear out of nowhere.

Maag doesn't notice any secret keyholes or latches on the tiny box and the clasp keeping it closed seems to be in good working order. The item doesn't appear to be locked in any way. When he handles it, he gets the feeling that there might be some kind of liquid sloshing around inside of it.

As Saracen moves back to the entryway again, Andron suddenly gets the feeling that he knows why the whistling mushrooms have increased the intensity of their warnings when a muscular humanoid hand and forearm suddenly spring up from the dirt at his feet, wrapping tightly around his ankle, attempting to pull the half-elf to the ground. The grip of this unseen creature is strong and painful as it twists and pulls on the poor spellcasters lower leg. 1 dam and please give me a normal Dex check with your next action. Thanks!

Actions!

message on box
map:

C3B686F0-0CBA-4466-A1B2-7A4771A526B5.jpeg (94.56 KiB) Viewed 863 times

Sir Crestbrook 9/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:2.7(40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 1/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 2/5 1st 1/2 2nd Find Traps:11
Alordan 16/18 Torch:3.5(40'r)
Andronichishche 5/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st CL:4
Maag 12/12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche patiently waits for Maag and Saracen to complete their inspection of the box and scroll tube, his mind wandering back to the humming mushrooms; if they serve as an alarm, who is the recipient? His question is abruptly answered when a muscular arm and attached hand bursts forth from the ground and grips him severely by the ankle. "Agggh! Gentlemen, lady, Brutus is here!" As the powerful limb attempts to pull him down he just barely manages to maintain his balance. He decides to forgo a counterattack with his dagger, opting instead to try freeing the seized foot from its boot. "The objects ... he's after the objects! The singing mushrooms .... must have kept him away!" He struggles to pronounce the words between attempts at heaving his foot away with both hands.

Normal dexterity check: [3d6] = 8 (8)

[Rex]

Maybe I am wrong on this but I think Saracen is alone guarding the cave entrance, roughly 5 or 6 squares away from Andronichishche and a bit less to Tlachtga. I haven't posted yet since Tlachtga wouldn't know about the attack until Saracen makes a racket. If I have this wrong (very possible) then let me know and I will post, otherwise I am waiting for Saracen.If I am correct this is an opportunity attack on one of us separated from the others, which is what I have been waiting for.

[Storm11]

i think you might be getting Saracen confused with Andron. Andron is being attacked. He is also the one making a racket. Saracen is indeed at the cave entrance watching for a certain someone.

[Rex]

Your right my screw up. One issue with playing in over a dozen games is I sometimes confuse things.

Tlachtga

Tlachtga will attack the arm with her Scimitar.

Scimitar [1d20] = 12 to hit [1d8] = 1 damage

[Storm11]

i year ya. I do it all the time.

Saracen hearing the commotion, will advance back into the garden, mirror forward, reaching for his enchanted sword.

If he can charge the arm this round he will. If everyone else is closer he will close but keep the mirror pointed at the hand.

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric positions herself within the group and prays to her god. As the words
are spoken all members of the party close to her feel an enhanced in their ability to attack the enemy.

Lerrick casts Bless


Cresty

Action coming later in the round depending on what others do

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag grabs hold of Andron, closes his eyes, and tries to yank the man free of the arm's grip.

Very Hard STR Check (STR 18/96) [5d6] = 12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche views the events of the last few days as they flash before his eyes; the danger hasn't yet reached the level requiring a flashback of his whole life. As the blur of images proceed to a replay of current events, Andron makes a mental note to avoid digging around in strange piles of dirt. This note immediately following one to avoid groping statues in odd places.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan stands with open eyes and flickering torch, "Forget what I said about it not being able to enter here..."

[kruk]

Cresty

The paladin races forward with sword out. He stabs down on at the base of the ground where the arm of the foe is jutting out, careful not to stab his comrade's foot. AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

[1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6 [2d8] = 8

[wolfpack]

Gramble lights up at the chance to finally attack something and tries to take the arm off at the elbow

[1d20+3] = 14+3 = 17
[1d10+4] = 7+4 = 11