Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[OGRE MAGE]

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

As Cu barks wildly again, Andronichishche cries out when he is grasped by the strong hand wrapped around his ankle. He twists his leg and foot around violently, barely able to prevent the strong grip from pulling him to the ground. Maag steps in and grabs hold of the half-elf, pulling on him with all his might. With enough yanking and twisting, Andron is just able to wiggle out of his boot, pulling his leg free from the clamp-like grasp of the unseen monster.

With Saracen rushing back into the room with his mirror, Lerrick begins her final prayer for the day, blessing everyone nearby that they may fight better. Tlachtga, Cresty, and Gramble rush over to attack the arm as well, the big fighter connecting and causing it a huge, bloody gash. The "thing" quickly decides that it has had enough, disappearing back into the soft dirt with the boot still held firmly in its tight grasp.

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Sir Crestbrook 9/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:2.6(40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 0/4 1st Bless:6
Saracen 33/33 2/5 1st 1/2 2nd Find Traps:10
Alordan 16/18 Torch:3.4(40'r)
Andronichishche 5/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st CL:3
Maag 12/12

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag slaps Gramble on the shoulder to congratulate him, then turns to the rest of the group.

"If it bleeds, we can kill it", he growls.

[wolfpack]

Gramble smiles at the toothy half orc and nods in agreement

indeed

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Agreed. I think we should always remain in pairs from here on out, including standing guard just a short ways away from the rest of the group."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche, having been so recently very rudely deprived of a boot, quickly limps over to the shrilling mushrooms and away from the soil. "Thank you, Mr. Maag, and Mr. Gramble; not to intrude on the celebrations, but we should take this opportunity to make our escape." He gestures to the cavern entrance with an invitational flourish of his arm. "Based on how how soon after the mushrooms changed their tune until the arrival of Brutus, I'd estimate we have less than ... five minutes ... to break through that stone seal."

[ravenn4544]

Alordan suggests that someone check out the pool first before moving on. And digging around further in the dirt to see if other items might be hiding.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche moves into the center of the growth of shrilling mushrooms, carefully scanning the walls, ceiling, and floor of the cavern for any signs of disturbance. He replies seemingly offhandedly, focused as he was in his vigilance, but his words reflected the serious tone of one concentrating on the moment. "I would advise strongly against that, Mr. Alordan. Remember, Brutus wrote that clue on the wall and turned the kobold statue. Both intended to help us locate and open the secret door. Then, the rockfall trap, hindering us long enough for him to seal the door with molded rock. Three times we confronted him but he refused to pursue ... that is, until we found the box. Why would he do that ... unless he needed us to do it for him."

He indicates with one hand the shrilling mushrooms arrayed around his feet. "These mushrooms either kept him away with their humming or are simply reflecting the state of whatever ward was in place before we unearthed the box. They then changed to this rather annoying shrill, and mere minutes later he attacks." Andron pauses his surveillance momentarily to speak to the group directly. "We're in the spider's web now, of a very angry, insane, yet quite intelligent and cunning adversary of which we still know little about. Brutus appears to only slowly phase through rock, I suggest a strategic retreat to the outer cave while we have the opportunity."

[ravenn4544]

Alordan wonders, "then what? we have that other passage way with the titled statue to check out still also"

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche nods to Alordan. "That is a very good question though, is it not? In truth, he may simply be trying to force us to move on again, this time with the objects. The question though, is where? As you indicated, there is the passage with the tilted statue. We also have the unexplored tunnels in the southwest part of the complex. I'm in favor of the former as that will at least keep us closer to the outside. Unless Brutus has already sealed the entrance ..."

He looks over to Maag who is carrying the tube of magic dust. "Speaking of the objects, I believe Brother Saracen may be correct, that the dust is used for depetrification. If you were in love with a medusa, what is the one thing you would want to have ... concordantly, I fear our mirrors may also be useless. If you wished to transform yourself into a medusa like creature, what is the one thing you would want to be immune to ..."

[Jernau35]

Maag

The half-orc hands the tube to Andron. "Der yer go. But watch out when yer open it. Dat top doesn't feel right".

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche accepts the ivory scroll tube from Maag and gingerly examines the screw-on top. "I would rather wait and attempt opening this under safer conditions, but my comprehend languages spell will shortly expire; I believe the information contained within is crucial to us right now."

Andron carefully places the scroll tube on a level part of the floor, angling the top to face the east wall. "Brutus would not incorporate a trap that destroys the contents. Therefore, I suspect a gas or poison needle trap. Mr. Maag, Mr. Gramble? You have the longest weapons. Are you able, from a distance, remove the top of the cap with your weapon?" He steps back away from the tube, but avoids standing close to the opposite wall.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag looks puzzled. " 'ang on a second. Yer just said we 'ad 5 minutes to get out of 'ere. 'ave we got time fer both? We've gotta smash dat wall down if we're gonna get out."

[kruk]

Cresty

There is a petrified human not far from us. Perhaps we put a little dust on it and see what it does.


Lerrick

I believe the time is now to leave this area as well. Brutus can't move as fast through walls as well can through the passage way. Perhaps we should see if Brutus has sealed up the wall again. If so, we need to knock it down in order to get out.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche holds up a placating hand in response to Maag's concern. "My apology, Mr. Maag, I should have elaborated. I intended to read the scroll while enroute and awaiting demolition of the stone seal. I assume removing the cap is trivial, but if a quick chop fails, then yes, we would need to abandon the effort for now."

"As for the dust ... it's still only a theory and there is only a small amount in the tube. We may need to use it on one of us before we are done. Brother Saracen could try a divination to determine if applying the dust would reverse a petrification. I also know a spell that could identify its purpose, but a very expensive pearl is required for the casting."

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Der last time we whacked a dodgy magic fing in dese tunnels," points out Maag, "it exploded, killed two people an' dumped us somewhere else in der dark".

"Yer can whack it if yer like but I'm not standin' anywhere near yer if yer do".

He moves well clear, at least twenty feet closer to the mouth of the cave.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche retrieves the scroll tube and looks at it with a confused expression, then glancing at Maag he understands the thief's concerns. "Oh! No, Mr. Maag. This tube does not radiate magic. The glass tube you are carrying does ... or, more specifically, the dust contained within." He moves back away from the wall and turns in the direction of the tunnel. "Regardless, we don't have any more time to waste on it. Please, let us proceed back to the secret door post haste." Andron carefully examines the screw-on cap while waiting for his position in line then stows the tube in his backpack.

[Jernau35]

I've been getting mixed up between the scroll tube and the glass tube. This is what OM originally told me:

Maag: Find/Remove Traps (30%) [1d100] = 28

Of course, he makes all the roles when there's almosrpt certainly nothing to find

You say that like it is a bad thing.

Maag looks over the scroll tube with the screw-on cap with a great deal of suspicion. He doesn't find a "trap" on it per say, but he does feels a slight tension on the cap when he tries to unscrew it slightly. This seems a little strange to the thief. It should get easier to open, not harder, right?

So the glass tube with the dust is magical. But the scroll tube is possibly trapped.

[Quonundrum]

Ah, okay! Thanks for the clarification.

[Storm11]

Saracen listens to the back and forth of the group.

Let us make a clear decision and get on with it, shall we. Are we staying or going? If we are going, someone lead the way, or I am happy to do so!

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

"Sister Lerrick and I are both in favor of leaving. Please, lead the way, Brother Saracen."