Chapter One - Into the Shadows

[Paladin]

Rodrigo falls in around the middle.

[Radrabbit]

While staying with the group along the path, Lothien peers at the broken foliage area and tries to find signs of what broke things. A large creature? A group of creatures? Tools?

Nature
[1d20+5] = 12+5 = 17
Perception
[1d20+5] = 7+5 = 12
Not sure which skill is more applicable.

Various broken branches and stems which are still oozing sap on nearby vegetation show that something
large has passed through here recently.
Lothien examines the ground and finds several footprints.
It seems to be a lizard print, but a very large lizard.

[jemmus]

Lothien

Quietly, to the group, "Look, see these tracks? It seems like a huge lizard passed through here. Big enough to break the foliage and damage trees as it passed."

[Rex]

Sade

"Good to know, we should keep our eyes out for it."

Sade continues on to the meeting place.

[jemmus]

Lothien hastens along with Sade and the group.

[ybn1197]

Qelnaar follows along.

[Bluehorse]

3of4

Processes this information and without looking to the others. If it is that large, would we not hear it coming?

[Radrabbit]

After almost an hour of marching and no sign of a lizard, large or otherwise.
You see what looks like some large white standing stones through the trees

[Paladin]

Rodrigo's eyes widen. "Ay...what a monster. Pray we do not meet such a beast."

[Rex]

Sade

Sade moves to the standing stones, looking for the others.

[Bluehorse]

3of4

Moves forward to the stones, knocks on one then examines it and the others.

Investigation [1d20+2] = 8+2 = 10

[Marullus]

The glowing holy symbol of an eye illuminates Awwrak's chest and the standing stone he perches atop of in the growing dusk. He ruffles his feathers and chirps as 3of4 comes into view across the clearing.

"It is good to see you safe," he Bob's his head to Sade and the others. He points to the still smoking pyre at the middle of the clearing. "There lies the pack of gnolls slain, harvested for their internal organs." He nods as well to the one leaning stone. "Stairs down, chambers below... So many doors. We need all of you to search them. The stairs lead to a room obscured by smoke and smelling not incense. One of the doors is wizard locked. We slew an unnatural man-spider there. Two legs, two arms, but with a spider's face. It was invisible and could not be seen. We tried a different door and found long hallways with many chambers. We checked the first and it had glowing green webbing, old and broken. Not an egg sack, not a cocoon, nor set for trapping and feeding... Just remains of a web for no natural purpose, touched by the realm of Shadow. It led to another room, then to another hallway with yet again many doors, so we returned. There was also one wall with cracking plaster, painted with a symbol - a skull holding an eternity rune grasped in it's teeth." He rustles his feathers and makes a kackkackkackkack sound. "It is two nights to the new moon, and likely the organs will be used in a ritual which we likely don't want to succeed. How did you fare? What way do you wish to search below with best speed?

[jemmus]

Lothien

"Hello Awwrak, Kura, it's good to see you're safe. Rodrigo and I also saw glowing green webs in the forest, and a glowing green spider the size of a pony. It was very aggressive and ran through the trees, rather than sitting in a web. And all of us fought and killed monsters made of human bodies covered with muck. You killed a man-spider. It does seem that someone or something here is creating foul creatures.
I agree that we need to act quickly, before the new moon. But Rodrigo has been wounded by a muck monster. Perhaps before going in we can afford a short rest, to help him recover from his wound? A long rest to recover spells would be better; I only have one left. But I don't know if we have the time."

[Rex]

Sade

"Now that we are all together perhaps a short rest is best. I fear we are running out of time though."

[Bluehorse]

3of4

If we believe the enemy is within that cavern, why not topple the monoliths in upon the entrance and trap them there?

[Marullus]

Awwrak answers 3of4, "If the ritual is performed below, closing the entrance doesn't stop it from being completed. If the ritual is elsewhere and we don't complete a sweep of the chambers below, we will not know to go onward or have clues as to the whereabouts."

He stops and considers, then turns to Kura: "You are a skilled tracker. Are there signs that they transported your friends' organs away from this circle? If not, it is a greater chance that the ritual space is below."

[Paladin]

Rodrigo waves them off with a crooked smile. "Time is of the essence, I think. Unless anyone else requires a rest, I will manage. It's not so deep."

[ybn1197]

Qelnaar stands out of the way in quiet contemplation while Kura scours the area for tracks.

[Bluehorse]

3of4

Turns to and listens to Awwrak in silence. There are a few internal clicks and he nods in agreement. Do we know if these monoliths are evil?

Looking to Rodrigo. I require no maintenanceat this time.

[jemmus]

Lothien has to admit to himself that he rather dreads going into that hole with the branching corridors and many underground doors and chambers. Quietly turns to face the four directions, looks up at the sky, stamps his boots on the ground, and takes four breaths.