Barrowmaze: BRAGging Rites

[Rex]

Orgoth

"An interesting idea, worth a try."

Orgoth follows Sven's lead.

[Spearmint]

Exploring beyond the Mural

Sven twigs on to the key to opening the forest scene mystery. With no hidden niches or traps located around the body or plinth and with a trio of items radiating magic, he combines them, donning antlered helm and equipping bow and stepping into the scene as if the mural was merely illusional.

He takes a breath, this could look funny if he just face plants himself into a solid wall ...

but, keys unlock doors and the mage finds his feet go through the wall and he steps onto the path in the forest, Smokie and Orgoth on his heels, though not equipped in similar fashion they are able to transition. The vanguard can turn and see they have entered a forest realm, stepping through some kind of portal. Looking backwards you can see into the room and wave at the folk in the crypt. Those still in the crypt can see those in the mural and can wave back, the effects being visual only, you cannot shout to each other and those in the crypt still smell the maze decay and rot filled environment while those in the forest feel a light breeze, forest aroma and hear birdsong.

anyone else stepping through?

[sastaz]

Gerdal gapes

"Fascinating! But hey, remember what happened in the water world? You two almost got lost, permanently. There's something with these...artificial worlds...that is alluring, yet dangerous. I say we do not travel far!"

She joins Sven by stepping into the portal.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth readies himself in case of attack. "Looks like a very interesting place."

He looks around and sees what he can determine.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven looks around this new area carefully, kicking at the dirt with his foot and crumpling fallen leaves in his hand to test the realness of it all.

"Incredible."

"I wonder if this fellow was a Ranger or Druid of some kind, and this is his grove. Perhaps he had a magic portal installed so he could visit this place in the afterlife." I'm not sure how any of that works, but.............totally fascinating."

He nods at Gerdal and Orgoth. "Let's try to stay near the portal for now. Perhaps we can find out more about this world by talking to the singing birds?"

The mage strains his ears to determine if there are any sounds beyond the norm to be heard.

[OGRE MAGE]

The mage snaps his fingers.

"Oh ya. And remember that we are no longer alone down here. We need to keep in mind that we should hook back up with the other group eventually so we can all rest or return together. I bet the elvish types in that group would love to see this place before we leave."

[Rex]

Orgoth

"Agreed, we should also figure out a way to mark this spot so if the portal becomes invisible or not active we still know the location."

[sastaz]

Provided she can call on a bird, Gerdal will cast Speak with animals.

Spell not retainable

She lets the bird land on her finger/hand and gently rubs its back with her finger.

"Say, little friend, what is this place? Which creatures live here with you? Do you feel safe or are you threatened by someone? We were looking for the human who came this way before us. Do you know where he or she went?"

[Spearmint]

I'm not sure how any of that works, but.............totally fascinating."

neither am I and I am supposed to be God.

Exploring beyond the Mural.

Smokie comes up with the most natural lupine way to mark the spots, lifting a leg on a nearby tree trunk.

The place does seem very real and very ordinary. The grasses are green, branches leafy, the barks have typical fungi, the birdsong chirpy. Gerdal can fade into camouflage with her chameleon bond effect. She calls to a Pileated Woodpecker that flies to perch upon her outstretched arm, taking a grub to nibble. You can tell the bird is nervous, more than normal from its behaviour so you distance yourself from the group to gain its confidence. In translatable chirps, you converse together.

"The forest is home and widespread. Birds and foraging herd animals are common, rare sighted predators. Humanoids don't come this way very often, the choking mist at the forest edge bounds the place. Only on the paths to the 'quiet stone' building. One 'keeper' also comes. In the form of your flock leader, antlered and with wolves. We shrink into nests and shelter for she is dark and malevolent."

The bird will not accompany you, fearful of Sven and Smokie but will offer to 'rat-a-tat-tat' in pecker fashion should danger arise.

The bird shares some basic knowledge, giving a 'bird's eye view' of this forested space. Like the Barrow Mere, a portion of it is attached into the frame of the over arching Duchy of Aerik / Barrow Mounds dimension, but wander too far and you may find yourselves lost with no way back.

So sticking to the path seems a good plan. The immediate sights and sounds of the forest are normal but you all proceed warily in this unfamiliar place.

The path winds through the dense forest, perhaps several hundred yards. There are no obvious intersecting trails and eventually it opens about into a clearing with a large stone mausoleum. Four caryatid columns hold up the colonnade, each the figure of a svelte fey female with the pillars carved as tree trunks.

sort if like this with a bit of extra imagination.



Barrow Maze: mural forest: random vs 1 [1d6]=2[1d6]=3 options [1d10]=5[1d10]=4

You can scour the area before approaching, nothing seems to hinder you and you cannot spot anything hidden observing you though that nagging feeling that you are actually being watched has never left you from the time tou stepped through the portal.

Sven, you don't feel any special traits or differences from wearing the helm or carrying the bow. No augmented senses or suddenly developing ranger skills or any Herne focused passion.

The mausoleum though does visually give off an impressions that it has a strong Herne focus. The closed doors look stout and reinforced.

actions and questions please

[Rex]

Orgoth

"A place of Hern, one of the Old Gods, like Cromm."

[redwarrior]

Isvand quickly looks around and follows the others, Well, this can't go wrong, it's a beautiful day for a song.

[sastaz]

Gerdal

"This is a nice place. Is this a temple, or what do you think? Let's see if it's closed."

She walks up to the closed doors and give them a gentle push to see if they swing open.

If they do she takes a quick peek.

"Hello, anyone there?"

If they don't.

"Well, looks like somebody does not want any visitors today."

[OGRE MAGE]

If Gerdal relays the birds message, Sven looks around nervously, absent mindedly feeling the antlers currently atop his own head.

"Dark and malevolent? That doesn't sound too good to me."

He waits to see if there is any reaction to Gerdal's actions before walking up to the mausoleum himself, still wearing the items he believes to be the keys to entering this place as well.

"Hello there. We seek information pertaining to The Horned God. Is there anyone at home?" He silently hopes his questions are not actually answered, worried about the consequences of him being dressed up like whoever was in the crypt they just looted.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth moves forward with the others.

[Spearmint]

Exploring beyond the Mural.

The Barrow Grove.

Personal experiences and testimony from other adventurers has taught you that the Barrow Mounds and certain key crypts within the Barrowmaze are not simple grave sites. Intricately erected through divine and arcane means and dedicated to honour ancient heroes, these locations have a special status, often only accessed through specific triggering keys or devices. This grove beyond the graves is no different.

The group trek the few hundred yards from portal to mausoleum, staying on a narrow path between the dense forest either side until it opens into a wider grove area.

"Hello there. We seek information pertaining to The Horned God. Is there anyone at home?" Sven asks randomly upon reaching the ancient monument. The huge bronze doors are firmly closed, at least they do not open to mere pushing. There is no keyhole, so presumably, no locking mechanism to be picked and there no place to 'trial and error' attempts using any of the keys you have found in your explorations so far.

While hoping not to get a direct response to his question, a svelte female voice does respond, seemingly coming from ine of the Caryatids that uphold the colonnade verandah.

"Oh, great and mighty hunter. Come present your offering. Hunt your kill to offer in worship. Does one come seeking the God's favour empty handed?"

Four caryatid columns hold up the colonnade, each the figure of a svelte fey female with the pillars carved as tree trunks.

Yardie at the rear of the group points into the surrounding forest, where dim rays of sunlight highlight the silhouette of a stag. Is that coincidence or divine providence?

The statue that spoke has no further animations, speaking some guidance then falling silent. A check around the perimeter of the mausoleum shows no doors but it does have stained glass windows set below the pitched roof eaves on three sides.

Gerdal receives no warning 'pecker knocks', none of the characters or npc's see any visible dangers. You may notice the stag which suddenly becomes aware of your presence too, jolting its head upright and tensing ready to spring away. You do though feel that more than the stag's eyes stare at you from the forest fringe, an uncomfortable feeling that you cannot shake.

Smokie sniffs around, a familiar scent but one that has vagaries of corruptness to it. He has marked his territory and other wolves have marked theirs but that scent is not fresh or wholesome.

actions and questions please

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth feeling uneasy, checks the balance of his silver spear.

"I don't like this. I could leave my crossbow as an offering, at least it can be used to hunt with."

[sastaz]

Gerdal watches the stag.

"I don't know. I think we're supposed to kill that and present it as an offering. It's almost too obvious, don't you think? And I cannot shake the feeling that we're being watched. Maybe it's the spirit of the one that the helmet once belonged to? This might be it's final resting place." She looks around. "It certainly feels like one. I think we should maybe leave, what do you think?"

[Rex]

Orgoth

"It is creepy, but we haven't found anything yet."

[sastaz]

Gerdal

"Okay, if everyone agrees on staying, should we kill the stag? I can trap it for you?

[Rex]

Orgoth

"Trapping sounds like a good idea, what do you think Sven?"