Chapter 2: The Highway and Silver Spring

[ravenn4544]

Androgost nods quickly in agreement. We head deeper to learn more and thwart those who oppose our mission.

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "That's the contract. The timeframe got us." He continues to watch for drow as they go.

[Storm11]

Hex waves as the others approach.

We saw those two scam artists passing by. They left in peace though
he says with a shrug.

I guess we are heading deeper Into the underdark. Do you have any idea how to stop the quakes when we get to our destination yet?

[gurusql]

Frannie

"Hi Raffi, we are heading to the Crossing and past I guess and looking for some giant creature I think it was called a Ron-kanrd. Or something like that! I bet we know it when we see it!"

I would be asking to rest the marching order. As a reminder the the Highway is about 10-11' wide and about 10-12' tall in most places - so this can support single or double file.

[Spearmint]

Siouxsie

"Don't suppose we can go back and convince the dragon to kill the Ronkard and become ruler over all the area ..."

She really has no idea what the creature might be and why the Fire Giant wants a Drow gem kept submerged by a spidery-Lloth statue or why even the Drow don't want to halt the earthquakes too.

She will follow along, preferring the blue skies to the tunnel confines, but going with the majority choice.

[gurusql]

Heading deeper
Late Morning of Godsday, 18th day of Planting, 597
13th day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 44/63) (Water Breathing 5.5 hours) (Glowing Sword)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 42/65, Armor 15/26) (Glowing Sword)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 42/53)
Boff (AC 5, HP 50/61) (Continual Light Lantern)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 47/48)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 19/26)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 20/21, Armor 8/8) (Glowing Dagger)
Hex (AC 0, HP 21/27, Armor 2/8) (Staff with Continual Light Coin)

Without any adjustments, I will assume the order and that have listed is the order you will march single file deeper into the Highway.

The group is ready to head deeper into the tunnels and Frannie comes up to her uncle Boff, "With Hex in the back and his light source, I can give you back the lantern. Thanks."

The tunnel gets as wide as 15' feet and as narrow as 8' over the next few miles. The tunnel is not as well kept there are several times that fallen boulders and pieces of the roof partially block the flow of the group. After about 3 miles of travel it getting to be later in the morning. The tunnel is a little less direct, so there have been several turns to the point you are no longer 100% certain of the direction of the Highway. The trail splits into two paths. One that I will describe as the straight path from the direction that you are going and it is about 9' wide at this time and one that is to the left from the direction that you are heading that is about the same size.

Which tunnel would you like to take?

[Rex]

Qleceec

Qleceec will search the intersection and beginning of both tunnels for signs of use and tracks.

[shaidar]

Garrant

"When the dwarves left us they said there was about two hours travel and then we should take the left tunnel into the Illithid caverns. It was maybe a hour before we arrived at the diversion with the fire creatures and drow. Then maybe an hour this morning, so I propose that this is the left fork the dwarves told us to take. What do you all think?"

[Rex]

Qleceec

"I think you are correct and we should go that way."

As point, Qleceec will lead the way.

[gurusql]

The Questions at the Fork
Late Morning of Godsday, 18th day of Planting, 597
13th day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 44/63) (Water Breathing 5.5 hours) (Glowing Sword)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 42/65, Armor 15/26) (Glowing Sword)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 42/53)
Boff (AC 5, HP 50/61) (Continual Light Lantern)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 47/48)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 19/26)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 20/21, Armor 8/8) (Glowing Dagger)
Hex (AC 0, HP 21/27, Armor 2/8) (Staff with Continual Light Coin)

Just a friendly hint from the GM, the dwarves did say the NEXT left would be a cave structure that was home of the Illithid's. In those caverns you did encounter the dark elves and the two other creatures. There were lots of tunnels and caverns you did not explore. Based on the description from the dwarves you never found the Illithid's (if they exist) but this would not be THAT turn.

There is some great discussion on which way to go.

Qleceec examines that ground for tracks and does find that there are tracks mostly only going the from the direction you came from to the straight tunnel and back the other way as well. There is an interesting set of two giant size prints and what could be the marks from two boxes or chests. The interesting thing is that these tracks are just there, they do not come from anywhere and do not continue. Most curious.

Androgost and Nah Olos are watching Qleceec look for tracks and look at each other and nod. Nah Olos clues in the rest of you and says, "Did ya' know that this left tunnel is slightly warmer that the other two?"

Actions?

Rolls

[3d6]=8[3d6]=6[3d6]=9[3d6]=12[3d6]=6[3d6]=8[3d6]=10

Fixed typo

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos "Why should we continue to the Illithid's? That creature from the planes is what we're after now. Do you think they're together?"

[Rex]

Qleceec

"The giant tracks vanish here. Check for secret doors."

She will check the area for secret doors.

[GreyWolfVT]

Boff will assist in searching for the secret doors

[gurusql]

Secret Door or ...
Late Morning of Godsday, 18th day of Planting, 597
13th day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 44/63) (Water Breathing 5.5 hours) (Glowing Sword)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 42/65, Armor 15/26) (Glowing Sword)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 42/53)
Boff (AC 5, HP 50/61) (Continual Light Lantern)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 47/48)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 19/26)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 20/21, Armor 8/8) (Glowing Dagger)
Hex (AC 0, HP 21/27, Armor 2/8) (Staff with Continual Light Coin)

Qleceec and Boff search for a secret door and sadly do not find one at this time. Since Boff is interested in helping Qleceec explains to Boff, "There is literally only one set of tracks for each giant. No step that they came from and no step away. They are clearly not standing here right now." She looks at the tracks again and exclaims to Boff, "Look the giants either jumped or were flying - what the heck?"

Actions?

Rolls

Physical Dice Behind the Screen

[Rex]

Qleceec

"Is it possible they teleported or used a spell like rope trick or something?"

[cybersavant]

Nah Olos watches back the way they came while the others check the tracks.

[GreyWolfVT]

Bof checks the tracks as well.

[gurusql]

Secret Door or ...
Late Morning of Godsday, 18th day of Planting, 597
13th day since leaving Loftwick

Qleceec (AC 1, HP 44/63) (Water Breathing 5.5 hours) (Glowing Sword)
Androgost (AC -6, HP 42/65, Armor 15/26) (Glowing Sword)
Nah Olos (AC 4, HP 42/53)
Boff (AC 5, HP 50/61) (Continual Light Lantern)
Siouxsie (AC 2, HP 47/48)
Garrant (AC 3, HP 50/50, Armor 2/8)
Frannie (AC 4, HP 19/26)
Raffi (AC -1, HP 20/21, Armor 8/8) (Glowing Dagger)
Hex (AC 0, HP 21/27, Armor 2/8) (Staff with Continual Light Coin)

Not seeing a lot of replies, but hoping to move this along.

Qleceec with the help of Nah Olos and Boff confirm that there are no additional "giant" tracks for 20' in any of the three directions. Several ideas of leaping, flying and teleporting have been through out. The path that you came from and the "straight" one appear to have more human and smaller footprints leading in both directions. About 10' into the side trail there is not a single track of any kind.

Decision time - what way would you like to go?

Actions?

[ravenn4544]

Androgost seethes at the need for battle against the foes that press him and the tide of necessity to find the magma monster that demands his attention. "Do we find and engage the Drow or move forward towards our sworn goal - but leave our return at risk should they lie in wait for us..."

[Rex]

Qleceec

"I say we continue towards the goal, we deal with the drow after."