Quest #14 "Hidden Fortress of the Poison Spider Monsters"

[OGRE MAGE]

Inside The Stone Room
Sunday, 7th of Goodmonth
Early Morning, Warm, Humid, Stagnant

Gramble has heard enough arguing, he takes off for the exit as the others finish their debate over the newfound creature. Saracen follows the fighter, ready to get back out of this useless structure as quickly as possible.

Treasure exits the plinth, winking at Jaxsen's logic. He flies over near to Avaala, but does not perch upon his proffered arm as suggested. He continues to fly around by himself as the group prepares to leave this room.

Before they leave, Jaxsen and Maag move to the plinth for one final look around. To the thief's chagrin, other than the hanging disks, no valuables or magical items are found inside, but they do spot one curiosity down at the floor level. There doesn't appear to be a bottom inside of the plinth, only a mysterious dark black void of some kind.

Treasure doesn't speak until he is out of view of Saracen. "I will accompany you out of here, because I am curious about how things have changed. I don't know of any way out, but you got this far, so you must know at least one way. The sooner we can be rid of the unpleasant one, the better!"

With the timed gate still blocked by the rolling log, and the other gates still in the open position, getting out should just be a matter of traveling back through the maze.

Actions?

map:

IMG_2368.JPG (685.62 KiB) Viewed 685 times

Marching Order:
Jaxsen 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Maag 9/9
Jeevus 3/3
Brother Gilbert 8/8 1/3 first Detect Evil: 7
Avaala 12/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Saracen 21/25 1/4 first 0/1 second

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Of those that remain here, (everyone except Gramble, I think) Jaxsen once again takes point, watching and listening, spotting for traps and looking for enemies. "Gramble has something of a head start," he says. "I hope he's OK."

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

As they leave the 'plinth room', Avaala points to the wall immediately across the hall. "If anyone has an idea for punching a hole through THIS wall," he says. "We would be within about 70 or 80 feet of the front door with only one gate between us, and no pits." He looks around hopefully.

[Storm11]

Saracen continues to follow Gramble back along the corridors towards the exit, sword and shield ready watching for those sneaky spiders

[Jernau35]

Maag

Curious about the strange blackness inside the plinth, Maag looks around for a rock or other piece of debris and drops it inside, listening for the sound of it hitting the bottom.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

Now that our troublesome friend is away, perhaps our trip out will be peaceful. Thank you for staying, Treasure.


It would be helpful to find a faster way out. He picks up his gear and waits for the remainder of the group to leave. He will take a look at the wall Avaala mentioned, in case the group missed something.

[OGRE MAGE]

Inside The Stone Room
Sunday, 7th of Goodmonth
Morning, Warm, Humid, Stagnant

The group starts to leave when Avaala suggests simply going through the thick, log wall that separates these rooms. Brother Gilbert looks the area over again but doesn't find anything new. With no means to blow a hole through heavy logs, Gramble and Saracen continue walking away from the group, quickly followed by Jaxsen.

Maag stays in the stone chamber for a moment after everyone else departs, his attention focused upon something inside the plinth. Eventually he rushes back out into the hall to join the others with a rejected look on his face.

At the first copper gate, the leaders find the log still jammed in the threshold, keeping the way open to exit the structure.

Avaala notices that Treasure is looking around intently at the walls, ceiling, and anything else he can focus upon. The strange looking tiny dragon seems a little confused by how things look now.

Actions?

map:

IMG_2370.JPG (652.72 KiB) Viewed 668 times

Marching Order:
Jaxsen 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Maag 9/9
Jeevus 3/3
Brother Gilbert 8/8 1/3 first Detect Evil: 6
Avaala 12/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Saracen 21/25 1/4 first 0/1 second

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

"I can see your consternation, Treasure," Avaala says to the small dragon. "But I can't read your expression well enough to tell if you are perplexed by the age of the place or if it is a different place. Or is it something altogether different?"

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

... also notices Treasure's look of confusion. It must have been quite a long time ago, when you were placed in the plinth. Many things are different now. We will try to answer your questions as best we can.

[wolfpack]

Gramble will hold up at the gate and wait for the others

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag keeps his crossbow at the ready and keeps his eyes open for an ambush.

[Storm11]

Saracen wits with the fighter, watchful for more predators

[OGRE MAGE]

At The Entrance, Again
Sunday, 7th of Goodmonth
Morning, Warm, Humid, Stagnant

The trip back through the maze goes by without incident. If there are still spiders in the trees above, they don't seem to want anything to do with such a hardened group. Before long, Gramble and Saracen find themselves at the entrance again, with the rest of the group tagging along a short way behind so their new companion isn't offended.

Treasure looks all around as you move through the structure. He continues speaking to Brother Gilbert and Avaala.

"I have a vague memory of this place, but I don't remember it looking like this. I don't know how long I have been in here, but it must have been a very long time indeed."

Finally nearing the end of the maze, the strange looking creature starts looking at his arms and hands in disgust. With a hint of sadness in his high, squeaky voice, he does ask one question of you. "Does anybody have a mirror on them I could use for a minute?"

Actions?

map:

IMG_2373.JPG (741.18 KiB) Viewed 655 times

Marching Order:
Jaxsen 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Maag 9/9
Jeevus 3/3
Brother Gilbert 8/8 1/3 first
Avaala 12/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Saracen 21/25 1/4 first 0/1 second

[Storm11]

Saracen pulls out the silver mirror from his pack and hands it over.

[SirOwen]

Avaala the Grey

Avaala holds his tongue, hoping that Saracen is trying to make peace. He watches as Treasure studies himself in the mirror and wonders if the dragon even needs a spell, or if the changes are something innate to him.

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jaxsen approaches the doorway leading outside. He turns to Maag. "Now that both of us are back in good working order, shall we share the lead position and keep our eyes out for trouble?" He considers his options and decides a ranged weapon is more likely to be needed. He slings his halberd to his back and draws two javelins.

[Jernau35]

Maag

"Nah," says the half-orc. "Looks like Gramble an' Saracen are keenest on gettin' out of 'ere. You'd be better off bein' backed by one o' dem if yer get into trouble"

Maag winks at Jaxsen. "I'll watch fer trouble at der back. Some of dese jungle animals are crafty little gits". He holds up his crossbow and grins at the monk. Maag intends to continue testing his own theory that at least 90% of the time, it's not the bloke at the back that falls into the pit.

[SirOwen]

Jaxsen Reiter

Jax nods at Maag's words and sets off. The still morning air lies heavily, but does allow the monk to hear as well as he can. "It's still early. Let us make the best time we can, before the Queen's children come out in force," he says. He gets back to the trail, or what there is of it, and lets his senses take over, looking, listening, scenting the air. He moves continually, but careful not to out-pace the group, knowing that everyone is carrying a lot of captured gear and equipment recycled from their own.

[SpinwardMarch]

Brother Gilbert

He hopes Treasure doesn't get too upset with his appearance.

As they step outside, he breathes in a deep breath and looks up at the sky, grateful to have survived the maze. He silently thanks Pelor for the assistance.

Ah, even with the insects and other creatures, it is wonderful be outside.

[OGRE MAGE]

At The Entrance, Again
Sunday, 7th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Warm, Humid

Treasure takes the offered mirror without a word. He stares into the glass for a long time, looking at himself all over with saddening eyes. Finally he looks up at Avaala and speaks in a timid voice.

"You must think me a fright to look upon. I used to be quite the little cutie, back in the day." He says his last line under his breath, more to himself than to the mage. "How long have I really been in here?"

The fresh air of the open sky is a relief from the stagnant air inside of the strange structure. The group happily exits the log walls and starts down the trail. Jaxsen takes the point position again, ready to lead the party back to Beachtown. If they can stay on the trail, and aren't accosted along the way, the group could make it back before midnight.

Looking at the stuffed packs of spoils and all of the equipment form their colleagues who didn't make it out, the party knows that travel will be slowed considerably this trip.

The nasty bugs find you as soon as you step foot outside of the building, stinging, biting, and buzzing each of you nonstop as soon as you enter the jungle again.

Actions?

Please make sure that you are ok with your characters position in this
Marching Order:
Jaxsen 10/10
Gramble 10/10
Maag 9/9
Jeevus 3/3
Brother Gilbert 8/8 1/3 first
Avaala 12/12 CL DM RM 2/2 first 1/1 second
Saracen 21/25 1/4 first 0/1 second