Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Woof..."

"Cu, if you smell this creature strongly or suspect that it is near please bark 3 times."

"I have asked Cu to alert of if he thinks it is near."

[OGRE MAGE]

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

Andronichishche spends a great deal of effort detailing out the things that has happened in here so far, offering up several theories and hypotheses as he does so. Even with all of the facts laid out thusly, it still seems like there is something wrong or missing from allowing any of this to make sense. Nonetheless, the group decides to press on.

Cresty resumes his spot at the head of the group, the 10 foot pole position, if you will. He leads the group out of the larger chamber and into the rough, narrow tunnel. Once everyone is inside the tunnel, that feeling of being watched comes back, even worse this time. As her spell fades away, Tlachtga tells Cu to bark three times if he smells the same scent from the last room, which he does almost immediately. He continues barking in sequence of three barks at a time, the noise from the dog echoing throughout the tight tunnel.

The party looks around carefully by the light of the druids lone torch, but they don't spot any reason for the dog to be overreacting in such a manner. Maag is at the very back of the light radius, staying on the heals of Andron so he isn't in complete darkness as they move in further.

Cresty taps the floor with the long pole as he walks, finding it solid as a rock. When he turns the first bend, he is attacked by what appears to be a grey fighting man. Before he plunges his sword into anything, he realizes at the last second that this is no normal man, it is simply another stone statue of a man dressed in armor and carrying the weapons and gear of a fighter. Posed in full sword swing, its no wonder the paladin thought he was under attack.

The statue just stands there in the middle of the tight tunnel, blocking the way beyond for anything larger than Cu. It will need to either be removed , pushed forward, or destroyed if the party intends to continue checking this set of passages.

Actions?

map:

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Sir Crestbrook 10/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:5.4 (40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 3/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 3/5 1st 2/2 2nd DM:2
Alordan 16/18
Andronichishche 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Storm11]

Saracen shudders. Do you think he was alive once? I can’t help feeling there’s maybe a secret passage running the length of this tunnel that has someone watching us from behind.

He taps the walls either side of him to see if he can tell if there is a hollow space behind them

[ravenn4544]

Alordan will light another torch for good measure.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche is startled when Sir Crestbrook is apparently attacked by a humanoid figure from the edge of the torchlight. Cu's insistent barking combined with the sudden adversary almost convinced him that Brutus was finally before them. In the flesh, as it were. He realizes the truth after Crestbrook stands down and the full light of the torch illuminates a statue of a human fighter, petrified in mid sword swing.

Andron attempts to sidle and shuffle his way forward to investigate the statue. "Excuse me, Mr. Alordan ... Brother Saracen ... Sister Lerrick ... Miss Tlachtga ... Mr. Gramble." He eyes the statue carefully, first looking at its feet. He's obviously suspicious of any mechanism underneath, similar to what they found west of the entry cave. After this he examines the statue itself and attempts to estimate its age relative to the other humanoid and minotaur statues.

As he conducts the examination, he addresses the group in an off handed but serious tone. "This statue immediately concerns me. The creature Cu smells definitely frequents this tunnel. Unless it's of similar size, it either moves this statue every time traversing the tunnel, or ... it's able to phase through solid stone. I don't fancy our chances fighting such a creature in these narrow confines. If we're forced to, we could try to lure it outside to the carnivorous trees. Their vines are slow to move, but Miss Tlachtga is able to entangle it just long enough for the trees to ... do their thing, as it were."

[wolfpack]

I don;t think it is a medusa, it is something else that can turn men to stone but something that is beatslike, but with hands to operate a lever.

I have have heard tales of bull like man creatures whose breath can turn someone to stone.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche perks his head up to gaze in wonder at Gramble. "Indeed, Mr. Gramble? That would certainly fit the narrative in my theories. Strong enough to move a minotaur statue by itself, and a breath attack which would be nearly impossible to avoid within these tunnels." He calls back along the group to their professional trapsmith. "Mr. Maag? Would you exchange places with me and verify if any traps exist near this statue?"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Calm now Cu, we know. Stay alert." She pets Cu and tries to calm him.

[kruk]

Cresty

Whooaaaaa! After a couple deep breaths the paladin rapid heart beat finally subsides to normal rhythm he inspects the fighter. Poor soul. Without touching the fighter he does a visual inspection of the weapons and armor it carries.


Lerrick

The cleric looks at the statue and then at her weapon. I'd be happy to give the statue a couple whacks with the mace if we need to clear it out of the way.

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag heads for the front of the line, squeezing past everybody as he goes. He hesitates for a moment when he reaches Cu. "Just remember dog 'ead, I'm on your side. No bitin' me on der arse".

When he reaches the front he looks at the statue, then at Crestbrook. "I should show you 'ow to do dis Cresty. Den I wouldn't 'ave to keep walkin' up an' down". Then he crouches down and starts inspecting the ground around the base and carefully studying the statue. He cautiously waves his dagger around various points, hopping to detect any hidden tripwires.

Eventually Maag stands up. "Yeah. Dat looks alright to me. Give it a go". He sheathes his dagger and starts to push his way back through the line.

[OGRE MAGE]

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

Despite the calming efforts of Tlachtga, Cu continues to bark in intervals of three loud yelps that echo throughout the tunnels. Saracen taps on the hard stone walls while he waits for the inspections, finding no hollow areas or other anomalies along their length. Remembering what happened the last time they were left in the dark in here, Alordan wisely lights another torch to carry.

Andron weasels his way to the front of the line to inspect the statue himself, stepping on toes in the tight confines of the tunnel and apologizing to everyone but Maag along the way. Again, the priest realizes that if a fight were to break out in these tight tunnels, the group would be faced with almost no maneuverability. He finds this statue to appear quite new, its feet wearing heavy boots with no base to speak of. There are no signs of it being tipped in any way, as if there were something wedged underneath. The priest seems to agree with Gramble's thoughts that they are no longer dealing with a simple medusae before calling for Magg to look the statue over next. After even more difficult bypassing, and another minute passing, the groups burly thief is pretty sure that the statue contains no mechanical traps upon it.

Cresty sees the figure wearing stone chainmail over a leather tunic, carrying a longsword with daggers at is belt. Lerrick asks the others if she should give the thing a few bashes with her mace to open up the passageway again.

Actions?

map:

no change

Sir Crestbrook 10/11 LoH
Gramble 16/16
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st Torch:5.2 (40'r)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 3/4 1st
Saracen 33/33 3/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Alordan 16/18 Torch:5.9 (40'r)
Andronichishche 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche anxiously awaits at the rear of the column while Maag completes his search for mechanical traps. Fidgeting nervously, he quietly ponders this new discovery against what they already know. Only after the thief returns to his position after finding no evidence of triggers or trip wires does Andron share the his latest disconcerted thoughts. "I have a really bad feeling about this. That statue appears quite new, perhaps only a few months old? We're at a significant disadvantage if we encounter Brutus here, and with no means of protection against petrification. At least I'm assuming it's Brutus. We need to leave this tunnel quickly and regroup in the outer chamber." He glances at the incessantly barking Cu with even more concern. "If he didn't know we were here before, he must certainly know by now. We still have the southern tunnels and the western entry tunnel yet to explore. I suggest we try the southern first. There may be other clues to discover about Brutus or a more tactically sound entry to this area. If there are no objections ... Mr. Maag, would you please lead the way out?"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"I suspect that whatever it is has always known we were here and the only reason it hasn't attacked us is our number. I suggest we move the statue quickly and press forward, this back and forth isn't helping us either."

[Jernau35]

Maag

" 'ang on, I got an idea", Maag says. "Let me see 'is face again".

Maag produces a charcoal stick from his belt pouch."I can draw 'is face. When we're back in town I can show it to der people an' see if anybody knows 'is name. Dat would mean 'e is a new statue."

"It's not much 'elp to us now. But it might be later".

[ravenn4544]

Alordan ponders aloud, "what would be more interesting if we could turn this guy back to a person - I bet he has a story or two tell..."

[Storm11]

Saracen calls from the back. Is it attached to the floor or can it be pushed back down the tunnel. We could use it possibly as a shield on the way in!

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche noticeably relaxes when the druidess speaks. "Yes, of course, you are quite right, Miss Tlachtga. We still don't know why Brutus has not attacked us. Therefore, moving forward or backward at this juncture is of equal danger considering our current situation." He steps aside to allow Maag to pass by. "Indeed, Mr. Maag. I am quite sure the statue is fairly recent, but he may have associates who escaped a similar fate." He also nods emphatically in response to Alordan's suggestion. "Quite so, Mr. Alordan. This fellow along with the older gentleman dressed in the manner of a wizard we found east of here."

While Maag copies the visage of the unfortunate fighter, he confers with Tlachtga, Saracen and the others on how to proceed. "I agree with Miss Tlachtga. Brother Saracen's plan to push the statue ahead as a shield is tactically sound, as well. It does not appear to be affixed in any fashion. I suggest however, pushing it only up to the next intersection. It will otherwise delay our movement considerably. As to the direction ... I'm in favor of the north passage."

He calls up ahead to the half-orc thief come sketch artist. "Mr. Maag, would you be able to rig a tripwire to alert us or slow a certain Brutus if he should happen to open the secret door from the other side? Perhaps we can avert another ambush on this damnable island."

[kruk]

Cresty

I will attempt to move the statue forward to the T-intersection ahead using my massive strength. Please watch out for me as I will be exposed to easy attack from the right or left side once I hit the intersection. The paladin places his sword in his sheath, then puts the shield up against the statues, the pushes it will all of his might...


Lerrick

Does a spell exist that would turn this poor soul from stone back to flesh? Looking at her mace she decides not to hit the statue with it.

[wolfpack]

We could drag it back to town, but not sure anyone there si powerful enough to reverse this condition

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche overhears Lerrick and Gramble talking and raises his voice slightly to chime in. "There is a spell that can reverse petrification, but it's quite complicated and requires a rather powerful wizard to cast. It's extremely unlikely we'd find such a wizard on the island."