Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Jernau35]

Andronichishche I also agree with Sister Lerrick, although I'm not sure how we could deter access to this area without collapsing the tunnel itself. "

While Andron tries to understand the mysteries of Mazes & Minotaurs, Maag busies himself with his bag of charcoal sticks. On walls, floors, statues and any other hard surface, the half-orc writes some variation of "WARNING!", "DANGER!", "YOU WILL DIE!", accompanied by lots of arrows pointing down the tunnel and a few passable attempts at a skull and crossbones. As he works he mutters to himself. "Do not mess around in der fings dat wizards do. 'Cos sometimes dey couldn't find der bum wiv a mirror on a stick..."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche gazes in wonder at Maag scribing numerous warning messages on every available surface. He recalls an important lesson from one of his favorite mentors at the temple of Rao. Avoid neglecting the obvious solution. He murmurs under his breath as the half-orc continues his scribbling, "That's certainly an obvious solution."

[Karaunios]

Carucenus listens attentively to all what's told to him. "Thanks for the upda... Then the dialogue along his new companions start and everything starts to become confusing for him but Cora's treason and Talkhor's dead. He still wonders about his two other companions but, since there was no mention of them, he doesn't ask.

He stands straight and says: "I'll help in whatever way I can. Just tell me what to-" He stops suddenly. "Just tell me when you reach a conclusion. All this new information is somewhat confusing to me." He remains meditative, trying to work out everything that's been said.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

"Our purpose is to end this mess, it is not natural."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche notices the confusion evident in Carucenus's expression and silently berates himself for his lack of compassion in what is obviously a difficult situation for the distraught man. "My apologies, Mr. Carucenus. I know this is all a lot to take in under the best of circumstances and in your current condition must be nearly impossible to follow. I am also sorry to convey we've found no signs of your other companions. To put simply, we don't believe that when Cora's amulet was shattered the evil contained within was destroyed. Brutus, or whatever this strange tattooed creature is called, is apparently also in league with this evil. There is one tunnel we've yet to explore which may finally have the answers we seek, and hopefully leads to the source of this malevolence so we may destroy it and avenge Cora's death."

[Storm11]

Saracen looks surprised.

From what you have described, I should think the source of the malevolence is the void you have just been gazing dreamily at. If there was a way to bury it, or sanctify it, or dispel it, well now, that might just be enough to close whatever that thing is. I would wager healthily that if Crestbrook had his evil sensing abilities he would be knocked out by the register of evil emanating from that place. I doubt we will find some other source myself, though we might discover the lair of this Phase Creature.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche nods in agreement with Saracen's reasoning but can only initially offer a feeble shrug as an uncharacteristic response. "To be honest, Brother Saracen, I had thought the same. After seeing it for myself though ... I am not so sure. That void feels beyond any definition of good, evil, even time and space. The manifestation of nothing itself ..." He manages a weak smile, obviously uncomfortable from remembering the experience. "I could be wrong. In fact, I hope that I am. The implications otherwise are quite ... disturbing."

[Storm11]

Saracen shrugs. We will only know by looking I guess. Let us head there now then, if everyone is in agreement! I got one will not be returning another time to this place, so this needs to be a thorough search for me.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan tries to keep up with all the theories about what's happening. "Someone's trying to kill us - that's what's happening.." he thinks, "Why is that a surprise to anyone after the past few weeks on these islands"

He ponders the unholy void that was described. "What did it actually look like? Could it be a doorway to somewhere? What if we tossed a rope in - maybe it would appear on the dais back there?"

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche can again only offer a plaintive shrug to Alordan's first question. "As I said, it looked like ... nothing. A black so complete and total that it overwhelms your entire sense of self. It's only possible to estimate its surface area based on the walls of the chamber. To look upon if otherwise, it defies any attempt to gauge its size and depth as it seizes your eyes. You are certainly welcome to try an experiment, I am curious to the outcome myself, although I would caution to do so only from a significant distance."

[wolfpack]

Andronichishche I also agree with Sister Lerrick, although I'm not sure how we could deter access to this area without collapsing the tunnel itself. "

While Andron tries to understand the mysteries of Mazes & Minotaurs, Maag busies himself with his bag of charcoal sticks. On walls, floors, statues and any other hard surface, the half-orc writes some variation of "WARNING!", "DANGER!", "YOU WILL DIE!", accompanied by lots of arrows pointing down the tunnel and a few passable attempts at a skull and crossbones. As he works he mutters to himself. "Do not mess around in der fings dat wizards do. 'Cos sometimes dey couldn't find der bum wiv a mirror on a stick..."

we could bring in a mason and have them brick it off

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag listens to Andron's description of the large empty void. Somewhere inside his head, a small rodent wakes up and starts to plod sleepily around a wheel. Eventually, the revolution of the wheel dislodges a small ball that rolls down a track and rings a bell.

"Er...did you say big empty void? Like a big empty space? Wiv nuffin' in it?"

"Der was sumfin like dat in der spider maze. Remember dat stoopid little flyin' fing dat said it was treasure?. We found it in a hole, right? Where it 'ad bin sleepin' an' it said der was no time in der?"

"Well, it looked a bit like a dragon an I thought dat maybe der was some real treasure in der 'ole. But der was nuffin. At all. Just a big empty space. Really big. I dropped sumfin in der an' it never 'it der bottom. An' der was no light. It was really, really, really big. But it wasn't evil. Well' it never tried to take over my brain anyway".

[wolfpack]

This place has been a disaster, sure we got to kill a few Minotaurs, but we have found no coin to fill our pockets, we are running in circles, and the damn brutus phase thing won't stand and fight, and to tp it all off poor Jeevus is dead and there is no one left to chronicle my exploits for posterity.

[wolfpack]

Maag

Maag listens to Andron's description of the large empty void. Somewhere inside his head, a small rodent wakes up and starts to plod sleepily around a wheel. Eventually, the revolution of the wheel dislodges a small ball that rolls down a track and rings a bell.

"Er...did you say big empty void? Like a big empty space? Wiv nuffin' in it?"

"Der was sumfin like dat in der spider maze. Remember dat stoopid little flyin' fing dat said it was treasure?. We found it in a hole, right? Where it 'ad bin sleepin' an' it said der was no time in der?"

"Well, it looked a bit like a dragon an I thought dat maybe der was some real treasure in der 'ole. But der was nuffin. At all. Just a big empty space. Really big. I dropped sumfin in der an' it never 'it der bottom. An' der was no light. It was really, really, really big. But it wasn't evil. Well' it never tried to take over my brain anyway".

maybe Jeevus recorded something about that

Gramble will pull out jeevus's book he was recording in and hand it to Andron

[Jernau35]

Maag

"...er well I don't fink 'e would 'ave done", coughs up Maag. " 'e wasn't der. It woz just me. I was just, yer know, bringin' up der rear an' den I thought 'I wonder if der is anyfink else in der 'ole?' an' I turned around to say 'Lads! I wonder if der is anyfink left in der 'ole dat might be valuable?".

But you 'ad all walked off an' left me der on my own. In der middle of der dangerous spider maze. But I decided to stay for a moment an' bravely risk my life to search for any 'idden treasures dat would make all of us rich".

"But der wasn't anyfink in der. Just a big 'ole", Maag concludes sadly.

[OGRE MAGE]

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

Andron seemed to be narrowing down the possibilities of what is happening here when he suddenly flips his stance completely again after another suggestion from Saracen. At this rate, it seems that the mage has a new theory every time someone else makes a new comment. The confusion this causes a few of the others is becoming rather obvious. One thing is for certain, not all of the ideas can be true. His own stress over the matter shows itself when Maag simply marks the walls of the place with his pencil, the simplicity of the solution is almost embarrassing for the learned priest of Rao.

Gramble is becoming perturbed by all of this. Tlatchga expresses her desire to end this abomination to her neutral senses. Alordan wants to try an experiment with the evil blackness. Carucenus would like to search for his missing friends, while Saracen mentions that he wont be coming back on a third expedition.

Andron suggests that their only course of action remaining is to check on the tunnel with the leaning statue, hoping that way will offer the answers they seek. Moving back through the tunnels, Maag brings up the much, much smaller void he witnessed in the wooden maze structure. Gramble concurs, looking through his book of heroic exploits to find a clue. Unfortunately, since Jeevus never saw that small black void, there is no mention of it in his journal entries.

Weaving through all the many passages again, a new torch is lit to replace the one about to burn out. Eventually, the group reconvenes in the entrance chamber again, looking down the narrow tunnel that leads to the lone tilted statue.

Actions?

map:

B19B5278-55F2-45A3-8D67-7B1629E6B493.jpeg (95.31 KiB) Viewed 314 times

Gramble 14/16
Saracen 30/33 1/5 1st 1/2 2nd
Tlachtga 6/8 1/4 1st Torch:6.0 (40'r)
Cu AC:3 11/13
Carucenus 10/10
Lerrick 11/11 0/4 1st Torch:0.8 (40'r)
Alordan 16/18
Maag 12/12
message on tiny decorative box

[Karaunios]

Carucenus scowls at the mentioning of going back to the black hole. "No way. Wild horses couldn't drag me back there. If you want to investigate, I'll stand guard outside."

To Gramble's reflections he says: "What? No tresaure? All that we risked... I mean, the group I came in with. And there's still two missing, a cleric and a mage, both women. In case you saw them... But I'm sorry I can't add anything to the discussion. If we find an enemy, I'll sure do my best to kill it... But against... smoke or black pits, there's not much my sword can do."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga and Cu take there place with her new torch and move along. "Lets not waste the torch, maybe we will actually learn something down this way."

[wolfpack]

yes NO treasure! My pockets grow empty and rum and stew isn't free. this si the 2nd expedition I have been on that have yielded no real coin.

Outside on labrys it has been a waste of time and effort

he says patting his trusted axe.

[kruk]

Cresty

Perhaps we could all huddle together and snuff out the torch. In darkness we will be transported to another part of the cavern. Perhaps we will be teleported to a spot we haven't explored before. Who's with me!

Lerrick

The cleric's mind is occupied by something else. The powder we found...do you think it has the ability to turn stone back to flesh? If so, should we try a little on the Carucenus's friend.