Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

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Spearmint
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#301 Post by Spearmint »

Exploring the Crystal Caves.

Fydmar ignores the plight of others and any sense of danger, stepping from rock to rock and hacking with whatever is in hand to chip away at some glinting crystals.

Meatloaf, Lemmy & Ozzie throw sticky rope at Durgo [1d20]=15 [1d20]=3 [1d20]=10

Durgo contemplates. You have a 'canvas tent' listed in your inventory though the group left BabeRuth as the pack mule further back in the caverns before the Chasm bridge. So realistically, I think that this item would that be part of her burden though? Too late perhaps to unroll it even if it was on your daysack. Chest deep you sink progressively, trying to remain calm but each heartbeat could be the last and the grainy crystals flow fast between his legs into some sinkhole void underneath him. But all is not lost, for one thrown sticky filament catches you upon the back and secures you. Meatloaf clutching the other end, returning the gesture of rescuing a drowning comrade.

Brother Symeon while not yet walking upon water, he can wriggle his way as ably as a land lamprey might and in the same way, latches himself upon the floundering warrior. Shoulders deep but held, you can loop the rope around the two of you.

"He lifteth me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And setteth my feet upon a solid rock, And He establishes my steps."

The fey lights which guided prove to be a betrayal, a deceiving spirit, not leading to any blessing. And with their feasting upon fear and death becoming a famine, the lights pulsate in even more angry and violent violet colours.

Will o' whizz: [1d20]=1[2d8]=5Geojimali attacks Will o'Wisp [1d20]=8

An arc of blue sparks shower from several of the bobbing lights, zapping energy that cackles and causes your hairs to rise from the electrostatic discharge.

Fydmar jolts, a shock to his mind, actually bringing him back to his senses rather than damaging him further. Geojimali strikes out at the wispy creature again but his pick goes straight through its spectral nature, hitting hard rock rather than the etheral phantom witch lights.

The miners pull the two roped, dragging them across the unsafe ground. Twice more the Will O'Wisp discharges powerful attacks, targeting the dwarf and deep gnome. Geojimali is struck both times, the sparks arcing across his body but the shock is absorbed by some ancient mithril crafting that lines his jerkin.

Will o' whizz: [1d20]=14[2d8]=4Will o' whizz: [1d20]=7[2d8]=8

The lights coalesce together and pixelate into the image of grotesque visages, perhaps the visual form of their evil and necrotic nature.

actions please

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Horror face of Will O'the Wisp
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#302 Post by scottjen »

Fydmar
Oh bloody hell. Finally realizing what is going on, he falls back carefully toward the others defending if the creature comes toward them.
Rolls as needed:
attack w/axe [1d20+1]=15+1=16, and sword [1d20-2]=3-2=1
dex check [4d6]=10
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#303 Post by Cwreando »

Durgo

"Oh for St. Ygg's sake. Bless my saviors. The mental trappings of these creatures are evil...I will defend myself. I will still myself if we wish to try and remove these creatures.

Attack rolls as needed.

[url=https://www.unseenservant.com/index.php ... acid=19391]Strength longbow [1d20+1]=18+1=19, dmg sml [2d4+3]=6+3=9 Range 0-60 yards

[url=https://www.unseenservant.com/index.php ... acid=19391]Strength longbow [1d20+1]=19+1=20, dmg sml [2d4+3]=8+3=11 Range 0-60 yards
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#304 Post by Cwreando »

Durgo

Durgo watched as the Willow thing fights the miner.....The miners pull the two roped, dragging them across the unsafe ground. Twice more the Will O'Wisp discharges powerful attacks, targeting the dwarf and deep gnome. Geojimali is struck both times, the sparks arcing across his body but the shock is absorbed by some ancient mithril crafting that lines his jerkin.

"I gotta get something like that if we're coming back here", comments Durgo.
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#305 Post by DrRenfield »

Brother Symeon

If the creatures are near enough to attack without straying back onto unsafe ground, Symeon will attack with his morning star.
Morning Star [1d20]=1 damage [2d4+1]=4+1=5

Otherwise, Symeon will take up his shield and provoke the dark spirits.
"When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none."

Pardon the +1 to damage. I accidentally added my undead bonus. Luckily, it was a big miss.
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#306 Post by Spearmint »

Exploring the Crystal Caves.

Brother Symeon swings his Morningstar at the eerie lights hoping that his divine favour to deliver enhanced crushing blows against Undead may swing in his favour. He misses, the Will O'Wisp floating out of his reach. Divine inspiration though may be within his grasp, for he has an inspiration regarding the diabolic nature of the beast. While factual lore regarding these critters is rare, most encounters are based upon them luring characters to traps that it might feast upon the fear and negative energy given off by a dying victim. Whether their true nature is just cruel and vindictive rather than Undead, the fact they lurk around such bleak and solemn sites as graves, pits and bogs point to a covenant tie with the soul at death. Maybe they can be turned?

Durgo has his own inspiration. While just above the average in terms of agility, the young warrior is freakishly strong for one of youthful years. Investing his previous gold in a specialist bow to take advantage of that beefcake strength, he looses a volley of barbed shafts which pierce the pulsating lights, each pops a globe in a shower of violet ectoplasm.

Fydmar realising the danger makes his way across the cave, retracing his steps and leaping from headstone to headstone. The twinkling crystals no longer distracting him. The miners assist your safe passage.

Geojimali draws a circle in the ground at his feet with his pick, raising his medalion in prayerful fashion as he speaks in an unintelligible tongue.

Will O'Wisp: [1d20]=7[2d8]=6

Shielded by some unseen ward, the Svirfneblin survives another blast intending to electrocute him, the arcing blue bolt zapping across the air.

next actions please
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#307 Post by scottjen »

Fydmar
Durgo, you are onto something there. Geojimali's armor seems to be proof against the creature's lightning. Nice shot!
He is buoyed by Durgo's shot, and takes aim with his X-bow & fires.
x-bow [1d20+3]=3+3=6, damage [2d4]=4
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#308 Post by DrRenfield »

Brother Symeon

Symeon continues to rebuke the spirits, attempting to Turn Undead.
Turn Undead [1d20]=10
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#309 Post by Cwreando »

Durgo

"Aye brothers we need to strike true as much as we can."

Durgo continues using his bow and prays for the best.

[url=https://www.unseenservant.com/index.php ... acid=19391]Strength longbow [1d20+1]=5+1=6, dmg sml [2d4+3]=3+3=6 Range 0-60 yards

[url=https://www.unseenservant.com/index.php ... acid=19391]Strength longbow [1d20+1]=11+1=12, dmg sml [2d4+3]=3+3=6 Range 0-60 yards
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#310 Post by Spearmint »

Exploring the Crystal Caves

The mayhem in the cave continues. The miners swing picks at the quasi-lightening creature, perhaps hacking at a fiend that produces arcs of electrical energy with an iron pick or sledgehammer not the wisest strategy but they strike into negative rather than positives atoms and earth their weapons into the cavern walls rather than the pulsating lights. A new volley of missiles miss. Brother Symeon steps forward, holy symbol in hand (and probably heart in mouth). He commands the creature to withdraw, ushering a divine rebuke to the death-feeding fear monger.

The Will O'Wisp responds by cackling energy which strikes the iron holy symbol held by the priest of St Ygg. He jerks, shocked by the jolt that travels up his arm and across his body and suddenly collapses to the floor. -10hp

Fleeing the dangers of the cave, the cleric is grabbed by cloak hood or dog collar and dragged into the entrance passage. The Svirfneblin Geojimali begins to pound his chest and lays his own medallion upon the breast of the stricken Symeon. +2hp His fleeting glimpse of 'light at the end of the tunnel', it is not a celestial afterlife calling but the angry strikes of the Will O'Wisp, the streaks of electricity scoring the cavern roof and causing more grit and crystal flakes to fall and cover the ground.

The creature does not chase you out of the cavern, allowing you to retreat.
Image

You take a breather, gathering your wits and senses. Behind you the lights in the cavern seem to pacify, from the fierce violet and blues hues to a softer dimmed lantern light glow. For your troubles you have boots filled with gritty crystal grains and Fydmar a single fist sized geode lump hacked from his first hacks into the crystal rich veins.

this is where you are now:
Everyone else presses on, hurriedly crossing in single file and catching up with their guide Geojimali. A few hundred yards deeper, a few more tunnel entrances marked. You see past spelunkers have also scored their passing upon the rocks, an arrow sign pointing this way or that, a simple 'X', some marks larger like runes defaced, another an inscription dating from previous years. "Gaulo died here. 1020" a statement but no grave or marker substantiates that fact.

Water drips in some places, the drops plinking into stagnant pools that echo weirdly, past caverns twinkling with bioluminescence to a junction of many passages and rock formations that glint with a promise of future wealth. The gnome taps the veins, wiping his finger across the surface, "Iron pyrite, Fool's Gold." his finger covered in a rusty dye that in the poor light seems to run like blood upon his fingertips. The Svirfneblin licks his fingers clean and points onwards only to halt as the tap-tap of hammer upon stone is heard from the cavern depths.
Your guide points towards more caverns, not haunted by avaricious Wisps, perhaps haunted by other negative energies, the ghosts, the spectres of those who have gone before?

"Perhaps we can trade after all. If you can get me a sack of crystal rocks, it will demonstrate your skill and fortitude in mining. In return I can give you equal weight in silver and your assayers can prove the quality of our work." the words of Chief Trakratos

"This way." is all Geojimali adds, pointing again to a route deeper underground. You follow, striking new firebrands, adding new oil to lanterns. Descending a steep and humid incline, the low roof almost scraping the helmet crowns of the tallest folk. The air is hotter here, clammy, causing exertion just to breath. The passage opens into a wondrous scene. A cavern filled with quartz like shards as thick as a tree trunk. For a moment everyone is awestruck, then folk scramble over the formations, exploring nooks and crannies. The effort though is tiresome for the atmosphere drains your strength. After the brief flurry of excitement, you turn to the task at hand. Mining geodes and crystals.

actions and questions please.

I will add a post with some visuals
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Will O'Wisp in cavern
Will O'Wisp in cavern
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#311 Post by Spearmint »

The Crystal Caves:

The entrance:

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Beyond the Crystal Caves
Beyond the Crystal Caves
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Beyond into a cave of geode rocks:

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Geode cave
Geode cave
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Crystal Cave
Crystal Cave
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#312 Post by Spearmint »

So just to give a perspective: the humid incline descends to open into a cavern (top pic), whose formations you scramble over (bottom pic) to locate various ledges and hollows of geode formations (middle pic).

It is noticeably harder to breath here. Not a toxic or sulphurous atmosphere, just heavy with dust and the humidity which through science/geology causes the caves unique creation.

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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#313 Post by scottjen »

Fydmar
Brother, are you alright? I think we should avoid that cave from now on. Geojimali, perhaps your people should seal the portal to that cave, or scrawl a warning before the entrance if not.
(looking around the area they are now in) This is more like it. As long as there aren't any ghosts or phantoms or such... (looks around almost expecting something).
Lets get to work, men.
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#314 Post by scottjen »

Are we still beyond the bridge where we left Babe?
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#315 Post by Spearmint »

Are we still beyond the bridge where we left Babe?
Yes.
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#316 Post by Cwreando »

Drugo

Durgo says, "Let's get to it. Quick like. While I like the idea of getting some good geods for myself and our friends. I am ready to be going back home."

Durgo pockets half of what he gets or puts in his backpack equal shares. He works like a serious miner but paces himself to not get exhausted, if possible. He's also concerned about other creatures like cave fishers and willowispers so his head is on a swivel.

One oil flask removed.
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#317 Post by Cwreando »

Durgo

Durgo thinks out loud while chipping away at the crystals, "I wonder if the way these caverns are all formed if that has anything to do with the creatures that reside here and the energies that are present either with the creatures assistance or as a natural process? I'm no scholar so that's probably something we'd need to bring with us if we come back here. I gotta say man.....I'm not sure if i'm coming back...I mean holy st. Ygg bless us now. We've been through some serious crap All the dead markers we run into and geez oh me. We've got to survive this guys...All of us..All the way back. He looks up, "St. Ygg willing. Bless us all.
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#318 Post by Spearmint »

aw ffs! Spent an hour typing script only to get logged off and timed out.

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Working at the rock face
Working at the rock face
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Giant geodes
Giant geodes
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#319 Post by Spearmint »

The Crystal Caves.

Before folk begin working, the gnomes and dwarf use their racial skills to check out the cavern. Assessing which crystal beams actually shore up the cavern ceiling, making sure that the water leakage is just a trickling rivulet and will not suddenly become a raging torrent or a well spring that may once begin to flood the area again. Meatloaf deduces you might be at least half a kilometre deep, half of that distance the steep incline from upper caverns, the passage eroded through eons ago by the underground streams. Now it is dry though in the cloyed atmosphere, the humidity and heat is a tax upon even the most hardy miner.

Knowing where to mine is almost just an educated guess. Many of the tempting rocks are split open only to reveal interiors of dusty black grains that have no spark of value, the crystal formations disintegrating under inspection. Others offer more promise, layers of purple amethyst or glassy agates of swirling colours.

I rolled an increasing check vs each person's Constitution attribute. Each person can mine for one turn plus one turn for each success.

The miners are the first to wilt, downing tools under the duress and being forced to withdraw from the cavern lest they take actual physical harm. They are followed next by Durgo then Fydmar after him comes Brother Symeon. Geojimali alone remains stalwart under the conditions which you appreciate is not mean feat. You have almost three hours of combined labour and between everyone, manage to harvest three large sacks of heavy geodes and each character can clutch a small one.

The cave though is not without hazard, not just environmental. The constant hammering awakens a strange critter, a living organism of stone and silicone, so unlike the flesh and blood and carbon based humanity that pillages from its territory. While a multitude of hammers may keep it at bay lest you shatter its form, once people wilt it begins to lurk in prefatory fashion, camouflaged perfectly against mineral backdrop. Seen clearly, one might describe it as though it were an angular stone scorpion, short limbs of pointed stone and a sharp pointed stinger shaped in pilum fashion. One by one, each passes under the beam of gypsum it lurks upon, motionless, waiting for an opportune strike. The last man standing, carrying a lantern for light and swag bag over a shoulder.

Though the strike is swift, it is not true and the piercing barb misses Geojimali. By time he calls a warning yelp, the creature has receded into the dark crevices.
It is time to leave. You have succeeded in garnering sufficient geodes to lay as a foundation for trade treaty. Burdened to the limit, you practically drag yourselves up the incline and retrace steps through the 'haunted caverns' to come back once more to the stone bridge and chasm. "Don't look down" the sage advice and crossing in file, with prepared diligence, no extra issue is made manifest.

In time you find BabeRuth, crunching a carrot, sitting in her haunches. Plantie, oh so happy to see you. He has been nibbling too, fingernails in fear and dread. The caves have an echo of whispered sounds, perhaps fetid air, a suspicion someone watches yet no one is ever there.

Reunited and able to load up the mule, the plan to return to another audience with Chief Trakratos.

actions, comments and questions please
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Re: Silk and Silver: The abandoned mine.

#320 Post by DrRenfield »

Brother Symeon

Symeon expends a memorized "Cure Light Wounds" on himself.
Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=1

Our success confirms that we do the will of St Ygg.


To Geomalji: I am in your debt, my friend, and I will not soon forget it. I fear I would have gone to my reward with my work undone in the absence of your speedy aid.
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