Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Quonundrum]

Assuming we're proceeding south in the tunnel.

Andronichishche shuffles along the tunnel, an almost blank, expressionless face illuminated by the torch he carries. His gaze is mostly fixed upon the ceiling as if he's looking for something in particular, something important. Disjointed words and short phrases occasionally escape lips moving in silent, thoughtful murmurs ... "Medusa ... amulet ... Cora's involvement? ... the summoning interval ... unlikely, not enough data ...". At one point he stops suddenly, almost causing Maag to collide with him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Maag", he says in a brief moment of clarity before returning once again to his thoughts.

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga moves along, as alert as possible. She will occasional check behind her to make sure everything is OK.

Shield on left arm, torch in right hand. Cu on her left side.

[kruk]

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

The paladin leads the group down the southern path using the 10 ft pole prodding the ground as well as the side walls in front of him looking for trip wires. He also scans the ceiling.


Lerrick

The cleric equips her shield and her mace and takes her spot in the marching order.

[wolfpack]

Gramble breathes on the blade of Labrys fogging it up and wiping it clean to shine it up. he then tests his reflection in the blade keeping his eyes down as they walk so he doesn't meet the medusa gaze if they turn a corner.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan follows and follows Gramble's example of using his blade as a reflective device.

[OGRE MAGE]

Back To The Cave
Moonday, 15th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Rainy, Misty, Humid

Despite earlier talks of using scouts to search ahead, Crestbrook leads the way south into the tunnel that is beckoning him mentally. He doesn't get far before a decision must be made. Will he move right into the empty chamber with the disturbing messages about the wizard scrawled on the walls, continue straight into the dirty familiar tunnels they have already been in, or go left into the unknown.

The voice in his head calls to him again. Yeesss yessss.......Come find me brother of the 10 circlessss. Come finish what you sssstarted here.

The others don't hear the words, but they can see that their paladin is again acting strange. Well.....stranger. Poor Cora's dead remains should lie straight ahead in the tunnels where she and Jeevus were abandoned in order to carry out the still living but unconscious victims of their last foray in here.

Actions?

map:

D9383C86-6AAB-4DFC-8CDA-3A44845A3A0A.jpeg (706.94 KiB) Viewed 793 times

Sir Crestbrook 11/11 LoH
Saracen 28/33 4/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Gramble 13/16
Lerrick 11/11 2/4 1st
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st (torch: 40'r/4.8T)
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st (torch: 40'r/5.6T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Maag 12/12

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche ponders the options forward as the group pauses in the tunnel intersection, "If my recollection is correct, the tunnel to our left should lead us into, or at least adjacent to, the area where you encountered Cora. I believe we should proceed in that direction first to complete our knowledge of that area, then move on to where the bodies of Cora and the scribe should be."

"About this priestess of Athena, I find it remarkable she made it past the minotaur, apparently alone. Did she mention exactly how she arrived in these caves? Perhaps she kept notes, or a journal, of what she discovered in her time here? However long that was."

He stops and rubs his chin, an apparent thought that was playing in the back of his mind now realized. "Strange, this was the direction you heard the whispers, Sir Crestbrook? I've heard naught but our bootsteps thus far ...".

[kruk]

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

"Strange, this was the direction you heard the whispers, Sir Crestbrook? I've heard naught but our bootsteps thus far ...".

The paladin stops for a moment. I...I still whispering voice now...She tells me to come finish what I started...she even knows that I belong to the Brotherhood of the Ten Silver Circles! Turning in the direction of the voice CURSE YOU SNAKE WOMAN! TRUE SLAYER OF CORA! YOU DIE TODAY! He looks anxiously down the corridor on the floor for the bodies of Cora and Jeeves.

Lerrick

The cleric winces at the sounds of booming voice of the shouting paladin.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche watches Sir Crestbrook as he rages against the incorporeal "medusa", concern clearly evident in his expression. I fear whatever this evil is, may be attempting to exert its influence on Sir Crestbrook. We had best not tarry ..."I suggest we should also heed Mr. Saracen's proposal to utilize advance scouts. Perhaps one or two to investigate the east tunnel for a short distance, while the main group proceeds south, from there we'll await at the next intersection or chamber entrance we find."

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga winces at the shouting. "I think scouts would be useless now, best to keep close enough we don't get separated now. I think that may be what it is attempting to do, separate us and make us easier targets."

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche nods in agreement with Tlachtga's insights on the mind of a predator. Although this foe is clearly not a common carnivore, it likely uses the same basic tactics to isolate its prey. "Wise words. I had not considered that. We're faced with an obviously intelligent adversary capable enough to require such an elaborate prison. East then, is where we should proceed. Identify any hazards behind us before moving forward."

[ravenn4544]

Alordan nods in agreement, "Keep together. We will need all of our strength for what's to inevitably to come..."

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag offers up his own tactical insight."In my own personal experience when dealin' wiv cunnin' opponents, I 'ave found dat goin' in mob-'anded an' kickin' der crap out of dem is generally successful".

[wolfpack]

Maag

Maag offers up his own tactical insight."In my own personal experience when dealin' wiv cunnin' opponents, I 'ave found dat goin' in mob-'anded an' kickin' der crap out of dem is generally successful".

Round up the posse, y'all, and bring the heat
And when it's over, all I want is bloody meat

[OGRE MAGE]

Back To The Cave
Moonday, 15th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Rainy, Misty, Humid

More thoughts are shared as to what is really going on inside these dark narrow tunnels as the group slowly advances further inside the complex. Crestbrook shouts towards his unseen voices, now blaming the as of yet unseen medusa for the death of poor Cora, even though it was he himself who administered the first aggressions against her.

The group decides to stay close together, a good thing since both torches are being held in the same rear ranks of their marching order. The party's paladin presses forward at the urging of others, continuing on his southerly path into the dirty darkness. After advancing a few more steps, the leaders start to notice a distinct smell of stank and rotting flesh just ahead of them, coming up from at least 2 of the passages. They know that the bodies they seek were left just up ahead, down the side passage on their right.

Actions?

map:

0878804F-4B6B-4B6A-A8CB-807C839BDD76.jpeg (475.96 KiB) Viewed 729 times

Sir Crestbrook 11/11 LoH
Saracen 28/33 4/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Gramble 13/16
Lerrick 11/11 2/4 1st
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 1/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st (torch: 40'r/4.7T)
Tlachtga 8/8 1/4 1st (torch: 40'r/5.5T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Maag 12/12

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga continues to follow along in formation keeping as alert as possible.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan keeps alert. Trying not to think of the graphic images of what they are likely to find at the smell.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche produces a kerchief from a shirt pocket and covers his nose and mouth to guard against the stench of death. He abandons his bamboo pole in the process, torch still held in his right hand. He considers with a confused expression the two passages ahead emanating the foul odor, "According to the information I have, the bodies of Cora and the scribe should be just down the right tunnel, then why is the ... evidence ... of them issuing from that other tunnel?"

Alordan, he asks the ranger, "Do you detect any recent tracks between these passages? Perhaps one or both of the bodies were moved?" Andron peers down the left passage reeking of decay, attempting to ascertain any source of the odor. While doing so he calls over to Sir Crestbrook, "From which tunnel do you hear the voices now ... is the message the same?"

[Storm11]

Saracen nudges Crestbrook in the back and whispers Can you sense any evil coming from the odour corridor? Just in case it’s not Cora and Jeeves, but something a little more .... sinister! If you still have that power of course. We should find the bodies and make some Cairns for them outside before we continue, say some blessings over their remains to help speed them on their way to the afterlife!”

The warrior-Priest keeps his sword ready and his shield up, scanning the surrounding area for anything sinister.

i am sure we will discover the riddle of the medusa soon enough! he says sagely, keeping his focus on getting to the bodies and getting out.

[kruk]

Sir Crestbrook the Mightiest

Crestbrook shouts towards his unseen voices, now blaming the as of yet unseen medusa for the death of poor Cora, even though it was he himself who administered the first aggressions against her.

Sir Crestbrook believes the medusa had something to do with the amulet...maybe a mind control device to trick poor Cora into doing her (the medusa's) dirty work. Hmmmm

Saracen nudges Crestbrook in the back and whispers Can you sense any evil coming from the odour corridor? Just in case it’s not Cora and Jeeves, but something a little more .... sinister! If you still have that power of course. We should find the bodies and make some Cairns for them outside before we continue, say some blessings over their remains to help speed them on their way to the afterlife!”

What...err...sorry Saracen...I can't seem to get the voices out of my head...yes.. I agree with you... He turns towards directions of the passages concentrating on the two where the odor is coming from.

Paladin detects evil



Lerrick

The cleric grips her mace tightly and looks at it. Thinking to herself I wonder what power you have within you dearest mace? I hope it will help us get through this. If I make it out alive I will name you. She smiles awkwardly and looks around to see if anyone else was watching her.