Expedition: Fingers/Treasure of Yoldessi Plains- 30 Aug 2021

[Zhym]

"Baudh—" starts Fingers. He was about to say, "Baudh damn," but then he realized that all these followers of Baudh might not appreciate their god's name being used as an oath. "—um, help us," he finishes weakly. "I really hate those jerk gargoyles. They don't even leave treasure! You'd think they'd have stones made of diamonds or that their rubble would be worth something wouldn't you? But noooo."

He gazes toward the gargoyle city to see if he can count how many are still visible there. "Anyone want to go kick some more gargoyle ass and get rid of these annoyances for good?"

Taking a potion from his pack, Fingers tries to get Elmer to sip from it (-1 potion, +5 HP to Elmer?).

With all that done—and, presumably, no one eager for a change in mission—Fingers crouches down to inspect the secret doorway for traps.

[Alethan]

Bandy frowns, at the thought of fighting more gargoyles and then at the door, "So... we need a... key? Did we find anything in the tomb that might be used as a key?"

He looks at the shape of the depression and tries to figure out what might fit there - the pommel of a sword or the face of a ring or...

"And who made all of those damned gargoyles, anyway? I assume they will eventually run out of bodies to throw at us? And," he adds, thinking on treasure, "maybe they have lairs in the city? Maybe we SHOULD go there. Maybe we have to go there to get this damned key?"

[Zhym]

"I was just gonna try to pick the lock," says Fingers. "But now you got me wondering where little gargoyles come from. Do you think gargoyles 'do it?' Do they call it 'banging?' Would a gargoyle orgy sound like an avalanche?"

[Rusty Tincanne]

With the battle over, all four Winnies smile, knowing they were helpful to the recent struggle. I'll be sure to include that I brought the largest one to the ground with my webbing! they muse. Then they move to inspect the gargoyles, looking to see if they are stone through and through, or if their insides mimic the internal organs of natural, living creatures. If she believes any parts of the gargoyles might be useful in magical studies, she will ask Markd or Bandy to cut the parts free, stowing them on the pack animals.

Later at the keyhole, when Finger's starts getting immature, the Winnies clear their throats. Immediately she regrets it, fearing these battle-tested men will start imagining an orgy with her and her three twin images. Uhhh. Umm... What was that you were saying about the keyhole, Bandy? The maps don't mention it?

[Alethan]

"I..."Bandy stumbles, uncomfortably, "I believe they are wizard-made, Fingers."

"Oh, I was just... wondering if the key might be found in the gargoyle city... if we need it," he replies to the Winnie that spoke to him.

He suddenly notes that Buttercup is heavily wounded and helps Jimmy bandage her up.

[Rusty Tincanne]

"I..."Bandy stumbles, uncomfortably, "I believe they are wizard-made, Fingers."

The Winnies nod in agreement. Unnatural magics. It is a service to Beith to turn them back to rubble. She notes Finger's words about picking the lock. Can you really pick locks? That's a handy trick. Especially since there is no guarantee that this key even exists still. Time returns all to the earth.

[Zhym]

Fingers gets distracted by the multiple Winnies talking to him. Which one should he look at? A "my eyes are up here" would actually be helpful right now. Except they'd all probably say it.

"Um, well, sometimes. Sometimes I can't. It's annoying when that happens."

[onlyme]

Markd relays that he doesnt remember seeing any notice about the key from the map. (assuming he didnt)

[Marullus]

There is no mention of the key on the map.

The Winnies inspect the gargoyles and find that they are, indeed, comprised completely of stone. At the present moment, it is more of gray dust, as the corpses begin to lose their integrity and disintegrate on the ground. She does not know the properties of "gargoyle dust," but it is something she could research if she had interest in doing so.

[Zhym]

Fingers's check for traps probably got buried in the banter, but did he find anything?

If Fingers didn't find any traps, he'll try to pick the lock.

Pick Locks (Base 55%): [1d100] = 13

[Marullus]

Fingers carefully checks the whole alcove for traps. Satisfying himself that there are none, he settles at the door and produces his set of lock picks. With a satisfying 'tink' sound, the tumblers click over. A section of the hillside creaks open inward, some eroded dirt collapsing to show the many years since the door was accessed. Peering inside, there is a simple shaft, a metal ladder mounted within and leading straight down into the darkness.

Date: 1:40pm, 03 September 2021
Light: sunlight
Effects: Mirror Image on Winnie (3 remaining) [until 2:05]
Injuries: Elmer (moderately injured); Buttercup (critically injured)

[Zhym]

Fingers smiles with satisfaction, then steps back for someone burly to go down first. He rubs his dog's head.

"Oh crap," he says. "Sprinkles can't climb ladders, and I'm not leaving him here."

[Alethan]

"So bloody carry him, then," Bandy replies, shaking his head. "Or stay here and get nothin' fer your troubles." He shrugs, "Your choice."

He pulls a candlestick from his pack, sticks a candle in it, and lights it. Though it only seems to be as bright as a candle, Bandy walks into the darkened entrance and begins descending the metal rungs...

[Zhym]

Fingers glares at Bandy's descending head, then wonders if he can carry Sprinkles and climb a ladder at the same time.

"You aren't leaving your dog here, are you?" he asks the Winnies.

[onlyme]

Markd mentions that they could always rope up a harness to drop the dogs down, once he follows Bandy down the ladder. (which he will do)

[Rusty Tincanne]

Winnie packs up a small sack of gargoyle dust for later study.

She rearranges her provisions, leaving all but 4 days worth of food with the pack animals. She hands Jimmy a potion of healing, letting him know he should use it on himself to keep alive. I'll want it back if you don't use it. She pauses, thinking of the gargoyle city nearby. I hope you don't need to use it.

After a bit more thought, she tells Fingers, Heingst (because Bandy and Markd are gone) that she has a Floating Disk spell. I'd need to prepare it tomorrow, mind you, but I could float the animals down the tunnel so we wouldn't need to worry about gargoyles coming after them and Jimmy.

[Zhym]

"That would be cool!" enthuses Fingers. "I bet Sprinkles would love to ride a magic disc!"

"'Course, we'd have to worry about gargoyles while we waited here until tomorrow."

[onlyme]

oh crap, keep forgetting MArkd has the horse. Guess had the horse been any better in battle, he would be easier to remember.

Is there a place nearby to stash them while we are underground? Are we far enough from the city to avoid their patrols?

[Zhym]

Maybe we should go to the gargoyle city first.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Yeah. The pack animals seemed to distract the gargoyles, giving us an edge.

Winnie thought Markd's horse was wonderful during the battle. Did Markd teach it to dance before leaving?