The Great Gates (In-Character)

[Modric]

Robern

Dex check: [3d6] = 10

Dex score: 12

[Modric]

Robern

Noticing the rocks falling around him, Robern questions his decision-making skills. They seem to have gotten him in trouble his entire life...!

[beniliusbob]

Briarthorn Brightwater

"This place is unnatural! We should turn back and take the middle path, as the talking wolf says!"

Vamstar nods eagerly, happy to follow. The Violet Chaplain stares at the wolf suspiciously, then turns around and begins to march back towards the fork.

[Paladin]

Day 1, Early morning - Eyes are still watching...

The wind is almost a corporeal being. Stones come crashing down from the walls of the narrow pass. Deep bass laughter accompanies the grinding crash and a half-dozen long shadows obliterate what little sun penetrates the gloom of the winding pass.

Those brave enough to look up as the stones rain down will see humanoid shapes perched atop the sheer walls like gargoyles. Their features are impossible to discern from this distance. Their voices are deep and harsh, their shouts reverberating off the walls of the pass.

Divitiakus, Haukr, and Vamstar are clipped by the hurled missiles and sustain minor wounds.

1 damage each

Actions?

If I ever skip anyone, just retcon your actions and we'll add them in as we go. No worries.

Vamstar 6/7
Haukr 6/7
Divitiakus 3/6
The Violet Chaplain 4/6

[Karaunios]

Divitiakus covers his face with his arm to protect his eyes and nose from the sand storm.

"Dammit! This place is cursed. Let's get out of here. We'll come later when we're ready, with some head gear or something!"

He turns back and starts walking fast the way they come.

......

Haukr

"Grrrr... Let's get out of this place. I can't cover my eyes as easy as you." He also turns back and starts trotting away.

[Modric]

Robern

Yes, I think the gods have spoken. Let's turn back from this path and head toward the fork. How about we go straight instead? I never was able to follow the straight and narrow path before...

[Cougbeav]

Siegfried

[3d6] = 13 Dex = 13

[Cougbeav]

Siegfreid

"I agree with Roburn, straight and narrow be the way

[Paladin]

Day 1, Early morning - Eyes are still watching...

Deciding to attempt the narrow way at a later date, the party scrambles back down the tight passage to the open fork. You opt for the central path and Siegfreid notices immediately that it slopes very slightly downward. Not enough to see with the naked eye, but enough to notice with dwarven feet.

As you progress, you notice mounds of different sizes littering the path. Some are small, the size of your fist. Others are human-sized. Still others are eight or ten feet long. All are covered in mottled green and brown plant life. There is no breeze at all in this passage, but the fronds sway gently as you near each mound. They shudder at your approach and lean toward you. After you pass, they slowly straighten back up and go still. Some are completely brown and barely move. Others are deep, vibrant green and shake vigorously.

Over all hangs the rich, heavy smell of putrid flesh and decomposition. Before you lies more of the same. The path is ten feet wide here and seems to widen as it drops, but everywhere lie the swaying mounds of plant life.

The walls of the passage before you are sheathed in long, draping fronds like ferns that arch over the path from either side.

Vamstar 6/7
Haukr 6/7
Divitiakus 3/6
The Violet Chaplain 4/6

[Modric]

Robern

Wonderful, we go from falling rocks to undead plants. As long as they stay dead or in whatever state they are, we could press onward. If we do, we may want to set up a marching order. Those of us with bows should cover the ravine's heights to spot any ambush. Beefy gents up front, squishy magic types in the middle. Agreed?

[beniliusbob]

The Violet Chaplain

"A wise plan, Robern. The shaman or I should be at the front and the back, in case we need call upon the holies to turn back something that should remain dead. We'll put the elf in the middle. Vamstar may hit something with that bow, eventually, so he should be in one of the back ranks."


Vamstar the Younger

The young man blushes. "I've been hunting since I was six. It's bad luck, is all."


Briarthorn Brightwater

"I've got a name, lass!" She mutters under her breath, "Eugh. Humans."

[beniliusbob]

I'm thinking something like:

Haukr (the nose knows)
Valkur / Robern
Siegfried / Chaplain
Briarthorn
Divitiakus / Vamstar

EDIT: The Chaplain can't use a spear, so may be best in the front rank.

[Modric]

That order looks good to me

[Cougbeav]

Order looks fine to me

[Cougbeav]

Siegfried

Siegfried pulls out and readies his crossbow and eyes the ravine heights above for movement.

[beniliusbob]

Briarthorn Brightwater

"Perhaps we should investigate one of these mounds. A small one, I think. If they're dangerous, better to find out while we can control the reaction somewhat. And maybe there's some kind of magic we could put to our own use.

"Did anyone bring a ten foot pole?"

[Odin One Eye]

I'm thinking something like:

Haukr (the nose knows)
Valkur / Robern
Siegfried / Chaplain
Briarthorn
Divitiakus / Vamstar

EDIT: The Chaplain can't use a spear, so may be best in the front rank.

This marching order looks good to Valkur.

[Karaunios]

I'm also fine with the marching order. But maybe Divitiakus and Vamstar can attack from the height of the mounds, pestering any potential enemy from a higher vantage and from the flanks, then going to the rear if anything tries to run up towards them like good skirmishesr.

Divitiakus

"Good call, Robern. But I'd like to check these weird mounds before anything happens at our backs, like Briarthorn pointed out."

He goes to one of the smaller mounds and prods it with his left foot for a few seconds.

If nothing happens, he'll stick the tip of one of his javelins in it, taking as much distance as he can thanks to the length of the shaft.

If still nothing happens, he'll introduce even more the javelin in the mound (down to the middle of the shaft).

IF still nothing happens, he'll stick out the javelin completely and then give a try to that ability of his whereby he can communicate with a spirit of his level or less, placing his left hand on the mound.

There you go

.....

Haukr

The shaggy wolf takes position at the front and starts sniffing around like a dog looking for a bone. Really appropriate in a place full of mounds.

[Modric]

Robern

Have at it, Divitakus.

Robern draws his bow and notches an arrow. He will point it at the mound that will be disturbed.

I'm getting a face-hugger vibe from this...!

[Paladin]

Day 1, Early morning - Eyes are still watching...

As the expedition falls into their new marching order, Divitiakus strides forward to examine one of the smaller mounds. It stands about knee-high to the priest. The moment his boot makes contact, the shaking fronds curl lovingly around it and caress the smooth leather. A moment later they retract slowly and are still once more.

The same scenario plays out with the javelin. The fronds show an initial interest, then slowly loosen their grip and return to normal. The javelin makes an odd grinding sound as it penetrates the mound, as if it's sliding across something hard.

As he's considering attempting to commune with the spirits of this place, a harsh, grating clack sounds from down the path. A gleaming black shell moves into view borne on several short, spikey legs. It's just on the opposite side of the draping fronds, some forty feet away. Mandibles click repeatedly and the massive insect chitters as it scuttles close to the moving plants.

They begin their customary shaking and reach toward the beast. You're unsure if the enormous beetle has spotted you yet.

Actions?

Vamstar 6/7
Haukr 6/7
Divitiakus 3/6
The Violet Chaplain 4/6