IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

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Arkrite
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Arkrite »

The first day of travel from Orlane is spent crossing the grassy plains east of the village. The farther from Orlane the party progresses, the fewer signs of civilization can be seen. Most of the farms here have been abandoned. There are no travelers on the road as the trouble in Orlane has long since put a halt to the caravan traffic.
At the end of a day of traveling, the farms have been left behind and the trees of the Dim Forest are visible in the distance. The trail has been following the track to Hookhill thus far.


Early on the second day of travel, the party enters the Dim Forest, a region of permanent twilight. Moss dangles from the limbs over the party's heads, and no sunlight pierces the thick greenery of the ancient trees. This is a hushed wood; the common sounds of squirrels and birds are missing. Several hours after entering the forest, the trail Zasio is following parts from the path, veering sharply to the right. Because of the lack of sunlight there is little underbrush, making for an easier march than one might expect in a forest. The next two days are spent following a faint trail across the forest floor.
Wandering monsters can occasionally be seen in the distance, but the ranger's training shows as the creatures are evaded.


At the end of the second day of travel in the forest, the trail reaches the edge of a broad and fetid marsh. Thick rushes, interspersed with patches of scummy water, stretch as far as the eye can see (even if someone climbs one of the trees at the edge of the forest). Further advancement involves wading through one or two feet of water and slimy mud. The good news is that the trail is very obvious here, since the rushes have been crushed out of the way to open the passage. It takes a full day of travel to cross a very small distance. With giant leeches, stirges and a giant snapping turtle that need to be avoided, and various detours to avoid other unseen dangers.

After a wearying trek through a seemingly endless sea of rushes, you see a low barrier of earth rising up from the swamp. Soon you stand before the barrier—a circular dike made from mud and wood.
The dike holds the swamp water back from a small island of dry land, barely fifty feet across. In the middle of this dry land is a gaping hole leading down into the ground, a muddy set of wooden stairs leading down into the darkness.
Shock
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Shock »

Tyragorn
HP: 21 AC:18


Tyragorn slept little on the journey. The whole swamp smelled of evil to varying degrees. Or at least he thought it did. It might have just been anticipation. A 3 day trek was more than he was expecting. Now, as they approached the "camp", there was no way to know what they were getting into. "Zasio, can you tell how many come and go from here?"
Flynnarrel
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Flynnarrel »

Aldan
Passive Perception:14 | Init:+4 | AC:17 | HP:21/21

************
About half a day outside of town the three men and Sister Bright were visited by an owl that Aldan seemed to recognize. He called it 'Acorn' and said his mother (an elven druidess) often used it to send messages and check up on him. He was surprised that it bore a small wrapped bundle. It dropped the bundle (bouncing off the thief's head and shoulder) and Aldan was surprised to find a thin book and component pouch with a note from his mother. Aldan didn't share the exact contents but his face showed surprise and wonder as he read. He said simply that it was 'magic'.

Over the next couple days he studied from the book while the owl stuck about and one night he actually did some odd arcane ritual involving burnt herbs and incense with the owl on a rock Aldan pulled over for the creature to perch on. Afterwards he seemed delighted and would talk to the bird though some of it's silent replies make him wince and scowl.

Soon though, Aldan seemed to be able to call up the minorest of illusory images and sounds and could light the campfire after a few words and gestures. (Though in his enthusiasm the fire summoned is initially man-sized until the excess dissipates.) Aldan still seems pleased.

*************
"Yes, and when was the entrance last used?" Aldan asks, adding a question to the paladin's.

Once that is determined he'll sneak up to the hole and even down a ways to peer and listen in for sentries or traps/alarms.
"Something pithy this way comes."
Shock
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Shock »

Tyragorn
HP: 21 AC:18

Guess I should throw out a Perception check here too, just in case there's something to see
Perception check: 1d20+2 20
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Tattooedman
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Tattooedman »

Zasio Blackthorn:
HP: 31
AC: 14
Objects of Interest: Z Goodberries (3 - each heals 1 hp), SB Goodberries (3 - each heals 4 hp)

The group's trek into and through the swamp was what one would expect, if they knew what to expect, so he wasn't surprised or bothered much by the smells and views the three of them were exposed to. Granted he took them on a round about way, but it allowed the trio to avoid potential problems he knew the signs of.

In the early hours of the morning Zasio spent some time at the small campfire he'd built working up replacements for the Goodberrys Sister Bright had given them days ago; as they'd expired the day after she'd given them. Once he was certain they were properly done Zasio presented three of them to Aldan, four to Tyragorn and kept three for himself.

Tyragorn wrote:"Zasio, can you tell how many come and go from here?"
Aldan wrote:"Yes, and when was the entrance last used?"
Moving carefully closer to the muddy hole, Zasio inspects the area with an experienced eye, noting the various footprints left around it.

OOC wrote:Zasio will cast Goodberry before the group heads out and shares them with the others. They give 1 HP and can sustain a person for a day apiece.

Zasio's Stealth Check: _: 1D20+5 = [13]+5 = 18.

Zasio's Survival Check: _: 1D20+4 = [17]+4 = 21.

Zasio can also figure out the exact number, sizes, and how long ago whatever he is tracking have passed through an area.
Last edited by Tattooedman on Wed Mar 01, 2023 6:30 am, edited 3 times in total.
Jabroniville wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:45 pm
LOl- "The Tattooed Man"? What kind of ABSOLUTE DILDO would refer to himself as "The Tattooed Man" :P!?!
Flynnarrel
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Flynnarrel »

Aldan accepted the three gratefully. Sister Bright had a once per day casting of this as well. He recommended 3 go to Zasio and herself with two each to the paladin and himself. He'd be at 5, Zasio and Tyragorn would be at 6 each, the Sister would bear 3 as a back up to her own healing. Though hers, as a gift or her goddess healed quadruple the ranger's magics. It was really Tyragorn (4/2b), Zasio (3/3b), Sister Bright (3b), and he had (3/2b)

He also made a point to take stock of their potions. Of the 5 Healing potions they'd found thusfar, one had been used. They also had a Potion of Superior Healing, one of Growth, and one of Gaseous Form.

One Healing Potion to each seemed like a no-brainer. He asked the others who would like to bear what. He'd recommend giving the Growth to Zasio where his double shortswords would both benefit from a greater size, Tyragorn with the Superior Healing befitting the man's up-front nature, and he'd hang on to the Gaseous one to get him out of the jams he's likely to wind up in. At least, those were his suggestions.

Either way, he bore the crude-carved snake symbol that the head priest bore in case it was a key of some kind.
"Something pithy this way comes."
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Arkrite
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Arkrite »

The swampy area leading to here has obscured most of the tracks you could hope to find, but the area around the stairs is much more informative.

There are lots of older tracks leading away from the stairs back towards the town. Goblins, humans, and lizardmen, though the footprints are obscured enough that getting a full count is hard, though you'd gauge that the number of goblins tends to line up with what you've encountered back in town.
It's safe to bet that there are ten or more lizardmen down below.

The human footprints are harder to get a line on. Recently there's been around dozen people who've come up from below, appearing to have loitered around and returned back down. A a far larger number have gone down in the past, probably another dozen on top. The number that have left is half of that.

It looks like it's been weeks since a large group of people have come or left.
It also doesn't look like anybody new has come through since you arrived in Orlane.

Everybody can hear an usual sound for a swamp, a faint sound of moving water.
An inspection of the stairs reveals that they're old, covered in wet mud, and look dangerously slick. There no light down at the bottom of the stairs, though it's hard to make out anything, the stairs are steep, and the tunnel down is tight enough to feel claustrophobic.

There are the faintest sounds of movement from below.
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Flynnarrel »

Flynnarrel wrote: Wed Feb 22, 2023 5:17 pm Aldan
Passive Perception:14 | Init:+4 | AC:17 | HP:21/21
Signalling the others to stay back a moment (and hopefully continuing to use this Stealth roll), Aldan will creep down half of the stairs. The lack of light meant little to elven eyes as he scoped out the first chamber/hallway/whatever it was. He'll go all the way down if needed to actually get eyes on something of interest.
"Something pithy this way comes."
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Arkrite
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Arkrite »

The walk down the stairs, near the top, is nearly deadly.
If you hadn't been aware of how slippery the were you'd have most likely fallen down the stairs. This would have been a very unpleasant fall as the stairs go down nearly sixty feet. Thirty feet down you can't see anything of note. It's only as you get to the bottom of the stairs you finally get a good look at what you're encountering.

The surprisingly dry dirt flooring allows you to quietly step into the room. The room itself looks like one might find in a mine, dirt floors, dirt walls, with a large number of wooden braces along the wall and across the ceiling.
As Aldan slide up against one of the walls, and hides behind his cloak, he picks out the guards in the room. There are four humans at each corner of the room, each holding a crude spear. They look malnourished, filthy, and their vacant glassy eyed stare barely shift around.

Fortunately for Aldan the guards only occasionally seem to look towards the stairwell he came down. A quick look reveals that anything blocking the light on the way down would have given them away.
Only a combination of Aldan creeping down the stairs pressed against a wall, and their lack of diligence allowed for his undetected entry. It's unlikely to be a feat that Aldan could repeat.
Flynnarrel
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Flynnarrel »

Aldan
Passive Perception:14 | Init:+4 | AC:17 | HP:21/21

Aldan concentrated from his hiding position, mentally communicating to his fey owl familiar.

Up top, Acorn flaps it's wings and lands before the waiting 3. Looking more annoyed than anything it starts its task.

First it draws out a jagged, descending line representing steps. Then, looking particularly annoyed it takes some muck and slippery marsh slime from the surrounding swamp and smears it with talon on to the stairs.

It next draws 4 crude stick figures at the bottom of the 'stairs'. It will interpose itself between the group and the hole though and hold out it's wings.

Down stairs Aldan considers his magical options. Some of his spells required tongue-twisting words so he discounted those. One that didn't though... He plucked a bit of fluff from his wool pants and raised it to his eye. As he did, the room darkened as those up top would see a dome cover the hole. The dome was midnight blue and had pin pricks in it a translucent image of tonight's moon configuration was evident.

Down below, Aldan was curious what their orders were for night time and so crafted a Minor Illusion cantrip to simulate a starry night, complete with moon.
Not sure what roll if any should be here, either for the owl stuff or Aldan's illusory antics. Here's hoping they're not firing on all cylinders.
"Something pithy this way comes."
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Shock »

Tyragorn
HP: 21 AC:18


Tyragorn looked at the owl and then at Zasio, questioningly. He was still getting used it being around. "What does it want? To throw slime on the stairs? Somehow I doubt it."
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Tattooedman
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Tattooedman »

Zasio Blackthorn:
HP: 31
AC: 14
Objects of Interest: Z Goodberries (3 - each heals 1 hp), SB Goodberries (3 - each heals 4 hp)

"I believe that has already been done and discovered by Aldan." Zasio answers as he looks at the owl's picture then back towards the hole the animal was blocking. "And if I were to hazard a guess it seems that Aldan has already found guards of some type near the bottom and is trying some form of his trickery to deal with them."
Jabroniville wrote: Tue Jul 13, 2021 11:45 pm
LOl- "The Tattooed Man"? What kind of ABSOLUTE DILDO would refer to himself as "The Tattooed Man" :P!?!
Shock
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Shock »

Tyragorn
HP: 21 AC:18


Tyragorn moved a little closer to the hole. "Then we'd probably better be ready to help. Who knows how many could be down there?"
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Arkrite
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Arkrite »

The illusion takes hold.

It takes a few recasts before the first of the guards notice. They stagger forward in the dark, brandishing their spear. The other guards are alerted by the sound, and soon all four of them are rushing to the stairs. They jostle and bump each other for a moment, attempting to get ready to stab whoever is blocking the light.
But after a few moments they lower the spears and start to wander back towards their corners, apparently satisfied that there's nobody coming down the stairs.
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Re: IC - Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Chapter 1: The Darkness in Orlane

Post by Flynnarrel »

Aldan
Passive Perception:14 | Init:+4 | AC:17 | HP:21/21

Aldan watched as the four men gathered. He had a little in the way of area options but didn't want to pull them out at the first obstacle. He watched as they turned to drudge back to their posts.

Up top, the owl, Acorn, prompted by a new set of requests, put it's wings down, gestured at the woodsman Zasio and turned his body, bowing toward the opening. His head swivelled backwards to regard the woodsman and a wing came up to lay flight feathers vertically bisecting his beak. If it were a finger the gesture would have been unmistakable if slightly disturbing given the angles.

Down in the hole, as the men were turning their backs from the stairs and each other, Aldan quickly drew his rapier and struck the last man across the back of the head with the basket (non-lethal).

He'd then step back into the shadows knowing their human eyes would be at a severe disadvantage in the night-like lighting.
Aldan moves up behind the last man and attacks from stealth at advantage.
rapier non-lethal attack: 2#1d20+6 13 9
The best is a 13. If that hits his flatfooted AC:
rapier non-lethal dmg: 1d8+4 10 2d6 7
10 non-lethal +7 sneak attack, 17 HP dmg total to knock him out.
Whether successful or not, Aldan uses bonus action to stealth [Rogue ability].
stealth: 1d20+6 26 oh my gosh.
He moves around, hugging the wall [Half move]. He wanted to be able to catch the man and drag him in to the shadows like the stealthy hero of a mummer's play, but he didn't think his thinner elven arms could do such, even as emaciated as the man seemed to be.
I put a circle in the map where Aldan would have tried to drop guard 1, and moved to where the next guard(4) would have been going back to his post.
"Something pithy this way comes."
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