That's much better! [DM Matt] d20=10 Friday August 22nd, 2003 7:37:24 AM
Cadmar manages to wipe off the excess blood, guano, and mushroom off of his gloves and onto his face. His gloves look MUCH cleaner now!
Andrath gets down and dirty! He kinds the stalk of the mushroom which ends in a thick and wide, flat base. Nothing else.
Garrard, these mushrooms are pretty alien to you. Although you can tell that the large ones are quite old and they actually grow OUT of the guano. How they got their darkness quality, you have no idea. There are many small versions of these just starting all around.
Lorth Friday August 22nd, 2003 8:35:15 AM
Lorth keeps watch on the surrounding area while his friends try to figure this puzzle.
Garrard Friday August 22nd, 2003 12:36:39 PM
Garrard aids the search of whomever continues.
(+2 to skill check).
Andrath Friday August 22nd, 2003 1:28:20 PM "Well, that can't be right" thinks the elf, "either that splinter is misguided, or I'm going blind".
"Let me have another look, I'll try to be more thorough this time", Andrath moves forward and begins a slow deliberate search of the mushroom and its immediate surroundings [OOC taking 20, Search=30]
Wynn Brightsong d20+2=21 Friday August 22nd, 2003 1:33:44 PM
Wynn keeps an eye open for the return of the bat or any other danger as Andrath and Garrard search again for clues. [Spot=21]
If they fail to discover anything, Wynn will suggest that they uproot the mushroom and look beneath it. He will also recommend dismantling the fungi if the splinter continues to point at it.
If Andrath and Garrard find something Wynn will commend their diligence and crowd in to see what they have found.
Cadmar Friday August 22nd, 2003 3:13:51 PM
"Andrath, maybe there is nothing else for you to see but the mushroom itself? I think Wynn has a good idea. If you can't find anything lets cut the mushroom open."
While others are doing their best to search the location the ranger moves around a little bit with the splinter on the palm of his hand, rising it up and then lowering to the level of the goo, trying to discern with as much accuracy as possible where exactly is the thing pointing. Is it some specific part of the mushroom?
Once he is done with that he tries to make it back to the place where the party appeared and checks if there is anything unusual there. If the stalagmites can be seen he will examine them too.
Elerinn Sunday August 24th, 2003 6:01:05 PM
Elerinn notices that the mushroom is already been examined, as is the ground beneath it. He decides to watch out for any more hostile bats. His mind wonders off for a moment, however, the bat's attack feels already distant.
Elerinn has a faint feeling that the last couple of weeks where not real. But when he looks at his newfound companions and thinks of the one they lost, he realizes that it is more real than anything that has ever happened in his life.
Kedarn Monday August 25th, 2003 6:31:43 PM
"Does anyone need any healing right now or is everyone ok?" Kedarn asks the others.
Excuse me [DM Matt] Monday August 25th, 2003 7:24:44 PM
Cadmar inadvertantly lets out a belch and a small cloud of darkness forms in front of his face.
Searching the area under the goo, just gets everyone's hands completely covered in bat guano. The splinter is without a doubt pointing to the mushroom.
Doing an autopsy on the mushroom reveals to Garrard that it has a different internal structure than other mushrooms he's seen. Especially in how it radiates darkness. From now on Garrard can automatically identify these and has a Survival chance or knowing how to continue to grow them as well. Everyone else has a survival chance just to identify them.
After the mushroom is thoroughly sliced, the splinter moves and points to the next nearest mushroom which is still intact. There is no doubt of that. It then mysteriously then points to one of the stalagmites.
Wynn Brightsong Monday August 25th, 2003 11:34:31 PM
Wynn accepts Kedarn's offer of medical aid and then joins his colleagues in the dissection of the mushroom. He is truly puzzled when they find little in the way of a key or other physical puzzle piece. "Perhaps it is a mental puzzle that we are meant to solve" he offers, "and our knowledge that these mushrooms radiate darkness is the first key?"
"Perhaps we should investigate the makeup of these stalagmites. I can probably fly to the top of one but the effect of this potion will soon wear off."
Wynn waits for further direction from the others.
Cadmar (5dam) Tuesday August 26th, 2003 12:44:10 AM
"Last time I'm eating mushrooms uncooked."
"I think the door wants us to do some housecleaning for it. Let's remove all the mushrooms from the area and see what happens, how about that?"
The ranger rolls up his sleeves and starts to hack at the plants until not a single spot remains covered by the shroud of darkness. Then he takes a good look around.
Lorth Tuesday August 26th, 2003 7:21:05 AM
Lorth is at a losss for answers. He keeps a lookout for attackers and helps clear mushrooms when Cadmar suggests it.
Garrard Tuesday August 26th, 2003 1:13:29 PM
Garrard offers Cadmar a potion of cure light wounds, saying, "Need to stay healthy in unknown territory. I have several, so feel free to drink this."
(d8+3 healing)
Elerinn Tuesday August 26th, 2003 2:30:57 PM
Elerinn agrees with Wynn and says: "I think your right, these mushrooms don't radiate darkness for no reason. But what reason...I honestly have no clue." He looks at the stalagmite the splinter is pointing at and says: "Perhaps we should investigate that one some more?"
Andrath d20+10=22 Tuesday August 26th, 2003 3:08:52 PM
Andrath calls out to Wynn, "Can you carry me over to that stalagmite? I want to have a closer look at it."
Assuming Wynn will oblige, Andrath drops his backpack on the wagon, to make himself lighter, and when Wynn carries him over, will take his time and make a careful search of the stalagmite. [Take 20 on the search, if he has time, for a total of 30. If Wynn doesn't think he has enough flying time left, then Andrath will carry out a regular search with a search check of 22.]
A Mushroom key? [DM Matt] Tuesday August 26th, 2003 7:11:31 PM
The splinter stubbornly points back to the mushroom. The small mushrooms come out easy. After hacking at a few of the big ones, others find that they pop right out of the muck with some tugging and can just be covered to conceal their darkness.
Once some mushrooms are covered and stowed, the splinter then points back at the nearest stalagmite. Then it points out into the darkness. Wynn notices that this was the same direction as the adjacent pillar he saw. Cadmar hands the splinter off to Wynn to confirm this thought while he goes to clear mushrooms. The splinter then points off to the right of where it was pointing. Theoretically if there were five pillars in a pentagram shape, this new direction would be the center.
Slicing mushrooms around the perimeter is pretty easy work, but also very slippery. A Reflex Save DC 15 for both Cadmar and Lorth.
Andrath and Wynn see that the stalagmites look to be actual rock formations and seem pretty solid. There are no secret doors or compartments, nor do they glow or anything.
Wynn Brightsong Tuesday August 26th, 2003 10:06:41 PM
Wynn flies Andrath to the nearest stalagmite and assists the rogue in examining the formation. As the splinter turns yet again he calls out for another rope and offers to secure a line to what he guesses must be the central pillar.
[OOC by my calculations Wynn has no more than 10 minutes of flying left]
Cadmar (5dam) d20+3=4 Wednesday August 27th, 2003 1:44:15 AM
"Good idea, Garrard. But since we are not in a hurry maybe we should use the wand? The wands are cheaper and the potions are more versatile, so we might want to save them for emergencies. Can someone hit me with a bit of healing from the wand?"
Just after he has said that there is a cry and a loud splash as Cadmar loses his footing [Ref 4].
Lorth d20+4=20 Wednesday August 27th, 2003 7:20:42 AM
Lorth busily clears the mushrooms. (Reflex: 20)
Elerinn Wednesday August 27th, 2003 2:41:53 PM
Elerinn watches the splinter's wild movement. He wonders why the splinter points in the centre of the pillars, but not much can surprize him after the last couple of minutes.
When Cadmar falls, Elerinn impulsively shrieks and realizes that he already looks somewhat weakened.
Garrard d8+5=7 Wednesday August 27th, 2003 3:05:44 PM
Garrard tucks the potion back into his belt, and taps Cadmar with the healing wand just before he goes over.
(7pts healed.)
Watch that first step [DM Matt] Wednesday August 27th, 2003 8:50:09 PM
"Can someone hit me with a bit of healing from the wand?" says Cadmar in the darkness of slicing mushrooms.
Garrard obliges and walks over to Cadmar's area but doesn't find him. Instead he hears a increasingly distant "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Cadmar feet met the slippery ground and his momentum faliled him right over the side. He falls and cannot grab onto anything. There is nothing around to grab onto and he does not see ground. The falling feeling is unnerving and he closes his eyes.
He opens them again and he is in a cage. hanging from a ceiling. Around him many other cages stretch on around him. Within each is a strange creature of unknown origin, each making strange noises. Within his head he hears taunts and jabs and a commanding psychotic voice intoning "Worship him and Obey!"
Meanwhile Wynn floats off to what he thinks might be a "Central pillar" but finds that within the cavern there are five pillkars in the shape of a pentagram. In the center of them is...well, nothing. This is the same formation of all the stalagmites on each pillar. As Wynn hover in the exact center, the splinter points to one of the mushrooms in his pack, then back to the first pillar then to another, then to all of them, then straight down. But he is aware that flight might end really soon.
Andrath Thursday August 28th, 2003 12:25:57 AM
Andrath thanks Wynn for the transport, and goes to retrieve his backpack from the wagon. He takes out his rope, and says, "Wynn, why don't you tie this rope around your waist, and I and a couple of others will hang onto the other end. That way, you can continue to fly until the potion runs out, and then when you fall, we can reel you in. Will that work?"
He tries to figure out exactly what the party is supposed to do with the mushrooms and the pillars. "Are we supposed to plant the mushrooms on every pillar? Is that what the splinter wants us to do?"
Wynn Brightsong Thursday August 28th, 2003 12:36:18 AM
"Excellent idea" Wynn exclaims to Andrath. I will check out the other pillars and see if they have mushrooms on them. If they don't I will plant some of the smaller ones we have uprooted."
Wynn ties off to the rope that Andrath offers and flies in the direction that the splinter indicates. The bard is confused. "What if mushrooms already occur on the other pillars? Then what? Do I uproot them and throw them into the void?" Wynn voices his concerns to the group.
Cadmar (5dam) Thursday August 28th, 2003 2:29:44 AM
The ranger opens his eyes. His head spins, his heart races like a hart on a hunt, and the sound of his own scream is still in his ears. For a moment he thinks he has just woken up from hallucinating after taking a bite of the musroom, but then reality rears its ugly head.
The ranger pats his pockets. The splinter is gone and he wonders if the others managed to find it. They must think he is dead. Not good.
What happened to his possessions? Is his body bruised from the impact of the fall?
Cadmar takes a good look at the room he is in, the cage (how far to the floor? what is it hanging from?), and the surrounding creatures, half heartedly hoping to spot Cassandra hidden somewhere among them.
Just to quiet the voices in his head he starts to repeat verses of poems he has heard during his travels. How did this song of Wynn go?
"O'er the hills and o'er the plains We battled orcs till none remained The gods command and we obey O'er the hills and far away..."
[Should I stop posting until further notice?]
Garrard d20+2=16 Thursday August 28th, 2003 4:05:06 AM
Seeing Cadmar drop out of sight, Garrard bows his head sadly, listening for any sign of the type of impact at the bottom.
(listen: 16)
Lorth Thursday August 28th, 2003 7:44:27 AM
Lorth lies on his belly, to get good traction, and craws to the edge where Cadmar fell off. He looks down to see if he can see the bottom, and screams Cadmar at the top of his lungs, if he can't see the bottom.
Elerinn Thursday August 28th, 2003 2:28:34 PM
Elerinn, when Cadmar slips off the platform, can't believe they are about to lose another one of the group, not so soon. This room's all just an illusion. It must be!
Elerinn tries not to think of Cadmar's possible deadly fall and repeats "...Portals do not speak, portals do not speak, portals do NOT speak..." as some sort of mantra. Luckily, he is distracted by Andrath's possible solution as he is eager to continue the trip through this illusionary world.
Cadmar's Fate [DM Matt] Thursday August 28th, 2003 9:59:47 PM
Cadmar looks around. His possessions are all gone. In fact, he is wearing a simple robe os black and white with rose lining. THe voices echo through his head. He can't shut them out. His possessions are gone. NOne of the surrounding creatures are recognizable. They look unpleased with Cadmar's presence and snap at him. Many entone, "Worship Boydos! Boydos is all! Boydos is everything! All you need is Boydos!" The voices continue...
Poor Lorth looks over the side of the cavern, the drops of sweat from his forehead fall and skirt the edge of the pillar. He can see no bottom. Just darkness. And no Cadmar. His friend, his colleague, his companion lost to the depths of darkness below. Neither he nor Garrard hear a crash or thump is heard however.
Andrath and Wynn experiment withthe mushrooms. Uprooting them is easy enough. But they don't seem to stick to the stalagmites. As Wynn moves about the stalagmites, the splinter changes its pointing to whichever one he is near. Flying out to other pillars gets the same effect. There are darkshrooms on every pillar all growing out of the dung with 5 stalagmites in pentagram formation. There too the splinter points to whichever Wynn is nearest. He relays this info back to Andrath.
Andrath Thursday August 28th, 2003 11:58:53 PM
"So, Wynn, the splinter points to whichever pillar you seem to be nearest. Well now, that makes it all much clearer," Andrath says in a sarcastic tone. "Maybe we all need to get off this pillar, and onto one of the other pillars? I am completely stumped here. You and I have landed on one of the other pillars and searched it, and found nothing, right? So why does the splinter continue to point to the pillars?"
Cadmar (5dam) Friday August 29th, 2003 3:40:18 AM
The ranger sits down, his legs crossed, and sighs. "Well, that's the worst pickle I have been in ever since I started adventuring. Even being wounded by the orcs was not that bad." He rubs the new scar on his forehead. "All I need is Boyd- what am I saying? All I need is a stout drink."
The voices in his head can't be helped, so Cadmar decides that he should give his hands something to do. How far down is the floor? Does the cage have a door? Is there a lock?
[Matt, seems that I have pressed submit twice yesterday. Can you delete one post?]
Wynn Brightsong Friday August 29th, 2003 7:40:33 AM
Wynn feels his ability to fly come to an end and floats down next to Andrath, Garrard, Lorth and Elerinn. "I too am lost my friends". Does the splinter simply point at anything magical? In which case what exactly is magical about the stalagmites?..." Wynn looks to the others for their ideas and notices that one of them is missing "Where is Cadmar?"
Garrard Friday August 29th, 2003 3:05:43 PM
Garrard states quietly, "Cadmar is fallen. I could not hear any sign of his impact, so it must have been very far, or something odd occured."
After a short pause, Garrard speaks again.
"Let us restate what we know about the splinter, the pillars, the mushrooms, and the gulf between. Perhaps if we list the information as a single body, we will be able to escape this place, and find Cassandra."
Elerinn Sunday August 31st, 2003 3:16:23 PM
Elerinn agrees with Garrard, but doesn't state any of the information himself, for he is too worried about forgetting something. Besides that, Cadmar's fall is still on his mind.
Torment [DM Matt] Monday September 1st, 2003 7:54:12 AM
Cadmar examines the cage more thoroughly and sees it has a door although he can't make out any type of lock. He realizes he has no tools with him. Just the robe. So he decides to try and force the door open. He rams into it and it flies open with ease, sending him out the door a bit TOO fast. He grabs the outside of the door at the last minute as it flips back. He looks down. Here too there is no floor. About him the otherbeasts squawk and wriggle in their cages. Above his own cage is a rope tied to the top. It extends up, far far above him.
Back on the pillar, magical tests reveal some strange magic coming from the splinter, the stalagmites, and the pillar itself, as well as the mushrooms.
Cadmar's scream echoes in Elerinn's mind, the last thing Elerinn heard from him. "Aaaaaaaaaaa--" it went, then cut off abruptly, as if Cadmar was snuffed out before falling very fall at all.
Andrath continues to scratch his head. The splinter stops pointing at mushrooms now that you have taken some and put them in your packs. It now points at the stalagmites on your pillar (changing to whichever one its closest to as you move). Wynn is certain that when he flew out, it started pointing to other pillars in the same fashion and once he was ON another pillar, it pointed to the various stalagmites there too.
Kedarn d20+5=9 d20+3=18 Monday September 1st, 2003 9:44:35 AM
Kedarn looks carefully at the stalagmite closest to him. (spot 9, search 18)
****ooc: sorry for missing post RL has been taking a toll on me. 3.5 sheet coming to you later today Matt****
Garrard d20+4=19 Monday September 1st, 2003 1:03:39 PM
Garrard considers for a moment, and then begins the following steps. If anything happens, he immediately stops to analyze and discuss.
He touches a mushroom, and then a stalagmite. He rubs a mushroom, then a stalagmite. He takes a piece of mushroom, and touches it to the stalagmite. He takes a hacked up mushroom chunk about the size of his fist, and tosses it out through the space directly between the five pillars. (hit AC: 19) He takes a hacked up mushroom chunk about the size of his fist, lies down beside Lorth, and drops it through Cadmar's path, watching what happens to it. He then stands up, and asks Lorth's help breaking a piece of one of the stalagmites.
Elerinn Monday September 1st, 2003 5:06:23 PM
Elerinn, remembering Cadmar's screams, realizes now that he had been saved somehow, for his screams suddenly stopped. Concentrating himself on the current matter and states: "Perhaps we are meant to touch several pillars at the same time?"
He realizes that he didn't check on Qamaro, his bird familiar, when he entered this place. Somewhat panicked, he checks of the creature is still around.
Wynn Brightsong d20+4=15 Monday September 1st, 2003 8:18:13 PM
Wynn was confused! The clues didn't add up! He thought back to the strange song of the door. Nothing seemed to make sense. Non-sequitur followed non-sequitur. Pink and black bouncing dwarves? He had never seen a dwarf bounce before. "Surely this must be some kind of illusion" he thought. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on those things that were purely physical, the sound of his own pulse as it coursed through his eardrums, and the expansion of his chest with each breath of air. He opens his eyeshoping to see a different reality...
[Will save against illusion DC=15]
Andrath Monday September 1st, 2003 11:09:24 PM
Andrath watches as Garrard tries each of his suggestions in turn, hoping that one of his ideas triggers a positive result. "Do you think that we need to take a piece of these stalagmites, as well?" He tries to break off a chunk of the rock, using his dagger.
Cadmar (5dam) Tuesday September 2nd, 2003 3:06:16 AM
The ranger pulls himself back into the cage and waits until his heart calms down. He looks at the rope his cage is tied to and tries to figure out how hard it would be to climb it. "Too hard for me" - he decides. "Now if I had a wall to brace against it would be a different story..."
Can Cadmar see any walls? If so, are any of the other cages close enough to them so that it would be possible to brace against the wall while climbing the rope?
"Of course, once I get to the ceiling, it might prove that there is nothing there but a hook. I have probably been brought here by this flying mindose. Where is the entrance to this room, I wonder?"
The ranger sits down and puts his hands over his ears. The voices start to get to him. "Must concentrate. First things first. Is there a floor?"
If possible, Cadmar unhinges the door to his cage and drops it down, waiting to see how long it will take for it to impact. If the door doesn't come off, he searches his robe for a button or something similar and drops it instead.
Lorth Tuesday September 2nd, 2003 9:15:59 AM
Lorth helps Garrard break a piece of one of the stalagmites. He doesn't offer any ideas as this is all well beyond him.
Stalagmite + Mushroom = ? [DM Matt] Tuesday September 2nd, 2003 8:18:07 PM
Nothing is found on the stalagmite, nor in, nor inside. It can be chipped at.
Garrard's exercises: As Garrard takes a mushroom out of his pouch, it gets dark around him. Doing a series of covering and uncovering he manages to touch it to the stalagmite and do his tests. Nothing seems to happen. When he hacks it to pieces, the darkness ends. He heaves a piece into the middle of the cavern, further than he can see what happens to it. He hears nothing. Then he goes over to where Cadmar fell and drops a piece. It falls, not very far at all in fact, and just vanishes in thin air.
Elerinn looks for his bird and finds it tucked into a fold in his clothes shivering. It seems very frightened. It says it doesn't like bats.
Wynn concentrates and this blasted place is still here. He stands in the very center and the splinter rotates and points to each stalagmite in turn.
Cadmar thinks....and thinks...and thinks some more. He thinks about walls and how he doesn't see any. He does see that the cages are close enough that he could jump from one to the other perhaps. Then he decides to pull off the door. As he does so a small fish-faced creature sitting in his cage hands him the door, staring at him wide-eyed. Dropping the door (presuming he still does so), Cadmar hears nothing. Above him he hears creaking and grinding. The fish faced thing climbs outside the cage and scurries up the rope.
Wynn Brightsong d20+8=14 Tuesday September 2nd, 2003 10:00:00 PM
Wynn stares at the rotating splinter, and grips it tightly preparing to hurl it into the abyss that has swallowed Cadmar. He thinks better and grips it tighter, remembering how the possessed door had rambled on about using it against the 'flying mindoses' and saving Cassandra.
Discouraged, and confused, Wynn slumps down in the middle of the pentagram formed by the stalagmites. 'Four portals and four keys, to get to the 'flying furball' and rescue Cassandra. That's what it said' mutters Wynn to no one in particular. He rests his arms on his knees and hangs his head.
The half-elf starts to chant, in a low voice, as if it will unlock a memory (Bardic Knowledge=14). It is the song of the door...
Cast out a spell rendered for the light of day, Lost in lights array, I ventured to see as the sound began to play.
What happened to this song we once knew so well, Signed promise for moments caught within the spell, I must have waited all my life for this, tunes of a different age.
Talk to the sunlight caller...
His voice trails off as the meaning of it all elludes him.
Andrath Wednesday September 3rd, 2003 12:31:44 AM
Andrath is even more stumped then before. Always having been an elf of action, this stumbling from silly idea to silly idea, trying to follow the incomprehensible directions from a tiny splinter of wood, was really starting to be frustrating. He started to wonder if they would be trapped in this tower forever. Hopefully, these mushrooms turned out to be edible.
Cadmar (dam5) Wednesday September 3rd, 2003 2:02:22 AM
"Well, there seems to be no other exit from here but the rope. Isn't it true, my fish faced companion?"
The ranger climbs on the top of the cage and puts his hands on the rope judging his chances.
"Not a snowballs chance in Abyss I can climb far up without some help."
Still, something has to be done. Cassandra is in danger.
Cadmar removes his robe and twists it into a short rope. He loops it under his arms and ties it to the rope the cage is suspended from. He is trying to make a knot that will allow him to move up, but will suspend his weight if he ever loses his grip. He takes his time and experiments with different knots until it works the way he wants it to work [take twenty on Use Rope: 21].
Once this task is accomplished he starts to climb up. Sure, there will be falls, but the knot should prevent him from losing height [Cadmar has a Climb modifier of 0].
Lorth Wednesday September 3rd, 2003 9:08:58 AM
"Well perhaps we will get lucky and the door will let something else in, that has a clue about how to move about in here.", Lorth sits and stares up into the darkness.
Elerinn Wednesday September 3rd, 2003 2:41:14 PM
Elerinn, glad that he found his familiar but worried about it's current condition, tries to comfort the creature somewhat, and says that there would be a way out soon. Not quite sure himself, he looks at Wynn singing the strange song. He says "I don't see how this song relates to this" while gesturing all around him. Maybe we should touch those stalagmite's at the same time?"
OOC: Matt, what is our e-mail adress? My 3.5 edition proof character sheet is ready.
Garrard Wednesday September 3rd, 2003 3:39:31 PM
Garrard ponders a bit more, listening to Wynn's remembrance. Turning back to the group he asks, "Does anyone have access to a light spell that could cancel the darkness?"
"The song suggests something here is a key for a portal. The splinter, if giving true information, is pointing out the mushrooms, stalagmites, and pillars as either key or lock or portal."
"Four portals... five pillars. Coming through to here sounds to me like a magical portal. Perhaps each other pillar is a portal, and we just need to get over to another to check it?"
With this he stops and looks back down over the edge.
"For some reason I think we are making this too complicated, and discounting the obvious. Cadmar clearly passed through some sort of either sound masking or transportation magic when he fell. Shall we lower a rope through the effect, and shimmy down it to rejoin him? Might be the better choice if hes wounded or in danger."
Bomp! Bomp! [DM Matt] Thursday September 4th, 2003 6:05:25 AM
Cadmar de-robes and his greeted with catcalls from some and the sounds of chomping teeth and smacking lips from others. He gets on top of the cage and ZOOOOOOOOM! like a master lumberjack he scoots up the rope. The rope goes on...and on...and on... and eventually ends attached to the bottom of another cage. He looks out at the jungle of ropes dangling around him, all colored grey and rose and black and white. The cage above him contains a pair of goggles and a turbin. Cadmar hangs on the bottom of the cage and his robe inadvertently slips out of his hand. It falls down and down and down as Cadmar clings there naked.
Wynn's voice is haunting and echoes across the cavern, lifting your spirits even now in this dark oubliette.
[If you'd really like to hear the song, find a copy of the album "Tales From Topographic Oceans" from the group Yes. The song is the first track, "The Revealing Science of God"]
Suddenly, through the melodic voice of Wynn cuts a new voice in your own minds that scrapes upon the blackboard of your minds. "You! I see you! You are here and now here are you! All bow down! All praise! All devotion to Boydos! Boydos ....IS.....ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
[Make a will save everyone! DC 18]
Kedarn d20+6=23 Thursday September 4th, 2003 6:26:57 AM
Kedarn looks for where the voice is coming from. (will save 23)
Lorth d20+4=9 Thursday September 4th, 2003 7:38:58 AM
Lorth hears the voice and just can't get it out of his head... (OOC: Failed the save, I also need your email DM Matt, my 3.5 is done also.)
Garrard d20+6=10 Thursday September 4th, 2003 12:47:17 PM
Garrard slumps to the ground, the voice filling his mind.
Elerinn d20+4=23 Thursday September 4th, 2003 3:47:23 PM
Elerinn is able to resist the haunting voice, and, like Kedarn, tries to locate the source it's coming from.
Wynn Brightsong d20+4=18 d20+7=22 Thursday September 4th, 2003 6:20:49 PM
Wynn hears the strange song of Boydos begin and struggles to fight off it's effects [Will Save = 18] He then calls upon his own repertoire of songs and begins to sing...
"Eyes right, my jolly field boys, who dwarven axes bear, to teach your foes to yield boys, when dwarven steel they dare! Now fill the glass, for the toast of toasts shall be drunk with the cheer of cheers, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! for the dwarven axes near!"
Wynns voice rings clear and loud through the darkness.
[OOC Bardic Music, Countersong = 22, all those within 30 feet can replace will saves with this save]
Cadmar Friday September 5th, 2003 6:36:00 AM
The ranger looks with desperation at the robe falling down. "Good Domi, good thing it gave way now and not when I was climbing. Still, it is frightful to think that I relied on that knot to support my weight. I just hope Cassandra doesn't see me like this."
Cadmar climbs into the cage over his head and sits down, letting his tired hands rest, but the objects inside draw his curiosity. He picks up the goggles and turns them around in his hands, then places them on his eyes to see if the world looks different though them. Then he moves his attention to the turbin. What is a free standing turbin doing in a middle of a cage suspended on a rope? The situation is getting more and more dreamlike with every minute. "Maybe I have fallen asleep under that tree with strange insects?" he wonders.
How hard to climb (by Cadmar's judgement) are these ropes?
Safe again...for now [DM Matt] Friday September 5th, 2003 6:10:36 PM
Wynn's song drives away the confusion in your mind. Things get eerily quiet in yours heads, in the back of your minds you have an eerie suspicion and feeling that it will be back in full force! Or maybe it hasn't left and is just there....watching and waiting. Either way it isn't something you want to stick around for.
You all return to the things you were saying and doing before. Wynn realizes Elerinn has just said something that he has somewhat thought of before. Garrard stares back down into the abyss.
Cadmar climbs into the cage and realizes that there is nothing suspending it from above. He turns the goggles around and places them on his eyes. He looks out upon a jungle of vines. Literally, there are vines hanging everywhere. With the turbin now on his head, which he actually didn't remember putting on, he jumps out and latches on to the nearest one. Then another. Then another. He flies through the air like Tarzan and lets go of yet another one. The turbin forces itself further down over his head and streches down until it covers his whole body. Cadmar can still see perfectly though. The ends of the cloth form wings and Cadmar flies forward soaring through the ever-denser vines in the jungle. He feels something on his back too. It's the fish faced creature.
Garrard Friday September 5th, 2003 8:29:02 PM
Garrard kneels and looks over the remainder of the group.
"We need a decision, and quickly. Anyone have any additional ideas regarding the pillars, or do we move as a group down a rope, and through the teleportal after Cadmar?"
Cadmar (dam5) Saturday September 6th, 2003 1:51:52 AM
"Aiee! Arrgh!" The ranger panics and struggles violently for a moment, and then goes limp, letting himself be carried like a hare grabbed by an eagle. It is only after a minute or two that he manages to calm down enough to attempt to control the flight somehow. He waves his hands, tries to will himself fly in this or another direction, or pull on different straps of cloth. Finally he turns to the fish faced passenger: "Hey you! Enjoying the flight? What in the blazes is going on around here?!"
Wynn Brightsong (Countersong) d20+7=19 Tuesday September 9th, 2003 9:26:01 PM
Wynn continues his song, unsure of whether the chanting will return.[Countersong=19]
Great priests have hammer and flail boys, Dragoons have sabres bright. The dragon fire's like hell, boys, And the horse like devils fight. But neither light nor heavy horse with thundering giants leer, Can stem the tide of the orc horde's pride, Like when dwarven axes near!
The bard absent mindedly throws bits of mushroom into the void as he sings.
Andrath Tuesday September 9th, 2003 11:38:28 PM
Andrath takes pieces of everything, and puts them all in his pack: mushroom pieces, including spores, pieces of each stalactite on the pillar, a piece of the pillar itself, and even a sample of the (ugh!) bat guano. He hopes that is what was meant by the splinter as it pointed to each of the things in turn.
DM Announcement Wednesday September 10th, 2003 5:58:12 AM
We are on hold until I get all the 3.5 sheets.
Still waiting for Elerinn and Cadmar. If you guys already sent them, please send them again as I must have missed them. Otherwise if you don't have time or don't know how to convert to 3.5, use your fellow Cinnamon players as resources. I'm sure one of them would be glad to help you.
email address:fenrsisulf@juno.com
Marcin OOC Wednesday September 10th, 2003 7:10:27 AM
[Matt, I have sent you new stats for Cadmar on August the 12th. I have sent the same thing today; if for some reason you did not get this mail contact me at kulczmc@auburn.edu]
MDM kent Friday September 12th, 2003 8:59:59 PM Hey Guys and Gals, The only two sheets I need from this game are Elerin, Andrath.
Greg to Kent Saturday September 13th, 2003 1:45:31 AM
I tried to send you a copy of Andrath's sheet last night. Didn't you get it? Also, I have sent a copy to Matt as well.
Kent MDM Sunday September 14th, 2003 9:04:20 AM My mistake Greg, I do indeed have Andrath. I ve been a bit busy and my mind is seeing things. The PCs I am missing are Ellerinn, Cadmar, and Thram.
Marcin OOC Sunday September 14th, 2003 9:56:32 AM
[Matt, did you get the character sheet I sent you? You haven't contacted me so I assumed you did.]
Jasper OOC Sunday September 14th, 2003 4:14:05 PM
Matt, I also send the file and gave you my e-mail adress japser99@hotmail.com to contact me. If you haven't received my sheet, please tell me...
Jasper OOC Tuesday September 16th, 2003 2:38:54 PM
Matt, please tell me if you have received my updated character sheet...
Wynn Brightsong Tuesday September 16th, 2003 6:44:40 PM
Wynn adds another verse to his song as time passes ever so slowly...
The elven bow is strong, boys, The gnomish arm is tough. The dwarf's blow the orc well knows, Is struck by sterling stuff. And when before the enemy Their shining steel appears, Goodbye! goodbye! how they run, how they fly! When dwarven axes near!
Jerry Saturday September 20th, 2003 3:35:00 PM
Ok, as you all know I took over the approval of character sheets for Matt to do him a favor. I've approved all those sheets now except for Jasper's Elerinn. I reviewed his sheet and need for him to make a few corrections and send it to me so I can approve it.
Once Jasper does so, I'll email the sheets to both Matt and Kent at the same time and personally clear ya for your reward.
Jasper, I just tried to email you and it was spit back at me. [grin] I think your box was full. Let me know if you need another copy of the corrected sheet to fix.
Jasper(Elerinn) Monday September 22nd, 2003 11:29:13 AM
Hmmm, my mailbox is almost empty, but please send the email to jvholsteij@antoniuscollege.nl , it will work, most likely.
Jerry Wednesday September 24th, 2003 11:14:43 PM
Jasper your hotmail account just spat back at me again. Do you want to change your address permanently? If so, you need to send me an email from the address you want to use and tell me so via email please. ;)
Thanks bud.
Jerry Wednesday September 24th, 2003 11:17:48 PM
Jasper, I need your corrected character sheet asap. YOu are the only one that's not in!
Matt, go ahead and start up your game. Jasper, you may begin posting WHEN your sheet is in to me and approved. You don't like much. Make the corrections and send. If you don't have my corrections send me an email from a location that I can send it to successfully my friend.
I am now sending it to the address you used above. hope it works.
Jasper Thursday September 25th, 2003 5:08:27 AM
I just send you the e-mail with corrected sheet, from my new and working email adress. I'm sorry for the delay, I will stop using my hotmail account from now.
Cadmar Friday September 26th, 2003 2:04:34 AM
Cadmar watches the maze of vines the wings are carrying him through. Turning to his silent passenger he casually asks: "So, know any good jokes? How about this one: What is the difference between a witch and a hag?"
"About 30 years."
Flashback [DM Matt] Friday September 26th, 2003 5:35:50 AM
"But you know the most important thing you should remember?" says the door of the tower. You collectively shake your heads dumbfounded at the spastic and overly happy door. "You can break these for clues!" With that he spits out a small wooden box wrapped nicely with a fancy ribbon. 'To my friends,' it reads, 'Try not to die.' "In THAT," reminds the door, "are cookies of fortune! Crack one open and it will tell you hints about your current predicament. (Personally I don't understand it...)"
You all immediately snap back to the present situation on top of the pillar in the dark as these memories float through your minds, unsure if they really happened. Confused, you check your packs and sure enough you find the wooden box still tied with ribbon. Shaking it reveals some objects within.
Cadmar squawks twice to the fish-faced creature as he floats through the vines in the jungle. It is a strange sensation for him having a beak and all. He flaps his wings and soars downward, carried on the breeze. He gets a strong smell of mushrooms, but also a hint of guano as well.
Garrard Friday September 26th, 2003 2:04:26 PM
Garrard kneels, unshoulders his pack, and pulls out the box. Fishing inside for a... cookie to break, he says, "Well done, Wynn".
Wynn d20+2=12 d20+7=11 Friday September 26th, 2003 8:35:36 PM
Wynn continues his song, unsure of whether the voice from the tower will once again try to invade their thoughts. He keeps an eye open for any impending danger. [Spot=12, Perform=11]
Eyes right, my jolly field boys, Who dwarven axes bear, To teach your foes to yield boys, When dwarven steel they dare! Now fill the glass, for the toast of toasts Shall be drunk with the cheer of cheers, Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah, hurrah! For the dwarven axes near!
Cadmar Saturday September 27th, 2003 2:38:11 AM
Only after he has tried to speak the ranger realizes the scale of the transformation he has undergone [so, I'm a bird now?]. He circles around, wondering if the next thing to go will be his memories and human mind. The smells that hit his notrils seem to be familiar. The memory of the pillar comes to mind, and Cadmar starts to follow the smells in hope of finding his friends. "They are most likely long gone, but I hope I will be able to find the trail they left..."
Kedarn Sunday September 28th, 2003 7:08:03 AM
Kedarn tries to recall what exactly Cadmar had done right before he left.
Elerinn Sunday September 28th, 2003 6:16:41 PM
Elerinn is confused about the sudden memory, it frightens him in a bit. It feels like someone has changed his past, to create this memory. Nevertheless, he decides to open one of the cookies, for he is anxious to leave this place.
OOC: My apologies to you all, I hold up the game for quite a while. I hope we will be able to get it all rolling again.
Got Milk? [Dm Matt] d4=4 Monday September 29th, 2003 6:09:09 PM
Everyone gathers around Garrard as he finds the the nice wooden box, tied with a fancy dark ribbon. He shakes it finding things inside. Not having many other options, he snaps the ribbon and pops the box open. Inside are four folded cookies, each of a different color. One red, one green, one purple, one blue.
You all stare at them and look at each other until Elerinn breaks under the pressure, grabs the blue one and cracks it open. A magical spark of blue light appears from the center of the cookie. In the air, as if written on an invisible blackboard, the blue light writes,
"The splinter pointed to three different things: (in order) 1) The first key 2) The method for finding exit #2 of 3 3) The method for finding exit #3 of 3"
This lingers in the air for awhile.
Cadmar lands on the grass of the floor and stares up at the sun. The violet rays beat down cold on his wings. Worms crawl around his feet. which he figures he should eat since he's a bird and birds do eat worms. He gobbles up several of them. "Awww what did you eat those for?" says the fish faced creature, "I was gonna eat those." It sniffs and digs a hole in the ground which it sits in. Cadmar sits on a log and rocks back and forth picking bits of worm out of his teeth with his finger.
Kedern recalls Cadmar trotting over toward the edge swinging his sword around before going "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" and leaving...
Wynn Monday September 29th, 2003 7:02:48 PM
Wynn scratches his beard briefly and thinks back to the splinter and its wandering. "As I recall" he says, " the splinter pointed first to one of the mushrooms in my pack, then back to this pillar then to the pillar over there, and then it seemed to go astry, pointing to all the pillars and then straight down." Wynn pauses to make sure he remembered correctly and continues, "Yes, that was the order it happened, but if this mushroom is the key, then what does it unlock?"
Garrard Monday September 29th, 2003 7:28:34 PM
Garrard chuckles.
"We have an obvious teleporter, and key objects."
With this, he picks up a piece of mushroom, and takes a casual hop off the edge of the platform to follow Cadmars example.
Cadmar Tuesday September 30th, 2003 1:20:18 AM
The ranger sits on the rock, savouring the aftertaste of the worm. He does not know if he should laugh or cry.
"Hop on, Salmon, or whatever is your name. I'll try to find my friends" he eventually says. With that, he tries to take to the air again and follow the smells of bats and mushrooms he has noticed before.
Lorth Tuesday September 30th, 2003 8:59:48 AM
Lorth watches all this crazyness and sits down.
Elerinn Tuesday September 30th, 2003 11:30:00 AM
Elerinn passively watches as Garrard jumps off the platform, too surprised to do something. He just watches the others, with a questioning look on his face.
Man overboard [DM Matt] Tuesday September 30th, 2003 5:58:37 PM
Elerinn watches as Garrard, wild-eyed and giddy, jumps and disappears from view over the edge of the pillar. Not a sound is heard. Those that look over, if any do, just see the inky blackness below.
More specifically, Wynn recalls the splinter pointing to the stalagmites ON their pillar second, then it was pointing out to the other pillars third. (since he was out flying and could see them)
Cadmar actually can still smell the mushrooms and guano all around him but sees none. He's been smelling it quite strongly for a little while now. He jumps and tries to fly again but it seems his feathers are starting to molt off. He looks into the hole. "Key objects." says fish-faced Garrard from the hole. Garrard climbs out and hops on Cadmar's back.
Garrard Tuesday September 30th, 2003 6:11:18 PM
Garrard looks down at his mount for a moment, his hands beginning to shake.
"Madness."
With this he looks around, and calls, "Is this the work of fae? I am known to the fae of the Windborne Hills. I am Garrard Talhein."
Wynn d20+4=7 Tuesday September 30th, 2003 8:02:43 PM
Wynn reaches for Garrard just as he drops over the edge, but to no avail. "I cannot believe that we are meant to drop to our deaths" he says to the rest of the group. "There was nothing in the action of the splinter or the song we heard that tells me to cast myself into the abyss!"
Wynn contemplates the mushroom fragments in his hand, and then hands off all but one to Elerinn. "Take these my friend, and if I am successful you and the others can follow!"
Wynn takes the remaining fragment of mushroom and goes over to the stalagmite on their pillar that the splinter first pointed to. He touches the mushroom to the stalagmite and tries to will a portal to appear (will = 7].
Cadmar Wednesday October 1st, 2003 1:34:24 AM
Cadmar was just looking around, trying to notice any landmarks, when the fish-faced creature made an unexpected introduction.
"Garrard?" There is as much surprise as suspicion in Cadmar's voice. "Good Domi, Garrard, you really are worse off than me. I hope this change is reversible. What in the name of goodness happened-"
"-Wait a moment. Is that some kind of trick? Are you really Garrard? Tell me where we found the Claw?"
Lorth Wednesday October 1st, 2003 10:15:53 AM
Lorth looks at his hands and sighs, the strain of insanity is almost to much for him.
Madness likes company [DM Matt] Wednesday October 1st, 2003 5:41:51 PM
"Madness", answers Garrard to Cadmar and starts talking about fae.
The forest around you echoes with noise of creatures, it's flora almost choking. The mushroom smell is still really really strong to Cadmar. (but not to Garrard) A trickle of water comes between the two of you. You start following the trickle and there expands a large natural spring pond which burbles. On a lilypad in the middle is a beautiful and small female creature seemingly made of plant with longflowing green hair which floats on the water in a nice wide pattern.
The earth seems really soft here as Cadmar's foot goes through the earth and seems to get stuck. Garrard notices that his reflection in the pond indeed seems to be fishy.
Wynn places a mushroom on the stalagmite and it does nothing. In this process, he notices again that once in the center, the splinter spins in his hand and one at a time points to ALL of the stalagmites. Everyone else notices this too.
Garrard Wednesday October 1st, 2003 6:05:39 PM
Garrard stands up his his stirrups, and sketches a bow to the seated lady.
"Good day, fair lady. Could we ask your assistance in gaining our bearings?"
With his, Garrard seats himself again, and catches himself idly patting his mounts head.
In an undertone he says, "Sorry Cadmar. We found the Claw in a box hidden within the well outside the witches house."
Wynn Wednesday October 1st, 2003 10:08:33 PM
Wynn watches the splinter again spin and point to all of the other stalagmites. "Perhaps you were right after all Elerinn" he offers. "Lorth, Andrath, come and help us. Let's try to touch each of the stalagmites at the same time with some of the mushroom fragments. Elerinn, can your raven assist us with this task by touching the 5th stalagmite?"
Cadmar Thursday October 2nd, 2003 3:29:39 AM
"All right, you ARE Garrard. Sorry friend, after all that has happened I am more than a little bit paranoid."
Turning to the lady of the pond, the ranger says, going for his most polite tone of voice: "Greetings. I am Cadmar, and this is my friend Garrard. May we please ask your name?"
Out of the corner of his mouth Cadmar whispers: "Garrard, my foot is stuck in something. I hope it is not some kind of weird plant that lures rangers to the trap by growing beautiful ladies from leaves and toothed maws all around them just under the mud."
Kedarn Thursday October 2nd, 2003 6:03:26 AM
"I will do it if you want Wynn?" asks Kedarn. Kedarn then picks up a piece of mushroom and walks over by the 5th stalagmite.
Lorth Thursday October 2nd, 2003 7:57:26 AM
Lorth looks up, "Sure, I'll try anything to get out of here." He grabs a piece of mushroom and heads carefully to a stalagmite.
Elerinn Thursday October 2nd, 2003 5:12:02 PM
Elerinn agrees with Wynn, and is glad that his idea might be the answer to their current problem. He takes a piece of mushrooms and asks if Qamaro can get a small piece in his beak. He asks if someone can take him to one of the stalagmites, for he is still too short to move around savely. When he arrives, he commands the raven to fly to the stalagmite that is left.
That sinking feeling [DM Matt] Thursday October 2nd, 2003 5:27:02 PM
Cadmar's foot wriggles around in the extremely soft earth. He tries to pull it and that causes more of the earth to give way until he completely sinks into the stuff suddenly all the way over his head. It's just like swimming only it's cold earth instead of water. The woman just smiles flirtily at Garrard and shakes her head. She floats on top of the water and takes Garrard by the hand.
The blue light returns briefly to write "Close Enough" in the air. As all of you touch the stalagmites you are briefly blinded by a bright circle of light that appears in the middle of the floor. The brightness dims a bit to a more pleasing level but the hole in the middle of the floor still remains. Inside it swirls with bright mist.
Garrard Thursday October 2nd, 2003 7:27:12 PM
Wincing inwardly at this seeming separation from Cadmar, Garrard smiles at the lady, and says, "May I ask your name?"
Wynn Thursday October 2nd, 2003 7:57:22 PM
"That must be the way to the next part of this puzzle" the bard suggests to the party. "I think we should all step into the hole together and hope that it leads to Cassandra and her protagonist. Perhaps if we can save Cassandra we will also find a way to help Cadmar and Garrard from wherever they have gone"
Wynn checks the splinter to make sure it is pointing at this new portal and then secures it in an inner pocket of his vest. If the splinter and the rest of the party agree, Wynn will step into the hole.
"Does someone have the box of fortune cookies?" he asks. "We cannot forget those!"
Andrath Thursday October 2nd, 2003 11:41:56 PM
Andrath looks suspiciously at the hole that appeared in the pillar floor. "Wynn, are you sure that hole is where we are supposed to go? Oh well, I guess one hole is as good as the next." He moves to follow the bard down the opening.
Cadmar Friday October 3rd, 2003 3:24:14 AM
"!"
A feeling of panic overtakes the ranger. Once again. And quite probably for the last time ever, an unhappy thought passes through his mind.
"I'm going to suffocate!"
The earth is strangely soft and it feels like swimming. Cadmar risks opening his eyes. Then he tries to swim to the surface to catch a breath.
Kedarn Friday October 3rd, 2003 4:39:45 AM
Kedarn will go and retrieve the box of fortune cookies and then follow Wynn and Andrath down the hole.
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