Floating Shadows [DM Jerry] Tuesday April 22nd, 2008 9:41:00 PM
Rosario realizes once inside that he doesn't yet have to have the light, but that it is prudent as the light dims further in.
There is the distant sound of falling water ahead. The smell of pleasant smelling moisture wafts from the cleft ahead.
As the others enter, Rosario easily spots duplicate glyphs or seals, painted in vibrant colors on both opposite walls of the cleft. Unfaded.
They both depict shadows floating around three teucri-type figures (small grey men). One teucri is right-side up and walks on the ground (like normal.) One is upside down and walks on the ceiling. The last is in the middle and seems to be floating sideways.
In a circle around the glyphs (it's border) is writing, which is unknown to some.
[Please make a winemaking skill check of DC15 to decipher the script.]
[Remember folks that at the start of the game, I gave everyone that wanted it a bonus skill of winemaking. If my dim memory serves, some of you took it and others did not. I hope my memory is correct. Eric, you may do this too if you wish. If you take the free bonus skill you have to put at least one point into it at the time of acceptance. This skill cannot be used untrained by just using the requisite ability of Int. You have to have the skill to make the check.]
I also sent out xp via email today. So check your email boxes. You'll note a discrepency between the scenes I gave xp for and the number of scenes on the board. Jamie forgot to put in a couple of scene titles. So it doesn't change the xp, there's just a difference in the scenes on the written module and how we posted it. No worries.
GiGiHp 18/23, AC 17 d20+1=15 Wednesday April 23rd, 2008 5:28:10 PM
Gigi follows the others, again bringing up the rear, and stops to take a look at the glyphs and writings to see what they say. Winemaking DC 15
Bendis d20+7=22 d20+4=21 d20+4=5 Wednesday April 23rd, 2008 6:27:13 PM
Bendis peers over the young cleric's shoulder, adjusting his spectacles.
"Ooh, fascinating!" the portly dwarf enthuses, peering at the glyphs and curious script, doing his best to work out what they mean and who made them.
Knowledge Arcana 22 Knowledge Religion 21 Knowledge Local 5 Known languages Common, Dwarven, Draconic, Terran, Undercommon, High Woldian
Zita (subbed by Carl) d20+1=4 d20+1=2 Wednesday April 23rd, 2008 6:33:12 PM
"Shush, Bendis" Zita whispers. We may not be alone in here. Gigi, Bendis, can you make out what it says?"
She looks nervously around, conscious that trouble might strike at any moment, but is drawn back to the images on the walls. They seem so fresh. Almost as if they were recent, or in some way magicaly preserved.
"Julien" she whispers, "an you determine if these glyphs are magical in nature?"
Spot 4, Listen 2!
Calvierius d20+8=9 d20+7=11 Wednesday April 23rd, 2008 8:15:41 PM
"Indeed, we may not be alone at all in here. Best we be careful. Those glyphs mean nothing to me, though."
---
Spot 8, Listen 11. That makes no d20 rolled above an 8 so far for me. I hope I clear up a bit before we get in a fight!
Julien d20+7=15 d20+10=17 Wednesday April 23rd, 2008 8:53:54 PM
Julien nods at Zita. "I'll see what I can do. Nobody bother me while I'm trying to concentrate, okay?"
He focuses on the area ahead, while the others look over the strange glyphs and try to ascertain their meaning.
Deep breath. Gotta shut all that out.
Casting DETECT MAGIC
Concentration check dc 15 Spellcraft check dc 17
Betheas Thursday April 24th, 2008 1:15:35 AM
[oooh Jerry... I remember this module from about 15 years ago. Lucky for us... I don't remember the details. Jeeze... have we really known each other for that long?]
Bethaes makes double time to again be at the front of the group, so his reach weapon has the advantage. Betheas holds his attack to counter anything that might approach.
Picci d8=7 Thursday April 24th, 2008 7:08:29 AM OOC: I rolled the d8 for Picci's Level Two hit points--unfortunately, she doesn't get any "winemaking skill" check because she's a healer who dabbles in cooking & herbology, and not into making the wine. Dang.
Picci eyes the glyphs and nods at the condition they're in...how long has this cave been here, she wonders. How long since those amazing runes were etched into place..?
Hide and Seek [DM Jerry] Thursday April 24th, 2008 7:33:33 PM
Bendis detects nothing arcane nor religious about the glyphs, though he is clever enough to realize that the writing around the outside is winescript.
Julian announces that the glyphs are made to look magical, copying several ancient picture techniques used by mages to hide their spell script. There, in the edges of the three figures. There in the pose of the central figure. However, it is meant to be misleading, and not magical, nor is there any message therein.
Several try, but Gigi is the one to figure it out the message circling the three Teucri figures.
There are four phrases that make a single complete circle around the 3 Teucri figures.
They read:
Hide in plain sight. Hide in the shadows. Hide in hidden places. Hide.
Then, uncolored, Gigi notices two shallow pairs of carvings to the left and right of the glyph.
The two carvings to the left of the glyph are winemaking symbols for "new" and "first."
The two carvings to the right of the glyph are winemaking symbols for "old" and "last."
Meanwhile Zita is listening to the sounds for signs of danger and spotting what she can with her eyes......nothing.
A slight breeze carries mist to you from the falls ahead as if on cue.
Betheas moves to the front of the group, staying prepared. He sees an old trail heading further into the cleft, but no weeds grow on it. Nor are there any footprints or signs of passage.
The cry from an eagle hunting its prey echoes down the horizontal fissure. It must be deep indeed.
---------
Scott, you may remember Teucri, but not this module. It is new. :)
Sorry for the missed post yesterday. Things will get better after next week. Didn't get home until nearly 6PM today. Long 12 hour day. :(
GiGiHp 18/23, AC 17 Thursday April 24th, 2008 11:35:22 PM
Pouring over the pictures Gigi explains what he has deciphered, but is either too tired or still in too much pain to make any sense of it.
Rosario Friday April 25th, 2008 3:12:55 PM
Rosario listens as Gigi deciphers the glyphs. He face screws up slightly, "This is no help at all", and a bad feeling begins growing in his stomach that he is going to be feeling this way for a very long time. "Can anyone make a rough sketch of this for us. Should have grabbed some sort of journal book." He looks up from his feet, "Don't suppose we are lucky enough to have one?"
Rosario looks about, "The ring and earring lead us hear and I for one think we might want to consider this home for the immediate future." He looks about some more, "Do you think we can mask the entrance fo fire light and such won't broadcast to the valley below someone is in here?"
Jerry Friday April 25th, 2008 5:49:36 PM
Will check back later. Would it help if I made a feeble attempt to draw it?
Picci d8+2=8 Friday April 25th, 2008 6:16:14 PM
Picci turns to Gigi and casts another Cure Light Wounds spell, giving up the Summon Monster spell she'd prayed for that morning. OOC: Gigi is healed up for 8hp. She then shrugs off her backpack, rummaging through it to produce a sheaf of parchment.
"I have a stylus and some ink in here, too..." the petite acolyte says, almost disappearing into the open pack because, naturally, the items she wants are on the very bottom of the container and she's a tiny little human.
"Here we are!" Picci says brightly as she straightens up. "Gigi--you wanna try copying this stuff? I don't even know what it means...well, not 'til you translated it for us."
Julien Monday April 28th, 2008 2:34:33 PM
"I'll do it, Picc" says Julien, intrigued and highly curious after Gigi has done the translation. "Save your ink, we might need it." He begins to write in neat, upright cursive. "Feeling better? he asks, Gigi as an aside while writing.
Hide in plain sight. Hide in the shadows. Hide in hidden places. Hide.
New/first - left
Old/last/ - right
"Well," he says, putting the finishing touches to the little figures, "whoever wrote this wants us to hide. Maybe we'll find out more as we journey on."
He peers along the path and frowns. Not completely daft, and having a fine sense of self preservation, he'll let the better armoured go first.
Bendis Monday April 28th, 2008 3:05:14 PM
The portly dwarf scratches his beard as he turns the riddle (if riddle it be) over in his head, trying to tease meaning from it. For the time being at least he comes up blank, but you can see the cogs whirring behind those half-moon spectacles.
Zita Monday April 28th, 2008 3:08:10 PM
"Does anyone have any idea what that's supposed to mean?" she asks. "Hide in plain sight, in shadows and in hidden places? All sounds a bt cryptic to me. Hold on."
She focuses on the ring once more, calling forth its imagery, trying to question i. She seeks insights into the odd creature that attacked them, the weird carvings on the walls and their meaning.
Mystery [DM Jerry] Monday April 28th, 2008 5:55:26 PM
Nothing comes to Zita as she concentrates on the ring. Frustrating.
The identical glyphs remain to the right and left.
The old trail heads further into the "Cleft of Shadows," but no weeds grow on it. Nor are there any footprints or signs of passage.
-------- Didn't post later because we were short on posts. Until a decision to do something is made, feel free to post at will.
Picci Monday April 28th, 2008 10:24:25 PM
The petite teenager stows away her writing supplies after Julian is done.
"I don't want to depress everyone when I point out the obvious," Picci says a bit apologetically, "But...if the word 'hide' is emphasized four times in one missive...that's usually not a good sign."
Betheas Tuesday April 29th, 2008 4:46:12 PM
Betheas tries to supress a chuckle at Picci.
The elf nods to the rest, indicating that he will go ahead and start leading further down/up the path, toward the sounds of a waterfall. Slightly stooped over, the elf progresses with his glaive pointed forward, clearing any webs or roots as he goes.
Bendis Tuesday April 29th, 2008 5:05:22 PM
The portly dwarf follows, mumbling t himself.
"Old and new, plain sight, shadows, hidden places..."
He seems completely oblivious to his surroundings now he has a mental puzzle to ponder over.
Zita d20+3=16 d20+1=6 Tuesday April 29th, 2008 5:13:36 PM
The young redhead frowns, pausing a moment before she follows.
"There's three of these figures, right? One standing in plain sight. Maybe there's another in the shadows, and another hidden? One looks upside down, could it be above us? Can we shine some light on the ceiling above us? And how about seraching for some hidden places? Anyone?"
Zita roots about, trying to find anything hidden nearby.
Search +3 Spot +1
If she finds nothing she follows the others.
Rosario d20+1=14 d20+1=10 Tuesday April 29th, 2008 5:35:29 PM
Rosario moves to stand just behind Betheas at his left. "Don't think anyone should do much on thier lonesome." To the others, keeping puzzling it out, we'll take a peek a head and be back in under 20. No fires or such until we find away to stop the light from shining out the cave and broadcasting to teh valley someone is here."
Julien Tuesday April 29th, 2008 5:38:24 PM
Julien merely shrugs as questions are bandied about. "I have no idea what to make of it, either," he says. "Maybe we're about to find out." He tastes the air. "There's a likelyhood of us getting wet, however."
Following up behind Betheas and Bendis, but pauses as Roasario tells the to hold off for a moment..
LOG ON