DM Bob & Carla Wednesday June 3rd, 2009 11:23:48 PM Fatine signals Col, sending him forward to where Jet rides on ahead of the party. As the group 'rounds a bend in the lake, they see what transfixes the cleric: there is a section of the rock that seems to have broken off from the face, and leans away from it.
For those who had shared the dream with the Ahote shaman, there is a sense of deja vu.
Jet is worried about loosing the trail of evil...but it is still there. So dim as to almost evade him...but not quite...and it is leading him towards the rock spire that points a dark finger to the sky.
Keela Thursday June 4th, 2009 12:47:47 AM
"Oh dear," Keela says under her breath as she rounds the bend. A bit louder, she adds, "I guess that's it. Are we ready?"
Jet Stormway (AC:21/22 HP:28 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) Thursday June 4th, 2009 2:19:44 AM
Jet waits for the others to arrive. "Alexi, Ender, you two take the front. Ender see if you can find some traps while Alexi watches your back." He turns to those that use missle weapons best, Stand ready to fire at close range. To the ladies, please take turns casting spells, to conserve your powers."
Jet knows, it is unlikely any of them will listen to him, but at least he tries to give some words of wisdom.
Beren(AC 18, HP 21/23 Red AC 13, HP 25/25) d20+9=10 ; d20+9=14 ; Thursday June 4th, 2009 8:27:33 AM
OOC--Sorry for the no post yesterday. I was gone all day to an acitivity.
Beren stares at the forbidding spire. Just like in the vision. His bow is ready,so he checks his other weapons as well. He is as ready as he can be.
spot 10 natural 1 listen 14 ( get those bad rolls out now) :o)
Alexi (AC: 17, HP:24/28) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) d20+1=4 ; d20-4=10 ; d20+1=14 ; Thursday June 4th, 2009 10:14:56 PM
OOC: ooops. I read yesterday's post, got distracted, then forgot I hadn't posted...
IC: Alexi joins Jet and nodds at Jet's suggestion. "Good idea. Sounds the best strategic tactic to do."
Dismounting, he stows his lance, takes a torch and holds it in his shield hand, unlit, then draws his sword. Motioning to Ender to follow him, he approaches the entrance but stays some 5 feet from it.
Whispering he says, "See if there are any traps here at the entrance".
Beren(AC 18, HP 21/23 Red AC 13, HP 25/25) Friday June 5th, 2009 8:27:23 AM
OOC--no DM post to respond to . WIll try to post later.
Beren stays ready as the group decides how to approach this place of the vision.
Ender [AC 18, HP 24/24] d20+11=23 ; d20+4=7 ; d20+5=13 ; Friday June 5th, 2009 9:23:22 AM
Ender stows his Crossbow and Slowly follows Alexi, dagger drawn
Move Silently: 23 Spot: 7 Listen 13
OOC: Sorry about my patchy posting, but work has been absolute murder!!!
Caelnin (AC 16, HP 21/21) d20+8=21 ; d20+7=12 ; Monday June 8th, 2009 6:26:49 AM
Caelnin makes sure that his trusty bow is ready, grabbing a few arrows just in case something quick happens.
Spot: 21 Listen: 12
DM Bob & Carla Monday June 8th, 2009 7:58:40 AM Jet lead the group to the base of the spire where he confirms that the leaning finger of rock is as he and the others dreamed. He orders the others to search the area for traps. None are found, but Caelnin does notice what appears to be a roughly hewn and uneven set of stairs carved into the rock wall where the spire has separated from the cliff face. The stairs bend inward, and curve out of site behind the split in the rocks some 20' above him. Jet's detect evil spell expires and the faint aura of evil that led him to this place evaporates in front of him. A cool wind blows from across the expanse of the lake, chilling them as they search the area.
Beren(AC 18, HP 21/23 Red AC 13, HP 25/25) d20+5=18 ; d20+9=11 ; d20+9=28 ; Monday June 8th, 2009 8:43:34 AM
"What say you? Up the stairs?"
The elven ranger looks for any sign that someone has gone this way recently. (Track 18) He is ready to lead. It is time to end this.
spot 11 listen 28
Alexi (AC: 17, HP:24/28) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) Monday June 8th, 2009 2:34:35 PM
"A stairway you say?" Alexi states. "Hmmm. I'd say we see what's up with these stairs before heading into the crevase."
Ender [AC 18, HP 24/24] d20+11=17 ; d20+4=24 ; d20+5=11 ; Monday June 8th, 2009 7:52:54 PM
following Alexis comment Ender changes direction and heads up the Stairway
Move Silently: 17 Spot: 24 Listen: 11
Caelnin (AC 16, HP 21/21) Monday June 8th, 2009 11:00:54 PM
Still gripping his arrows, Caelnin waits till the stairs have been searched and cleared of any dangers. As Ender heads up the the staircase Caelnin hopes that there isn't much up there, but knows that it will be inevitable some time or another.
Keela Tuesday June 9th, 2009 12:12:54 AM
"Here we go," Keela murmurs to herself. She slides down from Daisy, and moves to follow the others up the stairs.
"Do you have enough light up there?" she asks the leaders.
Jet Stormway (AC:21/22 HP:28 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) d20+3=5 ; d20+3=19 ; Tuesday June 9th, 2009 2:32:45 AM
Jet too dismounts and pulls his sword, but stays near the mouth of the cave as some of the others search the stairwell. He stands as still as possible and looks deep into the mouth entrance, trying to let his human eyes adjust to what might lie within.
Magic Weapon, Protection from Evil, Enlarge Person
DM Bob & Carla Tuesday June 9th, 2009 7:53:01 AM
The staircase leads upward very steeply, and the hard stone reveals little in the way of tracks or marks. Beren and Ender lead the way upwards and inwards, following the curvature of the rough hewn stairs as it leads them into a deep crack in the rock face. Keela and Caelnin follow, while Jet examines the base of teh cliff where the finger of rock has separated. He finds no cave entrance, only a split in the rock, the same split that the staircase climbs.[OOC sorry if I have misled you somewhere]
As Beren and the others climb, the fracture leads to a natural cavern, the size of which is difficult to determine as the outside light is soon cut off from view and the black rock seems to almost absorb the dim light that remains. What is clear is that the cavern continues into the darkness and the stairs have levelled off into what might be described as a path if it were not so rough and discontinuous. [OOC a source of light will be needed to proceed]
Beren(AC 18, HP 23/23 Red AC 13, HP 25/25) d20+9=15 ; d20+9=28 ; Tuesday June 9th, 2009 10:35:16 AM
Taking a lantern from inside his haversack, Beren lights it. He takes a long look around in the light that it gives off.
"I am no dwarf, but I will lead if you wish."
spot 15 listen 28
Ender [AC 18, HP 24/24] Tuesday June 9th, 2009 5:31:14 PM
Ender Still waits for the go ahead from the others
Keela Tuesday June 9th, 2009 7:52:45 PM
Keela pulls out her Wand of Mage Armor, just in case having it in hand will be useful. She follows the others, ready to cast Light at a moment's notice if Beren's lantern should fail.
Alexi (AC: 17, HP:24/28) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) d20+1=13 ; d20+1=3 ; Tuesday June 9th, 2009 8:37:03 PM
OOC: yeah, I mis-read the fissure are a cavern too. No biggy. But you never now, could have been a guardian of the stair hidden there...
IC: The others go in front of Alexi except for Jet, who has verified that there would be nothing coming up from behind, at least not from the fissure. Alexi then takes the horses and secures them, tying the reigns to pointy rocks and such, if available, or any other best means at hand. Then he takes to the stairs and joins the others.
"Beren, will that light hamper your special ability to see in the dark? I can hold the lantern some feet behind you, shading the light as needed."
If that is acceptable, Alexi will hold the lantern with his shield hand, 10 feet behind Beren, shielding the light for Beren to scan with his elven vision, then un-shielding the light, and so forth as they proceed.
Spot d20+1=13 Listen d20+1=3 (yeech!)
Jet Stormway (AC:21/22 HP:28 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) d20+7=22 ; Wednesday June 10th, 2009 3:32:20 AM
Jet orders Banton to Guard the area and brings up the rear. He walks carefully up the stairs and motions for them to continue to "search" the area as they ascend.
Handle animal: 22
DM Bob & Carla Wednesday June 10th, 2009 7:53:21 AM
Horses secured and the bottom of the stair fully explored, the party completes it's ascent. The stairs bend with the natural curvature of the rockface. Each step is almost twice the normal rise between steps as most human built staircases and without any form of handrail, their is a natural tendency to hug the cliff face. The stairs spill into a cavern some 90' above the lake and a pathway worn by the passage of others is faintly discernable in the dim light of the lantern. The cavern appears to be huge, stretching beyond the glow of the lantern, and complex, with either many chambers or many natural pillars stretching from floor to ceiling, The walls, roof and ceiling are all of the same black rock that seems to comprise the entire area. A scattering of Stalactites hang from the roof some 50' above.
Beren(AC 18, HP 23/23 Red AC 13, HP 25/25) d20+9=17 ; d20+9=11 ; Wednesday June 10th, 2009 9:46:41 AM
OOC-- The way I understand elven vision is that I can , "Low-Light Vision: An elf can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions. Thus the lamp helps me see farther, not the lack of light.
Beren allows the lantern to be taken. It will free up his hands if he needs his bow.
"Stay near with the light. It will aid me in seeing further into this gloom."
spot 17 listen 11 (echoes must be disturbing my sensitive elven ears)
Jet Stormway (AC:21/22 HP:28 ; Bantom AC:19 HP:42/42) d20+3=21 ; d20+3=15 ; Wednesday June 10th, 2009 11:01:12 AM
"Someone check those tracks for what they might be." Jet reminds the ranger as he stops to spot and listen for anything in the cavern.
Listen: 21 Spot: 15
Ender [AC 18, HP 24/24] d20+4=23 ; d20+5=15 ; Wednesday June 10th, 2009 4:20:00 PM
Ender gets his crossbow out and follows a few yards behind Beren
Spot 23 Listen 15
Caelnin (AC 16, HP 21/21) d20+8=24 ; d20+7=24 ; Wednesday June 10th, 2009 7:38:33 PM
Caelnin wonders how the party will make a quick escape if they have to, "How are we going to find our way out if there might different passages to go through..."
Caelnin stays a few feet away from the source of light, making sure that everything is clear and that he might be able to hear something over the echoes of his and the group's footsteps.
Spot: 24 Listen: 24
Alexi (AC: 17, HP:24/28) Lobo (AC: 19, HP:37/37) d20+1=10 ; Wednesday June 10th, 2009 10:13:05 PM
ooc: not having played an elf in 3.5, I often forget the change in elven vision and that 'Infravision' is now old and passe'. :}
IC: Beren explains elven vision to Alexi, who replies, "Ahhh..." and sticks next to the ranger, holding the lantern up high, over his own head, to shed as much light as possible.
"My oh my oh my!" Alexi whispers at the size of the cavern. He pears up at the faint ceiling, wondering how sturdy it is.
Spot any movement (however a normal lantern only gives light up to 30') d20+1=10 (too much dark and shadows)
Keela Thursday June 11th, 2009 12:04:09 AM
Keela is puffing a little from the long climb, and her legs ache from negotiating the oversized steps. She looks wonderingly around at the big cavern, but takes care not to ruin any sign the trackers may be able to follow.
Beren(AC 18, HP 23/23 Red AC 13, HP 25/25) d20+5=6 ; d20+9=16 ; d20+9=22 ; Thursday June 11th, 2009 10:18:08 AM
OOC--No DM post to respond to
Beren scans for signs of tracks. He does not hold out much hope on the stone floors, but some dust has settled there, and it is protected from the wind and weather, so there is still some hope.
Track 6 (natural 1! OOh, the great and mighty ranger shows his tracking skills) spot 16 listen 22
LOG ON