WoldianGames Homepage WoldianGames Homepage
WoldianGames Homepage
  LOG ON

Humble's Ford Archives


Return To Index


The Grotto


DM Carl 
Monday May 27th, 2019 7:57:55 PM
Captain Murphy steers the boat true through the ravine. There are still bumps, and most of you are pretty soaked during the voyage, but Murphy gets everyone to the end of the line in one piece.

Talia decides to go ahead and just ground herself.

Succotash keeps his evil radar up, but nothing triggers his alarms. Miss Piggy is a faithful steed, but she probably doesn't like this too much.

KezzemIs glad to see Talia grounded, but Murphy one ups him in the pun battle.

Bliss is impressed by Murphy's boating skills.

It's likely Murphy has the DPAA, seeing how he mentioned tying it up, but for now, it doesn't really matter, because you are at your journey's end.

The water starts to pick up speed as it turns a sharp corner. The sound of roaring water can be heard as the boat turns to follow the river, but before anyone can properly investigate the sound, the bow of the ship tips downward. All our heroes have time to do is hold on as their vessel lurches forward and falls.

Luckily, it's only a drop of a few dozen feet. The boat plunges beneath the water for a bit before popping back up. Water drains from the boat's scuppers as our heroes take stock of their new situation.

The party has landed in a large, underground lake. The water turns slightly, indicating the stream likely continues its journey somewhere below the surface of the water.

The second thing that draws their attention is the prolific growth of luminescent algae. The surface of the water glows with a light blue that provides him light to the entire grotto. Along the grotto walls and ceiling, pin points of blue light flicker from a multitude of glow worms. The effect is mesmerizing. Succotash detects no evil here; it is a place of beauty and peace. A small island rises from the center of the underground lake, covered in a thick, soft moss.

Bliss and Pressi feel something else: the presence of Woldsblood here is exceptionally strong, almost as if it flows into this grotto as well.

The DPAA stops emitting a beam of light and starts to pulse slowly instead. It appears it has found its destination.

***

Witches who attempt to draw Woldsblood here do so at a -5 penalty due to having to tame the raw power of this place. If successful, an extra spell of any level is granted, but must be used within 1 day.

I'm awarding 15k XP for successfully navigating to your destination. I'm also awarding Murphy a hero point for gathering the tower cap spores and greatly simplifying the journey with his boat.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12)  d20+30=47 ; d20+16=25 ; d20+17=22 ;
Monday May 27th, 2019 11:13:59 PM

"Heavens be praised, we made it in one piece, and well-rinsed!" declares the novice captain.

Then is he struck dumb for a short time. He looks around at the soft glow of luminscent algae, the pale blue light eminating from the water, and the star-like blue light flickering from many scattered glow worms. He opens his mouth a few times as though about to comment, then closes it again, taking in more. Silently, he guides the beautiful, though somewhat battered swan boat in an elegant approach to the small mossy isle at lake's center.

He looks at the DPAA slung around his neck. [I had hoped someone would have claimed it. Murphy does not want to hog all the action, and he asked a few times.] Quietly he says, "This is the place. Tiana's sensor says, I think, we are home." He observes it as they draw close to the island. He draws parallel to the shore, and casts some lines ashore in hopes that someone will take them up, and find a place to secure the boat. If no one moves to do so, he says, "Um, can someone see if it's safe to walk on the moss, and take up the lines - the ropes - to tie this beautiful boat to it?" Murphy mans the boat to hold it in place until someone else has relieved him of that duty by securing the lines.
==========
Perception: 47 (general purpose look about)
Knowledge, nature: 25 (figuring out what he may know about the local flora and wee fauna)
Knowledge, engineering: 22 (trying to figure out what the DPAA is telling us, and maybe where to plug it in, if plugging it in is needed)

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29+1(+3), touch AC 18+1(+3); HP 116/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25+4+1, touch 14+4+1; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 12:04:41 AM
"I think the boat's supposed to stay ABOVE the water, Murphey," says Kezzem. "Just, you know, for future reference."

To Talia, he says, "I bet your wishing you stayed afloat now."

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 12:47:29 AM

"Good call, Kezzem, but I thought an unexpected drop off and plunge in the water would be refreshing. Now - can you climb out, grab that rope, and see if you can tie it to something that will bear the load? If not, I've got some spikes for you, either for your next drink, or to drive in and tie a line to. Can a paladin of Gargul also be practical?

"Or Succotash? You want to help tie the boat down?"

He looks at Bliss - but decides not to directly ask a cat to help secure the boat. He is certainly willing to entertain offers from others.

"I'm holding this in place, guys, but without practical help - not just advice - progress will be slow. Usefulness scores high in my books."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 5:35:15 AM
Succotash is dumb founded by the immense beauty of the place. As he looks around from one source of beauty to the next he can only stare in awe and give thanks for the opportunity to experience this wonder. He is torn away from his entranced state by Murphy's ask for assistance, to which, not wanting to disturb the tranquility of the place , he whispers, "I'm on it Murph". He then jumps over the rail of the boat onto the island, grabbing the rope Murphy offered, and looks for a place to tie it securely.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29+1(+3), touch AC 18+1(+3); HP 116/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25+4+1, touch 14+4+1; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 12:56:30 PM
"I am always full of good ideas!" declares Kezzem proudly. He'll lend his brother paladin a hand in securing the boat.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 2:27:43 PM
Along the side of the boat, Harper leaned over the edge and began retching.

Pressi looks around at the area, trying to make sense of the blood flowing within her. To Murphy, "Ok, but you should know this place is of such raw power that we might explode, and I'd rather give advice about that than tie knots. Thoughts?"

Pressi tries to use detect magic and spellcraft on the area as she explains the situation and asks Talia what she senses.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90  d20+7=14 ;
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 2:50:39 PM
Talia, like the rest of the Humble Crew is dumbfounded by the Glow Grotto! Talia also looks around to see what can be seen.

Talia resume hovering and hovers over to the island to bask in the glow...."maybe this is good for my complexion?" mutters Talia!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Perception skill check: 14



Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 5:47:38 PM

"Thanks, guys," Murph tells the paladins.

He feels very sorry for Harper as the large cat heaves over the side of the boat. He keeps his eye on the leopard to ensure it does not slide overboard. He is glad that Harper is the only cat onboard that seemed shaken by the travel.

Then he hears Pressi begin to lay out the nature of the magical and Woldsblood power concentrated in this large chamber. "My. But, we knew we were going to a major source of power. We need to figure out, I think, where is the best spot to rest the dual-prismatic aetherial amplifier? Or will it just soak up things from the ambience?"

Murphy adds his efforts to analyzing the arcane nature of this area by casting detect magic - which he tries to tone down / tune to find the strongest locus of magical / power emanations.

"What, your complexion needs help? I couldn't tell, Tali."

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90  d20+18=32 ;
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 7:37:39 PM
Talia discovering that this areais arcane...tries to decypher the nature of it....she looks ta everything...glow this and that...moss..water...everything she things you can discover the nature of...

Arcane Knowledge Skill check: 32

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27 
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 9:38:42 PM

Bliss looks around and thinks, "Wow! Just wow!"

He turns back into a halfling for conversation. "Miss Tiana said that we have to put the gems part of the doo-hickey into the 'source of power' and leave them to charge."

Bliss casts Detect Magic and if possible uses his witchy senses to get a feel for the best possible "source of power" location. When he has an idea, he asks Murphy to stick the doo-hickey in. Maybe into the water? and see if it looks like it is charging. Maybe with Detect Magic we can get an idea of when it will be finished charging.

"Maybe we need to leave it charging overnight," Bliss suggests. "That would be okay, because we can rest and get back spells in the morning before we leave. I'd love to get a sweet spell like a Miracle or a Polymorph Any Object in the morning."

DM Carl 
Tuesday May 28th, 2019 10:13:02 PM
Murphy celebrates his victory before the beauty of this place silences him. He asks that someone secure the boat as he wonders what he's supposed to do now.

Succotash and Kezzem go ahead and secure the boat to the rocky island.

Pressi is somewhat concerned about the raw power of this place. She doesn't think there's any danger of spontaneous combustion, but she knows to be careful. Harper does not seem to be enjoying the trip.

She casts a detect magic spell. She sees an aura of magic that runs through the grotto. It looks like a current or river running through the water. The magic spreads out and diffuses into the rest of the lake, but it's strongest in a narrow path through the lake. Being a bloodwitch, she's almost positive that's a stream of woldsblood. It hasn't broken through the lands of rest, but the barrier between that place and this seems thin here.

She's pretty sure it poses no actual danger, though it's power does make her legs restless.

Talia and Bliss investigate as well. They likely deduce that putting the gems into the stream of woldsblood Pressi detected is a good place to start.

The gems glow faintly as Murphy puts them into the stream. He has to hold it there for several minutes before he's sure they're glowing a little brighter than before. Bliss thinks they may need to leave it overnight to charge, which is an astute observation.

Near the grotto wall where the rivulet of woldsblood flows from solid stone is a shallow area untouched by the lake's current. It seems like a safe place to leave the DPAA to charge without having to keep a hand on it.

***

OOC: I should have said "any spell you can cast" instead of any spell. Part of me wants to see what you two would do with sudden access to high level spells, but the majority of me knows you'd just break this module's boss fight. I'll compromise and say any level you can already cast +1. So, if you can cast 4th level spells max, you can chose a 5th level spell. So, let me rephrase:

Witches who attempt to draw Woldsblood here do so at a -5 penalty due to having to tame the raw power of this place. If successful, an extra spell of any level, plus one additional level, already available to the bloodwitch is granted, but must be used within 1 day.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12)  d20+30=50 ; d20+16=33 ;
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 3:57:36 AM

Travel Time
How long did it take to get from next to the giants' lair downstream to this cavern? We likely started the boat-segment of the journey at about 11 am or so. Was it an hour of travel? More?

DPAA Watches
Murphy suggests that a watch be set over the DPAA. "It is the heart of what we are here to do. Unwise it would be for us not to have someone minding it at all times. I will take either 2nd watch, or last watch. There are a few other things I need to do before I stand my watch. Let me know if this makes sense to you all. Feel free to rearrange your watch, trade with another, whatever."
1st Watch: Kezzem
2nd Watch: Murphy
3rd Watch: Pressi
4th Watch: Bliss
5th Watch: Succotash
6th Watch: Talia
Exploration
The druid wishes to explore the depths of the cavern. "I do not know what all creatures' forms you - Pressi and Bliss - may assume. If one or both of you would like to join me, I thought to adopt a form suitable for swimming - whether fish or water elemental, and explore underwater the extents of this cavern." If either wishes to accept, he is happy for the company. If not, he still promises to maintain contact with Pressi as he explores.

He does wish to spend some time as a water elemental, but first as something else. He mentions gar, giant gar, squid, octopus, dimetrodon, giant moray eel, dolphin as a few of the possibilities.

Diving into the water though is first preceded by less immersive discovery. The druid takes up a handful of water, and tastes the water. If it seems fine, he then swallows some. If no harm comes and it seems safely potable, he drinks a bit more.

He walks on the mossy island, seeing what lies beneath the moss, and whether aught other than moss is to be found here. He encourages his mates to see what they might learn through exploration, too.

Murphy takes small samples of flora. He examines fauna, too - including the glow worms, of course.
===========
Perception: 50 (nat 20)
Knowledge, Nature: 33

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 5:40:38 AM
Succotash has no preference as to when he takes his watch, and would gladly exchange time slots with anyone if they would prefer his time slot.

Succotash takes the time to give Miss Piggy a good rub down and then he decides to find a comfortable place to lay on his back so he can marvel at the beauty of the place.

In the morning, he spends an hour in prayer with Pantheon, and prepares his spells.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29+1(+3), touch AC 18+1(+3); HP 116/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25+4+1, touch 14+4+1; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 7:42:57 AM
Question: does the bonus spell apply to all casters or just bloodwitches?

Kezzem inspects the cavern with a detect evil before the party settle in to rest.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23   d20+10=20 ;
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 10:20:43 AM
In answer to Murphy's question, Pressi tells the group about the river of woldsblood energy. "As to where to place the amplifier or the gems I couldn't tell you for sure. But this narrow path through the lake does seem to be a good start."

Pressi wonders if she can use alter self but it might be difficult. (I'm considering a nymph, but that's fey. Maybe a lizardfolk again?) She agrees that going for a swim might be needed but recommends caution - they don't know what will happen if they get too close to the ribbon.

Murphy testing the water itself is a good start but Pressi tries another arcane eye down there first, followed by dropping a rock down there.

The watch order should be successful (unless we want to do pairs). Pressi needs eight hours of rest but it need not be continuous.

In the morning, Pressi makes her rolls and manages to wrangle the woldsblood easily enough. Power rushes through her almost immediately, however, and she can see new possibilities.

---------------

Both
Ritual of Warding
Shared Spell (cast by Pressi) - shield of faith

Harper
Resist Energy: Acid (From Murphy)
sprint used - 1/1

Pressi

spite tatoo: ghoul touch
Protection from Energy - self
Stoneskin - Talia
see invisible?

L1 1/7+1
L2 3/5+1
L3 4+1/4+1
L4 3+1/4+1
L5 2/3+1
L6 1

(resets after this)

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90  d20+7=26 ;
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 9:44:48 PM
Talia, feeling the arcane buzz through her, decides to take a swim in the blue grotto before her watch post to guard over the Arcane GPS DooHicky.

Swimming

Talia changes the Bill's Stylish Pants o' Plenty using her secret command words into something akin to a one-piece swimming suit and goes and takes a dip into the blue grotto. She spends about 2 hours swimming around as well as floating on her back. She uses her skillin perception to notice anything different while swimming about.

Skill check: Perception: 26

Guarding the Doo-Hicky

After dragging herself out of the waters of the blue grotto, she changes to Bill's Stylish Pants o' Plenty back to her standard attire and sets off to prep for her watch of the Golden Doo-Hicky!

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27 
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 9:54:06 PM

Bliss gives advice on how to set the doo-hickey for charging. He casts a Message cantrip on Murphy, and listens as the fellow does his underwater exploring. If he calls out (gurgles out?), Bliss will change into a giant octopus and swim down to see if he can help. Or maybe a small water elemental, per the Polymorph spell.

[OOC: Note that beast shape spells, and thus wildshaping as an animal, does not grant water breathing. A water elemental is prob a better bet for long-term searching.]

DM Carl 
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 11:18:38 PM
Murphy checks his mental clock and finds it about 3:00 PM. After setting a watch for the DPAA, he decides to taste the water. Assuming he pulls from below the layer of bio-luminescent algae, he finds some very refreshing water with a high mineral content that is safe enough to drink.

He shifts to a *insert fish or aquatic mammal here* and finds it gets dark fast down there. As a water elemental, he has darkvision out to 60', but it's something to be aware of in another form. He goes exploring, but finds there's a lot to explore (will pick up with Pressi's arcane eye). He collects some glow worms, some algae, and a few small, eyeless fish.

In the mean time, our paladins inspect the place for evil and settle down, letting the nature lovers do their thing. They find this moss is going to be very nice to sleep on, and may find themselves napping if they lounge about too long if they don't mind the cold (see below).

OOC: Bonus spell is for bloodwitches only, and the level restrictions apply to bloodwitch spells only.

Pressi concurs that the shallows seem as good a place as any to let the DPAA charge. She cannot use alter self to give herself gills (though your narrator is almost certain that was a thing in some other 3.5 game we don't play here). She wants to use arcane eye and a dropped rock to map out the depth, but Murphy has discovered how dark it is down there. She could use alter self again to give herself darkvision, and we'll just say that happens to satisfy her curiosity.

The lake is deep. It's kinda scary deep, going down about 1500', far deeper than it's relatively low surface area would imply. Exploring with her arcane eye, she can find where the underground river continues it's journey deeper into The Scab. If she explores that, she finds Bliss' warnings were correct, as there is no air available at all where it flows. Anything that gets sucked down there without water breathing is doomed. Our metal-clad paladins should be extra careful not to fall in.

Luckily, it's way down there. Regarding fauna, there's life in the lake, but nothing that threatens our heroes. Deeper down there are some decent sized fish that might be good eating, but they don't seem to go higher than about 400'. Pressi finds the rivulet of woldsblood does not extend very far down into the depths.

Talia goes for a nice swim in the lake. It's pretty cold if you're not in a form designed for this kind of water, but maybe she finds it refreshing? Despite the scary depth and current of death at the bottom, swimming around on top is safe if you're able.

Bliss stays in contact with Murphy, and maybe joins him for a bit. If he does down about 100' or so, he notices the effect of the woldsblood stream can no longer be felt.

***

Our heroes are free to explore a little more if they like, but as time passes they can't help but notice the gems aren't getting brighter any faster. They're still getting brighter, just slowly. It looks like they should make themselves comfortable. Those of you who got wet find yourselves rather cold. In fact, it's pretty chilly down here.

OOC: Cold weather rules in effect for everyone, wet or dry. We'll say it's about 4 PM for brevity's sake, and that (spoiler alert) the gems will be ready at 7 AM.

An unprotected character in cold weather (below 40° F) must make a Fortitude save each hour (DC 15, +1 per previous check) or take 1d6 points of nonlethal damage. A character who has the Survival skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the skill description).

There's absolutely nothing to burn down here for warmth, but our heroes are intrepid! Surely they have some way of keeping warm.

Or maybe they just have a miserable night. That'd be a shame in such a beautiful place.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29+1(+3), touch AC 18+1(+3); HP 116/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25+4+1, touch 14+4+1; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday May 29th, 2019 11:30:17 PM
"Well, I checked over the moss, and it did not detect evil," says Kezzem. "That said, I am keeping an eye on that patch over there. They know why."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96  d20+6=8 ; d20+6=16 ;
Thursday May 30th, 2019 5:46:11 AM
Due to the cold air, Succotash changes into his cold weather outfit, then re-dons his armor. After changing, he pulls out his winter blanket, and drapes it over Miss Piggy saying, "It's a little to early for you to grow your winter coat, but this should help". Once both him and Miss Piggy are warmed up a bit, due to the extra layers, Succotash decides to find a cozy spot to sit down and pull out the clarinet he got, as a gift, at the Giggling Ghost, and tries to preform a song, but apparently the instrument is out of adjustment. After some adjusting, he is able to produce a semi-decent rendition of Ode to Joy.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Thursday May 30th, 2019 6:33:03 AM

Name That Cavern
"This is such a lovely spot. Surely few have been in this place before, or for ages. I do believe that explorers are granted naming rights. How shall we style this cavern? By what name should we remember it?" Murphy asks the group.

Dealing With Cool
Due to the chill in the air, the druid takes out a bedroll, and a medium-sized blanket - room in itself enough for two or three halflings to keep warm. He also brings out a fair-sized rectangle of canvas, which can be laid out. "Did everyone bring their own blankets, or bed rolls? The moss surely is soft and comfortable, yet also chill. Resting in the boat may be not as soft, but also not as likely to sap the warmth of our bodies."

Aqua Map Man
Since as a water elemental, Murphy can swim at a ridiculous speed (120'), he takes advantage of that ability to engage in one of his favorite pastimes - cartography. Gathering information to form a clear image in his mind of where things lie in relation to one another. Mapping things out.

As Talia seems to have a penchant for such to a degree as well, prior to wild shaping he provides her paper, pen and ink. Every few minutes he pops up to relate to her additional aspects of the underwater environment that she might jot down. Depths, dimensions, currents, protrusions, and similar items of interest. For perhaps an hour or so he performs as complete an exploration as is feasible. Once that is accomplished, he next swims upstream where the boat shot from the long stream into the cavern. He goes up to a hundred yards or so from where the current first increased. It might be that the group will need to begin their return voyage from that position, as he doubts he can navigate the swan boat back up the last segment entering the cavern. So he plots a starting point.

Exit Point
"Pressi, Bliss, I'm going to make a route for us to ascend after the DPAA is fully charged. It might take a little time. Switching back to earth elemental, and I'll dig a nice, easy, sloping tunnel we all can use to get past the rushing water that plopped us here."

If any want to be with him, or nearby, as he does the work, he arranges to transport them before he changes from water to earth elemental.

So long as she, Bliss, or others do not object, he works on that, burrowing a tunnel with easy bends, and gentle slope, about ten feet in circumference, coming into the cavern about forty feet away from the water torrent - and on a side away from where he was told the Woldsblood flows. He does not want to mess with Woldsblood more than is necessary. The upstream side is about 15 feet above the water level, and he fashions a ramp going down to a few feet above the water's edge.

Any interesting rocks or gems he will note, and take up a few of them to share with others.

Sittin' and Talkin'
After all his work is done, he sits down next to Pressi. "Hi." He talks with her about what they have been going through, what may be on the horizon. Asks her questions - just catching up. If others are near, he chats with them, too.

He breaks out some food, shares it around. He listens to Succotash playing the clarinet.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27  d20+14=15 ; d20+8=27 ; d8=7 ;
Thursday May 30th, 2019 7:32:55 AM

"Wowsy," says Bliss, "I think of myself more like a warrior than a magic-user, but I think I have some magic help for our challenges today!"

He casts two Rose's Temperature Control. One keeps himself nice and warm -- though the spell cannot be cast on others.

Then he uses his Survival skill [rolls a 15] to help his friends. He uses a second Temp Control to warm up some tea or broth or other warm drink after seeing whatever it is he can scrounge up from party supplies or fishes or mosses that his skill suggests. He looks carefully at Sir Kezzem's patch of moss, never quite sure if the paladin is serious or making a funny.

He casts a third Temp Control on the blanket that Harper and Miss Piggy can snuggle under.

The next day, after a good rest, Bliss sits with his toes dangling in the Woldsblood-empowered water and draws raw power from the Realm of Shadows into the Wold, as he does every day. Today, though, the job is harder, what with all the raw ambient infusion. First, he concentrates.

[Roll concentration check at -5 vs DC14 ... 1d20+9+4-5 = 27 rolled.]

Bliss has no problem drawing the drop of Woldsblood that he needs. Per his pact, he sends a good chunk of that energy to the Silver Lady. The rest he puts into his empty spell slots, 1st level through 4th, filling them with potential.

"Huh!" says Bliss to himself, "I've got energy leftover for a change!" He intuits a solution and fills a fifth level slot! "Wowsy! I could DO stuff with this!"

He goes over to Miss Pressi and sees how she is doing with her morning draw. She has no problem!

For a change, Bliss does not use his Grimalkin ritual. He joins Miss Pressi in her Ritual of Warding. "I don't think I'll be a cat today," he declares on a whim.

He does stick to procedure with the Ritual of Sharing. He bumps up Miss Pressi's caster level by +1 with a Surrender Blood spell and shares a Shield of Faith with her and Harper.

He uses his wand to repair the damage of the Surrender Blood ... one charge is enough. He casts his Threefold Aspect and his extended Barkskin as usual, and he is set for the day.

When Mister Murphy talks about digging out a tunnel, Bliss is not down with that. "I don't think we have to wreck this beautiful place with lots of digging," he suggests. "We can just Shadow Walk back to the dwarves, right? Miss Pressi can cast that, or so can I, today!"

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Thursday May 30th, 2019 8:10:04 AM

"Not wrecking, Bliss. But, Shadow Walk is fine, sure," Murphy responds. "Thanks for sharing the warmth, by the way."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29+1(+3), touch AC 18+1(+3); HP 116/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25+4+1, touch 14+4+1; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Thursday May 30th, 2019 12:08:58 PM
"Um...Humble's Grotto?" suggests Kezzem

DM Edit: This gets my vote.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Thursday May 30th, 2019 2:13:03 PM
Pressi works along with Bliss, activating her own Temperature controls, participating in morning rituals, and activating her own surrender blood/CLW. (She extends Shield of Faith using her lesser rod.) Using her last 4th level spell, she polymorphs into something that can grab a fish from that depth and take a look at the center where the energy ribbon stops.

She considers using all these Rose Temp Controls to instead build an igloo but that's rather cutesy even for this team.

In addition to the bedroll, Pressi breaks out a couple of torches, her flint and steel, and a few prestidigitations and profession and survival checks. It doesn't take too long to make the fish and some rations into a quick meal.

Harper chooses the moss that Kezzem mistrusts as her bed. It knows why.

There isn't much else to do but wait things out.

----------------

Both
Ritual of Warding (shared with Bliss)
Shared Spell (cast by Pressi) - shield of faith (extended)

L1: 1/7+1
L2: 1/5+1
L6: 1+0


Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Thursday May 30th, 2019 4:28:07 PM

One more exploratory item - during his mapping Murphy explores to three to four hundred feet the watery exit from the cavern, then returns.

Back on shore. "I like that, Kezzem," Murphy says. After thinking about it for a minute, he adds, "How about, 'Humble's Grotto of Peace and Power'? Or HGPP for short, where we recharged the DPAA." He grins.

Murphy's proposition to dig an alternate passageway was in the late afternoon/early evening, not in the morning. He wants to start the new day with a fresh set of wild shaping available.

He enjoys the fish Pressi prepared. If she was not able to find something in the shallower water, he could have retrieved a decent sized fish from deeper down. After dinner, he writes down notes on the various fish, the glow worms, with sketches. "I need to get colored inks, or paints," he says to no one in particular.

Moss Talk
Murphy lies on a spot of moss (with canvas under it, in his bedroll) near Pressi and the suspicious moss. Actually, he sits there, looking about. "This is among the most beautiful places I've been in, Press. Good to be with you in so many amazing places. Remember Emerald City?" he asks her.

He awaits her response. Then says, "I designed, working with elves, something of beauty back there. And would like you to have it, as a token." It is a ring with woven bands of ironwood, silver, gold, and platinum. Embedded within a slightly thicker part of the weave is a beautiful, high quality, but small diamond.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Thursday May 30th, 2019 8:07:43 PM
Pressi takes some time before bed to approach Talia. "You know, I figured it was about time the two of us got to know each other better, and to see if I could make you more comfortable within the group. So... how did you wind up becoming a spellcaster? What's your story?"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90 
Thursday May 30th, 2019 11:08:14 PM
Talia uses the command word for her Bill's Stylish Pants o' Plenty to change the color to match that of the Blue grotto and of a durable winter frabic, to help mitagate the cold.

"Mister Murphy, sir? Would you happen to have an additional blanket or something. Apparently I leaft my warm weather gear including bedroll at the compound. Silly Me!" says Talia.

Pressi's Inquiry

Taking Talia off guard, Pressi approaches Talia, and asks, "So... how did you wind up becoming a spellcaster? What's your story?"

It's kinda funny you should ask, but I have always been a spellcaster. I was born this way. In the beginning, whomever took care of me, helping to rasie me, was shocked, that I was able to do anything, and kept thinking it was the wind and the like. I do not have very many memories of my family...its all kind of a blur.

I do have the one friend, Rayya, but I asked her to stay behind and to guard the compound.



Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29+1(+3), touch AC 18+1(+3); HP 116/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25+4+1, touch 14+4+1; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday May 31st, 2019 12:19:58 AM
Back on shore. "I like that, Kezzem," Murphy says. After thinking about it for a minute, he adds, "How about, 'Humble's Grotto of Peace and Power'? Or HGPP for short, where we recharged the DPAA." He grins.

"Ack!" shouts Kezzem. "I am being attacked by letters!"

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Friday May 31st, 2019 1:54:15 AM

"Oh, yes, of course, Talia." He gives her his medium-sized blanket - the size a human might use. A halfing could bundle up in multiple layers with it.

"I also can cast on you resist energy versus cold, which lasts for two hours. Isn't that about how long you like to sink into meditation?"

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Friday May 31st, 2019 5:23:16 AM
"I think Humble's Grotto is perfect, Kezzem, no sense in over complicating something as simple as a name", Succotash pipes in, "Then again Murphy does have a lot of words in his name, so maybe he thinks all names should be multi worded, but I like to keep it simple, heck I don't even have a middle name"

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90 
Friday May 31st, 2019 9:03:21 AM
"Thank you, Mister Murphy, the blanket will be awesome. As much as I would love that opportunity to meditate in a relaxed and comfortable manner, I also have 6th watch! Any idea what watch we are on now?" asks Talia.

"Really?! Kezzem?! That's the best you've come up with? Can't we called it Scaab Spa? Short Simple...and it belays the idea that death is close by." says Talia aloud.

DM Carl 
Friday May 31st, 2019 10:40:46 AM
A quick note on the woldsblood stream in case I wasn't clear: The stream is safely tucked away in the realm of shadows. The distance between that realm and here is just very small, comparatively speaking. Even Pressi can splash around and play in it safely, though it may raise the hair on the back of her neck.

Kezzem keeps an eye on a particular patch of moss and comes up with the obvious choice of name for this place: Humble's Grotto.

Succotash gets his cold weather gear on and provides Miss Piggy with his winter blanket. It'll keep them alive, though maybe not comfortable in the cold. After a rough start, he provides some music while Humble's Sword sits around and waits.

Murphy notes the boat may sap the heat from everyone less than the moss. He's got a point, but sleeping on that boat's gonna be pretty uncomfortable. Up to our heroes.

With Talia's assistance, he maps out the underwater lake. The cold undoubtedly doesn't bother him in elemental form. It takes some time, as there's a crazy volume of water to explore, but he gets it done. The only thing interesting down there is the fauna, though.

He advises a plan to shape a path back up, though Bliss does not agree with marring the natural beauty of this place, and suggests a shadow walk back to the dwarves. If he wants to pop into the realm of shadow this close to a woldsblood stream, he's welcome to try!

Bliss has just the spell for this situation, and puts it to good use.

Pressi follows suit with the temperature control, then provides a fish dinner. Harper finds the suspicious patch of moss extra chushy. It's everyone else's loss, really. Blame Kezzem.

Murphy decides to map out the stream that exits from this lake. It's a narrow exit, and the water is under extreme pressure. He can do it, but even for a water elemental, it takes a lot of effort to come back upstream all that way. He can do it, but he's exhausted when he finally returns. He finds the energy to give Pressi a gift.

Talia grabs and extra blanket from Murphy, then her and Pressi have a chat.

***

It's a peaceful evening, and comfortable enough with the provisions and magic available to the group. As the night goes on and the watch shifts change out, the crystals' glow steadily grow in intensity. By the time morning rolls around, they're bright enough to illuminate the entire grotto. The place is much less magical with the harsh, artificial glow. Just a hole in the earth with algae covered water and worms all over the walls. Our heroes hopefully remember that the crystals only glow when inserted into the DPAA, and that there's really no good reason to keep them there anymore.

Now. How is everyone getting out of this place?

***

I'm not clear if Murphy dug his tunnel or not. Let's make a decision one way or the other before my next post.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Friday May 31st, 2019 12:17:55 PM
"What can I say, I like things that are simple and to the point," says Kezzem. "Like daggers."

-----------
Kezzem
-----------

Lay on Hands 7/day
Smite Evil 4/day

1st Level: Lesser Restoration x3
2nd Level: Resist Energy x2
3rd Level: Cure Moderate Wounds x2

-----------
Rumpus
-----------

DR 5/evil
Resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5

Smite Evil 1/day

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Friday May 31st, 2019 12:48:24 PM

After learning of the nature of the shadow-inhabiting woldsblood, and considering the nature of shadow walking, Murphy reconsiders his acquiescence to Bliss's objection to a tunnel. He tells the group that attempting to shadow walk from this locale may be a deadly enterprise.

"Bliss, you don't want me 'messing up' this grotto. I can dig without causing a huge mess - also, this pool is almost a mile deep. You think a little bit of stony rubble, sunk to the bottom, is going to cause problems or mar beauty?

"I'm going suggest the members of the Sword consider my proposal, with a modification. I can build the tunnel now (we're talking about 7 or 8pm), so that we have a safe path out and upwards on the morrow. And, in the morning I can memorize a spell or two that will allow me to shape the stone, to cover up the upstream entrance to the tunnel, so that people will not know about it coming downstream. Not that many are likely to do so.

"Another possibility exists. I can change to water elemental, and carry a few of you at a time upstream the way we came in. Pressi, it may be tough to persuade Harper to do so. For Miss Piggy - I know she can pop in and out. And you'll all get soaking wet.

"Paladins, sorceress, witches - let me know your wishes." If the group concurs the tunnel should be built, he will have done so. If not, he asks if the upstream ferrying is what they wish, or taking a huge risk with shadow walk. "Or, does someone have another solution?"

Once they are well on the upstream side, however they get there, perhaps a hundred or two hundred yards from where the stream accelerated to enter the grotto, he can lay down another swan boat, if people are amenable to that form of travel - Harper excepted. "If we want to get well away from the grotto, perhaps shadow walk from there might arguably be a better way to travel."

Murphy wonders, also, whether the rock and soil in this area may have absorbed a measure of the power and magic of this cave. He gathers about four or five pounds of soil from the mossy isle (and some of the moss), and about ten pounds of stones. Any gems in the area?

"Will someone go ahead and carefully remove the gems for recharging the Encompassing Mind from the DPAA, and place them in a safe place?" Murphy requests in the morning.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27 
Friday May 31st, 2019 2:52:25 PM

After pondering it, Bliss says he thinks the shadow walking is too risky.

Bliss asks Murphy, "You found an underground river exit, right? Maybe we are supposed to go out that way? With Water Breathing, we can just sink down and walk along the river, right?"

"Or with water breathing, we can just climb out the way we came in."

Bliss looks at the waterfall and tries to figure out the Climb DC, if you did not have to worry about drowning.

Could one fly up the waterfall? How long a rope would you need from the top?

Bliss is happy to pick up the doohickey after it is charged and to carry it back home.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Friday May 31st, 2019 5:08:05 PM

"The underground river exit - is out the other side of the cavern, deeper into the mountains, and it's fast, no air above, and likely highly dangerous. As a water elemental who can move 120, I barely got back. That is not the way to go, Bliss. The way we came in is a waterfall. Tell me how we get Harper up that? I'm not saying it's impossible. Just not optimal." However, he does look to see how much air space there is between the incoming water level and the area above it.

He turns to the others: "Kezzem, Pressi, Talia, Succotash - are you all right with me making a safe alternative way out of here? It's not a hard thing for me to do, and is a sure way out. And I can seal it with stone as we leave."

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Friday May 31st, 2019 9:30:56 PM
"Spider Oasis? Underground Oasis? The Oasis Band?"

Yes, Pressi is that tired. Too tired to follow up with a question like "So who raised you?" Barely enough to mumble something about how the people who raise you don't always see your potential.

Pressi is fine with the tunneling, though she's unclear as to how high up the tunnel goes. She figures that Murphy tends to be careful in these kinds of things, so she doesn't consider ruining the prestine nature of this area a strong risk.

Flight or swimming up is another option - the four casters probably do have enough spells to carry the two paladins and Harper.


Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 12:00:57 AM

"One additional thought, Bliss. We can use among us five or six or more spells just to get out of here - flight, water breathing, whatever - or conserve those spell slots for other uses. What if we get in another fight? You want a bunch of our power just used up on getting out of this beautiful grotto?" Murphy asks. "With my plan, we walk out, I use one spell to seal the tunnel, and we're on our way. Conservation of power, flexibility of plans."

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 12:54:29 AM
"Yeah, I vote for the tunnel," says Kezzem. "I'm not too sure I like that water elemental idea. So let's go ahead and tunnel since you use your druid magics to shape the stone make a Wonder Wall in this Oasis."

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12)  d20+19=30 ;
Saturday June 1st, 2019 3:19:09 AM

Unless another negative vote comes in, Murphy will develop a structurally sound, gently sloped route through the solid rock back up to a point at least 50 yards upstream of where the water hastens greatly before entering the grotto. It would be easiest for him to make the tunnel 8' - 10' in diameter, allowing all to pass without undue problems through the bulk of the passage (and he makes the walking surface flat for the most part, rather than curved), though the entrance and exit are of a smaller size - 5'4" in diameter. About three feet inside the tunnel closest to the cavern, he finger-carves in the rock the initials: "H.G." Let that puzzle future visitors.

Out of agreement with Bliss's concerns for neatness, he ensures the rubble is delivered into the depths, and the tunnel and immediate surrounding area is nearly neat as a pin.

As she seemed way too exhausted to notice when he proffered the ring to Pressi, Murphy quietly withdraws the offer for now, and will wait for a more propitious occasion. This occasion seemed propitious to him, but that turned out not to be the case.

In the morning after breakfast and spell meditation, and once all seem ready, Murphy asks people to climb back into the swan boat, and he ferries them over to the lower tunnel entrance. Once all are off loaded, he steps out, and gives the boat a gentle push away from the falls, to live out the balance of its maybe three hours of existence.

On the upward end of the tunnel, people and critters will find that they will need to squeeze themselves through a five foot four inch diameter final few feet. "I wanted to have to use only one spell, cast twice to close it up. Sorry for the tight fit at the end."

He will use stone shape to close off the ends. There will remain a small, one inch diameter, one foot deep hole in the wall to where the tunnel begins to widen. He stuffs the hole on the upward end with a few little pebbles.

Assuming all make it safely up and out, he asks, "So, shadow walk from here? Another swan boat to travel upstream? Or some other way to get us back home?"
=========
Knowledge, Engineeering: 30 (including a +2 circumstantial bonus for extensive earth elemental tunneling experience)

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 7:26:18 AM
"Last time we shadow walked, I almost died, however, if you guys want to take that route, I'm down, but I would prefer the boat", Succotash answers Murphy after they make it out of the grotto.

DM Carl 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 2:13:01 PM
Kezzem gets right to the point.

Murphy suggests he can tunnel out of here, though he'll have to tell your narrator how he intends to do that.

OOC: Per the rules for an earth elemental:
Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other sign of its presence.

This wasn't something I was aware of before, but we're going forward within the rules rather than forever granting earth elementals a new ability. No, this is not open for debate.

The rest of the party is on board with the tunnel, which is still a good idea, so long as someone figures out how to do it.

Bliss suggests a few water breathing spells and wildshapes, then following the stream out of the lake. Murphy tends to think this is far too dangerous. Plus, it may just drain into an underground aquifer. Then where would our heroes be?

***

Yea, I realize this is a jerk-DM move rule change, but I do my best to keep to raw. All those tunnels in Humble's Ford are still there and safe.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 2:48:59 PM

[If that be the case - this whole discussion is kaput :-) - for the making of the tunnels, it was ruled that an earth elemental could dig, though its normal movement was to earthglide.]

As, when the swan boat entered the grotto, it did not get clobbered by rocks - there must be some sort of air space above the watery torrent as it enters the cavern. "We can fly out. So as to save having to use too many spells, I can wildshape to air elemental, and carry people and animals out a few at a time," suggests Murphy, awaiting concurrence or other plans from the rest of the party. If all agree to this simple plan, he carries it out, finding a decent place to set them down upstream.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 3:59:41 PM

"Everybody, hold on. We'll think better after second breakfast." Bliss shares out a meal from his elven lunchbox (the magic one that can feed a person a day). There's enough for everyone to have a little snack, plus some leftover fish maybe.

"Mister Murphy, you can fly for sure. And you can carry someone. I'd rather fly myself, please. What if the waterfall sweeps me out of your arms?"

Bliss counts on his fingers.

"The Paladins can send Miss Piggy and Rumpus away and call them later. Miss Talia can fly like yesterday [Overland Flight]. I can turn Sir Succotash into a dire bat," says Bliss [using a Polymorph spell] and also fly out myself as an eagle [using Beast Shape I]. Miss Pressi can Polymorph Sir Kezzem into a dire bat or an eagle too. And she can turn herself and Harper into eagles [with two BSIs]. So that's everybody, right?

Bliss looks at the waterfall from below, gauging difficulties. [OOC to Kindly DM: What Fly skill checks are we talking to fly out? What about a climb DC, as, say, an octopus crawling up the waterfall?]

[OOC to Murphy: I thought that you were digging tunnels in the earth, back in Humbles Ford. Was it really solid bedrock?]

Bliss has an idea. "Gosh I wish I had thought of trying to brew a potion out of this magic water last night," he says. He sees Succotash is down five hp and Talia is down 1. He makes them each drink a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds. He washes out the bottles and fills them with magic water, then stows them away. "Maybe I can brew something later," he says.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 9:27:31 PM
Talia wonders," if she could either summon a creature or polymorph into one big enough to carry most of the group?"

"What do you folks think?" Talia asks for the group.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Saturday June 1st, 2019 10:12:12 PM

"And people call me the complicator. Bliss - that's six spells or special whatsis." Murphy wildshapes into a huge air elemental, and flies up through the opening they came through. The boat they arrived in was not damaged - therefore there is air above the water at the opening. Parts of the boat extend perhaps eight to ten feet, at least, above the waterline. Therefore, there is at minimum ten feet of clearance - and maybe there is 20, or 30, or 40 feet or more of clearance. He flies through, measuring the dimensions through which they need travel.

Then he returns to the party, and reports his findings. He remains as an air elemental until further notice.

[OOC for Bliss: Murphy was digging primarly through earth in Humble's Ford, though he also moved some boulders and smaller rocks along the way. It was determined that he could do more than simply earthglide - but doing so was a fair bit more work. How can an earth elemental stand upon earth, if his only interaction with earth is to glide through it? It would be like trying to stand upon (liquid-state) water.]

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Sunday June 2nd, 2019 5:11:42 PM
“Yeah but it’s six spells divided between four casters,” Pressi pointed out. “We burned a ton more just buffing against irlgaunts. The 1-2 spells a piece won’t make or break us. Besides, I don’t intend to stick around now that we have the gems, so....

“I get the whole efficiency thing but there’s something about six simple moves that makes it more powerful than a single complex move. It’s called the power of friendship. Accept the power of friendship, loser. Ooh, that should be our new motto.”

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Sunday June 2nd, 2019 7:16:19 PM
"If we are discussing shapeshifting options, I would like to be a tree," suggests Kezzem. "Wait, tress can't move. Nevermind then. Anything that moves would be find. Except a snake. Or a raven."

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Huge air elemental 
Sunday June 2nd, 2019 8:31:17 PM

"Uh, it seems like a single simple move to me," Murphy counters Pressi. "But, if we want to waste resources, sure. If we get in a combat later, and don't quite have as many options as we might otherwise, well, that's not to worry about, right?

"'Loser'? Surely you would want nothing to do with a loser." Murphy, willing to do all he can for the party, is very torqued at the disrespect he is feeling from some members of the party. Perhaps he is misinterpreting things...

The huge air elemental druid offers to carry any out who wish to go that way. And leaves those who don't want to be wafted in a bundle of air up and over the waterfall, to find another way.

"Am in the habit of dropping those I carry, Bliss?"

Murphy is clearly in a foul mood - which is odd, as he is not one given to moodiness. I don't think he has ever felt the way he is feeling right now towards some of his party members.

[OOC: Don't worry - this is how Murphy is feeling, not how Kim is feeling.]

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Sunday June 2nd, 2019 10:11:06 PM
“Whoa, whoa, I was just kidding about the loser part... mostly. Look, both plans have their pros and cons, and I don’t have a stake in this decision. But your plan has no backup should something go wrong, and Bliss’s plan has redundancy in such a case.

“If one of you backs down, I’ll support the other. But are we really going to quibble over margins here. If I can’t spare an extra spell slot or two, I’d be a lousy support caster.”

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27 
Monday June 3rd, 2019 12:06:57 AM
"We should all go together so that the party is not split."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Monday June 3rd, 2019 5:40:01 AM
Succotash looks at his friends with not a small amount of frustration, then says, "Come on guys, are we really going to squabble over something as ridicules as what method we are going to use to fly out of here?" "Personally I'm not a huge fan of being polymorphed", Succotash continues, "Last time that happened we were facing off against some dwarves in the iron giant, and I was a bat, imagine the disgrace of being in a fight, and my only recourse was dropping guano on the enemy".

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Huge air elemental 
Monday June 3rd, 2019 5:54:24 AM

Murphy gives Pressi a skeptical look as she only partially backtracks on what she called him.

"Tell you what - those who would like a lift out of here, I'll give it," Murphy says. "Those who want to use other means, that's fine. I have already gone up and through to see what's on the other side. And we can time things to be getting up there fairly close in time to each other. I'd be happy to spot any who choose to climb, so long as I'm not ferrying in the meantime."

The wild shaped druid easily can carry two at a time.

[awaiting DM filling in the info from an earlier post - 'If someone is waiting there for us - I'll let you know.']

DM Carl 
Monday June 3rd, 2019 11:57:12 AM
Our heroes put forth a *ton* of effort and discussion over how to climb up a few dozen feet.

Climb checks are DC 10 since it's a rough cave wall. I wouldn't call for fly checks since there's enough room to gently circle about and gain altitude.

Bliss wonders aloud why he didn't think to brew something with this special water (keep in mind natural overnight healing if you're down a HP or so).

As tempted as your narrator is to hand wave this away in the issue of party unity, our heroes should really learn to move past issues like these without so much drama. Some of our heroes understand this, at least.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Huge air elemental 
Monday June 3rd, 2019 1:58:33 PM

[OOC: As our DM did not report back anything specific or out of the ordinary from Murphy's surveillance flight up and out, I am assuming the coast is clear - no visible ambush awaits us.]

"Anyone want a lift?" he asks. Air elemental (about 32' long, 16' wide) Murphy will carry whoever wishes to be carried, and set them down along the most travel-worthy side of the riverbank. After he has carried people up (which he can do very quickly), he hovers near whoever chooses to try the easy climb, waiting to catch any who may slip.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24  d20+3=18 ;
Monday June 3rd, 2019 2:46:50 PM
"I'll go first," volunteers Kezzem.

"This is weird, this is weird, this is weird, this is weird," repeats Kezzem as Murphey flies him up.

Once there, he will activate Detect Evil and look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 = 18 (19 for Traps)

If Kezzem expects smooth traveling from here on out, he will Summon Rumpus; otherwise, he will wait for better terrain before bringing in his pony.


Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90 
Monday June 3rd, 2019 4:12:11 PM
Talia just hovers up to the distance needed to clear the hurdle. "Where are we going exactly? I thought we were looking for an expidenent way back to the dwarfs?!" says Talia somewhat questioning.



Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Monday June 3rd, 2019 8:40:21 PM
Before Murphy performs his transformation, Pressi pulls him aside to as much privacy as the open grotto can muster, moving back towards the pool where the woldsblood can be drawn.

"Look, I know that I need to be a little less cavalier about my insults. I need you to know that I really do think the world of you... and it's kind of hard to think very well of myself, to remember that anyone actually looks to me as anything but a street rat. Still, it should be clear that I meant nothing more than to try to snark at my own logic, and nothing more. At any rate, I need you to be an adult, even when I'm not.

"And if this is about the ring thing, look, I'm sorry that things are distracted. But while it's a nice place, it's the wrong time. Last night was the time to focus on survival, charging the crystals, and keeping up with the rest of the group. I just feel that you should have waited until..."

A dozen of Pressi's cantrips began to fire at the same time, music filling the nook, wold energy sprouting as a fountain, dazzling lights surrounding them.

"... See, now this is a better time if you want to ask me something."

--------------

After Pressi and Murphy return, Pressi also pulls Talia aside. "I kind of feel like you opened up to me and I left you hanging, and I'm sorry. I wasn't sure how much to pry about... caretakers and stuff. But I do know how hard it is to explain yourself to the people that raise you."

----------------

Pressi allows Murphy to bring up Harper first. The cat's objections end when Pressi points out that she never intended to polymorph either of them. "You see this broom? You get on the back and hang on."

Pressi watches with curiosity what Bliss will do, and generally stays behind to be brought up last, acting if any spells are needed.

-------------

(OOC: Sorry for the disjointed post. I didn't have full time to RP the last couple of days and some of the RP stuff got buried. I'm only now beginning to play catchup.)

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27 
Monday June 3rd, 2019 10:54:34 PM

Bliss shrugs. "I just want someone up there to be on guard."

He changes into an eagle with Beast Shape I and flies up there with Murphy carrying Harper, and Talia flying. He stays on guard as Murphy ferries others to a point above the waterfall.

"Now what? Another boat that can sail upstream?"

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) 
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 5:25:03 AM

A Moment Set Aside
Wondering what she might be pulling him to the side for, Murphy comes, with a mixture of hope, trepidation, and plain curiosity. As Pressi opens up, he listens, then responds. "I've never heard my mother insult my father, nor he her." He says tentatively, "Oh, they'll tease each other. And sometimes have differences in the way they view some things. But I don't recall, ever, a lack of... respect between them, nor insults. So, that's something I'm - I'm just not, not accustomed to," he tries to explain. "But, yes, I'll try to be - adult?"

He plays with a patch of moss as she speaks of last night not being the right time. He is about to respond, when suddenly the locale lights up with her magic, and she grants him leave to -

Murphy asks, "Now is the time?" and he gives a funny shake of his head - not a negation, nor an affirmation, but an emotion of the sort that his body does not know quite what to do. He takes a deep breath, settles, then reaches into his pocket, and draws forth a tiny leather bag with a string binding it together.

"We were in Emerald City. I thought of you. Us. What might be, who we might become. Aunt Nilli often spoke of how many disparate things can be woven together to create a thing of strength and resilience." Finally the string is unbound. He opens the wee bag, pushing up the bottom. A diamond clear, small, yet stunning and well set shows, embedded in a braided weave of ironwood, silver, gold, and platinum.

"Will you accept this as a token of my pledge to you? To marry you for life at a time we choose, and to be yours, and you, mine, Pressi Silverglove?" He proffers her the emblem.

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96  d20+8=11 ;
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 5:30:32 AM
Succotash gladly excepts a lift from Murphy, when at the top of the waterfall, he tries to ascertain if there is a proper walk way, following the ravine. (perception 11) If there is, he says, "I know it may seem old fashion, but we could just walk". Either way, he asks Murphy, "Do you have the means to fill a swan boats sails? Because we aren't sailing upstream without a push".

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 124/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 5:39:29 AM
When Pressi's light show goes off, Succotash can't help but notice the two love birds having their conversation, he doesn't want to eves drop, but the actions of Murphy and Pressi say it all. he then elbows Kezzem gently and says, "Check it out, they are finally making their engagement official! I wonder if they'll ask one of use to officiate their wedding?

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Huge Air Elemental  d20+21=29 ; d20+30=36 ;
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 6:09:25 AM

Leaving Humble's Grotto
Just before wild shaping, Murphy takes just a few more items out of his pocket, and places them in a small sack. He asks a favor of one of his friends. "Succotash, will you do the honors of letting Miss Piggy be the bearer of another bag of mine? This one can go inside the other."

He does perform the quick surveillance on the upside, then returns. Then he commences with the transport - as described in an earlier post. Kezzem first, as he volunteered. As his friend Kez narrates the weirdness of the journey, Murphy gives an airy laugh. He takes who wishes to come next. In time the druid talks to Harper. "It felt odd for me the first few times I flew. I've grown to enjoy it. My arms in this form are strong, and you will be safe. May I carry you, brave leopard?"

And last, he brings up Pressi - and, unless aught untoward is evident above, he carries her with a short flyover of the island, then back, and up, and out.

"Yes, Talia, we're wanting to determine the wisest way to get to where we need to go."

He turns to eagle Bliss. "Friend, you were wiser than I. Will you forgive me my myopia? Uh, short-sightedness? And stubbornness? And you, Succotash? And all? The power of friendship is the best way."

Modes of Transportion - Vote Please
Once all are settled safe and sound above - and upstream of where the water begins its downturn, Murphy speaks. "We have mentioned boating upstream, or shadow walking, or walking slowly over very rough and varied stone when time is of the essence," he says with a smile in Succotash's direction. "I've sailed a swan boat upstream before. It is possible. If there's an additional method someone would like to suggest, speak now please. If not, I think shadow walking may be the fastest way for us to return what is needed to Tiana. I do have another swan boat feather token available. Either means can draw us to combat along the way. Either means may be fine. But again - shadow walk is my preference. Sorry Succotash. If there are means to protect us from shadowy sorts of things along the way, let us know, anyone.

"I will go with how the party decides, if between these two ideas, or three. Please vote."

For once, though it crossed his mind, he does not bring up carrying it by himself, no matter how fast he can fly.
==============
Flying: 29
Perception: 36

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Huge Air Elemental 
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 6:16:09 AM

P.S.: I failed to mention, the diamond/ironwood/silver/gold/platinum emblem is, indeed, a ring.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90 
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 8:19:15 AM
"My friend, Mister Murphy, aye, Leadership skills also make you that way. As for a vote, I enjoy the shadow skipping, er Walk. It's surreal to me. That's my vote, Shadow Walking!" says Talia.

Spells in Effect

Overland Flight | 715 / 720 minutes

[OFC [Out of Character} | Did Talia have anough time to meditate for two (2) hours?]

DM Carl 
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 5:37:19 PM
Fair warning: Low effort post incoming. I'm in the hospital w/ my wife and really can't read everything up there. If I miss something important, and I will, ask again.

***

The party makes it's way up, along with the swan boat. Our party is welcome to use it upstream, but they could walk faster. It's a very fast moving stream.

Soon as they decide how they're moving, the show can get on the road.

Pressi (Melvin) - AC 22 (27), HP 101, CMD 21; Harper AC 23 (28), HP 61, CMD 23  
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 8:49:57 PM
"Oh my god, where did all this come from?" Pressi joked. "I'm clearly going to need some time to... Last one, I promise. Just needed to get this out of my system."

Pressi took Murphy's hands in his. "Absolutely, I do."

-----------------

Once up the falls, Pressi can see the speed of the current. "Looks like we're walking it."

If they are in dim light, Pressi begins to activate shadow walk.

Bliss (Cayzle) HP124, AC27 
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 11:55:30 PM

Bliss is in favor of walking. Or flying, while his nine minute spell lasts.

His barkskin is up, as is his threefold aspect, as always. He'll wait to turn on other buffs when there is any indication of danger.

Talia (Jon-Paul) AC 28 | CMB 5 | CMD 27 | HP 89/90 
Tuesday June 4th, 2019 11:58:00 PM
"I'll overland flight it if you don't mind..."says Talia. Mister Murphy, you're the guide right?! Perhaps I should flight a bit above all of the group as a somewhat forward lookout?! "asks Talia of the gang.

Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 29, touch AC 18; HP 125/125, CMD 28; Rumpus - AC 25, touch 14; HP 62/62, CMD 24 
Wednesday June 5th, 2019 12:25:51 AM
"So what's next?" asks Kezzem. "Should we summon Piggy and Rumpus now, or should we wait a bit first?"

DM Carl 
Wednesday June 5th, 2019 1:00:34 AM
DM note before tomorrow:

If you want to shadow walk, you'll need to either

A: Remove the two gems from the DPAA
B: Put it in a completely opaque bag, pack, etc.

The gems in the DPAA right now provide normal light out to 60'.

Murphy (Kim) Halfling Druid(12) Huge Air Elemental 
Wednesday June 5th, 2019 3:20:26 AM

Bliss had removed the gems for the Encompassing Mind from the DPAA once the charging was done, so those lights are out. "Just in case you get knocked out or something, Bliss, where are you keeping the gems?"

"KEZZEM. SUCCOTASH. Vote, please. Shadow walk, or conventional walk, with some flying? The giants are arming to invade and enslave our lands. They look to be ready to leave in about two days.
___Shadow walking time to home: About an hour or so.
___Conventional walking time: About a day and a half, if we're lucky. That leaves a lead time of only half a day or a day for the giants.
___Flying: Not all of us can, and Harper likely will not be happy about being slung under an airy elemental arm for long.
___Swan boat: Maybe we can rig a harness. The motive speed of the swan boat will let us move upstream maybe a mile or two an hour. If Murphy can drag it faster, we might approach the speed we had going downstream, but the druid may get tired fast.
VOTE!
The vote now stands:
Shadow Walk: Murphy, Pressi, and 1/2 vote for Talia
Walk/Fly: Bliss, 1/2 vote for Talia

Not yet voting: Kezzem, Succotash

"Pressi, if either paladin votes for shadow walk, then let's all hit the dimly-lit trail."

Succotash (Jeremy) AC 29/15/28 CMD 31 HP 129/129 Miss Piggy AC 30/12/28 CMD 25 HP 96/96 
Wednesday June 5th, 2019 5:46:16 AM
Succotash isn't thrilled about the idea of shadow walking again, but he understands the need for speed, and agrees that the fastest way would be to shadow walk. "I reluctantly vote yes" Succotash says with a half-hearted smile. he would have Twinklesting out as no one has mentioned another light source, since we are not in the grotto anymore. He will keep Twinklesting out until all preparations are made to shadow walk, then as soon as they are ready, he will sheath her, and link hands with his friends.

Return To Index      Next Scene (The Escape)
Copyright © 1980-2024 WoldianGames. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Site Map - Contact Us - SRD
 
WoldianGames Homepage