For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Monday January 22nd, 2024 11:29:06 PM
Bartomus gracefully concludes his conversation with Lady Yasume. He returns to Shield HQ with a cask of mead and shares it and what he learned with the Shields. He suggests the Shields visit the Lizardfolk and friend next. Armalad agrees with Bartomus and suggests the Tower of Boydos as the second stop. Stock shares what little he learned from Norella. Stohp wonders if Floatizens have been paying attention all these years. Zanderallen considers the Shadow Realms and the Emerald Kingdom, and completes his thought by suggesting the Shields get a good night’s rest before heading out in search of more information on the ‘morrow. Then he visits Pepper for a while, confiding in her some morsels on Karkasan. Delia listens thoughtfully to her friends.
Dawn comes, and there is no knock at Shields HQ.
The early morning arrives lackadaisically and still there is no knock.
Some of the Shields stir and begin their morning routine whether it be checking their gear… or immediately heading to the firepit to throw tasty morsels on the grill and setting a log to burning… or raiding the pantry for more immediate fare such as day-old pastries…
It is during this easy morning that the knock on the door comes.
First, a bit too quietly for all but a stray cat outside who yowls at being startled… and then the knocking is just loud enough for any Shields in the front room or kitchen to hear, and then it stops.
Who could it be?
The Shields murmur amongst themselves and speculate, “who is *so* polite and well-mannered to knock at the Shields’ doors in this way?!? Could it be… an ambush? From Karkasan already?”
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+25=42 ; d8=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d8=4 ; d6=1 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=2 ; 4d6=11 ; Monday January 22nd, 2024 11:40:40 PM
Armalad grabs her newly upgraded bow, positions herself within 30 feet of the door and knocks 2 arrows(multishot) trained on the door. If whoever is knocking is intending harm to the party then they'll be met with 2 arrows that has firey burst, icey burst, shocking burst (from arcane archer), thundering and merciful and they'll also get sneak attacked.
(OOC: ready action to fire on person on other side of door if recognized hostile or goes to take a hostile action)
42 vs AC; (1d8+1d6 +1d6 fire +1d6 ice + 1d6 shock +5) x 2 on first of full attack +4d6
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 12:10:28 AM (so sorry - typed up a post for Monday and never hit submit I guess. Hilariously, it is perfectly summed up by "Delia listens thoughtfully to her friends.")
Delia looks around the room, sipping her mead happily. She listens to the information brought back through various research and contacts, grateful to be part of such a team.
Delia, on the roof practicing archery and putting Hawky through some paces, is unaware of the knock. If she heard the cat's yowling, she'd glance over the side of the roof to see what disturbed it.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 8:16:55 AM
Knocks on the door aren't that strange. Stohp idly wanders over to see who it is.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 4:40:29 PM
Bartomus had gotten up and done his morning meditations at the tree that was growing in the added niche on the outer side of the Float. He had wandered into their building and was putting together something to eat.
He saw Armalad coming down and setting up to shoot someone and realized that they're was someone at the door as Stohp headed that direction. With a bowl of granola in his hand, he wandered closer and stopped near Armalad.
"Usually, our enemies don't knock first," He said rather nonchalantly. "But, if they are going to be so polite, you got this for sure."
He gave a nod to Stohp supporting her opening the door.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 209/209 AC: 32 T: 13 FF: 31 CMD: 33 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 5:36:54 PM "For once it's not the force banging of the palace guard." He starts to get up but sees Stohp already ahead of him and sits back down. He calls out, "We're coming."
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 6:43:40 PM
Stock just looks at Armalad. "Feels like overkill. I mean I like the enthusiasm but even aiming a bow is a threat...so just make sure you're threatening the right type of person."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 9:50:55 PM
Armalad has Joker use the fog trick to hide her in an illusion of fake fog that way whoever is knocking isn't hostile they'll never know they were being aimed at and she can just lower the bow. (OOC: Checking In)
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Tuesday January 23rd, 2024 10:10:56 PM
Armalad lives the speculation, instantly ready to ambush any ambushers out there! *Delia only*: Highlight to display spoiler: {Looks like the Lakeview Lads down there, all of them, Triggan and Grysh in front. Having knocked, they’re patiently waiting for a Shield to open the doors.} Stohp walks over and opens the door, blocking Armalad’s line of fire and her sight of who’s at the door. *Stohp sees* Highlight to display spoiler: {Looks like the Lakeview Lads, all of them. Triggan and Grysh in front. Triggan smiles upon seeing you.} Bartomus stands near Armalad with a bowl of granola, encouraging Stohp to find out who’s at the doors. Zanderallen calls out to whoever’s at the door that the Shields will open the door. Stock admonishes Armalad for overreacting to a simple knock.
Once Stohp (still blocking everyone but Delia’s view) opens the doors, after a brief pause a familiar voice says, “Shields. So glad to see you again. We’ve traveled a long way. May we come in, rest, and speak with all of you inside?”
The Shields inside see glimpses past Stohp of a fairly large group outside… six to ten humanoids…
*Bartomus sees*: Highlight to display spoiler: {In the space between Stohp’s legs the bottom half of a familiar form can be seen. Legs that aren’t quite like any human or halfling, and the hands… it’s a ratfolk! … It’s Triggan Best! The Lakeview Lads are here!}
What do you do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 12:58:25 AM "Well, now here is a wonderful turn of events, Triggan Best, what a surprise. Come in, come in." Bartomus recognized the voice and the legs, or well the form of legs that a rat folk would have. "Are you all hungry, thirsty. Come, come, let's get you inside. Stohp, no need to block the door."
Bartomus glanced down at Armalad.
"No need for the pin cushion approach here. They are friends and a few of us know who he is well and if he comes with friends, well they are friends of the Shields."
Bartomus nods towards the way of the kitchen and the large table. He suspected that this was not going to be a pleasant, hi how are you, just visiting type of event. But, they could provide a degree of comfort and welcome the party that he suspected had travelled for a while.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday January 24th, 2024 8:20:58 AM "Of course, make yourself at home." Stohp says, moving aside for the group to come in.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 9:14:11 AM
Delia gives the Lads a friendly wave from the roof , whether they're looking or not, and heads down to join everyone on the main floor.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Wednesday January 24th, 2024 3:13:15 PM "Hello there! What brings you to our humble abode? It's been some time since we've seen you."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 209/209 AC: 32 T: 13 FF: 31 CMD: 33 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 4:22:31 PM
Zanderallen greets the Lads warmly and busies himself pulling out chairs around the main gathering area so all can sit down. He goes and gets some more refreshments and drinks of whatever they have sitting around, "Welcome, welcome. Good to see you. Have a seat and grab a drink. Rest yourselves and then tell us about your adventures."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday January 24th, 2024 9:41:37 PM
Armalad puts her bow away and moves to get a better glimpse of their visitors.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Wednesday January 24th, 2024 11:14:39 PM
Bartomus’ keen eyes and fond memories of past discussions with Triggan on nature enable him to identify who is at the door and invite them in. Stohp moves aside and greets the Lakeview Lads pleasantly. Delia’s wave appears not to have been seen from the roof, but she is soon downstairs with the crowd. Stock greets the Lads with a question. Zanderallen is a gracious host, bringing chairs and drinks for all. Armalad’s adrenaline ceases pumping as she moves to see the visitors better, and it is indeed the Lads.
The Lads gracefully make their way inside Shields HQ, each thanking the Shields for their hospitality, with a nod to Zanderallen.
Soon everyone is seated with a drink in hand.
The Shields know Taran and Ceridan and Grysh and Triggan, Xera and Jerma and Duluth and Yerikah…
The Lads look at each other, one to another, and within a moment all are looking at Triggan Best.
Triggan begins, “So many questions! I’ll take Zanderallen’s question first.
Some time ago, Yerikah and Jerma wanted to visit It’lal, see family, check in with local leaders to see if any help was needed. We hired a turtle, got dropped off on the closest shore and made our way there,” and Triggan turns to Jerma.
Jerma says, “Our family was doing well, but reports of hostile encounters between It’lal border patrols and strange, somewhat large, lizardfolk were increasing in frequency, from a rarity to once a week. Still, nothing that our… the It’lal… patrols couldn’t handle. But then… Yerikah, how did the matron mother phrase her request to us?”
Yerikah replies, “She said ‘I know all the aberrant creatures in our mountains and caverns, but we’ve had to add new entries to our bestiary books. Something is stirring up creatures who shouldn’t even come near the light of day. Take your Floaty Friends and see what you can find out – I smell a spellcaster at work, or an unusually powerful being.’”
Triggan continues, “When Jerma and Yerikah asked the rest of us to join them, we could hardly say no – the matron mother offered to pay us well, and she did, but our ‘adventures’ were… difficult.”
Grysh punches Triggan in the arm, “You mean they were… STICKY!!!” and bellows out a hearty laugh!
Triggan chuckles slightly, saying, “Yes, but not in a good way,” Triggan sighs, and continues, looking at Zanderallen, “I suppose I have to finish the story now,” he finishes, sounding resigned to it.
He takes a long pause.
What do you do?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday January 25th, 2024 8:32:11 AM
Stohp will prepare the Lad's tea or whatever other refreshment they'd like while they tell their story.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Thursday January 25th, 2024 8:57:19 AM
Stock mutters, ”…sounds like a sticky situation…” He then raises an eyebrow and looks around to see if anybody heard the bit of humor from the usually serious dwarf.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday January 25th, 2024 2:15:33 PM
Delia unsuccessfully attempts to hide a snort at Stock's quiet comment and ends up coughing up some tea. She quickly recovers and holds her questions about the things that have been going bump in the night until the story is complete.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 209/209 AC: 32 T: 13 FF: 31 CMD: 33 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday January 25th, 2024 2:32:42 PM
Powerful spellcaster setting new and unseen monsters into the over world. That sounded like the kind of thing they were looking for. He gives Triggan an expectant look, "Let me give you a piece of advice. If you're going give an opening like that you best be prepared to spill the rest."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday January 25th, 2024 3:57:33 PM "So, who got caught in a spider's nest or a giant slug slime?" Bartomus asked with a bit of a smile and leaned forward. "Sounds like you all have had a grand adventure just getting here. Want to hear more, but right now how about you give us a bit more on the giant lizardfolk and others that are showing up there? Oh, and has there been anyone new that might have come and sought an alliance with you all? Dragon born type?"
Bartomus wanted to know more about the Lad's adventures, but also there was an affirmation to their collective hunch that there was a problem brewing away from the Float in the lands of the Itilal.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday January 25th, 2024 10:24:23 PM
(OOC: I'm reminded of that one episode of southpark where they kept showing the same scene from different points of view and it ended with different characters having icecream and saying, "And that's what I call a sticky situation and everyone laughs)
Armalad joins in on the laughter and says to Bartomus, "I dunno about you but any of those scenarios definitely qualify as a sticky situation."
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Thursday January 25th, 2024 10:35:38 PM
Stohp makes the rounds, taking the Lads’ drink orders and then heading to the kitchen to fill them. Stock makes a small joke under his breath, and then looks to see if anyone heard him. Delia fails to keep her composure at Stock’s joke. Zanderallen recommends that Triggan be ready with the full story with an opening like that! Bartomus asks the Lads to focus more on the foes the dark elves were facing, and whether any lizardfolk or dragon-born were involved. Armalad joins in the laughter and makes a joke to Bartomus.
Triggan continues, “Spill… well, our guts were almost spilled, or eaten. (lightly chuckles)”
Grysh interrupts, “C’mon Triggan, at this speed we’ll never get to the good part! Shields, let ME tell you how it went down! (Grysh stands up, becoming animated, and mock-holding a greataxe (only air in his fists))
THERE we were in the Caves of It’lal! Oooh… you can just hear the capital letters can’t you?!? Anyways, we’d been traveling the caves quite a while, everyone taking six weeks’ iron rations with them and we were at half rations left, or at least I was… Duluth and me in the lead because we can see in the dark and the rest with hidden lightstones so we don’t get spotted a whole cavern away. Well, I must’ve been the only one looking UP from time to time and I saw this big creepy-crawlie, like a caterpillar with tentacles coming down from above towards Duluth! That’s right, Duluth here (jabs rib) was almost a meal for a very hungry caterpillar! Well, I got its attention right away with my greataxe and shoved Duluth out of the way so he wasn’t in danger, but of course that’s when the others climbed down from the ceiling too! I gave that thing better than I got – some kind of poison in its tentacles but I just kept chopping away until it was dead! And now Duluth owes me some… I think he calls it “white gold”… at the Giggling Ghost!” Grysh finishes his tale by flexing his impressive biceps, more than a few times.
Yerikah pipes up, “Actually, by the time of that battle we’d found a sort of dungeon that looked to everyone’s eyes like natural stone! You see, Jerma and I had been scouting ahead of the Lads before Grysh’s tale, and we’d found a concealed cave entrance in a dark corner of a larger cavern – just some piled rocks but enough to fool a casual passer-by.”
Jerma continues, “What Grysh left out in his battle is that the creatures are known as Carrion Crawlers – you’ve probably already fought some, but we hadn’t – Yerikah and I were the only ones who’d heard of them – drow school focuses on… different things than… in other nations. Agreed, Yerikah, that cave entrance was really well-concealed – it looked like the stones had naturally fallen there, but clearly they had been placed by someone.”
Triggan speaks up, “So, you might recall that following Gargul’s resurrection of us, some of us, including myself, got very good at worshiping him, so I had cast light on a stone I kept with me, and sensing danger, I used it to lead all of us into the concealed cave. It didn’t open into a chamber right away… oh no… it must have been about two miles of walking in a relatively narrow tunnel, only 10’ across or so, same height. It didn’t end after two miles, but we found something…” Triggan turns and looks at Duluth, expectantly. Duluth looks for all the world like a child with stage fright, unused to having the spotlight or speaking at length.
There is an uncomfortable pause, but it looks like Duluth is working up the willpower to continue the tale.
What do you do?
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday January 26th, 2024 12:21:55 AM "Alright, you have gone this far with this tale, keep going Duluth, seize the moment." Bartomus offered Duluth with encouragement. The Taur's eyes sparkled with interest and he leaned a bit further forward. "What was at then end of the long, long tunnel? More of the nasty Carrion Crawlers? Not a fan of those at all."
Bartomus' mind was racing about trying to understand the connections between their guests and their quest. It was starting to fall into place, he felt.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday January 26th, 2024 6:20:36 AM
Stohp stays quiet and politely listens to the story.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Friday January 26th, 2024 9:20:08 AM
Stock leans up next to Grysh and nabs the clear ioun stone floating around his head. "Pro-tip: Next time you go on safari, bring one of these...you won't have to stomach those iron rations any longer."
His attention returns to the story and he focuses on Duluth. "Well? What happened?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday January 26th, 2024 11:07:54 AM
Delia opens her mouth to tell them, "Hmm. Those sound like carrion crawlers. We fought some recently too," and then promptly shuts it when Jerma picks up the story.
She switches listening focus to Duluth, but doesn't look at him, feeling great sympathy for a fellow quiet soul.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Friday January 26th, 2024 3:05:25 PM
Grysh should have been a bard Zander thinks to himself as he sips his drink and listens attentively.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Saturday January 27th, 2024 11:38:55 PM
Bartomus encourages Duluth, thinking hard all the while about how the Lads’ adventure and their problems might connect somewhere. Stohp quietly listens. Stock advises Grysh on ration management and “encourages” Duluth, dwarf-style! Delia was ready to comment, but wisely held her tongue as the Lads, definitely now more seasoned than before, continue. She feels a distant kinship to Duluth. Zanderallen thinks Grysh should have been a bard, or at least moonlighted as a performer. Armalad almost bends over in muffled laughter as the truth hits the nail on the head – Carrion Crawlers, with their icky, sticky, paralyzing-poison-coated tentacles!!!
Duluth clears his throat several times, interspersed with “uh” and “ahem.” Finally, he begins, “So we were in that cave and, as the only dwarf in the Lads it felt like my nerves were on fire, watching for danger from the stone itself. Earth elementals, thoqquas, purple worms, and worse sometimes show up, and knowing that foul beasts from the deeper tunnels were coming near the surface just made it worse for me, inside. But, I kept at it, and then I suddenly saw a bit of artificial stonework in what should have been just another limestone tunnel. I hand-signaled the group to stop, looked closer, then brought over Taran, and had Triggan unshield his lightstone slightly so Taran could check with me to make sure it wasn’t trapped – nothing like that should have been there outside of a dwarven city or stronghold, and it was clear that if some powerful foe was stirring up the Underwold beasts then we had to investigate everything unusual,” Duluth finishes, sweating with the memories. Xera notices and gives him a ‘kerchief he uses to wipe his forehead. He thanks her.
Taran continues, “So, like Duluth said, it was weird. But, once I started looking, and feeling around, I found the hidden keystone in no time and there was a click and we slid what was a stone door, of a kind, to the side in a cavity built for it. Inside we found and explored a small three-room hideout – now, that’s a lot of stonework! Maybe it was done naturally, but I feel like a powerful spellcaster must have cast a bunch of spells to make it as nice as it was, that far beneath the mountains surrounding It’lal. The hallways and ceilings were all 10’ wide. That door… it looked almost seamless with the stone – we really lucked out with Duluth spotting it,” Taran finishes, patting Duluth on the back with an “atta’boy.”
There’s a pause of just three seconds and then Ceridan begins, “We expected combat, so we shifted to our new marching order, new since Triggan and Grysh added the spells of Gargul to their repertoire, and new since usually we weren’t in caves looking for unusual stonework. Grysh and Duluth took the lead, Jerma and Taran next, then Yerikah and Xera, then Triggan and me guarding the rear. Just as some of us were beginning to wonder why the ceiling wasn’t worked stone like the walls and floors, that’s when Grysh, around the corner from me, called out something I shouldn’t mention in polite company (Grysh… blushes?!?) and I just knew it was an attack and told everyone to look up, and good thing because more of them were coming out of dark recesses in the ceiling we hadn’t really noticed in the low light conditions we were using, and those who could see in the dark were worried about traps in the walls and floors and such since it was worked stone.” he finishes.
Xera jumps ahead in the story, “So, after we killed the Crawlers, we made sure they were dead and then took our time examining everything. One room had more nooks in the ceiling than would be expected, and there was a slight breeze, which explained why the firepit in the center of the room worked – from what Duluth tells me, you never ever use a firepit, even with coals, underground if you don’t have a way to vent the smoke and get more fresh air. The firepit was cold, but had been used some time in the past to burn a lot of papers. It all looked ashy, but sometimes fire doesn’t get everything so Yerikah used Mage Hand and sifted slowly. Nothing there, but perhaps the hot air from the fire blew a piece away, because in a corner of the room I found a scrap of paper with some writing in an esoteric script I didn’t recognize. I asked for help and Duluth obliged with Comprehend Languages. Once we knew what it said, we knew it was something big.”
Yerikah picks up the story again, “The nearest library we had was It’lal, so, almost halfway on our rations (smiles at Grysh) we agreed to head back to It’lal so we could ask the Matron Mother what our people knew of this… artifact.”
Jerma continues, “The Matron Mother put the scribes to work, but it turns out It’lal is pretty far from The Scab, so the drow archives didn’t have anything.”
Triggan concludes, pulling out a journal, and opening it to reveal a charred scrap of parchment alongside a translation in the journal, “Shields, it says, ‘…an artifact in the shape of a crown with twin metalwrought dragons around the bottom edges, reputed to be in the Scab, deep within the East Wind Tunnel Entrance…' with the text before and after lost to the firepit.”
Triggan offers the journal and the scrap to Armalad, “Armalad, last I heard you’re the Shield who knows all the languages – It’lal didn’t know what language this was written in, but at least Comprehend Languages worked.”
Triggan turns to the Shields as a whole, and says, “Shields, I don’t know if this is of any help, but every WLA member is taught the same – ‘if you ever encounter an artifact and you aren’t the greatest heroes of your region, go tell the greatest heroes of your region about the artifact and then get far far away!’,” Triggan finishes with a chuckle.
Triggan says, “So, Shields, you know anything about this crown with the dragons?”
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday January 28th, 2024 10:56:30 PM
Armalad asks, "What are the odds? We are looking for the crown with the dragons and lads show up with a lead as to where it could be located."
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Sunday January 28th, 2024 11:24:12 PM "Exactly," Bartomus chimed in after Armalad. He shook his head and swallowed some more mead. "Looks like we have to learn more about this Scab and what creatures might inhabit it. Also, Jerma, you and I may need to make a visit to the Lady Yasume as she was going to do some of what you all apparently had done."
He looked about the walls of the room they were in. He sighed.
"You know, I want us to invest into a series of maps the size of these walls. We gotta have some visual ways to see where things are."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday January 29th, 2024 7:18:33 AM
The Lads shared their story, so Stohp will share the party's, sharing in great detail their recent adventures with the mad lizardfolk and the mind controlled druid. "So as you can see this is a very important find. Your troubles and ours sound similar and they seemed to be after another piece of the armor so it's likely there's another of these guys behind it."
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Monday January 29th, 2024 9:24:35 AM "All that said...we don't really know MUCH about the crown. We're looking for it. Maybe it can help bring an ancient evil back to the Wold. But we really don't know much more than that.
...and The Scab...It's been a while since I've been home..."
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Monday January 29th, 2024 12:18:48 PM
As the story telling continues Zanderallen becomes increasingly focused on the tale. Gradually leaning farther and farther forward, on the edge of his seat as the Lad's finish the tale. As others begin discussed he can't help but fiddle with his day time gear, tugging and tightening sword strap and his minimal city armor. "This is the lead we were hoping for from all our sources. Well done Lads, this artifact mentioned is part of a plan to return a great evil to this land. We need to get our hands on it first. And whatever agent is looking for it has a head start. Pack your bags Shields, it's off to the Scab for us."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Monday January 29th, 2024 5:32:00 PM
As their story concluded, a very slight smile shows on Delia's face. Her time spent hunting horrible monsters underground sounds like it will come in handy now. She joins the other Shields in expressing gratitude to the Lads.
"My bags are always packed," she responds seriously to Zanderallen, a hand absently brushing her haversack.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday January 29th, 2024 11:25:30 PM
Armalad says to Delia, "Have bow will travel and well Joker too"
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Monday January 29th, 2024 11:56:30 PM Armalad comments on the nature of serendipity. Bartomus asserts the need to learn more about the Scab, check in again with Lady Yasume, and perhaps add some maps to the walls at Shields HQ. Stohp shares the Shields’ recent adventures regarding the ancient lizardfolk and the dominated druid. The Lads eyes go wide with the description of the ancient lizardfolk, apparently a description they’ve heard before. There are many oohs and aahs at the blow-by-blow description of the underground battle against the druid and the lizardfolk spellcaster. Triggan nods in agreement with Stohp’s conclusion first, and then the Lads one by one thereafter. Stock interjects that the Shields don’t know all that much about the crown, other than the description… and did… did Stock get wistful for a moment, speaking of home? Stock? Wistful? Zanderallen is all in to the Lads’ story, as though peeling an onion layer by layer until the center is found. He congratulates the Lads on bringing actionable intelligence to the Shields, and then calls for the Shields to head for the Scab! Delia’s long expeditions in the Underwold slaying OtherWoldy Aberrations and other fearsome foes come to mind, almost casting her into a daydream of perfectly-executed somersaults leading to volleys of archery enough to blot out the sun, were the sun in the Underwold! With practiced effort she comes out of her reverie and tells Zanderallen she’s ready to go.
The Lads talk amongst themselves for a moment or two, and then Triggan stands and turns to the Shields, “Shields, we don’t know exactly how valuable our experiences, and that parchment fragment, are to you, but it sounds like time is of the essence.
We had plans for where we might explore next, but the Scab is a good distance away and we don’t want you concerned with who’s defending the Float while you’re gone. If you’ll let the Overlord know we’ll stay until your return then we’ll say our goodbyes now and go get our headquarters shipshape, that is, unless the furniture guild has rented it out from under us again!” At Triggan’s final comment, all of the Lads erupt into laughter!
The Shields surmise that this might actually have happened before, at least once!
Triggan then adds, “Of course, we can still make short trips from the Float, so if you want us to courier messages to anyone no more than a few days’ round-trip I’m sure we can arrange for that.”
With that, the Lads all stand and spread out among the Shields, wishing them well on their adventure on a one to one basis: Triggan seeks out Bartomus, adding that he’s made some progress in his wood carving skill and should have something worth showing Bartomus on the Shields’ return. Grysh strides over to Stock and trades good-natured barbs with him. Yerikah and Xera ask Armalad if she recognizes the language on the parchment scrap. Taran and Jerma ask Stohp for more details on the Shields’ recent adventures. Duluth looked like he was going to walk over to Stock before Grysh zoomed over, and by chance Duluth ends up sitting next to Delia in silence, his mood seemingly lightening at being “alone together” with a fellow silent soul. It doesn’t last long, as Ceridan spots Delia and walks over, beginning to ask Delia for archery tips, talking a mile a minute!
Eventually the conversations die down, hugs are had, and the Lads leave, one by one, heading for their HQ.
The Shields start taking stock of whether they have enough supplies for the trip, and realize they just might need a plan…
[OOC - What do the Shields plan, what do the Shields do, and who do they talk to, if anyone, outside the Shields?]
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday January 30th, 2024 2:07:55 AM
Well the first step is research. They'll have to learn where the east wind tunnel even is and what is known about it. There's a good chance such information isn't known locally, so they might have to contact locals for that information. So in that spirit, once done entertaining their guests, she'll head to the Giggling Ghost. Happy meets adventurers from all over the Wold and is a good place to start for both types of information.
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Tuesday January 30th, 2024 9:51:44 AM
Stock bids a fond farewell to the Lads, full of hugs, backslapping and hearty handshakes. He then starts thinking about the problem at hand - how easiest to get to the Scab and where to go once there to find the East Wind Tunnel.
He heads up to the WLA to ask some questions of his fellow adventurers around these two points.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday January 30th, 2024 2:44:12 PM
After some mutually encouraging talk about carving with Triggan that included some mental sizing up of the situation.
As the Lads departed, Bartomus noted that they would get the HQ together for their house sitting. He shared with his fellow Shields that "it just made sense."
Later he shared his thought of going to leave a message for Lady Yasume with her staff, buy a few maps, and start making a list of what they are going to need for a long haul.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday January 30th, 2024 2:44:17 PM
After some mutually encouraging talk about carving with Triggan that included some mental sizing up of the situation.
As the Lads departed, Bartomus noted that they would get the HQ together for their house sitting. He shared with his fellow Shields that "it just made sense."
Later he shared his thought of going to leave a message for Lady Yasume with her staff, buy a few maps, and start making a list of what they are going to need for a long haul.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=13 ; Tuesday January 30th, 2024 5:15:41 PM
Wishing the lads the best Zander joins in saying a hearty good bye. He then thinks on how to get to the Scab, if there were any local travel routes he knows of(Know: Local 13). If he comes up blank he decides to go up to the palace and talk to the Overlord and let him know that the Shields had discovered a lead to one of Karkasan's artifacts in the Scab and ask if they had any record of the East Wind Tunnel.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+16=25 ; Tuesday January 30th, 2024 5:51:26 PM
Delia joins in the goodbyes, giving Duluth a kindred spirit nod as she sees the Lads off.
She will consider what she knows about the Scab in particular and what routes there are or that she may have previously taken.
Know (Geo): 25 (+6 forest or +2 underground if applicable)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+27=45 ; Tuesday January 30th, 2024 9:41:53 PM
Armalad studies the scrap of paper to see if she is familiar with the language on it (Linguistics: 45)
As for supplies Armalad asks, "How long will this journey be and what kind of a route are we taking? Won't the answers to those questions impact our provisioning plan."
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Tuesday January 30th, 2024 10:10:18 PM Stohp enjoys the epilogue to the Lads’ visit, and as they file out already her mind is racing with ideas! With barely an “I’ll be at the Ghost” Stohp has left the building. With her Epic Knowledge of Float Shortcuts, Stohp is at the Ghost in no time. Happy is just drying off a glass and putting it away when he notices Stohp. “Miss Stohp, so good to see you! Would you like your usual drink this early in the day?”
Stock is more animated than usual, heavy on the camaraderie with the Lads! As the Lads leave, he begins thinking about the best routes to the Scab, and from there to the East Wind Tunnel… Stock’s eyes only Highlight to display spoiler: { the walk to the WLA jogs Stock’s memories of the Clan Mountainheart stronghold from… ten years ago… has it been that long? Of course! He was always busy with carpentry, but the real glory went to those of his clan assigned to guard the (somewhat) nearby Eastern Wind Tunnel entrance from drow invasions, aberrant horrors, and whatever else might wander from the Underwold up to the surface! Stock’s work had never taken him there, but, if starting the journey from Mountainheart stronghold he’s pretty sure he could lead the Shields there, though it could be a full day of walking. A small blessing contrasted with the curse of being the clan located closest to the Entrance and thus taking on all of the guard duty without asking the other clans for help, ever! The harder part of their journey will be getting the Shields to the Scab, and then to the particular mountains of the Scab most familiar to him. Yet… there are rivers throughout the mountains, and rivers make great landmarks, as do the skylines of particular mountain ridges… at least from a distance.} Stock arrives at the WLA and by coincidence Pip is at the front counter, poring over some dusty tome as thick as Stock’s right bicep! “Huh? What? Stock! So good to see you! How can I help you today? Please tell me it involves research,” he finishes with a bright smile!
Bartomus talked (wood) shop, literally, with Triggan for quite a bit before the Lads said their goodbyes and left one by one. He began to think of how best to prepare Shields HQ, so that the Lads could best keep an eye on it, and then his mind turned to a few key errands: leave a message with Lady Yasume with her staff (they graciously took his message and promised to timely deliver it to the Lady), buy a few maps (from whom/where? WLA, Catacombs, somewhere else?, and make a list of items for a long expedition (Bartomus scribbles in a journal as he goes)
Zanderallen considers just how much he knows of routes towards the Scab and swiftly realizes he’d best locate some maps to jog his memory! Hmm, he thinks, the Ov--Drezz probably has the best maps… Zanderallen is swiftly at the Palace, trading salutes with the only sergeant he has to look up to, in order to see his face! It seems Drezz has given orders to speed Zanderallen to Drezz’s presence anytime he comes to the Palace, for Zanderallen is soon met by guards who cheerily tell him they’ll have him to Drezz in no time without Zanderallen even getting to open his mouth! The longest delay is outside the throne room, as Drezz is “briefly indisposed.” About 15 minutes later Zanderallen is escorted into Drezz’s presence. Drezz says, “I suppose you’re wondering why I had your entry sped along so much. Since the attack of the carnivorous plants I’ve given orders to the guards to act like they’re on a war footing even though the war with these plants and their masters hasn’t really started beyond your skirmish with them. So, something is up. It’s written all over your face. What is the news, old friend?”
Delia and Duluth each exchange a brief nod, all the ‘emotional outburst’ they can manage. Duluth grunts approvingly and elbows Ceridan in the ribs when he goes on a bit too long about archery techniques. Soon the Lads are gone, and Delia considers her many travels…Highlight to display spoiler: {Delia, a trained explorer, can almost re-live any of her hundreds or thousands of travels in her head, and she has some good ideas on routes but realizes she hasn’t seen large-scale maps of the Wold in some time. She feels highly confident that given a selection of high-level, medium-level, and low-level maps she could quickly mark near-optimal routes on each for speed along the known roads, or avoiding notice off the beaten path… but she’s convinced speed is the better option – woe to any bandits or monsters who get in the Shields’ way on the roads to the Scab! She’s heard of the Eastern Wind Tunnel, but she didn’t grow up in the Scab, so would need to see a map to do more than get the Shields to the eastern half of the Scab. If only the Shields knew someone familiar with the Scab even more than her own impressive geographical knowledge! It’s then she realizes a gap in her knowledge: she knows the geography, but not the names of all of the dwarven clans in the area – but, once the Shields are in the Scab proper, perhaps the first clan they run into can point them towards the next, and so on, until they can find the Entrance. Hm, the locals probably have much more detailed maps than the Float, but, seeing some of her friends already running errands, it seems likely to Delia that one or more of them has gone to acquire whatever maps can be found here. It’s a start.}
Armalad studies the scrap of paper deeply, without magic, to ascertain if it’s in one of the many languages she knows. Highlight to display spoiler: {Truly, this is an Epic Challenge to analyze this small amount of writing, even knowing what it says. Armalad runs through half of the languages she knows before seeing similarities to Woldian Below, but… perhaps proto-Woldian Below… no wonder the Drow could not decipher it without magic – only one as trained in the linguistic arts as Armalad could make the necessary mental connections to come to this conclusion in just one full minute instead of one or more hours! Armalad scribbles furiously in a journal, putting together a crude partial cipher, translating first from archaic Woldian Below to modern Woldian Below, and then to Common for the benefit of the Shields and then to Elven for herself… because Elven! Not a full linguistic mapping of this archaic Woldian Below, but it will have to do for now. Perhaps if more samples could be found…} Armalad looks up from her work to see that only she and Delia remain in Shields HQ. Delia’s the survivalist, so Armalad asks her about the length of the journey, the route, and how those factor in to Shields’ provisioning.
What does each Shield do next?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday January 31st, 2024 8:14:37 AM
Given how much the party has been asking around Happy is probably familiar with the general situation so Stohp will just ask about the specifics. "There's an important artifact we just learned is in the Scab in someplace called the East Wind Tunnel Entrance. We have no idea where that is or how to get there, but you have contacts all over so I thought you'd either know the general direction we should go or know someone who can help."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Wednesday January 31st, 2024 1:24:26 PM
Delia looks after Stock and Zanderallen, realizing that she needs some more specific info and can likely get it from maps or a dwarf. "Always choose dwarf," she mutters to herself before jogging after Stock. She catches herself last minute and waves to Armalad before taking off. Hawky settles onto her shoulder as she heads out after her dwarf friend.
She asks Stock questions about the East Wind Tunnel and Scab in general to see if she can connect her knowledge with the actual names of places instead of whatever she named them in her head.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday January 31st, 2024 4:42:54 PM
Zanderallen salutes and thanks the guards as he is hurried through the palace. He smiles and greets Drezz warmly before turning somber as Drezz explains the new protocol, "I fear your precautions of war may turn all too real. Karkasan is a very real threat. But I do have some good news. The Lads found a lead on one of the artifacts Karkasan's agents are looking for, in the East Wind Tunnel in the Scab. We're looking for maps to figure out where that is. And it's a little bit of a rush because they have a head start."
Stock (JonM) HP: 238/238; AC: 27/25/14; DR 4/-; CMD: 39; Rage: 1/41 used Wednesday January 31st, 2024 4:55:40 PM
He looks up when he gets to the counter and then turns to see Delia trailing him. "Oh hey, Delia, I didn't see you there following me; just have travel on the mind...and going home. It's been a while since I've been home. You ever been to the Scab?"
He then turns to Pip...
"OK Pip - we need to head out on a bit of a walkabout. I'd love your help - or the help of anybody else here whose done it recently - plotting a route from the Float to the East Wind Tunnel in the Scab. If possible, it can go through the Clan Mountainheart stronghold thereabouts - I'm should be welcome back - but it's not really necessary if there's another way. Maybe in a perfect world we have somebody able to teleport us there...that's how I got to the Float in the first place after all...
And please - no questions on WHY we're leaving. That's how rumors start."
Armalad (Hugh) HP 121/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday January 31st, 2024 9:18:09 PM
Armalad plans a treatise on Proto-Woldian Below for the Star Mages Guild in the future and is ready to share the partial Lexicon she made with anyone should they come back. She then hunts down Delia and asks about the journey to the Scab, the time it should take to get there and how they are planning to get there.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Wednesday January 31st, 2024 11:39:00 PM Stohp gets right to the point with Happy. He hmms a lot, chewing a fingernail as he does so. (Is that a new habit? Ewwww…) Happy then says, “Stohp, around here there’s a few ideas, and your fellow Shields are probably already checking on them – the Overlord has the Palace Archives which should have some general maps of the Wold, and the WLA probably has a lot of close-in maps from all over – a bit hit and miss, but they should both have some useful maps and Pip is sure to have useful info from all those reports WLA members file… but there’s a river that pretty much flows between Turtle Lake and the Scab, so if you had to, you could walk alongside the riverbanks for… probably hundreds of miles. I don’t recall if the river brings water to the Lake, or receives water from the Lake, but I’m certain the WLA or the Palace Archives will know – even the Druids might know, though it’s over a hundred miles to the southern shore of Turtle Lake. I’ll ask around, quiet-like about if the river’s an option. I don’t know the geography of the Scab all that well, but whispersonce in a blue moon travelers from Plateau City, heading for a new life in the far Eastern Wilderlands, bring rumors with them, and as I heard it, the dwarves who live near the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance keep guards there all the time, day and night, fearful of another drow invasion from the Underwold, or worse! Stohp, when you get out there, always keep a lookout – we may have to deal with undersea plant monsters here, but places that connect to the Underwold… [he visibly shudders] well, some suffer a fate worse than death! Oh! I just remembered - the river’s kind of in two parts – travelers said the Serpent’s Breath flows out of the Scab and towards us. Don’t you worry, I’ll get you anything new I learn, especially about the part of the river connecting to Turtle Lake. Just stop by again before you leave.
Delia saves vs. Armalad’s questions and is soon on the road after Stock, who’s rather speedy for a dwarf! She had delayed critical moments while Stock was zooming far enough ahead that she could not immediately catch up. Fortunately Stock let everyone know where he was going so Delia, straining to reach the prize with outstretched arm, arrives just as Pip is beginning his lecture! [OOC Stock is move 40’ vs. Delia’s move 45’ in the city, but Stock had a head start.]
Zanderallen salutes the guards, thanking them as they sped his way to Drezz. The Overlord listens intently to Zanderallen, and then claps his hands three times. Two unarmored guards appear, with the build of long-distance runners. Drezz orders, “Take Zanderallen to the Palace Archives and direct the Archivist to locate and lend to Zanderallen whatever maps, documents and scrolls he requests.” At once, the guard/runners escort Zanderallen through a dizzying number of secret passages he never knew existed, until Zanderallen is suddenly in a dusty library… an old library… and standing in front of an aged, wizened gnome woman who pushes her glasses up her nose at his arrival, and then sees the guards as well. The guards say, “Archivist Besh, the Overlord directs you to lend to Zanderallen of the Shields any and all maps, documents, and scrolls he requests.” And with that, the guard/runners are gone as quickly as they brought Zanderallen. Archivist Besh says, “Well… Zanderallen… how may I be of assistance?”
Stock was about to answer Pip when a rush of air and smell of a sprinter’s sweat announced Delia’s presence behind him, not that Stock’s nose registered the scent against the background Turtle Lake-humid air of the Float! He asks Delia whether she’s ever been to the Scab. Delia holds up one finger to request time for a deep breath or three, so Stock uses the time to direct Pip in locating a route from the Float to the East Wind Tunnel in the Scab. Stock also shuts down Pip’s first ‘but, why’.
Armalad double-takes as Delia waves and runs out the door as Armalad begins asking the first question, mutters under her breath, and stows the parchment in a handy scroll case and then takes off after Delia! Armalad arrives at the WLA as Pip is perhaps several sentences into his reply to Stock, Delia being faster than she in cities. Armalad too is breathing a little heavy after that sprint, so perhaps Pip can finish before Delia and Armalad can have their conversation.
Bartomus brings his list of scribbles to the Float’s general store, and a few specialty stores, using his expertise in surviving in many kinds of wilderness to the shopping task, estimating food, thinking if a wagon would be necessary, or if the Shields should make a Catacombs stop to purchase one or more bags of holding or similar… he and Delia could keep the Shields fed with foraging and hunting, but the more pre-made and salted food they could bring with them, the faster they could travel – and of course he could supply the Shields almost every day if they didn’t mind Goodberries and water from Create Water for every meal! Although with two Taurs in the Shields… he determined the Shields needed 12 goodberries per meal, or 36 per day, and at an average of 5 per spell, that’d be all of his first-rank spells and some of his second-rank spells every day they were on the road if they wanted to save the lengthy time foraging and hunting would consume… and they might get bored of the repetive meals so they’d probably have to split the difference – some goodberries, some pre-made salted meats and so on, and some foraging and hunting, but not nearly as much time as if they were only foraging and hunting.
Pip thinks hard a moment as Stock, Delia, and Armalad wait patiently. Then he gets up and says, “I’ll be in the back about 10 minutes – I know we have maps, but I want to grab a book or two so you or I can copy down some key information for you. However, I know the easiest landmark that goes straight from here to the Scab is the river that passes through Cutter at the southern shore of Turtle Lake, which eventually meets up with the Serpent’s Breath river that connects to the Scab, and I think you’re going to become *very* familiar with those rivers unless you have access to someone who can teleport all of you, and do so safely!” With that, Pip is gone in the back. The WLA HQ is otherwise empty at the moment, and job postings are few – a rare lull in an otherwise oddly-busy WLA post.
What does each Shield do next?
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+26=28 ; Thursday February 1st, 2024 7:57:28 AM
Stohp considers. "We have a ship, but it might be to big to go upriver. I'll find out. Thanks for the help." Stohp heads out, reflecting that really it would be easiest to get magical teleportation there and back. Going upriver in a ship might take days or weeks. She'll reflect on her local knowledge about where to ask her questions about boats and the river, and if there's someone or group they could just pay to be a teleport taxi (28 knowledge local)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 97/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Thursday February 1st, 2024 9:49:24 AM
Bartomus lost himself in his wanderings and in doing so had this overwhelming inspiration as to how to provide food and water to the Shields. He made his list and kept adding things to it ranging from the two bags of holding, trail rations, dwarven rations, while keeping in mind many of the Shields have their Ioun Stones from Lady Yasmine.
He also managed to leave a detailed message about the fact that the Mother Matron had done some research for the Lads with Lady Yasmine's staff.
Then he began his walking down to the catacombs to submit his list to buy.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday February 1st, 2024 9:51:48 AM
After Pip disappears, Delia will turn to Armalad as if there hasn't been a whole trek across the cities since her questions. "If we're going to be taking the rivers, that will be completely different from an oveland journey. Especially if we're feeding a crew." she'll estimate travel times to Armalad based on what she knows of those rivers.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 34 T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 14/14 SE 6/6 Thursday February 1st, 2024 5:47:59 PM
Fighting back a sneeze at all the dust Zanderallen greets the archivist, "Greetings, Ahhh, uphm, er, excuse me. Nice to meet you ma'am. I'm looking for maps of the Scab, in particular looking for a place known as the East Wind Tunnel. It's possible it's an old place, might not still be called that. And once we figure out where it is I need to figure out the best way to get from here to there. Think you can help?" He puts on his most charming smile, finally loses his battle against the dust, covers his mouth for a massive sneeze and then grins sheepishly.
For whom does the knock toll? It tolls for thee! (DM Wayne) Thursday February 1st, 2024 10:43:16 PM Stohp considers the Shields’ dragon boat, but resolves to find out how big it is compared to the river. Then she realizes that Happy had a point – if they knew of anyone who could teleport them there, and maybe wait around for them to finish their mission… but who knows how long they’ll be in the Underwold? Still, teleporting there just means they look for someone to teleport them back once they’re done… does anyone on the float offer these services? Could Lernitig’s gate be activated for this trip? Is there a compatible gate in the Scab? She remembers that on the Gold Level is Gordo’s Transport, but he oversees the transport ring, or way station, to Plateau City, and going there wouldn’t put the Shields any closer to the Eastern Scab! Gordo is reputed to be knowledgeable about transportation needs in the Float, so if such a teleport service exists, he might know of it. Of course, isn’t Armalad a powerful wizard now? Couldn’t she learn how to teleport the Shields? What about Armalad’s friends, the Star Mages Guild? Hm, does Drezz have his own pet wizards, or just the Palace staff from before he became Overlord? Many possibilities, but it’d be good to have a backup plan if none of them work out…
Bartomus’s message for Lady Yasmine was to let her know what the Lads found out from the Matron Mother in It’Lal. He tightened up his scribbles on trip supplies, remembering that more than one shield purchased a magic item so they wouldn’t need food while they were using it. He continued on his way to the Catacombs, purchase list in hand.
Delia nonchalantly turns to Armalad and notes the vast differences between an overland trip and a river trip, given a river trip would require a crew to keep the craft going 24/7. Delia does her best to provide an estimated travel time for each per 100 miles, knowing the final answer will depend on whatever Pip’s maps have, and if Zanderallen was fortunate with Drezz… and did Happy have anything useful to give Stohp?
Zanderallen saves vs. sneeze, at first, and requests maps of the Scab, with a focus on the East Wind Tunnel Entrance, and then help selecting one or more viable routes from the Float to the Entrance. He tries to finish with a smile but fails to save vs. sneeze the second time.
Archivist Besh squints and stares at Zanderallen a long moment, then, pushing her glasses up her nose again (even though she didn’t need to), says, “We have the kinds of maps you’re looking for, but I must warn you, they may be half a century out of date – it’ll be enough to point you in the right direction, following the rivers to the Scab, but you’ll want to consult with a merchant guild that plies that route – they would have the most up to date maps, reports on any bandits, and so on…”
Archivist Besh stood up while speaking, and then continued speaking even as she climbed a small stepladder contraption on wheels. Then she muttered something under her breath while squeezing each rail with her hands three times, and then said aloud, “Extend thirty feet,” and with that the (magical???) wheeled stepladder extended thirty feet up! She continued, “Shelf 876.543,” and with that the stepladder sped her around the archive – she held on with one hand with the other holding her purple hat in place! Within ten seconds she was across the spacious Archive, pulling three boxes off the tippy-top shelf onto the ladder, which seemed to move its rails slightly to clamp them tight. “Home!” she bellowed, as best a three-foot-tall ancient gnome woman could bellow, and the stepladder whisked her back to the front desk in front of a bemused Zanderallen. “Contract twenty-five feet,” she finished, and soon she was only a few steps from the ground, disembarked, said, “set them down, thanks!” and the boxes slid from the top of the ladder to the floor in a neat stack.
It seemed at first that she must have magical strength, moving boxes so easily, but after placing them on the front desk and opening them up, the boxes were merely filled with bulky scrolls and packing material. She selects a few scrolls and walks to a nearby table, unfurling the scrolls for Zanderallen’s benefit. “So, this first scroll is a good overview of the Elennian peninsula, from a bit west of Plateau City to the Scab to the Float. Here are a few magical quills and inkpots – they don’t do anything special, except that I have some magic stones that will enable me to erase any useless annotations you make while you’re on your journey. Next, the second scroll goes just from the Scab to Turtle Lake in fairly good detail – this is one you might mark your possible routes – now the rivers are already on here (points), but for all I know you’ll find out there’s a river dragon or something and need to plan an alternate route. Finally, this third scroll is just the Eastern half of the Scab – see, there’s the Serpent’s Breath river – it connects to this river here, coming from the southern shore of Turtle Lake and heading towards the sea.
Now, here’s the fun part – rivers don’t normally reverse their course when they’ve been flowing for years and years, but the Wold is a magical place. So (flips through various dusty books, pointing out detailed information on the rivers… from 100 years ago) I think you should expect the southern river to empty into the ocean from Turtle Lake, which is fed by snowmelt further north, and then likewise with the Serpent’s Breath, it’s coming from the mountains of the Scab and it’s always flowed to the ocean, too. The books don’t say it’s a whitewater river, so there’s probably various river barges for hire, but going upstream, even in a calm river, is quite a bit of work, and might be slower than walking, but of course the crew can paddle in shifts around the clock.
Oh, I almost forgot, you asked about the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance. (Blows dust off another book. -2 to Zanderallen’s sneeze save) Here, see there’s a small inset map here, showing that, at least 200 years ago, it was not too far from Clan Mountainheart. (Takes a magical quill, and dips it in magical ink) Let me mark the locations on the Scab map I’m lending you – it doesn’t have the details of the inset map in the book. (Marks location of the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance) One of my other books mentioned that Clan Mountainheart had their stronghold north of Fhorge Mountain, but that’s 200 years ago – it might even be closer to their current Stronghold – another scroll I read said that about 100 years ago they built a new stronghold (marks map) about here, plus or minus. Don’t put too much confidence in where I marked, just know that wherever they are, they’re not too many days’ travel from the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance. Apparently drow invasions of the surface are a thing out there, and Clan Mountainheart reputedly guards the Entrance at all times, watching for the next invasion! Of course, that rumor was from 50 years ago so… I wish you the best in getting current intelligence from the locals in the Scab once you get out there, and getting better maps from any merchant companies piloting boats on the rivers.
Questions?” Archivist Besh finishes.
Meanwhile, back at the WLA, Pip returns with maps and books.
[OOC – Pip’s printed material largely duplicates Archivist Besh’s, but as the Shields learn, his advice is his own…]
Pip thunks down books and maps with a loud “oof!”
Pip says, “Stock, and hello Delia and Armalad, as to your questions Stock, here’s a map covering Plateau City to here, with the Scab in the middle. This one goes from the eastern edge of the Scab to here, sorry, the adventurer who donated it said he lost a strip on the left edge of the map to a troll’s claw, but at least you can see the two rivers and where they connect. I expect they both empty into the ocean. Here’s a map of the whole Scab – I know it’s not focused solely on the Eastern Scab, but the clans are marked – thankfully this map is less than 25 years old – see, there’s the current location of Clan Mountainheart. Now, the Eastern Wind Tunnel Entrance isn’t on this map, but that’s why I have these books. If you don’t mind me marking the map (makes small circle with an “E” in the center) the text in this book says the Entrance is some days’ walk northeast of Clan Mountainheart’s new stronghold. Not sure exactly how the old one got destroyed, maybe a scribe at a bigger, older library knows, but one of the reasons that Clan Mountainheart picked that location for its stronghold was to take on the duty of guarding the Scab from any Underwold dangers. Our library isn’t too heavy on politics, so I don’t know why they were motivated to do so, but you can ask them when you get out there, if you like. I don’t know how large a contingent of guards they keep at the Entrance, or how often, but… Stock, you said you know Clan Mountainheart? Well, that should help, I hope! This will be a long journey by boat or land, well over 400 miles. If I can trust the legends on these maps, maybe 500? Well, call it 450 so I’m close,” Pip finishes with a smile. “Say, Armalad, you’re a wizard right? Have you thought about buying some teleport scrolls and just getting the Shields out there that way? It would be risky – if you can’t cast Greater Teleport then you all might materialize inside solid rock, or 500 feet in the air, but at least you’d get there quickly,” Pip finished with a sheepish grin.
Pip says, “You’re welcome to borrow the maps. The books you could take with you but books are heavy – you might be better off just taking notes on scrolls of whatever information you want from the books. Your journey seems simple though – follow the rivers until you get to the Scab, and then Stock can take you the rest of the way, right Stock?”
Armalad and Stock take in Pip’s lecture and consider it deeply.
LOG ON